13 Sep, 2014

Bhadro 29, 1421 Zilqad 17, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 162

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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AVENUE-T

8 | PRESCRIPTION

9 | HERITAGE

14 | SPORT

CHASING WATERFALLS AT PUKUR PARA, BANDARBAN

HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

PERSIAN PERCEPTIONS

OLD FOES REAL, ATLETICO EYE EARLY LIGA BOOST

10 bank accounts identified for financing militants

ST R AW B E R RY S C H O O L

DB investigating account holders who sent money to Ansarullah chief trace the financiers and are now coln Rabiul Islam and Mohammad lecting information on them; we hope Jamil Khan

Bangladesh Bank has identified 10 accounts of private banks that were used for transacting large amounts of money suspected to have been used for financing militant activities, including purchase of weapons and organising subversive activities.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) at Bangladesh Bank recently sent a 90-page report on its findings to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for investigating the account details and bringing the perpetrators to book. The DMP later passed on the report to the Detective Branch of police for further investigation.

Sheikh Nazmul Alam, deputy commissioner of the DB police, said procedures were under way to take action against those who were responsible for financing militant activities.

“We have started our activities to

Report: India’s Saradha Group funded Jamaat violence n Tribune Report The Saradha Group of India extended considerable financial assistance to Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh to help the party create unrest when Sheikh Hasina’s government began trying its top leaders for war crimes, Kolkata’s Anandabazar Patrika reported yesterday quoting a Bangladeshi intelligence report.

The intelligence report accused Ahmed Hassan Imran, a parliamentarian of Trinamool Congress, of playing the key role in sending the money to Jamaat, and added that the Bangladeshi authorities had officially complained to the Indian government about this.

A whopping sum of money, the intelligence report said, had reached Jamaat and its associate bodies through Imran in 2012-13 and a big portion of it came from Saradha. Although Imran denied the charge, saying he had no connection with Jamaat, the Indian intelligence report also largely supported the allegation.

Apart from money, Imran had a hand in sending several shipments of firearms and explosives to Jamaat, the Bangladeshi intelligence report claimed.

the culprits will be arrested soon,” Nazmul told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

According to the BFIU report, the 10 accounts were used to deposit money to account number 34015379 of Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s Dhanmondi branch that belonged to Jasim Uddin, the chief of the banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team.

The money was reportedly deposited to finance the militants’ meetings, seminars, and for helping to carry out violence.

Of the 10 accounts identified by the BFIU, the single largest amount deposited to Ansarullah chief Jasim’s account was Tk13.5 lakh from a Dutch-Bangla Bank account belonging to Junnun Sikdar, a resident of Dhaka’s Jhigatola.

On September 19, 2010, an amount of Tk1,126,400 was deposited to an  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

On the way to Damkura from Rajbari in Godagari upazila, Rajshahi, one would find a quaint little shed on a strawberry field in Choitannapur village. Under the shed, Md Monir, the field’s owner, gives free tuition to children from the village, all students of Classes II and III. He has been spending two hours every day to teach the children for the past six months. The photo was taken yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Illegal structures near Karwan Bazar rail track demolished

Bengal Tiger census uses live bait against policy

n Ashif Islam Shaon

n Abu Bakar Siddique

Following the tragic rail accident that claimed four lives at Karwan Bazar in the capital on Thursday, the railway authority in a three-hour drive yesterday demolished illegal makeshift establishments, shops and fish market near the rail tracks.

Around 100 people, including railway staff and police, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police participated in the drive starting from the Film Development Corporation (FDC) gate, said Rafiqul Islam, operations officer of Bangladesh Government Railway Police.

Divisional Estate Officer of Bangladesh Railway Nurun Nabi Kabir, who led the drive, said they started at 10:00

am and ended at 1:00 pm. More than 150 establishments were demolished, he added.

On Thursday, four people were killed when they jumped on to the track of an express train to avoid being run over by another train. Five others were also seriously injured in the accident. One of the four victims whose identity could not be known on Thursday has now been identified as Asma Begum, 27.

“All illegal structures from the FDC area to Tejgaon railway station will be removed. We demolished many establishments today (Friday). The drive is not complete. It is a continuous process that will resume in a few days,” Kabir said.

“We will not permit anybody to occupy the places on and along the rail

tracks,” he claimed.

Asked why they had suddenly launched the drive, he said: “Thursday’s accident was an eye-opener. We will evict these illegal occupants.”

According to railway officials and police, several incidents of this nature take place at Karwan Bazar every year. There are two parallel tracks from Kamalapur to Tongi. As there is a bend on rail line between the Tejgaon crossing and the FDC gate, pedestrians are not able to spot oncoming trains from a distance to enable them to move away to safety.

An illegal makeshift fish market near the track at Karwan Bazar is another cause for accidents.

When asked why the railway  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

n Jahirul Islam Khan, Madaripur

The Bangladesh Railway authorities demolish huts and shops beside the railway tracks in the capital’s Karwan Bazar yesterday following the train accident the day before that killed four MEHEDI HASAN

Extortion on Mawa-Kawrakandi route spiked in the past two weeks as truckers had to pay tolls five times to travel just two kilometres from Pachchar Bazar to Pantun.

The ferry services faced disruption in the two-week time because of strong current in the Padma River and the tolls were paid to police and local influential extortionists.

Sources said the recent disruption in the ferry services led to long queues of goods-laden trucks that came from

5 | News

12 | Entertainment

INSIDE 3 | News

Dhaka is ready to host the second joint working group meeting of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor on November 12 and 13.

4 | News

The cost of a study to assess the feasibility of extracting coal-bed methane from Jamalganj coalfield will increase by Tk3.5 crore because it must be extended by a year. The government has decided to prospect for CBM on six acres in the coalfield to meet energy demand.

Officials say primary analysis of available data puts the tiger population around 130 Wildlife Institute of India and it was the only method being used in the survey.

Jhala has been working as the chief scientific adviser in the survey project.

In the camera trapping method, surveyors keep cameras mounted at different points of a forest for two months to automatically capture photographs  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Truckers extorted five times to cross 2km

How the money was sent

The Indian intelligence reported that a number of ambulances of Saradha Group carried bundles of Indian currency to Noida, Basirhat, Bangaon, Malda, Balurghat and Cooch Behar border areas. It was then converted to Bangladeshi taka, US dollars and euros before handing over to Jamaat agents.

The Indian intelligence agency has a letter written by suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh, in which he mentioned the use of ambulances of Saradha Group to hand over the money to Jamaat agents.

Apart from ambulance, the money was also sent through hundi and hawala.

The government is violating its own policy to determine the number of Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans using goats as baits, making the critically endangered species even more vulnerable to extinction.

The Bangladesh Wildlife Protection and Safety Act 2012 prohibits use of any kind of bait, especially domestic animals, in a natural forest because these baits carry various pathogens – viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc – that can harm the wildlife population.

But Md Kamal Hossain, ranger of Sarankhola forest in Sundarbans East, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that they had used more than a hundred domestic goats as baits during the ongoing Bengal Tiger Census.

“We tied the goats to lure tigers to come to certain points in the forest where cameras have been set up to capture marks [snaps] of the tigers,” Kamal said when the Dhaka Tribune contacted him on Wednesday morning.

Scientists would later process cam-

era data to determine the number of Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans, he added.

Zahidul Kabir, the divisional wildlife officer of the Sundarbans Wildlife Division who is coordinating the survey, refrained from making any comment on the use of bait.

He only said they had been following the camera trapping method designed by Yadvendradev Jhala of the

Construction of three footbridges on the capital’s Kuril-Bishwa Road has been put on hold as Rajuk has taken no step to resume work, even after missing the deadline twice.

7 | World

Supporters of keeping Scotland in the UK have clawed back a tiny lead over separatists less than a week before Scots vote in an independence referendum,

11 | Op-Ed

The ongoing war on terror worries me to death. But sometimes it also makes me laugh.

I developed an interest in this war’s nature and I follow its course when and where it happens.

An evening of Rabindra Sangeet featuring Rezwana Choudhury Bannya will be held in the evening today at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Gulshan.

Khulna and Barisal divisions as well as 21 districts, waiting to cross the river at Kawrakandi terminal. Each trucker, while driving on Kawrakandi Road having reached Bhanga-Bishwa Road intersection, had to pay highway police more than Tk200.

The second phase of extortion took place near Hazi Shariatullah bridge, four kilometres from the terminal, which was followed by tolls paid near Ozone Scale at Pachchar Bazar, near bailey bridge and near Bashkol at the ferry terminal. The final phase  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

News

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Bablu: Ranga and Tajul are agents of BNP-Jamaat n Manik Miazee Pointing at Moshiur Rahman Ranga and Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Jatiya Party Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu has said they are the agents of BNP-Jamaat and war criminals.

“Those who are war criminals and conspirators have no place in the Jatiya Party,” he said while addressing a rally organised in front of the party’s central office at Kakrail in protest against threat to its chief HM Ershad and Bablu recently.

At the protest rally yesterday, party leaders alleged that Ranga and Tajul were hatching conspiracy against the party activists. They were the agents of BNP and war criminals and wanted to

destroy the party, the leaders said.

HM Ershad was all in all in the party, they said, adding that Ranga and Tajul were worthless without Ershad.

On September 10, JaPa chief HM Ershad relieved Ranga and Tajul, presidium members of the party, of their posts Bablu said Ranga and Tajul wanted to destroy the Jatiya Party, but they had no ability to do so. “As they are not carrying out the party chief’s orders, they

do not belong to our party.”

At a press briefing on Thursday, Bablu said he came to know that Tajul was a war criminal and he got involved in the politics of several other parties, including BNP. “Ershad will take action against him.”

On September 10, JaPa chief HM Ershad relieved Ranga and Tajul, presidium members of the party, of their posts.

Ershad took the action using his power given by Section 39 of the party constitution, said a statement signed by his Press and Political Secretary Shunil Shuvo Roy. However, the press statement did not mention any reason for the termination. l

Families of the Rana Plaza victims gather in front of National Press Club in the capital demanding immediate initiative to compensate the families and bring the culprits responsible for the accident to justice. The demonstration was organised by Bangladesh Garments Sromik Shonghoti yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Six sued for Lalu murder n

Tribune Report

A case was filed yesterday, accusing six people, including a leader of Ulama League, of killing Reazul Islam Lalu, president of Swechchhasebak League Shyampur Union.

Victim’s wife Dolly Begum filed the case with Kadamtali police station,

Abdus Salam, officer-in-charge of the police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the case, local Ulama League President Nur Nabi Shaon alias “Hatkata” Nabi was the prime suspect.

The five other accused were Shawkat, 35, Abul, 35, Jahangir, 45, Motaleb, 34, and Kamal Shikdar, 45.

Police had already arrested Nabi on

India’s Saradha Group Wednesday and placed him on a fiveday remand for interrogation, said Salam. “We are trying to extract more information about the murder by interrogating him,” he added.

They were also trying to arrest other accused in the case, the OC said.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, three armed youths entered Lalu’s shop

Al-Makka Traders on Kala Mia Sarder Road in Jurain area and shot him in the chest while three youths were waiting just beside the shop. They later made a getaway in two motorbikes.

Soon after the incident, family members claimed that the killing took place centring extortion and intra-party feud with Hatkata Nabi, also a cousin of Lalu. l

Illegal structures near Karwan Bazar rail track  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

authority did not launch such drives in the past to free government land, Kabir said, “We detained many shopkeepers and asked them not to set up shops there. Although they agreed, they did not keep their word.”

The police and Government Railway Police who accompanied the railway team to conduct the drive blamed the railway authority for their not taking steps to prevent grabbing.

“We have suggested to the railway authority conduct drives several times, but they didn’t show interest,” said Abdul Majid, officer-in-charge of Kamalapur GRP. OC of Tejgaon police station Mazharul Islam said, “Decisions had been taken several times earlier to demolish these illegal establishments. The railway authority was supposed to launch the drives, but the drives were delayed for several reasons.”

Although makeshift shops near the rail track have been in existence for years, the GRP and Tejgaon police have done nothing to demolish them, locals claimed, as some members of GRP and Tejgaon police, political leaders and traders share the toll collected from these makeshift shops.

Even before the commencement of the demolition drive, there was a signboard hanging with an illegal structure along the track that read, “Bangladesh Railway Community Police. The organisation is approved by the GRP.” It mentioned one “Commander Siraj” as the leader who was, in fact, the leader of toll collectors.

He deployed 30-40 people to collect money from these shops. The team used to collect Tk100-Tk150 per day from every illegal shop.

Meanwhile, the evicted businessmen alleged that they were being displaced without prior notice.

“I have lost goods worth around Tk10 lakh. All have been damaged,” said Hossain, owner of a garage in FDC area. “I could have moved them if notified earlier. My two micro-buses have also been damaged.”

Asked why he had been running business occupying the railway land illegally, he said, “I have rented this shop. I give monthly rent to Siraj Commander.”

Railway official Nurun Nabi brushed aside the allegation saying, “We told them to remove their shops yesterday.

They had even been asked this morning, an hour before our drive began.”

He said they had heard the name of Siraj Commander. “We are trying to find out if there is anyone by this name at railway department,” he added.

Situation changes before the drive

Small fish traders did not sit near the rail track yesterday morning due to

Thursday’s accident. The fish market generally starts at 7:00 am.

Visiting the place before the drive, it was found that some youths carrying sticks were roaming around the rail track near fish market at Karwan Bazar. They were warning everybody not to sit on the tracks with bowls of fish. The youths did not want to disclose their names, but said until the tensed situation over the accident was changed, they would not allow anyone to sit with fish on the rail line.

Retail fish trader Md Shahjahan, who usually buy fish from the wholesale market and sell them on the rail track said, “They are not allowing us today. But they take Tk100-Tk150 every day to allow us to sell on the tracks.”

“That accident has put us in trouble.

After some days, the market will open again. And these people will increase the toll amount.” he said. l

10 bank accounts identified for financing militants  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

SOD account of Prime Bank’s Barisal branch that belonged to Jasim’s younger brother Mohammad Abul Bashar.

The deposit was made from an account, the holder of which could not be identified immediately, in Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s Barisal branch. A day after receiving the money, Bashar transferred Tk11.6 lakh to Jasim’s account.

Earlier, on August 10, 2009, Tk2 lakh was deposited to Jasim’s account from an account of Islami Bank Bangladesh’s Barisal branch that belonged to Maulana Nurur Rahman.

Others who deposited money to Jasim’s account include Dhanmondi resident Mohammad Mujibur Rahman who used a Dutch-Bangla Bank account to deposit Tk4 lakh; Tejgaon resident Golam Sarowar who used his Brac Bank account to deposit Tk1 lakh; and Uttara resident Sayeda Akhter who used her Eastern Bank account to transfer Tk3 lakh.

Two more persons – Abu Taher and Nasim Khatun, both residents of Gulbagh in the capital – deposited amounts of Tk1 lakh each to Jasim’s account

ACCOUNTS IDENTIFIED BY BFIU Depositor

Account Number

Bank/branch

1117750000041

Prime Bank, Barisal branch

Tk11.6 lakh

Unknown

01011209187

Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Barisal branch

Tk11.26 lakh

Mawlana Nurur Rahman

20501110200406405

Islami Bank Bangladesh, Barisal branch

Tk2 lakh

Junnun Sikdar

1011011140391

Dutch-Bangla Bank

Tk13.50 lakh

Mohammad Mujibur Rahman

17110112234

Dutch-Bangla Bank

Tk4 lakh

Golam Sarowar

2004201814500001

Brac Bank Limited

Tk1 lakh

Sayeda Akhter

11311010001600

Eastern Bank

Tk3 lakh

Nurul Islam Babu

0211120068420

Al-Arafah Islami Bank

Tk1 lakh

Ahmeda Akhter

16410110745

Dutch-Bangla Bank

Tk1.50 lakh

Saiful Islam

150780098465

Islami Bank Bangladesh

Tk3 lakh

from Shahjalal Islami Bank accounts.

Other deposits to Jasim’s Al-Arafah Islami Bank account included Tk1 lakh from Borobagh resident Nurul Islam Babu’s account of the same bank; Tk1.50 lakh from Paikpara resident Ahmeda Akhter’s Dutch-Bangla Bank account; and Tk3 lakh from Rajabazar resident Saiful Islam’s account of Islami Bank Bangladesh.

The government recently asked all

its intelligence agencies and the Bangladesh Bank to find out potential financial sources of militants in a bid to control extremism.

The directive was given at the first meeting of a 17-member task force, headed by Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, at the Home Ministry on Thursday. The task force was constituted to intensify and coordinate activities for finding out militant financing.

Truckers extorted five times to cross 2km  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of toll was collected when truckers got on the ferries.

In each of the phases, the amount of toll varied from Tk50 to Tk200, and the total amount stood between Tk800 to Tk1,000 per truck.

The plight of truckers

Trucker Nasir Hossain, who drove a Dhaka-bound truck laden with onions from Benapole to Kawrakandi, said he had to pay police Tk500 as they intercepted his vehicle after reaching Bhanga in Faridpur.

“I again paid Tk200 to highway police at Pacchar Bazar and another Tk200 at the bypass intersection,” he said.

Truck driver Ishrat Hossain, who was destined for Chittagong, said he was stranded at Kawrakandi terminal for three days.

“I paid tolls at three points and there are more such points before I board the ferry,” he said.

Trucker Faruk Alam said those who can pay tolls are granted quick clearance.

Deposited amount

Mohammad Abul Bashar

“For others who are unable to pay have to wait at the terminal for eight to 10 days,” he said.

Jasimuddin, who came from Jhenaidah, had been stranded at the terminal for nine days. He said the local administration turns a blind eye to the unchecked extortion, and it is the workers like him who are repressed when they protest against extortion.

Police, BIWTC officials point finger at each other

Law enforcers posted at Kawrakandi terminal said they have only been tasked with maintaining the order and no toll is collected from truckers.

They said they let a truck pass only after directed by BIWTC officials.

On-duty Assistant Sub-Inspector Julhash said: “We do not control the serial of trucks. We only maintain the law and order.”

On the other hand, BIWTC Manager at Kawrakandi terminal Salam Hossain the serial of vehicles is controlled by police.

“We inform police of the number of vehicles that can board each of the fer-

ries. Police let the trucks drive here and we load those onto the ferries,” he said.

Madaripur Police Super Khandakar Faridul Islam said occasional visits are paid to the terminal to check anomalies.

“We take action if we receive a complaint that a truck driver has cut in line by paying money. The allegation of extortion against highway police is dealt with by senior officials of the department concerned,” he said.

“Everyone knows about a gang that ruled the terminal in terms of extorting money from truckers but there will be stern measures if anyone intercepts a vehicles on the road to collect tolls,” he added.

The influential authority

More than 150 people backed by influential locals collect toll from vehicles in different phases at the terminal. 15-20 of them collect tolls only from truckers.

The extortionists, with the assistance of an influential leader of the ruling party, often create artificial mismanagement, leading to tailback which

“We have been working in a comprehensive manner including finding out the financial sources of militant activities to control extremism,” State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

He acknowledged that the report on militant financing through various bank accounts had been submitted to the Home Ministry too. l

makes it easy for them to collect tolls.

Kawrakandi terminal is under Madaripur 1 constituency, of which NoorE-Alam Chowdhury is the lawmaker.

He allegedly controls the terminal with the help of party activists.

Backed by Noor-E-Alam, lessor of the terminal Abdul Hai Shikdar is so powerful that his supporters enforced a strike in the wake of a case filed over the terrible launch accident on August 4. Six people, including the launch owner, were sued. The protesters called for withdrawal of the case and disrupted launch services for more than eight hours on two separate days.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan refused to answer directly when reporters asked him if Noor-E-Alam is ruling Kawrakandi terminal.

“We have already restored order in almost all the terminals across the country, and will do so at Kawrakandi and Kathalbari terminals in Madaripur soon. The prime minister has said all possible steps would be taken to ensure convenience of the passengers, regardless of the extent of influence of the influential quarters,” he said. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The Bangladeshi intelligence report said Saradha Group anonymously invested in several hospitals, banks and financial institutions run by Jamaat, and money from the investment was also spent on Jamaat’s protests.

Fazle Hossain Badsha, a lawmaker from Rajshahi, told Anandabazar that Jamaat resorted to terror across Bangladesh in order to foil the war crimes trials. The party killed countless people by removing rail tracks and torching buses and trains.

