26 April 2014

Boishakh 13, 1421 Jamadius Sani 25, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 27

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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8 | SILK ROADS

Qawmi madrasas under scanner

16 pages plus 24-page supplement Avenue-T | Price: Tk10

9 | CAFFEINE MAY ACT AS MEMORY BOOSTER

14 | BENFICA, SEVILLA STRIKE FIRST

CANAL OF POISON

Home Ministry asks Islamic Foundation for info on writers of madrasa textbooks Islam and n Rabiul Mohammad Jamil Khan Members of several intelligence agencies have kept under constant close surveillance the writers and publishers of books providing wrong information on religions and history of the country in Qawmi madrasas.

Such writers and publishers were placed under surveillance on the instruction of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The ministry has asked the Islamic Foundation to send information on these writers and publishers so that the government can take action against them.

A high official of an intelligence agency yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the instruction had also been sent to different ministries and departments on April 20.

Besides, the Home Ministry has asked the National Board of Revenue to work with the Bangladesh Bank to trace the funding of militant groups.

A special committee formed by the Home Ministry to resist militancy will

Tajuddin erased from history, says daughter n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Sharmeen Ahmed, daughter of Bangladesh’s founding prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed, has alleged that the country’s history in educational curriculum is “to some extent individualistic,” which has erased the name of Tajuddin.

“Bangabandhu and Tajuddin were complimentary to each other, but the name of Tajuddin has been erased from history.

“The name of the life and soul of the Liberation War has been erased from the history as the curriculum is to some extent individualistic,” she said while addressing the publication ceremony of her book Tajuddin Ahmed: Leader and Father at a bookstore in the port city yesterday.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

hold its second special meeting shortly.

The ministry has asked the NBR chairman, deputy governor of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh Bank, and the chairperson of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to be present at the meeting.

Asaduzzaman Khan, state minister for home, told the Dhaka Tribune that the intelligence agencies had been asked to closely monitor the activities of Qawmi and Alia madrasas.

“The director general of the Islamic Foundation gave me some textbooks of Qawmi and Alia madrasa which included Jihadi statements,” the state minister said.

He said the steps had not been taken all on a sudden. “It is a continuous process.”

In the instruction issued on April 20, the Home Ministry asked the Education Ministry to create awareness among students about militancy by holding discussions highlighting the negative impacts of Islamist militancy.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

The recently taken picture shows industrial waste from different factories in Savar being dumped into nearby canals that eventually flow into Turag River

US readies more sanctions as Ukraine costs rise for Moscow n Agencies US President Barack Obama is expected to press European allies to impose more sanctions if Russia steps up action in Ukraine, while a cut in its credit rating yesterday sent a strong reminder to Moscow of the economic consequences of its involvement in the crisis.

Obama said he would seek to make sure key European leaders shared his view that Russia had failed to live up to the terms of a Ukraine peace accord in Geneva earlier this month, under which Russia, the United States, Ukraine and the European Union agreed to work to disarm illegal groups.

The Ukraine government launched further military operations against some of the pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine, having killed up to five rebels on Thursday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused authorities in Kiev of waging “a war on their own people”.

“This is a bloody crime, and those who pushed the army to do that will pay, I am sure, and will face justice,” Lavrov said.

Russia had also paid for the dispute, with heavy capital flight prompting credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

SUBSCRIBER TRENDS IN MOBILE INDUSTRY Month

Active SIMs

Month

9.55* 9.85 9.83 9.75 9.71

January

August September October November December

January February March

March April May June

2014 Month

February

Active SIMs

11.48 11.59 11.52

* Numbers in crore

July August September October November December

Active SIMs

9.73 9.86 9.99 10.12 10.29 10.50 10.69 10.93 11.07 11.18 11.27 11.38

Following 15 consecutive months of growth, the country’s mobile phone operator industry has experienced a 0.56% decline in the number of subscribers in March, as one of the major operators saw a massive dip in its active users, although five of its competitors performed well.

Robi, the second largest operator in terms of revenue, lost 16.75 lakh (6.54%) of its active subscribers in March, claimed a report published by

Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Robert Menendez said western customers would not buy clothes that are stained with the blood of Bangladeshi workers.

“The BGMEA and the Bangladeshi authorities must understand this simple message,” Menendez said in a statement issued on the first anniversary of

INSIDE News

5 The tender to procure equipment for the New Mooring Container Terminal of the Chittagong port will be floated by next month.

International

7 Russia warned Kiev yesterday that it would face justice for a “bloody crime” in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Russian rebels a day earlier.

Op-Ed

Mobile operators sees decline in the number of subscribers the country’s telecom regulators on Thursday.

The report by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) shows that at the end of March, Robi’s active subscribers came down from the previous month’s 2.56 crore to 2.39 crore; while the other five operators managed to add a total of 10.69 lakh new active users during the same period.

The last time the number of subscribers saw a drop was in December 2012 after the regulators introduced

n Tribune Report

6 Ukhira upazila of Cox’s Bazar has virtually turned into a haven for human traffickers because a section of interested groups can smuggle people off to Malaysia using the Badamtoli area.

A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Menendez: West won’t buy bloodstained clothes

Nation

2013

2012

post-registration activation.

Robi, however, said the number of its subscribers had reduced in March as they had changed the calculation process for declaring a SIM (subscriber identity module) active.

“It is just a number which will not impact Robi or the industry as a whole,” Mahmudur Rahman, executive vice-president of Robi, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

According to a guideline from the telecom watchdog, if any SIM is found  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

11 I am one of those many who consider the so-called election of January 5 to be an utter farce, and the government legitimated by it to be little more than an autocracy whose absolutist tendencies get stronger by the passing day.

the Rana Plaza tragedy.

He also urged the Bangladesh government and the BGMEA to take immediate and concerted steps to end the suppression of fledgling trade unions formed by garment workers.

“If the BGMEA and the government of Bangladesh do not take immediate steps to end the suppression of fledgling unions, it is only a matter of time before another large-scale tragedy hits

Bangladesh’s garment industry and the ‘made in Bangladesh’ brand is tarnished beyond repair,” the US official said.

The senator said without the strong voice of an independent factory union, workers have no mechanism to ensure their own safety.

In the statement, Menendez said the International Labour Organisation has initiated its largest ever safe factories  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, April 26, 2014

BNP stresses workers’ safety Rafiqul claims only Tk22 crore of Tk128 crore fund was disbursed among victims

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP yesterday demanded that all the new industries should obtain clearance certificates before going into operations to ensure security and safety of workers.

“After Rana Plaza tragedy it has become important to ensure safety for readymade garment workers. We are demanding that a provision of obtaining all sorts of clearance certificates be made obligatory before an industry goes into operation,” Rafiqul Islam Miah, a Standing Committee member of the party, said.

He also said: “Congress members of the United States have called for ensuring the rights and safety of workers in Bangladesh and the BNP supported the call.”

Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club organised by the Medical Technologist Association, the BNP leader said thousands of workers

became paralysed and many of them did not get any treatment.

“We came to know from different media reports that Tk128 crore was deposited in the government fund and the prime minister has distributed only Tk22 crore among the victims as compensation. Where has the rest of the money gone?”

Rafiqul said they were not bringing any allegation of misappropriation, but if the compensation had been disbursed properly, the victims would not have to cry over compensation.

Criticising the government, the lawyer said there was no democracy in the country and there was no existence of an opposition party in parliament.

“Even General Ershad who was directly involved in the killing of General Monjur has been made a special envoy to the prime minister.

If such a person gets the government’s patronisation, then where is the rule of law?” he said. l

Children and local residents play in the capital’s Dhanmondi playground yesterday after DSCC authorities declared the ground open for all on Thursday

Land dispute clash leaves six injured in capital n

Mohammad Jamil Khan

At least six people were injured, two of whom with bullets, in a ‘land dispute’ clash at Dhaka’s Segunbagicha yesterday.

Police said the clash ensued over a land dispute while one of the clashing groups said it was over not giving benefits in return for lending money.

Injured Nazma Akter, 65, Razia Begum, 50, Rubina, 50, Rafia, 26, Imran, 30 and Rakib, 30, took treatment at the emergency ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Of them, Nazma and Razia’s conditions were critical as they received bullet injuries as well as stab wounds.

Two years back, they lent Tk 20 million to Habubyr Rahman, owner of SH

Tajuddin erased from history  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

“Whenever we discuss the Liberation War, we jump to January 1972 from March 25, 1971. The history of the nine months of the Liberation War remains untouched. The actual history is unknown to many people because of this escapism,” she said.

Shrmeen said there were many countries that had their founding fathers, such as the USA, instead of one father of the nation.

She said there were many controversies regarding the history of the country’s war of independence as there was an effort to implement political agenda in the name of history.

“There has been an effort to raise controversy centring my book. I will request all to read the whole book instead of reading it partially and cause the controversy,” she said.

Barrister Amirul Islam, an aide of Tajuddin Ahmed during the Liberation War, said authors of history would be able to use the book as a reference as the writer had tried to manifest different issues with sincerity.

Former Chittagong mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and economist Professor Mainul Islam also addressed the function.

Tajuddin Ahmed had served as the first prime minister of Bangladesh and led the wartime provisional government in the absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A close confidante of Bangabandhu, Tajuddin was the general secretary of the Awami League during late 1960s and early 70s.

He coordinated the party’s election campaign for the 1970 general election of Pakistan, in which the Awami League gained a historic majority in parliament to form the government.

After the liberation of Bangladesh, Tajuddin became the finance minister in the Mujib government in 1972.

After Bangabandhu’s assassination in August 1975, he was arrested and, along with three other top Awami League leaders, was executed by the members of the military in Dhaka Central Jail on November 4, 1975. l

Agro Ltd on the condition that they would be given Tk 6,00,000 per month, but he later refused to give that benefit.

Habibur even refused to give back what he had taken from us, he said.

When visiting the spot, it was however learnt that Nazma had a dispute with Habibur over developing a piece of land beside Akram Tower.

Nazma got the work for developing it. And Habib was to give her all the money needed for it.

The dispute grew among them as Habib refused to give money to Nazma as per her demand for developing the land.

Moreover, Habib was allegedly trying to give the work to another land estate firm contacting the land owner.

Meanwhile, Nazma had filed a case

with police against Habib alleging that Habib staged a firing in front of her car showroom near FDC gate in a bid to threaten her for asking him to give back her money.

Nazma’s son Osman said they were yesterday called by Habib at the latter’s office at Akram Tower in the city’s Segunbagicha to make a settlement over the issues.

“But as soon as we reached his office, his men attacked us.”

“We have initially learnt that this dispute is over developing a tin shade house at Segunbagicha,” Maruf Hossain Sardar, deputy commissioner of police of Ramna division told the Dhaka Tribune.

No case was filed until Friday night, he said. l

Mobile operators sees decline  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

to receive or send no calls or SMS in 90 days, it will be counted as inactive.

“This time we were strict on the guideline and that is why the number of our subscribers showed a decline,” Mahmudur Rahman said.

He added that there was no reason to be worried as Robi had already informed the regulator about the issue.

However, the huge fall in Robi’s active subscribers also meant that the overall number of active subscribers declined to 11.52 crore from 11.58 crore at the end of February.

Sources at the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh, however, said although the country had around 11.5 crore active subscribers, the actual number of active users was around 7.5 crore, as some of the subscribers used multiple SIMs. Saying the declining number might be considered as a disaster for the industry, BTRC Vice-Chairman Md Giashuddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the regulator wanted to know what caused Robi to suffer such a decline.

“As a regulator, we also need to know the inside story, although we have received a clarification from Robi,” he added.

Sources inside Robi said this was not the biggest disaster of the operator in terms of subscribers.

BTRC statistics show that in November 2009, Robi (then known as AKTel)

lost 21.2 lakh subscribers in a single month, which also caused the total market size to come down to 5.06 crore from the previous month’s 5.14 crore.

Meanwhile, the latest figures from the BTRC shows that at the end of the first quarter of 2014, market leader Grameenphone had 4.87 crore active subscribers, including 4.70 lakh new ones in March.

Banglalink, the second largest operator in the country in terms of subscribers, managed to add 3.15 lakh new subscribers to take its total number of active subscribers to 2.94 crore.

Airtel added 46,000 new subscribers to secure the fourth position with 84.08 lakh active subscribers at the end of March.

Teletalk, the only state-owned mobile operator, added 2.22 lakh new active subscribers in March to take its total number of subscribers to 34.34 lakh.

Citycell, the oldest operator in the subcontinent, also added 16,000 subscribers to have a total of 14.14 lakh active subscribers.

Although the total number of mobile subscribers declined in March, the number of mobile internet users increased.

At the end of February, the country had a total of 3.61 crore internet users, including 3.46 crore people accessing internet through their mobile phones; while at the end of March, the total number grew to 3.69 crore, including 3.53 crore mobile internet users. l

US readies more sanctions  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

to cut the country’s ratings yesterday.

That in turn forced Russia’s central bank to raise its key interest rate to reverse a drop in the rouble.

Lavrov said Moscow was committed to implementing the Geneva agreement but accused Washington of distorting it with “one-sided demands”.

However, Russia’s Defence Ministry said it was ready for “unbiased and constructive” talks with the United States to stabilise the situation.

Obama, who accuses Moscow of sending agents to coordinate the unrest in the east as it did before seizing Ukraine’s Crimea region in February, planned to call allies in Europe later in the day.

“The window to change course is closing,” US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia late on Thursday,

citing Obama’s earlier comments that Washington was ready to impose new sanctions, on top of those imposed after Crimea was annexed.

Kerry said Russia was using propaganda to hide what it was trying to do in eastern Ukraine - destabilise the region and undermine next month’s Ukrainian presidential elections - and decried its “threatening movement” of troops up to Ukraine’s border.

“If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake,” Kerry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has scoffed at the sanctions so far imposed, which have been limited to travel bans and overseas assets freezes on individuals.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said Russia

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

German parliamentary team due today

Youth killed over cricket match n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

A youth died yesterday after being hit by a cricket bat centring a feud over a cricket match in the capital’s Kamrangirchar.

Deceased was identified as Mohammad Rajib Hossain, 20, a welder by profession and a resident of Hasananagar area of Kamrangirchar.

The victim’s father Abul Hossain said Razib went out of the home at around 4:30pm to play cricket in a nearby field.

Later, he was critically injured when a fellow player Jashim struck him hard on the back with a cricket bat when the two locked into a heated debate over a decision of the match.

“We took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead around 6:50pm,” he added. l

A seven-member delegation of the German Parliamentary Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development are coming to Bangladesh today on a five-day visit.

The delegation will be headed by Dagmar Woehrl, who has been the chair of the committee since 2009.

The six other delegation members, who are also members of the German parliament, are: Juergen Klimke, Frank Heinrich, Stefan Rebmann, Gabi Weber, Niema Movassat and Uwe Kekeritz, according to a press release.

Following the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the main purpose of this visit is to assess the situation in the RMG sector in Bangladesh and get

Qawmi madrasas under scanner  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

It told the education ministry secretary to submit the monthly report of the monitoring committee focusing if the national anthem is sung in the assembly and anti-militancy speech delivered at Qawmi and Alia madrasas as instructed.

The Education Ministry was suggested modernising the madrasa education with real history of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.

The Religious Affairs Ministry was also instructed to train Imams encouraging them to deliver anti-militancy speech and arrange sermons about the evils of militancy before Juma prayers at mosques.

The Islamic Foundation DG was advised to hold anti-militancy rally in districts in coordination with teachers and students of schools, colleges and madrasas, and Imams of mosques.

The district administration and upazila nirbahi officers will time to time monitor if anti-militancy sermon is delivered at mosques across the country.

They will send a monthly report to the Home Ministry.

The Information Ministry was too asked to make documentaries, short films, advertisements and video clippings on the issue and send them to different electronic media for screening. l

wanted to start World War Three by occupying the country “militarily and politically” and creating a conflict that would spread to the rest of Europe.

Ukraine said Russian troops conducting exercises had approached to within 1 kilometre (1,100 yards) of its border and would treat any incursion as an invasion.

Ukrainian Special Forces launched a second phase of their operation in the east of the country on Friday by mounting a full blockade of the rebel-held city of Slaviansk, an official on the presidential staff said.

One of its military helicopters was hit by rocket fire and exploded while on the ground at an airport near the city, the Defence Ministry said.

Interior minister Arsen Avakov insisted every care was being taken to

information about the initiatives taken so far to improve the health and safety standards for the factory workers.

The delegation will have meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Minister for Commerce Tofail Ahmed and other political leaders as well.

The delegation will travel to Savar to visit the survivors of the collapse at the CRP, which receives funds from the German Development Cooperation. They will also visit a couple of factories to get an impression of the working conditions there.

The members of the parliament will also visit two projects that focus on the inclusion of street children and victims of acid attacks to demonstrate their solidarity with the vulnerable groups in need of support. l

West won’t buy bloodstained  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

programme in Bangladesh and has coordinated safety inspections as well as compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza.

“International retailers have taken important initial steps to address the safety of buildings and workers in Bangladesh,” he added.

Loblaw satisfied with Rana Plaza response

Canada’s largest retailer Loblaw Companies Limited has said it is pleased with the unprecedented coordination – between it and a small number of other retailers – to account for the very real human and financial costs of the Rana Plaza collapse.

The company, which had some of its Joe Fresh clothing line manufactured at Rana Plaza, has also said it is proud to have been a contributing voice in the Rana Plaza response and its unfolding legacy related to factory safety.

This came in a statement issued by the Canadian company on the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar.

“We continue to believe that the economy and manufacturing communities of Bangladesh benefit from our presence, attention and long-term commitment.

Over the past twelve months, Loblaw has worked with individuals, the industry, the government, NGOs and the International Labour Organisation to respond to the human tragedy of Rana Plaza and to improve the standards that will define and protect the safety of workers from

avoid non-combatant casualties, after Moscow warned it may act if Kiev used the army against civilians.

In the meantime, Latvia yesterday welcomed American troops on its soil, part of a US force of 600 sent to the region to reassure the Baltic States amid concern over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

“Today is a special day because this morning I met the heads of the armed forces at the Adazi military base and greeted the US military unit that arrived this morning for military training,” Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma told reporters.

Some 150 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will be based at the Adazi base near capital Riga until at least the end of the year, according to the Latvian defence ministry.

Another company of soldiers arrived

here forward,” reads the statement.

“We have become a lead contributor in the financial response to this tragedy, having committed $5 million for local relief and compensation,” it adds.

Loblaw says in its view, the collective industry response to the Rana Plaza collapse has taken too long and various necessary steps have yet to be taken.

“Further, based on the initial compensation model – calculated on a shared basis between government, industry and brands – Loblaw, as one of the top contributing organisations, is contributing more than its share.”

ILO official terms it ‘shame’

ILO Deputy Director General for Field Operations and Partnerships Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo has said the delay in compensating the families of the Rana Plaza victims and survivors is a shame for all the stakeholders.

“It is very hard, very difficult to speak here today and say that the victims still cannot be adequately compensated. That will be a shame for all of us,” he said while addressing a programme at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital on Thursday.

