April 25, 2016

SECOND EDITION

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

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Boishakh 12, 1423, Rajab 17, 1437

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 4

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

RMG unionisation slows down n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Registration of trade unions in the country's ready made garment sector saw a drastic fall in 2015 compared to the previous year.

Since the collapse of Rana Plaza in 2013 that took the lives of over 1,100 workers, calls have been made for effective trade unions that could empower workers to protest safety hazards.

According to data of the Joint Directorate of Labour (JDL), a total of 72 unions were registered in 2015, 61% less than those of last year's.

After Rana Plaza, the registration of trade unions gained momentum and 85 unions were registered in 2013 and 188 in 2014.

TREND OF TRADE UNION REGISTRATION SINCE RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE

188

200

150

100

84

72

50

11

(till March) 0

2013

2014

INSIDE

Eyewitness accounts from the scene of Rajshahi University (RU) English Professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddique’s murder and his autopsy suggest that his assailants were expert killers and outsiders in the area.

They took less than a minute’s time to carry out the gruesome killing, one witness told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Ten yards away from the spot in Rajshahi’s

2016 PHOTO: RAJIB DHAR

‘In less than a minute, they killed and fled’

Jamil Khan in Dhaka and n Mohammad Dulal Abdullah from Rajshahi

2015

Shalbagan area, where the incident took place, there are several shops. When Rezaul was attacked at 7:30am, most of the shops were yet to open except for one small grocery shop.

The shop’s staff Asadullah said he saw two young and healthy-looking men, wearing striped T-shirts, coming to the spot on a motorcycle.

The person who was riding at the back got down from the bike and immediately attacked Rezaul. The second person, who was wearing a cap on his head, would not come down and they left the spot almost immediately, Asad said.

Another witness, who lives in the area, said they were present in front of the murder spot. Requesting not to be named, they said the second person would not stop the motorcycle engine.

“The attacker struck Sir with a machete just once and got back on the bike. The whole thing happened in under a minute.”

“Before I could understand anything the killers left and Sir was lying on the ground,” added the witness.

Dr Enamul Haque of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital’s Forensic Department told the Dhaka Tribune that they found only one chop wound on the victim’s neck and it was very precise.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

National borders can’t stop carbon dioxide

Where are the survivors of Rana Plaza tragedy?

Climate change expert Dr Saleemul Huq discusses global warming, its eminent effects and adaptation in an exclusive interview with the Dhaka Tribune.  PAGE 3

How have the survivors coped after one of the worst industrial accidents in history? They share stories of their struggles in the concluding segment of a twopart photo feature series.  PAGE 32

The $25.5 billion apparel industry has 3,500 active factories, while there are only about 493 trade unions.

Trade union leaders and experts blame the slowdown on cumbersome registration process, interference from local political leaders, lack of technical knowledge, fear of termination, and uncooperative owners and government officials.

Almost half of the applications for trade union registration in the RMG sector were rejected in the three years since the collapse of Rana Plaza building.

The Solidarity Centre, an international workers' rights group, says that since the Rana Plaza incident,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Government finally lowers fuel prices Rahman Rasel and n Aminur Ibrahim Hossain Ovi In a much anticipated move, the government has finally lowered the prices of petrol, octane, diesel and kerosene in Bangladesh.

The prices of octane and petrol were reduced by Tk10 a litre and diesel and kerosene by Tk3.

Senior information officer at the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Mir Mohammad Aslam Uddin, confirmed the news to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The fuel price cut came into effect after 12am today.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Police: Shafik disclosed three names n Arifur Rahman Rabbi Journalist Shafik Rehman has disclosed the names of three people who were involved in a plot to abduct and kill prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, police have said.

DMP spokesperson Monirul Islam, head of Counter Terrorism and Transnational crime unit (CT), disclosed the information in a press conference at DMP media centre yesterday afternoon.

“Shafik Rahman disclosed the

names during police remand. The names cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation,” the additional commissioner said.

He said they were verifying the information given by Shafik.

“If we find any evidence of their involvement, they will be arrested,” he added.

Shafik Rehman was facing further interrogation so that the police could find out how he obtained documents from the FBI, who were the media that transferred the doc-

uments, where he intended to send them, who gave the money and who were involve in this matter, Monirul said.

Following his arrest on April 16, a court granted the police five days to interrogate the veteran journalist.

On April 22, he was placed on a fiveday remand for the second time.

Shafik was picked up by plainclothesmen from his house in Dhaka’s Eskaton. Police later announced that he was arrested on the charges of plotting to abduct

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

‘In less than a minute, they killed and fled’ “Only about 1.5 inches of his neck was still attached to his body,” he said.

Mosharraf Hossain, a fruit seller from the area, said, “There is no doubt that the killers were experts and they were outsiders as we have never seen these people before.”

The investigation of the murder has been reassigned to the Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP). DB officials have already arrested a ward-level Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) leader for his suspected involvement in the killing.

Khandokar Jahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of DB police, also the investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had arrested Hafizur Rahman, the secretary of ICS ward no. 19 unit, from Chotobongram area of the city around midnight.

Asked about the killers, Jahid said there was no doubt that the killers studied Prof Rezaul’s activities for a long period and that it was a targeted killing, made evident by the fact that they came and left the spot quickly after the attack.

“We are collecting information from locals and giving top priority to arrest the responsible ones,” he said.

Meanwhile, a six-member police monitoring team formed to assist the investigation process held a meeting with Rajshahi University

authorities yesterday morning.

RMP Additional Commissioner Sarder Tamizuddin Ahmed led the team.

According to sources, the team collected information about his university life and activities and background information on his colleagues.

At the end of the meeting, held at the Rajshahi University vice-chancellor’s residence, Tamizuddin told reporters they were giving the case the highest priority and were hopeful that the mystery would be unearthed shortly.

RMP Commissioner Md Shamsuddin, who was also present, said police had increased the security on university teachers, and it would also be extended to those living outside the campus soon after their addresses are obtained.

Regarding the murder, a member of a government intelligence agency told the Dhaka Tribune Prof Rezaul’s residence was in a Shibir-dominated area. They were also looking into whether he had any problems with the group.

Daesh claim baseless

On the other hand, police have once again dismissed the claim from terrorist group Daesh, also known as Islamic State, that they were behind the murder of Rezaul.

RMG unionisation slows down a total of 697 unions applied for registration to the Joint Directorate of Labour of which only 330 were approved, while 367 were rejected.

“The government has included some problematic conditions in the Bangladesh Labour Act that make registration very difficult,” Nahidul Hasan Nayan, general secretary of Sammilita Garments Sramik Federation (United Garment Workers Federation) told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Owners are still not cooperating with workers in forming the unions and in some cases workers are being persecuted if they show interest in unionisation,” Nayan said.

Local political leaders were another factor, Nayan said.

“They help the owners by pressuring the workers not to form unions as it would hurt their interests of getting benefits from the owners.”

“The registration of trade unions were a result of pressures from the trade union and rights groups from home and abroad,” Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), told the Dhaka Tribune.

“As a result, their growth was not sustainable,” he said, adding that the mindset of owners towards trade unions had not changed.

Monirul Islam, chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, remarked Daesh would start taking responsibilities even for explosions in the future.

“The way IS is taking the responsibilities of murders one after another, soon we will see them taking responsibilities for smaller crimes like bomb blasts too. All these claims are merely virtual,” he said.

“There is no basis of their organisational presence here.”

Talking about Bangladeshis joining Daesh, Monirul said, “A few Bangladeshi expatriates joined the group so they might claim that Bangladeshis are present in their group.”

About the murders of three other Rajshahi University teachers in the last decade, the DMP official said they were all separate incidents.

“We had detained many people in those murders and in some cases we have even completed the investigations,” he said.

But none of the arrestees have claimed to be a member of Daesh or Al Qaeda, he said Rajshahi University teachers and students boycotted classes and exams for a day and held demonstrations in the campus demanding punishment of Rezaul’s killers.

They also held a rally in front of the English department. l

It was almost impossible for union leaders to provide the documents the Labour Act required them to submit for union registration, Sultan said.

He also said that workers’ opinions were not included in the rules, though it was sought.

The workers had a lack of technical knowledge about the application process, while owners and government officials were uncooperative, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue said.

“In the last two years, the government has given importance to workers. Since the safety and se-

and murder Joy. The DMP spokesperson also said Shafik has admitted to a payment of $30,000 being made to former FBI special agent Robert Lustyik to execute the so-called plot against Joy, but he said the money did not belong to him.

“He claimed his name was used without his consent during the delivery of the money,” he said.

Shafik had told the police about the source of the money and it was being looked into, Monirul said.

Asked about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement, the spokesperson said, “Rehman gave us important information during interrogation, which does not match what was said at the press conference.”

“We don’t know if those who issued that statement have actually spoken to Shafik Rehman. We feel like they haven’t.”

Monirul emphasised that the police were interrogating Rehman in line with the laws. l

Government finally lowers fuel prices The state authorities made the decision in reply to repeated calls from businesspeople as well as general citizens.

In January 2009, the Awami League government brought down the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk2, and furnace oil by Tk4.

But as the global fuel prices soon went up, the prices of diesel, kerosene and octane were increased four times while furnace oil’s price went up six times in 2011.

On January 4, 2013, the government again increased the prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane respectively to Tk68, Tk68, Tk96 and Tk99.

As fuel prices in the international market continued to decline in recent years, the government – earlier this month – lowered the price of furnace oil by Tk18 a litre.

Earlier in February, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told the parliament that – thanks to falling global fuel prices – Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation had started gaining some profits since November 2014.

However, the BPC still had loans of around Tk26,349.81 crore even after adjusting the loans paid from

November 2014, the minister said.

curity issues have reached a certain level, the government should prioritise workers’ rights issues now,” he said.

Moazzem said workers should be made aware of their rights and what benefits they could enjoy if they have unions.

Authorities on the other hands said union registrations were getting rejected for the lack of necessary documents.

“We have formulated the rules of the labour act after having talked with all the stakeholders, including trade union leaders.

If they now say it is too tough to comply, that’s absurd,” Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu, state minister

for Labour and Employment told the Dhaka tribune.

“As per the rules, they will have to place all the documents with the applications. If there is any illegal rejection of applications, I will take immediate action,” he added.

The factory owners are very loyal to the laws and if the workers want to form unions, there is no objection from them, BGMEA Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said.

“The workers should go through the proper process and follow the rules as we want a congenial working atmosphere, where both the workers and the owners are satisfied,” he added. l

Business community welcomes the move

Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmed said the fuel price cut would help reduce the inflation rate of the country.

Matlub came up with the remarks while talking to the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

It was a long-standing demand of the businesspeople to slash fuel prices after it had drastically dropped in the global market, said Matlub adding that the decision would bring down transportation cost as well as production cost.

Matlub, who chairs the Niloy Nitol Group, urged the government to also adjust power price so that citizens can get the real benefits of the price cut.

Exporters’ Association of Bangladesh President Abdus Salam Murshedy also welcomed the move, saying the price reduction would benefit different sectors including the export sector.

Murshedy said the local export items were going to be more competitive in the global market as a result of the fuel price cuts. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

National borders can’t stop carbon dioxide The main event of the 10th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA10) starts in Dhaka today with the theme “Enhancing Urban Community Resilience.” The conference is organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in association with Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), and Independent University, Bangladesh. Renowned climate change expert Dr Saleemul Huq, a senior fellow of the IIED and director of the ICCCAD, discusses global warming, its eminent effects and adaptation in an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune’s Sarker Saqib Dhaka Tribune (DT): Please explain climate change to our readers.

Saleemul Huq: Climate change is something happening globally for a long time due to emission of green house gases that come from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas causing the global temperature to rise. When the atmospheric temperature rises, it affects the hydrology, in the sea levels. This affects many different countries. Bangladesh happens to be one of the most vulnerable countries of the world.

We are already seeing this (sea level rise) in the coastal areas. It is causing change in flooding patterns; we are experiencing more frequent floods and more droughts.

So, Bangladesh is affected by a variety of different climatic impacts including cyclones.

The government has a programme called Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. It has invested well over $500 million to implement the plan. So, a lot of experience is being gathered in Bangladesh, particularly on adaptation to climate change.

Adaptation is about dealing with the impacts of climate change. The other side of the coin is mitigation, which is reducing emissions. Bangladesh does not produce much emission. So, we have to focus on adaptation.

DT: Tell us about the conference.

Saleemul: There is a particular area of adaptation which focuses on the most vulnerable communities and people. And it’s called community-based adaptation. My institute IIED in London has been doing a lot of work on this. As a part of these activities, IIED organises this annual conference on community-based adaptation (CBA) every year. Last year, the conference was held in Kenya and the year before in Nepal.

This year’s conference in Dhaka is hosted by Independent University, Bangladesh. We are expecting around 115 international participants, many of who have already arrived in Bangladesh.

This is a seven-day-long event.

For the first three days, we took the international participants to the field to show what the vulnerable communities are doing, particularly on adaptation. This year, we showed them examples of urban communities in Bangladesh … most of the examples are in and

around Dhaka. The remaining days comprises interactive presentations and discussions.

The main event of the conference starts today when we expect another 100 participants. We are doing a major retrospective analysis of what happened during the last 10 years – the biggest achievement is that the concept of community-based adaptation and the practice have grown enormously.

We have people from all over the world, including America, Canada and Europe joining us. So, it’s no longer just about the poor countries or the developing countries.

We started with developing countries because they are the most vulnerable. But there are vulnerable communities even in rich countries like Miami or Florida of the USA.

DT: What will happen to the sea level if we cannot reduce carbon emission by 80% by 2020?

Saleemul: At the moment where we are headed in terms of emission it is going to increase global temperature by nearly 3 degrees, and it will have a huge impact, like melting of the Greenland ice sheet, rising sea levels. Bangladesh’s coastal zone might be inundated totally in 50-100 years’ time.

So, we need to bring the temperature down from 3 degrees to 2.

We, the vulnerable countries, are asking for further lowering it down to one and a half degrees. And this agreement was reached in Paris last December. As the heads of states and governments formally signed the agreement on April 22, now it has become legally binding. All the countries, including Bangladesh, will have to take action.

The prevention part of the equation prevents very big impacts in the long-run (2060 to 2100 scenarios). In the short-term, which is 2020-2030, no amount of emission reduction will prevent some amount of impacts. The carbon emission that are already into the atmosphere cannot be reversed.

So, our only strategy is to get prepared for the adverse impacts of climate change. The research activities carried out by my institute are aimed at finding out adaptation strategies. Since there are a lot of adaptation mechanisms in place, particularly at the community level, we are bringing all these international participants, who are also working at the community lev-

Fund for emergency purpose. We will develop a national mechanism to get international funding.

DT: Naomi Klein in her book on climate change (This Changes Everything) draws a very bleak picture. She talks about war over water, people dying en masse in heat waves and other horrific situations. How close are we to that kind of scenario?

PHOTO COURTESY: IISD

el. They are coming to learn from Bangladesh. We have a lot of sessions for presenting papers, videos, even games and drama. It’s very interactive.

DT: What is the ratio of adaptation and relocation? How much relocation might be needed if adaptation is not possible?

Saleemul: There’s an issue about migration and refugees, and dislocation is an ongoing matter. People move from one place to another for different reasons – economic or political. A lot of Dhaka slum dwellers moved here because of environmental factors such as river erosion and cyclone. These impacts are going to get worse. It seems that there will be more climate refugees in the next 10-20 years if we don’t prevent it and don’t think about relocating the affected people.

Possibly 10 million people will need relocation from the coastal areas to the inlands. The Dhaka city cannot absorb another 10 million people. So we need to develop a strategy of building infrastructure, schools and colleges, and creating jobs for people in other cities like Bogra, Rangpur, Pabna and Rajshahi.

The other dimension is empowering the children of these families with education and skills so that they get jobs in these cities and take their parents with them. This is known as planned or facilitated relocation. It’s not forced relocation.

As part of short-term strategies, we can keep the affected in their native lands by providing assis-

tance like fresh water. And that is what we are doing. But they cannot survive there in the long run.

They will have to move eventually.

We need to make them understand that relocation is not a problem. It will become a solution for tomorrow if the people are empowered.

This is a new concept. It is relatively an untested concept. But we are thinking about doing it and hope that Bangladesh might be able to pull it off.

DT: What about compensation?

We know that Bolivia has pursued climate reparation. Is that a real possibility?

Saleemul: At the UN climate conference, where all countries sit together to negotiate, we, the developing countries – particularly the most vulnerable countries – have long been asking for compensation. The rich countries don’t like the word compensation. So, we have a euphemism for that. It’s called “loss and damage.” After a long battle and discussion, we finally got them to agree in the Paris Agreement to include an article on loss and damage. This article now allows us to discuss about loss and damage, and ask for compensation.

At the CBA10, we will have a session on loss and damage. We will discuss about the situation of the most vulnerable countries and the mechanism they want. Bangladesh government is thinking about setting up a national mechanism on loss and damage with the money left in the Climate Change Trust

Saleemul: What Naomi has written is not incorrect. She extrapolates based on what is happening now.

She paints a very bleak picture to galvanise action. She wants to say that this is going to happen if we don’t take action. If we don’t take action now, that’s where we will end up, in resource wars, water wars etc.

If temperature actually rises 3 degrees, it’s impossible to predict what may happen. It’s very very bad. Nothing will remain the same.

We talk about loss and damage not because we want compensation, but because we want to avoid loss and damage.

In Paris, around 50,000 people from all over the globe marched in solidarity. A mass movement is growing now. They want to take action.

Climate change is a reality on the ground. You can go around Bangladesh and ask farmers. They will tell you that things are different. Farmers all over the world will tell you that something is very different than before.

Everyone will be affected, even the rich. But the rich will be affected later. So, we have to take action now. Part of our purpose in the CBA conference is to bring the world together. The conference will be filmed and uploaded online so people from all over the world can watch and listen to the discussions and outcomes. They will be interacting with us via Twitter and Facebook.

