11 May, 2016

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

|

|

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

D E AT H P E N A LT Y G I V E N F O R

student wing East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir). Apart from aiding the Pakistani Army in person, he had formed ruthless militia al-Badr Bahini with the members of Chhatra Sangha which mounted Gestapo like attacks under his command.

Nizami and his party also misused Islam during the war. Nizami violated the Quranic injunctions and prophetic traditions by forming al-Badr force, and encouraging its members to exterminate and kill Bangali intellectuals and pro-liberation people, the International Crimes Tribunal said in its verdict.

A top leader of the collaborators, Nizami visited different parts of the country during the war and in his speech he abused Islam by saying “Pakistan is the house of Allah,” “Hindus are always enemies of Muslims” and “Islam and Pakistan are one and indivisible.”

Before Nizami, the tribunal sentenced to death al-Badr leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan for the killing

Boishakh 28, 1423, Shaban 3, 1437

|

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 19

Barbarous Nizami hanged Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Arifur Rahman Rabbi Motiur Rahman Nizami, the kingpin of notorious al-Badr force and second top collaborator of the Pakistani occupation forces after Jamaat guru Ghulam Azam, was executed at Dhaka Central Jail in the wee hours today.

The execution took place at 12:10am, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told the Dhaka Tribune at 12:30am.

Nizami, the 75-year-old incumbent chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, did not seek presidential clemency admitting the crimes. The three other senior Jamaat leaders hanged for their war-time crimes also did not seek clemency.

The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Nizami to death for planning, instigating and executing genocide, murder, rape and deportation among other crimes in Pabna and Dhaka during the 1971 Liberation War. Of the three counts that brought Nizami the death sentence, two were committed at Pabna’s San-

Planning to commit crimes, and involvement in killing 450 people, raping 30-40 women and deporting of Baousgari, Ruposhi and Demra villagers in Pabna on May 14, 1971 Ordering the murder of 30 people of Dhulaura village in Pabna on November 27, 1971 Conspiring the planned murder of intellectuals and professionals in December 1971.

thia. Nizami was found guilty of planning and executing the killing of 450 people, rape of 30-40 women and deporting of Baousgari, Ruposhi and Demra villagers on May 14, 1971. He had also ordered the murder of 30 people of Dhulau-

ra village on November 27, 197.

The other offence is conspiring and instigating the abduction, torture and mass killing of intellectuals and professionals in Dhaka and elsewhere at the fag end of the war.

He was sentenced to death

From arrest to gallows Arrested: Jun 29, 2010 Charged: Dec 11, 2011 Indicted: May 28, 2012 Trial ends: Nov13, 2013 Tribunal reformed: Feb 24, 2014 Rehearing ends: Mar 24, 2014 Verdict: Oct 29, 2014 Appeal filed: Nov 23, 2014 Appeal verdict: Jan 6, 2016 Full verdict: Mar 15, 2016 Death warrant: Mar 15, 2016 Review verdict: May 5, 2016 Full verdict: May 9, 2016 Executed: May 11, 2016 on January 31, 2014 in connection with the sensational haul of 10-truck arms at the CUFL jetty in 2004. Nizami was the industries minister at that time.

Until September 30, 1971, Nizami was the chief of Jamaat’s

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

SUPERIOR RESPONSIBILITY

Al-Badr’s onus on Nizami n Ashif Islam Shaon

INSIDE

Motiur Rahman Nizami was not an ordinary war criminal but one of the top designers who did everything possible to stop the journey towards Bangladesh’s independence – through abduction, mass killings and conspiracies.

Apart from aiding the Pakistani Army in person, he had formed the ruthless militia, al-Badr Bahini, which mounted Gestapo like attacks, with a goal to wipe out the brightest sons and daughters of the soil towards the end of the Liberation War, under his command.

The members of al-Badr killed the intellectuals taking them away blind-folded and inflicting inhuman tortures upon them and there-

Tonu’s parents: Two army men involved The parents of Victoria college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu claimed their daughter’s murder was well-planned and blamed it on two army men working at Comilla cantonment.  PAGE 3

after dumped the bodies at Rayerbazar and other mass graves.

The International Crimes Tribunal and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in their verdicts against the Jamaat-e-Islami leader repeatedly said that Nizami had been the ex-officio chief of al-Badr “death squad” and a civil superior officer in its true sense as the president of Jamaat’s then student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha.

Being the chief of both Chhatra Sangha (from 1966 to at least September 30, 1971) and al-Badr, Nizami had a superior-subordinate relationship with al-Badr members.

Apart from his participation in the crimes in person, he was responsible for all the criminal  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Two ambulances, one of them carrying the coffin of executed war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami, come out from Dhaka Central Jail at 1:24am today RAJIB DHAR

Fair marks for Nasir’s first year in office

Umpire Nadir suffers blow to forehead

Bangladeshis in Panama Papers

Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has managed to keep his approval rating at near 50%, a year after he assumed office in the port city, a survey commissioned by Bangla Tribune has found.  PAGE 7

Umpire Nadir Shah suffered a blow on his forehead during the game between Mohammedan and Kalabagan in the Dhaka Premier League at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday.  PAGE 25

A list of Bangladeshis and foreign nationals related to Bangladeshi companies doing offshore businesses have surfaced after a huge database of the Panama Papers became available online.  PAGE 32

DT

2

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SWIFT rejects Bangladeshi claims over $81 million cyber heist n Reuters SWIFT yesterday rejected allegations by officials in Bangladesh that technicians with the global messaging system made the nation's central bank more vulnerable to hacking before an $81 million cyber heist in February.

The comments were in response to a Reuters story that cited Bangladeshi police and a central bank official as saying that SWIFT technicians introduced security holes into the bank's network while connecting SWIFT to Bangladesh's first real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system.

‘As a SWIFT user like any other, Bangladesh Bank is responsible for its own security’ "SWIFT was not responsible for any of the issues cited by the officials, or party to the related decisions," the Brussels-based bank-owned cooperative said in a statement posted on its website.

"As a SWIFT user like any other, Bangladesh Bank is responsible for the security of its own systems interfacing with the SWIFT network and their related environment – starting with basic password protection practices – in much the same way as they are responsible for their other internal security considerations," the statement said.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the allegations

by Bangladeshi officials about the SWIFT technicians.

The officials in Dhaka discussed their findings with Reuters ahead of a meeting on Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, where Bangladesh Bank officials have said their governor and a lawyer appointed by the bank would discuss recovery of about $81 million stolen by hackers with the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a senior executive from SWIFT. SWIFT's statement said it "looks forward to the meeting with Bangladesh Bank and New York Federal Reserve Bank officials in Basel on 10th May, when the bank’s security issues and these baseless allegations will be discussed."

Bangladesh Bank officials have said they believed SWIFT, and the New York Fed, bear some responsibility for the February cyber heist.

SWIFT's statement on Monday marked the first time it responded to such allegations. l

Barbarous Nizami hanged of intellectuals. Of them, former minister Mujahid was executed on November 21 last year while the two others have remained absconding.

Former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam was given imprisonment until death on July 15, 2013 considering his age though he was found guilty of conspiracy, incitement, planning, abetment and failure to prevent murder. He died in jail.

Both of them fled the country after the independence and returned in 1978. They resumed politics and were never brought to book for the war-time offences until the formation of the tribunal in 2010.

Nizami was arrested on June 29, 2010 and soon shown arrested in the war crimes case. He was indicted on May 28, 2012. Even though the trial ended on November 13, 2013, the case was reheard due to shuffle in the tribunal.

The tribunal sentenced him to death on October 29, 2014 and the Appellate Division upheld the death penalty on January 6 this year. His review petition was rejected on May 5.

Jamaat enforced shutdown across the country on May 8 in protest against the rejection of Nizami’s petition.

After his execution, Nizami’s body was taken by the law enforcers to his birthplace at Monmothpur of Santhia in Pabna for burial. On the way to Pabna, the district police units were kept ready to escort the

ambulance carrying the body.

Locals started preparing the grave yesterday morning sensing that he could be hanged immediately.

The law enforcers also took safety measures for the eight prosecution witnesses from Santhia who had testified against the war criminal at the tribunal.

Superintendent of Police Alamgir Kabir said that they were ready to thwart any untoward incident in the district.

The government last night also beefed up security measures in Dhaka by deploying the members of Border Guard Bangladesh alongside police and elite force Rapid Action Battalion.

After the announcement of execution, justice seekers and war crimes trial campaigners who had been eagerly waiting for Nizami’s execution at Dhaka’s Shahbagh and the jail gate celebrated the moment.

Since Monday when the top court released full verdict of the review petition, everybody was waiting for an official announcement or a hint about the time when top war criminal would be hanged.

The possibility rose yesterday when the movement of media persons and jail officials became visible as hangman Tanvir Hasan Raju was brought to the Dhaka Central Jail from the Kashimpur high security jail at 3pm.

Raju was earlier part of all the four teams of hangmen who had executed the death sentences of

the four convicted war criminals since December 2013. Previously it was hangman Shahjahan who played the key role during the executions. Raju worked as one of his associates. Jail sources said that Raju had been given the charge since Shahjahan was ill.

After an hour, the law enforcers started taking security measures in and around the jail, and at 6pm all the streets adjacent to the area were closed.

Around 6:30pm, Nizami’s family members called Jail Superintendent Jahangir Kabir and asked for permission to meet the death-row convict. “The family asked the jail superintendent whether it was their final meeting. He said ‘no, no. Just come,’” Nizami’s lawyer Tanim told the Dhaka Tribune.

Officials said that 26 members of the family entered the jail 7:50pm. The visitors who came in three vehicles included Nizami’s wife Shamsunnahar Nizami, Nazib Momen alias Nazibur Rahman and Naimur Rahman, daughtersin-law, four nephews, an uncle, an aunt, two sisters and a brother.

One of the family members, who could not be identified immediately, said that Nizami had been saying his prayers when they entered the jail. “He said that he was fine and asked us and party supporters to have patience,” she told reporters outside the jail around 9:30pm.

Around 8pm, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told

the Dhaka Tribune that the government had already given node to execute the war criminal’s death sentence. He later confirmed that Nizami had not sought presidential clemency – his last resort to save the neck.

Jail sources said that Nizami had conveyed his opinion about the clemency to the magistrates earlier in the day.

Senior government officials started entering the jail around 9:30pm while the main gate was shut at 10:30pm giving a clear impression that Nizami could be executed any time.

Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salauddin, Additional District Magistrate Emdadul Islam and Executive Magistrate Tanvir Mohammad Ajim entered the central jail at 10:05pm; and DMP Commissioner’s representative DB Deputy Commissioner (west) Sheikh Najmul Alam at 10:20pm. Earlier, Civil Surgeon Abdul Malek entered the jail around 9:50pm and DMP Deputy Commissioner Mofizuddin Ahmed around 10pm.

Nizami was brought to the Dhaka Central Jail from Kashimpur on Sunday, three days after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court rejected his review petition – the last legal battle to prove himself innocent.

The full verdict was published on Monday and it was read out to the condemned war criminal in the night. l

Pakistani Army does not disprove the fact that this appellant [Nizami] also, being president of Islami Chhatra Sangha, became a leader of alBadr Bahini and he also had control on the members of al-Badr Bahini. “... More than one person can be superiors and can hold effective control on the same subordinates and more than one superior may be liable for the crime committed by the subordinates.”

After reviewing its judgement upon the war criminal’s petition, the Appellate Division again mentioned about role of Nizami in the killing of intellectuals by al-Badr at the fag end of the war. “… Some others also might have any involvement in the conspiracy of killing of intellectuals, but that does not exonerate the appellant [Nizami] from his criminal liability in killing the intellectuals which has been proved before the tribunal by sufficient evidence ...

“In the circumstances the alleged non-implication of this appellant [Nizami] in the alleged earlier cases does not relieve him of the liability in intellectuals killing which has been proved in this case by sufficient evidence.”

Replying to the defence counsel’s arguments that Nizami had no con-

trol over al-Badr as he never issued ID cards for the force, the court said: “The failure of the prosecution to produce any ID card of any al-Badr with the signature of the appellant is not fatal at all for the prosecution – especially in consideration of the fact that those ID cards were issued long 42 years before.”

The tribunal also criticised Nizami and his party Jamaat for misusing Islam during the war. It said that Nizami had violated the Quranic injunctions and prophetic traditions by forming al-Badr force, and encouraging its members to exterminate and kill Bangali intellectuals and pro-liberation people.

A top leader of the collaborators, Nizami visited different places of the country during the war and in his speech he abused Islam by saying “Pakistan is the house of Allah,” “Hindus are always enemies of Muslims” and “Islam and Pakistan are one and indivisible.”

Before Nizami, the tribunal sentenced to death al-Badr leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan for the killing of intellectuals. Of them, Mujahid was executed on November 21 last year while the two other death-row convicts have remained absconding. l

Al-Badr’s onus on Nizami activities committed by al-Badr Bahini and was liable to be punished because of his superior status.

The International Crimes (tribunals) Act 1973 – under which the collaborators of the Pakistani Army have been tried for 1971 war crimes – narrates the concept of “superior responsibility.”

Section 4(2) of the ICT Act says: “Any commander or superior officer who orders, permits, acquiesces or participates in the commission of any of the crimes specified in Section 3 or is connected with any plans and activities involving the commission of such crimes or who fails or omits to discharge his duty to maintain discipline, or to control or supervise the actions of the persons under his command or his subordinates, whereby such persons or subordinates or any of them commit any such crimes, or who fails to take necessary measures to prevent the commission of such crimes, is guilty of such crimes.”

The tribunal in its verdict said: “Nizami being the president of ICS exercised his superior position in transforming Islami Chhatra Sangha [ICS] into al-Badr Bahini knowing the consequence of his actions that substantially encouraged his fellows giving them moral support.

“... he cannot be relieved from the responsibility for the planned crimes committed by the members of al-Badr Bahini with whom he had de facto superior-subordinate relationship. It is evident on record that during Liberation War the accused gave a lot of provocative speeches before [the] members of ICS who ultimately became members of alBadr Bahini and committed crimes against humanity at random.”

The Appellate Division that upheld Nizami’s death sentence said that it was proved beyond doubt that Nizami had total control over the ruthless al-Badr militia.

It said: “... speeches delivered by the appellant [Nizami] in different meetings praising and encouraging the members of Islami Chhatra Sangha and al-Badr Bahini, and also directing them to co-operate with the Pakistani occupation forces prove that this appellant had control over the members of al-Badr Bahini even after 30th September, 1971.”

It said that al-Badr Bahini was formed with the members of Chhatra Sangha, of which Nizami was the president for a long period of five years. “... The fact that al-Badr Bahini was raised and controlled by the

3

DT

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Tonu’s parents: Two army men involved n Our Correspondent, Comilla

The parents of Sohagi Jahan Tonu said their daughter’s killing was well-planned and blamed the murder on army Sergeant Jahid, his wife and soldier Jahid deployed at Comilla cantonment.

TONU MURDER CASE

Relatives of Motiur Rahman Nizami on their way to pay the last visit to the war criminal yesterday

RAJIB DHAR

Nizami’s arguments in review n Probir K Sarker

Top war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami had sought review of the three counts on which the Appellate Division upheld his death penalty.

The occurrence in respect of charge 2 had been committed at Baousgari, Ruposhi and Demra villages of Santhia in Pabna on May 14, 1971. Around 6:30am, Nizami along with the Pakistani Army and other razakars besieged the villages, picked up 450 civilians and then shot them to death.

Nizami’s counsel submitted that the tribunal as well as the Appellate Division arrived at “incorrect assumption” of the petitioner’s involvement with the Pakistani Army. His second contention was that the apex court committed error of law in maintaining the conviction of the petitioner on improbable facts. Thirdly, he alleged that prosecution witnesses 11 and 17 were motivated witnesses and therefore, the court had committed error of law in maintaining the conviction of the petitioner relying upon these two witnesses.

In response to the arguments, the court said during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the appellant not only sided with the Pakistani Army but also incited the members of al-Badr Bahini and Islami Chhatra Sangha to co-operate with the Pakistani Army.

On the other points, the court said that those were not legal grounds for review. It said: “The witnesses have deposed to the effect that the Pakistani Army committed that incident of mass killing by firing indiscriminately at the in-

struction of the appellant [Nizami].”

The court also observed that though the defence had pointed out some contradictions in the evidence of the witnesses, “we do not think that these alleged contradictions are fatal at all to make their evidence unbelievable.”

In respect of charge 6, Nizami was also sentenced to death by the tribunal and the top court affirmed the conviction and sentence.

determination of these points also depends upon re-assessment of evidence which is not a legal ground for review.

