24 jan, 2015

Magh 11, 1421 Rabius Sanni 3, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 289

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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AVENUE T

8 | ARTS & LETTERS

9 | HERITAGE

12 | SPORT

ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A BOSS

NEVER WRITE A LETTER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD

A HELL CRAMMED WITH GOOD THINGS

TIGERS FLY FOR AUSTRALIA TONIGHT

40 more burned in capital and north Dhaka sees worst arson attack since Rangpur incident with 30 people injured n Tribune Report In the latest spate of petrol bomb attacks by blockaders, some 40 people got burnt in the capital, Rajshahi and Bogra yesterday.

The worst since the Rangpur incident earlier this month, the arson attack in the capital saw 30 people receiving burn injuries as two pickets threw two petrol bombs on a bus packed with passengers at Jatrabari around 9:30pm.

In Rajshahi and Bogra, a bus and a truck came under similar attacks in which a dozen people received burn injuries.

Doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital said 29 of the burn patients, including two women, were admitted with 10-39% burn.

Dr Sazzad Khandoker at the hospital told the Dhaka Tribune that the condition of at least eight of the burn victims was critical while a few of the others might be released today.

Meanwhile, a child and a truck helper who had received burn injuries in previous attacks died at the DMCH yesterday.

Also an autorickshaw driver was run over by a burning truck in Sylhet yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday was the 18th day of the indefinite blockade imposed by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. More than 30 people died in the violence as of yesterday.

Arson at Jatrabari

A youth named Al Amin told the Dhaka Tribune at the DMCH that he had been at the gate of the Gausia-bound bus from Gulistan, clutching tight at the handle as the bus was over crowded.

He saw two youths throw two petrol bombs – one from the rear of the bus and another from its left side.

He said both the bombs shattered the window glasses and exploded inside the Glory Paribahan bus.

“The fire spread instantly and everyone was frantically trying to get out of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Five-year-old Farzana of Tanore was burnt severely yesterday as pickets threw a petrol bomb on the bus she was riding with her family. The photo was taken at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where she and other burn victims were taken after the attack AZAHAR UDDIN

Country awaiting catastrophic consequences n Abu Hayat Mahmud People of the country are now stuck between a rock and a hard place as both Awami League and BNP have adopted a hard line on defusing the major political crisis prevailing over the past 19 days.

The Awami League-led coalition government believes it has reached a boiling point from where no reversal is possible while BNP thinks this time it is a do-or-die battle for it.

The government is contemplating strict legal action against BNP-Jamaat

men involved in subversive acts that have so far claimed at least 30 lives.

A minister of the ruling party in return for anonymity said as the blockade continued to take its toll on general people it left the government with no option but to go tough.

“If the government goes soft in such a situation the BNP-Jamaat alliance will take it as a retreat.”

In the BNP camp, several standing committee members requested their Chief Khaleda Zia to announce alternative programmes but she adamantly

denied their suggestion, said a number of insiders.

Khaleda Zia told them: “This is a final chance; it is now or never; it is a door-die battle,” they said.

Meanwhile, the joint forces, police, RAB and BGB have already launched crackdown on BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists across the country.

Law enforcers have arrested several central leaders of the 20-party alliance including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on charge of masterminding sabotage.

Police exhausted from blockade duty n Mohammad Jamil Khan Dabiruddin Ahmed, a sub-inspector at Kalabagan police station, has had difficult weeks this month, being constantly on alert during the ongoing blockade by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

When this correspondent approached Dabir and his five-member

police team near Kalabagan around 5pm yesterday, they all looked beaten down with exhaustion.

“We have been on non-stop duty since the blockade began. We have not been able to rest for longer than a few minutes,” he told this reporter when he identified himself and asked about their weary state.

“There was one time during the past 18 days when I was on duty for six days straight – without any break,” he said.

“When I felt too sleepy or could not carry on due to being tired, I just got into the car and rested for a couple of hours – that is it.”

It is not only Dabir who is sleepless; his family is suffering along with him.

With the blockade entering into its 18th day amid rampant violence and anarchy, the police men are growing exhausted due to extra duty hours. The photo was taken from in front of the Jatiya Press Club yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

“The job of a police member is always a challenging one, but in recent days, it has been especially trying. Besides being on constant vigilance for long periods of time, I spent the time fearing sudden attacks of petrol bombs and such,” Dabir said.

“My family cannot sleep at night either; whenever I am on duty at night, they stay up with their eyes glued to the TV, looking for news reporting attacks on police, anxious for my safety.”

Dabir’s situation is what the members of Bangladesh Police have been facing since the beginning of the blockade.

The OCs, sub-inspectors and constables of the country’s police stations have been on duty round the clock, while the members of the reserve force have been on duty for 12 to 18 hours every day.

Sources said getting food and other commodities have been difficult for the force during this round-the-clock duty; the possibility of an attack at any moment is an added worry. Even worse is the fact that there will be no overtime payment for this additional duty.

Nearly 25,000 police personnels have been on duty in Dhaka district since the blockade began. To strengthen the force, additional police were recently brought in to the district from the parts of the country where picketing and other attacks are reportedly less violent.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

The Awami League high command believes the BNP-Jamaat-led movement will end once its leaders are arrested to face trials like that of 2013.

In 2013, the BNP-led 20-party’s most of the top-level leaders including district and upazila level ones were sent to jail on charge of unleashing violence and sabotage before the movement died down.

An Awami League presidium member said: “At first we had a plan to hold talks with BNP and other political  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

‘Arrest of Khaleda will see government’s political funeral’ n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Issuing a note of warning BNP yesterday said the government would see its “political funeral” done once it arrested party Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “The government elected in a voter-less election believes that 20-party’s movement would end if Begum Khaleda Zia was arrested, Ruhul Kabir Riavi, joint secretary general of the party, said at a press release.

But they have forgotten that BNP activists are moving ahead with the blockade programme even after socalled gunfight and crossfire, he said.

“Arrest of Begum Zia will lead to the political funeral of the incumbent illegal government,” he warned.

The release signed by BNP Assistant Office Secretary Abdul Latif Jony, said: “The whole state has been politicised and in such a system legal procedure – from arrest to judgment – means ‘implementation of prime minister’s order’.”

But Awami League should not forget that people of Bangladesh are the judges and they are the owner of the country, Rizvi said.

The BNP leader alleged that the “illegal government” has done everything possible to destroy the BNP since it assumed office.

Awami League’s publicly declared programme is to “abduct” BNP leaders and activists and then “kill” them, he alleged.

Awami League is going to restore Baksal and that’s why its is plotting to arrest Khaleda Zia and asked the media to publish only the government’s messages.

Rizvi alleged that the parliament had turned into a second office or a club of the grand-alliance government where its leaders are engaged in a competition to hurl abusive words at Zia family.

Top officials of the government are asking police to shoot in the chest and detective police are killing opposition leaders and activists in the name of “gunfight” story with the state minister hailing the action of law enforcers. l

Saudi King Abdullah dies, Salman takes throne n Tribune Desk The king of Saudi Arabia died early yesterday leaving his country and much of the world at risk from the politics based on religious sentiment that his kingdom has long patronised and financed.

He has been laid to rest in an unmarked grave in the al-Ud public cemetery in Riyadh.

Abdullah, believed to have been born in 1924, ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2005 The late King Abdullah has been succeeded by his brother Salman, the royal court in the world’s top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam said in an official statement.

Oil prices jumped in an immediate reaction as news of Abdullah’s death added to uncertainty in energy markets.

King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin crown prince and heir, rapidly moving to forestall any

fears of a succession crisis at a moment when Saudi Arabia faces unprecedented turmoil on its borders.

The rise of Islamic State (IS) in wartorn Syria and Iraq has brought to the kingdom’s frontiers a militant group that vows to bring down the al-Saud dynasty.

In Yemen, the Iran-allied Shi’ite Houthis have all but seized power and plunged the country into the brink of total chaos, opening a space for al-Qaeda to operate. The extremist group waged an insurgency in Saudi Arabia from 2003-06 and nearly killed a top prince in 2009.

The problems in all those countries are being played out against an overarching backdrop of bitter rivalry between Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and arch regional foe Shi’ite Iran, and bumps in Riyadh’s key relationship with the United States.

Salman must navigate a white-hot rivalry with Shi’ite Muslim power Iran playing out in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Bahrain, open conflict in two neighbouring states, a threat from Islamist militants and bumpy relations with the United States.

Salman takes over as the ultimate authority in a country that faces longterm domestic challenges compounded  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE 2 | News

The president and the prime minister yesterday called upon all to be inspired with the spirits of the mass upsurge of 1969 and the Liberation War to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

3 | News

After spending nearly eight years abroad, Abdur Rahim returned to Bangladesh to raise his children and was about to start his own business. But his dreams will remain unachieved as Rahim will not be there to pursue them.

4 | News

Calling for steps to cut greenhouse gas emission, environmentalists yesterday demanded the developed nations provide compensation instead of aid to the least developed countries.

6 | Nation

As soon as the primary, lower-middle and middle schools and madrasahs opened up for the new academic year, publishers in Bagerhat jumped into competition to sell banned guidebooks.

7 | World

Thai authorities dealt a double blow to ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her family, banning her from politics for five years and proceeding with criminal charges.

11 | Op-Ed

The blockade of Dhaka has entered its third week, and it seems the blockade will be indefinite, or at least until the government bows down to the opposition’s demands.

15 | Entertainment

Model-turned-actor Sonia Hossain is working on two single-episode TV plays titled ‘Shopnoghuri’ and ‘Chaad Bamoner Golpo,’ both Valentine’s Day specials.

01_FR 02_Ne 16_BA

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

President, PM call to build prosperous Bangladesh n BSS President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon all to be inspired with the spirits of the mass upsurge of 1969 and the Liberation War to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

They made the call in separate statements marking the historic Mass Upsurge Day and expressed profound respect for those who had embraced martyrdom in the historic movement in 1969.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said January 24 of 1969 will remain memorable as the day of historic mass upsurge in the history of Bangladesh’s democratic advancement.

Following the path of this mass upsurge, the independence and democratic rights of the people were earned in exchange for huge sacrifices, he added.

“We all would have to work with unity to uphold this independence and democracy,” the president said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all, irrespective of party affiliations, to work together for building a happy, modern, democratic and peaceful country free from hunger and poverty.

“We are working tirelessly to bring smiles on the faces of all, ending exploitation, deception and discrimination,” she said Sheikh Hasina said the mass upsurge of 1969 is a significant milestone in the history of the country’s independence.

The nation achieved independence following the language movement of 1952, six-point demand, 11-point demand, mass upsurge of 1969 and the bloody war of liberation, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said the greatest Bangali

of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared the six-point demand in 1966 to liberate the nation from the exploitation of the Pakistani rulers.

To foil the movement, the Pakistani rulers had filed the Agartala conspiracy case and arrested Bangabandhu.

The struggling people brought out a procession on this day (January 24) in 1969 defying repression and curfew imposed by the rulers, she said and added that Matiur Rahman, a class IX student, had died as police opened fire on the procession.

Then the mass upsurge compelled the autocratic Ayub regime to release Bangabandhu and others from jail. Autocrat Ayub had to step down, the prime minister recalled and said the 1969 mass upsurge still inspires all to fight against misrule and exploitation. l

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Bangladesh to mourn Saudi King’s death today n UNB The government has declared a national mourning for today to pay respects to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who died yesterday.

The national flag will fly at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad, according to a handout issued yesterday.

Special prayers will be offered at all mosques and worship places for the salvation of the departed soul of the late Saudi King.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid will leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia today morning to offer the state condolences and attend the funeral of Abdullah.

Abdullah died around 1am (local time) yesterday at the age of 90, the royal court of Saudi Arabia said in a statement. l

Political crisis to be over soon, hopes Rawshan n UNB

Leader of the opposition in parliament Rawshan Ershad yesterday hoped that the current political problem will be resolved very soon as they do politics for the welfare of people.

“We hope this problem will be resolved within a short time. The current situation can’t continue,” she said while

talking to reporters after visiting the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A healthy democratic atmosphere should prevail in a democratic country, she said adding, “The current problem will be over very soon as we do politics for the welfare of people and protecting their interests.”

Rawshan said violence, acts of sabotage and killing people through firing

cannot be a political programme of a political party.

Calling upon 20-party not to make people their political opponents, the opposition leader suggested it to shun violence and acts of sabotage while observing its programmes.

Opposition chief whip Tajul Islam and former Jatiya Party secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader accompa-

nied Rawshan during her DMCH visit.

She went to the DMCH burn unit around 11am as a good number of victims of fire and bomb blasts during the ongoing blockade programme are undergoing treatment there.

Rawshan stayed there for nearly 35 minutes and talked to the victims and their family members, and consoled them. l

were injured when petrol bombs were hurled at the truck at Tin Matha intersection last night, said Superintendent of Police Md Mozammel Haque.

Masud Rana, 40, and helper Jahangir Alam, 35, were admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.

In Sylhet, a moving truck rammed an autorickshaw when a petrol bomb was hurled at it in Dakkhin Surma area, killing autorickshaw driver Shahjahan Uddin, 30, in the afternoon. The trucker and his helper were also injured, reports our correspondent in the city.

Officer-in-Charge of Dakkhin Surma police station Khairul Fazal said the trucker lost control when the vehicle caught fire and hit the autorickshaw coming from the opposite side. Locals demonstrated protesting the incident.

Meanwhile, in Bhairab Bazar of Sylhet, a truck helper named Sajiuddin Saju, 50, sustained injuries as blockaders hurled petrol bombs at the truck on its way to Dhaka under police protection on Thursday.

He was admitted to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, said Sreemangal police station Sub-Inspector Jalal Uddin.

A petrol bomb was thrown inside the Chhatra League’s office at Salanga thana in Sirajganj in the morning.

In Feni’s Old Police Quarter area, miscreants set ablaze a covered van and a CNG-run autorickshaw around

1pm but none was injured.

In Noakhali, blockaders vandalised at least 10 vehicles at Senbagh in the afternoon. Police later arrested two Chhatra Shibir activists along with petrol bombs and crude bombs.

At Comilla district bus stop, blockaders torched two buses owned by a local BNP leader early in the morning.

Around 8am in Habiganj, at least five crude bombs were blasted in front of residences of four policemen – ASPs Sazzadul Hasan, Sazzad Ibne Roy, Masudur Rahman Monir and SP Shahidul Islam.

Police, however, could not arrest anyone.

In Narayanganj, police detained Abu Sayeed, 30, and Haiyun Mia, 28, from a bus who were carrying gunpowder.

Feni police detained Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer of the district unit Abdul Hannan and 18 others for their alleged involvement in recent arson attacks.

In Bogra, the BNP called a 48-hour general strike which came into force today.

The blockade, however, did not disrupt traffic on roads in the capital yesterday, which was also a weekly holiday.

The number of inter-district buses leaving Dhaka was higher compared to the previous days while launch services also remained usual. But trains failed to keep schedules.

Blockaders set fire to a human haulier in Kunapara in the morning and a bus in Jatrabari at noon. l

40 more burned in capital and north  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

the burning vehicle,” he said, adding that he had two relatives on the bus.

Al Amin came to the hospital to look for one of his relatives who had been missing since the incident that took place around 9:30pm.

Dr Sazzad Khandaker said the eight burn victims whose condition was critical needed to be treated at the Intensive Care Unit, but it was already full of patients.

He said 30 burn victims from the arson attack had been admitted and one with very minor injuries was released after treatment.

He said they had not received so many burn victims at one go before.

He said they were struggling to maintain treatment for everyone because of the large number of patients, many of whom sustained serious burn injuries.

He said a team of five doctors had been looking after the treatment.

Jatrabari police station Officer-inCharge Abani Shankar said the attack was made near the Molla bridge and the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The Border Guard Bangladesh identified the 29 burn victims as Afroza, Mosharraf, Momen, Salauddin, Shahida, Yasmin, Rashed, Salman, Nazmul, Takdir, Sharif Khan, Salauddin, Palash, Khokon, Ishtiaq, Joynal Abedin, Arif, Nure-e-Alam, Sumon,

Rubel, Farukh, Abul Hossain, Jabed, Mojaffar, Shahjahan, Al-Amin, Jamir Ali, Abdul Mannan, and Shahidul Islam.