At every conference, we always have a lot of local interested people who want to come. But we can’t accommodate all of them. This time we are doing this at North South University. There will be about 200 youths attending. We will send foreign delegates to that conference so that the local youths can interact with the international delegates.

And then we will invite them at our conference, in the closing session on April 28, so that they can share their thoughts. We want to involve the youths as much as we can. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

‘Development without freedom meaningless’ n Kamrul Hasan Former caretaker government adviser Advocate Sultana Kamal yesterday said development would be futile without freedom and security.

She said this in a seminar “Democracy, good governance and development” at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) yesterday morning.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) organised the two-day long discussion with the theme “The Bangladesh Journey,” with Sultana Kamal in the chair.

She said: “What would we get if we give up freedom, security for development? There would not be any benefit.”

Speakers at the seminar yesterday voiced the necessity of good governance to establish human rights with equal dignity for all.

Dr Binayak Sen, research director

Sultana Kamal, centre, speaks at a seminar on democracy, governance and development organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday RAJIB DHAR at BIDS, made a presentation about the theme, while several economists, human rights activists, civil society members and academic personalities participated in the session.

In his presentation, Dr Binayak illustrated the relations between

Raushan asks Ershad to be democratic n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Raushan Ershad, the leader of the opposition in the parliament, yesterday asked Jatiya Party President HM Ershad to take decisions democratically as the party was not a company of any individual.

Raushan, who is also Ershad’s wife and a presidium member of the Jatiya Party, further raised questions about the leaders who surround Ershad.

“I will request party chairman not to take decisions unilaterally. Decisions should have to be taken considering the party workers and following the party charter. This party is not a company of any individual, rather a party of leaders, activists and supporters,” she told journalists at a press briefing at the parliament’s media centre.

The press briefing was scheduled to start at 2pm, but started one and half hours later as Raushan came late.

Remembering the contributions of the former leaders of the party, Raushan said: “Once Mr Moudud [Ahmed], Shah Moazzem, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Anwar Hossain Monju and other dedicated leaders were beside our party chairman. But who are now behind the Jatiya Party chairman?”

Raushan also urged the party leaders, who have left the party, to return.

Moudud Ahmed is now a standing committee member of

the BNP, Shah Moazzem Hossain is a vice-chairman of the BNP, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury died as a member of Awami League’s advisory council and Anwar Hossain Monju is the chairman of Jatiya Party (Monju) and the incumbent environment and forest minister.

“We were not able to formulate any specific political strategy that would attract new leaders to come to the party. Jatiya Party has lost its pride, honour and glorious tradition.” Raushan said.

“At this age, I do not have any personal demand. I just do not want to see any lack of coordination in Jatiya Party.

My only wish is the leaders return to the party. Those who are inactive and left Jatiya Party please come back again. We are eagerly waiting for you.”

Presenting a sorry state of the party, Raushan said if the decisions were taken democratically and talking with the grassroots leaders and presidium members, then the party would get good results in the elections.

“We could not elect any mayor or chairman in the elections. We could not do good in union parishad elections too.

Jatiya Party is getting weaker day by day.”

Demanding the scrapping of the party charter’s article 39, Raushan said: “If the party is not democratic then how will the country be democratic. Democracy should be practised within the party.” l

governance and growth, human development and governance, development and democracy, and impact of wealth inequality on governance and political competitions.

In his presentation, he said good governance is required for enlight-

ened development of a country.

He said hidden connections between economic progress and political regress. He further mentioned about the newly formed middle class of Bangladesh, whose earnings at present are between $1 and $2 per day.

Panelist, Zafar Sobhan, editor of the Dhaka Tribune, mentioned rule of law, accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, and free media role for sustainable economic growth.

He said: “Good governance is not needed for economic growth but to establish human rights in Bangladesh.”

Badiul Alam Majumdar, central secretary of SHUJAN (Citizens for Good Governance), said while attempting to control chaos, situations of the likes that unfolded in Afghanistan should be averted.

The elements that helped the Taliban rise – stolen election, corruption, and lack of opportunities for the common people – are already prevalent in Bangladesh.

Speakers at the seminar said they said they are ready to sacrifice some of their rights to ensure security. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Government taking control of Islami Bank?

Mowla and Salman n Golam Tarek Shakil Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, which has often been under fire for allegedly financing terrorism, is finally being brought under the control of the government.

Four new independent directors would be appointed to the bank in accordance with orders from the government’s high-ups, sources at the bank said. The board of directors at the bank has reportedly already given its nod to the new faces at its meeting last Tuesday.

Sources said the new directors are – a banker, a former army official, a bureaucrat, and a chartered accountant.

For the past few years, different

the government move was only a compromise with Jamaat and militants. The appointment of four independent directors would not come to any use if patrons of Jamaat remained at the bank, Barkat said, recommending that Islami Bank be nationalised.

Meanwhile, talking to the Bangla Tribune over phone, Bangladeshi ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Moshi said he had earlier communicated with local investors in Saudi Arabia, but was unaware about the latest government decisions.

Asked about sentiments of those investors, Moshi said they were only interested in protecting an atmosphere that would benefit their business in Bangladesh.

Islami Bank is scheduled to hold

Sources said those investors agreed to the Bangladesh government’s policies against terror financing.

The government reportedly decided on appointing the new directors based on findings by the intelligence agency.

Asked for comment, Islami Bank Managing Director Mohammad Abdul Mannan said: “A process in this regard is currently going on, but there is nothing to say yet. The issue has just been presented at the board meeting. Next step would be getting approval from Bangladesh Bank and then from Securities and Exchange Commission. Only then can a comment be made.”

Dr Abul Barkat, an economics professor at Dhaka University, said

quarters have been demanding that the controversial bank be brought under government control.

An intelligence agency working under the Prime Minister’s Office was also assigned to investigate allegations of terror funding against Islami Bank.

Near the end of last year, Islami Bank officials who were known to be Jamaat-leaning were offered golden handshakes to step down from their posts. Reshuffling was also done to different top posts including the bank’s managing director.

Through the Bangladeshi ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the government also contacted with the bank’s Saudi investors and expressed concerns about the claims of terror financing.

its annual general meeting on June 2, where several other directors might also join the board.

However, it is likely that incumbent MD Hannan would stay on after his tenure expires on May 17 as the government is reportedly keen on extending his appointment.

Last December, Bangladesh Bank imposed special control over Islami Bank to protect the interest of public and depositors. The control means that the central bank now signs off on any appointment at the level of executive deputy managing director.

Since the move, Bangladesh Bank has also cancelled the contractual appointment of DMD Nurul Islam on grounds of rules violation. l

PM: Electronic passports for hassle-free travel n Tribune Desk

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government had plans to introduce electronic passports to ensure safe and hassle-free travel abroad.

The prime minister made the announcement at the inauguration of the newly constructed buildings of divisional passport and visa office as well as nine regional passport offices at the Department of Immigration and Passports in Agargaon, Dhaka, reported UNB. She also inaugurated Passport Service Week 2016.

With the inaugurations of such office buildings, people living in the areas where the new regional offices are located no longer need not to come to Dhaka to get their passports, the prime minister said while addressing the event.

Recalling how she got her passport in 1969, Hasina said she had to take permission from Karachi to get a passport and then had to travel all the way to Karachi to collect it.

She said since the use of MRPs has become indispensable after November 24 last year following the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, her government faced the challenge of providing MRPs to expatriate Bangladeshis before the deadline expired, and succeeded.

She extended her heartfelt thanks to the officials and employees of the Department of Immigration and Passports for successfully issuing some 140,000 MRPs and

Students and colleagues of RU Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique stage a protest rally in front of National Museum in Dhaka yesterday to demand exemplary punishment for the killers of the slain teacher RAJIB DHAR

Banshkhali protesters to resume protest n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong After a 15-day hiatus, residents of Gondamara union in Chittagong’s Banshkhali upazila are resuming their protest against the coal-fired power plant project in their area.

The protesters, gathered under the banner of “Committee to Protect Homestead and Graveyard,” made the announcement during a press conference at Gondamara Rahmania Madrasa yesterday.

“We will hold a protest rally on April 26 on Hadipara Primary School premises to voice our demand to scrap the project,” said Liakat Ali, convener of the committee. “We

will announce tougher movement if the project is not cancelled.”

Liakat also vowed to wage a movement against coal-based power plant with National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports after May 15.

“Banshkhali residents are ready to resist the move to construct the power plant at any cost. The proposed power plant will deal a severe blow to our environment,” he said.

“We halted our protest on April 9 because Abdullah Kabir Liton, a local Awami League leader, assured us at a public meeting in Gondamara that he would some positive steps in this regard within 15 days,”

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

DRY WEATHER WITH PARTLY CLOUDY MONDAY, APRIL 25

Dhaka

38

28

Chittagong

33

Liakat said at the press conference.

“He assured us that a team of experts would visit the site of the proposed power plant within 15 days and make an assessment on possible impacts of the project on the environment. He also said all cases filed against the villagers would be withdrawn and the government would ensure punishment for those who were involved in the shooting.

But none of his commitments have been met yet.”

Four villagers were killed and dozens were shot when police allegedly opened fire on them during a protest rally against the coal-fired power plant in Gondamara on April 4. l 27

Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:25PM

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Rangpur 40

24

Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:28AM

41.0ºC Jessore

22.5ºC Rangpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

326,000 MRVs so far – an exceptional achievement.

However, she took a swipe against some of the media which doubted if the government would be able to issue MRPs to such a huge number of Bangladeshi expats within the deadline. “Since they criticise us, they should also appreciate our good works.”

Hasina directed the officials and employees of the Department of Immigration and Passports to render better services to people.

She said her government has been working tirelessly to reach passport services at the doorsteps of people. “Getting passport is the right of every citizen and a very important government service to people.”

She said like other sectors, the passport office too had become the den of corruption and irregularities, falling into the hands of middlemen syndicates during the military regimes after 1975 and during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.

Highlighting the successes of her government in bringing discipline in the activities of this department, she said it has achieved unprecedented success over the last seven years.

The premier also said national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines had been asked to introduce e-ticket service since the machine-readable passports and machine-readable visas were already in use. “The e-ticketing is aimed at reducing harassment of passengers and corruption to a large extent.” l Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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Fajr: 4:06am | Zohr: 11:56pm Asr: 3:23pm | Magrib: 6:28pm Esha: 7:55pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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6

News

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Tarana: Unregistered SIMs, RUIMs await deactivation n UNB SIMs and RUIMs which will remain unregistered after April 30 will be deactivated shortly after the deadline, said State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim yesterday.

“At first, the unregistered SIMs will be deactivated for three hours on May 1 and those will be deactivated permanently in a very short time,” she told a rally at Dhaka University’s TSC. Private mobile phone operator Airtel organised the awareness ral-

ly about biometric SIM registration.

Tarana urged all to be ‘conscious citizens’ completing the re-registration of their SIMs/RUIMs through the biometric system.

She also revealed that seven crore of over 13 crore mobile phone users have already re-registered

their SIMs and RIUMs, hoping to complete the process by the stipulated deadline of April 30.

The junior minister also expressed the belief that it will be possible to prevent those involved in criminal activities, including illegal VoIP business, once the SIM re-registration

process is completed successfully.

Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Foyzur Rahman Chowdhury, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood, CEO of Airtel PD Sharma, among others, took part in the awareness rally. l

7

DT

News

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Priest hacked to death in Gopalganj Correspondent, n Our Gopalganj

A woman whose relative died in Rana Plaza collapse is seen praying at the site yesterday

Garment workers take to the street in Savar

A priest was hacked to death allegedly by a youth at Basuria village, Tungipara upazila, Gopalganj.

Doyal Roy, son of deceased Poramando Roy, said when his father was returning home from market, Shariful Sheikh, a resident of Gingadanga village, hacked him indiscriminately on Saturday night.

He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital and later on shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died at night.

Doyal Roy said he was a priest at Bai Ros Ram temple.

Police have already arrested Shariful, but reason behind the killing could not be known immediately.

Officer-in-Charge of Tungipara police station told the Dhaka Tribune that local people were saying that the youth was mentally ill and they were investigating the matter. A case was filed. l MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Dredger at Mongla port unused for three years

n Hedait Hossain, Khulna RMG workers demand April 24 as national mourning day A permanent dredger at Mongla the situation will continue?” jured as police charged batons to seaport has been sitting idle since it n Md Nadim Hossain, Savar He also alleged that the victim disperse them. Later, workers from was acquired from the Netherlands Thousands of workers from at least 20 garment factories took to the street yesterday demanding April 24 as national mourning day and government holiday at all garment factories across Bangladesh recalling Rana Plaza victims.

In the morning, relatives and workers’ organisations placed wreaths in front of the Rana Plaza site remembering the victims.

Some of the workers vandalised at least 20 garments factories at Savar to press home their several points demands. In the wake of protest, four garments declared holiday yesterday.

Workers of Dress Up garment factory firstly started demonstration demanding holiday on the day. In the face of their protest, authority of the factory closed the factory. Later, Highpoint, Internet and Aichanoadda have also been shut down.

When workers of the four factories were marching towards Rana Plaza site, they found that production at some garment factories were running, then they went berserk and vandalised those factories. At least 10 people were in-

other 10 factories joined them.

As the news spread, workers from different organisation which are working for workers’ rights and also workers put up barricade on the highway near Rana Plaza site.

Garment employees block Dhaka-Aricha Highway, 40 injured On information, police rushed to the spot and dispersed them charging batons that left 30 workers injured.

Asia Begum, a worker of JK Garment, told the Dhaka Tribune that April 24 was tragic day for garment workers. So, the government should announce holiday on the day recalling Rana Plaza victims.

Rubel, a worker of Surma Factory said: “Although we have a great contribution to the economy of Bangladesh, nobody cares us. They [garment owners] making profits exploiting us, but they do not give our payment properly. How long

workers had not yet received their due compensation while many workers were fighting for survival without treatment after getting maimed in the incident.

Mustafizur Rahman, director of Ashulia industrial police, said some workers had been injured when they ransacked several factories, but the situation was now under control.

“Police have been deployed in front of each garment factory to avoid any untoward incident,” he said.

According to a recent study, a total of 58.4% of those survived in the Rana Plaza collapse are still suffering from long-term psychosocial difficulties.

Rana Plaza collapsed on 24 April, 2013 that claimed lives of at least 1,134 workers and left around 2,500 others injured.

Since the tragic incident took place, RMG workers and trade unions have been demanding proper compensation to the survivors and family members of the deceased.

But their appeals are still unheard to government, buyers and garment owners. l

more than three years ago, wasting government resources all this time.

Moreover, the dredger, which was bought for around Tk34 crore, had to be dry-docked at Khulna shipyard last year for repair work which cost the port authorities around Tk40 lakh, even though it has been barely used. Even after repair work, the dredger remains inoperable, sources told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to a government audit at Mongla port which was conducted last year, the need to repair the dredger’s machineries only two years after purchase prove that it is of sub-standard quality. It also stated that there were discrepancies in the records of the dredger’s purchase.

It recommended appointment of a committee comprising government high-ups and experts to investigate the dredger’s purchase, but the port authorities did not take any steps in this regard. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is now looking into these allegations.

Mongla port’s Chief Engineer (marine) Altaf Hossain refuted the audit report’s claim.

“The dredger was purchased

following the regulations of port authorities. It is a high-quality dredger bought from the Netherlands. The audit report’s claim is illogical and absurd.”

According to the audit report, the dredger, bought through a contractors’ company named Dredger CD Imam Bokhari for Tk33.65 crore and installed at the port on September 7, 2012, was never used because the pressure in its hydraulic engine was not enough to conduct dredging in the port.

Asked why the dredger has not been used since it was bought, Altaf said it was used for a while but was later removed to the port when another project dredger was brought in. When asked about the repair work, he said it could happen anytime. Meanwhile, the port’s outgoing harbour master, Commander Mohammad Hasan, said the dredger had not been used because the port did not have the skilled manpower to operate it.

He admitted that the newly-purchased, barely-used dredger had to be repaired because some parts of it was not working.

The port authorities recently decided to run the dredger for 15 minutes – even if not necessary – twice every month, which would need around 175 litres of fuel every month. l

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8

News

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

AL wins 83 UP chairs to BNP’s 26 n Tribune Desk Awami League-nominated chairman candidates won in 83 union parishads (UPs) while BNP-supported contesters came out victorious in 26 unions in the 3nd phase UP polls held on Saturday.

According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, 18 AL candidates were elected unofficially in Comilla, 10 in Munshiganj, seven in Laxmipur and Natore each, six in Sylhet, five in Sunamganj and Pabna each, four in Joypurhat, Thakurgaon and Kurigram each, three in Meherpur, Kishoreganj and Manikganj each and two in Gaibandha and Sherpur each, report UNB. On the other hand, 10 BNP candidates were elected unofficially in Sunamganj, six in Manikganj, three in Sylhet, two in Joypurhat and one in Kishoreganj, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Meherpur and Thakurgaon each.

Besides, 43 other chairman candidates won the elections in Joypurhat, Sunamganj, Gaibandha,

Outlawed leader killed n Our Correspondent, Pabna A regional leader of Purba Banglar Communist Party (ML- Lal Pataka) was hacked to death by miscreants in Bhinnogram area of Santhia upazila in Pabna yesterday.

The deceased was Al Amin Hossain, 35, son of Fazlal Fakir, a resident of the area.

Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Ataikula police station, said miscreants hacked Al Amin in the morning near the Ichhamati River.

Later farmers found his body lying in the area and informed police.

Police recovered the body and sent it to Pabna General Hospital.

Al Amin was accused in several cases including murder, said the OC. l

Prisoner dies at Pabna hospital n UNB An under-trial prisoner died at Pabna General Hospital yesterday morning.

The deceased identified as Shraban,6, son of Anwar Hossain, a resident of Sanra Gopalpur village in Ishwardi upazila, was an accused in a case under the Narcotics Control Act. Obaidur Rahman, jail superintendent, said Sraban complained of chest pain at about 8:am.

