13 Dec, 2015

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

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Agrahayan 29, 1422, Rabiul Awal 1, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 237

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

Hasina opens Paris Agreement ready at COP21 n main work of Padma Bridge Abu Bakar Siddique from Paris

n Tribune Report

The main construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge began yesterday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating the works of the main bridge and river training.

The premier opened the river training works at Jajira point in Shariatpur and inaugurated the works of the main bridge at Mawa in Munshiganj.

While inaugurating river training, Sheikh Hasina said the allegations of corruption in the Padma Bridge project were part of a conspiracy. She said the World Bank had not been able to prove any of the allegations.

While inaugurating the main construction work at Mawa point, Hasina said: “Overcoming all the controversies and financial and construction hurdles, the dream of Padma Multi-purpose Bridge is becoming a reality.

The premier said: ‘The bridge would particularly benefit the people of the southern part of the country’ “We hope that within three years, the construction work of the Padma Bridge will be completed,” she said.

The project plan aims to complete the two-tier 6.15-km bridge

by December 2018.

The Premier said: “The bridge would particularly benefit the people of the southern part of the country by changing their lives, marking an epoch in the country’s communication system, expanding regional cooperation, promoting trade and business and making huge contribution to our efforts to reduce poverty.”

Addressing a civic gathering at Naodoba on the banks of Padma River, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “I wanted to show that we can. Today we have arrived at that hour.”

The PM expressed her gratitude to the families who sacrificed their ancestral lands, homes and businesses for the construction of the bridge with hopes that it, when completed, would bring massive socio-economic changes.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE DFID: Bangladesh needs 10-15 years to become middle-income country Bangladesh is likely to become a middle-income country and graduate from the LDC status in 10-15 years if 5-6% GDP growth can be maintained, the UK’s state aid agency has said PAGE 3

Saudi holds first election open to women Covered from head to toe and driven by male guardians, Saudi women voted Saturday for the first time, in a tentative step towards easing sex discrimination in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom PAGE 21

Full coverage of Paris COP21 PAGE 5

After a hectic overnight debate and discussion, the conference of parties (COP)21 yesterday produced a legally binding agreement, though deemed weak by many, to tackle the negative impacts of climate change in future.

According to the final version of the agreement, countries participating in the conference agreed to limit the

world’s temperature by well below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century from the pre-industrial period.

And at the same time, the countries will try to check the temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius.

As the text reads, emphasising with serious concern the urgent need to address the significant gap between the aggregate effect of Parties’ mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and aggregate emission pathways consistent with holding the increase in

the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“We have come up with this ambition with the consensus of all parties here,” said contentious COP21 President Laurent Fabius yesterday noon at the plenary session, adding that the text of the agreement is a balanced and legally binding one.

Later in the day, the parties  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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Muhith: 8th pay scale cheques from January n Tribune Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said the new pay scale for civil servants will be implemented within this month despite the complexities created by different quarters centring its execution.

“We hope civil servants will receive cheques from January, but the arrears will be disbursed in two installments,” Muhith told reporters at the Secretariat yesterday after a meeting with Tathagata Roy, governor of the Indian state of Tripura.

“I will sit with the finance secretary tonight to discuss the publication of the gazette notification of the new pay scale,” he said.

The minister said: “We have already solved the problems regarding time scale and selection grade of the cadre and non-cadre civil servants. Now I am concerned about their deprivation caused by dropping of these two provisions.

“We will give the non-cadre public serv-

ants two grade promotions in 16 years in the new pay scale order instead of time scale and selection grade.”

Regarding the Law Ministry’s observations on the order of the upcoming 8th pay structure Muhith said: “The Law Ministry has no right to incorporate new provisions in the order.

“The cabinet has already approved several proposals of the new pay scale with the prime minister’s consent.”

Regarding the requirement of funds for implementing the pay scale, the finance minister said: “We do not have enough funds … despite slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme projects. So we will have to borrow money from Bangladesh Bank.”

According to the Finance Division, the government will need more than Tk8,981 crore to execute the eighth pay scale from January 2016 in addition to the Tk26,927 crore already allocated for the implementation. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspects the project sites at Jajira of Shariatpur and the service area in Munshiganj while opening the main construction of Padma Bridge yesterday BSS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Hasina opens main work of Padma bridge The Padma Bridge will have a total of 42 pillars, each of them with six piles beneath. A total of 41 steel spans will be placed on the pillars.

Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugurated the seventh pillar, which is located right at the middle of the river.

Ministers, parliament members, leader of the opposition in parliament, the army chief, senior Awami League leaders and government officials were present with the PM. “Bangladesh was not born to live being dependent on others, seeking their blessings.

The big thing is that Bangladesh has acquired the capacity to take any mega projects like the Padma Bridge with its own resources,”

the PM said, adding that Bangladesh is now able to take more big projects with its own resources.

As a nation liberated at the cost of huge sacrifice under the leadership of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh would live in the world, keeping its head high and progress would continue in the days ahead, PM said.

The pre-feasibility study of the bridge was completed and the foundation stone laid during the first tenure of her government, the PM said.

But, the BNP-Jamaat government abandoned the construction of the bridge and tried to shift it from the Mawa Point to the Paturia point, forcing the Japan government

to pull out of the project, she said.

After coming to power again through the 2008 national elections, her government re-initiated the project and the World Bank agreed to finance the project, she said.

But suddenly without any credible reason and without any approval of the board, the then WB president on the last day in his office suspended the financing to the project, raising allegations of conspiracy of corruption.

China’s Sinohydro Corporation was appointed for the river training work, Bangladesh’s Abdul Monem Limited was given the contract for the two link roads and infrastructure, and Major Bridge Engineering

Corporation was given the work of the main bridge.

The work is divided into four broad parts: the main bridge, river training, two link roads and infrastructure.

So far, around 17% work of the main bridge and 13% of the river training have been completed. Among the two link roads, around 59% of the Jajira approach road and selected bridge-end facilities have been completed. On the Mawa side of the project, 63% construction work has been completed.

Yesterday evening, the PM attended a rally organised by local Awami league at the Mawa new intersection in which a huge crowd gathered. l

circulation channel of the fund.

Regarding loss and damage, the agreement has given the importance on the issue by putting it in a separate article rather than including it in the “adaptation’’ article.

Saleemul, who is also the director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said that the issue came in the agreement as a separate chapter which is good for us but the provision of compensation and liabilities to loss and damage regarding climate change is absent which ultimately made the agreement weak.

“The LDCs, Small Island and Developing States (SIDS) and African countries agreed on this provision for the sake of a legally binding agreement as with the term ‘compensation and liability’ the agreement might not be ratified in the USA parliament,” he added.

The text reads: “The Parties agreed that Article 8 (Loss and Damage) of the agreement does not involve or provide a basis for any liability or compensation.”

By accepting the clause, the developing countries like Bangladesh will not get any kind of compensation from the greenhouse gas emitters permanently, said Ziaul Haque Mukta, an observer of the COP21 from Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood.

Fazle Rabbi said: “Now we are getting a legally binding agreement but maintaining the agreement totally depends on the Parties.”

Citing the example of Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1992, he said that the USA was one of the major parties of the protocol and finally it could not manage the ratification of the protocol in its parliament. At the same time, Canada withdrew itself out from the protocol.

The annual climate conference started on November 30 at Le Bouget in Paris and supposed to produce and adopt the Paris Agreement by December 11. But due to the disagreement on several issues among the Parties, the COP21 president finally extended the meeting until yesterday. l

Paris Agreement ready at COP21 adopted the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and therefore, requested the UN secretary general to be the Depositary of the Agreement and to have it open for signature in New York from April 22, 2016-April 21, 2017.

The UN secretary general has also been invited to convene a high-level signature ceremony for the agreement on April 22 next year.

Responding to the final outcome of the climate change agreement, ActionAid Chief Executive Adriano Campolina said: “What we needed out of Paris was a deal which put the world’s poorest people first-those who are living with the constant threat of the next disaster. Yet, what we have been presented with does not go far enough to improve the fragile existence of millions around the world.

“The agreement will be effective, if at least 55 parties emitting 70% greenhouse gas emissions have signed and therefore ratify in their own countries legislative procedure.”

Bangladesh’s concern

The Paris conference has ended with an agreement which is true as the issues the developing states raised here are accommodated, said Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, a negotiator from Bangladesh, adding “but the texting of the agreement is very tricky and weak.”

For instance, regarding finance the developing countries were long been awaited to see balance between adaptation and mitigation. The agreement also gave importance on that but using the word “should” ultimately weakened the terms, he added.

In case of finance, the text reads that the Agreement shall set a new collective quantified goal from a floor of $100 billion per year, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries, prior to 2015.

However, Dr Saleemul Huq, an adviser to the Least Developed Countries, said that the finance mechanism in the agreement is not clear as it did not say the exact source and

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DFID: Bangladesh needs 10-15 years to become middle-income country n Asif Showkat Kallol Bangladesh is likely to become a middle-income country and graduate from the LDC status in 10-15 years if 5-6% GDP growth can be maintained, the UK’s state aid agency has said.

The Department of International Development (DFID) also said that the graduation would be quicker if the annual growth could be raised to 8%.

These views came in a DFID report titled Supporting Transformational Change Over the Next Five Years.

On November 11, Paul Whittingham, deputy country representative of DFID in Bangladesh, sent a letter along with the report to the Economic Relations Department detailing the agency’s projection of the next five years’ economic status.

The agency also said that Bangladesh has been facing significant challenges in accessing justice and rule of law alongside concerns about a contraction of the space for media and the civil society.

In July, the World Bank revealed that Bangladesh now ranked among the lower-middle income countries for improved economic performance in the past year.

With this, Bangladesh also stepped past the low-income threshold for the first time.

According to the DFID, Bangladesh’s formal and informal institutions are undermined by a lack of regulatory functions with power being highly centralised.

By 2030, the population is expected to grow from 160 million to 206 million, with two-thirds of this happening in the urban areas. This would mean that two million young people will be entering the labour market every year and millions of others become vulnerable to changes in weather patterns.

The DFID report also identified the areas that the government needs to work in the coming five years in order to diversify the economy and create jobs for the youth.

These areas are: power, skill development, quality of basic services, better regulation, strengthening rule of law, better func-

7 injured in Titumir college BCL clash n Kamrul Hasan At least seven activists of the ruling party’s student front Chhatra League were injured in a factional clash at the Government Titumir College in Dhaka yesterday.

The injured are: Sohel, 26, Mahiuddin, 25, Abdul Aziz, 28, Billal Hossain, 22, Mostafa, 20, Joy, 20, and Abu Bakar, 21 – all from the district of Brahmanbaria.

After the clash that took place around midday, they were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 2pm. However, all of them left the hospital three hours later.

The condition of Mahiuddin, who received injuries on the head, was said to be critical.

Most of the injured and those who came with them at the hospital refused to make any comments to reporters about the clash.

Only Abdul Aziz, one of the injured, said the clash followed an altercation that Salman Mi-

tra, general secretary of the college’s Akhi residential hall unit BCL, had with a rival group.

However, seeking anonymity, a student of the college said the clash took place between a group of students from Brahmanbaria and another group of students from Gopalganj.

The student also said a few days ago, a member of the Gopalganj group slapped a member of the Brahmanbaria group. The altercation that resulted from this ended up in a violent clash yesterday.

“It was all about establishing supremacy in the college,” the student said.

Salauddin Ahmed, OC of the Banani police station, said that the situation was now under control with additional law enforcers deployed on and around the college campus.

Denying that establishing supremacy had anything to do with the clash, Titumir college unit BCL President Kazi Mirajul Islam said it took place centring a “senior-junior” issue. l

Executive magistrates in each municipality from today n Adil Sakhawat The Election Commission will deploy from today an executive magistrate in each of the 234 municipalities that are going to polls on December 30.

The magistrates will be deployed until December 31, according to an EC decision made last Wednesday.

“As electoral symbols will be distributed on December 13, candidates will finally start campaign from December 14. The executive magistrates will be in the field to take action in case of violation of electoral code of conduct,” EC Seceretary Sirajul Islam.

Additional 970 executive magistrates and 234 judicial magistrates will be present in the

polling areas on election day and they will be deployed four days ahead of the election.

The EC issued a letter to the Law Ministry in this regard on December 10 after consulting with the Ministry of Public Administration and the High Court Division.

Following lots of allegations of violation of electoral code of conduct, the EC has warned all 20 political parties that have fielded candidates in the poll.

Deputy Secretary of EC’s election management section Shamsul Alam said: “The magistrates will be in the polling areas as striking forces from December 13 to December 31 to ensure law and order for a free and fair election.”

Today is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. l

tioning justice system, more comprehensive climate and disaster management, strategic approach to manging cities, and the space for debate.

The agency said Bangladesh is facing challenges in accessing justice and rule of law alongside concerns about a contraction of the space for media and the civil society When contacted, Hossain Zillur Rahman, commerce adviser to a former caretaker government, said that growth rate might remain static over the next couple of years due to lack of good governance and absence of rule of law, coupled with political unrest.

Prof Shamsul Alam, from the General

Economics Division of the Planning Commission, said yesterday: “Growth rate will be 7.4% and 8% for the next two five-yearly plans respectively. Bangladesh will become a middle-income country between the two five-yearly plans.”

He also said that Bangladesh achieving the lower-middle-income status by mid-2015 was a great miracle.

Local economists and experts, who are largely skeptic about the projections, should be more practical about the country’s economic development and growth projections, Prof Shamsul said.

In recent programme at her official residence Gonobhobon, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that it was her conviction that Bangladesh could become a middle-income country by 2021.

In the ongoing 2015-16 fiscal year, the DFID is providing $300m in development grants to Bangladesh. Under its global development programme, the UK agency has decided to provide $16bn assistance. l

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Saima for special plan to reduce disaster risk of disabled n BSS Chairperson of National Advisory Committee on Autism Saima Hossain yesterday said special planning should be taken to cut disaster risk of the people with disabilities.

“The people with disabilities are vulnerable during any natural and manmade disaster … So, special planning is needed for protecting lives of physically and mentally challenged people during disaster period,” she told the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka Conference on disability and disaster risk management.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Center for Disability in Development (CDD) and the National Forum of Organization Working with the disabled (NFOWD) are jointly hosting the three-day conference at the Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh.

In her keynote presentation, Saima said: “My grandfather [Bangabandhu] had taken necessary initiatives for rehabilitations of wounded freedom fighters. My mother [Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina] also has followed the same path for well-being of the wounded freedom fighters as well as people with disabilities.

“We have to think disaster management issue with the perspectives of physically and mentally challenged people to find out their problems facing during disaster period, which will give better input in planning process related to disaster risk reduction.”

Bangladesh is successfully leading, at many global forums, on different issues for the well-being of humankind, she said adding, “I hope Bangladesh will make similar efforts to deal with the physically and mentally challenged people for protecting their lives during disaster periods.”

Referring to hurricane storms in the USA and tsunami in Japan, Saima, also member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health, said the people with disabilities, older people, women and children in both countries were the worst sufferers during the natural disasters.

Mortality rate of psychically challenged and mentally disorder people is much higher than normal ones, she added.

“So, we have to prepare our plans on disaster risk reduction management incorporating problems and challenges of the people with disabilities to protect their lives during both the manmade and natural disasters,” she added. l

Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism, Saima Hossain, among children with special needs at the Krishibid Institute Auditorium in Dhaka yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Dhaka to go under security blanket Rahman Rabbi and n Arifur Kamrul Hasan Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken measures for ensuring foolproof security in the capital ahead of two national days and a festival.

The Martyred Intellectuals Day and the Victory Day will be observed tomorrow and on December 16 respectively while the Christian community is looking ahead to celebrate Christmas on December 25. There will also be

celebrations on the night of December 31 to welcome the year 2016.

Police said security would be extensively ramped up in the wake of the attacks made in different parts of the country over the last three months.

The decision to tighten security was made at a conference at the DMP headquarters yesterday afternoon.

Police will put in place a four-tier security system on the national days. As part of intensifying security measures, checkpoints will

D IVERSION PLAN FOR VIC TORY DAY 2015

Bicc

Ganabhaban

Darus Salam

Shishu Mela

Defence Ministry

Sangsad Bhaban

Ganabhaban Crossing

Khejur Bagan

Planning Commission

Manik Miah Avenue

Agargaon Signal

Agargaon Link Road

Lake Road

Taltola Crossing

Farmgate

Monipuripara

National Parade Square

Bijoy Sarani Crossing

Helipad Gap

PMO

Chandrima Udyan

Mirpur 10 Roundabout

Shaheed Jahangir Gate

Diversion Point

Asad Gate

be set up and police cars will be on patrol to avert any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, RAB said they had made two sets of plans for ensuring security - one set for December 14 and 16 while the other for Christmas and new year’s eve.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Muntasirul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that police high-ups had given several important directives on security ahead of the upcoming events.

He said police officials were asked to be on alert till the end of this month and negligence would not be tolerated.

Police sources said the police force had been instructed to be on alert in winter season as many criminals tend to take advantage of fog to get by after committing crimes.

Police were also asked to deal with cases that are still pending.

DMP has decided that police officials of Police Management Order in Mirpur and the Special Armed Force in Rajarbagh will discharge their duties in three shifts. The decision has been taken with the aim of helping these officials to perform their duties more efficiently.

Some alternative routes to move around the capital have been suggested by police to avoid traffic problems on the Victory Day. People travelling to Mirpur from Ashulia via Beribadh should use Shah Ali Police Station Road from Nobaberbagh to avoid traffic jam.

Also, those travelling to Gabtoli from Mirpur 10 through Mazar Road should use the route from Mirpur 1 to Technical to Darus Salam Road.

RAB Deputy Director (legal and media wing) told the Dhaka Tribune that RAB checkpoints would be set up at key points of the city. l

JSC, JDC results expected to be published by Dec 31 n Tribune Report The results of Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations are expected to be published by December 31, 2015.

Inter-education board coordination sub-committee has placed a proposal for publishing the results to the Education Ministry.

The committee’s president and also the chairman of Dhaka Education Board Abu Bakkar Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune that since the results will determine the promotion of the examinees to class 9, they expect to publish the results by this December 31.

The Education Ministry will take steps to get approval of the prime minister for publishing the results.

The final date for publishing the JSC, JDC results depends on approval from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The JSC and JDC began on November 1 across the country and ended on November 18 with participation of 2,325,933 students.

Of them, 1,967,447 students appeared for the JSC examinations while 358,486 for JDC. l

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PARIS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS Envoys from 195 nations zeroed in Saturday on a historic climate rescue pact after host France released a final draft for ministers to peruse and adopt.

The challenge The document identifies climate change as “an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.” It notes “with concern” that countries’ existing pledges to curb greenhouse-gas emissions would fail to meet targets for curbing planetary warming.

The goal The purpose is to hold global warming to “well below” two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels, and 1.5C (2.7F) if possible.

Tracking progress In 2018, two years before the agreement enters into force, countries will take stock of the overall impact of what they are doing to rein in global warming, and revisit their carbon-curbing plans in 2020. Once the agreement takes effect, the collective impact of countries’ efforts will be reviewed at five-year intervals from 2023.

