17 June, 2016

SECOND EDITION

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | Ashar 3, 1423, Ramadan 11, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 55 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 24-page Weekend supplement | Price: Tk10

Hizb ut-Tahrir men hacked Madaripur teacher n Tribune Desk The youth who was caught by locals while fleeing following the hacking of a Hindu college teacher in Madaripur town on Wednesday is a member of banned militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir, police say.

The arrestee, Ghulam Faizullah Fahim, 18, was an HSC examinee from Uttara High School and College, but did not complete the examinations. He remained missing since June 11, according to a GD filed by his parents with Dakkhinkhan police.

On that day, Faizullah sent an SMS to his father’s phone saying

that he was going abroad. His family members came to know about him from newspapers on Wednesday.

Three attackers hacked Nazimuddin College mathematics teacher Ripon Chakrabarty, 45, with machetes at the gate of his house in College Road area around 4:30pm. They fled the scene quickly as locals gathered hearing Ripon’s screams.

Critically injured, Ripon was first taken to Madaripur Sadar Hospital and later to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Doctors said he is now out of danger.

He received six wounds – four

on the head and two on an arm and an ear, Associate Professor of surgery unit Dr Nazmul Haque said.

Faizullah was caught while fleeing on an easy bike. The locals also caught another attacker but he escaped, after claiming that he had no involvement in the attack. He told the people that he was trying to escape a clash taking place at the college.

Police later recovered a machete from near the scene.

This is the first time the police have come to learn about the involvement of Hizb ut-Tahrir members in any of the targeted killings

being carried out by militant organisations. The group was declared outlawed in 2009 for its anti-state activities.

Earlier, a leader of the group, Shafiur Rahman Farabi, was arrested for instigating the murder of secular writer Avijit Roy. Police suspect outlawed groups Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team for the recent attacks even though international groups Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) claimed responsibilities for the attacks.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Police: Publisher Tutul's attacker held n Arifur Rahman Rabbi A member of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) who was “directly involved” in the attempt on publisher Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury Tutul's life has been arrested, police have said.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam announced at a press briefing yesterday that the suspect had been identified as Md Sumon Hossain Patwari alias Shihab alias Saiful alias Shakib.

On May 13, detective police arrested two ABT members who were the leaders of the militant group's Chittagong area unit. Based on their interrogation and further investigation, the Detective Branch arrested Sumon Patwari from the airport bus stand area on Wednesday night around 8:30pm.

Suman is one of the six ABT men whose photographs and identities were released by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police seeking public support to nab them on May 20. A Tk200,000 bounty was put on his head, said Monirul.

A Dhaka court yesterday put Suman on a five-day remand in an attempt to murder case.

The ADC claimed that Suman had admitted to taking part in the attack and hacking at the victim Tutul three times with a meat cleaver.

Apart from Suman, four other people took part in the assassination attempt against Shuddhashar

Detective Branch of police escort a wanted member of Ansarullah Bangla Team arrested yesterday in connection with attempted murder of publisher Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury Tutul. The photo was taken at DMP Media Centre MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Publication's publisher Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury Tutul.

ADC Monirul said Suman had passed HSC from a college in Chittagong and was working in a private company till early 2015 when ABT recruited him. He was trained in Chittagong.

After that the ABT leaders sent Suman to Dhaka. Before the attack on the publishers, he rented a flat in Mohakhali for training. Basically, he was trained by Sharif and Salim. 5 people

CT unit chief Monirul said that the attacks on Tutul's publishing house Shuddhashar and Jagriti Prakashani's publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan was planned by Mohammad Salim, one of the wanted men, and it was coordinated by another named Mohammad Sharif.

Dipon murder was led by Salim and the attack on Tutul was led by Sharif, he said.

After the attack, Suman went back to Chittagong and rejoined work.

Sharif was angry about the failed mission and told Suman he should be accountable for this mistake, ADC Monirul said.

Asked about the other five wanted men, Monirul Islam said they had received much information about them. “Some of their addresses have also been found,” he said.

Suman had given the police some names of ABT members and important information about them, the officer said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

High Court slams 154 tanneries with Tk50,000 daily fine n Ashif Islam Shaon The High Court has slapped a daily fine of Tk50,000 on each of the 154 tanneries that are yet to relocate to Savar from Hazaribagh.

Owners of these tanneries will have to deposit the amount to state fund until their industries are shifted.

The court yesterday also ordered the industries secretary to submit a report on July 17 on whether the owners had paid the fine. The High Court also asked the environment secretary to file a separate report on July 17 on the damage the tanneries had inflicted on the Buriganga River.

A total of 154 tanneries in Dhaka's Hazaribagh are yet to be relocated despite a court order.

Justices Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and AKM Shahidul Huq's bench issued the order after hearing a petition by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

Manzill Murshid, who represented the petitioner, said until these tanneries are relocated, their owners would have to deposit Tk50,000 daily to state fund as compensation for damaging the environment.

In this regard, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) General Secretary Md Shakhawat Ullah yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “We just got to know about the court order through media. We will take decision on the next course of action after receiving details of the order.”

On March 31, the government deployed police at entry points of Dhaka to prevent rawhide-laden trucks from entering Hazaribagh as the deadline for shifting the tannery units to Savar Tannery State ended.

Earlier, the Industries Ministry extended the deadline several times but decided to go tough  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

SEHRI & IFTAR

Ramadan 11 12 13

June 17 18 19

Sehri – 3:39 3:39

Iftar 6:51 6:51 6:52

Source: Islamic Foundation

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Alleged extortionist killed in ‘gunfight’ n Tribune Desk A suspected extortionist has been killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area in Dhaka early yesterday.

The deceased is a Aidul Islam alias Mama Sagor, an alleged extortionist of Karwan Bazar area and an associate of top criminal Ashik.

However, sources at Dhaka Medical College Morgue said RAB identified the victim’s name as Rubel.

Rab 2 ops officer Yasir Arafat said a patrol team noticed some suspicious people at a field adjacent to Sher-e -bangla Nagar staff quarters and when the RAB team approached them they ran away

prompting the patrol team to chased after them.

During the RAB chase, the group of men began to fire at the law enforcers and RAB fired back at them.

In the midst of this, two of the RAB members – ASI Hasibul and Corporal Zia sustained gunshot wounds.

The group of men fled while leaving behind an injured individual and foreign pistols with three rounds of bullets, Yasir said.

The victim on his way to the hospital only could said his full name, Aidul Islam and was known as ‘Mama Sagor’ at Karwanbazar, Dhaka.

Yasir said that they have launched operation to arrest the other members of the criminal gang. l

Cops yet to link Gunnu, Robin to Mitu murder Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Police have yet to ascertain the involvement of Abu Nosor Gunnu and Shah Zaman Robin in the gruesome murder of Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Akter, who was stabbed and shot to death on June 5.

There has been no significant progress in the investigation in the 11 days since the murder took place in the heart of Chittagong city.

Speaking to reporters at his office in the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters yesterday, CMP Commissioner Md Iqbal Bahar said: “Police could not yet confirm how Gunnu and Robin were involved in Mitu’s murder.”

Police have not yet learn anything important regarding the murder from the remanded suspects either, he added.

Gunnu, caretaker of a local Shrine in Chittagong’s Hathazari upazila, was arrested by detectives in Farhadabad, Hathazari on

June 8.

Robin, who police believe is one of the trio who killed Mitu before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, was arrested in the city’s Shital Jharna on Saturday.

The duo were placed on remand for seven days for interrogation by a Chittagong court on Sunday.

“We have four more days of the remand period left to interrogate the suspects. Police are trying to glean further information from them regarding the murder,” the CMP chief said.

“If we learn anything significant during the interrogation, the media will by duly informed,” the CMP commissioner told reporters.

He said police have been looking into all possibilities regarding the murder motive as well as verifying and analysing the evidence they have in the case.

“We are not ruling out any possibilities. Several law enforcing agencies are working on this case to find the motive of the murder as early as possible.” l

MP Mustafizur gets bail n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday granted bail to ruling Awami League lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury after he surrendered in a case filed for assaulting an election officer.

Banshkhali Senior Judicial Magistrate Sazzad Hossain issued the bail after the accused surrendered before the court.

Two other accused in the case – Tajul Islam, Awami League nomi-

nated chairman candidate from Baharchhara union under Banshkhali upazila and also the upazila Juba League president, and Akhter Hossain, Banshkhali chapter president of Ulama League – also received bail.

On June 1, the High Court ordered Mustafizur Rahman MP to surrender before the trial court by June 20.

MP Mustafizur and his followers allegedly assaulted Banshkhali Election Officer Jahedul Islam on June 1 when the officer did not comply with the lawmaker’s demands. l

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal brings out a procession in front of National Press Club yesterday protesting India’s water policy which they say would turn Bangladesh into a desert DHAKA TRIBUNE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Hizb ut-Tahrir men hacked Madaripur teacher However, two intelligence reports recently mentioned that the attacks were led by trained members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is at the helm of a platform of banned militant outfits eyeing to establish an Islamic state in the country.

‘Faizullah is a Hizb ut-Tahrir activist. He came to Madaripur along with his two other associates on the day of the incident’

tion about at least 10 dens of the banned group. But the law enforcers found no one at those places.

DB sources said that during primary integration Faizullah said that he left Dhaka on June 12. He was recruited by his senior college-mate Jubair Ahmed and two staff at a book shop named Mishkat Library in front of his college.

The arrestee also admitted that he had attended a programme with some foreign members of the group recently.

Prof Nurul Huq Mia of Nazimuddin College told the Dhaka Tribune that when taken to the police station, Faizullah told the people that no one would be able to keep him inside jail.

‘I am not a blasphemer’ On Sunday, Hizb ut-Tahrir distributed leaflets and pasted posters in Dhaka and elsewhere, saying that they would make an announcement on June 17.

Sarwar Hossain, superintendent of police in Madaripur, said: “Faizullah is a Hizb ut-Tahrir activist. He came to Madaripur along with his two other associates on the day of the incident.”

The killers might have visited Ripon’s house and followed his movement for some time, police said.

Sources said a special team of DB police conducted drives in Madaripur and Dhaka accompanying Faizullah to nab his associates and the mastermind, but to no avail.

Faizullah gave them informa-

The injured college teacher spoke to the DB police officials at the hospital. “The attackers are not known to me. I think they were following me from my college. The swooped on me all of a sudden when I was entering my house.”

Ripon said he sometimes performed religious rituals in the area as a Brahmin. “But I do not write blogs [on religious issues] and have no activity on Facebook,” he told the police.

In the morning, teachers, students and general people of the district demonstrated in the town.

They held a procession demanding punishment for the attackers.

On the other hand, members of the religious minority groups formed a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. l

High Court slams 154 tanneries with Tk50,000 daily fine against the errant tanners recently considering the damage to the environment.

Following pressures from environmentalists and rights groups as well as buyers, the government decided to relocate tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar to save adjoining rivers and the dwellers of the area from health hazards.

The government has already allocated plots to 155 tannery owners through Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) at the industrial park established on a 200-acre land in Savar. l

Police: Publisher Tutul’s attacker held “We are checking the information and trying to arrest them.”

Tutul’s publishing house Shuddhashar, whose publications were deemed blasphemous by extremists, had published writings of local secular writers.

Suddhashar won the Shaheed Munir Chowdhury Award in 2013.

Tutul was nominated for the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize 2016.

Faisal Arefin Dipan’s publishing house Jagriti Prakashani published slain writer-blogger Avijit Roy’s book Biswasher Virus (The Virus of Faith).

They were attacked in their offices in Dhaka last October. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Now Ramakrishna Mission chief gets death threat n Arifur Rahman Rabbi Law enforcers have tightened security at the Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math in Dhaka after its chief got death threat in a letter received on Wednesday, when the country is experiencing a series of violent attacks perpetrated by different militant groups.

The RK Mission authorities filed a general diary with Wari police on Wednesday night, OC Jihad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune.

Swami Guru Sebanando Mridul Maharaj, assistant secretary of Ramakrishna Mission who filed the GD on behalf of the authorities, said that they were not afraid of such threats. “We hope that the police will take necessary action regarding this,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

DMP’s Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit chief Monirul Islam yesterday said that they were looking into the incident.

Even though the letter, sent by one AB Siddique of Islamic State of Bangladesh (secret agent) from Gazipur, mentions the recipient as the top religious leader of the Ramakrishna Mission, it did not have

his name. The writing pad had Eidgah Market at Chandana intersection of Gazipur as ISB’s office.

International militant group Islamic State has claimed the murder of 20 people, mostly non-Muslim and non-Sunni preachers, in 22 attacks perpetrated by its members in Bangladesh since September last year. Of the victims, six were Hindu priests and followers.

Earlier, Hindu and Christian priests in different parts of the country were issued death threats in letters sent reportedly by banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team. Ansarullah is believed to be representing al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) which claimed 13 attacks killing 11 people, mostly the secularists.

The Singapore police recently arrested several Bangladeshi workers for raising a group named Islamic State of Bangladesh for plotting terror attacks in Bangladesh against state machinery and non-Muslims and disbelievers.

The latest threat issued to the Ramakrishna Mission and Math chief comes at a time when radical Islamists are inciting violent attacks on the Hindu population

of Bangladesh in general and particularly the Hindu people engaged in different professions, especially teaching. Meanwhile, the incidents of attacks on Hindu houses and temples to grab land and to cerate panic have been a common phenomenon.

Belur Math in West Bengal of India is the headquarters for Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. These twin organisations form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement (known as Ramakrishna Movement or Vedanta Movement started in 1899), aiming at establishing harmony of religions for all-round development of human faculties, social equality, and peace for all humanity, without any distinctions of creed, caste, race or nationality.

The Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka, founded under the direct patronisation of Swami Vivekananda in 1916, runs a school and a medical centre while also conducts discourses, seminars, various cultural programmes. On the other hand, Ramakrishna Math has been engaged in performing religious programmes and various spiritual disciplines so as to help grow the

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spirituality of its monks, devotees, and other aspirants.

There are 14 branches of Ramakrishna Mission and around 100 monasteries set up under individual initiative across the country.

Swami Dhrubeshananda Maharaj, principal of the Ramakrishna Mission, said that religious extremist activities had increased manifold across the globe, so in Bangladesh. “We have asked the devotees to be cautious and take help from the law enforcers when needed,” he told German newspaper DW. The letter issued on June 12 asked the mission chief to leave the country and go to Hindu-majority India without delay since “it is an Islamic country and you will not be allowed to preach Hinduism here.”

It says that the chief would be hacked to death inside his residence between June 20 and 30, and “so eat whatever you like [before you die].”

Identifying himself as an army personnel, the sender claims that he is the son of a cattle thief named Morchhob Ali from Boulai of Noyapara in Kishoreganj and used to claim the lives of the non-Muslim preachers. l

A worker prepares himself with adhesive to repair interior seats of a bus. As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, bus owners are repairing old vehicles and giving them a new look in a bid to cope with the Eid holiday rush. The photo was taken yesterday from Dhaka’s Aminbazar area MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

BangladeshIndia transshipment kicks off n Shohel Mamun

With little infrastructure and almost no equipment for weighing or handling goods, the Ashuganj river port has officially been opened for transshipment Between Bangladesh and India.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan formally inaugurated transshipment at Ashuganj river port premises in Brahmanbaria yesterday.

The cargo vessel MV Newtek-6, carrying iron rods from India’s Kolkata, arrived at the port for the first time in Bangladesh history.

Cargo will arrive at Ashuganj from Kolkata by water and go to Akhaura land port in the district to enter Tripura.

Transshipment through Bangladeshi territory will reduce the cargo’s travel time from 25-30 days to 10-15 days.

The Ashuganj river port is in poor condition and lacks the necessary infrastructure for the handling of heavy goods. There are no machines for weighing the goods.

The 3,336 square feet terminal only contains a storage facility and two compartments for officials.

Besides, the road network for carrying goods from Ashuganj to Akhaura is filled with potholes.

The distance between the two ports is 56km, but the two lane road is almost unfit for heavy vehicles.

Bangladesh and India agreed under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) that goods to be transshipped will have to pay a total amount of Tk192.22 per tonne to the government of Bangladesh as transit fee.

However, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has proposed a Tk700 per tonne fee.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said: “We have just begun a bilateral journey. When the inland container terminal is built and machines are installed in the port, the transit fee might be raised to more than Tk700.”

The minister said Bangladesh would be able to earn foreign exchange from the transit but more importantly by exporting transport services beyond the border.

It is estimated that during the initial years at least two million tonnes of cargo will be transshipped annually.

Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present at the programme. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

PM for strengthening Dhaka-KL cooperation n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday underscored the need for further strengthening the cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia in various fields, including the socioeconomic and power sectors.

The Prime Minister came up with the view when newly appointed Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Nur Ashikin Binti Mohd Taib met her at her Jatiya Sangsad office here in the morning.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul

Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina also underscored the need for boosting trade and business ties with South East Asian nations alongside enhancing connectivity.

Mentioning Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement and setting up of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, she said, “ Those initiatives will open up a new horizon in the field of connectivity with the Southeast Asian nations alongside neigh-

bours,” she said.

Reiterating her government’s ‘zero tolerance policy’ against terrorism and militancy, Sheikh Hasina reiterated that no one will be allowed to use Bangladesh’s soil for terrorist acts against any country.

Pointing out the power, health and education sectors’ cooperation between the two countries, she said a coal-based power plant is being set up at Moheshkhali with Malaysian cooperation.

The Prime Minister mentioned that a huge number of Bangladeshi students are studying at public and

private sector institutions in Malaysia strengthening people-to-people contact between the two countries.

Hasina said Sheikh Fazilatunnesa KPJ Memorial Specialised Hospital has been established with Malaysian support on the outskirts of capital Dhaka to provide better healthcare services to people at low cost as her government has been striving to reach the healthcare services to the people’s doorsteps.

The Prime Minister recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

to Malaysia in 1973 and said the tour has laid the foundation of excellent relations that still exists between two brotherly nations.

The new Malaysian high commissioner said she would work to further consolidate bilateral ties and cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Ashikin said there are many areas of cooperation between the two countries, including public administration, training and agriculture.

Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Suraiya Begum was present at the meeting. l

Verdict on Tarique’s money laundering case any day n Ashif Islam Shaon

Detective Branch of police escort two members of a dope gang after arresting them during a drive from Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel. The photo was taken yesterday from DMP Media Centre MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

BANASREE SIBLINGS MURDERS

Police press charges against mother n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Detective Branch of police yesterday have submitted a charge sheet against Mahfuza Malek Jesmin, 35, on charges of killing her two children at their Bansree house in the capital in February.