“The common people, in addition to the administration, took to the streets to prevent Jamaat violence. We first suspected that the money, arms and explosives came from India as violence reached the peak in border areas like Rajshahi and Satkhira. The police and paramilitary officials later conducted drives in the areas and made numerous arrests. Intelligence officials then got the information from the arrestees,” he said.

Mustafa Lutfullah, a parliamentarian from Satkhira, told Anandabazar that Jamaat miscreants crossed the border and entered India in order to avoid being caught.

“We have precise information that the ruling party leaders there are arranging shelter for the fugitives. The fundamentalists have also received regular financial assistance from border points when they perpetrated violence,” he said. <<How Trinamool and Jamaat helped each other>> India’s central intelligence report said some Urdu-speaking Trinamool Congress leaders developed very close relationship with Jamaat before the Vidhan Sabha elections in West Bengal.

In the 2011 elections, Jamaat activists worked for Trinamool and the party also received Jamaat funding at the

time.

Later on, Trinamool not only helped Jamaat in return for the assistance it received during the polls, but also attempted to put the Bangladeshi government in a predicament by suspending the Teesta accord and land boundary agreement.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the intelligence report claimed, had always said yes to those Urdu-speaking leaders regarding Bangladeshi policy.

The Anandabazar report quoted an anonymous Bangladeshi diplomat as saying that Dhaka’s relation with Kolkata became as sour as it improved with Delhi during the term of Sheikh Hasina. The diplomat blamed Mamata’s vehement opposition to the Teesta accord and the land boundary deal for that.

The diplomat claimed the pro-Jamaat leaders of Trinamool succeeded in influencing Mamata in this issue.

These leaders have sheltered the fugitive Jamaat men, who came from Bangladesh, in Kolkata and other places in West Bengal for months.

The Bangladeshi government wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs in India informing it of the matter but still the Jamaat men are under shelter, the diplomat claimed, adding that these Jamaat activists worked for Trinamool in Panchayat elections and Lok Sabha polls.

Indian ruling party BJP has questioned Imran’s role in the context of such activities as central BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said Mamata had negotiated with Jamaat before singling out Imran.

Describing Mamata’s action as seditious, Siddharth said this was resulting in militants and miscreants crossing the border and posing a threat to people’s lives. l

Bengal Tiger census  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of passing tigers. The number of tigers is determined later through an analysis of the photos.

However, when contacted, Forest Department’s Chief Conservator Yunus Ali denied the allegation of using baits in the Bengal Tiger Census project.

The Dhaka Tribune contacted Yadvendradev Jhala via email and he initially agreed to explain the methodology but did not reply back later.

The government took up the project named Ecology and Population Estimation of Tigers in the Sundarbans in 2013 under the World Bank-funded project Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection. A similar project is also being carried out in the West Bengal part of the Sundarbans.

Zoology Professor Mostafa Firoz of Jahangirnagar University said the government could not take such harmful initiative that could threaten the entire wildlife of the Sundarbans.

Domestic animals carry various types of pathogens such as tape worm that could damage the liver of the forest animals, he said, adding that scientists working on wildlife never recommended using live baits for any activity in the forest.

In March last year, the Wildlife Scientific Committee formed under the Wildlife Protection and Safety Act barred US filmmaker George Butler from using baits for filming a documentary on Bengal Tiger for concerns for the Sundarbans wildlife as well as for legal obligations. Mostofa Firoz was a member of that committee.

Use of baits in hunting is also prohibited in every country because of the same reason.

Mostofa said in some areas of the USA people use “lures” consisting of clinically processed and pathogen-free parts of animals for hunting.

Only 130 Bengal Tigers!

Meanwhile, a number of officials at the Forest Department said as per a rough analysis of available data from the ongoing survey the current number of Bengal Tiger in the Sundarbans stands around 130.

However, no official figure on the ongoing census has been available yet.

A survey conducted in 2004 using the pug-mark method counted 440 Bengal Tigers in Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans and 60-80 in the Indian part.

The government has selected three tiger-dense areas – Kotka-Kochikhali, Neelkomol and Koikhali – for collecting sample data, which would be multiplied for the rest of the forest.

The survey at Kotka-Kochikhali (360 sq-km) and Koikhali (365 sq-km) was completed last winter (October-November last year); the survey at 624 sq-km area of Neelkomol will start next month with winter approaching.

The number of tigers found in these areas will be multiplied to the rest of the Sundarbans.

Dr Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, former chief conservator of forest, blamed poaching activities as the main reason for the fall in tiger population at such an alarming rate.

“We will be held responsible for the extinction of the Bengal Tiger from the wild,” said Ishtiaq, who currently works as the country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

According to government statistics, the Sundarbans consists of 6,017 sqkm, which is 4.07% of the total land mass of the country and 40% of Bangladesh’s forest land.

The Sundarbans harbours 334 species of trees, shrubs and epyphites and 269 species of wild animals, including the world renowned Bengal Tiger.

A total of 1,397 sq-km area of the Sundarbans divided in three sanctuaries has been declared as World Heritage Site. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Dhaka prepares national plan for BCIM n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Dhaka is ready to host the second joint working group meeting of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor on November 12 and 13.

“We have already proposed them to hold the meeting in November to move forward with the BCIM initiative,” Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune.

The first joint working group meeting of the BCIM was held in Kunming last December and it was decided that four countries would prepare their own national plan in a common format and it would be shared and discussed in the second meeting in Cox’s Bazar.

The third working group meeting will be held in Kolkata next year while Myanmar proposed to hold next year’s BCIM Forum meeting as well.

“We have prepared our draft report and now we are analysing it,” the foreign secretary said.

Energy, connectivity, investment and finance, trade in goods and service, poverty alleviation and social and human development, sustainable development, and people-to-people contact are the thematic areas where all the countries are working.

The four governments are also working on making their national plan to complement the economic corridor and find out the priorities for each of the countries.

The Foreign Ministry, the Bangladesh Institute of International Strategies and Studies and the Centre for Policy Dialogue are conducting the studies in Bangladesh.

The BCIM economic corridor would not just connect some cities, rather it would link supply and demand in the region, he said.

The proposed BCIM route starts from Kunming in Myanmar, touches Mandalay in Myanmar, Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh, and ends in India’s Kolkata.

The corridor would integrate the economies, enhance competitiveness and harness potential, the official said.

Intra-BCIM trade amounted to only $6bn in 2001 but it shot up to $90bn in 2011, in which China-India bilateral trade accounted for $70bn or 77%.

However, the intra-BCIM figure is deemed as fairly low compared to the total trade of the four countries.

Non-tariff barriers, inadequate trade facilitation, poor institutions and governance, unfavourable banking system and financial instruments, and undervalued currency are the main reason behind the low intra-BCIM trade figure, studies have revealed.

BCIM Economic Corridor, an initiative under track II diplomacy, was elevated to track I when China and India in May last year publicly announced to use the framework to boost regional connectivity.

Bangladesh and Myanmar at that time welcomed the initiative. l

Southwestern Silk Road

CHINA

INDIA

A strip of land beside the Gazipur-Narsingdi highway has turned into an open, makeshift landfill where waste from local households are regularly dumped, causing environmental pollution. Burning the waste out in the open only makes the pollution worse. The photo was taken yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Draft of Child Marriage Restraint Act set to be placed before cabinet on Monday n Rabiul Islam The draft of a law intended to choke off the high rate of child marriages in Bangladesh will be placed before cabinet on Monday, the top bureaucrat at the women and children affairs ministry said.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014, drawn up by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, comes after a Unicef report found that 74% of Bangladeshi girls under 18 years and an alarming 39% of girls under 15 years had been married off.

“We have finalised the draft and it will be placed for approval before the next cabinet meeting on Monday,” Tariqul Islam, the women and children affairs secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune over the telephone on Thursday.

Bangladesh has one of the highest number of under-15 child marriages in the world, according to the report pub-

lished by Unicef in July this year.

Over 20% of girls married off by their 15th birthday become mothers of three or more children before reaching their 24th birthday, the report said.

These girls are less likely to receive proper medical care during pregnancy and child birth, and are not physically mature enough to give birth, which places both the mothers and their babies at risk.

Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association’s (BNWLA) executive director, advocate Salma Ali, said: “We have been campaigning about the intensity and consequences of child marriage, and pressing the government to formulate a law to prevent child marriage.”

She said the existing Child Marriage Act, 1929 was outdated and not effectively enforced.

The BNWLA executive director said the new law would require proper

Bimstec secretariat to be inaugurated today n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

For the first time, Dhaka is set to host the headquarters of an inter-governmental organisation as the Bimstec secretariat will be formally inaugurated today for closer economic integration through collective action.

The establishment of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) secretariat in the country is considered a diplomatic success for Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the secretariat in the capital's Gulshan.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are members of the Bimstec bloc.

Bimstec started its journey with only four participating members and six areas of cooperation but now it has expanded to seven members and fourteen areas of cooperation.

Trade and investment

In 2004, the member countries signed a framework agreement on trade and investment to boost economic relations

among the countries.

The framework covers trade, investment and service sector cooperation and Bangladesh has been given a lead role to steer the cooperation area.

“We will sign four instruments under the framework and their texts have been finalised,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry.

The signing process of the four instruments has been delayed since 2009 as one member did not submit its tariff schedule - an essential component of the instruments, he said.

“Each member will provide a positive list under which it will allow import of specific commodities,” the official said.

He added that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would become a free trade area (FTA) from December 2015, as two members of that bloc are also members of Bimstec.

“The other five are the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and we expect to create a big economic bloc in Asia,” he said.

The group constitutes a bridge between south and southeast Asia and

represents a reinforcement of relations among the member countries.

Connectivity

The group will provide an opportunity for member countries to connect to each other physically.

Bangladesh, India and Myanmar are members of the BCIM Economic Corridor initiative, and if these three countries are connected, Dhaka and New Delhi could be easily connected with Bangkok as Thailand shares a border with Myanmar, the official said.

“Under the Saarc framework, there is a plan to connect its members and the move will also supplement the Bimstec effort of movement of goods and people throughout the region,” he said.

Energy

Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and the northeast of India have huge hydroelectricity potential and Bimstec is trying to tap the prospect for the betterment of the bloc. “”We are planning to have a regional grid so that power can flow from one country to another without any hindrance,” the official said.

Several meetings have already been held on the issue and the third ministerial meeting on power would be held in Kathmandu this year, he added.

Bimstec secretariat

Bimstec was established on June 6, 1997, in Bangkok and the first summit was held in the same city in 2004. The second was held in New Delhi in 2008 and the third was in Nay Pyi Taw in 2014.

The forum has established a platform for intra-cooperation between Saarc and Asean members. During the 13th Bimstec ministerial meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw in 2011, it was unanimously decided that the secretariat would be set up in Bangladesh and the first secretary general would be appointed from Sri Lanka.

Eventually, the government allocated a residential house in Gulshan area and proper restructuring and reorganising has been done to give it an official shape.

The secretariat has been in operation since July this year.

The first Secretary General Sumith Nakandala joined the secretariat in late July and assumed office in Dhaka from August. l

Health resolutions adopted as WHO session ends n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

The 67th session of the WHO’s Regional Committee for South-East Asia concluded yesterday with participating health ministers adopting resolutions to accelerate health action on key areas.

The committee endorsed the Regional strategy for strengthening the role of the health sector in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS). It also recognised the need for strengthening CRVS and health information systems to ensure evidence-based decision-making.

The Committee noted that reliable data is essential for effective health planning and management and that CRVS systems are crucial to obtain continuous, compulsory and cost-ef-

fective data on births, deaths and causes of death.

The committee urged member states to implement the regional strategy, to assess the national CRVS systems, and to support national capacity building.

Countries were urged to build national capacity to strengthen CRVS, to boost completeness of birth and death registration including supporting the use of verbal autopsy to record community deaths, to strengthen death certification by trained healthcare workers, and also to strengthen implementation of ICD coding and generate quality mortality statistics from CRVS data.

The committee also adopted a resolution on traditional medicine (TM), recognising that traditional medicine

and its practitioners have substantial potential to contribute to improving health outcomes in member states.

The committee also endorsed the Regional Action plan to implement global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol (2014-2025). It said it was concerned about the increase in alcohol consumption in countries of the Region, particularly among adolescents, youth and women and a high prevalence of heavy or binge drinking.

The WHO was requested to provide technical support to member states for knowledge-sharing platforms encompassing a repository of tools; and to harmonise technical and financial support from different international agencies and partners to assist mem-

ber states in implementing the standard verbal autopsy tools.

WHO was also requested to provide technical support and build capacity of member states to advance implementation of the regional plan and to support capacity strengthening and international collaboration mechanisms that include setting up of the Regional Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol and Health.

The committee endorsed the regional strategy on strengthening health workforce education and training in the South-East Asia Region (20142019). Participants were concerned about the critical shortage of health workers which is a problem particularly in rural and remote areas. l

birth registration in order to determine the age of the parties to a marriage.

The proposed law criminalises child marriages, defined as any marriage involving a minor.

Males under 21 and females under 18 are considered minors under the proposed legislation.

The draft law proposes a maximum two-year jail sentence and Tk50,000 fine, or both, and a minimum sentence of six months and Tk10,000 fine, or both, for violations of the law.

Adults who wed minors, registrars who register marriages involving minors, parents or guardians who give their minor children or wards in marriage and officials who issue fake documents to conceal child marriages will be held culpable under the proposed law.

Any marriage proven to be a child marriage will be annulled. Victims of child marriage will be entitled to com-

pensation by those held liable. The courts will settle compensations.

The draft law empowers upazila level administrators including upazila nirbahi officers, executive magistrates, upazila women affairs officers, upazila social welfare officers, upazila secondary education officers as well as officers-in-charge of local police stations to inform the courts about suspected child marriages.

The proposed legislation provides for the return of assets or gifts given during the wedding ceremony in the event that a marriage is annulled.

The draft law proposes the formation of a child marriage prevention committee charged with raising public awareness to prevent child marriages.

“We hope child marriages can be prevented by the enactment of a new law and we emphasise the implementation of the law,” the BNWLA head said. l

Bangladesh to co-host AsiaPacific military seminar n Tribune Report Top land forces military officials from the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region will meet in Bangladesh next week for the 38th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS), a multinational military seminar.

Bangladesh is set to co-host PAMS 38, for the second time in the history of the event. Earlier in January 1994, Bangladesh co-hosted the PAMS seminar with over 150 representatives from 35 countries attending.

With the theme “A New Focus on the Asia-Pacific Region: Opportunities and Challenges for Land Forces”, this year’s seminar will focus on exploring new areas of cooperation. Nearly 120 delegates from 25 countries will discuss contemporary issues of common concern at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel from September 14 to 17.

The multinational military seminar, which began in 1978 with a meeting of the top army staff of nine nations, is now a platform for 36 nations from the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region.

Since its inception, PAMS has played a significant role in strengthening bonds among the region’s armies.

Senior officials ranked between Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant General are scheduled to attend the seminar organised by the Bangladesh Army in cooperation with US Army Pacific (USARPAC).

The two land forces are organising the seminar to contribute to regional security and stability through cooperative approaches including the exchange of information, said military directorate sources.

B a n g l a desh Army will

demonstrate its military capabilities, along with showcasing the richness of the country’s people, their culture and history to the attendees.

At the programme this year, presentations and panel discussions by academics, senior diplomats, civil society members and selected delegates will be presented, sources said, adding that military officials will discuss security issues while civil society members and academicians will discuss the surrounding perspectives.

The four key topics to be discussed at PAMS 38 are: balancing the requirements to meet traditional and non-traditional threats, building the response capacity of Land Forces for issues of environmental security, developing the cooperation and interoperability concepts for non-traditional security, and civil-military and multinational co-operation.

The participating countries are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Tonga, United States of America, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan and Commanding General of US Army Pacific General Vincent K Brooks are scheduled to open the three-day programme. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Petrobangla delay costs government an extra Tk3.5 crore n Aminur Rahman Rasel The cost of a study to assess the feasibility of extracting coal-bed methane (CBM) from Jamalganj coalfield will increase

by Tk3.5 crore or around 17% because it must be extended by a year.

The government decided to prospect for CBM on 6 acres of land at Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation’s (Petrobangla) Jamalganj coalfield with a view to meeting the country’s ever-growing energy demand.

This is the first time ever that the government has pursued such an initiative.

A Petrobangla official said he was not sure the project would be completed within this extended year and might take a further year to complete.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) recently approved a 15-month project to determine the feasibility of extracting CBM from Jamalganj coalfield.

According to the development project proposal, one of the main reasons extra funds are needed for the project is the rise in the price of the dollar.

While the US dollar cost Tk73 when the project was started, it now costs Tk82. Sources say the US dollar had grown dearer in the time Petrobangla and the Energy Division took to work out the plan.

Delays in deciding who to appoint as local advisers to monitor the project and in deciding who would attend seminars and training sessions accounted for the time-lag, according to sources.

The project will now cost Tk23.38 crore.

State-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) will implement the project with its own funds.

The study was supposed to be completed by March 2014. Now, it will take a further year if study starts this year.

The project will then be completed in March next year.

“We are going to implement the feasibility study for the extraction of CBM at Jamalganj coalfield project by engaging an internationally reputed consulting firm using our own resources,” the general manager of Petrobangla and project director, Md Akhtaruzzaman,

told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The feasibility study will provide necessary information on CBM exploration and power generation,” he said.

CBM is a naturally occurring methane gas found in coal seams.

‘We have already sought requests for proposals from six internationally reputed consulting firms that have the requisite experience in feasibility studies of coal-bed methane’ “We have already sought requests for proposals from six internationally reputed consulting firms that have the requisite experience in feasibility studies of coal-bed methane,” he said.

In reply to a question about taking extra time, the Petrobangla official said

the study had been delayed for various reasons and even more time may be needed to complete it.

“We intend to drill three core wells and test the coal samples in a laboratory for the feasibility CBM extraction,” he said.

Coal-bed methane is the methane usually found in coal, emitted from the face of coal mines.

CBM has been considered a safety hazard in underground mines, but due to the latest technological innovations it has now become a significant energy resource.

CBM can be extracted through drilling into underground coal without coal being mined, thus accessing alternative natural gas reserves.

The feasibility study will provide necessary information on CBM and the potential to generate power from it.

The Jamalganj coalfield was discovered by a UN-Pakistani mineral survey team between 1962-65 while conducting a geological and geophysical survey in the Jamalganj-Jaipurhat area.

The government has estimated that five coal mines – at Barapukuria, Dighi-

para, Phulbari, Jamalganj and Khalashpir – likely hold a reserve of approximately 30 billion tonnes.

The coal reserve area of Barapukuria at Dinajpur was discovered in 1985 with a proven reserve of 390 million tonnes lying between 118 and 509 metres below the surface, while the Phulbari coal reserve area in Dinajpur, discovered in 1997, contains 572 million tonnes sitting 141 to 270 metres from the surface.

The coal reserve area at Barapukuria spans 6.68 square kilometres, while Phulbari has a span of 24 square kilometres.

The coal reserve at Khalashpir in Rangpur was discovered in 1989 and has a proven reserve of 685 million tonnes lying between 222 and 516 metres in depth, while Jamalganj in Joypurhat was uncovered in 1962 with a proven reserve of 1.05 billion tonnes between 640 and 1158 metres from the surface.

The coal reserve area of Khalashpir spans over 12.25 square kilometres while Jamalganj covers 11.66 square kilometres. l

Three held with 17 gold bars n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Customs officials at Shah Amanat International Airport in separate drives nabbed three persons with 17 gold bars on Thursday night and yesterday morning.

“On a tip-off, one Habibullah, who arrived at the airport on a Biman Bangladesh flight from Dubai, was detained and three gold bars were recovered from his luggage,” Chittagong Customs House Assistant Commissioner Moshiur Rahman Mondol told the Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier, another team from the customs department nabbed two persons, Mohammad Sabuj and Golam Morshed, who arrived at the port city from Muscat on a Biman flight on Thursday night, and recovered 14 gold bars from inside their shoes.

Although the three persons were released, customs authorities seized their passports and lodged two departmental cases over the incidents, the AC added.

The seized 17 gold bars, weighing around two kilogrammes and worth Tk95 lakh, were sent to the Bangladesh Bank.

Existing laws allow a person to carry a maximum of 200 grams of gold from abroad by paying necessary custom duties on arrival at the airport. A passenger bring in gold up to two kilogrammes from abroad is required to inform the concerned authorities early according to a central bank circular. l

A cargo ship loaded with 630 tonnes of cement clinkers sank in the Pashur Channel of Mongla Sea Port yesterday.

