June 28, 2016

SECOND EDITION

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

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Ashar 14, 1423, Ramadan 22, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 66

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

SP WIFE MURDER

Police informant hired killers Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong The assailants who carried out the fatal attack on Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Akter, were hired by an active police informant named Abu Musa, said Wasim and Anwar, two of the murderers.

The exact motive behind the gruesome murder is still unknown, police said.

Musa's name came up in the confessional statements that Wasim

and Anwar gave before the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-ur-Rashid on Sunday.

In their statements, the duo said a total of seven people were directly involved in the murder, including themselves. The other five are: Musa, Nabi, Rashed, Kalu and Shahjahan.

But it was Musa, Wasim and Nabi who attacked Mitu on the morning of June 5, a court source quoted the confessing suspects.

The detainees also said two firearms were used in the attack, sup-

plied by a man named Ehteshamul Haque Bhola.

A top official at the CMP, requesting anonymity, said Bhola is a leader of Swechchhasebak League in Chittagong, but refused to give further details for the sake of the ongoing investigation.

Earlier on Sunday, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Md Iqbal Bahar at a press briefing said police have identified all the killers of Mitu and had arrested two of the trio who directly took part in the murder.

He said all of the killers were professional. The arrested duo, Wasim and Anwar, were detained at Rangunia upazila in Chittagong.

CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Debdas Bhattacharia told the Dhaka Tribune that police have gathered all information relevant to Mitu's murder and are currently conducting a drive to arrest the rest of the killers.

Police also said they had not found any involvement of Abu Nosor Gunnu and Shah Zaman Robin –  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Messi retires as Chile stun Argentina in Copa America n AFP, East Rutherford Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football on Sunday after Argentina crashed to defeat against Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

A crestfallen Messi confirmed his decision to quit after yet another agonising near-miss with Argentina, who have now lost three major tournament finals in a row since 2014.

Messi had earlier been left distraught after missing Argentina’s opening penalty in the shoot-out at MetLife Stadium after the two teams had finished extra-time deadlocked at 0-0.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE Over a hundred identified militants yet to be arrested

Over a hundred militants accused in different cases are still active across the country.  PAGE 3

Clutch that bag of yours!

Before she knew it, Farida Khanam was flying out of the rickshaw she was on – her fingers still clutching the handle of her purse which was being tugged hard by three men on a motorcycle.  PAGE 32

Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi reacts after missing a shot during a penalty shootout against Chile in the final of the 2016 Copa America Centenario tournament at MetLife Stadium REUTERS

PM to open 4-lane highway on July 2 n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong With the opening of the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway immediately before Eid-ul-Fitr, travel time between the two cities will be reduced to four-and-a-half hours, the transport minister has said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the four-lane highway on July 2, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader announced yesterday.

Talking to reporters, the minis-

ter said: “Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is going to be inaugurated on July 2. This is an Eid gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the nation.”

“All works including the construction of 23 bridges, 243 culverts and 14 bypasses on the 192km stretch of the road from Daudkandi to Chittagong has been completed,” Quader said.

He also expressed his optimism that the commuters now could travel from Dhaka to Chittagong in four and half hours.

“Apart from Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane, Mymensingh-Joydebpur four lane will be inaugurated at the same time. Besides, the construction of Dhaka-Chittagong elevated expressway will be started from the end of the year,” said Obaidul.

The Dhaka-Chittagong fourlane project got approval from the ECNEC on December 26, 2005.

The project was supposed to be completed by June 2012. Later, the deadline was reset to December 2016 following three extensions. l

Home minister: Mitu murder mastermind identified n Mohammad Jamil Khan Police have learned the identity of the mastermind behind Police Superintendent Babul Akter’s wife Mahmuda Akter Mitu’s murder, but it cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said.

“Have patience. Two of the criminals responsible for the murder have already been arrested and one or two others will be arrested soon,” Kamal told reporters yesterday at his office.

Asked about SP Babul’s interrogation at the Detective Branch office in Kakrail, the minister said he was taken there to verify the arrests.

The minister refused to disclose any further information, saying he did not know anything else.

On Friday midnight, SP Babul was picked up from Mitu’s father’s house by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Motijheel Division’s Deputy Commissioner Anowar Hossain and kept at the DB office for almost 15 hours.

Amid the media frenzy that ensued, some news outlets published reports saying Babul himself was involved in the murder. Some of these reports were retracted later.

When Babul spoke to reporters he said he had been called up to discuss the case but refused to divulge any details.

DB Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said he did not know any details about the matter.

“A team from Chittagong Metropolitan Police, led by its commissioner, came to Dhaka and spoke to SP Babul at our premises,” he said.

“The CMP team corresponded with our commissioner to use the office.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

SEHRI & IFTAR

Ramadan 22 23 24

June 28 29 30

Sehri – 3:42 3:42

Iftar 6:53 6:52 6:53

Source: Islamic Foundation

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

JS body: Fill vacant teacher posts at CHT schools n UNB

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs yesterday recommended taking necessary steps for filling the vacant posts of teachers at government high schools and colleges in the three hilly districts.

The committee came up with the recommendation at its 18th meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its chairman, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, in chair.

The parliamentary watchdog also suggested that the ministry concerned take necessary steps for nationalising 210 primary schools in the hill tracts on an emergency basis.

Besides, it recommended forming a new committee comprising the state minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Parbatya District Parishad and Parbatya Regional Parishad for the management of Kaptai Lake. l

Chairpersons of private banks hand over cheques to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her relief fund at Ganabhaban yesterday

BSS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Messi retires as Chile stun Argentina in Copa America Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had given no inkling of Messi’s decision in a post-match press conference but sympathised with his captain.

It was a carbon copy of last year’s Copa America final, also won by Chile on penalties after a goalless draw.

As well as sending Messi into retirement, the defeat ensured Argentina’s 23-year wait for a major title continued.

The final had gone to penalties after finishing level at 0-0 after 120 minutes.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the first half as Brazilian referee Heber Lopes struggled to get

a grip on an ill-tempered contest played in front of a crowd of 82,026.

The first yellow card of the match came in the 16th minute when Marcelo Diaz brought down Messi with a cynical hack across the thighs as the Barcelona star advanced on the Chilean goal.

Argentina should have taken the lead on 21 minutes when a defensive blunder from Gary Medel, miscontrolling a back pass, allowed Gonzalo Higuain to go clean through on goal.

Higuain had time and space but opted to lift his shot over the advancing Claudio Bravo and it rolled wide of the post in a huge let-off for Chile.

Seven minutes later Chile were

left rocking when Messi burst forward only to be bodychecked blatantly by Diaz, who collected a second yellow to see red.

It ought to have been a warning to both sides but the spiteful tone continued for the remainder of the half, with Javier Mascherano and Arturo Vidal next into the book in the 37th minute.

The next flare-up came on 40 minutes when Messi darted into the box at high speed and tumbled over following a collision with Jose Pedro Fuenzalida.

Chile’s players surrounded Lopes demanding a yellow card for a dive and Messi was duly booked.

Two minutes from half-time and Lopes was reaching for a red card,

this time sending off Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo for a reckless tackle on Vidal.

The cards continued in a fractious start to the second half, Jean Beausejour booked for hacking at Gabriel Mercado.

A cynical foul on Messi by Charles Aranguiz resulted in another yellow card.

Chile striker Eduardo Vargas went close on the 80th minute, thumping a fierce low shot that Romero did well to block at his near post.

Sergio Aguero had a chance to steal victory in the 84th minute when he was worked into space on the right of the box but he blazed his shot high and wide. l

Mitu himself.

After the mission, Musa paid Tk2,000-2,500 to each of the killers, the duo told the court.

Earlier, the CMP commissioner said Wasim had shot Mitu.

Anwar and Wasim said they did not know why Musa wanted to kill Mitu.

After their confession was recorded, they were taken back to prison.

Mitu, 32, was stabbed and shot dead by three men in GEC intersection area in the port city when she took her son to his school bus on June 5, the same day her husband was supposed to report at the Police Head-

quarters as the newly promoted SP. Babul filed a case against three unidentified persons and their cohorts with Panchlaish police station the next day.

No local or international militant group has claimed responsibility for the murder, but the investigators suspect that members of Chittagong-based militant outfits, especially Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, or other vested groups may have conducted the murder to avenge the crackdowns led by Babul when he was in the Detective Branch of police. l

Police informant hired killers who were the first and second arrests in the case – in Mitu’s murder.

They are now in prison following the completion of their seven-day remand.

The killers did not know who Mitu was

Wasim and Anwar told the court that they were not aware of Mitu’s identity when they were hired by Musa for the killing mission.

The court source said the duo came to know that Mitu was the wife of SP Babul from news reports.

Describing their mission, both

Wasim and Anwar said Musa, who was seen in the CCTV footage driving the motorcycle they fled on after the murder, held Mitu’s six-year-old son back while Nabi stabbed her indiscriminately both in her back and front.

Anwar said he was in charge of scouting the area where the murder took place and he was with the other two as a back-up.

He said after Nabi stabbed Mitu, Wasim, who was carrying the firearms, shot her.

But Wasim said Musa snatched away a firearm from him and shot

Mitu murder The officer said there had been no violation of laws in this, as investigators could question plaintiffs for many reasons.

Family members of Babul have claimed his professional rivals were giving false information to the media spreading rumor about the case.

The CMP announced on Sunday that two arrestees in the Mitu murder case – Wasim and Anwar – had confessed to carrying out the murder. CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar said the two men were arrested from Rangunia, but did not say when.

Sources have said that these two worked with Babul as informants but investigators would not confirm this.

They also would not confirm that two known informants of Babul named Abu Musa and Ehteshamul Haque Bhola had also been picked up by police on June 21.

A source in DB claimed that in interrogation the informants had said SP Babul “knew everything.”

The source also claimed that on Saturday, Babul Akter had been brought face to face with the informants and asked about the murder, but he gave only vague answers.

Babul Akter’s well-known and successful involvement in anti-terrorism drives initially led to the belief that his wife’s murder, which took place on June 5 in Chittagong city, was a militant attack. But police have said Wasim and Anwar are professional criminals. l

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Over a hundred identified militants yet to be arrested n Mohammad Jamil Khan Over a hundred militants accused in different cases are still active across the country.

“The militant network can be dismantled only after their arrests,” a high official of Detective Branch (DB) police requesting anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The official also said a number of banned homegrown militant outfit are indoctrinating people outside of Dhaka to get involved in killings in the capital.

The official who is working to hunt down militant network also said they had so far been able to

identify two locations – one in Chittagaong and the other in Khulna – of the banned outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

Asked about the number of members of the organisaiton he said there are 15 members in Chittagong while 10 to 12 in Khulna.

The official divulged the information to this correspondent soon after DB police had arrested two members of the ABT from Gendaria and Kamrangirchar of Dhaka early Monday.

The areestees are identified as Moulana Md Nayem alias Saiful Islam alias Sadh and Sohel Ahmed alias Sohel.

With the alarming rise in militancy the police conducted a weeklong special drive in which a total of 194 Islamist militants were arrested. The drive is still on.

Abdul Baten, joint commissioner of the DB police, said they had arrested Nayem and Sohel from Faridabad Madrasa of Gendaria and Arafa Islamia Madarasha of Kamrangirchar respectivbely after being tipped off.

The joint commissioner was briefing the media at the community center of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

In primary interrogation, the two arrestees confessed that they

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had gathered in Dhaka on the instruction of of a top militant leader of the ABT. Baten. however, declined to disclose the name of the top ABT leader.

This is the first time the ABT members were found recruiting members from madrasas, said Baten.

Later in the evening, DB police Sub-Inspector Shafiqul Islam placing Nayem and Sohel before a court sought a ten-day police remand for interrogation in a case filed with Kamrangirchar police station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hakim Sarafuzzaman Ansari, however, granted them a five-day remand each. l

SC Lawyers serve legal notice for Fahim’s death n Ashif Islam Shaon A legal notice has been sent to the concerned government authorities yesterday requesting a judicial inquiry into the death of Golam Faizullah Fahim during an alleged shootout.

The 18-year-old Famim was accused of attempted murder of Ripan Chakraborty a teacher of Govt Nazimuddin University College.

On June 18 Fahim was killed in the alleged shootout with the police in Madaripur.

The notice also asked investigate if Fahim was indeed killed in the shootout or if he was killed to hide the ‘real offenders’.

Supreme Court lawyer FM Zulfiqar Ali sent the notice by post to the home secretary, inspector general of police, superintendent of police and officerin-charge of Madaripur Sadar Police Station.

Fahim was caught red handed by locals while he was there with some other young men who tried to kill the Hindu teacher and handed him over to the police. He was on a remand when the “gunfight” took place.

In his legal notice, the lawyer asked the authorities to explain why departmental actions should not be taken against the members of the police who were involved in his death.

He will file a writ petition with the High Court seeking necessary directives if the petition is not answered within 15 days. l

Khaleda to govt: Learn from Cameron n UNB

People line up at Kamalapur Railway Station’s ticket counters, hoping to obtain advance tickets out of Dhaka for the Eid holidays

RAJIB DHAR

Pending claims for post-retirement benefits on the rise n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The number of applications for post-retirement benefits waiting to be approved is on the rise; dues have been accumulating every month, delaying the payment of the retirement benefits of non-government teachers and employees for years.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid shed light on the situation when he spoke at parliament yes-

terday, saying the Non-Government Teacher-Employee Retirement Benefit Board is unable to pay the retirement benefits to 42,380 applicants.

The Welfare Trust has also not been able to settle the claims of 28,000 retired teachers and employees as of last month, he said in reply to a question.

“Around Tk1,961 crore is required to settle the applications pending at the Board, and the Trust

needs Tk485 crore to settle its pending applications,” he added.

Currently, non-government teachers and employees have to wait for three to five years after retirement to receive their benefits.

Nahid said the Board receives around Tk16-17 crore each month from the teachers and employees across the country as they pay 4% of their basic salaries as contribution to their benefits. The board needs to contribute equal amount

of money, which is why it needs around Tk36 crore every month to settle post-retirement claims.

The number of retired teachers and employees in the country is more than 70,000, while around 10,000 MPO-listed teachers go into retirement every year.

The government has allocated Tk500 crore in the proposed national budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year for the MPO-listed secondary school teachers, the minister said. l

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged the government to step down following the example set by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

“We would like to ask Awami League to quit. You [Awami League] please look at Britain and learn. You’re hanging onto office usurping power illegally without people’s mandate when an elected British prime minister is stepping down after the defeat in a referendum there,”she said.

The BNP chief was addressing an iftar party organised by Agriculturists Association of Bangladesh at the Ladies’ Club.

Khaleda also called upon the government to hand over power to a neutral government as per people’s expectations and arrange an election. “We’ll accept the people’s mandate whatever it might be. l

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Five JU BCL members expelled for attacking journalists n Mahadi Al Hasnat Jahangirnagar University yesterday expelled five members of Bangladesh Chhatra League, temporarily over the recent BCL attacks on journalists.

The decision was made during an emergency syndicate meeting yesterday with JU Vice Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam in chair, JU registrar Abu Bakr Siddique confirmed to journalist.

The expelled students are JU Chhatra League religious affairs secretary Mohitosh Roy Tito from the department of history, Chhatra

League deputy secretaries Ekram Ahmed Nahid from the department of statistics and Ekram Uddin Shafi Omi from the department of marketing, Chhatra League activists Sharif Hossain Laskar from the department of anthropology and Riazul Islam from the department of bangla according to sources.

Source said that on the night of June 8, Chhatra League leaders Mohitosh, Nahid and Omi along with their followers attacked the JU Correspondent of Bdnews24. com Shafiqul Islam Shafiq while he was on duty.

All of the expelled BCL men

Cabinet clears draft deal on Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant n UNB The Cabinet yesterday approved the draft of the inter-governmental state credit agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Russia for constructing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The approval came from the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting at the Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the Russian government would provide $11.38 billion as credit out of the $12.65 billion nuke power plant, while the rest of the amount would come as grant and from Bangladesh government fund.

Responding to a question, he said the agreement was likely to be signed either in July or August this year.

The draft deal includes, details on credit agreement, interest rate, and the project duration.

He said the Russian credit bears an interest rate of LIBOR-plus 1.75% which would not exceed 4% in interest rate. The credit will be repaid in 30 years with a

10-year grace period, while the loan repayment will start on March 15, 2027.

The credit repayment will be made twice a year on March 15 and on September 15 with two equal installments with the implementation of the credit from 2017-2024.

The Cabinet Secretary said the government would have to provide at least 10% of the overall contract value to the Russian contractor as advance for constructing the two nuclear plants.

Shafiul Alam said the Russian Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs and Sonali Bank Limited would work as authorised bank for this credit.

He also informed that the minutes of discussion were also signed on May 19 this year during the meeting between Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman and Russian Deputy Minister for Finance in Russia.

Earlier on December 25 last year, Bangladesh and Russia signed a $12.65 billion deal to commission two nuclear power plants, which will generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity.

Ministers and state ministers, and secretaries concerned were present. l

were residents of Mir Mosharrof Hossain Hall and loyal to JU unit BCL president Mahmudur Rahman Jony, source said.

The authorities also formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Moulana Bhashani Hall provost Prof Dr Syed Hafizur Rahman.

The committee was asked to submit the probe report within 15 working days following which the university authorities would take the next steps against the attackers at the syndicate meeting.

Chhatra League activists Sharif Hossain Laskar and Reazul Islam

were also temporarily expelled from the university for attacking a JU Correspondent of online newsportal bdpress.net Abu Raihan a student of the department of drama and dramatics on June 5.

Laskar and Reazul were residents of Shahid Rafiq-Jabbar Hall and loyal to JU unit BCL general secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel, source said.

The authorities also formed a seperate four-member probe body headed by Prof Dr Anwar Khasru Parvez for further investigation into the matter and asked for the probe report to be submitted within 15 working days. l

‘Khaleda Zia is militant kingpin’ n BSS

Awami League presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday said a militant kingpin had been residing in the country and she is BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. “Peace will be restored in the country if she could be restrained,” he said.