He died immediately after he was taken to a hospital at about 8:45am. l

Thakurgaon, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Manikganj, Kurigram and Sylhet.

Election to 614 UPs in 48 districts was held on Saturday amid various alleged irregularities and sporadic violence that left one person dead.

The balloting in the third phase of the UP elections began at 8am and continued till 4pm.

The voting was marked with violence and anomalies in Pabna, Narayanganj, Thakurgaon, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Jamalpur, Lakshmipur and Noakhali districts.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday postponed balloting in 24 polling stations across 48 districts following several irregularities, including capture of polling stations and stuffing ballot boxes.

Scores injured in post-poll violence across country

At least 75 people were injured in post-poll violence in Netrokona and Habiganj districts yesterday.

In Netrokona, at least 25 people were injured in several areas of

Kendua upazila over post-poll violence, reports our correspondent.

Sources said miscreants attacked the house of Freedom Fighter Kazimuddin at Baghber village in the morning leaving 11 injured.

Ovi Ranjan Deb, officer-in-charge of Kendua police station, said 14 more people were injured in clashes in Gonad, Harinagar, Sondikona and Maska areas in the morning.

Police arrested two persons.

Additional Superintendent of Police said extra police forces were deployed in the areas.

Our Habiganj correspondent said at least 50 people injured in a clash between two groups of villagers in Baniachong upazila in the morning over post-poll victory procession.

Amulla Kumar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Baniachong police station, said Surat Ali was elected member in Pukra union council election held on Saturday.

In the morning he brought out a victory procession in the village. At one stage, supporters of Mizanur

Jabbar Boli Khela kicks off today Hussain, n Anwar Chittagong Like every year, the traditional Abdul Jabbar Wrestling Competition, popularly known as Abdul Jabbarer Boli Khela is going to begin for the 107th time today at the historic permanent venue at Laldighi Maidan of the port city.

Md Iqbal Bahar, commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, will inaugurate the wrestling competition at 3pm and Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin will attend the programme as the chief guest.

Mobile phone operator Grameenphone is sponsoring the wrestling competition this year.

Meanwhile, the threeday Baishakhi Mela has already begun from Sunday on an area of about one-kilometre alongside Laldighi Maidan.

The fair with an array of locally-made beautiful handicrafts and indigenous household will continue till April 26.

Abdul Jabbar Smriti Kusti Praitijogita and Baishakhi Mela Committee organises the age-old wrestling competition and

the fair every year on 12th Baishakh as per tradition.

Jahar Lal Hazari, local ward councilor and president of the wresting competition committee, said they had taken all necessary preparation to make the occasion a success.

“The century-old historic wrestling competition and new Bengali year fair is held every year in the port city with much enthusiasm and cultural zeal,” said Hazari.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Shawkat Anwar Badal, general secretary of the competition committee, said about 200 wrestlers from different parts of the country would take part in the competition this year.

“The wrestling competition has become a heritage of Chittagong. Every year millions of people assemble centering the competition. Abdul Jabbar, a rich merchant of Chittagong, introduced the wrestling competition in 1909 as part of organising the youths of the country in the Anti-British Movement and since then the competition has been held every year,” said Badal who is also grandson of Abdul Jabbar. l

Rahman Jwel, who was defeated to Surat, attacked the procession leaving 50 injured.

At least 10 persons were injured in post-poll clash between two member candidates at Baroipara village of Niamatpur union council under Kaliganj upazila in Jhenaidah.

Locals said Muhid Hossain and Kamrul Islam of Baroipara village vied for a member post in Niamatpur UP election held on Saturday.

Muhid won the election and became member. Supporters of Kamrul became agitated over the issue and attacked Muhid’s people leaving 10 injure.

Of the injured, the condition of Zahid, Sagor Hossen, Imdaul Haque, Akidul Islam, Enamul Islam and Raihan Hossen is critical. They were admitted to Kaliganj Health Complex.

When contacted, Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj police station, said on information, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control.

No case was filed, said the OC.

In Narayanganj, at least 300 people including a newly elected UP chairman were sued yesterday over violence centering union parishad elections in Volabo union council of Rupganj, Narayanganj.

Presiding officer Ismail Hossain filed the case against 300 people including Alamgir Hossen Tito, the BNP backed UP chairman of the union council for vandalising vehicles and barring lawmen from their duty.

Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Rupganj police station, said Tito and his people confined the lawmen at Charpaluk village on Saturday night while they were returning after completing election.

At one stage, law enforcers opened fire to disperse the crowds.

But within a moment, the clash broke out in the area and the supporters of Tito set fire to several vehicles of law enforcers and damaged the road in the area. They also blocked the road by placing logs.

At least 20 people were injured in Gazipur. l

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DT

Education

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Writing a killer university application essay Creating the first draft After all this is done, it is time to write, or so you will feel. You have a topic, and you have some ideas of where you are going with it – but let us stop you, because that is how everyone else will write and end up being the 90% that are bland. The keyword here is vivid – do you have enough of it to proceed? Is the topic genuinely intriguing? Does it centre around your most vital experiences? Can you safely and conclusively connect the topic and the experiences. the goal of presenting yourself and yourself ?

Many a time, the last connection is harder than you might imagine. Just because an experience is relatable to the topic and connects to you, does not mean it connects the essay to the goal. It might not be relevant to the aspects that the institution needs to know for them to accept you as one of their own. The best one sentence guideline here is: “Will this make me look worthy to the person reading this?” All of these will be played out in your introduction, and that is where you must focus the most, the rest should fall in line quite easily.

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

n SM Tahmid We have all written essays, long and short, on topics both simple and complex. Starting with the infamous descriptive essay on the cow, we have cruised through argumentative and even biography. Apart from those who have completed advanced English courses, the aforementioned essays were mostly the only ones we had to go formulate.

Personal experiences in essay editing and counselling suggests that for many who already excel at the other skills required in this field, the application essay is the pivotal part of the process.

It attempts to distil the main essence of all those skills in a

concise form. Below are five things that must always be followed to write the perfect essay that will open doors for you to the biggest names in the world of academics.

Setting the proper tone Be honest, and do not embellish any of your achievements. The person reading your essay is skilled at what he or she does and will see through it at once. Stick to the point at all times; deviating and putting in anecdotes is fine in a social gatherings, speeches and presentations, but not here.

Formatting An essay should be long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep it interesting –

not something the education system of our country has taught us. If you are illustrating something, draw connections between it and the point you are making – leaving inferences is for the old authors of the past, not you. Lastly, always double check the instructions given and check the sample essays for the proper flow structure required.

Proofread your essay, by yourself and by your peers multiple times.

Fixing a proper topic by finding your competitive advantage Focus on one aspect of yourself which best reflects who you are, and the topic has to be properly communicable from the author (you) to the reader (the person reading it). Do not try to cover

too many topics.

It is a good idea to brainstorm about possible topics for a few weeks. Topics may include your formal and informal accomplishments, unique skills, favourite books/music/art/ movies and their influence on you, the difficult times you have passed, your success and failures, traits, people you follow as your idols, your future dreams and every other thing that makes you the person you are. It is all about you. You are showing the world why you are not like the rest – and although not every one of us are the unique rare snowflakes we think we ought to be, we are not the same either. Find the thing that separates you and use it to your advantage.

Finalising the draft Now you are at the finishing stretch. Your body paragraphs are coming along nicely; you have found your rhythm, but let us stop you once more since there is another part to this that most applicants ignore, and that is taking it slow. Remember the phrase, sleeping on it?

This step is very crucial. After all, an argument that sounds perfect today will not look the same tomorrow or even when you looking at it after a while.

Take a break, and come back to it with fresh eyes. Employ more pairs of eyes if possible by showing your draft to others.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your essay should not be the first revision or the second, the third, or even the fourth. Only after multiple revisions for days can you find out the finished, polished product. If possible, have it professionally edited; this is worth the effort and highly encouraged by everyone. Lastly, go through it once more to make sure it’s connected, concise, vivid and flawless in terms of grammar and spelling. If it passes all the tests, you have a decent chance of getting that coveted acceptance letter! l Content was reprinted from www. grad-insights.com

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Feature

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Feminisation of poverty Hossain Khan and n Ziarot Tahsin Choudhury The creation of gender identities and the gendered division of labour starts from within a household – a classic reflection of essentialism lying at the centre of our value as basic socio-economic units. The socio-economic significance of a household, combined with the labels of "male" and "female" to specific roles within a household, leads to a hierarchy of power where men are considered superior.

Traditionally, men have been perceived to lead households, whereas women were responsible for more "homely" roles. Since households are regarded as the fundamental socio-economic unit of society, any transformation at the household level creates impacts at the aggregate level of a country. For instance, changes in household composition and structure will have an impact on accessibility, resource distribution, healthcare planning etc.

Traditionally, a nuclear family is headed by an adult male and regarded as the “standard’’ composition of a household.

However, in the last few decades, there has been a significant rise in other types of household composition, such as female headed and single-person households. Female headed households can be very vulnerable to poverty due to the marital status of the household heads (widowed, divorced, separated, single mother), lack of ownership of assets, access to credit, lack of proper and regular income, lack of remunerative employment opportunities, gender inequalities in distribution of income, lack of access to services like healthcare, education, transportation and social exclusion in economic and political participation.

In a patriarchal society like Bangladesh, it is still not very common for women to take the position of authority in a household. It can happen in two ways – either the women of the house is the de jure head of the household in the absence of any earning male member, or the de facto head with husbands’ and sons’ absence due to migration on inability to work. In Bangladesh, occurrences of women becoming household heads are mostly because of widowhood, abandonment/separation, divorce and migration. Regardless of the processes through which a woman finds herself becoming the key decision-maker of the house, the problems they face in Bangladesh

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK can be grouped into certain categories: Poverty and economic insecurity The most obvious problem faced by female household heads is economic. According to studies, monthly household income of female-headed households is only 55% of that of the average monthly household income.

Lack of assets Women usually sell all or some of their land after their husband’s death, and some can lose almost everything they have, selling even their utensils to make ends meet.

Even if they manage to keep their lands, many from this group are not always able to retain control of it. They can get cheated of the

The socio-economic significance of a household, combined with the labels of "male" and "female" to specific roles within a household, leads to a hierarchy of power where men are considered superior

full proceeds, but are powerless because they “couldn’t go to see the crops” - that is, they are unable to work the land themselves, and as a result are unable to keep it.

Lack of employment and incomegenerating opportunities Female household heads are as constrained by their gendered roles as mothers and women

as their female counterparts in male-headed households. Work locations that require travelling a distance raise issues of purdah and safety, which restrain many women from working outside because they have no one to bring them back late at night, or else they have no one to look after their children while they are away.

Obtaining social approval for working outside the household is a huge challenge, and there are limited paid positions for women who want to enter the market.

Excluding NGOs and GOs, the kind of work available to women are the poorest paid and most insecure. Finally, even where work is available, many poor women are unlikely to have the education, skills or training required for it. l

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Editorial 11

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

INSIDE

Obama’s legacy and the United States of America The first African American President of the United States (and probably the only one for next few decades) will leave office in just about 10 months. He will have served eight full years as President by the time he leaves the office to his successor.

PAGE 12

Do we need a limit on freedom of speech?

Our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently stated that the intentionally filthy writings against religious sentiments would not be tolerated. She said writing against religion in the name of free thinking has become a fashion.

PAGE 13

In a time when reading for fun is seeing a fast decline, the mere fact that Masud Rana novels are still out there is a bit of a miracle. Come on, with so many eye popping stunts shown in current day action films, would you spend a hot, languorous afternoon curled up on the sofa with a Bengali spy thriller?

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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.

It doesn’t matter what they say

T

Masud Rana at 50

Be heard

BIGSTOCK

he government is failing to fulfill its duty to protect its citizens.

This is the main lesson that can be drawn from Saturday’s brutal murder of Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique in Rajshahi.

Fanatics are pursuing a single minded campaign to target secular writers and intellectuals for cold blooded murder in Bangladesh.

And the government is failing to stop them.

It didn’t matter to Professor Siddique’s killers that his colleagues say he was not active in politics and was alert not to hurt religious sentiments. Or that his cousin says Professor Siddique donated to many mosques and madrassas.

What matters is that religious extremists claimed he was involved in “calling to atheism” and say that this gives justification for killers to act as judge, jury, and executioner.

Not only has the government failed to stop such killings or bring the perpetrators to justice, it has appeased their supporters by pointing fingers at victims and feeding the mind-set that people need to watch what they say and write, or suffer the consequences.

It doesn’t matter what the victim’s beliefs were. It does not matter what anyone says or writes. It is never acceptable to kill someone for his or her words.

It doesn’t matter what the victim’s killers claim as reasons to justify their actions.

What matters is that such fanatics are targeting individuals in Bangladesh to be slaughtered in public in cold blood. And they are acting with impunity.

They are murderers who need to be brought to justice.

It doesn’t matter whether they are from transnational terrorist groups like IS as they have claimed, or part of locally based militant networks, as the government argues.

Their aim is to create fear and hatred. They need to be stopped.

Appeasement will not stop such murders. The government must catch the killers and fulfill its duty to protect all citizens.

The government must catch the killers and fulfill its duty to protect all citizens

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DT

Opinion

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Obama’s legacy and the United States of America Over his two terms as president, Obama brought the US back on its feet

n Ziauddin Choudhury

T

he first African American President of the United States (and probably the only one for next few decades) will leave office in just about 10 months. He will have served eight full years as President by the time he leaves the office to his successor.

It does not matter whether his successor will be a Republican or a fellow Democrat -- as far as he is concerned, he will hand over the reins to a person outside of his own colour, the colour that the US has known in all its 240 years of history.

backdrop because he gave people hope, drew millions to his cause, and promised that the future of America will change under his leadership.

He promised changes in the financial and tax systems, assured millions of people health care insurance at affordable costs, and brought about reforms in immigration.

Above all, he promised to bring an end to the blood-letting in Iraq by bringing back US troops home.

He also made it known that he would refurbish US’s image abroad, pursuing a foreign policy

improving relations with USlapsed countries, Iran and Cuba in particular -- countries with which US had a continuing antagonistic relationship.

In his first term, Obama had made a momentous visit to Cairo where he had signaled a new effort to mitigate the tension in the Middle East over Palestine.

He had also indicated a renewed effort to bring about peace in the region through negotiation, not war.

Despite his good intentions, no progress could be made in changing the conflict in the Middle East.

Obama was elected not once, but twice. He devoted his first term in fighting an uphill battle with a Republican-dominated congress to pass his historic affordable health care bill that aimed to provide 30 million uninsured people affordable insurance, and make it mandatory for all to carry health insurance

Obama’s achievements should not be overturned by the next president REUTERS For Obama, colour was not an issue when he sought the US people’s vote to elect him as president, twice as a matter of fact.

Not that he was unaware of his difference from the people who had sought this office before him, but he believed in a country that had overcome its prejudices and was finally prepared to accept people from a diverse background and ethnicity.

Obama was not a typical African-American; his father was a Kenyan expatriate, and mother a white Anglo Saxon.

Yet, he made history as the first person of colour to win the US Presidency.

To Americans, black or white, he was their first African-American President. And there is the rub.

Obama inherited three things from his immediate predecessor George Bush.

A war that had gone awry in the Middle East, draining the treasury, an economy that was spiraling down like a plane shot down, and a double digit unemployment level that showed no sign of recovery any time soon.

Large banks and insurance companies were on the verge of collapse, and a great despondency prevailed in the populace over the future of the country.

Obama was elected against this

that brought about equality of nations, and promoted greater understanding with Islamic countries.

Obama was elected not once, but twice.

He devoted his first term in fighting an uphill battle with a Republican-dominated congress to pass his historic affordable health care bill that aimed to provide 30 million uninsured people affordable insurance, and make it mandatory for all to carry health insurance.

The bill passed narrowly with help of a senate that, until 2012, had a Democratic majority to the dismay of the Republicans.

But things would change from 2012, making it difficult for Obama to move with other legislation such as immigration reforms when the thin Democratic majority in the Senate disappeared after mid-term elections and the Republicans took full control of both houses.

The confrontation between the Executive and Legislature hardened, and Obama faced relentless opposition for all his moves, domestic and international.

Internationally, Obama had raised great hopes for bringing an end to the hostilities in the Middle East and Afghanistan, in

The Middle East would soon see a melt down with outbreak of mass upsurges and civil disturbances in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Iraq would split apart with the rise of a new menace in the shape of ISIS that would seize territories from a faltering Syria and a feckless Iraq army that dwindled into nothingness after the withdrawal of US troops.

Afghanistan, where Obama had directed his attention, would also continue to be threatened by a resurgent Taliban as the US followed its plan to draw down forces from there.

But even in the backdrop of these dire developments, Obama pursued a cherished foreign policy objective of easing tension with former adversaries Iran and Cuba -- even though these were despised by his Republican opponents.

In easing relationship with Iran, he was able to marshal his European allies to negotiate a nuclear deal that would effectively stop Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal, and open its nuclear facilities to UN inspection.

With Cuba, he opened up trade and investment opportunities with the lifting of 55-year-old embargo with that country.

He later cemented that new relationship with a historic visit to

Cuba, the first ever visit to Cuba by a US President in last 60 years.

Not unsurprisingly, none of these achievements by Obama, including his signature affordable health care that rescued millions of uninsured citizens from disease and death, were welcome to his Republican opponents, and sad to say, many others who did not exactly want to see him in that office.

In fact, one of the prime reasons that drove millions to the unbelievably successful rallies of the Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has to do more with animosity to Obama than with the economic condition of the US. For, economically, the US has not been in a more favorable state than in the time of President Bush.

When Obama took over, the US economy was in doldrums, the growth rate had plummeted to less than one percent, unemployment was at an all-time high of nearly 11%, and big banks were collapsing.

Now, unemployment is at an all-time low of less than 5%, the GDP is growing at more than 2%, and the big banks are performing at a rate that has led to one of the Democratic Presidential hopefuls (Bernie Sanders) to declare that they would need to be harnessed

and broken (because he is a socialist).