The last charge which earned Nizami death penalty is related to committing genocide by killing professional and intellectuals on the eve of the independence of the country. The court said when Nizami and his force realised that the liberation of the country was

Nizami did not challenge his life-term jail terms given on two other charges which involve his direct participation in the killing of Sohrab Ali of Brishalikha and instigating to kill Bodi, Rumi, Jewel and Azad at Dhaka’s Nakhalpara It was related to an occurrence committed around 3:30am on November 27 at Dhulaura village at Santhia. The war criminal with the help of razakars and the Pakistani Army raided the house of Dr Abdul Awal of Dhulaura and neighbouring houses of the village on the plea of searching freedom fighters, caught a good number of unarmed people numbering about 30 and killed them indiscriminately on the Dhulaura School field around 6:30am.

Defence counsel Khandaker Mahbub Hossain argued that the court has committed error of law in believing the sixth prosecution witness’ identification of the petitioner in the incident which was not at all believable story, and that relying upon the “improbable facts” narrated by the sixth and the eighth witnesses was further error.

The top court responded that

nearing, “they committed atrocities by selective elimination of professionals and intellectuals so that even if the independence was achieved, they (leaders) would not be able to run the country.”

Khandaker Mahbub submitted that the court had committed error of law by believing two prosecution witnesses who made inconsistent statements to the investigation officer. He spoke against a documentary evidence that suggests Nizami was an al-Badr leader. The counsel also argued that the court had erred in law in assuming that the petitioner passed the order for killing martyr Dr Abdul Alim and that though it has also relied upon some books it has misread them.

Finally, he argued that even if it is assumed that the petitioner had collaborated with the Pakistani Army, his acts attract abetment of

the offences, and therefore, leaving the principal offenders, the sentence of death awarded to the petitioner is an error of law.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued that the defence counsel had failed to point out any error apparent on the face of the judgement of the top court.

“Therefore, the grounds on which the review petition been filed are not entertainable, and thus this petition is liable to be dismissed,” he told the court.

The Appellate Division bench observed that the commission of these crimes – even the slightest complicity in these most cruel, gruesome and barbarous crimes warrants death sentence only. “There is no mitigating circumstances to reduce the death sentence, rather there are aggravating circumstances.

The court mentioned that the petitioner had not challenged his life-term jail terms given on two other charges which involve his direct participation in the killing of Sohrab Ali of Brishalikha and instigating to kill Bodi, Rumi, Jewel and Azad at the Old MP Hostel at Dhaka’s Nakhalpara.

“Therefore, the petitioner’s involvement and complicity in the perpetration of offences of crimes against humanity and genocide have been impliedly admitted by the accused. More so, in view of the submission of the learned [defence] counsel to commute the sentence, the petitioner cannot dispute his involvement in those offences.

“We find no merit in this petition.

It is, accordingly, dismissed,” the top court said in the full text of the judgement published on Monday. l

Tonu’s father Yaar Hossain and mother Anowara Begum made the claims before yesterday evening when they were taken to the district's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office for interrogation for the seventh time over the murder.

The second-year history student at Comilla Victoria Government College and cultural activist was found murdered near her residence inside the Cantonment on March 20.

Yaar, a cantonment board official, and his wife asserted that the mystery surrounding Tonu's killing would be solved once the two army men were questioned.

“We are tired of being interrogated time and again. Investigators are not questioning anyone from the family in which Tonu tutored a student. Even questioning kids from that family could yield important information,” they said.

Monowara said Tonu turned down a request of army study unit to sing at a programme and went on Sylhet tour instead. Later, a troupe was hired to perform.

“I suspect Tonu’s murder was a fallout of the incident,” she said.

“If there is any other reason behind her death, that too, should be unearthed.”

She said her daughter was severely beaten before being killed. “Tonu was murdered out of vengeance.”

The first post-mortem examination found no evidence of rape and failed to determine the cause of death. Tonu's body was exhumed on March 30 on a court order and a second post-mortem examination was performed. CID officials, investigating the murder, said they were waiting for the autopsy report.

Monowara questioned the delay in publishing the autopsy report.

“All information regarding the killing will be found if Sergeant Jahid, his wife and soldier Jahid are interrogated. No one other than army men can carry out such murders inside a secure area like the cantonment,” she added.

CID interrogated nine persons, including four from Tonu’s family, on Tuesday. Her parents have sought the prime minister’s intervention to arrest and punish their daughter's killers. l

DT

News

4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Awami League-backed teachers panel wins JU deans’ election n JU Correspondent The Awami League-backed panel swept the Jahangirnagar University deans election yesterday.

The election between four faculties of the university started at 9am and continued until 2pm at Teachers’ Club on the campus. JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique, also the returning officer, declared the polls result around 3pm, sources said.

AL-backed economics department teacher Prof Amir Hossain was elected dean to the university’s social science faculty. Statistics department Prof Ajit Kumar Mazumder was elected dean to mathematical and physical science faculty and zoology department teacher Prof Abdul Zabbar Hawlader was elected dean to life science faculty.

Meanwhile, JU archaeology department teacher Prof Mozammel Haque was

elected dean to arts and humanities faculty as a separate candidate and finance and banking department teacher Prof Neelanjan Kumar Saha was elected dean to business studies faculty without any contest.

When contacted, JU registrar Abu Bakr Siddique said: “A total of 440 teachers had cast their votes to elect the deans to four out of six faculties in the university.”

Sources said that a total of 14 teachers contested from three panels. AL-backed teachers contested under the banner of “Bongobondhur Adorsho O Muktijuddher Chetonay Biswashi Progotisheel Shikkhok Shomaj” while BNP-backed teachers contested under the banner of “Jatiyatabadi Shikkhok Forum.” A section of pro-Awami League and left-leaning teachers jointly competed the election under the banner of “Progotisheel Shikkhok Jote.” l

Submission open for Meena Media Award 2016 n Tribune Desk Unicef Bangladesh has opened submission for print, online and visual media content for Meena Media Award 2016.

A new category and a new award segment have been added to the award this year: the new category is News Photography – Online/Print Media, and the new award segment is Reports/Creative contents including Videography, according to a press note

by Unicef Bangladesh.

News, articles, features, news photographs and television and radio programmes that investigate and explore children’s issues to improve their lives in Bangladesh or provide healthy entertainment for children are eligible to compete for the award. Entries should have been published or broadcast between May 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016.

Submissions will be solicited from Bangladeshi citizens in two age groups: under-18 and 18 and above. Deadline for submission of content ends on June 1.

Introduced in 2005 by Unicef Bangladesh, Meena Media Award recognises excellence in promoting children’s issues in Bangladeshi media.

The award is named after Meena, a popular animation character created in Bangladesh. Meena is the iconic girl child, a change agent, whose attractive stories champion the rights of children across South Asia.

This year marks the 12th anniversary of the award.

Other categories of the award are: Print/Online Media – Reports, Print/Online Media – Creative, Visual Media – Reports including Videography, Visual Media – Creative contents including Videography, Radio – Report, and Radio – Creative.

There are three prizes in each category: first prize is a crest, a certificate and Tk50,000, second prize is a crest, a certificate and Tk25,000, and third prize is a crest, a certificate and Tk15,000.

More information can be found at the Unicef Bangladesh website. l

5

DT

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Indian foreign secretary to arrive in Dhaka today n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today for a two-day bilateral visit.

The top Indian diplomat will have courtesy calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Affairs Minister AH Mahmood Ali in the evening. Both the Bangladeshi and the Indian foreign secretaries will have their formal talks tomorrow.

Jaishankar’s visit is considered significant in the backdrop of the recent killings of bloggers, publisher, writers and teachers, as well as the overall security situation in Bangladesh and South Asia.

The Islamic State and al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the killings, but the government claimed that these brutal acts were done by “home-grown” fundamental outfits.

Diplomatic sources said the security aspect will get importance in the discussion with the visiting foreign secretary.

On Monday, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat said the US Department of State’s Assistant Secretary Nisha Desai Biswal had a meeting with Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla during her visit in the city last week.

She was speaking to journalists after a two-hour meeting with Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We always compare notes and are looking at the situation each country looks at,” Bernicat said.

“Three governments – Bangladesh, India and the United States – are all fighting extremism; absolutely we all are on the same page... all three

of us on the same page.”

Bernicat also said a delegation from Washington would arrive in Dhaka later this week to discuss what Bangladesh needs to do in order to improve security in the country.

When contacted, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have multidimensional relations with India and we (the secretaries) will discuss all issue relevant to us.”

Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India yesterday discussed modalities and framework for setting up Indian economic zones in various locations, including Bheramera, and information technology SEZs in Keraniganj and Chittagong’s Mirsarai for mutual benefit.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority’s Executive Member S M Shawkat Ali while the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (Bangladesh-Myanmar) of Indian Foreign Ministry Sripriya Ranganathan.

A press release issued by the Indian High Commission said it was the first meeting of the joint working group to operationalise the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing Indian economic zone signed during the visit of the Indian prime minister to Bangladesh in June last year.

Both sides agreed to meet at regular intervals to monitor the progress of cooperation activities being undertaken under the MoU. Meanwhile, Indian foreign ministry’s official spokesperson Vikas Swarup at a press briefing on May 5 said they were trying to upgrade the visa application systems in Bangladesh. l

POWER IS POWER

In a contrast of situation pictured on the above photos, a traffic police sergeant is seen to stop two cars in Dhaka’s Bijoy Sarani yesterday to fine the vehicles owners as they opted to take the wrong side of the road. On the other photo, a car bearing a Bangladesh government emblem takes the wrong side of the road in front of Gulshan Shooting Club in Dhaka on Monday, flouting the rules. The vehicle also had no number plate SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/ MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Police get more time to end Boishakh sexual assault probe n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

The Police Bureau of Investigation yet again received an extension until June 2 to submit the probe report in a case filed over the incidents of sexual harassment during the Pohela Boishakh celebrations last year.

It is the third time a Dhaka court extended the deadline as PBI In-

spector Abdur Razzak, also investigation officer of the case, failed to submit the report.

Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Mainuddin passed the order and asked the PBI officer to submit the report by June 2.

Several groups of youths assaulted and sexually harassed a number of women and children at Suhrawardy Udyan gate near Dha-

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

Dhaka

38

28

Chittagong

36

28

Rajshahi 40 29

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:32PM

nounced that they had recognised the faces of eight men and sought help from people for capturing them announcing a reward of Tk1 lakh for each.

On December 13 last year, the Detective Branch submitted final report to the court, saying that none of the sex offenders had been identified.

Accepting the report, the Dha-

ka University’s TSC and Matsya Bhaban areas when people were celebrating the first day of Bangla New Year on April 14.

Police filed a case with Shahbagh police over the incident on April 17.

The police highups first denied having any evidence of sexual assault terming the incidents trivial.

But on May 17, the police chief anRangpur

37

26

Khulna

38

28

Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:17AM

37.8ºC Mongla

23.0ºC Dimla

Source: Accuweather/UNB

38

28

PRAYER TIMES

ka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court sent it to the Third Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on December 31 for its disposal.

On January 27, police arrested Md Kamal, 35, from Old Dhaka and later submitted an application with the tribunal, seeking revival of the case. The tribunal then asked the PBI to deal with the case. l Sylhet

37

24

Cox’s Bazar

35

Fajr: 4:55am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 6:40pm Esha: 8:30pm Source: Islamic Foundation

27

7

DT

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Fair marks for Nasir’s first year in office n Tribune Desk Chittagong City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has managed to keep his approval rating at near 50%, a year after assuming office, a survey said.

A survey, commissioned by Bangla Tribune and conducted by the Institute of Informatics and Development, showed that a significant proportion of residents of the port city were impressed with the city corporation’s handling of public transport.

A large number of participants also recognised efforts by the Nasir administration to prune risky trees to make the city safer.

Nasir was a surprise pick for the ruling Awami League in the last mayoral election, in which he defeated BNP-backed M Manjur Alam by a huge margin.

He was the general secretary of Awami League student front Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Chittagong City unit in 1978 and 1981.

He also served as the vice president of the student front twice in 1981 and 1983.

The vice president of the Bang-

Charge sheet of Habiganj schoolboy killing case rejected n Md Noor Uddin, Habiganj A Habiganj court yesterday rejected charge sheet in connection with the killing of four schoolboys at Bahubali upazila.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Kausar Alam rejected the charge sheet due to legal complications.

The court also rejected bail plea of seven accused and ordered to send them to jail. The accused are Abdul Ali, Rubel Mia, Arzu Mia, Shahed Mia, Saleh Uddin and Boshir Mia. Earlier on April 25, the court also rejected the charge sheet of the case due to absence of main documents.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Samsad Begum refused the charge sheet after a hearing. The court also fixed May 5 for the next hearing and asked investigation officer of the case Abdul Muktadir to submit the charge sheet with main documents.

On April 16, nine people were indicted in connection with the killing case. On February 17, police recovered the bodies of four schoolboys from a ditch at Shundratiki village under Bahubal upazila.

Four Of the accused have already given confessional statements before the court under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. l

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE JOB DONE BY YOUR CITY CORPORATION MAYOR LAST YEAR? 60 50 40 30

45%

Yes

55%

17% No

83%

20 10 0

IF THERE ARE, ARE THEY SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY IN?

Yes

ladesh Cricket Board, he was the founding general secretary of Chittagong Brothers Union and the district’s sports council.

But many of the survey participants said there were not sufficient playgrounds for children in the city while a large number claimed that most available playgrounds were not up to par.

No Two-fifths of the port city’s residents said they were satisfied with the city corporation’s efforts in managing waste and improving water stagnation. These two issues led the list of services respondents wanted to see more improvements in during the coming year.

Poll responses suggest that mosquito infestation had improved in

Source: Institute of Informatics and Development some areas of the city but needed to be improved further in other parts of the city.

Born on January 1, 1957 at Andarkilla, Nasir’s website describe him as a person driven to

help the needy. It calls him a man of myriad talents, who stands out for his “sense of commitment, responsibility, dedication, honesty, integrity and sheer passion in all his undertakings.” l

500,000 new consumers likely to get electricity connections in Chittagong n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong With a view to improving the existing power distribution system and ridding the consumers of the persistent power outage in Chittagong, the state-owned power generation and supply agency, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) has recently undertaken a mega project.

As per the information provided by the PDB, there is an 8,000km long power distribution line in Chittagong region. However, no major repair to the supply system was done in the last 11 years in Chittagong region. It was in 2005 when the distribution line was renovated for the last time, albeit partially.

The consumers of Chittagong and other adjoining districts have to face untold sufferings due to

sudden power outage caused by frequent accidents, including transformer explosions.

The officials of the PDB related to the project have expressed their optimism that Chittagong city, Cox’s Bazar, three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tract and Cox’s Bazar will witness a radical change in the power generation and distribution system with the implementation of the mammoth project.

With the renovation of the existing power supply system which will cost Tk1,100 crore, the electricity network will be expanded further and around 500,000 new consumers will be connected to the power grid in Chittagong, hoped the PBD officials.

“We have a plan to generate 600MW more electricity. However, it is not possible to generate addi-

tional power without revamping the existing power supply system.

The additional power cannot be used if the electricity distribution system cannot be improved,” said Engineer Abul Bashar Khan, member (planning and development) of the PDB. “Power generation is an index to the socio-economic development of a country. We hope that our consumers will be able to consume uninterrupted power supply will be ensured with the successful implementation of the project,” added Engineer Bashar Khan.

The mega project which is likely to come to an end in 2018 includes constructing and repairing 23 sub-stations, installing 2,500-km long distribution line and setting up 1,500 supply transformers.

A total of 15 new sub-stations

will be constructed while capacity of 8 sub-stations will be enhanced and rehabilitated under the new project.

“At present we have as many as 4,500 distribution transformers.

However, it is a matter of regret that most of the transformers are outdated and facing serious overloading problem. That’s why we will install new transformers and repair the existing ones so that the load could be balanced,” said Engineer Prabir Kumar Dey, deputy director of the PDB’s project of improving the distribution system.

“The project of improving power supply system will address the voltage problem to a great extent.

The consumers will get rid of the perennial load shedding problem which we call ‘forced load shedding’,” added Engineer Prabir. l

Outlawed party man killed in gunfight n Our Correspondent, Kushtia

A member of the outlawed party Purba Bangla Communist Party (red flag) was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Kaligora Bridge area under Mirpur upazila in Kushtia yesterday.

The deceased was Asadul Phakira, 38, son of late Ejahar Ali of Radhanagar village and an active member the party.

Kamruzzaman, assistant superintendent of Kushtia police (Veramara Circle), said a team of police conducted a drive in

the area while some 10-15 miscreants were holding secrete meeting.

He said: “Sensing the presence of the law enforces, they opened fire at the police.”

In retaliation, police fired back that left Asadul injured. Two po-

licemen were also injured in the incident.

Later, the duty doctor declared Asadul dead after he was taken to Upazila Health Complex The police recovered two firearms and some bullets from the spot. l

DT

8

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Chittagong city BCL secretary denied bail n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Chittagong city chapter Chhatra League Secretary Nurul Azim Rony was denied bail in an arms case yesterday.

Hossain Md Reza, senior judicial magistrate of Chittagong, passed the order after lawyer of the BCL leader prayed for bail, said Moshiur Rahman, inspector (court) of Chittagong district police.