Stating that much has been done following the tragedy, the ILO official said: “Now the factory inspections must be completed, compensation claims processed and the labour law implemented in full.” l

in Poland on Wednesday, while around 150 others are each expected in Lithuania on Saturday and Estonia early next week.

Washington on Tuesday said it was sending the 600 troops to the region to increase its presence in the region and reassure its NATO allies and partners.

In Ukraine, seven people were injured overnight at a pro-Ukrainian checkpoint near the Black Sea port of Odessa when an explosive device blew up, police said yesterday.

Residents have built several such checkpoints near the town aimed at stopping pro-Russian separatists entering from Moldova’s breakaway territory of Transdniestria.

NATO warned last month of a possible Russian military grab for Transdniestria following its annexation of Crimea. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Country’s second bone marrow transplant today First patient recovering quickly

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Inspired by the country’s first-ever Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) on a 52-year-old cancer patient on March 10, the doctors at the BMT unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital-2 are going to perform the second operation today.

A team of BMT experts, comprised of trained Bangladeshi doctors, nurses and technologists, and led by Professor Dr MA Khan, head of hematology department and programme director of the BMT unit, will implant stem cells into the body of Alamgir Hossain, 51, a retired army sergeant. He is suffering from a form of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma.

It is understood that the first BMT operation saw participation of a pool of national and international experts but this time, the local experts (only two nurses from Massachusetts General Hospital of US) will perform the operation.

MA Khan told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday morning that if the patient’s physical condition remained well, they would go for the second operation.

BMT experts told the Dhaka Tribune the transplant was a five-step process, namely physical examination (to assess the patient’s general health condition), harvesting (the process of obtaining stem cells), conditioning (preparing the patient’s body for the operation), transplanting the stem cells and recovery (during which the patient is monitored for any complication or side effect).

MA Khan said Alamgir was given chemotherapy on Wednesday and Thursday to prepare him for the operation, adding that stem cell was collect-

ed from him a few days back.

Dr Khan said they actually collected Alamgir’s stem cells in October last year to perform the first BMT operation on him.

The plan, however, was cancelled because he was not physically fit at the time.

Alamgir, who hails from Kahalpur village in Bagerhat, was diagnosed with blood cancer in December 2009 and had been receiving treatment at Combined Military Hospital in the capital.

Meanwhile, Omar Ali, the first patient to successfully undergo BMT operation in the country, has recently left the hospital. The 52-year-old, a senior officer at Agrani Bank, has returned to his village home in Rangpur.

“His physical condition is now fine.

The number of white blood cells and platelets are coming to the normal figure and he is regaining his weight.

Hopefully, he would join work within 2-3 months,” Professor Khan said.

Omar’s wife Amena Begum also echoed the same view and told the Dhaka Tribune her husband’s condition was good.

“Doctors advised him to follow a few instructions for the next three months and he is abiding by those. He was released on April 5 and I will take him there again on April 27,” she said.

Dr Khan said they were planning for press coverage of Omar soon. “It might be on April 29 but the date has not been fixed yet.”

On October 20 last year, former health minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque inaugurated the five-bed BMT unit and a high-tech BMT laboratory at DMCH at a cost of Tk200 crore. l

A young girl crosses a barren bed of a canal to collect water from a distant source at Keraniganj on the capital’s outskirts yesterday

Dilip Barua: Protest Mamata’s stance on Teesta issue n Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Former industries minister Dilip Barua has recently said the people of Bangladesh have to stand united to protest against India’s West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “conspiracy” against the Teesta water-sharing issue.

He said it was Bangladesh’s legal right to have a fair share of the Teesta’s water.

The former minister made this speech at a meeting at a school premises under the Dimla upazila of the district on April 24.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Nilphamari district unit hosted the programme which was presided over by its Secretary Dr Mostafizur Rahman Sabuz.

In his address as the chief guest, Dil-

ip Barua said the Teesta’s water is the lifeblood of Bangladesh’s economy and transportation in the northern regions.

He added that according to a decision on Teesta water sharing in July, 1983, Bangladesh was supposed to get 36% of the water, India would get 39% and the remaining 25% would be preserved, but this was violated.

On September 06, 2011, Indian

Dutch minister seeks joint fundraising efforts for Rana Plaza victims n UNB

Members of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati perform in a play staged at Shahbagh in the capital yesterday, demanding compensation for the Rana Plaza collapse victims and a safe working environment RAJIB DHAR

Bangladeshi rights activist among Martin Ennals Award finalists n Tribune Report

The jury for this year’s Martin Ennals Award has announced three finalists, including a Bangladeshi, to receive the top rights prize.

Rights activist Adilur Rahman Khan, founder of Odhikar, has been nominated for the prize along with Cao Shunli, a Chinese civil society activist who died in detention in March after the jury decided on her nomination, Alejandra Ancheita, a Mexican land rights advocate, according to a press

release of the Human Rights Watch.

The 10-member prize jury consisting of international human rights groups made the announcement on Wednesday.

Reed Brody, special counsel at the Human Rights Watch and a member of the Martin Ennals jury, said: “These three courageous activists have shown an extraordinary dedication to protecting the rights of their people…Cao Shunli tragically paid the ultimate price for her commitment.”

The winner will be announced and the award will be presented on October 7 at a ceremony hosted by the city of Geneva.

The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders is a unique collaboration among 10 of the world’s leading human rights organisations to give protection to human rights defenders worldwide. The jury is composed of representatives from the Amnesty International, EWDE Germany, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, HURIDOCS, International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights, International Service for Human Rights, and World Organisation Against Torture. l

One held with 28 gold bars n Kailash Sarkar

An incoming passenger from Dubai was arrested at Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday with 28 gold bars weighing around 3.24kg.

The arrested was identified as Mohammad Bahar, 40, of Comilla.

Moinul Khan, director general of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), told the Dhaka Tribune that they arrested Bahar with the gold bars around 8:30 am shortly after

his arrival at Dhaka around 8:00 am by a flight of Emirates Airlines.

“We had found the gold bars after searching his shoes and different parts of his body while he was passing through immigration. Each of the gold bars weighs 116 grams,” he said.

The detainee is one of the carriers of the smuggled gold, but according to his passport, he is a businessman by profession, the official added.

“He had frequently visited Dubai and different countries in the Mid-

RAJIB DHAR

east,” the CIID chief said, adding that they were interrogating him to extract information as to whether anybody at the airport had links with smuggling.

CIID officials said Bahar was handed over to police after filing a case in connection with the seizure of the gold worth around Tk15 million.

Sources said over 70kg of gold was seized at Dhaka airport and different places of the capital while over 1,200kg of gold was seized at the country’s airports in last one year. l

The European Union (EU) and Bangladesh should work together to impress the international companies, including the European ones, to adequately contribute to the compensation fund for the Rana Plaza victims, said Dutch foreign trade minister yesterday.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Lilianne Ploumen also appreciated Bangladesh for the steps taken so far to improve the working conditions in the massive RMG sector.

“We are encouraged to see the huge steps taken in the last one year to improve the working conditions in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, but there is still some way to go,” she said during her meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the Dutch Foreign Ministry in the morning.

She expressed her interest in further discussing the exact modalities for cooperation in this regard during her scheduled visit to Bangladesh in the end of May this year, said a Foreign Ministry media release.

Ploumen, who had visited Bangla-

desh following the Rana Plaza tragedy in June last year, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government did the right thing to press ahead with necessary reforms in the RMG sector to improve labour rights and safety.

We are encouraged to see the huge steps taken to improve the working conditions in Bangladesh’s RMG sector The Dutch minister particularly acknowledged the raise in minimum wage in the RMG sector which she considered to be a positive step forward.

The two ministers discussed the need for creating necessary comfort level for the RMG industry about the factory inspections being carried out to ensure safety standards.

They agreed that the RMG sector needs to be made sustainable and resilient in the larger interest of Bangladesh’s poverty alleviation efforts and economic development. l

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Bangladesh and was supposed to strike a deal regarding the sharing of the Teesta’s water. The plan was foiled because of Mamata Banerjee’s conspiracy, he said.

The meeting was attended by the party’s politburo members Lutfar Rahman, Babul Biswas and Saimum Haque, as well as many others. l

Ershad: Politicians being sold for money

n Tribune Report Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday claimed that country’s politicians, including himself, were being sold for money.

“Nowadays there is no value of qualification and money has taken the place of everything and we, the politicians, are selling ourselves,” he said.

The former military ruler made the observations while speaking at the 20th national council of diploma engineers and the concluding ceremony of the 38th council at Diploma Engineers Institute in the capital.

“I was a soldier, not a politician. I have entered politics to serve country’s people. I have changed the country’s scenario with construction of many roads and highways and bridges,” he said, adding that but politicians now do not think about the country.

Referring to corruption in various sectors and irregularities in recruitments, he said: “If such practices continue, the citizens will not get efficient government servants. We should give up our bad habits for the sake of country’s interests,” he said.

“Bangladesh has potentials, but we are doing politics with this potentiality.

We should avoid doing such politics for the country’s development,” he added. l

Obaidul: Work order for Padma Bridge by June n Our Correspondent, Pabna Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said the work order for Padma Bridge project will be issued by June this year and the government is planning to build a Y-type bridge on the Aricha-Nagarbari route to act as a second Jamuna bridge, yesterday.

“The government has already taken full preparations to start the construction work of the Padma Bridge by June this year,” he said while speaking to the press after visiting the construction site of the Chatmohar-Handial road in Pabna.

Noting that the Bangladesh Army has been appointed as the local consultant while M Com International will work as the international consulting firm for Padma Bridge project, the minister further added that the government is highly alert about the transparency of the project.

He also said the government has given the international consulting firm five months to kick start the construction work of the project.

Apart from that, the communications minister also assured that construction of a Y-type bridge on the Aricha-Nagarbari route on Jamuna River

is being taken into consideration.

“The government plans to build a Y-type bridge here (Aricha-Nagarbari route) and it will be the second Jamuna bridge of the country. If the bridge is installed, the distance between Dhaka and northern districts will be reduced.” l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Spotlight

Revisiting Rana Plaza disaster in celluloid Curtain fell yesterday on ‘Aftermath: Rana Plaza,’ a photography exhibition arranged to mark the first anniversary of the country’s deadliest garment factory accident in Savar. The three-day exhibition, which opened at the TSC on Dhaka University campus on April 23, was an initiative of 60 photojournalists working with renowned national and international media outlets. The journalists said they arranged the exhibition to raise awareness of such manmade disaster among general people, garment factory owners, owners of other factories, workers and the government. They said through media they were urging the government to consider the idea of preparing a national archive of the photos or to place those in the national museum.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Saturday, April 26, 2014

NEW MOORING CONTAINER TERMINAL

CPA to float tender for procuring equipment n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong The tender to procure equipment for the New Mooring Container Terminal of the Chittagong port will be floated by next month, as the terminal is expected to be operational within the next one and a half years, the port authority chief said.

Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), made the comment yesterday while exchanging views with reporters on the occasion of the 127th anniversary of the port. He added that the prime minister has approved the CPA’s proposal of procuring equipment worth around Tk1,300 crore.

Nizamuddin said five foreign and local companies had responded to a previous tender that invited operators for setting up equipment and running the

Seminar on autism held in Putrajaya n Tribune Report Saima Wazed Hossain, the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, participated in an international seminar themed “Autism is not a Tragedy, Ignorance Is” at Putrajaya, Malaysia as the special representative of the prime minister of Bangladesh.

Saima, also the chair of the Advisory Committee for Autism and Neuro-developmental Disabilities in Bangladesh, played a vital role in the two-day long (April 22-24) seminar jointly organized by Permata, Autism Speaks, New York and the University of Kebansaan, Malaysia.

First ladies from Sudan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyz Republic, Albania and Morocco also joined the seminar.

Besides participating in the seminar, Autism specialist Saima held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Women and Health Affairs of Malaysia. l

terminal, but the procedure could not be completed because of a case filed with the court.

“Now we have decided to set up the equipment on our own and appoint operators for just running the terminal,” he added.

According to CPA sources, the Tk582 crore project was initiated in December 2007, and the tender invitation for appointing an operator was made in August 2008.

The one-kilometre long terminal with five jetties will have the capacity to handle 13 lakh TEUs (twenty equivalent units) of containers, while the port can currently handle 18 lakh TEUs of containers each year.

Regarding the capital dredging of the river Karnaphuli, which is the lifeline of the port, the CPA chairman said 79% of the work on the project has

been completed, but liquidity demurrage has been slapped on the contractor concerned since the time spent on project implementation was not satisfactory.

“We have sought approval from the ministry to cancel the agreement with the contractor as they will not be able to implement the project within the revised timeframe,” he added.

The CPA chairman also briefed journalists about 13 ongoing projects at the port, as well as plans of taking on nine fresh projects for the development of the prime sea port.

Among others, Mohammed Alauddin, additional secretary to Shipping Ministry, Commodore Mohammed Shahajahan, member (harbour and marine) of the CPA, and departmental chiefs of the port were present at the programme. l

Two participants wrestle during Jabbarer Boli Khela in Chittagong yesterday

Volunteer organisation’s employee beaten to death

Didar Boli takes it yet again

n Kailash Sarkar

Didarul Alam alias Didar Boli clinched the champion’s title of the 105th Jabbar-er Boli Khela at Laldighi Maidan in Chittagong city yesterday.

He took just 15 seconds to overpower his rival Habibur Rahman of Narayanganj’s Araihazar in the traditional wrestling competition. It is the first time Habibur was able to enter the finale.

Didar has so far achieved the champion’s title five times individually and six times jointly.

The tactics and mettle he showed in the game as always wowed the spectators of the competition that drew thousands of people from various parts in the country.

Didar had defeated Kay Hiapru Marma of Bandarban while Habibur defeated Mohammad Khorshed of Kutubdia

An employee of a volunteer organisation succumbed to his injuries in the morning hours of yesterday after he was beaten up by some local goons in the capital’s Bonoshree area on Thursday evening.

Ruhul Aminn Khan, 50, joint secretary of the volunteer service organisation Dakshin Bangla Ekota Songha, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital around 5am. He was living with his family in South Bonoshree.

Quoting family members, police said Ruhul had been killed over a financial dispute with some people from his previous work place, Fatema Foundation.

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Assistant Organising Secretary of Dakshin Bangla Ekota Songha Mohammad Rasel said: “Rahul had defaulted on an amount of money at his earlier work place, Fatema Foundation. Some people from that organisation beat him up after an altercation at our office around 7pm.”

“A group of people of the Fatema Foundation stormed into the office of Dakkhin Bangla Ekota Songha and beat him up mercilessly, causing his death,” he said.

Police have detained two of people in this regard. One of the arrested was identified as Ashiq, said Rasel.

Ruhul’s brother-in-law Kamal Hossain said: “Some 12 people, including Alauddin, Tawhid and Salauddin, attacked Ruhul Amin when he was at his office.” l

WEATHER

POSSIBLE DRIZZLES SATURDAY, APRIL 26 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:25PM SUN RISES 5:27AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

40

27 26

Chittagong

35

Rajshahi

41

27

Rangpur

39

26

Khulna

40

25

Barisal

38

27

Sylhet

40

23

Cox’s Bazar

34

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

42.0ºC Chuadanga

22.0ºC Rangpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:14am 5:32am 11:58am 4:25pm 6:23pm 7:42pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

Island to compete in the final bout yesterday.

It was hard labour and regular practice that has made him win the champion’s titles, said Didar Boli, who hails from Ramu in Cox’s Bazar and hoped that he would continue competing in this event in future.

Earlier in 2010, Didar was banned from participating in the event as he and another wrestler Marma Sing Tripura had shared the championship several times. But he was allowed to take part in the event last year and kept himself unbeaten.

The champion and the runner-up were given Tk 15,000 and Tk 10,000 respectively as prize money with trophies while the winners of the general bout got Tk 500 with crests each, organisers said.

Abdul Jabbar Smriti Kusti Pratijogita O Baishakhi Mela Udjapan Parishad

Committee organised the 105th show of the three-day Baishakhi Mela which began on Thursday.

Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Manjur Alam was present at the event as the chief guest while agricultural development and media personality Channel-I Director and Head of News Shaikh Siraj inaugurated it.

A total 103 wrestlers of different ages from different parts of the country including Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Cox’s Bazar and coastal areas of Chittagong, took part in the competition.

Mobile phone operator Banglalink sponsored the event.

During the competition, visitors scuffled with police, when Photojournalist Aminul Islam Munna of Dainik Azadi got injured as the police charged batons on the visitors when controlling the situation. l

Former drug addicts swear off addiction

Auto-rickshaw driver found dead n CU Correspondent Police recovered the body of a CNG-run auto rickshaw driver hanging in the Canteen Gate area in the port city, yesterday morning.

The deceased, Mohammed Jakir, 27, was the son of Hasan Ali, from Langdu in Rangamati, said police sources.

Sub-Inspector of Khulshi police station Jahid Hasan said locals saw the body hanging from a branch of a tree near an abandoned Banglow at the Railway Officer’s Colony in the Jhawtola area and informed the police about the matter.

On receiving the information, police recovered the body around 9am and sent it to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, said the SI. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Former and recovering drug addicts take part in a human chain on Kuakata beach yesterday

Houses of Sramik League leader’s relatives attacked n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Boishakh celebrated on Scholastica campuses

Houses of the relatives of a Sramik League leader were attacked following a clash between his followers and those of a Chhatra League leader in Gazipur’s Sripur yesterday.

Earlier, on April 22, adherents of local Sramik League leader Solaiman Ripon clashed with those of Chhatra League leader Sohag Ilom over establishing supremacy at Mawna.

This was followed by vandalism by Sohag and his accomplices at the houses of Solaiman and his relative Anis at Tepaibarhi.

In the wee hours of yesterday, an arson attack was also launched allegedly by Sohag and his followers at the house of Solaiman’s elder brother Abdur Rashid.

Four persons - Atabur Rahman, 60, Khademul Islam, Jewel, 28, Jasim, 36, were injured as they tried to douse the fire at Abdur Rashid’s house.

Solaiman’s elder brother Abdur Rashid said he suffered a loss of Tk 6,00,000 in the blaze.

The house might have been set afire by somebody with hostility, said Tasharaf Hossain, an officer at Mawna Fire Service and Civil Defence Station.

Neither side, however, filed any case until yesterday.

“We have filed a case on our own as no case was filed over the clash, attack and vandalism,” said. l

A week-long celebration of Pahela Boishakh came to an end yesterday at Scholastica in the capital.

The festivities started on April 17 in all the campuses of the school, with colourful decorations, festoons, masks, traditional Boishakhi artwork and Boishakhi fair in each of the campuses.

Students, parents, teachers, management personnel and Scholastica Alumni members attended the celebration which started with Mongol Shobha Ja-

n Tribune Report

DHAKA TRIBUNE

tra, a colourful rally, and was followed by cultural programmes and the fair In the fair, there were stalls of different categories with a versatile range of items available for sale. There were Nagordola, the deshi version of Ferris Wheel, jumping castle, shooting balloons and other recreational activities, too.