Rajshahi

Nine people, including women and children, sustained injuries when petrol bombs were hurled at a bus of Yarabbi Paribahan in front of the Brac office in Rajshahi’s Tanore upazila around 7:30pm.

Eight of them could be identified as Makbul hossain, 45, his wife Anwara, 40, Nazma, 35, Farzana, 5, Julekha, 30, Ashraf, 37, Asiya, 7, and Ainuddin, 35.

They all were rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Tanore police station Officer-inCharge Anwar Hossain said Shibir activists who had been lurking in the area made the attack, and the bus was completely destroyed.

In another incident in Rajshahi’s Paba upazila, two Shibir workers – Moshiur Rahman and Abdul Awal – got on a bus of Imon Paribahan which was heading towards Rajshahi from Tanore.

Using gunpowder, they attempted to make an arson attack inside the bus around 8pm but passengers hurriedly got down. Locals later captured the two and gave them a mass beating.

Paba police station Officer-in-Charge Motiar Rahman said the two would be questioned after treatment.

In Bogra, a trucker and the helper

Police exhausted from blockade duty  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

This correspondent found two buses full of police members arriving at the capital on January 16, coming from Gopalganj police line. One of those officials, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were brought in to strengthen the force on duty in the capital, adding that police members from Faridpur police line have been called in to the capital as well.

A number of inspectors and OCs of different police stations in Dhaka told the Dhaka Tribune that they have been on constant high alert since the blockade began.

Rafiqul Islam, OC at Gulshan police station, said: “Due to the work, I have not been able to sleep at home at night.

Most of the time, I have to make do with taking short naps at the station.” <SUBHEADER> Double work, no reward The blockade duty is an addition to the regular duties police have to carry out every day, such as investigation of pending cases, arrests, producing criminals before court, etc. But there has been no announcement of overtime pay, the police officials claimed.

On the other hand, the intelligence agencies have not been much help, unlike the time in 2013, said an insider in police.

“The political situation was volatile in 2013 too, before the 10th parliamentary elections, but then the intelligence agencies helped with providing information about potential violent incidents and other situations, which is not happening now,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

He mentioned the incidents of crude bombs and firearms being found recently inside the High court premises, and said the intelligence agencies did not provide any information in those regards either.

GG Biswas, OC at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, said: “We are working round the clock during this political unrest because in case of any incident, the OCs of the police stations are responsible for leading their teams to tackle the situation.

“We also lack sufficient resources; we do not have enough vehicles for patrolling, which is why we have to get vehicles from outside to patrol the streets,” he added.

Anisur Rahman, a constable from Rajarbagh police line who is on duty at Jatrabari area, said he has to go to his station to start his duty around 4:30am, and he does not get off duty before 10pm to get back to his barrack in Rajarbagh.

“During the night shift, I start at 5pm, and do not get off until around 9am the next day. It has been the same for the past 18 days,” he said.

Habil, another constable who is stationed at Moghbazar area, said: “I have been spending the days and nights on foot. Every day, I tell my family that I would go home the next day, but then I have to postpone it for work every day.”

Nusrat, a female constable who is

on duty at Dainik Bangla intersection in Motijheel, said: “Being on duty for long hours, we can hardly go for bathroom breaks. When we can, finding a bathroom is rather difficult. Then there is the problem of not being able to get decent food.”

However, Sohel Ahmed, assistant commissioner (force) at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said the police members were not being put on duty for unreasonable stretch of time.

“We are maintaining a schedule of duty shifts – mainly morning-evening shift and evening-morning shift. No police official is assigned to be on duty beyond one shift, and when a situation arises, we send additional police as necessary,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Asaduzzaman Miah, the newly-appointed DMP commissioner, said: “We are a trained and specialised force, so why are they getting tired while performing their duties? If the state demands, then we will perform our duties continuously over months, years and, if needed, over decades, as we love our country and it is our duty to provide security to our citizens.” l

Country awaiting  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

parties excepting Jamaat-e-Islami before the 11th national election in 2019, if they want. But now the government is thinking otherwise.”

“The government has decided to go tough on tackling BNP-Jamaat anarchy the way it was done in 2013,” he added.

His view was later echoed in the remarks of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it would be logical to arrest BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as the key accused on charge of aiding and abetting those who have so far killed around 30 people in the name of blockade.

“And law will take its own course,” swer session at the parliament on Wednesday.

However, the PM said, the situation had improved a lot since the national election on January 5 in 2014.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the Dhaka Tribune that the government had been forced to go tough to save lives of general people.

“The government has endured a lot but they are attacking with petrol bombs and killing innocent people every day. We have a limit to tolerance.”

The political tension between the Awami League-led government and BNP-led 20-party alliance re-surfaced on January 05, 2015, the first anniversary of the 10 parliamentary polls which the BNP boycotted.

After BNP chief Khaleda Zia was confined to her Gulshan party office on January 3 the party declared a non-stop nationwide blockade on January 5. l

Saudi King Abdullah dies, Salman takes throne  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

by the plunging price of oil in recent months and the rise of the IS militant group in Iraq and Syria, which vows to topple his family’s rule in Saudi Arabia.

Oil prices have more than halved since June, leaving the kingdom likely to face its first budget deficit since 2009 and navigating difficulties with other OPEC members that disagree with its strategy not to defend prices.

Prince regent, King regnant, cautious reformer

“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning,” said a statement carried by Saudi state television.

Abdullah, said by the Saudi embassy in Washington to have been born in 1924, had ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2005, but had run the country as de facto regent for a decade before that after his predecessor King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke.

Many Saudis, in a country with a young population, will be unable to recall a time before King Abdullah’s rule, both as monarch from 2005 and as de facto regent for a decade before that.

His legacy was an effort to overhaul the kingdom’s economic and social systems to address a looming demographic crisis by creating private sector jobs and making young Saudis better prepared to take them.

Abdullah pushed cautious changes in the conservative Islamic kingdom including increased women’s rights and economic deregulation, but made no moves towards democracy.

At stake with the appointment of

Salman as king is the future direction of the United States’ most important Arab ally and self-appointed champion of Sunni Islam, which has played a pivotal role in the messy aftermath of the Arab spring.

Abdullah played a guiding role in Saudi Arabia’s support for Egypt’s government after the military intervened in 2012, and drove his country’s support for Syria’s rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

However, Abdullah’s reforms did not stretch to politics, and after the Arab Spring his security forces clamped down on all forms of dissent, imprisoning outspoken critics of the ruling family as well as women drivers and Islamist militants.

As the Saudi population grows and oil prices fall globally, the al-Saud will increasingly struggle to maintain its generous spending on social benefits for ordinary people, potentially undermining its future legitimacy in a country where there are no elections, analysts say.

US President Barack Obama said in a statement: “As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions.

“One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.”

Former US president George HW Bush who sent an American army to Saudi Arabia to help repel Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1990-91, in a statement described Abdullah as: “a wise and reliable ally, helping our nations build on a strategic relationship.”

In contrast, radical Sunni Islamist militants who want the kingdom’s destruction rejoiced on Twitter and on

hard line online forums, with some praying that God make the death of a man they see as a “tyrant” the beginning of the end for Saudi Arabia.

King Salman takes throne

King Salman, thought to be 79, has been part of the ruling clique of princes for decades and is thought likely to continue the main thrusts of Saudi strategic policy, including maintaining the alliance with the United States and working towards energy market stability.

During his five decades as Riyadh governor he was reputedly adept at managing the delicate balance of clerical, tribal and princely interests that determine Saudi policy, while maintaining good relations with the West.

“I think he will continue with Abdullah’s reforms. He realizes the importance of this. He’s not conservative in person, but he values the opinion of the conservative constituency of the country,” said Jamal Khashoggi, head of a news channel owned by a Saudi prince.

“King Abdullah was willing to challenge the conservatives, but not to crush them. Salman respected the status quo. He wanted reform but was very much connected to the tribal mentality, the conservative nature of his constituency,” he added.

Crown Prince Muqrin was placed firmly in the line of succession by Abdullah a year ago after serving as the kingdom’s intelligence chief and later an adviser to the king on foreign and security policy.

He promised to continue Abdullah’s reforms, but has also demonstrated a populist edge by demanding banks serve the interests of Saudi citizens more fairly.

In the long term Saudi rulers have to

manage the needs of a rapidly growing population plagued by structural unemployment, and an economy that remains overly dependent on oil revenue and undermined by lavish subsidies.

Saudi Arabia, which holds more than a fifth of the world’s crude oil, also exerts some influence over the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims through its guardianship of Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holiest sites.

Incoming kings have traditionally chosen to appoint new ministers to head top ministries like oil and finance.

In a country where the big ministries are dominated by royals, successive kings have kept the oil portfolio reserved for commoners and insisted on maintaining substantial spare output capacity to help reduce market volatility.

Succession and security

Saudi King Salman pledged yesterday to maintain existing energy and foreign policies and quickly moved to appoint younger men as his heirs, settling the succession for years to come by naming a deputy crown prince from his dynasty’s next generation.

By appointing his youngest half-brother Muqrin, 69, as Crown Prince and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as Deputy Crown Prince, Salman has swiftly quelled speculation about internal palace rifts at a moment of great regional turmoil.

In his first speech as king, shown live on Saudi television, Salman pledged to maintain the same approach to ruling the world’s top oil exporter and birthplace of Islam as his predecessors and called for unity among Arab states.

“We will continue, God willing, to hold the straight course that this country has followed since its establishment

by the late King Abdulaziz,” he said.

Mohammed bin Nayef becomes the first grandson of the kingdom’s founding monarch, King Abdulaziz, known as Ibn Saud, to take an established place in the line of succession.

All Saudi kings since Abdulaziz’s death in 1953 have been his sons and the move into the next generation had raised the prospect of a palace power struggle.

King Salman also appointed his own son, Mohammed bin Salman, Defense Minister and head of the royal court.

Reputedly pragmatic and adept at managing the delicate balance of clerical, tribal, royal and Western interests that factor into Saudi policy making, Salman appears unlikely to change the kingdom’s approach to foreign affairs or energy sales.

Despite rumors about Salman’s health and strength, diplomats who have attended meetings between the new king and foreign leaders over the past year have said he has been fully engaged in talks lasting several hours at a time.

King Salman has previously spoken against the idea of introducing democracy in Saudi Arabia in comments to American diplomats recorded in embassy cables later released by WikiLeaks.

Unmarked grave

In keeping with Muslim traditions, Abdullah’s body, clothed in white and shrouded in a simple cloth, was carried on an ambulance stretcher by relatives to rest in the mosque before being borne to the cemetery and buried in an unmarked grave yesterday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif joined members of the al-

Saud family and Gulf leaders, including Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, the Emir of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, for the funeral prayer at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh.

King Abdullah, one of the richest men in the history of the world, was carried in a simple white shroud to an unmarked grave in al-Ud cemetery in Riyadh where many of his commoner subjects rest, in keeping with traditions.

Following the evening prayer, King Salman and Crown Prince Muqrin are expected to receive pledges of allegiance from other ruling family members, Wahhabi clerics, tribal chiefs, leading businessmen and other Saudi subjects.

Non-Muslim dignitaries will visit to pay respects to the new monarch and crown prince, and other members of the al-Saud dynasty, in the coming days.

Prince Charles will fly to Saudi Arabia today to pay his respects to the late King Abdullah, Clarence House has confirmed in a statement.

“The Prince of Wales, representing Her Majesty The Queen, will travel to Saudi Arabia to pay his condolences following the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HM King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” it said.

In the kingdom’s strict Wahhabi sect of Sunni Islam, ostentatious displays of grief are frowned upon: after previous deaths of Saudi monarchs and other top royals, there was no official period of mourning and flags were at full mast.

Despite a surge of sorrowful messages from Saudis on social media, that religious constraint on public commemorations meant there were no signs in Riyadh’s streets yesterday that the

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Two more arson victims lose their battle n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Quamrul: Amnesty International is a BNP-paid organisation n Tribune Report

After spending nearly eight years abroad, Abdur Rahim returned to his motherland with the dream to raise his children – to educate them and bring them up “properly” – and was about to start his own business. But his dreams will remain unachieved as Rahim will not be there to pursue them.

The 30-year-old yesterday succumbed to his burn injuries he had received in a petrol bomb attack by pickets supporting the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s blockade and hartal. He had been undergoing treatment at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Besides Rahim, a 12-year-old boy named Zakir Hossain also died yesterday from burn injuries he had received in a similar attack. The boy’s injuries were so severe – with 70% of his body burnt – that he was only able to tell his name when he was brought to the hospital.

Zakir’s body was kept at the medical college morgue after a post mortem examination, but his family members were perhaps yet to learn about the tragedy as there was none at the hospital yesterday to receive the body.

Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon at the DMCH burn institute, told the Dhaka Tribune that Rahim, who had suffered 39% burn, succumbed to his injuries around 10:30am. Zakir died around 1:30am.

Rahim was from Sreerampur of Satkhira. He used to live with his family – wife Marzina Khatun, son Sanjid Ahmed Somrat, 14, and daughter Sumaiya Khatun, 8, in his native village.

Somrat is a student of class V while Sumaiya reads in class III at a local school.

Rahim lived in Malaysia for nearly eight years and came back to Bangladesh last year.

After repaying the money he had borrowed before going to Malaysia, he returned to start a business of agricultural commodity.

Ramzan Ali, brother of Rahim, said

Rahim had gone to Bogra on a business purpose on Thursday and was on his way back home by a truck as usual transport was not available. Saju Khalifa, 30, a friend of Ramzan and a furniture businessman, was with Rahim on the truck.

Pickets threw a petrol bomb on the truck when it reached near Mohasthangarh of Bogra around 8pm, leaving the truck driver and two others injured critically, said Ramzan. They were admitted to DMCH around 4am yesterday.

Saju also suffered 20% burns in the attack while Rahim’s respiratory organs were badly damaged. The injured truck driver named Piton is undergoing treat-

Obaidul: Violence and sabotage cannot be language of politics

Three die as trawler capsizes Shahjahan: Blockade the country, in Shitalakkhya we will confine you

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said violence and sabotage could not be the language of politics, referring to the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance’s non-stop blockade that has claimed dozens of lives so far across the country.

“Violence and sabotage cannot be politics because they hinder the country’s development. Whoever commits such acts will be boycotted by people,” he told reporters while visiting a bridge over the Madhumati River in Gopalganj’s Tungipara.

“No government stays in power for ever and so whoever comes to power next will have to work from as much as the country goes backwards,” Obaidul said.

The senior ruling Awami League leader offered prayers at the graveyard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and pais his homage to the father of the nation. l

Three people died as a trawler capsized in the Shitalakkhya River after it collided with another trawler in Trimohoni area under Sreepur upazila, Gazipur yesterday.

Of the deceased, two were identified as Sabekun Nahar, eight-month-old daughter of Ashraf Uddin Sheikh, and Asma Begum, 32, wife of Abdul Khaleq, a resident of Sutartapur village in Mymensingh.

Member of Kawrait union parishad’s ward 9 Jashim Uddin Mir told the Dhaka Tribune that a Trimohomi-bound trawler collided head on with a Bormibound trawler around 12:30pm. After the collision, the Bormi-bound trawler

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:39PM SUN RISES 6:42AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 27 27 25 23 29 27 28 27

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

17 16 12 10 12 16 11 18

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

28.0ºC Sitakunda

8.5ºC Chuadanga

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:23am 6:41am 12:11am 4:03pm 5:40pm 6:59pm

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

One of the 30 victims in last night’s petrol bomb attack on a passenger bus in the capital’s Jatrabari area, severely wounded with burns on his face, arms and chest ment at Bogra Medical College Hospital.

Ramzan said: “If small businessmen like us cannot work and have to stay at home, how will our families survive?

My sister-in-law has not been talking to anyone since she heard about the accident. I cannot imagine what fate has her and their two children!”