It may be mentioned that the BCL leader was arrested in possession of a 9mm pistol, 15 rounds of bullet, Tk26,000 in cash and a rubber stamp from Chittagong’s Hathazari upazila during the 4th phase of Union Parishad polls on May 7.

A mobile court led by Judicial Magistrate Harunur Rashid arrested the BCL leader and later on, sentenced him to two years imprisonment in total for breaching electoral rule.

The Hathazari police lodged a case against the BCL leader under arms act and Nurul Azim Rony was shown arrested in the arms case. l

Members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League stage demonstration in front of the office of Chittagong deputy commissioner in the port city yesterday demanding release of a BCL leader who was jailed two days back for violating electoral code of conduct DHAKA TRIBUNE

Thousands marooned as embankment collapses n Asaduzzaman, Satkhira

The WDB did not take any initiative to repair the risky embankment, despite repeated requests

for long, but the Water Development Board did not take any measure to fix it.

Sanjay Das said after the portion had collapsed, hundreds of people of the six villages led by local representatives tried to rebuild the portion with bamboo and soil on Monday, but all of their efforts went in vain.

Chairman of Protapnagar union parishad Jakir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that they had earlier informed the authorities about the vulnerable state of the portion

of the embankment, but they did not take any action.

He said: “The WDB did not take any initiative to repair the risky embankment, despite repeated requests, rather they embezzled the budget for such development works.

“We do not need any relief, we need repair of damaged portion of the embankment.”

He also apprehended that if the authorities concerned did not take action in this regard, more villages, including Puizala and Satkhira Sa-

Thousands of people at six villages of Ashasuni upazila, Satkhira have been left marooned as a portion of an embankment collapsed due to high tide yesterday.

Local sources said a number of shrimp enclosures and crops on hundreds acres of land have been washed away.

On Sunday, about 200 feet of the embankment at Kola village point have been collapsed in the Kopotaksha River inundatinf Kola, Hijlia,

Sriula, Mariala, Hajrakhali, Langaldari and Kalimakhali villages.

Abdur Razzak, a resident of Kola village, said the portion of the dam had been in a vulnerable condition

Suspected robber lynched

AL leader allegedly kills elder brother over paternal land

n Our Correspondent, Jessore

n Nayan Khondoker, Jhenaidah

A suspected robber was beaten to death by mob in Jhikorgachha area of the district yesterday.

The deceased was Lalu Mia. Sources said locals caught four robbers and beat them up while they were returning home after conducting a robbery at a church in Shimulia in the morning. Lalu died on the spot while three others got injired.

Anisur Rahman, superintendent of police, said: “The injured have been admitted to Jessore 250-bed General Hospital.” l

A man was killed allegedly by his younger brother over paternal land related issues in Bojrapur village of the district’s Moheshpur yesterday.

The dead was Mojibur Rahman Khokon, elder brother of ATM Ajibor Rahman Mohan who claims himself to be vice-president of Awami League central unit sub-committee.

Mohan, identifying himself as a central leader, has been carrying out many criminal activities in

the area for long, locals alleged.

He also tortured and harassed his own family members, the locals added.

According to the family, Mohan had been depriving his brothers from their paternal property, acquiring it illegally for years.

Yesterday, when Mojibur went to their family land in the morning, Mohan beat him to death and to hide the killing he took his brother to Kotechandpur Upazila Health Complex and told duty doctors that Mojibur had a stroke.

Mohan then brought his broth-

er home after the doctors declared him dead.

When the locals received the news of Mojibur’s death, they beat Mohan up and confined him.

Mojibur’s younger sister Shamima Akhter said: “My brother was killed because he opposed Mohan grabbing our paternal land. Mohan also killed my mother, torturing her.”

Mohespur police station OC Aminul Islam Biplob said the locals have handed over Mohan to the police and Mojibur’s body have been sent to the morgue for autopsy. l

dar, would be flooded soon.

An official of the WDB said they had already informed higher authorities of the matter. As soon as they got instruction, they would start work on the damaged portion of the dam.

Earlier on Friday, hundreds of villagers at Kola village were marooned after high tide breached parts of the embankment.

Then, a madrasa, about 50 fish enclosures and crops on a vast tract of land were inundated after the collapse. l

544 schemes under TR near completion n BSS The implementation of 544 schemes under the first phase test relief programme in four upazilas and four pourasabhas of Chuadanga district near completion.

The four upazilas are: Chuadanga Sadar, Alamdanga, Damurhuda and Jibannagar. Four pourasabhas are: Chuadanga, Alamdanga, Darsana and Jibannagar.

The relief and disaster management department is implementing the schemes spending 615 metric tons of rice. l

9

DT

Feature

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Religious leaders and peacebuilding How faith-based leaders can advocate for messages of peace in Bangladesh

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

n G M Shoeb Ahmed

N

ationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism are the four fundamental principles of the Bangladesh Constitution.

According to the constitution, Bangladesh is a secular country although Islam is the widely practiced religion, with Muslims constituting 90.4 percent of the population. This is followed by Hindus (8.5 percent), Christians, Buddhists and other religions, including Sikhs, Bahai’is, animists and other indigenous religions.

Nonetheless, Islam in Bangladesh is far from monolithic and there are differences according to region and by urban and rural areas.

In recent times, the issues of religion, politics and security have become tied together in Bangladesh. But in many places, people’s shared faiths can persuade them to participate in communities and motivate others to be more engaged. Of course, shared values, communication through the same language, customary greetings, and other cultural connections also create a sense of community, but religion does play an important role.

Faith-based leaders have a role to play Faith-inspired organisations across religious traditions work for interfaith harmony, conflict mitigation between ethnic and religious communities, and peacebuilding. According to a survey conducted by the Asia Foundation with USAID support, more than 80 percent of Bangladeshi citizens say that religious leaders of all faiths should have a role in progressing national development goals and democratic ideologies in Bangladesh. The survey also found that over 64 percent of ordinary citizens believe religious leaders have a major role to play in guiding community thought on social issues, and that over 70 percent would request the involvement or opinion of a religious or community leader at a shalish, or local mediation forum.

According to Rosita MacDonald, programme officer for the Asia Foundation’s Governance, Law and Civil Society programmes, religious and community leaders possess a deep understanding of the needs and interests of local communities, and can communicate local urgencies to government officials and

development professionals.

Such positions of respect allow them to provide practical feedback on whether the goals of peacebuilding, reconciliation and mediation are working at the local level.

In Bangladesh, faith leaders can hold these local positions of respect and possess an understanding of local communities’ interests.

According to an imam from Bagerhat who chose to remain unnamed, “I try to talk about issues like the importance of transparent and peaceful message in my Friday sermons, and when people come to me for advice, I try to answer them, but I also direct them to organisations in our community that may be able to help them better.”

Leaders and development: the possibilities If links are built between religious leaders and development organisations, they can play a positive role in activities that are related to promoting safety and security and peacebuilding. Discussions between humanitarian organisations and religious leaders can build common ground, and these organisations

can play an important role in passing on these messages of peace. These issues can then in turn be explained by imams during Friday sermons to local communities.

In situations of violence and during political turmoil, progressive religious leaders can play positive roles rather than negative ones, and try to establish dialogue and reconcile communities.

Inclusive dialogue and trust-building are indispensable and in many contexts, this has been effective in ensuring a better respect for humanitarian values and principles. Better dialogue and building links at different levels of community can contribute to limiting further polarisation, and, where possible, to reducing the numbers of victims.

Religious unrest: how can we solve it?

Religious intolerance has managed to put down deep roots in our society, and now we are experiencing its extremes. Many in the country do not feel free to access their fundamental right of religious freedom; it seems every now and again, there is news of suffering among Hindus, Buddhists, and indigenous

peoples.

In this backdrop, religious leaders from different faiths can act as voluntary agents of change and influence local community to address identified safetysecurity and peacebuilding issues to uphold the peace. They can even motivate the community to work together against sexual harassment, domestic violence, early marriage, dowry and political violence. There are already local leaders who advice people to not arrange early marriage, who warn against the adverse effects of drug abuse and encourage the youth to not engage in eve-teasing.

If religious leaders actively provide sermons at mosques, temples and religious gatherings to challenge these anti-social activities, coordinate and cooperate with local government and police administration and spread awareness amongst the local communities, we can create communal harmony and use religious teachings themselves to fight against extremism in Bangladesh. l

G M Shoeb Ahmed is currently working in safety, security and peacebuilding issues in the Bangladesh development sector. Email: gmshoeb.ahmed@ gmail.com

DT

10

Feature

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Go green in the wedding scene Ten ways to make your special day meaningful

n Nadia Afrin

a piece of jewelry that has been previously owned and loved can be especially meaningful. If you are truly bold, unconventional and don’t care much for gold, you can always opt for accessories made with dried flowers.

Wedding season never seems to end. Brides, grooms and their families will leave no stone unturned to make their wedding an occasion to remember. There will be a scramble to book the best venues in town and hundreds of guests will be invited to witness the fanfare. Our weddings have truly gone global these days – saris brought in from India, make-up from the US, gold from Dubai and orchids from Thailand for added flair.

In the midst of wedding mania, a handful of conscious couples are opting for more ethical and eco-friendly choices to make their special day meaningful. Although green weddings are a rare occurrence today, this trend is gradually catching on.

Here are ten ways to can make your wedding unique, memorable and reflect your values:

Request charitable gifts When my husband and I were getting married, we had two complete households and all the china, kitchen equipment and silverware we needed.

So we requested our guests not to bring gifts or if they must, they could choose to donate to one of the charitable causes we had picked out.

Our friends and family contributed over Tk80,000 that went towards educating girls, providing reproductive healthcare and giving farm animals to poor rural families. This was a truly wonderful way to commemorate our special day. A few other friends came together and got us a wedding photographer and a hotel gift voucher for our honeymoon - thoughtful and memorable gifts that we could actually use.

Shop locally We don’t need an economic study to know that buying local products helps support local businesses and strengthens the economy of the community. Make a trip to Mirpur Benarasee Polli to check out traditional sarees for your bridal wardrobe. You can choose from a wide array of katan, benarasee and silk sarees made by local artisans. Take some time out to see the weavers and apprentices at work – churning out beautiful sarees with intricate motifs.

Choose eco-friendly wedding cards Your wedding announcement or invitation can set the tone for your environmentally-friendly wedding. Print up cards on recycled card stock. There are many options today for 100% recycled, partially recycled papers from wedding invitation suppliers.

If possible, go paperless and use Facebook or services like Evite (www.evite.com) or Paperless Post (www.paperlesspost.com) to invite your friends.

Pick an outdoor location If you are getting married during the cooler months, have an outdoor wedding ceremony and let nature be the backdrop for your big day. A garden, park or beach setting can add a romantic touch.

Create a beautiful setting for photo opportunities and minimise the need for décor. You can also save energy by taking advantage of the natural light and cutting down on air conditioning.

Don’t waste food Donate the surplus food from your wedding reception to a local orphanage or shelter. If you are giving away leftovers, make sure that food is preserved at the right temperature and handled with care so that it does not spoil.

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK Use green wedding décor Since power is always in short supply, go easy on the lights and maintain austerity in electricity consumption. For décor, use potted-plants instead of cut flowers and give them to your guests as gifts at the end of the night.

Organise ride shares Navigating through Dhaka traffic can be quite daunting. Help out your guests and reduce carbon emissions by organising minibuses or ride-shares to the wedding venue.

Host joint events Traditional Bengali nuptials have several pre and post-wedding ceremonies (engagement party, gaye holud, bou bhat) that can easily spiral out of control. To avoid waste and excess, the bride and groom’s family can come together and host a joint gaye holud and wedding reception.

Reuse old jewelry There is something beautifully symbolic about the tradition of exchanging rings to symbolise a

long-lasting commitment to your partner.

Although diamond rings are customary, in recent years, there is growing awareness that the diamond trade is fueling war and conflict in many parts of Africa.

For your ethical wedding, find a conflict-free diamond or choose a different gemstone. You can create exquisite rings from pearl, turquoise, ruby, emerald, jade etc.

Given the steep price of gold, you can reuse old jewelry or melt down and refashion family heirlooms.

For instance, a friend recently proposed to his girlfriend with his mother’s wedding ring. Using

Volunteer honeymoon This is not for the faint of heart.

If you are truly passionate about a particular cause, you can spend part of your honeymoon volunteering together. This can be a fantastic bonding experience for newly-wed love birds. Volunteer at a school or hospital or build houses for low-income communities with Habitat for Humanity – Bangladesh (http://www.habitatbangladesh. org/). There are plenty of options to choose from.

These are just a few small measures in which you can be budget-conscious and ensure that your wedding leaves a small foot print on the environment. Most importantly, involve friends and family in planning your ethical wedding. And don’t forget to have fun! l

DT

Editorial 11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

INSIDE

The labyrinth of the primaries The nomination process for US elections is probably the most complex among Western democracies. It is lengthy, cumbersome, and difficult to understand for most people in the country, at least for those who are not political workers PAGE 12

Confusing words, real concerns Many people have alleged that the premier’s statement would inspire the killers, as she said her government would not shoulder responsibility for murders occurred because of writing against religion PAGE 13

Down a slippery road This is a slippery road for the government to take. Once you start on this road, where does it stop? Soon someone may attack a restaurant that’s open during the days of Ramadan because it hurts their religious sensibility PAGE 14

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

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

BIGSTOCK

Privatisation the best way for BJMC to secure jobs

I

t is over-optimistic for Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to claim that its sale of 1.66 hectares of land in Gulshan to the Public Works Department has “solved” its financial problems.

At best, this is a temporary fix, paid for with tax-payer money, sufficient only to cover the outstanding debts it owes to workers who had their wages stopped.

While it is good news for local residents that PWD intends to turn the land into a playground, the sale does nothing to curb the cost caused to tax-payers by the SOE’s losses.

It also raises questions about how profitably BJMC had been managing the land which it had rented out to the Italian embassy.

The underlying problems of poor management which caused BJMC to incur losses and violate workers’ rights to timely payment remain the same. As does the only sensible solution.

Jute mills and other perennially loss-making SOEs should be privatised or closed.

There is no justification for keeping them open if they cannot even support their normal wage bill.

The benefits would be seen in three main ways.

Firstly, losses to the taxpayer would be ended, allowing more money to be invested in education.

Secondly, more jobs could be created and the economy boosted by leasing or selling the land for developments as EPZs. The EPZs at the site of former jute mills at Adamjee and Karnaphuli have created over 95,000 jobs, far more than were previously on the payroll of loss-making SOEs. Finally, by ending unfair competition to private jute mills, owners would have more incentive to invest in expansion.

It is clear the opportunity costs of not making better use of state-owned assets and land are huge.

The government must learn to manage public resources more productively.

It is the only sensible solution to poor management of stateowned assets

12

DT

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

The labyrinth of the primaries It is hard work walking through the complex nomination process, but every candidate must do so

The primaries are a gruelling process

n Ziauddin Choudhury

T

he high point in US politics this year is the general elections this November, when a new president will be chosen along with members for the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate. But before we get there, people are now riveted by the primaries and caucuses that precede the general elections, which are a necessary process for each political party to select their nominees for the offices.

Indeed, the primaries and caucuses have never generated greater public interest than this election year because of the plethora of presidential candidates who sought the Republican nomination, and their greatly divergent political opinions that ranged from puerile to incendiary, from ludicrous to outlandish.

The nomination process for the US elections is probably the most complex among Western democracies. It is lengthy, cumbersome, and difficult to understand for most people in the country, at least for those who are not political workers.

The process is more complicated not just because each US state has its own method of nomination, caucus, or primary.

A caucus is a system of local gatherings where voters decide which candidate to support and select delegates for nominating conventions. In a primary, delegates are selected in a statewide voting process in which voters cast secret ballots for their preferred candidates.

Decades ago, most states held caucuses for nomination of presidential candidates, but now only

REUTERS

The nomination process for US elections is probably the most complex among Western democracies. It is lengthy, cumbersome, and difficult to understand for most people in the country, at least for those who are not political workers a handful hold these. Most states now hold primary elections to choose nominees of each party for president and other public offices.

Major reasons why more states have opted for primary elections are because these are held by the states and not by the parties, and these are more direct than caucuses held by the political parties. Delegates to the political convention (which officially gives the seal of approval to the nominees) are selected after votes in the caucus.

In a sense, the primaries are a rehearsal of the actual election in November, except that the results determine which candidate the party supporters would like to see as the party’s nominee.

Just as the US presidential election is determined by the number of electoral votes from each state (which are equal to the total number of senators and members of House of Representatives from the state), the presidential nomination for each party is also based on the number of delegates the nominees garnered through the caucuses and primaries.

In most states, the delegates are allocated to the nominees based on the percentage of popular votes they receive, but in states that follow winner-takes-all formula, all delegates are awarded to the candidate getting majority votes.

