26 July, 2015

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

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Shraban 11, 1422, Shawwal 9, 1436

PM FAVOURS UNDER-29S FOR BCL LEADERSHIP PAGE 3

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 101

9 DIE IN ACCIDENTS IN 2 DISTRICTS PAGE 5

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

A GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR SEX WORKERS’ CHILDREN PAGE 32

Rain wins as Popular chains, restaurants Chittagong Test increasingly adulterating food ends in draw

Minhaz Uddin Khan from Chittagong

Around 1:30pm on July 9, which was the third week of Ramadan, a mobile court led by an executive magistrate raided the popular Maloncho Restaurant at the New Elephant Road in Dhaka.

Most popular chain stores and restaurants in the city experience a massive surge in demand during the Islamic fasting month, especially during iftar and dinner.

Then again, it has been seen that during Ramadan, these eateries face more fines from mobile courts than any other time of the year which suggests they adulterate food more than any other time in order to cope with the rush.

When the mobile court gave the raid, there were only a few customers in the dining room of Maloncho and they were surprised to see that the mobile court had sealed the three kitchens of their favourite restaurant.

This reporter, who accompanied the mobile court during that raid, concluded that even dirty would be an utter understatement if used for describing the kitchens.

Thick layers of grease and filth covered the walls, which looked as if they had not been cleaned in years. Cockroaches were roaming PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Kamrul Hasan

RAMADAN DRIVES BSTI

Total fine: Tk1.3 crore Jailed 26 people

Closed 22 factories

RAB 40 drives Total fine: Tk51.66 lakh

DMP More than 100 drives Total fine: Tk51 lakh, Jailed 10 people

Enclave residents forced to stay back Jebun Nesa Alo from Kurigram

For as long as they were living in patches of India, the exclave residents were ignored, deprived of civic amenities and sometimes human rights.

Now that the end is near, matters are becoming more complicated. It was always a little too good to be true. The first part of a series illustrates the situation in one exclave PAGE 3 Private university students for politics that benefit nation

Indian exclave residents who want to leave Bangladesh are allegedly being forced to remain. It is also alleged that the survey committee intentionally left out a number of people who wish to leave for India.

A resident of Dasiar Chhara in Kurigram, Mizanur Rahman Mizan alleged that people were being forced to stay back and those who wanted to leave were in fact being threatened by members of the local co-ordination committee.

“Many are scared to even get their names on the list of people who intend to leave,” said Mizan. “They were threatened against doing anything like that.”

Moreover, those who did get themselves on the list are now being harassed with fake cases.

“I want to go to India as there is lot of work,” said Mizan. The survey committee

PAGE 4 Abducted teenager rescued in the capital

members from Bangladesh tried to convince us that the government would provide facilities including roads, schools, hospitals and power supply. “But what would I do? Where would I work,” wondered 40-year old Mizan.

Around 300 people, among 10,000, enlisted as interested to settle in India Mizan has worked as a farm hand in India before and wants to settle there permanently with his four brothers.

“It is my right to live where I want to. But I am already being harassed here. Who knows what the future holds?” asked Mizan.

PAGE 5 Voter list updating begins in the country

Just like the fourth day, incessant rain in the port-city washed out the fifth and final day’s play as the first of two Test matches between Bangladesh and South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium ended in a disappointing draw yesterday. Not a single ball was bowled on the penultimate day and the theme was repeated yesterday with persistent rain playing spoil-sport.

The cricketers of both the sides were hoping for some action at the middle but the match officials declared a draw at the stroke of midday as the inclement weather showed no signs of abating.

This was the first time the Tigers went into the fifth day of a Test against the Proteas while the draw was also the first instance in a Bangladesh-South Africa five-dayer.

Rain had also curtailed the second and third day’s proceedings but in spite of the foul weather, the tie was wide open and could have tilted in favour of either side. Bangladesh had managed a 78-run lead after posting their highest total against South Africa. Earlier, the visitors had capitulated to 248-allout, their second lowest total against the Tigers.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Shohag, Jakir likely to become BCL top two Tribune Report Saifur Rahman Shohag and Jakir Hossain are likely to become the president and secretary of Chhatra League when the ruling party’s student front sits for a long overdue council today.

According to sources, the council is slated for an 11am start and the members of the organisations are likely to elect these two as their top leaders.

It is also likely that the central committee, to be announced tomorrow, is likely to have 201 members in total but this could only be known after the top two are elected.

Sources also said that a number of secret meetings had been held throughout the day yesterday to finalise the entire committee, especially the top two. One of these meetings is said to have taken place at the residence

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

PAGE 8 Obama says ‘Africa on the move’

PAGE 32 Another child raped in Kaliganj

DT

2 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Enclave residents forced to stay back He claimed that the survey committee was supposed to go from door to door and list people who wanted to leave for India. “But they did not. There are seven booths in the exclave for enlisting people who want to leave. But people were barred from going to the booths threatened with physical attack.”

Chief of the Bangladesh survey team, Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner Habibur Rahman brushed off these allegations.

“There is no question of dropping anyone from the list.”

Around 300 people, among 10,000, enlisted themselves as interested to settle in India.

The residents of Dasiar Chhara divided themselves into two groups immediately after the announcement of those who wanted to stay and those who did not. They even had a clash in a bid to prevent people from settling in India.

Also president of Enclave United Council, Mizan claimed that around 3,000 people wanted to go to India but could not get their names listed because of threats.

One Balram said he also wanted to leave Bangladesh with his full family including four brothers and an old mother.

But he could not do that because his mother’s name had not been included in a census of 2011. The new survey committee formed in July refused to include his mother’s name on the list. As a result, Balram will be able to go to India except that his mother will have to stay.

“I can’t leave my mother in Bangladesh,” he said. He tried to resolve the problem but the new survey committee did not give me any solution. “However, it won’t be problem

Their cloud does not even have a silver lining that my mother is not on any list if we want to live in Bangladesh.”

Another enclave resident and member of co-ordination committee, 55-year old Maniruddin admitted that the surveyors were supposed to go from door to door.

He said nobody was being harassed. “One the people who do not love Bangladesh and involve with crime wish to go to India.”

Another Dasiar Chhara resident, Nurunnabi works in an Indian brick field with his son Hasa-

BCL top two

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

nur and returned only after the announcement of a survey that would include his name in the list of would be Indian nationals.

He said he was being threatened for wishing to leave for India while his son, who is still in India, has been listed as someone willing to stay back in Bangladesh.

Nurunnabi said, “It is not just my son.

There are many others living in India and listed as potential Bangladeshis without their consent.”

Popular chains, restaurants increasingly adulterating food around freely on the floors, often crawling atop cooked and uncooked food items left open. None of the chefs or their assistants were in any kind of safe kitchen attire with sweat from their unprotected bodies getting mixed with the food.

All these were good enough for sealed kitchens, but the mobile court handed down the punishment particularly because it found that the restaurant had been reusing the same oil over and over again. The court also found the presence of certain harmful chemicals, especially in the iftar items.

Md Ariful Rahman, a college student from Savar who was present at the restaurant at that time, shared his thoughts with this reporter. “I and my family always have lunch or iftar here when we come for shopping in the area. We love the iftar items and the biriyani that they make. It is hard to believe that they cook in such dirty kitchens.”

During the month of Ramadan this year, mobile courts operated by the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI) alone fined various outlets Tk1.3 crore in total and jailed 26 people for adulterating food. These courts also sealed off 22 factories in the country.

The RAB conducted more than 40 anti-adulteration drives in Dhaka in which they arrested four people and fined various restaurants, food shops and their owners over Tk51.66 lakh.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) also conducted around a hundred such drivers fined

more than Tk51 lakh and jailed 10 people.

On June 21, in the first week of the fasting month, another mobile court fined popular fast food chain KFC’s Baily Road branch Tk1 lakh for serving expired and chemical-mixed food items.

‘Presence of chemicals should be checked at the entry levels. People should be made aware of the rules and regulations. This may result in higher food prices but this trade off would ensure food safety’ Rumana Yakub Joyee, who lives in the UK and has come to Bangladesh for celebrating Eid, said: “I was a student of the Vikarunnesa Noon school and in those days I was a regular customer of KFC. If KFC is doing this then what is the condition of the other restaurants?”

On that day, the other chain stores in Baily Road that got fined by the same mobile court included Pizza Hut and Boomers.

Pizza Hut was fined for using chemicals in two of its popular sauces without the authority’s approval. The court found that Boomers was storing rotten meat and adulterated food items.

When contacted, Akku Chowdhury, CEO and managing director of Transcom Foods Limited of which KFC and Pizza Hut are concerns, said these mobile courts work whimsically and impose fines without any reason.

“The magistrates do not listen to anyone and impose fine indiscriminately without observing carefully,” he said.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to one of these magistrates as well. “We have seen during drives that some restaurants keep mutton and prawn in the same container. Their greed is putting the lives of thousands of people in danger,” said Moshiur Rahman, an executive magistrate of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Prof Golam Mowla, former director general of BSTI, told the Dhaka Tribune: “According to BSTI rules, all food items should be free of the dangerous E Coli virus. But, as most of the chefs and their assistants do not have proper training, they do not know the damage that this microorganisms and adulterated food items can cause to human health. Children in particular end up being the worst sufferers.”

Prof Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of the Health Rights Movement Bangladesh, said that not just during Ramadan but greedy businessmen adulterate food throughout the year.

“Drives should therefore go on around the year. Presence of chemicals should be checked at the entry levels. People should be made aware of the rules and regulations. This may result in higher food prices but this trade off would ensure food safety,” he said.

of a former president of the Chhatra League.

Senior leaders of the organisation and also the Awami League reportedly attended these meetings.

Insiders said Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is personally coordinating the council. Last year, Awami League presidium council member Obaidul Quader, now roads and bridges minister, coordinated the council.

Shohag, from Madaripur, was the environment secretary, and Jakir, from Moulvibazar, was an assistant secretary of the outgoing committee of the student group. They are both students of the Dhaka University.

Insiders also said that there is a lot of discontent within the organisation centring Jakir’s candidature and probable election as their secretary.

Many leaders and workers, who claim themselves to be dedicated to the organisation, have expressed their surprise and disappointment with the selection of Jakir, 24, a student of political science.

Seeking anonymity for obvious reasons, they said even those who have been active with the Chhatra League’s politics on DU campus have not heard of Jakir. He has been detached with politics and three months ago even tried to get a job at the Jagannath University.

Rumours also have it that his father is involved with the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami, the party that opposed the country’s liberation in 1971 and is one of Awami League’s major political opponents.

The insiders also said that Jakir has come this far because he is part of a very strong syndicate, controlled by some of the former leaders of the organisation.

According to sources in several state intelligence agencies, Jakir had not helped them with information when they were checking his background. It is customary for intelligence agencies to check the backgrounds of the candidates vying for Chhatra League central committee posts.

This year, a total of 142 candidates have been vying for the president and secretary posts. During the last council in 2011, seven candidates contested for president and 16 for the general secretary.

Chittagong Test The South Africans though made a strong and positive start to their second innings and only trailed by 17 runs at stumps on day three.

Among the 22 cricketers from both the sides, teenage Bangladesh sensation Mustafizur Rahman enhanced his reputation the most.

Having already proven his worth in the limited-over formats, there was a slight debate as to whether the decision to award his maiden Test cap was a premature one but the Satkhira native cast aside all the doubts with a sizzling performance in the white outfit.

With a mixture of clever cutters, the 19-year old left-arm paceman bagged four wickets in the first innings, including three in four deliveries.

His heroics enabled him to grab the playerof-the-match award and a slice of history was created in the process. Mustafiz became the first and only cricketer in history to bag the man-of-the-match award on both his Test and ODI debut.

DT

NEWS 3

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Hasina favours under-29s for BCL leadership Tribune Report Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has directed the councillors of Bangladesh Chhatra League to elect brilliant and regular students for the top posts of the party’s student body.

Its leadership would be elected through direct votes by the councillors and that the age ceiling should be 29, Hasina said addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Chhatra League’s 28th council at Suhrawardy Udyan of the capital yesterday.

She said the new leaders should be regular students as well as brilliant and hard-working. They would have to work for the nation and the party keeping aside own interests.

However, there is a speculation that the ruling Awami League chief, also the prime minister, may extend the age ceiling to 30.

“Student politics should be idealistic and inspired by the goals and achievements of the Liberation War,” she said.

Recalling the contribution of Chhatra League in the country’s historic movements, Hasina asked the Chhatra League activists to keep it in mind so that its image is not dented in any way.

The outgoing committee was formed on July 11, 2011 with HM Badiuzzaman Shohag elected as its president and Siddique Nazmul Alam as the general secretary, for two years as per the organisation’s constitution. The previous council was held on April 4, 2006.

Hasina left the post of Chhatra League’s

Khaleda wants neutral election-time govt Tribune Report Apparently backtracking from the caretaker government issue, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said that the next election must be held under a non-partisan government with the participation of all the political parties.

“In the last three city corporation polls, it was proved that fair election is not possible under the Awami League. I would not say that election should have to be held under caretaker government. Whatever the name is, we want a fair election under a neutral government,” the three-time former premier said while exchanging views with Brahmanbaria district lawyers at her Gulshan office.

“The Awami League knows better that they will not be able to return to power, once they ousted from the office. That is why they do not want to hold any election,” she alleged.

Regarding the face-off situation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda said, “Why should not we see each others’ face? Why should not we sit together? We restored parliamentary democracy sitting together.”

She alleged that it was the only task of the government to destroy the BNP. “But it is not possible to destroy the BNP because the party is deeply rooted in people’s mind.”

Khaleda said that political activity was completely stopped in the country. “Opposition parties are barred to hold rallies and meetings. The whole country has turned into a jail.”

The former premier also criticised the “illegal” government for staging militancy drama, loss of manpower market, fall in remittance, and declining garments exports.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Badiuzzaman Shohag and General Secretary Siddique Nazmul Alam greet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with flowers at the 28th national conference of BCL held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE organisational head until April 4, 2009 in the wake of violence on campuses countrywide.

On the other hand, the Awami League cannot have any associated or affiliated bodies consisting of students or teachers, as per the Election Commission rules.

Since the party came to power in 2009, its leaders and activists have faced allegations

of murder, rape and sexual harassment, intra-party clashes, extortion, mugging, tender violence, drugs trading, and influencing recruitment and admission processes.

A number of units of Chhatra League had been suspended or dissolved during the last seven years while many of its leaders and activists punished for their involvement in ac-

Private university students for politics that benefit nation not parties Shadma Malik Students of the privately owned universities are reluctant to engage with soured student politics that put party interests first. However, they would like to get involved if it worked for the students and the country.

While the ongoing 28th council of Bangladesh Chhatra League is met with euphoria among the students of the public universities, it seems to have little to no effect on the students of more than 50 private universities operating in the country.

There are number of issues that keep the students of private universities away from politics. Apart from administrative regulations, the students also see no real reason to be active in politics which is driven by petty personal interest.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, several students of some private universities said they were better off without student politics.

“I do not want to get into politics as there are too many hassle. I also have no personal interest. So there is no need to belong to any ruling or opposition party,” said Mashiat Chowdhury, a student of North South University (NSU).

However, she said if there was a separate body for students, non-affiliated with two leading political parties, she might consider getting involved to do some social work.

Some students appreciated the role student politics played during various political movements in the past.

“It was possible because there was a national interest but nowadays politics has become a platform for personal gain. Also we do not see any democracy in this country. I will never get myself involved,” said Sharmin Anam also from NSU. However, those who said student politics was important and they would like to contribute mentioned a healthy political environment as prerequisite.

Paul Sumon from East West University said: “Leadership is an important factor in politics and students can develop their leadership skills during the university or college life. If the committee is fair and democratic in terms of voting power, students can bring changes in the country.”

Professor Omar Rahman, Vice Chancellor (VC) of Independent University, Bangladesh said: “We have a student counsellor who listens to students about their issues and demands in the campus. Regarding joining a politically affiliated student body, a student can do so as an individual.”

VCs of some other private universities, on request of anonymity, said there was a difference between students politics and party politics.

While student politics benefit the students and the country, party politics is all about materialising parties own agenda.

They further clarified that the main motto of a private university was to finish the courses in due time, not to be a breeding ground for party politics.

tivities that go against the party charter.

Hasina yesterday said activists and leaders of the Awami League’s organisations also played their role in protecting the lives and property of the common people.

Many leaders and activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League were killed during the anti-government movement and “countrywide anarchy” carried out by the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance, she said.

About the 27-year age limit for the Chhatra League leaders, Hasina said as the council could not be held in due time, the age limit should be 29 years. “But you must stick to it – 29 years,” UNB quoted the premier as saying.

Hasina attended the event as the chief guest when senior party leaders Tofail Ahmed and Obaidul Quader were present as special guests. Outgoing Chhatra League President Shohag presided over the programme.

Several thousand leaders and activists across the country joined the two-day long event that began around 11am.

Chhatra League General Secretary Nazmul read out the organisation’s report while Office Secretary Sheikh Rassel placed the condolence proposal.

Earlier in the morning, the prime minister hoisted the national flag with the national anthem being played, while the Chhatra League president hoisted the organisation flag. Hasina inaugurated the council by releasing pigeons and balloons.

Green activists for integrated step to remove waterlogging UNB Green activists at a human chain in the capital yesterday demanded an integrated step to remove the perennial waterlogging problem from Dhaka city.

They said the city dwellers suffer from acute waterlogging during every monsoon since the authorities give attention to only addressing the problem in posh areas like Gulshan and Banani but do not take any planned measure to remove waterlogging from all areas of the city.

Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), Nagarik Odhikar Sangrakhyan Forum (NOSF) and Poribesh Unnayan Society jointly organised the human chain in front of Nagar Bhaban aiming to put pressure on the authorities concerned to take an integrated initiative to address the waterlogging problem.

Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan said the two Dhaka city corporations and Dhaka Wasa, as service-providing institutions, take some scattered measures to address waterlogging when monsoon sets in.

“But they have no coordinated effort to address the problem. Waterlogging is a common problem for all areas of Dhaka city and an integrated measure must be taken to solve it considering all the areas of the city,” he added.

NOSF President Hafizur Rahman, Poba Executive Member Engineer Tofail Ahmed, Poba Coordinator Atiq Morshed, Poribesh Unnayan Society President Burhan Uddin and Modern Club President Abul Hasnat addressed the human chain among others.

DT

4 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Eight return home after languishing in Indian jail UNB

Strong winds packed with heavy rain uproot this age-old tree on Iskaton Garden Road in Dhaka yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least eight Bangladeshi citizens have returned to home from India after languishing in a jail there for one and a half years on charge of trespass.

Indian Petrapole Immigration Police handed over them to the Bangladeshi authorities via Benapole check post on Friday afternoon and finally members of Bangladesh Women Lawyers’ Association received the victims.

The returnees are Habibur Rahman, 15, son of Shamsul Haque of Fatullah in Narayanganj; Krishna Khan, 14, son of Harish Khan of Kalibazar in Narsingdi district; Reajul Sheikh, 14, son of Faruk Hossain of Morelganj in Bagerhat district; Sabuj Sujon, 13, son of Mohonpur upazila in Rajshahi district; Reba Rani, 25, Usha Rani, 23, Sujata Sarkar, 23, of Satkhira district and Hawa Begum, 35 of Khulna district.

Benapole immigration police OC Aslam Hossain said the eight had intruded into India in search of job and Indian police arrested them from Kolkata railway station.

And a local court sent them to jail for the period for intrusion.

Legal Aids and Training Centre, a legal service provider, freed them from the jail and gave a shelter in a house.

