14 march, 2015

SECOND EDITION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

MONGLA RESCUE ENDS PAGE 3

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Falgun 30, 1421, Jamadiul Awal 22, 1436

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 338

AMINBAZAR SIX-MURDER TRIAL FACES HURDLES PAGE 4

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www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

STILL NO TRACE OF SALAHUDDIN PAGE 5

Movement to continue Khaleda places fresh proposal for dialogue n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday announced that her party and alliance would press ahead with the ongoing blockade and shutdowns until the movement came to its logical end.

Khaleda also placed a fresh three-point proposal, which includes a dialogue to hold election under an acceptable government, to resolve the prevailing political crisis.

The 69-year-old three times former premier once again squarely blamed the ruling

party men for violence during her alliance’s blockade and shutdown programmes.

Khaleda, who has been staying in her Gulshan office since January 03, called for an international probe into the arson incidents.

She disclaimed any responsibility for her party’s involvement in the arson and bomb attacks on transports that had so far killed around 90 people.

Khaleda Zia was addressing a press conference at her Gulshan office – her second since she lodged herself in the office on January 03.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

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Stopping movement after Jan 5 election was a mistake Crisis is political and constitutional; 15th amendment the root Hasina broke promises of holding election under caretaker government after Jan 5 poll which she said was a routine election Government does not have any intention to resolve crisis

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Hasina never promised to hold fresh election after Jan 5 polls as claimed by Khaleda Zia

AL: Khaleda’s statement full of lies n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Shakib targets India after scaring New Zealand n Mazhar Uddin from Australia

The ruling Awami League slammed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s statement to the media yesterday terming it “misleading” and “full of falsehoods.”

Immediately after the BNP chief’s press conference, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, the ruling party’s spokesperson, made a statement.

“Khaleda Zia’s claim that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had referred to the elections of last January 5 as an ‘interim election’ and that Hasina had broken a supposed promise to set up a caretaker government and then hold fresh polls, is a fabrication,” he said.

“The prime minister never said such a thing, and the public will bear witness to the fact that this was never said,” Hanif said at a press conference at the party president’s and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office yesterday evening.

“The BNP is continuously killing people in the name of its ‘democratic movement.’ The countrymen know the origin of this party is in violence,” he said.

Hanif blasted Khaleda Zia saying: “She should apologise for lying to the media by saying law enforcers were behind the recent killings and chaotic conditions in the country.”

“The BNP-led 20-party alliance is behind the killings, public harassment and subversive activities throughout the country. This is proven by arrests by law enforcement

Bangladesh went down fighting by three wickets at Seddon Park in their last Pool A match against New Zealand to finish in fourth place in the group and set up a quarter-final showdown with defending champions India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 19.

Tigers captain Shakib al Hasan insists they have nothing to fear when they tackle India for a place in the World Cup semi-finals after giving in-form New Zealand a huge scare yesterday.

“Obviously we can take this confidence ahead. The way we played I think it’s very good and that will help us in the quarter-final immensely,” said Shakib, who led Bangladesh yesterday in the absence of injured captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza.

“We haven’t thought about the quarter-final yet but it’s going to be exciting and there will be a lot of fans cheering for them. So, we will be ready as this will be our first ever quarter-final.

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PAGE 3 DNA tests, fingerprinting on cards for Farabi

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Mahmudullah leaps in the air celebrating his second century in this ICC World Cup during their Pool A match against New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand yesterday AP

PAGE 4 Khaleda may be made defendant in Dandy Dyeing case

PAGE 5 Dismembered body of woman identified

PAGE 6 Sylhet Chhatra League factions clash, vandalise government offices

DT

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Maj Akhtar: Khaleda confined, Shimul chief jailer n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Barred from entering BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office yesterday, expelled BNP leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman unleashed a tirade of abuse against some of the functionaries of his former party.

With metaphorical guns blazing, the former Army officer took aim at Khaleda’s special assistant Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas, calling him “Khaleda’s jailer” and claiming he was “in the pay of the government.”

Akhtar has been in the media spotlight before for making comments against the party.

Witnesses said Akhtar approached Khaleda’s office around 4pm and asked to enter, but was denied access by the Chairperson’s Security Force.

Affronted by the refusal of Khaleda’s staff to let him in, Akhtar went on a fiery rant, saying: “The party is confined in the hands of Shimul Biswas...and Shimul Biswas is an

agent of the government.

“Shimul Biswas is in the pay of the government. How many times do I have to say this?

Begum Khaleda Zia is confined in a house.

Shimul Biswas is the chief jailer. He decides who will bring what sort of food.”

“I met madam [Khaleda] during 1/11 and stopped her exile abroad.

“They know we will urge madam to say something and that is why I have been barred from entering the office.

“What is the problem if madam is arrested? She is arrested here, too. If she arrested, then Shimul Biswas will lose his power. He is in contact with the police from the inside,” Major (retd) Akhtaruzzman said.

Attacking the BNP leadership, Akhtar said: “We work for the people but we cannot talk to the people. Young people are being killed, fresh lives are being lost, they [the BNP leadership] just make lists and send them to the newspapers.

“People are being killed but there are no protests, no processions, no meetings, just lists...you people just come here to show your faces. You do not have any constituency, you have no people with you. You are here only to draw up lists.

“You do your politics only on the streets of Gulshan. You have become big leaders... in search of buttering people up and earning money.”

When a BNP leader asked reporters and camera persons not to record his statements or take pictures, Akhtar said: “Please brother show my picture. I want to enter the office... you [BNP leaders] are responsible for the situation today. Today the street is open, where are the leaders? Why are you sitting idle here?”

Akhtaruzzman remained for a quarter of an hour outside the office before leaving.

Earlier, Akhtar entered Khaleda’s office during the Qulkhwani of Arafat Rahman Koko. l

Manna likely to stay at DMCH for 3 more days n Mohammad Jamil Khan Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna might need to stay in hospital for more two or three days, according to doctors at DMCH as they were yet to have a clear picture about his physical condition.

A six-member medical team has been supervising Manna’s treatment at DMCH. Manna was admitted to coronary care unit (CCU) of DMCH on March 10, after he complained about chest pain during the second phase of 10 days remand in DB custody.

DMCH cardiology Prof Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, also head of the medical team, said they have sent several samples of Manna’s medical tests to BSMMU to conduct examinations.

“One of the reports came back but the rest of them might be sent to us today (Saturday),” said Prof Wadud adding that after all the reports are sent from BSMMU, the medical team would then decide the next steps needed to be taken regarding Manna’s health.

Howeverm, Prof Wadud said primary examination suggested that Manna was out of danger. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Shakib targets India “To be honest, our first target was to qualify for the quarter-finals. Now it’s a one-off game and if we play well on the day, anything can happen...So, we will prepare ourselves as well as we can and I think the boys will be up for it.”

Shakib said it was disappointing to lose against New Zealand, who now have six wins in six games, in a match in which the cohosts were tested to the hilt as they made a meal of chasing down a 289-run target.

Mahmudullah hit his second successive hundred with a brilliant knock of 128 not out to guide Bangladesh to 288-7 as New Zealand failed for the first time in six games to bowl out their opponents.

“It was disappointing to come up short in this type of match. It was an excellent game and could have gone either way, but in the end they were the better side on the day,” said the left-arm spinner who took 4-55.

It surprised everyone when Bangladesh opened the attack with spinners from both ends, the first team to do so in this World Cup, but the results were miraculous as the two most dangerous Kiwi batsmen – Brendon McCullum (eight) and Kane Williamson (one) – returned in the fifth over bowled by Shakib.

“That was the plan. The ball was holding and took some spin and that worked out but it may not work in other games,” said Shakib who also gave credit to Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor for hanging in there and scoring crucial runs.

Meanwhile, the southpaw praised Mahmudullah, who now has back-to-back World Cup centuries, and looked up to him to produce more goods.

“Mahmudullah is among the top five run-getters of this World Cup, so hopefully he will continue his performance in the quarter-final. He will be proud of himself but at the same time his job is not finished and as a professional team we want him to score another hundred,” Shakib added.

“If Kumar Sangakkara can score four [centuries] in a row, why not Mahmudullah?” l

AL: Khaleda’s statement full of lies agencies of BNP-Jamaat terrorists and militants with petrol bombs,” Hanif said.

Khaleda, at her press briefing in the evening, said her 20-party alliance transport blockade would continue until her alliance’s demand for an election under a non-partisan administration was met.

“Not only the people, but many BNP central and grass roots level leaders, activists and supporters have not responded to the blockade

called by Khaleda who has been mislead by her son Tarique Rahman. The people are now angry with Khaleda and her son,” Hanif said.

He said Khaleda ought to be put behind bars for creating anarchy in the country.

“Khaleda is blaming others to save herself from the people’s wrath,” he said in response to the BNP chief’s allegations that the ruling party was to blame for the violence in the country.

“She and her party have confused the nation

before. They have been identified as frauds.

“Justice will be ensured for every death caused in the name of politics,” Hanif said.

Responding to a question, Hanif said the BNP was a platform and sanctuary for militancy and the AL will never sit for talks with the BNP. Hanif said his party’s official response to Khaleda’s statements would be made at a press briefing at 11am today. l

Movement to continue Terming the 15th amendment to the constitution the origin of all crises, she called upon the government to scrap the provision from the constitution.

The 20-party chief bitterly criticised the government for the arrest of opposition leaders and activists and demanded their immediate release.

“Killing, abduction and extrajudicial killing and harassment of opposition men by police should be stopped and false cases filed against them be withdrawn.”

She also demanded trial of those responsible for extra-judicial killings and lifting of the ban on political processions, meetings and rallies.

Issuing a note of warning, the BNP chief said if the ruling party did not take any initiatives to hold talks, then it would alone be responsible for everything.

“Although it is a so-called parliament, its session is in progress. Parliament can scrap the 15th amendment,” she said, adding that the ruling party can resign to pave the way for an impartial election.

Khaleda alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not keep her words as she promised before the January 5 election that a fresh election would be held after reaching a consensus on an election-time government through talks.

“If Sheikh Hasina keeps her promise only

for once, peace will return and people will have relief,” Khaleda said.

She said the key to resolving the crisis is in the hand of the ruling party men and they can open the door for a national consensus.

“Only then we can celebrate the 45th Independence Day together.

“I hope that they will return to the path of compromise and take initiatives to resolve the crisis through talks,” said the BNP chief.

Khaleda alleged that the ruling party rejected her seven-point proposal outright and her party had no other option but to wage a movement to restore democracy and establish people’s rights to voting.

She called upon people from all walks of life to participate in the movement to intensify it.

“I am requesting all to bear temporary pain for the sake of greater interest of the nation.”

Khaleda thanked foreign friends, different international organisations, media outlets and civil society members for their efforts to initiate talks.

“The BNP does not believe in politics of killing. We strongly believe that there is no place for killing and terrorism in democratic politics,” she said.

Khaleda blamed the ruling party for adopting different destructive measures to thwart the opposition movement which has virtually pushed the country towards the path of destruction.

“The government does not have the good will to resolve the crisis; it rather wants the crisis to prolong and that is why it is trying at home and abroad to brand the ongoing movement as a militant one,” she added.

“It will yield no good result; rather real militants will reap the benefit out of it which no one expects.”

Khaleda alleged that the ruling party leaders were continuously threatening her with imprisonment and capital punishment and harassing her in many different ways.

“But nothing will work. Only an election under a non-partisan government can solve the problem.”

She asked her party men to be active in the movement: “Be active and wage a movement from your position and in your area. Create a greater unity through the movement.”

She said: “This is a movement for an ideology; this is a movement to restore people’s right…This movement is not aimed at assuming power. This is a movement to build democratic, peaceful and self-dependent Bangladesh.”

BNP’s Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman, Khaleda’s adviser Abdul Kayyum and Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan, Mohila Dal General Secretary Shirin Sultana, and press wing officials Shamsuddin Didar and Syrul Kabir Khan were present at the press briefing. l

DT

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

MONGLA FACTORY ROOF COLLAPSE

Rescue ends with death toll at seven n Hedait Hossain, Khulna

The search for survivors trapped under the rubble of a collapsed roof in Mongla Cement Factory was called off yesterday with the death toll standing at seven.

At least 46 others were found alive during the search for survivors, said Sena Kalyan Sangstha acting chairman Brig Gen Md Selim, who announced the end to the rescue efforts around 12:30pm yesterday as “there seemed to be no signs of survivors under the rubble.”

The families of the deceased would receive compensation, while the survivors undergoing medical treatment would also be offered support, said Brig Gen Selim, the acting chief of the army welfare organisation that owns the under construction building.

A roof of the Mongla Cement Factory building in Mongla Port Industrial Area col-

lapsed on Thursday.

Talking to journalists after the end of the search and rescue operation, the deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence for the Khulna division, Sheikh Mizanur Rahman, said it was unlikely that more dead bodies were trapped under the debris.

Three bodies were found before the fire service joined the rescue efforts, while four more were found later by the fire service personnel, he added.

Acting deputy commissioner of Bagerhat Md Shah Alam Sarder said families of each of the deceased received Tk20,000 in compensation on Friday, while the injured received Tk5,000 each.

Captain Syed Helal Hossain, deputy general manager for the factory, said families of those who died would receive Tk1 lakh each.

Currently, 32 of the injured are admitted in Khulna Medical College Hospital, eight in Rampal Upazila Health Complex, five in Mongla Port Hospital and one in Dhaka.

Local lawmaker Talukder Abdul Khaleque blamed the negligence of the contractors as the reason behind the accident. He also demanded an investigation into the collapse as well as calling for rehabilitation of the injured victims.

So far, six of those killed in the collapse have been identified. They are: Amir Akunji, 35, son of Gourambhar Akbar Akunji and hailing from Bagerhat’s Rampal upazila; Rajnagar natives Maruf Sheikh, 42, son of Latif Sheikh, and Ansar Sheikh, 55, son of Dalil Uddin; Al Amin, 30, son of Khulna city resident Moazzem Hossain; Baki Billah, 30, son of Shamsur Rahman and hailing from Satkhira’s Kolaroa upazila; and Sirajul Islam,

Alleged Basherkella admin arrested n Mohammad Jamil Khan Detectives yesterday claimed that they have arrested the chief editorial administrator of Basherkella – the controversial Facebook page known for promoting Jamaat-e-Islami’s propaganda.

“A team of DB police arrested KM Ziauddin Fahad, who is also the Islami Chhatra Shibir’s chief publicity coordinator, from Comilla Cadet College staff building on Thursday evening and recovered a laptop and two Nokia handsets [from him],” said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of police.

However, Fahad’s family members contradicted the police claim, saying the 30-year-old was picked up by the police on March 9. The Basherkella page on Facebook also discarded the DB’s statement as a rumour, claiming that all of its administrators were safe.

Addressing a press conference at the DMP media centre yesterday, DB chief Monirul said Fahad had gone into hiding at the house of his sister – an assistant professor at Comilla Cadet College – after finding out that the police were looking for him.

“Our team was waiting in Comilla for a couple of days, and after verifying the location of Fahad – they arrested him,” he said.

The DB chief added that Fahad was operating around 50 other Facebook pages, including “Titumir Basherkella,” “Awami Tribunal,” “Bakshal Nipat Jak,” “I am Bangladeshi,”

KM Ziauddin Fahad, the alleged chief editorial administrator of Basherkella - a Facebook page promoting Jamaat propaganda, is presented before journalists at the DMP media centre yesterday after being held by the DB from Comilla on Thursday DHAKA TRIBUNE “Digital Rupe Bakshal,” “BAN Baskhali News24,” “Islami Online Activist,” “Tarun Projonmo,” “Basherkella USA,” and “Vision 2021.”

During primary interrogation, the detainee confessed to his involvement in managing the Facebook pages, Monirul said.

Using nearly 50 email addresses and Facebook profiles with names such as “Truth Finder” and “Biplob Dahan,” Fahad had been operating Basherkella and the other pages, the DB official said.

There are reportedly 50 Jamaat sympathisers – each with a minimum of five email addresses – who work as co-administrators of these pages.

Fahad was involved in spreading propaganda against the government, the judiciary, the police, the Rapid Action Battalion and other state organs, he added.

However, Fahad’s father Khondokar Mohammad Samiuddin – told the Dhaka

Tribune that his wife and son were visiting his daughter’s house in Comilla when a DB team detained him on March 9.

Identifying himself as a Freedom Fighter commander, Samiuddin said he was now the chairman of Shadhonpur union of Chittagong’s Bashkhali upazila.

Saying Fahad was a student of law at Chittagong’s Premier University, Samiuddin said: “I have no knowledge about his involvement in such activities [surrounding Basherkella] and I believe he is innocent.”

The Basherkella page, on the other hand, also made a post claiming that Fahad was not it administrator, and termed the whole incident as the government’s attempt to interfere with social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Magistrate Mollah Saiful Islam placed Fahad under an eightday remand in an ICT case yesterday.

The magistrate passed the order when DB Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman – the investigation officer of the case – sought a 10-day remand after showing the detainee arrested in a case filed with Pallabi police station. l

35, son of Shyamnagar upazila’s Baintola.

Factory to resume operation

When the roof of the under-construction building collapse, it did not cause any damage to the nearby main building of the Mongla Cement Factory.

As the operating cement factory stood unharmed, work at the main unit would resume today, said the factory’s Deputy General Manager Maksudul Karim.

Meanwhile, factory DGM Captain Helal said a four-member committee has been formed by the Sena Kalyan Sangshta to investigate the cause of the collapse.

The welfare organisation’s acting chief – Brig Gen Selim – however refused to speculate on the possible cause of the incident. Saying it was a technical issue, he added that it was the probe committee’s job to find out the reason. l

DNA tests, fingerprinting on cards for Farabi n Mohammad Jamil Khan Detectives will seek to obtain DNA samples and fingerprints of Shafiur Rahman Farabi, the prime suspect in writer Avijit Roy’s murder, after his interrogation in 10 days’ remand failed to produce a breakthrough in the investigation.

“In addition to conducting a DNA test, we will collect Farabi’s fingerprints to match them against evidence collected from the crime scene,” Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of Police, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Asked about Farabi’s remand which ended yesterday, Monirul said investigators were filing another case against him under the ICT Act for instigating violence on Facebook. Detectives said he would be shown arrested in the case.

“If the court grants us more time to interrogate him, we hope to get something useful from him,” Monirul said.

Avijit and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya, were brutally attacked on February 26 at Dhaka University’s TSC roundabout. Avijit succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital some hours after the attack. Bonya is now being treated at a hospital in the US. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also investigating the murder. The FBI team, having obtained permission from a local court, sent 13 specimens from the crime scene to their laboratory in the United States for testing.

Farabi was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion on March 2.

Detectives are conducting an intensified search for Redwanul Azad Rana, the suspected mastermind of the Avijit killing.

A letter has been sent to immigration police and the BGB to bar Rana, who is also a listed accused in the blogger Rajib Haider murder case, from leaving Bangladesh. , Monirul Islam, also the spokesperson of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, said police had still not tracked down the suspected criminal mastermind.

“Our team is investigating the case and trying to locate Rana and 10 others whose names appeared on Farabi’s Facebook page,” added Monirul. l

DT

4 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Inu tells media to remain watchful of biggest challenges n UNB

Taslima Pokkho, an online platform, forms a human chain in the capital’s Shahbagh area yesterday to reinstate human rights of exiled writer Taslima Nasreen by bringing her back to the country MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Aminbazar six-murder trial faces further hurdles n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The trial of much-talked-about killing of six students at Aminbazar, on the outskirts of the capital in 2011, has been sluggish due to non-appearance of prosecution witnesses.

Earlier, the case proceedings had been stalled for more than a year since the Savar police had taken the time to file a report on the death of an accused in the case.