I had a first-hand experience

this election season to just not to witness but help primary elections in a precinct in Maryland as an election judge. The title is a little euphemistic because the nature of the job is more to work as a polling officer than a judge.

But the polling job was a great way to understand the labyrinth of a primary election and the seriousness that it entailed both among party workers and voters of each party. From start to finish, it was nothing short of a general election, and the rules that the elections followed were not less serious or arduous than a general election.

To perform the duties of the day (which began at 6am and ended at 10pm), I had gone through two days of training before at the County Board of Elections even though I had worked as election judge in the mid-term elections two years before.

The training was partly refresher, but mainly to acquaint ourselves with the new voting machines and to learn the difference between primary and general elections. In a primary, the elections are to vote for nominees for each party for the offices the candidates are seeking, and therefore, the voters are registered as supporters of one party or another.

Since most states follow a closed primary, voters can vote

for a particular party only if they have registered themselves as supporters of that party. Closing dates for registration differ from state to state. In some states which follow open primaries, voters could register for the party of their choice as late as Election Day. Unaffiliated or independent voters can vote only for school boards or local judges only in a primary, but they can vote for presidential candidates or congressional candidate from any party in a general election.

The rules for the polling centres were as strict as those for a correction centre or a secret facility. No electioneering was allowed within 100 meters of the centre, no bills, campaign posters, or hoardings advertising of any candidate were permitted within that perimeter. No voter was allowed to carry any poster, newspaper, or electronic device including cellphones inside the centre. The election officials were asked not to carry any newspaper or magazine, and leave their phones at home.

The only way the election officers could communicate with family during the 16 hour period they were in the centre was through a Board of Elections-provided phone which was installed for the day inside the centre (which in our case was a high school). There were no police or

security guards, but everybody entering and exiting the centre knew what the rules were and what would be the consequence should any of the rules be infringed.

The day ended without any chaos or any ruffling of feathers.

No one shouted foul play, no one was intimidated while performing their duties or casting their votes.

The nomination process for the US general elections will soon be over with the final primaries in early June. It is possible that before that date, the final nominees for each major party will be known and will be given the stamp of approval in the conventions of each party in July.

There is a possibility that the Republican nomination can be contested, if there is no clear winner before the convention date as Donald Trump’s success so far has not been looked upon favourably by many of the Republican stalwarts.

Whether there is a contested convention or not, each candidate has to walk through the labyrinth of the nomination process, working hard to win the primaries and caucuses in what could be best described as an ideal democratic process.

The US presidential election process may be lengthy and complex, but the intent of the process is to involve people at all stages so that there is transparency in not just the election itself, but also the process that goes along with it. And there lies the significant difference between US democracy and all others. 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

DT

Long Form

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Confusing words, real concerns What does the PM’s Pohela Boishakh speech reveal? This is the first part of a two-part long form

Why did the PM say what she said?

BIGSTOCK

Many people have alleged that the premier’s statement would inspire the killers, as she said her government would not shoulder responsibility for murders occurred because of writing against religion

n Masuda Bhatti

U B

ntil recently, many quarters, especially the government, claimed that the targeted killings had been conducted in a planned manner to undermine the image of the country in the global arena. ut now that it is really happening, globally, Bangladesh is now labelled as a “bloggerkiller country,” where terrorists are silencing free-thinkers with their “holy” machetes.

Here the government’s role has also been questioned, as it has failed to ensure safety and security for its citizens.

This is a glimpse of what the foreign media is talking about when it comes to us. Sometimes, conscious foreign friends ask me personally to know what actually is happening in Bangladesh, though they know the answer.

We can see how people with “alternative thoughts” are being killed one after another and how it is creating panic among the common people.

These killers are also identifying themselves in public after completing their missions, as per the eyewitnesses and the law enforcers.

On the other hand, the overall law and order implies that no one is safe anymore from the clutches of the invisible forces that are trying to grab power, taking people’s lives hostage. We can say so beyond any doubt because such attempts had been made in the past too.

In these circumstances, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made some comments during the Pohela Boishakh celebrations at her residence, and it has created grievances.

Many people have alleged that the premier’s statement would

inspire the killers as she said her government would not shoulder responsibility for murders occurred because of writing against religion.

I went through the same report on several newspapers, but found only an online portal publishing her speech in detail while others published a part of the comments that they want to tell the readers.

Here is a quote from her speech taken from an online newspaper: “As a Muslim, I follow the religious guidelines regularly. I am hurt when someone writes about it. And why would you blame the government if anything awkward takes place because of that writing? Everyone should get rid of discourtesy and maintain self restraint and decency.”

About the people who kill in the name of religion, she said: “Killing people is not a solution.

Someone will write something and someone else will kill him/her as a revenge -- it is not what Islam says.

Allah said He will try them on the judgement day. Those who do not rely on Allah want to kill others.

They do not follow Allah and the Prophet. They want to do the Allah’s task -- it is shirk.”

She also came down heavily on those who are propagating against the Pohela Boishakh celebrations.

“I doubt whether they follow

religious teachings. There are many festivals in our country. We celebrate Eid as well as Pohela Boishakh. There is no scope for obstructing someone from celebrating the festivals.

I do not know why they are opposing. People are trying to make many different comments on the issue. Some claim that it resembles Hindu culture. We live in Bangladesh even though we are Muslims. We are Bangali because we achieved independence through a war as Bangalis. There is no ground to say ‘you cannot be a Muslim if you are following Bangali culture.’ Where did you find it in the religion [Islam]?”

Describing the protests against the festival as “unfortunate,” the premier said: “It is unfortunate that different parties make different opinions. [Actually] everybody follows their own religious rites. We need to practice tolerance so that we can maintain peace in the country. Peace is the main concern. No progress can be made without a peaceful atmosphere. Peace prevails in the country now, for this, our GDP growth is increasing, the per capita income has risen, and this year, Pohela Boishakh is being observed at the rural level.”

About the teachings of Islam concerning tolerance, she said: “We practice our religions. Islam says that everyone will follow their own religious practices. It does not suggest attacking another religion.

The Prophet has asked all not to cross the limit regarding religion.”

Does anyone still have any doubts that she cannot or did not instigate the machete-wielding killers? If not, let’s talk about it a little more.

Those who love debate can argue whether Bangladesh is a Muslim country or a secular one.

We have to discuss the matter accepting the reality. Either Bangladesh has changed or, more specifically, it has been changed.

I mentioned it many times in the past that it would be unjust to expect a single political party to advocate for secularism or dream about a secular state, while the other parties keep trying to turn it into a Muslim country; when only the AL will continue supporting liberals and, for this, invite blame on itself as a party of atheists. l The concluding part of this long form will be published tomorrow.

This article has been translated by Probir Bidhan.

Masuda Bhatti is a poet and columnist.

14

DT

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Down a slippery road We are going down the dangerous road of religious extremism

Don’t stand by and watch as freedom burns

n Mahmud Rahman

I

n Tangail, Bangladesh, Nikhil Chandra Joardar, a Hindu tailor, was hacked to death by machete-wielding on a motorcycle.

Several years ago, he had spent some time in jail for supposedly offending religious sentiments -Muslim ones, that is.

A week earlier, two schoolteachers -- Krishnapada Mouli and Ashok Kumar -- were jailed for offending the religious sensibilities of Muslims in Bagerhat.

Parents had apparently been outraged when a child reported that a teacher had said something critical of Islam. Soon, a mob had gathered outside the school with plans to punish the teachers.

A court with special powers made a judgement on the spot and convicted the teachers.

The reports I have seen in the Bangladeshi press are short of details.

I wish some journalists had gone down there to investigate the ostensible crime committed by

the teachers instead of accepting at face value what the locals and police claimed.

This is not the first time teachers have been persecuted for comments made in their classrooms. A friend reported on Facebook that, back in 1993, a relative had come to him to report of a colleague, a science teacher, who had been paraded around with a garland of shoes. His offence had been to teach that the Earth revolved around the sun.

My friend reported that he had tried to get some of the press to report on the incident, but no papers were willing to touch it; no one would stand by a poor teacher trying to teach science.

He believes that stories like this may well be common around Bangladesh. They will no doubt become much more so.

There are mobs that can easily be whipped up. There is the state with its colonial-era law on offending religious sensibilities.

And now, here come the machetewielding, self-appointed Islamist executioners.

BIGSTOCK

This is a slippery road for the government to take. Once you start on this road, where does it stop? Soon someone may attack a restaurant that’s open during the days of Ramadan because it hurts their religious sensibility Starting with the prime minister, Bangladesh’s leaders have announced that no one should be tolerated for offending the religious sensibilities of believers.

On the ground, this means only Muslim believers, since no one ever gets punished for offending the religious sensibilities of Hindus or Christians.

Friday prayers and waj-mahfils are routinely peppered with vile remarks against Hindus, Jews, and Christians. Every Durga Puja season comes with reports from across the country of vandals destroying idols and defacing murals. Death threats are routinely made against “infidels.”

This is a slippery road for the government to take. Once you

start on this road, where does it stop?

Soon, someone may attack a restaurant that’s open during the days of Ramadan because it hurts their religious sensibility.

There are mullahs who routinely go around on rickshaws with megaphones demanding that women cover themselves.

Are we too far from seeing women attacked for offending religious sensibility because they do not wear the prescribed attire?

And what about books? How long will the novel Lal Shalu by Syed Waliullah, which features a fraudulent majar-keeper, be sold in bookshops? Can it be taught in schools and colleges?

What about our poets and

songwriters, Nazrul Islam and Lalon Fakir? Both have said things that could offend some believer’s religious sensibility.

If you start on this road, one day you’ll turn around and find that having a woman as prime minister still offends various people’s religious sensibilities.

The road ahead is treacherous.

Once we accept this as the new normal, it will burn us all. We can look at Pakistan to see where this road heads toward. Pakistan’s killing fields were not created in a single day. l Mahmud Rahman is the author of Killing the Water: Stories and the translator of Mahmudul Haque’s novel Black Ice. This article first appeared on thewire.in.

DT

Business 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

INSIDE

Plan to end culture of tax exemption Aramco finalises IPO options, plans global expansion

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant is finalising options for its partial privatisation and will present them to its Supreme Council soon, its chief executive said about the centrepiece of the kingdom’s efforts to overhaul its economy. PAGE 16

Global retail, consumer sector deals less pricey Mergers and acquisitions in the global consumer and retail sectors in 2016 are likely to be characterised by lower valuations for small firms and reasonable values for riskier assets, after a string of mega deals in 2015, a report shows.

PAGE 17

Canada wildfire a hard hit to economy, oil companies The wildfire raging in Canada is forcing a reduction in oil output at the worst possible time in a country where the energy sector accounts for 10% of GDP and thousands have lost their jobs due to low crude prices. PAGE 18

Capital market snapshot: Tuesday DSE Broad Index

4,330.3

0.0% ▲

Index

1,066.2

0.2% ▲

30 Index

1,681.1

0.1% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

4,307.0 -12.8% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

113.4

11.6% ▲

CSE All Share Index 13,311.5 30 Index Selected Index

0.1% ▲

12,343.7

-0.1% ▼

8,091.8

0.0% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

194.1 -35.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

7.0 -33.3% ▼

Showkat Kallol and n Asif Syed Samiul Basher Anik To increase the tax-GDP ratio and create a favourable environment for all taxpayers, the government now plans to keep development projects out of tax exemption facility.

A policy is likely to be formulated to bring about the changes in the Bangladesh tax system from the next fiscal year (2016-17), according to official sources.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already prepared a working paper to end the culture of tax exemption so there is no uneven competition in the economy.

The NBR is currently working on the matter as part of its budget formulation process.

According to the draft policy papers, no development projects can apply for any tax or duty exemption. Rather, they will have to pay all the taxes and duties.

In case of any tax exemptions, the government will clearly men-

NBR headquarters building in Dhaka tion about the sectors eligible to get the benefit through a statutory regulatory order.

The sectors will include import of products through diplomatic policies and import of donation products for the projects taken for the wellbeing of the people.

The papers emphasise that the country needs to end the existing culture of tax exemption if it wants to increase the tax–GDP ratio to an expected level.

“Currently, a significant num-

Another 23 lorries seized for carrying products without VAT documents n Tribune Business Desk The value-added tax audit intelligence and investigation directorate has seized 23 lorries and covered vans over the past four days as they were carrying goods which reportedly evaded VAT. In separate drives, the VAT intelligence officials stopped vehicles on the streets and checked if they had any VAT payment receipts or challans.

The vehicles were seized as they failed to show relevant documents including VAT papers and valid trade documents, and the goods were released and being transported, abusing the bonded warehouse facility.

Most of these lorries were carrying goods from plastic and packaging manufacturing companies, officials said.

Earlier, the same authorities seized 31 trucks and covered vans, in between April 22 and April 29 for the same allegations.

Officials said manufacturers took the goods out of manufac-

turing units, dodging VAT, which is common among a section of manufacturers.

According to the law, a vehicle transporting products from factories to distributors or to wholesalers must have to carry VAT payment receipts known as VAT challan as a proof of VAT payment.

Currently, there is a 4% VAT applicable at manufacturing stage.

The authorities have filed cases against owners of those companies and kept the vehicles at the Dhaka Customs House and the National Board of Revenue.

The directorate is conducting such drives after having such power in the 2015-16 fiscal year’s budget.

The VAT Act 1991 has been amended as a budgetary measure in the fiscal year to empower the directorate so it could take hardline against the VAT evaders.

Officials said the drives would continue on regular basis in different parts of the country under the anti-VAT evasion steps taken by the NBR. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

ber of sectors are getting tax exemption benefits. As a result, Bangladesh’s tax-GDP ratio is low compared to many developing countries,” said the NBR papers.

To increase tax-GDP ration, the NBR has already taken initiatives to expand tax base, encourage all the taxpayers to pay taxes and raise awareness among the potential taxpayers.

The negative impact of expansion of the tax exemption benefits is that it hinders creation of lev-

el-playing field for different sectors resulting in uneven competition in the economy.

Currently, many of the manufacturing companies in the export processing zones enjoy duty-exemption benefit.

The tax and duty exemption facility were also given to investors and developers of economic zones under Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and establishments under Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.

“As a result, a major portion of the economy will be out of tax net in the next 10-12 years,” an official said.

The government has a target to raise tax-GDP ratio to 13.7% from the existing 10.3% by 2020 as per its seventh five year plan, which the NBR termed as “challenging.”

The NBR official said the importance of domestic resource mobilisation increased as demands of investment rose and agreement made as a signatory of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals needed to be followed. l

Stocks end flat amid volatility n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Dhaka stocks ended flat in the green yesterday amid volatility as investors took cautious move on selling and buying spree ahead of the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17.

DSEX, the key index of the country’s premier bourse, ended flat in the green with a marginal gain of 1 point closing at 4,330 points.

The blue chip index, DS30 gained by 0.12% or 2 points to finish at 1,066 points while the shariah-based index went up by 0.21% or 2 points ending at 1,681 points.

“After having a volatile trading session, the market closed without making any notable change to the index yesterday. The volume was up, with support of some large caps

stocks. A Mixed performance was witnessed in the sector-wise movement,” said LankaBangla Securities in its market commentary.

After a day-long volatility, the market ended flat yesterday, with Micro-caps and mini-caps posting the highest returns. By the end of the day, DSEX hardly moved from the last session and settled at 4,330 points, said IDLC Investments market analysis.

Meanwhile, the market participation declined 12.8%, with a total turnover amounting to Tk430 crore including block transaction of T72.63 crore out of which Islami Bank accounted for Tk60.93 crore.

Fuel and Power continued to dominate the turnover chart, seizing 22.9% of the day’s total trade  PAGE 16 COLUMN 4

DT

16

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Aramco finalises IPO options, plans global expansion n Reuters, Dhahran Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant is finalising options for its partial privatisation and will present them to its Supreme Council soon, its chief executive said about the centrepiece of the kingdom’s efforts to overhaul its economy.

The company has a huge team working on the proposals for the initial public offering (IPO) of less than 5% of the company’s value, which include a single domestic listing and a dual listing with a foreign market, CEO Amin Nasser said on Tuesday.

They will be presented “soon” to Aramco’s Supreme Council, headed by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is leading an economic reform drive to address falling oil revenue and sharp fiscal deficits by boosting the private sector, ending government waste and diversifying the economy.

Nasser also said Aramco was seeking to expand globally via joint ventures in Asia and North America.

“We are looking at the current market status that, even though challenging, is an excellent opportunity for growth,” Nasser said, adding that he was looking at opportunities in the United States, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and China.

The CEO was speaking to reporters during a rare media visit to the company’s Dhahran headquarters.

Last month, Prince Mohammed said he expected

Oil tanks at the Saudi Aramco headquarters in Damam city REUTERS the IPO would value Aramco at at least $2tn, but that he thought the figure might end up being higher. Any valuation would account for both oil price expectations and the size of Saudi Arabia’s proven oil reserves.