A decision of their bringing back was adopted in a meeting of home ministries from both countries.

Abducted teenager rescued in capital, 7 held Kamrul Hasan Police on Friday night rescued a boy from a hotel in the capital’s Gulistan area who was kidnapped from Mohammadpur on July 22 after posting an advertisement online to sell a mobile phone.

Police also arrested seven people for their involvement in abducting Md Mohaiminul Islam alias Anas. The 19-year-old completed his higher secondary studies from Mohammadpur Model School and College last year.

The seven are Md Shahadat Hossain, Md Sharif Hossain, Nidhan Chandra Das, Md Selim, hotel employee Md Abdul Quader, bKash agent Md Nasir Uddin and his employee Md Bappy.

Anas was abducted from in front of a branch of Islami Bank in Shekhertek, some five minutes from his home in the area.

He told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that Sharif called him after he posted an ad on Facebook and also on Bikroy.com to sell his cellular phone.

“Sharif wanted to meet me, saying he would like to verify the phone’s configuration. It was raining when I reached where he wanted to meet. He told me to get in a microbus he had come in to avoid being drenched,” said Anas.

“Some four to five men got into the vehicle right after I did and warned me not to shout.

They also covered my face with black a cloth.

After the microbus reached Hotel Boishakhi in Gulistan, they took off the cloth and said they would kill me if I screamed for help.”

The teenager was taken to a room on the fourth floor of the hotel and the abductors called his father from his phone. They initially demanded Tk10,000 in ransom but raised the

amount to Tk1,000,000 a day later.

Anas’ father Md Fakhrul Islam, who worked in Saudi Arabia for 23 years, told the Dhaka Tribune he filed a general diary with Adabor police station on July 22 and a case with the same police station the following day.

“I preferred informing police rather than complying with the threat to pay the ransom.

I am happy that I have got back my son. I am also content with the excellent job that law enforcement officials have done.

“Who could assure me that I would get back my son after I paid the money? That is why I decided to go to police because even if the abductors had killed my son, law enforcers would nab them,” added the father.

Anas said the kidnappers had tortured him at the time of talking to his father over the phone to get the ransom fast.

“They hit me in my knees with metal locks.

Aiyas remanded in Rajon murder case Our Correspondent, Sylhet A local court here has granted a three-day remand to Aiyas Ullah who was arrested in the sensational Rajon killing case.

Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate 1 Shahedul Karim gave the order yesterday as DB inspector and also the lawsuit’s investigator Suranjit Talukder produced Aiyas before his court with a five-day remand plea. When contacted, Sylhet Metropolitan Police ADC (media) Rahamat Ullah acknowledged it.

A team from the DB and Jalalabad police station conducted a raid on Kumargaon Sheikhpara of the district town around 1am and detained Aiyas, son of Mostafa Ali, from Jahangirgaon area in Dowarabazar upazila of Sunamganj district.

With the arrest, police have so far arrested 13 accused in the case. Police sources said Aiyas was an eyewitness of the incident that created huge outcry among people across the country.

On July 8, Kamrul, Muhith and some others brutally beaten to death 13-year-old Samiul

Alam Rajon after tying his hands and legs to a pole. One of them also filmed the heinous incident and uploaded in Facebook.

Later, its video went into viral in different social media like Facebook, Tweeter and Youtube creating huge criticism among people from all walks of life.

On the face of sheer criticism, the authorities closed an inspector and suspended two sub-inspectors of Jalalabad police station as their negligence in arresting Rajon killers appeared in a probe report in this regard.

I posted such advertisements several times in the past but never got into any such situation,” said Anas who had injury marks in his shoulders as well.

“Detectives, after rescuing Anas from the hotel room, arrested Shahadat, Sharif, Nidhan and Selim from there,” said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, at a press briefing at the DMP media centre yesterday.

“We later arrested hotel employee Quader, who said during interrogation that he had received ransom from bKash agent Nasir and Nasir’s employee Bappy in connection with similar crimes committed in the past.

“Police have found that kidnappers have been using the hotel for several years. As a hotel employee has been found to have connections with criminals, we will keep an eye on all such employees in the capital,” he added.

1 held with eight gold bars at Dhaka airport Kamrul Hasan Customs officials arrested one with eight gold bars at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.

The arrested Omar Faruk, 28, hailing from Feni, landed from Saudi Arabia through Saudi Airlines SV 808 around 12:10pm. He was carrying the gold bars weighing 933gm in a plastic bag, said Md Reyadul Islam, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Airport Customs department.

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NEWS 5

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Voter list updating begins Tribune Report The voter list updating process began across the country yesterday. In the first phase, data of possible voters in 189 upazilas and thanas will be collected.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad inaugurated the threephase data collection programme at Shilpakala Academy in Narsingdi yesterday morning. The data will be collected from a total of 514 upazlias and thanas covering the entire country.

In his inauguration speech he urged people to cooperate with enumerators and provide authentic information during the door-todoor data collection.

“If people cooperate and provide authentic information, it will be easy to prepare a faultless database. If any voter cannot register during the door-to-door data collection, they can register later,” he said.

He said work is in progress with the help of upgraded technology to create a faultless database. It will be easy to detect fake or duplicate voters with the new technology. As duplication is a punishable offense, the duplicate voters, if found, will be brought under law.

The CEC also said that the commission will start distributing smart national identity (NID) cards with 46 information among some

10 crore voters soon.

“We think it will not be possible to duplicate NID cards if the smart cards are provided.”

With 2.5% growth in the country’s existing 9.62 crore voters, the Election Commission (EC) estimates that some 24 lakh fresh voters will emerge in 2016, and 48 lakh more in 2017 and 2018 following the data collection.

Some 61,000 people including 50,000 enumerators and 10,000 supervisors are needed for the three-phase data collection work under 5,400 voter registration centres in 4650 union parishads, 320 municipalities, 12 cantonment boards and 439 wards of 11 city corporations across the country.

According to the EC, enumerators will collect data of citizens born on or before January 1, 2000 throughout the country till September 22 this year.

From the collected data, only those who were born on or before January 1, 1998 will be registered as voters in 2016. The remaining people will be registered as voters in 2017 and 2018.

Besides, names of dead voters will be erased from the database.

According to the EC, in the first phase data will be collected from 189 upazilas and thanas from July 25-August 9. In the second phase, running from August 16 to 30, data from 184 upazilas and thanas will be collected. Data

from 141 upazilas and thanas will be collected from September 7 to 22 in the third phase.

To be a registered voter, eligible citizens will need to provide birth certificate, land deed (if any), education certificate (if any), receipt of house rent or copies of utility bills, passport (if any), NID number of father, mother, or spouse.

The eligible people can also provide their data through online registration this year.

Photographs and fingerprints of the nationals born on or before January 1, 1998 will be taken in three phases from August 11 to October 20 through the voter registration centres.

The photographs and fingerprints of the remaining citizens will be taken in three phases from October 22 to February 10 next year.

The EC would make the draft updated voter list public on January 2 and receive complaints regarding the update. After disposing off complaints, the commission would publish the final updated voter list on January 31 next year.

The schedule of data collection of possible voters is available on the EC’s website: www. ecs.gov.bd According to section 11 of the Voter List Act 2009, the Election Commission shall update the countrywide electoral rolls during January 2-31 every year. The voter list was last updated in 2014.

A portion of the front bumper of a passenger bus is damaged as the driver drives into a roadside field following a collision with a microbus in Gopalganj yesterday, killing seven people DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nine killed in road accidents in two districts Tribune Report Nine people, including three women, were killed and 16 others injured in two separate road accidents in Gopalganj and Manikganj yesterday.

In the past week, at least 128 people died in road and rail accidents in different districts.

The accident in Gopalganj’s Kashiani upazila, which involved a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus, left seven people killed and eight injured.

Five of the seven are microbus driver Hanif, 28, Babu Sheikh, 45, son of Ful Mia of Narail,

Tania, 30, daughter of Asaduzzaman Sheikh of Narail, Mehedi Begum, wife of Miraz Mia of Narail, and Mizanur Rahman, 50, of Narail.

The other two could not be identified.

The accident took place when a Gopalganj-bound bus of Ashik Sagor Paribahan rammed into the microbus, which was travelling to Mawa from Kalna, at Bhatiapara intersection on Dhaka-Khulna highway around 11am.

Babu Sheikh died on the scene while six others succumbed to injuries after they were taken to Kashiani Upazila Health Complex.

Of the eight injured, six were admitted to

Kashiani Upazila Health Complex and the two others to Gopalganj General Hospital.

Rosy and Saddam were in a critical condition, said Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Kashiani police station.

On the other hand, the accident in Manikganj killed Sujon Mia, 30, a resident of Sanail village and Meher Ali, 50, of Kashemnagar village, reports UNB. Syeduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Singair police station, said the accident took place in Baira area of Singair when a bus hit a Manikganj-bound human haulier around 10 am.

SHUJAN questions accuracy of voter list Tribune Report Citizens’ rights body Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) has raised question about the accuracy of the updated voter list published by the Election Commission last year and demanded that a mechanism be introduced to verify the list by an independent third party.

SHUJAN, a civil society organisation working for establishing good governance, criticised the latest decision to register teenagers aged 15-17 and for not carrying out visible campaigns before launching the voter list update yesterday.

It alleged that the EC had violated laws by conducting the update process in July instead of January.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, Badiul Alam Majumder, secretary of the organisation, also questioned the decreasing number of female voters in the updated list.

Badiul said they had concerns over the voter list update initiative since there had been some inconsistencies in the last few years.

“The voter list prepared in 2008 was something for us to feel proud of...”

He said female voters outnumbered male in the 2008 list by 14.14 lakh (gender-gap +1.74%). But after the 2013 update, it was found that female voters were 2.91 lakh less than the male count.

“Now the gender-gap has reached around -12%. Because of this huge gap, more women will not be able to caste their voting rights.

The people have the right to seek explanation, and we hope that the Election Commission clarify the matter,” Badiul said adding that the field-level officials had not visited door-to-door.

SHUJAN claims that such “gender-gap” is not natural.

Eminent columnist and local government expert Tofail Ahmed suggested that the EC recheck the voter lists of some districts where the gender-gap is huge.

Columnist Syed Abul Moksud said that fair election could not be expected from the incumbent EC. Different polls under this commission witnessed huge vote rigging and ballot box stuffing.

“Elections could be fairer even if those were held under Chhatra League or Jubo League, rather than this Election Commission,” he said.

SHUJAN President M Hafizuddin Khan and former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain also spoke at the function.

Six policemen suspended for bribery UNB At least six policemen including two sub-inspectors from Ishwardi police station there have been suspended on charge of taking bribe from a drug peddler.

The suspended policemen are SI Asif and Shahin Mohammad Anu while the rest four are constable Zillur Rahman, Mominul Islam, Mizanur Rahman and Anisur Rahman.

Sources said a team of the six arrested one drug peddler named Robi from Aotapara area in the upazila, but they released him after taking bribe from him.

They were punished when the incident came to light, said Pabna SP Alamgir Kabir.

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River erosion takes serious turn Tribune Report Erosion caused by the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers in Gaibandha and Bhola has rendered more than 900 families homeless in the districts in the last few days.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that the mighty Brahmaputra River wreaked havoc in Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas causing extensive damages to crop fields and human habitation.

The river intensified its erosion at Kanchipara, Ratanpur, Singria, Namapara and Kamarpara of Fulchhari upazila and Gobindi, Bashata, Munshirhat and Sathalia of Shaghata upazila making river basin people more worried about their homesteads and arable lands.

More than 500 families living on the bank of the rivers have already lost their homes due to the erosion and vast tracts of arable land were also devoured by the rivers, locals said.

Besides, a good number of academic institutions, SKS Foundation office, temples, mosques, markets and flood control embankments have come under threat of erosion, they said.

On face of the erosion, Gobindi Government Primary School was auctioned for Tk90,000. The graveyard, community centre and Eidgah field of this area have already disappeared in the river.

Apart from it, hundreds of families living on the river bank are in serious panic and anxiety as their homesteads including the stand-

Two held with petrol bombs Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar Police arrested two alleged criminals along with seven patrol bombs as well as a revolver from Baurbhag village in Sadar upazila yesterday morning.

The arrested are Kanchon Miah, 55, from Sadhuhati village, and Nuru Miah, 40, of Fotehpur village in the upazila.

Being tipped-off, a team from Sadar police station raided on the village in the morning and made the arrest, said SI Anwar Hossain there.

During the drive, police recovered seven patrol bombs and a locally-made revolver from their possession.

The duo later would be produced before court after filing a case against them, the SI went on.

Workers demolishing the Gobindi Government Primary School building amid fears that Brahmaputra erosion may eat it up ing crops fields might be eroded any time, said Mosarrof Hossain Sweet, chairman of Shaghata union parishad.

Meanwhile, the homeless people have taken shelter at nearby government embankment and other safer places of the upazilas.

They are passing their days in hardship under the open sky for want of drinking water and food, he also said.

M Habibur Rahman, chairman of Fulchhari upazila, said the river erosion destroyed at least 400 homesteads including 1,000 acres of arable land of the upazilas in the last two weeks.

When contacted, executive engineer of BWDB Abdul Awal acknowledged the river erosion in the district and said they had al-

ready started development work at few places in the upazila on a small scale.

In reply to a question, the executive engineer said they could not launch the development work at the vulnerable areas of the upazilas to a great extent due to fund constraints.

In Bhola, about five hundred families have been rendered homeless due to continuous erosion of the Meghna River which took serious turn due to onrush of tidal water in Monpura upazila of Bhola during recent times.

According to sources, Katakhal Bazaar, Andir Par, Kacharir Dogi and three other villages were devoured by the river leaving many families homeless. They lost their

People in risk of landslide asked to move Our Correspondent, Bandarban Bandarban administration has asked those living at the foothills to move to safety as the incessant rain of the last few days is likely to trigger landslides.

To alert the inhabitants, the administration has been using megaphones since yesterday morning asking them to move immediately.

Some thousand families are living under the risk of landslide in the hilly areas of Islampur, Bonorupa, Hafezghona, Balaghata, Kalaghata, Langipara and Bus Station of the district.

“With heavy showers of the last couple of days and indiscriminate hill cutting, landslide

may occur any time,” said Bandarban municipality mayor Javed Reza.

Five centres have been opened so far to shelter those who are under the risk, he added.

Meanwhile, a house was flattened by landslide in Madhujhiri area of Lama upazila yesterday afternoon. However, no casualty took place as there was no one in the house during the incident.

Apart from the risk of landslide, the water level of Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers has also been rising. Several areas including the Lama bus station and bazaar have already been flooded.

The heavy rain has also disrupted daily life and local business of the hilly district.

College student stabbed over football match dies, one arrested Our Correspondent, Barisal A college student who was stabbed to death centring a dispute over football match succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Barisal yesterday.

The victim was identified as Ujjal Kharati, 18, son of Uttam Kumar Kharati from Lakshmipasha village under Kabai union of Bakerganj upazila.

He was also an HSC examinee of Kabai Islamia Degree College.

Uttam Kumar said his son engaged in a scuffle with Saiful Sardar Munna, son of Bashir Sardar of the same area, over playing football at a local school ground on Thursday afternoon.

Following the tussle when Ujjal went to the market to buy medicine in the evening, Munna and his associates stabbed him from back and fled the spot.

Ujjal was rushed to Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex in critical condition and then to Barisal SBMCH on Thursday night, said

Rafikul Islam Sabuj, chairman of Kabai union parishad.

Abul Kalam, SBMCH official said Ujjal succumbed to his injuries at 5am on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Uttam Kharati lodged a murder case in this connection against Munna and his five associates on Saturday afternoon.

Soon after, police visited the spot and arrested one of the accused named Nasir, said Bakerganj police station Officer in-Charge Anwar Hossain. The body of the victim was kept at SBMCH for autopsy, he added.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

homesteads and crop lands.

Hundreds of families in Monpura Sadar union parishad and four villages including Ramnewaj Bazaar and Kawarteck are also facing threat of erosion, sources added.

When contacted, Abul Kalam, assistant engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, Bhola said they prepared a project to place concrete blocks for protecting the banks from erosion and sent it to the higher authorities.

Ershad Ali Khan, upazila nirbahi officer of Monpura upazila admitted the situation and said the government would give khas land to the homeless families’ for their rehabilitation.

Contacted Selina Akter Chowdhury, Monpura upazila chairman also echoed Ershad.

Outlawed leader killed in ‘gunfight’ Our Correspondent, Kushtia A regional leader of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) was killed during a gunfight with police at Bhanga Bottoil in Mirpur upazila of the district early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Palash Malitha, 28, regional leader of (ML-Lal Pataka), a faction of the PBCP. Mirpur police station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Jalal Uddin said, on a tip-off, a team of law enforcers conducted a drive in the area around 1:30am when a gang of outlawed party men were taking preparation to commit robbery on the Kushtia-Meherpur road placing logs.

As the team reached the spot, Palash alongwith his associates opened fire on police, prompting the law enforcers to fire back that triggered a gunfight.

Husband kills wife Our Correspondent, Gazipur A housewife was hacked to death allegedly by her husband over family feud in Vannara area of Kaliakoir upazila early yesterday.

The alleged killer Nurul Islam, a mason from the area, went into hiding soon after the incident that took place at the dead of the night.

The victim is Nasrin Akter whose body was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College Hospital morgue by police for autopsy. Kaliakoir police station OC (investigation) Rafiqul Islam said a fierce altercation ensued between the couple over family feud and Nurul Islam at one stage started hacking Nasrin repeatedly with machetes leaving her dead on the spot.

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Heavy rainfall disrupts life across port city Office-goers became the worst victims as they have to face trouble to travel through the water-logged areas FM Mizanur Rahaman A number of areas has gone under knee-deep water in Chittagong city following the heavy downpour that started on Thursday night and continued till yesterday evening.

Office-goers became the worst victims as they had to wade through the knee-deep filthy water in order to reach destinations.

Commuters, greatly outnumbering the transports, had to face immense trouble to travel through the water-logged areas.

The exuberant fares charged by the vehicle drivers added to their woes.

Condition of a number of roads deteriorated that resulted into long tailbacks.

Passengers were seen waiting inside vehicles with annoyance while pedestrians on roads had to fold their clothes up to knees and

walk though the dirty water.

A number of them complained that water leaked from the sewerage system got mixed in the rainwater clogged on the streets.

Roadside shops and shanties were submerged. People were seen trying to scoop out the rainwater from their houses with buckets.

Most areas of the city including Halishahar, Beparipara, Sholoshahar, Muradpur, Aturar Dipo, Bibirhat, Bahaddarhat, Chwakbazar, Sulokbahar, Panchlaish, Saraipara, Pahartali, Sagarika and lower parts of Patenga coastal zone went under knee-deep water.

Mutasim Sifat, a resident of Shantibag, Halishahar, told the Dhaka Tribune: “People in this low-lying area have been suffering for last several years as during monsoon the rainwater clogged on the road is doubled

by the water leaked though the sewerage lines.”

Loading and unloading of merchant vessels in the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port remained halted for some hours due to the weather conditions, said sources at the Chittagong Port Authority.

According to the Chittagong Met Office, around 256 millimetres of rain was recorded till 6am yesterday.

The torrential rain and thunder shower accompanied with gusty wind will continue till next two or three days.

District Administration and Fire Service sources said they were on high alert to avert possible landslides in the hilly areas.

People living by the hills were instructed to shift to safer places like nearby school buildings and cyclone centres.

