4 oct, 2014

Ashwin 19, 1421 Zilhajjj 8, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 183

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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4 | SPOTLIGHT

8 | PRESCRIPTION

9 | HERITAGE

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EASY WAYS TO IMPROVE STOMACH HEALTH

RICE. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Traffic goes haywire on highways n Ashif Islam Shaon Holidaymakers heading towards the southern and northern districts faced huge tailbacks on highways and ferry ghats yesterday.

The traffic gridlock worsened since Thursday late night due to extra pressure of vehicles, accident and movement of unfit vehicles, causing unspeakable sufferings to passengers, especially children and elderly people, report our correspondents.

Home-goers faced a long tailback on Dhaka-Tangail highway stretching from Chandra in Gazipur to Bangabandhu Bridge. Besides, hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic jam were waiting for ferries at Mawa and Paturia, the gateways to the southern districts.

A head-on collision between a truck and a bus caused tailback on the highway in Gharinda area of Tangail Sadar,

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said Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, superintendent of police in Tangail.

The accident took place around 5:30am, creating a long tailback stretching from Chandra in Gazipur to the eastern side of Bangabandhu Bridge and causing sufferings to passengers, he said. Several thousand vehicles were seen waiting in queue to reach the destinations ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The tailback eased slightly around 3:45pm despite heavy traffic on the highway, said Zubaidul Alam, officer-incharge of Gorai highway police station.

Due to heavy pressure of vehicles, Mawa ferry ghat, the gateway to 21 southern districts, witnessed jam. There was a two-kilometre tailback from Mawa to Sreenagar around 9am. At Paturia ferry ghat, there was an eight-kilometre jam at night. However, the situation became normal in the morning.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

BUFFED-UP BEEF?

In a bid to attract customers, a cattle trader injects his cow with steroid in Gabtoli cattle market yesterday. Aiming to get the maximum price, cattle owners are administering the drug to fatten up the animals, and in some cases overdosing them. The photo was taken yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

HK protesters threaten to call off talks n Tribune Desk

PM: Not government, Latif in trouble

Leaders of pro-democracy protest groups in Hong Kong have threatened to call off talks with the government after demonstrators were involved in scuffles with angry opponents.

The government must prevent "organised attacks" on supporters, they said. One group representing students has since said it would not take part in talks.

Protesters angry at plans to vet poll candidates have occupied some areas.

Violent scuffles broke out in one of Hong Kong's most famous and congested shopping districts on Friday, as hundreds of supporters of Chinese rule stormed tents and ripped down banners belonging to pro-democracy protesters, forcing many to retreat.

As night fell and news of the confrontation spread, more protesters headed for the gritty, bustling district of Mong Kok, considered one of the most crowded places on Earth, to reinforce.

Tens of thousands have taken to Hong Kong's streets in the past week to demand full democracy in the former

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said it was not the government but Latif Siddique himself was in trouble for his recent anti-Islamic comments.

The premier also said nobody could make an issue out of it as the government had already taken measures against Latif.

“Neither the government nor Awami League nor the country is in danger but the person who made the comment now has put himself in danger. He must pay price for the tirade,” Hasina said.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, came up with the observation in response to a journalist's query during the question-answer session after her press conference on the outcomes of her recent visit to New York.

The press conference was held at 4:50pm at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Coming down heavily upon Latif Siddque she said his comments hurt the religious sentiment of people which was not acceptable to anyone.

"I did not delay a single moment in taking action against minister Latif as soon as I heard about the matter," she

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n Emran Hossain Shaikh

said. “The decision will be executed following all the procedures of the government and the party charter.”

The premier said the procedure for his removal from the cabinet has already been initiated and it would be executed after the return of the president and cabinet secretary who are now performing Hajj.

“I will do as I have said. I will not keep him in the cabinet and he will not be there. I have made the file ready and it will be done after the Eid,” he said.

About Latif's ouster from the party she said a discussion is needed in the party’s central working committee to drop him from the party.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Latif Siddique made “derogatory remarks” on Hajj and Tablig Jamaat at a view-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York on September 28.

The remarks made by Siddique, also presidium member of the Awami League, triggered widespread criticisms both at home and abroad, embarrassing the government.

As for threat from BNP to launch a vigorous anti-government movement  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE

11 | Op-Ed

When I go out on the road, heading for my workplace or somewhere else, I feel a strong vibe of intolerance among us. We honk like crazy at the slightest delay of traffic, we don’t wait for the red to turn green.

3 | News

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has achieved a mere 1% success rate when it comes to dealing with issues involving law enforcement agencies, the commission officials said.

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www.dhakatribune.com

12 | Entertainment

In a Durga Puja special TV play titled “Praye Rockstar,” Prova and Mosharraf Karim will be seen as rockstars for the first time.

7 | World

The enemies of Muslim nations are trying to spread “chaos and confusion”, Saudi Arabia’s top cleric told Muslims from around the world in an address during the annual hajj pilgrimage Friday. “Oh Muslim peoples, your countries have been entrusted to you, so safeguard your security and stability.

15 | Sport

The Asian Games was hit by yet another doping scandal on Friday when China’s Zhang Wenxiu was expelled and stripped of the gold medal she won in the hammer throw.

13 | Sport

Bangladesh defeated Hong Kong by 27 runs in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal of the 17th Asian Games men’s cricket in Incheon yesterday. Sri Lanka bagged the gold medal in the final at the same venue yesterday.

Sufferings begin at the beginning que Wadud, Abu Bakar n Mushfi Siddique and Mohammad Zakaria Before they could start the journey toward their village homes to spend the Eid vacation, Dhaka residents had to face several daunting tasks yesterday.

They had to penetrate the traffic congestion that formed near the transport terminals, secure a place to sit or stand on their preferred mode of vehicle, remain patient for hours before

the vehicle arrived – all while clawing their way out of a myriad of touts and unscrupulous officials trying to sell tickets at higher rates.

Although traffic volume on most of the capital's roads remained relatively light yesterday, Dhaka residents had to endure long tailbacks that formed on most roads leading to the terminals.

“Normally, I face troubles getting a bus from Mirpur to Sadarghat; but I found a bus quite easy this year and thought the journey would be smooth.

However, I was proved wrong when I reached near the terminal. It took almost an hour to go from Banglabazar to Sadarghat,” said Mohammad Shahjahan, a garment worker who was going to his home in Bhola.

With Eid-ul-Azha knocking at the door, all the bus, launch and train terminals in the city saw added rush of home-bound passengers yesterday.

The desperation of going home to their loved ones also prompted many  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, October 4, 2014

New deal for Rooppur plant likely this month A Russian team will come on October 14 and negotiate about the deal The first deal with Atomstroyexport n Aminur Rahman Rasel worth $45.9m was penned on June 27 The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is likely to sign a fourth deal this month with the Russian jointstock company Atomstroyexport for pit foundation based on soil test at the country’s first nuclear power project in Pabna’s Rooppur.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the groundwork of the 2,000MW plant in Pabna on October 2 last year “A Russian team will come on October 14 and negotiate about the deal,” Yeafesh Osman, state minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“We hope that we will sign the deal in the last week of this month,” he said.

The first phase of construction for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) will now require $50m more than the initial estimated cost of $500m, while the added amount will be covered under the new deal.

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

last year for pre-construction works including feasibility evaluation, environment impact assessment, and development and engineering survey etc at the RNPP site.

The second deal worth $265m was signed on October 2 last year for the preparatory stage work of the RNPP, including the development of design documentation, first priority working documentation and engineering survey for the design stage.

The two deals were part of a total $500m which Russia agreed to provide for financing the groundwork at Rooppur that will be run under the government-appointed Atomstroyexport, which will also run a series of 63 tests as part of the pre-construction work.

On June 5 this year, the third agreement was struck to construct different structural work in the Rooppur site involving $190m.

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

Bangladesh in this regard signed a deal with Russia on January 14 last year during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Moscow, for the extension of state export credit to finance the preparatory stage work at the nuclear power plant. l

Detective Branch of Police presents four persons, arrested in connection with the recent four murders at Keraniganj, in front of the media at DMP Media Centre in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

BNP: Nation frustrated, aggrieved over PM’s statement n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP yesterday said the countrymen were frustrated and aggrieved over the prime minister’s statements about her New York tour, and Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique’s remarks on hajj and the Prophet.

“We found nothing in the premier’s statement that addressed the Latif issue. She said action would be taken as per the rules, which means she avoided the issue shrewdly,” acting secretary general of the party Mirza Fakhrul Is-

lam Alamgir said.

In an instant reaction to the prime minister’s statements, Fakhrul, who was at party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office, said: “If anyone criticises the premier, he faces a seven-year imprisonment but even after slamming the Prophet, no action was taken against Latif.”

Fakhrul reiterated his call to try Latif according to the existing law apart from removing himself from the party.

“Latif is now abroad but he the Interpol can arrest him. The government knows it well. The prime minister said

the government would not shoulder any responsibility for Laitf’s remarks as those were his personal affairs. However, the government cannot avoid the responsibility involving Latif’s remarks as he is still a minister,” he said.

No matter what the prime minister says, her government has no other option but to but to hold talks with the BNP, Fakhrul said, adding that there would be confrontations like the past otherwise.

The BNP leader objected to the prime minister’s remarks in which she termed the BNP corrupt, saying: “The

PM: Not government, Latif in trouble

Traffic goes haywire on highways

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the premier hinted that she would handle that with iron hands.

“The government is now experienced and knows well how to face a tough movement. Let them launch a movement and see what action is taken.”

“Countrymen will resist their movement as they (countrymen) have had experience of their murders in the name of movement,” she said.

Rejecting any dialogue with the BNP the prime minister said they are now

politically bankrupt.

“Why does the government sit for the talks with those who have killed people and set mosques, holy Quran on fire through mayhem?

“The government is not in a situation that it will sit for the talks with the killers,” she said.

Responding to a query of reporters if UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had requested her again to sit for a dialogue with the BNP she said this time he had not talked about it.

She said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated Bangladesh government’s fight against terrorism.

“Narendra Modi said he was aware of the risk of my life for my anti-terrorism battle,” she added.

The prime minister returned home on Thursday morning from London concluding her ten-day visit to USA and UK. On September 22, the prime minister went to New York to attend the 69th United Nations General Assembly. l

HK protesters threaten to call off talks  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

British colony, including a free voting system when they come to choose a new leader in 2017.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying agreed to open talks with pro-democracy protesters but refused to stand down. He and his Chinese government backers made clear that they would not back down in the face of the city’s worst unrest in decades.

Numbers dwindled at some protest sites in and around the Central financial district as rain fell on Friday and as Hong Kong people returned to work after a two-day holiday.

But in Mong Kok, where notorious Triad criminal gangs operate bars, nightclubs and massage parlours in the high-rise apartment blocks packed together over neon lights and open-air markets, about 1,000 Beijing supporters clashed with about 100 protesters, spitting and throwing water bottles in a side-show to the main protest movement.

Police formed a human chain to separate the two groups amid the wail of

sirens.

Some demonstrators held umbrellas for police in the rain while Beijing supporters shouted at police for failing to clear the demonstrators.

“We are all fed up and our lives are affected,” said teacher Victor Ma, 42.

“You don’t hold Hong Kong citizens hostage because it’s not going to work.

That’s why the crowd is very angry here.”

Benny Tai, a co-founder of the Occupy Central movement and a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, urged protesters to leave Mong Kok and regroup in Admiralty, the main protest site next to Central.

But more reinforcements were arriving as the three main protest groups threatened to call off any talks with the government unless police stopped the crowd violence against them.

Mong Kok is popular with visitors from the mainland but not as well known to Western tourists as the luxury shopping area of Causeway Bay, on the island of Hong Kong, where pedestrians were trying to remove protest

Sufferings begin at the beginning  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

to risk their lives by climbing on top of trains or by getting on overcrowded launches.

Sufferings awaited passengers on all modes of travel as they readied to leave Dhaka for the holidays.

Bus passengers accused bus companies of charging outrageous prices for tickets, train passengers complained of having to wait a long time at the platform because some trains missed their schedules, while launch passengers claimed they had to climb onto vessels that were packed like sardines.

Risky ride in launch

Following the capsize of the Pinak 6 launch right after Eid-ul-Fitr this year, the government reportedly took measures to prevent overcrowding of launches.

However, visiting Sadarghat yesterday, the Dhaka Tribune found that many of the launches were taking in too many passengers to fill the vessels to their brims. To ensure maximum

profit, most launches also endangered passengers’ lives by allowing extra people to get a ride on the roof of the vessels.

Joynal Abedin, joint director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) who is also in charge of Sadarghat terminal, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were trying their best to ensure that launches were not overcrowded. However, he admitted that some launch owners were not paying heed to their warnings.

Claiming that a mobile court had fined three launches for taking extra passengers, Joynal said as of 8pm, at least 90 launches had left Sadarghat yesterday and 20 more were also set to leave during the night.

Trains behind schedule

A large number of people had to face hours of wait at train platforms as several trains were behind schedule.

Disgruntled passengers at the Kamalapur Railway Station claimed that the Mohanagar Godhuli – which travels

barricades put up by Occupy protesters.

A female student protester wept on the street as she tried to protect the barricades.

“Is this really Hong Kong?” she asked. “Why has Hong Kong become like this?”

Leung refused to bow to an ultimatum from protesters to resign. Police have warned repeatedly of serious consequences if protesters try to block off or occupy government buildings in and around Central.

“The behaviour of these protesters is illegal, extremely unreasonable and inhumane, and is even worse than that of radical social activists and almost complete anarchy,” the Hong Kong government said in a statement, adding that people gathering in Mong Kok should leave.

Leung told reporters just minutes before the ultimatum expired at midnight on Thursday that Chief Secretary Carrie Lam would meet students soon to discuss political reforms, but gave no time frame. l

between Dhaka and Chittagong – was supposed to leave the Dhaka station at 4:20pm, but did not reach the station until 7:15pm. Passengers of Mohanagar Provati – which also travels on the same route – also had to suffer as the train started three hours behind schedule earlier in the day.

The Syedpur-bound Nil Sagor Express left Kamalapur at around 11am instead of its scheduled time at 8am, as the train failed to reach the station on time.

However, Divisional Railway Manager Kamrul Ahsan claimed that out of the 130 trains that operated between Dhaka and other districts, only seven to eight might have missed their timetable.

Meanwhile, a large number of people who were unable to secure a seat in train, crowded the ticket booths to buy standing tickets instead. In a desperate attempt to reach home, many also chose to climb on top of the roof of the train.

Those who had tickets for seats also faced a different kind of a challenge: reaching their designated seats

Highway police officials said though Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha vacation started from yesterday, holidaymakers began leaving the city Thursday night.

A huge number of vehicles on the highways created the gridlock.

Tangail

Our correspondent reports that a 30-kilometre tailback was created on Dhaka-Tangail highway from Jamurki in Mirzapur upazila to Chandra in Gazipur. Till 4pm yesterday, vehicles were moving slowly in the area.

Police and locals said vehicles were stuck at Chandra intersection, creating 30-kilometre tailback in three directions. The bypass road in Kaliakoir area also saw traffic jam. On Thursday night, a truck went out of order in Mirzapur area which stopped vehicular movement on a lane. Police removed the truck in the morning, but the tailback did not come to an end. The jam stretched 10 kilometres each from Chandra crossing towards Mirzapur, Chandra and Nabinagar roads.

Four members of a family who were travelling to Gaibandha from Narsingdi said they got stuck in traffic jam at Chandra early yesterday and reached Mirzapur after 9m. It took them around five hours to go the 20-minute distance.

Gazipur

Officer-in-Charge of Kaliakoir police station Omar Farukh said the tailback was created from Chandra to Mirzapur.

“Besides, Dhaka-bound cattle-laden trucks and some city buses now plying the highway are leading to the gridlock,” he said, adding that some unfit city buses were going out of order and creating traffic jam.

through the sea of people packed inside the compartments.

“I am anxious whether I would be able to reach my seat or not,” said Ashrafunnessa, who was traveling with her younger sister to Sylhet by Parabat Express.

To meet the extra rush of passengers, the railway authority yesterday launched three special trains bound to Khulna, Dinajpur and Dewanganj, a service that would continue until Sunday before starting again on Tuesday.

“The special trains will resume traveling from those places to Dhaka from Tuesday just after the Eid day and continue for the next seven days to bring people back to the capital,” said Md Shakhawat Hossain Khan, station manager of Kamalapur Railway Station.

He also claimed that the schedule mismanagement was caused by the heavy pressure of passengers, as it took more time for people to board and get off the trains at different stations.

Shakhawat also blamed the temporary cattle markets that were set up on

Gazipur Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Roy said the tailback in Tangail had put impact there. A 25-kilometre tailback was seen in Konabari, Safipur, Chandra to Gorai and Kaliakoir-Nabinagar.

A Naogaon-bound bus passenger Syed Miskat said, “We have left Dhaka in the morning. Already six hours have passed, but we still remain here.”

Sanwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Mawna highway police station, said traffic on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway suddenly increased while the road construction work in Gazipur compelled the vehicles to move slowly.

“We have deployed 42 police teams and set up 14 IP cameras and three overview towers. A total of 800 policemen are working round the clock, but the situation is not much under control,” said Md Shakhawat Hossain, assistant police superintendent of Gazipur traffic division.

Feni

Our correspondent reports that a 12-kilometre tailback was created on Dhaka-Chittagong highway from Lalpol to Mohammad Ali area. The gridlock prevailed till 1:30pm since the morning. In the afternoon, vehicles started moving slowly.

Saleh Ahmed Pathan, in charge of Mohipal highway police outpost, said they were trying hard to ease the traffic jam since the morning.

Manikganj

Extra vehicles and huge number of intercity unfit vehicles had created a gridlock at some points on Dhaka-Aricha highway.

There was a tailback from Savar to Manikganj. Vehicles could not gain usual speed from Dhamrai to Paturia ferry ghat.

or near rail tracks across the country, forcing the trains to run at lower than usual speeds.

Extra bus fare

With most of the advance tickets already sold out, one of the main complaints by bus passengers was that they were charged outrageous prices for tickets.

Visiting Sayedabad bus terminal yesterday, the Dhaka Tribune found truth to their claims as many bus officials were seen to be taking extra money from the passengers.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, several passengers claimed that bus operators had been charing at least Tk50Tk100 more than the regular fares.

They also claimed that many buses were also late to reach the terminal.

