07 June 2014

Joishthya 24, 1421 Shaaban 8, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 68

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15 | ‘WC WILL BE LAMPARD SWANSONG’

Muhith upbeat about budget targets The finance minister only wants stable political environment n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday expressed hope to get a stable political environment ahead to achieve an economic growth of 7.3% set in the national budget for the next fiscal year.

He urged all not to destabilise the situation for the sake of achieving the revenue target, boosting investment and attaining the growth target.

“We will not be able to achieve the revenue target if political parties resort to violence,” he said, replying to a question at a post-budget press conference in the capital.

‘The deficit has been lower than 5% in the budgets I placed in the past, and that is an appropriate deficit’ Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, among others, were present at the event.

The finance minister’s budgetary measures unveiled on Thursday are being considered to be encouraging private investment as well as helping mobilise local resources to support development projects, particularly of big infrastructures.

Economists and businessmen in their instant reactions to the measures apprehended that the ambitious budget would be difficult for the government to implement as the revenue target is high while investment would not take place as expected due to fears of political unrest anytime.

There are apprehensions among them that given the political situation, major opposition parties like the BNP might launch agitation programmes

BangladeshMyanmar border conference begins on June 10 n Rabiul Islam A four-day director general level conference between Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Guard Police is scheduled to begin at Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar on June 10.

BGB Director General Major General Aziz Ahmed would lead an eight-member delegation at the conference.

Officials concerned said a meeting with the Chief of Myanmar Border Guard Police and other officials would be held on June 10 while a joint record of discussion is likely to be signed on June 12.

“We hope for positive outcome of the conference. We want to hold such meetings on regular basis,” Aziz Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune at his office yesterday.

“Our aim is to improve relationship with Myanmar and maintain peace and harmony on the border. We want to resolve any problem through discussion,” he said.

The officials said the delegation would raise the issue of killing of a BGB member by Border Guard Police at Naikhangchhari in Bandarban on May 28 and demand for proper investigation  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

anytime demanding fresh election.

“Every year I am giving ambitious budget and it is being achieved excellently,” the minister replied to a questioner. “There’s no problem of being high ambitious if it can achieve success.”

He expressed the confidence that revenue collection would peak up easily to provide enough fund for implementation of the development projects.

Muhith faced a volley of questions about whitening undisclosed money, ambitious budget targets, and manipulation of GDP growth rate, poor allocation on agriculture,poor utilisation of foreign assistance and increased tax on gold import under baggage rules.

He explained that one of the positive outcomes of formulating and implementing big national budgets is the government’s spending capacity has doubled since 2009.

He said the government would be able to implement the Tk250,506 crore budget without any significant deficit as there will be no shortfall in foreign aid flow. Since the fiscal 2009-10, there has been no shortfall in foreign aid other than the slow disbursement, he added.

The minister ruled out any possibility of heavy borrowing from the banking system to meet the tentative deficit of around 5% of the GDP. “The deficit has been lower than 5%in the budgets I placed in the past, and that is an appropriate deficit.”

The finance minister cleverly fired putting the gun on the prime minister’s shoulder in response to a question why the tax-free income threshold was not proposed to be increased.

It has not been increased as the prime minister did not want it, he said. “We do not see any country like Bangladesh that changesthe ceiling over the years.”

Muhith said the government proposed small increase of taxes on mobile phone sets as the number of mobile set users is huge in a poor country like Bangladesh. l

Changes likely in income tax rules over house rent n Tribune Report The government plans to bring changes in income tax rules for realising tax on house rent as the existing rules are not enough to check tax evasion.

“We will make new rules for realising tax on house rent after the passage of a finance bill,” National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain said at a post-budget press briefing yesterday.

Currently, he said, there is a provision for imposing a 10% penalty in the income tax ordinance, but there will be

P2 CAPITAL FLIGHT

Finance Minister AMA Muhith addresses reporters during a post-budget press briefing at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

a provision for 50% fines if house owners are found guilty of not receiving the house payment of over Tk25,000 through cheque.

He, however, said the government is yet to formulate any rule or policy on how to make payment of house rents through banking channel to ensure transparency in the house rent collection.

In the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2014-15, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed that the house rent of over Tk25,000 a month should be paid through bank cheques.

The rents will include service charges related to rental property. “This would bring more people under tax net while prohibiting the practice of dodging tax on earnings from rental property.” l

Muhith: No more chance to whiten black money n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has brushed aside any possibility of accommodating a provision for whitening black money in the budget for 2014-15 before its passage.

Whitened money did not have that much impact on the economy as only a little amount, Tk340 crore, was whitened in FY2012-13, he told a post-budget press conference in the capital yesterday.

“In last two years, nothing much was invested availing of the opportunity. In the last fiscal year, the government received Tk34 crore as tax on the

money whitened,” he said, adding the opportunity will not be continued from the fiscal year.

The minister, in his budget speech and the finance bill 2014, did not mention anything about whether the opportunity will continue or not.

“As it was not mentioned in the documents, it will not continue. I will incorporate the matter with law,” he said.

During FY2013-14, the government allowed legalising undisclosed money by investing in three sectors – real estate and housing, investment in government treasury bond and investment in any productive sector by paying 10% penal

tax, in addition to normal taxes under the provisions of income tax ordinance.

Article 19E of the income tax ordinance said the untaxed money can be invested in income generating sectors such as industrial enterprises, balancing, modernisation, renovation and extension of an existing industry, building, apartment, land, securities listed with stock exchanges and any trade, commercial and industrial venture engaged in production of goods and services.

According to the Global Financial Integrity Report 2013, from 2009-2013, more than Tk2,098 crore was whitened in Bangladesh, against which the NBR

received only Tk279 crore in taxes.

During the period of July to April this fiscal year, Tk234 crore has been whitened in different income generating sectors, according to data compiled by the NBR. The minister also said there are other ways to trace how people generated black money.

“Land is the largest source of investing black money as a huge amount of money every year is being invested here. We need to think on how to remove the money and that will need discussion,” he said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

CPD: 7.3% growth target unattainable

Murders have become daily chores in Lakshmipur

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Jamil Khan back n Mohammad from Lakshmipur

The government set a very ambitious target for the 2014-15 fiscal year budget, but does not conform with its capacity, stated an analysis carried out by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

In the budget it is estimated that an additional $9.5 billion private investment will be needed to achieve the 7.3% growth and $4 billion foreign assistance will be received for the FY15 to finance the deficit.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of the CPD, presented the analysis yesterday.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith rolled out the Tk2.5 trillion budget, his sixth in a row and eighth in total, on Thursday with massive plans with no clear guidelines on how to achieve the targets.

The CPD analysis also questioned the quality of public spending and justification of the continuation of the black money whitening facility.

It also expressed its surprise that little attention was paid to the priorities stipulated in the election manifesto declared by the government a couple of months back.

“The government has set a growth target of 7.3% and to attain that, pri-

vate investment has to grow from 21% to 25% of the GDP, which means an additional amount of around Tk75,000 crore will be needed in a single year, which is an impossible target,” Debapriya said.

The government has set a high foreign assistance target of $4 billion, which is 30% higher than the revised foreign assistance target for the current fiscal, he said.

Bangladesh has over $18 billion worth of foreign assistance commitments in the pipeline but due to a lack of absorption capacity, it received the highest $2.8 billion in the last fiscal.

The economist said there was little reflection of political priorities stated in the election manifesto of the Awami League before the January 5 election.

“I don’t see the reflection of the Awami League manifesto in the budget placed by the new government.”

Debapriya said the credibility of the targets set by the government is lost as there is a gap between the targets and actual achievements.

Citing examples, he said from FY1214, on an average, the gap between the proposed and actual deficit financing was about 13%.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Everyone might be preoccupied with Narayanganj right now, but the southern coastal district of Lakshmipur has recently become synonymous for terror, with political murders happening virtually every other day, all seemingly unnoticed.

According to Lakshmipur police, at least 42 people were killed in the district between December last year and May this year.

Among the victims, 12 were lead-

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ers and activists of the ruling Awami League, nine belonged to the BNP-Jamaat clan and three were businessmen.

There are more similarities between Narayanganj and Lakshmipur. According to police and local residents, most of the reported cases of murders were the result of feuds regarding the establishment supremacy, extortion and drug trade.

The latest incident was reported on Tuesday in which Ismail Hossain Khokhon, activist of the ruling party’s youth front Jubo League, was allegedly killed over a feud trying to establish suprem-

acy in Charsha union under Chandraganj police station.

Abu Taher is one name that has surfaced repeatedly whenever one talked about murders in Lakshmipur.

The mayor of the Lakshmipur Municipality and a leader of the ruling party, Abu Taher reportedly wants to establish his supremacy in the area; but the biggest obstacle in the way of his ambition is M Alauddin, president of the local Awami League.

In December last year, 56 local Awami League leaders and activists, led  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, June 7, 2014

CAPITAL FLIGHT

‘Please hand over culprits to us’ n Kayes Sohel The government has ruled out apprehension of capital flight from the country – in a sharp contrast to the strong perception of analysts and think tanks.

“I do not see any capital flight from the country,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said in response to a question at the post-budget press conference in the capital yesterday.

“If anybody has got such information, please hand over the culprits to us.”

The minister’s claim runs counter to the apprehension of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) that a substantial amount of money has been siphoned off the country through misinvoicing.

In an update on Bangladesh Economy in FY2014 made early last week, the CPD pointed out the siphoning off of the capital flight in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, as reflected by the abnormal jump of imports in a few items. It also urged the government to examine the imports to get a first hand idea of the possible incidents.

According to its findings, 17 items accounted for about 40% of the total imports and 93.5% of incremental growth during the July to March period of this fiscal year.

Import of iron or steel tanks, casks,

One more arrested in Ekram murder n Tribune Report

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion arrested another suspect of Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram murder last night.

The arrestee, Abul Hossain Jahangir, 40, is known as a robber in Feni.

“Based on information, members of RAB arrested Abul in Sharshadi area of the district around 11:30pm,” Major Jashim Uddin, an officer of Feni RAB camp, told the Dhaka Tribune. Abul is also an accused in two robbery cases.

On Thursday, Jihad Chowdhury, one of the masterminds of Ekram killing, gave confessional statement in a Feni court under section 164, mentioning Abul’s name as a hired goon for executing the murder of the Fulgazi upazila chairman.

The law enforcers arrested Abul on the basis of that information.

With the arrest of Abul, the number of total arrestees now stands at 24. Of them, seven gave confessional statements.

On May 20, a group of criminals killed Ekram by shooting and setting fire on his vehicle in front of witnesses at the Academy Road in Feni.

Following the incident, police have arrested 23 people including Jihad Chowdhury, an alleged mastermind and joint secretary of Fulgazi upazila AL unit, and BNP leader Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury Minar, the alleged financier. l

drums and cans (50-300 litre) stood at $329m, which was only $1m a year ago, said the CPD report.

Transporter cranes, gantry cranes, bridge cranes and overhead travelling cranes were of $466m as compared to only $7m in the previous fiscal year and, aeroplanes and other aircraft of an unladen weight (2,000kg) was $326m, which was $2m, it said.

“There is a possibility of illicit financial outflow from the country as the import growth is abnormal on items having low or zero duty,” CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said earlier.

According to a recent report of the Global Financial Integrity, a Washington-based research and advocacy organisation, the annual average money laundering through manipulation of commercial invoices hit $1.2bn during a period between 2002 and 2011 in Bangladesh.

Trade misinvoicing involves the deliberate manipulation of commercial invoices in order to misreport the value of a transaction, thereby illegally shifting money across international borders without detection.

According to the report, cumulative amount of illegally siphoning off of money stood at over $11bn during the period and over $1.7bn was drained out of Bangladesh in 2011. l

NARAYANGANJ 7-MURDER

Nur’s bodyguard held in Faridpur n

Tribune Report

The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested an accomplice of Nur Hossain, the prime suspect in the Narayanganj seven-murder case, from North Channel union in Faridpur early yesterday.

The arrested Murtaza Jaman Churchill, is Nur’s chief bodyguard, police said.

Officer-in-charge of Faridpur DB police Sunil Kumar Karmakar said law enforcers arrested Churchill from his father-in-law’s house around 3am and took him into DB custody.

The CPD strongly supported higher tax on income but opposed the continuation of the money whitening scheme and questioned the similar purposes of both the policies.

“Tax on income and wealth is a very positive thing but at the same time it is unfortunate to keep allowing the whitening of black money,” he said.

Debapriya was of the view that social sectors, including education and health, received lower amounts of allocation compared to other years as the government allocated Tk8,100 crore for the Padma Bridge.

The current government has increased the public expenditure and it is about 7% of the GDP which is not that large, but the allocation of money and spending do not necessarily ensure quality of work, he said.

About the ADP implementation, he said the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane road is supposed to be completed this December but the entire money has not yet been allocated.

He proposed that unnecessary projects should be curtailed and proper mechanisms to implement projects and reduce misuse of money can contain expenditure. l

Muhith: No more chance  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) General Secretary Md Wahiduzzaman yesterday said the government has so far provided the loan with many conditions so that the sector has not received much benefit out of the amnesty.

“Though the sales of apartment witnessed a hike because of the investment made by the people with the facility, it was yet to get a momentum as the limited opportunity cannot help growth of any sector,” he said.

The government can withdraw the system, but it should support the buyers with stimulus packages like refinancing of bank loans with easy condi-

On May 18, locals caught Shipon and Joha, two of Nur’s cronies, at Kadamtali and subjected them to a mob beating and then handed them over to police.

They were later arrested under Section 54 and were placed on remand.

Narayanganj Panel Mayor Nazrul Islam and six others were abducted on April 27. Their bodies were found floating in the Shitalakhya River on April 30.

Nazrul’s wife filed an abduction case against Nur and four others on April 28.

Nur went into hiding immediately after the recovery of Nazrul’s body. l

Gonojagoron Moncho stages a rally in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday, demanding withdrawal of the law minister's comment and trial of the war criminals NASHIRUL ISLAM

CPD: 7.3% growth target  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya speaks at a post budget press briefing held at the Brac Centre yesterday

tions, which has been closed for a long period of time to help the growth of the sector, he added.

Former finance adviser to the caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the government should now look for preventing the sources of generating black money with the enforcement of law.

“From the revenue perspective, withdrawal of the system is immaterial as the tax authorities did not earn that much money from the amnesty and will not lose that much with the withdrawal. But the government should look for tracing and preventing loopholes that helps generation of black money,” he said. l

Experts: National security strategy should be based on broader concept n UNB Experts have stressed the need for working out a national security strategy based on a broad spectrum of security concerns, including civil, military, political, economic, energy, environmental and human security.

In his deliberation of the Shaheed Colonel Jamil Ahmed Memorial Lecture 2014, organised by Asiatic Society of Bangladesh at its auditorium on Thursday, Lt Gen (retd) ATM Zahirul Alam said: “National security strategy for Bangladesh should include policies and strategies on security and national development matters based on the broader concept of security.”

“The modern concept of national security is broad and all-encompassing one. Apart from military and civil security, it includes political security, economic security, energy security, environment security and human security,” he said.

Zahirul Alam, a former Commandant of the National Defence College, observed that threats to nations are multidimensional these days that call for collective, collaborative and cooperative efforts and responses from the governments at national, regional and global levels.

He also stressed the need for having

national security architecture for the proper formulation and implementation of a National Security Strategy (NSS) in the country.

“A study of the architecture of national security management of United States of America and India indicates that an apex body at political, an agency at functional level and a set of procedure and process are needed for the management of national security and NSS,” he said.

“The national security management architecture of Bangladesh is not formalised as yet except that the Prime Minister has an Adviser on National Security,” Zahirul noted.

He recommended that the government form a cabinet committee on national security as well as an apex agency for functional management of national security.

The security expert also suggested establishing a national committee to recommend an appropriate model and frame a draft law for the formation of the apex agency for functional management of national security.

Chairperson of the Trust Management Committee for Social Science of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Prof Akmal Hussain and its convener Prof AKM Golam Rabbani also spoke on the occasion. l

Murders have become daily chores in Lakshmipur  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

by Taher, resigned, protesting Alauddin’s “unfair decisions.”

They alleged that Alauddin did not consult them and chose his own candidates for the post of councillor in local upazilas.

With the local party council scheduled to be held in November, Taher is reportedly looking to become the chief of local Awami League. With that as his aim, he and his men had been allegedly staging a lot of violence in Chandraganj, Alauddin’s home.

Local political leaders said if Taher could prove that Alauddin had failed to keep his own area under control, Taher’s chances of taking Alauddin’s place would be stronger.

Other than Taher, another name that has been mentioned repeatedly in connection with the Chandraganj murders, is “Nasir Bahini.”

Sources said the criminal group is entirely loyal to Taher. They take all orders from Taher’s son Salauddin Tipu, a top leader of local Jubo League. Nasir, leader of the group, is also known as a supporter of the ruling party.

They also said many of the recent murders were carried out by the criminals of the Nasir Bahini.

In recent times, another criminal group called the Jeeshan Bahini have surfaced as a rival for the Nasir group.

Jeeshan is a local BNP leader and his men have been reportedly trying to snatch some of Taher’s businesses.

Interestingly, Jeeshan is also known for having a good relationship with Alauddin.

On May 18, Chandraganj union Chhatra League vice-president Noman Hossain and BNP activist Jahangir Alam were killed in a clash in the area.

Noman and Jahangir belonged to Nasir and Jeeshan groups respectively.

The clash erupted over trying to get hold of the tender for the construction of a market in Chandraganj.

On May 26, the body of Jubo League activist Roman was found at Madanpur village under the Bakshipur Union of the upazila.

Roman’s wife Shathi Begum alleged that local residents Sourov and two others called her husband’s cell phone around 11pm and called him outside.

Sources said Sourov and the other two were all employees of the Lakshmipur Municipality. Roman, on the other hand, is known to be very close to Alauddin.

According to local residents, Roman has openly opposed Taher and his men in the area in the past.

Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman, superintended of Lakshmipur police, told the Dhaka Tribune: “In most cases, we have found that the murders were the result of internal party conflicts. We are trying to track down the criminals and major raids are underway at the moment.”

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune,

Alauddin claimed that only some of the local Awami League men might have links with the criminal groups.

Asked what he knew about Taher, Alauddin said: “He [Taher] is the municipality mayor and member of the district committee of the Awami League; and his son Tipu is the chairman of the Sadar Upazila. That is all I know about them.”

However, Ruhul Amin, organising secretary of Lakshmipur chapter of Awami League, said: “As far as we know, all tenders in the district are distributed by Taher and Tipu. Only those, who have good relations with them, get the tenders.”

Snubbing out the allegations against him, Taher told the Dhaka Tribune that he was not involved with politics; but if he was given the responsibility to run the local Awami League, he would take all possible steps for ensuring peace.

Asked about the killings for which his men were blamed, Taher said: “I am the municipality mayor. I can only tell you about the developments in my area. The questions you are asking are to be answered by police and the local political leaders.”

Asked about the situation in Lakshmipur, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police, said: “Police is doing its duty to maintain law and order in the district. Investigation is underway into the killings and all necessary steps have been taken to bring the situation under control.” l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Mayaudon appointed EU delegation head to Bangladesh

n Tribune Report

Pierre Mayaudon has been appointed head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the EU/Vice President of the European Commission, yesterday announced Mayaudon’s appointment.

Serving deputy head of the EU Delegation to Pakistan, Mayaudon has an extensive diplomatic and defence background in the French Administration, including as deputy director within the Ministry of Defence. l

BangladeshMyanmar border  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

into the incident and punishment for those responsible for the killing.

They said the delegation would remind its counterpart that such incidents would not happen in future.

BGP at a flag meeting on Wednesday expressed sorrow at the killing of BGB member, saying that BGP opened fire on BGB patrol team, taking it for granted that it was a team of Rohingya Solidarity Organisation. A BGB high official said the uniform of RSO is similar to BGB. BGB officials said still there are Myanmar army at several points which is a violation of the international border agreement-1980 signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

According to the agreement, army cannot be deployed within five kilometres from the zero line. If army is deployed for any purpose, the counterpart must be informed of it.

“Without any prior information, Myanmar has deployed army several times, violating the agreement, but we are fully respectful to the border agreement,” the BGB DG said.

“During the upcoming conference, I would request Myanmar not to deploy army in future,” he said. “We have a serious problem in communicating with the officials of Myanmar due to language barrier. We want to overcome it and communicate directly over mobile or telephone with commanders and staff at different levels,” he added.