The other victim, Zakir was going to Savar by a passenger bus from Baipail when the bus came under a petrol bomb attack near the Kachirpur bus stand on January 13 around 8pm. Ten passengers of the bus received burn injuries and Zakir’s condition was very critical with 70% burn, said Deepok Kumar Saha, inspector (investigation) of

capsized instantly with about 50 passengers.

Although many passengers managed to swim ashore, but many people went missing.

Local people alleged that despite being informed, fire fighters and police personnel could not reach the spot till 2:30pm.

Conducting rescue operation, local people salvaged the trawler and recovered three bodies.

The UP member said relatives of the deceased had taken away the bodies to their respective houses.

Mother of Sabekun Nahar who survived from the accident said they were going to Bormi Bazar for check up of the kid. l

Savar police station.

Zakir was first admitted to Savar Gonosastho Nagar Hospital but as his condition deteriorated he was shifted to the DMCH burn institute around 10pm on Thursday. The boy died around 1am.

At the time of admission, the boy could only say his name and nothing else.

Inspector Deepok said: “We suspect that he was a street child as no one has so far come to the hospital looking for him in the past 10 days when he was undergoing treatment.”

Delowar Hossain, sub-inspector of Shahabagh police station, conducted the inquest report of Zakir while Dr Prodeep Biswas of Dhaka Medical Col-

n Abu Hayat Mahmud Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday threatened to confine Khaleda Zia if the BNP chairperson failed to withdraw the countrywide indefinite blockade within January 30.

Addressing a rally in front of the capital’s National Press Club, the Awami League leader also urged the BNP chief to stop killing innocent people including women, children and labourers who lived a hand-to-mouth existence.

“If you [Khaleda] do not stop terrorising in the name of a blockade programme, the country’s people will encircle you after January 30,” the minister said.

He also urged Khaleda, who an-

RAJIB DHAR

lege’s forensic department conducted the autopsy. A DNA sample of the boy has been preserved.

With the death of Rahim and Zakir, a total of 15 people have died so far from burn injuries received in petrol bomb attacks across the country during the past 18 days of the BNP-led alliance’s indefinite blockade.

Three more had died earlier at the burn institute while around 45 people have been receiving treatment there.

In reply to a question, Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon of the burn institute, said three of the burn victims were kept at the Intensive Care Unit as their condition was critical. l

nounced the 20-party alliance’s nonstop blockade on January 5, to visit the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to see the sufferings of innocent victims of BNP-Jamaat’s petrol bomb attacks.

Also addressing the event, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) lawmaker Shirin Akhter said: “Khaleda Zia is trying to lay siege against not only the workers, but all the people by enforcing her terror in the name of blockade.

The Sramik-Karmachari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Samannoy Parishad, a new platform to resist anarchy and violence of BNP-Jamaat, organised yesterday’s rally to also place a 10-point demand. The platform is also scheduled to stage a rally at the Suhrawardy

Taking a swipe at Amnesty International for “accusing the government of violating human rights”, Food Minister Quamrul Islam yesterday termed it a “BNP-paid organisation” as it what he claimed speaks in BNP’s tone.

“They’re criticising the government, accusing it of violating human rights.

But they don’t notice BNP’s terrorist acts of killing people by torching vehicles and hurling petrol bombs. They don’t consider these activities as violation of human rights. They’re a paid organisation of BNP,” he was quoted in a UNB report.

In the wake of a minister saying on Wednesday that the government plans to shoot blockade-enforcing arsonists and saboteurs “on sight” as part of its hard line strategy against such miscreants, the Amnesty International on Thursday urged the government to ensure that law enforcers do not use excessive or unnecessary force.

The crisis what was going on in the country could have been solved politically if it had been political, “[But] what is going on today is not a political crisis. This is our fight against terrorism,” said Quamrul, also joint general secretary of Awami League’s Dhaka city unit, adding that terrorism and killing deserve stern actions.

While addressing a discussion, organised by Bangladesh Islami United Party, at Dhaka Reporters Unity, he also alleged that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was carrying out terrorist activities in a planned way to make Bangladesh a failed state as per instructions of its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman.

The minister urged all conscious and pro-liberation BNP leaders and activists to show disloyalty to the party chief’s ‘terrorist leadership’ as she what he claimed was leading the party to destruction by giving orders of terrorist acts. l

Udyan on January 30.

On Thursday, pro-Awami League labour organisations tried to lay siege to Khaleda Zia’s political office in Gulshan; but their attempt was foiled by the police. They later staged a sit-in at the Gulshan 2 intersection and threatened to go on a hunger strike unless the blockade was lifted. The BNP-led 20-party alliance has been enforcing nationwide non-stop roads and waterways blockade since January 6.

During the 18 days of blockade, violence by pickets has killed over 30 people – many of them women and children. Petrol bomb attacks and vandalism have also damaged hundreds of vehicles including those belonging to law enforcers. l

Hindi film release sees more protests South Asian transport

secretaries to meet in Feb

n Nure Alam Durjoy

The silver screen stars, directors, producers, crews and their fans yesterday demonstrated in front of some cinemas in the capital against the screening of Hindi films.

As part of their on going protest, they chanted slogans against releasing Hindi-language films and torn down the banners and posters of a Bollywood film to show their grievances.

Yesterday, Salman Khan starring ‘Wanted’ was released in more than 45 cinemas across the country, sources said.

According to a per-announced programme, the demonstrators staged agitation in front of four cinemas from yesterday morning until afternoon.

Posters of ‘Wanted’ at Shyamoli, Ananda and Purnima cinemas were torn down at the time.

At around 4.20pm, three pick-up vans with the members of Bangladesh Cholochitro Oikkyajot pulled up in front of the Madhumoti cinema hall and chanted slogans against the decision of showing Hindi films.

The protesters raised their shoes to the distributors and owners who were observing the agitation below standing on the 2nd floor of the building.

Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, secretary general of the association, took up a loudspeaker and said: “We will not let it go that easily. We have to win this somehow.’

“Those who are trying to import the films should leave the country. They don’t like our language and culture,” director Shohanur Rahman Shohan said while he was addressing the demonstrators.

n Abu Bakar Siddique

Protesting the screening of Hindi films, people tear down the poster of Bollywood movie ‘Wanted,’ which got released in the country yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN Noted actors Sakib Khan and Misha Soudagor were present, among others, at the demonstration.

During a visit to the city’s cinemas yesterday, a very thin crowd was seen interested to watch ‘Wanted’.

Azizur Rahman, who was trying to sell tickets yesterday afternoon in front of the hall, said: “Wanted is an old film.

People have watched it already. That’s why there are less spectators.”

“Bangladeshi films don’t do good business. Our big star Sakib Khan’s films do not last one day in the cinemas nowadays,” he added.

Arman and Sagir, printing workers, said though they had already seen it, they had still come to watch the film as there was nothing better to do.

Saiful Islam Choudhury, the new president of the Bangladesh Film Ex-

hibitors’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the protesters were thinking about their livelihood only, not about the film industry.

“The cinema halls have been closing down one by one and last year at least 15 cinemas were shut down because of sub-standard productions and indecent films.”

Saiful Islam further added that if the cinemas were closed down the film industry would not survive.

Iftekhar Uddin Naushad, the owner of the In Win Enterprise, said: “It is baseless that our industry will decay by importing Hindi films. It is obviously positive but we have to broaden our mindsets.”.

Three more films ‘Don 2’, ‘Three Idiots’, ‘Tare Zamin Par’ have already gained permission from the censor board and are awaiting release. l

The secretaries at the transport ministries in the South Asian countries are going to participate in a meeting to reach an agreement on cross-border movement of goods-laden trucks in these countries.

Pankaj Saran, the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka, made the announcement at a seminar on the occasion of the 66th Indian Republic Day held yesterday at the Institute of Diploma Engineers auditorium in the capital.

“Secretaries of the transport ministries in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan will meet in Kolkata early next month to come to an agreement on transport movement among the countries,” he said.

Tareq Md Ariful Islam, director general of the South Asia Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also told the Dhaka Tribune that the meeting was taking place, but he could not give any details.

Addressing the event, speakers emphasised the importance of enhancing the cooperation among the South Asian countries by allowing cross-border transport movement, agreeing that doing so would ultimately make the region’s economy

and development stronger.

Speaking at the seminar, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh and India have been long-tested friends since the former’s independence, and there are a number of issues the countries could resolve together for the sake of their own development.

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of Dhaka University said cooperation among the South Asian countries would be easy as they are share similar cultural traits.

The minister further said: “It is our expectation that India will play its leadership role in taking along all the other countries in South Asia so that South Asia can emerge as a global player at all fronts.

“Bangladesh and India are not only friends and neighbours, but also development partners. The emotional bond and people-to-people contacts between our two countries form the strongest and most treasured part of our relationship. We need to nurture it as a catalyst to further enhance our bilateral ties.” l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Environmentalists: Compensation, not aid for gas emission n UNB Urging them to take steps to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, environmentalists here yesterday demanded the developed nations provide compensation instead of aid to the least developed countries (LDCs) as they are the GHG victims.

Speaking at an international conference, they said the role of the LDCs like Bangladesh is very insignificant in emitting such gases but the livelihood and lifestyle of people living in these countries are badly affected by environmental changes.

Notre Dame College authorities organised the three-day Nature Summit 2015 on the college compound.

Criticising the reluctance of the developed countries about checking the environmental change, Prof Dr Mizan R Khan of Environmental Science and Management of North South University said climate change is a foster child of global diplomacy while international conferences on environmental issues have become like talk-shows with no effects.

He stressed the discreet use of fossil fuels

and checking deforestation for reducing the emission of such gases. “Environmentalists said the environment is a complex web of different elements like land, water and forest, so any element gets degraded, it will impact globally.”

About deforestation, Prof Mizan said influential people in irrespective of developed or developing countries are behind deforestation while the contribution of poor people is very less in this regard as the poor mostly cut branches of trees for firewood.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said Bangladesh does not want aid but demand compensation for the climate change caused by developed nations through their emission of greenhouse gases.

Calling on students to get involved in the green movement, he said students are the future engineers, doctors and experts of other disciplines but they should be environment centric while discharging their duties.

A number of delegations of teachers and students from different countries, including India, China and Nepal, attended the summit. l

15 hurt in AL-Chhatra League clash in Ukhia n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar At least 15 people were injured, including eight bullet-hit, when two factions of district Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) locked into a clash yesterday.

The bullet wounded persons were admitted to Ukhia Health Complex.

Police and local witnesses said a tea vendor Shamsul Alam’s son had an altercation with a client over a silly matter at Palongkhali station of Ukhia upazila around 5pm.

Later, the incident turned violent when a

group of people led by former BCL president of the district Ali Ahmad exchanged fire with Awami League leader Zakir Hossain’s group.

Eight people from both the groups received bullet injury at the time.

They are Hafiz Zakir Hossain, 58, Nurul Bashir, 40, Tofael Ahmed, 32, Anwarul Islam, 36, Anwar Hossain, 55, Yusuf Ali, 27, Jafor Alam, 38, and Ismail, 26.

Acknowledging the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhia police station Zahirul Islam Khan said extra police men were sent to the area, which was soon brought under control. l

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena, student wing of Bangladesh Islami Front, holds a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday

Doctor accused for alleged stillbirth Correspondent, n Our Jhenaidah Negligence of doctors and clinic authorities allegedly caused an unborn baby to die in the mother’s womb, family says.

However, the operating doctor claimed it was a case of still birth.

The incident took place yesterday morning at a local clinic in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah.

Mosharraf Hossain said his wife Shima Begum, 28, was under the care of Nikunjo Bihari, a surgical

doctor of Jessore Medical College Hospital who visited the clinic often.

Describing the incident, he said around 11am his wife was admitted to the clinic for surgery.

Then the doctor attended to eight to 10 patients in his chamber, leaving his wife inside the operating theatre. Mosharraf claimed that during that time the baby had died in the womb and the doctor declared a stillbirth after the operation.

Family members of Mosharraf confined the doctor and the owner of the clinic Mizanur Rahman.

When asked, Nikunjo Bihari told this correspondent that the baby was stillborn; it was dead before surgery. But he admitted that he had made a mistake of not conducting an ultra-sonogram before the surgery.

On information, police went to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain of Kaliganj police station said if the victim’s family files a case, he would look further into the matter and take lawful actions in this regard. l

Shammilito Sangskritik Jote stages a demonstration in front of the Central Shaheed Minar protesting the violence that took place during the BNP-led indefinite blockade DHAKA TRIBUNE

Ignited minds cheer up at BSK prize-giving ceremony in Ctg Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong It was a dense foggy weather and bone-chilling cold.

The minimum temperature went down by several degrees due to cold wave.

Although, they were shivering in the cold wearing warm clothes, a sense of excitement were beaming and their faces were seen ignited.

Some 4,596 students of class VI to X from 73 schools in Chittagong gathered at the playground of Chittagong Municipality High School to receive prizes of a year-long book reading competition.

With the gathering of students and their parents, the school premises turned into a festive look yesterday.

The Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) ogranised the Prize Giving Ceremony 2015 under its programme for enlightening the country’s youths through reading books.

Winners were given prizes under four categories for their excellence in reading books, said BSK Chittagong’s Organiser Alex Alim.

Mishu Shil, a class X student of Uttar Kattoli City Corporation Girls School, was among the students who received prize for reading book. She reached the programme venue before the sunrise.

“It was the most memorable day in my life to see Abdullah Abu Sayeed sir and receiving award from him,” she said.

“I want to read more books. I am really glad getting the prize for reading books,” said Ummul Wara, a class VII student of Cantonment Public School and College.

Speaking on the occasion, BSK President Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed said the BSK had started its journey with only 15 members around 36 years ago.

“Now we have 15,00,000 members across the country, who are enlightening themselves by reading books,” he said.

Bangladesh has a large population. But the number of civilized people is very low, he added.

“Be a good person, Bangladesh will go ahead if you are good,” Abu Sayeed urged the students.

Prominent actor and dramatist Mamunur Rashid said the teachers should not teach the students only for obtaining pass marks.

“Please teach them for real knowledge so that they can be a good person,” he said.

“Draw your dream by reading books and your dreams will be fulfilled when you link up your idea, knowledge and dream,” he added. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Tripura CM for deal to get access to Chittagong port n UNB Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has advocated for a deal with Bangladesh to get access to Chittagong port for expanding business between northeast India and Bangladesh.

“Chittagong international port could play a catalyst role in the extension of business and economic growth between northeast India and Bangladesh,” he was quoted by Indian media as saying.

He said the governments of the two countries must finalise a deal in this regard, The Economic Times and Indiatvnews.com reported yesterday.

After inaugurating a photography exhibition of Bangladeshi journalists, Sarkar said if the international sea port is allowed to be used by the northeastern states, both economic prosperity and friendship among the people of the two nations would be strengthened further.

A total of 44 photographs of 22 photojournalists from Chittagong are being exhibited in the three-day exhibition, which has been sponsored by Indian High Commission and Indira Gandhi Cultural Center in Dhaka. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Spotlight

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj, ended on Sunday with a call for world peace. Hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad gathered on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi, Gazipur. The congregation has been held in two phases for the last few years to accommodate the large number of devotees. This year, the first phase of Biswa Ijtema was held from January 9 to 11 while the second phase from January 16 to 18 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU / MEHEDI HASAN / RAJIB DHAR

5

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Guide book a blow to Bagerhat education

PM to inaugurate Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Bridge in Marketing representatives of the guidebook publishers have formed ‘donation deals’ with several teachers Tungipara today Regarding this, Piara Begum from ti-Corruption Commision President deals being made to give away all the n Our Correspondent, Bagerhat methods.

It has been learned that in the dis- question papers throughout the year Rajya neighborhood in the upazilla, and Former Principal of Bagerhat Govn Our Correspondent, Gopalganj said she has admitted her son Sabbir ernment PC College says: “Some peoAs soon as the primary, lower-middle trict, more than a hundred publishers for free. and middle schools and madrasahs opened up for the new academic year, publishers in Bagerhat jumped into competition to sell banned guidebooks.

Meanwhile, marketing representatives of the guidebook publishers have formed “donation deals” with several teachers and leaders of local teacher organisations.

This “donation” has spread to almost all places in the district, including Sharankhola, Morolganj, Mongla, Rampal, Chitalmari, Mollahut, Kochua, Fakirhut.