As Obama nears the end of his presidency, he will be remembered as not only the first AfricanAmerican President, but also as the first president who gave his people right to health care, and along with it, reform of the student loan program that gave relief to millions of college students.

He forced changes in employment and in defense services -- eliminating discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

He unilaterally issued executive order enabling undocumented immigrants to seek ways to seek legal immigration in the US. Last of all, we opened ways to re-establish normal relations to erstwhile adversaries, Iran and Cuba.

Obama’s legacy may be overturned should a Republican president be elected this year to replace him.

But it will be unfair to the US should it turn out to be so. For what Obama has done, it was for its citizens, and for the world as a whole.l Ziauddin Choudhury has worked in the higher civil service of Bangladesh early in his career, and later for the World Bank in the USA.

13

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Opinion

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Do we need a limit on freedom of speech?

Should freedom of expression come before the need for peace?

n Rasheek Irtisam

O

ur honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently stated that the intentionally filthy writings against religious sentiments would not be tolerated.

She said writing against religion in the name of free thinking has become a fashion.

The (fashionable?) free thinkers of Bangladesh are no stranger to the concept of “there is no such thing as bad publicity.” Of course, writing against religion and criticising mainstream beliefs get you press.

The inherent desire to get the attention of the press trumps their remorse of hurting the sentiments of millions.

This strategy has worked very well for Salman Rushdie -- the recipient of the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel Midnight’s Children. But, only after he published his controversial book The Satanic Verses in 1988, did he become a household name.

Not because of the admiration he received from critics, but rather from the hatred his writing generated in the Muslim world.

The novel earned him a death sentence from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then spiritual leader of Iran.

The book sparked violence around the globe. Muslims around the world protested and people died in riots caused by his publication. Seems like, inspired

by Rushdie’s story, the free

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, but should there be limits?

If we can condemn those extremists, why do we fail to criticise those secular activists who are deliberately hurting the sentiments of the religious people? Why would we want to give left-wing freethinkers a free pass to offend and harm millions in the name of free speech?

thinkers of Bangladesh joined the bandwagon to attract haters by writing vilifying comments against Islam.

Freedom of speech has been a much-debated topic. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives everyone the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

But let’s not forget the other side of the coin. The terms “offence principle” and “harm principle” are often used in conjunction with

freedom of speech.

In his book On Liberty John Stuart Mill introduced theharm principle and argued that: “The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”

Mill extends the harm principle to answer the ethical question if there should be restrictions on free speech.

If the exercise of free speech can be remotely linked to violence, it is constrained under the harm principle, and the government can rightfully exercise their power to prevent such harm.

The government or the appropriate authorities can play a vital role in minimising public harm associated with free speech.

For example, if the French government or the editors of the Charlie Hebdo had taken pre-

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ventive measures to censor the potentially harmful cartoons published in the magazine, the attack wouldn’t have taken place and 12 lives would have been saved.

One might wonder if Charlie Hebdo would have lost their image as an all-time-preserver of free speech by censoring their content.

Don’t get over-excited when you hear the phrase “Je suis Charlie.” Charlie Hebdo is no epitome of free speech. In fact, in 2008, political cartoonist Maurice Sinet was fired by the editor of the magazine due to his offensive political satire.

Recently in Ekushey Boimela, authorities acted quickly to take down two book-stalls which had allegedly published books containing defamatory comments on Islam.

The prompt action by the authorities prevented the future retaliation by the extremists that might have cost the life of the publishers. However, government

action to suppress freedom of speech has been widely criticised by the press.

Why would anyone want to propagate such malicious message that would further destabilise our country? When has freedom to express ourselves become more important than peace?

If we can condemn those extremists, why do we fail to criticise those secular activists who are deliberately hurting the sentiments of the religious people?

Why would we want to give left-wing freethinkers a free pass to offend and harm millions in the name of free speech?

I would like to reiterate Pope’s statement after the attack on Charlie Hebdo attack: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, but it has limits. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.” l Rasheek Irtisam is a PhD candidate in finance at the University of Memphis.

14

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Opinion

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Masud Rana at 50

Where does Masud Rana stand in 2016? The series is a time-capsule, but it’s about time movies are made on his exploits n Towheed Feroze

I

n a time when reading for fun is seeing a fast decline, the mere fact that Masud Rana novels are still out there is a bit of a miracle. Come on, with so many eye popping stunts shown in current day action films, would you spend a hot, languorous afternoon curled up on the sofa with a Bengali spy thriller?

Well, maybe most wouldn’t but I would, and so will many others for whom Rana is a link to their teenage days of fantasy.

Rationally speaking, one does not see any reason to read Masud Rana books now, but then, some of life’s most precious moments cannot be defined by hard core logic. Take for instance, that Rana book cover of the 70s, with hand drawn sketches of mysterious silhouettes and the newsprint which is no longer used by any publisher.

This is like a time capsule; open the page, the smell is redolent of mischief of the days gone by when families had strict rules against all Rana books.

Masud Rana was heavily influenced by James Bond, John Drake, Simon Templar -- and though the hero was portrayed as a Bengali, the heady 60s social transformations which gallantly flaunted liberal attitudes towards sexual relations eased their way into Rana’s life.

Rana came to the market in 1966 with the slogan: Thriller for adults.

Publicity stunt or not, the young were enamoured in no time; here was a man styled in the template of the time, he knew the difference between a wine and Sherry, could order Whisky without guilt, ate exotic food at the best international restaurants and, had no qualms in taking a lady to his room for a tempestuous one night stand.

Obviously, society, clinging on to the dated Bengali conservative notions, was outraged; this cannot be a hero, a protagonist has to be soft spoken, kind, never wealthy, struggling man with quixotic ideals, and certainly a virgin.

Oh well, if not sexually savvy then someone who is loyal to only one person.

That is exactly why a lover with a devastated liver dying in front of the girl’s house whom he once adored has been such a hit among readers. This idea of the martyr lover has always been at the centre of our literature.

Masud Rana came to shatter that image: Why would someone drink to death for one woman, when out

Are you a Masud Rana at heart? in the world there are many more to know and love?

I can imagine what a stir this character must have created!

But the young generation of the period accepted the new format enthusiastically. Here was a man who broke away from the mould of a simpering fool.

There was always a need to have a hero who would not be the paradigm of virtue.

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Under the moonlight, Rana the gentleman took off the clothes of his ladies while futile ranting went on.

So many years later, I feel that all that opposition to the books actually helped in raising his profile as the wicked Bengali adventurer.

We all know that the forbidden always has more attraction.

To be honest, many guardians began reading these novels

I can imagine what a stir this character must have created! But the young generation of the period accepted the new format enthusiastically. Here was a man who broke away from the mould of a simpering fool.

There was always a need to have a hero who would not be the paradigm of virtue Obviously, guardians did not approve of the drinking, globetrotting, and womanising. So much was the social reaction that the writer, Qazi Anwar Hussain, ended in court. The allegation was that his books had gratuitous sex, violence which threatened the moral fibre of the young.

In the end, Rana came out victorious, just like in his fictional adventures.

surreptitiously.

Curiously, while movie goers could accept James Bond delivering sexually suggestive lines layered with mischief, they had difficulty digesting similar lines from our fictional spy.

Once again, that pseudo layer of conservatism comes to the fore!

For too long a time, we have been fed that the central character in a film or a novel needs to be almost

immaculate in character, meaning, he cannot drink, unless of course he is a spurned lover, cavorting with several women is out the question and the most important part -- he cannot be seen to be having a good time.

I am not wrong in stating that this stereotyped image subconsciously motivated and still motivates our real life actions and, is noticed fully in matrimonial adverts where the requirements align with the perfect picture of men presented in mainstream literature.

We don’t have a sex worker as a main heroine or a corrupt police officer as the hero. Do we ever think that, in real life, from separate angles, what is heroism can also be called morally reprehensible?

One corrupt official may be a villain to the eyes of those from whom he is taking the bribe, but is a hero to the girl for whom he is getting the diamond ring.

Right, coming to 2016, where does Masud Rana stand? Well, I will say, this is a series which will carry on as long as people harbor a desire to relive the adrenaline of the 70s and 80s.

These books do not trigger any social debate anymore; and why would they? In Indian soap operas that society loves to consume, one gets all forms of deviant items

imaginable.

How interesting, the guy who once created a storm for his open attitude may now be called a prude, compared against what we are fed by satellite TV. Masud Rana will carry on but it’s about time movies are made on his exploits. The first one, made in 1975, was much celebrated, with a young Sohel Rana portraying to the letter the spy who nonchalantly transgressed all social boundaries.

For Rana to thrive, a film is needed but definitely not by amateurs with a lot of cash to spend. If there is a movie then the writer, Qazi Anwar Hussain, has to be roped in with carte blanche given to a board of Masud Rana experts.

Lastly, some well-known film makers, Redwan Roni or Mostofa Sarwar Farooki could be asked to direct.

Well, I am a bit cynical so I’m not expecting much but please do not spoil the charm by giving us a ludicrous adaptation. No movies are better than lousy ones.

We will hold on to the Sohel Rana version and relive the thrills in our imagination where the world is saved not by suave 007 only, but sometimes by a “durdhorsho” (unconquerable) Bangladeshi called Masud Rana. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

DT

Business 15

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

INSIDE Ceramic makers for 60% SD on import to continue Ceramic manufacturers urged the government not to lower 60% supplementary duty (SD) on imported tiles, sanitary-ware, and tableware products. PAGE 16

Oil prices don’t need a Doha to rise Identifying the trough of an industry cycle is more art than science. But two signals usually stand out. First, it helps when competitors in a sector cease tearing each other apart. Secondly, look out for meaningful cuts in capital spending. If these two conditions are in place, then profitability and shareholder returns should begin to improve. PAGE 17

China could electrify global rechargeable car market Electric cars have their highest-profile prophet in US-based entrepreneur Elon Musk and their widest adoption in Norway, but China’s vast auto market will decide their worldwide future, experts say. PAGE18

Capital market snapshot: Sunday DSE Broad Index

4,338.2

-0.0% ▼

Index

1,057.5

-0.0% ▼

30 Index

1,663.5

-0.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

3,075.1 -26.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

84.6 -15.9% ▼

CSE All Share Index 13,335.4 30 Index Selected Index

-0.3% ▼

12,266.0

0.1% ▼

8,102.7

-0.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

195.0 -17.6% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

6.4 -18.9% ▼

Denim: Innovation and quality must for better prices n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi As Denim Expo is set to kick off today in the city, the local investors are looking to increase their global market share promoting own products.

This emerging Bangladesh industry has to compete with their global competitors in all aspects including design, innovation, quality and branding. Without these things better price is hard to get.

“Creating own brands and producing quality products with innovative designs are a must to secure better prices for denim products,” Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Limited, told the Dhaka Tribune during an exclusive interview.

He said the jeans manufacturers also have to explore the latest fashions and start manufacturing high-end products and create their own brands. He put emphasis on the research and development.

“Innovative designs and quality of products should be developed through research and development to produce the value-added products,” Mostafiz said. “The technical know-how about the trendy products is also a must.”

According to him, the country’s denim fabric manufacturers produce traditional fabrics used for basic products, and these fabrics cannot be used to produce denim as per the demands of global buyers and consumers.

“As a result, manufacturers

MD of Denim Expert Mostafiz Uddin working at his factory have to create value-added products with imported fabrics,” Denim Expert MD said.

He added if new investments are made for traditional basic products, it will create more competitions among the existing business.

“Since Bangladesh gradually enters into manufacturing highend jeans, the denim fabric manufacturers have to concentrate on production of standard fabrics to meet the demands and reduce dependency on import.”

About how Bangladesh can attract international buyers of denim products, Mostafiz emphasised that the country’s manufacturers will need to come out of the Dhaka-centric business, rather to engage representatives in branding their products and capacity.

“Most of our manufacturers do not have representatives in the

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buyer countries to make the buyers aware of their brands, while competitors are frequently visiting buyer offices to promote their products.”

Beside manufacturers’ promotional activities, Mostafiz thinks buyers also have a role to play in helping the manufacturers produce high-end products.

“If the buyers do not place orders for high-end products, it is very tough to produce the value-added products. That is why the buyers should place orders first in a small quantity to encourage and provide technical support first.”

Bangladesh faces a number of challenges in manufacturing quality jeans.

According to Denim Expert MD, insufficient supply of quality raw materials, especial quality fabrics, energy efficient washing and dye-

ing technology and meeting lead time are the key challenges for the Bangladesh denim industry.

Mostafiz also talked about the initiatives taken to use less natural resources in a denim factory.

“On sustainability of business, there is no alternative to consumption of less natural resources. For that purpose, I preserve rainwater and use it while introducing laser to designing a jeans that consumes less water and resource,” he said.

“We use rainwater for 90 days a year as we have a large water reservoir with a capacity of 32m gallons.

The stored water is used for dyeing and washing denim products.”

He said Denim Experts recycle 61 cubic metres of water from the dyeing and washing plants per hour and reuse the water for various purposes.

When asked that what local manufacturers need to do to brand their products, the denim expert said: “The buyers will come to your door is an old idea.

Manufacturers have to show their strength to produce quality products through display.”

He said for that purpose, there is no alternative to participating in expo across the globe.

Mostafiz said to show innovation of Bangladesh denim industry, they organise Bangladesh Denim Expo twice every year, which aims to share information and gather experience from the developed countries’ manufacturing high-end products. l

Fourth Bangladesh Denim Expo kicks off today n Tribune Business Desk The fourth “Bangladesh Denim Expo” will begin today to exhibit the latest jeans and other denim products to attract global buyers.

Denim Expert Limited, a Chittagong-based jeans and denim products manufacturers, will host the two-day mega show at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital.

The expo is aimed at showcasing the latest innovative designs of jeans to global retailers and learning about the latest trends of denim from foreign exhibitors.

The unique feature of this edition is that the expo ground will be decorated fully with jute to promote and introduce the once “Golden Fibre” of Bangladesh to the world

along with the Made in Bangladesh Denim, said the statement.

Through the display the visitors will get a clear idea about new denim products, trends and technologies and innovations. The visitors would also be able to realise the huge potential of using this sustainable and organic fiber, it added.

The aims of expo is to create a platform for the country’s denim manufacturers to show their strength to the global retailers, said CEO of the Expo Mostafiz Uddin.

In the exposition, six seminars will be held on different issues.

The panel discussants will share their experience about the industry that would help Bangladeshi manufacturers go on production of higher products.

A total of 49 companies, of which

37 foreign and 12 local, will participate in the exhibition. The organiser is expecting more turnout from apparel industry at home and abroad.

Currently, the industry has 26 denim fabric manufacturers with a total investment of $834 million.

It produces around 360 million yards per year to meet 45% to 50% of the total demand of 720 million yard for export yearly.

The country, however, needs to import 60% of denim fabric to meet the demand. l

DT

16

Business

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Ceramic makers for 60% SD on import to continue n Syed Samiul Basher Anik Ceramic manufacturers urged the government not to lower 60% supplementary duty (SD) on imported tiles, sanitary-ware, and tableware products.

They said the current rate is helpful in protecting local industry, and preventing import of substandard products from China and under-voicing.

Bangladesh Ceramic Wares Manufacturers Association (BCWMA) made the observation at a prebudget discussion with the National Board of Revenue yesterday.

NBR Member (VAT implementation) Jahangir Hossain chaired the meeting.

The Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act 2012, due to be effective from July 1, will reduce SD on imported ceramic tiles to 45% from 60% now, but will increase the duty on local production

to 45% from 15%.

The SD on imported ceramic sanitary ware and tableware will also be reduced to zero percent from 60%.

mand and export.

All these are mainly producing tableware, tiles and sanitary ware.

BCWMA General Secretary Irfan Uddin wants lowering of customs

New VAT and SD law will reduce SD on imported ceramic tiles to 45% from 60% now, but will increase the duty on local production to 45% from 15% SK Bashir Uddin of Akij Ceramics requested the authorities to completely withdraw SD on locally made ceramic tiles.

NBR member Jahangir Hossain said the country is going through a discriminatory rate of protection despite being a signatory to World Trade Organization agreement since January 1, 2005.

Currently, there are 58 local industries with a Tk7,000 crore investment which meet local de-

duty to 5% from 10% on import of different raw materials for ceramic goods.

Other demands from the association include reduction of regulatory duty to zero percent from 4% on import of printing ink required in the industry and rescheduling of tariff value to prevent under-invoicing during imports.

Reduction of SD on beverages Bangladesh Beverage Manufacturers Association at a separate

meeting demanded SD on locally produced soft drinks be lowered to 15% from 25%.

The Association’s president Md Harunur Rashid said it had become very difficult for them to survive due to the hike of SD, along with the VAT. Earlier in April 2014, the NBR increased the SD on local production of soft drinks to 25% from 15% to prevent abuse of reduced tax rate by some energy drink producers.

Currently, the total tax on beverages is 43.75% including 25% SD, 10% VAT and 4% AIT (advance income tax).

The beverage manufacturers said total tax on the products is 35% in India and 24% in Nepal compared to Bangladesh’s 43.75% that is highest in the world.

Jahangir Hossain said while the sector can pay Tk1,400 crore taxes a year, it is paying only Tk625 crore. l

Stocks inch down with poor trade n Tribune Report

Stocks closed marginally lower amid volatility, extending their losses for the second consecutive session yesterday with a poor turnover.

The market began on a negative note in the morning with indexes dipping, but recovered most losses on institutional buying support in the final hour, leading it to end flat.

The benchmark index DSEX was slightly down by 2 points to 4,338.

The Shariah index DSES witnessed a fractional loss of 0.5 points to 1,057. The blue chip comprising index DS30 fell by over 2 points to 1,663.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX ended at 8,102, losing 27 points.