“We would also raise the drug trafficking issue as our young generation is being ruined,” the DG said, adding that if regular meetings are held, problems could be resolved gradually.

“During the visit, I would call on the Myanmar home minister and the home secretary and discuss bilateral issues.”

Aziz Ahmed, however, claimed that the situation on the border would not deteriorate. People along the border need not to be worried, he said.

Asked about Myanmar’s claims that RSO operates from Bangladesh, the BGB DG outright rejected the claims.

“It is clear that we would not allow such organisation and the separatists cannot use the land of Bangladesh.”

If any member of RSO is traced, they would be handed over to Myanmar, he said. The Bangladesh delegation is scheduled to return home on June 14. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, June 7, 2014

3

71 new power plants on the cards

Khosru: Modi government to change its policy on Bangladesh

n Aminur Rahman Rasel

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The government is planning to install 71 additional power plants capable of producing 10,970MW of electricity under the private and public sectors by 2018.

Most of these power plants will be gas-based, but are likely to face shortages of adequate gas supply. Some of the planned power plants will also be constructed on dual fuel basis, running on gas or oil.

If the proposed power plants become operational, the country’s power generation capacity will be increased to 21,311MW from the current 10,341MW. The remarks were included in a booklet titled “Development in power and energy sector: A Journey of Suc-

Number of power plants

Capacity

Expected year of production

13

1,249 MW

2014

25

2,511MW

2015

19

2,489 MW

2016

12

2,771 MW

2017

2

1,950MW

2018

Total: 71

10,970MW

cess,” which was published based on Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s budget speech on Thursday.

In the booklet, Muhith said apart from increasing domestic production, the new plants will generate and allocate power through bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements with neighbors India, Bhutan and Nepal.

According to the government’s plans, state-run Petrobangla will extract 21 new development wells by

2016 with a capacity of 595 millions of cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas; however, the amount will be inadequate to run the newly planned gasbased power plants.

On the other hand, the government does not have plans for the years 2017 and 2018.

The country has been facing gas shortages for the past five years, and the crisis is likely to continue as the demand far exceeds the supply.

Against a daily demand of 3,000mmcfd, Petrobangla is now able to supply 2,300mmcfd of gas, leaving a shortage of 700mmcfd.

Unless fresh gas reserves are found and developed quickly, the new plants will not be able to go into production.

Moreover, the plants will have to depend on imported diesel and furnace oil, which is likely to increase production costs.

Currently, the Power Development Board buys a unit of electricity from a gas-based plant for less than Tk2, whereas per unit cost from a plant run on diesel or furnace oil is Tk15-Tk18.

During its previous tenure, the Awami League-led government had built 59 power plants, each with a capacity of 5,008MW, to meet the growing demand. l

Criticising the outgoing Indian Congress government for supporting the Awami League government, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said a democratic country like India cannot adopt such a strategy.

“A section of Congress leaders supported an unelected government in Bangladesh. A democratic country like India cannot take such a policy towards its neighbouring country,” he said at a discussion at the National Press Club in the capital.

Narendra Modi had assumed office with a huge mandate of the people through a free and fair election. “We hope if the Indian government believes in democracy, the new government

would deviate from the previous government’s stance.”

Branding the Awami League government illegal, the BNP leader said people would not accept their budget proposal. “The government has taken office illegally. They have placed a ‘so-called’ budget in the parliament. We are rejecting this illegal budget.”

He said people have no confidence in the government and the popularity of the government has been declining day by day.

The former minister called upon the party leaders and activists to get prepared to wage movement to oust the government from power.

“Tough time is ahead. Everyone has to be ready for sacrifice. We have to give up the thought that someone will save us or who has been elected in India.” l

‘Duty hike in gold import should’ve come earlier’

Judge withdrawn for ordering case against RAB n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said yesterday that the proposed hike in duty on gold import should have been made earlier.

“This is a good source of revenue which has been left neglected till recently. Other countries are imposing a Tk5,000-6,000 duty on gold imports, whereas we were charging only Tk150,” he said while addressing a post-budget press briefing in the capital.

Hopefully, people will receive the change positively, he said.

A senior judicial magistrate was withdrawn on Thursday a day after she ordered police to file a murder case against RAB personnel in Brahmanbari.

Nazmun Nahar was withdrawn for ‘the sake of people’, said Chief Judicial Magistrate Mostaq Ahmed in an order stating her withdrawn, which takes effect from tomorrow (Saturday).

Chief prosecution lawyer Md Khairul Alam, however, stated otherwise, saying “I think she has been withdrawn because of issuing the order against RAB personnel. I have a withdrawal copy on her.”

Quoting an anonymous court source, our correspondent said the RAB was preparing for filing an appeal against prosecuting them.

A team of RAB-14 Bhairab Camp visited the court on the day Nazmun was withdrawn. However, it could not be known whether they had filed any appeal.

Earlier on Thursday, Nazmun issued the order to file the case against nine RAB personnel, including RAB-14 Bhairab RAB Camp Commander Major AKM Sakib Siddique, over murdering a Juba League activist in Brahmanbaria’s Nabinagar upazila.

On April 29, Juba League activist Shahnur Alam was allegedly picked up

by RAB personnel in plainclothes. They heinously tortured Shanur, son of Union Parishad member Rois Uddin of Nabinagar upazila’s Bogorhor village. Later on May 6, he died while taking treatment.

His family frequently went to Nabinagar police to file a case about this, but they refused the case against the RAB. The family then moved to the court, prompting senior Judicial Magistrate Nazmun to order the local police to probe and receive a murder case against the RAB. l

n Tribune Report

Muhith also proposed imposing a 15% VAT on mobile phone imports, as opposed to the existing 10% In his budget speech, the minister proposed raising the duty on gold import to Tk3,000 per tola (11.66g) from the existing Tk150, to discourage smuggling.

Hike in handset duty would have less impact

Muhith said the hike in the Value Added Tax imposed on the import of mobile phones will not have much impact on users.

“Ten crore people, out of a total of 16 crore, use mobile phones in the country. No other poor country in the world has seen such a large sale of these devices. So the hike in VAT will not have much impact,” he said.

Muhith proposed imposing a 15% VAT on mobile phone imports, as opposed to the existing 10%.

He said this will help grow revenues and will aid the government in managing money for different expenditures.

Speaking about a tax-free income limit, Muhith said: “I wanted to keep it unchanged for a long period like top countries in terms of economy but the prime minister did not agree to it.”

Frequent changes in the income ceiling are not witnessed in other countries like Bangladesh, he said.

The minister has proposed the taxfree income limit be kept unchanged at Tk2.20 lakh in the fiscal year 2014-15. l

A policeman tries to stop an agitating Northern University student yesterday in front the university’s Karwan Bazar campus after a clash broke out between EDB men and students over occupying floor of the EDB building RAJIB DHAR

NUB students clash with real estate company people n Ashif Islam Shaon

At least 12 Northern University Bangladesh’s Karwan Bazar branch students were injured yesterday, when a group of 40-50 people from Estate Developers Bangladesh (EDB) attacked them after an altercation over the grabbing of some floors of the building.

Of the injured, the university’s law department students Polash and Sourav were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Four others – Riazuddin Adnan, Helal Mahmood, Shakib and Selim – were also sent to DMCH. Three other injured were under treatment at a private hospital, police said.

The clash took place after some men from the EDB attacked some students when the men were trying to grab the

EDB Trade Centre’s [where the university is housed] 13th and 15th floor around 11am.

Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station, said the NUB authorities had a feud with the EDB authorities over who owned the floors.

NUB canteen employee Fazlur Rahman said around 9:30am about 7-8 people went to the university and asked him to open the locks of the two floors. When he asked them for their identities, they beat him up, Fazlur alleged.

“After half an hour, they brought grill cutters and broke the locks.

Around 11am on receiving information that the university was under attack, some students went there and engaged in an altercation with them,” he said.

A witness, law department student

Adnan Hossain, said around 40-50 men attacked them with lethal weapons when they were on the 12th floor canteen.

“They had machetes, knives, iron rods and cricket stumps with them,” he said.

When contacted, NUB Registrar Lt Col (retd) Ekhtedar Ahmed Siddique said they had bought some floors from the EDB, but the real estate company had resold those floors.

“Today [yesterday] they came to grab a couple of floors. They vandalised the canteen on the 13th floor and the exam halls on the 14th and the ground floors, when we protested,” he claimed.

He also claimed that the NUB authorities had bought a total of 10 floors from the EDB, which they did not hand

over. The university authority had lodged cases that are under trial.

Following the clash, police picked up EDB Managing Director Fazlul Bari with 23 of the alleged attackers. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Policy for foreign university promulgated despite protests n Mushfique Wadud The Education Ministry has broadcasted the policy on foreign universities, allowing such institutions, their branches or study centres to operate in Bangladesh, in spite of protests from private university sponsors and educationists.

Ministry sources said the policy titled “Foreign University or its branches or study centres operating Rules 2014” was publicised on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the Education Ministry’s Additional Secretary Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that the policy was under the scrutiny of the Law Ministry and would be disseminated soon.

According to the policy, foreign universities or their branches or study centres can run academic activities in Bangladesh after obtaining permission.

Such branches and study centres will require Tk10 lakh and Tk3 lakh respectively in registration fees to acquire the permission. In addition, branches have to deposit Tk5 crore, and study centres Tk1 crore, in security money.

Meanwhile, private university sponsors and educationists have been protesting against the government’s decision to allow operation of foreign university branches or study centres in the country for a long time.

Private university sponsors claim the rules are in contradiction to the Private University Act 2010 while educationists warn that low-grade foreign universities will flood the country.

According to the Private University Act 2010, any foreign university, its branch or study centre cannot operate in Bangladesh but there are some such branches operating in violation of the

act. The owners of these branches have been lobbying to allow foreign university campuses in the country.

Local private universities require 25,000 square feet of space and at least four schools, under which different departments will run, while rules for foreign universities are relaxed, said the Association of Private Universities, a platform of private university sponsors, earlier.

In an earlier interview, Dhaka University Professor Fakrul Alam pointed out that many students were already deceived by the so-called foreign university branches. He also called for strong monitoring measures from the government.

“The government can give permission but theiractivities should be closely monitored so that students do not fall prey to any fraud,” said Fakrul, adding that there should not be any discrimination between local and foreign universities in terms of rules.

Vice-president of the Association of Private Universities Abul Quasem Haider told the Dhaka Tribune they would sit to decide on the next course of action after going through the rulespublishedon Thursday.

“We have seen the draft and there were clear contradictions. The draft contained some clauses that will harm higher education in the country,” he said.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that there would be no such clause in the rules that would affect national interests.

“We will exercise caution so that no one can deceive students and no one can do business in the name of providing an education either,” he added. l

Members of Kisholoy Jubo Shangha bring out a procession in celebration of the upcoming Fifa World Cup yesterday, hoisting flags of different nations participating in the event. The photo was taken from the capital’s Bakshibazar area NASHIRUL ISLAM

Amendment to laws needed to execute CHT Accord fully n Mohosinul Karim The government has yet to complete handing over all the 33 divisions and offices under different ministries and divisions to the Chittagong Hill Tracts district councils.

The issues of resolving land disputes, handing over control of police to the councils and withdrawal of all army camps from the hill areas have created some legal obstacles.

As a result, the government could so far only hand over around 26 divisions and offices to the three CHT district councils in line with the 1997 Peace Accord signed between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity.

The delay had created resentment among the people in that region, said several officials of the CHT Affairs Ministry and representatives of the hill people.

According to the ministry, the government has already handed over 26 divisions and offices to the Rangamati District Council, 24 to Khagrachhari and 23 to Bandarban.

The Education Ministry in the last week of May handed over the authority of managing and controlling secondary schools to the three hill district councils through separate agreements with the chairmen concerned.

State Minister for CHT Affairs Ministry Bir Bahadur Ushoi Singh acknowledged the matter while talking to the Dhaka Tribune, stating: “It is true that

anger is spreading among the people of the hill tracts as it has not been possible for the government to hand over all the 33 issues to the councils.

“But, it is also true that the government is working in this regard. The present government is sincere about implementing all the conditions of the [CHT Peace] Accord. But, it may take some time as the government has to amend some laws to implement them completely.”

To allay the anger and protect the citizens’ rights, the government has initiated amendment to several laws, including the one related to land dispute.

Ushoi Singh said it might be completed soon. “As soon as the provisions

of the laws are amended, the government will hand over the other remaining issues to the councils.”

He said: “Despite having problems, the government has already started posting people of the hill tracts in the police force in their areas. Besides, a large number of people are being appointed in the police and other public offices. At least 11 people have been appointed in civil service already.

“The initiative to amend the land dispute resolution law is underway and it will be completed soon. The CHT Land Commission will also be reconstituted shortly as the Law Ministry has already selected a retired judge for nomination as its chairman. Everything will be done shortly,” he said. l

Huda: BNP gives Quader: No compromise on road safety Bangladesh to police in CAR legitimacy to Jan 5 porters after inspecting the progress of er said the project will be completed by n Our Correspondent, Comilla UN peacekeeping mission December this year. the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highpolls “Construction of overpasses in Coway project in Paduabazar of Comilla There can be no compromise on road UN Security Council for deploying milla and Feni will end in May-June yesterday afternoon. safety systems for the sake of doing n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla n UNB peacekeepers to the country that has next year,” he said.

“The Commerce Ministry has been politics and winning votes, said Bangladesh National Alliance Chairman Nazmul Huda yesterday said the BNP-led 19-party alliance gave legitimacy to the January 5 parliamentary elections as they boycotted the polls.

“It is illogical to boycott the elections apprehending vote rigging. Crores of voters were ready to cast their votes for the BNP. By boycotting the elections, the BNP-led 19-party alliance deprived many voters of casting their votes,” he said while addressing a discussion at the office of the newly formed party.

“The BNP prepared the ground and the Awami League-led grand alliance just used it properly,” Huda, also a former BNP leader, said.

He added: “So, the BNP-led 19-party alliance has no right to raise question about the legitimacy of the January 5 elections.”

“This is high time to bring about necessary changes in the Election Commission for holding free and fair elections. The BNP will have to set the stage for a credible election through constructive and non-violent movement.” l

Communication Minister Obaidul Quader.

“Human hauliers, widely known as Nasimon and Karimon, cannot be permitted to carry passengers, in order to ensure the people’s safety,” he told re-

requested to stop the import of human haulier machinery. In addition, closure of factories making such vehicles has also been ordered,” the minister said.

Stating that the four-lane project has already seen much progress, Quad-

Comilla Deputy Commissioner Md Tofazzal Hossain Mia, Additional Director of the four-lane project Aftab Hossain Khan, and Roads and Highways Department officials were present. l

Historic six-point day to be observed today n UNB The Historic Six-Point Day will be observed today, commemorating the placing of the demand for autonomy for the erstwhile East Pakistan.

On this day in 1966, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League called for a daylong hartal throughout East Pakistan pressing the demand for autonomy to end the exploitation, deprivation, subjugation and tyranny let loose by the central government of Pakistan on the people of the eastern province.

The law enforcers opened fire on the demonstrators at various places in

Dhaka and Narayanganj, which left at least 10 killed, intensifying the movement for the provincial autonomy.

In separate messages ahead of the historic day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled the sacrifices of the heroic Bangalis in the six-point movement.

The President said: “The historic six-point movement still inspires us to bolster and institutionalise our current democratic system and build a hunger and poverty free Bangladesh.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the present government, imbued with the spirit of all democratic movements and struggles, including the histor-

Princess Zahra Aga Khan cuts a cake to celebrate the silver jubilee of Aga Khan School in the capital yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

ic June 7, is committed to protect the democratic rights of the countrymen.

The ruling Awami League, its associate bodies, other political parties and socio-cultural organisations have organised various programmes to observe the day.

The AL programmes include the hoisting of national and party flags on party offices across the country and at the city’s Bangabandhu Bhaban at dawn and the placing of wreaths on the portrait of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at the city’s Dhanmondi at 7am today. l

Bangladesh Police is expected to deploy around 350 personnel to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (CAR) in October this year.

This will be the first UN peacekeeping mission in CAR for the members of Bangladesh Police.

The UN decided to start sending peacekeepers from different countries to CAR from September 15.

Currently, over 1,750 members, including 190 female, of Bangladesh Police have been performing their duties with reputation in different UN peacekeeping missions in various countries, including Congo, South Sudan, Darfur, Ivory Coast, Mali and Haiti.

Bangladesh Police have been working in the missions since 1988 with view to establishing world peace and harmony.

Sources at the police headquarters said Bangladesh has already given consent to the UN headquarters that they have the capacity to send more peacekeepers as per the requirement.

On March 14, both Muslim and Christian leaders of CAR pleaded the

been ripped apart by unprecedented sectarian violence in recent times.

Later, the UN Secretariat requested the member states to provide peacekeepers with adequate capabilities and equipment, and to enhance the capacity of UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to operate and discharge its responsibilities, including specialised competencies and language skill appropriate to discharge the entrusted police task.

A senior officer at the police headquarters, preferring anonymity, said: “The UN headquarters has already sent a request letter seeking contribution to support the MINUSCA.” He said if all the formalities were completed, two formed police units comprising 140 members each along with 50 more members for the UNPOL would be deployed to the CAR by October.

When contacted, Assistant Inspector General (UN Desk) of the police headquarters, Assaduzzaman, confirmed the deploying of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in CAR. l

Princess Zahra celebrates Aga Khan School’s silver jubilee

One killed in clash over trivial issue n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

n Tribune Report

A person was killed and another was injured in a clash between two rival groups yesterday over a trifling matter at Nishchintopur, Sreepur upazila in Gazipur.

Deceased Aktaruzzaman, 45, hailed from the same village. Humayun Kabir, younger brother of the deceased, was also injured in the clash.

Locals said a group of villagers from Nishchintopur have been trying to install an electric pole in the middle of a piece of land owned by Aktaruzzaman and Humayun Kabir.

After the Jumma prayer yesterday, Abdul Momin, Jalal Uddin, and Abdul Kadir locked in an altercation with the brothers. At one stage, they attacked the siblings with lethal weapons, leaving Akteruzzaman spot dead and his brother Humayun critically injured.

Humayun was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital when his condition deteriorated, police said. l

Princess Zahra Aga Khan visited the Aga Khan School, Dhaka yesterday on the occasion of the school’s 25th anniversary. The ceremony was attended by students and teachers of the school as well as officials of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili Council.

During her visit to the school, Princess Zahra toured all three sections of the school and visited the classrooms, laboratories and other facilities where she spoke with the students, teachers and the authorities about the importance of education and upcoming developments.

Later in the day, she met the AKDN leaders in Bangladesh at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, Dhaka to discuss their work.

In the evening, Princess Zahra addressed the youth of the Ismaili com-

munity and attended a dinner with the Bangladeshi Ismaili leadership.

The eldest child of His Highness the Aga Khan IV, Princess Zahra heads the social welfare department of the AKDN. The Aga Khan School, Dhaka is part of Aga Khan Educational Services, one of the nine agencies operating under the AKDN. The AKDN has had a historic presence in Bangladesh, working for over three decades in the areas of early childhood development, pre-tertiary education and financial services.

In 2013, a protocol agreement was signed by The Aga Khan IV and the then foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which established and enhanced the framework for collaboration in the areas of social, cultural and economic development in the country. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Saturday, June 7, 2014

City canals give in to grabbing Wasa says it finds no encroachment on drainage ditches As part of the project, Dhaka Wasa n Abu Hayat Mahmud took steps to reclaim the 26 canals from The 26 canals that contribute to the city’s drainage are gradually falling under rampant encroachment while indiscriminate waste dumping into the water bodies narrows them down.

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority seems to be unconcerned about the state of the drainage ditches.

Despite the non-stop encroachment on the canals, Wasa officials say the city canals had no illegal occupants.

The residents in different areas adjoining the water bodies allege that the grabbers capitalised on the authorities’ negligence.

To rid the capital of waterlogging and to recover the canals, the Wasa took some steps, but failed to produce any desired effect.

Even the authorities concerned failed to complete building walkways along the banks of the canals.

According to the Wasa sources, there were originally 65 canals, but in the course of time, the number came down to 43.

Of the 43, some 20 canals are already dead as most of them have been filled up with garbage and the rest are under rampant encroachment.

