20 Dec, 2014

Paush 6, 1421 Safar 26, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 256

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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AVENUE T

8 | HERITAGE

9 | LONG FORM

12 | SPORT

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

THE PARADISE OF NATIONS

WHOM DO WE WRITE FOR?

BFF MULLING BRINGING BACK DE KRUIF

Modi reassures of resolving Teesta, LBA issues

‘Land grabbing is the reason behind every attack in the CHT’ n Abid Azad from Rangamati

Hamid seeks more help in power sector, regional connectivity n Tribune Report Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday assured President Abdul Hamid of resolving Teesta water-sharing and implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) issues.

Modi also reaffirmed that his government was working continuously on these two crucial issues, reports BSS. “We’ve been working on Teesta water-sharing and LBA issues for their immediate solution,” the Indian premier said during a call on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Hyderabad House, president’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS quoting the meeting.

Modi said he has a plan to visit Dhaka as early as possible.

Referring to Bangladesh-India cooperation in the power sector, the president sought more help in this regard, especially in Bangladesh’s efforts to import hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan.

In response, Modi said India was ready to intensify its cooperation in power sector.

Abdul Hamid also laid emphasis on developing regional connectivity and said such connectivity would help the region reap economic benefits for it.

On connectivity issue, the Indian premier said collective efforts would have to be made on developing sub-regional connectivity, including development of infrastructure and tourism.

Referring to his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York and during Saarc Summit in Kathmandu, Modi said they had successful talks.

The president recalled with gratitude the unprecedented support and assistance extended to Bangladesh during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

Modi said he was happy that he had opportunity to meet two great freedom fighters, General Jacob and Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid.

In the half-an-hour-long meeting, Hamid lauded the leadership of Narendra Modi and his “Gujarat Model,” says our correspondent in New Delhi.

Hamid told Modi that Modi’s  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Bangladesh’s President Abdul Hamid shakes hands with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi yesterday PID

Birth registrations 11% higher than total population n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The number of birth registrations in the country has far exceeded the number of population that was found by the latest national census in 2011.

As of September this year, the government had registered 16.72 crore births, around 11.69% higher than the 14.97 crore population enumerated by the adjusted results of the Population and Housing Census 2011.

Calculating the population growth rate, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics website estimates the current population at 15.76 crore – which is still lower than the total registered births.

The largest spikes in birth registra-

tion trends come during the months when schools admit new students, different sources said, adding that although the total average daily birth registrations stand at around 80,000; the number almost quadruples during the school-admission season.

Senior officials of the birth registration project told the Dhaka Tribune that a large number of the population still remained out of the registration process, even though the registered births had already exceeded the original population by more than two crore.

Sources at the project also said that out of the total registered births, around 11.93 crore have been registered

digitally and rest have been manually hand-written.

One can register births or deaths at their area’s respective offices concerned: zonal offices in city corporations, municipality offices or any digital centres at the union level.

“It is only a question of honesty. And there is no way to deny that a huge number of people have registered [births] twice or thrice as per their wish,” AKM Saiful Islam Chowdhury, project director of the Birth and Death Registration Project, told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

The situation had not improved despite introducing different protective measures against the practice of multiple registrations, he said.

“If we can establish an honest nation, only then can we claim that these numbers are correct,” Saiful added.

During an international conference in Switzerland this month, foreign participants laughed on hearing that Bangladesh had more birth registrations than actual population, Saiful told the Dhaka Tribune.

Abdul Mannan Kottal, a birth and death registration assistant of zone 4 (Mirpur) under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), claimed that during November and the first half of December, his office had issued over a hundred birth certificates a day, although the average daily number was never more than 20.

The United States will not support the current resolution put forward by the Palestinians setting the terms of a peace deal with Israel, a US official said Thursday.

Washington has seen the text of a draft resolution circulating in the UN Security Council and “it is not something that we would support,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

“We think others feel the same and we are calling for further consultations.

The Palestinians understand that.”

She pointed to a statement from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that he would support further consultations, adding US Secretary of State John Kerry had been holding discussions with different parties on Thursday.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Now Khaleda focuses on areas around Dhaka n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

A recent photo taken from inside the Sundarbans shows a shed for visitors being erected at a spot named Jamtola in Kotka area. Such concrete structures, according to experts, will obstruct the free movements of wildlife, however, the Forest Department continues with the construction work SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

5 | News

15 | Entertainment

US won’t back Palestinian UN resolution, Israel would reject n AFP, Washington

INSIDE 2 | News

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday praised members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for their role in protecting the country’s frontiers.

3 | News

The trial process of the explosives case filed in connection with the Ramna Batamul blast is apparently being delayed as prosecutors were more ‘busy’ in preparing for the August 21 grenade attack cases.

Second-time DU admission seekers demand a review on the university’s decision which denies the failed aspirants a second chance at the entry tests in 2015-16 sessions.

7 | World

The vast majority of Pakistanis may be united in grief for the school children murdered in Peshawar - but many say they still don’t know who carried out the attacks.

11 | Op-Ed

Killing so many children can be considered as nothing short of an act of outrageous cowardice on the part of those who claimed responsibility for the killings.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN

The BNP-led 20-party alliance is planning to organise mass rallies in districts surrounding the capital to make its anti-government movement a success in Dhaka towards the end of January next year.

As the Dhaka city unit BNP failed to wage any movement against the January 5 national election, party chief Khaleda Zia this time is focussing her attention on the capital and its adjacent districts.

However, none from the party could give any idea about the movement strategy. A number of leaders said the chairperson was finalising the programme discussing with only a few leaders.

A senior leader said Khaleda was drawing out a movement strategy alone as during the January 5 election information was leaked out. “This is why madam [Khaleda] is very alert.”

When contacted four Standing Committee members and some vice-chairmen and joint secretaries general expressed their ignorance about the movement strategy.

MK Anwar, Standing Committee member of the party, said: “I do not know anything and even none has discussed the issue in my presence.”

Amanullah Aman, joint secretary general, said: “The party has some plans but the plan is yet to be disclosed to us.”

The BNP chief has already held 10 district rallies across the country to drum up public support in favour of the demand for an election under a non-partisan government.

Now her priority is to hold rallies in the districts adjacent to the capital to ensure people’s participation in the

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Land grabbing is the main reason for the arson attack this Victory Day on homes, shops and a temple belonging to non-Bangalis in Naniarchar upazilla in Rangamati, residents of the area told the Dhaka Tribune.

They said most attacks on minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) had been carried out in connection with the encroachment of land by Bangali settlers in the region.

Those affected by the attack in Naniarchar’s Suridas Para said they believed the attack took place in retaliation for the destruction of a five acre pineapple farm in the Chouddo Mile area.

Victims of the attack denied involvement in the destruction of the pineapple farm and said references to the farm attack was just a pretext to evict them from their land.

They said the incident was another “a step towards the expansion of Bangali settlers’ territory.”

Ethnic Bangali residents of the area, army officials and government officials could not confirm who destroyed the farm on the night of December 15.

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS) and the ethnic Bangali residents of the area together blamed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), the anti-peace accord party, for vandalising the pineapple farm which incited the torching of houses

Today is the first anniversary of death of Khaled Khan. His marks are not only left on the stage but in the lives of the people whom he inspired by his powerful acting.

upcoming movement, said alliance leaders.

Khaleda aready held a public rally in Narayanganj on December 13 and is scheduled to hold another in Gazipur on December 27.

She is likely to hold two more rallies either in Munshiganj or Keraniganj and Manikganj or Savar in January, said a party insider.

But if the government hiked prices of gas and electricity before these two meetings, the movement would start from the capital and in that case those meetings could be cancelled, said the leader.

The alliance could hold a rally in Savar- Manikganj and MunshiganjKeraniganj areas BNP Organising Secretary Fazlul Haque Milon, who is assigned to look after the organisational activities in Dhaka division, said: “Madam [Khaleda] has participated in a lot of meetings far from the capital. Now she is focussing on the districts surrounding the capital.”

Earlier, the BNP chairperson said she would herself take to the street this time and urged party leaders ad activists to be with her in a bid to oust the government.

She, however, did not give any timeframe for the movement but asked party activists to be prepared for the call.

Before the January 5 election, the capital was apparently isolated from the rest of the country because of BNP-Jamaat’s violent movement but  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, December 20, 2014

President, PM praise BGB for protecting country’s frontier n BSS President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday praised members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for their role in protecting the country’s frontiers.

In separate messages, they greeted the members of the BGB on the eve of “Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day2014”.

The president, in his message, said the BGB, deployed along the country’s bordering areas, has a long historical background of more than 200 years.

The force has set a laudable instance in protecting the border, he added.

Abdul Hamid said the parliament passed the Border Guard Bangladesh

The president urged the BGB members to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and patriotism for protecting the country’s bordering areas Act-2010, which came into force from December 20, 2010, to infuse new spirit into the members of BGB. “The nation would recall with gratitude for ever all of those BGB members, including Bir Shreshtra Noor Mohammad Sheikh and Bir Shrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf, for their supreme sacrifice in the country’s Great War of Liberation,” Abdul Hamid said.

The president urged the BGB members to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and patriotism for protecting the country’s bordering areas.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the members of

BGB have been playing a laudable and exemplary role in protecting the country’s border along with assisting the civil administration.

She said her government has taken all measures to make the BGB a modern force. To this end, she said, the government enacted the Border Guard Bangladesh Act-2010, and approved a new organisational framework and manpower for making it an efficient force.

The government has already decentralised the BGB command structure under four regions in the country for bringing dynamism in its activities, said the prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina said her government also approved setting up four more sectors along with 15 battalions, and most of which have already been implemented.

The government has introduced different facilities, including 30 per cent frontier allowances, increasing ration, medical facilities and housing, for BGB personnel from the lowest post to Subedar major rank, she added.

Recalling BGB’s role in 1971, the prime minister said the 219-yearold force participated in the War of Liberation following the appeal of the greatest Bangalee of thousand years and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The BGB was also awarded two Birshreshtha awards for its significant role in the War of Liberation while 119 members got other awards.

The prime minister said 817 BGB members sacrificed their lives during the independence war and recalled with deep respect their supreme sacrifice.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the BGB would discharge their duties with honesty and sincerity to keep the border areas safe and uphold the country’s image. l

Structures of pavilions are being set up yesterday prior to the start of Dhaka International Trade Fair 2015 starting on January 1 in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Court sends 24 Tabligh Jamaat men to jail n Mohammad Jamil Khan

A Dhaka court sent 24 Tabligh Jamaat men to jail yesterday.

Magistrate Mizanur Rahman passed the order and set tomorrow to hear whether these arrestees could be released on bail.

General Recording Officer (GRO) Kutubul Alam, of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court informed this all to the Dhaka Tribune.

Kakrail Mosque committee member Sayed Wasiful Islam, also a spiritual leader, along with some other senior members embezzles money that comes in as mosque donation and for its development.

One of the protesters, Azharul Islam, told the Dhaka Tribune that protesting against this dishonest activity, several Tablighi Jamaat men were distributing leaflets against him on Thursday night.

They were then allegedly attacked

by Wasiful ‘s followers after he ordered them to do so, he said, adding: “Police had even arrested them (protesters) who were already beaten up by his supporters.”

Ramna police station Operation Officer Jahangir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that they arrested them after they had been told by the mosque committee that some men were ruining the peaceful atmosphere at Kakrail mosque.

Birth registrations 11% higher than total population  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Contacting different union digital centres, the Dhaka Tribune also found a similar picture.

Farzana Bobby Nadira, a digital centre entrepreneur from Konabari union in Jhalokati, said the numbers increased during the school-admission season as the authorities had made birth certificates mandatory to ensure a seat in schools.

Sources said parents also manipulated their children’s age just before the registration for Junior School Certificate (JSC) examination in February-March.

“Most of the guardians want to ensure that their children pass the SSC exam at around 15 years as it is the minimum age limit for the exam.

To ensure that, they are frequently manipulating the students’ age at JSClevel,” Nadira told the Dhaka Tribune over phone.

According to the existing regulations, nobody can change their age after JSC. Saiful, the birth registration project director, said this was the main reason behind the number of birth registrations being higher than the actual population.

“We have recommended the Education Ministry to fix the minimum SSC examination age level at 16 years; but they fixed it at 15, which is a problem,” he added.

A birth registrar from the DNCC’s zone 3 told the Dhaka Tribune that different age requirements by separate schools also prompted parents to create several birth certificate for the same person.

“Viqarunnisa Noon School, a renowned girls’ school in the capital, requires the age to be six plus [for first grade admission seekers]; while another famous school Holy Cross re-

quires five-and-half to six-and-half for the same class. To fulfil requirements of both schools, guardians collect two different birth certificates,” the official added.

Acknowledging the problem, Project Director Saiful said directives have already been issued to all the city corporations, municipalities and union parishads to ensure birth registration within 45 days of every childbirth.

However, an official count shows that out of over 1.09 crore infants born from September 2011 to September 2014, only 83,020 have been registered within 45 days of birth.

In parliament recently, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam was asked by ruling party lawmaker Mouazzem Hossain Ratan on how the birth registrations had exceeded the current population. However, Ratan did not find a chance to get any supplementary question.

“It is a simply unbelievable number, and with this number we cannot take any effective decision,” said Ratan, when the Dhaka Tribune contacted him recently.

Meanwhile, mentioning another reason behind the disparity of numbers, registration project chief Saiful said people who had registered births were not aware of the necessity to register deaths, causing the gap between the registrations and population.

The existing birth and death registration act was passed in the parliament on December 7, 2004, but came into effect on July 3, 2006.

But before that, with active support of Unicef, the government started the Birth and Death Registration Project in 2001 under the Local Government Division. Its first phase lasted during 2001-2006, second phase during 20072011, while the third phase was now ongoing. l

‘Land grabbing is the reason behind every attack in the CHT’  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

and shops of indigenous people.

UPDF representative Bablu Chakma, who is also the Rangamati district president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), denied the allegation.

“There is no proof that the UPDF carried out the vandalism. They all put blame on the organisation as we are working for the struggling people of the country as well as the indigenous people,” he said.

Bablu claimed such incidents could not take place without the assistance of the government and the army.

Fifty-four houses and seven shops belonging to indigenous people were torched following the destruction of the pineapple farm. The Karuna Buddha Bihar, a Buddhist temple, was also vandalised, some of its statuary and cash looted, and its monks assaulted.

The arson attack left hundreds homeless in the biting cold of winter.

Pineapple farm feud Both indigenous people and Bangali settlers claim the pineapple farm as their rightful property.

Government officials declined to comment on the matter saying they could not speak on the issue “for the sake of the investigation.”

Ward 3 member of Barigat Union, Ananda Chakma, said the farm consisted of third-class hilly land.

“The owner is Nishi Kumar Chakma.

A year ago, these Bangalis came to cultivate the land and we protested. We had to step back because the settlers

were supported by the army,” Ananda said.

Nishi Kumar’s grandson, Rekhon Chakma, said: “We have been cultivating this land for many years.

We do slash-and-burn farming, locally called jum. The paddy field beside the pineapple farm is also ours.”

But Afsar Ali, a primary school teacher who settled in Bagachhori Bazar under the same upazila in 1981, claimed he and two others purchased the land two years ago from their neighbour, Muzaffar.

Afsar, originally from Jessore, told the Dhaka Tribune that Muzaffar obtained the land in 1981 from the then government.

Several other Bangalis from Bagachhori Bazar confirmed that the government of that time had provided them with parcels of land from Bagachhori to Gilachhori along the Rangamati-Khagrachhari link road.

PCJSS Information and Publicity Secretary Mangal Kumar Chakma told the Dhaka Tribune: “According to the rules in the CHT, settlers cannot own any land here as they are not permanent residents in this area. The District Council is the authority to check on who can or cannot own land here. ” Saying he was unaware which lands had been provided to people from other regions by the government, Mangal added: “The roadside land cannot be owned by Bangalis because most of this land is “bhogdokholiyo” land and owned by the indigenous

people. Such incidents are not isolated incidents. This is a process whereby the government is aiming to make indigenous people economically vulnerable and subsequently evicting them.”

Bangali residents held a protest and displayed placards demanding the arrest of “identified criminals.”

No case had been filed yet over the pineapple farm’s destruction.

When asked why he had not filed a case over the destruction of the pineapple farm, Afsar said he was waiting for the investigation committee report and preferred negotiation rather legal action.

Indigenous people affected by the arson attack the following day said they had not filed a case because they felt insecure.

On condition of anonymity, indigenous residents of the area named Naniarchar police station BNP President Rejas Nabi, Secretary Nuruzzaman and BNP activists Zahirul Islam, Zafar, Mizanur, Riaz, Sohel and Khabir as the arsonists who acted with the support of the army.

The victims of the arson attack said they were about to resist the attack and protect their homes, when they heard the army sounding continuous warning whistles and firing three blank shots.

They then decided to run for cover in the nearby jungle.

Lt Col Sohel, Naniarchar zonal commander, denied allegations of army backing for the attack.

He said: “Two army patrols, led by

a major, reached the spot around 8am and found 400-500 settlers attacking the Buddhist temple. No indigenous person was present at the time and our forces tried their best to bring the situation under control. When the mob became more agitated our team charged batons and tried to control the fire.”

“The allegation against us is very sad. Maybe some political organisation has mislead the indigenous people.

The indigenous people fled the area so they did not see how we tried to save their houses. Since they did not see our actions, it is possible that it was suggested to them that we supported the settlers,” Sohel said.

“We surrounded the temple and succeeded in moving the angry mob away from it. You can see that the temple was not burnt down to ashes,” Sohel added.

The Dhaka Tribune confirms that the only structure still standing, rather than being burnt to ashes like the rest of the area, is the temple.

The vandals decapitated a Buddhist statue and harassed a monk.

Ava Shah, a monk at the temple, said: “The settlers slapped me. Then they entered and vandalised the whole temple. They made off with five Buddhist statues and cash.”

Tension continues to prevail in the district among members of both communities.

The Rangamati-Khagrachhari link road remains blocked by indigenous people. l

“We just sent the devotees to jail to take the ongoing situation under control and are trying to sold the dispute through holding talks between both the sides.”

In protests against the arrests, a number of devotees of Kakrail mosque gathered in front of the police station yesterday noon. They however went away after senior police officials hold talks with them.

Protester Azaharul also said they came to know about the irregularities of Wasiful two year back after one of their associates (Sathi) came up with some documents over it.

“We later looked into the issue and found out that Wasiful along with

some other senior members of Tabligh Jamaat embezzles a lot of money that comes in as mosque donation and as for its development.”

“Tabligh Jamaat is a place of peace and we would allow none to foil its peace and prosperity and take stand against it at any cost,” he said.

Contacted, accused Sayed Wasiful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “I don’t know why a group of people are trying to create anarchy by spreading false and misleading information about me and some other senior members.”

“They are trying to do this for around a year but have so far failed to establish anything against me,” he said. l

Now Khaleda focuses  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

the city unit of the party failed to wage any movement in the capital.

To intensify the movement, the Dhaka city committee was reconstituted, bringing Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and Swechchhasebak Dal President Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel in leading positions of the committee.

Khaleda at a programme in the capital on Thursday said this time the street of the capital would not remain empty as she would take to the street along with other senior leaders of her party.

“The alliance could hold a meeting in Savar-Manikganj area and Musnhiganj-Keraniganj area but the dates of those two meetings are yet to be fianlised,” Shafiul Alam Prodhan, president of Jagpa, told the Dhaka Tribune.

To make the upcoming movement a success in the capital, Khaleda held a series of meetings with the associated and front organisations to charge them up and is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Dhaka city unit BNP. From the Narayanganj rally Khaleda threatened to wage a non-stop movement from the day the government hiked the prices of power, gas and fuel.

She even challenged the government to face her in the street and pledged to go back home only after the

ouster of the government.

The BNP chief said they had given 12 months to hold a fresh election under a non-party government but as the government had not yet paid any heed to her demand she had no more time to sit idle. l

Modi reassures  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

leadership would inspire the young generation of India to build a prosperous country.

The Bangladesh president reminded the Indian prime minister about the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and told him to make a visit soon, reports UNB. An impressed Modi in reply said, “I’ll try to visit Bangladesh soon.”

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Shahhriar Alam, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Moazzem Ali, lawmaker Rezwan Ahmed Tawfiq, and Senior Secretary Shaikh Altaf Ali were present on Bangladesh side while Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran joined the India side. l

Israel would reject  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

She agreed the problem was the content of a Jordanian text that would set a 12-month timeline for wrapping up peace negotiations and a late 2017 deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian lands.

“We wouldn’t support any action that would prejudge the outcome of the negotiations or would set a specific deadline for withdrawal of security forces,” Psaki said, adding that the parties were aware of US concerns.