Mohammad Nasim said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and Iftar Mahfil organised at Doctor Milon Auditorium of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at Shahbagh intersection in the city.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University unit of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad organised the discussion and the Iftar Mahfil. l

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

DMP chief: Lock doors before leaving town n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

With Eid fast approaching, police officials stay busy yesterday looking through CCTV feeds from cameras across the Dhaka North City Corporation area. Sitting at the police monitoring room in Gulshan, they try to spot any sign of suspicious activities MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ACC clears charge sheet against Milk Vita official

n UNB The Anti Corruption Commission has approved a charge sheet against Milk Vita senior superintendent Md Abdul Ahad in a graft case.

The commission at its regular meeting yesterday approved the charge sheet against him, said ACC public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.

He said ACC Assistant Director Md Shafi Ullah will submit the chargesheet before court against him within a day or two.

On February 10, 2015, the ACC filed a case against Ahad with Ramna police station for allegedly accumulating illegal wealth.

Earlier, the ACC received allegations that Ahad amassed a huge amount wealth illegal through illegal means and abusing his power in the state-owned milk producing cooperatives.

Considering the allegation, the ACC launched a probe against him and asked him to submit his wealth statement to the Commission within the stipulated time. But, Ahad did not submit his wealth report. l

PSC, JSC tests to be held this year too n Shohel Mamun The government yesterday announced that the Primary School Certificate (PSC) and Junior School Certificate (JSC) examinations will be held this year too, changing a previous decision within a week.

On June 21, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman said the government had decided not to hold the PSC tests from this year, and that the ministry had sent a proposal in this regard to the cabinet a week ago.

But the proposal tabled at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, which was held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, was sent back without approval.

The cabinet also asked the Primary and Mass Education Ministry to submit the proposal again after further and detailed scrutiny to determine the level of primary education in light of the National Education Policy 2010.

“Like previous years, students

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN TUESDAY, JUNE 28

of grade five and eight will have to sit the PSC and JSC tests respectively this year,” Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

He said the PSC and JSC exams would continue until the cabinet made a final decision.

“The cabinet opined that some challenges, including the structure of schools, are still needed to be met before the new primary examination system can be fully executed this year.

“Necessary preparations, including rearrangement of classes, are essential for implementing the new system,” added Shafiul.

The cabinet yesterday approved the draft of the credit agreement between the governments of Russia and Bangladesh for construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant.

The cabinet secretary said the deal signing ceremony would be held in July or August, adding that where the programme would be held had not yet been fixed.

The cost of the project is $12.65

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Rajshahi

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Rangpur

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billion. According to the draft of Russia-Bangladesh Intergovernmental State Credit Agreement, Russia will pay $11.38 billion with an interest rate of 1.75%, which can reach to a maximum of 4%. The rest of the money will be provided by the government of Bangladesh.

The cabinet also approved the draft of the National Telecommunication Policy 2016, with an aim to achieve a 100% mobile phone penetration by 2021, and connect 1,200 union parishads through optical fibre by 2018.

The cabinet secretary said the policy was designed for a 10-year period with short-term (2018), mid-term (2021) and long-term (2025) plans considering business forecasts for the telecommunications industry.

“The policy will ensure a telecommunication-friendly environment in the country. Around 60% of the population will be brought under broadband coverage by 2025 according to the long-term goals,” he added. l Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:14AM

36.5ºC Rajarhat

24.7ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

Dhaka Metropolitan police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia urged the residents of Dhaka to be diligent about locking their homes before they leave the city for Eid holidays.

He made the remark after a clothing distribution programme held at Azimpur girls school and college.

He cautioned to make sure all door and windows are locked before leaving the house on this long Eid holiday.

The police, Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcement agencies are working together to prevent home burglaries, each officer in-charge of police station have been directed to patrol at night, he said.

The DMP chief said reported incidents of theft, robbery and hijacking is less in the capital this year.

He also said that cases of extortion is lower this year and urged people to inform the police if they are a victim of such crimes and immediate actions will be taken. l

128 public servants accused of grabbing govt houses n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain has told parliament yesterday that government employees have grabbed 128 government houses all over the country, These houses are subject to legal struggles he said, replying to a question yesterday.

Mosharraf also added that there are 10,374 abandoned houses in the country.

The minister said such houses are usually allotted to the families of martyred freedom fighters and wounded freedom fighters and there is no provision for allotting them to others.

Replying to another query, he said Dhaka alone had 6,406 abandoned houses. Among them, 4,782 houses are to be sold, 66 are illegally grabbed and cases are pending for 999 others in court.

Other districts also have many abandoned houses, including 1,421 in Khulna, 507 in Kustia, 280 in Bogra, 228 in Rajshahi, and 123 inPabna. l Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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Fajr: 3:52am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 7:03pm Esha: 8:45pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Thousands displaced as flood situation deteriorates n Ariful Islam, Kurigram Flood situation in Kurigram has deteriorated due to incessant rain and onrush of water from upstream rivers.

Most of the low-lying char areas in six upazilas have been inundated as the major rivers, including the Teesta, Brahmaputra and Dharala, continued to flow above their danger levels yesterday, local sources said.

About 75,000 people of char areas have been marooned, as the floodwater has inundated their houses as well as croplands, causing untold sufferings to them.

Thousands of people have started moving to safer places.

Many of them have taken shelter

on flood control embankment and schools.

Due to rise of water level in Teesta River, erosion has already taken serious turn at five villages under Jatrapur union parishad, said the sources, adding that Jatrapur Govermnent Primary School was now on the verge of existence.

According to the Water Development Board, Kurigram the water of the Dharla River was flowing above 10cm danger level, Teesta River flowing above 22cm danger level and Brahmaputra was flowing above 33cm danger level.

Apart from deterioration of flood situation in the locality, 30 meters of flood control embankment at Bangturghat area has collapsed due

to high tide, inundating a vast tract of land of Kurigram Sadar upzila.

Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Bangtughat, said a portion of flood control embankment collapsed yesterday morning flooding many houses and croplands of the locality. Later, staff of the Water Development Board with the help of local residents managed to check the water intrusion into the area.

Md Aiub Ali, chairman of Jatrapur union parishad, about 50 houses have been eroded by the Dharla River over a week.

He alleged that he had requested the WDB to take step in this regard, but they did not pay heed to the request.

“The WDB should take

immediate measures to safe the locality from erosion,” he added.

Sectional Officer of WDB Md Alamgir said they had already requested the higher authorities to allocate Tk2 crore to check flood.

Sadar Upzila Nirbahi Officer M Aminul Islam said upazila administration had already taken necessary measures to face the overall flood situation.

The upazila administration is distributing 20-kg rice for each flood victim family, he claimed.

Deputy Commissioner Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, he said: “We do not have anything to do.

You should contact with the Water Development Board and minister concerned.” l

3 motorcyclists killed in B’baria road accident n Tribune Desk

Three people were killed as a truck rammed a motorcycle at Bertola on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Sarail upazila yesterday.

The injured were identified as Jahangir, Ali Azam and Shahjahan Miah.

Police said the accident took place when a speeding truck rammed a motorcycle, coming from the opposite direction, around 12pm, leaving the driver of the motorbike and its two pillion riders dead on the spot, reports UNB. Following the incident, local people blocked Dhaka-Sylhet Highway around 12:15pm.

As a result, long tailbacks have been created on the both sides of the blockade, leading to immense sufferings to the commuters. l

Illegal spawns collection going on unabated Samsur Rahman, n SM Bagerhat Illegal collection of spawns and mother prawns is going on defying the government law in Shala, Pashur and Baleshwar rivers adjoining Sundarbans coastal area.

According to local sources, though catching prawns and spawns is an offence, the practice continues unabated affecting the fish yield adversely.

A section of unscrupulous fishermen are doing the business with the help of some forest officials and members of law enforcers.

Thousands of fishermen become busy for catching fish in the rivers with current nets during the low-tide in the watercourses.

The indiscriminate catching has triggered acute scarcity of seeds.

A group of traders engage poor fishermen in the work to earn hefty profit, the sources said.

The collected spawns are dispatched to several areas of the country where the demand of seeds is high, said local fishermen.

The fishermen engaged in seed collection are least aware of the fact that the act is illegal. Besides, they do not seem to realise that in the process, they are destroying

their own livelihood.

A mother prawn has a capacity to carry about 50,000 to 80,000 prawn seeds during the breeding period.

As a result, the demand of the mother prawns is high from June to August.

The government prohibited the catching of baby and mother prawns from the sea, river and other water bodies.

collection of spawns is going on, the rivers in the coastal will be without fish within a decade.”

Md Sydul Islam, divisional officer of East Sundarbans Forest Office, said: “For the poor fishermen engaged in seeds collection, the income generated out of it is a bonus.

The traders rake in profit, while the exercise of collecting spawns and mother

If the illegal collection of spawns is going on, the rivers in the coastal will be without fish within a decade The fisheries officials admitted the prevalence of unlawful practice and pleaded helplessness to curb the trend.

The department would shortly launch a campaign to make the fishermen aware of the damage they are causing by collecting prawn seeds.

The department personnel have also requested the representatives of traditional inland and sea-going fishermen to convince the people to refrain from such exercise, the official said.

Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam, chairman of Save the Sundarbans, said: “If the illegal

prawns is causing irreparable damage to the fish yield.”

He said: “. The department doesn’t have the manpower to keep tabs on illegal activities. We have requested members of law enforcers to help us in conducting raids.”

Mongla Coastguard East Zone Commander Captain Mehedi Masud said: “We have received reports of unlawful trade of spawn and mother prawns.”

“We are ready to assist the fisheries department to curb illegal trade. If the department provides us tip-off, we will conduct raids to nab the culprits,” he said. l

The picture taken recently in Srirampur, Rajshahi shows rural people near the Padma River in Rajshahi passing busy times making fishing traps as the rainy season has started AZAHAR UDDIN

7

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Food adulteration a cause of concern Consumers cannot even depend on top brand superstores, eateries n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Food adulteration with poisonous chemicals has reached an alarming level in the premier port city posing a serious threat to the public health.

Much to the anxiety for the consumers, the top brand superstores, eateries and bakeries are also being penalised by the mobile courts for manufacturing sub-standard food items.

Chittagong district administration, Chittagong City Corporation, Rapid Action Battalion and Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection have been conducting drives and mobile courts for the past few weeks.

The mobile court drives discovered that many food items like butter, vermicelli, puffed rice, bakery items, sweetmeats and curd were being adulterated with hazardous chemicals in an indiscriminate manner.

Top brand restaurants, super shops and bakeries of the city like Well Food Centre, Handi, Khulshi Mart and The Grocers were fined during the anti-adulteration drives.

On Sunday, a mobile court busted a factory in the city which was man-

BNP leader Aslam indicted for vandalism in Chittagong n Tribune Desk A Chittagong court yesterday framed vandalism charges against BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury.

The court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan has indicted Aslam after taking the charges brought by Sitakundu police into cognizance.

The court has also set September 19 for the next hearing in the case.

Court sources said Sub-Inspector of Sitakunda police station Nazrul Islam filed the case against Aslam under the Special Power Act 1974 on charges of vandalising vehicles during a hartal enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance on November 16, 2013.

On April 12, 2014, police submitted charge sheet against 42 people, including BNP’s Joint Secretary General Aslam and a number of leaders and activists of the party.

Police arrested Aslam from Khilkhet area in Dhaka on May 15.

Later, police have brought charges of treason against him. l

ufacturing adulterated ‘Baghabari Special Gawa Ghee’ with palm oil, glue, harmful chemical and colour.

On the same day, a mobile court of Chittagong City Corporation fined Kutumbari Restaurant located in Alankar area with Tk1 lakh for preserving date-expired fish and meat.

and ‘Fulkoli Food Products’ with Tk10 lakh for applying date-expired food colour in manufacturing cake and sweetmeat.

On June 10, a mobile court of Chittagong district administration fined five super shops of the city with Tk5 lakh in total for selling

‘Unlike any other country of the world, it is very easy to open an eatery in Bangladesh. The authorities concerned should take stern action against the errant businesses’ A mobile court of Rapid Action Battalion fined ‘Banoful & Co Ltd’ with Tk15 lakh for using harmful ammonia for making biscuits crispy.

“Ammonia is harmful for human consumption. It is used generally in fertilizer and textile industry. However, the errant bakery was using it for making the biscuits crispy,” said Sarwar Alam, executive magistrate of RAB. The same mobile court on the same day fined ‘Sizzle’, a leading food processing company with Tk3 lakh for applying colour in making cakes which is unfit for human consumption.

The same mobile court fined ‘Flavor Sweet and Bakers’ with Tk8 lakh

substandard items unfit for human consumption.

SM Nazer Hossain, vice-president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said: “The food adulterers of the port city have become so desperate that they do not care about the mobile courts. Regrettably the consumers cannot even depend on the top eateries and superstores as they are also adulterating foods only to make some quick books.”

“Unlike any other country of the world, it is very easy to open an eatery in Bangladesh. The authorities concerned should take stern action against the errant businesses which are posing a serious threat to the public health,” added the consum-

DT

News ers’ rights activist.

“The local administration has to grapple with so many works. Therefore, Consumer Rights Protection Department and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution should take the lead role and enhance their activities against food adulteration,” he added.

“We are not sitting idle. As part of market monitoring, we are conducting drives against food adulteration on a regular basis,” said Md Ullah, assistant director of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Chittagong.

Tahmilur Rahman, executive magistrates of Chittagong district administration, said: “We are taking stern actions against the errant businesses involved with adulterating foods. Apart from sentencing the unscrupulous traders with imprisonment, we are slapping fine on them,” said the magistrate.

Expressing his grave concern over massive food adulteration, Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Azizur Rahman Siddique said: “Harmful chemicals applied on food items for colouring, brightness and freshness damage liver and kidney, and cause respiratory problem, cancer and allergy.” l

‘Purbachal likely to accommodate 10 million people’ n BSS Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the implementation of Purbachal New Town Project would create accommodation facilities for about 10 million people.

He said this in the Jatiya Sangsad while replying to a question of treasury bench member Begum Pinu Khan.

The minister said there are 25,016 residential and 1,992 other plots in the town and around 85% work on land development has been completed.

There was no plot in the Purbachal New Town Project at this moment for allocation, he said.

Meanwhile, clearance certificate of design for constructing of buildings on the plots fit for taking possession has been given, he said.

Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said the project would be fit for human habitation after development of infrastructure.

The minister said the government has handed over 1,815 plots to allottees in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phases of the housing project. l

Wholesaler’s trick makes sugar market volatile n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong The price of sugar could not be kept under control in Chittagong despite the drive of a mobile court towards the beginning of Holy Ramadan due to the invention of a new technique by a wholesaler.

Mir Ahmed Sowdagar Traders at the largest commodity hub Khatunganj wholesale market in the city was fined Tk20 lakh and warned by the court for selling sugar at Tk58 after purchasing at Tk46 at the beginning of the month.

“However, the sugar wholesaler invented a new way of making quick bucks. It compelled the retailers to buy 32 litres of mustard oil from Ibanat Traders, a sister concern of Mir Traders, for purchasing every five sacks (containing 250 kg) of sugar from it,” said Executive Magistrates of Chittagong district administration Tahmilur Rahman.

“During a visit to Khatunganj wholesale market, we discovered that Mir Traders compelled the retailers to buy 56,000 litres of mustard oil in the last seven days. The retailers shoot up the price of sugar as they failed to sell the oil,” added the magistrate.

Around 200 retailers informed that they had to stand in a queue after Sehri to collect sugar from the Traders and they were compelled

A mobile court of Chittagong district administration sentenced a sugar wholesaler to one month imprisonment and fined him along with three other for sugar price manipulation. The photo was taken at the district administration office RABIN CHOWHURY to purchase mustard oil, as it had made a huge stock of sugar before the month of Ramadan, said the magistrate.

On information, a mobile court, led by Executive Magistrates of Chittagong district administration

Tahmilur Rahman, Syed Murad and Sheikh Nurul Alam, was conducted at the market yesterday.

Jane Alam, managing director of Mir Traders, was fined Tk 20 lakh again for making the sugar market volatile. Mir Mohammad Hossain,

proprietor of Ibnat Traders, was sentenced to one month of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk one lakh. Besides, Kanchan Majumder and Abul Quasem, employees of the same enterprise, were also fined Tk 50,000 each. l

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistani clerics: Marriage of trans-gender people legal under Sharia

A group of clerics in Pakistan has declared marriage between transgender individuals permissible in Islam, saying they have a right to be buried in Muslim ceremonies.

Transgender people also have full rights under Islamic inheritance law, the Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat Pakistan, a little-known clerical body in the eastern city of Lahore, said in its fatwa.

-REUTERS

INDIA

Indian PM defends underfire outgoing RBI chief Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed a party colleague for inappropriate personal attacks on popular central bank chief Raghuram Rajan which are thought to have contributed to his departure. Modi also said he appreciated Rajan’s work.

-AFP

CHINA

Top China envoy visits Vietnam ahead of court ruling

A top Chinese diplomat is visiting Vietnam ahead of a ruling by an international court on Beijing’s extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea. The visit by State Councillor Yang Jiechi comes as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is expected to issue a ruling on South China Sea. -AP

ASIA PACIFIC

Taiwan to test-fire missiles in US Taiwan plans to test-fire its newest anti-missile system for the first time in the US next month as relations with rival China deteriorate, a defence source and media reports said Monday. The test of the US-made Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system will be launched at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in early July.

-AFP

MIDDLE EAST

CIA weapons for Syrian insurgents sold in black market

Weapons shipped into Jordan for Syrian rebels by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, the New York Times reported, citing American and Jordanian officials. Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman.

-REUTERS

INSIGHT

To #Brexit or #Regrexit?

DIVISIONS AND TENSION AFTER BREXIT Far right wants referendum on EU membership

SCOTLAND Voted to stay in the EU First Minister says new referendum on Scottish independence “likely”

Some parties want EU membership terms renegotiated

SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

NORTHERN IRELAND

Tensions

DENMARK

Founding member of European Union

NETHERLANDS

Voted to stay in the EU Sinn Fein (pro-EU) wants a referendum on uniting N. Ireland and the Irish Republic Fears of a return to border controls between the two Irelands

SLOVAKIA

FRANCE

Gibraltar Voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU

SPAIN

Madrid wants to regain control of the British enclave

n Reuters, London To leave, or not to leave: that is the question. Still.

After Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union, there is no indication that a so-called Brexit will happen soon. It maybe never will.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who is resigning, has said he will not take the formal step to an EU divorce on the grounds that his successor should. Because the referendum is not legally-binding, some politicians are suggesting a parliament vote before formally triggering Brexit.

A petition on the UK government’s website on holding a second referendum has gained more than 3m signatories in just two days.

European leaders, facing the biggest threat to European unity since World War II, are divided over how swiftly divorce talks should start. Paris wants haste and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging patience. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he wanted to “start immediately”.

And on Sunday, Scotland’s leader said Scotland may veto Brexit altogether. Under devolution rules, the parliaments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are required to consent to any EU di-

Calais (FRANCE)

Local politicians are questioning a deal reached with Britain to stop migrants crossing the Channel to England

vorce, according to a report by the House of Lords.

Most British politicians agree such a decisive 52%-48% win for Leave in the referendum means a divorce must happen. Anything less would be a slap in the face of democracy.

Still, the upswell of chatter #Regrexit is trending big on twitter - over whether Britain might be able to reconsider speaks to the disbelief gripping this continent in the wake of a vote that has unleashed financial and political mayhem.

Sterling has plunged, and Britain’s political parties are both crippled. Cameron is a lameduck leader, and the main opposition Labour party on Sunday attempted a coup against its leader, with nine top officials resigning.

possibly at a Tuesday EU meeting.

But officials of the Leave campaign - including former London mayor Boris Johnson - are stepping on the brakes. They say they want to negotiate Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU before formally pulling the trigger to divorce.

European officials and observers say such a deal is unlikely, especially considering the thorny issues involved.

For example, it is unlikely that the EU would grant Britain access to the single market - key to allowing Britain trade goods and services in the EU - without London accepting the free movement of EU workers. But the biggest issue for those who voted to leave the bloc was limits on immigration - something the Leave campaigners promised.

Article 50

On Sunday, a petition to call for a second referendum was gaining supporters, reaching 3.3m signatories by the afternoon.

But Perhaps the most vocal resistance to a British exit is coming from Scotland.

Scotland, a nation of five million people, voted to stay in the EU by 62% to 38%, compared to the 54% in England who voted to leave.

Under the United Kingdom’s complex arrangements to devolve

The law provisioning an EU member country’s exit from the union is Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that is effectively the EU’s constitution. It has never been invoked before.

Before the vote, Cameron had said Article 50 would be triggered straight away if Britain voted to leave. Over the weekend, several EU officials also said the UK needed to formally split right away -

Divided UK

Brussels

European summit June 28-29 The 6 EU founding states want Britain to start the EU exit process soon London wants to go at its own pace

some powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, legislation generated in London to set off an EU divorce would have to gain consent from the three devolved parliaments, according to a report by the House of Lords’ European Union Committee.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC on Sunday that she would consider urging the Scottish parliament to block such a motion. It is not clear, however, whether such a scenario would ever materialise or be binding.

Sturgeon’s spokesman later said that the British government might not seek consent in the first place.

Moreover, Sturgeon is simply laying out the groundwork for a new referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom --something the first minister said was “highly likely.”

Withdrawal

While there is no precedent for Article 50, the House of Lords has discussed how any Brexit would work.

In May, it published a report after consultations with legal experts.

In the report, Derrick Wyatt, one of the professors involved, said that while it would be politically difficult, the law allows the UK to change its mind after invoking Article 50. l

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

ANALYSIS

USA

Economic resentment: Behind the success of Brexit and Trump n Tribune International Desk The UK’s stunning vote to leave the European Union was driven by much of the same sentiment that fuelled Donald Trump’s insurgent march toward the Republican presidential nod: a rejection of economic globalisation and the elites who favour it by those who feel left behind.

Many economists warn that the British vote to leave the EU, dubbed “Brexit,” could cripple that nation’s economy - just as many say Trump’s ideas would stifle US growth or even trigger another recession.

Millions of voters have defied those concerns. The Brexit vote and Trump’s widespread support reflect a sweeping rejection of expert opinion in advanced countries.

Yet that rejection itself could raise the likelihood of further economic harm, some economists warn.

A supporter of Donald Trump holds a banner at a campaign rally in Dallas REUTERS At first glance, the UK and US economies look comparatively healthy. Both have low unemployment rates. Both have recovered from the Great Recession better than either continental Europe or Japan.

Yet in both countries, those figures conceal underlying weaknesses.

Stark regional differences are also evident in both countries.

London has boomed in recent years along with its thriving finan-

cial sector, and home prices in the city have soared. By contrast, steel plants and coal mines have closed in Northern England and Wales.

A similar economic divergence is visible in the US: Thriving technology startups have invigorated a handful of cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and Denver.

But jobs and incomes have grown more slowly in other metro areas and in rural areas.

In the US, pay-cheques have recovered from the recession but have risen much more slowly than they did beforehand. And both countries took much longer to recover from the downturn than they did after past recessions.

The “Leave” supporters argued that Britain’s economy would improve once it threw off excess regulation imposed by Europe and was no longer yoked to continental Europe’s moribund growth.

Yet many economists say UK companies may face new barriers to their exports in Europe after they leave. The EU will want to negotiate tough terms with Great Britain to discourage other countries from leaving the union.

Many companies, particularly international banks, which have a huge presence in London, could shift thousands of employees from London to Paris or other cities on the continent.

Trump and Brexit supporters express eagerness for change, regardless of the warnings from experts. l

POST-ELECTION SCENARIOS

Spain has no easy options for new government

Calendar

Once the new parliament and senate are operational, from July 19 onwards, it will be up to King Felipe VI to nominate a candidate to become prime minister though he would normally wait until the parties can agree on a nominee. If the candidate fails to secure an absolute majority on the floor of the 350-seat lower house -- at least 176 votes -- then a second vote is held 48 hours later. At the second vote, the candidate only needs a simple majority of votes cast. With abstentions, the required majority would therefore be lower. If the

SPAIN’S INCOMING PARLIAMENT Official results of legislative elections (99.9% of votes counted)

176

Absolute majority

25 32

85 71

2

ing parliament tgo 26 40 Ou

137

90

69

350

Source: Interior ministry

Spain’s centre-right People’s Party (PP) came first in a general election on Sunday, but acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy fell short of a majority for the second time in six months and will face arduous talks to reach a form a government.

All other parties fell or were stable and with no easy coalition in sight. Talks to reach a majority could take weeks. The constitution does not set a deadline for the process.

Following are the major issues and scenarios which will determine who becomes Spain’s next premier:

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123

seats

Unidos Podemos Far-left coalition

Podemos and allies Far left

Socialists (PSOE) Centre-left

Popular Party Right-wing

Izquierda Unida (IU) Green-Communist

Ciudadanos Centre-right

Regional parties

candidate still falls short, the King must put forward another one. If no candidate can assemble a majority within two months of the first vote, new elections must be held.

Centre-right pact between the PP and Ciudadanos

A tie-up between the PP and the centrist Ciudadanos would reach 169 seats, just seven short of an absolute majority. They could

potentially attract a further six seats from regional parties in the Basque Country and the Canary Islands. In contrast to the last election, Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera has not ruled out a pact with the PP, though the party has insisted that Rajoy should not lead any coalition.

‘Grand coalition’ between the PP and the Socialists

Rajoy’s preferred option ahead of

the vote was a “grand coalition” of the traditional conservative and socialist parties. This would total 222 seats and provide enough stability to keep reforming the economy over the next four years.

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez had ruled out this option on several occasions before the election but on Sunday he said he would put the socialists’ parliamentarians “at the service of the general interest”.

PP minority government

If Rajoy were not able to secure the backing of centre-right parties or the Socialists, he could attempt to form a minority government with the PP’s 137 seats. In that case, he would be relying on the Socialists and Ciudadanos to abstain in any test of confidence in his government.

Centre-left coalition between Unidos Podemos and PSOE

A combination of all left-wing forces would fall short of a majority with 156 seats and is highly unlikely given the falling support for the socialist party as well as major policy differences between Socialists and Unidos Podemos. l

Source: REUTERS

US Supreme Court strikes down Texas abortion law The US Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to abortion rights advocates, striking down a Texas law imposing strict regulations on abortion doctors and facilities that its critics contended were specifically designed to shut down clinics. The 5-3 ruling held that the Republican-backed 2013 law placed an undue burden on women exercising their constitutional right to end a pregnancy. -REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Obama heads to last summit with Canada, Mexico President Barack Obama will meet with leaders of Canada and Mexico on Wednesday for his final Three Amigos summit, a meeting that may signal how keen the North American partners are to tout trade at a time of rising protectionist sentiment. The Brexit vote is bound to be an important theme for Obama’s meetings with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

-REUTERS

UK

Northern Ireland sees spike in passport queries after Brexit Ireland has seen a spike in interest from British nationals seeking to gain an Irish passport and remain a citizen of the EU after Britain voted to leave the bloc, the Irish foreign office said on Monday. Anybody born in the Irish Republic or Northern Ireland, or with an Irish parent or grandparent, is entitled to an Irish passport.

-REUTERS

EUROPE

Poland for superpower confederation of EU states Poland on Monday called for EU institutional reforms that would make Europe a superpower through creating a confederation of nation states under a president in charge of a powerful military.

Poland’s rightwing leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a strong opponent of European federalism, insisted that after Britain voted to leave the bloc, it was imperative to preserve a Europe of nation states.

-AFP

AFRICA

2 killed, 70 wounded in Madagascar concert blast At least 2 people were killed and some 70 wounded in a grenade blast at a stadium in Madagascar’s capital Sunday during celebrations marking the country’s independence day.

President Hery Rajaonarimampianina called the blast an unacceptable terrorist act, when he visited the 70 people wounded in hospital.

-AFP

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

FACT CHECK

10 leave (or stay?) scenarios for UK after Brexit Stalemate between Britain and the European Union over what happens next following Britons’ referendum vote to leave has opened up a host of possible scenarios.

Here are some that are (in some cases, barely) conceivable--

1. By the book Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he will resign after losing his gamble to end British ambivalence about staying in, agrees with the EU establishment that the only legal way to leave is to use Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to negotiate a withdrawal. He wants to leave triggering the process to his successor, who may not be chosen by the Conservative party until October. EU leaders want him to do it now, or at least as soon as possible, but they lack the legal power to force him.

In the most amicable divorce scenario, Britain would trigger Article 50, possibly (though unlikely now) as early as Tuesday when Cameron meets the other 27 EU leaders at a Brussels summit, or via a formal letter later from Cameron or his successor. That sets a two-year time limit on negotiating an amicable withdrawal. Ideally, it would divide up assets and liabilities in the shared EU budget and other priority business, such as perhaps the status of British and other EU citizens who find themselves living on the wrong side of a hard new UK-EU border.

In an even more ideal world, it would set out a new, close economic relationship between Britain and the EU, possibly in a separate, parallel treaty taking effect from the exit date. The withdrawal treaty can be enacted by just 20 of the 27 other states representing 65% of the remaining population. A full new relationship would probably need unanimous support. Two years is very tight but the negotiations can be extended if all 28 countries agree.

If there is no deal, then Britain is simply out of the EU two years after Article 50 was triggered -- an outcome written in to the treaty to limit uncertainties.

Reality Really? Too good to be true. The EU is never this easy

2. ‘Sorry, we didn’t mean it’ Britain is in political meltdown, with both main parties in civil war and pro-EU Scotland threatening to either block Brexit legally (unclear how) or break away. The referendum result is not constitutionally binding and government and parliament, maybe after a new election, could just ignore it. If so, the EU would carry on as before but a special membership deal it gave Cameron in February has been killed by the referendum result.

Reality Really? Pushes democratic credibility beyond breaking point

3. ‘We mean it, but not yet’ Brexit campaigners have long been suspicious of the two-year limit in Article 50 and some have explicitly said it should

NEGOTIATING A NEW UK-EU RELATIONSHIP Possible scenarios for new UK-EU ties after more than 4 decades of union Benefits and drawbacks Join the European Economic Area (EEA)

A free trade agreement

Iceland Norway Liechtenstein

E.g. EU-Canada agreement Most customs tariffs waived

Access to EU internal market

Financial services, crucial to the City of London, not included

Simple procedure for joining

Less duty free access than Britain currently enjoys as an EU member

Bilateral agreements Individual deals for specific sectors (e.g. fishing) only formally be triggered after they have agreed a comprehensive free trade deal that relieves Britain of EU rules such as open EU immigration. Five years or more is the norm globally for such big trade deals. Britain would be a full EU member until then. That is a nightmare scenario for EU leaders, plunging the bloc into open-ended negotiations with its second biggest power that would inspire eurosceptics across the bloc to emulate it and distract governments from other pressing European issues. They rule out opening any negotiation until Britain binds itself to the timetable set out in Article 50. And they insist Britain cannot have its cake on market access and still eat it by ending EU budget payments and free movement of workers. In theory, there could be an endless standoff, with Britain the sulky teenager at the table, poisoning the atmosphere next year as France and Germany run elections and the EU starts confrontational talks on a new 7-year budget. Something would have to give and some compromise would start to be worked out.

Reality Really? Compromise is the EU way; don’t rule this out

4. ‘We mean it -- or maybe we didn’t’ Article 50 suggests a one-way exit, rather than a revolving door. EU officials insist that once triggered, a state cannot back out and stay. Lawyers are divided, however. Some British experts believe the leave notice could simply be withdrawn.

In Brussels, others say that could happen but only if agreed by all. A future British government might conclude that the

EU internal market rules apply EU rules on the freedom of people (migration) apply Substantial UK financial contribution required

The Swiss model Agreeing a plethora of sectoral deals, like Switzerland, would take years best way to end divorce proceedings is just to agree to stay married.

Reality Really? See scenario 2, but with added fading of memories

5. ‘Can we just tweak this quickly?’

Some Brexit campaigners have suggested that the Leave vote simply serve as leverage to renegotiate better, semi-detached terms for Britain inside the EU which could be put to another referendum. EU leaders have ruled that out on the same grounds as above that “cherry picking” will spread and wreck the Union. Cameron’s deal, to protect the City of London from the euro zone and curb EU immigration, has been killed by a clause that linked it to last week’s referendum result. So any talks would start from a lower base and EU leaders would have to eat their words.

But some kind of “associate membership” or “special partnership” has been around as an idea in Europe for a time.

Reality Really? see 4, but never say never in Euro-compromise land

6. ‘Let’s just slip into something more comfortable’ Britain could try to join the European Economic Area or European Free Trade Association, joining the likes of Norway, Switzerland or Iceland in close partnerships with the EU. That could fly with the EU but British leaders would have to persuade Brexit voters to agree to the EU budget contributions and migrants that are accepted by some of those countries.

It also would lack the kind of EU market access for services trade which is so im-

Financial institutions cannot export directly to the EU

portant to Britain’s big financial sector. A more tailor-made deal would bring things back to earlier scenarios.

Reality Really? Doesn’t seem to be what britons want, at least now

7. ‘Why don’t we start again?’

One extreme view is that the fallout from Brexit in the EU might be so cataclysmic that Europeans would go back to the drawing board and effectively create a new kind of Union that could include Britain. Marshalling disparate national ambitions into a new structure would be a colossal task, not least in the wake of the bitterness that the current crisis has engendered.

Reality Really? A definite long shot, not one for the near future

8. Second time lucky?

Some people who voted to Leave have said that if it doesn’t work outside, Britain could always join the EU again. That is true, though it would get no favours.

It would face a years-long accession process and require unanimous acceptance by existing members and have to accept a host of conditions that Britain has opted out of during its past 43 years -- notably adopting the euro and a virtually 50% rebate on EU membership fees.

Reality

independent Scotland could somehow simply sit in the vacant UK chair in Brussels is dismissed by EU officials. At the time of the 2014 independence referendum, the EU said Scotland could apply for membership but would go to the “back of the queue”, behind the likes of Serbia, and that its hope of keeping the pound rather than the euro was a non-starter.

There is some sympathy for Scots losing their place in the EU but also deep suspicion of secession, especially in Spain, Belgium and Italy, which have their own separatist problems. And a veto.

Reality Really? Not soon, but Scotland could join the EU one day

10. Slamming the door A new British government simply walks out. It could launch Article 50 and leave legally in 2019 without any negotiation.

It could also ignore the two-year notice period and tear up its treaty obligations and quit right away, though that would undermine its credibility as a party to international law. There is, however, nothing the EU can do to prevent that. It could retaliate on trade or against Britons living in the EU, however much that would create a painful tit-for-tat that would badly hurt Europe’s economy and citizens.

Nonetheless, EU leaders fear that letting Brexit Britain walk all over them will only inspire other European nationalists to destroy the Union.

Really? One for the (very long-lived) birds

Reality

9. ‘Room for a little one?’

Really? Threat of mutually assured destruction then detente? l

Some Scots hope to avoid Brexit by breaking from England. An idea that an

Source: REUTERS

11

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Israel, Turkey end 6-year standoff over energy prospect Israel and Turkey announced on Monday they would normalise ties after a six-year rupture, a rare rapprochement in the divided Middle East driven by the prospect of lucrative Mediterranean gas deals as well as mutual fears over growing security risks.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the two countries would exchange ambassadors as soon as possible.

The mending in relations between the once-firm allies after years of negotiations raises the prospect of eventual cooperation to exploit natural gas reserves worth hundreds of billions of dollars under the eastern Mediterranean, officials have said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it opened the way

REUTERS

n Reuters, Ankara/Jerusalem

for possible Israeli gas supplies to Europe via Turkey.

The move also comes as the Middle East is polarized by Syria’s civil war and as the rise of Islamic State threatens regional security, leaving both countries in need of new alli-

ances.

Relations between Israel and what was once its only Muslim ally crumbled after Israeli marines stormed an aid ship in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and killed 10

Turkish activists on board.

Kerry welcomed the deal, saying, “We are obviously pleased in the administration. This is a step we wanted to see happen.”

Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador and froze military cooperation after a 2011 UN report into the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara largely exonerated the Jewish state.

Israel and Nato member Turkey, which both border Syria, reduced intelligence sharing and canceled joint military exercises.

Netanyahu made clear the naval blockade of Gaza, which Ankara had wanted lifted under the deal, would remain in force, although humanitarian aid could continue to be transferred to Gaza via Israeli ports.