According to port officials, the cargo ship, MV Hajera 1, loaded clinkers from a Panamanian ship MV Sino Grace, anchored in the Pashur river, and started for the Seven Circle Cement Factory in Rupsha, Khulna around 10am yesterday.

As MV Hajera ship was making a

Indian border guards have picked up a Bangladeshi cattle trader from across Natunpara border in Chuadanga’s Jibannagar upazila.

The cattle trader was identified as Faruq Hossaain, son of Wazed Ali hailing from the upazila’s Sadarpara village.

Additional Director of Chuadanga BGB 6 Anwar Zahid said seven to eight Bangladeshi cattle traders, including Faruq, entered India through the Natunpara border on Thursday evening.

A team of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) spotted them while patrolling across the border. They chased and captured Faruq while others were able to flee, he said, adding: “Soon after hearing of it, we wrote to the BSF’s Banpur camp lodging a protest with them.”

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held a flag meeting with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) near Sub-Pillar 66/2 on the Natunpara border at around 8am yesterday.

However, the Bangladeshi cattle trader was not handed over during the meeting.

Gayeshpur BGB camp Commander Subedar Mohsin Ali said the BSF handed over Faruq to Krishnagar police station in India. l

28 hurt as settlers, indigenous people clash over trivial issue in Rangamati n Our Correspondent, Rangamati

Authorities concerned turn a blind eye to indiscriminate parking of container trucks that contributes to very-often traffic jam on one of the busy streets near Nabisco Factory in the capital’s Tejgaon area. The photo was taken yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Cargo vessel sinks in Mongla n Our Correspondent, Khulna

BSF picks up Bangladeshi cattle trader from Chuadanga n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

turn, it collided with the foreign ship due to heavy current, creating a crack in its hull. Despite the attempts to save it, the ship sank in the Pashur channel and the crew members managed to swim to safety.

The channel has been off limits since the accident occurred, port officials said.

Chairman of Mongla Port, Commodore M Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan ordered the formation of a committee to

investigate into the incident.

Badsha Hawoladar, owner of Hajera Shipping Lines told the Dhaka Tribune that he suffered a loss of Tk1.5 crore because of the accident.

Harbour Master Mohammad Aktaruzzaman said a Navy team was working to trace the vessel since yesterday afternoon.

The harbour master also said the channel will be reopened after the sunken vessel was located. l

Admission seekers take the admission test for ‘Ka’ unit for 2014-15 under the Dhaka University yesterday. The photo was taken from the Curzon Hall DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least 28 people sustained injuries in a clash between some unruly settlers and indigenous people in Uttar Hatimara area of Nannerchar upazila in the hilly district on Thursday over a football match.

The injured were admitted to local health complex and the district hospital.

Nannerchar police station OC Abdul Awal said there was final match of a football tournament in the area between two teams of the settlers and the indigenous people in the afternoon.

During the match, the indigenous referee made a foul call against the settlers who later gave a strong negative reaction to the decision, sparking the clash that left the 28 injured.

Being informed, police and army personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Although the incident was trivial, a vested quarter wanted to make it a communal issue, continued the OC who, however, did not clarify the names of the mastermind behind the ill motive.

The situation has been under control after the incident, the OC claimed. l

Psychological abuse of children stays neglected n Udisa Islam Since his childhood, Rehan (not his real name), now a student of class nine, had been a victim to different kinds of psychological abuse from his family.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Rehan said his family never gave him the attention he needed, a problem which was compounded as he was introvert in nature.

Despite repeated attempts, he was never able to establish a proper way of communicating with his parents.

The 15-year-old said he was always the first person his parents turned to blame whenever any wrong things happened in the house; he had to live through the perpetual fear of being handed a beating without ever being able a chance to defend himself.

Rehan claimed that the continuous humiliation often made him feel that his parents did not consider him as their own child.

Rehan was inflicted with stammering, making him a constant target of mockery from his elder brother. Despite knowing that Rehan was being harassed regularly, the mother refused to take any action. The teen claimed it was heartbreaking for him as he felt that his elder brother was his parents’ favourite son.

Years of psychological abuse eventually took a toll. Rehan started taking drugs and stopped going to school, resulting in further corporal punishment from his family.

Unable to endure the abuse, Rehan

finally attempted to commit suicide.

After receiving medical treatment, Rehan now spends most of his time locked in his room, refusing to speak to his family.

Rehan’s story is not an anomaly in a society which fails to properly address the psychological needs of the children and lacks the necessary awareness among parents.

According to the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, psychological abuse is defined as verbal abuse including insults, humiliation, threats, harassment, controlling behaviour.

The common psychological abuses suffered by children in the country include threats of corporal punishment, mockery, forced isolation and constant blaming by the parents.

Psychiatrists say parents often carry out such abuses in casual ways but their effects could persist throughout the lives of the victims.

Psychological abuses get less attention than physical or sexual abuse as

the crisis is considered a “private issue,” they claimed.

Regular home visits by different social service organisations might be a possible remedy for the situation, suggested researchers, adding that such a type of intervention has been identified as one of the most promising solutions for preventing a number of negative outcomes.

In a research, Mirza Farzana Iqbal Chowdhury, a lecturer of Daffodil International University who has several research papers on child rights published in different journals, said the governments and NGOs failed to address the emotional abuses faced by children because the issue was silently killing children’s minds.

In her research titled “Strengthening Children Protection System for Redressing Domestic Emotional Abuse of Children: Bangladesh Perspective,” Farzana also recommended for parental training in society to address the problem.

Nayeem Wahra, a child rights activist who has experience with the NGO Save the Children, said how parents handled their children was a “personal and private issue” in our country.

As a result, the psychological abuse and its impacts were never discussed, Wahra claimed.

According to the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, psychological abuse is defined as verbal abuse including insults, humiliation, threats, harassment, controlling behaviour. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Construction of Kuril footbridges put on hold Delay forces pedestrians to risk their lives crossing the busy Airport Road n Abu Hayat Mahmud Construction of three footbridges at different points of the capital’s Kuril-Bishwa Road has been put on hold as the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk) have taken no steps to resume work even after missing the deadline twice.

Sources said the construction of these footbridges missed its second deadline in March this year, due to a misunderstanding between the city planner and its contractor Project Builders. The original deadline was December last year.

This delay forces pedestrians to risk their lives crossing the busy Airport Road.

Latifa Akhter, a resident of Pragati Sarani, said: “We are compelled to cross this busy road amidst fast moving vehicles. But the concerned authorities have taken no steps to complete the construction of the footbridges.”

Jalal, a tea stall owner at Kuril, added that senior citizens, children and handicapped persons face difficulties in crossing the road quickly, although young people are capable of moving fast. “It is still risky,” he said.

The under-construction footbridges include a 40-metre long bridge adjacent Kuril-Bishwa Road intersection on the Airport Road, and another two bridges of 39-metre and 19-metre length each on Pragati Sarani adjoining the Kuril flyover.

When contacted, Rafiqul Alam, Project Builders project director, denied all allegations and blamed Rajuk for the delay.

“We placed few demands, including price adjustment, but the Rajuk officials, did not respond to our demands.

Thus, we had to suspend the construction work,” he said.

Rajuk Project Director for Kuril Fly-

Vehicular movement on six internal roads on eastern bank of the Kirtankhola River of the district came to a halt for five hours yesterday as some bus workers put blockades on those protesting the arrest of two of their colleagues.

However, normalcy returned around 10am after negotiations between police, the bus owners and the workers.

Khokan Majumdar, leader of Bus Workers' Union at Charkawa in the district town, alleged that Barisal Bandar police station SI Asad arrested bus conductor Sohag along with his two friends from in front of the union's office at dead hours of the day without any allegation.

Later, protesting the arrest, the bus workers put blockade on six routes from Charkawa, halting vehicular movement around 5am.

When contacted, Rezaul Karim, OC of Barisal Bandar police station, said they made the arrest to the three for suspicious movement.

Later, the arrested were sent to a court of Metropolitan Magistrate Nusrat Jahan who sent them to jail rejecting their bail plea. l

Train mishap kills one in Chittagong n Tribune Report People risk their lives when crossing the busy Bishwa Road in the capital’s Kuril area as there is no foot overbridge in the area. The photo was taken yesterday over and the bridges Md Abdul Baki Miah first said he was unable to say anything to the media, but later he denied all allegations against Rajuk and blamed Project Builders for the delay.

“I do not know why the contractor

has halted the construction work of the footbridges. We have repeatedly sent them letters and held meetings, but with no results,” he said. “Project Builders have received all facilities and help from Rajuk.”

Answering a question, Baki said: “The contractor has delayed completion of the footbridges; therefore, no additional cost will be provided.”

The construction of the footbridges falls under the Tk3.03billion Kuril Flyo-

NASHIRUL ISLAM

ver Project, which was financed by Rajuk in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Project Builders and China Major Bridge Engineering jointly built the 8.9m wide and 14.6m high flyover. l

REPEATED ATTACKS ON CU TEACHERS, STUDENTS

Lax security keeps the CU community on edge Mahmud and FM Mizanur n Tarek Rahaman, Chittagong Teachers, staff and students of Chittagong University are living in fear after repeated attacks on the university’s staff and teachers’ buses and the shuttle train, due to little efforts by the CU authorities to ensure their safety.

Sources at the CU campus said conflicts of political ideologies among the university’s students – and in some cases among teachers, too – are the main reason behind the attacks.

The miscreants are turning rampant due to lack of initiatives by the university authorities to put a stop to the trend, they said.

There is a police outpost with 15-20 police members on the campus. The university itself has a security force of around 150 Ansar members. Ten Railway Police and Railway Security Force personnel guard the shuttle train during every trip.

But all of this seems ineffective in light of recent events, said several teachers, students and staff of the university.

WEATHER

PARTLY CLOUDY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 DHAKA

TODAY SUN SETS 6:05PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:44AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 33 31 32 31 32 31 32 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

26 26 25 25 24 24 24 25

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.4ºC Rajshahi

24.2ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zuhr Asr Magrib Esha

4:28am 5:43am 11:55am 4:21pm 6:05pm 7:21pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Barisal bus workers blockade six routes protesting arrest of collegue n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Nurul Islam Jewel, a public administration student at CU, said classes at his department had not taken place for the past few days due to the unrest on the campus.

“I do not go to the campus because I do not feel safe there,” he said.

“Protesters hurl bricks or bombs at shuttle trains. They also vandalise the public buses en route to the university.

That is why I have stopped going to the university,” said Towkir Mahmud, an international relations student.

Sources said the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, has had dominance over the campus for the past three decades, occupying most of the dormitories and having their followers in everywhere.

However, since the ruling party came to power in 2008, its student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League has been trying to dethrone Shibir and take over its stronghold on the campus.

This tug of war for power resulted in many clashes between the two parties

between 2008 and 2014. The latest being in August which saw two dormitories shutting down.

To protest the shutdown, students gathered under the banner CU General Students (CUGS) and staged demonstration to force the authorities to reopen the dorms.

To press home their demand, the protesters hurled crude bombs and brick chips at two teachers’ buses on Wednesday, leaving 14 persons including 10 teachers injured.

The protesters also hurled crude bombs at the university shuttle train four times and attacked teachers’ bus twice as of yesterday, according to campus sources.

The sources also claimed Shibir was backing the demonstration, which started on August 31, but Shibir denied allegations of any such affiliation.

The CU unit of Chhatra League, too, have been involved in several incidents of lawbreaking on the campus, including factional clashes, attack on general student body over personal feuds,

and assaults on teachers and staff, said sources at the university proctor’s office, adding that at least 200 students have been injured in clashes since 2009.

“The authorities play their role by forming probe bodies, or filing cases after the incidents. However, the probe reports remain red taped,” said, Benu Kumar Roy, president of Chittagong University Teachers’ Association.

Humayun Masud, president of Chittagong University Journalists Association, said: “At least 15 CU correspondents have been assaulted by political activists in the past five years. Threats are common for the university correspondents.

“We informed the university authorities about the matters, but they hardly took any action in this regard,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

The administration’s negligence is mainly responsible for the unstable situation in the university, he claimed.

When asked about the continuous clashes at the CU, Mohammad Shahidullah, additional superintendent of

police in Chittagong, said: “The university is an autonomous body, where we cannot conduct any drive without the authorities’ permission.”

He said: “On Wednesday, the authorities asked us to remove police escort for the buses due to the teachers’ annoyance, and we did so.”

Before then, police escorted the university buses since the CUGS protest began, he said.

CU Proctor Siraz Ud Dowla said additional security had been deployed on the campus.

“Ensuring safety for our teachers, students and employees is our highest priority now,” he said.

CU Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwarul Azim Arif told the Dhaka Tribune that the university authorities and the protesters had come to an understanding that the protesters would refrain from demonstration until Wednesday, but they did not hold their end of the deal.

“We are investigating the incident and will know everything after it is done,” he said. l

A man died after being hit by a train while crossing railway tracks in Foujdarhat rail crossing area in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong yesterday.

The dead was identified as Md Ronju, 45, son of Md Atabbar hailing from Gaibandha district.

Ronju, a day labourer by profession, used to live with his family at the railway colony in the area, said Assistant Sub-Inspector of Government Railway Police (Foujdarhat Railway Outpost) Niranjan Pal. He said coming from Dhaka, a Chittagong-bound train named “Provati” hit the worker while he was crossing the railway tracks around 4:30pm. Hit by the train Ronju fell off the tracks and died on the spot, said the ASI. l

55 highest tax payers to be accorded reception n Tribune Desk The Income Tax zone of Khulna will accord reception to 55 highest tax payers of Khulna division.

On the “National Income Tax Day2014” on Monday the reception will be accorded.

A rally will start in the morning from the Income Tax office in the city marking the day. Administrator of Khulna District Council Sheikh Harun-ur-Rashid will attend the event as the chief guest.

The reception ceremony will held at the auditorium of Government Women College in the city following the rally. l

Odd incidents compel shutdown of 127 RMG units n Our Correspondent, Savar At least 127 medium or small scale ready-made garment factories in the capital’s outskirts Savar area have been closed down in last one year due to worker unrest, factory vandalism and declaration of new pay scale for the sector’s workers as well as the political turmoil centring the January 5 general elections.

Consequently, around 32,000 workers of the industrial belt, particularly for the RMG units, lost their jobs although half of them managed to get job in other factories but the others had unfortunately remained unemployed or forced to change their profession.

Confirming the information, Ashulia Industrial Police Director Mostafizur Rahman said their record from September last year has noticed that the RMG owners there had been forced to shut down their factories in the face of the untoward incidents.

60% of them were enlisted with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) while the rest was small criterion without registration, which were largely dependent on sub-contract order of big factories, the director continued.

Sources at Ashulia industrial Police said there are about nine lakh workers in more that 800 factories in the area.

Only in December, about 54 RMG factories had been shuttered down in the area because of failing to deliver the order timely owing to the aforesaid untoward incidents.

Md Shafiul Alam, managing director of Intracu Fashion ltd situated in Bholivadra area, said they fell in credit crunch because of lessening the orders as the buyers faced a great obstacle in the movement during the nationwide hartals and blockade programmes enforced by the then BNP-led 18-party alliance centring the January 5 national polls.

Finally, the authorities forced to close down the factory in December when it failed to pay the workers.

Anther Managing Director named Kabirul Hasan at Liberty Fashion ltd in Jirani area blamed the political turmoil as well for the shutdown of their unit that employed 4,000 workers.

Besides, about 73 sub-contract based RMG factories of Hemayetpur area were shuttered down due to worker unrest demanding implementation of the new pay scale while it was dully impossible for the owners to apply the scale with the limited profit.

On the other hand, the big factories had forced their workers to give more time after implementing the pay scale, resulting in gradual lessening the sub-contract orders of the small factories. l

Residents in different parts of Dhaka city have to collect drinking water from several spots as water crisis plagues the capital. The photo was taken yesterday at Harish Chandra Basu Street in Old Dhaka MEHEDI HASAN

Pakistani citizen held with fake currencies n Tribune Desk Customs officials and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) yesterday arrested a Pakistani citizen with fake Indian currencies worth about TK one crore at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

The arrestee is Mohammad Haris Uddin, 39. APBn senior ASP Alamgir Hossain Shimul confirmed the arrest in the afternoon. He said the arrestee had arrived here by a flight of Sri Lanka Airlines (MG 501) from Colombo on September 7 left his luggage.

“Since then the luggage, contain-

ing the above mentioned fake Indian currencies, have been deposited at the “Left Luggage Section” at the airport.

Customs officials seized the currencies after scanning the luggage and arrested him,” he added. A custom official lodged a case with Airport police station in this connection. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Boral River faces extinction

WDB yet to implement JS body’s recommendation in one year jshahi’s Charghat area on Wednesday, n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi this correspondent found two of the Rajshahi Water Development Board (WDB) has not realised any of the recommendations suggested by the parliamentary committee concerned around one year back to save the Boral River from extinction in Rajshahi region.

On October 22, 2013, as measures of saving the Boral the parliamentary committee, headed by the then lawmaker AKM Mozammel Haque, recommended to break down the lower vents of the two sluice gates of the river or widen the regulators.

Earlier on November 22, 2012, Sree Joshodhon Pramanik, founder of Pokkhikuler Asroy O Khadyo Nishchitkoron project (a project to ensure food and shelter for birds), requested the Water Resources Ministry to remove the sluice gates for saving the Boral.

He opined that the Boral would get sufficient water round the year, if the measure was implemented. However, the WDB took no step in this regard.

Consequently, the Boral does not get water even in the peak rainy season.

Sources at the WDB said the two sluice gates were constructed in 1985 to facilitate irrigation into the riverside fields during summer. Construction of such unplanned project reduced the water flow of the river from at least 31,000 cusec to 5,000 cusec at present.

After visiting the sluice gate in Ra-

three vents of the sluice gate were shut.

Only a little amount of water was flowing through the single vent.

Locals alleged that almost every single project taken by the WDB regarding the Boral was total waste of money.

Echoing the same voice, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon General Secretary Abdul Matin alleged that all the WDB projects surrounding the Boral were only destroying the river.

Locals informed that around 2,000 fishermen living by the Boral became jobless due to lack of water in the Boral.

Moreover, 16 species of fishes were no more available in the region for the same reason, the fishermen said.

The agriculture sector of the region also got a huge blow as a result of the situation. Around 2,000 acre arable lands almost lost fertility, while the irrigation facility was also in dire crisis.

Contacted, Rajshahi WDB Executive Engineer Harun-or-Rashid passed the buck to Natore WDB, saying the sluice gates were under the jurisdiction of Natore WDB. Natore WDB Executive Engineer Babul Akhter said: “Experts’ opinion was necessary to scrutinise the situation. A proposal was sent to the ministry, seeking appointment of experts in this connection. Steps will be taken following the appointment of experts.” l

Hindus demand 3-day Puja holiday n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Fund to check Kirtankhola erosion yet to be sanctioned

Members of the Hindu community yesterday formed a human chain demanding 3-day holiday for celebrating Durga Puja and at least 60 reserved seats in the parliament for them.

Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajot (BJHM) organised the programme in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall at Barisal city centre.

BJHM leaders of divisional, district, city and upazila units participated in the programme.

It was addressed, among others, by the leaders of the BJHM, Bishwajit Ghosh Bishu and Shekhar Das Khokan.

They urged the government to make the country a truly secular and progressive one, and restore rights of the minority community by giving them appropriate status and shares in all spheres of the state and government affairs as per population count.

Besides, a day-long biannual conference of Puja Udjapon Parishad (PUP) Barisal city unit was also held at a community centre.

It was inaugurated by Captain (rtd) Shachin Karmakar, PUP central leader and presided over by Swapan Datta, outgoing city president of the Parishad.

The speakers and participants demanded exemplary punishment of all attackers involved in communal conflicts. They also urged all progressive forces to unite for preventing spread of communalism. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Two go missing as BIWTC steamer rams into a fishing boat n Our Correspondent, Barisal Two fishermen went missing and one was injured when their boat was hit by a BIWTC steamer in Kirtankhola River near Lamchhari area of Barisal city in the early morning yesterday. However BITWC officials denied knowledge of any such accident.

The persons went missing were Alamin Hossain, 26, the son of Toiab Ali and Saidul Islam, 17, the son of Badsha Chaprashi from Lamchhari village under Charbaria union of Barisal Sadar upazila.