Estimation from various sources says that this business garners about a few crores Taka across the district.

On the other hand, many concerned and influential members of the community worry that the dependence on guidebooks may pose a challenge for the government’s creative teaching

including Panjeri, Jupiter, Ashar Alo, Scholar, Prime, Nabaduto, Global, Al Baraka, Al Falah and Al Samad Publications have targeted a few thousand new students, enrolled in the new academic calendar, from 20 middle schools, 19 madrasahs and 113 primary schools across four unions, and published guidebooks for Grade 1 through grade 10 in massive productions.

When contacted, no one from the marketing divisions of Jupiter, Scholar, Al Baraka, Prime or Global was available to speak to this correspondent.

Additionally, there are lot of deals being negotiated under the disguise of “donations” with many of the teachers, department heads and superintendents.

These donations are based on the number of students. However, each school is receiving around Tk1-1.5lakh.

Beyond these donations, there are also

“Books that have been set to be sold at Tk650-700 are in reality worth Tk200-250. The guides are receiving 20-25% commission, and publishers are setting the price 2-3 times higher than actual price,” said a bookseller at Rayenda Bazar in the upazila sadar on condition of anonymity.

The companies are snatching away the extra money from parents. Furthermore, although the annual profit from selling books is Tk20-25,000, subject teachers, including Bangla and English grammar teachers, are somehow receiving around Tk50,000-Tk1lakh.

Additionally, the local madrasah teachers’ association and primary teachers organisation have meanwhile received “donation” of Tk6 lakh and Tk3 lakh respectively. The middle school teachers’ association is negotiating with various companies.

in a local madrasah in 6th grade. Now even if he gets government books, she has to spend Tk2,000-2,500 on guide books.

The principal of a middle school says: “If teachers are genuine, then the students don’t need guidebooks.

However, to gain illegal favours, some corrupt teachers are abusing the talent of students and receiving unfair advantages from the books.”

It is important to note that in order to teach the students with the right method, the teachers have to give proper explanation for which they need to do their own homework and background research. But they are so busy conducting private tuition lessons, that thy do not have the time to do their own homework. Hence they teach using guidebooks in the classroom.

On the other hand, the district An-

ple who claim to be ‘teachers’ have made deals with the guidebook publishers to make some personal gains.

Measures against them must be taken immediately.”

Md Alamgir Hossain, president of primary, middle and madrasah teachers’ association in Shaurkhola Upazila, Md Ahmed BSC and Maulana Abdus Salam claim some companies have tried to seal deals with them, although the three have refused to make any financial negotiation for this year.

The district’s middle-school education officer Md Mizanur Rahman says he has meanwhile informed principals of all educational insitutes that they may not use these guidebooks. Additionally, action will be taken against teachers and institutions who capitalise on the talents of the students to receive illegal “donations.” l

Two killed in road accidents n Tribune report A truck helper was killed in a road crash in Bagerhat yesterday. The incident took place at Fakirhat upazila’s Shukdara point of Khulna-Mongla highway.

The dead was identified as Jewel, 25, son of Nur Mohammad from Panchali village in Khulna’s Rupsha upazila.

The driver was also injured in the same incident. He was named as Dulal.

His details could not be known immediately. He was admitted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital. Bagerhat highway police officer-in-charge Abdul Mannan Farazi confirmed the incident to the Dhaka Tribune.

In Tangail, a motorcyclist, who was grandson of president of Sirajganj Awami League and former MP Motahar Hossain, was killed in a road accident in Tangail on Thursday. Deceased Faisal Wahid Ruso, 30, used to live at Mujib road in Sirajganj district town. He was married to a girl last year.

Gorai highway police officer-incharge Md Humayun Kabir said Faisal was run over dead by a truck near Uttara Spinning Mills Ltd under Mirzapur upazila about 8:30pm on the way to Sirajganj from Dhaka in his motorcycle. l

Trader killed over land feud n Our Correspondent, Shariatpur

A driver is seen driving a bus of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation wearing a helmet a bid to protect himself from attack of blockade supporters. The photo was taken from Kumarpara area in Rajshahi city yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Unchecked sand lifting threatening arable land and houses in Shibpur n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi Defying all laws and regulations, a group of politically patronised people have been lifting sand from agricultural land in Narsingdi’s Shibpur for a long time.

This has caused hundreds of families to lose their land and houses.

Locals of Dulalpur, Mirzakandi, Dottergaon, Chandibardi and other villages of Dulalpur union of Shibpur upazila said some corrupt businessmen had been illegally lifting sand for the last 10-15 years. With the help of the administration and local political figures, they have always remained beyond the law.

Such indiscriminate sand lifting has made the houses of the local people vulnerable to demolition. When the sand beneath the houses are sucked away by machines, the houses collapse. Finding no other alternatives, the owners are then bound to sell their property to the sand lifters at a lower price.

Shallow machines and powerful dredgers are aggressively used to lift

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Patgati Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Bridge in Tungipara of Gopalganj through a video conference at the Gono Bhaban today.

The Roads and Highway Department of Gopalganj has taken all preparations for the inauguration of the bridge named after the prime minister’s grand father, Sheikh Lutfur Rahman.

Earlier on Friday, Road Transportation and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited the bridge site.

With inauguration of the bridge, a new horizon will be opened up for the people in the country’s south and south-western region as it will reduce around 25 kilometer highway connection between the capital and Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi and Bargona.

With cost of Tk72.65 crore, the Roads and Highway Department of Gopalganj has constructed the bridge over the Madhumati river, said sources in the Gopalganj Roads and Highway Department. l

sand from the arable lands, posing a threat to the agriculture sector of the upazila.

Everyday hundreds of trucks full of sand are sent to various districts across the country. For the quality of the land, the sand of this upazila has a high demand among businessmen.

The amount of cultivable land is fast decreasing in the upazila. Electric poles and various infrastructures are also being affected.

The district is also losing its agricultural products.

Fazila Khatun, 70, a widow lives with her three sons and depends on agricultural for livelihood. However, because of the torment of the sand lifters, she may have to leave the house very soon.

Fazila Khatun said: “Dana Mia, son of late Abdul Kuddus Mia leased 14 percent of my property for a nominal price for sand lifting. He did it along with other local businessmen. But now my entire house is vulnerable,” she said.

“Now there is a gaping hole on one side of the house. We are afraid it may collapse any day.”

She further alleged the local people Ismail Hossain, Liyon Bhuiyan, Sarwar Hossain and Sohel Mia were involved with the gang.

Farmer Kajal Mia of Dulalpur village said: “My house and land are about to collapse due to sand lifting. We have pleaded to the union parishad chairman and other high level government official, but they were of no use.”

He further alleged that a percentage of the earning per dredger machine goes to the administration. Hence, no one dares to raise voices against them.

Many people in the upazila are now worried about their ancestral home.

Though many of them filed cases against the perpetrators, no concrete action has been taken against anyone.

When contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Shibpur Mohammad Ashraful Afsar said: “The sand lifting issue in this area is a complicated one. After I joined, I completely stopped illegal sand lifting. However, I have been informed about dredgers usage in the night. We have discussed it in our law and order meeting. And hopefully this will be resolved soon.” l

NEWS IN BRIEF Rice, cash stolen from Jhenaidah

Man held with firearms

Robbers on Thursday night took away 365 sackfuls of rice and Tk62,000 in cash from two warehouses at a market in Shailkupa upazila. Security guard Manik Hossain said the robbers tied him up and broke the locks of warehouses owned by Basu Saha and Rima Dey. They took away 350 sacks of rice from Basu’s warehouse and another 15 sacks from the other. They also stole Tk7,000 from Basu’s warehouse and Tk55,000 from the other.

– Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah

RAB yesterday detained a man named Sadekul Islam in Shibganj along with two foreign guns, four magazines and 11 bullets.

Chapainawabganj RAB 5 Camp Commander Major Quamruzzaman Pavel said at a press briefing RAB was tipped off about a meeting of terrorists at Karnakhali area in Daipukhuria union and Sadekul was arrested from there. He said those who were with Sadekul managed to flee and legal actions would be taken in this connection.

– Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Man’s throat slit in Jessore Police on late Thursday night recovered the body of 40-year-old Humayun Kabir, who had his throat slashed, from a field near Panchpota Bazar in Jhikargachha. Police said the killing was the result of previous disputes and a suspect named Bablu was detained.

Humayun’s elder brother Rustam Ali said his brother had been at loggerheads with a local man named Fazlu, who attacked the deceased several times in the past.

– Our Correspondent, Jessore

Two shops gutted in Gopalganj fire A fire gutted two stores at a market in Tungipara upazila bus stop yesterday, leading to a loss of over Tk15 lakh. Officer-in-Charge of Tungipara police station Md Nur Hossain said the fire originated from a short circuit at a cosmetics store and later spread to a nearby shop. Firefighters rushed to the scene and put the fire out after trying for nearly one and a half hours with the help of locals.

– Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A fruit trader in Shariatpur was beaten to death yesterday over land disputes with a local man.

Zahirul Islam Sarder, son of Aiyub Ali Sarder of Sharnaghosh area, was killed at Rajganj Helipad area around 12:30pm.

He was on his way home when assaulted by his rivals, who indiscriminately beat him up with sticks and left him in a nearby field.

He was taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

The body was kept at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy.

Zahirul’s wife Shahnaj Begum said her husband had been at loggerheads with a local man named Moslem Khan.

“Moslem, his son Selim and several others beat my husband to death,” she added.

Sub-Inspector of Palang police station Amirul Islam said the assailants would be detained soon. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, January 24, 2015

CODE-CRACKER

Common sense about social media

I

t is good to see that common sense has prevailed and the ban on five Internet communication services – including the highly popular Viber and Whatsapp – has been lifted.

While the government had banned these services citing security concerns, we believe the ban was highly inappropriate. Criminals who communicated via such services could readily find other ways to send messages.

There is no strong evidence to indicate such measures improve security in any way that justifies the disruption and inconvenience they cause the public at large.

As we have editorialised before, we still have a long way to go to achieve a truly Digital Bangladesh. Lifting the ban on these apps was a good move, but it is important authorities remember not to repeat this kind of ban in the future.

Bangladesh has seen blocks on Youtube and Facebook in the past, which have since been lifted, only for us to be revisited by similar bans. In order to really make progress, we have to make sure that basic communication tools and rights to communication and expression are not trumped by vague excuses of security concerns.

With the advent of new services such as the expansion of Google Street View in Bangladesh, such tools are increasingly integral to daily life. Like any tool they have the potential for misuse, but overall such apps do more to improve the lives of citizens, and can even be used positively to help curb illegal activity.

Authorities need to appreciate this if we are to truly embrace the digital future.

Authorities must not remember not to repeat this kind of ban in future

Investing in skills key to demographic dividend

W

e welcome the high profile support being given by Switzerland to the Skills for Employment Investment Program supported by the government and Asian Development Bank.

Switzerland has this week granted the programme $10 million to help scale up skills training for young workers in Bangladesh.

The $1bn initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Finance aims to equip over 1.25 million young people with employable skills by 2021. It is focused on supporting skills training in 15 priority sectors, starting with garments and textiles, leather, construction, light engineering, information technology and shipbuilding.

An important feature of this program is that it is built on pooling funds and resources from both the government and private sector as well as from different development partners. The involvement of different stakeholders and their focus on performance based targets to boost job placements for beneficiaries of the scheme, bodes well for its future.

The country needs our growing workforce become skilled and more productive in as many different sectors as possible.

Improving training and developing young workers is vital to help the economy become more internationally competitive and take full advantage of the potential of our demographic dividend Innovation and competitiveness are key areas where Bangladesh has huge room for making improvements which will allow the economy to become more internationally competitive and productive.

We cannot afford to stay still.

As the economy grows, we have to continually invest in skills development to help exporters rise up the value chain in order to stay competitive.

It is vital to help the economy become more internationally competitive, we cannot afford to stay still

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

Blasphemy and tolerance

January 11 and ruthless against deviation from their religion (apostasy). And this is not exclusive to members of al-Qaeda, ISIS, or Boko Haram.”

The author wrongly assumes that when Muslims say the Paris attacks represent a violation of Islam what they mean is that Islam (or Islamic law) tolerates Islamophobic magazines and by killing the people at Charlie Hebdo, the Paris shooters have contravened Islamic teachings. Thus, Mr Sneep Khalil goes on to say that if Islam is really tolerant Barely Legal Alien: Why should satirising Islam be of blasphemers and apostates, as those who seen as sticking a body part into a beehive, when have condemned the Paris killings say, how come the same is not true of any other religion? Why do empirical evidence shows a negative attitude of you unquestioningly accept the fact that Muslims Muslims towards blasphemers and apostates? should be uniquely intolerant?

If you keep up with social media, you will find that many Muslims, including notable scholars like Dreampie Habib Al Jifri and Hamza Yusuf among others, conSneep: It’s that age-old (and unquestionably trite) demn both the attacks on Charlie Hebdo as well as adage “there is a fine line between bravery and the Islamophobic publications of Charlie Hebdo, utter stupidity” - the best we can hope for is that hence the hashtag “IamNotCharlie.” Muslims conthe next step in human evolution grants us some demn the killings because it was done in the name kind of extrasensory reflex which allows us to of Islam, whereas Islam does not permit such automatically avoid saying anything “unacceptvigilance, and also because of the Islamophobia able” about anything, be it Islam, homosexuality, it will generate, making lives difficult for Muslim ethnicity, gender, pop music, etcetera etcetera. minorities in the West.

I think a comedian just spontaneously comTolerance for blasphemers and apostates had busted somewhere in the world. nothing to do with the condemnations which is why the empirical evidence is irrelevant in this reriazo gard. As for exiled Bangladeshi writers, here again A reformation of Islam is long over due.

Mr Khalil assumes that Muslims should be just as condemnatory of the exiling of Taslima Nasreen et Kmak al as they are of the Paris attacks. There is simply riazo: Actually, the extremists already follow a no comparison. reformed version of Islam, one which bypasses “Given these names and numbers, it is quite the 1400+ years of Islamic intellectual tradition to difficult to digest the claim now being advanced that directly read the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Charlie Hebdo ‘was asking for it by provoking’ and therefore the victims of the massacre themselves riazo were responsible for their own murders. Note the Kmak: Not the kind of reformation I had in mind. similarity between this and the most common of rape apology – ‘women get raped because they dress Kmak provocatively.’ We of course do not blame or hold “Within hours of the massacre in Paris, we have responsible all men when some men perpetrate been reminded by different people from different sexual violence. However, we can never deny the directions that those gunmen (and their getaway role of patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism in fueling driver) do not represent Muslims and their actions men’s violence against women, especially when such do not conform to Islam. Quite a no-brainer.” violence is seen as a sign of masculinity or mardangi.”

“But, what about fundamentalist Muslims or Mr Khalil, I do not condone what happened Islam in Islamic countries? In other words, how in Paris but to the extent that you describe the tolerant are Islamists (armed or unarmed) and actions of Charlie Hebdo as “attacks” on Islam and Islamic/Muslim societies (theocracies or paratheMuslims, the rape analogy argument fails since ocracies) towards those who commit the crimes of provocations and attacks are two different things. blasphemy and apostasy (perceived or real)?”

A woman who dresses provocatively is attacking “Here, it is quite clear that a significant number no one, unless of course you think otherwise. of Muslims worldwide are virulently intolerant Well, do you? of criticism or insult of their religion (blasphemy) Barely Legal Alien “The satirical attacks on Islam and Muslims were often vile and tasteless.”

There is absolutely no doubt that what happened was absolutely despicable, but there is a certain amount of danger to be expected when you stick a part of your body into a beehive.

Crisis meeting over Paris attacks January 13

Nazmul Khair Hope this will not be fuel for more attacks in Muslim countries.

SK Sinha made new chief justice January 14 Anup Das “‘I myself worked for the Pakistani army, but at night I passed down information to the freedom fighters.’”

Good job, sir?

