29 June, 2016

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

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Ashar 15, 1423, Ramadan 23, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 67

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

Weapon supplier Bhola arrested MITU MURDER Hasan and n Kamrul FM Mizanur Rahman Although two persons have confessed their involvement in the murder of Mahbuba Khanam Mitu and the alleged arms supplier has

been arrested and the arms recovered, the motive behind the high-profile attack that took place on June 5 amid a string of militant attacks is yet unclear.

The law enforcers have kept mum over the contents of the confessional statements as well as the identities of the masterminds since it could hurt the investigation.

With these developments, it is apparent that it was a contract killing, not a targeted murder by the

Islamist militants as assumed in the beginning.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry yesterday ordered the transfer of several officials of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police among others.

The members of CMP DB police arrested the arms supplier, Ehteshamul Haque Bhola alias Haniful Haque Bhola alias Bholaiya, 41, from his house in Rajakhali area under Bakalia police station around 10:30pm on Monday, CMP

Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Debdas Bhattacharya said at a press briefing yesterday.

The arrest was made based on confessional statements given by Motaleb Mia alias Wasim and Md Anwar on Sunday. Police said that Wasim had shot Mitu to confirm her death while Anwar was present on the spot as a back-up attacker.

After interrogating Bhola, the DB members learnt that his arms

Seven charged for Tavella murder n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu The Detective Branch of police yesterday pressed charges against BNP Dhaka City Joint Convener MA Qayum, his brother MA Matin and five others for the murder in Dhaka of Italian national Cesare Tavella last year.

The five other accused are Tamjid Ahmed Rubel alias Shotter Rubel, Russell Chowdhury alias

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Brussels summit: EU presses UK for swift exit n Reuters, London/Brussels European leaders told Britain on Tuesday to act quickly to resolve the political and economic chaos unleashed by its vote to leave the European Union, a move the IMF said could put pressure on global growth.

Financial markets recovered

slightly after the result of Thursday's referendum wiped a record $3tn off global shares and sterling fell to its lowest level in 31 years, but trading was volatile and policymakers said they would take all necessary measures to protect their economies.

British finance minister George Osborne, whose attempt to calm

markets fell on deaf ears on Monday, said the country would have to cut spending and raise taxes to stabilise the economy after a third credit ratings agency downgraded its debt.

European countries are particularly worried about the impact on the rest of the EU of the uncertainty created by Britain's vote to leave, with little idea of when, or even if,

the country will formally declare it is quitting.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament before meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Brussels that he would urge him to clarify London's position as soon as possible.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

SEHRI & IFTAR

Ramadan 23 24 25

June 29 30 1 Jul

Sehri – 3:42 3:42

Iftar 6:52 6:53 6:53

Source: Islamic Foundation

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Seven charged for Tavella murder Chakki Russell, Minhajul Arefin, Shakhawat Hossain alias Sharif and Md Sohel alias Bhangari Sohel, who is accused of supplying the firearms.

According to the charge sheet, BNP leader MA Qayum planned the murder of Tavella as part of a conspiracy to create anarchy, put pressure on the government and send a message to foreigners that they were not safe in Bangladesh.

Qayum’s brother MA Matin coordinated the murder and hired three assassins to kill a “white

man”, the charge sheet said.

Qayum and Sohel are currently on the run. The remaining five men are behind bars.

Four accused – Rubel, Russell, Minhajul and Shakhawat – have made confessional statements in the case before Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

While Matin admitted to involvement in the killing during interrogation by the police, he refused to make a confessional statement before the court.

Family members of the accused

maintain that the five arrested men are innocent and claim they were forced to give statements under duress.

The court appointed DB inspector Golam Rabbani as investigating officer for the case.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of police Md Aminur Rahman, a member of the criminal intelligence and prosecution wing of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that “the investigating officer submitted the charge sheet to

the court around 2pm yesterday.”

Cesare Tavella, an aid worker and veterinary surgeon, was shot dead at Road 90, Gulshan 2 last year. He had been living alone in Dhaka and worked on food security issues for a Dutch aid organisation.

After the incident, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the murder, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activities worldwide.

The murder raised concerns about the security of foreign nationals, prompting many countries to is-

sue travel alerts to their citizens visiting Bangladesh and withdraw their citizens working in Bangladesh.

The government played down these concerns, dismissing them as a conspiracy.

The government maintains that IS has no presence in the country and that opposition parties BNP and Jamaat and home-grown militants are to blame for the murder.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury fixed August 4 for the next hearing in the murder case. l

Brussels summit: EU presses UK for swift exit But he said he did not expect him to launch the two-year withdrawal process “today, or tomorrow morning”.

Cameron, who offered to resign when it became clear he had failed to persuade the country to stay in the EU in the referendum he called, says he will leave it to his successor to formally declare Britain’s exit.

Holding out hope of maintaining good relations with other European countries, he said: “And I very much hope we’ll seek the closest possible relationship in terms of trade and cooperation and security.

Because that is good for us and that is good for them.”

His party says it aims to choose a new leader by early September, but those who campaigned for Britain’s leave vote have made clear they hope to negotiate a new deal for the country with Europe before

triggering the formal exit process.

European leaders have said that is not an option.

“No notification, no negotiation,” Juncker said.

No cherry-picking

Cameron and Juncker exchanged no words as they met. The British premier will meet other European counterparts one-on-one before addressing them all at what promises to be a frosty dinner to discuss what has become known as Brexit.

EU lawmakers have made clear they hope he will trigger the exit process at the dinner, but an EU official said that was unrealistic given the political chaos in London, where both Cameron’s party and opposition Labour lawmakers are deeply divided.

The ruling Conservative Party

in parliament is split into pro- and anti-EU camps and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn faces a no confidence vote on Tuesday from parliamentarians who accuse him of lukewarm support for the EU. The chamber jeered loudly when the leader of Britain’s eurosceptic UKIP party gave a scathing speech saying Europe had deceived its population and Britain would be its “best friend” if it agreed to extend a tariff-free trade deal.

For Britain, the outlook is bleak.

Fitch joined other major credit ratings agencies in downgrading its sovereign debt on Monday, making the promises by leave campaigners that Britain’s economy would be stronger outside the EU appear empty.

After Cameron has addressed EU leaders on Tuesday evening, they will meet the next day to

discuss Brexit without him.

Leave campaigners in Britain, among them Cameron’s possible successor, former London Mayor Boris Johnson, have suggested Britain can retain access to the European single market and curb immigration -- goals which are mutually incompatible under EU rules.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain would not be able to “cherry-pick” the parts of the EU it wants, such as enjoying access to the single market, without accepting principles such as freedom of movement when it negotiates its exit from the bloc.

“I can only advise our British friends not to fool themselves ... in terms of the necessary decisions that need to be made in Britain,” she said.

The 52%-48% vote to leave,

which seemed unlikely until the last minute, has deepened multiple geographical as well as political divisions within the United Kingdom.

Reflecting deep concern over the referendum result in London, where a majority voted to stay and people fear job losses if the city loses its status as a global financial centre, Mayor Sadiq Khan said access to Europe’s market was key.

“On behalf of all Londoners, I am demanding more autonomy for the capital - right now,” he said.

Scotland, where people voted strongly to remain in Europe, was due to hold a parliamentary vote seeking backing for a drive to keep EU status. Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has suggested holding a possible second referendum on leaving the United Kingdom given the vote to leave the EU. l

in. Moreover, they detained and interrogated the motorcycle owner and the driver of a microbus who was a witness to the murder. They were released as their involvement could not be found.

Wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Akter, Mitu, 32, was stabbed and shot dead by three men in broad daylight in front of her son near the GEC intersection of the port city on the morning of June 5, the day Babul was supposed to join his new post at the Police Headquarters. The killers fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Minister: Babul not under surveillance Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday reiterated that SP Babul had not been interrogated in the case, rather “he was asked to verify the identities of the arrestees.”

On early Saturday, SP Babul was picked up from his in-law’s house by the police and kept first at the Police Headquarters and from there to 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.

“His involvement in the murder has not been found yet,” the minister said.

Earlier, CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar had said that the investigators could talk to SP Babul any time since he is the plaintiff of the case.

Family members of Babul, however, have claimed that his professional rivals are giving false information to the media to divert the case.

As Babul did not join the new portfolio because of the murder of his wife only hours back, rumours spread in the last two days that he might not continue the job.

Asked about Babul’s joining the force, the minister avoided a direct answer saying that it was a matter of the Police Headquarters.

In response to another question, Kamal also ruled out the suggestion that SP Babul had been kept under surveillance at his in-law’s house at Banasree. He was given security as per the protocol. l

Weapon supplier Bhola arrested had been kept with Md Monir Hossain. Monir was arrested in a drive at Ershader Colony of Bakalia around midnight, Debdas said.

Two firearms – one 7.65 bore foreign-made pistol and a 0.32 bore revolver – and six rounds of bullets were recovered from Monir’s house. Police suspect that these arms were used in the attack.

In his statement, Wasim claimed that Kamrul Shikder alias Abu Musa, a police informant, had recruited the killers. He also took part in the attack directly.

A police informant and also leader of Shechchhasebok League, Bhola supplied the arms, Wasim said. Musa is yet to be arrested.

Bhola and Monir were made accused in an arms case filed yesterday while Bhola was shown arrested in Mitu murder case.

They were placed before separate courts seeking 10-day remand for each, but the judges deferred the remand hearing after Eid-ulFitr. They were later sent to jail.

In primary interrogation, Bhola admitted that he had supplied the arms and kept those with Monir,

DB police produce arrested arms suppliers – Ehteshamul Haque Bhola (second from left) and Md Monir Hossen (second from right)– in Mitu murder case in front of the media yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Debdas told reporters.

DB Assistant Commissioner Kamruzzaman, who is the IO in Mitu murder case, told the Dhaka Tribune that Bhola had supplied the firearms to Wasim and Musa on June 4 and took those back the next morning on June 5 after accomplishing the mission.

Asked about the motive and the masterminds of the murder, Debdas said that it could not be confirmed until the investigation ended.

The investigators earlier said that they had not found the involvement of two other persons shown arrested in the case – Abu Nosor Gunnu and Shah Jaman Rob-

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Source of funds unclear but Bapex signs deal with Santos anyway n Aminur Rahman Rasel State-run oil and gas exploration company Bapex on Monday signed a binding offer agreement with troubled Australian oil and gas giant Santos to carry out offshore drilling in the Bay of Bengal’s Magnama structure.

The binding offer agreement is a precursor to a joint venture between Santos and Bapex. As per deal negotiations, Santos would have a 51% stake, while Bapex would have a 49% stake in the venture.

But it has not yet been determined where Bapex’s contribution to the project cost would come

from, Bapex sources said. It is believed that it will be borne either by the exchequer or the gas development fund.