The mouth-watering food stalls were the most crowded as visitors enjoyed the food. Cultural shows took place throughout the day every day. l

Students of Scholastica bring out a procession on the campus yesterday, marking Pahela Boishakh DHAKA TRIBUNE

Former and recovering drug addicts took an oath to leave addiction behind forever at a reunion at the Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali, yesterday.

Barisal Holy Care Drug Addiction Treatment Assistance and Rehabilitation Centre organised the two-day reunion where different other organisations working in the same field under Bangladesh Drug Addict Rehabilitation Society also participated.

The event, with its slogan “No addiction in future, we have to run a long way in life,” included exchanging views and experiences, a human chain, a rally, flying lanterns, an oath taking ceremony and a cultural function.

The participants also cleaned the

sea beach as part of the reunion.

More than 100 rehabilitated and recovering addicts from different parts of the country attended the event.

Mustafizur Rahman Sumon, convener, Shafikur Rahman Khokan, member secretary of the programme arrangement committee, Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, president of Kuakata Press Club, Motaleb Sharif, president of Kuakata Hotel Motel Resort Association, and Abdul Barek Molla, former UP chairman, addressed the participants in different sessions, among others.

The speakers said recovery from drug addiction is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless the situation seems.

They urged everyone not to give up the recovery struggle, even if there is a history of failure. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Ukhia becomes safe haven for human traffickers n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Ukhira upazila of Cox’s Bazar has virtually turned into a haven for human traffickers because a section of interested groups can smuggle people off to Malaysia using the Badamtoli area as a meeting place for the human traffickers, thanks to the constant indifference of the district administration.

Previously, human traffickers chose the nighttime for trafficking people, but now they do not care about timings as they have started sending aspiring migrant workers to Malaysia by boat from the spot, even in the daytime.

Local people are astonished at the negligence of the law enforcement agencies.

Most of the victims are from lowincome groups and have been lured by unscrupulous middlemen who promise to provide them with employment in Malaysia at a minimal cost.

Some reliable sources said at first, several middlemen gather aspiring mi-

Man kills two sisters-in-law in Sylhet n Our Correspondent, Sylhet A man allegedly hacked his two sistersin-law to death at Pantamai village in Goainghat upazila yesterday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Hasina Begum, 40, wife of Aziruddin, and Maleka Begum, 38, wife of Jasmu Miah of the village.

Quoting locals, police said Mokan Miah, 45, son of late Askar Ali, had an altercation with his two sisters-in-law (wives of his two brothers) over planting saplings on the bank of a river near their house around 1pm.

At one stage, he hacked Hasina and Maleka indiscriminately with a sharp weapon, leaving them dead on the spot.

Later, locals caught Mokan while trying to flee and handed him over to police. l

Chandpur’s rail link back after 31 hrs n Our Correspondent, Chandpur The railway communications on Chandpur-Chittagong route, which was suspended following a train derailment, has resumed after 31 hours early yesterday.

Meanwhile the communications between Chandpur-Laksham and Chandpur-Comilla were also suspended.

The train services resumed on the routes around 12:30am.

Railway sources said the communication resumed when three relief trains from Laksham, Chittagong and Akhaura went to the spot. l

grant workers from different districts, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Jessore, Barisal, Satkhira, Benapole, Rajshahi, Khulna, at the Badamtoli area, after taking money from them.

As the migration cost via the sea route is comparatively low, these people risk their lives to make it to their destination illegally.

The middlemen use small fishing boats to carry the Malaysia-bound passengers from the coastal Ukhia upazila and hand them over to another group with large engine-run boats near St Martin’s Island.

According to local sources, around 200 people of the Palang union under the Ukhia upazila are involved in the human tracking.

Local people said a syndicate comprising Foyez Ahmed and Abul Kalam, in collaboration with local police, have been running the racket.

Local sources also alleged that brokers have to pay Tk1,000 to the

police and Tk500 to the local Awami League leaders for each aspiring migrant worker.

Mobarak Hossen, a resident of the Badamtoli area, said, “Every day we find new people in our locality. Perhaps they are aspiring migrant workers.”

He said almost everybody in the area knows who are involved with human tracking in Badamtoli, but nobody dares to say anything as the human trafficking racket had good connections with higher-ups.

When contacted, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhia police station Jahidul Kabir said they were conducting raids on a regular basis to stop human tracking through the sea routes.

When asked about their liaison with the human traffickers, he said the allegations against them were false and baseless.

He said, “If we have liaisons with the human traffickers, no case will be filed against them, but you know that we often file cases against them. l

Headmaster suspended over sexual Abducted trader rescued n abuse allegations in Patuakhali Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

n Our Correspondent, Barisal The school management committee of a primary school in the Kalapara upazila, Patuakhali, suspended the school’s headmaster until further notice over several complaints of sexual abuse made against him by the students and guardians.

Students of Badurtali Colony Government Primary School and their guardians met Abdus Salam Sardar, the committee’s president, on Tuesday and demand-

ed the immediate removal of the headmaster, Gazi Zahirul Islam, Salam said.

They also threatened to boycott the term examination if their demand was not met, the committee president added.

As many as 11 girls from Class V in the school alleged that Zahirul often used offensive language and called female students to his room after class in the name of tuition, where he sexually assaulted them.

Mazharul Islam, vice-president of the school management committee,

‘225MW power plant in Bhola to start production soon’ n Our Correspondent, Bhola Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said, yesterday, the residents of Bhola will be rid of the load shedding soon as the gas-based 225-MW power plant in the Borhanuddin upazila will start production by November this year.

“The gas-based plant will generate 150MW by November this year and the production will increase to 225MW by March, next year,” the minister said while commissioning the gas-based 24MW power station.

One day there will be no electricity crisis in the district and electricity from Bhola’s power plants will be supplied to the national grid, the minister said.

The minister also said the government will take steps to repair the 34.5

gas-based rental power plant that was suspended from generating electricity because of technical glitches in October, last year.

The present government has reduced the power crisis by a large extent, the minister said, adding that the government allocated Tk32 crore to prevent river erosion in Bhola.

In his speech, Power Secretary Manowarul Islam said Bangladesh will be able to generate 24,000MW of electricity by 2021 and 40,000MW by 2030.

Venger Energy Resources Limited Chairman Anisur Rahman Sinha attended the function as a special guest. Deputy Commissioner of Bhola, officials from Power Development Board, and others, were present at the function. l

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Local Government Engineering Department Office of the Executive Engineer District: Rajshahi.

Tel: 0721-775553, Fax, 0721-770281

Email: egp.xen.raj@lged.gov.bd xen.rajshahi@lged.gov.bd

Memo No: LGED/XEN/RAJ/2014/1420

Date: 24.04.2014

e-Tender Notice Number: 33/2013-14 e-Tender is invited in the National e-GP System Portal (http://www.eprocure. gov.bd) for the procurement of the below Packages.

Sl No.

ID Number

Tender Documents last selling Date & Time

Tender Closing Date & Time

1

2

3

4

01

7838

21-05-2014 Time: 16.00 22-05-2014 Time: 13.00

02

7837

28-05-2014 Time: 16.00 29-05-2014 Time: 13.00

These are an online Tender, where only e-Tender will be accept in the National e-GP Portal and no offline/hard copies will be accepted.

To submit e-Tender, registration in the National e-GP System Portal (http:// www.eprocure.gov.bd) is required.

Further informaiton and guidelines are available in the National e-GP System Portal and from help desk (helpdesk@eprocure.gov.bd)

GC-55/14 (7×3)

Farmers collect watermelons from a field in Borua village of Gopalganj yesterday. Farmers of the district have witnessed bumper yield of watermelon this year DHAKA TRIBUNE

(Md. Akhter Hossain) Executive Engineer LGED, Rajshahi Ph: 0721-775553.

One held for kidnapping schoolboy n Our Correspondent, Natore

Police have arrested a man for kidnapping a class seven student at Baraigram upazila in Natore yesterday afternoon.

The arrestee is Johnny, son of Ruhul Amin of Kalikapur village.

Banpara police camp In-Charge Krishna Mohon said: “Johnny and his followers called Saimun Islam Shuvo to see his microscope on Wednesday afternoon.”

“Later, they detained him at an abandoned room in the area and tied up his hands,” he said.

He said: “Shuvo ran away through the window of the room when he was able to loosen the tie of his hands Friday afternoon when Johnny went out of the room.”

Shuvo took shelter in a residence after running out from the room.

On informed, a team of Banpara police went to the spot and rescued the boy.

Following his statements police arrested Johnny.

Krishna Mohon said: “Johnny has stated that they had kidnapped Shuvo to collect 40 thousand money from his parents.” l

said the committee had an emergency meeting with other teachers of the school and investigated the allegations.

“After finding some truth to the accusations, we verbally asked the headmaster to not come to work from Thursday until the education department resolved the matter,” he said.

Ruhul Amin, primary education officer in Kalapara, said his office would take action after receiving a written complaint.

But Zahirul denied all allegations. l

Police have found a consumer electronics trader in Sirajganj, still alive eight days after he was abducted.

Zillur Rahman, 31, was found unconscious yesterday morning and was admitted to the Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. He is the son of Abul Hossain of the Chongacha union in the sadar upazila.

Police said Abu Sadat said Zillur was kidnapped from his shop on April 17.

Police then began drives to try to rescue the trader and arrested suspected criminal Zillur, 40, of Banbaria village under thr Salanga thana on April

22. He was put on a 1-day remand.

Just a day later, locals informed police when they saw the abducted Zillur lying unconscious on the ground beside the Chongacha graveyard.

SP Sadat said the trader and the accused Zillur have the same name and are friends. “The 31-year-old took Tk2.5 lakh from the 40-year-old, saying he would send him abroad. He, however, did not send his friend, the accused, abroad and did not return the money either. This is why the accused Zillur abducted and held the trader Zillur, in an attempt to get his money back,” he claimed. l

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University Office of the Director Planning, Development & Works

Memo No: BSMRSTU/PD&W/301/2013-14

Date-22/04/2014

Invitation for Tender (IFT No-07/R) Sealed tenders are hereby invited from the bona fide Suppliers/Importers or their authorized Local Agents/Distributors/ Representatives for Supplying, Installing & Commissioning of Furniture for BSMRSTU, Gopalgonj: 1

Ministry/Division

Ministry of Education (MoE)

2

Agency

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University Gopalganj-8100

3

Procuring Entity Name

Director, Planning, Developments & Works, bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University.

4

Procuring Entity District

Gopalganj

5

Invitation for

Supply of Furniture.

6

Invitation reference No

BSMRSTU/PD&W/301/2013-14

7

Date

22/04/2014

8

Procurement Method

Open Tendering Method (OTM)

9

Budget and Source of Funds

GOB

10

Tender package No

GD(R)-23

11

Tender Publication Date

Within 29/04/2014

12

Tender Selling Date

30/04/2014 to 20/05/2014 During Office hour.

13

Name and address of the office for receiving Tender document

Office of the Director, Planning, Development & Works, BSMRSTU, Gopalganj-8100

14

Last date and time of receiving tender

Date: 21/05/2014, Time: 01.00 PM (Tender may be submitted on or before 21/05/2014 through physically/post/courier service during office hours. No Tender Document will be received after deadline for submission).

15

Tender Opening Date and Time

21/05/2014

16

Selling tender Document

Office of the Director, Planning, Development & Works, BSMRSTU, Gopalganj-8100

17

Eligibility of Tender

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi)

18

Brief Description of Goods or works

Supply Installation & commissioning of Furniture.

19

Tender document price

Tender Document can be purchased by submitting either Pay Order or Bank draft6amounting Tk. 4000/- in favor of Registrar, BSMRSTU, Gopalganj.

20

2.30PM

Up-to-date trade license Vat registration certificate Up-to-date income tax clearance certificate Experience certificate in similar & general mentioned as TDS. Bank solvency certificate & Bank Statement as mentioned in TDS. Competency certificate after sale service as motioned in the TDS & must follow the other criteria mentioned in the TDS. (vii) Money receipt of purchasing tender document shall have to be submitted along with tender documents. (viii) A Duplicate Copy shall be submitted along with Tender Document.

P. No

Identification of Package

Location

Tender Security

Completion time

GD(R)-23

Supply of Furniture

BSMRSTU, Gopalganj

3.00% of quoted Amount

Within 30 days from the date of Work Order

Tender Security shall be in favor of Registrar, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj.

21

Name of official inviting Tender

Engineer S.M. Eskendar Ali

22

Designation of official inviting Tender & Address

Director (In-Charge), Planning, Development & Works. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj.

23

Contact details of Official Inviting Tender

Tel. No. 02-6682258, Fax-02-6682173, email- director.pdw@bsmrstu.edu.bd Website- www.bsmrstu.edu.bd (tender notice available in website)

24

Special instruction

1. Lowest rate will be evaluated package wise under packages.

2. if it is not possible to receive & open the tender on the Scheduled date for any unavoidable circumstances, the same will be received and opened on the following working date and same time and same place.

3. if the tenderer submits any false/incorrect/fake/fabricated/manipulated certificate with tender document, tender security shall be forfeited without assigning any reason.

4. The Procuring entity reserves the right to accept to reject any or all tenders without assigning any reason whatsoever and also reserve the right to omit, increase and/or decrease the quantity of any item from the tender. The bidders must abide by the decision of authority. Tender form schedule of items of supply, tender notice and terms and condition etc. are integral part of the tender. The bidders should write the name of the package and the name of their firm on the envelope clearly, VAT, income Taxes, if any imposed by the govt. will be deducted from their bills as per govt rules.

GC-54/14(11×4)

Engineer S.M. Eskender Ali Director (In-Charge) Planning Development & Works

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Russia says Kiev will face justice for ‘bloody crime’ in Ukraine n Reuters, Moscow/Kiev Russia warned Kiev on Friday that it would face justice for a “bloody crime” in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Russian rebels a day earlier, while Washington said Moscow was running out of time to defuse the crisis before facing further sanctions.

“They (Kiev) are waging a war on their own people. This is a bloody crime, and those who pushed the army to do that will pay, I am sure, and will face justice,” Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, told a meeting of diplomats.

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s also provided a reminder of the costs of the dispute to Moscow, as it cut the country’s ratings, forcing Russia’s central bank to raise its key interest rate to reverse a drop in the ruble.

Lavrov said Moscow was committed to implementing an agreement struck in Geneva on April 17 between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to ease tensions in Ukraine and disarm illegal groups but accused Washington of distorting it with “one-sided demands.”

The Defence Ministry said it was

ready for “unbiased and constructive” talks with the United States to stabilize the situation.

US President Barack Obama, who accuses Moscow of sending agents to coordinate the unrest in the east, as it did before seizing Ukraine’s Crimea region in February, is planning to call allies in Europe later in the day to nudge them towards tougher sanctions.

“The window to change course is closing,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said late on Thursday, citing Obama’s earlier comments that Washington was ready to impose new sanctions, on top of those imposed after Crimea was annexed.

Kerry said Russia was using propaganda to hide what it was trying to do in eastern Ukraine - destabilize the region and undermine next month’s Ukrainian presidential elections - and denounced its “threatening movement” of troops up to Ukraine’s border.

“If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake,” Kerry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has scoffed at the sanctions so far imposed, which have been limited to travel bans and overseas assets freezes on individuals. l

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Obama: North Korean nuclear threats useless n AFP, Seoul

Ukrainian special forces officers stand guard near a defence barrier made of spikes at a check-point on the road between Donetsk and Slavyansk, not far from the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, on April 25 AFP

North Korea will gain "nothing" by making threats, US President Barack Obama said Friday, warning it of sanctions with "more bite" if it went ahead with a fourth nuclear test.

Speaking in South Korea as satellite images revealed the North could be preparing for another test, Obama stressed that Washington and Seoul stood "shoulder to shoulder" in their refusal to accept a nuclear North Korea.

Even China, the North's only major ally, was becoming alienated by its provocative behaviour, he said on the second leg of his Asian tour.

"Threats will get North Korea nothing, other than greater isolation," Obama said at a joint press conference with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye. "China is beginning to recognise that North Korea is not just a nuisance but a significant problem for their own security," he added.

North Korea-watchers have puzzled over whether the test preparations at the Punggye-ri test site they have seen via satellite images are real, or bravado aimed at stealing the limelight during the US president's tour.

But the latest images suggested increased movement of vehicles and materials near what are believed to be the

entrances to two completed test tunnels, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its closely followed 38 North website.

Also visible were probable command and control vehicles intended to provide secure communications between the test site and other facilities.

North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

The 38 North analysis noted that preparations for the test in February last year had peaked two or three days before detonation.

Asked how the international community might react, Obama said it would be necessary to look at "additional ways" to apply pressure, including "further sanctions that have even more bite.”

Obama's tough talking on what he called "the most isolated country in the world" stood in marked contrast to the warm words of sympathy he had for his hosts, still racked with grief over the 300 people dead or missing after a ferry full of schoolchildren capsized last week.

"I'm very mindful that my visit comes at a time of mourning for the people of this nation," he said ahead of talks with Park at the presidential Blue House.

"I just want to express, on the part of the American people, condolences for the incredible loss." l

Divided Israelis and Palestinians share skepticism over peace talks

ICC prosecutor to open initial probe on Ukraine

n Reuters, Jerusalem

n AFP, The Hague

An Israeli decision to suspend snarled negotiations with the Palestinians has signaled the latest and perhaps the final blow to two decades of a mostly fruitless peace process.

But the day after the US-led talks were frozen amid mutual recrimination, no angry crowds gathered in the de-facto Palestinian capital Ramallah to urge a rethink and no propeace protesters thronged a sun-filled Tel Aviv.

Hopes for winning a stable future through political dialogue have largely evaporated on both sides in recent years, and focus has drifted to the more

immediate struggles of daily life.

“It comes as no surprise. From the beginning I didn’t think there would be a peace deal,” said Jerusalem resident Guy Cohen, 40, a manager of infrastructure projects who spoke standing outside his car with his children buckled up inside.

“The peace process, politics, it never even enters my mind on a day-to-day basis. Things like family, livelihood, sports, are more important. Politics is much lower down.”

Mahmoud Idrissi, 28, a taxi driver in the adjacent West Bank city of Ramallah, seemed to agree.

“I live my life and try to enjoy being with my friends and family. Maybe

some day things will get better, but I don’t see how,” he said, chewing on sunflower seeds.

“The politicians’ talk is empty, forget it. We’ve heard it all before, and nothing changes.”

When the landmark Oslo Peace Accords were inked in 1993 and the Palestinians gained limited rule in Israeli-occupied lands, dialogue promised to be the best way towards a lasting peace.

But the spread of Jewish settlements, periodic Palestinian uprisings and cyclical spasms of tit-for-tat violence, have hardened hearts and inspired fatalism.

Um Wadiya, a 50-year old Jerusa-

lemite clad in a traditional black robe and Muslim headscarf, grumbles at the spread of settlers in her neighborhood: “There’s no future as long as they’re around. They control all the good things.”

“I do hope there will be peace some day,” she adds. “But it’s all in God’s hands.”

Palestinians seek a state in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem - lands Israelcaptured in a 1967 war.

Israel says it is ready to live alongside a Palestinian state, but they disagree over its borders, seek guarantees for their security and want Palestinians to recognise them as a “Jewish state.” l

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor has opened a initial probe into crimes committed before and during the fall of Ukraine's ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, the court said on Friday.

