01 Nov 2014

Kartik 17, 1421 Muharram 7, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 208

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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AVENUE-T

8 | PRESCRIPTION

9 | HERITAGE

13 | SPORT

ANUSHEH SPEAKING THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC

PEOPLE WITH AB BLOOD GROUP MAY BE IN A RISK OF MEMORY LOSS

GUNPOWDER PLOTS

DETERMINED SHAMSUR WOULD LOVE TO BLAST TON

Major blaze at BSEC building again

Bangladesh world’s 2nd most pro-free market country Amar Desh office gutted; witnesses blame short circuit, firefighters blame poor fire safety in building n Tribune Desk Bangladesh is among the countries n Ashif Islam Shaon and most supportive of a free-market and Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

tion department and two technicians of AC (air-conditioner) who came to shift some electronic devices. Six hired labourers were helping us,” said Ahmed Ali, one of the technicians working in the Amar Desh office when it caught fire.

is the most free-market, trade-oriented country in South Asia, according to a research conducted by the US-based Pew Research Centre.

Of the 44 countries surveyed, Bangladesh was the world’s second most supportive of a free market economy with 80% support; only Vietnam with 95% support ranked higher. The next three countries were South Korea, China and Ghana.

The report said Bangladesh had a much higher approval level for trade and foreign investment than India and Pakistan, the two other South Asian countries surveyed.

Bangladeshis (80%) are eight percentage points more in favour of the free market than Indians (72%) and eighteen percentage points more in favour of it than Pakistanis (63%).

Ninety-one percent of Bangladeshis said growing trade was “very good” or “somewhat good,” as compared with 76% of Indians saying that.

As Forbes.com’s Asia Correspondent Alyssa Ayres puts it: “At least as far as public opinion is concerned, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is a capitalist haven.”

Bangladeshi public highly favours open trade, believes in the employment generation capacity of trade, believes that wages improve with trade and regards foreign investment as net positive.

Bangladeshi public opinion holds more strongly to the belief that trade increases wages and generates employment compared with that of India or Pakistan, but 78% of Indians said they were optimistic about a better life at home and recommended remaining in India compared with 71% of Bangladeshi respondents recommending remaining in the country.

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A fire has gutted the office of newspaper Amar Desh’s online section on the 10th floor of Karwan Bazar’s BSEC building, the same site where two previous fires had claimed several lives and caused millions of taka worth of damages.

The latest blaze broke out around 11:45am and remained burning until around 2pm before 21 fire-fighting units were finally able to bring the flames under control. About 100 fire fighters along with volunteers worked frantically to douse the flames to ensure minimum damages.

Amar Desh: This was not a fire under normal circumstances; this was a mysterious fire “There have been no casualties. The 10th floor of the building was, however, completely gutted,” Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters at the spot.

Other offices on the tenth floor – which was the only floor that suffered extensive damages – included a law chamber and a garment accessories’ office.

The BSEC building also housed several media houses including television channels RTV and NTV. Both the TV channels stopped broadcasting when the building’s main power source was shut down because of the fire.

AKM Rafiqul Islam, senior correspondent of NTV, said: “We heard about the fire while attending a workshop on the third floor. We panicked and rushed to the ground floor. No one was injured.”

Coming out of the burned down

Biman to add routes without proper study n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Biman Bangladesh Airlines plans to add five international destinations to its service route without conducting a proper market study, despite the cancellation of its Frankfurt service on November 27, which was also added without a proper market study.

Biman will suspend the Dhaka-Frankfurt service because each flight incurs losses of Tk70 lakh due to very low passenger numbers. On the first flight to Frankfurt this year, only seven travellers were on board the Boeing 777 aircraft that has a capacity of 419 passengers.

Flights will be offered to Tokyo, Japan; Kunming and Guanxu, China; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Male, Maldives.

“All these spots are very new to us and all are tourist spots. We think Biman can serve the tourist passengers satisfactorily,” Mosaddique Ahmed managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airline said to the Dhaka Tribune about the planned additions to the airline’s service map.

The Dhaka-Frankfurt route, which has been offered and discontinued before, was not subject to a rigorous market study before it was relaunched, and will have been in operation for less than a year when it is cancelled later this month.

Yesterday, Biman inaugurated a fourth weekly Dhaka-London flight, the airline’s most profitable route.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Firefighters climb the emergency exit of the BSEC building in Karwan Bazar as they try to douse a fire that broke out on the 10th floor of the building yesterday tenth floor, the fire service’s Director (operations) Maj Muhammod Mahbub said it would have been devastating if the flamed had spread to other floors, adding that the number of people in the building was fewer than usual as it was a weekly holiday.

Witness statements

Although the fire service said they initially suspected the fire to have originated from an electrical short circuit, different versions of claims were also made by witnesses and Amar Desh authorities.

An employee of the Amar Desh said the online section of the newspaper was supposed to shift its office yesterday from the BSEC building to new premises in Gulshan’s Niketon.

“There was no other staff in the office except two from the administra-

MEHEDI HASAN

Fakhrul: Govt giving in to public clamour n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP yesterday said the government had started bowing to people’s demand for holding an election soon.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday told a press briefing that a democratic government can hold elections any time. The prime minister has presumably accepted the demand for an immediate election,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said while addressing a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

The government will take initiatives to hold election immediately He spoke after after holding a joint meeting with leaders of the party and its associate bodies.

The premier, during Thursday’s briefing on her recent UAE visit, said any government has the right to call election any time according to the parliamentary democratic system.

“What would have happened if there was no election on January 5? Do not forget that we had to recover from the 1/11 shocks. Since we already arranged an election, there will be another one and it will be held on schedule,” she said.

“It does not matter who understands what. A government has the power to

RAB: JMB gearing up for major destruction n Mohammad Jamil Khan

hold an election any time. Let people understand whatever they want to. I cannot explain anything,” added Hasina.

Fakhrul yesterday said the government would take initiatives to hold election immediately after realising the demand of the people.

“People want to see an election in the country at once and it seems the prime minister has begun realising this. This is why what she said about election is meaningful,” he said.

He said the BNP would contest election whenever the government arranged it, adding that the election should be inclusive and fair.

“BNP is moving ahead by preparing for elections and agitation simultaneously,” said Fakhrul.

The BNP acting secretary general described the prime minister’s UAE visit as a failure. He said the visit did not succeed as the government failed to ink any agreement on manpower export.

“Export of female workers is nothing new. Besides, women who fly abroad to work become victims of repression. It is a shame for the nation,” he said.

The party announced a 10-day programme to observe November 7, which it calls the National Revolution and Solidarity Day as it BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was released from detention on the day.

The 10-day programme will begin on November 5 and will continue till November 14. l

This harmless-looking white foam in the Turag River is actually the result of regular dumping of solid wastes and industrial effluents into the river. Fishermen cast their nets into the waters, oblivious of the extent of pollution and its effect on the marine life in the river. The photo was taken yesterday at the capital’s Mirpur MEHEDI HASAN

11 | Op-Ed

12 | Entertainment

INSIDE 4 | News

6 | Nation

5 | News

7 | World

The execution rate of the annual development programme (ADP) hit its five-year low in July-September this fiscal year despite the government’s massive development plans.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Barisal City Corporation (BCC) are at loggerheads over the eviction of illegal establishments from the Kirtankhola River bank in Barisal.

Frustration grips more than 10,000 people as they have not yet got any electricity meter installed even though they paid meter charges six months ago in Gazipur.

US-led air strikes hit Islamic State positions around the Syrian border town of Kobane on Friday in an apparent bid to pave the way for heavily-armed Kurdish peshmerga forces to enter from neighboring Turkey.

Sometimes, the people around us can demolish our self-esteem through subconscious acts.

Like a teammate of mine who was telling me how he stopped donating blood to the sick.

Five years after its muhurat – official announcement of a film’s shooting – the film titled “Eito Prem” starring Bindu and Shakib Khan is all set to hit cinemas on February 13, 2015.

14 | Sport

Aggressive top-order batsman Jesse Ryder has been thrown a World Cup lifeline by being named in a New Zealand ‘A’ team for one-day matches in the UAE next month.

Jama’at-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is planning a major attack in the country in order to reassert itself, as it takes advantage of the political uncertainty in the country to regroup, a top law enforcement official has said.

“For this reason they were trying to contact each other, to plan a major act of destruction and prove their presence in the country,” Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of the legal and media wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said yesterday.

The intelligence assessment is based on statements of five JMB members in custody, including its chief coordinator in Bangladesh, arrested by RAB 12 from Sirajganj railway station early yesterday.

The arrestees were identified as JMB chief coordinator Md Abdun Nur, “Ehsar” members Nur Islam and Md Nuruzzaman Arif, and “Gaery Ehsar” members Abul Kalam Azad and Fauq Ahmed.

Bomb making materials were seized from their possession, Mufti Mahmud said.

Police said Nur was staying with his associates in Chapainawabganj district but was forced to change location to get away from a massive RAB drive. Nur then set off for Joydebpur from Chapainawabganj by train, but was arrested together with associates by RAB 12 officers at Mansur Ali Railway Station in Sirajganj, Mahmud said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Help us reduce water crisis, Ershad tells India n Abid Azad Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday urged India to help reduce water crisis in Bangladesh.

“We are much poorer than India.

Although we are developing, we still have some obstacles in the way,” he said at the Moitree Festival, organised

by Saarc Cultural Society, held at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium in the capital.

He also urged India to take care so that no incidents like Felani killing take place on the India-Bangladesh border.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was present as a special guest, said: “We cannot forget India’s contribution to our liberation war in 1971. They backed us with shelter and arms training.”

Emphasising the integration of Bengali cultures, Kamal said: “The names of the two countries may be different but we have same culture. We should merge both our [Bangladesh and West Bengal] cultural practices more strongly.”

When newsmen asked his views on the Nizami verdict, Ershad said: “We trust our court’s verdict,” adding that his party always opposes hartal.

JaPa Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Tripura University’s former vice-chancellor Dr Arunodoy

He also urged India to take care so that no incidents like Felani killing take place on the India-Bangladesh border Saha, Chief Editor of Khabar 365 Din Torun Chakrabarti, President of All India Sections of SAARC Cultural Society Chandranath Chatterji and President of West Bengal’s Dinajpur Section of SAARC Cultural Society Nishikanta Sinha were also present.

The programme was presided over by Syed Abul Hossain, MP, also president of SAARC Cultural Society. l

Blocking one side of a busy street in the capital’s Green Road, the authorities are changing lamp posts in broad daylight, a task that should be done during the night when streets remain empty SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Govt to spend Tk138cr to boost agricultural output Muhith: Death penalty n not to affect EU assistance Tribune Report

A project has been taken to give a further boost to agricultural production in the greater Sylhet region by over 86,000 metric tonnes a year through proper utilisation of ground and surface water by developing necessary irrigation infrastructures.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved the project, “Sylhet Division Small Irrigation Development Project,” involving Tk 138.06 crore.

Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) under the Ministry of Agriculture will implement the project by June 2019 with fund from the national exchequer.

As Sylhet division is surrounded

by numerous rivers, haors, canals and beels, it is possible to expand irrigation facilities in the region through developing suitable irrigation infrastructures to properly use the ground and surface water, said Planning Ministry officials.

The quantity of arable land in Sylhet division is about 8,03,094 hectares and the project aims to bring additional 14,375 hectares of land under cultivation through extending irrigation facility and thus produce additional 86, 251 metric tonnes of food grains, vegetables and fruits every year.

Talking about the project, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the scheme will help reduce the sufferings of people living in the region. “The project, I think, will bring about greater

benefits than its cost,” he added.

Talking to UNB, a Planning Ministry official said the project will cover 38 upazilas of four districts of Sylhet Divisions. Of them, 12 upazilas in Sylhet districts – Sylhet Sadar, Dakkhin Surma, Gwainghat, Balaganj, Companyganj, Biswanath, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, Jaintapur, Kanaighat, Jokiganj and Bianibazar – be brought under the project.

It will cover 11 upazilas in Sunamganj district and those are Sadar, Dakkhin Sunamganj, Chhatak, Doarabazar, Jamalganj, Tahirpur, Biswambharpur, Dirai, Shalla, Jagannathpur and Dharmapasha.

The proposed eight upazilas to be covered by the project in Habiganj district are Habiganj Sadar, Lakhai, Chunarughat, Madhabpur, Bahubal,

Nabiganj, Baniachang, and Ajmiriganj while seven upazilas in Moulvibazar district – Moulvibazar Sadar, Srimongal, Kulawara, Borolekha, Juri, Komolganj and Rajnagar – will be brought under the project.

The main project activities include re-excavation and rehabilitation of some 300km canals, construction of some 120 water reservation structures, procurement and establishment of electricity-driven low-lift pumps, deep tube wells, solar panels, setting up of electricity lines. The proposed project area is some 12,564 square kilometer.

Besides, under the project, some 200 owners, managers, operators and the field-men of irrigation pumps alongside 400 farmers would be imparted training on pump operation. l

Biman to add routes without proper study  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Biman is likely to launch two weekly flights to Tokyo by 2015, as the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan inked a deal last month with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo.

Senior officials of the national carrier said the carrier opened its network to Tokyo in 1979 after acquiring an aircraft from Japan but suspended operations in 1981.

In addition to axing the Frankfurt service later this month, Biman suspended its Yangon and New Delhi op-

erations two months ago. The airline has reduced its flights to Kolkata, Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Civil Aviation and Tourism discussed the issue at at least two meetings and requested the Biman management to stop loss-incurring routes, committee chief Faruk Khan, a former civil aviation minister himself, said.

“The government has directed the airline to cut loss making routes as we

are planning to reduce losses,” said Mosaddique Ahmed.

He said: “Before finalising the plan we will go for a commercial study.”

Biman sources said “commercial study” is a term they have heard hundreds of times but have never seen in action in the airline’s history.

In 2006, the government cancelled flights to Frankfurt due to an insufficient number of passengers.

Biman started its service to Frankfurt in 1986.

The national flag carrier resumed

operations on the route from March 31 with two weekly flights, every Monday and Friday, with a brief stop in Rome.

The route has made losses of Tk15.7 crore up to August, sources said.

Sources said Biman’s management had decided to add five new international cities because the national flag carrier was currently flying just 18 international routes.

Biman lost Tk210 crore in FY 201314. During FY 2012-13, Biman’s losses stood at Tk191.6 crore. It was Tk594.2 crore in FY 2011-12. l

Major blaze at BSEC building again  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

“After the labourers loaded the ACs onto a truck, we came again to the office upstairs to check what else we could take from there. Suddenly, we saw a spark on the place of the false ceiling.

“The false ceilings of the office had already been removed earlier. So, we could not locate the source of the spark and switched off the circuit breaker for safety,” he said.

After a while, fumes started coming out of a warehouse at the back of the administration department in the office, he said, adding: “Mainly old files and documents of the sealed Amar Desh daily had been preserved there.

“We used extinguishers to try and douse the small fume but it became toxic. We then used the fire exit to get away from the office and notified the NTV and RTV staff who were present on the lower floors,” he said.

Asked if there was any possibility of arson, Ahmed Ali said: “The fire was probably caused by a short circuit.

There was nobody other than us on that floor.”

The technician also admitted that the Amar Desh authority had disputes with the Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) authority over outstanding floor rent.

“We had permission of shifting one truckload of valuables a day, not more than that. Since the last four or five days, we have been shifting slowly,” he said.

A peon of Amar Desh, Abbas Ali

Hawladar, said he was the last person to come out of the warehouse, and claimed that the fire originated in a locked room of the warehouse where official files, out-of-date computers and other materials were stacked up.

‘Mysterious fire’

Amar Desh authorities, however, claimed that the fire had taken place under mysterious circumstances.

In the afternoon, Amar Desh Executive Editor Syed Abdal Ahmed told a press conference: “We want to state clearly that this was not a fire under normal circumstances; this was a mysterious fire.

“About 500 of our journalists have been leading distressed life after the government sealed our press and locked up our Editor Mahmudur Rahman. We could not pay the rent for our online office. Yesterday [Thursday] we cleared our dues. Today [Friday], we were moving to a new office to run the online section in full flow. Our hopes were high.”

Demanding compensation for the damages caused by the fire, he also called for the immediate release of their editor as well as being allowed to resume publication of the printed edition of the Bangla daily.

Visiting the site, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also claimed that he suspected that the incident might be a conspiracy by the government.

“It was pre-planned.

The government has already sealed the

paper and locked its editor. There are two TV channels on the building which also always speak the truth against the government. So, they [government] wanted to destroy them [the newspaper and TV channels],” the BNP leader said.

However, when asked if he had any proof to back his claim, Fakhrul said: “No, we are assuming that. The equations also suggest it.”

Also visiting the site, NTV Chairman Mosaddeque Ali Falu termed the fire a “subversive activity,” and added: “How can an institution progress if it catches fires repeatedly?”

Meanwhile, BSEC Secretary Masud Ahmed said the Amar Desh authority was falling behind on monthly rent since the print addition had been closed. He added that Amar Desh also had outstanding rent, but was unable to specify the exact due as he did not have the necessary papers with him at the time.

However, a BSEC official, requesting not to be named, said the Amar Desh had nearly Tk1 crore in outstanding rent for the office.

“Recently, they sent a letter to the BSEC saying they wanted to leave the building. We asked them to pay the dues and they started paying partially,” the BSEC secretary told the Dhaka Tribune.

But Amar Desh reportedly did not notify the BSEC that they were leaving the office yesterday. “We did not know that they were leaving. They did it secretly,” Masud claimed.

Fire hazard in the building

Firefighters said the BSEC building, where three people were killed and about 50 were injured during a devastating fire in February 2007, lacked adequate fire safety measures. The building also caught fire earlier on December 25, 2005.

Fire Service DG Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan said following the 2007 fire, a set of recommendations had been given to the BSEC; but those suggestions had been ignored.

“The number of fire exits, which is now two, should be more and the building also lacks in housekeeping.

Piles of papers and wastes were found on staircase which barred firefighters to reach the floor,” he said.

Following yesterday’s fire, a five-member panel headed by Fire Service’s Deputy Director Sheikh Mizanur Rahman has been formed to investigate the incident and report within a week, the Fire Service DG said, adding that six rooms of the 10th floor were not damaged in the fire.

However, BSEC Secretary Masud Ahmed denied allegations of fire hazards and said they have improved fire safety of the building as per recommendations by three committees of the Fire Service, BSEC and Industries Ministry. “We had asked the firemen to inspect and they said, all were okay,” he claimed.

They have also formed a five member-committee headed by Director (finance) Syed Muzammel Haque to probe yesterday’s fire. l

n Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said the European Union’s opposition to death sentence awarded to war criminals would not affect its development assistance to Bangladesh.

He came up with the remark yesterday while talking to reporters after attending a programme in the city.

Claiming that Bangladesh was considered as the “hero of the world” abroad, Muhith said it was only criticised in its own land. “The developed

countries, including the USA, want to become development partners of Bangladesh.”

He also said the new World Bank president offered to provide funds for the Padma Bridge project anew, but Bangladesh turned down his offer.

Describing the country’s exporters as very sincere, the minister said the export growth has shown a remarkable rise. “The growth may touch 9-10% percent or even higher.”

He also termed the assertion of the World Bank over the GDP unrealistic. l

Bangladesh world’s 2nd most  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

This month, the second part of a 44-country public opinion survey conducted last spring by Pew Research Centre was released.

The global survey asked respondents their feelings about losses and benefits from trade, their beliefs about inequality, their levels of optimism for the future and their support for a free market.

