19 May, 2016

SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

|

Jyoishtha 6, 1423, Shaban 11, 1437

|

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 27

|

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

SUPERMARKET RAID

Arbitrary drives not the answer n Arifur Rahman Rabbi Participation and not punitive measures is a better way to ensure a safe food supply, experts said.

They said that stakeholder awareness and involvement, and uniform testing procedures were the best way to improve the performance of food retailers.

Supermarkets, if found guilty of failing to maintain the highest levels of freshness, should be given opportunities for correction rather than fines and jail sentences, experts said.

MORE ON PAGE 2 AND 3  In recent mobile court drives on different supermarkets in Dhaka, fines and a jail term was meted out by the court. Supermarket owners kept their shutters down on Sunday in protest.

Ali Abbas Mohammad Kurshed, assistant professor of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, said: “An effective monitoring system at every level from production to sale is what the government needs to introduce.

“If someone inadvertently commits a crime without having proper

BIGSTOCK

knowledge, he should be informed and educated about it first.”

Dr Mohammad Najmuzzaman Bhuiyan, who teaches law at Dhaka University, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Just raiding supermarkets to seize adulterated foods and then passing sentences will bring no benefit if the government does not regularly

monitor the steps involved in the business of such stores.”

Chain supermarket owners have said equipment used to check for the presence of formalin in food is defective. Professor Najmuzzaman said there was a lack of training on how such kits should be properly used among officials.

“There should be a clear instruction for detecting the amount of formalin in food that is not harmful. This is one of the big reasons why a large amount of mangoes were wrongly destroyed during drives conducted several days ago.

There was no fault in the kits. A particular amount of formalin is

Chinese man held for dubious ATM withdrawal Members of the Rapid Action Battalion yesterday detained a Chinese national at Bata Signal of Dhaka for suspicious activities at a Prime Bank ATM booth.

Zou Jian Hui, 38, was caught around 6:30am by Dulal Uddin, the security guard at the booth, who later informed the bank officials about the incident.

The law enforcers later said that Hui had entered three cards into the booth eleven times and managed to withdraw Tk66,000 in five attempts.

Later in the evening, RAB said that they had got information about several other abnormal transactions occurred at Prime Bank booths.

“I was sleeping inside the booth around 6:20am when a foreigner came and knocked the door hurriedly. I was peeping into the booth

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Kamrul Hasan

The detained Zou Jian Hui as his movement was suspicious.

Later I locked up the collapsible gate since he was withdrawing a huge amount of money,” Dulal told the Dhaka Tribune.

Hui went back to the booth as he found the gate locked. Later he came back and offered Dulal the whole money he had withdrawn

asking him to keep mum about the matter. Refusing his proposal, Dulal informed the matter to the nearest Prime Bank branch.

Vice-President and also the head of branch Ali Mohammad Nurul Huda told the Dhaka Tribune that he had informed the matter to the head office. A representative reached the booth around 7:40am and took the Chinese national to the Elephant Road branch.

The bank officials also informed the RAB about the matter. A RAB team went to the spot around 8:30am and took Hui to RAB 2 Headquarters at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for questioning.

Maj Ataur Rahman, deputy director and company commander CPC 1, told the Dhaka Tribune that Hui had withdrawn Tk20,000 each in three attempts, Tk5,000 in one and Tk1,000 in the final attempt.

The passport recovered from the Chinese national states that he

came to the country on May 15 using travel visa.

Maj Ataur said that they were yet to determine whether Hui had been working as a member of any forgery gang.

On the other hand, Nurul Huda said: “The cards did not have any number or the name of the customer. We do not know how he hacked the booth and withdrew the money.”

The law enforcers recently busted an ATM forgery gang led by three foreigners who had withdrawn several crores of taka from dozens of clients of several private banks.

naturally produced in mango and this does not mean formalin has been injected externally.

“This is why training is needed for officials who will use formalin detection kits during drives. Because mobile court officials conduct drives regularly, they need to  PAGE 4 COLUMN 1

TV presenter Nipa missing n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Prime Bank authority yesterday uncovered at least twenty more incidents of card fraudulence in its several ATM booths in Dhaka.

The bank authority unearthed

Nipa Afroz, a news presenter of Maasranga Television, has been missing since Tuesday night.

She went missing when she was returning home from Gulshan police station around 9:40pm, said police quoting Nipa's family.

Tejgaon Industrial Police Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rashid yesterday said: “Nipa, wife of Ruhul Amin, went to Gulshan police on Tuesday night to file a general diary against her husband.”

“On her way back home, Nipa was talking to her friend Rasheda Sultana on the phone. She told Rasheda that a car was following her and soon after that her number was found switched off,” the OC said.

“Later, Rasheda's husband Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed filed a general diary in this regard around 3am

 PAGE 4 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 4 COLUMN 1

Prime Bank reports ATM deceits

DT

2

News

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

SUPERMARKET RAID

Is quick justice better justice?

Mamun and n Shohel Ashif Islam Shaon The government is set to give magistrate-run mobile courts more power doubling jail terms and fines despite fear of rise in misuse of the law.

At present, the mobile courts can award highest two years' jail term and fine of Tk10 lakh fine after summary trials.

The government also plans to amend the 12 scheduled act related to the Mobile Court Act. At present, the mobile courts can try 113 kinds of offences under the 12 laws.

Policymakers seem to think that mobile courts will be more effective if they are given more power.

The ministries concerned have also been instructed to almost double the punishment under the law.

However, the Law Commission in August last year placed a report before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law Ministry saying that they had found some gross anomalies in the Mobile Court Act that led to flawed trials by the executive magistrates concerned.

The commission said that instant execution of sentence of imprisonment in case of the offenders' failure to instantly pay the fines very often results in violation of human rights.

The Law Commission report cautioned the government that some amendment should be made to make the law effective. It mentioned that there is no provision of bail in the Act which is important to uphold human rights.

It said that section 9 (2) of the Mobile Court Act 2009 contradicts section 388 of the Code of Criminal

Procedure, 1898.

“If anybody is sentenced to imprisonment for even one day, he can file an appeal against his conviction afterwards. So the offender has to serve in jail before he can file an appeal, which makes it a futile attempt to review the judgement,” the commission said.

An individual can file an appeal with the district magistrate (or deputy commissioner) or additional district magistrate (or additional deputy commissioner). If he is not satisfied with the verdict given against his first appeal, only then he can file another appeal with the sessions judge's court.

The commission termed the provision of making the DCs and the ADCs appellate authorities “unnecessary and ineffective.”

Filing an appeal by a convict with the DC makes the entire law inconsistent with the norms of justice, the report observed.

The amendment proposal also drew criticisms from jurists.

Eminent lawyer Shahdeen Malik had said that due to the Mobile Court Act, an offender is deprived of his/her basic rights to consult a lawyer as s/he is punished instantly.

Although verifying the veracity of an evidence is an important part of trials, it is not possible in the case of instant trials, he said.

“So the Mobile Court Act is destined to be abused,” he added.

The mobile courts were introduced to empower admin officials with some judicial power who had lost their judicial powers completely following separation of the judiciary from the executive during the caretaker government's tenure in November 2007.

How supermarkets serve consumers

1

Fixed Prices

Customers do not have to tussle with fellow buyers or haggle with merchants to buy goods.

Prices are displayed conveniently to help buyers make their choices.

2

One-stop Service

No need to visit two or three shops or to struggle with other buyers to buy anything. No matter whether dry foods, fresh vegetables or other consumers goods are required, everything you want is available under a single roof.

Saturday’s raid n Kamrul Hasan The sudden rush of people on Saturday caught Mohammad Kamal, a worker at the Shantinagar branch of Agora supermarket, unawares.

They rifled through the shelves checking expiration labels. Several TV reporters and cameramen filed in behind them.

“Then one of them went to the fish and meat section, picked up a fish and said loudly that it was rotten,” Kamal said.

A flurry of activity ensued that ended in the shop being fined Tk2 lakh and the manager, Monirul Islam, being jailed for two years.

Kamal would later learn that this man was Executive Magistrate Moshiur Rahman.

He claimed the store had all the documents that showed that the fish and the meat were within date, but by the time he had pushed through the crowd of TV reporters and cameramen with the papers, the magistrate had already handed down the sentence.

Other staff at the store claimed the team did not examine any of the fish or meat before declaring them bad.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police mobile court on that same day, May 11, also carried out drives at the nearby outlets of bakery chain Coopers and Meena Bazar supermarket and fined

them under the Food Safety Act, 2009.

Following the drive, the super shops kept their outlets shut for a day in protest.

Executive Magistrate Moshiur Rahman said the mobile courts hand down sentences only after the authorities have carried out their investigations.

Agora faced penalties for three particular reasons, he said – storing food past the expiration date, stocking rotten fish and meat and having no specific log book.

Coopers and Meena Bazar were fined for storing adulterated food, he added.

The Dhaka Tribune could not acquire the name of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) official who had accompanied Moshiur on the drive.

But BSTI Assistant Director Rebeka Sultana told the Dhaka Tribune that BSTI officials typically accompanied mobile courts after being called on by the magistrate.

“We have never fined any shops during mobile court drives at super shops after testing the products with any particular kit,” she admitted.

“We fined them for food that could be easily identified as adulterated, for instance if the food stank or the colour of the food was unusual, indicating that it was adulterated,” Rebeka explained. l

3

Convenient Location

There are local stores in every neighbourhood, but if you want to buy five categories of goods, you have to visit five places.

By contrast, supermarkets are located in convenient locations, mostly in major areas to help for a smooth shopping experience.

MOBILE COURTS

Expert rues lack of scientific evidence n Abu Bakar Siddique Mobile courts that conduct drives against food adulteration often do not test the samples scientifically, a senior BCSIR official said.

When contacted by the Dhaka Tribune, a senior official of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), the government agency that certifies food quality, said drives did not always act on scientific evidence.

“We have no idea about the kits the mobile courts use during their drives,” BCSIR Research Co-coordinator Monzur Morshed Ahmed said.

Such courts usually consist of magistrates, Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute officials and members of law enforcement agencies. BCSIR representatives are not usually not included in the drives, Monzur added.

He said in most cases, most mobile courts do not test samples properly.

The BCSIR official recalled how a mobile court destroyed a huge amount of mango and litchies two years ago, claiming they contained formalin. “But later, the court’s testing kits were found to be faulty,” he said.

“Mobile court drives against food adulteration will be credible and earn consumers’ trust if food samples are tested scientifically instead of fining or convicting anyone on the spot,” Monzur added.l

4

Security

If you need to shop for something in Karwan Bazar at 10pm, we can bet that you will have second thoughts. The thought of hijackers, pickpockets and finding a safe parking will plague your thoughts. No such worry at the supermarkets.

5

Free Offers

Supermarkets give consumers free products through promotions like ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ and other promotionals.

6

Electronic Payment System

No need to carry huge chunks of cash to do a week’s or even a month’s shopping. Nor do you need to scuttle home if short of cash. All superstores allow consumers to use debit and credit cards.

In addition, cash back services are available at many superstores if your bank has an MoU with the supermarket.

3

DT

News

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

7

Discounts

Discounted rates on goods are a regular phenomenon at supermarkets. Sometimes, products are offered at lower cost than local green grocers. In addition, seasonal campaigns are run at chain stores throughout the year.

8

Membership Facilities

By paying a fee, customers can register to get membership cards which tally up loyalty points which they can later use for discounts.

Supermarkets need a wider aisle to do business

Consumers feel good at supermarkets

n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

n Nure Alam Durjoy

Supermarkets are convenient but costly to run, and require a more even playing field to do business in Bangladesh, supermarket operators said.

In the last fifteen years, supermarket culture has seen fast growth in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

There are currently 14,000 stores just belonging to the two leading chain supermarkets in Indonesia, around 3,000 supermarkets in India and around 1,000 in Sri Lanka.

But Bangladesh lags far behind with only around 130 outlets up and running since 2001, when Rahimafrooz Superstores Ltd. (RSL) opened its Agora brand chain and inaugurated Bangladesh's age of the supermarket.

Operators say that what they describe as discriminatory Value Added Tax rates, high import duties on supermarket capital machinery and VAT on store rents, are the core challenges faced by the industry.

Supermarkets here pay around 60 times higher tax and VAT than other retail or department stores.

They also have to pay higher

duties – ranging from 65% to 106% on average – on imports of capital machinery.

Currently, 4% VAT is applicable to sales of supermarkets like Agora, Shwapno and Meena Bazar while other shops enjoy a package VAT based on shops size and location.

“Customers are discouraged by the 4% VAT on sales at super shops while other general stores pay VAT at a flat rate even though the business pattern is the same,” said Niaz Rahim, group director of Rahimafrooz.

The VAT disincentivises consumers from using supermarkets, said Rahim.

He said the 4% VAT should be removed or supermarkets should be assessed by square footage like other stores.

There was 1.5% VAT on the sale of superstores in FY2010-11, but the government hiked it to 2% in FY11-12 and then to 4% in FY1213. During this time, supermarkets lost 25% of its customers, operators said.

The market again grew in 2014 when the government halved the duty to 2%, but the duty was again hiked to 4% after a year.

“The sales growth of each of

the chain stores was around 20% in FY2009-10. If growth continued, we should have expanded the number of our stores by 50 by 2016, but that did not happen,” said Shaheen Khan, chief executive officer of Meena Bazar under Gemcon Food and Agriculture Products Ltd. “Such a VAT violates rules related to MRP [maximum retail price],” said Khan of Meena Bazar, which was established in 2002 and operates 16 outlets in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association General Secretary Md Zakir Hossain aid to the industry would give it a boost.

“Meena Bazar alone would triple its stores in five years if these demands are met,” says Shaheen Khan. l

Dhaka residents said they feel safer at supermarkets than at local groceries and outdoor markets.

They said supermarkets offered convenience, cleanliness and good customer service.

They said they liked supermarkets' billing and bagging services.

“As a banker, I do not have time to haggle in kitchen markets. That is why going to the supermarket is such a relief. I can get almost everything I need in a single place. Shopping this way saves me time,” said Md Shafakat Upal who lives in Dhaka's

Mohammadpur area.

“Also, they accept credit cards – something I cannot use in kitchen markets. I do not need not worry about carrying a lot of cash around with me.”

Mithila Hossain, a Kalabagan resident, agrees: “If you want a completely hassle-free shopping experience, a supermarket is the place to go: you get everything under one roof and there is no need to waste time bargaining.

“At traditional groceries, the price is not fixed and merchants charge prices according to their judgement of a customer's ability to pay.

“And, the youngsters love supermarket trolleys.” l

DT

News

4

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Arbitrary drives not the answer be trained. Otherwise, such monitoring will not work,” he said.

Small traders told the Dhaka Tribune that they were not always given the chance to defend themselves against accusations and paid fines to avoid landing behind bars.

On some occasions sentences were passed after products were examined with the naked eye or a “sniff test” without the aid of any device.

“In such cases, if we argue with them, the penalty increases. That is why we do not argue.”

Riajul Haque, assistant direc-

tor at Bangladesh Standards And Testing Institution (BSTI), told the Dhaka Tribune: “We do not judge food quality using machines when it comes to checking the level of formalin. Police or other organisations use this method. We conduct officially recognised chemical tests in front of people.

“I am neither in favour of using kits nor against it. If mobile court officials want to use them, it is up to them,” he added.

Another BSTI assistant director, Rebeka Sultana, told the Dhaka Tribune that BSTI representatives

Chinese man held for dubious ATM withdrawal the fraudulences hours after Zou Jian Hui was detained.

The officials of the private commercial bank came to know about the skimming incident in the afternoon when they were closing the accounts for the day.

‘Officials found abnormal transactions while closing today’s businesses,’ said Rezaul Haque, vice-president of the bank’s alternate delivery channel division.

While talking on the mon-

ey transaction, the official said that the consumers were all from outside the country and he denied to disclose the amount of money for further investigation.

More than Tk 2 lakh was withdrawn from the booths located at Panthapath and Farmgate around 6:30am, said Ataur Rahman, company commander of Rapid Action Battalion-2.

“It seems a syndicated skimming occurred simultaneously,’ Rezaul added. l

TV presenter Nipa missing today [yesterday].”

The OC said: “Nipa might have been abducted.”