The market continued to suffer lacklustre trading as the volume of trade in value declined further. The DSE turnover stood at Tk310 crore, down 26.2% over the previous session’s value. Almost all sectors ended flat. Textile was the highest gainer with a rise of marginally 0.7%, followed by food and allied 0.6%, pharmaceuticals 0.4% and banks 0.2%.

Among negative performers, engineering was the highest looser falling 1.5%, followed by non-banking financial institutions declined 0.8%, power 0.5% and telecommunications 0.09%. l

Air Arabia Deputy General Manager Mohsin Rana and Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan exchange papers after signing an MoU yesterday on being media partner of ‘Air Arabia Turkish Culture and Food Festival’ MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

DT signs MoU with Air Arabia, Artistry n Tribune Business Desk Artistry is going to organise “Air Arabia Turkish Culture and Food Festival” on May 7-9 at the Le Meridien in Dhaka.

The festival will feature Turkish food, and a cultural extravaganza which includes Turkish fashion show, Turkish belly dance, and

performances from Bangladeshi celebrities, said a press release.

High-profile government officials, prominent businessmen and other distinguished guests will attend the festival with celebrities making an appearance.

The Dhaka Tribune signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Arabia and Artistry yes-

terday to be media partner of the event.

Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Deputy General Manager of Air Arabia Mohsin Rana, Executive of Air Arabia MA Sunny, CEO of Artistry Partha Pratim and Business Development Director of Artistry Habib Schumon were present at the signing ceremony. l

Mannan wants Philippines to speed up process in BB heist issue n Asif Showkat Kallol State Minister for Finance and Planning AMA Mannan criticised the Philippines system as not being “sound” in returning the stolen money from Bangladesh Bank account with the US Federal Reserve.

He expressed his annoyance at the constantly changing decision of the Filipino authorities as to when the money could be sent back to Bangladesh.

“It seems that they are playing with us. First they said it could be returned soon, then said it would take time. Maybe it’s not intentional, it’s due to their system which may not be sound enough,” Mannan said at a discussion on the upcoming budget with editors and owners of newspapers and electronic media yesterday.

He said Dhaka is in onstant touch with Manila on the matter.

“I know the Bangladesh Bank officials are roaming around Manila, New York and Sri Lanka (to settle the issue).”

About prevention of such matter in future, the state minister for finance said the government was considering to undertake a reform initiative in the country’s banking sector.

The chairman of Philippines Senate said recently that they hoped to start the process to hand over the Bangladesh Bank funds so far recovered by June 30.

In February this year, $81m of Bangladesh Bank funds with the Federal Reserve System in New York were wired to bank accounts in Philippines on fake transaction advisories.

The money then found its way to the casino operators in the Southeast Asian country.

The country’s Anti-Money Laundering Commission, probing the case, initiated a court case, paving the way for handing over the money.

Another transfer advice for $20m was made in the name of a “fake” NGO in Sri Lanka, but it was stopped as the hackers misspelled the name of the NGO. Bangladesh formed a probe body led by former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammad Farashuddin, which already has filed its interim report.

Its findings are yet to be made public. Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the media recently that the government would brief the media once the full report is in. l

DT

17

Business

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Oil prices don’t need a Doha to rise n Edward Chancellor Identifying the trough of an industry cycle is more art than science.

But two signals usually stand out.

First, it helps when competitors in a sector cease tearing each other apart. Secondly, look out for meaningful cuts in capital spending. If these two conditions are in place, then profitability and shareholder returns should begin to improve.

This framework is useful for understanding recent developments in the oil industry, which has experienced a savage downturn over the past couple of years. Over the weekend, when OPEC members met in Doha, it looked for a moment as if oil-producing nations had come to their senses. Those talks fell apart. Still, cuts in energy investment have been so severe of late that Doha’s failure probably won’t make much difference. If that’s the case, the recovery in the oil market which began earlier this year is set to continue.

At first glance, conditions in the energy industry appear ripe for cooperation. Cartels typically become effective when competition is seen to have harmful consequences. There’s no doubt that major oil producers are suffering.

Venezuela is teetering at the edge of fiscal and social collapse. George Soros expects Russia to default next year. Even Saudi Arabia has been downgraded by the credit-rating agencies.

Just because it makes sense for OPEC to impose some discipline on the oil market doesn’t make cooperation inevitable. Sectarian rivalries have long trumped rational behavior among Middle Eastern protagonists. The immediate consequence of the failed Doha talks

An old fuel pump is seen in a closed up petrol station in Gropello Cairoli near Pavia

REUTERS

day, the Saudis may be operating at near full capacity. They threaten to crush the oil market with further increases in production. But this looks like a bluff.

Nor is it clear that any other of the top oil producers is in a position to meaningfully boost production.

Both Iran and Iraq have dilapidated infrastructure which requires further investment if oil exports are to increase. Libya, Venezuela and Nigeria are engulfed in political turmoil. In these countries, outages are more likely than increased oil production.

Outside OPEC, both Russian and Chinese oil output may have peaked. The same is true for peripheral producers from the North

Sea to Kazakhstan. Speaking at a Grant’s Conference in New York on April 13 an experienced energy investor argued that oil output from OPEC and other non-US producers will be flat this year. This sounds plausible.

The real supply crunch is coming from the United States, where the fall in the oil price has led to massive investment cuts. The number of active oil rigs has fallen 75% from its peak. Having gorged on cheap credit during the bull years, a third of US energy producers are now facing bankruptcy, according to Deloitte. Recoveries are set to be poor: Goodrich Petroleum has just filed for Chapter 11 protection citing liabilities 10 times great-

was a fall in the oil price – Brent dipped sharply before settling down 2.5% on Monday.

So much for cooperation. But what about the oil industry’s supply side? Industry downturns are perpetuated when producers respond to falling prices by raising output. For instance, when the oil price collapsed in the mid-1980s, Saudi Arabia boosted output by around 5 million barrels of oil a day. The intention was to maintain the kingdom’s revenue in the face of falling prices. It could do that because back then the Saudis had plenty of spare capacity.

This time is different. Having ramped up production last year by around half a million barrels per

er than assets. Bankers are naturally wary of increasing exposure to this sector and the bond markets are likely to remain closed. Hundreds of thousands of workers in the US oil patch have been laid off.

In a strong labour market, they will be difficult to rehire if the industry ever picks up.

There’s a fear that a large number of drilled but uncompleted wells, or “DUCs,” threaten an overhang to the American oil market. But their number – down by a third in the last six months – is declining fast.

This April, shale-oil production fell by more than 100,000 barrels per day in the United States.

A recent report by McAlinden Research Partners expresses the position of the US oil industry succinctly: “The drastic reductions in E&P (exploration and production) spending, widespread job cuts, large-scale capping of oil wells, idle wells, decreasing yields from old wells, plus fewer drilling of new wells will shrink oil service capacity so much that future demand growth will not have adequate support. The ensuing supply shortage could force oil prices as high as double what they are today.”

Arguments that low oil prices are the “new normal” look mistaken. Capital-cycle analysis, which focuses on changes to an industry’s supply side, suggests a more bullish prognosis for oil. Forget OPEC. Around the world, oil investment has collapsed. Global energy production is set to fall. Having troughed in January, the oil price is heading upwards. l Edward Chancellor is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The article was initially published at Reuters.

China seizes biggest share of global exports in almost 50 years n Reuters, Shanghai Chinese exporters have found a silver lining in weak global demand by seizing market share from their competitors - good news for China but an expansion that is aggravating trade tensions.

China’s proportion of global exports rose to 13.8% last year from 12.3% in 2014, data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment shows, the highest share any country has enjoyed since the United States in 1968.

The success belies widespread predictions rising costs for Chinese labour and a currency that has increased nearly 20% against the dollar in the last decade would cause China to lose market share to cheaper competitors.

Instead, China’s manufacturing

infrastructure built during the country’s industrial rise of recent decades is keeping exports humming and providing the basis for firms to produce higher-value products.

“China cannot be replaced,” said Fredrik Guitman, formerly China general manager for a Danish maker of silver products, adding that reliable delivery times were more important than price. “If they say 45 days, it will be 45 days.”

Still, even as Chinese firms compete in more sophisticated product lines, they are unloading overstocked inventory from entrenched industrial overcapacity in sectors like steel, an irritant in global trading relationships. The United States and seven other countries this week called for urgent action to address a steel supply glut that many blame on China.

At the same time, China’s imports

from other countries fell sharply - down over 14% in 2015 - leading some economists to suggest China was deploying an “import substitution” strategy that is pushing foreign brands out of its domestic markets.

On Wednesday, Beijing rolled out fresh measures to support machinery exports, including tax rebates, and encouraged banks to lend more to exporters. Machinery and mechanical appliances make up the biggest portion of China’s exports.

Such policies may not be welcomed in the United States, where Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has called for 45% tariffs on Chinese imports - a message that appears to resonate with American voters.

The risk is that the Chinese firms successfully moving up the value chain will see their overseas profits

destroyed by a trade war if Trump’s ideas find place in policy.

Advantage

Chinese firms’ tenacity in overseas markets is largely built on the country’s investment in a massive and integrated supply chain infrastructure, which makes them faster and more reliable to foreign companies that outsource all or some of their production.

“Reliability and speed is more important than price,” Guitman said. “An out-of-stock product will hurt much more than a slightly higher price.”

This manufacturing playground is allowing companies that make their own original goods to tinker with their products and branch out.

“China’s export structure may not be as sophisticated as that of

high-income economies, but with a better educated labour force and increasing investment in innovation, the country’s products are now generally of a higher unit value and require more skilled labour,” HSBC economists said in a report.

Critics say much of China’s move up the value chain has been the result of pressure on foreign firms to transfer technology combined with a systematic and sustained campaign of industrial espionage targeting foreign technology.

The legions of mid-sized Chinese companies that now make drones, high-tech labels, smart home devices, and wind power equipment may lack the cachet of Chinese social media firms like Tencent, but they are a far greater combined threat to complacent foreign competitors, analysts say. l

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Fed seen holding rates this week with hike still on horizon n Reuters, New York US Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to hold interest rates steady when they meet this week, but may tweak their description of the economic outlook to reflect more benign conditions, leaving the path open for future rate rises.

The Fed raised its policy interest rate last December for the first time in a decade when market volatility finally subsided in the wake of a scare over China’s economy.

Similarly early this year markets wobbled on worries about a slowdown in global economic growth and weak US corporate earnings, leading to expectations for further Fed rates rises to be revised down, so Fed policymakers may be wary of this week sending too strong a message of an imminent policy tightening.

Many Fed officials remain

spooked by the steep stock market drop earlier this year and by weak first-quarter US economic data.

Concrete signs of higher inflation and growth may be needed before the FOMC, the Fed’s policy committee, continues with the projected gradual path toward more normal levels of interest rates.

Though the US economy is generating jobs and consumer prices have risen, providing support for a Fed interest rate rise, weakness in retail sales and international trade, as well as concern about China’s economy, are among reasons Fed Chair Janet Yellen will stay cautious about further rate hikes before the second half of the year.

Markets have already anticipated such an approach, seeing no chance of a rate increase at this week’s meeting on April 26-27 of the Federal Open Market Commit-

tee (FOMC), and are pricing in just a one in five chance of a move at the next meeting on June 14-15.

Reuters polling of market participants sees two rate hikes this year.

“I don’t think they can pull off a June hike without triggering another round of volatility, and they don’t want that because the selloff in January and February left a deep scar,” Aneta Markowska, chief US economist at Societe Generale, said in New York.

“The FOMC can’t go too hawkish overnight because markets aren’t pricing in anything close to that.”

Last week the European Central Bank held its policy rates at historic lows and while the Fed is also set to stand pat for now, its policymakers will not stay silent for too long as markets are pricing in barely one rate hike this year, compared with the Fed’s view that two will proba-

China could electrify global rechargeable car market pert with consultancy EY, predicted that by 2020, up to 750,000 electric cars will be sold in China every year.

“China is perhaps the one place in the world where the automobile industry can achieve the economy of scale needed to bring down costs,” he said.

‘Chicken and egg’

BYD’s hybrid electric car Yuan is displayed on a stage at BYD Dreamcast conference in Beijing, China REUTERS

n AFP, Beijing Electric cars have their highest-profile prophet in US-based entrepreneur Elon Musk and their widest adoption in Norway, but China’s vast auto market will decide their worldwide future, experts say.

Top global brands will be fighting it out to electrify buyers at China’s premier car show opening Monday in Beijing.

The country is already the world’s largest auto market and took the number one spot for electric models last year, with some 247,000 “zero emission” cars sold - quadruple the number in 2014 according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

So far only around one percent of cars owned in China are electric, but authorities are pushing them as a potential solution to the country’s crippling air pollution health crisis.

The central government gives

buyers subsidies of up to 55,000 yuan ($8,500) for each car and electric vehicles are exempt from traffic restrictions in China’s congested major cities.

While electric cars are becoming more popular worldwide, particularly high-end brands like Tesla, their hefty price tags and restricted driving range mean they are still only a niche market.

Their evolution has been mainly state-subsidised, as in Norway, which has the world’s highest penetration at 17% of new sales in 2015.

But experts say winning even a small chunk of Chinese sales which totalled 24.6 million last year - could be a game-changer for electric cars.

“Given the size of the market, it would be a powerful driver” at a global level, Flavien Neuvy, auto expert at Observatoire Cetelem, told AFP. Jean-Francois Belorgey, an ex-

Laurent Petizon, a specialist on the auto market with AlixPartners, added: “If there is a market where electric (cars) can hit enough of a critical mass that batteries will start to be reasonable in terms of price, it’s China.”

China’s government aims to have at least five million rechargeable cars on the roads by 2020.

But Ben Scott, an expert in electric cars with IHS, said that target looked “quite optimistic”.

“The incentives and subsidies that are being offered to consumers right now will be eventually phased out and will stop by the year 2020,” he said.

“We’re still in the very early days of the electric car market in China,” he added, explaining that recharging infrastructure remained in its infancy, in a “classic chicken and egg problem”.

Several Chinese manufacturers already produce electric vehicles, including the domestic market leader BYD, which also makes the Denza brand in a joint venture with Daimler.

France’s Renault plans to release its Fluence ZE in China in 2017, and PSA group will be showing a unique C-Elysee electric sedan at the Beijing show that is also due to be released next year. l

bly be appropriate.

“Next meeting” seen unlikely

Last October, when stock markets had recovered from a sharp selloff and as fears of a slowdown in China’s economy were receding, the Fed specifically cited the “next meeting” as possible for a policy move. In December they followed through, raising rates for the first time since 2006.

Fast forward to April this year and the Fed is experiencing deja vu.

After a volatile couple of months, stocks have rebounded and financial conditions have eased as expectations for China’s economy again improved. The S&P 500 index has recovered by some 15% in two months while China’s economy grew at 6.7% in the first quarter.

But this time, that’s not enough.

While Fed officials want to keep the path clear to a rate rise in June, re-

peating their aggressive pitch for a rate rise of last October will likely be a bridge too far, given that a rise in inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target is seen unlikely.

The reading on first-quarter US gross domestic product growth will be published the day after the Fed meeting this week.

One way for the Fed to nudge skeptical traders into changing their outlook without roiling markets would be to acknowledge the recent improvement in financial conditions, including near-record US equity prices and a weaker US dollar, by dropping or toning down its warning in March that global economic and financial developments “continue to pose risks.”

The Fed could also rewrite its characterization of the uncertainty surrounding its forecasts, signaling risks are more balanced. l

CORPORATE NEWS

The annual conclave of ACI Crop Care 2016 was recently held in Cox’s Bazar, said a press release. Managing director of ACI Formulations Ltd, Shusmita Anis was present on the occasion

NBP (Bangladesh Operations) has recently ogranised a training session on online foreign exchange transaction monitoring, said a press release. Joint director at foreign exchange operation department of Bangladesh Bank, Mohammad Anisur Rahman was present on the occasion along with Md Quamruzzaman, country manager of NBP (Bangladesh Operations)

Etihad Airways Partners’ $700mn landmark finance transaction in 2015 has recently been recognised with a third key international award after being named Innovative Deal of the Year by the prestigious publication, Airfinance Journal, said a press release

| offer |

Cilantro’s mixed platter for two

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Biz Info

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

| event |

Tastes of China at the Westin Dhaka

If there’s one cuisine that is most loved by Bengalis aside from our own, it has got to be Chinese. This is precisely why the Westin Dhaka will be celebrating the Chinese Year of the Monkey by flying in three culinary artists – chef Li from St Regis Chengdu, chef Wang and

chef Ding from Beijing.

Sizzle your tastebuds with exotic Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine from the northern, southern and western provinces of China from April 25-30 at Seasonal Tastes.

For reservations call 9891988. l

| celebration | Ever been on a date where you wanted to be extra romantic and look for something substantial and delicious you can share with your significant other, but the options on the menu were slim pickings? Cilantro has come up with the perfect answer with their mixed platter for two, which

offers a great combination of most of the popular items on their menu.

Cilantro specialises in Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine, and the harmony of spices such as cumin, coriander, paprika etc, promises to live up to customers’

expectations. With a magnificent crew in the kitchen, a stunning environment and a highly detailed interior, Cilantro tries to provide the ultimate dining experience for its daily visitors and its clientele.

Their most called upon item this month is this mixed platter for two, priced at Tk1,495. l

Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden celebrates Earth Day

| offer |

Hakka Dhaka’s vegetarian offer

Meatless and flavourful, HAKKA DHAKA’s new vegetable platter is also loved by non-vegetarians. Take your taste buds on a new veggie experience and try out all Hakka Dhaka’s best vegetable dishes all together as a special platter. The full platter costs Tk2,000 and serves four. The offer is available till April 30, only at the Uttara outlet. l

Following tradition, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden strode with pride on Earth Day this year, celebrated on April 22 by more than a billion people across the globe. Recently upgraded to being silver certified

by EarthCheck, the hotel has continued its momentum to build an eco-friendly abode for its valued guests by raising various awareness programs and implementing carbon remission activities. Tree plantation, double side printing, re-using linen, rain water harvesting and recycling vegetable waste are a few of the many steps which are executed by the hotel on a regular basis.