If the court launches a full probe, it would be the first outside the African continent, where governments have often accused the ICC of targeting only their leaders.

"The prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, has decided to open a preliminary investigation into the situation in the Ukraine to establish whether... the criteria for opening a (full) investigation

are met," the court said in a statement.

"The prosecutor shall consider issues of jurisdiction, admissibility and the interests of justice," before deciding on a full investigation, the ICC added, saying the initial investigation was opened "as a matter of policy.”

"If there was a reasonable basis for an investigation, it is then up to her (Bensouda) to ask the court's judges for authorisation," ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told AFP. Ukraine earlier this month accepted ICC jurisdiction to probe alleged crimes committed between November 21, when pro-EU demonstrations erupted in Kiev, and February 22, when Yanukovych was ousted. l

Deadly mosque bombing Unable to vote, ‘mumbaikars’ vent anger n in Pakistan city Reuters, New Delhi

n

Agencies

A bomb attack in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, has killed at least four people and wounded 30 others, five of them seriously, according to provincial officials.

Senior police officer, Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, said Friday’s attack took place outside a mosque in the upscale Clifton neighbourhood in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, according to the AP news agency.

Sindh’s police chief, Iqbal Mehmood said the explosion had been caused by 10kg of explosives planted on a rickshaw. Speaking from the blast site, he said the attack targeted provincial government officials, Al Jazeera’s Asad Hashim reported.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack but provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Memon pointed his finger at the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). l

Angry voters in India’s financial capital of Mumbai turned to lawyers and social media on Friday to vent anger at election authorities, a day after thousands were reportedly unable to cast ballots due to irregularities in the voting lists.

Mumbai voters were among the 180 million people who were registered to vote in the sixth phase of India’s mammoth general election on Thursday, but many were unable to cast ballots when their names were not found on the electoral lists.

“I went to the booth and they could not find my name ... it was disappointing, we’ve all been building up to this,” said Mumbai resident Govindraj Ethiraj, adding that up to 20 people at his polling station had the same problem.

Ethiraj said he had voted at the booth in the last three elections without any problem. The problem also affected some well-known Mumbai residents including Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC, one of India’s biggest mortgage lenders, he told media.

India is halfway through the world’s largest-ever election in which its 815

million registered voters will complete the polls over 10 stages on May 12. Results are due on May 16.

HS Brahma, one of India’s election commissioners, acknowledged that lack of coordination between authorities had led to some lapses and he promised to fix the problem before local elections due later this year.

“We’ll rectify them, whatever mistake we have seen. We really regret (it),” Brahma told Reuters.

A Mumbai-based law firm planning to file a public interest litigation in court next week said it had received

about 5,000 queries and 250 people had signed up to the litigation.

“A citizen has been deprived of his right to vote and consequently has the right for redressal,” said Mohan Jayakar, a senior partner at the law firm, Jayakar and Partners.

Having an identification card issued by the poll panel is not enough to vote in India and it is mandatory for voters to have their names on the electoral list of their constituency.

Similar problems surfaced in Pune, a city in the western state of Maharashtra that went to polls on April 17. l

Tiny Marshall Islands to sue US, others over nuclear arms n AFP, The Hague

Brides sit together during a mass wedding ceremony in Peshawar, April 25. A total of 25 couples from the Pakistan’s northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the ceremony, organised by Al-Khidmat Foundation, a welfare organisation of Pakistan’s political and religious party Jammat-e-Islami REUTERS

The tiny Marshall Islands is dragging the United States and eight other nuclear-armed countries to the UN's highest court for failing to halt the nuclear arms race and rid the world of atomic weapons.

Representatives of the Marshall Islands, site of devastating nuclear tests in the mid-20th century, "yesterday filed ... separate applications against nine states," the Hague-based International Court of Justice said in a statement on Friday.

China, North Korea, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Britain and the United States are accused of "not fulfilling their obligations with respect to the cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament."

The government based in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro said by not stopping the nuclear arms race, the countries continued to breach their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – even if the treaty has not been by signed by some like India and Pakistan.

The Marshall islands also included Israel, widely believed to be the sole – if undeclared – nuclear armed power in the Middle East.

Majuro's representatives said the Marshall Islands decided to sue the world's nuclear heavyweights as "it has a particular awareness of the dire consequences of nuclear weapons."

Last month the Marshall Islands marked 60 years since the devastating hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, that vapourised an island and exposed thousands in the surrounding area to radioactive fallout.

The 15-megaton test on March 1, 1954, was part of the intense Cold War nuclear arms race and a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The United States conducted repeated tests between 1946 and 1958 in the Marshall Islands, Majuro's representatives said in papers filed in court.

Last month Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak called on the US to resolve the "unfinished business" of its nuclear testing legacy, saying compensation provided by Washington "does not provide a fair and just settlement."

US ambassador Thomas Armbruster said the United States is continuing to work with the Marshall Islands to provide health care and environmental monitoring of several affected islands. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Silk roads

The term Silk Road was coined in the late 19th century by the aristocratic German traveller, Baron von Richthofen, and has become one of the most valuable and income generating icons in today’s travel and tourism lexicon

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

S

n Tim Steel

tirring, as it surely does, in the imaginations of those for whom the search for luxuries is often as much an adventure as an indulgence, justifiable visions of the silk and fine cotton fabrics, the spices and herbs, the gemstones and precious metals, the pearls beyond comparison, and valuable woods, it offers the greatest of sensual rewards for travel in expectation and anticipation.

Today, hundreds of thousands of the more adventurous, curious and better heeled of international tourists swarm along the route across Central Asia, first described by Marco Polo, the 13th/14th century traveller and merchant from Venice. China, of course, was the aim of his travels, not least because he almost certainly knew that, for perhaps two thousand years, it had been the source of many of the luxuries demanded by an ever-increasingly wealthy and demanding European population.

The mansions and palaces, forts and temples, ancient churches and mosques, the visible, the touchable, stir and stimulate imaginations of that great and ancient heritage.

This Central Asian route is, today, often referred to simply, as though definitively, as “The Silk Road,” but as Zhang Xianyi, the former Ambassador to Bangladesh of The People’s

Republic of China put it so succinctly in his memoir celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, “In the long river of history, there were three Silk Roads.”

The Northern Silk Road, as he calls it, started, as, being Chinese, he would say, in the central region of ancient China, and extended into Europe.

The second he describes, is certainly the one with which Europe is more familiar today, the Maritime Route.

he calls the Southern Silk Road. As he says, this route is, in fact, widely believed to be the earliest route between China and the lands of India, dating from at least the 4th century BCE; it was also, as we shall see, the route to the Ganges delta, for which there is plenty of evidence as an international trading centre, open to trade from south east Asia, all the way west to the growing empires of Europe.

In his own work, “Between Winds

The trade in the Ganges delta was also, fifty years earlier than the Periplus. The great scholar Strabo, in his work Geographia, writes of the ‘merchants who sail from Egypt, even to the Ganges...’

But this maritime Route also has a fairly ancient history. Zhang describes it as being pioneered shortly after the Northern Silk Road was opened, with its connections to the Indian subcontinent from Bactria, through Afghanistan, down to the lands of the Indus.

In his fascinating memoir, however, Zhang dwells considerably on what

The Southern Silk Road is believed to be the earliest between China and the lands of India and led to the Ganges delta

and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan,” published by Colombia University, New York in 2008, Professor Bin Yang, now of The National of Singapore, shares Zhang’s view.

He cites archaeological evidence, such as the presence of money cowries from the Indian Ocean in 3rd century BCE tombs in Yunnan. But he also

CREDIT

shares the same documentary evidence as Zhang Xianyi of reports of the 2nd century BCE emissary of the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian.

Bin Yang amplifies that evidence, by reporting that Qian travelled, first, to Yunnan to examine the trading routes there into ancient India. Reluctant to disclose the truth, and being subjected to further Imperial taxation and interference, Yunnanese traders claimed to use the more conspicuous route across the Tibetan plateau to Bactria. A difficult, and arduous, route over mountains, across great ice fields, and through barbaric territories.

It was, however, the route that Qian then took after leaving Yunnan, arriving in Bactria, in the north of today’s Afghanistan, north of the Hindu Kush mountains.

In 122 BCE, Qian returned to the city that today we know as Xi’an, then known as Chang’an, capital of the western Han Emperor, Liu Che. His report is quoted in the work, Shiji, by the Western Han Dynasty historian, Sima Qian, “When I was in Bactria, I saw bamboo sticks from the Qionglai Mountain (in today’s Sichuan Province) and cloth made in the Shu area (also in Sichuan Province). When I asked the locals where they got such articles, they replied, ‘Our merchants go to buy them in the markets of India.

India lies many hundred miles southeast of Bactria. The people there live much like us. The region is hot and damp. The inhabitants ride elephants when they go into battle. The kingdom is situated by a great river.’”

Qian commented that if Bactrians could get Shu articles from India, then India could not be so far away from Shu. He went on to comment that since the route from Shu ( Sichuan) to Bactria is across the high plateau of Tibet, which he described, as well he might from personal experience, a “risky route,” the Sichuan via India to Bactria route was probably the better one.

In all this, we need to remind ourselves that Qian’s journey took place some two hundred years later than the curious diversion of Alexander the Great into India, and his march across North India, that only stopped, and turned into a retreat, at the borders of Gangaridai, the contemporary kingdom of the Ganges delta.

We already know, from archaeological evidence emerging from, amongst other places, the ancient Brahmaputra bank side city at Wari Bateshwar, amongst, in all probability, others, that there was a rich and flourishing trade with Arab, Egyptian and Greek and Roman merchants in the Ganges delta.

There seems, in fact, little doubt that Chinese silk was not the least of the trades through the delta, a supposition confirmed in the mid first century CE Roman publication, the trading handbook for merchants, “The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,” that notes that amongst the cargoes available in the Ganges delta was “raw silk, from an inland city called Thina, listing, also, a number of other cargoes available.”

The trade in the Ganges delta was also, fifty years earlier than the

Periplus, confirmed by the great Greco Roman scholar, Strabo, an associate of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor, when, in his great work, Geographia, he writes of the ‘merchants who sail from Egypt, even to the Ganges...’

This, then, explains and substantiates the existence of trade with China, through the lands that are now Bangladesh, for thousands of years. A trade that brought, first traders, then philosophers; a trade that certainly financed great cultural advances, not least Sanskrit, and the great new religions of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.

And, with it all, to visit, experience, touch and feel, the mansions and palaces, the forts and temples, ancient public buildings and ancient mosques, and the emerging, sunken cities, also to bring to life for tourists, the rich and ancient heritage of these extraordinary lands that are Bangladesh.

The great mystery remains, why, if the history of Bangladesh encompasses the origins of one of the world’s great tourism icons, and quite probably the earliest, is Bangladesh apparently unwilling, or incapable of capitalising on it to attract the most sophisticated, best educated and wealthiest of international tourists?

In all this, we need to remind ourselves that Alexander the Great stopped, and turned into a retreat, at the borders of, the contemporary kingdom of the Ganges delta

The remote regions of Central Asia have benefitted enormously in job creation and foreign currency with no noticeable socially negative effect, and there is no great secret involved in securing the same for Bangladesh.

The historic wealth generated by the historic trade brought such great invaders as the Pathan, the Mughals and the British and other Europeans to the lands of Bangladesh. Together, the diverse peoples of Bangladesh, and the traders, visitors and conquerors have woven the rich tapestry that is modern Bangladesh.

Beautiful, much of Bangladesh may be, though, in truth, scarcely comparable to the breathtaking beauty of other nations. But the history and the cultural heritage of Bangladesh is, simply like no other, and rests on one of the earliest, and most significant, centres of international trade in the history of the world. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

9

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Essential female health tests There’s no doubt that your body changes as you age. For women, regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. Here’s a closer look at the latest recommendations What health tests and checkups do you really need this year? We know it’s confusing, so that’s why we tried to figure out what mediHEALTH cal exams women reFLASH ally need. These tests can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment are better.

As a woman, you need some special exams and screenings. There are some simple health tests for women which could save your health.

In your 60s+

Retirement provides more time to focus on a healthy lifestyle.

Recommended screening

In your 20s -30s

As you finish your education, you establish a career and embark on relationships and families, often with children.

Your health is at its peak. Get plenty of exercise and sleep, eat a balanced diet and take frequent breaks. Just remember to keep an eye on your health.

Recommended tests:

Pap test: Screen for cervical cancer every two years, for women over 18, or one to two years after becoming sexually active.

STIs: Annual screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in all sexually active women under the age of 25. Screening for other STIs (sexually transmitted infections), such as gonorrhoea, HIV, and syphilis, if indicated by risk assessment.

BMI and waist circumference assessment: Every two years, in people who are overweight; annually for those at increased risk of diabetes, stroke, gout, liver, cardiovascular or gallbladder disease.

Type 2 diabetes test: Every three years from age 18.

Blood pressure: All adults from the age of 18 should check their blood pressure at least every two years.

Breast cancer self-check: All women should be familiar with the look and feel of their breasts and report changes to their physician.

Colorectal cancer screening: Every one to two years, from age 25, for those have a family history of colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, rectal cancer, bowel cancer.

Depression: Opportunistic screening

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with effective treatment and follow-up.

Dental check-ups: Every 12 months.

Eye check: The most reported health condition in the 20s is short-sightedness.

Fertility check: If you’re trying to get pregnant or have hormone problems, a fertility test can rule out infertility, endometriosis, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

HPV vaccine: The cervical cancer vaccine which protects women against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), is free to all women aged 12 to 26.

In your 40s - 50s

Work-life balance continues to be a struggle and, while you’re still relatively healthy, you’ll have to work harder to keep it up. In your 50s your children begin to leave home, you’ll have more

Bacteria in contact lens solution

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keratitis can be devastating for a patient – it is important that the risk of developing this condition is reduced in contact lens wearers by improving contact lens disinfectant solutions. The investigators tested nine strains of P aeruginosa gathered from hospital patients in Britain and compared them to P aeruginosa strain 9027, which is the standard one used in tests by makers of contact lens disinfectant solutions.

Most of the strains were killed within 10 minutes after being placed in the contact lens solution, a result comparable to strain 9027. However, strain 39016 – which causes more severe cases of keratitis with a longer healing time – survived in the solution for more than four hours.

Eye check

Kidney disease: Screening

recom-

Numerous studies have suggested that caffeine has many health benefits. According to a study published in the jourDID YOU nal Nature NeurosciKNOW? ence a new research suggests that a dose of caffeine after a learning session may help boost longterm memory. In this study, the researchers found that subjects who took caffeine were better at identifying pictures that were similar, compared with participants who took the placebo. The research team conducted experiments using 100 mg and 300 mg doses of caffeine. They found that performance was better after the 200 mg dose, compared with the 100 mg dose, but there was no improvement after the 300 mg of caffeine, compared with 200 mg. Thus, the research concluded that a dose of at least 200 mg is required to observe the enhancing effect of caffeine on consolidation of memory. They investigators say there are many possibilities as to how caffeine may enhance long-term memory. For example, they say it may block a molecule called adenosine, pre-

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venting it from stopping the function of norepinephrine - a hormone that has been shown to have positive effects on memory. But further research should be conducted to better understand the mechanisms by which caffeine affects long-term memory.

According to the latest figures from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes 300 mg of caffeine a day. The main sources of the compound are coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

Many studies have suggested that caffeine offers health benefits. Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that caffeinated drinks may reduce the risk of liver disease, while another study says drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day may reduce suicide risk. But it is not all good news.

One study suggests that the stimulant is able to disrupt sleep patterns hours after consuming it, while another proposes that caffeine from energy drinks may alter heart function. l

Common causes of constipation include a diet low in fibre and fluids.

So, improving your diet can help to relieve and prevent constipation.

A diet low in fibre increases the time taken for food to pass through the colon, causing the colon to absorb too much water and produce hard stools. Fibre, with adequate amounts of fluid, helps to form a soft bulky stool, which stimulates bowel movement.

Tips for increasing your fibre intake: Regularly eat wholegrain or wholemeal breads and cereals such as brown rice, wholemeal pasta, wholegrain crispbreads and wheatmeal biscuits in preference to white varieties.

Add legumes such as baked beans, kidney beans, lima beans, soybeans, chickpeas, dried peas, and lentils to soups, casseroles, salads and sauces.

Eat unpeeled fruits (eg: apples and pears) and vegetables (such as potatoes) wherever possible — the skins are a valuable source of fibre.

Where possible, choose to eat the whole fruit instead of drinking the juice – the juice contains no fibre.

It is also important to note that fibre absorbs water, so to further assist the effects of fibre on bowel regularity, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. In addition to diet, exercise is also important in the treatment and prevention of constipation. Regular exercise stimulates abdominal and intestinal muscles, which help to move our bowels, and provide faster transit times for stools.

Check the food label

Food label is very important, but most of us ignore it. Food label includes a list of ingredients of that food product. Through it a food can be charachterised, which is important for a health conscious people.

Food label is the list of ingredients of a packed or canned food according to weight. Even water must also be listed in order according to its weight, except where it makes up less than 5% of the finished food. If this is the case, it does not need to be declared. Food label means that you will be able to see the proportion (by percentage) of the ingredient which is used in the name or is used to describe the product. These ingredients, may not be the main ingredient in terms of weight, but will be the ingredient which gives the food its character. For example, the following ingredients list is for “wholegrain breakfast biscuits,” which you can see in the ingredients list is “characterised” by wholegrain wheat: whole wheat (97%), raw sugar, salt, malt extract, vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate), mineral (iron).

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

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used to prepare poultry were contaminated with multidrug-resistant E coli bacteria. So it is very important to maintain hand hygiene and cleaning of cutting boards to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Milk may slow knee joint pain in knee in women

Osteoarthritis is the leading form of arthritis and affects millions of women in the world. Milk may be a useful

Pap test: Every two years.

Mammogram and/or ultrasound: If you’re considered high risk, you should have one every two years. Otherwise, perform regular self-checks.

BMI and waist circumference: Every two years for those who are overweight; annually for those at increased risk.

Type 2 diabetes test: Every three years.

Blood pressure: Every two years; more regularly if you’re considered high risk.

Depression: Opportunistic screening with effective treatment and follow-up.

Dental check-ups: Every 12 months.

Hyperlipidaemia screening: Checking

n Dr Sajol Ashfaq

Cutting boards in kitchen can cause deadly infections E coli is a common bacterium which can cause diarrhoea and urinary tract infection. In a recent study, researchers found this bacterium on cutting boards in the kitchen. Swiss researchers analysed 154 cutting boards from University Hospital in Basel and 144 cutting boards from private homes after they were used to prepare poultry, pork, beef/veal, lamb, game, or fish.

The results showed that 6.5 percent of the hospital cutting boards and 3.5 percent of the household cutting boards

Recommended tests:

cholesterol and blood lipids in women without other cardiovascular risk factors is recommended every five years from the age of 45.

Stroke risk: All those over the age of 45 should be screened for risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Osteoporosis: All women over 40 should be assessed.