In the past, the US has supported UN resolutions relating to Israel. But Psaki stressed that “obviously the content is important.”

“We’ve been clear about what our principles are, and the fact that we could support certain forms of resolution, but those discussions are private,” Psaki added.

Israel would never accept ‘Unilateral’ bid

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday Israel would never accept the “unilateral” recognition of a Palestinian state, after a draft resolution calling for a final peace deal was submitted to the UN. In a statement from his office, Netanyahu accused Palestinian president

Mahmud Abbas of “thinking he can threaten us by taking unilateral steps” over statehood.

“He doesn’t understand that his authority in the West Bank will be overturned by Hamas like it was in Gaza,” the Israeli premier added.

“We will never accept unilateral diktats,” Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian draft resolution, submitted on Wednesday to the UN in New York, sets a 12-month deadline for wrapping up negotiations on a final settlement and the end of 2017 as the timeframe for completing an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories.

A final peace deal would pave the way to the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a shared capital, according to the text.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman also played down the chances of the Palestinians’ UN bid achieving a breakthrough.

“Without Israel’s agreement nothing will change,” he said in a statement.

“The UN Security Council would do better to deal with the issues truly important to the safety and security of the citizens of the world... and not waste time on Palestinian gimmicks,” Leiberman said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, December 20, 2014

August 21 case prioritised over Ramna Batamul Pahela Baishakh bomb blast case delayed as prosecutors ‘busy’ with grenade attack cases

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The trial process of the explosives case filed in connection with the Ramna Batamul blast is apparently being delayed as prosecutors are more “busy” in preparing for the August 21 grenade attack cases.

Md Abdullah Abu Bhuiyan, special public prosecutor of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 where the case is pending, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are busy with the August 21 grenade attack cases, so the trial of the Ramna blast case is delayed.

“We do not have the time to summon witnesses for giving depositions, as we are busy with the grenade attack cases,” said Abdullah.

Ten people were killed and many others were injured when a bomb attack hit Chhayanaut’s Pahela Baishakh celebrations at the capital’s Ramna Park on April 14, 2011.

Sergeant Amal Chanda of Babupura police outpost filed two cases – one for the killings and the other under explosive substance act – with Ramna police station.

On June 23 this year, Dhaka Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ruhul Amin sentenced eight persons, including Huji chief Mufti Hannan, to death and six others to life imprisonment in the killing case; but no significant progress has been made in the explosives case.

Although the incident took place over 13 years ago, the court has so far recorded depositions of only seven of 84 witnesses in the case.

Defence counsel Faruque Ahmed

Feud leads man to shoot 31 in Natore n Our Correspondent, Natore At least 31 people received bullet injuries after a man opened fire on his rivals during a clash at Berabari village of Dahia union under Singra upazila of Natore yesterday morning.

Dahia Union Chairman Abul Kalam said: “There was a long-standing land dispute between Samad-Amjad and Reza-Saiful groups. On Friday morning, the members of the two groups locked into a scuffle over previous enmity.”

“At one stage, Saiful brought his firearms and randomly opened fire on his rivals, leaving 31 people injured.”

The injured were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex. “Of them, three people were shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated,” said Natore Police Super Basudeb Banik. The SP added that they rushed to the spot immediately after the incident and picked up Saiful and his cohort Danish along with a licensed pistol. “The investigation is underway and the next course of action will be taken after questioning the locals.”

UNO Salma Khatun and Singra police station Officer in-Charge Shafiqul Islam visited the spot later in the afternoon.

“The situation is under control now and additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further untoward situation,” said the police. l

also said: “The prosecution is busy with the August 21 grenade attack cases, so trial of the Batamul case is being delayed.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 is scheduled to hear prosecution witnesses again on January 8 next year.

According to the case details, it took more than seven years for investigators to find out Huji links with the bloodbath.

After six investigators were changed, Inspector Abu Hena Md Yusuf of CID was given the task and he pressed charges in the two cases against 14 militants including Mufti Hannan on November 30, 2008; over seven and a half years after the tragic incident.

The accused in the charge sheet are Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Moulana Yahiya, Mufti Abdul Hye, Moulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Moulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Hawlader, Moulana Mohammad Tajuddin, Moulana Abdul Hannan Sabbir, Arif Hasan Suman, Moulana Akbar Hossain alias Helaluddin, Moulana Abu Taher, Moulana Abdur Rouf, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar and Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel.

Of them, Hannan, Suman, Jewel, Abu Taher, Rouf and Akbar are behind bars while the others are still at large.

During investigation, Mufti Hannan and Akbar confessed to their involvement.

The accused admitted to have carried out the attack on the Bangla New Year celebration as they believed such function was anti-Islamic. Another accused Arif also made a confessional statement in the case. l

Human Rights Defender Forum forms a human chain in front of the National Museum in the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday, seeking justice for 14-year-old indigenous girl, Umaching Marma, who was allegedly raped and killed by Bangali settlers recently MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

14-party leaders slam Khaleda, her son Tarique n Abu Hayat Mahmud

The ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance leaders have strongly criticised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her recent remarks in which she asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to watch her tongue and use decent words.

The 14-party leaders also vented their anger over BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman for his statement calling Bangabandhu a “razakar”.

The alliance leaders, at various programmes in the capital yesterday, slammed Khaleda and Tarique.

In one programme, Health Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Mohammed Nasim told Khaleda Zia and her son to hold their tongues.

Moyeen Khan: Government distorting history n Tribune Report BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday accused the government of distorting the country’s history.

He said the history the government is writing should be amended.

“London-based The Economist has reported that the Bangladesh government has been working on writing history. But the government’s job is not to write history. Its job is to work for the welfare of the countrymen,” said Moyeen while addressing a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Swadhinata Forum President Abu Naser Rahmatullah chaired the discussion while Jubo Dal President Moazzem Hossain Alal spoke among others.

“The British newspaper’s report implies that Bangladesh’s history was distorted by the incumbent government and we have to correct it,” he said but refused to clarify how the government is distorting the country’s history.

The government files cases against BNP leaders whenever they speak, said Moyeen.

Describing the BNP as a liberal political party, the standing committee member said: “The party believes in peaceful democratic movement. On the other hand, Awami League is a party which

preaches secularism but its secularism is defined by the lack of religion.”

“A minister of the government revealed how the IPU election in Geneva was won by spending Tk5 million. The countrymen also want to know how much of the poor taxpayers’ money was spent in buying the presidential positions of the IPU and the CPA,” he said.

Awami League is doing everything to stay in power forcefully. Its leaders are trying to identify Bangladesh as a militant state to get support from the West Moyeen, also a former minister, alleged that the government has been hatching conspiracies to cling to power. “Awami League is doing everything to stay in power forcefully. Its leaders are trying to identify Bangladesh as a militant state to get support from the West.”

The BNP leader warned that autocratic rule would not prevail in the country for long. He said movement would be staged to have a parliament which would represent the people and also to restore the franchise. l

“Speak like a politician and shun the path of conspiracy and militancy,” he warned.

President of Workers Party of Bangladesh and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon criticised Tarique for his slandering comments on Bangabandhu.

Menon was speaking at the national conference of Ganatantri Party at Mahanagar Natyamancha in the capital.

Tarique wants to create confusion in the minds of people by giving false and unacceptable statements, he said.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said: “Khaleda and her son Tarique were now plotting with militants and fundamentalists as they were political-

ly defeated by the 14-party alliance.”

Food Minister Quamrul Islam said this time the BNP-Jamaat alliance would not be allowed to come on to the street in the name of agitation.

Awami League Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said: “We hoped that Khaleda Zia would say sorry for her insane son Tarique’s statements against Bangabandh. But she (Khaleda) did not do that, rather she echoed her son’s view.”

“Khaleda Zia had deviated from decent politics,” he said.

He made the statement at a press conference on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s remarks in which she asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to watch

Peace Symposium: Religion and militancy do not mix n Tribune Report Islam shuns militancy and requires followers to peacefully coexist with others, and the Prophet Muhammad (sm) taught his followers to be moderate in religion, the audience heard at a symposium yesterday.

The Peace Symposium 2014, arranged by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Bangladesh at the auditorium of the National Museum, focused on professing peace in every sphere of human life. It’s theme was “Love for all, hatred for none.”

Presenting the keynote paper, Prof Dr Syed Anwar Hossain said everyone aspired to peace but in their own subjective way.

Some militants believe they are working towards peace, but they have a distorted view, he said.

“IS, the Taliban, al-Qaeda and JMB want to endanger humanity and thus actually they have taken a position against the religion of peace—Islam.

This is neither Islam nor peace,” he said.

“The absence of war is not peace.

Nowadays people are not living lives without fear, which means peace is absent in the world,” he said.

Speakers at the symposium expressed concern over the recent rise of militancy in the name of Islam including the killing of 141 people at a school in Peshawar by the Taliban. They cited examples of several countries where militants have killed people in the name of Islam.

“Many people think the incidents taking place in Nigeria, the Middle East, Afghanistan or Pakistan will not happen in our country. They think this country will be free of this violence because it is geographically distant from these violence-torn places. But this complacency is suicidal,” said Maulana Abdul Awal Khan Chowdhury of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Bangladesh in his keynote paper.

He said the ideology of the Taliban, unlike national sentiment, is not territorially bound. It can arise in any country at any time. He said the public must be aware of it and be vigilant about it.

Maj Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid said: “We must establish good examples of co-existence and interfaith relations so that the youth are never attracted to militancy.”

He said wherever a country has given “political Islam” a chance to flourish, this ideology has created a space

Bangladesh for ensuring immigrant rights in post-2015 agendas n BSS

NatGeo Adventurer of the Year Wasfia Nazreen looks at the pictures portraying moments of her climbing the Everest exhibited at the Liberation War Museum in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

her tongue and use decent words.

On Thursday Khaleda Zia at a programme said: “Hold your tongue. The way you (Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) are talking is unacceptable. A self-declared prime minister cannot speak like this...control your tongue and use decent language.”

On Wednesday the prime minister in a programme advised Khaleda to ask her “spoiled” son Tarique Rahman to watch his mouth while making statements.

Reacting to Khaleda’s remarks the ruling alliance leaders yesterday said they would tackle BNP politically.

The 14-party leaders vowed to hold national election in 2019 under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. l

Bangladesh Permanent Representative to United Nations (UN) Dr A K Abdul Momen said Bangladesh wants to ensure the immigrant rights in the Post-2015 agendas.

“We want safe immigration, prestigious immigration and also want to ensure the immigration right in the Post2015 agendas,” he said while addressing at the UN high level debate to mark the international immigration day, according to a release on Thursday.

Mentioning that nearly 85 lakh Bangladeshis were now working in different countries worldwide, Momen said: “Bangladesh has performed excellently in last three decades in the systematic development of immigration process, especially digitisation databank of labourers and development of skilled workforces.”

The Bangladesh representative said working environments in any country has to develop for the sake of that country’s national development. He emphasised on strong participation in local, national, regional and international levels to turn the immigrants into skilled so that both the countries could be benefited by them. l

for militancy.

“If people can distinguish between peace-loving Islam and political Islam and fight against the filthy ideology of militancy with the tenets of the Islamic faith, there will be no scope for violence committed in the name of Islamism,” he said.

“It is not fair to point a gun at others if their ideology doesn’t match with one’s own,” he said.

Dhaka University teacher Father Tapan D’ Rozario said: “God prevails in every religion. There is no scope for fighting. Religious people in every faith will find God in their own way.”

Julfikar Ali Manik, a senior journalist at the Dhaka Tribune said: “The fight against militancy should start at the level of the family. Everyone should challenge the ideology of militancy from his own space.”

Speaking as the chairperson, National Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Bangladesh Mobasherur Rahman urged Muslims to pursue spiritual development so that militancy could not get a foothold in the country.

Professor Nazmul Haque moderated the program at which Ahmed Tohshir Chowdhury and Dr Nazma Khan Majlish, among others, spoke. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Launch gets stranded in Meghna due to heavy fog Four injured after clash breaks out between passenger and crew

n Our Correspondent, Barisal A triple-deck water transport plying on the Dhaka-Barisal route with more than 1500 passengers was stuck in a shoal of the Meghna River for 11 hours due to dense fog.

The launch MV Parabat-9, starting out from Sadarghat at about 9pm on Thursday reached Barisal at 4pm Friday, about 11 hours after the scheduled time.

A large number of students travelling in that vessel failed to attend the intake examination under National University due to the delay. This led to a clash between the agitated passengers and the launch crew injuring at least four.

Md Selim, ghat supervisor of the launch said, crews of the vessel had lost visibility at 2am yesterday as dense fog

covered the river route and anchored it near Miar Char at the border of the Hizla-Mehendiganj upazilas.

“When they were about to start their journey onwards after the fog cleared, they discovered that the launch was stuck on a shoal,” he said adding that the launch was freed when water level increased due to high tide at around 1pm.

The 11-hour delay caused sufferings to the 1500 stranded passengers regarding health, food and sanitation.

Moin Hossain Asif, one of the passengers of the launch, said many young passengers were scheduled to attend the exams but could not do so as the launch was stuck in the shoal.

When passengers protested operating the vessel without experienced crew and proper safety measures, the launch staff members misbehaved and swooped on the protesting passengers

Nasim urges private hospitals to provide affordable healthcare n Tribune Report Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim urged the owners of private hospitals to reduce their medical cost for general people.

He said this while addressing the inauguration event of the 5th International Conference on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at the capital’s Sonargaon Hotel yesterday.

Nasim thanked the owners for establishing the hospitals with modern facilities and asked them to keep the treatment cost reasonable.

“The present government has decided to position the doctors at their village homes, so that they can serve their own people,” Nasim added while

mentioning various strides taken by his government to improve the health sector.

Also present in the event, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said: “Bangladesh was able to achieve the important millennium development goals of reducing infant and maternal mortality. It has been possible because of the community clinics and posting doctors in the villages.”

Dr A M Shamim, chairman of the program and the managing director of Labaid group said, private hospitals had played an important role in the medical sector of Bangladesh by providing quality treatment for cardiovascular diseases. l

injuring at least four.

“Port officials and launch owners also failed to send an another vessel to rescue us even after repeated requests over mobile phone,” Moin added.

However, Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director (river and traffic management safety) of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority at Barisal said the vessel was already freed from the shoal during high tide while they were taking preparations to evacuate the passengers.

He further added that the vessel was running without fog lights and water depth measuring sonar equipment defying BIWTA guideline.

About shoals remaining unmarked, Abul Bashar said the Miar Char emerged recently and BIWTA did not have enough manpower and technology to regularly keep track of shoals. l

Two held with 1.62kg gold bars n Tribune Report Two people were held with 1.62kg gold bars worth around Tk80 lakh at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday.

The detainees were Abu Taher, 50, and Md Rashed, 32.

Moinul Khan, director general of custom intelligence, said some 800 gram gold bars worth around Tk40 lakh were recovered from Rashed in the green channel area of the airport. The gold bars were kept hiding inside the belt of his pant. He reached the airport by a flight of Malaysian Airlines MH-102 around 12:00pm, he said.

In another incident, seven gold bars weigh around 812 gram were recovered from a luggage of Taher. He reached the airport by a flight of Saudia Airline SV-808 around 1:30pm. Security officials intercepted him for his suspicious movement in green channel area, said Kazi Ziauddin, joint commissioner of custom house. l

Devotees receiving blessings from revered spiritual leader Sri Swami Sivananda, who came to the capital’s Dekheshwari temple from India’s Varanasi yesterday, under the arrangements of Sarbojonin Puja Committee RAJIB DHAR

World’s ‘oldest’ man arrives in Dhaka n Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique

Swami Sivananda, the 119-year-old man, claimed by his disciples to be the oldest living person on earth, visited Dhakeshwari National Temple on Thursday.

His disciples call him Sivananda Baba.

Born on August 8, 1896, in Haripur village under Bahubal thana in what is now Habiganj district to Shreenath Goswami and Bhagabati Devi, Sivananda has disciples all over the world.

One of his disciples from Kolkata has already taken a move to include his name in the Guinness Book of World Record as the world’s oldest man.

Dr Paritash Chandra Debnath, one of the organisers who arranged his visit to Bangladesh said: “Baba will spend one more day in Bangladesh. Tomorrow (Saturday) he will leave for Bajitpur, Kishoreganj and the day after he would leave for India where he runs an ashram in Kabir Nagar.”

On his visit to the temple leaders of the Hindu religious community arranged a discussion where Sivanan-

da’s fans, devotees and people of Hindu community went there to seek his blessings.

The speakers at the programme said their “spiritual guru loves to lead a life of simplicity. He wakes up at 3am daily and after bathing follows a routine pranayam, exercises and a walk in the temple ghats daily.”

Surviving on boiled foods items he takes an oil-free diet devoid of milk products or fruits, a practice he adopted quite early in his life. He can read and write without his glasses and is free from diseases, one of them said.

According to the speakers at the programme, he was adopted by Bishnab Omkarananda Goshwami in 1901 in Nabadwip under Nadia district in West Bengal.

As he lost her parents on the same day of his visit to home in 1903, he returned to the Ashram in Nabadwip.

In 1907 he had his initiation in the Ashram.

In the later days after the death of Omkarananda, he ran welfare activities in different places in India. In 1977 to 1979, he spent his time in Kashi before

Woman wrongly declared dead buried n Mohammad Jamil Khan The Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) authorities yesterday handed over the body of the woman, who was mistakenly declared dead early December, to Anjuman Mufidul Islam for burial.

Sekendar Ali, DMC morgue assistant, told the Dhaka Tribune the body was handed over to the private welfare organisation as the woman’s details could not be obtained.

Mostofa Kamal, duty officer at Anjuman Mufidul Islam, said the woman was buried at the Jurain graveyard.

On December 2, passers-by found the woman, who appeared to be in her forties, lying on the footpath in front of the hospital and admitted her to the facility.

Two days later, Nilufa Nila, an honorary physician at the hospital, declared her dead around 2pm. A death certificate was also issued.

But the woman started moving when a staff member sent by Nur-e Alam Babu, the morgue in-charge to bring the corpse three hours later.

Dr Nilufa at the time said she had declared the woman dead as she found no pulse.

The woman, however, did not live for too long and breathed her last around 4:30pm on December 5.

A four-member probe committee was formed on the day to investigate how the woman, who was still alive, was erroneously declared dead.

The committee, headed by Dr Enamul Karim, a medicine professor, is yet to submit a report as investigation is still underway.

On December 2, passers-by found a woman lying on the footpath in front of DMCH. She was declared dead two days later by a doctor We can only draw a conclusion after the report is prepared, Enamul said.

Sohel Mahmud, assistant professor at the hospital’s forensic department, carried out the autopsy on the woman.

DMCH Director Brig Gen Mostafizur Rahman said steps would be taken based on the probe report. l

Indian diplomat visits proposed Ramgarh land port site n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Attributed ‘crazy’ by local youths, 43-year-old Morjina Begum was restrained with shackles by family members and has been living in this condition in Harishapur village under Tanore upazila of Rajshahi for the last two months. The photo was taken recently AZAHAR UDDIN

Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chittagong Somnath Halder has visited the site proposed for building Ramgarh Land Port in Khagrachhari.

Ramgarh borders Sabroom town in South Tripura district in the Indian state of Tripura.

Escorted by police, he also went about the border chosen for constructing a bridge over the Feni river connecting both the countries on Thursday.

UNO Iqbal apprised the Indian assistant high commissioner of the latest information about the construction of

the bridge.

During the visit, Somnath told reporters that he came to visit the site to assess how much profitable it would be if Ramgarh Land Port was established and connected with Chittagong port by road.

Land acquisition and its development for the land port were already going on in India, he said.

He also said Indian government would construct the bridge.

Asked when the construction of the bridge would begin, he said it would be finally decided by the governments of Bangladesh and India. l

he went to live in Brindaban.

The speakers said he advocates nine qualities in life: no desire, no tension, no depression, no problem, no fruit or milk, no acceptance of donation are, among others.

Sivananda is witness to three centuries. He has been having disciples and preaching all over the world for several years. From 1925 to 1959, he spent his days in France, Greece, Malta, Japan and other foreign countries.

He opened his ashram in Varanasi for the welfare of poor people since he had to deal with abject poverty in his childhood, the speaker told the audience.

Mohanagar Sarbajaneen Puja Udjapan Commitee’s President JL Bhowmick, General Secretary Narayan Goshwami, Nirmal Chatarjee, Chandra Kundu, Tapas Pal, Paritosh Chandra Debnath, Gopal Chandra Debnath, Tapan Kumar Debnath, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Manindranath Pal conducted the discussion.

After the speech people went over to him to seek his blessings. l

Zohra Taj’s first death anniversary today n Tribune Report The first death anniversary of former Awami League Presidium Member Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, wife of first prime minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed, will be observed today.