Committed to becoming better stewards of the environment, Earth Day was lined with a string of activities which consisted of heads of departments replacing halogen bulbs with LED bulbs (1,393 50W Halogen bulbs were substituted by 5W LED bulbs

which will result in power savings of Tk173,084.40 per month), busy bee cleaning spree, reduced usage of heavy machineries and a unique contest where guests and employees were encouraged to submit ideas which were put up on an idea board. The best idea swept away a grand prize of an extravagant dinner for two at the hotel’s popular Water Garden Brasserie, won by a guest.

“Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden is an exemplary for green initiatives and continues to inspire with groundbreaking ideas for honouring our planet and raising awareness,” stated Christoph Voegeli, general manager. “Earth Day is just one day, let’s all make greener choices everyday which will indeed make a notable difference in the long run.”

For more information, please visit their Facebook page or call directly at +88 02 9834555. l

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Downtime

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Break suddenly (4) 4 Swift (5) 9 Sailor (3) 11 Window glass (4) 12 Abnormally fat (5) 13 Liquid measure (4) 14 Celtic tongue (4) 15 Fragrance (5) 19 Inactive (5) 21 Matured (4) 25 Hairless (4) 26 Sky coloured (5) 28 Egg-shaped (4) 29 Worthless dog (3) 30 Held principle (5) 31 Curve (4)

DOWN 1 Put away (4) 2 Seize suddenly (3) 3 Field of conflict (5) 5 Become visible (6) 6 Couple (4) 7 Taverns (4) 8 Discourage (5) 10 Wicked spirit (5) 16 Enigma (6) 17 Decoration (5) 18 French clog (5) 20 Suspension of fighting (5) 22 Donated (4) 23 Dash (4) 24 Company of cattle (4) 27 Cricket score (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 20 represents B so fill B every time the figure 20 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

INSIDE

A YEAR AFTER NEPAL QUAKE: CHILD LABOUR, CHILD BRIDES, HOMELESS KIDS THROUGH INSTAGRAM

PTI sees #PanamaPapers as 2nd chance to oust Pakistan PM Sharif

Children and young girls remain among the most vulnerable, one year after Nepal’s massive earthquake. A quarter of those killed — some 2,000 — were under 10 years old. And for those who survived, life is still a challenge. Dhaka Tribune showcases some of them through the Instagram pictures of Saša Petricic, a Canadian journalist

Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan is leading a party rally on Sunday to rail against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, seizing on the Panama Papers leak linking Sharif’s family with offshore wealth as a second chance to unseat the leader.

Hundreds of thousands of children in Nepal are homeless. Many of these kids have spent months in tent cities, under sheets of corrugated metal, or sleeping out in the open

For 19-year-old Bagwar Gdadji and her daughter, home is a 'temporary' tent in a dusty lot in Kathmandu. Her baby was born just hours before the April 25, 2015 earthquake destroyed their house. She and her husband can’t afford to re-build, or even rent anywhere else, so they’ve been here for a year now

In a nearby tent, Mondu Sunam struggles to take care of her disabled grandson, seven-year-old Prince. He needs medical attention and physiotherapy, neither of which are available in the camp

Water is available in the camp, since it is in the middle of the capital, Kathmandu.

But for many children in the countryside, getting water means a two or three hour walk to the nearest working well. Many village wells have dried up or were contaminated after the earthquake

Even before the earthquake, child marriage was a big problem here. Since last April, it has become more common as some parents seek a husband to support the daughters they can’t. In the hard-hit district of Sindhupalchowk, aid group Plan International runs a programme for girls and young women, to warn them of the dangers of sexual abuse, forced marriages and human trafficking

Sexual assault is also a rising threat in the upheaval after the quake. A 17-year-old woman who wants to be called ‘Grisma’ was raped shortly after the earthquake by an older man from a nearby village. Grisma is now pregnant and under social pressure to marry her rapist

Children works 11 hours a day, six days a week shoveling mud in brick kilns on the outskirts of Kathmandu for about $0.40 an hour. The pressure is great on families who have lost everything in the earthquake to make money however possible

Others work the streets of Kathmandu, selling cotton candy amid the rubble.

Children rebuild their lives, as Nepal tries to rebuild itself.

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The Indian lady who mounted legal campaign against triple talaq ritual On the advice of her family, the 35-year-old is using her case as a plank to challenge the triad of instantaneous triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat), polygamy and halala (a practice where divorced women, in case they want to go back to their husbands, have to consummate a second marriage).

PAGE 23

20-year mystery of type 1 diabetes solved One of the last remaining questions as to the mechanics of type 1 diabetes has finally been answered by scientists. A team of researchers from the University of Lincoln, England, discovered the fifth primary target attacked by the immune systems of those with the rarer of the two diabetes forms.

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Imran Khan, centre, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, addresses supporters during a 2014 rally REUTERS

INSIGHT

PTI sees #PanamaPapers as 2nd chance to oust Pakistan PM Sharif n Reuters, Islamabad Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan is leading a party rally on Sunday to rail against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, seizing on the Panama Papers leak linking Sharif’s family with offshore wealth as a second chance to unseat the leader.

Former cricket hero Khan, who staged protests in Islamabad for months in 2014 over alleged electoral fraud, has threatened to call new demonstrations for Sharif’s resignation, saying this month the prime minister has lost the “moral authority to rule”.

Khan aides insist the government is wobbling and it is time to strike. Critics, however, say Khan may be overplaying his hand for the second time.

“We demand the resignation of the prime minister on moral grounds,” said Shafqat Mahmood, a senior leader of Khan’s party.

This month, leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama showed Sharif’s sons Hassan and Hussain, and daughter Maryam, owned at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which studied the papers, said those companies had engaged in at least $25m in property and acquisition deals.

Sharif said his children have done nothing wrong - he gave in to opposition demands for a Supreme Court appointed inquiry commission on Friday and said he would resign if it found wrongdoing - but opponents accuse the family of using the tax haven to launder stolen money and dodge taxes.

The ruling party has dismissed Khan’s threat of fresh protests and says the 2014 demonstrations against electoral rigging had also damaged Khan’s credibility after election tribunals ruled that the 2013 poll was largely free and fair.

Accountability

Sharif was left weakened by Khan’s previous protests, which the army helped Sharif ride out in exchange for control of security and foreign policy, areas Pakistan’s generals have long considered to be their domain.

But to have any realistic chance of displacing Sharif, he will have to have the backing of the powerful military.

The army has not commented publicly on Khan’s new threat of protests, but on Tuesday, the army chief, arguably the country’s most powerful man, spoke out against corruption in general.

“Across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan,” General Raheel Sharif said while addressing a military function.

But while the military may have seen Khan as useful in the previous protests, by putting pressure on the civilian government and enabling the army to convince it to fall into line with its wishes, the generals also see him as a nuisance for seeking to end the fight against the Pakistani Taliban and negotiate peace.

Few believe that Khan has won over the generals, and without the military’s backing there is little chance Khan will succeed in dethroning Nawaz Sharif.

“Right now, someone should tell Imran Khan that one Sharif is not ready to quit and the other Sharif is not ready to take over,” Pakistan’s weekly The Friday Times, wrote in an editorial, referring respectively to the prime minister and army chief. l

World

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PORTRAYAL

SOUTH ASIA

The Indian lady who mounted legal campaign against triple talaq system n Tribune International Desk The photograph of the bride in her wedding finery, her hazel eyes peering into the camera, bears little resemblance to Shayara Banu of today. The wedding album titled ‘Romantic Moments’ also features photographs of a two-wheeler, household furniture, utensils and jewellery that were given away at the time of the wedding.

For the last 15 years of her marriage, she says, her greatest dread has been the word talaq being uttered thrice by her husband Rizwan Ahmed. Last year in October, while she was at her parents’ home in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, her fears came true: Rizwan sent her the talaq-nama (divorce papers) from Allahabad.

On the advice of her family, the 35-year-old is using her case as a plank to challenge the triad of instantaneous triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat), polygamy and halala (a practice where divorced women, in case they want to go back to their husbands, have to consummate a second marriage). Her petition in the Indian Supreme Court makes no mention of the contentious Uniform Civil Code, neither does it ask for codification of the Muslim Personal (Shariat) Act. She has sought equality before law and protection against discrimination on the basis of her gender and religion.

Her mother Feroza Begum says the emotional and physical battering turned Shayara into a bundle of nerves. Until last year, she says, her daughter never uttered a word about her agony, not even about how he allegedly tried to throttle her once. “Shayara had lost her mind with all that stress. We got her treated after she came here,” says Feroza.

Last year in April, when her condition deteriorated, Rizwan sent her to her parents’. She was told that she could return once she recovered entirely.

“As I regained my health slowly, I would call him and ask him to come take me back but he didn’t want me to come and wouldn’t let me speak with my children either,” she says. She waited restlessly for six months, and it was then that the talaq-nama (divorce letter) came.

Rizwan denies having ever beaten Shayara, though he admits to keeping her away from her relatives as he “didn’t want anything to do with them”. He also admits to the multiple abortions. Vasectomy and tubectomy, he says, are considered to be “bahut haram” (forbidden). “I have given her talaq the way Shariat and Hadith allow me

DT

World

8 killed as golf ball hailstones, storms lash Myanmar Violent storms which saw hailstones the size of golf balls rain down across Myanmar have killed at least eight people in recent days, toppled pagodas and damaged thousands of buildings, officials said Sunday. The freak storms struck across five states on Friday and Saturday after weeks of heatwave temperatures regularly topping 40 degrees Celsius.

-AFP

INDIA

Chief justice makes emotional appeal for more judges Shayara Banu, who mounted legal challenge against Muslim triple talaq, polygamy and halala systems

INDIAN EXPRESS

THE LEGACY OF 1986 SHAH BANO CASE Ü In 1986, 60-year-old Shah Bano went to court asking maintenance from her husband who had divorced her.

The court ruled in her favour. Shah Bano was entitled to maintenance from her ex-husband under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (with an upper limit of Rs500 a month) like any other Indian woman. Ü A voluble Muslim orthodoxy deemed the verdict an attack on Islam and mounted a huge campaign condemning the verdict. Ü The then Congress-led Government, caved in under the pressure of the orthodoxy and enacted the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. The most controversial provision of the Act was that it gave a Muslim woman the right to maintenance for the period of iddat (about three months) after the divorce, and shifted the onus of maintaining her to her relatives or the Indian Wakf Board (a statutory body which protects and looks after the interests of the Muslim community.) Ü Rights groups termed the law discriminatory as it denied divorced Muslim women the right to basic maintenance which women of other faiths had recourse to under secular law. Ü Thirty-one years after the Supreme Court urged the government in the Shah Bano case to frame a uniform civil code, a two-judge bench in October 2015 suo moto ordered registration of a public interest litigation suit. Ü A bench of the Indian Supreme Court sought responses from the attorney generaland the National Legal Services Authority of India on whether “gender discrimination” suffered by Muslim women should not be considered a violation of fundamental rights. Ü The bench was hearing a matter related to succession when it said it is time to focus on rights of Muslim women.

The judges asked for the case to be placed before the chief justice of India to constitute a bench. It is now being heard with Shayara Bano case.

Sources: THE HINDU, INDIAN EXPRESS to. I cannot take her back now, it will be against the Shariat. It is not good to go against what the religion has prescribed,” says Rizwan over the phone from Allahabad.

The family first met Supreme Court advocate Balaji Srinivasan for inter-state transfer of a case filed by Rizwan at the Allahabad family court. “In the meantime, her husband sent her the talaq-nama by post, which then became the basis of her writ petition,” says Srinivasan.

In her petition, she has challenged ‘instantaneous triple talaq’ and not triple talaq itself, which is allowed by the Qur’an as long as the three utterances are spread over 90 days. There have been PILs filed by NGOs and individuals in the Supreme Court but, he says, those didn’t stand as they weren’t filed by an affected party or because they pleaded that Uniform Civil Code be introduced. Shayara’s is the first such case where

a Muslim woman has challenged a personal practice citing fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, allows Indian Muslims to be governed by the Shariat. The absence of codification has legally allowed community leaders to hold the practices as sacrosanct. The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, however, codifies a woman’s right to seek divorce by approaching the court.

If the court rules in her favour, holding triple talaq to be null and void, she will be faced with taking a call on whether she wants to go back to Allahabad. “I might go back, for the sake of my children, that is, if he shows an inclination to change,” she says.

Her family, however, is more determined. Their objection is to the manner in which her husband divorced her and not to the divorce itself. Her mother says that if the

apex court holds her triple talaq to be invalid, they will approach the court to seek divorce through the legal route. Her father says, “A person who has brought her to this state, kept her like a prisoner all these years, why go back to him?

But I always leave it to my children to take the final call.”

On her part, Shayara’s lowpitched voice wavers throughout as she talks about her past or her uncertain future. The only time it takes on a resolute tone is when she talks about the present. “Shah Bano got a ruling in her favour from the Supreme Court but it was later overturned by the government, denying divorced Muslim women their right to maintenance.

Had her case been a success, it would have been one battle less for us,” says Shayara. l

[This is an excerpt of an Indian Express article, which can be found at http:// bit.ly/1rsm74H]

India’s chief justice on Sunday made a rare and emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the number of judges to handle an “avalanche” of backlogged cases.

T S Thakur, who took over as chief justice last year, spoke of the enormous workloads of judges who were struggling to clear an ever-growing amount of litigation in India’s notoriously slow legal system.

-AFP

CHINA

Xi warns of foreign infiltration through religion China must be on guard against foreign infiltration through religion and stop extremists spreading their ideology, President Xi Jinping told a top-level meeting on managing religion. China must also manage the Internet to promote the Communist Party’s religious theories and policies, the official news agency cited Xi as saying.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

UN urges Thailand to roll back military’s powers The top UN human rights official called on Thailand on Friday to suspend dangerously sweeping powers handed to the military and he encouraged dialogue on a draft constitution the military hopes will win approval in an August referendum. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement extending the military’s powers was not the answer to rebuilding Thailand’s political landscape.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Obama: Sending troops to Syria would be mistake US President Barack Obama warned Sunday that it would be a ‘mistake’ to send Western troops into Syria to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. In an interview with the BBC, he said the US would continue strikes against the Dae’sh while continuing efforts to broker a transition deal between the Assad regime and his moderate Syrian opponents.

-REUTERS

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USA

NJ school board member quits over anti-Muslim comments A New Jersey school board member resigned on Friday after drawing fire for anti-Muslim Facebook posts, including saying, “America needs to get rid of people like you,”. Gladys Gryskiewicz, Elmwood Park Board of Education member, had come under pressure to step down after attention was drawn to the posts on her personal Facebook account.

-REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Death toll rises to 654 in Ecuador The death toll from last week’s magnitude-7.8 earthquake that flattened towns along Ecuador’s coast has risen to 654 with another 58 people missing, the government said Saturday. The website of the secretariat for risk management said that 113 people had been rescued alive following the quake and more than 25,000 people remained in shelters.

-AP

UK

Anti-EU campaigners in UK urge France’s Le Pen to stay away Leaders of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU says the government should ban French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from coming to the UK to support the cause. Le Pen’s National Front party says she plans to travel to Britain before the June 23 referendum on EU membership. She backs a British exit, and wants France to hold a similar referendum.

-AP

EUROPE

Migrants seek new routes into Balkans After weeks stranded at a closed border in northern Greece, migrants and refugees are seeking out new, irregular routes to get into Macedonia, clambering through forests and over hills under the cover of darkness. It was roughly a 20km, or four hour walk from Idomeni, a sprawling tent city hosting thousands of refugees and migrants stranded by a cascade of border shutdowns throughout the Balkans in February.

-REUTERS

AFRICA

South African President arrives in Iran South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in Iran on Sunday to strengthen political, trade and investment ties after crippling international sanctions against the Islamic Republic were lifted earlier this year. Iranian media said the two countries signed eight agreements on cooporation in areas including trade, industries, investments, agriculture, water resources and oil industry research and development.

-REUTERS

ANALYSIS

Must Republicans choose between Trump or chaos? n Tribune International Desk New York surrendered utterly to Donald Trump and you’d think that might leave him with nothing to grumble about.

But no, even after the biggest of his primary wins he still would not allow his gripes the night off.

“It’s a crooked system, it’s a system that’s rigged,” he said in victory. “No one can take an election away, with the way they’re doing it in the Republican Party.”

He often grouses about “rigged” or “stolen” votes when things don’t go right for him. That’s his way. He did it after Iowa, Colorado and Wyoming. He even admits, “I only complain about the ones where we have difficulty.”

But this was different, and not just because it followed a winning night. It shines a light on how things could unfold for the Republicans when they get to their convention in Cleveland in July.

Delegate slots not same as delegates

Consider what happened in Georgia.

Trump won the Georgia primary on the first day of March, Super Tuesday. He got 39% of the vote and 42 delegates, so end of story, right?

Sorry. What really happened

Donald Trump greets supporters after a campaign rally in Connecticut REUTERS was that Trump got 39% of the vote and 42 delegate slots. Just the slots, not the delegates.

There was another round of voting at the county level in Georgia this past weekend to fill those delegate slots that Trump won, and guess what? A number of the Trump slots went to Ted Cruz supporters instead. Others still went to John Kasich’s people.

All those delegates will vote for Trump on the first ballot, but otherwise they’ll vote for Kasich or Cruz if they get the chance.

They’ll also vote on the rules that will govern the convention, which might not help Trump either.

But it’s all fair and square. In fact, it’s the way delegates have been chosen for decades. That’s obviously not the case this time.

There’s a real fight for the nomination and when Trump said: “nobody should take delegates and claim victory unless they get

those delegates with voters and voting,” he meant delegates like those selected in Georgia on Saturday. Call them Trump SINOs –Supporters in Name Only.

SINO is a term coined by John Patrick Yob, a Republican operative who has written a book called, prophetically, CHAOS, The Outsiders Guide to a Contested Republican National Convention, 2016.