Even though the report was submitted in November last year, the Second Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court in Dhaka deferred the proceedings on several occasions as the prosecution had failed to produce the witnesses before it.

The court on July 8, 2013 indicted 60 people of Bardeshi village in Aminbazar while the trial began with the deposition of the complainant, then sub-inspector Anwar Hossain of Savar police, on October 30, 2013.

There are 91 other prosecution witnesses to testify at the court.

On the night of Shab-e-Barat of July 18, 2011, a gang killed the six students near Aminbazar bridge, and took the bodies to Keblarchar, located more than half a kilometre away, on the advice of police. They called villagers saying that robbers had been caught.

The villagers then beat up the teenagers, and this was how the murders were labelled by the accused as an incident of mob beating.

SI Anwar filed the murder case with Savar police accusing 500-600 unidentified villagers.

Admitting slow progress of the case, additional public prosecutor Shakila Jasmine Mitu told the Dhaka Tribune that the court could not continue recording deposition of witnesses on many scheduled dates due to delay in submission of the police report.

“The depositions resumed recently but the witnesses could not be produced before the court because of the ongoing blockade and hartal,” she added.

Latest, the court earlier this month had to defer the proceedings as the second witness

did not appear before it.

Following the death of accused Rashad Miah on January 1 last year at his house, the court directed the Savar police to submit a report before it mentioning the reason behind his death.

Sources say the accused died of a heart attack.

Of the 60 accused, 14 gave confessional statements before magistrates on different dates. Forty six accused are now on bail, four in jail custody and nine accused are on the run.

On January 13, 2013, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, an additional superintendent of RAB, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet before the court.

The dead students are Tipu Sultan of Tejgaon College, Towhidur Rahman Palash, Kamruzzaman Kanto and Ibrahim Khalil of Mirpur Bangla College, Shams Rahim Shamam of Maple Leaf International School and Sitaf Jabi Munif of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology. Their friend Al Amin, who was with them at that time and sustained severe injuries, is the lone survivor of the incident. l

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has asked the media to remain watchful of the most dire challenges, including religious extremism and militancy, on the way to attain a vibrant and pluralistic media environment in South Asia.

Speaking at the inauguration of a daylong workshop titled “Saarc: Opportunities and challenges in media” yesterday, the minister also urged the media to play a pivotal role in the complex scenario of the region where democracy and secularism are in a fierce battle with religion-based politics, militancy and communalism.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Saarc Information Centre (SIC) at a city hotel.

Inu said Bangladesh government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stands for free, vibrant, pluralistic and responsible media.

“We don’t have ‘embedded’ journalists or ‘spin doctors’ to manipulate media,” he stated.

Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed presided over the inaugural session. Lakshmi Bilas Koirala, director general of Nepal’s Department of Information and Director of SIC, and Abdul Motaleb Sarker, director general (Saarc) of the Foreign Ministry also spoke on the occasion.

Inu also said the ethno-cultural-religious violence triggered by trans-nationalisation and religious extremism has not only affected South Asia but the whole world. And failed extremist political parties resorted to violence in the name of religion.

He underscored the need for eliminating terrorism, yellow journalism and religious extremism as they pose major threats both to free media and democracy and tend to tyranny of majority and ignoring minority people which he said are antagonistic to democratic norms.

Inu detected seven dire challenges namely religious extremism, militancy, minority exploitation, cross-border terrorism, racism, militarisation and colonial bureaucracy which the media has to contemplate to overcome in attaining its destiny.

He expressed high hopes that South Asia will further flourish if all media join hand in hand to shun militancy and advocate for green, digital development and for policy of inclusion of the marginalised section of people in society and politics.

The workshop was attended by 60 people, including Principal Information Officer Tasir Ahmed and Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh Shah Alamgir, among others. l

Khaleda likely to be made defendant in Dandy Dyeing case n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia is likely to be made a defendant in a case filed against directors of Dandy Dyeing Limited for defaulting on a Tk45.49 crore loan.

Khaleda Zia’s sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, among other directors of Dandy Dyeing, are defendants in the case filed by the state-owned Sonali Bank.

Arafat Rahman Koko died at his residence in Malaysia on January 24.

Following the death of Koko, the lawyers of Sonali Bank filed a petition with the court seeking inclusion of Khaleda Zia’s name in the case.

Jahangir Hossain, a counsel for Sonali Bank, said: “We filed the petition for the sake of justice following the death of Koko.”

According to court sources, on March 8, Sonali Bank Senior Executive Officer Nazrul Islam filed a petition with Dhaka Artha Rin Adalat 1 (money loan court).

The court’s acting judge Ruksana Parvin Happy fixed March 16 for hearing on the petition

to decide whether to accept or reject the plea.

Himadri Kumar Mozumder, a civil lawyer, said: “As per law the plaintiff can file the petition seeking inclusion of Khaleda Zia in the case as the deceased Koko has no son.”

The other defendants are Dandy Dyeing Director Tarique Rahman’s business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun, his wife Shahina Begum, late Sayeed Iskander’s wife Nasrin Iskander and his sons Shams Iskander and Shafin Iskander and daughter Sumaiya Iskander, Gazi Galib Abdus Sattar, Shamsun Nahar and Masud Hassan.

According to the case statement, the defendants on February 24, 1993, applied for a loan for Dandy Dyeing. On May 9, the bank granted the loan.

On October 16, 2001, the bank’s governing body relieved the interests on the loan following an application from the defendants. Later, the loan was rescheduled.

The case was filed as the defendants did not repay the loan although the bank had issued a final notice on February 28, 2010 asking them to repay the money. l

DT

NEWS 5

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Santu Larma: Fight for Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord from May n

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya “Santu” Larma has said people of Chittagong Hill Tracts will begin a fight for full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord on May 1 unless the government takes effective initiatives to that end by April 30.

Speaking at the 16th annual council of Pahari Chhatra Parishad’s Bandarban unit yesterday, he criticised the government for not showing any intent for implementing the peace accord and claimed that there was no progress in realising the treaty.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was signed on December 2, 1997, recognising the reestablishment of the rights of the indigenous people over the CHT region The president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS) slammed the government for issuing hollow and false statements to the domestic and international communities about successfully spending millions for establishing peace and carrying out development works in the hill tracts.

The PCJSS chief urged students to unite against all state aggression against the indigenous communities.

On March 11, at least 20 people – mostly PCJSS members – were injured in a series of clashes with the supporters of Jago Parbatyabashi – a newly formed platform – in Bandarban. The clashes took place during a hartal called by Jago Parbatyabashi, which coincided with Santu Larma’s visit to the town.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was signed on December 2, 1997, recognising the re-establishment of the rights of the indigenous people over the CHT region.

The annual council of Pahari Chhatra Parishad’s Bandarban unit was held in the town’s Farukpara Community Hall. l

Still no trace of Salahuddin 72 hours later n Mohammad Jamil Khan More than 72 hours after his disappearance, police yesterday said they still had no information about the whereabouts of BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed.

A High Court bench Thursday asked law enforcers and the government to explain why they should not be directed to find Salahuddin and bring him before it on Sunday.

The BNP leader disappeared around 10pm Tuesday night when five or six people claiming to belong to the Detective Branch (DB) of Police picked him up from a house in Uttara, his family has said.

Police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have denied arresting Salahuddin, who faces a number of arson and blast cases.

But police said they now know whose flat

the politician went missing from.

The flat’s tenant has been identified as Habib Hasnat, deputy managing director of First Security Bank.

Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Uttara West police station, said police were searching for Habib.

“We have contacted the bank’s top officials who told us that Habib is currently on leave,” Rafiq said.

The CCTV footage of the area has not helped the investigation.

A police official of Uttara West police station, asking not to be named, said the CCTV footage analysed by the detectives did not cover the building on Road 13/B, Sector 3 where Salahuddin was last known to be.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a press

briefing yesterday, alleged that Salahuddin had been abducted because he was issuing statements and announcing programmes against the government.

The DMP commissioner’s spokesperson, DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam, said no agency had yet handed Salahuddin over to them. He said he had no information on the missing politician’s whereabouts.

In response to a question, he said law enforcers may arrest anyone on suspicion but according to the law, the arrestee must be placed before a court within 24 hours.

Several eyewitnesses alleged that they had seen four or five armed people entering the building in Uttara’s Sector 3 at the time Salahuddin was picked up. They said there were several vehicles parked outside the three-storey building. l

Aspirant mayoral and councillor candidates for the Dhaka city polls have started election publicity at various points in the capital although the Election Commission is yet to declare the schedules for elections. The photo was taken from Ramna in Dhaka SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Dismembered body identified as drug dealer’s wife, no arrest yet n Mohammad Jamil Khan A dismembered body of a woman, found in Fakirapool area in the capital on Tuesday, has been identified by her younger brother at the Dhaka Medical College morgue.

The victim, Shimul Khatun, 23, was the wife of Nasir, a drug dealer based in Fakirapool area, who was recently arrested and sentenced to one year of imprisonment by a mobile court.

After confirming Shimul’s identity yesterday, her brother Md Mamun said: “I do not know who could have done this; she did not

have any enemies.”

Hailing from Gobindapur village in Rajshahi, the siblings were not in touch with any close family members, Mamun told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Our mother died, and we are estranged with our father who married another woman.

My sister was the only family member I had.

She used to work in an RMG factory before she got married to Nasir a year and a half ago,” he said.

Mamun asked the police to hand Shimul’s body to charity organisation Anjuman Mufidul Islam for burial.

“I don’t have enough money to conduct the [burial] rituals, and my sister supported me when she was alive,” he said.

However, police is suspecting that Shimul may have been a victim of her husband’s involvement in a drug-related feud.

Mobarak Hossain Monti, owner of Rokeya Ahsan Manzil, where Shimul’s body parts were found, and his brother Tapu are also local drug dealers and went into hiding soon after the incident.

Sources at Motijheel police station said Shimul might have been killed over a business conflict between Monti and Nasir.

Following the recovery of Shimul’s body parts, Motijheel police filed a case in this regard.

Contacted by the Dhaka Tribune, Sub-Inspector Mafizur Rahman at Motijheel police station, who is also the case’s investigation officer, said: “We have not arrested anyone yet.

But we have been talking to the victim’s family and suspect her husband’s business conflict may have caused this.

“We are working on locating the local drug dealers and drug users. We also hope of being able to arrest the killers of Shimul as soon as possible.” l

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BSF intrudes into Tetulia border village n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

Chhatra League activists demonstrate in front of the capital’s National Press Club yesterday protesting a recent alleged abduction attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the United States SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Sylhet Chhatra League factions clash, vandalise government offices n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Members of two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League ran amok in Sylhet’s Taltola over establishing dominion on Thursday night, setting off crude bombs and vandalising government offices.

Supporters of Sylhet Chhatra League President Shahriar Alam Samad clashed with those of former joint convener of Sylhet city Chhatra League Pijush Kanti Dey, creating tension in the area.

They vandalised windows of the local

BUFT team discusses cooperation with Chinese Embassy n Tribune Report A team of the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) headed by its founder Chairman Muzaffar U Siddique, visited the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Dhaka on March 10.

Chen Shuang, cultural counsellor of the embassy, and Huang Lei, second secretary of the cultural section, discussed a proposed collaborative visit to the Wuhan Textile University of China.

The BUFT team elaborated its role in promoting readymade garments and textile-related education in Bangladesh. They also discussed various issues related to fashion education in China. Faruque Hassan, member of BUFT’s board of trustees and Prof Dr Syed Masud Husain, vice-chancellor of BUFT were present in the meeting, among others.

public works office, sub-registrar’s office and some shops. Four motorbikes, two rickshaws, a van and a bicycle were also set on fire.

Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali police station Asaduzzaman said the clash erupted when Samad’s followers swooped on Pijush’s supporters, who were hanging out in front of the public works office around 10pm.

But Samad said it was the supporters of Pijush who made the attack on a demonstration staged by his group against the abduction attempt of Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the US. He also claimed that his rivals set the vehi-

cles alight and were scapegoating his supporters for the damage.

Pijush said he was in Companiganj during the incident and the motorcycle of one of his supporters was set ablaze. Samad also said he was not present at the scene.

Witnesses claimed they heard gunshots during the clash but police denied.

A blood-stained machete was also recovered from the scene.

An official of the public works office said top officials were on the third floor when the clash broke out. l

A group of 10-12 BSF officials crossed Tetulia border and illegally entered a village yesterday, said a BGB official.

Panchagarh 18 BGB battalion Assistant Director Imam Hossain said the BSF members of India’s Murikhawa outpost intruded into Siddiknagar village and threatened locals with detention. Some villagers put up resistance, forcing the BSF members to go back but one of them accidentally left a walkie-talkie which BGB later recovered.

Imam said the BGB had strongly protested the intrusion.

Both the BGB and BSF deployed additional troops in the wake of apprehension among locals about an untoward situation.

Some locals claimed that BSF officials often cross the border to enter the village because of irregular BGB vigilance.

On February 28, some BSF members of Singpara outpost intruded into Namla village in Panchagarh Sadar upazila and fired several shots but hurriedly returned when BGB officials of Singroad outpost arrived on the scene shortly. l

Suranjit asks BNP to join city polls n Tribune Report Awami League Advisory Committee Member Suranjit Sengupta yesterday urged the BNP to participate in the upcoming Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city corporation polls.

The ruling party’s senior leader also hoped that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would announce the decision to join the polls soon.

Suranjit Sengupta made the statement while addressing a discussion programme organised by Nouka Samarthak Gosthi, a proAL platform, at the Institute of Diploma Engineers in the capital.

“It had been the BNP’s demand that the elections to the city corporations be held.

They have participated in every city corporation polls till now and have no reason to boycott the upcoming ones. Come and take part in the election,” he said. l

Jubo Dal man held over bomb attack on Moinuddin’s house n CU Correspondent Police yesterday arrested accused Jubo Dal activist Md Rubel in a case filed in connection with crude bomb attack at Jatiya Samajtantrick Dal president Moinuddin Khan Badal’s residence.

Rubel, 26, son of Moharraf Ali, was arrested from Bakalia area in the city, OC Mohammed Mohsin of Bakalia police station.

OC Mohsin said acting on a tip-off police arrested the accused from Shah Amanat Bridge area of Bakalia around noon.

On January 19, miscreants had hurled two crude bombs at the ruling party alliance lawmaker Moinuddin’s house at Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong. Afterwards, Boalkhali police filed a case accusing 35 BNP-Jamaat men in connection with the crude bomb attack. l

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SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

84% coastal people unaware of salinity in groundwater n Tribune Report About 84% coastal people are not aware of the presence of salinity in groundwater in the country’s coastal region, although salinity is affecting health of coastal inhabitants, including spread of diarrhoea, dysentery, itching, sore and other skin troubles, a study reveals.

The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) have conducted the study titled, “Joint Action Research on Salt Water Intrusion in Groundwater in the Coastal Area.” Starting from September 2010, the study was completed in December 2014. But the final report of the study is yet to be prepared.

The study was carried out in parts of three districts of Khulna, Jessore and Satkhira with about 1,534 square kilometres, aiming to as-

sess salinity extent and intrusion, and aquifer vulnerability in the area.

Under the climate change condition in the year of 2050, area of fresh water zone will decrease compared to present situation.

Within the saline zone, areas under severe salinity will increase by 14% by 2050, said the study.

Study’s project leader M Rezaul Hasan said salinity had been increasing in the coastal aquifer due to sea level rise caused by global climate change, but the people of the coastal region are not aware of the presence of salinity in groundwater as they are habituated with salinity.

The use of saline water for shrimp culture by the coastal people has been identified as a major reason for increasing salinity in the shallow aquifer.

Coastal aquifers are vital sources of fresh water throughout the world. Bangladesh, especially the low-lying coastal areas, is likely to be in extreme vulnerable condition under the current scenario of changes in climate condition because of its geographic location and low-lying topography.

This scenario is likely to be worsened by reduced dry period flow and increased abstraction of water for domestic, industrial, irrigation and other needs.

Rezaul Hasan said the study predicted that aquifer saline zone will increase by 2.27% by 2050 while fresh water zone will decrease by 3.44%.

“But severe salinity zone will increase by 14% by 2050 accelerating fresh water crisis in the coastal region, which is a great concern for us,” he added. l

TB patients die in Jessore n Jessore Correspondent A patient died of tuberculosis (TB) in Jessore yesterday. The deceased Ananda Biswas, 60, was from the Alaipur village of Bagharpara upazila in Jessore.

Radha Rani Biswas, wife of Ananda, said her husband had been suffering for the past several months. He was taken to the Bagharpara health complex on Wednesday when his coughs became alarming. After his condition deteriorated he was taken to the Jessore General Hospital at around 9am yesterday. He died there at quarter to one in the afternoon.

It was found from the hospital sources that another TB patient Lutfur Rahman, 55, from Samta village of Jessore’s Sharsha upazila had died five days earlier on March 8.

Resident medical officer of Jessore General Hospital Samsul Islam Dodul said: “The two patients suffering from TB did not come for treatment in time. They were in the final stages so nothing could be done.” l

visit our website @

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TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:08AM

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33

19

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32

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18

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35

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Security has been beefed up with barbed wires around Rajshahi Central Jail after a security guard sustained injuries in a crude bomb blast in front of the jail on Thursday night AZAHAR UDDIN

Overburdened with loans, businessman commits suicide n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:53am 6:08am 12:08am 4:27pm 6:07pm 7:22pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Failing to repay loan, a local businessman of Kalighat upazila committed suicide at a rest house in Sylhet on Thursday.

Body of Rezaul Karim, 40, was recovered from Kushiara Rest House in Bandarbazar of the city.

Rezaul, hailing from Comilla’s Burichong upazila, had been living with his family in Sylhet for the last 25 years and used to run business there. He was burdened with a loan of around Tk1.5 crore for the last two years and was due to pay Tk51 lakh to two brothers – Khokon and Siddique, said Sunil Sinha, an-

other local businessman from Kalighat.

Police said Rezaul left a suicide note mentioning that he committed suicide because he was overburdened with loans. He wrote the names of Khokon and Siddique in the note mentioning that they had been presserising him to repay their money for long.

Following the note, police arrested Amir Hossain Khokon, 52, and Monwar Hossain Siddique, 30, on Thursday evening, said Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman.

He said on Wednesday night, Rezaul checked in at Kushiara Rest House and mentioned in the register that he was there to receive a relative coming from abroad. On

Thursday morning, finding his door locked, the hotel authorities broke the door and found Rezaul’s body lying on the bed. They saw one empty bottle of pesticide and one file of sedative lying beside his body.

Being informed, police went to the spot and recovered his body along with the suicide note. His body was sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Through primary investigation, police found that Rezaul used to run business in Kalighat and was under debt. On Wednesday evening, one of the debtors rebuked Rezaul for repaying his money. A case for instigating suicide was filed against Khokon and Siddique, said the OC. l

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2 policemen hurt in bomb blast while conducting drive n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Some unidentified miscreants set a bus on fire in Shasongaccha area of Comilla yesterday afternoon. However, no casualty was reported in the incident DHAKA TRIBUNE

Obscene film posters take over school streets in Kishoreganj n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj The streets of Kotiadi Degree College and Pilot Model High School in Kotiadi upazila of Kishoreganj are flooded with obscene posters of various films.

Locals alleged that such open display of provocative posters in the school area had been having a negative impact on the students, who sometimes skip classes to go to the cinema halls.

The two cinema halls in the area are reputed for screening various indecent and inappropriate films. One of them, Mukul Cinema, is showing a Bangla movie titled ‘Noshta Meye’, the poster of which has the female

18 sued over arson attack

n Our Correspondent, Jhalkati A case was filed yesterday against BNP 18 leaders and activist in connection with the torching of a land office in Jhalkati Sadar upazila on Thursday.

