06 April, 2016

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

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Chaitra 23, 1422, Jamadius Sani 27, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 351

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

$50m climate fund in danger n Abu Bakar Siddique Bangladesh is about to lose $50 million (about Tk400 crore) of climate funds because of tension between the World Bank and donors, and a lack of commitment on the government's part.

Even as the government is grappling to find funds for dealing with the climate change impacts, the donors have decided to pull the plug on Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF).

Set up with foreign funds six years ago, the fund has not been successful in its intent or purpose, according to an evaluation of the UK Aid, a key donor.

UK Aid’s 2015 annual report, acquired by the Dhaka Tribune, says: “The lack of understanding between donors and the World Bank on the operation of the Bank’s Trust Fund model led to much of the tension between donors and the bank over the slow delivery of BCCRF.” The World Bank, which acted as a secretariat for disbursing money from the fund, intimated its reluctance to continue it stewardship.

The UK Aid report also observes that the lack of commitment by the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

This 2014 file photo shows workers building an embankment on a river in Teknaf’s Katabunia area to prevent saline water from entering the area. The project was funded

by Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund RAJIB DHAR

Tonu’s family frustrated with first autopsy report

GDP growth crosses 7% n Tribune Report

CID puzzled over first autopsy and inquest report TONU MURDER CASE

n Kamrul Hasan

INSIDE

Sohagi Jahan Tonu’s family yesterday said they were frustrated over what the first autopsy report had disclosed. They also questioned the findings of the autopsy.

Tonu’s father Yaar Hossain told

the Dhaka Tribune that the report avoided the real picture. He said a low level employee like himself could never get any justice.

“I will never get justice for what I have lost. But who can deceive Allah? He knows everything. I seek justice from Him. I might not get it on earth but He will do it one day.”

Yaar said the irony is that two weeks after Tonu’s death, the Criminal Investigation Department still visited them yesterday afternoon and asked if they had seen

any scratch marks on her body.

“Whoever asked me what I wanted I only said, ‘I want justice for my daughter,’” said Yaar.

On March 20, the body of Tonu, a student of Comilla Victoria Government College, was found at a place adjacent to the Mainamati Cantonment. The first autopsy report on Monday claimed to have found no evidence of rape while it also shed no light on the cause of death.

Asked if any injury marks were  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Bangladesh broke its economic growth trap of 6% for the first time since independence as it has already crossed 7% in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

“This is a matter of pride for the nation that we have achieved 7% GDP growth for the first time,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said yesterday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Asked about the reasons behind the higher growth, Kamal attributed the achievement to the existing political stability in the country.

As per the provisional estimate

of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistic (BBS), taking nine months economic growth into account, the GDP growth will stand at 7.05% for the fiscal year 2015-16, up from 6.55% in the last fiscal year.

Terming it a milestone for the country, the minister said: “This is one step forward to take the nation in the global arena as the GDP growth rate for the current fiscal year has already surpassed the fiscal target of 7%.”

He said Bangladesh had long been “chained” in the 6% growth trap. “To my knowledge, this is the highest GDP growth rate achieved by the country after the independence.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Banshkhali vow to protect land

HC: Reopen custodial torture case

16 expelled over Premier Uni clash

Panama Papers fallout at a glance

Residents in Chittagong’s Banshkhali have vowed to nip the coal-fired power plant project in the bud.  PAGE 3

High Court ordered to reopen a case against five people, including three policemen, who allegedly tortured a Jubo Dal leader in police custody.  PAGE 4

Premier University authorities expelled 16 students and suspended seven others for their involvement in a clash that left a student dead on March 29.  PAGE 5

11.5m leaked documents detailing how and where politicians and celebrities hide their wealth trigger reactions from around the globe.  PAGE 32

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

DC conference likely in end of July

DU buildings no smoking zone

n Asif Showkat Kallol

n DU Correspondent

The Cabinet Division has decided to arrange a three-day deputy commissioner’s conference in the last week of July, aiming to discuss different issues including the improvement of the country’s law and order situation.

Sources at the Cabinet Division

told the Dhaka Tribune that all DCs have been asked to come up with the burning issues of their respective districts that can be discussed at the upcoming conference.

A summary has been prepared to get Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s consent on the conference. The inauguration ceremony of the three-day-long event – from July

26 to July 28 – will be held at the Shapla conference room in the Prime Minister’s Office, the source added.

The summary, signed by Cabinet Secretary Shafiqul Alam, reads that the sessions of the 28th DC conference would be held at the secretariat’s cabinet conference room. l

Dhaka University authorities banned smoking inside all academic and administrative establishments, including the administrative building, faculties, institutes, offices, classrooms, laboratories and other buildings, a DU press release said.

The university’s public relations office yesterday made the announcement according to a decision taken by the university’s syndicate.

The syndicate took this decision in its last meeting on March 21 with the university vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique in the chair, the press release added. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Tonu’s family frustrated found on her head, Dr Kamoda Prosad Saha, the forensic department head of Comilla Medical College, declined to make any comment, saying he had already handed the report over to the investigating officer, and Dr Sharmin Sultana, who conducted the first autopsy of Tonu. He said these people could comment over the matter.

Dhaka Tribune tried to get in contact with Dr Sharmin but she was unavailable over the phone. When approached, IO CID Inspector Gazi Mohammad Ibrahim declined to make any comment and advised contacting senior officials.

When inquired, Special Superintendent of Police Abdul Kahar Akand, who leads the CID team in Comilla, said he had the report in hand but was yet to go over the full report and denied to make any comment until the second autopsy report arrived.

The CID team yesterday sat in a meting after visiting Tonu’s family and tried to confirm which one was correct – the first autopsy report or the inquest report.

However, Kahar Akand said the investigating team has to find out the murderer and do justice to Tonu.

Protests threatened

Meanwhile, a rumour spread all over the town that the theatre group that has so far led the movement for justice for Tonu in Comilla had received threats to stop its protest and that the activists were not seen in protests in the college.

When inquired, several members of the Comilla Victoria Government College theatre group yesterday denied the rumour and said they would continue their protest until Tonu got justice.

They said they had slowed down as the college authorities and the CID had ensured them a few days ago that they would do their best to arrest the culprits.

Rashedul Islam, president of the college theatre, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were continuing their protest with a silent movement. As part of the movement, they have been lighting candles for the last three days at the college Shaheed Minar.

Meanwhile, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Home Ministry demanding the arrest of the killers of Tonu, reports our Dhaka University correspondent.

An eight-member delegation led by the association’s President Gulam Kuddus submitted the memorandum around 1pm.

On behalf of the home minister, Public Relations Officer Sharif Mahmud Opu received the copy, Jote leaders confirmed.

Earlier in the morning, the organisation also held a demonstration at the TSC on Dhaka University campus demanding exemplary punishment of Tonu’s killers.

Speaking during the rally, Golam Kuddus threatened that they would halt all cultural programmes in the country if the ministry takes no steps regarding Tonu’s murder by April 11. l

GDP growth crosses 7% Bangladesh has been witnessing over 6% GDP growth rate consistently for almost over the last one decade.

According to the BBS provisional data for FY2015-16, Bangladesh fared better in most sectors at constant prices.

The data show that the agriculture sector witnessed a 2.60% growth in the current year, up from 3.33% a year earlier. Likewise, the industry sector grew 10.10% from 9.67%, the services sector 6.70% from 5.80%.

Among other sectors, fishing rose 6.19%, mining and quarrying 12.06%, manufacturing 10.30%, electricity, gas and water supply 11.15%, and construction 8.87%.

The GDP size at constant market price for this fiscal stood at Tk8,830,544 crore, which was Tk8,248,624 crore a year ago.

With the economic growth, Kamal said per capital income is projected to grow to $1,466 in this fiscal. The figure is $150 higher than last fiscal’s $1,316.

According to the World Bank criteria, Bangladesh will be recognised as a middle-income nation if it achieves at least an average per capita income of $1,045 for three consecutive years. Bangladesh’s per capita income was $1,190 in FY14 and $1,154 in FY13.

As per WB’s 2012 classification, the income thresholds are: low income $1,035 or less; lower middle-income $1,036 to $4,085; upper middle-income $4,086 to $12,615; and high income $12,616 or more. l

$50m climate fund in danger Bangladesh government has also hampered delivery of the fund. It then goes on to speculate that this might have been due to a competition from the government-financed Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF).

Another point that the report made is that the fund was under high risk due to last year’s political instability in Bangladesh. “Political unrest continues to slow down project delivery. Risk for BCCRF is assessed as high.”

According to the sources aware of this turn of events, the resilience fund will be officially closed out by December 2016 although its functions may be allowed to continue until June next year.

The remaining money, to the tune of $50m, in the fund will thereafter be returned.

Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, additional secretary of the Environment and Forests Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that the World Bank’s reluctance to act the intermediary had led to such a pass.

Since its inception in May 2010, the fund received around $130m from donors – the European Union, Denmark, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, the UK and the USA. The donors primarily pledged to raise $189.2m for the fund.

The resilience fund has managed to disburse around $80m for different projects till date. Most of the projects are

at final stage, said officials.

The managerial role of the fund has always rested with the World Bank at the insistence of the donors. According to the 2012 agreement between Bangladesh and the World Bank, the latter would manage the fund with a 1% service charge until June 2017.

Earlier in July 2014, the World Bank expressed its reluctance to continue with the BCCRF due to a misunderstanding among parties, including the government and development partners. Since then, the government did not approve any new project under the resilience fund.

The World Bank did not have any comments regarding the UK Aid’s observation and did not comment when the Dhaka Tribune contacted its Dhaka office on Sunday.

Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury, who is the ministry’s focal point as far as the resilience fund is concerned, said that the government had been discussing the issue with the donors to make sure that the money stays in Bangladesh.

USAID is currently conducting a study to devise means of spending the remainder of the money on climate change adaptation projects.

Dr Saleemul Huq, director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said: “Bangladesh will set a bad example of foreign fund management if it even-

tually returns the money.”

He said it would appear as if Bangladesh failed to utilise the available funds.

Asked what had triggered this, he said that engaging the World Bank to manage the fund had been a wrong decision.

“The World Bank took the responsibility because the donors wanted it – not of its own volition. That is what finally pushed the World Bank to discontinue in its stewardship role,” he said.

In addition, there are definitely cases of negligence from the government, which further exacerbated the situation, he added.

Bangladesh is considered at the top of the most vulnerable countries to the negative impacts of global warming, according to studies of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the highest body on climate change.

The IPCC has also predicted loss of a fifth of Bangladesh’s land to submergence uprooting up to about 30 million people. Along with other smaller countries, also vulnerable to climate change fallouts, Bangladesh direly needs billions on adaptation.

In 2009, the government established the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan to guide the strategies for dealing with climate change. It was in line with this action plan that the government set up the locally funded trust fund and the foreign-funded resilience fund. l

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Banshkhali locals vow to protect land n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong The residents of Gondomara union in Chittagong’s Banshkhali upazila have vowed to nip the coal-fired power plant project in the bud to protect their lands, the main source of their livelihood.

Tension remained in the area yesterday after at least four people were killed and at least 30 people, including 11 police members, were injured in a violent clash among two groups of villagers – one supporting the power plant project, the other rejecting it – and police over this construction of the power plant on Monday.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to a number of victims who sustained injuries in the clash, as well as the families of the deceased at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Bodi Ahmed, who lost two of his brothers and his son-in-law in the clash, said: “We will not allow the power plant in the area by any means as it will deal a severe blow to both our livelihood and our environment.”

Renu Akhter, wife of Abdul Khaleque who was shot in the clash, said: “My husband works in a salt field. We already live from hand to mouth. We will have nowhere to go if my husband loses his work.”

“We will die before we let this coal-fired power plant to be built here,” said Nurul Haque Shikdar, secretary of Gondamara Union Unnayan Sangram Parishad.

Hundreds of people assembled on Hadirpara and Rahmania Madrasa premises in Gondomara yesterday to protest the death of four villagers, chanting slogans against the power plant.

“We will continue our movement until the government scraps the project and brings the perpetrators to book,” said Liakat Ali who presided over the rally.

The Chittagong chapter of National Committee to Portect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports will bring out a protest procession in Chittagong city’s Cheragi

People from all walks of life gathered at the local Rahmania Senior Madrasha premise protesting the killing of four people on Monday and demanding to stop installation of coal-fired power plant in Banshkhali yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Pahara area today.

“We will also organise a rally on Chittagong Press Club premises protesting the killing over the construction of this power plant,” said Hasan Maruf Rumi, coordinator of the committee in Chittagong.

Chhatra Oikkya Forum has announced a general strike in Banshkhali today in protest of the four deaths as well as demanding to move the power plant project from the area.

3 cases filed against 6,200 people

A total of three cases were filed against over 6,200 villagers in Gondamara union following the clash.

Of the three cases, family members of two of the victims who died in the clash filed two cases, while the other case was lodged by police for obstructing and launching an assault on police with Banshkhali police station.

Chittagong Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Md Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that Sub-Inspector Bahar Miah lodged a case against 57 identified and 3,200 unidentified people.

“We have also arrested three people who were involved with the clash,” he added.

Bashir Ahmed, elder brother of Anwar Ali, one of the victims, filed a

case accusing six people as identified and 1,500 people as unidentified.

Monowara Begum, wife of Jaker Hossain, another victim, filed another case accusing 1,500 people as unidentified.

Chittagong district administration formed a committee to probe into the incident. Headed by Additional District Magistrate Mominur Rashid, the committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.

Experts against the power plant

The coal-based power plant is not an environment-friendly option and should not be allowed to be

set up, said Prof Dr Mohammad Danesh of Institute of Forestry and Environment Science in Chittagong University.

“The developed countries are no longer adopting any such coalfired project since it is one of the major sources of air pollution,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Muhammad Edris Ali, associate professor in chemistry department at Government Mohsin College, said: “The use of coal for generating power has become almost outdated. The fly ash emitted from the coal-based power plant will casue many problems, such as respiratory diseases.” l

Khaleda goes to courts, gets bail in five cases n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu BNP chief Khaled Zia yesterday secured bails in five cases filed for sedition, conspiracy and instigating violence.

When she was moving from one court to another under tight security, the three-time former premier showed V-sign to her supporters who were chanting slogans amid claps on the judge’s court premises.

In the morning, Khaleda surrendered and sought bail before Metropolitan Special Tribunal Judge

Md Kamrul Hossain Molla. The court on March 30 issued arrest warrants against her and 27 other BNP leaders accepting the charge sheet filed under the Special Powers Act in a case lodged with Jatrabari police over torching of a bus in Jatrabari last year.

After around 35-minute hearing, the judge granted her bail on a bail bond of Tk20,000. The court also granted bail to Khaleda’s Adviser Khandker Mahbub Hossain when he surrendered before it in the same case.

Minutes after getting the first bail, Khaleda appeared at the Third Special Judge’s Court, which had asked her and 12 other accused to appear before it on April 13 in the Gatco graft case.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar granted her the bail on a Tk1,00,000 bail bond in the case filed under the Special Powers Act for abusing power as the prime minister. The court then set April 13 for further hearing in the case.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Khaleda

and 15 others in 2008 for abusing power in providing contract to a company called Gatco for their service in Chittagong.

Khaleda and her convoy then moved to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court for securing bail in three other cases.

Metropolitan magistrates Md Jakir Hossain Tipu and Maruf Hossain and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaysarul Islam granted her bails in the cases.

In the case of sedition filed for questioning the number of mar-

tyrs in the 1971 Liberation War, the defence counsels argued that the former premier had never made remarks maligning the freedom fighters and their role, rather she wanted a list of freedom fighters in order to ensure their proper rehabilitation.

The magistrate granted her bail on Tk10,000 bond.

The case was filed against Khaleda and others for crude bombs blast on an anti-blockade procession led by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan at Gulshan 2 on February 17 last year. l

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Reopening of custodial torture case ordered n Tribune Report The High Court has ordered to reopen a case against five people, including three policemen, who allegedly tortured and partially blinded a Jubo Dal leader in police custody at Lakshmipur’s Ramganj almost two years ago.

Earlier, a trial court in Lakshmipur had scrapped the case proceedings following recommendations from a judicial probe committee.

The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain scrapped the trial court’s decision yesterday after holding final hearing into a revision petition by the plaintiff.

The High Court also asked the trial court to take legal steps for holding the trial.

Iqbal Hossain, lawyer for the petitioner, said there was now no legal bar against continuing with the case.

On August 12, 2014, Samsun Nur Patwary, father of Jubo Dal’s Chandipur upazila unit Vice-President Saiful Islam, filed the case on behalf of his tortured son, accusing Ramganj police station Officer-in-Charge Lokman Hossain, ASI Mozammel Hossain, ASI Shariful Islam, and two others named Lutfur Rahman and Abdul Momin.

According to the case state-

ment, police arrested Saiful on August 7, 2014, and showed him arrested in an arms case.

Police said Saiful was accused in ten cases including murder and robbery, and was a listed criminal of that upazila.

Saiful’s father said his son was confined and tortured on the first floor of Ramganj police station’s mess on the same day.

During the torture, the OC allegedly injected a syringe into the Jubo Dal leader’s eye, damaging it permanently. Saiful was brought to court in a police van on August 8, but was unable to fully open his eyes or see clearly. He also bore several injury marks.

After the case was filed, Lakshmipur’s acting chief judicial magistrate was asked to run a probe. In a report submitted on August 5, 2015, the magistrate said the allegations against the police were false.

Five days later, the district judge’s court scrapped the case proceedings. The victim’s father later filed the revision petition with the High Court.

After holding primary hearing, the High Court issued a ruling asking why the order of scrapping the case should not be declared illegal. After final hearing yesterday, the court declared the earlier ruling absolute. l

HC issues ruling over freedom fighters’ gazette n Tribune Report The High Court yesterday issued a ruling asking why the government’s failure to include names of 40 freedom fighters in the final gazette should not be declared illegal.