After Magreb prayers, a milad mahfil will be held at the residence of Awami League Central Working Committee member Simin Hossain Rimi at DOHS of Banani in the capital, said a press release yesterday. l

National University admission test held n Our Correspondent, Gazipur The admission test for the honours 2014-15 academic session under the National University was held yesterday.

The exam was held at 11am in 180 centres across the country.

A total of 5,17,457 aspirants attended the test held in three wings – Humanities and Social Science, Commerce and Science. l

Girl ‘commits’ suicide in Ctg n CU Correspondent A girl allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling in Chittagong city’s Baizid area yesterday.

The deceased was Khadiza Begum, 18, a daughter of Joydul Hossen, hailing from Brahmanbaria, police said.

Locals found that Khadiza hanged herself with a scarf from the ceiling in her residence at Nabinagar area around 10:00am, said Baizid Police Station Sub-Inspector Abul Hossen.

Her family members were not at the hose. Her father is a day laborer and mother is a domestic help.

Quoting the family members, the SI said Khadiza was mentally depressed due to some feud among her family members. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Footpaths in the grips of hawkers, authority indifferent n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Makeshift shops put up by hawkers along footpaths and large sections of the roads in different areas of Sylhet, have compelled pedestrians to jaywalk and often face accidents.

The situation has arisen due to the negligence of the city corporation and indifference of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police over the issue.

Earlier, hawkers only set up makeshift shops before Eid and Puja, but now they keep a good portion of footpaths as well as roads in their grips round the year. Many residents of the city said only a few years back, a traffic jam was rarely seen on roads, but now it has become common phenomenon.

The worst scenario prevails along two kilometers of walkway stretching

from the Station road to Keannbridge areas where vehicles are stuck on road throughout the day.

A similar scene is also found in front of Zila Parishad office and at Surma point, Court point, and the Zindabazar and Bandarbazar areas.

Students and teachers of Agrogami Girls’ High School, Durgakumar Primary School, Sylhet Womens’ College and Madan Mohon College face difficulties daily to get to these institutions as they are located in the heart of the city.

Pickpocketing is common occurrence there, said some guardians.

Laboni, a student of Agrogami Girls’ High School, said: “It is difficult for us to find a way while going to and returning from school. We are often compelled to use main road.

“A few days back, one of my friends

met with a road accident while she was walking on main road,” she said.

She also said her school authority tried to evict hawkers, but their efforts went in vain for unknown reasons.

Riazul Islam, a banker, said: “We face problems when we walk along the Amborkhana road. Hawkers have grabbed half of this one-way road.”

Earlier, the hawkers used these footpaths during major festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid ul Azha and Durga Puja.

But now they run business all the year round, he said.

“Hawkers are doing business on road because of the negligence of authorities concerned, including the Sylhet City Corporation. Local political leaders especially the ruling party men are backing these hawkers so that they can run business smoothly,” he added.

Traders are also unhappy as hawkers set up makeshift shops on footpaths ahead of any festival blocking view of the permanent shops in the neighbouring markets.

Residents demanded that the authorities clear the footpaths ensuring safe movement at zebra crossings and footbridges and underpasses so that the pedestrians can move safely.

Md Rahmat Ullah, Additional Deputy Commissioner Of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) said: “We always try to keep the pavements free for pedestrians.

“In a recent meeting with hawkers we asked them to keep the footpaths free.”

He also said the would be more strict in future to ensure that the footpaths are free from encroachment. l

Registration for migrant children stressed n Our Correspondent, Barisal Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) stressed on immediate and wide spread implementation of registration system for safe migration of rural children to urban areas yesterday.

Rural Urban Child Migration Project (RUMP) of BNWLA, funded by European Union and Save the Children International, oraganised a view exchanging session with journalists at the Barisal Reporters Unity.

At the session, Masuk Kamal, project coordinator of RUMP, asked to strengthen the services of Local Government Institutions in cooperation with the Non State Actors to reduce unsafe rural-urban child migration and to improve the situation of migrant children.

Participants called for enhancing awareness among caregivers, law en-

3 killed in road accidents n Tribune Report Three people, including a police official, were killed in road accidents in Savar and Barisal yesterday Our Savar correspondent reports, two people were killed in two separate accidents in Savar.

In an incident, Alamgir Hossain, 30, was critically injured as he fell down on the road after a covered van hit his motorcycle on Dhaka-Aricha highway before the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC).

He was rushed to the Enam Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

In another incident, a man was killed on the spot as a bus ran him over in Savar Bus Station area.

The identity of the victim could not be known immediately.

Savar police said the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsies.

Two cases were filed in this connection.

Meanwhile, a police official was killed and his wife was critically injured in a road accident on Barisal-Dhaka highway in Kashipur area, reports our Barisal correspondent.

The deceased, Munshi Md Jewel, 35, used to work at the armed police battalion in Barisal. He was a resident of Kathalia of Jhalakathi, said Shaheduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Barisal Airport Police Station.

Jewel’s wife, Mahinur Begum, 30, was a nurse of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH).

Police said the accident took place as a truck hit the motorcycle by which the couple were traveling.

The victims were rushed to the SBMCH where doctors declared Jewel dead.

Meanwhile, Mahinur was undergoing treatment at the hospital, said sources at the hospital.

The body was sent to the SBMCH morgue for autopsy.

Police seized the truck. However, its driver managed to flee the spot. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:15PM SUN RISES 6:37AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 26 28 25 26 26 27 27 26

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

15 16 12 11 12 14 13 16

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

29.2ºC Cox's Bazar

09.6ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:15am 6:35am 11:56am 3:40pm 5:16pm 6:36 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

5

Saturday, December 20, 2014

forcement agencies, civil society, local and central government as part of the Universal Human Rights to address forced labour, sexual abuse, trafficking and exploitation of children.

Local government level structures have standing committees on Women and Children Welfare, however, they were not working for a sustainable reduction of child poverty, child labour and child rights violations, they observed.

They suggested for establishing a countrywide functioning registration system for migrant children and activation and monitoring of the steering and standing committees at union, ward level and upazila level.

The stressed for coordination among relevant ministries in the Local Government Ordinance for avoiding overlapping of birth registration, national and professional identity card and the other registration systems. l

Teacher allegedly tries to molest girl in Gazipur n Our correspondent, Gazipur

Farmers collecting gladiolus sticks from their field in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila. With the arrival of winter, farmers in Durgapur and Poba areas of the district are busy in farming the flower. The photo was taken from the orchard of farmer Zakir Ali in Khirshotika village under Poba area yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Agitating villagers attacked a coaching centre and put it under lock and key after a teacher of the centre reportedly tried to molest a11-year-old girl in Shreepur of Gazipur on Thursday.

The accused teacher is the head of Patharpara Bhaoal Model Academy.

The victim, who is a class VI student of Shreepur Maona High School, used to take tuition at the academy, locals said.

The accused called the victim to his room saying that he would give her a calender of the new year, and tried to molest her, according to locals.

The victim escaped from the lust of the accused by biting in the hands, and informed the mater to her family members, they said.

Later, the villagers attacked the coaching centre. But accused teacher managed to flee the spot.

Shreepur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohsinul Kadir said the victim’s father filed a case against the accused teacher. l

Illegal autorickshaws flood Chittagong Muhith: No chance to n cut oil price FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

More than 3,500 unregistered CNG-run autorickshaws are running in Chittagong city but the authorities have not yet taken any action against the drivers or owners of those.

Misuse of official labels is prevalent, with stickers of the press, police department, and various government as well as private offices appearing in many vehicles that do not actually belong to the individual or organisation concerned.

Sources say a dishonest group has bribed local autorickshaw associations as well as police to keep the unregistered vehicles on road.

Autorickshaw owners pay the associations Tk2,000-2,500 for a vehicle every month, said an owner requesting anonymity.

In response to a writ petition filed with the High Court by Four Stroke CNG Threewheeler Autorickshaw Sadharan Malik Oikka Parishad in June-July last year, the court issued a three-month stay order on introduction of new CNGrun autorickshaws in Chittagong city.

The stay order was extended several times, with the latest extension announced in September this year for six months.

But around 2,000 of the 3,500 unregistered vehicles, all of those new, are still running in the city, with 1,000 bearing stickers of the press and police.

All of the 2,000 autorickshaws are under control of Chitaggong Autorickshaw Auto Tempo Sramik Union, with General Secretary of the association Harun-ur-Rashid claiming that a special court permission had been obtained to operate the vehicles.

“Soon after the April 2013 announcement of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, which was the Communication Ministry at the time, we introduced the autorickshaws on road.

An association named CNG-Baby Taxi Malik Samity filed a petition against us but the court permitted us to run the autorickshaws when we presented papers,” he said.

“The union has put a red sticker in every new vehicle under its remit. A sticker contains a unique code that can be used to obtain detailed information

about that particular vehicle,” he added.

On April 23, 2013, the then Communication Ministry issued a notification to introduce another 5,000 CNG-run autorickshaws in Dhaka and 4,000 in Chittagong.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority sources said durability of the old autorickshaws expired on December 31 last year but was later extended till December 31 this year.

Chittagong Metropolitan CNG Owners Association President Tarun Kanti Das told the Dhaka Tribune a petition was filed with court seeking action against the 3,500 unregistered autorickshaws.

Additional Police Commissioner (administration, finance and traffic) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police AKM Shahidur Rahman denied the allegation of police taking bribes from autorickshaw drivers.

“Punitive measures will be taken if any policeman is found guilty of receiving bribes,” he said.

Shahidur, however, said he was not aware of the court permission that Harun-ur-Rashid claimed his union had obtained. l

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said yesterday there is no possibility of reducing fuel oil price in the country as per the global market.

“We never adjust oil price with that in the global market. Rather, we increase it at times when our capacity decreases,” he said, replying to a reporters’ query while inaugurating the overhauled Presbyterian Church in the city.

“The existing oil price will not remain stable in the international market,” he said, adding: “It is good for the country not to decrease oil price because revenue income will increase.”

The country’s economy is expected to benefit from the dramatic fall in oil prices that continued to zoom out as of yesterday, economists said on December 5.

But, they said, the consequent consumer benefit depends on the price adjustment at the domestic market commensurate with the international price.

The cash-strapped Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is expecting to be-

come a profitable entity soon, as it does not require any subsidy currently, its chief told the Dhaka Tribune.

Lower oil prices if sustain should have a positive effect on domestic growth. In theory, the fall in oil prices could lead to higher purchasing power and consumer spending and hence add to real GDP. “The impact of lower oil prices is broadly positive to oil importers like Bangladesh,” economist Mirza Azizul Islam, who was the finance adviser to the past caretaker government, said.

He said it will boost public coffer and enhance reserve, as the government has to spend billions of dollar as oil import bill every year. The fall in oil prices, therefore, translates into huge foreign exchange savings.

The price of oil, according to a BBC report published on Thursday, has halved since June.

Recent falls in the price of oil were likely to be temporary, it added, quoting Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi for Saudi Arabia, Opec’s biggest producing nation. l

Admission seekers demand review of authority’s decision n DU Correspondent Second time Dhaka University admission seekers, who have been demonstrating for over two months, yesterday demanded a review on the university’s decision which denies the failed DU aspirants a second chance at the entry tests in 2015-16 sessions.

A group of admission seekers pressed home for their demand while addressing a demonstration rally in front of Raju Memorial sculpture near TSC on DU campus around 2pm.

The admission seekers also demanded punishment for the policemen who attacked on them and criticised higher authority for not taking any measures against the accused officers.

Riajul Islam, an HSC student of University Laboratory School and College, said they would sit with DU Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique on De-

cember 21 to present their argument to reconsider the second time option in DU admission tests.

“There is no logic to ignore second time candidates in DU admission tests, we will request the DU VC so that he could realise our demand” he added.

Regarding the attacks on admission seekers rally on December 7, Riajul, also a spokesperson of admission seekers, demanded proper investigation and punishment of the law enforcers who brutally attacked them.

Before staging the rally, the protesters brought out a demonstration procession towards the VC’s residence and staged demonstration for a while.

The demonstrations have been going on since Dhaka University on October 14 decided to allow only freshly passed HSC graduates to sit for entry tests, closing shutters on any second timers. l

Seeking a second chance to sit for the Dhaka University (DU) admission tests, aspirants hold demonstration in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the campus yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, December 20, 2014

December 20: A day of sorrow for Moulvibazar n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar December 20 marks a day of great sorrow and loss for the people of Moulvibazar. On this day in 1971, a group of freedom fighters, freshly returned from the battle field, were killed in a massive explosion at a freedom fighters’ camp in Moulvibazar town.

Locals who fought in the Liberation War said Moulvibazar was freed from the Pakistani occupation army on December 8, 1971. As the Pakistanis were

Freedom fighters and leaders of the then National Awami Party (NAP-Mujaffar) and Communist Party Bangladesh (CPB) demanded for a thorough investigation forced to leave their headquarters set up at the Primary Teachers’ Training Institute, the freedom fighters hoisted up the flag of a free Bangladesh.

Since then, there was a joyous mood across the town. Everywhere the freedom fighters went, they were greeted by loud cheers. A makeshift transit camp was set up in the compounds of Moulvibazar Government High School, where freedom fighters assembled in batches every day, bringing with them firearms, explosives, and ammunition.

On the morning of December 20, freedom fighters were gathering in the

camp, when all of a sudden a deafening sound of explosion stilled all activities around the town. For a second, people feared the Pakistani army was back.

Those who went to investigate the source of the sound found bodies lying on the camp ground.

There were dismembered bodies of freedom fighters scattered all over the camp. The explosion had also damaged the school building.

Once again, the air in Moulvibazar became heavy with grief. More than 25 freedom fighters were killed that day.

Primary investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a mine gone off accidentally.

Later, the heroes were buried with honour in the southeastern corner of the playground at the school. A Shaheed Minar was also built in front of the burial ground, which later became the Central Shaheed Minar in Moulvibazar district.

December 20 is now observed as Shaheed Dibosh (Martyrs’ Day) locally.

A few years ago, another monument was built beside the Shahid Minar, where the names of the identified freedom fighters are engraved.

Immediately after the tragic incident, freedom fighters and leaders of the then National Awami Party (NAP-Mujaffar) and Communist Party Bangladesh (CPB) demanded for a thorough investigation.

They claimed the reason of the accident given at the time might have not been true, and the explosion night have been caused by the defeated Razakars and al-Badr men.

However, further investigation was not pursued for unknown reasons. l

Growers of Thakurgaon sit on the roadside to sell vegetables as they cannot send their agri-produces to different parts of the country for lack of transport facilities. According to local sources, farmers are now selling vegetables at lower prices which is below production cost. Three cauliflowers are being sold at Tk10 only at Nargun Pokati Bazar in the district while one cauliflower sells at Tk20 in the capital DHAKA TRIBUNE

Martyred intellectual’s grave lies uncared for n Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

A martyred intellectual’s grave has been left uncared for in Thakurgaon’s Pirganj upaila.

Martyred intellectual Golam Mostofa was a professor of the Department of Accounting at Pirganj College.

Pakistani occupation forces had picked up and killed him during the liberation war. He had been laid to rest at the upazila’s Raghunathpur Railghunti.

The Martyred Intellectuals Day, December 14, begins to be observed every year with paying floral respects to him in the district. No efforts are however taken by the government to take care of the grave. The martyr’s family only takes care of it whenever they can.

Since Golam Mostofa was martyred on April 17 in 1971, his wife Anwara Mostofa along with their three sons had to struggle a lot for survival.

Her three sons all have higher edu-

Thakurgaon Memorial built on Beltali killing ground sugar mills starts after 43 years of independence production n Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon n Our Correspondent, Comilla Thakurgaon Sugar Mills, the largest sugar mill in the northern part of the country, started its production yesterday.

The mills authorities has set a target of producing 5,800 tonnes of sugar by crushing 80,000 tonnes of sugarcane this year.

The mills authorities would keep running the mills for the next 90 days.

Ramesh Chandra Sen, chairman of the parliamentary committee on water resources ministry, inaugurated the operation for the current fiscal 20142015 at a function on the mill premises.

With Mills’ Managing Director SM Abdul Aziz in the chair, lawmakers Yasin Ali and Selina Jahan Lita, Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas, Awami League Thakurgaon District unit General Secretary Sadeque Qureshi, Central Sugarcane Farmers Association’s President Ruhul Amin also spoke.

The mills authorities said the sugarcane will be sourced from about 6,280 acres of land this year.

SM Abdul Aziz said they had fixed a target for cultivation of the sugarcane in 12,000 acres of land under the mills zone this year. About Tk5 crore were disbursed among 5,500 farmers for the cultivation, he said.

Ruhul Amin said the sugar corporation has fixed the price of sugar at Tk100 per maund (40 kg).

If the sugar corporation fixes the price at Tk150 per maund and the mills can assure the payment, the farmers can assure of uninterrupted supply of sugarcane to the mills.

Some 12,000 tonnes of sugar worth of Tk50 crore have remained stockpiled in the warehouse of the mills, according to an official a the mill. l

Spread over almost a kilometre to the south of Comilla’s Laksam railway junction, the Beltali killing ground bears tragic evidence of atrocities committed by the Pakistan occupation forces during the liberation war of 1971.

About 10,000 people were said to have been killed and dumped in this ground, which still, if dug, exposes bones and skulls. The ground was long ignored by the government despite repetitive request by the local people to build a memorial on it. Finally, Bangladesh Railway authority, as part of a rail line construction project, built a memorial spending Tk15 lakh.

The construction work of the memorial, which is yet to be inaugurated, was finished last week.

Local freedom fighters said like other areas of the country, Pakistan Army took over the Laksam area on April 15 of 1971. They established a camp at the 3-A cigarette factory situated near the Laksam railway junction.

The factory was used as a mini cantonment controlling the nearby areas of Comilla, Chandpur, Feni and Noakhali.

Hundreds of people was brought by trucks to this factory everyday by the Pakistan Army. They were later killed and dumped in the Beltali ground.

Khorshed Alam, a resident of Laksam Rajghat area, said his father, mother, younger brother and other relatives were picked up by the Pakistan Army and taken to the 3-A factory, where they were tortured, killed and probably buried in Beltali.

Commander of Laksam Muktizoddha Sangsad Abdul Bari said: “Pakistan Army not only used to bring people here from other parts of the country but also indiscriminately attack the

Robbery at Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A gang of robbers looted two separate houses in Sreepur’s Tapirbari and Kewa Akandbari village early yesterday, taking away gold jewellery and cash.

The robbers also beat up two people when they protested, including a hundred year old woman.

According to locals, a gang of 15 robbers tried to enter the house of Abdur Rouf, 35, around 2am, breaking the door and window. When he went out to check hearing the noise, the robbers swooped inside and held him hostage.

They then looted 34 grams of gold ornaments, six mobile phones, six torch-

light and Tk60,000 in cash.

When Abdur Rouf protested, the robbers beat him and soon fled after neighbours chased them hearing his cries.

The same group of robbers later looted the house of Badhon Akand near Kewa area on the same night. Nurunnesa Begum, a 100-year-old woman, said the robbers looted Tk50,000. They also beat her when she tried to protest, she added.

Mohsinul Qadir, officer-in-charge of Sreepur police station, said he had visited the houses and they would look further into the matter when someone files a complaint. l

cation but they did not get any government job, nor have their family ever got any other government facility.

However, it does not hurt them at all as they say they would be happy if their father’s grave was taken care of by the government. The martyr’s second son, Asad, a private college teacher, said: “We do not want any facility from the government for our survival. We only want the government to take care of my father’s grave.

Contacted, When Thakurgaon Dis-

‘Citizen Platform’ calls hartal to prevent return of sex workers n Our Correspondent, Tangail

A view of Beltali monument which has been built in remembrance of the people who were killed during the Liberation War at the place DHAKA TRIBUNE trains that used to come to the station.

From a rough estimation, it can be said that about 10,000 people were killed and buried here.”

Local journalist Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said: “Bangladesh Railway authority was constructing a double line along the Beltali killing ground. When we approached them to build a memo-

rial on the ground, they agreed. We are very happy and proud to have the memorial.”

SM Liakat Ali, director of Laksam-Chinki Astana double rail line construction project, said the memorial was built to honour the hundreds of people who died for the sake of the country’s independence. l

Labeling sex work as “shameless” and “antisocial,” Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee (body to resist anti-social activities), a so-called citizens’ committee in Tangail has now called for a dawn to dusk hartal for December 24 in the town.

The announcement came in protest to the police action on its scheduled rally yesterday demanding eviction of around 600 sex workers from the 200-year-old Kandapara brothel of Tangail.

“Shameless and antisocial activities cannot be allowed to continue in a civilised society. Prostitution will be opposed until we have the last drop of blood left in our bodies,” said Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee General Secretary Maolana Abdul Jalil at a meeting yesterday.