Company officials said Saudi Arabia had discovered a total of 805.6bn barrels of oil, of which 141.5bn had already been produced and 260bn barrels were considered “proven”, the industry term for reserves that can definitely be extracted.

Aramco also had 403bn barrels of reserves it could probably extract, they said, adding that it hoped to add another 100bn barrels to total reserves by 2025 by increasing the recovery rate by 50%70% using new technology.

Aramco expects global crude oil demand to grow by 1.2 million barrels per day this year, he said, and has seen increasing demand in the United States and India.

“We will meet the call on Saudi Aramco,” Nasser said, adding that the company will increase capacity in future if

needed, but that for the time being its maximum sustainable capacity would stay at 12m b/dd, with total capacity of 12.5m b/d.

Saudi Arabia produced an average of 10.2m b/d of crude in 2015, he said, adding there had been a big drop in oil output among non-conventional and even other conventional producers.

Aramco’s continued investment in downstream industry is seen as a crucial element of economic diversification plans. One example of this is its plans to sign an agreement soon with Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic), the state-run petrochemical and metals conglomerate, to jointly develop an oil-to-chemicals project, an official said in a briefing to reporters.

The project, likely to cost up to $30bn, would chime with efforts to better integrate the kingdom’s energy and industrial sectors. On Saturday a new Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry was created in place of the old oil ministry. l

Ecnec approves seven projects n Tribune Business Desk The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved seven development projects involving Tk5,727.40 crore.

The approval came at the Ecnec meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, according to BSS. Following the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal briefed newsmen about the projects.

He said the seven projects approved will require

Tk5,727.40 crore for execution.

“Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk2,769.35 crore from the national exchequer while the organisations concerned will contribute Tk9.99 crore from their own funds and the remaining Tk2,948.06 crore will come as project assistance,” he added.

The minister said six projects are new while one is revised among the approved seven ones.

Ecnec yesterday cleared the uninterrupted power supply project in rural areas in Sylhet to develop and alleviate poverty with Tk1,417.10 crore.

Planning Minister said the project has been taken under the project of expansion of rural electrification activities in Sylhet division and developed the physical facilities of Rural Electrification Board (REB) headquarters.

Another project “Pro-Poor Slums Integration Project” was approved by the Ecnec involving Tk302.25 crore to develop the life standard of lower income community in municipality and city corporation areas.

ECNEC also approved the “Poshur Channel Capital Dredging Project” from Mongla port to Rampal with Tk166 crore. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Stocks end flat amid volatility value. On sectoral front, miscellaneous, up by 1.2%, was the top gainer yesterday as Berger Paint Bangladesh Limited appreciated 1.4%.

Telecommunications gained 0.7%, riding on the heavyweight Grameenphone. On the other hand, Bank lost 0.8% and Non-Life Insurance 0.8%.

The single-day turnover stood at Tk430

crore, which was 12.8% lower than the previous session’s value.

During the trade at DSE, 139 securities gained price, 131 declined and 51 remained unchanged.

Mobil Jamuna Lubricant Bangladesh Limited, down by 2.0%, was the most-traded share yesterday with a turnover worth Tk22.22 crore. l

A woman uses her mobile phone in front of sale signs in the window of a clothes store at a shopping mall in central Sydney REUTERS

Global retail, consumer sector deals less pricey n Reuters Mergers and acquisitions in the global consumer and retail sectors in 2016 are likely to be characterised by lower valuations for small firms and reasonable values for riskier assets, after a string of mega deals in 2015, a report shows.

Last year ended with $365bn in transactions, the highest dollar value of deals in these sectors since 2008, said the report by consulting firm AT Kearney.

The report, titled ‘Has the consumer-retail merger market lost its froth’, was based on interviews with thirty six company executives globally and analysed historical data from over 1,000 transactions.

Among other trends, the report found renewed investment interest in the United States and other weste nrn markets by companies in China and Japan keen to expand outside their home markets.

The need for deals will be spurred by tighter margins and slowing growth but that will be offset by a drop in demand for high yield debt from private equity players. Higher interest rates for such debt will increase the cost of capital and hurt deal appetite, the report said.

Consolidation, however, will continue and is likely in the most mature categories like soda beverages, processed foods such as cereals and frozen foods. l

German economy fared well in Q1 as trade surplus grows n AFP, Frankfurt Booming exports pushed Germany’s trade surplus up to an all-time high in March, but industrial output contracted, pointing to possible problems ahead for Europe’s biggest economy, official data showed on yesterday.

The trade surplus is a key gauge of an economy’s comparative strength and in recent months has highlighted the robustness of Europe’s biggest economy amid the current global economic uncertainties.

It topped a new all-time monthly high in March on the back of buoyant exports, according to data published by the federal statistics office Destatis.

And analysts said the data

suggested that the German economy notched up solid growth as a whole in the first quarter.

Nevertheless, industrial output contracted in March, falling by a steeper-than-expected 1.3 percent, possibly indicating some clouds on the horizon.

German exports grew by 1.9% to 101.3bn euros ($115bn) in seasonally-adjusted terms in March, Destatis said.

At the same time, imports - a measure of domestic demand - decreased by 2.3% to 77.6bn euros.

That meant that the trade surplus - the balance between exports and imports - expanded sharply to 23.7bn euros in March from 20bn euros in February, the statisticians calculated. l

17

DT

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

DT

18

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Canada wildfire a hard hit to economy, oil companies n AFP, Fort McMurray The wildfire raging in Canada is forcing a reduction in oil output at the worst possible time in a country where the energy sector accounts for 10% of GDP and thousands have lost their jobs due to low crude prices.

With authorities warning the blaze could continue to burn for months in the absence of major rainfall, economists predict that growth would stagnate in the second quarter.

A slew of oil companies in Alberta’s oil sands region have suspended or considerably cut back their operations due to the inferno, evacuating employees as flames approached their facilities.

In total, some 100,000 were forced to flee in and around the hard hit city of Fort McMurray thousands of oil industry workers among them.

Output has been slashed by between a million and 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, according to experts, a sharp dip from some 2.5 million barrels a day before the start of the inferno more than a week ago.

The cut represents a third of Canada’s overall production, analysts say. And that is bad news all around.

Over the past two years, oil com-

Flames rise off Highway 63 on May 7, 2016 outside Fort McMurray, Alberta panies hit by a dip in crude have laid off workers in large numbers and Alberta’s economy - where the natural resources sector accounts for a third of GDP - has been plunged into recession.

In April alone, 21,000 jobs were slashed and the unemployment rate is at 7.2%, twice what it was before the oil crisis.

The local government had planned on Can$1.4bn ($1.1bn US) in royalties from oil this year, down from Can$9 billion last year.

Fallout fears

AFP

Nationwide, the fallout from the fire is also expected to be bitter.

Douglas Porter, chief economist at the Bank of Montreal, predicted that Canadian growth would stagnate. He had previously forecast growth of 1.5%.

His latest prediction could still be revised downward, Porter cautioned.

“We have to reassess that view almost every week as we see exactly what the implication is for oil

CORPORATE NEWS

Anti-money laundering department of Prime Bank has recently held a daylong workshop on prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, said a press release. The bank’s chief anti-money laundering and compliance officer, Md Anwarul Islam inaugurated the workshop as chief guest

First Security Islami Bank Ltd (FSIBL) has recently distributed scholarship to financially challenged residential students of Dhaka University, said a press release. The Speaker of National Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury was present at the scholarship distribution ceremony as chief guest along with the bank’s managing director, Syed Waseque Md Ali

production,” he told AFP. “At this point, we are assuming about two weeks or so of one million barrels per day being out of production,” Porter added.

“It might end up being worse than this, that’s for sure.”

In April, the Bank of Canada revised its economic forecast upward, predicting that the Canadian economy would grow 1.7% in 2016 -- an improvement from its 1.5% growth estimate in January.

The insurance bill for the wildfire is also expected to be steep and could soar up to Can $9bn.

Oil companies operating in the region insist they will resume operations quickly once it was safe to do so.

Canada’s Suncor, for one, said it had shut down its “operations in a controlled manner to facilitate a quick and reliable start-up.”

Last year, two fires in the region forced oil companies to stop 10% of production, but it was back up after two weeks.

This time around, however, things could be different.

“It’s much more complicated than what we have seen in past fires,” Porter said.

“The big difference, this time, is that the entire work force has been evacuated.” l

Developing countries’ renewables markets more attractive n Reuters, London

Rapidly developing countries’ renewable energy markets are becoming increasingly attractive for investors, while European markets have become less so, a report by UK accountancy firm Ernst & Young showed yesterday.

In an annual ranking of the 40 most attractive renewable energy markets worldwide, emerging markets such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Chile, India and Mexico represented half of the countries listed.

That compares to just China and India on the list 10 years ago.

Mexico’s recent power auctions have opened the door to multi-billion dollar opportunities in a newly liberalised energy market, the report said. Brazil’s underdeveloped solar market is also luring investors.

“Emerging markets are transforming their energy industries at an unprecedented pace,” said Ben Warren, energy corporate finance leader at Ernst & Young.

“Last year, renewable energy investments in the developing world overtook those in the developed world for the first time. Latin America, in particular, has become something of a litmus test for how quickly markets can grow,” he added. l

19

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

| culture |

| research |

Sri Lankan audience mesmerised by Bangladeshi cultural performances

Bti sponsors greater earthquake resistance

A cultural team from Bangladesh staged their first performance at the inauguration of the Bangladesh gallery at the International Buddhist Museum in the Western Province Aesthetic Resort auditorium, Colombo on May 9, 2016. Minister of Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor was present as the chief guest at the inauguration. S. B. Nawainnaand, Minister of International Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs in Sri Lanka and Tarique Ahsan, current High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, also attended the

event.

The cultural performance in Colombo included Baul songs performed

by Bhagirat Malo and Anjali Ghosh Durga, as well as folk and contemporary dance, directed by dancer and choreographer Tamanna Rahman. This event was the first such performance by a Bangladeshi team in Sri

Lanka, and marks new heights in relationships between the two countries. This year has marked 40 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. l

| education |

MetLife to support Access Academy Program The Asian University for Women (AUW) and MetLife Foundation announced on May 9, 2016 that MetLife Foundation will support AUW’s collegiate bridge-year program – Access Academy.

This one-year flagship program helps prepare students for AUW’s rigorous, American-style

undergraduate studies and also aims to recruit talented women who may have had limited access to higher education. Kamal Ahmad, President and CEO of Asian University for Women Support Foundation said, “Access Academy is a critical part of AUW’s commitment to academic

excellence and social equity.

MetLife Foundation shares AUW’s passion for providing educational opportunities to women and its support of this program will allow many more socially and economically disadvantaged women to change their lives.” l

DT

Biz Info

A roundtable session on “Research Findings to Strengthen Structural Members beyond BNBC code for Protection against Earthquakes”

by University of Asia Pacific and The Daily Star was held at the Daily Star. The research is first of its kind in the Civil Engineering Field of Bangladesh and was sponsored by bti under the leadership of prominent structural engineer professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury from the University of Asia Pacific. Apart from providing financial support for the project, bti also came forward to augment earthquake protection in our country by providing technical data and a physical model.

In the roundtable session, the research findings were unveiled with a view to raise public awareness and promote recommendation for the implementation of research findings to combat earthquakes.

Key note speakers in the event were Md FR Khan, managing director of bti, professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury and Dr Iftekhar Anam of University of Asia Pacific, Mr Mahfuz Anam, chief editor of The Daily Star. Eminent structural engineers, civil engineers, professors of reputed institutions like NSU, BUET and others were also invited to the discussion. l

| awards |

Winners of Boishakhi Contest

Samsung Mobile Bangladesh handed over the Galaxy Grand Prime, J1 ACE, J2, J5 and J7 devices to the winners of Boishakhi Contest. The winners of this five-day contest are: Mr MD Mehedi Hasan Badhan, Mr Sayed Mazumder, Mr Abid Samin, Mr Rifat Bhuiyan and Mr Mejbah.

The contest was to find out the new Galaxy Packaging from

a series of photos shared by the official Facebook page of Samsung Mobile Bangladesh, and the comment with the screenshot of the packaging popped up in the screen. From April 10, 2016 to April 14, 2016, one post was shared each day and the fastest replier with the correct reply of each day’s post won a smartphone from the Samsung Galaxy series.l

DT

20

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Snoop (3) 3 Ship’s company (4) 6 Absent (4) 7 Corded fabric (3) 9 Outbuilding (4) 10 Liable (3) 11 Spoken (4) 13 Country bumpkin (5) 16 Sells (5) 18 Hospital room (4) 19 Melody (3) 20 Fastener (4) 21 Droop (3) 23 Direction (4) 24 Excuse (4) 25 Acceptance (3)

DOWN 1 Social event (5) 2 Cereal (3) 4 Actual (4) 5 Pale (3) 6 Gather for oneself (5) 8 Card game (5) 9 Hairless (4) 12 Tears (5) 14 Egg-shaped (4) 15 Gem weight (5) 17 Wise men (5) 18 Sagacious (4) 20 Short sleep (3) 22 Reverential fear (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents C so fill C every time the figure 14 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

World 21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

INSIDE

2nd #PanamaPapers leak aftermath

Oil prices volatile as Canadian wildfires overshadow Saudi change Oil prices were volatile on Monday as investors weighed the impact of wildfires on Canadian output against a strengthening US dollar and government shake-up in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil export.

PAGE 23

36 Americans included in #PanamaPapers The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which produced the Panama Papers, said Monday that at least 36 Americans have been accused of fraudulently using off-shore accounts.

Here are details on some of the prominent US cases included in Monday’s release, which includes a database for the public to search offshore accounts of hundreds of thousands of people and companies--

Leonard Gotshalk

Henry Kissinger: True American hero or war criminal?

The US Department of Defence (DoD) on Monday has awarded former US Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger “for his years of distinguished public service” at a ceremony in the Pentagon premises in Washington, DC. PAGE 23

The former Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle turned Oregon businessman has faced criminal investigations for decades, yet he was still able to open an off-shore account through Mossack Fonseca. In 1994, the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Gotshalk for providing investors with “false and misleading information” about a company involved in oil and gas investments, according to the consortium. In 2004, an Oregon court convicted him of theft, sentenced him to 20 months in prison and ordered him to pay a fine. In 2010, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia unsealed an indictment against him, claiming he was part of a scheme to inflate the price of tech-company stocks.

Martin Frankel

Democrats gird for fight with Trump in US Rust Belt states Bracing for a general election fight with Donald Trump, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton and her allies are putting resources into industrial states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania to try to block Trump from making inroads with working-class voters there.

PAGE 24

The Connecticut financier pleaded guilty in 2002 for looting $200m from insurance companies. According to the Connecticut-based Hartford Courant newspaper, Frankel became notorious for his lavish lifestyle, which included purchasing jewels, furs, luxury cars and a compound where he recruited women “through advertisements in alternative publications.” His story, which ended with a flight to Rome with two female friends, even became the subject of a novel.

Robert Miracle

Six people who ran a Ponzi scheme in Seattle were led by Miracle,

who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his part.

The group was accused of defrauding more than 4,200 Indonesian investors out of $175m. During his sentencing hearing in 2011, a federal judge ordered Miracle to give up a $38,000 diamond ring, a $27,000 painting he bought in Italy, and told Miracle he had “ruined people’s lives,” according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.

USA TODAY

1,046 Indians named in #PanamaPapers The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) late on Monday released 37,000 financial and legal records related to India. The India-related documents pertain to 22 offshore entities, 1,046 individuals, 42 intermediaries and 828 addresses.

Personal details not given

However, the data only gives the name of the individual, the local registered address, the off-shore entities either incorporated or of which they are a part of along with the country. Personal details like bank accounts have not been disclosed.

Clarification sought

Based on media reports, the Income-Tax Department has already issued notices to a large number of entities seeking clarification.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also approached the Reserve Bank of India and the Income Tax Department seeking information on those involved. The Indian agencies have not yet received any certified copy of the documents from Panama. Non-disclosure of foreign assets in India can attract investigations by the Income-Tax Department and other financial investigating agencies. In case of suspected illegality, the ED can also launch investigations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. THE HINDU

Indian SC agrees to examine plea for federal probe The Indian Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea for ordering a federal investigation against Indian offshore bank

account holders named in the Panama Papers.

A two-member bench issued notices to the federal authorities and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s top federal investigative authorities, seeking their replies within four weeks.

The court also issued notices to the Reserve Bank of India and market reguVijay Mallya lator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on a public interest litigation suit filed by a lawyer.

A multi-agency group of various probe agencies has been formed by the government to go into disclosures made in the list, which includes about 500 Indian entities.

S h a r m a ’s petition has sought a CBI probe against Indian offshore account KP Singh holders and stock market regulators under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The PIL also asked for directions to the CBI to lodge an FIR and conduct an investigation against the Sebi chairman, his associates and share brokers for alleged offences, including under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The plea also referred to some of the prominent names on the list, including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vijay Mallya, DLF owner KP Singh, and the promoters of Apollo Tyres and Indiabulls. The petition also alleged that these offshore bank accounts and their funds were being protected and allowed in circulation in the Indian stock market through regulators under political protection.