The High Court bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Khasruzzaman came up with the rule in response to a writ petition filed by the freedom fighters, said their lawyer Toufiq Inam.

He said the court has asked the Liberation Affairs Ministry to come up with explanations within four weeks.

Names of freedom fighters from Pabna, who had primary certificates, were recommended by a government-formed committee to be enlisted in gazette as freedom fighters.

The lawyer said the recommendation was forwarded by the committee on November 26, 2004 to the Liberation Affairs Ministry, following which the ministry on September 18, 2011 included some names from the recommendation but most were deprived.

The deprived freedom fighters then moved with the High Court with the writ petition, he added. l

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EU agrees to engage positively with Bangladesh on irregular migration n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The European Union has agreed to engage positively with Bangladesh to resolve the problems of irregular Bangladeshis in Europe and bring them back home safely.

“We looked at how to address this (irregular migration) in an overall comprehensive fashion looking at both management of the regular flows and the handling of irregular flows in a structured, orderly and dignified manner,” said Christian Leffler, Deputy Secretary General for Global and Economic Issues, European External Action Service of the EU, yesterday.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Leffler were talking with journalists in the city after the first Bangladesh-EU Dialogue on Migration Management.

tian Leffler said: “We have agreed that we will work together to make sure that these people can be brought back safely to their homes and find a good, productive way to reintegrate into their society.”

About media reports that about 80,000 irregular Bangladeshis are living in Europe, he said: “I don’t know where the media picked up the number, but it is certainly they did not pick them from me.”

He did not disclose any number.

Without disclosing any number, he said there are Bangladeshis in irregular situation in Europe as there are many foreign nationals who are in irregular situation.

About readmission agreement, he said: “We have discussed what are the best ways of handing this issue and what are processes to manage them.” l

it is the responsibility of the state to bring back all irregular Bangladeshis situated all over the world.

It would be a very good initiative if they can be provided with a livelihood in their own society as they lose everything in the irregular migration process, the foreign secretary said.

The European Union agreed to help Bangladesh by providing training or skill development to the irregular Bangladeshis, he said.

About the bottleneck in regular migration, he said the EU delegation assured them that they would address it including student visa.

They indicated that at the end of the year or first quarter of the next year, there would be another migration consultation at the political level, he added.

In response to a question, Chris-

Shahidul Haque said: “We also know and realise that there are Bangladeshis who are in irregular situation in various parts of Europe. We also discussed as to how we can safely and productively bring them back.”

He said they agreed to launch a regular structured dialogue for migration mobility between Europe and Bangladesh.

There is a global understanding that migration is a development issue and the EU agreed to integrate the issue into Bangladesh-EU bilateral relationship, he said.

“We are thinking of having a political declaration so that our people can have more opportunity to move there through a regular process,” he added.

Terming the irregular migration is the dark side of migration, he said

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Bus driver admits raping RMG worker

n Our Correspondent, Tangail The driver of a bus, in which a 23-year-old readymade garment worker was raped, confessed to his involvement in the incident before a Tangail court yesterday.

Habibur Rahman Nayon, 33, pleaded guilty when police produced him before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Hamidul Islam after quizzing him for three days.

Nayon’s assistant Abdul Khalek Bhutto, 30, and supervisor Rejaul Karim Jewel, 35, have already admitted guilt before the court.

The victim, wife of a transport worker, was raped while returning home from Dhanbari on Friday.

She was the only passenger in the Binimoy Paribahan bus.

Nayon, Bhutto and Jewel tied and gagged the victim before taking turns to rape her. They threw her off the bus in Sholakuri of Madhupur. l

PREMIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT KILLING

16 expelled, 7 suspended Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong The authorities of Premier University, run by Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), yesterday evening expelled 16 students and suspended seven others from the university for their involvement in a clash between two groups on Dampara campus, which left a student dead on March 29.

Confirming the expulsion, Proctor Ahmed Rajib Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune: “The decision to expel them was made on the basis of a probe committee’s findings, where the 16 students, who are the accused in the Nasim Ahmed Sohel murder case, were expelled permanently from the university and seven others were temporarily suspended.”

“Alongside the expulsion, the university also cancelled the degrees it conferred on the 16 expelled students. Moreover, the students will no longer be allowed to withdraw their transcripts and certificates during the course of the prosecution,” added Rajib.

The 16 students are Ashraful Islam, Wahiduzzaman Nishan, Md Ziaul Haidar Chowdhury, SM Golam Mostafa, Tameem Ul Alam, Md Ibrahim Sohan, Kazi Md Joynul Abedin, Saif Uddin, Md Abu Jahed Ujjol, Md Nizam Uddin Abid, Sai-

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

kul Mohammed Tarek, Nurul Faisal Sam, Md Saiful Islam Sakib, Abu Fayez, Md Rashedul Haque Irfan and Md Nazmul Haque, said university sources.

Of them Saikul Islam Tarek, Md Saiful Islam Sakib and Abu Fayej are students of the LLB and LLM programmes, while the rest are pursuing a BBA and MBA, said the sources.

The suspended students are Mojahidul Islam, Mohammed Masuk Kalam, Kaisarul Alam, Monir Ahmed, Kazi Mohammed Liyakat, Mohammed Nizamul Galib Imon and Kazi Md Asraf Sayed. All are students of the BBA department.

The proctor said: “The seven were suspended as they had stored hockey sticks and other sticks at the BBA campus for the clash, and were asked to explain why the university should not expel them by April 10 for their role in the March 29 incident.”

“If any of the 16 students are acquitted from the charge or charge sheet, the university will reconsider his punishment as per his plea,” he added.

Nasim Ahmed Sohel, an MBA student at the university and also a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist, was stabbed to death by his rivals at the university’s BBA campus in the city’s Wasa-Dampara area on March 29 over selecting the chief guest at a programme. l Dhaka

RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER LIKELY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

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Traders in Karwan Bazar vandalise vehicles in front of the local DNCC regional office yesterday after officials from the Dhaka North City Corporation conducted a drive to evict illegal structures DHAKA TRIBUNE

Hotel owner arrested in ATM scam n Mohammad Jamil Khan The Detective Branch of police yesterday arrested a Uttara hotelier for his alleged involvement with ATM and credit card forgery.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sarder said Abul Hasanat, owner of Comfort Inn Hotel, had been arrested in a fraud case filed with Gulshan police.

Hasanat was reportedly on good terms with the prime accused of 27

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DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:17PM

the credit card scam, Piotr Szczepan Mazurek alias Thomas Peter, while he was residing in the hotel during his stay in Bangladesh.

Later, Hasanat allegedly supported Peter’s crimes, allowing him to use the ATM set up in the hotel to use fake cards manufactured by Peter.

Hasanat is the eighth person to be arrested in this case, along with Peter and three City Bank officials.

The DB made the first arrest on February 22, after the United Commer-

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Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:44AM

34.2ºC Rajshahi

22.0ºC Rangpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

cial Bank filed a case with Banani police on February 12. City Bank also filed a case with Pallabi police while Eastern Bank and Prime Bank filed complaints with the DB. Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam said there were 22 or 23 other high-profile individuals involved in the scam. “Some helped Peter by providing information, while some allowed him to directly use their POS [point of service] machines,” said Monirul. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 4:26am | Zohr: 12:01pm Asr: 3:29pm | Magrib: 6:20pm Esha: 7:47pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Bangladesh Navy ship ‘Samudra Abhijan’ leaves from the Chittagong Naval Jetty for Indonesia on Monday ISPR

ICDDRB: Obesity a growing problem for married women n Abid Azad The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB) has revealed that one in five married women in Bangladesh is obese or overweight.

A study by the ICDDRB has also identified a range of factors such as wealth index, educational status and hours spent watching television as contributors to excessive weight gain.

‘The growing problem of obesity presents a challenge for public healthcare systems in low- and middleincome countries’ These aspects will be targeted in interventions to reduce the prevalence of obesity, the ICDDRB said at a press conference yesterday.

According to the World Health Organisation estimation, at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.

Being obese may be particularly harmful to women as evidence suggests they are at a higher risk for diabetes and multiple cancers, including cervical, breast and perhaps ovarian cancer.

In 2016, Haribondhu Sarma, head of ICDDRB’s Nutrition Programme, along with colleagues from Stanford University, USA, analysed nu-

trition-related data from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey to identify factors associated with being overweight among women aged 18-49 years who were or had been married.

The results, recently published in the journal BMC Obesity, revealed that 18% out of 16,493 women were overweight. Urban women not engaged in full-time employment were at 1.44 times higher risk of being overweight than those involved in manual work.

Women from wealthy and food-secure families were at higher risk of being overweight in both rural and urban areas.

“These increased levels of obesity will have severe implications for the health budget of our country,” said Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, senior director, Nutrition & Clinical Services Division at ICDDRB and senior author of the study. “Rates of obesity and overweight-related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney diseases and heart diseases are going to escalate if not tackled,” he added.

“The growing problem of obesity presents a challenge for public health-care systems in low- and middle-income countries. Traditionally, being over weight and obesity were largely associated with high-income countries,” said Sarma.

“Healthcare systems in these countries traditionally devote their resources to problems of underweight and infectious diseases, but as these countries experience increased economic development, they must also learn to manage nutrition-related non-communicable diseases” he concluded. l

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Heavy downpour cripples life in Sylhet n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Water logging due to heavy rainfall disrupted the normal life of Sylhet people yesterday.

Local sources said heavy monsoon showers in the morning hit 50 areas including Amborkhana, Dargagate, Howapara, Upashahar, Zindabazar, Bilpar, Jatarpur, Machimpur, Subidbazar, Bonkolpara, Housing state, Jalalbad, Loharpara, Bgbari, Kuarpar, Charadighirpar, Raihossesn, Kolbakhani, Kajolshah, Pathantuli, Bhartokhola, Mominkhola, Barkhola and Pathanpara.

Amit Hassan, senior observer of MET office said: “Till 3pm, 117 mm rainfall was recorded in the city. It was the highest record in last ten years.”

According to the MET department, monsoon in the city is likely to get stronger.

The people of the areas have to suffer more as the water submerged roads, markets and houses.

Kaosar Chowdhury, local correspondent of a daily newspaper said he had to face difficulties while he was going to his relative's house in Eidgahmat area as electric poles laid down on the roads.

Md Ayatullah, professor of Chhatak Zhikly College, said he had duty in the exam hall. But he could not reach the college timely due to water logging.

Professor Afzal Hossain of Sylhet Science and Technology College, said maximum students of the college could not attend the classes due to heavy rain.

Hazi Moina Mian, resident of Madina market area said his brother who was supposed to reach home by flight from Osmani Air Port could not come as the flight was cancelled due to heavy rain.

People in Nawaprar said they could not go out as the water flooded the area.

Locals alleged that the city corporation authorities do not work to keep the city water logging free.

They also said every year they had to face the same problem.

Enamul Kabir, executive officer of Sylhet City Corporation, said there was water logging in several areas in the city due to heavy rain.

“A team of 100 workers have been appointed to remove the water. I hope the people of the areas will be able to use the roads soon,” he said. l

Heavy rain floods roads, submerges cars in Sylhet city yesterday. The picture was taken from Hawapara area of the city DHAKA TRIBUNE

Unpaid jute mill workers agitate in Khulna, Jessore n Our Correspondent, Khulna About 50,000 workers of seven staterun jute mills in Khulna and Jessore abstained from work yesterday and blocked roads and railways demanding outstanding salaries.

The mills have not paid their workers for seven to eight weeks.

Workers went on strike at the call of CBA and non-CBA coordination council to press for their five-point charter of demands including forming a separate wage board for workers of staterun jute mills.

They took position in Notun Raastar More, Atra and Rajghat in Khulna and Jessore, blocked roads and railways with burning logs and tyres, bringing vehicular movement to a grinding halt.

Khulna Railway Station’s Master Md Amirul Islam said no train left the station since morning due to workers’ agitation. “The passengers were stuck at the railway station. We ran the trains after 2pm.”

Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills project chief Mamunur Rahman said the workers had not been paid for eight

weeks. “In this situation, I cannot do anything without directions and money from BJMC [Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation],” he said.

Liaison officer of Khulna BJMC zonal office Mahabbat Ali said they were observing the situation. “We have informed the BJMC headquarters of the latest situation and waiting for directions from the centre,” he said.

Demonstrators said their agitation would continue until Thursday. “We will block roads and railways from 6am to 2pm regularly during this period,” said workers leader Sohrab Hossain. l

Nine indicted in Habiganj murder case Correspondent, n Our Habiganj Nine people have been indicted in connection with the killing of four schoolboys in Habiganj.

Abdul Muktadir, officer-incharge of detective branch of police, submitted the charge sheet before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Kausar Alam yesterday.

The accused of the case are Abdul Ali, Rubel Mia, Jewel Mia, Arzu Mia, Shahid Mia, Boshir Mia, Belal Mia, Ustar Mia and Bacchu Mia. Of the accused, five are in police custody. Ustar Mia, Boshir Mia and Belal Mia are absconding while prime sus-

pect ‘Bachchu’ died in a gun battle with the members of Rapid Action Battalion.

On February 17, police recovered the bodies of four schoolboys - Zakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Wahid Miah, his two cousins – Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz, Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah – and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Quadir, from a ditch at Shundratiki village under Bahubal upazila, four days after they went missing.

Four Of the accused – Jewel Mia, his younger brother Rubel Mia, Shahid and Arzu – gave confessional statements before the court under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. l

Man jailed for stalking girl Correspondent, n Our Barisal A mobile court led by Babuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afroza Begum Parul yesterday afternoon sentenced a restaurant owner to one year imprisonment for stalking a fifth-grader student.

Mahbubur Rahman, officerin-charge of Babuganj police

station, said Shah Alam, 50, a resident of Khudrokathi under Baherchar union and owner of a restaurant in front of the upazila complex.

In the morning, the accused tried to molest the girl at his restaurant. Sensing the incident, locals cordoned the restaurant and caught Shah Alam. Later, they handed over him to the police after a good beating. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Transport sector on strike demanding repair of Sylhet-Companyganj road n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Eleven organisations started a strike for an indefinite period demanding repair of the Sylhet-Companyganj-Bholaganj Road which has been lying in a dilapidated state for long.

These organisations are likely to lay siege to the office of Roads and Highway Department on Friday to press home their demand.

Sylhet District Truck Covered Van Shramik Union, District Truck Covered Van Owners Group, Salutikor-Companiganj-Goainghat Bus Owners Samity, Ambarkhana-Salutikor-Companiganj CNG Autorick-

shaw Shramik Union, Dhopagul Stone Bussiness Owners Samity, Salutikor Stone Bussiness Owners Samity, Chhalia Sobuj Bangla Owners Samity, Rongitila Somaj Kollayan Sangstha, Godhuly Somaj Kollayan Sangstha and Khadimnagar Chhatra Kallayan Sangstha have called the strike.

General Secretary of Salutikor-Companiganj-Goainghat Bus Owners Samity Iqbal Ahmed said: “We do not want any assurance, we just want to know when the repair work will start.”

Ifteqar Kabir, additional chief engineer of Roads and Highways department (RHD) in Sylhet Zone,

said the government had allocated Tk60 crore for the construction and maintenance of the road this fiscal year.

According to him, the draft of the project’s outsourcing and geometric survey is complete.

Ifteqar said: “We will submit a final report within seven days to the higher authorities.”

“Calls for the project tender will be made as early as possible. After completing all processes, within four months work on the project will begin,” he said.

A social activist AH Malik Imon told the Dhaka Tribune that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurat-

ed reconstruction work of the road on January 21.

There was no progress of the repair work although two and half months had already passed.

“The road has turned unfit for vehicular movement totally. We cannot even walk on the road. The incidents of road accidents are increasing day by day,” he said.

The Sylhet-Companyganj-Bholaganj Road dotted with large potholes, is a nightmare for the thousands who commute on it everyday.

During the dry season, the road is covered in dust while the monsoon literally turns it into a mud bed.

The stretch from Dhupagul to Salutikor and Khagail to Bholaganj lies in the worst condition, locals said.

It causes vehicles to slow down, taking hours to travel a small distance. Moreover, vehicles often fall into the ditch, resulting in many severe accidents that cause suffering to locals in the area.

The road, which could take one to Sylhet in only 30-40 minutes in better conditions, now takes 2-3 hours, said a driver. This dilapidated state has prevailed for the last eight years, but the authority concerned has yet to take any measures to ease the suffering of locals. l

Stone lifting machines destroyed Correspondent, n Our Lalmonirhat A mobile court in the district yesterday destroyed 14 stone lifting machines, locally known as boma machine, in a drive while stones were being lifted illegally from the Dharla River.

Local sources said on information, the mobile court led by Magistrate TM A Momin went to the spot and destroyed the machines as some traders were lifting stones from the rivers defying the government law.

The sources said some people of the stone traders protested the mobile court when they reached the spot.

Mahfuz Alam, officer-in-charge of Patgram police station, said police fired at the agitated people to disperse them as they attacked the mobile court. l

Fire breaks out yesterday at a house in Kunipara area under Tejgaon in the capital. The picture shows firefighters trying to douse the fire

BOGRA BOMB BLAST

One of the deceased identified as JMB man n Our Correspondent, Bogra

Police yesterday confirmed the identity of a man among the two people who were killed in a bomb explosion at a house at Sherpur upazila, Bogra on Sunday night.

The deceased was identified as Tariqul Islam, 48, a member of the banned Islamist militant outfit Jama’tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). He was the resident of Jamua village, Sirajganj sadar upazila. Police arrested three of his brothers for interrogation. The arrested are Sana Ullah, Liakat Ali

and Barkat Ullah.