This is a supreme security interest of ours. I was not willing to compromise on it. This interest is essen-

tial to prevent the force-buildup by Hamas and it remains as has been and is,” Netanyahu said.

But Yildirim said the “wholesale” blockade of Gaza was largely lifted under the deal, enabling Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid and other non-military products.

A first shipment of 10,000 tonnes would be sent next Friday, he said, and work would begin immediately to tackle Gaza’s water and power supply crisis.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by phone on Sunday night and told him the deal would improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, sources in his office said. They said Western-backed Abbas, who lost control of Gaza to Hamas in fighting in 2007, had expressed satisfaction. l

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

TOP STORIES Teletalk strikes $39.2m deal with Huawei for its 2G, 3G network expansions State-run mobile phone operator Teletalk has struck a US$39.2 million deal with Chinese firm Huawei for its 2G and 3G network upgradation and expansion.

PAGE 13

Europe exit dulls Britain’s appeal to Asia Inc Britain no longer looks like a sunny safe haven for Asian corporations.

Companies from Japan to India have historically been drawn to the United Kingdom for its stable market, its openness to foreign investment, and access to the European Union. Now they must grapple with a weak currency, political disarray, and a likely recession. Until they have more clarity on the future terms of trade between Britain and the European Union, investment in the country will suffer.

PAGE 14

China’s Li: Brexit heightens global uncertainty Britain’s vote to leave the European Union has added new uncertainties to the global economy at a time when downward pressures on China are mounting, Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday at a World Economic Forum meeting. PAGE 14

Capital market snapshot: Monday DSE Broad Index

4,412.8

0.7% ▲

Index

1,085.9

0.5% ▲

30 Index

1,726.4

0.7% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

3,521.1

32.5% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

93.7

8.5% ▲

All Share Index 13,512.5

0.7% ▲

30 Index

12,464.9

0.7% ▲

8,223.7

0.7% ▲

CSE

Selected Index Turnover in Mn Tk

653.8 -17.5% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

8.5 -23.2% ▼

Bangladesh, India agree to expedite setting up of more border haats n Kayes Sohel Bangladesh and India have agreed to increase the number of markets along the border, aimed at boosting economic activities of the people living in the border areas.

Know as border haats, they will be along the Bangladesh border with the Indian northeastern states of Meghalaya and Tripura.

However, delay in renewal of mode of operation (MoO) and memorandum of understanding (MoU) has put a lid on establishing boarder haats, according to minutes of a two-day meeting of India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on trade ended on June 8.

The MoO and MoU between Dhaka and New Delhi, which were signed on 23rd of October, 2010 for a period of three years and expired on 22nd of October, 2013.

“MoO and MoU were not renewed yet even after their expiry of over two and a half years. However, both countries are keen to set up more haats expeditiously,” said an official.

A draft for renewal of the agreements was presented by Bangladesh in the meeting, seeking comments from India side.

In reply, India said internal consultations and stakeholders discussions have taken place and a revised draft proposed by India would be shared with Bangladesh shortly, said the minutes.

A haat on the Bangladesh-India border About the setting up 22 more border haats proposed by India in JWG on trade meeting in 2013, India side said the finalisation of the exact location of the proposed new boarder haats is pending in Tripura as well as Meghalya, as Joint Haat Management Committee meetings could not be convened.

In response, Bangladesh side said since the Mou and MoO on boarder haats have expired in 2013, further discussion on this issue should made after renewal of the MoU and MoO. The Indian side requested that pending the renewal, the exact locations of the proposed six new boarders haats (two border haats in Tripura and four in Meghalaya on the Bangladesh border) could be finalized.

Bangladesh proposed to set up in four suitable places—Kom-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

panigonj (Sylhet)-East Khas Hills (Meghalaya), Tahirpur (Sunamgonj)-South West Khas Hills (Meghalaya), Dhubaura (Mymanshinj)-South Garo Hills ( Meghalaya) and Ryngkua (Sunamgonj)-East Khasi Hills (Meghalaya).

During a visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010, it was agreed that border haats shall be established on a pilot basis at selected areas, including on the Meghalaya border, to allow trade in specified products and in accordance with the regulations agreed and notified by both the governments.

Four border haats including Kalaichar (Meghalaya- Bangladesh border); Balat (Meghalaya-Bangladesh border); Kamlasagar (Tripura-Bangladesh border) and Srinagar (Tripura- Bangladesh border) are already operational.

The Border Haats will promote the well-being of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of the two countries, by establishing traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets in local currency or barter basis.

Though not significant as a percentage of bilateral trade, these measures help to improve economic well-being of marginalised sections of society, according to Indian government statement.

The haats, once thriving centres of trade and commerce, were shut down after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

These haats are aimed at uplifting the economic status of people by establishing the traditional system of marketing of local produce, and would be operating at different timings in summer and winter.

Meghalaya and other northeastern states are surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China on three sides and the only land route access to these states from within India is through Assam and West Bengal.

The lengthy route through Assam passes through hilly terrain with steep roads and multiple hairpin bends. Four northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880 km border with Bangladesh, while Meghalaya shares a 443 km border with the nation. l

Brexit not a concern for forex market in Bangladesh n Jebun Nesa Alo The exchange rates of foreign currencies except British Pound Sterling still remain stable in Bangladesh’s forex market even after the exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) on June 23.

The country’s economists are not yet concerned about the Brexit as it has no short-term direct impact on Bangladesh’s financial market.

However, they feared that the country might face the impact on the export and remittance in the long run.

The exchange rate of US dollar was Tk78, Euro was Tk87 as of June 26 and the rate was almost same a week before.

There has been no fluctuation in the exchange rate of the two currencies after Brexit but pound rate plunged to Tk107 from Tk115 even after the British referendum, accord-

ing to the Bangladesh Bank data. ‘’Brexit is not a major concern for Bangladesh’s forex market at this moment,’’ said Allah Malik Kazemi, change management advisor of Bangladesh Bank.

He also predicted that the exchange rate of the pound would be stable soon although its rate abruptly went down just because of the panic created due the turmoil in the United Kingdom.

“So, Bangladesh Bank has no plan to intervene into the forex market,” he said.

However, he projected that both the remittance inflow from the UK and export would suffer in the long run as a result of the Brexit.

“As the United Kingdom is poised to be more conservative about the migrant issue after the Brexit, it will hurt our remittance inflow. Besides, exports have the threat to be hurt with the falling rate of pound as the exported

goods from Bangladesh will be more expensive to the British buyers,’’ he added.

He also forecasted that Brexit might hamper the global economic growth which would eventually affect the growth of Bangladesh.

Global trade openness will also

be reduced as the consequence of Brexit but all these impacts may have long term impact on Bangladesh economy. ‘’It is true that Brexit has given us a signal that the bad days are coming are bad for global economy’’, he opined. l

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Teletalk strikes $39.2m deal with Huawei for its 2G, 3G network expansions n Ishtiaq Husain

State-run mobile phone operator Teletalk has struck a US$39.2 million deal with Chinese firm Huawei for its 2G and 3G network upgradation and expansion.

Gias Uddin Ahmed, managing director of Teletalk and Colin Shi Put Pen, chief technology officer (CTO) of Huawei signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at a ceremony held at Posts and Telecommunications Division in the city yesterday.

State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Hal-

im, Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Division, Dr Shahjahan Mahmood, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) were present on this occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Tarana Halim said: “Huawei will install 685 2G BTSs and 559 3G BTS and upgrade core network of Teletalk in next 18 months involving $39.2 million under the agreement.”

She hoped that the implementation of this project would help Teletalk to expand its coverage in

remote areas across the country.

Pointing out that nearly 8,000 BTS are required for the Teletalk to expand its footprint across the country, but the operator, what she said, is offering services through only 3,750 BTS. Referring to the government’s initiatives of Teletalk’s network upgradation and expansion, the state minister said: “Another new project has been undertaken for the operator’s 2G and 3G network expansion in rural areas.”

On June 21, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Teletalk’s

3G network expansion project.

The project work will begin next month and is scheduled to be completed by December, 2017.

Under the project, Teletalk will set up cyber centres and 1,200 base transceiver stations (BTS). Besides, a total of over 500 BTS of 2.5G will be built.

Earlier, the government had tried to manage foreign loan to expand its 3G network. But their steps failed to manage foreign loan though initiatives were taken several times. The government rebranded the staterun mobile operator with its new logo on March 8. l

Banks asked to ensure electronic transaction during Eid vacation

n Tribune Business Desk

Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks to ensure electronic transaction through ATM (automated teller machine), POS (point of sale) and e-Payment gateway system.

Banks have been asked to ensure electronic transaction all time during Eid festival as most people will make transaction using their cards during long vacation, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

The central bank instructed banks to take some necessary measures in the best interest of their clients in case of electronic transaction.

The measures include keeping ATM and POS network open all time and ensuring cash supply in ATM booths, which will by no means remain closed during vacation while the presence of security guard has to be ensured.

The clients will be sent message in case of ATM and POS transaction of any amount. They will be notified early if POS service remains closed for any unavoidable reason, said the circular. Stressing the importance of electronic transaction, Bangladesh Bank suggested banks to ensure helpline support so that clients are not harassed, added the circular. l

Members of newly elected executive committee of BASIS pose for a group photograph yesterday

COURTESY

Mustafa Jabbar elected as BASIS president n Ishtiaq Husain Renowned IT expert Mustafa Jabbar has been elected as the president of the country’s top trade body for Software and IT companies, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), for the term 2016-2019.

Russell T Ahmed (Team Creative) was elected as senior vice-president while M Rashidul Hasan (Systech Digital Limited)

and Farhana A Rahman (UY Systems Limited) became vice-presidents for the term.

The election was held at the BASIS office located in Karwan Bazar on June 25. The primary result of the election was announced thereafter.

Other elected executive council members are Uttam Kumar Paul (Best Business Bond Limited), Mostafizur Rahman Sohel (Advanced ERP BD Limited), Syed Almas Kabir (Metronet Bangladesh Limit-

ed), Sonia Bashir Kabir (Microsoft Bangladesh) and Riyad SA Husain (Magnito Digital) who will take up their positions as directors.

Mustafa Jabbar said: “We had declared in our election manifesto that we will work for the country, domestic Software and IT sector. Our top priority will be to realise that vision.”

“We will also work for freeing the sector from dominance of foreign companies and move forward with the target.” l

Le Méridien gets certificate of excellence n Tribune Business Desk Le Méridien Dhaka, an upper upscale hotel of Starwood Hotels & Resort Worldwide operating in Bangladesh, has recently received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, the hotel said in a statement yesterday.

The achievement bears testimo-

ny to hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

The Certificate of Excellence recipients include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.

Le Méridien Dhaka began guest

operation on 01 June 2015 with a soft launch and then came up with full-fledged operation from 15 November 2015. Over the past year, a distinct pattern has formed in the positive reviews earned by this new hotel on the TripAdvisor review platform.

The design and amalgamation of the facilities of the hotel seem

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Business

to create a great impact with guests who stay and dine at the chic modern hotel.

“With the Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor honours hospitality businesses that have consistently received strong praise and ratings from travellers”, said Heather Leisman, vice president of Industry Marketing, TripAdvisor. l

Customs houses closed only on Eid day, July 8 and 9 n Tribune Business Desk The customs houses will remain closed only on Eid day, July 8 and 9 during the nine-day holidays beginning from July 1.

The National Board of Revenue has decided to keep the customs houses open on other six days during this long vacation so the country’s export and import activities do not suffer.

An official order was issued yesterday to Dhaka Customs House, Chittagong Customs House, Kamalapur Inland Container Depot, Mongla Customs House, Benapole Customs House, Pangaon Customs House, Dhaka Bond Commissionerate and Chittagong Bond Commissionerate.

According to the order, the customs houses will also remain closed for 48 hours from 7:00pm on July 7 to 7:00pm on July 9 for upgradation of Asycuda World automated system of customs data.

However, there will be arrangement for manual operation of very urgent export activities during the hours, NBR added.

NBR has also requested relevant stakeholders, including relevant ports, bank branches, and other concerned agencies to keep their offices closed only on those three days so the necessary activities can be carried out smoothly.

The government offices will go into nine-day long holidays from July 1. These holidays include weeekly holidays and Shab-e-Qadar holiday. l

Phoenix to invest over Tk10cr in AkjerDeal.com n Tribune Business Desk Silicon valley-based venture capital company Phoenix will invest over Tk10 crore in Bangladesh’s leading e-commerce marketplace AkjerDeal.com.

Fahim Mashroor, chief executive officer of AjkerDeal, and Phoenix general partner Shamim Ahsan, came up with the announcement at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel yesterday.

Fahim said this investment will help AjkerDeal develop its ICT sector.

According to Shamim Ahsan, the e-commerce local company has not enough money to invest in this sector. So, there is an urgent need to make a level playing field.

Earlier, Phoenix announced it would invest $200 million dollar in Bangladeshi e-commerce sector. l

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Europe exit dulls Britain’s appeal to Asia Inc n Una Galani Britain no longer looks like a sunny safe haven for Asian corporations.

Companies from Japan to India have historically been drawn to the United Kingdom for its stable market, its openness to foreign investment, and access to the European Union. Now they must grapple with a weak currency, political disarray, and a likely recession. Until they have more clarity on the future terms of trade between Britain and the European Union, investment in the country will suffer.

The vote to leave the European Union makes the United Kingdom less attractive as a standalone market. A prolonged economic

The vote to leave the European Union makes the United Kingdom less attractive as a standalone market. A prolonged economic slowdown will hurt even those companies that have invested in relatively stable assets like power stations or telecoms slowdown will hurt even those companies that have invested in relatively stable assets like power stations or telecoms. These include everyone from Li Kashing’s flagship conglomerate CK Hutchison, which generates about one fifth of its revenue from the United Kingdom, to

China General Nuclear Power Corp, which is due to build a new power station at Hinkley Point.

Indian IT outsourcers such as Tata Consultancy Services, which earns almost 16 percent of its revenue in the country, will suffer as banks and other customers turn cautious.

The referendum also casts a

China steel giants plan merger in face of global glut n AFP, Shanghai

An employee holds British pounds and Euro banknotes in a bank at the main train station in Munich REUTERS

Big US companies weigh risks from Brexit n AFP, Washington Rattled by the Brexit shock, major US companies are seeking more clarity about the future of the British market, their preferred entry port to Europe.

From clothing chain stores to automakers, the big names of “Corporate USA” have long flocked to Britain, attracted by its tax advantages and a common language, and by the prospect of accessing the European Union market and its hundreds of millions of consumers.

Unsurprisingly, several large US companies had previously voiced support for Britain to remain in the EU ahead of Thursday’s historic referendum that ended with the opposite, unexpected decision: the first exit of a country from the bloc.

With $56.1bn in exports in 2015, Britain is the main destination for US goods in the 28-nation European Union. The US services sector, especially banks, also has a strong presence in Britain, especially in the City of London, where Wall Street giants employ tens of thousands of people.

“American companies’ invest-

ments in Britain are worth more than half a trillion dollars, and many of those investments were made to reach not just British consumers but those in the European mainland as well,” said Thomas Donohue, head of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Guarantees

The vote in favor of Brexit immediately raised questions about how American companies would deal with the upended European order and whether they would cut back their investments in Britain.

Questioned by AFP, big companies were careful to not rush into judgment on the developing situation but expressed a desire to see more clearly how Britain’s relationship with its former EU partners would work out.

“The UK is an intrinsic part of our European supply chain and we urge all parties to reach an agreement that quickly removes the uncertainty, allows the UK to retain full access to and from the single market,” said Mark Dorsett, manager for Britain at Caterpillar, the mining and construction equipment maker. l

Two of China’s biggest steelmakers are planning to merge, they said, as the industry faces a global glut that has hammered producers worldwide.

Baosteel Group, China’s second-largest steelmaker, is “planning a strategic restructuring with Wuhan Iron and Steel Group”, another giant, both companies’ listed units said in separate statements to the Shanghai stock exchange late Sunday.

But the restructuring plan had not yet been confirmed, the statements said, without giving further details.

The two firms rank fifth and 11th respectively in the world.

Baosteel produced 36.1 million tonnes of steel last year, its website says - more than Brazil and three times more than Britain, according to the World Steel Association, whose ranking shows that if it was a country it would be eighth in the world.

But Chinese steel demand has slumped as its economic growth has slowed and the global steel industry is assailed by huge overcapacity, which has plunged manufacturers into losses from Asia to Europe to the US, and seen political rows and accusations of dumping.

Shanghai-based Baosteel’s net profit plummeted 83% to 1bn yuan ($150m) last year, while Wuhan Steel lost 7.5bn yuan, compared with a 1.3bn yuan net profit in 2014.

Beijing has vowed to eliminate 100-150 million tonnes of capacity - out of a total of 1.2 billion tonnes - by 2020.

“The merger of Baosteel and Wuhan Steel fits with the government strategy of improving efficiency and reducing competition and overcapacity,” Xu Xiangchun, chief analyst at consultancy Mysteel Research, told Bloomberg News. l

cloud over the United Kingdom’s position as a gateway to the European Union. Though carmakers and steelmakers which export to the continent may benefit from sterling’s slide, the uncertainty over potential EU import tariffs is likely to cancel out those gains.

Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, already has its sights on opening a factory in Slovakia. That may now seem even more attractive – as long as major fissures do not appear in the rest of the trading bloc.

Perhaps most crucially, Asian businesses will feel less welcome after a referendum that was marred by hostility to immigration. A majority of voters in Sunderland, for

example, opted to quit the EU even though the Japanese carmaker Nissan has a big plant in the city. It was a similar story in Neath Port Talbot, home to the struggling steelworks owned by India’s Tata Steel.

Even if Britain eventually works out an amicable divorce that preserves many of its trading links with the EU, the shock vote and subsequent political upheaval has dulled the country’s appeal. In the meantime, Asian companies that have the option of investing elsewhere will do so. l Una Galani is an Associate Editor of Reuters Breakingviews, based in Hong Kong. The article was initially published at Reuters.