DB inspector Md Lokman Hakim, also the investigation officer in the case, submitted the charge sheet yesterday to Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate court against Mahfuza.

Sub-inspector Mukul Hossain,

general recording officer of Dhaka CMM court confirmed the submission of the charge sheet and told the Dhaka Tribune “that the charge sheet would be produced before the metropolitan magistrate on Sunday where the next course of action will be decided.”

According to the case, Nusrat Aman Oroni, 14, and her brother Alvi Aman, 6, were found unconscious at their Banasree home in Dhaka on February 29.

The siblings were declared dead after being rushed to Dhaka Medi-

cal College Hospital.

Later, the father of the children filed a case against his wife, Mahfuza with the Rampura Police Station on March 3. The case was later handed over to the DB. Police arrested Mahfuza the day the case was filed and placed her on a 10-day remand in two phases in police custody for interrogation.

Mahfuza made a confessional statement before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Nabi on March 13 confessing that she mur-

dered her children out of depression about their future.

In her three hour long statement before the magistrate she also stated the reason for killing her children stemmed from being disappointed by their school examination results.

Mahfuza also told the magistrate that she was delighted when her daughter was admitted to Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, but disappointed when she was unable to achieve high scores in her exams. l

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict any day now in a money laundering case against BNP leader Tarique Rahman and his friend Gias Uddin Al Mamun.

The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain finished the hearing of appeals yesterday and kept the verdict pending.

There was no lawyer present for Tarique, the son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and also the party’s senior vice-chairman, as he has been absconding.

The hearing of the appeals started on May 25.

In October 2009, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Tarique and his business partner Gias for laundering money to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

On November 17, 2013, the Dhaka Third Special Judge Court acquitted Tarique, who has been living in the UK for the last eight years, and sentenced Mamun to seven years’ imprisonment and slapped him with a Tk40 crore fine.

The ACC filed an appeal against Tarique’s acquittal, while Gias – who is currently in jail – filed another one against his conviction on December 5.

On January 19, 2014, the High Court asked Tarique to surrender before the trial court after the ACC’s appeal.

But he did not respond.

The High Court on January 20 and 21 published notice in newspaper asking him to surrender while the trial court sent summons to Tarique’s Dhaka and London addresses. l

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Three private medical colleges to reopen n Abid Azad The government has withdrawn its previous instruction on closing three private medical colleges, after taking into consideration the academic and future lives of the students currently enrolled in these respective colleges.

The Health Ministry issued a press release yesterday, saying Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has decided to reopen the three colleges for the sake of the students.

On June 13, Rangpur Northern Medical College, Gazipur City Medical College and Ashulia Nightingale Medical College were instructed to shut down their operations because they did not comply with the medical college management rules.

However, the instruction to postpone the admission process of these medical colleges for the 201617 session will not be changed. l

An array of different fruits, including jackfruits and pineapples, are displayed at the three-day National Fruit Exhibition 2016 in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in Dhaka's Khamarbari area yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

BD-US PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE

Security, trade, development on agenda n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh and the United States will sit in a high-level political consultation to cement ties between the two countries and discuss issues of security, trade and investment, and development.

Bangladesh will focus on development, and trade and investment, while for the US side, security would be the top agenda, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and US Ambassador to Dhaka Marcia Bernicat said.

The foreign secretary said Bangladesh considers security from a broad perspective and it is related to the development of the people.

Terrorism is a global phenomenon and both the countries have to stand together to fight the menace.

“If we do not, terrorists will win.

From day one, Bangladesh and the US are working together to fight transnational crimes,” she said.

Bangladesh and the US have robust security cooperation aimed at fighting terrorism, violent extremism, money laundering, and terror financing, the ambassador said.

“A new area of cooperation is cyber security,” she said.

The ambassador said human rights, mass arrests and other issues related to rule of law and governance would be discussed at the partnership dialogue.

Security can be discussed from aspects including counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism, peacekeeping and peace-building; but for Bangladesh, security for development of the people is the most important thing.

The fifth partnership dialogue will be held in Washington on June 23-24 where Shahidul Haque would lead the Bangladeshi delegation and the US side would be led by US State Department Undersecretary Thomas A Shannon.

US Ambassador to Dhaka in an interaction with a selected group of journalists said yesterday: “Security is at the top of agenda of the partnership dialogue.”

“The number of arrests is impressive. Our concern is that are these arrests [are] being done in a transparent manner. In the United States, there are rules about how deaths during such operations have been investigated and, when wrongdoing is found, what corrective actions were taken as is done in the United States,” she said.

People should have confidence in the investigation process and Bangladesh should be getting the credit if transparency and proper investigations are ensured, she added.

About the security of the US officials in Bangladesh, she said: “We want to make our security as robust as possible and contract with

Bangladeshi security firms. We comply completely with the local law to protect US officials.”

About regional cooperation to fight the terrorism, she said: “We are considering what type of mechanism will work for regional cooperation.”

Bangladesh, India, and the US – all three were fighting terrorism, but there was no common mechanism, she said.

“We will continue to look for ways to have regional cooperation.”

The ambassador said health, education, climate change, migration, environment and other relevant issues would also be discussed in the dialogue. l

PLOT TO ABDUCT AND KILL PM'S SON

DB asked to submit probe report July 26 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday once again asked the Detective Branch of police to submit probe report before the court on July 26 in a case filed over an alleged plot to kill prime minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Metropolitan Magistrate SM

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN FRIDAY, JUNE 17

they also showed acting editor of Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman arrested in the case.

On August 3 last year, DB filed a case with Paltan police station against Mohammad Ullah Mamun, vice-president of JASAS, for his alleged involvement in the “conspiracy to abduct and kill Joy.” l

Masud Zaman passed the order as the DB Assistant Commissioner Hasan Arafat, the investigating officer, failed to submit the probe report on the scheduled date yesterday.

On April 16, DB police arrested Shafik Rehman, former editor of Bangla newspaper Jaijaidin from his Eskaton house; two days later Dhaka

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Fajr: 3:50am | Jumma: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 7:01pm Esha: 8:45pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

15 YEARS INTO NARAYANGANJ BOMB BLAST

Trial goes at snail pace, victims facing hardship Hossain, n Tanveer Narayanganj Fifteen years have passed since Narayanganj bomb blast at a Awami League party office that left 20 people killed and injured over 50, but trial of the case is going at snail pace, much to create frustration among families of the victims.

Victims’ family members alleged that both Awami League and BNP are doing business capitalising the issue.

Court sources said as main accused of the case Mufti Hannan was accused in several cases across Bangladesh, it was not possible to present him before the court during each hearing which delays trial process of the case.

Public Prosecutor of the case Advocate KM Fazlur Rahman said Mufti Hannan was accused of 51 cases which had been filed with different police stations across the

country.

He said: “Trial of the case is still going on the right track.”

Assistant Police Super of Criminal Investigation Department and also Investigation Officer of the case Ehsan Uddin Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that police submitted charge sheet of the case accusing six people and acquitting 31 others on May 2, 2013, almost 13 years after the bomb explosion.

Other accused of the case are militant leader Obaidullah Rahman, Narayanganj City Corporation Councillor Shawkat Hashem Shaku, Shahadatullah Jewel, and twin brothers – Anisul Morsalin and Muhibul Mottakin.

Of the accused, Anisul Morsalin and Muhibul Mottakin are in a Delhi jail while Shawkat Hashem Shaku and Obaidullah Rahman have been released on bail.

Investigation officer of the case Ehsan Uddin Chowdhury said the

militants had carried out the bomb attack as Shamim Osman imposed a ban on the entrance of senior Jamaat leaders, including Golam Azam, Delwar Hossain Saydee and Mujahidul Islam, in the district.

“Mufti Hannan, leader of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami, was the mastermind and financier of the attack,” said the IO. In reply to a question why any Jamaat leader had not been accused in the case, he said: “Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami has emerged with the assistant of Jamaat, but we did not find any direct involvement of Jamaat in the attack.”

During the investigation, police found involvement of eight people, but they had to press charge sheet against six people as two people – Moninullah David and Kajol had died earlier.

He also claimed that police did not face any political pressure during investigation. “We have sub-

mitted impartial charge sheet,” he added.

Chandon Shil who has become lame in the bomb explosion said: “I had to go through hardship after the attack. I could not complete my treatment in Germany due to financial crunch. Once, I had to pass days with family in starvation. I could not provide rent of my house. Moreover, during the tenure of BNP-backed four party alliance, I faced harassment.”

Ratan Kumar Das, another victim, said: “I could not walk properly as my two legs got injured during the attack. Still, I can hear the groaning of injured people.”

Imtiaz Hossain, son of Delwar Hossain who was killed in the explosion, said: “We are running livelihood with help of our relatives.”

Hamida Begun, widow of Nazarul Islam, said she was maintaining her family by doing private tuition.

People who had been killed in the blast include Saidul Hasan Bappi, the then Narayanganj district unit president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Nazrul Islam Bacchu, singer, Poly Begum, a leader of Mohila Awami League, Delwar Hossain Bhasani, joint-secretary of Fatullah police station unit Awami League, Shawkat Hossain Mukta, poet, Halima, owner of a tea stall.

Khokon Saha filed two case accusing 27 leaders and activists of BNP, including Taimur Alam Khankar with Narayanganj police station.

In April, 2001, the case was closed saying that none of 27 people who had been made accused in bomb blast case that took place at Awami League party office in Chasara on June 16, 2001 were not involved with the attack.

Later, the case was reopened on June 2, 2009 after Awami League led 14 party assumed power. l

Homeopathic doctor shot dead n Abdul Aziz, Cox’s Bazar

Water stagnant on Krugram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court premises after heavy monsoon showers in the district yesterday.

The water cannot be released as the drainage lies in dire state DHAKA TRIBUNE

A homeopathic doctor was shot dead at Eidgar, Ramu upazila, Cox’s Bazar early yesterday.

Locals said the deceased Mohiuddin, 45, son of Foyez Ahmed Miaji of Eidgar, had a dispute with a Saudi expatriate Asaduzzaman of the same locality over a piece of land. Mohiuddin has started building a house on the disputed land recently.

Being informed that he was alone in the under-construction

house, relatives of Asaduzzaman made an attack on him and shot him around 4am.

The attackers fled the scene while local people came forward to rescue Mohiuddin hearing his scream.

He succumbed to his injuries at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital around 10am.

Officer-in-Charge of Ramu police station Probhash Chandra Dhar said police had detained Dilowara Begum, 40, wife of Asadizzaman, in this connection. l

Strike in Bandarban 60 streams in Khagrachhari continues for 2nd day disappearing fast n A Basu Das, Bandarban The Awami League and its associate bodies observed transport strike in Bandarban yesterday for the 2nd consecutive day, demanding immediate release of a party leader who was kidnapped by an armed group.

Local sources said no transpor was seen plying steets of anywhere in the district. Moreover, no longroute bus left Bandarban bus station.

Demanding release of Mongpru Marma The Awami League and its associate bodies brought out several processions in the district town.

However, shopping malls, markets, offices and educational institutions were remained open as usual.

The district administration deployed additional police across the district to avert any untoward incident.

Abduction has become regular incident in the Bandarban.

On Sunday, separatists in Myanmar abducted a Bangladeshi national from Naikkangchhari area.

Earlier, three cattle traders were kidnapped by miscreants on April 15.

Later, they were found dead in Deem Hill area of Thanchi upazila On April 18. l

n Jasim Majumder, Khagrachhari At least 60 streams in hill district Khagrachhari are disappearing due to deforestation and hill-slide.

According to the district administration sources, the water bodies streaming from hills connected with Chengi, Feni and Mainee rivers have lied in dire situation.

People who live in remote areas under nine upazilas of the district are facing acute water crisis due to its rapid disappearing, the sources said.

Dr Sudin Kumar Chakma, ex-principal of Khagrachhari Government College said the streams

were the heart of indigenous people in the district.

“Most of the hill families not only fulfilled their water demands from these water-bodies but also mitigated their fish or other demands related to water,” he said.

He urged the government to take steps to plant more environment friendly trees in the hill area to save the water bodies.

Editor of Khagrachhari Pratidin Tarun Kumar Battachariya echoed the words of Sudin.

He also blamed both forest and district administration’s negligence for disappearing the streams.

“Hills of Khagrachhari became barren while more than hundred wild lives lost their habitat as forest reduced rapidly by unscrupulous timber traders with the close assistant of forest officials,” he added.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Md Abul Amin said district administration was trying their level best to save forests.

“We are continuing mobile courts against tree and hill plunders,” he added.

He wanted cooperation from all corners to take action against the forest enemy aiming to save the streams and rivers. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Dope gang active in port city ahead of Eid Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

Notorious dope gang popularly known as ogyan party or molom party have become active in the port city Chittagong especially in the busy market areas ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Members of the gangs snatch money and valuables from people after making them unconscious through sedatives.

The gang members especially operate at shopping centers and

bus terminals in the city where shoppers and passengers throng ahead of Eid. According to police, the gang members come to the city from adjoining districts every year on the eve of holy month Ramadan.

The miscreants conduct their criminal activities riding unregistered CNG-run auto rickshaw or motorbikes and flee the scene soon after accomplishing their mission.

In most of the cases, the incidents go unrecorded as the victims do not prefer to lodge complaint

with the police station after the incident.

Several mugging incidents took place in last few days in the city’s CRB area and Love Lane area under Kotwali police station during the time of Tarabi prayer, said police.

However, the police said they had taken additional security measures in the strategic points of the city and shopping malls to nab the miscreants.

To check the evil trends of the miscreants, lawenforcers had already beefed up their vigilance in

the entry points of the city, said the police officials.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)’s Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Debdas Bhattacharia said police had increased its vigilance in the all entry points of the city including Notun Bridge, City Gate, Kalurghat, Bayezid-Oxygen and Patenga area.

On Sunday, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four alleged robbers along a CNG-run auto rickshaw from Kuiash Mor area of Hathazari, one of the entry points

in the city.

The RAB personnel also recovered two shooter guns, eight bullets from their possession.

CMP’s Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Kotwali Circle Kazi Md Abdur Rahim said police were kept alert to detain the criminals.

“Our foot-patrol team, bike-patrol team, and regular police have been deployed in the key points while additional forces have been also installed before the every shopping mall to ensure customers’ safety”, added he. l

Tk12,000 profit in a single dress Hussain, n Anwar Chittagong ‘Sarara Lehenga’, a dress for women, was purchased at Tk 6,995.

However, the same dress was being sold to the Eid shoppers at an exorbitant price of Tk19,500.

The seller was earning profit Tk12,505 from a single dress.

A mobile court of Chittagong district administration discovered the malpractice after conducting a drive at ‘Young Lady’, a cloth shop of the city’s Mimi Super Market, yesterday afternoon. The same shop had another dress which was selling at Tk14,500. However, the wholesale price of the dress was Tk4,550.

The mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Tahmilur Rahman conducted a drive at 20 shops at Mimi Super Market, Afmi Plaza and Sanmar Shopping Complex.

The mobile court only warned the sellers instead of slapping any fine.

Admitting earning excessive profit to the mobile court, Md Nurussafa of Young Lady said, “I have made a mistake. I will adjust the price within 24 hours.”

Besides, a Sari was selling at Tk41,000 at a shop named ‘Achal’ in the same market. However, Joynal Abedin, owner of the shop and president of Mimi Super Market, could not show any purchase document to the mobile court.

While conducting the drive, Tahmilur asked all errant sellers to adjust prices of their products.

The magistrate told the Dhaka Tribune that the traders wrote the prices of their products in different secret codes and then they fleece the customers at their sweet will.

“The traders are seen to ask exorbitant prices from the customers in case of Indian dresses. We have warned the errant traders since it was the first day of the drive. We will not excuse them next time,” he warned. l

Garments workers seen busy making dresses at a factory in Darji Para area under Khalifa Patti in Chittagong ahead of upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. The picture was taken yesterday RABIN CHOWDHURY

‘Tough actions to be taken against wrong side driving on highways’ Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Chittagong district police yesterday warned transport owners and drivers of plying vehicles on the wrong side of the highways during Eid rush.

Like previous years, movement of truck, lorry and covered van will be halted for the three days before and after Eid to ease the traffic chaos on the three highways while emergency vehicles, includ-

ing medicine and perishable items, will ply during the time, said AKM Hafiz, Chittagong district’s superintendent of police AKM Hafiz Akter.

He said this after a meeting that was held at the Chittagong district police headquarters in the afternoon where transport leaders and owners were present.

SP Hafiz Akter said driving in the wrong side was the prime cause of road accident.

Police would take stern action against them who ply the vehicle

on the wrong way of the highways, he said adding that additional police have also been deployed to check irregularities on the highways.

“Zero tolerance will be showed for rampant extortion on the highways during the Eid rush.

“Police will not allow any unfit vehicle on the highway for the sake of public safety,” he added.

Hafiz Akter also requested the transport owners not to hike the tickets’ price before the Eid.

He also asked bus owners to take footage of the passengers before departure from the counter to check Molom Party and Ogyan party’s activities on the transport.

Mrinal Chowhdury, president of Transport Worker federation’s East Zone, Mozaffar Ahmed, secretary general of Covered Van Goods Laden Owner Association and Abu Bakar Siddique, joint secretary of Prime Mover Owner Association, addressed the meeting among others. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Why the frontier between Eritrea and Ethiopia a conflict zone n Tribune International Desk

The Indian army says 5 suspected insurgents and 2 soldiers have been killed in two separate gunbattles near the line of control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Army spokesman Colonel Nitin N Joshi says 4 militants were killed in fighting with soldiers after they entered India’s portion of Kashmir from the Pakistani side in the Tangdhar sector on Thursday.

-AP

CHINA

China: Navy conducted routine operations in area of US joint drills

US fighter planes arrive in Philippines for training mission

US fighter planes have arrived in the Philippines for a training mission and operations to ensure access to the disputed South China Sea, the US Navy said Thursday. The Philippines’ longtime ally deployed the aircraft to train Filipino pilots as Manila remains locked in an increasingly tense maritime dispute with Beijing. -AFP

MIDDLE EAST

UN: IS committing genocide against Yazidis Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes, United Nations investigators said on Thursday.