In a bid to ensure drainage of storm water and waste water, the government in September 2008 approved the Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project in association with the World Bank.

illegal occupation through building walkways, channels, lining and planting trees along the embankments.

The Dhaka Tribune finds that building illegal structure on the city’s prime canals continues unabated while the authorities seem to have taken a soft line with the grabbers.

Even the shipping minister’s directive to remove all illegal structures from the Kallyanpur canal and its six branches failed to take effect.

Abu Bakar, a resident of Kallyanpur, said: “The bamboo traders had long since occupied both sides of the main canal from its east sluice gate.

Another portion of it adjoining the western part of the sluice gate had a filling station, he said.

Abu Bakar added that a few landowners also built illegal structures occupying the canal’s space.

A Shahzadpur resident Asadul said most part of the Shahzadpur and Sutibhola canals had been grabbed.

He said the Wasa officials and workers used to visit there after long periods of time to clean garbage only, but took no steps to re-dig the canals.

A significant portion of Dholai Khal in the capital’s Sutrapur area has been occupied by encroachers who seemed to be immune to any legal action or awareness campaign.

Md Sultan, a resident of Sutrapur,

Minor dies in road accident, 44 injured

Rana Plaza victims block highway for compensation

n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong A minor girl was killed and 44 others were injured in a head-on collision between two passenger buses on Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway at Chunti area of Lohagara upazila of the district yesterday.

However, the identity of the deceased could not be confirmed till the filing of this report.

Sub-Inspector Nurul Islam of Chunit Highway Police Outpost said a Chittagong bound Saudia Paribahan bus collided head-on with a Shyamoli Paribahan bus near the Forest Gate around 11am, leaving 45 passengers injured.

Of the injured, 10 sustained critical injuries and were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital while the others received primary treatment at the Upazila Health Complex and local clinics, said the SI. Assistant Sub-Inspector Pankaj Baruea of CMCH Police Outpost said a girl aged about 13 years had succumbed to her injures after she was brought to the hospital. The buses were in custody of Dohazari Highway Police Outpost, said SI Nurul Islam. l

n Our Correspondent, Savar Garments Workers’ Trade Union staged a demonstration in Savar yesterday to press home their six-point demands to ensure the safety of garment workers at workplaces and the implementation of International Labour Law Convention.

The organisation also formed a human chain at the Rana Plaza collapse site, where they made their demands.

Later, the workers of readymade garments factories put up a barricade on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.

Apart from the organisation’s leaders and activists, relatives and family members of the Rana Plaza collapse victims took part in the agitation programme.

Speakers at the human chain said although it has been over one year since the Rana Plaza collapse, victims of the incident have yet to receive the com-

Grabbers have built illegal structures occupying a portion of Shahjadpur canal in the city. The photo was taken yesterday said encroachment was not a new phenomenon in the canal.

“Most people dump their household waste in the canal and many of them occupy a significant portion of it in this way. They start by discharging garbage and when the ground gets filled up, they stake a claim to it,” he said.

During a visit, it was seen that sludge were removed from one part of the Mohakhali canal while another part re-

pensation which they deserved to get.

A worker said they had only received assurances of compensation, but have not been compensated in more than a year since the tragedy.

They said many Rana Plaza victims, who had been severely injured, were passing their days in starvation as they are not able to work.

The other demands include raising the monthly wages of workers to Tk8,000, improving workplace safety, allowing workers to enjoy dearness allowances until a fresh wage is reviewed, arresting the owners who conduct poor labour practices and ensuring the smooth running of trade unions.

Emdadul Haque, president of the Garments Workers’ Trade Union, said although they had submitted applications to BGMEA several times, they did not take any actions toward compensating the workers. l

mained entirely filled up with garbage.

The Rupnagar canal in Mirpur has narrowed in some areas as there were many makeshift houses built on both sides of the canal.

Moreover, portions of the Khilgaon-Basabo canal, Abdullahpur canal, Ramchandrapur canal, Baunia canal, Segunbagicha canal and other such water bodies remain occupied.

Meanwhile, the Wasa says it oper-

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police detained five members of the notorious ring of muggers, “Hamka Group,” including its ring leader, on Thursday night from the port city’s Tiger Pass area.

During the drive the DB men also seized a lighter gun, two rounds of cartridges, five knives and two CNG-run auto-rickshaws from their possession.

Three ring members – Dhakaiya Alamgir, Kamal and Bedi Islam – managed to flee, said a DB press release.

The five arrested, Md Ujjal Sheikh, alias Hat Kata Jahangir, 29, the leader of the “Hamka Group”, and his accomplices, Moin Uddin, alias Moin, 22, Mohammad Babul, 30, Jahangir Alam, 32, and Raju, alias Kashem, 30, were handed over to Kotwali police and a case

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

SATURDAY, JUNE 7 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:44PM SUN RISES 5:10AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 28

Chittagong

33

27

Rajshahi

39

28

Rangpur

36

27

Khulna

37

26

Barisal

36

27

Sylhet

36

25

Cox’s Bazar

33

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.6ºC Satkhira

25.0ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

was lodged with the police station in this regard, added the release.

Acting on a tip-off, a DB team led by its Assistant Commissioner (North) Moin Uddin conducted a drive in the area around 9:30pm and caught the five when they were preparing to go out mugging, said Babul Akhter, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of DB in CMP. In primary interrogation, the ringleader, Jahangir, the accused in six cases lodged with different police stations in the city, said he and Dhakaiya Alamgir, who was on the run, led the “Hamka Group.”

Alamgir supplied arms and manpower for the gang, Bedi Islam worked as a source for collecting information about businessmen, jewelers and other rich men, Moin stored the supplied arms and

3:43am 5:09am 11:57am 4:37pm 6:44pm 8:11pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

ammunition in different shanties the city and Babul, Kashem and Jahangir were CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers whose vehicles they used for mugging, the ring leader said.

They used to roam across the city, dividing into two groups, and converged on a targeted spot for mugging, Jahangir added.

He also said some of the ring members had been arrested earlier, and when they got out of the jail, they again got involved with the ring to make some quick money.

Jahangir had been mugging for 1012 years and he had been behind bars for 5-6 years. He came to the port city with his father about 19 years ago and joined the then notorious mugger Biplob, by whom he was paid a wage to be a helping hand to carry arms and ammunition. l

Agitated locals block Dhaka-Barisal highway

THUNDERSHOWER OR RAIN

38

Aziz said the project would include construction of open reinforced concrete rectangular channel, closed RCC box-culverts, walkways, demarcation pillars and tree plantation.

He also said building walkways and planting trees would depend on space availability, but demarcation pillars would be erected in every 10-metre gap and waste containers set up on both sides of the channel in suitable locations. l

Notorious ‘Hamka Group,’ of muggers, busted in Chittagong

WEATHER

Dhaka

ates only 30% of the city’s sewerage facilities while the rest 70% remain out of service due to lack of funds.

AFM Abdul Aziz, project director of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project, told the Dhaka Tribune, “We will immediately start development of the canals.”

“Dhaka Wasa has invited tender to appoint contractors for the implementation of the project,” he added.

ABU HAYAT MAHMUD

Chander Hat brings out a procession in the capital yesterday to mark its 40th founding anniversary

Trader killed saving ex-army man n Our Correspondent, Savar After fighting for life for three days, a shopkeeper, who was shot while attempting to save a former army official from being mugged in Ashulia, died on Thursday afternoon.

The deceased Yusuf, 45, was from Manikganj. He died when being transferred from Enam Medical College and Hospital in Savar to Dhaka for better treatment.

Abdur Rajjak, the erstwhile military man whom Yusuf had tried to save, was shot in his leg by the muggers and was

admitted to Combined Military Hospital in Savar.

Family sources say on Monday morning, four men, on two motorbikes, intercepted Rajjak, 200 yards from Ashulia police station, while he was on his way home from Jamgara.

The assailants tried to snatch the Tk5.5 lakh Rajjak was carrying with him.

At one point during the scuffle between Rajjak and the attackers, the former army officer was shot in his leg.

The miscreants also shot Yusuf in the head when he tried to stop them, and then quickly fled. l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Agitated locals blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway yesterday, protesting the gambling and indecent Jatra shows organised by a local Jubo League leader.

Locals put the blockade by placing logs on the highway at Kashipur-Goriarpar point under Barisal Airport police station, starting right after the Jumma prayers and continuing till 3pm, creating long tail backs.

Abul Kalam Molla, president of Muktijoddha Projonmo League Barisal unit and a local resident said at the behest of Kazi Russel, a city Jubo League leader, a group of miscreants have been arranging gambling games such as housie and obscene cultural shows in the name of Jatra for a long time.

These unethical activities are leading the locals to lose moral values, getting them involved in criminal activities and causing the law and order of the city and adjacent areas to deteriorate, he observed.

Moreover, peaceful protests by the locals by forming human chains, holding rallies etc, has failed to make the administration take notice and stop the criminal activities, he added.

Shaheduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Airport police station, said police rushed to the spot and talked to the protesting people. Finally, they managed to remove the obstacles and have the traffic resume movement on the highway after 3pm by assuring the locals that their demands would be placed before the higher officials. l

Attack on BU registrar’s office protested n Our Correspondent, Barisal Officials and staff of Barisal University demanded the immediate arrest and punishment yesterday of the students who had attacked and ransacked the registrar’s office and injured four officials and staff on Thursday afternoon.

They came up with the demand at a human chain formed in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall.

The programme was organised by the Barisal Bishwabidyaloy Karmakarta Karmachari Oikya Parishad.

The programme was presided over

by Manirul Islam, BU acting registrar and convener of the parishad.

The protesters also announced that

protesting the attack, staff and students of different educational institutions would wear black badges and form a human chain.

Kamal Ahmed and Syed Ali Akbar, president and secretary general of Inter University Officers Federation also issued statements that condemned the attack on Bahauddin Golap, president of BU officers association and central committee member of the federation, and demanded the punishment of the attackers.

A group of students ransacked the BU registrar’s office and injured Bahauddin Golap, assistant registrar and president of the BU officers association, Saiful Islam, computer operator, Nusrat Jahan, Sanjia Sultana Tamanna,

and other section officers on Thursday afternoon.

Later, the injured were admitted to Sher e Bangla Medical College Hospital.

After the incident, officials and staff of the university brought out a procession and held a rally on campus and announced that they would start abstaining from work until the attackers were arrested.

Dr Harunor Rashid Khan, BU vice chancellor, said a 7-member probe committee led by BU syndicate member Prof Md Hanif had been formed. Stern disciplinary actions will be taken against the attackers on the basis of the probe committee’s report, the VC added. l

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Nation

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Ramadia canal in grips of the influential n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The Ramadia canal in Gopalganj is shrinking day by day as a vested interested group has grabbed a lion’s portion of the canal and built houses and business establishments on it.

Locals said the grabbers not only had built houses on the water body and business establishments but also rent those out.

In many places, the encroachers have also built concrete buildings and started claiming it is part of their own properties. .

It is also alleged that the grabbers in collaboration with fraudulent officials of Water Development Board (WDB) have made documents in a bid to grab some portion of the water body permanently.

Kumaresh Chandra Sarker, engineer of the WDB, told the Dhaka Tribune that the Water Development Board had 36.39 acres of land in Gopalganj sadar upazila, in which 26.28 acres had been grabbed by the vested interested group.

He said market price of per decimal of land was from Tk2 lakh to Tk6 lakh.

These lands had been acquired during the British period to increase width of the land.

As the land remained barren for years, the local influential have taken illegal occupation of it.

“We are going to take measures to reclaim the land soon,” he added.

A resident of Sadar upazila, who preferred to be unnamed, told the Dhaka Tribune that the local influential and their relatives had grabbed a portion of the canal at Ramadia bazar.

“They also built houses on the middle of the canal,” he said.

Not only that, they also built houses on the canal at Dhirail village, adjacent

to Ramadia kitchen market.

Abu Taleb Mia, who has been accused of grabbing WDB land, said he had built houses on the canal after taking permission from the authority concerned.

Md Baten Mia said he had built buildings on the water body after taking verbal permission from the WDB. “Like me, many people have built makeshift houses as well as concrete establishments on the canal,” he said.

But he acknowledged that he did not take permission from the Department of Environment, comply with building code and conduct feasibility study while making the establishments.

Registrar of land office Rafiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that recently they had prevented some people from making buildings on the bank of a pond.

Although land of WDB is not our property, we refrained people from building establishments on the water bodies as those are properties of the government, he said.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon said according the water body preservation act water bodies, including lake, canal and pond, are prohibited. If anyone wants to fill up water bodies he has to take permission from the authorities concerned, he said.

“Fill up of water body can cause grave concern for ecological balance,” he said.

Communist Party Central leader Dr Asit Baran Ray said these types of encroachment are not only causing ecological imbalance, but also depriving the government of huge taxes.

Executive Engineer of Gopalganj Water Development Board said, “We will take measures to reclaim our property, Engineer Kumaresh Chandra Sarker is working in this regard.” l

The photo taken yesterday shows that a good number of establishments have been built on Ramadia canal in Gopalganj

Sesame farming can help mitigate drought condition in Barind land n

Tribune Desk

Large-scale sesame farming on the fallow lands can be the effective means of mitigating the existing drought condition alongside the adverse impact of climate change in the vast barind tract, agricultural scientists and extension officials said yesterday.

They viewed more than one lakh hectares of land remain fallow after harvesting transplanted aman paddy in the high barind tract comprising 10 upazilas of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts every year.

There is an enormous prospect of producing at least one lakh tonnes of sesame valued at around T300 crore from the fallow lands yearly through utilizing modern farming methods like raised bed and high yielding variety.

Thereby, the country’s demand of edi-

ble oil could be fulfilled to some extent.

The observations came at a farmers’ field day styled “Extension of Sesame Farming in bed-planting method in drought- prone area in climate changed situation” held at Kakonhat’s Nabinagar area under Godagari upazila of the district, reports BSS. Regional Wheat Research Centre (RWRC) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organised the field day aimed at motivating more farmers towards sesame cultivation in the water-stressed condition.

Director General of BARI Dr Rafiqul Islam Mondal and Joint Secretary (Research) of the Ministry of Agriculture Zamsher Ahammad Khandaker spoke as chief and special guests respectively with RWRC Chief Scientific Officer Dr Israil Hossain in the chair.

Former Director General of Depart-

ment of Agriculture Extension Rahim Uddin Ahmed and its Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad, BARI Chief Scientific Officer Dr Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Principal Scientific Officer Dr Shafiqul Islam also spoke.

Chief Guest Dr Rafiqul Islam said there is no alternative to bring diversity in cropping system in the changed climatic condition and urged the farmers to extend their cooperation towards sesame promotion in the dried area.

Dr Israil Hossian recommended minimising the farmers’ constraints for the sake of sustainable crop production. Farmers needed to be aware about the resource conserving technologies and modern scientific methods so that crop production remained technologically sound, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally secure. l

Chittagong-Khagrachhari communication snaps as bridge collapses Correspondent, n Our Khagrachhari Communication between Chittagong and Khagrachhari broke down as a bailey bridge near Manikchhari Bazar in Manikchhari upazila, Khagrachhari collapsed yesterday afternoon, leaving 10 people injured.

Quoting the witnesses, Mohammad Shahjahan, assistant superintendent of police in Ramgarh circle, said: “The bridge collapsed with a loud noise around 12:30pm when a stone-laden Chittagong-bound truck and a micro bus were crossing the bridge.”

Locals rescued the injured people who were in the micro bus, and sent them to Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex, which was nearby, he added.

When contacted, Mohammad Ismail

Hossain, executive engineer of Khagrachhari Roads and Highways, said the bridge collapsed because its lifespan expired five to seven years ago.

The bridge collapsed with a loud noise around 12:30pm when a stone-laden truck and a micro bus were crossing the bridge The government had already undertaken a project to replace the bailey bridges with concrete bridges, the executive engineer said, adding that action would be taken to repair the bridge as early as possible. l

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bangladesh Shikshak Samity, Bhandaria brings out a procession in Pirojpur district town yesterday, protesting attack on two teachers by local hoodlums DHAKA TRIBUNE

Signature snares sub-inspector in Madaripur n Our Correspondent, Madaripur An unethical sub-inspector in Madaripur tried to take bribes from a woman who had recently filed a case under the Women and Children Oppression and Repression Act. Little did he know that he would fall victim to the very practice he was trying to take advantage of.

The woman, a victim of attempted rape, tried to convince Sub-Inspector Maksudur Rahman of Madaripur’s Charmugria Police Outpost that she was not rich enough to bribe him.

But Maksud, who had joined the police outpost a week ago as its officer-incharge, did not accept her inability and was not about to lose the chance to fatten his pockets.

Finding no way out, she went to Madaripur Superintendent of Police (SP) Khandker Faridul Islam and told him about it in details. It shocked him so much that he wanted to give the subinspector a good lesson.

So, Farid then sent the woman to the sub-inspector to learn the lowest amount of money which he would agree to take in order to investigate the case and submit a charge sheet.

The woman came back after learning that he would submit a charge sheet on her case if he was given Tk 8,000 as a bribe.

SP Farid gave her the stated amount of money with his signature on the notes and asked her to pay him with that money.

The woman gave Maksud the signed

money on Thursday night around 7:30pm. The SP then suddenly showed up at the outpost and caught Maksud in possession of the money.

Sub-Inspector Maksud was later suspended from duty.

SP Farid told the Dhaka Tribune: “I did this just to teach others a lesson, in case they too think of taking bribes. A departmental action is also awaiting him.”

Victims of crimes often also fall victim to underhanded dealings when pursuing justice in this country.

According to a report by Transparency International in 2013, 72 % of the respondents perceived the police as the most corrupt and 63 % considered the judiciary as the second most corrupt followed by land service (44 %) in Bangladesh. l

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal holds divisional council

Freelancer development training in Nilphamari

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal held its Khulna divisional council in Kushtia yesterday. The party’s standing committee member and central Vice-President Robiul Alam addressed the programme at Kushtia Shilpakola Academy as the chief guest, while another standing committee member and law maker Shirina Akhter, Convener of the central Nari Jote Afroza Haque Rina and central Joint General Secretary Nazmul Haque Prodhan addressed the programme as special guests.

The programme was presided over by the party’s Kushtia district unit President Golam Mohsin. Saying that the party had been in the field of politics for last 42 years, the speakers urged the party leaders and activists to reach the masses through different programmes . – Our Correspondent

A five-day long “Freelancer to Entrepreneur Development Training Programme” was inaugurated at the circuit house conference room in Nilphamari yesterday.

Presided over by Nilphamari’s acting deputy commissioner SM Rafiqun Nabi, the programme was attended by, among others, chief guest Nilphamari Municipality Mayor Dewan Kamal Ahmed, special guests Nilphamari sadar upazila woman Vice-Chairman Arifa Sultana Lovely, Nilphamari Sommilita Sangskritik Jote and General Secretary Ahsan Rahim Monjil.

– Our Correspondent

Man stabbed dead in Sunamganj Unidentified miscreants stabbed a man to death in Doarabazar upazila of the district. The victim was identified as M Cherag Ali, 50, son of late Ibrahim Ali of Neyamatpur village in the upazila. Locals said the miscreants stopped Cherag Ali while returning home alone from nearby Bangabazar around 9pm on Thursday night and started stabbing him indiscriminately with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. As the attackers left the scene thinking him dead, locals rescued and rushed injured Cherag Ali to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Officer-in-charge of Doarabazar Police Station M Selim Newaz confirmed the incident. - UNB

College student commits suicides An HSC student of Technical School and College, Pirojpur had hanged himself early yesterday. Family members said Tanzid Ahmed Suhrid, 18, had killed himself following an altercation with his mother on Thursday night. Local Councillor Sadullah Liton said the victim hanged himself from the ceiling fan of his room. – Our Correspondent

Youth found dead Police recovered the body of an unidentified youth near Solop railway station in Sirajganj’s Ullapara upazila yesterday. Law enforcers had sent the body to Ullapara Sadar Hospital morgue. Police, however, could not confirm whether the victim fell from a train or whether miscreants had left him there after killing him. The victim might have fallen from the Nilsagar, an inter-city train on the Dhaka-Syedpur route, police suspected – Our Correspondent

DHAKA TRIBUNE

2 idols vandalised in Mymensingh n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh A group of men attacked a house and vandalised two Hindu idols over a trivial matter in Churkhai of Mymensingh on Thursday noon.

The attack stemmed from a dispute between two children that led the uncle of one of the two launching an attack on the house of the other, according to the police.