Badal Khalifa, sub-inspector of Jhalakati Sadar police station, filed the case on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, police arrested four people in this connection. A group of miscreants torched the local land office in Ponabalia union of Sadar upazila early Thursday, on the fifth day of the 120-hour countrywide hartal enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. l

characters posed in obscene manners.

During a recent visit, a group of young schoolgoers were seen glued to the posters of this movie displayed near the Bata Showroom.

Posters were also seen at upazila intersection, bus stand, college gate, old bazar and patpotti road.

These roads are regularly used by the students of nearby Pilot Model High School, Kotiadi Degree College, Kotiadi Mohila College and Adarsha Bidda Niketon High School.

Tania, a college student, said the posters are strategically displayed at places which could not be avoided. “This is embarrassing for us,” she added.

Expressing his concern, Azizul Haq, a guardian said the cinema owners prefer public places like schools, colleges and markets to paste the posters. “They are consciously targeting the young minds of the country to make them go ashtray. This needs to stop.”

Shafiqul Islam, who did not wish to name the school he teaches at, said the situation had been going on for a long time. He urged the administration take quick action against screening of such films.

When contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kotiadi, Nazrul Islam said: “I am not aware of the issue. I will look into it and if any such movies are being shown, I will take proper action.” l

Two policemen were injured as miscreants hurled crude bombs on them while law enforcers conducting a drive in Shibtala area of Chapainawabganj town to arrest the prime accused in Arif murder case.

A Shibir activist also received bullet injury as police open fired to disperse the attackers.

Officer-in-Charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar police station Khandakar Golam Mortuza told the Dhaka Tribune that acting on a tip off a team of had conducted drive in Shibtola area around 11am to arrest accused in Arif Hossain murder case.

But sensing the presence of law enforcers, some unidentified miscreants had thrown crude bombs on the police that left Sub-Inspector Monir and Constable Raseduzzaman injured.

Then, police opened fire on them, leaving Jibon, 20, who was involved with Jamaat politics, bullet injured. He was admitted to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.

Later, police arrested two others – Sohel Rana, 22, and Jewel, 20, of Rehaichar Adarshapara in the district town – from the spot.

Ariful Islam, 18, son of Ramjan Ali of Rehaichar Hatatpara under Chapainawabganj municipality and also a student of Nawabganj City College was hacked to death in front of Fulkuri Islami Academy on Thursday night.

A case was filed in this connection. l

Man kills cousin over family feud n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah A man allegedly hacked his cousin to death over family feud in Moheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah.

The deceased is Abul Hosssain Mandal, 40, son of Julifikar Ali Mandal of area and a local farmer.

Moheshpur OC Liakat Hossain said: “Abul was going to his cropland when his cousin Jewel Mandal attached and hacked him from behind around 5:30pm on Thursday.”

He said Jewel might have killed Abu over family feud.

Meanwhile, he also hacked one Rahajan Biswas when he had tried to save Abul from the attack.

The injured were taken to Moheshpur upazila health complex where he died around 9:30pm. l

Gaibandha land phones out of order for 23 days n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Land phones in Gaibandha town have been out of order for 23 days as the local telephone exchange has been out of commission.

As a result 1,425 connections remain dysfunctional.

While all the users suffer some form of inconvenience, it is especially bad at the government offices. Besides, communication via e-mail or FAX is also being hampered.

Surprisingly, the authorities concerned had

no idea how long it would take to get the exchange back on line.

Sources at Gaibandha BTCL office said the exchange went out of order on February 19 because of a technical error.

A Chinese company set up the exchange and it would not start working again as long as that company fixed the problem, the sources added.

Gaibandha Election Officer Shahinur Alam said they were struggling to maintain the official communications.

Besides, Gaibandha Fire Service and Civil

Defence Sub-Assistant Director Md Kobad Ali said they were out of connection for quite a few days.

Gaibandha telephone exchange Assistant Director Kafil Uddin acknowledged the matter and said that this had happened due to some bug in the software.

“Telephone and computer engineers from Rangpur, Dhaka and Bogra BTCL offices are trying their best to restore the connection as local engineers failed to do so.”

But he could not say when the exchange would become functional again. l

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Toxic wastes kill Korotoa River fishes n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh Several hundred maunds of fishes of different species in the Korotoa River have died after the release of toxic wastes from Panchagarh Sugar Mills Ltd. Local fishermen said untreated waste materials were released in the river after the mill was closed on March 9, turning the water black and producing a foul smell.

The toxic substances killed fishes of several sanctuaries set up in a 25km stretch from Panchagarh to Boalmari in the river.

For around four hours starting from 8am yesterday, hundreds of people from nearby

areas collected the dead fishes, including boal and grass carp, that surfaced in the water.

The sugar mill machinery were cleaned with caustic soda and the wastes were released in the river late on Thursday night, fishermen said.

They also feared that there would be an acute shortage of fishes of local species in the current season and there would be no breeding as toxic wastes killed the fishes.

Boda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Awal, Fisheries Officer Moksedur Rahman and several other officials visited the scene and a local fisheries association said it would demand compensation from the deputy commissioner.

Moksedur Rahman said the deaths of fishes had led to losses of more than Tk1 crore.

The upazila nirbahi officer said instructions had been given to local officials to take effective measures for containing the contamination of water and to protect the living fishes.

“Union parishad chairmen of Benghari Banagram and Kaliaganj have been allocated Tk50,000 each for taking necessary steps,” he added. But Managing Director of Panchagarh Sugar Mills Ltd, SM Abdur Rashid, denied that toxic wastes had killed the fishes.

“Wastes from the mill are drained into the river but those contain no toxic chemicals,” he observed. l

12 firebombs recovered, 3 held in Naogaon n Our Correspondent, Naogaon Police have recovered 12 petrol bombs from abandoned cowshed in Jatamrul village under Atrai upazila in Naogaon.

The law enforcers recovered the petrol bombs around 4:30am yesterday. Atrai OC Abdul Latif Khan confirmed the information.

He said: “After the recovery, we raided the nearby areas and detained three people from their suspected involvement with the matter.”

However, the identities of the detainees could not be ascertained yet. l

Sudden outbreak of diarrhoea and pneumonia n Our Correspondent, Kurigram A sudden outbreak of diarrhoea and pneumonia has affected at least 50 -people at Chilmari upazila in Kurigram in the past one week, half of whom had to be hospitalised.

Sources at Chilmari Upazila Health Complex said they had 25 patients of the outbreak undergoing treatment at the hospital, the majority of whom are children, while many patients are going back home after getting treated at the outdoor.

“The outbreak is mainly due to the change of season. There is nothing to worry about.

The health complex is adequately stocked with medication to treat patients,” said Dr Abul Kalam Azad, upazila health and family planning officer in Chilmari.

However, the doctors and nurses are having trouble tackling the sudden influx of patients, sources said.

Patients have also been complaining about not getting beds or proper service. “I brought my 10-month-old son here because he has diarrhoea, but they have not been able to give us a bed. There are many others who are staying in the corridor outside the wards,” said Lata, resident of Thanahat union in Chilmari. l

Trees along a Kishoreganj road dying n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Around 150 trees along the road connecting Pakundia and Hossainpur upazilas in Kishoreganj have died for alleged negligence of the Forest Department.

Along the nine kilometre long road, 400-500 trees, including Mehogony, Akashmoni and Shishu trees are planted. Among them, around 150 trees planted on three km range along the road were found dead on a visit recently.

Locals of Pakundia upazila said at night miscreants were cutting down those dead trees and removing them away, much to the indifference of the Forest Department.

Firoz Miya, a resident of Pakundia village, said trees were dying at an alarming rate due to the indifference of the authorities concerned. Moreover, miscreants are stealing those trees without any obstacle. l

Farmers pass a busy time harvesting wheat in Rajshahi’s Varendra area where wheat had a bumper production this year. The Varendra area, which is starved of ground water has the perfect environment for wheat cultivation as the grain requires less irrigation. This has made wheat very popular with the farmers. The photo was taken at Chabbish Nagar village of Godagari upazila of Rajshahi yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Mystery shrouds over suspended SI going missing from police lines n Our Correspondent, Barisal

A sub-inspector, who was suspended on charge of torturing his minor aged wife, was reported as missing from police lines.

Sub-Inspector Abdul Wares, 40, was suspended on March 12 following victim’s mother filed a case with Kawnia police station on March 10.

Abu Zafar, inspector of reserved force at Barisal police lines, told the Dhaka Tribune that Wares had remained missing since Thursday afternoon.

The incident of his missing was informed higher police official, said Abu Zafar.

Earlier, the SI was closed after his wife, Aktar Marufa, a class eight student, was found unconscious in a locked room on March 5.

Since the recovery of the girl, her fami-

ly had been trying to file a case against the sub-inspector, police registered the case on March 10 after the Bangladesh Women Lawyers’ Association intervened in the matter.

Mahmuda Begum, mother of the victim, filed the case.

According to the case, Sub-Inspector Wares married Habiba after intimidating her family members in 2013.

SI Wares also managed a marriage certificate from Mawlana Abu Taher, marriage register at Puranpara marriage registry office showing fake birth certificate of Marufa.

Since their marriage, Wares used to torture Habiba regularly for dowry, said the case statement.

Habiba, third wife of Wares, also received treatment at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital from June 12 to 16, 2014 after

being physically tortured by the police official, said the case statement.

Shoibal Kanti Chowdhury, commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said missing report of accused SI Wares from police line was reported and police were trying to arrest him.

Muhammad Selim Reza, investigation officer of the case, failed to explain his failure to arrest the accused. He said the investigation of the case was going on.

Mahmuda Begum expressing her exclamation about fleeing of SI Wares from police custody. She said Wares with the help of other policemen had managed to flee from police lines.

She demanded immediate arrest of the accused and measures for ensuring safety and security of her daughter. l

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10 WORLD

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Atheistic China claims ‘right to reincarnate’ Dalai Lama

After years of stalemate, Sweden seeks London date with Assange

n Reuters

n AP, Beijing China’s Communist Party is officially atheist, but that has not stopped it from making some impassioned claims on the afterlife.

Some of the strongest language at this week’s annual national congress has been reserved for the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader. The fury is over his claim in recent interviews that he may not be reincarnated, ending the Dalai Lama’s seven-century lineage. His comments undercut Beijing’s plans to pick a China-friendly successor.

China’s stance: The Dalai Lama doesn’t control the next life. We do.

Tibet’s former governor, Padma Choling, told reporters this week in Beijing that the Dalai Lama wants “to contend with the Chinese central government for the right to reincarnate.”

“Can he decide when to cease to reincarnate? That’s impossible.” Padma said.

Zhu Weiqun, a senior government adviser, followed up in similarly caustic language, declaring Wednesday that “the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the central government, not by any other sides.”

He blasted the Dalai Lama’s refusal to bend to Beijing’s political demands as a “dual betrayal” to China and his faith. He said the religious leader displayed a “very unserious, very disrespectful attitude” by suggesting he might be reincarnated as a foreigner, a woman or even a bee.

German court overturns ban on headscarves for Muslim women teachers

n Reuters Muslim women teachers can wear headscarves as long as it does not cause disruption in school, Germany’s top court said in a ruling that overturns an earlier ban and may fuel debate about what some nationalist groups see as creeping “Islamisation.”

The Constitutional Court struck down its own 2003 ban on headscarves for teachers, which had led some German states to forbid Muslim headscarves in schools while permitting the use of Christian symbols such as crucifixes and nuns’ habits. l

Global CO2 emissions ‘stalled’ in 2014

n BBC

The growth in global carbon emissions stalled last year, according to data from the International Energy Agency.

It marks the first time in 40 years that annual CO2 emissions growth has remained stable, in the absence of a major economic crisis, the agency said.

Annual global emissions remained at 32 gigatonnes in 2014, unchanged from the previous year. But the IEA warned that while the results were encouraging, this was no time for complacency.

“This is both a very welcome surprise and a significant one,” said IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol. l

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai lama “Is there anyone on earth who takes this sort of attitude toward his own reincarnation?” asked Zhu. China’s remarkable claims regarding the extent of its authority underscore the party’s grim determination to control a faith and a religious leader with enormous influence over Tibetans.

“It is meant to make the Dalai Lama whol-

AP

ly subordinate, in all matters, to the authority of the People’s Republic of China,” said Elliot Sperling, a professor at Indiana University and expert on China-Tibet relations.

There was no immediate comment on China’s latest statements from the self-declared Tibetan government in exile, established after the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. l

EU unlikely to agree to prolong Russia sanctions n Reuters

European Union leaders are unlikely to reach agreement at their summit next week to prolong economic sanctions on Russia that expire in July, a senior EU official said yesterday.

New sanctions on Russia are also off the table for now because EU governments want to give a chance to a fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

But some of the EU’s 28 member states had pushed for an early decision on extending

sanctions on Russia’s financial, energy and defense sectors adopted in July last year over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

While leaders will discuss sanctions at next week’s summit, the senior EU official said a majority would probably want to hold over discussion of renewing the economic sanctions on Russia until July.

“I don’t think there is unanimity at all for the rollover of sanctions, the sanctions that are due in July,” the official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said. l

Russian state TV shows Putin for first time in days n Reuters

Russian state television aired what it said was footage of President Vladimir Putin working at his residence outside Moscow yesterday, a first appearance since he dropped out of sight days ago, triggering rumors he was ill or sidelined by internal conflict.

In the footage, Putin was shown in his office at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, where he conducts many of his meetings, sitting across a table from Supreme Court head Vyacheslav Lebedev and talking about plans to

reform the judicial system.

Dressed in grey suit and a blue patterned tie, he looked in no way different from usual. In the brief footage, he was shown nodding and smiling as Lebedev spoke and could be heard saying a few words about the court system.

A visit by Putin to the Kazakh capital, which was to have taken plan this week, was canceled with no official explanation, while a meeting in Moscow with a delegation from the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia was also called off. l

Swedish prosecutors want to question Julian Assange in London over allegations of sexual assault, potentially ending an impasse that left the WikiLeaks founder holed up for almost three years in Ecuador’s embassy.

Swedish prosecutors said yesterday they had asked for Assange’s approval to question him in London, a U-turn after years of insisting he must go to Stockholm for questioning about alleged assaults against two women in 2010.

Assange denies the allegations, which are not related to WikiLeaks’ publication of US military and diplomatic documents, also in 2010. He refused to go, arguing Sweden could send him on to the United States where he might face trial.

One of Assange’s lawyers said he welcomed the request but expressed concern the process could take time because approval was needed from British and Ecuadorian authorities.

“He has been nagging for this for four years. He wants nothing more than to have an opportunity ... to give his version of what happened and to clear his name,” Assange’s lawyer Per Samuelson told Reuters.

Ecuador’s embassy in London could not immediately be reached for comment.

Assange, an Australian citizen, has been unable to leave Ecuador’s embassy since claiming asylum there in 2012.

Even if Sweden drops the investigation, he faces arrest by British police for jumping bail granted while the UK courts considered a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden. l

Governments should talk to Islamic State to get aid access: UNICEF

n Reuters Countries should negotiate with Islamic State to persuade it to let UN children’s agency UNICEF into areas the militants control, the aid organisation’s representative in Syria said yesterday.

Other UN agencies say they are struggling to get vital aid to millions of civilians in territory held by the fighters - but Islamic State is refusing to talk to them.

Negotiations should take place “at least to protect the children,” UNICEF’s Hanaa Singer told a news conference in Geneva.

“They refuse to talk to the UN for the time being,” she said. “But at the same time it’s not the responsibility only of the humanitarian agencies. This is a political responsibility, and for the political parties to talk and put pressure and start a dialogue with ISIS.” Asked if she meant that Syria or other countries with influence in the region should be talking to Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL, she said: “Other state parties, yes.”

Islamic State, an ultra-hardline offshoot of al Qaeda, has declared a caliphate in captured territory in Iraq and Syria and has gained global notoriety for killing or kidnapping members of ethnic and religious minorities and posting videos of its members killing Arab and Western hostages.

Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, said talks on humanitarian access were going on with other armed groups but “ISIL does not want to speak to the humanitarian agencies more than the other way around.” l

DT

WORLD 11

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

26/11 attack mastermind Lakhvi’s release ordered by Pakistan court n Agencies A Pakistani court yesterday declared as “illegal” the detention of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and ordered his release.

Justice Noor-ul-Haq Qureshi of the Islamabad High Court described as “null and void” the notifications that were issued

by Islamabad’s district administration for Lakhvi’s detention.

Immediately after the order, India reacted saying it is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to take all legal measures to ensure that Lakhvi does not come out of jail “The overwhelming evidence against 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has not been presented properly before court by Pakistani agencies. Pakistan should realise there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists,” the home ministry said in a statement This is the second time that the same judge

of the Islamabad High Court has ordered Lakhvi’s release. An earlier order of the High Court was overturned by the Supreme Court in January, which said the high court’s decision was rushed.

On December 18 last year, the anti-terrorism court conducting the Mumbai attacks trial granted bail to Lakhvi but authorities subsequently detained him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law after the development sparked angry reactions from India and the US. l

India summons Pakistani envoy over release order of Lakhvi

n Agencies India yesterday said it was “extremely upset” over the verdict of a court in Islamabad ordering release of Lashkar terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan government.

The ministry of external affairs also summoned Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit to lodge a protest, Times Now reported.

India yesterday said it is the responsibility of Pakistan to keep him behind bars as there is overwhelming evidence of his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

“It is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to take all legal measures to ensure that Lakhvi does not come out of jail. Pakistan should realise that there are no good terrorists and bad terrorists, a fact which has been globally accepted,” a home ministry spokesperson said here. l

Japan signs arms deal with France

n AP, Tokyo

Japan and France signed an arms transfer agreement yesterday, paving the way for developing drones and other unmanned equipment together as Japan seeks to play a greater military role internationally.

In the talks on diplomacy and national security, the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers reached an agreement aimed at exchanges of defense equipment, services and technology and start talks on specific projects. The ministers signed the agreement at a joint news conference following the talks.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is preparing to make legal changes to accommodate plans to bolster Japan’s defense role, allowing it to defend a foreign country under attack amid China’s growing military presence in the region.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian cited drones as a possible candidate for their joint equipment development.

“France and Japan have a lot in common.

We are both maritime nations, and we have high-tech companies. Together, we can make a win-win situation,” he said at the news conference in Tokyo, through an interpreter.

Japan has signed similar arms equipment and technology transfer agreements with the US, Britain and Australia. l

FIle photo shows Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, as he leaves the court after a hearing in Islamabad AFP

India PM Modi begins landmark visit to Sri Lanka n AFP Narendra Modi has begun his trip to neighbouring Sri Lanka, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the island nation in nearly three decades.

Modi is looking to reassert India’s influence over Sri Lanka after its drift towards China.

The prime minister will hold talks with Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena, who has promised to repair international ties damaged under his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse’s China-friendly regime, after a ceremonial welcome in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital.

Modi will also address parliament and visit the Tamil-dominated northern Jaffna region on a visit that comes just weeks after Sirisena made India his first foreign port of call since his election in January.

While observers do not expect major policy initiatives so soon after the neighbouring leaders’ last meeting, it is seen as an important signal of a desire to reset ties.

“I am sure together we are going to script a golden chapter in the history of India-Sri Lanka relations,” Modi said this week as he set off on a three-nation tour that has already taken

him to the Seychelles and Mauritius.

He travels north on Saturday for a landmark visit to the Jaffna peninsula, home to the island’s Tamil minority and which bore the brunt of a 37-year separatist war in which India was intricately involved.