CALVIN AND HOBBES

BASIC bank bleeds as large borrowers turn defaulters January 13

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 17 represents K so fill K every time the figure 17 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Waistband (4) 3 Swing to and fro (4) 7 Land measure (3) 8 Make suitable (5) 11 Soon (4) 12 Swarms (5) 13 Accustom (5) 15 Chime (4) 18 Billiard rods (4) 19 Wash lightly (5) 20 Musical drama (5) 21 Token (4) 23 First public appearance (5) 24 Beverage (3) 25 Unwanted plant (4) 26 Expensive (4)

DOWN 1 Resting (6) 2 Sculptured likeness (6) 4 Pale (3) 5 Fragrances (6) 6 Japanese monetary unit (3) 9 Individual (6) 10 Golf bound (3) 11 Be eager (6) 14 Marriageable (6) 16 Make possible (6) 17 Missive (6) 19 Colour (3) 21 Tool (3) 22 Command to a horse (3)

Shammi Huda “The loans, barring few ones, were given between the year 2011 and 2013 during the tenure of the bank’s chairman Sheikh Abdul Hai Bachchu, who has been removed amid criticisms.”

This political broker was personally handpicked for the job by our PM, shouldn’t she be held accountable to parliament at least on whatever basis he was chosen? Basic Bank was unique amongst other state banks for being well-run.

Trucks reappear around Khaleda’s office January 11

Akhtar Shah As if it’s magic, the trucks reappear!

How pathetic can these children’s playground “games” be?

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

nds How long will this drama continue?

Snr Citizen It is a fool’s paradise!

Maus Snr Citizen: In our case, however, or the common man’s really, it is a fool’s hell we live in. Paradise is for these children. No wonder they won’t stop their “playground” games!

Anon No truck in this world can hold Khaleda Zia captive!

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Who loves us? n SM Nadim Mahmud

I

BIGSTOCK

Dhaka is no Rome

T

n Ziauddin Choudhury he blockade of Dhaka, called by the country’s main opposition, has entered its third week, and from news reports and utterances of the opposition leader, it seems the blockade will be indefinite, or at least until the government bows down to the opposition’s demands.

I call it a blockade of Dhaka since the purpose is to isolate the capital from the rest of the country by preventing traffic to or from outside the capital city. The opposition calls this blockade successful, while the government claims the blockades have been essentially ineffective since transports to and from the city to outlying districts are operating.

However, it is only the suffering masses who know how disingenuous both claims are. The opposition is riding on a massive campaign of anarchy and terror all over the country, while the government has deployed all forces at its command, primarily to keep the capital running.

It seems there are two parallel forces are at work, each trying to bring the other to its knees. While the government and its law enforcement agencies are hard at work trying to keep Dhaka normal, the opposition is at work to paralyse the districts through incessant acts of random violence and to snap the link between the capital and the rest of the country. This should not have been so.

In normal countries, people expect the government to deal with lawbreakers with a firm hand. This means having a strong government, highly

effective law enforcement agencies, and ensuring safety of lives and property of the citizens. However, we are not in a country working under normal conditions.

Our law and order problems are not normal. They have been politically generated with goals that are aimed to bring down a government. Therefore, the government response has been asymmetrical. The first reaction to the opposition’s call for the blockade of Dhaka has been to tighten up the city’s security and break up the opposition’s organisation power in the capital.

Dhaka alone, nor do they live in any single district. They live all over, and they need to move from one place to another.

Trucks do not operate because they bring food and supplies to Dhaka alone, these also move supplies to other places. So when trucks, buses, and trains do not operate between Dhaka and other places, the rest of the country suffers equally. When the opposition shuts down districts with its blockades, the safety and security of Dhaka alone cannot bring safety and security to the whole country.

In modern democracies, disputes are not resolved by sword or violence, but by negotiations and discussions

Much of the law enforcement’s resources have been retained to ensure control of the capital leaving less for the rest of the country. This also gave the opposition greater opportunity to rally its troops and allies to mount their attacks in the districts under relatively less watchful eyes and resistance.

The victims of this blockade strategy and the counter-response are unfortunately ordinary people; people who have to earn a living selling goods and services, going from place to place.

And these people are not confined to

Ensuring law and order for one-tenth of the population is not keeping order in the country. Rather, the country remains hostage to the looming threat of being broken up. By the same token, the opposition’s game of bringing down a government without taking the whole populace with its demand is also as fanciful.

The country seems to now be locked in a contest of two misguided strategies, where the contestants seem to be farther and farther removed from the real demand of the people, the demand to put a stop to this mad contest

for power, and win the country back.

An ancient Roman law forbade any general from crossing the Rubicon river and entering Rome proper with a standing army. To do so was treason.

The law was devised to keep any ambitious governor of the Roman Empire from seizing power from the central authority.

In Bangladesh, we do not have provinces, nor do we have a rule that anyone who controls Dhaka controls all of Bangladesh. Dhaka is neither Rome, nor Bangladesh a Roman Empire. Yet, from the strategies of two current political contestants it would appear that control of the capital is central to maintaining control over the rest of Bangladesh.

Hence this blockade, and hence this frenetic attempt to array all resources to put out all opposition in Dhaka. In this dual attempt, carnages are occurring every day in the districts because the focus of the government is on the capital alone.

We do not know if in between the contest the Rubicon will be crossed, or if there will be a victor in this contest.

But we do know, however, that in modern democracies, disputes are not resolved by sword or violence, but by negotiations and discussions.

Statesmen know how to handle crises and save their nations from disaster. Only politicians looking for personal scores seek other means to solve disputes. Our only hope is that our political contestants behave more like statesmen than run-of-the-mill politicians. l

am not the best person to be discussing this subject, I don’t even know if I have the right to talk about this, but I just couldn’t contain myself – if I don’t say something now, it will forever remain concealed in my breath. I want to unburden myself.

I never got to witness our Liberation War, but I did grow up in my motherland of Bangladesh. I didn’t see the birth of my country, but I now stand witnessing its ruin. I am not in Bangladesh right now, but my emotions and my feelings are with everything that I have left in my country. Looking at the incidents from the last two weeks, it’s hard to believe that such events can actually transpire in my beloved country.

How is it possible for a nation to willfully ruin its future? It is time for a collective call to put a stop to this chaos. We don’t want to see this kind of bloody politics anymore. The only questions left to ask now are: Who loves us? Who loves our nation? Who can we trust to protect our future?

Fighting for democracy should not equate to the killing of general people.

Neither the ruling party nor the opposition have any answers to these questions, both sides are simply bidding for our faith. Both only hunger for power.

Okay, let’s get to the point: The opposition party claims to be on a quest to retrieve democracy from the clutches of the present government.

According to them, the ruling party was not democratically elected, claiming they had risen to power illegally on January 5, 2013. “Where is democracy?” they cried.

I have no qualms regarding the election, or democracy, or power, but I feel severely aggrieved by the present situation. My breath comes to a stop when I hear of someone getting burnt, about someone crying in pain.

Who has given them the right to kill? Who will take responsibility for such killings? The government? The opposition? None have even stepped forward to try and resolve their differences. The government has been clinging onto power, even abusing it against the opposition, whose natural reaction, by the way, has been to call for a nationwide blockade, effectively shutting the country down illegally.

Killing citizens and burning vehicles are not what make a democracy

Blockades and shutdowns are not very good ways of achieving democracy, and arson and sabotage are not its language. Both parties have failed in demonstrating their knowledge of how democracy even works. Killing citizens and burning vehicles are not what make a democracy, but that hasn’t stopped our leaders from choking the life out of it.

I have conceitedly stated to the Japanese people that ours is a peace-loving nation, and it’s saddening to see how I have been proven a liar by the unrest that is still being perpetuated back home.

This is my plea to our leaders: Try to resolve your differences, and please refrain from killing our nation’s future.

From the very day of her birth, my motherland has been suffering badly, it is time we showed her some love. l SM Nadim Mahmud is a researcher based in Osaka, Japan.

Ziauddin Choudhury is a political analyst and commentator.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The absurdity of canine insults W

ith the drastic uptick in political temperature and the upsurge in confrontational politics, cyberspace – or at least the part of it still active in the “shut down all apps” mentality of the supposedly Digital Bangladesh regime – has become the arena for the verbal kind of confrontation.

In a way it is better, I guess, to savage each other through Facebook posts and blog entries instead of using police bullets and cocktails. Yet, a dear friend of mine does take offense to something rather all too common in this raging battle of words: The proclivity to tar an opponent, real or imagined, with nefarious comparisons to dogs.

I get it, trust me I do. It is a phenomenon that has become rather uniquely South Asian these days to instinctively insult people as “kutta” and “kuttar bachcha” and more colourful derivatives thereof. Added to such colourful language is the opportunity nowadays to cut-paste cartoons and Photoshop pictures, and upload them to make the point more visually, and even viscerally.

Nonetheless, the colourfulness of the barbs or the ease of the accompanying embellishments do not make

them any more accurate. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth when we think deep about it.

Ask yourself, when was the last time a group of dogs got together to conspire to lock up other dogs in their kennels?

Or, for that matter, when did you last see a dog just decide to throw a firebomb at the puppies of another?

In fact, the care and mutual love that wolves – in terms of DNA, the wild equivalent of the domestic dog – show each other in their packs is nothing short of exemplary. Domestic dogs’

loyalty and decency of the canine species in Surah Al-Kahf where the story is told of believers fleeing persecution and finding shelter in a cave alongside their faithful dog who kept them company and kept watch at the threshold for the evil pursuers.

Today, dogs do everything from detecting cancer, giving assistance to the blind, guarding homes and hearths, and sniffing out drugs and explosives. Many a four-legged “man’s best friend” dies every day in the noble pursuit of these exalted duties.

Today, dogs do everything from detecting cancer, giving assistance to the blind, guarding homes and hearths, and sniffing out drugs and explosives

loyalty, kindness, and self-sacrifice for their human companions is legendary, going back to the first recorded evidence of their presence in human society more than 30 millennia ago.

Even the Holy Qur’an refers to the

The only time dogs will involve themselves in gratuitous violence is to protect their families, four-legged and two-legged, from immediate physical harm. Now, tell me, can the same be said of human beings? We all know

BIGSTOCK

n Esam Sohail

the answer to that question. There are good and evil amongst human beings; amongst dogs, the latter simply doesn’t exist.

While I write this somewhat tongue in cheek, it is not entirely without a serious perspective. See, when we reduce political rhetoric to worn out cheap shots, not much fruitful dialogue takes place. The toxicity of such predictable insults shuts down any possibility of a mature conversation about bridging divides or finding common ground.

Insults, even the most shockingly counterintuitive ones, like the kind mentioned above, leave nobody the wiser intellectually and almost everyone impoverished morally.

So here is a piece of advice from my dear friend: Lose the silly insults, engage in some productive and respectful dialogue worthy of a species on the top of the food chain, and, if you must bring dogs into the picture, use the comparison accurately at least, as an example emulation of the sublime qualities of

decency, loyalty, and selflessness.

Oh … about my friend … he is right here next to me but, unfortunately, a lack of opposable thumbs preclude him from penning this commentary himself. So he sends his canine best to all of you, and wishes that you treat human beings at least half as well as he does every day. l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Saturday, January 24, 2015

13 Sensational

Smith guides Australian chase

14 UAE stun Japan

on penalties in Asian Cup

14 Ballon d’Or only

for Messi, Ronaldo, fumes Ribery

Sport

Ronchi, Elliott record stand sets up Kiwis win n AFP, Dunedin A record batting blitz by Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott set New Zealand up for an overwhelming 108-run win over Sri Lanka in their fifth one-day international in Dunedin Friday.

In a stunning display of power hitting, Ronchi (170 not out) and Elliott (104 not out) bludgeoned an unbeaten 267 to lift New Zealand from 93-5 to

170

Luke Ronchi’s score was the highest by a batsman at No. 7 or lower in ODIs. The previous best was MS Dhoni’s 139 not out, for Asia XI against Africa XI in 2007. Ronchi also made the fourth best score for New Zealand in ODIs.

2

Number of wicketkeepers with higher scores than Ronchi in ODIs MS Dhoni (183) in 2005 and Adam Gilchrist (172) in 2004.

3

Number of previous instances of two batsmen scoring centuries in the same innings when batting at No. 5 or below. The last time it happened was when Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan scored hundreds for England against Ireland in 2013.

360-5 in their 50 overs in a world record sixth-wicket stand.

“It was an incredible batting performance by Luke and Grant,” said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

“After being 90-odd for five, getting us through to that total was something not witnessed too often.

Sri Lanka skipper Lahiru Thirimanne said the partnership made a mockery of their game plan on a green wicket.

267

The partnership between Elliott and Ronchi for NZ’s sixth wicket, their highest for any wicket against a topeight team. It was also the highest stand against a top-eight team for the third wicket or below, as well as a world record for the sixth wicket.

35

Elliott’s age, making him the second oldest New Zealand batsman to score an ODI hundred after Bev Congdon, who was 37 when he scored one against England in Wellington in 1975.

11

360 New Zealand’s total was their

highest in ODIs against a top-eight team. New Zealand have made five bigger scores in ODIs, three against Zimbabwe and one each against Ireland and Canada.

172

No of 100s in ODI chases by T Dilshan, the most by a SL and the third most by any batsman. Dilshan scored 116 in this game, his 11th hundred in a chase, going past Sanath Jayasuriya (10) and equaling Chris Gayle (11).

Ronchi’s strike rate during his innings of 170 off 99 balls, the second highest for a 150-plus score.

“We thought we could get them out for under 200 but things went wrong for us,” he admitted.

Sri Lanka had their own century-maker in Tillakaratne Dilshan and looked to be in with a chance as long as he was at the crease.

But when Dilshan fell for 116 it sparked a spectacular collapse in which Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for just 41 runs in eight overs.

The end came with more than six overs remaining as, for the second game in a row, Sri Lanka showed little fight in the lower order to let New Zealand go 3-1 up in the series.

In the fourth ODI in Nelson on Tuesday, their last six wickets were whittled out for just 31 runs.

Faced with a daunting target of 361 to win in Dunedin, Sri Lanka confidently progressed to 93 before losing their first wicket when stand-in captain Thirimanne was removed for 45.

After Kumar Sangakkara went cheaply for nine, Mahela Jayawardene (30) joined Dilshan to lift the momentum as the tourists reached 211 in the 36th over.

But the game turned when strike bowler Trent Boult was brought back into the attack with immediate success bowling Jayawardene to start the slide.

Four balls later Mitchell McClenaghan claimed the prized wicket of Dilshan and the Sri Lankan fight was over. l

Did you know?

Ian Bell yesterday passed Paul Collingwood as the highest ODI runscorer (5136) for England

NZvSL, FIFTH ODI New Zealand M. Guptill c Sangakkara b Kulasekara B. McCullum lbw Kulasekara K. Williamson c Sangakkara b Perera R. Taylor c Karunaratne b Thirimanne G. Elliott not out C. Anderson lbw Thirimanne L Ronchi not out Extras (lb 1, w 6)

R

B

0 25 26 20 104 8 170 7

1 37 32 23 96 12 99

Total (for 5 wickets, 50 overs)

360

Fall of wickets 1-0 (Guptill), 2-51 (McCullum), 3-60 (Williamson), 4-82 (Taylor), 5-93 (Anderson) Bowling Kulasekara 10-0-71-2 (1w), Lakmal 10-093-0, Perera 10-0-49-1 (2w), Thirimanne 7-0-36-2 (3w), Senanayake 7-0-58-0, Mendis 2-0-21-0, Dilshan 4-0-31-0

R B Sri Lanka L. Thirimanne c Taylor b Elliott 45 65 T. Dilshan c McCullum b McClenaghan 116 106 K. Sangakkara c N. McCullum b Elliott 9 17 M. Jayawardene b Boult 30 29 N. Kulasekara c Ronchi b Boult 3 4 J. Mendis b Boult 18 17 D. Chandimal c Ronchi b McClenaghan 0 3 T. Perera c Williamson b Boult 0 1 D. Karunaratne c McCullum b Southee 12 13 S. Senanayake not out 3 4 S. Lakmal b Southee 0 3 Extras (b 4, lb 2, wd 10) 16 Total (for 10 wickets, 43.4 overs) 252 Fall of wickets 1-93 (Thirimanne), 2-141 (Sangakkara), 3-211 (Jayawardene), 4-215 (Dilshan), 5-224 (Kulasekara), 6-233 (Chandimal), 7-234 (Perera), 8-245 (Mendis), 9-252 (Karunaratne), 10-252 (Lakmal)

New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi (facing) walks from the field at the end of the innings with teammate Grant Elliott during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka in Dunedin yesterday AFP

Bowling Southee 7.4-0-42-2 (1w), Boult 10-0-44-4 (2w), N. McCullum 4-0-21-0, McClenaghan 8-0-56-2 (1w), Elliott 9-0-42-2 (1w), Anderson 5-0-41-0 (1w) New Zealand won by 108 runs; lead series 3-1

Tigers fly for Australia tonight Malaysia, Thailand send squad list

n Mazhar Uddin

Tamim Iqbal bats in the SBNS nets yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Bangladesh will fly for Brisbane tonight to take part in their fifth ICC World Cup. Mashrafe bin Mortaza and his team are expected to reach Brisbane this Monday with the World Cup starting from February 14 in Australia-New Zealand.