This photo taken from a television screen outside the Paris climate conference hall in Paris shows negotiators hugging each other and clapping moments after the Paris Agreement was adopted MEER SAIFUL ISLAM

Source AFP

Paris Agreement not fully fair, responsive n Meer Saiful Islam from Paris Global climate analysts were mostly satisfied with the Paris Agreement, but expressed concerns over the issues not adequately addressed for the welfare of the most vulnerable countries.

Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), a coalition of over 141 civil society groups, yesterday termed the final text durable and dynamic, but it has fallen short on being fully fair and responsive to future needs.

CANSA Director Sanjay Vashist said all the countries in the world will have to agree to act together on climate change and all of them will have to make effort reflecting their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities to pursue efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius that the existing INDCs will not be able to achieve.

“The onus is now on developed countries to fulfil their promises and scale up climate finance flows to support mitigation and adaptation efforts, especially for most vulnerable countries,” he said.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST) of Bangladesh, said after the release of the final draft agreement that if the text is adopted as it is, the “Most Vulnerable Countries” have lost their right to claim liabilities and compensation for “Loss and Damage.”

“Countries like Bangladesh will not be able to seek assistance from richer nations

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for high ambition and the voices of the most vulnerable. It accelerates the energy transformation that is well underway, pointing us to a safer and stronger future.”

Mohamed Adow, Christian Aid’s senior climate advisor, said that although different countries will move at different speeds, the transition to a low carbon world is now inevitable. Governments, investors and businesses must ride this wave or be swept away by it.

Nicholas Stern, chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics, said: “The Paris Agreement is a turning point in the world’s fight against unmanaged climate change, which threatens prosperity and well-being among both rich and poor countries.”

Anthony Hobley, CEO of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, said that this is a new kind of inclusive global agreement providing a framework for action. “It sends a strong signal that will accelerate the low-carbon transition that is already underway.”

Nigel Topping of We Mean Business termed it a remarkable diplomatic settlement and a historic economic catalyst.

“The world’s governments have sent a decisive signal to businesses and investors that will accelerate the shift towards a thriving, clean global economy. The Paris Agreement for net zero emissions will turn the billions of investment we’ve seen so far into the trillions the world needs to bring clean energy and to all.” l

two weeks of intense and exhaustive deliberations.

The text still needs to be adopted by nearly 200 nations. Not every group was universally supportive.

Mike Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said the Paris Agreement is a turning point for humanity.

For the first time in history, the global community agreed to action that sets the foundation to help prevent the worst consequences of the climate crisis while embracing the opportunity to exponentially grow our clean energy economy.

“This historic international agreement is what the American people demanded, what future generations deserve, and what the world needs,” said Mike.

Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, termed the agreement “a great tide has turned.”

Suh said: “Finally, the world stands united against the central environmental challenge of our time, committed to cutting the carbon pollution that’s driving climate change.”

Alden Meyer, strategy and policy manager at Union of Concerned Scientists, said: “While there will be more work to do, if adopted, the Paris Agreement would give the world hope that we can come to grips with the mounting climate change crisis and leave our children and grandchildren with a habitable planet.”

Jennifer Morgan, global director of the climate program at the World Resources Institute, said: “The text reflects both the push

and we will be left alone to face up to these disasters. Those who have polluted the planet the most have gone scot-free in this iteration of text,” he said.

CANSA legal expert from Sri Lanka Vositha Wijenayake said the Paris Agreement provides the basis for a compliance mechanism which provides for the opportunity to address climate change.

It also has ensured that the entry into force will be an effective one, with a two trigger entry into force system, which will ensure that there is increased effectiveness when the Agreement comes into effect.

CANSA Climate Finance Expert Anoop Poonia said that there is a disconnect between future requirements of vulnerable countries and what is agreed in the text as a “fixed amount per year.”

The developed countries have put a time limit on their responsibility to lead in providing finance for a long-term problem they have caused.

“Adaptation finance needs have been short changed as the focus of the draft agreement still remains on mitigation,” Anoop said.

Meanwhile, thousands of climate activists in Paris used geo-location services on their cell phones to spell out this message to beam this message to the world yesterday.

Many environmental groups, climate justice activists, business leaders and faithbased organisations, among others, heaped praise on the global community after UN climate leaders released the long-awaited Paris Agreement text at 1:30pm in Paris, following

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Fajr: 5:09am | Zohr: 11:52am Asr: 3:37pm | Magrib: 5:13pm Esha: 6:43pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Second Digital Marketing Summit held in city n Tribune Report

The second edition of Digital Marketing Summit (DMS) was held in the capital yesterday with an aim to inspire and share the knowledge and practices of online marketing.

This year’s DMS was presented by Grameenphone and organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) at GP House in city’s Bashudhara R/A. The day-long summit was designed with 5 keynote sessions of digital marketing experts, two insightful panel discussions, three exclusive deep-dive sessions, digital expo, and a special knowledge session for university students.

Attended by 350 marketing professionals, the summit took-off with a welcome note from Yasir Azman, chief marketing officer of Grameenphone.

In his speech he talked about how digital marketing is creating new business opportunities and opening doors to powerful ways to connect and converge with customers beyond the traditional channels.

Shariful Islam, founder and editor of BBF, in his speech inspired the participants to engage more in digital marketing. He shared that Bangladesh has a bright prospect in digital marketing as most of its population is very young, adaptable and tech-savvy. He shared some recent statistics to underline the progress in online activities in the country.

Among the five keynote sessions at the summit, the first was presented by Ashish Thomas, chief of marketing and strategy at SSD-TECH on “Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid-Translating ‘Digital’ for Bangladesh.” He shared an overview of the growth prospect of digital activities in the lower socioeconomic tier of the country and how it will create a positive impact.

Mobile apps being a popular installation in the virtual world, in her key-note session, Carrie Chen, digital distribution manager of Telenor Digital, shared her learnings on Apps Marketing.

Amit Sharma, solutions architect of Amazon Internet Services Pvt Ltd, discussed on Amazon Web Service and how to utilise the infrastructure and services to create highly scalable and resilient application.

Each session was followed by interaction of the participants with the speakers. l

Rafiqul Haider’s death anniversary today n Tribune Report The death anniversary of Rafiqul Haider Chowdhury, a martyred intellectual, is today.

On this day In 1971, Razakars – the collaborators of the Pakistan Army – picked him up from his 921, Shahidbagh residence and took him away blindfolded. Later they killed him.

A milad mahfil will be held after Asar prayers at Aminbagh Mosque in the city to mark the day. l

Brac students make solar car n Aminur Rahman Rasel Teachers and students of Brac University have made an eco-friendly and economically affordable light weight solar powered electric car, which they showcased at the three-day power and energy week ending yesterday.

The project was accomplished under the supervision of Professor Md Mosaddequr Rahman, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Brac University, and led

by Imran Bin Jafar, teaching assistant of the department.

The other members of the project are: Ahmad Tausif Choudhury, Dewan Nawshin Atiya, Ummay Honey Sara, Rafia Islam, Rizvan Nahif, Md Billal Hossain Rony, Chowdhury Rabib Rubayet, Sayeef Asrar, Shoummo Ahmed and Mahmud Abdullah.

“Solar powered clean cars can be of great advantage to the public and environment, especially in Dhaka city, which is registered as one of worst polluted cities in the world,” Mosaddeq told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“Automobiles that run on petrol or gas pose serious threats to the environment as well as public health. With dwindling fossil fuel, rising fuel prices and deteriorating environment, electric cars powered by solar and other forms of renewable energies are gaining increasing popularity all over the world,” he said.

On September 15, 2009, the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh pushed for vital action to be taken to perk up the country’s energy outlook. A safe, clean and emission free vehicle is required by which mankind will be served by its benefits.

A solar-powered, lightweight car made by Brac University students is on display at the power and energy week yesterday COURTESY “In Dhaka city, a major use of cars is for daily commuting to and from office. The mathematical calculation and practical demonstration performed by a team of Brac University shows that the solar power alone harnessed by the Solar Car will be sufficient for daily commute to and from workplace even if Uttara to Matijheel – one of the longest routes covering a distance of about 35km for the round trip – is considered,” Mosaddeq said.

“The two-seated compact light-weight four-wheeler solar car is also contemplated with a provision for external plug in to charge batteries from conventional power supply line during periods of insufficient solar ener-

gy due to cloud, rain and fog,” he added.

“In estimating the system size, the overall weight of the car 530kg, maximum speed 60km/h and an acceleration of 30km/h/ min are assumed. Brac University authority has been helpful and cooperative by giving respective Solar Car team students a wellequipped lab, workshop and necessary fund to perform the research,” he said.

By using local equipment and materials, the students could develop the Solar Car with all facilities such as the gear system, brakes, accelerator, wind shields etc for only Tk1,60,500,” he said. “They have also estimated only Tk3,000 for maintenance per year.” l

Reception on Romanian National Day held n Tribune Report

Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr Mashiur Rahman, Editor-in-Chief of UNB Enayetullah Khan and Director of Gallery Cosmos Tehmina Enayet are, among others, seen at a reception hosted by Honorary Consul of Romania in Bangladesh Enayetullah Khan at his Baridhara residence in the capital on Thursday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Honorary Consul of Romania in Bangladesh Enayetullah Khan hosted a reception at his Baridhara residence in the capital on Thursday, marking the Romanian National Day. The programme was attended by Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and Director of Gallery Cosmos Tehmina Enayet, among others.

Ambassadors of various foreign missions in Dhaka, political leaders, civil and military officials, and media and cultural personalities were also present on the occasion. l

NBR to recognise 12 young tax writers n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue is going to recognise 12 secondary and higher-secondary level students for their write-ups on tax-related issues.

During the National Income Tax Day on September 15, the revenue authority launched an essay-writing competition under these two categories to raise awareness

among future generations.

Students from grade six to 12 submitted essays on “why one should pay tax” and students from grades 11 and 12 wrote on the “role of income tax in Bangladesh’s development.”

“We have received huge response from the young generation during the competition. From among them, six from each categories, have been shortlisted as winners,” NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman said.

Winners from the secondary category are: Ahmed Zabeer, Adiba Tasnuva Hossain, Shudipto Chakraborty, Muhaiminur Rashid, Nafisa Tabassum, and Sanjida Akhter.

Winners from the higher secondary category are: Mehnaz Ahmed Momo, Himon Thakur, Shahadat Hossan Zakir, Mahfuz Ahmed, Maria Sultana and Tohura Akhter.

All the winners will be awarded with crests, certificates and prize bonds. l

MUNICIPALIT Y POLLS 2015

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Sylhet AL in trouble with rebel candidates M U N I C I PA L I T Y P O L L S 2 0 1 5

M U N I C I P A L IAwami T Y League, P Otold L the L SDhaka2Tribune 0 1 5that

n Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Sylhet

The rebel mayoral candidates of the ruling Awami League in three municipalities in Sylhet district have been carrying on with electioneering ignoring the party’s ultimatum to pull out.

On December 9, the ruling party’s central high command gave its rebel candidates across the country 24 hours to pull out, but two rebels in Golapganj, and one each in Jokiganj and Kanaighat are not paying heed.

Former lawmaker Shafiqur Rahman, also the general secretary of Sylhet district unit

the party would wait until the last date for withdrawing nomination – which is today – before taking actions like expulsion.

The two rebels in Golapganj are Sirajul Jabbar Chowdhury, joint secretary of the upazila unit Awami League, and Aminul Islam Rabel, general secretary of UK unit Jubo League. In this municipality, the candidate who got the party’s formal nomination is Jakaria Ahmad Paplu, the incumbent mayor.

Both rebel candidates here claimed that they had decided to run in the election independently – which means they will not be

using the “Boat” electoral symbol of the party they support – because they have strong supporter base in the local grassroots of the party.

Faruq Ahmad, former joint convener of upazila unit Awami League, is the rebel in Jokiganj. The party selected Khalilur Rahman, a freedom fighter, for the mayoral race in this municipality.

The rebel candidate said the initial cancellation of his nomination was a result of a conspiracy. The proof is that he got back his candidature after appeal. He also termed Awami League ticket-holder Khalilur Rahman an “intruder” in local politics.

In Kanaighat, ruling party leader Nizam Uddin Al Mizan is the rebel. Incumbent mayor Lutfur Rahman, also convener of upazila Awami League, got the party ticket here. This reporter, however, could not contact Nizam over phone.

According to a source in the Awami League, the party has sent letters to the rebel candidates across the country asking them to pull out.

But three of these four rebel candidates, whom the Dhaka Tribune managed to contact until yesterday, claimed that they had not received any such letter as of yet. l

Four Sirajganj mayoral candidates named in arson, subversion cases n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

Four mayoral candidates fielded by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Sirajganj are yet to begin vigorous campaigns as they have been accused in arson and subversion cases.

The four are advocate M Mokaddes Ali, general secretary of BNP’s Sirajganj district unit and suspended mayor of Sirajganj Sadar municipality, M Belal Hossain, former senior vice-president of BNP’s Ullapara upazila unit and incumbent president of BNP’s Ullapara municipality unit, Nazrul Islam, BNP’s Shahjadpur upazila unit’s senior vice-president, and Mosharraf Hossain Akand, incumbent mayor of Raiganj municipality and a Jamaat supporter.

Mokaddes, Nazrul and Mosharraf had been accused in a case filed over torching a train during a 2010 rally of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Mulibari, on the west side of Bangabandhu bridge.

Belal, meanwhile, was named in a subversion case early this year.

Of the four candidates, only Mokaddes had obtained bail.

Operations at the three municipalities were disrupted as the accused mayors mostly remained absent at work since the beginning of the year. The panel mayors of the respective municipalities were mostly in charge in the absence of the accused mayors.

The Local Government Ministry suspended Mokaddes for his absence at work and made panel mayor Selim Ahmed the acting mayor.

Mokaddes filed an appeal against the ministry’s decision with the High Court and the court overturned his suspension, but the matter still remains unresolved at the ministry.

Even though the four candidates are not campaigning and are largely isolated from party activities for their long absence at work in the last couple of months, they all believe people will vote for the BNP and Jamaat.

Publicity Secretary of BNP’s Sirajganj district unit Harun-ur-Rashid Khan Hasan said all the candidates would start electioneering according to the Election Commission’s rules.

“The BNP will enjoy huge support no matter if there is conflict among party members,” he added. l

Aklima, a councillor candidate of reserve seat for women at Kakonhat Municipality in Rajshahi talks to indigenous people at a village in Kakonpara yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

AL calms rebel candidates in Barisal n Our Correspondent, Barisal Awami League leaders in Barisal have finally succeeded in persuading three rebel mayoral candidates for Muladi municipality to withdraw their nominations after long negotiations.

The three are Jubo League central committee member Delwar Hossain Hawladar, Sramik League leader Didarul Ahsan Khan and Muktijoddha Projonmo League Central President Aziz Hawladar.

Talukder Md Yunus, secretary of Awami League’s Barisal district unit and lawmaker for Barisal 2, said the rebel candidates had agreed to withdraw their nominations in favour of the upazila secretary, the incumbent mayor and the party-backed candidate Shafiquzzaman Rubel.

“We have also assured the rebel candidates that we will evaluate their sacrifices and contributions to the party,” he said.

Another rebel mayoral candidate of Awami League for Banaripara municipality Golam Saleh Manju Molla agreed to withdraw his nomination in favour of advocate Subhash Chandra Shil, who has been fielded by the party.

On Thursday night, Barisal Awami League leaders held a meeting at Mohishapota Government Primary School in Banaripara in the presence of the rebel candidates and Golam Sarwar, editor of Bangla daily Samakal.

It was decided in the meeting that Golam

Saleh, incumbent mayor of Banaripara municipality, will withdraw his nomination in favour of advocate Subhash, the upazila unit president of Awami League.

An extended meeting of the party’s upazila unit was also held at the same venue where advocate Subhash resigned from his post of the upazila Awami League president.

Golam Saleh, who was the upazila Awami League vice-president, was given the post of the upazila Awami League president for the decision to withdraw his nomination.

All rebel candidates said they would work for the party-backed candidate at the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the party.

Shahalam Mridha, president of BNP’s Udoykathi union unit, is the only rebel mayoral candidate of the BNP for Banaripara municipality.

Ebaidul Haque Chan, president of BNP’s Barisal unit, said Shahalam had been given two choices – withdrawing his nomination or quitting the party.

Elections will be held in Barisal’s six municipalities - Gournadi, Banaripara, Wazirpur, Muladi, Mehendiganj and Bakerganj.

Nomination forms of 27 mayoral candidates, 202 councillor candidates and 59 reserved-seat female councillor candidates have been declared valid after scrutiny.

Candidates can withdraw their nominations by December 13 and the final list of contestants will be published after that. l

Moulvibazar OC accused of campaigning for AL candidate

n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

Three mayoral candidates in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura municipality have recently complained to the Election Commission against the officer-in-charge of Kulaura police station.

They complained that the officer-incharge, Matiar Rahman, had campaigned in favour of Awami League-backed candidate Shafi Ahmd Salman, which they described as a serious offence and also demanded the removal of the police official.

The three are BNP-backed candidate Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Jatiya Party-backed Muhibur Rahman and Awami League rebel candidate Shafi Alam Yunus.

The contestants emailed the complaint to the Election Commission’s Dhaka office while copies of it were also sent to the returning officer of Kulaura, deputy commissioner of Moulvibazar and divisional commissioner of Sylhet.

Md Istafizul Haque Akand, Moulvibazar district election officer, said he had received a copy of the complaint. “The higher authorities will take necessary steps in this regard.”

But OC Matiar told the Dhaka Tribune that the complaint against him was baseless and unfounded.

“The candidates filed the complaint as police have been very strict since the acts of violence perpetrated by BNP members early this year,” he said. l

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Farmers incur losses as aman prices fall Correspondent, n Our Tangail Despite bumper yield of aman paddy, the farmers of the district are counting losses as they have to sell their produces to manage expenditure of livelihood.

Sources said the selling rate of paddy was between Tk550 and Tk650 per maund in the market though production cost incurred by farmers was within Tk500 to Tk600.

Farmers who got lease of lands are the worst affected, according to available information from grassroots level.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) confirmed that against fixed-production target of 22.04 lakh tonnes of Transplanted Aman in 89,774 hectares land, production target has been achieved only in 1.66 lakh hectares of land.

Out of this, hybrid in 47 hectares, ufshi in 83,117 hectares and local variety in 17,499 hectares have been achieved.

On the other hand, 32,037 hectares of land have been brought under aman cultivation with a production target of 38,112 tonnes, and out of this the target was achieved in 31,676 hectares of land.

According to local sources, 50 percent crop cutting has been completed. But, the source maintained that in different areas of the district BRRI paddy 62, 49, 51, 52, 41, 40, 39, 33, 34, 29, 30, 22, BINA 7, BR 11 and Pazam varieties are cultivated. Besides, farmers also cultivate local varieties like Patjag, Aloa, Kalijira, Nazirshail etc. In addition to that, hybrid varieties are also

cultivated by local farmers.

While visited, it was seen that the farmers of Enayetpur, Boilla, Gala, Magurata and Sadullahpur areas were cutting crops.

The farmers, highlighting their hard labour, said despite bumper harvest, the price of paddy is not at satisfactory level in comparison with mounting market price of other commodities.

They will have to incur heavy losses, the farmers expressed with pensive mood.

Nool Jamal, a farmer of Shakhipur, informed he cultivated the paddy on four acres of land at a cost of Tk600.