Bus operators, however, claimed that the delay was because of traffic congestion on the highways.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Sayedabad yesterday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader

illegal and immoral prime minister cannot say this because it is her government that created a record in the level of corruption in the country.”

Fakhrul accused the premier of making false statements, and said her statements were egocentric and ignored the public sentiment.

“The prime minister of the illegal government flew to New York with an entourage of 185 people whereas Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went there with people’s power. As she does not have public support, she was accompanied by a large entourage,” he added. l

Meanwhile, a total of 18 ferries remained operative at Paturia ferry ghat.

The situation there was okay in the afternoon. “But we fear that the queue towards the ferry ghat might be long when night coaches would start journey from Gabtoli bus terminal,” said Bidhan Tripura, police head of Manikganj district.

Mawa

Our Munshiganj correspondent reports that the number of vehicles reached Mawa ferry ghat was several times higher than the ferry’s capacity. As a result, the tailback stretched on about two kilometres at Mawa ferry terminal that connects 21 southern districts through the waterway.

Some 300 buses, cars and other vehicles were standing in queue at Mawa terminal in the morning.

“All the 17 ferries are in operation, but the load is overwhelming,” said Sirajul Haque, manager of Mawa Terminal Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation.

Munshiganj SP Biplab Bijoy Talukdar said they took specific measures to ensure smooth journey of home-goers.

“Buses and cars were being transported on priority basis. More than 400 policemen, both in uniform and plainclothes, were deployed to ensure the security of people and prevent extortion.”

Many passengers, finding no other way after reaching the ferry ghat, were crossing the river by speedboats and then getting into other vehicles from Kewrakandi. The launches were also seen carrying extra passengers.

Passengers alleged that cashing in on the situation, speedboats, buses and microbuses at Kewrakandi were taking extra fare from them. l

stopped a Companyganj-bound bus for charging extra to sell tickets to its passengers.

After being notified by passengers, the minister rushed to the terminal gate and stopped the bus from leaving.

“No magistrate is with me, so no action has been taken immediately against the bus officials. But we have kept the [registration] number and name of the bus owner. After Eid, action will be taken against the bus owner and the people concerned,” Obaidul said.

The minister also forced the bus authority to return the extra fare to the passengers.

The government would take action after Eid against the bus operators who collected extra fare from the passengers, he told reporters.

Snubbing out claims about traffic gridlocks on the highways, the minister said buses were running only at slow speed as there was a large number of buses operating ahead of the festivals. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, October 4, 2014

3

‘Only 1% success rate for NHRC’ n Udisa Islam

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has achieved a mere 1% success rate when it comes to dealing with issues involving law enforcement agencies, the commission officials said.

The success rate is exaggerated in the annual records, the officials claimed, adding that the reason for such a low figure is the law enforcement agencies boasting about their power.

According to NHRC Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman, the commission is helpless when laws are applied to safeguard illegitimate issues.

“In the majority of the cases, we have no other option but to directly write to the Home Ministry when RAB or other law enforcement agencies show reluctance to consider an issue,” he said.

Category Sexual harassment

named, said it was not easy for such a commission to effectively function under the government in a country like Bangladesh. He said the commission was merely formed to build a positive image of the government in the international community.

“However, as the commission was formed by the government, the information we present in the annual report is viewed as reliable in the international arena,” he added.

Deputy Director of the NHRC Md Imam Uddin said the law governing the commission was problematic.

“We know the loopholes of the law. We cannot carry out an inquiry directly against the police. In such a situation, there is nothing to do about cases involving killing, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing.

This is the situation the commission faces. Considering all these, the 1% Disposed of

Pending

00

01

Abduction/rape/murder

23

04

Dowry

08

00

Domestic violence

21

09

Custodial death

05

05

Extrajudicial/crossfire killing

05

02

Enforced disappearance

01

08

Mizanur, however, objected to the 1% success rate, saying the law enforcement agencies have begun considering the impact of the commission’s functions recently.

“Those who are in power sometimes refuse to pay heed to our observations and avoid the allegations by claiming that they are acting in accordance with the law,” he added.

An inquiry officer of the commission said on condition of anonymity that their successes mostly encompass violation of human rights related to lands while there is barely any achievement regarding issues such as enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing or custodial death.

“As the commission now understands that there is no way but to back off because of the influential quarters, it has mostly stopped dealing with such key issues,” he said.

This is also evident in the words of the NHRC chairman when he says the commission’s activities have made RAB personnel more cautious in carrying out their duties, but the commission’s office has failed to present any concrete proof that supports his claim.

Chairman of the commission, however, observed that the police, unlike RAB, did not turn careful at all.

He also said the way police behave now gives the impression that they are the members of another sophisticated force.

An assistant director at the commission, who did not want to be

Workers of Tuba Group stage a sin-in protest in font of the BGMEA building at the capital’s Karwan Bazar yesterday demanding payment of their salaries and other dues MAHMUD HOSAAIN OPU

success rate that we mentioned is more than expected,” he explained.

Imam criticised the commission’s organogram, saying none except the chairman prioritises such issues.

“The commission’s task is to make a bridge between the government and the victim. The extent of good governance achieved through this connection is used as the basis for a list of foreign donors.

“The NHRC, the government and the civil society prepare three separate reports, and those are then merged into a single report. The report is presented at the United Nations and the aid that is allocated is based on it,” he said.

Any association preparing its own report never writes anything negative, added Imam.

Sources said the donors have decided to discontinue a project, which the UN channelled into the country and involves funding from several countries, for the time being once its duration comes to an end the following year.

A commission official said the donors might have taken the decision as they had raised some objections, saying the commission was not fully working the way they thought it would.

The decision, however, has not been finalised yet, he added.

The NHRC commission did not entirely deny this but refused to comment before a final decision was made. l

More GPA 5 scorers, more dismal picture in DU test Zayeef and n Ahmed Mushfique Wadud

Every year a staggering number of students secure GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC examinations but as they sit for Dhaka University admission tests their performance falls flat on its faces.

Dhaka University's last five-year admission tests result show that majority of the students who had obtained the highest score of GPA (grade point average) 5 in their SSC and HSC exams have failed to obtain the minimum pass marks.

The trend is alarmingly increasing with the rise in the number of GPA 5 holders.

DU Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said: “The number of GPA 5 achievers in SSC and HSC levels is increasing dramatically every year. But the performance of these students proved that quality of education is not improving.

DU holds admission tests in five units: “A” unit is meant for the students of science discipline, “B” unit for Humanities students and “C” for Commerce while students from every discipline can sit for the admission test for “D” (for some selected departments) and “Cha” (Fine Arts Faculty) units.

According to the DU central admission office, this year 2,85,878 students applied in the five units of the universi-

ty. A total of 2,59, 649 students received their results while 26,229 either did not attend the exams or were declared disqualified.

Of the students who got their results a total of 75,964 were those who obtained GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC exams. Only 25,486 of them (33.55 %) got pass marks in the test. The rest 67.45 % student failed to sail through.

This failure percentage was 56.12% in 2013-14 academic session, 55% in 201213 academic session, 53% in 2011-12 academic session and 52 % in 2010-11 academic session.

One has to secure 40% mark in the 120-mark admission test.

Academics have said the failure of such a large number of students in the admission tests of the country’s top educational institution reflected the “poor quality” of education handed down to students in school and college levels.

The university’s Social Arts faculty Dean Professor Sodrul Amin told the Dhaka Tribune that the admission test was a process of filtering which allowed the university authorities to get the best students.

“But it is alarming that students who achieve good grades, even the highest in SSC and HSC, fail to attain the passing mark in the admission test,” said Sodrul Amin, who is also a coordinator of the admission test held under the Arts faculty.

Islamist parties’ protests continue against Latif n Manik Miazee

Different Islamist parties yesterday brought out a protest procession from the capital’s Baitul Mukarram mosque after Jum’a prayers, demanding capital punishment of minister Abdul Latif Siddique for his recent comments on hajj, Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Tablighi Jamaat.

Under the banner of Sammilita Islami Dalsamuho, several Islamist parties including Hefazat-e-Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation brought out the procession from north gate of the national mosque which paraded Paltan

and Motijheel areas of the city and staged demonstrations. Police and RAB members were also deployed in the areas to avoid any untoward situation.

The protesters chanted slogans demanding the arrest and capital punishment of Latif Siddique for his derogatory comments, hurting religious sentiment of Muslims.

While addressing the protest programme, Secretary General of Sammilita Islami Dalsamuho Muhammad Zafrullah Khan warned of enforcing a nationwide shut-down on October 26 if the government fails to arrest Latif within October 15. On September 28,

Latif Siddique made the comments at a view-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York.

Meanwhile in Narayanganj, local leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam declared a Tk5 lakh bounty on the head of minister Latif Siddique, reports UNB. They came up with the announcement at a rally arranged by the Islamist group’s district unit on the Railway Jam-e Masjid premises in the city’s DIT commercial area.

The only punishment Latif deserves for his insulting remarks is “beheading in public,” the Hefazat leaders said, announcing that an amount of Tk5 lakh will be given to

the person who will be able to bring his head.

Acting ameer of district Hefajat Abdul Quader, its leaders Mufti Shahidullah, Maulana Ferdausur Rahman, district BNP President Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker and city Jubo Dal convener Maksudul Alam Khandaker, among others, spoke at the programme.

In his speech, Abdul Quader said the devout Muslims will bring Abdul Latif to justice if the government does not try him for his crimes. “He will be awarded a harsh punishment after setting up a court at Mukti Sharani in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj.” l

Cattle market mostly cater to AL men n Rafe Sadnan Adel A number of syndicates mostly led by a section of leaders of the ruling party and its associated bodies have taken control of the cattle markets in the capital like in recent years.

Dhaka South and North City Corporation officials confirmed that they had set up 19 temporary cattle markets in the capital. Of them 11 are under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and eight under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Nurul Islam Sagar, youth and sports secretary of the proposed Badda Thana Awami League committee, and Chhatra League president of the Badda Thana Wasifur Rahman Babu took out the lease on the cattle market.

The Chhatra League leaders told the Dhaka Tribune over phone that

nothing wrong happened this year in the leasing process as the local leaders are united under the leadership of MP advocate Rahmatullah.

He also said this year party grassroot activists will be benefited.

Just next to Aftabnagar Cattle Market another prominent market is Meradia Cattle Market. That too was given lease to Awami League leader ABM Ahmadullah Poppi, organising secretary of Swechchasebak League (Dhaka Metropolitan South).

Poppi said: “There is no political chaos in the market. I along with my party activists and some local volunteers are looking after it.”

In Agargaon, the northern part of the capital, the cattle market drew huge negative criticism as it is located near two major hospitals. SM Jahid, a Jubo League leader, took a lease on the market for Tk2,78,60,000.

Earlier, Jahangir Alam, a president candidate for AL Ward 28 and president of Mamota Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity, wanted to take out a lease on the Agargaon Cattle Market.

But Jahangir, 45, was shot dead by some assailants in front of his West Agargaon residence, police sources said the party internal feud over the tender for the cattle market led to his murder.

D S C C Ward 69 A w a m i L e a g u e President Elias Rashid was the

highest bidder for Armanitola Cattle Market, the largest market in the capital. He got the lease for Tk4,01,11,507.

The highest bidding for the free space in Khilkhet Banarupa Housing was Tk62,00,000. Owner of the M/S Mizan Enterprise and Awami League leader secured the lease. l

On the other hand, on an average more than 80% students who sought admission to the Dhaka University over the past four years, have failed to get the required pass marks in the admission tests.

The DU admission test results for the 2014-15 academic session show that out of 259, 649 candidates in five units, 214,371 (82.56%) students failed to obtain the minimum pass marks.

The failure rate was 81% in the 201314 academic session, 83% in the 2012-13 academic session, and 81% in the 2011-12 academic session.

The failure rate in the 2014-15 session shows that 96.9% candidates failed in Cha unit, 79.39% in C unit, 90.45% in B unit, 83.45% in D unit and 78.5 % in A unit.

The failure percentage in 2013-14 was 95% in Cha unit, 91% in C unit, 86% in B unit and around 91% in D unit. The number of failed students was comparatively less in A unit, where the figure was 58%.

Mamunur Rashid, member of the central admission committee of DU, said: “It is very alarming that in the university admission test the number of failed students who obtained GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC are rising every year.”

He also said even the standard of those who passed in the admission test with GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC exams is not up to the mark. These students enjoy the advantage of getting 80 points on

the basis of their highest scores in those examinations.

“But sadly they failed to secure a better position in the merit list.”

We think its happening as schools and colleges are not imparting quality education.

Dismal picture in English admission test

The Education Board's subject-wise pass rate in this year's Higher Secondary Certificate examination shows that overall 83% students passed the English in eight education boards while it was 98.65% In the Madrassa Education Board.

But, the same students performed poorly in Dhaka University admission test. Only two students managed to enrol in Dhaka University “Kha” (B) unit exam for English Department under 2014-15 session.

Earlier, a World Bank study said learning outcome among students remains poor. Nearly 75% of fifth graders do not have adequate competence for grade V Bangla while 67% lack that in mathematics, a World Bank report released in March this year, said.

The information for the report was collected from the Directorate of Primary Education.

Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said the reason behind poor performance was because students were not learning properly in class room. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Spotlight

Saturday, October 4, 2014

With Eid on Monday, homebound people continue to leave the capital yesterday TOP LEFT: Failing to find seats inside a train, desperate passengers climb up to its roof in the Airport Station.

TOP RIGHT: A launch, full to the brim with passengers, heads under the Postagola Bridge on its way out of Dhaka.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Passengers wait for their buses at Gabtoli bus terminal.

BOTTOM LEFT: Amid the chaotic departure of city-dwellers via different forms of transport, a young man takes it upon himself to spread awareness at the root level – among drivers and passengers – with messages on safe travelling in the capital’s Gabtoli area

Cattle traders are getting prepared for the Eid sale at the makeshift markets in different parts of the capital yesterday RIGHT: A trader prepares to administer steroid on a cow at Gabtoli cattle market.

TOP LEFT: A cattle owner drives his cows towards the cattle market in Gabtoli.

MID LEFT: Traders cart off the body of a cow, dead from a steroid overdose, from Gabtoli cattle market.

BOTTOM LEFT: Cattle traders occupy a street in the Hazaribagh area to set up an illegal cattle market

Photos: NASHIRUL ISLAM/SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/MEHEDI HASAN

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, October 4, 2014

11-day ban on catching Slack mobile court operation Hilsa at all points JUTE PACKAGING ACT

delays implementation n Rabiul Islam Implementation of the mandatory jute packaging act faces setback due to alleged lax operation of mobile courts.

Mobile courts began drives last month to bring the violators of the law to book.

Jute mill owners said mobile court officials visited a number of markets, including Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur Krishi Market, in the capital but merely warned the violators of the law instead of fining them.

The law was enacted in 2010 with a view to protecting the environment from pollution caused by the use of synthetic bags for packaging goods.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) Secretary Barik Khan said the majority of the food items including rice were still packaged with synthetic bags.

He also claimed slack mobile court vigilance, saying officials visited some

city markets but took no stern action against those flouting the law.

Anyone violating the law will face a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of Tk50,000 or both. Jute Department has been tasked with implementing the act.

“We have taken all necessary measures to operate mobile courts in order to implement the act,” Jute Department Director General RC Marmon told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said mobile courts were working slow may be because of Eid and Puja.

President of Rice Mills Owners' Groups in Naogaon Tofiqul Islam said jute bags were unavailable in the market.

The price of rice would go up by Tk12 per kg if jute bags are used, he said.

“We need to spend Tk12 on a synthetic bag but for a jute bag, it is Tk65.

The customers and buyers will have to pay the extra money,” he added.

RC Marmon, however, claimed a jute bag costs Tk35-40.

“If necessary, we will be able to supply at reduced costs and there will be no shortage,” he said.

Barik meanwhile said the local consumption of jute would go up if the law is implemented.

“We will get competitive prices of jute in the international market.

The BJMA and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation are capable of supplying 12,000,000 bags daily,” he said.

According to the Jute Department, around 75 crore bags are used in the country annually, and 50% of jute will be used locally if the act is implemented.

Around 70 bales of raw jute were produced last year.

A senior Jute Department official said there is an opportunity of using around Tk5,000 crore worth of jute bags, which would help the mills under the BJMC survive.

All 27 state-owned jute mills remain in poor conditions, he added. l

Making bamboo-made makeshift structures in the Buriganga River some families live there as they do not have the capability to rent house. The photo was taken from Babubazar in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Ctg Islamists demand Latif’s death penalty n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Some islamist organisations have demanded that Abdul Latif Siddique be arrested and subjected to death on charges of his “derogatory’ remarks on hajj and tabligh.

They made the call while holding rallies and processions after Jum’a prayers yesterday.

Hefazat-e-Islam held their rally in front of Anderkillah Shahi Jame Masjid and took out a procession from there.

Olama Mashaekh, Towhidi Janata and some other organisations brought out processions from the same venue.

Jamaat-e-Islami and its student

WEATHER

DRIZZLE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:43PM SUN RISES 5:52AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 34 32 33 33 32 32 33 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

26 25 23 23 23 24 23 24

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.7ºC Khulna

23.1ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:37am 5:50am 11:47am 4:04pm 5:43pm 6:58pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

wing Chhatra Shibir did not hold any programme in protests against Latif’s remarks in the city yesterday. However, they were seen in the programmes held in protests against Latif’s remarks on hajj and tabligh.

Kotwali police station Officer-inCharge AKM Mohiuddin Selim however said Jamaat-Shibir people, posing as commoners, were seen taking part in the rallies and processions.

Hefazate Islam Organisational Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi said Latif is an apostate and enemy of Islam. He should be hanged for humiliating Islam by violating the law of the country.

On Sunday, Latif made comments

on hajj while addressing a reception arranged by the Tangail expatriates in New York, USA, drawing scathing criticisms from several islamist parties and organisations in the country.

The islamist parties and organisations also demanded that he be removed from the government and the party.

Amid such criticisms and demands, the government, of which he is the information and telecommunications minister, and the party, of which he is a Presidium member, decided to throw him out.

Two Chittagong courts summoned him in four cases lodged for hurting religious sentiments of the people. l

Special launch service with inflated price starts on Dhaka-Barisal route n Our Correspondent, Barisal The private vessel owners have initiated a 13-day Eid special launch service on the Dhaka-Barisal route with a 25% increased fare.