CORPORATE NEWS

Delta Life Insurance Company Ltd has recently held its 30th annual general meeting, said a press release. The company’s chairperson, Monzurur Rahman was present at the meeting

Prime Bank Limited has recently donated Tk 1.5cr to prime minister’s relief fund, said a press release. The bank’s vice chairperson, Nasim Anwar Hossain handed over a cheuqe to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard

Social Islami Bank Limited has recently donated Tk 1.5cr to prime minister’s relief fund, said a press release. The bank’s chairman, Major Dr Md Rezaul Haque (retired) handed over a cheque to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

China's Li: Brexit heightens global uncertainty n AFP, Tianjin Britain's vote to leave the European Union has added new uncertainties to the global economy at a time when downward pressures on China are mounting, Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday at a World Economic Forum meeting.

Excess capacity, sluggish investment and waning demand weigh on the world's number two economy, Li said at the annual "new champions" meeting in Tianjin, a port city in northern China.

Last week's British vote had already had an impact on international financial markets, Li, said, "adding new uncertainties to the world".

"Due to the severe and complicated international environment and long-accumulated, deep-rooted domestic problems, the foundation of a stable Chinese economy is not solid,” Li went on.

"There remain rather enormous downward pressures on the economy and the difficulties cannot be underestimated."

But he also sought to reassure the audience, saying that China's recognition of the difficulties showed it had the "resolution" and "capabilities" to overcome them.

China's economy, a pillar of glob-

China’s Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the summer World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China al trade, will not have a hard landing, he predicted. The meeting, a Davoslike gathering of 2,000 elite business and political leaders from over 80 countries, was ostensibly focused on topics related to science and technology but the surprise Brexit vote

overshadowed other topics.

A panel Sunday devoted to Brexit showed some soul-searching among the high-powered attendees, with World Economic Forum head of foundations Adrian Monck saying "we've not been good" at do-

REUTERS

ing things to help ordinary people.

Panelist Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, added: "There's no question that elites in every manifestation have watched the social fabric fall apart in those advanced industrial economies

and not responded to it."

The British vote was “rational behaviour” for people who felt that globalisation has failed them and that "the system is broken".

But not all were sympathetic, as Bremmer later wrote on Twitter that the most frequent Brexit reaction at the China forum was: "Look what happens when you let the mob rule through a vote."

Economist Nouriel Roubini, known for predicting the US real estate crash, said that Brexit could be "the beginning of the disintegration of the European Union", but added he did not expect a financial crisis or global recession.

Beijing wishes to see the European Union remain united and stable, Li said, and hopes for a "stable and prosperous" Britain.

Chinese analysts quoted in the country's state-run media were less sanguine. Zhang Shengjun, an international politics professor at Beijing Normal University told the Global Times newspaper: "China should learn from the Brexit referendum, in which the 4 percent winning margin negated the choice of 16 million people.

"Western democracy might appear reasonable, but it's actually ridiculous." l

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Ramadan Special

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Ramadan: Atheism I don’t believe in an interventionist God But I know, darling, that you do But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him Not to intervene when it came to you Not to touch a hair on your head To leave you as you are And if He felt He had to direct you Then direct you into my arms Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms -Nick Cave

I

had a big dream. I wanted to visit the Mazaar of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in the deserts of Rajasthan, in Ajmer.

How would I get there? I didn’t know anyone in Rajasthan even though my jasmine wearing, wanderlusting grandfather was an ardent supporter and fan of the Defender of the Poor, another name of reverence for Moinuddin Chisti.

People told me that you cannot go to his Mazaar. He has to take you there. Uh-oh. What does that mean? I just kept hoping and dreaming. Eventually, he took me there in 2008 with the help of some very good friends in Bombay, who had connections in the city of Ajmer, where I could room and board.

Once there, I bought baskets of rose petals. I was an atom in ecstatic motion flowing among the graves of Chisti and his friends spreading rose petals. Then Bakar Baba, one of the attendants of the Mazaar noticed my feverish activity and invited me to attend an evening prayer inside the Mazaar next to Moinuddin Chisti’s grave. I was the only person there with the other attendants of the Mazaar. I cannot express to you the quality of the molecules in that space as the sun was setting, thousands upon thousands of birds singing in the nearby trees, incenses burning and the attendees singing their prayers. All I could remember was feeling that my heart was not large enough to hold this beauty, that it might collapse with the weight and it would be okay if it did because I was happy.

Moinuddin Chisti lived between the 12th and 13th century across Western Asia until he settled Ajmer, India. He was a philosopher, a reconciler, a connector, a communicator. I wouldn’t call him a Saint, and I am pretty sure he wouldn’t like that

either. He understood Islam as Beloved Mohammad understood it: a way of life based on love, submission to a force that is much more incredible than our finitude, relaxing with strength into living a social justice movement, not complacent religion, but a living breathing movement that is about symbiosis of people and planet, including the cosmos.

When I returned from Chisti’s Mazaar to my friend’s apartment in Bombay with a jute bag full of incense, jasmine musk and prayer beads for my entire gushti (clan), I noticed the frown on my friend’s face. She couldn’t stand the smell of anything to do with God or Allah or anything mighty.

She was an Atheist. She took the jute bag and asked me to put it in the building attendant’s room at the bottom of her high-rise.

I was so heart broken. My most prized possessions at the moment were memories of Gharib Nawaz (Defender of the Poor) in the jasmine and the incense. When she was kicking that stuff out, she was kicking my heart out.

But you know what, I had to put her experience into context.

Her family was once from Jessore.

During the partition they moved to Kolkata and then to Bombay. Her displacement and her discomfort of being married to a wonderful Muslim, yet being unable to put his name on the building roster because it is an Islamic name in a majority Hindu building -- is all due to the complacent, nastiness of religion gone Walmart. Yes, Walmart. Most religions are now all cheap marketing mechanisms on the backs of the poor by vampires, posing as spiritual leaders When I remembered this and how her husband felt on the streets of Bombay during the Bombay Riots (1992) when mens’ penis were checked for signs of circumcision, I let go the thin

Calligraphy by Afghan artist, Baba Orang sentiments of my ego and began to sing Sura Al Kafirun… not the way CNN would like you to sing it (dire, serious, dark, grim where the Kafir is the illicit non-believer)

but more like Nick Cave. Come into my arms, my friend, no matter what you believe, no matter what I believe, our beliefs are separate and my arms remain open to you.

And I don’t believe in the existence of angels But looking at you I wonder if that’s true But if I did I would summon them together And ask them to watch over you To each burn a candle for you To make bright and clear your path And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love And guide you into my arms Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms

I think Beloved Mohammed, Moinuddin Chisti and Nick Cave would all have been good friends.l

But I believe in Love And I know that you do too And I believe in some kind of path That we can walk down, me and you So keep your candles burning And make her journey bright and pure That she will keep returning Always and evermore Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms, O Lord Into my arms -Nick Cave

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Gaming

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

The Takeaway It’s time to see what is on offer post-E3

n Mahmood Hossain

As we are all aware, the original Xbox One is an eye-sore, giving a nostalgic trip to those humongous VCRs we used to use

Now that E3 2016 is done and dusted, we take a look at some of the highlights that stood out and received a wonderful reception.

While the studios dished out previews of new games to come, game developers and videogame console companies provided a huge upgrade in the coming months. We were already aware of the new jacked up, updated version of the PS4, but we were also treated to a much nicer and more attractive version of the Xbox One. There were plenty of rumours and puzzling videogame footage that is sure to lure us back into hours of non-stop gaming.

The sexier sibling

At E3, Microsoft introduced a newer version of their Xbox One, the Xbox One S. Straight off the bat, you can tell how much of an improvement the company as made into its design. Sure, they took a few pages from the PlayStation 4, but that’s not a bad thing. In almost all-white body, the new Xbox One S is 40 percent smaller than the current gen console. As we are all aware, the original Xbox One is an eye-sore, giving a nostalgic trip to those humongous VCRs we used to use.

Sorry, some of you are too young to know what that is. Let’s just say, it was a beautiful struggle.

You really can’t tell the difference until you place both consoles together. The original is ridiculously larger than the new One S. In fact, the original’s power adapter is almost a quarter of the size of the One S. In addition, the new console has an internal power supply. Come to think of it, as you read this, do you realise how absurdly huge the original console is? But it’s not just about the size.

The new One S, for now only available in white, will support 4K Blu-Ray discs and streaming, alongside HDR support with compatible TVs. At launch, the first edition of the new models will be available this August. The 2TB version will be for $399. Soon after, there will be smaller capacity models that will start from $299.

Kratos has a kid?

There’s plenty of most anticipated games for the year of 2016, and even more for the following year.

The Xbox rival, PlayStation, has an exclusive other consoles wish they had. The hit franchise of God of War will return by seeing the main protagonist, Kratos, taking on a new avatar. The E3 crowd was treated to some beautiful gameplay video that lasted about 10 minutes. The last time we saw Kratos in action was back in 2010 in the God of War 3 release. Now, as expected, he’s been given a jaw-

dropping upgrade for the current generation console.

While the initial trilogy takes Kratos through Ancient Greece, the new instalment involves the new bearded Kratos in the world of the Norsemen and Norse mythology. Get your first couple of seasons of Vikings and binge

away before this game comes out to get in the mood. Just as the main website and creative director Cory Barlog has stated, this new adventure will see Kratos teaching his son how to be a god. In return, his son is teaching him how to be human again. The Viking backdrop is the perfect environment for legitimate source material to play with.

The developers look to keep the same soul in a different body. It’s no longer just a button-smashing videogame. For those who are already fans of the comic book, superhero movie genre, the name Mjolnir was also dropped when details of this new instalment were leaking out. It’s safe to assume you’ll be holding Thor’s iconic hammer. It was also revealed there will be moments in the game where you’ll be facing up to 15, 20 or even as many as 100 enemies in one screen. We know that sounds crazy, but apparently it’s not impossible. However, can the new PS4 handle that much chaos, time will only tell.

Unfortunately, the release date is unknown, but If you haven’t seen the footage yet or have the need to learn more about this exciting new episode for Kratos, go to godofwar.playstation.com. l

DT

18

Biz Info

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

| tour |

| fellowship |

UGC Chairman led high powered delegation completes Japan visit

Rotary Int awards fellowship to Dhaka WASA MD

A 18 member high powered education delegation led by UGC Chairman Professor, Abdul Mannan successfully completed its five day tour to Japan. Other members of the delegation included two additional secretaries, a Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Education, a Chief of Division of the Planning Commission, and ten senior faculty members of five Engineering and Technology Universities of the country, along with a member of UGC and its Director of Planning. It may be mentioned that immediately after

Sk Hasina formed the government in 2008, the government took up as a priority to enhance the research and teaching capabilities of all the public universities of the country with emphasis on science, engineering, and technological skill development through research. Five technology based universities, including BUET were selected as pioneering universities under the new initiative and an amount of $20 million were allocated from the government fund. It was decided to establish five new departments in these universities namely, glass

and ceramics; petroleum and mining; leather; technology; and textiles. The delegation explored the possibilities of collaborative research, faculty, and student exchange and enhancing the research capabilities of the laboratories of the universities of Bangladesh. They visited three universities, five research organisations, discussed issues of mutual interest with key persons, and agreed on steps to be taken to move the initiative forward.

All concerned agreed to work together to improve the science and technology education in Bangladesh. On the final day, the team had an extended meeting with Dr Takao Toda, Director General; Human Development Department of JICA; and his senior colleagues at its Headquarters. Dr Toda expressed JICA’s willingness to continue its assistance to the qualitative improvement of Higher Education in Bangladesh, and work together to move forward as a key Development Partner of Bangladesh. The team briefed the Bangladesh Ambassador, Rabab Fatima in Japan in her office. The delegation has already returned to Bangladesh.l

Rotary International (RI) awards the “Paul Harris Fellow” fellowship to Dhaka WASA Managing Director, Taqsem A Khan; in recognition to the success of his reform initiative named “Turnaround Dhaka WASA Programme.” This has made Dhaka WASA, a role model among the public sector water utilities of SAARC countries.

The picture shows, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Engr, Taqsem A Khan receiving the “Paul Harris Fellow,” from RI Director Prof Dr Saowalak Rattanavich; and District Governor RI District-3281, SAM Showket Hossain on 24 June, 2016, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. l

| meals |

Ending Ramadan with The Dining Room

| talk |

CUB organises a round table discussion

A round table discussion on the ‘Contribution of Private Universities in National Development: Opportunities and Challenges’ was organised last Saturday, at Dhaka Westin by the Canadian University of Bangladesh. The discussion was enriched by the participation of Prof Emeritus A K Azad Chowdhury, Prof Emeritus Rafiqul Islam, Prof Mesbah Kamal, Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullh, Prof Sadeka Halim,

Prof Shafiul Alam Bhuyan, Prof Zia Rahman, Prof Jahirul Huque, Dr Ashikur Rahman, and Prof Shamsul Haque. On behalf of the Canadian University of Bangladesh VC (Designate), Prof William H Derrenger; Treasure, Md Faykuzzaman; Registrar, Shahreaar Ekram; also participated in the discussion. The participants emphasised the importance of research productivity and infrastructure. They also talked about the importance of teaching

Bangla language, national history, and culture in private universities. The discussion was moderated by prominent analyst and educationist, Mohammad A Arafat, Advisor to the Board of Trustee, Canadian University of Bangladesh. The program was rounded off with a vote of thanks by renowned sports commentator, Chowdhury Zafarullah Sharafat, who is also the Vice Chairman; Board of Trustee of Canadian University of Bangladesh. l

All good things come to an end, so is Ramadan. Join us for a delicious traditional Bengali iftar, followed by dinner buffet before this holy month of Ramadan ends. Book your table

now at The Dining Room, and for reservations, contact them at: reservations@thediningroombd. com, or call them at +880 2 9895729/ +880 1984-332299/ +880 1984-221199 l

A smooth operator If you’re after a car for straightforward A to B transport, this could be it. The Toyota Auris is practical, dependable, comfortable and cheap to run

n Tahsin Momin This is the new Toyota Auris. Well, a face-lifted one that is. We’re not sure if you’re as excited by this as we are. But rest assure that this has been revamped with quite a substantial set of mods. It has a revised suspension, an all new interior, lower curb-weight and not to mention the heavy makeover.

Toyota didn’t stop there, they went further and lowered the roof by a whopping 55mm. This in turn lowers the centre of gravity, reduces weight and improved aerodynamics, which results in a better fuel mileage and lower CO2 emissions. With all that being said, it does seem to look good on paper but how does it do in the real world, which in our case is on the streets of Dhaka. Let’s dive down and find out what’s what and what’s not.

Exterior On the outside, the design looks much sharper with neatly pressed lines that shies away from the rounder lines of the previous generation and that V-shaped nose gives this Auris a bit of visual identity. So, in terms of design Toyota has left no stones unturned to make this Auris as visually appealing as possible. And the question is why wouldn’t they?

This is in fact an international model aimed towards the global consumer. But the trouble is, the Koreans, such as Hyundai and Kia, have closed the gap completely in terms of quality, safety, equipment, engineering and are arguably further ahead in terms of design, and have a bit more about them. Things doesn’t look much promising for the Auris then.

Interior On the inside though, Toyota has beaten the Koreans at their own game. The interior isn’t just pretty, it’s gorgeous. Everything on the inside has been crafted out of premium quality materials. The feel and finish is something you would most likely find in a vehicle of a much higher class than the Auris. With the mix of rectangular air vents in the centre and balltype vents at either end of the dash, the front panel looks quite extravagant. The centre console was designed with only one thing in mind; user friendliness.

Everything seems to be where they should be, within the reach

of the driver. And last but not the least, the passengers up front and rear now have more leg room, this generosity was extended to the boot as well it seems, it is big enough to haul the luggage for a family of tour.

Performance Only thing letting this Auris down is its power-plant. At the heart of it is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder 1NZ-FE engine that pumps out 110HP and 103lb.ft of torque. Even though there is no shortage of power, this output doesn’t do much justice to the stance of the Auris. The way this car sit, you would expect it to leap from 0-100Km/h by the time you finish reading this sentence, but sadly it doesn’t. It takes twice as long. However, if you are not in the mood to win races then this car does work just fine. The engine is smooth while accelerating and the gear changes are seamless courtesy of the CVT gearbox.

Most importantly it is effortless to drive in heavy traffic as well as on highways. And the best part is that it will do 13km/l inside the city, which means less frequent trips to the gas station.

Safety In terms of safety equipments, this car comes with seven airbags and stability control which has recently been updated with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) pack.

This covers some of the more up-to-date and high-tech systems, such as adaptive cruise control and emergency brake assist. This version of the Auris earned a fivestar EuroNCAP crash test rating, enough said.

Verdict The Auris is reasonably well priced and comes with most of the gear that you’ll need. Turns out Toyota indeed managed to inject some life back into the second generation Auris. While it might not be as luxurious as the BMW 1-Series but there is appeal for those who want an easy-to-drive, fuss-free car with a reputation for reliability. l

Price: Starting from Tk23 Lakhs and onwards Available at: Sal-Sabeel Cars House-7, Road-8, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212 9861897, 8827084

19

DT

Auto Connect

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

DT

20 Editorial

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

TODAY

Why did Brexit happen?

There is absolutely no certainty that a future British government would even use their hypothetical powers to restrict EU immigration once Britain leaves the EU PAGE 21

What a wonderful world By the time the month is over, you will wake up, and hug each other as if you are brothers and, even though it is because it’s tradition and you have to, there is still some beauty left in the concept of another person’s heart beating against your own PAGE 22

European accented neighbourhoods are only a stone’s throw from Chinatown’s delights. Nothing could better bring home New York’s exceptional civility and its fully multi-cultural mix PAGE 23

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.

Bridging the digital divide

T

Atlantic currents

Be heard

BSS

he government’s long-term goal of bringing the whole country under broadband coverage shows that it has the right vision for making Digital Bangladesh a reality.

It is projected that, by 2025, 60% of the population will have access to broadband connectivity. If we stay on track, it is only a matter of time until all of Bangladesh is connected to the internet.

The new proposed telecom policy -- with the motto “telephones for all” -- is already on track to put all individuals, households, and businesses in Bangladesh within an integrated telecommunications network. The next natural step is internet connectivity for all, as well as the promotion of internet literacy throughout the country.

The flat lands of Bangladesh make it easy for the laying down of necessary communications infrastructure -- we are free from some of the topographical challenges faced by other poor nations such as Nepal. There is no excuse, then, to delay on this.