Modi is expected to push for demilitarisation in the former war zone and more autonomy for minority Tamils who share close cultural and religious ties with those across the Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu.

Modi will be the first Indian prime minister to hold bilateral talks in Colombo since 1987, although several predecessors attended regional summits.

When Rajiv Gandhi visited in 1987, the then premier was famously assaulted with a rifle butt by a Sri Lankan naval rating while inspecting a guard of honour.

Gandhi had gone to sign a bilateral pact that sought to end a rebellion by Tamil separatist fighters who had effectively enjoyed a safe haven in India since the mid 1980s.

Mangala Samaraweera, Sirisena’s foreign minister, has said that while Colombo wants to retain good relations with China, “we will not go overboard like the Rajapakse regime.” l

Suu Kyi’s party to compete in Myanmar vote

n Reuters

The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will contest the general election this year even if there is no change in the constitution to allow the Nobel laureate to become president, one of the party’s top leaders said yesterday.

The National League for Democracy would have more power to push for an end to the military’s veto over charter changes and remove the obstacles to her presidency if it wins the election, NLD Central Executive Committee Secretary Nyan Win said.

“We are going to compete,” he told Reuters in an interview. “First, we need the majority in parliament. After that, we will be in a stronger position and we hope we can change the constitution.”

The NLD had not previously committed to competing in the election, prompting speculation Suu Kyi was using participation as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the government.

Without Suu Kyi, who spent nearly two decades under house arrest for campaigning for democracy, the election would have lacked international legitimacy. Foreign governments lifted sanctions after 49 years of military rule ended in 2011 on condition of further democratic reforms.

The NLD and the government have been in a standoff over the constitution, which reserves a quarter of parliamentary seats and key government posts for the military and bars Suu Kyi from the presidency because her sons are foreign nationals.

Barring Suu Kyi from the presidency made no sense, US President Barack Obama said in November. The US has said it wants to see free and fair elections in Myanmar this year, but that was impossible without constitutional change, Nyan Win said. “The election may be free, but it won’t be fair,” he said. l

Rajapaksa blames India for election defeat

n Agencies

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has blamed India, the US and European countries for his humiliating defeat in the January election.

“It was very open- Americans, the Norwegians, Europeans were openly working against me. And RAW (India’s Research Analysis Wing),” Rajapaksa told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post in an interview.

“Both the US and India openly used their embassies to bring me down,” Rajapaksa said ahead of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Sri Lanka.

A media report from Colombo soon after Rajapaksa’s defeat in the January 8 election had said that a RAW official was instrumental in uniting rival political parties -- the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP)-- against him during the polls.

According to the report, the unnamed official was also asked to leave the country.

India had rejected the report saying that the normal tenure of an Indian diplomat in Sri lanka is three years and all officials who have been transferred during last year have completed that.

“It’s a normal transfer,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman had said. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Tighten insurance laws to prioritise safety

A

public enquiry should be held to ascertain the causes of Thursday’s roof collapse at a cement factory in Mongla which killed at least seven people and injured dozens more.

This type of loss of human life is almost always avoidable, but is sadly all too frequent. It is concerning that at the time the fire service closed rescue operations, the managers of the building were unable to properly confirm how many workers had been present at the site.

Major reforms must be undertaken to reduce the unacceptably high accident rates faced by the public in all aspects of life.

A culture of ensuring full compliance with safety regulations needs to be fostered across society. Authorities and businesses must be made to be more vigilant in guarding against risks and in ensuring better systems are in place to protect and save lives.

The finding published last month by an expert committee looking into the sinking of the Pinak 6, that none of the 73 ferries operating on the Mawa-Kawrakandi route should be regarded as fit for carrying passengers, gives an indication of the scale of the task at hand.

Making mandatory insurance requirements tougher for all businesses and transport operators should be part of a nationwide move towards improving safety standards.

Insurance companies have an incentive to ensure buildings and vessels are better maintained and operated. Experience shows that they can be very effective in reinforcing safety laws and ensuring authorities properly enforce standards.

This benefits everyone by preventing accidents. It is a cost-effective way to help prioritise public safety.

Everyone benefits by reducing risks to prevent accidents

Investigate Manna’s abuse claims

I

t is concerning that Mahmudur Rahman Manna, the Nagorik Oikya convener who has been held on remand in a sedition case, has alleged that he was tortured while in police custody at the DB headquarters.

Manna, who has been taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment after complaining of chest pain, made the claim in court after saying officers have been interrogating him daily for over 15 hours at a time.

Authorities must fully and openly investigate these claims. Manna is entitled to all his legal rights and a full and transparent legal process.

However serious the charges against an individual, there can be no excuse for any form of undocumented interrogation or mistreatment behind closed doors.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding Manna’s intentions, and the public deserves to know the details of the proceedings against him. There must be a full and thorough investigation into Manna’s claims that he was tortured in custody, that he was denied sleep or bed-rest, and that there was no doctor available at the DB. Any such allegations by any citizen have to be investigated openly and promptly.

Unlawful treatment and torture are never justified under any circumstances.

Police authorities need to demonstrate that they act lawfully and will openly investigate any claims of wrongdoing by officials.

If any irregularities are found in the treatment of suspects, the legal system needs to show that any individuals found guilty of perpetrating are held to account.

There is no excuse for mistreatment

Be heard

Writeto toDhaka DhakaTribune Tribune Write Tower,8/C 8/CPanthapath, Panthapath, Sukrabad, Shukrabad,Dhaka-1207 Dhaka-1207 FRFRTower, Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Sendususyour yourOp-Ed Op-Edarticles: articles: Send opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

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PM warns of action against Daily Star February 18

Faisal The paper called them fanatics. In what world can that be said to be hampering peace? It’s beneath the dignity of the prime minister’s post for her to wilfully overreact to a newspaper report like this. Has she forgotten that this is Bangladesh? There’s no need to whip up fear about obscure groupings when there are bigger threats to worry about.

ZARINA Are we heading for the curtailment of press freedom?

Monesa Stupid. Threatening a newspaper for

Graft cases: Arrest warrant for Khaleda

February 25 Sabina Faiz Rashid Oof! When will all this end? The situation on the streets worsen, schools and universities are closed, businesses get affected … her arrest will not make much of a difference now.

Golam Ahmed Khan Oh my!

Samia Khan This won’t solve the current situation I guess.

Ahad Miah About time.

Humayra Qadir The goose is cooked.

Shafiul elated with unexpected call-up

February 24 Abu Elias Sarker It won’t make any difference. Except Shakib, and to some extent Tamim, you can put all the others in one basket.

Dhaka Tribune’s Best-Dressed list from the Oscars 2015 red carpet February 24

Rumana Habib Loved Naomi Watts’s look. This was a year of surprisingly bhodro dresses.

publishing a photograph?

J Biswas The press has shown extreme dishonesty by publishing a news without the PMO’s permission.

Seira What peaceful situation? What’s wrong with calling a spade a spade? Are we still keeping our heads buried in the sand?

My Name is Khan Now that they have started fighting among themselves … feels good to watch this show of annihilation of the enemies of peace and justice.

DT

AL, BNP preparing response to Ban Ki-moon letters February 19

Mijan We welcome Mr Ban Ki-Moon for the national dialog. rose Mr Ban Ki-Moon has indeed taken an effective step in order to solve the problem.

Will Modi realise his superpower aspirations?

February 18 realist Good write-up. Looking forward to Part-II of this series.

Road traffic laws need more than cosmetic updates

February 19 Osmania If traffic laws were enforced properly, congestion would end on the roads but increase in our jails, once all the dangerous drivers start getting locked-up.

Protect publishers from intimidation

February 19 Tristaterefugee Hope the book’s sales go up as a result of this censorship.

DT

OPINION 13

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

A meaningless ballot?

BIGSTOCK

n Ryan Burkwood

O

ne person, one vote, equal representation. The core of democratic philosophy. But things are not always as simple as they seem. In the UK, we have 650 constituencies (segments of the country used to elect members of parliament).

The populations in these constituencies range from the large -- 110,924 in the Isle of Wight to the tiny 21,837 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scotland. Already there is an obvious problem with these numbers. If you happen to live in Na h-Eileanan, your vote is almost five times as powerful as the poor voters on

the Isle of Wight.

I have personally lived in two constituencies with overwhelming majorities. I still go to vote but with the full knowledge that my ballot is meaningless -- the result is a foregone conclusion. I can hardly blame people for not bothering. Even during landslide elections, 70% of seats do not change. UK elections are now decided in around 80-100 seats. This means the rest of the country is largely ignored.

The problem runs deeper still when you take into account our “first past the post” system. Under this arrangement, as soon as a candidate polls more than 51% of the votes

in their area, they have won, the rest of the votes are simply discarded.

This was introduced to provide us with strong governments that wouldn’t be infiltrated by extremist groups (something that was extremely important especially after the first and second World Wars with the rise of fascism).

This system has given us strong governments with clear mandates, it has served us well. Until now. In our last election there was no clear mandate, and the conservatives were forced to either form a minority government that could fall with a vote of no confidence at any time, or form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems), a left-leaning party most notable for its pledge to abolish tuition fees which led to its core supporters being students. The Lib Dems have hemorrhaged support since entering the coalition after going back on their manifesto pledges time and again.

In the UK, we are peddled the myth that an alternative system of proportional representation where seats in parliament are apportioned according to a national percentage of votes received would lead to chaos and weak government. Ignoring the fact that most European countries have been doing this for years and getting along just fine, thank you very much.

This has accelerated the already sharp descent into apathy by the electorate, fed up with the slow drift by the main parties towards the political middle. You often hear the refrain from UK voters: “All the parties are the same.”

The result of this is a huge increase in support for extremist parties such as UKIP even

with their overt racism and xenophobia. As much as I despise their policies, in the next election they are on course to receive around 16% of the national vote but only have two MPs elected. This is not democracy. The story of the Green Party is much the same. With a predicted share of 6% (up from 0.96% in 2010) but still only retaining their one seat.

Oxford, and obtaining a double BA and an MA from Harvard University, he worked as a staff writer with The New Yorker magazine from 1961 to 1994. He has authored over 25 books.

His Lahore alma mater still has only 50 pupils, still teaches caning chairs as a vocational skill, and still offers music as a distraction. Its concession to modernity is occasional access to computers which have sound-supported programs. Ask the pupils what they want to be, and their replies vary from the predictable “teacher” to “caning chairs for a living,” to an unexpected “chief minister”!

Less than a mile away, across an arid desert of civic neglect, is an oasis of concern -- the Thevenet Centre, run by the Jesus & Mary Convent for special children, built for those children whose abler siblings were enrolled at the main school.

To watch these challenged children respond to the individual attention their teachers give them is to be reminded how light-less our blind spot has become towards those among us who are God’s chosen or just under-privileged.

The Thevenet Centre manages 70 or so children. Its constraint is not pupils. More than 5,000 special children in Lahore alone need such attention. Its constraint is finding sufficient teachers who care enough for such children.

Being isolated does not insulate the handicapped from their surroundings. If anything, it accentuates their feeling of exclusion, their sense of deprivation. Our molehills become their mountains.

The boys at the Sheranwala Institute, for example, once resented receiving only 18 puffs of the mosquito spray when they should have received the usual 22. They wanted the president of Pakistan to hear their appeal.

The challenged do not live in a world of their own. They live in ours. They want to continue doing so, but on their terms, and as the human equals they are in the sightless sight of God. The Punjab Police can be forgiven for ignoring the fundamental rights of our visually impaired citizens.

Constables memorise rules; they have no inclination to memorise the Pakistan constitution.

The blind can be forgiven for not having read the constitution; it has never been printed in Braille. Perhaps that will be the first order an alumni from the Sheranwala Gate Institute will give when he becomes the chief minister. l

People must be made to feel that their voice matters, that every vote counts

A wholesale change in the way we approach our electoral system is needed if we are going to stem the flow of apathy. We’ve seen our voter registration and turnout fall from a high of 83% in 1950 to an all time low of 59% in 2001 (it has slightly recovered to 65% in 2010) with young people (18-24) being the least likely to turnout with a shocking 44%.

If we are to re-engage the electorate and keep the extremists at bay, people must be made to feel that their voice matters, that every vote counts, and that ultimately they are being listened to. l Ryan Burkwood is a freelance contributor.

Lightless spots n FS Aijazuddin

E

ach of us has a blind spot. Mr Nawaz Sharif’s is the House of Ibn Saud; in his eyes, it can do no wrong. The Pakistan Army’s blind spot is India; in its eyes, India can do no right. Imran Khan’s blind spot is the Election Commission; it does not act swiftly enough. Asif Zardari’s blind spot is wealth; he can never have enough. The Punjab Police’s blind spot is the blind.

On March 2, a contingent of the Punjab Police, deployed outside the Punjab Assembly building, manhandled a group of demonstrators who happened to be not only blind but right.

They were agitating in support of their demands for regularisation of their services and implementation of 2% job quota, a promise made to them by the Punjab Government.

They could not have known that redress was not to be found in Faisal Square. The “deaf” inside the Assembly could not, would not, hear the blind outside. The young jobless demonstrators were transported to the true crucible of power -- Raiwind, where their grievances were resolved by Hamza Sharif, MNA and son of the Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Shahbaz Sharif.

Orders were issued. These have trickled down and now reached the sedimentary

level of the Government Secondary Institute for the Blind, Sheranwala Gate, where former pupils can now be regularised as teachers.

That Institute is tucked away, hidden from sight, within Lahore’s old city. It was established well before 1947. The list on display of its Headmasters, records the names of Ram Pratap Singh (1943-44), Chobu Ram (1944-47), and then Mohammad Ramzan (1947-53).

During Chobu Ram’s principal-ship, in early 1947, a young boy whose sight had been destroyed by an attack of cerebrospinal meningitis at the age of two and half, was brought to the Institute (then known as The Emerson Institute) by his remorse-ridden father, Dr Amolak Ram Mehta. Dr Mehta was the Assistant Director of Public Health, Lahore, his son Ved Mehta.

Ved recalled his stay at the Emerson Institute in a moving memoir titled Face to Face (1957). He remembered his teacher the crude Mr Baqir, the vocational therapy of caning chairs, the imperfect attempts to learn Braille with calloused fingers, the leavening relief of music lessons, and the stench of “rotting vegetables and human filth” that pervaded then, as it does even now, the bazaar surrounding the Institute.

Ved Mehta left the Emerson Institute in 1947. Since then, after studying at the Arkansas School for the Blind, Balliol College

FS Aijazuddin lives in Lahore and is a columnist for Dawn, Pakistan’s main English-language newspaper. This article was first published in Dawn.

DT

14 OPINION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

AP

Keeping it cricket n Esam Sohail

F

or as long as I remember, I have been an ardent fan of cricket, and that ardour has not cooled on these shores where the game is, truth be told, less than exactly well-known. My very first cricket ball was a gift from former national captain Minhazul Abedin Nannu, who I’d often find practicing at the old Abahani field not too far from my school. The exhilaration I feel when Tigers win is only matched by the dejection when the reverse happens.

As intense, important, and awe-inspiring such exhilaration is, let us keep it within some bounds of perspective: It is a sport. For many of us, cricket is indeed only this side of religion with all the rites, rituals, passions, and superstitions approximating thereof. I suppose the same could be said of many a sporting endeavour for its most passionate fans.

Yet, to reference the beautiful intensity of a sporting phenomenon with something as sublime and epoch-making as, say, the War of Independence or the struggle against colonialism is absurd to put it mildly, and outright

disrespectful to be blunt.

The battle of balls and bats is vitally important to us die-hard fans and, yes, every year some fans actually die because of a heart attack hastened by the excitement of watching the game. But please, have some decency by avoiding even remote analogies

As intense, important, and awe-inspiring such exhilaration is, let us keep it within some bounds of perspective: It is a sport to a struggle which started in 1757 and culminated in 1971, and cost a staggering sum in lives, treasure, tears, and toil -- a cost whose accounting may never be fully done.

The rebirth of a nation and even the most glorious victory in cricket are simply not on

the same plane, period.

Sadly, when Bangladesh plays cricket with some of the more established cricketing powers, such manifestations of insensitivity are found gushing out over social media and its traditional counterparts.

For outsiders, it comes across as a juvenile mix of ugly jingoism and small league immaturity; for many of us on the Tigers side of the aisle, it appears as little more than enthusiasm run amok unbridled by respect and unrestrained by perspective.

Cricket has an importance in our psyche, and indeed our physical well-being, in its own right. In the aftermath of the January 5, 2014 electoral fiasco, an emotional country has become more polarised than ever before. Â Never mind political parties, but ostensibly apolitical professional organisations have broken down into bitter, feuding camps as friends, families, and colleagues have turned foe, while the most eminent citizens like our Nobel Prize winners and War of Independence heroes have been silenced through intimidation.

In this never ending cacophony of conflict and repression, one of very few -- perhaps

the only -- broadly unifying catharses we seem to have is the enjoyment of cricket and exultation over its triumphs. The pinnacle of this rare sense of unity is when the Tigers play, because those eleven guys on the field bring together a people like almost nobody else does today.

Which is precisely the purpose of sports, especially so a game that is the noblest of them all.

And thus, because cricket is so important, noble, and unifying, we need to keep it in its own proper sphere. The place of this sport in our life need not be compromised by ungainly, unseemly, and unsporting references to something as soul-wrenching and sublime as our history, let alone something as epochal as the War of Independence.

Both a sense of decency and an understanding of sportsmanship would argue strongly for keeping cricket and the War of Independence in their respective places of awe in the national discourse. l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

DT

CAREER 15

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Land your dream job n Kashif Choudhury

Y

ou will be taken from point A to point F today. Point A being toiling away at an uninspiring job and point F being working for a cause that is meaningful to you and those around you -- your dream job.

Even though it sounds like a privilege that only a few have and the masses long for, this book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport, lays out a four-step method (points B through E) that will enable you to attain this illusive milestone.

There has been many an idea thrown about on how to achieve this feat; they have been tried, tested, evaluated and replaced by newer ones. But people’s quest for the path to the perfect job still goes on. Which is understandable because for the average worker, the majority of life (x years out of y) is spent toiling away at one’s place of work.

This book challenges the most popular hypothesis on how to get your dream job, the so called “passion hypothesis.” Do what you love and success will follow. There are critical flaws in that statement that followers have discovered to their detriment. So instead, this book lays out its own steps for career

satisfaction which in my opinion is a lot more realistic and workable. It does so by laying out a four step ladder towards this lofty goal.

Without further ado, here they are:

Disbelieve the passion hypothesis

This method assumes two facts that are not applicable for the majority. First that everyone has a “passion” they know about and second that “following” that passion will inevitably lead them to have a successful career. In keeping with these flaws, this theory is relegated to the realms of mere ideas.

Build career capital instead

This is the key argument of the book. Instead of blindly trying to find and follow your passion, do something pro-active. Namely, try to get good at the job you are doing by deliberate practice. Whether it be learning the intricacies of your current job, using the tools better, or just learning a new trick in Excel.

Work with the goal of getting incrementally better at the work you do, what Newport calls “career capital.”

This is not easy, you will have to stay back at work, face the frustration of failure and want to quit and fall back into mediocrity.

But if you stick to it and actively learn new skills and develop old ones by using tools such as online tutorials, courses, and guides, then you will have gained valuable credentials that will take you forward. This logically leads to the next two steps in the ladder.

Gain control of your career

When you develop career capital, and get “so good at what you do” that others start approaching you for various issues, you can assert more control on your work methods and, ultimately, on your work load; when you choose to work and where. The implications of this are deeper than it appears. This

flexibility will give you the scope to work on projects that interest you, work that energises you, and kicks you out of bed every morning. This flexibility is afforded to you because of the work that you put in, getting good enough at the job at hand that you were able to branch out your work parameters beyond your call of duty.