“Asad, nephew of raw materials trader Abdul Jalil, quarreled with Sadhan, son of neighbour Niranjan Sutra Dhar, in Chakanju of Churkhai around 2pm,” said officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model police station Fazlul Karim.

“In retaliation, Jalil, along with several others, attacked Niranjan’s house, smashed two idols and fled,” he added.

Organising Secretary of Mymensingh district Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad Sankar Saha and its General Secretary Sapan Sarker condemned the attack. l

Two killed, 38 injured in road accidents n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A person was killed and 35 others, including women and children, were injured when a passenger bus fell into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Gopalganj.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately, police sources said.

Police said a Madaripur-bound Shuvo-Naim Paribahan passenger bus coming from Khulna fell into a highway roadside ditch in Chechniakandi under Sadar upazila in Gopalganj, when the driver lost control of his vehicle.

Upon receiving information, a fire service and civil defence team and police rushed to the spot.

The injured were admitted to Gopalganj General Hospital where the unidentified person later died, police said.

Govinda Hawladar, one of the injured, told the Dhaka Tribune that the driver of the bus was aged and he was feeling sleepy when they reached Ghonapara area in Gopalganj. At one stage, the driver lost control and the bus fell into the ditch.

Meanwhile, a truck driver was killed and three others were injured in a road accident on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway yesterday.

The deceased Md Khairul Islam, 45, was the son of late Hanif Munshi from village Belashor under Chandina upazila in Comilla, and was a truck driver.

Sub-Inspector Md Rais Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that two trucks collided head-on around 2pm yesterday in Raipur Bazar area in Daudkandi upazila and the driver of the sand-laden truck was killed on the spot. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Pakistan suspends Geo News over row with ISI n AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan took the country’s most popular television channel off air yesterday, the latest twist in a bitter row between Geo News and Islamabad’s top spy agency over the shooting of a leading journalist.

The government’s media regulatory body said in a statement the station’s licence was being suspended for 15 days and it would have to pay a fine of 10 million rupees ($100,000).

Observers will view the decision, which the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said was “unanimous,” as a blow to freedom of expression as the all powerful army clamps down on critical coverage.

Geo News has locked horns with the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) ever since a prominent anchor of the television channel was attacked in the volatile port city of Karachi in April.

Hamid Mir was shot three times but survived, with his family blaming the chief of the ISI, General Zaheer-ul-Islam, for the attempted murder.

Mir’s brother, Amir Mir, said Hamid had told him before the attack that he felt threatened and if anything happened to him the ISI chief “would be responsible.”

Geo News broadcast images of Islam

along with the Mir family allegations for eight hours, infuriating the military which filed a complaint to PEMRA seeking the channel’s closure.

Mir has criticised the country’s powerful intelligence agencies and military for their alleged role in the abduction of thousands of people in the restive southwestern province of Baluchistan.

Rights groups have called Pakistan one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists Many journalists from the Jang Media Group, which owns Geo News, have reported receiving threats and being harassed following the row.

A regional editor of Jang newspaper, the group’s Urdu daily, was severely beaten in Multan on Monday after leaving his office.

‘Extreme’ decision

Geo News is also facing the wrath of the religious community for airing a songand-dance routine on a breakfast show aired in May which clerics said was

blasphemous and defamed Islam.

The media group subsequently apologised over both issues, a move that was apparently enough to save it from closure but not suspension.

Former information minister Javed Jabbar described the decision as “extreme.”

“It was an unfair outburst on a major institution of the country, however, the reaction was very extreme,” he said.

“I hope that the Jang/Geo group appeal to the higher courts and Supreme Court and ask for a fair process.

Pakistan began awarding licences to private channels in 2002, leading to a media boom and a sharp rise in critical reporting.

But while the media has been relatively free to report on the country’s political parties, the all-powerful army, which has ruled Pakistan for half its existence, remains a sensitive topic.

Mir’s case has been compared to the case of Saleem Shahzad, who was found dead near the capital Islamabad in 2011 after writing about links between the Pakistani military and Al-Qaeda.

Rights groups have called Pakistan one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says seven reporters lost their lives in Pakistan last year. l

Sikhs, guards clash with swords at Golden Temple

Facebook blocks rock band page at Pakistan govt’s request n AFP, Islamabad Facebook has blocked the popular page of a liberal Pakistani rock band and others that criticise the Taliban at the request of the government, angering activists campaigning against censorship in the Islamic country.

Rock band “Laal” (Red) formed in 2007 and are known for their progressive politics.

Their Facebook page has more than 400,000 likes, with users frequently joining debates on issues ranging from feminism to the role of the country’s army in politics.

But it has been inaccessible to users from inside Pakistan since Wednesday.

Other pages like “Taalibansarezalimans” (The Taliban are oppressors) and “Pakistani.meem” which describes itself as pro-democracy and secularism, have similarly been blocked in recent days.

“Facebook didn’t even inform us, I realised when I noticed no activity on our page,” Taimur Rahman, Laal’s lead guitarist, told AFP. Facebook confirmed the move to AFP Friday saying Laal’s page had been blocked inside Pakistan at Islamabad’s request, under an agreement to limit access to material that violates local laws. l

n AP, New Delhi Sikhs brandishing swords and sticks and shouting for a new homeland clashed with guards at the faith’s holiest shrine in India, an official said. Six people were wounded.

The clash occurred during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the storming of the shrine by the Indian army in June 1984 in the northern city of Amritsar, said Kiran Jyoti Kaur, a Golden Temple management spokeswoman.

Kaur said supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Simranjeet Singh Mann, turned violent and then were chased away

by temple guards. They were shouting slogans for an independent Sikh homeland.

The CNN-IBN television channel said police detained nearly 50 people and that many shops closed because of the tension.

Naresh Gujral, a leader of governing Akali Dal group in the state, condemned the clash inside the shrine.

The 1984 Indian army operation to establish control over the shrine, ordered by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was one of the most contentious episodes in India’s battle against Sikh separatists in the 1980s.

Sikh militants had holed up in the temple for months. The army botched an attempt to

clear them from the holy site, badly underestimating the resistance at first before being drawn into a three-day assault.

The attack outraged Sikhs and led to a catastrophic breakdown in communal relations.

When Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh guards in a revenge attack a few months later, the country erupted. Mobs overran trains and went house to house across northern India, beating and killing thousands of Sikhs, hacking many to death and burning others alive.

The insurgency was stamped out in the late 1980s. l

Afghan presidential candidate survives blast n AFP, Kabul Afghan presidential front-runner Abdullah Abdullah escaped an assassination attempt yesterday when two blasts hit his campaign motorcade in Kabul, killing at least six people just ahead of a hotly contested run-off election.

“The first attack was a suicide car bomb on a convoy of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and the second was a mine attack,” Sayed Gul Agha Hashemi, head of Kabul police’s criminal investigation branch, told AFP. Abdullah said he was unhurt, but at least six people were killed and 22 others wounded, according to the interior ministry.

“As a result of this failed attack, a number of civilians at the site were killed and wounded,” a ministry statement said. “Based on initial police information, six people were killed and 22 others were wounded in the attack.”

Blood was splattered near one vehicle in the convoy which was badly charred, while medics carried a body away on a stretcher.

The blast site was cordoned off by security officials as ambulances rushed to the scene and took the wounded to hospital, making their way through a sandstorm that hit the capital.

“A few minutes ago, when we left a

Suicide bombers, fighting kill 36 in Iraq n AFP, Mosul Twin suicide bombings targeting Iraq’s Shabak minority and fighting between security forces and militants killed 36 people in the northern province of Nineveh yesterday, officials said.

Provincial capital Mosul is one of Iraq’s most dangerous cities, with well-entrenched militant groups carrying out almost daily attacks.

The two suicide bombers blew up vehicles in the Shabak village of Al-Muwaffaqiyah, east of the city, killing four people and wounding 45, police and medical officials said.

Most of Iraq’s 30,000 Shabaks follow a blend of Shiite Islam and local beliefs viewed as heretical by Sunni extremists, and they have been periodically targeted for attack.

In west Mosul, four police, three soldiers and 16 militants were killed in clashes, while a mortar round killed a

Members of a hardline Sikh group clash with guards of the Sikh’s holiest shrine, the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. Half a dozen people were wounded yesterday as members of the group, brandishing swords and wooden sticks, clashed with guards during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the storming of the shrine by the Indian army in June 1984 AP

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Saturday, June 7, 2014

civilian, officials said.

Three more soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in east Mosul, while security forces shot dead five would-be suicide bombers in the Hamam al-Alil area south of the city.

The violence came a day after militants launched a major attack on the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, occupying multiple neighbourhoods.

Soldiers, police and tribal fighters backed by helicopters eventually regained control, a senior army officer said, but only after heavy fighting that killed 12 police and dozens of militants.

Violence is running at its highest levels since 2006-2007, when tens of thousands were killed in sectarian conflict between Iraq’s Shiite majority and Sunni Arab minority.

More than 900 people were killed last month, according to figures separately compiled by the United Nations and the government. l

Vietnam airs video of Chinese ship ramming boat n AFP, Hanoi Vietnam has released dramatic footage showing a large Chinese ship chasing and ramming one of its fishing boats which then sank near an oil rig in contested waters. The communist neighbours have traded accusations over the May 26 sinking incident, with Hanoi decrying an “inhuman act” by China, which blamed intrusion by the Vietnamese vessel.

The video images, shot from a nearby Vietnamese vessel, show a much larger Chinese ship racing after a small

wooden Vietnamese fishing boat, ploughing into it and causing it to tip over and sink.

“Oh! They rammed and sank it,” a man on the boat from which the footage was filmed can be heard shouting.

Vietnamese officials have said the 10 fishermen on board were rescued by nearby vessels after the incident, which occurred about 12 nautical miles southwest of the oil rig. The heavily-damaged boat was towed to Vietnam’s Ly Son island, off the coast of central Quang Ngai province. l

Abdullah Abdullah campaign rally our convoy was hit by a mine,” Abdullah told supporters at an election rally, in quotes broadcast on Afghan television.

The blast occurred soon after Abdullah left an election rally in the city’s Ariana hotel. Some witnesses in the area reported hearing two ear-splitting explosions. The assassination attempt came ahead of the second-round presidential election on June 14. l

Russian, Ukrainian leaders meet in Normandy n AP, Ouistreham, France Ukraine’s president elect and Russian President Vladimir Putin met yesterday on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in a 15-minute conversation which touched on key issues, a French official said.

In their eagerly anticipated contact, Putin and Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko discussed how Russia could recognize the Ukrainian elections, and a possible cease-fire, an official at President Francois Hollande’s office who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press.

Outside the building where world leaders met for lunch, reporters saw an animated conversation lasting about one minute which also included German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Reporters observing the encounter couldn’t hear any of the conversation.

It wasn’t clear whether the conversation continued inside, or there were two meetings.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian officials say more than 200 people have died — a figure which can’t be independently confirmed — in fighting between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian rebels.

Candy magnate Poroshenko, who is to be sworn in as Ukraine’s next president on Saturday, has promised a comprehensive plan to put an end to the hostilities in the east as soon as he assumes office.

Putin held his first face-to-face meetings with Western leaders in France this week since pro-European protesters pushed out Ukraine’s Russia-friendly president in February, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula, and the US and EU imposed sanctions in response. l

Thai junta’s spin doctors prescribe ‘national happiness’ n AFP, Bangkok

With free meals, music concerts and dancing soldiers, Thailand’s junta is waging a propaganda offensive to encourage “national happiness” following a military coup that has severely restricted civil liberties.

Since seizing power on May 22 from an elected government, the army has banned public protests, censored the media and summoned hundreds of politicians, activists and academics for questioning.

The army, which has ruled out elections for at least a year, says its intervention was needed to end months of bloody political unrest.

And now the coup-makers are trying to portray the softer side of military rule, with propaganda programmes on the television and festivities in the streets.

“Thai people, like me, have probably not been happy for nine years, but since May 22 there is happiness,” army commander-in-chief Prayut Chan-OCha said in a recent televised address to the nation.

While the coup has its supporters, particularly among the Bangkok-based

elite who loathed the previous government, the happiness campaign masks what activists say is a severe deterioration in human rights.

“I think it is mere propaganda,” said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai. “It is blunt and too obvious.”

But for the hundreds of Thais who attended an army-hosted festival this week in Bangkok, the spin doctors’ medicine appears to be working.

“People coming here today are happy and today society started to smile,” said Chutamat Kritcharoen, 45, while a group of young soldiers showed off their muscles on stage to a delirious crowd.

“Happiness is coming back to the people.”

‘Land of crisis’

Arunee Omsin, 59, said she was most happy about being able to venture out onto the streets without fear of a repeat of the gunfire and grenade attacks that shook Bangkok for months before the coup.

“We want the Thai style of atmosphere back. In the past people called us the Land of Smiles, but now we have

become the Land of Crisis,” she said while queuing up for a free meal of rice and omelette.

Nearby, children stroked a horse from a military cavalry regiment, while several Thais enjoyed free medical check-ups and a young woman posed for a photo with a soldier in camouflage.

“This event is seen as a fresh start for Thai society so people can face each other and talk, using music as a medium, or with other activities,” said Colonel Sombat Thanyawan, a cavalry regiment commander.

With a carnival atmosphere and free food, the festivities are reminiscent of the anti-government protests that precipitated the coup.

The demonstrators, drawn largely from Bangkok and the south, succeeded in their aim of toppling the government of ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the younger sister of divisive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon-turned-populist politician who lives in self-exile to avoid prison for corruption, is popular in the northern half of the country but is hated by many in Bangkok and the south. l

This picture taken on June 4 shows residents posing for pictures with soldiers at a military event organised to ‘return happiness to the people’ at Victory Monument, the site of recent anti-coup rallies in Bangkok. With free meals, music concerts and dancing soldiers, Thailand’s junta is waging a propaganda offensive to encourage ‘national happiness’ following its military coup AFP

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Dealing with the awesome all-nighters

anti-social after a loss.

An obsession with football can limit the development of other interests and have a negative impact on male/female relationships; it may even divert attention away from other family responsibilities.

The main effect of the World Cup on health is inadequate sleep due to staying awake late at nights. You must have known that sleeping 8 HEALTH hours a day is essential FLASH for good health. During the World Cup, you may end up spending hours in front of your television set.

And watching TV for a long time can cause eye strain.

It is accepted that watching football in groups is good for your mental health. It builds up relationship with family and friends. On the other hand, it deprives you from sleep, which, in turn, exposes you to some health hazards. From heart attacks to alterations in sex drive, studies show that sleep deprivation will have a direct impact on the passionate football fans’ health.

Statistics show that football’s great parties are typically accompanied by a surge in heart attack, suicide, depression, assault, and road accident rates.

While binge-drinking and, waistlineexpanding junk food consumption also increases.

Sleep deprivation can cause increased risk of heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity

Deprivation of sleep will make you drowsy and lazy during day time, and you end up not paying proper attention to your chores. Chronic sleep deprivation, for whatever reason, significantly affects your health, performance, and safety.

Sleep deprivation also induces significant reductions in performance and alertness. Reducing your nighttime sleep by as little as one and a half hours for just one night could result in a reduction of

Yet watching football is good

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daytime alertness by as much as 32%.

Decreased alertness and excessive daytime sleepiness impair s your memory, and your cognitive ability – your ability to think and process information. Driving while sleepy is also responsible for road accidents.

Prolonged watching of television relates to an absence of muscle movement. If your muscles stay inactive for too long, it can disrupt your metabolism leading to weight gain.

Additionally, when you are watching TV, you tend to eat more. Different

WORLD CUP RESEARCH

World cup football increases heart attack risk

studies have affirmed this. Studies conducted by the Stanford University of Medicine prove that TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating.

You have more chances of eating junk food while watching TV than in any other activity! For each two-hour increase in television watching per day, there was a 23% rise in obesity.

TV can strain your eyes

Watching too much television is bad for your eyes, especially when watching television in a dark room. Focusing

your eyes too long on any one object can strain your eyes.

The light emitted from the television can stimulate other systems as well. It can reduce the levels of the brain hormone melatonin, which usually increase in the evening as light levels fall. This may affect the body’s natural rhythm, keeping you awake longer and results in irregular sleep and extreme fatigue.

Other negative effects

Studies have found losing fans can become anxious and irritable, and expe-

The World Cup in particular may have a positive effect on mental health. One study found there was a reduction in numbers of emergency psychiatric admissions during and after World Cup finals.

Watching football is a great amusement. When your team does well, it gives feelings of happiness, well-being, and collective euphoria. If a team loses a match, however, it does not necessarily have a negative impact on mental health.

Football also plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of social and familial relationships.

Watching football in groups with family or friends can help in forming and maintaining social and familial relationships.

Football strengthens bonds between family members, most notably between fathers and sons.

After watching a football match, to make up for the sleep, you should sleep at your convenient time, and drink a lot of water. While watching the match, you have to take less caffeinated drinks, and drink more water and juices because caffeinated drinks make you more dehydrated by increasing urine production.

A football maniac having heart problems and diabetes should avoid intense matches. l

n Prescription Desk

World cup brings a lot of tension and excitement to the supporters. A study published on the British Medical Journal in December 21, 2002, based on the data of the days surrounding England’s 1998 World Cup football matches, found that admissions for myocardial infarction (heart attack) had increased.

The study also said, the number of admissions for stroke, deliberate self harm on the day and five days after England’s World Cup matches, was high compared with admissions at the same time in previous and following years and in the month preceding the tournament.

The Risk of admission for heart attack increased by 25% on June 30, 1998 (the day England lost to Argen-

tina in a penalty shoot-out), and the following two days.

No excess admissions occurred for other diagnoses or on the days of the other England matches. The effect was the same when only the two days after the match were treated as the exposed condition.

Individual analyses of the day of and the two days after the Argentina match, showed 55 extra admissions for myocardial infarctions compared with the number expected.

This study concluded that the increase in admissions suggests that Heart Attack can be triggered by intense emotional upset, such as watching your football team lose an important match.

Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not quite elevated enough to be classified LIFELINE as full-blown diabetes.

It can easily worsen unless preventive measures are taken.

Luckily, there are natural ways to protect you.

One of the big movers and shakers is hormones Watching sports, such as football, have an impact on testosterone levels. Studies have found that fans experience the same hormonal surges and physiological ebbs and flows during a game, found in both men and women, which is sometime associated with aggression.

Spanish researchers were intrigued when they monitored cortisol, a stress hormone released when one’s social image is under threat, among 50 male and female supporters of Spain before, during and after the 2010 final against the Netherlands. Cortisol levels surged in the run-up to the match, particularly among the most passionate supporters, men and among

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younger fans, but then fell back after the 1-0 victory.

| Dr Kazi Mahbuba

Cherries and cinnamon

Researchers at Michigan State University have found that anthocyanins (the compounds that give cherries their bright colour) help stabilise blood sugar, even in people on a high-fat diet.

The explanation is that the anthocyanins make pancreas cells produce up

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It is great to have some popcorn while watching a match. Popcorn is a whole grain, making it a good-for-you food.

Popcorn provides energy-producing complex carbohydrates. Popcorn contains fiber, providing the roughage the body needs in the daily diet. Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories, has no artificial additives or preservatives, and is sugar-free. Popcorn is ideal for between meals snacking since it satisfies without spoiling the appetite. If you cannot get popcorn, then have some puffed rice.

Fruits and Juices While watching football at midnight, keep fruits and fruit juices near you.

There are many types of fruits in the market. This is the season of fruits.

You can take watermelon which is rich in fibre and water with very important minerals. You can take Papaya, orange, apple which keeps you cool and makes your digestive system calm. Mango is another rich fruit, which can be relished while watching a match. We can also take the juice of these fruits, but researchers said that fruits are better than fruit juices. All fruits keep you hydrated and prevent constipation, so it is better to take fruits and fruit juice.

Take Benefits of Green tea

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Go for whole grains:

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Popcorn during matches

Making up for the loss

Steps to prevent diabetes

A Harvard University study has found that people who eat whole grains (eg brown rice and bran cereal) cut their diabetes risk by 42%. Whole grains keep fat off because they’re high in fibre, which leaves you feeling full longer. They’re also digested slowly, so they don’t cause a spike in blood glucose levels.