35-km tailback on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway Our Correspondent, Tangail A 35-km tailback was created yesterday on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway from Chandra of Gazipur till Natiapara of Delduar upazila in Tangail, inflicting immeasurable sufferings for the Dhaka-bound people after the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.

Witnesses said the tailback was created, leaving several thousand vehicles stranded.

The tailback was extended till the east side of the Bangabandhu Jamuna bridge. However, the traffic movement was very show on the highway till filing of the report.

Woman dies falling off train roof Our Correspondent, Gazipur A woman died and two people were injured after falling from the rooftop of a train in Talaboh area of Kaliakoir upazila yesterday. The deceased could not be identified immediately. Witnesses said the three were traveling on the rooftop of Dhaka-bound Rangpur Express train.

WEATHER

HEAVY RAIN SUNDAY, JULY 26 DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:45PM

SUN RISES 5:25AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

27

25

Chittagong

28

26

Rajshahi

33

26

Rangpur

34

26

Khulna

27

24

Barisal

27

25

Sylhet

31

25

Cox’s Bazar

28

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.1ºC

20.6ºC

Sayedpur

Jessore Source: Accuweather/UNB

Commuters, greatly outnumbering transports, face immense trouble travelling back to their work destinations after Eid, as they have to put their lives at risk by travelling on the rooftops of rickety buses. The photo was taken at Rajshahi-Dhaka Bus Stand yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Historic Nazirpur Day today Tribune Report

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:58am 5:24am 12:05am 4:44pm 6:45pm 8:15pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Today is the historic Nazirpur Day, commemorating the supreme sacrifice of seven valiant freedom fighters in a “front battle” during the liberation war in 1971, at Nazirpur village under Kalmakanda upazila of the district.

On July 26, 1971, a front battle between the then Pakistani occupation armed forces and the freedom fighters was held where the occupation forces were defeated.

Seven valiant freedom fighters laid down their lives in the face to face fighting while the freedom fighters killed several dozens of Paki-

stani soldiers and caught some others.

The martyred seven freedom fighters were Dr Abdul Aziz, Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Mohammad Year Mahmud, Bhabotush Chnadra Das, Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Dijendra Chandra Biswas and Mohammad Jamaluddin.

The district administration, district Muktijoddha Sangsad and Kalmakanda upazila Muktizoddha Sangsad have jointly chalked out elaborate program to celebrate the day.

Commander of district Muktizoddha Sangsad Mohammad Nurul Amin said that the programme, include placing of floral wreaths at the Nazirpur war memorial monument and the mon-

uments and graveyards of martyred freedom fighters at Lengura area, holding of Milad Mahfil at Lengura bazer Jam-e-mosque and discussion meeting at Lengura high school, said BSS. Local Lawmaker Chabi Biswas, chairman of Bangladesh Muktizoddha Sangsad central command council Halal Murshed Khan (Bir Bikrom), deputy commissioner of Netrakona Dr. Torun Kanti Shikder and police super of Netrakona Joydeb Chowdhory will join the day’s program as the guest of honors, the commander Amin said adding that a large number of freedom fighters from greater Mymensingh region will also attend the program.

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India PM promises billions to Bihar as elections loom AFP, Patna

People wave US flags before US President’s arrival for an official four-day East Africa state visit yesterday in Nairobi

AFP

Obama says ‘Africa on the move’ AFP, Nairobi US President Barack Obama yesterday declared that “Africa is on the move”, praising the spirit of entrepreneurship at a business summit on landmark visit to Kenya.

Obama arrived in Kenya late on Friday, making his first visit to the country of his father’s birth since he was elected president.

“I wanted to be here, because Africa is on the move, Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world,” Obama said, drawing cheers and applause from delegates.

“People are being lifted out of poverty, incomes are up, the middle class is growing and young people like you are harnessing technology to change the way Africa is doing business,” Obama said in his first official engagement in Nairobi.

The US embassy itself warned the summit could be “a target for terrorists”, but Kenyan

Greek bailout talks to start tomorrow after delay Reuters, Athens Talks between Greece and its international creditors over a new bailout package should go ahead tomorrow after logistical issues that delayed meetings this week are resolved, a Greek official said yesterday.

The meetings with officials from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund had been expected to start on Friday but were delayed by organisational issues including the location of talks and security.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied that the government was trying to keep the lenders’ team away from government departments. “We don’t have any problem with them visiting the General Accounting Office,” the official said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, sharing the stage with Obama, said the event showed a different side of Africa. “The narrative of African despair is false, and indeed was never true,” Kenyatta said. “Let them know that Africa is open and ready for business.”

In the afternoon Obama was welcomed at State House for talks with Kenya’s government. On arrival he shook hands with Deputy President William Ruto, who is on trail at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague accused of crimes against humanity during post-election violence in 2007-08.

Obama also laid a wreath at the memorial site of the US embassy destroyed in an Al-Qaeda attack in 1998, standing in silence in memory of the 224 killed in the twin bombings in Nairobi and Tanzania.

Obama said he was delighted at the trip, which many Kenyans see as a “homecoming”. “It is wonderful to be back in Kenya,”

Obama said, also greeting the summit with a few words of Swahili. “I’m proud to be the first US president to visit Kenya, and obviously this is personal for me. My father came from these parts.”

Today Obama will meet with members of Kenya’s civil society, who have complained of growing restrictions in the country. He is not scheduled to visit his father’s grave in the village of Kogelo in western Kenya, and bemoaned the heavy security restrictions earlier this month. “I will be honest with you, visiting Kenya as a private citizen is probably more meaningful to me than visiting as president, because I can actually get outside of the hotel room or a conference centre,” Obama said.

But his visit has already had a lasting impact, with a batch of Kenyan newborn babies named in honour. Two new mothers in western Kenya named their sons after the president’s jet, Air Force One.

Boko Haram blamed for killing at least 25 in NE Nigeria AFP, Maiduguri At least 25 people were killed in new suspected Boko Haram attacks in northeastern Nigeria, with many villagers also forced to flee their homes, residents said yesterday.

“The terrorists stormed Maikadiri around 9am (0800 GMT Friday) and opened fire on hapless citizens,” resident Simon Templer said. “They laid siege in daylight because there are no soldiers or police nearby,” said another survivor, Markus Ali, adding: “We counted 21 corpses.”

The attackers “killed, destroyed and then fled,” Ali said.

Two other villages close to Maikadiri in southern Borno state were also attacked, said Maina Ularamu, chief of the Madagali district.

“The gunmen arrived on 10 motorbikes,

two or three on each bike and attacked Kopa, Maikadiri and Yaffa” villages, he told AFP. He said four people were killed in Yaffa.

He claimed that the extremists used to live in the villages before joining Boko Haram.

“Now they have no limits and they are preying on their own community because of the pressure the army offensive has put on them,” Ularamu said.

The villages hit are on the fringes of the vast Sambisa forest, a longstanding hideout of the Islamist insurgents.

The Nigerian army has led a series of raids against them in recent months, succeeding in freeing several dozen women and children from the hands of the jihadists.

Ularamu said the extremists may have been taking their revenge on their former neighbours.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday took his political campaign to the impoverished state of Bihar, promising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects as he seeks to win support ahead of crucial elections there.

Modi committed to allocate funds amounting to some $5.8 billion over five years to help develop the eastern state, as he addressed a gathering in state capital Patna.

The Hindu nationalist premier also launched railway, highway, gas and energy projects, already approved by the central government, before inaugurating a premier engineering college. The state goes to polls in November.

“We believe that states must progress. The gas pipeline and rail projects would lead to development and improve the quality of life of the people in the state,” he said.

Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power last May, pledging to reform and revive a flagging economy.

While the BJP has a majority in the lower house of the parliament, it has only about a quarter of the 245 members in the upper house, where seats are distributed based on the strength of political parties in state assemblies.

That has allowed the opposition parties to block the government’s critical land, taxation and other legislative reforms needed to overhaul the economy.

Bihar, India’s third-most populous state, has never been ruled by BJP on its own with elections being traditionally won by regional parties and alliances.

Two powerful local leaders in Bihar – Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav – recently buried their differences to take on the BJP in the elections.

Taking a swipe at his rivals, Modi, 64, said development in Bihar should not be held hostage by petty politics.

“We have seen how much politics can harm development work. It’s only the common people who suffer. Nothing should come in the way of development,” he said.

Rains, flood kill 36 in Pakistan AFP, Islamabad Torrential rains and floods in Pakistan have left 36 dead and affected more than 250,000 people, disaster management officials said yesterday, with swollen rivers and water channels damaging hundreds of villages.

Severe weather has caused havoc in the north and south of the country, sweeping away dozens of roads and bridges in Chitral district in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province while floods have inundated villages in south Punjab, according to government authorities.

Livestock and people have also been swept away in the southwestern Baluchistan province and in the northeastern Kashmir region.

“According to the reports we received until now, 26 people have been killed in Chitral, three in Punjab province and seven in Baluchistan,” Ahmed Kamal, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, told AFP.

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Turkey strikes IS, Kurdish militants in drive for ‘safe zone’ Reuters, Ankara Turkish fighter jets and ground forces hit Islamic State militants in Syria and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) camps in Iraq overnight yesterday, in a campaign Ankara said would help create a “safe zone” across swathes of northern Syria.

Turkey has dramatically cranked up its role in the US-led coalition against Islamic State since a suspected IS suicide bomber killed 32 people earlier this week in a town close to the Syrian border, while pledging to also target Kurdish militants.

This has raised concern about the future of the shaky Kurdish peace process. Critics including opposition politicians accuse President Tayyip Erdogan of trying to use the campaign against Islamic State as an excuse to crack down on Kurds.

The heightened security operations will

go on for as long as Turkey feels threatened, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference. Islamic State has seized much of northern and eastern Syria four years into the country’s civil war.

“These operations are not ‘one-point operations’ and will continue as long as there is a threat against Turkey,” he said.

Turkey staged its first-ever air strike on IS in Syria early on Friday, while police rounded up hundreds of suspected Islamist and Kurdish militants in cities and towns across the country. As of yesterday, nearly 600 people had been detained.

Once swathes of northern Syria are cleared of Islamic State militants, “safe zones will be formed naturally,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference. “We have always defended safe zones and no-fly zones in Syria. People who have been displaced can be placed in those safe zones,” he said.

Syria’s Assad grants amnesty for draft dodgers, defectors AFP, Damascus

Turkey has long sought a “no-fly zone” or “safe zone” in northern Syria but met resistance from Washington, which says direct military pressure on Islamic State, not a “safe zone,” is the best way to end the region’s fighting and refugee crisis.

The overnight air strikes hit Islamic State positions in Syria and PKK locations in northern Iraq, including warehouses and living quarters, Davutoglu’s office said in a statement. Simultaneously, Turkish land forces fired on Islamic State and the PKK, it said.

The attacks on the outlawed PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against Turkey, could kill off stumbling peace talks between the group and Ankara, which were started in 2012 but have been stalled lately.

“The truce has no meaning anymore after these intense air strikes by the occupant Turkish army,” the PKK said in a statement on its website.

President Bashar al-Assad granted an amnesty yesterday for people in war-torn Syrian who have dodged service or defected from the army, state news agency SANA reported.

According to SANA, Assad issued a decree “which grants a general amnesty to those who defected and are still in or have fled Syria.”

The special decree is the second amnesty in just over a year. It stipulates that defectors who fled the country have two months to hand themselves in, while those still inside Syria have one month. There were no details given for draft dodgers.

The amnesty wipes away “the entire punishment for those who fled inside Syria, as explained in article 100 of the military penal code,” and “those who have fled the country (crossed the borders), as explained in article 101.” The articles do not, however, refer to army members who joined the ranks of “the enemy,” or who used their weapons against orders.

A military source told AFP that the decree “only includes those who defected and who did not participate in military activities after their defection or stain their hands with blood.”

Syria’s four-year civil war has stretched the government’s dwindling army, which is battling rebels and jihadist groups.

In early July, Damascus launched a mass public campaign to encourage citizens to enlist in the army. More than 80,000 soldiers and pro-government militiamen have been killed since the beginning of Syria’s conflict in March 2011, making up more than a third of the war’s total toll of 230,000, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Tunisia parliament approves ‘anti-terror’ law Reuters, Tunis

Plainclothes police officers detain demonstrators during protests against Monday's bomb attack in Suruc, in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 24

REUTERS

Burundi opposition chief calls for new elections AFP, Bujumbura Burundi’s main opposition leader Agathon Rwasa yesterday denounced the third consecutive term win by President Pierre Nkurunziza and demanded fresh elections.

Rwasa, who won 18.99 percent of the vote despite saying he was unable to properly campaign, said he would not oppose the formation of a unity government if its “primary mission is to prepare free and democratic elections.”

Nkurunziza’s candidacy was condemned as unconstitutional by the opposition and provoked months of protests and an attempted coup in mid-May. His victory – taking 69.41 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s polls and handing him an immediate first-round victory – could trigger donor sanctions against the already

impoverished nation.

There are also widespread fears the country, situated in the heart of central Africa’s troubled Great Lakes region, could be plunged back into civil war.

Although eight candidates were on the ballot for the presidential poll, most had withdrawn from the race after the closure of most independent media prevented them from campaigning. The election commission insisted however that turnout in the polls was a healthy 73.44 percent.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a statement late Friday, said the elections were “neither credible nor legitimate” and called for peaceful talks between rival parties.

“Burundi’s presidential electoral results is the culmination of a deeply flawed electoral process marked by violence and a disregard for the civil and human rights of

the citizens,” Kerry said.

Election observers from the East African Community, which tried but failed to mediate a solution to the crisis, also denounced the polls.

Meanwhile election commission sources said Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDD-FDD party had won 34 out of 36 senatorial seats in elections held Friday, with the remaining two seats won by allied parties.

Official results are due early next week.

Anti-Nkurunziza protests have rocked the capital and some rural areas since late April and have been violently repressed, leaving at least 100 people dead and countless of others wounded or in detention.

Many opponents have also fled – joining an exodus of more than 150,000 ordinary Burundians who fear their country may again be engulfed by violence.

Tunisia’s parliament yesterday overwhelmingly approved legislation allowing the death penalty for those convicted on terrorism charges after Islamist militant attacks that killed dozens of foreign visitors in the past few months.

Last month, a gunman killed 39 mostly British tourists in the Tunisian seaside city of Sousse. In March, two gunmen killed 21 foreign tourists and a policeman at Tunis’s Bardo Museum. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

MPs approved the bill by a margin of 174-0 with 10 abstentions early yesterday after three days of debate in what parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur called an “extraordinary effort” to make the North African country a safer place.

Human Rights Watch had criticised the bill, which also eases arrests of suspects, saying it “would open the way to prosecuting political dissent as terrorism, give judges overly broad powers, and curtail lawyers’ ability to provide an effective defence.”

Tunisia has undergone a largely peaceful transition to democracy since its 2011 popular uprising. But its army has been fighting a rise in Islamist militancy.

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10 WORLD

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Saudi-led warplanes hit Yemen’s Taiz killing 80 Reuters, Sanaa The death toll from yesterday’s Saudi-led airstrike on the central Yemeni city of Taiz rose to 80 people with at least 150 people injured, local medical sources said.

The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency earlier yesterday reported the strike on Taiz had killed 55 people but said the casualty figure was expected to rise.

A coalition of Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, has been bombarding Iran-allied Houthi forces in Yemen since late March in a bid to

reinstate President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has fled to Riyadh.

The Saba agency had quoted a local source in Taiz as saying that the bombing early yesterday morning had targeted the Mokha area inhabited mostly by engineers and workers of a power station and some displaced families.

The frontlines of Yemen’s war shifted to the favour of the Gulf Arab coalition earlier this month when in coordination with forces loyal to Hadi they managed to drive the Houthis out of the southern port city of Aden and much of the surrounding areas.

AFP, Sydney An Australian nurse who allegedly worked alongside Islamic State militants has been arrested after voluntarily returning from Syria, police said yesterday.

The Melbourne-based father-of-five, widely named as Islamic convert Adam Brookman, surrendered to Turkish officials earlier this week ahead of his arrival in Sydney late Friday.

“A 39-year-old Australian national was arrested upon arrival at Sydney International Airport Friday night on an interstate arrest warrant, relating to his alleged involvement in the conflict in Syria,” federal police said in a statement.

“His travel back to Australia was negotiated between the individual, the Australian

Federal Police, Victoria Police, other Commonwealth government agencies and international partners.”

The man appeared via video link in Sydney’s Parramatta Bail Court yesterday where a magistrate granted his extradition to Victoria state, where he is wanted for questioning by the Melbourne joint counter-terrorism team.

No charges have yet been laid, although the Australian government has been vocal on insisting that anyone found to be engaged in terrorist activities would face the full force of the law.

The government says some 120 Australians have left to fight in Iraq or Syria with 160 actively supporting extremist organisations at home through financing and recruitment.

AFP, Aden

Since then warplanes have been landing in Aden airport carrying equipment necessary to help re-open the facility which had been shut down by the fighting.

Aden and the other southern provinces have been largely inaccessible to UN food aid, and about 13 million people - more than half the population - are thought to be in dire need of food.

In the Red Sea port city of Hodaida, Saba said a bomb that was planted in an oil tanker on its way to some oil facilities was diffused and an investigation of the incident was ongoing.

A child injured in a recent Saudi-led air strike sits on a hospital bed in Yemen’s capital Sanaa yesterday

Australian nurse arrested after return from Syria

Saudis declare Yemen truce to allow in aid

REUTERS

The Saudi-led coalition bombing Yemeni rebels since March declared a five-day truce yesterday so aid can reach a country the UN says is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.

Announcing the unilateral truce to begin from midnight today, a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency said the coalition also reserved the right to respond to “military activity or movement” by the Shiite Huthi rebels during the ceasefire.

SPA said the decision was taken at the request of Yemen’s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has taken refuge in the Saudi capital with much of his government.

Hadi, whose supporters have recaptured most of the southern port of Aden from the rebels after four months of war, wanted the truce for the “delivery and distribution of the maximum amount of humanitarian and medical aid,” it said.

Two previous UN-brokered ceasefires failed to take hold.

In March, the coalition began a campaign of air strikes after the Huthis swept into Sanaa and pushed south towards Aden, where Hadi initially took refuge before fleeing to Riyadh.

The United Nations says the conflict has killed more than 3,640 people, around half of them civilians, since late March.

On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that civilian suffering in Yemen has reached “unprecedented levels.”

The ICRC said intensifying violence in the south was hamstringing emergency medical aid. It voiced particular concern over worsening clashes in the southern provinces of Taiz and Aden.

“The suffering of the civilian population has reached unprecedented levels,” ICRC mission chief in Yemen Antoine Grand said in a statement.

In Aden and Taez, “it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to reach affected areas, to evacuate the dead and the wounded and to provide life-saving assistance,” Grand added.

The aid group urged both pro-Hadi forces and the Iran-backed rebels and their allies to let humanitarian groups work.

Hungary PM: Illegal migration and rise in terror threat linked Reuters, Budapest Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban yesterday said there was a clear link between illegal migrants heading to Europe and a rising threat of terrorism, justifying his conservative government’s tough anti-immigration stance.

The landlocked central European country is part of Europe’s visa-free Schengen zone, making it attractive to migrants coming through the Balkans. It has registered more than 80,000 migrants so far this year, nearly double the number in all of 2014.

Most are from poor or conflict-ridden countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, looking to move on to wealthier western Europe.

Hungary plans to complete a four-metre-high (12 feet) fence along its border with southern neighbour Serbia by November to stem the flow of migrants. The plan has drawn criticism from Serbia as well as the United Nations’ refugee agency.

