24 May 2014

Joishthya 10, 1421 Rajab 24, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 54

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Tk2 crore paid to kill Ekram

Thai junta summons ousted leaders, imposes travel ban n AFP, Bangkok

He narrated how he had tried to get Nazrul back after he had been abducted along with six others.

Shamim said: “An army major – I will not mention the name – threatened me saying, ‘If we are not safe, you cannot be saved either.’

“I should quit politics as I could not save the lives of my fellows and my activists have been killed one after another.”

Thailand’s new military junta summoned the kingdom’s ousted government leaders yesterday and banned them from leaving the country, following a coup that has provoked an international outcry.

Vowing to halt months of political bloodshed, coup makers led by the tough-talking army chief declared a nationwide night-time curfew and ordered masses of rival demonstrators off the streets.

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was removed from office in a controversial court ruling earlier this month, arrived at an army facility in Bangkok in her private bullet-proof vehicle after a summons from the military regime.

Dozens of prominent figures from both sides of the political divide, including Yingluck’s successor Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, were ordered to show up. It was unclear what awaited them.

“If the prime minister and many of these personalities are not apprehended, then there would be the threat that they might set up a government in exile,” said Paul Chambers, a Southeast Asia expert at Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand.

The army said 155 prominent figures, including the ousted government leaders, were banned from leaving the country without permission.

The military regime headed by General Prayut Chan-O-Cha suspended most of the constitution, drawing

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 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Arrestees claim that local AL leaders planned the murder a week before Jamil Khan n Mohammad from Feni and Tarek Mahmud from Chittagong The four persons arrested in connection with the killing of Ekramul Haque have reportedly admitted that local Awami League leaders had paid goons and sea robbers around Tk2 crore to kill the Fulgazi upazila chairman.

Several senior police officials in Feni, who are involved in the investigation process, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that during primary interrogation, arrestees Anowar, Alauddin, OF JOYNAL HAZARI, P3 PROFILES NIZAM HAZARI, EKRAMUL HAQUE Iqbal and Shakhawat admitted that the murder had been planned at a secret meeting at the Kalam Community Centre in the town a week before the crime.

The arrestees also claimed that those present at the meeting included Jahangir Md Adel, joint general secretary of the district Awami League unit, local leader Zahidul Islam, Ward Councillor Shiplu and others.

They said the meeting had planned that criminals from Brinchi and near-

by areas and sea robbers from Sonagazi – armed with AK47 rifles and other weapons – would be hired to kill Ekram for Tk2 crore, with Tk1 crore paid in advance.

Asked about the reported admissions, Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of Feni Model police station investigating the case, said all data regarding the case had been collected and analysed and the findings would be placed before the media within a couple of days.

Video footage recovered

The video footage of Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque’s murder shows that associates of local lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari were present at the crime scene during the gruesome murder.

Analysis of the footage, recorded on mobile phones by witnesses, confirmed the identities of at least four people – local Awami League leader Zahidul Islam, and alleged criminals Abid, Humayun and Sohel alias Ruti Sohel, said investigating officials.

Based on the analysis, district police carried out drives in Shorshori and Modhuai areas early yesterday to arrest  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police installed retractable device on the Hare Road in the capital to prevent vehicles from going in the wrong lane. The photo was taken yesterday. Story on Page 2 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Shamim Osman admits to his conversation with Nur Hossain n Tribune Report Shamim Osman, the ruling party lawmaker from Narayanganj, has admitted to having a phone conversation with Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the case filed over sensational abduction and killing of seven people in the district.

He admitted it before the media at his Gulshan residence yesterday evening.

Earlier yesterday, private television

Channel 24 broadcast a phone conversation between Shamim Osman and Nur Hossain.

At the press conference, Shamim Osman said: “I repeatedly told Nur Hossain to surrender before the court if he was not guilty. But Nur Hossain did not accept my suggestions.

“I did not advise him to flee, but rather suggested that he should surrender to the law.”

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Initial deal penned for physical construction of Rooppur plant n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has signed the third initial deal of $189m with the Russian company Atomstroyexport for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project (RNPP).

Acting BAEC chairman Md Monirul Islam and a representative of the Russian atomic energy commission Rosatom signed the agreement titled “performance of first priority construction and the erection work of preparatory stage prior to the first concrete” at the BAEC office yesterday.

“The proposed deal would be sent to the next meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase for approval,” Monirul said.

A BAEC official, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Because of the inefficiency of the Bangladesh team, the deal has been delayed by five months. Although the Bangladesh side wanted to sign the deal for $154m, the Russian side wanted to sign it for

$194m. Finally, the deal was signed for $189m following insistence by the Russian side.

“Russia has increased $35m, promising additional equipment,” the official added.

The initial deal has come following negotiations that began between the parties in December.

Bangladesh plans to produce 1,000MW of electricity by June 2017 and another 1,000MW by 2022 from the nuclear plant that will have a tenure of 60 years “We wanted to sign the deal in December but it was delayed because of violent political situation at that time,” Project Director Mohammad Shawkat Akbar told the Dhaka Tribune.

Russia has agreed to provide $500m to finance the initial stages of Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project.

Of the amount, $189m will be spent for performance of first priority construction and the erection work of preparatory stage, prior to the first concrete at Rooppur site.

Around $265m will be spent on the development of design documentation, first priority working documentation and engineering survey for design stage.

Around $45.9m will be spent for the development of feasibility evaluation, environment impact assessment analyses for the RNPP site as the performance of the necessary engineering survey and environmental studies.

The government has appointed Russian consultancy firm Atomstroyexport to supervise and monitor the construction of the plant.

The Russian firm will run a series of 63 tests and as part of pre-construction work it will conduct feasibility evaluation, environment impact assessment

and other surveys.

The BAEC, under the Science and Technology Ministry, will implement the project.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the groundwork of the 2,000MW plant in Pabna on October 2 last year.

Bangladesh plans to produce 1,000MW of electricity by June 2017 and another 1,000MW by 2022 from the nuclear plant that will have a tenure of 60 years with options to extend up to another 20 years.

Russian State Atomic Energy Commission (Rosatom) will build, operate and provide fuel to the plant and take its waste back to Russia regularly. The total cost of the proposed plant has been estimated at between $5bn and $6bn.

Bangladesh has been considering embarking on a nuclear power programme for over five decades, and Rooppur, about 200km north of Dhaka, was earmarked for the country’s first plant as long ago as 1963. l

‘Government worried over killing incidents’ n Emran Hossain Shaikh

Just into five months of its five-year tenure, the Awami League government has started facing difficulty in dealing with incidents like abductions, killings and forced disappearance across the country.

The party leaders think if such incidents increase further, it will go beyond control and the opposition will get a chance to intensify the anti-government movement.

Several ruling party leaders and ministers say taking lessons from the previous tenure, they planned to run the government smoothly. But these incidents, including the seven murders in Narayanganj and killing of Fulgazi upazila chairman, have embarrassed the government.

These leaders said if the government failed to deal with the issue effectively, they might pay the price for the failure.

Nuh-Ul-Alam Lenin, presidium member of the Awami League, told the Dhaka Tribune that these incidents had embarrassed them.

“Any kind of unusual incidents is a matter of concern for the ruling party,” he said. “Those who are committing such crimes are enemy of the society.”

He said some culprits are committing such crimes to create trouble for the government. “It may be done for creating unrest in the country,” he said.

“The government will deal with the matter with an iron hand.”

Suranjit Sengupta, a member of AL advisory board, said the incidents in Narayanganj and Feni prove that the administration and law enforcers become weak day by day. “The people of the country are offended by these matters,” the ruling party lawmaker said.

Preferring anonymity, a cabinet minister told the Dhaka Tribune that they got embarrassed by these unexpected incidents. “All achievements of the government are being destroyed only for this criminal mischief,” said the minister who holds an important post in the party.

However, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu and Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam have declined to comment on the matter.

Quamrul Islam asked this correspondent to contact with high-profile ministers. “I do not want to say anything about the issue,” he said. l

Retired MPO teachers on the margins of government service n Mushfique Wadud Teachers are finding themselves on the margins of government service in their old age.

Perspiring profusely, a retired school teacher was found waiting at Nilkhet’s MPO Teachers’ Retirement Benefit Board office in Dhaka city yesterday.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, 60-year-old Mofizul Islam said, “I applied for my retirement benefits in 2008, but still haven’t received them.

“I have been visiting the board office for six years, and am now tired.

Today I came to speak directly with Member Secretary Prof Asadul Haque,” he said.

As it was 3:30pm, he said, “It seems that this is another wasted day.”

“Two of my brothers who went abroad as workers instead of studying are now in better positions, compared

to me,” he said, ruing his education.

“I have been visiting this office every week for the last couple of months,” he added.

This is not a one-off incident. He elaborated, “Like me, many others are facing harassment in withdrawing their retirement benefits.”

A teacher, seeking anonymity, said, “Except retired teachers who have strong recommendations, everyone else has to pay bribes here, or else they are harassed.”

Employees here often misbehave with the teachers for asking them about their applications or retirement benefits.

A school teacher’s relative, who came from Tangail to collect the benefit cheque, said, “A third class employee asked for Tk 1000 as a bribe.”

Sumon Sutradhar, son of a headmaster from Noakhali, said, “My father

Retractable spikes on city roads to stop reverse traffic n Tribune Report

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police is going to install retractable spikes on city roads to stop drivers from taking a “shortcut” by using the wrong side of the road.

The metal spikes will retract when a vehicle goes in the right direction, but will puncture tyres if it travels the opposite way.

The new initiative was launched at a ceremony which took place at 11am yesterday on the capital’s Hare Road near the state house Sugandha. A retractable spike belt has been installed there on a test basis.

At the launching ceremony, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker said: “We had hoped that people would follow traffic rules. But since they do not, we had to install the spikes to maintain traffic laws on city roads.

“Many drivers, after getting stuck in traffic congestion, choose to travel on the wrong side of the road in order to reach their destinations, thus creating a traffic deadlock in the area. Traffic police also find it tough to tackle such situations.”

Officials from the traffic division

said the spikes will puncture the tyres of a vehicle if it goes the wrong way and force it to stop. Then, police will be able to nab the driver.

The traffic division hopes that the spikes will help reduce the traffic congestion due to wrong way movement and will thus also reduce accidents.

The spikes, which are three inches high and separated by a gap of 45 millimetres, have been placed on a stainless steel bar and will not rust or clog in wet weather conditions. Each spike has its individual spring and will bend down easily if a vehicle travels in the right direction.

The device, costing around Tk5 lakhs, was built by a local metal engineering company at the capital’s Dholaikhal.

DMP will start distributing leaflets to raise awareness about the spikes over the next month and ask the city corporation to install such devices on every street if the project becomes successful.

However, the DMP will let the ambulances use the wrong side of the road in case of emergencies. l

Germany keen to invest in Bangladesh n UNB

Germany is eying investment in various sectors in Bangladesh, particularly setting up a machinery factory and a plant that will produce electricity from garbage and waste, said members of a visiting German delegation yesterday.

The delegation also noted that Germany wants to invest in expansion and upgradation of railway network, inland water transportation, water treatment and waste management sectors.

These interests were conveyed by the visiting German delegation, headed by Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV)

member Wilhelm G Glasen, who called on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the state guest house Padma.

During the meeting, Glasen said this was a fact finding mission on Bangladesh’s economy and trade and that they will inform the stakeholders in Germany, including political parties, businessmen and media, that the overall situation in Bangladesh is very much favourable for trade and investment.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali apprised the delegation about the government’s initiatives to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) through enhancing bilateral cooperation. l

died of cancer in January this year. We had applied for the pension when my father was ill.”

“We even informed the authorities of how much we needed the money when my father was ill, but nothing happened,” he said.

A teacher, asking an official about the whereabouts of his file, was asked to contact them three years later.

“Come here after three years because there is no point for you to come here before that time,” came the response.

Member Secretary Prof Asadul Haque could not be reached on the phone.

Early in the week, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told a programme that the sufferings of the teachers in getting their retirement benefits have lessened and that they are trying to make it easier for teachers. l

Thai junta  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

rebukes from Washington, Europe and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who all called for civilian control to be restored.

Secretary of State John Kerry said there was “no justification” for a coup that would have “negative implications” for US relations, and demanded early elections. The Pentagon said it was reviewing military cooperation with America’s oldest ally in Asia.

Southeast Asian neighbours urged caution, with Malaysia warning its nationals to defer non-essential travel to Thailand.

Japan, Thailand’s biggest foreign investor, stopped short of a travel warning but called for a “prompt restoration of a democratic political system”.

Toyota and Honda had curtailed night-time shifts at their Thai plants because of the curfew, but a spokesman for Toyota said it had “received authorisation” to resume operations for the time being.

Thailand has been locked in a political crisis since a 2006 military coup that deposed Yingluck’s elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire tycoon-turned-populist politician who clashed with the royalist establishment.

The military held on to power for more than a year after the 2006 coup and since then, a power bloc centred on Thaksin’s family has battled for primacy with a Bangkok-based royalist camp closely tied to the powerful military.

His supporters, known as the “Red Shirts”, had warned that an overthrow of the government could trigger civil war and all eyes are on how the movement will respond.

Media blackout

All television and radio stations including foreign broadcasters were ordered to air only a steady stream of army announcements, and the junta warned it would block social media platforms that carry anti-coup content.

Bangkok was calm on Friday although its usually bustling streets were quieter than usual with schools ordered to temporarily close across the country.

Small anti-coup protests broke out in the city, while some people took to the Internet to vent their anger, posting messages such as “Thailand’s democracy was murdered by the coup.” l

Members of a citizens' platform form a human chain in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday, protesting the recent series of forced disappearances and abductions DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tk2 crore paid to kill Ekram  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

two suspects – Anowar and Alauddin – for their involvement.

Confirming the arrests, the district’s Superintendent of Police Paritosh Gosh told the Dhaka Tribune that remand petitions would be placed for their interrogation.

So far, four people have been shown arrested in connection with the killing, with previous two arrestees including Iqbal and Shakhawat, who reportedly had no political affiliation.

Among those who could be identified from the video footage, Zahidul Islam allegedly led the attack, according to witnesses.

Zahid, a close associate of Nizam, reportedly had enmity with Ekram as the slain leader had previously suspended Zahid from the post of joint general secretary in the Fulgazi Awami League unit during the recent upazila poll.

Zahid, accused of murdering Jubo League leader Bashir in 2000, however, won back his post thanks to support that reportedly came from local MP Nizam.

Another person who was identified from the video clips, Abid, is the son of Layla Jesmin, general secretary of the district unit of Mohila Awami League and also a cousin of Nizam.

Witnesses said Abid had been wearing a mask during the attack on Ekram, but the posture and walking pattern made the man’s identity clear. Abid, who allegedly carried out criminal activities on behalf of Nizam, was the one who fired first at Ekram.

Sources inside Feni police, on the other hand, said law enforcers had already arrested Abid in Dhaka; however, SP Paritosh claimed he had no such information.

The two others who were identified from the video footage, Sohel and Humayun, are alleged criminals known as supporters of local Ward Councillor Shiplu. The area where Ekram was attacked was also reportedly controlled

by Shiplu.

Asked about the allegations of his affiliation with some of the suspects, Feni 2 lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari told the Dhaka Tribune that peo-

ple making such claims belonged to the BNP. On his associates’ presence at the crime scene, the MP said any of his party leader found to be involved with the crime would face punitive actions.

Replying to a query on whether Nizam or his relative Joynal Hazari was involved in the incident, Feni SP Paritosh said both men would be interrogated if needed.

CID Investigation

A five-member Criminal Investigation Department team from Chittagong, led

by CID Inspector Mohammad Ibrahim Hossain, also collected evidence from the crime scene.

The evidence included a burnt 7.62mm pistol, two fully burnt bullets, a portion of a new knife, the burnt SUV of Ekram, and a battery-powered three-wheeler.

From its primary findings, the CID team thinks that the attackers first attempted to halt Ekram’s vehicle by blocking the road with the three-wheeler and the SUV climbed on a central reservation after hitting the three-wheeler.

The attackers then hit the SUV with a sharp weapon – as it bore seven to eight marks on its body and seats – before shooting Ekram and setting the car on fire.

The CID also found that Ekram had fired a shot from his licensed 7.62mm pistol, while his supporter Shiplu also fired from a shotgun that was also licensed to the Fulgazi chairman.

CID Inspector Ibrahim said: “The whole crime scene was washed away by water [from the fire-fighters]; so, it was hard to find evidence,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Pradip Kumar Nath, who carried out Ekram’s post mortem examination, said the bullet that penetrated the Fulgazi chairman had exited the body and had not been recovered; so a ballistic test was not possible.

On Tuesday, 47-year-old Ekramul Haque, a two-time elected chairman of Fulgazi upazila, was shot and burnt alive by unidentified criminals in the Academy area of Feni district town. l

Shamim Osman  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Mentioning that his life is under threat, the ruling party lawmaker begged help of the media.

He also expressed anxiety over Rafiur Rabbi’s security.

Rabbi, father of murdered teenager Tanvir Mohammad Twoki, will contest in the Narayanganj 5 by-poll scheduled for June 26.

“If Rafiur Rabbi disappears, people will accuse me,” Shamim said, demanding Rabbi’s protection.

He also called for a judicial inquiry into Twoki’s murder.

Conversation between Shamim Osman and Nur Hossain

During the 103-second conversation between Shamim Osman and Nur Hossain over phone, Shamim asked Nur if he had received his message. In reply, Nur said he had.

Shamim also asked Nur not to worry too much.

Nur sought help to flee the country; he addressed Shamim Osman as his father and said he loved Shamim very much.

In reply, Shamim assured Nur that there would be no more problems and asked him to meet a man named Gaur.

Sources in the intelligence said Nur had made the phone call to Shamim around 9:30pm on April 29 from a place near Road 4 in Dhanmondi of the capital.

Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Sarkar and five others were abducted on April 27 and then killed; their bodies were dumped into the Shitalakkhya River.

Nazrul’s family members alleged that then Rab 11 commanding officer Lt Col Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, Rab 11’s Major Arif Hossain and Lt Commander SM Masud Rana killed them in exchange for Tk6 crore which they received from Nur Hossain.

On April 28, the authorities concerned dismissed the three Rab 11 officials along with the superintendent of Narayanganj police and the deputy commissioner.

Following the allegations, the Armed Forces Division sent Tarek Sayeed and Arif Hossain on premature retirement from the army and Masud Rana on forced retirement from the navy. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Despite pay hike, garment workers face woes n Tazlina Zamila Khan Garment workers have failed to be benefitted through pay hikes as their house rent also rose following implementation of the new wage scale from December 1 last year.

In November, the government finalised Tk5,300 as the minimum wage for garment workers which was around 65% to 77% rise from the previous amount. However, their house rent also grew by 40%-73% in the past one year.

Bibi Rahima, 35, works as an operator at Hamim Group in Tejgaon and she lives in Begunbari slum.

“I earn Tk6,500 every month and sometimes get an additional Tk3,500 if I do overtime. My house rent, however, is now around Tk7,500 which was Tk5,500 last year,” she said.

Rahima is the mother of three and her husband is a rickshaw puller. The family spends Tk8,000 on food and an additional Tk2,000 for the children’s school fees and others.

She said: “My savings literally are only my children. At the end of the day, I cannot save anything.”

Rahima’s landlord Sabur Ali said: “I am not the only man who raised the rent. There are others who have done the same. Besides, the price of everything has gone up and we also need more money.”

Apparel workers have demanded hostel facilities from the factory owners or the government in the wake of the rise in house rent.

Another worker Shirin Akter said: “I make Tk 5,500 a month, sometimes with an additional Tk2,500-3,500 in overtime earnings. Before that, I used to work as a housemaid.”

“Back in 2012, I started working at a garment factory and since then, I have been sharing a room with my friend Julekha. The rent is Tk4,200, up from Tk3,000 last year. I send Tk2,000 to my parents in Lakshmipur. In addition, it costs me around Tk3,500-3,800 for food.”

Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, president of the Jatiya Sramik Jote, told the Dhaka Tribune: “In a meeting with Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar two months back, we mentioned the problem of growing house rent. We suggested making dormitories for workers to solve the problem but are yet to get any response.”

“We will hold another meeting with the government in June to bring the issue to their attention. Besides, on April 21, we sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioning the house rent problem and other issues. We got no response,” he added.

In 2010, the wage board raised the minimum monthly pay for garment workers to Tk3,000 from Tk1,662.50.

The hike ranged from 67% to 81% depending on the job category. However, the house rent also rose up to 20%-25% following the raise.

The government is yet to build any dorm facilities for apparel workers, though two years ago, then Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said it would be built, said Mesbah Uddin.

He said: “Merely raising the wage will not solve the problem. The issue was actually raised following strong protests by workers in 2006 as major portion of their earnings went to landlords. Apart from that, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam showed an interest in funding dorm facilities, given the government provided land.”

Sinha Group is the only organisation that built dormitories for their workers and around 3,000-4,000 workers live there. The facility is located across the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

Roy Ramesh Chandra, substitute member of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation, said: “Building dormitories for 40 lakh workers is a difficult job and it will take time. The immediate solution is introducing subsidised rationing system for workers and taking effective steps to deal with the increased house rent.”

“The Premises Rent Control Act 1991 should be properly implemented and amended if necessary,” he added.

Construction of a 12-storey dormitory for female workers is on at Ashulia in Savar under the supervision of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs but it would not solve the problem of 40 lakh workers, Ramesh observed.

BGMEA Vice-president Shahidullah Azim said: “Every time we are under pressure from the government to raise the wage, the house rent just goes up the following day. I think the law should be implemented justly. Accord-

ing to the law, house rent cannot be raised more than 10-15%. Otherwise, a pay rise brings the workers no benefit.”

“A regulatory board should be formed to decide on the increase in house rent in each area,” he added.

“Slum landlords increase house rent by verbal agreements. So we cannot legally take any action against them. We, however, talked to slum owners in Ashulia and urged them not to raise the rent.

Also we talked to local administration to keep an eye on it,” Mikail Shipar said.