Meanwhile, police sent the bodies to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Police sources said Tariqul was a student of Islamic University, Kushtia. He was also arrested in connection with August 17, 2005 series bomb blast. He was acquitted after three years in 2009.

Sana Ullah told newsmen that Tariqul had no connection with family members since last Eid-ulAzha. They also filed a missing report.

Tariqul was a student of Islamic University, Kushtia. He was also arrested in connection with August 17, 2005 series bomb blast Tariqul and another person were killed in a bomb explosion at Mohipur village, Sherpur upazila, Bogra on Sunday night.

One of the two people died on

the spot while another died after he was taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in the district later.

Later, a bomb disposal unit of the counter-terrorism transnational division recovered arms, ammunition, bombs and bomb-making materials from the spot on Monday.

The team said the amount of materials found in the house could have been used for making more than 300 grenades that are powerful enough to cause massive destruction within four to five metres of the scene of blast. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Wall collapse kills tea worker in Sylhet n Tribune Report A tea worker was killed and his wife injured as a wall collapsed during heavy rains at a tea garden in Champara area of Kamalganj upazila early yesterday. The deceased was identified as Ajit Nayek, 45, Local union parishad chairman Soleman Miah said the wall of Ajit’s house at the tea garden collapsed following two days’ heavy rain fall, leaving Ajit dead on the spot and his wife Anju Najek critically injured. l

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Feature

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Count me in n Tanzina Nitol Ashraful, the third son of a poor mason is now 20 years old. As a youngster he spent his time like millions of other rural-based boys; playing, running and skipping around the village without a care in the world. Yet tragedy struck when Ashraful was just four years old, a sudden fever crippling him for life. No longer able to walk, he felt he was a burden for his family and developed an inferiority complex. When the time came for him to go to school, a deep depression set in.

Ashraful’s family tried to enrol him in various schools in the neighbourhood but were unable to provide the guidance and encouragement needed to overcome the emotional and psychological barriers he faced.

After some years, his parents gave up. Luckily last year, a faculty member of one of the neighbourhood schools was also affiliated with the Amar Jyoti foundation, which supports persons with disabilities, informed him about Akhtar Furniture Academy’s training program.

I didn’t like school at all. My parents and the neighbourhood tried to get me involved but I never went because the other children made fun of me and I didn’t like to study

Akhtar Furniture Ltd is one of the leading furniture manufacturers in Bangladesh.

To help meet their needs for skilled labour, the company set up its own training academy which ILO has supported to become compliant with National Technical Vocational Quality Framework standards. The centre now provides accredited training in carpentry, lacquer polishing, wood working/machine operation and upholstery.

“Since my family couldn’t make ends meet, I agreed to train there.

I was especially motivated by the promise of a permanent job.”

First Ashraful enrolled in the upholstery unit but did not do well. Fortunately, the trainers were sensitive and flexible.

They gave him a second chance in the Lacquer Polishing unit.

This worked out well, as he was great at polishing and enjoyed the work. He completed the training in 2015 and is now working full-time, receiving a

salary of Tk6,000 a month. Akhtar Furniture Academy also gave him a wheelchair so he can now move around by himself. Both Ashraful and his guardians are happy with this progress.

“I am now confident that I can do any job. I may not have legs, but I have skills. Now I can help others in my community and I am respected by all!”

The Akhtar Furniture Academy has already trained 40 men and women with disabilities. The Academy trainers say they had not considered hiring people with disabilities previously, but through their association with ILO, they learned of disability inclusion and decided to make it work. They were happy with the results as they found this group of people tended to be more focused on work and very productive.

Though the cost is sometimes slightly higher, as adjustments may have to be made for people with disabilities. They feel the benefits outweigh the costs,

not just from a humanitarian perspective but also in business terms. Now, they are taking the initiative to employ more people with disabilities in their factory and have made it part of their policy to include 5% of people with disabilities in each of their training batches.

In some developed countries, persons with disabilities can easily find jobs as workplaces are disability accessible. For Bangladesh, this requires a shift in the mindsets of employers. Businesses need to start recognising the benefits of disability inclusion which experienced employers are saying leads to a win-win situation and makes perfect business sense. This should not be seen as ‘charity’ or ‘CSR’ but rather as equitable access for people with disabilities as they exercise their right to obtain Decent Work.

Other companies ought to follow the bright example of Akhtar Furniture to improve their productivity and promote inclusive growth. l

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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Feature

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Five types of people you meet at a deshi funeral How not to talk to the grieving

W

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad henever there’s a tragedy reported in the news, one thing becomes painfully clear; the way the press, the police, and on occasion, the politicians treat the bereaved family members is almost criminally insensitive. But while we tut-tut and shake our heads at the way these parties feed off the grief of the family members of the victims, it is perhaps worth taking a second look at some commonplace behaviours at janazas, qulkhanis and milads.

Here are five kinds of people you’re bound to find: The Howler You’ve never seen this person while the deceased was alive, but s/he will be the first to start bawling loudly at the funeral, outwailing the spouse and children of the dearly departed. On Facebook, this is the person who will put up a long status message about how sad s/he is, and how close s/ he was to the person. This is not to say that such people may not genuinely be sad at the death, but broadcasting it is more of an exercise in narcissism than it is in venting sadness.

As a guest at a milad, genuine tears aside, consider sticking to “I’m sorry for your loss/praying for you” as opposed to “Oh, I have been depressed, sad, angry since I heard....” For once, this isn’t about you.

The High Inquisitioner Even though the death of dear Gramps was a perfectly normal, age-induced one, there are those who seem to think they’re auditioning for a role on CID, judging by the way they interrogate the family on every minute detail of the passing.

“What time did he die? How? When? Where?”

On comment threads on social media, even if the questions have been answered, you’ll find someone who hasn’t bothered reading the answers and has to ask them all over again.

Curiosity is only natural, but there’s a time and place for it.

Unless you’re genuinely a law enforcement officer investigating an unnatural death, it’s best to save the questions for later. Let the mourner know you’re “there

if they want to talk about it”, but don’t press for details.

The Fixer Admittedly, arranging a janaza is a chaotic process. There are so many arrangements to be made, and often the closest family members are too grief-stricken to think clearly. Having said that, you’re bound to encounter one loudmouth who will stomp in and start barking orders, snapping at people about how lousy the sound-system is, or how there aren’t enough boxes of sweets, and interestingly enough, this person is usually someone who isn’t actually responsible for doing any of those things.

If you really want to be useful, a good way to start is to ask the nearest person in charge if you can help out in any way. Remember that these are depressing, confusing times, so be patient, and not critical in your approach.

Killgrave People grieve in different ways.

Some will cry it out immediately, someone will hold it in, someone else will probably not show any outward signs of sadness. And yet, at pretty much every janaza, you can bet there will be someone

It is natural to feel a certain amount of guilt and self doubt as to whether or not one has done all they could for the one that passed away

who is keeping tabs on how much crying was done. The stoic grievers will be advised to “let it all out”, and the dry-eyed criticised in audible whispers for their lack of a display of sadness.

On the flipside, there are actually people who will tell you to snap out of it, or narrow it down to adages such as “Death comes for us all” and expect the grief to magically disappear.

When speaking with the mourners, it is perhaps best not to

tell them how to feel. Just express your condolences and be there for them. It goes a long way.

The Blame Game Sometimes, death comes after illness or injury. It is natural to feel a certain amount of guilt and self doubt as to whether or not one has done all they could for the one that passed away. It is however, in quite poor taste to launch into a prolonged match of finger-pointing before the body is

even cold in the grave. A postmortem of responsibility can take place further down the line, when tempers are cooler and enough time has passed to take emotion out of the equation.

In conclusion, janazas and quls are pretty depressing and emotionally charged occasions on their own. A little sensitivity and respect can go a long way to help make it easier. l

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Editorial 11

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

INSIDE

Identity and ideology The problem is that analysis of profiles of foot soldiers and cannon-fodders of terrorist attacks show that most of these youths were not very politically engaged for a long time, and were mostly living quite apolitical lives until quite recent to the attack PAGE 12

America is pulling back from the world Too many of America’s allies, Trump says, have been relying on Washington to deter enemies and stabilise the neighbourhood. If they’re not willing to pay for that protection, he says, America should pull its forces back PAGE 13

Not taking the planet for granted It is feared that by 2050, there will be 18 million climate refugees in Bangladesh alone, due to the rise of sea levels, frequent cyclones, and more floods PAGE 14

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/ DhakaTribune.

The views expressed in Opinion articles are those of the authors alone. They do not purport to be the official view of Dhaka Tribune or its publisher.

BIGSTOCK

Tonu autopsy findings unacceptable

I

t is scarcely credible that the first post-mortem examination of Sohagi Jahan Tonu’s body failed to determine the cause of her death and found no evidence that she was raped.

There were clear indications when her body was found near her residence inside the Mainamati Cantonment in Comilla on March 20 that Tonu had been sexually assaulted before being killed.

As well as her body being found unclothed, Tonu’s father had reported an injury mark on the back of her head. Given the circumstances, it seems inconceivable that the post-mortem should have fallen into the category of the less than 5% of autopsies where the cause of death cannot be found.

The autopsy raised more questions than it answered and necessitated the need for a second post-mortem examination to be performed this week.

It is highly distressing for Tonu’s family that her body had to be exhumed for a fresh autopsy after police said they found the first one did not match their inquest report.

This is a further indication of the inadequate and slow response of local police in investigating her murder, which has caused nationwide public concern.

Although the home minister has assured all necessary support, and CID, the Detective Branch, and RAB have all since been involved in the investigation, this does not absolve the police of the need to explain the apparently botched nature of the first post-mortem.

The heinous nature of this crime which took place in a prominent, wellguarded public area, makes it imperative that investigators follow up the widespread suspicion that evidence may have been tampered with and covered up.

It is vital for public confidence that no stone be left unturned in gathering evidence to identify and bring Tonu’s murderers to justice.

Explain the botched nature of first postmortem and investigate suspicions of evidence being covered up

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Identity and ideology Why does radical Islamism thrive in the West?

n Shafiqur Rahman

O

ne of the suicide bombers who took part in the multiple attacks in Paris, in November 2015, was an owner of a café and bar in Brussels where he also ran a thriving illicit drugs business.

That café-cum-drug-den was shut down by the police in August, only a few months before the attack.

Two brothers who took part in the Brussels Airport bombing last month were regular guests at Belgian prisons for activities like

There are so many factors that lead to attacks such as the one in Paris

The problem is that analysis of profiles of foot soldiers and cannon-fodders of terrorist attacks show that most of these youths were not very politically engaged for a long time, and were mostly living quite apolitical lives until quite recent to the attack armed robbery and carjacking.

There is evidence that it was inside the prisons where they met some proselytising jihadist, and converted to violent extremism.

This pattern has been consistently clear among the many bloody and spectacular terrorist attacks carried out by homegrown Islamist extremists in Western countries in the last 15 years.

Most of these “martyrs” were not very religious until recently before the attack; they often partook in the sins of senses and flesh that people associate with liberal West; they did not lead very purpose-driven, careerist lives, and most often, they did not have the intellectual capacity and discipline to be a politically and ideologically active person.

The question of why many young Muslims in the West are converting to violent extremism and are either creating mayhem within their resident countries or travelling to distant lands to wage millenarian battles has been fiercely argued in the media, halls of academia, and general society for many years now. The question has taken new urgency as ominous fault-lines across mass societies in world society have become too stark to be ignored by all but the intentionally blind.

A very recent opinion poll in the US found that 71% of Republican voters supported Donald Trump’s proposed temporary ban on Muslims travelling to the US; more worryingly, 34% of likely Democratic voters support that

too. 49% of all US voters also agreed with Ted Cruz’s call for extra police patrols of Muslim neighbourhoods.

Among the people of Europe, negative views towards Muslims in their own countries are fuelling rapid growth of far-right political parties and general hardening of government stances towards immigration and multiculturalism. Most Muslims and many in liberal left politics like to blame these disturbing changes to manipulations by populist leaders and demagogues like Donald Trump and Le Pen, but any clear-headed analysis would show that these changes have been growing steadily, structurally, and pervasively over the years. For those who harbour no illusions about human capacity for depraved collective behaviour among groups in society, all these developments are deeply worrying.

Lack of economic opportunities and widespread discrimination are often cited as the main causes that are driving Muslim youths to violent radicalism, particularly in Europe. Undoubtedly, wellknown hotbeds of radicalism like the Molenbeek neighbourhood of Brussels, Seine-Saint-Denis of Paris, and cities like Bradford in England are also cesspools of economic misery even within an economically stagnant Europe.

It’s also undeniable that Muslim youths face ubiquitous discrimination and overt racism from the larger society in the West,

particularly in Europe. But these factors cannot, by themselves, explain the organised, violent radicalism. Even an unemployed Belgian youth of Arab descent at Molenbeek has far more economic and social security than most of the employed youth back at their home countries with stable government.

While the comparison with life in utterly devastated societies of countries like Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen can only be very sobering, many of these youths have travelled back and forth between Europe and the Middle East, and thus, they are aware of the difference in social well-being and political freedom between these two regions. Moreover, almost none of the terrorists who carried out attacks in Europe or North America were in situations of great economic stress.

The racism and discrimination the youths of Middle Eastern descent face in Europe or the US are real and significant, but pales in comparison to the outright racism faced by people of African descent in Europe or the US. They also have very limited economic opportunity compared to the majority population. While discrimination and economic deprivation are undoubtedly important factors behind higher crime and drug abuse rates in these communities, we are not seeing organised political extremism seething within them.

British columnist and BBC commentator Yasmin AlibhaiBrown recently wrote in her column: “Let’s have no more special pleading from white lefties and self-selected Muslim spokespeople. Other minorities face discrimination and racism.

They don’t create havoc and mayhem.” Political grievance is often cited by experts as the primary cause behind radical Islamist violence. They say that decades of imperialistic and

REUTERS

impetuous Western intervention in the Middle East have created such vivid mass human sufferings that sensitive Muslim youths become very susceptible to radical messages from the empathy they feel to fellow co-religionists.

The problem is that analysis of profiles of foot soldiers and cannon-fodders of terrorist attacks show that most of these youths were not very politically engaged for a long time, and were mostly living quite apolitical lives until quite recent to the attack. They could be seething inside, but the sustained resentment was seldom seen from the outside, as friends and acquaintances testify regularly.

Academics are increasingly resorting to issues related to identity, both individual and collective, to investigate why an erstwhile seemingly normal person abruptly turns to violence and self-annihilation.

There is no one fixed type of terrorist identity profile and many different types of personality are seen in these radical groups, but analysts have determined three broad types of self-ascribed identity among members of different groups over the decades.

First, there are the few leadertypes who view themselves as ordained by fate to lead for great historical change and they find self-fulfillment through charismatically leading other people; for them, often the act of leading is more important than the cause. More plentiful is the idealist type, who is usually an intelligent but at the same-time naïve youth, who completely self-identifies with an ideology of historical transformation. But the most common type is the opportunist suffering from identity confusion due to anomie, which is a sense of social confusion and separation due to failure to see oneself fitting in with current society. The opportunist seeks to gain a sense

of purpose and self-worth through a collective identity, and selfactualising actions.

One common characteristic across all psychological types is that, although many of them are anti-social, almost none of the terrorists were found to be psychotic; they are not crazy.

They have self-consistent logic of method and objective however outlandish these may seem to others.

Even identity issues by themselves are not enough to explain terrorism. There are hundreds of millions of youths who face identity crises in the rapidly changing modern world.

They often resort to unsocial behaviour and, sometimes, in the land of plentiful guns, they carry out murderous shooting sprees, but they are not seen resorting to organised, self-immolating violence to bring down the existing order.

There is undeniably a strong ideological dimension to terrorism that binds all the issues together and provides both vision and blueprint for change. Apart from terrorism due to nationalist struggles, ideologies of most other global terrorist waves in the modern era show some common characteristics. The ideologies are millenarian; they seek global transformation towards a new era.

They are irredentist; they hark back to a pure, glorious past. They are unrelenting; they profess no compromise with ideological principles. They are not humanistic; they do not believe that the individual is an end in itself, there is a greater cause that transcends humans.

In the next part, I will argue that the liberal world order will face its deepest challenge yet, if the ideological dimensions of terrorism are not addressed head on. l Shafiqur Rahman is a political scientist.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

America is pulling back from the world Trump’s isolationist attitude, in a period of global instability, spells bad news for the rest of the world

Can America afford to stand with Trump?

n Peter Apps

F

or many Americans, the attacks on Brussels must have felt like more of the same. Once again, militants struck, the systems designed to stop them failed, and all the blood and treasure of 15 years of “war on terror” appears more wasted than ever.

From an outsider’s perspective, though, the way in which the US reacts appears to be subtly shifting. Almost without noticing, America is beginning to dramatically re-think the way in which it interacts with the world.

As with so many things, Donald Trump is the clearest manifestation of the trend. For all his talk of “making America great again,” the foreign policy he has begun to outline -- particularly in interviews with senior editors at the New York Times and the Washington Post -- smacks of outright isolationism.

Trump himself, it should be said, specifically rejects that label.

Getting stuck on the semantics misses the point. On a much, much broader level -- from the country at large to the corridors of the White House -- feelings are also changing. Frustrations, regrets, and a re-thinking of how much America can, or should, do, drips from almost every line of the must-read interview with President Barack Obama published earlier this month in the Atlantic.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, several current and former US officials have told me they no longer really feel they know what their country was trying to achieve in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere.

Such soul-searching is rarely

done publicly, but it appears widespread.

That trend is easily missed in Washington, not least because so many of the thinktanks that make-up the foreign policy community are robustly interventionist -- and funded by individuals, defense contractors, and foreign governments such as the Gulf states who want to keep the US thinking that way. “The result is that you can end up taking public positions that are more interventionist than you really think,” said one think-tank policy analyst on condition of anonymity.