Experts earlier expressed concern about a deal with Santos because of the Australian company’s continuing financial difficulties over the past year.

Santos reported a loss of A$2.7bn ($1.9bn, £1.3bn) for the 12 months to December last year. The dramatic fall in net profit included writedowns on various assets of A$3.92bn over the year.

The binding offer agreement will cost Bapex $28.85 million.

The break down for the price tag is

$16.35m for seismic survey work already completed and half of $25m – or $12.5m – for the drilling of an exploratory well.

Santos had long pushed Bapex to agree to pay $46 million, half of Santos’ claims for work done since 1994.

“The binding agreement covers some major points of the joint venture agreement which will need approval from Energy and Mineral Resources Division and Petrobangla. It will also need vetting from Law Ministry,” Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) Managing Director Md Atiquzzaman told the

Dhaka Tribune.

The Bapex board recently approved the joint venture agreement.

Earlier a confidentiality agreement was also signed with Santos.

Atiquzzaman said the joint venture agreement signing between Bapex and Santos would be done

by September.

“We want to start the work by next winter (January 2017). We have signed a binding offer agreement in this regard,” he said.

Santos Bangladesh spokesman Mahmudul Karim did not reply to this correspondent’s queries via SMS and telephone.

The Magnama structure is lo-

cated within shallow sea Block 16 in the Bay, where the Sangu well, which now remains shut, is located.

Santos recently mapped mean Gas Initial In Place (GIIP) for Magnama at 1.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) which shows 16 to 17 gas layers.

In October 2007, Santos acquired a 37.5% interest from Cairn Energy in the Sangu Development Area and a 50% interest in the Block 16 exploration acreage, located in the Bay of Bengal.

In December 2010, Santos acquired the remainder of Cairn’s interests in Bangladesh and became operator of the acreage. l

MILITANT ATTACK ON MADARIPUR COLLEGE TEACHER

Son of college dept head arrested Islam Khan, n Zahirul Madaripur Police have allegedly arrested Khalid Saifullah Jamil, son of Belayet Hossain, head of the department of mathematics in Government Nazimuddin University College, for interragation regarding the attack on Ripon Chakraborty, teacher in the same department, according to his family.

But Madaripur police denied the allegation when the Dhaka Tribune contacted them.

According to Jamil’s family and several local sources, police detained him around 2am on Monday from Gopalpur Boro Mosque in Madaripur’s Kalkini upazila, where he is an imam. His family claims the team comprising officials from both Kalkini and Madaripur Sadar police station arrested him.

When contacted, Madaripur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarowar Hossain claimed that Madaripur police was not aware of any such arrest. “If he (Jamil) has been arrested, it could have been a team from Dhaka. We don’t know anything about this issue.”

But when this correspondent spoke to Madaripur officer-incharge Ziaul Morshed, he said Jamil have been detained for interrogation regarding the attack on Ripon and the killing of Faizullah Fahim, the prime suspect in the attack who was killed in a “gunfight.”

Before arresting Jamil, the police team detained his friend Mohammad Parvez, who is imam at Bashtola Mosque in Kalkini, and Sajjad Hossain, imam for tarabi prayers at the same mosque, around 1am.

They also detained Jamil’s maternal uncle Golam Rasul, who is a teacher at Gopalpur High School.

Jamil’s family further said the police team raided Belayet’s house on the same night.

“They were in plainclothes and brought my brother-in-law Rasul along when they came to my house. They searched my house and asked me questions about my son. Later, they arrested my son,” Belayet told the Dhaka Tribune.

Rasul, Parvez and Sajjad were released after questioning, sources said.

Ripon, a lecturer in the math department at Government Nazimuddin University College, was attacked on June 15 by three men who tried to kill him by hacking at him – the trademark style of militants.

However, onlookers chased the attackers away and was able to detain Fahim, whom they later handed over to police.

Fahim was placed on police remand for 10 days, but he was killed in a gunfight on June 18, as claimed by police.

A case was filed against six persons in this regard, but police has yet make any arrest. l

Poor people wait near the High Court mazar area in Dhaka for clothes during a distribution programme arranged by DMP Ramna Division on occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Ministry faces pressure for lastminute fund disbursement n Asif Showkat Kallol

Over the last few days, the Finance Ministry faced immense pressure for releasing all development and non-development funds, as a June 28 deadline had been fixed to maintain discipline in spending public money.

An official of the Finance Division said: “We have faced tremendous pressure because of disbursement of funds for the outgoing 2015-16 fiscal year, especially from Home Ministry, BGB and Bangladesh Police.”

Seeking anonymity, the official added that some of the demands

came on the last day of fund release.

He added that the tendency to release of a major part of ADP funds in the last two months of the fiscal year was known as the “MayJune syndrome.”

According to the Finance Division, the BGB was disbursed Tk106cr for setting up security in different districts while Tk95cr was released to Bangladesh Police for purchasing motor vehicles. The Home Ministry also got Tk70 lakh to buy a car for Senior Home Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan.

RAB on the last day of the deadline yesterday sought Tk13.70cr to

purchase motor vehicles, but the Finance Division official said it was not possible to disburse the amount at the end of this fiscal year.

Senior Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have faced huge pressure for disburse of funds for ministries and divisions as the deadline was fixed on June 28.”

Finance Division tried to maintain fiscal discipline by putting different provisions and deadline for disbursement of funds, but the May-June syndrome has been continuing since before independence, Mahbub said. l

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

DNC wants separate BD gets two blue economy projects n court for drug abuse cases Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

n Kamrul Hasan Chief of Department of Narcotic Control (DNC), Khandakar Rakibur Rahman, re-emphasised the need for a separate trial court for cases related to drug abuse at a programme in the city yesterday morning.

As criminals are not being punished due to delay in trials, they are getting reckless The comment was made during the chief’s welcome speech starting off the program that commemorated the International Day against Drugs, arranged by the DNC at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Asked if any proposal for such a court had been sent previously, the DNC chief admitted that the department had already submitted a proposal two years ago but there has been no response.

He explained that thousands of cases are currently pending at court, allowing criminals to be out on bail. As criminals are not being punished due to delay in trials,

they are getting reckless and it has been increasingly difficult to bring them under control.

Minister of Home Affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, noted that mobile courts can assist law enforcers to control drug abuse to some extent, as verdicts for trials are given on the spot.

However, he also pointed out that the current legal structure is a barrier to control drug abuse effectively and appropriate changes do need to be made.

Also highlighted during the event were inter-ministerial efforts to curb drug abuse, such as involving more than 50% schools across the country to create anti-drug committees, train teachers to counsel students, develop curriculum and textbooks addressing the issue, and creating professional opportunities for people already engaged in the illegal drug trade.

Government bodies involved in these efforts are Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Women and Children affairs and other related departments.

Among others, senior secretary of Home Affairs, Mozammel Haque Khan, and Tipu Munsi, president, parliamentary committee for Home Affairs, were also present. l

Blue economy is a marine based sustainable economic development is an initiative that is taking hold in Bangladesh where two new projects have been granted to the country.

The two projects are ‘Small scale inland and/or coastal aquaculture project in the Indian Ocean Region’ and ‘Exploration of economically important marine flora from the Bay of Bengal: a pilot study’.

Maritime Affairs Secretary at the Foreign Ministry Mohammad Khurshed Alam said: “We have got foreign funds to implement

the projects which will enhance our experience and skills development,” to the Dhaka Tribune.

There were other big players in the region who wanted to get the projects but it was awarded to Bangladesh, Alam said.

He said the projects would be funded by the Indian Ocean Rim Association and will be completed within two years.

“We got the approval and by next month necessary papers will be sent to IORA,” he said.

IORA, a group of 20 member countries along the rim of the Indian Ocean and six development partners including the US, Germany

and China.

The maritime affairs secretary said it would increase Bangladesh’s global image as once the projects are completed the information would be shared amongst all IORA members.

Alam said Bangladesh is one of the world’s leading inland fisheries producers.

He also said aquaculture production in Bangladesh has shown an average growth of 28 per cent.

The aquaculture project would be helpful in increasing fish production as aquaculture accounts for 39 percent of the total fish production in Bangladesh, he added. l

Ershad asks govt to publish white paper on financial scams n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla While discussing the budget in parliament, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad asked the government yesterday to publish a white paper on the scams in Bangladesh’s banking and financial sectors.

The former autocratic ruler bashed the government for not taking any action against the masterminds and criminals involved with the Bangladesh Bank heist and other financial scams, urging the government to hold talks to tackle these crimes.

Ershad mentioned that incum-

bent Finance Minister AMA Muhith was also the finance minister during his regime.

“Can he [Muhith] say that banks were looted during my tenure? If he can, I will quit politics,” he said, adding: “Prepare a white paper on the looted economy and publish it soon.”

While Ershad praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her visionary leadership in national development, he admitted that it is difficult to take such a huge load alone.

He urged her to decentralise the administration, and introduce the

BDRCS, CPR helped over 32,000 Roanu affected families n Tribune Desk Cyclone Roanu swept the coast of Bangladesh on May 21 and directly affected the lives and livelihoods of more than 1.3 million people. Coupled with high tide and full moon, Roanu’s landfall brought unusually high tidal surge, which together with strong winds, killed 27 people, displaced more than 200,000 people and destroyed over 75,000 homes in 14 districts.

Roanu has had long term impact on the livelihoods of most of these affected people.

The volunteers and youth members of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) – run jointly by the government

and the Society – evacuated over 500,000 people from the affected areas before Roanu hit.

Since Roanu made landfall, BDRCS has so far provided emergency support to more than 32,000 families in two phases.

Of them, 25,000 have been given cash for food and tarpaulin for shelter. Around 5,000 people have been given access to safe drinking water and over 2,000 were given medical treatment by the doctors of BDRCS. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the participating national societies funded these two phases of the relief operation that have been going on for over a month. l

provincial system of government.

Highlighting 2.3 million unemployed youths in the country as ticking time bombs, he explained that development will not be possible without removing the frustrations of young, unemployed people.

The Jatiya Party chief said that the common people can easily understand the situation of law and order in the country, where the wife of an SP is also not safe.

He said: “While Awami League and Jatiya Party have differences in ideology, we are united when it comes to the question of Bangladesh’s development.” l

Govt to install VMS in ships n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The government is going to install Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in registered fishing trawlers and ships to monitor their movement in the sea as well as protect the marine resources of Bangladesh.

“At present, the government cannot monitor the fishing ships to see how far they are going into the sea to catch fish. That is why we are launching a project to install the VMS in all registered vessels, with the assistance of the Malaysian government,” said Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Haque at parliament yesterday.

“With this technology, it will be possible for us to monitor the movement of our ships from land.”