When the Dhaka Tribune contacted Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed, he said Nipa was not on good terms with her husband Ruhul Amin, especially after she found out that he had married twice before her.

However, he could not say if Nipa’s husband had divorced the previous two wives.

“Nipa was talking with my wife on the phone when the

incident took place. Rasheda told me that while she was talking to her, the connection dropped suddenly and since then Nipa’s phone is switched off,” he said.

“That is why I filed a GD,” he continued.

When asked, Tejgaon police OC Abdur Rashid said: “We are still trying to trace Nipa’s whereabouts.”

Nipa remained missing until the filing of this report yesterday evening. l

generally accompany mobile court officials if the magistrate leading the team requests them to do so.

‘We fined them if the food stank or the colour changed, indicating that it was adulterated’ “We never fined any supermarket after testing products with any

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

particular kit. We fined them for food that appeared to be adulterated. For example, we fined them if the food stank or the colour changed, indicating that it was adulterated.

“We also fined them for marketing products without licences or with expired licences or products that were yet to tested by BSTI,” she added.

Mohammad Ashraful Alam, chairman of the criminology and police sciences department at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University said: “Mo-

bile courts do not follow up to know what happened after they took action. This must be monitored by the authorities concerned.

Otherwise, such drives will not produce results.”

Moshiur Rahman, executive magistrate of Dhaka metropolitan area, said mobile court drives are conducted according to the law and expert teams always remain present during them.

“Mobile court officials take decisions after proper examination of products and give punishment or penalty as per the law.” l

5

DT

News

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

BB CYBER HEIST

CID asks SWIFT to give access to technicians n Reuters

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has asked SWIFT to help its police question technicians sent by the global financial network to Dhaka to connect a new bank transaction system months before February’s $81m cyber heist, according to a source and an e-mail seen by the news agency on Wednesday.

CID told SWIFT in the email sent on Monday that it wants to interview the technicians in Dhaka next week. They were sent to Bangla-

Apart from the nearly half a dozen technicians, some of them contract employees, Bangladesh has also invited senior SWIFT officials to Dhaka, said the source, who declined to be named because of the ongoing investigations. The source declined to identify the technicians or give their nationalities.

SWIFT spokeswoman Natasha de Teran declined to comment.

Sources in Bangladesh have earlier said the technicians did not appear to have followed their own procedures to ensure the system was secure, because of which

desh from “around the world” in the second half of last year, it said.

Investigators believe the technicians introduced some vulnerabilities when they connected SWIFT to the South Asian country’s first real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system.

“We have some specific and tangible evidence against the technicians,” said a CID source with knowledge of the investigation into the heist. “They have to defend themselves. The technicians may have acted without the knowledge of SWIFT, in their personal capacity.”

SWIFT messaging at the Bangladesh Bank was widely accessible, including remote access with only a simple password.

A Bangladesh government-appointed panel investigating the theft has accused SWIFT of committing a number of mistakes in connecting up the local network.

SWIFT has rejected the allegations.

It has said its financial messaging system remains secure and had not been breached by the hackers during the attack on Bangladesh Bank.

The RTGS, which enables do-

mestic banks and the central bank to settle large transfers between themselves, was installed at Bangladesh Bank in October last year and then connected to SWIFT. In February, hackers sent fraudulent messages, ostensibly from the central bank in Dhaka, on the SWIFT system to the New York Federal Reserve seeking to transfer nearly $1bn from Bangladesh Bank’s account there.

Most of the transfers were blocked but about $81m was sent to a bank in the Philippines and much of that money remains missing. l

ZIA TRUST CASE

Khaleda files pleas against HC order n UNB

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday filed two petitions with the Supreme Court against the High Court order that rejected her two petitions seeking a stay on the proceedings of the Zia Charitable Trust case.

Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon filed the petitions with the wing concerned of the Appellate Division.

The hearing on the petitions will be held at the Chamber Judge Court within two or three days, said Khokon.

The High Court on May 15 rejected the two revision petitions filed by Khaleda seeking cancellation of the lower court order that had rejected her two petitions in the Zia Charitable Trust case, paving the way for continuing the trial in the case.

On April 17, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3 set up at the playground of Govt Alia Madrasah in the capital’s Bakshibazar rejected the two petitions – one for cross-examining the investigation officer of the case again and another for showing the case document under section 172 (2) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The following day, Barrister Ragib Rouf Chowdhury, on behalf of the BNP chief, filed the two revision petitions with the HC that also sought a stay on the case proceedings.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. l

Bangladesh College Shikkhak Samity form a human chain in Dhaka University demanding arrest and punishment of those involved in humiliating a Narayanganj headmaster yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Now mobile subscribers can switch operators n Ishtiaq Husain

der to introduce the MNP service.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has given approval to the mobile number portability (MNP) service that allows subscribers to switch between operators without changing their phone number.

Seeking anonymity, an official of Posts and Telecommunication Division told the Dhaka Tribune that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina – who is also in charge of Telecom Ministry – has given her consent on the MNP service.

“Now Telecom Division will send the file to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for floating a ten-

After BTRC completes all necessary procedures, it would take around one month to fully introduce the service, the official added.

Mobile number portability enables mobile subscribers to retain their phone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another within the country’s territory.

The service is already available in around 70 countries across the world, including India and Pakistan.

When the MNP system is launched in Bangladesh, a subscriber would have to pay Tk30 each time they want to choose a

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN THURSDAY, MAY 19

Dhaka

34

25

Chittagong

30

25

Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:36PM

34

25

Rangpur

30

24

different network operator; the conversion to another carrier cannot be altered again within 40 days of the initial switch.

After the bidding process, licence will be given to an independent company for 15 years to run the MNP system. The annual licence renewal fee will be Tk20 lakh while the company will have to share 5.5% revenue with the BTRC. Any registered Bangladeshi company can participate in the bidding, but no mobile operators are eligible.

On September 20 last year, Hasina gave her consent on the draft guideline for MNP. The Telecom Division then sent the file for apKhulna

33

25

Barisal 30

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:14AM

36.5ºC Mongla

19.5ºC Rangpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

26

PRAYER TIMES

proval to the Finance Ministry in October; which in turn okayed the MNP issues last December.

After that, Telecom Division revised the guideline which received final approval recently.

In December last year, State Minister for Telecommunication Tarana Halim had said the service would be launched within 2015.

Industry insiders told the Dhaka Tribune that competition is expected to increase among mobile operators once MNP service is introduced.

Operators would have to ensure top-notch service quality to retain existing subscribers or attract new ones, they said. l Sylhet

31

23

Cox’s Bazar

29

Fajr: 4:45am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 6:40pm Esha: 8:30pm Source: Islamic Foundation

25

DT

News

6

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Nor’wester ravages northern districts n Tribune Desk Strong northwesters and hailstorms have caused a significant amount of damage to trees and crops in the northern districts of Panchagarh and Rangpur.

Dhaka Tribune’s Panchagarh correspondent reported that the district was facing intermittent power disruptions since the storms from Tuesday evening.

Storms had brought down trees in many places, blocking roads and tearing off power lines.

Farmers said crops like Boro rice, jute, corn, chili, mango, lichi, jackfruit, tomatoes were severely damaged.

Abdus Samad, a farmer from Jhakualhali in the Sadar Upazila said he had lost an entire acre of jute crop.

Khatibur Rahman, an elderly farmer from Uttar Jalashipara near Panchagarh town, fainted from

shock when he saw almost two acres of his best paddy mowed down by the storm.

Panchagarh Agricultural Extension Department’s Deputy Director Md Rafiqul Islam said a list of affected farmers had been sent to the authorities.

Power Division has been working since early yesterday to bring electricity supply back to normal.

But Resident Engineer Ahsanul Kabir could not confirm when power supply would be back to normal.

In Rangpur, at least 500 homes have been torn down by the storm, our correspondent reported.

The storm disrupted power supply in eight upazilas and in most parts of Rangpur town.

At least 40 people were injured by falling objects in the storm.

The storm struck around 12:30am yesterday and raged for about half an hour.

Badarganj Upazila Executive

A thatched house was ravaged during nor’swester at Patgram upzila, Lalmonirhat yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Officer Kazi Abeda Gulshan said the administration had begun to bring support and aid to the victims. Rangpur Agricultural Extension Department’s Deputy Director SM Ahsraf Ali said corn and paddy crops had been harmed across the district.

A large number of trees of the Haribhanga mango variety had been torn down by the storm, he said.

Our Nilphamari correspondent Md Taieyb Ali Sarker reports: Over 100 houses located at Ketkibari, Bhogdaburi and Gomnati were

damaged by the storm that swept over the district on Tuesday night.

Moshiur Rahman, Domar Upzila Project Implementation Officer, said around 1,300 families were affected. Moreover, crops, including paddy and jute, on a vast tract of land damaged and hundreds of tress uprooted.

Abdul Matin, executive engineer of Domar electricity office told the Dhaka Tribune supply of electric had been remained stopped at Chilahati area as a number of electric poles uprooted by the storm.

In Lalmonirhat, several villages under Patgram upzila has been ravaged by the storm.

Since Tuesday night, the enitre upzila has remained without power.

Upzila Nirbahi Officer Nur Kutubul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune they had appealed for relief to the higher authorities.

Dohogram union parishad is the most affected area of the district. l

Clashes over UP polls continue, one die and 40 injured n Tribune desk A man was killed in a clash between the supporters of two Kalma union parishad election candidates in Kishoreganj’s Astagram upazila on Tuesday night.

The 32-year-old victim, Tazul Islam, was hit with a spear during the clash that broke out between

the supporters of Akhter Hossain and Chan Miah on Tuesday evening.

He was first taken to Astagram Upazila Health Complex but was later transferred to Bhagalpur Zahurul Islam Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened.

He succumbed to his injuries around 8:30pm.

Locals said Tazul was a supporter of Akhter.

Police said at least 40 supporters of the two groups were injured in the clash.

A case had been filed by Akhter against 55 people in this connection, said Shamsul Alam, officer-incharge of Astagram police station.

Our Jhenaidah correspondent

said a chairman candidate was undergoing treatment at Shaikupa Upazila Complex as he was allegedly attacked by some unidentified miscreants at Kachua Bazar.

Salauddin Mamun, a chairman candidate from the ruling party Awami League, claimed that supporters of his rival candidate attacked him.

27 newly elected chairman take oath in Munshiganj

Twenty seven newly elected union parishad chairmen yesterday took oath at the office of Munshganj deputy commissioner.

They were elected during the first and second phases election from unions under Sirajdikhan and Srinagar upzilas. l

7

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Irregularities in automobile scraps sale n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Every year, a huge quantity of scraps pile up after assembling automobiles at Pragoti Industries Ltd, the country’s lone state-run automobile assembling industry located in Chittagong’s Sitakunda.

The automobile assembling industry is supposed to sell out the piled up scraps to the highest bidder after floating tender.

Accordingly, Pragoti Industries Ltd had floated a tender in December of 2014 for selling around 170 tonnes of automobile scraps and Ms Mannan Iron Mart obtained the work order as the highest bidder at Tk90 lakh.

Although more than one year has passed, the contractor could not receive the scraps from the industry. It is alleged that Atiqur Rahman, CBA president of Pragoti Industries Ltd is standing in the way of delivering the scraps for Tk30 lakh as toll from the contractor.

The Dhaka Tribune has obtained

a 34-minutes long telephonic conversation between the contractor and the CBA President where Atiqur demanded Tk30 lakh from the contractor for delivering the scrap.

“You [contractor] will have to pay Tk30 lakh in total well ahead of receiving the scraps. Tk10 lakh is for the association, Tk10 lakh for the cooperatives and Tk10 lakh for me,’ demanded Atiqur Rahman in the conversation.

“You [contractor] need not worry about it. I will manage everything so that you could receive additional scraps amounting to Tk60 lakh so that you could recoup your loss,” said Atiqur in the conversation.

To settle the issue, the Pragoti authorities had formed a committee to investigate into the allegations leveled against the CBA leader.

However, the probe body failed to tender its report in the past one year.

“I have been awarded with the work order as the highest bidder.

I have already paid off Tk5 lakh for purchasing the scraps. How-

ever, it is Atiqur Rahman, the CBA president of Pragoti Industries Ltd who is demanding Tk30 lakh as toll from me for receiving the scrap.

The CBA leader also threatened me that he would not let me collect the scraps if I did not comply with his demand,” alleged MA Mannan, proprietor of Ms Mannan Iron Mart.

“The CBA president has held the automobile assembling industry hostage. None in the industry dares to speak against the crooked CBA leader. Finding no other way, I had recourse to the court. I had also lodged a written a complaint against him to the authorities of Bangladesh steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) on May 22 last year,” added Mannan.

Apart from demanding extortion, the CBA president is allegedly involved with many irregularities, including manipulating recruitment process of the workers and issuing threat to the officers and employees of Pragoti Industries Ltd. Brushing aside the allegations of

The Jatiya Shikhak Kormochari Front holds a human chain at Saheb Bazar in Rajshahi yesterday demanding punishment of those people who have recently humiliated Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, a suspended teacher of Piyar Sattar Latif High School, Narayanganj AZAHAR UDDIN

CMP commissioner: Eviction of hawkers not possible overnight Hussain, n Anwar Chittagong Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Iqbal Bahar has said to evict hawkers from the footpaths of the city is not possible overnight.

He came up with the remark while addressing a view exchange meeting yesterday as the chief guest in the city.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) organised the function at World Trade Centre

for keeping prices of essential commodities and law and order situation under control.

The CMP Commissioner urged the hoteliers not to sell iftar items encroaching footpaths.

“The trucks are largely responsible for causing traffic congestion in the city.

Trucks laden with perishable commodities will only be allowed to enter the city during daytime in the month of Ramazan,” announced Iqbal Bahar.

While addressing the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Mesbah Uddin asked all traders to display price chart.

“We will conduct drives as part of market monitoring,” said the DC. With the CCCI president Mahbubul Alam in the chair, the meeting was also addressed by Superintendent of Police AKM Hafiz Akhter, the CCCI vice-president Syed Jamal Uddin and traders’ leader Abul Bashar. l

DT

News demanding extortion from the contractor, Atiqur Rahman, the CBA president of Pragoti Industries Ltd said a quarter with vested interest was plotting against him.

“The allegations brought against me are purely hypothetical. There is not a grain of truth in the allegations,” said the CBA leader.

Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), said: “A body headed by the BSEC secretary Masud Ahmed was formed to probe the allegations against the CBA leader. The probe committee is yet to submit its report.”

Kaykobad Al Mamun, engineer of Pragoti Industries Ltd, said: “Using his ruling party affiliation, the CBA leader misbehaved with me. I had lodged a General Diary on May 18 last year against the CBA leader with police for threatening me with dire consequences. I had also lodged a written complaint to the Pragoti authorities against him for intimidating me on May 14 last year.” l

Youth beaten to death Mizanur Rahman, n FM Chittagong

A youth was beaten to death by staffs of a water pump factory in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong over allegation of stealing a mobile phone from the office.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Malek, 28, son of Siddikur Rahman, from Hajiganj of Chandpur, said police.

SI Kamal Uddin of Sitakunda police station told the Dhaka Tribune that manager and several workers of a water pump factory picked up Malek from his residence around 1am on Wednesday over an allegation that he had stolen a mobile phone from the office.

Later, they beat him mercilessly resulting in injuries leading up to his death, after which his body was thrown on to the nearby road, said the police official.

Being informed by locals in the morning, police recovered the body from the road. l

DT

8 World

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

TOP STORIES

Afghanistan signs draft pact with Taliban-allied militants Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami, is on US designated terrorist list

Sri Lanka landslide washes away three villages, scores buried alive A landslide in Sri Lanka, triggered by more than three days of rain, buried three villages in a central district and the death toll is yet to be determined, government officials and area residents said on Tuesday.

PAGE 9

Brexit or not? 5 weeks to go and pollsters don’t know Just over five weeks before a referendum on whether Britain should stay in the European Union, the message from opinion polls is simple: It is impossible to predict how Britons will vote on June 23.

PAGE 9

US Senate passes bill allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia The US Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia’s government for damages, setting up a potential showdown with the White House, which has threatened a veto.