Even within such institutions, though, the mood seems to be quietly changing.

The gulf between different worldviews -- particularly those exemplified by Obama and Trump -- remains vast. As Obama’s Latin American tour made clear, his vision for America remains one in which the world’s preeminent superpower remains a multi-ethnic melting pot deeply committed to an ever more interlinked world -- even if the Atlantic profile shows he now puts more caveats on that position.

Trump’s entire campaign, meanwhile, is based around, often literally, fencing off the rest of the planet. Immigration and globalisation, he says, have cost Americans their jobs and risks costing them their safety.

Too many of America’s allies, Trump says, have been relying on Washington to deter enemies and stabilise the neighbourhood.

If they’re not willing to pay for that protection, he says, America should pull its forces back.

That’s a massive shift from the positions America’s allies in particular have come to expect. In

REUTERS

message, though, contains very specific limits. Attempts at broader stabilisation and “nation-building,” he says, simply haven’t worked. He told the Washington Post he would find it “very difficult” to send tens of thousands of ground troops to fight Dae’sh, even if senior US commanders requested it.

Obama famously opposed the invasion of Iraq, but favoured increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan immediately after he took office in 2009. It’s hard to imagine him or many others backing such a strategy now.

On a wide variety of issues, Trump has probably taken too extreme and idiosyncratic a position to make himself electable.

America’s most likely next

to his strategy. But he clearly saw no problem in expressing considerable frustrations with the Europeans, Britain and France in particular, blaming them for failing to come up with their own policies to stabilise Libya -- in his view, clearly Europe’s backyard -- after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In the aftermath of the Brussels attacks, the overwhelming narrative seems to have been to “blame Belgium.” In some ways, that’s very reasonable.

Belgium’s intelligence and security apparatus, as well as the rest of its government, is notoriously dysfunctional.

But Belgium, it is worth remembering, has long been known as the “crossroads of

Too many of America’s allies, Trump says, have been relying on Washington to deter enemies and stabilise the neighbourhood. If they’re not willing to pay for that protection, he says, America should pull its forces back

South Korea, newspapers said they were “dumbfounded” by Trump’s suggestion Tokyo and Seoul should build their own atomic weapons to protect themselves.

European governments will be similarly concerned by his comments on Nato. In both cases, though, his comments point to much broader questioning at home.

Earlier this month, I chaired a discussion on US foreign policy and the election. One of the participants, the Atlantic Council’s Alex Ward, mentioned that, while he and many of his foreign policyfocused colleagues spent much of their time working on strategies to defend Nato members like the Baltic states from Russia, some of his relatives in the rest of the country didn’t even know what the acronym stood for.

When it comes to talking about the threat from militants like Dae’sh, Trump and Obama also differ wildly -- but only up to a point. Trump takes pride in talking about how he would tear up the rulebook, using harsh interrogation techniques, torture, and indiscriminate bombing. The president might have failed to close Guantanamo, but he clearly opposes such measures, feeling they simply make matters worse.

Trump’s populist anti-Dae’sh

president remains Hillary Clinton -- a candidate whose legitimacy, ironically, rests heavily on her international affairs background and establishment status.

Her advisers, backers and mentors consist of pretty much the entire Democratic and much of the Republican foreign policy community -- although she has found that expertise is not necessarily helping her in the polls. Where Trump goes well beyond any other potential serious presidential contender since the 1930s is in suggesting the much wider withdrawal, if not outright abandonment, of previous US positions. On trade, he is aggressively protectionist -something he has in common with leftist challenger Bernie Sanders.

Against China in particular, he says he would run up tariffs in a way that could well provoke a trade war.

At the same time, though, his reluctance to support long-time US allies might well empower Moscow and Beijing. Trump says his time in business has told him the value of being unpredictable. When it comes to high-stakes nuclear confrontations, however, that may not be a virtue. Obama would never go as far. Indeed, stepping up military presence in both Asia and Europe has been central

empire,” never truly able to secure its borders against its foes. And while some of America’s relative success in avoiding attacks on its mainland since 9/11 probably is the result of its intelligence and security reforms, the fact that it is cut off from the rest of the world by two enormous oceans is also key.

That geographic isolation is why America has the luxury of sometimes thinking it could make the rest of the world go away.

Indeed, much of its recent focus on gaining energy independence seems rooted in that hope.

That the US is re-thinking its role is neither surprising nor unhealthy. It spent a mere 25 years as the unipolar global superpower and in the Middle East in particular, it’s easy to conclude it may have been a negative, or at least destabilising, influence.

At its best, however, America acts, albeit deeply imperfectly, as the closest we have to a global linchpin. If the country is going isolationist again, during a period of global instability, that may not be a good thing for the rest of us. l Peter Apps is Reuters Global Affairs Columnist, writing on international affairs, globalisation, conflict, and other issues. This article has been syndicated from Reuters.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Not taking the planet for granted Climate change is real, and we have very little time on our hands

n Aaqib Md Shatil

“L

et us not take this planet for granted, I am not taking tonight for granted.”

These were the words with which Leonardo DiCaprio concluded his speech after winning his first Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards for his acting in The Revenant.

DiCaprio, after sharing his experience with the audience all across the world about how the cast and crew of The Revenant had to move to the south tip of the planet only to find some snow, had called climate change a real problem and asked to support the leaders who do not talk for the polluters but rather for the victims.

When he was giving his speech at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, on the last day of February, it was recorded that Los Angeles had experienced the hottest February on record, which was supposed to be a month of rainfall -- a practical picture of how climate change is taking shape, despite a number of world leaders still denying it with a straight face.

No matter what these world leaders claim, the rise of temperatures and sea levels is a fact. According to the UN fact sheet on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Arctic’s sea ice extent has shrunk every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 million square-kilometres of ice loss every decade, resulting in a rise in sea levels.

It is feared that by 2050, there will be 18 million climate refugees in Bangladesh alone, the worst potential victims of climate change, due to the rise of sea levels, frequent cyclones, and more floods.

Among the reasons behind the rapid change in climate is the increase in carbon emissions worldwide. The UN claims that since 1990, global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by almost 50%.

While Bangladesh contributes just 0.4 metric-tons per capita to carbon emissions, the US produces 17 tons. Emissions grew more quickly between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the three previous decades.

Apart from sea levels rising, which is the most discussed topic so far, there are many other impacts to be discussed.

For example, according to some estimation, for every 1 degree increase in temperature, grain

Let’s take better care of our home

BIGSTOCK

It is feared that by 2050, there will be 18 million climate refugees in Bangladesh alone, the worst potential victims of climate change, due to the rise of sea levels, frequent cyclones, and more floods

yields decline by about 5%. It is estimated that by 2100, the global temperature will increase by 2%, resulting in a substantial decline in harvests.

To fight this global phenomenon, the member states of UN adopted the SDGs last year.

Goal 13 of the 17 goals gives a clear direction of how to contain the almost inevitable climate change.

The goal, with five targets in it, states: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The targets were given to ensure urgent action to combat climate change is taken, fulfilling some basic criteria, and reducing the negative impacts of those actions as well.

The first target urges strengthening resilience and

adaptive capacity to climaterelated hazards. This can be explained with the case of Sidr and its aftermath in Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr exposed 3.45 million households to inundation in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is still recovering from the damages of that particular cyclone.

Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity of the people to climate hazards and disasters through proper measures and policies will help the country recover from the effects of such disasters.

This target is followed by the call to integrate climate change measures to national policies, strategies, and planning. Since a problem cannot be solved properly if not recognised as a problem,

with proper strategies taken to solve it, the inclusion of the measures to tackle climate change into national policies will ensure that climate change is recognised as a problem in the country.

With regards to the third target, that covers the improvement of education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning, Bangladesh has been a role model.

However, for many countries, this is going to be one of the most crucial jobs for the next 15 years, because almost two-thirds of world population has no clear idea about climate change, according to a survey conducted by Gallup World Poll. Many of them had

never even heard of it.

Therefore, awarenessraising and educating the huge population about climate change and the actions to be taken will be a challenge for most of the countries because of the lack of funds, which is addressed in the next target. The fourth of the five targets asks to mobilise, jointly, $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions.

The last target recommends promoting mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management, including focusing on women, the youth, and local and marginalised communities, with a view to establishing the sustainable mechanisms in case of climate action.

Only if all these targets are properly met with success can the adverse effects of climate change be contained by this century. It is high time not to take the planet for granted, and to engage ourselves with climate actions. l Aaqib Md Shatil is an Executive of Brand Development at Build Better Bangladesh Foundation.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

INSIDE Private sector credit growth rises

Exports cross $24bn in 9 months n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Private sector credit growth continued to rise in February, reaching 15.11% on a year-on-year basis, far above the central bank’s credit ceiling that was set at 14.80% for June in the January-June monetary policy. PAGE 16

IMF chief ramps up call for global action as growth risks increase

The global economy’s already modest prospects will decline further unless authorities take stronger action to boost growth, the head of the IMF warned yesterday, saying the Fund would cut its headline forecasts next week. PAGE 17

World equities rocked by new oil slide

The country’s overall export volume reached $24.95 billion in first nine months of this fiscal year with readymade garment sector constituting the major chunk.

The exports registered nearly 9% growth from $22.90 billion one year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau data released yesterday.

Besides, the figure is 2.12% higher against the strategic target of $24.43 billion set for the period.

Meanwhile, in March alone the export earnings amounted to $2.83 billion, posting 9.20% rise from $2.6 billion in the same month last year.

In nine-month earnings, the RMG sector contributed $20.44 billion with 9.74% growth compared to one year ago. During the same period last year, the sector earned $18.62 billion.

As per the latest data, woven sector earned $10.76 billion, which is 12.64% higher compared to the same period of the last year, while knitwear earned $9.67 billion posting a 6.68% growth.

“Bangladesh needs 12% growth to achieve its $50 billion export target from the RMG sector by 2021. Currently, the export growth of the sector is hovering around 9.5%. But amid the remediation process, a 9.74% growth is still satisfactory,” Bangladesh Garment

Workers processing shrimp to export. Although the overall export earnings continue to grow, some major sectors like shrimp post negative growth Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said: “We are hoping better growth in the upcoming years as there are lots of new RMG units waiting to commence their productions.”

Though the overall export earnings continued to grow but some major sector such as frozen and live fishes, shrimps, plastic products vegetables, jute and jute goods home textile showed negative growth.

“The suspension of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) by the US government cast negative impact on export earnings as the products cost increased due to tax,” said Shahedul Islam Helal, a director of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA).

The price of plastic goods declined in the global markets due to the fall of oil prices, which is another reason for the negative export growth, said Shahedul.

“Although the data shows that

the export volume has been increased, the export value did not increase as per expectation,” he said.

On the other hand, shrimp exporters blamed economic slowdown in the export destinations, especially in the European Union for the negative growth.

Export earnings from the shrimp have seen a 15.25% fall to $352 million, which was $415 million a year ago. The jute and jute goods sectors have also posted a meager fall by 1.72% to $641.58 million. l

Inflation edges Nearly Tk94,000cr RADP approved up in March n Tribune Report Tribune Report n Europe’s main stock markets dived yesterday, after another sell-off across most of Asia that was sparked by a fresh drop in oil prices, dealers said. PAGE 18

Capital market snapshot: Tuesday DSE Broad Index

4,409.7

-0.5% ▼

Index

1,066.0

-0.3% ▼

30 Index

1,670.3

-0.5% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

3,178.5 -35.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

99.6 -30.3% ▼

CSE All Share Index 13,589.4

-0.4% ▼

30 Index

12,269.0

-0.3% ▼

8,253.6

-0.5% ▼

Selected Index Turnover in Mn Tk

212.4 -49.7% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

7.9 -49.0% ▼

Inflation in the last month rose marginally on the back of increased commodity prices, according to official data released yesterday.

The month-to-month inflation stood at 5.65% in March, up from 5.62% in February, says the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

During the period, food inflation also went up to 3.89% from 3.77%. Non-food inflation, however, was down 8.36% from 8.46%.

“The rise of some essential items like fish, pulse and sugar pushed inflation up,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

In urban areas, food inflation was up 5.61% in March from 5.48% in February and non-food inflation saw a fall of 9.12% from 9.14% during the period.

In rural areas, food inflation rose to 3.15%, up from 3.04% and non-food inflation soared 7.82% against 7.97% during the period. l

The National Economic Council has approved a total of Tk93,894 crore as revised annual development programme for the fiscal year 2015-16.

The outlay includes an additional budget of Tk2,894 for autonomous bodies and public agencies.

The original ADP figure was slashed by Tk6,000 or 6% from Tk97,000 crore, reducing the amount to Tk91,000 crore excluding the additional allocation for autonomous bodies.

The agencies and public bodies will self-finance the projects.

The approval was given at the NEC meeting yesterday with its Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, held at the NEC conference room. Prime minister is chairperson of the NEC. Following the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told journalists that his ministry proposed Tk88,000 crore as RADP.

As different ministries demanded additional allocations, prime minister added Tk3,000 crore more, he said.

Mustafa Kamal said prime minister’s allocated additional funds will be distributed as per necessity.

Of the revised ADP, Tk61,840.68 crore will come from national exchequer, Tk29,160 crore as project assistance and the remaining

Tk2,894 crore will be provided by the implementing agencies from their own funds.

The transport sector received the highest allocation of Tk19,639.77 crore, followed by education and religious sector Tk9,901.74 crore.

Mustafa Kamal said some 277 new projects had been included in the RADP. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Private sector credit growth rises n Jebun Nesa Alo Private sector credit growth continued to rise in February, reaching 15.11% on a year-on-year basis, far above the central bank’s credit ceiling that was set at 14.80% for June in the January-June monetary policy.

The total credit to private sector stood at Tk6,27,960 crore in February from Tk5,45,534 crore in the same period last year, according to the Bangladesh Bank data released recently.

Earlier, the highest credit growth was 16.6% in December 2012, and the growth rate remained below 15% since then amid sluggish investment climate.

The credit growth took an upward trend from October last year, reaching over 13% and continued to rise, recording around a three-year-high

growth of 14.19% in last December.

The private sector credit growth reached 14.80% in January which was set for June at the monetary policy and the growth rate crossed the ceiling in February.

Bangladesh Bank had to slash its

credit ceiling in last two monetary policies as the growth rate was far below the projected target.

The overflow of credit may put pressure on inflation, feared a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The domestic credit growth

Profit booking breaks 5-day rally n Tribune Report

Stocks fell yesterday, snapping a five-day rally, as risk-averse investors opted for quick profit booking.

The market began with red in the morning while the profit booking sell-off mainly on small cap issues continued until the trading closed.

The benchmark index DSEX declined 22 points or 0.5% to close at 4,409, chipping away from over 100 points gained in the last five sessions.

The Shariah index DSES inched down about 3 points or 0.3% to 1,065. The blue chip comprising in-

dex DS30 slumped around 8 points to 1,670.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX ended at 8,253, shedding 38 points.

But the bottom line is that trading activities took a jolt as the DSE turnover stood at Tk317 crore with a sharp decline of more than 35% from the previous session’s value.

Pharmaceuticals and engineering sectors were the turnover leaders, contributing 16.8% and 15% respectively to the day’s total trade value.

Shares of 316 companies were traded on the day. Of them, 78

companies closed positive, 190 negative while 50 remained unchanged.

The losing sectors were engineering, ceramics, banks and non-banking financial institutions.

Most other sectors like food and allied, telecommunication and pharmaceuticals closed flat.

Delta Brac Housing Finance Corp Ltd was the most traded share and the turnover reached Tk16 crore.

It was followed by BSRM Limited, Summit Allaince Port, LankaBangla Finance Limited KDS Accessories, Orion Infusion, Power, The Ibn Sina and Titas Gas. l

registered 11% in February against the target of 15.50% set for June in monetary programme.

The BB executive said though the domestic credit growth is still below the target, it is on the rise which will be risky for managing

inflation at expected level.

The public sector credit growth still remains at negative 1.85% in February as the government is getting adequate money from the savings instruments.

The drastic fall in lending rate prompted the private sector credit growth, said a senior executive of a private bank.

The lending rate came down to 10.91% in February compared to 12.23% in the same period last year.

Deposit rate also saw a sharp fall as banks are still awash with excess liquidity, said the executive.

The interest rate on deposit came down to 6.1% in February from 7.19% in the same period last year.

Depositors money are flowing to savings instruments due to sharp fall in deposit rates which push the public sector credit growth to negative trend, said the executive. l

Apollo Hospitals to raise Tk75cr through IPO n Tribune Report Under book-building method, STS Holdings, which owns Apollo Hospitals Dhaka, will raise TK75 crore through Initial public offerings (IPO), the company said in a statement yesterday.

With the raised fund, a branch of the hospital will be set up in the port city Chittagong, STS Holdings said, adding that the construction work has already started. The total project cost has been estimated at Tk490 crore. Of which, Tk75 crore

will be raised through IPO which will be used as an equity contribution to the Chittagong Hospital project.

Tk278 crore will be arranged from IFC and DEG in the form of long-term debt and the rest Tk137 crore from internal sources.

If the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approves the IPO, it will be the second listed hospital after Samorita Hospital, which entered into the stock market in 1997. ICB Capital Management and AFC Capital are the issue managers of the IPO of STS Holdings. l

Daraz.com introduces OECD: Germany should boost online Boishakhi Mela services sector n Tribune Report

Daraz.com.bd in association with Sunsilk will host an online fair “Daraz Boishakhi Mela 1423” from April 8 through 14.

Benjamin de Fouchier, managing director of Daraz Bangladesh Ltd, made the announcement at a press conference held at Spectra Convention Centre in the capital city yesterday.

“The fair would be a celebration and also a testament to our commitment and gratitude towards our consumers by bringing them with the kind of bargains no one else has done before in Bangladesh,” he said.