At least 11 special vessels has hit the water route from the Dhaka end on Thursday to carry the home-bound passengers, with 15 such vessel ready to embark on the Eid special trip.

Owner of triple decker “Sundarbans” Launch Fleet, Saidur Rahman Rintu, also Central Vice-President of Launch Owners' Association, said normally 4-5 triple decker launches carried passengers every day on the Dhaka-Barisal route.

On the occasion of Eid ul-Azha, the number of launches had been increased only to accommodate the growing number of passengers, he said.

Sources said the launch cabin tickets had already been sold out before the trip started, despite the fact that advance booking was prohibited.

Rintu said they might witness a mad rush of passengers on October 2,3,4,5 from Dhaka and October 8,9,10,11 from Barisal ends.

Passengers of private triple-decker launches have to pay an excessive fare amounting to Tk1,100 for per first class

cabin ticket, Tk600 for sofa seat and Tk250 for a seat on the deck.

“We have fixed the fare only for two weeks before and after Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha, in line with the fare chart fixed by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority,” said Saidur Rahman Rintu.

He also said the realisation of excessive fares helped to cover the losses the vehicle owners incur around the year.

Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director (river safety and traffic management)) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Barisal office, said: “The port authorities have completed all the formalities to ensure the safety of the passengers.”

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) started a 14-day special steamer services from Wednesday on the route on the occasion of Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha festivals with six vessels.

The BIWTC sources said six peddle wheel steamers PS Ostrich, PS Lepcha, PS Mahsud, PS Turn, and screw wheel motor vessels MV Sela and MV Bangali had been placed to carry passengers to their respective destinations connecting Chandpur, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Hularhut of Pirojpur and Morelganj of Bagerhaat districts under this special schedule. l

n Our Correspondent, Bhola The government has imposed a ban on catching all kinds of fishes, including the much sought after Hilsa, in all points of Bhola, Meghna, Tetulia and within 190 kilometre in the Bay of Bengal estuary.

Under the ban issued by the Fisheries and Livestock ministry, catching, carrying, transporting, selling or possessing of all kinds of fishes are prohibited from October 5 to October 15.

Confirming the information, Bhola fisheries department official Pritish Kumar Mallik said, these 11 days were high spawning season for Hilsa and that is why the ban was imposed.

Police, magistrate, coastguards, and teams from the department would be vigilant to monitor the ban.

“Already mass campaign has been organized in seven upazilas of Bhola along with distributing leaflets among the fishermen. If they break the law, punitive measures will be taken against them,” he added.

In previous years, there was restriction only for certain points but this year the ministry has imposed ban on all points across the country to allow a safe haven for the egg bound fishes.

Meanwhile, the decision has enraged fishermen, who were looking forward to the breeding season for a good catch. They protested the government decision taken without considering any alternative earning source for the community, which is dependent on Hilsa catching for livelihood.

Businessman of Bhola's Charfashion upazila Mahbubur Rahman said, “People involved with fishing business had been facing losses since there were not enough fishes at the beginning of the season. Now with the ban in place, it would be really difficult for us to celebrate the upcoming Eid.” Many fishermen alleged that though general fishermen would bear the brunt of the ban, some influential people would reap more profit by employing their own fishermen to catch Hilsa during this period. l

5 Six dope gang members arrested from Dhanmondi n Tribune Report Police arrested six members of a gang, accused of doping and then robbing people of their belongings, from the capital's Dhanmondi area yesterday.

The arrestees are Shah Alam, 38, Ramzan Molla, 26, Nazrul Islam, 22, Imon, 24, Raja Hawlader, 28 and Abul Hossain, 55. A mobile court sentenced five of them to two years of imprisonment while Abul Hossain faced six months.

The Sub Inspector of the Dhanmondi police station Kazi Shariful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the gang members were arrested in front of the Keari Plaza.

“They used to sell sugarcane juice targeting mostly auto-rickshaw or private car passengers. Two of them, Shah Alam and Ramzan were in charge of making the juices and then mixing tablets in the glasses. The other four used to follow the victims until they became senseless and then loot all of their valuables,” he added.

The SI said that they had arrested Shah Alam first on a tip off and later arrested the rest of the members through primary interrogation. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Barguna school headmaster Erosion renders 1,000 families homeless embezzles project fund n n Our Correspondent, Barguna

Head master of Lemua PK Secondary School under Barguna's Aaila Patakata union has allegedly embezzled about Tk10 lakh from an education project of the school.

The Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement Project (SEQAEP) funded by the World Bank has been implemented in five secondary schools under Barguna Sadar upazila since July 2012. Under this 2-year project, each school is to have two resource teachers for additional classes of English and Mathematics subjects.

However, there has been allegation that the resource teachers had not been regularly taking their classes resulting in gross misappropriation of funds.

Each resource teacher gets Tk22,000 each month while the assistant teacher of the relevant subjects gets monthly Tk5,250 for extra class.

Teachers, students and guardians of the school have alleged that though Nipa Akter, the resource teacher of English, had been taking classes regularly, the other resource teacher for Mathematics, Faizul Islam, had been present for only six months in last two years.

There have been accusations that Faizul Islam had been skipping classes by sharing a part of his remuneration with the head master, Md Humayun Kabir, who helped by faking Faizul's signature on attendance book.

In addition, the head master has also been stealing money by manipulating

student scholarships. Thus the total amount, including Faizul Islam's salary of one and half year, embezzled by the head master is said to be close to some Tk10 lakh.

When contacted via phone, Faizul Islam denied to talk. In the meantime, an investigation, carried out by the education ministry, had found proof of fund misappropriation against the head master.

Investigator Md Kamruzzaman said, the head master had already refunded some of the stolen money and the proper authority had been forwarded the investigation report.

Head master Md Humayun Kabir also acknowledged his wrongdoing to the journalists and vowed not to repeat such acts in future. l

The 12-foot road in Prasat Para in Rajshahi city has turned into 6-foot because of a collapsing pond. As a result, accidents are occurring every day. Locals have repeatedly requested the LGED and local MP to fix the road, but to no avail AZAHAR UDDIN

70 fishermen abducted in two days in Barguna

Footbridge in a run-down state n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

n Our Correspondent, Barguna

A foot bridge on Bicchhamara-Kochchhopia road in Bandarban's Naikhangchhari upazila has been in a very bad condition for long but authorities are yet to take any step about it.

Locals fear Baganghona Foot Bridge, which was built in 1997 and of which date expired years ago, may collapse injuring and killing pedestrians any time.

Moreover, they say the bridge is small and narrow and call for reconstructing it in such a way so that people and other small vehicles could move over it easily.

A local called Abdur Rahman said thousands of people would be totally cut off from the upazila town once the bridge collapsed and so called for building a new and big bridge there soon.

Naikhangchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Shafayat Md Shahedul islam says they would soon construct a new bridge. l

Robbers have suddenly turned active allegedly cashing in on the lax navy patrolling in the Bay of Bengal.

They abducted 70 fishermen swooping down on more than 150 trawlers in two days until Thursday, said Matsa Sramik Union (union of fishermen) President Abdul Mannan yesterday.

He said they looted whatever they found valuables including fishing nets and fishes at Narikel Baria, Pakkhidia and Katka areas in the south of the

Bay of Bengal in Barguna's Patharghata upazila.

All 70 abducted fishermen reportedly hail from different parts of Barguna. Mannan blamed the navy team led by NCD Lieutenant Adnan for slackening their patrolling in the Bay of Bengal all of a sudden, exposing the fishermen to robbery.

A naval ship has been anchoring at Patharghata but there is no responsible naval officer there for launching the operation against the robbers in the Bay. l

1 killed in Chittagong fire n Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A 60-year-old woman died and a 13-year-old girl sustained severe injury in a fire generated from kitchen of a house in Muradpur village of Mirsarai upazila under Chittagong district.

The victims are Bibi Fatema, 60 and Priyanka, 13.

The fire generated around 1am on Thursday in one Abul Kashem's house named “Boro Bari” in the village.

Family members who survived the fire, said like other days, Kashem's daughter-in-law Shamsunnahar went to sleep after finishing cooking and serving dinner to the family members.

Around 1am she woke up and found

everything around was on fire.

Kashem's wife Bibi Fatema got trapped in the fire. The locals came to douse the fire, however, Fatema's roasted body was found lying on the ground after the fire came under co trol, they said.

While trying to save her younger brother, Kashem's granddaughter Priyanka sustained 50% burn injury in the incident. She was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Abul Kashem claimed that the fire damaged properties worth more than Tk10lakh.

Katachhara Union Parishad Chairman Nurul Anwar Sobuj have distributed relief among the victims. l

Two dead bodies recovered n Our Correspondent, Munshiganj Police recovered dead bodies of two men in separate incidents in Munshiganj yesterday.

One of the bodies found is of a day labourer Aynal Sheikh, 36, son of Sonai Sheikh of West Harpara under Shreenagar upazila at 10:30am. l

Golamari bridge turns risky, heavy vehicles discourage to ply n Our Correspondent, Khulna The 49 years old Golamari bridge on Khulna’s Mayur River has turned risky due to lack of maintenance. Moreover, construction of an approach road and piling for a new bridge have made it more hazardous.

Khulna Roads and Highways Department feared that the bridge could collapse any moment. The authority has sent letters to Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) and Khulna City Corporation (KCC) to bar heavy transport from using the bridge.

The Golamari bridge, built in 1965, is one of the main entry points of the Khulna city. It connects Khulna with other major cities such as Dhaka, Chit-

tagong, Shariatpur, Faridpur, Mongla, Bagherhat, Barisal, Gopalganj, Satkhira, and many others. More than one thousand vehicles use the bridge to go in and out of the city everyday. Khulna University transports also ply through this bridge.

Under this circumstance, construction of a new bridge alongside the old one began in February with the piling work. But it dislocated a significant chunk of land around it. Besides, land has also been dug up to make approach road for the under-construction park on the bank of Mayur River. Added to that is the impact of monsoon erosion.

All these factors have made the bridge even more vulnerable to fatal accidents.

After the KMP and KCC letters, sign-

boards have been erected on two sides asking heavy vehicles to refrain from using the bridge. Khulna University is also no more using the bridge as a precaution.

Executive Engineer of Khulna Roads and Highways Department, Aliul Hossain said, temporary measures had been taken to make the bridge suitable for light vehicles. But it could collapse if heavy vehicles use it frequently. The repair work would take 15 days and Truck Owners’ Association had been requested to use an alternative route.

KCC Panel Mayor-1 (acting) Anisur Rahman Biswas said, as part of safety measures, barposts would be built on both sides of the bridge to restrict heavy vehicles. l

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Massive erosion in Brahmaputra and Teesta River have rendered thousands of families in eight unions in Kurigram district homeless in last one month.

Other establishments including nine educational institutions, one market, and one flood shelter are under the risk of being devoured.

Finding no other way, the victims are passing days under open sky in miserable conditions on nearby embankments, said chairmans of the respective unions.

In Ulipur upazila, 80 families of Korpurar Char, Char Ratideb, Arjun and Thuipaikor village under Daldaliya union, 60 families of Hokdanga, Kharija, Juan Satra and Goraipiar villages under

Thetrai union and more than 150 families in Kajir Chawk, Titima and Santosh Obhiram village have lost their homesteads and arable lands in the erosion of Teesta River.

The overflow of Teesta has also engulfed homesteads and agricultural lands of 140 families in Bogulakura, Shataloshkor, Saduadamar Haat and Char Bajra villages under Bojra union.

Five education institutions are also on the verge of extinction in the area.

In last one month, around 150 homesteads in Hatia, Begumganj, Buraburi and Shaheber Alga unions have gone under the bed of Brahmaputra.

Ulipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dr Mohammad Mansur Alam Khan said tin and Tk3,000 per family would soon be distributed among 264 families selected from the list of victims. l

Schoolboy drowns at Savar n Our Correspondent, Savar

A student of class eight drowned to death at the age of 15 in Savar on Thursday.

The victim, Jony, was the son of Abdul Hakim of Katlapur area and used to go to Assed School in Savar bank colony area.

The father Hakim said after returning from school on Thursday Jony went for a bath at the nearby Bangshi river, never to return.

On Friday, seeing a floating dead body in the river, locals identified the corpse and informed police who recovered the corpse and took it to the police station.

Savar model police station acting officer in charge Mustafa Kamal confirmed the incident and said: “Since the victim’s family isn’t filing any charges, the dead body will soon be handed over to them”. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

7

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Top Saudi cleric Sentiment divided at hajj over role of Islamist militants warns of ‘chaos’ in hajj speech n AFP, Arafat, Saudi Arabia The enemies of Muslim nations are trying to spread “chaos and confusion”, Saudi Arabia’s top cleric told Muslims from around the world in an address during the annual hajj pilgrimage Friday.

“Oh Muslim peoples, your countries have been entrusted to you, so safeguard your security and stability, your gains, your resources and public projects,” Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said in a televised address from Nimrah Mosque at Mount Arafat in western Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites.

Close to two million Muslims from around the world were gathered there for a day of prayer at the peak of the annual hajj.

“And know that you are targeted by your enemies who want to tear your ranks, turn your hearts against each other and spread chaos and confusion and beware of their conspiracies,” he said from the spot where Prophet Mohammed made his final sermon 14 cen-

turies ago.

The mufti’s comments, similar to his hajj sermon last year, come in the context of widespread revulsion among the world’s Muslims towards Islamic State group jihadists.

Since last month, Saudi Arabia and four other Arab nations have joined the United States in air strikes in Syria against the militants, who have declared a “caliphate” straddling that country and Iraq where they have committed a spate of atrocities including crucifixions and beheadings.

In August, the mufti urged Muslim youth not to be influenced by “calls for jihad ... on perverted principles.”

The kingdom is seeking to deter youths from becoming jihadists after Syria’s conflict attracted hundreds of Saudis.

King Abdullah decreed in February jail terms of up to 20 years for citizens who travel to fight abroad.

The mufti has said that radicalism and terrorism “have nothing to do with Islam and (their proponents) are the enemy number one of Islam”. l

Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

n Reuters, Arafat, Saudi Arabia Former Egyptian army officer Suliman Ouda minced no words as he climbed Mount Arafat, denouncing Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq as terrorists.

But Syrian engineer Ahmed Orabi, standing nearby on the hill where Muslims on their hajj pilgrimage beg God’s forgiveness, disagreed.

“Islam is about peace and kindness, not murder and violence, and I don’t consider these fighters in Iraq and Syria to be Muslims,” Ouda told Reuters as

he joined the mass of pilgrims early on Friday. “They bring shame to the word Islam.”

Orabi, in his 40s, served time in Syrian prisons for criticising the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before fleeing to Turkey. One of his sons was still in jail.

“If the Islamic state, or Nusra, or any other group can fight the government, I’m in full support of them,” he said in a hushed voice.

“Bashar is the terrorist here, Iran is the enemy. And although I can’t raise

REUTERS

my voice today and say that, I’m crying out to God in my heart to give victory to those brave Islamic fighters.”

The hajj, a hectic journey that brings millions from around the world to Mecca and Mount Arafat, is tinged this year with concerns over the threat posed by Islamist militants who threaten to target allies of the United States, including Saudi Arabia.

In past years, Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims airing political views were the main threat for security forces keen to keep the hajj free from politics. But

the rise of political Islam since the Arab Spring protests of 2011 has focused attention on Islamist Sunni groups as a new potential source of friction.

While a systematic poll of pilgrims’ views at the hajj would be impossible, a random sampling indicated sentiment is divided over Islamic State, who have dominated the news since they captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in July.

Abdel-Rahman al-Gahtani, a Saudi hajj organiser, said the militants, known in Arabic as Daesh, gave Islam a bad name.

“Our sheikhs told us that Daesh are terrorists and we believe they are. Those who kill in cold blood and make threats to kill innocent people are not Muslims like us,” Gahtani, who works at food and water distribution, told Reuters.

The sermon given by the preacher in the local Namira mosque on Friday included a reference to the Islamic State and the pledge that “Islam is innocent of their actions”, pilgrims who attended said.

But Mohammed Askar, a Syrian teacher, said militants fired by religious zeal may be the only way to topple Assad.

“I know America and the Gulf countries see the Islamic state as terrorists, but they should not think that way,” Askar said.

“These are the people who can fight to get rid of Bashar, and after Bashar is gone I swear to you no one will want Islamic State. We are just using them.” l

Nine UN troops killed in Mali attack

SHOWSTOPPER

n Reuters, Bamako/Dakar

The new Ferrari 458 Speciale A is presented at the 2014 Paris Auto Show in Paris on the first of the two press days

AFP

Nine United Nations peacekeepers in Mali were killed when heavily armed gunmen on motorbikes ambushed their convoy on Friday, the deadliest attack yet on UN troops in Mali, the mission said.

The attack on the peacekeepers from Niger took place in the region of Gao and highlighted a sharp increase in strikes on foreign troops based in Mali to prevent the return of al Qaeda-linked Islamists who seized the desert north in 2012.

“I am horrified by this cowardly act of terrorism ... Once again, lives have been lost today in the name of peace in Mali,” Arnauld Akodjenou, deputy head of the UN mission known as MINUSMA, said in a statement.

UN spokesman Olivier Salgado said the attack took place between the northeastern towns of Menaka and Ansongo. There were no reports of further UN troops being injured.

The UN mission said aircraft had been dispatched to secure the zone, which is towards Mali’s border with Niger.

A security source said the peacekeepers were attacked in a dip in the road as it crossed a dry river bed.

UN peacekeepers have deployed across Mali’s north in an effort to secure the country after the separatists

and Islamists took advantage of the power vacuum created by a coup in the capital in 2012 to seize the northern regions.

The Islamists were scattered by French forces early last year, elections have been held and rebels who distanced themselves from extremist groups have begun talks with the Bamako government.

But the peace process is moving slowly and Malian government troops abandoned most positions in the north earlier this year after clashes with rebels.

Since then, Mali has called on the UN mission to deploy more of its mandated force of 12,000 men in the north, a zone that is awash with smugglers as well as various rebels.

However, diplomats say there is increasing concern that UN peacekeepers who are not trained or equipped for counter-insurgency warfare are over-exposed.

Ten Chadian peacekeepers were killed in Mali last month, prompting accusations from Chad that its troops were being neglected by the UN mission.