The first report released by the centre last month assessed beliefs about trade, and the one released this month detailed findings on inequality and beliefs about capitalism and the market.

Forbes.com’s Ayres said Bangladesh had done very well from export-oriented economic activity especially in entry-level manufacturing during the last twenty years.

Bangladesh is the number two garment exporter in the world, after China.

Problems with workplace safety and labour rights remain, yet in excess of 5,000 factories employ some four million Bangladeshis, mainly women.

The sector has significantly boosted the economy.

Ayres writes: “The garment sector is export-oriented, supplying some $20 billion in exports to the world. That Bangladeshis see trade and the free market system in a very positive light, despite the “People’s Republic” in the country’s official name, makes a great deal of sense given the positive impact Bangladesh has seen from trade and the free market.

“It’s a good news story about globalisation that the world often misses.” l

RAB: JMB gearing up  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

In addition to being the JMB’s chief coordinator, Nur also heads the Chapainawabganj district unit of the banned militant group.

The explosive devices were being taken by the militants to another location, perhaps the intended site of an attack, said the legal and media wing director. But investigators do not have new information about a specific attack plan, he said.

Nur was working to recruit new members and contact fugitive and bailed leaders of the outfit according to the plan of fugitive JMB leader Sohel Mahfuz. Nur was in touch with him continuously, said Mufti Mahmud, speaking at RAB headquarters in the capital’s Uttara neighbourhood.

Mahmud was not able to offer any information about the location of Sohel Mahfuz, saying the elite force was working on it. He said Nur was collecting funds for the outfit to reorganise their members and carry out an attack.

Abul Kalam Azad, director of the intelligence wing of RAB, told the Dhaka Tribune that the outfit collected funds using the “Iranot” system, which basically means receiving donations or a portion of monthly income from supporters. He said that the financing network was still being investigated.

Nur is the prime accused in six different cases filed with Tungipara, Moksedpur and Narayanganj police stations.

He was arrested in a robbery case at Kotalipara of Gopalganj and was behind bars for six years. While in jail, he met

Tarikul, a resident of Shibganj of Chapainawabganj, and another person named Masum. Both invited Nur to join JMB after his release. Nur got out of jail in 2010, according to a RAB intelligence source.

According to RAB, JMB divides its activities into two groups. These groups are called “Isaba” and “Daye.” The main responsibilities of the “Isaba” group is to collect arms and others weapons, while the “Daye” group’s job is to recruit members.

Arrestee Nuruzzaman Arif, 23, is a current student of software engineering at the Dhanmondi branch of Daffodil University. He came into contact with JMB acting chief Abdullah Al Tasnim, 30, during Ramadan this year.

Tasnim, the acting chief of the JMB, was arrested by Detective Branch of Police (DB) last month and is currently behind bars.

Arrestee Nur Islam Sagor completed his Alim degree in 2014 from Thakurgaon Islami Kamil Madrasa. Arrestee Azad completed a Kamil degree from Chapainawabganj Hifzul Ulum Fayza Khanom Kamil Madrasa in 2010, according to RAB. Mufti Mahmud said the bombs recovered from the JMB members were very powerful and able to destroy everything in a 30-metre radius. He said police were working on tracing the source of the explosives equipment.

He said law enforcement agencies were still in the primary stages of the investigation and that legal action would taken against the arrestees after further questioning. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Next five-year plan prioritises employment generation Government aims at accelerating economic growth, increasing per capita income

n Kayes Sohel The government is preparing the seventh five-year plan with the highest priority on employment generation to accelerate the economic growth rate and achieve the 10% mark.

Officials said the government also aimed at increasing the per capita income in both urban and rural areas by 2021.

The Planning Commission is preparing the five-year economic development guidelines from the next financial year (2015-16) and the work for the seventh five-year plan will end in January next year.

From August, the government started to take opinions of economists, academics, entrepreneurs, journalists and other stakeholders on the seventh fiveyear plan.

According to the preparation work by the General Economic Division (GED), the plan will have a comprehensive policy on boosting investment for creating employment generation.

Sources said five areas – increasing electricity production, ensuring energy security, addressing infrastructure constraints, developing the ICT sector, and tackling climate change – would also get importance in the new plan.

It would also concentrate on the strategy for strengthening regional economic cooperation among South Asian countries and South-East Asian countries, the sources said.

“As the country’s economy remained stagnant at around 6% over the past two decades, investment-led growth should be the priority for the next five-year economic development plan to get out of this cycle,” said Zaid Bakht, director of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

Without raising private investment, the economic growth would be fragile, as it was a driving force for sustainable and quality economic growth, he said, adding that to woo such investment, the country must remove infrastructure bottlenecks.

General Economic Division member Dr Shamsul Alam said massive changes would be brought in the socio-economic development in the seventh five-year plan.

“We are preparing the plan based on the lessons from the fifth five-year plan,” he said. “The plan might have a target of raising the GDP to 10% with priority to employment generation growth by 2021.”

The plan would be assessed midstage to influence the direction of the next plan, he said.

A panel of economist, headed by economist Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, was formed in August to give necessary guidelines for formulating the draft document of the seventh plan.

The plan will be formulated adopting 28 agendas, including economic development, employment generation, ensuring electricity and energy security, developing the education and health sectors, increasing agriculture production, developing capital market, equally developing rural areas and cities, and strengthening local government, sources said.

In its first meeting recently, the National Steering Committee that was formed to make a draft proposal of the plan, underscored the need for the country’s industrialisation through enhancing productivity, skilled manpower with imparting education for earnings more remittances.

The seventh fiveyear plan will have a comprehensive policy on boosting investment for creating employment generation Bangladesh gets $14.2 billion in remittances from some 8.6 million expatriates whereas only 3.2 million Philippine expatriates send some $31bn remittances to their country. The difference is due to the shortage of skilled manpower and education, according to the General Economic Division.

The theme of the seventh five-year plan is “Accelerating Growth: Empowering Every Citizen.”

China and India both continue to use five-year plan, accelerating their economic growth.

The mid-term review of the sixth five-year plan, conducted by the Planning Commission, showed that the performance has been a mixed-bag, with more successes than failures.

In 1973, the first five-year plan was formulated aiming at creating and sustaining a framework wherein people of the country could prosper in freedom, basic needs of common people could be met, and everyone could cherish the ideals and values of a free society. l

Floors erected with just tin and bamboo pose a high risk to the lives of many low income people living inside these fragile structures. The picture was taken from the capital’s Lalbagh area yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Azmi’s Facebook remarks stir up tie between BNP and Jamaat n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP leaders have been confronted with a difficult situation following war criminal Ghulam Azam’s son’s open challenge that the BNP cannot assume office without the help of Jamaat.

Since the Jamaat guru’s son Abdullahil Amaan Azmi posted the remark in his Facebook on Wednesday, BNP leaders have remained tight-lipped on the issue as they believed that commenting on this regard might strain ties between the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, yesterday termed Azmi’s comments – which also accused the BNP of being a party of “ungrateful” people – a “personal statement.”

Since Azmi’s posted his statement in Facebook, a heated debate has been going on in the social media and even in the political arena.

“Ghulam Azam’s son does not do politics. So I see this comment as a son’s aggrieved lamentation over his father’s death,” Major (retd) Mohammad Hafizuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of the BNP, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Hafizuddin, however, said: “It is not true that BNP cannot go to the office without the help of the Jamaat. The BNP formed the government in 1991 without forming any coalition with the Jamaat. The BNP is a large political par-

‘We will not take Azmi’s remarks over the BNP-Jamaat tie into consideration as it was his personal opinion’ comment. Already senior leaders have commented on the issue. If various party leaders talk on the same issue, it might create confusion.”

Abdul Awal Mintoo, another adviser to the BNP chairperson, said Azmi’s statement would not put any impact on BNP-Jamaat ties as the basis of forming the alliance still prevailed.

“One has to identify the party stance, ideological stance and personal stance.

Mr Azmi’s stance is his personal opinion.

So I firmly believe that his comment will not create any rift in the BNP-Jamaat tie.”

Meanwhile, addressing a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday, Mirza Fakhrul said: “We will not take Azmi’s remarks over the BNP-Jamaat tie into consideration as it was his personal opinion. We cannot consider the remarks as an official statement of the Jamaat-e-Islami.

“I do not know whether Professor Ghulam Azam’s son is a Jamaat-e-Islami official or a member. And as we are yet to receive any official statement from the party, we will not make further remarks over the issue.”

The spokesperson of the BNP, a long-standing political ally of the Jamaat, further said the BNP has joined hands with the Jamaat in order to wage a movement demanding election under a non-partisan government.

On Wednesday, labelling the BNP as “ungrateful” in a Facebook status, Azmi said he was disappointed with the party’s silence regarding the death of Ghulam Azam, the spiritual guru of the Jamaat.

In the status, he said the BNP would never be able to go to power again without the Jamaat-e-Islami’s support, triggering a heated debate among the supporters of the two political allies in social media.

Along with the status, he shared a news item titled “BNP boycotts Azam’s funeral prayer upon Tarique’s order” picked up from a website. l

Pakistan has no intention to make any comment on Bangladesh’s internal affairs, including the death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami, said a Pakistan Foriegn Ministry official.

Islamabad, however, noted on comments and reports of the international community and the human rights organisations about the war crimes trial processes.

“We are mindful of the developments in Bangladesh…We do not comment on the internal matters in other countries,” said Tasnim Aslam Khan, spokesperson of the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She made the remark when a journalist at a weekly briefing in Islamabad wanted to know whether Pakistan would launch a protest with Bangladeshi authorities following death sentence of war criminal and top Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami.

The journalist also wanted to know why this was happening and why Pakistan has been quite silent on this matter, according to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Bangladesh international crimes tribunal sentenced Nizami to death for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. l

Khaleda to address Natore rally today

Mir Quasem brought to Dhaka jail ahead of war crimes trial verdict n Tribune Report Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali was brought from Kashimpur Jail 2 in Gazipur to the central jail in Dhaka yesterday.

Police and prison guards along with Quasem reached the Dhaka Central Jail in the afternoon after they left Kashimpur jail around noon, Senior Superintendent of Jail Forman Ali at Dhaka Central Jail told the Dhaka Tribune.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 is to deliver its verdict on the Jamaat leader tomorrow on charges of crimes committed against humanity during the 1971 liberation war.

Quasem, who is considered one of Jamat’s top financiers, faced 14 war crimes charges, including murder, abduction and torture. He was indicted in September last year while his trial ended in May this year.

He was also the chief of Chittagong Al-Badr, an auxiliary force of Pakistani army, which, like other collaborators’ forces, directly opposed the Liberation of Bangladesh.

Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, who was the then chief of Al-Badr, was on Wednesday sentenced to death

by International Crimes Tribunal 1 on charges of crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation. l

ty and it has huge popularity.”

He also said the BNP’s tie with the Jamaat was an electoral one, adding that Jamaat had also formed an alliance with the Awami League once.

“This [alliance] is not a permanent one. They [Jamaat] have the liberty to leave the alliance and they can do it any time,” Hafizuddin said.

When asked about Azmi’s remarks, BNP chairperson’s Adviser Osman Farruk said: “I do not want to make any

Pakistan has no comment on Nizami’s death sentence n Tribune Report

n Our Correspondent, Natore

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to address the public rally of BNPled 20-party alliance in Natore today to mobilise mass support in favour of the demand of election under a non-partisan interim government.

The meeting will start at 2pm at Nawab Siraj Ud Doula College grounds where thousands of people are expected, said the party leaders.

Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu will chair the meeting.

Dulu said the meeting was rescheduled on November 1 from October 30 following the verdict for 1971 wartime

atrocities against Motiur Rahman Nizami, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, a partner of the BNP-led alliance.

The city at present showcases a festive look with hundreds of newly erected archways, billboards, placards and festoons to welcome the former premier.

BNP’s Natore district 20-party leaders, addressing a press briefing yesterday, sought help from law enforcers and ruling party leaders to make the programme successful.

Dewan Shahin, convener of the decoration committee, said 112 archways have been set up along the road from the station bazar area to Kasikata toll

plaza in Natore. A 60-foot wide and 40 foot long stage was already constructed.

“We will set up more than 150 loud-speakers alongside the Natore-Rajshahi roads to broadcast Khaleda Zia’s speech,” he said.

Aminul Haq, Natore district BNP secretary, said the 20-party leaders and activists from Bogra, Naogon, Joypurhat, Rajshahi, Pabna and Sirajgonj will join the meeting.

Mashiur Rahman, deputy commissioner of police, said a good number of law enforcers including police forces and magistrates would be deployed in the meeting area to avert any untoward situation. l

Two held over attack on the house of prime minister’s cousin n Our Correspondent, Khulna

Despite countless warnings and eviction drives, vegetable vendors and hawkers keep coming back to the different railway tracks in the capital to sell their products. The photo was taken from capital’s Tejgaon area yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Police arrested two persons in connection with an attack on the house of Bangladesh Cricket Board Director Sheikh Sohel, who is also the son of prime minister’s cousin.

Sonadanga Model police station personnel arrested Sheikh Shahidul Islam Litu and seized a pistol and two rounds of bullets from him at Chhoto Khalpar area in Khulna city yesterday, said Officer-in-Charge Maruf Ahmed.

On Thursday night, the law enforcers had arrested Md Shahjahan Kabir Mithu.

The four policemen who had been deployed at the house were also suspended for negligence of duty.

Sonadanga Zone Assistant Police Commissioner Mollah Azad Hossain said: “We have tightened security to ensure the safety of Sheikh Sohel and his family members. Four policemen have been deployed at his house after the attack. Besides, a patrol team led by an SI will always monitor the situation.”

Miscreants fired five rounds of bullets the BCB official’s house on Sher-e-Bangla road in Khulna town

around 11:15pm on Wednesday.

Khulna Juba League Joint Convener Hafez Muhammad Shahim said: “Five masked men riding on a motorbike fired bullets aiming at Sohel’s car.

One bullet hit the meeting room on the ground floor of his house.”

Sheikh Sohel told the Dhaka Tribune: “I left my car near the Royal intersection area and sent it home.

This kind of incident has not happened before.”

Sohel’s cousin Tanveer Hasem filed a case against four unnamed persons on Thursday night. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Two fire fighters in an effort to douse the flame from a ladder amid smoke belching out of the top floor of the Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) building yesterday.

Right, vehicles and people throng the road in front of the building on fire that houses several media outlets SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/ MEHEDI HASAN

ADP execution rate at 5-year low

‘Tougher movement needed for RMG trade union’

n Tribune Report

Leaders of different labour rights groups and professionals promoting labour rights urged the ready-made garment (RMG) worker leaders to take tougher movement to accelerate the formation of trade unions.

Speaking at a discussion titled “Safe Workplace and Labours’ Compensation” in the capital yesterday, they said the market economy never considered labour rights, and there was no alternative to movements as well as the government’s role in securing those rights.

The meeting, moderated by Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog, was jointly organised by Bangladesh Labour Rights Forum and National Forum to Protect Garment Workers and Industry. Professionals such as researchers, lawyers, labour rights activists, etc and RMG leaders attended the event.

“Stronger movement, especially social movement, is mandatory in order to organise trade union for the country’s RMG workers,” said Dr Binayak Sen, research director at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

The execution rate of the annual development programme (ADP) hit its fiveyear low in July-September this fiscal year despite the government’s massive development plans.

The latest official data of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry reveals that the rate dipped 9% in the first quarter ending in September.

Officials at the division said ADP implementation was 11% in the first quarter of the last fiscal year. The rates were 13% and 11% in the corresponding periods in the previous two fiscal years.

An official of the Planning Commission said Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal had taken several initiatives for 100% execution of the ADP in the first month of this fiscal year but it had failed to show any signification improvement.

IMED data also reveals that four of 10 major ministries and divisions are yet to start their ADP projects for the first quarter of FY2014-15.

The government agencies concerned have so far managed to spend Tk7,025 crore, excluding the self-financed projects of the public corporations, from a total ADP outlay of Tk80,315 crore for FY2014-15.

Former caretaker government adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the mega projects of the ADP were responsible for the deceleration of the ADP implementation.

Among the major ministries and divisions, the Local Government Division spent the highest 16% of its allocation, the Education Ministry 13% and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry 11%.

The Power Division, which got the second highest allocation in the ADP, has been able to spend only 8% of its fund in the first quarter, while the Bridges Division spent only 9% of its allocation, which was the third highest.

The 10 ministries and divisions – large in terms of allocation, which is 72% of the total allocation – could spend only 10% in the first quarter of this fiscal year. l

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

However, he also urged to take caution while launching such movements so that the interests of the industry stayed unharmed.

“If wrong steps are taken that ultimately cause harm to the RMG industry, Bangladesh will the global market to countries like Vietnam and Cambodia,” he said.

He said there was no specific system to determine how the RMG workers should be compensated, and asked the RMG leaders why they had not gone to the High Court to resolve this matter.

“You have to be aggressive about this. You should push the government and the RMG factory owners to expedite the procedure,” he told the RMG leader present at the event.

Speaking about workplace safety, Dr Binayak said if the owners ensured workers’ safety at the factory buildings, the labour leaders would not have to pressure them into following the National Building Code, as it would be automatically implemented.

Advocate Shaidul Islam, a Supreme Court lawyer and pro-labour rights, there had been several demands of

compensation for workers working in hazardous environment in some RMG factories, but the security council, in charge of looking into these matters for the government, had yet to take the demands into account.

“The movement to meet the workers’ demands and ensure workplace safety has started and will continue, and will become tougher if necessary,” he said.

Dr Binayak said several organisations had conducted surveys from time to time in order to estimate the loss suffered by RMG workers due to unsafe work environment and other work-related issues, but none of them could give a solid idea about the workers’ sufferings.

He asked the RMG leaders to conduct a separate survey in order to get accurate data in this regard.

However, Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, disagreed with Dr Binayak.

“A new survey is not necessary. All the data from the previously done survey could be consolidated, and that should suffice,” he said. l

28 more Indian fishermen held in bay n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Navy has arrested 28 more Indian fishermen from near the Fairway Buoy of the Bay of Bengal under Bagerhat’s Mongla upazila on Thursday for trespassing into the Bangladesh water territory.

M Manjur Elahi, sub-inspector of Mongla police station, said the Navy members detained the Indian fishermen in two trawlers - “FB Dakkhineswar” and “FB Joy Hanuaman” - while netting in the area, some 150 nautical miles away from the Mongla port.

The detainees, hailing from different areas in 24 Parganas district of Paschimbanga, were handed over to Mongla police yesterday and a case was lodged against them. The arrestees will be produced before the court of Bagerhat Chief Judicial Magistrate today.

Talking to reporters at the police station, the arrested Indian fishermen claimed they mistakenly penetrated into the Bangladesh territory.

With this, some 92 Indian fishermen have been arrested from the sea along with seven fishing trawlers for intruding the Bangladesh water territory. l

Obaidul: Political rallies only on holidays n Tribune Report

Govt prepares to acquire UN’s Green Climate Fund

Government is taking initiatives to allow political programmes to be organised in the capital only on public holidays.

This step will ease traffic congestion caused by rallies, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday. Addressing a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar, he said: “Organisation of rallies or processions will be allowed only on public holidays.”

Obaidul also said political programmes would be allowed to be held at particular locations in Dhaka.

Suhrawardy Udyan would be divided into four sections to hold rallies, the minister added. l

The government has been taking preparation to apply for the financial support from the UN’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the past one year in order to build the country’s resilience to climate change, according to sources.