The Yazidis are a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of several ancient Middle Eastern religions -REUTERS

A full-scale war broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea in May 1998 and focused on the town of Badme, which both sides claimed belonged to them. Eritrea was found to have triggered the war by attacking Ethiopian troops around Badme, according to a 2005 ruling by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission, a body based in The Hague that was established to deal with the conflict’s fallout. Over the next two years, tens of thousands of soldiers were killed on both sides in a bloody battle that achieved very little in terms of concrete boundary changes. The conflict ended in December 2000 after a peace accord known as the Algiers Agreement was signed by both parties. One condition of the agreement was the establishment of a boundary commission that in 2002 ruled that Badme was part of Eritrea. While both countries initially accepted the ruling, Ethiopia later said it was dissatisfied with the boundary and Badme continues to be occupied by Ethio-

SUDAN

ERITREA

ASMARA

Tsorona

ADDIS ABABA

ETHIOPIA

1991

Eritrea gains independence from Ethiopia after long civil war

19982000

Border war leaves an estimated 80,000 dead

2002

Boundary commission draws border and puts hotly-disputed Badme in Eritrea

2004

Ethiopia accepts border ruling "in principle" but calls for dialogue with Eritrea

2006

Boundary commission gives the countries a year to implement ruling

2008

UN ends peacekeeping mission without border demarcated

2012

Ethiopia attacks positions inside Eritrea targeting "subversive groups"

2016

Ethiopia and Eritrea blame each other for border clash

IA

Why is the border a flashpoint?

5 suspected rebels, 2 Indian soldiers die in Kashmir clashes

AL

ASIA PACIFIC

INDIA

A HISTORY OF TENSION

500 km

ea dS

Chinese naval vessel was conducting routine operations in the Western Pacific at the time of US joint drills with Japan and India, the country’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, responding to claims that the ship shadowed a US aircraft carrier. China has been angered by what it views as provocative US military patrols close to the islands.

-REUTERS

Throughout the country’s 25-year history, Eritrea’s border with Ethiopia has been a hotly-disputed region.

Eritrea shares a 1030km boundary with its Horn of Africa neighbour, from whom it only gained independence in 1991. The two countries fought a bloody twoyear war over border boundaries between 1998 and 2000, since which bilateral relations have been characterised by a “no war, no peace” situation.

Now, Eritrea has blamed Ethiopia for clashes in the Tsorona region, about halfway along the border. The reported clashes have raised the spectre of conflict in a region where tension is always high.

Until 1991, Eritrea was considered an autonomous region within Ethiopia. The latter’s decision to attempt to annex the former in 1961 sparked a 30-year independence war. Against a much-larger and better-equipped Ethiopian army, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front won the war and toppled Ethiopian President Mengistu Haile Mariam, with the assistance of Ethiopian rebels. Eritrea was recognised as an independent state by the international community in 1993 following a United Nations-backed referendum vote in favour of independence.

Re

Police on Thursday arrested a 36-year-old woman in Multan for throwing acid on a man allegedly for refusing her marriage proposal.

The woman reportedly threw acid on a 24-year-old youth after calling him at her house on Wednesday night. The acid attack victim received 50% burns and was shifted to Nishter Hopsital.

-DAWN

Q&A

M

Pakistan woman arrested over acid attack on man

SO

SOUTH ASIA

pian troops. “Eritrea and Ethiopia have essentially been in a Cold War since the last war in 1998-2000,” says Ahmed Salim of political risk consultancy Teneo Intelligence.

What has happened this time?

Following reports from residents living on the Ethiopian side of the border of hearing heavy gunfire, Eritrea accused Ethiopia of infringing its territory over the weekend. “The TPLF regime has... unleashed an attack against Eritrea on the Tsorona Central Front,” Eritrea’s Information Ministry said in a statement released overnight Sunday. The TPLF refers to the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, a member of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition. Besides the claim from the Eritrean government in the capital Asmara, however, there is very little confirmed detail of what happened. Ethiopia’s Information Minister Getachew Reda told the BBC he was not aware of any fighting, and details coming out of Eritrea have been scant, with the country having a notoriously closed media.

What could the clashes lead to?

If significant fighting has occurred, it is unlikely that either side will want to escalate the conflict, according to Jason Mosley, a Horn of Africa expert and associate fellow at Chatham House. “It’s not in [Ethiopia’s] interest to precipitate

the collapse of the Eritrean state.

The Eritreans are certainly not in a position militarily to want to escalate to a full-scale conflict with Ethiopia,” says Mosley.

Eritrea was recognised as an independent state by the international community in 1993 following a United Nationsbacked referendum vote in favour of independence Eritrea is notorious for its conscription programme. The compulsory national service programme, which can often last for decades, continues to be indefinite, according to Amnesty International, despite the government in Asmara pledging in 2014 to limit national service to 18 months. The programme is an oft-cited reason given by migrants and refugees fleeing the country—in 2015, Eritrea was the African country with the highest number of people applying for asylum in Europe.

According to Mosley, “episodic reminders” of the “existential threat from Ethiopia” are useful to the

Eritrean government in justifying its programme. “Whatever the mechanics of what has or hasn’t happened... the Eritrean state will probably try to portray this to the fullest extent it can as evidence of a very aggressive Ethiopian posture,” says Mosley.

Are the clashes connected to Ethiopia’s Oromia crisis?

Since November 2015, Ethiopia has been dealing with large-scale protests among members of the Oromo ethnic group, the country’s majority ethnicity. These have resulted in a crackdown in which hundreds of people have been killed, according to Human Rights Watch. The Ethiopian government has said that Eritrea has backed the protests, which were initially sparked by plans to expand the capital Addis Ababa that would entail relocating Oromo farmer families. But according to Mosley, the Oromia crisis is an internal affair and has nothing to do with Ethiopia and Eritrea’s border disputes. “[The Oromo protests] is the reaction from a certain educated strata of Ethiopian society about being completely blocked out of negotiations around the development planning,” says Mosley. “It’s not an Eritrean plot, this is an Ethiopian ruling party failing. l

This is an excerpt of a Newsweek article, which can be found at http://bit. ly/1Ym5hk0

9

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Anxious EU appeals to Britons to stay, warns of costs 6 DAYS TO GO

n Reuters, Brussels Anxious European leaders issued a chorus of calls to Britons on Thursday to stay in the European Union rather than risk years of economic damage, but the prime minister whose country will chair the EU from July said it must prepare for a Brexit.

From German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to the heads of the EU institutions in Brussels and the man who forged the modern EU, Jacques Delors, they said remaining would be better for Britain and Europe - though aware that outside pressure may be counterproductive, all stressed it was for voters to decide.

Most European leaders have previously muted appeals to the British for fear of being counter-productive. But a swing toward Brexit in opinion polls a week before the June 23 referendum has sparked deep anxiety about the impact on the EU, prompting a greater readiness to warn Britons of harsh consequences.

Merkel, who did her best to help Prime Minister David Cameron negotiate a special status deal for Britain in February, said the UK could be shut out of the prized single market on which its large financial

services sector is heavily reliant.

She added that that any negotiation of future terms of access would start with Britain being on the outside.

Finance ministers from the 19 EU states using the euro currency met in Luxembourg on Thursday but their chairman, Dutch minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said they would not discuss any contingency plans for Brexit. He acknowledged concern about the British vote but said there was no “Plan B” to deal with it, adding he was confident Britons would vote to remain.

That confidence is not widely shared in Brussels, especially in the past two weeks since polls have swung toward Brexit.

“We are approaching the point of no return. Brexit is now a visible scenario,” one senior EU diplomat said. “We are talking, loudly but not in public. But there is nothing we can do.”

Breaking silence

Breaking that taboo was Robert Fico, the outspoken prime minister of Slovakia, who met Merkel on Thursday. His country’s six-month presidency of EU councils starting in July would give it some role in the start of negotiations with a Britain set on leaving the Union, and Fico said polls showed it was now time to be “realistic” about preparing for that eventuality.

Leave supporters hold flags as they stand on Westminster Bridge during an EU referendum campaign stunt outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday AP “If you’re watching soccer and your team is three behind in the 90th minute of the game, it’s unlikely that there will be a turnaround and that suddenly you will win,” he said.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Union chief executive, told a questioner at an economic forum in Russia that Brexit would not put “the EU in danger of death” -- but he cautioned against a rise of euroscepticism across Europe.

And, like European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs EU summits, Juncker warned that a Leave vote would unleash “major uncertainty”.

Juncker’s distant predecessor from 1985-95, Jacques Delors,

Who has been arrested?

Who is Jo Cox?

Cox is from the textile town of Batley, which has a large South Asian Muslim population.

Her father Gordon worked in a toothpaste factory and her mother Jean was a school secretary.

She graduated in 1995 from the University of Cambridge, where she first got interested in politics.

She helped to launch the pro-European campaign organisation Britain in Europe, and spent two years with European Parliament member Glenys Kinnock in Brussels.

She then spent a decade working for the aid agency Oxfam in New York, Brussels and war zones as the head of policy and of humanitarian campaigning.

She was the national chair of Labour Women’s Network for four years and worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before standing for parliament.

Armed officers attended the scene and a 52-year-old man was arrested.

What is Cox’s personal story?

REUTERS

she is campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU in the June 23 referendum.

What happened The attack took place in Birstall, a large village in her constituency. It happened near the library, where she regularly holds meetings with her constituents.

Police said they were called at 12:53 pm (1153 GMT) on Thursday to reports of an incident where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries.

A man in his late 40s to early 50s also suffered slight injuries.

British newspapers reported that the MP had been shot, quoting locals, but this has not been confirmed by police.

US Senate Republicans agree to vote on gun control US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy ended a filibuster of the Senate after nearly 15 hours on Thursday, saying Republicans had pledged to hold votes on gun control measures to expand background checks and prevent people on US terrorism watch lists from buying guns. A vote on gun control measures in the US Senate seeking to prevent the sale of firearms to potential terrorists is likely to be held on Tuesday.

-REUTERS

1 dead as gunmen raid Brazil indigenous camp

British member of House of Commons Jo Cox has died in hospital after being attacked in the street in her constituency.

This is what we know so far–

Jo Cox

USA

THE AMERICAS

issued a statement to dispel rumours he favoured a Brexit to let other states to integrate further.

“I consider the UK’s participation in the European Union to be a positive element both for the British and for the Union,” the architect of the euro single currency said.

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, made one of his most impassioned calls yet for Britons to stay.

“Europe without the United Kingdom will be distinctly weaker. This is obvious. Equally obvious is that the UK outside the EU will be distinctly weaker, too,” he said on a visit to Finland, warning that Brexit would bring “seven years of limbo and uncertainty in our relations,” he said. l

British lawmaker dead: What we know so far Cox, 41, is the member of parliament representing the constituency of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, northern England.

On Twitter she has 10,400 followers and describes herself as: “Mum. Proud Yorkshire Lass. Labour MP for Batley and Spen. Boat dweller. Mountain climber.

Former aid worker.”

She entered the House of Commons in the May 2015 general election, winning 43.2% of the vote.

Cox co-chairs the newly-formed cross-party parliamentary group on Syria.

She is also part of parliamentary groups working on Palestine, devolution, Pakistan, Kashmir and Yorkshire’s economy.

She was one of 36 of Labour’s 232 MPs who nominated veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn to become party leader last year.

Like the vast majority of Labour MPs,

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World

What has been the reaction to the attack?

The EU referendum Remain camp has suspended all campaigning.

The official Vote Leave campaign has withdrawn its battle bus.

Conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled a pro-EU rally in Gibraltar.

“It’s right that all campaigning has been stopped after the terrible attack on Jo Cox,” he said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “utterly shocked”. “The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time.”

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said he too was “deeply shocked” and was thinking of her husband and children. His thoughts were echoed by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: “Deeply shocked to hear about the attack on Jo Cox. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers of all here are with Jo and her family and friends.” l

Source: AFP

A group of indigenous Brazilians squatting on a ranch they claim as their ancestral land was attacked by gunmen, who killed one and wounded several others, rights groups said Wednesday. Around 70 armed men surrounded the camp on the Ivy ranch in west-central Brazil on Tuesday, torched it, then opened fire. -AFP

UK

Merkel warns Brexit would deprive UK of EU gains German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged Britain to stay in the EU, warning it would miss out on the bloc’s past and future gains if it left. “A few days ago I already pointed out what an exit would mean,” said Merkel, “that everything related to the common market, and to the mutual benefit to Britain and all other European member states, would no longer be available to Britain.”

-REUTERS

EUROPE

Croatian lawmakers oust PM, 30 day deadline to form new government The Croatian parliament ousted technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and his government on Thursday in a no-confidence vote put forward by the ruling coalition’s biggest party, the conservative HDZ party. If a new cabinet cannot be formed within 30 days, which many see as a possibility, President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic must call a snap election.

-REUTERS

AFRICA

34 migrants found dead in Niger desert 34 migrants, including 20 children, have been found dead in Niger’s vast desert after being abandoned by their smuggler, the government of the West African nation said on Wednesday. Agadez in the landlocked country’s arid north is a popular waystation for migrants attempting to traverse the Sahara Desert and reach Libya and eventually Europe.

-REUTERS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

ANALYSIS

The $46bn tie that binds China and Pakistan n Tribune International Desk The partnership between Pakistan and China is one of the strongest in Asia. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif once said that his country’s ties with Beijing are “higher than mountains” and “deeper than oceans.” In May 2015, those sentiments were given form when Chinese president Xi Jinping, on his first visit to Pakistan, signed $28bn worth of agreements as part of the proposed $46bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The ambitious project, which when complete would link China with two Pakistani ports, faces an array of challenges. But if completed as planned, it will help stimulate Pakistani economic growth, particularly in its more impoverished western region. It would also further strengthen Chinese influence in the region and give it an export corridor to the Arabian Sea.

Foundations of the CPEC

The two b-Genranches of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) consist of a network of roads, railways, energy pipelines and other infrastructure projects that will run from the city of Kashgar in China’s western Xinjiang province through each of Pakistan’s major cities before terminating at the Arabian Sea ports of Gwadar, near Iran, and Karachi, to the east.

The initiative demonstrates the expansion of the already-deep partnership between the two nations.

The CPEC, which, broadly speaking, is divided into eastern and western corridors running the length of Pakistan, fits into the Chinese trade diversification strategy dubbed the Belt and Road Initiative.

The project is vital to Pakistan’s economic ambitions and could provide the basis for an economic boom. Estimates suggest that the country’s current 4.5% annual growth rate could climb three percentage points if the country can overcome the energy supply problems plaguing the nation. Available electricity, for instance, falls short of peak demand by some 7,000 megawatts, leading to daily blackouts. Energy infrastructure investments associated with the CPEC are meant to ameliorate a portion of that shortfall. The CPEC can also help Pakistan achieve its goals of becoming a major regional energy hub connecting the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia and China. The project would give China access to energy supply routes linking Central Asia with South Asia as well.

Notably, the United States has pursued this same objective for two decades, seeking to connect energy-abundant Central Asia to energy-deficient South Asia by pro-

moting the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.

But its construction has languished under the enduring threat of militancy throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. Beijing fears that the militancy could spill across its border gives it an incentive to stabilise the region, hence its investment in Pakistan.

CPEC constitutes the largest proposed investment package in Pakistan’s history and is being branded as a solution for the country’s economic problems, one that will create jobs, grow the economy and reform the energy sector. But unless Pakistan implements structural reforms - further democratizing the country, uprooting corruption, strengthening civilian institutions and bolstering the economy of its largest and poorest province, Balochistan - the effect of those benefits could be blunted.

CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR The China Pakistan Economic Corridor comprise more than 35 energy and infrastructure projects. Of its $46bn price tag, $34bn will go energy projects and $12bn will go infrastructure projects.

Going Forward

Implementation Difficulties

While CPEC has been touted as a “game-changer” for Pakistan, Islamabad will need to overcome several problems standing in the way of its implementation. The first is regionalism. Rivalries among Pakistan’s provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Sindh and Balochistan - each with its own strong cultural identities - have long stood in the way of forging an overarching national identity. In particular, Balochistan, the country’s least-populous province, has long accused Punjab, the wealthiest and most populous province, of marginalizing its people. One grievance Balochis hold is that Punjabis expropriated the operations of the Gwadar port, which is being expanded under the CPEC, and delegated the port authority’s administration, cutting Balochis out of the equation. (In November 2015, a Chinese firm signed a 43-year lease for the rights to operate the port.)

Those regional rivalries have taken on a political dimension in regard to the CPEC. In November, the Pakistani Senate Standing Committee on Communication derided CPEC; one senator who represents Balochistan called the project the “China-Punjab” corridor and lamented the fact that its eastern corridor will be prioritized over the western one. Indeed, political considerations could help explain the unequal pace of development: Punjab is the base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s support, and development there could boost the popularity of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party ahead of 2018 elections.

Difficulties in implementing the CPEC’s constituent projects have presented another obstacle. For instance, two high-priority electric power infrastructure projects faced

the military’s proposal, which fits squarely into Pakistan’s military-civilian dynamic, could be seen as a way to boost progress. However, Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s minister of planning, development and reform, argued against giving the military a role in development, saying that the accompanying increase in bureaucracy would only further slow CPEC’s progress. Even so, it is likely that the Chinese have requested that the military take on a management role, given the civilian government’s difficulties.

Port Qasim Coal-Fired Power Plant Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant Gwadar Coal Power Project Suki Kinari Hydropower Station

$1.9bn $1.6bn $360m $1.8bn

Peshawar-Karachi $2.6bn Motorway (Multan-Sukkur section) Karakoram HIghway Ph ase 2 (Raikot-Islamabad section)

$3.5bn

ML-1 Railway Project

$3.7bn

Gwadar International Airport

$230m

Source:pc.gov.pk

If completed, the ambitious project, which would link China with two Pakistani ports, will strengthen Chinese influence in the region and give it an export corridor to the Arabian Sea delays or cancellations because of bureaucratic snags. That includes a land-lease issue that imperiled a 1,320-megawatt generation plant planned by the Port Qasim Electric Power Company, a project at the top of the CPEC’s priority list. A water project under the Gwadar Port Authority faces a quandary over the source of its funding. Any undertaking on the enormous scale of CPEC will inevitably run into similar obstacles. But the basic nature of the issues hampering these projects suggests systemic problems.

Security concerns pose another challenge. CPEC’s western corridor crosses through KPK and Balochistan, which have a history of militancy. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif assembled a 12,000-troop force to guard Chi-

nese engineers working on CPEC, demonstrating the importance the military gives the project. In 2004, attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Army killed three Chinese engineers, while in 2007 militants bombed a bus carrying Chinese engineers. In 2015, pipelines were targeted 10 times in militant attacks, and in March 2015, attackers set five fuel trucks on fire and kidnapped four of their drivers. But under the military’s watch, there have been no reported attacks this year on pipelines in Balochistan. And in April, 144 Balochi militants surrendered to the army.