Yesterday after the Jum’a prayers, supporters of the committee came out of different mosques and started gathering in front of the Tangail Central Mosque to bring out a protest procession.

As the procession marched towards the brothel, police barred them near the Shaheed Minar at Nirala intersection of the town.

Imam of Tangail Central Mosque Maolana Shamsuzzaman said: “We are conducting movements for the sake of peace and Islam. Police cannot stop our movement.”

Members of Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee, a body patronised by Mayor Shahidur Rahman Khan alias Mukti and several other local Awami League leaders, said they

Bangabandhu science university running without VC n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj has been running without a vice-chancellor for the last six days.

The administrative activities of the university are almost at a halt as the former VC Prof Khairul Alam Khan used to handle the accounts and financial transactions of the university alongside his regular duties.

Prof Khairul Alam Khan, who was

appointed as the VC of the university in 1996, retired from his post on December 12 and joined his previous work station Rajshahi University on December 15.

There is no post of pro-vice chancellor or treasurer at the university.

“As a result, the overall activities of the university, particularly the ones related to the accounts, is in a bad shape,” said Prof Md Zakir Hossain, registrar of the university.

In 1996, during the rule of Awami

trict Freedom Fighters Commander Zitendranath Roy also demanded the government builds a memorial in the name of the martyr in the district town.

When Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Manjur Alam Pradhan was asked about this, he said: “I will discuss it with the deputy commissioner and the upazila nirbahi officer about this.

“Besides, I will try to know why the martyr’s family has never got any facility from the government.” l

League, Prof Khairul Alam Khan was appointed as the VC, however, in 2001, BNP-Jamaat alliance stopped the activities of the university after coming to power.

In 2009, Md Zakir Hossain resumed its activities after coming to power.

“The VC had all the power to operate the financial activities. The university is currently running without a guardian. We have issued a letter to the Education Ministry to address the situation,” said Prof Md Zakir Hossain. l

would continue movements following legal procedure as the High Court had allowed the sex workers to return to the brothel.

“We demand for legal action to close down the brothel, alongside, we would continue our movements in a peaceful manner,” said the Imam.

On behalf of the evicted sex workers, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association President Fawzia Karim Firoze submitted a writ petition to the High Court, following which the court ordered the Home Ministry, Local Government and Rural Development Ministry, Tangail District Commissioner, Police Super and Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee Chairman Maolana Abdul Aziz and General Secretary Maolana Abdul Jalil to ensure the safe return of the sex workers to their properties on December 9.

Hundreds of sex workers started returning to the brothel on December 15.

Regarding the High Court order, Maolana Shamsuzzaman said: “Perhaps High Court has given the order considering the safety of the prostitutes. However, there was no prostitute in this zone for long. Someone might have given wrong information to the High Court.”

Earlier on July 12, around 1500 house owners including 600 sex workers were ousted by the supporters Osamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee.

After nearly two months, on September 3, at least 100 of the sex workers took position in the vacate brothel, however, they were again forced to leave within two days by the district administration given the assurance of rehabilitation. l

Human chain foiled n Our correspondent, Noakhali Ruling party men foiled a human chain in front of Noakhali Press Club yesterday.

Sources said a section of people formed the human chain protesting and demanding exemplary punishment against AKM Enamul kabir, officer-in-charge of Charjabbar police station who placed a flower wreath at the Saheed Bedi wearing shoes on 16th December at Subarnachar upazila complex.

Several dailies published the news with the picture. Jubo League activists led by Md Biplob foiled the programme, said sources. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Mutual antipathy hampers Pakistan control of militants n BBC The vast majority of Pakistanis may be united in grief for the school children murdered in Peshawar - but many say they still don’t know who carried out the attacks.

For the media – both in Pakistan and abroad – the issue is clear enough: the Pakistani Taliban did it.

Not only has the organisation claimed the attacks. but the intelligence service ISI also recorded real time messages from handlers to the gunmen in the school.

Those messages, the ISI has told journalists, came from the phones of Afghan-based, Pakistani Taliban organisers.

But in Peshawar even people who witnessed the attack hesitate to blame the Taliban by name.

They not only fear reprisals but are also following the hesitancy of a political elite that remains largely unwilling to name and condemn the Pakistani Taliban in unequivocal terms.

Even on the day of the Peshawar school massacre, the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, failed to condemn the Taliban by name. He referred only to “terrorists.”

An alternative narrative relating the school attacks is already emerging: rumours are circulating on social media and on the streets that it was the work of Indian or Afghan intelligence agencies.

The fact that some of the attackers appear to have come from Central Asia lends weight to suggestions that there was a foreign hand in the attacks.

The emerging analysis of the school massacre echoes that which occurred after the shooting of Malala Yousafzai.

Initial shock eventually transformed to the almost mainstream view in Pakistan today that Malala is a western stooge.

That’s not to say the school massacre has had no impact on public opinion.

When a radical cleric attempted to justify the attack this week, protestors gathered outside his mosque in Islamabad chanting anti Taliban slogans.

That’s new. But there is still no big name politician prepared openly to lead people with that point of view.

Distrust and division

That is in part because the Pakistan’s

Pakistani civil society activists and children hold light candles during a vigil in Lahore on Thursday, for the children and teachers killed in an attack by militants on an army-run school in Peshawar. Students grieving for their classmates massacred by the Pakistani Taliban have vowed to defy the militants and return to school as soon as possible AFP civil and military elites are so divided and dysfunctional.

The politicians have a number of reasons for leaving the fight against the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) to the army.

Privately, government ministers argue that the army’s total control of security policy means it is unreasonable for the generals to expect the civilians to take responsibility for what the army decides to do.

The politicians are anyway deeply suspicious of an army that has frequently mounted coups to overthrow elected governments.

The current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was kicked out of power, put in a dungeon and then exiled by the last military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Sharif believes that despite his overwhelming popular mandate the army

has never accepted his political comeback in 2013 and is once again plotting to remove him from power.

In addition many politicians fear the Taliban.

The one party to attempt a political challenge to the Taliban in recent years, the Pashtun nationalist ANP, has faced relentless attacks on senior party cadres.

The ANP’s stand was also politically disastrous.

Far from perceiving the party as a valiant defender of liberal values, the electorate concluded the ANP was weak and unable to defend itself. The party now has just one member of the National Assembly.

Mutual feelings

But if the politicians loathe the generals, the feeling its entirely mutual.

Many officers view Pakistani ministers and parliamentarians as corrupt and depraved, unwilling to put aside their lust for money and to focus instead on the plight of the country.

There is deep resentment in the army that when soldiers die in the fight against the Taliban, ministers do not make public speeches appreciating their sacrifices.

Ministers rarely go to military hospitals to comfort soldiers injured in the fight against the Taliban.

It’s estimated as many as 50,000 Pakistanis have been killed in political violence since September 11.

Members of the security forces including both the army and the police account for around 10,000 of those deaths.

Successive army chiefs have said

that if they are to win the war against the TTP they need the politicians to lead Pakistani public opinion to support their military’s campaign.

Militant spectrum

But while the army complains about the politician’s failure to take clear line against the Taliban, others wonder how clear cut army policy is.

There are now well over 30 significant militant groups with a presence in Pakistan, each with different leadership structures, funding arrangements, ideological foundations and political goals.

The three most powerful are the Afghan Taliban, the TTP and the Punjab-based Lashkar-e-Taiba which concentrates its efforts on Kashmir and India. l

Xi Jinping is the world’s Pakistan to appeal bail for ‘Mumbai plotter’ n most popular leader Agencies

n Agencies A recent survey on the popularity of global leaders is providing rich fodder for the Communist Party of China’s propaganda machine. The study, which canvassed some 26,000 people in 30 countries on their attitudes toward 10 world leaders, shows President Xi Jinping was rated higher by the people of China than any other leader in the survey was rated by the people of his or her respective country.

“Chinese President Xi Jinping was the highest-rated world leader in many fields,” China Daily reported on Wednesday, commenting on the study (PDF), which was published by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and carried out by Japanese research firm GMO. “Chinese respondents showed the highest confidence in regards to how their leader handled domestic and international affairs.”

Among the national rankings, where people rate their own leader, Xi averaged 9 out of 10, higher than any other head of state, with 94.8% of Chinese expressing confidence about how he handles domestic affairs and 93.8% saying the same about international affairs.

Xi was followed by Russian Pres-

ident Vladimir Putin (8.7), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (8.6), South African President Jacob Zuma (7), and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (6.7). US President Barack Obama came in seventh place, with only a 6.2 ranking. Just 51.7% of Americans were confident about Obama’s handling of domestic affairs, while 49.1% said the same regarding international affairs.

But while Xi’s high popularity is getting lots of attention in China’s party-controlled press, the possible reasons behind it are not. Leaders in countries that hold a high degree of state control over the media would naturally rate higher, the Harvard study says, a conclusion ignored by China Daily and other Chinese publications.

Xi, however, also did well in the international rankings, where people were asked to rate other country’s leaders, getting an average score of 7.5, the highest of any of the 10 heads of state. The Chinese president scored particularly well in Africa and Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, with the exception of Japan.

Obama, by contrast, got an average rating of 6.6, putting him in sixth place.

Trailing Obama were David Cameron, François Hollande, Shinzo Abe, and in last place, Putin. l

Russia’s richest man responds to Putin’s call n Reuters, Moscow Russia’s richest man Alisher Usmanov has transferred his holdings in mobile operator Megafon and iron ore producer Metalloinvest to Russian entities after President Vladimir Putin urged businessmen to bring their assets home.

Putin redoubled his efforts to encourage businessmen to “de-offshore” their assets on Thursday in his annual end-of-year news conference, as the country’s economy heads for recession, dragged down

by a slump in oil prices and Western sanctions.

Cyprus-based Telecominvest Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Usmanov’s USM Holdings company, had transferred Megafon shares to AF Telekom Holding LLC, which is incorporated in Russia. AF Telekom now holds 53.8% of Megafon shares, Megafon said.

Another Cyprus-based subsidiary of USM Holdings, USM Steel & Mining, had handed over shares in Metalloinvest to Russia-registered USM Metalloinvest LLC. l

A Pakistani government prosecutor has said he will challenge a court order granting bail to the alleged mastermind of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

A court granted bail on Thursday to Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is accused of masterminding the siege on India’s commercial capital that left 166 people dead.

The decision drew quick condemnation from India and appar-

7

Saturday, December 20, 2014

ently threatens to hinder attempts to patch up ties between the rival neighbours.

Lakhvi remains in custody at the high security Adyala prison in garrison city of Rawalpindi under the Maintenance of Public Order act, which gives authorities the ability to detain suspects liable to cause public disruption.

Government prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry told international media that he was completing the

legal formalities to file the application to challenge the order in Islamabad on Monday.

“Today I am trying to get a copy of the written [bail] order and then I will file an appeal in Islamabad high court,” Chaudhry said.

The 60-hour assault on Mumbai in 2008 was blamed on the banned Pakistani armed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Lakhvi was reported to be LeT operations commander when he was arrested. l

Russia invites North Korean leader to Moscow for May visit n Reuters, Moscow

For North Korea’s cyber army, long-term target may be telecoms, utility grids

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Moscow next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the Kremlin’s spokesman said yesterday.

It would be Kim’s first foreign visit since taking the helm of the reclusive east Asian state in 2011. His personal envoy came to Moscow last month in the framework of efforts by the two Cold War-era allies to improve relations.

“Yes, such an invitation was sent,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the state news agency TASS. Russia marks the former Soviet Union’s World War Two victory every year on May 9.

Moscow needs North Korean cooperation in boosting natural gas exports to South Korea as Gazprom [GAZP.MM] wants to build a gas pipeline through North Korea to reach its southern neighbor.

Pyongyang is also seeking support from Russia, a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, against international criticism over accusations of human rights abuses and its nuclear program.

The UN General Assembly committee dealing with human rights passed a resolution last month calling for the Security Council to consider referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. l

The hacking attack on Sony Pictures may have been a practice run for North Korea’s elite cyber-army in a long-term goal of being able to cripple telecoms and energy grids in rival nations, defectors from the isolated state said.

Non-conventional capabilities like cyber-warfare and nuclear technology are the weapons of choice for the impoverished North to match its main enemies, they said.

Obsessed by fears that it will be over-run by South Korea and the United States, North Korea has been working for years on the ability to disrupt or destroy computer systems that control vital public services such as telecoms and energy utilities, according to one defector.

“North Korea’s ultimate goal in cyber strategy is to be able to attack national infrastructure of South Korea and the United States,” said Kim Heung-kwang, a defector from the North who was a computer science professor and says he maintains links with the community in his home country.

“The hacking of Sony Pictures is similar to previous attacks that were blamed on North Korea and is a result of training and efforts made with the goal of destroying infrastructure,” said Kim, who came to the South in 2004.

The North’s most successful cyber-attack to date may be the hacking at Sony Corp that led to the studio

n Reuters

cancelling a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Although not officially accused by Washington, US government sources said on Wednesday that investigators had determined the attack was “state sponsored” and that North Korea was the government involved.

“They have trained themselves by launching attacks related to electronic networks,” said Jang Se-yul, a defector from North Korea who studied at the military college for computer sciences before escaping to the South six years ago, referring to the North’s cyber warfare unit.

For years, North Korea has been pouring resources into a sophisticated cyber-warfare cell called Bureau 121, run by the military’s spy agency and staffed by some of the most talented computer experts in the country, he and other defectors have said.

Most of the hackers in the unit are drawn from the military computer school.

“The ultimate target that they have been aiming at for long is infrastructure,” Jang said.

In 2013, South Korea blamed the North for crippling cyber-attacks that froze the computer systems of its banks and broadcasters for days.

More than 30,000 computers at South Korean banks and broadcast companies were hit in March that year, followed by an attack on the South Korean government’s web sites. l

Pakistan: 77 militants killed after school massacre n AP, Islamabad Pakistani warplanes and ground forces killed at least 77 militants in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said Friday, days after Taliban fighters killed 148 people — most of them children — in a school massacre.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani prosecutor said the government will try to cancel the bail granted to the main suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks — a decision that outraged neighboring India and called into question Pakistan’s commitment to fighting militancy.

The violence at a school in Pakistan’s northwest earlier this week stunned the country and brought cries for retribution. In the wake of the mass killing the military has struck targets in the Khyber tribal region and approved the death penalty for six convicted terrorists.

The military said its ground forces late Thursday killed 10 militants while airstrikes killed another 17, including an Uzbek commander. Another 32 alleged terrorists were killed by security forces in an ambush in Tirah valley in Khyber yesterday as they headed toward the Afghan border, the military said.

Yesterday morning, troops killed 18 more militants during a “cordon and search operation” in Khyber, the military said.

The military said the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, was traveling to Khyber Friday to meet with troops taking part in the ground operation.

Khyber agency is one of two main areas in the northwest where the military has been trying to root out militants in recent months. Khyber borders Peshawar, where the school massacre happened, and militants have traditionally attacked the city before withdrawing to the tribal region where police can’t chase them.

The other area is North Waziristan, where the military launched a massive operation in June.

In the southern province of Baluchistan, Pakistani security forces killed a senior Pakistani Taliban leader along with seven of his associates in three separate pre-dawn raids, said a tribal police officer, Ali Ahmed. l

Top Sierra Leone doctor dies of Ebola

n Agencies One of Sierra Leone’s most senior physicians has died from Ebola, the 11th doctor in the country to succumb to the disease, a health official said.

Dr Victor Willoughby, who tested positive for Ebola on Saturday, died on Thursday, Dr Brima Kargbo, the country’s chief medical officer said.

“Dr Victor Willoughby was a mentor to us physicians and a big loss to the medical profession,” said Kargbo.

“He has always been available to help junior colleagues.”

The 67-year-old died just hours after an experimental drug arrived in the country for him.

The arrival of ZMAb, developed in Canada, had raised hopes for Willoughby’s survival. But he died before a dose could be administered, said Kargbo.

Ebola has taken a particular toll on health workers, killing more than 350, depleting the ranks of doctors and nurses in countries that already had too few to begin with. l

West Bengal ministers complain against Mitra arrest n Agencies A five-member ministerial delegation headed by West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee today submitted a memorandum to state Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi protesting the method of CBI investigation aiming at to harass and arrest the Trinamool Congress leaders.

After meeting the governor at his office in Raj Bhawan, Chatterjee said they told him the method of CBI investigation, which was only aiming the ruling party leaders.

Chatterjee said during talks the governor also told them that he was not informed about the arrest of state transport and sports minister Madan Mitra.

Mitra was arrested on December 12 following five hours of questioning at the CGO complex by the CBI in alleged involvement in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Heritage

Saturday, December 20, 2014

The paradise of nations

Kirton Khola River, Barisal

E

n Tim Steel ach year, as the anniversary of the victory that guaranteed the Independence of a nation called Bangladesh approaches, I find myself reflecting on the trials and tribulations through which the diverse peoples of the nation have passed throughout the millennia, including, from the 13th century, close on a millennium of occupation, by Pathans, Persians, Afghans, Europeans and, in parts, by neighbours such as Tripuran, Burmese and Assamese.

Perhaps the rich diversity of the peoples, their courage and resilience has been formed by such a history. So, too, has their colourful heritage and culture with music, poetry, literature, architecture and craft skills amongst those in which they have, and still, excel.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

years ago, one of the world’s first industrialised civilisations, founded, we may assume, by both indigenous peoples, descendants, perhaps, of “out of Africa” migrants, and such as refugees from the 8 or 10 thousand year old Harappan civilisation, and Aryan migrants.

This civilisation developed, due in part, perhaps, to its trading activities for which tokens or records were essential, one of the world’s first written languages, Sanskrit. A language, so much of which has passed, over millennia, into other great linguistic roots such as Greek, Latin and English.

From the traditional roots of belief and philosophy, such as Animism, and then Shamanism, evolved, in this economic and cultural melting pot of trade and culture, the complex pantheistic religion of Hinduism, which we may believe inspired the more monotheistic Jainism, and

The trade that, in Aurangzeb’s day, moved him to make his famous remark about Bengal, describing it as ‘the paradise of nations for its wealth and trade,’ flowed through Dhaka for millennia before Calcutta was founded, after his time

The Ganges delta, the largest such delta in the world, and the access to ocean of three great rivers, the Holy Ganges and Brahmaputra, and the Meghna, along with up to seven hundred other waterways, tributaries and distributaries, lies at the heart of the lands. Waterways, that have long given access to the heartlands of both India, and of central and eastern Asia, and upon the waters of which up to 150 variants of craft have been identified, with influences from China, Arabia and Europe.

Perhaps this, as with most of the world’s great deltas, has been the wellspring of millennia of international prominence, from which grew the foundations of empires, trading wealth and fame, even international economic traditions, as well as that rich history and today’s flourishing diversity of cultures.

In the Ganges basin, of which the present lands of Bangladesh form, not only a considerable proportion, but also, importantly, access to the world, unfolded, up to four or five thousand

eventually, the “your god is within you,” Buddhism.

To, and through these lands, came Arabs, to trade, bringing with them, almost certainly in the lifetime of the Prophet himself, the great Islamic faith. And it is even arguable, at least, that the Christian teacher, Christ, may possibly, before commencing his ministry, have been sent by such a wealthy, merchant, patron as Joseph of Arimathea to the great Buddhist centres of learning, an estimated 400 of which developed in these lands of Bangladesh, from the time of the Buddha, onwards.

The archaeological treasures slowly being unearthed in these lands, to which, even before the Common Era, led such great trade routes as the Spice and Silk voyages from Arabia and the Mediterranean, the Southern Silk Road from China and central Asia, the first of those iconic trading links, and the Grand Trunk Road that stretched, eventually, from Kabul to Chittagong, speak volumes for that history of trade and civilisation.

And there seems little doubt that the traffic in traders and visitors enriched the endemic culture of the lands in the arts, education, and probably the sciences as well. Indeed, there is one school of thought that attributes, almost, perhaps, ironically, the discovery of the properties of saltpetre, the vital component of gunpowder, to Buddhist monks; a discovery they are said to have shared in the 6th century with the Emperor of China!

It is, perhaps, no coincidence that we know such monks hailed from across the contemporary world; from Japan and China, from South east Asia, from all over the subcontinent and central Asia, and very probably further west as well. It was, also, possibly, the significant deposits of saltpetre, hereabouts (an estimated 70% in the 17th century), that proved so attractive to both Mughal and European invaders.

Alexander the Great, it seems reasonable to believe, was headed to this affluent centre of trade in the delta of which the Kingdom of Gangaridai, a name derived from the Sanskrit “ganga rashtra” (the wealth of the Ganges), was the heart, with, we may also suspect, the great walled and moated city now being slowly excavated at Wari Bateshwar, as the famed, lost city of Ganges, its capital (whatever India may be attempting to convince the World Heritage people).