Thea injured fisherman, Kalam Mia, 26, was given treatment locally.

Quoting the locals, police said MV Bangali, a passenger steamer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, coming from Dhaka to Barisal, hit the boat near Lamchhari, around 5:30am yesterday. When the boat capsized other fishermen rescued Kalam, but they could not find the other two.

Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, officerin-charge of Kaunia police station, said when informed, police rushed to the spot and started searching for the missing persons with the help of local people. l

Every year a vast tract of land plus a good number of establishments are devoured by the Kirtankhola River, but a fund for a sustainable project worth Tk46 core to check this erosion yet get approval from the authority concerened.

Charbaria, Charabdani, Lamchhari, Charulalghuni, Rarimahal of the district are the most endangered areas of erosion. A proposal involving Tk23.52 cores was placed before Water Resources Ministry on August 2009 to construct an embankment to check erosion in the affected areas.

Later, Ibrahim Khalil, joint secretary of the ministry, visiting the spot in March 2014 said they would provide

Farmers in Rajshahi bring jute fibre to the local market, but face losses because of lower prices given by wholesale buyers. The picture was taken from the Lordanga Bazar Bridge in Rajshahi yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Tk46 core to construct a 2.5-kilometre long embankment.

But the proposal is still waiting on the table of the ministry for getting approval, said sources at the Water Development Board.

Normally, local people voluntarily try to check erosion by dumping brick bats and sands, but most of time their efforts go into vain.

Recently, a total of 50 establishments and three people became victims of erosion.

Three people went into missing after the Kirtankhola river suddenly devoured four houses at Lamchaari area under Charbaria union of Barisal city in the early hours of Sunday.

After the incident, the Water Re-

sources Ministry provided an emergency fund of Tk30 lakh to save people from erosion.

Zahiruddin Ahmed, executive engineer of the Water Development Board Barisal office, said a letter of sanctioning fund worth Tk30 lakh as emergency grant for checking river erosion reached to his office from the Water Resources Ministry on Sunday afternoon.

Getting the allocation, employees of the WDB started dumpimg brick bats into the river at Charbaria point.

But residents of the area said a sustainable project to check erosion in the locality was a must.

They urged authority concerned to arrange fund to build an embankment there to save them from erosion. l

Public life and businesses hurt severely as power plant shut in Chandpur n Our Correspondent, Chandpur For diverting natural gas to fertiliser factories, the 150MW power plant has been shut down indefinitely since Sunday morning in Chandpur, severely hurting businesses and public life in the district.

Sources said only 37MW power was supplied against 77MW power on Wednesday, and on Monday and Tuesday, it was 40 to 45MW and so this was causing such power outage in the district.

Seeking anonymity, a PDB official said: “The government should have worked out a viable solution instead of shutting down the power plant for diverting natural gas to fertiliser factories in the region.”

The government shut down this plant on the same ground from November to March last year.

Our correspondent said power out-

age was taking place almost every one to two hours in the rural and urban areas of the district.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Power Development Board’s Chandpur Regional Executive Engineer Rupok Kumar Majumder admitted that the power was not being supplied in the district as per demand since the plant was shut down on Sunday for diverting natural gas to fertiliser factories.

He was asked when this plant would go into operation again and people would get power supply normally, he said: “I do not know. It is up to the ministry [Power, Energy and Mineral Resources).”

Though the combined cycle power plant was set up for generating 150 MW power, it has actually the capacity of adding 160MW power to the national grid regularly while it increases by over 10MW more in the winter. l

Man kills brother over land dispute n Our Correspondent, Habiganj

Hindus form a human chain in Barisal city yesterday, demanding three-day holiday for celebrating Durga Puja

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A man allegedly beat his younger brother to death centring a dispute over a piece of land in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj yesterday.

Quoting locals police said there had been a long-standing dispute between Sadek Mia and his younger brother Nazir Mia over the ownership of a piece of land.

NEWS IN BRIEF Woman crushed under train in Tangail An unidentified woman has been crushed under the wheels of a train at Analia Bari under Kalihati upazila of the district. Station master of Bangabandhu Bridge east railway station, Abdul Mannan told the Dhaka Tribune that a woman aged about 27 years was crushed under the wheels of Dhaka-bound train around 9am yesterday. Police are on the way to recover the body from the spot, said the station master. – Our Correspondent, Tangail

Four fake DB men held in Tangail

The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested four fake DB men from the eastern toll plaza area of Bangabandhu Bridge in Tangail on Thursday. The detained were Shahjahan Howlader alias Bachchu Sikdar, 40, Mohammad Younis Khan, 50, Joy Mahmud, 32, and Kibria Khan, 40. Golam Mahfeejur Rehman, officer-in-charge of Tangail DB police said acting on a tip off, a team of DB

police conducted a drive at the eastern toll plaza area of Bangabandhu Bridge around 9pm. A microbus, fake DB police dresses, a walkie-talkie, two handcuffs and fake notes worth Tk8,000 were recovered from their possession. A case was logged with Bangabandhu Bridge Ease police station on Friday in this connection, added the OC. – Our Correspondent, Tangail

Woman’s body found in suitcase Police recovered body of a young woman in an abandoned suitcase from Banktown area beside Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar. The deceased could not be identified immediately. Locals said police recovered the body of the young woman from a black suitcase which was found in an abandoned state near Banktown bridge on Friday morning.

Officer-in-Charge of Savar Model police station Mostofa Kamal said: “The body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. We are assuming that she had been killed somewhere else and her body was dumped here.” A case

has been lodged with Savar model police station in connection with the incident, he added. – Our Correspondent, Savar

Madrasa student electrocuted in Tungipara A madrasa student died from electrocution in Gopalganj’s Tungipara upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Kutub Molla, 15, the son of Chan Miah Mollah from Patgati Sardarpara village in the upazila. He was a student of Kodalia Madrasa in Bagerhat.

Officer-in-Charge of Tungipara police station said a live wire snapped and fell on Kutub when he was collecting firewood from a tree near his house. Kutub Died on the spot, the OC added. – Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

Pirate arrested in Chandpur Police arrested a pirate from his residence at Haimchar upazila of Chandpur yesterday.

A police team led by SI of Haimchar police station, MD Abul Kashem arrested Khoka Peda from his house at Isanbala of Haimchar.

Local alleged that Peda used to extort money

from fishermen in Meghna and used to take away fishes and nets of those who denied to give money. Sometimes he would beat up the fishermen as well, they said. Police said three fisherman – Kashem, Azhar and Billal lodged a case against Peda and 10 to 12 other people. Police arrested Peda following the allegation. – Our Correspondent, Chandpur

Youth held with yaba tablets in Gazipur Police have arrested two yaba traders with 30 pieces of yaba tablets and a motorcycle at Rajendrapur bazar of Sreepur upazila.

The arrestees are Rajib Hasan, 23, son of Bhawalgarh union parishad chairman and BNP leader Salauddin Sarkar; and his associate Hasan Shuvo, 25, son of Sharif Mia. Sreepur police station ASI Anwar Hossain said the duo were caught red handed while selling yaba tablets in rail gate area of Rajendrapur bazar on Thursday night. Rajib Hasan has been trading drugs in the area for a long period, he added. A case was filed against the arrestees under the Narcotics Control Act. – Our Correspondent, Gazipur

At one stage of altercation over the issue, Sadek indiscriminately beat Nazir in the morning, leaving him critically injured.

He was taken to Habiganj Sadar Hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead.

OC of Chunarughat police station Amullo Kumar Chowdhury said they were trying to arrest the culprits involved in killing incident. l

Sylhet road accident claims local AL leader n Our Correspondent, Sylhet A local leader of the ruling Awami League was killed in a road accident on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway in Morgarpool area of Jaintiapur upazila early yesterday.

The road mishap killed Mukhlesur Rahman Dawla, 60, general secretary of Jaintiapur upazila unit AL, and also a former UP chairman.

Witness sources said the motorbike of Dawla turned turtle after losing control on the highway around 2:40am at time of giving room to a truck coming from behind while he was on the way to home from the upazila town, leaving him critically injured.

He was whisked off to Jaintiapur Health Complex where duty-doctor declared him dead.

Jaintiapur police station OC Harun-ur-Rashid Chowdhury confirmed it as well. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Is the PA stalling Gaza war crimes probe? n Al Jazeera

The Palestinian Authority has so far prevented the launch of a formal investigation into the alleged war crimes committed by Israel and Palestinian factions during the 50-day Gaza war last July and August, according to officials at the International Criminal Court.

In a confidential letter obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit, ICC’s top prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says she “did not receive a positive confirmation” from PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki that the request, submitted by the Palestinian justice minister for an international investigation, had the Palestinian government’s approval.

Both the PA and Hamas have publicly called for an investigation by the ICC into the alleged war crimes.

On July 25, PA Justice Minister Saleem al-Saqqa and Palestinian General Prosecutor Ismaeil Jabr submitted a letter to the ICC via a French law firm calling for an investigation. However, according to ICC regulations, “only the Head of State, Head of Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs” can grant the international body jurisdiction to investigate.

Twelve days later, FM Malki travelled to The Hague to meet top ICC officials: “We must do everything within our power to enable the International Criminal Court to bring to justice

those responsible for committing war crimes,” Malki said.

The document obtained by Al Jazeera is in line with an article written by Bensouda in The Guardian on August 29, where the ICC prosecutor states that the Palestinian leadership has not granted her office jurisdiction to investigate alleged war crimes in its territory.

But according to Geoffrey Nice, who served as a prosecutor for seven years in The Hague, “This document shows that the Palestinian Authority either never authorised the original referral when it was brought on the 25th July by the Minister of Justice and the general Prosecutor, or that their decision has changed, or their decision has been changed for them or under pressure from someone else.”

“The decision to do nothing clearly emerges from the meeting … with the foreign minister,” Nice told Al Jazeera.

Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riad Mansour, said there was a consensus among the Palestinian people and the political groups about joining the ICC. “The decision as to when that step will be taken by President Mahmoud Abbas and top Palestinian leadership is left for them,” he told Al Jazeera.

United States officials have in the past convinced the PA leadership to refrain from “pursuing … international legal forums” during negotiations with

In this file photo, a Palestinian stands in his badly damaged house as the ruins of houses, which were destroyed during the seven-week Israeli offensive, are seen in the east of Gaza City REUTERS the Israelis, especially after the United Nations special investigation into the 2008-2009 war in Gaza, the “Goldstone Report,” accused Israel of committing war crimes. But since US-backed negotiations broke down earlier this year,

Palestinian leaders have signed a number of international treaties and were encouraged to turn to the ICC to prosecute Israel.

After the recent war in Gaza, in which more than 2,100 Palestinians,

mostly civilians, and 70 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed, both PA and Hamas officials agreed to ask the ICC to launch a formal investigation into alleged war crimes committed by both sides during the conflict. l

EU raises pressure on Moscow with tougher sanctions

n Agencies

n Reuters, Brussels

Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria now have about 20,000 to 31,500 fighters on the ground, the US Central Intelligence Agency said, much higher than a previous estimate of 10,000. Among those in Syria are 15,000 foreign fighters including 2,000 Westerners, a US intelligence official told the AFP news agency on Thursday.

The figures were revealed one day after President Barack Obama pledged to expand an offensive against Islamic

The European Union tightened sanctions on Russia yesterday over its role in the Ukrainian conflict, restricting access to financing for top Russian banks, defence and energy firms and freezing the assets of senior politicians and rebel leaders. The United States was set to follow suit with its own tougher sanctions later yesterday, heaping pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region and sent troops to back pro-Rus-

sian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

However, the drive for tougher EU sanctions faces growing opposition from a number of EU countries that fear retaliation from Russia, the bloc’s biggest energy supplier.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the EU was “choosing the path of disrupting the peace process,” and that Moscow would respond “calmly, appropriately and, most of all, from the need to protect our interests,” the Interfax agency reported.

In a move to assuage critics, the EU

has said it could lift some or even all of the sanctions within weeks - if Moscow abides by a fragile truce in Ukraine and respects a peace plan.

Publishing the latest sanctions list in the EU’s Official Journal, EU governments said it was “appropriate to take further restrictive measures in response to Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.”

Russia has already banned all imports of food from the United States and all fruit and vegetables from Europe in response to previous Western sanctions. l

Polls put Scottish unionists a nose ahead as vote approaches n Reuters, Edinburgh

A ‘NO’ supporter reacting while taking his message through the streets of Montreal, Quebec, in this October 30, 1995 file photo. Canadian politicians who almost saw their country torn apart by an independence referendum in 1995 say pro-union British leaders have been slow to learn lessons from that campaign but can still take steps to win the vote Scotland will hold on September 18 REUTERS

Supporters of keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom have clawed back a tiny lead over separatists less than a week before Scots vote in an independence referendum that is balanced on a knife edge, opinion surveys showed yesterday.

A YouGov survey for The Times and Sun newspapers put Scottish support for the union at 52% versus support for independence at 48%, excluding those who said they did not know how they would vote.

“The ‘no’ campaign has moved back into the lead in Scotland’s referendum campaign,” YouGov President Peter Kellner said in a commentary on the survey. “This is the first time ‘no’ has gained ground since early August.”

The indication that support for keeping the United Kingdom intact has drawn slightly ahead in Scotland is of only meagre comfort to unionists; the broader pic-

ture painted by recent surveys is that the vote is still too close to call.

An Guardian/ICM poll published on Friday showed support for the union on 51% and separatists on 49% once don’t knows were excluded.

That poll, based on telephone interviews conducted between Tuesday and Thursday, also showed 17% of voters in the overall sample said they have yet to make up their mind.

Pollsters YouGov and TNS have shown a surge in support for independence since late August as the secessionist campaign led by Alex Salmond won over supporters of the traditionally unionist Labour party and some female voters in Scotland.

So far only one poll this year, from YouGov last weekend, has put the separatists in front. That survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 to 3 percentage points, showed a 2 percentage point lead for the independence campaign. l

Exhausted and frustrated, Landslides add to misery of Pakistani protesters want Kashmir’s worst floods in decades to go home n Reuters, Srinagar

n Reuters, Islamabad Arshad Shah, a Pakistani protester, feels trapped: worn out after weeks of street demonstrations against the government, he wants to go home but protest organisers will not let him.

Like many other protesters led by cleric Tahir ul-Qadri, Shah said organisers had taken away his national identification card to prevent him from leaving the protest site outside government offices in the centre of the Pakistani capital.

“Some (organisers) will make up excuses for why they can’t return out cards yet, others will just say directly that we can’t leave until the sit-in is over,” said Shah who joined the rallies from the central Pakistani city of Sargodha.

“I just want our cards back so we can leave.” Others said they were instructed to turn in their cards on a daily basis, get paid to spend the day at the rally and

claim the card back at the end of the day.

“I come in the morning and submit my CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) to Qadri’s people who then give us our daily wages of 300-400 rupees ($3-$4). We then sit around here all day,” said Niaz Ahmed, a daily wage labourer.

“After Dr Qadri makes his speech in the evening, we get our ID cards back and off we go. The next day we come back again. I’m making almost the same money sitting around here all day as I did working hard all day.”

Anti-government demonstrations erupted in Pakistan last month, with protest organisers saying their supporters will not leave until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns - a month-long standoff which has destabilised the South Asian nation. Several attempts

by Sharif’s aides to find a negotiated solution have failed, with protest organisers refusing to back down from their demand for his resignation. l

NEWS BITES

Two Indian states to go to polls Oct 15, chance for Modi gains

n Reuters, New Delhi

CIA says IS numbers underestimated State group fighters, a plan which foresees new air strikes against the group in Syria, expanded attacks in Iraq and new support for Iraqi government forces.

“CIA assesses the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria, based on a new review of all-source intelligence reports from May to August,” Ryan Trapani, CIA spokesman, said. “This new total reflects an increase in members because of stronger recruitment since June following the declaration of a caliphate.” l

7

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Rescuers raced to help communities hit by landslides in Indian Kashmir yesterday while thousands were stranded, homeless and hungry in the city of Srinagar, most of which was submerged by the region’s worst flooding in 50 years.

Both the Indian and Pakistan sides of the disputed Himalayan territory have been hit by extensive flooding since the Jhelum river, swollen by unusually heavy rain, surged last week. The river flows from Indian Kashmir to the Pakistan side, and then down into Pakistan’s lower Indus river basin.

On the Pakistani side, officials put the death toll at 264 on Friday and said that more than one million people had been affected by floodwaters now cresting in the densely populated province of Punjab.

In New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said about 200 Indians had been

killed and around 130,000 rescued.

“Almost every second family has one or two missing members,” said Syed Munir Quadri, who has been looking for his father for three days in Srinagar, a city of some 1.2 million now facing an acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines.

Indian media said that more than 40 people were killed by a landslide at a village further south.

“The entire village slid down in a matter of minutes, burying all houses under tons of rock and mud. The villagers had no time to run to safety,” the CNN-IBN TV channel said on its news website. “The army rushed in 200 of its soldiers to assist with rescue operations being carried out by the civil administration.”

The ferocity of the floods appeared to have caught the administration in Indian Kashmir by surprise and has prompted an outpouring of anger in a Muslim-majority region where a revolt against Indian rule has simmered

for quarter of a century.

Many people praised the Indian army on social media for its rescue and relief efforts, but others vented their anger at delays in getting help to survivors.

Munir Ahmad was trapped for two days with his brother and domestic help as waters swirled around his Srinagar home before they were taken to safety by a rescue boat.

“We were trapped on the tin roof for two days and were crying for help. We put up a big red flag to draw the attention of the rescuers. But no helicopter or boat came to our rescue.”

“After two days, a local boat spotted us. It took us to a nearby building where already 40 people had taken shelter.”

All but one of Srinagar’s major hospitals were under water, and six infants died in a maternity hospital due to a lack of medical care, a rescuer said, and telecommunication links to the city have been down for days. l

The Indian states of Maharashtra and Haryana will go to the polls on October 15, the Election Commission said yesterday, offering Prime Minister Narendra Modi the chance to chalk up gains after his general election triumph in May. The bigger prize is Maharashtra, which has a population of 114 million and is home to India’s financial capital, Mumbai. Haryana, to the west of capital New Delhi, has a population of 25 million.

Both states have chief ministers from the opposition Congress party that was routed by Modi in the general election, when his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the strongest lower-house mandate in India in three decades. The BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance are, however, in the minority in the upper house, or Rajya Sabha, where India’s 29 federal states are represented. That means that, even if Modi makes gains in Maharashtra and Haryana, he will still have to cut deals with opposition and regional parties to pass some reforms. l

‘Missing’ train traced after 17 days in Bihar

n Agencies

A train which went missing from one railway division in the Indian state of Bihar was finally traced on Thursday after 17 long days, from another division, senior officials said. The Gorakhpur-Muzaffarpur passenger train “went missing” from Hajipur on the night of Aug 25 after the derailment of a goods train led to the diversion of several trains on other routes.

As this train began taking a new route, passengers quickly got off – and the train was reported “missing,” Arun Malik, divisional manager in the Samastipur railway division, told IANS. “We finally traced it today (Thursday) at a railway station in another division,” he said. l

WHO asks for more health workers to fight Ebola

n Reuters, London/Geneva

The number of new Ebola cases in West Africa is growing faster than authorities can manage them, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday, renewing a call for health workers from around the world to go to the region to help. As the death toll rose to more than 2,400 people out of 4,784 cases, WHO director general Margaret Chan said the vast nature of the outbreak – particularly in the three hardest-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – required a massive emergency response. “The Ebola outbreak that is ravaging parts of West Africa is the most severe in the almost four-decade history of this disease,” she said. l

Germany bans Islamic State in bid to stop attacks, recruitment

n Reuters, Berlin

Germany announced a ban on Islamic State yesterday, saying it aimed to prevent the militants from recruiting young jihadists in Germany, especially via the internet, or from using combat-hardened fighters returning to Europe to carry out attacks. Coinciding with the launch of a broad US campaign against the Sunni militants, which could include air strikes in Syria as well as Iraq, Germany introduced an immediate ban making all IS propaganda, symbols and activities illegal. To help counter IS military gains in Iraq, Chancellor Angela Merkel has broken with Germany’s post-war policy of not sending arms to war zones. l

Yahoo ‘threatened’ by US government

n BBC Yahoo said the US government threatened to fine it $250,000 a day if the search giant failed to hand over user data. According to court documents, the National Security Agency (NSA) had demanded that Yahoo comply with new surveillance rules, something the company said was unconstitutional.