Making Bangladesh more digitalised throughout by increasing internet penetration in not just cities other than Dhaka, but also rural and hard-to-reach areas, will help the process of decentralisation and take a lot of pressure off our capital city -conducting business from any location without physically having to travel to Dhaka will become so much easier.

Going digital is what will level the playing field, and equalise the growth potential for businesses in all regions. Already we have seen the success of initiatives such as mobile banking in their ability to empower people who do not have easy access to urban centres. This success needs to spread to other sectors as well.

If we are to truly tap into the full potential of our economy, it is essential to bridge the digital divide.

Going digital is what will level the playing field, and equalise the growth potential for businesses in all regions

DT

21

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Why did Brexit happen?

Has a nation’s fate been decided by lies and misinformation?

n James Saville

I

n the end the thing that clinched it for the Brexiters was the British public’s fear of immigration.

Immigration policy

As the UKIP leader Nigel Farage admitted on the eve of the referendum, shifting the focus onto this issue was essential to the Leave campaign’s success; without it they would have failed.

What he didn’t mention was that this was a fallback strategy, something the Leave campaign resorted to only because their key arguments for Brexit had failed.

The only good arguments for leaving the EU, in my view, were around national sovereignty and democracy: That the EU was too remote from British citizens to be held democratically accountable, and that it allowed Europe to interfere in areas of our national life that shouldn’t have been any of their concern.

But these philosophical arguments were not enough to swing the referendum. Many people didn’t care that much about whether power lay in Westminster or Brussels (believing the political class in both cities to be equally out of touch with their lives).

Other citizens were simply prepared to swallow some loss of sovereignty and diminution of democracy for the economic benefits of being in the EU’s Single Market.

And a lot of people believed that Britain’s ability to shape their own destiny as a country was in fact enhanced by EU membership.

So, what strategy did the Leavers come up with to get people on their side?

Well, initially, it was the claim that Brexit, far from heralding an economic Armageddon, would actually make the country wealthier.

This fell totally flat after a never-ending series of economic experts lined up to publicly say that this was untrue.

So it was time for Plan B, or rather, Plan C: The immigration issue.

A legitimate concern for many people in the UK who have seen their wages depressed by an influx of cheap foreign labour, and whose public services are unable to cope with the sheer numbers of new arrivals.

The problem is, this is not a good reason to vote to leave the EU. Partly because any post-Brexit

Many citizens don’t care if power resides in Westminster or Brussels British government that does not want to commit economic suicide is probably going to have to cut a deal with the EU to retain full access to the European Single Market. In particular, for the City of London’s financial services sector which bankrolls UK’s public spending.

However, any potential deal with the EU will likely require the UK to continue to allow EU passport holders automatic entry, as freedom of movement of labour (ie people) is a non-negotiable pre-requisite for full access to the Single Market. Norway, which is outside the EU but part of the Single Market, has done exactly this.

The other issue is that, despite promising to drastically cut immigration for years, the government has failed to reduce even non-EU immigration -- over which they currently have full control.

So, there is absolutely no certainty that a future British government would even use their hypothetical powers to restrict EU immigration once Britain leaves the EU.

Remain

It has to be said the Remain

REUTERS

There is absolutely no certainty that a future British government would even use their hypothetical powers to restrict EU immigration once Britain leaves the EU

side did a terrible job. The Tory Remainers, already out of sync with much of their grassroots membership on the Europe issue, came across as untrustworthy fear-mongers with their constant hyperbolic predictions of postBrexit doom and gloom.

They utterly failed to make a positive case for EU membership.

Jeremy Corbyn, widely known to have been a Eurosceptic before finally settling on the Remain side, told the public that his passion for staying in the EU was only: “Seven, or seven and a half out of ten.”

As a consequence, many of his Labour Party supporters did not feel obliged to vote in line with the official Labour Party policy, and simply used the vote as an opportunity to express their displeasure -- crudely and vaguely -- with the political class in general.

Post-factual debate

The other contributing factor was the amount of misinformation that came out of the Leave camp.

The two most notable instances were: The ridiculous claim that Turkey would soon be joining the EU and bringing in more potential immigrants and ISIS supporters, and that the UK pays £350 million a week to be in the EU. This last number is a gross figure; the net figure is less than half of this amount, and does not take into account the economic benefits of membership of the Single Market.

As The Guardian writer Nick Cohen noted: “Not since Suez has the nation’s fate been decided by politicians who knowingly made a straight, shameless, incontrovertible lie the first plank of their campaign.” l James Saville is a journalist.

22

DT

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

What a wonderful world The month of Ramadan brings out the best in many, and the worst in some

n SN Rasul

N

othing much happens in this country when you’re fasting.

Sometimes a prime minister inaugurates the dream of a train that will make life easier for the average citizen, or the police remain suspiciously silent on the murder of a fellow officer’s wife, but apart from that, the nation sleeps, exhausted from a dehydrated body and an emaciated soul by the end of the day.

Or is it the religious nature of the month itself that stops the criminals, the sewer rats, the blackened-heart aristocrats from coming out at night to juice this city dry? When Ramadan rolls around the corner, even the cruellest of us think: No, not this month. I’ll miss a few opportunities, pray a few more rakats, holy a few more days before the cycle starts again at the end of this month.

This is, perhaps, one of many positive effects religion has on our lives. There is some silver lining on this darkening cloud. And this silver lining reels through the country, divides it into things we can do, things we can’t, things we shouldn’t but will anyway because makru isn’t quite as bad.

But that’s something, isn’t it? As long as the people, for even a short month, choose to refrain.

I see the effects of this fasting in my friend, who chose to wear a simple t-shirt and a pair of jeans, being told that it was the month of Ramadan, sister, learn some decency.

I see the effects of this fasting in the angry words exchanged between two commuters who have

throng on a weekday to buy three salwar kameezes too many because they cannot be seen wearing the same thing more than once over the course of 20 Eids.

I see the effects of this fasting even earlier, at 9:30 at night, as fuel-guzzling SUVs hold up the traffic in front of my local mosque because they need to do that extra bit of prayer, even if it means inconveniencing the rest of the users of the street.

I see the effects of this fasting at the end of a Sheikh cigarette-butt squeezed tight between the two fingers of a prostitute in front of me, as she eyes me when I walk past her.

I don’t, however, see the effects of this in the way the city runs itself, so all-the-same. I don’t see it under the flyover, where the streets lie as broken and decrepit as the hope the construction surrounding it provides.

I don’t see the effects of this fasting as two buses zig-zag across each other with complete disregard in front of the American Embassy so that the entirety of the street from there to Progoti Sarani gets bottlenecked into submission.

I don’t see it in the Tk12,000 profit margin in a single threepiece salwar kameez. Nor in people’s propensity for buying such outfits in the dozens, as they wade through bank statements that boast an entire demography’s worth.

I don’t see this fasting when mouths fail to hold back insults and curses, when in front of a man’s 15-year-old son another man calls him a son of an animal and the son loses all respect for the superhero that he once thought was his father.

I don’t see it in the same man,

Even the lapsed manage to find some religion during Ramadan

By the time the month is over, you will wake up, and hug each other as if you are brothers and, even though it is because it’s tradition and you have to, there is still some beauty left in the concept of another person’s heart beating against your own

just about had it, swinging from the broken handles on a ramshackle bus guised as a sweat-stained hotbox, and one more passenger bumping into them from the back and not apologising is about the last straw they can take.

I see the effects of this fasting an hour past midnight in front of Bashundhara City, as people

with the same son, as they sit at a Pizza Hut in Dhanmondi, awaiting silently for slices, restless for it to come, not because they are famished, but because it would distract them from the pressure of having to make conversation to fix a bond that has been broken beyond repair, a generation gap that neither could cross.

I don’t see this fasting in the hateful words of an imam’s booming voice through a blaring megaphone that hangs oppressively outside a mosque, as they spread difference and dissonance within the public.

I don’t see this fasting in a street child’s eyes as he solemnly stares back at us, as some of us,

with sympathy in our hearts, say no to his face, a face that is at the bottom rung of a great ladder that none of us can climb.

I don’t see it in a young girl’s hands as she feeds the same boy a Cornetto at the back of a university campus, emblematic of an apology for all the things she’s done, and all the things she regrets.

But, after all of this, at the end of each Ramadan, I, like all of you, am given a choice: To keep seeing the things I’ve always seen, or do the exact opposite. Because, when the day ends, and the maghrib azaan calls you to the dining table after god-knows-how-long, you cannot help but see a different kind of fasting in tradition of pyajus and haleem, in chhola and doi bora.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

You cannot help but see that all across the country, regardless of religion perhaps (for I’d like to imagine it so), people have huddled together to the sound un-pithy Arabic statements, barely paying attention because, finally, after all this time, they can eat and be together and lay down with their shirts untucked, their minds unfrazzled.

And that, by the time the month is over, you will wake up, and hug each other as if you are brothers and, even though it is because its tradition and you have to, there is still some beauty left in the concept of another person’s heart beating against your own. l SN Rasul is a Sub-Editor at the Dhaka Tribune. Follow him @snrasul.

DT

23

Long Form

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Atlantic currents New York remains a city of multi-cultural delights. This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

Is India willing to do what it takes to get support for its nuclear commerce

BIGSTOCK

European accented neighbourhoods are only a stone’s throw from Chinatown’s delights. Nothing could better bring home New York’s exceptional civility and its fully multi-cultural mix

n Sal Imam

G

iven Andrew Sullivan’s emphasis on anomie as a factor in this year’s election campaign, the implication, which he himself failed to draw, is that the person best placed to deal with Trump would be none other than Bernie Sanders -- fighting fire with fire.

No wonder Sanders was reluctant to stand down from the Democratic nominating process.

Today, we have the unenchanting prospect of Trump trying to put on presidential airs, going from “making vague and meaningless promises, to specific meaningless promises,” in Stephen Colbert’s inimitable words.

At the same time, Hillary Clinton’s campaign seems dead in the water, with the passions of this election season bypassing her

completely. Ominous times may be ahead.

Life and Leisure

But there are always two facets to every situation and the US remains a nation of great opportunities, full of exceptionally hardworking and talented people. In every field, the moulds of past behaviour are being broken.

Everyone has heard of Uber and Airbnb, and I profited greatly from these services on this trip.

For example, on a rainy Friday afternoon at 4pm (when the cabbies change shifts) in New York City, it is absolutely impossible to find an empty yellow taxi.

A call to Uber and, two minutes later, I was on my way, though only by agreeing to pay a surge rate of three times the normal fare.

By the way, it is now official: Half the yellow taxis in New York

are conducted by Bangladeshis who are these days full of attitude and rough driving, and no longer the deferential and well-mannered men of the past.

The conversation is great though, and on one ride I was treated to a highly informed analysis of the whole Tonu rape case, including a strong identification of the culprits.

The Bangladeshi drivers are as aggressive as any at the task of extracting a hefty tip.

In fact, one of the less pleasant aspects of American life these days is the almost extortionate pressure placed on one to pay tips of up to 30% in eating places of all stripes, from the fanciest to the most ordinary.

As I was particularly involved in the literary and media scene on this trip, I can vouch personally for the vigour with which such

activities are carried out in New York.

Aspiring writers are all over the place, honing their skills in different arenas, from blogging to workshops to self-publishing to MFA degrees.

And the hope of literary success is no chimera, because a flood of books are published every year covering a fascinating range of subjects.

A trip to the local Barnes & Noble is a guaranteed exercise in frustration because one’s appetite is always far greater than one’s means, especially taking into account the weight considerations which hammer foreign travellers.

But it does seem that real books are back in the game compared to e-books. Kindle sales are falling fast and even Amazon has seen fit to open what it calls its first “offline outlets.”

The great magazines continue to flourish, offering writing and cartoons of such depth and intensity that they leap off the page.

I would like to mention in particular the consistently pertinent writings of Frank Rich, who left the New York Times, after a 20-year stint as one of its leading critics and commentators, to set up his stall at New York magazine.

He has successfully helped raise the latter’s intellectual heft and substance which now fits seamlessly with its regular surveys of all aspects of New York’s entertainment and shopping services.

New York City’s services continue to take on new and wonderful contours. After the success of Eataly, the stylish selfenclosed Italian-inspired food court, we now have Le District which does the same for French cuisine.

The SoHo region of the city is a most lively collection of designer boutiques and upscale hotels/ restaurants (try the NOMO where I was staying).

European accented neighbourhoods are only a stone’s throw from Chinatown’s delights.

Nothing could better bring home New York’s exceptional civility and its fully multi-cultural mix.

The joys of people-watching in the city’s streets and swanky venues have never been greater.

If I may be permitted this appreciation, I have never seen American women, let’s call them “Newyorkesses,” as sharply dressed and with such trimness in their bodies, obviously the fruit of disciplined diets and exercise, as on this trip.

Perhaps we need a corrective: The “total equality and freedom,” which Plato (and Sullivan) worried about, may well have such complex riches to offer, that it will prove more of a long-term boon for the US than a drawback.

The great adverbial debate

I can’t leave without referring to an epic debate which broke out while I was in the US on the vexed question of the “adverb.”

It is already a bit of a mania among a school of US writers, educators, and editors that the adverb is to be shunned like the plague.

An article by Christian Lorentzen hit the newsstands in which he strongly put forward this case (http://www.follownews.com/ could-we-just-lose-the-adverbalready-1a208).

It was not long however before an elegant defence of this much maligned part of speech also made its appearance (http:// www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_ valley/2016/06/02/abolish_the_ adverb_you_seriously_must_be_ joking.html). Read and enjoy and make up your own mind. l Sal Imam is writing his memoirs of the late 60s in America.

DT

24 Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

TOP STORIES

v Led Argentina to the title at the 2005 World Youth Championship, scoring two penalties in a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final. v Made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005 but was sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for elbowing an opponent who had pulled his shirt.

Hazard shines against Hungary

v Played only a bit-part role at the 2006 World Cup. Argentina were KO in the quarter-finals by hosts Germany after a shootout.

Belgium’s Eden Hazard capped a superb individual performance with a magnificent solo goal as they thrashed Hungary 4-0 to reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals but coach Marc Wilmots still wants more from his captain. PAGE 26

v Led Argentina to the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic. v Part of the Argentina side coached by Diego Maradona at the 2010 World Cup that was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the QFs. Messi failed to score and struggled to find his best form at the tournament in South Africa. v After a season disrupted by injury, captained Argentina to the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 1-0 to Germany. Messi, who scored four goals at the finals, won the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best player.

Aussies clinch TriNation series

Mitchell Marsh emerged as the unlikely bowling hero for Australia as the World Cup holders defeated the West Indies by 58 runs in the final of the Tri-Nation One-Day International Series. PAGE 27

Fed Cup champions Abahani on cloud 9

Abahani Limited emerged as the champions of the Federation Cup for the ninth time as they edged past Arambagh Krira Sangha 1-0 in the grand finale at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. PAGE 28

Djoker races through Wimbledon opener World number one Novak Djokovic got his campaign for a third successive Wimbledon title off to a winning start with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over Britain’s James Ward yesterday. PAGE 29

v Played his second Copa America final for Argentina in Chile in 2015, losing the final on penalties to the host nation.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi waits to receive the second place medal following the Copa America Centenario final against Chile in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States on Sunday AFP

Messi exit leaves Argentina football in turmoil n AFP, East Rutherford Lionel Messi sensationally announced his international retirement leaving Argentinian football in turmoil after a traumatic penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final.

The heartbroken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears on Sunday after missing a spot-kick in the shootout - Messi’s fourth straight defeat in a major final with Argentina.

Sergio Aguero did not say whether he would follow Messi in quitting but his name and that of Javier Mascherano were mentioned in media reports.

Social media campaigns were immediately launched in Argentina in a bid to get the superstar to change his mind.

The hashtags “NotevayasLeo” - Don’t go Leo - and “Messiquedate” - Messi stay - spread quickly in the fallout.

Messi’s dramatic announce-

ment followed Argentina’s third loss in a major final in three years.

They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the 2014 World Cup and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the 2015 Copa America final.

Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America.

Despite a glittering career that has seen him named FIFA World Player of the Year five times, Messi has faced persistent sniping from critics in Argentina.

Yet he received support on Sunday from Chile’s victorious Argentine coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, who maintained that Messi is the best player ever.

While universally regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, he has regularly been targeted for his inability to land a major title with Argentina.

Messi’s failure to match the achievements of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the

team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been held against him.

Pizzi said comparisons with Maradona were unfair.

Maradona has often taken potshots at Messi, criticising him on the eve of the tournament in the United States for a perceived “lack of personality.”

“He’s a really good person, but he has no personality,” Maradona said this month on the sidelines of Euro 2016.

“He lacks the character to be a leader.”

Messi’s bombshell decision comes after a gruelling season disrupted by injury last year.

He recovered to help Barcelona win the Spanish title once more and was relishing the prospect of leading Argentina at the Copa America Centenario.

Although he was injured for his team’s opening group game against Chile, he came on as a substitute in a 5-0 hammering of Panama. l

v Scored a hat trick in 18 minutes after coming off the bench in Argentina’s 5-0 win over Panama in the 2016 Centenary Copa America in Chicago.

More Argentina players may retire: Aguero n Reuters

Sergio Aguero and other Argentina players could follow the lead of captain Lionel Messi and retire from international football after losing the final of the Copa America on penalties to Chile for the second straight year.

“The likelihood is that Messi is not the only one that will leave the national team,” said Aguero, who lost his third final with Argentina, to Ole newspaper.

“There are several players like me that are evaluating whether or not to continue.”

“One doesn’t want to think about it but at times, there are things that happen and the thought (of retiring) comes into your mind,” said Aguero, who won an Olympic gold in 2008.

“Afterwards, it’s difficult to get it out.”

“Unfortunately, the one that leaves most affected is Leo Messi after his penalty miss,” the 28-yearold Aguero said. l

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REACTION Hard to know if Messi is being serious about retirement or just emotional right now. Argentine federation is a disaster at the moment.

— Grant Wahl Messi retires from international football after defeat in #Copa100 final. ‘”The national team is over for me.” Wow. — Ben Smith Romero says he believes Messi spoke in heat of the moment — Tariq Panja Messi is just 29. Pain of defeat in 3 finals in 3yrs perhaps taking its toll.