The military wants to expand its involvement in CPEC beyond handling security, seeking a project management role as well. Because CPEC has been advancing slowly,

Because Pakistan’s political, economic, and human capital is concentrated along the Indus River, which runs longitudinally through the country’s eastern half, it is natural that the eastern segment of the CPEC will develop faster. Indeed, in fiscal 2015-2016, Islamabad allocated only 15% of the $1.24bn in CPEC funding to the western route, with the remainder going to the eastern route. The eastern corridor’s terminus, the Port of Karachi, is already the country’s busiest, processing 60% of Pakistan’s seaborne cargo.

Islamabad recently signed agreements with China worth $4.2bn for highway construction projects in the eastern corridor. The western route, on the other hand, ends at the underdeveloped port at Gwadar, which is expected to process about 1m tonnes of cargo next year, a fraction of its envisioned capacity of up to 400m.

The large troop contingent deployed along the western route of development may contain the immediate security concerns there, but it is only a temporary solution to a longer-term problem. If underlying issues in Balochistan, including political and economic exploitation and a lack of autonomy, are not addressed, the region will grow even more restive. Concerns about unrest give politicians from the more powerful and influential Punjab and Sindh regions an excuse to push more development east, leaving western provinces to languish.

This in turn means that Balochistan would remain underdeveloped, sustaining the grievances of the Balochi secessionists.

Whether or not the proposed CPEC projects materialise, it is important to consider that such an undertaking, massive though it may be, is only one of the many ties that bind Pakistan and China together.

The strategic interests of both nations dictate that their relationship, especially in economic development, will only improve. l

This is an excerpt of an article published

by Stratfor, an Austin-based geopolitical analyst agency

11

DT

World

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

EXPLAINER

US gun debate revolves around 27 words If there’s one thing Republicans and Democrats can agree on when it comes to guns, it’s their proclaimed respect for the Second Amendment.

Ah, but then there’s the trickier matter of what they think those 27 words mean.

Lawyers, scholars, judges, politicians and ordinary Americans have been puzzling over that question for much of two centuries.

And so it is that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton can both pledge fealty to the same sentence in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights yet still be sharply at odds on gun control.

Here’s a closer look at what the Second Amendment means and where it came from -

27 WORDS The Second Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not

be infringed.” It was adopted in 1791.

Definition, please You think it’s that simple? “When people say ‘Second Amendment rights,’ they could mean anything,” says Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor whose scholarship on the Second Amendment has been cited in Supreme Court cases. The apex court has offered at least some help: In a 2008 ruling, it declared for the first time that Americans have the right to own a handgun for self-defence at home. But recently deceased Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the majority opinion that the Second Amendment doesn’t allow citizens “to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”

That leaves a lot of open questions. What about being armed in public? What about concealed weapons? What about assault-style weapons? What about buying, selling and making guns? What about government regulation of gun ownership?

Common ground While the Second Amendment remains subject to varying interpretations, there’s been an overall shift toward broader acknowledgment it protects an individual right to bear arms. At the country’s founding, there was little thought of using firearms for self-defence, says UCLA’s Winkler. Back then, he says, guns just weren’t very useful for self-defence because people had to reload after every round.

Big divide The public remains split over what limitations on gun ownership are appropriate. A poll in December found that 50% of Americans think that laws limiting gun ownership don’t infringe on the public’s right to bear arms under the Second Amendment and 46% think they do. At the same time, 58% of Americans would favour stricter gun laws, 25% want no change and 14% say the laws should be looser. Proposals for stronger laws on background checks

ANALYSIS

Legal doubts over Trump’s immigration proposals n Reuters, Washington, DC

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposal for suspending immigration from parts of the world with a history of terrorism could have a legal basis, but his assertion that it be part of a broader ban on Muslim immigrants makes it constitutionally untenable, legal scholars say.

The new twist in Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric came in the aftermath of a weekend shooting massacre at a Florida nightclub by the American-born son of Afghan immigrants.

In a fiery speech on Monday, the day after the Orlando massacre, he expanded on his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, vowing if elected to halt immigration from any area of the world where there is a “proven history of terrorism” against America or its allies.

He also accused the Muslim-American community of broad complicity in attacks such as the Orlando shooting, which was carried out by a gunman pledging allegiance to Islamic State, and threatened “big consequences” for those who fail to inform on their neighbours.

Many legal experts said Trump’s proposal for a religion-based ban would be unlikely to pass the test of US constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, due process and equal protection and would likely be struck down by the courts if he tried to implement them by presidential decree.

However, a ban on immigrants from certain countries has some precedent and might pass muster.

Some see that new proposal as reminiscent of the congressional Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was used for years to halt the in-

flux of Chinese labourers and has been widely considered a black mark on America’s immigration record.

But Trump’s overall immigration plan would go beyond that, targeting not just a country or a region of the world but also a religion, something that no modern US president has done.

But US presidents have wide latitude on immigration matters, and some conservative scholars said that the fate of any proposed ban would hinge on how narrowly Trump framed it.

They note, for instance, that Democratic President Jimmy Carter barred Iranian nationals from entering the US during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

In Monday’s speech in New Hampshire, Trump showed little sign of scaling back his call to ban Muslims from entering the US, which he first laid out in December after an Islamic State-linked deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Debate over the legality of Trump’s proposals was complicated by the vagueness of his pronouncement and questions on how broadly he would extend any immigration ban if elected.

Under the broadest interpretation of Trump’s pronouncement, immigration could be barred not only from the Muslim world but from US-allied countries in Europe and Asia where militant attacks have taken place. This could include India, the source of many skilled engineers for the US technology sector.

Legal experts also raised doubts about the legality of Trump’s demand that members of the American Muslim community “cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad” or else they will be “brought to justice” themselves.” Critics have accused him of anti-Muslim fear-mongering to win votes. l

US Constitution with hand Gun - Right To Keep and Bear Arms before people can purchase a gun draw large majority support. But with the NRA opposed to the idea and flexing extraordinary muscle on Capitol Hill, it has been a no-go in Congress.

The 2016 campaign offers an opportunity for voters to consider where the US should place itself on the spectrum of a wide open V a constricted reading of the Second Amendment. On one end, Clinton, offering herself as the candidate willing to stand up to the gun lobby and

BIGSTOCK

arguing that the Orlando shooting shows the need for stronger restrictions on guns.

On the other, there’s Trump, playing up his NRA endorsement. Still, there was evidence Wednesday of a potential spot of common ground between the two candidates, with Trump tweeting that he’ll be meeting with the NRA to discuss “not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no-fly list, to buy guns.” l

Source: AP

DT

12 Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

China’s total borrowings were more than double its gross domestic product (GDP) last year, a government economist said, warning that debt linkages between the state and industry could be “fatal” for the world’s second largest economy.

PAGE 14

Digital is not rescuing troubled US newspapers The grim news for newspapers: digital is doing little to rescue them from their deepening woes.

PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Thursday DSE Broad Index

4,395.3

-0.4% ▼

Index

1,080.8

-0.5% ▼

30 Index

1,729.3

-0.5% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

5,305.9

48.3% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

95.1

-3.3% ▼

All Share Index 13,529.5

-0.2% ▼

30 Index

-0.1% ▼

CSE

Selected Index

12,457.3 8,234.6

-0.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

286.9

31.9% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

7.2

-3.0% ▼

Division-wise figures in Tk

Gold prices in Bangladesh market has been increased again by around Tk1,225 per bhori (11.664 grams) following the rise of prices in international market.

Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (BAJUS), in a statement yesterday, said the new rates for gold and silver

60,484

44,194

40,000

Sy lh et

pu r ng

jsh Ra

Ra

i ah

na ul Kh

ka Dh a

g on ag

Ch

itt

Ba

0

ris al

20,000

There are about 8.6m Bangladeshi migrants who are spread over the globe. While about two million additional young people are added to the labour force every year but the country is unable to create jobs to accommodate all of them “The survey is aimed at bringing the remittance in the economic development as it’s the main driving force of the national economy,” said Kamal while launching the report.

The minister said: “We want to convert remittance into assets and initiatives would be taken to provide easy way to create investment.”

According to the survey report, there are about 8.6 million Bangladeshi migrants who are spread over the globe. While about two million additional young people are added to the labour force every year but the country is unable to create jobs to accommodate all of them.

According to the survey, the average remittance received by the Remittance Receiving Households

Gold prices hiked again n Tribune Business Desk

74,4014

75,714

60,000

54,442

80,000

75,288

98,469

1,00,000

76,546

Over 25% of total remittance received in 2015 was invested by the remittance receiving households in many sectors, mostly construction, says a survey report.

The report, however, said: “10.87% of total remittance was used for repaying loan that was borrowed to meet the expenditure for going abroad.”

Of the total amount, nearly 75% of remittance was invested in construction or reconstruction of katcha, semi-pacca or pacca houses, buildings, flats, boundary walls and personal roads, according to the findings of the survey.

At the national level, 40.71% remittance receiving households reported that they had saved part of the remittance they received in 2015, while 59.29% did not save any amount from their remittances.

In 2015, average investment from remittance at national level accounted at Tk76,546. The highest investment from remittance was recorded in Dhaka at Tk98,469 followed by Barisal Tk75,713, Sylhet Tk75,288 and Chittagong Tk74,401.

However, the lowest was recorded in Rangpur at Tk44,194, which is substantially lower than the national average investment from remittance.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday formally unveiled the report titled ‘Survey on Investment From Remittance (SIR) 2016’ in the capital. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) and Ministry of Planning jointly conducted the survey.

The objective of the survey is to identify the proportion of investment that are directly invested from the remittance by the households at the micro level.

While the survey also focused on identifying the nature of investments from the remittance, estimating the share of savings in total remittance received and finding out the socio-demographic characteristics of expatriates.

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INVESTMENT OF REMITTANCE IN 2015

lly

Government expert: China’s debt is 250% of GDP and could be fatal

n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

na

A formal agreement has been struck finally to develop an exclusive zone for Chinese investment near the port city of Chittagong which, a high official said, will be a “mini China” in Bangladesh.

PAGE 13

Survey: 25% remittance invested

tio

MoU signed for mini China in Bangladesh

Na

TOP STORIES

would be effective from Saturday.

As per the new rates, each bhori (11.664) of 22-carat gold will now cost Tk47,123 while the price of 21-carat gold will be Tk45,023.

“We have no other choice but to increase the prices following global market,” said Dilip Kumar Roy, member of Bangladesh Jewellers Samity. l

(RRHHs) in 2015 was Tk3,02,183 of which Tk2,89,493 was received in cash and Tk12,690 in other forms.

Among the divisions, the highest average remittance received is recorded in Dhaka Tk3,59,833 followed by Sylhet Tk3,33,125 and the lowest in Khulna Tk2,33,235.

The average remittance received has been increased from Tk2,05,642 in 2013 to Tk3,02,183 in 2015, which implies 46.95% rise over the last three years.

Most expatriates had chosen banks as best means to remit as 50.72% sent their money through banks, while 14.31% remitted their earnings by using mobile banking (bKash), 12.66% by Western Union or MoneyGram and 0.21% by post offices.

In addition, much amount of the remittance was sent through

informal channels, 22.09%, of which Hundi occupies the largest share with 12.31% followed by friends or relatives 5.45% and the known person 3.85%.

At the national level, bank is the biggest custodian of savings made out of remittances. Most of the savers kept their money with banks in different forms as like as savings account 49.86%, DPS/ SDPS 11.86%, fixed deposit 7.24% and purchase of savings bond 5.31%.

The characteristic of the remittance receiving households show that 51.78% are female-headed households compared to only 15.58% female heads in general households.

As per the study findings, 97.38% of the migrant workers are males, of which more than 54.90% are below 35 years. In case of females 55.11% are below 35.

The majority of the migrants are less educated while insignificant portion of them have attained higher education. The highest, 63.89% are educated lower than SSC level and only 2.58% have obtained graduation degree and 9.64% have no education at all. l

DT

13

Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

MoU signed for mini China in Bangladesh n Syed Samiul Basher Anik A formal agreement has been struck finally to develop an exclusive zone for Chinese investment near the port city of Chittagong which, a high official said, will be a “mini China” in Bangladesh.

Once established, the zone in Anwara will accommodate around 400 factories and is expected to attract around $2bn Chinese investment in three years, creating more than 150,000 jobs.

China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) will develop the project as it inked a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) yesterday.

Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ), as it is named, will be the country’s first economic-industrial zone developed under government-to-government (G2G) category on a 774-acre land.

“You will be having a ‘mini Chi-

na’ in Bangladesh after the exclusive economic zone project work in Anwara is complete,” Paban Chowdhury, BEZA executive chairman, said after signing the MoU. He said:“Under the MoU, both parties will form special purpose companies (SPC) for next 50 years with chance to extend, to implement the project on equity basis.”

Paban said China government has also agreed to provide financial assistance to develop offset infrastructure so CEIZ project work can smoothly run.

The government has identified 77 sites for economic zones in the country.

Paban said to attract both local and foreign direct investment, the government has offered a bunch of incentives, competitive in the Asian region, to developers and unit investors of economic zones.

The move to set up an exclusive economic zone for Chinese investors was undertaken after Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina had made such a pledge during her visit to China in 2014.

In September, 2015 Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project.

The work will start in full swing now and hoped to complete in two years Later on May 30, 2016 Finance Division released a fund of over Tk420 crore under the revised annual development programme for which is also known as Anwara-II Economic Zone.

The proposed site of the zone is 39km off Chittagong port, 28km off Chittagong city and 46km from

Shah Amanat International Airport.

The CHEC will develop different industries including chemicals, pharmaceutical and garments, telecommunication, agriculture-based factories, electronics factory, plastic, IT-related industries in the zone.

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Md Abul Kalam Azad termed the MoU as a milestone in G2G economic zone project and hoped the CHEC will attract Chinese investment once the zone is in operation.

CHEC Vice-President Bai Yinzhan said the MoU signing has cleared way for “lots of development work.” He said the work will start in full swing now and hoped to complete in two years.

Charge d’Affaires at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Yang Shichao said China views Bangladesh as its important partner and considers a priority in industrial cooperation.

He hoped the China economic

Beximco Pharma begins export to gulf market n Tribune Business Desk Beximco Pharma has started exporting its product to the gulf market for the first time as a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company.

The company entered the market with an exporting target of half a million dollar primarily to Kuwait at the beginning, said Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, while addressing a press conference held on the factory premises in Gazipur.

Earlier at the press conference yesterday, three new Beximco drugs were launched in presence of Kuwait Ambassador Adel Mohammad AH Hayat.

The three are two metered dose inhalers named Azmasol (Salbutamol) and Bexitrol-F (Salmeterol plus Fluticasone) and one blood pressure drug Amdocal (Amlodipine). The

Kuwait Ambassador in Dhaka Adel Mohammad and Beximco Group Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman at a product launching ceremony yesterday as Beximco Pharma starts export to gulf market SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN inhalers were meant for asthma and respiratory patients. The products will be exported to Kuwait.

Beximco Pharma’s Managing Director Nazmul Hassan, lawmaker,

Chief Operating Officer Rabbur Reza and other high-ups of the company were also present at the function.

Salman expects Beximco Pharma to export medicine worth $1

billion within the next five years.

He said the company is offering drugs at the lowest price compared to other medicine exporters in the gulf market.

He claimed that Beximco Pharma is providing drugs in the local market at the lowest price of the world.

In his address, Nazmul Hassan said the company expects to launch additional products in Kuwait later this year.

The total pharma market of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) consisting of six Arab nations is currently valued at around $9 billion, while Kuwait has a pharma market worth about $1 billion, he said.

Adel Mohammad said Beximco Pharma will compete in the gulf market with price and quality. He expect that the company can produce more hundreds products in Kuwait. l

Bestec to lose IGW licence BSEC approves ETF norms n Ishtiaq Husain Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to cancel the licence of IGW operator, Bestec Telecom Limited, for failing to pay its dues in time.

Bestec owes the regulator Tk177 crore. It is one of the major defaulters of all International Gateway (IGW) operators.

BTRC has already sought Posts and Telecommunications Division’s permission for the licence cancellation.

Earlier on October 28, 2013, the

regulatory body suspended Bestec’s all types of operational activities.

Asking not be named, a high-up at BTRC told the Dhaka Tribune the regulator will not allow any company to continue their operational activities if they fail to pay dues in time.

The regulator will get tough with major defaulters, he added.

The regulatory commission filed separate cases against Telex Limited, Vision Tel Limited, Bestec Telecom Limited, Ratul Telecom and Kay Telecommunication, according to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Law 2001. l

n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday approved the guidelines on the Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to attract more investment to the capital market.

The details, however, will be published soon as a gazette notification since the regulator has incorporated eligible public comments on draft ETF regulations.

ETF is an open-ended investment funds listed and traded on a stock exchange.

Under the draft norms, the regu-

lator proposed that the initial fund size under the ETF will be at least Tk50 crore.

The fund size, however, will be allowed to change through creation and redemption by authorised participants like stock dealer or broker.

The fund will be formed through private placement from eligible investors.

If the fund formation remains incomplete, even after the private placement, general investors will be allowed to participate into completing fund formation, but subject to the regulatory approval. l

zone will be a “great platform” in such cooperation.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman also spoke at the MoU signing ceremony. He described Bangladesh as “an ideal place for investment” in high-value added apparel and textile industries.

He suggested the authorities making it sure that the industries being set up in the economic zone be compliant of social, safety and environmental standards.

The government has a target to set up 100 economic zones in the country on more than 30,000 hectares of land and expects to generate employments for around 10m people and add $40bn to annual export.

Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office Suraiya Begum and BEZA Executive Member (investment promotion) Muhammad Abdus Samad also addressed the function. l

DSEX slips to 3-week low n Tribune Business Desk

Stocks fell amid volatility yesterday with the benchmark index DSEX slipping to three weeks low.

After lingering flat over the last one week, the DSEX lost over 16 points or 0.4% to 4,395—its lowest since May 25 this year.

The blue-chip comprising index DS30 was down 5 points or 0.5% to 1,080. The DSE Shariah Index DSES shed nearly 9 points to 1,729.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX closed at 8,234, dropping 26 points.

Trading activities improved significantly as the DSE turnover crossed Tk500 crore after four and a half month.

It stood at Tk530 crore, a sharp increase of almost 50% over the previous session on the back of block trading of Renata and Glaxo SmithKilne.

The two multinational firms accounted for around 30% of total trade at DSE. The large cap sectors performed negative except banks that remained almost unchanged.

Telecommunication was the highest loser with a drop of nearly 1%, followed by engineering 0.7%, power 0.4%, non-banking financial institutions 0.3%, food and allied 0.2% and pharmaceuticals 0.07%.

Of the total 318 issues traded, 83 advanced, 156 declined and 79 remained unchanged.