PAGE 10

n Reuters, Kabul Afghanistan signed a draft agreement on Wednesday with the Hezb-e-Islami militant group in a move the government hopes could lead to a full peace accord with one of the most notorious warlords in the insurgency.

Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is a veteran of decades of Afghan war and rights groups have accused his group of widespread abuses, particularly during civil war in the early 1990s, when he briefly served as prime minister.

The United States has also linked the group to al-Qaeda and the Taliban and put Hekmatyar on its designated terrorist list.

The group has played only a minor role in the Taliban-led insurgency in recent years and the deal is unlikely to have any immediate practical impact on security.

But with little sign that the Taliban are ready to join peace talks, the deal offers President Ashraf Ghani’s government a concrete sign that it is making headway in drawing insurgent groups away from the battlefield and into the political process.

Mohammad Khan, deputy to government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, said the draft accord was a positive step but more work would be needed for a final deal.

“We are optimistic about this agreement and we strongly support it,” he told reporters in Kabul before the accord was signed by a delegation from Hekmatyar’s party and officials from Afghanistan’s High Peace Council. But he added: “This doesn’t mean it’s finalised.”

The announcement came as officials from Pakistan, the US, China and Afghanistan held another round of meetings, in Pakistan, aimed at laying the ground for peace talks with the Taliban, who have refused to join the talks.

Human rights groups have criticised the move towards a deal with Hekmatyar’s group but the pressure on the government for some sign of progress in bringing peace appears to have outweighed the concerns.

Under the terms of the draft, members of Hezb-e-Islami would be offered an amnesty, similar to that offered in 2007 to warlords accused of war crimes as well as a release of prisoners held by Af-

A 2015 file picture shows Afghan Taliban fighters listening to Mullah Mohammad Rasool Akhund (unseen), leader of a breakaway faction of the Taliban, at Bakwah in the western province of Farah AFP ghan authorities.

The government would also work to have the group removed from a UN black list.

The group, which for years had close ties with Pakistan, would not join the government but would be recognised as a political party and be involved in major political decisions.

In 2003, the US State Department included Hekmatyar on its terrorist list, accusing him of participating in and supporting attacks by al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

His group was most recently blamed for a 2013 attack in Kabul, in which two US soldiers and four US civilian contractors as well as eight Afghans were killed.

The ongoing talk hit a wall recently as the Afghan government declined to send a delegation from Kabul for the new talks, saying its ambassador in Islamabad would represent the government until Pakistan lives up to promises to crack down on Afghan Taliban sheltering on its soil.

The Taliban, who now control or contest more territory than at any time since they was ousted by a US-led intervention in 2001, have attended none of the group’s meetings.

Pakistan had expressed con-

THE 4 OBJECTIVES OF AFGHAN PEACE PROCESS Ü Creating conditions to incentivise the Taliban to move away from using violence to pursue political goals and come to the negotiating table Ü Sequencing actions and measures appropriately to pave the way for direct talks with the Taliban Ü Using confidence-building measures to encourage Taliban groups to join the negotiating table Ü A realistic and flexible roadmap which broadly defines steps and phases – but avoids unrealistic targets and deadlines – is important for charting the course of action.

Source: DAWN fidence it could pressure Taliban representatives to return to the negotiating table by March, but the insurgents released a statement in late February refusing to join.

Ghani angrily demanded that Pakistan use force to expel Taliban and allied insurgents from its territory last month after a big truck bomb killed 64 people in Kabul.

Pakistan, battling Pakistani Taliban militants, denies harbouring Afghan Taliban leaders on its soil.

Afghan Taliban forces have stepped up their campaign in the last year to topple the Kabul government, which has struggled since most foreign troops left at the end of 2014.

High-profile suicide attacks and

Taliban territorial gains in Helmand province have underlined how far Afghanistan remains from peace.

The ultimate goal of the diplomatic manoeuvring is to bring Taliban into direct negotiations with the Kabul government. The Taliban remain split on whether to participate in the talks.

The first formal peace talks with the Taliban since the latest phase of Afghan war began in 2001 collapsed last year after it was announced their founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had been dead for two years, throwing the militant group into disarray.

The Taliban have since been riven by factional infighting. l

9

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Sri Lanka landslide washes away three villages, scores buried alive n Reuters, Colombo A landslide in Sri Lanka, triggered by more than three days of rain, buried three villages in a central district and the death toll is yet to be determined, government officials and area residents said on Tuesday.

However, local authorities estimate at least 150 people could be buried there.

Torrential rains have forced more than 137,000 people from their homes so far and killed at least 11.

Rohan Dias, a deputy police inspector, said rescue operations at the villages in the central district of Kegalle was continuing in the night.

“There were about 150 families in those villages and we don’t know how many survived,” Dias said.

“There are about 800 people gathered in the nearby temples including the people from the neighbouring villages fearing their villages could also be affected. There are another 400 people in the roads who have come to see their relatives.”

WM Abeywickrema, Kegalle

Villagers carry a disable elderly woman on a chair through a flooded road after they moved out from their houses at Biyagama in Sri Lanka on Tuesday REUTERS district secretary, told a local private channel that around 400 people had been rescued so far.

“I saw a whole rock came down and buried many houses.

There are people inside,” one middle-aged woman told the channel.

Military Spokesman Jayanath Jayaweera said 174 service personnel and 8 army officers had

been deployed to the rescue area in Aranayaka in Kegalle district.

Troops also have launched rescue operations in inundated areas of the Indian Ocean island, with boats and helicopters pulling more than 200 people trapped in the northwestern coastal district of Puttalam to safety, officials said.

“This is the worst torrential

rain we have seen since 2010,” said Pradeep Kodippili, a spokesman for the disaster management centre. Nineteen of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts have been hit.

Heavy rains have also struck the neighbouring Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. More than 100 houses were damaged in coastal Kerala and about 50 families had been shifted to a relief camp in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, a state official said.

The weather department has forecast heavy rains across Tamil Nadu over the next two days and warned fishermen not to go out to sea.

Flooded roads and fallen trees led to traffic jams in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. Trains were halted as water submerged railway tracks, officials said.

Flooding and drought are cyclical in Sri Lanka, which is battered by a southern monsoon between May and September, while a northeastern monsoon runs from December to February. l

ANALYSIS

Brexit or not? 5 weeks to go and pollsters don’t know n Reuters, London Just over five weeks before a referendum on whether Britain should stay in the European Union, the message from opinion polls is simple: It is impossible to predict how Britons will vote on June 23.

Opinion pollsters that failed to forecast both Prime Minister David Cameron’s unexpectedly decisive election victory and the result of Israel’s election last year have so far painted contradictory pictures of British public opinion.

Traders woke up on Tuesday to a ORB pollster’s telephone poll showing a 15-percentage point lead for the “In” campaign, a reading that sent sterling up to a 2-1/2 year high against the euro.

But within hours a second poll, conducted online by TNS, showed the “Out” campaign with a threepoint lead.

“What is the bottom line? I don’t know. I don’t know what you should take away from it. There is clearly a difference between the telephone and the online polls,” Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB, said in a telephone interview.

“The evidence is that a lot of people are not excited about saying they want to remain: the passionate people here are those who want to

leave. I think the status quo is less sexy but also less risky,” said Heald.

In a research note for clients entitled “Brexit: latest batch of polls adds to the uncertainty”, JPMorgan said: “One should not be confident about the message coming from the polls, however one reads them.”

A British exit would rock the European Union - already shaken by differences over migration and the future of the euro zone - by ripping away its second-largest economy, one of its top two military powers and by far its richest financial centre.

From US President Barack Obama to the International Monetary Fund, a host of world leaders and international organisations have cautioned British voters about the risks of leaving the bloc it joined in 1973. The Bank of England said last week that Brexit could tip the economy into recession.

Cameron’s clear victory in the May 2015 election prompted British pollsters to hold a post-mortem into their failure to predict the result.

The answer? Sampling methods.

Pollster ICM released telephone and online polls on Monday whose results contradicted each other completely. The phone poll put “In” ahead on 47%, while the online sample showed “Out” in the lead on 47%.

DT

World

SOUTH ASIA

Myanmar welcomes US move to ease more sanctions A US decision to pare back economic sanctions on Myanmar could unclog investment as the country claws its way out of poverty, Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government said Wednesday, welcoming the move.

The United States lifted a host of financial and trade embargoes Tuesday to recognise the historic milestone of the country’s transfer to a civilian-led government.

-AFP

INDIA

Indian Muslims angry over Yoga Day proposal Muslim groups on Wednesday slammed a directive from India’s Hindu nationalist government for participants in International Yoga Day to chant “Om”, citing religious bias. The mass outdoor yoga session, to be held in June for its second year. Muslim groups reacted with anger, saying such chants were against their faith and accusing the ruling BJP of seeking to impose a hardline Hindu agenda.

-AFP

CHINA

China stages war games before Taiwan inauguration China is staging large-scale joint war games featuring mock beach landing, helicopter assaults and tank battles along its east coast facing Taiwan, just days before the inauguration of the self-governing island’s new independence-leaning president. The Defence Ministry said Wednesday that the air, land and sea drills were aimed at testing and upgrading the ability to respond to security threats. -AP

ASIA PACIFIC

Philippine communist rebels welcome Cabinet post offer

The question, phrased by British electoral authorities for the UK referendum to be held on June 23 BIGSTOCK “Bemused? You have every right to be,” said Martin Boon, director of ICM, in a commentary accompanying the polls. “If you want to ask me, which is unlikely, the answer you’d get is ‘I just don’t know’.”

Such is the confusion over the polls, which now often move the pound, that some investors prefer to look at betting markets which have proved a better predictor of some political events, including last year’s British elections.

Odds there have consistently shown British voters opting to remain in the 28-nation EU. Online brokerage IG Group said its referendum barometer was

showing a record high for “In” on Tuesday, with a 74.5% chance, while Betfair’s odds gave an implied 73% chance of a vote to remain.

Campaigners on both sides say privately that they do not have a clear picture of what is going on with voter opinion from the public polls. They are using private polling and both sides draw comfort from surveys showing their favoured result.

Lynton Crosby, the strategist who helped Cameron win last year’s election, wrote in a commentary on the ORB poll: “Time may be running out for the “Leave” camp to make the case for Brexit.” l

Communist rebel leaders welcomed on Wednesday a possible offer from the Philippines’ presumptive president-elect of 4 Cabinet posts.

Rodrigo Duterte, who won the May 9 presidential election has said he will likely offer the Communist Party of the Philippines Cabinet positions in agrarian reform, environment, social welfare and labour.

-AP

MIDDLE EAST

Yemeni govt suspends participation in peace talks The Yemeni government on Tuesday suspended its participation in UN-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait and said it would only return if its opponents, the Houthis, committed to withdraw from cities they have seized. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi said the government delegation had decided to suspend its participation in the consultations after the Houthis informed them they did not recognise Hadi’s legitimacy.

-REUTERS

DT

10

World

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

USA

Trump claims net worth of more than $10bn Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump claimed again Tuesday that he is worth in excess of $10bn - more than twice the level of independent estimates.

Trump said he filed his personal financial disclosure form with the Federal Election Commission, a step every White House aspirant must take to qualify as a candidate. -AFP

THE AMERICAS

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake reported in Ecuador A powerful magnitude 6.7 aftershock early Wednesday rattled Ecuador near the Pacific coast area where a devastating earthquake hit a month ago, knocking out power and scaring still-traumatized residents as they slept but only limited damage was reported. The US Geological Survey said Wednesday that the quake’s epicenter was 35km from the town of Muisne. -AP

UK

Queen unveils government’s reform agenda ahead of EU vote Queen Elizabeth unveiled plans by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday to overhaul prisons and help the poor under a social reform agenda he hopes to press after a referendum on EU membership. In a ceremony laden with pomp and pageantry in the upper house of parliament, the queen announced plans for more than 20 new laws, ranging from tackling extremism to making it easier for people to adopt children who are wards of the state.-REUTERS

EUROPE

EU raises pressure on Poland in rule of law row The European Commission warned on Wednesday that the EU will deepen its unprecedented investigation into the rule of law in Poland without signs of progress from the conservative government in Warsaw. The Law and Justice government plunged Poland into a political crisis in December when it pushed through legislation to overhaul the constitutional court and modify its decision-making rules.

-AFP

AFRICA

1st missing Chibok girl found in Nigeria The 1st of more than 200 schoolgirls missing for over 2 years after they were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Chibok in northeast Nigeria has been found. Lawan Zannah, secretary of an association of parents of the missing girls, said teenager Amina Ali was found on Tuesday near the Sambisa forest close to the border with Cameroon.

-REUTERS

US Senate passes bill allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia n Reuters, Washington, DC The US Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia’s government for damages, setting up a potential showdown with the White House, which has threatened a veto.

The Saudis, who deny responsibility for the 2001 attacks, strongly object to the bill. They had said they might sell up to $750bn in US securities and other American assets in retaliation if it became law.

The “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act,” or JASTA, passed the Senate by unanimous voice vote. It must next be taken up by the US House of Representatives, where the Judiciary Committee intends to hold a hearing on the measure in the near future, a committee aide said.

If it became law, JASTA would remove the sovereign immunity, preventing lawsuits against governments, for countries found to be involved in terrorist attacks on US soil. It would allow survivors of

the attacks, and relatives of those killed in the attacks, to seek damages from other countries.

In this case, it would allow lawsuits to proceed in federal court in New York as lawyers try to prove that the Saudis were involved in the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir has said his country’s objection to the bill is based on principles of international relations. “What (Congress is) doing is stripping the principle of sovereign immunities which would turn the world for international law into the law of the jungle,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

James Kreindler, a prominent trial lawyer who represents 9/11 families and won large payouts for the victims of the 1988 bombing of Pan American Airways Flight 103 over Scotland, said he expected the bill to pass the House and become law.

Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and a JASTA co-sponsor, said the bill is overdue.

The September 11, 2001 Memorial plaque at the World Trade Centre Ground Zero in New York BIGSTOCK

Classified pages of 9/11 report

Republican Senator John Cornyn, also a sponsor of the bill, said JASTA does not target the Saudis, although he alluded to a still-classified section of a report on the September 11 attacks that Saudi critics say might implicate Riyadh.

“We have yet to see the 28 pages that have not been yet released about the 9/11 report, and that may well be instructive,” Cornyn said at the news conference.

Other lawmakers who have seen the 28 pages have said releasing them would quiet such rumors.

Cornyn said it was up to the court to decide whether the Saudis were liable. The White House said Obama still plans to veto JASTA. Asked if Senate Democrats would back a veto, Schumer said he would vote against Obama.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had opposed the bill, said the version passed on Tuesday eased his worries that it might leave US allies more vulnerable to lawsuits, for example if groups based within their borders but not supported by their governments were behind a terrorist attack. l

ANALYSIS

Donald Trump v Megyn Kelly: More public reconciliation than smackdown n Tribune International Desk Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and US presidential candidate Donald Trump have had what some might call a rather strained relationship since August, when the first Republican debate of this election cycle took place.

Some might also call it a “feud,” of course – or describe Kelly as Trump’s “arch-nemesis” in a headline related to the duo’s public social media “battles.”

From Trump’s first tweet panning Kelly as a moderator to “blood coming out of her wherever” to Fox condemning the now Republican front-runner’s “sick obsession” with their reporter, America has been fascinated by the developments in this back-and-forth for more than nine months now.

Sadly for them, it may all be over now that Kelly and Trump have had the chance to chat one-on-one, away from their computers.

The billionaire-businessman turned presidential candidate

appeared on the Fox network as scheduled Tuesday evening in a new, one-hour-long primetime special called Megyn Kelly Presents.

Hyped heavily by both Fox and Kelly over the past week, the interview itself (taped two weeks ago) lasted only about 16 minutes.

It wasn’t so much the length that disappointed critics, however.

As one political analyst puts it, the interview was simply “fawning, boring, and pointless.”

Much of the segment was focused on the candidate’s personal life, as Kelly asked about his divorces, his late brother, his experiences with bullying and how he manages his Twitter account.

“I have millions of followers at @RealDonaldTrump,” he said at one point. “The thing that gets me in trouble is retweets... the retweet is really more of a killer than the tweets. The tweets I seem to do pretty well with.”