After a meeting with GCF Executive Director Hela Cheikhrouhou during her visit to Bangladesh in April, Finance Minister AMA Muhit instructed the Economic Relations Division (ERD), under the Ministry of Finance, via a letter to execute four specific tasks in order to secure the fund, officials at the ERD told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We have to take strong and coordinated preparation to acquire allocation from the GCF,” the minister said in the letter. The four tasks are: appoint a national designated authority for climate change, create a strategic framework for the interaction with the fund, select intermediaries, and develop a pipeline of programmes and projects under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Upon completion of all four tasks, the GCF authorities will consider the amount of fund to be allocated to Bangladesh.

One of the initial projects in the suggested pipeline is reconstructing around 700km of coastal embankment severely affected by cyclones in recent years, especially Cyclone Aila, which has put millions of lives at risk, the ERD sources said.

They also said ERD Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin has been selected to head the national designated

Two held for attempted murder n Our Correspondent, Bogra Police yesterday arrested a Swechchhasebak League and a Jubo Dal leader for attempting to murder a Swechchhasebak League activist.

Superintendent of Police in Bogra Mozammel Haque said the police arrested Nasim, joint convener of Bogra town Swechhasebak League unit; and Aminur Rahman Sohel, vice-president of town Jubo Dal as they were beating Swechhasebak League activist Hossain at a house in Malatinagar area.

A foreign-made pistol, six rounds of bullets and a magazine were seized from the arrestees. A case was filed with Sadar police station in this connection. l

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Municipal Association of Bangladesh formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday demanding a city free of traffic congestion and waste MEHEDI HASAN

Ershad: JaPa to come to power next time n Tribune Report Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday predicted that his party would come to power next time as the country’s people wanted to see a change.

“The citizens now want to get rid of the two major political parties [the Awami League and the BNP]. They want alternative… They want change.

So, Jatiya Party will fulfil the people’s

expectations after assuming power in future,” he said.

Ershad was addressing an Eid reunion programme of Jatiya Party Dhaka North City unit at Banani playground in the capital.

Although Raushan Ershad, senior presidium member of the party, was scheduled to attend the programme, she skipped it.

Terming Jatiya Party the “third force” in the country, Ershad said his

party was getting stronger day by day and preparing to go to power in the coming days.

He urged the party leaders and activists to work for strengthening the party.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, presidium members Anisul Islam Mahmud, GM Quader and its Dhaka North City president SM Faisal Chishti, among others, spoke at the reunion. l

authority.

He will head a delegation team to a workshop on GCF at its secretariat in South Korea, offcials at the ERD said.

The ERD is also preparing to meet the other three instructions of the finance minister by working with the relevant ministries and divisions of the government, and will host an inter-ministerial meeting in this regard at the Planning Commission tomorrow, sources said.

The GCF was initiated at a UN climate conference in Durban in December 2010 to assist channel up to $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor, vulnerable countries in adapting to climate change and cut emissions. The UNFCCC set up the fund in order to handle the money.

The GCF is a separate entity with its own board, on which Bangladesh is a member on behalf of the least-developed countries.

The government allocated around Tk774 crore in the budget for FY 201213 for different adaptation programmes being implemented by different ministries, including the Ministry of Disaster Management and the Ministry of Water Resources, according to sources at the Ministry of Finance.

Bangladesh has two pioneering climate change funds: the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund, based on contributions by Bangladesh exchequer; and the Bangladesh Climate Resilience Fund, which is based in contributions by international donors. Both the funds are used to support many actions under Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, November 1, 2014

BIWTA, BCC at loggerheads over eviction of illegal structures n Our Correspondent, Barisal Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Barisal City Corporation (BCC) are at loggerheads over the eviction of illegal establishments from the Kirtankhola River bank in Barisal.

Locals alleged that both authorities, capitalising the factional rivalries existing within the Barisal unit of the ruling Awami League, are illegally occupying the areas ignoring public interest.

Grabbers use prime minister’s and Bangabandhu’s photos to establish supremacy, they said.

An eviction drive carried out on June 22 by the BIWTA on the river port was halted within an hour with the interference of BCC while on October 27, a drive led by the BCC was called off in the wake of protests by the BIWTA. BCC had formed a human chain protesting the leasing of land by BIWTA on October 29.

Nurul Islam Molla, organising secretary of

Sadar upazila Sramik League, claimed that the BIWTA had leased the land recommended by former BCC Mayor and city Awami League President late Shawkat Hossain Hiron at a monthly rent of Tk6,100 for every 60 sq ft. Therefore, BCC’s eviction drive was not legal, he said.

On the other hand, Harun Ur Rashid, president of Mahanagor Bastuhara League, claimed that during the tenure of late Shawkat Hossain Hiron, BCC started operating the Charkawa Boat Terminal without collecting any toll and leased out some of the spaces surrounding the area to cover the expenses. Therefore, BIWTA had no right to evict them.

Md Shahidullah, deputy director of BIWTA and Barisal Port Officer, said about 300 structures erected illegally on three and half km of land around the port were owned by the BIWTA. According to a BIWTA list, the eviction drives were on to construct different establishments to modernise and beautify the port.

Organisations who took the land on lease from BCC “illegally,” were planning to build a rest house, prayer room, and freshrooms for the passengers near the port at a cost of Tk2.5 crore, claimed BIWTA sources.

Md Shahidullah said the eviction drive was postponed as BCC authority had raised objection claiming ownership of the land.

However, he denied giving the land on lease to any authority.

According to Nikhil Chandra Das, BCC’s chief executive officer, the land and under construction establishments in and around the Charkawa Kheya Ghat and the Hatkhola area where BIWTA started eviction drives were owned by the city corporation.

No one but the BCC had the authority to demolish any structure from its land, he said, adding that they had, for this reason, requested the magistrate to halt the drive. l

Road crash kills one, two injured n FM Mizanur Rahaman

A person was killed and two got injured when a bus collided head-on with a truck on the Keranirhat-Bandarban road in Satkania uapzila of Chittagong yesterday.

The dead was identified as Md Gafur, 40, the truck driver while the injured were Ferdous and Mahmud, said assistant sub-inspector Pankaj Barua of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) police outpost.

ASI Pankaj said the truck collided with a bus in Haldiya area of Satkania upazila around 2:30pm, leaving the three persons critically injured.

They were immediately taken to the CMCH where the on duty physicians declared Gafur dead, he said, adding that the other two were under treatment at the CMCH causality ward. l

Boy jailed for slapping a girl in the face

ADMINISTRATION-DOCTORS ROW

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A college student was yesterday sent to jail a day after he was jailed for 15 days on charges of slapping a girl across the face in Gopalganj.

The court, led by Kashiani Upazila Nirbahi Officer Moniruzzaman, handed down the penalty on Thursday night.

Ramdia Government SK College Principal Prof Bolai Chand said there was a direct vote taking place at Ramdia Government SK College to bring an amendment over whether irregular students could cast their vote in the college parliament election.

A second year girl student then stood up and held up her hand against the amendment, sparking a heated argument with convict Mamun Molla and at one stage, he slapped her face, he said.

Both the boy and the girl hail from Ramdia village.

Kashiani police station Officer-inCharge Md Monirul Islam said they had sent the convict to jail yesterday noon. l

WEATHER DRY WEATHER LIKELY

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:19PM SUN RISES 6:05AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 31 30 30 30 31 30 32 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

21 23 19 19 18 20 19 24

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.5ºC Sitakunda

17.5ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

GPA 5 achievers in the Primary School Certificate examinations 2013 pose with the Rajshahi City Corporation mayor Mohammed Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul. The mayor handed medals to the top scorers from different schools of Rajshahi at a ceremony arranged in the city’s Green Plaza yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

4:48am 6:03am 11:42am 3:43pm 5:19pm 6:36 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Probe into misconduct with doctors begins Correspondent, n Our Chapainawabganj A probe team is investigating the dispute among physicians and the local authorities in Shibganj over alleged misconduct of government officials with doctors.

The dispute erupted when doctors at Shibganj Upazila Health Complex treated bullet-hit Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir activists without informing the police, and also helped the activists to flee.

A total of 30 people, including 10 police and BGB officials, were injured in a clash between police and Jamaat-Shibir activists in Shibganj after the verdict in the war crimes case against Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was pronounced on October 29.

Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Syed Irtiza Ahmed said five bullet-hit Jamaat and Shibir men were treated at Shibganj Health Complex and were also shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, but doctors did not inform the police. He claimed the injured Jamaat-Shibir activists who attacked the police managed to flee with the assistance of doctors at the health complex.

Shibganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdur Rahman said the UNO office phoned doctors to send medics for treating two BGB officials who received injuries during Wednesday’s clash.

“We told them there had been a shortage of doctors and some senior brothers were sent for treating the BGB men. The UNO and the commander of BGB 9 battalion later came to the health complex, and hurled abuse and even attempted to beat up me, Dr Afia Ferdous of the emergency department and senior brother Tariqul Islam. We

Doctors and workers at the health complex today would organise a sit-in outside the hospital in protest at the misconduct with their colleagues were taken to the police station where we had been detained for three hours and were charged with helping the injured to escape,” he said.

Dr Rahman said the local authorities were enraged at not sending doctors for treating the injured BGB officials.

“Although Afia is pregnant, she was not spared and was treated very rudely during detention. We were released when the health secretary and central leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association arrived at the police station,” he added.

Gonojagoron Moncho starts ‘Jagoron Jatra’ n

Arif Ahmed

Gonojagoron Moncho yesterday started a two-day march – Jagoron Jatra – towards the northern part of the country to press home their six points of demand, including scrapping of presidential clemency for war crimes convicts and putting a ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics in the country.

With around 165 activists being aboard four buses and two micro buses, the march, led by Moncho Spokesperson Dr Imran H Sarker, began from Shahabag Projonmo Chattar around 9:30am.

Before the march took off, Imran told reporters that they would hold several rallies in different places on the way to their journey to the north and would wind up their programme through a rally in Rajshahi on Saturday afternoon.

“We have started the journey to press home our six point demands including a constitutional amendment to ignore war criminals’ presidential clemency and to create awareness among people about issuing a ban on Jamat-Shibir politics”. Gonojagoron Moncho held street rallies including Manikganj, Jhenaidha, Meherpur, Chuadanga yesterday. l

Irtiza, however, denied the allegations of rude behaviour and manhandle attempts.

Commander of BGB 9 battalion Lt Col Abu Zafar Sheikh Mohammad Bazlul Haque said the move to treat the bullet-hit patients without informing the police and also to help them leave the health complex was suspicious.

“This was also a violation of criminal law,” he said.

According to intelligence sources, Dr Rahman has familial involvement with Jamaat.

Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon Dr AKM Mozahar Hossain said a three-member probe committee headed by Director of Rajshahi Health Division Hedayetul Islam was formed in compliance with an order of the director general of the health directorate.

“The committee has got down to business and has been asked to submit a report within three days,” he said.

Meanwhile, doctors and workers at the health complex today would organise a sit-in outside the hospital in protest at the misconduct with their colleagues.

They will also hold an emergency meeting.

Dr Golam Rabbani, general secretary of Chapainawabganj unit of Bangladesh Medical Association, condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with today’s protest. l

AL leader hacked to death in Bogra

n Our Correspondent, Bogra An Awami League activist was killed by miscreants in Bogra on Thursday night.

Family members of deceased Moazzem Hossain, 50 said local Chhatra League leader Kamrul Huda Ujjal had demanded Tk2 lakh which he refused to pay.

On Thursday night the extortionists went to Moazzem’s house for the money, threatening to kill him.

At a certain point, the miscreants shot and hacked Moazzem and later brought him out of the house and killed him.

Two passersby, Md Nurul Islam and Moazzem Hossain too received gunshot injuries in the process. l

5

Drug addict found dead inside rehab n FM Mizanur Rahaman Dead body of a patient was recovered form a rehabilitation centre situated in Chittagong’s Halishahar area yesterday.

The dead, Mizan Uddin Munna, was a drug abuser who was admitted to Chhayaneer Rehabilitation Centre by his family members.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Tanvir Arafat said the hospital authorties informed police after finding Munna lying dead on his bed in the morning yesterday.

Police recovered the body around 11:30am that bore several marks of injuries, said the ADC, adding a case was filed in this regard.

Meanwhile, a farmer Anil Rudra, 48, was shot dead by a gang of armed robbers on his

paddy field around 3am yesterday.

Mohammed Shahjahan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Lohagara police station, said in Haridaghona area under Borohatiya union of the upazila, Anil and his nephew Sanjay Rudra, 25, were patrolling in their paddy field to save grains from wild elephants.

A gang of armed robbers opened fire on them while returning from another part of the upazila after committing a robbery, leaving Anil dead and Rudra injured on the spot.

Anil’s body was sent to CMCH morgue for autopsy while a case was under process of filing with Lohagara police station in this connection.

Rudra was admitted to the upazila health complex and later shifted to CMCH for better treatment, said the OC. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Frustration grips 10,000 potential power consumers in Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Frustration grips more than 10,000 people as they have not yet got any electricity meter installed, let alone power connection, even though they paid meter charges six months ago in Gazipur.

Local Syed Mashiur Rahman, who lives at Rajbari area in the district town, said: I deposited services charges after Palli Bidyut Samity’s inspection and

wiring five months ago, but have not yet got any meter, let alone power connection.”

Another local Abul Kashem, who lives at Ward No 15 in Gazipur City Corporation expressed similar views and said: “I paid all charges for three meters around six months ago, but have not got any meter.”

Bazlur Rashid, who lives at Bhogra village, shared different experiences with the rural electrification board office.

“I had a power meter damaged by a storm once, which I informed the Palli Bidyut office, but its staffs demanded Tk30,000 as fines. However, I finally managed to settle it at Tk10,000.”

He rued that he might not have to count such an amount of money in losses had he fixed the meter with an electrician rather than go to inform the Palli Bidyut Samity office about its damage.’

When Palli Bidyut Samity’s Deouty General Manager Noor Mohammad at

its Chhayabithi Office was asked about this all, he said they would give power connections to the people soon after meters were imported from China.

He said it would not take more than one month to import the meters from China.

Palli Bidyut Samity General Manager Engineer Jahirul Islam said it would take some time to bring the meters from China after completing all formal procedures. l

A couple busy making molasses of date juice at Jardarpara under Puthia upazila, Rajshahi. Juice extractors are busy trimming the tops of date trees to collect date juice for making molasses. Puthia and its adjoining areas have been famous for date juice and date molasses for years AZAHAR UDDIN

Pest attack on aman plants worries farmers

UP chairman, secretary accused of illegally cutting down trees Correspondent, n Our Mymensingh n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh Standing aman plants on vast tracts Seven councillors of Hafizabad union parishad in Panchagarh upazila placed an official complaint against Chairman Shahadat Hossain and Secretary Shahadat Hossain to the district administration for allegedly cutting down over a hundred roadside trees defying rules.

The councillors submitted the complaint to Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Salah Uddin on October 23, stating that the UP chairman and secretary had pulled down and sold the trees planted along 9km of the road between Diabari Dakhin Talma and Bhitargarh Balurghat in the union without following the proper procedure and arranging an auction, as per the rules.

Before them, the beneficiaries of said trees filed the same complaint against the accused union parishad officials with the district administration on October 21.

As no action was taken against the accused after submission of the complaint, the councillors and the beneficiaries sent the copy of the complaint to the local media on Wednesday afternoon and requested to make it public.

Sources at the union parishad said the trees were of different species, such as mahagoni, eucalyptus, etc, and had been planted in 1990 under a forestation project supported by the World Food Programme.

As per the project agreement, the trees were to be sold after they had fully grown and through auction, they said.

From the auction earnings are supposed to be distributed to the trees’ beneficiaries (55%), the upazila parishad (30%) and the union parishad (15%).

When contacted over phone, Rashidil Islam, member at the union parishad, reiterated the claim and said the union parishad chairman and secretary had been illegally cutting down the valuable trees for several months now. l

of lands at Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh district have severely been attacked by pest and stem rot disease making the farmers apprehensive about the output of the paddy this season.

Most of the pest and disease infested plants are getting yellowish and the pests are causing devastation to the adjoining fields, though the farmers made repeated attempts to control them by frequent spraying of pesticides.

Farmers allege that paddy fields in different areas under the upazila have seriously been affected by stem borer, locally called Mazra Poka, Brown Plant Hopper (Current Poka) and stem rot disease which wither the plants and make them yellow.

Upazila Agricultural Officer Syful

Azam said: “Some 19, 400 hectares of land have been brought under aman cultivation in Dakatia, Malikabari, Uthura, Meduari, Bironbia, Rajoi areas with a target of 49,595 tonne rice.”

But the farmers are concerned as they might not get expected yield if immediate steps are not taken to overcome the adverse circumstances.

A number of farmers allege that substandard and low quality pesticides have flooded the markets.

Consequently they are often deceived by purchasing such pesticides with little or no effect, causing financial losses.

Abdul Motaleb of Dhairapara village said his one out of three acres of paddy fields got damaged by Brown Plant Hopper and stem rot disease. Although he sprayed pesticides several times but could not control the intensity of pest attack.

Current poka suddenly attacks

paddy fields in swarms, sucks plants fluid within a short time and turns them into yellowish straw, he also said.

Dhanu Mia of Nishida village under Sadar upazila said he cultivated the paddy on three acres of land this season. About 30 percent of his paddy fields have been affected by pest and disease. As a result paddy fields are turning yellowish. No ear of paddy has come out from the plants.

Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation a good number of farmers urged the authority concerned to take effective measures so that they can get rid of the menace very soon.

Syful Azam said: “Adequate measures have been taken to combat spread of diseases and pest attack and an awareness campaign is going on urging farmers to contact local agriculture officials to overcome any problem.” l

DETERIORATION IN LAW AND ORDER

13 killed in this month in Munshiganj Correspondent, n Our Munshiganj The law and order situation has alarmingly deteriorated in Munshiganj with killing of 13 people and rise in incidents of extortion, mugging and other sorts of crimes which created panic among residents of the district.

Of the killings, two happened in Munshiganj Sadar, one in Tongibari, one in Lauhajong, three in Sirajdikhan, three in Srinagar and three in Gazaria upazilas.

Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Kalibari area, Tongibari upazila, said Munshiganj was known as a peaceful district, but recently the

increase in crime has increased alarming.

“It seems that the district has become a dumping ground of bodies as police often recover a body of a non-resident from beside Dhaka-Mawa Highway.”

Mobarak Hossain, a resident of Rampal area under sadar upazila, said law enforcement agencies should take prompt measures to check the situation.

Police said they had found an unidentified body of about 45 years from a pond at Sonarong village, Tongibari upazila on October 18.

On October 15, police had found the body of Sawad Dewan, 6, from a ditch. Later, police came to know

that the kid was strangled by his step father over family feud on October 13. On October 8, police found the body of an unidentified woman of around50 years of age, from Kalidas Sagor, a tributary of the Daleswary River.

On October 7, the body of Sufia Begum, 50, a resident of Bhaberchar College road area, was discovered from a paddy field.

Police arrested two people identified as Akram, 23, and Shafiuddin, 47, for their alleged involvement with killing.

Police Super, Munshiganj Biplob Bijoy said law and order in the district remained stable and they had arrested peopleinvolved in the killings. l

NEWS IN BRIEF One killed over land dispute A man was killed over a land dispute at Modon Gouri village under Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar district yesterday. The deceased was identified as Shafiqul Islam Chawdhury, 60. According to police, there was a dispute over a land between Shafiqul and his neighbor Mozommil Miah. Yesterday they had an altercation. At one point Mozommil hit Shafiqul with a sharp weapon which left him dead on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to Moulvibazar 250 Bed Hospital for autopsy. Md Atiqur Rahman, Sub-inspector of Kulaura police station, said Mojommil managed to escape.