He said if any ship goes into an area where it is not allowed to go, the government will be able track it and take necessary actions against it.

The minister further said since October 2014, the authorities concerned have captured 62 foreign fishing trawlers illegal entering Bangladeshi sea territory, and actions have been taken against them. l

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FS flies to Myanmar with PM’s letter for Aung San Suu Kyi n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque is flying to Yangon today as a special envoy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The secretary is carrying a letter for Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi from Hasina, who wants to build new relationship with the neighbouring country keeping all the misunderstandings and misperceptions aside.

“We attach the highest importance to Myanmar and want to have a warm and friendly relationship with Yangon,” the foreign secretary told the Dhaka Tribune.

The post of state counsellor was created to allow Suu Kyi to contact ministries, departments, organisations, associations and individuals in an official capacity, and makes her accountable to parliament.

The foreign secretary will meet with Suu Kyi and handover the letter to her personally.

He will also have meetings with Chief of Army Staff Min Aung Hlaing and Foreign Ministry Permanent Representative U Aung Lyll.

Seeking anonymity, a senior Bangladesh government official said there are lots of expectation from the new Myanmar government as it was after five decades that a democratic government assumed power there.

“We want to have a sincere and honest relationship with Myanmar,” he said.

It was no secret that the two governments have a deficit of trust and the best way to remove the barriers is not to talk about thorny issues

like Rohingya, the official said.

He was of the view that the relationship has improved in recent times due to some steps taken by the Bangladeshi side.

Last year, two kidnapped officers of Myanmar defence was rescued in Bangladesh territory and they were repatriated very quickly.

Bangladesh also sent relief materials to Myanmar when it faced flood, and Yangon heavily praised Dhaka’s good gesture.

Bangladesh and Myanmar are parties to the BCIM initiative, which is aimed at boosting regional trade and connectivity; and if the BCIM initiative is materialised, it would be a great platform to improve relationship between the countries, he said.

Myanmar top leadership also feel the same way about improving relationship with its neighbours and want to observe the principle of the Panchshila for the peaceful coexistence of both sides.

Panchshila or Panchshila Treaty is the five principles of peaceful coexistence of nations.

Bo Bo Oo, secretary of Foreign Relations Committee of Myanmar Parliament, recently in conversation with a group of Bangladeshi journalists said the new government wanted to maintain good ties with Dhaka and hoped that both the governments would take steps to remove all barriers.

Myanmar had general election in November where Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy had a landslide victory. It took over on April 1 with huge expectation from the people to change the society. l

Regardless of being completely unfit for roads, this bus is operating on Dhaka streets with a large hole on the back of the vehicle - through which a passenger seat is clearly visible. Unfit buses are banned, but operate on the roads anyway under the very eyes of law enforcers. The photo was taken yesterday in Dhaka’s Paltan area MEHEDI HASAN

Another 1,320MW power plant in Maheshkhali n Aminur Rahman Rasel

The government has adopted a plan to build another coal-based power plant with the capacity to generate 1,320MW of electricity in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar.

The state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China-based Sepco Electric Power Construction Corporation to set up the ultra-critical project by importing coal.

PDB Secretary Md Zahirul Haque and Sepco President Liu Chuanming signed the MoU at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday.

As per the agreement, the PDB and Sepco will soon form a joint

venture company to set up the power plant. Both the parties have agreed to finance 50% of the project.

Sepco, a subsidiary of Powerchina, is a comprehensive engineering company that is involved in operation of electric power projects and infrastructures, along with many other sectors.

The new plant is a part of the government’s plan to install a series of power plants in Maheshkhali, for which it has already acquired 5,000 acres of land.

The Power Division has prepared a road map to generate around 20,000MW of electricity from coal-based power plants by 2030.

Of the targeted amount,

11,250MW of electricity will be generated using domestically produced coal, while the rest will be generated using imported coal.

Two years ago, on September 22, 2014, the PDB made a similar deal with the Malaysian consortium of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Powertek Energy Sdn Bhd (PB), signing two MoU’s with the companies to set up a 1,320MW coalbased power plant in Maheshkhali, but there has been no progress in that project.

Besides this project, the staterun Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd is also planning to set up a 1,200MW coal-based power plant Cox’s Bazar’s Matarbari area. l

Supreme Court stays daily fine for 154 tanneries n Ashif Islam Shaon

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed a High Court order until July 17 that had asked 154 tanneries operating in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh to pay a daily fine of Tk50,000.

The tanneries were asked to pay the fine as compensation for damaging the environment.

The Tannery Owners’ Association and Finished Leather Export Association moved with the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division,

On June 16, the High Court asked the tannery owners to deposit daily compensation until they relocated their factories to Savar The High Court had also ordered the industries secretary to submit a report by July 17 on whether the owners had paid the fine and asked

the order and forwarded the petition to the Appellate Division.

On June 16, the High Court in its order had asked the tannery owners

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to deposit the daily compensation until they relocated their factories to Savar Tannery Industrial Estate, as per the government decision.

seeking a stay on the High Court order.

Hearing the plea, Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique stayed

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the environment secretary to file a separate report within the same date on the damage the tanneries had inflicted on the Buriganga River.

The court came up with the decision following a petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh as the 154 tanneries in Hazaribagh were yet to relocate despite a court order.

Earlier, the government decided to relocate tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar to save adjoining rivers and the dwellers of the area Khulna

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TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:15AM

36.2ºC Rajshahi

22.5ºC Gopalganj

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

from health hazards, following pressures from environmentalists and rights groups.

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

The Industries Ministry previously had extended the deadline several times but decided to go tough against the errant tanners recently considering the damage to the environment. 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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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Locals suffer for govt staff’s corruption Seizel, n Ashrafuddin Mymensingh Different government offices at Gafargaon upazila in Mymensigh have been allegedly ruled by some local staff for years.

Abdul Khalek, a resident of Shilashi village under Gafargaon municipality, said he had to pay extra 2000 taka to a lineman of Gafargaon Power Purchase and Distribution Department under Power Development Board (PDB), for getting a power connection to his home.

Several linemen, who are residents of the upazila, have been working here for over a decade,

whereas the government law does not permit anyone to work more than three years at a stretch at one place.

Ashraful Alam, Al Amin and Murshidul Hasan of Raghaichati village under the municipality complained: “Local people, who go to the office for taking a new connection or for any other services, have to face trouble if the local staff are not appeased.” “We have also suffered for them,” they added.

In the office of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), any important paper can be collected from its computer operator. Seeking anonymity two former union parishad (UP) chair-

men said, the operator, who is also a local, allegedly helped two former UP chairmen in non-wage cost and local government support project corruptions.

The Upazila Health Complex does not depict a different scenario than the organisations mentioned earlier.

Various allegations have been raised against the chief health officer of the Upazila Health Complex.

Hiraj Uddin of Digha village complained that he had to collect a medical certificate for his son, injured by an attack of their rivals, by paying 10000 taka to some agent of the officer after waiting three months.

The Upazila Sub-registry Office is also in grip of chief office assistant, alleged some sufferers.

Ramij Uddin of Mukhi village of the upazila said one of his relatives had to give a handsome amount of bribe to the staff for registering his land property. When he tried to protest it, other staff warned him saying that the staff is a local man.

On the other hand, same allegation has been raised against an office assistant of Kandipara Sub-registry Office.

A resident of the area Tofail Ahmed said he was asked for giving bribe to the afore-mentioned staff when he went to the office for his

land registration. “I had to return home without doing the registration,” he added.

When contacted, all of the afore-mentioned staff denied the allegations against them.

Some other staff and officials of the offices said seeking anonymity, the staff, who are residents of the upazila, have been able to avoid transfer by managing their authorities.

Shiddhartho Shankar Kundo, Gafargaon upazila executive officer, said he would look into the matter.

If it is found that any staff is exerting influence as he or she is a local, steps will be taken, he added. l

Rice mills taking toll on environment Khoda Shabuj, n Kudrote Kushtia People’s habitat in Kushtia Sadar upazila is being destroyed by a huge number of unauthorised rice mills.

Around 800 rice mills are operating in Khajanagar, Kaburhat, Ayilchara and Ballabhpur village of the upazila breaching environmental law.

Locals of Khajanagar said the ashes emitted from the mills have been destroying their habitat, as the mills have been built in the village. They also complained of suffering from asthma, eye injuries and some other diseases caused by smoke and ashes of the mills.

Civil Surgeon of Kushtia Dr Md Nazmul Islam said the toxic smoke and flying ashes can cause different respiratory diseases to the people of different age groups.

Abdul Karim, a farmer of the area, said fertility of their land is decreasing due to the harmful ashes.

A local fish farmer Abdus Salam said fishes are dying as toxic water and ashes of the mills are polluting the water bodies of the area.

Some environment activists of Kushtia complained the same. They demanded immediate actions to stop the environmental pollution.

When contacted, Mizanur Rahman, senior chemist of Department of Environment, Kushtia, said he would comment after discussing the issue with higher authorities.

Abdus Samad, President of Kushtia Major Auto Rice and Husking Mills, denied the allegation saying ashes are emitted in proper way. Besides, local people take ashes from the mills for using in their lands and water bodies, he added. l

Vermicelli, a favourite food item for Eid day in Bangladesh, is being produced in very unhygienic environments in the factories of Rajshahi BSCIC industrial area. The factories complete their production at night to dodge administration and journalists.

The photo was taken from a factory in the area yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

3 held for selling food of school feeding programme

n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A mobile court yesterday fined six unscrupulous traders Tk50,000 each on charge of selling food of school feeding programme in the port city’s largest business hub Reazudin Bazar.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Executive Magistrate Ruhul Amin, who conducted the drive, said the government distributes nutritious food among school-going children under school feeding programme to increase attendance and lower the drop-out rate of the children.

Some dishonest traders were selling the food items in open market, he added. A total of 1350 packets of food were seized from their possession, said the magistrate. l

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Ctg shopping mall catches fire, tailor dies from suffocation n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A tailor died from suffocation when a fire broke out at a shopping mall in the port city yesterday morning.

Md Hasan, 28, son of Abdul Jabbar, was working at a tailor shop situated on the third floor of Central Plaza in GEC area, Chawkbazar police station.

Sources at fire service said the fire originated from the third floor of the five-storied shopping mall around 8:20am. Fire fighters managed to extinguish the fire by 3pm after seven hours’ frantic efforts.

Mostaque Ahmed Chowdhury, president of Chittagong Central Plaza Traders’ Association, said there were 18 tailor shops out of total 37 shops on the floor.

“All the shops of the third floor were burnt down. The extent of damage in the fire is more than Tk2 crore,” he said.

Md Jashim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defense, told the Dhaka Tribune that reason behind the fire could not ascertained immediately.