Have a mission

When branching out the scope of your work, you will find that you are able to apply concepts from different areas of learning to solve problems in effective and creative ways.

You may be able to solve a problem in your marketing department by applying skills that you learned while implementing the firm’s new product strategy. This will be further enhanced when you broaden your horizons by learning about completely different areas of learning and challenge yourself to do more.

Because after all, innovation is nothing but an amalgamation of existing ideas. And it is this innovation that is going to give you a mission in life that you never thought possible.

These steps can be illustrated by way of an example: When Daphne Koller founded Coursera, she did it by applying skills she had gained from working as a computational pathologist while at Stanford, she became talented at what she did, broadened her horizons and found her mission to “take education to everyone in the world.” She, in turn, found her calling, and made way for other people to pave their dreams through it.

So, if you manage to follow these steps properly, not only will you end up doing something you love, you will end up giving people their dream jobs as well.

Now how’s that for a journey? l Kashif Choudhury is an AVP at LightCastle Partners.

He blogs at www.lightcastlebd.com/blog.

Step into my office Every week, we take a peek into the culture and environment of prominent organisations to give you a priceless insight of how it runs on the inside, and how it may compliment your mentality as a job seeker

Reckitt Benckiser

I

have worked in five different organisations before coming to RB but truly I have found the people here at RB more

hospitable and friendly than any other organisations I have worked for before. The environment here is so positive and friendly that you'll never feel like you've left home.

I believe every organisation should strive to become like this.

Though RB is much smaller than many other giant MNCs operating in Bangladesh, RB is a fantastic organisation for any new joiners to enhance their professional skills by working with a fantastic team of hand-picked efficient employees.

Every employee here is given a regular self-enhancement training from many different aspects and topics through a global RB distant learning web platform, called MyLearning, and also through professional trainers/specialists brought from outside sources.

If you want to work at an organisation where you are given the independence to make your own decisions from the first day at work, then consider joining RB. We believe in ownership, entrepreneurship, partnership and innovation and want to create and nurture individuals who will not only play the game, but would dare to change it. So if you are looking for a great career with tremendous growth and development opportunities, consider joining RB. S M Sakib Noor Billah Management Trainee

DT

16 CLIMATE CHANGE

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Climate change, Geneva text

T

n Mizan R Khan, Ph.D

“Climate change impacts are already undermining and likely to further undermine protected human rights such as the rights to life, liberty, security and livelihoods in countries like Bangladesh”

he Geneva negotiations under the UNFCCC held during February 8-13, 2015 revived the debate over the relationship between climate change and human rights. The adopted text in a few sections, beginning with the Preamble, made seven references to human rights in addressing climate change. During the closing, 18 countries, both developed and developing, launched an informal initiative - the Geneva Pledge to facilitate better understanding of the connections between the two. These countries include, among others, Costa Rica, Chile, France and Sweden.

Their efforts include sharing of best practices and knowledge between human rights and climate experts. There is also a proposal for an International Climate Justice Tribunal to oversee the compliance of obligations under the agreement.

Thus the Geneva text appears to advance the beginning. That climate change is a human rights issue first appeared in the negotiating text at the Conference of Parties in December 2010. It states the need for all Parties in all climate change-related actions, [to] fully respect human rights.’ This discourse has entered into formal negotiations before 2009 in Copenhagen and after, in the form of submissions to the Secretariat at the time by groups and countries, such as AOSIS, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Thailand, Iceland and the LDCs. However, the discussions on this relationship remained inconclusive then. The pioneer push for linking climate change impacts to human rights came from the Inuit community in 2005 to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The melting glaciers are

already affecting the livelihoods of the more than 150,000 Inuit communities living across the Arctic region.

It is heartening to note that the issue has received greater prominence in the last few months, with the appointment of former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-

HCHR) Mary Robinson as the UN Special Envoy for Climate Change. Robinson argued that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights “and the legal documents that stemmed from it have helped us combat torture, discrimination and hunger. And now these venerable documents should guide us in the fight

The flags of the 193 member states are back after the renovation of the ‘Allée des Drapeaux’ at the Palais des Natio

On the road to Paris: Departing Geneva with n Achala Abeysinghe

F

rom February 8-13 world leaders gathered at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the first round of meetings to reach a global climate agreement in Paris in December this year. The agreement is hoped to enhance global actions on climate change, including curbing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to irreversible climate impacts through a multilateral rules based regime. The meeting in Geneva produced a formal negotiating text which serves as the basis for further deliberations throughout the year culminating in a meeting in Paris where a glob-

Bonn Climate Change Conference - October 2014 UNFCCC (WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/UNFCCC/15935984257)

al deal is hoped to be signed among nations.

Progress in Geneva has meant a good start to the climate negotiations on the road to Paris, with elements in the text offering the possibility of a fair deal for developing countries.

Seven key elements in the Geneva text

The Geneva text is a promising start to the most crucial year of the recent history in climate negotiations. It includes many promising options for an ambitious, dynamic and evolving agreement for the future climate regime: 1. Legally Binding - The Geneva text has an option of adopting a protocol, which, according to international environmental law has the highest international status of any government undertaking and they must be implemented in good faith, and are binding on signatories.. They also provide certainty and mutual confidence to countries. Such international treaties are binding on the state, irrespective of changes of governments or power.

Needless to say, this provides a rare opportunity to enhance climate action.

2. Participation of all countries - The Geneva text also allows options for ensuring the highest possible participation from 2020 onwards when the second commitment period of the current legally binding agreement - the Kyoto Protocol will end. Kyoto Protocol addresses emissions reductions from 38 parties only. The Geneva text includes an option for calling on all nations to

enhance their climate action and cooperate on the basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and the respective capabilities of different countries. It acknowledges that the global nature and urgency of climate change calls for the widest possible participation, cooperation and ambitious action by all.

3. A holistic approach - The current structure of the Geneva text allows all the major elements we need to tackle climate change (mitigation, adaptation, finance, capacity building, technology development and transfer, transparency of actions and support) to be considered in the Paris agreement. It recognizes the demands of developing countries for a ‘balanced text’, as all these issues are connected and should be treated holistically within the core of the Paris agreement.

4. Towards sustainable development - It calls for the new agreement to be guided by the best available scientific knowledge, including the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and calls for countries to move towards a sustainable development pathway consistent with carbon neutrality/net zero emissions by 2050. It also includes options to ensure that emission reduction targets in the 2015 agreement are regularly reviewed, with the view of reducing emissions reductions.

5. Adaptation - The text calls for nations to establish a global goal for adjusting to the impacts of climate change. It emphasises that

adaptation must be addressed with the same urgency as mitigation and that enhanced action and international cooperation on adaptation is urgently required to build resilience in developing countries. It calls for further financial and other provisions and for new and more effective institutional arrangements to support developing countries.

5. Implementation - The text includes options for ensuring that there is strong means of implementation such as finance, technology and capacity for developing countries.

These options include new, additional and substantial finance to support developing countries’ climate actions and mechanisms to regularly review commitments. It also includes options for the development and transfer of technologies that support climate change actions in developing countries; and options to build the capacity of the most disadvantaged countries.

6. Transparency and Accountability - Finally, the text includes options to ensure that the mitigation and financial commitments that countries make in Paris are transparent and accountable. Some options calls for measures to enhance clarity and comparability between country commitments, to ensure accountability and mutual trust and to promote ambition and progressive enhancement. The provisions related to facilitating implementation and compliance calls for related measures

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and human rights

against one of the greatest challenges ever to face humankind: climate change.” The UN Human Rights Council issued their first Resolution (2008, Resolution 7/23) on this, expressing concern that “climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world and

ons, February 7, 2014

UN PHOTO/JEAN-MARC FERRÉ

has implications for the full enjoyment of human rights.” In 2007-08, Maldives and other small island states have started work to realize this mission, which resulted in a Report by the Office of the HCHR back in 2009, led by Robinson.

Such conceptualizations come from the grim reality that climate change impacts documented by the IPCC are already undermining and likely to further undermine the realization of a range of protected human rights, such as the rights to life, liberty, security and livelihoods in the most vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. This band-wagoning of human rights and climate change is viewed as gaining enhanced traction for both regimes.

From a historical perspective, political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights have proceeded sequentially, in stages, as evidenced by the adoption of global conventions on different aspects of human rights. The first generation of rights concerned mainly political rights. The second generation of rights related to economic, social and cultural rights. Currently, there is already a strong movement for realization of a third generation of human rights, which include the right to a safe environment with a stable climate. I regret that despite being invited, I made it late to Geneva by few hours to join the dinner hosted by Envoy Robinson on 7 February to brainstorm this relationship between climate change and human rights. I hope not to miss such events in future and push for adoption of a text by the COP, eventually linking human rights to the evolving mechanism of Loss and Damage due to climate change. l

International climate change negotiations simplified n Masroora Haque 2015 is a crucial year for international climate change negotiations. Since 1992, parties have come together under the UNFCCC to negotiate and formulate international climate policies that are then implemented nationally. The policies are meant to keep greenhouse gas emissions in check so that its impacts on the environment and people’s lives are minimal. However, over the years, the state of the climate has gotten worse and its impacts are felt throughout the world. The meeting in Paris in December this year is supposed to produce a legally binding agreement to keep greenhouse gasses in check, help developing countries cope better and to ensure adequate financial and technical assistance.

There are a number of important meetings that lead up to the discussions in Paris. The first meeting just concluded in Geneva, which is what Acaha Abesinghe’s article is all about. Dr. Mizan Khan’s article stresses the need for action as climate change has now become a human rights issue. Climate change adversely affects those who have contributed least to its causes and living in a safe and habitable environment is a right humans can demand from each other.

The world of climate change negotiations is filled with jargon and complicated words. Below are a few explanations: Adaptation - coping with or adjusting to the adverse impacts of climate change, also a major pillar of climate change negotiations COP - Conference of Parties are the yearly climate conferences that take place in different countries across the world. The COPs are numbered e.g.:

Paris this year will be COP21 Greenhouse gasses (GHGs) - Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone which have an impact on the earth’s atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide emitted into air due to human activity are the main causes of global warming and climate change.

Loss and Damage - impacts of climate change that cannot and can be recovered. Where mitigation and adaptation efforts have failed or are insufficient, loss and damage will be incurred Mitigation - actions to reduce emissions, a major pillar of climate change negotiations Parties - Individual countries such as Bangladesh or groups of countries such as the European Union who come to the UNFCCC negotiations. The UNFCCC has near universal memberships with 196 parties signed on as members Preamble - The introductory part of a negotiating text that gives an indication of what is to follow Text - Every COP produces an agreement, also called a text which sets the trajectory for work to be done on climate change and a summary of discussions that took place at the COP UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - an international environment treaty with a membership of 196 parties, including Bangladesh. It is the main platform for countries come together to negotiate climate change agreements. l Masroora Haque is the communications coordinator for the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) at the Independent University, Bangladesh.

Dr Mizan Khan is the Director, External Affairs and Professor, Department of Environment Science & Management, North South University.

expectations high to be expert-based, non-confrontational and non-judicial. It calls for provisions on compliance to be preventative and cooperative.

The 86-page Geneva text reflects many deep and long-standing divisions on various negotiating issues. Further negotiations on these issues are crucial to ensure that the most ambitious and effective options in the draft remain in the Paris agreement.

Justice for the most vulnerable

Many of the 500 decisions made over the past 20 years of global climate negotiations have failed to effectively address the demands and vulnerabilities of the most vulnerable countries including the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The climate impacts are rising at an alarming rate, as are the vulnerabilities of these countries.

The next steps must involve countries agreeing on ways in which they can address the needs and demands of the world’s most vulnerable countries and communities. 2015 is an opportunity for collective global effort to recognise that the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people depend on an ambitious outcome, one that matches the huge challenge that they are currently facing due to climatic impacts.

There is significant evidence that the world’s most vulnerable countries are facing severe loss and damage due to climate impacts. These are losses and damages that are inevitable and that cannot be adapted to, such

as loss of territories due to sea level rise. In the current negotiations, the most vulnerable countries remain resolute in the view that loss and damage is distinct from adaptation and therefore request the two issues be treated as separate and distinct discussions.

In the current text, however, loss and damage is not separated from adaptation and is not in a stand-alone section. At the next negotiating session, countries must discuss and agree on how both the structure and content related to loss and damage issues will be addressed within the context of Paris agreement.

Crucial steps beyond Geneva

There are many challenges ahead. The most significant is the need to condense the negotiating text while preserving global ambition for the most effective post 2020 regime. Without doubt, each country will endeavour to protect their stated positions in the draft text.

This will result in tense and extensive negotiations. However, if the meeting in Paris is to be a success, countries will have to make compromises and carefully balance each other’s priorities. l Dr Achala Abeysinghe is the principal researcher and team leader of the global climate law, policy and governance team in IIED’s Climate Change Group.

This article originally appeared on iied.org and has been reprinted with permission from IIED.

This infograph first appeared in Adopt a Negotiator -- http://adoptanegotiator.org and has been reproduced with their permission.

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18 HERITAGE

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Faithless and ferocious

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

These ruins, in the centre of the old village, include what we may suppose to be a madrasa and a library, possibly converted from an earlier, perhaps, Jain Temple. There is also a pre-Mughal mosque of some age, what looks suspiciously like a brick and stone gateway, with clear sockets for door bars, that would, presumably have stood in an earth and mud rampart such as those we see at Wari Bateshwar and Mahasthangarh.

Here, once upon a time, was a flourishing community of substantial citizens, rulers even

NASHIRUL ISLAM

n Tim Steel

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he Pathan Khilji dynasty arrived in the lands that are now Bangladesh very early in the 13th century. It is believed that they had been raiding across northern India, into the lands of the wealthy and peaceful Buddhist dynasty, the Pala, for over a century before.

Part of the so-called Mamluk invasion of the subcontinent, they settled, it seems reasonable to believe, at a location from which they could control, and tax, the great flow of trade on both the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers which had, by then, been the source of revenues for local rulers for over 2,000 years.

For much of the last millennium, we find references to the trading city of Sonagaon.

These are references that are not altogether easy to reconcile with the Sonargoan

represented today, by the evidently largely 19th century Panam city.

Indeed, the visible and tangible history of these ancient buildings, as well as some of the documentary evidence, suggest that the city was founded in one place, and its hub moved slowly elsewhere. In a land of such river mobility in the great annual monsoon and meltwater floods, such river migration is very common.

The various ancient, and mostly ruined, buildings in Mograpara, to the south of Panam city, on the opposite side of the Grand Trunk Road that is still the main Chittagong highway from Panam city, lie close to the fine carved basalt tomb of the patricidal, third sultan of the Ilyas Shah dynasty, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah. All of which would reinforce any suspicion that it was, indeed, Mograpara that was the original site of historic Sonargoan city.

And this lays, all around, clear evidence of a Hindu tradition thereabouts. What is not to be found is the magnificent palace described

by Zheng He, the famous Chinese admiral, who visited “Sonargaon” twice, it seems, early in the fifteenth century.

“The Sultan’s Palace was tall and spacious with pillars the colour of brass and decorated with flower and animal carvings. There were long corridors on both sides with thousands of armed cavalry squads inside and extraordinarily strong and dignified soldiers equipped with swords, bows and arrows outside.

On the left and right of vermillion steps leading up to the palace there were over a hundred parasols made of peacock feathers.

Hundreds of elephant squads lined up in front of the palace. The sultan wore a crown studded with eight gems and sat on a throne with a sword on his knees. Two men with

silver staffs came and guided the emperor’s envoy forward. They gave a shout every five steps till they had finished half of the way to the throne. Then another two with gold staffs came and guided as the previous two did.”

This, of course, by the early 15th century, was not the palace of the Khilji. Those rulers of Bengal were succeeded, within 25 years, by governors appointed by the Mamluk Dynasty, of which the Bengali Khilji had been an offshoot. Like most of the Mamluk federation, they had probably left their homelands in Afghanistan and other parts of central and western Asia, in the face of the advance of Mongol hordes who eventually overran all the great Islamic dynasties of Asia.

A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origins, and a great alliance of such, together with such allies as the Khilji, they seized much of north and northwest India in 1206, ruling over it for more than 75 years.

The Balban, and then the Tughlaq Dynasties succeeded them until, in the mid fourteenth century the various delegated and quasi independent, mostly Muslim, rulers of Bengal territories were finally succeeded by the first, independent, ruling dynasty of Muslim rulers.

These were the famous Ilyas Shah dynasty who, apart from a brief twenty year loss of rule from 1415 to 1435, ruled over the lands of Bengal, including the heartlands of today’s Bangladesh, for around a hundred years. In fact, successors of the dynasty continued to have some influence over the lands that are now Bangladesh until the death of Isa Khan, in the early 17th century.

That these Muslim rulers did so from the base established, it seems, at Mograpara, which, from the earliest of visitors was always referred to as Sonargaon, we can have little room to doubt.

Close to the burgeoning city of Dhaka, and in the centre of the access of the great trading routes from the sea edge, it is not surprising that the area around Mograpara became the centre for the manufacturing of the finest fabrics. Even today, in the processes for

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the making of fine nets, the sites for which abound around Mograpara, it seems possible to discern the ancient manual processes of weaving.

Little, if any, real archaeology has taken place in, or around Mograpara, to explore this evident history … not least the site of such a great palace as described by the Chinese emissaries. And even within today’s village, odd pieces of sculpted rocks lie abandoned.

Mograpara, unquestionably, had origins before the arrival of the Khilji, and nearly 500 years of Muslim rule over the entire region

The great Khilji dynasty were, no doubt with good reason, described as one known for their faithlessness and ferocity, which would, no doubt, explain both the apparent ease with which they were able to seize, right at the beginning of the 13th century, control of the trade on the great rivers, with Mograpara located between the waters of the great Meghna and old Brahmaputra rivers, close to those of the Ganges itself.

Their apparent, if not evident, role in the destruction of over 400 Buddhist Vihara might also help to explain the origin of this reputation.

They were, of course, descendants of the victorious army, over a millennium and a half earlier, of Alexander the Great, who, himself, despite the admiration afforded his achievements, was also, it is easy to believe, “ferocious and fearless.” They were

descendants who had converted to Islam, and had flourished for centuries as warriors.

It may be a little difficult, today, to find a passage from the Chittagong Highway, through the narrow main street of modern Mograpara along which a neo-classical tax gathering point of the late 19th century gives the only clue to ancient history.

But, to turn at the Brac office, and recognise, behind the college buildings, the ruins of as fine an audience chamber of a zaminder as you can find, with a magnificent half ruined array of palace buildings, it is possible for the visitor to reinforce an impression that, here, once upon a time, was a flourishing community of substantial citizens, rulers even.

Passing the entrance to the zaminder palace, and following a narrow country road for a mile or so, the isolated sultan’s tomb, perhaps outside civilised society because of his patricidal past, together with the more modest tomb of his friend and treasurer, confirms that here, once, great people, even the earliest of the Muslim rulers, passed.

Where, we may well wonder, are the burial places of the rest of those who ruled Bengal from what is now a small village?

Returning to the zamindari, passing through, and walking into the village centre past numerous 19th century buildings to the place of the 13th century mosque, is liable to confirm the impression of a place, once the home of those ferocious and fearless people, amongst many others of power.

Mograpara, unquestionably, had origins before the arrival of the Khilji, and nearly 500 years of Muslim rule over the entire region.