Abir Hossain of Sadullahpur said he cultivated 36 percent of land where harvesting was satisfactory, but low price of paddy has mounted his concern.

Deputy Director (DD) of DAE Abul Hasim, detailing all-out support extended by the department, expressed that there was good harvest of paddy.

From next year there will be increased supply of Bina Sar followed by increased cultivation of BRRI 62, he assured.

Explaining the reason he informed these category of paddy contains zinc. In every upazila, seeds of this particular variety have been collected for farming in 40 acres of land.

Following the collection of seeds, the cultivation of these two varieties of paddy will be expanded in the district.

Clearing the methodology, DD said harvesting of Bina Sar and 62 Sar can be completed within 100 days. The early harvesting facilitates the farmers with cultivation of mustard, wheat, popcorn and vegetables. l

Virus attack frustrates bean farmers Correspondent, n Our Narsingdi

A wide range of virus attack on bean trees in different vegetable-farm in the district has frustrated the cultivators.

According to sources, viruses like Mosaik and Fakra have seriously damaged the bean variety covering more than 250 hectares of land in Belabo, Shibpur and Raipura upazilas.

Widespread attack by the virus has totally damaged the hope of possible bean harvesting since green bean trees have taken yellow colour. Now, the damaged plants can only be used as fodder. As a result, the vegetable product has lost its

market value in large scale.

Abdur Rahman, a farmer of Vaterchar village under Belabo upazila, said they would incur a huge losses since the vegetable item as no market values now and can only be used as fodder.

Another farmer Akkas Ali said since the concerned department did not take any step, they had decided to destroy the product.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Mohammed Lotafat Hossain confirmed the incident and said virus attacks were being multiplied as dragon flies came in contact with the leaves of the vegetable. l

Five missing as trawler capsizes in Buriganga n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

At least five people, including three of a family, went missing as a trawler capsized in the Buriganga in Alirtek area under Sadar upazila yesterday morning.

The victims were Selim Khan, his son Emon khan, Class IX student and daughter Mousumi, Class VI student, Selim and Abdul Quader, 50, son of Abdul Hamid.

The passengers of the trawler said Sadar upazila-bound trawler from Fatullah, carrying 50-60 passengers, sank in the

area around 7am after being hit by a Dhaka-bound launch.

Ten or twelve passengers of the trawler managed to swim ashore while the others remained missing, they said.

Assistant Sub-Inspector of Narayanganj Sadar police station said five of the missing passengers had been identified.

The divers were trying to trace the missing passengers, said the ASI. Police, divers and fire service were working together to rescue the missing people, said Dinu Moni, deputy assistant director of local fire station. l

A better future Resolutions from BIMUN 2015

n

Features Desk

This November, the United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) collaborated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh to organise the most anticipated event of the year -

the International Model United Nations 2015 (BIMUN), an academic simulation of United Nations general assembly that aims to enlighten the participants about the art of negotiation, critical thinking and multilateral diplomacy.

Around 800 participants from several

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countries including USA, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, Belgium have participated in the BIMUN conference this year.

Dhaka Tribune, a media partner for the event, brings you snapshots and highlights of the resolutions passed at the conference.

Committee: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Agenda: Sexual and reproductive health in the face of climate change.

PHOTO: AHMED RASEL

Committee: United Nations Development Programme Agenda: Human Development and Climate Change.

• Integration and complementarity of environmental and economic goals and policies, so that all processes for economic growth are more climate sensitive.

• Recommends the regulatory body set up by the Kyoto Protocol to include an equitable representation from members of both developing and developed countries and encourage technical knowledge sharing on how to monitor global industrial production and best practices for reducing GHGs emissions.

• Encouraging collaboration between developed and developing countries for technology transfer, knowledge sharing on sustainable energy use, green technologies and alternative energy.

• Strongly recommends a prioritisation

process to identify climate smart agricultural practices by respective member states.

• Calls for the mainstreaming of basic climate sensitivity and disaster-risk management education into highschool and university level curricula.

• Recommends the establishment of a green fund that will be used for the research of eco-friendly and universal green technology for the sustainable development of all member states.

• 18. Ensure all countries work and cooperate with the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) (a component of the World Climate Program) - and the Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Inter-comparison (PCMDI) .

• Prioritise funding of family planning and similar population policies, which are more cost-effective over 91% of the time compared to traditional schemes.

• Establish Long Term Tracking Scheme (LTTS) to monitor the progress of newly empowered women and utilising these new social assets to organise grassroots level campaigns to fight climate change and environmental issues in both local and national platforms.

• Use a global comprehensive peereducation movement in the long term roadmap to educate vulnerable youth about sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and simultaneously, create a social perspective raising initiative utilizing mass media technologies to change attitudes about child marriage, gender stereotypes.

• Provide immediate timely assistance to

victims of climate change-exacerbated natural disasters including emergency safe delivery kits and dignity kits as part of a unified Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) programme.

• Work closely together with local law enforcement agencies, local leaders and health workers to create a consistent, co-ordinated effort focusing on at-risk women, to offer counselling, education, healthcare and SRH services in one complete package.

• Providing proper food and medical assistance, and shelter, ensure the availability of MISP kits, ensure provision of proper lighting for affected areas, set up camps for migrating refugees, in collaboration with UNHCR, to keep emergency transport services at hand, and provide proper nutrition and medication.

2.

3.

Committee: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Agenda: Green Climate Fund; Words and Deeds • Green Climate Fund should be utilised in a meaningful order so that nations discern their funds are being used properly.

• • The funds should be allocated to the countries based on vulnerabilities, susceptibility to damages due to climate change.

• Implement of accountability and transparency of the addition and utilisation of funds, to avoid counterproductivity and fraud; by the inclusion of stakeholders, investors and private

citizens.

• Adopt renewable energy investment in the poorest countries.

• Establish global incentive programmes for renewable energy technologies • Encourage energy companies, to increase the percentage of renewable energy supply by 2024 • Restrict the operational field of Green Climate Fund projects to only mitigation and adaptation projects.

PHOTO: G’SM BISWAS

Committee: United Nations Security Council

4.

Agenda: Combating Transnational Terrorism 1. Calls on states to work together urgently to prevent and suppress terrorist acts, including through increased cooperation and full implementation of the relevant

5.

international conventions relating to terrorism.

Requests that all states shall prevent and suppress financing of terrorist acts and criminalise wilful provision or collection of funds by their nationals or in their territories with the intention of funding terrorist acts, and further, freeze without delay the funds and financial assets of persons/entities participating, committing or facilitating terrorist acts.

Urges all states to refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts; to take the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts; to deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts, to prevent their respective territories from being used for such acts, and to ensure any and all perpetrators are brought to justice. The states are further urged to afford one another the greatest measure of cooperation regarding criminal investigations or proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts, and to prevent the movement of terrorist individuals or groups by exercising effective border controls and issuance of identity papers.

Recommends that measures should be taken in the Afghan-Pak border to eliminate the terrorist safe havens.

Recommends securing the borders of those countries victimised with transnational terrorism and toughening the laws regarding the cross border transitions.

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BIMUN Special Committee: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) • Establish an international public private partnership (PPP) regime to empower developing nations and LDCs • Introduce green climate topics in textbooks • Provide eco-friendly instruments for agricultural sectors and health services with the lowest cost possible by the developed countries for the developing nations and least developed nations • Promote exchange programs of climate expertise to reduce the effect of climate induced disasters • Motivate all multinational corporations to operate in an eco-friendly manner and to contribute to the society in terms of climate issues as a part of their corporate social responsibility • Promote significant initiatives like biocarbon fund, GCF, climate, and clean air coalition • Build mega-structures via public private

partnership to save the countries those are in threat of environmental disaster • Employ PPPs to counsel the manufacturing sectors to limit carbon emission by introducing new technologies and policies such as advanced drilling, crude oil cracking, green supply chain etc • Provide financial aid and technological equipment to developing and least developed countries from developed countries to make them more efficient to mitigate climate change. l

Committee: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation PHOTO: AHMED RASEL

Committee: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Agenda: Climate Vulnerability of Women • Empower women through awareness campaigns by providing gender sensitive education to men and women.

• Educate women at the primary level, raise awareness about social and civic rights and promote climate resilient curriculum.

Encourage “women only” educational institutions.

• Encourage psychological counseling for women to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assist in their social reintegration, urge WHO to establish proper health care facilities in disaster prone and disaster struck regions and provide health care support.

• Funding should be based on Responsibility and Capacity Index (RCI).

• Form a “Zakat fund” where nations will donate annually for holistic development, improving the standard of living of women in disaster affected countries.

• Facilitate survival training and shelter building. UN Habitat should take steps along with volunteer organisations in order to teach techniques to build shelter houses.

• Provide training on survival skills to women who are likely to be affected by climate change.

• Channel food and portable water to areas where women and children are not getting proper food.

• Create a social-business centered bank dealing with disaster mitigation focusing on female rehabilitation and employment.l

Agenda: Green Industrialisation • A committee should be in charge to monitor all the funding and money transactions for assuring the fund to reach in the right place, backed up by central and local government laws emphasising on transparency of the funding provided by other countries • Strengthen the capacity of the financial sector, mobilising finances through public-private partnerships • Support green start-ups marketed by the government and priorities in term of SME funding allocation. Ensure the firms start from scratch so that they can opt for sustainable future • Support local action as per capability

•

• • •

through collaborations, local resources, capacity building and institutional support Start campaigns funded by UNIDO in least developed countries where education and awareness sectors lack proper investment Minimise the emission of harmful gases containing carbon.

Implement bio-based and clean technologies to fight the present energy crisis.

Commit investment for renewable energy, allocating resources and storage of energy based on geographical location under binding UN treaty. l

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

PHOTO: SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

Committee: United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Agenda: Cultural tourism in a globalised village • Provide funding to help preserve the World Heritage sites.

• Create legislations for the preservation of endangered cultural communities and languages.

• Promote of culture through unique and creative ways such as mass media, publication and Internet.

• Tourist ministries and ICT sectors should collaborate with private firms for the development of free applications which promotes cultural tourism.

• NGOs and governments to appoint indigenous people to teach and promote cultural tourism by teaching endangered languages to conserve those endangered cultures.

• Governments should take initiatives for the preservation of indigenous cultures in their respective countries.

• Governments should follow China’s example and set up global villages to promote the countries cultures.

• Teaching management and hospitality courses in all tertiary education facilities.

• Countries should take initiatives to implement disaster management programs to preserve the archaeological sites blueprint and encourage the reconstruction and rebuilding of sites when damaged.

• Hotels to put up surveys for the international tourists so that they can promote their culture.l

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INSIDE

Living with a conundrum Fighting against inequities, or standing up for causes has to be well-thoughtout. One can’t choose to stand up for gender inequality, and not talk about the ills of neoliberalism, or fight for LGBTQ rights PAGE 12

A beautiful song of freedom I feel Rosa on a personal level, too. I have experienced the price of dissent; I know all too well what injustice feels like. Espousing your belief has become a life threatening activity in Bangladesh.

Believing in God or denouncing him -both are equally dangerous

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There should be space for satire

T Trump crosses the line again Donald Trump has now made ‘Islamophobia’ the official trademark of his campaign. His ‘ban the Muslims’ demand has been condemned by his own party in unequivocal terms as fundamentally contrary to American values PAGE 14

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

Send us your Op-Ed articles:

opinion.dt@dhakatribune. com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook. com/DhakaTribune

he government’s arrest of the alleged administrator of the popular satirical Facebook page “Moja Losss?” is a regrettable act for a democracy with a long and healthy tradition of open debate and dissent and where freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution.

Refayat Ahmed, the supposed admin, has been put on two-day remand despite denying the charges set against him and despite the fact that we fail to see how anything posted on the Facebook page could be construed to be anti-state.

Uncomfortable for the government? Sure. Anti-state? No. There is a difference.

It should be noted that previously, one of the ML admins had been forced to flee the country as a result of threats and harassment.

Whether or not Refayat is indeed the man behind the page, something that is still in question, is somewhat beside the point.

The point is that in a nation which prides itself on its freedom, democracy, and rule of law, criminalising this kind of speech is disappointing and counter-productive.

Nor does such a stance fit well with our aspirations for Digital Bangladesh, and it runs counter to the government’s efforts to create a progressive, modern image for itself.

The right to satirise, within limits, is a fundamental tenet of any democratic nation, including Bangladesh.

Using state force to quash the free exchange of ideas, even ones that can puncture the ego or cause discomfort, is something that Bangladesh should not succumb to.

Satirical portals like Moja Losss? play an important role in any free society, providing much-needed avenues for expression, humour, and art.

They in fact provide an important outlet for releasing tension and expressing dissent in a non-dangerous, non-harmful, and non-threatening way, which the government should welcome.

Cracking down on uncomfortable sentiments, particularly on humour, cannot be the answer to dealing with irritants or gadflies.

We feel that the government would be well served to release Refayat on bail and to carefully reconsider whether shutting down Moja Losss? and prosecuting him is the best use of its time, resources, and goodwill.

In a nation which prides itself on its freedom, democracy, and rule of law, criminalising this kind of speech is disappointing and counter-productive

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Living with a conundrum It’s fine to denounce Donald Trump’s xenophobia, but we need to take a close look at our own actions as well What should we put down this selective amnesia to?

Fighting against inequities, or standing up for causes has to be well-thought-out. One can’t choose to stand up for gender inequality, and not talk about the ills of neoliberalism, or fight for LGBTQ rights

Do we really advocate equality for all?

n Awrup Sanyal

I

shall be talking about a conundrum that I find myself in every now and then. But before I do so, let me lay the ground for it. What can be more current, and contextual, than what that pulpit bully Donald Trump has disgorged from his foul mouth?

It is unbelievable but even Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump’s comment on banning Muslims, and has said: “Israel respects all citizen’s rights.” Unbelievable, right? This world is a crazy place, I say.

The UK parliament is actively debating to make Trump the 85th banned hate-preacher. The Trump ban traffic has crashed the UK government’s petitions website. There have been murmurs of disapproval from quite a few politicians around the world.

But, have you heard anyone say anything in our own backyards in South Asia? I don’t recall hearing much from the politicians here.

In India, I am sure the right-wing must

feel they have an honorary RSS/BJP member in Trump. Indeed, India has had its own share of anti-Muslim hate-preachers amongst its rightwing politicians. But, let’s not discuss the obvious support that he will garner amongst his ideological comrades here. Let’s talk about the other India that doesn’t tolerate discriminations of the kind that Trump espouses.

The Indians who stand up for the Palestinians. The Indians who stand up for the Syrian refugees, and so on. And, I can proudly state that there are plenty of them.

But, here is where I would like to insert the conundrum that I am always faced with.

We are enveloped in this uneasy silence when it comes to Kashmir. We are eerily quiet when it comes to systemic discriminations against Muslims, or Dalits in our own country. Many in Pakistan would also throw in their support for such global intolerance and inequities. But there’s a hush surrounding the persecution of the Shias.

A total radio-silence around the repression of the Baloch people. A total denial of

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any wrongdoing when it comes to the genocide of the Bengali people in 1971 perpetrated by the Pakistani Army. The conundrum surfaces again.

Even here in Bangladesh, we see that people are quite vocal about their support for Palestine. It’s a stated position of the state. Travel to Israel is not permitted on the Bangladeshi passport (though the machine readable ones seems to have done away with the clause). The mass, though, is generally taciturn about the discriminations against the indigenous peoples in the country. The conundrum.

How can anyone stand against one discrimination and not another? How can anyone protest global injustices, but not be bothered about what is happening back home?

Is this some sort of armchair remonstration, a thing to do, like a check-in on social media? Shouldn’t standing up against any form of exploitation, discrimination, marginalisation, mean that one has to stand up to all kinds of inequities and bigotry?

Let’s examine the amnesia of the millions of Indians who filled up the Modi speeches in the US. Clearly, they didn’t mind attending his speeches. He is not much different from Trump -- Modi not only went around spewing hate speeches during his election campaign when he was running for the chief minister’s office in Gujarat, but he is also the same guy whose complicity saw the killings of the Muslims under his watch as the CM of Gujarat. Are they thinking that this is not about them but about those Muslims?

Do they really think that the hate spewing, Islamophobic Americans who dance to the tunes of Trump actually know the difference between Muslims and people of colour like them?

It is clear as daylight that to most of them, the Muslim is an indistinguishable mass of Arabic-speaking, without knowing what Arabic sounds like or that Arabic is spoken by other faiths too (the San Bernardino shooters were thought to be Arabic, though they were of Pakistani descent), or turban-wearing (the Sikhs were targeted in the aftermath of 9/11 because they were thought to be Muslims like Bin Laden, or beard-keeping (“Bearded hipsters are being mistaken for Muslims” -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), or simply brown skinned people (a Bangladeshi shop owner, Sarker Hoque was attacked in New York by a white man who said: “I kill Muslims”).

If these Indians find themselves the target of hate crimes in lieu of Trump’s xenophobic pronouncements, would they identify with the Muslims in the land of their ancestors who were also the target of similar profiling and targeting? Or, would they continue to wear the vest of double standards?

Fighting against inequities, or standing up for causes has to be well-thought-out.

For, if we stand up for one, we have by default stood up for all such injustices. One can’t choose to stand up for gender inequality, and not talk about the ills of neoliberalism, or fight for LGBTQ rights and not stand up against racism. Choosing any one position and ignoring all others, I am afraid, is not standing for truth.

I would like to share the thoughts of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, which beautifully contextualises this conundrum that I have been referring to (and I need to thank John Cusack for bringing this to my attention): “When any single thought emerges in consciousness, I cannot rest until this is brought into harmony with the rest of my thinking. Such an isolated concept, apart from the rest of my mental world, is entirely unendurable. I am simply conscious of the fact that there exists an inwardly sustained harmony among all thoughts; that the thought-world is of the nature of a unit.

Therefore, every such isolation is an abnormality, an untruth.” l Awrup Sanyal is a fiction writer and a communication professional.

13

DT

Opinion

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

A beautiful song of freedom As dissenting voices are being quashed everywhere, the example of Rosa Luxemburg is now more relevant than ever

n Mirza Shamaruh

T

his is neither a personal story nor a political analysis – rather, a tribute to a special song, one could say.

It’s titled Rosa Luxemburg. The tune is not the best, I must admit. Noted iconoclastic singer Sumon Chatterjee renders this one very much in the leftist tradition of American rebel songs of the 60s -- so monotonous that it will perhaps dilute the lyrics otherwise. I want to tell you about the inspiration of this song as I discovered Rosa in this song.

I did not read Marx, Engels, or Lenin, even though the books rested on our bookshelves defiantly. Ours is a different time -- perhaps, the lustre of the “left” has worn out a lot. All that I have seen is a bunch of hypocrites and cowards, just like others, the garden-variety of politicians. Some were well-meaning people, but adequately content in their imaginary world -- too stubborn to accommodate change. May be that is why I never knew Rosa.

economics, and mathematics, and finally awarded a doctorate in law degree in 1897.

She was perhaps the only woman with a doctorate in Zurich back then.

In May 1898, Rosa married Gustav Lübeck, obtained German citizenship, and moved to Berlin.

Her political life was just astonishing.