Colorectal cancer screening: Every one to two years for those considered high risk (a family history of bowel cancer).

Skin cancer self-check: Self-checks every three months; high-risk people over 40 should be examined.

Caffeine may act as a memory booster

HEALTH NEWS

Bacteria that can cause serious eye infections are able to survive longer in contact lens cleaning solution than was previously known, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause microbial keratitis. This is an inflammation and ulceration of the cornea that can cause vision loss. Microbial

time to focus on health. Have regular check-ups and continue good exercise and eating programmes.

Pap test: Every two years until age 69, if you have had two normal smears in the previous five years.

Mammogram: Every two years until age 69.

BMI and waist circumference: Every two years if overweight; annually if increased risk.

Type 2 diabetes test: Every three years.

Blood pressure: Every two years or more often if considered higher risk or over 75.

Depression: Opportunistic screening where there is effective treatment and follow-up.

Dental check-ups: Every 12 months.

Hyperlipidaemia screening: Every five years for people without other cardivascular risk factors.

Stroke: Testing for hypertension, dyslipidaemia and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Osteoporosis: All women should be tested. Bone mineral densitometry only in over-65s.

Colorectal cancer: FOBT screening every two years until age 75. Colonoscopy every five years if moderate risk; genetic tests annually for high risk.

Kidney disease: Every year. Those at high risk should have their GFR estimated.

Full health check: Including blood tests.

Eye check: Every 12 months from age 65.

Hearing: Every 12 months from age 65.

Vaccines: Influenza recommended for over-65s. Pneumococcal if high risk.

Dementia screening: If there is a family history, head trauma or early signs.

Remember, everybody is different, so see your doctor to discuss the health screenings that are most relevant to you and your family. l

Steps to relieve constipation

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mended annually from age 50. Those at high risk should also have their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated.

Full health check: Annual blood tests from age 45 for cholesterol, blood sugar and other conditions as indicated by the doctor.

Vaccines: For Influenza and pneumococcal if high risk.

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n Prescription Desk

QUICK TIPS

weapon against arthritis of the knee for women, but the same can’t be said for yogurt or cheese, a new study says. The more low-fat or fat-free milk women drank, the slower the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, according to the study funded by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The study showed milk consumption plays an important role in bone health. The study also indicates that women who frequently drink milk may reduce the progression of osteoarthritis and also have a role to play in maintaining healthy knees.

| Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar

Should diabetics always avoid sugar?

Mahmudul Haque, n Dr Endocrinologist

Question: My husband (40) has recently been diagnosed with diabetes and he tells me he is still allowed to eat foods Q&A with sugar in them. Is this correct? I always thought people with diabetes could not eat sugar.

Barsha, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

Answer: When a person has diabetes, their body has difficulty controlling blood sugar levels, which, if left unmanaged, can lead to serious health consequences. It is because of this that treatment for diabetes focuses on maintaining blood sugar

levels at as normal a level as possible. This can be achieved through a variety of methods, including dietary changes, medication, and insulin therapy. When it comes to diet, carbohydrate in foods is digested by the body and broken down into simple sugars, which then make their way into the blood, which carries them to where they’re needed in the body.

So to help maintain blood sugar levels, foods rich in carbohydrates (such as breads,

cereals, pasta, starchy vegetables, fruit, etc) are recommended to be spread evenly across the day in meals and snacks to help ensure a steady

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flow of carbohydrates.

In addition to this, minimally processed versions of these foods are recommended, as the carbohydrates they contain tend to be digested at a slower rate, helping maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Table sugar is a type of refined carbohydrate that contains no other nutrients and is digested relatively quickly. It can be included in the diet of people with diabetes; however, large amounts will have a big impact on blood sugar levels and in addition, don’t provide the nutrients minimally, processed foods do.

As everyone’s needs differ, it is important to sit down with your doctor or an accredited practicing dietician, who can guide you and your husband through his individual needs. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

End profligate loans by state banks

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ess than a year since the government disbursed Tk4,100 crore to state-owned banks so that they could address capital inadequacies, the Finance Ministry is seeking Tk6,000 crore to recapitalise the four state-owned commercial banks.

It is long overdue for the government to review its policy of using taxpayers money to prop up poor management in state owned banks.

These capital injections are only having to be sought because of the huge losses incurred by the state banks on bad and non-performing loans.

At the end of 2013, the ratio of non-performing loans by state banks stood at just under 20% compared to 11.3% in 2011.

The imprudent and profligate manner in which the state owned banks have been operated, was highlighted by the Hallmark and Bismillah in which they actively extended loans to willful defaulters.

It is clear that private banks have a better track record at making loans because they are better managed and less prone to politically influenced appointments. Their management, being held directly accountable to shareholders, is also proven to be better at managing and reducing risks.

Under these circumstances, the government should not spend valuable public funds to keep the state banks artificially large.

State owned banks should not be given fresh capital. To prevent further losses, they should be barred from disbursing loans to private industrial or trading companies. They should only be allowed to lend money to private banks, which have proven that they are much better at the business of disbursing and collecting loans.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Do we really need digital buses?

Question paper leaks

April 22 After finishing her JSC examination, my younger sister lost interest in studying further. “What’s the need to study so much? There’s no point when the question papers are leaked.” I couldn’t convince her to keep studying, despite my best efforts. My younger brother will sit for the HSC exam, but the question paper for this has also been leaked! I live in Nilphamari, far from Dhaka. Question papers regularly become available in my district the day before the exam itself. In fact, this holds true for not only question papers of public exams, but also public university admission tests, including medical college tests and BCS question papers.

It is already difficult for graduates to land a satisfactory job in the present circumstances. So how can I accuse my sister when I myself am losing interest in studying for the BCS exam? A few more steps remain before I take the exam.

If paper leaks continue, this will jeopardise our education system, and the prospects of our future generation. It is high time the government took effective steps to put an end to these leaks.

Md Imamul Islam Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University

Stop using taxpayers money to prop up poor management

Dry Teesta threatens transport, livelihood in northern districts

April 21

Hanif Repon Thanks for a great initiative that may draw more passengers who are using private cars, which are the main cause of the huge traffic jams we see daily.

Ahmad Hussein Shahnawaz I think this is a brilliant initiative. People will remain connected on their work stations even in the heavy traffic. :-) Danial Mohammad We don’t need “digital buses.” We just need more buses.

Faisal Mohammed Hossain I agree that we don’t need digital buses, but we need not only more buses, but also more roads, bridges, flyovers, and good traffic control above all.

April 20

Kingkortobbobimur This is nothing short of water piracy and environmental terrorism – they destroy our natural resources and then complain of illegal immigration?

Wake up Bangladesh – the hyenas are once again howling at your doorsteps.

DispassionateObserver By denying the due share of waters of common rivers, India has instigated in downstream Bangladesh an ecological disaster of Biblical proportions.

Anyone with knowledge and memories of our rivers from the 70s or earlier can see the sordid state of our rivers today – many are long dead, some are dying, and others have an uncertain fate due to the myriad upstream dams in the pipeline across the border.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi governments of all political stripes have been timid in raising and

extracting our water rights from India. Bilateral negotiations with two unequal partners inevitably fail, apart from promises galore. There are other recourses Bangladesh could, and still can, pursue.

It’s anyone’s guess, for example, why Bangladesh has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Water Courses. As it stands, it requires one more member nation to ratify for the law to come into force.

For Bangladesh, rivers are our arteries and veins – this vascular analogy encompasses an entire gamut of our identity: Economic, social, cultural and so on. It won’t therefore be far-fetched to say: no rivers, no Bangladesh. Yet, our impotent and myopic governments are giving away every bit of leverage we have with India (think of transit, power corridor, and the like) without gaining a just and equitable share of our waters, which is our lifeline.

Country’s first escalatorequipped foot-over bridge in the capital’s Chairman Bari April 20 Well, as long as the public uses over bridges, all will be well.

Shakur Ben Shahid Shovan

The Muslim thirst for global knowledge

Scale up community recycling initiatives

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hagrachhari’s mayor has won plaudits for installing 170 permanent waste bins and 200 temporary bins in the municipality.

The town’s residents and visitors will appreciate this initiative to control the visible eyesore of litter.

Much more still needs to be done to manage waste nationally. As the economy grows, the volume of waste will increase so the country needs to become much more efficient at managing waste.

Waste has always been viewed as a resource by waste pickers and informal recyclers, so schemes which combine this sector with raising public awareness of the importance of fighting litter and improving recycling, should be expanded and supported.

Dhaka’s Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Plan has made some tangible progress in improving the impact of the city’s informal waste sector. However, limited funds and lack of space, mean that Dhaka’s waste, which has grown by over a half in the last decade, is still weakly managed. Collection rates still need improvement and recycling sites have to become better managed so that they themselves do not become a public nuisance.

Awareness raising must be improved so that every citizen feels a responsibility to dispose of litter responsibly. The provision of regularly emptied litter bins in public spaces is only one element of encouraging more sensible waste disposal.

Community based recycling schemes should be encouraged nationwide, so that more household waste is processed responsibly. Experience shows these schemes are highly cost effective and not only boost recycling rates go up, but also make people less likely to litter in other areas.

April 20

nds I wish all Islamic leaders in this country will read this article. If they had inculcated this version of Islam, this country could have been the best place to live in.

pointed out how all this rehashing of a glorious past does very little to solve the problem of the present: Muslim countries simply are stuck in the 7th century while the rest of the world moves forward.

Sam Good article, but largely the same old story of reliving the past. I think one of DT’s own columnists

Anon A very level-headed take on a topic that causes a lot of one-sided rants

Be Heard

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

Raise public awareness and provision for responsible waste management

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Spurious (5) 4 Faucet (3) 6 Sport (4) 8 Nimble (5) 9 Celtic tongue (4) 11 Dwarf buffalo (4) 12 Go furtively (5) 15 Projecting corner (5) 18 Be wanting in (4) 20 Gem (4) 21 Balance (5) 22 Stagger (4) 23 Cleaning aid (3) 24 Make effort (5)

DOWN 1 Alloy (5) 2 Cunning (5) 3 Small spot (5) 4 Lacerated (4) 5 Excuse (4) 7 Acquire knowledge (5) 10 Innermost being (4) 13 Tide attaining least height (4) 14 Joint (5) 15 Fruit (5) 16 Ingrained dirt (5) 17 Build (5) 18 Machine for weaving (4) 19 Fish (4)

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

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Saturday, April 26, 2014

What Rooppur is costing us n Abdul Matin

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Is she putting any useful ideas on the table?

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

For lack of a credible alternative

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n Esam Sohail

am one of those many who consider the so-called election of January 5 to be an utter farce, and the government legitimated by it to be little more than an autocracy whose absolutist tendencies get stronger by the passing day. Thus believing, however, does not make the said government non-existent. What makes the government even less likely to feel the pressure that it should have is the lack of an alternative.

With all due respect to the main opposition BNP, it simply has failed to make a case as to what it brings to the table. Sure, all those nice words and beautiful slogans in manifestoes differentiate in the rhetorical; in the practical, there is little to suggest that the BNP is a credible alternative to the ruling regime today.

This was not always the case and certainly need not be today, for the BNP does enjoy a level of support similar to the ruling party, or even exceeding it if independent polls are to be trusted, and has its own “base” of constituents.

In perhaps the only pithy and concise description of the different types of the Bangladeshi voter, the editor of this newspaper pointed out a couple of years ago that the BNP was the natural home of at least two types of people: The economic growth oriented entrepreneur types, and the cosmopolitan modernists.

As an observer, and former teacher and practitioner of politics, I could not agree more. The problem is that today’s BNP has little to offer either of these two core constituencies that the

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ruling party does not. Is that one of the many reasons that its continued and well-warranted anti-regime agitation since last winter has, to put it charitably, made a very limited impact?

That was not always the case. In fact, in BNP’s first term after the fall of the Ershad regime, several major policy initiatives catered directly to its base: The opening to the world via cable channels, reintroduction of English-medium instruction for national school leaving examinations,

but hardly more than a “we will be less corrupt and less tyrannical” plea which falls on the unreceptive ears of a people who are hankering for some political calm after a volatile winter.

Put it bluntly, the case of “We are not them” is not persuasive to people in Bangladesh or to friends abroad, and the failure of the former prime minister to make development partners lean more heavily on behalf of free elections perhaps illustrates the latter point quite well. Free elections

The BNP is yet to offer that crucial alternative agenda for Bangladesh that can make it something more than “we are not them” party

permission for nonpublic universities, normalisation of agriculture subsidies, and modernising the trade payments system come to mind immediately.

Governments after that have adopted and built on these pioneering measures to a large extent. But that was then. What about now?

As countries slowly move up the economic reform ladder, it is only inevitable that their more educated populations turn their attention to social and political reform. Unfortunately, the main opposition party has simply been absent in this area and, thus, provided no alternative to the things that are. Criticising the corruption and absolutism of the ruling regime is fine,

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are a sine qua non in a democracy; but the case for those elections could have been much more persuasive in real life had the public-local and foreign-been convinced that it was not simply an argument for the Chhatra Dal to be given the exclusive contract on tyranny in the university dormitories as opposed to the BCL. It is a tragedy of monumental proportions for Bangladesh’s stunted democratic progress that months after the travesty of the January 5 elections, the main opposition has yet to articulate a case for itself to its own core constituency. Frankly, the historical rehash of the “who said what in 1971” impresses nobody except

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the ideological purists and personality cultists. Instead of whether Shaheed Ziaur Rahman was the first president or not, it would have made more sense to hear if his party would be the first one to openly pledge a detailed proposal, under public oath, to institute independent, non-partisan, constitutionally protected supervisory bodies for overseeing the police and electoral systems.

Far more credible would have been a benchmarked undertaking to get rid of party based affiliations in student bodies, professional associations, and labour unions. The BNP economic team could have been seen as the “other option” had it come up with an iron-clad proposal to privatise Biman, legalise PayPal, and remove tariffs in the tourism sector. These and many other policy alternatives would have established the BNP as the legitimate centre-right option in Bangladeshi politics. More importantly, they would have given its core supporters something to risk their freedom and lives for in a country where, increasingly, dissent is being met with the brute force of the police, judicial, and extra-judicial machinery of a one-party state.

As of this date, the BNP is yet to offer that crucial alternative agenda for Bangladesh that can make it something more than “we are not them” party. We know that the BNP is fighting against an absolutist regime that just pulled off several rounds of utterly rigged jokes of elections. The question is, what is it fighting for? l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

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Are we becoming incorrigibly dishonest? n Ekram Kabir

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or a Bangladeshi, being rated as a most corrupt nation by an international organisation was very depressing. We had to defend ourselves wherever we went. We always felt that the world was looking down on us. Inside the country, apart from our politicians and government officials, every Bangladeshi would agree that on an average, we are far from being honest as individuals.

We’ve already searched our souls and found that we commit all sorts of inappropriate acts that don’t uphold the values of honesty.

There, perhaps, isn’t a single thing that we’re doing right. We’ve been leaking exam question papers on a regular basis, making our own food spurious, keeping the works for which we’ve been paid for unfinished, and extorting money from parents in the name of coaching school children. The list would be very, very long. The old adage “honesty is the best policy” has been deleted from our psyche.

Despite this wasteland scenario, there’s also good news. A few international news headlines recently have portrayed a different picture about us. Several Bangladeshi expatriates in Los Angeles, New York, and Rome have displayed remarkable examples of honesty by returning huge amounts of lost money to their owners. There were also a few news stories on how

Bangladeshi workers overseas are showing their worth by building cities and towns.

The question that naturally popped up in my mind: “Do we, the corrupt lot, only become honest in an honest environment?” I posed this question to many in the recent past. They all said: “No; there are still many honest people in the country, and that’s why we’re still continuing as a nation.”

seem to do anything that we do inside our own country. This matter haunts me all the time. Sometimes, I feel that we’ve reached a point of no return as far as our individual integrity is concerned. And more worrying is that we’re instilling all these characteristics into our children.

Our children know from babyhood that it is possible to get admitted to a school without qualifying in the

Every Bangladeshi would agree that on an average, we are far from being honest as individuals

I also think in the same way. But when I get out on the street, I don’t see any law enforcer properly carrying out their duty. I don’t see any taxi driver taking the fare according to the meter, I don’t see anyone following traffic rules. Go in front of your child’s school to bring him home, the security personnel would ask for money. Go to the passport office to collect your passport, the person issuing them would ask for money. Go to a restaurant to have a family dinner, you’d see the restaurateur making 300% profit.

But when we go to a country where honesty is still in practice, we don’t

admission test if their parents pay a big donation. We often blame our politicians for this situation to have become the norm. Yes, of course, it’s their responsibility to keep us honest by upholding honesty in their own lives.

But having said that, the question would always loom: “How much have we done?” Don’t we bring home many stationery items such as pens, markers, printouts, etc, from our workplaces? Many of us always do that. And this is a glaring example of common people’s participation in daily-life corruption.

ompared to the fossil-fuel fired power plants, nuclear power reactors have high capital costs, slightly higher operation and maintenance (O&M) costs but very low fuel costs, which make it competitive with other forms of electricity generation.

It is difficult to correlate the capital costs of nuclear power plants built or planned for construction at different places, at different times, and with different scopes of supply.

Moreover, it is not always clear whether the quoted prices are overnight costs or inclusive of escalation and interest during construction. Costs can also vary depending on construction period and local costs of labour and materials. In some cases, the first fuel load is included in the capital cost, though it is supposed to be a part of the fuel costs.

During the last several years, there has been a sharp increase in the cost of construction of nuclear power plants, partly for the incorporation of improved safety features, and partly for increase in costs of materials. Under such circumstances, what would be the cost of the proposed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant?

It may be recalled that Russia agreed to build and finance a nuclear power plant consisting of two VVER-1000 reactors at Rooppur.

The Russians are now performing a feasibility and environmental impact assessment study on the project plus some preparatory works at the project site under two separate agreements worth about $311 million.

It is interesting to note that even though there has been no statement by the Russians on the likely cost of the nuclear power plant at Rooppur, certain individuals in Bangladesh have stated, on several occasions, that the cost would be between Tk12,000 crore ($1.5 billion) and Tk15,000 crore (nearly $2 billion) per reactor.

It was further disclosed that Russia would finance 85% of the cost of the plant on soft terms. Again, the terms were not specified. If we convert the costs into dollar per kWe for the purposes of comparison, Tk1,500 crore for a 1,000 MWe plant comes to close to USD 2,000/kWe. At present, this price is no longer quoted. Perhaps, a revision of the cost is on the table. The real cost may be known after the feasibility study now being prepared by NIAEP-ASE, or after the signing of the contract with Atomstroyexport (ASE). Both NIAEP-ASE and Atomstroyexport are, by the way, subsidiary companies of the State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) of the Russian Federation.

Isn’t a chicken vendor agreeing to sell his dead chickens at a low price when a restaurateur is asking for them? Aren’t the procurement officers overbilling their offices for personal gain? Isn’t a police sergeant riding his motorbike on the wrong lane, and at the same time filing cases against those who are committing the same crime? Aren’t the deceitful businessmen getting away with the help of people in power?