Unbound delegates

Yob has been watching the GOP disintegrate since about 2010 when the Tea Party wave crashed down on it and then rolled on into Congress.

He anticipated that the Tea Party would soon mount a presidential campaign and would so destabilise the Republican Party that a contested convention would be inevitable.

Yob began to think about the mechanics of how the campaign would unfold and to imagine what the nominating convention would

look like. He imagined it would look like chaos.

He didn’t add a self-funding celebrity billionaire populist into the mix at first, but, as he writes, that just “adds to the chaos.”

His book unpacks the rules of the caucuses, primaries and conventions and, ominously, finds that in some of the most important areas — whether delegates are truly “bound” to vote for a candidate, for instance — there really are no clear rules.

Chaos is what it claims to be: A good guidebook to how and why the 2016 nomination campaign unraveled and where all the unraveling will lead.

Reading it you might think that if any of the candidates understands what Yob understands it’s probably Ted Cruz.

Trump would realise that too, now. He denies that he’s been outplayed in the campaign ground game, but there’s no doubt that’s what’s happened.

Trump has brought in a new campaign manager to shore up his ground game, but it might already be too late. He could still gather what he needs to win a majority on the first ballot.

But if not, we’ve been warned. l

[This is an excerpt from a CBC article which can be found at http://bit. ly/21ara5A]

20-year mystery of type 1 diabetes solved n Tribune International Desk

One of the last remaining questions as to the mechanics of type 1 diabetes has finally been answered by scientists. A team of researchers from the University of Lincoln, England, discovered the fifth primary target attacked by the immune systems of those with the rarer of the two diabetes forms.

It is hoped that the findings could aid the development of more effective treatments and preventative measures for the disease.

The full results of the study have been published in the journal Diabetes.

In patients with type 1 diabetes, their body’s own immune system mounts an attack on insulin-producing beat cells, ultimately destroying them and preventing the production of insulin. This in turn makes it impossible for the body to control blood sugar levels without intervention, in the form of insulin injections and other treatment.

Existing research into the disease showed that there were five critical targets attacked by the immune systems in those with type 1 diabetes. However, identifying all five targets proved to be a significant challenge – the fifth and final being the most elusive of all.

While some of the targets were identified decades ago, researchers have been looking for the fifth target for over 20 years.

“With this new discovery, we have now finished identifying what the immune system is targeting – we have the complete picture,” said lead researcher Dr Michael Christie in an interview.

According to the research team, the five targets attacked by the immune system in type 1 diabetes patients are Insulin, Glutamate decarboxylase, IA-2, Zinc transporter-8 and the newly-discovered elusive fifth target, tetraspanin-7.

Experts have heralded the team’s efforts and spoken with high enthusiasm about the future

Diabetes Mellitus

[Type 1]

BIGSTOCK

of type 1 diabetes research.

“Once the immune system decides it wants to get rid of something it’s very hard to stop, so diabetes has proved to be a difficult disease to prevent,” Christie added.

“So we’re hoping that, by having identified the major targets in the disease, we can find ways

to prevent it by blocking the immune response to these five proteins without leaving that person vulnerable to infections,” “With recent improvements in our understanding of the disease I’m very hopeful we’ll develop a treatment now; I have a lot more confidence than even five years ago.” l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Fizz a bowling sensation, says Warner

INSIDE

n Agencies Taijul’s sixer saves Rupganj Taijul Islam’s last ball six ensured that his side Legends of Rupganj shared points with Victoria after their DPL match ended in a tie in BKSP. There was far less excitement in Mirpur and Fatullah where Mohammedan and Sk Jamal registered their maiden wins. PAGE 26

Siddikur 74th in Panasonic Open Siddikur Rahman concluded his Panasonic Open Golf Championship campaign in a meek fashion as he finished at 74th position, tied alongside two others, following the fourth and final round’s play yesterday at Chiba Country Club, Japan. PAGE 27

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Bangladeshi pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman in full flow during their Vivo Indian Premier League match against Kings XI Punjab in Hyderabad last Saturday BCCI

‘Cool, mysterious, inspiring’ Tigers speak highly of Mustafizur has been a problem but his bowln Minhaz Uddin Khan ing is doing all the talking.

Four-goal Suarez salutes Barca mates Luis Suarez paid tribute to team mates Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta after the pair helped him notch four goals for the second La Liga game in a row as Barcelona thumped Sporting Gijon 6-0. PAGE 28

Spurs ready to pounce on Foxes nerves Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham are ready to take advantage of any slips from leaders Leicester after being encouraged by his title chasing side’s recent form. Pochettino’s team produced a sublime display to win 4-0 at Stoke last Monday. PAGE 29

Mustafizur Rahman’s team mates in Dhaka are following him keenly as he sets the Indian Premier League on fire with his otherworldly skills with the ball. Taskin Ahmed, Abu Haider Rony and Al Amin Hossain have spent a lot of time together in matches, at practice or in the team hotel where fast bowlers are usually clubbed together in meetings and gym and training sessions.

After his latest man-of-thematch winning performance last Saturday for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kings XI Punjab where he bowled four very tight overs giving away nine runs and picking up two wickets, his Bangladesh team mates said they believed his bag of tricks with the ball is unique.

The performance in the IPL came on the day when he completed exactly one year in international cricket having made his Twenty20I debut against Pakistan in Mirpur on April 24 last year.

In his maiden IPL season, Mustafizur has already made his mark with seven wickets and an enviable economy of 5.75 per over. Communicating in English

According to Taskin, Mustafizur is still a mysterious bowler for opposition batsmen, and created a comfort for his team. Whenever he is in attack or has a few overs left to bowl, the team remain confident that the opponent batsmen won’t have much to do.

“Not only myself, but no one in the world have been able to read him. I have tried many times but it is not possible, to be honest. I want it to remain this way for him, he has been a key to Bangladesh’s success in the recent times and we want him to keep on doing that.

He has been sensational so far in the IPL. I feel proud that a Bangladeshi is earning the name,” Taskin told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Al Amin has shared only a little time in the dressing room with Mustafizur but every time they have been together, he felt the excitement and honour of playing alongside such a talented bowler.

“I feel proud as a Bangladeshi to have a bowler like Mustafizur, he has touched the sky within no time. To be honest he works as an inspiration to me. His success pushes me to better what I am do-

ing,” said Al Amin.

Haider, who is also a left-arm paceman like Mustafizur, said the key to his success is keeping pressure away. He also said he hardly misses any of Sunrisers’ matches because of his team mate.

“A bowler easily gets nervous after getting hit by the batsman, but Mustafizur doesn’t. He has always been like this and that is a big advantage for him. Most of the time we are having fun at the practice session but there are times when I try to learn things from him being a left-arm pacer, especially the slower balls.

“I believe his slowers are God-gifted and one cannot just learn it. It has come from within. I don’t see much of the IPL but I am not missing any of his games, he is exciting to watch,” said Haider.l

Mustafizur Rahman had already created waves in the international circuit after troubling some of the best Indian batsmen with his guile and bowling variations in the home series and Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

The good run only continued and the Indian Premier League callup was almost a no-brainer. In the Sunrisers Hyderabad set up, he has blended with ease among other bowlers and the results are there to be seen. Such has been his bowling prowess that even his own team mates are left puzzled while facing him at the nets.

“I had faced Fizz only for a couple of balls in the Twenty20 World Cup and then just faced two balls from him at the nets. He bowled a bouncer and a slower ball. The first one almost hit me in the head and the second one I didn’t get bat on,” David Warner told IPLT20.com explaining how tricky it is to face him. “He is a quality talent and obviously a very good bowler for Bangladesh and for us as well. He is bowling very well at the moment and sometimes it is quite hard to talk to him about fielding placements but I let him do that. That is the quality in him.”

For team mate Moises Henriques it was all about focus and concentration while facing the left-arm pacer.

“He is a world-class bowler. I had never seen him bowling live but I saw him bowl on TV during the T20 World Cup. As a batsman you can’t just sit there waiting for the slower ball because his fast one is still quick as we saw him bowling that quick yorker to Andre Russell. You’ve got to be watching really hard. He is not someone who is just slow either.

With some bowlers you can wait for their slower balls and then react to their quicker one which might not be as quick. But, Mustafizur is sharp with both and the batsman will have to watch hard.”

How does communication between the captain-bowler duo work on the field with Mustafizur comfortable speaking only Bangla? “It comes before the game - it is called Google translation.” l

BEST OF THE FIZZ Figure

Format

Match

Venue

Date

6/43

ODI

Bangladesh v India

Mirpur

21 June 2015

5/22

T20I

Bangladesh v NZ

Kolkata

26 March 2016

5/50

ODI

Bangladesh v India

Mirpur

18 June 2015

3/38

ODI

Bangladesh v SA

Mirpur

12 July 2015

2/9

T20

Sunrisers v Kings XI

Hyderabad

24 April 2016

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Taijul’s sixer saves Rupganj n Mazhar Uddin Taijul Islam’s last ball six ensured that his side Legends of Rupganj shared points with Victoria Sporting Club after their Dhaka Premier League match ended in a tie in BKSP yesterday. There was far less excitement in Mirpur and Fatullah where Mohammedan Sporting Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club registered their maiden wins over Brothers Union and Kalabagan Cricket Academy respectively.

Legends of Rupganj v Victoria Sporting Club

It was a cracker of a match at the BKSP-3 ground where Rupganj needed seven runs off the last ball, to be bowled by Kamrul Islam Rabbi. Taijul struck a brilliant straight six which tied the game. However, Rupganj were in all sorts of trouble in their pursuit of 315 and at one stage were struggling on 127/6 in 23.1 overs.

But skipper Mosharraf Hossain and Nahidul Islam struck fifties and added 109 runs for the seventh wicket. Mosharraf was out stumped by off-spinner Enamul Haque after scoring 88 off 96 balls with eight fours and a six while Nahidul added a quickfire 57 off 52 balls with two sixes and four boundaries. There were cameos thereafter from Alauddin Babu, Taijul and Abu Haider Rony, who also took five wickets when Victoria amassed 314-9 in 50 overs.

Al Amin smashed a magnificent 102 off 113 balls featuring eleven

fours and a six while opener Fazle Mahmud added 73 runs for the batting side.

Mohammedan Sporting Club v Brothers Union

In Mirpur, Mohammedan Sporting Club started their campaign with a 78-run win over Brothers Union.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Upul Tharanga and Nazmul Hossain Milon struck

BRIEF SCORES VICTORIA SC 314/9 (Al Amin 102, Fazle 73, Rony 5/52) tied with RUPGANJ 314/9 (Mosharraf 88, Nahidul 57, Enamul 3/52) KALABAGAN CA 152 (Muktar 4/19, Mahmudullah 2/20, Gazi 2/45) lost to SK JAMAL 153/2 (Mahbubul 78, Marshall 31*, Mahmudullah 21*) by eight wickets MOHAMMEDAN 285/6 (Mushfiqur 72, Milon 70*, Tharanga 70) beat BROTHERS 207 (Zakir 61, Subhashish 3/28, Habibur 2/22) by 78 runs half-centuries before Subhashish Roy took three wickets to help fashion the big win.

All three Mohammedan batsmen got out in the 70s, but it was Milon’s effort, 70 off 41 balls with five fours and four sixes, that accelerated their score to 285-6 in 50 overs after Mushfiqur and Tharanga had added 135 runs for the third wicket.

Mohammad Shahid and Asif Hasan took two wickets each, but the Brothers Union batsmen

‘Football Bachao’ panel announces manifesto n Tribune Report With the promise of change, the “Football Bachao” (Save Football) panel, opposition alliance of the Kazi Salahuddin-led combined panel, has released its manifesto at a city hotel yesterday ahead of the much awaited Bangladesh Football Federation election this Saturday.

The 19-member panel drafted 14 points in their manifesto against the combined panel’s 25.

Kamrul Ashraf Poton, standing

for the president’s post from the panel, never played in the professional level and is an unfamiliar name in the football arena.

However, defending his candidature, Poton said, “[Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan] Papon bhai never played cricket but look where he is taking the game. [Diego] Maradona was a great player but never succeeded in coaching. It’s a wrong concept that a businessman can’t develop the game,” said Poton yesterday. l

couldn’t push on to chase the big total. Imrul Kayes left a full delivery to be trapped leg-before in the first over before it quickly became 53 for 5 in the 19th over.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Zakir Hasan struck 61 off 82 balls with three fours and three sixes as Mohammedan controlled the rest of the game, bowling out Brothers Union for 207 in 49.5 overs. Habibur Rahman and Enamul Haque Jr took two wickets each apart from Subhashish’s three wickets.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi v Kalabagan Cricket Academy

It was a one-sided affair at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah where Sheikh Jamal registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win after Kalabagan Cricket Academy were able to post just 152 in 44.3 overs after electing to bat first.

Tigers Under-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s 25 was the highest score for Kalabagan as none of the batsmen were able to post a fighting total. Pace bowling all-rounder Muktar Ali picked up 4/19 from his seven overs while skipper Mahmudullah and Sohag Gazi bagged two wickets each for the bowling side.

In reply, Sheikh Jamal cruised to the target with eight wickets and 23.2 overs to spare after opener Mahbubul Karim scored highest 78 off 72 balls while Marshall Ayub (31) and Mahmudullah (21) remained not out and clinched their first win of the tournament. l

Mohammedan’s Nazmul Hossain Milon goes big during their DPL match against Brothers Union in Mirpur yesterday. Milon was in blistering touch, hammering a 41-ball 70, featuring four maximums and five boundaries DHAKA TRIBUNE

9-side Club Cup Hockey begins today n Tribune Report Considered a warm-up tournament for the Dhaka Premier Hockey League, the Club Cup Hockey Tournament gets underway at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium today.

A total of nine clubs will partake in the tournament with the three powerhouses – Abahani Limited, Mohammedan Sporting Club and

Usha Krira Chakra – featuring after a two-year hiatus.

It is Mariners Young’s Club though who will start as slight favourites as they have already formed a formidable squad comprising quality foreign players. The club have also roped in German coach Gerhard Peter Rach for the upcoming season.

Mariners have signed five national players including

defenders Mamunur Rahman Chayan and Ashraful Islam, forwards Moinul Islam Kowshik and Rimon Hossain and midfielder Rezaul Karim Rabbi. The Motijheelbased outfit will also have three foreigners from Germany and Kenya at their disposal.

“I think we got a group of high quality local and foreign players,” said Rach. l

KEY POINTS FROM THE MANIFESTO Transparency and accountability will be maintained as far as the Bangladesh Football Federation’s incomes and expenses are concerned.

Regularise district football and appoint coaches in different districts. Football kits to be distributed among the district football associations. District and divisional organisers to be included in every standing committee of the BFF.

“Modern coaching programmes” to be initiated.

Eight full-fledged academies to be built in eight different divisions.

Further academies will be built in every district.

JFA Under-14 Tournament, Sher-e-Bangla Cup and Suhrawardy Cup to resume.

Walton was named title sponsor of the ongoing Dhaka Premier League in a ceremony yesterday. Walton executive director policy and admin Jahid Hasan (2L), Bangladesh Cricket Board’s media and communication chairman Jalal Younus (C), BCB’s marketing and commercial chairman Kazi Inam Ahmed (2R) and Walton senior deputy director PR and media Uday Hakim (R) were present during the occasion COURTESY

27

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

QUICK BYTES

Rising Pune Supergiants’ South African cricketer Francois du Plessis is castled by a peach of a delivery from Kolkata Knight Riders’ Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan during their Vivo Indian Premier League match in Pune yesterday.

Although Shakib picked up 1/14 from three overs, he later disappointed with the bat, having been dismissed for a nine-ball three

Siddikur 74th in Panasonic Open Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman concluded his Panasonic Open Golf Championship campaign in a meek fashion as he finished at 74th position, tied alongside two others, following the fourth and final round’s play yesterday at Chiba Country Club, Japan. Siddikur carded oneover-par 72 yesterday and ended with an aggregate total of six-overpar 290, 19 shots behind champion Yuta Ikeda of Japan. The 31-year old struck three bogeys against two birdies in the final round.

–TRIBUNE REPORT

Calf injury ends Pietersen’s IPL stint Kevin Pietersen will miss the remainder of the Indian Premier League season due to a calf injury, the flamboyant stroke-maker has said. The 35-year-old faced only one ball in Rising Pune Supergiants’ match against Royal Challengers Bangalore last Friday but retired hurt after he damaged the muscle when he turned sharply back to the crease when he aborted an attempted single. “Over & out, India! Injuries are all part of the job!

Horrible tear in my calf!” Pietersen said on his Instagram account.

–REUTERS

Palace set up United date in FA Cup Crystal Palace will meet Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 21 May after a hard-fought win over Watford.

Yannick Bolasie headed Palace ahead at Wembley when Damien Delaney flicked on Yohan Cabaye’s early corner. Watford were level after Troy Deeney met Jose Manuel Jurado’s corner. Palace sealed a first FA Cup final appearance for 26 years when Connor Wickham met Pape Souare’s cross. Palace manager Alan Pardew greeted the final whistle by punching the air in celebration after a well deserved win which justified his decision to rest several first-team players in the 2-0 loss at United.

BCCI

Understudy Ulloa propels Leicester eight points clear n

AFP, Leicester

Leonardo Ulloa deputised seamlessly for Jamie Vardy in a 4-0 victory over Swansea City yesterday that took Leicester City to within five points of the Premier League title.

Vardy’s suspension, after he was shown a second yellow card for diving against West Ham United, robbed Leicester of their top

scorer, but Argentine striker Ulloa proved a capable deputy by scoring twice as Claudio Ranieri’s men moved eight points clear of Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham have a game in hand, at home to West Bromwich Albion today, but Leicester, for whom Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton also found the net, are now almost within touching distance of a title

success the like of which world football has rarely seen.

Vardy is likely to miss next Sunday’s trip to Manchester United, having accepted a Football Association misconduct charge over his angry reaction to his dismissal against West Ham,.