Starting from April 7 midnight, the e-commerce platform is going to offer up to 70% discount on different category of products.

For the first time, Bangladeshi shoppers will experience this fair online without having to set foot outside in the heat, traffic and may be even rain.

The discounts may be as high as 50% on smart-phones, 35% on home appliances and 70% on fashion and accessories.

Local and foreign fashion brands Ecstasy, Dorjibari, Smartex, Bata, Apex, Watches World and many more are participating in this online sale extravaganza. Sony, Lenovo, Toshiba, LG, Samsung, HP, Microsoft, HTC, among others, will also be taking part in this event.

Zaved Akhtar, brand building director of Unilever, said e-commerce all over the world is booming and now it is time for Bangladesh to shine on this platform. l

n AFP, Berling

Germany must beef up its services sector if its economic backbone of manufacturing is not to weaken, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in a report yesterday.

“You have to invest in services, upskill the people in services,” OECD chief Angel Gurria told a news conference.

“Otherwise, all the German industry success is going to slow down because you don’t have the same level of productivity in the two areas,” Gurria said as he presented the report.

While acknowledging the success of Europe’s biggest economy in recent years, with stable growth, a robust labour market and healthy

public finances, OECD pointed to “a number of challenges” facing Germany. And there was “little room for complacency.”

All the German industry success is going to slow down because you don’t have the same level of productivity in the two areas “Labour productivity has declined, and is particularly low in services,” Gurria said.

Germany’s industrial prowess is built on its cars, chemicals and precision engineering, but the eco-

nomic powerhouse is less successful in the services sector, which is regarded as over-regulated and rigid.

But “there is lot of value added in services,” Gurria said.

Both the OECD and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have repeatedly called on Germany to invest in infrastructure and education, a call IMF chief Christine Lagarde reiterated while on a visit to the country yesterday.

Gurria also urged on the government to integrate the massive influx of refugees who have arrived in Germany in recent months with special education and training initiatives.

That “requires a substantial upfront investment, but it pays,” the OECD chief said. l

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

IMF chief ramps up call for global action as growth risks increase n Reuters, Frankfurt

The global economy’s already modest prospects will decline further unless authorities take stronger action to boost growth, the head of the IMF warned yesterday, saying the Fund would cut its headline forecasts next week.

Christine Lagarde said China’s shift to an economic model based more on domestic demand, stubbornly low commodity prices and tighter funding conditions in some countries had all clouded the outlook.

“Let me be clear: we are on alert, not alarm. There has been a loss of growth momentum,” the International Monetary Fund’s managing director said in a speech at Frankfurt’s Goethe University.

The recovery from the 20072009 global financial crisis “remains too slow, too fragile and risks to its durability are increasing.”

But if policymakers confronted the challenges and acted together, “the positive effects on global confidence - and the global economy will be substantial.”

Lagarde advised the United States to raise its minimum wage, Europe to improve job training and emerging economies to cut fuel subsidies and boost social spending.

She gave her strongest hint yet that the IMF will cut its global eco-

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde attends a news conference after a seminar on the international financial architecture in Paris REUTERS nomic forecasts next week.

“The global outlook has weakened further over the last six months so you can (deduce) from that there will be a slight revision (in the IMF estimates),” Lagarde said.

Spring meetings

Lagarde’s remarks come less than two weeks before ministers, central bankers and other policymakers from the Fund’s 188 member

India’s central bank cuts key interest rate to five-year low n AFP, New Delhi

India’s central bank yesterday cut its key interest rate to a fiveyear low of 6.5% citing a dip in inflation, and signalled there could be further rate cuts to come.

In a widely expected move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it would lower the benchmark repo rate, the level at which it lends to commercial banks, by 25 basis points down from 6.75%.

The move, designed to lower the cost of borrowing and investing to provide a boost to consumers and the economy, takes the rate to its lowest level since early 2011.

“Retail inflation measured by the consumer price index (CPI) dropped sharply in February after rising for six consecutive months,” RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said in the first policy statement of the new fiscal year.

The bank governor also said the RBI’s stance on monetary policy would remain accommodative, suggesting the bank may make further cuts to interest rates this year.

“The Reserve Bank will continue to watch macro-economic and financial developments in the months ahead with a view to responding with further policy action as space opens up,” Rajan said.

In a Bloomberg News survey of 42 economists, 36 had expected a cut of 25 basis points, while four had expected a deeper cut of 50 basis points and two foresaw no change. l

countries gather in Washington to assess the health of the world economy at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings.

While the U.S. recovery has been gaining momentum and some emerging markets including as Mexico have performed well, the IMF views Europe and Japan as major disappointments, while China’s slowing growth has hurt oil and commodity exporting coun-

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tries, including Brazil and Russia.

To counteract the headwinds, Lagarde called for accelerated structural reforms, increased fiscal support and continued accommodative monetary policy.

She urged improved tax incentives for research and development investments, citing IMF data showing that a 40% increase in R&D spending in advanced economies could yield a 5% increase in GDP over 20 years.

Asked about negotiations between the IMF, European lenders and Greece for a new bailout program for the heavily indebted country, Lagarde told Bloomberg TV the Fund continued to negotiate “in good faith”.

After Internet site Wikileaks published an apparent transcript of an IMF conference call, Lagarde denied that IMF staff might threaten to pull out of the bailout as a negotiating tactic to force more European debt relief for Greece.

Introducing Lagarde’s speech, Jens Weidmann, who sits on the European Central Bank’s decision-making body and heads Germany’s Bundesbank, said the IMF was “an essential component” in any euro zone rescue program.

Among other sources of uncertainty facing the global economy, Lagarde listed Britain’s debate over remaining in the European Union. l

Major banks set up thousands of offshore firms n AFP, Paris The trio of British banking giant HSBC and Swiss institutions UBS and Credit Suisse set up more than 4,500 offshore companies through Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, Le Monde newspaper reported yesterday.

HSBC created 2,300 offshore companies, Credit Suisse has 1,105 and UBS, has 1,100, while France’s Societe Generale has 979, according to the latest revelations from the vast leak of documents dubbed the Panama Papers.

Le Monde reported that 365 banks across the world had used the services of Mossack Fonseca, the firm at the centre of the allegations.

Other major banks mentioned in the report include Germany’s Deutsche Bank and Nordea, which does business in Nordic and Baltic countries.

Offshore companies can be used for legitimate purposes, but they have in the past been used to launder money and evade taxes.

The banks cited by Le Monde rejected any wrongdoing.

The CEO of Credit Suisse, Tidjane Thiam, said yesterday his bank would endorse only “legitimate” offshore arrangements.

“We only accept offshore structures, vehicles, if they serve legitimate purposes,” Thiam said, speaking in Hong Kong. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

World equities rocked by new oil slide n AFP, London Europe’s main stock markets dived yesterday, after another selloff across most of Asia that was sparked by a fresh drop in oil prices, dealers said.

Around 0900 GMT, Frankfurt’s benchmark DAX 30 index was down 2.5% compared with Monday’s finish, as dire German factory orders sparked fresh questions about the health of the eurozone’s biggest economy.

Elsewhere, France’s CAC 40 index shed 2% and Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 1.4% in value.

World oil prices languished close to one-month lows on persistent worries over the global supply glut, weighing on energy shares.

Sentiment failed to win a boost from news that eurozone private sector business activity nudged higher in March after a sharp fall in February, according to a survey from data firm Markit.

Oil, economy woes

“The FTSE 100 was down in early trading following downbeat overnight sessions on Wall Street and in Asia, with volatile crude oil prices and global economic concerns continuing to have an impact on investor sentiment,” said Russ Mould, investment director at stockbroker AJ Bell.

The mood darkened as gloomy data showed that German industrial orders - a key measure of demand for goods in Europe’s top

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange economy - declined in February.

Provisional official data showed a decrease in orders of 1.2% monthon-month in February, weighed down by falling foreign demand.

That followed an increase of 0.5% in January.

Analysts polled by financial services firm FactSet had pencilled in a modest increase of 0.3% for February.

“A poor February for German factory orders ... adds to eurozone woes,” said analyst Mike van Dulken at traders Accendo Markets.

In Asia and Europe, energy companies nursed heavy losses as oil prices fell further.

“WTI crude is eyeing a move back below $35 per barrel,” noted analyst Tony Cross at traders Trustnet Direct.

“As a result it’s the natural resources stocks that are scattered across the foot of the index, with Royal Dutch Shell and BP also being dragged very much into the fray.”

BP slid 1.94% to 338 pence and Shell’s ‘A’ shares shed 2.35% to 1,638 pence.

CORPORATE NEWS

LankaBangla Finance Ltd has recently opened its relocated branch in Agrabad, Chittagong. The company’s chairperson, Mohammad A Moyeen inaugurated the new premises of Agrabad branch, said a press release

Mongla EPZ has recently arranged an investment seminar to promote investment at Mongla, Uttara and Ishwardi EPZs. General manager of Mongla EPZ, Md Mahmud Hasan was keynote speaker at the seminar, said a press release

REUTERS

In Paris, French peer Total saw its stock decline 1.77% to 38.48 euros.

Investors were handed a negative lead from Wall Street, where the plunge in crude all but wiped out Friday’s jobs-fuelled gains.

US tightens M&A rules

The US Treasury meanwhile announced new rules on Monday aimed at stemming the tide of mergers between US and foreign businesses designed to sharply lower the US company’s tax bill. l

Oil prices extend losses as output freeze hopes fade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices tumbled further in Asia yesterday on dwindling hopes that key producers will reach an agreement to freeze output when they meet this month to discuss a global supply glut.

After breaking above $40 in March on expectations for the Russia-Saudi Arabia-led talks, the commodity has tumbled in recent weeks The April 17 Doha meeting aims to agree to cap output at January 2016 levels, but analysts say only a production cut can lead to a sustained recovery in prices.

The losses were fanned Friday when Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said his country would only agree to limits at the gathering if it was matched

by Iran and other major producers.

His comments sent oil prices diving four percent Friday, and extended the falls this week.

At around 0810 GMT Tuesday, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in May was down 39 cents, or 1.09%, at $35.31 and Brent crude for June was 28 cents, or 0.74%, lower at $37.41.

“Crude oil is facing headwinds as Saudi Arabia hesitated to commit to freeze production unless Iran agrees to join the output freeze camp,” said Margaret Yang, market analyst at CMC Markets Singapore. l

Shakib Al Hasan partners with Huawei as brand ambassador

19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

New set menu at Lime & Thyme Lime & Thyme has introduced an exciting new Thai set menu and sea food set menu.

Each of the following meals have been selected to provide variety and balance. Choosing the right combination of dishes is very important in Thai cuisine, and for someone new to Thai food,

Huawei, a leading global company in ICT and telecommunication solutions announces Shakib Al Hasan’s appointment as its brand ambassador for the Bangladeshi market. The partnership with the best All-rounder in the world highlights Huawei’s alignment with people and brands that demonstrate its continued endeavour towards creating shared value of connecting greatness.

The partnership between the leading global ICT and telecommunication solutions provider and the top Allrounder in the world symbolises the start of a new innings of leadership of two great leaders.

The collaboration also signifies the start of a new phase of

performance, where Huawei has been introducing innovative new products in the market under various categories, while Shakib has been a prolific and consistent performer in all forms of cricket.

Mr Zhao Haofu, CEO of Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd, said in a speech, “Huawei has reached an epitome of innovation and excellence in performance over the years. We have provided innovative networking solutions to nearly all top global telecom operators, including leading Bangladeshi telecom operators such as Grameenphone, Banglalink, and Robi. Our customers also include Google - the Nexus 6P was created in collaboration with Google - and the Internet of Vehicles products were selected and recognised

selecting a set menu is having a chance to experience a wide range of flavours. The sea food set menu includes a refreshing tuna salad along with other items. The offer is available from 1pm to 4pm daily, at only Tk330 (all Inclusive). l

by leading car makers including Audi, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen.”

“I am happy to be associated with Huawei, a company which has been setting the highest standards in ICT, Telecommunication & Device industry globally. Huawei’s innovative ICT solutions, products and services are serving over one-third of the world’s population. Also, it’s the world’s second largest Android smartphone brand. I believe this partnership will inspire me to achieve further success in my career, and I hope together we will motivate millions of people to pursue excellence,” said Shakib Al Hasan.l

Taste pasta at Le Pizzaria For those foodies out there, be happy to know that a restaurant called Le Pizzaria in Banani has quickly built up their reputation in taste, quality and service. Their authentic Italian pizza has amazed many who have tried it. Their recent offer of buy-one-get-one-free pasta is truly remarkable. Their signature Alfredo Pasta has become a favourite, proudly. Foodies are welcome to experience, what they claim is the next level of an Italian pizzeria. l

DT

Biz Info

Tahsan brand ambassador of Alex Car Wash and wax Famous singer and actor Tahsan Rahman Khan has been made brand ambassador of Alex Car Wash and Wax. Tahsan signed an agreement for a year with Alex Car Wash and Wax at a signing ceremony held yesterday in the capital.

Alex Car Wash and Wax of Tradesworth Household Limited are the first local care shampoo in Bangladesh. Both products are silicate free and completely pH balanced, so

they don’t harm the colour of a car, it was said at the product presentation.

The extra wax gives more shine and a completely brand new look, described at the power presentation over the product.

The program was attended by the director of Tradesworth Household Limited, Syed Mubdi Munawar Husain, divisional manager Mohammed Shahadath Hossain. l

DT

20

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Domestic animals (4) 5 First public appearance (5) 8 Narcotic (6) 9 Curve (4) 10 Perform (3) 12 Washes lightly (6) 13 Astounded (6) 15 Tentacle (6) 18 Thrown (6) 20 United (3) 21 Hindu garment (4) 23 American inventor (6) 24 Healing ointment (5) 25 Tidings (4)

DOWN 1 Hooded snake (5) 2 Monkey (3) 3 Skin disease (5) 4 Sorrowful (3) 5 Mocked (7) 6 Prejudice (4) 7 Makes lace (4) 11 Yield (4) 12 Arbitrator (7) 14 Satellite (4) 16 Letting contract (5) 17 Checks (5) 18 Digits (4) 19 Close up (4) 21 Transgression (3) 22 Argument (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 15 represents C so fill C every time the figure 15 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

A B C DE FG H I J K L MN O P Q RST UVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

World 21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

INSIDE EXPLAINER

#PanamaPapers: Mossack Fonseca’s money moving mechanism Think tank: 10% of world military spending could knock off poverty World military spending rose 1% in 2015, the first annual increase in four years, a Stockholm think tank said on Tuesday as it estimated 10% of this could cover the costs of global goals aiming to end poverty and hunger in 15 years.

PAGE 22

Authorities across the globe have opened investigations into the activities of the world’s rich and powerful after a cache of leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm showed possible wrongdoing using offshore company structures. The “Panama Papers” have cast light on the financial arrangements of high profile politicians and public figures and the companies and financial institutions they use for such activities. Leading figures and financial institutions responded to the massive leak of more than 11.5m documents with denials of any wrongdoing as prosecutors and regulators began a review of the reports from the investigation by the US-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and other media organisations.

The infographics below will illustrate the history and modus operandi of the law firm Mossack Fonseca and will explain the mechanism how offshore money transfer–

Mossack Fonseca The Panama-based law firm at the heart of the Panama Papers investigation

Set up in 1977 by: Ramon

Fonseca Mora Born in Panama in 1952 Graduate of London School of Economics

Azeri-Armenian fighting threatens to pit Russia against Turkey With bad blood flowing between Turkey and Russia since Ankara shot down a Russian warplane in Syria in November, the latest wave of violence in Nagorny-Karabakh in Azerbaijan could have wider implications.

PAGE 23

dozens of branch offices worldwide

Has set up 214,488 companies, including 113,000 in the British Virgin Islands

PANAMA

Juergen

BRAZIL

Mossack Born in Germany in 1948 Son of a Nazi who served in Hitler’s SS

500+ employees,

Virgin Islands (UK)

MEXICO

511 banks* involved and nearly 15,600 shell companies

Company address: 54th Street, Marbella, Panama City

*subsidiaries and branches

Offshore companies

Country with low or zero tax rates for non residents and a degree of secrecy

May be legal but can facilitate tax evasion

= Tax haven

(Virgin Islands, Panama, Delaware, etc.)

Specialised law firm creates

5 storylines in Wisconsin contest for Trump, Sanders If Republicans want to take down party front-runner Donald Trump, Wisconsin might help.

PAGE 23

Fund holder seeks: anonymity to avoid taxes axesTaxes

Taxes

sets up shell companies

provides xx

Mr Xxx

Tax lawyer

Offshore firm

xx

Mr Xxx

“Nominees”

axesTaxes Taxes

manages without being identified Sources: ICIJ, Mossack Fonseca Group, ICG, médias

buys/sells property

yachts

carries out bank transactions

Shell companies bury the origins of the funds even more deeply

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22

World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Think tank: 10% of world military spending could knock off poverty Reuters Foundation, n Thomson Stockholm World military spending rose 1% in 2015, the first annual increase in four years, a Stockholm think tank said on Tuesday as it estimated 10% of this could cover the costs of global goals aiming to end poverty and hunger in 15 years.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said military expenditure nudged up to almost $1.7tn trillion last year, with the US accounting for by far the greatest amount despite its spending dipping 2.4% to $596bn.

China was the second largest spender for the second year in a row with spending up 7.4% to $215bn , while Saudi Arabia passed Russia to take third place and Britain came fifth. Sipri said military expenditure amounted to 2.3% of global gross domestic product - and 10% of this would be enough to fund the global goals agreed upon by United Nations’ 193 member states in September to end poverty and hunger by 2030.