Yahoo failed in a court challenge on the constitutionality of the order. But the details emerged on Thursday when a federal judge ordered the unsealing of some material about case. Yahoo’s general counsel Ron Bell said publication of the material was “an important win for transparency.” l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

Saturday, September 13, 2014

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n Dr Sajol Ashfaq

T

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Vomiting?

What to do ...

Though vomiting might be necessary – if you have food poisoning, for example – it can often be discomforting and unpleasant when there’s no good reason for you to vomit. If you want to keep yourself from vomiting, whether because of upset stomach or general nausea, here are some simple methods to stop the sensation and help you feel better in no time.

Causes of weight gain

Many attribute age-related weight gain to a slowing metabolism. Slow metabolism, however, is rare, and it’s usually not what’s behind being overweight or obese. Rather than slow metabolism, factors more likely to contribute to weight gain with ageing include:

Stick to water in the beginning

Overconsumption of calories Physical inactivity Genetics and family history Certain medications Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as skipping breakfast or not getting enough sleep l A balanced diet and physical exercise is important l l l l l

No matter at what age, your focus should be on eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, getting enough physical exercise to maintain a healthy weight , and build bone density. This way you protect yourself from developing chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

You should always focus on disease prevention rather than cure. It is important to do regular physical exercise that includes aerobic and weightbearing exercises. Weight-bearing exercises like walking and jogging, work your bones against gravity and make them stronger. These should be done for 30 minutes, at least twice a week.

Unfortunately, many people in their

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20s, particularly women, prefer to go on fad diets instead of going for a walk or working out in the gym. Many go on crash diets which have a counterproductive effect. Results may only be short lived and not sustainable in the long-term.

Staying fit and healthy in your 30s

Energy requirement declines as we age.

In general, you need a slightly lower energy intake in your 30s than in your 20s.

Examples: If you are a woman in your 30s, weigh 55kg, and hold a sed-

entary job, the recommended energy allowance is: l 1700 kcal (light activity) l 1900 kcal (moderate activity) l 2000 kcal (vigorous activity) This is about 50 calories per day less than what is recommended in your 20s.

If you are a man in your 30s, weigh 60kg, and hold a sedentary job, the recommended energy allowance is: l 2000 kcal (light activity) l 2200 kcal (moderate activity) l 2500 kcal (vigorous activity) This is about 100 calories per day less

than what is recommended in your 20s.

Exercise in your 30s for building muscle mass

In your 30s, you should focus on building your muscle mass. Your muscle mass and bone mass begin to decline when you are in your 30s. It is therefore important to begin a strength-training exercise regimen at this age while continuing the daily exercises you began in your 20s.

If you don’t challenge your muscles with strength-training, you can lose 2kg or more of muscle each decade, says Dr Tan Hong Chang, Consultant, LIFE Cen-

tre, Singapore General Hospital.

Lifting weights is an effective strength-training exercise.

Extra precautions should be taken before you embark on an exercise regimen. If you haven’t done regular exercise in your 20s, it is important to start in your 30s. But remember to begin slowly, with lower-impact activities like swimming and walking, and gradually increase the pace and intensity.

Do keep in mind that if you have health issues that restrict your ability to exercise, such as knee problems, you may want to check with a doctor or physiotherapist first. l

If you’ve been vomiting a lot recently, drink only small amounts of water at a time. Too much water processed too quickly can cause you to begin to throw up.

Clear liquids aside from water are helpful in replacing certain essential vitamins that you may have lost while previously vomiting.

If you can, try to drink liquids that are high in potassium and sodium. These are among the body’s most important electrolytes. They are often lost when the body goes through the vomiting process.

Acceptable ‘clear’ liquids include: l l l l

Weak tea Bouillon Apple juice Sports drinks

Avoid liquids with caffeine, carbonation, and high amounts of acidity

This includes many sodas and coffee, as well as fruit juices like orange juice, grapefruit juice, or lemonade.

Try to drink a little ginger tea in order to quell your nausea

Food cans linked to obesity in young girls

FOOD THERAPY

n Prescription desk

Multiple health benefits of turmeric

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Turmeric – the vibrant yellow spice has long been known for its antiinflammatory, andantioxidant properties. Recent research has revealed that turmeric is a true natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. The medicinal properties of this spice are due to the presence of the antioxidant curcumin.

Protects the heart and liver

Curcumin can help protect the heart.

Inflammation can stiffen the heart muscle by stimulating extra collagen to form around heart cells – this forces the heart to work harder. Curcumin can help prevent this process. Adding turmeric to the diet can also help support healthy liver detoxification, and can prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, which will help reduce the risk of artherosclerosis and stroke.

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Reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and cancer

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Curcumin can also help preserve memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by the build-up of amyloid protein “plaques” within the brain, blocking connections between nerve cells crucial for memory.

Curcumin reduces the accumulation of amyloid proteins. Curcumin also acts as a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage. Curcumin has been found to have anti-cancerous properties. Studies have shown that consuming turmeric frequently can lessen your chances of developing certain types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Acts as antiinflammatory

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Turmeric is also a strong anti-inflammatory spice which is beneficial for treating inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions.

Adding turmeric to your daily diet is one of the best things you can do for your health. The best way to add turmeric in your diet is raw or as a powder over veggies, in salads or salad dressings, in rice dishes, curries or you can even try adding some to your next veggie juice. l

| Compiled by Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar

new study suggests poor diet and lack of exercise might not be the only factors contributDID YOU ing to the obesity epiKNOW? demic; the environment may also play a role. The environmental culprit, according to the study published in the journal PLOS ONE, in June 2013 may be bisphenol-a, a chemical commonly found in plastic and cans.

In a study with 1,326 school-age children in Shanghai, China researchers measured BPA levels in their urine.

In girls ages 9 to 12, higher BPA urine levels were associated with a doubled risk of obesity. And as BPA urine levels increased, so did the girls’ obesity risk measured using their weight in reference to weight distribution in the population.

But strikingly, only girls in this age group were affected, the research showed. Neither girls outside of the 9-12 age range nor boys experienced a risk of being overweight or obese, even with high levels of BPA in their urine.

“Girls seem to be more sensitive to environmental impact, and we don’t

know exactly why,” said the lead study author.

Researchers do know BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. It enters the body and mimics estrogen, the main hormone involved in female development. When BPA acts like estrogen in young girls, it may accelerate the onset of puberty and cause weight gain – thus earning its “endocrine-disrupting” title.

The led author of the study also said, It is biologically plausible that BPA interferes with your normal hormone process - then your body gets screwed up. Another study conducted last year among children and adolescents in the United States showed a similar association between obesity and BPA. BPA is a prime suspect on the growing list of what scientists call “environmental obesogens,” chemicals found in the environment that may cause obesity. And BPA is nearly unavoidable in our everyday lives: it lines the inside of food

cans and some plastic containers, entering the body through ingestion. According to the CDC, nearly everyone in the United States over age 6 has BPA traceable in their urine. BPA is associated with a variety of other health problems besides obesity. Past studies have tied BPA with low birth weight, asthma, and sexual dysfunction in men.

The Food and Drug Administration last year amended the food additive regulations to no longer allow BPA in the plastic used to make baby bottles and sippy cups. l

Ginger has been a renowned nausea-buster for quite some time. If you don’t want warm tea but still want the soothing benefits of ginger, try drinking ginger ale.

Avoid acidic, spicy, fatty, or fibrous foods

These foods make your stomach work overtime, meaning that the chance you feel you need to vomit increases. Acidic, spicy, and fatty foods are all self-explanatory.

Fibrous foods include many vegetables, meats, and coarse grains.

If diarrhea accompanied your vomiting, avoid dairy products as well. Like other foods mentioned above, dairy can be hard for the stomach to process.

‘Low-fat’ doesn’t always mean healthy n Dr Israt Shormy In the 1980s, new dietary recommendations came out imploring everyone to adopt low-fat diets.

Recently researchResearch ers said the idea to adopt a low-fat diet only was not applicable for all people, especially those are not obese or in a risk of heart diseases. Dr Michael Alderman, a researcher on this issue said low-fat diets might have helped spur the national rise in obesity and diabetes.

We now know that fats are necessary for health. Fat is critical for the optimum functioning of the brain, the heart, the skin and other major

organs, as well as for the absorption of many vitamins.

They are also good for dieting.

Fat digestion suppresses ghrelin, the hormone that makes us feel hungry, while simultaneously spurring the release of peptides that make us feel full, found a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2005. A moderate amount of fat can also lower the glycemic index of a meal, helping you feel satisfied for longer.

It’s impractical and unnecessary to avoid saturated fats, but we should instead include a variety of fats in our daily diets, adding that dietary fats shouldn’t be considered in isolation because when they work together they may actually be doing

far more good than bad.

These days, so much of the food packaging in the supermarkets screams at us from the shelves that it’s “low-fat” or “99% fat-free” – but don’t be fooled into thinking this means it’s better for you. Research has found that some low-fat foods contain the same number of calories.

Low-fat diets lack satiety and may reduce good (HDL) cholesterol, counteracting any benefits of reduced bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Low-fat diets may also reduce the absorption of fat-soluble essential nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as of [the powerful antioxidants] carotenoids such as lycopene and carotenes that protect the body against free radical damage. l

Use acupressure

Acupressure is the manipulation of pressure points on your body in order to relieve pain. The wrists are what many acupressurists tend to target when nausea and vomiting occur.

Face your palm up towards your face. Then, place your thumb gently in the middle of your wrist and push to begin gently massaging the area. Slowly pushing on this pressure point will help relieve nausea.

Put the inner parts of both wrists together and press them into one another. You should be activating the same pressure point as in the example above. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

9

Saturday, September 13, 2013

Persian perceptions

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A closer look at n Tim Steel he importance of East India the apparently Company employees learning the Persian language in close historical the 18th century, underlines both the extensive relationship use of the language in Mughal times in Bangladesh, and also its continuing between present use in the early period of British administration. It is tempting to wonder day Iran and whether it was Mughal influence, perpetuated, that, at least until recent lies behind the allegations of Bangladesh times, Arab orientation of the British foreign

policy over recent centuries.

The Persians have a long history of influence over the lands of the Ganges delta, that are now the lands of Bangladesh.

These lands, which, under the Mughals became best known as Bengal, first came under Persian influence with the arrival of the Khilji in the early 13th century.

When a soldier of Turkish origin led his men into Nadia, now just into West Bengal, in circa 1204, he drove from power the last of the Brahmanic Sena dynasty, and established Bengal as a province of the Delhi Sultanate.

This, we learn from Persian sources, which may not always chime with perceptions in Bangladesh today, were the lands, in which it was the flourish-

ing commerce of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers and their hinterlands which presented the main attraction to the invaders, quickly began to assimilate and learn, “the broad institutional features of mediaeval Iranian world that had evolved under the Abbasids.”

The Abbasids represented, perhaps, the height of Islamic tradition, ruling or influencing much of the Islamic world from their Caliphate, of which Baghdad was the capital.

Much has been written of the near half millennium of the rule that was brought to an abrupt end by the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols, in 1258.

It is reasonable to speculate that the Khilji’s arrival in the lands of the rivers marked their flight from the earliest of the Mongol savaging of most of Central Asia.

The “Abbasid influence” included, most importantly, “the pre Muslim Persian tradition of monarchy, and extensive reliance on imported slaves for military, domestic and political service, and a highly commercialised economy.”

We know that, although coinage from that period is quite plentiful in Bangladesh, in fact, such means of marking transactions had originated in Bangladeshi lands nearly two thousand years earlier. Punch mark coins

Bengal first came under Persian influence with the arrival of the Khilji in the early 13th century

Craftsman working with marble stone inlays. The marble is coloured red to give contrast while working WIKIMEDIA

Old Persian inscription on a stone tablet

WIKIMEDIA

from a number of ancient sites, mostly on the banks of rivers are proof of that.

These traditions continued, even after the administrators of Bengal, who probably included a number of imported slaves, established a Sultanate, independent of Delhi, in 1342.

Although, by early in the 15th century, established Bengalis challenged the imported traditions, we have clear evidence from such as the 1415 visit to the Court at Sonargaon, where, by then, the capital of the lands was clearly well established, between the great trading routes of Ganges and Brahmaputra, effectively controlling much of the native commerce, that the rulers perpetuated some of the influences.

Chinese Admiral Zheng He’s embassy vividly describes “characteristically mediaeval Iranian imperial paraphernalia as peacocks feathers, umbrellas, files of mounted and foot soldiers (including the local addition of war elephants), a throne (and regalia) inlaid with precious stones, and lavish displays of gold.”

Another Iranian institution was also observed, slave armies, and slave aristocracies. “Domestic slaves were generally castrated Bengalis who were either sold to wealthy Muslim merchants of the capital or given to ruling houses in lieu of land revenue.”

It is easy to wonder when the tradition of slavery finally died out in Bangladesh ... if, indeed, it has fully done so, even now. Certainly, the extensive women’s quarters in zaminder palaces suggests a continuing tradition right up, perhaps, until 1947.

“For their armies, on the other hand, the Bengal sultans relied on foreign Muslims. In Bengal, as elsewhere in the mediaeval Iranian world,

Sufi devotees whirling to their music. The Sufi influence in Bengal in one of many Persian influences the ruling house failed to develop an imperial aristocracy, requiring the creation of an artificial aristocracy composed of uprooted, foreign elements.”

“Initially, these were Turks, imported from upper India, many of whom were recruited ultimately from Central Asia; but by the middle of the 15th century, black Abyssinians were imported through the port of Chittagong.”

Finally, we can explain the giraffe that was sent to China! And it seems that Iranian commentary on Bengali history may be just a little misdated!

“However, these same palace guards and military slaves, again on the Abbasid and mediaeval Iranian pattern, grew in influence as they grew in numbers, until, in 1486 they managed to overthrow their master and rule in their own names for a period of seven years.”

Although this brief spell ended with the establishment of a powerful new dynasty in 1494, the influence of foreign military slaves apparently continued until, finally, in 1576, Akbar secured a Mughal toe hold in Bengal.

The, roughly, two centuries, in which Iranian historians identify significant “Persianised” influences in the lands that are now Bangladesh, also saw to advent of another such influence, not valued by the Mongol invaders of most Persian influenced lands, even the invaders who, subsequently converted to Islam. Sufi influences, of course, remain controversial, especially amongst extremists, who, it seems, are less intellectual or emotional.

The internalisation of the Islamic spirit has given rise to a distinctive culture, the effects of which, having begun in Abbasid Baghdad, linger still, perhaps most significantly, in the lands of the Ganges delta. Baul tradition, it is believed, owes a great deal to that Abbasid tradition, more so, even, that such dance forms that identify, through such as the dervishes, other strands of Sufiism.

Some of that Abbasid tradition, of course, informed much of the culture, too, of the Mughals, where, again, especially the cultural influences bloomed, it might be said, in both architecture, and in the obsession with gem stones; an obsession that reflects in Akbar persuading one of the English traveller, Ralph Fitch’s companions, a London Jeweller, to remain in the Mughal court as a court jeweller in the mid 1580s.

Persian poem, Agra castle, India, 18th century

This second period of Iranian influence, historians believe, is amply reflected in Bangladesh, and in their commentary, Iranian historians make mention, specifically, of Lalbagh Fort, with its palaces and gardens that owe so much to Persian tradition ... even wall tiles!

The Mughal influence is said to have, “led to an influx of administrators, soldiers, literati and Sufis, who identified themselves as ‘men of high extraction.’ Forming a social elite whose descendants dominated Muslim politics in Bengal down to modern times, these men claimed an ancestry in north India, Afghanistan, and especially Iran. One account, written in the 1630s refers specifically to waves of up country migrants who settled in the Mughal provincial capital of Dacca following Akbar’s conquest, and states that most government officials and notables living in Dacca were foreigners whose ancestors, or they themselves, had come from Kashmir, Marshad, Tehran and other Persian centres of tradition.”

WIKIMEDIA

There is little doubt that Iran exercised considerable influence in the lands that are now Bangladesh, from the early 13th century up to the real Anglicisation of the early 18th century.

And the perspective of Iranian historians offers some very new interpretations of the rich history of the nation of Bangladesh.

It may well be reasonable to ask why the Iranians, like the Europeans later, took such an interest in lands, today, commonly regarded as of no particular social, commercial or historic interest. Clearly, they knew a thing or two about its historic riches!

Viewed from many perspectives, it may prove easier to appreciate the real richness, its causes and its influences, as the nation of Bangladesh grows in wealth and stature, and influence in the world of the 21st century. The Persian perspective is just one more.

Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

Iranian historians make mention, specifically, of Lalbagh Fort, with its palaces and gardens that owe so much to Persian tradition

Most significantly, perhaps, it is noted that many of these migrants were Shia, and that their power came to its height in the first quarter of the 18th century.

Here, then, we may distinguish another cause of the defeat of the young Nawab at Plassey. Religious dissention added, since the traditional Sunni Muslim aristocrats had, by then, been driven out of Dacca. “Bengal’s old political elite, who were primarily Afghan,” had been driven, “from the cities into the more remote regions of east and south Bengal, where they established themselves as colonisers and local magnates. Many a village in Bangladesh claims to have been founded by Afghan adventurers rusticated by the Mughal conquest.”

Coin minted by Sultan Alauddin Khilji WIKIMEDIA

WIKIMEDIA

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, September 13, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Change attitudes to stop violence

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he recent incident of a 20-year-old mother being beaten to death by her husband in Gobindaganj for giving birth to a darkskinned girl child is a reflection of the sick mindset that prevails in our society when it comes to gender and skin complexion.

Although in this particular case, the 30-year-old husband Al Amin is one individual, he cannot be treated as an isolated case.

If proven guilty, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, but this sordid crime also needs to be taken as an alarming sign that discriminatory attitudes are alive and well in our society.

Sexism and shadeism (discrimination based on skin colour) continues to thrive, particularly in areas with little education. Because of social pressures to have male children or fair-skinned children, our society breeds violent, angry men who do not learn to respect the rights of people.

Much progress remains to be made to change this mindset. It is shocking that while our country claims to have moved forward, a girl child or a dark child is still considered undesirable. Along with the fight for gender equality, we must fight to change these skewed ideals of gender or physical beauty.

Because of these prejudices in our society, men like the one in this case feel a misguided sense of justification for their violent actions.

Discrimination is never acceptable in any form. Rooting out harmful attitudes is a good in itself and especially so when it is a factor that causes violence and murder.

Root out skewed ideals of gender or physical beauty

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

Beyond the pale

September 6 Tarannum Sattar Darryl Darko Oreč A fair observation. I would like to add that, in a Yugoslavia was a dictatorship with one of the nutshell, the current conflict between the factions worst cases of human rights abuse and assassiof Muslim groups is a creation of the West. We may nations around the world. Yugoslavia was not an have thousands of ifs and buts, yet the principal economic success, rather it survived on handouts. reason of all these crises is the West. The West comSerbia was used as its internal police force. After prising of dogmatic Christians and Jews are bent on the fall of communism, Serbia, the only state that destroying the Muslim world; that is why they crewas armed, attacked all other states conducting ate such situations and defame Islam in the process. genocide in order to establish an ethically-pure However, Islam cannot be defaced or defamed. greater Serbia. If Serbia was not armed, there The rulers of the Muslim countries (Arab and would not have been a war. We can thank Tito the non-Arab), like Gaddafi, Saddam, Mubarak, and dictator for arming the Serbs. other royal and elite families that rule the entire Arab countries, are keeping the countries intact, Osmania and there has been significant economic progress.

Darryl Darko Oreč: Surely, it was Milosovic’s The West is creating all sorts of hindrances for stealmisrule that underlay the ethnic cleansing. Tito ing the wealth, peace and unity of these people. died in 1980.

September 5

W

e are pleased to see that national efforts to reduce child blindness are making good progress.

According to WHO, nearly 1.3 million children suffer from refractive errors leaving more than 150,000 with impaired vision, of whom over half can be cured.

Early detection is crucial to treat and prevent the disease.

More must be done to improve access to free eye-care treatment, including surgery, to help eradicate preventable blindness altogether.

The government should keep raising awareness to encourage parents to bring their children in for early detection, especially in remote, rural areas.

As with other diseases, a large part of combating child blindness begins with making sure that children receive good nutrition.