“As many as 100 firefighters along with volunteers risked their life to put out the blaze. The design of the shopping mall lacked fire safety measures. We had to make frantic efforts to defuse the flame, as there was no water hydrant and fire extin-

Fire fighters are seen carrying a man, who was injured in a fire incident on the fourth floor of Central Plaza Market at GEC intersection in the port city yesterday, to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital. Later, the man succumbed to his injuries at the hospital RABIN CHOWDHURY guisher in the market,” said Jashim.

“The extent loss of the fire is yet to be ascertained. We will form committee to investigate into the fire accident,” added Jashim.

Arefin Jewel, CMP additional deputy commissioner (south), told

‘Bangladeshis will get Indian visas more easily in future’ n

Saiful Islam, Moulvibazar

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla yesterday said Bangladeshi travellers would get Indian visas more easily in the coming days.

He also said a new Indian visa centre will be opened in Sylhet in future.

The Indian High Commisioner said this while addressing a discussion and cultural programme at Monipuri Cultural Complex at Tetoigaon village of Kamalganj upazila arranged to welcome the Indian envoy.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited the Monipuri Cultural Complex which has been established with the fund of the Indian government, as part of his two-day tour to Sylhet division.

He said: “Bangladesh and India have similarities in social, cultural and economic sectors, and the relations between the two countries in

these sectors will be strengthened in future.

“The Monipuri culture is very much enriched. I am inviting Monipuri artistes of Komolgannj to visit Indian capital Delhi soon.”

Among the minorities in Bangladesh, the Monipuri people have a rich culture, and that is why the Indian government has helped establish the Monipuri Cultural Complex in Adampur union, he added.

Kamalganj upazila assistant commissioner (land) Rafiqul Alam moderated the discussion.

Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Kamrul Hasan, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shahjalal, Additional Secretary of the Railways Ministry Shashi Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary of Indian External Affairs Ministry Dr Sumeet Jerath and first secretary (finance and project) of Indian High Commission Gina Uika also spoke on the occasion. l

Trader’s throat slit in Narayanganj Hossain, n Tanveer Narayanganj A businessman was killed allegedly by a construction worker in Forazikanda area, Bandar upazila, Narayanganj in the early hours of the yesterday.

The corpse of Kutubuddin, 65, a resident of the area, was sent to the morgue of 100-bed Narayanganj General Hospital for an autopsy.

He is elder brother of Abed Hossain, joint secretary of Bandar police station unit Awami League.

The local people caught the worker, namely Shamim Ahmed, 30, following the killing and handed him over to police.

Sub-Inspector of Bandar police station Faroque Hossain said Shamim was a construction worker of Kutubuddin’s house and he informed his owner that the locks of his shop were broken.

When Kutubuddin came to the spot to see the situation around 1am, Shamim, hailing form Daudkandi uazila of Comilla, killed him by cutting the throat with knife, leaving him dead instantly, SI Faroque added.

The victim’s family members termed the incident a planned murder, saying there may have other reason behind the murder.

Police have been squeezing Shamim in this connection. l

the Dhaka Tribune that the tailors of the supermarket were passing busy time ahead of Eid. “The ill-fated tailor stayed at the shop to work overnight and fell sick after the fire engulfed the whole floor. Later, he was rescued

from the shop and whisked off to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he died,” said Jewel.

Pankaj Barua, assistant sub-inspector of CMCH police outpost, said the tailor died from suffocation. l

CPJA gets new office bearers

HABIGANJ CHILDREN MURDER CASE

n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Mashiur Rahman Badal of daily Jayjaydin and Rashed Mahmud of EPB News Club were elected president and general secretary respectively of the Chittagong Photo Journalists’ Association (CPJA).

Shubash Karan of the Daily Observer elected vice-president, Rajesh Chakrabarty of daily Jugantar joint-secretary, Anurup Kanti Das of The Daily Star finance secretary, Robi Shangkar of daily Kaler Kantha organising secretary, Nipul Kanti Dey of Alokito Bangladesh publicity secretary, Sohel Sarwar of online news portal Banglanews24. com and Pradip Kanti Shil were elected members respectively.

The biennial conference of the association took place at Abdul Khaleque Auditorium of Chittagong Press Club yesterday. The biennial election of the association’s office bearers took place on the same day at the association Nur Ahmed Road office in the city. l

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Court accepts charge sheet against nine people n Md Noor Uddin, Habiganj A Habiganj court yesterday accepted the charges against nine people in connection with four schoolboy killing case at Bahubal upazila of the district.

Court of Judge of Woman and Children Repression and Prevention Tribunal Kiran Shankar Halder also issued arrest warrant for three accused of the case – Belal Mia, Ushar Mia and Babul Mia. The court also denied bail petition of five accused – Adbul Ali, Rubel Mia, Jewel Mia, Arzu Mia and Sahed Mia. After hearing, the court fixed July 26 for the next hearing.

On April 5, Detective Branch of police pressed charges against the nine people. All of the accused are the residents of Sundrateki village

of Bahubali upazila.

Of them, Bachchu was killed in a “gunfight” with the Rapid Action Battalion in Chunarughat upazila of the district on February 25.

On February 17, four schoolboys were found dead at Sundrateki village, Bahubal upazila, barely a week after they had gone missing.

Being informed by locals, police recovered the bodies of Zakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Wahid Miah, his two cousins – Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz, Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah – and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Quadir. A murder case was then filed with Bahubal police station.

Later, the case was handed over to the Detective Branch of police.

Four accused of the case have already given confessional statement before the court. l

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8 World

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

UN urges Sri Lanka to prosecute war crimes Sri Lanka must rein in its military forces, prosecute war crimes committed during the long civil war with Tamil rebels and win the confidence of the Tamil minority, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The military and Tamil Tiger insurgents are both likely to have committed war crimes during the 26-year conflict that ended in 2009.

-REUTERS

INDIA

9 more judges suspended, Telangana-Delhi row escalates 9 more lower court judges were on Tuesday suspended by the high court on disciplinary grounds as the agitation against provisional allocation of judges between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana intensified with 200 judicial officers in Telangana going on mass leave for 15 days. The Telangana Judges Association also called for a High Court bandh on Wednesday.

-HT

CHINA

130 in hospital after China chemical plant leak More than 130 people were taken to hospital after chemicals leaked from a plant in eastern China, state media reported Tuesday, the country’s latest accident involving dangerous materials. The compound diketene, which is used to make paper and pharmaceuticals, leaked from a plant in Shandong province.

-AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

Indonesia approves higher defence spending Indonesian lawmakers on Tuesday approved higher defence spending this year to fund, among other things, major upgrades to military facilities in the Natuna Islands, whose nearby waters Beijing says are subject to over-lapping claims. Parliament’s approval came just days after President Joko Widodo visited the remote island chain to assert sovereignty over the area.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Airstrike kills 80 in Yemen Intensified fighting and air strikes over the past 24 hours in Yemen have left 80 people dead, including 37 civilians, as lengthy peace talks in Kuwait made no headway, officials said. In the largest death toll, warplanes from the pro-government Saudi-led coalition killed 34 people, including 19 civilians when they targeted Shia insurgents in the south-western region of Taez.

-AFP

WHO SAYS WHAT

EU leaders at summit over Brexit Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte “I would argue to give them (Brtitain) some space. I’ve already outlined that England has collapsed politically, monetarily, constitutionally and economically. It is not reasonable to demand from them to trigger article 50.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron “While we are leaving the European Union we mustn’t be turning our back on Europe. These countries are our neighbours, our friends, our allies, our partners. And I very much hope we’ll seek the closest possible relationship in terms of trade

and cooperation and security. Because that is good for us and that is good for them.”

Donald Tusk, European Council president “First I want to say that, while respecting the will of the British voters, we also have to respect our treaties and according to them it is the British government who initiates the process of exit from the EU.” “Europe is ready to start the divorce process even today, without any enthusiasm, as you can imagine, this is not the scenario we were dreaming about.” “(But) we have precise procedures, we have a ready work plan.”

“I would like to underline it very very clearly - without the notification form the UK, we will not start any negotiations on the divorce process or future relations.”

Nigel Farage, UK Independence Party leader “Let’s cut between us a sensible tariff-free deal and thereafter recognise that the United Kingdom will be your friend (...) We will be your best friends in the world.”

“If you were to cut off your noses to spite your faces and to reject any idea of a sensible trade deal the consequences would be far worse for you than it would be for us.”

“We won the war. Now we have to win the peace.”

Alyn Smith, member of Scottish National Party “Scotland did not let you down.

Please, I beg you, dear colleagues, do not let

Scotland down now.”

Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president “No notification, no negotiation.”

“I am neither tired or sick, as the German papers say. I will fight to my last breath for a united Europe.”

(To Farage and other UKIP MEPs) “That’s the last time you are applauding here... and to some extent I’m really surprised you are here. You are fighting for the exit. The British people voted in favour of the exit. Why are you here?”

“I am not a robot. I am not a grey bureaucrat.” l

Source: REUTERS

INSIGHT

Balkans fear Brexit will delay EU dream n Reuters, Belgrade Balkan countries hoping to join the European Union fear their journey to membership of a club they see as offering prosperity and stability will face delays and uncertainty now that Britain has voted to leave.

Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, which endured war and upheaval in the 1990s, are all at different stages in joining the 28-nation EU. The immediate reaction in Balkan capitals to Britain’s referendum decision last Thursday was that EU membership efforts would continue undiminished.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said his country would stick to its “European path”, aiming to complete accession talks by 2019.

Bosnia should not be discouraged by the British vote and must press on with EU integration, said Denis Zvizdic, chairman of Bosnia’s council of ministers.

But there is now acceptance that the Brexit upheaval, which came with the EU already showing less enthusiasm about enlargement, is likely to delay accession for the Balkan hopefuls. Some felt they had lost a champion in London.

“Our fear is that following Brexit the enlargement process could be slowed down,” said Maja Bobic, secretary-general of the European Movement in Serbia, a group that promotes EU values.

She said that as the EU negotiates Britain’s departure, Brussels will be focused on how the bloc can be consolidated rather than enlarged.

Difficulties emerge

Difficulties for Serbia emerged as early as Monday when it failed to gain the support it needed from Britain for the next stage in accession negotiations. Serbian officials said technical reasons related to Brexit were the cause.

Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic said aspiring members must accept that joining the EU will be delayed by Brexit “because it will take several years for the EU to consolidate and carry out the reforms it should have done years ago to prevent such things from happening”.

Analyst Igor Gavran said Bosnia could expect political fallout from Brexit “because Britain was one of the countries that most openly supported the integration of Bosnia into the EU”.

In Kosovo, European Integra-

tion Minister Bekim Collaku said that his country, which seceded from Serbia in 2008, had also lost a strong supporter of its EU bid.