Orban made the statement in an annual speech in Romania, where he usually outlines his political vision for the coming years.

“It is obvious that we simply cannot filter out hostile terrorists from this enormous crowd.”

The issue of migration has become highly politicised in Hungary, with Orban’s government mounting a billboard campaign telling migrants to respect Hungary’s laws and stoking fears that foreigners could snatch the jobs of Hungarians.

DT

EDITORIAL 11

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

INSIDE

Rajon’s murder and the rule of law If Rajon’s killers are hanged but the issue of the rule of law in the country set aside, it would be like a doctor treating a patient for a cold while in denial about his or her dangerously failing heart PAGE 12

Bhujangi Bhaijaan The relationship between Nitish Kumar and Laloo Yadav has been poisoned over the years by a range of factors: Personal ambition, alternative poles in support base, statecraft, style, and purpose.

They hate each other’s guts

PAGE 13

BIGSTOCK

Take inspiration from frontiers of science to build education at home

O A pipeline to the IS European Muslims, Fakhri says, are estranged from their religion while living in secular democracies

PAGE 14

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@ dhakatribune.com

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ne of the two MIT and Princeton research teams which recently discovered the massless particle known as a “Weyl fermion,” was led by Zahid Hasan, a Princeton physics professor who attended some of his earlier schooling in Dhaka.

It is inspiring to see a Bangladeshi-origin scientist involved in this type of project.

The US universities’ breakthrough in establishing evidence of the particle first theorised in 1929 by Hermann Weyl, is reported to potentially herald a whole new age of better electronics.

Professor Hasan’s accomplishments are a reminder of the need to develop and nurture the scientific talents latent in our large population.

With the importance and value of knowledge more vital than ever in the world, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) subjects, Bangladesh needs to increase investment and provide better support to its educational and scientific infrastructure.

Many of our schools, colleges, and universities, especially in the public sector, are held back by inadequate resources and training facilities.

As the popularity of the Mathematics Olympiad demonstrates, there is a huge amount of interest among young Bangladeshis, which is not being adequately provided for by established institutions.

The government should do more to encourage the type of philanthropy shown by the AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation in privately funding the new eight-storey mathematics building at Dhaka University.

It should also support more scholarships and scientific conferences to facilitate knowledge exchange and help move away from a climate of brain drains to one of more brain gains and circulation.

There is no question we have a long way to go. But we must increase investment and support now so students and researchers are not held back and will have more ability and opportunity to make their own scientific contributions in future.

Invest to develop the scientific talent latent in our large population

DT

12 OPINION

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Rajon’s murder and the rule of law

T

M Serajul Islam

he death of the 13-year-old Rajon, who had just entered his teen years, and the manner in which he was killed, have rattled the nation where death in all its manifestations, normal or abnormal, is a regular visitor. His death became national news not because of 64 marks of inhumanity inflicted on his body by a group that included a guard, an expatriate, and just a bunch of average other Bangladeshis. It became news in the media because the killers video-taped their gruesome act and then posted it on the Internet from where it made it to social media and went viral.

Would Rajon’s death become the sensational news that it did had the video not been released on the Internet from where it went to social media and, ultimately, the national media? The question begs an answer because of the impunity with which such murders are being committed in the country these days; the increase in numbers of these murders and the killers not only getting away with the murders, but also daring to ridicule the law.

Rajon’s death has articulated the fear among the people that it is not just those who are politically connected who dare make issues of legality secondary to their wishes and desires, but there are many who have no political links who are treating the law the same way.

The issues to ponder in the case of the death of Rajon are indeed many. Rajon was accused of stealing a rickshaw van. What happened thereafter is not anything new in this country. The group that killed him did what has been happening in the country as long as one can remember. The group took the law into their hands and became the judge and jury and declared Rajon guilty and punished him. Even Rajon’s age and the heartlessness of the killers did not make his murder stand out as exceptional.

The fact that these hyenas video-taped their gruesome act on a cell phone and then put the video on the Internet is what makes Rajon’s murder exceptional and begs of everyone in Bangladesh to seek the answer, because his death has exposed the weakness in the very foundations that make a country civilised, namely the rule of law.

Philosophers from the times of Socrates to the present who have written on political science have stated unequivocally that the rule of law is the litmus test to differentiate a civilised country from an uncivilised one.

That rule of law means that no earthly power can save individuals and groups when the law catches up with them.

Violations of the rule of law in Bangladesh these days, from simple ones to those as gruesome as that of Rajon’s murder are apparent from the impunity with which such crimes are committed, where the law cannot and often does not punish the violators.

Many violate the law with impunity because they know their political connections place them above the law. In imperfect societies, despite the desirability of the rule of law, those who enjoy political power tend to manipulate the law discreetly but only to small degrees.

Rajon’s case has brought the country face

Criminals in this country go unpunished far too often

BIGSTOCK

If Rajon’s killers are hanged but the issue of the rule of law in the country set aside, it would be like a doctor treating a patient for a cold while in denial about his or her dangerously failing heart

to face with the dangerous reality that those who violate the law in Bangladesh are no longer discreet, and the degrees to which such acts occur have crossed the red line and that not all who commit such acts have political connections.

None of Rajon’s killers, for instance, is politically connected and are all average, faceless Bangladeshis. Yet, it is the nature of politics in the country and its impact on the rule of law that encouraged them to kill because they believed for good reasons that even they could get away as easily as those with political connections because of the fragile nature of the rule of law.

Thus, Rajon’s principal killer was allowed by the law-enforcing agencies to flee to Saudi Arabia for a bribe, as reported in the media.

There are good reasons to believe he and his fellow killers would not have fallen into their present predicament had they not also been a bunch of idiots to put the video up on the Internet.

The impunity of these killers in Bangladesh, both connected politically and not, are of course the fallout of the present nature

of politics in the country. The law-enforcing agencies have been dangerously politicised.

They have openly admitted to committing extra-judicial killings and even boasted that they keep the party in power. There is no opposition in the parliament to protest these extra-judicial killings that underline very simply, that the rule of law has become suspect in the country.

And the fate of civil society, particularly those engaged in human rights, is pitiable.

It is as absurdly politicised as the political parties and the structures that are needed to ensure the rule of law. Therefore, highly educated members of civil society do not see anything wrong with the nature of politics in the country and, in their minds, accept the extra judicial-killings as politically necessary.

Those who are willing to expose the grave ills in the context of the rule of law do not dare to act, ironically, because of fear of the law that exposes a dangerous double standard that is contrary to the rule of law.

Thus in Bangladesh, those connected politically have simply forgotten that the law applies to them. And they, in turn, have

corrupted the law-enforcing agencies that now behave like they have the right to decide where to interpret the law and where not to. In the process, there are not many who believe that if they sought justice under the law, the law would stand behind them.

In fact, many citizens these days find that the legal and constitutional guarantees for justice are really no guarantees because the nature of politics has contaminated the rule of law in a manner where even those who are not politically connected can keep the law at bay and commit any crime they want.

Rajon’s death has underlined these sad and unfortunate truths in Bangladesh’s body politic. So far, those who killed Rajon have been arrested. No one is confident whether they will be punished, because there are so many such murders that have been committed in recent times that have caused national outcry, and yet, justice went a-begging.

Most importantly, no one is talking of those in the law-enforcing agency that facilitated the escape of the principal in Rajon’s murder to Saudi Arabia, let alone of the need to bring them into the net of the law and the greater issue of the lack of rule of law, in the country. Therefore, even if Rajon’s killers are hanged, the issue of the rule of law in the country set aside, it would be like a doctor treating a patient for a cold while in denial about his or her dangerously failing heart.

Rajon’s gruesome death should wake the nation from its deep slumber over the deteriorating status of rule of law in the country, to fight for establishing it meaningfully. Can the nation in its present political predicament do it? At the moment, it looks very unlikely.

M Serajul Islam is a retired career ambassador.

DT

OPINION 13

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Laloo Yadav's partnership with Nitish Kumar speaks of his waning support

REUTERS

Bhujangi Bhaijaan

A

MJ Akbar

nything as witty as an Amul butter advertising campaign must be taken seriously, despite its use of that rhetorical nuisance: A pun.

The admen who spin Amul's lines have an accurate pulse count of public opinion. That's why it works so well.

So when they joined the applause for Bajrangee Bhaijaan, a movie that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over the deepest political divide, it was easy to infer that popular sentiment in both India and Pakistan still prefers reconciliation to conflict, despite acknowledged difficulties. This does not mean it will happen; this merely indicates that hope is not lost.

Here is a suggestion for the next Amul ad: Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar garlands his long-time nemesis but current “elder brother” Laloo Prasad Yadav with the sobriquet Bhujangi Bhaijan. For those who are not aware, bhujang is Sanskrit for snake, while bhaijaan is Urdu for elder brother. A little background might be helpful.

A few forgotten weeks ago, Nitish Kumar and Laloo Yadav did a minor pantomime and announced a merger of their hostile parties in order to confront the BJP in the coming Bihar Assembly elections. This was explicit admission that they had no chance alone, but even such compulsion could not prevent an abortion of marriage plans even before celebratory drums had ebbed. They agreed, instead, to live together.

Laloo Yadav explained the arrangement to his supporters by suggesting that someone had to drink poison for the greater good.

Nitish Kumar said nothing then, but clearly

the remark rankled. Last week, when asked about alliance difficulties, he repeated a familiar saying: “Chandan vish vyapat naahi, liptat rahat bhujang.”

Translation: The fragrance of a sandalwood tree does not diminish because snakes wrap themselves around its branches.

Message: Laloo Yadav might be hanging around me, but my aroma remains like that of a perfume. Consequence, initial: Uproar in Laloo camp. Consequence, subsequent: An “I was misunderstood” statement by Nitish Kumar, and a late night meeting with Laloo Yadav on July 23 which ended with Kumar describing Yadav as his elder brother. This is bhujang brotherhood.

been poisoned over the years by a range of factors: Personal ambition, alternative poles in support base, statecraft, style, and purpose. They hate each other's guts.

True, you do not have to be besotted in order to shape a political alliance. But there is enough angst here to ensure that any partnership between the two formidable antagonists will never be stable. The Bihar voter understands that stability is essential for development, and this Assembly election will hinge on the promise of development.

Confirmation came in the first exchanges, when on July 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shared more than one platform at the inauguration

The relationship between Nitish Kumar and Laloo Yadav has been poisoned over the years by a range of factors: Personal ambition, alternative poles in support base, statecraft, style, and purpose. They hate each other's guts

In public life, what you say is important, but what people believe is decisive. The tongue is tricky. Sometimes it obeys the mind, sometimes the heart, and sometimes the gut.

The mind is measured. The heart is emotional. The gut is a repository of truths that the mind has persuaded you not to express, a storehouse of raw feelings. The relationship between Nitish Kumar and Laloo Yadav has

of various projects.

Kumar, who was railways minister in Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Cabinet, pointed out that a scheme being switched on now would have become reality if the Vajpayee government had lasted another six months in 2004. The Prime Minister agreed very readily, and then asked a simple question: “Who sabotaged this project during

the decade of Congress rule?” The answer is Laloo Yadav, who became railways minister in the cabinet of Dr Manmohan Singh and leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

So what is Nitish Kumar doing in the company of a man who denied Bihar development?

You can make a safe bet that this will be a major talking point during the Bihar campaign season. Nitish Kumar's remarks do not fall into the deniable category because there was nothing oblique about them, and they were made before a large immediate gathering and a huge television audience. This was evidence of bhujang on sandalwood. The man who repeatedly characterised Laloo Yadav as chief minister of a “Jungle Raj” was after all Nitish Kumar.

I doubt if either has forgotten this fact. Their internal tussle for supremacy will begin with seat distribution, when the two try and ensure that they get more winnable seats than the other.

In political calculus, the Laloo Yadav brand has also withered. From a leader of the state, he has slipped to being the champion of a particular caste. Traditional vote banks are also offering diminishing returns, as static forms of investment turn barren. Economic growth has taken precedence over caste or ethnic loyalty, as the rewards of this loyalty program are gathered by a limited elite. Bihar wants a change of rhetoric and direction, and will go with the party that offers hope encouraged by visible delivery. The brotherhood of enemies is passé.

MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian. This article was first published in The Sunday Guardian.

DT

14 LONG FORM

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

A pipeline to the IS

COURTESY

T

Dan Morrison

he British doctor who allegedly recruited Sudanese medics to join the IS in Syria has confirmed the recent battlefield death of a classmate from Khartoum’s prestigious University of Medical Sciences and Technology.

Nearly two dozen doctors and medical students from the university -- most of them British, Canadian, and American citizens of Sudanese descent -- have joined the Islamic State since March.

Former students and the university’s dean say Mohammed Fakhri, the son of a Palestinian doctor from northeast England, was their radical guide.

“I don’t think the Islamic State lacks for fighters, but they do lack for professionals,” one of Fakhri’s former classmates said.

The former student was one of six graduates who agreed to speak about Fakhri and the university on condition of anonymity, citing fears of retaliation from militant Islamists and the Sudanese authorities.

Fakhri’s statement, posted online on Monday, and other social media posts by his Khartoum schoolmates, show the Sudanese doctors are motivated by a desire to live under a supposedly “pure” Islamic government, and to defeat the Iran-backed governments of Syria and Iraq.

While the document is the first known public statement from a valuable IS recruiter, Fakhri’s statements read mostly as jihadi boilerplate.

European Muslims, Fakhri says, are estranged from their religion while living in secular democracies “with their legislative polytheism and Satanism.” Muslims residing outside the borders of the IS, he says, “have had our right of living under the justice and mercy of the Sharia stripped of us from the tawagheet (false gods) of the East and West.”

Friends and relatives of the missing medics believe they are delivering humanitarian aid in Syria, but one of their number already has died in combat.

Fakhri closes his nearly 5,000-word statement with a shout-out to Osman M Fagiri, 23, a fellow graduate of UMST in Khartoum who had once lived in London.

The son of a wealthy merchant family with business ties to Nigeria, Fagiri was apparently killed by Syrian government forces sometime in mid-July. “[T]he brave brother immersed himself into Bashar’s regime forces seeking the pleasure of Allah,” Fakhri writes. “We ask Allah … to accept him … and grant him the highest levels of paradise.”

His death was also confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday by analyst Shiraz Maher of the International Center for the Study of Radicalisation.

Fagiri had earlier travelled to Libya to serve jihadist forces there, two former students said. Other reports claimed he had been with Islamist militants in Mali in 2013.

He had returned to his studies in Sudan before slipping away with his wife earlier this year. Radio Tamazuj reported on July 22 that Fagiri died as a suicide bomber.

“He is a peaceful guy and just trying to defend his religion,” a friend who was in contact with Fagiri after he left for Syria recalled.

“Last thing I told him was to stay with the good people. Just like there’s good people everywhere there [are] bad people too. But he didn’t respond to that.”

Mohammad Fakhri Al-Khabass wasn’t always a mouthpiece for violent jihad. When he first landed at medical school in Sudan, Fakhri was “a proper British lad,” speaking the language of girls, beer, relationships, and football, an old friend said.

He was radicalised at the University of

Medical Sciences and Technology, an elite medical school known for its high academic standards -- and, more recently, as a pipeline to the IS. “There’s good kids there,” a former student said. “They don’t deserve this kind of treatment, but that’s all they talk about these days -- that their university is being classified as a terrorist university.”

Two groups comprising students and recent graduates left Khartoum for Syria in March and June of this year. They are part of an estimated 5,000 volunteers from across Europe who have joined IS and other groups in a brutal war for control of Syria and Iraq that has killed more than 200,000 people.

What sets these recruits apart is their medical training, which makes them prize catches. “They were all following Muhammad,” another UMST graduate told me. “He guided them.”

“Mohammed Fakhri is in Syria and played a major role in recruiting the students who left to Turkey,” UMST Dean Dr Ahmed Babiker Mohamed Zein told BBC News.

The first group, seven Britons, two Sudanese, one Canadian, and one American, arrived in Syria through Turkey in March. Last month, one of those students, a Londoner named Ahmed Sami Kheder, appeared in online videos imploring other Muslim doctors to leave Britain and join IS. “All you are doing is sitting in the West in the comfort of your homes. Use your skills and come here,” Kheder says, a stethoscope draped over his neck.

Twelve more medics -- including an American from Ames, Iowa -- left the campus for Syria on June 26, but at least two were arrested in Turkey and deported to Sudan. This batch included a daughter of a spokesman for Sudan’s foreign ministry, who later claimed members of the government were involved in supporting IS. UMST opened in 1996 during a period of oil-fueled modernisation in Sudan. After more than a decade of economic stagnation, money was flowing through the capital and into the pockets of figures linked to the Islamists of the ruling National Congress party.

The school’s founder and chairman, Mamoun Homeida, is the current health minister of Khartoum state.

Unlike other universities in Khartoum, where political factions sometimes fight pitched battles with clubs and knives, student groups and political organising were banned at UMST. There was one exception: The Islamic Cultural Society.

For Sudanese parents in the West, the school was a boon: Their children could receive a medical education on par with British standards for a fraction of the cost, while also acquainting themselves with Sudanese culture.

For students raised under the thumb of socially conservative parents in Britain, UMST combined academic achievement with new personal liberty. The university “was considered a Western hub,” a former student recalled. “They come there for freedom. Boys and girls get together and have some fun.”

Some couldn’t adapt. Leaving home to begin college at ages as young as 15, “they’re

on a quest for identity. At home they don’t feel 100% British. In Khartoum, they don’t feel 100% Sudanese.”

With no liberal route to rebellion, youth seeking to differentiate themselves from the older generation of crony capitalist Islamists had only one place to go.

Fakhri fit that mold, with one exception.

The son of a Palestinian doctor in gritty Middlesbrough in northeast England, he lacked even a tenuous connection to Sudan.

His Arabic was poor, and he spoke English in “a normal, thick British accent,” a former classmate said. He found a home in the Islamic Cultural Society. “It was about being a better Muslim, being a better person,” a former student said of the campus group. “I don’t remember extremism or violence -- not at first.”

In 2011 the group’s message grew darker.

Radical preachers threatened young women with hellfire for their Western dress, and men with the same for daring to look. Fakhri took their messages to heart, former students said, and became a recruiter.

“He found these students who were eager to learn about their tradition. They all came from the West,” a former student said. “He started playing games with people’s minds.”

Homesickness, heartache, alcohol abuse: Any student who appeared vulnerable was embraced, and soon their appearance and behaviour changed. Women disappeared under the full-face cover of the niqab, a practice that is not native to Sudan.

The scope of religious obligations expanded. “They say, ‘How can you sleep at night knowing Muslims are dying in Syria?’” one student said. “It happened so gradually that for a long time no one noticed.”

In 2012, two students were arrested after a shootout between jihadis and Sudanese police that killed as many as 13 people at a training camp in a remote national park.

This wasn’t Fakhri. If he passed judgement, he didn’t let on. When discussions turned to terrorism, he equivocated. “He had a more lenient view towards it. The West and the Americans are killing Muslims, why isn’t it OK for us to do it?”

Today, family members of the missing medics are convinced it was Fakhri who preceded them to Syria and arranged their transport. “They are furious,” a former student said.

The university’s dean was the first official to publicly confirm Fakhri’s role in the disappearances. Then came Fakhri’s internet testament. A spokesman for Britian’s Home Office said the law enforcement body could not comment on individual cases. Three of Fakhri’s family members did not respond to requests for comment. His Sudanese mobile number was switched off, and he did not respond to a message left on his Facebook account.