Poor nutrition, especially vitamin-A deficiency is a leading factor implicated in child blindness. While the country has been successful in reducing hunger, and ensuring most children are getting to eat more than one square meal a day, it is also clear that many are not receiving the proper nutrition they need.

It is vital that the government step up efforts to improve the variety and quality of the nation’s diet.

Education on good nutrition is just as important as combating hunger in helping the nation eradicate preventable childhood diseases. It is as important as the government ensuring that the food we eat is safe and free of any chemicals.

Averting childhood diseases by improving diet and health checks is a highly cost-effective way to improve opportunities and prevent unnecessary suffering.

Good nutrition is just as important as combating hunger

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

SUDOKU Recognition of female farmers demanded

Improve nutrition to end childhood illnesses

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 2 represents P so fill P every time the figure 2 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

Bangladesh favours Japan, withdraws UNSC candidature

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.

September 6

birbanggali Thank you HPM, and good luck, Japan!

Nazmul Khair No offence, but can they take on the same load as a man does? Do they have the same body strength as a man has? We should diversify this.

A woman can do better work on the household premises, such as weaving, carpentry, pottery, or managing poultry, or something of the like that requires less physical attention, but more mental attention.

While it is true that a woman can handle more physical pain than a man, but it does not mean that she has more physical strength than a man.

Our creator makes this clear, and whatever we try do nowadays is totally opposite to nature. Too many violations against women are happening nowadays, not only in Bangladesh but also in so-called developed areas and nations like the USA, EU, etc.

AH Are all the decisions in Bangladesh taken by this lady? This is a big foreign policy issue and should have been discussed in the assembly. Otherwise, why spend public money and keep the MPs on state payroll?

N’ganj killing: Another RAB member held September 6

Dr Ahsan Habib Things are not looking promising for a quick trial.

All these sporadic arrests are going to delay the case, and give time to the real criminals to save their own skins. Why not a speedy trial?

Scientists: 1tn rare minerals found under Afghanistan September 6

‘al-Qaida wants to portray Modi as enemy of Islam’ September 6

Paul Armstrong The poor Afghans. They will be helped into the 21st century even if it kills most of them. They should be left alone before they really get pissed off.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Not flighty (5) 4 Direction (4) 7 Mob (6) 8 Thespian (5) 10 Girdle (4) 11 Unfasten (5) 12 Vestment (3) 14 Let fall (4) 17 At hand (4) 19 Flightless bird (3) 20 Lays bare (5) 23 Painful emotion (4) 25 Waterlily (5) 26 Bird with enormous beak (6) 27 Fashion (4) 28 At no time (5)

DOWN 1 Tar (6) 2 Metal (4) 3 Hand-thrown missile (4) 4 Flowed back (5) 5 Beverage (3) 6 Rarely (6) 9 Musical instrument (4) 13 Smooth and even (mus) (6) 15 Remainder (4) 16 Ship’s officer (6) 18 Scoundrel (5) 21 Dash (4) 22 Not any (4) 24 Indicate agreement (3)

Atletico signs Mamunul on loan Incarné Dev I am just waiting now for a speech from Narenda Modi.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

September 7

Sanwor And the deed is done.

1.5kg gold found in vacuum cleaner at Dhaka airport September 6

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

“Nine gold bars, 12 gold chains and 12 gold rings have been recovered.”

CROSSWORD

Mahmid Abdullah How much more of this?

PEANUTS

UN: 1 in 10 girls sexually abused September 5

WeMen for WoMen Isn’t it alarming?

PB Shocking stats on violence against women across the globe. Disgusting!

DU admission test: 7 held for cheating September 5

Ahmed Azwad Imtiaz Here you go, kids: Democrazy!

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Does the truth need this kind of defence?

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n Esam Sohail he statistical probability of a sceptic like me praising a sitting cabinet member is not such that a poker player will be comfortable with the odds. The last time a minister impressed me with his wisdom, integrity, and courage was my kinsman and former Planning Minister the late Dr Fasihuddin Mahtab from many years ago.

Then there is the incumbent finance minister whose shocking defence of another former planning minister’s right to write a book has, well, impressed me by its sheer dint of courage.

Now, I have not read the book and find the reported controversial passages to be rather strange. At some point I will make up my mind if time, resources, and other commitments will allow me the luxury of procuring the said book and reading it; at this point my nightstand is already about six books deep.

basis of the rights of a free people. As important, in this day and age of information super highways, the banning of any intellectual material is guaranteed only to marginally increase the cost of acquiring it, and exponentially increase its readership as it goes viral.

Put it altogether, this business of “banning” is a veritable counterproductive exercise in constitutional dubiousness. I mean, do you think nobody in Bangladesh has a copy of The Satanic Verses or Playboy magazine?

The question is often raised as to how we protect the integrity of history.

Well, as one of my mentors answered it so well, we cannot find truthful history until there is an atmosphere where those who search for it can do so without the primal fear that the slightest mistake in the search, let alone the discovery of unpalatable facts, will bring about intimidation, threats, and mob violence.

If you wonder why so many years into independence we still struggle

If some truth has to rely on the might of banning its nemesis by force of the law and mob violence, then it is too weak to be labelled the ‘truth’

But if the legislators, activists, and central leaders of the ruling party have anything to do with it – as their harangues, threats, and book burnings have left little doubt – the author of the said book will see the gallows and the printed version of the autobiography will be banned from the “digital” Bangladesh that keeps being touted in Silicon Valley.

It is an abject obsession with banning things that behooves not a republic which was ostensibly created on the

with the “correct” history of the country, there is your explanation: Historians and researchers are too afraid to look with scholarly detachment lest their discoveries incur the wrath of the mob and cries of “off with his head.”

And in this case the “head” being asked for is that of one of the genuine war heroes whose Awami League credentials and “chetona” identity is literally second to none. The finance minister is absolutely correct in that the only civilised manner to counter

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Good scholarship isn’t fostered by banning books unpalatable information is to come up with better documented and better sourced narratives that trump the offending piece of work on the basis of intellectual superiority rather than brute force.

If some truth has to rely on the might of banning its nemesis by force of the law and mob violence, then it is too weak to be labelled the “truth.” For having the courage of his convictions in an atmosphere where the proverbial hounds are out for blood, the finance minister certainly deserves a hearty thumbs up.

The sadder reflection is that a mere

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n Ekram Kabir

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he ongoing war on terror, officially begun 13 years ago, worries me to death. But sometimes it also makes me laugh. In these 13 years, I developed an interest in the nature of this war, and I follow the course of this war when and where it happens.

I’ve also set a Google alert for “terrorism” to remain updated on this “word.” Yes, sometimes, the war simply seems like a coined word to my mind. There has been a common headline in the global media every year: “New York vigilant for potential terrorism on September 11 anniversary.” There hasn’t been a single year when we found any different headline.

It’s quite intriguing to watch how America has taken up the responsibility to weed out terror elements across the world. It directly went into Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and indirectly into many other countries.

Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein was captured, tried, and executed, but the anti-terror war couldn’t end terrorism in that country. An insurgency was waged by various factions, including al-Qaeda affiliates who led to form the Islamic State group.

On the other hand, it has been reported that Israel and America are behind the creation of this new outfit. An American analyst, CJ Werleman, writes on Alternet.org: “ISIS is the product of our own imagination and self-serving meddling. After we removed Saddam and his Sunni quasi-government, ISIS was the response by those Sunnis blocked from enjoying economic participation in Iraq.”

Now President Obama, according

to a news item in Daily Beast, is asking for a package of $5bn to fight terrorism. From an American point of view, it has a right to protect itself from global terror threats, but it doesn’t look clear as to how or when the task of ending terror will be completed.

It’s not at all clear how America can restrict the battle to a defined, targeted effort to root out this group.

Americans themselves have started to question their government’s anti-terror strategies, saying that Laden killed 2,996 people on September 11, and in the years since, twice as many American soldiers have died responding, and a hundred times more civilians.

Since America’s response to terror, terrorists now control vast areas of the Middle East, North Africa, and even the urban areas of Pakistan. To our minds, the perception of America as a stabilising force looks severely damaged, and its reputation is becoming that of a “global thug” who turned its back on a long tradition of championing human rights and embraced torture as a tool of statecraft.

The number of disappearance, mostly in the Muslim population, has been rising in America itself. Due to the US government’s obsession with terrorism, it has unconstitutionally spied on innocent Americans, reinterpreted laws to justify mass surveillance, and passed a bill that allows the military to imprison US citizens indefinitely without any trial.

An estimate says in the last six years, an average of 4.6 Americans per year have died from terrorist attacks.

But far more have died of lightning strikes, dog attacks, bathtub falls, and playing football, individually. Over

the last 20 years, average deaths from terrorism total 162 Americans per year.

On the other hand, 685,941 people have died of heart disease each year, 68,827 died of pneumonia and the flu, and 17,213 died of falls. The estimate says the total increase in spending justified by terrorism is approximately $350bn per year.

America currently spends over $400m on terrorism prevention per victim annually, as compared to cancer, for which it spends $9,000 for prevention research per victim. The same general pattern holds true for other big killers like heart disease, strokes, and influenza. So, it’s clear that America isn’t that interested in preventing deaths from non-violent causes.

It looks quite funny, doesn’t it?

There’s another striking aspect of this war on terror: It’s mostly taking place in Muslim-majority areas and where there’s oil. Werleman again writes: “With a total of 44 US military bases in the Middle East and the Central Asia, we have the Muslim world completely surrounded. From Turkey to Saudi Arabia, from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan, our bases serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that we control their economic future, and we are here to stay.”

Americans themselves have started to question their government’s anti-terror strategies

If the US-led war has been working, then why has the number of terrorist attacks each year more than quadrupled in the decade since 9/11? The Global Terrorist Index showed that in 2002 there were 982 separate attacks.

By 2011, that had risen to 4,564.

Researchers suggest the US military interventions pursued as part of the West’s anti-al-Qaeda “war on terror” may have made terrorism worse.

So, what are you actually leading us to believe? l Ekram Kabir, a journalist, is a DT columnist.

tions, and I can assure you I will have to think long and hard to give you an answer.

Whose fault is it? The scholar’s? Or that of an environment where only the “approved” results of scholarship are deemed acceptable and everything else is just this side of treason? I wish I could say that such a toxic environment for research is only fostered by the government; far from it, it flourishes even on Bangladeshi campuses.

Recently, a lecturer at a well-regarded private university in Dhaka actually posted on social media how he wished “Hitler would have finished his job

with the Jews” while assuring us subsequently that the former deputy commander-in-chief of Mukti Bahini was actually a “razakar” now.

This kind of toxicity is not the hallmark of an educated people; rather it reflects a vapid ignorance that belongs in the Middle Ages, not in a “Digital Bangladesh.” A hearty thank you to the finance minister for recognising this conundrum, in stark contrast to his party’s leadership. l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

E

America’s war duties

REUTERS

book can create such blood curdling calls for banning, hurting, prosecuting, and even killing. By their very nature, scholarly pursuits require a wide latitude to learn, err, correct, err again, and continue the cycle; where such latitude is severely constricted, sound social science research is simply an impossibility by its very definition.

Now ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a scholar working at a Bangladeshi university publish a paper in the world’s most prestigious journals in economics, history, psychology, or linguistics? I work in academia and keep in touch with many such publica-

BIGSTOCK

Liable for damage n Abdul Matin

I

t is reported that after years of deadlock on the liability issue, India and Russia finally inked an agreement for two more reactors (units 3 and 4) at Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) signed a General Framework Agreement (GFA) with its Russian counterpart in April.

Both countries have sorted their differences resulting from India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, 2010, with Moscow finally agreeing to bring the reactors under the purview of the law which makes suppliers of equipment liable for nuclear damages.

Even though the details of the agreement specifying the liability of the supplier are not known, the agreement itself is a giant step forward in enhancing nuclear safety as it will bring the two major stakeholders, the owner and the supplier, on the same boat to share the liability throughout the life of the two reactors.

At present, there are two international conventions on civil liability for nuclear damage: The OECD’s Paris Convention of 1960, and the IAEA’s Vienna Convention of 1963. These conventions, linked by the Joint Protocol of 1988, make the operators of nuclear power plants liable for damages, regardless of the cause of the accident.

The maximum liability of the operator is limited to $300m in most countries. The state takes responsibility for damages exceeding this limit. The bilateral agreement between Russia and India obviously goes beyond the scope of the two international instruments.

The safety of a nuclear reactor depends on several factors, including its engineered safety features, the mode of its operation, and the application of safety regulations besides natural calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis. So, like the operator’s error, any design fault or manufacturing defect can cause nuclear accidents.

With the present day technology, it is possible to identify any faulty equipment by analysing the sequence of events during an accident. The extension of the civil liability for nuclear damages to include the reactor supplier is, therefore, fully justified, and time has come to amend the Vienna Convention accordingly. It is hoped that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would take the

necessary steps in this direction.

It may be mentioned here that the construction of units 1 and 2 at Kudankulam nuclear plant, consisting of two VVER-1000 reactors supplied by the Russians, started on March 31, 2002, and Unit 1 was synchronised with the southern power grid on October 22, 2013. The unit 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu is likely to become operational by early next year according to the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) in Mumbai.

There is no reason for not enacting a legislation if the safety of the nuclear plant is our top priority

Part of the delay was due to the 500-day long protests by the locals concerning the safety of the plant.

During its construction, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India recommended 17 safety-related modifications for the reactors. There were also allegations that the supplier installed some faulty valves in the nuclear plant, four of which were later replaced. It is expected that the incorporation of the supplier’s liability for

damages will make the supplier more stringent with quality control during design, manufacture, and the erection of the nuclear plant components of units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam. This is likely to make units 3 and 4 safer than units 1 and 2.

In an earlier article published on October 27, 2013, I recommended that Bangladesh could have a similar legislation on the supplier’s liability like that of India. No action has been taken on this matter so far. Since Russia has already created precedence by abiding by the Indian legislation, they are most likely to abide by our legislation too.

There is, therefore, no reason for not enacting a similar legislation in Bangladesh if the safety of the nuclear plant is our top priority. As a matter of fact, it is imperative that we do it as early as possible so that we can incorporate its provisions in our contract with the Russians for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The inclusion of the clause is, however, likely to escalate the cost of the plant as the supplier would be required to take an insurance to cover the risk. It may be noted that whereas the revised cost of units 1 and 2 at the Kudankulam nuclear plant was $2.86bn (Rs17,270cr) only, units 3 and 4 at the same site are likely to cost about $5.46bn (Rs33,000cr) according to available information.

Even then, it will be worthwhile to enact a legislation including the supplier’s liability for damages in the case of any nuclear accident in Bangladesh. l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and author of Rooppur and the Power Crisis.

BIGSTOCK

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Rezwana Choudhury Bannya performs at IGCC today

Entertainment

Saturday, September 13, 2014

ROOM 3 Music with Arnob and Friends ATN Bangla 8:45pm

Arnob and Friends will be seen performing, discussing their musical journey and reminisce of their old days in the show.

The Avengers Zee Studio 9:30pm

Seth Panduranga Blumberg, left, with his band The Speakeasy performs in Room 3, the third edition of an electronic music concert, arranged by Dhaka Electronica Scene (DES) and the Goethe-Institut at the Berlin Hall in Goethe-Institut Dhaka on September 11.

Room 3 was held as a part of the Border Movement, a platform for dialogue between the electronic music scenes of South Asia and Germany KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

n Entertainment Desk

A

n evening of Rabindra Sangeet featuring Rezwana Choudhury Bannya will be held in the evening today at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Gul-

shan.

An outstanding exponent of Rabindra Sangeet, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya achieved critical acclaim and popular attention both in Bangladesh and worldwide. Trained under the late Konika Bandyopadhyay, Bannya has mastered Tagore’s songs in all their majesty. The sweetness in the tonal quality of Bannya’s voice, combined with the effortless control of the tune and perfect pronunciation of each word, makes her performance a distinct and divine experience for listeners.

Bannya, who was born in Rangpur, Bangladesh, was drawn to music since her childhood when she began musical training under her uncle Abdul Ali. Subsequently, she trained under Sanjida Khatun and Atiqul Islam at Chhayanaut and at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts in Dhaka. Her love and passion for Rabindra Sangeet intensified and flourished at Shantiniketan where she continued her musical training on an ICCR scholarship. Bannya established “Shurer Dhara,” a music school in Dhaka in 1992.

Bannya has travelled extensively across the world, presenting Rabindra Sangeet to a global audience. She has released innumerable CDs and albums that have attained immense popularity and recognition. l

James on Zee Bangla

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

n Entertainment Desk Bangladesh rock icon James has joined singers Alka Yagnik and Hariharan as a guest judge on the popular musical reality show - “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa—Gane Gane Tomar Mone” which was aired yesterday and will be aired today at 10:30pm on Zee Bangla. James has been invited for a special appearance for the two special episodes that feature band songs. Besides listening to and judging the contestants’ music, James performed both Bangla and Hindi songs including “Dukhini Dukkho Koro Na” and “Bheegi Bheegi.” Participants performed James’ songs in the programme. l

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak With only one released film in her coffer, Airin Sultana has established herself among her peers in Dallywood. The model-turned-actor, who started her career after winning the ‘Best Smile’ award in ‘Pantene You Got The Look 2008’ contest, has two films awaiting release: “Ei Tumi Sei Tumi” directed by Gaziur Rahman, and “Cheleti Abol Tabol Meyeti Pagol Pagol” directed by Saif Chandan. She is shooting for two other films currently, including Saif Chandan’s “Target” and “Prem Bhalobasa Noy,” a directorial venture of Zahid Reza.

Dhaka Tribune caught up with the actor to know about her recent ventures.

Tell us about your role in “Target”

I have played two different roles in the film, one that of a girl born and raised in a foreign country, and another, the wife of an auto-rickshaw driver. Its a challenge to play roles so different from each other.

But I love to take challenges. I also love

Guardians of the Galaxy (3D) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Rio 2, Most Welcome 2 How to Train Your Dragon 2 (3D) Alpo Alpo Premer Golpo Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath

Personage of Egyptian Vision

By Dr Walid Jahin Time: 3pm – 8pm La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi Colours of Friendship Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm Dhaka Art Centre Rd No 7, Dhanmondi

So how did you overcome the challenge of playing a double role?

The film’s shooting is still underway, so I don’t think it will be appropriate to use the word ‘overcome’ now. I can describe the experience once the shooting is completed.

That being said, the experience of whatever we did so far was satisfactory. I got the support of my director, co-stars and crew.

What about your role in “Prem Bhalobasa Noy?”

In the film I am playing the role of a girl named Jenny. It is a romantic action thriller.

When I do a movie, I first concentrate on the artists and crew members, people on the scenes and behind. So obviously, my first priority is the people I work with. Secondly, I concentrate on the script and the character I am going to play in the film. l

n Entertainment Desk Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman announced on his official Facebook page that he is composing the music for the upcoming film, “Pele.” The Mozart of Madras is composing music with international artists for Football’s living legend, Pele’s biography.

An excited AR Rahman tweeted: “Working with the very Brazilian and very talented lyricist and singer Anna Beatriz, for the movie Pele.”

The film is directed and written by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist.

The film stars Kevin de Paula, Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta and Colm Meaney. The movie was supposed to release around the FIFA World Cup, but the makers have ruled out the possibility by citing the post production works and now they have assured the movie will be out in the first quarter of next year.

The ace composer has recently completed composing music for Hollywood projects “Hundred Foot journey” and “Million Dollar Arm” this year. l

Despicable Me 2

Star Movies 12:30pm

Exhibition

the combination of suspense, romance and action in movies.

What do you usually look for in movie roles?

S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency combined of Marvel Super Heroes, is needed all their powers to save the world from disaster.

n Entertainment Desk Actress Katie Holmes is all set to step behind the camera for the first time in “All We Had.” Adapted from Annie Weatherwax’s debut novel, the drama is a story about a poverty-stricken mother and daughter who find solace and home amid the quirky residents of a smalltown America, reported E!Online.

“I am very excited and honoured to be collaborating with Jane and Josh on this project and look so forward to bringing Annie’s incredible characters to the screen,” Holmes said in a statement.

The 35-year-old mother of one is also set to star in the film, playing the mother who sacrifices all for her daughter’s well-being. No words yet on who would play the daughter.

“The Fault in Our Stars” director Josh Boone will pen the script. Jane Rosenthal is to produce alongside Holmes.