ACME Laboratories Limited was the most traded share with a turnover worth Tk56.7 crore despite 62.5 lakh shares freed after expiry of their lock in period. l

DT

14

Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Bankers can learn from miners about culture change n Swaha Pattanaik Imagine an industry where bad practices cause huge harm, whose reputation is in the mud, and which desperately wants to change its culture. In the late 1990s that was mining. Today it’s banking. Finance can learn a thing or two from the likes of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

Mining deaths in the United States halved per hour worked between 1990 and 2011, according to the Department of Labor. Four principles made this possible. First, aim for higher standards than the law requires. Some of the biggest miners applied tough rules globally, even when local norms were

less stringent. A similar approach in finance would make a welcome change from bankers exploiting legal loopholes, herding to less onerous regulatory regimes, or skirting as close to the wind as possible.

Second, make protecting the company from reputational damage a priority for everyone. Mining chief executives and senior managers are accountable when disaster strikes, and often meet families of those killed in mining accidents.

Those lower down the pay scale are encouraged to blow the whistle and own up to mistakes. The latter will require banks to discriminate between genuine errors and deliberate violations of policy.

Miners can plausibly argue that reducing fatalities shows good management, which ought to translate into enticing profit margins Third, pick the right metrics to measure progress, and don’t leave out near-misses. That’s a tougher lesson to transpose to banking since the number of regulatory infringements never tell the whole

Government expert: China’s debt is 250% of GDP and could be fatal

story. Yet this is vital, since linking remuneration from the highest level down to such measures, as miners do, is a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for changing culture.

Finally, show shareholders there need not be a huge trade-off between profitability and higher standards. Investors already hate unexpected fines. Miners can plausibly argue that reducing fatalities shows good management, which ought to translate into enticing profit margins. At least at the top, the message is starting to get through and efforts are being made. Take Standard Chartered Chief Executive Bill Winters’ recent

scathing attack on misconduct and the new clampdown by the bank.

Deaths and injuries were stark levers that helped change mining culture. Reforming bankers is harder because they can argue that their misdemeanours create no victims – or at least, they don’t kill anyone. But mining demonstrates that the key is to be better than the least one can get away with. l Swaha Pattanaik is a columnist for Reuters Breakingviews. She has been covering financial markets and policymaking for 22 years, reporting on key economic and monetary milestones and breaking market-moving news. The article was initially published at Reuters.

CORPORATE NEWS

JCI Dhaka North has recently initiated a campaign named, Spreading Life Spreading Happiness in Korail slum, said a press release. Students living in the slum were provided with products including hand wash to improve sanitation under the campaign. Chairperson of national media and PR committee of JCI Bangladesh, Rebeka Sultana Binti was present on the occasion

An employee works on an assembly line producing automobiles at a factory in Qingdao

n AFP, Beijing China’s total borrowings were more than double its gross domestic product (GDP) last year, a government economist said, warning that debt linkages between the state and industry could be “fatal” for the world’s second largest economy.

The country’s debt has ballooned as Beijing has made getting credit cheap and easy in an effort to stimulate slowing growth, unleashing a massive, debt-fuelled spending binge.

While the stimulus may help the country post better growth numbers in the near term, analysts say the rebound might be short-lived.

China’s borrowings hit 168.48tn yuan ($25.6tn) at the end of last year, equivalent to 249% of the economy’s GDP, Li Yang, a senior researcher with top government think tank the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told reporters Wednesday.

The number, while enormous, is still lower than some outside es-

timates. Consulting firm the McKinsey Group has said that the country’s total debt was likely as high as $28tn by mid-2014.

CASS in a report last year said China’s debt amounted to 150.03tn yuan at the end of 2014, according to previous Chinese media reports.

The most worrying risks lie in the non-financial corporate sector, where the debt-to-GDP ratio was estimated at 156% including liabilities of local government financing vehicles, Li said.

Many of the companies in question are state-owned firms that borrowed heavily from government-backed banks and so problems with the sector could ultimately trigger “systemic risks” in the economy, he said.

“The gravity of China’s non-financial corporate (debt) is that if problems occur with it, China’s financial system will have problems immediately,” Li said.

He added that the problem will also affect state coffers because

REUTERS

Chinese banks are “closely linked to the government”.

“It’s a fatal issue in China. Because of such a link, it is probably more urgent for China than other countries to resolve the debt problem,” he said.

Speaking earlier this week, David Lipton, first deputy managing director with the International Monetary Fund, also singled out China’s corporate borrowing as a major concern, warning addressing the issue is “imperative to avoid serious problems down the road”.

Despite the concerns, China is having difficulty kicking its credit addiction. On Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China announced that new loans extended by banks jumped to 985.5bn yuan last month, up from 555.6bn yuan in April.

The country’s economy grew 6.9% last year, the slowest rate in a quarter of a century, and weakening economic figures have signalled the slowdown has continued this year. l

Apex Footwear Limited has recently opened a new outlet at Kandirpar in Comilla, said a press release. The company’s chief operating officer, Rajan Pillai inaugurated the outlet

Prime Bank Limited has recently organised a discussion session on Ramadan, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, Azam J Chowdhury was present at the session as chief guest

DT

15

Business

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Digital is not rescuing troubled US newspapers n AFP, Washington The grim news for newspapers: digital is doing little to rescue them from their deepening woes.

Reeling from weak circulation and ad revenue, the traditional newspaper world faces an ugly picture while social media and tech firms benefit from the shift to digital, a Pew Research Center study released yesterday found.

Average weekday newspaper circulation - print and digital combined - fell seven percent in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010, Pew’s annual “State of the News Media” report found.

Although digital circulation gained a slight two percent, that amounted to just 22% of total circulation, and online subscriptions have done little for the overall revenue picture, Pew said.

It found that total 2015 advertising revenue among publicly traded newspaper companies declined almost eight percent, reflecting weakness in digital as well as print.

To make matters worse, newspaper newsroom employment fell 10% last year, the biggest drop since 2009, the researchers found.

“Newspapers had a near recession-level year,” Pew researcher Jesse Holcomb said.

Tech firms reap gains

Major tech companies are reaping most of the revenues from online news, Pew found.

“There is money being made on

“Most people who say they get news on a platform like Facebook are not necessarily looking for news, news is just one of the things they stumble across.”

Since the Newspaper Association of America stopped reporting revenue figures for the newspaper industry as a whole in 2013, Pew tracked data from the seven publicly traded newspaper groups, which owned some 300 dailies at the end of last year.

The data accurately tracks the sector even though a majority of newspapers are privately held, the research firm said.

Mixed news

Average weekday newspaper circulation - print and digital combined - fell seven percent in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010 AFP the web, but news organizations have not been the primary beneficiaries,” the report said.

Total digital advertising spending grew 20% last year to around $60bn, a higher growth rate than in 2013 and 2014, Pew said.

“But compared with a year ago, even more of the digital ad revenue pie – 65% - is now swallowed up by just five tech companies,” the report said, naming Facebook, Goog-

Oil at $45-$50 a barrel needed to reach H2 2016 supply deficit n Reuters Goldman Sachs yesterday said it expects the oil price recovery to stall near recent price levels, and crude will need to trade between $45-$50 per

‘We continue to view the recovery in prices and fundamentals as fragile’ barrel for the market to reach a supply deficit in the second half of 2016.

The bank said it continues to expect that non-OPEC production excluding the United States will decline by 430,000

barrels per day this year to help put the market into the deficit.

Goldman said the market is likely to remain close to balance in June as Canadian production restarts and production elsewhere remains resilient.

A series of production disruptions in Nigeria, Venezuela, Libya and Canada pushed oil to a 2016 high of $52.86 last week.

“We continue to view the recovery in prices and fundamentals as fragile,” analysts at the investment bank said.

“In particular, we expect that the deficit in second half of 2016 will remain modest at current prices and that a return into surplus is likely in the first quarter of 2017 before inventories normalize by end2017.” l

le, Microsoft, Yahoo and Twitter.

“Increasingly, the data suggest that the impact these technology companies are having on the business of journalism goes far beyond the financial side to the very core elements of the news industry itself.”

Facebook took in some 30% of digital display ad revenue last year, or $8bn, according to Pew. Google accounted for 16%.

Some news publishers still make

profits “but it’s a mixed picture,” while a handful of digital companies “are sucking up the oxygen,” Holcomb said.

Part of the reason for the revenue shift is due to how people discover news - often by happenstance on social networks or by searching online - the researcher added.

“Our relationship with news is in a state of change,” he said.

The picture was more nuanced elsewhere in the media industry.

Some digital news startups appear to be generating revenues and profits, although data has been spotty, Holcomb said.

“Even among these promising digital news startups, there is a feeling of uncertainty,” he said.

“The market hasn’t become clear nor has the business model,” he added.

“These companies are still experimenting, they are still pivoting.

There are some superstars, but it’s not entirely clear if there is a wider path to profitability.”

Those digital news operators include BuzzFeed, Vox Media and Business Insider. Although several have raised capital from investors, as private firms they are not required to report financial results. l

DT

16

Kids

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

app

book review

BOOM BEACH!

Ischool dushcool Asphalt 8: Airborne Just like Asphalt 6: Adrenaline and Asphalt 7: Heat, the latest of the lot is a hit as well! If you’re into racing games, this is the best app for you to, as our parents would like to say, waste our time with.

If you’ve been glued to your phone for who-knows-how-long playing Clash of Clans (COC), wait till you get a load of Supercell’s “Boom Beach.” This strategy game is similar to Clash of Clans (COC) with a modern touch to it.

Just like COC, you can “upgrade” your troops and defenses and other buildings,

It has tilt to steer, tilt and icons, on-screen controls, and tap to steer options.

The graphics of the game is off the charts! And it offers plenty of options for the gamers to choose what they are comfortable with.

So, don’t wait to think about it!

This game is a must play. l

attack on other bases in a multiplayer combat mode, and even play against your app’s bases. The currency used in the game is diamond which you’ll need to upgrade your base.

Available in the android and iOS app store, the game can be considered second to COC and the best part- It’s free!

One evening, a little boy named Niloy was studying by the window and suddenly, there stood a ghost. Had the ghost come to scare him? No, the ghost was looking at Niloy’s books. Niloy thought, “Does it want to read my books?”

The ghost spoke, “My name is Habang.”

Niloy replied, “Are you here to scare me? Do you go to Ischool?”

Habang said: “No! I don’t scare people, I am shy. I go to Duschool. We are taught how to scare people. But I don’t like it. I want to go to Ischool.”

Niloy happily said, “I’ll take you! But first, let’s be friends!”

What will happened next? Read “Ischool Duschool” by Nur Siddiqui to know more about thwir friendship! With lovely pictures of Niloy and Habang drawn by Shubho Saha, this will be fun read for you. l

photo story

Students have their class in the shade of a tree, right on the bank of a pond at Rupgonj area.

PHOTO: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

17

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

diy

magic trick

I have my own bank mister!

Don’t you get really upset when mom and dad don’t buy you that remote control car or that Barbie you wanted for months? Well, how about you buy it? You can just save up money and get one yourself!

What you need: • An empty PET (or coke) bottle • Acrylic paint • Buttons • Cardboard paper • Paint brushes • Scissors Step 1 (needs an adult!)

Cut an empty Coke or Pepsi bottle into three parts of the same size with an anti-cutter. Keep the bottom and the top part only and throw away the middle part.

Step 2 (needs an adult!)

Make a cut in both the parts.

DT

Kids

Invisible Ink

Then fit in both the parts into the cut and join them. They should look like a really flattened bottle.

Step 3 Paint the squished bottle you created with acrylic paint and let it dry. After it has dried glue two buttons on both sides for the eyes.

Step 4 (needs an adult!)

Cut the cardboard paper in the shape of ears and legs and glue it to the front of the bottle with the cap and to the bottom. Colour the ears and the legs.

Step 5 Cut a small hole in the top of your piggy bank and you are done! Put all your money in your cute piggy bank! We all know what happens to that money, don’t we? l 70% of the human brain is water.

fun science

FUN FACTS: WATER

What you’ll need: • Half a lemon • Water • Spoon • Bowl • Cotton bud • White paper • Lamp or other light bulb

What to do: • Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl and add a few drops of water.

• Mix the water and lemon juice with the spoon.

• Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write a message onto the white paper.

• Wait for the juice to dry so it becomes completely invisible.

• When you are ready to read your secret message or show it to someone else, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb. l

trivia

MILK

Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

If everyone in the US flushed the toilet just one less time per day, we could save a lake full of water about one mile long, one mile wide and four feet deep.

Water is the most common substance found on earth.

Water makes up about 66 percent of the human body.

A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.

In some countries, less than half the population has access to clean water.

70% of the human brain is water.

NASA has discovered water in the form of ice on the moon.

A swimming pool naturally loses about 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) a month to evaporation.

68.7% of the fresh water on Earth is trapped in glaciers.

Why should you drink milk?

Well, because it is “nature’s wellness drink.”

This means that milk is natural, and will keep you healthy and keep away sickness!

Milk contains calcium, vitamin D and other important minerals that help to build your bones and teeth, and maintain healthy muscles and bones.

So next time, when you want to eat something unhealthy like soft drinks or your favourite potato chips, drink a glass of milk instead. l

DT

18

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Ramadan Special

Don’t let your locks be the sacrifice this Ramadan n Features Desk Fasting provides the human body with a plethora of benefits – spiritually, emotionally, and physically. By fasting, you detox the body of all the harmful elements (the chemicals and additives) found in our daily diet.

One can immediately feel the improvement in their body, skin, and hair once these toxins are ejected.

This year, Ramadan takes place during the hot summer season.

On top of battling the soaring temperatures, there is also the issue of the extended summer daylight hours, which means that it is even more important to keep your hair hydrated throughout the day.

The following are three ways to keep yourself healthy and ensure that your hair remains gorgeous right through to Eid.

Hydration is your friend During non-fasting hours, stick to water and herbal teas. It will keep you hydrated while replenishing the body. Avoid the temptation of sugary or caffeinated drinks as these will only dehydrate your body and cause a host of problems from migraines to break-outs.

If water doesn’t do it for you, go for some coconut water.

Coconut water has been proven to be more hydrating for the body than water itself, and is also rich in electrolytes and minerals.

Professional athletes embrace coconut water as a natural alternative to isotonic sports drinks for good reason.

Eat right to fit right It’s easy to get carried away and overindulge at iftar, but all that salty and fried foods will do for you is dehydrate you. They will also fail to offer you the nutrients that your body needs.

Your hair needs a good balance of Omega 3, essential fatty acids

and vitamins to stay strong and fabulous. Break your fast with dates and a glass of warm water mixed with ginger and lemon to cleanse your organs first. Focus on fruits and vegetables with a good mixture of grains and lean proteins.

Love your hair The combination of heat and fasting is no good for your hair!

This means extra care and attention is needed to keep your hair looking its best. A hot coconut oil massage works wonders for your hair and prevents the scalp from drying and flaking.

The massage improves blood circulation, which in turn helps in making the hair shaft and roots stronger with its deep conditioning properties.

Additionally, most shampoos and conditioners strip the natural oils from your scalp and dry it out. Hence, using a sulfate-free cleansing routine is crucial during Ramadan. l

19

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

| visit |

| exhibition |

High Commission of Canada visits CUB

Panache Eid fashion festival

The High Commission of Canada made their first visit to the Canadian University of Bangladesh (CUB) today. The Vice Chancellor Designate,

William H Derrenger; the Chairman, Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat; treasurer and former ICB’s Managing Director; Md Fayekuzzaman; and the senior

management of the university were present at the event to discuss matters of mutual interest and to visualise areas of future collaboration.

The team from High Commission of Canada comprised of the Trade Commissioner, Md Kamal Uddin, Political and Economic Advisor, Syed Shahnawaz Mohsin; and Trade Officer, Quazi Gulam Farhad.

Canadian University of Bangladesh is a UGC and government approved private university that aims to provide high-quality, application oriented, Canadian-standard education for the selected students of Bangladesh. l

| exhibition |

ERA HOUSE Eid fashion exhibition

On June 17th and 18th, ERA HOUSE will be organising a fest of shopping, focusing on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. The fair will be held at ACCL (All Community Club Ltd), House 40, Road 35, Gulshan 2, Dhaka.

The main attractions for the visitors will be the very best designers’ party wear, wedding wear, regular wear, sarees, bags, shoes, modern and ethnic jewellery, home décor products, branded make up

| dining |

Kenny’s Ramadan offers Kenny Rogers Roasters brings you fascinating platters for iftar meals. Book your table soon as the offer is limited.

Enjoy 20% discount on SCB and Brac Bank Cards.

Kenny’s beef steak is delicious, competitively priced, and excellent in taste.

All the regular meals are available during Ramadan.

Visit their Facebook page to see the menu they are offering. l

products, etc. Designers will be showcasing products keeping the upcoming Eid and season in mind. The free-to-attend event will be open 11am –10pm, each day. This event joined hands with renowned fashion labels and retail outlets, featuring Viola, Suvastraa, Sparkling Emotions, Muskaan Boutique, Zayna’s, Sheer Couture, Kinara, Diba’s and 22 other brands. Famous actors and models, Toya, Ishika, Riba, Shrabosti, Abony, Nusrat, Benzir will be present there as specials guests, to boost confidence of women at work.

This is the 13th fair organised by ERA HOUSE to encourage more and more young entrepreneurs, especially women, by becoming a part of a successful platform of exposition. l

DT

Biz Info

With the tag line ‘Shop Till You Drop’, Panache Events, Dhaka once again is hosting Panache Eid Fashion Festival, at the Six Seasons Hotel on June 17th and 18th.

It will be open for all, from 10am to 10pm on both days.

This time, more than 52 stores from niche boutiques of Dhaka, Chittagong, Kashmir, Kolkata, and Pakistan will be joining.

Internationally acclaimed designer, Anshu Jain will showcase her bridal and heavy formal dresses at the event for Dhakaities.

City dwellers will find the most exclusive women clothing, accessories to home décor items under one umbrella.

Telecom partner Robi-Axiata

will tag in their premium customers for this event who can avail 10% discount on purchase by showing their SMS. Radio Shadhin 92.4FM already hosted a one hour long special live programme on it, which will broadcast at the event live on June 17.

To entice more customers, they will select top buyers and giveaway various gifts on the second day of the event. Besides visitors can also avail gift vouchers by dropping their business cards on the raffle draw.

This year, Panache will host a bridal fashion show apart from other exhibitions for the brides getting hitched in the coming seasons with the most famous designers from home and abroad.l

| partnership |

Friendship and DNV GL sign agreement On June 14, a service contract agreement has been signed between Friendship and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Germanischer Lloyd (GL), at Hotel Swiss Garden in Banani, Dhaka.