The spike in attacks on troops comes as France has redeployed some of its forces away from Mali as part of a plan to have 3,000 soldiers fighting extremists across the Sahara-Sahel band. l

New polio cases in Pakistan edge closer to record

Abbas to seek $4 billion Kurds warn of massacre by Islamic for Gaza reconstruction State, Turkey stops short of action

n AP, Islamabad

n AP, Gaza City

Pakistan has registered seven new polio cases, raising the number of those affected by the crippling disease this year to 194 and edging closer to the nation’s own record number of 199 in 2001, a senior health official said Friday.

All of the new cases were from the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, where it has been impossible to launch anti-polio campaigns because of threats from militants, said Rana Mohammad Safdar from the National Institute of Health in Islamabad.

“We are concerned over it,” Safdar told The Associated Press. “Lab tests two days ago confirmed these new cases.”

Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is endemic. The highly contagious virus is transmitted in unsanitary conditions but is easily fended off with a vaccine.

However, efforts to eradicate it are hampered by the Taliban, who have banned immunizations and attacked polio vaccination teams across Pakistan. Militants accuse polio workers of acting as spies for the United States and claim the vaccine makes boys sterile.

About 60 polio workers or police escorting polio teams have been killed in Pakistan since 2012, said Safdar. l

The Palestinian president will ask donor countries for $4 billion for Gaza reconstruction after a summer war between Israel and Hamas damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes and more than 5,000 businesses, according to a report Mahmoud Abbas is to present to a pledging conference this month.

According to the 72-page reconstruction report, obtained by The Associated Press late Thursday, the Palestinian government will request $4 billion in emergency relief and reconstruction funds. It will also ask donors to pledge an additional $4.5 billion in support for the Palestinian government’s budget through 2017.

The Gaza pledging conference will be held in Cairo on Oct. 12.

Meanwhile, Israel’s army chief said in comments published Friday that it would serve Israeli security interests to allow construction materials to enter blockaded Gaza.

Israel and Egypt have sharply restricted movement and trade in and out of Gaza since the Islamic militant Hamas seized the territory from Abbas in 2007.

Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz told the Haaretz daily that Hamas suffered military setbacks during the war, but that Israel can only secure long-term quiet on its border with Gaza if “an economic anchor backs up what was achieved in

the fighting.”

“We need to permit the opening of the strip to goods,” Gantz was quoted as saying. “In the end, there are 1.8 million people there, with Israel and Egypt surrounding them. These people need to live.”

The Israel-Hamas war that ended in late August killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, three-fourth of them civilians, according to U.N. figures. Israel lost 66 soldiers and six civilians.

Hamas had ruled Gaza with an iron grip since it seized the coastal strip.

However, earlier this year, the militant movement found itself in a severe financial crisis, largely because Egypt tightened its closure, shutting virtually all smuggling tunnels into Gaza and cutting off a key source of Hamas revenues.

The pressure eventually forced Hamas to hand over some powers to a temporary unity government of independent experts who report to Abbas and who are to oversee the reconstruction effort.

The reconstruction would also require Israel to permit the import of large quantities of cement, steel and other construction materials. Under a recent deal between Israel, the Abbas government and the United Nations, Israel would allow such imports, provided Palestinian and U.N. inspectors make sure they are not diverted by Hamas for military use. l

n Reuters, Turkey Kurdish fighters defending a Syrian border town warned on Friday of a likely massacre by Islamic State insurgents as the Islamists encircled the town with tanks and bombarded its outskirts with artillery fire.

Turkey said it would do what it could to prevent Kobani, a predominantly Kurdish town just over its southern border, from falling into Islamic State hands but stopped short of committing to any direct military intervention.

U.S.-led forces have been bombing Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq but the action has done little to stop their advance in northern Syria towards the Turkish border, piling pressure on Ankara to intervene.

Esmat al-Sheikh, head of the Kurdish forces defending Kobani, said the distance between his fighters and the insurgents was now less than one km (half a mile).

“We are in a small, besieged area.

No reinforcements reached us and the borders are closed,” he told Reuters by phone. “My expectation is for general killing, massacres and destruction ...

There is bombardment with tanks, artillery, rockets and mortars.”

Islamic State has earned a reputation for extreme violence, carrying out widespread killings including beheadings in the Syrian and Iraqi territory it has seized.

Two large clouds of smoke rose up to the east of Kobani and there were several loud explosions from further inside the town as shelling continued and gunfire rang out, a Reuters correspondent on the Turkish side of the border said.

Fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) tried to push the insurgents back, firing missiles lit up by bright red tracers from the town and striking Islamic State targets in a village a few kilometers to the east.

The frontlines between the Kurds and Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim group still commonly known by its former acronyms of ISIS and ISIL, are fluid.

Idris Nassan, deputy foreign minister in a local Kurdish administration, said the YPG had been able to blunt Islamic State gains over the past two days on the southeastern front.

“There are clashes every minute of the day. The YPG pushed ISIS back yesterday in the southeast of Kobani.

ISIS were two km from Kobani (to the southeast) but they are now four km,” he said. “From time to time there are shells by ISIS that reach the center of the city. Three hours ago there was a bomb that landed in Kobani. I haven’t heard about casualties.”

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the eastern, western and southern fronts had not seen significant changes since Thurs-

day, when Islamic State fighters tightened their grip around Kobani.

But that at least 25 shells had hit the town, coupled with heavy clashes on the eastern and southeastern fronts on Friday.

Turkey “not at fault”

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would do what it could to prevent Kobani from falling to Islamic State but stopped short of committing to the sort of military intervention that the Kurds have been crying out for.

“We wouldn’t want Kobani to fall.

We’ll do whatever we can to prevent this from happening,” Davutoglu said in a discussion with journalists broadcast on the A Haber television station.

View galleryAn elderly Syrian Kurdish refugee woman is carried … An elderly Syrian Kurdish refugee woman is carried by a man after crossing into Turkey from the Syri …

Parliament gave the government powers on Thursday to order cross-border military incursions against Islamic State, and to allow forces of the U.S.-led foreign coalition to launch similar operations from Turkish territory.

But Davutoglu appeared to pull back from any suggestion that this meant Turkey was planning a military incursion, saying such a move could drag Ankara into a wider conflict along its 900 km (560-mile) border. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

Saturday, October 4, 2014

How to delay osteoporosis n Prescription Desk

O

steoporosis is a condition in which bones become fragile and more likely to fracture. Usually in osteoporosis the bone loses density and becomes weak and brittle. The bone density is assumed by amount of calcium and minerals in the bone. Osteoporosis usually affects post menopausal women when releasing of the estrogen hormone is withdrawn naturally. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine. The process of osteoporosis can be prevented by taking of foods rich in calcium, minerals and vitamins in the 30s. Food is your best source of nutrients, but it is hard to get all you need in the recommended amounts. Researchers specially recommend calcium and vitamins B12 and D for older people.

Calcium is good for your bones and is found in dairy products and other foods.

But people may still not get enough calcium from milk due to lactose intolerance, which tends to increase with age.

If you got lactose intolerance then try for lactose free milk. Adults should get 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, but

that rises to 1,200 milligrams for women over 50 and men over 70.

The maximum calcium intake from food and supplements is 2,500 milligrams a day for adults, or 2,000 milligrams a day if you’re over 50.

Up your vitamin D

Vitamin D is needed for your body to

absorb and properly use calcium. Unfortunately, since this vitamin is naturally gleaned from the sun, Fortified foods can help, but may not be enough.

Since vitamin D is soluble only in fat, low-fat milk doesn’t always contain very much. In general, it’s hard to get too much vitamin D unless you overdo supplements. Aim for 600 international

As we get older, our metabolic rate slows down, so our calorie intake should drop accordingly. We don’t need as much to keep us moving.

In general, people also tend to move less as they get older. Extra calories may mean extra pounds, which ups heart disease and diabetes risk, as well as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis risk.

Every bite should be crammed full of as many nutrients as possible.

BIGSTOCK

Probiotics found in the lower part of our digestive system are vital for immune function and good health. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yoghurt or a probiotic supplement can increase the amount of beneficial probiotic bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract.

tive system for some, so if you find you feel sluggish and bloated when you eat it, aim to minimise your intake. If you are cutting down on gluten, try natural gluten-free options such as potatoes, rice, buckwheat and quinoa instead.

Include fibre daily

Start with a balanced breakfast

A good breakfast should not only help you get energised for the day, it should also be the first stop in meeting all your dietary requirements for the day.

Have a balanced breakfast that includes plenty of fibre to help you meet your daily requirement.

Add superfoods in your diet

It comes as no surprise these natural nutritional overachievers are also great at helping improve digestive health.

Start small by snacking on pepita seeds which are rich in omega-3 and cranberries which are packed with antioxidants.

Have prebiotics regularly

Prebiotics found in foods such as oats and legumes act as food for probiotics and help feed the good bacteria in the gut.

Drink plenty of water

It goes without saying that we should all be drinking plenty of water throughout the day. However Boyce says adding apple cider vinegar or lemon to water can help stimulate digestive enzymes.

| Compiled by Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar

A study recently published by researchers of S Chen at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Chin, suggests HEALTH that onion, scientifiNEWS cally known as Allium sepa can be effective at preventing or treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Foods and dietary supplements are desired for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as long term use of conventional antidiabetic medications may cause adverse effects even though they are effective in the management of blood sugar.

Onion has been used traditionally to treat different diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sulfur compounds in onion including S-methylcysteine and flavonoids such as quercetin are considered mainly responsible for the hypoglycemic activity of onion.

Indeed, some studies suggest those sulfur compounds are antidiabetic.

The review says S-methylcysteine and flavonoids can not only decrease the serum levels of glucose, lipids, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, but also increase antioxidant enzyme activity and insulin secretion.

Previous studies reveal extracts of onion render hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects by “normalising the activities of liver hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphatase and HMG coenzyme-A reductase” according to the review.

The sufficient hypoglycemic activity of sliced onion has been demonstrated even in preliminarily clinical

S-methylcysteine and flavonoids can not only decrease the serum levels of glucose, lipids, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, but also increase antioxidant enzyme activity and insulin secretion

trials of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus indicating that onion may be used to treat diabetes.

Another report published in 2013 showed that onion is commonly used in Egypt to treat diabetes mellitus type 2.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament caused by tearing of the fibers of the ligament. Your ligaments are tough, elastic-like bands that connect bone to bone and hold your joints in place. Of all sprains, ankle and knee sprains occur most often. Sprained ligaments swell rapidly and are painful.

Generally, the greater the pain and swelling, the more severe the injury is. For most minor sprains, you probably can treat the injury yourself.

Follow the instructions for RICE

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to prevent osteoporosis. A total lack of exercise is bad.

For strengthening your bones, walking, jogging or climbing stairs are recommended if it is not contraindicated for any other illness. l

BIGSTOCK

BIGSTOCK

n Prescription Desk

How to care for a sprain

Exercise

Onions prevent type 2 diabetes

Add probiotics in your regular diet

BIGSTOCK

Cut calories

FIRST AID

BIGSTOCK

Get more calcium

The digestive system may not be the most glamorous part of the body, but it truly is the workhorse that helps maintain our health. Poor digestive function can lead to many health concerns including inadequate absorption of nutrients, low energy, compromised immune function and gastrointestinal discomfort. Here’s how you can improve your digestive health in just a few easy steps.

Gluten can be disruptive to the diges-

Avoiding foods high in saturated fat should be a lifelong goal, and it goes along with the aim of maximizing your nutrient-to-calorie intake. Low-fat dairy products, for example, are rich in nutrients such as protein and calcium without adding unnecessary fat or calories found in full-fat dairy.

Most of the fat in an older person’s diet should be good fat, such as polyunsaturated and monousaturated fat that come from foods like soybean and canola oil. These oils can also be a good source of vitamins E and K.

As we get older, nutrition rules change— or at least get stricter. Some vitamins, such as B12, become more important with time. B12 not bound to protein is found in fortified cereal and supplements and is more readily absorbed by the body. Starting at age 50, you should get most vitamin B12 from these types of fortified foods.

Easy ways to improve stomach health

Restrict gluten

Limit saturated fat

Seek out vitamin B12

FOOD THERAPY

It’s important to have at least 25-30g of fibre a day. Dietary fibres are either soluble or insoluble. Both types of fibre are equally important for health, digestion and preventing conditions such as diverticulitis, constipation, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Boost your fibre intake by eating plenty of veggies, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

units (IU) daily and 800 IU if you are over 70, according to the NIH. The upper limit is 4,000 IU.

BIGSTOCK

Osteoporosis means ‘porous bone.’ Our bones may seem solid, but the bone tissue is constantly being created and destroyed. As we age, the process can skew toward bone destruction, leading to porous, weak bones that break easily — a condition called osteoporosis.

There are many things that can delay the process of osteoporosis, including proper nutrition, and medication

Type 2 diabetes mellitus in many cases are very easy to prevent. Indian studies suggest that taking curcumin supplement and spirulina can help prevent diabetes. Many herbs can be used to prevent or treat the disease. l

Rest the injured limb. Do not putting any weight on the injured area for 48 hours. But don’t avoid all activity. You can do regular works with other limbs.

Ice the area. Use a cold pack, a slush bath or a compression sleeve filled with cold water to help limit swelling after an injury. Try to ice the area as soon as possible after the injury and continue to ice it for 15 to 20 minutes, four to eight times a day, for the first 48 hours or until swelling improves. If you use ice, be careful not to use it too long, as this could cause tissue damage.

Compress the area with an elastic wrap or bandage. Compressive wraps or sleeves made from elastic or neoprene are best.

Elevate the injured limb above your heart whenever possible to help prevent or limit swelling.

After two days, gently begin using the injured area. You should feel a gradual, progressive improvement. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol may be helpful to manage pain during the healing process.

See an orthopaedic doctor if your sprain isn’t improving after two or three days.

Get emergency medical assistance if: You’re unable to bear weight on the injured leg, the joint feels unstable or numb, or you can’t use the joint.

You develop redness or red streaks that spread out from the injured area.

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

Pregnant women should avoid tuna n Prescription Desk In a new review of seafood safety, pregnant women have been advised to avoid eating tuna due to concerns about mercury exposure.

The researchers where parResearch ticularly concerned about canned tuna, which is second only to shrimp as the most commonly eaten seafood in the United States.

Now pregnant women are encouraged to avoid all tuna. While pregnant women and children are at greatest risk from mercury in seafood, anyone can be at risk if they eat too much seafood with high mercury levels. Adults who eat 24 ounces (1.5 pounds) or more of seafood per week should also avoid seafood with high mercury levels, including sushi made with tuna.

On the other hand, there are nearly 20 types of seafood that people — even pregnant women and children — can eat several

times a week without worrying about mercury exposure.

While fish and other seafood contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, many people are concerned that these foods contain high levels of mercury, which can damage the brain and nervous system.

According to US Food and Drug Administration, seafood with the lowest mercury levels include wild salmon, scallops, shrimp (most wild and US farmed) and tilapia. Other seafood with low-mercury levels include catfish, crab, trout, flounder and sole (flatfish).

Newly updated guidelines from the FDA and Environmental Protection Agency say that women of childbearing age and young children should not eat the four types of fish with the highest mercury levels: swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico. But the magazine’s experts say women should avoid the popular item altogether because of FDA data showing that some canned tuna may have higher mercury levels than once thought. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

Saturday, October 4, 2014

9

RICE – Food for thought

W n Tim Steel

hether the domestic cultivation of rice originated in the Pearl River Valley, or the Yangtze River Valley, there is little doubt that the process took place somewhere around 13,000 years ago, in China.

It is probably no coincidence that both valleys have origins or passages in the Yunnan Province, which is the Chinese end of the “Southern Silk Road”, as the Chinese call it. This very ancient route of trade, arguably the earliest known in the world, passes through Upper Myanmar, to both the Brahmaputra Valley and eventually the delta of the Ganges and Brahamaputra; and an alternative route, which appears, historically, to have continued through Mandalay, in Burma, to reach what archaeologists refer to as the Indo- Burmese area. What we know, today, as Cox’s Bazar District.

The evidence of the lands of Bangladesh as an ancient, very ancient centre of international trade... possibly one of the earliest in the world... is growing, and is compelling

Both of these southern terminals lie, today, in the lands of Bangladesh.

That the first traces of rice, south of the Himalayas, appears to have been found in what these same archaeologists call the “Indo-Gangetic” plain, with dating evidence of 7,000 to 8,000 BCE, and certain domesticated rice, with dates from 3rd millennium BCE, raises some fascinating questions about the origins of trade along this “Southern Silk Road”.

Whilst confirming his certainty of the early existence of this trade route,

WIKI.RICE

Professor Bin Yang of Singapore National University can adduce only the prospect of Malaysian tin in the great artefacts of the mid last millennium BCE Chinese Bronze Age, and carbon dated Money Cowries in tombs of 3rd century BCE in Yunnan Province, for earliest dating of such trading linkages.

That the domesticated rice, originating in China, found in the Ganges Basin, of which the Delta, and today’s lands of Bangladesh were both gateway and crossroads, dates from at least the 2nd or 3nd millennium BCE, may shed some light on the dating of the origins of such trans Himalayan trade.

The fact that, at Wari Bateshwar, in Narshingdhi, silver coinage dated to before the middle of that last millennium BCE, has been found, suggests that such trade down the Brahmaputra, on the banks of which, in its pre 18th century course, this now famous archaeological site stands, has long implied substantial trading origins of a much earlier period.

The development of “trading tokens” which is, essentially, what coins are, may be considered to be one that it could well have taken millennia of barter trade to inspire. It seems likely that such token trading would mark an inbalance in the mutual quantity of barter goods, requiring, essentially, an “IOU” of substance.

Today, Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest producers of rice, but it seems entirely logical, given the very early dating of the Gangetic crop, that the world wide spread of rice may well have had some significant origins in the rich trading centre that was the Ganges Delta.

That ‘large deposits’ of rice have been recovered from Roman encampments in Germany, of 1st century CE, suggests that it was, already, a well established crop in Europe, especially Italy, by then. The documentary and archaeological evidence of trade between Rome and the Ganges Delta from the very earliest years of the Common Era... Roman glass in Wari Bateshwar, and the reference by the great Roman historian and geographer, Strabo, in his famous work, Geographia, published about year 1 CE, to “those who sail from

Egypt, even to the Ganges”... suggests that, quite apart from the silks, cotton, herbs, spices, pearls and precious metals, rice may well have been amongst the cargoes. Italy, after all, still grows abundant quantities.