He was very emotional post match.

— Ben Smith Chile celebrates after winning the Copa America Centenario championship against Argentina at MetLife Stadium on Sunday

AP

Chile prove hard nut to crack for South America’s best n Reuters

Chile have never beaten Argentina in open play in 27 Copa America meetings in 100 years yet have twice in 12 months dashed the hopes of Lionel Messi’s team of lifting a major trophy.

A second successive victory on penalties in the final against their trans-Andean rivals, this time in the centenary tournament in the United States on Sunday, has cemented Chile’s status as one of the world’s top teams.

A further irony is that the revolution that has transformed the team

is the work of Argentine coaches starting with the visionary appointment in 2007 of Marcelo Bielsa, who has earned cult status in Chile. “(Chile) have become audacious in the way they impose their game on any field, against any adversary,” Diego Latorre, who was in the Argentina squad that won the Copa America in Chile in 1991, said on Saturday.

“This was unheard of in previous Chile teams prior to the Marcelo Bielsa era,” he wrote in his column in the Argentine daily La Nacion.

Argentina, boasting one of the world’s top players in Messi and ranked number one in the world,

were expected to avenge last year’s loss to Chile in Santiago having already beaten them twice this year.

Messi has now lost four major finals with Argentina, three in the last two years including the 2014 World Cup decider against Germany in Rio de Janeiro, leaving them still looking for their first major trophy since 1993.

He often looked cut off from his team at a packed Metlife in East Rutherford, New Jersey and cut a dejected figure at the end after his penalty miss and amid Chile’s victory celebrations.

Bielsa, who was Argentina coach

from 1999 to 2004, revolutionised Chile’s training methods and tactics and led them to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after being absent from the tournament since 1998.

He and successor Jorge Sampaoli were instrumental in developing midfielder Arturo Vidal and forward Alexis Sanchez as world class players while Claudio Bravo has proved a top notch goalkeeper.

Sampaoli improved his mentor Bielsa’s work on a high pressing game, steered Chile to the round of 16 in Brazil and masterminded their first ever Copa America success at home a year ago. l

Interesting to note that right around same time Messi was saying he’s done w/Argentina, Chile coach Pizzi was calling him best of all time — Ives Galarcep Excited for the ‘who retired from international football the better: Messi or Ronaldo?’ debate in years to come.

— James Dall Don’t hate on #LionelMessi today people pls. His retirement is a huge loss to international football. World Cup comps will never be the same — Gau Breaking: Lionel Messi has announced that he is retiring from international football - translated: he is sick of carrying Argentina @ CA2016 — Joe Morrison He must have his reasons but a legend can’t give up just like that.

They don’t quit that easily. They keep fighting — Aliyu Baba Ndajiwo And we have a term for Lionel Messi’s international retirement. #Mexit — Venkat Ananth Lionel Messi has retired from International football at 29! He obviously has a sore back from carrying the rest of the team for 11 years!

— Matt Jarvis First #Rexit then #Brexit & now #Mexit how many more exits are we to see?#LionelMessi shall be missed & Int. football won’t be the same — Suparno Satpathy

Argentina's Lionel Messi misses his shot during penalty kicks in the Copa America Centenario final against Chile on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey AP

Top class footballer #LionelMessi retires from international football. #Number10 #Argentina — Anjum Chopra

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TALKING POINTS Conte coaching masterclass Written off before the tournament began, Italy are more than the sum of their parts and that is in large part down to their coach Antonio Conte. If he was hailed after the Azzurri beat Belgium 2-0 in their opening group match, he deserves to be so again as Italy stunned the reigning champions at the Stade de France. Italy asphyxiated their opponents in the first half -- rather than doing all the defending they did all the attacking, pressing high and thoroughly deserving their lead when it arrived through Giorgio Chiellini after 33 minutes.

BBC switch off Morata

Italy forward Pelle (R) shoots to score past Spain goalkeeper David De Gea during their Euro 2016 round of 16 match at the Stade de France stadium yesterday

AFP

Italy dump Spain out of Euro 2016 n AFP, Paris Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored the goals as Italy exacted revenge for their Euro 2012 final hammering by dumping Spain out of Euro 2016 with a deserved 2-0 last 16 win in Paris on Monday.

Chiellini forced home the winner from close range after goalkeeper David de Gea could only parry Eder’s fiercely struck freekick. Pelle volleyed in a deflected cross in injury time to complete Spain’s heartbreak.

After crashing out of the World Cup in the first round, Vicente del Bosque’s team have now failed to get to the Euro quarter finals.

A series of De Gea saves kept Spain in the game, but their quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Euro title peetered out as Gianluigi Buffon saved from Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique late on to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Germany on Satur-

day in Bordeaux.

Spain had lost just one of their previous 11 meetings with Italy, including a 4-0 win in the Euro 2012 final. But the Azzurri were by far the better side in the opening 45 minutes and could have been more than one goal up at the break.

De Gea had been much-criticised for his performance as Spain’s 15-game unbeaten in the Euros came to an end on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia which cost them top spot in Group D. However, the Manchester United stopper more than made amends when he turned Pelle’s bullet header wide on eight minutes.

Emanuele Giaccherini’s acrobatic effort was then turned onto the post by De Gea, albeit referee Cuneyt Cakir had already blown for a foul as Italy continued to dominate the early exchanges.

It took Spain 28 minutes to even have an effort on goal as Iniesta’s weak shot was straight at Buffon.

Spain

RESULT 0-2

Italy

Chiellini 33, Pelle 90

Antonio Conte’s side finally made the breakthrough 12 minutes before half-time when Spain captain Sergio Ramos unncessarily dived in on Pelle to concede a freekick on the edge of the box.

Eder’s powerful effort was parried by De Gea only as far as Giaccherini and he nudged the ball into Chiellini’s path to bundle home.

Only a De Gea wonder save to tip a fiercely dipping drive from Giaccherini over kept Spain in the game before half-time. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque introduced the more physical presence of 35-year-old striker Aritz Aduriz for Nolito at the break.

And it nearly paid dividends straight away as Alvaro Morata -kept quiet in the first 45 minutes by former Juventus teammates Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci -- headed a golden chance

straight at Buffon.

De Gea was called upon once more to block from Eder when the Brazilian-born Inter Milan forward burst clear on goal with the chance to double Italy’s advantage.

Another Italy counter-attack then caused chaos in the Spanish defence as Mattia de Sciglio’s low cross ricocheted around the box before being cleared. Aduriz swept the ball wide and Ramos headed over from a corner as Italy began to settle on their one-goal lead in the final quarter.

Iniesta’s rasping volley was tipped over by Buffon, before Pique’s long-range effort stung the palms of the 38-year-old.

However, with Aduriz having to be replaced by Pedro Rodriguez due to a head knock, Spain didn’t have a recognised striker in their search for an equaliser in the final 10 minutes.

Italy comfortably held on and Pelle doubled the lead with his poacher’s strike in the first minute of injury time. l

Spain finally appeared to have a centre-forward worthy of the name at this European Championship in the shape of Alvaro Morata. Scorer of three goals in the group stage, he nevertheless found the going far tougher up against an Italian defence comprised of players he has called his team-mates at Juventus in the last two seasons. And Italy’s back three of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini - aka the BBC - along with veteran goalkeeper Buffon, ensured that Morata provided no threat during his 70 minutes on the field.

Ramos disaster If Sergio Ramos had not missed a penalty in Spain’s final group game against Croatia, Vicente del Bosque’s side would have avoided facing Italy in the last 16. It had already been a difficult tournament for the Real Madrid stopper and Spain skipper before he endured a torrid time against the Italian attack at the Stade de France.

White kit jinx Spain don’t much enjoy playing in their white change kit. As master statistician @2010MisterChip pointed out on Twitter at the beginning of the evening, La Roja had lost their previous five matches at a major tournament while wearing white. That run started with their 2-1 defeat to Italy at the 1994 World Cup and continued all the way up to their 2-1 loss to Croatia in Bordeaux last week. l

Hazard shines against Hungary but Wilmots wants more n Reuters

Belgium’s Eden Hazard capped a superb individual performance with a magnificent solo goal as they thrashed Hungary 4-0 to reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals but coach Marc Wilmots still wants more from his captain.

Hazard struggled along with his team mates during Belgium’s opening defeat by Italy but completed a hat-trick of assists at the tourna-

Hungary

RESULT 0-4

Belgium

Alderweireld 10, Batshuayi 78, Hazard 79, Carrasco 90+1

ment when his sublime cross was met by substitute Michy Batshuayi for Belgium’s second goal on Sunday.

He killed the contest with a stunning low strike 94 seconds later, rounding off a masterful dis-

play which he later described as his best for the country as they ran out clear winners by the biggest margin recorded at this year’s tournament so far.

“If he’s feeling good, he’s the best in the world,” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said after Hazard’s contribution helped clinch a last eight tie against Wales in Lille on Friday.

The forward has now contributed as many assists in France as he

managed for Chelsea during the whole of a miserable 2015-16 Premier League season, and appears to be thriving after being made skipper in Vincent Kompany’s injury absence.

“There are a lot of people who are amazed that I gave him the captain’s armband but you have to let this little man grow up,” said Wilmots. “He doesn’t talk much but he talks with his feet and that’s what he did today.

“I told him that I wanted him to score a goal by cutting inside. He needs to have fun when he’s on the pitch.”

After his excellent showing, Hazard will be expected to produce a cutting edge more consistently for Belgium.

At the 2014 World Cup, his assists helped beat Algeria and Russia in the group stage before they eventually went out to Argentina in the quarter-finals. l

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SCORECARD

QUICK BYTES

AUSTRALIA INNINGS U. Khawaja c Ramdin b Holder A. Finch c Samuels b Pollard S. Smith c Samuels b Gabriel G. Bailey b Brathwaite M. Marsh b Benn G. Maxwell lbw Gabriel M. Wade not out M. Starc stpd Ramdin b Narine N. Coulter-Nile c Bravo b Holder A. Zampa run out J. Hazlewood not out Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-8)

Alves arrives in Turin ahead of Juve medical Brazil international Dani Alves has arrived in Turin ahead of a medical with Juventus yesterday, the Italian Serie A champions announced on Twitter. The 33-year-old full-back left Barcelona in June at the end of his contract, after eight seasons with the Catalan giants produced 23 trophies.

“Look at who just landed in Turin.

Welcome Dani Alves,” Juve posted above a photo of the player on Twitter. A video shows Alves getting into a car where he says “Come on Juve, let’s go”. After leaving Sevilla for the Camp Nou in 2008, the Brazilian claimed six La Liga titles and three Champions League winners’ medals.

Bowling J. Holder 10-1-51-2 (2w), S. Gabriel 7-0-582 (1w), C. Brathwaite 8-2-32-1, K. Pollard 5-0-33-1 (1w), S. Narine 10-1-55-1 (3w), S. Benn 10-0-38-1 (1w).

Australian cricketers pose with their trophy at the end of the final of the Tri-Nation Series against the West Indies in Bridgetown on Sunday AFP

Southampton’s Senegalese striker Sadio Mane will undergo a medical at Liverpool yesterday after the clubs agreed a 30 million pounds ($40.2 million) transfer, British media reported. The 24-year-old is expected to sign in the next couple of days if personal terms are agreed. Mane has scored 11 goals in 37 Premier League appearances, Mane is set to become Liverpool’s fourth signing of the summer after Joel Matip joined on a free transfer from Schalke, Marko Grujic left Red Star Belgrade, and goalkeeper Loris Karius was imported from Mainz.

–REUTERS

Swiss teenager Embolo joins Schalke Schalke 04 have signed striker Breel Embolo from FC Basel on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the German side have announced.

The 19-year-old Embolo scored 24 goals in over 50 appearances and won the Swiss league three times during his spell at the club. Embolo, with 14 caps in total, featured in all of four games in the Euro 2016 as his country crashed out of the tournament with a 5-4 loss on penalties to Poland on Saturday.

–REUTERS

Zola loses Qatar coaching job Former Italy and Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has been sacked as coach of Al-Arabi, a spokesman for the Qatari Stars League side said yesterday. Zola, who lasted just one season in Qatar, will be replaced by veteran Uruguayan coach, Gerardo Pelusso. Asked if Zola had been sacked, the spokesman replied: “Yes.” Despite being one of the biggest names in the Qatari league, the Italian, appears to have paid the price for Al-Arabi’s poor league form.

–AFP

B 14 41 59 44 45 4 52 25 10 6 0

Total (50 overs, 9 wickets) 270 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Khawaja), 2-69 (Finch), 3-120 (Bailey), 4-152 (Smith), 5-156 (Maxwell), 6-173 (Marsh), 7-211 (Starc), 8-238 (Coulter-Nile), 9-264 (Zampa).

–AFP

Mane to undergo medical at Liverpool

R 14 47 46 22 32 4 57 17 15 5 0 11

Aussies clinch Tri-Nation series n AFP

Mitchell Marsh emerged as the unlikely bowling hero for Australia as the World Cup-holders defeated the West Indies by 58 runs in the final of the Tri-Nation One-Day International Series.

Set a challenging target of 271 after wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 57 led an Australian lower-order revival from 173 for six to a final total of 270 for nine off 50 overs, Marsh claimed the prized wickets of Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, adding the scalp of opening bats-

man Johnson Charles for good measure to effectively short-circuit the home side’s pursuit.

His disciplined medium-pacers realised miserly figures of three for 32 with the West Indies unable to recapture the impressive batting form of earlier matches in being dismissed for 212 off 45.4 overs at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.

Josh Hazlewood polished off the tail to finish with the best figures of five for 50, but it was Marsh’s spell that made the difference when it mattered most.

Charles topscored with 45 and featured in an encouraging opening partnership of 49 with Andre Fletcher.

They weathered the early assault from Mitchell Starc but it was fellow new ball bowler Hazlewood who prised out Fletcher in the 11th over of the innings.

Marsh, adjudged Man of the Match, then cemented Australia’s control of the match when he had Bravo caught behind, Samuels taken at short extra-cover and Charles leg-before within the space of ten runs. l

WEST INDIES INNINGS A. Fletcher c Smith b Hazlewood J. Charles lbw Marsh D. Bravo c wkpr Wade b Marsh M. Samuels c Bailey b Marsh D. Ramdin b Hazlewood K. Pollard c Hazlewood b Zampa J. Holder c Finch b Coulter-Nile C. Brathwaite b Hazlewood S. Narine c Smith b Hazlewood S. Benn c Maxwell b Hazlewood S. Gabriel not out Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-9)

R 9 45 6 6 40 20 34 14 23 2 1 12

B 25 61 20 7 67 25 37 11 18 3 1

Total (45.4 overs, all out) 212 Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Fletcher), 2-62 (Bravo), 3-68 (Samuels), 4-72 (Charles), 5-105 (Pollard), 6-148 (Holder), 7-185 (Brathwaite), 8-194 (Ramdin), 9-211 (Narine), 10-212 (Benn).

Bowling M. Starc 8-0-32-0 (3w), J. Hazlewood 9.4-1-50-5, N. Coulter-Nile 8-0-46-1 (3w), M. Marsh 10-1-32-3 (1nb, 1w), A. Zampa 10-0-50-1 (1w).

Toss: Australia Result: Australia won by 58 runs

Amir can be world’s best, says Misbah n AFP

Mohammad Amir can still become the best bowler in the world despite serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said yesterday.

Left-arm fast bowler Amir, 24, is expected to make his return to Test cricket next month against England at Lord’s, where his exciting career came to a shuddering halt in 2010.

During that year’s Test against

England at Lord’s, Amir and Pakistan new-ball partner Mohammad Asif bowled no-balls to order on the instructions of their captain Salman Butt as part of a sting operation carried out by a tabloid newspaper.

All three received five-year bans from cricket and, together with sports agent Mazhar Majeed, jail terms. Amir, who served three months in an English young offenders institute, has only played limited overs internationals for Pakistan, but his career could come full circle when the first of a four-Test series against England starts at Lord’s, “the home of cricket”, on July 14.

Misbah believes Amir, who was one of the hottest properties in world cricket at the time of his ban, has lost none of his skill.

“If you look at his bowling speed, swing and control – it’s there,” said Misbah at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl ground near Southampton, where Pakistan were training yesterday.

“He can still be the best bowler in the world,” he added ahead of Pakistan’s opening three-day tour match against Somerset at Taunton

starting Sunday.

“Whatever form of the game he has played since his comeback, he has done well,” said key batsman Misbah of Amir, who in his 14 Tests before his ban took 51 wickets at an average of under 30 apiece.

“He knows he is under pressure but he is handling it well,” the Pakistan captain insisted.

“This is a good chance for him to come here, the place where he had those problems, and show the world he is there to perform and deliver for the team.

“It is a chance to win back all his fans. It’s a great opportunity and he’s working hard.”

As for Amir receiving a potentially hostile reception from English spectators, Misbah said: “It might happen - you can always hear voices.

“The best way is to concentrate on your skills and your duties and Amir has to focus on his game and what he has to do. He is doing well.”

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said he had been impressed by Amir’s attitude since taking charge of the side just over a month ago. l

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Abahani

RESULT 1-0

Arambagh

Tuck 11

AWARDS MAN OF THE FINAL Lee Andrew Tuck (Abahani)

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT Sunday Chizoba (Abahani)

TOP SCORER Kester Akon (Arambagh) 4 goals

FAIR PLAY Sheikh Russel

SQUAD ABAHANI Sohel; Ariful, Waly, Yussif, Mamun; Emon, Pranotosh, Jewel, Tuck; Jibon, Sunday.

ARAMBAGH Mitul; Issah, Bhasani, Liton, Monsur; Marma, Abdullah, Yoko, Sufil, Jafar; Kester.

Abahani Limited players and officials celebrate with the Federation Cup trophy following their final win over Arambagh Krira Sangha at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Fed Cup champions Abahani on cloud nine n Tribune Report Abahani Limited emerged as the champions of the Federation Cup for the ninth time as they edged past Arambagh Krira Sangha 1-0 in the grand finale at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Having just returned from injury, English playmaker Lee Andrew Tuck netted the all-important goal in the first half which was enough for the Sky Blues, who largely controlled the game.