“The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has found 4-5 additional government lands in Ashulia where dormitories will be erected. We talked to the ministries concerned about it. If we could manage to build 20% of the total number of dormitories needed, many workers could reside there and the rent will then automatically fall.

However, no large-scale change can be done overnight,” he added.

The first minimum wage board, formed in 1994, fixed Tk940 as the monthly minimum wage for garment workers. The second one, set up in 2006, raised the amount Tk1,662.50. l

3 BNP’s countrywide protest Sunday n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP announced on Thursday that they will stage a countrywide protest programme on Sunday, denouncing the police bar on party members from holding a civil gathering in the capital.

“BNP believes that the police unconstitutionally and illegally barred our party men from holding a civil gathering. We are announcing the programme denouncing the bar on party Chairperson Khaleda Zia from hold the rally,” BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said while addressing a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday.

Rizvi further alleged the government has given police “a license” to oppress opposition party members.

He also berated the government for filing false cases against the senior BNP leaders, including Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

“Filing false cases and submitting charge sheets against senior leaders of the party has become a new way of the government to repress the opposition party,” he alleged. l

Sundarbans fire under control n UNB The fire that erupted at the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans’ East Zone on Wednesday afternoon has finally been brought under control yesterday.

Morelganj upazila fire station officer Ariful Haque confirmed the news and said the fire fighters had left the area.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans’ East Zone Amir Hossain Chowdhury said although the fire has been tamed, the forest guards would remain in that area as there was still a possibility of the fire restarting from the tree bases due to the wind.

When asked about the cause of fire, he said the assessment could not be made till the probe committee formed in this regard files its report.

The Forest Department formed a three-member committee to investigate the fire on Thursday and the committee started its work from yesterday.

Despite vigorous efforts by fire fighters, forest guards and locals to tame the blaze, several acres of forest land with hundreds of Sundari trees were burnt down by the fire before it was doused completely. Locals claim that they saw the fire erupting sporadically in the affected area till yesterday morning, and that smoke was still gushing out from tree stumps.

They also observed that the location where the fire started has not been frequented by honey gatherers recently and that the fire may have been caused by some people with an intention to clear out the jungle for fishing. l

Around 45 cases have been filed over a dispute between police, locals and mosque committee over the legality of a tin-shed mosque that was built on the Hatirjheel lake RAJIB DHAR

Joynal Hazari, a name that still evokes fear n Mohammad Jamil Khan, from Feni

The name of former Awami League lawmaker Joynal Hazari, known as the godfather of Feni, still seems to strike terror in the hearts of common people in Feni.

Locals say he “ruled and controlled” the politics of Feni for long 23 years as the general secretary of the district Awami League unit. He became the “emperor” of his “kingdom” Feni soon after the Awami League came to power in 1996.

Joynal Hazari was elected a member of parliament from Feni on Awami League ticket in 1996.

Grassroots Awami League leaders and activists, who did not want to be named out of fear, told this correspon-

dent that Joynal had formed a “steering committee” with members drawn from his close accomplices in 1993. The committee was later renamed “class committee.” Its members ruthlessly suppressed those who dared to stand in the way of its leader.

Slain Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram was the second-in-command of the steering and class committees. The three other members of the committee are Arju, Shaju and Shakhawat.

According to police, there are at least 20 to 25 cases filed against each of them with different police stations in Feni.

“Anyone even uttering a single word against Joynal Hazari had to lose their life as he never hesitated to take any action to obliterate his opposition political

party leaders,” said a resident of Feni.

Journalists, too, were not spared.

UNB’s Feni district correspondent Tipu Sultan was one of the glaring examples of Joynal’s torture. Tipu is still suffering the brunt of his torment.

A local contractor said Joynal used to collect 20% toll from all business establishments and tender projects.

Residing in Shoilo Kuthir of Mastarpara area, Joynal Hazari is the son of Goni Hazari. He got involved in politics when he was a student at Feni College towards the end of 1960s. He was elected the general secretary of the district Awami League in 1982.

According to the police, around 44 cases – mostly for murder – have been filed against Joynal Hazari since the 1970s. He was first sent to jail in 1973 on

charge of killing Chhatra Union leader Nasir.

Joynal Hazari was awarded lifeterm imprisonment in a case and seven years in another while three years in engineer Gias murder case.

On August 16, 2001, joint forces tried to arrest Joynal during the tenure of the army-backed caretaker government but he managed to flee the country. He stayed in Kolkata during the time, according to intelligence report.

The Awami League suspended Joynal Hazari from the party on May 3, 2005 for his statement against the party.

The suspension order is still in place.

For his long stay out of the country Joynal Hazari lost control of his bastion in Feni and failed to enter the district even after his return to the country. l

Nizam Hazari: From arms Ekram’s past shrouded dealer to lawmaker in crimes? n Mohammad Jamil Khan, from Fen The story of Nizam Uddin Hazari, who was once an arms dealer and terrorist, is now going around Feni, ever since the murder of the Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque.

A number of locals said Nizam started his political carrier with the blessing of top terrorist and former lawmaker Joynal Hazari. He got involved in criminal activities when he was a student at the Feni Commerce College in the 1980s.

Later, he was gradually involved in arms trade with alleged support from former Awami League Presidium member Aktheruzzaman Babu, said several grassroots level Awami League leaders and activists.

Nizam was a resident of the Lomi Hazari House, and is Joynal’s relative.

Towards the beginning of the 1990s Nizam used to attend all kinds of meetings and processions organised by Joynal Hazari.

He was a diehard supporter of Joynal Hazari. However, with the passage of time, he established his supremacy and developed his own gang of criminals in Fulgazi upazila, said locals.

Police said Nizam was first sent to jail on March 22, 1992 in an arms case and was released on July 28 that year.

He landed in jail once again for involvement in another arms case in 2000 and came out in December 2005.

With full support from Feni district Jubo League unit’s joint convener Ekramul Haque, he unleashed a reign of ter-

ror in the upazila.

Ekram organised a grand reception to Nizam in Feni in 2005. Nizam created a stronghold in Feni with the support from Ekram and another upazila Chairman Didar, said a number of locals, requesting anonymity.

In 2009, Ekram was elected the chairman of Fulgazi upazila and Nizam was elected the mayor of Feni in 2011.

Nizam then established his control over Feni politics and got involved in tender manipulation.

He also began to oppose Joynal and Ekram’s hegemony. He and his men allegedly set Joynal’s house on fire on January 28, 2011 because Joynal had opposed his mayoral election.

He was made the general secretary of the Awami League Feni district unit through a council in 2012 after which, party men said, Feni “was in his hands.”

Nizam then began drug dealing, smuggling and trading arms through Bilonia border of the district.

On January 5, he took part in the national election from the Awami League, resigning as the mayor. Ekram also tried to contest as an MP candidate from Feni 3 constituency and this irked Nizam.

By this time, Nizam had established his unchallenged supremacy in Feni politics with his armed activists and with the district’s Joint General Secretary Jahangir Adel and Fulgazi upazila Joint General Secretary Jahid Chowdhury.

Municipality Commissioner Gitar’s brother, Jiaul Alam Star, leads Nizam’s arms hooligans. l

n Mohammad Jamil Khan, from Feni Although locals mourned the recent killing of Fulgazi upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram, he allegedly had a questionable past that involved accusation of terror charges against him.

According to sources, Ekram got into politics when he was 18. He came under the spotlight and would perpetrate crimes as a member of the “steering committee” led by Joynal Hazari, a former Awami League lawmaker.

Ekram was the second in command of the committee formed in 1993 and it became a frightening name in the area.

The key act of the committee was to attack or kill all of Joynal’s rivals. Ekram actually was a contractor and allegedly controlled illegal acts like extortion, tender manipulation and illegal occupation of sand quarries, known as balu mahals, in Feni under the banner of the committee.

Police record says Ekram was also an accused in 25-30 cases, mostly filed in connection with murder. He refrained from any wrongdoing from 2001 to 2009 when Joynal went into hiding following the defeat of Awami League in 2001 elections. During the time, he had either been on the run or behind bars.

When the Awami League assumed power in 2009, Ekram became active and cleared of all the cases filed against him. He then contested upazila polls the same year and was elected chairman.

In the absence of Joynal, Ekram began developing relationship with Awami League leader Nizam Uddin Hazari who established influence in Feni soon

after 2001. Nizam became the Mayor of Feni municipality in 2011. Since then, Ekram teamed up with Nizam and began working together.

Both Ekram and Nizam vied to become lawmakers from two constituencies of Feni in the January 5 national elections this year. However, Nizam outperformed Ekram and became the lawmaker of Feni 2. He also became angry with Ekram at the time.

Meanwhile, having failed in the race for becoming lawmaker, Ekram established supremacy in Feni district and was elected the general secretary of Feni Diabetic Samity last year. A section of local Awami League leaders led

by Nizam at the time opposed him and put the samity office under lock and key. However, Ekram broke the lock and began attending office there.

Locals said, Ekram in November 2000 killed Jubo League leader Abul Bashar in the same place he was killed and the method was also the same.

Bashar was traveling by a human haulier and as soon as he reached Bilashi Cinema Hall, close to where Ekram’s vehicle was set on fire, unidentified attackers stopped the vehicle, shot him and left.

The trial of the murder is yet to be held but locals believe it was an act of vengeance and was directed by Ekram as the two had engaged in feud over establishing supremacy in the area.

Ekram was shot and burnt alive inside his car near the same spot last Tuesday.

The murder stemmed from internal conflict of Awami League over tenders and establishing supremacy, said locals. l

ACC seeks constitutional power to be independent n UNB Admitting that it has failed to prove many corruption cases due to the apathy of other government institutions, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in its 2013 annual report has sought constitutional power so that it could work effectively in curbing grafts.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission in different parts of the world is a constitutional body. However, in the case of Bangladesh, there is no such provision in the constitution delineating the power of the ACC, as seen inter alia, in the case of Election Commission and other constitutional bodies,” the report stated.

The government shouldn’t strangle the freedom of the ACC by proposing that it cannot sign any agreement Therefore, it noted, the constitution of Bangladesh can have in it clearly delineated the powers and activities of the Commission.

The annual report, submitted to the President on May 21, also said the past experience reveals that the ACC often has to continue with probes on the basis of poor reporting and charge sheets for lack of cooperation, apathy and incapacity of other government institution.

“Without a mechanism for exchange of information between and among these government organisations, it is not possible to validate many of the cases,” the report stated.

It further said, “In order to instigate a culture of cooperation within the government agencies and organisations, appropriate legislation, in harmony with national laws and international

good practices, needs to be enacted.”

About giving it constitutional power, ACC chairman M Badiuzzaman told UNB that there are some constitutional bodies in Bangladesh and some of them formed following laws, but their rules of business are similar.

He, however, said if the national anti-graft body is mentioned in the country’s constitution, the foundation of the national anti-graft body would get stronger and its acceptability would be increased to all.

Executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the ACC should be brought under the constitutional framework to keep it free from all sorts of influence and make it a truly independent anti-graft body.

“If the ACC could be acknowledged as a constitutional body, a specific budgetary allocation will be given in the national budget that will help it overcome the financial weakness, and political pressure on the Commission could be minimised,” he said.

The ACC in its report stressed the need for strengthening collaboration and partnerships with the national and international organisations to enhance its efficiency and capacity.

“The government shouldn’t strangle the freedom of the ACC by proposing that it cannot sign any agreement, receive assistance or loan without permission,” said the report.

About the commission’s power to collaborate with different organisations, ACC chairman Badiuzzaman said many foreign partners like GIZ, the World Bank and ADB provide support to the ACC. “There’s no interference of the government.”

Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the ACC feels ‘psychological barrier’ to sign deal with foreign organisations. “It has been observed when ACC signed agreement with World Bank in Padma Bridge issue.” l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Medical device registration guideline on the cards n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The drug administration has taken the initiative to formulate a guideline for registering all medical devices, in a bid to stop the rampant corruption in the procurement of unnecessary, yet expensive, medical equipments throughout the country’s health facilities.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) recently formed a 15-member committee, headed by DGDA DG Maj Gen Md Jahangir Hossain Mollick, to prepare the guideline for the import, sales and use of medical devices.

DGDA Deputy Director Nayar Sultana, also a member secretary of the committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that in the first committee meeting on April 28, six sub-committees of health specialists were formed to prepare a list of the most useful medical equipments and their competitive market prices.

Three to five specialists were included in each of the six sub-committees, which would prepare lists for the fields of orthopaedics and plastic surgery, dentistry, eye and ENT, urology-gynaecology and obstetric, cardiovascular and miscellaneous (pathology, radiology, surgery and laboratory).

Nayar also expressed hopes that the DGDA committee would be able to introduce the guideline within the next six months.

However, several senior officials of the DGDA, on condition of anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that it would be very tough to formulate a medical device registration guideline, as influential businesspeople and renowned doctors were involved in the corrupt practices of trading substandard and

unnecessary products for high prices.

Many doctors reportedly refused requests from the DGDA to be included in the sub-committees.

When asked why medical devices had varying prices, drug administration DG Mollick said the guideline would help fix prices and categorise all medical devices.

Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune that a regulatory body was essential in ensuring the quality of all sorts of medical devices; otherwise the equipments could cause of the deaths of patients.

According to the health directorate, the country has over 8,000 registered hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, as well as a countless number of unregistered institutes. All of these purchase and use hundreds of different kinds of medical devices without any monitoring or supervision by a regulatory body of the government.

Doctors and hospital administrators, in cahoots with unscrupulous businesspeople, reportedly purchase many sophisticated and expensive machines that gather dust over the years, as the facilities either do not have any purpose for the devices or do not have enough trained manpower to operate the equipment.

Traders of medical devices import their machines from different countries including China and India, before fixing the product prices at their will in the absence of any regulatory guideline.

Substandard products are often sold to both public and private hospitals, with unscrupulous doctors turning a blind eye to the practice in exchange of cash or favours. l

Activists of Advocating Food Safety in Bangladesh form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting rampant food adulteration and demanding strict RAJIB DHAR enforcement of food safety laws

Six die on illegal voyage to Malaysia n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

Enticed by traffickers, six men from Narsingdi died while trying to illegally enter Malaysia by sea. The traffickers slit their abdomens and then dumped the bodies in the sea.

Of a group of eight, Kawsar Mia, Mohsin Mia, Asad Mia, Motaleb Mia, Masum Mia and Jahangir Mia were murdered, and the remaining two phoned the families of these six after reaching Malaysia on Thursday night, informing them of the deaths.

The six families were overwhelmed with grief on hearing this news.

On April 28, Hashem Mia and

A woman and her daughter dry paddy on a field beside their house in Keraniganj near the capital recently. There has been good harvest of Boro this year, the farmers said NASHIRUL ISLAM

Aminul, along with the six, left home to illegally enter Malaysia, in search of fortune. Traffickers kept them for several days in Cox’s Bazar before starting off for Malaysia.

On Thursday night, Hashem Mia called his mother Jamela Khatun from Malaysia and said of all the passengers on the ship, nearly 25-26, including his uncle Jahangir, had died of an acute shortage of food and water.

Four days after reaching Malaysia and recovering from illness, Aminul called his family and said the traffickers threw all the bodies of those who had died during the journey, off the ship and took the others to Malaysia.

“My son worked at Sujon Textile, a local mill. He was just fine with his wife and two children. He suddenly left home on April 28 and called the next day, saying he, along with three others, would voyage to Malaysia with Afaz Uddin, a trafficker in Araihazar,” recalled Asad Mia’s father Shahid Mia. “He then hung up. We called the trafficker and he said all of them were fine. He also demanded Tk2-2.5 lakh from each of the families. In the meantime, however, we received the sad news,” he added.

Locals said more than a total of 1,000 people in the area had left home to illegally journey to Malaysia and

more than 200 of them still remain missing. In the recent past, Dulal Mia made such a treacherous journey but succumbed to hunger on the way. The issue was settled by a village court and the trafficker paid Dulal’s family Tk2.50 lakh in fines.

Jahangir Badsha, in charge of the Madhabdi investigation centre in Narsingdi, said no complaint had been lodged by any of the six families in connection with the deaths.

“We will take legal action after receiving complaints. The traffickers were arrested in the past but they returned to the same profession after securing release on bail,” he added. l

Twoki Mancha demands Shamim Osman’s arrest

Seven Hizb-ut Tahrir men held n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

n UNB

Police nabbed 10 people yesterday, including seven members of the banned Islamist outfit Hizb-ut Tahrir from the Anderkilla Jam-e-Masjid area in Chittagong city, when they were attempting to bring out a procession.

The arrested were students of Chittagong University and different private universities of the port city, said Shah Md Abdur Rauf, assistant commissioner of the Kotwali circle in Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

He said acting on a tip-off, they were able to nab the 10 from the area at around 2pm, adding that a banner was recovered from their possession.

Abdur Rauf also said seven were identified as Hizb-ut Tahrir activists, while police are still verifying the other three.

“As Hizb-ut Tahrir is banned, they have no legitimate right to bring out a procession. So, they have to face legal actions,” he said.

The filing of a case was underway. l

Alleging that Awami League MP Shamim Osman was involved in the sensational seven murders, Santras Nirmul Twoki Manch, an anti-terrorist local organisation, yesterday demanded his immediate arrest.

“The recorded conversations between Shamim Osman and Nur Hossain over the brutal killings of seven people, including Narayanganj city ward councillor Nazrul Islam and lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker, have been released through the investigating agency. We came to know through newspaper reports that Shamim had hands in the killing,” Mancha convener Rafiur Rabbi and member secretary Halim Azad said in a joint statement.

Observing that Nur Hossain was a creation of Shamim Osman, an MP from Fatullah-Siddhirganj constituency, the statement said: “He turned desperate and became a godfather under

his [Shamim’s] patronage. We came to know from newspaper reports that it was Shamim who helped Nur Hossain flee the country.”

Claiming that many facts indicate Shamim’s connection with the seven killings, it said: “We demand that the government immediately arrest and interrogate Shamim Osman.”

Meanwhile, a court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the seven-murder case.

Senior Judicial Magistrate KM Mahiuddin issued the arrest warrant in the case filed under the Wildlife Conservation Act in connection with the recovery of birds from his house.

On April 27, Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam and his three associates and driver were abducted from Fatullah. Hours into their abduction, senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker, and his driver were abducted while they were going to capital Dhaka. l

3 injured in BNP factional clash n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Draft policy on overseas employment collecting dust

Don’t build Teesta barrage, SCC mayor tells Indian govt

At least three people were injured, of whom two received bullet wounds, in a clash between two groups of the local wing of BNP in the Kushumbagh area, Chittagong city on Thursday night.

The wounded – Sohag, 28, Sagar, 15, and Abdun Nur, 32 – are undergoing treatment at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said Mainul Islam Bhuiyan, OC of Khulshi police station. Sohag and Sagar were shot.

Mainul said the clash took place between the followers of Shah Alam and Liton, two leaders of BNP in Chittagong, at Debar Par in Kushumbagh at around 8:30pm.

The feud was over political dominance as well as extortion in the territory.

Locals took them to the CMCH at around 9:30pm, where the on-duty doctors pronounced them out of risk, the OC said. On receiving this information, Khulshi police rushed to the spot at around 10pm and took control of the situation.

No arrest was made and police are looking into the matter, Mainul said.

No case has been filed yet, said Mohammad Jabir Uddin, assistant sub-inspector at Khulshi police station, at 5:40pm yesterday. l

n Rabiul Islam

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

The draft of the policy, prepared about one year back to deal with the overseas employment efficiently and protect the rights of migrants, is gathering dust at the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.

According to the draft, one of the main objectives of the policy is to protect the rights of migrants and ensure rehabilitation of the returnees.

Though the migrant workers remit huge foreign currencies every year and help boost the national economy, they face various problems abroad and after return, they also become helpless.

Taking such problems into account, the ministry in 2011 initiated a move to formulate a policy and address migrants’ problems. But the cabinet has yet to approve the draft.

International Labour Organisation had provided technical support in preparing the draft “Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Policy 2014”.

“It is true that the draft of the policy should have been finalised much earlier, but we have to take opinions from various ministries,” Hazrat Ali, secretary in-

charge of the Expatriates’ Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

The draft was sent to the cabinet twice for approval, but the cabinet sent it back with some observations and instructed the persons concerned to insert some issues, he said, adding that they hope they would be able to send it to the cabinet within fifteen days.

Earlier, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said it would be helpful to maintain discipline in migration sector if the policy was approved and implemented properly.

Though there is no accurate data, the ministry claims that about one crore Bangladeshis are now working in various countries and sending over $10bn as remittances every year.

According to Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training statistics, US$14.17 billion in remittances were received in 2013.

The draft policy would help reduce the migration costs and ensure the rights of female migrants. Under the proposed policy, migrants in the destination countries and their families at home would get protection.

To bring dynamism and ensure trans-

parency in migration sector, a national steering committee would be formed with the prime minister as its head and the expatriates’ minister as co-chairman.

The committee would provide guidelines so that all stakeholders, including ministries, recruitment agencies, and civil society organisations, have a unified approach to ensuring effective and transparent labour migration. It would instruct stakeholders on policymaking and reform and work to integrate and rehabilitate returnees.

A national migration forum would also be formed involving 60 representatives from ministries, labour migration bodies, federations of employers, trade unions, research organisations and recruitment agents, each to be appointed for a three-year term.

It would set priorities for the implementation of the policy and review the plans related to it.

The policy also proposes forming a market research unit to conduct study on the demand and supply of workers.

It also proposed creating a vast database of workers so that aspiring migrant labourers could be sent abroad in a systematic manner. l

The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) mayor has urged the Indian government not to build a barrage on the Teesta and block its water from flowing into Bangladesh.

“They (Indian government) should take steps immediately about the equal distribution of the water of all the rivers flowing from India into Bangladesh through the Sylhet region,” said Ariful Haque Chowdhury, yesterday.

“Standing in nature’s way does not send a good message to anybody. Rather, the risk of natural disasters goes up,” he said as India’s Assistant High Commissioner Somnath Halder paid a courtesy call on the ill mayor.