QUICK TIPS FOR WC

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The Fifa World Cup is almost here. From June 12, millions of fans in Bangladesh will stay awake through the nights to witness the biggest show on Earth. Results include, alongside the stress from the ecstasies and the agonies, tired eyes and drowsy days. Watching a football match is fun, healthy, and gets the society together, but it could become unhealthy, painful, or even lethal as well rience sleep problems and headaches. n Dr Sajol Ashfaq Some fans can become withdrawn and

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to 50% more insulin.

Cinnamon is another potent insulin booster. In a 2003 study, diabetic patients taking cinnamon (equivalent to one teaspoon a day, in divided doses) dropped their glucose levels by as much as 29%; unhealthy fats like LDL cholesterol and triglycerides also showed marked reductions.

Magnesium and chromium

Compared to non-diabetics, patients

with type 2 diabetes have lower levels of this mineral, which your body needs to form enzymes that help burn glucose as energy. Good sources of magnesium include whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables; if you can’t guarantee the quality of your diet, take a supplement. Many diabetics also have low levels of chromium, a mineral that helps cells utilise glucose.

Most experts recommend a dose of 1000mcg daily. l

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world, behind water, and for good reason. Besides its delicious taste and versatility, tea has a number of significant health benefits. We can take them in a small amount while watching a match to cut off the sleepiness. We can get some health benefits as an add on.

Tea contains high levels of catechins, a type of powerful antioxidant. Some studies have estimated that black and green tea have up to 10 times the amount of antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables. Green tea has extra benefits. It helps to inhibit dietary fats being absorbed, and therefore, is excellent for weight loss. But tea with sugar and milk can increase body weight.

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

Effect of football on mental health n Prescription Desk Football can have a major impact on mental health. It is thought to affect emotions, relationships, identity and self-esteem. In a DID YOU recent study, one in KNOW? four fans said football was one of the most important things in their lives. When your team does well, it prompts feelings of happiness, well-being, and collective euphoria. If a team loses a match, however, it does not necessarily have a negative impact on mental health.

It is thought that watching football may be cathartic. Fans step into their team identity by wearing clothes.

They can behave in ways that encourage “a cathartic release of tension” through shouting, screaming, gesturing and chanting.

For young men in particular, the opportunity to externalise tension and emotion is important to maintain-

ing health. Young men are at the highest risk of suicide – it is the most common cause of death for young men under the age of 35. This age group is one of the most dominant in football crowds across the world.

Watching and supporting football provides an opportunity for connection and belonging in an age where technology means there is less and less direct physical interaction.

Supporting a football team, watching a live game or gathering to watch a match on television, are all ways of participating in group activity with people who share the same values and interests. This provides a sense of belonging, identification and inclusion within a larger group. It creates a tangible social identity. Identification with the players as people and the club also promote a sense of belonging.

Football builds relationships

Having strong relationships is known to be a key factor in the maintenance of positive mental health. Football

plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of social and familial relationships. Over 90% of people who attend matches go with friends, family or colleagues.

Football strengthens bonds between family members, most notably between fathers and sons. Many parents see football as an important part of their relationship with their children. In one study it was found that

almost every fan was taken to their first match by their father.

Time set aside to watch football is done so deliberately and becomes an expected routine. It generates conversation and provides an opportunity for parent and child to catch up. It creates and protects “quality time.” This quality time often continues long after children have grown up and so maintains parent/ child relationships throughout life. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

Saturday, May 17, 2013

9

The Ganges Delta: The foundation stone of modern India

WIKIMEDIA

W n Tim Steel

hen Queen Elizabeth, the mother of the current monarch, passed away in 2002, there died, with her, the last of vestige of a history of an astonishing 250 years or 300 years in the history of the world.

Queen Elizabeth, as wife of King George the Sixth, was the last Empress of India. She was the last remnant of the extraordinary story that laid, both, the foundations of today’s largest democratic nation in the world, India; and the greatest Empire the world has ever seen, the British Empire.

And both of these owe so much to these lands that are now Bangladesh.

It is, of course, quite reasonable, especially, to argue that it was the lands of the Ganges Delta, the lands that are now entirely within modern Bangladesh, that were the foundation stone upon which modern India, the world’s largest democratic nation, was laid.

And 19th century India, of course, was, itself, the first construction that was to become that Empire. The Empire “upon which the sun never set.”

These lands of the delta lands developed not only wealth, but, including religions and philosophies, and the trading and commercial skills that made it, from earliest times, a focus for the world

The Mughals, certainly, did a half good, but only half finished job, of welding together the hundreds of separate princedoms and kingdoms that were ancient India. However, it was the British who finally bonded together both, almost the entire nation that is modern India, and with it the democratic tradition that was the final bequest.

Without that achievement of the British, and such internationally outstanding British personalities as the Duke of Wellington, the “Iron Duke,” who cut his military teeth on Tipu Sultan, amongst others, before finally defeating the French Emperor Napoleon, it seems unlikely that India could ever have achieved its present international pre eminence.

A nation, not only the world’s most numerous democracy, but also emerging as one of the world’s greatest commercial giants.

So great, indeed, has the modern India become that the great union of former princedoms and kingdoms, is

touted as one of the greatest success stories of the twenty first century.

And it is, by no means, entirely an accident that this democracy has emerged. Rather, it is the result of a train of development set in motion centuries, even millennia, ago. Set in motion in the lands of the Delta of those three great, and historic rivers; the Holy Ganges, the Holy Brahmaputra, and the humble, but magnificent, Meghna.

Like the granite and the basalt, which proliferates, although not native in Bangladesh, in so many of the palaces, vihara, mosques and temples that mark the rich history of the lands, it represents a fusion of almost indestructible particles, formed and tempered by history, and bonded, under the enormous heat and pressure of, above all, commerce and trade.

Bangladesh is the nation that is now based on the lands that included the great kingdoms of long ago; Gangaridai amongst them, the Kingdom of the Prasii, the Kingdom of Maghada, the Empire of the Mauryans, amongst the earliest. All of them, like Gangaridai, entirely within the lands in and around both the delta, and the course of the great rivers, according to the 2nd century Map of Ptolemy, or spreading across large parts of today’s Bangladesh, like the Mauryan Empire.

In these lands developed not only wealth, but a rich culture, including religions and philosophies, and the trading and commercial skills that made it, from earliest times, a focus for the world.

The immense wealth, that seems to have appealed, over the millennia, to would be conquerors, starting, we can easily believe, with the first great conqueror, Alexander of Macedonia himself, was undoubtedly a part of the magma of humanity, culture and nature that has cooled to become the stone upon which so much was erected.

Without that foundation, would the Khilji, themselves descendants of Alexander’s army, perhaps fleeing the destructive depredations of the Mongol hordes in their Afghan homeland, have moved to settle beside those two great rivers, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, possibly in today’s humble Mograpara, have trekked all across North India before settling in their new home? They certainly brought with them more of the cultural influences that are a part of the bonding material.

Would the Mughals have found India so appealing a destination for the generation of the wealth, and the culture it facilitated, for which they became famed, if it were not for that foundation “stone?” And even Aurangzeb, perhaps one of the most unappealing of the Mughal Emperors, but, at the same time, the most suc-

cessful, who needed what he is said to have described as, “The Paradise of Nations” in a Bengal of which, at the time, Dhaka was the heart, for, “its wealth and trade,” to finance his mission of bringing more of the subcontinent under Mughal control. A mission in which, ultimately, he failed.

When the Portuguese pioneered the Cape route to the riches of the east, that has, for centuries, relied upon Arab traders across Asia, or by sea to Arabia, they were quickly followed by others. And all, it seems, rapidly appreciated the importance of the lands of the delta, remote as they were from their homelands in Europe.

At the time, the British were more focussed on the Americas, and, also, probably, because of their own, mid 17th century Civil War, somewhat unfocussed elsewhere. Then the Dutch, who were the first followers of the Portuguese, uninhibited by the Papal decrees that gave America to the Spaniards, and the East to the Portuguese, turned east to develop their trading strength.

It did not, however, take so long for the British to follow. Perhaps more by luck than judgement, certainly by deviousness and duplicity, too, the British, by the middle of the 18th century, found themselves in control of the lands that probably still accounted for a great deal of trading wealth.

Certainly, the British novelist, Daniel Defoe, was well aware of the commercial potential of the lands around the Ganges delta nearly 40 years earlier that the victory at Plassey that awarded, to the victors, all that followed.

He set his eponymous hero, Robinson Crusoe’s, last adventure in these lands, trading “successfully in opium and diamonds.” Defoe’s famous work underlines what had plainly become a common belief in Britain of a land of immense potential. Although, at the time, it seems unlikely that even the greatest visionary could have imagined the immense potential for both Britain, and the subcontinent, that lay in those distant lands.

And that was a potential that, following the victory at the Battle of Buxar, in 1764, and the granting of Diwani Rights to the East India Company, that this British commercial organisation, both of behalf of the investors, and for the personal gain of those, “in the field” such as Robert Clive, were not slow to exploit.

There is little doubt that, the enormous transfer of wealth, from Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar, as well as such as the Arakanese lands ceded by the Governor of Bengal, for nearly fifty years, until the Act of Permanent Settlement, financed a transformation of Britain.

If, in the first six years following the gaining of Diwani Rights, the East India Company itself transferred to

Britain the modern equivalent of more than £6bn, it is easy to suppose that individuals working for the Company, like Clive, transferred even more.

Clive, himself, became rapidly known as, “the richest, and most unpopular man in Britain.”

That wealth certainly manifested itself in mansions, and even palaces in Britain, but almost certainly, also, made a major contribution to the evolving Industrialisation of Britain – a “revolution,” that was to become a substantial part of the superstructure of both spreading, and sustaining, the developing Empire.

It might, in passing, be mentioned, too, that a significant contribution to the wealth of the Company, lay, also, in its contract to supply to the British Navy, the saltpetre for gunpowder, found in Bangladesh. Gunpowder that certainly built and sustained an Empire, fighting off many would be usurpers.

East India Company itself transferred to Britain the modern equivalent of more than £6bn, it is easy to suppose that individuals working for the Company, like Clive, transferred even more Without this fortunate foundation of Empire in Bengal, could Britain have, eventually, conquered the rest of the subcontinent? Without experience of that conquest, including the defeat of Tipu Sultan, would Arthur Wellesley, later named, the Duke of Wellington, known as, “the Iron Duke,” brother of Lord Mornington the Governor of Bengal, have developed the skills that enabled him to roundly defeat the Napoleonic French in Spain, and, finally, at Waterloo?

Wellington, himself, indeed, praised the men of Bengal as the most reliable of his soldiers in India. His despatches from India tell a story of a respect for both people and administration of these, the foundation lands of such much that followed.

Following the veins of history, a history that many might well describe as volcanic in its effect, it is not unreasonable to trace, perhaps, the most significant elements of the history in both the finance and the experience and expertise, back to the Ganges Delta, and the lands of today’s Bangladesh.

The rich foundation of history, heritage, trade and commerce, upon which both modern, democratic, India, and the entire British Empire, was built. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, June 7, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Welcome better relations with China

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heikh Hasina’s visit to China heralds the possibility of significantly improved ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

It is encouraging to hear the Chinese ambassador express hope for a positive outcome on the proposals for collaboration on the Sonadia deep-sea port project, and on exclusive economic zones for Chinese investors. We hope the prime minister’s visit will usher in an era of new mutually beneficial and dynamic economic and political relations.

A number of major projects are on the agenda, such as the deep sea port, the China EPZ, and the proposed Asian Infrastructure Bank.

It is expected that five or six agreements between Bangladesh and China will be signed during Hasina’s visit.

China has a growing track record of supporting major projects in Bangladesh, particualry in relation to infrastructure, which is our economy’s most important need. It is important that we nurture and improve our positive relations, as both our peoples and economies can benefit from our countries helping to build bridges between South and East Asia.

Bangladesh has much to gain from expanding and improving upon our friendship with China. They are already our largest trade partner, with an annual trade volume of $9bn and are increasingly looking to boost their investments in Bangladesh.

The economic fate of Bangladesh is inextricably linked to the growth and development of our diplomatic ties with China. Fostering better relations will not only spur on trade and infrastructural improvements, but will also bolster progress on areas of co-operation in science, technology, and economic innovation.

Both our peoples and economies can benefit

Make tax incentives more consistent

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he new budget has confirmed that the import of fire safety equipment and building materials will be duty free.

We welcome this move as it provides a practical way to encourage improvements and support relocations in the RMG industry. Around 1,200 RMG factories need to install sprinklers, and at least twice as many are estimated to need fire doors. Using duty rates to provide cost reductions in this key export sector is the right way to apply taxation policy.

The general principle that should be applied when reviewing taxes is to use policy to incentivise productivity and support public goods, and to tend to raise taxes to disincentivise activities with more negative impacts.

Measures which could be said to meet the latter criterion include the government’s proposal to bring in a green tax on environmentally-polluting activities and its decision to raise taxes on tobacco.

Nonetheless, there are still areas in which the policy needs to become more joined up so that tax and incentive measures do not send mixed messages.

For instance, scarce taxpayer funds are spent excessively on subsidising energy and gas, creating huge inefficiencies and waste. The decision to cut some subsidies on energy and power is therefore a step in the right direction. However, this decision is arguably contradicted by the significant cut in duties on the import of private cars in the 17012750cc range.

Similarly, the price increase for energy-saving LED lamps appears to send the wrong signal.

Policymakers have to balance a huge amount of priorities. It is important they keep reviewing tax and incentive measures to keep them focused on the greater good.

Use policy to support public goods and to disincentivise negative impacts

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

Bangladesh to gift Japan two Royal Bengal Tigers May 31

chagolekoiki “Bangladesh is going to send the tigers so that the children of the country can learn the culture of Bangladesh.”

Quite sure the tigers wouldn’t have been to enough Lalon melas to be able to tell the Japanese about our culture.

Also, Bengal tigers are not an extinct species

Muhammad Eusha chagolekoiki: Ha ha ha! Well said, my friend!

VK What?!

Keeping up with the Abdullahs

vihan Heavier taxation will not solve the problem, only aggravate the suffering of people addicted to tobacco. Look at it from a religious viewpoint; why are Muslims allowed to smoke in the first place, but are not allowed to take other drugs like alcohol?

Rana Ahmed This is the most ridiculous article that I ever read.

Was it meant to be funny and a satire at the same time? The author failed on both counts.

F138 vihan: What kind of an argument is that?

If you ban tobacco based on religious beliefs, all you’ll do is create a black market for it. Taxing increases price and reduces the ability of poor people to consume it, and the income can be channeled to healthcare and education, to further reduce smoking.

Of course, if a person wishes to avoid tobacco for religious reasons, then they should do whatever they feel like.

Strategy to reach free medicine to poor patients June 2

Md Ashraf Hossain The government has been running a few essential drug companies to produce medicines mainly to supply government-run health establishments.

These medicines are meant to be free for poor patients who get treated in these healthcare establishments, but seldom does it work that way.

It has become regular news that drugs of government healthcare establishments end up in private pharmacies through an informal syndicate, and patients have to purchase the drugs with their hard-earned money. Every year, Tk1bn worth of medicine is being stolen this way.

To prevent the theft of free medicine, the authorities concerned should make a policy to obtain the drugs under generic names, not trade names, and ask the essential drug companies to pack the tablets and capsules in PET bottles in large quantities. The doctors of the public healthcare establishments should then prescribe the medicines under the generic name to ensure their patients get them for free. The suppliers will then open the PET bottles prescribed by the doctor and give the patients the required quantity in a small paper envelope, and write the name of the medication on the envelope.

When patients are prescribed trade-named medicines, and go to the pharmacy, they should not accept the generic-named medicine, or medication in paper-envelopes extracted from the PET bottles. In this way, the government can prevent the theft of government medicines.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

yet, and if they were, we wouldn’t have any to give away would we?

A taxing approach June 1

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 12 represents R so fill R every time the figure 12 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it 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.

June 1

nds Rana Ahmed: No, she did not fail. Your reaction to the article speaks of your agitation at hearing the truth that you people are out to make us forget.

What ridiculous? Ridiculousness is the hallmark of this society. Politics, administration, education, culture, egara-bagara, all are ridiculous here. Those who appear to be serious like you look all the more ridiculous to us. Possibly you belong to the club of Abdullah and deserve nothing but ridicule.

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.

guest nds: I guess it takes one to know one, right?

Children raped, forced to eat faeces in India school May 31

Mahmudul Islam It’s gross!

Lost cause Not just gross, it’s soul-sucking!

Prevention is the best policy June 1

Vikram Khan I’m really confused as to why Muslims are allowed to smoke, but not to take other drugs, like alcohol. It’s a scientifically proven fact that tobacco and nicotine are extremely harmful and dangerous drugs. People get addicted, get cancer, and die, leaving their family members in great misery! Under Islamic law it is forbidden to cause harm to your own health and/ or the health of others, or to commit suicide (by smoking?). So why are Muslims allowed to smoke?

Is it because governments in Muslim countries are pampered by the international tobacco industry?

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Truth (4) 3 Association (4) 7 Period of time (3) 8 Leading (5) 11 Not difficult (4) 12 In the midst of (5) 13 Useful thing (5) 15 Inherited character unit (4) 18 Observed (4) 19 Acts by mimicry (5) 20 Male honey-bee (5) 21 Go by (4) 23 Concur (5) 24 Consumed (3) 25 Expensive (4) 26 20 quires (4)

DOWN 1 Uproar (6) 2 Fold (5) 4 Meadow (3) 5 Bearlike (6) 6 European laurel (3) 9 Corrects (6) 10 Small spot (3) 11 Inciting (6) 14 Governing body (6) 16 Come forth (6) 17 High regard (6) 19 Extinct bird (3) 21 Cushion (3) 22 The Briny (3)

A question of impact June 1

NI I wonder whether anyone in the BAEC or relevant government officials read these articles by Dr Abdul Matin and taken note. He has been writing relentlessly but it appears to have no effect on the officials concerned.

‘Godfather’ returning to Feni!

May 31

PEANUTS

Binodbangali The godfather seems to be someone who takes his godfatherly/fatherly responsibility over dependents and/or helpless persons seriously.

This report says the aam-admi/general public was terrorised by Joynal Hazari and/ or his class-committee men, but it doesn’t mention how many of the aam-admi the reporter spoke with.

One fact I have recently learned from three people (two men, one woman), between the ages of 48-62, is since Joynal Hazari was declared persona non grata in Feni, not by the people of Feni but the AL high command, the people of Feni thought a positive change was coming, but no! That didn’t happen.

What happened, and is still happening, is there are a good number of quasi-godfathers who run turfs across the district but no unifying “godfather” to whom the aggrieved could go and seek arbitration.

What those three persons wondered was why Iqbal B Chowdhury didn’t get the nomination but Nizam Hazari did!

Myanmar hands over Mizanur’s body May 31

Imzy What is Bangladesh doing? We need to take back our land (West Burma) from Myanmar!

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Saturday, June 7, 2014

No agency for child brides n Shazia Omar

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ssia is a sweet girl of 14 whom I met last week, just outside Khulna. She has a two-year-old son and a 10-month-old daughter. I met her to understand better what circumstances push girls into child marriage. What follows is a true account of her narrative, but names have been anonymised. I began by asking her about her parents and her life before marriage.

Blaming the other side has become a ritual

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Angels and demons

W n Ekram Kabir

hen Indian politicians started demonising and blaming each other before the recently held national elections, I was quite relieved to see that members of the ruling elite in another country can also get engaged in comical mudslinging. Well, Indians aren’t much different than us in terms of manners and behaviour. When the British politicians blamed each other for regional floods, you can’t really hold our politicians responsible for sounding amusing when they lock themselves in the blame game.

The blame game, in the political arena across the world, is as old as history itself. During the run-up to the last presidential polls in America, for example, the candidates also played the blame game, accusing their opponents of being responsible for many events, statements, or incidents that they refused to be held responsible for.

Blogger Danny Schechter wrote in Al Jazeera online: “Blame gaming has become a ritual with candidates, advised by political advisers and consultants, on how to shift accountability or accuse another for actions they clearly had nothing to do with.”

Although the blame game in politics has never benefited the common people of any country, politicians perpetually continue to engage themselves in it. They perhaps fail to realise that no one actually believes them when they accuse each other. But in the process,

they, perhaps unknowingly, do a great service to the media. The media is perhaps the best beneficiary of their blame games. For the media, from a selling point of view, nothing could be saucier than making headlines that evoke amusement among the audience. Politicians want to demonise their opponent, in trying to prove themselves as angels, but at the end of the day, the media makes demons out of them as well. Quite intriguing.

have had links with Zia’s assassination.