The triumph drew an end to the wait of the Dhanmondi outfit as

the four-time professional league champions last won a silverware back in the 2010-11 season.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Arambagh as they reached the final of the tournament after a long 15year hiatus but failed to overcome the final obstacle once again. They still remain trophyless in the history of professional domestic football. The Motijheel outfit couldn’t produce the required performance to get back to the game and break a solid Abahani defence. And thus, their fairytale run had to come to a sudden halt.

Abahani were better in possession and dominated the midfield throughout the game. The early lead gave them more confidence and the experience of losing the season opening Independence Cup final against Chiitagong Abahani in April this year also made the Abahani players more aware of the occasion.

George Kottan made two changes to the squad that beat Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra in the semi-final. Tuck was fit to start, replacing Shahedul Alam Shahed, while Nabib Newaj Jibon returned to the starting XI in place of the in-form

WHAT THEY SAID GEORGE KOTTAN

SAIFUL BARI TITU

Abahani head coach

Arambagh head coach

It’s a wonderful feeling. It is the second time in my life players threw me high at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. I am very happy for the guys. After 10 years I think I became the champion. We had two-three chances and most important thing is we controlled the game.

Arambagh had one goal chance and nothing at all. We had more. Abahani controlled the game.

60-40 percent to Abahani. We should have won 3-1 from the chances we had. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time before the league.

Because of Eid, the boys will go home. We cannot continue the practice. I’m confident. I gave the training plan for the boys about what they should do at home. I have a good feeling for the league.

I’m proud of the boys - the way they played to reach the final. Experience is an important matter in such a big game. We conceded a silly goal where we gave away the ball. If we hadn’t conceded that goal in the first half, there could have been a chance for us in the second half.

Luck also didn’t favour us [yesterday]. Players showed tough mentality throughout the tournament.

LEE ANDREW TUCK Player of the Final We played really well. The plan was to keep control of the ball because it’s hot weather. We were patient. We worked hard and got the early goal. Arambagh played very well. But I think we have better quality in our team.

Senegalese forward Camara Sarba.

The Sky Blues put pressure on the opponents from the very beginning of the game and they could have broken the deadlock in the seventh minute but were denied by two brilliant saves by Arambagh goalkeeper Mitul Hasan.

Nigerian striker Sunday Chizoba’s initial effort was blocked by Mitul and the Arambagh custodian made another superb save to deny Jewel Rana’s header on the rebound.

Tuck gave Abahani the breakthrough four minutes later as his left-footed shot from the edge of the

box hit the back of the net following a pass from national striker Jibon.

Arambagh, who came from behind twice earlier in the tournament including the semi-final against Team BJMC couldn’t repeat the heroics yesterday against a solid Abahani backline.

They however, did try to stage a comeback in the second half and six minutes after resumption, Jafar Iqbal broke into the left flank of the penalty area and took a powerful shot, only to see the effort fisted away to safety by Abahani netminder Shahidul Alam Sohel. l

BCB won’t back two-tier Test cricket, says Mahbub n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Cricket Board will not support the two-division structure in Test cricket, informed board vice president Mahbub Anam yesterday.

One of the major agendas in the International Cricket Council’s ongoing board meeting in Edinburgh is the probable division of Test cricket into two structures but Mahbub said, “We don’t support this proposal as cricket is such a game when you play against tough oppo-

nents, it helps you to improve more.

“If we would not have played against the big teams in the ODIs then we may not have improved the way we have in the past few years.

When we were an associate nation, we thought we are the kings but when we received the Test status, it was a totally different ball game for us.

There’s huge competition (in Tests).

“And if we go backward from this position I think it will hamper our progress.

The main job for ICC is to globalise cricket and not to create a particular class. I think a world organisation’s aim shouldn’t be like that.”

Meanwhile, BCB president Nazmul Hasan and CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury have joined the ICC meeting at the Scottish capital.

In accordance with the current rankings, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will slip into division two and joined by the two best teams from the 2015-17 Intercontinental Cup. l

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Djokovic races through Wimbledon opener n AFP World number one Novak Djokovic got his campaign for a third successive Wimbledon title off to a winning start with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over Britain’s James Ward yesterday.

The 29-year-old Serb, the holder of 12 Grand Slams after clinching a first French Open earlier this month, is on target for the record books.

A fourth Wimbledon title would make him just the second man since Don Budge in 1938 to win five straight majors.

It would also put him three-quarters of the way to becoming the first since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam.

Top seed Djokovic, who holds all four majors, goes on to face France’s Adrian Mannarino for a place in the last 32.

Djokovic has won six of the last eight Grand Slams, taking him to a career tally of 12 - within two of Rafael Nadal’s mark and five behind

Mariner beat Abahani, at the summit n Tribune Report Mariner Young’s Club climbed to the top of the Green Delta Premier Division Hockey League points table after defeating Abahani Limited 2-1 in a vital Super Six match at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Mariner goalkeeper Mehrab Hossain Kiron produced a brilliant display to give his side an important victory over the joint champions of the last edition and keep the title race wide open between joint winners Usha Krira Chakra and Mariner.

The victory gave Mariner a twopoint lead over Usha at the top of the table. Mariner have 40 points from 15 matches but Usha have a game in hand and will face Mohammedan Sporting Club tomorrow.

Waqas Sharif put Mariner ahead in the ninth minute before Shafqat Rasool cancelled out the lead 13 minutes later. Mariner sealed victory in the 63rd minute when Czech defender Thomas Prochazka converted a penalty corner. Kiron made a number of superb saves in both the halves.

Meanwhile in the day’s other match, Russel Mahmud Jimmy scored four goals in Mohammedan’s 5-1 victory over Wanderers Club. l

Roger Federer’s record.

Federer, whose last major triumph was at Wimbledon in 2012 when he won his seventh title at the All England Club, begins later Monday against Argentina’s world number 51 Guido Pella.

Federer, 34, has been runner-up to Djokovic for the last two years and is attempting to become the oldest ever Wimbledon champion in modern times.

But the Swiss has been dogged by knee and back problems this year and his injury-enforced withdrawal from the French Open ended his streak of 65 successive Grand Slam appearances stretching back to 1999.

He has since suffered semi-final losses on grass at Stuttgart and Halle, the last of which against Alexander Zverev was his first against a teenager in 10 years.

Federer’s failure to win a title in 2016 means he enters Wimbledon on his longest trophy drought since 2000.

In early action yesterday, fivetime champion Venus Williams

battled past Croatian teenager Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Williams, 36, is the oldest woman in the main draw of this year’s tournament and first won Wimbledon in 2000 when Vekic was just four.

The world number eight, playing in a record-equalling 71st Grand Slam, will play Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari for a place in the third round.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic was knocked out, losing 6-2, 7-5 to Russian qualifier, Ekaterina Alexandrova, the world 223.

Ivanovic, the 2008 Roland Garros champion and a semi-finalist at the All England Club in 2007, suffered just her second opening round loss at Wimbledon in 12 visits.

Alexandrova, 21, is making her Grand Slam debut and had won just one match on the main tour in her entire career before yesterday’s shock win over the 23rd seed.

Ivanovic said she was suffering a right wrist injury and won’t play again until the Rio Olympics. l

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns against Britain’s James Ward during their men’s singles first round match of the 2016 Wimbledon yesterday AFP

Clubs hope transfers don’t take Brexit pounding n AFP The shockwaves felt after Britain voted to leave the European Union are set to have a dramatic impact on the transfer fees splashed out by cash-rich Premier League clubs for leading European players.

One question is whether players like French Manchester United target Paul Pogba would be eligible to play in Europe’s most high-profile and competitive league, given that

talks on Britain remaining in the single market could drag on for at least two years.

More immediately, the decline in the value of the pound will make transfer targets more difficult to acquire.

“If the pound continues to fall, then foreign talent will become more expensive. That could have a huge knock-on effect in the summer transfer window,” Simon Chadwick, professor of sports en-

terprise at the University of Salford, told The Times.

While fluctuations in the exchange rate shouldn’t unduly concern the wealthiest clubs such as Manchester City and cross-town rivals United, the mid-level Premier League teams will notice a difference.

Even with cash from a new record television deal coming in, a bid of £10 million for a European player rose by as much as £900,000

in the past two days, due to the slump in the pound’s value against the euro.

West Ham’s largest shareholder David Sullivan - whose club had before Thursday’s shock vote made a 40-million euro offer for Marseille’s Belgian international striker Michy Batshuayi - reflected this concern.

“There are going to be a lot of implications for the Premier League and football in general,” he wrote on the club website. l

Tangail School & College lift school cricket title n Mazhar Uddin

Tangail School and College players and officials celebrate with the trophy following their Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament final win over Dinajpur High School in Mirpur yesterday COURTESY

The excitement was boundless and the emotions were there for all to see as the juvenile cricketers, taking part in the final of the Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament, played for the very first time at the home of cricket yesterday.

And it was Tangail School and College who made it an occasion to remember as they emerged as the champion, defeating Dinajpur High School by three wickets at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Taking first guard, Dinajpur were skittled out for just 133 in 47.4 overs with player of the final Rifat Hasan bagging three wickets. Rifat

later starred with the bat as well, scoring 44 unbeaten runs to guide Tangail to the title.

The champion team received Tk 50,000 and a glittering trophy while the runners up side pocketed Tk 25,000.

The tournament got underway earlier this year with the respective district champions facing each other for the right of divisional winners. The divisional champions then battled against each other in the national round, which started last Tuesday.

A total of 534 schools partook in 965 matches across the country with as many as 10,800 players participating in the four-month competition. l

DT

Downtime

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Drinking vessels (4) 3 Rodents (4) 7 Bishop’s territory (3) 8 Sun-dried brick (5) 11 Easy talk (4) 12 Take game illegally (5) 13 Happening (5) 15 Frank (4) 18 Mountain lake (4) 19 Comment in undertone (5) 20 Young eel (5) 21 Fissure (4) 23 Make into a statue (5) 24 Employment (3) 25 Bill of fare (4) 26 Expensive (4)

DOWN 1 Summer hut (6) 2 Appropriate (6) 4 Tree (3) 5 Tantalised (6) 6 Become firm (3) 9 Headwear (6) 10 Consume (3) 11 Picked out (6) 14 Traveller’s case (6) 16 Sea-robber (6) 17 Drink of the gods (6) 19 Hail! (3) 21 Spirit (3) 22 Marsh (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 1 represents L so fill L every time the figure 12 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

A decade together

n Rupkotha Chowdhury Opu Biswas and Shakib Khan, are fan favorites when it comes to on screen couples in Dhallywood.

They have been working together for a decade already.

In 2006 they came together for the first time for the movie Koti Takar Kabin by director F I Manik.

The movie was the inception

of the successes that were yet to come. The busy couple have been seen in hit movies like Chacchu, Pitar Ashon, Tor Karone Beche Achi, Priya Amar Jaan, and many more. This year, they have released only one movie as of yet – Raja 420, directed by Uttam Akash. The pair’s next movie is set to release all over the country this Eid.

The movie Shamrat will be their 72nd movie together and is directed by Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz. Shakib Khan is looking forward to the endeavor and has even said that he wants to make the century with Opu Biswas as an on screen couple as soon as possible. l

n Showtime Desk

reform that balances the interests of creators with the interests of the companies who exploit music for their financial enrichment.”

YouTube has been attacked by musicians who’ve criticised its approach to paying artists. The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney said, “I probably can find 250 songs that are available which the artist isn’t getting paid for,” within five minutes of surfing YouTube. Trent Reznor said that the service was built on the backs of free, stolen content. In December, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, compared YouTube and parent company, Google to Nazi Germany. Both Carney and Reznor signed the petition.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

Kanye’s video depicts naked celebrity look-alikes, George W Bush responds

More musicians join petition against YouTube Jack White, St Vincent, and Paul McCartney are among dozens of artists from all genres who have signed a petition against the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The big names of music industry have signed a petition advocating US Congress for reform the act, which regulates the circulation of copyrighted work.

Their protest decries portals such as YouTube and Vimeo, which were allowed to grow and generate huge profits by creating ease of use for consumers to carry almost every recorded song in history in their pocket via a smartphone.

The artists’ coalition — also endorsed by numerous music publishing companies including three major labels — say the 1998 congressional law is outdated.

The signees proclaim that major entities such as YouTube (though not specifically named in the petition) “were not the intended protectorate when it was signed into law nearly two decades ago.”

It notes that DMCA was passed in a ‘technologically out-of-date’ era, and also calls for “sensible

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Showtime

Previously reported names signing the petition included Taylor Swift, U2, Vince Staples, Kings of Leon, and Carole King.

Now, the full list is here, and it includes Beck, Jack White, Trent Reznor, St Vincent, David Byrne, the Black Keys, U2, Spoon, Pusha T, Miguel, Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, Pearl Jam, Pharrell, Yoko Ono, Ryan Adams, TV on the Radio, Roy Ayers, Mark Ronson, Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Lady Gaga, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and Slash, Elvis Costello, Desiigner, Kacey Musgraves, Sade, Ronnie Spector, Rod Stewart, the Who’s Pete Townshend, and many more. l

n Showtime Desk Kanye West, a man who is well-known for calling himself a “god” and the “biggest thing in hiphop” and generally being full of his own “awesomeness,” has stirred controversy once again, this time with a video that depicts former US President George W Bush, Anna Wintour, Donald Trump, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ray J, Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby and Taylor Swift naked alongside each other.

The eight-minute grainy video premièred at the Los Angeles Forum on June 24, Friday. In an interview with Vanity Fair on the same day, Kanye explained that the project is “not in support or anti any of (the people in the video).”

Instead, it is “a comment on fame.”

Drawing inspiration from realist painter Vincent Desiderio’s 2012 mural “Sleep,” the video was filmed over three months with collaborators, according to the magazine.

In the video, West positions himself nuzzled between his wife and Swift. The models, who we don’t know yet whether are real or made out of wax, lie as if sleeping amid crumpled white sheets on an enormous bed, as a camera pans slowly over their faces and bodies, pausing over each famous figure and parts of their anatomy.

George W Bush appears near Trump, then fashion editor Anna Wintour, followed by Rihanna and Chris Brown, Swift, West and Kardashian. Then the camera shows Ray J, Amber

Rose, Caitlyn Jenner and Bill Cosby.

Nearly all the 12 figures featured in the video have some kind of history with West. He married Kardashian and Jenner is a former in-law. He dated Amber Rose, and Kardashian featured in a sex tape with Ray J. West has collaborated with Rihanna, who dated Brown and who pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

West and Swift have an on-off feud of dubious authenticity dating back to 2009, when West stormed an awards ceremony stage during Swift’s acceptance speech (In the song, West sings: “I made that bitch famous”).

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, West said: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”

The former president later described it as the worst moment of his eight years in office.

Following the video, a representative of George W Bush offered the following quote: “In case there was any doubt … that is not President Bush… He is in much better shape,” TMZ reported.

It’s a good-natured reaction to a rather unbecoming visual.

Considering past issues between the two men, one could imagine Bush saying far worse. Here’s to hoping more of the celebrities depicted in “Famous” offer their two cents (and none of them accept West’s retracted invitation to press charges).

However, time will decide whether West is misogynist trash, the next Pablo Picasso or the simply desperate for attention. l Sources: The Guardian, Yahoo Music

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Back Page

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016

BREXIT NOT A CONCERN FOR BD FOREX MARKET PAGE 12

ARGENTINA IN TURMOIL AFTER MESSI EXIT PAGE 24

A DECADE TOGETHER

Keep your eyes open Motorbike-riding muggers on the prowl as Eid approaches DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman The same day that Farida crease in number before two Eids.

Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Mia last week said the situation of was hurt, BBC Bangla presenter Farida, angry and hurt, told the Arifur Rahman Rabbi Before she knew it, Farida Khanam was flying out of the rickshaw she was on – her fingers still clutching the handle of her purse which was being tugged hard by three men on a motorcycle.

It was 11pm last Wednesday; Farida was returning to her Azimpur home from her sister’s house in Segunbagicha.

As she was passing the High Court Mazar, the whole incident happened in seconds. Farida, 43, escaped with injuries on her leg and lost whatever money and the mobile phone she had with her.

Dhaka dwellers are not strangers to similar muggings, which only in-

Dhaka Tribune she would not file any police complaint as she saw there were on-duty policemen near Doyel Chattar who witnessed the whole thing. Despite being just a few yards away from where the snatching took place, none of them came to her help.

“I was lucky as the bag handle was weak and it detached from my hand, or else I would have received even worse injuries,” she said.

Similar motorcycle muggers have, in the past, claimed lives of many innocent victims.

On May 21, Priyanka Datta, a private university student, died after falling down from a rickshaw when muggers snatched her bag.

Sharmin Roma was also injured badly during a mugging in front of Dhanmondi’s Sultana Kamal Women’s Sports Complex.

According to intelligence sources, there are 280 mugging spots in Dhaka city where around two dozen motorbike-riding muggers are active.

Data shows that muggings have increased drastically ahead of Eid. In the entire month of May, only 13 muggings were reported to the police; but in the first 25 days of June, the number of reported muggings in Dhaka city has jumped to 40.

The numbers do not include a large number of muggings that are never reported to the police.

Despite the increased frequency,

mugging, theft and snatching was better than any other time in past.

Later on Thursday, he declared that if necessary law enforcers would open fire on muggers to stop such crimes.

The same day the DMP chief said this, two muggings were reported in Dhaka. An NGO official named Saiful Islam was shot by muggers in Hajaribagh, while a housewife named Shanta Begum and her husband Ripon were mugged in Badda.

In this regard, RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed said the elite force was always working to prevent such crimes and the people who are behind this would be arrested and brought to justice. l

PAGE 31

Beggar-free zones declared n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The government yesterday at the parliament announced some areas of Dhaka city as beggar-free zones.

The areas are Dhaka airport, Hotel Radisson, embassy and diplomatic areas, Bailey Road, InterContinental Hotel and Hotel Sonargaon according to Nuruzzaman Ahmed, said state minister for social welfare.

He said Tk30 lakh had been allotted to Gopalganj, Sunamganj and Narail in FY2015-16 to create employment and rehabilitation for beggars.

The programme launched in 2009 did not gain much traction because of the unwillingness of the beggars to be rehabilitated into other forms of employment.

According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, there are around seven lakh beggars in the country while more than fifty thousand are in the capital. l

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