The architecture leads from the earliest, through pre-Mughal to Mughal, and, it seems, it is possible to track that migration from the Khilji, to those favoured by other ruling dynasties, first the Muslim Mughals, then the East India Company and the Raj of Britain, equally, in their own way, arguably, faithless and ferocious! l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

NASHIRUL ISLAM

NASHIRUL ISLAM

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20 JURIS

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Repeal character evidence in rape trials

W

n Sk Farzana Ahmed e have become accustomed to reading sickening news reports on rape, almost on a daily basis. In all cases, we experience a myriad of emotions such as shock, horror, and disgust at the act, and sympathy for the victim. And then we move on. But what of the victim? Does our society allow her to move on?

Based on an archaic law from 1872, rape victims who have already undergone a horrific experience, have to endure further emotional distress and humiliation. Victims are not allowed to focus on recovering their physical and mental well-being. Instead, they must immediately undergo the critical eyes of society and the court, thanks to a Victorian era law that provides for the questioning of the character of a complainant in a rape case.

Section 155 (4) of the Evidence Act of 1872 permits the use of character evidence in rape prosecutions. It states “when a man is prosecuted for rape or an attempt to ravish, it may be shown that the prosecutrix was of generally immoral character.”

This is highly anomalous, as it diverts the focus of a rape trial away from the accused, and places the victim and her character under the spotlight. A woman’s character and sexual history have absolutely no bearing on determining consent, and yet are a common tactic used in rape trials to enable the accused to get off the hook.

The law in its current form creates the impression that it is only possible for a “chaste” woman to be raped, and that consent is of no consequence if the woman is “immoral.” The emphasis of defence lawyers is on proving the woman may be of generally immoral character, and therefore her testimony must be false and she could not have been raped.

Combined with the barbaric “two finger test” that rape victims have had to endure for many years, it is not at all surprising that a vast majority of rape cases in Bangladesh never come to trial. While there is no scientific or legal connection between rape, and habituation to intercourse, this evidence is frequently used to conclude whether rape took place or not. Ironically, Section 54 of the Evidence Act expressly excludes the character of the accused to be irrelevant, unless there is an attempt to prove that he is of good character.

As part of its mandate of ensuring access

BIGSTOCK

A woman’s character and sexual history have absolutely no bearing on determining consent, and yet are a common tactic used in rape trials to enable the accused to get off the hook to justice for all, the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), a leading national legal aid and services NGO, has been campaigning for an overhaul of laws relating to rape in Bangladesh to address discriminatory provisions that impede women’s access to justice in rape cases. BLAST is currently working to ensure reform of the legal provision permitting use of character evidence in rape cases.

As part of this process, BLAST has been engaging with legal and development professionals who have been involved in providing support to female survivors of violence, including rape. Through organising expert meetings and conducting an informal perceptions survey, BLAST tried to gain an understanding of the practical effects of having a law such as Section 155 (4) on rape survivors’ right of access to justice.

The findings of the survey indicate, quite strongly, that legal professionals and rights activists overwhelmingly believe that the law in question is outdated, arbitrary and in serious need of reform.

In response to the question: “Do you believe that rape cases are less likely to end up in convictions because of Section 155 (4)

of the Evidence Act 1872?” Three-quarters of respondents interviewed, agreed that in its current form, the law leads to a low conviction rate in rape trials. When asked “Do you feel that it is important to ask about the sexual history of complainants in rape cases, to ensure that the accused gets a fair trial?” An overwhelming majority also agreed that the use of Section 155 (4) was unnecessary in rape trials. Two-thirds mentioned that they had met complainants who had been questioned about their sexual history and character in court and all agreed that it resulted in rape complainants not pressing charges, in fear of harassment in court.

All respondents also agreed that the law should at the very least be amended, if not repealed, to guarantee fair trials for rape complainants. Any amendment should take into consideration the protection of the victim, while also ensuring justice for the accused.

The respondents to the survey made several recommendations to ensure improved access to justice in rape cases, including the use of camera trials and amendments to safeguard against abuse of the law so that false charges of rape do not take place.

BLAST also collected anecdotal evidence

from lawyers and rights activists who have been supporting female survivors of violence in accessing legal remedies through consultations. The discussions and recommendations received at these consultations corroborate the findings of the survey. A woman’s rights activist speaking in the context of violence against women in the CHT, stated that the common thread in discussions with indigenous female survivors of violence and their experiences of trying to access justice is the issue of the character of the survivor.

In speaking about instances where lawyers ask extremely demeaning and irrelevant questions, she recounted the case of a high school girl who had survived rape and was asked during the trial: “How she felt while she was being raped.” A senior lawyer from a leading human rights and legal services organisation stated that in her experience of supporting litigation cases on behalf of female survivors of rape, she found that the attitude among defence lawyers with regard to Section 155 (4) is that it gives them blanket impunity to ask any sort of question to a complainant.

Often lawyers abuse this provision of the law to instigate the victim into anger or having emotionally charged reactions to disprove her testimony. Another problem identified by legal experts was that underage victims were shown to be older than they actually were, to establish that they were habituated to sexual activities.

A research consultant of BLAST referred to a case where a sixteen-year-old girl was raped on her way to the madrasa. The verdict given was: “No sign of rape, and the complainant appears to be habituated to sex,” and the case was eventually dismissed. She mentioned how these trials seem to focus on the character of the victim, giving the impression that it is the victim herself who is under trial and must prove herself innocent.

Rape is a heinous crime that needs to be dealt with severely. Creating an environment that does not only allow, but also encourages victims to come forward, speak out, and seek redress, will be a major step forward. It will also enable us to change the mindset regarding rape that exists in our society. It is time the justice system, along with society, realises and accepts that we must judge the accused, and not the victim. This will be a step forward towards addressing the impunity surrounding the offence of rape in the country. l Sk Farzana Ahmed is a development professional, currently based at the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

Privacy of your phone conversations: What does the law say? n Juris Desk

A

fter a couple of telephone conversations were leaked and appeared in the media, people have become very apprehensive about the confidentiality of their phone conversations.

Right to privacy is an essential component of civil liberty without which it is impossible to lead a life with dignity. Freedom of speech also depends on the right to privacy to a great extent.

Article 43 of the constitution of Bangladesh has guaranteed people’s right to privacy. It says: “Every citizen shall have the right, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the

interests of the security of the State, public order, public morality or public health – (a) To be secured in his home against entry, search and seizure; and (b) to the privacy of his correspondence and other means of communication.”

Legally speaking, this right to privacy is not an absolute right; rather it is a qualified right. And, the qualifications attached to this right are so sweeping that the right becomes vulnerable.

Taking the advantage of the qualification provided in the constitutional provision, the then government in 2006 has made an amendment to the Telecommunication Act, 2001 drastically curtailing people’s right to privacy.

Section 71 of the original Telecommunication Act provides that: “A person commits an offence, if he intentionally listens to a telephone conversation between two other persons, and for such offence, he shall be liable to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding Tk50,000 or to both.”

The 2006 amendment has added an extra clause to this provision which reads: “Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any officers of intelligence agencies, national security agencies, investigating agencies and law-enforcing agencies who are authorised by the government under section 97A.” A writ petition was moved in the High Court

Division seeking invalidation of the amendment on May 18, 2006. The High Court Division issued a rule on the government to explain within three weeks the legality of the provisions that authorises the law enforcers and intelligence agencies to tap the telephone conversations of any individual.

In response to another public interest litigation (PIL) in the same year, an HCD Bench, consisted of Justice M Awlad Ali and Justice Zinat Ara, directed the government to explain why the Bangladesh Telecommunications (Amendment) Act, 2006 should not be declared unconstitutional and void.

Both the petitions are pending before the court and the government has not yet replied to the rules. l

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21

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

T-JUNCTION

Happy pi day!

Photo: Tasmia Momin

INSIDE

The over 30 brigade

Drockstar Shubho

Before you know it you’ve hit the over 30 mark and time has just gone by in the blink of an eye. Whether you hate it or love it today we give you six signs that you’ve actually crossed the thirty bridge.

Take a sneak peak into the life of Moidul Islam Khan, more popularly known as the famed Djuice Drockstar. Shubho gives us an insight into his humble beginnings, discusses his musical inspirations and shares how he rose to fame.

22

etiquette

Dine and Dash moustache

Must ask the moustache

23

Horoscope

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22 T-JUNCTION

Tact

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Dine and dash etiquette

Maybe not

n Baizid Haque Joarder Stereotyping has been quite the norm in our culture, very few would argue with that statement. And if you’ve been to a few dinner parties around here, you are sure to encounter the statement, “pulling a Noakhailla.” Probably because some great anthropologist who must not be named (we don’t really know who) observed that the locals from Noakhali leave immediately after dinner. Ever since that, anyone who decides to leave a dinner party she has to endure the above-mentioned idiom.

But that leads us to think: WHEN is the acceptable time for you to leave after dinner?

The answer depends on the nature of the dinner. Whether your host decides to throw a small dinner or a large one, don’t aim to reach there just in time for dinner, and more importantly, never leave right after it, unless you really HAVE to. And even so, you must give proper reasons for your decision. Noakhailla or not, that is just plain rude.

Cater after Even if it’s a small family gathering at your relatives’, or just a bunch of friends having dinner at a food joint, some manners should always be maintained. If it’s a homely affair, offer to help in the kitchen with the dishes (even though you know there’s bua chewing pan and ready to rub all the grease out of the plates), because it doesn’t hurt to be nice. Carrying your own cutlery and plates to the kitchen is a good call. Expressing your gratitude to the host is a must before leaving, considering your host is fine with it; some light chit-chat after dinner over a cup of coffee perhaps.

Grand etiquettes In large affairs, yes we have a lot of them, its a norm to say goodbye to your host before you exit the venue/house. Since the festivities are on a grander scale, one can be excused “pulling a French leave” (feel better, Noakhalites) but only when you have a trusted friend staying back to pass on a goodbye message to the host, from you. A follow-up call or text is always welcomed if the host is close to you.

All that being said, “pulling a Noakhailla” is only as bad overstaying your welcome. But we’ll get to that some other time. l

Dost the host If you and a couple of friends are out to eat, make sure you know if someone in the group who is hosting the outing. If there’s no one, offer to pick up the tab, and at least pay for yourself. But if there is a host, thank him/her and wait for them to get up and leave.

think like a man

Must ask the moustache Your weekly ‘stache of wisdom Dear Mr Moustache, I need your advice. Whenever I consume more than 10 drinks at my club, I get home late and feel restless and frisky half the rest of the night before I can get to sleep. I have thought of asking someone from the club home with me to help me get to sleep in a more fun way, but beer goggles don’t work on me. As a gentle-

man, I am conditioned not to take advantage of drunken women. What can I do?

Grumpy

How do I come to terms with this delicious disappointDear Grumpy, ment?

Ever heard the saying “never drink alone”? It’s Dreamer true for being under the influence in general.

When you’re alone, the juice will make you Dear Dreamer itch for things you can’t have. Sobriety is betIndeed. I’m no ter. And a cold shower. neurologist, but dreams Dear Mr Moustache, take place in a Have you ever had those dreams that have felt different part so significant upon waking that you tried to of the brain which you can’t consciously get fall back asleep in order to recreate them? I’ve back to. I’ve always been a realist. I say, taste had quite a few of these, but somehow I can those dreams a little, then jump out of bed. never capture the same emotions of the origi- Reality can be just as delicious if you’ve got nal experience. Why do these things happen? the stones to face it. l

Famous moustache in history

The Stalin: Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jugashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin, went down in history as a dictator with almost 30 million deaths happening under his reign. His image is instantly recognisable due to his signature walrus moustache.

A favourite of many dictators, this bushy stache style can be achieved if you don’t trim your face fuzz until it completely covers your upper lip

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Tell

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

tact

You know you’re 30 when...

Because time flies

n Sabah Rahman It’s hard to focus on the well known saying the age is just a number, when we’re bombarded with articles titled, “40 is the new 20.”

Seriously, who cares? However, most of us that have crossed the bridge from our 20s into 30s know a whole lot of things can change.

Sound effects Think about every movement you make.

Suppose you sit down on a comfy seat after being on your toes for an extended period of time. It kind of sounds like, “Ahhhh,” as opposed to the grunt that comes from your mouth when you’re trying to chill and have to get up unexpectedly.

Babysitter’s club Even though it seems like it was just yesterday when we were belting out “Go Shawty, it’s yo birthday,” at random clubs, things have taken a very different route these days. Chances are that you’ll see the baby niece that you cradled in your arms, twerking in a sad excuse for a dress. While there is nothing wrong with their personal choices, the over 30 brigade can often feel like aliens in big clubs. We actually prefer lounge-like settings where we can actually hear ourselves speak.

Musical madness The music we grew up loving is now considered “retro.” What’s worse is when one of your favourite tunes gets the dubstep

treatment in a new remix and people ask you if you’ve heard of the coolest new song trending at the moment. Worse still? When your 20year old cousin asks you if you’ve ever heard “Learning to fly” from John Mayer, and when you try to set them straight they act as if Tom Petty is a myth.

Slave to trends no more You’ve been around long enough to know what makes you look good and don’t feel the need to embarrassingly embrace every ridiculous trend out there. Neon green faux leather moto jacket, embellished with epaulets? No thanks!

Your metabolism takes a hike Just looking at a greasy pizza pie seems to make you feel bloated. Not to mention the fact that you may have to take some medicine before meal so you don’t suffer from a bad case of heartburn. You can forget all the trashy delights you were able to indulge in without having to counteract the effects with regular work outs.

Young, dumb and full of what?

You can’t help but silently judge world-weary 20 somethings that think they know it all.

Seriously? It’s not as if all 30 somethings have all the answers but watching some young ones thinking that they have all aspects of their life under control is just plain funny. We want to help, but people need to make mistakes to learn how to not repeat them. l

changes in yourself will do you good, and might also be beneficial if you’re going to start new adventures.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 20)

HOROSCOPE

Try to remain friendly and calm, but don’t get too naive and trusting. You might be looking at distrust from your closest friends or even heartbreak from a loved one.

CANCER (JUN 21-JUL 22)

ARIES (MAR 21-APR 19)

This week is full of new opportunities, so go ahead and grab them! There is no room for doubts or second thoughts. Everything seems to be ending well for you.

TAURUS (APR 20-MAY 20)

Forget about the regular days. Try to change something about yourself. Bringing new

It looks like this week is going to be especially busy for you. Work will start piling up like a mountain, or you may even find yourself generating some for yourself. Take one day at a time and things will go just fine.

LEO (JUL 23-AUG 22)

Things will go just as you expect them to this week. Opportunities you thought might never come will finally knock on your door.

Just go with the flow.

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 22)

This week is a good time for you to spend

a little quality time with your family. Any work-related matter will have to wait. You might also want to take a step back from your life if you have to and assess your priority list.

LIBRA (SEP 23-OCT 22)

You will find yourself being disappointed with everything this week. There will be favourable events that you look forward to, and they will be tarnished by some lastminute change. At any rate, don’t let the disappointment get to you.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) Your financial situation looks good this week. However, a healthy pocket does not give you the right to spend aggressively. This piling up of money can go both ways for you.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22-DEC 21) If you have been feeling a little lost for the last few weeks, you probably need some time out to unwind and figure out exactly what it is that you need to do. Even if it

means having to skip out on work or an important get-together with your loved ones, do it.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 19) You are very likely to develop a lot of new experiences this week, whether it is from meeting someone new, or realising truths about certain situations in your life. Whether or not the experience is a happy one, keep your chin up. You will need your strength.

Aquarius: If you have been tired and have started self-loathing, maybe you need to start taking care of yourself. This week should be all about you. Some alone time will do you good.

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 20)

You might find yourself being uncertain about some pretty important matters in your life. Don’t let it bring you down; remember that uncertainty is only a part of life. l

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Written in the stars

The journey of a DRockstar

You might recognise him as a DROCKSTAR and a South Asian Super Star.

Moidul Islam Khan paves out a path of glory within the music industry.

Ever since achieving fame and renown as the Djuice Drockstar, he gave himself a new name – Shubho. Saudia Afrin grabs him for a chat on a sunny spring evening

In creative work it is dangerous to be satisfied – Drockstar Shubho

Since as far back as he can remember, Shubho grew up under the influence of music. “My father taught music as a hobby.

He loves to listen to all kinds of music from Indian classical to western classical to even eastern pop to western pop. Every morning, my eyes opened to the sound of my father singing” he recalls fondly.

Shubho believes the pattern of his music takes on a new perspective as time grows. From an adolescent love of heavy metal Shubho turned to mellow rock in “Acoustica” and then went fully mellow in the band “Roots”. Hard rock and folk rock combined in his work after winning the title of DROCKSTAR. He confessed with a bit of uncertainty in his voice that, “Yes, its true my way of music has evolved far from where I started. Ten years from now, I might go even milder, or right back to my [heavy metal] roots. Who knows what will happen?”

The 90’s were a big inspiration to Shubho as he said, “I was amazed and influenced the music of Warfaze, Winning, LRB, Miles and many more. I used to buy the new albums right after their release to get posters.” He concedes that things have changed and there are “too many options and way too many artists and songs to explore” unlike before. No artist’s song remains long in the top charts, and many prefer to download songs illegally from the Internet rather than making purchases. He said, “A band rises out of passion and love.

However, to some extent, a musician needs to maintain a lifestyle. Piracy doesn’t make it possible.”

Even though Shubho blames the new generation singers’ circumstances, he feels that despite piracy and other obstacles, they are willing to take on music as profession. In a basic rock genre, there are lots of talented artists whose music impress Shobho every time he hears it. Chirkutt’s Emon, Rafa, Maher, Shunno are all on the top of his list.

A few comments from mentors still inspire him. After winning the B&H Star Search 2003, Artha Barua called Shubho and said, “Don’t think you sing too well; today, you just happened to sing better than the others. You still have to practice a lot.”

Shubho laughs, “Since I was too loud, after the completion of Djuice Drockstar, Azam Khan told me, “Shubho, you will sing many good songs in your life, but be mindful about the family and neighbours when you practice at home!”

In the battle of lyrics and composition, currently Shubho deliberately tries to

complete the lines before composing the music. As to him, a song is a story, with music paving the way.

He also said, “If a listener identifies the time frame of a song by its lyrics, then that’s a salvation of life. In many songs in ‘Shadhin 2’ lyrics and composition reflects a respectable time frame in my opinion.”

There’s always the problem of the road not taken, as certain melodic arrangements are abandoned because they don’t fit the lyrics, and vice versa. Using the help of gadgets, Shubho records his lines now and his song “Shadhin’s” lyrics and composition was made while riding in a CNG on a hartal day, if you’d believe it!

Shubho feels he is far away from his dream work. He said, “I always wanted to create a song on the concept of “mother|.

However, there are millions of works out there on the same theme, and I fear it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Regardless, I’m determined to make this wish come true.”

A few comments from mentors still inspire him. After winning the B&H Star Search 2003, Artha Barua called Shubho and said, “Don’t think you sing too well; today, you just happened to sing better than the others. You still have to practice a lot.”

Trivia

Shubho played cricket up to the secondary level. His passion towards the game swayed him to present the song “Ora Ashche” (an inspirational piece for Bangladesh Cricket Team) during the World Cup. Although Shuvo was in New York for a show, his fandom of Jon Bon Jovi took him to New Jersey to visit Jovi’s hometown only because he wanted to see the life Jovi lived.

During class breaks or leisure, Shubho spends plenty of time practising music with friends on campus, and that eventually ended up with the creation of Metal Maze, an underground band. It opened up a new doorway to discovery.