She was a co-founder of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the joint Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania, and participated in the Russian Revolution of 1905. Being a leading theorist of her time, she became a vocal and prominent member of the party, and played a crucial role in the formation of the Spartacus League, the Independent Social-Democratic Party (USPD) and the Communist Party of Germany (KPD).

Rosa was a passionate woman. Even though she was a strong critic of capitalism, she never shied away from criticising the anti-democratic and dictatorial tendencies within the Bolshevik. She confronted the compelling logic of economic laws and political strategies with the utopia of a new

I feel Rosa on a personal level, too. I have experienced the price of dissent; I know all too well what injustice feels like.

Espousing your belief has become a life threatening activity in Bangladesh. Believing in God or denouncing him -- both are equally dangerous But it’s not about politics -- neither left nor right -- it’s about Rosa. It’s about the song, which portrayed beautiful Rosa. This is what got my attention; you might say reverence too, if your religiosity permits so.

Rosa Luxemberg was born on March 5, 1871 and was murdered on March 15, 1919.

The year of 2009. A headless corpse was found in a basement of the Berlin Coroners, from the state prosecutor’s office in Berlin, who performed an autopsy on the corpse.

After extensive testing, head of forensic medicine Michael Tsokos concluded it was Luxemburg’s. But Berlin authorities did more elaborate tests and concluded that there was no conclusive evidence that it was Rosa. DNA extracted from the hair of Luxemburg’s niece did not match that belonging to the cadaver.

The remains were to be buried at an undisclosed location, while testing was to continue on tissue samples.

Why was a headless corpse thought to be Rosa’s?

Let’s go back to 1889. Rosa was only 18 years old and already she was a politician.

Her party was disbanded and four leaders were killed. She attended the University of Zürich, studying philosophy, history, politics,

world. Like every other revolutionary, she was a dreamer believing the new world will be created out of widespread despair, deprivation of right, and the corruption of power.

January 15, 1919. Rosa Luxemburg along with other leaders of the German Communist Party was arrested and taken in for questioning at the Adlon Hotel in Berlin. German soldiers escorted Rosa and other leaders out of the building, knocking them unconscious with rifle butts. One managed to escape, while the unconscious bodies of Rosa and Liebknecht were quietly driven away in a military vehicle. They were shot and thrown into a river by the same circles of militarist Freikorps (Volunteer Corps) that later openly supported the Nazi ascend.

This is how she was killed. Why? Don’t we know the answer already?

Ninety years ago, in open daylight, Rosa was killed because she spelled out the truth, the very inconvenient truth at the ugly faces of the ruling class. She said; freedom is always and exclusively freedom for the one who thinks differently. She believed that freedom belongs to the dissenters. And she did not compromise with her beliefs. That is

Almost a century after her death, Rosa continues to inspire why she was killed.

The fact that she was a total misfit, quite possibly, made her dispensable too. She was a revolutionary, an academic, a dreamer of social justice -- all enshrined in a woman’s body. There was no space for such an aberration in a man’s world.

Rosa’s last known words, written on the evening of her murder were: “The leadership has failed. Even so, the leadership can and must be recreated from the masses and out of the masses. The masses are the decisive element; they are the rock on which the final victory of the revolution will be built. The masses were on the heights; they have developed this ‘defeat’ into one of the historical defeats which are the pride and strength of international socialism. And that is why the future victory will bloom from this ‘defeat.’

‘Order reigns in Berlin!’ You stupid henchmen! Your ‘order’ is built on sand. Tomorrow the revolution will already ‘raise itself with a rattle’ and announce with fanfare, to your terror: I was, I am, I shall be!”

Thousands of Rosas have died since then, in Palestine, in Africa, in Syria, in Egypt, in USA, in Europe, and of course in Bangladesh.

These people chose to make a difference in their world. They participated in the process of change, not just believed in it. They took the paths untrodden and paid the price.

I feel Rosa on a personal level, too. I have experienced the price of dissent; I know all too well what injustice feels like. Espousing your belief has become a life threatening activity in Bangladesh. Believing in God or denouncing him -- both are equally dangerous.

Countless political activists who did not endorse the view of the ruling class have disappeared in recent years. Many died in “crossfire.”

This is where I feel close to Rosa, surrendering to the oppression feels like betraying her. Killing could never stop the pursuit of freedom. Somewhere up there, in the pantheon of heroes and fighters, I see Rosa -- smiling, defiantly. This is a price we must pay.

“Freedom,” she whispers. l Mirza Shamaruh is a freelance contributor.

DT

14

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Opinion

Trump crosses the line again The GOP has a very big problem on its hands, and its name is Trump

n M Serajul Islam

I

re-read my article “American democracy, bigotry, and Islamophobia” printed in Dhaka Tribune on November 27, after the San Bernardino massacre in which a Muslim-American couple killed 14 people, of whom 12 were the male suspect’s fellow workers. I also read the comments. One reader wrote that I was wrong to suggest Islamophobia was on the rise in the US in the aftermath of the Paris carnage. Another reader thought the use of words “carnage” and “massacre” were taken “from recycled TV news” that did not make a “good column.” Finally, one wrote there were “relatively few bias crimes against Muslims in America to speak of.”

I wonder what the commenters now feel following Donald Trump’s bombshell delivered on December 7 -- that Muslims, both as immigrants and tourists, should be banned from entering the US. He later extended the ban to include Muslim-Americans returning home from overseas visits. His campaign people added, when questioned by the media, that the 8 million American Muslims would also be packed and sent to their countries of origin. That does not address the fact that many American Muslims are natural-born and many are born to natural-born American citizens.

Donald Trump did not throw his bombshell into the centre stage of US politics suddenly. He started his campaign as an outsider. He quickly attracted everybody’s attention with his anti-Washington, anti-immigration, anti-women, anti-poor, anti-Hispanic rhetoric to throw everyone in the Republican establishment off-guard. He believed that his anti-everything hate rhetoric had, at the grassroots, enough supporters to easily give him the lead in the pack of 15 candidates running for the party’s ticket.

Thus, in national polls, one after the other, he dominated the pack. And as his position became secure, he introduced the fear in the country over ISIS and blamed Muslims for it. He did it because he knew that the support base that landed and kept him in a dominant position among the candidates was also latently Islamophobic.

The Paris carnage encouraged him to move towards Islamophobia as the central theme of his campaign and towards lies to fan fear based on Islamophobia. Thus, after the Paris carnage, he said he had seen “thousands and thousands” of American Muslims celebrating 9/11 in the streets of Jersey City and that as president he would close down mosques.

After the San Bernardino massacre, he claimed that his “hate Muslim” stance was not only correct, but also favoured him in the polls. Thus emboldened, he recommended identity cards for Muslims like Nazi Germany had issued for the Jews. He called to kill the families of ISIS that led sources close to the Israeli government to describe it as a war crime. Undaunted, Donald Trump said that the “wives” of the 9/11 terrorists knew what their husbands were up to, only for the media to nail that as a blatant lie based on the official report on 9/11 that re-

Trump has turned his back on American values

REUTERS

Donald Trump has now made ‘Islamophobia’ the official trademark of his campaign. His ‘ban the Muslims’ demand has been condemned by his own party in unequivocal terms as fundamentally contrary to American values vealed that all the terrorists were unmarried.

Following the claim about the “wives,” the NYT was forced to call him a liar -- first time for the paper. Most US major papers have never called a national-level politician a liar as openly, having limited it to their comments.

Donald Trump has made “Islamophobia” the official trademark of his campaign now. His “ban the Muslims” demand has been condemned by his own party in unequivocal terms as unconstitutional and fundamentally contrary to American values.

And with the condemnation all around, except among the extreme Islamophobes and radical extreme in the Republican Party, the comparison is now being made between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. The New Yorker called him the “New Fuhrer.”

In fact, a consensus on the Hitler comparison has now emerged about the candidate leading Daily News to write: “Major media outlets have taken to comparing the billionaire blowhard to Adolf Hitler, another narcissist who managed to make millions of people feel increasingly unsafe.”

The bipartisan condemnation of Donald Trump notwithstanding, the fear among American Muslims since the Paris and San Bernardino massacres has increased, because of the anti-Muslim hatred he has incited that is as real, if not more than,

mainstream America’s fear of attacks from Muslims. The stand against Donald Trump by Hillary Clinton is encouraging to American Muslims. She described Trump’s demand to ban Muslims as “shameful and dangerous,” that it came out of his “trafficking in prejudice and paranoia.” But Muslims are worried by what she pointed out about Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

She said their mindset is similar to Donald Trump, but subtler.

A day before Donald Trump’s bombshell, the president himself underlined the fear of Muslims from Islamophobia as real in his national address on December 6. He called upon Americans not to be misled by the Islamophobes because, first, ISIS did not represent Islam, and second, America cannot win the war on terror without Muslims in the US and abroad. He called upon American Muslims and moderate Muslims abroad to join the war on terror more proactively.

The secretary of homeland security and the attorney general have met the media to reassure the Muslims following the president’s address.

The fear among American Muslims has enhanced since the “ban Muslims” call.

There is no doubt that the president would have articulated what the majority of the Americans are now feeling: That they cannot be expected to allow their country

to become fascist, to speak against Islamophobia. The Germans had accepted Hitler and fascism partly unwittingly and partly because of the huge national frustration in the country as a result of the developments following the First World War. There is, in contrast, little occurring in the US comparable to the reasons that had allowed Adolf Hitler and fascism to take over Germany.

Therefore, it is inevitable that Donald Trump will utterly fail to turn the US into a nation of bigots through his Islamophobia.

In fact, he may have shot his candidature in the head, perhaps deliberately, to force the party to kick him out so that he can blame it and contest the election as an independent candidate. He talked about it following the nation-wide condemnation for his ban the Muslim demand.

However, the fact that almost 30% of Republicans, or roughly 15% of Americans, support Donald Trump’s Islamophobia, must concern the White House and the congress alike in a bipartisan manner and with the same intensity. The fear among Muslims will thus remain with or without Donald Trump in the campaign. Ironically, by taking Islamophobia to a criminally insane level, Donald Trump may have done the Muslims a favour in the long term as Americans realise where Donald Trump is trying to take the nation. In the short term, though, Muslims will live in fear because of the hatred that Donald Trump has put into the hearts and minds of many Americans against them.

Trevor Noah, host of the popular Daily Show, said Donald Trump has done ISIS a huge favour, because it believes that his insane Islamophobia will drive many moderate Muslims towards it. He thus called Donald Trump the “white ISIS” and his campaign “WISIS!” l M Serajul Islam is a retired career ambassador.

DT

Business 15

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

INSIDE

Biman mulls over small aircraft on Middle-Eastern routes to curb loss n Ishtiaq Husain Onion price may fall after India’s price cut The price of onion in local market is likely to cool down as the Indian government on Friday slashed the minimum export price of onions at $400 per tonne from $700. PAGE 16

Global stock selloff on seven-year oil lows The relentless fall of global oil prices spurred another sharp drop in global share markets Friday, as panicked investors fled the energy sector and financial stocks as well. PAGE 17

The national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, plans to introduce Boeing 737-800 aircraft to mid-haul destinations across Middle-East, replacing B777-300 ER, in the wake of its continuous losses.

Biman authorities say labour migration to ME has shrunk significantly that has affected B777-300 ER operation on the route.

According to a top Biman official, the number of passengers bound for ME countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar is shrinking, leading the Biman authorities to go for small carrier like B737-800 instead of wide-body aircraft B777-300 ER. Sometimes, cabin factor or passenger capacity gets reduced to 60% while less than 70% cabin factor fails to bring any profit for a single flight, he said.

The official said if the number of passenger increases, the management will introduce more aircraft.

But unlike Biman, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are making a huge profit, operating their flights on ME routes from Dhaka.

Biman has now four B777-300 ERs and three B737-800 aircraft, and of the three, two were taken on lease.

To ensure smooth operation on mid-haul routes, Biman will take two more Boeing 737-800 aircraft on dry lease, said sources.

Biman is one of the smallest flag carriers in Asia, operating only 13 aircraft on a network of 22 destinations.

‘If other airlines can use the big carrier with full passenger capacity why is then Biman planing to replace Boeing 777? It is a complete failure of the marketing department’ The 13 include four Boeing 777-300 ERs, two 310 Airbuses, two Boeing 777-200 ERs, two Dash 8 Q400s and three 737s. Of those, six were taken on lease.

According to Biman management, 737 aircraft is operated by more than 500 airlines, flying to 1,200 destinations in 190 countries.

On average, a 737 takes off or lands every five second somewhere in the world. Since entering service in 1968, 737s have carried over 12 billion passengers over 120 billion

kilometers and accumulated more than 296 million hours in the air.

A Biman official said he is very much optimistic that the new plan will bear fruit.

But a B777-300 ER captain gave a different version of the idea.

While talking to Dhaka Tribune, he termed the Biman authority’s effort a suicidal attempt.

He said most competitive airlines use 777 aircraft on middle-eastern routes.

“If other airlines can use the big carrier with full passenger capacity why is then Biman planing to replace Boeing 777? It is a complete failure of the marketing department,” added the captain.

Asked about it, the market department denied the allegation. They laid blame on the Biman engineering department.

Frequent flight disruptions are attributed to the fall of the airlines business, said a source in the marketing department.

Echoing the same as the captain, an official of cargo department of Bangladesh Biman said most Bangladeshi labourers carry heavy luggage and the capacity of 737-800 is much lower than 777-300.

Biman is facing this problem on Malaysian route where the national carrier operates Boeing 737-800, he added. l

Bandwidth export likely late this month

China industrial output rebounds after stimulus China’s industrial production surprised yesterday with its best showing since June, the latest indication that government stimulus measures may be driving a mild recovery in the world’s second largest economy. PAGE 18

Capital market snapshot: Past Week DSE Broad Index

4,583.4

-1.2% ▼

Index

1,105.4

-1.7% ▼

30 Index

1,741.1

-1.8% ▼

21,679.7

-13.6% ▼

530.1

-18.5% ▼

All Share Index

13,976.9

-1.7% ▼

30 Index

12,354.8

-0.9% ▼

Selected Index

8,505.1

-1.7% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

1,546.2

-8.7% ▼

46.6

-7.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk Turnover in Mn Volume

CSE

Turnover in Mn Volume

n Ishtiaq Husain

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROPOSED RULES

Bandwidth export to India is likely to begin from the 3rd week of December through Akhaura-Agartala boarder.

Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) Managing Director Monwar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The bandwidth export will open up a huge opportunity for us. After exporting it to India, other countries would also like to import bandwidth from Bangladesh,” said Monwar.

“We would like to arrange a gala ceremony to mark the maiden export of bandwidth in which State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim will be present as the chief guest.”

The function would be held either on the border area of both countries or in Dhaka, but the decision for event location is yet to be finalised, he added.

Initially, India will import 10Gbps bandwidth which import will increase up to 40Gbps later on, as per the agreement.

BSCCL has the capacity to export up to 50 Gbps bandwidth.

Bangladesh and India connected their optical fibre at zero point on the Akhaura-Agartala borderline on November 16 while a trial run for bandwidth export to India continued since then.

Earlier, both countries agreed to kick off their formal bandwidth export on December 1. According to the agreement, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) decided to

from five to 15 years m Fund size will be at least Tk10 crore m Fund will be allowed to declare only cash dividends m Minimum subscription to the units of a fund must be Tk50,00,000 m Fund must be subscribed by more than 200 investors m Maximum 25% of the fund must be invested in listed securities

m Life of an alternative investment fund will be

import 10 Gbps bandwidth for Tripura state from September this year, but the export timing had been fixed one month ahead in August. Later, both party missed the deadline.

Bangladesh has a bandwidth capacity of 200 Gbps, of them only 33% is used.

In 2006, Bangladesh got connected to the current submarine cable at a cost of $63m.

“We have already earned two to three times as much as invested for connecting the current submarine cable,” a BSCCL official said, asking not to be named.

Since the lifetime of Bangladesh’s submarine cable will end within the next 12 years, there is no other alternative but to export bandwidth, he added.

Industry insiders say the country’s demand for band-

width may reach 210 Gbps by 2021.

The state-owned company signed a deal with the Indian state-owned BSNL on June 6 for exporting bandwidth during Indian prime minister’s visit to Bangladesh.

The submarine cable company will get the payment at the beginning of each quarter while Bangladesh will earn Tk9.6 crore a year by exporting bandwidth to India.

The bandwidth export price is 33% higher than that in domestic market though there are opinions against the latest price of bandwidth.

The deal has been signed initially for a year and it can be extended for two more years, a BSCCL official said, adding that the bandwidth price will be reviewed after a year.

The Indian state of Assam and Meghalaya had also shown interest in importing bandwidth from Bangladesh. l

DT

16

Business

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Onion price may fall after India’s price cut n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The price of onion in local market is likely to cool down as the Indian government on Friday slashed the minimum export price of onions at $400 per tonne from $700.

Though India’s move brings a caushion for consumers, local producers have been left facing a real challenge of price competition again, according to analysts and farmers.

On Friday, local onion was sold at Tk70 and imported ones at Tk40 per kg in different kitchen markets of the capital.

The prices of both variety of onions soared in August, following the hike of India’s minimum export price (MEP) to $700 from $400 per tonne.

The MEP of all varieties of onions is revised from $700 FOB (freight on board) per tonne to $400 per tonne, according to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, India.

The move of scraping MEP is aimed at boosting overseas shipments after wholesale prices went down to Rs10 per kg.

“On Onion – the decision was taken today to reduce the Minimum Export Price (MEP) of onion from $700 to $400 per tonne,” Indi-

Bangladesh Bank gets CYFI award for school banking n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has won the Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) Country Award 2015 from Asia and the Pacific region.

The recognition came due to “massive financial inclusion activities, particularly in the area of school banking.”

Last year, Singapore won the award.

The award was officially handed over by Valerie Georgina Howarth, Baroness Howarth of Breckland, OBE, a British politician and member of the House of Lords, at the 4th Annual CYFI Awards Ceremony, held at the House of Lords in London on 10 December 2015.

On behalf of Bangladesh Bank, Executive Director Md Abdur Rahim received the award, according to a press release on Friday.

CYFI is a Europe-based global network of 36m children and youth across 125 countries that works for enhancing the financial capabilities of children and youth.

Under the broader head of Financial Inclusion, Bangladesh Bank has been promoting rapid expansion of financial services, particularly for the excluded and underserved, to improve inclusive economic growth in Bangladesh.

The government has also been fully supportive of financial inclusion strategy of the central bank, the statement said.

Launched in 2010 with a circular from Bangladesh Bank, school banking has emerged as one of the core components of the financial inclusion programmes of the central bank.

Students can now open bank accounts with an initial deposit of only Tk100 with no charges applicable on such accounts. l

Local onion farmers fear losses after India cut minimum export price of the vegetable an Commerce Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.

According to the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF) data, wholesale prices of onions are ranging at between Rs10-Rs14 per kg in the

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Asia’s biggest wholesale market for onion, Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, much lower than its peak of Rs57 a kg in August.

“At the current price, we are getting some profits selling our products but if the prices go down drastically in Bangladesh market

due to the price slashing by the Indian government it will minimise our profits,” Shamsuddin Mollah, an onion cultivator in Pabna told the Dhaka Tribune.

Even to some extent, the lowering prices may bring losses to the farmers, he added.