“This gives some sort of perspective that can allow people to see what is the opportunity cost involved with global military spending,” Sam Perlo-Freeman, head of Sipri’s mili-

Military spending World military spending totalled $1.67tn for the full-year 2015, says Sipri

Saudi Arabia $87.2bn

China

$215bn

Russia

$66.4bn

Britain

$40.9bn

India

S. Korea

$51.3bn

France

$50.9bn Source : Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

Japan

$55.5bn

Germany $39.4bn

Italy

$23.8bn

$36.4bn

Brazil

$24.6bn

$23.6bn

$596bn

Australia

United States

UAE

$22.8bn

Israel

$16.1bn Others 0.32bn

tary expenditure project, said.

“This could stir up some debate although we are certainly not expecting a 10% cut in military spending at all,” he said. “That is all about the politics of these countries.”

UN figures show an estimated 800m people live in extreme poverty and suffer from hunger, with fragile and conflict-torn states experiencing the highest poverty rates.

Sipri’s annual military spending report showed overall expenditure increased last year in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and for Middle East countries with data available.

However spending fell in North America, Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa, a continuing trend attributed partly due to the global economic crisis, falling oil prices and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

“On the one hand, spending trends reflect the escalating conflict and tension in many parts of the world; on the other hand, they

show a clear break from the oil-fuelled surge in military spending of the past decade,” Perlo-Freeman said.

“This volatile economic and political situation creates an uncertain picture for the years to come.”

Countries that bumped up military spending in 2015 included Algeria, Azerbaijan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, many of which were involved in conflict or faced heightened regional tensions. Perlo-Freeman said this was the first time Sipri has mapped military spending to the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals but it had previously compared it to spending on health and education.

The Sipri military expenditure project was established in 1967 to study developments in world military expenditure.

“It is no secret that we are a peace research institute and our mission is towards promoting peace and demilitarisation, but we don’t say how this should be done,” he said. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

ANALYSIS

SOUTH ASIA

Azeri-Armenian fighting threatens to pit Russia against Turkey n AFP, Moscow With bad blood flowing between Turkey and Russia since Ankara shot down a Russian warplane in Syria in November, the latest wave of violence in Nagorny-Karabakh in Azerbaijan could have wider implications.

Azerbaijan and Armenia-backed rebels in Karabakh -- which was seized from Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s -- agreed Tuesday to a ceasefire to stop the worse violence in decades that has claimed at least 64 lives since Friday.

But the differing reactions of Ankara and Moscow to the surge in violence has underscored how the crisis could divide more than just the warring parties.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday emphatically threw his weight behind ally Azerbaijan, saying Turks stood “side-by-side with our brothers in Azerbaijan” and predicting that Baku would “one day” retake the mountainous region.

Moscow has a military alliance with Armenia, where it maintains a base, but supplies both sides with weapons.

Russian President Vladimir

baijan seizes Armenian-controlled territory, analysts predict, as Russia risks losing Azerbaijan entirely as a partner in the region if it comes to Armenia’s aid. A protracted conflict would “reinforce Turkey’s influence in Azerbaijan,” which may also reverberate in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus region, Russia’s independent daily Vedomosti said Monday.

Turkey

Armenian volunteers in capital Yerevan make preparations before making their way to Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is controlled by separatist Armenians, where clashes with Azeri forces are taking place on Sunday REUTERS Putin did not take a side in the conflict between the two ex-Soviet countries, instead urging an “immediate ceasefire” over the weekend.

Below is an outline of Russian and Turkish positions on Nagorny-Karabakh –

Russia

Moscow has not recognised Nagorny-Karabakh as Armenian territory and on Tuesday was “very energetically” trying to defuse

the standoff, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Though it supplies both countries with weapons, there is some evidence Moscow has been selling arms to energy-rich Baku at a higher rate and cash-strapped Armenia at a lower price, according to the International Crisis Group. Moscow has historically served as the key mediator since the war in Nagorny-Karabakh ended with an inconclusive ceasefire in 1994. The Kremlin would have the most to lose if Azer-

Ankara has come out strongly in support of its Turkic-speaking historic ally Azerbaijan during the latest clashes, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu telling parliament Tuesday Turkey will back Baku “all the way until the apocalypse.” Turkey has no diplomatic relations with Armenia because of the century-old dispute over the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which Yerevan calls a genocide but Ankara refuses to admit as such. Public opinion in Turkey shows “strong solidarity” with Azerbaijan due to shared national identity. But despite the high tensions with Moscow, Ankara would still avoid a regional war, one analyst said, instead opting for capacity building measures to support its ally. l

ANALYSIS

5 storylines in Wisconsin contest for Trump, Sanders If Republicans want to take down party front-runner Donald Trump, Wisconsin might help.

Same goes for Democrats hoping to fire up discussions around Bernie Sanders’s chances of blocking Hillary Clinton.

One way or another, the Wisconsin primary promises to be a big race to watch for both US political parties. Here’s a little more context to help explain why-

Trump in recovery mode

The past week has damaged Trump’s campaign and may have cost him in the polls. The latest Marquette University Law School poll had him with 30% support, losing by 10-point to Ted Cruz’s 40%. His answer-fumbling on abortion, and a suggestion that “some form of punishment” ought to be meted out against women, drew criticism from both pro-life and pro-choice advocates. The real

DT

World

estate magnate also caught flak for defending campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who has been charged by Florida police with simple battery after a reporter alleged he forcefully grabbed her while she attempted to ask Trump a question. Trump also offered a rare expression of regret after retweeting an unflattering photo of Cruz’s wife, Heidi, calling it “a mistake.”

Who has the most to lose? Trump

A loss in Wisconsin will make it difficult for Trump to avoid a contested convention — and even harder for him to win the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, according to pundits. Leading up to the high-stake contest, Trump would need to win 60% of all remaining delegates, a feat that becomes much harder if he fails to carry Wisconsin. If Trump leaves the state with a small number of delegates, some analysts predict that he might face serious fight against Cruz’s strong organisational machine in the states ahead.

Who has the most to win? Cruz

This could be a big night for Cruz, the Texas senator and the candidate whom Wisconsin Republicans are rallying behind as a possible A Cruz win is expected to turn the race. He won a crucial endorsement last week, when Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who enjoys an 80% approval rating among likely primary voters, turned up to throw his support behind Cruz. Trump did himself no favours while stumping in Wisconsin when he continued to attack Walker’s leadership and disparaged the state’s economy.

Bernie-mentum narrative

Sanders has now passed Clinton by 2.6-point, according to RealClearPolitics aggregate polling data.

Team Clinton’s preoccupation with strategic delegate math and the fight over competing narratives might explain what happened. A spokesperson for the former Secretary of State recently played down expectations for a Wisconsin win and Clinton herself has not been

campaigning in the state in the recent days, opting instead to campaign ahead in New York. The race in Wisconsin appears tight enough that the proportional allocation of the state’s delegates might only help Sanders close the gap by a sliver. Narrative matters for Sanders as well. Winning Wisconsin could reinvigorate his campaign and turn attention back to the delegate race. Sanders has argued many of Clinton’s victories have been in southern states likely to turn red in a general contest.

Wild card: Wisconsin’s open primary

Voter turnout is expected to be very high in Wisconsin, analysts predict.

Wisconsin is also an open primary, which allows same-day registration for voters and independent voters to cast ballots — a plus for Sanders.

For the Republicans, the beneficiary is not so clear. l

[This is an excerpt of a CBC article which can be found at http://bit. ly/1N6Hg8q]

Sri Lanka starts to grant Tamils more autonomy Sri Lanka’s parliament Tuesday launched a process to draw up a new constitution aimed at preventing a return to ethnic war by granting minority Tamils greater autonomy. The assembly includes a 21-member steering committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to draft the new charter aimed at unifying ethnic communities and strengthening democratic institutions.

-AFP

INDIA

Bihar imposes total ban on alcohol The Indian state of Bihar has completely banned the sale of alcohol, including at bars and hotels. Nitish Kumar, the state’s chief minister, said on Tuesday the idea of a ban on local liquor had proved so popular that the government was ready to bar all sales of alcohol immediately. He said feedback from across the state showed the government’s move had widespread support.

-THE GUARDIAN

CHINA

China restricts trade with North Korea China on Tuesday banned imports of gold and rare earths from North Korea as well as exports to the country of jet fuel and other oil products used to make rocket fuel, a move in line with new United Nations’ sanctions on Pyongyang. China said it would also ban coal shipments from the North Korea but the announcement allowed for trade to continue if the proceeds were for livelihood purposes.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Thai junta gives army sweeping powers of arrest Thailand’s coup leaders have been criticised for giving military officers broad police-like powers to arrest and detain, further eroding the capabilities of civilian authorities in the junta-run state. Soldiers from the rank of sub-lieutenant and higher will now be allowed to prevent or suppress 27 types of offences, including crimes against public peace, defamation, gambling, extortion, and labour abuses.

-THE GUARDIAN

MIDDLE EAST

Dae’sh in deadly mustard gas attack on Syria Dae’sh militants attacked Syrian army troops with mustard gas in an offensive against a Syrian military airport in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor that borders Iraq, state news agency Sana said on late Monday. Sana did not say precisely how many soldiers had been killed in the attack on the government-controlled eastern city of Deir Ezzor. -REUTERS

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World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

USA

Sanders, Clinton finally agree to New York debate Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will face off in a debate on April 14 in Brooklyn, after sparring for days about having a New York debate ahead of the state primary.

The duo accepted CNN’s offer to hold the debate in the run-up to the April 19 primary. Sanders, who trails in the race for the Democratic nomination, has been pushing for a debate in New York.

-AFP

THE AMERICAS

UN to provide nuclear security at Rio Olympics

Panama Papers: Explainer It’s easy to get confused by all the headlines about the Panama Papers, a massive 2.6-terabyte leak of documents that reveals a global web of corruption and tax avoidance. But the clearest explanation of what’s happening that the Dhaka Tribune has come across is courtesy of brilliant redditor DanGliesack and was first reproduced (and illustrated) on Vox.com. The illustrated explainer uses piggy banks to help explain the main (and complicatedsounding) thing that was happening in Panama: Foreigners setting up Panamanian shell companies to hold financial assets that obscure the identities of their real owners. Dhaka Tribune here reproduces the DanGliesack/ Vox explainer to help illuminate the key issue at the heart of the Panama Papers scandal for our readers.

The UN atomic agency said Monday it will provide Brazil with equipment to help prevent any attempted terrorist attacks with nuclear material at this year’s Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it will loan Brazil selected types of radiation detection devices for the Games in August and September.

-AFP

UK

Poll: Support for stay in EU rises

1. Let’s say you save your quarters in a piggy bank that is on your closet shelf.

Support for Britain to stay in the EU rose in the last month, suggesting a crisis in the steel industry and attacks in Brussels have not boosted the campaign for an exit, according to an ORB poll. The survey published on Tuesday found 51% of Britons backed remaining in the 28-member EU with 44% in favour of leaving, with 5% undecided.

-REUTERS

EUROPE

Dae’sh hints at attacks in major European cities The Dae’sh militant group released a video on Tuesday suggesting it may carry out further attacks in the West, naming London, Berlin and Rome as possible targets. “If it was Paris yesterday, and today Brussels, Allah knows where it will be tomorrow.

Maybe it will be in London or Berlin or Rome,” said a member of the group in English on the video which showed footage of the aftermath of previous attacks.

-REUTERS

4. ...and take it to Johnny’s house.

7. So they also put their piggy banks in Johnny’s closet.

2. But your mom keeps checking up on how much you’re putting in and taking out.

You don’t like that.

3. So you get an extra piggy bank…

5. Johnny’s mom is busy. She doesn’t check piggy banks. So you can secretly keep yours there without anyone checking up on it.

8. But one day, Johnny’s mom finds the piggy banks.

6. The neighborhood kids also think this is a good idea.

9. She’s mad and calls everyone’s parents to tell on the kids hiding their money.

AFRICA

Joint forces arrest 300 Boko Haram fighters Cameroon says multi-national forces fighting Boko Haram have arrested over 300 jihadist extremists and freed at least 2,000 people from their strongholds along Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad borders. Cameroon’s commander of the joint forces, Bouba Dobekreo, said Tuesday that during the 3-day operation, forces also destroyed a Boko Haram training and logistic base.

-AP

10. That’s basically today’s document leak — and a lot of important and powerful people hid their piggy banks at Johnny’s house in Panama.

11. Not everyone was doing something bad, though. For example, you just wanted privacy from your mom. But your neighbor Michael was stealing money from his mom’s purse and hiding it in Johnny’s closet. And Jacob was stealing other people’s lunch money and didn’t want his parents to ask where it came from. Soon we’ll know who was doing this for bad reasons and who wasn’t.

12. But everyone who hid their piggy bank at Johnny’s house is still in trouble, because secret piggy banks are not allowed.

So journalists are now scouring the records to better understand what type of activity was going on at Johnny’s house in Panama — whether it was legal, appropriate, or a bending of the law.

DT

Sport 25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

INSIDE

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM WT2O 2016

NEVER WRITE OFF WI The conventional wisdom was: get Chris Gayle out early and the Windies will crumble. After his brilliant century in the opener against England, Gayle failed to spark and instead left his team-mates to prove they were more than a one-man band. Losing early wickets was a constant theme of the team’s journey to the final, allowing their opponents regular sniffs at victory.

But time and again, unsung heroes such as Andre Fletcher, Lendl Simmons and Carlos Brathwaite came to the rescue.

Dhaka Tribune's World T20 XI Bangladesh cricketers Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman makes Dhaka Tribune’s team of the 2016 World Twenty20 while there were also places for the likes of India’s Virat Kohli and England’s Joe Root, who both enjoyed stellar campaigns. PAGE 26

ENG REALLY HAVE CHANGED We had glimpses of England’s “fearless” makeover last summer, without being convinced their new look would survive when the pressure was on in a major tournament. But despite losing their opener against the West Indies and conceding 230 runs in their next match against South Africa, they refused to be intimidated by any situation and instead stared down all-comers on their way to the final.

Easy win for Ctg Abahani Rising powerhouse Chittagong Abahani kicked off their KFC Independence Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Muktijoddha SKC at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Chittagong outfit took the field without their five new signings due to a High Court order. PAGE 27

PRESSURE OF BEING HOSTS

Bangladesh pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman was seen in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday prior to his departure to India DHAKA TRIBUNE

Conte faces matchfixing sentence An Italian court yesterday called for new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to receive a six-month suspended prison sentence over match-fixing allegations. The current Italy manager is accused of sporting fraud. PAGE 28

Zidane hides chewing gum Barcelona came unstuck at the weekend when Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory but it was the visitors’ manager Zinedine Zidane who stole the post-match spotlight in bizarre fashion. Zidane attended the routine presser to discuss his team’s victory. PAGE 29

Mustafizur flies off to India with high hopes n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman left Dhaka yesterday with high hopes ahead of his Indian Premier League commitment with the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise.

On the eve of his departure, the left-arm pacer said he is hopeful of marking his maiden IPL season with good performances.

Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who also left here for India yesterday, is the other Bangladesh cricketer who will partake in the money-spinning tournament, scheduled to get underway this Saturday.

“This will be the first IPL in my

This will be the first IPL in my career so I am excited, to be honest.

I request everyone to pray for me so that I can perform well. I hope the same for Shakib bhai too career so I am excited, to be honest. I request everyone to pray for me so that I can perform well. I hope the same for Shakib bhai too,” Mustafizur informed the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“Playing together (with Shakib) would have been fun. We could have stayed together and played together for the same team. I am not nervous of playing in the tournament, my job is to go and play,” he added.

The 20-year old crafted a flying start to his international career last year, posting some fine performances against India, Pakistan and South Africa. His heroics did not go unnoticed as he was duly picked up by the Sunrisers franchise for Indian rupees 14 million in the IPL auction last February.

Mustafizur and Shakib will face each other when the Sunrisers take on Kolkata Knight Riders on April 16. l

Batting legend Virender Sehwag said he was “99 percent certain” the hosts India would win the trophy after a run of 10 wins out of 11 in the build-up. But in the end Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men had a tournament to forget, beaten in their opener against New Zealand and only just edging past Bangladesh before losing in the semis to the Windies. Apart from player-of-the-tournament Virat Kohli, none of their front-line batsmen performed consistently and usually dependable bowlers such as Ravichandran Ashwin struggled.

SOUTH AFRICA STILL CHOKING Skipper Francois du Plessis acknowledged on the eve of the tournament that South Africa’s reputation as big-match chokers had become “a monkey on the back” that they would only shed by winning the trophy. Failure to defend a formidable total against England, followed by defeat in a tense encounter with the West Indies, showed they still tend to lose their nerve when it matters most.

AFGHANS DESERVE GAMES They were the only team to beat the West Indies, albeit in a dead rubber, and they also gave England and South Africa a bit of a scare. But if Afghanistan are to continue their progress, they need more time at cricket’s top table. l

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26

Sport

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

DT WT20 XI

TOP FIVE KNOCKS OF THE 2016 WORLD TWENTY20

TAMIM IQBAL

295 runs in six matches

Q DE KOCK (WK)

153 runs in four matches, seven dismissals

VIRAT KOHLI (C)

273 runs in five matches

JOE ROOT

249 runs in six matches

SHAKIB AL HASAN

129 runs in seven matches, 10 wickets

JOS BUTTLER

191 runs in six matches

ANDRE RUSSELL

91 runs in six matches, nine wickets

MITCHELL SANTNER

10 wickets in five matches

DAVID WILLEY

10 wickets in six matches

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN

Nine wkts in three games

ASHISH NEHRA

Five wickets in five matches

CHRIS GAYLE

100* off 48 balls against England

Giant West Indian hitter Gayle hammered the second hundred of the tournament following Bangladeshi opening batsman Tamim Iqbal’s ton against Oman. The Jamaican cricketer bludgeoned 11 sixes and five fours to enable his side to a rather comfortable six-wicket victory.