Shubho says, “Whether it’s a TV show or concert my wife tells me where I made a mistake, and serves as my biggest critic.” l

Awards

Winner of DrockStar’06 Winner of South Asian Super Star 2008 Winner of B&H Star Search 2003

Team

P

W

L N/R Pts NRR

New Zealand

6

6

0

0

12 +2.564

Sri Lanka

6

4

2

0

8 +0.371

Australia

5

3

1

1

7 +1.597

Bangladesh

6

3

2

1

7 +0.136

England

6

2

4

0

4 -0.753

Afghanistan

6

1

5

0

2

Scotland

5

0

5

0

0 -1.769

-1.853

Sport 26

MCCULLUM WARY OF TIGERS PACE ATTACK

28

TIGERS’ FANS ROAM IN BLACK CAPS’ HOME

28

25

DT

POOL A

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

PROTEAS CONFIRM BANGLADESH TOUR IN JULY

Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah does a Gareth Bale after reaching his century against New Zealand during their World Cup match in Hamilton yesterday REUTERS

The beginning of a new era n Mazhar Uddin from Australia The Tigers walked out of the Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday with their heads held high. Despite going down to a three-wicket defeat in their final Pool A match, Bangladesh gave the high-flying New Zealand a close run for their money. And according to each and every single cricket lover all around the world, this is truly the start of a new era for the spirited Tigers.

The attitude among the Bangladesh cricketers has changed drastically ever since their highest successful run chase in ODIs, against Scotland on March 5. The approach of the Tigers can be compared with the fearless Sri Lankan side that won the ICC World Cup back in 1996.

Under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga, the Islanders emerged as the new powerhouse of world cricket. Veteran stalwarts like Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas inspired their side to the next level as pundits all over the globe reveled in the emergence of a new world champion.

The same killer instinct and positive attitude are also visible among the Bangladesh cricketers in the ongoing World Cup. The Ti-

gers also have an astute leader in Mashrafe bin Mortaza while cricketers like Mahmudullah, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal, among others, make their presence felt more often than not.

As was also evidenced in the nerve-wracking 15-run win over England last Monday at Adelaide Oval, the Tigers never gave up

2

The number of Bangladesh batsmen who have scored consecutive centuries in ODIs. Before Mahmudullah achieved the feat yesterday, the only batsman to get there was Shahriar Nafees, who made unbeaten scores of 123 and 105 against Zimbabwe. Those innings came in different tournaments, though - the first in the 2006 Champions Trophy, and the second in a bilateral series in Bangladesh.

8

The number of batsmen with hundreds in successive World Cup matches. The others, before Mahmudullah are Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Waugh, Rahul Dravid, AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Saeed Anwar.

344

Mahmudullah’s aggregate in this tournament, the fourth highest.

against the Kiwis and their hunger to snatch a win was well and truly alive until Tim Southee struck a couple of lusty blows and alongside experienced campaigner Daniel Vettori, chased down the challenging target of 289.

It was not only Mahmudullah, scorer of consecutive World Cup hundreds, who shone yesterday. Nasir Hossain’s approach with the It’s easily the best for Bangladesh in a World Cup - the previous highest before this tournament was Mohammad Ashraful’s 216 in nine innings in 2007.

288

Bangladesh’s total, their second highest against New Zealand, but the best against them in New Zealand.

19.47

Brendon McCullum’s batting average in ODIs versus Bangladesh. In 18 innings he has only two fifties, and a highest of 80 not out.

62

Runs scored by Bangladesh in seven overs between the 8th and the 14th; in the first seven overs they had scored only eight.

ball right until the dying stages of New Zealand’s chase was one among many signs that indicated that Bangladesh cricket is beginning a new chapter.

The rise of Mushfiq as a senior cricketer has been well documented for quite some time now while the young Sabbir Rahman, with his athletic displays in the field, adds a lot of energy when Bangladesh go out to bowl.

Coming into the World Cup, Bangladesh’s fast bowling department was an area of concern but Rubel Hossain and the young and talented Taskin Ahmed put paid to all those doubts, scalping seven and six wickets respectively, as the Tigers ended their groupstage campaign with a lot of confidence.

To be very frank, New Zealand are one of the hot favourites for the title but the Tigers ran them very close, unlike other teams.

Yesterday was the first time in six matches in this World Cup that New Zealand had to bowl their full 50 overs. Bangladesh did what even Australia, England and Sri Lanka were unable to do.

The Bangladesh cricketers have gelled nicely in this World Cup and if they are able to hold on to their nerve, they can even dream of bigger things. You never know, perhaps the 2015 ICC World Cup title is also a possibility!l

DT

26 Sport

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

TALKING POINTS

Yousuf Rahman (Babu), former national cricketer, vice captain and first centurion writes from New York for Bangladesh fans all across the globe.

BANGLADESH vs NEW ZEALAND very well achieved the improbable result of beating the Black Caps in their own backyard.

Three incidents prevented Bangladesh from getting to a potential score of 300 plus. The failure to cope with the pace and swing by the opening pair, the mind-boggling irresponsible stroke played by Shakib al Hasan after having played in and scoring 13 runs in the same over and the unfortunate pre-mature dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim. Life without Mushfiq is not the same. Soumya played a superb knock of 51 and then threw it all away.

The difference between anyone else scoring 40 or 50 and Mushfiq getting a score is that the latter is a finisher and has the experience to control the innings that can be the difference between a total of 260 and 300 plus.

On the bowling front, I am still puzzled why eight bowlers had to be used with Bangladesh’s major strike bowler, Rubel Hossain bowling two overs short. Was Shakib experimenting in a match that could have been won? Only Shakib can answer this question.

Vettori proves his value to the Black Caps

REUTERS

Bangladesh’s resolve is the talk of the town

No team in Pool A had succeeded in playing out the venomous Kiwi attack other than Bangladesh. Between Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Daniel Vettori, they have a combination that has decimated the batting line of some of the best. On a seaming wicket at Seddon Park, Hamilton the opening pair of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes was confronted with some high class seam bowling and failed to cope. Instead of getting rolled over like the others, the likes of Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman stood tall and produced a brand of cricket never witnessed before against the Black Caps in this World Cup.

Mahmudullah makes history and gains respect for himself and for Bangladesh

He carried on from where he left off in the England match. A back to back hundred in an ODI and in a World Cup that had catapult-

ed the ratings of Bangladesh as a cricketing nation is being talked about in every corner of the cricketing world. Even Navjot Sidhu must be chewing his turban. A bit tentative on a vicious pitch early into his innings, he produced a gem of an innings that was carefully programmed to give the Kiwis a major headache.

While the focus has been on Mahmudullah’s brilliant knock, let us not forget those that played around him with equal brilliance.

Soumya actually started it all and, from a position of despair, gave the Bangladesh innings the momentum it required to stay the course.

Sabbir Rahman continued with his fine form and played an innings that gave Bangladesh the middle order consolidation it required.

Caps, Brendon has been a tenacious and result oriented leader. His aggressive leadership has produced wickets because of the bowling support he has from his three seamers and veteran Vettori. He used the same tactics against Bangladesh that did make the initial breakthrough; however, I don’t think he counted on the Bangladesh batting to stand up tall. He let his emotions take over his judgment as he continued to utilise his front line bowlers in an effort to run through the Bangladesh innings. Mahmudullah, Soumya and Sabbir proved him wrong. The success of the Bangladesh middle order forced him to juggle around with his bowling in the death overs, a situation that he had not been subjected to in this World Cup until this match.

Even Brendon McCullum is allowed to falter as he misreads Bangladesh’s resolve

Bangladesh misses the opportunity to finish No.3 in the group

Since he took over the leadership of the Black

Another 25 runs and Bangladesh would have

This wily veteran has once again proved why he is an invaluable player in the Kiwi cricket programme. He is the leading spinner in this World Cup and has performed beyond one’s expectation. When it mattered, he produced with the bat and played a key role in holding the fort together after Bangladesh came close to giving the Black Caps its first defeat of the event.

Brendon does not need wings to fly

His middle name should be “Excitement.”

Whatever he does on the field is something to be recorded for posterity to gasp in amazement. When he wields the cricket bat, it is his clobbering tool and he uses it to destroy all opposition bowlers. His shots are sprayed all over the park. When he is on the field, he is like a circus artist. The video of the match must be his flying dive that literally saw him in flight for a good few yards when he attempted to save a boundary. His landing was not the most comfortable as he crashed into the display boards. Hats off to him for being one of the best entertainer of this World Cup. l

Baz fails against Tigers, again n Raihan Mahmood

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum failed to break the Bangladesh jinx yet another time yesterday as the typically brash and brutal batsman holed out to Soumya Sarkar off Shakib al Hasan on eight, his lowest score in this edition of the World Cup. McCullum will surely entertain second thoughts of taking the stance in the crease next time as he has continuously failed to keep his repute against Bangladesh. He first played against Bangladesh back in 2003 and till date has played 21 ODIs against them. With his career average standing at 30.67, after playing 215 innings of 246 match-

es and scoring 5737 runs, the Kiwi skipper averages 19.47 against Bangladesh. He has scored 331 runs against the Tigers, including with the highest

MCCULLUM IN THIS WC

8 42 50 77 15 65

v

Bangladesh

v

Afghanistan

v

Australia

v

England

v

Scotland

v

Sri Lanka

score of 80 not out.

After scoring 61 in Dhaka in October 2010, his second highest score against Bangladesh, McCullum has chipped in with scores of 0, 21, 4, 0, 14 and 8, a total of 47 runs in his last six innings.

Only 47 runs in six ODIs for a top order batsman like McCullum, it definitely looks appalling. In the last six innings he has fallen prey to Shafiul Islam twice, Rubel Hossain twice and once each to Mominul Haque and Shakib.

Another notable point is among his 331 runs against Bangladesh, 216 has come in four matches with the scores of 40, 35, 80* and 61. That means he has scored 115 runs in the remaining 17 matches. At the end of his career, Bangladesh may well be a point of displeasure to McCullum. l

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum bats as Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim looks on in their Pool A World Cup match at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday AFP

DT

Sport 27

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Anamul undergoes operation n Mazhar Uddin from Australia Bangladesh opener Anamul Haque underwent surgery yesterday after dislocating his right shoulder while fielding during their World Cup match against Scotland at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on March 5.

Following the incident, the wicketkeeper-batsman was rushed to the nearby hospital and was later replaced in the squad by top-order batsman Imrul Kayes.

Anamul stayed back in Australia for his treatment. And yesterday, the 22-year old underwent a successful surgery under the supervision of Dr. David Young at Avenue Hospital in Melbourne.

The hard-hitting opener will be assessed

by Dr. Young this Wednesday after which it will be revealed how long he will stay out of cricket. It was, however, learned that Anamul might take three-four weeks to fully recover from his injury.

Anamul played three matches in the World Cup and totaled 58 runs.

His replacement, Imrul, is yet to register a good score in the two matches he has played against England and New Zealand, getting out for single figures in both the games.l

BAN v NZ

Bangladesh fought until the end, gave their all but eventually lost by three wickets against co-hosts New Zealand in their final Pool A match at Seddon Park yesterday. Now, the Tigers will be looking to carry the momentum they gained against the Kiwis in their quarter-final against India this Thursday at MCG. Despite Mahmudullah’s second consecutive century, the Kiwis reached their destination with three wickets and seven balls in hand. Martin Guptill came up with a hundred of his own as the home side chased down Bangladesh’s 288/7. Tim Southee (12*) and Daniel Vettori (16*) blasted some blooming hits to give the Kiwis their highest successful run chase in the World Cup. However, it could have been a totally different scenario had skipper Shakib al Hasan (4/55) gave the ball to Rubel Hossain (1/40) in the 49th over. Southee clobbered a maximum and a boundary off successive Shakib deliveries as the high-flying Kiwis registered their first ODI

R B 13 27 2 19 51 58 128 123 23 18 15 25 40 23 11 7 0 0 5

Total: (for seven wkts; 50 overs)

288

Fall of wickets 1-4 (Kayes), 2-27 (Iqbal), 3-117 (Sarkar), 4-151 (Hasan), 5-182 (Rahim), 6-260 (Rahman), 7-287 (Nasir) Bowling Southee 10-1-51-0, Boult 10-3-56-2 (1w), McClenaghan 8-0-68-0, Vettori 10-0-42-1, Anderson 10-0-43-2 (2w), Elliott 2-0-27-2 (1w)

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill acknowledges the crowd after getting out on 105 against Bangladesh at Seddon Park, Hamilton yesterday AFP

Guptill eclipses Mahmudullah ton n Mazhar Uddin from Australia

BANGLADESH Tamim Iqbal c Anderson b Boult Imrul Kayes b Boult Soumya Sarkar c Anderson b Vettori Mahmudullah not out Shakib Al Hasan c Ronchi b Anderson Mushfiqur Rahim c Ronch b Anderson Sabbir Rahman c McCullum b Elliott Nasir Hossain c Taylor b Elliott Rubel Hossain not out Extras: (lb1, w4)

win over Bangladesh since October 2010.

Guptill, earlier, smashed 105 with the help of 11 fours and two sixes while an out-ofform Ross Taylor posted 56. Identical 39-run knocks from Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson, in the meantime, went a long way towards helping the Kiwis to their 10th win in their last 11 ODIs at home.

The Tigers though started well as Shakib dismissed opener Brendon McCullum (8) and Kane Williamson (1) to leave the Kiwis struggling at 33/2. It was upto Guptill and Taylor to lead the recovery act and the third wicket pair did just that, adding 131 runs.

When Guptill departed, the fourth wicket pair of Elliott and Taylor appeared to take the game away before Rubel removed Elliott while Nasir Hossain trapped Taylor plumb in front.

The game tilted more in Bangladesh’s favour when Shakib dismissed Luke Ronchi and Nasir cleaned up Anderson.

However, the experienced Vettori and Southee saw the Kiwis home to finally break their seven-match losing streak against the Tigers.

Earlier in the day, the flaws of the Tigers’ top-order were exposed yet again after McCullum invited the Tigers to bat. Imrul Kayes departed for two while Tamim Iqbal made 13, both departing off left-arm seamer Trent Boult (2/56). Boult is now the highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps.

Mahmudullah (128) and Soumya Sarkar (51) arrested the slide, putting on 90 runs for the third wicket. Soumya grabbed his maiden ODI fifty with the help of seven fours before being dismissed off Vettori. Mahmudullah though continued to counter-attack the Kiwi bowlers, clubbing a dozen boundaries and three sixes. He is the second Bangladesh cricketer after Shahriar Nafees to score successive ODI tons and only the eighth batsman to score consecutive World Cup centuries after Sangakkara, Mark Waugh, Dravid, De Villiers, Hayden, Ponting and Saeed Anwar.

By the time he was done, he had accumulated 344 runs in the World Cup, the fourth highest. Sabbir Rahman chipped in with a quickfire 40 off 23 balls as Bangladesh managed 288/7.l

Morgan has ‘no regrets’ n AFP, Sydney

England captain Eoin Morgan said he had no regrets after his side failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup and insisted he wanted to remain in charge.

Friday’s nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in a rain-marred match at the SCG came too late to get England into the knockout phase, with Monday’s 15-run defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide ending their last-eight hopes.

“There are no regrets. Absolutely not. We’ve given it everything and certainly I have,” added the former Ireland batsman, whose last 11 ODI innings have yielded five ducks.

Morgan wasn’t required to bat on Friday

with England, after he won the toss in overcast conditions ideal for seam bowling, restricting Afghanistan to 111 for seven.

They were then set a revised target of 101 to win in 25 overs and finished on 101 for one in 18.1 for the loss of opener Alex Hales, with Ian Bell unbeaten on 52 at the finish.

Morgan, only appointed to the ODI captaincy on a full-time basis shortly before the tournament after England axed Test skipper Alastair Cook from their World Cup squad, said he wanted to continue as the team’s 50over leader. “The hunger’s still there to captain,” said Morgan. There will be a review from here so, with regards the captaincy, the decision is out of my hands.” l

NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill c Hossain b Hasan B. McCullum c Sarkar b Hasan K. Williamson c Iqbal b Hasan R. Taylor lbw b Nasir G. Elliott c Ahmed b Hossain C. Anderson b Nasir L. Ronchi c Nasir b Hasan D. Vettori not out T. Southee not out Extras: (lb1, w4)

R B 105 100 8 8 1 2 56 97 39 34 39 26 9 10 16 10 12 6 5

Total: (for seven wkts; 48.5 overs)

290

Fall of wickets 1-27 (McCullum), 2-33 (Williamson), 3-164 (Guptill), 4-210 (Elliott), 5-219 (Taylor), 6-247 (Ronchi), 7-269 (Anderson) Bowling Hasan 8.5-1-55-4, Islam 10-0-58-0, Hossain 8-140-1, Ahmed 8-0-49-0 (2w), Sarkar 4-0-19-0 (1w), Rahman 2-0-14-0, Mahmudullah 3-0-22-0 (1w), Nasir 5-0-32-2 Result: New Zealand won by 3 wickets

AFG v ENG AFGHANISTAN R Nawroz Mangal c Root b Anderson 4 Javed Ahmadi c Root b Broad 7 Afsar Zazai c Buttler b Jordan 6 Nasir Jamal c Buttler b Bopara 17 Samiullah Shenwari c Morgan b Jordan 7 Shafiqullah Shafiq c Bopara b Tredwell 30 Mohammad Nabi c Tredwell b Bopara 16 Najibullah Zadran not out 12 Hamid Hassan not out 0 Extras (lb6, w6) 12 Total (7 wkts, 36.2 overs)

B 15 28 14 52 11 64 15 15 2

111

Fall of wickets 1-17 (Mangal), 2-20 (Ahmadi), 3-25 (Zazai), 4-34 (Shenwari), 5-65 (Jamal), 6-93 (Nabi), 7-101 (Shafiqullah) Bowling Anderson 7-0-18-1 (2w); Broad 8-1-18-1 (2w); Jordan 6.2-2-13-2 (1w); Bopara 8-1-31-2 (1w); Tredwell 7-0-25-1;

ENGLAND (revised target 101 in 25 overs) A. Hales c Zazai b Hassan I. Bell not out J. Taylor not out Extras (lb3, w1)

R

B

37 52 8 4

33 56 20

Total (1 wkt, 18.1 overs)

101

Fall of wickets 1-83 (Hales) Bowling Shapoor 4-0-25-0; Dawlat 3-0-23-0; Hassan 5-017-1 (1w); Nabi 4.1-0-14-0; Shenwari 2-0-19-0 Result: England won by 9 wickets (D/L method)

DT

28 Sport

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Bugs life for New Zealand, Bangladesh in Hamilton n AFP, Hamilton

COURTESY

New Zealand and Bangladesh players had to call for insect sprays as they desperately swatted away swarms of black bugs which descended on Hamilton’s Seddon Park in their World Cup clash Friday.

On a steamy, muggy day in the city, bugs caused a number of brief stoppages as Bangladesh batted in the early afternoon.

It was also reported that nearby pharmacies had run out of insect repellent as players and fans sought relief.

“Hearing reports the Pharmacy closest to the ground is sold out of bug spray take care out there gang,” tweeted @BLACKCAPS, the official Twitter feed of the New Zealand team. l

Tigers’ fans roam in Black Caps’ home n AFP, Hamilton Shahadat Mallick came all the way from the United States to watch the World Cup and his beloved Bangladesh, a team which feels like family to him.

“I have seen history,” said Mallick, who was in Adelaide last Monday to see the Tigers claim a famous 15-run win over England which took them into the quarter-finals for the first time.

“I watched the win over England that took us to the quarters and it’s a great delight for me.

“I grew up in Dhaka and have some relatives who have played for Bangladesh, so cricket is very much in my blood but now I rarely get an opportunity to watch as I am

South Africa confirm Bangladesh tour in July n Reuters, Cape Town Cricket South Africa have confirmed the itinerary for their tour to Bangladesh in July and the visit of New Zealand the following month.