“The price cut will give a cushion to the consumers but it will reduce profits of local producers,” Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) told the Dhaka Tribune.

The ultimate benefits will go to the consumers and the farmers will be the losers if they cannot meet their production cost with the current market price, he added.

The CPD official suggested that the Ministry of Commerce should look into how the price could be adjusted to protect the local producers.

“Price cut by the Indian government will not affect Bangladesh market as the present supply chain is stable, Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

The government will look into the issue and take necessary steps to protect local producers, he added. l

BSEC seeks public opinion on alternative investment norms

Bear-spell grips stock market

n Tribune Report

Bear-spell hit the stock market in the past week after two consecutive weeks of rally, as investors booked quick-profit.

During the week that ended on Thursday, the benchmark of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, settled at 4,583, losing 57 points or 1.3%.

The blue-chip comprising index DS30 was down 31 points or 1.8% to 1,741. The DSE Shariah Index, DSES, fell 19 points or 1.7% to 1,105.

The port city bourse Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also returned to the red with its Selective Categories Index - CSCX - losing 146.67 points or 1.69 per cent to end at 8,505.05.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 8,505, declining 146 points or 1.7%.

Huge sell-off mainly on large-cap stocks like Grameenphone, Lafarge Surma and Titas Gas was the main driver of pulling down the market in the past week.

“Ripples in investors’ sentiment and apparent lack of directions prompted much more market level volatility, last week,” said IDLC Investments.

Besides, shifts across selective large-cap and micro-cap issues sterilised the market momentum to evolve at intra-day sessions but could not sustain for long, it said.

IDLC said sectoral preference remained almost same as of the previous week while investors’ switch prolonged for lucrative price hunts, including better fundamentals.

Trading activities remained sluggish as the DSE’s daily average turnover was Tk433 crore, down 14% over the previous week.

Overall activities remained confined on, engineering, pharma and power sectors, as they together accounted for about 50% of the week’s total turnover.

LankaBangla Securities said correction of the stock price of large-cap companies such as Grameenphone, Lafarge Surma and Titas Gas contributed to the decrease in index. l

The market regulator Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has posted certain proposals on its website to seek public opinion intended to make new rules on alternative investment for financing non-listed firms.

Private equity, venture capital, impact or any other type of funds will be called alternative investment fund. Such fund is a privately pooled investment vehicle which collects funds from eligible investors to invest in accordance with a defined investment policy.

The proposals intended to regulate venture capital companies are relatively new in the country.

The venture capital companies usually provide fund for start-ups with high potentials.

According to the salient points of the proposed new rules titled Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Alternative Investment) Rules, life or tenure of a fund will be 5-15 years.

However, the life of the fund may be extended for a period of up to two years subject to approval of at least three-fourth majority of the unit holders.

An alternative investment fund size will be at least Tk10 crore and subscription by the sponsors will not be less than 10% of the fund. Minimum investment by the fund manger must be at least 2% of the fund.

Any person connected to the fund, sponsors, shareholders and the fund manager will not be allowed more than 25% of the units of a fund at any point of time.

The sponsors will maintain a continuous investment of not less than 2.5% of the fund.

An alternative investment fund will be allowed only cash dividends to the unit holders. All investments in a fund will be locked

in for a period of three years from the date of issuance of units.

For the eligibility to apply for operating fund, the applicant will require to have a paid-up capital of at least Tk5 crore, but for a fully-owned foreign entity or for a foreign fund management, applicants must have their paid-up capital of at least Tk150 crore, and for a foreign entity or foreign fund management subsidiary company, they must have Tk10 crore for paid-up capital.

Fund managers must have a minimum net worth of 75% of their paid-up capital, and in case, the net-worth of fund managers goes down below 75% of their paid-up capital, they must increase that to the required level within the next accounting year.

The fund manager’s annual fee will be Tk50,000 to pay through a bank draft one month withing the end of each financial year, and if failed to pay within the stipulated time, fund managers must be liable to pay Tk25,000 for each month of default.

Fund managers may raise capital for a fund from eligible investors through issuance of units in accordance with the rules and the minimum subscription to the units of a fund must be Tk50,00,000. Only private placement, but no public offer will be allowed.

No alternative investment fund will be subscribed by more than 200 investors.

For investment criteria, a maximum 25% of the fund must be invested in listed securities and investment in single listed securities will not exceed 5% of the fund.

No alternative investment fund can invest more than 25% of the fund to a single non-listed portfolio company.

The proposed rules have been posted on the commission’s website for getting opinion from public and shareholders before finalising the new rules. l

n Tribune Report

DT

17

Business

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Global stock selloff on seven-year oil lows n AFP, Washington The relentless fall of global oil prices spurred another sharp drop in global share markets Friday, as panicked investors fled the energy sector and financial stocks as well.

Crude futures prices plunged again Friday, with London’s Brent contract dropping 4.5% to $37.93 a barrel and New York’s WTI fix losing 3.1% to $35.62 a barrel.

That spurred more selling of shares connected to the oil patch - exploration houses, service firms, pipeline operators and the rest - pulling down markets from Asia to the Americas.

In New York, the S&P 500 fell 1.9%. London’s FTSE 100 lost 2.2%, the Dax lost 2.4% in Frankfurt, Hong Kong fell 1.1% and Shanghai 0.6%.

Only Tokyo among major bourses avoided the harsh selloff, ending a three-day losing streak with a 1% rise as a weaker yen supported exporters.

Oil’s losses mounted to around 12% for the week after the International Energy Agency warned that global inventories “are set to keep building at least until late 2016.”

Adding to that was another fall in China’s yuan, taking its loss against the dollar to one percent this week as Beijing wrestles with a continued outflow of capital on its slowing economy.

Late Friday in Beijing, the People’s Bank of China indicated that it would soon begin to weigh the yuan, or renminbi, against a

The Dow Chemical logo is displayed on a board above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York REUTERS basket of currencies instead of pegging it to the dollar.

“The bilateral renminbi-US dollar exchange rate is not considered a good indicator of the international parity of tradable goods,” the bank said in a note on its website.

Analysts said that stirred more instability in secondary currencies.

Oil skids towards 11-year low as IEA warns of worse glut n

Reuters, New York

Oil prices extended their freefall on Friday, flirting with 11-year lows, after the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that global oversupply of crude could worsen next year.

Brent and US crude’s West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell as much as 5% on the day and 12% on the week as mild pre-winter weather and a plummeting US stock market added to the toll on oil prices.

Oil traders and analysts alike have been perplexed by oil’s decline since the Dec 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries which all but abandoned price support for crude by removing OPEC’s production ceiling in an oversupplied market.

“It’s very tough to find a cause to get bullish here,” said Peter Donovan, broker at Liquidity Energy in New York.

“The bearish IEA report has put further selling pressure on an already soft market.

The back months have actually been hit a bit harder than the fronts as the report dispelled thoughts that a price recovery was on the not-too-distant horizon.”

Brent’s front month LCOc1 slipped below $38 a barrel for the first time since December 2008, settling down $1.80, or 4.5%, at $37.93.

2004 Low beckons

Brent’s session low was $37.36 - barely a dollar above the $36.20 hit during the financial crisis. If Brent falls below that level in the coming week, that will be its lowest since mid-2004, when it traded at around $34 a barrel.

WTI’s front-month CLc1 settled in the $35 territory the first time since February 2009.

The contract finished the session down $1.14, or 3 percent, at $35.62, after hitting an intraday low at $35.35. WTI’s financial crisis low was $32.40 in December 2008.

A year ago, Brent and US crude were trading at around $60 a barrel, and during early summer 2014, above $100. Now, WTI contracts through 2024 are under $60.

Friday’s only positive news was data showing U.S. drillers have reduced the number of oil rigs operating in the country for a 14th week out of 15, reaching the smallest number since April 2010. The market pared some losses on that.

Demand slowing

The IEA, which advises developed nations on energy, warned that demand growth was starting to slow.

“Consumption is likely to have peaked in the third quarter and demand growth is expected to slow to a still-healthy 1.2 million bpd (barrels per day) in 2016, as support from sharply falling oil prices begins to fade,” the energy watchdog said in its monthly oil report.

Crude prices have fallen with little restraint since OPEC abandoned its output ceiling of 30 million bpd. Led by No 1 crude exporter Saudi Arabia and other big Middle East oil producers such as Iran and Iraq, the group pumped 31.7 million bpd in November. That was more oil than in any month pumped by OPEC since late 2008. l

“Following the shock devaluation back in August, China’s interventions are continuing to cause FX market instability,” said Nawaz Ali, at Western Union Business Solutions.

Gregori Volokhine of Meeschaert Financial Services said “the energy market is down, the commodities market is down, and the yuan is falling much more than expected.”

“All of this is creating more deflationary pressure,” he added.

Traders were also positioning themselves before next Wednesday’s expected interest rate hike, the first in nine years, from the US Federal Reserve.

The stock selloff was much broader than oil firms, hitting a wide range of shares, with banks taking a heavy hit.

The newest mega-merger, between venerable US industrial heavyweights Dow Chemical and DuPont failed to boost their shares.

The all shares-based tieup will create the world’s largest chemicals group, DowDuPont, valued at $130 billion and surpassing Germany’s BASF in sales.

Despite analysts’ praise for the deal, shares of both fell: Dow Chemical ended 2.8% lower and Dow member DuPont gave up 5.5%.

In London, Old Mutual insurance and banking firm slumped 10.62% to 155.70 pence with its close exposure to South Africa, where the surprise removal this week of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister caused consternation.

French automaker Renault lost 5.3% despite saying it had reached an agreement with its alliance partner Nissan and the Paris government to defuse tensions sparked by France raising its stake in the automaker.

Among tech shares, US-traded Alibaba lost 5.4% after announcing it would buy Hong Kong’s leading English-language newspaper. l

The Fed Awakens n Reuters, London

After years of waiting, it’s finally here. No, not the new “Star Wars” movie: Fed week.

Barring a shock, the Federal Reserve will raise US interest rates on Wednesday for the first time since June 2006, a full year before the global financial crisis began.

Data releases will meanwhile give clues to the robustness of other economies, some of which are seen as vulnerable to investment outflows as higher interest rates make US assets more attractive. Especially in emerging markets, where currencies and other assets have plunged in value this year, that process has already started.

The weekend should see Chinese industrial output and retail sales numbers while markets will watch the second round of French regional elections in which tactical voting may defeat far-right first round victor Marine le Pen’s National Front.

The Bank of Japan’s tankan survey on Monday is expected to show business sentiment among big manufacturers receding for the second consecutive quarter, reflecting China’s slowdown and lackluster domestic demand.

After unexpectedly strong readings in November, the monthly Ifo and ZEW surveys are expected to show German business and economic morale remain relatively robust although they may fall short of last month.

The Ifo jumped to 109 in November, its highest since June 2014, shrugging off an economic slowdown in China, the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the Islamist attacks in Paris, while the ZEW rose for the first time in seven months.

“Weaker growth in the emerging markets and easing tailwinds from the FX market will weigh on business sentiment. Thus, the Ifo business climate and the Purchasing Managers’ Indices for the euro zone probably fell in December,” said Commerzbank analysts in a note.

Flash PMIs for France, Germany and the euro zone are due on Wednesday, hours before the Fed announces its decision.

Thursday’s survey of French business sentiment will be the first taken in the euro zone’s second-largest economy since the attacks that killed 130 people in its capital on Nov 13.

Wednesday also brings the final reading of November euro zone inflation, after an initial release on Dec 3 showed annual price growth at a lower than expected 0.1% and core inflation - excluding volatile energy - unexpectedly slowing.

That helped prompt further stimulus measures from the European Central Bank last week, one of 43 central banks which in contrast to the Fed have loosened monetary policy this year to help spur inflation and growth.

The coming week sees rate decisions from the central banks of Japan, Uganda, Sweden, Norway, Hungary, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt and Chile, some of which are already battling to support currencies hit by expectations of a US hike.

Franklin Templeton’s star bond investor Michael Hasenstab said recently that higher US rates would magnify differences between emerging market economies in 2016, although he said concerns about a “systemic crisis” were exaggerated. l

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Business

China industrial output rebounds after stimulus n AFP, Beijing China’s industrial production surprised yesterday with its best showing since June, the latest indication that government stimulus measures may be driving a mild recovery in the world’s second largest economy.

Output at factories, workshops and mines increased 6.2% last month from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, the first increase since August and a significant jump from October’s figure of 5.6 percent.

The figures, which came on robust production of automobiles, synthetic fibres and non-ferrous metals, were higher than the 5.7% increase forecasted by economists in a survey by Bloomberg News.

Accompanied by higher than expected numbers for retail sales, the figures cap off a good week for economic data from China, a leading

engine of global expansion whose slowing growth has raised concerns in world markets.

Authorities are trying to transform the country’s growth model to a slower but more sustainable one driven by consumption rather than infrastructure investment, but the transition to the “new normal” is proving bumpy.

Overcapacity in manufacturing, a slowdown in the country’s property market and mounting local government debt are among the factors that have weighed on growth.

But the country is working towards “a phasing out of the old economy and a phasing in of the new economy,” Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News ahead of the announcement.

Saturday’s data was suggestive of what such a transition might look like.

Retail sales rose 11.2% in November to

their highest level this year, the data showed, after last month’s “Single’s Day” generated more than $14bn in sales.

The November 11 national online shopping festival has evolved into the globe’s biggest since e-commerce giant Alibaba began using the date in 2009 to promote sales through its platforms.

The more than $14bn worth of merchandise volume this year smashed through last year’s tally of $9.3bn, according to figures provided by the company.

Online sales increased by 34.5% during the period from January to November, the data from the NBS showed.

While consumer sales figures grew, fixed asset investment remained moribund, increasing 10.2% in the period from January to November, the same pace as was reported in October, according to the statistics.

‘Stopped from slipping’

Saturday’s announcement followed good news for car sales and bank lending earlier in the week, increasing perceptions that government stimulus measures are taking hold.

Beijing has implemented six interest rate cuts since November last year and cut vehicle purchase taxes earlier this year.

And on Friday, the country’s central bank signalled it may loosen the yuan’s peg to the US dollar, measuring it instead against a basket of currencies of its major trading partners.

“China’s economy is stabilising, and has stopped from slipping,” Shen Jianguang, chief Asia economist at Mizuki Securities in Hong Kong, told Blomberg News. “We’re going to see clearer improvements in the next few months as the government keeps cutting interest rates and reserve requirements as well as adopting more proactive fiscal policies.” l

CORPORATE NEWS

AB Bank has recently donated 25 thousand pieces of blankets to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The bank’s chairperson, M Wahidul Haque handed over a sample blanket to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban

NCC Bank has recently donated twenty five thousand blankets to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for distributing among cold-hit distressed people in the country. The bank’s vice chairperson, Sohela Hossain and its director, Abdus Salam handed over a sample blanket to Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina at Ganabhaban

NRBC Bank (NRB Commercial Bank Limited) has recently opened its 37th branch at Jubilee Road, Chittagong. The bank’s chairperson, Engr Farasath Ali inaugurated the branch

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) and Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) have recently signed an agreement for e-payment of admission fees/tuition fees through DBBL Nexus Gateway by using DBBL Nexus Debit Card, DBBL Mobile Banking Account, MasterCard and Visa card.

Commandant of MIST, Major General Md Abdul Quadir and the bank’s MD, KS Tabrez were present on the occasion among others

Social Islami Bank Limited has recently held its 355th board meeting. The bank’s chairperson, Major Dr Md Rezaul Haque (retd) presided over the meeting

National Bank Limited has recently held a conference for its managers in Khulna and Rajshahi regions.

The bank’s additional managing director, Md Badiul Alam inaugurated the conference as chief guest

Annoying co-workers All 9, and how to deal with them

n Farhan Rahman The know-it-all The type of person you want to high five their face, with a sauce pan. They will do anything to tell you that they are/were/will be right on any topic. If you go to a Manchester United game, they’ll tell you they once sat at the front and even called who would score the winning goal.

The only way to handle knowit-alls is to be ready. Prepare your facts, make sure they are airtight and cannot be disputed.

Even if you are right, and so is everyone around you, just smile and nod at their exaggerated claims.

The invader They will invade your personal space at all costs, that is their mission in life. You’re busy at work and oblivious to your surroundings when BAM! They storm into your personal space and start chatting about, sometimes crashing into the seat next to you, or blocking the narrow opening of your cubicle.

Think like Sir Matt Busby. The best defense is a good offense. When you think the invader is approaching, make your office unwelcome. Place your purse or your briefcase and personal items on the spare seat or the available space on your desk to stop them parking in your office for hours.

The bully This is NOT the average bully who gave you wedgies back in high school.

Office bullies have some form of authority and use it as a weapon.

They’re the worst of all the characters as they are not easy to avoid. Something even worse would be if the bully was your boss.

You shouldn’t be afraid to give it back to the bully. Don’t start a pointless argument and try to portray that you are not offended by their jabs. Simply walk away and take the high road or hit them back with a witty remark.

The gossip They somehow know everything about everyone and shamelessly share this information with whoever listens. Gossips can camouflage to suit the situations they are in and wait like a sneaky little reptile to trap someone.

Avoid the gossips altogether. If you happen to see a group of gossips approaching, simply excuse yourself by “answering an important call.”

The loud talker Sam and Samantha broke up. Samantha grew tired of Sam’s antics and to top it off, long distance was no piece of cake. You only know about this because Samantha talked to her best friend over the phone and you heard it from five cubicles away. That is the best definition of loud.

Tell them the problem straight to their face. Politely explain that they are being too loud and well, embarrassing themselves and disrupting everyone’s concentration in the process.

The stud Studs walk into the room slowly, wearing so much cologne that makes your nose sting and eyes water. They are not necessarily good looking nor do they always get women light headed with buckling knees. They think they can wipe the floor with David Beckham and don’t often realise that their behavior almost crosses to the lines of sexual harassment.

Studs are actually very insecure. One gentle push, and they are likely to cry it out. You should never encourage their behavior by playing along. Instead, throw quick witty jabs at him to throw them off their game.

The BFF Be it because of your exaggerated good looks or general awesomeness, this person has decided to make you his best friend, a member of his wolf pack. You must be so lucky. The BFF can get very annoying very quickly - personally following you around the office, emailing you weird pictures of cats titled “this is hilarious,” and what not.

There are only two ways to get rid of the best friend, yes, just two. Politely reject their advances or alert the boss if it becomes too serious.

The mailer The mailer is a mildly mannered and generally inoffensive person, who in front of the keyboard becomes the most influential and creative person to ever grace the Internet. These people are usually the first to complain and the last to help.

Email ranters are wimps disguised as overconfident imbeciles. If the rant is directed towards to you, face the ranter in person.

There is no need to be offensive, they will turn into a soft marshmallow the second you confront them.

The overqualified Everyone loves to see a overly adored child who took six years to graduate from college strutting into their dad’s company, past some guy who worked there for decades, and occupy the cozy corner office. In your professional career, you are bound to meet someone who is only there as he/she knows someone high up and has the false arrogance of being the boss of everyone and everything.

The key is to befriend this person. Try to find some common ground, football, passion for cars etc, and cozy up to them.