“We know the big contribution Great Britain made towards building Kosovo’s statehood and it will be difficult for another country to fill this vacuum,” he told local media.

An Albanian official said his country had learnt that big crises such as the migrant issue, the euro and Greece distracted EU leaders from paying attention to the Balkans.

Montenegro’s EU negotiator, Andrija Pejovic, was optimistic that membership negotiations could move forward as planned, but acknowledged matters were unclear.

“In the coming days we will see what position the EU bodies will take regarding this issue,” he said.

For Macedonia, nothing has changed post-Brexit. Its EU bid remains blocked by a dispute with Greece over its name, which Athens says should belong only to its own province of Macedonia. l

9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

INSIGHT

USA

Obama warns against Brexit hysteria

Pakistan’s new military courts challenged over abuse claims n Reuters, Islamabad Pakistan’s Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether secret military tribunals set up in early 2015 to try civilians accused of terrorism have violated the constitutional rights of 12 people convicted by these courts.

The military tribunals were established after the massacre in December, 2014, by Islamist militants of 134 students at an army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Lawmakers authorised the courts in January last year, handing over significant judicial control to a military that is already powerful and has ruled the country of 190m people for about half of its existence.

They have so far convicted 81 people, 77 of whom were sentenced to death, according to the military’s press wing. There have been no acquittals, the military says.

At least 27 convicts have filed appeals with civilian courts, alleging coercion of confessions and denial of access to lawyers and to evidence used against them, according to Reuters research and local media reports.

Of the 12 cases that have come before the Supreme Court, the legal arguments have concluded in nine. The court has been hearing the case for the remaining appel-

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Pakistan Supreme Court building in Islamabad lants, and is expected to give a verdict on all 12 cases together, possibly in the coming weeks.

Lawyers and relatives of 10 convicts contacted by Reuters have all complained of abuse by the military courts while in custody and of serious procedural shortcomings.

Of those 10, three are before the Supreme Court, one is at Islamabad High Court and six at Lahore High Court.

Disappeared

One of the convicts, Sabir Shah, was already on trial for murder in a civilian court when he disappeared from Lahore’s central jail in April 2015, according to his family and lawyers.

Five months later, his family read a press release saying he had been sentenced to death by a military court.

His lawyers say they still do not know what evidence was used against him. Shah was originally

REUTERS

on trial for murder as an alleged member of a sectarian group’s hit squad, and that process had not been concluded.

Even after the family filed an appeal with the Lahore High Court, Shah’s lawyers said they were not allowed to view the military’s evidence.

The military said in a press release that Shah confessed to having been involved in the murder of Lahore lawyer Syed Arshad Ali. Parliamentarians have explained that the courts were borne out of necessity in the face of the militant threat, because Pakistan’s judicial system was inefficient and some judges were afraid to take on cases for fear of retaliation.

At a recent Supreme Court hearing challenging the military tribunals, Pakistan’s chief justice questioned whether convicts should be allowed basic legal rights.

“Terrorists are challenging the constitution and the law of the land, but their counsel are citing

fundamental rights in their defence,” said Anwar Zaheer Jamali, adding that international war crimes precedent allows summary trials and executions.

At a separate hearing, he added: “There are exceptional circumstances, therefore exceptional measures have to be taken by the state for proper dispensation of justice.”

“Coerced” confessions, threats

All the lawyers representing the 10 convicts whose cases were examined said they were denied access to court records and were not allowed to meet their clients for the duration of the military trial.

They also said their clients were either coerced into confessing or deny confessing at all. According to the military’s press wing, 78 of 81 accused were convicted on the basis of confessions.

The military declined to comment on those allegations.

Two families and one lawyer also said they had been harassed or threatened after filing appeals.

Since 2007, more than 25,000 Pakistanis have been killed by Islamist extremists, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

Pakistan has for years been battling the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants fighting to overthrow the government and impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law. l

President Barack Obama on Tuesday warned against international hysteria following last week’s vote for Britain to leave the EU. In an interview, the US president said that he respected the results of the referendum. He described the results as a reaction to a rapidly growing EU that was probably moving faster and without as much consensus as it should have.

-AFP

THE AMERICAS

17 Colombia soldiers killed in helicopter crash All 17 people aboard a military helicopter that crashed in a mountainous area over the weekend were found dead when searchers reached the site in western Colombia, the army said Monday.

The accident occurred Sunday afternoon in a rural zone of Pensilvania province northeast of the capital, Bogota. The dead included the aircraft’s 5 crew members and 12 soldiers.

-AP

UK

Cameron wants closest possible EU ties after Brexit Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday he wants the closest possible relations with the EU after Britain voted to leave the bloc, adding the split should be as constructive as possible. As he arrived at a Brussels summit, Cameron told reporters that, while Britain was leaving the EU, “we mustn’t be turning our backs on Europe.” -AFP

EUROPE

FACT CHECK

German cabinet to tighten control over spy agency

Hillary Clinton and liberal stalwart Elizabeth Warren campaigned together Monday in Ohio, symbolising the coming together of the Democratic Party for Clinton’s presidential campaign.

A sampling of their statements and how they compare with the facts--

The German cabinet on Tuesday approved draft legislation for the long-delayed reform of Germany’s intelligence service, including tighter control of its surveillance activities that were at the centre of several scandals in recent years. Revelations in 2015 that the Bundesnachrichtendiest helped the US National Security Agency to spy on European allies caused public outrage and embarrassed German Chancellor Angela Merkel. REUTERS

Some debatable Warren claims at Clinton stop

Warren “A lot of America is worried — worried and angry. Angry that too many times, Washington works for those at the top and leaves everyone else behind. That Washington ... lets giant oil companies guzzle down billions of dollars in tax subsidies, but then says there’s no money to help kids refinance their student loans.”

Facts It’s not true Washington has empty pockets on the matter of student debt. More borrowers are taking advantage of income-dependent repayment plans that

make monthly expenses less burdensome and provide the possibility of debt forgiveness. Roughly $240bn worth of loans are in repayment plans based on incomes, compared with just $72bn in the middle of 2013, according to the US Education Department. Separately, the department erased $132m in student loans for former students of the for-profit Corinthian Colleges, which collapsed last year amid evidence of fraud. Interest rates are higher than what the senator from Massachusetts has advocated in the past, and today’s debt relief is not as substantial as what Clinton has proposed, but claiming “no money” is available for college debt relief is a significant stretch.

Warren “After my middle brother, John, got out of the Air Force, he got a good union job operating a crane. Today he has a pension because of that job. I learned from him that unions built America’s middle class and unions will rebuild America’s middle class.”

minimum wage,” paid family and medical leave, and more.

Facts

Hillary Clinton stands along side Elizabeth Warren in Ohio REUTERS

Facts The US economy would have to undergo an improbable structural shift for unions to have the numbers and clout to rebuild the middle class. Just 11.1% of workers belong to unions, down from 20.1% in 1983, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

Warren “Donald Trump ... wants to abolish the minimum wage. Hillary Clinton believes no one should work full time and live in poverty, and that means raising the

Trump hasn’t been a model of clarity on the minimum wage, sketching out positions that seem at odds with each other.

The presumptive Republican nominee has said he would not raise the federal minimum wage, implying he’d leave it as is. He’s said at other times that he favours a higher base wage, but the matter should be left to the states — meaning the federal minimum would essentially be abolished.

Recently he’s said he favours an increase (and accused Warren of lying about his position). Warren has chosen to play up the Trump position that suits Democrats politically. Clinton has supported a $12 federal minimum wage, but encouraged states and local communities to set the higher level of $15 sought by the liberal wing of the party personified by Warren and primary rival Bernie Sanders.l

Source: AP

AFRICA

Insurgent, army clashes kill 43 in South Sudan At least 43 people were killed in fighting between armed groups and government forces around the northwest South Sudanese town of Wau last week, a government official said on Tuesday. Thousands fled the clashes in the world’s newest country, still hit by violence almost five years after securing its independence from former civil war foe Sudan.

-REUTERS

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

INSIGHT

Generation EU: UK vote pitted old v young n Tribune International Desk

The day after Britain voted to leave the European Union, 69-year-old Mary Crossley of London said she got a phone call from her 31-yearold daughter. She seemed pretty annoyed. “’You’ve messed us up, mum,’” Crossley said her daughter told her.

“She kept telling me off.”

Crossley and her husband Barry had cast their ballots for a Brexit from the 28-nation EU. Crossley said her daughter Elizabeth had voted to remain in the union, fearing that the economic turmoil triggered by a Brexit would harm her husband’s business.

It wasn’t a serious dispute. Mary, interviewed at her north London home, said she was now looking after her daughter’s beagle mix. Still, the family’s intergenerational angst is an illustration of how last week’s referendum did more than just pit the “leave” forces against the “remain” side. In many cases, it pitted the old against the young.

Brits in their 20s and 30s described disagreements between eurosceptic parents and their more internationally-minded children. The more passionate disagreements led to angry phone calls, accusatory text messages and - in one or two cases - parents and children who haven’t spoken since the EU referendum results became known early Friday.

The reasons for the family feuds are as diverse as the families themselves, but for many young supporters of the “remain” camp, it’s the prospect of seeing their parents shut the gates to Europe that galls, particularly as Britain’s babyboomers prepare to bequeath their children a national debt of more than $2.1tn.

“We will never know the full extent of the lost opportunities, friendships, marriages and experiences we will be denied,” 25-yearold Nicholas Barret wrote in a widely shared missive to the Financial Times. “Freedom of movement was taken away by our parents, uncles, and grandparents in a parting blow to a generation that was already drowning in the debts of our predecessors.”

Surveys show a notable division between Britain’s young and old on Brexit; an Ipsos/Mori survey showed 64% of those aged 18 to 35 favoured the “remain” side, with 60% of those aged 55 and over backing Brexit. The telephone survey was conducted June 21-22 and had a margin of error of 4%.

One expert said there was a clear age gap, but he added that was a feature of every election.

“The generational thing was entirely expected, but it’s being played up because the overall outcome was so unexpected,” said Justin

Fischer, a professor of political science at Brunel University London.

He laughed at the idea - floated by some disappointed youngsters - that the older generation had effectively stolen the vote from their children.

“You can’t deny the vote to someone because they’re likely to die in 10 years,” he noted, adding that the youth turnout was, as is almost always the case, well below that of their elders.

“Had younger people turned out in higher numbers than they did, ‘remain’ might have won,” Fischer said.

Some Britons don’t buy the idea that the referendum was a youngversus-old contest.

“All of my grandparents voted for ‘remain,’” said Andy Martin, a 23-year-old student in London.

Martin said he was devastated by the vote - “it’s the first time politics ever made me cry” - but he said journalists shouldn’t overemphasise the battle of the generations.