The problem with our politicians is that they want to prove others as having “failed” in order to prove themselves “successful.” In Bangladesh, we cannot prove ourselves successful without branding others as failures.

It’s a pity that we have to demonise our opponent to prove us as angels. For us, the commoners, branding Bangabandhu as a “failed politician,” and linking Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia

Politicians practice demonising their opponents not because they want to prove themselves as angels, but because they want to hide their own failures

Let’s look at a few recent demonising statements from some of our politicians. The BNP’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was a failed politician. Also, he said, Ziaur Rahman was a successful politician. Then a few days later, the Awami League’s Joint General Secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif stated that many people suspected Khaleda Zia to have links with Ziaur Rahman’s assassination.

He stated that Khaleda Zia was the beneficiary of Ziaur Rahman’s death.

He was actually replying to BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement when he said Sheikh Hasina may

with Ziaur Rahman’s murder don’t only evoke a sense of exasperation. They also show us how the politicians make laughing stocks out of themselves.

Tarique Rahman could have easily glorified Zia without demonising Bangabandhu, and Mirza Fakhrul and Mahbub ul Alam Hanif had many other ways to impress their respective leaders without demonising the other, but they didn’t. To me, it would be a mistake if they thought that they could also convince people with their statements.

It reminds me of Ohio University psychology professor Mark Alicke’s explanation: “The human impulse to

She is treated almost as if she is a piece of property for them

blame grows out of the evolutionary need to avert harm. If a group of early humans thought their survival was threatened because a member wasn’t carrying his load – hunting, gathering, whatever – they’d point fingers, throw rocks, even commit murder.”

“Our blame culture is rooted in both nature and nurture. We still succumb to primitive impulses: If we stub a toe on a chair, we’ll kick it and curse at it, even though we know it’s irrational to blame inanimate objects. From childhood on, we’re schooled in the art of blame-shifting. Parents blame each other, teachers blame students, parents blame teachers,” said another US psychologist, Margaret Paul.

That was a psychological explanation. I think politicians in this part of the world practice demonising their opponents not because they want to prove themselves as angels, but because they want to hide their own failures. As I understand, this practice is quite unhealthy for the politicians themselves. No man is perfect, and there is nothing wrong in confessing one’s mistakes. People who make mistakes are those who actually work. It has been proven in all countries since the beginning of history. The people would also hold those in high esteem, who confess their failures and look forward to correct them.

We need to remember: No one is as good as he or she looks, and no one is as bad as he or she looks. l Ekram Kabir is a Dhaka Tribune columnist and the Executive Editor of Natunbarta.com.

Her father died just days before she was born and tragically she blames herself. He was a fisherman but one gloomy night, a ghost visited his boat and asked him for his fish. Her father refused the ghost’s his request and returned home with the catch.

He asked his wife to cook it for him, but she was heavily pregnant (with Assia) and ill. His mother scolded him, saying her daughter-in-law would do no cooking that night, and he could cook it himself or go to bed hungry. He grumbled and cooked it himself, eating the entire fish without sharing. Within less than three days, he succumbed to a terrible stomach ailment, one commonly known to plague fishermen who disrespect ghosts.

I reminded Assia she was not even born then, so she should not feel guilty. She solemnly replied that had her mother been well, she would never have allowed her father to eat that fish which belonged to the ghost.

Assia was born a week after the funeral and her paternal grandmother asked them to stay on, but her mother knew how little she had, so she returned instead to her own parents’ home in Rampal, Khulna. To feed her two girls, her mother did whatever work she could find: Sometimes a maid, or day labour on a farm, sometimes breaking bricks, or carrying buckets of water to construction sites.

Assia had to drop out of school as there was no money left for tuition after paying for her sister Asma’s medical bills.

Asma, she explained, though well past the normal age of puberty, had not grown any breasts, nor experienced menstruation. The condition worsened and Asma became weak and lethargic. Her mother spent a great

deal of money trying to treat her and finally, doctors said she would die within a year. Assia’s aunt in Satkhira knew of a kobiraj (witchdoctor) and suggested they pay him a visit.

The distance was too great for Asma to travel in her condition, so Assia’s mother went instead. The kobiraj charged Tk5,000 upfront and summoned a jinn to help them. The jinn was female, and she performed an operation late that night, while Assia and Asma slept in their room, huddled together for warmth.

Assia’s mother returned to Rampal, unsure of what to expect. Miraculously, within weeks, Asma began to bleed and within a year, she had developed full breasts. As instructed by the kobiraj, her mother married Asma off two years later. At that time, Assia was ten.

Assia’s mother was very beautiful, and she was still in her early 30s. She was drawing unwanted attention from neighbouring men so when an honest fisherman professed his love for her, Assia’s grandmother agreed to marry her off. Her mother moved in with that man, and Assia stayed with her grandmother.

Two years later, Assia’s paternal uncles found a boy for her to marry.

She did not want to leave her grandmother, but neither of them could say no to her uncles. The marriage took place. The boy, it turned out, was 28, more than double her age, and without a job. The boy’s father had received a boat from Shiree, which he took out to the Sundarbans to hunt crabs. Assia claims she was happy with her new family, but in reality she had no choice in the twists and turns of her life.

Her dependence on her uncles made it hard to refuse them, and they had incentives to keep marriage costs as low as possible. In this way, she is treated almost as if she is a piece of property for them to do with what they will.

Assia claims she was happy with her new family, but in reality she had no choice

I asked Assia if she had any particularly fond memories or dreams for the future. She recalled a school picnic trip to Norail where they ate mutton and rode on a ferris wheel. She dreams of another such trip someday. l Shazia Omar is Advocacy Advisor at Shiree.

Looking to Malaysia n Shohag Mostafij

W

riting about Malaysia reminds me of a quote by Tariq Ramadan: “Malaysia is a country unlike any other – full of promise and fragility. Its history, cultural and religious diversity make it a rich, compelling, and surprising land.”

Well, travelling is my favourite hobby.

I visited Malaysia in April and May this year. I was very amazed to see their infrastructural development. People are hard-working, friendly, kind, and very hospitable.

They have an array of delicious foods, plenty of historic interests, and a solid transportation system to attract international visitors. During my visit, two questions came up in my mind – what have been the driving forces of Malaysia’s success, and how were those developed.

I could sense that Malaysia – the Southeast Asian powerhouse – was redoubling its efforts to achieve high-income status by 2020. The situation in Malaysia right now shows that growth is solid, and momentum in the economy is picking up. For example, overall growth for 2013 was 4.7%, but in this year the economy expanded by more than 5.1%.

One of the key reasons behind this pickup has been high level of investment into infrastructure to remove some supply-side bottlenecks. Additionally, this has been supported by household spending – Malaysia has

very stable employment conditions so this is helping to sustain real growth in the economy.

The Malaysian government has also been enacting a number of reform measures that reach across the whole economy. The effects of these reforms are beginning to kick in now, and will continue. In addition, to restrain spending growth so as to manage the budget deficit, the government is also progressively liberalising certain sectors and installing a competition commission to oversee these new markets.

We need to have a longterm plan. People need to be more committed, hard-working, and passionate Furthermore, I learnt that the government has identified 12 key economic areas, which it has been identified as sectors with significant growth opportunities where Malaysia can compete globally. There are several sectors that are particularly important to the economy, including “soft” commodities related to food and sectors where Malaysia leverages its skilled workforce and good labour market conditions.

Malaysia exports a significant

amount of palm oil, which is used in a variety of food and consumer products like shampoo and cosmetics. Demand for these products (and the demand for palm oil) is rising as incomes are increasing across the Southeast Asian region.

Currently healthcare services (particularly for overseas visitors) are another area that Malaysia has been exploiting. It has a good supply of highly skilled medical labour and good infrastructure. This means that Malaysia delivers comparably quality healthcare to that in Singapore but 3040% cheaper.

Conventional tourism is also a growth sector for Malaysia – it currently attracts around 26 million visitors per year. In 2014, the government is targeting a “Visit Malaysia” year and is hoping to increase tourist numbers by 10%.

Another key growth sector is services outsourcing – particularly maintenance, repair, and operation – where airlines in particular are outsourcing skilled maintenance work to Malaysia due to our competitive labour rates and infrastructure capacity.

Basically, local and international businesses are positioning to take advantage of Malaysia’s growth and position in the Asian economy. Malaysia’s position in a fast-growing economic region means that it has a strong external focus. What is more interesting is that Malaysian businesses are looking further afield for growth. From 20002011, exports to non-TPPA members

(Trans Pacific Partnership Area, 12 predominantly advanced economies across the Asia-Pacific rim) have grown five times faster than exports to TPPA members (160% to 30%), driven by strong growth in China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Malaysia’s businesses, particularly its property developers, are also looking even further afield for growth.

A very interesting current example is the Battersea regeneration in London, where businesses from Malaysia and other Asian economies are key investors. It’s a really interesting signal of how dynamic and interlinked the global economy has become. In actual fact, many MNCs and business houses have chosen Malaysia as its multilingual and skilled work force is ideal for regional and global support services.

However, there are thousands of Bangladesh immigrant workers in Malaysia. I happened to meet many of them. They all tended to say they were doing well. However, their starting was not that good. Their agents had not kept their promises. The agents were supposed to give them housing facilities, good jobs, and other benefits. After arriving in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, many of them did not find anyone to pick them up.

This is how they began their struggling life in Malaysia.

Furthermore, thousands of workers are still suffering in relation to their extension of visa or work permit

A model to emulate? related issues. Bangladesh government and other relevant private agencies are expected to be more caring, cautious, and cooperative while sending those people to Malaysia. Our economy is largely dependent on the foreign remittance, while Malaysia has been a favourite destination of thousands of Bangladeshi workers.

I met a friend in Kuala Lumpur who used to be the managing director of a bank in Bangladesh. His wife is also a retired employee of Malaysia’s Central Bank. I had great conversations with them, and they had suggested a few things regarding the development of Bangladesh.

Mostly they prioritised on the issues of privatisation. We need to

have a solid long-term plan. General people need to be more committed, hard-working, and passionate about the prosperity of the country. Initiatives should be taken in attracting foreign investment. Developing infrastructures should be the key factor.

They also mentioned that it is essential to have dynamic, visionary leadership where the top leaders of Bangladesh would know the way, go the way, and show the way towards the real development. Just like the way Mahathir Mohamad played his role in bringing the country thus far without hankering after his own interest. l Shohag Mostafij is a development professional.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Children of War: The film is the thing?

Tisha’s battle towards promoting folk culture

n Mosabber Rahman

n Entertainment Desk A single episode drama “Jatrar Jatra” with Tisha in the lead role will be aired at 9pm tonight on NTV. A folk theatre in Bangladesh, Jatra was one of the popular entertainments in Bangladesh and the plot revolves around the dedication and fight of the youth of a village with the religious extremists to keep the ancient form of entertainment of Jatra alive among the people.

Once upon a time, the village of Shokhipur was famous for its Jatra. Eventually, the religious extremist group of the village

tries to eradicate the art-form saying that it goes against the religious and cultural belief of the society. A segment of villagers agree with the extremist group as they also had reservations regarding the lifestyle of the Jatra artistes. The youth of the village protest against the movement to banish the Jatra troupe and stand united against the injustice. In the end, they become successful in their endeavour to promote and preserve the rich heritage of Bangladesh.

Written by Tushar Abdullah, the drama also features Fazlur Rahman Babu, Shamol Moula, Dipu Baul and others. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Unconsciously Conscious Time: 9am to 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Road-3, Dhanmondi

Of Man and Earth II Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue, Rd-131, Circle -1

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Can You Handle the Truth?

Time: 9:30am – 8:00pm EMK Center, Road-16, Dhanmondi

This week I saw a film that requires viewer discretion. Let me confess upfront, it felt quite uncomfortable watching a film featuring graphic rape scenes, and that too sitting in an audience of sixty people aged 50 or above.

“Children of War” is the Bangla version of an Indian Hindi film.

Only the words spoken in Hindi have been dubbed into Bangla, whenever Urdu is spoken Bangla subtitles are used. All the Hindi background songs have also been rerecorded in Bangla. The film does not represent the best of offbeat Hindi films, such as “Barfi” and “Gangs of Wasseypur,” but it bears their polish and as a result looks better than any of our films on the subject.

This film is an amalgamation of two sub genres: firstly, Mumbai’s Hindi Patriotic films where the Bangladesh Liberation War is considered a misnomer for the Indo-Pak War (an example is a film called “1971” which won the 2007 National Award for Best Hindi Film); secondly, Kolkata’s Bangla Parallel Cinema dealing with mature themes like adultery, rape, prostitution (an example is “Mondo Meyer Upakhyan” which won the 2003 National Award for Best Film). This film might also fit a third genre called “exploitation films,” that is, a low budget film trying to gain distinction by “exploiting” current trends.

I believe this is the third release this year about the liberation war, and it’s not even mid-year, moreover, this is the second release by a debutant director, the other being “71 er Sangram.”

It’s 1971 again. A Pakistani army officer imprisons sixteen women in a camp and systematically rapes them, part of their war strategy is to impregnate so many women that it becomes a nation of bastard children.

One of the women imprisoned is the wife of a journalist, for some reason his life is spared and he searches for her throughout the film. One particular woman is allowed to move freely in and out of the rape-camp, and she smuggles out weapons to freedom fighters. From time to time we flash forward to a young leader lecturing a crowd. The Bangla dubbing sounds a lot like a Unilever commercial set in rural Bengal, however, it’s refreshing to hear Pakistani officers speak proper Urdu, a major flaw in our films.

The best thing in the entire film are the scenes with two young actors, playing brother and sister (straight out of “Pather Panchali”) in a story that has no real connection to the narrative. Had the film told their story alone, we might have gotten something akin to “Ivan’s Childhood.” It’s important to bite as much as one can chew. Films are not all about the film-toys (camera, lens, music), it’s also about casting the right actors and nurturing them; the (screenplay) play is still the thing, even before the film can hope to become the thing.

I know of no other instance in film history where so many first

Riddhi Sen and Rucha Inamdar in a scene from the movie time directors feel strongly about a single subject. Here are some examples of liberation war films made by first-time directors: “Meherjaan” (2011), “Joy Jatra” (2004), “Matir Moyna” (2002), “Aguner Parashmoni” (1995), “Nadir Naam Madhumati” (1994), “Ekatturer Jishu” (1993). The most talked about film on the subject by far is “Guerilla” (2011) which won 10 National Awards. Perhaps “Meherjaan” (2011) is the only film to be banned. The one closest to my heart, however, is the brilliant documentary “Muktir Gaan” (1995).

Our films may lack craft, they may lack polish, they may lack themovie-look, but they are made with sincerity.

It is difficult to recommend a film like “Children of War,” you will have to make up your mind yourself.

The fact that so many films are continuously being made on the subject proves there is a sense of dissatisfaction among filmmakers, maybe we feel: “The next one would be better.” One thing is clear though, the wait is not over yet. Perhaps Mostofa Sarwar Farooki should make the next one. Make no mistake, his kingdom might be small, but in his kingdom he is king. l

Love, rivalry and politics showcased in Hawai Mithai n Entertainment Desk

Reminiscent of Bengal and its people n Shadma Malik A solo art exhibition titled “Of Man and Earth II” by Syed Jahangir is on at the Bengal Art Lounge. The show is a treat for artists and art-lovers alike who will appreciate the dedication and technique behind the artworks.

Acrylic paintings and ink drawings dominate the 41st solo exhibition of the artist, depicting nature and the simple life of the people of rural Bengal. The rivers, vegetation and the people have dominated his canvas all throughout his life. His artistic endeavour is not only

aesthetic, but also portrays the marginalised people with an emotional appeal.

The artist’s series of work “After the flood” explains man’s struggle for livelihood. His figurative images portray that people are not assertive and goes on to show individuals busy in everyday activities. The best part about Syed’s work is the fact that he depicts the beauty of nature and the life of people without addressing any issue or posing any question towards society. He simply draws and paints his surrounding to his liking.

“The paintings are abstract and figurative - abstract because they have flat

surfaces and figurative because there is a representation of forms in space,” said architect and art critic Shamsul Wares.

The architect also said: “There is a deep spiritual content in the ink renderings exhibited at the Bengal Art Lounge in Gulshan. Syed Jahangir has achieved this by leaving large, empty white space in his drawings, where human figures and homesteads diminish and become ephemeral.” A music-lover, Jahangir obtained his graduation from the Institute of Arts and Crafts under the guidance of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. The exhibition will remain open till June 21. l

A new TV serial titled “Hawai Mithai” will have its first episode aired tonight at 8:15pm on Banglavision. The series written by Muhammad Mamun-ur-Rashid and directed by Debashis Barua Dip portrays the further ignition of a rivalry between two families who have been fighting for supremacy for the last three generations in the village of Chhayabithi.

In the upcoming elections, head of the rival families, Jahir of the Hazi family and Ibrahim of the Doctor family, are competing for the position of chairman. In order to gain victory, both of them engage in a battle of sabotage and conspiracy to acquire the much desired win. Rivalry, politics and love is shown with humour and emotion in the series.

Anisur Rahman Milon, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Shanarei Shanu, Tushar Khan, Munira Mithu, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Lutfor Rahman George, Pran Roy, Mukti and others form the cast of the serial. “Hawai Mithai” will be aired from Thrusday to Saturday every week at 8:15pm. l

A scene from Hawai Mithai

Karisma Kapoor set to marry a divorcee again n

Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, the new cultural venue of Bengal Foundation, will host a flute recital by eminent flautist M Moniruzzaman this evening. The recital is a part of the Arts Precinct’s current exhibition, “Second Sight” - selected works by SM Sultan from the private collection of Abul Khair. The exhibition is on view until 8pm, July 13.

The Arts Precinct will remain closed on Sundays.

SM Sultan is known to have had a deep love for classical Indian music, an art-form which was a source of inspiration for his paintings. He himself was also an accomplished flautist. The organisers claim that the motto of the event is to try to bring the audience closer to the artist himself by presenting drawings, early works and arranging the pieces by theme, rather than medium.

M Moniruzzaman is one of the leading flautists in the country at present. Monir has acquired mastery over several wind instruments including banshi, silver flute, saxophone, supra-saxophone, recorder and Chinese flute. In addition to performing at solo classical recitals, he accompanies to singers. l

Ricky Martin enjoys RickyaMartin being single enjoys father

being a single father Desk n Entertainment Singer Ricky Martin, father Deskof five-year-old twins, does not find single parn Entertainment enting tough. The 42-year-old star, had split from boyfriend Carlos Gonzalez

Entertainment Desk

Actor Karisma Kapoor, who has filed for divorce from her Delhi-based husband Sunjay Kapur recently, has moved on in her life. If rumours are to be believed, the pretty actress is all set to tie the knot with another man, who is also a divorcee.

A Bollywood Mantra report says that the man in question is 39-year-old Sandeep Toshniwal. He is the CEO of a successful pharmaceutical company and is also a father of two children.

Both Karisma and Sandeep have known each other for quite some time and are said to be very fond of each other. In fact, both their families are reportedly very happy about their alliance.

Though the actor is tight-lipped about her relation with Sandeep as the divorce case with Sunjay is not yet complete, reports suggest that the actor will remarry soon.

It seems history is repeating itself as Karisma is again getting married to a divorcee. Her ex-husband Sunjay was also a divorcee when she married him in 2003. Ever since she married Sunjay, the actor was in the news for her disturbed marital life. Things went out of hand when she found out that he was allegedly having an extramarital relationship with socialite Priya Sachdev. She then decided to leave him.

Like Sandeep, she too has two kids from her previous marriage. l

M Moniruzzaman’s flute recital today n Entertainment Desk

Game of Thrones scores 18.4 million viewers n Entertainment Desk George RR Martin’s fantasy series “Game Of Thrones” has become HBO’s most-watched TV show with around 18.4 million viewers per episode. According to a website, the award-winning series beat “The Sopranos” 2002 season’s record which has claimed 18.2 million viewers on an average per episode.

The 4th season of the show, which is based on the “A Song of Fire and Ice” novels, is currently airing, and has only two episodes remaining, while the channel has already renewed contract for the fifth and sixth season.

Earlier this week George RR Martin suggested that the hit US show may require more than its allotted seven seasons, and even a movie, to tell his full story. l

AbellaSinger in January this year, enjoys being a single father sons Ricky Martin, father of five-year-old twins, doestonot findMatteo sin- and Valentino, reportedtough.