Use this to forge a connection which may loosen them up and make them slightly more tolerable. l

19

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Career

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

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20

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

CROSSWORD Across 1 Undermines (4) 6 Uncooked (3) 7 Surging movement (4) 9 Golf club (4) 10 Swift (5) 11 Commence (5) 12 Day before (3) 14 Corolla leaf (5) 17 Gets up (5) 20 Unwell (3) 21 Interior decoration (5) 23 Restrict (5) 25 Tree (4) 26 Mine entrance (4) 27 Nourished (3) 28 Tidings (4)

Down 1 Arachnid (6) 2 Examines searchingly (6) 3 Of sound mind (4) 4 Opening (3) 5 Was ahead (3) 7 Decline in power (4) 8 Essential (5) 10 Tear (3) 13 Very bright (5) 15 Long angry speech (6) 16 Peruvian animals (6) 18 Revise and correct (4) 19 Become firm (3) 22 Frank (4) 23 Lacking discipline (3) 24 Mingle (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 17 represents L so fill L 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

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World 21

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

INSIDE

Saudi holds first ever election open to women n AFP, Riyadh

Yemen rebels say truce depends on aggression ending Yemen’s Iran-backed Shiite rebels will only commit to a ceasefire expected next week if loyalists and the Saudi-led coalition supporting them end their aggression, their spokesman said on Saturday.

PAGE 22

High-level inter-Korean talks fail to reach agreement Two days of rare, high-level talks between North and South Korea aimed at easing cross-border tensions broke up Saturday with no agreement and no set date for further discussions.

PAGE 23

Covered from head to toe and driven by male guardians, Saudi women voted Saturday for the first time, in a tentative step towards easing sex discrimination in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom.

In another first, women were allowed to stand as candidates in the polls for municipal councils, the country’s only elected public chambers.

“Now women have a voice,” Awatef Marzooq told AFP after casting her ballot for the first time at a school in the capital.

“I cried. This is something that we only used to see on television taking place in other countries.”

Despite the presence of female contenders for the first time, Marzooq said she picked a male candidate because of his ideas including more nurseries.

“I voted for a man, but I hope a woman will win,” she said.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.

It was the last country to allow only men to vote.

In a reminder of the continued gap between the two sexes, polling stations were segregated.

Outside one centre for women in Riyadh, cars driven by men arrived every few minutes with female voters dressed in black robes.

Some of the women asked the media not to take their photograph before they were whisked away.

- ‘Breaking the barrier’ Mohammed al-Shammari, who had just dropped off his daughter, a teacher, said he had encouraged her to vote.

“We want to break this barrier,” he said.

“As long as she has her own place and there is no mixing with men, what pre-

Saudi women leave a polling station after casting their votes during municipal elections, in Riyadh, December 12 REUTERS vents her from voting? We support anything that does not violate sharia (Islamic law),” he said.

More than 900 women are running, competing with nearly 6,000 men for seats.

They overcame a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.

Female candidates could not directly meet any male voters during their campaigns.

“This is really silly,” said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women’s rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

She said men and women were already mixing to a degree in the workplace, supermarkets and other locations, although restaurants, banks and other public places include separate sections for “families” and single men.

Nasief said the election campaign was “not

really” fair because of the segregation and a rule against any candidates publishing their own picture, but it “felt really good” to vote.

Female voters said registration was hindered by bureaucratic obstacles, a lack of awareness of the process and its significance, and the fact that women could not drive themselves to sign up.

As a result, women account for less than 10% of registered voters and few, if any, female candidates are expected to be elected.

“Even if men take all the seats, I feel we still won,” said Munifa, a nurse who lives outside Hafr al-Batin city in the kingdom’s northeast.

One-third of seats on Saudi Arabia’s 284 councils are appointed by the municipal affairs ministry, leaving women optimistic that they will at least be assigned some of them. l

Russia slams Riyadh talks as not representing entire Syria opposition Nepal’s fuel crisis will push almost a million people into poverty With a large cone-shaped bamboo basket strapped to her back, Nirmala Bhandari treks two hours every day from her village to a protected forest in the hills, heaving it back filled with enough firewood to cook food for her three children.

PAGE 24

n AFP, Moscow Russia on Saturday slammed as unrepresentative the talks held this week in Saudi Arabia among Syrian political and armed opposition groups which culminated with a call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

“We cannot agree with an attempt made by the group that gathered in Riyadh to monopolise the right to speak on behalf of the entire Syrian opposition,” said the foreign ministry in Moscow, which supports Assad.

Gathered in the Saudi capital for the first major talks among various political and armed factions, representatives on Thursday agreed a framework for negotiations sought by world powers.

But the opposition groups insisted that Assad and his aides quit power “with the start of the transition period” set out by world powers in Vienna last month.

The United States welcomed the Riyadh accord but warned that some problems remain to be resolved between the opposition forces if UN-backed peace talks are to resume next week.

Russia had said it would confirm whether next week’s planned meeting of the 17 nations of the International Syrian Support Group could go ahead after the rebel talks.

But on Saturday Moscow did not say whether the meeting would be held and instead took issue with the Riyadh talks, saying the opposition groups had continued to

insist on a “number of preconditions.”

Moscow also said the talks did not include members of the so-called “patriotic Syrian opposition” seen as friendly towards Assad.

The Kurdish Democratic Union Party did not attend the talks either, the foreign ministry said. “The organisers did not send them an invitation having faced opposition from Turkey,” it said in a statement.

By contrast, Moscow said the negotiations were attended by controversial groups such as the Saudi-backed Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel force, which includes hardline Islamists and the Ahrar al-Sham force, one of Syria’s most important rebel groups, which Moscow accused of shooting at its embassy in Damascus. l

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

World

Yemen rebels say truce depends on aggression ending n AFP, Sanaa Yemen’s Iran-backed Shiite rebels will only commit to a ceasefire expected next week if loyalists and the Saudi-led coalition supporting them end their aggression, their spokesman said on Saturday.

The ceasefire was announced by the government earlier this week to coincide with UN-mediated peace talks in Switzerland on Tuesday.

“We will stop (fighting) when the aggression against us stops,” Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesman for the Ansarullah party, told a news conference in the rebel-held Yemeni capital before heading to Switzerland for the talks.

“Based on what has been agreed, there will be a halt to the aggression on December 14 which will be confirmed within 24 hours before we begin a serious and positive dialogue,” he said.

Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mekhlafi told AFP “there is an agreement on a ceasefire to begin Monday.”

“From our side, we wish a ceasefire would start even from now,” said Mekhlafi, adding that he hoped the rebels, known as Huthis, would commit.

UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said this week that Riyadh had promised to observe the ceasefire and pause its aerial assault on rebel positions during talks.

A swift halt to the fighting, which has dramatically escalated since a Saudi-led coalition began bombarding insurgents in March, was imperative for those caught up in the conflict, he said.

The United Nations, citing data compiled from health facilities, says more than 5,800 people have been killed in Yemen, about half of them civilians, and more than 27,000 wounded since March.

Escalation ahead of talks

But coalition strikes and clashes between loyalists and rebels intensified across several parts of Yemen Saturday, military sources said.

A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen’s capital Sanaa “The rebels are attacking loyalist positions as the consultations approach,” one of them said. “They are trying to make gains on the ground during this period.”

The coalition pounded rebel positions in the eastern oil-rich Marib province and on the west coast in strategic Taez province overlooking the Red Sea, military and rebel sources told AFP. In Daleh, 12 rebels and three pro-government fighters were killed as loyalists advanced on the province’s second-largest city Damt, seized by

rebels in November, military sources said.

Loyalists also advanced in Marib, taking several positions in western parts of the province, the sources said.

But late Friday, rebels recaptured the Shuraija region of Taez, military sources said.

It links the province with Lahj in the south, home to the key Al-Anad air base where Arab coalition troops are deployed.

Four pro-government forces and three rebels died in the fighting, the sources added.

The talks are to be held for an indefinite

Egypt jails two policemen for beating lawyer to death n AFP, Cairo An Egyptian court sentenced two officers with the secret police to five years in prison on Saturday for beating to death an imprisoned lawyer, the second such verdict in a week.

The two officers, a lieutenant colonel and captain with the national security force, had been accused of torturing Karim Hamdi to death in a Cairo police station in February.

He had been held on suspicion of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood movement, which the military had ousted from power in 2013.

Both defendants had been released on bail during the course of the trial and it was not clear when they would be detained. They can appeal the ruling.

The verdict came two days after another court sentenced an officer to five years in prison for beating a prisoner to

death in a police station.

There has been an increase in reports of beatings and deaths in detention in recent months, prompting President Abdel Fatah

The brutal killing of a young man in 2010 at the hands of two policemen, had fuelled an 18-day uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 al-Sisi and the interior ministry to pledge they would hold to account those responsible.

The prosecution referred on Thursday

nine policemen to trial on charges of beating a detainee to death in a police station in the southern town of Luxor.

Long running police abuses, including the brutal killing of a young man in 2010 at the hands of two policemen, had fuelled an 18day uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Mubarak was succeeded in 2012 by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, who lasted a year in power before his ouster by the military following massive rallies demanding the Islamist’s resignation.

Morsi’s overthrow unleashed a deadly crackdown on his supporters and thousands have been detained, and accusations of ill treatment in prisons are common.

The interior ministry has said it does not condone torture but says there have been “individual” cases of abuses. l

REUTERS

period of time and away from the media in an undisclosed Swiss location. They will focus on four main areas, including the terms for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of armed groups from the areas under their control, a reference mainly to the Huthis.

Participants will include Huthis, representatives of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s internationally recognised government and officials from the General People’s Congress party headed by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. l

Former Kazakh PM sentenced to 10 years in prison n AFP, Astana Kazakhstan has sentenced former prime minister Serik Akhmetov to 10 years in prison, a court said Saturday, the first time a former official of such stature will serve jail time in the country.

On Friday, a court in the industrial city of Karaganda found Akhmetov guilty on four corruption-related charges including embezzlement and abuse of power, in a huge case involving more than 20 defendants in the energy-rich state. State television showed Akhmetov, 57, who filled the prime minister’s role in 2012-14, begging for mercy from President Nursultan Nazarbayev while maintaining his innocence. Earlier this year corruption scandals engulfed preparations for EXPO 2017, a sustainable energy-themed exposition to be held in the capital Astana in mid-2017, which Kazakhstan expects to attract delegations from more than 100 countries. l

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World

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

SOUTH ASIA

Bomb kills soldier, wounds four in SW Pakistan At least one soldier was killed and four others wounded including a passerby when a bomb exploded at a paramilitary checkpoint in southwest Pakistan, police said. The bomb, planted close to the Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoint went off early Saturday when soldiers reached the site for daily duty in Quetta, the main town of oil and gas rich Baluchistan province, senior police official Abdul Waheed Khattak told AFP. -AFP

INDIA

70,000 Indian Muslim clerics issue fatwa against IS South Korean Vice Unification Minister Hwang Boogi, left, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Jon Jong Su during their meeting at the Kaesong Industrial Complex in Kaesong, North Korea REUTERS

High-level inter-Korean talks fail to reach agreement n AFP, Seoul Two days of rare, high-level talks between North and South Korea aimed at easing cross-border tensions broke up Saturday with no agreement and no set date for further discussions.

South Korea’s chief delegate, Hwang Boo-Gi, suggested North Korean intransigence over what issues could be discussed had contributed to the failure of the meeting in the jointly-run Kaesong industrial zone.

He also said it was Pyongyang who had rejected the idea of resuming the dialogue next week.

The vice-minister-level talks, with a mandate to address a broad but unspecified range of inter-Korean issues, were the first of their type for nearly two years.

While no substantial breakthrough had been expected, there had been hopes of some tangible progress with both sides seeking the resumption of stalled cooperation projects that have significant symbolic and financial value.

The cash-strapped North wanted the

South to resume lucrative tours to its scenic Mount Kumgang resort, which Seoul suspended in 2008 after a female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean guard.

South Korea, meanwhile, wanted the North to agree to regular reunions for families separated by the Korean War. Speaking to reporters at the talks venue, Hwang said the North Korean side had insisted on linking the two issues and making a resolution of the Mount Kumgang question a pre-condition for discussing the reunions.

“They insisted that the two sides reach an agreement on the resumption of the tours first,” Hwang said.

“Our side stressed that the humanitarian issue of separated families and the resumption of the tours to Mount Kumgang are different in nature and should not be bundled together,” he added.

There was no immediate comment from the North Korean side.

Hwang said he had offered to resume discussions on Monday, but the North Korean delegation “conveyed its decision there was no need to continue talks.”

The failure to set a date for continuing the dialogue will be a disappointment for those who saw an opportunity to put inter-Korean relations on a more constructive footing.

Previous efforts to establish a regular dialogue have also tended to falter after an initial meeting – reflecting decades of animosity and mistrust between two countries that have remained technically at war since the end of the 1950-53 Korean conflict.

When they shook hands at their first session on Friday morning, Hwang had declared it was time to “take a crucial step,” while his North Korean counterpart Jon Jong-Su underlined the opportunity to move towards a less confrontational relationship.

There was no indication that the two sides had discussed the elephant in the room for any North-South dialogue – Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

The talks started a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said the country had developed a hydrogen bomb – a claim treated with scepticism by US and South Korean intelligence officials. l

Trump’s Dubai real estate partner strips his image, name from luxury golf project site n Reuters, Dubai A Dubai real estate firm building a $6 billion golf complex with Donald Trump on Thursday stripped the property of his name and image amid a backlash over the US presidential candidate’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

Trump triggered an international uproar when he made his comments in response to last week’s deadly shootings in California by two Muslims who authorities said were radicalised.

DAMAC Properties had initially said it would stand by Trump, even as another of the billionaire’s Middle East partners, the

Lifestyle chain of department stores, halted sales of his “Trump Home” line on Wednesday in protest at his comments.

A spokesman for DAMAC Properties, Niall McLoughlin, declined to comment on why Trump’s image had been removed from a billboard outside the project construction site, along with that of his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

The AKOYA by DAMAC project will include a Trump-branded golf course, gated island community and spa. Trump is also building a second golf course, the Tiger Woods-designed Trump World Golf Club, at another DAMAC property in Dubai, AKOYA Oxygen.

An advertising billboard outside the AKOYA by DAMAC development had shown Trump in a red hat swinging a golf club against a backdrop of a lush green golf course.

By Thursday, the image had gone, a Reuters photographer said.

An adjacent photo of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, an executive vice president for his Trump Organization firm, was also removed from the billboard.

Gold letters spelling out “Trump International Golf Club,” affixed to a landscaped stone wall at the entrance to the project site, were also removed later in the day, according to the Reuters photographer. l

Nearly 70,000 Indian Muslim clerics have signed a fatwa against IS and other terror groups saying they were not Islamic organisations. Around 1.5 million Muslims visiting a shrine dedicated to a Sufi Islamic saint near the city of Ajmer in north western state of Rajasthan during the Urs religious festival have signed a petition against terrorist attacks.They said Western powers should focus on stopping the terrorists but not at the cost of civilian lives.

-TOI

CHINA

Police arrest ex-cheif of China’s leading bank Chinese police have arrested a former chief of one of China’s top investment banks, according to reports, the latest move against leading businessmen in the world’s second largest economy following a market crash earlier this year. Authorities held Xue Rongnian, who headed Ping An Securities from 2008 to 2011, on suspicion of insider trading in connection to two cement businesses, respected business magazine Caixin reported Friday. Police in Anhui province took him into custody around November 20, the magazine said.

-AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

Taiwanese rally against food scandal acquittal Hundreds of Taiwanese took to the streets to protest the acquittal of a tycoon accused of selling tainted cooking oil, in a string of food scandals that has sparked widespread anger.

Wei Ying-chung, ex-chairman of Ting Hsin Oil and Fat Industrial Company, was found not guilty last month along with five others by a district court in central Taiwan. He could have faced a 30-year jail term if convicted.

Prosecutors have appealed the ruling, as a fresh wave of public outcry against the company surfaced with consumers boycotting its products. Taiwan’s government passed a tougher food safety law in 2013 but the public has demanded an amendment to raise jail terms and fines further.

- AFP

MIDDLE EAST

15 killed by car bomb in Syria’s Homs A large car bomb exploded near a hospital in the central Syrian city of Homs on Saturday, killing 15 people and wounding dozens, the provincial governor told AFP. Talal Barazi said the blast, which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Zahraa – where most residents belong to the same Alawite sect as President Bashar al-Assad – killed 15 civilians and wounded at least 64.

-AFP

DT

24

World

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

USA

Saudi Prince Alwaleed calls Trump a disgrace Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has called Donald Trump a disgrace to the United States following his call for a ban on Muslims entering the country, and demanded the Republican front-runner withdraw from the US presidential race. “You are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America,” Prince Alwaleed, the chairman of Kingdom Holding, said on his Twitter account, addressing Trump and referring to the Republican Party. “Withdraw from the U.S presidential race as you will never win,” the prince added. Within hours, Trump’s response came back, also on Twitter. “Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our US politicians with daddy’s money,” he said.

“Can’t do it when I get elected.”

-REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Chile plans hydropower plant Building a $400m hydroelectric power plant in the world’s most arid desert may seem like an engineering debacle, but Chile sees it as a revolutionary way to generate green energy. The idea is to take advantage of the Atacama Desert’s unique geography to solve one of the most sticky problems of renewable energies like solar and wind power: inconsistency. Chilean energy company Valhalla wants to use solar power to pump water from the Pacific Ocean into two reservoirs high in the Andes mountains.

-AFP

UK

Britain’s phone hacking probe ends Britain’s mammoth phone-hacking probe finally came to an end Friday after a four-year investigation that rocked the political and media establishment to the core. Prosecutors announced they would take no further action over remaining allegations, and Scotland Yard confirmed it has closed the files on the huge investigation. England’s state prosecutors also said there would be no further action against 10 journalists from the rival Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) stable – among them former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan.

-AFP

EUROPE

Man linked to ‘Jihad Jane’ detained in Spain Spain on Friday said it had detained an alleged jihadist wanted by Washington for conspiring with a woman known as “Jihad Jane” to recruit people online for attacks in Europe and South Asia. Ali Charaf Damache, who holds both Algerian and Irish nationality, was detained on Thursday in Barcelona, said Jordi Jane, who heads interior matters for the regional government.

-AFP

AFRICA

Dozens of corpses lie in streets day after Burundi attacks At least 39 dead bodies were seen lying in the streets of the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, on Saturday, witnesses said, a day after coordinated armed assaults on three military bases. Witnesses and journalists in Nyakabiga, a hotspot neighbourhood for anti-government protests in recent months, reported seeing at least 20 corpses, some apparently shot at close range.

-AFP

A worker makes an electric cooking heater using clay at a workshop in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The demand for the electric stove, which is a popular alternative device for cooking, has grown after the ongoing cooking gas and fuel shortages REUTERS

Nepal’s fuel crisis will push almost a million people into poverty n Reuters, Jhor With a large cone-shaped bamboo basket strapped to her back, Nirmala Bhandari treks two hours every day from her village to a protected forest in the hills, heaving it back filled with enough firewood to cook food for her three children.

Despite knowing timber collection in this forest is illegal and wood stoves cause deadly indoor pollution, the 35-year-old widow says she has no choice since a shortage of cooking gas hit Nepal more than two months ago.

“My children and I spent three days outside a fuel shop for cooking gas but did not get any,” she said in a village in Jhor, 12 km (7 miles) from Kathmandu.