At least one other member of his family had voted to leave the EU and that “had more to do with their ideology than their age.”

Barry Crossley said he’d voted against the EU back in 1975, when it was still called the European Economic Community, during Britain’s last referendum on membership.

“I voted to stay out then,” he said with a smile. “I knew it was going to be bad.”

While social media has served up tales of dramatic fallings-out between children and their parents over Britain’s place in Europe, others merely had good-tempered differences of opinion.

“Although we disagreed, we didn’t have a disagreement,” said 25-year-old paralegal Maia Duffield, who voted to remain while her father voted to leave.

Some parents even consulted their children, a nod to the idea that Britain’s place in Europe means more to its young than to its elders.

Francesca Roberts, a 28-year-old who voted to remain, said some of her peers felt like “the older generation has shot a few holes in the ship and then left on the last lifeboat.”

In business as in politics, he said, it was important to keep the younger generation’s perspective in mind.

“Otherwise you get stuck,” he said.

So while the left-wing Francesca said she almost always clashes politically with her more right-wing dad, on the day of the EU referendum, he sent her a text message that read: “Wandering down to vote. Just wanted to say that despite our different views at times you do inform my thinking and I hope today sets a path to protect your future.”

Finishing the text with a blown kiss emoji, he wrote: “This is your vote more than mine.” l

HOW BRITAIN VOTED REMAIN

LEAVE

Total

48%

Male

48%

52%

Female

48%

52%

18-24

73%

27%

25-34

62%

38%

35-44

52%

48%

45-54

44%

56%

55-64

43%

57%

65+

40%

60% Source: Lord Ashcroft Polls

MOHAMMAD RAZON/ DHAKA TRIBUNE

A young woman wearing a vote remain T-shirt reacts, following the result of the EU referendum in London on Friday REUTERS

An elderly vote leave supporter holds a Union Jack flag, following the result of the EU referendum, outside Downing Street in London on Friday REUTERS

11

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World

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

US to downgrade Myanmar in human trafficking index Washington, DC/ n Reuters, Yangon

The United States has decided to place Myanmar on its global list of worst offenders in human trafficking, officials said, a move aimed at prodding the country's new democratically elected government and its still-powerful military to do more to curb the use of child soldiers and forced labor.

The reprimand of Myanmar comes despite US efforts to court the strategically important country to help counteract China's rise in the region and build a Southeast Asian bulwark against Beijing's territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea. Myanmar's demotion, part of the State Department's closely watched annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report due to be released on Thursday, also appears intended to send a message of US concern about continued widespread persecution of

the Rohingya Muslim minority in the Buddhist-majority nation.

The country's new leader, democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, has been criticised internationally for neglecting the Rohingya issue since her administration took office this year.

President Barack Obama's diplomatic opening to Myanmar is widely seen as a key foreign policy achievement as he enters his final seven months in office, but even as he has eased some sanctions he has kept others in place to maintain leverage for further reforms.

At the same time, Washington wants to keep Myanmar from slipping back into China's orbit at a time when US officials are trying to forge a unified regional front.

The US decision to drop Myanmar to "Tier 3," the lowest grade, putting it alongside countries like Iran, North Korea and Syria, was confirmed by a US official in Washington and a Bangkok-based official

A Rohingya boy walks along in the rubbles of a refugee camp at Sittwe in Myanmar’s Rakhine State after a fire destroyed it REUTERS from an international organisation informed of the move.

A Tier 3 rating can trigger sanctions limiting access to US and international aid. But U.S. presidents frequently waive such action.

The decision on Myanmar was one of the most hotly contested in this year's report, and followed concerns that some assessments in last year's human trafficking report were

watered down for political reasons.

There was intense internal debate between senior US diplomats who wanted to reward Myanmar for progress on political reforms and US human rights experts who argued that not enough was being done to curb human trafficking, the US official said.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate, assumed her government role in April, after her party won the country's first

democratic elections in five decades.

But with the generals still controlling three security ministries and holding a lock on 25% of seats in parliament, US officials grappled with whether a downgrade could undermine cooperation from the military against human trafficking.

For her part, Suu Kyi has recently unsettled U.S. officials by calling on them not to use the term "Rohingya" to refer to the Muslim minority in the country's north. Many in Myanmar refer to them as "Bengalis," insinuating that they are stateless illegal immigrants.

The United States has urged Myanmar to treat them as citizens.

The 2015 TIP report highlighted that the government's denial of citizenship to an estimated 800,000 men, women and children in the country -- the majority of them ethnic Rohingya -- "significantly increased this population's vulnerability to trafficking." l

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12 Business

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

TOP STORIES Search committee fails to find eligible candidates for BB DG post The search committee, which was formed to select suitable candidates for the vacant position of the two Deputy Governors of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), has so far utterly failed to find any one eligible.

PAGE13

Tax at source for RMG makers to be set at 0.8% Parliament set to pass finance bill today

Japan eyes stimulus plan for small business after Brexit Japan is likely to include assistance for small businesses in an economic stimulus package it will compile after Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union, Economy Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said yesterday. Japanese policymakers also said financial markets are starting to calm down after the Brexit vote last week, but repeated that they want to remain ready to respond to any further sudden jump in the yen, which could jeopardize the struggling economy.

PAGE 14

EU presses UK for quick exit to limit global fallout Britain faced angry calls from other European leaders to act quickly to resolve the political and economic chaos unleashed by its vote to leave the European Union which the IMF said could put pressure on global growth.

PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Tuesday 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% ▼

Garment exporters urge the government to keep tax at source within 0.60%

n Syed Samiul Basher Anik The government has decided to reduce the rate of tax at source for the readymade garment exporters to 0.80% from the proposed 1.50% for next fiscal year 2016-17 in the wake of hectic lobbying from different stakeholders.

The tax rate for jute product exporters may also be set at 0.60% considering the prospect of the industry, said the finance ministry officials.

Earlier on June 2, Finance Minister AMA Muhith had proposed to set the tax at source on export to 1.50% from existing 0.60% for all the exporters.

Since then, leading business chambers and trade bodies have been pressing the government to reduce the tax rate or keep it unchanged at 0.60% for the next fiscal year considering the interest of exporters.

According to ministry officials, the proposed tax rate for other exporters may also go down due to huge resistance by different quarters but the rate will not be set below 1% considering the revenue prospects.

From July to April of FY’16, the revenue authorities had collected over Tk1,300 crore as tax at source from the export-oriented industries.

The government was supposed to get Tk4000 crore from the sector due to the hike in tax at source on the export to 1.50%, however, the revenue amount will now go down as the rate will be slashed.

Reduction of the proposed tax

rate will be passed today with the finance bill 2016 at the parliament where the government will make some revisions in income tax, custom duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) measures that will come into effect from July 1.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith will propose passage of the bill that included the implementation of the government’s financial proposals and amendments to several laws today.

Earlier on June 2, finance bill 2016 was tabled in the parliament with the announcement of the budget for the fiscal year 2016-17.

The finance bill 2016, which will be passed today, is also set to bring a relief for individual taxpayers as it may raise the income tax rebate on investment in some specific sectors by individuals to 25% from proposed 20% for the upcoming FY’16-17.

“National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already made decision and the Finance Minister has already approved the proposal,” said a finance ministry official.

Finance minister AMA Muhith during his budget speech on June 2, proposed to cut the tax rebate limit to 20% from existing 30% for individual taxpayers, apparently to enhance revenue income.

However, the decision sparked widespread criticism from different quarters as the stakeholders and economists argued that tax liability of taxpayers would be increase due to proposed reduction of the tax rebate.

The government may also reduce the amount of Value Added

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tax to be paid by VAT payers for legal action against assessment of revenue authorities during filing of appeals.

With the FY’17 budget, the government has proposed that VAT payers have to deposit 50% of the disputed VAT or penalty before making an appeal to the National Board of Revenue’s appeal commissioners against the assessment or decisions of field-level VAT officials.

Another 50% of the disputed VAT will be required in filling an appeal to the Tax Appellate Tribunal against the decision of the appeal commissioner as per proposed measures mentioned in the finance bill 2016.

Currently, VAT payers need to pay only 10% of disputed amount at each stage of appeals.

However, the government has decided to reduce the amount of VAT to be paid before filing appeal which may be set between 10% to 15%, sources said adding that the decision will come into effect with passage of finance bill 2016. l

Lufthansa team due today to assess Shahjalal security n Ishtiaq Husain A security team from German national airlines Lufthansa will arrive Dhaka today to assess the security arrangement at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, according to the sources concerned.

The visit follows a ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka to any airport in Germany. Lufthansa on Monday imposed the ban on security grounds.

This is feared that the ban will badly affect Bangladesh’s export to Germany, which is around $5bn annually, mostly readymade garments.

Lufthansa was operating only cargo flights from Dhaka.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines had to stop Dhaka-Frankfurt flight in 2014 due to lack of passengers.

However, the ministry of civil aviation is not aware of the Lufthansa security team visit, a ministry official told the Dhaka Tribune as he was asked about the visit.

An aviation expert team of Germany came to Dhaka yesterday to conduct validation under the European Union regulations.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the German authorities didn’t inform them about the ban.

“We are not aware of the ban.

Federal Aviation Authority of Germany has not informed us anything about it,” he said.

According to a decision made by the Federal Aviation Authority of Germany, cargo flights from Dhaka to Germany must be re-screened through any third country.

On March 8, the United Kingdom imposed a temporary ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka on the grounds of security.

London warned Dhaka that direct Biman flights on Dhaka-London route would be banned unless there was visible improvement in security situation by March 31. l

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Search committee fails to find eligible candidates for BB DG post n Jebun Nesa Alo The search committee, which was formed to select suitable candidates for the vacant position of the two Deputy Governors of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), has so far utterly failed to find any one eligible.

Though the committee had earlier finalised a panel of three candidates, two are allegedly involved in corruption.

Later on, the government canceled the panel in the backdrop of corruption complaint against two candidates and decided to invite fresh applications.

As this incident has raised question about the competency of the search committee, the government now intends to scrap the committee, said a top official of the Finance Ministry.

All the incidents took place in case of the removal of the two DGs over BB reserve heist, formation of a search committee and cancelation of the selected panel after corruption allegation put the government in an embarrassing situation.

As a result, nobody from the authorities concerned want to make any comment over the issue.

A senior economist, who also served the DG post once, burst into anger over the DG selection issue saying, “It was insulting for a search committee to cancel their panel by the government. The committee should not be involved in process

any further as the panel cancellation and allegation against the candidates are nothing but ill-motivated.”

While the BB governor was

appointed in a one-hour notice without following any criteria but in case of appointing of DGs, the government is surprisingly playing

sarcastic role, he opined.