Filing of a case in this connection was under process, the SI added.

– Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

22,000 litre of home-made liquor recovered from Rajshahi

Fake DGFI man detained in Satkhira

RAB-5 seized 22,000 litre of liquor from a liquor producing factory and arrested a man yesterday in a raid to Voruapara village in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi. During the drive seven liquor factories were destroyed by the law enforcement authority. Senior Assistant Police Super (ASP) Mirza Golam Sarowar said some people were running the business of for a long time. Upon information, RAB men directed the drive and destroyed their establishments, but the owner of the factory Alimuddin’s Rashid and Nasir managed to escape. A case was lodged against them, and the detained Momin, 30, was sentenced three month’s jail by the Mobile court .

– Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a man who was posing as a senior sub-inspector (SSI) of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) in Satkhira yesterday. BGB Commander Nazrul Islam said the detained Bishnudeb Sarkar, 42, had come to Bhomra border out post and introduced himself as an SSI of DGFI. At one point of the conversation the BGB men suspected his identity and informed the DGFI officials, who went to the spot and found out that the identity card of Bishnudeb was a fake. Later, he was handed over to a local police station. Police said he had been deceiving people for long.

– Our Correspondent, Satkhira

Magura takes a festive look in observance of Kartiany Puja n Our Correspondent, Magura Magura town has taken a festive look as Kartiany Puja being celebrated. Although Durga Puja is the biggest festival for Hindus across the country, Magura is an exception as Kartiany Puja is observed here with pompous festivity. The five-day Puja started yesterday.

Local Hindus said Shatish Chandra Biswas of village Nanbduali under Magura sadar upazila was the pioneer of Kartiany Puja in the district. Shatish observed the puja in his house 64 years back. The festivity of the puja is increasing day by day.

According to Hindu legacy, in the Dapore era women who lived on the bank of Jamuna River, offered worship to Lord Shree Kishna duirng Bangla month Kartik. Following the ritual residents of Magura have been observing the puja, they said.

Proddut Kumar Shingho, president of Magura district Puja Udjapan Parishad said a total of 55 puja stages had been set up in the district.

He said Kartiany festival was also a manifestation of communal harmony in the district as along with Hindus people Muslims also celebrate the festival. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Air strikes hit Kobane as Kurdish Peshmerga prepare to enter n Reuters, Suruc

US-led air strikes hit Islamic State positions around the Syrian border town of Kobane on Friday in an apparent bid to pave the way for heavily-armed Kurdish peshmerga forces to enter from neighboring Turkey.

The predominantly Kurdish town, besieged for more than 40 days, has become the focus of a global war against the Sunni Muslim insurgents, who have captured expanses of Iraq and Syria and declared an Islamic “caliphate” straddling the two.

Its fighters have slaughtered or driven away Shi’ite Muslims, Christians and other communities who do not share their ultra-radical brand of Sunni Islam. They executed at least 220 Iraqis in retaliation against opposition to their takeover of territory west of Baghdad this week.

The siege of Kobane – known in Arabic as Ayn al-Arab – has turned into a test of the US-led coalition’s ability to stop Islamic State’s advance, with weeks of air strikes so far failing to break the insurgents’ stranglehold.

Kobane’s defenders, outgunned by the militants, are hoping the arrival of peshmerga forces from Iraqi Kurdistan with badly-needed weapons including cannon and truck-mounted machine-guns will help them turn the tide.

An advance guard of 10 peshmerga briefly entered Kobane on Thursday to discuss a joint strategy with leaders of the YPG, the main Syrian Kurdish armed group defending the town.

Armored vehicles came and went from a former cotton processing warehouse near the Turkish border town of Suruc on Friday, where the wider contingent of around 150 peshmerga fighters were preparing for their deployment.

Tankers from the convoy emerged from the compound, guarded by Turkish security forces, to fill up at a local fuel station.

“For the past 15 days, Islamic State has been attacking to try to take control of the border gate, including with car bombs. But we are resisting,” said Enver Muslim, the top administrative official in the Kobane district.

“While the peshmerga convoy pass-

es, US jets will be overhead and warplanes from the coalition ... will be flying over Kobane to ensure their security,” he told Reuters by phone.

Around 200 fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) - an umbrella term for the dozens of armed groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - have also entered Kobane from Turkey to support the struggle against Islamic State.

Air cover

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday preliminary information indicated that at least 21 Islamic State members were killed in coalition air strikes around Kobane, including a Danish jihadist.

A local journalist in the town said there had been several air strikes overnight and a Reuters correspondent saw one early on Friday to the east of Kobane.

It is unclear whether the small but heavily armed contingent will be enough to swing the battle, but the deployment is a potent display of unity between Kurdish groups that more often seek to undermine each other. l

7

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Pentagon chief: Attacks on IS may help Assad n AFP, Washington Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel acknowledged Thursday that US-led air strikes against the Islamic State group, one of the Syrian regime’s main adversaries, could help President Bashar al-Assad.

“As we and the coalition go after ISIL (IS) to help the Iraqis secure their government, but also the Middle East, yes, Assad derives some benefit of that, of course,” Hagel said.

But he noted that Washington was pursuing a long-term strategy that opposes any role for Assad.

“We’ve got to manage through the realities of what we have in front of us with some longer term strategies and objectives as to how we eventually get to where we think we need to go,” Hagel said.

Asked if the United States still wanted Assad to step down, Hagel said: “That’s the policy of this administration.”

President Barack Obama’s strategy to defeat the Islamic State group has been heavily criticised at home and abroad for potentially empowering the Assad regime, as American and allied warplanes are bombing one of Assad’s primary enemies while avoiding any confrontation with the Damascus regime.

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel holds a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, August …

Hagel wrote a memo to the White House’s national security adviser Susan Rice last week sharply criticising the administration’s policy in Syria, arguing that Washington needed to clarify what its stance was toward the Assad regime, defense officials said, confirming a New York Times report.

Asked about the memo, Hagel did not confirm or deny it but said he and other top officials had a responsibility to offer the US president candid advice.

“We owe the president and we owe the National Security Council our best thinking on this. And it has to be honest and it has to be direct,” Hagel said.

The memo was cited in the Times article by Hagel’s aides as an example of how the Pentagon chief is more assertive behind the scenes than his reserved public performance might suggest.

Hagel warned that the Syria policy was “in danger of unraveling” due to confusion over the US stance toward Assad, the paper wrote.

The Obama administration has focused on defeating the Islamic State group in Iraq first, and portrayed USled air strikes in Syria as a way of disrupting the jihadists’ supply lines. l

Mass grave of Iraqi tribesmen opposed to IS found n Reuters, Baghdad The bodies of 150 members of an Iraqi Sunni tribe which fought Islamic State have been found in a mass grave, security officials said on Thursday.

Islamic State militants took the men from their villages to the city of Ramadi and killed them on Wednesday night and buried them, an official in a police operations center and another security official told Reuters.

In a separate case, witnesses said they found 70 corpses from the same Albu Nimr tribe near the town of Hit in the Sunni heartland Anbar province.

Security officials there were not immediately available for comment.

Most of the victims found near Hit were members of the police or an anti-Islamic State Sunni force called Sahwa (Awakening).

“Early this morning we found those corpses and we have been told by some Islamic State militants that ‘those people are from Sahwa, who fought your brothers the Islamic State, and this is the punishment of anybody fighting Islamic State’,” an eyewitness said.

Tribal sheikhs from Albu Nimr say both sets of victims were among more than 300 men aged between 18 and 55 who were seized by Islamic State this week. l

Kerry: Insults against Israel PM ‘disgraceful, damaging’ Israel backing out of US V-22 aircraft sale V-22 sale canceled n Tribune Desk On the other hand, Israel’s defence

Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinian Muslim worshippers perform traditional Friday prayers on a street outside the Old City in east Jerusalem yesterday, following restrictions by Israeli police to allow entry only to Muslim men over 50, wanting to access the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israeli police deployed heavily around Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound as it reopened Friday for Muslim prayers after a rare closure during clashes over the killing of a Palestinian by security forces AFP

US Secretary of State John Kerry hit out Thursday at reported insults by an American official leveled against the Israeli prime minister, saying it was “disgraceful, unacceptable and damaging.”

The top US diplomat also pledged the United States would continue to work “quietly and effectively” to try to relaunch the peace process with the Palestinians in a thoughtful and even-handed way, saying it was “doable.”

Turbulent US-Israel ties plunged to new lows this week, when an anonymous senior Obama administration official was quoted in The Atlantic magazine as calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a chickenshit” only interested in preserving his own political skin.

Kerry told a forum hosted by The Atlantic that the comments did not reflect the views of either President Barack Obama or his cabinet.

A bid by Kerry to hammer out an elusive peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed earlier this year amid bitter recriminations on both sides.

Iran replies to western Europe won’t recognise vote in human rights damnation eastern Ukraine, Merkel tells Putin n Reuters, Geneva Iran defended its human rights record on Friday, after a wave of Western criticism of its execution of a woman for murdering a man she said had tried to rape her.

Mohammad Javad Larijani, secretary general of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, was speaking at a more than three hour-long debate in the UN Human Rights Council to review Tehran’s record.

Reyhaneh Jabbari was hanged on Saturday in Tehran’s Evin prison for the killing. The dead man’s relatives had refused to grant her a reprieve within a 10day deadline set by sharia law, in force since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“We were not successful to solicit forgiveness from the hearts of victims.

So the execution went on. Though we are very sorry that two nationals lost lives, but capital punishment or ‘qisas’ is a unique particularity of our system.

I think it worth Western countries to look into it,” Larijani said.

“The idea that only good things in western community – the ‘West and the rest’ – this is a very destructive idea of human rights,” he said.

Larijani said he had asked the man’s relatives to forgive Jabbari and spare her life. “Unfortunately we were not able, perhaps one reason for that was the huge propaganda that was created against this case. In my last meeting with the son of the victim, I requested him very humbly to forgive, I told him: ‘you lost a loved one, forgive, this is the teaching of Koran’.

“He said ‘we had the intention to

forgive. But with this media blitz, officials are accusing our father of being engaged in force and violent rape, we cannot have his humiliation’.”

Due process and the independence of Iran’s judiciary was enshrined in its constitution, Larijani said. Judicial and prison staff were being trained in human rights.

Iran did not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, or religion and allowed activist groups to work, he said.

But UN sanctions imposed on Iran for its nuclear program and “unilateral coercive measures against our citizens” created obstacles to economic and social rights, Larijani said.

Syrian ambassador Hussam Eddin Aala praised Iran’s efforts to improve its legal framework and urged its ally to “continue efforts to highlight the negative repercussions of both terrorism and unilateral coercive measures.”

Britain, Australia, Canada, France and the United States were among those speaking out at alleged rights violations in Iran in the debate, which was part of the UN council’s regular examination of every UN member state every four years.

He urged Iran to release Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter detained since July, “to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression.”

Rezaian, a dual Iranian-American national, has been based in Tehran since 2008. The two states have no diplomatic relations. This month Iran released his wife, an Iranian journalist, on bail after more than two months held without charge. l

n Reuters, Berlin German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone that Sunday’s planned elections in eastern Ukraine were illegitimate and would not be recognised by European leaders, a Berlin government spokesman said on Friday.

Merkel and Putin held a joint telephone conversation with French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Merkel’s spokesman Georg Streiter said at a government news conference.

He said in the call there were diverging opinions on Sunday’s “so-called elections” in the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

“Merkel and Hollande underlined that there can only be a ballot in line with Ukrainian law,” he said, adding

Merkel and Putin held a joint telephone conversation with Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko that the vote would violate the Minsk agreement and further complicate efforts to find a solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

“The German government will not recognise these illegitimate elections,” Merkel’s spokesman said, adding that European leaders were united on this issue and had agreed on this at a summit last week in Brussels.

However, all four leaders welcomed the latest agreement between Russia and Ukraine on gas supplies, the spokesman said. Everybody agreed that both sides should put an end to violence in eastern Ukraine and implement the agreed, but fragile ceasefire.

Over 3,700 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow rebels seek union with Russia. A ceasefire has been in force since September but there have been isolated flareups of fighting. l

PM: Ukraine will guarantee transit of Russian gas to Europe n Reuters, Kiev Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, speaking after a gas agreement with Russia was nailed down, said on Friday Ukraine would guarantee deliveries of gas through its territory to Europe to make sure Moscow had no room for “blackmailing.”

Yatseniuk, speaking to Ukrainian energy officials, criticised Russia’s South Stream project to transport Russian gas through the Black sea to

Europe and added: “Ukraine will guarantee transit.

“It (Ukraine) will not give Russia the means of blackmailing Ukraine and Europe with different (gas) flows,” he said.

Ukraine, Russia and the European Union signed a deal on Thursday that will see Moscow resume vital supplies of gas to its ex-Soviet neighbor over the winter in return for payments funded in part by Kiev’s Western creditors.

After several failed rounds of talks in recent weeks as conflict rumbles on

despite a ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, the accord also eases concerns that a new “gas war” could disrupt winter supplies of energy to EU states, notably through pipelines shut down across Ukraine since June.

Yatseniuk said on Friday he would talk to the International Monetary Fund later in the day to discuss how to adapt his country’s $17-billion standby program with the lender following the gas deal. l

minister is dropping the purchase of US V-22 Osprey aircraft, raising concerns that this could further chill already frosty relations with Washington, Israel Hayom daily said Thursday.

The mass-circulation freesheet, considered close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Moshe Yaalon’s decision went against the Israeli military’s wishes.

The paper linked the move to budget constraints, lessons learned from the 50-day summer war in the Gaza Strip and the recent conclusion of an agreement to buy a second batch of costly Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters.

The V-22 Osprey is an advanced vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft.

Israel Hayom said the planned purchase of six Ospreys would have made Israel the first country outside the United States to deploy them.

Following the Gaza offensive, Yaalon chose to produce more homebuilt Namer (Leopard) heavy armoured personnel carriers and increase stocks of precision munitions, the paper said. l

Burkina Faso president leaves power n Reuters, Ouagadougou Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore announced his resignation in a statement on Friday and called for a 90-day transition to “free and transparent” elections in the West African country, local radio and television said.

“I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days,” said the statement, read on local radio and television by presenters.

Lieutenant-Colonel Issaac Zida of the presidential guard had earlier announced Compaore’s departure in the central Place de la Nation in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou to cheering from tens of thousands of protesters.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Burkina Faso on Thursday and Friday to press president Blaise Compaore to step down, a day after the army dissolved parliament and announced a transitional government in the face of violent mass protests.

Compaore has ruled the landlocked West African country since he seized power in a 1987 coup but events on Thursday - when he appeared on the point of being toppled by a popular uprising - have left it unclear who is in charge.

Long a bastion of stability in the turbulent Sahel region, Burkina Faso’s crisis is being closely watched by military allies France and the United States, and by governments in the region where several long-standing rulers are approaching the end of their mandates amid rumbling of popular discontent. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Virus vs bacterial infection Many seasonal illnesses are caused by viruses. Symptoms of these illnesses are very similar to some bacterial infections. Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria, but they aren’t effective against viruses

n Prescription Desk

It’s not a parent’s job to diagnose illness. Parents know their children and if their kids seem unusually ill or are not improving, see a doctor immediately.  Seek urgent medical advice if the child is:  Listless, or difficult to rouse  Refusing to drink any fluids or can’t keep fluids down  Not passing urine  Breathing consistently fast or in a laboured manner  In pain

Your little one is sick again – there’s a runny nose, a nasty cough and a fever. But is it a virus which will mainly respond to rest, fluids and mum’s care or do you need to head HEALTH FLASH to the doctor for a prescription of antibiotics? Many viruses and bacterial infections can appear to have a similar impact on kids. Both make them feel unwell, put them off their food and keep them home from school or childcare. But their treatments can be very different.

When do you need antibiotics?

What science said?

BIGSTOCK

survive. When a virus enters the body, it invades some of the cells and takes over the cell machinery, directing it to produce the virus.

Viruses can sometimes be difficult to for the body’s immune system to kill off because they hide inside cells making it difficult for antibodies to reach them. But most common viruses selfresolve within a week or so.

Antibiotics are ineffective in treating viruses although some can be treated with what are called anti-viral drugs.

FOOD THERAPY

BIGSTOCK

Lowers your cholesterol

BIGSTOCK

In a 2011 study, older women who consumed 2 grams of pumpkin seed oil per day for 12 weeks showed a significant increase in HDL “good” cholesterol and a drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). The pumpkin eaters also reported fewer headaches, less joint pain, and a decrease in the severity of their hot flashes. Phytoestrogens in pumpkin oil, which may stave off the cardiovascular trouble associated with the drop in estrogen levels after menopause, according to the researchers.

Pumpkin Combats hair loss

of developing breast cancer. Pumpkin seeds contain lignans (a type of plant-based estrogen), as well as alpha linoleic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), both of which may help shield against breast cancer, the scientists said.

Tames your blood sugar

| Compiled by Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar



Any parent worried about their child’s health should see a doctor.

n Prescription Desk How sharp you are at age 65 may be tied to something totally out of your control: your blood type. And people with Type AB RESEARCH blood — the least common type — may face a particularly high risk of memory loss later in life, according to a study recently published in the journal Neurology. This isn’t the first time blood type has been shown to influence health risks. In a 2014 study from Pakistan, for example, people with Type A blood were shown to be at significantly higher risk of heart disease. Another recent study,

Dental floss dislodges food particles trapped between the teeth and under the gums where toothbrushes can’t reach. Left unchecked, bacterial buildup can lead to cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. People have all sorts of excuses for not flossing their teeth. But dentists say there are easy ways to floss that address every excuse.

Flossing not only keeps your teeth healthy, it may help decrease your risk of a stroke later.

Tooth loss increases the risk of a stroke many years later, according to a new Japanese study, and underlying gum disease may be to blame.

Some studies have suggested a link between periodontal disease and heart disease. Periodontal diseases range from gum inflammation to diseases that damage the tissue and bone that support the teeth. Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss after the age of 40.

The mouth is brimming with bacteria, which contributes to the sticky, colourless plaque that binds to teeth. Brushing and flossing helps get rid of plaque.

BIGSTOCK

published in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostics Research, identified Type A blood as a possible risk factor for oral, esophageal, and salivary gland, cancers, while Type B was flagged as a potential risk factor for laryngeal cancers.

It’s also not the first time that Type AB blood has been tied specifically to vascular trouble: A 2014 study published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis — conducted by the same researchers behind the new Neurology study — found that people with Type AB blood faced an 83 percent higher risk of stroke than those with Type O blood, which had previously been linked to reduced odds of cardiovascular issues.

The researchers have begun to explore potential links between Type AB blood and memory loss. However, this study emerged as a statistically significant link between Type AB blood and memory decline. So should Type AB people panic about preserving their memory? At least not yet, said researchers. They said the association they have seen was relatively small, and the findings need to be confirmed in other studies. However, everyone can work to maintain their cognitive function through leading a healthy lifestyle, in terms of diet, physical activity, and not smoking, as well as controlling cardiovascular risk through optimizing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes treatment. l

Research into heart disease has shown that micro-organisms associated with gum disease have been found in atheromas accumulation of calcified material - in the arteries of patients. It has been suggested that toxins in these micro-organisms damage cells in the lining of the arteries.

Flossing is very easy to practice.

It’s a simple piece of string, sometimes flavored, often waxed.