“If there is a problem collecting wood then I may have to feed them only alternate meals,” said Bhandari, explaining that guards at the Shivapuri National Park have already warned her to stop hacking off tree branches in the fast-depleting forests.

Bhandari’s family is among hundreds of thousands in the impoverished Himalayan nation crippled by a shortage of basic commodities after Nepal adopted a new constitution, sparking protests by the Madhesi minority, who say it marginalises them.

The crisis has prompted the United Nations to express deep concern over what it said is a “critical” shortage of lifesaving medicines and fuel, and warns this could put at least three million children at risk of illness in the coming winter months.

Experts say this economic and humanitarian crisis is likely to have a much wider and longerterm impact.

“The fuel shortage will push more than 800,000 people below the poverty line. This is our estimate based on the study of the losses faced by agriculture, industry and service sectors,” said Trilochan Pangeni, a spokesman for Nepal’s Central Bank.

Fuel queues, fixed meals In streets of the capital Kathmandu, the crisis is evident.

Thousands of residents line up with empty gas cylinders outside fuel depots every day only to be told that the elusive tankers have not arrived from across the Indian border.

With authorities imposing a ration on fuel, motorists line up in queues stretching more than two kilometers outside petrol stations.

On the black market, petrol and diesel smuggled in jerry cans from India sells up to five times the normal price. The cost of commodities like cooking oil have soared amid fears inflation could hit double digits by the end of the year.

Even ready-to-eat items like noodles have disappeared from the shop shelves.

The fuel shortage has led to buses cutting down services, forcing commuters to sit on roofs.

Taxis are no longer an option for many as they can’t afford paying six times the normal fare.

Tour operators say the country’s key economic pillar, tourism, is already suffering. On average, 800,000 tourists visit Nepal annually, contributing 4% to the GDP. Domestic airlines have reduced the number of flights, and hotels are offering only fixed menus to beat the fuel shortage.

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry says more than 2,200 industries producing food items, plastic goods, edible oil, iron ores and cement have closed down, throwing 220,000 workers out of work.

Wedged between China and India, Nepal is recovering from a decade-long conflict between Maoist rebels and government forces which ended in 2006.

Years of political instability have slowed development efforts and two deadly earthquakes in April and May this year, have further hampered efforts to lift 25% of the country’s 28 million people out of poverty.

Surgeries postponed, vaccines low The government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has offered to amend the threemonth-old charter to address some of the key concerns of the ethnic Madhesi protesters.

Several rounds of negotiations between the government and protest leaders have failed

amid differences over how to change the internal boundaries of newly created federal states.

Protesters say the entire southern plain region, Nepal’s bread basket, must not be split into more than two federal provinces. They now form part of six of the seven provinces dominated by hill dwellers.

Many in Nepal blame India for supporting the Madhesis, who share close familial, cultural and linguistic ties with India, by refusing to divert oil tankers to other border points where there are no protesters.

New Delhi denies the charges saying Nepal should instead resolve its constitutional crisis through talks and create a safe passage for tankers and trucks to roll into the country.

Nepal received 1,000 tonnes of fuel from China to beat the immediate shortage and is negotiating regular imports with Beijing, ending a decades-old Indian monopoly over fuel supply.

Authorities are also distributing wood to some residents and is turning to Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh for fuel supplies.

A power cut for nine hours every day has added to the worsening plight of residents who had switched to induction cookers that run on electricity.

Many power plants as well as development projects have ground to a halt due to the fuel crisis. Even transporting relief materials like warm clothes and blankets to quake victims has been impossible, said aid agencies.

The blockade is also taking a toll on Nepal’s health sector, as 60% of the country’s total drug requirements are imported from India.

Pharmacists say antibiotics and drugs for illnesses such as blood pressure, diabetes, heart and kidney problems, mental illnesses as well as syringes and blood bags are critically low.

Hospitals in Kathmandu have begun delaying surgeries because of a lack of equipment and medicines.

The rising dependence on wood will also increase more indoor pollution and result in a spike in cases of pneumonia.

More than 800,000 Nepali children under five had pneumonia in 2014 and around 5,000 died, said the UNICEF. l

DT

Sport 25

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

INSIDE

Zaidi, Rony, Imrul outplay Riders Comilla Victorians displayed some brilliant cricket on way to reaching the grand finale of the 2015 BPL T20 following their comprehensive 72-run win over Rangpur Riders in Qualifier 1 yesterday.

And it was Pakistani-born English cricketer Ashar Zaidi who starred for Comilla with both bat and ball. PAGE 26

Ceni honoured by retirement send-off Sao Paulo’s record-breaking goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni believes he can look back on his career with fondness after deciding to retire. Ceni, a free-kick and penalty specialist who scored 131 goals for the Brazilian club, missed the final six matches due to injury, but was given a farewell at the Morumbi on Friday. PAGE 27

BB v DD

Norwich’s Hoolahan punishes Everton Wes Hoolahan’s scruffy equaliser prevented Everton from gaining on the Premier League’s leading sides as Roberto Martinez’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road yesterday. Victory would have taken Everton to within a point of fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur. PAGE 28

Pattinson leads Aussies to crushing innings win Recalled paceman James Pattinson claimed five wickets as the West Indies succumbed to a dispiriting innings and 212-run loss to Australia on the third day of the first Test in Hobart yesterday.

Pattinson spearheaded the Australian assault to rip apart the threadbare Windies batting. PAGE 29

Left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman (not in picture) adds one more big fish to his tally as the Dhaka Dynamites bowler cleaned up the dangerous Barisal Bulls opening batsman Chris Gayle during the BPL 2015 Eliminator at SBNS yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Barisal to fight it out with Rangpur for final spot n Minhaz Uddin Khan Barisal Bulls kept themselves alive in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League after defeating Dhaka Dynamites by 18 runs in the Eliminator yesterday. Barisal will now face Rangpur Riders in the second Qualifier today to decide the second finalist of BPL season three.

Finding the right opening pair had made Dhaka suffer throughout the tournament.

The side tried nine openers but never settle down and it hurt them badly in the crucial game, and in the process threw the Dynamites out of the tournament.

They had a tough total to chase, given the condition of the wicket at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and the decision to send pacer Abul Hasan to open with all-rounder Farhad Reza was nothing but a disaster.

The pair added only 13 runs before Kevon Copper removed Hasan.

From there Dhaka never seemed to come back into the game again as wickets fell in regular intervals. Pacer Al Amin Hossain and Cooper led the Barisal attack with three wickets each.

Earlier, Barisal went to bat first after losing the toss and despite losing opener Rony Talukdar, they posted a fighting total, thanks to Chris Gayle, Sabbir Rahman and captain Mahmudullah.

Gayle posted a fiery 31 off 19 before he was removed by pacer Mustafizur Rahman.

The occasion was the first that Gayle had faced Mustafizur and the latter ruled the roost here as he nipped off the stumps behind the giant.

Sabbir’s 39-ball 41 and Mahmudullah’s 37 off 33 propelled Barisal while Mustafizur ended with two scalps. l

BARISAL BULLS INNINGS R Rony Talukdar c Waller b Nasir Hossain 4 CH Gayle b Mustafizur Rahman 31 Sabbir c Mosaddek b Nabil Samad 41 Mahmudullah* c Farhad b Mustafizur 37 Mehedi Maruf lbw b Mosharraf 10 RR Emrit not out 9 KK Cooper not out 0 Extras (lb 3) 3 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs; 87 mins)

B 6 19 39 33 12 10 0

135

Bowling Nasir Hossain 3-1-9-1, Mosaddek Hossain 3-037-0, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-21-2, Abul Hasan 1-0-18-0, Yasir Shah 4-0-18-0, Nabil Samad 3-0-16-1, Mosharraf Hossain 1-0-6-1, Farhad Reza 1-0-7-0

DHAKA DYNAMITES INNINGS Abul Hasan c Gayle b Cooper Farhad Reza c Rony b Al-Amin Hafeez c Mehedi b Cooper KC Sangakkara* c & b Al-Amin Nasir c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin Mosaddek c Emrit b Taijul Islam MN Waller c Mehedi Maruf b Taijul Yasir Shah c Mahmudullah b Cooper Mosharraf Hossain not out Nabil Samad not out Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 5)

R 11 20 1 10 16 26 18 0 3 3 9

B 14 20 5 14 18 27 10 2 6 4

Total (8 wickets; 20 overs; 105 mins) 117

Bowling Mohammad Sami 4-0-27-0, Al-Amin Hossain 4-0-15-3, KK Cooper 4-0-17-3, RR Emrit 4-0-290, Mahmudullah 2-0-12-0, Taijul Islam 2-0-13-2 Result: Barisal Bulls won by 18 runs Player of the match: Al-Amin Hossain (Barisal)

DT

26

BPL 2015

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

COV v RR COMILLA VICTORIANS INNINGS Imrul Kayes c & b Perera Liton Das† st † Mithun b Saqlain Sajib Mashrafe Mortaza* c Shakib b Perera AD Russell c Saqlain Sajib b Perera Ashar Zaidi not out Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Perera Alok Kapali c Al-Amin b Perera Shuvagata Hom st † Mithun b Nabi Abu Hider not out Extras (lb 2, w 6, nb 1)

R 67 28 1 3 40 0 2 12 1 9

Total (7 wickets; 20 overs; 92 mins)

163

B 48 37 5 4 15 1 5 5 1

Fall of wickets 1-79, 2-87, 3-107, 4-112, 5-112, 6-126, 7-149

Bowling DJG Sammy 1-0-5-0, Md Nabi 4-0-39-1, Sunny 2-0-19-0, Shakib 4-0-42-0, Al-Amin 2-0-11-0, Saqlain Sajib 3-0-19-1, Perera 4-0-26-5

RANGPUR RIDERS INNINGS R LMP Simmons b Abu Hider 25 Soumya Sarkar c Hom b Abu Hider 9 Jahurul Islam c Abu Hider b Ashar Zaidi 9 Mohammad Mithun† st †Liton b Zaidi 5 Shakib* c Mahmudul b Ashar Zaidi 0 Mohammad Nabi c Hom b Mashrafe 12 Al-Amin b Russell 3 NLTC Perera b Abu Hider 11 DJG Sammy b Ashar Zaidi 6 Arafat Sunny b Abu Hider 7 Saqlain Sajib not out 1 Extras (w 3) 3 Total (all out; 17 overs)

B 20 8 15 10 1 11 8 13 4 10 2

91

Fall of wickets 1-36, 2-36, 3-45, 4-45, 5-62, 6-62, 7-68, 8-82, 9-84, 10-91

Bowling Shuvagata Hom 2-0-23-0, Kulasekara 2-0-10-0, Abu Hider 3-0-19-4, Ashar Zaidi 4-1-11-4, Mashrafe Mortaza 4-0-13-1, AD Russell 2-0-15-1 Result: Comilla Victorians won by 72 runs Player of the match - Ashar Zaidi (Comilla)

MOST WICKETS M

Wkts

BBI

AH Rony (CV)

11

21

4/19

T Perera (RR)

11

17

5/26 4/16

Shakib (RR)

10

17

A Zaidi (CV)

10

16

4/11

Mosharraf (DD)

10

15

4/16

An ecstatic Abu Haider Rony (L) jumps to celebrate the wicket of Thisara Perera during Comilla’s BPL 2015 Qualifier 1 against Rangpur at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Zaidi, Rony, Imrul outplay Riders Comilla win Qualifier 1 to reach final, Rangpur face Barisal in Qualifier 2 today

n Mazhar Uddin Comilla Victorians displayed some brilliant cricket on way to reaching the grand finale of the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 following their comprehensive 72-run win over Rangpur Riders in Qualifier 1 yesterday.

And it was Pakistani-born English cricketer Ashar Zaidi who starred for Comilla with both bat and ball as Rangpur were skittled out for a paltry 91 in pursuit of a challenging 163/7. Energetic left-arm seamer Abu Haider Rony was also outstanding with the leather, recording impressive bowling figures of 4/19, and in the process elevated himself to the

top of the highest wicket-takers’ tally with 21 scalps from 11 matches.

Comilla skipper Mashrafe bim Mortaza hailed Rony and said, “I always believe that pace bowlers have an art that can win matches and young bowlers have a bit of a craziness.

He added, “No matter what tournament you play, you always have a good feeling when you reach the final. [Yesterday] was an intense game as well and we targeted to win this and I am really happy having done that.”

West Indian opener Lendl Simmons was the highest scorer for the Riders with 25 runs in what was an extremely disappointing display with the willow. Besides Simmons,

only Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi and Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera reached double digits.

Earlier, Comilla made a brilliant start to their innings after being asked to bat first with opening batsmen Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das finally registering a substantial partnership in the cash-rich tournament.

Mashrafe promoted himself up at No 3 with Caribbean Andre Russell following at No 4 but both the batsmen returned without any impact. However, Zaidi refused to be bogged down by the pressure and hammered a scintillating 15-ball 40, featuring four fours and two sixes, thus enabling his side to a good total. l

Comilla were lucky, says Shakib n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Rangpur skipper Shakib al Hasan tumbles after taking a catch MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The result of the Qualifier 1 pretty much summed up the erratic batting performance Rangpur Riders produced in the BPL 2015.

Shakib al Hasan, a total flop on the day, thought Comilla Victorians were lucky to clinch the 72-run win on their way to the final.

The leading all-rounder isn’t a person known for calmness as Shakib admitted that they were frustrated when Comilla posted

163 at the end, despite the Rangpur spinners starting the game brightly.

“The biggest thing about them was that they were a bit lucky. They wielded their bat at will, and whatever didn’t hit, it missed (the stumps) and the ones that hit went to the boundary,” said Shakib. “We knew the wicket wasn’t easy to bat, but we failed to get the wickets. This had left us a bit frustrated. When they posted 160, I don’t think our players believed that we could have brought that total down.”

After remaining wicket-less and conceding 42 runs, Shakib posted a golden duck. He said, “In T20 you can have bad days. The plus point is that because the matches are backto-back, you don’t have time to think about the past. If that would have been a six everyone would have rated that as a good shot. I could have batted in a better way.”

Rangpur however, still have a chance to meet Comilla given they come back strongly in the Qualifier 2 today. l

27

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Sport

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Ceni honoured by retirement send-off n Agencies

QUICK BYTES T20 Corporate League sees run-filled third day Four matches of the Twenty20 Corporate Cricket League, organised by Clan Management Ltd and co-sponsored by Anowara Group and Kingstar Mobile, took place at the Dhaka Residential Model College ground yesterday. East West University Alumni Association (212/5) thrashed Spike Technology (155/6) by 57 runs, Bondhon Trading (174/5) beat Banglalink (160/8) by 14 runs, Shihab Corporate House Ltd (136/7) defeated Ekattor TV (135/7) by three wickets while Bando Design (129/10) edged Radio Today (119/7) by 10 runs.

–TRIBUNE REPORT

‘Platini will be suspended for several years’ Michel Platini will “be suspended for several years”, the spokesman of FIFA’s Ethics Committee Andreas Bantel told French sports daily L’Equipe on Friday in comments blasted by the Frenchman’s lawyers as politically motivated.

UEFA chief Platini and outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter are both currently serving 90-day bans while an investigation is held into a two million Swiss franc (1.8 million euro) payment from the world governing body to the French official.

–AFP

Federer excited to partner Hingis at Rio Switzerland’s two greatest tennis players will join forces at next year’s Rio Olympics when Roger Federer and Martina Hingis play together in the mixed doubles. “Roll back the years with @mhingis. Really excited to be playing mixed doubles with you 15 years later at the Rio games,” the 34-year-old Federer said on Twitter. He last played alongside his fellow Swiss at the Hopman Cup in 2001.

–REUTERS

McCullum trumps McCaw in clash of racehorses In an unusual clash of sporting codes yesterday, a racehorse owned by New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum beat another owned by All Blacks rugby captain Richie McCaw into second place in a race at the Te Rapa course near Hamilton. McCullum’s Passing Shot, at 4-1, beat McCaw’s previously unbeaten Snapshot, the favorite at 3-1, by two lengths in the six furlong or 1,200-meter race.

–AP

Smith to sit out BBL to rest knee, hip injuries Skipper Steve Smith has knee and hip problems arising from Australia’s crushing innings win over the West Indies in Hobart but said yesterday he will be fit for the next Test in Melbourne starting on Boxing Day. Smith will sit out the opening two Big Bash League Twenty20 games for the Sydney Sixers next week as a precaution as Australia faces almost a fortnight’s break before the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I am experiencing a little bit of that knee pain I had before the first Test (against New Zealand) in Brisbane,” Smith told reporters after his team’s innings and 212 run win over the West Indies in three days.

–AFP

Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni was honoured at the end of a friendly match between ‘Club World Cup football 1992-1993’ and ‘Club World Cup 2005’ at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday AFP

Name

Sao Paulo’s record-breaking goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni believes he can look back on his career with fondness after deciding to retire.

Ceni, a free-kick and penalty specialist who scored 131 goals for the Brazilian club, missed the final six Campeonato Brasileiro matches due to injury, but was given a farewell friendly at the Morumbi on Friday.

The 42-year-old was involved in three Club World Cup triumphs.

“I thought it was going to be sadder, but I felt good. I feel very accomplished as an athlete – I look at my past and I’m happy with what I did, the titles,” he said.l

Nationality

Years active

Team(s)

Goals scored

Notes

Brazil

1990–2015

Brazil, São Paulo

131

Record for a GK, record free kicks (61), record penalty (69), record club goals (131)

62

Record int’l goals (9), only goalkeeper to score a hat trick (3 goals in a single game)

42

Penalties

Rogério Ceni

José Luis Chilavert

Paraguay

1982–2004

Paraguay, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sársfield, Peñarol, Strasbourg, Sportivo Luqueno, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Guarani

Dimitar Ivankov

Bulgaria

1996–2011

Levski Sofia, Kayserispor, Bursaspor

Bangladeshi kids reach Mokh Cup final n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Under-12 and U-13 national teams swept into the plate finals of their respective categories in the Super Mokh Cup 2015. Late goals from skipper Fahim and Sakib on top of Amit’s opener ensured the U-13 boys a 3-1 win over Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in the semi-finals at National Sports Council Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.

They will face Buriram United, against whom they drew 2-2 in group stage, in the final today morning. “We played a much better

game and the game sense has also improved in most players. If they can continue this spirit then we will win the final,” Bangladesh U-13 head coach SM Zakaria said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh U-12 handed Philippine club Global FC a 3-0 drubbing at the May Bank Academy field with Shohag, Rashed and Monir netting one apiece to confirm their spot in the plate final.

Coach Mostofa Anower Pervez Babu praised his young troop and said, “The kids played really good and followed the instructions. Now we are looking forward to winning the final (today).” l

2016 ICC World T20 trophy to arrive in Bangladesh Jan 14 n Minhaz Uddin Khan The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 trophy is scheduled to tour Bangladesh on January 14 and 15 as part of its journey across the globe. The trophy will embark on its global journey in Mumbai today before returning to New Delhi on February 1. As part of the Nissan Trophy Tour, the trophy will visit 12 countries.

During its journey, the trophy will be on display in domestic and international matches, as well as at various other public places, which will enable the fans to capture a special moment with the most prestigious silverware in the shortest format of the game.