Kholiquzzaman, head of the search committee, said: “The accused candidates from the earlier panel will not be allowed to drop application again. But there will be no clear instruction about it in the advertisement.” ‘’If any candidate is found to have corruption allegation, the committee will not select them for any interview,’’ he said.

The two accused candidates are-Bangladesh Bank Executive Director SM Moniruzzaman and Abdur Rahim.

He claimed that government had no intention about canceling the panel as it is all about clearance from NSI (National Security Intelligence) and ACC (Anti Corruption Commission).

While asked whether the search committee failed to select proper candidates, Kholiquzzaman said: ‘’We have done our best.’’

Of the earlier applications, search committee selected 21 candidates for interview. But finally, 19 candidates faced interview of them three were finally selected for the posts.

On March 15, the government had sacked two deputy governors-Naznin Sultana and Abul Kashem soon after the resignation of Atiur Rahman over the cyber heist.

On the following day, the search committee was formed to find the two DGs for the central bank. l

Ecnec okays Tk4,606cr projects

BB asks banks to keep open n Tribune Business Desk in commercial, The Executive Committee of Nashopping market tional Economic Council (Ecnec) approved eight develareas on weekends yesterday opment projects mostly related

n Tribune Business Desk

Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks to keep open their branches located in commercial areas and around big shopping malls on the weekends and government-announced holiday on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr.

The branches will remain open on July 2, 3 and 4 to facilitate business activities and financial transaction, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

The circular added that the respective banks would decide which of their branches will remain open.

The overall banking activities will remain closed from July 1 to July 9 to mark Eid festival.

The central bank announced July 4 holiday following the government decision. l

to education and communication with a total estimated cost of over Tk4,606 crore.

Of the approved project cost, over Tk3,806 crore will come from the public coffer and Tk800 crore from development partners as project assistance.

The approval came at the final Ecnec meeting of the outgoing fiscal year held at the NEC conference room in the city with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

While briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said: “Some 278 projects valued Tk2,68,169 crore were approved in the outgoing fiscal year, which is around 63% higher than the previous fiscal year when 212 projects worth Tk1,63,992 crore were approved.”

He hinted that the implementa-

tion rate of Revised Annual Develop Programme (RADP) in the outgoing fiscal year could be reached just above 90%, which is 1% down over the previous fiscal.

Of the eight approved projects, College Education Development Project was the largest project valued Tk1,040 crore. University Grants Commission and National University under the Ministry of Education will jointly implement the project by June 2021.

Of the estimated cost, Tk240 crore will come from the state exchequer while the rest of Tk800 crore as project assistance from the World Bank.

About the project, Planning Minister said the project aimed to strengthen the management capacity of the colleges alongside improving the Honours and Masters courses’ teaching and education system in the public and private colleges across the country.

He said: “Demand for higher education is growing day by day and the number of colleges would be

increased to create more opportunities for higher education for the students.”

However, he said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the meeting asked the executing agency to complete the project by 2019.

The meeting approved another project titled ‘Establishment of 20 Day Care Centers’ with an estimated cost of around Tk60 crore to be entirely borne from the state exchequer.

Mustafa Kamal said: “These day care centers would be set up in Dhaka, Gopalganj, Gazipur, Tangail under Dhaka Division, Rangpur and Gaibandha under Rangpur Division, Naogaon under Rajshahi Division, Bhola under Barisal Division and Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali and Chandpur under Chittagong Division.”

The ECNEC meeting also gave nod to the ‘Improvement of living standards of under privileged women through raring of improved cows’ with Tk151.57 crore to be implemented by the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division by June 2021. l

German envoy: No impact of Brexit on Bangladesh export to EU n Asif Showkat Kallol German Ambassador in Bangladesh Dr Thomas Prinz said Brexit would have no impact on Bangladesh export to the European Union market.

“Brexit will not affect Bangladesh’s export to the EU market,” he said while talking to journalists after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA at the latter’s office in Dhaka yesterday.

Thomas Prinz said the German government will take a project to provide loans to Bangladesh’s garment makers at low interest rate for remediation of their factories.

“As interest rate of bank loans in Bangladesh is high, the German government will support the garment manufacturers in their remediation work providing low-interest loans,” Thomas Prinz said.

“The interest rate of the proposed loan project is yet to be fixed, but we will recommend 1% rate.”

German envoy declined to reply to queries regarding ban on direct cargo shipment from Dhaka to Germany. The ban has been imposed on security grounds. Such ban has also been imposed by two other countries - the UK and Australia.

In a referendum held on June 23, the UK people decided to leave EU as 52% people voted to leave while 48% voted to stay with the union.

In the first 11 months of the outgoing fiscal year, Bangladesh exports to the UK stood at $3.44bn, of which $3.18bn came from the readymade garment.

The UK, the third largest single export destination for Bangladesh, is considered very important by the Bangladeshi exporters as the exporters enjoy duty-free market access for all products under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).

According to the forecast, Britain’s unemployment rate which is now at a 10-year low of 5% will be increased as soon as it leaves the EU although even after the previous financial crisis.

Britain somehow managed to avoid job losses on the scale seen in other countries. l

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Japan eyes stimulus plan for small business after Brexit n

Reuters, Tokyo

Japan is likely to include assistance for small businesses in an economic stimulus package it will compile after Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union, Economy Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said yesterday.

Japanese policymakers also said financial markets are starting to calm down after the Brexit vote last week, but repeated that they want

to remain ready to respond to any further sudden jump in the yen, which could jeopardize the struggling economy.

Ishihara, did not answer reporters’ questions on the size of the stimulus plan, but sources have told Reuters the government is willing to spend at least 10tn yen ($98bn).

“There are concerns about lessening the impact of the British referendum on Japan’s small- and medium-sized companies,” Ishihara

said after a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, the government’s top advisory panel.

“Taking steps to provide liquidity to small firms could be a big factor in economic stimulus steps that we compile.”

Before Britain’s referendum last week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had said he planned bold stimulus steps this autumn to revive his economic agenda, and now the stakes have risen. l

US-Bangla airlines to operate 19 special flights ahead of Eid n Ishtiaq Husain Local private carrier US-BANGLA Airlines will operate 19 special flights on four domestic routes to transport home-bound people ahead of Eid ul-Fitr.

The four are Jessore-Dhaka-Jessore, Syedpur-Dhaka-Syedpur, Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi and Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar routes before and after Eid for the convenience of passengers, said US Bangla Deputy General Manager Kamrul

Islam on Tuesday.

The airline would conduct one more flight on Dhaka-Jessore and Dhaka-Syedpur routes from July 1 to July 5 along with its regular two flights while operating two additional flights on Dhaka-Rajshahi route on July 1 and July 3.

Besides, the carrier has decided to operate extra flights on Jessore-Dhaka, Syedpur-Dhaka and Rajshahi-Dhaka routes on July 9 and 10 to bring people back to their workplaces following the Eid vacation. l

CORPORATE NEWS

President of Dhaka Boat Club Limited, Rubel Aziz has recently congratulated the club’s newly elected president Benazir Ahmed, said a press release

National Bank Limited has recently donated Tk 2cr to prime minister’s relief and welfare fund, said a press release. The bank’s director, Rick Haque Sikder handed over a cheque to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard

Islami Bank’s North and South zones of Chittagong region have recently organised a discussion on humane banking in the light of Roza and Taqwa, said a press release. Chairperson of the bank’s executive committee, Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam was present on the occasion as chief guest

AB Bank has recently donated Tk 1.5cr to prime minister’s relief fund, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, M Wahidul Haque handed over a cheque to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

EU presses UK for quick exit to limit global fallout n Reuters, London Britain faced angry calls from other European leaders to act quickly to resolve the political and economic chaos unleashed by its vote to leave the European Union which the IMF said could put pressure on global growth.

Financial markets recovered slightly yesterday after the result wiped a record $3tn off global shares and sterling fell to its lowest level in 31 years, but trading was volatile and policymakers vowed to take all necessary measures to protect their economies.

British finance minister George Osborne, whose attempt to calm markets fell on deaf ears on Monday, said he would have to cut spending and raise taxes to secure fiscal stability after a third credit ratings agency downgraded the country’s debt.

Firms have announced hiring freezes and possible job cuts, dashing voters’ hopes the economy would thrive outside the EU. European countries are particularly worried about the impact on the rest of the European Union of the uncertainty created by Britain’s vote to leave, with little idea of when, or even if, the country will formally declare it is quitting.

Global growth concerns

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomes Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, prior to a plenary session at the European Parliament on the outcome of the ‘Brexit’ in Brussels REUTERS The impact looked likely to spread far beyond Britain’s borders although European shares rose for the first time in three days after a heavy sell-off, partly due to hopes of a more co-ordinated central bank response to financial market losses.

European Central Bank Presi-

dent Mario Draghi said central banks around the world should aim to align monetary policies to mitigate “destabilising spillovers” between economies.

Shares in European banks have come under particular pressure, particularly those based in Britain, over doubts about future market access,

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15

Business

and Italy, with high levels of bad loans.

Sources told Reuters on Monday Italy was preparing to protect its banks from a destabilising share selloff following the Brexit vote and that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi would ask for more flexibility from the EU regarding public spending. l

Sananda Jeweller’s offers 30% discount on diamond products n Tribune Business Desk Sananda Jeweller’s – a leading shop selling jewellery in the country – has offered a 30% discount on diamond jewellery for the month of Ramadan to attract consumers.

Centring the upcoming Eid ulFitr, the largest religious festival of Muslim community, the sales of jewellery went up during the holy month of Ramadan.

On the occasion of Eid, Sanada has offered a 30% discount on its diamond products to give a cushion to their consumers, said a press release yesterday.

The offer will remain valid till moon night in all Sanada outlets across the country.

A series of diamond jewellery like necklace set, finger ring, ear ring, nose pin, diamond locket and many more are available in shops at a discount rate.

“We have offered a discount on diamond products so that our consumers can afford to buy,” said Ranjit Ghosh, managing director, Sananda Jeweller’s. l

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16

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Ramadan Special

Ramadan: of dates and cacao

C a c a o

n Shireen Pasha We live on a delicious planet.

From peppers to bitter gourds to mustard greens to mangos to the hundreds of eggplants indigenous to Bangladesh - we are incredibly blessed.

Two fruits that are magical for me in particular are dates and raw chocolate.

I think I love dates not just for their fibrous sweetness that comes in various textures and shapes but also because of the metaphysical attachment of dates to Beloved Mohammad and Rabia Basri.

Beloved Mohammad used to carry dates in his pocket to share with friends and wayfarers, whomever he thought needed a little lift.

Dates used to appear in the forest for little Rabia Basri when she used to escape there at night to meditate with other sentient beings (deers, trees, critters).

Chocolate didn’t enter in the parables of our West Asian Seers.