Megasthenese, the Greek historian, writes of the people of Gangaridai, describing, as did many subsequent Greek and Roman historians, the military strength of the nation which, together with the width and depth of the Ganges, forced Alexander to end his advance across the known, and the unknown, world of his time. Indeed, those who wrote, subsequently, of this are almost a pantheon of great Greco Roman historians.

Apollonius of Rhodes, rewriting the Homeric legend of the Golden Fleece, in the 3rd century BCE, found in his writing, place for “Datis” a “Chief of the Gangaridai.”

And Virgil, the great Roman poet, celebrates, probably significantly, “in gold and ivory, the battle of the Gangaridae and the arms of our victorious Quirinius.” There seems, indeed, little doubt, that gold and ivory were amongst the items of trade through the Ganges delta.

From the great geographer, the early 1st century CE, Roman, Strabo, we find that merchants sailed to the Ganges from Egypt; and the map made by the 2nd century cartographer, Ptolemy, of the Ganges delta leaves us in no doubt of the familiarity of Roman traders with both Ganges and Brahmaputra. Which supports the view that Ganges, Brahmaputra, an-

cient Ledo Road, and the Yellow River, was probably, as the Southern Silk Road, the favoured route to China for traders, who included it is believed, an uncle of the Prophet, the 7th century Arab merchant who some credit with founding the Saan’a mosque in Shanghai.

Certainly, Money Cowrie shells in 3rd century BCE tombs in Yunnan province, and the report by a 1st century BCE emissary of the Han Emperors who is recorded as reporting his certainty of such a trade route between China and India and the Mediterranean world, down the Brahmaputra, supports the view written, in the middle of the 1st century CE/ AD of the merchants guide to trade in the Indian and Arab oceans, “The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,” of the profitable cargoes to be acquired in the Ganges delta.

Through the centuries since, Chinese and Arab visitors have commented on the evident wealth in these lands. And the first known English visitor, whose journey brought him to travel extensively in these lands, and whose travels are mentioned by Shakespeare, in his play, Macbeth, who may well have been scouting the prospects for supply of saltpetre, also writes of the affluent appearance, and extensive use of such as ivory and silver in personal adornment.

All of which support the view that what attracted both visitors and invaders was that wealth of trade, as

well as the natural resources. Even the early 18th century the British novelist, Daniel Defoe, writing his great work, Robinson Crusoe, attributes to his hero wealth and success in “trading in opium and diamonds” to his great satisfaction.

This, surely, describes a nation that was once, undoubtedly, the foundation stone of the building, and protection of the British Empire. And one that was even the foundation of the Industrial Revolution and today’s world economy; not to mention the largest democratic nation in today’s world, India. All despite being left much in ruins by the Pakistan Army, in 1971, an Army and its allies, who also destroyed, with massacres of social, economic and intellectual leaders, the immediate future of the nation, from which it still struggles to recover.

The trade that, in Aurangzeb’s day, moved him to make his famous remark about Bengal, describing it as “the paradise of nations for its wealth and trade,” flowed through Dhaka for millennia before Calcutta was founded, after his time. It flowed, indeed, for the most part the rivers and lands that are now Bangladesh, occasioning his praise, and was certainly well known to the Mughals; why else would they have spent so long struggling for their control of Bengal in the face of the resistance of, especially, the famed Baro Bhuiyans? And why else would his father, Shah Jahan, have sent his favourite son, by his

This, as with most of the world’s great deltas, has been the wellspring of millennia of international prominence, from which grew the foundations of empires

wife, Mumtaz, for whom he built the Taj Mahal ... no doubt with treasure acquired in these lands ... Shah Suja, as Governor?

Despite the long period of recovery from the appalling Liberation War, Bangladesh has so much to be proud of, both its ancestors and their stunning achievements that truly led the world, and changed it, and, increasingly, their younger generations, so evidently capable of continuing to build, once again, a real Paradise of Nations. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Saturday, December 20, 2014

9

Whom do we write for?

Displaced women carry sacks of food aid received during a distribution at the Cathedral of Yola, state capital of Adamawa, on December 4. Many African writers find readers away from their origins. When the readers look very different from the the people they are reading about, and have a totally different lifestyle, what impact can these writers expect to make to countless such snapshots of African life?

AFP

To make a living from my writing, all I had to do was create stories that would engage my readership – a readership, I soon realised, that had grown larger outside Nigeria, the place where I’m from, where I live, and where my stories are set.

The only issue was, seeing as my audience was mostly foreign, whom, then, do I write for?

I

n A Igoni Barrett

published my first book in Nigeria in 2005. It was a collection of stories edited by my father and released by his one-man company. The day the printer delivered the books was memorable: imagine my eagerness as I grasped my first-ever copy, then stared at it in disappointment: dreadfully designed, atrociously typeset, abominably printed – it is still the ugliest book I’ve ever touched.

Over the next two years I distributed the books myself; hence, I know that less than one hundred copies were sold. The left-over nine hundred were handed out to anyone who didn’t refuse the gift.

In the beginning, I was convinced I could make a living from my sales.

Nigeria had a population of more than one hundred million, and so one thousand books, even ones as unattractive as mine, would sell quickly. Like many self-published authors before me, I figured wrong.

By 2007 I was disenchanted enough with DIY publishing to take up a job with a traditional publisher, where I spent the next two years learning everything about why my book had failed.

I republished the book in 2008. My father supplied the money to print one thousand copies, but it was my employer that supplied the publishing manpower, albeit unofficially.

When the printer made the delivery, I was astonished that the same book could look so different. While the first edition had never found a place on my bookshelf, this one would. Even better, it would sell. I had it all figured out; I would use my employer’s distribution network.

Lagos had a population of about twenty million, and so one thousand books, especially ones as attractive as mine, would sell quickly. I did more than hope this time: I invested in publicising the book. I pitched myself to newspapers as an interview subject; I went on a book tour; I organised monthly book readings at the largest bookstore chain in Nigeria; and, finally, I resigned my job in publishing and began writing again.

The second edition of my book sold out in 2011, three years after publication. Logistical expenses guaranteed a commercial loss, exacerbated by systemic hindrances, the most infuriating being the booksellers who cheat publishers out of their sales earnings – a common practice in Nigeria.

By this time I had realised that I wanted to be a full-time writer, not a part-time publisher or a half-hearted book promoter.

What worried me was my future as a writer in Nigeria. If I’d learned anything since 2005, it was that it was impracticable for any investor to turn a profit from selling literary fiction in a market as difficult as Nigeria. All those hardscrabble years spent as a local talent had confirmed to me that success for most writers in English – whether African or Australasian or Asian – depends on the publishing powerhouses of the West, mainly in New York and London.

I knew where to go if I wanted success.

My second book was published in 2013. It was a collection of stories edited by foreigners and released in the US, the UK, and Nigeria. Like many foreign-published Nigerian authors before me, I noticed a spike in my book sales and experienced a heightened profile. My book was reviewed, I was plied with interview requests, and I received a rash of invitations to literary festivals.

Over and above these perquisites, I had the freedom to dedicate myself to writing. I had entry into a publishing structure that took care of copy-editing, typesetting, printing, distribution, publicity, all those chores I formerly had to take on myself.

The sole task entrusted to me was the only one I wanted, which was to write whatever I wanted. To make a living from my writing, all I had to do was create stories that would engage my readership – a readership, I soon realised, that had grown larger outside Nigeria, the place where I’m from, where I live, and where my stories are set.

The only issue was, seeing as my audience was mostly foreign, whom, then, do I write for?

In a recent New York Times op-ed entitled “African Books for Western Eyes,” the Nigerian writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani argues that “success for an African writer depends on the West.” She goes on to state: “But we are telling only the stories that foreigners allow us to tell. Publishers in New York and London decide which of us to offer contracts, which of our stories to present to the world. American and British judges decide which of us to award accolades, and subsequent sales and fame.”

And then, in ending the piece, she declares: “Until African writers can start their careers by publishing in their home countries, none of this will change. Some of the greatest African writers of my generation may never be discovered, either because they will not reach across the Atlantic Ocean to attract the attention of an agent or publisher, or because they have not yet mastered the art of deciphering

Western tastes.”

Uncompromising words from a debutante novelist who, like me, lives in Nigeria, and is published by a foreign publisher. I don’t share her pessimism. There might be writers who pander to foreign audiences, to

publishing are similar to mine, I have chosen to employ foreign machinery for dispersing my work to the world.

So long as I connect with the human spirit in whatever skin or nationality it resides, I am achieving success on my own terms. l

I write for the Nigerian in all of us. The same as Dostoevsky wrote for the Russian, Faulkner for the American, Marquez for the Colombian, Gordimer for the South African A Igoni Barrett is the author of Love Is Power, or Something Like That. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria. foreign publishing houses, and to their foreign editors.

Same as there must be writers who cater only to the human imagination.

The writer who abandons her craft and dedicates effort to “deciphering Western tastes,” is a writer doomed to either failure or success, whichever comes.

Even as I confirm Nwaubani’s observations about the dismal state of Nigeria’s publishing industry, I disagree with her assumptions about the powerlessness of African writers to control the narrative of their creations. In my experience, publishers are more likely to be sharp-nosed businesspeople rather than cultural fascists. And editors, whether local or foreign, are suggesters, not insisters.

During the editing of my second book, I never had difficulties with my British-born editor over my Nigerian characters’ use of ungrammatical English – a likely flash point, I had assumed, until I realised that my editor was reading not just for the sense of the language, but for the rhythm, too.

What more can a writer ask for than to be read so deeply? What is fiction if not the search for the universal in the particular? If literature cannot overcome the false barriers that divide us, the “us versus them” positioning that Nwaubani considers the affliction of African books, then what will?

To answer my own question, I write for the Nigerian in all of us. The same as Dostoevsky wrote for the Russian, Faulkner for the American, Marquez for the Colombian, Gordimer for the South African. Like many African authors whose run-ins with local

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, December 20, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

NRSC needs to get back to work

W

e are pleased to see the National Road Safety Council call for a meeting tomorrow, on December 21, after a two-year hiatus. This is a hopeful sign that the NRSC is taking the need for road safety seriously, and is serious about making progress towards real improvement.

The official body has already taken some positive steps towards improving road safety, by identifying nine key sectors that need improvements, finalising a course of action, specifying responsibilities of different government bodies with identical objectives, establishing a training institute for drivers, and planning to draft the Road Transport Act in Bengali to ensure more people can understand it.

This meeting is the perfect opportunity for the NRSC to put these much-needed and vital recommendations into action.

But for these recommendations to be carried out effectively, the council needs to be more sincere and active in their implementation, and the government needs to remove any roadblocks and bureaucratic tangles that may plague the projects.

If the government is indeed sincere about minimising road accidents, it should take the NRSC recommendations more seriously, and it should not set up roadblocks against actions that can bring effective changes and reduce deaths.

With an estimated 3,000 people dying every year in road accidents, and our roads and highways being in deplorable condition – in addition to being mired in other traffic problems – it is high time that those who are tasked with the responsibility to ensure road safety do their job properly.

Take the need for road safety seriously, and make progress towards real improvement

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

Why won’t Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi say the word ‘Rohingya’?

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tate-controlled banks have been performing badly for a protracted amount of time now, but recent reports of the financial indicators of four particular state-owned banks showing a mounting trend of accruing non-performing loans (NPL), that too for the last three quarters in succession, should be evidence enough for the administration to either consider the banks’ privatisation or prompt shutdown.

The state-owned Sonali Bank, Rupali Bank, Janata Bank, and Agrani Bank witnessed drastic rises in default loan rates, which badly affected each bank’s Capital Adequacy Ratio – a percentage of a bank’s risk weighted credit exposures – with some of them having very little to show for in terms of cash recovery as well.

Around a quarter of all loans issued out by state-owned commercial banks are classified as NPLs, while state-run banks are even worse being at nearly a third. This continuing disregard for profitability shown by staterun and owned banks suggests that the sector may well have crossed the limits of being considered salvageable.

Making matters worse is of course the unremitting flouting of rules regarding prudent lending on the part of the boards of directors of several state-run banks, a discovery made earlier by Bangladesh Bank.

State banks are unrelentingly proving themselves to be bad investments. It is time the government made a call into either having their existing assets be absorbed into their private counterparts, or having state-owned banks be closed down for good.

The continuing disregard for profitability shown by state banks suggests the sector has crossed the line of salvageability

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

December 9

rose Honestly, something must be done to help the condition of the Rohingyas. Our leaders ought to look into this matter immediately.

Mohammad A Sattar rose: What can we say about Daw Suu (Aung San Suu Kyi, as she’s known there)? I had some time ago written about her standing. To me she does not look like a leader fit to lead any group.

Hers was an exiled life (in her own home) and she has hardly grown an intellectual capacity. We have been hearing about her ordeals for a long time. What she really thought to make of her confinement, and later, freedom, we don’t know.

Uncompromising she doesn’t seem. She had to give in to the pressure of the ruling junta. She has been barred from contesting the polls. She has even failed to come out with concrete ideas

Actress sues cricketer Rubel

Time to make a call on state banks

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

December 14 Faruq Hasan Man, I’ve been rejected by so many women.

I should just file rape cases against all of them.

Fahmida Rob Urgh! These kinds of laws have been put in place for the protection of women, not to protect them from their own bad decisions! She was not abused.

He was not in a position of authority over her. What does she want? People like her are only detrimental to the cases of women suffering real abuse.

Mehran H Chowdhury That’s a law?? You can’t reject crazy women now??

Ashraful Adib Not sure which news is true and which one is false.

In another article, it was written that Rubel physically abused her and that’s why she filed a case against him.

Fahmida Rob Ashraful Adib: I just checked The Daily Star and they seem to be reporting the same as DT. Anika Tasmia Amir So lame. You can’t force someone to marry you!

Ashraful Adib Fahmida Rob: Now I’m starting to think likewise.

How can someone really want to marry a person that raped her?

Graft case: Khaleda’s petitions rejected again December 8

sirajulmo@yahoo.com How many more petitions will be there? Looks like there is no end of it. Every time there is a court date, she declares a hartal so she does not need to go to the court. Isn’t there any provision for holding a trial in absentia?

and programs.

Her standing on Rohingyas is simply tragic.

She doesn’t want to speak for them because she thinks this will bring a negative impact. But to the world, it is clear that she is not in favour of the Rohingyas.

If she picks a side, “more blood” will spill! This is not a statement that suits a Nobel Laureate or a champion of democracy.

The world may have thought a bit too hastily about her prospects. She is not yet in power, and thus we do not know what she will be able to really do.

To me, simple and clearly, she doesn’t look anything close to a real leader, far from being a state administrator. Burma just cannot hope of anything from her. If any Burmese is reading this, please take serious note of my comments. Look for another leader.

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

Make every day anti-corruption day December 9

Abjali Khatun “Remove the stigma which holds the country back.” If only!

Sammy Actually, the provision of taking prior permission was declared unconstitutional by the High Court on January 30 this year and reported the next day.

But otherwise your point is very well made!

‘Those were the worst days of my life’ December 9

Zero-Agenda “Tale of a child trafficked to India for work in the sex trade.” This is absolutely abhorrent!

RS The criminals who abducted Rinku should be given harsh punishment.

The same holds true for all criminals who engage in such abhorrent acts; they ought to be caught and punished.

Towards an unforeseen sanction December 8

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Drinking vessel (3) 3 Tallied (6) 8 Above (4) 9 United (3) 10 American state (6) 11 Things to be done (6) 14 Meditates (5) 17 Nimble (5) 20 Song bird (6) 24 Supplication (6) 26 Permit (3) 27 Quote (4) 28 Happenings (6) 29 Mouse-coloured (3) DOWN 1 Country (4)

2 Skin opening (4) 3 Transmit (4) 4 Dairy product (5) 5 Bellows (5) 6 Conclude (3) 7 Business transactions (5) 12 Joke (3) 13 Nothing (3) 15 Rounded vase (3) 16 First woman (3) 17 Fruit (5) 18 Angry (5) 19 Choose by vote (5) 21 Part of the eye (4) 22 Require (4) 23 Mountain lake (4) 25 Speed an engine (3)

ripon “Illegitimate regimes can never ensure a fair share for the nation in any deal with foreign players.”

We need a drastic change in leadership in this country who will protect the interests of the majority, not a few minorities who are only keen to gain their own interests by being a puppet to the government.

An individualistic philosophy has to be shunned for the collective betterment of the people of our country.

13 killers of Bishwajit live above the law

CALVIN AND HOBBES

December 9

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

Dr Ahsan Habib “13 out of the 21 convicts – all activists of Jagannath University unit Chhatra League – are active on Facebook and in party forums.”

Do not blame the police. They are very active in finding and arresting BNP people.

Outlawed Hizb ut-Tahrir’s leaflet invites the army

December 9 Abdullah “Those familiar with the mode of operation of Hizb ut-Tahrir indicate that the group aspires for a ‘peaceful’ shift towards an Islamic Shariah-based state by pursuing influential quarters such as the elite and the armed forces.”

What a joke. If they are peaceful, then why are they banned? If citizens can’t engage in peaceful activism, then you can say good-bye to that oppressive state. The Bangladesh government has failed its people.

SUDOKU

Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Saturday, December 20, 2014

The untimely shrouds n FS Aijazuddin “Is it children we are killing now? My God, what are we? Savages?”

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A bleak future for Pakistan

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REUTERS

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An act of cowardice

K

n Ekram Kabir

illing so many children can be considered as nothing short of an act of outrageous cowardice on the part of those who claimed responsibility for the killings. This is the group which wanted to kill Malala Yousafzai in order to put a stop to the dreamers.

Once again, what happened wasn’t just an act of ending lives, it was about ending dreams. This indiscriminate killing has claimed so many innocent lives, and the barbarism displayed has left nothing but a feeling of depression amongst us.

The young hearts went to school on Tuesday morning with their usual enthusiasm, they were the centre of their parents’ dreams, but what came out of the school that day were their coffins.

That was the end of those dreams for the mothers and fathers who used to take their children to that school every morning.

When news of this incident came on Tuesday, all mothers across the world were worried. The sadness which followed this ghastly and gruesome act of brutality didn’t remain confined to Pakistan. People across the world shared the grief of the parents of those children, and indeed the grief of all of Pakistan.

The cowardly killers went after children to prove their worth. The question is: Can you really prove your worth by killing? Can you seek revenge by shedding the blood of innocents?

If an ideology is worth spreading, it should be done through ideals, not brutality.

This isn’t the first time that children have been targeted, especially in Pakistan’s Balochistan. Militants have targeted children at least 13 times before in the past five years, and at least 70,000 people were killed in terror attacks in the last 13 years.

encing such tragedies quite frequently.

It sought to create strategic opportunities in the neighbouring Afghanistan two decades ago by accepting the Taliban. Two decades later, it now appears that Pakistan had nurtured a venomous snake.

There is ample evidence of the involvement of Pakistan, as well as the US, in the inception of the Taliban.

Does this massacre serve as any form of justice?

What kind of jihad are they waging?

Are they really upholding any cause here? And if so, is this any way to uphold a cause in the first place? If that’s what they actually believe, then these are truly mad men we are dealing with.

No human in his or her right mind can engage in such gruesome violence. They wanted to retaliate against government actions which took the lives of their relatives. Well, does this massacre serve as any form of justice?

When has “an eye for an eye” ever served as a policy of justice in the history of civilisation? What kind of jihad are they waging?

On the other hand, if you look back, the Pakistan state is prone to experi-

In 2009, Hilary Clinton herself said during a congressional hearing that it (Taliban) had been a great strategy for preventing the Soviets in Afghanistan.

After that, the Americans withdrew themselves from the entire affair when they saw that it was getting out of hand, but it was Pakistan who fell into the web of terrorism which was weaved by the Taliban. Pakistan has always denied its involvement with the Taliban, but there are reports that prove Islamabad was indeed involved.

After some time, Pakistan eventually realised what they had done. But by then, things had truly gotten out of control. The Taliban grew stronger,

creating the Tehreek-e-Taliban in 2007, which went on to ravage humanity one step at a time.

Politicians in Pakistan have made efforts to resolve this issue through negotiations. However they never realised the extent to which militancy had spread in their country. Frankenstein’s monster had been unleashed, and it was destroying the very core of Pakistan. They never went all-out against the extremists.

It was clear that the Taliban wanted to establish Shariah law in Pakistan, and were opposing, according to them, the country’s Western-styled education. Pakistan, a country which claims to be one of the champions in upholding Islamic values, had done very little to prevent the Taliban from destroying Islam itself.

Now the price of that inaction has been paid with the bloodshed of innocent children. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to carry on fighting until the last terrorist has been eliminated. So, it took a bloodbath for Pakistan to realise that it’s time to bury the concept of “good Taliban” and “bad Taliban.”