The agreement is aimed to provide all necessary survey services for classification and statutory requirements for Rongdhonu Friendship Hospital, as part of DNV-GL’s corporate social responsibility.

Rongdhonu Friendship Hospital is a floating ship hospital which provides primary and secondary healthcare services to marginalised people in southern coastal areas of Bangladesh.

It is operated by observing all the national and international maritime rules, regulations, and codes, as required by the Government of Bangladesh and the International Maritime Organisation. This involves regular surveys of the hull and machinery of the ship for ensuring maintenance of seaworthiness of the ship, and for issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the government to enable the ship to

ply nationally and internationally.

The ship presently operates in focal areas of the coastal belt of Bangladesh.

The agreement has been signed for the next five years commencing from August 2016.

Friendship’s relationship with erstwhile Germanischer Lloyd (GL) started in the year 2011 and they are continuing to provide their survey and certification services to Friendship. C F Zaman, Technical Consultant of Friendship and Marijan Samardzic, Area Manager of DNV GL; have signed the agreement while Md Shahid Hossain, Country Manager of DNV GL; was also present. From Friendship, Muhammad Shameem Reza, Director and Head of Organizational Affiars; Dr Kazi Golam Rasul, Deputy Director and Head of Health, Dr Naheed Nazrul, Team Leader-Hospital Services; Md Salahuddin, Fleet Engineer, Mahbubur Rahman Turza, Assistant Manager to Executive Director; and Suman Ghosh, Communications Officer; also took part in it.l

DT

20 Editorial

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

TODAY

Stop criticising, unite against terror What the super-powers need to do is to stop bossing third world countries like Bangladesh around. Instead, give the countries intelligence and/or any other appropriate support. The world must unite against terrorism instead of tarnishing the image of another country PAGE 21

BIGSTOCK

Deep politics of deep sea ports The economic consideration, the financial strength, the terms of the deal, and a sound technical study based on comparative analysis of the available locations should be the primary criteria by which such a major decision is taken 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.

Birth registration is everyone’s right

I

t is deplorable that children in our slums, some of the most vulnerable in our country, are unable to get their birth registration -- a most basic national right.

It costs Tk300-400 for birth registration. But due to the financial decrepitude of those residing in slums, this is a huge amount, for which many of them would have to go without food for several days.

The situation persists despite the fact that the government had issued an order last year requiring authorities charge no fee for registering the births of slum-dwelling children. They are still having to pay.

The effects of this are manifold.

An education, which is a child’s most basic inherent right, goes amiss. This is because schools require a birth registration number for enrolment. As a result, many children are forced to drop out of school and instead become labourers, further deteriorating the country’s child labour situation.

Some children even work just to save up enough money so that they can have their births registered.

Furthermore, this is problematic when it comes to marriages, since a birth registration number is also required to make the marriage official.

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that those most in need of its help get the aid they deserve. Aspirations of middle-income status are vacuous if a nation is unable to look after its most powerless citizens.

The government needs to implement a more pro-active approach so that no more children and no more individuals are forced into an undesirable future trying to obtain this most basic national right.

The government needs to implement a more pro-active approach in ensuring that all children are registered during birth

DT

21

Opinion

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Stop criticising, unite against terror The West needs to stop bossing around third world countries and start supporting them

What happened in Orlando was terrible. But it doesn’t speak for all of America

n Nadeem Qadir

T

he world witnessed one of the deadliest peace-time massacres in the history of the United States when a fanatic went berserk and killed 50 people in a gay club.

Bear in mind that this incident occurred in a country that possesses the most efficient and modern intelligence.

The Orlando killing in a gay club was carried out by Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Afghan-American.

Reports suggest he had a troubled life and a confused mind.

He, however, called the police before the shooting and said he was a supporter of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Now, a debate is raging through the US about his true motive, and whether he himself was gay or not.

He had visited the club and mixed with other men. He had divorced his wife. He was an unpredictable character.

All said and done, the fact is, just like in Bangladesh, IS has claimed responsibility by saying that Mateen was their man.

Still, FBI Director James Comey has said that Mateen had made comments favourable to multiple

armed Islamist movements and people, which “adds a little bit to the confusion about his motives.”

President Barack Obama said Mateen was likely a “home-grown extremist.”

REUTERS

through police investigation that they belong to JMB, born during the regime of BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, or they are Jamaat’s student activists from Islami Chhatra Shibir.

called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, condemning the killing of Xulhaz Mannan, a USAID official and a gay rights activist.

President Obama also sent a letter of sympathy to Xulhaz’s family,

What the super-powers need to do is to stop bossing third world countries like Bangladesh around. Instead, give the countries intelligence and/or any other appropriate support. The world must unite against terrorism instead of tarnishing the image of another country

“So far, we see no indication that this was a plot directed from outside the United States and we see no indication that he was part of any kind of network,” Comey told reporters in Washington.

“We’re highly confident this killer was radicalised, at least in some part, through the internet.”

Where does Bangladesh stand on this? The stand is clear -- there is no IS, and the home-grown extremists are behind the recent targetted killings.

Who are these “home-grown” extremists? It has been proven

When Dhaka says the opposition BNP and Jamaat are behind this terrorism, it is washed away as if it is a political statement.

Why don’t they think about who the beneficiary is? Who has patronised the homegrown terrorists like JMB? Who sponsored the 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior leaders of the Awami League?

But the US insists that there is IS in Bangladesh. It has issued travel warnings on Bangladesh and Secretary of State Kerry even

which was a welcome gesture.

They should look deep into where Sheikh Hasina has taken Bangladesh, and how she has been the only leader who stands firm on secularism with zero tolerance on terrorism.

The world must acknowledge that she is the hope of Bangladesh who has stood firm on her commitments as well as her electoral pledges.

Today, after this saddest of incidents in US history, have we issued a travel alert or insisted IS is present in the US? That is for them

to judge, and it is for Bangladesh to judge its internal matter.

Social media reacted in similar tones after the Orlando killings, which means a huge number of Bangladeshis think the same way I do. Sheikh Hasina has condemned the killings and sympathised with the affected families.

Is Paris or London safe against Islamist terrorists? Paris has been attacked and a police officer was killed immediately afterwards.

London remains on alert, with security officials toting automatic guns, guarding many key institutions.

What the super-powers need to do is to stop bossing third world countries like Bangladesh around. Instead, give the countries intelligence and/or any other appropriate support.

The world must unite against terrorism instead of tarnishing the image of another country, or making issues which affect its economy as foreign investors run away. l Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism. He is the Press Minister of Bangladesh High Commission in London.

22

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Long Form

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Deep politics of deep sea ports The game of deep sea port-building involves wading through murky waters Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar expressed New Delhi’s interest in developing the Payra port project during his talks with Sheikh Hasina last month.

Based on newspaper reports from India, it appears the Bangladesh authority has indicated its willingness to work with Indian companies.

A major shift

There are many technological challenges to building a functional deep sea port

n Zia Hassan

O

ne of the sorriest tales of Bangladesh is that, in spite of growing need, the country has failed to build a deep sea port within its territory even after 45 years of independence.

The $60 billion trade is carried out through smaller vessels, and it hurts Bangladesh’s global export competitiveness and raises the cost of imported goods due to a higher cost of transportation on secondary vessels.

Since the early eighties, the issue of deep sea port has been a contentious one.

Politicians, at various spectrums, often raised a spectre that by awarding the lucrative contract of setting up a deep sea port, we are effectively handing over our sovereignty to foreign powers.

However, very few people understood who is opposing whom, and construction of a deep sea port has never gained momentum beyond political rhetoric.

The inactivity of government, in spite of the fatigue shown by the Chittagong port, intensified a perception that pressure from conflicting global and regional players is the key reason for not building the port. That all seems to have changed now.

BIGSTOCK

This is a major shift for the government, which has earlier worked closely with China to build the first deep sea port in Sonadia -- a plan that was scrapped this year. Earlier, in June 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed an $8bn MOU with China to set up the deep sea port in Sonadia.

During the visit, Bdnews24 reported: “The project will be executed in three phases. Phase one will cater to the shipping demands till 2020, phase two till 2030, and phase three till 2055.”

It also indicated that state-owned China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd was likely to win the contract to construct the port.

Al-Jazeera, the international

What’s changed?

After ascending into power through a dubious election in 2014, which was boycotted by most opposition parties, the ruling party has fast-tracked a number of high profile projects, and building up a deep sea port is again on the agenda.

However, to the surprise of many, the available and often discussed options of Matarbari and Sonadia have been disregarded, and the deep sea project located at Payra seems to have taken the front seat in the government’s plans.

While topographical features dictate Sonadia as a natural location for a deep sea port, Payra offers a number of technological challenges.

Analysts have suggested that a deep channel would have to be cut through the heavily-silted port to ensure the movement of large vessels.

There are concerns about the need for regular dredging in the area due to heavy silting from the Himalayas.

Before this government pushed the Payra project, no other government had interest in Payra, because Sonadia or Moheshkhali channels are much more suitable due to their natural and topographical features.

Back in 2006, a Japanese firm, Pacific Consultant International,

The economic consideration, the financial strength, the terms of the deal, and a sound technical study based on comparative analysis of the available locations should be the primary criteria by which such a major decision is taken conducted a 31-month study on Sonadia, and concluded that a harbour with nine 300-metre jetties could be constructed to allow the berthing of nine mother vessels, four containers, and five general cargo vessels immediately to serve the need of the country, and another nine harbours of similar size could be built in subsequent years.

The draft final report of the techno-economic study was published in 2009 in a highly profile seminar participated by government officials and industry professionals after the current government ascended in power.

So, the government is very well aware about the potential of Sonadia channel.

The survey concluded that around Tk13,000 crore may be required in the first phase, which included two break-waters -- one 1,950 metres and the other 2,250m -- to protect the deep sea port from tidal upsurge and waves.

The channel inside each

U-shaped harbour would measure 1.5 kilometres by 0.5km. The draft of the channel would then be raised to 16m from 10m after the proposed works.

On the other hand, a figure of $3bn (Tk24,000cr) has been touted by the government for setting up the Payra deep sea port, and still now, there is no master plan in hand. The government has already allocated around Tk1,000cr in to develop the port, at the October 2015 ECNEC meeting.

Much of it has already been released and spent. So, technically, around one-tenth of the money that would have required to set up Sonadia has already been spent from our own coffers.

No official explanation has been given as to what has prompted the government to change its plan.

It has also been widely reported that around 10 companies, including three Indian companies have shown their interest in setting up Payra deep sea port.

As per media reports, India’s

channel reported that the deal “represents a strategic maneuver by Dhaka in response to criticism in the US and the EU to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in January, which was boycotted by the opposition.”

The trip was seen “as a part of an effort by Hasina to strengthen ties with countries that do not share Western concerns about the legitimacy of her government, such as China, Russia, and Japan.”

Since then, China has completed another feasibility study and offered a subsidised loan with an interest rate of 2% to complete the $8bn project.

This would have been the largest infrastructure project in the country, and it involves/ requires setting up the industrial commercial zone and other major activity in the area.

However, in February, the government declared that the $8bn deep water port has been scrapped.

The official reason cited was

23

DT

Long Form

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

While topographical features dictate Sonadia as a natural location for a deep sea port, Payra offers a number of technological challenges. Analysts have suggested that a deep channel would have to be cut through the heavily silted port to ensure the movement of large vessels

Both China and India have strategic interests in the Bay of Bengal disagreement on financial terms, but security analysts across the globe, including analysts from India, unequivocally said the Indian government persuaded Bangladesh to scrap the deal to protect “Indian strategic interests” in the Bay of Bengal, and to ally with “Indian security concerns.”

In The Times of India, Indrani Bagchi wrote: “The cancellation of Sonadia is clearly a strategic decision by Bangladesh, doubtlessly helped along by India, Japan, and the US.”

China matters

In a bid to appease China, for whom the deep sea port in Bangladesh was their last bid in the “String of Pearls,” the government announced that Payra would be built by China.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said: “We will soon select one Chinese company for Payra’s deep sea port construction among four such state-owned Chinese firms who submitted their proposals.”

However, this plan of selecting a Chinese company has also been scrapped, and the government is now talking with India and other countries, and has come up with the idea of a consortium-based PPP approach, which will be shared by many countries.

A few of the commentators

have indicated that one of the reasons to scrap the deal is that the government has already granted Japan the contract to build a deep sea port in Matarbari, which is 24km away from Sonadia.

However, this could not be the reason for the cancellation, because Matarbari deep sea port in its current form will only cater for coal to be transported to a prospective coal-fired power plant, and the topographical characteristics of Matarbari do not support a deep sea port the way Sonadia channel offers.

Nobody denies that the cancellation decision has been taken to appease the Indian establishment, which is now backed by the US. The US has adopted a policy of not interrupting Indian interest in the region and Japan, who is pushing some aggressive financial and trade deals in Bangladesh.

From where we stand, it is clear that the decision to scrap the Sonadia deep sea project was a political one taken by the government, which constantly feels insecure about its international standing due its dubious poll from 2014.

It is also clear that the long-term infrastructure consideration to build capacity for this country’s international business is of little

interest to the government, and all of its decision are based on political exigency to gain leverage.

Henry Kissinger once famously said: “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.”

A study of contemporary history would indicate, most of the countries have adopted this line of foreign policy, prioritising national economic interest over dogmatic identification of enemy or friend.

Judging from the events, it is clear that the deep sea project, which was kept in limbo for 45 years by successive governments, was flaunted by an insecure government to create legitimacy immediately after the election, and has been shoved in the mouth of China after the international community has grudgingly accepted the government, and now is being offered to India, the key ally of the ruling party.

Politics or people?

It is a sad turn of events, because Bangladesh needs much deeper consideration as to what the right location is for setting up the deep sea port, and who the right partner to build it.

Bangladesh needs neither to be a “string of pearl” of China, nor to play the fiddle to serve Indian strategic interests.

BIGSTOCK

The economic consideration, the financial strength, the terms of the deal, and a sound technical study based on comparative analysis of the available locations should be the primary criteria by which such a major decision is taken, as this decision will have major technical, financial, and infrastructural ramifications for years to come.

However, the ruling party has little concern as to what is in the interest of the country and its future.

All of its concerns stem from its insecurity of an unpopular government disconnected from the people, which considers only the interest of the pillars that holds its power.

People and their interest are not part of those pillars.

From the perspective of the government, it has again proven itself to be a master tactician. It has played carefully in murky waters and has gained back international standing by flaunting and manipulating the key assets of the country, which still interest the international powers.

The question is: What price will the people will pay for these reckless decisions in the future? l Zia Hassan is a political and cultural analyst.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

TOP STORIES

Spain eye last 16 against Turkey European holders Spain are often slow starters at major tournaments, but after Gerard Pique’s late winner in their opener, Vicente del Bosque’s men already have the last 16 in sight when they take on Turkey today. PAGE 26

Mahi braces for US Junior Golf Seventeen year old Bangladesh golfer Afnan Mahmud Mahi is on the verge of realising his dream as he is set to feature in the US Junior Golf Tour, which gets underway tomorrow in Florida, United States. PAGE 27

Legends of Rupganj duo Junaid Siddique (C) and Mehedi Hasan Rana (L) chase the ball during the ongoing Dhaka Premier League. Against all odds, Rupganj have climbed to the top of the Super League points table MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Rupganj, against all odds n Mazhar Uddin

Corinthians fury as Tite accepts job Corinthians manager Tite has accepted an offer to coach Brazil but his appointment was met with fury at his former club, who accused the Brazilian Football Confederation of underhand tactics. PAGE 28

Spin-king Tahir leaves Windies in a tangle Imran Tahir wrote his name in the record books as South Africa completed a comprehensive 139-run victory over the West Indies in the sixth match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series at Warner Park in St Kitts on Wednesday. PAGE 29

Despite all the hurdles placed in their path, Legends of Rupganj have reached the top of the Dhaka Premier League. They are now on 18 points, one better than Victoria Sporting Club whom they beat by two wickets on Wednesday.

One of the most balanced side in the Dhaka league, Rupganj have played some outstanding cricket throughout the first phase and have won both their Super League matches, having already crushed Mohammedan Sporting Club by 104 runs in their first game.

Rupganj doesn’t have any of their batsmen among the top 10 run-scorers or wicket-takers in this competition. But their team’s top scorer Mohammad Mithun has scored 394 out of 469 runs in matches won. Asif Ahmed’s 310 runs out of 440 have also come in these matches. Abu Haider and Taijul Islam have taken 15 wickets each.

Seasoned campaigner Mosharraf Hossain, Rupganj’s captain, has taken 12 wickets and scored 331 runs. His allround showing has saved them on a number of ocassions, just like in their last game when his 148-run seventh

wicket stand with Pawan Negi helped them out of a hole and took them to victory.

Unlike some of the other clubs, the Rupganj players are happy because the club is one of the very few to have already paid the 60 per cent of the scheduled payment.

They have a small band of supporters too, hailing from Rupganj itself.

So far it sounds like a normal Dhaka club, paying their players properly while getting good performance out of them. But Rupganj is no ordinary club.

It is owned by Lutfar Rahman Badal, banned for life by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in December last year, for his outburst against board president Nazmul Hassan and two other directors. Their general secretary Tarikul Islam and team manager Sabbir Ahmed were also handed five- and threeyear bans respectively. It is not the healthiest place for players when officials are in trouble.

Players are wary of playing for Rupganj given their record of antagonising the current cricket board, but due to the players’ draft this year, the cricketers didn’t really have a choice to make.

This year though the players

have been impressed by their ability to clear payments on time.

More importantly, controversial decisions in some of their matches also galvanised this unit.

The captain Mosharraf said they have great unity, which could help them to the DPL title this season.

“We have gone through all the difficulties but still we wanted to give our best for Rupganj.

You may have noticed the two games - one against Kalabagan Krira Chakra where few decisions went against us and the abandoned match against Brothers Union. If things went our way in these games, we might have been the champions already. Our main strength is unity which helped us to give our best and I hope we have the ability to clinch the title this time,” Mosharraf told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

In their game against Kalabagan, Mashrafe Mortaza’s overthrow should have been given them six runs instead the umpires awarded them five. In the same game, Rupganj complained that the umpires called play off early after it stopped raining, awarding Kalabagan the win through Duckworth/Lewis method.

Two days later, the Cricket

Committee of Dhaka Metropolis slapped Mosharraf and Mithun with a one-game suspension each and fined Khaled Mashud and their manager Sabbir, though he is already suspended.