In his last public Facebook post, in August 2014, Fakhri cautioned his “brothers” against looking at online photographs of women.

As for women who had posted selfies, he said, “You may be getting sins even while you are sleeping or eating … as your Facebook account runs 24 hours, seven days a week.”

Dan Morrison is the author of The Black Nile.

16

Focus turns to The Economist after FT sale

17

Second half of 2015 begins on shaky note

19

Bull runs over stock market in past week after Eid vacation

20

DT

Business

15

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

RMG owners may get 2 more months for factory inspection

Most shops avoid ECR to skip VAT Syed Samiul Basher Anik The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has failed to bring a major portion of shops eligible for using Electronic Cash Register (ECR) machines under e-transaction even after half of a decade has passed since the system was made mandatory.

After its introduction, only 35% shops installed the system while many keep the system ineffective, saying the machines are out of order, said NBR officials.

They added that the ECR machines were found to be showcased in many shops.

The slow progress in introducing the e-cash register to the shops helped the shop owners get the upper hand over the taxmen and they continued avoiding VAT. In July 2009, the NBR made it mandatory for 11 types of business to install and use ECR machine and Point of Sales (POS) software to boost VAT collection.

A huge number of shops and food centres still do not use e-register for transactions with their customers, according to the NBR data.

The businesses include hotels, restaurants, sweetmeat shops, furniture outlets, beauty parlours, community centres, all shops located at mega shopping malls in the metropolis, departmental stores, general stores, big and medium-size wholesalers and retailers at the metropolis and jewelers.

The technology was introduced to prevent evasion of VAT collected from the consumers by the shopkeepers as the manual system of accounting used at the outlets leaves room for tax evasion.

According to the NBR data available till May,

An ECR machine dispenses sales receipt in a city shop only 35% shops under the 11 categories have installed either ECR or POS. Currently, around 38,000 shops are paying VAT in the country.

The NBR field offices have identified 11,005 shops eligible for using the technology, among which, 8,559 were selected for ECR installation.

Of the 8,559 shops, only 2,970 have installed the mechanism, according to the NBR data.

It is, however, widely alleged that many businesses, even after ECR installations, do not use ECR while making financial transactions with the customers although they are entitled to give the printed transaction slips to their customers.

According to the section 37 of VAT Act 1991, non-compliance will be considered an offense and the NBR will take legal actions against the

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

shops which are not using ECR or POS software.

The renowned restaurant Star Kabab is an example that issues both printed and handwritten slips. The restaurant, in most cases, delivers handwritten slips to the customers to skip the VAT collection process.

There are many more shops, restaurants and food outlets that collect VAT from consumers, but do not deposit it to the national exchequer, officials said.

Tasmia Ekram, a consumer, shared her terrible experience on July 19. She said many shopkeepers, mostly restaurants, SMEs and local retail shops deny the consumers VAT challan.

“I went to a restaurant where the total bill was Tk1644.50 including 15% VAT, which is

Tk214.50,” she said, adding that when asked for the challan, the restaurant staff said it was a new restaurant that has yet to introduce the challan.

They offered the client a 10% discount instead. When the customer asked who will take the remaining 5%, the restaurant only charged Tk1,430, the original cost without VAT. Tasmia suggested that the corporate houses along with the NBR can participate in public awareness campaign.

This is not a new incident, rather this has been a common practice across the country.

People are requested to take receipts printed through ECR from the shops, officials said, adding that the consumers can always file complaint with the NBR if they are denied slips by the shops.

NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman has admitted that the progress of ECR programme was very slow as many businesses avoid using the mechanism.

“Many companies are escaping the ECR transaction intentionally, making the system ineffective. The VAT intelligence office has already detected some VAT evaders and imposed penalty on them,” he said.

The NBR boss added that there will be no revenue leakage once the VAT system goes online. The revenue authorities is set to introduce Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act 2012 from July 2016.

The taxpayers will be able to submit their income tax returns online and all other processes including assessment of returns, tax calculation, payment, audit, providing tax clearance certificates will be done online once the system gets automated.

Return on stock investment stands negative in H1 after 2 years Kayes Sohel There is wisdom in the old adage “stock market is a barometer of the economy” though how well the barometer functions depends on numerous factors like economic and non-economic.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange has witnessed a drop of more than 7% or 350 points in its benchmark index, DSEX, in first half (H1) of this year. It began the new year with 4,941 and ended at 4,583 on June 30.

The decline in first six months of this year comes after two years since launching the DSEX in 2013.

An analyst at a top brokerage firm said short-term profit-booking accelerated by fear of political turmoil eked out earlier gains.

“Businesses suffered resulting in dismal earnings of many companies in first half of this year, putting a lid on the market growth.”

The countrywide non-stop strikes and blockade almost throughout the first quarter made the country’s economic activities standstill.

Manufacturers faced tough time to run their factories due to supply chain disruption, which lowered credit demand and increased non-performing loans.

Most of the sectors retraced in the year, led by the financial sector that has borne the impact of rising non-performing loans.

It declined steeply during the first half, with banks slumping 11.5%, non-bank financial institutions 15.8%, general insurance 22.4% and life insurance 23.2% at the DSE. Brac EPL in its half-yearly analysis said on the backdrop of political uncertainty that led to sluggish credit growth and poor earnings, the market went to the red in the first six months.

Slowdown in inflation and credit growth paved the way for commercial banks to cut lending interest rates to 11.93% in March –

lowest in two years.

The shareholders in financial sectors had to bear the loss as the profitability of underlying companies was expected to take a hit.

In contrast, multinational companies outperformed the market with a 0.5% gain in the first half of 2015. Most of the companies posted healthy financial results with strong balance sheet.

Brac EPL said poor credit demand in the first six months, political unrest, piling up of non-performing loans and the governance of the overall financial sector led to further price correction of the sector.

However, after the city corporation election in late April, political unrest subsided, which helped the market to re-

cover in the following months.

According to the Bank Companies Act (amended), banks will have to cut down their stock market exposure to 25% of their equity by next year.

DT

16 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Focus turns to The Economist after Financial Times takeover

Nikkei’s FT buy follows years of attempting to break into English news Reuters

Reuters, London The Economist Group could become the latest British media business to undergo a change of ownership this year as its co-owner Pearson focuses on education, bankers and industry sources said.

The company, whose weekly magazine was first published in 1843, is partly held by Pearson via the Financial Times, which is now in the process of being sold to Japan’s Nikkei.

But Pearson has retained control of its 50% stake in The Economist Group despite pledges to exit the news industry and fully focus on education.

The remaining 50% of the Economist Group is controlled by a series of wealthy families and The Economist’s staff and former staff.

The Cadbury family in Britain is among the individual owners of the media group and controls A shares, which have greater voting rights than Pearson, which holds B shares.

Other individual owners include the Rothschild, Schroder and Agnelli families, who also own A shares.

Any change of control would require an overall consensus among the A shareholders, Bernstein analyst Claudio Aspesi told Reuters on Friday.

The families are unlikely to back any plans

by Pearson to sell its 50% stake to third parties as they see The Economist as a core asset, several industry bankers said.

In fact the A shareholders may try to buy out Pearson in order to strengthen their grip on the business, they said.

To finance the deal, which could be worth more than 300m pounds ($465.15m), some individual shareholders may need to raise cash, the bankers said.

Pearson and The Economist declined to comment.

The Cadbury, Rothschild, Schroder and Agnelli families were not immediately available for comment.

Aspesi estimated a 50% stake in The Economist Group to be worth between 300 and 400m pounds, based on a multiple of 15 times

Copies of the Financial Times newspaper sit in a rack at a newsstand in London its net income of 46m pounds.

High profit

The Economist Group is more profitable than the Financial Times and reported 67m pounds in annual (adjusted) operating profit in June.

That is almost three times more than the Financial Times, which made 24m pounds in adjusted operating profit in 2014.

Revenues of the two media firms also came close, with The Economist generating 328m pounds against a slightly higher figure reported by the Financial Times, which had 334m pounds of sales last year.

It is unlikely that any offer to buy out Pearson would reflect the same rich multiple that Nikkei agreed to pay Pearson for the Financial Times on Thursday.

The Japanese media group will spend 844m pounds ($1.31bn) to buy one of the world’s premier business newspapers, valuing it at 35 times its operating profit.

City Bank has recently been named as the best bank in Bangladesh for the year 2015 at Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence for the second time. The bank’s DMD and COO, Mashrur Arefin along with the head of brand, Nazmul Karim have received the award

REUTERS

Aspesi pointed to Nikkei’s competition with German media group Axel Springer to win control of the trophy asset as a critical factor which pushed up the final price.

Beside The Economist itself, the group operates several subsidiaries including The Economist Intelligence Unit, Economist Events and Economist Corporate Network.

Pearson Chief Executive John Fallon said on Thursday that The Economist is “not a company in which Pearson has management control,” just like Penguin Random House, a joint venture between Pearson and Bertelsmann.

“We participate through the board and as shareholders, but we are not directly leading the day-to-day management of the company,” he added.

“In terms of the businesses that we actively manage and lead on a daily basis, everything in that category will now be 100% related to education,” Fallon stressed.

Nikkei’s $1.3bn purchase of the Financial Times from Britain’s Pearson PLC marks the culmination of decades of attempts by the Japanese household name to break into mainstream English-language media.

The Japanese media group’s flagship newspaper enjoys a must-read reputation for financial news in Japan and, with a circulation of more than 3 million, bills itself as the world’s biggest selling business daily.

But it has remained unable to break out from its home shores since starting life in 1876 as a commodities pricing report published by a trading company.

The broadsheet rose to become Japan’s premier economic daily, sponsoring - as the Financial Times once did - the country’s main stock index, the Nikkei.

The paper has struggled, however, to translate its dominance in Japanese-language business media into success among English-speaking readers in an international market.

It first published an English-language weekly paper in the 1960s but a plan to produce an English daily, hatched during Japan’s economic boom years of the late 1980s and early 1990s when it hired several English-language reporters and editors, faltered after the bubble burst.

The Nikkei Weekly newspaper continued but was rebranded, along with the corresponding website, as the Nikkei Asian Review in 2013, adopting a magazine format that last year had a circulation of around 12,000 copies a week, with more than 90% sold in Asia.

The Nikkei Asian Review won three prizes at the Society of Publishers in Asia this year, its debut appearance at the awards, including an award for reporting on the environment.

The Nikkei also had a years-long alliance with Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones, which came to an end in the last decade.

With deep ties to corporate Japan, the Nikkei is known among investors for market-moving previews of corporate earnings days in advance of companies’ official announcements.

BRAC Chicken and BPC have recently concluded its Ramadan food safety drive. The drive was for raising awareness about the importance of hygienic food preparation during Ramadan through an initiative titled “Swashthashomoto Khabar, Shustho Amra” (Hygienic Food, Healthy Us)

DT

BUSINESS 17

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Second half of 2015 begins on shaky note

and it will continue to apply different methods to control liquidity,” Zhu Haibin, economist at JP Morgan in Beijing, said on Wednesday.

PMI also missed the median forecast for no change, dipping to 52.2 from 52.5.

Greece’s debt default meant July was a turbulent month for the euro zone, however, and Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the readings could have been worse.

“Amongst all that tension, the fact it has held up at a reasonable rate of growth is pretty encouraging,” Williamson added. “More recently there have been positive developments, so we may see some upturn in growth next month.”

The headline index for the euro zone has nevertheless been above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction since mid-2013.

Williamson said the data provisionally pointed to third- quarter growth of 0.4%, slightly weaker than the 0.5% predicted in a Reuters poll published on Thursday.

“While the latest data suggest that the Greek crisis has not derailed the euro zone recovery altogether, growth seems to be slowing as the boosts from earlier falls in oil prices and the euro exchange rate fade,” said Jennifer McKeown, at Capital Economics.

The euro EUR= has sunk more than 9% against the US dollar in 2015, making the bloc’s goods cheaper abroad.

Eurozone sluggish

Us manufacturing improves

Reuters, London The global economy started the second half of the year on shaky ground with China’s factory sector activity contracting in July at the fastest pace in 15 months and euro zone manufacturing weaker than expected, although U.S. activity picked up.

The purchasing managers indices (PMI) for the manufacturing sector from private data vendor Markit come after Beijing said it would allow its yuan currency to fluctuate more widely within its trading band as a way to support trade and despite the European Central Bank’s 60bn euro a month bond-buying program.

China pmi lowest since april 2014

The preliminary Caixin/Markit China PMI for July dropped to 48.2, the lowest reading since April last year. It was the fifth straight month under the 50 level separating expansion from contraction.

The fall confounded forecasts for a rise to 49.7 from June’s final reading of 49.4 and pushed the Australian dollar to a six-year low AUD=D4. China is Australia’s biggest export market.

Fears of faltering demand in China, the world’s largest commodity buyer, put pressure on other commodity prices, with copper falling to its lowest level since 2009.

The survey of executives in over 420 Chinese manufacturing firms found output, new orders and export orders all decreased.

“Today, it’s big, bad news with this number well below consensus,” said analyst Helen Lau of Argonaut Securities in Hong Kong. “It shows there’s no signs of recovery in small and mid-sized business in China, but I think it’s also related to the summer weak season for demand.”

The China survey overshadowed better news from Japan, where the flash Markit/ Nikkei PMI rose to a seasonally adjusted 51.4

A worker stacks steel pipes in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad in July from a final 50.1 in June, a welcome hint of economic acceleration after a surprise slowdown last quarter.

The ongoing factory output contraction reflected in Friday’s China survey is likely to fuel speculation that Beijing will accelerate the pace of loosening monetary policy to try to stoke activity in the wake of the recent China stock market slump.

Economists polled by Reuters this month said they expect China to reduce interest rates by 25 basis points before year-end. The amount of cash that Chinese banks must hold as reserves was also expected to be reduced to keep the Chinese economy growing at 7% this year, the slowest pace in a quarter of a century.

“The central bank will maintain its loose monetary policy in the second half this year,

REUTERS

Euro zone business activity started the second half on a less secure footing than expected as euro weakness failed to boost export demand.

Markit’s Composite Flash Purchasing Managers’ Index, based on surveys of thousands of companies and seen as a good guide to growth, fell to 53.7 in July from June’s fouryear high of 54.2. A Reuters poll had predicted a more modest dip to 54.0.

The Markit PMI for the euro zone service industry fell to 53.8 from June’s 54.4, well short of the expected 54.2, while the factory

Growth in the US manufacturing sector edged up in July after slowing for three months in a row, according to Markit.

The preliminary US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 53.8 in July from a final June reading of 53.6, which was the slowest pace since October 2013. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the July figure at 53.6.

“A modest upturn in the headline manufacturing PMI belies some more worrying undercurrents which point to potential weakness in coming months,” said Markit’s Williamson.

OPEC sees oil drop as short-term, expects stronger demand Telenor keeps 2015 outlook with Myanmar gains, stable Norway Reuters, London

A drop in oil prices this month is likely to be short-term and will not deflect OPEC from its policy of keeping output high to defend market share, delegates from Gulf OPEC members and other nations said.

Falling Chinese stock markets and the Greek debt crisis have raised concern about demand, while the Iranian nuclear deal could lead to higher oil exports from the Islamic Republic. Benchmark Brent crude, trading

below $57 a barrel on Wednesday, has fallen more than 10% in July.

OPEC, in a major policy shift, decided in November against cutting its production target of 30 million barrels per day (bpd) to prop up prices, seeking instead to defend market share against US shale oil and other competing sources. The group reconfirmed the strategy at a meeting in June.

Kuwait’s oil minister, Ali Saleh al-Omair, was quoted on Tuesday expressing confidence in the outlook, saying producer coun-

tries expected stronger global economic growth to boost prices.

And three delegates from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries speaking this month said the price drop was unlikely to last and OPEC would not alter strategy, also citing expectations for stronger demand.

“I don’t think so, it is not time for OPEC to change,” said a Gulf OPEC delegate. “Demand will be more than in the first half (of the year) although there is some uncertainty about the economy. The prices will remain around $60.”

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently held a half yearly business conference for the on-going year that was participated by its heads of branches and divisional heads.

The bank’s chairperson, Al-Haj Akram Hussain inaugurated the conference as chief guest while its MD and CEO, M Ehsanul Haque presided over the conference

Reuters, Oslo Norwegian mobile phone operator Telenor reported second-quarter earnings a touch below expectations on Wednesday but kept its full year revenue and margin guidance and said its rapid growth in Myanmar continued.

Telenor said its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 11% to 10.57bn Norwegian crowns ($1.30bn) compared to expectations for 10.77bn crowns in a Reuters poll of analysts..

Competition and a weak economy in Thailand as well as underperforming units in Pakistan and Malaysia were offset by the new business in Myanmar, profits in India and stable developments in Telenor’s largest single market, Norway.

For Myanmar, EBITDA jumped to 479m Norwegian crowns from a loss of 83m crowns a year ago and well above forecasts for 202m crowns. Myanmar, one of the world’s least connected nations, surprisingly turned profitable last quarter.

DT

18 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures AGM/Dividend GP: The Board of Directors of the Company has declared interim cash dividend for the year 2015 at the rate of 80% of the Paid up capital of the Company which represents 103% of the profit after tax for the half year ended on 30th June, 2015, out of the provisional net profits of the Company for the halfyear ended on 30 June 2015 and retained earnings as of 31 December 2014. The Company has also reported Net Profit after Tax of Tk. 10,477.01 million, EPS of Tk. 7.76, NAV per share of Tk. 24.49 and NOCFPS of Tk. 14.03 for the half-year ended on 30th June 2015. Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 29.07.2015.

SQURPHARMA: The Board of Directors has recommended 30% cash dividend and 12.50% stock dividend for the year ended on March 31, 2015. The Board has also approved Tk. 155.00 crore for BMRE, Capital Machineries and Lands for future expansion. Date of AGM: 16.09.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: RAOWA Convention Hall No. 2, Mohakhali DOHS, Dhaka.

Record Date: 13.08.2015. The Company has also reported consolidated NAV of Tk. 31,093.30 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 10.80 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 11.68 for the year ended on March 31, 2015.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: GP: (H/Y Un-audited): Profit after tax from Jan’15-June’15 was Tk. 10,477.01 million with EPS of Tk. 7.76 as against Tk.

10,577.07 million and Tk. 7.83 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Profit after tax from April’15June’15 was Tk. 5,126.97 million with EPS of Tk. 3.80 as against Tk. 5,416.99 million and Tk. 4.01 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

BATBC: (H/Y Un-audited): Profit after tax from Jan’15-June’15 was Tk. 2,762.85 million with EPS of Tk. 46.05 as against Tk. 2,872.27 million and Tk. 47.87 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Profit after tax from April’15June’15 was Tk. 972.77 million with EPS of Tk. 16.21 as against Tk. 1,630.44 million and Tk. 27.17 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

MEGHNALIFE: (Q1 Un-audited): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st March 2015 (Jan15 to March-15), the Company has reported an increase in life revenue account of Tk. 79.25 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 13,485.93 million as against Tk. 222.94 million and Tk. 12,307.53 million respectively for the same period of the previous year.