Whether part of his strategy to be seen as more “presidential” or a genuine attempt at reconciliation, Trump was decidedly more restrained in his language and behaviour than what we’ve seen in

Donald Trump poses with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly at his office in New York on Monday, before taping their much-talk-about TV interview TWITTER any of his interactions with Kelly since August.

Calling the interview “convivial” and “easygoing,” The New York Times was one of many outlets reporting that a truce had been drawn after Kelly’s special aired.

Kelly did ask Trump at one point about their perceived feud and why he lashed out against her after the first Republican debate.

“I tell you what, in a certain way, what you did might have been a favour,” Trump said, referring to Kelly’s debate question about past in-

sults he’d levelled against women.

“I felt so good about having gotten through ... I said ‘If I can get through this debate, with those questions, you can get through anything.’”

When asked by Kelly if he regretted how he’d behaved towards her over the past nine months, Trump answered: “Absolutely. I could have done certain things differently.” l

This is an excerpt of a CBC news article, which can be found at http://bit. ly/1XzL221]

11

DT

Advertisement

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

DT

12 Business

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

TOP STORIES

BSEC seeks public opinion on listing small firms The market regulator Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has sought public opinion on its certain proposals for setting up a dedicated trading platform for small firms at the stock exchanges. PAGE 13

Currency wars, fiscal stimulus rift in focus at G7 meeting Finance ministers and central bankers from the G7 meet in Japan this week for talks likely to highlight a sharp divide over currency policy and how to breathe life into the wheezing global economy. PAGE 14

Capital market snapshot: Wednesday DSE Broad Index

4,364.3

0.9% ▲

Index

1,071.8

0.9% ▲

30 Index

1,708.5

1.1% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

3,613.0

19.6% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

101.5

24.9% ▲

All Share Index 13,441.9

0.9% ▲

30 Index

0.5% ▲

CSE

Selected Index

12,435.9 8,173.0

0.9% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

221.4

21.9% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

9.3

34.2% ▲

Budget prep mired as ministers on tour n Asif Showkat Kallol The preparation for the next fiscal year’s budget seems to get locked as decisions on some vital matters including the value-added tax issue are still pending.

Officials said ministers concerned and the NBR chairman have gone out of Dhaka keeping the decisions pending while the budget announcement is just two weeks away.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the budget allocations for different ministries and divisions before leaving for the United Kingdom on an official tour, said Finance Division officials.

She also approved the current fiscal’s revised annual development programme and next fiscal’s annual development programme.

“This is the old path Bangladesh is following as budget preparation gets stuck only for few decisions. How can we compete with India and China,” an official said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith will propose budget allocations for different sectors and interest groups after coming to Dhaka. He is due to arrive today from Indonesia.

NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman will return home from Moscow two days later while State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan will arrive in Dhaka one day before budget announcement.

Muhith is expected give decisions on the issues including government’s bank borrowing, recapitalisation fund for stateowned banks, enforcement of the new VAT law, allocation for project implementation under the Public-Private Partnership in the upcoming fiscal year.

Finance ministry sources said other major decisions like formulation of a capital budget for mega projects, which is supposed to be incorporated in the FY2017 budget, are also pending.

Senior Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said: “The issues of re-capitalisation funds, PPP allocation and allocation for capital budget in the next budget are confidential matters. However,

funds for the sectors are now at calculation stage.”

Former Finance Adviser to Caretaker Government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said: “It is unexpected that ministers and secretaries are not in the country just a few days before budget announcement. This is crucial time.”

‘It is unexpected that ministers and secretaries are not in the country just a few days before budget announcement’ He said decision on the VAT issue is important as the business people are opposing the new law. He said it’s also important to determine figure of the government’s bank borrowing in the new fiscal year.

According to the government estimates for the FY2017, the economy will grow at 7.2%, inflation rate will be ate 5.8% and revenue earning Tk2,49,000 crore. l

BEZA set to introduce onestop service

n Tribune Business Desk

Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is all set to introduce one-stop services for prospective investors soon to facilitate fast track processing of investments in Bangladesh.

During initial level, BEZA will offer five services – project clearance, visa recommendation, work permit recommendation, import permit and export permit – out of a total 28 approvals required for investment purposes, which will be introduced within one month.

The other services required for investors will be included in the automated web platform in phases, says BEZA in a press release issued yesterday.

Currently, many prospective investors feel discouraged mainly due to lengthy and complex procedures. So, the authorities are going to introduce the service to facilitate fast track services for the investors to help them complete the processes smoothly.

In this regard, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority Secretary Mohammad Ayub and Chief Executive Officer (E-Service Director) of Business Automation signed the agreements on their behalf at a programme held at BEZA office in Dhaka yesterday. l

Moriarty new country director for Alliance n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety on Tuesday appointed former US ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty as its country director.

Moriarty will now be tasked with playing the leadership role and engaging stakeholders in bringing about long-term sustainability for RMG sector.

The current executive director of Alliance in Bangladesh, Moriarty, will replace M Rabin, managing director of the North American buyers’ platform, Bangladesh operation.

As part of its ongoing efforts to empower workers and improve the safety of ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh, the Alliance yesterday declared Moriarty the country director, according to the post on Alliance website.

Moriarty will lead strategic oversight and outreach activities with key stakeholders from Bangladesh government, garment industry and non-governmental and nonprofit organisations, it added.

The Alliance said the new country director will lead the Building and Fire Safety Division of ELEVATE, the management firm responsible for designing, managing and executing all Alliance remediation and training efforts in Bangladesh.

“As our operation team continues to work to empower factory workers and owners, we saw an opportunity to increase our engagement with the key stakeholders and focus on long-term sustainability,” said Ellen Tauscher, independent chair of the Alliance.

“We are thrilled to have Moriarty on board in this expanded leadership role. He is extremely qualified and has a deep commitment to our mission and the garment workers of Bangladesh.”

As the country director, Moriarty will spend more time in Bangladesh working with these partners to support the Bangladesh government and industry to sustain and expand the reach of garment factory improvements after the Alliance comes to a close in 2018, the Alliance stated.

“Under Mesbah’s leadership,

the Alliance has made considerable progress in the past two and a half year. I am looking forward to having even more active engagement with key stakeholders to help us achieve our shared vision of a safer RMG industry for Bangladeshi workers,” said Moriarty.

He added that together it is possible to catalyze progress towards the goal of ensuring that Bangladesh’s garment factories and workers remain safe after 2018.

“I am proud of the work that we have done over the last two and a

half years of the Alliance. I now look forward to taking the learning and experiences from the Alliance to other countries and other industries as I support the work of ELEVATE globally,” said M Rabin.

According to the latest report, the Alliance has completed 100% inspection with the completion of 677 factories inspection.

Of the total inspected factories, 50% RMG units that produce clothing products for the signatories of Alliance have completed all required repairs. l

13

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

BSEC seeks public opinion on listing small firms n Kayes Sohel

The market regulator Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has sought public opinion on its certain proposals for setting up a dedicated trading platform for small firms at the stock exchanges.

With the country’s economy expected to grow at over 7% and size of the economy already crossed the US$200 billion mark, small and medium enterprises’ need to raise their capital is increasingly important.

Market players opined that hundreds of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) would look at raising capital from outside sources in the coming years, which may include venture capital funds, private equity or the capital market.

The BSEC has invited comment

from the public by this month.

Currently, only those companies with a minimum paid-up capital of Tk30 crore are eligible to list on the stock exchanges.

According to the BSEC proposals, companies with minimum paid-up capital of Tk5 crore with a positive net profit after tax at least for immediate preceding two financial years will be eligible to raise funds by using the platform.

But they will have to raise at least Tk5 crore from “qualified investors” through listing on the platform, and the post-issue paidup capital will not cross Tk30 crore.

If paid up capital of the company exceeds Tk30 crore, the company may apply for listing in the main board of exchanges.

Qualified investors mean institutional ones and high net-worth

Daffodil Computers brings mobile handsets n Tribune Business Desk Daffodil Computers, a leading IT company in Bangladesh, yesterday launched mobile handsets in the local market, which is one of the fastest growing markets globally.

With this, the company joined the bandwagon of mobile handset business with other local companies like Walton and ACI. “The company has launched international mobile brand ‘lephone’ in Bangladesh market introducing 4 model ‘lephone’ handsets,” said the

company in a filing with the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

Its yearly sale target is 222,500 handsets valued almost Tk44 crore and the company is expected to make profit of over Tk3 crore, it said.

Its share prices yesterday increased by over 5% to Tk20.6 a share on the DSE. Currently, the key players in the smartphone market are Symphony, Walton, and Samsung.

Earlier, the mobile handset industry in Bangladesh was dominated by the Finnish giant Nokia due to its low-cost feature phones. l

Stocks extend rally n Tribune Business Desk

Stocks extended rally for the third consecutive session yesterday with an improved volume of trade.

The rally was led by mainly financial and consumer goods scrips. The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark DSEX index rose over 37 points or 0.9% to end at 4,364.

The Shariah index DSES was up about 10 points or 1% to 1,071. The blue chip comprising index DS30 gained 19 points to 1,708. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX ended at 8,172, rising over 73 points.

The trading volume improved, but still remained poor as the DSE turnover stood at more than Tk360cr, up around 20% over the previous session.

According to the Lanka Bang-

la Securities, the initial strength of the market was partly due to bargain hunting following a heavy sell-off in previous week.

“Significant move in past two trading sessions helped limit the downside for the market, where stocks were mostly following the market movement regardless of industry specific cues.”

Among the major sectors, Bank, Cement, Fuel & Power and Textile increased by 0.97%, 3.41%, 0.23% and 0.75% respectively while the tannery sector decreased by 2.81%.

Engineering sector was the highest gainer surging 1.86%, followed by banks about 1% and telecommunication 0.7%. l Other sectors including non-banking financial institutions and food and allied, power and pharmaceuticals edged higher. l

individuals with adequate knowledge on investment as the new trading platform will not be opened for retail investors.

Companies with minimum paid-up capital of Tk5 crore will be eligible to raise funds From the date of issuance of the prospectus, all shares allotted to the qualified investors and alternative investment funds will be locked in for one year and all other shares held by sponsor-directors for three years.

Trading will take place through existing stockbrokers. The issuer company will appoint a market maker at least for three years to

DT

Business maintain liquidity in the market during the trading of shares.

A market maker is a dealer in securities or other assets who undertakes to buy or sell at specified prices at all times.

“Listing on a stock exchange will give them (small firms) a facelift.

But, the regulator should be careful about the misuse of funds as there are many norms that cannot be complied by small firms,” said a market expert.

Among the global exchanges, London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market is the most successful platform for small issues and has attracted a large number of companies globally. Next door neighbour India has also launched separate trading platform for SMEs, particularity IT firm for accelerating their growth. l

Tiger IT Ltd to manufacture smart licence cards

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Tiger IT Ltd has been appointed by the cabinet committee on public purchase to provide motor drivers with 1.5 million polycarbonate smart licence cards.

Cabinet committee on public purchase yesterday gave its consent for a Roads and Highways division proposal in appointing Tiger IT Limited to manufacturethe smart cards for the next five years.

After the meeting, Additional Secretary Mustafizur Rahman told reportersthat Tiger IT secured first position to manufacturethe smart card licences.

He also said the government will spend Tk74.98cr and licences will be provided from November. l

14

DT

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Currency wars, fiscal stimulus rift in focus at G7 meeting n AFP, Tokyo Finance ministers and central bankers from the G7 meet in Japan this week for talks likely to highlight a sharp divide over currency policy and how to breathe life into the wheezing global economy.

The group - including US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi - converge at a hot spring town north of Tokyo where two days of meetings kick off from Friday.

Host Japan is keen to win an endorsement for its position that fiscal stimulus is the way to spur global growth, as a rally in the yen hits exporters and accelerates a slowdown at home.

But Tokyo’s threat of a market intervention to reverse the rise has put it on a collision course with other G7 nations, including the United States which rejected suggestions the yen was too strong.

Washington recently put Japan on a new currency watchlist, along with China and Germany.

The G7 group - also including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy - will use the meetings to hammer out their strategy for keeping a global recession at bay.

In April, the International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for world growth for the third time in six months, as a slowdown in China and other emerging economies raised fears that the worst was yet to come.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde is expected to attend this week’s meeting in Japan.

“There are many parts of the global economy that are uncertain,” Japanese Finance Minister

Taro Aso said in Tokyo on Tuesday.

“How the G7 coordinates efforts to deal with them will be a major subject of discussions.”

But finding a deal could be a challenge.

Premier Shinzo Abe’s pitch for large-scale stimulus spending got a cool response from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron this month.

‘Straw fire’

Merkel suggested Germany was already doing its part to put the global economy back on track, pointing to the extra economic activity generated by the arrival of one million refugees and migrants last year.

Her Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble this week pointed to reforms as the way forward, rather than focusing on more government spending and monetary policy.

“The strategy of stimulating the

economy with borrowed money quickly loses steam -- it’s like setting straw on fire,” he told the Japan’s leading Nikkei business daily in an interview published Monday.

“It’s important that we promote structural reforms and cut public debt, rather than use fiscal policy to stimulate growth.”

The finance minister meeting comes a week before a G7 summit in Ise-Shima, a region between Tokyo and Osaka. After that meeting, Barack Obama will go to Hiroshima in a hugely symbolic trip as the first sitting US president to visit the nuclear bombed city.

Top US finance official Lew - who is being joined at this week’s meeting

by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen -- will take a strong stand against any moves that could set off a currency war in which countries devalue their units to gain a trade advantage, said a senior US Treasury official. l

CORPORATE NEWS

AB Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Association of Grassroots Women Entrepreneurs, Bangladesh (AGWEB) on jointly organising workshops and training sessions for developing women entrepreneurs in the country, said a press release. Managing director of AB Bank Limited, Shamim Ahmed Chaudhury and Mousumi Islam, president of AGWEB have signed the agreement

IPDC has recently opened its Dhanmondi branch at a new location in Satmasjid Road, said a press release

Shahid Hossain Shafiqul Alam Managing director of Southeast Bank Limited, Shahid Hossain was recently elected as chairperson of Primary Dealers Bangladesh Limited (PDBL) at the 8th annual general meeting of PDBL, said a press release. MD of Jamuna Bank Limited, Shafiqul Alam was elected as vice-chairperson of PDBL at the meeting

Marcel has recently opened an exclusive showroom named Sarker Electronics at Tarash Bazar in Sirajganj, said a press release. The company’s brand ambassador and famous film actor, Amin Khan inaugurated the showroom

15

DT

Advertisement

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

DT

16

Feature

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

An innovative “train the trainers” program for cadet colleges n Features Desk A perennial challenge for educational institutions is to impart the methods of effective teaching to teachers, which would result in good classroom practice.

Recognising the significance of this issue in the context of Bangladesh, cadet colleges, in conjunction with the British Council, have come up with an innovative new program to train teacher trainers, who in turn train the teachers working in the colleges.

British Council Bangladesh has recently delivered a fiveday Training of Trainers (ToT) course to 24 English and subject teachers from 12 Cadet Colleges across Bangladesh to become teacher trainers. Student entrance in these colleges is highly competitive as they provide high quality education which enhances the possibility of students attaining key professional roles upon graduating. Many graduates from these colleges have progressed to civilian leadership and key professional roles in addition to high ranking military postings. The colleges follow the English version of the national curriculum set by the Ministry of Education, which means all subjects are taught in English.

In January 2014, the British Council Bangladesh launched

I’ve developed new skills of helping my colleagues with lesson planning, conducting developmental and formal lesson observations and giving constructive feedback the three-year teacher training project funded by the British High Commission with all cadet colleges across the country, with an aim to further improve their standard of teaching and learning. As part of this project, a substantial number of the English teachers have completed the British Council’s “Certificate in Secondary English Language Teaching” (CiSELT) course, while subject teachers have completed

“Content and Language Integrated Learning” (CLIL) Essentials course.

The aim of the most recent ToT course was to train two teachers from each college (one English and one subject teacher) so that they can deliver professional development training to their peers when the project draws to a close. The course outlined the key issues in planning, delivering and evaluating

teacher training sessions. It also provided input on developmental lesson observations and giving feedback. The participants had the opportunity to employ their training skills through microtraining in the final stage of the training.