Rosenthal said: “Katie has such a clear vision for the book’s irreverent, original mother-daughter relationship. Her passion for the material, along with Josh Boone’s ability to tell stories grounded in the comedy and drama of everyday, will truly bring these characters to life.” l

Gru is no longer a villain since he rescued his 3 foster daughters. But his calm and unexciting new life takes an unexpected turn when he is recruited to the Anti-Villain League.

Did you know?

If Manchester United fail to beat QPR on Sunday it will be their worst start to a season since 1986-87

Sport

Saturday, September 13, 2014

14 Old foes Real,

Atletico eye early Liga boost

14 Van Gaal happy

to swap misfiring Welbeck for Falcao

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Federer puts

Swiss ahead in Davis Cup semi

Demoralised Tigers look for consolation Second Test starts today at 8PM win, a target they passed without any n Agencies hiccups.

The visiting Bangladesh cricket team will be looking to crash the West Indies’ 500th Test match party as the two sides take on each other in the second and final Test starting from today at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.

Following a convincing 10-wicket victory in the first Test at St. Vincent, the hosts are eyeing another polished display while the visitors will be desperate to end their 38-day Caribbean tour on a high.

Having been swept aside 3-0 in the one-day internationals before poor weather forced the abandonment of the solitary Twenty20 International, Bangladesh went down to a humiliating defeat in the first Test despite an improved batting performance in the second innings.

Asked to bat first by Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim which was later criticised in many quarters, the hosts racked up 484-7 declared, thanks in large part to 212 from opener Kraigg Brathwaite and an obdurate 85 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

In reply, Bangladesh struggled to 182 all out as spinner Sulieman Benn took five wickets, and they were subsequently asked to follow-on.

Second time around, the away side did much better as they reached 314 all out, led by 116 from Mushfiq, who was unbeaten on 48 in the first innings.

This was the 13th time Bangladesh were made to follow on in Tests but only the third time they scored enough runs in the second innings to make the opposition bat and avoid an innings defeat.

That left West Indies just 13 runs to

However, host captain Denesh Ramdin said he was concerned by his side’s poor catching, so that is something they will be looking to improve in this game.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will need to replicate the fight they showed in the second innings and try to avoid the batting collapses that have plagued them recently.

The visitors went into the first Test with eight batsmen and three bowlers but the decision backfired as the hosts posted a healthy first innings total. According to sources, Bangladesh will be heading into the final Test with four bowlers and seven batsmen.

Imrul Kayes, who has a skin infection and was ruled out of the remainder of the tour, will be replaced by Anamul Haque while the extra bowler, either pacer Shafiul Islam or Robiul Islam, is likely to come in to the side in place of Shuvagata Hom who had a forgettable debut after making 16 and nought. Pace bowler Al Amin Hossain, whose action was called into question after the conclusion of the first Test, will also feature.

Going into the final Test, Bangladesh received a boost as Mushfiq improved eight spots to 30th in the International Cricket Council rankings for Test batsmen. He became the highest-ranked Bangladesh batsman, followed by Tamim Iqbal in 44th place.

The track at St. Lucia would turn out to be a good deck for batting. However, with Dukes being used in the West Indies these days, the quicker bowlers may generate a bit of swing in the air.

Spinners may come into play later on in the Test match. Plenty of showers are expected in the eastern Caribbean island throughout this game, much like the first Test at St. Vincent which was also blighted by rain. l

West Indies captain and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin practising taking catches during training yesterday ahead of the second and final Test against Bangladesh today

WICB

Rubel to replace Al Amin in Asiad n Mazhar Uddin Bangladesh paceman Rubel Hossain will replace fellow pacer Al Amin Hossain in the upcoming 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea after the latter’s bowling action was recently called into question by the International Cricket Council. Al Amin will now have to undergo tests on his bowling action within 21 days of being reported.

“Rubel is most likely to replace Al Amin,” chief selector Faruk Ahmed told Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “We do not have enough choices as we have

only three fast bowlers available from the 30-member squad.”

It has now been confirmed that Rubel will take part in the upcoming Asiad alongside two other pace bowlers - skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza and youngster Taskin Ahmed.

It was also learned that Al Amin will be featuring in the second and final Test against the West Indies starting from today. Questions had recently arisen that the 24-year old bowler might not play the second Test as he is supposed to undergo tests on his action within 21 days.

This was the second time that a

Bangladesh bowler was reported for a suspect action. Off-spinner Sohag Gazi was the first to receive the objection from cricket’s governing body after the conclusion of the second ODI. Al Amin on the other hand was reported after the 10-wicket defeat in the first Test of the ongoing West Indies tour.

Gazi will undergo tests on his bowling action at the Metropolitan University in Cardiff on September 19 and it was decided that all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be replacing him after the Bangladesh Cricket Board reduced his sixmonth suspension to three months.l

Gillespie’s Yorkshire win County Championship n AFP, London A Yorkshire side coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie won England’s County Championship title for the first time in 13 years after a crushing innings and 152-run win away to nearest pursuers Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom, the sole survivor from the last time Yorkshire won the County Championship - English cricket’s first-class domestic competition - had a match to remember.

Sidebottom took six for 30 and finished with nine wickets in the match as Yorkshire dismissed Nottinghamshire for 177 in their second innings.

Victory saw Yorkshire extend their record for most Championship titles to 32 and was particularly sweet for the 36-year-old Sidebottom, who twice

Ryan Sidebottom, the sole survivor from the last time Yorkshire won the County Championship, had a match to remember won the competition in his seven years with Nottinghamshire before returning to his native county.

Gillespie’s involvement meant Australians had played roles in both York-

shire’s two most recent Championship wins, with Darren Lehmamn -- now Australia’s coach -- starring as a batsman in the White Rose’s 2001 triumph.

Nottinghamshire resumed on 149 for five on Friday’s final day of four in this First Division clash.

But Sidebottom was soon enjoying fresh success against his former side, with two wickets in as many overs.

He swung one past Gary Keedy to clean bowl the nightwatchman and then had Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read - like Sidebottom a former England international - caught behind after an excellent delivery nipped off the pitch.

Luke Fletcher briefly kept Yorkshire at bay before he too fell to Sidebottom

when edging to second slip.

As James Taylor (75) looked on from the other end, stand-in captain Joe Root -- leading Yorkshire in place of the suspended Andrew Gale -- saw his decision to bring on Adil Rashid in place of Jack Brooks rewarded when the leg-spinner had Jake Ball lbw.

He and Yorkshire then had to wait another half-hour for their next step to glory, Luke Fletcher pushing forward and edging compliantly to second slip.

Sidebottom, just over an hour into the day’s play, wrapped up the match and the title when Taylor drove him on the up to point.

Taylor’s exit meant Sidebottom had taken four wickets for six runs in 7.2 overs. l

Yorkshire get into their victory huddle against Nottinghamshire during their County Championship, Division One match at Trent Bridge yesterday CRICINFO

Magnum, Khelaghar win big in First Division Twenty20 n Tribune Desk

Eskaton (batting) and Azad Sporting Club in action during the 1st Division Twenty20 tournament at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Azad SC, Dhanmondi Pragati Sangha, BKSP, Magnum Cricketers, Khelaghar SKS, Rapid Foundation, Talent Hunt and Uttara SC won their respective matches in the First Division Twenty20 tournament at different venues yesterday.

In the first game of the day at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, BKSP posted 133/4 after being asked to bat first by Surjo Tarun.

Shariful Islam Saikat (45) was the highest scorer for BKSP while Sabbir Akter Razu scored 42 runs.

Surjo Tarun fell short by 10 runs as they finished their innings on 123/7 with Saiful scoring the highest, 41 runs.

Shahriar Rahman took two wickets for BKSP. In the second game of the day, Baridhara Dazzlers posted registered

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Eskaton Sabuj Sangha scored 105/7 and in reply, Azad Sporting Club won the match with four wickets intact 115/7 as Magnum Cricketers reached the target with eight wickets in hand.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium,

Eskaton Sabuj Sangha scored 105/7 and in reply, Azad Sporting Club won the match with four wickets intact. In the other match at the venue, City Club posted 126 which was chased down by Rapid Foundation in 19.1 overs.

Dhanmondi Pragati Sangha clinched a 31-run win over Young Cricketers at the BKSP 3 ground while in the other game at the venue, Agrani Bank posted 162 runs with Sadman Hossain smashing a half-century. Talent Hunt chased down their target with two balls remaining after a brilliant unbeaten knock of 84 from Ashikul Islam. At the BKSP 4 ground, Khelaghar posted a 63run win over Orient Sporting Club after scoring 167 in their innings. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Old foes Real, Atletico eye early Liga boost n AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (2L) vies with Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (C) during a training session at Valdebebas training ground in Madrid yesterday, on the eve of their Spanish League match against Club Atletico de Madrid AFP

Injuries leave Dortmund counting on Kagawa n AFP, Berlin Borussia Dortmund are in the grip of an injury crisis coming into their home clash with Freiburg in the Bundesliga today and with a Champions League clash with Arsenal just around the corner.

With Marco Reus, Nuri Sahin and Jakub Blaszczykowski among those already out, captain Mats Hummels struggling for fitness and Ciro Immobile a minor doubt, the last thing coach Jurgen Klopp needed was the news that Shinji Kagawa had to withdraw from training on Thursday with a groin problem.

Against Freiburg, the Japanese star is hoping to make his first appearance since returning to the Signal-Iduna Park following a disappointing spell at Manchester United.

Kagawa won two league titles in his first spell at the club between 2010 and 2012 and Klopp hopes to use the 25-year-old straight away.

Elsewhere today, champions Bayern Munich will have Franck Ribery back as they go looking for a second win in three matches against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena.

Juve sweat over Vidal but Tevez says in clear n AFP, Milan Champions Juventus could be without midfielder Arturo Vidal for today’s fixture at home to Udinese as well as a Champions League fixture against Malmo as striker Carlos Tevez calmed fears he could also be injured.

According to reports Vidal has been sidelined for around 10 days due to a right thigh problem, although Tevez was quick to play down fears after he pulled up with a thigh injury during training.

FIXTURES Empoli v Roma Juventus v Udinese Vidal’s build-up to this summer’s World Cup was blighted by a right knee problem. Tevez failed to make Argentina’s squad for the Brazil showpiece.

Juventus have yet to make any official statement concerning the south American duo, who were set to undergo tests on Friday.

Juve host Udinese in Turin today hoping to maintain their 100 percent start to the campaign and kick their Champions League Group A campaign off against Swedish side Malmo in Turin on Tuesday. l

The game will be Bayern’s first in a run of seven matches in 22 days, which also includes Champions League ties against Manchester City and CSKA Moscow.

Pep Guardiola’s side, who drew 1-1 at Schalke last time out, can call on French winger Ribery again after the

FIXTURES Bayern Munich Dortmund Hoffenheim Hertha Berlin Paderborn M’gladbach

v v v v v v

VfB Stuttgart Freiburg VfL Wolfsburg Mainz 05 Cologne Schalke 04

31-year-old announced he was over a knee problem.

Visitors Stuttgart drew at Borussia Moenchengladbach on the opening weekend before going down to a disappointing home defeat against newly-promoted Cologne last time out.

Germany’s other Champions League representative, Schalke, go to still-unbeaten Moenchengladbach today, while Paderborn will look to continue their good start to life in the top flight when they host fellow newly-promoted side Cologne. l

Bento parts company with Portugal n AFP, Lisbon Portugal coach Paulo Bento has left his position with the national side by mutual consent, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced on Thursday.

Despite being captained by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal bowed out in the group stage of the World Cup in June.

The former Portuguese international’s last match at the helm was a 1-0 home defeat to Albania last Sunday in their first qualifier for Euro 2016.

A tenacious, tough-tackling defensive midfielder during his playing career, the 45-year-old took over the national side in September 2010 and last April extended his contract until 2016.

He took Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Spain on penalties in the semi-finals, but he could not repeat the feat at the World Cup and the start to their European Championship qualifying campaign caused alarm.

The FPF said that his successor “will be announced shortly” as they thanked Bento “for all he did for the national team”.

Portugal are next in action in October, when they face France away in a friendly before going to Denmark in a Euro 2016 qualifier. l

PSG begin busy month with Rennes test n AFP, Paris With the international break now over, French champions Paris Saint-Germain begin a busy sequence of matches today when they travel to Brittany to face Rennes

in Ligue 1.

Laurent Blanc’s side will play seven matches in the next three and a half weeks, with their Champions League campaign beginning at Ajax next Wednesday, but first they will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.

The capital club produced comfortably their best performance so far this season when they hammered Saint-Etienne 5-0 in their last outing before the international break, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring a hattrick, but they will be wary of a Rennes side who won when the clubs last met in May. On that occasion, PSG had just been confirmed as champions when Philippe Montanier’s men claimed a 2-1 victory in the capital that secured their own survival, although the Rennes squad has undergone a major overhaul since then.

Rennes, who are unbeaten in their

last three outings, saw 11 new faces arrive over the summer, with the last to join before the transfer window closed being Gent forward Habib Habibou, who began his career as a youth at PSG. He will hope to make his debut as Montanier looks for his side to spring a surprise against the two-time defending champions.

FIXTURES Rennes SC Bastia Montpellier Nice Reims Saint-Etienne

v v v v v v

PSG Lens Lorient Metz Toulouse Caen

“I think Paris will be even more difficult to beat this season, but the merit will be all the greater for the teams who manage to,” Montanier said. “I hope we prove to be one of them.”

PSG have defensive problems with skipper Thiago Silva still sidelined while David Luiz suffered a knee knock playing for Brazil and Serge Aurier needs extra tests after losing consciousness during a clash of heads playing for the Ivory Coast.

Paris come into the weekend in second place, two points behind unbeaten leaders Bordeaux, who go to Guingamp tomorrow. l

A seventh Madrid derby of the year tops the bill as Spain’s four Champions League representatives face off on Saturday ahead of the kick-off of their group stage campaigns in midweek.

Real Madrid and La Liga champions Atletico meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu for the third time already this season with Atletico having emerged victorious over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup last month.

Los Blancos’ victory over Atletico in the Champions League final in Lisbon meant both teams from the capital ended the season happy.

But Atletico boss Diego Simeone claimed his side’s triumph in breaking Real and Barca’s hegemony of the Spanish title was the greater achievement.

“For me to win the league is as good as it gets because it is what the fans live day-by-day,” Simeone told Argentine newspaper Clarin.

“A league is 38 games competing against two enormously powerful teams.

To maintain their ryhthm is almost impossible and we managed to do it.”

Atletico’s 1-0 win at the Bernabeu 12 months ago proved the launching pad to their title run and they could move four points clear of Real should they repeat the feat this weekend.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men endured a horror show in San Sebastian just before the international break as they let a 2-0 lead slip to lose 4-2 to Real Sociedad.

Madrid were without the injured

Cristiano Ronaldo due to his ongoing knee problems for that defeat, but he is hopeful of returning to face Atletico having also sat out Portugal’s shock 1-0 reverse to Albania.

Real’s other injury concern surrounds right-back Dani Carvajal, who had to pull out of Spain’s 5-1 thrashing of Macedonia due to a hamstring problem.

Earlier on Saturday, Barcelona will look to continue their 100 percent start to the new season when they host Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou. Much of the build-up to the game has been surrounded by off-field polit-

FIXTURES Barcelona Malaga Real Madrid Celta Vigo

v v v v

Athletic Bilbao Levante Atletico Madrid Real Sociedad

ical issues as Barca will unusually wear their red and gold striped away shirt, the same colours as the Catalan flag, to commemorate the region’s loss of sovereignty 300 years ago.

However, Luis Enrique’s men should be raring to go on the field as Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Leo Messi all pulled out of their international commitments due to minor injuries and are expected to return.

Rafinha Alcantara has been one of those to benefit from Barca’s early-season sruggles with injuries and suspensions as he has started both league wins to date. And he insisted he welcomes the competition of competing against some of the best players in the world for a place in the side.l

Wenger challenges Arsenal to show title credentials against City n AFP, London Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have a golden opportunity to underline their title credentials when they host champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Wenger’s side had a dismal record against the Premier League’s top clubs last season and humiliating defeats at Chelsea, Liverpool and City ended the Gunners’ hopes of challenging for their first English crown since 2004.

But the Arsenal manager believes his team’s performance in recovering to secure a 2-2 draw after falling two goals behind at Everton last month highlighted their greater resilience this season.

And a win against Manuel Pellegrini’s side at the Emirates Stadium would, in Wenger’s view, confirm his players are ready to face the main title contenders on equal terms.

“It’s a good opportunity to show that we have improved on that front,” Wenger said.

“We have now got the opportunity to show that we have grown as a team, that we are more mature and ready for the fight. Let’s do it.

England striker Danny Welbeck should make his Arsenal debut following his £16 million ($26 million) move from Manchester United on transfer deadline day.

Welbeck scored twice for England in their 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory in Switzerland this week and Wenger is confident he can bring the best out of a player not rated by United manager

FIXTURES Arsenal Chelsea Crystal Palace Liverpool Southampton Stoke City Sunderland West Brom

v v v v v v v v

Man City Swansea City Burnley Aston Villa Newcastle Utd Leicester City Tottenham Everton

Louis van Gaal.

Arsenal will assess injuries to key midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil, who both have ankle problems.

Meanwhile, City defender Pablo Zabaleta has singled out Alexis Sanchez as the key man to stop. Sanchez joined the Gunners from Barcelona for £35 million in the close-season and Zabale-

ta reckons the Chile winger will pose the greatest threat to City.

Argentina international Zabaleta also believes City’s players have regained much of their match sharpness as they look to respond from a shock 1-0 home defeat to Stoke City last time out.

Chelsea and Swansea City will meet at Stamford Bridge, with Swansea coach Garry Monk declaring he has no problems with opposite number Jose Mourinho, who snubbed his offer of a handshake when the teams last met in April.

Last season’s runners-up Liverpool signed off for the international break with an impressive 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur, but they will be without Daniel Sturridge for Saturday’s visit of Aston Villa.

Tottenham could have new French midfielder Benjamin Stambouli in their starting XI when they visit Sunderland, who have brought in Inter Milan forward Ricardo Alvarez and Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates on loan.

Belgium defender Alderweireld, a loan signing from Atletico Madrid, is poised to make his Southampton debut at home to Newcastle United, but Sadio Mane is unlikely to start after work permit issues delayed his return from international duty with Senegal.l

Van Gaal happy to swap misfiring Welbeck for Falcao n AFP, Manchester Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admits the chance to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao made the less prolific Danny Welbeck surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

Welbeck’s move to Arsenal in a £16 million ($26 million) deal on transfer deadline day raised a few eyebrows, with former United defender Gary Neville among those to question the wisdom of allowing the 23-year-old.

But van Gaal revealed that he had made up his mind to allow Welbeck and Hernandez to leave to allow other young players, such as teenage striker James Wilson, to have further opportunities, but also because he was not convinced that Welbeck was good enough for United.

Either side of a loan spell at Sunderland in 2010-11, Welbeck scored just 29 goals in 142 games for the club.

“I have given all the players a chance to convince me of their qualities,” said van Gaal on Thursday.

“Danny Welbeck was here since he was nine. After Sunderland he played three seasons for Manchester United but he doesn’t have the record of Van Persie or Rooney and that is the standard.

“That is why we let him go, because of Falcao but also the youngsters who can fit in and I repeat, that is the policy and that is what I am here to do.” l

New Manchester United signings Radamel Falcao (L) and Daley Blind (R) pose with manager Louis Van Gaal during a photocall at Old Trafford on Thursday REUTERS

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Cairns to fight perjury charge

QUICK BYTES Ailing Van Basten to step down as coach

n AFP, Wellington

Marco van Basten is to step down as coach of AZ Alkmaar as his health issues persist, Dutch media said on Friday. The former European Footballer of the Year, who turns 50 next month, joined the Dutch club on a two-year deal at the start of the season but has been on a leave of absence due to stress. He was given time off by the club and missed their last match before the club extended by two weeks his time away from the game. AZ have not given any details of Van Basten’s problems but Dutch media reported that he had been suffering from heart palpitations since the death of his father in July.

Van Basten’s coaching career began with Ajax Amsterdam’s reserves in 2003 but a year later he was named Netherlands coach, staying from 2004-2008, and then spent one year at Ajax. He did not work for three years until joining Heerenveen in 2012, spending two seasons there before moving to AZ. –Reuters

New Zealand cricketing great Chris Cairns vowed Friday he would clear his name shortly before British prosecutors confirmed they would charge him with perjury over match-fixing allegations.