PURABIGEN: (H/Y Un-audited): Net Profit after tax from Jan’15June’15 was Tk. 20.88 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.60 as against Tk. 15.84 million and Tk. 0.46 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

However, considering proposed bonus share @ 15% for the year 2014, restated basic EPS will be Tk. 0.52 as on 30.06.2015 and Tk. 0.40 as on 30.06.2014.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Closing (% change)

Company Islami Bank BD - A PragatiLife Insu. -Z BSRM Ltd. -A Continental Insur. -A Renata Ltd. -A Shahjibazar Power-N Central Insur -A Linde (BD) Ltd. -A BGIC -A Republic Insu.-A

32.37 25.19 21.25 18.06 17.65 17.55 17.34 16.54 16.36 14.97

CSE GAINER Closing (% change)

Company Islami Bank BD - A Continental Insur. -A BSRM Ltd. -A Linde (BD) Ltd. -A Rupali InsurA Wata Chemicals -A Shahjibazar Power-N Republic Insu.-A Eastern InsurA MeghnaCement -A

32.37 22.96 19.82 19.55 18.59 17.53 16.85 15.54 14.93 13.38

DSE LOSER Company Prime Islami Life -A Bangladesh Welding -B Saiham Cotton-A Meghna PET Ind. -Z GeminiSeaFood-B Aziz PipesZ Hakkani P& Paper -B MBL 1st M. F.-A 7th ICB M F-A Bengal Windsor-A

Closing (% change) -12.85 -9.09 -8.14 -6.35 -5.65 -4.48 -4.37 -4.17 -4.04 -4.03

CSE LOSER Company Prime Islami Life -A Rahima Food -Z Bangladesh Welding -B H.R. Textile -A Saiham Cotton-A Hwa Well Textiles-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Standard Insurance-A LR Global BD MF1-A Monno Ceramic -B

Closing (% change) -11.26 -9.26 -9.13 -8.79 -6.33 -6.02 -5.56 -4.76 -4.76 -4.46

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features July 21-23, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

20,217.87 422,938,375 405,036

Traded Issues

323

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

235

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

85

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,727.35

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

33.06

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 1452.32 679.52 182.99 3114.58 619.04 3829.15 14.16 1123.61 3969.17 57.08 315.75 113.74 657.57 1642.21 153.19 131.23 186.22 900.81 406.46 667.04 2.05

% change 7.18 3.36 0.91 15.41 3.06 18.94 0.07 5.56 19.63 0.28 1.56 0.56 3.25 8.12 0.76 0.65 0.92 4.46 2.01 3.30 0.01

Million Taka 60.38 54.85 7.57 305.41 24.97 272.88 0.00 87.22 185.68 6.03 19.75 3.85 26.16 185.05 11.26 4.70 13.46 92.33 56.52 76.19 0.08

Average (% change) 33.06 20.85 16.79 21.04 18.20 21.33 15.18 15.65 16.14 15.29 Average (% change) 34.15 25.63 17.52 19.59 18.72 16.34 19.93 15.81 15.16 11.02

Average (% change) -11.86 -11.97 -6.35 -6.72 -5.79 -4.67 -4.24 -5.22 -4.04 -4.53

Average (% change) -11.64 -7.91 -12.84 -9.00 -5.24 -6.02 -5.38 -4.88 -4.76 -3.92

CSE

Closing average 22.90 94.89 88.22 17.03 1,253.15 204.63 19.96 1,352.70 18.92 16.81

Closing average 22.90 16.96 88.93 1327.43 18.52 174.51 203.98 16.99 25.45 122.58

Closing average 40.20 20.07 20.51 5.83 251.16 21.24 46.70 4.54 95.00 66.82

Closing average

% change 4.04 3.67 0.51 20.44 1.67 18.26 0.00 5.84 12.43 0.40 1.32 0.26 1.75 12.38 0.75 0.31 0.90 6.18 3.78 5.10 0.01

40.93 34.81 19.95 21.75 20.62 32.80 5.10 16.00 4.00 30.12

Weekly closing 22.90 98.40 93.00 17.00 1,270.60 199.60 20.30 1,357.20 19.20 16.90

Weekly closing 22.90 16.60 92.50 1327.00 18.50 176.30 200.40 17.10 25.40 123.70

Weekly closing 40.00 20.00 20.30 5.90 250.50 21.30 46.00 4.60 95.00 66.60

Weekly closing

Weekly high 22.90 98.40 93.00 17.60 1,271.60 213.00 20.30 1,376.00 19.30 17.50

Weekly high

17.20 78.00 78.00 14.60 1,077.00 186.70 17.50 1,164.00 15.50 14.80

Weekly low

22.90 17.20 92.50 1327.50 19.30 176.30 211.00 17.10 26.10 125.00

Weekly high

17.50 14.80 79.00 1179.00 17.00 152.00 188.60 15.50 22.50 117.50

Weekly low

41.30 22.50 23.10 6.30 272.90 22.00 49.90 4.90 95.00 70.50

Weekly high

41.00 34.30 19.90 21.80 20.70 32.80 5.10 16.00 4.00 30.00

Million Taka 1512.70 734.36 190.55 3419.99 644.01 4102.03 14.16 1210.83 4154.84 63.10 335.50 117.59 683.73 1827.26 164.46 135.93 199.69 993.14 462.99 743.24 2.13

Weekly low

38.10 19.70 20.20 5.80 243.00 21.00 43.60 4.50 95.00 66.00

Weekly low

45.00 39.50 21.90 21.80 22.50 32.80 5.60 16.00 4.10 33.00

Total

39.10 34.20 19.50 21.00 20.30 32.10 5.00 16.00 4.00 29.50

% change 6.97 3.38 0.88 15.75 2.97 18.89 0.07 5.58 19.14 0.29 1.55 0.54 3.15 8.42 0.76 0.63 0.92 4.57 2.13 3.42 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

252.278 7.855 649.880 16.340 426.075 934.316 1.782 217.761 18.915 7.837

Turnover in million

1.00 2.38 2.16 2.84 36.04 8.44 2.32 39.04 3.48 1.55

Latest EPS

7.014 0.132 94.325 0.516 0.462 0.282 63.973 0.285 0.022 0.621

Turnover in million

22.9 39.9 40.8 6.0 34.8 24.2 8.6 34.6 5.4 10.8

Latest PE

1.00 2.84 2.16 39.04 2.60 3.80 8.44 1.55 3.52 8.52

Latest EPS

8.361 62.483 30.849 0.123 0.700 0.155 21.234 4.511 0.020 87.931

Turnover in million

Latest PE

22.9 6.0 41.2 34.0 7.1 45.9 24.2 11.0 7.2 14.4

Latest PE

4.95 -0.40 1.43 -0.53 9.58 -2.64 0.29 5.08 9.73 3.35

Latest EPS

0.255 0.105 7.192 0.100 2.218 0.091 1.212 0.003 0.022 0.336

8.1 -ve 14.3 -ve 26.2 -ve 161.0 0.9 9.8 19.9

Latest PE

4.95 -0.47 -0.40 0.86 1.43 2.32 0.63 2.88 0.40 0.16

8.3 -ve -ve 25.3 14.4 14.1 8.1 5.6 10.0 188.3

CSE key features July 21-23, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

1,494.35 36,733,198 57,616

Traded Issues

274

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

194

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

74

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,623.49

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.80

DT

BUSINESS 19

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Bull runs over stock market in past week after Eid vacation Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-A Shahjibazar Power-N Square Pharma -A ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A Khulna Power-A BSRM Ltd. -A RAK Ceramics-A Renata Ltd. -A United Power-N

MJL BD Ltd.-A Brac Bank -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Active Fine Chem.-A Beximco Pharma -A Ifad Autos -N

Volume shares 11,364,788 4,636,792 2,762,275 1,163,369 2,015,681 8,528,431 7,576,427 7,912,818 355,164 2,531,899

3,473,774 9,530,392 11,583,927 6,143,092 5,740,132 5,696,805

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-A BSRM Ltd. -A United Power-N Shahjibazar Power-N Grameenphone-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Olympic Accessories -N UNITED AIR-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Square Pharma -A

WesternMarine -N Khulna Power-A BD Submarine Cable-A Beximco Pharma -A BSRM Steels-A

Volume shares 1,374,930 1,096,379 395,501 316,047 170,590 1,486,067 836,284 4,411,536 388,908 163,952

782,717 457,584 251,617 528,784 286,523

Value in million 1387.68 934.32 723.84 688.17 675.45 656.89 649.88 631.84 426.08 416.87

393.77 390.71 389.70 388.08 375.74 669.83

Value in million 167.36 94.33 65.10 63.97 57.26 50.07 48.70 47.90 43.98 42.72

36.38 35.39 35.07 34.62 23.95

% of total turnover 6.86 4.62 3.58 3.40 3.34 3.25 3.21 3.13 2.11 2.06

1.95 1.93 1.93 1.92 1.86 1.79

% of total turnover 11.20 6.31 4.36 4.28 3.83 3.35 3.26 3.21 2.94 2.86

2.43 2.37 2.35 2.32 1.60

Weekly closing 125.40 199.60 266.80 580.90 337.90 78.30 93.00 81.20 1270.60 160.00

113.70 40.40 33.30 62.80 65.10 114.30

Weekly closing 125.40 92.50 160.50 200.40 338.10 33.30 57.80 10.60 113.70 265.80

45.70 78.40 139.20 65.00 85.90

Price change 9.52 17.55 3.33 -0.09 -1.26 0.51 21.25 6.28 17.65 -1.17

Weekly opening 114.50 169.80 258.20 581.40 342.20 77.90 76.70 76.40 1080.00 161.90

Weekly high 125.90 213.00 267.20 614.80 342.00 78.80 93.00 82.80 1271.60 172.00

Price change 9.62 19.82 -0.74 16.85 -1.26 -2.06 -0.69 -0.93 3.46 2.94

Weekly opening 114.40 77.20 161.70 171.50 342.40 34.00 58.20 10.70 109.90 258.20

Weekly high 125.90 92.50 171.80 211.00 340.00 34.40 62.00 11.20 115.90 266.50

3.08 1.25 -2.06 0.00 -2.11 1.06

1.33 0.26 4.19 -2.40 7.51

110.30 39.90 34.00 62.80 66.50 113.10

45.10 78.20 133.60 66.60 79.90

115.70 41.50 34.40 64.50 67.10 124.50

47.40 79.50 142.90 67.00 87.90

Weekly low 115.10 186.70 248.50 578.00 326.00 75.00 78.00 76.40 1077.00 158.70

110.10 39.20 33.00 61.40 63.70 110.10

Weekly low 115.10 79.00 159.90 188.60 315.00 33.10 56.20 10.50 110.00 250.00

45.50 75.40 133.70 63.90 80.60

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

4808.39516

(+) 3.27%

1888.83857

(+) 3.73%

14719.8342

(+) 2.84%

12245.8555

(+) 4.42%

8965.2500

(+) 2.89%

Weekly average 124.04 204.63 265.11 583.95 337.74 76.93 88.22 80.80 1253.15 161.34

113.97 40.99 33.39 63.34 64.95 116.84

Weekly average 123.79 88.93 161.34 203.98 337.70 33.43 57.42 10.69 114.12 264.60

45.89 77.52 140.07 64.95 84.60

Bullish spell swept stock markets in the past week, spurred by fresh fund injection mainly on multinational companies and financial stocks.

Before going six-day holiday on July 15 to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr – the largest religious festival of the Muslim community – the market was marginally positive for the third consecutive week.

During the week ended Thursday, the benchmark index DSEX saw steep rise of 152 points or 3.3% to settle at almost 4,808, hitting fivemonth high.

The blue-chip comprising index DS30 was up almost 68 points or 3.8% to 1,889. The DSE Shariah Index gained 48 points or 4% to end at 1,195.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, surged 252 points or 3% to 8,965.

New funds attracted by long positive trend and better-than-expected dividend deceleration that was poured in the market has helped cross the DSE turnover of Tk800 crore in the final session of the week for the first time in two months.

The week’s DSE daily turnover was Tk674 crore,

up around 30% over the previous week. Around 55% turnover came from pharmaceuticals, power and engineering sectors.

“As the political frontier is almost silent and economy in a position to reap the benefit of a smooth work environment, investors became hopeful about the days ahead,” said IDLC Investments.

In addition, with the end of June, declarations of June year-ending companies fell due and played a major role in security pricing partnered with quarterly declarations from other companies, it said.

Lanka Bangla Securities said stable economic and political outlook coupled with better expected corporate earnings fueled the buying spree.

It said at this point the market is perceived to get some solid direction which induced investors to go long on stocks with better prospects in the coming days.

In the past week, cement, tannery, non-banking financial institutions, general insurance, pharmaceuticals and banking stocks moved up 7.3%, 6.5%, 6.4%, 5.8%, 4.9% and 4.6% respectively.

ANALYST

Stable economic and political outlook coupled with better expected corporate earnings fueled the buying spree

DT

20 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

ICT to unveil 500 apps today Tribune Report

Jute cultivators seen busy harvesting raw jute and rotting them under water amid heavy monsoon

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The ICT Division is going to unveil 500 mobile applications as a continual attempt to facilitate public services to the stakholders.

The inauguration programme will be held at the auditorium of Bangladesh Computer Council today in the capital.

Sajeeb Wajed Joy, ICT advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is expected to inaugurate the apps unveiling programme as the chief guest while Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, will attend the ceremony as special guest.

The government has taken up the project to develop new mobile applications to ensure people’s access to information and services.

An ICT official said of the total mobile applications, 300 will be developed for different ministries and the remaining 200 will incorporate new innovative ideas.

Ethics Advanced Technology Limited (EATL) will develop the apps.

Under the mobile apps trainer and development of creative apps programme, the university students across the country will be trained for three months on developing mobile applications.

RMG owners may get World Bank grants $15m 2 more months to end to promote renewable energy in rural areas factory inspection Tribune Report

Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The country’s RMG manufacturers are likely to get two more months to complete RMG factory assessment –structural integrity, fire and electrical safety inspection – led by the ILO and the government.

Syed Ahmed, inspector general of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), has raised the issue on extending the deadline at the meeting held in the city recently, a senior official, who attended the meeting, told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity.

‘ILO will soon inform the BGMEA authorities through issuing a letter’ Ambassadors from five countries, who attended the meeting, also advocated in favour of extending the time frame while the ILO representatives agreed to extend the deadline in principle.

“The ILO will soon formally inform the BGMEA authorities through issuing a letter,” said the official.

The 3+5 committee, comprising of three secretaries from Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs ministry and five ambassadors from EU, US, Canada and the Netherlands have been regularly reviewing the progress of implementation of the Sustainability Compact and progress in the RMG sector.

Earlier, the BGMEA in a letter urged the

International LabourOrganisation(ILO) to extend the time frame for completing costfree factory inspection by two more months as the owners faced trouble due to Ramadan and Eid vacation.

“We’ve sought extension of the deadline to complete safety inspection as the factory owners has faced troubles due to Ramadan, Eid vacation and the delayed start of the inspection,” BGMEA Vice President ShahidullahAzim told the Dhaka Tribune.

The ILO had earlier extended its deadline several times and lastly it was extended till July 30 through a letter signed by its Country Director Srinivas B Reddy on May 6.

The ILO also said after the deadline (July 30) the assessment would require charge that has to be borne by the building and factory owners.

Under the initiative, the ILO-led inspection has so far inspected 1,031 RMG factories in collaboration with BGMEA and BKMEA and would inspect 300 more factories.

The ILO through its “Improving Working Conditions in the RMG Sector” funded by the Royal Netherlands Government, Canada and UK is providing financial and technical assistance for the government of Bangladesh for implementation of the National Tripartite Plan (NAP) of Action Plan on Fire and Structural Integrity in the country’s RMG sector.

The NAP was signed in 25 July 2013.

The safety issues came under spotlight after the Rana Plaza factory collapse that killed over 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500 people on April 24, 2013.

World Bank will provide $15m grant to increase access to clean energy for targeted rural areas in Bangladesh through output-based aid (OBA) subsidies, the bank said in a statement.

The bank, acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), signed an agreement in this regard with Bangladesh on Thursday.

The grant is expected to benefit 1.1m people living in poor, remote areas of Bangladesh currently lacking grid electricity.

This new project will make clean energy affordable to low-income households through off-grid solutions by buying down the capital cost of 225,000 solar home systems (SHS) and 2,500 mini-grid connections.

The grant will also facilitate investments in solar-pumped irrigation to 6,600 farmers, reducing the negative fiscal and environmental impact of diesel pumps.

While the solar-based aspect is the main feature of this project, the grant will also improve family health by providing clean cooking solutions for over 9,850 households through biogas plants.

The Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) will implement the project, in partnership with micro-finance institutions, non-governmental organisations, and private sponsors.

“Bangladesh has set a global standard in establishing a successful OBA facility for renewable energy development. GPOBA is pleased to expand support in the second phase of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development (RERED II) programme by mak-

ing access to a wider array of clean energy options affordable to poor households,” said Catherine Commander O’Farrell, newly-appointed Head of GPOBA. A recent impact study shows that SHS adoption leads to welfare gains, such as: saving money, improving meal preparation conditions, reducing incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, expanding study time for children, increasing mobility and security, and allowing more efficient use of time for women.

The GPOBA grant contributes to these impacts, as well as continued job creation in green technology, support for the national government’s strategy (Vision 2021) of providing universal access to electricity by 2021 through off-grid solutions, and the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a middle-income country.

“Bangladesh has the fastest-growing solar home system programme in the world, bringing electricity to remote households that are off the grid. The programme has helped millions of men and women in rural areas to realise increased income and growth opportunities, and it has also helped millions of school children to keep up with their school work,” said Johannes Zutt, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

The WB has supported RERED since its initial establishment in 2003 through an innovative OBA financing mechanism, with disbursement based on verified outputs.

Since 2010, GPOBA has previously granted almost $14m in support of the initial RERED programme, through subsidies and technical support, providing access to solar-powered electricity to more than 2.2m beneficiaries.

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

T-JUNCTION

Shining still in summer

Photo: Shimmer

INSIDE

23

Shoe therapy

23

trending

August forecast

24 his style

Embrace the environment style session

Hello, sunshine

22

ULAB international conference: language, literature and community

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Interview

Language, literature and community A changed perspective through the words of Dr Jenny Sharpe

Chisty Rahim With the aim of changing the misled perception of the East Indian culture and lifestyle in the West Indies, Jenny Sharpe’s Colonial Imaginary portrayed life, labour and the picturesque. She is a professor of English, comparative literature and gender studies in UCLA. ULAB staged an international conference on July 10-11, 2015, where she elaborately discussed her work and shared her thoughts: “I think there is a lot of potential. And we need to seize the media. I think Fanon once wrote a piece: The Voice of Algeria and that was later the name of a radio station. The radio had a nice voice, the people’s voice. No matter what, radio was the main source of media back then, when technology was not that advanced.

Given that the English language is a strong barrier and a difficult obstacle to reach within the majority of our country – how do you think we can effectively bridge the gap between the West and the East?

The solution is diaspora, of course. Diaspora can form that connection. This is something that post colonialism works on. Today we are a globally connected world. We have

advanced means of mass communication that connects the whole world together and in Bangladesh diaspora is huge!

What compelled you to focus your work on post-colonialism?

Even though we are at the end of the colonial stage, the perception that I am working on has its roots firmly planted in the West.

I believe it’s the effect of colonialism, miscommunication and the inability to send broad messages about the change that the East Indians have gone through ever since colonialism ended. Even though in the postcolonial area we are depicting them in the same way.

In your work, you talk about race discrimination. Bangladesh, being a Muslim majority country, has no racial differences, rather sex discrimination is widespread.

What is your take on this?

Well, I mean, one of the things which my work focuses on is that gender is always being talked about even when it is not. So I not only concentrate on the women but also on how the men are being represented and to what degree is this masculinity a colonial construct and to what degree it has been inhabited and taken up by men. So again, I

think when we talk about gender, I believe it is a relationship between men and women, and you can’t have one without the other.