Everything about Bangladeshis becoming dishonest actually revolves around our sense of extreme greed.

There’s a difference between “aspiration” and “greed.” When you aspire for more money, you work better, or you provide good quality products.

But when greed is in play, you tend to commit crime, work less, and deliver inferior quality products.

It seems we’re opting for the later.

We’re too easily being lured by our greed. If this wasn’t true, then we’d still have our rivers with their original shapes, incidents such as Rana Plaza wouldn’t happen, and flyovers wouldn’t collapse.

But as a nation, how far would we allow these to continue? If unfair means become the norm, the remaining honest bunch also would have to join the bandwagon. We mustn’t forget that greed only caters for the present, not for our future. l Ekram Kabir is Executive Editor of Natunbarta.com.

We are unlikely to sign the contract for Rooppur before 2015

It will be interesting to note whether NIAEP-ASE, a consultant to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), works in the interest of its client or in the interest of its sister organisation Atomstroyexport, in estimating the cost of the plant as a conflict of interest is obvious in this case.

Now let us examine the costs of some nuclear power reactors, built recently or planned with confirmed commitment, in Asia and East Europe.

The following information was taken from country reports on nuclear power prepared by the World Nuclear Association.

Russia built two 1060 MWe VVER1000 reactors at Tianwan in Jiangsu province of China. The cost is reported to be $3.2 billion, with China contributing $1.8 billion.

Russia has been a trusted friend of Bangladesh, and now wants to enter our nuclear market

It was announced in 2012 that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, consisting of four VVER-1200 reactors, in Turkey would cost $18.7 billion, and that Russia would fully finance the project to more than $20 billion.

In October 2010, an intergovernmental agreement was signed for Atomstroyexport to build the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant in Vietnam, using two VVER-1000 or 1200 reactors. Rosatom has confirmed that Russia is prepared to finance at least 85% of this first plant, ie $9 billion, and the total cost will amount to about $10 billion. This comes to $4,166/kWe, if VVER-1200 reactors are built.

The nearest location close to Rooppur and the most recent price quoted for nuclear power reactors are those of Kudankulam Units 3 and 4 in India.

The price comes to $3,500/kWe. The second and the third units at the same site usually cost about 10% less than the first two units.

We are unlikely to sign the contract for Rooppur before 2015. If we adjust price increase for the first two units at Rooppur and add escalation for one year, the cost per kWe will come to $4,000, ie $4 billion for a 1000 MWe reactor.

The actual price to be negotiated between the governments of Bangladesh and Russia may be completely different for various reasons. Russia has been a trusted friend of Bangladesh since its inception and now wants to enter our nuclear market in view of its long term prospects.

Russia is also active in exploration of natural gas in our off-shore fields.

Under such circumstances, nobody should be surprised if Russia makes a promotional offer with a price tag that may be much lower than the estimated price of $4,000/kWe. There are two more issues to be considered. Since the capital charges of a nuclear plant constitute 75% or more of the cost of generation of electricity, we must negotiate for a very soft term of credit and long repayment period, preferably spread over the economic life of the plant, to lower the cost. These measures will help reduce the cost of generation of electricity from the nuclear power plant to make it competitive with other conventional forms of electricity. l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and author of Rooppur and the Power Crisis.

BIGSTOCK

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Mim to play Tagore’s Chitrangada n Entertainment Desk

In the memory of Savar Tragedy victims, theatre troupe Aranyak staged Swapnopothik on April 24 at the National Theater Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The play is written by Harun Rashid and directed by thespian Mamunur Rashid and features the Savar tragedy that snatched the normalcy from the lives of a staggering number of people. A painting exhibition by children, video presentation, a conference on safety and awareness was also held at the event. Candels were also lit in the memory of the victims SADIA MARIUM

Shotabdi appears as poet in Kobitar Khunshuti n Entertainment Desk Single-episode drama Kobitar Khunshuti featuring Shatabdi Wadud as a poet will be aired tonight at 9pm on NTV. Written by Tushar Abdullah and directed by Sarker Milton, the drama also features popular actors, such as, Bonya Mirza, Moushumi Hamid, Saki and many others.

The story of the drama revolves around a poet named Orpon. He writes poems only to impress his girlfriend Labonyo. His world of poetry only

circles around Labonyo and she encourages him with her full sincerity. After a while, Orpon takes poetry recitation and writing as his career. He begins earning by reciting poems. In this venture, Orpon meets Opshori and Papri and they provide him with works so he can earn more. His dependency on the two young girls grow more and that brings distance between him and Labonyo. Eventually, his quality in writing poems also begins to fall. The story turns to a different angle when Orpon realises his mistakes. l

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In 1795, Dr Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young) creates a monster (Aaron Eckhart), a soulless creature patched together from corpses, and then rejects it. In a fit of rage, the creature kills Frankenstein’s wife Elizabeth and then he chases it to the Arctic to get revenge.

But Frankenstein dies frozen to death and the creature buries him at the cemetery of his family. However the creature is attacked by demons but he kills one of them and Gargoyles save him and take him to a Cathedral where the Gargoyles Order gathers. The Queen of the Gargoyles, Leonore explains that they were created by the Archangel Michael to battle demons on Earth and protect humanity. They name the creature “Adam” and invite him to join them, but he declines and departs after being given special weapons.

After series of events, Adam begins an immortal quest to protect the humans of the world and hunt demons for selfless reasons, the attitude that had earned him his soul in the first place. In so doing, he embraces his role and his true name of “Frankenstein.” l

n Entertainment Desk

Popular TV actor Apurbo will appear at Late Night Coffee tonight at 12:01am on RTV. The TV show is a lifestyle guideline and amusement program with a different celebrity in each episode.

The live program will be presented by Nusrat Faria Mazhar and Abir. Apurbo will share his concept of love and will participate in live conversations with the audience.

The Late Night Coffee programme is designed for the audiences who stay up late at night and seek out the solution of their problems. As the lifestyle of people is changing rapidly, the programme is designed to give some advice to the audience about accommodating the contemporary lifestyle and values. l

Apps photographs on display

Star Cineplex is screening I, Frankenstein, a 2014 Australian-American fantasy action film written and directed by Stuart Beattie, from Friday.

The film’s star cast includes Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Jai Courtney and Kevin Grevioux.

Rabindranath Onyo Aloy at Chhayanaut

Apurbo to present at Late Night Coffee n Entertainment Desk

I, Frankenstein for Dhaka audience Entertainment Desk

Glamour girl Mim will be seen as Rabindranath Tagore’s epic charactaer Chitrangada in a TV play titled Ami-e Chirangada. Directed by Ruman Runi and scripted by Matia Banu Shuku, the play is an adoption of Tagore’s dance drama Chitrangada.

Excited to work in a play based on Tagore’s literature, Mim said: “For the last few months, I am not signing for any TV plays. But I said yes to this particular one because of the unique dramatisation of the dance drama and the beautiful representation of the character.” Mim is currently busy shooting for M M Kamal Raj’s upcoming film Tarkata with Arifin Shuvoo as her co-star. Her latest film Jonakir Alo has hit the theatres two weeks ago.

She further said: “I face a challenge whenever I am to work on Tagore’s stories. I gave my best effort to do justice to the role of Chitrangada.”

The director explained about the drama: “Here, the audience will find Chitrangada in the context of recent time.

It’s an adaption without harming the main philosophy of Tagore’s Chitrangada. I hope the audience will enjoy watching the drama.”

The play also features popular actors such as Shabnam Parveen, Mahmudul Hasan Mithu, Sojol, Farjana Labony and many others.

The shooting has been completed recently and will be televised during Eid-ul-Fitr. l

Entertainment desk

A day long street photography exhibition titled Dhaka Graam will be held today at the footpath of Dhanmondi 7/A. The exhibition is organised by Dhaka Graam and is open from 9am to 9pm.

Curated by Amirul Rajiv, the exhibition features photographs taken by mobile applications such as Instagram and others. Professional and amateur photographers who captured their daily views of Dhaka’s road, people and other subjects and objects are on the display. It will also feature the daily activity of the city life.

Photographs are captured by Abedin Safi, Amirul Rajiv, Imran Firdaus, Ismail Ferdous, Andrew Biraj, Apurbo, Liya, Darshan Chakma, Daud Helal, Biscut, Farhan Chowdhury, Saud Al Faisal, Shayan Chowdhury, Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, Stalin, Shiful Riad and Shekh Mehedi Morshed. l

A cultural programme titled Rabindranath Onyo Aloy will be held at 7pm today at the premises of Chhayanaut.

Musical sessions along with poetry recitations will be the main attractions of the event and will feature singers Shimul Zaman and Nirjher Chowdhury. A recitation will be presented by Rizwan Kabir Shumon. Following Rizwan’s presentation, Tagore songs and poems will be rendered by Pinaki Bhattacharya. Tagore’s philosophy and work has a universal appeal and in between each sessions, the story behind the songs and poems will be discussed.

Shimul Zaman is a Rabindra Sangeet singer and her rendezvous with music began at a very early age. She learned eastern classical and then branched into Nazrul Sangeet and later into Rabindra Sangeet. On the way, she received numerous accolades. Nirjher Chowdhury is a music teacher at Dharok. l

Bishwajit Roy to perform today

Aishwarya’s film career ends with second pregnancy

n Entertainment Desk

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are planning second baby and the news is confirmed when she stepped out of her house to vote in the Lok Sabha elections and her pregnancy is quite evident from the picture.

Aishwarya is intending to lengthen her break from films to have another child. Reports further suggested that the former Miss World is not signing long time commitments as she could be on the family way.

Aishwarya these days is busy with her daughter Aaradhya and is accompanying her in school and is planning another child in her family. She has rejected Mani Ratnam’s next venture and is not planning a comeback into the Bollywood industry and has thus shunned long time professional commitments.

A musical evening by eminent singer Biswajit Roy will be held today at 6:30pm at the IGCC Gulshan-1, Dhaka. Biswajit Roy started to learn music at an early age from his mother. He has trained under renowned gurus and later he got training from Chhayanaut.

Roy is also an acclaimed music director who has provided music to more than 15 plays for renowned theater group such as Aaranyak and Nagorik Onsamble. He has also released a book entitled Bangla Gaan Swaruper Khoje in 2009. Roy established Radharaman Songskriti Charcha Kendra in 2009 at Dhaka. He released two albums on the songs of Radharaman. l

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Ash has been seen in some advertisements or brand endorsements but she hasn’t signed any film as of now.

When everybody was discussing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s post-pregnancy weight issues so that she can be offered with some movie. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tied the knot on April 20, 2007 and Aaradhya was born on November 16, 2011. l

Damer Madar explores folk theatre in modern light n Hasan Mansoor Chatak

Natyam Repertory staged a long-established Bengal theatre titled Damer Madar in a new appearance at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on April 24 in the capital. The play is written by Sadhana Ahmed and directed by Irin Pervin Lopa. This is the maiden production of the troupe and the audience witnessed the twenty-first staging of the play.

The story of the play is centered on a faction with a female Madam Pir (spiritual leader) who teaches her fellows the perfection of worship through her religious wisdom. The Chowdhury clan is the anti faction in the story. It is their belief that the Pir is contravening the prime law of the religion through her practice. At the same time, a marriage proposal is put forward by the Chowdhury clan. Their proposal entails the hand of Chowdhury’s handicapped grandson in marriage to Madam Pir’s beautiful granddaughter.

Although she married once, the Pir

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now wants her granddaughter to carry on her religious legacy and abstain

from the worldly pleasures and refuses the proposal.

A blood-feud breaks out among the two groups and the object of affection

of madam Pir’s granddaughter dies in the chaotic fight. In the end, Madam Pir realises that the shrine is not influential enough to protect her devotees and destroys it.

The play is based on a true story and is scripted as a folk narrative, but the director used modern approach of theatre both in designing and way of acting.

Tazmi Noor, Shisir Rahman, Parvin Akhter, Shamima Akhter Fazle Rabbi Sukarno and others donned the central characters of the play while the story of the play is portrayed with a number of religious songs. The modern lighting and staging concept is used intentionally to give the play a new facet.

For thousands of years, the folk narratives have been considered the richest tradition of the theatres of Bengal. It has flourished and sustained through the verbal medium mostly.

The narrative of Madam Pir is one of those pieces which has originated from Muslim myths and has been recited in different parts of the land for years among the devotees. l

Did you know?

Carlos Tevez’s goal for Juventus ended a goal drought of five years and 46 shots without scoring in Europe for the Argentinian

Sport

Nasir’s mental health gets boost Out-of-form national cricketer Nasir Hossain has learnt a lot from the oneon-one mental grooming session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. On the second day of the three-day long mental grooming programme headed by the Bangladeshi origin Canadian psychological skill development coach Ali Khan, organized by the cricket board for the national cricketers, saw few players sit in a one-on-one session which Nasir said was very helpful for him in gaining his confidence back.

“We had no idea of what to do when we went through a bad phase or underperformed but after attending the class my confidence level has increase a lot. It is not only me but others who have attended the class will get the benefit too,” said Nasir.

“We have learnt many things from this class which we should have learnt much earlier. We all go through good and bad times, now we have learnt what should be done during those times.”

Nasir’s terrible dip in form with the bat across all three formats in this year has been one of the major concerns among many others for the Tigers. The 22-year-old however seemed positive

after taking the personal class with Ali and informed that the players are also taking the notes seriously.

“Confidence is something which can help you both mentally and physically.

We have learnt how to handle and improve the confidence level when needed. We have discussed among each other about the class and in future if we forget what he taught us, then it’s of no use,” said Nasir.

National discard Shahriar Nafees also underwent a session with Ali. He informed the class will help the cricketers trying to make a comeback and added that being positive is the most important thing which they have learnt from the class.

Ali informed, “Today our main goal was to advance to the next level.

If we are in problems then we can’t think much so now our aim is to achieve the next level and we shared what routine and tasks we need to follow to achieve that. However the result will not come now as we are still in the process.”

The Canadian also said most players, who lack the confidence, wanted to know how to overcome pressure situations. While “Quite a few players wanted to know how to overcome from injuries and what should be the mental state at that moment.” l

Saturday, April 26, 2014

14 Benfica, Sevilla

strike first in Europa semis

14 Scolari reveals

some of World Cup squad

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Sharapova into

last eight in Stuttgart

Bangladesh trainer Dwyer resigns

Phelps marks his return Michael Phelps finished second on Thursday in his first final in 20 months, and the swimming superstar famous for his will to win said even a runner-up finish is fun now.

Phelps, whose record 22 Olympic medals include an astonishing 18 golds, was beaten in the 100m butterfly final at the Mesa Grand Prix by his old foe Ryan Lochte.

But Phelps said he’d done what he set out to do in his first competition since the London Games.

Lochte led at the 50m mark and held on to win in 51.93sec – second-fastest in the world this year – while Phelps was second in 52.13, matching the fourth-fastest time of 2014.

“I did what I wanted to do,” said Phelps, adding he’d targeted a time of 52 seconds.

“The race was fun,” he added. “The stroke was a little rushed tonight, it was way more relaxed this morning. But I swam a final again.”

Lochte, not known as a 100m fly swimmer, said Phelps, as always, made him better. I probably wouldn’t have gone that time if Phelps wasn’t in there,” Lochte said. “I’m glad he’s back.”

Phelps insists he isn’t yet sure if his comeback will take him to a fifth Games at Rio in 2016. l

Bangladesh national cricket team trainer David Dwyer sent his resignation letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) two days ago which was confirmed by Akram Khan, cricket operations committee chairman, yesterday.

Dwyer has asked for immediate release, just after a year of his appointment as the trainer of the team. He joined Bangladesh as head strength and conditioning coach in February last

He has done a great job for the Bangladesh team. It is up to the BCB to accept his resignation, but I think we have to start looking for a new trainer immediately. We have a lot of international matches ahead

Michael Phelps competes in the Men’s 100m Butterfly final in the Arena Grand Prix at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, Arizona on Thursday AFP

year, a week before the team left for Sri Lanka. Like the rest of the Bangladesh coaching staffs, Dwyer’s contract ran till the 2015 World Cup. “He has done a great job for the Bangladesh team,” Akram said. “It is up to the BCB to accept his resignation, but I think we have to start looking for a new trainer immediately. We have a lot of international matches ahead.”

Bangladesh’s next assignment is a three-match ODI series against India in mid-June. The tour schedule however hasn’t been confirmed yet. l

Sunrisers first points, Mumbai face another defeat Blue turf to be installed at An unbeaten 128-run partnership between Aaron Finch and David Warner led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first win in the Indian Premier League when they beat the Delhi Daredevils by four runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here Friday.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians suffered their third consecutive defeat as Chennai Super Kings won the match by seven wickets with six balls in hand in Dubai. Mumbai posted 141 in their 20 overs thanks to Rohit Sharma who top scored with a fifty while Mohit Sharma (4/14) stared with the bowl for Chennai.

Brendon McCullum’s 71 help Chennai to go past to an easy victory.

Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen David Warner and Aaron Finch walk back after their first innings during IPL match against Delhi Daredevils in Dubai yesterday BCCI

Tito Vilanova dies aged 45 The former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has died of throat cancer at the age of 45.

The club’s official Twitter feed tweeted: “The FC Barcelona is in immense mourning. Tito Vilanova has died at the age of 45. May he rest in peace.”

Vilanova took over at the Camp Nou ahead of the 2012-13 season having been Pep Guardiola’s assistant during the most successful period in the club’s history during which they won three out of four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in 2009 and 2011.

Barça went on to make the best-ever start to a La Liga season with 18 wins from 19 games but in December 2012 Vilanova was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. It meant that his assistant Jordi Roura was forced to take charge of the team on occasions when he was undergoing treatment. At the end of the season Vilanova announced he was resigning to concentrate on his recovery from the illness.

Barca sent their “deepest condolences” to Vilanova’s family and said they would be opening a space in the main grandstand at the Nou Camp for

people to express their condolences.

The club’s president said on Twitter: “Tito Vilanova was a wonderful person, and will never be forgotten at FC Barcelona. Thank you for everything you taught us. Rest in peace.”

José Mourinho had several run-ins with Vilanova during his time in charge of Real Madrid, infamously poking him in the eye in one clash. The Chelsea manager said on the club’s Twitter account: “Tito Vilanova’s passing is a sad day for football, for Barcelona and most importantly for his family and friends.

On behalf of everybody at Chelsea Football Club I send my deepest condolences at this most difficult time.” l

In the first match, Electing to bat, the Sunrisers put up a challenging total of 184/1 and then restricted Daredevils to 180/4. With 20 runs required off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last over, the Delhi outfit could only manage 15 in an exciting finish and to end up with their third loss out of four matches this season.

The Sunrisers got off to a good start with skipper Shikhar Dhawan (33) and Man of the Match Finch hitting a 56run opening wicket partnership before Dhawan was caught by his counterpart Kevin Pietersen at fine leg. Dhawan played well hitting five boundaries and a six in his 22-ball knock.

Left-handed Warner joined Finch at the crease and the two Australians combined in a fabulous second-wicket partnership which lasted till the last ball of their innings. The top order duo scored at a run rate of 9.36 in the last 13.4 overs to propel their side to a challenging total.