In their next game against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Soumya Sarkar was one of three batsmen to give out leg-before, for which he protested and was duly fined for the outburst against the umpires and match referee. Still they won the game by seven wickets and made it to the Super League stage.

They couldn’t make it to the top of the points table in the first stage after their game against Brothers Union was abandoned after two days of washout.

There is strong rumour that Brothers Union officials allegedly forced the BKSP-3 groundsmen to leave the ground and not protect the pitch, to ensure one point which helped them stay above the relegation zone. The game robbed Rupganj of a point, which could have helped them further in the competition’s business end.

But as they showed in their narrow win over the in-form Victoria, Rupganj will not give up without a proper fight. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Mustafizur’s wait grows by a month n Tribune Report

England striker Daniel Sturridge bundles home the winning goal against Wales during their Euro 2016 Group B match in Lens yesterday

Vardy, Sturridge rescue England against Wales n AFP, Lens Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge rose from the bench to score as England came from behind to defeat neighbours Wales 2-1 in yesterday’s all-British Euro 2016 clash in Lens.

Just as he had in Wales’s opening 2-1 win over Slovakia, Gareth Bale put Chris Coleman’s side ahead with a long-range free-kick that England goalkeeper Joe Hart could only fumble into the net.

But Vardy and Sturridge came on at half-time and after the former had equalised in the 56th minute, the latter smuggled in a stoppage-time winner that fired Roy Hodgson’s men to the top of the group.

Wales are a point back in second place, above Slovakia on headto-head record, and need to beat Russia in Toulouse on Monday to guarantee one of the two automatic qualifying berths.

A draw against Slovakia in SaintEtienne will suffice for England and they will approach the game with renewed optimism after belatedly kicking their tournament into gear.

It was the 102nd meeting between the teams, but the first at a

major championship, and the boxy, British-style Stade Bollaert-Delelis provided an ideal setting on a day when fears of fan violence failed to materialise.

Wales recalled first-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after he

It was the 102nd meeting between the teams and the boxy, British-style Stade BollaertDelelis provided an ideal setting RESULT England Vardy 56 Sturridge 90+1

2-1

Wales Bale 42

missed the win over Slovakia owing to a back spasm, as well as Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu, who came off the bench in Bordeaux to score the winner.

While it meant that Wales were at full strength, they were content to let England, who were un-

changed, force the issue and it was Hodgson’s men who bossed the first half on a sunny afternoon in northern France.

They should have taken the lead in the seventh minute when Harry Kane freed Adam Lallana to cross for Raheem Sterling, but from seven yards out the Manchester City man could only slide the ball over the bar.

Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling threatened with headers, while the most contentious incident of the first period saw Kane denied a penalty when his close-range header struck Ben Davies’s outstretched left hand.

Bale, Welsh antagoniser-in-chief in the build-up to the game, had been a peripheral figure, save for a shot that was blocked by Cahill, but three minutes before half-time he strode onto centre-stage.

Wayne Rooney’s foul on Robson-Kanu gave Wales a free-kick 35 yards out in a central position.

Though Bale’s shot had vicious pace and dip, Hart should have done better than palm it inside his left-hand post.

It made the Real Madrid forward the first Wales player to score against England since Mark

AFP

Hughes, on his debut, in May 1984.

When the half-time whistle came, it drew a cascade of boos from the England end.

Hodgson was quick to react, sending on Vardy and Sturridge for Kane and Sterling at the break, and after Rooney had seen a low curler palmed behind by Hennessey, his side equalised.

Sturridge’s flighted cross from the left was knocked down at the back post and Vardy swivelled to tuck away his fourth international goal.

He was standing around four yards offside, but replays showed that the previous touch had come from Wales captain Ashley Williams.

The on-pitch scene soon resembled the Alamo as Hodgson threw on teenage Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford for Lallana, leaving England with four of their five named forwards on the pitch.

Despite the charge it seemed Wales would hold out, only for Sturridge to collect Dele Alli’s clever flick and steer a shot past Hennessey in the first minute of stoppage time, silencing the Welsh hordes. l

Bangladesh’s strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan has said it would take Mustafizur Rahman four weeks to be fully fit.

When asked about a time-frame of his recovery, Villavarayan said his improvement will be assessed every week and recovery could be complete in the next four weeks.

“Ideal [time to be fully fit] would be one month,” Villavarayan said.

“But we will see how he does this week and take it from there.

“As of today, there’s marginal improvement. It was a long season for him, so we are working on him.

We assessed him yesterday and he has improved, and we will assess him again next week and take it from there. He has responded well.”

Mustafizur, who has already missed four Royal London Cup and five NatWest Twenty20 Blast matches for Sussex, will be unavailable for another six T20s and the rest of the one-day tournament. He would then be available for three T20 games in the end of July, unless Sussex progress to the next stage in both competitions.

Last month while playing the Indian Premier League, Mustafizur informed some of his close ones in Dhaka that he was getting tired which prompted Sussex to give him some leeway in his contract, at least up to June 10.

Last week, Bangladesh’s physio Bayjidul Islam said he would be assessed for the upcoming two weeks before any decision is taken on his stint with Sussex.l

N. Ireland shock Ukraine n AFP, Lyon Northern Ireland shocked Ukraine 2-0 in Euro 2016 Group C on Thursday thanks to goals from Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase at Euro 2016.

A flying header from veteran West Bromwich Albion defender McAuley and McGinn’s injury-time strike at a hailstone-battered Stade de Lyon gave Ireland their first ever goals at a European championships finals.

Having recovered after losing their Euro 2016 opener 1-0 to Poland, Michael O’Neill’s Irish now have everything to play for against world champions Germany in their final group game on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the Ukrainians must now beat Poland in Marseille next Tuesday, and hope the Irish lose heavily to Germany, to have any chance of progressing. l

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Griezmann and Pogba give best possible response n Reuters, Marseille

France forward Dimitri Payet (8) shoots to score their second goal during their Euro 2016 match against Albania at the Velodrome stadium on Wednesday

AFP

Deschamps satisfied after another late show n Reuters, Marseille

France coach Didier Deschamps was more than just relieved after his team scored two late goals to beat a stubborn Albania team 2-0 on Wednesday and reach the second round of Euro 2016.

The hosts laboured in the first half and Deschamps sent on midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Antoine Griezmann in a tactical ploy that paid dividends in the Group A match.

“It shows the players are pre-

pared to keep working right to the end,” Deschamps told reporters.

“We are not stuck with playing one formation. We had a much better balance in the second half and were more aggressive.”

Griezmann broke dogged Albanian resistance with a deft header in the final minute and Dimitri Payet grabbed the second goal deep into stoppage time after claiming a late winner in France’s opening victory over Romania last Friday.

“Payet is becoming more consistent and he has a lot of confi-

dence,” Deschamps said.

“I am going to put him on ice to keep him fresh and maintain his

GROUP A 2-0

France

Albania

Griezmann 90, Payet 90+6

Team

P

W D

L GD Pts

France

2

2

0

0

3

6

Switzerland

2

1

1

0

1

4

Romania

2

0

1

1

-1

1

Albania

2

0

0

2

-3 0

performance levels.”

Man-of-the-match Payet relished his return to the home of his former club Olympique de Marseille.

“It was a special feeling to come back here and it was a very emotional moment to score a goal,” he said.

“I am very happy because we pushed hard in the second half and were rewarded. In the second half we tried to work down the flanks more and we got more crosses in.

That’s why we were able to score.”l

Midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Antoine Griezmann gave the best possible response after they were left out of the starting lineup for France’s 2-0 win over Albania on Wednesday.

Pogba came on at halftime and immediately injected new life into a French midfield that had struggled to create chances against the sort of well-organised, compact team which has been typical of the so-called minnows at Euro 2016.

Griezmann, brought on midway through the second half, went one better when he ended 90 minutes of stubborn Albanian resistance by heading the first French goal.

If France coach Didier Deschamps wanted to see how his team would cope without the pair, who both disappointed in their opening 2-1 win over Romania, then he did not have to wait long for the answer.

France barely created a clearcut chance in a poor first-half and were jeered off at the break.

Pogba has struggled to recreate the impact he has with Juventus when he plays for the national team while Griezmann may be suffering the after effects of a long, exhausting season at Atletico Madrid under the demanding leadership of Diego Simeone.

Nobody, however, had expected either player to be left out altogether and there were more than a few raised eyebrows when both were missing from the starting lineup.l

Spain eye last 16 against Turkey GROUP D

n AFP, Nice

V SPAIN

TURKEY

Nice Stadium 8pm local time (1am BST) * Bangladesh standard time

HEAD-TO-HEAD SPAIN

6 10 5 1 4 14 5

TURKEY Fifa ranking Matches Wins Losses Draws Goals scored Goals against

18 10 1 5 4 5 14

European champions Spain are often slow starters at major tournaments, but after Gerard Pique’s late winner in their Euro 2016 opener, Vicente del Bosque’s men already have the last 16 in sight when they take on Turkey today.

An opening defeat at the 2010 World Cup, and draw at the 2012 European Championship ultimately counted for little as Spain won both tournaments.

But after a disastrous 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Netherlands provoked a firstround exit from the 2014 World Cup, Spain breathed a sigh of relief with the 1-0 win against the Czech Republic in Toulouse on Monday.

Spain are now unbeaten in 13 European Championship games, but question marks remain over the potency of their attack to give veteran coach Del Bosque plenty of selection headaches for their second Group D tie.

The two-time defending champions dominated possession and managed 17

shots on goal, but had to wait until the 87th minute for centre-back Pique to head home at the back post.

One of several new Spain faces making their major finals debut, Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz sat on the bench as Juventus marksman Alvaro Morata spurned a hatful of chances in front of Petr Cech’s goal.

Aduriz replaced Morata for the last 20 minutes, but failed to make a big impact as he sent a speculative overhead kick wide of the target with his best effort.

“The important thing is we won and took the points. That’s crucial for any first game,” Aduriz said.

Del Bosque also handed European Championship debuts to Celta Vigo winger Nolito and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, although neither are guaranteed to start against Turkey.

Despite the new-look Spain, it was the 32-year-old Andres Iniesta who ran the show for Spain, even without his retired long-time partner Xavi at his side, as he made the goal for Pique with an inch-perfect cross.l

Spain’s Juanfran (L) and Cesc Fabregas joke during a training session at Saint Martin de Re’s Stadium on Tuesday AFP

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Mahi braces for US Junior Golf

QUICK BYTES Barred Russian stars struggling for form As hammer thrower Sergey Litvinov tries to prepare for the Rio Olympics, Russia’s suspension from international athletics competitions over alleged state-sponsored doping is proving a real pain in the glute. Just over seven weeks ahead of the games in Brazil the 30-year-old should be hitting peak form - but instead he is so short of opportunities to perform that he even had to compete with a painful gluteal spasm at a meet near Moscow this month.

n Tribune Report Seventeen year old golfer Afnan Mahmud Mahi is on the verge of realising his dream as he is set to feature in the US Junior Golf Tour, which gets underway tomorrow in Florida.

The “World Junior Golf Tour” invited Mahi to the tournament following his brilliant third placed finish in the “Faldo Asian Grand Final” held in Shenzhen, China last year.

He will become the first ever Bangladesh golfer to attend a tournament in the USA. During the tour, Mahi is also scheduled to take part in a golf clinic for 45 days under the supervision of renowned golf coaches Tom Barnett and Reid Whitakerin.

He has been a member of the Bangladesh golf team since March

–AFP

Hadlee says sun setting on Tests is a good thing Day-night Test is the future of cricket’s longest format but the boards should not rush it, according to New Zealand pace great Richard Hadlee. Australia played the first day-night Test against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval last November and have agreed another flood-lit match with South Africa at the same venue during the home summer.

–REUTERS

India shortlist 21 head coach candidates A panel including former captains Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly will select India’s next head coach from a shortlist of 21 candidates by June 22, the country’s cricket board has said.

The BCCI received 57 applications and despite recommending a smaller pool of nominees, all of the petitions will still be available to a panel which also includes former Test batsman VVS Laxman, board secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement.

–REUTERS

‘Murray can end Djokovic’s dream’ Andy Murray has what it takes to ruin Novak Djokovic’s dreams of sweeping to a “golden slam”, coach Ivan Lendl has said as the Scot prepares for another tilt at the Wimbledon title. Murray has not won a grand slam since parting ways with Lendl in March 2014.

–REUTERS

Riot police disperse England fans in Lille French riot police charged and used tear gas to disperse rowdy English soccer fans in Lille on Wednesday, though the northern city was spared feared clashes with Russian supporters.

–REUTERS

last year. He started playing golf in 2008 at the age of nine. His crowning moment came last April in India where he became champion in the Amateur Group of the Professional Tour of India.

Regarding Mahi’s participation in the USA, ace Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman said, “It is a matter of pride for any golfer. I played with Mahi. He will do good in future. If he can bring out his best performance, he will do good there.”

On the other hand, Bangladesh golf coach Habibur Rahman said, “I have coached Mahi. He is the very best among juniors (Under-18). His swing is excellent and he possesses the character to perform with a cool head. If he can keep his consistency, one day he will achieve fame, just like Siddikur. I wish he will do good in the USA.”l

Sukur on trial for insulting Erdogan n AFP, Istanbul Former Turkey football star Hakan Sukur went on trial yesterday at an Istanbul court in absentia on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media.

Sukur is one of several thousand people including journalists, politicians and the occasional celebrity, to face legal proceedings on hugely controversial accusations of insulting the Turkish leader.

The lawyer of Sukur, one of the stars of Turkey’s third place performance in the 2002 World Cup, told the court that his client had moved to the United States. Ali Onur Guncel said his client could give testimony from the United States if evidence provided by the defence was found to be insufficient.

According to Turkish media, Sukur had accused Erdogan of theft in a tweet in February 2015, without naming him directly.

Prosecutors have asked in the indictment for Sukur to serve up to four years in jail.

Sukur, a striker whose football career stretched from 19872007, was by far the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the Turkish national side, finding the net 51 times in 112 appearances.

His goal after just 11 seconds of play against South Korea in 2002 remains the fastest goal in World Cup history.

After football, Sukur went into politics and was in 2011 elected an MP with Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party.

But he resigned in 2013 after a vast

corruption probe that targeted Erdogan and his inner circle, siding with the movement of his arch-foe, the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Sukur had voiced objections to the government move to shut down schools run by Gulen’s movement Hizmet.

His lawyer’s comments confirm that Sukur has left his home country for the United States have ended uncertainty over his whereabouts. Sukur had previously insisted his presence there was merely temporary to learn English and open a football academy.

Opponents say Erdogan has become an increasingly polarising figure in Turkey since becoming president in 2014, showing zero tolerance for any criticism on social media or on the streets.l

12-team top-flight football starts July 24 n Tribune Report The forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League 2015-16 season will get underway on July 24 with the participation of 12 teams, confirmed the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday following a meeting of its professional football league committee at the BFF House.

The top-flight will be held across six different venues in the country.

The committee also announced that the opening ceremony of the top tier will take place in Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium along with the tournament opener.

Among a total of 132 top-flight matches, 24 will be hosted in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National

Stadium while the remaining 108 games will be held in the five other

venues – MA Aziz Stadium, Sylhet Zila Stadium, Rajshahi Stadium,

Barisal Stadium and Mymensingh/ Gopalganj Stadium.l

A scene from yesterday’s meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation’s professional football league committee at BFF House COURTESY

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Italians ready for Ibra's Sweden n AFP, Montpellier He terrorised opposition defences in Serie A for seven seasons but Zlatan Ibrahimovic will face stiff resistance to his efforts to rescue Sweden’s Euro 2016 campaign against Italy today.

“Zlatan can put a whole team under pressure just by himself, but we have to concentrate on our own game ... and try to limit their strengths,” Lazio winger Antonio Candreva said.

After a frustrating 1-1 draw with Republic of Ireland in which Ibrahimovic failed to sparkle despite playing a decisive role in Ciaran Clark’s late own goal, the Swedes are under pressure ahead of today’s Group E clash in Toulouse.

A defeat would leave the Scandinavians needing to beat Belgium, ranked number two in the world, in their last group game and hope they get among the four best thirdplaced group finishers to sneak into the last 16.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren is already dubious.

“Even though we managed to

come back and equalise, I am disappointed. We will need to play at 300 percent to get through,” he said after their opening draw.l

GROUP E

V ITALY

SWEDEN

Toulouse Stadium 2pm local time (7pm BST) * Bangladesh standard time

HEAD-TO-HEAD ITALY

12 22 10 6 6 27 24

SWEDEN Fifa ranking Matches Wins Losses Draws Goals scored Goals against

35 22 6 10 6 24 27

Italy's Leonardo Bonucci (L) jumps over Daniele De Rossi (bottom) during a training session at the team's training ground in Montpellier, southern France yesterday AFP

Corinthians fury after Tite accepts Brazil coaching job n Reuters, Sao Paulo Corinthians manager Tite has accepted an offer to coach Brazil but his appointment was met with fury at his former club, who accused the Brazilian Football Confederation of underhand tactics and unethical behaviour.

Tite, who led Corinthians to two Serie A titles, the Copa Libertadores and the World Club Cup, will replace Dunga, who was fired on Tuesday after Brazil were knocked out of the Copa America at the group stage for the first time since 1987.

The 55-year-old Tite, whose proper name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, was expected to sign a deal

yesterday, although details have yet to be hashed out, the CBF said in a statement.

Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade, however, hit out at the confederation.

“I am furious with the CBF,” Andrade told reporters. “They didn’t even call us once. It wouldn’t have changed anything if they’d called us and asked for permission to talk to the manager. Of course I’d have said yes.

“Tite deserves the national side for the work he has done and for the person he is,” Andrade added.

“The national side doesn’t deserve Tite. The CBF doesn’t deserve a person like Tite. They aren’t used to dealing with ethical people.”

The CBF responded by saying they had tried calling Andrade on Wednesday morning after spending three hours in talks with Tite but were unable to reach him via phone or text.

“The CBF has only respect for Brazilians clubs and their interests,” the governing body added in a statement.

Although Andrade’s comments were unusually outspoken they were not the first public criticism of the CBF over the last six months.

The last three CBF presidents including the current boss Marco Polo Del Nero - were indicted in the United States for bribery and racketeering offences as part of the FIFA corruption scandal.

Tite himself was one of 100 people who signed an open letter last December calling for Del Nero to resign.

Del Nero did not respond to the letter, which was signed by Pele, Zico and Rai among others, and he did not accompany Brazil to the U.S. for either the Copa America or friendly matches played there.