In my talks, I was always interested in both.

I think the most important fact regarding the issue for your country today is visibility.

Are the women invisible? Are they not being represented?

Living in the States, I have come about a lot of misconceptions about Islamic countries and Muslim women. It is very interesting when you look into that. And one of the other things that you can see nowadays, particularly in the States, is that the colonialism is repeated in every other way. In a way, it seems as if the white men are trying to save the Muslim women from the Muslim men, which to me is unusual and a repetition of colonialism. The problem is that the American feminist play into that, because they are misled by the belief that women here are invisible. Moreover, they forget to see how the Bangladeshi women are expressive and have their own ways of finding themselves in society.

And this is why I am working with colonialism, because these issues are still in the act of being, and the level of reach of these misconceptions are high.

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Trending

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

style session

Shoe therapy How to care for your footwear

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Dhaka’s monsoons may be a respite from the heat, and for the savvy rain-harvester a boon, but they’re hell on your footwear, more so than any other kind of weather. Here are a few ways in which to keep your shoes happy.

Fragrant footwear Wading through ankle deep waters to get to work, wearing the wet shoes throughout the day, does not for sweet-smelling shoes make. Prevent your shoes from smelling like the tannery where their journey began, by first blasting them with a hairdryer to remove the dampness, and then stuffing them with little sachets of baking soda. You can make the sachets out of old socks.

Photo: Bigstock

trending

August forecast 3 key trends to look out for in the coming month Sabrina Fatma Ahmad If the past two weeks have been any indication, we’re in for a few more weeks of rain. Keeping that in mind, here’s what’s going to be hot this season.

Bolt of blue Blue was the hottest colour this Eid, and the trend is still going strong. From the faded

denim of chambray to the classic Monaco blue, we’re seeing a lot of these cool shades, but by far the most popular shade has been a bright cobalt blue.

A little ankle Whether you like your pants wide-legged or skinny, navigating the streets of Dhaka in ankle-deep water is a little less distressing when your shalwar ends above your ankle.

That’s right palazzos have gone up to the gaucho-pant level, and linen capris are becoming a fast favourite alternative to the straight shalwar, even when paired with kurtis and kameezes. Invest in a few calflength pieces for a mess-free August.

Just can’t get enough Hands down, our favourite garment this whole Summer/Monsoon has been the drapey tie-front cotton pants. Whether you’re getting the ice-cream shaded joggers from Urban Truth, or investing in some bold prints in Artisan’s range of slouchy pants, or going gamcha with Jatra, these babies are comfy, versatile, and oh so cool. Who needs the wet-dog smell of damp denim when you can strut your stuff in flirty, flowy cotton?

Shiny suede If there’s a material that absolutely hates getting wet, it’s suede. Mud on your suede shoes is like a kiss of death. Put those kicks on life support by scrubbing them with rubbing alcohol and letting them air dry.

Off with the scuffs There are a number of ways to deal with scuff marks on shoes. You could scrub them with an old toothbrush. You could try rubbing them with an eraser.

Some discreet scuffs can be treated with a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover, but this is a tricky method, as some materials don’t react well to the remover. You could apply hand sanitiser to your black dress shoes. Depending on the severity of the scuff, these methods should help your shoes looking brand new in no time.

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Tailored

his style

style session

Hello, sunshine Mahmood Hossain

Embrace the environment Their style isn’t exactly equal to yours Mahmood Hossain We find it frustrating to see many men, of various ages, continue to emulate their first world counterparts. Let’s not delve into the delusions of grandeur. You have to consider our climate and environment. Practicality is as important as style. The articles of clothing and accessories you decide to wear can turn out exceptional or risk becoming a laughing stock. There are some style cues you need to take from the fashion savvy in tropical lands. It’s easy to see the difference between the streets of Amsterdam and the streets of Dhaka.

Toe exposure Sandals are possibly one of the biggest pet peeves for the high-street gentlemen. Too many times you’ve argued it’s for comfort, and countless times we’ve countered with an equal amount of distress. Unless you regularly head to the parlour for pedicures, gallivanting through the beaches of Havana with Castro or heading to a local shop to reup on some snacks, wearing sandals can be

highly unattractive. Not only are your unkempt, dirty feet always exposed but the chance of indirectly poisoning the people around you in a gas chamber will be quite high.

Think of the people, will you? Look, we’re not saying that it’s blasphemous to be wearing opened toed shoes. But you could say they are the equivalent of sweatpants.

It just spells out lazy. A well groomed gentleman can only compromise on his style with a certain limit. Comfort is always key, but the lack of effort towards your outfit cannot be hidden. It’s that same effort that will win you an applause. Either limit the walking in your sockless loafers and confine yourself in an air conditioned room or stick to wearing proper socks. Don’t be that guy, as Alfred once said, “Some men just want to watch the world burn.” We’re looking at you, you Crocs wearing philistines.

Sleeves up and down Whether you’re wearing a full-length dress shirt or a fitted t-shirt, know your limits.

Yes, we always encourage you to wear more fitted clothing but a man needs to fall back on common sense. We know you want to impress your lady love, but it’s perfectly fine for you to find an alternative to a full-length shirt. It’s okay to reach for a short sleeve, just as long as it doesn’t have Hawaiian print on it. Only natives of the islands and Gabriel Iglesias can pull them off. You stick to the more acceptable subtle prints and colours that compliment your skin tone.

But if you must attend a semi-formal to formal event, it’s also perfectly acceptable to skip the tie. Little subtractions to your overall look will actually make you appear even more attractive. There is a

misconception that if you aren’t going all out, you’re just topping the game. This isn’t a competition between you and other men or against this disgusting humidity. The more relaxed you look, with fitted clothing, the more approachable you will be towards others. Style doesn’t have to be complicated because it really isn’t. It’s the person taking on the look that makes things difficult for themselves. But sometimes you need reassurances and that’s perfectly fine. That’s why we’re here.

Eccentric playboy Oh, so you love those flashy outfits that you like to flaunt around like a golden bull hailed once by the Israelite? Oh, Pharaoh, let the tackiness go. Deliver us from that eye sore in which you consider acceptable peacocking.

Sports stars and other celebrities wear those designer, floral printed and loud suits for marketing purposes only. You should know, the famous fashion houses send those pieces as gifts for certain occasions. They are not bought by men who really consider investing in their personal wardrobes. And in reality, those occasions are very far in between.

Always think practically and practice humility. In all honesty, there are only a handful of men who can actually pull off those risqué style choices. If you are the average consumer, never consider yourself one of them. You have to work your way up.

Those at the top already know the rules and have a well balanced wardrobe. Remember, men with a house full of money don’t actually achieve a praise worthy wardrobe.

Mimicking your style after men like Travers Beynon, aka the Candyman, is your first step to your appending doom, tossed into a pit with the rest of the neanderthals.

Q

Yellow has always been one of my favourite colours, but I’ve always found it difficult to wear this colour apart from certain accessories. Is there a right and wrong way in wearing yellow?

A

Yellow isn’t too versatile of a colour, which obviously makes it tricky to wear. The best way to keep things save and subtle (or as subtle as possible) is to contrast it with solid white or black.

A softer yellow, full-length casual shirt actually goes well with either an all white or beige slim-fit trousers. A yellow t-shirt is probably your safest bet. Easy, comfortable and fitted solid tee is more flexible when it comes to wearing yellow. People won’t glare with disapproving eyes. This can easily be paired with a dark washed jeans.

Remember to try out shades of yellow that actually compliments your skin.

Too bright of a yellow is always a risk of being an eye sore. So it’s a good thing to enter the trial room first before you head for the counter.

Russian five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has split with Bulgarian boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov after a nearly three-year relationship. “Our paths split,” 24-year-old Dimitrov told Bulgarian media on Friday

Sport 26

MUSTAFIZ – THE TEENAGER WITH THE GOLDEN ARM

27

AMLA NOTES POSITIVES FROM THE THREE DAYS

29

25

DT

BREAK POINT

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

COURT CLEARS SREESANTH OVER IPL FIXING

What to do when it rains outside? Members of the broadcasting team enjoy cricket inside the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium as the fifth day of the first Test match between hosts Bangladesh and South Africa was washed away by rain in Chittagong yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Of rain and draws in Bangladesh Minhaz Uddin Khan from Chittagong The rain-gods enforced a dull draw in what was shaping up to be an interesting first Test between hosts Bangladesh and visitors South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

It took only a couple of hours into the fifth and final day before the match officials called off the affair at around 11:30am.

As a result of the persistent rainfall, the fourth and final days of the opening Test was washed away without any balls bowled.

Although rain did take away a combined 50

overs from the first three days of action, the 221 overs played produced some glorious actions overall.

However, this was Bangladesh’s first drawn Test against South Africa in nine attempts over the last 15 years while it was the eighth draw, seventh at home, for the Tigers in which rain played a big role.

Including the first of two Tests, Bangladesh have played 92 five-dayers and have won just seven matches and drew 14 times.

Among the draws, Bangladesh took the game to the fifth day, without any favour from the

weather, on only six occasions.

The first rain-hit draw for Bangladesh came when two days of a Test match against Zimbabwe at Bangabandhu National Stadium in 2001 were washed away while the same sides were involved in a similar draw, this time in Bulawayo, in 2004.

Even the last Test match Bangladesh played prior to South Africa against India last month was forced to a draw at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium as rain allowed only 184.2 overs to take place in that game.

BANGLADESH’S DRAWN TESTS DUE TO RAIN Year

Opposition

Venue

2001

Zimbabwe

Dhaka

2004

Zimbabwe

Bulawayo

2007

India

Chittagong

2008

New Zealand

Dhaka

2011

West Indies

Chittagong

2013

New Zealand

Dhaka

2015

India

Fatullah

2015

South Africa

Chittagong

DT

26 Sport

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Mustafiz – The teenager with the golden arm Becomes the first player to bag a man-of-thematch award on both Test and ODI debut Minhaz Uddin Khan from Chittagong Mustafizur Rahman may not have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but the Satkhira-born teenager is certainly gifted with a golden arm. Breaking and making records is as easy as pie for the 19-year old who became the only cricketer in history to bag the manof-the-match awards on both one-day international and Test debut.

There are exactly 100 players who have won a MoM award on their Test or ODI debut but Mustafiz is the only player to have won both. He was named the player-of-thematch in the rain-hit first Test against South Africa at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday for his four-wicket haul in the first innings (4-37).

Last month on his ODI debut in Mirpur, Mustafiz amazed the world with a match-winBangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (L) bagged the Man-ofthe-Match award while Liton Kumar was named the Best Bangladeshi Performer in their drawn Test against South Africa in Chittagong yesterday MI MANIK

ning five-for to lead Bangladesh to a 79-run victory against India at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. His crucial inputs as a bowler earned him a Test cap after just six ODIs and three Twenty20Is, and he answered the call in his own fashion – by initiating important breakthroughs at critical junctures of a match.

South Africa were cruising at 173-3 in 59 overs when the “off-cutter” specialist turned the tables upside down. In the space of the next four balls, the visitors had lost three of their dependable names which eventually allowed Bangladesh to bowl out their opponents for the first time inside a day and take control of the match.

Amla had a go at an outgoing delivery and edged it to Liton Kumar Das to start the fall before JP Duminy was rapped in front for a golden duck of what seemed to be a quicker delivery from Mustafiz. Although Quinton de Kock kept the hat-trick ball, a yorker, out he failed to deal with the fourth ball of the 60th over as his off-stump went flying back to give the teenage pacer the sight of satisfaction. His fourth victim was Temba Bavuma, who made a valuable 54.

Dejected Mushfiq rues foul weather Minhaz Uddin Khan from Chittagong Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim yesterday expressed disappointment as the first of two Test matches against South Africa concluded in a sterile draw at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

Rain snatched away a combined 50 overs in the first three days of the Chittagong Test while the final two days were washed out completely, much to the dejection of the two sides, none more so than Bangladesh, who were still 17 runs ahead.

And Mushfiq said in the post-Test press conference that they are mightily disconsolate as they were eyeing their maiden win against the South Africans. The Proteas are infamous for their ability to crumble under pressure situations and Mushfiq believes early wickets on the fifth day yesterday could have made things more interesting.

“We were looking forward to winning this game, to be honest. We have not been sharp with the ball in the second innings, unlike the first, but two or three quick wickets would have created the difference and put pressure on them. They had shortened the lead, having scored 61 runs, but despite that I think they were under pressure and everyone knows what happens to South Africa under pressure. It is not only us but everyone knows that. So yes, we had the belief that we might

have won this game,” Mushfiq told the media.

“It is frustrating and we are disappointed.

The whole team were eager for the rain to stop and go down to the middle to play some cricket. Everyone was excited. But as a captain, I am happy that we have been able to play some good cricket in the first three days, take a lead and the bowlers put up a good show.

“This is a positive sign for Bangladesh. Although this is just one game but still, I think we are also developing as a good Test team alongside the limited-overs. I hope the positives from this game will give us confidence in the Dhaka Test,” said the 26-year old.

Unlike the Test matches in recent times, Bangladesh went into the Chittagong Test

Bangladeshi paceman Mohammad Shahid (L) jumps over Taijul Islam to head the ball as Liton Kumar and Mustafizur Rahman look on. The home side, frustrated with persistent rain not permitting any cricket, enjoyed an hour of football once the match was called off at the ZACS in Chittagong yesterday MI MANIK

with seven batsmen and four bowlers, excluding maverick all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, in their playing XI. This helped the Tigers to approach the five-dayer with an attacking mindset and the outcome proved to be a fruitful one as they skittled out the tourists for a below-par total.

Mushfiq informed that their decision to revert from their strategy of playing eight batsmen to seven was a successful one as the inclusion of an extra bowler enabled the Tigers to bundle out the Proteas inside a day for the first time. The Bogra lad praised the effort of his bowlers, especially debutant Mustafizur Rahman and workhorse Mohammad Shahid.

“They were both brilliant. Mustafiz is a quick learner and given the conditions in this game, he has been amazing. It is not easy to bowl in Tests, compared to the limited-overs.

The off-cutter and reverse swing are his strengths but in this format, the batsmen get to read those easily and are cautious. So, he did a very good job given that it was only his first Test.

“On the other hand, what Shahid did was also phenomenal. Even the best bowlers in the world are not able to bowl so many maidens at a stretch but Shahid did it, which allowed the other bowlers to charge and take wickets. They are both young and I believe they will get stronger in the upcoming days,” said Mushfiq.

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Sport 27

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

QUICK BYTES Bangladesh unchanged for second Test The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced an unchanged 14-man squad for the second and final Test against South Africa starting on Thursday in Dhaka. The first Test between the sides ended in a draw after the fourth and fifth day were washed out by rain.

Earlier in their month-long bilateral tour, South Africa started off by winning the two Twenty20Is before the home side stunned the World Cup semifinalists in the 50-over format 2-1.

Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Liton Kumar, Mominul Hoque, Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Md Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman.

–TRIBUNE DESK

Marsh warms up for Test with treble strike Australia’s Mitchell Marsh took three wickets in quick succession against Derbyshire on Saturday ahead of next week’s third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston. At lunch on the final day of three, the lively all-rounder had figures of three for 29 in 11 overs in a rain-marred match in Derby.

–AFP

Diarra signs for Marseille Former Real Madrid and French international midfielder Lassana Diarra signed for Marseille on Friday, ending a year-long spell out of the game. The 30-year-old, who won 28 caps in his career, has been without a club since leaving Lokomotiv Moscow last season. Diarra made his name playing in England with Chelsea, Portsmouth and Arsenal before spending four years at Real Madrid from 2008 until 2012.

–AFP

Lacazette to stay at Lyon Lyon manager Hubert Fournier claimed France forward Alexandre Lacazette will remain at his club this season despite interest from Europe’s superpowers. Lacazette has been attracting attention from a host of top teams, with recent reports suggesting Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United were ready to make offers for the £30 million-rated star.

–AFP

Panama’s Penedo banned Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and fellow player Luis Tejada have been suspended for two matches and the nation’s federation fined after their Gold Cup semi-final loss to Mexico, the CONCACAF Gold Cup disciplinary committee said.

–REUTERS

Wenger dismisses claims of £200m transfer warchest Arsene Wenger has dismissed a boast from Arsenal director Lord Harris that the Gunners can afford to buy virtually any player in the world.

After several years of caution in the transfer market due to the cost of moving to the Emirates Stadium, Harris was quoted this week as saying Arsenal have a surplus of around £200m that Wenger can dip into to bolster his squad.

–AFP

Derbyshire batman Hamish Rutherford leaves the ball against Australia during their tour match at 3aaa County Ground, Derby on Friday

Sheikh Jamal crush Brothers, Rahmatganj stun Muktis Shishir Hoque Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are on the verge of retaining the Bangladesh Premier League after the defending champions strolled past Brothers Union 5-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe slammed his first league hat-trick and added with the brace from Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington, the Dhanmondi outfit moved 11 points clear of second-placed Mohammedan SC. A win against Mohammedan in their next fixture will see Jamal, who have 42 points from 17 matches, lift the trophy for the second consecutive time with two games in hand. While a draw can also produce a similar effect, given Sheikh Russel KC drop points in their next round.

The five-goal drubbing took the goal scoring tally of Jamal to 53 in the season while Emeka and Wedson are the joint top-scorers in the 11-team league with 16 strikes each. Brothers remained at fourth place with 29 points.

The goal-fest began at the quarter-hour mark when Landing’s 20-yard curler fooled Brothers goalkeeper Biplob and the veteran custodian was beaten inside three minutes again with Landing this time assisting Emeka.

Brothers pulled one back quickly through Augustin Walson as the Haitian nailed his free-kick from the top-left corner. However, Jamal restored their two-goal cushion when Emeka netted his second in the evening at the 45th minute and the lead was extended with

Landing’s screamer moments later. Landing’s 25-yard venomous strike rattled the woodwork before bouncing over the goal-line.

The Gambian completed his hat-trick and Jamal’s rout in the 56th minute by chipping, on a cross from Emeka from the right flank, home over Biplob.

Meanwhile in the day’s other match, Muktijoddha Sangsad continued their miserable run as they suffered a shocking 2-3 defeat at the hands of Rahmatganj MFS. It was Rahmatganj’ first victory against a top-half club in the league which helped the Old Dhaka outfit move to eighth place with 14 points from 16 matches while the All Reds remained sixth with 22 points.

RESULTS Rahmatganj

3-2

Nurul Absar 31 Gideon Solomon 67, 86

Sheikh Jamal

Muktijoddha Camara Sarba 62 Enamul Haque 89 (P)

5-1

Landing Darboe 15, 45, 56 Emeka Darlington 18, 45+1

Brothers Union Augustin Walson 31

Rahmatganj grabbed the lead in the 31st minute through Nurul Absar’s volley before Senegalese striker Camara Sarba’s header brought Muktis on level terms in the 62nd minute.

Five minutes later Gideon Solomon put Rahmatganj ahead before the Nigerian took the game away in the 86th minute by scoring off his head on Absar’s cross.

Rasel’s tackle on Sarba provided the Muktis with a chance to reduce the margin as Bangladesh’s veteran striker Enamul Haque made no mistake to convert the awarded penalty in the 90th minute.

REUTERS

Amla notes positives from the three days Minhaz Uddin Khan from Chittagong South African skipper Hashim Amla praised his team’s opening pair and said they had recaptured the momentum before rain played foul in the opening Test against Bangladesh that was forced to a draw following washouts in the fourth and fifth day in Chittagong.