Details of the trophy’s public appearances will be announced by the host boards closer

to the time.

Pakistan will be the trophy’s first stopover in the subcontinent before it moves on to Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka.

“The Nissan ICC World T20 2016 Trophy Tour has been designed to not only promote the tournament but also to engage with our fans and provide them the first opportunity to get close to the trophy, which will be lifted by the winning captain on April 3 in Kolkata,” said ICC Chief Executive David Richardson in a media release yesterday.

“We would like to thank Nissan for their sponsorship of the Trophy Tour and we are sure it will be a big success as it travels across the world ahead of the ICC World T20 in India next year,” the ICC high-up added.l

NZ build 308-run lead n Reuters Kane Williamson became the second New Zealand batsman to score 1000 Test runs in a calendar year as the hosts built an imposing 308-run lead over Sri Lanka at the close of the third day’s play of the first Test in Dunedin.

Williamson, who achieved the milestone when he surpassed eight runs, was 48 not at the close with Tom Latham on 72 as New Zealand ended the day at a chilly and windswept University Oval on 171 for one.l

NZ v SL, DAY 3 NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS 431 (M. Guptill 156, K. Williamson 88, B. McCullum 75; Pradeep 4-112) SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS (overnight 197-4) D. Chandimal c Guptill b Southee K. Vithanage c Watling b Southee M. Siriwardana c Taylor b Wagner R. Herath c Boult b Wagner D. Chameera c Taylor b Boult S. Lakmal not out N. Pradeep c Watling b Santner Extras (b1, lb4, nb4) Total: (for 10 wickets, 117.1 overs)

R

B

83 209 22 56 35 60 15 74 14 43 18 27 3 5 9 294

Bowling Boult 22-7-52-2, Southee 27-4-71-3, Bracewell 21-6-42-0, Wagner 25-5-87-3, Santner 21.1-8-372, Williamson 1-1-0-0

NEW ZEALAND 2ND INNINGS M. Guptill b Herath T. Latham not out K. Williamson not out Extras (b1, nb4)

R 46 72 48 5

Total (1 wicket, 48 overs)

171

B 82 128 82

Bowling Lakmal 9-0-26-0, Mathews 4-1-4-0, Chameera 10-0-40-0, Pradeep 9-1-29-0, Herath 8-1-39-1, Siriwardana 7-0-28-0, Jayasundera 1-0-4-0

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Citizens back on top after frenetic finish n Reuters, London

Manchester City clambered back to the top of the Premier League yesterday after late drama at the Etihad Stadium and a deflected Yaya Toure shot earned them a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Swansea City.

Managerless Swansea, playing above themselves, had equalised deservedly in the last minute through Bafetimbi Gomis after Wilfried Bony’s first half headed goal against his old side had put City ahead.

Crystal Palace continued their best start to a Premier League season with Yohan Cabaye’s goal earning them a 1-0 win over Southampton and elevating them to sixth in the table, just six points off the lead. Odion Ighalo’s 10th goal of the campaign for Watford consigned Sunderland to yet another defeat, a 1-0 home loss leaving the north-east club still languishing in penultimate place on 12 points. l

PREMIER LEAGUE Crystal Palace

1-0

Southampton

Cabaye 38

Manchester City

2-1

Bony 26, Toure 90+2

Norwich

1-1

Hoolahan 47

Sunderland

Swansea Gomis 90

Everton Lukaku 15

0-1

Watford Ighalo 4

Swansea City’s Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski dives in vain as he fails to stop a deflected shot from Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder and captain Yaya Toure (distant 2R) during their English Premier League match at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England yesterday AFP

Barca let twogoal lead slip in Deportivo draw n Reuters, Barcelona Barcelona let a two-goal lead slip with late strikes from Lucas Perez and Alex Bergantinos giving Deportivo La Coruna a 2-2 draw in La Liga yesterday.

A Lionel Messi free kick and a bullet strike from Ivan Rakitic put Barca comfortably in control but they eased up in the closing stages and Deportivo took advantage.

The Argentine curled the ball into the top corner of the goal from 25 metres to break the resistance of a well organised Deportivo after 38 minutes.

Rakitic fired home from similar distance in the 62nd before in-form Lucas pulled a goal back for the visitors after 77 and Bergantinos equalised four minutes from the end.

Barca have 35 points from 15 games while Deportivo, who have been a surprise this season, are in sixth on 23. Second-place Atletico Madrid, on 32 points, face Athletic Bilbao today when Real Madrid, in third with 30, have a tough match away to Villarreal. l

LA LIGA Barcelona Messi 38, Rakitic 62

2-2

Deportivo Lucas Perez 77, Bergantinos 86

West Ham

0-0

Stoke

29

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Wales excited by England clash at Euro 2016

DAY’S WATCH Channel 9 Bangladesh Premier League 3

n AFP, Paris

6:45 PM Qualifier 2

The Euro 2016 draw on Saturday pitted England against Wales and Germany against Poland in two spotlight groups at the championships.

“England, Slovakia and Russia! Will be incredible, bring it on!!” said Wales defender Ben Davies on Twitter as he launched the countdown to the crunch Group B match between the British nations at Lens on June 16.

England manager Roy Hodgson paid tribute to the work of his Wales counterpart Chris Coleman in lifting the principality.

“Chris and Wales have done so well.

“Whatever team we got from pot four it would have been tough, so we might as well play someone close to home.”

Coleman said: “It’s going to a great game between two good teams. To win 10 games like they (England) did in the qualifying campaign is a fantastic return.

“England are one of the best teams, but we’re looking forward to it. When you get to a tournament, it’s that 90 minutes and you’ve got to get it right.”

World Cup winners Germany head Group C and will have to take on Poland - who they also faced in qualifying - Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

Defending champions Spain will have to take on Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia in Group D. Group E could be the most difficult to get one of the top two places however with Belgium and Italy taking on Republic of Ireland and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden. “A hard but great group for Belgium,” said Man City and Belgium skipper Vincent Kompany. l

Star Sports 1 10:30 PM Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund v Frankfurt

Star Sports 2 9:50 PM Barclays Premier League Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion

Star Sports 4 7:20 PM Barclays Premier League Aston Villa v Arsenal 9:50 PM Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United

Ten HD 12:00 PM A-League 2015/16 Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City FC 6:00 PM Sky Bet Championship Sheffield United v Coventry City 1:50 AM French Ligue 1 Paris Saint-Germain v Olympique Lyonnais

Ten Action 6:50 PM French Ligue 1 AS Monaco v AS Saint-Etienne 9:50 PM Olympique De Marseille v Gazelec FC Ajaccio

Sony Six 7:00 AM NBA season 2015/16 Chicago v New Orleans 9:30 AM Portland v New York 11:00 PM Serie A Napoli v Roma 1:30 AM Juventus v Fiorentina

Sony Six HD 5:00 PM Liga Bbva Rayo Vallecano v Malaga

Sony KIX 9:00 PM Liga Bbva Eibar v Valencia 11:30 PM Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao 1:30 AM Villarreal v Real Madrid

‘Big Phil’ plots Club World Cup ambush n AFP, Osaka Guangzhou Evergrande boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has backed his side to pull off a shock at the Club World Cup in Japan.

The 67-year-old Brazilian, known as “Big Phil” in his native country, leads the Asian champions against Mexico’s Club America in today’s quarter-finals - the reward for the winners a shot at Spanish giants Barcelona.

Victory against the Mexicans in Osaka would set up a mouth-watering clash with European champions Barcelona in Yokohama in midweek, where Scolari would be reu-

FIXTURES Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JAPAN) v TP Mazembe (CONGO) América (MEXICO) v Guangzhou Evergrande (CHINA) nited with Brazil star Neymar.

Cruelly robbed of Neymar through injury, Brazil were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in last year’s World Cup semi-finals in what Scolari, in his second spell as national coach, called the “worst day of my life”.

Pattinson spearheads Aussies to crushing innings win n AFP, Hobart Recalled paceman James Pattinson claimed five wickets as the West Indies succumbed to a dispiriting innings and 212-run loss to Australia on the third day of the first Test in Hobart yesterday.

Pattinson spearheaded the Australian assault to rip apart the threadbare Windies batting. The hapless Caribbean tourists were sent back in by Australia skipper Steve Smith

after being dismissed for 223 in the first innings to trail the home side by 360 runs.

The West Indies went into freefall in their second innings, confirming fears about their competitiveness ahead of the remaining Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

The West Indies have won just four of their last 21 Tests and went into the first Hobart Test on the back of a humbling 10-wicket loss in their only warm-up game to a modest Cricket Australia XI. l

“My life continues,” he said. “I continue with my career as a professional, no matter the country you are in. Please tell the people of Brazil I am very content.”

Scolari, who boasts a big-name line-up including former Real Madrid striker Robinho and one-time Spurs midfielder Paulinho, attempted to apply some psychological pressure on Club America.

In Sunday’s second quarter-final, Congolese side Mazembe - surprise finalists in 2010 - take on Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima for the right to play Argentina’s Libertadores Cup holders River Plate. l

BRIEF SCORE AUS v WI, DAY 3 Australia 1st innings 583/4 dec (Voges 269*, Marsh 182) West Indies 1st innings 223/9 (Bravo 108) West Indies 2nd innings 148/9 (Brathwaite 94) Result: Australia won by an innings and 212 runs Series: Australia lead 1-0 MoM: Adam Voges

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Showtime

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Awards season n Mahmood Hossain Now that the SAG and Golden Globes nominations have been announced we can sit back and analyse all we want. We also know that the Globes are a very good indicator on who might end up winning the award at the Academy Awards, the biggest award show of them all.

We’ve rounded up some nominees and predictions in who leads the race to the major awards for your consideration. l

Best Actress A couple of new faces and a couple of battle tested ones, this year’s nominees for best actress is a very intriguing bunch.

Best Picture This year, we’ve got some real contenders in the race for the best film category.

1

2

THE MARTIAN

SPOTLIGHT

4

3

BROOKLYN

THE REVENANT

6

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Brie Larson for Room Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn Cate Blanchett for Carol Jennifer Lawrence for Joy Charlotte Rampling for 45 Years

Best Actor Suave, handsome, and incredibly talented. The men on this list will make your jaw drop. The nominations aren’t getting easier from here.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl Matt Damon in The Martian Will Smith in Concussion Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs

Best Director And you thought the best picture nominations were a tough one. Look at the list of these directors!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ridley Scott for The Martian Alejandro G Inarritu for The Revenant Thomas McCarthy for Spotlight Steven Spielberg for Bridge of Spies Todd Hayne for Carol

5

BRIDGE OF SPIES

THE BIG SHORT

8

7

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

ROOM

9

CAROL

10

THE DANISH GIRL

31

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

Jalal’s Story wins big in Kerala film festival

WHAT TO WATCH

n Showtime Desk Abu Shahed Emon’s debut, feature film Jalal’s Story won the award for the best work by a debutant director at the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala in India.

Emon was handed the ‘Rajatha Chakoram” (Silver Crow Pheasant Award), a citation and three lakh rupees as part of the award at a function on the concluding day of the festival yesterday in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Emon’s film was selected for the award by a four-member international jury headed by acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Julio Bressane.

The top award (Golden Crow Pheasant) at the Kerala International Film Festival went to Malayalam feature film, Ottaal (The Trap)

by India’s national award-winning director Jayaraj.

Legendary Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui, a film package was shown in the festival’s retrospective segment, was

honoured with IFFK’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs10 lakh, a memento and a citation.

14 films representing 11 countries, including four from India, were in the race for the top honours in different categories,

including the best debut director.

Starring Mosharraf Karim, Moushumi Hamid, Touqir Ahmed and Shormi Mala, the full-length feature chronicles a rootless boy who struggles to become a man of proper standing in society. l

Photos: RAJIB DHAR

TRESemme Khadi Festival

Life of Pi Star Movies 9:30pm A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.

Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain Noah HBO 6:39pm A man is chosen by his world’s creator to undertake a momentous mission before an apocalyptic flood cleanses the world.

Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins

DAY 1

The Fashion Council of Bangladesh launched TRESemme Khadi Festival at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel yesterday. The two day event, which includes an exhibition and fashion shows, conclude tonight.

Django Unchained WB 11:26pm With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio Last Knights Zee Studio 9:30pm A fallen warrior rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master.

Cast: Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman, Aksel Hennie Predators Movies Now 5:20pm A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race known as Predators.

Cast: Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015

BPL 2015

1ST QUALIFIER

163/7

FIXTURES (Today)

6:30PM, 2ND QUALIFIER, MIRPUR Rangpur Riders (RR) v Barisal Bulls (BB)

91 all out

V

20 overs

Comilla Victorians

Kayes 67, Zaidi 40*, Liton 28, Perera 5/26, Saqlain 1/19

17 overs

Rangpur Riders

Simmons 25, Zaidi 4/11, Haider 4/19, Mashrafe 1/13, Russell 1/15

Comilla Victorians won by 72 runs

ELIMINETOR

135/5

117/8

V

20 overs

Barisal Bulls

Sabbir 41, Mahmudullah 37, Gayle 31, Mustafizur 2/21, Nasir 1/9

120 overs

Dhaka Dynamites

Mosaddek 26, Farhad 20, Al Amin 3/15, Cooper 3/17, Taijul 2/13

Barisal Bulls won by 18 runs

Successful campaigns of Moja losss? n Tribune Report The invisible people behind the virtual wall are applauded vehemently for the many brave efforts they had taken in the last couple of years to identify and help arrest of culprits who got away after committing violence against women and killing people on the streets.

They took up the cases which needed media attention and prompt action by the law enforcers or the cyber security authorities.

Due to their vast audience base, those social awareness posts got huge share within a short time and reached someone who knew the culprits.

The fans of Moja losss? usually respond quickly and voluntarily share those posts within their circles.

Recently, the page posted photos of an SUV as it damaged two rickshaws and injured the passengers in Gulshan. With the help of the fans, the page revealed the identity of the driver and the owner of the vehicle. It also provided the subscribers with additional information about the under-aged driver’s fascination for cars and alcohol.

But activism has not always been so easy.

Sometimes the efforts did not bring any result. In some cases, the page admins took the cases of mugging, sexual harassment or cheating but after the culprits were identified, it claimed on different occasions that the law enforcers had not responded as per the law.

For instance, the son of a high-ranked po-

lice official killed a jaywalker at Banani during hartal on October 30 last year. People who witnessed the incident shared photos of the car on Facebook, and as soon as it became a matter of discussion, Moja losss? picked it to identify the car driver.

They were successful. The culprit was identified and arrested and later produced before a Dhaka court. But there has been no update in the case filed by a brother of the victim.

The Moja losss? admins expressed frustration over the matter in early March this year.

Enquired in a Facebook group why they were not willing to take up new cases, chief admin Chowdhury Shaheb (pseudonym) said they work only as a starter and rest of the efforts must come from the police or lawyer activists to ensure that the culprits are punished.

Chowdhury Shaheb’s reaction came as he was requested to circulate the photos of some youths spotted while sexually assaulting a girl at the Suhrawardy Udyan gate near Bangla

Academy during the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

The photos were first published by the Dhaka Tribune and soon went viral when posted on the newspaper’s Facebook page.

In the comment section, two more women complained of similar assaults on the same day near the spot, but no one could identify the culprits.

After a Dhaka Tribune journalist circulated those photos on a Facebook group, popular for seeking opinions, many of the members mentioned Chowdhury Shaheb in their comments requesting him to republish the photos on Moja losss?. One of the members identified one of the culprits.

The Moja losss? admin finally agreed and was successful in generating more information about the identified culprit and urged law enforcers to arrest him. But it has not happened as of yesterday.

Their biggest campaign this year was against the gang of stalkers who reportedly assaulted around 20 women and girls as

young as eight on April 14, during the traditional Pohela Boishakh celebrations in TSC intersection area of Dhaka University.

When some youths of Bangladesh Chhatra Union told the media about the incidents of sexual harassment they had no evidence to support the claim. Moja losss? published some photos from undisclosed sources and within hours identified some of the culprits with the help of its fans.

Moja losss? then suggested that some of the persons they had identified belonged to the ruling Awami League’s student wing, and demanded their arrest. The pro-government activists and Bangladesh Chhatra League supporters reacted sharply and labelled the page as pro-Jamaat.

Soon the page published a post urging the fans not to join next year’s Pohela Boishakh celebrations suggesting that such incidents of sexual harassment might recur. This post too drew severe criticisms from the pro-government activists.

Under the circumstances, Moja losss? on April 21 claimed that they had been threatened by high officials of the government and would wind up activities in Bangladesh. The page also announced that they would change the entire admin panel.

However, the page continued publishing posts on political issues alongside regular trolls and satires, even despite the recent blocking of Facebook by the government.

They criticised the ministers concerned for the decision and demanded interruption-free access to internet. l

Awami League because he wants Bangladesh to have access to Facebook.”

Some fans on those posts wrote that captions of those photo posts criticising the government were offensive, especially the ones concerning a female state minister. The page recently used the photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to make troll posts.

The number of admins and content creators for the page is not confirmed, but it is alleged that one Chowdhury Shaheb (pseudonym) runs the page.

Created in February 2012, the page used to publish photo posts and caricatures with witty captions. They began posting items on political issues later that year. One of their regular targets was the then home minister, Sahara Khatun.

When blogger-architect Ahmed Rajeeb Haider was murdered by radical Islamists in February 2013 and labelled by the killers

as an “atheist,” Moja losss? in a post likened atheists with animals. The page wrote that no one should regret the death of an atheist.

Many people criticised the motive of the page after its admin urged people to boycott the traditional Pohela Boishakh procession at the TSC of Dhaka University from next year after a series of incidents of sexual harassment during this year’s event. They think the call would inspire the radical Islamists who preach that observing Pohela Boishakh was anti-Islam.

Some people also questioned the page’s motive when it continued to publish photos of some Chhatra League leaders and demanding their arrest for harassing the women on April 14. On the other hand, CCTV footage and other photographs suggested that the movement of several groups of youths around the TSC area in that afternoon were suspicious.

On April 21, when the page claimed that

the government’s high officials had asked them to stop operations, none of the admins responded to queries put forward by the media to verify the allegation.

Some Facebook users also accused the page of using their photos in making trolls without taking permission.

Meanwhile, mystery shrouded over a Facebook status posted by Refayat Ahmed, the alleged admin of Moja losss? arrested on Thursday for anti-state and anti-government activities, as he was in police custody at that time.

The post was published in Refayat’s personal profile around 5am Friday which claimed that the allegations against him were fabricated and that he had been a victim of professional jealousy. “Today everyone needs to be Chowdhury Shaheb or whoever they are, everyone is the admin of Moja losss,” it said.

Refayat is now under a two-day police remand. l

Controversies surrounding Moja losss? n Tribune Report During their three-year-long journey, Moja losss? gained massive support from the people, mainly the youths and teens, for speaking their minds on many occasions. The page, however, also drew criticisms in some cases.

They recently criticised the government for its decision of blocking access to Facebook and several other social media sites.

On December 4, the page shared a news item that revealed that some ministers and government profiles and pages were active on Facebook despite the ban.

They also made fun of the two ministers concerned for suggesting action would be taken against people for using Facebook through alternative ways.

Moja losss? on December 2 published a photo of the Facebook founder wearing a Mujib coat saying: “Mark Zuckerberg joins

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