Tite, who has a reputation as an honest man who knows how to organise even limited sides, will have his work cut out at the national team.l

Grieving Croatia ready to seal last-16 berth n Reuters, St Etienne Rocked by a second family bereavement in three days, Croatia will be determined to seal a last-16 berth when they meet the Czech Republic in their Euro 2016 Group D clash today, defender Domagoj Vida said.

Following the death of captain Darijo Srna’s father on Sunday during Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey, the team’s media officer Tomislav Pacak said goalkeeping coach Marijan Mrmic’s father had also died during Tuesday night.

Srna, accompanied by coach Ante Cacic, went to his father’s funeral on Monday and returned to the team’s Deauville base camp in northern France ready to face the Czechs.

Vida, a tough-tackling centre back personifying Croatia’s willpower in the face of adversity, said the team would go the extra mile for their skipper and Mrmic, who travelled home early on Wednesday.

“We all mourn when someone here suffers a loss because we are one big family,” Vida told a news conference on Wednesday.

“We will be galvanised to play for our captain and put him straight back on the rails. He is a great character and I am totally convinced he will be at his best on Friday.”

However, the Czechs must come up with a bolder approach, having conceded a late goal against the Spaniards after working hard to contain the champions. Striker Tomas Necid said he hoped coach Pavel Vrba would field a more adventurous formation to haul them back into the race for a knockout stage berth.l

GROUP D

V CZECH REP

CROATIA

Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, St Etienne, 5pm local time (10pm BST) * Bangladesh standard time

HEAD-TO-HEAD CZECH REPUBLIC

30 2 0 1 1 3 5

Fifa ranking Matches Wins Losses Draws Goals scored Goals against

CROATIA

27 2 1 0 1 5 3

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SCORECARD SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS Amla c Narine b Pollard de Kock b Taylor Morris c Carter b Brathwaite du Plessis not out de Villiers c Charles b Pollard Duminy not out Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-4, nb-2)

R 110 71 40 73 27 10 12

Total (50 overs, 4 wickets)

343

B 99 103 26 50 19 5

Fall of wickets 1-182, 2-185, 3-245, 4-309 Bowling Taylor 8-0-72-1, J. Holder 6-0-51-0, Narine 10-0-46-0, Brathwaite 10-0-69-1, Benn 7-0-35-0, Pollard 9-0-64-2 WEST INDIES INNINGS Fletcher c Behardien b Tahir Charles c du Plessis b Shamsi Bravo b Parnell Samuels c wkpr de Kock b Tahir Ramdin c Morris b Shamsi Pollard c Behardien b Tahir Holder lbw Tahir Brathwaite b Tahir Narine not out Benn c Shamsi b Tahir Taylor b Tahir Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-10, nb-2) Total (38 overs, all out)

R 21 49 11 24 11 20 19 0 18 0 16 15

B 30 41 19 30 18 34 31 1 13 2 11

IN NUMBERS 6-16 South Africa’s previous best bowling figures in ODIs - by Kagiso Rabada against Bangladesh last year. Imran Tahir’s 7 for 45 is the first instance of a South Africa bowler taking more than six wickets in an ODI.

IMRAN TAHIR

3

7/45

This is only the third time that a spinner has taken seven wickets in an ODI. Tahir’s figures are ninth in the list of 10 seven-wicket hauls in ODIs.

In 9 overs

14 Number of innings Hashim Amla has taken to complete 1000 runs against West Indies - the fewest by a batsman to score 1000 runs against an opposition in ODIs. Viv Richards had completed 1000 runs against England in 15 innings.

204

2

Fall of wickets 1-69, 2-82, 3-90, 4-121, 5-128, 6-169, 7-169, 8-170, 9-182, 10-204.

Number of five-wicket hauls by South Africa spinners in ODIs before Tahir’s seven-for.

Bowling Parnell 6-0-43-1, Rabada 7-0-46-0, Tahir 9-0-45-7, Morris 7-0-26-0, Shamsi 9-0-41-2 Result South Africa won by 139 runs Next match Sunday - Australia v South Africa

58

South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir celebrates their victory after dismissing the last West Indies batsman Sulieman Benn (not in picture) in the sixth ODI of the tri-nation series at the Warner Park stadium in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on Wednesday AFP

Matches needed by Tahir to complete 100 wickets - the fourth fewest by any bowler and the second by a spinner in ODIs. Saqlain Mushtaq is the fastest

bowler and spinner to reach the 100-wicket mark; he achieved the feat in his 53rd ODI.

87.25 Amla’s batting average against West Indies - the highest for a batsman with at least 1000 runs against an opposition in ODIs. Mohammad Yousuf’s average of 73.78 against Zimbabwe is second on this list.

6 Number of batsmen who have recorded more ODI centuries than Amla. Among batsmen with active ODI careers, only Virat Kohli (25) and AB de Villiers (24) have more centuries. Amla has taken just 132 innings to notch up 23 ODI hundreds - the fewest by any batsman, and 25 innings fewer than Kohli, who is next best.

9 Wickets taken by South Africa’s spinners in this match - the most they have taken in an ODI.

139 Margin of defeat for West Indies in this match - the second biggest at home while fielding first. Their biggest loss had also come at this venue - 169 runs to Australia in 2008.

Spin-king Tahir leaves Windies in a tangle n AFP, Basseterre Imran Tahir wrote his name in the record books as South Africa completed a comprehensive 139-run victory over the West Indies in the sixth match of the Tri-Nation OneDay International series at Warner Park in St Kitts on Wednesday.

Defending a formidable total of 343 for four, the leg-spinner feasted on an inept Caribbean batting effort with outstanding figures of seven for 45 off nine overs, the best-ever returns by a South African bowler in the history of ODI

cricket.

Along the way, Tahir, in his 58th match, surpassed the record of Morne Morkel as the fastest South African to 100 ODI wickets in terms of matches played.

Earlier, Hashim Amla’s 23rd ODI hundred highlighted a domineering batting effort from the Proteas after they were put in by home captain Jason Holder.

Tahir and Tabraiz Shami (two for 41) then extinguished the West Indian reply after a bright opening start, Tahir’s record harvest including three in one over as the

hosts were dismissed for 204 off 38 overs.

Tahir and Shamsi, in just his second match, effected the breakthrough after the rousing start of 69 in less than 10 overs by openers Johnson Charles (49) and Andre Fletcher (21).

Only 24 from Marlon Samuels among the accomplished batsmen represented any form of resistance to the spinners.

By virtue of the margin of their victory, AB de Villiers’ team moves to the top of the standings on 10 points, one ahead of Australia and

two more than the West Indies.

Competition shifts to Barbados for the final three preliminary matches, beginning with South Africa versus Australia on Sunday at Kensington Oval, ahead of the final at the same venue a week later.

Amla’s effortless innings of 110, which came off 99 deliveries and included 13 boundaries, set the Proteas on their way to the formidable total in partnership with Quinton de Kock.

Bristling with aggression in contrast to Amla’s serene progress, the left-hander contributed 71 in an

opening stand of 182.

Their partnership established a new record for the first wicket in an ODI at the venue, eclipsing the previous standard of 160 set by former South African captain Graeme Smith and De Villiers against Australia at the 2007 World Cup. All-rounder Chris Morris, back in the team after recovering from an injury sustained in the first match of the tournament in Guyana two weeks earlier, was promoted to number three in the order to accelerate the scoring and responded by belting 40 off 26 deliveries. l

Billy Bowden dropped from NZ’s int’l panel

Murray can end Djoker’s golden slam dream

n Agencies

n Reuters

Flamboyant umpire Billy Bowden may have stood in his last international match after being dropped from New Zealand Cricket’s international panel yesterday.

The 53-year-old Bowden, who officiated in 84 Tests and 200 one-day internationals over 21 years, amused cricket fans with his eccentric signals, especially the

crooked finger with which he indicated dismissals.

Bowden insisted he couldn’t extend the finger because of arthritis.

He was dropped from the International Cricket Council’s elite panel in 2013, returned in 2014 but was omitted again after umpiring the Test between the West Indies and England in Barbados in May 2015.

Bowden umpired his 200th oneday international in February. l

Andy Murray has what it takes to ruin Novak Djokovic’s dreams of sweeping to a “golden slam”, coach Ivan Lendl has said as the Scot prepares for another tilt at the Wimbledon title.

Murray has not won a grand slam since parting ways with Lendl in March 2014 after two years in which he won the 2012 Olympic

gold, the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2013 Wimbledon titles.

The two rekindled their partnership on Sunday and are already plotting to stop Djokovic, the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time. The Serb has won the French and Australian titles this year and victory at Wimbledon and the US Open in August would give him a calendar-year grand slam.l

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Downtime

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Cicatrix (4) 5 Ran away (4) 10 Augury (4) 11 Land measure (3) 12 Small branch (5) 13 Forefront (arch) (3) 14 Book of maps (5) 16 Smother (6) 18 Implies (6) 21 Wanderer (5) 23 Drinking vessel (3) 24 Break out (5) 26 Metal-bearing rock (3) 27 Poke (4) 28 Curve (4) 29 Prophet (4)

DOWN 2 Breed of dog (5) 3 Friend (Fr) (3) 4 Emblems of royalty (7) 6 Molten rock (4) 7 Rubber (6) 8 Lair (3) 9 Serpents (4) 15 Offers (7) 17 Time of holding (6) 19 Ooze out (5) 20 Location (4) 22 Frank (4) 23 Male swan (3) 25 Fish eggs (3)

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

Sohana Saba paired with Dev

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Showtime

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Titbits of Jago Hua Savera

n Mosharraf Kabir The casting news of Chokher Jol, an upcoming romantic family drama to be produced under an Indo-Bangladesh joint venture, has fans waiting in anticipation. For the first time, Dev, the leading man of Tollywood, will be paired with the Bangladeshi diva Sohana Saba.

The film also marks Dev’s debut in a joint production venture which will be released at the theaters in Bangladesh as well in India.

Saba shared: “This role is in sheer contrast to the big screen roles I’ve played in the past.”

Saba, who is well known for choosing quality over quantity when selecting movies, said, “This time, on screen, I want to discover a different Saba. That’s why I have signed the film. It definitely feels good to know that I’ll be working with Deb.” The film is to be jointly produced by Digital Movies and Sree Venkatash Films while the local company, Digital Movies, informed that it’s scheduled to go on the floor at the end of this year. The other members of the cast and crew are yet to be confirmed while it has been revealed that Basudeb will direct the feature as a rep of the Indian producer. l

WHAT TO WATCH and a set of rival spy kids.

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Steve Buscemi, Mike Judge

Mission Impossible II Zee Studio 3:20pm A secret agent is sent to Sydney, to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called “Chimera”.

Cast: Tom Cruise, Richard Roxburgh, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames

Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams HBO 4:00pm The Cortez siblings set out for a mysterious island, where they encounter a genetic scientist

The Hangover Part II WB 5:10pm Two years after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong Ice Age: The Meltdown Star Movies 7:30pm Manny, Sid, and Diego discover that the ice age is coming to an end, and join everybody for

a journey to higher ground.

On the trip, they discover that Manny, in fact, is not the last of the woolly mammoths.

Cast: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck G.I. Joe: Retaliation Zee Studio 9:30pm The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardise their very existence.

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, DJ Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki l

n Showtime Desk Jaago Hua Savera, a coproduction between the two halves of what was a geographically-divided Pakistani state in 1958, made its mark at the recent Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Film Festival. A restored print of the film was shown at the prestigious event more than half-a-century after its release.

Although officially a Pakistani production, majority of its unit comprised Bangladeshi actors and music directors while in black and white, it was shot on the banks of the majestic Meghna River in then East Pakistan, today’s Bangladesh.

Jago Hua Savera, which means “the day shall dawn,” was shot in Dhaka by the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation and scripted in Urdu language, which is native to the West.

Little did people know back then that the film that was a box office flop in the country in 1959 would turn out to be one of the greatest classics in the South Asian region later. The film was screened at quite a few festivals and last it was screened at Cannes.

The film, directed by AJ Kardar was inspired by a story by popular Bengali actress and featured a debut performance

by Khan Ataur Rahman.

Bangladeshi film legend Zahir Raihan began his journey as an assistant director.

The legendary Khan Ata mesmerised the audience across the globe by portraying his character Kasim opposite

to legendary Indian actress Tripti Mitra. Famous German cinematographer Walter Lassley also worked on the 87 minutelong film as the director of photography. It was completed within a year and was released in 1959.

Lassley, in an autobiography, wrote that there were a lot of difficulties communicating as the crew members either spoke Bengali, Urdu, or Panjabi.

Alamgir Kabir in his book Films in Bangladesh wrote that the use of both Urdu and Bengali dialogues can be one of the reasons for its failure in the box office.

Inspired by the early works of iconic Indian director Satyajit Ray, Jago Hua Savera is moulded in neo-realism, a genre shaped

by Italian greats like Luchino Visconti and Vittorio De Sica.

The film portrays the hardships of a fishing community in Saitnol village near Dhaka. Anjum Taseer, son of producer Nauman Taseer, feels that the lives of the fishing communities in the three countries have not changed much.

“The fishermen of today have mobile phones, but the same loans,” says Taseer. He told the BBC that the film was a combination of the efforts of the people of the three countries and wanted to show the film in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

“There are several young and talented people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. I want to produce a film on the lives of these fishermen with the help of these talented filmmakers,” Taseer says.

Iconic poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who was a known revolutionary, had written the script, lyrics and dialogue of the film. “Gen Ayub Khan imprisoned my father and many other artists,” said Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi to the BBC. l Source: BBC

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

SURVEY: 25% REMITTANCE INVESTED PAGE 12

RUPGANJ, AGAINST ALL ODDS PAGE 24

SOHANA SABA PAIRED WITH DEV PAGE 31

1% arable land lost each year n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Unless remedial measures are taken soon, estimates show that Bangladesh risks losing almost one-third of its arable land over the next 25 years.

Increasing desertification as well as conversion of arable land to other purposes are threatening food security in the near future.

Bangladesh is losing agricultural land at a rate of nearly 1% per year, according to data from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and also backed by independent data.

But Salim Rashid, an economics professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, argues that the danger is far greater for Bangladesh, with at least 30% of its agricultural land under risk of being gone over the next 25 years.

Quoting data from the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) data, Prof Rashid said the loss of land in Bangladesh has gone through a five-fold increase since 2000.

Over the course of 24 years before 2000, Bangladesh was losing arable land at an annual rate of 13,413 hectares; but since 2000, the rate has jumped to 68,690 hectares per year, according to SRDI. Khandker Moyeen Uddin, director of SRDI, said: “Every year, 0.73% agricultural land is turned into non-agricultural land. Every year, around 12km land comes under salinity. The situation is getting worse everyday.

“The more dreadful point is that the fertility of land is degraded every year. One will see that every year new type of fertilisers are being used in our lands. If such situation continues, then the future food security of Bangladesh will threatened,” Moyeen warned.

The comments come as the world is set to observe the World Day to Combat Desertification today with the slogan “Protect Earth.

Restore land. Engage people.”

To mark the day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a statement said: “Desertification, land degradation, drought and climate change are interconnected.

As a result of land degradation and climate change, the severity and frequency of droughts have been increasing, along with floods and

extreme temperatures.

“More than 50% of agricultural land is moderately or severely degraded, with 12 million hectares lost to production each year.”

Ban said nearly 800 million people are chronically undernourished as a direct consequence of land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, drought and biodiversity loss.

He also warned that over the next 25 years, land degradation could reduce global food productivity by as much as 12%, leading to a 30% increase in world food prices.

“On this day, I urge cooperation among all actors to help achieve land degradation neutrality as part of a broader effort to achieve the

In the future, land degradation could reduce global food productivity by 12%, leading to a 30% rise in food prices Sustainable Development Goals and build a future of dignity and opportunity for all,” the UN chief added.

On the occasion, Monique Barbut, executive secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said 193 countries pledged last year to strive to become land degradation neutral by 2030.

“Ninety countries have already signed up to the challenge and are setting their national targets. This is admirable. But it is not enough when at least 169 countries are affected by land degradation or drought, and all countries are indirectly impacted by them.”

She also said: “Actions to avoid, halt and reverse land degradation must begin now with everyone fully engaged. The prospect of a land degradation neutral world grows dimmer if we procrastinate. But it shines brighter each time a person or country joins the campaign to restore degraded land or the battle against the degradation of new land.

“Land degradation neutrality should be a top policy goal for every nation that values freedom and choice,” Barbut added. l

THE WRONG AND THE RIGHT When someone begs to break the law, it truly becomes a sad sight. A driver of a sedan is seen pleading with a traffic sergeant so that he allows him to take a prohibited turning at a roundabout near the Dhaka airport. The sergeant, abiding the law, denied the driver passage and directed him to follow the right route SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

British MP dies of attack in her constituency

US DoJ probes BB cyber heist n Reuters

n Reuters, Bristall

The US attorney's office in Manhattan has opened an investigation of the cyber heist of $81m from Bangladesh Bank's account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a law enforcement source said.

Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, is investigating the February crime, in which criminals used the SWIFT fund-transfer network to steal money from Bangladesh's central bank. Bharara's office declined to comment.

The Federal Reserve and other financial regulators last week told banks to review cyber-security protections against fraudulent money transfers. The FBI last month privately urged banks to look for signs of attempted cyber thefts.

Last week, an FBI official speaking in Washington said the agency is investigating "a number of different tentacles." A US congressional committee has also launched a probe into the New York Fed's handling of the heist.

Unknown hackers in early February peppered the New York Fed with fraudulent payment instructions, prompting the bank to transferred $81m held by Bangladesh Bank to accounts in the Philippines. l

Jo Cox, a lawmaker for Britain’s opposition Labour Party, has died after she was attacked on Thursday, police said.

The member of House of Commons from Batley and Spen sustained critical injuries earlier in the day when she was shot and stabbed in her constituency in northern England, according to British police and media reports.

Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two, was attacked as she prepared to hold a meeting with constituents in Birstall near Leeds.

In an immediate reaction on Twitter, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the death of Cox is a tragedy.

West Yorkshire Police said a 52-year-old man had been arrested by armed police.

BBC TV and other media showed a picture of the alleged suspect, a balding white man, being apprehended by police.

British lawmakers are not in parliament ahead of next week’s referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union.

The rival referendum campaign

Jo Cox groups said they were suspending activities for the day and Prime Minister David Cameron said he would pull out of a planned rally in Gibraltar, the British territory on the southern coast of Spain.

One witness told Sky News that Cox had intervened in a scuffle between two men, one of whom had pulled a gun from a bag which had then been fired twice.

Media reports citing witnesses said the attacker had shouted out “Britain First”, which is the name of a right-wing group that describes itself on its website as “a patriotic political party and street defence organisation”. l

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