It took far longer for rice to arrive in the Americas, carried by European colonists. Whether the mediaeval links between the Ganges delta and Africa were responsible for more intensive cultivation in Africa, it is hard to say.

Such consideration of edible cargoes, then, raises more questions.

Mangoes would be another interesting case in point. Since a fruit that appears to have originated in the foothills of the Himalayas, on the fringes of the Ganges basin, with its trading gateway in the delta, has become internationally almost ubiquitous in tropical climates, questions may reasonably be raised about its transfer.

When online references to such subjects as mangoes refers to the “northern India-Burma region”, the researcher may understand the origin of authorship to probably be in India.

Mangoes, like Rice, and the, “Indo Gangetic plain” are a case in point.

Quite why Bangladesh, comprising a good 25% of the Ganges basin, including its gateway to the sea in the deltaic lands, and clearly the significant lands between modern India and Burma, should rate no mention is a curiosity that leads any interested researcher, perhaps, to consider what, exactly, India wants to hide.

Mongoes, online sources imply, were domesticated in, or around, the lands of Bangladesh. By 2,000 BCE, they were a widely established fruit crop across the Indian sub continent.

During the 18th century, we are told, European colonists took the fruit tree to Africa, the Americas, and East and South East Asia.

In fact, it would be extraordinary if some of the African, and South East Asian mango trees did not originate in pre Common Era times, carried by the traders we know travelled from those parts. Similarly, the well established contacts between the Ganges delta lands and North east Africa in the

WIKI.Harvesting wild rice..

14th and 15th centuries might suggest the transfer of such an abundant and popular fruit at that time.

All of which might give the deniers of ancient trade through the Ganges delta, the gateway to the world, in early times, for a large swathe of central and southern Asia, food for thought.

It took far longer for rice to arrive in the Americas, carried by European colonists. Whether the mediaeval links between the Ganges delta and Africa were responsible for more intensive cultivation in Africa, it is hard to say The evidence of the lands of Bangladesh as an ancient, very ancient centre of international trade... possibly one of the earliest in the world... is growing, and is compelling. Documentary evidence may lead the way in supporting the supposition, and archaeological evidence, such as it is, does nothing to contradict it. Circumstantial and empirical evidence tends that way, as well, and, not least, the evidence of two of the requisites of human survival and civilisation itself: language and food.

Western centric historiography has written most modern history from the period of the destruction of the Caliphates... peerless in their science, arts and education... but, slowly and surely, that bias is being corrected. The facts, allowed to speak for themselves, suggest an alternative history to that conventional, western, wisdom, and the resurrection of such as monolithic China, and such ancient states as those of, especially, northern India, and central Africa, may yet transform the modern world view of many peoples across the world, including the peoples of Bangladesh. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, October 4, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Keep it civil

Be heard

T

he prime minister is perfectly entitled to remove Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique from the cabinet, following the controversy generated by his comments on Hajj to an audience in New York.

While his remarks were not statements of government policy, and are clearly his own personal opinion, it may nonetheless be fair to describe their content and timing as impolitic. He serves at the PM’s pleasure, and if his statements have embarrassed the government, that is grounds for removal. Similarly, disciplinary action at the party level is a matter for the AL. However, his remarks should not be used as a cause for demonstrations aimed clearly to gain supposed political advantage.

The bringing of a case under the penal code for hurting religious sentiments strikes us as excessive.

Section 295A is intended for far more egregious acts and statements that deliberately and maliciously hurt religious sentiment. Surely it is only vile insult and abuse that are contemplated by the law. To criminalise Latif’s careless remarks would set the bar for legal action dangerously low, in our opinion.

We deplore the fact that a person in a position of such responsibility has shown so little regard for the sentiments of the multitude. However, we do not believe that prosecution is the answer. Losing a cabinet position and public esteem at the end of one’s public life is an apt punishment that fits the transgression.

Furthermore, attempts by certain groups to blatantly use this occasion for political advantage are unacceptable. No public benefit is gained by creating a political bandwagon of outrage on matters of religion, or demanding that he be removed as an MP from parliament, or worse.

We believe that as much as most people found the minister’s comments objectionable, they will also see through any coterie trying to exploit it for their own political benefit.

To criminalise careless remarks would be to set the bar for legal action dangerously low in our assessment

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

End the pressure to marry early September 25

My Name is Khan So, you are saying that we should allow people to “live together” (which is in practice to some extent already) and break our social fabric and became like the West.

Indeed, either you have experience in your personal life, or you are a blind follower of Western practices and take anything from them without question.

Guess what, we do not always “learn from our own mistake”; some gain the wisdom to learn from others. Even I accept the fact that the Almighty plays no role in our life, except for birth, marriage, divorce, and death, apparently. ;-) Momoaswan My Name is Khan: So the West has no social fabric, but we do, apparently? And when you say you got the wisdom to learn from others, I’m guessing by others you don’t include the West. Fair enough, that’s your choice. But there should be no shame or prohibition on consenting adults in their personal lives either.

Khaleda: I do not fear arrest

September 25 Jahangir Shah

Private colleges should set their own fees

T

he government’s decision to cap the fees admission and tuition at private medical educational institutions is ill-advised.

No benefit will be gained and much harm can be done by this policy to our much-needed private education sector. The Health Ministry will do a disservice to students and institutions by capping fees at private medical institutions.

In any case, fees charged by private medical colleges are typically already lower than the expenditure per student incurred by these schools. This points to the fact that fees being charged by private medical colleges are not unreasonable or extortionate at present.

As the public sector in our country simply does not have the capacity to meet the tremendous demand for education, there is a great and continuing demand for private medical colleges.

By their nature, private colleges need to be free to decide for themselves what fees they charge in order to operate effectively. Forcing them to charge lower fees can only force them to compromise on quality and resources. This could severely harm their quality of education and compromise the country’s ability to train more medical professionals.

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that private universities and medical colleges are delivering education of an acceptable standard.

Its role should be limited to monitoring these standards and only using its powers against institutions which are merely “selling” degrees.

Capping fees does not serve anyone’s best interest. It is also questionable because it creates opportunities for corrupt officials. The government should reverse this move.

Capping fees at private medical institutions does not serve anyone’s best interest

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 4 represents L so fill L every time the figure 4 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.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Alfie My Name is Khan: Even Allah has given humans to act according to their will. Who are we to stop them?

Alfie I think people must do things their way. It is their life. They should know what is good for them. We should focus on better things rather than gossiping about someone else’s life.

OM I don’t agree that the desire for marriage is backward; it’s an ideal for a reason. But I do commend and respect your point. There will always be unmarried couples and people who aren’t allowed to get married by their families. It is small-minded and backward that they are stigmatised. Psychological pressures of this nature are bad for individuals and bad for society.

Alfie OM: Exactly!

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

Facebook reactions to report on BCL GS September 26 rimon People who are politicians by profession tend to be corrupt, as are their successors.

Jisan DT, don’t worry about these reactions.

But I fear to face the law, so I do not go to court!

Good Soha Jahangir Shah: There is nothing to fear in a lawless country !

Missed calls to women will lead to jail in Bihar!

September 25 Mainul Islam Mony Guys beware!

Are we good enough?

September 26 Osmania No, we are not. Let’s concentrate on football; it is more fun and accessible.

38 held for cheating in DU admission test September 26 Fareed Wakil On the way to becoming a world-class university!

Shoes that kill

September 25 HS “Feet hurt, but that won’t stop you from wearing heels, right? Make sure you keep them healthy enough to keep walking.”

We do tend to forget to take care of our feet, when we should not. anonymous We need a similar system here in Bangladesh!

United Airways to suspend operations from today September 25 HS It’s scornful!

CALVIN AND HOBBES

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Domestic animal (3) 3 In addition (4) 6 Henhouse (4) 7 Encountered (3) 9 Old stringed instrument (4) 10 Choler (3) 11 Attack (4) 13 Set close together (5) 16 Complete (5) 18 Run away (4) 19 Self (3) 20 Frail (4) 21 Excavate (3) 23 Source of light (4) 24 Highland dagger (4) 25 Everyone (3)

DOWN 1 Heavenly body (5) 2 Copy (3) 4 Praise (4) 5 Prosecute (3) 6 Country (5) 8 Hackneyed (5) 9 Find pleasing (4) 12 Performed (5) 14 Old dismantled ship (4) 15 Exclusive story (5) 17 Kingly (5) 18 Impartial (4) 20 Bundle of notes (3) 22 Unwell (3)

Only 10% buildings follow building code

September 25 Håmådrýåd Símíñ “The engineers don’t concentrate on earthquake resilient feature with regards to designing buildings.”

Serious lack of consciousness on our part when it comes to safety.

Fake money circulated by dishonest bank officials September 25 GS Beautiful cash officers/tellers of private and foreign banks are involved in this unethical business. I was cheated several times by a huge foreign bank situated at Agrabad in Chittagong.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD Commonwealth for uplifting female education PEANUTS

September 25 Vialisa Foundation (Stichting Vialisa) Over the years, a lot has been done to improve the education system. But in slum areas, education for girls provided by the government is still lacking.

SUDOKU Bangladesh women reach final of 17th Asia games September 25 Anon These players are doers; not talkers, and not courters of publicity. Ladies, well done!

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Saturday, October 4, 2014

No one left to speak for me n Nafeesa Shamsuddin

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Ekram Kabir, a journalist, is a DT columnist.

he threatening climate for human rights defenders in recent months should be raising alarm bells. Increasing violence is being used by law enforcement agencies, student activists, and members of political parties to deter citizens’ protests; human rights defenders play a vital role in safeguarding democracy, promoting the rule of law and good governance.

They alert us, so the public can take necessary action.

According to the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, the state is obligated to create the necessary conditions for an environment which is conducive to the work of human rights defenders, including in the political and legal domains. As the primary duty of the state is to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, it has to protect the rights of defenders from violations committed by the state and non-state actors. Defenders face high risks in documenting and monitoring the situation of human rights.

Hana Shams Ahmed, a member of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, was attacked on August 26, 2014 for the second time in a space of two months. Earlier on July 5, she was in a vehicle in which Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of ASK, Sara Hossain, a human rights lawyer, honorary director of BLAST, and Iftekharuzzaman Ahmed, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh were travelling to Rangamati to assess the security concerns of the indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Bricks and stones were hurled at the car, shattering the glass and causing injuries to Lira Dewan, CHT Commission activist, and Iftekharuzzaman. Both attacks had taken place despite the presence of law enforcement officials.

On August 6, 2014, human rights defenders, who supported the hunger strike of Tuba Garments Factory workers who were not paid two months’ salary, were brutally assaulted when attempting to take supplies into the factory which had been guarded by the police.

On the ninth day of their hunger strike, workers were confined without any access to saline or medical supplies. Anthropologist Saydia Gulrukh, Dhaka University teacher Samina Lutfa, newspaper reporter Faruk Wasif, and labour union leader Shabnam Hafiz were among many others who were subjected to a severe police beating in what was a non-violent protest.

The police brutality was obviously disproportionate, an emerging pattern in the excessive violence the police are prepared to use on female activists is shocking. What was also observed was the impunity of the ruling party activists who, like hired goons, assaulted the workers.

Journalists are vital human rights defenders we often forget about, they are the vigilant mouthpiece of the

It is not clear where all this leaves us with regard to Pakistan. I suspect that all political theory scholars would agree that Pakistan is a flagrant example of a weak state.

It appears to be among those who are overtly weak – those for which the answer to core question of state strength — whether it controls its own territory, or to put it another way, whether it maintains a monopoly on the use of violence throughout its territory, the bedrock definition of a strong state — is clearly a ringing “no.”

stark contrast to the government’s agenda, and which, in many cases, seem to operate openly and often with an apparent measure of impunity.

In addition, Pakistan falls far short in many of the other measuresof state strength. These include most of the areas of governance — law and order, justice, health services, education, social advancement of women, and the provision of many other public goods.

But whether this is a clear and certain signal of the inevitable failure of the state over some timeline we can

We don’t like letting others speak

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How tolerant are we?

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hen I go out on the road, heading for my workplace or somewhere else, I feel a strong vibe of intolerance among us. We honk like crazy at the slightest delay of traffic, we don’t wait for the red to turn green, and we make others understand that “I will go first, not you.”

We could also call it “impatience,” but most of the time, it seems that a huge undercurrent of intolerance is present among us. Sometimes I question myself: Has this lack of tolerance on the roads crept into our national psyche? Has our level of intolerance been making an impact on everything that we do?

Every day while socialising or at our workplaces, we show a great deal of intolerance at the individual level, against each other.

But we’re extremely tolerant when it comes to protesting against any social wrong, injustice, or possible misrule at the national level – we seem quite tolerant.

We tend to raise our voice against the slightest wrong, but we keep mum when it comes to a grave wrong. In these situations, it seems that we’re a scared lot. We behave like valiant fighters on petty issues, but chicken out on the big issues.

That looks quite funny, doesn’t it?

Look at what Latif Siddique said about Muslim pilgrimage. He might

have his own logic to comment in that fashion, but considering that a huge number of people in this country are devout and carry the spirit of pilgrimage in their hearts, shouldn’t he have been a bit more tolerant while commenting on it?

I understood his attitude, which we all seem to have in us. He wanted to impose his own beliefs onto others.

The attitude of “what I believe is the only truth” has reflected in his character.

example of being intolerant towards others. It’s rare that we see a politician praising something about the opponent political party. They always keep on churning extreme forms of black bile against the parties that have different opinions or points of view than theirs.

Day in and day out, the statements of our national leaders reveal such an amount of intolerance, that sometimes it seems they are acting against the values they are trying to uphold.

Throwing out others’ points of view cannot be a democratic trait. The ‘I’m always right’ attitude is the first sign of autocracy

Well, to my mind, Latif Siddique is a micro picture of the entire society.

Almost all of us are like him. Look at what the religious parties are now saying about him. They are now demanding severe punishment for him.

To my mind, what Siddique has said seemed “radical.” At the same time, what the rest are demanding as punishment for him seems also quite “radical.” Both are examples of intolerance in our social gamut.

Our political arena is the biggest

They don’t understand that it cannot seem right that their opponent is always wrong. “Whatever the other party says is rubbish” is our motto.

But we call ourselves democratic.

Well, throwing out others’ points of view cannot be a democratic trait. The “I’m always right” attitude is the first sign of autocracy. And we all know that autocratic attitudes can be sustainable for some time, but it cannot survive at the end of the day.

At the end of the day, we must

accommodate others if we want to advance. In some countries, they have tried to invent ways to accommodate others’ opinions through national debates etc, when it comes to convincing the masses. They put out their views and beliefs openly without getting angry and intolerant, and the masses decide who should lead them in the future.

There are thousands of examples in the world where the person who is most tolerant wins at the end. When you’re listening and accepting your opponent’s views, you’d think with a cool head and would act logically.

Our TV talk shows also reflect how intolerant we are. We don’t understand why it is so difficult to accept others. Our analysts are always imbued with the mission for proving others wrong.

Sometimes these deliberations remind me of a quote by the Russian novelist-playwright Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. He once said: “Intolerance is the first sign of an inadequate education.”

To my mind, we are a big human family, and that family is very diverse, with many different beliefs and cultures and ways of life. Many conflicts in our world are caused when people are intolerant of the ways that others see the world. Learning tolerance is an important cornerstone of creating a better world. An inadequate education can ruin us. l

general public, we rely on them for accurate information regarding incidents or threats to our democratic rights and entitlements. This year has seen an unstable environment for journalists, including a number of recent attacks and threats on journalists. ASK figures show there were 133 reported incidents between January and July 2014.

Can NHRC walk the walk?

Ain o Salish Kendra makes an annual submission to the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions regarding the effectiveness and performance of the National Human Rights Commission. The commission in Bangladesh does have the mandate to protect and promote human rights; it was established after many years of campaigning by civil society and the international community.

It has been vocal on many issues, but the commission has maintained silence on the protection of the defenders. We expect the NHRC to play a crucial role to guide and advise the government on their human rights obligations.

Where the NHRC has the authority to enquire into legal cases and investigate complaints, they can provide effective protection in cases where alleged violations against defenders have occurred, especially by state actors. The NHRC is supposed to advise the government on existing laws that are not in conformity with human rights standards and to assist in drafting legislation for the protection of human rights and its defenders.

The government needs to be responsive to the recommendations of the NHRC. There is much bold talk, but very little can be observed when it comes to implementation.

When it comes to claiming and defending rights, exercising public freedoms is essential. Defenders have to be able to exercise their rights to freedom of opinion or expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly without undue restrictions in law or practice.

How long will we allow the state to evade the fundamental role of protecting and promoting the role of human rights defenders? A systematic pattern of attacks and threats on human rights defenders is intimidating, while a sinister climate of fear and silencing is encouraged, as the state delays in reinforcing strong action. We need to be more than vigilant – the attack on human rights defenders is a red alert.

It has come to a point where we all have to take on the responsibility for the defence of human rights, as there is an extensive assault on the rights, ideals, and philosophy this country was born with. If we allow this to continue, we will be complicit in allowing the destruction of the free, fair, and democratic Bangladesh our freedom fighters and forefathers had fought for. Don’t forget, this country was built by human rights defenders. l Nafeesa Shamsuddin works for a human rights organisation.

The weak state of Pakistan n William B Milam

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olitical theory scholars continue to argue over the concept of strong and weak states, not only how each got that way, but also whether the condition, no matter how it is defined, is immutable or improvable.This has become especially relevant in the past few decades in the larger context of state failure giving impetus to regional instability and spawning extremism, as well as in the decided retrogression of democratisation around the world.

The characteristics of strong and weak states are not so much in dispute as the determinants. The main criteria for a strong state are control over its entire territory. Secondary benchmarks such as the ability to protect its citizens, to provide law and order, justice, and other public goods, are also important.

But as to determinants, scholars are all over the place. Some still believe that geography is destiny, that, for example, mountainous terrain is not fertile ground for strong states, while flat terrain is because it supports sedentary agriculture. Afghanistan, they say, cannot build a strong state.

But what about flat and fertile Bangladesh, which aspires to be a strong

state but flunks almost every test of governance? And what about Peru, where the Incas built a strong state in very mountainous terrain and with that state about 40,000km of roads (maybe it was the roads that made the state strong)?

The explanations that make more sense focus on social and cultural factors, and especially on how the institutions of the state are created and evolve over time. I am tempted to point out that Pakistan has used geography to weaken the state, not strengthen it, by relying, for many years, on its geostrategic significance to avoid political and economic reform.