Wrap 18 inches or so around your finger and you have a powerful tool that can help prevent cavities and give your overall health a big boost. If you practiced ideal dental hygiene, you’d be flossing after every meal. Do that and you’ll have an absolutely immaculate mouth. Bedtime, rather than morning, is the better choice for once-a-day flossers. Your salivary flow is very low when you’re sleeping. So for those 7 or 8 hours you’re in bed, you’re not washing away the bacteria teeming in your mouth. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

male impotence. Cardamom contains cineole, a compound that increases blood flow to the sexual organs.

Libido is a type of physiological and psychological energy. As we age physiological part of libido can be declined.

PILLOW Eating some foods and TALK avoiding fatty foods can restore your libido. Eat a diet rich in zinc, B vitamins and essential fatty acids, the nutrients required for sex hormone production and reproductive function.

Celery

Celery contains the male hormone androsterone, and when consumed raw by men it causes the release of pheromones, which can trigger female attraction. Androsterone is also believed to have mood elevating properties.

Garlic

Almonds

An excellent source of omega-3 fats, which are essential for the production of testosterone, fertility and a healthy sex drive.

Bananas

BIGSTOCK

Overloaded on Halloween candy? Pick up a pumpkin. Around the world, local healers regularly prescribe pumpkin to treat diabetes. Pumpkin has been shown to lower the blood sugar of people with type 2 diabetes, according to a 2010 paper in Nutrition Research Reviews.

Pumpkin may encourage the release of insulin, although the mechanism of its magic still isn’t clear, the researchers say.

Trust your instincts

n Prescription Desk

Fights breast cancer Snacking on pumpkin seeds may protect your breasts. In a 2012 study in Nutrition and Cancer, researchers found that older women who regularly munched on pumpkin or sunflower seeds had a significantly lower risk

12 viruses a year. These could be in the form of upper respiratory tract infections or viral gastroenteritis. Many viruses are self-resolving, without medical intervention that doesn’t mean they are necessarily less dangerous for kids – particularly complications caused by flu like secondary infections and dehydration caused by gastro.

Flossing keeps you healthy

11 Foods to boost your libido BIGSTOCK

If your head is starting to resemble a pumpkin — smooth and shiny — it may be time to add the orange stuff to your plate. In a 2014 study from Korea showed regular consumption of pumpkin seed oil increases hair growth. Pumpkin seed oil may block the action of 5-alpha reductase, a chemical involved in the production of testosterone, one of the key hormonal culprits behind male pattern baldness, the scientists say.

If a child is unwell, most parents don’t know if it’s bacterial or viral. The common cold is usually easily diagnosed by parents, but with ear and throat infections, a doctor’s help is needed. The same with potentially serious infections like pneumonia – in this case an X-ray and blood test would be required to make a diagnosis.

Generally, viral illnesses are more common. And children under the age of five years can expect to have 10-

People with AB blood group may be in a risk of memory loss

Superpowers of pumpkin seeds Pumpkin is low in calories and packed with the good stuff: fiber, vitamins (A,C,E), minerals (copper, calcium, potassium), and antioxidants (betacarotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin). And think twice before tossing the seeds: They’re an excellent source of protein, fiber, magnesium, and good-for-you monounsaturated fats.

What parents should consider

BIGSTOCK

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments. Most bacteria don’t harm people and have jobs like breaking down food and inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria. But the ones that get all the nasty press are the disease-causing bacteria called pathogenic. These are the ones that cause pneumonia, middle ear infections, skin infections and bacterial meningitis.

How the pathogenic bacteria make people sick is that they gain access to the body and if the conditions are right, start splitting into two and increasing in number. They need antibiotics to kill them.

Viruses are not cells but tiny microorganisms that require living hosts (ie a cell) in which to multiply or they can’t

It is true that colds and flus are caused by viruses and antibiotics cannot kill viruses and therefore have no role in treating colds and flus.

However, in cases where there may be a secondary bacterial infection such as a sinus, ear infection or chest infection, antibiotics may be warranted.

Sinus or facial pain, headache, upper tooth pain and nasal obstruction with thick green or yellow nasal mucus may indicate a sinus infection, which may require antibiotics. A productive cough with thick yellow, green or bloodstained mucus may suggest bronchitis or a chest infection, which may benefit from antibiotics.

A sore throat with enlarged, red tonsils may be a bacterial tonsillitis, which needs antibiotics. Ear pain or discharge may indicate a viral or bacterial ear infection and may benefit from antibiotics. l

QUICK TIPS

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High in B vitamins and potassium, which are needed for the production of the sex hormones necessary for a healthy libido in men and women.

Oysters

A rich source of zinc, which is one of the key nutrients involved in testosterone, sperm production and reproductive health.

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Avocados

Contain folic acid, B6 and potassium, all necessary to increase male hormone production and enhance libido.

Basil

Basil is a feel-good herb, helping produce a general sense of wellbeing. Basil also boosts your circulation which in turn helps your libido. The scent is also believed to stimulate arousal.

Maca

Maca is a root vegetable from Peru

and is frequently touted as a natural Viagra. It’s considered to be the uber superfood to increase sex drive in men and women, and it also helps increase sperm count. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids, all of which work to increase energy levels.

In men, it can help with erectile dysfunction, and for women it is said to increase sex drive and fertility.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a natural alternative to Viagra, as it is believed to help counter

Garlic contains allicin, a highly powerful compound that improves blood flow to the sexual organs. It’s best consumed raw, and must be crushed first.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is important fortestosterone production in men and helps boost libido.

They are also very high in omega-3 fatty acids, which act as a precursor for prostaglandins, which play a key role in sexual health.

Asparagus

Asparagus is very high in vitamin E, which is often thought of as being important for sleep but is also important for libido. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

Saturday, November 1, 2013

9

Gunpowder plots India, it has been said, was the ‘largest gunpowder producer in the world until the twentieth century.

Specifically, the Bengal and Bihar regions

“S n Tim Steel

her Shah’s infantry, carrying firearms, were recruited from the eastern Ganges plain.” The historian, James Frey, is amongst the many who increasingly believe that the real significance of European interest in the lands that are now those of Bangladesh, the Ganges delta and the banks of the river itself, was gunpowder.

There has long been an assumption made that gunpowder originated in China. Certainly, the Arab language makes much use of China in the names of many of the artefacts using gunpowder, but there are those, who, pointing to the Indian origin of much of the use of the explosive in warfare, suggest that, in fact, the origin of the potential in warfare indicates north east India as the most likely source.

And, curiously, to the very learned monks of Buddhism is given the credit, by some, for this particular weapon of mass destruction!

Perhaps the most effective early user of gunpowder was the brilliant Pathan general, Sher Shah Suri, whose five year usurpation of the Mughal throne in Delhi, from 1540, until his death, perhaps somewhat ironically, in a gunpowder explosion accident, five years later.

India, it has been said, was in fact, the “largest gunpowder producer in the world until the twentieth century. Specifically, the Bengal and Bihar regions. Operated by a caste of peoples called the nuniah, saltpetre beds supplied the most vital element in gunpowder – saltpetre. And north east India produced virtually all of it.”

There are, even, suggestions that in 664 CE, an Indian visitor to China, “demonstrated the peculiar flammability of saltpetre and provided instructions on how to locate it.”

As usual, as contemporary evidence emerges of the fascinating history of a substance that has played such a large part in international history,

The nawab’s artillery at the battle of Palashy only traceable in pieces.

That Sher Shah commenced his challenge for the Mughal throne by conquering Bengal, gives a hint about origins; so, too, does the reference that, “When Raja Pratapaditya of Jessore capitulated to Islam Khan in 1609, he agreed to surrender twenty thousand infantry, five hundred war boats and, (significantly) 41 tons of gunpowder.”

That quantity of surrendered gunpowder in 1609 may be compared with a request from King Philip of Spain, monarch of what was certainly the most powerful kingdom in Europe at the beginning of the 17th century,

When Raja Pratapaditya of Jessore capitulated to Islam Khan in 1609, he agreed to surrender twenty thousand infantry, five hundred war boats and, 41 tons of gunpowder

for better or worse, in which ancient India played such a significant role, we find the vast modern library, the internet, dominated by Indian input which skilfully intermixes India as the totality of the ancient subcontinent, and India as the modern geopolitical entity, thereby confusing attributions.

Gunpowder plots indeed!

The role of the lands that are now Bangladesh in this social and economic history of the entire world is often

WIKI COMMONS

to the Viceroy of Goa, in south west India, in 1605, ordering an annual despatch of 10 to 12 caskets of gunpowder!

The contrast spells out, quite clearly, the difference in levels of usage in India and Europe at the time; it also, of course, underlines the growing demand in Europe.

When we read of the development of European interest in south and south east Asia in the seventeenth century, we read, mostly, of spices,

For centuries, the Grand Trunk Road has served as the main artery from travel across northern India. A scene from the Ambala cantonment during the British Raj WIKI COMMONS

That monopoly based around the lands that are now Bangladesh, is reflected over the ensuing five centuries by subsequent rulers, the last of whom were, of course, the British

A plan of the Battle of fought on 23 June 1757 by Robert Clive, against the Nawab Siraj ud – Daulah of Bengal WIKI COMMONS fabrics and luxury goods, and there is no doubting the commercial value of those materials of trade. However, a glance at Europe and its international, and internal, conflicts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries would certainly suggest that the European interest in north east India, accessed through the Ganges delta, was far from limited to consumer goods.

In 1814, the year before that in which Britain finally defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo, “the East India Company exported 146,000 cwt ( about 7,300 tons) of saltpetre to England.” The British victory, it is said,

the means by which it grew, and was protected, is especially revealed in this history of a natural chemical that largely derives from human and animal waste! Which might be considered amusing, if it weren’t so serious.

As far as Bengal was concerned, the influence of this trade in saltpetre had, perhaps, not only a military significance. There is little doubt, for example, that the notorious Amir Chand, known as Omichund, the wealthy Armenian merchant who was a significant player in the conspiracy that led to the agreement between Clive and Mir Jafar, that led to the

Omichund, the wealthy Armenian merchant who was a significant player in the conspiracy that led to the agreement between Clive and Mir Jafar, that led to the betrayal and defeat of Siraj Ud Daulah

“was in no small measure thanks to the use of Indian saltpetre.”

In fact, the sense in which the lands of the Ganges, and those of the Ganges delta which are now almost entirely the heartland of today’s Bangladesh, which was not only the foundation stone of the world’s largest democracy of modern India, but also both the foundation of the British Empire, and

betrayal and defeat of Siraj Ud Daulah, the young Nawab, at Plassey, made his fortune largely in saltpetre. It was, therefore, not so much the guns that defeated the Nawab, than the influence obtained through the sale of the foundation chemical of gunpowder!

Frey’s writing, in the journal, “History,” in 2009, makes the observation that, “by seizing Bengal, the British ex-

erted mastery over 70% of the world’s saltpetre production during the latter part of the eighteenth century.”

By the middle of the fifteenth century, nearly forty years before da Gama opened a sea route to India that would facilitate the carrying of such bulk cargoes as saltpetre, Frey believes, the Sultan of Bengal had already made saltpetre a state monopoly. That would be the Ilyas Shah dynasty, which had such early connections with the Ming Dynasty in China.

That monopoly based around the lands that are now Bangladesh, is reflected over the ensuing five centuries by subsequent rulers, the last of whom were, of course, the British. The monopoly of the East India Company, with its profitable contracts to supply the growing British Navy, was, undoubtedly, a significant contributor to that business’s profitability, not least because the Government charged no tax on the income as part of that vital contract.

This international near monopoly, of course, stimulated the development of alternative chemicals for manufacture, as well as sources. The nineteenth century development of such highly profitable businesses as Nobel and Du Pont represent a part of that pressure in Europe and North America, and early nineteenth century declaration of the Munroe Doctrine by the US President probably reflects the importance to Chile of its export of bird guano represents an aspect of alternative source of natural supply.

However, the mid eighteenth century figures of export of saltpetre from India tell their own story. From export of 20,000 tons in 1862, to 11,000 tons by 1865, it is easy to see that the importance of Indian saltpetre was rapidly diminishing. It has, however, been said, often, that, by the time of that steep decline, Britain was already the pre eminent world power; on the back of Indian, especially north east

Indian, saltpetre supplies and gunpowder factories.

So far, this potentially, economically and socially “explosive” subject has been little researched, and little written about. There is, however, no doubting that, when the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, one of the greatest of them all, described the lands of Bangladesh, that were then the vibrant centre of Bengal, as, “the paradise of nations, for its wealth and trade,” gunpowder may well have been at least part of what was on his mind. After all, not for nothing was the Mughal Empire described as the, “gunpowder empire.” And not the last Empire to merit that description! l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, November 1, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Make Bangladesh better for business

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he World Bank and IFC’s Doing Business Report 2014 ranks Bangladesh 173rd out of 189 states for ease of doing business.

On average, it takes twice as long and twice as many procedures to open a business in Bangladesh as in leading developed nations, and our performance is noticeably worse than other members of Saarc.

The opportunity costs inflicted by barriers to doing business in Bangladesh are huge. The ranking of our economy, which according to the World Bank is worth around $130bn and the 57th biggest in the world, (or 41st largest and worth $400bn in purchasing power terms), gives an indication of the gross under-performance caused by our failure to lower barriers to doing business.

Another illustration can be seen by the fact that, although FDI has reached $1.6bn this year, our neighbour Myanmar expects to see overseas investors put $5bn into their economy by the end of 2014.

While the government is making some efforts to improve power supplies and to encourage Chinese and Japanese investment in special economic zones, it must get to grips with the institutional barriers and delays which are holding our economic growth back.

Lack of reliable power connections and barriers to business development, such as slow property registration procedures, corruption, and difficulties in enforcing contracts, are huge deterrents to businesses, both domestic and overseas, which wish to invest in the country.

The government must undertake more effective efforts to make the country attractive for investment. We cannot afford the economy’s potential to be held back.

Get to grips with the institutional barriers which deter investors, both domestic and overseas

Don’t lower the minimum marriage age for girls

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he government should drop its plan to lower the minimum age for marriage for girls from 18 to 16.

We agree with Child Rights Governance Assembly, a network of 21 NGOs, which has voiced its opposition to the draft provision in the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014, currently being reviewed by the law ministry.

Lowering the minimum marriage age for girls to 16 will only increase the pressure on young girls which forces many into early and underage marriage.

As it is, Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child and underage marriage in the world.

The adverse social and health consequences of large numbers of girls marrying at a young age are well known. In addition to higher negative health impacts caused by childbirth, it is a major factor holding back girl’s advancement in education.

With much of our country’s progress on improving performance against social indicators dependant on national policies to empower women, this proposal sends the wrong message.

If implemented, it would almost certainly lead to more girls getting married at a younger age.

The law should keep the minimum age for girl’s marriage at 18. In the interests of harmonisation and equality, there may be a case to bring down the minimum age for males to marry from 21 to 18, but that is all.

Girls in our country need the law to empower them, not increase the pressures that lead to many young girls being married at an early age.

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

Militants building regional network October 20

Vikram Khan Very, very worrying situation! “While two dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it.”

This is the situation in our beloved country.

During the past few decades, numerous news articles have been published on the troubling rise of religious extremism in Bangladesh (remember the burning of Buddhist temples in Ramu?), but the political actors (AL, BNP etc) are too busy insulting each other. Their hate for each other makes them totally blind to see reality.

Probably a year ago, I was on a flight from

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 21 represents V so fill V every time the figure 21 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

Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka, and was surrounded in the plane by Urdu-speaking clerics. At the same moment we took off, a meeting of Jamaat organised in Cox’s Bazar (and clearly attended by these foreign clerics) went totally out of control and people got killed. I was (and I still am) totally shocked that this was allowed to happen in our country, especially when a party like AL runs the country. Any person from certain countries should be seriously screened before being provided with a visa for Bangladesh. It is the duty of our government to protect our secular state!

SUDOKU 5 Bangladeshis killed in Saudi road accident

Kundera and the little prize October 20

October 23

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.

Maus This is such a tragedy! I feel for the families they’ve left behind.

Incarné Dev So sad.

China’s economic growth slows to 7.3% in Q3, six-year low

October 22

Mohdud Ul Huq “Most economists do not expect more aggressive policy action such as interest rate cuts unless conditions sharply.”

Still better than other Western countries.

Being born with a curse October 21

Keep the minimum age for girls’ marriage at 18

Anon “Women are sometimes described as beautiful, sometimes patient and sometimes delicate, but what happens when all these compliments become a curse for them? People start taking them for granted. They are either seen as an object or a sex machine, which anyone can exploit the way they want.”

What is wrong with people??

Ekram Kabir I wish DT would publish more pieces such as this one and create scope for commoners like us to get them published in the paper. All the best to the writer and the paper.

Abellard the Greek-Lover A truly inspiring writer.

Anisul: Allegation against Piash’s father is sheer lie October 20

Kas “What was propagated against Piash’s father and him was a sheer lie and has no basis, says Anisul Haq.” Thank you Anisul Haque for the clarification – you should have spoken up earlier. The trend these days of calling everyone who doesn’t tow the official line a “Razakar” is indeed worrying, and indicates a rising fascistic tendency that must be halted.

Any more Latifs in the cabinet?

October 20

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Clock face (4) 4 Thespian (5) 9 Limb (3) 11 Eternal city (4) 12 Encounters (5) 13 Prayer ending (4) 14 Sell (4) 15 Impel (5) 19 Sports enclosure (5) 21 Remaining (4) 25 Leave out (4) 26 Combine (5) 28 Testament (4) 29 Sheltered side (3) 30 Metal (5) 31 Look after (4)

DOWN 1 Moist (4) 2 Choler (3) 3 Correct (5) 5 Cowardly (6) 6 Large book (4) 7 Augury (4) 8 Tears (5) 10 On the move (5) 16 Disconcert (6) 17 Planet (5) 18 Emits bright light (5) 20 Nimble (5) 22 Send out (4) 23 Line of soldiers (4) 24 Exploit (4) 27 Perfect score (3)

Hasina, Rehana, Saima don’t have Facebook pages October 19

RS It is not mandatory to have Facebook pages.

Not everyone is interested in it.

Evil People Politics The government should be more watchful of whom they hire; after all, these people are there to serve the country.

Oil falls below $86 as oversupply, global economy worries weigh

CALVIN AND HOBBES

October 22

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

MH CEOs will not able to make million-dollar bonuses. Poor people, meanwhile, will get out from the financial traps.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

Sedition plea against Tarique for Bangabandhu name-calling October 20

vihan There’s no point going after him. Upon numerous occasions Tarique has proved he lacks leadership qualities and is incapable of acting like a top-level politician who leads a significant political party in a modern Bangladesh.

Primary-level textbooks to be converted into multimedia books October 21

rose I hope this new technology of converting textbooks into digital ones will help students to understand their lessons better and will help education flourish.

SUDOKU

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Picture this n Rabiul Islam

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n 2013, the Bangladesh Film Censor Board gave censor certificates to 62 foreign films. Do you know how many Bangla films got certificates that year? 64! All movie theatres in Bangladesh except Blockbuster Cinema and Star Cineplex prioritise on and showcase mostly Bangla movies.

But that priority couldn’t stop a few movie theatres from importing foreign motion pictures.

The number has fallen because of the lack of moviegoers. So, why is the number falling?

Discrimination comes in many shades

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The racist in me

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n Ekram Kabir

ometimes, the people around us can demolish our self-esteem through their subconscious acts. Like a teammate of mine who was telling me how he stopped donating blood to the sick who needed it. This mate of mine was once a compassionate blood donor; he loved donating blood.