It has been surmised from the feedback that from the participants’ perspective, their expectations were largely met, as were the main aims of the course. Between them, the participants generated a long list of “important things” they had learned during the course, which can be translated into their teaching practices like using the board, giving instructions, giving feedback etc.

Farooq Ahmed Khan, a participant from Jhenidah Cadet College said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the course and it has made a huge difference to my training abilities. I now feel confident to design and deliver INSETT (In-Service Education and Training for Teachers) program for my colleagues.

Also, I’ve developed new skills of helping my colleagues with lesson planning, conducting developmental and formal lesson observations and giving constructive feedback.”

The course was hosted

by Sylhet Cadet College.

The Principal of this college, Commander Md Saifur Rahman, observed most of the training.

In his reflection, he mentioned,

“Cadet colleges have trained trainers for the first time who can mentor new teachers, plan workshop and continue to deliver training to their peers when the project is over. I believe, this new group of trainers will contribute in maintaining the high standard and coherent approach to teacher development. We are grateful to the British Council for delivering such high quality training to our potential trainers.”

The participants displayed a number of “good” training skills ie eliciting information; pairing and grouping the trainees; monitoring whilst the activity was in progress (and making notes); giving clear instructions and checking them; using the board; using different ways of giving feedback; adapting materials; creating materials; giving input; dealing with questions; and using drama techniques during the micro-training stage. However, as this was their first training experience, for the majority of the participants there is room for further improvement in a number of the aforementioned areas. The benefits from the course could be maximised and the momentum maintained by creating opportunities for the participants to practise designing and delivering training sessions and reflecting on them.

The British Council is looking forward to receiving updates on their practical teacher training experiences and progress. l

17

DT

Feature

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Microsoft Office 365 overview

n Features Desk Microsoft Office 365 Overview is a training session from Microsoft Bangladesh set to be held today at AUDI-801, NSU. The event is hosted by Ashik Imran Khan, senior lecturer, North South University and organised by NSU MIS Club (proposed).

The training session will cover following topics: 1. Microsoft Office 365 overview 2. Windows 10 Free Upgradation The speakers list includes a team from Microsoft Bangladesh: ASM Rasheduzzaman Palash, Cloud Development Specialist, Tabassum Salsabil Chowdhury, Business Development Manager, MJ Ferdous, Technical Link and Solution.

Office 365 is the brand name used by Microsoft for a group of software plus services subscriptions that provides productivity software and related

services to its subscribers. For consumers, the service allows the use of Microsoft Office apps on Windows and OS X, provides storage space on Microsoft’s cloud storage service OneDrive, and grants 60 Skype minutes per month. For business and enterprise users, Office 365 offers plans including e-mail and social networking services through hosted versions of Exchange Server, Skype for Business Server, SharePoint and Office Online, integration with Yammer, as well as access to the Office software.

The Office 365 service consists of a number of products and services. All of Office 365’s components can be managed and configured through an online portal; users can be added manually, imported from a CSV file, or Office 365 can be set up for single sign-on with a local Active Directory using Active Directory Federation Services.

NSU MIS Club (proposed)

is an academic club to propel the collaboration of students, faculties, administrators, employers and anyone linked to the university with an interest in information systems. It provides a community for sharing knowledge on career opportunities and use of

information systems that will be beneficial for society.

One of the main agenda of this club is to professionally develop students and help them successfully compete in the job environment. This club will also help students think logically and

create innovative ideas as well as solutions.

For more information log onto: http://nsumis.club/eventsactivities/microsoft-office-365overview/ or https://www.facebook. com/events/176472479415542/ l

DT

18

Youth

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

The success formula

PHOTO: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Ashfaq Nafi This year’s SSC exams started on the 1st of February and ended on 14th of March, having lasted for about one and a half months.

Last week, SSC results were released, and this year’s passing rate stood at 88.7% which is slightly higher than last year’s.

However, while most of the credit goes to the schools, are we really acknowledging the effort and commitment made by these students’ parents? With a growing number of “coaching centers” and cram schools, students spend more time and effort studying there, rather than at the schools themselves. And of course, it becomes the parent’s duty to make sure everything goes smoothly, from taking their kids to school, the cram schools, and then following up on their child’s progress. So what exactly did these parents do right to have helped their children outperform others?

“School and coaching is not everything. All our kids go to coaching centers these days

but not all of them study there.

I know kids who just go there because their parents make them do so, and have fun chatting with their friends or be on Facebook instead of focusing in their studies. I also know parents who sit there and make sure to talk to the teachers every now and then follow up on their child’s progress. I am from the latter lot,” said Ayesha Begum, a mother of a SSC candidate told the Dhaka Tribune. She also talked about the importance of students having strong communication with their teachers, both at school and at cram schools, as some students might have difficulty understanding topics that others might find easy, and very few actually tell their respective teachers about it. “If the student cannot tell the teacher of their problems, then its the parent’s duty to do so.”

Rehena Islam, mother of Sonali Islam, a SSC candidate who achieved a “Golden A”, talked about the importance of studying at home. “School and coaching centres are not enough.

If my child does not study at home, how will she remember what she has learnt? The secret to success is to study every day. You can’t expect to score an A if you study the night before the exam.

It is Impossible. I make sure to prioritise my child’s education over everything else. Even if I have invitations to weddings, I only go if my child has finished his studies for the day. My child’s education comes before everything.” When asked if her child studied all her subjects at cram schools, she replied, “Not at all, I can’t afford to have her study all 12 subjects at coaching centres, and neither does she need to.

If my child studies at home, whatever she has learnt at school on that very day, then there is no need to send her to coaching centres. We employ private tutors only for those subjects which she is weak in, or the ones which I myself can’t really help with - like English or Math, and Science.”

With the exams results published, students are now preparing for admission exams for various colleges that they would

like to be admitted into. A good college equates to a better chance of getting into their preferred university. And its all up to the parents, namely the moms, to make sure their kids get into the right cram schools, follow through a tough “studying regime” and ensure they prep strong enough

School and coaching is not everything. All our kids go to coaching centers these days but not all of them study there

to get them into the best colleges their SSC results can afford.

Although the passing rates of this year’s SSC exams have risen, the percentage of candidates getting a GPA-5 or “Golden A” has fallen, nevertheless the admission exams for colleges are going to be hard battle for every student and every mother. l

19

DT

Biz Info

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

| seminer |

| competition |

Expansion of Bangladesh National Museum

Inter University National Debate Competition 2016 held at BUFT

On the occasion of International Museum Day, with the theme “Museums and Cultural Landscape” a seminar was jointly arranged by National Museum and Icon Bangladesh at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium.

Chief guest, Asaduzzaman Noor said, “Bangladesh national museum holds the treasure of this country’s history, tradition and culture. However, the display are hardly representative of the vast collection of the museum.”

“Thus the expansion of the museum is extremely important and we have already started working towards this,” he added.

M Azizur Rahman, former secretary and former information commissioner, Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, archaeologist, Abu Sayeed M Ahmed were also presented in the seminar. National Museum and Icon Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar. l

| study |

Research reveals 4 essential factors affecting Bangladeshi students’ selection of private universities n

Features Desk

A seminar on “Factors Affecting Bangladeshi Students” selection of private universities: implication for branding, organised by BRAC Business School, was held on the May 12, 2016, at the BRAC University auditorium, BRAC University. The Vice-chancellor of BRAC University, Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb PhD, the Dean of BRAC business school, Professor Rahim B Talukdar PhD, Associate professor and Head of operations, Mohammad Rezaur Razzak and Rahma Akhter, Lecturer, BRAC Business School were present at the seminar, to discuss the findings of the exploratory study on the basic factors influencing the choice of private universities by Bangladeshi students.

The objective of the primary research was to find out the basic factors influencing choice of private universities by Bangladeshi students and what changes they expect. The study population included the top nine private universities of Bangladesh, which are American International University Bangladesh, BRAC University, Daffodil International University, East West University,

Independent University Bangladesh, North South University, Stamford University, United International University and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. The research included 317 respondents and used an open ended questionnaire as the study instrument.

Data analysis of the result revealed four factors influencing decisions of students regarding which private universities they would choose to enroll in. The factors are classified as physical, social, academic, and financial.

It was found that a massive 21% of the respondents wanted a permanent campus as it gave them identity, dignity, and better peer bonding. Another 21% wanted universities to provide high quality education with the curriculum being updated analysed and compared to national and international institutes. Among them, 16% wanted university faculties to be experienced and from relevant fields, holding PhD degrees. 13% stressed on the university of their choice being well reputed. 12% were concerned about tuition fees and expenses, 10% expected the educational, cultural, political and social environment to be comfortable,

and 7% considered appropriate location as a factor influencing their choice.

The Vice-chancellor Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb PhD said, “The study had been an interesting one and the most interesting aspect is the four categories that have been identified.” He further stated, “Bangladesh is a green field, anywhere you want to do research, there are tremendous opportunities. One must keep in mind, that the research is important, relevant, recognisable, and has impact. This research has been the first phase of a series of studies, and that has helped identify the boundaries and make a framework emerge.

It may be deciphered from the study that reputation of the university is a dependent variable and better campus, education, faculty, location etc, are drivers of reputation. We have to find out which is the most important variable and work on that.”

BRAC University is ranked 79th in Asia, and is number one in terms of institutional repository in Bangladesh. It has spent Tk14,23,04,907 on research over the years, explaining its constant development and organisational success. l

An Inter University National Debate Competition 2016 titled “Sustainable development and Green Economy” was held at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) auditorium on May 15, 2016. The event was organised by BUFT Debate Club.

Altogether, ten national and private universities of Dhaka city participated in this competition, including Jahangir Nagar University, Jagannath University, Dhaka College, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Green University, Prime Asia University, University of Asia Pacific, Daffodil

International University, Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), and BUFT. Vice chancellor of BUFT Prof Dr Syed Masud Husain, inaugurated the three day long debate competition. Among others, Pro-vice chancellor, Prof Dr Engr Ayub Nabi Khan; Registrar A N M Rafiqul Alam; Engr Faruk Ahmed, Senior lecturer and co-chairman of BUFT Debate Club; Md Atikur rahman, Moderator of BUFT Debate Club; faculty members, officials and all members of BUFT Debate Club were present on the occasion. l

| offers |

Beef bihari kabab now at Tawa Tawa’s Bihari kababs sit somewhere on the edge of minced and shredded meat, a balance few restaurants can achieve. Here, they are perfect; spiced effectively, and smooth on the tongue. The fragrance of the charcoal grilled kababs can surely engulf any kabab lover in a perennial euphoria, to indulge in these alluring succulent kababs. The naan compliments the kabab just right, and enhances the indulgence even further. There is a lot of pride at work here, no short cuts,

consistent quality, carefully applied masalas, and patience in bringing out authentic traditional flavours. The beef bihari kabab priced at only Tk215 (per sheek\) was fair in contrast to the portion, quality and taste.

Moreover, the satisfaction when you are walking out with from these amazing kababs, is second to none. To try Tawa’s kababs drop by their restaurant at House 2, Road 8, Block D, Banani, Dhaka. You may also call them at 01630-547000. l

DT

20 Editorial

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

TODAY

There is always more to think about Governments can consider taking ‘creativity’ seriously and create national policies on creativity, on how creative thinking can be systemically boosted PAGE 21

RAJIB DHAR

Diplomatic row after Bangladesh hangs pro-Pakistan war criminal Nizami was the chief of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of the Jamaat, and later, the supreme commander of Al-Badr, a close collaborator of the Pakistani Army, and a willing tool in one of the worst genocides in history PAGE 22-23

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.

Mob misrule must not be allowed to stand

T

he law minister is right to describe last Friday’s mob attack on headmaster Shyamal Kanti Bhakta in Narayanganj as a punishable offence that must not be tolerated.

It is disgraceful that a mob beat up the senior teacher and sought to humiliate him by publicly forcing him to do squats holding his ears.

Although the education minister has apologised for the incident, later setting up an investigation, this is not enough. By their own accounts, the local MP -- in whose presence the attack was carried out -- and the local police did nothing to stop the mob or hold them to account after the incident.

Moreover, the school management committee that instigated the attack and has reportedly been harassing the victim for months in order to replace him with a relative of the committee’s president, is still in office and has officially suspended the victim.

Although those involved are making conflicting claims, there are clear indications that the headmaster is the victim of systematic harassment by a corrupt school committee that has turned on an individual for not giving in to their demands.

To make matters worse, the committee orchestrated the public beating by making completely baseless accusations that the victim, a Hindu, had made “offensive comments” about Islam. It is doubly dangerous and deplorable that they cynically misused religion to incite communal hatred.

The government must stand by the headteacher and uphold the law minister’s promise that those involved will be punished because no one can take the law into their own hands.

There is no place for mob violence in Bangladesh.

The Supreme Court has long since ruled on the illegality of arbitrary “village courts.” All those responsible for mistreating the headteacher must be held to account.

Bring charges against those responsible for this disgraceful attack on a headmaster

DT

21

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

There is always more to think about Both creativity and critical thinking are needed for mental growth

But what about creativity?

n Shakil Ahmed

A

number of organisations, academic and nonacademic, are growingly giving emphasis on “critical thinking” as being one of the foundational pillars on which their educational aims stand upon.

There seems to be an educational mantra that it is imperative that our children and our citizens become critical thinkers. But what is critical thinking, after all?

One must ironically be “critical” regarding this push for the buzzword that has become critical thinking and ask the question of whether, when it comes to developing our “thinking,” critical thinking is sufficient. Philosopher Edward de Bono warns us that it is not sufficient for society to pay heed to critical thinkers, but there is a need for creative thinkers as well.

With a pinch of humour, one may point that our society has a good number of critical thinkers, as evident from our talk shows, where most critical thinking is involved in reflecting upon or questioning what is already given and not necessarily in the act of creating solutions.

This does not mean that critical thinkers should be side-lined or considered redundant. Critical thinkers are definitely required to analyse and problematise a

BIGSTOCK

Governments can consider taking ‘creativity’ seriously and create national policies on creativity, on how creative thinking can be systemically boosted situation, but once the situation is problematised and dissected, there is also a need for creative thinking, to create solutions addressing those problems.

This perspective depends on how we define “critical thinking” and in its current state, critical thinking alludes to acts of clarification, judgement, or justification, but not necessarily acts of creation or discovery. While it is important that organisations involved in promoting critical thinking have their working definitions or conceptual understanding of what critical thinking is, it may be easier to use the word “creative thinking” to talk about acts of creation or discovery instead of trying to encompass those acts within the word “critical thinking.” Creative thinking may get diluted when it is considered to be a part of critical thinking.

Given this need for creative thinkers, we can’t really claim that our educational institutions have been instrumental in developing them. In fact, Sir Ken Robinsion (if you’re an educationalist, you

have problably seen his video more than once -- if not, you should) has claimed how schools systematically kill creativity.

Those in charge of making decisions within our educational systems are themselves products of systems that have not encouraged creative thinking as such, so we can’t blame them completely for not being pioneers of encouraging creative thinking within our systems.

Yes, we have introduced creative questions in our national curriculum in the name of creativity, however these questions have been critiqued for not engaging the creative faculties of students. Each creative question seems to have only correct answer, whereas in a question that encourages creativity, there should be scope for multiple answers.

Even guidebooks are apparently available to help students answer what are supposed to be creative questions.

Does this mean that we do not have creative thinkers in our society at all? Of course not, but this creative thinking is more of a

result of the unplanned informal environment, such as home, neighbourhood, media interaction (books, films, social media, etc), the informal school environment, extra curricular activities, etc and not necessarily a result of the environment produced by the formal curriculum.

Solutions to encouraging both critical and creative thinking in the formal curriculum can lie in integrating them into subjects or creating separate subjects that focus on creative and critical thinking.

While ideally these types of thinking should be a part of all subjects, educationalists have argued whether there is a need for a separate subject on “thinking,” so that it allows students and teachers to have the space to explore the different types of thinking tools and structures that can be applied in different subjects.

This is similar to how language and mathematics is taught separately, even though they are applied in different subjects.

Planned solutions outside the school include creating safe

and public spaces in all localities where people can explore their creative faculties, creating creative opportunities at home and providing more creative examples through the media that people interact with (books, films, games, internet, etc).