-INDIAN EXPRESS

Fresh leak reveals 259 Pakistanis Names of 259 Pakistanis with links to offshore companies Sharmeen Obaid- have surfaced in one of the Chinoy world’s biggest ever data leaks through an online searchable database made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) late Monday evening.

Some of the prominent names in the latest release of documents include--Shaukat Ahmed, the ex-pres-

ident of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Saba Obaid, mother of renowned filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Hussain Dawood with sons Abdul Samad Dawood and Shazada Dawood, and Mir Shakil ur Rahman of the Jang Group.

Mir Shakil ur Rehman had reportedly said that the company was dormant with no money in it.

On Monday, Obaid-Chinoy responded to a request for comment by saying: “I fully support ICIJ and the laudable efforts being made by it… I would, however, like to clarify that in that my name is not mentioned in the Panama leaks and I am neither the legal nor the beneficial owner of any enterprise mentioned in the Panama Papers.”

“There is a mention of my mother, Mrs Saba Obaid and I say with confidence that the off-shore companies mentioned in the Panama Papers as being owned by my mother are compliant with the applicable laws.”

DAWN

Sharif to address parliament after opposition boycott Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will appear before parliament on Nawaz Sharif Friday to answer questions on the Panama Papers leak that linked his family to offshore wealth, an official said on Tuesday, after lawmakers walked out of the assembly.

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

Sharif and his family have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying that assets mentioned in the leaked papers were legally acquired through the family’s network of businesses and industries in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.

Opposition lawmakers walked out of both the Senate and the National Assembly on Monday and Tuesday, demanding that the prime minister come to parliament to answer their questions.

The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, welcomed the news that Sharif would appear on Friday but said the opposition would continue their boycott until then. -REUTERS

DT

22

World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

INSIGHT

After #PanamaPapers, hopes high for London anti-graft summit n AFP, London World leaders, NGOs and financial institutions gather in London on Thursday for an anti-corruption summit that host Prime Minister David Cameron has said will spur new global action in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks.

About 40 countries have been invited alongside bodies such as the World Bank and the IMF, with the presidents of Afghanistan, Colombia, Nigeria and US Secretary of State John Kerry among those due to attend.

Campaigners are hoping for concrete action in response to public outrage over the revelations in the

so-called Panama Papers of how the rich and powerful hide their money.

They want governments to expose the beneficiaries of anonymous companies used to move money without detection, and take further action to reduce the secrecy of offshore tax havens where they are incorporated.

There is also speculation that Cameron will announce measures to tackle money laundering through London’s luxury property market, following his declaration last year that there was “no place for dirty money in Britain”.

A Downing Street spokesman said the summit declaration would commit signatories “to expose corruption wherever it is found, to pursue and punish those who perpetrate, facili-

tate or are complicit in it”.

But The Times reported that the final statement will be watered down following opposition from some countries, with one passage stating there would be “no impunity for the corrupt” removed.

The Russian foreign ministry, which is sending deputy foreign minister Oleg Syromolotov, has already indicated that any final agreement may not be binding.

Robert Barrington, UK executive director of advocacy group Transparency International, said Cameron should “not give in” to attempts to limit the summit’s ambitions.

‘Clean out your own backyard’

Cameron has led international calls to tackle aggressive tax avoidance

and evasion and global corruption, but was embarrassed last month when his late father’s Bahamas-based investment fund was revealed in the Panama leaks.

The release of 11.5m confidential documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca also shone a spotlight on the secrecy of Britain’s overseas tax havens.

More than 113,000 out of the 210,000 companies exposed were registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Britain will introduce a public register on who ultimately benefits from British-registered companies -- so-called beneficial ownership -- next month, the first G20 and EU nation to do so.

But campaigners want London to extend the measure to its over-

seas territories, forcing them if necessary.

More than 300 economists, including former IMF economist Oliver Blanchard and France’s Thomas Piketty, urged world leaders to end offshore financial secrecy, saying tax havens “serve no useful economic purpose”.

Kerry is also under pressure to address the lack of transparency in US states such as Delaware and Wyoming, where anonymous companies can be created for just a few hundred dollars.

Reports suggest the British government may announce plans to force foreign companies that buy properties to reveal their owners, although it is not clear if this would apply to the existing titles. l

23

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

ANALYSIS

SOUTH ASIA

US-Afghan raid rescues son of ex-Pakistan PM

Oil prices volatile as Canadian wildfires overshadow Saudi change n Tribune International Desk Oil prices were volatile on Monday as investors weighed the impact of wildfires on Canadian output against a strengthening US dollar and government shake-up in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil export.

As investors responded to news that more than 1m barrels of production capacity in Canada was offline Brent, the international oil marker, traded as high as $46.48 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate touched $46.49.

Those gains faltered as the fires moved away from key oil production facilities, the US currency strengthened and analysts said Saudi Arabia would keep producing at near-record levels under its newly appointed oil minister.

At the weekend, the world’s biggest oil exporter unceremoniously removed its veteran oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, replacing him with Khalid al-Falih, chairman of Saudi Aramco, the state-controlled oil company. Falih is part of the inner circle of Mohammed bin Salman, the 30-year-old son of King Salman and the man who holds the main levers of power in Saudi Arabia today.

A sign of that expansion came

last week when Saudi Aramco announced a deal to supply Polish refiner PKN Orlen with 50,000 barrels a day of crude between now and the end of the year. Historically the Polish market has been dominated by Russia.

By late afternoon Ice July Brent was down $1.10 at $44.27 a barrel, trading below its US counterpart. Nymex July WTI fell $0.77 to $44.53 a barrel, its premium to Brent explained by the wildfires around Canada’s oil sands capital of Fort McMurray.

The impact of Canada’s falling supplies was evident in local crude prices, as the discount for Western Canada Select, a marker for Albertan heavy oil, narrowed to just $11 a barrel below WTI, the smallest since previous wildfire disruptions in June 2015.

Goldman Sachs said the fires had reduced Canadian oil sands production by 1.0m b/d since Friday, equivalent to a third of the country’s capacity.

However, the bank said there had only been minor damage to oil producing facilities and output could recover quickly once the fires were under control. Weather conditions in Alberta improved over the weekend with cooler temperatures and light rains.

A joint raid by US and Afghan forces on Tuesday rescued the son of a former Pakistani prime minister who was held captive for 3 years by Islamic militants. Ali Haider Gilani, son of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, was found during the raid near Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan.

-AP

Oil prices

$ per barrel, past six months Brent crude 50 45 40 35 30 25 Nov 2015

Dec

Jan 2016

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Source: Bloomberg

“Assuming that access to facilities is granted by the end of the week and assuming a progressive 10-day ramp-up would leave average lost production at 650,000 b/d during three weeks, the equivalent of nearly 14m barrels,” said Goldman analyst Damien Courvalin.

Ballooning US oil stocks weighed on global oil prices last week. Another factor was concern that the big run-up in prices since January will cap the decline in high-cost production needed to rebalance the market.

Data released over the week

showed hedge funds and other speculators cut their net long position — the difference between bets on rising and falling prices — in WTI and Brent by 43m barrels, or 6.5%, in the week ending May 3.

This was the largest reduction in net longs since mid November and shows how investors are starting to turn more cautious after oil’s 60% rally from its January lows. l

[This is an excerpt of a Financial Time article which can be found at http:// on.ft.com/1sadxb3]

PORTRAYAL

Henry Kissinger: True American hero or war criminal? n Tribune International Desk The US Department of Defence (DoD) on Monday has awarded former US Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger “for his years of distinguished public service” at a ceremony in the Pentagon premises in Washington, DC. Incumbent US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter hosted the event.

According to Pentagon website, the DoD Distinguished Public Service Award is the highest honourary award presented by the department to private citizens.

However, many believes the notorious national defence adviser in the Nixon administration should have been be tried for crimes against humanity instead.

Although he was never been charged, but there are evidences that he aided and abetted war crimes during his time in the White House advising Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford is well-established and overwhelming.

While Kissinger may deserve

DT

World

tagon report. Those bombs killed between 150,000 and 500,000 people in Cambodia, created a swell of public support for Pol Pot and his communist Khmer Rouge rebels, who exploited popular anger at the bombings to seize control of the government in 1975.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is seen at an award ceremony in Washington, DC; receiving US Department of Defence Distinguished Public Service Award XINHUA some credit for some of America’s most important Cold War victories, including Nixon’s diplomatic opening to China, he is also responsible for some of its worst atrocities.

Carpet-bombing in Cambodia

Most infamously, Kissinger masterminded a Nixon-era plan to carpet-bomb Cambodia. During the first stage of the bombing, from 1969 to 1970, Kissinger personally approved all 3,875 bombing raids, according to a contemporary Pen-

Atrocities in East Pakistan

In 1971, Pakistani dictator Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan began slaughtering the residents of East Pakistan in retaliation for electing a leader who demanded autonomy. Instead of intervening to stop Yahya, Kissinger sent him weapons — a policy that was, at the time, illegal under US law. He pulled the US consul general in Dhaka, Archer Blood, from his post for questioning the policy, and blocked efforts to pressure Pakistan (a US ally) to end its slaughter.

Favouring Argentinean junta

In 2014, newly declassified documents suggested that in the 1970s, Kissinger signaled to Argentina’s

right-wing military leaders that the US would not object to its plans to launch a 1976 crackdown on dissent that became known as the Dirty War — which killed about 30,000 people.

The documents released in 2014 include an account, from then-US Ambassador to Argentina Robert Hill, of Kissinger’s conversation with Argentine Foreign Minister César Augusto Guzzetti. Guzzetti, it seems, was afraid the crackdown would bring down pressure from the US on human rights — but Kissinger told him that no such pressure would come.

This is not an exhaustive list of Kissinger’s crimes: It doesn’t touch, among other things, his support for proxy wars in sub-Saharan Africa or his backing of the Indonesian dictator Suharto’s killings in East Timor.

Nonetheless, under any accounting, it is a horrifying résumé. l

[This is a modified version of a Vox.com article, which can be found at http://bit. ly/1VQORjZ]

INDIA

Congress claims victory in Uttarakhand The Congress claimed victory in Uttarakhand after a tight trust vote in the assembly on Tuesday though the official result will be declared only on Wednesday by the Supreme Court. Congress managed 33 votes, two more than the 31 required in a house with an effective strength of 62. The BJP is said to have managed 28, the number of MLAs it has in the assembly.

-HT

CHINA

US sails warship near disputed Chinese reef China scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday as a US navy ship sailed close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, a patrol China denounced as an illegal threat to peace which only went to show its defence installations in the area were necessary. Guided missile destroyer the USS William P Lawrence travelled within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-occupied Fiery Cross Reef.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Filipino hardliner claims victory for president Maverick Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the winner in the Philippines’ presidential election Tuesday after his two closest rivals conceded defeat. Duterte has been mayor of the southern city of Davao for 22 years. During the 3-month presidential campaign, he drew frequent comparisons to Donald Trump for using incendiary language in promising to eradicate crime and corruption. -USA TODAY

MIDDLE EAST

Syria talks: International powers to meet on May 17 The International Syria Support Group, bringing together 17 countries backing peace talks, is to meet in Vienna on May 17, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday. The US and Russia, who support rival sides in Syria’s civil war, said on Monday they would work to revive the February cessation of hostilities agreement that reduced fighting in parts of the country for several weeks.

-REUTERS

DT

24

World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

USA

Obama to make historic trip to Hiroshima Barack Obama will become the first sitting US president to visit atomic bomb-struck Hiroshima during a trip to Japan later this month, the White House said Tuesday. Obama, accompanied by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will make the deeply symbolic visit on May 27, after attending a G7 summit in southern Japan.

-AFP

THE AMERICAS

Brazil heads for impeachment vote as speaker backtracks Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff ’s looming suspension from office was back on track on Tuesday after the speaker of the lower house of Congress withdrew his controversial decision to annul an impeachment vote against her. The Senate will vote on Wednesday whether to put Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws.

-REUTERS

UK

Sadiq Khan attacks Trump’s ignorant view of Islam New London mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at Donald Trump’s ignorant view of Islam after the US presidential hopeful suggested he would exempt him from his proposed ban on Muslims entering America.

Trump, who is widely expected to be confirmed as the Republican candidate for the presidency, appeared to extend an olive branch to Khan when he welcomed his election as the first Muslim mayor of a major European capital.

-DAILY MAIL

EUROPE

Police find no Islamist links to German knife attacker Investigators in southern Germany said they have been unable to link a knife-wielding attacker who killed one man and wounded three others at a train station early Tuesday to any Islamist or extremist groups.

However, members of the State Criminal Investigation Bureau in Bavaria and prosecutors from Munich said they were still investigating a possible political motive, after witness reports that he had shouted “infidel, you must die.”

-DPA

AFRICA

New Libya government creates Presidential Guard Libya’s government of national unity on Tuesday announced the creation of a new military force to protect government buildings, border posts, vital installations and VIPs. It was the first move by the UN-backed Government of National Accord to reorganise armed forces in the North African country that has been mired in chaos since the 2011.

-AFP

INSIGHT

Democrats gird for fight with Trump in US Rust Belt states n Reuters, Cleveland/New York Bracing for a general election fight with Donald Trump, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton and her allies are putting resources into industrial states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania to try to block Trump from making inroads with working-class voters there.

Labour leaders, progressive groups and Democratic operatives said that they took seriously Trump’s appeal with white working-class voters and were studying how to respond to his promises to create jobs and negotiate better trade deals.

The desire to stop the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from wresting away the support of unionised workers has even led a group organised to back Bernie Sanders, Labour for Bernie, to consider its next steps if Sanders does not win the Democratic nomination.

“It may well be our task to work hard to reach out to our (labour union) members who support Trump and begin an important dialogue,” said Rand Wilson, a staunch Sanders supporter and Labor for Bernie spokesman.

The Rust Belt, which includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and West Virginia, has suffered heavy job losses in sectors such as autos, coal and steel that have faced fierce competition from abroad.

The region, home to many

Mending fences in Appalachia

The blast furnaces of the now-closed Bethlehem Steel mill in Pennsylvania, one of the monumental symbol of struggle of US working class in Rust Belt areas REUTERS unionised workers, has been a stronghold for Democrats. The exceptions are socially conservative West Virginia, which has gone Republican in the past four presidential elections, and Indiana, which has gone Democratic only twice since 1940. Ohio has switched back and forth.

Trump has aggressively courted working-class voters ahead of the November 8 election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama. He has criticised the North American Free Trade Agreement and promised to rip up the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

He has also said he will consider raising the minimum wage and backing higher taxes on the wealthy.

Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said the campaign was targeting industrial states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, which have voted Dem-

ocratic in presidential elections since 1992.

Working America, an advocacy group affiliated with the AFL-CIO labour organisation, is expanding operations in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania and plans to open an office in Wisconsin. Its first mission is talking to voters about jobs and the economy and trying to gauge where they are leaning in the presidential race. Later in the campaign, the group will work more aggressively to win over voters.

In Ohio, the Democratic Party has doubled its field operation over the past month, thanks to an infusion of cash raised by the Clinton campaign for the national and state parties.

Clinton, who has a strong lead over Sanders but has yet to secure the Democratic nomination, has already hired state directors in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

With an eye towards voters across the Rust Belt, Clinton visited Appalachia last week with stops in West Virginia and Ohio. She apologised for previous statements related to shutting down the coal industry and told protesters she was committed to solving their economic problems even if they did not support her.

Union activists said their strategy for undercutting Trump’s support would be pointing out discrepancies in his positions.

His comment that he is open to raising the minimum wage comes after he said in a debate that “wages are too high” and that an increase would hurt the economy.

Although Trump rails against trade deals and businesses that move operations to Mexico, critics say that items such as ties and suits in his clothing line were manufactured in China.

“The best way to go after Trump is to make him run against himself,” said political strategist Brad Bannon, who advices labour unions.

Tom Buffenbarger, a Clinton surrogate to labor and the past president of the machinists’ union, said Democrats would have “a lot of fun” highlighting Trump’s inconsistencies, although he acknowledged the Republican candidate presented a threat in some Rust Belt states.

“Are we concerned about the industrial states in the upcoming election?” Buffenbarger said.

“Yeah, Donald Trump’s done a good job complaining about the trade deal while he continues to ship work from the US to China.” l

THE POWDER BLUE PART OF THE RED PLANET The Nili Fossae region, one of the most colorful regions of the planet Mars located on the northwest rim of Isidis impact basin, is shown in this photo taken February. 5, 2016, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NASA/ REUTERS

DT

Sport 25

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

INSIDE

Shahadat’s domestic ban lifted The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday lifted the temporary suspension on national paceman Shahadat Hossain “on humanitarian grounds”.