Former all-rounder Cairns has acknowledged previously that he is under investigation by British authorities for alleged fixing, but vehemently denied any wrong-doing.

The 44-year-old confirmed prosecutors had told him they intend to charge him with perjury and he would travel to Britain later this month to prove his innocence, New Zealand media reported.

“I’m obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all,” he said in a statement cited by Fairfax Media and TVNZ. Later Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Cairns would face one count of perjury in relation to a libel action he brought two years ago.

In 2012, Cairns won £90,000 ($146,000) in a libel action against former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi in London over a tweet alleging he was involved in match-fixing while playing for the Chandigarh Lions in the now disbanded Indian Cricket League.

The CPS have also charged London-based lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland, a friend of Cairns who appeared as a witness at the libel trial, with one count of perverting the course of justice. l

Courtois signs fiveyear Chelsea contract Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract with Chelsea, the Premier League leaders announced on Thursday. The 22-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge during the close season after spending three years on loan at Atletico Madrid and has supplanted Petr Cech as manager Jose Mourinho’s first-choice goalkeeper. “I’m very happy with this new deal. It’s really nice to have signed this new contract for five years,” Courtois told the Chelsea website. “My future was already sorted, but it’s nice to know I’m going to be here for another five years and now I can just concentrate on playing games.” Courtois joined Chelsea from Belgian side Genk in 2011, but was immediately loaned to Atletico, where he won the Spanish league title last season and played in the Champions League final.

He has made 23 appearances for Belgium and played in the team that reached the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Brazil.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH BTV, Gazi TV, Ten Cricket 8:00PM Bangladesh tour of West Indies Second Test, Day 1 Sony Six Major League Soccer 2014 8:45AM Seattle Sounders v Real Salt Lake 1:45AM Philadelphia Union v NY Red Bulls Rugby Championship 2014 1:30PM New Zealand v South Africa 4:00PM Australia v Argentina 6:30PM World Kabaddi League 2014 BHATINDA: DAY 11 Neo Prime 8:00PM German Bundesliga Mönchengladbach v Schalke 04 Neo Sports Davis Cup 5:00PM Switzerland vs Italy Doubles Ten Sports 8:00PM English Championship 2014/15 Charlton Athletic v Watford Star sports 1 Champions League T20 4:50PM Northern Knights v Southern Express 8:20PM Mumbai Indian v Lahore Lions Star Sports 4 English Premier League 5:30PM Arsenal v Man City 7:20PM Chelsea v Swansea 10:30PM Liverpool v Aston Villa 12:45AM Italian Serie A Juventus v Udinese Star Sports 2 Spanish La Liga 8:00PM Barcelona v At Bilbao 10:00PM Malaga v Levante 12:00PM Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid 2:00AM Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad Ten Action French Ligue 1 8:30PM St Rennais v PSG 12:00AM Saint-Etienne v SM Caen

15

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns a ball during his Davis Cup semi-final tennis match against Italy’s Simone Bolelli at the Palexpo in Geneva yesterday. (Inset) Parents Robert and Lynette Federer watch the match REUTERS

Federer puts Swiss ahead in Davis Cup semi n Reuters, Geneva Roger Federer overcame some tough early resistance from Simone Bolelli to put Switzerland 1-0 ahead in their Davis Cup semi-final against Italy in Geneva on Friday.

The world number three, bidding to complete his collection of honours by steering the Alpine nation to a first Davis Cup triumph, delighted a capacity crowd in the Palexpo Arena with a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 victory.

Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka will take on Italian number one Fabio Fognini later on Friday.

Seventy-sixth ranked Bolelli, who

was surprisingly selected for singles duty ahead of Andreas Seppi by virtue of having fewer previous defeats against the 17-times grand slam champion, stuck to his task impressively on the blue indoor court.

He saved two set points in the opening tiebreak but fired a backhand wide on Federer’s third, to the relief of his 33-year-old opponent who was far from his fluent best.

Federer finally secured the first service break of the match in the seventh game of the second set and cruised on to the 36th singles victory of his Davis Cup career.

Switzerland have reached the final once, losing to the US in 1992, while Italy got there in 1998, going down to Sweden.

Richard Gasquet justified France

captain Arnaud Clement’s faith with a crushing defeat of Czech Tomas Berdych as the hosts made a flying start in their bid to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time since 2010 on Friday.

Gasquet, preferred to Gael Monfils for the second singles berth, played some sublime tennis to subdue the world number six 6-3 6-2 6-3 at a sunbaked Roland Garros before Jo-Wilfried Tsonga thrashed Lukas Rosol 6-2 6-2 6-3 to give Les Bleus a commanding 2-0 semi-final lead against the champions.

The winner of the tie will meet either Switzerland or Italy in the final.

Berdych, who was playing his U.S. Open quarter-final eight days ago when Gasquet, ranked 21st in the world, was starting his claycourt training at Roland

Garros, was never in contention against the inspired Gasquet.

In-form Monfils also reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals last week after crushing Gasquet in the third round.

In front of an almost sell-out crowd on court Philippe Chatrier, Gasquet opened up a 3-1 lead as Berdych failed to deal with the Frenchman’s single-handed backhand assault.

Berdych looked lacking in energy as he made a string of unforced forehand errors that allowed Gasquet to easily bag the opening set with a stunning backhand winner down the line.

Chest out and in complete control, Gasquet raced to a 3-0 lead in the second, only for Berdych to pull a break back and threaten a comeback.

The home favourite, cheered by a raucous crowd waving French flags, played tough and won the remaining three games. Gasquet broke early in the third set and although Berdych offered more resistance there was to be no meltdown for the Frenchman.

He sealed the match on his second match point when Berdych double-faulted.

Rosol, who won the Winston Salem tournament last month and has enjoyed a solid year, could not compete with Tsonga who was injured the last time France reached the final.

The Frenchman, ranked 12th, bombarded his opponent with his trademark forehand winners to seal a straightforward win. l

Run against Blatter or shut up: Dortmund CEO n Reuters, Berlin Opponents of FIFA President Sepp Blatter should run against him instead of merely criticising his decision to go for another term at the helm of world soccer’s governing body, Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said on Friday.

Watzke also told Reuters in an interview it would be best not to hold the 2022 World Cup in the desert state of Qatar.

The 78-year-old Blatter, who heads FIFA since 1998, announced this week he would run for a fifth term despite mounting criticism over alleged corruption and FIFA’s decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

“We have to be a bit careful with criticism here,” said Dortmund’s Watzke. “If there are people out

there who consider a fifth term as too long or that he is too old for this position then they should run against Blatter.”

“Otherwise I would be a bit more reserved with criticism,” said Watzke, who has not hidden his opposition to FIFA’s decision to award the World Cup to Qatar.

FIFA is now considering staging the tournament in the winter due to the soaring summer temperatures in the Middle East with European clubs not relishing the prospect of a disrupted league competition that year.

“That (date) needs to be discussed internally but it is a problem,” said the 55-year-old Watzke of the World Cup in Qatar.

“My opinion is that it would be best for all if the World Cup would not take place in Qatar.” l

Former German national footballer Miroslav Klose (C) holds his ‘Golden Victoria’ trophy and is flanked by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Regine Sixt ‘Golden Victoria’ winner from 2013, during an awarding ceremony on Thursday in Berlin AFP

Ajmal ban rouses Pakistan to action on ‘chucking’ n AFP, Karachi

The ban slapped on star spinner Saeed Ajmal has left Pakistan’s cricket chiefs frantically trying to take action on “chuckers”, including dusting off expensive biomechanical testing kit that had laid unused for years.

Ajmal, who turns 37 next month, was suspended from international cricket on Tuesday after biomechanical analysis found his bowling action, reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka last month, to be illegal.

He must now undergo remedial work on his action, and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan acknowledged chucking was rife in the domestic game.

“I was informed 25 suspected bowlers had been playing in our domestic cricket and now the number has increased up to 35 - that means every

team has at least two suspected bowlers,” said Khan.

Former captain and ex-PCB director of National Cricket Academy (NCA) Aamir Sohail said there were warning signs for Ajmal, who has bowled more balls than any other international bowler in the last three years.

“I had warned in February this year that Ajmal will be suspended because his action was deteriorating with age, but no one heeded. I had recommended his action be checked every year,” he told AFP. Former opening batsman Sohail, who played 47 Tests and 156 ODIs for Pakistan, said there had been a total lack of interest in dealing with bowlers with suspect actions.

“We are ourselves to blame,” Sohail told AFP. “We have a biomechanic lab in NCA which I activated and gave a list of bowlers to test there, but the lab remained ineffective for years.”

The NCA has equipment to test bowlers to check they are not straightening their arm more than the permitted 15 degrees in delivering the ball.

But the $440,000 kit, which includes 18 cameras supporting apparatus and computer software, has gathered dust since it was bought in 2009 as successive PCB chiefs dismissed the need for it.

Cleared of chucking due to a congenital defect of his elbow in 2009, Ajmal came under suspicion again this year when England paceman Stuart Broad and former captain Michael Vaughan queried his action while the Pakistani was taking wickets at will in county cricket. Head coach Waqar Younis faces a daunting task in finding a replacement for one of the world’s best bowlers.

The ban comes at a particularly difficult moment, with Pakistan facing a tough series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates next month. l

Argentine couple skirt law to name baby Messi n AFP, Buenos Aires An Argentine couple has won an exemption from a strict dictatorship-era law on baby names to pay homage to the father’s football hero by calling their newborn son Messi.

Daniel Varela had been on a mission to name his firstborn son for Lionel Messi after first seeing the Barcelona striker play for Argentina’s national youth team.

After having two daughters and waiting eight years, Varela was not about to let the law stand in his way.

He petitioned authorities in the central city of General Roca to grant them an exemption from a 1969 statute that forbids parents from giving their babies a surname as a first name. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Privately owned city transport lines fleecing commuters n Abu Hayat Mahmud Private bus and minibus passengers in the capital are paying more than double the fare they are supposed to be charged according to a fare chart set by the government, the Dhaka Tribune has found.

Although they are the most widely used mode of transportation in Dhaka, passengers said the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) had failed to enforce the government-fixed fare rate.

The Dhaka Tribune found most bus and minibus operators in the capital were charging more than double the fares set

by BRTA. Some operators charged three or four times the BRTA rate.

A conductor of Ena, seeking anonymity, said the company instructed staff to charge the high fares According to the current BRTA fare chart, updated in November, 2011, the fare in the city was fixed at Tk1.6 per kilometre. The BRTA has also set the total fare for travel from one end of a route to the other and has set fares from one stop to the next.

The minimum BRTA fixed minibus fare is Tk5 and for a bus it is Tk7.

But city bus lines and minibus operators only publish the government-fixed end-to-end fares on their tickets because end-to-end commuters are rare in the city. Moreover, drivers only stop at two or three stops along the route, and then overcharge passengers.

Asgar Ali, an employee of a private bus company, said: “This is nothing new, city bus staff never followed the BRTA fare chart and always charged passengers twice to four-times the chart fares. But BRTA officials and traffic po-

lice apparently do not seem to mind.”

He said most bus conductors charge Tk10 to Tk13 on short-distance trips from Farmgate to Taltala that should cost Tk5 according to the BRTA chart.

The Dhaka Tribune found that Silk City, Ena Paribahan, non-air conditioned minibus services plying the Pallabi-Jatrabari route, charged Tk13 for the Farmgate to Taltala service without providing extra facilities such as direct service, locked gates or guaranteed sitting service.

A conductor of Ena, seeking anonymity, said the company instructed staff to charge the high fares.

BRTA information from May 30, 2013, showed that 2,281 privately-owned buses and 3,126 privately-owned minibuses were permitted to operate on 178 routes in Dhaka and its outskirts.

When contacted, K Enayet Ullah, secretary of the Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity [an association of private transport companies in Dhaka], also the owner of Ena Paribahan, admitted that overcharging is illegal. But he denied that his bus service overcharged passengers.

Md Matiur Rahman, director (enforcement) of BRTA told the Dhaka Tribune: “Monitoring of bus fares in the city is a continuous process, and it is ongoing.”

He said several BRTA monitoring teams keep an eye on what bus companies charge, adding: “If any bus company charges extra, we will take steps against them.”

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Moslem Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have been monitoring the situation. If bus staff charge more than the government-fixed fare, commuters can seek help from traffic police officials in the area.”

“The helpline number of the traffic control room is written down on the back of different vehicles and on almost every CNG auto-rickshaw. If a commuter needs help, he or she can telephone the control room,” he said. l

Malala's attackers arrested in Pakistan n Reuters, Islamabad Pakistan's army yesterday said authorities had arrested a group of Taliban militants responsible for shooting Malala Yousafzai, a teenage activist who was targeted for her campaign against Taliban efforts to deny girls education.

Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for shooting Malala in 2012 for her passionate advocacy of women's right to education but no one had until now been arrested. Two other schoolgirls were wounded in the attack.

Asim Bajwa, head of the army's press wing, told reporters that 10 attackers had been identified and arrested.

Malala survived the attack and was airlifted to Britain for treatment, and has since become a symbol of defiance in the fight against militants operating in Pashtun tribal areas in northwest Pakistan.

Malala has won the European Union's human rights award and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

Now based in Britain, she is unable to return to her homeland because of Taliban threats to kill her and her family members. l

Shajahan: No compensation for missing Pinak 6 victims' families n Our Correspondent, Madaripur The families of the missing victims of Pinak 6 launch capsize will not be given any amount of help or compensation, said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday.

“Unless they are traced out, there is no scope for providing any amount of help or compensation to their families,” he told reporters in the district.

“Each Pinak 6 death victim's family however would get Tk1 lakh from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Tk 20 thousand from the district administration,” he said.

Earlier on August 4, the Pinak 6 sank in the Padma with around 300 passengers aboard. So far, 48 bodies have been recovered while 67 others are still missing, most of whom hail from Madaripur. l

Businesses run on full steam at a makeshift market beside the rail tracks in the capital’s Tejgaon area yesterday, while the railway authorities were evicting shops and huts beside the rail tracks in Karwan Bazar on the same day, prompted by a train accident that killed four people the day before SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Murtaja Baseer: Human beings are at the core of my art Abu Bakar n Mohammad Siddique Even in his 80s, artist Murtaja Baseer is unusually energetic, defying ailments and carrying on his love of life – painting.

He came to Gallery Kaya at Uttara from Monipuripara in the capital to attend the opening of his solo exhibition.

“When I fell ill recently, I thought I had to survive because I had things to do. Even the doctor thought I would die. But I survived.

“You can say I wanted to survive because the earth is beautiful,” Baseer told this correspondent at his residence yesterday – before his 14-day exhibition

Painter Murtaja Baseer

was opened.

“I paint as a professional only to survive as I have no other way to make money,” he said.

“I had been a teacher at Chittagong University for almost 30 years. For what I have become today or what I have done, I owe it to the university,” he said.

As an artist, Baseer explores the heritage of Bangladesh and India. “I explore the social, cultural, political, historical and

religious aspects of this region.”

He said he had been greatly influenced

by European art until the 1980s. A trip to Japan radically changed his ideas later.

“I went to Japan to attend an art festival and upon my return, I started spending a lot of time in libraries to study scriptures, myths and history,” he said.

Baseer began mingling the western and the native arts after 1993.

“In this exhibition, I have some works based on that idea. Some works were done with oil pastel as my doctor asked me not to use oil because it would deteriorate my health,” he said.

“Perhaps I am the only artist to have portrayed renaissance outlook with the influence of impressionism in my works. My art was greatly inspired by Bhabani Sen, a great Marxist theorist, who told me to depict the exploited people in my works when I was a student. This is why you would see that my works are figurative,” he added.

“In the 1960s, as other artists in Dhaka began to do abstract arts or impression-

ism, I felt the urge to do something different,” said Baseer.

“I was determined to leave my mark in the world. I always inspired my students by saying that people were always at the centre of my works. I never drew natural scenes even when I was in Italy. My works involve the people who belong to the working class.

“I had to leave for Paris in June 1971 as my life was threatened. While in Paris, I drew pebbles and dedicated it to the martyrs of the Liberation War. At the time of the movement against the autocratic rule of [HM] Ershad, I painted colours of volcanic eruptions,” he added.

M Sayeduzzaman, a former public servant, inaugurated the exhibition.

Organiser of the event Gautam Chakrabarty said despite his age, Murtaja Baseer always showed an unmatched love for art.

“Even when he was in the hospital, he took a pen from the doctor and drew with that. This is an exhibition to respect his strength as an artist,” he added. l

Pistorius found guilty of culpable homicide n Reuters, Pretoria Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide yesterday, escaping the more serious charge of murder for the killing of his girlfriend, and will now fight to avoid going to prison.

The 27-year-old double amputee, who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, stood impassively in the dock, his hands folded in front of him, as Judge Thokozila Masipa delivered her verdict.

Pistorius was also convicted of firing a pistol under the table of a packed Johannesburg restaurant but cleared of two other firearms charges – illegal possession of ammunition and firing a pistol out of the sun-roof of a car.

Masipa based her culpable homicide decision on the fact Pistorius had acted negligently when he fired four shots from a 9mm pistol into a toilet door in his luxury Pretoria home, killing Steenkamp, who was behind it, almost instantly.

He said it was a tragic error after he mistook her for an intruder.

One aspect of the ruling has also sparked legal controversy, turning ordinary South Africans into overnight armchair experts on the vexed issue of “dolus eventualis”, a concept of intent that holds a person responsible for the foreseeable consequences of their actions.

While Masipa ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove explicit premeditation to kill Steenkamp – a decision that had been anticipated by many legal experts – she also cleared Pistorius of murder dolus eventualis.

A 2008 paper by KwaZulu Natal law professor Shannon Hoctor explained dolus eventualis as when a person "foresaw the possibility that the act in question...would have fatal consequences, and was reckless whether death resulted or not."

Culpable homicide – South Africa's equivalent to manslaughter – carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison but, given Pistorius' lack of previous convictions, he could avoid a custodial sentence altogether, legal experts said.

"He's almost certainly, in my opinion, not going to be going to jail," criminal law expert Martin Hood told South Africa's ENCA television.

Masipa set sentencing for October 13 and granted a bail extension. Flanked by police and bodyguards, a stonefaced Pistorius made his way out of the court through a scrum of reporters, television cameras and on-lookers.

South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority said it was "disappointed" not to have secured a premeditated murder conviction, but would not make any decision about an appeal until after sentencing. l

Oscar Pistorius reacts as Judge Thokozile Masipa (unseen) delivers her verdict at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria yesterday REUTERS

Banglalink reaches 3 crore subscriber milestone n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Banglalink, the country's second largest mobile phone operator in terms of subscribers, has crossed the landmark of three crore active subscribers on Thursday.

Ziad Shatara, chief executive officer and managing director of Banglalink, confirmed the news to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, saying: “Banglalink is proud to have reached this coveted milestone. We have made mobile telephony affordable to the people of Bangladesh.”

Only Grameenphone – which currently has 4.94 crore subscribers – had previously achieved the landmark.

According to the BTRC, the country currently has 12.68 crore active SIMs with Banglalink having 25.46% market share.

Grameenphone is the market leader with 42.33% market share, while Robi is third with 2.43 crore subscribers, which is a market share of 20.72%.

Banglalink started its operation in February 2005, when Egypt-based Orascom Telecom Holding (currently Global Telecom Holding) acquired the then Seba Telecom, which had only around 50,000 active subscribers. In 2012, Banglalink's majority share was bought by Netherland-based VimpleCom, the sixth largest mobile network operator in the world.

The operator fulfilled its first 15 years licence tenure in 2011 for 2G, and renewed it for the next 15 years.

Last year, Banglalink was also awarded a 3G licence and had already deployed its network in all 64 districts; sources said Banglalink currently has around six lakh 3G subscribers.

Ziad Shatara said: “We are proud of the extensive 3G internet network in all 64 districts of Bangladesh that has been recognised as the fastest internet experience by everybody including a BTRC survey.

“Going forward, we are well poised to deliver the challenges of tomorrow with our most extensive and ultra-modern 3G network. I congratulate my colleagues and all our stakeholders for believing in us,” the CEO said.

To celebrate the milestone, Banglalink is offering their users to get 30 megabits of Viber, 30 megabits of internet along with 30 SMS & 30 MMS for free. To enjoy the bonuses, subscribers need to type “REG” & send it to 2500. l

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