The debate goes back to the 17th century, to the cleavage between Thomas Hobbes, who conceived of a “social contract” that gave rulers absolute power to govern — the Leviathan, Hobbes called it — and those who followed John Locke and spoke for a social contract that limited government, giving rights that would be considered “inalienable” to the people.

Hobbes felt that only the strong would survive without an absolute power imposing order, and his social contract traded individual liberty for safety and order. Locke argued,

essentially, that some rights are universal and that governments’ job is to protect those rights.

Some scholars have found evidence of societies in which the disadvantaged run from strong states, opting out of the society for fear that an authoritarian strong state will be the instrument of repression and extraction by its elites. But others have also found that some disadvantaged segments of society see a strong, sometimes authoritarian state, as a bulwark against their own rapacious elites.

And some recent research has posited the idea of a “consensually strong” state, one which is strong because its citizens insist it be so to provide the public goods they desire.

They have the power to turn out the government if these goods are not forthcoming. This seems to be the case in Scandinavia, where the states are politically weak and under direct control of their citizens.

So, unlike the authoritarian states which cannot be controlled by their citizens and thus provide public goods of their own choosing, sometimes aimed at increasing the economic rents that its elites rake off, these consensually strong states are controlled by their citizens and must give the public what it demands.

Unlike Bangladesh, Pakistan could be poised to choose the Lockian path of limited government and assured rights

This is indisputable, given a 40-year insurgency in Baluchistan, the decade-long war against the Pakistan Taliban, as well the existence of a plethora of armed militant groups throughout the country with agendas that are in

see only dimly, is not sure. Yes, all the signs look dismal at present. It will take a sweeping transformation of the society and the polity to reverse the course. One could call it a revolution, but the trouble with revolutions is

that the guys with the guns usually win, and in Pakistan’s case, that is either the army or the extremists.

However, unlike Bangladesh, its former other half, which appears to have chosen the Hobbesian authoritarian path to strength (and is unlikely to achieve it), Pakistan could be poised to choose the Lockian path of limited government and assured rights.

The recent hijinks in the streets of Islamabad show that democratic feeling is still strong, both in regard to the undemocratic way the marchers wanted to change the government, but also in the lack of support for military involvement.

I also note that a small core of very brave Pakistanis continue to push for the extension, codification, and enforcement of universal human rights.

This is a very small and weak seed, but with careful nurturing could produce a green shoot or two. Pakistan’s foreign friends should perhaps take notice and find ways to keep the seed alive. l William B Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh. This article was first published in The Express Tribune.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Mim busy on big screen n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Bidya Sinha Mim has been very busy lately, with several film projects in her hands. The actor is currently shooting for her film “Padma Patar Jol,” and was recently in London for the shoot of another film titled “Good Morning London.”

She was also signed in Anjan Datt’s next project titled “Mon Baksho,” which she is quite excited about.

“This is an opportunity for me to learn my craft from Anjan Dutta. I watched his previous films and I liked them. I feel lucky to be able to work with him,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.

Asked how she was preparing for “Mon Baksho,” she said: “When I heard the story, I instantly decided to start preparing myself for my role. However, I am currently working on two projects, but I am going to get a few days’ break in between. I think I will take the preparation during that break.”

The shooting of “Mon Baksho” is set to begin on November 15. The film will also feature Nirob and Anjan Dutta.

Mim is currently on a break from work to celebrate Durga Puja with her family and friends in Rajshahi.

Her hectic schedule for the silver screen has left little time for her to work on the small screen.

This Eid, a special dance programme titled “The dancing diva Mim” will be aired on RTV on the second day of Eid-ul-Azha, in which Mim will be seen performing five different dance forms. Beside the dance show, she will appear in only one Eid special drama titled “Nari Sundari” and directed by Mahmud Didar, along with Rawnak Hasan. l

Saturday, October 4, 2014

KATE on LEO: We needed each other n Entertainment Desk

Kate Winslet has revealed that she and Leonardo DiCaprio needed each other to lean on.

The Oscar-winning actor, who features on the front cover of Marie Claire UK, has opened up about her relationship with her “Titanic” co-star, saying that the reason their friendship works is because there was never any romantic thing.

She said that it was very disappointing for people to hear that, because in the soap op-

era of the “Kate and Leo story,” they fell in love at first sight and had a million snogs, but actually they never did. I think the reason that friendship works is because there was never any romantic thing,” she said.

Kate also added: “He always saw me as one of the boys; I’ve never really been a girly-girl. We needed each other to lean on because we were very young and working all kinds of crazy bloody hours and it was a shock to the system.” l

The Director Steven Spielberg film is about Captain Haddock’s ancestor who was the captain of a ship that has sunk. It’s said that the ship had a hidden treasure. So Tintin accompanies Captain Haddock on a treasure hun.

HBO, 9:30pm

The film featuring Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel in the lead roles features Megatron is back seeking revenge. With more decepticon reinforcements on the way, the Autobots may have more to deal with than meets the eye.

n Entertainment Desk

A four-day exhibition featuring handloomed saris from Tangail opened at the Bengal Art Lounge in Gulshan on Wednesday. Titled “An Ode to Tangail Weaves,” the exhibition depicts the transformation of tant (hand-loom) products over the past few decades and pays tribute to the encouraging growth of the industry in recent times.

Bengal Art Lounge and the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) have joined hands to organise the event. The participating designers are Maheen Khan, Biplop Saha, Chondona Dewan, Shaibal Saha, Shabana Ali, Maria Islam, Kuhu, Emdad Hoque, Farah Anjum Bari, Lipi Khandaker, Shahrukh Amin and Nawshin Khair.

The exhibition will remain open until October 4. l

KAJOL pulls out of comeback film n Entertainment Desk

Mosharraf Karim and Prova turn rocksters n Entertainmnet Desk In a Durga Puja special TV play titled “Praye Rockstar,” Prova and Mosharraf Karim will be seen as rockstars for the first time.

Prova said to Dhaka Tribune: “Here I play a very modern girl named Rupkotha who studies in a private university. She and her friends have a band – Semester Break, and they are very popular in the campus.

Playing a rockster was so much

fun and unique. Hope the audience will enjoy the play that offers many humorous events as well.”

On the other hand, Mosharraf Karim plays a vendor who sells books. At one point he meets Rupkotha and immediately falls in love with her.

To impress her, he gives his best effort to become a rockstar.

Written and directed by Rubayet Mahmud, the play will be aired on Banglavision today at 9:05pm. l

Fans of Indian actress Kajol will have to wait longer to see the actress on the silver screen.

The dusky beauty has reportedly pulled out of her comeback film, Zee News reports.

According to reports, Kajol and the makers had differences over her remuneration.

Directed by Ram Mahdvani, the untitled movie was scheduled to start shooting this month.

With Kajol deciding to back off from the project, the makers of the movie are busy looking for a replacement, reports suggest.

The film which was to mark Kajol’s comeback was an adaptation of Norwegian television thriller “Penoza.”

Interestingly, several actors have shown interest in joining the film and have even approached Madhvani for the role. However, as of now there is no confirmation from the filmmaker’s side on either Kajol’s exit or a new actor’s entry. l

Pirates of the Caribbean 5 sets sail for Australia n Entertainment Desk

Twilight short films to release on Facebook Twilight’ author Stephenie Meyer and Lions Gate have announced plans to select five aspiring female directors to make short films based on the vampire romance saga that they will release on Facebook next year.

The short film series, called ‘The Storytellers — New Creative Voices of ‘The Twilight Saga’” has the backing

Star Movies, 3:30pm

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Tangail handloom saris on display

n Entertainmnet Desk

The Adventures of Tintin

of Women in Film, an organization devoted in part to ending a shortage of female directors, reported the New York Times.

Actresses Kristen Stewart, Meyer, Kate Winslet, Octavia Spencer, Julie Bowen, Catherine Hardwicke and Cathy Schulman will select the winning shorts and mentor participants, Lions Gate said.

“We think Facebook is a great way

for us to introduce the world of ‘Twilight’ to a whole new audience while re-energizing existing fans,” Michael Burns, Lions Gate’s vice chairman said.

Meyer indicated that the project was a way to bridge the gender gap in the industry.

“The female voice is something that has become more and more important to me as I’ve worked in the film industry,” she said. l

“Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” the fifth film in the blockbuster franchise, will shoot in Queensland, Australia, with production set to get under way in February 2015, The Walt Disney Studios confirmed Thursday.

Australian Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts, George Brandis, welcomed The Walt Disney Studios’ decision to film in Australia, after confirming the government had approved $18.9 million (AUS$21.6 million) in location-based incentives to the secure the shoot. That $18.9 million is a one-off grant to the film, and is separate to other Queensland incentives the film will qualify for.

“This is a landmark deal with The Walt Disney Studios; this film will be the largest international feature film ever to shoot in Australia and will focus the world’s attention on Australia as a leading film destination,” Brandis said in a statement.

“Disney is pleased to be working with both the Australian Government and Queensland Government as we prepare to set sail on our next Pirates adventure,” said Philip Steuer, senior vp physical production at The Walt Disney Studios. “Queensland has an incredibly diverse landscape and Australia’s robust entertainment industry and many accomplished craftsmen will provide a fantastic home base for our production.”

It is expected that the production will be based at the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and travel to other locations in the state.

“We had a wonderful experience filming in Queensland some years back and look forward to returning,” Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer said. “With its oceans, beaches, and jungles, Queensland has an incredible array of natural environments which are perfect for our new Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The film is being produced by Bruckheimer and directed by “Kon-Tiki” directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg. l

Did you know?

Peter Crouch has scored 43 headed goals in the Premier League, only Alan Shearer (46) and Dion Dublin (45) have scored more

Sport

Saturday, October 4, 2014

14 Eto’o rescues

Everton, Spurs held

14 Kuyt calls

time on Oranjes

Shakib shines as Bangladesh claim bronze n Reazur Rahman Rohan Bangladesh defeated Hong Kong by 27 runs in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal of the 17th Asian Games men’s cricket in Incheon yesterday. Sri Lanka bagged the gold medal after handing Afghanistan a 68-run thrashing in the final at the same venue yesterday.

Rain had been the spoiler in the semifinal as far as the Bangladesh side are concerned but skies were bright and clear yesterday in the northwestern city of South Korea as Mashrafe bin Mortaza did not hesitate to bat first after winning the toss.

Shamsur Rahman finally played in the Games in place of Mithun Ali and scored a decent 19-ball 26 while young speedster Taskin Ahmed replaced Ziaur Rahman to put in a neat three-over spell for just 11 runs. The two changes meant out-of-sorts Nasir Hossain warmed the benches for the second consecutive game – something which he is not used to.

Shakib al Hasan’s 46 and Mahmudullah’s unbeaten 21-ball 35 set up a challenging score of 162 for six for Hong Kong, who managed 135 for 7 against the backdrop of top-scorer Mark Chapman’s 38.

Shakib garnering some runs will be a relief for the team as well as the all-rounder himself who did not shine

with the bat in the last two games.

Shakib was also instrumental with the ball as the left-hander later claimed two wickets in two balls, in his first and Hong Kong’s fourth over, to leave Hong Kong in dire straits.

Two of Hong Kong’s top-four batsmen fell for ducks which threw them off-track early in the chase. Arafat Sunny was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers as the left-arm spinner scalped three wickets for 22 runs.

Apart from Taskin, the other two pacemen, however, did not find any comfort while bowling. Mashrafe was hit for two consecutive sixes in the first over and went wicketless in his four overs for 26 runs. Rubel Hossain took a wicket but it cost him 35 runs off four overs.

Irfan Ahmed (31 from 18 balls) initially scared the Tigers with his lusty blows but once he was dismissed Hong Kong were unable to continue their onslaught and hence, were slowly pushed out of the contest.

This was Bangladesh’s third medal in the 17th edition of the Asiad. The women’s kabaddi team earlier clinched bronze while the women’s cricket team attained silver.

Mahmudullah later said they are disappointed having not being able to seal the gold medal.

“We are disappointed that we could not win gold but we are satisfied with bronze. We had a close game with Hong Kong. Not too easy but not too difficult either.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Djokovic through

as Serena withdraws

SCORECARD Bangladesh innings Tamim c Chapman b Nadeem Anamul c Lamsam b Nadeem Shamsur b Aizaz Shakib run out (Aizaz/Skhawat) Sabbir c Irfan b Nizakat Mahmudullah not out Shuvagata c Waqas b Nadeem Mashrafe not out Extras (w 7, nb 1) Total (6 wickets; 20 overs)

22 11 26 46 11 35 1 2 8 162

Fall of wickets 1-18, 2-52, 3-75, 4-93, 5-132, 6-154 Bowling A Mehmood 3-0-20-0 (1w), Irfan Ahmed 4-0-39-0 (1nb), Nadeem Ahmed 4-0-36-3 (2w), Nizakat Khan 4-0-30-1 (2w), Aizaz Khan 4-0-25-1, Waqas Barkat 1-0-12-0 Hong Kong innings Irfan c Sabbir b Arafat 31 Waqas b Arafat 0 Atkinson b Shakib 7 Nizakat lbw b Shakib 0 Chapman c Taskin b Rubel 38 Skhawat lbw b Arafat 11 Aizaz not out 26 Lamsam run out (Shakib/Anamul) 3 Nadeem not out 10 Extras (lb 5, w 4) 9 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 135

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan flicks towards the on-side during their third-place playoff game against Hong Kong in the Asian Games men’s cricket in Incheon yesterday CRICINFO

Fall of wickets 1-20, 2-28, 3-28, 4-41, 5-73, 6-102, 7-119 Bowling Mashrafe Mortaza 4-0-26-0, Arafat Sunny 4-0-22-3, Rubel Hossain 4-035-1, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-23-2, Taskin Ahmed 3-0-11-0, Shuvagata Hom 1-0-13-0 Bangladesh won by 27 runs

Naveed shoulders blame for hockey debacle OCA boss vows ‘fight n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh’s Pakistani head coach Naveed Alam has shouldered responsibility for the national hockey team’s poor performance in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. The hockey side returned home yesterday afternoon after concluding their campaign in eighth position in the 10-team tournament.

Bangladesh had earlier set a target of finishing fifth or sixth before their departure and the Pakistani head coach was fully confident of faring better than the previous Asiad in Guangzhou four years ago. Let alone ending in the top six, Bangladesh could not even manage to exceed their performance of the Guangzhou Asian Games where they finished eighth.

The national side were only able to win one game against Singapore in the

group stage before losing 3-2 to Oman in the seventh-place deciding match.

Bangladesh eventually finished eighth, again.

Following the abject display, it was no surprise that Naveed has copped the major share of the blame alongside the newly-elected hockey federation. Naveed, for whom the Asian Games was likely to be his final assignment as Bangladesh coach, took the blame upon his shoulder.

“I would not give any lame excuses.

I take full responsibility. I have tried to insert a modern system of hockey in the Bangladesh team,” said the Bangladesh coach who is scheduled to leave for Pakistan today.

Naveed, however, drew the positives from Bangladesh’s campaign.

“Bangladesh have set the goal high and they are on the path of achieving their goal,” he said before adding, “Boys played good hockey and everybody

recommended it. I would not say they do not need to be questioned but they played well. If they continue with the system they are following now, they will do better in future.”

Naveed, who took over as Bangladesh coach 15 months ago, laid some blame on the forward line. “The conversion rate of forward line was unbelievably low. They failed to convert most of the chances, especially in the game against Oman. We could have done better. If they could convert those chances it would have been a different story even if we’d lose.”

Seasoned forward Krishna Kumar believed the team lacked stability in midfield. “The midfield was not up to the mark following the absence of Sheikh Mohammed Nannu and Sabbir Rana. It could be possible to solve the issue if everyone would have played as a unit but we have failed.” l

to the end’ for Qatar WC n AFP, Incheon Asia’s top sports official Friday vowed to fight to the end keep the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and blamed media “racism” for criticism which has raised doubts over the event.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), told AFP that Asia was united behind Qatar as FIFA studies a probe into the bidding process.

“I think Qatar got it fairly, with the procedures of FIFA, and we won’t take the World Cup from Qatar because of some negative media opinion,” the Kuwaiti said in an interview.

“We will resist until the end and we will fight for the right of Qatar until the end because we think it’s related more to racism than reality.

Messi tips ‘fabulous’ Neymar as future Ballon d’Or winner n AFP, Madrid Four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi on Thursday hailed his “fabulous” Barcelona team-mate Neymar as a future Ballon d’Or winner.

A year after 22-year-old Neymar’s arrival at Barcelona, the two South American stars are becoming increasingly at ease with each other on the pitch.

Their partnership has been one of the keys to La Liga leaders Barcelona’s success so far this season with Neymar scoring four of his six goals from Messi passes.

Argentine Messi said his partnership with Neymar was becoming increasingly efficient as he hailed the Brazilian as “a great player”.

“It’s the second season that we’re

playing together and we’re starting to know each other better,” said Messi.

“As well this season the (Barca) strikers play more in the middle of the pitch so we can pick each other out more and find connections. It’s a pleasure to play with him ... We’ve a very good relationship, he’s a fabulous boy.”

Messi added that their partnership was helped by “the freedom” that coach Luis Enrique gives the Argentine on the pitch.

“The coach told me I could go where I wanted. Sometimes I move back a little to try to make the final pass and to create,” explained Messi.

Messi won the Ballon d’Or title four times between 2009 and 2012, but lost his crown last year to Real Madrid’s Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. But he insisted that thoughts of reclaiming the title were far from his mind.

The Argentine added that he expected Neymar to win the title at some stage in the future.

“He’s going to get it, through his qualities, the way he is, I’ve no doubt that he can at some time win it,” said 27-year-old Messi.

“He has great potential, he’s a player who has a lot of qualities and he can go as far as he wants. I’m lucky enough to rub shoulders with terrific players on the pitch and he’s among them.” l

World body FIFA is evaluating a report into the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments compiled by former US federal prosecutor Michael Garcia, who has called for it to be made public.

The year-long investigation involved interviewing more than 75 witnesses and compiling a dossier that includes more than 200,000 pages and audio interviews.

Garcia had access to documents also reported in British media which claim widespread bribery orchestrated by Asia’s ex-football chief, Qatari businessman Mohammed bin Hammam.