Contactmusic. gle parenting The 42-year-old star, had split from boyfriend “I Carlos don’t know anything else, so this isthis theyear, journey thatbeing I embarked Gonzalez Abella in January enjoys a singlemyself into. father I madetothe decision bring my kids into this world and it hasn’t been sons Matteoto and Valentino, reported Contactmusic. difficult “I at don’t all. Myknow kids have a lot of love,” Martin said. anything else, so this is the journey that I emThe “Livin’ La Vida Loca” hitmaker insists to hebring givesmy hiskids kidsinto “a lot of love” barked myself into.

I made the decision this and enjoys together. world their and itlife hasn’t been difficult at all. My kids have a lot of love,” HeMartin is pleased single “Vida” is already a insists hit in his household, said. his Thelatest “Livin’ La Vida Loca” hitmaker he gives though it took for his his kids “a lotaofwhile love” and sons to approve enjoys theirthe lifetrack. together.

“WithHe my latesthis single is pleased latest ‘Vida,’single when“Vida” we started working is already on it athey just household, not listening. hit were in his And though then weit did fixes, tooksome a while for rearranged it and then allthe of a his sons to approve sudden, they were like ‘Oh!’ and track. now it’s all about, ‘Daddy, “With my latest sinare you going to singweVida?’” h e gle ‘Vida,’ when startsaid. l ed working on it they were just not listening.

And then we did some fixes, rearranged it and then all of a sudden, they were like ‘Oh!’ and now it’s all about, ‘Daddy, are you going to sing Vida?’” he said. l

Did you know?

Didier Drogba has only had two shots on target in 384 minutes at the World Cup, with both resulting in goals

Sport

Blatter confident over Cup as chaos grips Sao Paulo Football supremo Sepp Blatter voiced confidence on Thursday that Brazil would deliver a successful World Cup, as the city hosting the tournament’s opening match grappled with transport chaos.

Speaking in Sao Paulo just one week before the World Cup kicks off in the sprawling city, FIFA president Blatter predicted tensions threatening the tournament would subside once the football began.

“We at FIFA, we are confident, it will be a celebration,” Blatter said. “I’m an optimist. After the tournament kicks off I think there will be a better mood.”

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke insisted preparations were on track but acknowledged the opening weeks of the tournament would be the “most challenging.”

“We are in control, we have nothing to fear in the coming days,” Valcke said.

The assurances were at odds with the chaos gripping Sao Paulo on

Thursday, however, as subway workers went on strike in the Brazilian economic capital.

The Sao Paulo metro is the main link to the city’s stadium, and the strike could pose a logistical headache for cup organizers – as well as the 4.5 million passengers who use the system daily.

Frustrated commuters broke entrance grilles at the station that serves the World Cup stadium, Corinthians Arena.

After some of them jumped onto the tracks, system operators CPTM decided to open the station in a bid to calm the situation.

Sao Paulo was where mass protests erupted a year ago as citizens took to the streets to voice anger at rising public transport fares.

The unrest ballooned into nationwide demonstrations against the more than $11 billion being spent on the World Cup. During the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal, protests drew a million people into the streets -at times turning violent and overshadowing the tournament. l

“We will hand over those two files and they will take the time they need to reply,” said Deschamps.

“They are the first, Franck or Clement, to be very sad. Franck had problems but everything was going in the right direction until his situation suddenly aggravated.”

France start their World Cup campaign on June 15 against Honduras in Group E, where they will also meet Ec-

5 DAYS TO GO

A man (R) spins a football as a man and a boy wearing Argentina’s football team jerseys look on in old Dhaka yesterday

uador and Switzerland.

Ribery was instrumental in France’s qualifying campaign, scoring five goals and creating several chances for his team mates.

He has been suffering from lower back pains for weeks, playing his last game in the German Cup final on May 17 when he came as a substitute for Bayern Munich but could not finish the match.

Without him, Les Bleus beat Norway 4-0 and drew 1-1 against Paraguay in their two World Cup warm-up games.

Ribery’s spot on the left wing was taken by Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann and Newcastle United forward Loic Remy alternatively.

Both put in solid displays with Griezmann scoring the goal against Paraguay.

With Ribery out, Deschamps could have called up Manchester City’s Samir Nasri but having made clear he had not picked him in the first place because of his behaviour off the pitch, he overlooked him again.

France take on Jamaica in Lille on Sunday in their last warm-up game before the World Cup. l

Bangladesh A secure draw in four-dayer Nurul Hasan and Robiul Islam’s valiant last-wicket partnership and a brilliant hundred from opener Imrul Kayes guided the visiting Bangladesh A side to a draw against Sagicor High Performance Centre in the second and final four-day match at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday. The second-string side however lost the four-day series as they succumbed to a convincing 351-run defeat in the first four-dayer.

The last-wicket pair of Nurul and Robiul survived 25 intense minutes before the conclusion of the fourth and final day’s play as the visitors were on the verge of losing the game before the duo managed to prevent the Sagicor bowlers from taking the last wicket. Bangladesh A eventually finished their second innings on 242 for nine wickets in 102 overs.

The Bangladesh A side resumed the fourth day with 32 runs on the board for three wickets with Imrul the only batsman who displayed some resistance and at the same time played some gorgeous shots. This was Imrul’s eighth first-class hundred as the left-hander bludgeoned 15 boundaries and two sixes.

Shuvagata Hom provided support to

13

15 World Cup will be Lampard swansong: Mourinho

the left hander as the pair added 89 runs for the sixth wicket. Although, things were not looking bright when Imrul was finally dismissed after his hard-fought 112 off 247 deliveries while Shuvagata also departed following his 153-ball 39.

The Bangladesh A side were on the threshold of another humiliating defeat as captain Nasir Hossain was out without troubling the scorers. Wick-

BRIEF SCORE SHPC 354 all out and 354/5 Bangladesh A 219 all out and 242/9 Imrul Kayes 112, Shuvagata Hom 39 Sheldon Cottrell 4/51 Match Drawn et-keeper-batsman Nurul and Robiul though managed to survive the last 28 balls of the day.

Sagicor earlier posted 354 all out in their first innings after deciding to bat first. In reply, Bangladesh A conceded a first-innings lead of 135 runs as they were bundled out for 219.

The home side scored an identical 354 for five wickets in their second innings before declaring to give the visitors a target of 489 runs. l

REUTERS

Siddikur tied for fourth after 2nd Rd Siddikur Rahman carded one-underpar 71 to finish the second round of the Queen’s Cup at joint fourth place yesterday which is being held at the Santiburi Samui Country Club in Thailand.

The other Bangladeshi golfer Zamal Hossain slid down to 18th position after playing a two-over-par 71 despite having a decent opening round where he finished joint-eighth.

Siddikur, who began his career in the Queen’s Cup and with three top10s in the same meet, tied with former champion Chinnarat Phadungsil at fourth place. The 29-year-old golfing star will be on the hunt for a third Asian Tour victory after battling to two birdies against a single bogey.

“It is a bit tougher than the last few years as this year, the rough is quite long. The fairways are also narrower and all in all, it is tougher,” said Siddikur adding, “I missed some easy birdie putts but made some tough up and downs.

Overall, it was equal. I was not too disappointed missing those short putts.”

Meanwhile, Thai golfer Poom Saksansin brilliantly stayed bogey-free for the second straight day as a four-under-par 67 gave him a two-shot halfway lead over Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun. l

Wrap Gerrard up in cotton wool, says Hoddle

BD U-19 v MPCA U-19

Hosts win four-day series The Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team strode to a 134-run victory over Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) U-19 after the third and penultimate day of the second and final four-day match at BKSP-3 yesterday.

Resuming the third day on 13 runs for the loss of one wicket, Bangladesh U-19 lost their remaining nine wickets for 171 runs to be all out for 184 in their second innings. Thus, MPCA U-19 were set a target of 238 runs but the visitors could manage only 104 to concede the two-match four-day series 1-0.

Bangladesh U-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz was the most successful bowler for the home side taking four wickets for 15 runs while Abdul Quayyum, who scalped 6/80 in the first essay, picked up three wickets for 40 runs.

The hosts earlier put up 298-all out in their first innings. In reply, the visitors scored 244-all out to give Bangladesh U-19 a first-innings lead of 54 runs. l

14 Fabregas focused on Cup, not Chelsea: Pedro

DHAKA TRIBUNE

WORLD CUP FEVER IN BANGLADESH

France suffer major blow as Ribery ruled out of World Cup France’s World Cup chances suffered a severe blow when influential winger Franck Ribery was ruled out with lower back problems on Friday.

Coach Didier Deschamps also said that attacking midfielder Clement Grenier was out of the finals in Brazil with a groin problem as Les Bleus suffered their third injury since the 23-man squad was unveiled. Second-choice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda also pulled out.

“This morning before the collective training session ... he had to stop, the pain was too strong,” Deschamps told a news conference.

“We have made checks in the beginning of the afternoon, checks that confirmed the situation has aggravated and he is today not capable of training for a few weeks, let alone play a game.”

Ribery and Grenier will be replaced in the squad by Morgan Schneiderlin and Remy Cabella.

The replacements have to be validated by world governing body FIFA as they are made after the 23-man squad submission deadline, which was on June 2.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

A baby with the Honduran flag painted on his face is seen on a street in Tegucigalpa, on Thursday

AFP

England manager Roy Hodgson should wrap his talisman Steven Gerrard up in cotton wool because an injury to the 34-year-old captain would be disastrous for England’s World Cup plans, says Glenn Hoddle.

Hoddle, who coached England at the 1998 World Cup, said Hodgson must carefully manage the Liverpool midfielder’s game time in friendlies before the team’s opener against Italy in Manaus on June 14.

“Roy must have winced when his captain was hurt in an early tackle during the Peru game at Wembley, in the final warm-up game on home soil before heading off to Miami,” said Hoddle, England manager from 1996-1999.

“Personally, I wouldn’t have risked him for longer than a half, and in fact, wouldn’t have even started with him.

He needs to be wrapped up in cotton wool and protected like a National Treasure.

“Look at the major worry now cir-

culating around Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It’s horrible for the player, horrible for the manager.”

Arsenal winger Oxlade-Chamberlain injured his right knee against Ecuador in Miami on Wednesday and faces two weeks out.

“Now you can see why Roy didn’t play Gerrard against Ecuador, such is his importance, especially because of the role he will perform in Brazil - an injury to the skipper would spell disaster for Roy’s plans,” Hoddle said.

Hoddle, in a column for British bookmaker William Hill (www.williamhill.com), said Hodgson simply cannot risk not having his skipper lead England out against the Italians.

“Gerrard is as important to England as Andrea Pirlo is to Italy; both vastly experienced, and hugely influential in midfield, where the games will be won or lost.

“The worry for Roy and England going into this tournament is that there is no natural understudy to Gerrard.

Frank Lampard is the nearest, but nowhere near as effective in his long range of passing as Gerrard, nor as robust.” l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Van Persie declares himself fit Netherlands captain Robin van Persie has declared himself 100 percent fit for the World Cup as the Dutch national side arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday for the June 12-July 13 tournament. The Manchester United striker was withdrawn at half-time of his country’s final warm-up game against Wales in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Van Persie added that he had also fully recovered from the knee injury which kept him out action for two months towards the end of the Premier League season.

–Reuters

Sport

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Bring on the women referees: Marta

Benzema has no regrets over injury

Marta, the global star of women’s football, on Thursday called on FIFA to let women take charge of men’s World Cup games. The five-time world player of the year also told AFP in an interview that more women must be allowed to follow the example of Helena Costa, the Portuguese who recently took charge of a French professional men’s team. Marta Vieira da Silva, 28, better known as just Marta, said that only FIFA could answer the question why women have not been allowed to officiate World Cup matches. –AFP

France striker Karim Benzema said Friday he has no regrets risking his World Cup place by playing for Real Madrid in their Champions League final triumph. “It was not a mistake to play and I would do it again,” Benzema, who only attended his first full team training with France on Wednesday, told Madrid daily Marca. He insisted that he is ready for the World Cup. The 26-year-old striker aggravated a groin strain playing in Real’s 4-1 victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid on May 24.

–AFP

Spain expecting to feel the heat Spain are expecting to feel the heat in their World Cup title defense, and not just from their rivals.

Barcelona striker Pedro Rodriguez said Thursday that the hot, humid weather in the host country will be a challenge for all of the teams.

Spain reached the final of the Confederations Cup last year, falling 3-0 in the final to Brazil.

“It’s always hot and it’s very difficult,” he said. “Last year we had matches where because of the time and the temperature, it was very complicated to adapt.”

In a World Cup that starts on June 12, “we are going to find the same thing,” Pedro told reporters in Washington, where the reigning World Cup champions have been training since Tuesday.

The stop-over in the US capital on the way to Brazil provides a chance to get used to hot, humid weather, as well as to recover from jet lag.

“We need to be able to adapt as quickly as possible and be in good phys-

Rooney shrugs off Scholes criticism Wayne Rooney says he is ready to play - and in any position - for England as he shrugged off critics of his recent form.

The England forward was quick to deal with any suggestions that he might have had to be coaxed into that role by England manager Roy Hodgson.

“Obviously pleased to score and get another 60-65 minutes. I felt good you need game time, I was delighted to start the game,” Rooney told reporters.

Former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes recently questioned whether Rooney had peaked already in his career and whether he might face a struggle to start for England in the World Cup but Rooney made it clear that he was not concerned about opinions from outside of the England camp.

“I’m not really interested in what anyone else has to say, I am interested in what Roy Hodgson and the coaching staff here,” he said. l

ical shape to deal with the conditions, so they don’t affect us,” Pedro said.

“La Roja” have two Group B matches in cities where they think heat could be a factor, their opener against the Netherlands in Salvador and their second match against Chile in Rio de Janeiro.

They play a third group match in Curitiba.

Spain continue their preparations with a warm-up friendly today against El Salvador Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is already looking ahead eagerly to Spain’s June 13 opening match against the Netherlands – the team Spain beat in the 2010 final in South Africa.

“We know it is going to be very hard,” he said. “I think they’ll want to win that game, but so will we. Our objective is to be at 100 percent for the opener.”

Spain continue their preparations with a warm-up friendly on Saturday against El Salvador. l

Spain’s national team players laugh and play during a warm-up drill at their training session at RFK Stadium in Washington on Thursday

REUTERS

England seek help for mind games Fabregas focused on Cup, not Chelsea: Pedro A transfer of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona to English club Chelsea will be “a pity” for his current club, his Barcelona and Spain teammate Pedro Rodriguez said Thursday.

“I’ve not talked with Cesc as yet.

He’s a very good player for us. If he leaves it would be a shame for Barca,” Pedro said as Spain prepared for a World Cup warm-up friendly in the US capital against El Salvador on Saturday.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique had let the cat out of the bag over a supposed 33 million-euro ($45 million) move by Fabregas while chatting with Spain manager Vicente del Bosque at a press conference in Washington.

His remark was picked up by a Spanish television microphone. No club was men-

tioned, but Chelsea manager Mourinho has confirmed his side’s interest.

It’s an unwelcome distraction as Spain prepare for their World Cup title defense, but Pedro said he didn’t think any tension would linger between Fabregas and Pique.

“They are calm about it,” he said.

“It was an awkward situation, I don’t know if it will affect them.

Although Pedro thought it would have been better “if the comments hadn’t been made,” he said Pique and Fabregas had turned their attention to Brazil.

“Now they are dealing with what they need to deal with,” he said.

Spain and Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta said he’d heard nothing official about a move.

“But Cesc is a great player and has a lot of Premier League experience,” he said. “I think great players are always welcome at great clubs.” l

Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo as their clinical penalty marksman, but if England are thrust into another World Cup sudden death clash their heads may turn to Steve Peters.

The renowned sports psychologist has been hired to put steel into a squad often shown to lack killer instinct and which has the World Cup’s worst penalty shootout record.

England lost on penalties in 1990, 1998 and against Ronaldo’s Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.

Germany, by comparison, have played four and won four.

England are practising penalties “a lot,” according to team captain Steven Gerrard, who saw his 2006 penalty saved.

“It is a difficult situation to put into words and describe it. There is a lot of pressure,” he told the BBC this week.

“You have an awful lot more time to think about your penalty and what is at stake is a lot bigger and it is a pressure situation.”

Failing to handle pressure was one of the reasons given by former manager Fabio Capello for England’s failure to shine at the 2010 World Cup. England drew 1-1 with the United States in the group stage and lost 4-1 to Germany in a round of 16 humiliation.

“It is a mental thing. Absolutely,” Capello said at the time.

“When you are under pressure, big pressure, sometimes the legs do not work normally,” Capello said.

England head to the Brazil World Cup with Gerrard and star striker Wayne Rooney, both burdened by psychological issues that could weigh down their country’s chances.

Hodgson believes that Peters is the solution.

As well as working with Gerrard’s Liverpool club side during their rise to Premier League title contenders, Peters

has also been instrumental in the careers of former snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and British Olympic cycling gold medallists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton.

He could be just the man to help Rooney, whose World Cup record reads played eight matches, scored none.

The 28-year-old Rooney is desperate to atone and said he would consult Peters in a bid to overcome the pressure that comes with being England’s talisman.

Peters may need to have a word or two with Gerrard, who has been battling to move on from the costly slip against Chelsea that denied his club the chance to win the English league title for the first time since 1990.

One of the key messages within Peters’ so-called ‘chimp management’ model is the utter futility of “beating yourself up” over past mistakes.

Another is to live with perspective and to adopt a mindset that puts doing your best far above the actual outcome of the sporting event. l

Belgium worries over World Cup Hazard lights

ARGENTINE WORLD CUP STARS A fan takes a selfie with the statue of Argentina’s football player Lionel Messi (top) after it was unveiled, along with statues of former Argentine stars Diego Maradona (down left) and Gabriel Batistuta, ahead of the 2014 World Cup at a public square in Buenos Aires on Thursday REUTERS

Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard’s form ahead of the World Cup has sparked a feverish debate in his home country where one former international has called for the Chelsea star to be dropped.

Belgium have been tipped as a team who could upset the favourites at the World Cup. But two-time World Cup veteran Marc Degryse says the 23-year-old Hazard looked worryingly distracted during two warm up games for their Group H campaign against Russia, South Korea and Algeria.

Belgian coach Marc Wilmots should have a sharp word with Hazard, despite in his goal in Belgium’s 2-0 win over Sweden last Sunday, said Degryse, who played with Wilmots in the national side.

His criticism echoed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after Chelsea lost 3-1 at home to Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

“He has to work harder defensively,” said the 48-year-old Degryse, who scored 23 times in 63 appearances for Belgium.

“Against Sweden he switched off several times, just like he did in the Champions League for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid.

“If that doesn’t change Wilmots will have to resolve it by dropping him.”

Hazard moved to the English Premier League in 2012 for a reported 32

million pounds ($54 million) after inspiring Lille to the 2011 French title.

Degryse, who scored twice in seven appearances at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, said Hazard needs a wake up call from time to time to be shaken out of complacency.

“Hazard is the type of player that sometimes needs a kick up the arse!” said Degryse.

“It is time for him to produce a good performance, on which he leaves his imprint.

“We have been waiting a long time for this. We have the right to expect this of a lad who is as talented as he is.

If he doesn’t feel concerned about this he has to give way to somebody else.”

While Wilmots has dismissed the concerns of Degryse and others, saying that he expected Hazard to be on top form for Saturday’s friendly with Tunisia. He did add though that he would drop the player if he does not perform.

“He (Hazard) has my full support,” said Wilmots, who guided Belgium to their first World Cup finals since 2002.

“He needs matches to get into the rhythm. However, there can be no doubt about his ability or form when one reflects on how he played for Chelsea last season.

“That said if he plays badly I will not hesitate to replace him.”

One theory being mooted is that Hazard has been distracted by talk of a transfer to French champions Paris Saint Germain, who have already bought his Chelsea team-mate David Luiz. Wilmots, though, is having none of that. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Thirimanne hits career-best in Sri Lanka run-fest

QUICK BYTES MPCA U-17 v BD U-17

BD U17s start well The visiting Bangladesh Under-17 cricket team began well in the third three-day match against Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) U-17 in Indore as the second day’s play ended yesterday with a 302-run lead for the visitors. Resuming the second day’s proceedings on 288/5, Bangladesh U-17 added 103 runs losing their remaining five wickets to be dismissed for 391 in their first innings. Md. Rakib scored 124 off 169 balls while Jaker Ali Anik posted 85. In reply, MPCA U-17 were batting on 89/1 at stumps.