Governments can consider taking “creativity” seriously and create national policies on creativity, on how creative thinking can be systemically boosted.

Now, is critical and creative thinking sufficient in developing communities or a nation? Not necessarily. While a creative thinker may come up with loads of solutions, one cannot necessarily expect the creative thinker to implement all those solutions.

Creative thinkers, along with the feedback mechanisms of critical thinkers, should work together with people who have the thinking mindsets of implementing solutions. In addition, people who have the thinking ability to bring creative thinkers, critical thinkers, and implementers to work together would also have to be engaged.

It is possible that some people embrace the different types of thinking mindsets within themselves or some people have the potential to work on developing other types of thinking sets, besides the thinking that they already excel in.

Whatever the case is, organisations should be aware and also encourage other types of thinking besides critical thinking.

Whichever thinking they decide to embark upon, they should have their working frameworks so that these words cease to be ambiguous buzzwords.

In fact, our local universities should play a part in researching and publishing how these concepts should be unpacked, so that we do not simply borrow frameworks that have been established in different cultural contexts. With good work, we could play a part in contributing to the global discourse on thinking as well.

Now, whether state and nonstate actors want our children and citizens to be critical and creative thinkers or whether a nation full of critical and creative thinkers is a threat to certain power structures, is a topic for discussion in a different space. l Shakil Ahmed is an educational researcher, futurist, and a sub-editor at Dhaka Tribune.

22

DT

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Diplomatic row after Bangladesh hangs The many cans of worms opened by the execution of infamous war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami

n Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty

O

n May 11 in Dhaka Central Jail, Bangladesh hanged its fifth and most high-profile war criminal, amidst extraordinary security measures.

The execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami, the leader or Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, triggered both jubilation and anger within the country.

Predictably, it also created a diplomatic kerfuffle between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both countries have earlier locked horns on the war crimes trials, and executions of convicted war criminals.

However, even distant countries like Qatar and Turkey have reacted adversely, no doubt to burnish their Islamist credentials and to show solidarity for the Islamic brotherhood.

Pakistan and Turkey have a long history of co-operation since the Cold War, when the two countries of CENTO were under US patronage. Qatar, with its vast oil wealth, and Turkey, which has turned increasingly Islamist

Jamaat remains in denial about the atrocities carried out by its leaders

Nizami was the chief of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of the Jamaat, and later, the supreme commander of Al-Badr, a close collaborator of the Pakistani Army, and a willing tool in one of the worst genocides in history

under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are relative newcomers in supporting Islamist causes.

Nizami’s history

The last lap of Nizami’s controversial life as a pro-Pakistan politician, preacher, and former minister began with his arrest in 2010, and came to a close when the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected a review petition, sentencing him to death. The court’s verdict was published on May 9.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed the death sentence in January this year, and the same bench dismissed his review petition last week.

According to Bangladesh’s home minister, Nizami declined to put in a mercy petition, seeking presidential pardon, setting the stage for his execution after the government order was sent to the

prison authorities on May 10.

On October 29, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) had sentenced Nizami to death for mass murder, rape, and targeted killings of intellectuals by the notorious Al-Badr, a vigilante organisation created by the Pakistani authorities to rape and kill those who were fighting for freedom in the erstwhile East Pakistan.

Nizami was the chief of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of the Jamaat, and later, the supreme commander of Al-Badr, a close collaborator of the Pakistani Army and a willing tool in one of the worst genocides in history.

These groups were infamous for planning crimes against humanity, and Nizami himself executed the plan to abduct and murder the leading intellectuals of the country on the eve of Bangladesh’s independence.

Al Badr, Al Shams, and Razakars formed the core of the Pakistan’s local collaborators, who were armed and motivated to murder, rape, and intimidate people fighting for liberation from their Pakistani oppressors.

These Jamaat leaders fled Bangladesh and took refuge in Pakistan. They returned after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by Bangladeshi army officers, and power passed into the hands of General Ziaur Rahman, the late husband of Begum Khaleda Zia -- well known for his Islamist tendencies.

Nizami became an MP in 1991 from his home constituency of Pabna, and again in 2001. He served as minister of agriculture and industry in the Begum Khaleda Zia-led BNP-Jamaat-eIslami coalition government.

It was during his tenure as

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

minister that he took part in the Pakistan ISI-Bangladesh DGFI conspiracy with the ULFA leader Paresh Baruah to smuggle several truckload of arms and ammunition to ULFA cadres in India.

These trucks were intercepted by the local police and the whole conspiracy was busted. Nizami was convicted in that case too.

During the days when Bangladesh was still East Pakistan, the ISI had supported, given refuge, and armed Indian insurgents in northeast India -- as part of its state policy of destabilising India by asymmetrical warfare. China was also a willing accomplice with Pakistan in this nefarious strategy.

The Jamaat-e-Islami has been de-recognised as a political party by the Bangladesh Election Commission, following a Supreme Court judgement which found the party’s charter in conflict with the country’s constitution.

Jamaat in denial

The Jamaat-e-Islami has called for the usual nationwide strike or hartal in protest against the execution. While sporadic violence breaks out, there is no large scale disruption reported from various parts of the country, and Dhaka remains calm.

The Islamists have been under pressure from the government of

Sheikh Hasina Wajed since 2008 -when her party, the Awami League was re-elected, and she became prime minister for the second consecutive term.

Jamaat cadres are not allowed to congregate, and many second rung leaders are in hiding, fearing arrest for taking part in violent demonstrations earlier.

Despite copious records and evidence, the Jamaat remains in complete denial about the despicable role of its leaders in perpetrating the most heinous atrocities during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation. The Bangladeshi Hindu community bore the brunt of these savage atrocities.

To the religiously-indoctrinated

The execution

• On May 11, Bangladesh executed its fifth and most high-profile war criminal • The man sent to the gallows, Motiur Rahman Nizami, was the leader of the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami

The controversy

• Nizami’s execution has predictably caused a diplomatic row between Bangladesh and Pakistan • Even countries as far away as Qatar and Turkey have jumped in to criticise the hanging

DT

23

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

pro-Pakistan war criminal

Turkey’s interference raises eyebrows Jamaatis, Nizami and his three other Jamaat colleagues, who have been convicted of war crimes and executed, remain as “martyrs.”

They also aver that they merely took a political position supporting the unity of Pakistan in 1971, and assert that the ICT has not been able to prove allegations of murder and rape.

The evidence considered by the ICT was overwhelmingly in favour of the prosecution.

Convincing the West with help from the UK

The war crimes trials have had their share of controversy in Bangladesh and abroad.

Human rights groups abroad have been lobbied by the Jamaat, fully utilising its deep pockets and the international Islamist network to question the credibility of the ICT, and labelling the whole process as “political vendetta,” “legally flawed,” and below international standards for such trials.

It is no secret that Jamaat leaders have been accused of murders and rapes ever since Bangladesh became independent in 1971, and these allegations, by no stretch of logic, can be labelled political.

Allegations have also been made by the same quarters about Bangladesh security agencies using heavy-handed measures, extra-judicial killings, and disappearances.

Many Jamaati leaders, accused of war crimes in 1971, escaped from Bangladesh and lived abroad, in

REUTERS

Pakistan and the UK. They have been spending huge amounts of money to lobby against the Sheikh Hasina government and the ICT in the West.

The UK has become the foremost haven for criminals from the subcontinent, finding protection under a legal framework skewed in favour of asylum-seekers and fugitives.

The vice-chairman of the BNP and Khaleda Zia’s son is also in exile in the UK, hoping to return to Bangladesh when his party wins the elections and returns to power.

India has not been able to get any fugitive so far from the UK, despite signing agreements for mutual legal assistance and extradition.

Embracing criminals and fugitives from all over the world is a big money-spinner for the UK, since they invest in property and park their money in London banks and offshore tax havens.

While the British prime minister rails against corruption in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and no doubt against many other countries -- its own institutional “corruption” in embracing foreign criminals and their money smacks of utter opportunism under the camouflage of human rights.

The Pakistan connection

The Jamaat-e-Islami remains the largest Islamist organisation in the sub-continent. The Bangladesh chapter of the organisation is a splinter of the original Pakistani organisation, with which the

Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan -- which led to the dropping of the charges of war crimes against 195 Pakistan army officers and soldiers.

The agreement did not preclude arraigning Bangladeshi nationals on war crimes charges.

There were several antiBangladesh statements made in the debate, including taking the matter to the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also reacted with a negative statement, and summoned Bangladesh’s acting high commissioner in Islamabad to hand over a protest note on the Nizami execution.

In a tit-for-tat move, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Pakistani high commissioner and handed over a protest note, demanding that Pakistan stop its malicious campaign and behave responsibly.

Reacting to these charges, Prof Muntasir Mamun, a leading Bangladeshi historian, commented:

recall its ambassador in Dhaka for consultations raised eyebrows.

This is another signal, if another was needed, of how far Erdogan has travelled to promote his image as an Islamist leader. It may also be a favour to its long term ally, Pakistan.

Turkey went somewhat overboard, with its Foreign Ministry issuing a statement saying Nizami did not deserve such a punishment and, surprisingly, Erdogan too making a statement condemning the execution.

India’s neutrality

India has taken a neutral position on the war crimes trials, considering it Bangladesh’s internal matter.

While this is India’s official position, it has been supportive of Hasina and has quietly backed her.

The Indian foreign secretary reiterated India’s support to the Hasina government in meeting the challenge of terrorism and violent extremism, in the context of the

The reaction Pakistan made shows how mean-minded it is in its civilisation and culture. Each of the word of its reaction is false.

Pakistan had launched genocide with such falsehood

Bangladeshis maintain close links.

In Bangladesh, the Jamaat has assiduously worked as a proxy for Pakistan and in association with the BNP, functioning as a pro-Pakistan lobby, promoting its anti-India agenda.

The Jamaat is ideologically committed to making Bangladesh a truly Islamic country, with the Sharia the only source of legitimacy for all laws and social order.

This predisposes it to treat all non-Muslim minorities as secondclass citizens to be tolerated, if they cannot be converted to Islam.

This is the same attitude that is the foundation of the Pakistani Jamaat’s beliefs, as it is of various Islamic tanzeems and indeed that of the Pakistani State.

Pakistan’s reaction

The execution of Nizami has again led to the predictable unanimous resolution in the Pakistan National Assembly, expressing serious concern on his execution.

In the Assembly debate, some members declared erroneously that the execution was against the tripartite agreement between

“The reaction Pakistan made shows how mean-minded it is in its civilisation and culture. Each of the word of its reaction is false.

Pakistan had launched genocide with such falsehood.”

The highly-respected academician said the statement of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry proved once again that Nizami and others did “politics in favour of Pakistan and carried out a genocide.”

The professor added that Pakistan does not practice democracy, but patronises militancy and fundamentalism, and there was nothing to be worried about the reaction of such a country.

Prof Mamun captures the sentiment of the majority of Bangladeshis born after 1971.

Recognising the public support for the war crimes trials, the BNP has been silent about the executions.

Turkey’s overreaction

While the Bangladesh-Pakistan spat was expected because of Pakistani discomfiture at losing their prominent “fifth columnist,” Turkey’s move to

killings of bloggers and secular activists.

The Islamists are striking back through these stray killings and the Islamic State (IS) is claiming responsibility. The fact is that the killings are the handiwork of homegrown Islamists, possibly backed by Pakistani agencies and elements of the BNP, to destabilise the Hasina government.

There are also indications that India and the USA are co-ordinating actions to tackle the menace of the IS and other domestic Islamists, via exchange of intelligence with Bangladeshi agencies.

This co-operation has to be intensified to prevent further violence in Bangladesh and keep the Islamists under control. This is in the overall security interest of all countries of the sub-continent. l Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty is a former secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, former High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and a former Ambassador to Thailand. He is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation. This article previously appeared in catchnews.com.

DT

24 Sport

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

TOP STORIES

LIST-A HATTRICKS RUBEL HOSSAIN

Gazi Tank v Brothers, BKSP, 2013

TAPOSH BAISYA

Prime Bank v Kalabagan KC, Bogra, 2013

MOHAMMAD SHARIF

Gazi Group v Sheikh Jamal, Mirpur, 2016

Watanabe weaving dreams Hiroki Watanabe might not be a household name in the Bangladesh sporting arena but he does not mind this one bit. Watanabe, coach at the Bangladesh Baseball and Softball Association is just content to take a back-seat. PAGE 25

Forget pizza, now it’s lobster for stars Leicester City’s manager Claudio Ranieri yesterday joked that it was time for him to boost the culinary incentives from pizza to lobster for his players. The genial Italian rewarded cleansheets with pizza for the whole team. PAGE 26

Gazi Group Cricketers’ Mohammad Sharif celebrates his hattrick wicket against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the Dhaka Premier League at Mirpur’s Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Kalabagan choke, CCS finally win n Mazhar Uddin

SL in search of more Headingley heroics Kaushal Silva has urged Sri Lanka to fill the void left by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara when they return to the scene of one their greatest triumphs for the first Test against England today. PAGE 27

Cricket Coaching School registered their first win in seven attempts in the Dhaka Premier League, after beating Victoria Sporting Club by 53 runs through the Duckworth/ Lewis method, to create an upset in Fatullah yesterday. A batting collapse after Hamilton Masakadza’s century saw Kalabagan Krira Chakra lost by nine runs to Brothers Union at the BKSP-3 ground.

Gazi Group Cricketers require another 113 runs with seven wickets in hand on the reserve day (today) after Sheikh Jamal posted 168/9 in 38 overs as rain forced an early call-off in Mirpur.

CCS vs Victoria

Terry signs new Chelsea deal Chelsea captain John Terry signed a new one-year contract with the Premier League club on Wednesday to end speculation he would be forced out of Stamford Bridge. Terry sparked fears he was on the verge of leaving Chelsea against his will. PAGE 28

The CCS openers Rajin Saleh and Pinak Ghosh made a brilliant start adding 84 runs for the first wicket. It was a fine platform for Saif Hasan and Salman Hossain who added another 98 runs for the third wicket and were heading towards a big total.

Saif departed after scoring 78 off 79 balls with six fours and two sixes while Salman made 41, but pace bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Sri

Lankan left-arm spinner Chaturanga de Silva picked up four wickets each to restrict CCS to 259 runs in 49.4 overs.

Rain interrupted the game and the revised target for Victoria was 253 runs from 35 overs after they made a poor start and were struggling on 96/6 in the 18th over. Captain Nadif Chowdhury scored fifty as Victoria were all out for 199 in 31.1 overs. Left-arm spinner

of the batsmen were able to contribute later and they were eventually bowled out with four balls to spare. Dewan Sabbir, Sharifullah, Abdur Razzak and Masakadza picked up two wickets each for the bowling side.

Kalabagan replied brilliantly with Masakadza and Tasamul Haque adding 122 runs for the third wicket and in the 42nd over, they were

BRIEF SCORES CRICKET COACHING SCHOOL 259 (Saif 78, De Silva 4/47, Kamrul 4/54) beat VICTORIA 199 (Nadif 50, Shawon 4/15, Nasum 2/36) by 53 runs (D/L) BROTHERS UNION 262 (Tushar 77, Kayes 67, Sabbir 2/18) beat KALABAGAN 253 (Masakadza 111, Tasamul 45, Nabil 4/47) by nine runs SHEIKH JAMAL DC 168/9 (Al Mamun 69, Sharif 4/43, Anwar Jr 2/27) v GAZI GC 83/3 (Anamul 36*, Arafat 2/13) – To be finished today Saleh Ahmed Shawon gave away just 15 runs from his seven overs to take four wickets while Nasum Ahmed took two wickets.

Kalabagan vs Brothers

Brothers posted a fighting 262 in 49.3 overs, riding on half-centuries from Imrul Kayes and Tushar Imran.

Captain Tushar scored 77 while Imrul made 67 but none

cruising at 210/3.

Masakadza smashed 111 runs off 105 balls with nine fours and a six while Tasamul scored 45 but suddenly Kalabagan, requiring just 24 runs from 30 balls, went on to lose the remaining six wickets adding only 15 runs to be eventually bowled out for 253.

Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad took 4/47 which was crucial behind the victory. l

Hat-trick hero Sharif still dreams big n Tribune Report

Gazi Group Cricketers’ experienced campaigner Mohammad Sharif picked up the first hattrick of the ongoing Dhaka Premier League yesterday against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The 32-year old initially went wicketless in the first five overs but came back with a bang to become the seventh Bangladesh bowler to take a hattrick in List A cricket, including ODIs. Sharif had Mahmudullah caught at deep midwicket in the third ball of the 33th over before clean bowling Zabid Hasan off the next delivery. He then had Nazmus Sadat trapped leg-before, sparking wild celebrations among his team mates.

The Narayanganj cricketer, who made his international debut in 2001, said he is still harbouring hopes of a comeback to the national side. Sharif believes age can never be a barrier in the face of consistent performances.

“I am the highest wicket-taker among the pacers in first-class cricket. The culture in our country dictates that a player is called ‘old’ when he reaches the age of 30. In the other countries, a 30-year old is termed experienced. I do not think my career is over. As long as I can keep my fitness, I still dream of playing for Bangladesh,” he said.

“I want this culture to go away from our cricket. Guys like Misbah-ul Haq and Ashish Nehra are still playing so why should it be different for a Bangladeshi player?” questioned Sharif.

Having played in 10 Tests and nine ODIs, Sharif expressed his disappointment at being overlooked continuously for the Bangladesh A side too.

He added, “I will keep performing and my wish is to continue playing. The rest is up to the selectors. I cannot forcefully make it up there but performance speaks for itself.” l

25

DT

Sport

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

UEFA announces September vote to replace Platini n Reuters, Basel UEFA will hold an election in September to choose a replacement for its banned president Michel Platini, European soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

UEFA’s executive committee decided to hold the election at a special Congress in Athens, acting general secretary general Theodore Theodoridis told reporters.

The decision means that UEFA will not have a president during its showpiece European championship in France in June and July.

Platini, a former French international regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, was one of the sport’s most powerful figures until he was engulfed by the soccer scandal which has plagued sport’s governing body FIFA. The 60-year-old was banished along with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. Dutch FA president Michael van Praag, who last year stood for the FIFA presidency before withdrawing from the contest, was reported by local media as planning to stand in the UEFA election. l

Abahani coach Kottan eyeing premier league title n Tribune Report Austro-Hungarian tactician George Kottan expressed his hope of ending Abahani Limited’s trophy drought when the former Bangladesh manager arrived in the capital city yesterday morning to take up the responsibility as the Sky Blues’ head coach.

The four-time professional league champions appointed Kottan at the beginning of last season but the veteran coach managed Abahani in 15 top-flight matches before leaving the club to join a Fifa Goal Project on July 16 last year.

“I came a little earlier last season and had a plan to stay till the end of league. But unfortunately, the league deferred and I had nothing to do but return as I had a contract with the club for a particular period and was also involved in a Goal Project of Fifa in Europe,”explained the 69-year old yesterday.

He continued, “[Abahani manager Satyajit Das] Rupu contacted me and informed about the recent squad. He said this team is better than last season so I thought as I have six months in my hand, I can give it to Abahani and Bangladesh football. Hopefully this time the

Austro-Hungarian tactician George Kottan, who is being felicitated in this file photo dated two years ago, has returned to Bangladesh as the head coach of Abahani Limited FILE PHOTO league and other tournaments will conclude within my stay. I will try to help the club become champions.”

Kottan guided the national side to the 2003 Saff Championship title and said he would love to train the men in red and green again if the opportunity presents itself.

“Bangladesh football needs some success now. They haven’t won anything in the last three years. I came here in Dhaka to help Bangladesh football. If they think they want me in the national team, I’m ready to take the responsibility again,” he said.l

Fears raised over Champions League final pitch n AFP, Doha A senior UEFA executive yesterday raised concerns about the quality of the Champions League final pitch just 10 days ahead of Europe’s biggest club match of the season.

Keith Dalton, senior match operations manager with UEFA, said organisers face “a lot of challenges” in getting the surface ready at Milan’s San Siro stadium for the game on May 28 between Spanish rivals Real and Atletico Madrid.

“We are facing a lot of challenges to get this pitch up to the level it needs to be for the Champions League final,” Dalton said in a speech at the World Stadium Congress conference being held in Doha.

“The grounds keeper, with all due respect to him, is very junior and he is the only one with the technical expertise operating that stadium.

“The rest of the guys can just hold a fork.”

Afterwards, Dalton, whose speech outlined UEFA’s requirements for Champions League matches and also European Championship games, added that he was sure the pitch would be ready but UEFA wanted it to be perfect for the final.l

WATANABE WEAVING DREAMS n Rashad Banna Hiroki Watanabe might not be a household name in the Bangladesh sporting arena but he does not mind this one bit.

Credited for taking the game of baseball forward in this predominantly cricket-mad south Asian nation, Watanabe, the Japanese coach at the Bangladesh Baseball and Softball Association is just content to take a back-seat and work behind the scenes.

Dipto Ibne Zakir, 20, one of Watanabe’s most faithful disciple, was born in Japan and later moved to Bangladesh. He has only played a few seasons here but believes baseball has real potential to thrive, despite cricket’s dominance.

“One should come to the outer ground and see how we practice. Hundreds of people play cricket and football and in spite of all these we have to manage our training. No dedicated ground and very little practice or tournaments take place; if only these small factors are taken care of, the number of participants will rise drastically and our overall position will improve,”

Zakir said.

“I just love the game and nothing will please me more than to see baseball taking off in Bangladesh.”

Much of this is due to Watanabe, a selfless man who, by sheer chance, took up the responsibility as the BBSA coach.

Fourteen years ago Watanabe came to Bangladesh and immediately found himself disconsolate upon looking at the plight of the street children.

After gathering sufficient information, the Yokohamanative Watanabe established “Ek Matra”, an organisation which

initially set about helping the street children by providing open-air classes.

Word soon spread and anonymous individual sources were more than happy to make contributions for a noble cause.

Years went by and more and more development projects ensued.

Bangladesh Baseball and Softball Association coach Hiroki Watanabe gives instructions as the Bangladesh players listen intently during a recent friendly game against Samurai Japan in Paltan MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Ever the charitable man, Watanabe was not fully satisfied and yearned to contribute more to the nation which slowly but surely turned into his second home.

Then came the sudden decision to take over as BBSA coach.

Not surprisingly, there was a lack of interest at the early stages but thanks to Major League Baseball’s TV coverage, youngsters soon thronged the outer ground of the Bangabandhu National Stadium in their hundreds.

Hailing from a country where baseball is the number one sport, Watanabe, who is fluent in Bengali, takes great pleasure in imparting instructions to his charges.

And it is largely due to his stewardship that close to 200 youngsters now play the game.

Watanabe has earmarked the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a realistic target for his unit and although it might be a bit far-fetched at the moment, the Bangladesh players, both old and young, haven’t stopped dreaming. l

DT

26

Sport

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

PREMIER LEAGUE STANDINGS Team

GP W D

L GD PTS

1 Leicester City 38 23 12

3 32

81

2 Arsenal

38 20 11

7 29

71

3 Tottenham

38 19 13

6 34

70

4 Man City

38 19

9

10 30

66

5 Man United 38 19

9

10 14

66

6 Southampton 38 18

9

11 18

63

7 West Ham

38 16 14

8 14

62

8 Liverpool

38 16 12 10 13

60

9 Stoke City

38 14

15 -14

51

10 Chelsea

38 12 14 12 6

50

11 Everton

38 11

47

9

14 13 4

12 Swansea City 38 12

11

15 -10

47

13 Watford

9

17 -10

45

14 West Brom 38 10 13 15 -14

43

15 Crystal Palace 38 11

42

38 12

9

18 -12

18 -22 42

16 Bournemouth 38 11

9

17 Sunderland 38 9

12 17 -14

39

18 Newcastle 38 9

10 19 -21

37

19 Norwich City 38 9

7

20 Aston Villa 38 3

8 27 -49

22 -28 34 17

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (2L) and son Kai during a lap of honour after the EPL game against Bournemouth in Old Trafford on Tuesday

REUTERS

Rooney happy to find LVG stays defiant as United go fifth n middle ground Reuters

n AFP, London Wayne Rooney insists he is willing to permanently give up his role as the spearhead of Manchester United’s forward line to move into a midfield berth.

Rooney won the man-of-thematch award for his influential display in midfield during United’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth on Tuesday and is keen to keep that role in the future.

“I think sometimes you have to make choices in your career and at

the minute it is probably better for me to play deeper,” said Rooney, who scored one and set up another against Bournemouth.

“Now obviously that’s a bit different now with England because I could still be the striker, but certainly after that, I am sure for next season, that is probably where I see myself playing. “I think of course you’re involved in the game. I feel like I can dictate games more from there and try and control the tempo in games, which I felt I did quite well against Bournemouth.”l

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal blamed injuries and unrealistic expectations for his team’s disappointing season after a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday confirmed a fifth place finish in the Premier League.

United are guaranteed a spote in next season’s Europa League four days before they play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final but Dutchman Van Gaal’s future is still the subject of intense speculation after two years in charge at Old Trafford.

“The issue is the amount of injuries in November and December, particularly in the two full back po-

sitions,” Van Gaal told reporters.

“We need creative, fast attackers and we have to take care of that.

When everybody was fit we were first in the league. That is the facts.”

RESULT Man United

3-1

Rooney 43, Rashford 74, Young 87

Bournemouth Smalling 90+3-og

There were a number of empty seats at Old Trafford for the last home game of the season and a few banners suggesting the club’s supporters would be happy to see Van Gaal leave.

“The expectation is very high.

Too high. We are a team in transi-

tion,” Van Gaal said. “I have tried to explain that.

“We didn’t reach our aim. We have to qualify for the Champions League. We have still the FA Cup final to go. Everyone has to make up his mind at how we have done this season at that time.”

Van Gaal was at least happy with his team’s performance against Bournemouth.

“It was a very good victory, we have created many, many chances in the second half and we played very well,” he said.

“We scored brilliant goals,” he added, referring to a well-worked effort by Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford. l

Forget pizza, now it’s lobster for Foxes stars n AFP, Bangkok

Leicester City's manager Claudio Ranieri (C) and players Kasper Schmeichel (L) and Shinji Okazaki gesture in a traditional greeting as they arrive with the team at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday REUTERS

Leicester City’s Italian manager Claudio Ranieri yesterday joked that it was time for him to boost the culinary incentives from pizza to lobster for his players to keep clean sheets.

The genial Italian, 64, has said he rewarded each match without conceding a goal during the Foxes’ stunning English Premier League title win with pizza for the whole team paid out off his own pocket.

Speaking in Bangkok at the start of a two-day tour of the homeland of the club’s billionaire owner, Ranieri said the implausible title victo-

ry meant he now has to up the ante.

Asked how he will reward a clean sheet next season as Leicester defend their title and take a bow in the European Champions League, Ranieri said “maybe a lunch or dinner, we have to increase or something. Lobster maybe”. But “only one”, he added in his typically banterous style.

Ranieri’s appointment last summer raised eyebrows among football pundits and fans alike.

But he won over his many critics with each victory, all the while maintaining the irreverent tone that made him a popular figure during his first spell in England between 2000 and 2004.l

27

DT

Sport

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

SL in search of more Headingley heroics n AFP, Leeds Kaushal Silva has urged Sri Lanka to fill the void left by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara when they return to the scene of one their greatest triumphs for the first Test against England at Headingley today.

Two years ago, Yorkshire’s headquarters ground was the stage where Sri Lanka clinched a dramatic victory off the penultimate ball to secure their first Test series win in England.

But their first tour of Eng-

land since that campaign sees them without Sangakkara and Jayawardene, both now retired from international duty.

“We did well here,” said Silva, an opening batsman who played in that victorious 2013 team, at Headingley on Tuesday.

“We were thrilled with that, but this is a new series.

“Sanga and Mahela have left now. So it’s time for all these youngsters to take their responsibility and do their jobs.

“We need to make sure we put up at least 300 ... to put ourselves in the game.” l

England captain Alastair Cook (R) and Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews pose with the trophy in Headingley on Tuesday REUTERS

Aguero expects Guardiola to push City to new heights n Reuters Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero expects incoming manager Pep Guardiola to be a hard task master who will extract the best out of a side that has shone domestically but struggled against Europe’s elite.

City completed a mixed campaign on Sunday with a 1-1 draw at Swansea City to finish fourth in the Premier League but they did reach the Champi-

ons League semi-finals for the first time and beat Liverpool on penalties to lift the League Cup. Guardiola is regarded as one of the world’s most highly rated managers after claiming 20 trophies during his spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and will take over at City from Manuel Pellegrini on July 1.

“I think he is a coach who will put a lot of pressure on the players; we need that," said Aguero. l

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL TEN 1 12:45AM Sky Bet Championship Walsall v Barnsley

TENNIS TEN 3 4:45PM

CRICKET SONY SIX 8:30PM Indian Premier League Gujarat v Kolkata

STAR SPORTS 1 4:00PM

ATP: Geneva Open

Sri Lanka Tour of England

Quarterfinal 1, 2, 3, 4

1st Test Day 1

DT

28

Sport

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Terry signs new Chelsea deal to end exit talk n AFP, London Chelsea captain John Terry signed a new one-year contract with the Premier League club yesterday to end speculation he would be forced out of Stamford Bridge.

Terry sparked fears he was on the verge of leaving Chelsea against his will when he claimed in January he hadn’t been offered an extension to his contract, which was due to expire in June.

JOHN TERRY: CHELSEA FACTFILE DEBUT

October 28, 1998 v Aston Villa

GAMES 703

GOALS 66

HONOURS

Premier League (2005, 2006, 2010, 2015) Champions League (2012) Europa League (2013) FA Cup (2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012) League Cup (2005, 2007, 2015) Community Shield (2009)

With Italy coach Antonio Conte due to take charge at Stamford Bridge once his Euro 2016 commitments are over, it had been reported Terry could be eased out by the new boss.

But the 35-year-old former England defender was offered the new deal last week and, after speaking to Conte and Blues owner Roman Abramovich, he agreed to extend his 21-year stay with Chelsea by at least another season.

“I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club. Everyone knows I’m Chelsea through and through,” Terry told Chelsea’s website.

“I am looking forward to next season under the new manager and hopefully we can make it a successful one.

“Also, a special mention to the fans for their continued support.

You’re the best in the world.”

Terry, who missed the last two games of the season following his red card at Sunderland, gave an emotional post-match speech to Chelsea fans on the pitch following Sunday’s match against Leicester.

But when the centre-back cancelled a party due to be held at Stamford Bridge on Monday as part of his presumed farewell, it was clear he was set to stay after all.

Terry opted to remain with Chelsea after reportedly consider-

JAN 31: After an FA Cup game at MK Dons, John Terry tells the press that he has not been offered a new contract by Chelsea, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.

ing offers from Chinese clubs Shanghai and Jiangsu Suning, with both said to be offering lucrative two-year contracts.

Terry signed for Chelsea at the age of 14 and has made 703 first-team appearances, the third-highest in the club’s history, with a club-record 570 of those as captain.

He has won a glittering array of silverware with Chelsea, establishing himself as one of the club’s all-time greats with four Premier League title, five FA Cups, three League Cups, a Europa League and the Champions League, although he was suspended for that final triumph against Bayern Munich. Terry also won 78 England caps before his retirement from international football in 2012.

“We are delighted John will spend another year at the club,” Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said.

“He has been the leader of the Chelsea squad throughout the most successful period in our history."l

Bailey unhurt after ‘truck-like’ bouncer n AFP, New Delhi

George Bailey of Rising Pune Supergiants is hit by a bouncer during their IPL 2016 match against Delhi Daredevils in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday AP

CONTRACT SAGA: A TIMELINE

Australia’s George Bailey was struck by a bouncer in the Indian Premier League that sent his helmet flying, an experience he said was like “getting hit in the face by a truck”.

Bailey, playing for the Rising Pune Supergiants on Tuesday night, was not injured by the bouncer that he top-edged onto his helmet, shattering parts and knocking it off his head.

“Those watching on TV got a better picture than I did, because all I sort of remember was it was like getting hit in the face by a truck,” Bailey said of the delivery from countryman Nathan Coulter-Nile.