Criticism of Qatar’s hosting has met with a strong response by Asian officials and as well as FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, who has also rounded on European media. l

Brazil summon Souza for Asia trip n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Midfielder Souza of Sao Paulo has been called up to the Brazil squad by coach Dunga to replace injured Chelsea star Ramires for the friendlies against Argentina and Japan later this month.

Ramires missed Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon in midweek with a groin injury and will also skip Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.

Brazil will face bitter rivals Argentina in Beijing on October 11 and then Japan in Singapore on October 14.

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman ponders a move against Uten in the Berger Paints National ‘A’ Chess at the Bangladesh Olympic Association media centre yesterday MUMIT M

Zia draw away from title n Shishir Hoque Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman continued to dominate in the Berger Paints National ‘A’ Chess beating Uten in the 12th round at Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) media centre yesterday.

Playing with white pieces, Zia chose Catalan Opening and won the game in the 60th move. Zia now has 10.5 points after the end of penultimate round.

A draw against GM Enamul Hossain today in the final round will be enough for Zia to lift the title.

GM Niaz Murshed defeated Fide Master Debaraj Chatterjee to remain in the 2nd position with 9.5 points. Niaz played with black pieces and won after 49 moves. GM Enamul Hossain was placed 3rd with nine points after being held to a draw with reigning champion GM Abdullah Al Rakib.

In the other games of the round, International Master Minhazuddin Ahmed beat FM Rezaul Haque, FM Sk Nasir Ahmed beat CM Sohel Chopwdhury, Masum Hossain drew with Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, FM Kh Aminul Islam beat CM Mahtabuddin Ahmed. l

Goalkeepers:

Jefferson (Botafogo), Rafael (Napoli/ ITA), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio)

Defenders:

David Luiz, Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain/FRA), Gil (Corinthians), Miranda (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Filipe Luis (Chelsea/ENG), Danilo (FC Porto/ POR), Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moscow/ RUS), Dodo (Inter Milan/ITA)

Midfielders:

Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg/GER), Elias (Corinthians), Fernandinho (Man City/ ENG), Souza (Sao Paulo), Everton Ribeiro (Cruzeiro), Willian (Chelsea/ ENG), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/ ENG), Oscar (Chelsea)

Attackers:

Neymar (Barcelona/ESP), Diego Tardelli (Atletico Mineiro), Ricardo Goulart (Cruzeiro), Robinho (Santos) l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Saturday, October 4, 2014

City eye Premier pick-me-up against Villa n AFP, Birmingham Manchester City have the chance to put their Champions League concerns to one side and move within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea when they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday.

After losing at Bayern Munich in their opening European tie this season and drawing 1-1 with Roma in midweek, City are facing an uphill task to qualify from their Champions League group.

The Premier League champions are also off the pace in the English top flight, having won only three of their six matches so far this season and dropping points with a defeat by Stoke and draws with Arsenal and Chelsea.

City head to the Midlands just one

FIXTURES Aston Villa Hull Leicester Liverpool Sunderland Swansea

v v v v v v

Man City Crystal Palace Burnley West Brom Stoke Newcastle

point above Villa, who began the season impressively before sustaining back-to-back 3-0 defeats by Arsenal and Chelsea.

While City’s results at Eastlands have been unconvincing, they have been far more impressive on their travels, collecting seven points from a possible nine. City manager Pellegrini’s attacking options have been boosted by the return to fitness of Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic, who came off the bench on Tuesday.

Winger Samir Nasri is out for a month after undergoing surgery on a groin problem earlier this week but midfielder Fernando could be in contention after several weeks out with a similar injury.

Aston Villa will include Christian Benteke in the squad for the first time after a six-month injury lay-off.

The Belgian striker is back in the reckoning after scoring in the Under 21’s 2-0 victory over Bolton on Monday following an agonising Achilles tendon injury in training that saw him miss the World Cup. Villa remain without captain Ron Vlaar due to a calf problem.

Brendan Rodgers could be forgiven for thinking the football fates were conspiring against him and lacklustre Liverpool as last season’s runners-up prepare to tackle West Bromwich Albion from 14th place in the Premier League table at Anfield on Saturday.

The Liverpool manager has not only had to cope with the loss of the irreplaceable Luis Suarez, the double Footballer of the Year, but also a prolonged absence for England striker Daniel Sturridge, his other ‘go-to guy’ for goals, and a tepid start from enfant terrible Mario Balotelli.

The latter, a £16 million ($26 million) signing from Milan at the end of the last transfer window, has contributed only one goal so far and appears to be struggling to overcome indifferent form that was particularly noticeable at Basel in midweek.

Moreover, his refusal to applaud the visiting support at the end of an uninspired 1-0 Champions League group defeat will not endear him to the Kop, whereas his antics were celebrated by Manchester City fans as his time there brought goals and a Premier League title.

“The boy is trying to work hard in the way that we demand,” Rodgers, who expects to have Sturridge back against QPR after the international break, said in defence of Balotelli.

“In terms of goals, he needs to improve. There is no question about that.

He has not hit the numbers he will have wanted. We need to return to being a team. When confidence is low, it can become about the individual, but we have to get back to being a team.”

Rodgers insisted he was ready to take the rough with the smooth and restore Liverpool to the exhilarating levels of last season, clearly not easy given Suarez’s exit. l

RESULTS

n

AFP, Berlin

Borussia Dortmund are out to beat bogey side Hamburg on Saturday to break their threematch winless streak in the Bundesliga despite a flawless Champions League campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund ran riot in a 3-0 win at Anderlecht on Wednesday as Adrian Ramos scored twice to leave them with a perfect six points from their two games after also beating Arsenal at home.

But defeats at Mainz and arch rivals Schalke, plus a 2-2 draw at home to VfB Stuttgart in their last three league matches have left Dortmund with just seven points and 12th in the table.

After only six games, Dortmund are already seven points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.

Hamburg are Borussia’s bogey team having beaten Klopp’s team convinc-

ingly on three of the last four occasions and nothing will be taken for granted despite the Hanseatic side being bottom of the table.

Hanover are sixth in the table, but only four points adrift of leaders Bayern ahead of the Allianz Arena

FIXTURES Bayern Munich v Dortmund v Leverkusen v Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen v Frankfurt v

Hanover 96 Hamburg Paderborn Schalke 04 Freiburg Cologne

showdown.

Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich have dropped just four points so far this season and are in confident mood having won at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday to leave them with two wins from their first Champions League matches. l

M’gladbach

Etoundi 23

Nordtveit 25

Villarreal

4-0

Apollon Limassol

0-3

Club Brugge

Moreno 9, 82, Espinosa 44, 51

HJK Helsinki

Heikkinen 19-o.g., De Sutter 70, De Bock 78

Torino

1-0

FC Copenhagen

2-0

Partizan Belgrade

1-1

Besiktas

Quagliarella 90+4-P

Asteras Tripolis Usero 22, Parra 52

Tottenham Kane 27

Ba 89-P

1-2

Astra Giurgiu

Salzburg

Seto 15

Kampl 36, Jonatan Soriano 42

Celtic

1-0

Dinamo Zagreb

2-0

Panathinaikos

Commons 6

Estoril

Kleber 52, Diogo Amado 66

1-0

PSV Eindhoven

Saint-Etienne

0-0

Dnipropetrovsk

Inter Milan

2-0

Qarabag

Dinamo Moscow Zhirkov 90+3

FC Krasnodar’s Ragnar Sigurdsson (R) vies with FC Everton striker Samuel Eto’o during their Uefa Europe League group H match in Krasnodar on Thursday AFP

Eto’o rescues Everton, Spurs held n AFP, Paris Samuel Eto’o popped up with just eight minutes remaining to hand Everton a precious point from a 1-1 draw with FC Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former Premier League star Demba Ba returned to England to grab a late leveller for Besiktas at Tottenham while Celtic edged Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.

Cameroonian striker Eto’o cancelled out Ari’s first-half opener for Krasnodar to earn Roberto Martinez’s men some reward from their journey of almost two and a half thousand miles to southern Russia.

Wolfsburg and Lille drew 1-1 in Germany in the other game in the group on Thursday evening, with Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne scoring a wonderful volley to earn the hosts a point after his compatriot Divock Origi, on loan from Liverpool, had put the French side ahead.

Everton face a double-header against Lille next in arguably the

Gold medallists South Korean players celebrate after the victory ceremony following the men’s football gold medal match of the 17th Asian Games between South Korea and North Korea at The Munhak Stadium in Incheon on Thursday AFP

Dortmund out to bounce back in Bundesliga

1-1

FC Zurich

Welbeck rebukes Man United over wing exile n AFP, London Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has aimed a barb at former employers Manchester United by suggesting they hampered his development by playing him out of position on the wing.

A succession of United managers Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal - opted to use Welbeck as a wide forward, with Van Gaal explaining recently that he did not score enough goals.

“Nobody can really criticise my finishing because they don’t really see me playing in a forward position too often,” said Welbeck, in comments carried by several British newspapers on Friday.

“But now I am getting into these positions, I want to be sticking the ball in the back of the net. I am sure it’s the same with every other striker.

“Obviously people can say I have not scored enough goals, but you stick the best strikers on the wing in a four-man midfield and see if they score goals.”l

D’Ambrosio 18, Icardi 85

Feyenoord

2-1

Standard Liege

Van Beek 47, Manu 84

Viera 65

2-2

Rijeka

Sevilla

toughest group in the competition.

Eto’o, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady, Christian Atsu and Leon Osman were all handed starts for the meeting with Krasnodar, who started their very first European campaign in the second qualifying round in mid-July.

Krasnodar drew 1-1 in Lille in their opening game and showed their threat with the pace of Colombian Ricardo Laborde particularly dangerous.

Nevertheless, it was the Brazilian Ari, a former team-mate of McGeady at Spartak Moscow, who put Krasnodar ahead two minutes before the break, finishing past Tim Howard after Phil Jagielka had inadvertently helped an Odil Ahmedov ball into his path.

The visitors rode their luck and the veteran Eto’o brought them level with time starting to run out.

Eto’o, familiar with Russia from his two-year spell with Anzhi Makhachkala, played the ball out to Leighton Baines on the right before continuing his run and connecting with the full-back’s cross from the edge of the six-yard box.

Elsewhere, holders Sevilla came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rijeka in Croatia in Group G, Liverpool

loanee Iago Aspas getting one back before Stephane Mbia’s stoppage-time equaliser.

Napoli won 2-0 at Slovan Bratislava in Group I thanks to goals from Marek Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain, while fellow Serie A side Fiorentina beat Dinamo Minsk 3-0 in Belarus.

Tottenham were ahead against Besiktas thanks to Harry Kane’s 27th-minute strike at White Hart Lane.

But the Turks grabbed a deserved point one minute from time when former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Ba converted a penalty awarded after Vlad Chiriches had handled.

Asteras Tripolis beat Partizan Belgrade 2-0 to take top spot in Group C. “It’s great to get on the scoresheet but we wanted to come away with a win and to concede that late goal is very disappointing,” said Kane.

Celtic are joint top of Group D after Kris Commons scored in the fifth minute to edge Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in Glasgow.

Italian giants Inter Milan have a perfect record of two wins in two games after a 2-0 win over Qarabag which put them top of Group F. l

South Korea beat North to clinch gold n AFP, Incheon

Barca need a new Puyol to fix leaky defence

Hosts South Korea beat North Korea 1-0 with virtually the last kick of extra time to win a cliff-hanging Asian Games men’s football final on Thursday.

Defender Rim Chang-Woo smashed home a last-gasp winner from close range to deliver the knockout blow in an emotionally charged final, giving South Korea their fourth title and a first since 1986.

As a reward for their dramatic and symbolic victory in Incheon, South Korea’s players will be excused two years of mandatory military service.

The home side were fortunate to survive a major scare in normal time when Pak Kwang-Ryong thundered a header against the bar after 75 minutes for the North, who dished out some rough stuff throughout a game played 120 miles (195km) from the world’s most fortified border.

South Korea largely dominated but missed many chances. l

n Reuters, Madrid Friday marks 15 years since Carles Puyol made his debut for Barcelona and coach Luis Enrique might be wishing he had someone of the calibre of the shaggy-haired former defender still in his ranks.

Puyol, who retired aged 36 at the end of last season after battling a series of injuries, became a huge fan favourite at the Nou Camp with his swashbuckling captain’s performances and neversay-die attitude.

As Barca prepare for a trip to Madrid to play Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, they are still reeling from Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League reverse at Paris St Germain, when their defence was badly exposed by the Ligue 1 title holders.

After Puyol announced he was ending his career, Barca brought in two

Kuyt calls time on Oranjes n AFP, The Hague Dutch international forward Dirk Kuyt announced on Friday he was calling time on his career with the Oranje after a decade playing for the national side.

The 34-year-old Fenerbahçe player has 104 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 28 goals since his debut in Septem-

ber 2004.

“I no longer have the desire to play so infrequently while investing a lot of energy in the Netherlands for two more years,” Kuyt said in a statement published by the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB).

“I’ve taken this decision after some very good and open discussions with the national coach (Hiddink),” he added.

The former Feyenoord and Liverpool player was a member of the Dutch team that were runners-up at the 2010 World Cup and third at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Kuyt will however remain at the disposal of the Oranje “in case of emergency,” the statement said.

“This could give rise to a situation like Edwin van der Sar in 2008, who had left the national side but still played two games because of the large number of injuries,” the KNVB said.

Known as a versatile and reliable player, Kuyt started his career as a forward, moving into a winger’s position, and during the World Cup in Brazil he played mostly as a left back.l

Kramaric 53-P, Kvrzic 68

FC Krasnodar

Aspas 26, Mbia 90+1

1-1

Everton

Ari 43

Eto’o 82

VfL Wolfsburg

1-1

Lille

De Bruyne 82

Sparta Prague

Origi 77-P

3-1

Young Boys

Vacha 27, Lafata 28, 85

Slovan Bratislava

Hoarau 52

0-2

Napoli

Hamsik 35, Higuain 74

Dynamo Kiev

3-1

Steaua Bucharest

Yarmolenko 40, Kravets 66, Teodorczyk 90+2

Aalborg

Rusescu 89

1-0

Rio Ave

2-0

PAOK

Helenius 46

Guingamp Marveaux 47, 50

Dinamo Minsk

0-3

Fiorentina Aquilani 33, Ilicic 61, Bernardeschi 67

Lokeren

1-0

Metalist Kharkiv

0-1

Legia Warsaw

De Pauw 74

Trabzonspor

Kucharczyk 16

centre backs to replace him, Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal.

Real and Atletico claimed morale-boosting victories before potentially tricky La Liga outings this weekend.

Real, who fought back to win 2-1 at

FIXTURES Valencia Rayo Vallecano Eibar Malaga Almeria

v v v v v

Atletico Madrid Barcelona Levante Granada Elche

Ludogorets, host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, while Atletico, 1-0 winners over Juventus, play at Valencia on Saturday.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has been concerned at the number of goals Real have conceded at set pieces this season and they were again breached at a corner in the Ludogorets game.l

Menez doubt for AC Milan n AFP, Milan French forward Jeremy Menez remains a doubt for AC Milan against Chievo on Saturday after being diagnosed with knee tendon inflammation, said the club.

Menez has been one of Milan’s star performers this season as the fallen Serie A giants bid for a revival under new coach Filippo Inzaghi. Menez underwent tests on Thursday, after which the club released a statement: “AC Milan informs that Jeremy Menez is suffering with an inflammation to the tendon in the area behind his left knee. The player will be evaluated in the following hours.”

Milan sit sixth in Italy’s top flight, seven points behind leaders Juventus after five games.l

FIXTURES Verona v Cagliari Milan v Chievo

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

QUICK BYTES

MEDAL TALLY

Indian boxer Sarita apologies for refusing to accept medal

1 CHINA 2 SOUTH KOREA 3 JAPAN 4 KAZAKHSTAN 5 IRAN 6 THAILAND 7 NORTH KOREA 8 INDIA 9 QATAR 10 CHINESE TAIPEI 11 UZBEKISTAN 12 BAHRAIN 13 HONG KONG 14 MALAYSIA 15 SINGAPORE 16 MONGOLIA 17 INDONESIA 18 SAUDI ARABIA 19 KUWAIT 20 MYANMAR 21 VIETNAM 22 PHILIPPINES 23 PAKISTAN 23 TAJIKISTAN 25 UAE 25 IRAQ 27 SRI LANKA 28 CAMBODIA 29 MACAU 30 KYRGYZSTAN 31 JORDAN 32 TURKMENISTAN 33 BANGLADESH 34 AFGHANISTAN 34 LEBANON 34 LAOS 37 NEPAL

Indian boxer L Sarita Devi has apologised for her petulant display at the Asian Games when she refused to accept her bronze medal. Sarita issued an unconditional apology on Friday for her “emotional behaviour” at Wednesday’s medal presentation for the women’s lightweight division. “I regret and apologise. Such an incident will never reoccur in the future,” she wrote in a letter sent to the International Boxing Federation (AIBA). Sarita was furious after losing her semi-final bout with South Korea’s Park Jina on Tuesday, believing she should have been declared the winner. Her husband launched an expletive-laden tirade at the judges and Sarita lodged a protest against the decision but it was rejected, triggering cries of foul play from the Indian team.

–Reuters

Cairns bailed on perjury charge New Zealand cricket great Chris Cairns appeared in a London court on Thursday to face a charge of perjury relating to a libel action he brought in England in 2012.

Cairns won £90,000 ($146,000) after he sued former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi over a 2010 tweet accusing the all-rounder of match-fixing during his time in the now defunct Indian Cricket League. However, Cairns was charged with perjury last month and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London on Thursday.

Cairns, who lives in Auckland, appeared alongside lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland, who faces one count of perverting the course of justice. Fitch-Holland, 49, was lead adviser to Cairns in the action against Modi. The pair spoke only to give their names, dates of birth and addresses before the case was sent to London’s Southwark Crown Court, with the next hearing on October 16.

–AFP

Nishikori, Raonic reach Japan Open semi-finals Crowd favourite Kei Nishikori and two-time finalist Milos Raonic both hammered out straight-sets wins on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open. Nishikori, last week’s champion in Kuala Lumpur a fortnight after playing the US Open final, claimed his seventh straight victory with his 6-4, 6-2 defeat of France’s Jeremy Chardy.

Canadian third seed Raonic overcame a slow start and needed to win an hour-long first set before beating Uzbek Denis Istomin 7-6 (10/8), 6-3. Against Chardy, Nishikori bounced straight back from an early break for 0-2, quickly returning to 1-2 to get it back on serve.