South Africa will play two Tests, three oneday internationals and two Twenty20 matches when they visit Bangladesh, starting with the shortest format on July 5. The first Test begins on July 20 in Chittagong, with the second in Dhaka from July 30. New Zealand play two Twenty20 matches and three ODIs in South Africa starting on Aug. 14 in Durban and then Pretoria two days later. The first ODI will also be played in Pretoria on Aug. 19, before moving on to Potchefstroom (Aug. 23) and Durban (Aug. 26). l

based in US.” Mallick was just one of hundreds of Bangladeshi fans who thronged Hamilton’s Seddon Park for their last World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand on Friday.

“I have come with my family of five,” said Shoukat Hossain, who is from Tauranga. “It’s great to see Bangladesh perform so well in the World Cup.” Hossain has already bought a ticket for quarter-final in Melbourne where Bangladesh would meet defending champions India on March 19.

“We will not allow India to beat us,” said Nafees, Hossain’s son, a student at Hamilton University.

“Every time in the past we left the World Cup empty-handed but this time we can fin-

ish at our best.”

Nuzrat Malik came to Hamilton from Melbourne to watch his first game of the tournament.

“I was reluctant at the start because I thought Bangladesh would not do well but once they beat England I decided to watch the remaining games and I will watch the quarter-final as well as the MCG is close to my house,” she said.

Local fan Shane McDonald has his sights set on a share of a one million dollars being offered by a New Zealand brewer for fans who can catch the ball clean if it lands in the crowd.

“I am up for the competition even though I am not fully fit,” said McDonald who was on a crutch after a car accident last month. “I hope

the stick doesn’t hamper me from catching it clean.”

Rebecca Smith said she is dreaming of a New Zealand-Australia final.

“I want New Zealand to play Australia in the final and beat them at the MCG,” said Smith of the March 29 final. “We want to beat the Aussies for the title, no less than this.”

Carl Andrew echoed the same feelings.

“Rugby or cricket, we are bitter rivals with the Aussies and if the title comes with a win over Australia it will be the icing on the cake,” said Andrew.

New Zealand outlasted Australia by one wicket in a Pool A match in Auckland last month.

“That was February 28 and we will go one step further on March 29,” he said. l

Aussies likely to experiment against Scots n Reuters Australia will continue to experiment with their batting line-up against Scotland on Saturday as they attempt to give players some time in the middle before the knockout phase, captain Michael Clarke has said.

Australia have already qualified for the quarter-finals and sit in third spot in Pool A on seven points, but would move above Sri Lanka (eight) if, as expected, they beat Preston Mommsen’s side at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

“I think the order will be a little different tomorrow because we need to give guys a hit in preparation for our quarter-final,” Clarke said in Hobart on Friday.

“Obviously I need another hit. I think Shane Watson needs another hit, and James Faulkner hasn’t had a bat in this tournament.

“So there are probably three players that are certainly in need to bat.”

Australia shook up their batting line-up in their last match against Sri Lanka with Steve Smith at number three and Shane Watson at number five before he dropped down a place to allow Glenn Maxwell to come in and accelerate the scoring.

Clarke’s side are expected to easily account for a winless Scotland in their final pool clash before they head to Adelaide for a quarter-final against either Pakistan or Ireland on March 20.

The skipper admitted there was no clear ‘first XI’ in the Australian team, with selec-

tors choosing the playing side based on their opposition and pitch conditions.

Pace bowler Pat Cummins would replace left arm spinner Xavier Doherty on Saturday and Clarke said he was happy with that approach to deciding the line-ups.

“It’s going to take all 15 squad members to win this World Cup. And I’ve said before that I like the fact that selectors are picking players for conditions and opposition,” he added.

“I think we’d be silly to pick your team today for the World Cup quarter-final.

“We don’t know what we’re going to get in Adelaide. We don’t know what the wicket will be like.

“We still don’t know who we’re playing against.

“I think we assess that next week.” l

DT

Sport 29

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Aamer returns

DAY’S WATCH

n AFP, Rawalpindi

Star Sports 1, 3, HD 1 6:45AM ICC Cricket World Cup India v Zimbabwe

Star Sports 2, 4 9:15AM ICC Cricket World Cup Australia v Scotland 3:45 AM (Sunday) ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies v United Arab Emirates

Star Sports 2 9:00 PM Spanish La Liga Espanyol v Atletico Madrid 10:55 PM Eibar v FC Barcelona

Star Sports 4 6:35 PM Barclays Premier League Crystal Palace v Queens Park Rangers 8:50 PM Arsenal v West Ham United 11:20 PM Burnley v Manchester City

Ten Action 2:30 PM A-League Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets 6:15 PM Sky Bet Championship Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town 10: 00 PM French Ligue 1 Metz v Saint- Etienne 1:00 AM Nantes v Evian Thonon Gaillard

Ten Sports 9:00 PM Sky Bet Championship Norwich City v Derby County 12:00 AM BNP Paribas Open IW Round 2 Day 1 6:30 PM European Tour Tshwane Open Day 3

Neo Prime 8:30 PM Bundesliga Werder Bremen v Bayern Munchen 11:30 PM Borussia Dortmund v FC Koln

Neo Sports 8:30 PM Bundesliga Hertha Berlin v FC Schalke 04

Sony Six 8:30 PM Rugby Six Nation Wales v Ireland 11:00 PM England v Scotland

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamer bowls during a three-day match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday. Amir returned to domestic cricket after four and a half years of ban for bowling deliberate noballs during the Test match against England in 2009 AP

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Aamer showed no signs of rustiness as he made his return after a five-year spot-fixing ban on Friday, bagging three wickets in his first spell in competitive cricket since 2010.

The 22-year-old bowled with pace and aggression to snare three scalps in an opening stint of six overs for the Omar Associates side at the former Test ground in Rawalpindi, next to Islamabad.

Aamer was cleared to return to domestic cricket early from his ban for bowling noballs to order against England in 2010, but his first match, planned for earlier this week, was rained off. The three-day match that started Friday against the Capital Development Authority is part of the grade-two Patron’s Trophy tournament, one level down from first-class.

It made for a relatively easy reintroduction to cricket for the left-armer, whose pace, control and ability to swing the ball both ways saw him become the youngest bowler, at 18, to take 50 Test wickets.

He was one of three Pakistani players banned from the game for at least five years for arranging no-balls to order in the notorious Lord’s Test against England in 2010.

He was also jailed in Britain in 2011, along with former captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif. l

Higuain lifts Napoli, De Bruyne cheers Wolfsburg, Roma held n Reuters, London Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain grabbed a treble for a 3-1 win over Dynamo Moscow while Kevin de Bruyne’s double gave VfL Wolfsburg the same victory over Inter Milan in Europa League last 16, first leg ties on Thursday.

Sevilla midfielder Vitolo recorded the fastest goal ever scored in the competition (13.2 seconds) to lead the holders to a 3-1 triumph at La Liga rivals Villarreal and Fiorentina drew 1-1 with AS Roma in an all-Serie A tie.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk beat Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 in Ukraine thanks to Roman Zozulya’s goal on the half-hour.

Torino had Marco Benassi sent off in the 28th minute as Zenit St Petersburg won 2-0 in Russia with goals from Axel Witsel and Domenico Criscito on target.

Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku, with a penalty, struck in Everton’s 2-1 home victory over Dynamo Kiev while Club Bruges also came from behind to beat Besiktas 2-1 in Belgium.

Kevin Kuranyi headed Dynamo Moscow into a surprise second-minute lead in Naples before the home team equalised when Higuain nodded in a centre from Faouzi Ghoulam.

The Napoli number nine then made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 31st minute after Dries Mertens was brought down.

Dynamo had Roman Zobnin sent off one minute into the second half before Higuain completed his treble with a sublime volley, his sixth goal in Europe this season.

Napoli coach Rafa Benitez is aiming to win the Europa League for the second time in three seasons, having guided Chelsea to a 2-1 final

victory over Benfica in Amsterdam in 2013.

Triple former European champions Inter went in front against Wolfsburg in Germany when Rodrigo Palacio slipped the ball under keeper Diego Benaglio in the sixth minute.

The hosts, who are second in the Bundesliga, hit back in the 28th when Naldo levelled from a De Bruyne corner.

De Bruyne put Wolfsburg in front with a first-time finish from a Vierinha cross early in the second half before making sure of victory with a curling free kick.

The former Chelsea forward almost made it a hat-trick when he missed an open goal in the closing stages.

At the Madrigal, the ball went forward from the kickoff and Kevin Gameiro set up Vitolo to score a goal that clipped almost two seconds off the previous fastest goal record set by Ismael Blanco of AEK Athens when the competition was launched in 2009.

Stephane M’bia extended Sevilla’s lead before Luciano Vietto pulled one back for Villarreal in controversial fashion.

M’bia handled the ball in the build-up but the referee allowed the goal to stand, rather than award a penalty, after spending two minutes deliberating with two of his officials.

Gameiro then restored Sevilla’s two-goal advantage with a venomous close-range volley in the 50th minute.

Josip Ilicic gave Fiorentina an early lead against AS Roma before the visitors had Adem Ljajic dismissed on the hour.

Roma’s 10 men fought hard to get back in the tie and they were rewarded when Seydou Keita levelled with 13 minutes to go. The second legs will be played next Thursday. l

RESULTS Zenit St Petersburg

2-0

Torino (ITA)

VfL Wolfsburg

3-1

Inter Milan

Club Brugge

2-1

Besiktas

Dnipro

1-0

Ajax

Everton

2-1

Dynamo Kiev

Villarreal

1-3

Sevilla

Napoli

3-1

Dinamo Moscow

Fiorentina

1-1

Roma

DT

30 DOWNTIME

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Pretended (4) 5 Openings (4) 10 Summit (4) 11 Zodiac sign (3) 12 S American mountains (5) 13 Sphere (3) 14 Wise men (5) 16 Book of the mass (6) 18 Language (6) 21 Lofty structure (5) 23 Spinning toy (3) 24 Strong thread (5) 26 United (3) 27 Eager (4) 28 Departed (4) 29 Judge (4)

DOWN 2 Abode of the dead (5) 3 Monkey (3) 4 Errand (7) 6 Drug-yielding plant (4) 7 Iran’s former name (6) 8 Weep convulsively (3) 9 Fragrant ointment (4) 15 Made vigilant (7) 17 Chant (6) 19 American state (5) 20 Require (4) 22 Frank (4) 23 Pull along (3) 25 Tiny (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents N so fill N every time the figure 14 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it 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.

A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q RST UVWXYZ

SUDOKU

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

Sir Terry Pratchett obituary

n Showtime Desk Terry Pratchett, fantasy author and creator of the enormously acclaimed Discworld series, died at the age of 66 on March 12, after battling an eight year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Pratchett was one of the most illustrious and popular British authors of all time. With over 80 million copies worldwide, Pratchett’s immense success knew no bounds. In today’s age, his success can only be compared to that of JK Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter series. His exquisitely written, wildly inventive brand of comic fantasy was so stunningly well-crafted that even mainstream readers who usually strayed away from science fiction or fantasy found his novels to be an

Guess the celebrities from their eyes

addictive addiction to their literary diets.

Over 40 of his books were set in Discworld, a flattened earth that was supported by elephants on the back of a very large turtle. The beauty of Discworld was in his ability to keep the theme but constantly evolve it to create a world that was much more complex but still had his innate knack for puns and a contagious silliness.

As the only child to Terence Pratchett, Terry was born in Buckinghamshire. His childhood was ordinary, with his love for books being attributed to his grandmother who made him explore the writings of H G Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle. Although an average student, his first short story was published at the age of 13 in the school magazine. He later sold this commercially to buy his first typewriter.

He was a voracious reader of science fiction and often bought under-the-counter books to feed his hunger. He quit school before his A levels and got into journalism, working for three local newspapers. His big break came in 1971 when he published his first book, The Carpet People. A critical rather than commercial success, his next two books, The Dark Side of the Sun and Strata, comprising the first version of Discworld was what sealed his place in the literary world.

He sold his first few books during his time

as a publicity officer for Central Electricity Generating Board, and later went into fulltime writing in 1987 when he was offered the deal for three of his next books. His career was illustrious but unusual – it was shocking how an unheard of writer snagged so many book deals in such a short time period.

At the end of 2007, Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In 2010 he made a passionate plea for “the right to die,” in an hour long BBC documentary Choosing to Die. His death was announced on his Twitter account with his daughter Rhianna writing,“Many thanks for all the kind words about my dad. Those last few tweets were sent with shaking hands and tear-filled eyes.” He leaves behind his wife Lyn and Rhianna, his daughter along with numerous fans l Pratchett’s last three tweets hours before his death Terry Pratchett @terryandrob -AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUST WALK TOGETHER -Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.

-The End.

The Lazarus Effect

CELEBS ON SOCIAL HUGH JACKMAN @RealHughJackman #ThrowBackThursday. Don’t know when or where we took this one... just that this guy is way… https://instagram. com/p/0HeSNbChGU/ JOHN LEGEND @JamilSmith What @JohnCornyn said about Obama and voting rights is as ridiculous as what @Morning_Joe said about @ WakaFlockabsm. http://on.tnr. com/1xdB727 RAJKUMAR HIRANI @RajkumarHirani Saw NH10. Absolutely engaging cinema. Edge of the seat till the end. Anushka is a delight to watch.

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION SEX AND THE CITY HBO Defined, 4:05pm Casts: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Candice Bergen A columnist on sex and love in New York, Carrie Bradshaw is finally tying the knot with Mr Big. THE SWEETEST THING Movies Now Plus, 6pm Casts: Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Thomas Jane, Frank Grillo, Jason Bateman A girl discovers through meeting her Mr Right that all the etiquette of wooing the opposite sex is meaningless.

CAN YOU GUESS THE CELEBS FROM THEIR EYES? These stunning starlets and their famous peepers have mesmerised audiences through countless films and public and TV appearances, but can you identify them by their gaze alone? Post your guesses on the brand-new T-Junction Facebook page. One lucky winner will be featured in next week’s Saturday Special, when we reveal the correct answer.

Answers to last Saturday’s “guess the celebrities from their eyes” Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (top left), Audrey Hepburn (top right), Cameron Diaz (bottom)

n Pragya Rahman The film revolves around a team of medical researchers who have developed a serum named “Lazarus.” The serum was intended to bring coma patients back to a normal state of life but it turned out to have some extraordinary effects like bringing the dead back to life.

The team of researchers stumble upon this miraculous discovery as they perform an experiment on a dead dog and see that it begins to show strange, unanticipated effects and behaviour. When the dean of their university finds out about their underground experiments he shuts down the project which forces them to go rogue.

Unfortunately the dedicated bunch run

into an accident and one of them named Zoe gets killed. Frank being curious as to how the serum would work on humans and unable to let go of Zoe, uses the serum to resurrect her. At first things seem normal but things take an unexpected turn when Zoe begins to exhibit super human powers. Now, the fate of Zoe, the undead, and all of her other friends lies in her hands along with the question of whether or not it is at all possible to eradicate human existence?

Should they have messed with the powers of creation to begin with and played God when they were mere humans just to pay the ultimate price? Is this going to be their purgatory? l

THE PLANET OF THE APES Casts: Star Movies HD, 7:26pm Will Rodman a scientist, designed a wonderful drug ALZ 112 on chimpanzees to help the brain repair by itself.

However, chimp goes wild and leads an ape uprising.

SATURDAY SPECIALS Whether you’re starting a brand new week, or winding down at the end of one, start your Saturdays with some fun and games, courtesy of the Showtime team. From trivia to quizzes to games, we’ll bring you a tasty tidbit every week. Stay tuned!

DT

32 BACK PAGE

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

LAND YOUR DREAM JOB

PAGE 15

REPEAL CHARACTER EVIDENCE IN RAPE TRIALS PAGE 20

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA PAGE 25

Homage to Bangladesh’s politics: Bound and gagged M

A

R

C

H

1

9

7

1

Over the precipice

D

I

A

R

Y

This extract is the sixth in a series that will run until March 25, in which we reproduce Rehman Sobhan’s contemporaneous account of the events of that momentous month in Bangladeshi history.

This was first published in Forum on March 6, 1971

n Rehman Sobhan

A symbolic protest by a former student of the Institute of Fine Arts at Dhaka University against the malaise that has gripped the country’s political culture draws crowds on the Dhaka University campus.

The protester, who asked not to be named, wrapped himself in jute twine and gagged himself with a sack, evoking the enforced paralysis and poor prospects for dialogue that have held Bangladesh hostage since opposing observances on the anniversary of last year’s parliamentary elections escalated into a full-scale political confrontation.

The resulting transport blockade called indefinitely by the BNP-led 20-party alliance on January 6 has unleashed a round of arson and bombings by blockade enforcers that has been met with reprisals by law enforcement personnel. It has now stretched to 68 consecutive days of unrest and claimed at least 90 lives, mostly the result of arson. Secondary School Certificate examinations scheduled to be held from the first week of February have been hit hard by a series of postponements that have left students, for whom this exam is crucial to academic and professional success, in a state of constant uncertainty. Commuters and transport sector personnel have borne the brunt of the venality of the political impasse, in which every ride has become a life-threatening risk. Prospects for dialogue, hushed by the confrontation into a silence that is shattered only by uncompromising demands and new rounds of mutual recrimination, have been utterly impervious even to the best efforts of the diplomatic corps and the UN MEHEDI HASAN

President Yahya’s announcement of an RTC on March 10 appeared in this atmosphere to be almost surrealistic. It completely ignored the climate of opinion in the province which was hardly propitious for detached conversation with tribal maliks and the sole representatives of such pre-historic entities like the Jamaat and even the Convention Muslim League, not to mention Mr. Bhutto himself.

Mujib’s refusal to attend the RTC did not require much discussion. By this time the situation was becoming untenable for the regime as the authority of the administration ground to a halt and its influence extended only within the range of its guns.

Not only had the hartals brought the province to a standstill, but the administration itself began to join the people in the non-cooperation movement. Civil servants, judges, and other government officials were willingly staying away from work and actively pledging their loyalty to the people’s representatives.

This reached its climax when not even a judge could be found to administer the oath to the new governor, Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan, on his arrival.

The extent of unity behind Shekih Mujib and the degree of non-cooperation with the rulers is without parallel in the history of the freedom movement in this sub-continent and must be a sobering thought to the rulers.

Sobriety however takes time to have its impact. Meanwhile, the killings went on.

Firing on unarmed workers in Tongi, on demonstrators in Jessore, Khulna and other outlying areas continued to add to the pantheon of martyrs.

Whilst some looting and communal disturbance went on, the security forces rarely got to the scene on time and it was left to Awami League volunteers to apprehend and attempt to restore loot to the owners.

By the third night their volunteers, at least in Dacca, had enforced a degree of law and order which had proved quite beyond the capability of the gun-toting military convoys who had formerly policed the city.

The withdrawal of the security forces from the centre of the city to strategic redoubts around the airport and cantonment was thus as much a reflection of reality on the ground as it was tribute to the sense of discipline of the people.

The gradual collapse of authority, along with the unanimous and resolute response of the people in support of their leaders and against the oppressors, was expected to invoke a rational response from the regime.

Instead, in his broadcast of March 6, which first surprised and then outraged the whole populace of Bangla Desh, Yahya attempted to blame the leaders of the people and attributed this uprising to the act of a handful of arsonists, vandals, and murderers.

The fact that the progenitor of the crisis, Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, got off scot free in this blanket indictment, indicated that his tactic of closing ranks with the ruling elite had paid off.

Bangla Desh’s demands were now confronted with the language of weapons as one of the reputedly most hawkish elements in the power elite was pulled in as governor to replace Admiral Ahsan who had refused to carry the responsibility for the consequences of the postponement any longer. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com