Promising to convey the mayor’s request to his country’s higher authorities, Somnath said bigger issues like equitable water sharing can be resolved through talks between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of India.

Dauki Fault and Assam Fault are close by and so people in Sylhet and in India’s Assam run the risk of falling victims to earthquakes, he added, urging

both the Bangladeshi and Indian governments to work jointly to reduce the risk of earthquakes.

Describing India’s Shilong as a very attractive tourist spot to Bangladeshis, he said visa processing should be simplified for them for the sake of taking the tourist industry forward.

A lot of people go to India for treatment and keeping this in mind, India should set up a visa processing centre in Sylhet, he added.

Somnath said the Indian government tried its best to issue visas to Bangladeshis. It has issued visas to Bangladeshis easily and quickly on humanitarian grounds, many times.

India’s government issues around 3500 visas every day. Of them, 2500 are issued from Dhaka, 500 from Chittagong and 400 from Rajshahi, added Somnath, who is attached to the Indian High Commission office in Chittagong.

SCC Chief Executive Officer Enamul Kabir, Chief Health Officer Dr Sudhamay Majumder, Executive Engineer Ali Akbar and Chief Conservancy Officer Hanifur Rahman were present, among others. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Green activists for recovery of historic Pushpa Saha pond n Abu Hayat Mahmud Environmental activists and residents of Lalbagh’s Jagannath Saha Road and its adjoining areas demanded yesterday that authorities concerned take immediate steps to recover the 150-year old Pushpa Saha pond in Amligola from the clutches of land grabbers.

The demand was made at a rally, jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Pushpa Saha Pond Recovery Committee and Green Mind Society, by the banks of the pond.

They also urged the government to take immediate steps to recover the pond from land grabbers and stop the rampant waste dumping in the water body so that locals can use it.

The protesters also burnt effigies of grabbers during their demonstrations.

Addressing the rally, Pushpa Saha Pond Recovery Committee Coordinator M Saimul Islam said: “The residents of this area had been using the Pushpa Saha Pond for a long time. It is the only water body in the area.

Residents of Amligola, Shahidnagar, Chowdhury Bazar, Hrishipara, Buddhapara, Duri Angul, Nababganj and Balurghat used to bathe in the pond, use its water for household work and Hindus used the pond to immerse their idols.”

Adi Dhakabasi Forum Member Secretary Jabed Jahan blamed the government for not taking any effective steps to protect the water body from land grabbers.

Green Mind Society President Amir Hasan said the pond also served the

community as a retention basin during the monsoon and as a source of water for any fire related incidents that occurred in the locality.

During a visit to the spot yesterday, this correspondent found that the pond had been completely filled with garbage and other waste. Several buildings have been built on the southern side and a few tin-shed houses occupy the western and the eastern sides of the pond.

Locals alleged that some influential quarters have been occupying the pond since 2005 by dumping garbage and waste. In 2010, the district administration conducted a drive to reclaim the pond.

They also noted that the pond is public property according to a government notification issued in April 2012 which announced that the pond belonged to the district administration.

This correspondent, however, found a signboard placed on the banks of the pond which read: “The owner of the pond is Hazi Mohammad Nazim Uddin.

The High Court division of the Supreme Court has ordered that any person from the Dhaka District Administration Office cannot enter the pond area.”

The sign board also read that the HC order came via a writ petition filed by the pond’s owner.

Nazim Uddin was not present at his residence when this correspondent tried to interview him in this regard.

Other members of residence also refused to disclose Nazim’s contact number. l

Peninsula introduces Sports Lounge

RMCH emergency unit crippled with problems

n CU Correspondent

n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The Peninsula Chittagong took its service up another notch by introducing Sports Lounge, a new outlet, yesterday at a grand ceremony held on the hotel’s fourth floor.

Wahed Malik, editor of Daily Azadi, a local daily in Chittagong, attended the inauguration ceremony as the chief guest, while Mushtak Luhar, general manager of the hotel, was present as special guest.

While addressing the event, Mushtak said the aim of launching the new project is to attract wider clientele and to create a brand image in the hospitality industry in Chittagong. l

The emergency unit at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) is suffering from a dearth of facilities and equipments and many patients allegedly do not get the required treatment.

Apart from that, there is manpower shortage and a range of other problems that the emergency unit is facing. Even if a patient arrives in critical condition, he has to wait for a trolley to carry him to ward as there exists an acute shortage of trolleys in the hospital. There is no separate ward for the emergency patients either.

RMCH sources say till a few days ago, eight trolleys were allocated to

Several environmentalist organisations stage programmes in the capital’s Amligola area yesterday, demanding recovery of the Pushpo Saha pond

carry emergency patients to wards but currently, there are only four. Manpower crisis has deepened after laying off pilot project workers in two phases.

Habib Kazi, who lives in Shuripukur village of Porsha upazila in Naogaon district, was admitted to the hospital with cardiac problems yesterday morning. However, he had to wait more than 10 minutes in the ambulance outside the emergency unit before a trolley was brought to carry him inside.

“Heart patients need immediate treatment. If it takes 10 minutes to just bring a trolley to carry a patient at the emergency unit, it could lead to immutable consequences,” Habib’s wife

Halima Begum said.

There are oxygen facilities at the hospital but those are only for the adults. Guardians of babies who need oxygen are given a slip from the emergency unit and are asked to go to ward.

It takes 8-10 minutes to reach the ward from the emergency which poses risk to a child gasping for oxygen.

Because the hospital has no ward exclusively for emergency patients, doctors literally struggle to treat 300-350 patients admitted daily. There is only one doctor and two nurses who provide treatment for such a large number of patients.

Patients and their families have demanded the problems be immediately

resolved in order to improve the quality of service at the hospital.

“Yes, we face difficulties in treating patients amid all the infrastructural problems that exist here. We have informed the hospital authorities of the problems,” said Dr Ashraful Islam, in charge of the emergency unit.

It is crucial to increase wards at the emergency department, said the hospital’s Deputy Director ASM Barkatullah.

He said the issue had been brought to the attention of the Public Works Department concerned.

“All the problems at the emergency unit will hopefully be resolved soon,” he added. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Body recovered from New Market n Tribune Report Police recovered a body from a New Market shop in the capital yesterday.

The deceased Raju, 22, was a tailor of a shop on the first floor of the Ismail Mansion Market adjacent to New Market. He used to stay there at night.

His body was found in front of a shop near a toilet on the fourth floor of the market, yesterday morning.

The body bore stab wounds, said witnesses.

Sub-Inspector Akhtaruzzaman Sarker of New Market police station said a cleaner noticed the body at around 6am yesterday and informed the police. l

Cautionary signal 3 ‘Allot 25% of budget for education sector’ Two killed in Chittagong for maritime ports crimination in public and private eduthe key note paper at the event. dead, added the ASI. n Our Correspondent, Barisal n Our Correspondent, Chittagong himMeanwhile, The speakers said at least 25% of cation sectors and criticised the presthe dead body of 25 year Abu Bakar Siddique n Speakers at a discussion arranged by the national budget must be allotted ence of politics that hinders teachers Two persons including a sexagenarian old youth was recovered from a paddy Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Mongla and Payra maritime ports were asked to hoist cautionary signal no 3 yesterday, due to a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal.

Under its influence, a deep convection is taking place in the North Bay, said the Meteorological Department in a special weather bulletin at noon.

All the fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay have been advised to stay close to the coast until further notice. l

WEATHER

THUNDERSHOWERS

SATURDAY, MAY 24

the Barisal unit of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front yesterday demanded 25% of the national budget to be allotted for the education sector to control commercialisation and end discrimination.

Held at the Kirtankhola Auditorium in Barisal city, the event was presided over by Manisha Chakraborty, president of the party’s Barisal unit.

Elites, experts and representatives of different organisations took part in the discussion.

Among others, child rights activist Jiban Krishna Dey, human rights activist Apurba Goutam, former president of Barisal District Bar Association Manabendra Botobayal, Udichi activist Mukul Das, and Professor Dulal Majumdar of Barisal City College spoke at the event.

Mithun Chakraborty, member of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, presented

for the education sector, agreeing that without the development of this sector, development of other sectors can never be sustainable.

By allocating sufficient budget for this sector, the nation can achieve a strong backbone to fight against all types of irregularities, corruption, immoral and criminal activities, they said.

They said teaching has always been a noble profession, and teachers will not perform their duties sincerely if they are deprived of their due respect, social status, wages and service security.

The speakers stressed on interactive relationship between teachers, students and guardians to instil good citizenship among the children and youth in order to build the nation and strengthen its backbone.

They also called for the end of dis-

from performing their duties.

Education will never be standardised until the discrimination between the government and non-government educational institutions in different regions is not eliminated, as wells as the commercialisation of education, agreed the speakers.

Nationalisation of all educational institutions and a uniform education system up to the higher secondary level are also necessary for the country’s sustainable development, they said.

The speakers said the number of nationalised schools increased up to 19 in the Barisal division after independence.

Ten of those institutions were nationalised in the pre-liberation period, and 12 of those are situated in only two districts, while the Barisal divisional headquarters has only two, they said. l

DHAKA

TODAY SUN SETS 6:38PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:12AM 36

Chittagong

33

29 27

Rajshahi

39

28

Rangpur

38

25

Khulna

36

27

Barisal

35

27

Sylhet

36

27

Cox’s Bazar

33

28

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

40.6ºC Jessore

n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Source: Accuweather/UNB

n DU Correspondent PRAYER TIMES 3:48am 5:12am 11:56am 3:17pm 6:38pm 8:03pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

way constructed by Bangladesh Army in Chimbuk area of Bandarban district as the chief guest yesterday morning.

The road is built at a cost of more than Tk93.8 crores and situated above 3,000 feet from the sea level.

Minister for Planning AHM Mustafa Kamal attended the inaugural programme as the special guest while State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur, was present among others.

Mustafa Kamal said it is possible to earn two to three percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) from the tourism sector of Chittagong Hill Tracts. l

Two-day international conference begins at DU

19.5ºC Bogra

Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

seedbed in the Sikalbaha area of the upazila in the morning.

Sub-Inspector Md Jahangir of the Patiya police station said locals spotted the body, which was clad a red T-shirt and black trousers, in the Sikalbaha area in the morning.

On receiving this information, police recovered the body at around 11am. It bore several injury marks and was sent to the CMCH for a postmortem, the SI said, adding that a case was lodged with the police station in this regard. l

Master plan for hill tracts on cards The government has adopted a master plan for Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts to collect major portion of its revenue from the country’s tourism sector.

Minister for Communication Obaidul Kader revealed this plan adding that if this master plan of building special economic zone and special tourist enclave gets implemented, the government would earn the lion’s share of its national earnings from this source.

He was talking to the reporters while inaugurating Chimbuk-Thanchi high-

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

were killed in different incidents in the Patiya upazila in Chittagong yesterday.

One of the deceased could not be identified. The other was Abdul Alim, 70, of Gobindakhil area of the upazila, said police sources.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Pangkaj Barua of the Chittagong Medical College Hospital Police Outpost said Alim had sustained critical injuries when a wall of a cowshed collapsed on him while he was catering to his animals at around 12pm. He was taken to the CMCH where duty doctors declared

Anon Foundation, an organisation working for the children, brings out an ‘Anondo Rally‘ in the capital’s Paltan area to mark its second founding anniversary yesterday RAJIB DHAR

A two day long international conference on “Informatics, Electronics and Vision” began at the Dhaka University Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building yesterday.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the 3rd International Conference organised by the Centre for Natural Science and Engineering Research of DU.

In his inaugural speech the vice-chancellor said we must enhance our regional and global collaboration to build a better, brighter and more prosperous society.

Quoting George Cristopher, an experimental physicist, Arefin Siddique concluded his speech with: “One has to do something new in order to see something new.”

Researchers and scientists from 19 countries are expected to participate in the seminar, organisers said. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Moulvibazar sees good litchi harvest Street vendors say supply is satisfactory and the price is also affordable the taste of those grown in other n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar beat parts of the country such as Rajshahi,” Markets in the Moulvibazar district town have had a good supply of the popular summer fruit, litchi, this season and the price, which is lower in comparison with the previous season, has made customers happy.

According to retailers, it has been over a week since the mouth-watering fruit arrived in the markets and it is largely available at roadside stalls. 100 litchis are being sold for Tk100-150, a price that has decreased from the Tk220-250 range that it was sold for in the last season.

Street vendor Md Abdul Awal from Paschim Bazaar said the supply of the fruit is satisfactory this season and the price is also affordable. He hopes the markets will see more of the fruit within a week.

However, people from low-income households in rural areas and slums said the price is still too high for them.

“I have bought 50 lychees for Tk63 but the size of the fruit is smaller and cannot

said Afia Khatun of the Gujarai village.

Barshijora, Sunapur, Kalenga, Baratola, Munshibazar, Shamshernagar and Kalachhara are some of the places in Moulvibazar that usually see a good yield of litchi.

Humayun Kabir, a litchi grower in the Baratola village, said the production was good this time but the size and thickness of the pulp suffered because of the drought-like situation that continued till April this year.

I have sold litchis worth Tk1.75 lakh in the wholesale market till now, he added.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Moulvibazar Dr SM Ashrafuzzaman said, there are approximately 4,300 litchi trees in the area and almost 1,400 tonnes of litchis worth around Tk28 crore will be harvested this season.

The soil and climate of the district are favourable for litchi cultivation, he added. l

Attempted murder case perpetrator’s body recovered n Our Correspondent, Chandpur

Re-excavation of water bodies continues in Gaibandha

Police recovered a body from the Dakatiya River near the Chandpur Launch Terminal yesterday.

The deceased Kamrul Hasan Jamal, 32, was an accused in an attempted murder case which was filed following an attack on Rupsa South Union Parishad Member Firoj Alam on Monday.

Jamal, Nuru and Saiful, three accused in the case, went to the terminal to board a launch. When locals spotted them Jamal and Saiful jumped into the river and Nuru was caught and handed over to police. Jamal’s body was recovered yesterday, while Saiful’s family members claimed that he was still missing. l

n BSS Re-excavation work of nine water bodies in four upazilas in the district has been progressing fast amid much enthusiasm of all concerned.

The objective of the work is to enhance fish production to meet the growing demand of protein and to create job opportunities for the poor to help them pass their days without economical trouble during the lean period.

Department of Fisheries is implementing the work under Flood Control and Irrigation and Integrated Fish and Animal Development Project involving

Arable land of Kolapara’s Aramganj becomes distressed following long drought and salty tide. The photo was taken yesterday

Tk34.50 lakh while the government is providing the fund, office sources said.

Under this project, three big ponds are being excavated in Shaghata upazila, two in Fulchhari upazila and Sundarganj upazila each and one dead river and an enclosed canal in Sadullapur upazila. .

Job opportunities have been created for about 500 poor men of the localities, said sub assistant engineer of district fisheries office Shajahan Miah.

Each of the workers is earning money ranging from Tk250 to 300 per day against the work that began on March 27, he said.

After the earth work, a total of 218 ben-

eficiaries would get scopes to cultivate fish in the water bodies to change their socio-economic condition gradually.

Abdur Razzak, a team leader of Shaghata upazila, said all the selected poor men were being economically benefited through involving themselves in the project.

On Wednesday, a team of journalists of print and electronic media visited different water bodies in Fulchhari upazila and expressed their satisfaction over the ongoing work.

District fisheries officer Abdul Latif said over 90% work had already been completed and the rest would be finished by May 31. l

One computer, 43 trainees! n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur The computer course of the Youth Development Centre, Pirojpur is not being able to maintain minimum standards.

The course started in 2000 with 13 computers, but the present trainees of the course are using only one computer because the rest of the computers are out of service and are not being repaired.

Md Sekandar Ali Howlader, acting deputy director of the Youth Development Centre, Pirojpur, said the computers are not being repaired due to a shortage in budget. Higher authorities have been informed and the computers will be repaired soon, he added.

Md Wasiuddin, a trainer, said a total of 43 students enrolled in the course in January, and had to be divided into three groups so that each group is able

Chandra police box removed n Our Correspondent, Gazipur The traffic police box at the Chandra intersection of the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur was removed after a police constable was run over by a truck.

Acting Assistant Police Super Shakhawat Hossain of the Gazipur district police traffic division made the announcement yesterday around 11am. He stated that the box has been removed for security reasons.

Earlier on Thursday, Constable Salamot Mia, 45, was killed when a truck ran over him, refusing to adhere to his signal to stop around 7am.

Since the police box has been re-

moved, highway police and Kaliyakoir police will perform duties at the intersection, said Shakhawat.

On the other hand, sources said highway police have been collecting tolls and bribes from the vehicles at different points on the highway for a long time on a daily and monthly basis.

The sources said vehicles regularly queue up near a point in Chandra Mandal Para and the highway police collects tolls from them. An extra amount of money is demanded if the signal to stop is ignored, they added.

They suspect that the truck might have run over the constable in order to escape extortion. l

Robbery in petrol pump n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

Chai, a bamboo made local trap to catch fish, is selling like hot cake in Pirojpur’s Kaukhali. Hundreds of Chais are being sold at the Kaukhali market every day. The photo was taken yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Robbers looted a petrol pump in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga blasting two crude bombs in early hours yesterday.

Taslim Arif Babu, owner of Jibannagar Filling Station, told the Dhaka tribune that a group of armed robbers attacked the petrol pump situated on Jibannagar-Courtchandpur highway around 2am yesterday. They looted around Tk1 lakh from the cash counter and tied up the two night guards, he said.

The miscreants exploded two crude

FOCUS BANGLA

bombs when the pump workers shouted for help and managed to escape with the looted money, Taslim added.

Regarding the incident, the leaders of the local petrol pump owners’ association reacted sharply and threatened to call strike if the robbers are not arrested and the looted money is not recovered by the police.

Jibannagar police station officer-incharge said although there was an attempt to rob the shop, but they did not have enough evidence of looting. However, police were in pursuit of the robbers. l

to train using the computer.

Trainee Tutul Koratee said only one hour is allocated for each group, containing 14 members, and this is not sufficient.

Another trainee Mohaiminur Rahman, a final year student of Pirojpur Government Suhrawardy College, said computer courses are very important for jobs, and he is discontent with the service of the youth department.

Tanjibul Islam, another trainee, said he took the course because its certificate is vital for jobs. “As its service is not good enough, I have taken another course at a private institution,” he said.

Pirojpur sadar lawmaker and General Secretary of the Pirojpur district Awami League AKMA Awal said he was not aware of the situation, adding that he will try to get those computers repaired. l

Chhatra League leader arrested in Kushtia n Our Correspondent, Kushtia Police arrested a Chhatra League leader in Kushtia yesterday, for beating a hardware trader who had refused to pay extortion money.

Abdullah Al Mamun, 31, the general secretary of Chhatra League Kushtia district unit, was arrested in a police drive led by Sub-Inspector of Kushtia Model police station Shawkat Hossain from the Chourhash Fultala area of Kushtia, Sources said Mamun tried to extort Tk2 lakh from Monir Hossain, a local transport owner, in June last year.

Mamun’s associates then allegedly abducted Abdullah-al-Mamun, who is Monir Hossain’s son and the owner of a local hardware shop, on May 5 from the Chourhash More of the town.

The businessman was brutally tortured by BLC activists, resulting in fractures in his hands and legs. Later he was admitted to the Kushtia Medical College Hospital.

Monir said he went to lodge a case but the police were initially reluctant to file a case because of Mamun’s political affiliation with the ruling party.

Later police filed the case under the auspices of the local lawmaker Mahbub-ul-Alam and arrested the prime accused of the case. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Robbers kill one, 10 injured A businessman was shot dead and 10 others were injured when a gang of robbers opened fire at the villagers of Jhorjhori Para in Cox’s Bazar, early yesterday. Local witnesses said around 10-12 masked, armed robbers looted Shafik Ahmed’s house. On noticing that the robbery was taking place, locals made an announcement about it through the mic of a local masjid. When they tried to catch the robbers, they shot at the villagers, leaving Abul Monsur dead on the spot and 10 others injured. The injured were taken to the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and two of them were referred to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital because they were in critical conditions, police said.

Sub-Inspector Mahmudul Karim of the Cox’s Bazar model police station said one of the gang members was detained from a private

clinic while taking treatment, adding that police drives are being conducted to catch the robbers. – Our Correspondent

Khulna Medical College Hospital Morgue for autopsy. The motive behind the killing could not be known immediately. – UNB

Fish enclosure owner hacked to death in Khulna

30km tailback on Dhaka-Ctg highway

A fish enclosure owner was hacked to death by some unidentified miscreants in Ruhiar Beel area in Fultola upazila early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Hasan Biswas, 60, a resident of Daoana village of the upazila. Family sources said Hasan did not return home since he went out of home for going to his fish enclosure on Thursday night. Officer-in-Charge of Fultola police station Illias Fakir said local people found his chopped body near the fish enclosure in the morning and informed the police. Later, police recovered the body and sent it to

A 30-kilometre tailback was created on Dhaka-Chittagong highway following a road accident in Daudkandi upazila of the district yesterday morning, inflicting sufferings on thousands of passengers. Highway police sources said vehicular movement was disrupted on the highway following a collision between a Chittagong-bound cement-laden truck and a Dhaka-bound covered van at Tamta in Daudkandi upazila around 4 am.

However, no casualty was reported. The accident disrupted traffic on the highway from Kanra area in Daudkandi upazila to

Harikhola in Chandina upazila. Daudkandi Iliotganj Highway Police Camp in-charge, Sergeant Mohamamd Hasan said police are trying to ease the traffic jam. UNB

Boiler explosion kills 1 in Jessore A rice mill worker was killed and another wounded in a boiler explosion at Itta village in Monirampur upazila, Jessore yesterday at noon. Mizanur Rahman, OC of Monirampur police station, said the victims Maina Bibi, 60, and Sona Bibi, 40 were both injured in the explosion and taken to the Jessore Medical College Hospital for treatment, where Maina died. Sona was later moved to Dhaka when her condition worsened, he added.