Finch played the anchor’s role, making an unbeaten 88 off 53 balls at a strike rate of 166.03. His knock included eight boundaries and four towering sixes.

He was well supported by Warner, who scored 58 not out, hitting three fours and sixes each.

None of the Daredevils bowlers had anything to boast about with

BRIEF SCORES

Sunrisers Hyderabad 184/1 (20ov), Finch 88*, Warner 58*, Dhawan 33; Nadeem 1/24 Delhi Daredevils 180/4 (20ov), Vijay 52, de Kock 48, Tiwary 23*; Steyn 2/33 Hyderabad won by 4 runs Mumbai Indians 141/7 (20ov), Rohit 50, Anderson 39, Mohit 4/14 Chennai Super Kings 142/3 (19ov), McCullum 71, Smith 29, Harbhajan 2/27 Chennai won by 7 wickets all but one going for more than nine runs per over. Only spinner Shahbaz Nadeem had figures worth showing off with 4-0-24-1, picking up the only wicket of Dhawan in the seventh over.

In reply, the Daredevils took off really well with Quinton de Kock (48) and Murali Vijay (52) giving the team the much needed start. Initially the South African was the aggressor, scoring six boundaries and a six, but Vijay too joined the party with seven boundaries and a lofty six. l

hockey stadium in Sept A blue turf at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium is likely to be installed in September 2014. Brian MaLaughlin, sales manager of Sports Technology International for the Asia and Middle East region, visited the venue yesterday and expressed his contentment.

“I’m satisfied with the environment of the stadium. I’m happy that the blue turf will be set up here,” said the Australian. Brian visited the venue at 10 am yesterday morning and inspected the green turf as well as the underground basement. “Everything is alright here.

Hopefully we can start our work in September,” he added.

The budget to install blue turf at the hockey stadium is more than $300000 of which International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIH, hockey’s world governing body, will provide $150000 each to Bangladesh Hockey Federation.

The rest of the money will come from the government. Wing commander Rafiul Haque, representative of Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) said that the finance ministry had already

BHF planning tri-nation tournament Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) is planning to organize a triangular hockey tournament in Dhaka featuring India and Pakistan.

Bangladesh national hockey team’s Pakistani coach Naveed Alam is currently in Pakistan and is in contact with Pakistan and India hockey team to invite them to participate in the tournament.

“FIH (International Hockey Federation) president Leandro Negro inspired us to take such initiative. He talked about tournament involving Pakistan and India during his visit in Dhaka. He also talked with Indian hockey federation’s general secretary about this. On the other hand, Naveed Alam is trying to convince Pakistan to take part in the tournament. If we get positive feedback, then we will discuss the next step,” said wing commander Rafiul Haque, a representative of Bangladesh Hockey Federation president Air Marshall Enamul Bari.

Hockey federation general secretary Khwaja Rahmatullah is also hopeful of hosting the 3-nation tournament. l

allocated $75000 for the new turf.

The first round of the World Hockey League will be held in Dhaka at the beginning of September. The process of installing blue turf at the stadium will start right after the event and it was learnt that it would take approximately five weeks to complete the work.

I’m satisfied with the environment of the stadium. I’m happy that the blue turf will be set up here. Everything is alright here. Hopefully we can start our work in September The federation planned to set up the blue turf before the Under-19 hockey tournament organized by Asian Hockey Federation in November.

However, the blue turf will only be installed at the playing area as the practice area beside the field will still have the green turf. l

Shakib becomes Mr Muscle Mania

Shakib Al Hasan (2L) receives Mr Muscle Mania award in the Walton Muscle Mania Bodybuilding Championship at the National Sports Council auditorium yesterday COURTESY

Shakib Al Hasan became Mr Muscle Mania in the Walton 3rd Muscle Mania Bodybuilding Championship which concluded at the auditorium of the National Sports Council yesterday.

In the two-day long meet, Ranjit Chandra Sarkar became first in 60 kg event while Nazmul Islam and Saad finished second and third respectively.

Anwar secured the first position in the 65 kg event while Shakib Al Hasan finished top in 70 kg event. Rafiq Ahmed, Sumon Das and Rashadul Karim became first in 75, 80 and 80+ kg events respectively.

After the pre-judging, the top bodybuilders were selected for the final round in six weight categories which included 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 80+ Kgs. Shakib was declared Mr Muscle Mania after he emerged as the winner in the best of the bests competition where the top six bodybuilders of the six weight categories contested.

AFM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton, distributed the prizes among the winners as the chief guest. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

‘Chosen One’ banner removed The last visible evidence of David Moyes’ miserable reign at Manchester United was removed on Thursday as the infamous ‘The Chosen One’ banner was taken down from the Stretford End at Old Trafford. Moyes was sacked on Tuesday after just 10 months in charge of United and the much-maligned Scot is quickly being erased from the club’s history. After being hand-picked by his predecessor Alex Ferguson to take over at United, Moyes was hailed by supporters as the chosen one, a reference to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s self-styled nickname ‘the Special One’.

–AFP

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Grizzlies beat Thunder in overtime Mike Conley tallied 20 points, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen had 16 points apiece and the Memphis Grizzlies held on to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 98-95 in overtime to take a 2-1 lead in their playoff series. Randolph also added 10 rebounds and a half dozen assists for the Grizzlies, who never trailed in the second half of the first-round playoff contest. In the other Western Conference opening-round contest Thursday, the Los Angeles Clippers took a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors behind a superb 32-point performance from Blake Griffin.

–AFP

Ramires banned for four games Chelsea midfielder Ramires will miss the rest of the Premier League season after being handed a four-match ban by the FA on Thursday for elbowing Sunderland’s Sebastian Larsson. The Brazilian accepted a charge of violent conduct from Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat, the FA said, and his ban starts immediately.

Ramires received a three-match ban for the incident, which was not seen by referee Mike Dean, with a further game added because of his sending off against Aston Villa last month. He will miss Chelsea’s crunch Premier League match at Liverpool on Sunday as well as games against Norwich City and Cardiff City.

–Reuters

Benfica, Sevilla strike first Benfica and Sevilla grabbed vital first leg leads in their Europa League semi-final clashes on Thursday leaving Juventus and Valencia to try and claw back deficits

next week.

Brazilian striker Lima struck a wonder goal with six minutes remaining as Benfica edged Juventus 2-1 in Lisbon while Sevilla hit two first-half goals to see off La Liga rivals Valencia 2-0.

RESULTS Sevilla (ESP) Mbia 33, Bacca 36

Benfica (POR) Garay 3, Lima 84

2 0

Valencia (ESP)

2 1

Juventus (ITA) Tevez 73

After Carlos Tevez tucked away a brilliant equaliser for Serie A leaders Juventus with 17 minutes remaining at the Estadio do Luz, Lima smashed home an unstoppable drive to give the Lisbon outfit a precious advantage.

Juventus must now score at home next Thursday to keep their bid on track to reach the final at their home stadium on May 14.

Benfica, crowned Portuguese cham-

pions for the 33rd time last weekend, grabbed the lead after just three minutes when they forced a corner down the left.

The ball was swung into the heart of the box and Argentine central defender Ezequiel Garay was quickest to react holding off his marker to plant a sharp header past the despairing grasp of Juve’s veteran ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Sevilla, the 2006 and 2007 champions, took a huge step towards reaching the final as they beat Valencia 2-0 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

The hosts went ahead in controversial circumstances as Stephane Mbia backheeled the ball into the roof of the net despite clearly being in an offside position before Carlos Bacca doubled Sevilla’s advantage soon after.

Valencia were rightly aggrieved by the manner in which the opening goal came about on 33 minutes as Mbia was well offside when he latched onto Daniel Carrico’s flick-on from Ivan Rakitic’s free-kick at the back post and the Cameroonian adjusted his feet well to flick the ball past the helpless Guaita.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as a lovely one-two between Vitolo and Bacca freed the Colombian to fire home his 21st goal of the season. l

Benfica forward Rodrigo Lima (L) celebrates after scoring against Juventus during their Uefa Europa League semifinal first leg match at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on Thursday

Man United eye post-Moyes lift All eyes will be on the Old Trafford dug-out and the Chelsea teamsheet this weekend as Manchester United begin life after David Moyes, while Liverpool aim to move within touching distance of the Premier League title.

Ryan Giggs, assisted by three fellow members of United’s famed ‘Class of 92’, will be in temporary charge of the troubled giants when struggling Norwich visit Manchester for the first match following Moyes’ sacking.

So often at the centre of late-season title drama themselves, United have hogged the headlines for the wrong reasons this week, but their bench will be a different and probably calmer environment without the sight of the strained Moyes growing more pained with each chastening defeat.

After only 10 months in charge the beleaguered Scot was put out of his misery on Tuesday, with Old Trafford icon Giggs appointed as interim manager until the end of the season with the intention of lifting flagging spirits.

Giggs, a gloriously successful product of United’s youth academy, symbo-

lises all that was best about Alex Ferguson’s reign and the Welsh midfielder has already instructed his team to “go

FIXTURES Fulham Man United Stoke Southampton Swansea West Brom

v v v v v v

Hull Norwich Tottenham Everton Aston Villa West Ham

back to playing like Manchester United” -- a call to show more freedom and verve after the dour displays of the ul-

tra-conservative Moyes.

The 40-year-old has surrounded himself with other gilded graduates of United’s youth academy, with Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes all helping their old colleague and if those familiar faces can inspire a win over struggling Norwich it would put smiles back on many faces at Old Trafford.

Fourth placed Arsenal host Newcastle on Monday looking to maintain the advantage in the battle to qualify for the Champions League, while fifth placed Everton, currently a point behind the Gunners, travel to Southampton on Saturday. l

Real short of strikers for Osasuna clash Real Madrid face attacking concerns with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema struggling to be fit to face Osasuna on Saturday but Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to start as they continue their pursuit of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Real have won their last three league matches, scoring 13 goals in the process, but the Osasuna game will test how much the gruelling clash with Bayern

Scolari reveals some of World Cup squad

Brazilian national football team coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari (L) speaks next to Brazilian national team psychologist, Regina Brandao, during the seminar “Football, Psychology and Knowledge Production” in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday AFP

Bayern lick wounds in Bundesliga Bayern Munich may have ensured there was little suspense in the destination of the Bundesliga title this season but the battle for European places and the fight to avoid relegation rages on.

The pick of the weekend ties takes place on Saturday when Borussia Dortmund travel to the BayArena where fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen have a chance to move within one point of Schalke and the final automatic Champions League spot.

Schalke, who were humbled 9-2 by Real Madrid in the last-16 in March, will attempt to stave off Leverkusen and rejoin Bayern and Dortmund in next season’s competition when they host Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Wolfsburg, who have appeared in the Champions League just once during the 2009-10 campaign, are also tracking Leverkusen and Schalke and trail fourth spot with a qualifying place well within their grasp.

FIXTURES Mainz Hoffenheim Bayern Munich Hertha Berlin Wolfsburg Leverkusen

v v v v v v

Nuremberg Frankfurt Werder Bremen Braunschweig Freiburg Dortmund

The Europa League, where Wolfsburg were beaten by Fulham in the 2010 quarter-finals, is another possibility with Moenchengladbach and Mainz favourites to join them.

The bottom of the table is equally intriguing with Eintracht Braunsch-

weig, Nuremburg and third from bottom Hamburg facing anxious finales to their respective campaigns.

Hamburg, who have never been relegated from the top flight, are on the road at eighth-placed Augsburg, trailing Stuttgart by four points.

With Nuremburg just one point back, Hamburg will be more concerned with protecting their place in the table which will give them a two-legged relegation play-off against the third placed team in division two.

Nuremberg’s destiny is out of their own hands and a trip to Mainz is hardly a three point banker that could lift them out of one of the two automatic relegation spots.

Braunschweig’s plight is equally perilous as they lie two points behind Hamburg and facing a trip to mid-table Hertha Berlin, who have little to play for. l

AFP

took out of the players. Real did have a break last weekend to recover from their cup commitments and they trail Atleti-

FIXTURES Granada Getafe Real Madrid Real Betis

v v v v

Rayo Vallecano Malaga Osasuna Real Sociedad

co by six points with a game in hand.

“Ronaldo is fine and needs to play to be in top condition,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday. l

Klopp again rules out Man Utd job

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Thursday revealed eight of his squad for the World Cup, including four skippers, while adding he has no concerns with the form of striker Neymar.

Two weeks before officially unveiling his final squad, Scolari said he was appointing Thiago Silva of Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea’s David Luiz, Julio Cesar of MLS side Toronto and Fluminense striker Fred as his four captains.

He added he was also picking Chelsea trio Willian, Oscar and Ramires and Tottenham’s Paulinho.

“I spoke with five players in London and told them I was counting on them,” said Scolari, who recently visited play-

ers based in Europe. Scolari, who led Brazil to their last World Cup triumph in 2002 in Japan, Thursday addressed a congress on football and psychology at Sao Judas University in Sao Paulo.

Asked about Barcelona star Neymar, embroiled in controversy over the cost of his transfer last year from Santos and questioned at times over his performances for the Catalan club, Scolari defended the forward.

“Neymar is calm. His team is not doing so well but in the national team he will perform as he always does. I see him in very different form than the one some Spanish journalists judge him to be in,” said Scolari.

And he insisted he had “zero concerns” with the star. l

Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar stolen in sticker heist

Blatter wants to revive 6+5 proposal

Avid World Cup sticker collectors in Rio de Janeiro were given a shock this week when a van carrying hundreds of thousands of Panini stickers was stolen during a delivery.

Thieves made off with some 300,000 of the adhesive stickers featuring players who will appear in the forthcoming World Cup finals in Brazil which start in June, according to local press reports on Thursday.

The glossy stickers, loved the world over by football fans since the first World Cup edition in 1970, were being taken to newsagents in the city when the delivery came unstuck. Panini gave no details of the theft and a spokesperson would not swap any additional information when asked. l

Fifa president Sepp Blatter wants to revive his so-called 6+5 proposal which would force clubs to field at least six players from their own country.

The idea won the backing of the FIFA Congress in 2008 but was ditched after it fell foul of European Union laws on the freedom of movement.

“Unfortunately the idea foundered on EU Employment Law - the right to work in the country of choice and individual freedom of movement,” said Blatter in his column in FIFA’s weekly magazine.

“However, we have not heard the last word on this subject. An Institute for European Affairs (INEA) expert opinion concludes that a “quota agreement”

Borussia Dortmund’s charismatic coach Jurgen Klopp reiterated Thursday he will not be joining Manchester United despite UK media reports linking him to the vacant manager’s job following David Moyes’ dismissal.

“It’s a bit uncomfortable to give someone a rejection when no offer has come, but it looks like that’s what I have to do,” said Klopp when asked about the role after Moyes was sacked on Tuesday morning.

Klopp has a contract with Dortmund until 2018 and said while United are “a really great” club, he was content with his lot, “because there are about 1000 reasons to be super happy to work with this club”. United are not the only club Klopp has been linked to. l

along the lines of the “6 + 5 rule” is compatible with the law. It is therefore not too late to seriously revisit this idea.”

“It would improve the balance between club and national team football, preserve the clubs’ national identity and increase the incentive for clubs to make more of their own youth products,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Zia suffers second defeat at UAE Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman suffered his second consecutive defeat in the Open Section of the Asian Continental Chess Championship as he lost to Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran in the 8th round at UAE on Thursday. Zia played with black pieces against the Catalan Opening of Sasikiran and lost in the 48th move. Zia now has only four points after the end of 8th round.

Meanwhile, in the women’s section, WFM Nazrana Khan Eva beat Njoud S of Saudi Arabia in the 8th round. Eva earned 3.5 points from eight games.

–Tribune Desk

Army, Titas start with wins Bangladesh Army and Titas Club began their campaign in the men’s section of the Walton Smart TV National Volleyball Championship with comfortable victories over Pabna and Sathkhira respectively at the Dhaka Volleyball Stadium yesterday. Army thrashed Pabna district by 3-0 set with scores of 25-6, 25-14, 25-17 points while Titas outplayed Satkhira by 25-12, 25-15, 2516 points. Meanwhile in the women’s section, both Ansar-VDP and BJMC recorded comfortable victories by 3-0 sets against Gazipur and Chittagong respectively.

–Tribune Desk

Siddikur misses cut Siddikur Rahman continued his poor form as the Bangladeshi golfer missed the halfway cut by two shots in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters yesterday after posting a 1-over 73 in the second round to make a total of 5-over 149. Starting the day on the 109th spot, Siddikur got a double-bogey in the first hole and then finished the day with three more bogeys along with four birdies at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei’s Lin WenTang took advantage of a well-taken break and fired a sparkling eight-under 64 to take the second round clubhouse lead at the weather disrupted US $750,000 event.

–Tribune Desk

Striker Olic extends Wolfsburg deal Croat striker Ivica Olic has extended his contract with VfL Wolfsburg by two years to 2016, the Bundesliga club and the player said on Friday. The 34-yearold Wolfsburg top scorer, whose old deal ran out at the end of the season, has had a fine campaign at the 2009 champions, scoring 13 league goals as they chase a Champions League qualification round spot.

–Reuters

Sport

Sharapova into last eight in Stuttgart Defending champion Maria Sharapova reached the last eight of the Stuttgart WTA tournament on Thursday with a convincing 6-4, 6-3 win over fellow-Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The 27-year-old Sharapova needed just one hour, 32 minutes to see off Pavlyuchenkova to pick up her tenth straight win in Stuttgart, having won the 2012 and 2013 titles, and faces Polish top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in Friday’s quarter-finals.

“I’m pleased to have won in two sets, but I am never really happy with my performance and always want to improve,” said Sharapova.

Her victory was in stark contrast to her struggles of Tuesday when she needed three tie-breaks and almost three-and-a-half hours to defeat Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in her first-round tie.

Seeded sixth this year, Sharapova is aiming for a third straight title on the red clay of Stuttgart as the preparations for the French Open get fully underway.

The four-time Grand Slam champion looked solid enough on serve, with

just five double-faults to eight by her opponent and she had Pavlyuchenkova under constant pressure with her booming returns.

Her opponent in the quarter-finals will be Polish top seed Agnieszka Radwanska who proved too good for Italian doubles specialist Roberta Vinci, winning 6-3, 6-2.

“Radwanska is the number three in the world and everyone knows she plays extremely well, but I love challenges like this,” said Sharapova, who leads Radwanska 8-2 in previous meetings.

“There are no secrets to our games, we know each other very well, but have not played each other for a while on clay. It will be interesting and I’ll have to improve in all areas.”

Second seeded Simona Halep squandered a 5-2 first set lead and three set points to lose 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) to former US Open and French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Former world number one and Stuttgart champion Jelena Jankovic booked her quarter-final berth as she beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Serb ninth seed Ana Ivanovic beat Germany’s Julia Goerges 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. l

World number one Rafael Nadal maintained his quest for a ninth Barcelona Open title with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 over Ivan Dodig on Thursday, racking up his 42nd win in 43 matches at the tournament.

The 13-time Grand Slam champion has been far from happy with his form in recent weeks, but after a slow start had far too much for the world number 37 as he broke four times in total before sealing victory in an hour and 23 minutes.