“It was pretty quick. I was quite glad to have one of the new helmets on,” said Bailey.

Helmets have been strengthened to meet stringent safety standards in the wake of the Phillip Hughes tragedy in 2014.l

FEB 7: The defender claims there has been a communication breakdown with the Blues over his future, though Chelsea are adamant a 12-month extension could still happen.

FEB 23: Clubs from China ramp up their interest in the centre back, with wages of £400,000 a week mooted.

MAR 5: Terry is still not ready to go into coaching as he holds out hope for a new Chelsea deal.

APR 1: Sportsmail is told that making the centre back a member of the backroom staff is being considered by incoming Blues manager Antonio Conte.

MAY 5: It is revealed that Terry’s farewell preparations have extended to hiring the pitch at Stamford Bridge for a party.

MAY 6: Terry starts planning for life after Chelsea and tells his representatives to find an MLS club.

MAY 9: On a trip to Denmark, the 35-year-old reveals his desire to remain at Chelsea.

MAY 11: Guus Hiddink says Terry is in talks with the Blues over the possibility of a new contract.

MAY 13: The news breaks that the defender has been offered a new deal.

MAY 15: Terry gives an emotional address to Chelsea supporters after the final game of the season against Leicester at Stamford Bridge.

MAY 16: Terry hints he will be staying at Chelsea when he cancels plans to hire the pitch at Stamford Bridge for a farewell party.

MAY 18: Terry pens a new one-year contract.

Dog invasion sparks chaos n AFP, New Delhi A pitch invasion by a dog caused chaos at an Indian Premier League game between Pune and Delhi, sending bemused players scurrying around the pitch to try to shoo it away.

Spectators cheered as the lively mutt led a series of fielders and groundstaff on a chase around the stadium in the western city of Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

Delhi Daredevils fielder Rishabh Pant initially tried to shoo away the invader after it settled down beside him five balls into the second inning.

But the dog, tail wagging, was enjoying its time in the limelight far too much to be ushered off the pitch.

Delhi’s South African import Chris Morris tried to lure it off the field as Australia pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile waved a blue towel at it.l

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Pick out (6) 6 Curved bone (3) 9 Angry (5) 10 Get on (4) 11 Of the kidneys (5) 12 Knowledge (3) 13 Traditional story (6) 15 Require (4) 18 Scoff at (4) 21 Insects (6) 24 Top card (3) 25 Nimble (5) 28 Colour (4) 29 Conclusive (5) 30 Pigs enclosure (3) 31 Replenishes (6)

DOWN 1 Sea nymph (5) 2 Before (3) 3 Cavalry weapon (5) 4 Greek letter (3) 5 Prison room (4) 6 Garden tool (4) 7 Pacific (6) 8 Curve (4) 14 Tree (3) 16 Bring out (6) 17 Man’s best friend (3) 19 Sheeplike (5) 20 Parts of ships (5) 21 Atlas contents (4) 22 Refuse (4) 23 Secure (4) 26 Spirit (3) 27 Jurisprudence (3)

29

DT

Downtime

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

30

Showtime

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Tick tock n Farhan Shahriar The Indian film industry has some of the gorgeous women, but we all know how short their shelf life can be. Just a couple of years ago, the top heroines of B-town didn’t have much competition from newcomers, let alone the threat of being replaced by them for lead roles. But times have changed. Three of the top trending actresses of Bollywood of recent times don’t have any new film signed, while young actresses are flooded with scripts. They are so much in demand that they have been juggling projects. Let us tell you how.

Deepika Padukone Priyanka Chopra Now filming: Baywatch Signed films: None Yet another Bollywood export to Hollywood has no local films in her kitty. Priyanka Chopra is creating waves on foreign shores, but she hasn’t signed any new Hindi film to star in. However, her production house is ready with a string of projects which will keep her busy in the future, we assume.

Now filming: XXX: The Return of Zander Cage Signed films: None Deepika is making great strides in Hollywood by bagging the lead role opposite Vin Diesel, in the upcoming film in the XXX series. Her pictures make it clear that the Indian beauty will kick some serious ass in the film. The teaser was a perfect tease because we blinked and she was gone.

But despite ruling foreign shores, Deepika’s Bollywood tally seems to be dry. There was a rumour about her doing the Padmavati biopic with Ranveer Singh but that’s all it was, a rumour. She was also supposed to work in Kabir Khan’s next with Salman Khan, but was later dropped since the character underwent a transformation.

We wonder if the Hollywood triumph is keeping her away from home.

Designer turns singer nShowtime Desk Biplob Shaha, best known as a fashion designer, has now appeared in front of the audience as a singer. Biplob is one of the owners of the fashion house, Rang which recently underwent a major internal restructuring. He is now leading Bishwa Rang as the chief designer and owner.

Apart from his passion for designing, he has always been

very attached to music. Recently, he sang a song alongside another popular singer Dinat Jahan Munni. Together, they recorded Kishore Kumar’s famous song “Chiro din e tumi je amar.” Biplob has also recorded a brand new song with popular singer Kona titled, “Anchan Anchan kore mon.”

Biplob Shaha seemed excited with his new songs ashe said, “I am a designer by profession

and a singer by passion. It was a great experience recording with a professional and talented singer like Kona. Yes I am excited.” The song was composed by Rajon Shaha.

Biplob has recently worked as a costume designer for Doob- the much hyped Mostofa Sarwar Farooqi film, that stars the talented Irrfan Khan. l

Katrina Kaif Now filming: Jagga Jasoos Signed films: None Katrina Kaif’s stars are not aligning properly, it seems. She lost out on a Salman Khan production due to work commitments, and doesn’t really have any new film to look forward to. But her fans can definitely wait for Baar Baar Dekho and Jagga Jasoos. l

Angry birds hitting Star Cineplex

n Showtime Desk Star Cineplex is bringing to the Bangladeshi audience, The Angry Birds Movie, to be released worldwide on May 20, 2016.

In the film version of the popular video game, Angry Birds, the audience will get to understand exactly what makes these otherwise-cutelooking birds to be so angry at a few green pigs. So angry that they fling themselves to almost certain death, just to give them

a black eye and crash their buildings.

The film stars the voice talents of Jason Sudeikis as Red, a bird who’s been teased his entire life and is having anger issues who is sent to anger management along with Bomb (Danny McBride) and Chuck (Josh Gad), after a particularly ugly incident.

Running that anger management class is a super-peppy chicken named Matilda, voiced by Maya Rudolph. l

Julia Roberts inspires more stars to go barefoot at Cannes

n Showtime Desk At the Money Monster premiere, Julia Roberts defied the strict rule that all women must wear heels on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and removed hers. Roberts walked the rest of the way to the premiere barefoot, laughing as she did so.

Now, it appears Roberts might be inspiring other actresses to do the same. Sasha Lane, who is making waves as a breakout star at this year’s festival thanks to her performance in American Honey, also ditched any sort of footwear at the photo-call for the film on Sunday.

American Honey is Sasha Lane’s first movie in which she

plays the film’s protagonist, Star, an 18-year-old barely surviving on food she finds in supermarket dumpsters in Texas. She joins a group of teens and twenty-somethings selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door in hopes of escaping her past life. Director Andrea Arnold discovered Lane, who is from Texas, while she was sunbathing on the beach during spring break. Before she started filming American Honey, Lane worked at a Mexican restaurant.

Unlike Roberts, Lane didn’t even arrive at the photo-call this weekend wearing shoes. Save for Riley Keough, who wore heels, the rest of the cast was also fairly dressed down. l

38th anniversary of Bangladesh Film Archive celebrated

n Mosharraf Kabir

Sunny and Ash’s love for purple n Showtime Desk Sunny Leone shared a picture on her birthday donning her newly dyed hair which she had for a day, saying, “My hair is officially blue/purple today!! Yes you read it right!”

After Aishwarya Rai Bachchan left everyone stunned, or rather amused, with her purple lips at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival, Sunny Leone posted a picture of her with purple coloured hair! It seems the One Night Stand actress has taken to the colour, which has become quite a rage for make up, internationally. It’s completely different story that Aishwarya was trolled on social media for her choice of lipstick!

Purple has always been associated with style to the point that it replaces black at some fashion events. But that’s dark purple, not the shade of violet that Aishwarya wore on her lips! l

To mark the 38th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA), various programmes including discussion and film screenings were held at the Public Library on Tuesday in the capital.

Hasanul Haq Inu, the Information Minister, inaugurated the day-long programme. This was followed by a discussion held at Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium, where Information Secretary Murtoza Ahmed, producer Nasir Uddin Dilu, filmmaker and scholar Manjare Hasin Murad, actor Farooque, Mukh O Mukhosh actress Peyari Begum, filmmaker Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, among others, delivered speeches. Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, the director general of Bangladesh Film Archive, presided over the session.

Murtoza Ahmed, the Information Secretary, said, “Film is a powerful medium; diverse scenarios of the society and civilisation can be portrayed

through it. Films are generating great impact towards positive changes in society.”

He also expressed his hope of Bangladesh Film Archive and the Information Ministry jointly continuing their work of archiving independent films of Bangladesh in order to make those availbale for the next generation.

Mohammad Jahangir Hossain pointed out that two years from now, BFA is set to mark its 40th founding anniversary in a befitting manner, saying “If we start archiving the independent films of the country from now on, then within two years we

will be able to compile a large number of films.”

“We shouldn’t just make sure that films are archived, we have to take the initiative of screening those films as well,” he added.

Actress Peyari Begum alias Najma, who featured in the first Bengali language film made in Bangladesh called Mukh O Mukhosh, expressed her feelings of joy for being to able a wonderful programme, and thanked the organisers for inviting her.

Later, two Bangla films Shurjo Snan and Nabab Sirajuddowlah were screened. l

Woody Harrelson to star in George Clooney’s new flick

n Showtime Desk The True Detective star is set to appear alongside George Clooney’s in his new film Suburbicon, according to

Entertainment Weekly.

The film’s story, written by Joel and Ethan Coen, follows a 1950s suburban family which undergoes a home invasion that forces them to turn

to blackmail, revenge, and betrayal.

Woody Harrelson will be joining previously announced cast members, Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin, and Oscar Isaac. Clooney is directing, while Teddy Schwarzman of Black Bear Pictures and Joel Silver of Silver Pictures are producing the film alongside Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures.

Harrelson has two more movies coming up in 2016 which include Now You See Me 2 with Jesse Eisenberg and Morgan Freeman and The Duel with Liam Hemsworth. l

31

DT

Showtime

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH

Kick-Ass HBO Hits, 8:50pm Dave Lizewski, a teenager and high school nerd in New York is an avid comic book reader, but is unpopular at school. His companions in comic book fanaticism are Marty and Todd. Dave also has a crush on Katie Deauxma but goes unnoticed most of the time. Having been a loser most of his life, he takes some decisions. He is determined to become a super hero and calls himself “Kick Ass”.

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage The Wolverine Movies Now, 6:55pm Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he will face a host of unexpected and deadly opponents in a life-or-death battle that will leave change him forever.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tao Okamoto Madagascar Zee Studio, 9:30pm Alex is a lion who enjoys a charmed life as one of the leading attractions at a zoo in New York City’s Central Park. While Alex and his pals Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are happy with their lot in life, they occasionally have a certain curiosity about the outside world. And when the zoo’s penguins decide to make a break for it, Marty follows them into the city.

Voice: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Sacha Baron Cohen

DT

32

Back Page

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

BUDGET PREP MIRED AS MINISTERS ON TOUR PAGE 12

KALABAGAN CHOKE, CCS FINALLY WIN PAGE 24

ANGRY BIRDS HITTING STAR CINEPLEX PAGE 30

‘I have a body, but no life in it’ n Tanvir Hossain, Narayanganj Battered and publicly shamed, the suspended headmaster of a Narayanganj school has said there is no life left in his body any more.

“Shyamal sir is no more. He is dead, he has passed away. He has a body without any life,” Shyamal Kanti Bhakta described his own condition after being subjected to public shaming and being suspended from the Piyar Sattar Latif High School.

Shyamal said nothing could be more humiliating for a teacher than being beaten up by his own students.

“Many of my students were part of the mob that beat me... I have no right to live on,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday at Narayanganj’s 300-bed hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

On Friday, the teacher was beaten up for allegedly making derogatory comments about religion and was later forced to do squats while holding his ears in presence of local lawmaker AKM Salim Osman. Consequently, he was also suspended from the school.

The incident triggered massive outrage across Bangladesh.

Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, the teacher who was beaten up and publicly humiliated on Friday, is seen resting at the Narayanganj 300-bed hospital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Yesterday, Shyamal reiterated that he had been framed in a conspiracy, adding that there would be no more respect for educators in the future if more teachers were victimised like this.

“I will now be cited as an example. I have lost respect [from others]. Many who attacked me were my direct students. I am such a wretched person who was humiliated by his own students. I have no honour left,” the teacher said.

Meanwhile, Shyamal’s wife Sabita

Haldar, who is a senior nurse at the 300bed hospital, also expressed her anger about the way her husband was treated.

She demanded punishment for those responsible as well as urging authorities to ensure the best medical care for her husband.

The hospital’s surgery chief Dr Shafiul Azam said the physical condition of the teacher has improved. The best course of treatment would be decided by a medical board, he said.

Shyamal said his body was still suffering from the injuries sustained during the beating. The pain on his shoulder was not going away, he added.

Two police constables have been posted outside Shyamal’s cabin to ensure his security. One of the constables said leaders from political parties and their student wings, as well as social and cultural organisations have been coming to the hospital to meet the injured teacher. l

14-party to N’ganj school: Reappoint Shyamal n Abu Hayat Mahmud The Awami League-led 14-party alliance has asked the management committee of Piyar Sattar Latif High School in Narayanganj to reappoint Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, the school’s suspended headmaster who was publicly humiliated on Friday.

“It was an injustice to suspend a teacher after he was humiliated based on an excuse. I think the teacher should be reinstated in his job,” said Mohammed Nasim, health minister and also the spokesperson for the alliance.

Talking to reporters at the Awami League chief’s political office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, he also criticised the actions taken by local Jatiya Party lawmaker Salim Osman.

“The parliament member [Salim Osman] could not protect his own honour through his actions. The role that he played [against Shyamal] as a parliament member cannot be condoned at all. In fact, he has also damaged the honour of other parliament members,” Nasim said. l

HC: Why no Trade bodies rally action on teacher around Salim Osman humiliation Rina Begum accusing Shyn Ashif Islam Shaon n Tanvir Hossain, amal Kanti Bhakta of issuThe High Court in a ruling yesterday has asked why action should not be taken against those involved in the public shaming of a school teacher in Narayanganj.

In a suo moto ruling, the bench of Justices Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir ordered police to inform the court, in three days, about the legal steps taken over the incident so far.

The ruling was issued after lawyers MK Rahman and Mohsin Rashid brought to the court’s notice newspaper articles on the teacher’s humiliation, Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju said.

The home secretary, Narayanganj deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, Bandar police OC and upazila nirbahi officer have been asked to respond within two weeks.

On Friday, Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, the headmaster of Piyar Sattar Latif High School, was beaten up and forced to hold his ears and squat in presence of local MP Salim Osman. l

Narayanganj

Forty-three business organisations have rallied around Narayanganj MP Salim Osman, who has drawn flak for forcing an already-beaten-up local headmaster to squat while holding his own ears as punishment for allegedly making derogatory comments about religion.

Eight national and 35 district-based organisations held a press conference at Narayanganj Club yesterday, criticising some media outlets for presenting “biased news” against Jatiya Party lawmaker Salim Osman, who is also the president of BKMEA. At the start of the programme, a video footage was screened that showed class-ten student Rifat Hossain and his mother

ing derogatory statements about religion.

It should be mentioned that Rifat and his mother have since recanted their claim against the suspended headmaster of Piyar Sattar Latif High School.

The business organisations claimed that Salim had gone to the rescue of Shyamal, who had been held captive and beaten up for several hours on Friday.

At the time, the teacher requested the MP to save his life; the situation was so dangerous that Salim had no other option in front of him, the 43 trade bodies claimed.

They said Salim Osman not only protected the headmaster, he also ensured proper medical treatment for him later on. 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