The Bangladesh contingent - 13 cricketers and the coaching staff - will board the flight scheduled for 9:05pm tonight. Emirates Airlines will carry the World Cup-bound Tigers squad.

Tamim Iqbal will not accompany the squad tonight and will instead take the next flight tomorrow while Shakib al Hasan is already in Australia having completed his Big Bash Twenty20 campaign with Melbourne Renegades.

Shakib will join up with the Tigers once they reach Brisbane.

Before flying Down Under, the Tigers underwent a nine-day training camp at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. After flying to Australia, they will train for a further two weeks in Brisbane before playing two practice matches and two official warm-up matches.

Prior to their departure, the Bangladesh team were encouraged by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last Thursday.

‘Real not planning to offload Illarramendi’ n

Reuters, Madrid

Real Madrid have no plans to let midfielder Asier Illarramendi leave in the January transfer window and he remains an important part of the European champions’ squad, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

Illarramendi, 24, joined from Real Sociedad for a fee of 30 million euros ($33.7 million) in July 2013 as a longterm replacement for Xabi Alonso but even though Alonso has moved on Illarramendi has been unable to hold down a starting place.

The imminent arrival of another defensive midfielder, Brazilian Lucas Silva, has prompted speculation Illarramendi will leave, with Real’s struggling La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao and English Premier League side Arsenal reportedly interested in signing him.

“We don’t have that idea at the moment,” Ancelotti told a news conference previewing Real’s La Liga game at

Cordoba on Saturday.

“He (Illarramendi) hasn’t played much recently but that does not alter the confidence we have in him and his importance to the dressing room and the team,” added the Italian.

“I think to have a motivated team you need players who are available and professional in all the training sessions and Illarra is one of them. If I need him I will play him as I have total confidence in him operating in central midfield.”

One of the players who is ahead of Illarramendi in the midfielder pecking order is Isco, who has shone since getting more playing time due to an injury to Luka Modric.

Ancelotti said Isco was suffering from muscle fatigue and was unavailable for the Cordoba game and either Illarramendi or Sami Khedira would replace him in the starting lineup.

La Liga leaders Real, who have a game in hand, are a point clear of second-placed Barcelona. l

n Tribune Desk Thailand and Malaysia yesterday sent their squad list for the muchawaited Bangabandhu Gold Cup, scheduled to get underway this

Thursday across the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka and the Sylhet District Stadium. Both the teams will send their Olympic sides.

Malaysia will send a contingent of 32 members, including 23 players and nine officials while Thailand’s 30-man list contains 23 players and seven officials.l

SQUADS

Rubel Hossain (L) and Arafat Sunny walk out of the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK With a little over three weeks left till the mega event, both captain Mashrafe and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha informed that they will be satisfied if they reach the quarterfinals. Mashrafe though added that it will be challenging for the Tigers to adapt with the conditions.

Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on February 18 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand are also in Bangladesh’s group alongside Sri Lanka, England and Scotland.l

Thailand

Malaysia

Watchara Buathong, Somporn Yos, Anusit Termee, Tanakon Saipanya, Surawich Logarwit, Nitipong Selanon, Atthawit Sukchuai, Chaowat Veerachart, Kitphom Bunsan, Shinnaphat Leeaoh, Narakorn Kana, Chenrop Samphaodi, Jaturong Pimkoon, Pakorn Parmpak, Kittikai Juntarraksa, Santipharp Channgom, Suphan Thongsong, Adisak Klinkosum, Adisak Sensomaiad, Narutchai Nimboon, Chayawat Srinawong, Suriya Singmui, Akarachai Samatangharoen.

Mohamad Ramdhan, Amirul Ikmal, Mohamad Ashmawi, Mohamad Asri, Muhammad Syazwan, Shahrul Igwan, Annas, Muhammad Arif Farhan, Mohammad Ridzuan, Adam Noor, Mohamad Syawal, Syahrul Azwari, Muhamad Ilham Amirullah, Mohamad Faris Shah, Muhammad Akhir, Muhammad Syafwan, Azrul Nizam, Nazirul, Kumaahran, Muhamad Amirul Hisyam, Mohamad Farhan, Wan Ahmed Amirzafran, Muhamad Faizat.

Head Coach

Head coach

Choktavee Phomrat

Mohamed Razip

Baghdad erupts in joy after win over Iran n AFP, Baghdad Gunfire is not unusual in Baghdad but the salvos that rang out across the city Friday were fired by thousands of fans celebrating the Iraqi football team’s win over Iran.

Traffic jams formed on the streets of the capital, with young men spilling out of cars, chanting and waving the red, white and black flag of Iraq.

The city had gone quiet as the tense Asian Cup quarterfinal played in Canberra between the two neighbours and archrivals came to a nail-biting finish.

At a time when many would have been in mosques for Friday prayers, men massed in cafes to watch Iran come from behind twice in extra time before being edged 7-6 in a penalty shootout.

In a city where many residents have had few reasons to rejoice lately, the famous win came as welcome relief from car bombs and sectarian talk.

“Football is the only thing that brings Iraqis together and erases the Shiite-Sunni division,” said Ahmed

Mussa, a 22-year-old pharmacy employee waving a flag out of his car window.

The crowds that transformed the security-obsessed city also saw Iraq’s

performance against the fancied Iranian squad as a boost to the country’s fight against jihadists.

“In spite of Daesh,” many of the celebrating fans chanted, using an Arabic

acronym for the Islamic State group whose 2014 offensive has brought Iraq to the precipice.

Volleys of celebratory gunfire rang out in several neighbourhoods.l

Iraqis take down to the streets of Baghdad yesterday to celebrate the win of the Iraq national football team over Iran in the 2015 Asian Cup taking place in Australia. Salam Shakir scored the winning spot-kick as Iraq stunned 10-man Iran 7-6 on penalties AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Saturday, January 24, 2015

QUICK BYTES

ENGvAUS

Bangladesh to fight it out for fifth place

England M. Ali c sub (Doherty) b Faulkner I. Bell c Starc b Sandhu J. Taylor c Faulkner b Henriques J. Root c Finch b Cummins E. Morgan c Haddin b Sandhu J. Buttler run out R. Bopara b Starc C. Woakes run out S. Broad not out Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 5)

R

B

46 141 5 69 0 25 7 0 0 10

48 125 14 70 1 24 16 1 1

Total (for 8 wickets, 50 overs)

303

Bangladesh have earned the right to play in the fifth-sixth place decider of the Hockey World League Round 2 after they inflicted a crushing 3-0 defeat on hosts Singapore at Sangkeng Stadium yesterday. Shetul Farhad put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute before Hasan Jubair Niloy doubled the lead in the 29th minute. Mainul Islam Koushik completed the rout in the 34th minute. The men in Red and Green will now lock horns with the Ukraine for the fifth place tomorrow.

This will be the second meeting between the two sides inside 10 days. In their last meeting, the Ukraine pipped Bangladesh to a 2-1 win in a practice match on January 15.

–Tribune Desk

Fall of wickets 1-113 (Ali), 2-132 (Taylor), 3-253 (Bell), 4-254 (Morgan), 5-275 (Root), 6-303 (Bopara), 7-303 (Buttler), 8-303 (Woakes) Bowling Starc 10-0-60-1, Cummins 10-0-74-1, Sandhu 10-0-49-2, Maxwell 3-0-22-0, Faulkner 10-0-59-1, Henriques 7-0-34-1

Fifa loses three major sponsors Three of world governing body FIFA’s major sponsors have ended their relationships with the organisation, British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported on Friday. The paper said that oil manufacturers Castrol, tyre company Continental and healthcare firm Johnson and Johnson have all chosen not to renew contracts with FIFA that have expired. It follows the news in November that Sony and Emirates had ended their relationships with FIFA, which has signed up Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom as a commercial partner ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Quoted by the Telegraph, a spokesperson from Castrol said: “We have not been sponsors of FIFA since, I believe, the World Cup last year.”

–AFP

Enrique brushes off concern about Suarez Barcelona are not concerned about Luis Suarez’s lack of goals in his first few months in Spain and are confident the Uruguay forward will rediscover his scoring touch soon, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday. Speaking ahead of Barca’s La Liga game at Elche on Saturday, Luis Enrique said he was sure Suarez would start to score more regularly and noted the 27-year-old made a valuable contribution with his movement off the ball and his tackling back.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 08:25PM English FA Cup Manchester City v Middlesbrough

Star Sports 2 10:00AM Ranji Trophy Tamil Nadu v Mumbai 7:30PM Hockey India League Dabang Mumbai v Ranchi Rays 11:00PM English FA Cup Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers 1:45AM Italian Serie A Lazio v Milan

Star Sports 4 2:10PM T20 Big Bash League SF1: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers Spanish La Liga 9:00PM Cordoba v Real Madrid 11:00PM Elche v Barcelona 1:00AM Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano 3:00AM Real Sociedad v SD Eibar

Ten Action

Australian-League 12:00PM Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets

Australia’s Steven Smith (R) shakes the hand of England’s Ravi Bopara (L) after winning the one-day international (ODI) at Bellerive Oval in Hobart yesterday

n AFP, Hobart Steve Smith’s incredible summer continued when he produced an unbeaten century to guide Australia to a three-wicket victory over England in a tri-series one-day international in Hobart on Friday.

Promoted to the captaincy with regular skipper George Bailey suspended for a second slow over rate breach in 12 months, Smith’s unbeaten 102 enabled Australia to chase down England’s imposing total of 303 for eight.

Australia, also missing the rested David Warner and Shane Watson, made 304 for seven to win with just one ball to spare and remain undefeated in the competition, guaranteeing themselves

Sony Six 6:00AM & 2:30PM Australian Open 2015 Day 6: Day & Evening Sessions African Cup of Nations 9:30PM Ivory Coast v Mali 12:30AM Cameroon v Guinea

304

AFP

Bowling Woakes 9.5-0-58-2, Anderson 10-0-56-0, Broad 9-0-61-0, Ali 10-0-50-2, Finn 10-065-2, Bopara 1-0-11-0 Australia won by three wickets

a berth in Sunday’s final.

Ian Bell’s brilliant 141 set up the England total, which appeared to be enough for much of the game.

England was still in pole position when Brad Haddin strode to the wicket for Australia with the home side at 216 for five.

Another 88 runs were needed from 76 balls, but Haddin’s 42 off 29 balls as part of a quickfire 71-run stand turned the game.

Smith, who hit four centuries in Australia’s four-Test series against India that finished earlier in the month, faced 95 balls, hitting six fours and one six.

He paid tribute to the efforts of Haddin and conceded his own confidence

was sky high.

“It’s nice to get a few runs again tonight and get the boys over the line,” Smith said.

“I’ll never forget this summer.

“I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve just got to try and keep going and score runs while I’m going well.

“I thought Haddin really took the pressure off me in the end today.”

England captain Eoin Morgan said his team didn’t make enough in the latter stages of their innings.

“We played good cricket in stages,” he said.

“Ian Bell was magnificent but the last 10 overs let us down a little bit.

“Credit to Australia for how they bowled at the death.”

When the two sides previously met earlier in the tournament, England was beaten by four wickets with more than 10 overs remaining.

However, England bounced back with an impressive nine-wicket win over India in Brisbane on Tuesday and carried that form into Friday’s innings.

After being sent in to bat, England got off to a great start through Bell and fellow opener Moeen Ali. Bell, who was unbeaten on 88 against India, made his fourth oneday international century before being caught by Starc from the bowling of rookie paceman Gurinder Sandhu, who finished with figures of 2-49.

He faced 125 balls, hitting 15 fours and one six, and passed two significant

milestones during the innings.

Bell started the innings just five runs shy of becoming only the second Englishman to pass 5,000 one-day international runs.

In his 153rd one-day international, he passed that mark in the third over, and later went on to overtake Paul Collingwood as England’s highest-ever runs scorer in the format as he neared his century. His opening partnership of 113 with Ali, who scored 46, set up the English innings.

It ended in bizarre fashion, however, with Australia completing a team hat-trick in the last three balls.

Two batsmen, Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler, were run out while Ravi Bopara was bowled by Mitchell Starc. l

AFP, Canberra

n AFP, Lahore Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal Thursday raised hopes that he will pass a bowling action test after he was suspended last year, but ruled out any chance of featuring in next month’s World Cup. The 37-year-old will travel to Chennai, India later Thursday and have a reassessment test on his bowling action in the International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited laboratory.

He was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August last year and he was subsequently suspended from bowling a month later after a bio-mechanic analysis found his action illegal.

“I have worked really hard to overcome the flaws and I am hopeful that I will be cleared,” Ajmal told media.

“I am going to give test on five various deliveries and I am quite hopeful

that I will return as spearhead of the team after getting clearance.”

After his suspension Ajmal did remedial work under former Pakistan great Saqlain Mushtaq and claimed to have cleared unofficial tests. Ajmal ruled out any chance of featuring in the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.

“I withdrew from the World Cup after I felt that I am not ready for it and if any player of the team gets injured even then I will not play,” said Ajmal.

Ajmal said he has developed some new deliveries.

“I have developed some new deliveries, like a carrom ball and seam-up delivery which I have mastered and will bowl them at international level,” said Ajmal.

Another Pakistani spinner Mohammad Hafeez will also undergo reassessment test in Brisbane on February 5.l

Carlos Queiroz asked how referee Ben Williams can sleep at night and said he was considering his future in the game after 10-man Iran crashed out of the Asian Cup on Friday.

The coach had to be held back by his players after Mehrdad Pooladi’s controversial dismissal and he was furious as he faced media following the penalties loss to arch-rivals Iraq.

Queiroz was earlier fined $3,000 for an outburst against Australian ref Williams and he unsuccessfully tried to bite his tongue as he contemplated the ruins of Iran’s campaign.

“Can he (the referee) sleep tonight?”

Queiroz asked after Iran went out 7-6 on penalties, after twice coming from behind to make it 3-3 after extra time.

“It’s just a question. If it’s necessary I put my knees to the ground to show my respect and humble attitude to ask him how we understand this decision, you tell me.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz held his tongue over referee Ben Williams’s decision “I want to emphasise this one, two, three, four times, it’s just a question. I ask you to make the judgment because now we go home.”

Sardar Azmoun scored on 24 minutes but things turned sour for Iran when Pooladi was cautioned for simulation - and then sent off when Williams realised it was his second yellow card.

AFC ‘broad-minded’ on Iranian women ban Asia’s football body does not oppose Iranian laws banning women from stadiums, a senior official told AFP on Friday, after thousands flocked to watch the team at the Asian Cup. Enthusiastic male and female Iran fans have provided a colourful spectacle at the tournament in Australia, in scenes which are forbidden in the Islamic republic.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Alex Soosay said the body respects Iranian rules banning women from watching male athletes, an increasing source of controversy.

“We’re very broad-minded,” Soosay said in an interview in Sydney. “In Australia, there’s a big Iranian community and you can’t stop them from coming to the stadium because there’s no restrictions here.