82* off 51 balls against India

LENDL SIMMONS

82* off 51 balls against Aus

VIRAT KOHLI

CARLOS BRATHWAITE

Simmons, who joined the West Indies side for the all-important semi-final clash against the hosts in the eleventh hour, played the innings of his life to stun the home crowd. The 31-year old struck seven fours and five sixes as the Windies coasted to their destination with seven wickets in hand.

The man of the series of the flagship event, Kohli was phenomenal with the willow throughout the entire tournament. Among his knocks, the undefeated 82 against the Aussies stood out from the rest. In what was virtually a quarter-final, he blasted a fine 82, featuring nine boundaries and two sixes.

34* off 10 balls against England

83 off 44 balls against South Africa

JOE ROOT

His unbeaten knock, studded with four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the final over of the grand finale, is undoubtedly one of the best innings of the sixth edition.

Thanks to his towering 34 not out, the Windies registered their second title win in the shortest format of the game.

The 25-year old displayed some scintillating hitting to help his side chase down the mammoth target of 230. The right-hander smashed four huge sixes and half a dozen eye-catching boundaries.

–MAZHAR UDDIN

2016 WORLD TWENTY20 AT A GLANCE FIRST ROUND 1st Match, Group B

HONG KONG v ZIMBABWE in Nagpur, March 8

ZIM 158/8 beat HK 144/6 by 14 runs

2nd Match, Group B

AFGHANISTAN v SCOTLAND in Nagpur, March 8

AFG 170/5 beat SCO 156/5 by 14 runs

3rd Match, Group A

BANGLADESH v NEDHERLANDS in Dharamsala, March 9

BAN 153/7 beat NED 145/7 by 8 runs

4th Match, Group A

IRELAND v OMAN

in Dharamsala, March 9

IRE 154/5 lost to Oman 157/8 by 2 wickets

5th Match, Group B

BANGLADESH v IRELAND

8th Match, Group A

15th Match, Group 1

22nd Match, Group 2

ENGLAND v WEST INDIES

AUSTRALIA v BANGLADESH

ENGLAND v SRI LANKA

No result

ENG 182/6 lost to WL 183/4 by 6 wickets

BAN 156/5 lost to AUS 157/7 by 3 wickets

ENG 171/4 beat SL 161/8 by 10 runs

9th Match, Group B

16th Match, Group 1

23rd Match, Group 2

AFGHANISTAN v SRI LANKA

NEW ZEALAND v PAKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN v WEST INDIES

AFG 186/6 beat ZIM 127 by 59 runs

AFG 153/7 lost to SL 155/4 by 6 wickets

NZ 180/5 beat PAK 158/5 by 22 runs

AFG 123/7 beat WI 117/8 by 6 runs

10th Match, Group B

17th Match, Group 2

24th Match, Group 1

in Dharamsala, March 11

AFGHANISTAN v ZIMBABWE in Nagpur, March 12

HONG KONG v SCOTLAND in Nagpur, March 12

HK 127/7 lost to SCO 78/2 by 8 wickets

11th Match, Group A

IRELAND v NETHERLANDS

in Dharamsala, March 13, 2016 NED 59/5 beat IRE 47/7 by 12 runs

12th Match, Group A

BANGLADESH v OMAN in Dharamsala, March 13

SCOTLAND v ZIMBABWE

BAN 180/2 beat Oman 65/9 by 54 runs (D/L)

ZIM 147/7 beat SCO 136 by 11 runs

MAIN ROUND

6th Match, Group B

13th Match, Group 2

in Nagpur, March 10

AFGHANISTAN v HONG KONG in Nagpur, March 10

INDIA v NEW ZEALAND in Nagpur, March 15

HK 116/6 lost to AFG 119/4 by 6 wickets

NZ 126/7 beat IND 79 by 47 runs

7th Match, Group A

14th Match, Group 2

in Mumbai, March 16

in Kolkata, March 17

in Bangalore, March 21

in Mohali, March 22

AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND

AFGHANISTAN v ENGLAND

NZ 142/8 beat AUS 134/9 by 8 runs

ENG 142/7 beat AFG 127/9 by 15 runs

18th Match, Group 1

25th Match, Group 2

ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA

INDIA v BANGLADESH

in Dharamsala, March 18

in Mumbai, March 18

in Delhi, March 23

in Bangalore, March 23

SA 229/4 lost to ENG 230/8 by 2 wickets

IND 146/7 beat BAN 145/9 by one run

19th Match, Group 2

26th Match, Group 2

INDIA v PAKISTAN in Kolkata, March 19

AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN in Mohali, March 25

30th Match, Group 1

in Nagpur, March 27 31st Match, Group 2

INDIA v AUSTRALIA in Mohali, March 27

AUS 160/6 lost to IND 161/4 by 6 wickets

32nd Match, Group 1

SOUTH AFRICA v SRI LANKA in Delhi, March 28

SL 120 lost to SA 122/2 by 8 wickets

1ST SEMI-FINAL ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND in Delhi, March 30

NZ 153/8 lost to ENG 159/3 by 7 wickets

AUS 193/4 beat PAK 172/8 by 21 runs

20th Match, Group 1

27th Match, Group 1

2ND SEMI-FINAL

AFGHANISTAN v SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA v WEST INDIES

INDIA v WEST INDIES

SA 209/5 beat AFG 172 by 37 runs

SA 122/8 lost to WI 123/7 by 3 wickets

IND 192/2 lost to WI 196/3 by 7 wickets

in Mumbai, March 20 21st Match, Group 1

in Nagpur, March 25 28th Match, Group 2,

NEDHERLANDS v OMAN

BANGLADESH v PAKISTAN

SRI LANKA v WEST INDIES

No result

PAK 201/5 beat BAN 146/6 by 55 runs

SL 122/9 lost to WI 127/3 by 7 wickets

NZ 145/8 beat BAN 70 by 75 runs

in Kolkata, March 16

in Delhi, March 26

PAK 118/5 lost to IND 119/4 by 6 wickets

BANGLADESH v NEW ZEALAND

in Dharamsala, March 11

29th Match, Group 1

in Bangalore, March 20

in Kolkata, March 26

in Mumbai, March 31

FINAL ENGLAND v WEST INDIES ENG 155/9 lost to WI 161/6 by 4 wickets

in Kolkata, April 3

27

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

QUICK BYTES

CCDM CONFIRMS DPL PLAYERS’ LIST

Sagor wins 200m freestyle in Thailand

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh swimmer Mahfizur Rahman Sagor exhibited signs of improvement as he won the gold medal in the 200metre freestyle event of the All-Thailand Championship at Assumption University in Bangkok yesterday.

Sagor is now in Thailand for a highperformance training camp ahead of this year’s Rio Olympics. He set a record in the 200m freestyle, clocking 1 minute and 54.05 seconds to touch the finishing line. Sagor however, failed to display his best performance in his favourite 50m and 100m freestyle events as the man from Bangladesh Navy finished fifth and fourth respectively. The 22-year old clinched seven bronze medals in the South Asian Games last February in India.

–TRIBUNE REPORT

Higuain set for four-game ban Gonzalo Higuain will pay for a moment of madness during Napoli’s title-crushing 3-1 defeat to Udinese by serving a fourgame Serie A ban, a report in Italy claimed on Monday. If confirmed, Higuain would miss their two most difficult games, away to Inter Milan and Roma, amid an already challenging run-in for the Azzurri.

–AFP

Waqar resigns Waqar Younis has resigned as Pakistan head coach following his side’s group-stage exit at the World Twenty20. “I am resigning from my post with a heavy heart,” said the 44-year-old former fast bowler, who has ended his second spell in charge.

–BBC

Police probe Vardy baby Twitter threats Police are looking into sexual threats made on Twitter against the one-year-old daughter of Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy. The abuse came after the fiancee of the Foxes forward posted pictures of the couple’s child wearing a Leicester shirt ahead of their 1-0 win over Southampton on Sunday.

The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis has confirmed the cricketers’ list for the Players

by Choice system of the Dhaka Premier League season 2015-16.

The Players by Choice system, also known as the Players’ Draft, will be held this Sunday. The tournament opener will take place on April 22 amid the monsoon. A total of 207 local cricketers have been listed while 12 premier league clubs will fight it out for the title of the country’s premier 50-over domestic competition. National discard Shahadat Hossain missed out on the list among a few others.

DPL 2015-16

List of available cricketers Sheikh Russel forward Jahid Hasan Ameli (L) shields the ball from an Arambagh defender during their KFC Independence Cup clash at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Easy win for Ctg Abahani, Sk Russel win it late n

Shishir Hoque

Rising powerhouse Chittagong Abahani kicked off their KFC Independence Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Muktijoddha SKC at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The Chittagong outfit took the field without their five new signings, including Mamunul Islam, due to a High Court order but they barely missed the quintet as foreign recruits Tarik el Janaby and Fabrice Noel made all the difference scoring in the either side of each half.

Moroccan midfielder El Janaby gave Chittagong Abahani their deserved lead at the half-hour mark from the penalty spot after Muk-

n Reuters

Shaw back in training

–AFP

a through pass from midfielder Shajjaduzzaman Palash and sent it crashing into the far post.

The newcomers’ joy however, did not last long as Russel’s new signing Ethiopian striker Fikru Zeida scored on his debut to bring parity just two minutes later. Atiqur Rahman Meshu’s free-kick troubled the Arambagh defence before Fikru calmly took control of the ball and sidefooted home.

Emile provided Russel the sigh of relief in the 82nd minute with a lucky winner. An Arup Kumar Baidya shot was blocked by an opposition defender and the rebound fell kindly onto the feet of an unmarked Paul, who had plenty of time to smash home from eight yards. l

Sarfraz replaces Afridi as Pakistan’s T20 captain

–AFP

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw returned to training on Monday for the first time since suffering a horrendous double fracture in his leg last September.

Shaw was training with a United physio as he enters the final stages of a long rehabilitation period from the injury he sustained in a Champions League tie against PSV.

tijoddha goalkeeper Mamun Khan brought down Shariful Islam inside the box.

Noel doubled the lead in the 76th minute after a fine build-up. Zahid Hossain played the key role, setting up Noel with a cheeky through pass and the Haitian forward calmly placed home past Mamun.

Earlier yesterday at the same venue, a late winner by Cameroonian forward Paul Emile enabled Sheikh Russel KC to salvage all three points as they came from behind to beat newly-promoted Arambagh KS 2-1 in their opening match.

Armabagh shocked Sheikh Russel by taking the lead with just two minutes into the clock. Nigerian striker Kester Akon drifted past the Russel defence after receiving

Friends feed sweets to Sarfraz Ahmed to celebrate his appointment during a press conference yesterday AFP

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed has replaced Shahid Afridi as Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced yesterday.

The 36-year-old Afridi quit as captain on Sunday after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the recent World Twenty20, where they lost three of their four pool matches and failed to reach the semi-finals.

Sarfraz was made vice-captain

of Pakistan’s ODI and Twenty20 international squads last year and the PCB moved quickly to name him as Afridi’s successor in the game’s shortest format.

“I spoke to Sarfraz this morning and conveyed to him that he was our natural choice for this position.

His appointment is open-ended.

I wish him good luck in his new role,” PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan said in a statement.

Despite resigning as skipper, Afridi said he wanted to continue as a player for the Twenty20 side. l

Grade: Icon Fee: Tk 30 lac NAME

GRADE

Mashrafe bin Mortaza

ICON

Mushfiqur Rahim

ICON

Shakib al Hasan

ICON

Imrul Kayes

ICON

Tamim Iqbal Khan

ICON

Mahmudullah

ICON

Sabbir Rahman Rumman

ICON

Grade: A+ Fee: Tk 25 lac NAME

GRADE

Soumya Sarkar

A+

Mustafizur Rahman

A+

Mominul Haque Shourav

A+

Arafat Sunny

A+

Mithun Ali

A+

Nasir Hossain

A+

Anamul Haque Bijoy

A+

Grade: A Fee: Tk 20 lac NAME

GRADE

Nurul Hasan Sohan

A

Rubel Hossain

A

Khan Abdur Razzak

A

Jahurul Islam Omi

A

Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury

A

Rony Talukdar

A

Shahriar Nafees Ahmed

A

Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain A Naeem Islam

A

Liton Kumar Das

A

Shamsur Rahman Shuvo

A

Taskin Ahmed

A

Other Grades GRADE

FEE (TK)

PLAYERS

B+

15 lac

38

B

12 lac

36

C

8 lac

58

D

5 lac

19

E

3.50 lac

30

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

5 THINGS ON CONTE’S TO-DO LIST AT CHELSEA PSG are going in to the game with a 4-1 win under their belts after the weekend.

RESOLVE TERRY’S FUTURE Hailed as “captain, leader, legend” on the banner hung by adoring fans at Stamford Bridge, John Terry’s credentials as a Chelsea icon and a major inspiration behind their success are well established, yet Conte will be faced with the thorny problem of potentially ending that two-decade love affair.

The 35-year-old defender dropped a bombshell in January when he announced he would be leaving at the end of the season because the club had told him he wouldn’t be given a contract extension.

The ever impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in devastating form.

His hat-trick on Saturday took his overall tally to 105 goals in 117 Ligue 1 games for PSG. Les Parisiens have already won the Ligue 1 title with plenty of games to spare so they can focus on the Champions League.

REBUILD THE EDEN PROJECT

The return of Kevin De Bruyne is a massive boost to City, giving them much more cutting edge.

Knowing the return leg is at the Etihad, Man City could frustrate their hosts by keeping things tight early on.

The in-form Angel Di Maria is a doubt for the game, which is probably good news for City’s full-backs.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart dives full length to atempt a save during training in Manchester yesterday

Long distance travelled since last meeting for PSG, City n AFP, Paris When nouveaux riches Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City meet at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final today, they will do so as two of the ogres of the modern game.

Two of Europe’s financial powerhouses thanks to their oil-rich Middle Eastern owners, City are in

the last eight for the first time while PSG are there for the fourth year in succession. The stakes are high, and it will all be a far cry from the only previous meeting of the teams, only a little over seven years ago.

On a cold December night in 2008, PSG visited City’s Eastlands home for a UEFA Cup group stage tie that ended in an uninspiring 0-0 draw watched by 25,626 spectators.

It was just a few months after

City had been taken over by Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group, and future England goalkeeper Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and current captain Vincent Kompany were all in their team that night, as was a teenage Daniel Sturridge.

PSG, meanwhile, had come close to being relegated from Ligue 1 the previous season but did win the League Cup and lost to champions Lyon in the French Cup final. Both

REUTERS

teams went on to reach the quarter-finals, City losing to Hamburg and PSG to Dynamo Kiev, but it was an instantly forgettable encounter.

“A half-full Eastlands was given an example of European football at its most tedious. It was hardly the kind of occasion that will tempt the likes of Lionel Messi, Iker Casillas or Kaka to consider life in the blue half of Manchester,” said the British Daily Telegraph. l

Conte faces match-fixing sentence n AFP, Rome An Italian court yesterday called for new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to receive a six-month suspended prison sentence over match-fixing allegations.

The current Italy manager, who will take over Chelsea after Euro 2016, is accused of sporting fraud.

The "Calcioscommesse" (football-betting) probe maintains that the 46-year-old former Juventus boss failed to expose an alleged rigged second-division match in May 2011.

The game involved Siena, whom

Conte managed at that time. Conte, who denies any wrongdoing, was also ordered to pay an 8,000 euros fine, by Cremona court public prosecutor Roberto Di Martino.

The May 29, 2011 game suspected of being fixed for betting purposes ended with a 1-0 away win for Conte’s side at Albinoleffe.

Siena gained promotion to Serie A that season, with that success earning Conte the job at Juventus, the club he graced as a player for 13 years. In 2012, when he was in charge of Juventus, Conte was hit with a 10-month ban by the Italian football federation over the affair,

reduced to four months on appeal.

The new man at Stamford Bridge is due to hear his fate on whether he is hit with a criminal sentence in mid-May. Conte’s lawyers elected for a fast-track trial in order to get it wrapped up before the European championships begin in France on June 10.

Yesterday’s development came less than 24 hours after Conte was appointed on a three-year deal to take charge of Chelsea. He will succeed Guus Hiddink, appointed interim manager after Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December. l

Rewind 12 months and Eden Hazard appeared to have the world at his feet as he prepared to accept two Footballer of the Year awards and a Premier League winners’ medal while being feted

by Jose Mourinho as the equal of superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet less than a year later, Hazard’s form has mysteriously collapsed to such an extent that many Chelsea fans would gladly wave farewell to the 25-year-old Belgian if he is sold in the close-season.

DEAL WITH COSTA Although Diego Costa’s goals fired Chelsea to the Premier League title in his debut season, he was already earning a reputation as the unapologetically snarling face of Jose Mourinho’s combative team and if anything he has become more moody in year two.

CHANGE THE MOOD MUSIC Regardless of who stays or goes, Conte should already know he must rebuild the squad’s shattered morale after what even the club were forced to admit was “palpable discord” between Mourinho and the players in the final months of his reign.

Mourinho’s abrasive approach irritated too many players and their response was to down tools, leading to his sacking in December, but even the more mild mannered Guus Hiddink, installed as interim boss, has only been able to coax a small improvement in the quality of the team’s performances.

MAKE UP FOR A YOUTH With owner Roman Abramovich reportedly unhappy with Chelsea’s failure to produce more homegrown talents despite his huge investment in the youth academy, Conte could earn some early praise from his employer by unearthing a gem or two among the youngsters learning their trade at the club’s leafy Cobham headquarters.l

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El Clasico win buoys Real’s Bale for Wolfsburg mission n AFP, Wolfsburg Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says their El Clasico win over Barcelona has given the Spanish giants the perfect confidence booster for today’s Champions League quarterfinal, first-leg, at Wolfsburg.