Maina’s husband Abdul Majid is also a worker at the same rice mill. – Our Correspondent

Satkhira BGB seizes 1kg gold Border Guard Bangladesh seized 1kg of gold in the Chonduriya border area of Satkhira’s Kolaroa upazila, as it was being smuggled into India on Thursday night. BGB Mayek Subedar Nurul Islam said acting on a tip-off they deployed a patrol team in Goyra Bazar.

Noticing the patrol team, the smugglers abandoned the gold and fled on a motorcycle. – Our Correspondent

AL leader escapes gun attack in Jessore

An Awami League leader escaped a gun attack early yesterday in the Shankarpasha village of the Abhaynagar upazila, Jessore.

According to the locals and police, the miscreants first hurled a crude bomb at the residence of Abdul Mannan Mollah, the sec-

retary of publicity affairs of the ruling party’s Abhaynagar unit, at around midnight. When the bomb did not go off, Mannan tried to flee and the miscreants fired at him twice, missing him both times. Confirming this information, Mollah Khabir Ahmed, OC of the Abhaynagar police station, said police rushed to the spot after the incident. – Our Correspondent

BSF returns detained Bangladeshi youth The Indian Border Security Force released a Bangladeshi youth yesterday. He had been detained by the BSF on Wednesday. Musa Mia was detained by the BSF for illegally crossing the Bagli border of the Tahirpur upazila. Musa, originally from Narsingdi’s Raypura, had gone to Sunamganj to visit relatives. – Our Correspondent

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

7

Saturday, May 24, 2014

‘Nepal glaciers shrink by quarter in 30 years’ n AFP, Kathmandu

Smoke rises from the Indian consulate following an attack by insurgents, in Herat on May 23, Four insurgent gunmen launched a pre-dawn attack on India’s consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat, before being repelled by security forces, in an assault highlighting instability as Nato troops withdraw AFP

Climate change has caused Nepal’s Himalayan glaciers to shrink by nearly a quarter in just over 30 years, raising the risk of natural disasters in the ecologically fragile region, a scientist said Friday.

A new study by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) shows that the area covered by glaciers has decreased by 24 per cent between 1977 and 2010.

Samjwal Ratna Bajracharya, lead author of the report, told AFP, “the shrinking of glaciers in Nepal is definitely connected to climate change, glacial melt is a huge indicator of rising temperatures.»

The Norway-funded research project led by ICIMOD took three years to complete, as scientists mapped satellite imagery from several decades to see the extent of ice loss in the region.

The fastest decline occurred between 1980 and 1990, Bajracharya said, adding that prior to the late 1970s, satellite imagery reflected little change in Nepal’s glacial area.

He said the glacial melting is creat-

ing huge, expanding lakes that threaten to burst and devastate mountain communities living downstream.

The accelerated glacial loss raises concerns over future access to water resources, particularly in regions where groundwater is limited and monsoon rains are erratic.

“If the trend continues, the immediate impact will be felt by those living in high-altitude regions, who are dependent on freshwater reserves from glaciers,” Bajracharya said.

The findings, published earlier this month, also sound alarm bells for Nepal’s push to develop hydropower projects.

“Nepal cannot use its water resources to develop the country without assessing the state of our glaciers and river basins,» he said.

A government report in India recently blamed hydropower projects for devastating floods last year that killed thousands in India and Nepal.

The government panel said the build up of sediment in rivers, due to the dumping of soil that was dug up during construction of hydropower projects, exacerbated flooding when record-high rainfall hit the region last June. l

Indian consulate in Afghanistan attacked ICC sentences Katanga n Reuters, Herat, Afghanistan A handful of heavily armed insurgents, including suicide bombers, launched a rocket propelled grenade and gun attack on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat hours before dawn on Friday, officials said.

Indian staff at the mission escaped soon after the shooting began at around 3 a.m.. Police said Afghan security forces had killed the attackers, who were holed up in buildings overlooking the consulate, following a firefight that lasted several hours.

“They fired a couple of RPG shots.

It was dark and they couldn’t verify where it was coming from,” India’s ambassador to Kabul Amar Sinha told Reuters by telephone.

He said there had been around 10 staff resident at the consulate in Herat, which stands close to the border with Iran and is Afghanistan’s third largest city.

The attack underscored a worrying security picture as Afghanistan prepares to take over from foreign combat troops after more than 12 years of war against a Taliban insurgency and prepares for a presidential election run-off next month.

The consulate was guarded by a

team of commandos from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Afghan security forces form an outer ring, an Indian security official in New Delhi said.

Herat police chief General Samihullah Qatra told Reuters four attackers, including suicide bombers, had entered houses close to the consulate before dawn and began shooting into the compound.

“There were three suicide bombers armed with AK-47, RPG, hand grenade and suicide vests. Our security forces killed all of them. Only five of our security forces were wounded.”

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack and no one

claimed responsibility, though suspicion would inevitably fall on the Taliban and other loosely associated groups .

On the other side of the country, in the northeast province of Badakhshan, Taliban fighters were holding 27 police and officials hostage, and dozens of people have killed or wounded.

Militants have repeatedly attacked Indian targets in Afghanistan. Last August, an assault on the Indian consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad killed at least nine people, and earlier this year a suicide bomber was gunned down near the consulate in the southern city of Kandahar. l

Putin says Ukraine in ‘full-scale civil war’ n Agencies

Donbas Battalion. Both the volunteer groups are known for their pro-Moscow sympathies.

"It all kicked off around 5:30am [local time] this morning when fighters from the Donbas Battalion came up on the checkpoint from a side road," Sergei, a villager whose house is located near the site of the latest bloodshed, told Al Jazeera.

"It is becoming too dangerous here now. We don't know what will happen next. Nobody does."

Sergei said he would think about taking up Moscow's offer to move to Russia.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has said that the crisis in Ukraine has evolved into a full-scale civil war, blaming the US for backing the overthrow of former President Viktor Yanukovich.

Putin's comments came on Friday, just two days before Ukrainian presidential elections undermined by a surge in attacks by pro-Russian separatists in the country's eastern regions.

"The Ukrainian crisis arose because Yanukovich postponed the association agreement with the European Union.

This was followed by a coup backed by our American friends and as a result there is chaos and full-scale civil war," he told an economic forum in Russia's Saint Petersburg.

Putin's remarks came on a day at least eight people were killed in fighting in the village of Karlivka, near Ukraine's eastern hub of Donetsk, Al Jazeera's John Wendle reported from the scene.

Four of the dead appeared to be members of the self-styled Vostok Battalion while one man with a swastika tattoo seemed to have fought for the

Egypt says top jihadist killed n AFP, Cairo

Egyptian vote set to revive strongman rule

A top Egyptian jihadist has been killed, security officials said Friday, ahead of next week’s election expected to sweep ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi into the presidency on a pledge to eradicate terrorism.

Shadi el-Menei, a senior commander of Egypt’s deadliest militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem), was gunned down in an overnight am bush in his native Sinai Peninsula, the officials said.

Word of his death, which was not immediately confirmed by jihadist sources, came on the last official day of campaigning for Egypt’s presidential election, in which Sisi is expectedly to comfortably defeat his sole rival, leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi.

There were conflicting accounts of who carried out the ambush.

Some officials said local Bedouins tipped off security forces, who intercepted him and other militants as they were preparing to bomb a gas pipeline.

Some Bedouin tribesmen have in recent months collaborated with security forces against militants.

Others said it was civilians from among the Sinai’s heavily armed tribes who killed Menei.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has claimed some of the deadliest and most high-profile attacks on security forces since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July.

They have included a bombing at Cairo police headquarters last December and an assassination attempt against the interior minister in September, as well as frequent attacks on the security forces in the group’s Sinai base. l

n Reuters, Cairo Egyptians vote next week in an election expected to make former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi president, marking a revival of strongman rule three years after the downfall of Hosni Mubarak.

Widely regarded as Egypt’s de facto leader since removing the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi from the presidency in July, Sisi faces one challenger for the May 26-27 vote: Hamdeen Sabahi, a leftist defeated by Mursi in the 2012 election.

Sisi, who is expected to win easily, enjoys backing from Egyptians worn down by political unrest since the 2011 uprising that was driven by demands for social justice and freedom.

Though critics are deeply concerned by the tough political crackdown since Sisi deposed Egypt’s first freely elected president, many still view him as a savior for ending Mursi’s divisive year in office, which had triggered mass protests that led to his overthrow.

“His history in the military, positions of responsibility and role as an intelligence man mean he knows where our country’s interests are,” said Ahmed Arafa, 61, newspaper vendor in Cairo. “What concerns the people is security, stability, tourism, investment.”

The vote follows the bloodiest chapter in Egypt’s modern history. The state has killed many hundreds of Islamists and jailed thousands more, while militants have killed several hundred members of the security forces in ongoing violence.

Members of the pro-democracy movement that led the protests against Mubarak have also been jailed, and

many cases of torture by the security services have been reported by activists, recalling police abuses that helped ignite the 2011 uprising.

The Brotherhood and its Islamist allies have vowed to escalate a “revolutionary wave” next week, though it has been many months since they were able to mobilize large numbers in the streets. Their protests are now mostly held at universities. It has urged its supporters to boycott the election.

“Participation in this ‘administrative step’ gives legitimacy to this coup, even if we were to vote for the rival candidate,” said a Brotherhood member in his 20s who declined to be named for fear of arrest. “We continue our struggle.”

Moving in lock step with the army, local media run by the state and businessmen loyal to the government have urged a big turnout, battling fatigue among Egyptians for whom this will be the seventh election or referendum in just over three years.

Security concerns mean Sisi has not appeared in public during an election campaign that lasted less than a month. Two plots to kill him have been uncovered, he has said.

“Most of the people are tired of revolution and want stability,” said Hassan Nafaa, a political scientist at Cairo University. “At the same time there are a lot of fears ... Many fear the return of a new version of the Mubarak regime.”

Sisi, 59, will be the sixth military man to run Egypt since the army overthrew the monarchy in 1952, restoring a pattern briefly interrupted by Mursi’s one year in office. l

In another development on Friday, Oleksandr Turchynov, Ukraine's interim president, appealed to voters to come out and show their support for a free and democratic Ukraine.

"We will never again stand being denied freedom and independence or seeing our Ukraine being turned into a part of a post-Soviet empire," Turchynov said in a brief nationally televised address.

In the face of pressure from the West, Russia has ordered a withdrawal of all forces deployed to regions near its border with Ukraine. l

to 12 years n AFP, The Hague

The International Criminal Court on Friday sentenced Congolese militia boss Germain “Simba” Katanga to 12 years in jail for arming an ethnic militia that carried out a “particularly cruel” 2003 village massacre.

“The chamber sentences Germain Katanga to 12 years in prison,” presiding Judge Bruno Cotte told the Haguebased tribunal when it handed down its second sentence since opening in 2003.

The almost seven years that Katanga has already spend in detention will be deducted from the sentence, he said.

Katanga, 36, was convicted in March of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and pillaging, for his role in the attack on Bogoro village in the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on February 24, 2003.

Judges found that he armed fighters of the Patriotic Resistance Forces in Ituri (FRPI) who carried out the village massacre in which more than 200 people died.

“The scars of the fighting that occurred that day are still be seen today,” Judge Cotte said on Friday.

The use of machetes in the attack was “particularly cruel and caused extreme suffering,” Cotte added.

Dressed in a smart charcoal suit, the man once known as “Simba” (lion), showed no emotion as Cotte read the sentence. During the hearing, he sat with his hands folded in front of him with his gaze fixed on the judge.

Katanga remained motionless as the judge described the horrors of the slaughter.

“The attackers literally carved up their victims limb from limb before they were killed,” the judge said.

“After the attack, dead bodies lay everywhere.”

However, the ICC cleared Katanga of charges of rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.

Katanga’s lawyers have appealed his conviction and now have another 30 days to appeal his sentence.

“We (still) have to think about whether we will appeal,” lawyer David Hooper told AFP shortly after the sentencing.

Hooper added that Katanga could ask for early release after serving three-quarters of his sentence, but a decision “is discretionary and could take time.”

Rights groups, which previously expressed concern that the ICC’s judges did not address the issue of sexual crimes committed during the attack, welcomed the sentence. l

Thai coup leader insists on reform before vote n Reuters, Bangkok Thai army chief General Prayuth Chanocha set out his plans for the country on Friday, a day after seizing power in a coup, saying reforms were needed before an election, but some Thais defied martial law to show opposition to his takeover.

Prayuth launched his coup after rival factions refused to give ground in a struggle for power between the royalist establishment and a populist government that had raised fears of serious violence and damaged the economy.

Soldiers detained politicians from both sides after Prayuth announced the military takeover, which drew swift

international condemnation.

Tightening its grip on the country on Friday, the military summoned ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a meeting and then banned her and 154 others, including politicians and activists, from leaving Thailand.

Prayuth also summoned hundreds of civil servants and told them he needed their help.

“I want all civil servants to help organise the country,” he said. “We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections. If the situation is peaceful, we are ready to return power to the people.”

Yingluck is the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire telecommunica-

tions tycoon turned politician who won huge support among the poor but the loathing of the royalist establishment, largely over accusations of corruption and nepotism. He was ousted as premier in another military coup in 2006.

Yingluck arrived at the army facility at noon, a Reuters witness said. Prayuth was there at the same time but there was no confirmation they had met.

After Prayuth had left, nine vans with tinted windows were seen leaving but it was not clear if Yingluck was in one of them or where they were going.

An aide to a minister in the ousted government who declined to be identified said some people, including his minister, had been detained. l

Thai media chafe under post-coup blackout n Reuters, Bangkok Television screens went blue and up flashed the army’s emblem, normal programming stopped and Thailand held its breath. For anyone looking forward to their favourite show, it was going to be a long wait.

Half-an-hour later - around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday - army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha appeared on all channels and said the army was taking control of government so Thailand could “be at peace again.”

One of the first actions taken by the generals now running the country was

to impose sweeping censorship across the media.

The crackdown on the media appeared to be more vigorous than after the last of Thailand’s frequent coups, in 2006, perhaps, according to some observers, due to greater opposition to the army’s action and a more defiant “blogosphere” online.

“Measures became more aggressive after the coup announcement and now critical opinions are not allowed to be published, broadcast or circulated,” said a television presenter at a staterun station, who declined to be named for fear of breaking the law. “The mil-

itary have threatened prosecution for any defiance.”

Prayuth’s announcement was followed by bulletins from the army’s own channel, interspersed with patriotic martial music.

Radio and television stations were ordered to suspend normal programming and air only military broadcasts and official content. Media outlets that tried live streaming online through YouTube channels were soon closed.

The blackout extended to foreign broadcasters including CNN, the BBC and Aljazeera. By mid-afternoon on Friday, none were back on air. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Spice up your life

Spices are some of the healthiest ingredients in nature’s pharmacy and offer a multitude of benefits, including easing joint pain, improving circulation and therefore making you feel more energetic.

Here are five of our favourite healing spices and how to get more goodness out of them

n Prescription Desk

also a natural stimulant and diuretic, so it may be of assistance during a detox or weight-loss program.

Spices have been in part of our food since centuries, and have now become an integral part of our lives. Spices not only excite your taste HEALTH buds but are composed FLASH of an impressive list of phyto-nutrients, essential oils, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for our well-being. Because they tend to have strong flavours and are used in small quantities, spices tend to add few calories to food, even though many spices, especially those made from seeds, contain high portions of fat, protein, and carbohydrate by weight. Many spices, however, can contribute significant portions of micronutrients to the diet. For example, a teaspoon of paprika contains about 1133 IU of Vitamin A, which is over 20% of the recommended daily allowance specified by the US FDA. When used in larger quantity, spices can also contribute a substantial amount of minerals, including iron, magnesium, calcium, and many others, to the diet.

Buy the best:

Many spices have already circled the globe to get to a store shelf near you, so buy from a specialty spice shop or food market with a high turnover to ensure freshness. For maximum flavour, aroma and health benefits, buy smaller amounts of spices more often and, where possible, buy them in their whole form, eg cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, peppercorns, and grind them yourself.

Keep your spices in airtight containers; otherwise their volatile compounds will dissipate into the air. Make sure you store them in a cool, dark and dry place as heat, light and moisture will all have negative effects on flavour and aroma. (However, don’t hide them in a too-dark corner of the pantry – if you don’t see them, you’re less likely to use them) Be conscious of how long spices last: In a whole form, you’ll get around 12 months out of them; if they’re pre-ground or powdered, it will be less, around 6-9 months, particularly if you’re opening the jar often.

BIGSTOCK

Colour yourself happy:

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry powder its deep yellow colour. Studies show that it has a powerful anti-inflammatory effects, due to its high content of compounds called curcuminoids.

These curcuminoids have an inhibitory effect on the enzymes that trigger the development of cancer cells and they may slow or even prevent tumours from forming by interfering with their ability to create the new blood cells

BIGSTOCK

blood in the stool, abdominal bloating, cramping abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss, you have to see your doctor or colorectal surgeon.

overcooked or burnt red meat may increase the risk of cancer because of carcinogenic compounds called acrylamides. The latest research, published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, compared steak cooked in margarine or soya bean oil first on gas and then on electric stoves, examining the particles in the fumes released. The researchers found that meat cooked on gas exposed the cook to higher levels of toxic chemicals called mutagenic aldehydes and heterocyclic amines, at levels deemed to be “probably carcinogenic” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The research team suggests, exposure to cooking fumes should be reduced as much as possible.

Tea toughens bones A research study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has found that women who were regular tea drinkers had a 2.8% higher hip bone-mineral density and lost less bone (1.6% versus 4%) than those who did not drink tea. The women who participated in the study drank an average of three cups per day. Scientists cannot point to any one single reason why tea may have this beneficial effect, but there are several possibilities. For one thing, tea contains potent antioxidants which may slow the activity of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone).

Tea also contains flavonoids, which

Ever heard of annatto? These dark red spicily-scented seeds are widely used

Most herbs and spices have substantial antioxidant activity, owing primarily to phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, which influence nutrition through many pathways, including affecting the absorption of other nutrients. One study found cumin and fresh ginger to be highest in antioxidant activity. These antioxidants can also act as natural preservatives, preventing or slowing the spoilage of food, leading to a higher nutritional content in stored food. l

 

BIGSTOCK

are thought to boost the production of new bone-building cells, as well as phytoestrogens, which may have a bone-protective effect on women whose levels of oestrogen are low.

| Dr Ishrat Shormy

A study gives new meaning to the term “dirty money.” Researchers found that bills from a bank carried 3,000 types of DID YOU bacteria.

KNOW? While most of the bacteria detected on the dollar bills were associated with mild conditions such as acne, there were some antibiotic resistant types, including the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to the researchers at the New York University’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology.

They said their study suggests that paper money could be a way for bacteria to pass between people. For example, they found that bills analysed in winter were more likely than those tested in summer to carry bacteria that can cause pneumonia, which suggests that money could play a role in its spread. The study

Give 5 back blows. First, deliver five back blows between the person’s shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

Give 5 abdominal thrusts. Perform five abdominal thrusts.

Alternate between 5 blows and 5 thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.

If the choking infants younger than age 1 then immediately proceed this way:

Back Blow 







Assume a seated position and hold the infant face down on your forearm, which is resting on your thigh.

Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back using the heel of your hand. The combination of gravity and the back blows should release the blocking object.

Hold the infant face up on your forearm with the head lower than the trunk if the above doesn’t work. Using two fingers placed at the center of the infant’s breastbone, give five quick chest compressions.

Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts if breathing doesn’t resume. Call for emergency medical help.

Abdominal Thrust

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authors said people shouldn’t be overly concerned about their findings. The lead investigator of genome sequencing at the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology said, “Microbes are so important, are very ubiquitous and they sur-

round us all the time,” “We did find certain microbes that we might be a little concerned about, but that doesn’t mean that people should be unduly concerned,” the lead investigator said. l

Protect yourself from Alzheimer’s disease

If the child is older than age 1, give abdominal thrusts only.

The caffeine question

Question: My mother and her sister both have Alzheimer’s — is there anything I can do to protect myself from getting it, too?

Jesmin (38), Gulshan-2, Dhaka.

Answer: Genetic factors may play a part in some types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Although the condition cannot usually be cured, there are conventional drug treatments that help to control symptoms and there are also many self-help treatments worth considering for back-up and prevention.

Combat free radicals: Free radicals are involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, because they damage nerve cell membranes in the brain. Elevated levels of the antioxidant nutrients vitamins C and E and beta-carotene are all associated with a reduced risk of all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, so taking an antioxidant supplement may provide some protection.

Q&A

BIGSTOCK

found that the fumes produced by pan-frying steak on a gas hob contain more cancer-causing particles than those produced from an electric hob. But in a warning to barbecue lovers, scientists also believe that eating

Try something different:

in Latin American and Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and also have a long history of medicinal use in both cultures. Traditional African healers seem to have used it for everything from jaundice to headaches - even as an aphrodisiac! While these rather exotic claims have not been supported by modern research, what we do know for sure is that annatto contains carotenoids which have substantial antioxidants and possibly anti-cancer properties; it’s



n Prescription Desk

The ‘cancer risk’ of frying steak

BIGSTOCK

that they need to feed the tumour growth. Curcuminoids also reduce cholesterol, may improve certain eye conditions and have an overall antiinflammatory effect, so playing a possible role in slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Highest in antioxidant:

Money causes many diseases

Don’t be a fool! Test your stool

Frying meat on a gas hob can increase your risk of getting cancer, according to new research. Researchers

Choking is dangerous. Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit.

Young children often swallow small objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, administer first aid as quickly as possible.

During choking these steps can be taken below:

Store smarter:

HEALTH NEWS It’s too important that if bowel cancer is detected early, then bowel cancer can be successfully treated in 90% of cases. In fact, bowel cancer is one of the most curable types of cancer if detected early; however, fewer than 40 % of bowel cancers are detected early. If you’re 50 and over you should be screening for this cancer every one to two years. If you are under 50 you need to be bowel aware. If you have a family history of bowel cancer, or are experiencing symptoms such as a persistent change in bowel habit,

How to deal with choking

Tip: Buy a mortar and pestle to grind your spices; easier and quicker still, use a small coffee grinder, but make sure it’s only used for this purpose – you don’t want curry-flavoured coffee.