“Whereas in Iran, there has been some restrictions of women entering the stadium and watching a football

7:30PM I-League Kalyani Bharat v Dempo Sports Club

Total (7 wickets, 49.5 overs)

Ajmal hopeful of clearing Does ref sleep at night? Queiroz asks n bowling action test

7:30PM Indian-League Bengaluru v Pune

Ten Sports

B 32 48 95 2 38 43 29 11 1

Sensational Smith guides Australian chase

n AFP, Sydney

1:00AM Montpellier Herault v FC Nantes

R 32 45 102 0 37 35 42 4 1 6

Fall of wicket 1-76 (Finch) 2-92 (Marsh), 3-92 (White), 4-161 (Maxwell), 5-216 (Faulkner), 6-297 (Haddin), 7-302 (Henriques)

02:00PM Central Coast Mariners v Sydney

10:00PM Lille v Monaco

Australia A. Finch b Ali S. Marsh c Bell b Finn S. Smith not out C. White lbw Finn G. Maxwell c Root b Ali J. Faulkner c Bell b Woakes B. Haddin c Bell b Woakes M. Henriques run out M. Starc not out Extras (lb3, w3)

match.” He added the Afc was “happy” to respect Iranian laws.

The divide between the situation in Iran and Australia was laid bare when

Iranian players were warned against taking “selfie” pictures with female fans.

The head of the Iranian Football Federation’s moral committee said

Iranian supporters display a banner during the Asian Cup quarter-final between Iraq and Iran in Canberra yesterday AFP

players risked being used as a “political tool” after some photos were circulated on social media.

“National team players should be aware that they won’t be used as a political tool so that those who take pictures with them don’t use these photos against the players,” Ali Akbar Mohamedzade told Iran’s Shahrvand newspaper.

Iran’s restrictions on women fans have been in the spotlight since a British-Iranian law graduate was jailed after she tried to attend a men’s volleyball match.

The issue would be sure to reach prominence if Iran, one of only two bidders along with favourites UAE, wins the right to host the next Asian Cup in 2019.

In Australia, thousands of female Iran fans, many wearing the team shirt and with their faces painted in the national colours, have attended Team Melli’s games in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.l

Iraq levelled through Ahmed Yaseen and they twice went ahead in extra-time - only for Iran to claw back equalisers through Morteza Pouraliganji and Reza Ghoochannejhad.

But their exertions were in vain as in a marathon shoot-out, Iran’s Vahid Amiry struck the post and Salam Shakir stepped up to fire the winning penalty. l

United’s 4-4-2 gets Van Gaal twitchy n AFP, London Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal feels a “twitch” in his backside when his team adopt a 4-4-2 formation, he told British newspapers in comments published on Friday.

United’s supporters revolted over Van Gaal’s preferred 3-5-2 system during their 2-0 Premier League win at Queens Park Rangers last weekend, chanting “4-4-2!” at half-time.

But Van Gaal, who led his native Holland to last year’s World Cup semi-finals with a three-man defence, says watching United play in a 4-4-2 formation makes him uncomfortable.

“We have won more with 4-4-2 in a diamond (midfield), but when you analyse the game then we have twitched our asses on the bench,” the United manager said.

“I have twitched my ass because we were out of balance. I told my players I was squeezing my ass, but (they said) it was the wrong expression.l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Saturday, January 24, 2015

UAE stun Japan on penalties n Reuters, Sydney

United Arab Emirates players celebrate victory as Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima sits on the ground after their AFC Asian Cup quarter-final in Sydney yesterday

AFP

United Arab Emirates produced one of the greatest Asian Cup upsets to send champions Japan tumbling out of the tournament 5-4 on penalties after their quarter-final finished 1-1 after extra time on Friday.

After Japan’s Shinji Kagawa had missed the first sudden-death spot kick, defender Ismail Ahmed nervelessly converted the decisive penalty to send his team into a last four meeting with hosts Australia on Tuesday.

The winner of that semi-final in Newcastle will meet Iraq or South Korea to decide the continental champions back at Stadium Australia on Jan. 31.

Substitute Gaku Shibasaki had earlier saved the blushes of the Samurai Blue by equalising nine minutes from the end of normal time after Ali Ahmed Mabkhout had given the Gulf nation an early lead with his fourth goal of the tournament.

Mabkhout’s powerful shot into the corner of the net after seven minutes was the first goal Japan had conceded in Australia, stunning the blue-shirted, drum-thumping band of their supporters behind the goal into a rare silence.

Japan have not won the Asian Cup four times in the last six tournaments by panicking, though, and they continued to press forward after the goal with the neat inter-passing game that won them three from three in the group stage.

As they had in those games, however, Japan failed to convert possession

into clear-cut chances, Takashi Inui wasting the best of them in the first half by directing his far post header straight at goalkeeper Majed Naser.

Japan had kept danger man Omar Abdulrahman quiet before halftime but the languid midfielder nearly helped his side double the lead four minutes after the break with a delightful flick into the box that Mabkhout just failed to control.

Inui had been replaced by Yoshinori Muto at halftime and the substitute had

ASIAN CUP Iran

3-3

Iraq

Azmoun 24, Yaseen 56, Pouraliganji 103, Mahmoud 93, Ghoochannejhad 119 Ismael 116 Iraq won 7-6 on penalties

Japan

1-1

UAE

Shibasaki 81 Mabkhout 8 UAE won 5-4 on penalties

two chances to make a quick impression but flashed a shot wide before also failing to hit the target with a free header.

The UAE goal was under almost permanent siege but a combination of stout defending and misfiring Japan forwards kept the underdogs ahead until Shibasaki lashed the ball into the net from the edge of the area after a onetwo with Keisuke Honda.

Honda sent the opening spot kick high over the bar but Khamis Esmaeel the same with the the UAE’s third penalty and the shootout went to sudden death. l

Cordoba eye Real Madrid scalp after 44-year wait n AFP, Madrid Cordoba play host to Real Madrid on Saturday for the first time in 44 years hoping to continue a fine start to 2015.

The Andalusians started the new year firmly rooted in the relegation zone following a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona after which boss Miroslav Djukic slammed his players’ lack of fight.

However, the Serbian has got the reaction he wanted with a run of seven points from nine lifting them up to 14th.

“It is not a different week, we just need to work hard and do everything we can to get something positive from the game,” Algerian forward Nabil Ghilas said on Thursday.

“I hope that Real Madrid will attack a lot and we can try to take advantage on the counter-attack.

“The fans are always with us no mat-

ter who the opponent is. I love the fans, what ever the result they support us.”

Madrid have enjoyed a free midweek having been dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 and added teenage sensation Martin Odegaard to their star-laden squad.

However, the 16-year-old Norwegian is expected to only feature for the club’s reserve side, Real Madrid Castilla, for the rest of the season under the orders of French legend Zinedine Zidane.

Pepe’s continued absence through injury means another Frenchman Rafael Varane will maintain his place alongside Sergio Ramos in defence as Carlo Ancelotti is expected to name the same side that beat Getafe 3-0 last weekend.

Elche will also have their sights set on an unlikely giant-killing when they host Barcelona at the Martinez Valero.

A 0-0 draw between the sides in the penultimate game of the campaign last season damaged Barca’s title challenge as they lost out on the last day of the

season to Atletico Madrid.

However, the Catalans gained some measure of revenge with a 9-0 aggregate thrashing of Elche in the Cup earlier this month, which included a 4-0 away win without any of Barca’s star names.

Lionel Messi scored for the sixth

FIXTURES Cordoba Elche Atletico Madrid Real Sociedad Villarreal

v v v v v

Real Madrid Barcelona Rayo Vallecano Eibar Levante

time in his last four games as Barca edged the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final, first leg against Atletico in midweek.

The Argentine is sure to start, but Luis Enrique may be tempted into making a few changes with Wednesday’s second leg at the Vicente Calderon in mind.

Atletico are in need of the points to consolidate third spot when they host

neighbours Rayo Vallecano to the Calderon later on Saturday.

Los Rojiblancos’ chances of retaining their title look slim as they sit four points off city rivals Real having also played a game more.

And the fine form showed by Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal in the first half of the season means Champions League football is by no means assured for Diego Simeone’s men.

The game of the weekend sees two of those Champions League hopefuls go head-to-head as Valencia host Sevilla on Sunday night.

Sevilla hold a one point advantage over Los Che in fourth and have a game in hand, but Valencia have already proven their ability to deliver on the big occasion at Mestalla this season with wins over both the Madrid giants.

Villarreal have the chance to put the pressure on Valencia and Sevilla 24 hours earlier should they extend their 16-game unbeaten run stretching back to November when Levante visit El Madrigal.l

Sixteen-year-old Norwegian midfielder Martin Oedegaard (L) poses with Real Madrid Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueno during his official presentation at the Valdebebas Ciudad Real Madrid in Madrid on Thursday AFP

Heskey primed for Anfield return n AFP, Liverpool

Portugese Cristiano Ronaldo (L), Argentine Lionel Messi and Frenchman Frank Ribery during the 2013 Ballon d’Or FILE PHOTO

Ballon d’Or only for Messi, Ronaldo fumes Ribery n

AFP, Berlin

France’s Franck Ribery says only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi seem capable of winning the Ballon d’Or and has voiced his frustration after Bayern Munich teammate Manuel Neuer missed out.

Portugal’s superstar Ronaldo won the prestigious award for the second year running earlier this month in Zurich with Messi second and goalkeeper Neuer third.

Much to his frustrations, Ribery missed out on scooping the 2013 title, also finishing third behind the superstar pair despite strong displays in helping Bayern win that year’s CL. “I was really angry, but it is the same every year: you don’t know what you have to do in order to win the vote,” Ribery told Munich daily AZ. Ronaldo and Messi have won the

award for the last seven years and Ribery questioned what more Neuer could have done to dethrone them after winning the World Cup with Germany.

“It clearly appears that winning the World Cup isn’t enough,” Ribery fumed. “For the last two or three years, Neuer has been the world’s best goalkeeper and had won titles with the club.

“In Brazil, he was the best goalkeeper and is a world champion, but that’s clearly not enough. I don’t understand it!

“If a Bayern player is again nominated, we should consider whether it is worth travelling to the award ceremony.

“For what? Perhaps to have a photo taken? No! “That is just politics for me.

“Every player needs to know: if Ronaldo and Messi are there, the third nominated player doesn’t have a chance.”l

Bolton manager Neil Lennon hopes an unlikely return to his former club for veteran striker Emile Heskey can help inspire an FA Cup shock against Liverpool on Saturday.

Heskey will be back at Anfield at the age of 37 after making a playing comeback with Bolton at Christmas.

The former England international was an FA Cup winner with Liverpool in 2001, when his 22 goals also helped Gerard Houllier’s side win the League Cup, UEFA Cup and European Super Cup. Heskey and former Chelsea and Bar-

celona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, 36, are now the elder statesmen of a Bolton

FIXTURES Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Cardiff City Chelsea Derby County Liverpool Man City Preston North Southampton Sunderland Tottenham

v v v v v v v v v v v

West Brom Swansea City Reading Bradford City Chesterfield B Wanderers Middlesbrough Sheffield United Crystal Palace Fulham Leicester City

side who are 15th in the Championship after Gudjohnsen returned for a second spell with Bolton earlier this season.

And Lennon is looking to the two to roll back the years and inspired a shock win against Liverpool in the fourth round this weekend.

The Northern Irishman - a member of the Celtic side which won a UEFA Cup tie at Anfield in 2003 - said: “Emile Heskey and Eidur Gudjohnsen, who are a big influence in the dressing room, have experience of playing in these big games.

“We are hoping all the old instincts kick back in and they smell it again, being out in that big-game atmosphere.”l

Federer dumped from Open n AFP, Melbourne A stunned Roger Federer was dumped from the Australian Open Friday in his worst showing since 2001 as Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova bounced back to stay in the title hunt.

In the tournament’s biggest upset, the Swiss world number two had no answer to Italian Andreas Seppi, who he had conquered in their past 10 meetings.

“Just a bad day. I wish I could have played better but clearly it was tough losing the first two sets,” Federer said after crashing out in the third round 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).

“I had chances to get back into it but let it slip. It’s a disappointing loss.”

The defeat was the 17-time Grand Slam winner’s earliest exit in Melbourne in 14 years and aside from his second round Wimbledon flop in 2013, was the Swiss legend’s worst performance at a major in more than a decade.

Sharapova was also on fire, blitzing past Zarina Diyaz of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-1 to erase memories of her big scare in the second round when she had to save two match points.

Murray was also in form, easily beating Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 and is yet to be seriously tested at Melbourne Park.

He will next meet Bulgarian 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who struggled against 2006 Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis with the fired-up Cypriot pushing him

to five gruelling sets.

Murray has now reached the round of 16 for the seventh consecutive year as he bids to track down an elusive Australian title after losing to Federer in the 2010 final and Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2013.

“Grigor has improved a lot over the last couple of years and it should be a fun match,” said the Scot.

Dimitrov, Sharapova’s boyfriend, looked headed for defeat when Baghdatis won the third set before rallying to claim an exhausting 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Rising star Bouchard also progressed, but made heavy work of downing France’s Caroline Garcia, taking 56 minutes to get through the first set before moving up a gear to win 7-5, 6-0.l

Napoli scrape through n Reuters, Milan Coppa Italia holders Napoli scraped into the quarter-finals when they beat 10man Udinese 5-4 on penalties at home after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw on Thursday.

The hosts struck the woodwork for a second time in the 35th minute when Walter Gargano’s effort was deflected onto the inside of post.

The first eight penalties in the shootout were converted before Allan’s effort for Udinese was saved by Mariano Andujar, leaving Gonzalo Higuain to convert the final kick and send Napoli through. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

SONIA HOSSAIN in Valentine’s Day special dramas n Entertainment Desk Model-turned-actor Sonia Hossain is working on two single-episode TV plays titled “Shopnoghuri” and “Chaad Bamoner Golpo,” both Valentine’s Day specials. She will be seen pairing up with Apurba and Maznun Mizan in the TV dramas.

In the meantime, she is in talk for film projects. “I want to invest more time in films this year. I received some good scripts from brilliant directors. I hope to start working in them soon,” she said, adding that she plans to take dancing lessons for films as well.

Sonia has already finished working in her debut film “U Turn,” which is waiting to be released. Besides, she finished filming for Habibul Islam Habib’s directorial venture “Ratrir Jatri.” She is also endorsing for few brands. l

Exhibition

Chronology

By Kazi Rakib Tine: 11:00am – 7:30pm Galleri Kaya Tarshito: Embroider the World

Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Road No.16 Exploring Diverse Mediums Time: 3pm – 8pm Dhaka Art Centre Road No 7, Dhanmondi

Music

Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz

By Lokkhi Terra featuring Kishon Khan, Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Red Shift Coffee Lounge, Radius Centre (5th Floor), Bay’s Galleria 57 Gulshan Avenue

DICAPRIO’s first look in Inarritu’s The Revenant

n Entertainment Desk

NEELA’s debut album released n Entertainment Desk Neela, a versatile singer and songwriter with roots in Bangla classics, has released her debut album titled “Neelar Gaan.”

The album came out on Thursday.

Palash, singer and former vocal of band Radioactive, has composed fusion music for this album. Mushroom Entertainment brought out the album, while it was released on iTunes, Amazon, and many other digital music platforms.

The album has nine tracks, one of

them a Tagore song and another one a Nazrul song.

Neela’s harmonic curiosity extend beyond genres as she also loves pop and rock music, but she also possesses a rustic undertone of Lalon Geeti. Growing up, she took formal music lessons at Shaptak and Chhayanaut, two highly acclaimed institutes that train students in Nazrul Sangeet and Rabindra Sangeet, respectively.

Neela has received numerous awards in Bangladesh and also performs regularly in the US and Canada. l

Alejandro González Iñárritu, the writer-director of “Birdman,” has partnered with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy to tell the true story of Hugh Glass, an American fur trapper and frontiersman in the early 1800s. After being mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead, Glass made a heroic 200-mile trek back to civilization to find the men who abandoned him in his time of need, played by Hardy, Will Poulter, and Domnhall Gleeson.

“He’s a brave, incredible actor.

I’m so surprised about how good he is,” Iñárritu says of DiCaprio. “I think there’s a profound understanding of humanity that I can see through his eyes.”