He can now feature in domestic cricket. PAGE 26

Messi: Barcelona cheering for Atletico Lionel Messi admits Barcelona will be cheering on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final because “they don’t want to see Real Madrid win anything”. Is Messi stoking the flames of the El Clasico rivalry? PAGE 27

(Clockwise) A quartet of photos show local umpire Nadir Shah falling to the ground after being hit on the forehead during the game between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Kalabagan Cricket Academy in the Dhaka Premier League at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday. Nadir was immediately taken off the field and later replaced by reserve umpire Shyful Islam MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

MSC join Doleshwar at the summit n Mazhar Uddin

Bayern in raids for Hummels, Sanches German champions Bayern Munich yesterday splashed out a reported 73 million euros ($83 million) to launch their Champions League campaign for next season by signing Mats Hummels and Renato Sanches. PAGE 28

Vardy launches ‘V9 Academy’ Leicester City’s star striker Jamie Vardy launched his own academy and pledged to give non-league footballers a chance to follow in his rags-to-riches footsteps. Vardy was playing in England’s seventh tier and working part-time at a factory six years ago. PAGE 29

Mohammedan Sporting Club moved to the summit of the Dhaka Premier League points table following their four-wicket win over Kalabagan Cricket Academy yesterday.

Elsewhere, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club registered a facile 90-run victory against Cricket Coaching School while Gazi Group Cricketers also posted a comfortable six-wicket win over Kalabagan Krira Chakra.

Mohammedan v Kalabagan CA

Asked to bat first, Kalabagan CA put up 231 on the board losing all of their wickets at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

Kalabagan CA’s Indian recruit Jatin Saxena turned out to be the highest scorer with 96 off exactly 100 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes while Under-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz added 50 runs to the total.

Following a brief rain interruption, Mohammedan were set a revised target of 207 from 43 overs but Sri Lankan batsman Upul Tharanga ensured there would be no hiccups in their chase as he remained unbeaten on 90. The Lankan was ably supported by opening batsman Ezaz Ahmed (60) as

the second wicket pair stitched together a 111-run association.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was undefeated on 23 as the Black and Whites reached their destination with three deliveries to spare.

Mohammedan now find themselves at the top of the points table, alongside Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club while Kalabagan CA are yet to open their account.

Sheikh Jamal v CCS

Mahmudullah and Marshall Ayub struck hundreds as Sheikh Jamal racked up a huge total of 290/5 at the BKSP 3 ground.

The third wicket duo added 203 runs with Mahmudullah (130

BRIEF SCORES SHEIKH JAMAL DC 290/5 (Mahmudullah 130, Marshall 103, Mehrab 3/45) beat CCS 200 (Rajin 51, Saif 47, Mendis 2/15) by 90 runs KALABAGAN KC 223 (Tasamul 47, Masakadza 40, Kapali 3/36) lost to GAZI GC 225/4 (Shamsur 75, Anamul 70, Mashrafe 2/43) by six wickets KALABAGAN CA 231 (Saxena 96, Miraz 50, Enamul Jr 3/46) lost to MOHAMMEDAN SC 210/6 (Tharanga 90*, Ezaz 60, Bishwanath 2/39) by four wickets (D/L method)

off 139 balls) and Marshall (103 off 115 balls) both playing the role of the aggressor simultaneously.

Marshall smashed a dozen boundaries while Mahmudullah hammered eight fours and five sixes as CCS were set a more-than-challenging target.

In reply, CCS never looked comfortable and were eventually bundled out for 200 with Shafiul Islam, Muktar Ali and Sri Lankan Jeevan Mendis bagging two wickets each. This was Sheikh Jamal’s third win in five attempts while CCS suffered their fifth loss in as many games.

Gazi GC v Kalabagan KC

That Gazi Group reached their shore in 45.3 overs was largely thanks to a magnificent 155-run opening stand between national discards Shamsur Rahman and Anamul Haque.

In pursuit of Kalabagan KC’s 223, which was crafted on the back of Tasamul Haque and Hamilton Masakadza’s forties, Gazi Group strolled to victory at the home of cricket in Mirpur, losing only four wickets.

Anamul was retired hurt with cramps but not before scoring a fine 70 off 83 balls while Shamsur notched a 91-ball 75 with the help of nine fours and a six. l

Umpire Nadir suffers blow to forehead n Tribune Report Umpire Nadir Shah suffered a blow on his forehead during the game between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Kalabagan Cricket Academy in the Dhaka Premier League at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday.

Nadir was standing at squareleg during Mohammedan’s innings when Ezaz Ahmed played a powerful sweep shot off Mahmudul Hasan in the sixth over. The ball ricocheted off Taposh Ghosh’s hand and struck Nadir’s forehead.

He fell down and was immediately taken off from the field and was later replaced by reserve umpire Shyful Islam.

“I was off the field for the rest of the game. I am back at home now and will be going to the doctor soon. There’s a bump in my forehead and I feel dizzy. The physio put ice on the injured spot and gave me a pain-killer at the ground,” said Nadir after the incident yesterday.

Nadir is umpiring in domestic cricket for the first time since he was banned in 2013 for match-fixing allegations. l

DT

26

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Shahadat’s domestic ban lifted n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Discarded national cricketer Shahadat Hossain talks over the mobile phone during the Dhaka Premier League match between Gazi Group Cricketers and Kalabagan Krira Chakra at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday BCB

The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday lifted the temporary suspension on national paceman Shahadat Hossain “on humanitarian grounds”. He can now feature in domestic cricket and will only return to international cricket after his legal issues are settled.

“The BCB’s disciplinary committee has taken the decision to withdraw the playing ban on Shahadat on humanitarian grounds following an appeal made by the player. The ruling, effective from today, is applicable for participation in domestic cricket only. He will not be considered for national selection until his legal issues are settled,” said BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury yesterday.

“We had to suspend him following an unfortunate incident. Shahadat later appealed to the board but we could not decide what to do as the case was being run in the court. We have the Dhaka [Premier] League going on at the moment and Shahadat had appealed to allow him to play,” the board high-up added.

In September last year, Shahadat was banned by the BCB after he was charged under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act following allegations that he had assaulted his housemaid.

Along with his wife, Shahadat was

arrested on October 5 and both were granted bail in December.

Defending the BCB’s stance regarding Shahadat, Nizamuddin said, “The stance has not changed.

We are allowing him only in domestic competitions. He will not be available for selection in the national team and this decision will remain until the case reaches a point in the court. We accepted Shahadat’s appeal to allow him to

He can now feature in domestic cricket and will only return to international cricket after his legal issues are settled play in domestic cricket on humanitarian grounds. He is a professional cricketer and his main source of income comes from playing cricket. He has been away from the game for a while now and this has affected his family financially.”

In his prompt reaction to the media, Shahadat said he is thankful to the BCB for allowing him to return to competitive action. The Narayanganj pacer added, “I have been practising with Mohammedan [Sporting Club] for some time now.

I might play for them and there are offers from other clubs too.” l

Sk Jamal end AFC Cup journey with 5-0 loss n Tribune Report Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club concluded their AFC Cup campaign with a crushing 5-0 loss against hosts and Philippines top-flight champions Ceres La Salle at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium yesterday.

Spanish forward Bienve Maranon put the home side ahead in the seventh minute before his compatriot Adrian Gallardo doubled the lead just two minutes later.

Gallardo extended the lead in the 57th minute and went on to complete his treble only seven minutes later. Patrick Reichelt completed the rout in the 70th minute.

With the victory, Ceres topped Group E with 12 points from six matches while Sheikh Jamal finished at the bottom. Alongside Ceres, Tampines Rovers also qualified for the knockout stages following their 1-0 win over Selangor FA in yesterday’s other game.

Premier league champions Sheikh Jamal on the other hand were eliminated from the tournament much earlier. They took part in the competition for the first time and managed to earn only three points, their sole victory coming against Tampines in Dhaka on April 26.

Sheikh Jamal had also lost against Ceres in their corresponding fixture on March 8.l

Fizz’s Sunrisers at IPL summit Times of India crowns Mustafizur n Tribune Desk Bangladesh pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman produced an economical bowling effort as the Sunrisers Hyderabad moved to the top of the Indian Premier League points table following their narrow four-run win over the Rising Pune Supergiants in Visakhapatnam yesterday.

Mustafizur conceded just 26 runs from his four overs as the Sunrisers successfully defended their total of 137.

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa picked up six wickets for just 19 runs in his quota of four overs but later the Supergiants fell agonisingly short of their target.

Meanwhile, the past week of matches in the IPL has thrown up several superlative efforts, with Andre Russell turning in two Manof-the-Match performances for Kolkata Knight Riders, Shikhar Dhawan hitting form with a pair of highly effective innings for a resurgent Sunrisers and Virat Kohli hitting his second hundred of the

season. But for his leading role in pushing Sunrisers up from the bottom half of the IPL standings, it is left-arm cutter specialist Mustafizur who gets the vote for Player of the Week.

Sunrisers’ batting - chiefly that of skipper David Warner - had carried the franchise in the first half of the tournament. But coming off a six-day gap, Sunrisers needed to get into winning ways in a hurry to gain lost ground on teams like Kolkata, Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils, who played three games this past week.

First up, they hosted table-toppers Gujarat on Friday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck the early blows by getting Dwayne Smith and Suresh Raina inside five overs - he went on to earn the Man-of-theMatch award for this - but Mustafizur left his impression on this five-wicket win.

In his first over, the last of the Powerplay, he had the in-form Dinesh Karthik out for a duck, producing a leading edge which was exceptionally taken by Kane Wil-

liamson at backward point. Just two runs came from Mustafizur’s opening over.

When he returned to bowl the 14th, 17th and 19th overs, he conceded one run, six runs and eight runs respectively to apply the squeeze on Gujarat at the death.

The dangerous Ravindra Jadeja fell first ball of the penultimate over, miscuing to mid-off off a trademark Mustafizur slow cutter. Figures of 2/17 in four overs were excellent returns.

On Sunday, Sunrisers met Mumbai Indians in Visakhapatnam and once more Mustafizur played a big role. This time victory was set up by Warner (48 off 33 balls) and Dhawan (82* off 57). Chasing 178, Mumbai never came close.

Ashish Nehra ripped out three wickets in his first two overs to leave the defending champions hemorrhaging - like Bhuvneshwar in the previous game, these early strikes made Nehra the Man-ofthe-Match - before the naggingly accurate Mustafizur claimed 3/16 in three overs. l

Mustafizur Rahman of Sunrisers Hyderabad sends down a delivery during their Vivo IPL match against Rising Pune Supergiants in Visakhapatnam BCCI

27

DT

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Six new faces in football squad n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday named six new faces when they announced the 34-member preliminary squad for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers play-offs against Tajikistan early next month.

The six new players – Brothers Union forward Mannaf Rabby, Rahmatganj duo Nurul Absar and Syed Rashed Turza, Team BJMC’s Saikat Mahmud, Chittagong Abahani midfielder Kowshik Barua and Uttar Baridhara defender Khalekuzzaman Sabuj - were rewarded for their impressive performance in the recently concluded KFC

Independence Cup. Abahani Limited’s veteran defender Mamun Miah was also named in the national squad after a long hiatus while Atiqur Rahman Fahad and Fazle Rabby are the only footballers who lost their places from the previous squad that played against Jordan in the 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifier on March 24.

Meanwhile, two of the four suspended players – former captain and midfielder Mamunul Islam and midfielder Jewel Rana – were not called up to the squad despite apologising for breaking team protocol during the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.

The two others, Zahid Hossain and Yeasin Khan, who are yet to apologise to the BFF, were duly overlooked.

The suspended players are likely to be included after BFF president Kazi Salahuddin and vice president Kazi Nabil Ahmed, also the chairman of the national team management committee, return home from the forthcoming Fifa Congress in Mexico.

Newly-appointed temporary Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif is likely to arrive this Sunday. Prior to his arrival, local coaches Saiful Bari Titu and Parvez Babu will conduct the national camp. l

PSV Eindhoven's Andres Guardado (C) and teammates celebrate with supporters after winning their 23rd Dutch football league title, at the City Hall of Eindhoven on Monday AFP

QUICK BYTES Messi admits Barcelona cheering for Atletico in UCL final Lionel Messi admits the city of Barcelona will be cheering on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final because “they don’t want to see Real Madrid win anything”, with the forward stoking the flames of the El Clasico rivalry ahead of the final round of La Liga fixtures. Barcelona are one win away from beating Real to the title, but face the prospect of watching their two Spanish rivals battling it out for the right to succeed the Catalans as Champions League winners.

–AGENCIES

Murray says lack of time, major titles led to Mauresmo split Andy Murray confirmed yesterday that a failure to win a third Grand Slam title was among the factors which finally caused him and coach Amelie Mauresmo to end their relationship on the eve of the French Open. The Scot world number three is now playing a final Roland Garros tune-up at the Rome Masters this week without two-time Grand Slam winner Mauresmo in his corner.

–AFP

Records tumble as Root and Bairstow run riot England stars Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow warmed up for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka in record-breaking style as they shattered a host of Yorkshire records in their triple-century stand against Surrey on Monday. Root finished the second day of the County Championship fixture unbeaten on 190, while Bairstow scored 198 as the pair put on a fourth-wicket partnership of 372 to help First Division champions Yorkshire reach 486 for five at Headingley.

–AFP

Sri Lanka struggle ahead of England Test Sri Lanka’s bowlers endured a miserable warm-up for next week’s first Test against England as they were put to the sword by Essex on the second day of their tour match on Monday. Angelo Mathews’ team had already struggled with the bat after being dismissed for 254 as teenager Aaron Beard bagged four wickets on his first-class debut.

–AFP

34-MEMBER SQUAD GOALKEEPERS: Russel Mahmud Liton, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Mazharul Islam Hemel and Ashraful Islam Rana.

DEFENDERS: Rayhan Hasan, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Topu Barman, Nasirul Islam Nasir, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Yeamin Ahmed Chowdhury Munna, Mamun Miah, Shakil Ahmed, Mohammad Linkon, Ariful Islam, Kesto Kumar Bosh, Rezaul Karim, Khalekuzzaman Sabuj and Wali Faisal.

MIDFIELDERS: Faisal Mahmud, Jamal Bhuiyan, Monayem Khan Raju, Shahedul Alam Shahed, Masuk Miah Jony, Koushik Barua and Emon Mahmud.

FORWARDS: Jewel Rana, Aminur Rahman Sojib, Rubel Miah, Mannaf Rabby, Nabib Newaz Jibon, Nurul Absar, Shaikat Mahmud and Syed Rashed Turza.

DT

28

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Bayern in £73m raid for Hummels, Sanches n AFP, Berlin German champions Bayern Munich yesterday splashed out a reported 73 million euros ($83 million) to launch their Champions League campaign for next season by signing Germany defender Mats Hummels and Portugal teenager Renato Sanches.

Centre-back Hummels, 27, becomes the third Dortmund star to join German champions Bayern in three years after midfielder Mario Goetze in 2013, followed by striker Robert Lewandowski in 2014.

Sanches and Hummels have been given five-year contracts at Bayern, who were confirmed German champions for a record fourth season in a row last Saturday.

The team are smarting though after being beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League

semi-final.

Neither Dortmund nor Bayern said how much the Hummels transfer cost, but German media put the fee at 38 million euros.

The Bavarian giants confirmed they paid 35 million, plus bonuses, for the 18-year-old Sanches. Benfica said the fee could rise to 45 million euros.

Hummels and Sanches will join the Bayern squad when Carlo Ancelotti replaces Manchester City-bound Pep Guardiola for the 2016/17 campaign.

Hummels’ transfer will add extra spice to the German Cup final on May 21 in Berlin when Bayern meet Dortmund in the battle of Germany’s top clubs.

“My decision has not been made easier by the last eight-and-a-half years,” said Hummels, who joined Dortmund on loan from Bayern in

10 MOST EXPENSIVE GERMAN TRANSFERS 1.

Kevin De Bruyne in 2015 from VfL Wolfsburg to Man City for 75m euros (+ bonuses)

5.

Arturo Vidal in 2015 from Juventus to Bayern 37m

7.

Renato Sanches in 2016 from Benfica to Bayern Munich 35m (+ bonuses)

2.

Roberto Firmino in 2015 from Hoffenheim to Liverpool 41m

3.

Javi Martínez in 2012 from Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich 40m

7.

Mario Gomez in 2009 from VfB Stuttgart to Bayern Munich 35m

4.

Mats Hummels in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern 38m

7.

Julian Draxler in 2015 from Schalke 04 to VfL Wolfsburg 35m (+ bonuses)

5.

Mario Goetze in 2013 from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich 37m

10. Edin Dzeko in 2011 from VfL

Wolfsburg to Manchester City 34m

2008 before the transfer was formalised a year later.

“Before I return to my hometown in the summer, we all have a great common goal: to bring the German Cup to Dortmund,” he added in a statement.

Hummels was booed and jeered by Dortmund fans 10 days ago, after reports first emerged he was set to join Bayern.