Feel the warmth:

For centuries, ginger has been used as a digestive tonic and a wealth of research supports its claim to fame as a safe and effective treatment for nausea, including that caused by motion sickness, morning sickness and the side effects of chemotherapy. Two ingredients in ginger are thought responsible for its effects: Gingerol, which slows the action of a nerve receptor in the body that triggers the vomiting reflex, and shogaol, which helps neutralise stomach acid. Ginger stimulates circulation, counteracts congestion, relieves abdominal cramping and indigestion and has mild blood-thinning qualities, thereby helping reduce blood-platelet stickiness. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties also make it useful for treating osteoarthritis.

QUICK TIPS

BIGSTOCK

Go fish: As if there weren’t already enough reasons to be popping a couple of fish oil capsules every day, studies also show that a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that are found in cold-water oily fish (e.g. salmon, trout, tuna, and mackerel) has a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be of

benefit to people who already have the disease, with one study showing that Alzheimer’s patients who took 1,400mg of DHA daily experienced an improvement in cognition, orientation, and problem-solving. l This answer is provided by Dr Moshiur Rahman, consultant Neurologist.

Good Evidence now shows that a moderate amount of caffeine is safe during pregnancy. But the jury is still out on whether higher amounts of caffeine can increase the odds of a miscarriage. The March of Dimes recommends women who are pregnant or are trying to be should limit caffeine intake to 200 mg per day. That’s one 12-ounce cup of coffee. But remember, caffeine is also found in soda, tea, chocolates, and many energy drinks.

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

9

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Fast, lean and sleek: Transports of delight Much of the rich heritage of travel and transport in Bangladesh has something of an air of romance to it

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n Tim Steel mongst the dusty, fume ridden varieties of transport available to the travellers in the Bangladesh of today, one traditional, if somewhat elusive form, continues to please the eye in a most stimulating fashion.

Racing boats, lean and sleek, propelled by a hundred, or more, lean and fit young men, slicing through the waters to the rhythmic sound of drums and chanting, and a more elderly bowman leading the way with a pointing spear. These are, unquestionably, like the dragon boat racers famed, worldwide, in Hong Kong and Penang, successors to a great tradition of rapid movement by water, for communication, and during conflict.

One of the great mysteries of life, for me, is why the races so many areas hold, especially at the end of the monsoon season, are not better advertised in advance locally as well as in the international market. The Dragon Boat racing in Hong Kong and Malaysia attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world, and are widely used by those destinations to entice visitors.

There is little doubt that water transport has, for millennia, been the preferred mode of transport in the lands that are now Bangladesh; the fact that more than 150 distinctive variations of river and coastal transport have been identified in Bangladesh bear clear testimony to the importance of such mode of travel throughout that time.

The influences, identified as deriving from places as far afield as China, Arabia and Europe, also speak volumes for the importance of such mode to natives and visitors alike, all bringing experience and expertise to bear on the task of safe and rapid travel and communication by water.

We may, however, speculate that the hollowed out river craft, so reminiscent of the prehistoric craft rescued from river mud in Europe, as enduring evidence of water craft of 10,000 years ago. These boats which can still be readily found on the waterways of Bangladesh today, were perhaps the earliest such forms of transport in these lands.

One of the great mysteries is why the races held, especially at the end of the monsoon season, are not better advertised in advance seems safe to make such an assumption. Since, also, the very existence of trading peoples depends on their ability to receive and deliver merchandise, its importance in such a world famous centre of trade as the Ganges Delta and its tributary rivers, assumes immense significance.

Sanskrit tales from the early last millennium BCE incorporate such substantial craft as that which sailed to Sri

The fact that more than 150 distinctive variations of river and coastal transport have been identified in Bangladesh bear clear testimony to the importance of such mode of travel Travel, for whatever reason, was certainly enjoyed in the waters of Bangladesh from many millennia ago, because archaeologists have identified ship building yards in cities of the Harappan civilisation of nearly ten millennia ago, and since we believe that the Ganges basin civilisation, said to be the first manufacturing civilisation in the world, owed some of its existence to refugees from Harappa, it

Lanka for the rescue of Sita, and since there is also evidence of travellers from the sub continent arriving in Australia 4,000 years ago, it seems clear that even ocean going watercraft were highly developed long ago.

We are told, however, that until the arrival of Himalayan ponies in these lands, probably no more than a thousand years ago – they were still being extensively traded in the eighteenth

century in the Rangpur market for Bhutanese merchants – there were no horses for transport or travel purposes in Bangladesh. Ox drawn carts are still, of course, a regular, and, for the tourist, a very appealing sight in the countryside of Bangladesh, and no doubt they have long been used in that fashion.

But we do know that, historically, the palanquin was the chosen vehicle of travel, using manpower, for those unwilling, or unable, to move on foot.

The famous brick road constructed in Bagerhat, by Khan Jahan Ali in the fifteenth century, is perhaps amongst the earliest paved roadways to travel, even if only, as in Bagerhat, as far as we can tell, within the town laid out by the great missionary.

Within the ancient city, being slowly revealed at Wari Bateshwar, one excavation has uncovered a paved roadway within the 5.3km rampart, which also reveals very early concern for travel and transport.

Much more recently, in North Bengal, the eighteenth century zamindar of Natore, the famous Rani Bhabani, is noted for her investment in roadways, bridges, and even roadhouses, to ease the travelling lot of, probably, for the most part, itinerant traders.

It is clear from the number of beautifully designed bridges of the Mughal

PHOTOS: SHAIKH MOHIR UDDIN

period, that travel by foot, oxcart, and palanquin continued to be used, where water was not possible to make, or complete, journeys.

Late in the British period, but fairly contemporaneous with Britain itself, railways came to Bangladesh. Indeed, the railway network in Bangladesh today remains largely unchanged since 1947!

The first railway operation in Bangladesh opened in November 1862, with a 53km stretch between Dorshona of Chuadanga District and Jogotee in Kushtia, but by 1947, that had expanded, across all the lands of Bangladesh, to around 2,600km; it has since increased to about 2,800km.

Both in Dhaka, and in Saidpur, in Rangpur Division, monuments of early engines can be seen, and in the rail service centre at Saidpur, there is even, we are told, service equipment over 100 years old still serviceable and in use.

For the railway fanatic, Bangladesh offers a tasty dish of heritage!

Whilst we cannot be certain of the date of the earliest motorised vehicle in Bangladesh, judging from the wealth, and international experience, of the zamindari, it is probably fair to assume that early vehicles arrived in the first decade of the twentieth century. Considering the wealth of

classic limousines, British, European and American, in India, it seems reasonable to believe that the “newer rich” of the zamindari of the lands of Bangladesh were not far behind the more aristocratic of the newer parts of Imperial India.

Aviation, too, made an early appearance in Dhaka. The first recorded manned flight was made, in 1882, arranged by the Nawab of Dhaka’s family.

Kite flying, of course, had long been an interest in Dhaka, as it continues to be today, especially at the time of the colourful Kite Flying festival.

However, in 1882, the young American adventurer, Jeanette Van Tassel, a member of a troupe of ballooners, arrived to make a flight across the Buriganga. A gusting wind carried her off course, and, crashing into a tree in Shahbagh, she was killed, and is buried in the Christian cemetery at Narinda.

The first airstrip in Bangladesh, it is recorded, was built for military purposes, at Tejgoan, during the Second World War; others quickly followed

to support Allied efforts in China and Burma.

However, it seems reasonable to suppose that the Flying Boats that opened international passenger air travel before the Second World War, being the choice of the very rich travellers and tourists, probably also made their way to the waters of Bangladesh.

Indicative, indeed, of that likelihood is the Short Aviation which built the long distance passenger seaplane named the Short Calcutta, that took to the air in 1928. That the lands and waters of Bangladesh were a part of that romantic era of international travel of the first half of the twentieth century, there seems no reason to doubt.

Today, perhaps, we might consider much of the rich heritage of travel and transport in Bangladesh as having something of an air of romance.

Perhaps such means of getting around were, and remain, risky and uncomfortable. But the air of romance can continue to delight! l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, May 24, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

ASEAN should welcome Bangladesh

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he government should speed up efforts for Bangladesh to join ASEAN. It would be an attractive and logical move for both parties.

The 10 country strong $2.3 trillion association last expanded in the 1990s when Cambodia and Myanmar joined.

There are many good reasons for Bangladesh to join ASEAN to build on our existing good relations. Not least is the help membership has provided to Myanmar, which hosted ASEAN’s most recent summit this month, in boosting inward investment.

Bangladesh recognises the value of the Look East policy and joining this important trade block would further our goal to grow trade relationships with a wider range of countries.

For ASEAN, Bangladesh’s growing economy and geographical location makes it a natural candidate for membership. As a key member of SAARC and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative) Bangladesh’s involvement would provide a valuable hub to improve regional connectivity and help build trade between South and East Asia.

Most important of all, it would be a sensible fit and mutually beneficial, by helping both ASEAN and Bangladesh to grow strategically.

ASEAN offers Bangladesh many opportunities for building co-operation and sharing expertise with sophisticated economies such as Singapore. Joining would be a highly cost effective way to boost the country’s potential as an investment destination.

Hopefully, as well as diversifying our exports and reducing dependence on major trade partners, such a move would also spur SAARC towards reviving efforts to boost free trade in our region.

It would be a sensible fit and mutually beneficial

Increasing opportunities for mango exporters

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he EU’s ban on Indian mangoes opens the door for Bangladeshi farmers to increase exports to Europe.

Bangladeshi mangoes are prized by aficionados and derived products such as fruit bars are already exported around the world.

Our food producers have had much success in recent years with exports in sectors such as frozen foods increasing sharply. However, we should look realistically at the prospects for growth in this sector.

For a start, the ban brought in after non-European food pests were found in shipments of fruit and vegetables in 2013, is only temporary. India produces nearly two thirds of the world’s mangoes and its exporters have said they have put necessary checks in place and are pressuring Brussels to lift the ban.

They are supported by fans of Indian mango varieties and the UK prime minister is among those who have promised to discuss the issue in their first talks with the new Indian government.

Bangladesh also lags behind other Asian exporters such as the Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand and there is also plenty of competition from growers in Latin America.

The lesson to be learned here for our mango growers, and other food producers alike, is the importance of avoiding all contamination and ensuring high standards in food production and processing.

For health and environmental reasons, consumers and governments everywhere are demanding increasingly stringent food standards. All our food producers can benefit from emulating those Bangladeshi producers who have grown exports by placing emphasis on quality and organic production.

Taste and quality are the key to growing these exports.

Emulate those producers who have grown exports by placing emphasis on quality and organic production

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Secularists, please speak up

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 11 represents V so fill V every time the figure 11 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

May 17

Ronnie I agree with a few of the largely correct observations and arguments made in this article.

I’d add that Mr Modi’s landslide triumph owes as much to the Indian electorate’s emphatic desire for change as to its resounding rejection of the Congress party’s disastrous term in office during the last five years. As I have stated some months ago, the PM-elect Modi will now be confronting the greatest political challenge of his life. Surely, governing India is a world apart from lording it over Gujarat, as Mr. Modi is about to find out. We shall see how it plays out.

The final three segments of this article, though, are a curious cluster of confounding ideas. First, BJP alone will not, indeed cannot, singlehandedly determine the nature and reality of India’s longstanding (albeit wavering) allegiance to “secularism.” The stunning swing to the BJP does not signal a wholesale lurch by the Indian public to religious fundamentalism, any more than voting for Congress means an adherence to secularism.

These are irresponsible illusions we all must ditch, especially regarding our own two major parties here in Bangladesh.

Second, while secularism admittedly does not denote a special commitment to “religious pluralism,” neither does it mean a “rejection” of religion. Strictly speaking, secularism is a philosophical, pragmatic, (often populist) argument for the steadfast separation of religion from the affairs and functioning of the state. It’s an admirable goal, in its own right.

Third, it’s a manifestly misguided notion that “true believers” cannot be “neutral” about religion ie specifically when it comes to matters of the

A space to play May 18

Zia Thanks for publishing my article. Let us begin the process of reclaiming all open fields, parks, lakes, etc from vested interest groups and turn this into a national movement.

Wali Dear Zia, could you please find out what this construction is actually meant for? I know it doesn’t matter because it is in the centre of the field, and the field may no longer be usable for playing football and cricket etc. But the curiosity lingers on … what the heck is this construction after all?

Moby I grew up near that field. There used to be neighbourhood kids playing football there every weekend. They may say it’s still for the public, but it hasn’t really been that for a long time.

Anyone for waterway safety?

May 19

Zero-Agenda I think it’s high time we updated the word “human” to reflect what it really means in the context of the 21st century: A being of utter apathy, vapidity and self-obsession that lacks even the smallest iota of empathy for anything other than itself.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

state, and the “social contract,” both explicit and implicit, that exists between an elected, legitimate “government” and the consenting “public” in democratic, free societies. Lastly, both many secularists and the religion-first advocates routinely fail to advance and uphold the author’s idea of “communal harmony,” itself an oft-abused, wornout cliché. nds Secularism has no future in this subcontinent.

The people of this region are so obsessed with religion-based beliefs that nothing can change their mindset. It is organically blended with their being.

Had it been moral and ethical beliefs, there could have been no harm, but their beliefs are nothing of that sort as is obvious from their way of life and social behaviour which is miles apart from religious teachings.

I don’t think that the example of western countries also using religion in politics to justify our own is not at all convincing. They don’t use religion, not in the sense we do it. We use it to invoke a sort of fanaticism in people’s minds. On the contrary, the western countries use it to emphasise their allegiance to moral and ethical probity in politics. So both are simply not comparable. vhs Apparently, they have all spoken. It’s the world’s biggest democracy after all. nds vhs: Yes, in terms of quantity, not at all in quality, and nothing better than we in this country are having at regular intervals.

CROSSWORD 2 Daybreak (4) 3 Festivity (4) 4 Banishment (5) 5 Burdens (5) 6 Finish (3) 7 Staggers (5) 12 Top card (3) 13 Infant’s bed (3) 15 Boring tool (3) 16 Period of time (3) 17 Percussion instruments (5) 18 Very salty water (5) 19 View (5) 21 Paradise (4) 22 Woman of refinement (4) 23 Wander (4) DOWN 1 Smart and fashionable (4) 25 Fresh (3) ACROSS 1 Fish (3) 3 Tentacle (6) 8 Summit (4) 9 United (3) 10 Long, angry speech (6) 11 Make void (6) 14 Comforts (5) 17 Amounts owing (5) 20 Underground room (6) 24 Combined (6) 26 Adults (males) (3) 27 Require (4) 28 Country (6) 29 Sweet potato (US) (3)

Some are more equal than others May 19

NS It appears that the author comes from a world of angels. Giving preferential treatment to few is an age-old culture in the world, particularly in this subcontinent. Is it something new that he has never seen in the past? Does he himself give equal social and personal preference to a peon or chaprasi and a millionaire? What you never practice in life why do you preach to others? If, say, the deputy commissioner of your district attends any social events arranged by you and a peon of the same DC office attends too, would you give equal preference to both? guest NS: Personal behaviour aside, I think it’s understandable for any citizen to expect the justice system to extend equal treatment to all.

SUDOKU How to solve: 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.

NS guest: Expectation is one thing with which reality hardly complies. The justice system also stands on the reality of a social and cultural system which meticulously has pursued the practice of discrimination since the beginning of civilisation. The justice system, even if it wants to do away with it, can hardly establish that.

How many more deaths will it take?

May 19

WaliulHaqueKhondker Whatever happened to the captain of the ship at Munshiganj who, after being requested by some knowledgeable passengers to sail near the bank in view of the impending thunderstorm, turned a deaf ear and pursued his course?!

Ershad: BNP can’t oust the government

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

May 19

PEANUTS

someone Mr Ershad is absolutely hopelessly out of his league to be publicly pontificating about BNP’s present political state. This disgraceful former despot should be fretting about his own fate, instead of throwing these ridiculous tantrums at the BNP.

Discrimination and elitism at work May 19

D I would be the happiest person if all discrimination prevailing in this society gets removed from tomorrow morning, but I know for certain that it will remain an unrealised dream.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Saturday, May 24, 2014

First foreign stop: Bangladesh

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n Neelam Deo s India’s prime minister-elect Narendra Modi prepares to take office, he is being inundated with advice on foreign policy priorities – be tough with Pakistan on terrorism, be cool towards the US because of the cancelled visa issue, be calm in the face of Chinese provocations on the border, and so on.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had set out its foreign policy agenda in its election manifesto, but like all governments, it too will have to respond to events as they happen. At the same time, it must also act proactively to take advantage of emergent opportunities.

If done right, this could set the mould for India’s relations with other neighbours The BJP’s manifesto mentions that South Asia will be a focus. In the region, addressing relations with Bangladesh is a less glaring but important foreign policy initiative that the Modi government can take. It will be easy as well as significant to take the relationship to a higher level because the Sheikh Hasina-led government has, in recovering the secular ethos of its own liberation struggle, already restored trust to relations with India and been responsive to our concerns on terrorism. Equally importantly, all the preparatory work done for the unproductive 2011 visit of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is available for early implementation.

If done right, this could set the mould for India’s relations with other neighbours.

Our South Asian neighbours have recently been among the first to reach out and congratulate Modi. In turn, he has invited them for his inauguration ceremony on May 26. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she is “delighted to see a great friend of Bangladesh leading an extremely friendly country, India, in the coming days.”

This warmth is intact despite Modi’s denunciation of illegal immigration from Bangladesh – especially the un-

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precedented characterisation of Hindu migrants as “our brothers” who will be extended citizenship rights, while illegal migrants (Muslims) ostensibly brought to India for vote-bank politics must return to Bangladesh.

So far, it has not been possible to deal constructively with the issue of illegal migration. On the one hand, previous Congress governments in New Delhi and Assam, and left-wing governments in West Bengal, deliberately obfuscated the problem. On the other hand, Bangladeshi governments, especially those led by the BNP, insisted that not a single person from their country had illegally gone to India.

Initially, the discord in the relationship was due to the anti-India stance of the military governments that followed the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975; they refused to acknowledge India’s contribution to the Independence of Bangladesh.

However, the Hasina government more than compensated by honouring former prime minister Indira Gandhi and senior army officers alongside whom the Mukti Bahini had fought to liberate Bangladesh in 1971.

Secondly, BNP-led governments have, in the past, harboured anti-India separatist groups such as ULFA, and Islamic terrorist groups like HuJI, even sometimes characterising them as “freedom fighters.” But the Hasina government has courageously extradited high-profile terrorists such as Arabinda Rajkhowa (ULFA).

to India’s north-eastern states, which has been our longest-standing imperative in relations with Bangladesh.

The possibility of a transformed relationship was jeopardised by the last minute rejection of the accord on sharing the waters of the Teesta by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It was aggravated by the subsequent refusal of the Congress government in Assam to accept the carefully worked-out exchanges of enclaves and adverse possessions, and the obdurate refusal of Modi’s own BJP to ratify the LBA in Parliament. Since progress in the relationship was stalled on such whimsical grounds, the path to its retrieval lies in resuming where it left off.

Although the Bangladeshi prime minister cannot attend Modi’s inauguration due to a scheduling conflict – she will be in Japan – the real question is whether Modi will proactively try to remove the irritants in the relationship.

His government can then work to expand the meagre transport links between the two countries to create a flourishing network of connectivity with our north-eastern “seven sisters,” eventually leading to oil and gas pipelines from fossil fuel-rich Myanmar. This will revitalise India’s north-eastern states, and enable the trade relationship between India and Bangladesh to become a precursor to a genuine South Asia Free Trade Area.

Making Bangladesh one of the first

The real question is whether Modi will proactively try to remove the irritants in the relationship

However, the Bangladeshi government was greatly disappointed when Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September 2011, intended to chart a new course in relations, failed to conclude the Teesta River Agreement.

The failure to conclude the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) on the border dashed hopes that Bangladesh will gradually increase transit facilities

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countries on Modi’s foreign itinerary will underline the importance India attaches to its neighbours, as well as send signals to countries like Nepal and Pakistan that a more positive dynamic is possible bilaterally and for the region as a whole. l Neelam Deo is Director, Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations.

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Is Modi scaring Bangladesh? What should I call you? n Ekram Kabir

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ndia’s Narenda Modi’s election promise to “send back Bangladeshi illegals,” his subsequent victory in the Lok Sabha polls, and finally his announcement to set up a home ministry unit for driving out “Bangladeshis” seemed to have been received with quite a lot of unease in Bangladesh.

Our political leaders wasted absolutely no time to congratulate Modi for his electoral victory. Since Modi had already sent out an anti-Bangladesh vibe, our politicians were also seen at unease. They already know that Modi is no Vajpayee, and they aren’t very comfortable with Modi and his party coming at the helms in India.

On the other hand, there’s also a flurry of discontent and resentment being displayed by Bangladeshi people at large on social media. Even the pro-rightists in this country were seen expressing anger at the fact that Modi had won. It looks clear that Modi and his party have been successful in scaring the Bangladeshi politicians as well as its people. To us, it seems that from now on, India would become a Bangladesh-basher. It would do all possible things against Bangladesh.

What he did in 2002 was meant for grabbing power.

And now, he’s won the power. No matter what Modi might be trying against Bangladesh, it would all depend on how India as a “state” reacts to his wants when he starts as the chief executive of the country.

The rioter’s mind in Modi is bound to change. The state machinery would change him, as he won’t have the scope of acting like a local goon.

Delhi’s throne will turn him into a statesman, and he would consider everything very diplomatically. A state like India doesn’t change its core policies everyday.

Bashing Bangladesh may seem quite easy, but dealing with Dhaka may not be as easy as it seems. Modi might have played his campaign tricks and gained in the North-East, but it may not be that simple to drive the “illegal Bangladeshis” out from there.

Moreover, the region isn’t altogether trouble-free, it’s not something that the Indian government could control in one go. The problems in the northeast have been continuing for a long time, and Bangladesh did play some role in allowing their problems to continue.