Earlier, Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by relegation battlers Sunderland at Stadium of Light. l

TOP FOUR Pos.

Team

M

GD

1

Leicester

35

30

Pts 76

2

Tottenham

34

39

68

3

Man City

35

32

64

4

Arsenal

35

24

64

–BBC

Younis Khan walks out of Pakistan Cup Younis Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain, last Saturday decided to quit playing the Pakistan Cup after he was fined 100 percent of his match fees, for his dissent against umpiring decisions during the game against Islamabad. Younis severely criticised the umpiring standards in the tournament and was fined for his outburst. The 38-year old scored 61 and two in two matches he played in the tournament.

–AGENCIES

Leicester City’s Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa (L) bundles in the side’s third goal against Swansea City during their English Premier League match at King Power Stadium yesterday REUTERS

Abahani to build hockey academy n Tribune Report Abahani Limited are planning to build a hockey academy at the under-construction Sheikh Kamal Krira Complex in a bid to produce future national and club stars, informed the team’s hockey secretary Ahsanul Islam Titu yesterday during the jersey-launching ceremony.

“The clubs should be the industry of producing players. We are planning to build an academy and give it an institutional look,” said Titu.

“We want more and more people to be interested in hockey.

Hence, we want to bring more professionalism to the club throughout the year,” he added.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary and one of the club’s directors Abdus Sadek, meanwhile, said, “We need more players. One hundred twenty nine countries currently play hockey and we are ranked 29th among them. If we do get into the top 20, we will get to play in the World Cup.” Abahani coach Mahbub Harun, on the other hand, talked about his side’s prospects in the forthcoming season.

“This time, five clubs have strong squad. Nobody can tell which team are better. I think it will mostly depend on the foreign players. If we can get five foreigners (expected to arrive in three days), I will be content,” said former national coach Harun, whose side take on Wari Club in their Club Cup opener today at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

LA LIGA 6-0

Barcelona

TALKING POINTS

Sporting Gijon

Messi 12, Neymar 86-P Suarez 64, 74-P, 77-P, 88,

1-1

Eibar

BARCELONA

A TALE OF TWO HALVES

Cartabia 71

Sporting Gijon defence stayed compact and played deep, absorbing quite a bit of pressure from Barcelona’s front three. A single goal from Lionel Messi was all that separated the two sides at halftime. As soon as the second half began, Messi ripped through the Gijon defence time and again, leaving a trail of utter panic behind him. It didn’t take the Catalans long to double their lead, with Messi initiating the move which led to the goal by Luis Suarez.

TOP FIVE GP W D L GD PTS

1 Barcelona

35 26 4 5 73

82

2 Atletico

35 26 4 5 43

82

3 Real Madrid 35 25 6 4 72

81

4 Villarreal

34 17 9 8 11

60

5 Athletic

34 16 6 12 10

54

LA LIGA TOP SCORERS 34 31 25 23 20 18 17

SPORTING GIJON

Deportivo

Gonzalez 7

Team

6-0

SUAREZ STRIKES AGAIN With his four-goal hauls against Deportivo La Coruna and Gijon, Suarez has become the first player in La Liga to score four times in two consecutive matches. The exLiverpool man has also overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Pichichi award.

Luis Suarez (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Neymar (Barcelona) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) Antoine Griezmann (Atl Madrid)

SUBSTITUTIONS, DISCIPLINE

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Gijons’s gaffer Abelardo Fernandez made three substitutions in the second half. Two of his substitutes conceded penalties soon after coming on which essentially put the match way beyond Gijon’s reach.

Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Club) Borja Baston (Eibar) Ruben Castro (Real Betis)

Barcelona's Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar celebrate a goal against Sporting Gijon during their La Liga match at Camp Nou, Barcelona last Saturday REUTERS

Four-goal Suarez salutes Barca team mates n Reuters, Barcelona Luis Suarez paid tribute to team mates Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta after the pair helped him notch four goals for the second La Liga game in a row as Barcelona thumped Sporting Gijon 6-0 last Saturday.

The Uruguay hitman became the first-ever La Liga player to score four goals for the second successive match, keeping Barca top of the table on goal difference ahead of Atletico Madrid, with Real Madrid one point adrift in third position.

“Leo is the one who manages everything, all the stages of the game, and we are eternally grateful to him,” said Suarez.

“Andres’ magic is always there, that’s why he has the (big) name he has. He has been a really important player for us this year.”

Suarez netted four times, twice from the penalty spot, in the space of 25 second-half minutes as Barca followed up their midweek 8-0 rout of Deportivo La Coruna.

“I am a bit surprised to score eight goals in four days,” said Su-

arez who was on target twice from open play following good passes from fellow striker Messi and midfielder Iniesta.

The former Liverpool forward now has 34 league goals this season, moving ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (31) as the top scorer with three games to go. Suarez is also in line to claim the Golden Boot as Europe’s leading marksman, a prize he shared with Ronaldo in 2013-14.

However, he is more focused on firing Barca to the league title.

“Being top scorer wasn’t my

objective and now we have three games left, and with the help of my team mates, if I can do it I’ll welcome it but the priority for the team is the league,” said Suarez.

Barcelona were awarded a third penalty late on and the Uruguayan gave the ball to Brazil forward Neymar to convert from the spot, a move which impressed defender Gerard Pique.

“He has proved for a long time that he’s generous,” said Pique.

“We hope he spends many more years here.”l

PSG land League Cup trophy again n Reuters, Paris

Van Gaal refuses to look beyond FA Cup final

Angel Di Maria bagged the winner as Paris St Germain beat Lille 2-1 to capture the French League Cup trophy for the third year in succession, and for a record sixth time, last Saturday.

The Argentina winger latched on to a poor clearance by Adama Soumaoro in the final at the Stade de France and rounded goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to score. l

FRENCH CUP PSG PSG's players celebrate after winning the League Cup final against Lille at Stade de France Stadium last Saturday AP

MESSI TAKES CONTROL After taking some serious knocks at the Riazor during the week, Messi managed to bring his best game to the Camp Nou on the day as he terrorised the Gijon defence with his sublime passes and dribbles.

Pastore 40, Di Maria 74

2-1

Lille Sidibe 49

n AFP, London Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was unwilling to discuss the likely effect of FA Cup success on his future after his side edged Everton 2-1 to reach the final.

Van Gaal has been under pressure all season, owing to disappointing results in the Premier League and Champions League, but he is now within one victory of steering United to a first FA Cup success since 2004 after Anthony Martial’s 93rd-minute winner at Wembley last Saturday.

With Jose Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur manager

CONTRASTING VICTORIES Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid enjoyed brief spells at the top of the table before Barcelona’s game. The Madrid sides endured stiff competition as their opposition put on a tough fight. l

Mauricio Pochettino repeatedly touted as potential successors, Van Gaal’s future remains the subject of speculation and when asked about the potential impact of an FA Cup triumph on his youthful team, he took the question personally.

“I’m not looking beyond the FA Cup because we live in the present and for the future, I discuss that with my board and not with you,” said the Dutchman, whose side will face either Watford or Crystal Palace in the final on May 21.

United currently trail Arsenal by four points in the race for a topfour finish in the Premier League.l

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL SONY ESPN 12:30AM Spanish La Liga Celta Vigo v Granada

STAR SPORTS 1 12:50AM

Inter Milan's Stevan Jovetic (L) fights for the ball with Udinese defender Molla Wague during their Italian Serie A match at San Siro Stadium in Milan last Saturday AFP

Jovetic at the double as Inter answer Mancini’s call n AFP, Milan Inter Milan bounced back from a midweek loss to Genoa and consolidated fourth in Serie A with a 3-1 defeat of Udinese last Saturday.

A double from Stevan Jovetic and an injury-time contribution from Brazilian Eder earned Roberto Mancini’s men all the points.

The result lifted them five points clear of Fiorentina in the battle for a Europea League spot and gave them fresh hope of securing third

and a play-off spot for the Champions League.

But that looks a tall order with Inter four points adrift of Roma.

SERIE A Inter Milan Jovetic 36, 75, Eder 90+5

3-1

Udinese Thereau 9

Mancini had urged his misfiring players to find the net after the 1-0 loss to Genoa and they duly answered his call.

But it was Udinese who took a ninth minute lead

courtesy of the opening goal from Francais Cyril Thereau.

Jovetic cancelled that out in the 36th minute and the Montenegrin forward then put Inter into the lead with less than quarter of an hour remaining.

Eder assured the win in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Yesterday, Italian champions Juventus would have won a fifth “Scudetto” if they had beaten Fiorentina away and Napoli fail to beat Roma in the Italian capital today.l

Spurs ready to pounce on Foxes nerves n AFP, London Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham are ready to take advantage of any slips from leaders Leicester after being encouraged by his title chasing side’s recent form.

Pochettino’s team produced a sublime display to win 4-0 at Stoke last Monday following Leicester’s draw with West Ham and are just

five points off first place with four games remaining.

Spurs are unbeaten in six league matches and their belief has been helped by the inclusion of four players - Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Harry Kane - in the PFA Team of the Year, with the latter two contenders for Young Player of the Year.

Kane is also nominated for overall Player of the Year af-

ter a season that has yielded 27 goals in all competitions for his club, including two at Stoke last week.

“It was a fantastic performance last week and result for us and we are very happy with the way we have played in the last few games,” Pochettino said.

“We have to keep working hard and we are still fighting for the title.” l

English Premier League Tottenham v West Brom

CRICKET SONY SIX 8:30PM Indian Premier League Punjab v Mumbai

DT

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Showtime

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

‘Under Construction’ director recognised

n

Showtime Desk

On the occasion of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad’s 46th anniversary, a program was held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka last week.

The organisation, which has been working on women’s rights since 1970, celebrated its anniversary by awarding 28 women from different fields. Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain was one of the people

recognised for her contribution in filmmaking. Her latest venture Under Construction has received plaudits and accolades at home and abroad.

As Rubaiyat Hossain was not in the country during the ceremony, she couldn’t receive the award in person but she conveyed her joy on the big occasion saying: “I want to express my utmost gratitude towards the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad for appreciating my effort as a woman filmmaker.”

She also added: “Bangladesh Mahila Parishad is one of the oldest and leading organisations in the country. Much like the organisation, I opt to be proactive in protecting woman rights. Thus, this recognition and honour has brought me so much joy and pride that I believe this would inspire me in my journey as a filmmaker.”

A special screening of Under Construction was held at the The Guimet Museum in Paris on April 1, where director Rubaiyat Hossain and lead actor Shahana Gowshami were greeted warmly.

The Guimet Museum honours great talents who work with Asian cultures and every year, they award the Prix Emile Guimet to the director of a film which, besides its cinematic qualities, brings about a remarkable cultural perspective on Asia. This year, the award was given to Rubaiyat Hossain’s Under Construction at the festival international des cinémas d’Asie de Vesoul. Established in 1879, the Guimet Museum has one of the largest collections of Asian art outside Asia.

Rubaiyat Hossain has started writing her next film’s screenplay.

According to the Bangladeshi production company Khona Talkies, her next film will be mutually produced from Bangladesh and France. l

Will Noboneeta die? n Farzana Zaman Noboneeta is a loving friend, a caring companion, and the source of joy for all her friends; all until she leaves the country.

After her departure, her image is gradually erased from the hearts of her friends and close ones. One day, Parvez, a friend of Noboneeta, finds out that she has come back to Bangladesh.

However, he also discovers

that Noboneeta is no longer as spontaneous as she used to be and very soon comes across the news that she fell victim to a life threatening disease. What will Parvez do? Will Noboneeta die?

What will happen to Noboneeta’s daughter?

This heart touching story of Noboneeta will be shown on channels soon where audiences will see Mou as Noboneeta, Riaz as Parvez and Shojol as Masud

(Noboneeta’s husband).

Through this melodrama, designer Emdad Hoque will be introducing himself as a script writer. Emdad Hoque says, “It is a very emotional story. I felt immensely involved in the story while writing the script. Mou, Riaz and Shojol have given their hundred percent to do justice to the script. The team is hopeful about audience’s positive reaction.” l

Qureshi alongside Cruise n Showtime Desk Huma Qureshi is taking a step ahead in her career from Bollywood to Hollywood.

Rumours have been buzzing about her being the heroine alongside Tom Cruise. The Gangs of Wasseypur actress is expecting the release of her movie White, starring Mammootty, to go international too. She has reportedly landed a big contract and it is heard that she will feature in the ambitious remake of the Mummy franchise.

According to reports, Huma has auditioned for a crucial role in the film which has even been officially confirmed by her spokesperson.

Speaking to a news portal, he said, “Huma has recently auditioned for the third part of the successful

franchise starring Hollywood star Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella playing the lead antagonist.”

Since Tom will be playing Brendan Frazer’s role and Sofia set to play the villain in the story, there are talks that Huma might be chosen for the lead alongside Tom. l Source: Hollywood Times

Shoshi-season

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH Cast: Jack Baur, Chloe O’Brian, Audrey Boudreau

n Farzana Zaman Sharmin Joha Shoshi started her career as a film actress.

She debuted in Hazar Bochor Dhore, which is based on famous novelist and filmmaker Johir Raihan’s popular novel “Hazar Bochor Dhore.” The film was directed

by Dhallywood’s legendary actress turned director Kohinur Akhtar Shuchonda. Hazar Bochor Dhore was highly appreciated by film critics and viewers, and won numerous awards.

Sharmin soon became busy with TV media. Shoshi says, “I don’t believe in quantity, quality is my USP. I prefer to choose a single-episode drama rather than working in a mega serial, if the script suits me better.” Shoshi also added that she never says yes to any project for money.

She works in productions which are rich in meaningful content and story line. Along with taking her acting career to the next level, Shoshi has decided to be an anchor. Very soon, she will be seen anchoring in a program centered around shopping. Moreover, Shoshi will also cook for the audience while appearing as a guest cook on NTV. In 2003, when she was in tenth grade, she participated in Lux Anondodhara Miss Photogenic 2003.

“I think every girl has a knack for cooking by nature.

Likewise, I love to cook. Whenever I have spare time at home, I spend it in the kitchen,” Shoshi said with excitement.

One of her most remarkable works is Ashrafi Mithu’s mega serial Dainik Tolpar. Some of her notable TV dramas (Bangla natok) are Tonmoy Sen’s Ekjon Porshi Abong Ottopor and Danguli, Alvee Ahmed’s Ghurey Daraber Shopno, Lutfunnahar Moushumi’s Necklace, Shahnewaz Kakoli’s Onek Kartik O Ekti Ograhayon and Garial Vhai, Onjon Ich’s Shunno Shomikoron, Jewel Mahmud’s Boiri Batash, Salauddin Lavlu’s Ghorkuto, Shohrab Hossain Dodul’s Shantokutir, Kawnain Shourav’s Hoimonti, Robi Shankar Moitri’s Urey Jai Malti Pori, and Idris Haider’s Dhol. l

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Cast: Helena Mattsson, Marco Bacuzzi, Jan Bouda, Ben Cross, Roger Cudney, Dominic Keating 24 AXN 6:30pm 24: Live Another Day is a thrilling high-octane new event series set to restart the ticking clock on the groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning drama. It will retain the real-time, pulse-pounding, fast-paced format with split screens and interweaving story-lines.

Iron Man Star Movies 9:30pm Tony Stark is a playboy and an engineering genius.

He goes to Afghanistan to demonstrate a new missile and is captured and wounded there. His captors insist that he assemble a new missile for them. But Tony creates an armoured suit and uses it to make his escape.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern TLC 10:30pm Andrew focuses on regional cuisine from around the world which is typically perceived

by Americans as being gross, unique, or, of course, bizarre.

He shows how it is procured, served and then eats it.

Genre: Cookery

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

OIL PRICES DON’T NEED WARNER: FIZZ A BOWLING ‘UNDER CONSTRUCTION’ A DOHA TO RISE PAGE 17 SENSATION PAGE 25 DIRECTOR RECOGNISED PAGE 30 RANA PLAZA DISASTER

Where are the survivors?

Three years ago, the Rana Plaza collapse killed at least 1,140 people and injured more than 2,500 – mostly RMG workers – not to mention how it affected the victims’ families. How have they coped with the aftermath of one of the worst industrial accidents in history? The Dhaka Tribune’s Syed Samiul Basher Anik talks to a few of the survivors to find out. This is the concluding segment of a two-part photo feature series

Gita Rani

Former sewing operator at Phantom Apparels, Gita was rescued 11 hours after the collapse with a severely injured right leg. She currently works as a sewing operator at Aparajeyo “I still cannot forget that horrible incident, but I must look to the future for the sake of my two sons. I received a cattle from the CRP and am now raising it at my village home in Gaibandha.”

Sumi (formerly known as Aaroti)

Sumi does not remember where she used to work before the collapse, or how she was rescued. Her right leg had to be amputated and she still suffers severe pain. She is now a housewife and recently had a baby “My leg was smashed in the collapse and had to be amputated. I had a prosthetic leg, but my father took it away because I converted to Islam to marry a Muslim man.

But it doesn’t matter; I am happy with my husband and his family. They are very supportive.”

Shimu, 10, and Shimul, 9

Shimul and Shimu are children of Sewli, a finishing assistant at New Wave Style who was killed in the collapse “After our mother died, our father remarried. Our stepmother does not like us, but it does not bother our father at all.”

Jasmine

Former worker at Phantom Tac, Jasmine was rescued two days after the collapse. She sustained minor spinal injury and is still undergoing treatment “We have not been compensated properly. I urge the government to compensate all the victims by considering their loss of earning based on their capability. I want my fair and legitimate share of compensation.”

Hridoy

Former worker at New Wave Style, Hridoy was rescued a day after the collapse. He sustained major injuries in his spine and a leg, and has yet to fully recover “I got married only three days before the collapse; my wife left me after the accident.

When I sought support from people, no one helped me – not even the doctors. People seem to think my suffering is an act, but a person cannot keep up an act for three years.”

PHOTOS: SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN, MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com