However, one day, on his friend’s request, he rushed to a hospital to donate blood to a man in illness. The man, in his sickbed, asked his name.

My teammate had a Bengali name, as he was born in a Hindu family. The man refused to take his blood, as he was a Hindu. This incident affected him so much that he stopped donating blood any more.

I was speechless when he told this story to me recently. To my mind, this seemed an extreme form of racism.

Whenever the question of racism arises, we South Asians often connote it with the white-skinned humans around the world. But does it ever occur to us whether we, Bangladeshis who mostly have brown skin, may also be of a similar mindset? We’re also inherently racist in many ways.

Allow me to tell the story of another friend of mine who had an esteem-blowing experience when he was a university student. This friend of mine has dark skin, like Africans. One day, he had to go to the Sena Kalyan building in Motijheel.

There wasn’t any rush at the elevator. He was standing alone at its doorstep. When the doors opened, he went through it alone. A lady rushed in just before the doors closed. But the lady looked at my friend and refrained from entering the elevator. For him, the message was clear; it was the colour of his skin that scared the lady.

replied. And she really did that. But when we were passing by the cleaner, I found out that he didn’t smell!

I could never accept what my cousin was asking me to do. This attitude has, of course, changed since then.

We have learnt to break at least some barriers when it comes to valuing all professions. Still, we may need to

Bangladeshis who mostly have brown skin, may also be of a similar mindset

He was shattered like anything; he still remembers the lady’s look at him, and the incident still makes him depressed. This takes me back to my childhood when we learnt several types of behaviour which perhaps made us prejudiced towards many things. I remember, one of my cousins asked me to hold my nose while we were passing by a cleaner who came to clean the lavatories at our grandfather’s residence. “Why?” I asked.

“Because, he will smell,” she replied.

“How do you know he will smell?” I asked again. “They usually do,” she

go a long way. Recently, I was very enchanted by an action of a friend of mine at a dinner party at his residence.

After we had dinner, he called up the chauffeurs to have dinner at the same table where we had our meal.

When I asked about it, he said his chauffeur always had his meals at their dining table, after they finished their own meal.

I was amazed by my friend’s gesture to his chauffer. And this reminded me of a training that I went for in the UK. The office campus was quite huge, and they needed gardeners, cleaners,

launderers, etc. I saw them diligently working the whole day.

But when it was time for lunch, we along with the gardeners, the cleaners, and the launderers had lunch together.

They were also present at the club after office hours. There wasn’t any discrimination. I strongly wished we, in Bangladesh, could also show a similar attitude to people of those professions.

I believe we do show this attitude to all, only when we go to the praying houses such as mosques, temples, churches, etc. In all other spheres of life, there’s a deep sense of discrimination among us, the Bangladeshis.

We have always talked about racism in Africa, North America, Europe, and Australia. They all have been trying to mitigate the problem of racism and prejudice for years now. On our part, we haven’t yet noticed the intense forms of “racism” and prejudice in our society, not to talk about trying to minimise it.

Our discriminatory attitude is quite obvious in our society. Almost all of us are prejudiced against dark skin, as we all display it when it comes to choosing a bride. This practice has been going on for ages in this country, and almost everyone has accepted the fact that men will look for fair-skinned women as wives. But it was hard for me to accept the fact that someone would refuse to receive blood from someone just because the donor was a Hindu. l Ekram Kabir, a journalist, is a DT columnist.

Second time lucky n

Saleh Md Arman

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hen I appeared for the admission test in Dhaka University in 2006, many of my senior folks told me not to be panicked and tense. They made the point that I would get another chance to get myself admitted by sitting for the following year’s admission test.

Moreover, they suggested I take it as a “mock test,” and be primed for the subsequent year. I, however, ignored their humble suggestions and employed all of my skills for the admission test battle. Thankfully, I succeeded to become a proud freshman of the business faculty in Dhaka University.

Interestingly, I found out that a considerable amount of students from various departments were second-timers. I knew this fact before, from my predecessors, but after my admission, I saw this first hand. At that time, I felt pity for my HSC 2005 batchmates who could not get admitted to DU because of the limited number of seats in various faculties.

Moreover, I realised how the second-timers get some benefits that the first-timers don’t. Although they have also proven their capability by getting selected, a year-long preparation is not equivalent to three months of preparation. Indeed, it doesn’t prove their efficiency in the same way as the first-timers.

Actually, second-timers get some extra advantages for preparing, which the first-timers do not get. First of all, they have already experienced the real test battle. Secondly, they get more than a year to prepare themselves for the test by thoroughly learning the core parts of all the subjects.

Thirdly, they enroll themselves in various study programs of the coaching centres. In this regard, coaching centres get to do huge business with this segment of students. Providing options to students is lucrative for these centres. Fourthly, they get the time to figure out their shortcomings and nurture themselves to overcome them.

Lastly, most of them who have a

good GPA score end up getting selected if they properly prepare for the test.

Now, there is a considerable amount of debate about not allowing second-timers to partake in the Dhaka University admission test.

Second-timers get some extra advantages for preparing, which the first-timers do not

To be honest, DU has the authority to take any step, as it is an autonomous body. But, what I am addressing is that the option for the second-timer creates disparity as a consequence of the reasons I described earlier.

Indeed, DU admission tests are very competitive in nature. Another fact is that seats are very limited.

So, any kind of inequality hurts potential candidates who fail to get a chance, even if they have passed the test. Furthermore, other public universities in the district level and reputed private universities are there to provide educational facilities with good care.

At this moment, if the DU authority wants to cancel this policy, some unwanted issues might occur. So, I have a suggestion. I am requesting the DU authority to set a quota for the second-timers, say 3% or 5% of the total seats in each faculty, which means the university authority will not consider more than a specific number of second-timers for admission. Definitely, this allocation will be on the basis of the merit scores they earned. Hopefully, this kind of provision will create a balance among the examinees. l Saleh Md Arman is an independent researcher.

Many film critics of Bangladesh have termed the last decades as the darkest period for the Bangladesh film industry. BBC reports: “In recent years, the number of cinema halls in Bangladesh has reduced from about 1,500 to just over 600.” It might be surprising, but in 2006, the Bangladesh Film Censor Board gave certificates to only 144 Bangla films. The number has fallen because of the lack of moviegoers. So, why is the number falling?

In an interview, Michael C Hall (known from the TV series, Dexter) was asked if he thought he would be recognised in Bangladesh. He replied: “I did not come here anticipating that I would be recognised. It’s a crazy thing to go to a place that’s completely foreign to you, and you are familiar to the people there.”

Before high-speed internet connections, we used to watch different foreign shows and movies on television via satellite cables and DVDs. Now, we don’t have to wait for the shows or movies to air on TV channels. We can download an entire drama series or hundreds of movies. In the process, we – the general viewers – have automatically realised different qualities of entertainment. When we are watching a movie or a show, we compare them with others. This has increased our demand for quality entertainment.

Bangladeshis were not forced to watch Dexter. They watched it because they wanted to. They wanted to because they found something there which they didn’t find in any other show. When the show became a part of their regular conversation, more people felt curious about it. And with their curiosity, the number soared.

Thus, Michael C Hall was recognised in Bangladesh. Now, what can be done to make Bangladeshi movies recognisable?

The president of Film Directors’ Association was quoted in a report: “A Bangladeshi film has the overall budget of Tk1cr, whereas an Indian film is made with a budget exceeding Tk100cr … there is no way films of such varying budgets can compete in the same field.” This report was published when the Bollywood film Children of War premiered in Dhaka.

The report also mentioned an associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism in Dhaka University, who said: “I am all for importing Indian films to Bangladesh. I believe that films of all languages should be screened for cultural diversity. But, the countries should come to a mutual agreement, and India could agree to release Bangladeshi films in its theatres. I also think that some regulations and control should be imposed on the cinema halls of the country where it

Big screen in crisis?

will state that a theatre cannot go on showcasing foreign films repeatedly.”

It is true that it will be extremely difficult to compete with high-budget Bollywood films, but it is also evident that foreign films are on the verge of going to the top of our local market already. It is now important to do some research on why local audiences have growing interest in such foreign fare.

In the old days, our parents used to take us to movie theatres to watch movies. Back then, whoever went to watch movies in theatres was considered modest. Gradually the conception flipped, the general public started considering moviegoers as immodest.

According to my personal experience, cinema hall owners started to use “cut-pieces” (titillating scenes) to attract an audience.

Posters of many movies were so obscene that general people felt embarrassed in public places. This negative impression still exists in people’s minds. This is one reason why many people lost interest in Bangladeshi movies.

With this depressing presence of only a certain type of audience in movie theatres, theatre owners started seeking profitable options. Many movie theatres around Bangladesh have been renovated to build shopping centres. This disappearance is now causing trouble for the present and potential moviemakers of Bangladesh.

They cannot think of making bigbudget or promising movies because of the lack of audience. This doesn’t mean Bangladeshi filmmakers have stopped making world-class movies.

The Bangladesh film industry has a glorious history. In the tumultuous periods of war and hunger, filmmakers lived and upheld Bangladesh. Abdul Jabbar Khan with his Mukh O Mukhosh (1956) started the journey. Our film industry is glorious because of filmmakers like Tareque Masud, Nasiruddin Yousuff, Chashi Nazrul Islam, Morshedul Islam, Zahir Raihan, and many others. Many are still working.

And let’s not forget that more talented filmmakers are now coming into focus. Iftekhar Chowdhury, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Redoan Rony are just a few names who have transformed Bangladeshi films. We also have talented and potential filmmakers who are still blooming. For example, The Bengali Filmmakers (TBF) could be unfamiliar to many, but they are still breaking the mold and reaching new heights. Their works on Bangladesh are not only philosophical, but also inspirational.

Now, we don’t have to wait for the shows or movies to air on TV channels

The Bangladesh government is also trying to contribute to this sector.

Recently, PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Bangladesh Film and Television Institute (BFTI) and its first course at the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO). In many public and private universities, there are film societies where teachers and students are involved in research and discussion on how to develop this sector. If this trend goes on, then who knows, maybe in the future, foreign film industries will try to compete with our film industry. l Rabiul Islam is a freelance contributor.

WIKIMEDIA

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Prachyanat to present Gondar today

BINDU’s Eito Prem set to release next year n

Saturday, November 1, 2014

n Entertainment Desk

Entertainment Desk

Theatre troupe Prachyanat will present its celebrated play “Gondar”- English subtitled Rhinoceros by French playwright Eugène Ionesco - today at 7pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Directed by Kazi Tawfikul Islam Emon and translated by Jaharul Haque, it is a satiric story which revolves around three central charac-

Five years after its muhurat – official announcement of a film’s shooting – the film titled “Eito Prem” starring Bindu and Shakib Khan is all set to hit cinemas on February 13, 2015.

Sohel Arman, the fim’s director, confirmed that the film would be released at the cinemas on the first day of Falgun.

When asked why it took so long to finish the film, the director said: “We had to take time to get schedules from the cast.”

The news has come at the time when Bindu, who recently tied the knot with businessman Asif Salahuddin Malik, announced that she would draw an end to her career in showbiz in favour of her marriage.

Earlier in an interview with the Dhaka Tribune, Bindu talked about working in the film. “It was one of the most difficult yet enjoyable periods of my life,” she said. “The shooting continued for well over three years. My role in the film demanded that I keep the same hairstyle, weight and maintain a steady appearance. Therefore, I could not change my hairstyle for three years straight.

“It was demanding, to say the least. The storyline is touching as it recalls the glorious Liberation War of our country. It portrays the struggle and determination of our freedom fighters,” said.

Produced by Shaheen Kabir, the film also features Ramendu Majumder, Shahiduzaman Selim and Afroza Banu. Composed by popular musician Habib, the song “Ami Tomar Moner Bhitor Ekbar Ghurey Ashtey Chai” from the film was released almost four years ago and it was a big hit. The director hopes that the film would surpass the popularity of the song.

Bindu has kept herself away from the small screen for over a year. She has worked in three films so far, including Toukir Ahmed’s “Daruchini Dwip,” Khijir Hayat Khan’s “Jaago” and PA Kajol’s “Piriter Agun Jole Digun.” l

ters Gene, Berenger and Daisy.

The show portrays residents of a large town who are inexplicably turning into rhinoceroses. Berenger is an observer of torture and injustice. He watches the bizarre transformations from a bemused distance as his neighbours and best friends Gene and Daisy become part of the human-to-rhinoceros metamorphosis. Berenger takes up the responsibility to save humanity. l

The Italian Job

Zee Studio, 11:25pm

Charlie is a mastermind thief and the gold bullion heist at a palace in Venice a job executed to perfection.

Bandidas

Movies Now, 1:55pm

In 1888 Mexico, two women, one a European educated sophisticate, the other a rough and tumble peasant fight off a ruthless bank enforcer.

The Great Gatsby HBO, 4:57pm

Exhibition

Searching Myself By artist Monjur Rashid Time: 11am – 6pm La Galerie, Alliance Francaise, Dhanmondi

The Dhaka Print Club Show Time: 12pm – 8pm, Bengal Art Lounge Stones

By Hamiduzzaman Khan Time: 11pm to 8pm, Gallery Kaya

The film follows would-be writer, Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City.

Seth Rogen joining Christian Bale in the Steve Jobs Movie n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

ABSTRACT SERENITY on display

A solo painting exhibition by Syed Hasan Mahmud titled “Abstract Serenity” is taking place at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

The exhibit, showcasing 69 artworks, will run until November 15.

The theme of the exhibition focuses on nature’s elements, such as bushes and deep forest, which are

seemingly bland. It is also the artist’s silent attempt to promote nature’s preservation. In the artworks, the lines seem to be dripping, which happens to the artist’s signature style.

Hasan loves to experiment with colours and materials, and in the paintings at the exhibition, he has used a unique technique by engraving canvas with a spatula. A painter with strong imagination, Hasan has worked mostly with acrylics, and on different shapes

and colours.

Born in 1958 in Dhaka, Hasan completed his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University in 1981. This is his fourth solo painting exhibition after 18 years. He also participated in many group exhibitions around the world and was honoured with awards such as Honourable Mention Award and Second Tone National Miniature Art Competition Award. l

GEORGE CLOONEY and SCARLETT JOHANSSON paired in a comedy n Entertainment Desk Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen will turn their wit on the complex workings of Hollywood’s studios in a comedy featuring George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, Universal Pictures said on Wednesday.

“Hail, Caesar!,” scheduled for release on February 5, 2016, will follow a day in the life of a studio fixer who must tackle numerous challenges, the Comcast Corp-owned studio said in a statement.

Set in the later years of Hollywood’s golden age, the film will also star Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton and Jonah Hill.

The Coen Brothers have previously won the best screenplay Oscar for 1996’s “Fargo” and three Oscars including best director and picture for 2007’s “No Country for Old Men.” They also co-wrote the screenplay for Angelina Jolie’s upcoming directorial effort, “Unbroken,” also made by Universal. l

SALMAN and DEEPIKA team up n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actor Salman Khan is likely to romance none other than Deepika Padukone in Yash Raj Films’ upcoming project to be directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.

Yash Raj Films has been waiting to collaborate with Salman ever since they delivered “ Ek Tha Tiger.” The movie which turned out to be a blockbuster was just the beginning, and now Yash Raj Films seems to have struck a deal with Salman. Ali Abbas Zafar’s next is expected to have Salman Khan, and Deepika Padukone is likely to join the cast, claim sources.

Deepika and Salman are eager to work together. Salman has even made no secret of his fondness for Deepika. On “Koffee with Karan” last season, he praised Deepika’s dedication towards her art and the progress she has made as an actress.

Both actors are currently busy with their respective films. While Deepika has “Piku,” Salman is shooting for Sooraj Barjatya’s “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.” l

With Christian Bale on board for the lead role, the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic is adding another A-list actor to the lineup. The Wrap reports that Seth Rogen is “being eyed” to play Steve Wozniak, the computer programmer.

Wozniak and Jobs founded Apple together in the 1976, though Wozniak left the company in 1987. He is credited as designing both the Apple I and Apple II computers.

Based on Walter Isaacson’s biography of Jobs, this new film was written

by Aaron Sorkin and will be directed

by Danny Boyle. Head to The Wrap for more on Rogen’s possible involvement in the film, which also might include Jessica Chastain. l

Priyanka Chopra portrays the struggle of an item girl n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has been tossing between shoots and public appearances. According to recent reports the actress will work on Madhur Bhandarka’s “Madamji” from November 30.

“Madamji” will show the journey and struggles of an item girl who climbs the ladder of success and becomes a politician. The film is said to travel across different cities of India and will be mainly shot in Bhopal, Delhi, Johanpur, Lucknow and Mumbai.

Priyanka Chopra turns producer for the first time with “Madamji” and will be co-producing it with Ram Mirchandani.

Priyanka, who was shooting for “Bajirao Mastani,” had recently tweeted about suffering from conjunctivitis. Though she is currently on her way to recovery, her ailment seems to have affected the shoot. l

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Margarita Escarpa played a solo Spanish guitar concert on October 30 at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh’s Berlin Hall. Escarpa is on a visit to Bangladesh at the initiative of the Department of Spanish Language and Culture, University of Dhaka KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

Did you know?

Newcastle have had five players sent off in their last four Premier League games against Liverpool

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14 World-leading

goal-machine quits at 44

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Saturday, November 1, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Controversial

15 Benfica’s Jesus

batsman Ryder gets WC lifeline

questions coach of the year shortlist

Determined Shamsur would love to blast ton n Mazhar Uddin Opener Shamsur Rahman is eyeing a comeback with the bat when hosts Bangladesh take on the visiting Zimbabwe in the second of three Test matches in Khulna beginning this Monday.

The right-handed opening batsman informed Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday that he is targeting a hundred in the second Test after being dismissed for nought and eight in the recently concluded first Test in Dhaka.

Shamsur is eager to announce his return to form at a time when the majority of Bangladesh batsmen have been struggling for runs. Even though the Tigers narrowly won the first Test by three wickets, batting was a letdown as the top three batsmen – Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur and Mominul Haque - departed with-

out troubling the scorers in the second innings in pursuit of a low target of 101.

And how Bangladesh fare in the second Test will partly depend on the Bangladesh openers. A vital cog in the topthree, Shamsur will be desperate to score some runs and aid Bangladesh’s cause.

“I would definitely love to score my second Test hundred against Zimbabwe in the upcoming Test and make a comeback with the bat after failing recently.

This second Test is very important for Bangladesh and also for me personally.

We are looking to retain our winning streak,” said Shamsur, who scored his first hundred in five-day cricket in just his third innings, against Sri Lanka in Chittagong earlier this year.

“We are hungry to win the Test. We will also look to rectify the mistakes that we had made in the first Test and

Bangladesh opening batsman Shamsur Rahman takes a selfie at the team hotel in Khulna yesterday

Suspended hockey trio awaiting fate n Shishir Hoque National hockey players Russel Mahmud Jimmy, Zahid Hossain and Imran Hasan Pintu might see their suspensions withdrawn by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation. Another suspended player, midfielder Quamruzzaman Rana, recently returned to national team duty after the decision to ban him was reconsidered.

At the end of last year, the BHF had suspended the quartet from the national side due to abject performances and poor discipline. Rana, who was suspended for two years, is the first player whose suspension was withdrawn on October 27. The BHF officials are mulling bringing them back as the national team have put in some below-par performances since last year.