The rioter of Gujarat and the winner of Delhi’s power may be two different persons. As the prime minister of India, Modi wouldn’t cling on to his idealism

However, to my mind, the rioter of Gujarat and the winner of Delhi’s power may be two different persons.

As the prime minister of India, Modi wouldn’t cling on to his idealism, what he had done by instigating the killings in back 2002. There’s a difference between grabbing and winning power.

India is quite aware of these facts.

It’s also aware of the fact if Bangladesh wants, the presence of Pakistani agencies along the eastern border may increase.

On the western border, Modi would have to deal with a local hostile power: Mamata Banarjee. The news is already

out that Prime Minister-elect Modi’s first official visit as head of state could be to Dhaka, where he is expected to sign the Teesta water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh. The issue has already been discussed at length during Modi’s telephone conversation with Hasina, who not only requested Modi to make Bangladesh his first foreign destination as prime minister, but to also consider Dhaka his “second home.” So, he is up for another brawl with the West Bengal chief minister.

Bangladesh is certainly a concern for Delhi. If you see the global terrorism scenario, India is one of the most affected countries that has to withstand Islamic extremism. India has, by now, become an abode of the so-called al-Qaeda, and is experiencing the brunt of its scourge.

The scenario isn’t likely to change as a Hindu extremist party would be in power from now on. As Modi becomes part of India’s core policymaking body, he would know that there are many elements in Bangladesh who have the capability to add fuel into the fire.

Some elements in Bangladesh have all the potential to further radicalise India. Now, look at the India’s two biggest foreign allies: USA and China.

Delhi has been enjoying very good ties with these two states, but no one seems to trust each other. Both Washington and Beijing are working with India with some sort of suspicion. On the other hand, these two powers are seeking their influence on Bangladesh.

They both want to increase their presence in the Bay of Bengal areas.

Therefore, it doesn’t mean that Bangladesh won’t have anywhere to go if Modi’s India starts bashing Dhaka.

Like I said, countries such as India don’t change their policies overnight when a government comes to power.

Delhi will also consider the amount of illegal remittances that enter that country while dealing with Dhaka. l Ekram Kabir is Executive Editor of Natunbarta.com.

n Esam Sohail

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ntil very recently, the average office memo from a subordinate to a superior in the Bangladeshi bureaucracy ended with the obligatory “Your most obedient servant.”

Things were not that different in the private or autonomous sector either.

While this practice may have been phased out in favour of something a little more modern, the fact remains that our communicative culture is underlined with the language of pomposity on part of the “patrons” and the language of servility on part of the “clients.”

Newspaper stories regularly speak about the president being the “guardian” of such and such individuals and “patron” of this and that institutions.

Colourful signage behind podiums at seminars loudly attach the “honourable” in front of the names of “chief guests,” whether their characters bespeak much honour or not.

One of my high school friends, a staunch supporter of the ruling party, often reminds us through his fawning Facebook updates that the prime minister is like a mother to all of us (thanks, but no thanks, I have a mother of my own). Ministers are addressed with the full honorific of “Mr So and So, Honourable Minister for Such and Such, MP, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” as if there were a bunch of different governments of a few different types of republics in sovereign Bangladesh!

It is only fair to observe, at the same time, that the opposition of the day is not much different in this regard. How many times have you heard of the main opposition party’s leader being referred to anything but “Aposhheen Jananetri, Shabek Prodhan Montri” (uncompromising leader of the people, former prime minister) before her actual name?

Not that such superfluous language of abject flattery is limited to the

ministerial and bureaucratic types. Academics are no exception either. More often than not, they insist on being addressed by their supposed inferiors as “Professor Dr So and So, PhD, MSc, Etc,” even in the most informal communication. The more enterprising ones will make sure that any foreign university they ever attended for a few days is prominently displayed on their business cards and name-plates.

Their sycophants are only too glad to oblige. Not to be left behind, headmasters and wordsmiths insist on being referred to as “Principal So and So” and “Poet So and So” as our betters.

Now I get to read about individuals with bachelor degrees from BUET and BAU referring to themselves as “Engineer XYZ” and “Agriculturist ABC.”

Our culture is underlined with the language of pomposity and servility

Clerics and military officers do not want to be left behind in this race for pomposity either. Every man of God with a skullcap and a luxuriant beard seems to change his first name to “Maulana” or “Mufti” or even the more novel “Allama”… without us having a clue as to how exactly he became such a lofty savant of ecclesiastical wisdom almost overnight. And just about every ex-captain and ex-major has to make sure that we know that he once fought bravely for a few years in the trenches of the martial law bureaucracy.

Sure, I exaggerate, but not by much. Humour aside, the Framers of the Bangladesh Constitution of

1972 were not fools when they forbid titles of nobility, for such titular appellations fit rather uncouthly in society that claims to strive towards a democratic ethos and an egalitarian outlook. Granted the examples above are not, technically, titles of nobility; but they sure do bespeak a similar mindset when used outside of the most professional sense.

Compare this state of affairs with that of, say, the United States or even the average North African country where, outside of formal communications, everyone from governors to ministers – to say nothing of engineers and army captains – go simply by their given names, with no expectations otherwise. One of my graduate business school instructors was a general in the United States Air Force and commanded an installation twice the size of the entire Bangladesh Air Force. Not once was this mentioned during the entire semester by the professor or anyone else until yours truly decided to do a very Bengali thing and address him as “General So and So” in class. Suffice to say that I was politely told by the general soon afterwards that such titles made him very uncomfortable outside of military protocol; the mistake was not repeated.

We are quick to use the crutch of colonialism to excuse away all and sundry ills under the sun even four decades after the last foreign soldier left the soil. But perhaps it is harder to rid ourselves of the bizarre traits that such colonialism left behind in our etiquette. Now that public use of the colonial language is not allowed, perhaps we can do the same to the colonial mentality of pomposity and servility? Not that I am suggesting that judges be called anything but “Your Honour,” mind you … l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Saturday, May 24, 2014

I live many roles in real life: Prosun Azad n Afrose Jahan Chaity Popular model and actor Prosun Azad who bagged the second runner up title in “Lux Channel-i Superstar 2012,” has established herself as a talented model and actor of the small screen. Moreover, her career is on a roll with her silver screen projects.

She has recently completed the shooting of her first film “Ochena Hridoy” directed by Shafiqul Islam Khan.

Her second film “Sorbonasha Yaba” that addresses the derogatory effects of yaba is almost completed. Dhaka Tri-

bune caught up with the actor and talked about her future ventures and recent projects:

What you are up to nowadays?

I have already completed shooting for many Eid special programmes. Eid is always a busy time for us and I loved every minute of shooting for the Eid programmes. At present, I am working on Salauddin Lavlu’s Eid special drama series “Layek Chan the Great” and a telefilm “Protishodh.”

I am also preparing for my next films “Beiman” and “Raza Golam.”

I live for acting. My life is all about my work. I live many roles in real life as well. I believe that acting is such a career where you get to learn something new every day.

Transforming your usual self into the character you are playing is not an easy task for everyone and that is how a star stands out from ordinary actors.

I have been singing and dancing since childhood and also participated in “Notun Kuri” competition. But, I always preferred acting. So I joined the competition to find a better platform for myself and now I am here today. I do not have any academic background in acting. That is why I always try to learn from our senior actors and my observation skills. I practice my script by standing in front of a mirror.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

I am hoping to develop my career as a successful actor and really looking forward to seeing myself as one of the best actors in Bangladesh, in ten years time.

Who is your dream character?

Susanna, from “7 Khoon Maaf” is my dream character.

Who is your favourite actor?

As an audience, I am fan of Suchitra Sen and Priyanka chopra.

Prosun Azad made her debut in the entertainment industry as an actor in the drama “Obokunthon” directed by Giasuddin Selim. Her participation in the “Lux Channel i Superstar Award in 2012,” brought her into the limelight.

Her outstanding performance in “Double 420,” “Shohorer Notun Balika,” “Ekti Mrittur Shopno,” and “Talketive,” grabbed the attention of the mass audience. She even worked as an assistant director with Giasuddin Selim for several TV plays. l

Manuscript In Colours represents rural beauty n Afrose Jahan Chaity Capturing striking moments of rural life where art meets natural splendour and the beauty of rural women, artist Esmeaker Uddin Ahmed’s second solo exhibition from the 1980’s tell stories of common people who lives in rural Bangladesh. The two-week long solo painting exhibition titled “Bornil Pandulipi (Manuscript In Colours)” inaugurated on May 17 at Shilpangan.

The paintings are inspired by the philosophies of Zainul Abedin, Kamrul, SM Sultan and many others.

The exhibition is a lively affair decorated with medium size canvases – cheerful and vivid. Strokes are vibrantly composed with colours which give a bold look to the artworks. Different shades of green with red, blue and yellow doves will also capture the attention of art enthusiasts. The artist expresses his eagerness about peace through paintings of birds in various compositions. Daily life of rural women and festivals are also portrayed on his canvas that reflects his innate understanding of simple lifestyle of the individuals. In an interview with the

Dhaka Tribune, the artist said: “I love the simplicity of rustic life and how they relate to nature. The recurrence of ‘women’ and ‘birds’ in my paintings symbolises beauty and peace. I find peace through my canvases.”

The fantastic flick on rural life will exhibit in the city till May 30, everyday from 12-8pm. l

Pinjore Boshia Shuk Shari airs today n Entertainment Desk A single episode TV play titled “Pinjore Boshia Shuk Shari” will be aired today on NTV at 9pm. The cast of the drama is formed by Shahiduzzaman Selim, Farhana Mili, Shatabdi Wadud, Bimol Banarjee, Sudeep Banarjee, Orpa and others, while the drama is written by Shuvashis Sinha and directed by Said Rinku.

The story is of a couple, Mofiz and Modina. Mofiz is an innovative panhandler who begs in the guise of a well-dressed insane man. He handles

SADIA MARIUM

Tell us about your take on acting and your experience.

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

his pan in busy areas like bus-stops and train stations. Modina and Mofiz are poles apart and their age difference make their relationship and awkward one.

Sometimes, Modina feels that her husband is truly insane. To forget her melancholic life and her inability to have children, she dreams up an imaginary friend. She discreetly pursues her relationship with the imaginary man and one day, he asks her to come out of the house at night and promises to introduce her to a new and unreal world of dreams. l

Solo Art Exhibition Khalid Mahmud Time: 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts Progoti Shoroni, Uttar Badda Mukh O Mukhosh 5 Time: 11am – 8pm Galleri Kaya, Sector- 4, Uttara

Theatre

Dog, Woman, Man Time: 7pm – 9pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new), House 10 Dhanmondi

Film

To mark the birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, film “Rakkhoshi” will be aired at 1:30pm today on Channel i. Produced

by Impress Telefilm and directed by Matin Rahman, the literary work of Nazrul has been adapted for the silver screen where Rozina, Ferdous and Purnima play the lead roles

Best of the fest: EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL 2014 n Mosabber Rahman Somehow I ended up watching all 12 films at the week-long European Film Festival 2014. Perhaps because the theater was walking distance from our home, but as the joke goes, every place is walking distance if you have the time. Every day I attended two shows (my daily damages: Tk200+200 = Tk400) joined by four or five new unknown strangers on each screening. Reading might be a solitary activity but film seldom is even if the theater is empty, you have the ushers or the projectionist or perhaps the Annabelle doll from “Conjuring” watching along with you. Most people’s idea of a good time might not include renting a chair for two hours in a dark room to stare at a wall. However, on two outings I was able to cajole a friend (a Friday-friend and a Saturday-friend) – the best gift a friend can give us is their time. All the films at the festival were played back from DVD’s except for “Selfish Giant” and “All that Glitters.” I must say the standard of the films were quite high, these are films I would have never seen if not for this festival. Last year I watched about thirty Hollywood films at the theater (many are reviewed here: youtube.com/ thegreenreviews) and in comparison these European films range from “just as good” to “much better.” The power of film is not in its budget, it’s in its memorability- if it stays in your heart it can become the stuff dreams are made of. So thank you European Union for arranging it. We want more. I want to say it again. We want more.

Two of the films at the festival were released just about six months ago, at the end of 2013 (“Selfish Giant” & “Recycling Lily”), two were 2006 releases (“White Palms” & “Near East”) and all the

tle (excellent juxtaposition of past and present).

I would have liked the movie to end there, but it goes on for another five minutes and ends at an obscure note. But that’s fine too. Could the movie be reedited and made even more exciting by a studio? Sure. But should we take children away from their parents just because others can do a better job? Absolutely not.

2. PALME (Sweden 2012)

rest fall in between. The weakest film in the festival was probably the war melodrama “Blitz” (initially they played the wrong movie so I went to the manager and after fifteen minutes of failed rhetoric I said, “I’ll inform the Dutch Embassy about your mistake,” that did the trick). The second weakest film, according to me, was “El Próximo Oriente / Near East,” a Spanish film about a Bangladeshi family, where the Bangladeshis were speaking Bengali with a thick foreign accent. It made me flinch each time. I guess the director didn’t think a Bangladeshi would watch the film and question its authenticity.

If I were asked to rank all the films then it would be: 12. Blitz (Netherland); 11. Near East (Spain); 10. You kiss like a god (Czech Republic); 9. 99% Honest (Norway); 8. Almanya (Germany); 7.

Loose Cannons (Italy); 6. Recycling Lily (Swit-

zerland); 5. All that glitters (France); 4. Hijacking (Denmark); 3. White Palms (Hungary); 2. Palme (Sweden); 1. Selfish Giant (UK & Ireland).

Here are brief reviews of my top three favorites:

3. FEHER TENYER / White Palms (Hungary 2006)

This is to gymnastics what “Black Swan” is to ballet. It’s a film about giving unconditional love to children regardless of their achievements. Everyone cannot be the best, everyone cannot be world champions, and everyone cannot be superstars.

What about the rest of us who are second best or third best? Should they just end it all? No. It’s important to live one’s life, to keep trying is to keep living. The movie is also about the common story of the abused becoming the abuser. At the end of the movie in an incredible twist of fate, both the trainer and the trainee compete for the same ti-

This magnificent documentary should be a model for History Channel and Discovery Channel for study and analysis- how to bring a person back to life with just archival footage and photographs.

This is a biopic documentary about the Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme who was assassinated in February 28 1986. After watching this you will feel as if you know the man. My favorite bit is where Palme faces the students and debates with them to resolve their problem. A great piece of work.

1. THE SELFISH GIANT (UK, Ireland 2013)

This is made exactly the way it should be made.

It tells us the story of Arbor and his best friend, two kids from lower middleclass families. Arbor has a medical condition that makes him a misfit.

He has only one friend. Eventually both of them gets expelled from school and they find themselves stealing scrap metal and selling it to a guy called Kitten who also owns a horse. Horses are very important in this movie, they are the metaphor for life itself. The ending moved me to tears.

The merit of a good director is not necessarily in his ability to make everyone like the movie; it is in his ability to make the movie exactly as he set out to make, and he must fight for it till the end. I later learned this film was directed by a woman. l

I, Frankenstein Children of War The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (3D) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Captain America: The Winter Soldier (3D) STAR Cineplex Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath

Porn-star Shanti Dynamite to make Bollywood debut n Entertainment Desk It seems porn star Shanti Dynamite is following Sunny Leone’s footsteps by making her debut in Bollywood. The starlet will be seen in producer Rupesh Paul’s next, which is touted to be a combination of a gangster, erotica as well as horror movie.

Quoting Rupesh, a Hindustan Times report says that they auditioned a number of girls for three non-Indian characters. It was then that they bumped into Shanti. Adding that he had read about her somewhere saying that she would like to work with Ekta Kapoor, he immediately signed her for the movie. She will be playing one of the three main lead actresses in the movie. l

Did you know?

Wayne Rooney has not scored or assisted a goal in any of his 8 appearances at World Cup Finals, despite having 13 shots & creating 13 chances

Sport

Saturday, May 24, 2014

14 Atletico, Real brace for Champions League glory

15 Gavaskar says bookies approached IPL players

Taskin, Sabbir included for India series n Mazhar Uddin There was very little surprise as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 23-member preliminary squad for the upcoming ODI series at home against India next month through a press release yesterday.

Ahead of the series, Mushfiqur Rahim and his men will be starting their training camp from May 26 as all the members of the ICC World Twenty20 squad retained their places.

New coach of the Tigers, Sri Lankan Chandika Hathurusingha, is set to join the side from June 13 but the former international cricketer will only perform his duties as an observer during the India series.

Interim coach Sarwar Imran will be working with the national side as Hathurusingha would get very little time settling in with the first of three ODIs slated for June 15.

Meanwhile, most of the players from the preliminary squad are now in the West Indies with the Bangladesh A team and the Caribbean tour will be a good platform for several national discards to stake a place for themselves in the national side.

Bangladesh A side skipper Nasir Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Naeem Islam and Shamsur Rahman will be under the microscope before the India series. The quartet will be looking to score big in the Caribbean with the selectors’ attention firmly glued on them. Nasir, especially, will be targeting a good time with the bat after the 22-

SQUAD Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Imrul Kayes, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Farhad Reza, Arafat Sunny, Shohag Gazi, Md. Mithun, Soumya Sarker, Shafiul Islam, Sabbir Rahman

A late goal by Abdul Hannan helped Chittagong Abahani earn a crucial point in the Nitol-Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League as the bottom-ranked side and Team BJMC played out a 1-1 draw at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Struggling BJMC halted a run of defeats stretching back four games and earned their first point since their dramatic victory over Mohammedan SC last month. The draw, however, did not change Chittagong Abahani’s position from the bottom of the table although they closed the gap with Feni Soccer Club to two points. BJMC remained at sixth with 19 points, four points behind

fifth-placed Muktijoddha Sangsad.

BJMC dominated the game but the port-city outfit initiated the first attack in the 11th minute. Guinean midfielder Mohamed Conte tried his luck from 25 yards out but his powerful effort went just outside the bar. Six minutes later, in-form BJMC striker Ismael Bangoura headed over the bar following a cross from Saiful Islam. Conte saw another powerful strike from 30 yards fly inches over the bar three minutes into the second half.

Ismael Bangoura, who netted four goals in the previous five matches, put BJMC ahead in the 79th minute after unselfish play by Nabib Nawaj Jibon. Mahmudul Hasan provided a lovely cross from the left flank which found Jibon in the middle of the box. Jibon passed it to an unmarked Bangoura inside the box and the Guinean striker buried home into an empty net. It was Bangoura’s

Sheikh Jamal’s Haitian forward Sony Norde (top left) vies for the ball alongside Uttar Baridhara goalkeeper Osman Gani in the Nitol-Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

eighth goal in the league this season.

BJMC almost doubled the lead in the 85th minute when Ali Akbar Kanon’s header hit the sidebar after a neat cross from Bangoura.

Against the run of play in the same minute, Abdul Hannan restored parity after a quick counter-attack. Sohel Mia fed the ball with a cutback to Hannan whose angular shot from the edge of the box hit the gloves of diving BJMC keeper Arifuzzaman Hemel before it rolled into the net.

Meanwhile in the day’s other match, Soccer Club came from behind to hold Muktijoddha to a 1-1 draw at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj. Muktijoddha took the lead in the 34th minute through Shafiqul Islam Bipul before Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe cancelled out the lead in the 40th minute. l

PCB invites Sri Lanka to play in Pakistan n AFP, Lahore

The triumphant Bangladesh women’s karate team poses with the gold medal in the eighth NSKA International Martial Arts Karate Championship in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday

BD women grab golds in karate n Tribune Desk Bangladesh women bagged two gold medals in the eighth NSKA International Martial Arts Karate Championship yesterday which is being held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Bangladesh women’s team comprising Munni Khanam, Nasima Akter Jui and Mariam Khatun Bipasa defeated Nepal-

ese team consisting Krisa Sherpa, Renuka Pandey and Rojina Kamal to clinch gold in the women’s kata team event.

Nasima Akter Jui brought Bangladesh another gold in the women’s singles Kumi event (above 18 years) as she beat Ramila Nagorkot of Nepal to win her second gold medal of the day. Sunita of Nepal and Mahima Khatun of Pakistan won bronze. l

15 Dummett gets death threats over Suarez injury

n Shishir Hoque

Ctg Abahani hold BJMC n Shishir Hoque

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Jamal held as Norde misses penalty

year old had a terrible run of form recently. However, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who bowled exceptionally well in domestic cricket recently, was not named in the 23-member squad.

Taijul was adjudged the player of the series in the recently concluded Bangladesh Cricket League where he had a stellar campaign, claiming a bagful of wickets.

Although Taijul is now in the West Indies with the second-string national side, chief selector Faruk Ahmed informed that the only reason the youngster was not picked in the squad was due to the presence of several leftarm spinners.

“Taijul bowled very well in domestic cricket but we have quite a few leftarm spinners in the side so that is the reason why we did not pick him in the squad,” said Faruk.

Following the first ODI on June 15, the second and third ODIs will take place on June 17 and 19 respectively with all the matches scheduled to be held at the home of cricket - Sher-eBangla National Stadium in Mirpur. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Pakistan’s restored cricket chief Najam Sethi said that his board is inviting Sri Lanka to play a home series, five years after they survived a terrorist attack.

The move by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) came two days after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse promised his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain to send his cricket team during a meeting on the sidelines of a summit in China.

“We are sending a letter of invitation to Sri Lanka Cricket today after their president promised to send his country’s cricket team to Pakistan and we hope for a positive outcome,” Sethi told a press conference.

No foreign team has toured Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring seven visiting players. l

BSJA wins friendly against Indian HC n Tribune Desk Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) won the friendly Twenty20 match against the Indian High Commission by seven wickets at the Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy ground yesterday.

Electing to bat first, Indian High Commission was bundled out for 114 in 19.4 overs with Rassi top scoring for the batting side with 51. Rabeed Imam and Mazhar Uddin Omi claimed three wickets each while Jotirmoy Mondol, Mohammad Isam and Reazur Rahman Rohan bagged one wicket apiece for BSJA. In reply, BSJA romped home in just 11.2 overs with seven wickets intact as Mazhar struck an unbeaten 63 while Khairuzzaman Rana chipped in with 38.