Nadal was happier with his performance against Dodig than in his second round outing against journeyman Albert Ramos on Wednesday.

“I think from yesterday it is a step forward. I had a bit more intensity in my legs today and I can go away from

the court a bit calmer,” he told Spanish TV station Teledeporte.

“In the second set I began to play pretty well, so I am happy to win because Dodig is always a difficult opponent. I felt pretty good throughout the match and now I have to prepare for another difficult game tomorrow.”

Nadal first broke the Dodig serve in the fifth game, but the Croatian immediately broke back to level at 3-3.

However, the Spaniard then began to find his rhythm to roll off three straight games to close out the set.

More was to follow in the second set as a series of penetrating ground stokes from Nadal forced Dodig onto the back foot in the fourth game to secure the break before serving out the match without any difficulties.

Nadal’s only loss in Barcelona came on his debut as a 15-year-old in 2003

NBA Play-off 2013-14 6:00AM Chicago v Washington 8:30AM Houston v Portland Ten Golf

8:00PM La Liga Granada v Rayo Vallecano 10:00PM MotoGP: Argentina Qualifying Star Sports HD1 5:30PM Tennis Barcelona Open La Liga 12:00AM Real Madrid v Osasuna 2:00AM Real Betis v Real Sociedad Star Sports HD2 11:00AM Golf: China Open Day 3

Marquez on a three-timer as MotoGP returns to Argentina

Russia’s Maria Sharapova celebrates defeating Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in their quarterfinal at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart yesterday AFP

Argentina stages its first motorcycling grand prix for 15 years on Sunday with Marc Marquez out to maintain his perfect start to the defence of his MotoGP world title.

The 21-year-old Spaniard had barely graduated from riding tricycles the last time Argentina staged a leg of the world championship.

That 1999 race was won by American star Kenny Roberts Jr. with a certain Valentino Rossi claiming third in the 250cc division.

Rossi, who won the mid-division title that season, returns to Argentina having gone on to accumulate seven world crowns in the 500cc/MotoGP category.

Marquez has one MotoGP championship wrapped up and is well on his way to adding a second, if early results are anything to go by.

He took the season-opener in Qatar one month after breaking his leg, fighting off Rossi in a thrilling wheel-towheel finish.

Next up came the Grand Prix of the Americas with Marquez describing his stroll to victory from pole in Austin as “boring”.

Now the youngest ever MotoGP world champion arrives in Argentina hungry for his third straight win of 2014.

“We will be looking to continue with the same momentum from the first two races of the season,” the Honda ace said.l

when he was beaten by compatriot Alex Corretja in three sets in the second round. His winning streak is now at 41 in a row, with Nadal losing just three sets in that spell.

Victory also took Nadal level with Arthur Ashe on 683 career wins with Boris Becker’s mark of 713 now in his sights.

Next up for Nadal in Barcelona is a meeting with fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro as the world number 20 overcame compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3 to avenge his defeat in the Houston final just 11 days ago.

Just one break in the eighth game was enough for Almagro to take the first set.

Both men broke towards the start of the second set, but again Almagro made his move again towards the end of the set as he broke once more to seal victory. l

US Diamond League meet Reigning Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha, two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann FraserPryce and Britain’s reigning world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu will compete in the New York Diamond League meet on June 14, organizers said Wednesday.

Rudisha, a 25-year-old Kenyan, has run six of the 10 fastest 800m in history, including a world record of 1min 40.91sec in the 2012 Olympic final.

His winning time of 1:41.74 in the 2012 New York meeting was the fastest time ever on US soil.

Fraser-Pryce, 27, won the 2008 and 2012 Olympic crowns and has six world titles, including the 100, 200 and

4x100m relay last year to make the Jamaican sprint queen last year’s IAAF Women’s Athlete of the Year.

Ohuruogu, 29, won the 2008 Olympic 400m title as well as last year’s world crown and ranks second in the world this year.

New Zealand’s Valerie Adams, 29, a two-time Olympic and four-time world shot put champion, is also in the field.

She has 46 consecutive victories dating to August 22, 2010, and had eight of last year’s top-10 world performances.

Reigning world indoor high jump champion and 2013 outdoor world runner-up Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and American Erik Kynard, the 2012 Olympic runner-up, will compete against reigning world champion Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine. l

‘England post too good to turn down’

DAY’S WATCH

Italian Serie A Inter Milan v Napoli 3:00AM World Heavyweight Boxing C’ship Wladimir Klitschko v Alex Leapai Star Sports 2

15

Nadal safely into Barcelona quarters Rudisha, Fraser-Pryce top

Sony Six Indian Premier League 4:30PM Rajasthan v Bangalore 8:30PM Punjab v Kolkata

9:00AM Cimb Niaga Indonesian Masters Day 3 Star Sports 4 English Premier League 5:35PM Southampton v Everton 8:00PM Stoke City v Tottenham 10:30PM Man United v Norwich 12:45AM

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Spanish Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory on Croatian Ivan Dodig during the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tournament in Barcelona on Thursday AFP

I’m still Tour de France winner: Armstrong Lance Armstrong, in a rare interview, says he still considers himself a Tour de France champion despite his spectacular fall from grace for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong – stripped of his record seven Tour titles – told Outside magazine he thinks his fellow competitors would agree he genuinely won cycling’s greatest event.

“Yes, I feel that I won the races,” he said in what Outside billed as his first public appearance since his January 2013 doping confession to talk show diva Oprah Winfrey following years of denials.

“I know that is not a popular answer, but the reality is that ... it was just a messy time,” he said, referring to widespread doping in cycling. “It was basically an arms race, and we all played

ball that way.”

He added it would be “a mistake, and it would be disrespectful to the sport, to leave seven years empty” and fail to recognize a Tour winner between 1999 and 2005.

“If I didn’t win, then somebody needs to win,” he said.

“Of course I’m going to say I won – but ask the guys (fellow Tour de France competitors) that went and suffered with you and ask them, ‘Did he win?’ I think I know what they’d say.”

No longer racing, or associated with the Livestrong cancer charity he founded, Armstrong said he still bikes “occasionally” but runs “more than anything” in order to keep fit.

As for what his legacy will be, he said: “I don’t know. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about that ... Honestly, I have no idea what the future holds.” l

England’s new assistant coach Paul Farbrace admitted on Thursday that it was impossible turn down the job even though he will have mixed feelings when he faces former employers Sri Lanka next month Farbrace was lured away from his role as Sri Lanka coach by the opportunity to work as number two to new England head coach Peter Moores.

The former Kent wicketkeeper met Moores and a handful of players at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough on Thursday just 24 hours after his release from Sri Lanka Cricket was completed.

Farbrace had only been in his previous post since December, during which time the Englishman had led the Sri Lankans to success in the Asia Cup and

World Twenty20.

His departure after such a brief but successful tenure, and on the eve of the Sri Lankans’ tour of Ireland and England, has caused some consternation in Colombo.

Farbrace concedes the switch has come at an awkward time for all concerned but could not resist the lure of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“It doesn’t look great from the outside, someone leaving a job after four months, and I understand from a Sri Lankan point of view that there is disappointment because it was a successful time,” he told BBC Radio Five.

“I understand there will be that disappointment but as I went back to explain to them on Monday, the opportunity to work with my own team, my own country, and be working from home was an offer I couldn’t really refuse.

“The opportunity to work with your own national team is almost beyond your wildest dreams. It’s a fantastic opportunity and a great time to be involved.

“There was some disappointment but most people in the room understood the situation. I like to think we finish on reasonably good terms.

“It will be interesting for me and the players that the series in a couple of weeks is against Sri Lanka and there will be some mixed feelings because I built some good relationships - not just this time but the previous time - with the players.

“As a coach you do make good, strong relationships and they’re not easy things to put to one side when you’re playing against them.”

Having had the details of his appointment ironed out in time to get to work with Moores this week, Farbrace is now enthused about the challenge ahead.l

Atapattu named interim SL coach Sri Lanka appointed former captain Marvan Atapattu as the interim head coach of their cricket team on Friday following Paul Farbrace’s resignation earlier this week.

Atapattu, 43, will be in charge of the team for their tour of Ireland and England starting next month and the subsequent home series against South Africa.

Farbrace resigned to become England’s assistant coach after guiding Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh earlier this month.

Fielding coach and former off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage will be Atapattu’s deputy for the two series, the cricket board said.

“We made these appointments to get out of the current situation.

We have not, at this point of time, thought of going for a foreign coach,” SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said. l

Players of Bangladesh Army celebrate after clinching the title of the Walton Premier Division Kabaddi Super League at the Kabaddi Stadium yesterday COURTESY

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

No relief for emergency patients The country has no emergency medical officer post for 483 upazila health complexes n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Patients in critical condition are being denied proper care at the country’s root-level facilities, as there is no post of emergency medical officer at the upazila health complexes.

Without any designated doctor for treating the patients in critical condition, the responsibility falls on only one or two medical officers at the upazila facilities, as the consultants posted there do not attend to emergency or outdoor patients.

The crisis of doctors is worsened as most medical officials stationed at upazila health complexes reportedly remain busy lobbying to get transferred to places that are more suitable for them, instead of providing proper healthcare to the local patients.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the country currently has 483 upazila health complexes across the country. Among them, 153 are 50-bed facilities with 2022 doctors and the rest have 31 beds and 9-11 doctors each, as well as having two posts each for medical assistants and pharmacists. These limited number of health officials have to manage the hundreds of patients seeking services at the health complexes’ emergency, indoor and outdoor sections.

Seeking anonymity, a senior official at the health directorate said most doctors did not have the orientation and training regarding management of emergency patients.

Also preferring to stay unnamed, several top-level DGHS officials admitted to the Dhaka Tribune that there was a lack of planning and coordination for providing emergency healthcare treatment at all hospitals. A person visiting an emergency department of any upazila health complex would find that there was a shortage of trained medical officials, necessary medical equipment and medicine for providing emergency services to patients in critical conditions, they added.

Professor Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement

DHANMONDI PLAYGROUND

Activists demand removal of illegal establishments n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Green activists and leaders of 50 social bodies yesterday held a rally in front of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University to press home their four-point demand, including withdrawal of false cases against protesters and demolishing all illegal establishments on the Dhanmondi playground.

At the rally organised under the banner of “Movement to save Dhanmondi playground,” Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) General Secretary Abdul Matin said: “Protests from city residents forced the city corporation to install signboards declaring the playground open to all.”

Bapa Joint General Secretary Iqbal Habib said: “The playground was not freed at the prime minister’s recommendation, it was freed in the wake of the movements by the citizens.”

Alleging the city corporation had not taken any steps to remove the illegal establishments of the private sporting club from the playground, he warned that movements would continue until these structures were demolished.

“The Sheikh Jamal Club authority should immediately withdraw the false suit against environmental activists,” said forum convener and former national cricketer Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, adding that a committee should be formed with the city corporation authority and Dhanmondi residents for the playground.

The field had been kept occupied

by Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club for almost two years. The Dhaka South City Corporation on Thursday placed two signboards, saying the ground was open to all. l

Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune that the management of emergency healthcare treatment had remained the weakest compared to all other departments, although it was the most essential.

Most doctors, nurses and other who were involved with emergency care did not have training for advanced life saving treatment to properly handle seriously-ill patients, he said, adding that medical official also lacked the necessary logistical support (medicine, medical equipments, laboratory facilities).

Admitting that funding was a key requirement for ensuring proper emergency healthcare, Dr Mahbub, who is also a former president of Bangladesh Medical Association, said it was now time to be more responsible in treating emergency patients for shunning mistrust among doctors and patients.

When asked why there was no post for emergency medical officers at upazila facilities, Dr Md Shah Newaz, director (administration) of the DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune that the organogram of upazila health complex was outdated, as it was made in 1984.

With the number of patients growing each year, it was not possible to ensure proper emergency services with the limited manpower, he added.

A proposal has been placed to the government for updating the organogram by creating necessary posts including emergency medical officers, Shah Newaz said, adding that at least four posts of emergency officers was needed at the upazila health complexes.

Sources said the most common causes of medical emergency in Bangladesh were trauma and accident, acute diseases, violence, drowning, snake bites, suicidal attempts and burn injuries.

Most public hospitals also fail to provide proper emergency treatment as they lack skilled manpower and necessary infrastructural support, while the poor and low-income groups are unable to afford the high costs at the private hospitals which offer better emergency services. l

Amid the scorching afternoon heat, a sudden gale came as relief. The picture shows people welcome the dusty gust in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday

Government imposes ban on shallow fishing in Bay

Temperature begins to fall

n Mohosinul Karim

The record high temperature sweeping across the country for the last few days dropped yesterday afternoon due to the presence of a moderate southerly wind in the atmosphere, the Met office said.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department yesterday predicted further drop in the temperature at night due to the effect of light wind with drizzling.

“A moderate southerly wind along with huge evaporation yesterday afternoon caused rainfall with gust at some places of the country,” said Sanaul Haque, a meteorologist.

The southerly wind will reduce the country’s ongoing heat wave and the temperature will fall gradually.

In Dhaka, the highest temperature yesterday was recorded 39 degrees Celsius at noon while at 6pm it came down to 31.2 degrees due to the sudden drizzles along with gust in the periphery of the capital.

The highest temperature in the county yesterday was recorded 42 degrees Celsius in Chudanga. l

The government has imposed a ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal where water level is less than 40 metres, aiming to protect fish resources.

The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting held on April 20 with Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Haque in the chair.

The Fisheries and Livestock Ministry on Thursday issued a gazette notification in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard have been asked to take necessary steps to protect fish in the deep sea.

The ministry had also formed a monitoring committee, led by its Joint Secretary Anisur Rahman, to take prompt action against the trawlers coming from Myanmar and Thailand and poaching fish in the Bay of Bengal.

Ministry’s Public Relations Officer Mohammad Ali Sarker told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the government had taken the decision to protect sea

fish from illegal local or foreign fishermen so that the country’s people may get fish as per their demand. It could be ensured if the order was followed properly, he added.

Licences for the trawlers given 20-25 years back would not be renewed further to ensure limited fish catch and protect the country’s fish resources “The minister has also asked the authorities concerned to replace all the bottom water trawlers with mid-water trawlers immediately,” he quoted the minister as saying.

An official order in this regard would be issued shortly.

After the meeting, Sayedul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune that the government would not allow anyone to import or build any wooden trawlers

in future. “Also, we will not allow the licence-holders to replace new trawlers with their old trawlers.”

Licences for the trawlers given 20-25 years back would not be renewed further to ensure limited fish catch and protect the country’s fish resources.

The minister said the heads of law enforcement agencies and departments concerned were instructed to take legal action against the foreign trawlers trespassing into the Bangladesh’s maritime area.

Bangladesh will not allow any unauthorised trawlers into its territory for fishing illegally. “If they enter illegally, we will catch them,” the minister said.

He informed that although 75 trawlers should be involved in fishing in Bangladesh waters, nearly 221 fishing boats are now catching fish.

According to the fisheries department, the government approved 199 trawlers for deep-sea fishing between 1973 and 2011, but there are around 40,000 fishing boats and trawlers fishing in the sea at present. l

Drying Teesta reshaping religious rituals Bakar Siddique, back from n Abu the north Since he was a child, Khoka Ram – a resident of Rajpur village in Lalmonirhat – had been performing the sacred bathing ritual of the “Ganga Snan” in the Teesta River, located only 400 metres away from his home.

However, for the past two years, Khoka Ram, who is now 70 years old, has had to make a 15km trip with his family to the district’s Kanchanpur area,

RAJIB DHAR

where the organisers of Ganga Snan were forced to shift the festival as the river’s water has been drying up at the previous site during the lean season.

Like Khoka, many other members of the local Hindu community were forced to bring changes to years of traditional religious rituals as a result of the drop in the water flow in the Teesta River.

During a visit to the area earlier this month, the Dhaka Tribune found a Hindu family who were performing their worship at a canal beside their home in

Rajpur village. “We are performing the worship in the canal water as the river is completely dried up and this specific worship requires water,” said Moni Bala, a member of the family.

With the traditional source of the Teesta water all dried up, many other families in the area also had no other choice but to resort to performing the sacred bathing ritual at nearby canals or ponds.

In addition to Ganga Snan, which is dedicated to the goddess Ganga, many other religious festivals of the Hindu

Hindus in the country’s northern districts now perform religious rituals on the bank of small canals as the once mighty Teesta River is drying up DHAKA TRIBUNE

Community are river-based.

Burni festival, a popular festival of the Hindu community in rural Bangladesh, also takes place beside rivers.

However, 20-year-old Bipul Chakrabarty of Char Rajpur village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said this year the locals were forced to hold the Burni festival on the bank of a large pond, as the Teesta had dried up.

Ethno-ecological researcher Pavel Partha, also a programme coordinator of Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, said apart from the religious festivals of the Hindu community, many other rituals of different sections of people like communities of boatmen and fishermen were also hampered because of the drying up of the rivers in Bangladesh.

Citing an example of Netrakona’s fishermen, Partha said the community’s rituals of worshipping boats and rivers are being lost, as most fishermen are forced to change professions because there is not enough fish or water in the area’s water bodies. Bangladesh Water Development Board officials blame the drying up of the Teesta River on the unilateral withdrawal of water from upstream by India.

This year, the situation has worsened as the Bangladesh portion of the river Teesta received only 409 cusec, 500 cusec and 550 cusec of water on an average during February, March and April, respectively, board officials said.

Although the average water flow in the Teesta during the months of January-April had previously been around 6,000 cusec, 5,000 cusec, 6,000 cusec and 8,000 cusec, the situation has changed over the last few years as India has been halting the water flow upstream because of their own irrigation needs, said Mir Sajjad Hossain, a member of the Joint River Commission. l

n Abu Bakar Siddique

Nine trafficking victims return from Iran n Rabiul Islam After several months of ordeal nine victims of human trafficking returned to Bangladesh from Iran yesterday.

A flight of Fly Dubai carrying the migrant workers arrived at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:40am, said Executive Director of the Rights Jessore Binoy Krishno.

With the help of Bangladesh Embassy in Tehran, the CID and Rights Jessore repatriated Halim, Mohosin, Shohorab, Shahab Uddin, Samar Uddin, Tomij Uddin, Jillur Rahman, Hridoy and Romiz Ali. “I worked as a construction worker in Dubai. Three and a half months back a middleman named Imran Chowdhury alias Habib assured me of a lucrative job in Greece and I was taken to Iran,” Halim said at the CID office yesterday.

He alleged that Imran and two others named Nazrul and Mizan confined him to a house and took Tk220,000 from him through bKash. “For three and a half months I was beaten up. They did not even provide food often.”

The man from Narsingdi said: “On April 9, Iranian police rescued me along with others and produced before a court. Zia, an official at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tehran, helped me return.”

CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam said two cases would be filed against Imran Chowdhury with Monohordi police station of Narsingdi.Another case will be filed in Mathbaria of Pirojpur and another in Brahmanbaria Sadar.

“We have heard that such things are happening but have not received any complaint,” Bangladesh Ambassador in United Arab Emirates Mohammad Imran told this correspondent over phone.

“If we know the matter specifically we will go for action,” he said. l

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