“A working committee meeting is expected to be held in the first week of this month when the decision of the three banned players will be taken. If the working committee takes a positive decision then the executive committee will decide their final fate,” said acting

(L-R) Zahid Hossain, Russel Mahmud Jimmy and Imran Hasan Pintu FILE PHOTO BHF general secretary Tanvir Adil Khan yesterday.

The Bangladesh hockey team’s next assignment will be the second round of the Hockey World League in Singapore in two months’ time.

Zahid and Imran are already training to get their full fitness back while former national star striker Jimmy informed that he has no intentions of talking about hockey at the moment. l

move forward positively which will also help us to go past Zimbabwe in the Test rankings,” he added. A series win will help the Tigers to leapfrog Zimbabwe in ninth position.

Shamsur, who is sometimes guilty of throwing his wicket away, is also looking forward to converting his starts into substantial scores. Prior to the Dhaka Test, Shamsur had scores of 39, one and four in his last three Test innings. An average of 10.4 in his last five Test innings hardly does justice to a talented cricketer like Shamsur who averaged 45.6 after his first five Test innings that yielded 228 runs.

“I have been dismissed in the thirties several times which is at times a crime in the context of the match and also for my career as well. I am looking to convert those thirties into big innings’ that will no doubt help my team,” said Shamsur.

Ahead of the second Test, the Bangladesh and Zimbabwe cricketers practised in Khulna yesterday. The hosts have no major injury worries as Tamim is fast recovering from a thumb injury in his right hand while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is also fit after reports emerged that he might be suffering from jaundice. Tamim will resume batting today.

Batsman Anamul Haque, meanwhile, has joined the Bangladesh team in Khulna after taking part in the SK Acharya Memorial Trophy recently.

Anamul was called up to the squad for the second Test in place of paceman Al Amin Hossain. l

The Bangladesh cricket team (top) and the Zimbabwe cricket team are seen practising at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday ahead of the second Test starting this Monday HEDAIT HOSSAIN

A joyous day for underprivileged children n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Class four student Shakil, who resides at Foy’s Lake in Chittagong, has passed a special day in his life. Momentarily forgetting the hustles and bustles of everyday life in the port city, the underprivileged boy thoroughly enjoyed playing football with his friends yesterday at MA Aziz Stadium. His joy was doubled as he was taken care of by the coaches of his beloved football club, European champions Real Madrid.

Like Shakil, Mosharraf also enjoyed the day and termed it the most memorable day in his life.

Including the duo, a total of 115 underprivileged children, comprising 90 boys and 25 girls aged 7-14 experienced a unique training session conducted by three coaches of the Real Madrid Foundation. The training session was part of a three-day programme titled “YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic”, organised by two Japanese companies YKK Holding Asia Private Limited and YKK Bangladesh Private Limited and the Bangladesh Football Federation. In the second day of the programme yesterday, the coaching trio of the Real Madrid Foundation trained the deprived

kids who all study at UCEP School in the port city’s Ambagan area.

One of the school’s pupils, class four student Rasheda said she could not play football in her everyday life that is why yesterday was a great opportunity for her to be introduced with the beautiful game. “Now, I want to play football on a regular basis,” said an

elated Rasheda.

Rasheda’s classmate, Mojammel, on the other hand is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo but did not quite know that the Portuguese superstar footballer plays for Real Madrid. Mojammel was amazed upon finding out that Ronaldo plies his trade with the Madrid giants and expressed his delight after learning about

The underprivileged children pose for a photograph alongside the three Real Madrid Foundation coaches at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday COURTESY

Younis, Misbah hundreds put Pakistan in control n Reuters

Pakistani batsmen Younis Khan (L) and Misbah-ul Haq run between wickets during the second day of the second Test against Australia at Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday AFP

Younis Khan hit a stellar double hundred while skipper Misbah-ul Haq also joined the run-feast with his sixth Test century as Pakistan tightened their grip on the second and final Test against Australia on Friday.

Younis, who hit twin centuries in Pakistan’s comprehensive victory in the first Test in Dubai, tormented Australia again with a marathon 213, his fifth double hundred, which helped him pass the 8000 Test run mark in the process.

The right-hander added 236 runs for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (109) and another 181 with Misbah (101) for the fourth as Pakistan declared their first innings at 570 for six and decided to have a go at their opponents in the fading light.

They were duly rewarded with the wicket of Chris Rogers (five) who edged

an Imran Khan delivery and was caught behind in the penultimate over of the day.

David Warner, who hit Khan for three boundaries in the first over, was on 16 with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on one at the close, leaving Australia facing an uphill task to save the match.

The visitors were still 548 runs behind their opponents who inched closer towards securing their first Test series win against Australia in 20 years.

To make matters worse for Australia, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin hurt his shoulder trying to take a catch and left the field for a second time in the final session.

The day belonged to Younis, who lived a charmed life and hit 15 boundaries and two sixes before a Peter Siddle delivery pegged back his middle stump.

Mitchell Starc claimed the lone wicket of the morning session when Azhar Ali tickled a delivery and Australia’s stop-gap keeper Warner dived to his left to take a smart catch. l

the different techniques of football from Real Madrid Foundation head coach Pablo Gomez Revenga, Javier Garcia Torres and Rafael Palacios Peinado.

Following the conclusion of the training session, the underprivileged boys and girls were absolutely ecstatic after receiving jerseys, boots, balls and certificates from the organisers.

One of the deprived kids, Hannan, said the certificate will enable him to undergo more training sessions in the national and international level. The little kid hoped that there would be more playgrounds and fields for them to practice in the future.

Local coach Mohammad Musa said the Chittagong Zila Krira Sangstha has to introduce more tournaments in football in order to hunt and explore potential players.

Rafael agreed, saying some of the kids are really talented and have great interest in football so the administrators should try and utilise their talents.

Revenga echoed the same sentiment and added that if given proper attention and care, the kids can reach their full potential.

The three-day training camp will come to an end today. l

SECOND TEST, DAY 2 Pakistan Ist innings (overnight 304-2) Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Lyon 35 Hafeez c Haddin b Johnson 45 Azhar Ali c Warner b Starc 109 Younis Khan b Siddle 213 Misbah-ul Haq c and b Smith 101 Asad Shafiq b Starc 21 Sarfraz Ahmed not out 19 Yasir Shah not out 1 Extras: (b10, lb11, nb4, w1) 26 Total: (for six wkts; 164 overs dec) 570 Bowling Johnson 25-7-59-1, Starc 27-3-86-2, Siddle 31-8-75-1, Lyon 37-1-154-1, Marsh 12-2-32-0, Maxwell 16-2-78-0, Clarke 6-0-24-0, Smith 10-0-41-1 Australia Ist innings D. Warner not out 16 C. Rogers c Ahmed b Khan 5 N. Lyon not out 1 Total: (for one wkt; 5.2 overs) 22 Bowling Khan 3-0-18-1, Hafeez 2-0-4-0, Babar 0.2-0-0-0

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Africa qualifier venue changed to honour Meyiwa n AFP, Johannesburg The Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between South Africa and Sudan has been moved from Nelspruit to Durban to honour slain national team captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

The November 15 Group A fixture originally scheduled for Mbombela Stadium is now going to be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean city where Meyiwa was born.

Meyiwa was gunned down last Sunday by an intruder while visiting his girlfriend at a house 30 kilometres (19 miles) south-east of Johannesburg.

“We felt it was proper and fitting that this match be played in Durban to honour our fallen hero since he hailed from there,” South African football supremo Danny Jordaan said in a statement.

“The team will visit the Meyiwa family and the grave of Senzo. This will give the players an opportunity for closure.

We believe the match will be a perfect send-off for Senzo after the heroics of the player helped the national team find itself in such a good position to qualify.

“Senzo was always proud to don the national jersey and lead his team.

Coach ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has confirmed that Meyiwa was always first on the team list.”

A win for South Africa will ensure qualification for the 2015 Cup of Nations in Morocco with a game to spare.

Meyiwa did not concede a goal in four qualifiers as South Africa defeated Sudan, defeated and drew with Congo Brazzaville and drew with defending champions Nigeria.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) have not qualified for the Africa Cup since 2008 - they competed at the 2013 tournament last year only because they were the hosts. l

Mourners sing and cheer during the memorial for the late South Africa football team captain and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, Olympic champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and boxer Phindile Mwelase at Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg on Thursday. Thousands of South Africans jammed into the Johannesburg stadium Thursday to celebrate the life of Meyiwa, whose murder has stunned the nation AFP

Gunners eye title bounce against Burnley n AFP, London Arsenal will attempt to step up their Premier League title challenge by recording back-to-back league wins for the first time this season when Burnley visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger’s side claimed three points for the first time in four games when two goals from Alexis Sanchez secured victory at Sunderland last weekend.

That moved Arsenal up to fifth in the table, nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea, and they could break into the top four if they see off bottom club Burnley and West Ham United slip up

at Stoke City.

Wenger’s side have struggled for consistency this season, but will be strengthened by the return of midfielder Jack Wilshere after suspension.

The England midfielder has shown signs he is returning to his best form after a succession of injuries and he will be joined by Theo Walcott, who was an unused substitute at Sunderland after a 10-month absence with a knee injury.

Wenger knows his side can ill-afford to lose any more ground on Chelsea, but Robert Pires, the former Arsenal midfielder, believes his old club can still be crowned champions if they strengthen their midfield.

“I hope we can still win the title,” Pires told Sky Sports. “Of course it is going to be very difficult, but the sea-

son is very long and the Christmas period coming up will be a very important one for Arsenal.

“The good news is that Theo Walcott

FIXTURES Arsenal Chelsea Everton Hull City Leicester City Newcastle Stoke City

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Burnley QPR Swansea City Southampton West Brom Liverpool West Ham

is coming back, but the bad news is that Mesut Ozil is out. But I still believe in Arsenal, I believe in the players, and of course I believe in Wenger.”

World-leading goal-machine quits at 44 n AFP, Singapore Singapore great Aleksandar Duric will bid farewell to one of football’s most extraordinary and prolific careers when he plays his last match on Friday at the age of 44.

The Yugoslav-born marksman is credited with more goals in a single league than any other active player, and he is the second oldest international goal-scorer in football history.

Along the way, Duric kayaked for newly formed Bosnia at the 1992 Olympics and played in Sweden, Hungary, China and Australia before making his home in Singapore in 1999.

“It’s very emotional,” the tall, rangy striker told AFP.

Neymar to be called up for 2016 Olympic team n Reuters, Sao Paulo Neymar will be selected as one of Brazil’s three over-age players for the 2016 Olympics, the team’s manager Alexandre Gallo said on Thursday.

Olympic soccer gold is the only major title Brazil have not won and with Rio de Janeiro hosting the Games the pressure is on - even with the tournament still almost two years away.

Gallo said he would call up Barcelona striker Neymar and two other overage players. .

“I will take (those) three players,” Gallo said in an interview with Sportv.

“Or rather two. One will be Neymar.

You can’t think about Brazilian football without thinking of him.” l

“A lot has been going through my mind. It’s not easy - I thought it would be much easier because I have prepared myself for the last 10 months.

“But when it came it’s much tougher. It’s a chapter in my life that’s finished and I’m preparing myself for the next.”

Duric made his debut for Singapore at the age of 37, after receiving citizenship, and compiled 24 goals in 53 games, helping his adopted country win two Southeast Asian titles.

The popular father-of-three has fired 330 goals in the S-League, lifting the trophy eight times, and has 46 in the cup competition which he has won on three occasions. l

The Frenchman added: “I think Arsene Wenger has a very good team at Arsenal, but I do think they need one player in midfield in the mould of Patrick Vieira.

“They need a tall player, a strong player, because in England you need players who are physical. That position is very important and I think that is the only missing piece.”

German playmaker Ozil is a longterm absentee with a knee problem and is joined on the sidelines by the French trio of Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny.

Wenger has revealed that left-back Kieran Gibbs is also a doubt for this weekend.

“It is a hip problem,” he said. “He came off at Sunderland with 20 min-

Napoli host Roma in high-risk Serie A clash n AFP, Milan Napoli host Roma Saturday in a clash whose title repercussions could be eclipsed by the painful memories for the family of the last victim of Italian football-related violence.

The sides meet at Napoli’s San Paolo stadium for the first time since the death of 31-year-old Ciro Esposito, a Napoli fan who was killed by a hardline Roma ‘ultra’ on the fringes of the Ital-

FIXTURES Napoli v Roma Empoli v Juventus Parma v Inter

Barcelona target Clasico comeback n AFP, Madrid

Luis Suarez will make his competitive home debut as La Liga leaders Barcelona look to put the disappointment of their defeat to Real Madrid last weekend behind them against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

The Catalans’ defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu was their first in the league since coach Luis Enrique left Celta in May to take charge at the Camp Nou and brought Barca back into a fivestrong pack at the top of the table separated by just two points.

Suarez returned from a four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup to make his Barca bow against Madrid and had a positive immediate impact as he set up Neymar’s early opener.

The Uruguayan also produced a sublime assist for Gerard Pique as Barca lifted the Catalan Supercup with victory on penalties over Espanyol in midweek and Luis Enrique has been impressed with Suarez’s contribution so far.

FIXTURES Granada Atletico Madrid Barcelona Real Sociedad

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Real Madrid Cordoba Celta Vigo Malaga

Real Madrid have the chance to knock Barca off the top for at least a few hours when they look for an 11th consecutive win in all competitions at Granada earlier on Saturday.

And captain Iker Casillas wants the European champions to have that position locked down by the time La Liga

utes to go. He is a doubt, but we’ll know more tomorrow (Friday).”

Burnley are yet to win a match from nine attempts so far this season, but their manager, Sean Dyche, insists his players’ sprits are not broken.

“It dents you, but it doesn’t break you,” said Dyche, whose side are the only team in the top four English divisions yet to win a match. “It’s a reality.

Whether it hurts or not is irrelevant.

“It gives you the added motivation to get wins. It’s important we focus on what we’re about. We get the players prepared to go and achieve things.”

Burnley will welcome Dean Marney back into the squad to face Arsenal after the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder recovered from a hamstring strain. l

shuts down for Christmas in seven weeks’ time.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will all return having been rested for Wednesday’s 4-1 win over UD Cornella in the Copa del Rey. However, Gareth Bale remains a major doubt with the muscle injury that has forced him to miss the last four games.

Champions Atletico Madrid can also temporarily leapfrog Barcelona when they host struggling Cordoba at the Vicente Calderon.

A run of four wins in five games has brought Diego Simeone’s side back to within two points of the top and they will be extra motivated this weekend after players and fans alike reacted with fury at the lack of recognition they received at the La Liga awards ceremony for last season earlier in the week. l

ian Cup final last May. Esposito was allegedly shot by a former ‘ultra’ leader, Daniele De Santis, who has since been arrested and is facing manslaughter charges. When Esposito died on June 25, Napoli fans called for revenge.

Roma, who lost ground to Juve following a scoreless draw away to high-flying Sampdoria last weekend, are now back level on points with the league leaders after Juve’s first defeat of the season on Wednesday.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men dominated at Genoa but were left lamenting a series of missed chances when Luca Antonini struck for the hosts in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure a memorable win. l

PSG bid to crank up pressure on stuttering Marseille n AFP, Paris As their meeting with bitter rivals Marseille approaches, Paris Saint-Germain will look to further increase the pressure on the Ligue 1 leaders with a win at struggling Lorient on Saturday.

PSG are the only side in France’s top flight to still boast an unbeaten record after Marseille went down 1-0 at Lyon last weekend, a result that means the two clubs are now separated by just four points at the top of the table.

A win at Lorient would leave just one point between the sides and turn up the heat on Marseille, who host Lens at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday night.

PSG, who host APOEL of Cyprus in the Champions League next midweek, welcome back Cavani after suspension for the trip to Brittany while Marquinhos is set to return, but they must do without the banned Gregory Van der Wiel.

Ibrahimovic is still on the sidelines with a heel problem that refuses to go away, yet the capital side should still have enough firepower to take three points from the artificial pitch at the Stade du Moustoir.

“It is very important for us to win at Lorient to stay alongside Marseille,” captain Thiago Silva told PSG TV. l

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Struggling Dortmund face heavyweight Bayern n Reuters, Berlin Borussia Dortmund, languishing in 15th place in the Bundesliga, received an unexpected pep talk from league rivals Bayern Munich, despite icy relations between the two clubs who face each other in the league on Saturday.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, whose team have snapped up Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski from Dortmund in two years and have also set their sights on Marco Reus, has been locked in a war of words with Dortmund officials for months.

Rummenigge infuriated Dortmund when he publicly revealed the amount

of Reus’ buyout clause at Dortmund a few months ago.

Earlier this week Rummenigge had made his latest advance for Reus, saying Bayern “could potentially be interested” in signing the talented Germany international.

On Friday, however, Rummenigge heaped praise on Dortmund, saying the Ruhr valley club was still a heavy hitter in the Bundesliga despite their dip in form.l

FIXTURES Mainz 05 Hanover 96 VfB Stuttgart Hamburg Bayern Munich

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Werder Bremen Frankfurt VfL Wolfsburg Leverkusen Dortmund

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Junior Tennis qualifying begins today The qualifying round of the 28th Bangladesh International Junior Tennis Championship 2014 will get underway at National Tennis Complex in Ramna today. A total of 17 participants from three countries – India, Pakistan and South Korea – are taking part in the meet. India has the most number of participants with 12 while Pakistan and South Korea have one and four respectively. Six players from the qualifying round will get the tickets for the final round which will begin this Monday.

–Tribune Desk

Sport

in the Jungle’ Controversial batsman ‘Rumble ring stolen as fans Ryder gets WC lifeline mark anniversary n Reuters, Wellington Aggressive top-order batsman Jesse Ryder has been thrown a World Cup lifeline by being named in a New Zealand ‘A’ team for one-day matches in the United Arab Emirates next month.

The 30-year-old Ryder has been kept out of the national side after he broke team protocols by drinking the night before a Test against India in February, the latest in a long line of off-field disciplinary issues for the burly left hander.

He had a successful limited overs county season in England earlier this year and local media had reported possible rapprochement talks between coach Mike Hesson and Ryder.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said last week Ryder needed to show form on the field and a willingness to play by the team’s rules off it before being considered for the top team again, which chairman of selectors Bruce Edgar reiterated on Friday.

“I’d remind people that, at this

Benfica’s Jesus questions coach of the year shortlist Benfica coach Jorge Jesus suggested on Thursday that he should have been included in FIFA’s 10-man shortlist for Coach of the Year, saying that some of the nominees “achieved less than I did”. “I don’t know the criteria used for this choice,” said Jesus, who led Benfica to a domestic treble last season as well as the Europa League final. “If I did, I would have a betterinformed opinion, but I have noticed that there are some on the list who achieved less than I did. “Some weren’t in the finals of the Champions League or Europa League, some were not even (domestic) champions,” he told reporters.

–Reuters

Keshi ready to return as Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi could be set for a surprise return as coach of African champions Nigeria after the apparent intervention of the country’s President Goodluck Jonathan. Keshi, who steered the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2013 and the knockout stage of this year’s World Cup finals, was sacked on October 16 after a string of poor performances. But several senior officials at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have revealed that Jonathan had ordered Keshi be reinstated and given a contract.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Cricket 12:00PM Pakistan v Australia Second Test, Day 3

Ten Action French Ligue 1 10:00PM 56 Lorient v Paris Saint-Germain 1:00AM Lille v Saint-Etienne

Star Sports 1 9:00PM English Premier League Arsenal v Burnley Spanish La Liga 11:00PM Atletico Madrid v Cordoba 1:00AM Barcelona v Celta de Vigo 3:00AM Real Sociedad v Malaga CF

Star Sports 2 7:30PM Indian Super League FC Goa v Delhi Dynamos 11:00PM Italian Serie A Empoli v Juventus

n AFP, Paris Andy Murray guaranteed his place at the World Tour Finals on Thursday while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer stayed neck and neck in their battle for world number one at the Paris Masters.