Sufol Sonjoy and Sujit took one wicket each for Indian High Commission. l

Sony Norde failed to convert a penalty at the very late stage as table-toppers Sheikh Jamal were held to a 1-1 draw against Uttar Baridhara in a dramatic Bangladesh Premier League tie at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Kenyan striker Collins Tiego gave Baridhara a sudden lead before Sony Norde equalised the margin in the opening half. It was Sony Norde who upset 10-man Jamal by missing a penalty three minutes before the stipulated time and denied his side the chance to extend their gap at the top of the points table. Jamal are still unbeaten in the league with 39 points from 17 games, six ahead of second-placed Abahani.

Despite boasting attacking trio Sony Norde, Emeka Darlington and Wedson Anselme in the starting eleven, Jamal struggled in the initial stages and were unable to create any notable attack.

Baridhara shocked Jamal by taking the lead just two minutes later. Khalekur Jamen delivered a curling cross from the left flank which found the unmarked Kenyan striker inside the box.

Tiego’s sliding header hit the back of the net.

Jamal, however, came back to the game in the 27th minute when their Haitian international Sony Norde unleashed a powerful strike from 20 yards out which gave Baridhara keeper Osman Gani no chance.

Jamal went all out for the winner in the second half but their situation got worse when Emeka Darlington was sent off in the 80th minute for putting his boot over the Baridhara keeper.

Wedson gave his side a great chance to salvage all three points by earning a penalty in the 87th minute but Sony Norde sent the ball over the crossbar from the spot. l

Willian urges Brazil’s fickle fans to get behind team n Reuters, Sao Paulo

Chelsea midfielder Willian is confident that Brazil’s often fickle fans will be a help rather than a hindrance to the home nation when the World Cup begins in Sao Paulo next month.

Brazilian fans frequently boo their own players, especially in big cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo but that changed last year when locals got behind their side during the Confederations Cup and Willian believes their support this time around could be vital.

“I like to think that playing at home will be beneficial to Brazil, that the support of fans and family will give us a boost like it did in the Confederations Cup,” the influential midfielder said in

an email interview with Reuters.

“I think the pressure will be on our opponents, who will have to face Brazil at home with the support of the home crowd.”

One of four Chelsea players in the squad - Oscar, Ramires and David Luiz are the others - Willian is one of the new boys. Willian won his first cap in 2011 under former boss Mano Menezes but Luiz Felipe Scolari did not fancy him when he took over in November 2012 and he was not in the group that won the Confederations Cup. He was recalled after the competition and is one of the seven additions to the 23-man squad.

The 25-year-old former Corinthians player joined Chelsea last year after a long spell in the former Soviet bloc and he settled quickly at Stamford Bridge. l

ECB charges Vincent, Arif for fixing n Reuters, London

Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent and Pakistani Naveed Arif have been charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)under its Anti-Corruption code, the ruling body said on Thursday.

Vincent has been charged with 14 offences relating to two matches he played for English county Sussex in August 2011 - a Twenty20 game against Lancashire and a 40-over clash with Kent.

Arif has been charged with six offences relating to the Kent match.

Both players have been provisionally suspended from all cricket activities organised by the sport’s governing bodies and they could be banned for life if they are found guilty of match-fixing.

If the players are found guilty, it would be the first proven case of the result of an English county game being fixed.

“This has been an extremely complex and lengthy investigation co-ordinated across many jurisdictions around

the world,” Chris Watts, head of ECB’s Anti-Corruption unit, said in a statement.

The 35-year-old Vincent, who played 23 tests and more than 100 oneday internationals for New Zealand, has given evidence to the International Cricket Council about his involvement

Lou Vincent

in match-fixing and is co-opearing with the sport’s ruling body.

The evidence relates to 12 matches in five countries between 2008 and 2012.

The 32-year-old Arif was released by Sussex in 2012 and has recently played in Twenty20 games in Pakistan. l

Naveed Arif

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Germany’s Lars Bender out of WC

Germany midfielder Lars Bender on Friday was ruled out of next month’s World Cup in Brazil with a thigh injury in another blow to coach Joachim Loew’s plans. Two days after Germany started their preparations in northern Italy, the Bayer Leverkusen player became the latest injury victim and pulled out of the 27-man provisional squad. The 25-year-old, who has scored four times in 17 international appearances, picked up a “combined” muscle and tendon injury in his right thigh in training on Thursday evening and has already left the team camp.

–Reuters

Sport

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Snakes should be worried by fans

Adventurous England World Cup fans who go to see their team play Italy in the sultry tropical heat of Manaus could come across 65 different types of snake, but experts say the snakes have more to fear. England play Italy in their opening Group D match in the Amazon city on June 14. British tabloids have warned fans they could run a gamut of dangers ranging from criminal gangs to poisonous snakes. And England coach Roy Hodgson put local noses out of joint when he dubbed Manaus the place his time had wanted to avoid.

–AFP

Paraguay warns of dengue risk

Authorities in Paraguay raised the alert Thursday against dengue fever while the World Cup is underway next month in neighboring Brazil, where the mosquito-born illness is rampant in some regions. While the popular sporting event is underway, officials should “take care with our border,” said Silvio Ortega, director of Paraguay’s national service for the eradication of infectious diseases. “There will be a lot of traffic of people going and tourists coming,” the health chief told AFP after announcing a “red alert” during the monthlong football championship, which kicks off June 12.

–AFP

Atletico, Real brace for Champions League glory n AFP, Lisbon Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have concerns over the fitness of key players ahead of the first ever meeting between two sides from the same city in the Champions League final in Lisbon on Saturday.

Real are the worst affected as defender Pepe and striker Karim Benzema remain major doubts, but coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo will start despite a muscle problem which has prevented him taking a full part in training this week.

Atletico are almost certain to be missing their top scorer in Diego Costa despite the Brazilian-born striker reportedly travelling to Serbia to receive special horse placenta treatment on a hamstring injury this week.

Ronaldo pulled out of Real’s final La Liga game of the season against Espanyol last weekend due to an ongoing hamstring injury, which also saw him miss crucial games in the Liga title run in as Real lost out to champions Atletico.

However, the Portuguese forward will return to the city where he started his playing career with Sporting Lisbon and admitted he is desperate to finally lead Real to their 10th European Cup after five seasons with the club.

“It will be a special game. I will be playing in my home country, in Portugal,” the 29-year-old told UEFA.com “It is my first final with Real Madrid, so that will be special too and it will be against a great team in Atletico. They have had an amazing year, but we are going to give our best and try to win because we want that 10th title.”

Real defender Sergio Ramos has claimed that Atletico’s title triumph makes them the favourites to lift the

KEY HEAD-TO-HEADS Iker Casillas v Thibaut Courtois A clash of youth and experience. Courtois, 22, may be a more complete goalkeeper, with his extra height giving him an advantage with crosses, but 33-yearold Casillas has shown on many occasions that he has a knack of producing something special when required. Courtois has been a fundamental feature of the Atletico side all season and has made vital saves while Casillas has lost his first-team place in La Liga to Diego Lopez but has delivered when called on.

Sergio Ramos v Diego Godin There is little to choose between two defensive titans who provide leadership and personality at the back. Atletico’s success has been based on their solidity and Godin plays a commanding role while Real are a more adventurous team and Ramos is the more comfortable player with the ball at his feet. Both have scored key goals this season in the air but Ramos is more adept at creating and scoring chances with the ball on the ground.

Angel Di Maria v Koke With his lighter frame and dexterity, Angel Di Maria is more agile than Koke. He is a spontaneous player who will look to beat a man and take risks while Koke is solid and reliable. Koke will measure his passes in midfield waiting for the right moment to deliver the ball into the box. The Atletico player is also a hard worker and will provide more defensive cover than Di Maria.

A huge banner of the Champions League trophy hangs from the roof at the Benfica stadium, a day ahead of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, yesterday REUTERS trophy for the first time on Saturday despite having a budget less than a quarter of their more illustrious city rivals.

And Ronaldo believes the pressure on his side to not lose out to Atletico is a positive.

“Real Madrid have wanted it for a long time. That is why since the first minute we came here we have felt positive pressure to win the Champions League. This year we feel we are just one small step away from winning.”

Atletico could seal by far the greatest season in their 111-year history should they manage to beat Real in just their second ever appearance in the final.

The majority of the credit for Los Rojiblancos’ amazing success in recent seasons has gone to manager Diego Simeone, but the Argentine has hailed the

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL FACTS u u

The final will be the 59th since the competition started as the European Cup in the 1955-56 season. Real Madrid won the first five finals and hold the record with nine final successes.

u u

It will be their 13th final in all and they will be seeking their 10th victory and their first since 2002.

u u

Their nine wins came in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000 and 2002. They also lost finals in 1962, 1964 and 1981.

u u

Atletico Madrid are competing in their second final. Their only other appearance came in 1974 when they drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich in Brussels and two days later lost 4-0 in what has been the only replayed final.

u u

This is the first final in either the European Cup or Champions League to be played in Lisbon since Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the National Stadium on May 25, 1967 to become the first British and northern European club to lift the European Cup.

u u

Francisco Gento of Real holds the record with six winners medals followed by Alfredo di Stefano of Real and Paolo Maldini of AC Milan who both have five.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas can pick up his third winners medal after playing in the 2000 win over Valencia and coming on as a substitute in the 2002 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

u u

For the second successive season, and for the fifth time in all, the final is being contested by teams from the same country, but never before have two teams from the same city competed in any of UEFA’s club competition finals.

u u

The four previous one-nation finals were in 1999-2000 when Real beat Valencia 3-0 in Paris; 2002-03 when AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties in Manchester; 2007-08 when Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow and last year when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in London.

u u

Atletico and Real have met 194 times in the Spanish leagu and cup with Real winning 102 times, Atletico 46 with 46 draws.

u u

This season’s league matches ended with Atletico winning 1-0 at Real in September before a 2-2 draw at Atletico in March. Real beat Atletico 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey which they went on to win while Atletico won their first Spanish league title since 1996.

u u

This is not the first time they have in European competition as their paths crossed in the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1958-59. Real won the first leg 2-1 at home, Atletico won the second leg 1-0 and in the days before away goals, Real won the replay 2-1 in Zaragoza.

u u

Atletico will become only the fifth club to win all three main UEFA club competitions (European Cup/Champions League; Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup/Europa League) if they are successful following their Cup Winners Cup win in 1962 and their victories in the Europa League in 2010 and 2012.

u u

Juventus, Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are the four other clubs to have won all three. Real have won the Europa Cup/Champions League and UEFA Cup in the past but never won the Cup Winners’ Cup before it ended in 1999.

u u

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti who won the European Cup as a player with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, also managed Milan to victory in the 2003 and 2007 Champions League finals as well as losing in the 2005 final. If Real win he will become only the second man to lift the European Cup three times as a coach, joining Bob Paisley, who guided Liverpool to victory in 1977, 1978 and 1981.

u u

If Atletico win Argentine Diego Simeone will become only the third non-European coach to lift the European Cup after compatriots Luis Carniglia (Real 1958 and 1959) and Helenio Herrera (Inter Milan 1964 and 1965).

effort shown by his players to overcome the financial disadvantages Atletico have in relation to Europe’s biggest clubs.

“This season has been the fruit of the labour that we’ve been doing for nearly three years,” he said.

“From the strikers right through to the goalkeeper, the team is aware of how we need to play in order to succeed, in order to highlight our strengths and hide our weaknesses because, although we do have weaknesses, we just hope not to show them.”

A reported 200,000 fans turned out to celebrate Atletico’s title triumph in the centre of Madrid last weekend with even more expected to party should they return across the Portuguese border having won the Champions League.

And Simeone thinks the club’s fans

can associate with the spirit embodied by his side.

“It is great that in one city you have such a powerful team as Real Madrid and a battling team such as Atletico Madrid.

“The idiosyncrasies of the clubs couldn’t be more different, possibly from a social perspective as well. Each team uses the tools it has at its disposal and it’s a great rivalry, no matter which team you support.”

Atletico also have concerns over the fitness of Turkish playmaker Arda Turan after he was forced off in the 1-1 draw away to Barcelona that sealed the domestic league title last weekend with a hip injury, but the Turkish international is expected to feature at some point even if he is not fit enough to start. l

Gareth Bale v Arda Turan Both are valuable attacking options but they have very different styles as Arda’s strength is his passing and close control while Bale looks to use his power and pace. Arda is a key player for Atletico due to their more limited creative options and without him they lack someone who can beat a player and deliver the killer ball. Arda has really shown his worth to the team this season while for Bale it has been a difficult time of adaptation and a series of injuries that have prevented him having a consistent run in the team. Still, world record buy Bale is a player who can turn a game with a dash of pace on the breakaway or a thunderbolt from distance.

Cristiano Ronaldo v Diego Costa Ronaldo may have the edge over Costa but both are crucial players for their sides and capable of winning matches with a piece of trickery, a burst of pace or an explosive shot. Costa is more of an out-and-out striker and while he can come deep to pick up the ball he is most dangerous in the box. Under the influence of Diego Simeone he has also become a tireless runner. Ronaldo has scored 31 goals in La Liga compared to Costa’s 27 and the effects of a long season have taken their toll.

Costa remains a serious doubt for the final, in which case his place would likely be taken by Adrian.

Gritty Simeone forges winning mentality at Atletico n Reuters, Barcelona Atletico Madrid have become the mirror image of Diego Simeone as a well-organised and hard-working team with a fierce commitment and a strong rebellious streak.

Prowling the touchline dressed all in black and with his hair slicked back, Simeone cultivated a kind of gangster look as he sought to unsettle Real Madrid and Barcelona, the football establishment in Spain.

The combative Argentine refused to accept publicly that Atletico, with far inferior resources, would be able to compete with the big two over a full season but with effort and a never say die attitude he was ready for the challenge.

Atletico, by a distance, were the most consistent of the three teams fighting for the La Liga title, basing their play on a rock-solid defence and wearing down the opposition with their pressing game.

Diego Godin’s header against Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Saturday, that

earned Atletico the draw they needed to win the championship, was yet another goal from a set play and typified the emphasis that Simeone puts on strategy.

He is constantly looking ahead during matches, second-guessing the opposition and ready to switch personnel or tactics.

Atletico’s team includes many players that had never experienced success until the arrival of Simeone, who instilled his winning mentality and a “match by match” philosophy.

He took over at the end of 2011 with the team struggling in the league and made an immediate impact as they marched up the table and finished in fifth place before beating Athletic Bilbao to win the Europa League.

Simeone was in his element as Atletico showed by beating Chelsea in the European Super Cup that they were ready to challenge the continent’s elite.

In a further sign of what was to come, they won the King’s Cup after stunning their more affluent neighbours Real 2-1 in the final in Real’s own Bernabeu arena.

“We are showing that with work you can compete,” Simeone said in a recent interview with Spanish radio.

“There are a lot of fans of Madrid and Barcelona that congratulate me for what we are doing and that makes me proud,” added the 44-year-old.

“Fans of all the teams in Spain can

identify and feel a small part of this Atletico Madrid.

Simeone was born in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires and began playing football on the street, but he did not have a disadvantaged childhood with his mother a hairdresser and his father a salesman.

Simeone says it is from his parents that he learned to work hard and he was also influenced by the routine at Sarsfield.

As a coach he was similarly organised, learning the ropes first with clubs in Argentina and he then spent time studying Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

“I watched Mourinho training for a week and then for another I watched Guardiola.

“Whether you like Mourinho’s style or not is open to discussion but he has won in different places and this has a lot of merit.

“The teams that defend well are as important as those that attack well. If you don’t concede goals it is much easier to win but it is all about having balance.” l

‘Pacifier’ Ancelotti restoring Real’s prestige n Reuters, Lisbon Carlo Ancelotti promised a heady mix of spectacular football and trophies when he took over at Real Madrid, the holy grail for coaches handed the reins of the world’s richest club by income.

Although he has not consistently managed the former in his debut season at the Bernabeu, the Italian is on the verge of delivering the record-extending 10th European crown - that has eluded Real since their last continental triumph in 2002 - to add to this term’s King’s Cup success.

Real are through to the Champions League final - where they will play Atletico Madrid on Saturday in the only European showpiece to feature teams from the same city - for the first time since they were crowned European champions in Glasgow 12 years ago.

Obsessed with winning what is known as the “la decima” (the tenth), Real president Florentino Perez lured Ancelotti from Paris St Germain following the ignominious exit of Jose

Mourinho, three years before the end of his contract, after a season without major silverware.

Ancelotti, labelled “the pacifier” in Spanish media, is an entirely different character from the combative Portuguese, who clashed with key players, divided fans and had a testy relationship with journalists.

Perhaps one of Ancelotti’s most impressive achievements is the way he has united a dressing room that became bitterly divided under Mourinho.

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of several key performers who clashed with compatriot Mourinho, in particular has thrived under the new regime.

“Ancelotti deserves all the credit,” Ronaldo said after Real thrashed holders Bayern Munich 4-0 in Germany last month to secure their place in the final.

“He has changed everything. He has altered the mentality of the players.”

A tough midfielder with clubs including AS Roma and AC Milan, Ancelotti, now 54, is one of only six people who have been European club champi-

on as player and coach.

He won consecutive European Cups with Milan in 1989 and 1990 before beginning his coaching career with AC Reggiana.

After taking over at Milan in 2001, he led the club to Champions League triumphs in 2003 and 2007, also reaching the final in 2005, and went on to win an English Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2009-10.

Dismissed after two seasons in London, he led PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years in 2012-13 before agreeing a three-year contract at Real.

He now has a chance to join former Liverpool coach Bob Paisley as the only man to win the European title three times as a coach.

Former Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini is one of many who has singled out Ancelotti’s ability to unify his players as what sets him apart.

“Of all the coaches I have had, he was the one who managed the dressing room with the most serenity,” Maldini said last year when Ancelotti was

named Real coach.

“The secret of our success was his normality. He isn’t one of those who works alone and this shows great intelligence.

“For this reason he will win titles wherever he goes: with Milan, Chelsea or Real Madrid.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wozniacki takes comfort from Liverpool connection n Reuters, Virginia Water

QUICK BYTES

Arambagh keep promotion hopes alive Arambagh Krira Sangha kept alive their hopes of returning to top-flight football after defeating Agrani Bank 2-1 in the Premier Bank Bangladesh Championship League at the Kamalapur Stadium yesterday. Arif opened the scoring in the 55th minute for Arambagh before Rabbi cancelled out the lead in the 75th minute. Kanchan, however, sealed victory for Arambagh in the 88th minute. Both the sides now have 20 points each but Agrani are slightly ahead in third position due to goal difference with Arambagh in fourth.

Second-placed Farashganj have 22 points with two games in hand.

– Tribune Desk

Narinda begins well in Cute Handball Title contenders Narinda Pragati Boys’ Club began their Cute Premier Handball League 2014 campaign with a convincing 35-25 victory over Prime Sporting Club at the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium yesterday.

The victors led the first half 16-11.

Narinda’s new Indian recruit Shamser Singh scored 14 goals while Asadul and Sayeduzzaman added eight and six goals respectively. Ashiq netted six goals for the losing side.

In the day’s other matches, Arambagh Krira Sangha outplayed defending champions Menzis Krira Chakra by 3921 while Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club were held to a 27-27 draw by Bhratritto Samaj Kalyan Sangha.

– Tribune Desk

Broad risks sanction over Ajmal comments England’s Stuart Broad has risked disciplinary action after appearing to question the legitimacy of Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal’s action.

Ajmal is currently playing for English county Worcestershire. He took 13 wickets in the Midlands side’s recent County Championship win over Essex, including a career-best seven for 19 in the second innings. That prompted former England captain Michael Vaughan to post a still photograph of Ajmal bowling during that match on Twitter with the caption: “You are allowed 15 degrees of flex in your delivery swing.... #justsaying.” Broad, currently out with a knee injury, replied by commenting: “This has to be a fake photo?!”. He then added in a subsequent tweet: “Bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in the middle.” As an England centrally contracted player Broad can be penalised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) if he is found to have made derogatory comments about his fellow professionals.

–AFP

Moyes accused of assault in bar David Moyes, who was sacked as manager of Manchester United last month, has been accused of assaulting a man in a bar in northern England, a police source said on Thursday. The incident occurred in the Emporium wine bar in Clitheroe north of Manchester on Wednesday night and no one has been arrested, police said. “It was reported that a 23-year-old local man had been assaulted by a 51-year-old man. He did not require hospital treatment,” Lancashire Police said in a statement.

Moyes, 51, was not named but a source confirmed he was involved in the allegation. “Inquiries are ongoing and we are speaking to a number of people to try to establish the circumstances,” the police statement said. “There are a number of differing accounts which we need to work through to try to establish exactly what has happened.” Moyes was fired by the English Premier League club after just 10 months in charge having presided over a disappointing campaign in which United finished seventh.

– Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six Indian Premier League 04:30PM Bangalore vs. Chennai 8:30PM Kolkata vs. Hyderabad 6:30AM Major League Soccer 2014 Miami vs. Indiana Star Sports 1 3:30PM Badminton Thomas & Uber Cup Ten Action & Ten Sports 12:45 AM Uefa Champions League Final Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

15

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Wolfsburg players pose with the trophy as they celebrate their 4-3 victory over Tyreso FF at the end of the Uefa Women’s Champions League final football match at Restelo stadium in Lisbon on Thursday AFP

Gavaskar says bookies approached IPL players n AFP, New Delhi Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar revealed Thursday two cricketers were under investigation over possible corruption in this year’s Indian Premier League, a T20 competition already reeling from betting and spot-fixing scandals.

Gavaskar, who has been put in charge of the Indian Premier League (IPL), said bookmakers made contact with a pair of unnamed players during the ongoing season, which the world cricket body was probing.

Asked if players have been approached this season, Gavaskar told the Press Trust of India news agency: “There have been a couple and it’s been reported to ACSU. They are looking into it.”