He can expect a similar treatment at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday for Borussia’s final home game against Cologne.

“We respect his decision. I want to emphasise that he has behaved openly and fairly towards us at all time,” said Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

At Bayern, Hummels will pair up with his national team-mate Jerome Boateng and they were Germany’s centre-backs in the 2014 World Cup campaign.

“We are delighted that Mats Hummels has opted for Bayern,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“Mats is one of the best central defenders in the world and with him, we can further increase the quality of our team.” l

Banned Indonesia want Mourinho

n AFP, Jakarta

Italian football star Francesco Totti returns a ball as he plays in a charity tennis match during the ATP Tennis Open at the Foro Italico, AFP on Monday

As former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho mulls his next move, an unlikely suitor has emerged in the form of the beleaguered Indonesian national team, which is banned from international football.

Indonesian Sports Minster Imam Nahrawi has announced that he wants Mourinho, who has been out of work since December after being sacked by Chelsea, to train the country’s national side.

Mourinho has been widely linked to Manchester United where Louis van Gaal has spent most of the season under siege, but Nahrawi hopes the 53-year-old Portuguese might pick sun-kissed, tropical Indonesia over chilly northwest England.

“This has been discussed with President Joko Widodo,” Nahrawi was quoted as saying by state-run news agency Antara on Monday in Jakarta. However Nahrawi conceded that it was “not an easy thing to do”, particularly given the high cost of hiring Mourinho. l

FROM DORTMUND TO BAYERN THOMAS HELMER (1992) The first player to make the jump from Dortmund to Bayern, Germany defender Helmer caused a major media storm back in 1992.

TORSTEN FRINGS (2004) Another Germany international who moved from Dortmund to Bayern, Frings’ transfer was probably the most cordial. After only two years at Dortmund, Bayern snapped up the midfielder for £7.2m in 2004.

MARIO GOTZE (2013) After several years playing second fiddle to Dortmund, Bayern flexed their financial muscles in 2013 and carried off their biggest transfer coup for a long time, prising Dortmund’s brilliant young star Gotze away from their rivals.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (2014)

Bayern beat United to signing of £28m Benfica's Renato Sanches

Bayern had also tried to sign Lewandowski in the summer of 2013.

Determined not to lose their two best players to Bayern in one transfer window, Dortmund turned down all offers, even though they knew that would mean losing Lewandowski on a free transfer.

Mahrez and Martial scoop Facebook awards n Agencies Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez and Manchester United forward Anthony Martial landed the top prizes in the 2016 Facebook Football Awards, which were announced on Monday.

Algerian star Mahrez, whose 17 goals and 11 assists inspired Leicester to the Premier League title, won Player of the Year, while France international Martial, 20, was voted Young Player of the Year.

The awards for the 2015-16 English Premier League season were voted on by almost a million Facebook users in 193 countries, according to a press release from the social networking giant.

“It’s something special and something big as well, because it’s from all over the world,” said 25-year-old Mahrez, who was also elected the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.

“I thank them and thanks to all of

my fans. I love all my fans. I am very happy.” Martial said: “Thanks to all Facebook fans for supporting me as the Young Player of the Year. I am happy to be playing in the Premier League and I hope that I will continue to score plenty more.” Leicester were voted Club of the Year and their manager Claudio Ranieri was named Manager of the Year.

Leicester and second-place Tottenham Hotspur each had three players in the team of the year: Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Robert Huth for Leicester; Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld for Spurs.l

29

DT

Sport

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

FOOTBALL TEN 2 12:30PM French Ligue 1 2015/16 Bordeaux v PSG

STAR SPORTS 1 12:50AM English Premier League Liverpool v Chelsea

STAR SPORTS 2 7:00PM

Sporting the new jersey for the upcoming season, Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson takes a selfie alongside Simon Mignolet (C) and Philippe Coutinho (R) in Merseyside on Monday

Liverpool announce sales partnership with JD.com n Reuters Liverpool Football Club launched an online store in China yesterday in partnership with JD.com, the country’s No.2 e-commerce company.

The tie-up will allow Liverpool, currently eighth in the Premier League table

and in the final of the Europa League, to use the company’s online sales platform, JD Worldwide, to sell its merchandise across China.

Liverpool are one of the most popular international football clubs in China, with more than 1.7 million followers on Chinese social media website Weibo, JD.com said

in a statement.

“With English football gaining steam in China, we are thrilled to welcome Liverpool FC to JD.com and look forward to working together to bring high-quality authentic club merchandise to fans,” JD Worldwide’s general manager Tony Qiu said.l

Vardy launches ‘V9 Academy’ n AFP, London Leicester City’s star striker Jamie Vardy launched his own academy on Monday and pledged to give nonleague footballers a chance to follow in his rags-to-riches footsteps.

Vardy, 29, was playing in England’s seventh tier and working part-time at a factory six years ago, but is now an England international whose 24 goals fired Leicester to glory in the Premier League.

He was released by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager and hopes that his new venture, christened the V9 Academy, will give a helping hand to players who do not have access to professional coaching structures.

“I was told I was too small, that I was not ready for the physicality of scholarship,”

Vardy told a press conference at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

“I don’t think anyone can be told if they’re good enough at 15 or 16, when you still have so many years to grow and develop. That was my reason. Probably hundreds were told the same and had to drop down as well.

“Hopefully we can find

them, get them to the academy and get them through. I have done it. That is there for people to see it can be done.

“With the players we get on and if they put the hard work in - and it will be hard, it will not be easy - we will give them Premier League-standard training and coaching.

We can give them a chance to make the step up.” l

DAY’S WATCH AFC Cup 2016 Mohun Bagan v South China 12:35AM English Premier League Sunderland v Everton

STAR SPORTS 4 6:40PM AFC Cup 2016 Johor Darul Ta’zim v Bengaluru 12:35AM

English Premier League Norwich City v Watford

CRICKET SONY SIX

8:30PM Indian Premier League Bangalore v Mumbai

TENNIS SONY ESPN 4:00PM ATP: Rome Open, Day 3

DT

30

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

Showtime

Concert: A mellow trip

Shilpa Shetty to sizzle Dhaka fashion show n Saqib Sarker

n Saqib Sarker Arnob and Jon seem to have appeared together at a small auditorium show after a long time.

“I think that’s correct,” said Jon Kabir during the concert Let it Be: A Mellow Trip at Shilpakala, as he was waiting in the green room before his performance.

The outcome could have been either a swarming of the crowd resulting in organisers turning down a lot of people or it could have been under-attended. But happily it was a comfortable middle. The medium-sized auditorium was packed but not overcrowded.

The 3pm show was shifted to 5 pm because of a program at Shilpakala where the President was scheduled to speak. It was a matter of national security, the concert organisers said. Ok, they didn’t say that but it would have been cooler than whatever they did say.

The concert started with a nearly full auditorium and the rest of the seats was soon filled up by a

buzzing crowd.

Organized by IARRT and InstruRave, the concert featured Emran and Friends (Jahid), Mukhosh, Vowels, and the Aloonies. Arnob and Jon Kabir headlined the show.

The bands played a lot of alternative and modern rock and Bengali rock fusion music. The opening bands performed with energy. The only thing preventing these young groups from becoming great performing bands is experience. In other words, all of these bands could be and should be very successful given the right support and circumstances.

Jon performed solo and not with his current band Indalo. Jon covered the popular song ‘Ma’ originally recorded by James of Nagar Baul. His take on the song was interesting, if not amazing.

There is always a polarising result when an artist covers a song that has its own identity. Whether fans of the original liked it or not, one thing was for certain: Jon’s voice = Mellow Trip.

Arnob’s cool music and

appearance made the evening even cooler. The atmosphere and the vibe at the venue were very pleasant as was the enthusiastic crowd who seemed to know the artists and know the songs. Arnob must have felt very gracious and took all the requests from the audience and played for over an hour. The crowd reciprocated by expressing approval in deafening cheers.l

Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty is sets to present herself in Dhaka for the first time as the model-actor has confirmed to walk the ramp at a fashion show at the Gulnaksha Hall of International Bashundhara Convention on May 13, Friday at 7:00pm.

By invitation of the organising body, The Platform, Shetty will be taking part in a fashion show titled Passion for Fashion, a summer edition of the fashion show franchise. If everything goes accordingly, the Dhadkan girl will set her foot in Dhaka on Friday morning and

will attend a press conference later in the afternoon.

The winner of Celebrity Big Brother 5, who was last seen in the 2014 movie Dishkiyaoon, is to appear as the show stopper at the event while local models will walk the ramp along with her. Emi, Heera, Maria Mili, Raisa, Isha, Masiat and others will walk the ramp alongside Shetty. Sanjida Haq Arefin Luna choreographed the show which will be aired live on RTV. l

Abdul Aziz, the chairman of Jaaz Multimedia, recently shared a post on Facebook on Mother’s Day which somehow, bizarrely, ended up triggering widespread gossip over his alleged relationship with actress Mahiya Mahi.

In the post, Aziz expressed gratitude to his mother on Mother’s Day and reflected on different experiences in connection to the lady. He wrote down the experiences in 13 points and surprisingly number 13 reads: “I was having quite a profound affair with Mahi at that time. One day Mahi asked me, ‘If your mother asks you to call off this relationship, what would

Lucy Star Movies 3:39pm A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, Julian Rhind-Tutt

you do?’ I replied, ‘If my mother asks me to leave you, I will not ask her anything in return. I’ll simply break up with you. But please be assured that she would never ask me to do something like this.’ And she never did in reality.”

The post stirred up curiosity on Facebook. A number of comments appeared following the post about the legitimacy of Aziz’z relationship with Mahi despite being married and a father to two kids.

“Number 13 is one hell of a confession! I understand that you fell in love with Mahi. But why is Mahi is being entangled in a scandal now? When did you have the affair? After getting married to bhabi [sister-in-law]? If that is

the case, you should be sacked from the production house! It is objectionable to deprive an actress over personal issues,” one of the comments read.

Another one read: “Seriously?

You said it publicly? You have guts! ‘Btw,’ you are married and a father of two girls. Now you are trying to destroy Mahi’s future because she rejected you.

However, Mahi has won the hearts of Bengalis. You may not be able to harm her.”

On the contrary, in some comments, Aziz was praised for the post. One of them read, “I have seen many people in my life but haven’t seen anyone with such courage to speak the truth.

Saluting you from heart!”

After being bombarded with

the views and questions, the producer wrote another post where he asserted: “My siblings, wife and children, all are added with me on Facebook. If my wife is okay with my post, what’s the big deal with you guys?”

His post also said: “Many ask me how could I speak the truth without any hesitation?

My reply to them: I speak what is true, I speak it from heart, I say what I believe and I say it to myself.”

“Everything must have a document. Since now I am working in the media, who knows, may be after 100 years, my writings might be helpful for research. I have written these for those future researchers,” he added. l

Jon Kabir’s ardent dedication to his mother AR Rahman to bring 99 songs n Showtime Desk AR Rahman, the talented music composer from India recently talked about his much-awaited dream project 99 songs. Contrary to the title, 99 songs is not a musical album, rather, a fulllength feature film.

Bishesh Krishnamurti has directed the film under Rahman’s production house while musical maestro penned the story of the film and composed its music.

Two months ago, Rahman released a poster of 99 songs. He also said he was going through

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH

Abdul Aziz publicises alleged affair with Mahiya Mahi n Mosharraf Kabir

31

DT

Showtime

n Showtime Desk

the pre-production phase and that the promo would be released soon.

The Oscar-winning music composer talked about the film at the launching ceremony of Pele: Birth of a Legend, a film for which Rahman is currently composing music. He said: “This is an Indian film. The hero comes from Kashmir and the heroine, from somewhere else. The heroine’s origin will be announced later.”

Rahman has been planning and preparing for the film for over four years. l Source: The Indian Express

Social media has been abuzz with a video of Jon Kabir’s rendition of James’ hearttouching “Maa” on #BHNLive was his Mother’s Day gift for his mother, Mrs Laila Kabir. He wished Mrs Kabir and all the mothers out there through the video.

The much-loved song was written and composed by Prince Mahmud.

Moreover, the track managed to attract brilliant response from listeners on social media. His soft lifting tone with a guitar made the song sound even better than all time favorite version by James, for some. l

Titanic Star Movies 5:25pm A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind, but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Victor Garber The One Zee Studio 5:55pm A sheriff ’s deputy fights an alternate universe version of himself who grows stronger with each alternate self he kills.

Cast: Jet Li, Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo, Jason Statham, James Morrison The Hangover Part II WB 7:41pm Two years after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding.

Stu’s plan for a subdued prewedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong

San Andreas HBO 9:30pm In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter.

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd, Archie Panjabi, Paul Giamatti l

DT

32

Back Page

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016

PLAN TO END CULTURE OF TAX EXEMPTION PAGE 15

SHAHADAT’S DOMESTIC BAN LIFTED PAGE 26

AR RAHMAN TO BRING 99 SONGS PAGE 31 Schoolboy beaten dead by classmates n UNB

Three children walk on bricks, submerged in waste water, to cross a road in Dhaka’s Ahmedbagh, Basabo yesterday. This road has been in this condition for the last six months causing woes for the locals in the area MEHEDI HASAN

A schoolboy was beaten to death allegedly by two of his classmates at Narsingdi’s Khalpar yesterday afternoon over previous enmity.

The deceased was Parvez Miah, 13, son of Sattar Miah of Bilasdi in district town. He was a seventh grader of Narsingdi Ideal High School.

Narsingdi police station OC Golam Mostafa said Parvez and his friend Nurul Amin, 13, went out of their school during the break hour to have snacks.

At that time, two of their classmates – Ariful Islam and Ruman Miah – took them to Khalpar and hit the two boys with a cricket bat mercilessly over previous enmity.

On information, some teachers of the school rushed in and took them to Narsingdi General Hospital where doctors referred them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

However, Parvez succumbed to his injuries on the way to the DMCH around 3pm, the OC added.

The victim’s father has filed a case with Narsingdi police station. l

Bangladeshis in Panama Papers n Tribune Desk A list of Bangladeshis and foreign nationals related to Bangladeshi companies doing offshore businesses have surfaced after a huge database of the Panama Papers became available online.

At least 24 individuals, five entities and around 20 addresses linked to Bangladesh were found in the new database released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

Details on more than 200,000 offshore accounts have come online and are accessible at offshoreleaks.icij.org.

One of the entities mentioned in the list is Bangladesh Biman Inc. Although the flag carrier of Bangladesh is currently named Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd, its previous official name was Biman Bangladesh Corporation.

Despite repeated attempts from the Dhaka Tribune for his comments, Biman’s acting managing director and CEO M Asaduzzaman

NAMES MENTIONED IN THE ICIJ DATABASE Kafil HS Muyeed

Md Abul Bashar

The Bearer

Zain Omar

The Bearer

Benzir Ahmed

Pessina Stefano

Md Afzalur Rahman

Rudy Ben-Jamin

Mullick Sudhir

Md Yusuf Raihan Reza

Sarkar Jiban Kumar

Ishraq Ahmed

Nizam M Selim

Ms Novera Chowdhury

Mohammad, Moksedul Islam

Farhad Gani Mohammed

Md Motazzaroul, Islam

Mehboob Chowdhury

Md Motazzaroul Islam

Bilkis Fatima Jesmin

M Selimuzzaman

Roger Barb

Md Afzalur Rahman

did not pick up his phone.

But a former managing director of Biman, on condition of anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that it was possible that Biman had used offshore accounts to procure equipment from abroad.

Whenever Biman needed to

make a large equipment purchase, the money was often moved through a third party, a procedure which he claimed was common practice among different private airlines.

According to the online database, the offshore account

for Biman is registered in Samoa and its intermediary was Hong Kong-based Orion House Services Limited.

It also lists two shareholders – Mossfon Subscribers Ltd and a Chinese national named Chen Xiaoming.

It should be pointed out that there are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. The inclusion of an entity or person’s name in the Panama Papers does not mean they have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly.

Although not illegal, the function of most offshore companies is often to avoid tax payments by concealing the identity of the owners and the origin of the money.

The other Bangladesh-linked entities listed in the Panama Papers are: Islamic Solidarity Shipping Company Bangladesh Inc, Bangladesh Textile Agencies Ltd, Swayne Investments Ltd and Seven Seas Assets Ltd. The new database also lists 20 addresses across Bangladesh; al-

though most of the addresses are in Dhaka city.

Under the umbrella of the ICIJ, journalists from 107 media organisations in 80 countries analysed the leaked documents belonging to Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. The source of the leak is simply known as “John Doe”.

ACC to go through new names

The Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh says it would analyse the new names that have been revealed.

Talking to reporters, ACC Secretary Abu Md Mostafa Kamal yesterday said a “logical decision” would be made after going through the data.

The commission would wait for its chairman to return from a foreign trip before it makes a move on this important issue, he added.

The ACC has already formed a three-member committee to investigate individuals whose names have been linked with the Panama Papers. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com