The Pakistan army has started launching retaliatory attacks on the militants and they are likely to continue the offensive, but will this be a watershed moment for Pakisan in righting its wrongs? Will Pakistan turn around and protect its citizens from a bunch of cowards this time? l Ekram Kabir is head of program, ABC Radio 89.2, and a Dhaka Tribune columnist.

an any lines be more apt to the slaughter of over 130 innocents in a school at Peshawar than these? They were not written today by a Pakistani but more than 150 years ago by a Frenchman - Victor Hugo.

They were written not simply to remonstrate against the death of a seven-year-old boy who was shot in the head as he played in a Paris street.

They were written because they expressed “thoughts that lie too deep for tears.” They were written to articulate the anguish every adult – of any age, in every age, in every community, in every country – feels at having to “stitch shut the shrouds of seven-yearolds.”

Grief, like death itself, is unique.

It cannot be shared. But to the extent that 180 million people can carry part of the burden being endured by more than 130 sets of mourning parents, they do so with feeling and with sincerity. The nation condoles with them – and with itself, for the murder of these innocent juveniles is also, in part, the demise of Pakistan’s future.

To say that the horror at the Army Public School at Peshawar has seeped like moist blood into the home of every Pakistani household may seem like hyperbole, yet chilling was the heart-searing coverage of the tragedy at Peshawar by the television channels. It will be difficult for anyone to erase from their minds the images they transmitted of distraught mothers, running between the Safa of one police barrier to the Marwah of another, in a desperate attempt to slake their thirst for information about their children.

It will be impossible to not feel a deepening revulsion at this latest act of violence, wrought callously, deliberately, and wantonly by the Taliban.

They shot one Malala Yousufzai in the head. She survived and received the Nobel Peace Prize. They have now shot and killed 132 Malala Yousufzais.

There is no tribute precious enough, not even her golden Nobel Peace Prize medal, to honour their martyrdom.

Whether this latest tragedy will make them rethink their policies remains to be seen

An analysis here of why the Taliban upped the ante by attacking a school run by the Pakistan Army for the children of its soldiers would be as futile as trying to unravel the motives behind the recent suicide attack at Wagah border or the assault some years ago on the mosque close to GHQ. Terrorists, whether the Taliban, or the Irish IRA, or the Kenyan Mau Mau, or the Greek EOKA, have always relied upon the element of surprise. It is their

unpredictable tit for the predictable tat by the State’s forces.

The confrontation between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army is no different. Military strategists would know better than us civilians that conventional responses are not the answer to unconventional provocations. They should know better than us civilians, for they have always had first bite at our national budget.

The murder of these innocent juveniles is, in part, the demise of Pakistan’s future

During the next few weeks, there will no doubt be considerable soulsearching amongst the government, the armed forces, political parties, the media, civil society, and certainly foreign governments on how to protect themselves and Pakistan from the Taliban. A parallel examination is overdue on how to protect Pakistan from itself.

There is no country in the history of the world that has ever benefitted from having less education. There is none in the modern world that has progressed by having unbridled population growth and also imposing strictures on education.

There are some die-hards who believe that the Taliban, having murdered schoolchildren and their teachers, would heed international censure and not attempt anything as heinous again. They would be advised to recall the Bamiyan Buddhas. With every gunshot at those magnificent statues – a soaring monument to faith – the Taliban attacked simultaneously not just a religious artefact, but civilisation itself. At Bamiyan, they destroyed our past; at Peshawar they have disfigured our future.

While every fibre of positivity in one’s body strains to believe that things will get better, not worse, it will take more than optimism, more than a change of government in Islamabad or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to bring about an improvement in our handling of the Taliban. Imran Khan’s declared views and Nawaz Sharif’s covert policies are suspected of sharing a DNA which seems to have accrued in favour of the Taliban. Whether this latest unspeakable tragedy in Peshawar will make them rethink their policies remains to be seen.

Often, the panacea for grief lies in poetry. Reams of eulogies, though, cannot compete with this heart-rending observation noted by Clement Freud of the response of an intelligent child to the death of a loved one: “I know he is dead, but I cannot understand why he doesn’t come home to supper.” l FS Aijazuddin lives in Lahore and is a columnist for Dawn, Pakistan’s main Englishlanguage newspaper.

Victory Day and a 15-year-old n SM Shahrukh

V

ictory day, which falls on December 16, is a day of joy and celebration for all Bangladeshis.

The country finally got rid of the rapacious Pakistani regime on this grand day in 1971.

The pictures of the Pakistani generals surrendering en masse in Dhaka will remain etched in every Bangladeshi’s heart.

On that day, people come out onto the streets, roam about with friends, go to musical soirees, attend congregations, and sing the national anthem with gusto. But some people use the day for ostentatious displays of patriotism, cheapening the occasion in the process.

I need to take mandatory walks for health-related reasons every day, and this December 16 was no different.

On the auspicious day this year, I was doing what I do every day when I sat down to have a refreshing cup of tea at a roadside tea stall, watching streams of people making a day of it. It was then that I noticed the boy, about 15

years of age, who was in charge of the stall.

He was minding the stall while his uncle, the man who owns the store, was relaxing on a stool on this day of unexpected leisure. The boy was serving the tea, and doing all the washing and cleaning.

Every once in a while, he looked up from his chores and looked at the boys and girls of his own age having a funfilled day. He had a forlorn look.

The question that arises from this tableau: Is a grave injustice being done to him?

Human rights defenders would ask exactly that question. He deserves a proper childhood, he should have a carefree life of school and sports and not worry about food, shelter, etc.

I would say the people working for human rights fail to appreciate what it means in the context of Bangladesh, an overpopulated country that has scant social security and parents unable to provide for their children.

This boy, most likely, had very little education which will make him unsuitable for any job of substance in

the future.

So, it is reasonably justifiable that he works at a tea stall and stays out of mischief. At least he will have some means to contribute to his own and his family’s well-being.

The day when the state or his parents will be able to provide for him till he enters adulthood is still far. The state, however, is steadily trying to provide him with some basic education.

The alternate scenario would be that his parents provide for him in spite of their severe poverty, a course of action that would deprive their other children and immerse them into debt.

There is no guarantee, in that case, that the boy would become a goodytwo-shoes and stay at home, study, and avoid bad company.

More often than not, one would find him neglecting his studies, exhibiting arrogance because of his apparent good fortune, becoming chummy with other fallen kids, and eventually entering an immoral path.

He would first become a lackey to

the local goons. With time, he may meet the political functionary for whom the local goons work.

He might become a goon himself, get tasked with creating havoc during hartals, hurling bombs, setting fire to vehicles, joining pitched battles with the police. In time, he would become the right-hand of a big political leader or that of a member of parliament (MP) or even a minister.

to steal money from public sector projects with little or no work done.

If he survives this baptism into “politics,” he would aspire to become an MP himself. To fulfil that ambition, he would have to go through a series of unscrupulous activities, bloodletting even. One day he could become an MP or even a minister himself.

The cabinet would have an uneducated hoodlum to take care of a given

From this mass of working boys and girls, we will surely get small-scale entrepreneurs who, one day, will open their own shops

He would then get a bite of the sweet fruit of corruption and would be blessed by the MP to hijack work orders from genuine contractors and

ministry, and in parliament, he will be expected to participate in the enactment of laws. These jobs will always be too befuddling for him, and he would

look to make the most out of a bad situation.

And so, he would venture on a newer series of corrupt acts, which includes murder and the dismantling of society. This would ensure that the vicious circle engulfing this country remains intact.

So, I say that if the state and families are unable to make citizens with high moral values, let the boys work jobs that will not kill them.

Some jobs do kill kids, like those in foundries, ship-breaking yards, sweatshops, etc.

Those life-sapping jobs are also under the radar of human rights groups, and rightly so. Any workplace abuse should also be monitored diligently.

From this mass of working boys and girls, we will surely get smallscale entrepreneurs who, one day, will open their own shops, workshops, or factories even, instead of making acts of robbery, stealing, and extortion their business. l SM Shahrukh is a freelance contributor.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Saturday, December 20, 2014

13 Aussies edge

ahead with Smith ton

14 Barca hope to

end year on Real’s coattails

14 Abidal retires

for ‘strictly personal reasons’

Sport

BFF mulling bringing back De Kruif n Shishir Hoque

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin yesterday hinted that Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif is likely to return as the head coach of the national side for the forthcoming Bangabandhu Gold Cup, slated for the middle of next month.

Following a war of words between De Kruif and the BFF two months ago, the Dutchman was unceremoniously sacked by the governing body of football in the country. Since then, the BFF has been weighing the options of hiring a foreign coach but was largely unsuccessful owing to financial constraints. During this time, three international Fifa friendlies have taken place with interim coach Saiful Bari Titu at the helm.

With the much-anticipated Bangab-

andhu Golf Cup knocking at the door, both the BFF and Titu said the presence of a foreign coach would really help Bangladesh’s cause.

During this time, De Kruif never stopped contacting the BFF officials, especially its vice president Tabith Awal. The 45-year old Dutch coach has apparently requested for one more chance to rectify his past mistakes committed in his 16-month tenure.

Nothing has been confirmed yet but if the BFF was to give another opportunity to De Kruif, it would probably be for a month, coverning the Bangabandhu Gold Cup. “If we sign a new foreign coach it will take a while for both the team and coach to understand each other and adapt accordingly. As time is of the essence and De Kruif is also interested requesting for another chance, we

Busan-Sk Jamal friendly on December 27 n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh Premier Football League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will take on South Korean topflight club Busan IPark in a friendly at Bangabandhu National Stadium this Saturday at 5pm.

The fixture and arrival date of the K-League side was confirmed by the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday following Busan’s positive response last Thursday night to play against the Dhanmondi-based club.

Korea Football Association (KFA) president Chung Mong-gyu will travel with the former AFC Champions League winners and watch the match from the stadium. Busan will arrive in

Dhaka this Thursday and leave a day after the friendly.

“Busan IPark sent a letter yesterday (Thursday) night confirming their desire to play against Sheikh Jamal on December 27 and asked us to reply with the detailed schedule. They will arrive on December 25, play the friendly on December 27. The KFA president will also come and watch the match,” said BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.

Busan earlier expressed their interest to play a friendly match on Bangladeshi soil asking if the national side or any premier league club are interested.

King’s Cup champions Sheikh Jamal subsequently confirmed their interest in the following days. l

South African pacer Vernon Philander’s current Test bowling average of 20.9 is the best by any bowler to play since 1970 (100+ wkts)

Cricket board busy handling cases at the wrong time n Mazhar Uddin

may consider bringing him back for a month for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup next January,” said Salahuddin at BFF House yesterday.

The BFF supremo also said if the Dutch coach learns from his mistakes then the federation will consider giving him a longer deal. Salahuddin added that everything will soon be finalised after discussions with the national team management committee.

The new deal, however, will not see the addition of De Kruif’s assistant, Rene Koster.

Salahuddin went on to say they are mulling arranging more international matches for the national side in the future. As the president of Saff, the Bangladehs footballing legend also informed that the BFF is looking for sponsors to hold the Saff Club Cup Tournament. l

‘Earthquake’ needed to change WC hosts - Blatter n AFP, Marrakech Fifa will release an “appropriate” version of a report into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but president Sepp Blatter on Friday ruled out moving the tournaments from Russia and Qatar.

The wealthy Gulf state of Qatar has faced a storm of controversy over its successful bid for the 2022 tournament.

But Blatter said: “It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this WC in Qatar.”

The Fifa president sought to silence a growing number of critics after the Fifa executive unanimously voted to release an edited version of a report drawn up by top US lawyer Michael Garcia.l

Did you know?

A file photo shows former Bangladesh football coach Lodewijk de Kruif waving to the crowd at Bangabandhu National Stadium DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ever since the departure of former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president AHM Mostofa Kamal, cricket’s governing body in the country has been busy dealing with several cases.

Ever since Kamal let go of his responsibilities on October 17, 2012, at least six cases have been filed involving the BCB. During this period, the board hosted the Asia Cup and 2014 ICC World Twenty20 with next year’s 50-over World Cup also knocking at the door.

At a time when the board should be busy with their preparations for the mega event, headlines are being created off the field for all the wrong reasons.

The first case was filed just after Kamal had left the post. The tour of Pakistan was then dominating the limelight and the matter was eventually dragged into the High Court before its resolution.

The most recent case was that involving national paceman Rubel Hossain and film actress Naznin Akter Happy. Happy accused Rubel of sexual harassment and filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Act. In recent times, a total of three cases were filed by Legends of Rupganj owner Lutfur Rahman Badal and the BCB. While Badal filed a case against cricketer Nurul Hasan, the BCB’s security wing chief, Major (retd) Hossain Imam filed an attempt to murder case against Badal.

When asked to describe why cases involving the BCB were piling up, BCB game development chairman Khaled Mahmud informed that it was totally unexpected.

The former captain also informed that he had no idea over the case against Badal. “Actually I have no idea who attacked whom but Lutfur also filed a case against an emerging cricketer which should not have happened.” l

San Lorenzo dream of unlikely win over Real ‘Family atmosphere’ n Reuters, Marrakech San Lorenzo, undeterred by the big gulf that separates them from Real Madrid, have vowed to play with “a knife between our teeth” when they face the European champions in Saturday’s Club World Cup final.

The champions of South America, who count Pope Francis and Hollywood actor Viggo Mortensen among their supporters, spent three million euros ($3.68 million) in the last transfer window while Real splashed out 80 million euros this year on James Rodriguez alone.

“We’ll have to fight for each ball as if it were the last,” said San Lorenzo

midfielder Leandro Romagnoli. “If we respect them too much it will be impossible.

“If we give them any freedom they will hurt us a lot ... we have to play with a knife between our teeth,” he added, repeating a phrase often used

by Atletico Madrid coach and former Argentina captain Diego Simeone.

San Lorenzo are attempting to become the first Argentine side to win the tournament since it started in its current format in 2005.

Boca Juniors and Estudiantes have previously reached the final, losing to AC Milan and Barcelona respectively.

That record is a stark contrast to the old Intercontinental Cup,

played by the European and South American champions, which Argentine sides won a record nine times, sometimes in less than salubrious circumstances.

The difference in wealth between South American and European football means the teams from the two continents no longer meet on equal terms and matches have become a David-versus-Goliath affair.

While Real’s bench is brimming with internationals, the only member of the San Lorenzo squad who played at the 2014 World Cup is Colombian defender Mario Yepes, 38.

San Lorenzo, backed by an army of 5,000 travelling fans, hardly boosted

their credentials in Wednesday’s semifinal as they scraped a 2-1 extra-time win over Auckland City’s team of parttimers.

“I believe 100 percent in our chances,” said coach Edgardo Bauza who led Ecuador’s LDU in the 2008 final against Manchester United. “You have to dream of winning.”

Real, aiming for a 22nd consecutive victory in all competitions, have never previously taken part in the tournament and had a mixed record in the Intercontinental Cup with three wins and two defeats in five outings.

They lost 2-1 to Argentine opponents Boca Juniors in 2000. l

crucial to Real success n Reuters, Barcelona Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has created a family atmosphere in the dressing room and this has played a crucial role in their recent success, club president Florentino Perez said.

The affable Italian leads his side into the final of the Club World Cup on Saturday against South American champions San Lorenzo, bringing an end to a memorable year in which Real won their 10th European Cup, the King’s Cup and the European Super Cup. Real, led by the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, are in blistering

form on a 21-match winning run and Ancelotti has drawn plaudits for uniting a squad brimming with high-profile players.

Real had a comfortable victory over Cruz Azul on Tuesday to reach the Club World Cup final and Perez is sure there will be no complacency from the players against San Lorenzo.

“We have come with a lot of expectation to finish the year with the title of club world champion which is very important for us,” said Ancelotti.

“There is a good atmosphere at the club and I just hope that we can maintain it.” l

San Lorenzo players attend an official training session for the Fifa Club World Cup at Marrakech stadium yesterday, on the eve of their final (L-R) Real Madrid’s Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema practice during a training session at the Club World match against Real Madrid AFP Cup in Marrakech, Morocco on Thursday AP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Djokovic and Williams take ITF honours Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The annual award takes in performances on the regular Tour and grand slams. Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years. Williams wins the award for the fifth time in a career which has brought her 18 grand slam singles titles -- the most recent at this year’s U.S. Open. “I’m so honored to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time. This was a year of challenges and triumphs, so to win another Grand Slam and retain my year-end No. 1 ranking is an accomplishment I’m very proud of,” she said. “I’m grateful to have the support of the tennis community in every way possible. I can’t wait for 2015.”

–Reuters

Khan puts up golden shorts to help British boxer Amir Khan plans to donate a £30,000 ($46,973) pair of shorts to help rebuild the Pakistan army-run school where 141 people were killed by the Taliban. Khan, who is of Pakistani heritage, wore the flamboyant shorts including a waistband made from 24-carat gold threading when he successfully defended his WBC welterweight title against Devon Alexander in Las Vegas last weekend. The 28-yearold became a father in May when his daughter Lamysa was born and he was keen to do something to help following the tragic events in Peshawar which saw 132 children plus nine members of staff killed in the attack. “I can only imagine what those parents are going through,” Khan told BBC Radio 5 live.

“We are very lucky in England, we have good security and I will be able to send my little girl to school and know she will be fine, but in Pakistan you cannot do that. “They send the kids outside the house and do not know if they are going to come back. It’s very sad to know that.

–AFP

Sport

Aussies edge ahead with Smith ton n AFP, Brisbane India were fighting back after Australia gained a 97-run innings lead on the back of another century from new skipper Steve Smith and a wagging tail in the second Gabba Test on Friday.

The tourists had cut the deficit back to 26 runs by the close on the third day at 71 for one with Shikhar Dhawan on 26 and Cheteshwar Pujara not out at 15.

The day belonged to the Australians, trailing by 187 runs at the start but piling on 258 runs for the last four wickets with Smith leading the way.

Smith posted his second ton of the series and Johnson a swashbuckling 88 off 93 balls to give Australia the edge to win the Test over the closing two days and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Smith and Johnson shared in a ground record 148-run stand for the seventh wicket to take the steam out of the Indians.

Mitchell Starc chipped in with 52 off 59 balls, Nathan Lyon hit 23 and Test debutant Josh Hazlewood cracked an unbeaten 32 to frustrate India’s attempts to wrap up the innings.

Starc bounced back from his indifferent bowling in the first innings and struck a major blow with the wicket of Murali Vijay for 27 in the 11th over of India’s second innings.

Vijay, who had scored three consecutive half-centuries including 144 in the first innings in Brisbane, was in two minds whether to play only for the ball to strike his bat and hit the stumps.

The day’s highlight was Johnson’s game-changing innings, which finished tantalisingly short of his second Test century when he was caught behind off Ishant Sharma for 88 off 93 balls with 13 fours and a six. Smith followed five balls later when he was finally dismissed in the series for 133.

He inside-edged Sharma onto his stumps to end a 303-minute vigil. It had taken India 704 minutes to finally get Smith’s wicket over three innings.

Smith scored 162 and 52 in last week’s Adelaide Test win and continued to be the bane of the tourists with another consummate knock.

Smith, who took over the captaincy after Michael Clarke injured his right hamstring in the first Adelaide Test, was the fifth Australian skipper to score a century in his first Test as captain.

India began the third day well with two wickets inside the opening hour but Johnson’s lusty hitting quickly swung the game Australia’s way.

India’s tactics of sledging and bowling short to Johnson back-fired as it only served to energise him and attack the bowling.l

Ten Cricket 2:00PM West Indies tour of South Africa 1st Test, Day 4

Star Sports 4 2:00PM T20 Big Bash League Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes English Premier League 6:35PM Man City v Crystal Palace 9:00PM Aston Villa v Man United 1:45AM Italian Serie A Roma v AC Milan

Star Sports 2 7:30PM Indian Super League Final: Kerala v Kolkata Spanish La Liga 1:00AM Eibar v Valencia 3:00AM Rayo Vallecano v Espanyol

Star Sports 1 6:00PM (Sunday) Australia v India 2nd Test, Day 5

Star Sports HD1 9:00PM Spanish La Liga Barcelona v Cordoba

Ten Action 6:15PM Sky Bet Championship Derby County v Norwich City French Ligue 1 10:00PM PSG v Montpellier 12:30AM Metz v Monaco

Ten Sports Sky Bet Championship 9:00PM Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough 11:15PM Nottingham Forest v Leeds United

Neo Prime German Bundesliga 8:30PM Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund 11:30PM Wolfsburg v FC Koln

Sony Six FIFA Club World Cup 1:00AM 3rd Place: Cruz Azul v Auckland City 4:00AM Final: San Lorenzo v Real Madrid

AUSvIND, DAY 3 India 1st innings 408 (M. Vijay 144, A. Rahane 81; J. Hazlewood 5-68) Australia 1st innings R B (Overnight 221-4) C. Rogers c Dhoni b Yadav 55 79 D. Warner c Ashwin b Yadav 29 28 S. Watson c Dhawan b Ashwin 25 29 S. Smith b I. Sharma 133 191 S. Marsh c Ashwin b Yadav 32 70 M. Marsh b I. Sharma 11 34 B. Haddin c Pujara b Aaron 6 12 M. Johnson c Dhoni b I.Sharma 88 93 M. Starc b Ashwin 52 59 N. Lyon c R. Sharma b Aaron 23 23 J. Hazlewood not out 32 50 Extras (lb4, w5, nb10) 19 Total (all out; 109.4 overs)

n AFP, London Exiled England star Kevin Pietersen on Friday said he would consider any offer to return as England selectors met to decide which players are set for World Cup duty.