Real used to have a terrible record away to German opposition in Europe, but their run to winning the 2014 final, when they claimed their tenth European crown, changed all that.

Having thrashed Schalke 6-1 in Gelsenkirchen two years ago in the last 16, they routed Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena in the semi-finals en route to beating Atletico Madrid in the final.

This time around, Zinedine Zidane’s Real are clear favourites for the quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena, especially after Saturday’s 2-1 victory when Cristiano Ronaldo scored their late winner at arch rivals Barcelona with 10 men. Ronaldo has found the net in all six knockout ties played against German sides and, with 13 goals to his credit this season, he is just four short of breaking his record in a single European campaign.

Madrid are in the quarter-finals for the sixth time in a row. They are on their best run of the season after ending arch rivals Barca’s 39-game unbeaten run with their sixth succesive win and are in no mood to suffer an upset in Wolfsburg. l

Zidane hides chewing gum under Barcelona press room table n Dailymail

Real Madrid's French headcoach Zinedine Zidane arrives at Melia Hotel in Wolfsburg, central Germany yesterday AFP

Messi denies tax evasion in Panama Papers scandal n AFP, Barcelona The family of Lionel Messi denied on Monday that he was involved in tax evasion after the Barcelona star emerged as one of many personalities accused of shady offshore dealings in the Panama Papers scandal.

“The Messi family wants to make clear that Lionel Messi has not carried out any of the acts attributed to him, and accusations he created a...tax evasion plot, including

FOOTBALL TEN 1 12:45AM UEFA Champions League Wolfsburg v Real Madrid

TEN 2 7:05PM I-League 2016 DSK Shivajians v Bengaluru

a network of money-laundering, are false and insulting,” it said in a statement.

The scandal erupted on Sunday when media groups made public a year-long worldwide investigation into a trove of 11.5 million documents leaked from a Panama-based law firm that exposed a tangle of offshore financial dealings by the elite.

Among the accused are close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin,

DAY’S WATCH 12:45PM UEFA Champions League PSG v Manchester City

STAR SPORTS 4 Champions League 2016

relatives of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson as well as sports celebrities and screen stars.

Messi and his father are named as owners of a Panama company that had not previously been disclosed during a Spanish probe into their tax affairs.

“The Panama company to which they refer to is a totally inactive company that never had any funds or any open current accounts,” the Messi family said.

They added that the firm was created by the family’s former tax advisers and that everything had since been brought into line where Messi’s fiscal situation was concerned.

Barcelona published a message of support to their star player on their official website.

“The club supports the arguments which the Messi family published in a statement [Monday],” said the Barca statement.l

HOCKEY STAR SPORTS 1 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2:00PM Pakistan v Canada

3:30PM

4:00PM

Binh Duong v Hyundai Motors

Japan v India

6:30PM

6:30PM

Jiangsu FC v FC Tokyo

New Zealand v Malaysia

Barcelona came unstuck at the weekend when Real Madrid secured a 2-1 El Clasico victory but it was the visitors’ manager Zinedine Zidane who stole the post-match spotlight in bizarre fashion.

But before the French coach could join in on the celebrations, Zidane attended the routine postmatch press conference to discuss his team’s victory.

However, the Frenchman who enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a player forgot to remove his chewing gum prior to taking his seat. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

‘I accept this hard truth’

From left, Khalil, Rubel Rana, Shahidul Islam Khokon and Hasan share a cordial moment during shoot of a film

n Rubel Rana Rubel Rana, one of the most successful actors from Dhallywood’s golden age, has worked in more films with director Shahidul Islam Khokon than any other “hero.” Their partnership in the film industry has now become an illustrious snapshot of their glorious past. The following is the translation of a write-up on the director, written by Rubel Rana himself, after his friend’s untimely demise.

I worked in 29 films with Shahidul Islam Khokon and most of these were commercially successful films. In other words, our teaming up in the film industry was not only appreciated in terms of entertainment, but rather the audience accepted and welcomed us with an open heart.

Khokon means a lot me, and not only as a film director. He was my friend and classmate. I came to the industry through my elder brother (Masud Parvez Sohel Rana). During the early days in my career, I used to sing rather than act. Back then, my debut acting venture as as “hero” was with Khokon, with him being at the helm of the movie. Initially, he was the assistant director to my elder brother.

At that time, Khokon was looking for a new face and my elder brother recommended me. From then onwards, we have worked together in many successful films. Many would say a filmmaker like Khokon only comes in the film industry in a decade.

But I would say a Shahidul Islam Khokon only comes in five or six decades.

As a filmmaker, his sense of humour was remarkable. He was always adamant on making serious scenes credible to the audience.

This talent can only be found in his work.

Now, I can’t help but reminisce my days with him. During the filming of Din Mojur, my room was supposed to be torched for a scene. All was set. Suddenly, Champa, my co-actor in the film, vetoed against this decision.

She told the director, “Anything bad can happen to Rubel while acting on a set that’s set on fire. He can even die! Please let’s improvise.”

Champa was being a little too concerned about me.

Being unable to find an alternative, Khokon planned to detain Champa to another room. Khokon was this desperate and hell-bent to complete his work, his way.

Once, during a shoot for Biplob, I had to bite a rat. To make the scene more credible, Khokon asked me to bite a polythenewrapped rat. He did not give us any other alternative. But finally, I bit the rat without any protection, to gain his credence.

I still remember his face right after the shot - all smiles and fully content, that face is still fresh in my memory.

My friend Khokon was my lucky charm in my film career. I am afraid that the country’s film industry will not be able to fill the void he created.

I cannot describe the pain he he felt during his last days. If I must speak the truth, I wanted him to be free from that pain. Finally, it seems death has emancipated him from the unbearable pain. I have accepted this hard truth. l

She’s back nRupkotha Chowdhury She had a fairy tale life. Once she was a star model of Bangladesh, then, she became an actress.

After ruling the media for a long while, she suddenly disappeared after her marriage. She is Monalisa, Mona to her beloved fans.

Mozeza Ashraf Monalisa got married an American citizen in 2012. They arranged a reception party on 12/12/12, where celebrities joined the bash. After, Monalisa left Bangladesh for her conjugal life. After two years, she got divorced, still avoiding the spotlight. Surprisingly, Monalisa has returned to her home country and shared her very first feeling of getting back. She posted on social media: “Wonderful to be back and wake up with this green, green surrounding. Lively and relaxing. Missing my family and friends in NY. Hope everyone is doing well! Love you guys.”

She also mentioned that her coming back was really shocking to some of her friends.

But she hasn’t announced any upcoming projects. Monalisa was seen three years back in a drama with Mosharaf Karim. In the USA, she worked in several offices, including local Bengali TV channel Time TV. l

Projonmo Agami to talk about ‘Peer Pressure’

nShowtime Desk Youth based TV variety show Projonmo Agami returned last week with its third season.

Today, its second episode will air at 9:35pm on Channel-i.

The episode is designed to talk about the effects of peer pressure and how it affects one’s decision

making skills.

Eminent theatre artist and cultural personality Tropa Majumdar, and renowned Ad Filmmaker Piplu R Khan will be the guests on the show who would shed light on dealing with peer pressure, which is a challenge at a young age.

They would share their views

and experiences in connection to the topic.

Besides the talk, the episode features real-life experience of a cartoonist, inspiring story of a school, Bidyananda, and performance of aspiring musician Johny. l

LRB’s 25th birthday bash

PHOTO: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Promiti Prova Chowdhury With the slogan “Born to Rock,” country’s one of the oldest rock bands LRB celebrated its silver jubilee in the capital yesterday.

Distinguished celebrities graced the party held at a hotel in the capital’s Dhanmondi area, where a hundred students of the Jaago Foundation School were served lunch.

Abu Hena to host Net Fun

n Showtime Desk Abu Hena Roni, the Bangladeshi winner of Mirakkel Akkel Challenger 6, will be hosting a show titled Net Fun, produced by S Ali Sohel. It will be aired every Tuesday at 8pm on Boishakhi TV. Roni has hosted several comedy shows, which were aired on several national channels.

“Other than YouTube, there are websites with various contests that serve recreational and other educational purposes.

Various contents over the internet will be shown on this show including video, shortfilm, music contest, amazing people of the world, and games,” Roni said.

Moreover, funny videos will be shown on the show for Bangladeshi children. l

Ayub Bacchu, the founding member of the rock band and an idol to many aspiring musicians of the country, invited the kids studying at different grades at the Rayer Bazar branch of the school.

Addressing them, Bacchu, popularly known as AB, said, “I am also an orphan like you. But if you persistently try to make a name for yourself, nothing can stop you.”

“Please remember, education

and honesty are the only two deciding factors behind your success,” he added.

AB said he had invited the kids on the occasion of LRB’s 25th birthday because he wanted to reminisce his initial days of struggle – the kind of struggle that these kids are going through right now perhaps.

“I am an orphan but I dreamt that one day I will sing in front

of millions. The gallery will be full during my shows, which has actually happened. So do not stop dreaming,” said Bacchu.

Notable personalities of TV channels including Faridur Reza Sagar, Shykh Seraj and Afzal Hossain were present among the guests.

Afzal, a prominent actor and director, said, “When Ayub Bacchu started his career, it was extremely difficult to earn fame through music. There was only one TV channel and a handful of musical shows, unlike today. We thank Ayub Bacchu wholeheartedly for turning LRB into a brand that represents Bangladesh to the world today.”

The team of LRB, which stands for Love Runs Blind, cut a cake to celebrate the occasion along with the kids. Popular anchor Munmun moderated the event.

LRB was founded in 1991 by Ayub Bachchu. The group consists of Ayub Bachchu (lead vocal and guitar), Swapan (bass guitar), Masud (guitar) and Romel (drums).

LRB’s top hits in Bangladesh are, “Cholo Bodle Jai,” “Ghumonto Shohore,” “Rupali Guitar,” “Ghum Bhanga Shohore,” “Hawker,” “Mahdhobi,” “Ekhon Onek Raat,” “Hashte Dekho,” “Raater Tara,” “Chand Mama” and “Ghor Chhara Ek Shukhi Chele,” “Mon Chaile Mon Pabe,” “Baro Mash,” and more. l

n Nazia Lopa

the idea seeded there,” said director Maneesh Sharma. It has taken the director 12 years to finally realise the dream that brought him to Mumbai. From his college years, he wanted to make a film with SRK. It was a bit luck by chance.

He was surprised when Shah Rukh gave him time to meet and actually showed interest to do the movie. The Delhi boy was amazed to see politeness of another Delhi boy. They also

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH

When a fan makes Fan Recently, Bollywood has been talking about the upcoming film Fan, where Shah Rukh Khan looks completely different from his usual appearance. Critics are saying this year can be a fresh start for Shah Rukh. One of the men behind the film and Fan’s fresh look is director Maneesh Sharma, who is also a longtime fan of SRK. Not only that, he was inspired to make the film when he first went to visit Shah Rukh Khan at his residence and saw the frenzy among admirers to catch a glimpse of the superstar.

“On the day of the meeting, I waited for a bit outside his home, Mannat. That’s when I saw people waiting outside just to catch a glimpse of SRK. Sure enough, when his car did come, a whole bunch of friends thronged towards it, just to catch a glimpse.

To me, the idea of Fan originated somewhere at that point. I think

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Showtime

share the same alma mater, Hansraj College, and theatre guru, Barry John.

Fan, also starring Waluscha De Sousa and Shriya Pilgaonkar, will see SRK in a double role. One as a superstar and the other as his die hard fan. The 50-year-old actor has gone through extensive make-up routine to achieve his two separate looks.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film is set to release on April 15. l

The Transporter Star Movies 7:35pm Frank is hired to “transport” packages for unknown clients and has made a very good living doing so. But when asked to move a package that begins moving, complications arise.

Cast: Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze Non-Stop HBO 9:30pm An air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account.

Cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy Troy WB 9:30pm An adaptation of Homer’s great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom Thor 2: The Dark World Zee Studio 9:30pm When Dr Jane Foster gets cursed with a powerful object, Thor must protect it before an army and its ruthless leader try to get their hands on it to take over the remains of Earth.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston Mr & Mrs Smith Movies Now 7:15pm A bored married couple is surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other.

Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

EXPORTS CROSS $24BN IN 9 MONTHS PAGE 15

MUSTAFIZUR FLIES OFF TO INDIA WITH HIGH HOPES PAGE 25

LRB’S 25TH BIRTHDAY BASH PAGE 30

Panama Papers fallout at a glance n Agencies Reports drawn from 11.5m leaked documents detailing how and where politicians, businesses and celebrities hide their wealth are triggering reactions from around the globe.

Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson became the first casualty of the reports, as he resigned on Tuesday amid extreme pressure from his own party and a looming no-confidence vote in the parliament against him, reports Reuters.

The reports by an international coalition of media outlets working with the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists are based on documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the world’s biggest creators of shell companies.

Here’s a look at some reactions the reports are drawing--

Argentina

The office of Argentine President Mauricio Macri confirmed a report by La Nacion newspaper that a business group owned by Macri’s family had set up Fleg Trading Ltd in the Bahamas. But it said Macri himself had no shares in Fleg and never received income from it.

Australia

A tax agency said it is investigating more than 800 wealthy people for possible tax evasion linked to their alleged dealings with Mossack Fonseca. The Australian Tax Office said that it had linked more than 120 of those people to an offshore services provider in Hong Kong, but did not name the company, reports AP.

PANAMA PAPERS LEAKS: POLITICAL CONNECTIONS Most of the alleged dealings are believed to be legal but political fallout is expected

President of Syria Bashar al-Assad Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson

140 political figures from more than 50 countries have been linked either directly or through contacts

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Holds a majority stake in an offshore company

2 cousins with assets in numerous offshore companies

Used the offshore company owned with his wife to hold millions of dollars of investments

Russian President Vladimir Putin Childhood friends own several offshore companies

British Prime Minister David Cameron

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Father set up a firm in Panama that promoted itself as a tax evasion option

Brother-in-law has shares in 2 companies in the Virgin Islands

Argentine President Mauricio Macri

Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak

Brother and father run offshore companies

Son became director of two offshore companies

Mossack Fonseca Panama-based law firm where the 11.5 million leaked tax documents originated

President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 3 of his children involved in offshore companies with properties in Britain

Associate created an offshore network to hold about $100 million

President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

King of Morocco Mohammed VI

Secretary was administrator for a British Virgin Islands company used to buy a luxury yacht used by the king Source: ICIJ

China

The reports say the Panamanian law firm had arranged offshore companies for relatives of at least eight present or past members of the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China. Among those it mentioned was the brother-in-law of President Xi Jinping. China’s foreign ministry denounced the re-

President of South Africa Jacob Zuma

Beneficial owner of at least 30 companies established in the British Virgin Islands

France

A French prosecutor launched an investigation into possible money laundering after the release of the leaked documents. Several

New Zealand

Prime Minister John Key rejected ICIJ’s characterisation of his country as among 21 tax havens used

by Mossack Fonseca. “Tax havens are where there is nondisclosure of information,” Key said. “New Zealand has full disclosure of information.”

Russia

Documents published by more than 100 media outlets alleged that President Vladimir Putin’s friends, including leading cellist Sergei Rodulgin, were engaged in an offshore scheme. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there is nothing to implicate the president. Peskov suggested that the publication was a smear campaign with Putin as a target with a goal of influencing Russian politics.

Spain

Nephew involved with offshore firm accused of questionable oil field deals ports as “groundless.” State media are ignoring the reports and search results of websites and social media for the words “Panama documents” were blocked.

of carrier Alitalia and head of Rome’s 2024 Olympics bid. L’Espresso said documents showed a series of contracts set up in 2007 indicated Montezemolo as the head of a Panama-based company named Lenville. It said Montezemolo, who was the chairman of Fiat and the CEO of Ferrari at the time, declined to comment when contacted.

hundred French citizens reportedly feature among the individuals mentioned.

Italy

Italian weekly L’Espresso said about 1,000 Italian clients turned up in a database of offshore accounts cited in the media investigation, including Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the chairman

Spanish tax authorities said they are investigating allegations of tax irregularities involving soccer player Lionel Messi and movie director Pedro Almodovar. Messi’s family released a statement Monday denying wrongdoing and threatened to sue media outlets that released the information linking the Argentine player to accounts in Panama. Almodovar’s brother says the company for them was dissolved a few yars after it opened in the 1990s. l

Officials tour Philippine, Sri Lanka to recover BB money Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Arifur Rahman Rabbi

In a bid to investigate the muchtalked digital heist of $101 million from Bangladesh Bank, a team of the Criminal Investigation Department left the country last night for the Philippines.

“A three-member team has started for the Philippines. They will stay there as long as they need for

the sake of investigation,” CID Special Superintendent Mirza Abdullahel Baqui told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to sources, the team led by Saiful Islam, deputy inspector general of CID, would meet with the law enforcers and other related officials in the Philippines.

Another three-member team comprising officials from the Police Headquarters and the CID is set to leave Dhaka for Sri Lanka today.

This team is led by CID Special Superintendent Jannat Ara. They would interrogate officials of Shalika Foundation with the help of the local law enforcers and the Interpol, said Shah Alam, additional deputy inspector general of CID. Of the laundered money, around $81 million was withdrawn from a local bank in the Philippines. A high-powered Senate committee and the Anti-Money Laundering

Council are investigating the case that involves Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) bank officials and some businessmen.

Meanwhile, the persons responsible for the transfer of $20m to the account of Shalika Foundation have also been identified.

The CID officials hope that they would able to identify the others involved in the scam if they can interrogate the prime suspects. It

would also help them find whether any official of the central bank played any role in the heist.

According to the investigators, eight persons have been identified in the Philippines while six others in Sri Lanka.

CID sources claim that a strong hacker group is responsible for the heist, but some Bangladesh Bank officials might have provided them support from inside. l

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