Djokovic overcame Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final match of the day with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory to become the eighth quarter-finalist.

The world number one now faces Murray in a repeat of their 2012 US Open final when the Scot won his first Grand Slam title.

Monfils lived up to his reputation as one of the most flamboyant players on the circuit with a combination of spectacular shots and pure power but Djokovic never wavered and closed out the match in 1hr 32 min.

“I managed to stay calm but I didn’t

serve well today,” said Djokovic.

Murray, 27, breezed to a 6-3, 6-3 third-round victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to stay on course for a fourth tournament victory in just six weeks.

Murray joins Djokovic, Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic in reaching the season-ending showpiece in London with David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori in possession of the other three spots but not yet assured places.

Canada’s Milos Raonic is the only player who can gatecrash the top eight but needs to win the Paris tournament to guarantee his place.

Federer kept the pressure on Djokovic in the race for the year-ending number one spot with a gritty 6-4, 6-4 victory over French world number 176 Lucas Pouille.l

n AFP, Kinshasa

Officials in Kinshasa have revealed the ring used for “The Rumble in the Jungle” has been stolen as boxing fans Thursday marked 40 years since one of the most famous and brutal bouts in the sport’s history.

As the sporting world remembers Muhammad Ali’s epic showdown with George Foreman the search is on for the ring which the two boxers climbed into at dawn on October 30, 1974.

The ring “was stolen a few years ago,” Barthelemy Bosongo, manager of the Tata Raphael stadium which staged the fight, told AFP. “We don’t know where it’s gone, but it’s no longer in Kinshasa,” he added.

“We’re in the process of setting up a judicial investigation.”

A leading sports official in the Democratic Republic of Congo who wished to remain anonymous believes the bulky piece of sporting memorabilia “is in South Africa”.

According to Bosongo, “there are no signs left now of the fight, apart from the two dressing rooms” which Ali and Foreman used to change before stepping out for the fight, and into boxing folklore.

He added: “I would have liked for the stadium to become a place of history, where you’d find the dressing rooms, photos, gloves...but there’s nothing to remind you of the fight.”

It may be making headlines around

the world but Thursday’s 40th anniversary was passing off virtually unobserved in Kinshasa itself.

At the Tata Raphael stadium it was just like any other day.

Youngsters were knocking a ball around outside while inside Yvonne, 47, when asked about the importance of the day, replied: “What happened 40 years ago?

“1974, was it the fight between Ali and Foreman?” I know the year of the bout, but not the day itself,” she admitted.

Pierre, 64, remembers as a student having to watch the bout on television as he couldn’t afford a ringside seat.

“We’ve forgotten about the fight, the government should have mande an announcement about it,” he said. l

Fernando Alonso (L) of Spain and Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Ferrari pose with Shell Eco-Marathon cars at a Shell fuel station on Thursday ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix in Austin AFP

Aussie fan misses visits to Pakistan Proteas seek momentum n AFP, Abu Dhabi

The man regarded as Australia’s foremost cricket fan has spoken of how he misses trips to Pakistan and wants to see the country back on the international circuit.

Luke Gallian, who believes he is the only fan who has watched cricket in every Test-playing country, has been a common sight at Australia’s games for the past two decades.

And he said despite some “scary” moments in Pakistan, off-limits for top-level tours since 2009 because of the risk of militant attacks, he wants to see cricket there again.

“I can go to Pakistan tomorrow,” the 44-year-old told AFP during Pakistan’s series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates, where they play their home matches.

“I wanted to take tours three times but every time there was unrest and we had to cancel the tour, but I am sure the day is not far when we can go there again.

“I feel for Pakistan spectators.”

For Gallian, easily recognisable by his colourful shirts, Australia flag and baggy green cap, Pakistan evokes memories of a bygone era in cricket, when players were close to the fans.

During Australia’s last tour of Pakistan in 1998, he remembers knocking on the team’s dressing room door and being allowed inside for the first time.

“I used to knock the Australian dressing room and Steve Waugh would always oblige,” recalled Gallian, who runs a travel agency, www.wavingtheflag. com, which specialises in cricket tours.

Now it is a very different world with players on their guard after a series of match-fixing scandals, and more likely

English Premier League 6:30PM Newcastle v Liverpool 9:00PM Chelsea v QPR 11:00PM F1 World Championship 2014: Qualifying, Circuit of the Americas Austin, USA 1:45AM Italian Serie A Parma v Inter Milan

Neo Sports German Bundesliga 8:30PM VfB Stuttgart v VfL Wolfsburg

Neo Prime German Bundesliga

11:30PM Bayern Munchen v Borussia Dortmund

point, Jesse has been selected for NZ ‘A’, nothing more; nothing less,” Edgar said in a statement.

“It’s an important step for Jesse but it is only a first step and we’re anxious not to get ahead of ourselves.

“Like everyone else in the squad, his future prospects will depend on his performance, on and off the field, in Dubai.”

Ryder’s inclusion in the squad, however, indicated Hesson is concerned at the make-up of his top order ahead of the World Cup with regular opener Martin Guptill struggling against the pace of South Africa’s bowlers in a oneday series last week.

All-rounder Jimmy Neesham was promoted to open with Guptill in what was seen as a trial of his temperament at the top of the order and he displayed some positive indicators but also struggled against the Proteas.

Edgar said the ‘A’ tour was the opportunity for several fringe World Cup players to press their claims for the final squad. The New Zealand ‘A’ team will play World Cup teams Ireland, the UAE and Afghanistan in four one-day matches in Dubai that will dovetail with the limited overs series the top side is playing against Pakistan in the Middle East.

New Zealand face Pakistan in three Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day matches on their Nov. 3-Dec. 20 tour with matches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.l

Murray awaits Djokovic with Federer in wings

Star Sports 4

8:30PM SV Hamburger v Bayer Leverkusen

15

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Former Major League Baseball player Nomar Garciaparra (L), former Lakers star and Dodgers owner Magic Johnson (C) and former football player Mia Hamm Garciaparra attend a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday AP

to interact through social media than in real life.

Gallian is among a group of colourful, well-known spectators like Phil Long of England’s Barmy Army, the West Indies’ “Gravy”, Chacha (Uncle) Cricket of Pakistan, Percy Abeysekera of Sri Lanka and Sudhir Kumar of India.

He was introduced to cricket by his father, who took him to the Australia v England Centenary Test in Melbourne in 1976, when he was six. In 2010, he reached 150 Test attendances at Basin Reserve during Australia’s tour of New Zealand. But he said Pakistan was his most memorable cricket destination - despite some heart-pounding experiences.

“It’s long time back, but I had some scary moments as some spectators pestered me in Peshawar. I felt at that time the Pakistani society was on the edge,” he said.l

in T20 Australia series n AFP, Sydney South Africa hope a win against Australia in a Twenty20 series getting under way this week will set them on the path for a successful summer, coach Russell Domingo said Friday.

The Proteas are in Australia for three T20 matches before a five-match oneday series in mid-November ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.

Domingo said the Proteas were determined to create a winning habit early on tour.

“It’s all about momentum,” Domingo told reporters.

“If we can get some good results under our belts in the T20 campaign,

we can take a lot of confidence into the one-day series.”

Domingo said winning the T20 series was particularly important because the Proteas considered Australia tough opponents to stop once they got on a roll.

Skipper JP Duminy said he was excited about captaining the Proteas for the first time after breaking into international prominence in Australia back in 2008. Back then debutant Duminy led South Africa to an historic Test series win on the back of a maiden century of 166 in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Duminy finished with an average of 61.5 as the Proteas won a series in Australia for the first time and also ended Australia’s 16-year unbeaten streak at home.l

Magic, Mia among owners of new MLS team

Fifa sorry for Crimea video blunder n AFP, Genèva

n Reuters

Fifa has apologised for an embarrassing diplomatic faux-pas when its video launching the 2018 World Cup logo portrayed the Crimean peninsula as part of Russia.

The disputed clip was beamed on to the facade of Russia’s historic Bolshoi Theatre at the official unveiling of the 2018 logo in the Russian capital on Tuesday.

World football’s governing body issued a statement blaming the blunder on a local video production agency.

“Unfortunately the map of Russia selected and used during the projection by the local service provider escaped our attention and the short sequence in question has been removed,” a Fifa spokesman said. The slip-up came at a sensitive time with Fifa trying to find a solution to the Crimea club crisis.l

Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and U.S. soccer great Mia Hamm are among the 22-person ownership group of the new Los Angeles franchise unveiled on Thursday by Major League Soccer.

The surprisingly large group is led

by Vietnamese-American venture capitalist Henry Nguyen, Peter Guber, co-owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and former NBA executive turned television analyst Tom Penn.

Malaysian Vincent Tan, owner of English league club Cardiff City, former Major League Baseball player Nomar Garciaparra, who is Hamm’s husband, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins are also among the owners.

The new team, which has a working name of Los Angeles Football Club, is scheduled to begin play in 2017 and will compete with the four-times MLS champion LA Galaxy club for support.

The team’s official name, front office, coaching and administrative staff will be announced at later dates.

“Los Angeles is a diverse, vibrant market with millions of soccer fans, and we look forward to an intense rivalry between the Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber The unveiling on the new team comes three days after MLS said struggling Chivas USA, which had groundshared with the Galaxy at the StubHub Center in the L.A. suburb of Carson, had ceased operations.l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Petrobangla’s gas price hike proposal rejected n Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) rejected a proposal to raise the prices of natural gas by the state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, widely known as Petrobangla.

“We did not accept Petrobangla’s proposal gas price hike because they did not submit it as per the exisiting law,” said AR Khan, chairman of the energy watchdog while talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Unfinished Bengal Tiger census resumes today n Abu Bakar Siddique

The government plans to increase the gas prices for all types of consumers, significantly in the households, with a view to reducing wastage.

Petrobangla suggested a proportionately less increment for industrial and commercial users (around 30%) than for the households (over 122%).

M Shamsul Alam, energy adviser to Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said there was no scope for the BERC to take Petrobangla’s proposal under consideration under the current law.

“The commission [BERC] must stick

Petrobangla’s proposed price hike for natural gas Category

Proposed tariff

Current tariff

Increment in percentage

Domestic users (double burner) Domestic users (single burner) Meter-based burners Privately owned smaller power plants Power plants (for every 1,000cft gas) Fertiliser companies Industrial users Commercial users Tea gardens CNG refuelling stations CNG users at consumer level

Tk1,000 Tk850 Tk235 Tk240 Tk84 Tk80 Tk220 Tk350 Tk200 Tk905.92 Tk1,132.67

Tk450 Tk400 Tk146.25 Tk118 Tk79.82 Tk72.92 Tk165.91 Tk268.09 Tk165.91 Tk651.29 Tk849.5

122% 112.5% 60.68% 102.94% 5.24% 9.71% 32.6% 30.55% 20.55% 39.1% 33%

“As Petrobangla and the other distribution and transmission companies are dealt with separately by the BERC, Petrobangla cannot submit the proposal on behalf of the other companies. All of them have to send their proposals separately,” he said.

Petrobangla sent the proposal in question to the BERC on Wednesday.

“We received suggestions regarding how to proceed from the BERC, which we will review and discuss with the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to take a decision,” Petrobangla Chairman Istiaque Ahmad said.

“If the ministry agrees with the suggestions, it will give directives to the gas distribution companies to submit proposals to the BERC seeking an increment of gas prices in different consumer categories,” he said.

to the laws, or it would be controversial,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

He urged other distribution companies to come forward and submit their own proposals regarding price hike, adding that the group would not participate in the hearing if they did not.

At present, there are five companies that distribute natural gas through a national grid network: Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd, Pashchimanchal Gas Company Ltd, and Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd. The last hike of gas prices happened in November 2008. After the Awami League-led government came to power in 2009, it only increased the price of converted natural gas (CNG) several times. l

In celebration of the World Youth Day 2014, a bicycle rally arranged by the Ministry of Youth and Sports heads towards capital’s Karwan Bazar from the Manik Miya Avenue yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

The government is set to restart the Bengal Tiger census in certain parts of the Sundarbans today to complete what was left of the process which began last year.

“Initial steps such as field trips of the two-month census will begin today. The concluding part will be done after the Rash Mela on November 6,” said Zahidul Kabir, divisional wildlife officer of the Sundarbans Wildlife Division and census coordinator.

“Tigers are mostly concentrated in three areas - Kotka-Kochikhali, Nilkomol and Koikhali – this time and the 624sqkm area of Nilkomol will be surveyed. The 360sqkm Kotka-Kochikhali and 365sqkm Koikhali areas were surveyed last winter,” he added.

The number of tigers found in the three areas will be multiplied to estimate the total number of the species in the rest of the Sundarbans.

The government undertook the project named Ecology and Population Estimation of Tigers last year under the project “Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection” funded by the World Bank. A similar project is also underway in the West Bengal part of the Sundarbans.

In the camera trapping method, surveyors mount cameras at different points in the forest for two months to automatically capture photographs of the passing tigers. The number of tigers is determined later by analysing the photos.

Forest Department sources say 89 infrared cameras have been mounted to count the current number of tigers in the Bangladeshi part of the Sundarbans.

The latest tiger census was conducted back in 2004 and the pugmark method was used at the time. The number of Bengal Tigers was found to be 440 in the Bangladeshi part and 6080 in the Indian part.

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

The Sundarbans is home to 334 species of trees, shrubs and epiphytes, and 269 different species of wild animals, including the Bengal Tiger. l

Sexually assaulted girl skips school for 5 months Shahjalal Airport one Headmaster yet to be punished although allegation against him proven true of the worst in Asia n Our Correspondent, Naogaon A schoolgirl in Badalgachhi upazila who was assaulted sexually by the headmaster has been absent in class for the last five and a half months.

The family of the fifth-grader at Begunjoar Government Primary School is now worried about whether she will appear in the Primary School Certificate examinations scheduled to begin on November 22.

Formal complaints were lodged against Shahriar Hossain, headmaster of the school, but he is yet to be disciplined by the authorities concerned.

Assistant Director of the education directorate’s Rajshahi office Abul Kalam Azad visited the school to carry out a probe into the allegation two months

ago but no action has yet been taken.

The girl from Donoil village was sexually assaulted by Shahriar in his room

Family of the fifthgrader is worried if she will appear in the PSC examinations scheduled to begin on November 22 at the school on May 4 when she got in to show him a script. The headmaster let her go when she screamed.

Parents of the girl wrote to the upazila education officer and the president of the school’s management com-

mittee pleading for befitting action.

Md Rashidul Islam, president of the school’s management committee, told reporters that the allegation against the headmaster was found to be true.

On July 7, Rashidul wrote to the deputy director of the Directorate of Primary Education’s Rajshahi office, assistant director, district primary education officer and upazila primary education officer recommending the headmaster be transferred as part of punitive measures.

“Abul Kalam Azad visited the school in response to my letter and a transfer order was issued, which is yet to be implemented,” he said.

District Education Officer Md Aminul Islam Mondol said the transfer order would be carried out once a suc-

cessor to the headmaster was chosen.

Md Jahangir Hossain, headmaster of Krishnapur Government Primary School which is located nearby, said this was really sad that the girl had stopped coming to school after the incident.

“Things should be sorted out,” he added.

The headmaster, Shahriar, however, denied the allegation against him, claiming he had been framed. He said he had received a transfer order and would leave once it was executed by the district education office. “[The girl] has been absent from class for a couple of months but we are trying to bring her back. We have even offered her female stipend facilities but still she refuses to attend school,” he said. l

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been ranked one of the worst airports in Asia, according to The Guide To Sleeping in Airports, because of rude service, poor sanitation, inadequate amenities, and an insect problem.

The world’s best and worst airports this year were both in Asia, too. Singapore’s Changi Airport took top honours for the eighteenth year in a row, while Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, likened to “a central prison,” came in at the bottom.

Dhaka airport received the dubious honour of making it to the Asia’s Worst Airport list, where it landed in ninth place. Dhaka airport was described thus: “Everywhere smells, very rude

Railways minister marries n Our Correspondent, Comilla

Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque and his bride Hanufa Akhter Rikta pose for a picture at the end of their wedding ceremony in Mirkhala village of Comilla’s Chandina upazila yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque yesterday afternoon wed Hanufa Akhter Rikta at the latter’s residence in Mirakhala of Chandina upazila.

The denmohor was fixed at Tk500,001 and the 67-year-old paid the whole amount in cash. Marriage registrar of Galai union Maulana Siddiqur Rahman conducted the wedding around 4:40pm.

Earlier around 03:06pm, Mazibul arrived at the bride’s house by a silver-coloured car decorated with flowers. A motorcade of more than 700 cars followed the groom’s vehicle and those were parked at Taltola Bazar.

The groom was showered with flower petals as he passed the main arch. He gave Tk100,001 to those who received him at the arch.

Law enforcers struggled to manage crowds who gathered to see the groom.

Prepared by chef of Comilla Club Milton Rozario, meals were arranged for 1,500 guests.

Among the high-profile guests attending the wedding were State Minister for Women and Children Affairs

Meher Afroze Chumki, Abdul Matin Khasru MP, Ali Ashraf MP, Tajul Islam MP and Deputy Commissioner Hasanuzzaman Kollol.

Administrator of Comilla district council Omar Faruk said the railways minister worked for the people for all his life. “He made the happiness and sorrows of the activists his concerns. He was never concerned about his own felicity.

We are elated that he eventually decided to get married. We wish him happiness and prosperity in his conjugal life.”

The post-wedding reception is scheduled to be held at the LD Hall of the parliament building on November 14. There will be another celebration at Basuara in Chauddagram, the railways minister’s hometown, on December 6.

Pickpocketing brings annoyance

It came as an embarrassment for the guests as more than 50 of them were pickpocketed, including lawmaker Khasru, at the ceremony.

Correspondents of Banglavision, Janakantha and Ekattor TV, as well as others lost their money and mobile phones. Police also detained a pickpocket at the bride’s residence. l

immigration police and airport staff, corrupt people, and insects everywhere.”

Would-be travellers and transit passengers are advised: “If travelling through Dhaka’s international airport, you’d be wise to beeline it to the upstairs floor that is often devoid of the crowds and chaos that characterise the main floor. Otherwise, this airport is known to be dated, slow-moving, insect-filled and short on amenities.”

The survey site’s rankings are based on passenger responses about comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service at airports.

Dhaka airport’s failures with regard to comfort include crowded terminals, uncomfortable and limited seating options, and unpleasant temperatures. l

Bangladeshi woman drowns trying to save 4 Emirati kids n Tribune Report A Bangladeshi housemaid in the UAE drowned while rescuing four children who were nearly swallowed by the sea at a beach in Abu Dhabi.

Deceased Safia plucked the four boys from the sea and pushed towards the beach one after another when they ventured towards the water in Dabiya beach. However, she got stuck in strong currents, according to several Emirates-based media.

“She did a heroic act by saving my son and his three friends. We all owe this woman and we are all saddened by her death,” said Abu Abdullah, whose son Abdullah had been rescued by the maid.

“She was so brave and sacrificed her life for our children without hesitation,” he said, adding that he was in touch with Safia’s family in Bangladesh to arrange for sending back her body and raise funds to send money to her family. l

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