Pietersen was dropped from the squad by the England and Wales Cricket board in February and the controver-

sial batsman subsequently released an autobiography claiming the England dressing room had been beset by a bullying culture.

But, as selectors considered their options Pietersen wrote on Twitter that his “phone is on” and, in response to a fellow user asking if he would take a call from the England management, he replied: “Of course!”

505

Fall of wickets 1-47 (Warner), 2-98 (Watson), 3-121 (Rogers), 4-208 (S. Marsh), 5-232 (M. Marsh), 6-247 (Haddin), 7-395 (Johnson), 8-398 (Smith), 9-454 (Lyon) Bowling I. Sharma 23-2-117-3 (6nb, 2w), Aaron 261-145-2 (4nb, 1w), Yadav 25-4-101-3 (2w), Ashwin 33.4-4-128-2, R. Sharma 2-0-10-0 India 2nd innings M. Vijay b Starc S. Dhawan not out C. Pujara not out Extras (lb2, nb1)

R

B

27 26 15 3

39 65 35

Total (1 wicket; 23 overs)

71

Fall of wickets 1-41 (Vijay)

Australia captain Steve Smith celebrates reaching his century on the third day of their second Test against India at the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday AFP

I’m waiting for a call: KP

DAY’S WATCH

13

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Pietersen top-scored on Thursday with a rapid 66 for Melbourne Stars in the opening match of the Big Bash League, showing the 34-year-old can still be a formidable performer.

Whether or not Pietersen’s name comes up at all, it seems certain he will not be included in England’s 16-man squad for the Tri-series in Australia next month, which also features the home side and India.

That squad must be trimmed to 15 players for the World Cup, with the key issue facing the selectors being whether to retain Alastair Cook as captain.

Cook is taking nothing for granted as the selectors consider all aspects of England’s 5-2 defeat in Sri Lanka as part of their scheduled series review, before making the announcement of their touring squad on Saturday.

Cook, who is struggling with his batting, has conceded he has no “divine right” to be selected to lead the team to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

However England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton has hinted strongly that Cook, who turns 30 on Christmas Day, is highly likely to retain leadership responsibilities. l

Bowling Johnson 8-3-29-0 (1nb), Hazlewood 6-024-0, Starc 4-1-10-1, Watson 5-3-6-0

Hughes’ death unites cricket in grief n AFP, London Cricket confronted tragedy in 2014 with the death of Phillip Hughes after the Australia batsman was hit by a bouncer in a domestic first-class match.

Several batsmen had previously been killed in similar incidents, albeit at lower levels of the game, and two days after Hughes’ death Israeli umpire Hillel Oscar died after a ball ricocheted off the stumps.

But the fact Hughes, 25, had scored three Test hundreds and was wearing a helmet, although the ball hit him on an unprotected area of the skull, contributed to a huge sense of shock throughout the cricket world.

Australia captain Michael Clarke, in a moving eulogy at Hughes’ funeral, recalled walking out to the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground - where his friend died - for the first time following his former team-mate’s passing.

Following a short delay to Australia’s ongoing Test series at home to India, that is what happened with no great reduction in bouncer use.

Indeed New South Wales quick Sean

Abbott, who received much sympathy after delivering the ball that killed Hughes, bowled a bouncer in his first over following the fatal accident on his way to a remarkable haul of six for 14 against Queensland at the SCG. Clarke made a hundred in the first Test win over India but was sidelined soon afterwards with a career-threatening hamstring injury.

That fast bowling is central to much cricket success was emphasised when Australia’s Mitchell Johnson won the International Cricket Council player of the year award.

Left-arm quick Johnson led Australia’s attack during a 5-0 Ashes sweep of England in 2013/14 and then starred in a 2-1 series win over South Africa while collecting 59 Test wickets from August 2013 to September 2014. The end of the South Africa-Australia series saw the retirement of Proteas captain Graeme Smith.

Thrust into the leadership aged just 22, Smith captained in a world record 109 Tests, while overseeing notable series wins in both Australia and England as well as scoring more than 9,000 Test runs. l

Phelps set to appear in Philander plunges WI into trouble SAvWI, DAY 3, TEA US court over DUI rap n AFP, Centurion

n AFP, Baltimore Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps appears in court Friday in his home state of Maryland for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 golds out of 22 total medals -- has been suspended from competition for six months since his arrest in September.

He has said he was “deeply sorry” for the DUI rap, which prompted him to check into a six-week rehab program amid questions over his return to competition.

Police say Phelps’ white Land Rover was doing 84 miles (135 kilometers) per hour in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Tunnel early on the morning of September 30.

“He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests,” police added in a statement at the time.

Phelps was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines.

The swimming champion quickly expressed remorse, telling his 1.6 million Twitter followers he took “full responsiblity” for the “severity” of his actions.

“I know these words may not mean much right now but I am deeply sorry to everyone I have let down,” he said, as USA Swimming barred him from competition until April.

Phelps retired from competitive swimming after the 2012 Olympics in London, but launched a comeback earlier this year.

He made a dazzling return to international competition in August, pick-

ing up three gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia.

His strong showing, under the guidance of his longtime coach Bob Bowman, bolstered hopes he might compete for the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In recent weeks, he has been seen training at the storied North Baltimore Aquatic Club. He has also posted upbeat Thanksgiving family photos on his Instagram feed.

Ten years ago, as a teenager, Phelps pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in rural Maryland.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and fined $250 for what he later described as an “isolated incident.”

Lawyers specializing in DUI cases doubted Phelps would do jail time, given how no accident occurred and that a decade has elapsed since his last offence.

“He’s probably looking at a suspended jail sentence,” Scott Richman, who has prosecuted hundreds of DUI cases, told the Baltimore Sun newspaper.l

Vernon Philander took four wickets to plunge the West Indies into trouble on the third day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The West Indies were 184 for six at tea, still 368 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 552 for five declared.

A double strike by Philander ended a promising opening partnership by the West Indies, with both opening batsmen falling to the accurate fast-medium bowler.

His third wicket was the crucial one, that of West Indian veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and he dismissed Jermaine Blackwood in the last over before tea.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Devon Smith saw off South Africa’s new ball attack, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Philander dismissed both in successive overs.

The right-handed Brathwaite looked solid and well-organised from the start, but left-hander Smith survived a confident appeal for leg before wicket by Philander with his score on five in the second over.

Smith was given not out by umpire Billy Bowden. South Africa sought a review. It showed the ball clipping the outside of leg stump and the decision stayed with the umpire.

Smith went on to make 35 before being caught behind off Philander’s fourth ball of a second spell. He was given not out by umpire Bowden but Philander immediately asked for a review which showed a faint bottom edge as Smith played a cramped pull shot.

The catch was taken by AB de Villiers, who took over the gloves after regular wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock sprained his right ankle during the warm-up. l

South Africa, first innings, 552-5 dec Amla 208, De Villiers 152, van Zyl 101*

West Indies, first innings K Brathwaite c Amla b Philander D Smith c De Villiers b Philander L Johnson c sub (Peterson) b Abbott M Samuels b Morkel S Chanderpaul c Petersen b Philander J Blackwood c Petersen b Philander D Ramdin not out Extras (lb6, w3) Total (6 wickets, 55.2 overs)

R

B

34 35 31 33 21 12 9 9

61 74 42 66 56 21 22

184

Fall of wickets 1-72 (Smith), 2-73 (Brathwaite) , 3-117 (Johnson), 4-162 (Samuels), 5-169 (Chanderpaul), 6-184 (Blackwood) Bowling Steyn 14-3-53-0, Philander 14.2-6-26-4 (1w), Abbott 14-3-50-1 (1w), Morkel 13-4-49-1 (1w)

South Africa captain Hashim Amla (3L) celebrates with teammates after taking a catch to dismiss West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite on the third day of their first Test match at Centurion Park in Pretoria yesterday AP

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Barca hope to end year on Real’s coattails n AFP, Madrid Barcelona’s star strikers will need to rediscover their scoring touch to stay in the title race in La Liga as the Catalan outfit host struggling Cordoba on Saturday.

In the absence of the injured Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez drew a blank in a 0-0 draw at Getafe last weekend that saw Luis Enrique’s men fall four points behind in-form league leaders Real Madrid.

However, with the European champions playing San Lorenzo in the final of the Club World Cup on Saturday evening, Barca can cut the gap to a single

FIXTURES Barcelona Levante Eibar Rayo Vallecano

v v v v

Cordoba Real Sociedad Valencia Espanyol

point heading into the new year.

Barca will end the year having failed to claim a single trophy for the first time in six years, but, despite an indifferent start to Luis Enrique’s time in charge, Xavi Hernandez is confident of ending that drought in what is likely to be the final season of his illustrious Barcelona career.

However, Pedro Rodriguez showed he can be a capable understudy for the Brazilian should Neymar miss out again as he netted a hat-trick in the 8-1 humiliation of Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday that sealed a 12-1 aggregate victory.

Champions Atletico Madrid have a tougher task to prevent losing more ground in their unlikely attempt to retain their title when they visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Atletico slipped seven points off the pace with their first league defeat at home in 19 months last weekend to Villarreal.

Diego Simeone rested a host of firstteam regulars as Atletico set up a Cup last-16 meeting with Real Madrid against Hospitalet on Thursday, but he will be without arguably their two best players this season in Koke and Mario Mandzukic due to suspension at San Mames.

Athletic fought back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw in the latest Basque derby last weekend, but will also be missing a key player as Aymeric Laporte serves a one-game ban after being sent-off late on at Anoeta.

Villarreal’s shock victory at the Vicente Calderon last weekend has ramped up the excitement in the race for the Champions League places with Atletico in third and Malaga in seventh separated by just five points.

Fourth-placed Sevilla aren’t in action this weekend as they had been due to face Real Madrid, so Valencia can move into the top four with victory at Eibar on Saturday.

Villarreal will then look to continue their fine form of late when Deportivo la Coruna visit El Madrigal in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off, whilst Malaga travel to Elche later in the day.

Meanwhile, Getafe must pick themselves up for the trip to Granada. l

Abidal retires for ‘strictly personal reasons’ n AFP, Piraeus

(L-R) Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi attend a training session at Joan Gamper training camp, near Barcelona yesterday REUTERS

Former France international defender Eric Abidal announced his retirement on Friday for “strictly personal reasons”.

But the 35-year-old former Barcelona star, who returned to playing football after undergoing a liver transplant, told an emotional press conference: “I am open to proposals.”

Holding back the tears, he added: “I do not regret my decision. I just want to rest now, enjoy my family and then to think about my future.”

He said he had received offers from both Barcelona and Olympiakos, but made no mention of press reports that he would take up a post coaching Barcelona’s youth teams.

Abidal is listed in the line-up for Saturday’s crucial Greek Super League match with Kalloni on the island of Mytilene as Olympiakos have injury problems in defence and do not have a second central defender.

“I think this will be my last match,” Abidal said.

Abidal joined Olympiakos six months ago on a two-year contract, played in eight out of 14 Super League matches and all six Champions League fixtures.

“This is a big and difficult moment in my life as today I officially end my professional career with Olympiakos,” Abidal said at the start of the press conference. “My time has come.” l

Pellegrini backs Mangala to shine Atletico win to set up n AFP, Manchester Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini claims he has complete faith in French defender Eliaquim Mangala ahead of the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Eastlands on Saturday.

City captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out until the start of 2015 with a recurrence of a hamstring problem, so Mangala will get a run of games at centre-back alongside Martin Demichelis.

And Pellegrini believes the France international, who joined the English champions from Porto during the close season for £24.3 million ($38 million), will prove his worth during a hectic festive period after struggling at times in his first season in the Premier League.

City are also set be without influential forward Sergio Aguero against Palace as he recovers from a knee injury.

City are without all three of their main strikers at the moment, with Edin Dzeko (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) also both set to be absent through injury this weekend.

Pellegrini is contemplating whether or not to use midfielders David Silva, Samir Nasri or James Milner out of position in attack against Palace, while 18-year-old forward Jose Angel Pozo remains another option.

Palace boss Neil Warnock insists his side will travel to Manchester convinced they can dent second placed City’s hopes of catching leaders Chelsea.

The south London club have lost just one of their last five league games but remain in the thick of the relegation battle, positioned one point and two places above the bottom three.

Warnock has ruled out a loan move for former England left-back Ashley

FIXTURES Aston Villa Hull City Man City QPR Southampton Tottenham West Ham

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Man United Swansea City Crystal Palace West Brom Everton Burnley Leicester City

Cole who has struggled to establish himself with Italian club AS Roma.

Chelsea’s three-point lead over second-place Manchester City, coupled with a superior goal difference (+23 to +19), means that they are practically assured of being in first place on Christmas Day. But with Jose Mourinho’s side not in action until Monday, when they welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge, champions

City can draw level with them by winning at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

While City are on a five-match winning run in the league, cross-town rivals Manchester United will be looking to record a seventh consecutive victory when they travel to Aston Villa.

Last Sunday’s victory over Liverpool enabled Louis van Gaal’s team to remain eight points behind Chelsea and five behind City, prompting captain Wayne Rooney to declare that they still have designs on the title.

Villa saw a five-game unbeaten run come to an end in a 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion last weekend and have a dismal home record against United, who they have not beaten in the league at Villa Park since August 1995.

Fourth-place West Ham, beaten only once in their last 10 matches, host bottom club Leicester, who are now five points from safety.

Leicester have not won since stunning Manchester United 5-3 in September, but West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says that Nigel Pearson’s team are no pushovers.

Ronald Koeman’s side entertain Everton on Saturday. Elsewhere, improving Burnley visit Spurs while Sunderland visit Newcastle on Sunday for the first Tyne-Wear derby of the campaign. l

King’s Cup clash with holders Los Blancos n Reuters, Barcelona Atletico Madrid will face holders Real Madrid in the last 16 of the King’s Cup after a double from Mario Mandzukic sealed a 5-2 aggregate victory over lower league Hospitalet on Thursday.

Ruben Alcaraz got both goals for Hospitalet who drew 2-2 at the Calderon against an Atletico side with most of their regular players rested following a 3-0 first leg victory.

Mandzukic, who is suspended for the trip to Athletic Bilbao this weekend, pounced midway through the first half but Alcaraz brought the team from the

LAST-16 DRAW Malaga Celta Vigo Valencia Granada Barcelona Atl Madrid Villarreal Almeria

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Levante Athletic Bilbao Espanyol Sevilla Elche Real Madrid Real Sociedad Getafe

Juventus ease to Cagliari win

Balotelli given onematch ban over n AFP, Milan racist post Reigning champions Juventus are certain to top Serie A at Christmas after a n AFP, London 3-1 win at Cagliari on Thursday in their Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for one match, fined £25,000 ($39,176) and ordered to attend to an education course after making racist and anti-semitic comments.

Balotelli had already accepted a charge of an aggravated breach of Football Association rule E3, relating to references of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality or religion or belief, after his posting of an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram which included the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew”.

The Italy international did not request a personal hearing, but submitted written mitigation to an independent disciplinary panel, who handed out the punishment on Thursday.

Balotelli will now miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield after deciding against an appeal.

Liverpool said they were awaiting the full written verdict from the panel but did not rule out further action against the player by the club.

The day after his posting - which he quickly deleted - Balotelli apologised by apologising on Twitter. l

final league game of 2014.

Early strikes by Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal and a Fernando Llorente counter in the second half put Juve out of sight before Luca Rossettini got a goal back for the hosts.

While Cagliari remain in the relega-

tion zone after seeing their run without a win extended to eight games, Juve are now four points clear of nearest challengers Roma, who host AC Milan in their final game of 2014 on Saturday night.

This game and Napoli’s later 2-0 win against Parma were brought forward as champions Juventus and Rafael Benitez’s Cup holders will meet in Qatar on Monday in the Italian Super Cup. Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve will

head into that game buoyed by a routine win in Sardinia following successive league draws against Fiorentina and Sampdoria.

“I am fortunate to train a group of players that wants to win and continue amazing people. I have a lot of faith that this side can do well in Europe too,” said Allegri.

Cagliari were the only team in Serie A still without a home win to their name and Zdenek Zeman’s side saw that run continue as they failed to recover from a terrible start.

The game was only in its third minute when the visitors opened the scoring at the Sant’Elia stadium, Tevez following up to score his 10th goal of the campaign after Cagliari ‘keeper Alessio Cragno had saved from Giorgio Chiellini.

Gianluigi Buffon then saved well from Albin Ekdal at the other end but the Turin giants doubled their lead on 15 minutes thanks to a sumptuous Vidal strike. l

RESULTS

Cagliari

1-3

Rossettini 65

Juventus’ Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez (C) celebrates scoring with Giorgio Chiellini during their Italian Serie A match against Cagliari in Cagliari on Thursday AP

Napoli

Juventus Tevez 3, Vidal 15, Llorente 50

2-0

Zapata 19, Mertens 30-P

Parma

Spanish third tier back on level terms with a deflected shot after 66 minutes.

The Croat restored Atletico’s lead with a diving header from a Koke cross before Alcaraz hit a swerving shot into the roof of the net to give some joy for the visitors.

Atletico now face Real, who beat them in the semi-finals last season, in the last 16.

“This year we have only lost one game at home at the Calderon and this shows the work of the players,” Simeone told a news conference.

“Hopefully we can keep going the same way. In terms of this game I am happy with what I saw. We started well and scored while in the second half the Hospitalet players responded well.

“They had a bit of luck with their first goal and the second was something special.”

Elsewhere, Malaga overcame Deportivo La Coruna 5-2 on aggregate, Athletic Bilbao beat Alcoyano 2-1 overall and Elche advanced after a 1-0 advantage from their two games against Valladolid. l

Atletico’s Mario Mandzukic celebrates after scoring a goal during a King’s Cup match against Hospitalet at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on Thursday AP

Marseille, PSG and Lyon in three-way fight in France n AFP, Paris Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon head into the final round of games before Christmas this weekend looking to take the symbolic crown of Ligue 1’s ‘Autumn Champions’.

The significance of being on top of the table at the season’s halfway stage is debatable, although PSG looked down on the rest of Ligue 1 at Christmas in each of the last two years before eventually being crowned champions in May. The capital club come into this weekend in second place, a point behind leaders Marseille, with Lyon two points off top spot in third place.

OL managed to close the gap on the top two after both suffered defeats last weekend, with Paris losing for the first time in the league this season at Guingamp.

Laurent Blanc’s side host Montpellier at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, and there is pressure on PSG after they followed losses to Barcelona in the Champions League and then Guingamp with an unconvincing 3-1 victory at second-tier AC Ajaccio in the League Cup in midweek.

Mid-table Montpellier have scored seven goals in their last two games,

but PSG should be too strong for the 2012 champions, with the likes of Silva, Thiago Motta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to return refreshed after being rested in midweek.

Before that game, Blanc had declared that some of his players would

FIXTURES PSG Caen Lorient Metz Rennes Toulouse

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Montpellier SC Bastia Nantes Monaco Reims Guingamp

“stay behind to recharge a little physically and mentally to be ready for the match against Montpellier”.

However, visiting coach Rolland Courbis is relishing the chance to spring a surprise. Courbis and his side host PSG in their next competitive match too as the two came out of the hat together in the French Cup draw, with the last64 tie to be played in early January.

A victory for PSG will take them above Marseille, at least before Marcelo Bielsa’s side play on Sunday at home to Lille. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

KHALED KHAN’s recital album out today n Entertainment Desk To observe the first death anniversary of much-loved stage and TV performer Khaled Khan – a recital album featuring Shyama Hai and Khaled Khan titled Megh Balika will be launched today at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts.

The album consists of poems that Khaled Khan recited at various events. Seven of the poems feature Juboraj reciting together with Shyama.

With music for the album arranged by Bappa Mazumder, it will be launched by Aly Zaker.