A sellout crowd of more than 10,000 fans watched their hero break again for 5-4 before serving out the opening set on his second chance. In the second set, Nishikori began with a break, raced to 4-1 before a medical timeout for lower back treatment, and finished off victory in just under 90 minutes.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 7:20 PM Champions League T20 Chennai vs Kolkata Star Sports 2 7:55 PM Spanish La Liga Valencia v Atletico Madrd 9:55 PM Rayo Vallecano v Barcelona 11:55 PM Eibar v LEvante Star Sports 4 10:50 AM FIA F1 World Championship Qualifying 7:50 PM English Premier League Liverpool v West Brom 10:20 PM Aston Villa v Manchester City Ten Action 09:00 PM French Ligue 1 Caen v SC Olympique De Marseille 12:00 AM Stade Rennais v Racing Club De Lens

Iran’s Adel Gholami (C) smashes the ball at Japan’s defenders during their men’s volleyball final match for the 17th Asian Games at the Songnim Gymnasium in Incheon yesterday AFP

Asiad tarnished by doping case again n Reuters, Incheon The Asian Games was hit by yet another doping scandal on Friday when China’s Zhang Wenxiu was expelled and stripped of the gold medal she won in the hammer throw.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that Zhang, an Olympic medallist in Beijing in 2008, had tested positive for Zeranol, a banned anabolic agent.

She became the sixth competitor, and the second gold medallist, to fail a drugs test in Incheon, leaving an ugly stain on Asia’s biggest multi-sports event, which ends in Incheon on Saturday.

The announcement came one day after Malaysia’s martial arts champion Tai Cheau Xuen lost an appeal to be reinstated after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Cambodian soft tennis player Yi Sophany, Tajikistan footballer Khur-

shed Beknazarov, Iraqi weightlifter Mohammed Jasim Abboo Al Aifuri and Syrian karate competitor Nour Aldin Al-Kurdi also tested positive.

News of the latest positive test overshadowed the penultimate day’s competition where China won another seven gold medals to take their total to 149, with just seven more to be decided on Saturday before the Closing Ceremony.

Hosts South Korea won another four golds on Friday to lift their total to 77, second overall, while Kazakhstan had an extraordinary day, winning eight golds to remain fourth.

Six of those came in the boxing ring as their amateur pugilists dominated the men’s finals.

Middleweight Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and light heavyweight Adilbek Niyazymbetov both scored impressive wins, while flyweight Ilyas Suleimenov took gold in a scrappy split decision win over Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov.

“This success comes from the previ-

ous generation,” said Suleimenov. “Our head coaches are great and the boxing system and facilities in our country are well developed.”

Kazakhstan also won gold in the welterweight, heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions, the final bout of the day a clash between Ivan Dychko and Jassem Delavari.

Dychko landed more of the few clean punches that found their mark to earn a unanimous decision.

Bahrain won the men’s marathon around the streets of Incheon when Kenyan-born Ali Hasan Mahboob crossed the finish line first after seeing off a spirited challenge from Japan’s Kohei Matsumara.

Mahboob, who switched nationalities to the gulf country in 2005, is one of a string of African-born runners who have dominated athletics at the Asian Games, provoking strong debate as to whether their success is good for the sport or whether it could lead to a reluc-

tance to invest in home-grown talent.

Another Kenyan-born runner, Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa, also won gold for Bahrain in the women’s marathon on Thursday.

Japan won nine medals on Friday but no golds, losing the men’s volleyball final to Iran in the last event of the day.

Qiu Bo won the men’s 10-metre platform title and He Zi successfully defended her 3-metre springboard as China completed a clean sweep of the 10 gold medals in diving.

Since joining the Asian Games in 1974, China has won every diving event contested, an unbeaten streak stretching 40 years.

Cambodia captured their first ever gold medal at the Asian Games, and their first of any colour since 1970, when teenager Seavmey Sorn women’s under 73 kilogram taekwondo event, beating Iran’s Fatemeh Rouhani in the final. l

149 77 46 28 21 12 11 11 10 9 9 9 6 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

107 71 73 22 18 7 11 9 0 18 14 6 12 14 6 4 5 3 4 1 10 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

81 80 76 32 17 28 14 37 4 20 20 4 24 14 12 12 11 1 4 1 25 11 3 3 3 3 1 0 4 4 2 5 2 1 1 1 1

*Till yesterday (8:00pm)

China achieve a perfect 10 in diving n AFP, Incheon China retained all 10 Asian Games diving gold medals it won four years ago after easily grabbing the two remaining titles on the last day of competition on Friday.

Qiu Bo won the men’s 10m platform with 576 points, 49.45 ahead of second-placed team-mate Yang Jian. Woo Ha-Ram of South Korea picked up the bronze.

Hi Zi bagged the women’s 3m springboard event with 374.45 points.

Compatriot Wang Han came second and Malaysia’s Cheong Jun-Hoong was third. Qiu said he was happy to win despite admitting he made mistakes.

“My form was not very good leading into the Asian Games, so I was a bit worried,” he said. “That is why some mistakes came up, but I had a good result in the end.”

He Zi, who dominated the women’s springboard, said the performance was below her own expectations.l

Sri Lanka take gold beating Afghanistan in cricket n Reuters, Incheon Sri Lanka crushed Afghanistan by 68 runs to win the gold medal in the men’s Twenty20 cricket event at the Asian Games on Friday.

Unlike the previous day, when Sri Lanka won a coin toss to get into the gold medal match after their semi-final with Bangladesh was washed out, luck played no part in the final.

With a strong squad featuring three members of the team that won this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, Sri Lanka were too experienced and streetwise for their Afghan opponents.

Although they struggled with the bat, losing their last nine wickets for just 54 runs to be dismissed for 133 in

their last over, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had no problems on a lively pitch.

They ripped through the opposition batting lineup in less than 18 overs, as Afghanistan crumbled to be all out for just 65.

Afghanistan made a bright start, reaching 20 without loss, before the wheels suddenly fell off. Opener Najeeb Tarakai top scored with 17 but only two others made double figures.

Sri Lanka captain Lahiru Thirimanne top scored for his team with 57 off just 37 balls, hitting seven boundaries and one towering six, as his country captured its first gold medal at the Asian Games, in any sport, since 2002.

“This is a great feeling, because this is our first gold medal since 2002,” said Thirimanne. l

Sri Lanka’s cricket team celebrate on the podium after winning the men’s final Twenty20 cricket match against Afghanistan at the Yeonhui cricket ground during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon yesterday REUTERS

Djokovic through as Serena withdraws in China n AFP, Beijing Reigning China Open champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams ex-

perienced contrasting fortunes at the tournament Friday, with the men’s top seed powering through to the semi-finals, while Williams withdrew injured.

Ten HD 4:00 PM Asian Games Closing Ceremony 7:30 PM Bundesliga FC Bayern Munchen v Hannover 96 10:30 PM Eintracht Frankfurt v FC Koln New Sports 7:30 PM Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund v Hamburger SV

15

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Novak Djokovic

Maria Sharapova

Djokovic, who has an incredible 100 percent record at the $5.4 million tournament, beat fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4.

The world number one was again highly emotional on the Diamond Court at China’s National Tennis Centre, smashing his racket twice in the second set in frustration.

He appeared to be heading for a routine victory at 5-3 and serving for the match in the second set, but Dimitrov broke serve to temporarily halt Djokovic’s advance.

But Djokovic took the next game and wrapped up his victory in 90 minutes.

Murray is in ninth position and is aiming to pick up points in Beijing and at the Shanghai Masters next week.

The duel between Murray and Djokovic Saturday will be a re-match of their epic US Open quarter-final,

which Djokovic won 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (1/7), 6-2, 6-4.

In the women’s competition, world number one Serena Williams withdrew from the tournament with a left knee injury.

The reigning champion in Beijing was due to play Australian Samantha Stosur after winning her third round match Thursday evening with a bandaged knee.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open winner and former world number four, will now go straight into the semi-finals where she will play Petra Kvitova.

Fourth seed Russian Maria Sharapova won her quarter-final match against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0, 6-4.

The victory means she will face ninth seed Serb Ana Ivanovich for a place in the final.

The $5.4 million China Open will reach its climax on October 5. l

Pakistan will miss Ajmal, says Afridi n AFP, Dubai Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi admitted his team will miss suspended ace spinner Saeed Ajmal when they meet Australia in Dubai on Sunday.

The 36-year-old off-spinner is serving suspension on illegal bowling action and will not be available to play internationally until he is cleared after remedial work and reassessment.

Ajmal has been an integral part for Pakistan in all three formats of the game, having missed only three Twenty20 matches since his debut, also against Australia at the same venue in 2009.

He is the leading wicket-taker in all T20 with 85 in 63 matches.

“We all know the importance of Ajmal and we will miss him,” Afridi told reporters after the team’s practice session on Thursday. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Criminals on prowl before festivals n Tazlina Zamila Khan When a thirsty Abul Bashar, was offered coconut water by his fellow passenger on a bus heading towards the capital’s Motijheel area on Sunday, he rather was grateful. However, soon after drinking the coconut water, Bashar started feeling unwell and fell unconscious.

Later when he came around, he found himself at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), rescued by a person named Joynal Abedin. He also found out that the kind passenger, who was a member of the infamous dope gang, had stolen his bag carrying Tk130,000.

Incidents like this have been reported in the capital in the past few days.

With two major religious festivals just around the corner, gangs of seasonal criminals have been getting active and robbing people by means of drugging and scamming. Similar crimes have been happening in other parts of the country as well.

According to police sources, there are at least 30 groups active in the capital, covering three routes of travelling – road, water and train. Routes like Dhaka-Chittagong higway and train route, Dhaka-Khulna road and train routes, Dhaka-Barisal launch routes, Dhaka-Sylhet road and train routes are especially vulnerable.

“These miscreants use different kinds of medicines to incapacitate their targets and then rob them of all their belongings,” said Shahid Ullah, chief inspector at Bangladesh Railway Security Force.

Criminals are collected from other districts, such as Mymensingh, Barisal, Gopalganj, Jhalkathi and Faridpur, and are brought to Dhaka’s Mirpur and Savar areas, where they are taught how use ointment on people to render them unable to defend themselves, police said.

Around 30 victims of these gangs have been brought in to the DMCH in the past week alone, while around 300 have been admitted in the past month, of whom two died, said sources at the hospital.

Dr Riaz Morshed from the emergency department of the DMCH, said: “On average, seven such victims have been brought in here every day. We first have

to check their stomachs, and then we send them to the medicine ward. Delay in bringing them in increases their chances of dying.”

Police have arrested several members of these gangs in the past few days.

Con man alert!

Meanwhile, a different group of criminals have been rising in the city to take advantage of the festive season.

Through investigation, the Dhaka Tribune found that there are around 1015 groups who are conning people into buying fake accessories, jewellery and other things at the bus and launch terminals. What is more, the victims they are allegedly running the business in collaboration with on-duty law enforcers.

“I was tricked into buying a fake gold watch at the Banglabazar intersection on my way to Sadarghat launch terminal,” said Rezaul Alam, one of the victims.

People are getting scammed via mobile phone as well, and Mirpur resident Mujib Chowdhury learned it the hard way.

“An unknown person called me yesterday saying my sister had been hit by a bus and was in critical condition at a hospital. He gave me a phone number of a sub-inspector at Uttara West police station. When I called at that number, the ‘sub-inspector’ told me to send Tk6,000 on his mobile phone to save my sister’s life. Later I realised it was a scam,” Mujib said.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said: “These criminals emerge before the big festivals. We are watchful of them. We have put CCTV cameras at different points in the city and our monitoring teams are also active.

“We have also suggested to open restaurants at the cattle markets so that people do not have to get food from outside, therefore avoiding the risk of falling victim to these gangs. We also have the list of the staff at these restaurants,” he said.

“People have to be aware of this kind of deception,” said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. “We are vigilant to resist these seasonal criminals.” l

Two women greet each other with Abeer while celebrating Navami of Durga Puja at Dhakeshwari Temple in the capital yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Extra-marital affair leads mother to kill son n Tazlina Zamila Khan

Police arrested four people in connection with a two-month old murder in the capital's Demra area, one of whom is the victim's mother and the mastermind behind the murder, in different parts of the country, sources said.

A team of the Detective Branch of police, led by Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Hossain Matubbor and Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdur Rakin arrested Mariam Begum, 44, Azizul Haque, 50, Tofazzal Hossain, 65, and Md Manzurul Islam, 52, for the murder of Kamruzzaman, 30, son of Mariam and a stone trader.

Among the suspects, Aziz was arrested in the capital's Khilgaon area

on Wednesday at 12:30pm, and based on his information the other three was arrested yesterday. Mariam was arrested at her residence in Demra, Tofazzal from Rangpur Kotwali, and Manzurul in Mohakhali bus terminal in the capital.

During primary interrogation, Aziz, a driver by profession, gave interesting information that led the police to solve the case.

“It was the knowledge about his mother's extra-marital affair that killed Kamruzzaman,” said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner at the DB, while addressing journalists. “He learnt about Mariam's affair with Aziz two months before the murder. Since then, he used to taunt and insult his mother about it.”

The verbal assault from her son

eventually drove Mariam into planning his murder, as Aziz confessed to police.

“It was planned by Mariam, and Aziz, Tofazzal and Manzurul carried out the killing,” the joint commissioner said.

According to the post-mortem report, The murder took place around 11:45pm on August 12.

Kamruzzaman was given coffee laced with sleeping pills at first, and then strangulated. Police found his body in Shukurshi area near the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

Later, Kamruzzaman's father Ashok Ali, 50, went to the local police station around 5:30am the next day, where he identified his son's body and filed a murder case against unidentified criminals later.

“Later, the case was transferred to the DB,” Monirul said.

Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Hossain said: Mariam met Aziz through a blank phone call a year ago. After Kamruzzaman came to know about her affair, Mariam contracted Tofazzal and Manzurul, both scammers, to kill her son in exchange for Tk1 lakh. After the murder, she gave them Tk40,000 and promised to give them the rest of the money later.”

Mariam also tried to shift the blame to Kamruzzaman's wife, police said.

Aziz himself is also involved with the illegal business of fake driving licences, police said.

“We will send the criminals to court and ask for remand,” the joint commissioner said. l

Satellites detect ‘thousands’ of new ocean-bottom mountains n BBC News It is not every day you can announce the discovery of thousands of new mountains on Earth, but that is what a US-European research team has done.

What is more, these peaks are all at least 1.5km high.

The reason they have gone unrecognised until now is because they are at the bottom of the ocean.

Dave Sandwell and colleagues used radar satellites to discern the mountains’ presence under water and report their findings in Science Magazine.

“In the previous radar dataset we could see everything taller than 2km, and there were 5,000 seamounts,” Prof Sandwell told BBC News.

“With our new dataset – and we haven’t fully done the work yet – I’m guessing we can see things that are 1.5km tall.

“That might not sound like a huge improvement but the number of seamounts goes up exponentially with decreasing size.

“So, we may be able to detect another 25,000 on top of the 5,000 already known,” the Scripps Institution of Oceanography researcher explained.

The roughness of the seafloor is important also as it steers currents and promotes mixing - behaviours that are critical to understanding how the oceans transport heat and influence the climate.

Satellite observations are an indirect method that uses satellites fitted with

radar altimeters.

These spacecraft can infer the shape of the ocean bottom from the shape of the water surface above.

Because water follows gravity, it is pulled into highs above the mass of tall seamounts, and slumps into depressions over deep trenches.

Most of the maps of the gross outlines of mountains on the seafloor have relied on this approach.

Key advances were made using US Navy and European Space Agency satellites in the 80s and 90s.

Now, Sandwell and his team have gathered new, improved datasets from more recent spacecraft - Jason 1, which was recently taken out of service, and CryoSat, which continues to orbit the Earth today. l

Rawhide prices lowered by 16% n Ashif Islam Shaon Tannery owners will be buying per square foot of raw cow hides at Tk70 to Tk75 in the capital and Tk60 to Tk65 across the country during Eid-ul-Azha this year, cutting raw hide prices by more than 16% than last year.

Tanners also fixed that per square feet of goat hides will be bought at Tk30 to Tk35 in the capital and Tk25 to Tk30 for “Baqra” goats, and Tk35 to Tk40 for buffalo hides from the hide collectors.

Bangladesh Finished Leather and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLFEA) President Abu Taher announced this year's raw hide prices at a press conference at the association's Dhanmondi office yesterday.

Last year, the government set per square feet of raw cow hides prices at Tk85 to Tk90 in Dhaka and Tk75 to Tk80 elsewhere. The price of goat hide per square feet was at Tk50 to Tk55, Tk40-45 for Baqra goat and buffalo hides at Tk40 to Tk45.

This year, however, three trade bodies – Bangladesh Tanners' Association (BTA), Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association and BFLFEA – fixed

the purchase price. Like last year, businessmen this year, too, demanded market-driven hide prices.

Leather producers also argued that the country's leather industry was suffering losses as the government had withdrawing its incentives and claimed that they fall into a deeper crisis if the government had fixed the price for this year.

Earlier on Wednesday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed asked the rawhide traders to fix the prices by Friday, considering the global market price.

The rawhide traders had long been reluctant to set the prices of hides, reasoning that their prices were falling in the international market.

But sources said the international market witnesses a rising demand of animal hides.

"We will procure hides at this rate.

We request the seasonal businessmen to not buy hides at rates higher than this. Otherwise, they will incur losses," BTA chairman Shahin Ahmed told the press briefing.

He also urged seasonal traders to apply salt on the hides within six hours of slaughtering the animal to preserve

the skin.

Shahin said tanneries expect to collect some 7.5 million animal hides this year. According to the government's livestock resources department, around 6.53 million animals were slaughtered during the Eid-ul-Azha last year.

Of which, around 3.31 million were cows and 2.24 million goats.

BFLFEA Chairman M Abu Taher reading out a written statement said they have fixed the price as per the international rate.

“We had to lower the price as recently price have fallen,” he claimed.

Though the tanners usually collect raw hides all over the year, they find a special opportunity to collect huge amounts of animal hides during the Eid-ul-Azha. A total of around 58 percent hides of every years' collection have been collected during this time.

Normally, Muslims sell their sacrificing animals' hides to the middle men or seasonal traders and give the money to the poor. In the end, the hides reach the tanneries.

Asked about the international rate, Shahin claimed that rawhide prices have fallen by 20 to 25 cents. l

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