The troubled IPL has hired the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corrup-

tion and Security Unit (ACSU) to monitor the eight-team tournament which began in April. India’s Supreme Court placed Gavaskar in charge of the IPL in March after it forced the country’s cricket board president, N. Srinivasan, from office over last year’s betting and fixing scandals in the IPL. A Supreme Court panel has probed wrongdoing in the IPL after former Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was charged with deliberately bowling badly while playing for the Rajasthan Royals in return for thousands of dollars from bookmakers.

The panel concluded that Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan -- who was the team principal of the Chennai Super Kings -- could be guilty of illegal betting on IPL games.

The Super Kings are owned by India

No regrets for McCullum about leaked evidence n AFP, Wellington

Cements, whose managing director is Srinivasan. The team are captained by India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The court has accused Srinivasan of effectively turning a blind eye to the allegations of wrongdoing in the IPL on his watch.

Srinivasan, who has denied any wrongdoing, had been seen as the most powerful man in world cricket and is still due to take over in July as head of the International Cricket Council.

Police have charged Sreesanth and other players over last year’s scandals along with a string of bookies and others.

International news organisations, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), have suspended their on-field coverage of matches hosted by the BCCI since 2012 after the board imposed restrictions on picture agencies. l

Dummett gets death threats over Suarez injury n Reuters, London

Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has received death threats from angry Uruguay fans who blame him for the injury that has put striker Luis Suarez’s World Cup campaign in doubt, British media reported on Friday.

Liverpool striker Suarez had keyhole surgery on his left knee on Thursday and faces a race to be fit for the World Cup in Brazil, with Uruguay playing Costa Rica in their opening Group D game on June 14 and England in their second match on June 19.

Suarez complained about the problem during his first day of training with the Uruguay squad.

The country’s FA (AUF) said he first

suffered the injury in the final Premier League game of the season at home to Newcastle as Liverpool chased the title.

Dummett was sent off for fouling Suarez late in the match.

“It should be highlighted that the player received a direct blow to his left knee in the last game of the Premier League season with Liverpool, on Sunday May 11, with pain which eased with rest from sporting action after the season had ended,” the Uruguayan FA said on Thursday.

Dummett, whose red card in the 82nd minute of Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat was later rescinded on appeal, on Thursday was the victim of death threats on social media from local fans as the AUF seemed to blame Newcastle for Suarez’s operation. l

Fatherly Federer ready for tilt at 18th Slam n AFP, Paris Swiss maestro Roger Federer begins his quest for a record extending 18th Grand Slam at the French Open this weekend with a first round tie against Slovenian world number 89 Lukas Lacko.

The former world number one has only recently returned to the court since his wife Mirka gave birth to their second set of twins, this time boys.

However the unflappable 33-yearold Basel native says it’s business as usual as he bids for a second title in Paris after his lone victory in 2009.

“I believe I might have played him (Lacko) in Australia. I’m not sure, but I know him,” Federer, who is one of seven men to win all four Grand Slams, said about his opening foe.

“He’s been on the tour for a while now. He’s not totally unknown for me.

I know he likes having a good rhythm, he hits early.

“I practiced with him several times, so I do know him. I don’t think there is any secret there and I think it’s good for a first round to play against a player you know a little bit.

Federer, who also has four-yearold twin daughters, says he is in good nick coming to Paris and the recent additions to the family haven’t

affected his routine.

“They sleep that much that I don’t feel bad yet going out of the room and coming back, it’s almost the same situation,” he added about extending his family to four children.

“Clearly there is a bit more happening and there is a bit more you can do if you want to, but Mirka takes care of most of it.

“Of course, you know, I hold them as much as I can, but I clearly also want to go out and about with the girls. Routines are pretty much the same, really.

When asked if he lacked preparation on clay ahead of his first round match that could see him play Thomas Berdych in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the last four, he was serene.

“I’m not sure if I have played less than in previous years on clay, because sometimes I didn’t play in Monaco,” he added about his recent run to the Monte Carlo final where he lost to compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in three sets.

“Then I also had a couple of events.

I think it’s about what I usually always have before the French Open.

“It’s been really solid in practice; no setbacks in matches.I’m very confident if I need to go, you know, deep in a match or play tough matches in a row.” l

Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki said she was drawing comfort from her fellow supporters of Liverpool football club in her first public comments since golfer Rory McIlroy announced their wedding had been called off.

The 25-year-old Northern Irishman issued a statement on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, saying he was not ready for marriage.

“It’s a hard time for me right now,” former world number one Wozniacki said on Twitter on Thursday.

“Thanks for all the sweet messages!

Happy I support Liverpool right now because I know I’ll never walk alone,” she added in reference to the famous anthem of the five-times European soccer champions. McIlroy is a lifelong fan of Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United and played in the same group as former Old Trafford favourites Peter Schmeichel, Teddy Sheringham and Phil Neville in Wednesday’s pre-tournament pro-am. l

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum on Thursday said he had no regrets about his leaked evidence to a corruption probe, as cricket chiefs moved to muzzle the media and stop any more “unhelpful” revelations.

McCullum said he stood by his testimony to the International Cricket Council (ICC), in which he reportedly told investigators that a high-profile cricketer dubbed “Player X” unsuccessfully attempted to recruit him in a match-fixing scam in 2008.

The batsman said he was shocked when his allegations appeared in a British newspaper this week, detailing a scandal that threatens to overshadow New Zealand’s preparations to co-host next year’s Cricket World Cup with Australia.

While ICC president Alan Isaac described the leak as “totally unacceptable”, McCullum said he maintained

confidence in the governing body and would continue to cooperate.

“There’s still a long way to go I think,” he told reporters in Christchurch. “Obviously it’s been a number of years and the next little while will probably be quite tough as well, but my involvement in the investigation is ongoing.”

McCullum declined to comment when asked if Black Caps great Chris Cairns was Player X. Cairns this week acknowledged his name was being linked to Player X but strongly denied any involvement in corruption or match-fixing.

Despite his disappointment at the leak in Britain’s Daily Mail, McCullum said he would not hesitate to recommend to any player who found themselves in the same situation to report the matter to the ICC. “From the dealings I’ve had with the (ICC) group I’ve dealt with, I have confidence in them,” he said. l

Mumbai Indians keep playoffs hopes alive

Suarez leaves the hospital in a wheel chair after suffering a knee surgery in Montevideo on Thursday REUTERS

SCORECARD England A. Cook c Sangakkara b Kulasekara I. Bell c Malinga b Mathews G. Ballance c Chandimal b Senanayake E. Morgan b Senanayake J. Root lbw b Kulasekara R. Bopara lbw b Senanayake J. Buttler not out C. Jordan not out Extras (b1, lb1, w5)

11 50 64 3 45 3 26 38 7

Total (6 wkts, 39 overs) 247 Bowling: Malinga 8-0-71-0 (4w); Kulasekara 8-1-60-2; Lakmal 6-0-34-0; Perera 3-0-25-0; Mathews 6-0-25-1 (1w); Senanayake 8-0-30-3 Sri Lanka (target 226 in 32 overs) L. Thirimanne lbw b Anderson T. Dilshan c Ballance b Jordan K. Sangakkara b Gurney M. Jayawardene c Morgan b Tredwell A. Mathews c Cook b Tredwell D. Chandimal c Buttler b Jordan N. Kulasekara c Buttler b Jordan T. Perera c Root b Tredwell S. Senanayake c Bell b Gurney L. Malinga b Bopara S. Lakmal not out Extras (b5, lb2, w6, nb2)

Total (all out, 27.5 overs)

0 33 8 35 18 8 0 2 11 10 4 15

144

Bowling: Anderson 5-1-22-1; Gurney 5-020-2 (2nb, 2w); Jordan 6-0-25-3 (2w); Root 1-0-7-0; Bopara 4.5-0-25-1 (2w); Tredwell 6-0-38-3 Result: England won by 81 runs (D/L method) Man-of-the-match: Chris Jordan (ENG) Series: England lead five-match series 1-0 Toss: Sri Lanka

n Agencies

BRIEF SCORE

The Mumbai Indians registered a 15-run win against the Delhi Daredevils at Wankhede Stadium to keep their Playoffs hopes alive. The hosts were given a boost by opener Michael Hussey (56 off 33 balls) in the must-win encounter, before a late collapse saw them fold for 173. The MI bowlers then ensured the visitors did not get over the line and were restricted to 158 for four after their 20over quota.

Earlier, DD won the toss and chose to field first. After Lendl Simmons’ great showing at Mohali a couple of nights ago, today it was his opening partner, Michael Hussey’s turn to shine. Thanks

Mumbai Indians 173 in 19.3 overs, M Hussey 56, Imran Tahir 3-37 Delhi Daredevils 158/4 in 20 overs, Duminy 45*, M de Lange 2-32 Mumbai Indians won by 15 runs to half-dozen boundaries from his willow, MI raced to the 50-run mark in the fifth over itself. He even launched a maximum in the next over to help his team compile a total of 65 runs in the powerplay. At that point, Hussey was batting on 40, while Simmons, who was on 17 at that stage, seemed content with supporting his partner. l

Jordan leads England to victory over Sri Lanka n AFP, London Chris Jordan starred with both bat and ball as England set off on the road to next year’s World Cup with a an 81-run win over Sri Lanka in a rain-marred one-day international at The Oval on Thursday.

The Sussex all-rounder’s belligerent 38 not out off just 13 balls propelled England to a total of 247 for six in an innings reduced by rain to 39 overs.

And, on his former Surrey home ground, the Barbados-born Jordan took three wickets for 25 runs, including three for three in 12 balls.

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 226 in 32 overs after a fresh downpour, never recovered and finished on 144 in 27.5 overs when Lasith Malinga was bowled by Ravi Bopara under the Oval floodlights.

England, in their first match in the format against a Test nation since Peter Moores returned as head coach quickly reduced Sri Lanka to 19 for two.

James Anderson struck fifth ball, with Sri Lanka yet to score a run, when he had Lahiru Thirimanne lbw before left-arm paceman Harry Gurney had Kumar Sangakkara playing on for eight.

Sri Lanka were 60 for two, in pursuit of a target of 259 in 39 overs, when rain stopped play for the second time in the

match.

Come the resumption, Sri Lanka needed to score at nine an over and, unsurprisingly, lost wickets in the face of such a stiff run-rate.

Tillakaratne Dilshan slashed at Jordan and was caught on the third man boundary by Gary Ballance.

Mahela Jaywardene made a typically stylish 35 before chipping off-spinner James Tredwell to Eoin Morgan at short mid-wicket.

Dinesh Chandimal was caught behind off Jordan and three balls later Nuwan Kulasekara skyed the paceman to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 108 for six.

Cook, once labelled a “donkey” in the field by predecessor Michael Atherton, then took an excellent running catch to dismiss Mathews.

England were in trouble at 152 for five when Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake took two wickets in seven balls to remove Ballance (64) and Bopara.

But England, as Sri Lanka had done in their nine-run Twenty20 win at The Oval on Tuesday, enjoyed a late flurry with the bat.

They struck 93 off the last seven overs, Jordan ending the innings with a straight six off Malinga. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Fish resources dwindling for fishing with poison Reza Chowdhury n Kamran back from Dacope, Khulna Fisherman Ibrahim Sheikh explains how he and his fishing folks pour poison in canals inside the Sundarbans to catch fish that go to different markets, including Dhaka.

Innumerable narrow canals crisscross the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, stretching over six lakh hectares of land in the mouth of the Bay of Bengal. The canals turn full to the brim during the tide bringing in different varieties of fish and the fishermen place nets during the ebb.

‘The government must do whatever necessary to stop poison fishing; otherwise the fishermen, the traders and others would starve’ “When water starts receding, we mix ripcord with the water upstream of the canals and place the nets further down.

Fish, especially shrimp, start floating and deposit in the nets as the water comes down,” Ibrahim, 30, told the Dhaka Tribune as this correspondent visited the coastal village of Sutarkhali in Khulna opposite the Sundarbans.

He said poisoning made fishing easier.

“Not only the fish, snake, crab, snail and many other species die due to the use of poison. I feel very bad, but I have nothing to do,” said Ibrahim, who was caught by forest officials and sent to jail for poison fishing. He has been behind bars for 15 days and the case was yet to be settled.

He said unless the use of poison was stopped, the whole Sundarbans would be devoid of fish and other species in near future.

Ibrahim claimed that the fishermen must take permission from the Forest Department to fish inside the Sundarbans and pay extra money to employees.

“Unless I get a huge amount of fish, I cannot survive. If bribing the forest officials does not end, the fishermen will continue to use poison,” he said.

“We will not consider what will happen to the Sundarbans.”

Delicious fish such as shrimp, Parshay, Tengra, Datina and other brackish varieties are caught by poisoning, using insecticides such as Ripcord, fishermen say.

Ripcord – generic name Cypermethrin – is highly to moderately toxic to aquatic organisms and it results in fatality if swallowed. Even it causes irritation on skin and eye.

Another fisherman Saddam Hussain said the shrimp caught by poisoning turns red and rots easily. The fish caught by poisoning sometimes had injuries in the head. Its price is cheaper than those caught without poison.

He said the fish went to the markets, although some traders recently started testing the contamination in the fish.

Fish trader Rabiul Mallick, 38, of Sutarkhali village told the Dhaka Tribune that the amount of fish had come down due to use of poison in the Sundarbans.

“The government must do whatever necessary to stop poison fishing; otherwise the fishermen, the traders and others would starve,” he said, referring that the use of insecticides had started around eight years back.

At least 10,000 people in Dacope upazila depend on the Sundarbans, said Krishnapado, 60.

Prof Kawser Ahmed, a Dhaka University teacher carrying out research on the pollution in the Sundarbans, told the Dhaka Tribune: “This has certainly put impact on the fish and other resources of the Sundarbans and the environment cycle”. “This must stop now”.

According to the government figures, around three lakh people directly depend on the Sundarbans for earning bread.

Fisheries Department said 1,143 metric tonnes of fish were harvested from the Sundarbans in 2013 while the amount was 1,145 metric tonnes in 2012. Previous year, 1,085 metric tonnes of fish was caught.

The forest officials declined to comment on the allegations of bribe brought against them.

Environmentalists fear the animals such as Royal Bengal tiger, deer and others would also die drinking the poisonous water. l

Rickshaw pullers park their vehicles on the side of a road in the capital and take a time out after working for hours under the scorching heat of the day. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Bumper Boro harvest expected in haor basin Bakar Siddique, back from n Abu the northeast

Farmers of the country’s haor basin are expecting a massive harvest of Boro paddy this year, as the entire cultivation period had experienced favourable weather without any occurrence of flash floods.

The overall outlook also seems optimistic for the Boro paddy farmers in the wetlands region, as they were getting fair prices for their production this year.

“I got around 20 maunds of paddy from each bigha land which is pretty good for me,” said Ismail Hussain, who cultivates nine bighas of land in Shanir Haor of Sunamganj.

The farmers were able bring their harvest home properly this year, an achievement which had not been possible in the last ten years because of inclement weather events like flash floods and early monsoon, Ismail claimed.

The farmers were also happy as the

price of every maund (40kg) of Boro paddy stood at around Tk650 to Tk720 just after harvest was completed, he added.

The haor basin – which includes Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Maulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria – is considered as the hub of the Boro production along with some northern districts like Naogaon.

Agricultural authorities in Sunamganj and Netrokona estimate that farmers in the two district would get around 14.5 lakh tonnes of Boro yield.

“We hope the Boro production will be eight lakh metric tonnes from projected 1.92 crore hectare of Boro field,” said Abul Hashem, deputy director of the Sunamganj office of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), adding that we would receive the final numbers within a week as the harvest has been almost completed.

Last year, Sunamganj saw Boro production of around 7.51 lakh metric tonnes, while the country’s total Boro production was 1.87 crore tonnes.

In 2010, Sunamganj farmers were able to produce only two lakh tonnes of Boro paddy because of flash floods, said Hashem.

On the other hand, Nirmal Chnandra Saha, deputy director of the Netrokona’s DAE office, told the Dhaka Tribune that favourable weather during the cultivation period allowed farmers to produce around 6.5 lakh tonnes in the district.

Most farmers in Sunamganj and Netrokona rely on Boro cultivation for their livelihoods, as around 80% areas of Sunamganj and around 60% of Netrokona fall under the hoar region, which can produce only one crop annually.

An opposite picture, however, was found in Sunamganj’s Matian Haor, where drought had reduced Boro production. The local farmers also faced insect attack in the paddy fields for the first time, said Azadur Rahman of Bordol village in Tahirpur upazila.

DAE Deputy Director Hashem, however, assured that reduced harvest in

some areas would not affect the overall production in the district.

“The drought has created problems for those who had cultivated Boro ahead of time,” he said, adding that the drought would cause 0.5 metric tonnes of production loss per hectare.

Meanwhile, people in Tanguar Haor region had taken the initiative to build crop protection embankments to protect around 250 hectares of Boro paddy field from flash floods.

“The people of the area have built four such embankments by their own initiative so that they can pick up the paddy from the field on time,” said Abul Hossain, chairman of Uttar Shripur union parishad of Tahirpur upazila.

Locals built the makeshift embankments with their own fund, but the government would later disburse the cost by allocating Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) funds to the local people, he added. l

WHO approves resolution on treating hepatitis n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Voices in favour of Priyanka grow stronger in Congress

The World Health Assembly has approved a resolution to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis, as well as placing proposals to improve global coordination in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCD).

A press release from the World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia, dated May 22, read that the resolution also highlighted the importance of expanding hepatitis A and B vaccination programmes and further strengthening infection control measures in health care settings – such as strategies to improve the safety of injections.

The resolution noted the importance of implementing appropriate measures to protect groups, such as people who inject drugs, from infection and to improve their access to diagnostics and treatment.

Delegates agreed to consider a range of measures to improve access to quality and affordable hepatitis medicines and diagnostics, while addressing intellectual property rights issues related to those products.

The delegates asked the WHO Secretariat to continue to help countries develop robust strategies and goals on hepatitis and to report regularly on the progress of such programmes, as well as examining the feasibility of eliminating hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis is responsible for 1.4 million deaths every year, while 500 million people currently live with the disease.

The delegates further approved nine indicators to measure progress in implementing the WHO Global NCD Action Plan.

The assembly recommended that the WHO director general submit proposed terms of reference for a United Nations Interagency Task Force on NCDs to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc). l

In the wake of the heavy defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the call for bringing Priyanka Gandhi to the forefront of politics has grown stronger within the Congress party.

At least two Congress leaders yesterday termed Priyanka a “big fighter” and said she had the “natural ability” to connect with people. Outgoing food minister KV Thomas said there should be internal party elections in the Congress right from the booth-level, according to PTI.

n Tribune Report

Mango yields in Rajshahi have grown black patches, known as black tip disorder, due to the air pollution created by brick kilns near the orchards AZHAR UDDIN

Brick kilns cost mango farmers high n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Brick kilns have cost mango farmers to a great extent, causing black tip disorder to the fruits in Rajshahi this year.

Farmers say stained mangoes are selling at half the market price.

There are around 60 brick kilns around crop fields and mango orchards in Puthia, Paba and Godagari upazilas leaving a heavy toll on the output of the crops.

A Puthia mango farmer says, “I have sold four maunds of fruits at Baneshwar market today, my fruits had black tip and so I had to sell them at Tk 1500.

On the other hand, the mangoes which do not have any black tip were sold at Tk 3200 to 4000 in the same market.”

“I have 15 mango trees. They all are situated around 23 feet away from a brick kiln. Some 20 to 25 big or smallsized mango orchards have been affect-

ed by 10 brick kilns in my area,” he says.

“There are around 450 trees in the orchards. The mangoes that were grown on the trees have been affected by black tip disorder,” he adds.

Rajshahi Fruit Research Institute’s Chief Scientific Officer DR Abdul Halim says, “The ashes that drift around from a brick kiln greatly harm its nearby flora.

Ashes and particles that drift on to the surrounding fauna greatly affect its photosynthesis and pollination. Brick kilns affect terribly only when they are set up without going by rules such as not setting up their chimneys of the permission height.”

According to Brick Manufacturing Control Act (amended), 2001, no brick kiln shall be set up within three kilometres of crop land, orchards.

Brick kiln is one of the most harmful reason behind environment pollution and crop damage in the region, says

Senior Chemist Mizanur Rahman at the Department of Environment’s office in Rajshahi.

Deputy Commissioner Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury says, “This has had me scratching my head and wondering what to do. I will soon take steps about this” Earlier in September 2010, the government gave the brick makers two years to adopt the energy-efficient and relatively cleaner technologies like Zigzag, Hybrid Hoffman Kiln (HHK) and Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) which release comparatively less carbon-di-oxide.

Currently, there are more than 6356 brickfields in the country. Of them, only 1,101 plants have been converted into Zigzag, HHK and VSBK as of June 2013.

Later, the deadline was extended by six months till March this year and again by three months till June 2014. l

‘Let Modi do the good job. We will play the role of a healthy and constructive opposition’ “As a Congressman, we wish Priyanka Gandhi to come to the main arena. She should work with her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi as a team,” Thomas told PTI. “Priyanka is a big fighter. We have seen that in this election. Many people see madam Indira Gandhi in her. She is able to attract the people,” said Thomas, who won the Lok Sabha elections from Ernakulum constituency in Kerala.

He was asked about the reasons for defeat of the Congress party in the just-concluded general elections and steps needed to be taken for revival of the party.

He insisted that Rahul should not be blamed for the debacle, saying “We work as a team. So team has to share victory as well as defeat.”

He also said: “What went wrong, we have to analayse that. UPA I and II have taken number of initiatives like Right to Food and MNREGA. Economy has also improved. But we could not convey our achievements to people.”

On the other hand, the Congress leader said, Modi was a “one-man army” who got backing of RSS and corporate houses.

“We respect the verdict of the people. Let him [Narendra Modi] do the good job. We will play the role of a healthy and constructive opposition”.

Raju, outgoing HRD minister, said Priyanka has always been supportive of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

“Whether she will come to the forefront is a personal choice ... I think she has a natural ability to connect with the people ... It is indeed a strength,” Raju said, adding her association with Congress is “integral.”

Congress party has always maintained that Priyanka’s role was limited to Amethi and Rae Bareli in this election. l

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