The album includes “Aynar Shamne Ektu Ondhokaar,” “Ami Jokhon Chhoto Chhilam,” “Ki Chao Amar Kacche,” “Ami Tomader Koribo Nibedon,” “Batashe Bhitore” and many more.

At the launch event, Hasan Arif will recite a poem from the album and songs will be performed by Mita Haque. l

Entertainment

Saturday, December 20, 2014

JUBORAJ is remembered on anniversary of death Natya Sampradaya in 1978.

At the initial stage, his talent was latent. But letter in the few years his performances were appreciated by storm of applauds, he said.

“I would say, he has a rare style when it comes to performing arts. It was well evident in the Syed Haq’s play, Irsha,” he added.

Ataur Rahman said the popular play “Raktokorobi” had some 75 shows before

n Shadma Malik Today is the first anniversary of death of Khaled Khan, popularly known as Juboraj. His marks are not only left on the stage but in the lives of the people whom he inspired by his powerful acting and impeccable voice-delivery.

He started his career in theatre as a member of Nagarik Natya Sampradaya.

The troupe’s chief Ataur Rahman said Khaled Khad joined the Nagorik

Khaled fell ill.

Khaled was a good actor and director. He was a progressive minded artist who could lift a troupe in a fulfilment note, he added.

Exhibition

16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh Time: 11am – 8pm National Art Gallery Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Meet the Faces

By Nasreen Sultana Mitu Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise

Mita Haque, wife of Khaled, said: “He was a responsible person. An obedient son to both of our parents. He was also a great father to our children and a supportive husband.”

He was a soft spoken person. He used to express his frustration for not being able to perform on the stage due to his illness, he said.

“I still recollect the moments that he loved, food done with great care in precision,” said Mita Haque, also a famous Tagore singer.

Actress and director Tropa Mazumder said: “Juboda [Khaled] and I were in different troupes, so we never had the chance to share the stage. But, I had the opportunities to work with him in delivering voices for commercials.”

“We gave our voices in numerous TVCs. Such a well articulated person, he always guided me in my pronunciation,” she said.

Be Smart About Art Time: 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts Shifting Sands Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60, Gulshan Avenue

Film

Roar, Fury, Ek Cup Cha Big Hero 6 (3D)

“It was really a great experience getting him as a colleague, as my friend and as a good tutor,” she added.

“After giving direction of a play, I called him and asked him how did he like it,”Tropa Mazumder said.

“He could analyse profoundly, which benefited me in my directorial journey,” Khaled Khan appeared in more than 30 plays throughout his career as an actor.

His notable plays are “Dewan Gazi’r Kissa,” “Irsha,” “Ocholayotan,” “Nuroldiner Sarajibon,” “Darpan,” “Galileo” and “Roktokorobi” among others. He directed more than 10 theatre plays.

Some of his noteworthy plays are“Muktodhara” written by Tagore, “Putul Khela” and “Master Builder” written by Ibsen, and Khudhito Pashan based on the Tagore short story. l

Pipra Bidda, Ouija Star Cineplex Hridoye 71, Children of War Ouija, Interstellar Gone Girl, Annabelle Pipra Bidda, Ek Cup Cha Into The Storm Time: 12:30pm – 10:00pm Blockbuster Cinemas

A concert by band Shunno will be held today at 5:30pm at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi.

Shunno, an alternative rock band formed in 2007, have released four albums and several singles. They hope to reach out to their audience through live performances including concerts at universities and other venues. Shunno have performed in almost every city in Bangladesh.

The band released their debut album “Notun Srote” under their own production house, Maroon Music. The title track from their second album

“Shoto Asha” was chosen by leading telecom operator, Grameenphone, as the official theme song for the ICC World Cup 2011.

Shunno received awards like Best Band Award in 2008 at the Meril Prothom Alo Awards, the CitycellChannel I Music Awards in 2009 and Citycell-Channel I Music Awards in 2011.

They have performed with several foreign artists including Jal, Atif Islam and Shafqat Amanat Ali. The group’s present line-up includes Imrul Karim (vocal), Shaker Raza (guitar), Andrew Michael Gomes (bass guitar) and Rafatul Bari (drums). l

George Clooney blasted North Korea in a new interview, criticising the country following the cyberhacking attack that drove Sony to pull “The Interview” from theatres. But Clooney also blamed Hollywood, saying entertainment figures failed to sign a petition he circulated in support of Sony.

In an exclusive interview with Deadline.com, Clooney said he’s worried the situation could cause a “chilling effect,” with studios wary of taking on controversial projects.

Clooney said he and his agent, CAA’s Bryan Lourd, sent a petition of support to industry executives, but no one would sign the petition.

“As we watched one group be completely vilified, nobody stood up. Nobody took that stand.

Now, I say this is a situation we are going to have

Clark Kent, one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable human, is forced to reveal his identity when Earth is invaded by an army of survivors who threaten to bring the planet to the brink of destruction.

Pain & Gain HBO Defined, 10:30pm

A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.

Fast & Furious 6 Star Movies, 9:30pm

The Island WB, 9:30pm

Indian singer Benny Dayal belts out his hit tracks to a rapt audience at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel on Thursday

to come to terms with, a new paradigm and a new way of handling our business.

Because this could happen to an electric company, a car company, a newsroom. It could happen to anybody,” Clooney told Deadline.com.

“This is a silly comedy, but the truth is, what it now says about us is a whole lot. We have a responsibility to stand up against this.”

Sony announced it was shelving the film Wednesday, after major movie chains such as AMC and Regal chose not to show the movie because of the threat of attacks. The attack threat followed cyberhackers stealing and leaking Sony executives’ emails. Clooney—whose correspondence with Sony Pictures exec Amy Pascal was included in the leak—considered the situation unprecedented.

“The truth is, it’s all new territory and nobody knows how to handle it. I don’t think anyone was prepared for it,” Clooney told Deadline. com. “So now we’ll be prepared for it, hopefully.

Everybody was doing their jobs, but somehow, we have allowed North Korea to dictate content, and that is just insane.”

Sony Pictures currently has no further release plans for “The Interview” -- such as a digital or video-on-demand release, a Sony official said. l

A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a “harvestable being”, and is being kept as a source of replacement parts, along with others, in a Utopian facility.

KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

ALIA BHATT in a drug drama

GEORGE CLOONEY blames media, Hollywood amid Sony hack attack

n Entertainment Desk

Man of Steel HBO, 8:30pm

Hobbs has Dominic and Brian reassemble their crew to take down a team of mercenaries: Dominic unexpectedly gets convoluted also facing his presumed deceased girlfriend, Letty.

Shunno to perform today at IGCC n Entertainment Desk

15

n Entertainment Desk

GEORGE HARRISON to get Grammy Lifetime Achievement award n Entertainment Desk The Beatles’ George Harrison and Bee Gees are already among the winners at the 57th annual Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy announced that they would honour the two musicians with the Lifetime Achievement Award at a private ceremony held a day before the Grammys, reported Ace Showbiz.

Other names set to receive the prestigious prize include Buddy Guy, country duo the Louvin Brothers, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, French composer Pierre Boulez and Texas Tejano musician Flaceo Jimenez. “This year we pay tribute to exceptional creators who have made prolific contributions to our culture and history,” Recording Academy President-CEO Neil Portnow said in a press statement.

“It is an honour and a privilege to recognise such a diverse group of talented trailblazers, whose incomparable bodies of work and timeless legacies will continue to be celebrated for generations to come,” Portnow added.

Grammys will be held on February 7, 2015. l

Alia Bhatt pairs up with Shahid Kapoor for a drugs drama, but drops out of Farhan Akhtar’s musical.

Mirror had earlier reported that Alia Bhatt would star in the “Rock On!!” sequel. The makers were eager to have her on board as they wanted an actress who could croon her own songs. The film’s composers, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were looking forward to recording with the actress with the ‘terrific voice’. But Alia has had to let go off this coveted project because she starts shooting with Abhishek Chaubey in February.

The Ishqiya director is making a film on the rampant drug use in North India, titled “Udta Punjab,” with Alia as his leading lady.

She has been cast opposite Shahid Kapoor who she has been romancing in Vikas Bahl’s destination wedding film, “Shandaar.”

Says a source, “Alia has told the makers of “Rock On 2” that she won’t be able to accommodate their film and they have started the hunt for a new girl. Auditions are currently underway in as many as three countries.” l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Pay Commission wants separate body for politically sensitive issues n Asif Showkat Kallol The National Pay and Services Commission (NPSC) has reportedly recommended that the government form a separate Public Service Reform Commission in order to address “politically sensitive issues.”

These sensitive issues include the matter of officials on special duty (OSD), competitive exams for deputy secretary-level officials and lateral entry for joint secretary-level public servants, sources inside the NPSC have said.

Politically sensitive issues were dropped from the draft of a pay scale-related report, which will be submitted to the finance minister on Sunday The NPSC itself has been avoiding dealing with these sensitive issues, they said, adding that the NPSC chairman – Mohammad Farashuddin – was concerned that handling such issues might hurt the credibility of the NPSC’s upcoming report on a possible pay scale upgrade for government employees.

Several sources inside the commission told the Dhaka Tribune that the politically sensitive issues were dropped from the draft of the report, which will be submitted to the finance minister on Sunday.

A member of the commission had reportedly been advocating the inclusion of these issues in the proposed pay commission report, but the NPSC chairman opposed the move, the sources said. A proposal was also presented to introduce a rule for making

Nigeria’s Buhari picks southern Christian lawyer as running mate

public servants OSDs for only a sixmonth stint; but the recommendation was also scrapped for being politically sensitive.

On condition of anonymity, a commission member told the Dhaka Tribune that the upcoming report had sufficiently addressed the issues related to pay scale upgrade, but failed to make any proper observations regarding the services offered to the public servants.

At an earlier meeting of the commission, NPSC chief Farashuddin – a former Bangladesh Bank governor – admitted there was a lack of efficient officials in the government, said the commission member who was present at the meeting. The meeting also discussed a World Bank report which found that the public servants had inadequate English writing skills.

Farashuddin also said five percent public servants were now appointed under the presidential quota through lateral entry, which allowed qualified individuals to start employment at a level higher than normal entry level.

These issues might be put under the purview of a Public Service Reform Commission, the NPSC member quoted the chairman as saying.

In November last year, the government formed the 17-member commission for more than 1.3 million current and former public servants.

Presently, there are more than 832,000 government employees and around 500,000 pensioners in the country.

An official of Public Administration Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that frequent orders of promotion had resulted the number of OSDs – who get paid without having any official responsibility – to rise to nearly 600, including three secretaries, 26 additional secretaries and 228 joint secretaries. l

8 children killed, mother stabbed in Australia n AP, Sydney

Eight dead children and a woman suffering from stab wounds were found inside a home in a northern Australian city yesterday, police said.

Police believe the 34-year-old woman with chest wounds is the mother of seven of the children, and the eighth child is believed to be one of her relatives, Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said. She was receiving treatment for her injuries and was in stable condition at a hospital.

Queensland state police said they were called to the home in the Cairns suburb of Manoora on Friday morning after receiving a report of a woman with serious injuries. When police got

New record for deepest fish

n Reuters, Abuja Nigeria’s main opposition contender Muhammadu Buhari has picked southern Christian lawyer Yemi Osinbajo to be his running mate in elections set for February 2015, the party leader said on Wednesday.

Choosing a Christian from the south to run for the number two job alongside a Muslim northern presidential candidate fits a pattern in Nigerian elections of trying to balance ethnic and religious sentiments to maximise voter appeal.

President Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian who will seek re-election in the polls, picked his current vice president Namadi Sambo, a Muslim northerner, to run with him.

“I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed,” opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Bola Tinubu said in a statement.

“I ask you to select the ticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured ... I ask you to remember that too many Christians and Muslims are poor.”

Picking running mates from both ends of the country of 170 million people split roughly evenly between the two religions is unlikely to dampen the sectarian and ethnic sentiment that could be a flashpoint for trouble in Nigeria’s most closely fought poll since the end of military rule in 1999.

Buhari’s loss against Jonathan then caused parts of the north to erupt into violence in which more than 800 people were killed and 65,000 displaced.

How Africa’s largest economy and leading energy producer conducts this election will be closely watched by investors.

The last vote in 2011 was deemed Nigeria’s cleanest yet. The polls before it were marred by widespread ballot box stuffing, intimidation and sometimes completely falsified results. l

Two children place a candle as Pakistanis living in Bangladesh take part in a candle light vigil and offer prayers on the Pakistan High Commission premises in the capital yesterday in remembrance of the school children killed in the recent massacre by the Taliban at the Army Public School in Peshawar MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n BBC A new record has been set for the world’s deepest fish.

The bizarre-looking creature, which is new to science, was filmed 8,145m beneath the waves, beating the previous depth record by nearly 500m.

Several other new species of fish were also caught on camera, as well as huge crustaceans called supergiants.

The animals were discovered during an international expedition to the Mariana Trench, which lies almost 11km down in the Pacific Ocean.

The 30-day voyage took place from the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor, and is the most comprehensive survey of world’s deepest place ever undertaken.

The Hadal Ecosystem Studies (Hades) team deployed unmanned landers more than 90 times to depths that ranged between 5,000m and 10,600m. They studied both steep walls of the undersea canyon.

Dr Jeff Drazen, co-chief scientist from the University of Hawaii, US, said: “Many studies have rushed to the bottom of the trench, but from an ecological view that is very limiting.

“It’s like trying to understand a mountain ecosystem by only looking at its summit.”

The University of Aberdeen’s Hadal Lander - the UK’s deepest diving vehicle recorded more than 100 hours of deep-sea footage.

Until this expedition, the deepest fish had been found in the Japan Trench, also in the Pacific Ocean. A 17-strong shoal of pink, gelatinous snailfish (Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis) were recorded 7,700m down.

Dr Alan Jamieson, from Oceanlab at

the University of Aberdeen, said: “After we found these, we started seeing them in other deep trenches. Each trench has its own snailfish species.

“And we saw one in the Mariana Trench at more than 8,000m, and we think it’s a new species.”

The team thought they had broken the deepest-fish record, but then another pale pink species came to feed at the lander, which is loaded with bait, even further down at 8,145m.

Dr Jamieson said: “We think it is a snailfish, but it’s so weird-looking; it’s up in the air in terms of what it is.

“It is unbelievably fragile, and when it swims, it looks like it has wet tissue paper floating behind it.

“And it has a weird snout - it looks like a cartoon dog snout.”

Without catching the fish and bringing it back to the surface, the team is unable to confirm that it is a new species, but Dr Jamieson said it did not look like anything he’d seen before or knew of.

The new record-breaking creature is close to the depth-limit at which scientists believe fish can survive.

They researchers also captured another bizarre species - supergiants - on camera.

These creatures are a type of amphipod, which are normally around 2-3cm long. The super-sized version can reach up to 30cm.

Dr Jamieson said: “We’ve got more than 20 hours of footage of them, and we’re learning the way they swim, the way they feed and the way they fend off predators.

“They clamp down on the bait, and bore their head into it and put their spiky tail in the air like a thorn bush.

“Anything that goes for it gets stabbed in the nose.”

The dives made during the expedition were all conducted by unmanned vehicles, but humans have visited the world’s deepest place.

In 1960, US Navy Lt Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard made an incredibly risky journey to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in a bathyscaphe called the Trieste.

And in 2012, Hollywood director James Cameron made a solo descent to the seafloor in his sub called the Deepsea Challenger.

He described the place as a desolate, alien world. l

to the house, they found the bodies of the children inside, ranging in age from 18 months to 15 years.

Asnicar declined to say how the children died.

He said he didn’t believe there was a multiple murderer still at large and that police were talking to the woman.

Asked if she was a suspect, he said officials have not yet identified any suspects and were questioning everyone who had contact with the family in the past 2-3 days.

“As it stands at the moment, there’s no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it’s a tragic, tragic event,” Asnicar said. “The situation is well controlled at the moment. There shouldn’t be any concern

for anyone else out of this environment.”

Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the injured woman’s cousin, said one of the woman’s other sons, a 20-year-old, came home and found his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.

“I’m going to see him now, he needs comforting,” Thaiday said. “We’re a big family ... I just can’t believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies.”

The street has been cordoned off and a crime scene will remain in place for at least the next day, Asnicar said.

Dozens of police descended on the home, and crowds of locals stood outside the police barricades, some of them wiping away tears.

“These events are extremely distressing for everyone of course and

police officers aren’t immune from that – we’re human beings as well,” Ascinar said.

The tragedy comes as Australia is still reeling from the shock of a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe earlier this week.

On Monday, a gunman burst into a cafe in the heart of the city and took 18 people inside hostage. Two hostages were killed along with the gunman after police stormed in 16 hours later in a bid to end the siege.

“The news out of Cairns is heartbreaking,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement. “All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened. This is an unspeakable crime. These are trying days for our country.”

Gazprom fails to extract expected amount of gas at six fields n Aminur Rahman Rasel Russian state-owned gas exploration company Gazprom has failed to extract the expected amount of gas to be added to the national grid by drilling wells in different gas fields across the country.

The company was signed by Bangladesh government to drill 10 wells and extract around 300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of natural gas, but it only managed to extract around 149mmcfd, said sources at Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla).

Furthermore, the country has incurred a loss of around Tk200 crore due to faulty extraction procedure by Gazprom in two wells of Titas gas field, said an official at Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL).

Gazprom, which finished drilling the 10 wells on November 15, signed two drilling contracts – at an estimated cost of $193.55mn – with the government in April 2012, without tendering for them, under the Power and Energy Fast Supply Enhancement (Special Provision) Act, a Petrobangla director told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.

The aim of the deals was to ensure quick gas extraction in order to meet the nationwide demand for natural gas, which Gazprom failed to achieve as well.

It was supposed to finish drilling all 10 wells by the end of last year, but took an additional 11 months to complete the job, the Petrobangla director said.

Pricey procedure, unimpressive result

According to the agreement, four wells were to be drilled in Titas gas field under the BGCFL, one in Rashidpur gas field under Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), two in Shahbazpur, and one each in Semutang, Begumganj and Shrikail under Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex).

Bapex will pay $18.64m each for drilling each of the four gas wells in its gas fields, while the BGFCL and the SGFL will pay $20.06m for drilling each of the other six wells.

Gazprom’s drilling cost around Tk150 crore for each of the 10 wells, whereas Bapex could do the same for Tk 70-80 crore per well, sources said.

Several problems occurred during

the drilling phase of the gas wells.

Gazprom suspended drilling Well No 20 in Titas gas field as its rig got stuck between 2,200m and 2,350m below the surface. The drilling had to be resumed by sidetracking, which incurred an additional cost of Tk150 crore.

On the other hand, production at Well No 21 had to be suspended when fault was found after drilling and water filled up the well. Now Bapex will do the workover of the well at the cost of Tk45 crore. It has yet to be determined as to when the workover will start.

Production at Semutang well was also suspended recently due to the increase in water pressure. Resumption of production there is unlikely, sources said.

He also said: “The government is about to sign a deal with Chinese oil and gas company Sinopec Limted to extract gas from four other Titas wells, a project funded by the Asian Development Bank.

This will be an unnecessary move too.”

The Dhaka Tribune contacted Istiaque Ahmad, chairman of Petrobangla, in this regard, who said: “I have recently joined here, so I cannot say anything on this.”

However, a former managing director of Bapex, who sought anonymity, said there were several reasons behind Gazprom’s failure.

“Petrobanla was supposed to form a monitoring cell after the deals with Gazprom was signed. But it did not, and the drilling went without proper supervision,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Experts unhappy with govt move

“In addition, after the deals were signed, work started much later than was scheduled due to delay in rig mobilisation,” he said. “Gazprom sub-contracted a third party, a Russian company named Ariel Corporation – which was allowed in the agreement – but Gazprom itself did not monitor Ariel’s work either.

“Proper drilling technique was not followed, and the same goes for the remedial work, which is a big reason behind Gazprom’s failure in reaching the agreement target,” the former Bapex MD told the Dhaka Tribune.

Out of the 10 gas wells, the Titas 19, 20 and 22, Shrikail 3 and Rashid pur 8 gas wells are currently in production. Drilling in Begumganj 3, and Shahbazpur 3 and 4 is complete and production will take a few months to start as the pipelines are still under construction. Production at Titas 21 well is suspended. l

Ijaz Hossain, professor at Buet, expressed frustration over giving Gazprom the contracts, saying Bapex could do the job well.

“The work was easy because the wells in question were development wells, and there was no risk involved.

I do not understand why Gazprom was given this job when Bapex could do it,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

“It would be understandable if those were exploratory wells, as there would be certain risks. It would also be understandable if Gazprom was loaning us the extraction expense,” he said.

Another expert, Badrul Imam, teacher at Dhaka University’s geology department, told the Dhaka Tribune that contracting Gazprom for this job was unnecessary and the government must ensure this did not happen again.

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