After a tipsy topsy first innings, where South Africa were bowled out for 248 and started their second innings trailing by 78 runs, openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar produced a confident start as the duo cut short the trial by 17 runs before rain put an early break on the third day.

Amla said they were at a platform from where they could have thrown a stiff target at the hosts and the match could have been an interesting contest if rain hadn’t interfered.

“I think going into the fourth day we probably had a slight advantage certainly with Bangladesh having to bat on the last day.

It would have been a really good Test match, had we even scored maybe even 250, it would have been a challenge for Bangladesh to go for it on the last day. But you don’t have control over the rain,” said Amla during the postmatch press conference at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

Amla, opening batsman for the Proteas in the shorter formats, hailed the approach from his openers on the slow wicket.

He sair, “I think the openers batted really well. Stiaan has opened the batting for us before, he looked very comfortable. He looked like a seasoned campaigner. We know what a quality player he is. Its not a surprise for us that he has done well. He has batted with a lot of intent.

“For their confidence and for the team they put up a decent performance. The two openers batted really well and had laid a good foundation for us. Although there were little contributions and nobody really put up a big score but still the guys can take the confidence into the next Test,” opined Amla.

DT

28 Sport

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Ibe shines as Liverpool held in Malaysia Reuters Jordon Ibe scored a superb equaliser as Liverpool’s pre-season tour ended in frustration after they were held to a dull 1-1 draw by a Malaysia XI on Friday.

Ibe cut into the penalty area and lashed home a ferocious drive in the 28th minute to cancel out Patrick Wleh’s powerful run and sharp finish for the hosts.

Having won the opening three games of their tour of Asia and Australia, Liverpool struggled to find rhythm in the attacking third against the Malaysian side.

Liverpool centre back Dejan Lovren missed a string of chances from set pieces and Belgium forward Divock Origi wasted two good opportunities when through on goal as the Premier League team dominated possession.

Ibe, who impressed at the end of last season after returning from a loan spell at Derby County, was a constant threat down the right flank and produced a brilliant finish to find the top corner with his left foot.

RESULT Malaysia XI Liverpool midfielder Jordon Ibe (R) dribbles the ball past Malaysia XI’s Nasir Basharudin during their friendly match in Kuala Lumpur on Friday

Five Roma stars denied entry to Indonesia AFP, Jakarta Five players from Italian club AS Roma will miss Saturday’s friendly match in Jakarta after they were refused entry to Indonesia and forced to fly home. The Serie A team touched down in Jakarta on Friday evening for the first time in the club’s history but ran into trouble at customs, Roma chief executive Italo Zanzi said.

Seydou Doumbia, Gervinho, Victor Ibarbo, Adem Ljajic and Antonio Sanabria were denied entry for not possessing valid visas, an Indonesian immigration official told AFP. The players were unable to obtain a visa on arrival because their passports were issued by countries which did not have such an arrangement with Indonesia, the official said.

AFP

Di Maria expected with United: van Gaal AFP, San José Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said Friday he expects Angel Di Maria to join the club’s US tour party this weekend, brushing off speculation linking the unsettled Argentine with a move to Paris Saint Germain.

Van Gaal said Di Maria was due to report for United duty on Saturday along with Argentina team-mate Marcos Rojo and Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.

All three players were excused the opening phase of United’s four-match tour owing to international commitments and injury.

Di Maria’s future at Old Trafford has been

the subject of intense speculation, with some reports saying United had given permission to French side PSG to begin negotiations with the player. Asked when Di Maria, Rojo and Hernandez were expected in California, van Gaal said: “I expect them tomorrow because we have communicated on that and they have responded to that.”

Van Gaal waved off questions about Di Maria’s possible move.

“I’m not answering questions about transfers or the transfer process,” van Gaal said, “For the game no he cannot play,” he said.

“When you come out of your holidays you cannot play. That’s out of the question.”

1-1

Liverpool

Ronaldinho 13

Ibe 28

Pirlo wants to make an impact in MLS AFP, New York Italian great Andrea Pirlo says it’s not his reputation that will help raise interest in Major League Soccer but his performance on the pitch with new club New York City FC. “I haven’t come here to go on retirement,” the 36-year-old Italian World Cup-winner said as he met the press in New York this week.

“I came here because I want to play and I want to win. The first objective is always that of winning.”

Just how soon Pirlo will get his chance to start winning with NYCFC remains to be seen.

In joining NYCFC, Pirlo will be teaming up with Spain striker David Villa and ex-Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard.

‘Misfiring Falcao can get back to his best at Chelsea’ Reuters, London Chelsea loan signing Radamel Falcao can get back to his free-scoring best under Jose Mourinho and the Premier League champions will benefit from the Colombian’s indifferent loan spell at Manchester United, strike partner Diego Costa has said.

The 29-year-old Falcao developed a reputation as one the most feared strikers in Europe, netting 72 goals for Porto in two campaigns and 70 goals in two seasons for Atletico Madrid before joining AS Monaco in 2013 for almost $80 million.

However, following an anterior cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out of the 2014 World

Cup, Falcao joined Manchester United on loan last season but scored four goals in 29 games.

“Radamel knows the sort of manager Mourinho is: one who is liked by players because he trusts and backs them,” Costa told.

“He doesn’t sign a player just for the sake of it, it’s because he has confidence in him and wants him to feature regularly. It’s good for us that he didn’t have the best of seasons as that’s why he’s now with us. I spent a couple of seasons with Falcao and things went fairly well,” Costa said.

“He did a lot for me and he’s a great striker. Whether the manager chooses to play us alongside each other, that’s up to him, but he is very talented.”

FC Barcelona football players Andres Iniesta (L), Gerard Pique (C), and Sergio Busquets (R), hold up jerseys with San Francisco 49ers rugby player Joe Staley (2L), and Eric Reid during practice at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Friday AP

DT

Sport 29

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Hamilton assures Wimbledon he will dress up next year Reuters, Budapest Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has recognised a fashion faux pas and assured Wimbledon he will respect the dress code next year. The Mercedes driver was refused entry to the Royal Box for the men’s final at this month’s tennis tournament after turning up in a floral shirt and hat but without the mandatory jacket and tie.

“It was fun, I enjoyed the aftermath of it and ultimately I am excited that I have been invited back again for another year, or I will be invited back - so I’m happy about that and I will make sure that I dress the right away,” said Hamilton.

“I love Wimbledon. I really, really like the sport,” added the Briton, who spent time chatting with beaten finalist Roger Federer.

“I just went home and watched it on TV. No problem for me, I went and watched it with my dogs. I see the positives of it. There were so many stories written about it, I’m like ‘Wow, that’s nice’. It was just one of those days, sometimes you get things right and sometimes you get things wrong.”

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 5:55 PM FIA F1 World Championship Main Race

Star Sports 2 8:20 PM Pro Kabaddi League Jaipur v Patna 9:30 PM Hyderabad v Mumbai

Star Sports 4 2:30 PM ICC World T20 Qualifier 3rd Place 6:45 PM Final

Ten Sports 10:15 PM Tour de France: Day 21 12:15 AM ATP World Tour 250 Konzum Croatia Open Finals

Ten Cricket 3:00 PM Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka, 5th ODI

Usain Bolt (2R) defeats Michael Rodgers (L) to win the 100m, 9.87 to 9.90, during the 2015 Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at Olympic Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Park on Friday REUTERS

Bolt answers doubts with season’s best Reuters, London Usain Bolt answered questions over his fitness ahead of the world championships with a season’s best of 9.87 seconds in the 100 metres with a workmanlike performance at the London Anniversary Games on Friday.

With just under a month to go before he defends his world 100 and 200 titles in Beijing, the Jamaican showed he had recovered from a pelvic injury that has disrupted his season, although he was left with plenty to ponder in the rain-lashed capital.

The world’s fastest man shook off the rust from his layoff -- this was his first 100 for over three months and first competitive race since mid-June -- to win his heat and the final in the same time, putting him equal sixth in the world this year.

But he had to eat up the ground in the second half of both races, winning the final by

Sony Six HD 7:00 PM Emirates Cup Olympique Lyon v Villarreal 9:30 PM Arsenal v VfL Wolfsburg

Athlet 1. Usain Bolt 2. Mike Rodgers 3. Kemar Bailey-Cole 4. Chijindu Ujah 5. Jimmy Vicaut 6. Trell Kimmons 7. Nesta Carter 8. Kim Collins

Country (Jamaica) (U.S.) (Jamaica) (Britain) (France) (U.S.) (Jamaica) (St Kitts and Nevis)

Timing 9.87 9.90 9.92 9.96 9.98 10.07 10.08 10.09

three-hundredths of a second ahead of American Mike Rodgers (9.90) and fellow Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.92).

“In the final I got a really bad start, I kind of lost focus but I got it back,” Bolt told reporters after a routine lap of honour by his own showman standards. “I know I could have gone faster if I had just got my start.”

Asked about his fitness, Bolt added: “I’m

India court clears Sreesanth, others over IPL fixing

Sony Six 7:00 AM WBA/IBF/WBO Light Heavywieght WC Sergey Krusher Kovalve v Najib Mohammedi 2:00 AM Caribbean Premier League T20, Final

MEN’S 100M

AFP, New Delhi A New Delhi court on Saturday cleared Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two other players of spot-fixing during the Indian Premier League, a lawyer and media reports said.

Indian prosecutors had filed charges of cheating and conspiracy against the players over their alleged links to an organised crime syndicate during the 2013 edition of the Twenty20 competition.

Two of Sreesanth’s teammates from the Rajasthan Royals franchise, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, had also been charged along

with bookmakers and underworld figures.

“The judge has passed the order and discharged all the players. There is no case against the players now,” a defence lawyer told reporters outside the court Saturday.

“All are discharged (from the case),” the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency quoted additional sessions judge Neena Bansal Krishna as saying while pronouncing the order.

The three players were arrested in May 2013 along with scores of bookies as part of a police investigation into the spot-fixing scandal that caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation. The players were later granted bail due to lack of evidence.

good. I may go to see the doctor to make sure everything is fine but I’m feeling good. I’m still number one, I’ve never been number two.”

Bolt gave Mo Farah a hug as he left the track, leaving the Briton to take centre stage and conjure memories of his 2012 Olympic triumphs in the same stadium.

Farah has been dogged by the doping allegations surrounding his coach Alberto Salazar but received a huge ovation before and after winning the 3,000 metres in 7:34.66, the fastest time in the world this year.

Farah, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, imitated the ‘Lightning Bolt’ pose of the Jamaican and told reporters: “You can only do what you do best and that, for me, is running.”

Olympic champion and world record holder American Aries Merritt could only finish fourth, while Cuban Orlando Ortega, the fastest in the world this year, was fifth.

DT

30 DOWNTIME

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

1 Go in (5) 6 And not (3) 7 Comforts (5) 10 Make suitable (5) 12 Singing voice (4) 13 Ventured (5) 15 Dash (4) 16 Incite (3) 18 Do wrong (3) 20 Stuff (4) 22 Raised platform (5) 23 Lose colour (4) 25 Microbes (5) 27 Mother-of-pearl (5) 28 Opening (3) 29 Exploits (5)

1 Make possible (6) 2 Indicate agreement (3) 3 Merchant (6) 4 Unsay (7) 5 God of the earth (3) 8 Sorrowful (3) 9 Male deer (4) 11 Close friend (3) 14 Angered (7) 16 Come forth (6) 17 Holds firmly (6) 19 Soft sheepskin leather (4) 21 Mature (3) 22 Dry, of champagne (3) 24 Water storage (3) 26 Insane (3)

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

A B C DE FG H I J K L MN O P Q RST UVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

Summer hits Showtime Desk Here’s a list of the top summer movies recently released or on their way to the big screen.

Paper Towns Directed by Jake Schreir Cast: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevigne Release: July 24 This film follows a teen boy who has had a crush on his neighbor, as he recruits him for some acts of rebellion and revenge – before she suddenly disappears. He then goes on the search for the girl who has completely changed his life.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Directed by Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin Release: July 31 Ethan Hunt and his team fight off a highlyskilled rogue syndicate that seeks to destroy them that sets off a global chase. The fifth film in the spy franchise opens three years after Ghost Protocol, which grossed nearly $700 million at the box office.

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Southpaw Directed by Antoine Fuqua Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, 50 Cent, Rita Ora Release: July 24 A drama (based loosely on Eminem’s life) that follows a boxing champion who has trouble getting back up on his feet after the tragic death of his wife. The film was originally meant to star Eminem, but later given to Jake Gyllenhaal, who underwent a major physical transformation.

Fantastic Four Directed by Josh Trank Cast: Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan, Jamie Bell, Kate Mara Release: August 7 Fox’s reboot of the Marvel comic book adaption explores the origins of each superhero. Mr Fantastic, the Human Torch, Invisible Woman and The thing and their stories promises to stay faithful to the comic book.

The Man From UNCLE Directed by Guy Ritchie Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Hugh Grant, Jared Harris Release: August 14 A spy thriller set in the 1960s, the film is an adaptation of a television show about a CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin who need to come together to fight a secret organisation.

Hitman: Agent 47 Directed by Aleksander Bach Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Thomas Kretschmann, Hannah Ware Release: August 21 Starring the Homeland actor (Friend), the

Sarah Silverman @SarahKSilverman I’ll watch Brad Pitt in anything he’s not loudly chewing in Dwanye Johnson @TheRock Three very angry (and gigantic) monsters.. Script came in and it’s *thumbs up*.

This’ll be fun. Get ready man.. genetically-engineered assassin helps a woman in finding her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.

Regresssion Directed by Alejandro Amenabar Cast: Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, David Dencik Release: August 28 The much anticipated supernatural thriller centers around a young woman who accuses her father of a sexual abuse crime he doesn’t remember committing. However, when the father suddenly admits to the crime, a psychologist tries to help solve the mystery, while other townspeople find themselves discovering suppressed memories of horrific abuse.

Jared Leto @JaredLeto This is who I really am instagram. com/p/5jHalTzBXb/

WHAT TO WATCH

WWE terminates Hulk’s contract backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

Hogan went on to apologise for his actions, “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used the offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologise for having done it. This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and

Showtime Desk He’s had stranger times, but the reps of WWE are sticking to their no tolerance for racism on Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan.

The legendary wrestler and entertainer has already gone on record to apologise for those ill-advised remarks with the “n-word”. “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the organisation said in a statement this past Friday. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all

should not be treated differently based on race, gender orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise.”

The WWE website has also removed any and every trace of Hulk Hogan, as well as removing him as a judge on the reality show, Tough Enough. As if his current lawsuit against Gawker for a leaked sex tape wasn’t bad enough, Hogan won’t be seeing the ring anytime soon.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Star Movies 9:30pm When Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler The Dark Knight WB 9:30pm When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice.

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart Transformers Zee Studio 6:40pm An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a teenager.

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel

DT

32 BACK PAGE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015

MOST SHOPS AVOID ECR TO SKIP VAT PAGE 15

OF RAIN AND DRAWS IN BANGLADESH PAGE 25

WWE TERMINATES HULK’S CONTRACT

PAGE 31

A guardian angel for sex workers’ children Shadma Malik Recently, in a conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, Hazera unveiled how she began her journey: “I started working with Durjoy Child Care Centre which rehabilitates children of sex workers in Savar. Since 2009, no donor could be found to support the center and the project was shut down in 2010. The funding crisis became so acute that Durjoy requested several mothers to take their children back.

However, there were other children left out.”

Hazera was wondering how to take care of these innocent children. She did not want them to grow up in brothels.

She said: “If they were raised in brothels, girls would be dragged into prostitution and the boys would have to endure seeing customers visiting their mothers on a daily basis, which could turn them into aggressive teenagers. Many of them might end up as pimps or petty criminals.”

She talked the situation over with students of Jahangirnagar University who used to work as volunteers for these children and came up with the idea to open a child care centre for the children of sex workers.

In 2010, she started her journey with twothree children under the banner of “Shishuder Jonno Amra,” a government registered organisation.

The 44-year-old woman then moved to Adabar and began rehabilitating children of sex workers. Currently 30 children, ranging from one to twelve year-olds, are rehabilitated in her centre in a four room house.

Hazera said she has sent two girls, aged thirteen, to one of the top boarding schools in Bangladesh with support from private individuals to keep them away from their mothers.

Hazera was sexually assaulted as a minor and knows the dark side of the world. “I do not want my children to suffer like I did. I send every children to school, an opportunity I never got. For the little ones, I provide a private tutor to teach them basic education.”

“It is tough for me to bear all the costs.

Hazera with the sex workers’ children currently under rehabilitation at her centre ‘Shishuder Jonno Amra’ The rent for the centre is Tk20,000. Then I have to meet school fees, private tuition fees, and wages for three house keepers. Shopon, a three-year-old diffrently-abled boy, needs medical treatment often.”

“Most of their mothers never come to see them. However, when a girl turns twelve, they ask me to take her with them. I know they will put her into prostitution. I convince them the girls would have a bright future in this centre.”

“These children call me ma, and are not aware of their mothers’ identity or profes-

sion. I tell them they work in RMG sectors or are domestic workers,” she said.

When asked where the fund come from, she replied: “Private individuals donate food and money. And students and volunteers from different organisations provide whatever is possible for them. It would have been easier for me if I could avail a government land and rehabilitate them.”

Robin, a thirteen-year-old boy under Hazera’s care, studies in class seven; he said he wants to be an engineer. Sujan, a minor boy believes one day he will become a police of-

Another child raped in Kaliganj Our Correspondent, Jhenidah A class II student was raped by a cattle trader of the same village at Kaliganj upazila of the district yesterday.

It is the second child rape incident that took place within five days at the upazila.

The seven-year-old was given first aid at Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex and would be taken to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital for medical examination, police say.

Father of the victim filed a case against rapist Mohsin Ali, 45, of Damodarpur village.

Neighbour Abirunnesa, 40, was also made accused in the case for assisting Mohsin in the act in a pre-planned way, Anwar Hossain, OC of Kaliganj police station, said.

Locals caught Abirunnesa but Mohsin managed to escape. The police are conducting drives to arrest him.

The girl was sitting with her father at their house yesterday morning. Widowed Abirunnesa, who is close to the family, came around 10:30am and took the girl to her house like just another day.

Mohsin, who was waiting at the house, raped the girl.

Parents and local people rushed to the house hearing screams of the girl. At this, Mohsin fled the scene.

The girl was then taken to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex.

On July 21, another seven-year-old girl of Shatbaria village in Kaliganj was raped by

Parvez, 17, of the same village when she was returning home from school.

In late April, a madrasa student of Class X attempted to rape a 10-year-old girl at Mostafapur village in Kaliganj. Father of the rapist handed him over to the police after the victim’s family filed a case.

Incidents of child rape have been alarming nowadays.

Rights group Ain o Salish Kendra says at least 378 incidents of rape occurred during January-June this year. Of the victims, 63 are aged between seven and twelve while 42 others are aged below 18.

Among the 105 child victims, 12 were killed after rape, says ASK, based on reports published in national dailies.

COURTESY

ficer. Nine-year-old Fatema said she wants to be a doctor. These children believe that they are all siblings and one day they will prosper in life.

One of the girls, Airin, suffers from malnutrition. Her mother Sultana said this is the best place she could afford for her child’s mental development. “I left my child’s fate up to Hazera and my God,” said Hazera quoting Sultana.

Every five or six months, a group of volunteers come with professional doctors for medical check-up of the students.

Signal number three at maritime ports UNB The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal no three following deep convection over the North Bay. Deep convection is taking place over North Bay. Under its influences squally weather may affect the North Bay, its adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and the maritime ports, said a Met Office warning message yesterday.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

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