Shooting with only natural light in remote locations left untouched by mankind, the arduous production extends until April since Iñárritu and his cinematographer, Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki can only shoot a few hours each day. “It’s a fun ride,” says the director, who has also reunited with his “Birdman” studio New Regency to make the film. l

Saturday, January 24, 2015

President for using photography to make world a peaceful abode n UNB President Abdul Hamid on Friday urged all to use photography for transforming the world into a land of peace and harmony as it is the ultimate desire of entire mankind.

“We can use photography as a tool of social change by its immortal touch.

Let’s use photography for transforming the globe into a land of peace and harmony which is the ultimate desire of entire mankind,” he said.

Abdul Hamid was addressing the opening ceremony of the 8th Chobi Mela, an international festival of photography, at Shilpakala Academy in the city. Observing that the importance of photography is immense, the President said it not only captures the event but also depicts the time also. “It carries eventful time from past to present.”

“The photos of our great language movement, devastating cyclone in 1970, the historic speech of Bangabandhu on March 7, 1971, war of liberation and the surrender of Pakistani Army at the then Race Course Maidan in 1971 inspired us and ignite the new generation with patriotism.

Bangladesh is a rich land of art and culture since time immemorial, the Pres-

Photographer Anwar Hossain receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Abdul Hamid at the inauguration ceremony of Chobi Mela VIII at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy yesterday PID ident mentioned, saying many world famous artists such as Shilpachariya Zainul Abedin, SM Sultan, Kamrul Hassan and many illustrious sons were born in this region and elevated the country to a great height in the international arena by presenting their time-tested arts.

At the programme, legendary photographer of Bangladesh Anwar Hossain was given the Lifetime Achieve-

n Entertainment Desk Navigating the political snakepits of Westeros requires a certain amount of metaphorical mind reading, but now actress Sophie Turner is to play it for real: as telepath Jean Grey in “X-Men: Apocalypse.”

Turner, who has played Sansa Stark since “Game of Thrones” started in 2011, will play Jean Grey, a founding member of the X-Men: a peacekeeping group of mutant troubleshooters based out of a school for “gifted children” with super powers run by Professor Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy). Famke Janssen played Jean Grey until “X-Men: First Class” rebooted the franchise in 2011.

Turner will be joined by Alexandra Shipp as Ororo Monroe, a weather-controlling mutant codenamed Storm previously played by Halle Berry, while Tye Sheridan will play Grey’s laser-sighted love interest Scott Summers, alias Cyclops, previously played by James Marsden.

Director Bryan Singer, who has been involved in the X-Men franchise since directing the first X-Men film in 2000, announced the news on Twitter on January 23. l

ment Award for his outstanding contribution to photography.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director of Chobi Mela Dr Shahidul Alam, New York Times Lens Blog Editor James Estrin, Global Director of Photography of GEO Magazine Ruth Eichhorn, also spoke on the occasion.l

BOYHOOD opens at Star Cineplex n Entertainment Desk American coming-of-age film “Boyhood” is now showing at Star Cineplex in Bashundhara City. Released in Dhaka yesterday, the film was made over 12 years with the same cast. It is a ground-breaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason.

Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, “Boyhood” charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and grad-

uations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s “Yellow” to Arcade Fire’s “Deep Blue.” “Boyhood” is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.

One of the most talked about films last year, “Boyhood” appeared on more critics’ annual “best-of” lists than any other film released last year, including the most first-place votes. With six nominations in Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, the film already received numerous international awards and accolades. l

Banshee s3 HBO Defined, 9:30pm Cast: Rus Blackwell, Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic

Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff where he continues his criminal activities.

The Matrix Reloaded Movies Now, 3:00pm Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss

Neo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion and destroy it and its inhabitants. During this, Neo must decide how he can save Trinity from a dark fate in his dreams.

SONAM KAPOOR gives reasons to watch Dolly Ki Doli n Entertainment Desk

SOPHIE TURNER to play Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse

15

With a lit up face with excitement for the release of her movie “Dolly Ki Doli,” Sonam Kapoor just couldn’t stop smiling and talking about her film.

The actress, who is nothing like the character she plays in the movie, in real life, said that she has played a con woman and enjoyed it thoroughly. Sonam Kapoor gave her reasons to the viewers to watch her film, which she thinks will be loved by the feminists and young women who prioritise marriage over everything. “The first and foremost reason for watching the film is the fun element in it,” said Sonam.

Secondly, a movie which has a fashionista like Sonam playing a cool con woman, a laid back police officer like Pulkit Samrat, a funny young groom with a superb sense of comic timing, Varun Sharma and a serious husband like Rajkummar Rao offers the perfect entertainment for the Indian audience.

Third and most important reason that the actress gave, was the time span of the movie. Without having to sit back for hours and glaring into the screen for long, “Dolly Ki Doli” is just 100 minutes long. Well, we consider that to be a strong point in the favour of the film.

Fourth reason according to Sonam is “You can go to the theatre with your family and enjoy it with them as the movie is clean and all it contains is comedy.”

And the most important reason for watching the movie according to the diva is the amazing content and the music.

Sonam also said, “It’s a very beautifully conceptualised film.

You will definitely get entertained and you will also get a message indirectly. Very subtly, issues like dowry, strange mother-in-laws and chauvinism have been talked about, in a light and funny manner.” l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Ban on pillion riding causes havoc to city dwellers n Adil Sakhawat The ban on pillion riding caused sufferings to many motorbike riders yesterday as they faced difficulties in making their way of doing day-to-day affairs – a day after the government imposed the restriction.

Bikers said it would be difficult for them to drop off and pick up, in many cases, their respective spouse and children to and from the work stations and schools.

The sorry state as a consequence of the government decision is apprehended to emerge particularly on the working days starting tomorrow as many city dwellers are now depending on the two-wheelers in absence of adequate public transports, and amid fears of charging bombs on the vehicles plying through the city streets.

The Dhaka Tribune reporter visited many spots of the city yesterday to get an impression that the government decision was partly right considering that the pillion riders might have been causing the arson attacks, while on the other hand the decision has caused much sufferings to the dwellers.

At around 9am yesterday, Elias along with his brother Sahabuddin was going to National Heart Foundation with food for their relative admitted in the hospital. As they were crossing the Porbot cinema hall point in Gabtali, the police stopped them for pillion riding.

The police did not pay heed to their repeated request that it was an emergency service for the patient.

“Security cannot be ensured this way,” said Shahabuddin as he became angry with the police behaviour. “Can

the government ensure our security if we use buses or CNG [autorickshaws] for our transportation?” he said.

Eventually, he had to take a CNGrun autorickshaw.

Many others had to face similar consequence across the city yesterday, if not faced any penalties.

The motorcyclists claimed the ban would not help control the terror activities, but only harass the common people.

The anti-pillion riding campaign is not a new phenomenon for the citizens as they continue to suffer due to inefficiency of police and the government, said Sheik Imran, a motorcyclist.

He believed that the ban on pillion riding benefited the police and traffic department only. He said police were stopping pillion-riders, threatening them of case registration and letting the people go with an extortion of Tk300 to Tk500 per head.

“There are others mean of transportation people could use. The pillion riders have to understand the reality,” Roads and Highway Division Secretary MAN Siddique said when contacted over phone.

“The spouse or children could be excused,” State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, however, said.

“Humanitarian ground should be considered,” said Deputy Commissioner of DMP media wing Masudur Rahman.

On December 29, 2013, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) had imposed a similar ban on carrying passengers on bikes to check criminal activities and ensure security of people.

Amid an uproar from different quarters, the ban was lifted after three days. l

Idol makers put final touches to idols of Hindu goddess Saraswati ahead of Saraswati Puja, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community. The Shakharibazar area in Old Dhaka is abuzz with last-minute activities before the Puja begins today and continues tomorrow RAJIB DHAR

Blockade puts a dent on Saraswati idol business n Munir Momtaj

Although the country’s Hindu community observes one of its biggest religious festivals – the Saraswati Puja – today, there is relatively less enthusiasm this year at Old Dhaka’s idol making workshops as the ongoing blockade has put a dent on festival preparations.

As violence on the highways have limited transportation options, many of the usual out-of-district orders have not been made this year. The idol makers are also getting less business than usual as they had to turn away clients for not being able to ensure timely delivery because of blockade constrains.

Although Saraswati Puja starts from today, many Hindu devotees may ob-

Jisan Bahini leader killed in RAB ‘gunfight’ n Tribune Report A former Chhatra Dal leader of Lakshmipur has been killed in a “shootout” with Rapid Action Battalion in Comilla, who police claimed was a wanted terrorist.

Solaiman Uddin Jisan, leader of Jisan Bahini and son of Abu Bakkar of Paschim Latifpur village under Chandraganj union in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, died in a gunfight at Daulatpur in Daudkandi upazila late Thursday night, according to police.

Sub-Inspector of Daudkandi Model police station Enamul Haque said RAB had signalled Jisan, who was on his way to Lakshmipur from Dhaka on his motorcycle around 2am yesterday, to stop but Jisan attempted to speed away and also fired two rounds at the law enforcers.

“RAB responded by shooting back and Jisan died on the spot after receiving bullets. A foreign-made firearm was recovered from him,” our Comilla correspondent quotes the SI as saying.

Enamul said Jisan was accused in 44 cases, including gun battle with police and four murders.

But Superintendent of Police in Lakshmipur Shah Mizan Shafiur said Jisan was accused in 11 cases, including killing and assault on police.

Daudkandi Model police station Officer-in-Charge Abu Salam Mia conceded that Jisan had died in a gunfight with RAB but officials of Comilla Crime Prevention Company 2 under RAB 11 could not be reached for comments.

RAB Director (media) Mufti Mahmud also said Jisan had been killed in a gun battle.

He said Jisan had been signalled to stop while crossing a RAB check post in Daudkandi but RAB chased him when he did not comply, reports our Lakshmipur correspondent.

“He shot at RAB, forcing officials to shoot back. His body was later found there lying on the ground,” added the RAB director.

Organising Secretary of BNP’s Lakshmipur unit advocate Hasibur Rahman Hasib said Jisan was the former library secretary of Chhatra Dal’s Lakshmipur unit.

Jisan was expelled from his post back in 2004 after he had got involved in terrorist acts, says Our Comilla correspondent.

Lakshmipur police were also said to have announced bounty on information leading to Jisan’s arrest. l

Andromeda’s largest ever image released n Tribune Report The sharpest large composite image ever taken of our closest galactic neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, has been released by US space agency NASA. The largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled, the bird’seye view shows a portion of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and features over 100 million stars spanning 48,000 light years.

The image is comprised of 1.5 billion pixels – hundreds of thousands of time more than images captured by most digital cameras. It took three years for

the Hubble survey to assemble together a mosaic image using 7,398 exposures taken over 411 individual pointings.

The images were obtained from viewing the galaxy in near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths.

NASA said this “ambitious photographic cartography of the Andromeda galaxy represents a new benchmark for precision studies of large spiral galaxies that dominate the universe’s population of over 100 billion galaxies.

“It is like photographing a beach and resolving individual grains of sand. And there are lots of stars in this

sweeping view – over 100 million, with some of them in thousands of star clusters seen embedded in the disk.”

The panorama is the product of the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) program and was presented earlier this month at the 225th meeting of the US Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington.

The Andromeda Galaxy sits roughly 2.5 million light years away from Earth.

However, scientists predict that in roughly four billion years, the Andromeda and our own Milky Way galaxies would collide to create a much larger body. l

serve it tomorrow as well.

Sadhon Chakraborty, priest of Jagannath hall at Dhaka University, said: “According to Panjika [Hindu astronomical almanac], this year the Saraswati Puja will start on Saturday at 10:45am and end on Sunday at 9pm; but people can observe it any time during this Tithi [a lunar day in Vedic timekeeping].”

Idol makers in Old Dhaka expect their business to continue on both days, but they remain uncertain on how their clients would be able to transport the idols during the blockade.

Gopal Pal, an idol maker working at a workshop in Shakhari Bazar, said they were working round the clock the prepare the idols, but the clients are not being able to come and receive the

idols because of the turbulent political situation.

Gobinda Paal, also an idol maker at Shakhari Bazar, said: “This year we have made less idols and are selling it at a lower price than the previous year. Some idols remain unsold for the blockade.

“For the idol that I am selling today for Tk500, I sold a similar sized idol last year for Tk800. Every year we wait for this time and start our work two months ahead.”

Depending on the size and quality, the idols are sold for prices between Tk500 and Tk50,000. Small idols sold to families had a maximum price range of Tk10,000, while larger idols that were used for community or educa-

tional institutes’ puja pavilions fetched between Tk10,000 and Tk50,000.

To the members of the Hindu community, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning.

Idol makers of Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Lakshmi Bazar, Sutar Para and Shimulia in Old Dhaka are renowned for their idol making. Every year they receive orders for Saraswati idols from across the country including Barisal, Noakhali, Chandpur, Comilla, Patuakhali, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi.

Idol makers claimed that this year people from these districts could not come to the capital to buy their idols because of the blockade and hartals. l

Elizabeth II becomes oldest monarch after Abdullah’s death n Agencies The death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, at about age 90, leaves British Queen Elizabeth II as the oldest living reigning monarch in the world, claimed British Royal Central.

King Abdullah was two years older than the Queen, who will be 89 in April. The Queen will also become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in September.

She is one of eight octogenarian monarchs in the world, with others including the king of Thailand and the emperor of Japan.

Her 62 years on the throne still leave her some way short of being the world’s longest-reigning current monarch.

That distinction goes to Thailand’s king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who will celebrate 69 years on the throne in June. He was just 18 when he became king.

The longest-reigning monarch of all time was Sobhuza II of Swaziland, who was on the throne for 82 years from 1899 to 1982, though the Egyptian pharaoh Pepi II is said to have reigned for up to 94 years, having come to the throne at the age of six.

Some historians, however, believe he reigned for 64 years.

If he reigned until he was 100, Pepi II may also have been the oldest monarch in history, though Abdul Momin, Sultan of Brunei until 1885, was either 99 or 100 when he died, the exact date of his birth being unknown.

The Queen is the second-longest reigning monarch in British history, behind her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, whose record she is due to surpass in September this year.

The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, who is 93, have cut back on their long-range overseas travels in recent years, leaving it to their children and grandchildren. But not entirely. l

A close-up of the mask shows the glue used to reattach the beard

BBC

Tutankhamun’s beard ‘glued back on’ n BBC The blue and gold braided beard on the burial mask of pharaoh Tutankhamun has been hastily glued back on after it was damaged, museum employees say.

But conservators at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo gave differing accounts of the exact circumstances.

It is not clear whether the mask was damaged during cleaning or if the beard was removed because it was loose.

The 3,000-year-old artefact, with other relics from the boy king’s tomb, is among Cairo’s biggest attractions.

An inquiry is under way into what happened to one of the country’s greatest treasures. Instead of being taken to a conservation lab, the repair was performed quickly to put the mask back on display, conservators say.

‘Quick fix ordered’ The BBC’s Orla Guerin, who has seen the mask, says a glue-like substance is visible along the join between the beard and the rest of the mask. The two pieces were made separately and have always been fixed together.

One of the museum conservators told AP news agency that quick-drying glue was used to re-attach the beard.

A second one who was present at the time of the repair said the glue had dried on the mask and that a colleague used a spatula to remove it, leaving scratches.

Both conservators spoke on condition

of anonymity, but they agreed that orders for a quick fix must have come from above.

The director of the Egyptian Museum, Mahmoud Al Hawagi, confirmed to the BBC that a translucent adhesive material had appeared on the burial mask.

The ministry of antiquities was now investigating how this happened, he added.

A photograph has been published which allegedly shows a botched repair taking place last August. The picture, which has not been independently verified, shows two men in T-shirts and surgical gloves working on the artefact. One has his bare forearm inside the mask.

The Egyptian Museum is among Cairo’s top tourist sites, but in some areas ancient artefacts lie unprotected from the public.

Tutankhamun’s burial mask was discovered in 1922 along with the pharaoh’s nearly intact tomb and sparked worldwide interest in archaeology and ancient Egypt. l

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