–Tribune Desk

Josephites clinch ISPI football title St. Joseph clinched the title of the ISPI Inter-School six-a-side football tournament beating Lalbag Model School and College 3-1 in the final yesterday.

Jobaer and Shuvo netted one apiece for the Josephites while Faisal scored the consolation goal for Lalbag. Earlier, St. Joseph edged past Rahmatullah Model High School 1-0 in the day’s first semifinal while Lalbag beat BN College 2-0 in the other semi.

–Tribune Desk

Bolt to miss Ostrava and Paris meets Jamaica’s Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, currently recovering from a foot injury, said Friday he is not ready to race at meets in Ostrava or Paris. The six-time Olympic champion said however that he was not ready to return after missing several weeks of training in March and April. “Unfortunately due to the training that I missed I am behind where I am at normally at this time of year and will not be ready to race in the Ostrava Golden Spike meet or Meeting Areva in Paris,” the 27-year-old said on his website.

–AFP

Norwegian Deila appointed Celtic coach Norwegian Ronny Deila has been appointed manager of Scottish champions Celtic on a 12-month rolling contract, the club announced on Friday. The 38-year-old former defender takes over from Neil Lennon, who left the Scottish champions two weeks ago after four years in charge. “I will treasure this opportunity and will give everything I have to achieve success for Celtic and our wonderful fans,” said Deila, who guided Stromsgodset to their first title in 43 years last season and won the Norwegian Cup in 2010.

–AFP

A worker sells sweets next to a replica of the Fifa World Cup trophy, made from sweets, at a shop in Kolkata on Thursday

Platini backs possible 2022 World Cup re-vote European soccer chief Michel Platini, one of the most prominent figures to vote four years ago to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has called for the vote to be held again if allegations of corruption in Qatar’s bid are proved.

World soccer governing body FIFA is investigating the bids that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 Cup to Russia, including allegations that bribes were paid to secure the Qatari bid. A former U.S. prosecutor is due to deliver a report in July, about a week after the end of the upcoming World

Cup in Brazil, which could see Qatar stripped of the Cup. “Should corruption be proven, it will take a new vote and sanctions,” Platini, a French former soccer legend who now heads European soccer governing body UEFA, told sports daily L’Equipe, the first time he has backed potentially moving the Cup. Qatar’s 2022 bid has long been under fire because the tiny country has no soccer tradition, few domestic fans and summer temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) during the months when the World Cup is played.

DAY’S WATCH

Indian hair stylist Rabin Das applies colour on the hair of a football fan after the haircut inside his saloon on the outskirts of Kolkata yesterday REUTERS

Hockey World Cup 2014 6:25 PM India v Malaysia Ten Action Hockey World Cup 2014 7:55 PM England v Australia Star Sports 4 10:50PM F1: Canadian GP Qualifying Star Sports 2 7:30 PM Natwest T20 Blast Worcestershire v Durham Neo Sports 7:00 PM Roland Garros 2014 : Finals: Women’s singles followed by Men’s Doubles

The world’s top two players, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, will contest Sunday’s French Open final following the Spaniard’s 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 centre court demolition of Andy Murray on Friday.

Earlier Djokovic had won through his semi-final with a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Ernests Gulbis Of Latvia.

Top seed and eight-time winner Nadal now stands just one win away from becoming the first man to take the French Open title five times in a row, surpassing Bjorn Borg.

He also is on the cusp of a 14th Grand Slam title, which would put him level at second best on the all-time list with Pete Sampras and three behind

‘WC will be Lampard swansong’

Sony Six 12:30 AM Pre-World Cup Friendlies 2014 Argentina v Slovenia Ten Sports

Sharapova, Halep clash in French Open final The French Open final on Saturday between Russian superstar Maria Sharapova and Romanian upstart Simona Halep sees a stark contrast in styles and status.

The 27-year-old Russian is the biggest name in women’s sport, a global icon, and the holder of four Grand Slam titles, the last coming in Paris two years ago when she became just the sixth woman in the Open era to complete a career sweep of the major titles.

Halep, an unassuming 22-year-old from the Black Sea port city of Constanta, will be playing in her first Grand

Slam final, having struggled, like many before her, to make the transition from junior to senior level.

Sharapova will tower over her opponent at 1.88 metres (6 feet 2 inches) compared to Halep’s 1.68 metres (5 feet six inches). But all the signs are there for one of the most intriguing French Open women’s finals in years and, many hope, the first to go to three sets since Capriati defeated Clijsters 12-10 in the third in 2001.

Halep, who has broken into the top bracket of women’s tennis in the last 18 months, has by far the most impressive figures of the two in this year’s tournament. She has reached the final without dropping a set, while Sharapova in her last three matches has had to go all the way after losing the first set. l

Nadal to play Djokovic in final

Roma swoop for Mali midfielder Keita AS Roma have completed the free-transfer signing of Mali international Seydou Keita from Valencia, the Italian club said in a statement on Thursday. The former Barcelona player agreed a one-year contract with Roma who finished second in Serie A this season to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

The 34-year-old Keita started this term at Chinese Super League club Dalian Aerbin after spending four years at Barca. He then returned to Spain to sign a six-month contract with Valencia in January. His only goal for the club was the fastest in La Liga history, arriving 7.6 seconds into their 2-2 draw at Almeria.

–Reuters

This week, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper published what it said were excerpts from leaked emails and financial accounts showing millions of pounds were spent in bribes to persuade soccer officials to vote for Qatar’s bid. Qatar’s bid team denies the accusations.

In his interview, Platini defended his decision to back the Qatari bid at the vote in 2010: “I do not regret anything, I think it was the right choice for FIFA and for world football.”

Qatar beat rival bids from Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea to stage the 2022 World Cup. l

REUTERS

Lahiru Thirimanne’s career-best 156 helped Sri Lanka pile on the runs against Northamptonshire on Friday.

Sri Lanka, at lunch on the second day of four at Northampton, were 485 for five in their final match before next week’s first Test against England at Lord’s.

Sri Lanka were 358 for three overnight. But before play resumed on Friday, opener Kaushal Silva retired on 152 not out with what the Sri Lanka tour manager said was a stomach illness.

Silva batted for just over six hours, facing 260 balls with 21 fours and two sixes. Together with Thirimanne, captain in the absence of the rested Angelo Mathews, he’d put on 238 for the fourth wicket.

Left-hander Thirimanne resumed on 120 not out, having been dropped first ball Thursday off a regulation chance by wicketkeeper Ben Duckett.

Thirimanne batted for nearly five hours facing 221 balls including 14 fours and two sixes. Spriegel then had a personal return of two wickets for no runs in eight balls, as Sri Lanka’s 441 for four became 442 for five, when he bowled Dinesh Chandimal on the sweep for 47.

But Dilruwan Perera, primarily a slow bowler, launched expensive leftarm spinner Graeme White (none for 129) for two sixes. l

England midfielder Frank Lampard has decided to bow out from international football after the World Cup, according to his former manager at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho.

Lampard, 35, was released by Chelsea at the end of last season and although he is expected to play on at club level, Mourinho believes that the time has come for him to retire from the international game.

“I think the World Cup is the perfect way for somebody with more than 100 caps (104) to finish his career in the national team,” Mourinho said.

“I told him that: ‘Don’t go more than the World Cup. The World Cup is the right moment to finish.’”

Asked if Lampard had accepted his advice, Mourinho added: “Yeah. Finish well and finish around 110 caps is a crazy number for a field player. He’s not a goalkeeper that plays till 40 years of age.

“So (it’s the) right moment. And after that, he will be free just to play for a club and let’s see what is his decision.

“But he’s a man to play a major role in a team, not like happened in the last year -- playing sometimes, sometimes not playing, playing 60 minutes, not starting every game.

“I think for him, for his mentality, for his personality, it’s better to get a club and probably a competition where he is really the top man.”

Speaking earlier this week, Lampard suggested that he was yet to make his mind up about whether to retire from

international football.

“It’s very hard to get the words out to say that,” he said. “I won’t say it at this point. I’ve never said it before and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do so.

“Most players finish with England in their low thirties at the most. I’ve had some of my most enjoyable England years in the back end, in the last two years.

“When you’re young you don’t always appreciate being in the squad, the ambience around the squad. That’s why I won’t write myself off yet.”

- ‘Not the end’ Lampard spent 11 years at Chelsea, winning three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League and Europa League, and becoming the club’s alltime leading scorer with 211 goals.

He has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States, but Mourinho is convinced that he will ultimately return to Stamford Bridge in some capacity.

On saying goodbye to Lampard, who he described as the best player in his position “of the last decade”, Mourinho said: “You can’t imagine how difficult it was. l

Roger Federer.

Murray failed in his bid to become the first British player to contest the French Open final since Bunny Austin 77 years ago and will now turn his attention to defending his Wimbledon crown.

It was his worst loss to Nadal in nine Grand Slam match-ups between the two, surpassing the nine games he managed in the 2008 Wimbledon quarter-finals. “I think that today I played my best tennis at Roland Garros this year,” said Nadal.

“After 10 years of coming here and to be back in the final for the ninth time - it’s something I never believed would happen in my life. He (Djokovic) is an unbelievable opponent. He is always a big challenge and I need to play at my very best.

He beat me the last few times we played.”

Nadal was aware that the last time he played Murray -- on clay in Rome

last month -- the Scot won the first set 6-1, before losing in three.

This time it was a very different scenario as the Spaniard, who turned 28 on Tuesday, hit the deck running, winning the first three games in just 10 minutes and for the loss of just three points.

Murray finally opened his account, but the one break of serve was enough for Nadal to take the first set 6-3.

It was another storming start to the second set from Nadal who bludgeoned two big forehand winners past Murray to set up breakpoint which he took when the seventh seed weakly hit a high forehand wide.

Murray was failing to make any impression on the Nadal serve with not a single break point offering him any hope, and it became an even steeper mountain to climb for him when he dropped serve for the third time to put Nadal 5-2 up. l

Amigos champions in five-a-side futsal Amigos emerged as the champions of the Underground Champions League five-a-side futsal tournament beating Club 11 Classic 4-3 in a thrilling final at the Abahani outer basketball court yesterday.

Club 11 Classic skipper Tanin put his

side ahead before Shakil equalised the margin in the first half. Shakil took the lead for Amigos to score his second of the night but the delight did not last long when Tanin leveled again. Amigos netted two more to seal victory with skipper Imran scoring one. Club 11 could only manage to reduce the margin to 4-3 scoring one in the injury time. l

Former Bangladesh footballer Kaiser Hamid speaks during the prize giving ceremony of the Underground Champions League five-a-side futsal tournament at the Abahani outer basketball court yesterday MUMIT M

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Government to recruit more alternative medicine doctors Traditional medicine to get preference in healthcare

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Health Ministry has taken the initiative to recruit more doctors who offer alternative medical care services including Unani, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic treatments – at the district and upazila hospitals.

In a bid to boost the quality of alternative medical care (AMC) in the country, 271 new doctors – 94 from the homeopathic discipline, 92 from Unani and 85 from Ayurvedic – will be appointed at the upazila and district level hospitals, health directorate sources said. Currently, the 45 district hospitals in the country each have only one doctor offering AMC services.

The recruitment test is scheduled on June 7, with 536 candidates expected to appear.

Several senior health officials told the Dhaka Tribune that most high-dose antibiotic drugs are not as effective as before, because of irrational use of allopathic drugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended alternative health care systems to avoid health risks.

Dr Dinesh Sutradhor, director (AMC) of the health directorate, told the Dhaka Tribune that traditional health care services are safe methods of treatment.

Sutradhor, also the line director of the AMC programme in Health Nutrition and Population Sector Development Programme (HNPSDP), added that the drugs used for traditional treatment have no side effects and are more cost-effective than any other modern treatment method.

He said a five-yearly (2011-2016) operation plan of the AMC programme has been running under the HPNSDP to popularise and create awareness among the general people to take traditional medicine.

Sutradhor said they had set a target to provide alternative health care to 30% patients at public hospitals across the country. Around 15% to 20% patients in 45 districts are currently getting health care from alternative doctors, he claimed.

One of the chief targets set by the government under the National Health Policy 2011 was to upgrade the traditional health care system and education.

Health directorate sources said the country currently has three public unani, ayurvedic and homeopathy colleges, as well as 21 other unani and ayurvedic colleges in the private sector.

Khodadad Khan, an adviser to the Unani Oshud Shilpa Samiti, told the Dhaka Tribune that traditional medicine was used for treating 24 diseases under primary health care in Bangladesh. More than 82% raw materials of traditional medicine were available inside the country, he added.

He said India, Nepal, China and many other European countries are now relying on traditional medicine for primary health care.

Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement Bangladesh, said the alternative doctors are now unable to gain the patients’ trust, although a large number of people had relied on knowledgeable alternatives doctors in the past.

He said alternative treatments could be used for children, but not for emergency care. However, the qualification of the doctors and the quality of medicine should be checked properly, he added. l

Tipoo’s refusal to leave might prompt ‘harsh’ action n Udisa Islam

Senior journalist Mahbubul Alam dies

n Tribune Report Former adviser to a caretaker government and also the former editor of the daily Independent, Mahbubul Alam died at a city hospital yesterday morning at the age of 78.

Brig Gen (retd) Shahidul Haque Mallik, director of Birdem Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune that the senior journalist died at the hospital at around 9:20am.

He was suffering from old age complications, said family members.

Mahbubul Alam was on life support since Thursday at the Intensive Care Unit of Birdem Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Mahbubul Alam started his career as a journalist in 1953. Alam went on retirement on October 19 last year after serving the daily Independent as the editor for 18 years. Later, he was made an adviser to the Beximco Group.

He was also the managing director and chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Rawshan Ershad and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had expressed profound shock at the demise of the veteran journalist. l

The Law Ministry is reportedly waiting to receive an application for six months’ leave from ICT Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arif Tipoo, with sources claiming that “harsh” steps might be taken against Tipoo if he refused to submit it.

Sources from the International Crimes Tribunal prosecution team said the ministry wanted to solve all controversies regarding the issue this week, without creating any new ones. However, no one from the prosecution team including the acting chief agreed to be quoted on the matter.

In a press conference last week, Chief Prosecutor Tipoo urged the ministry to resolve the issue A prosecutor, seeking anonymity, claimed that the ministry had offered Tipoo to take six months leave – which would allow him to continue enjoying the facilities that he now gets – while acting chief Haider Ali would remain in office. If Tipoo refused to accept the offer, the ministry might make a harsh decision against him, the prosecutor added.

Tipoo, however, had earlier refused to submit the application claiming that in order for him to place a fresh application; the government would first need to accept the joining letter that he submitted on April 30 after returning home from abroad.

Asked on whether he was approached by anyone from the ministry for a fresh leave application, Tipoo refused to comment.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq told journalists last week: “I know he [Tipoo] is still sick and he is now supposed to be on a six months’ leave.”

Ministry sourced confirmed that the ICT chief has not submitted any new leave application as of Thursday.

Preferring to stay unnamed, a prosecutor claimed that the ministry had no plan to replace the chief, but that reshuffles would take place only in the mid-level.

On Monday, acting chief prosecutor Haider Ali denied allegations that there was dissent inside the prosecution team.

Requesting anonymity, prosecution team members who support Tipoo told the Dhaka Tribune that they were under surveillance and could not comment on the issue until the ministry took any further step.

The confusion was created after the Law Ministry, in a gazette notification on April 13, said senior prosecutor Syed Haider Ali would work as the “acting chief prosecutor” during Tipoo’s one month absence. The ministry, however, neither issued any further notice nor withdrew the gazette after Tipoo’s return.

In a press conference last week, Chief Prosecutor Tipoo urged the ministry to resolve the issue.

Later in the week, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the prosecution team should be reshuffled as soon as possible.

“There is no doubt that he [Tipoo] was a prominent lawyer. But he has become old now. At this point, the person concerned should consider whether he is fit for work or not,” the attorney general added. l

Volunteers from JAAGO Foundation bring out a bicycle rally in the capital yesterday, as part of a programme to mark the World Environment Day. The foundation also held a tree plantation and green message graffiti campaign COURTESY

Extensive plan to develop tourism n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Finance Minister AMA Muhith, in his proposed budget for the next fiscal, has laid out an extensive plan to boost the country’s tourism sector and turn it into a significant revenue earner.

According to the budget document placed by the minister on Thursday, the government is planning to declare 2016 as tourism year and launch an international campaign called “Visit Bangladesh Campaign 2016.”

“We have already started our preparations to observe 2016 as tourism year,” Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told the Dhaka Tribune.

He, however, said they needed to declare “special zones” for the tourists to develop the sector.

On Thursday, Muhith also said: “Steps have been taken to develop exclusive tourist zones under the PPP [public private partnership] initiative.”

The budget document also read that the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Board needed to develop products, as well as launch awareness campaigns, integrated advertising and public relation campaigns. The ministry also has plans to establish a “One Stop Service Centre” for foreign tourists next year, the document also reads.

On the other hand, as part of a long term plan, the government plans to allocate Tk45 crore for setting up a specialised television channel by June 2021 to develop the tourism sector.

From July, the government will also start finalising its extensive plan for the sector – which is expected to end by June 2016 – with the help of Tk10 crore in allocations, according to the budget document.

Other proposed allocations by Muhith included a Tk5.2 crore allocation to set up a 150-seat floating restaurant on Hatirjheel lake and a

souvenir shop; Tk97.5 crore to establish tourist trains in different routes like Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Rajshahi; and Tk90 crore to establish five modern tourist marine vessels to attract foreign visitors.

The government also has other midterm and long-term plans that include modernising the airports.

In his speech, the finance minister also said Cox’s Bazar airport will be upgraded to an international airport within a short time, while a second runway will also soon be constructed for Shahjalal International Airport.

The arrival of global tourists in Bangladesh fell by 8% to 5.5 lakh in 2013, compared to 5.94 lakh in the previous year, according to Bangladesh Bank.

However, ministry officials expressed hopes that the number will double within a couple of years once the initiatives are taken. l

Traces of another world found on the Moon n BBC

Clay potteries hanged on the shades of two-storey pucca houses in Rajshahi’s Kakonhaat have been a common nesting area for pigeons for a very long time. However, construction of regular buildings in area has been destroying the pigeon population drastically AZAHAR UDDIN

Researchers have found evidence of the world that crashed into the Earth billions of years ago to form the Moon.

Analysis of lunar rock brought back

by Apollo astronauts shows traces of the “planet” called Theia.

The researchers claim that their discovery confirms the theory that the Moon was created by just such a cataclysmic collision.

The study has been published in the journal Science.

The accepted theory since the 1980s is that the Moon arose as a result of a collision between the Earth and Theia 4.5 billion years ago.

Theia was named after a goddess in Greek mythology who was said to be the mother of Selene, goddess of the Moon. It is thought to have disintegrated on impact with the resulting debris mingling with that from the Earth and coalescing into the Moon.

It is the simplest explanation, and

fits in well with computer simulations.

The main drawback with the theory is that no-one had found any evidence of Theia in lunar rock samples.

Earlier analyses had shown Moon rock to have originated entirely from the Earth whereas computer simulations had shown that the Moon ought to have been mostly derived from Theia.

Alien origin

Now a more refined analysis of Moon rock has found evidence of material thought to have an alien origin.

According to the lead researcher, Dr Daniel Herwartz, from the University of Goettingen, no-one has found definitive evidence for the collision theory, until now.

“It was getting to the stage where some people were suggesting that the collision had not taken place,” he told BBC News.

“But we have now discovered small differences between the Earth and the

Moon. This confirms the giant impact hypothesis.”

But the difference, some say, could be explained by material absorbed by the Earth after the Moon formed.

And Prof Alex Halliday of Oxford University, is among many scientists who are surprised that the difference between the Theian material found in the Moon rock and the Earth is so small.

“What you are looking for is a much bigger difference, because that is what the rest of the Solar System looks like based on meteorite measurements,” he said.

Dr Herwartz measured the difference in what is called the isotopic composition of the oxygen contained in rocks on Earth and Moon rock. This is the ratio of different forms of oxygen.

Studies of meteorites from Mars and the outer solar system show that these ratios are markedly different - rather like a fingerprint. So Prof Halliday and others are puzzled by the fact that the fingerprints of Earth and Theia seem almost identical. l

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