Wrong climatic conditions for the growth of cacao plants, which need moist soil and a cloudy sky.

If there is one book you ought to have for your curiosity on origins of food and its chemistry, I recommend On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of The Kitchen by Harold McGee. I had this book on my dining table for a number of years just in case something we were eating aroused a question by anyone at the table. Harold McGee never ceases to put a smile on your face.

For example, in elaborating on the art of cooking, he delves into it a the molecular level: “It was the ancient Greeks who gave us the idea of atoms, fundamental and invisibly small particles of matter, and also the word atom, which means ‘uncuttable,’ ‘indivisible’.

Greek philosophers proposed that there are just four basic kinds of particles in the world - atoms of earth, air, water, and fire - and that all material things, our bodies and our food and everything else, are built from these primary particles.

The modern scientific view of matter’s invisible innards is more complicated, but also more precise

and illuminating. All matter on earth is a mixture of around 100 pure substances, which we call the elements: hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and so on.

An atom is the smallest particle into which an element can be subdivided without losing its characteristic properties. Atoms are very small indeed: several million would fit into the period at the end of this sentence.”

As for dates, Harold tells us that dates are a fruit of Phoenix dactylifera, a desert palm indigenous to the oases of Western Asia and Northern Africa, where they have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. Dates have four stages of development: “1. green and immature; 2. mature but unripe, when they’re yellow or red and hard , crunchy, and astringent; 3. ripe (Arabic ‘rhutab’), when they’re soft, golden brown, and delicate; 4. dry, when they’re brown and wrinkled and powerfully sweet.” Although we only see two or three varieties in the market, there are thousands of dates that differ in shape, size, colour, fragrance, colour, ripening schedule and flavour. “Date comes from the Greek word for ‘finger,’ daktulos.” I wish I could trace the origin of the word we use in Bengali, ‘khejoor’. I bet some of you can!

I think chocolate is a personal favourite of Harold’s because he begins with beatific enthusiasm and continues for about 20 pages as he writes “Chocolate is one of our most remarkable foods… The story of chocolate begins in the New World with the cacao tree, which probably evolved in the river valleys of equatorial South America. The tree bears large, tough seed pods that also contain a sweet, moist pulp, and early peoples may have carried the pods into Central America and southern Mexico as a portable source of energy and moisture.

It appears that the first people to cultivate the tree were the Olmecs of the southern Gulf coast of Mexico. They in turn introduced it sometime before 600 BCE to the Maya, who produced it in the tropical Yucatan peninsula

and Central America, and traded it to the Aztecs in the cool and arid north. The Aztecs roasted and ground cacao seeds and made them into a drink that was served in religious ceremonies…

The seeds were valuable enough to serve as currency. The first Europeans to see the cacao bean were probably the crew of Columbus’ s fourth voyage in 1502, who brought some back to Spain.” I think Harold can speak eloquently for hours on the history and chemistry of chocolate.

The chocolate we usually eat is cooked with sugar and milk. But there is another form of chocolate you might like to try, which is ground raw chocolate. When chocolate is not cooked with milk or sugar, it retains the full benefits of its divine nature. It contains a mood enhancing amino acid called tryptophan, which increases your level of seratonin, encouraging joy and relaxation. (Bananas, avocados, durian fruit, pumpkin seeds and pecan nuts also have tryptophan.)

Cacao also has a bliss molecule known as anandamide (ananda from Sanskrit, meaning bliss), a substance produced by the brain after cardiovascular exercise., which makes you feel “high”.

Another chemical found in cacao is phenethylamine, making you feel in love, beautiful and rapturous. (This substance is also found in blue-green algae.)

Not to mention that it is one of the highest sources of flavonoids (antioxidants). Finally, it has theobromine (food of the gods), which opens the heart, increases circulation, provides a feeling of well being, as well as being a natural aphrodisiac. (It may also make you rush to the toilet, as it can be a diuretic when taken in large doses.)

The Hopi say that one cannot be a Hopi. One can only strive to be a Hopi. I think that is a healthy way to approach a path of seeking. In striving to be a Muslim, we become more open to the deliciousness and wonders of the infinite within the finite, the cosmos with the planet - of which we are all stewards, whether near or far. l

Seeds

of

D

t

a

Cacao

e

A book to have: “On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of The Kitchen” by Harold McGee

17

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Feature

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Youth entrepreneurs represent Bangladesh on international platform n Features Desk The Professional Fellows Program, designed to bring together emerging leaders in the fields of legislative process and governance, civic engagement, NGO management, journalism, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship from around the world, was held during May 2 to June 3, 2016 in the United States.

Young entrepreneur Syed Rabius Shams, founder of Dhaka-based digital advertising firm Ra’dia Media Inc, had the opportunity to participate in the prestigious program, along with Ratul Dev, Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Md Rasheduzzaman. Here, Shams speaks to Dhaka Tribune about his month long experience.

the “goal” that one cherishes for long. It always gives you a feeling of accomplishment when the dream becomes a reality. Being an ordinary person with endless dreams, I always wanted to get exposure in the relevant area that is my passion. I had a feeling of “achieving something” when I returned home after completion of the fellowship. It was a great platform for learning what call entrepreneurship is, enlargement

areas, exposure to a variety of American business ventures and, last but not least, a three-week professional placement with a small business enterprise name Bold Multimedia at Norman, Oklahoma. There were plenty of new things for me and that I had to internalise within this short span of time.

of professional networks and how to make dreams come true.

I can’t express in words how excited I felt to be attached to this prestigious fellowship and exchange knowledge with likeminded young entrepreneurs from all over the world, especially Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

Needless to say, the cultural experience was also a huge pleasure. The most exciting part was probably th Native American culture I was exposed to at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Oklahoma, attending the Professional Fellows Congress and visiting US State Department in Washington, DC.

What was the most exciting part of the program?

Tell us about the Professional Fellows Congress With the slogan ‘Impacting the Future: it starts with us,’ a Professional Fellows Congress was held in Washington DC during May 31 – June 2. From 43 countries, 263 emerging global leaders were hosted by the US Department of State, concluding intensive month-long fellowship placements with state and local government offices, NGOs, media

Embassy Bangladesh website and I applied online. From the very beginning Elanie Steyn, co-Director of the program and associate professor of Gaylord College, tirelessly assisted me in various ways. At the end of the program, she informed me that we the fellows were selected following a strict threefold scrutiny of more than 130 applications. Along with me the three Bangladeshis were Ratul Dev,

outlets, and businesses in 29 states across the country. Among them, we were four entrepreneurs from Bangladesh who also had the opportunity to attend as part of our month long fellowship.

We were delighted to hear the speech of Thomas A. Shannon Jr, the under secretary of State for Political Affairs during the visit to the State Department, and enjoyed dinner at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room.

Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Md Rasheduzzaman. We are grateful to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of Department of State, Gaylord College, American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and finally our in-country partner BRAC business School, for their generous support and cooperation. l

It always gives you a feeling of accomplishment when the dream becomes a reality

Tell us about the Professional Fellows Program The PFP aims to provide professional experience and training to young entrepreneurs that nurture participants’ talent and prepare them for more responsible leadership positions in their businesses, communities and society in general. This fellowship is funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and hosted by the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma in collaboration with the Center for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) at BRAC University, BRAC Myanmar and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). These institutions have a shared passion to create a bridge of business incubation between the fellows and the potential U.S host organisations and associate them with the America’s leading universities.

What have you achieved from the Fellowship?

Dreams have no boundaries. This drives everybody in search of

What have you learned so far?

It was really a privilege to be associated with the Professional Fellowship Exchange Program as an emerging youth leader from Bangladesh. I came across wonderful people, numerous brilliant ideas and gained priceless experiences, which helped me both personally and professionally.

My dreams started to take shape after learning so many business and leadership skills including conceptual lectures, discussions, meeting expert people of relevant

How did you get selected for the Fellowship?

I came to know about the PFP announcement from the US

Syed Rabius Shams can be reached at radiadhk@ gmail.com

DT

18

Feature

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

A story that “sticks” with you Mighty Punch Studios have an Eid gift for you

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Now you have another reason to run to the supermarket, and no, there’s no Srirarchaflavoured piyaju mix (yet). We’re talking about Lathial, the latest brainchild by the geniuses at Mighty Punch Studios.

The plot

Regulars (and a plucky little eavesdropping opportunist) at a tavern exchange tales about the legendary feats of a mythical hero known only as the Lathial. Samir Asrar Rahman has

seamlessly woven several miniepisodes into one big story, with a knockout surprise at the very end.

The art

Mosharraf Hussain (Nipu), Fahim Anzoom Rumman and Asifur Rahman team up to bring you a spectacular feast of visuals.

The artwork is somehow able to convey the change in tone and voice as a different narrator takes up the storytelling, without losing the overarching style of the major plot. Definitely commendable.

The verdict

While the Shabash comics will always be special, this new character is definitely the best thing to come out of the studio.

The feeling of nostalgia for local readers at the tonguein-cheek references to deshi folklore, combined with familiar hallmarks of international geekery, including a very Star Wars like opening, together make for a rambunctious romp of a read.

Lathial #00 is now available at Meena Bazar and Jamil’s comics in UAE Market. l

Solving power crisis with solar energy BASE Technologies aim big in renewable energy

n Features Desk With growing concerns over climate change and the catastrophe it is bringing upon the world, now is the time to think about reducing carbon emissions.

There are many reasons for carbon emission, and burning fossil fuel for energy is one them. Taking in consideration the dangers of fuel and coal-based power, the world is focusing more on renewable energy.

In Bangladesh, the scenario is no different. While the developed countries are looking for an efficient alternative power source, Bangladesh is striving to meet the demand for electricity.

The perennial crisis for power had been a major setback in the way of Bangladesh’s economic growth. As the country is rapidly developing, the demand for power is increasing sharply. The rise in demand and the failure of conventional power to satisfy the demand calls for an alternative power source like solar power.

Solar energy has full potential

to address the existing power crisis, and that too without harming our environment. Solar energy will reduce the pressure from fuel-based electricity, and will reach the areas out of grid electricity. Solar energy has long been deemed as a source of power that can easily reach households.

And in rural Bangladesh, solar energy has been lighting

irrigation, water distillation and other areas that will save the government a big sum of money.

BASE Technologies, a key service provider in energy and systems integration,

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

households for quite a long time.

Solar energy can also be used for industrial purposes. We can use solar power for street lights,

has been providing solutions to these major problems and striving to come up with cost-effective solutions to the energy crisis.

As agriculture is the

backbone of the country, BASE Technologies has taken up projects encompassing solar irrigation, solar hatchery, and utility power.

With this development in this sector, BASE Technologies is aiming big to play a pioneering role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the government and the United Nations.

BASE Technologies is working to replace diesel and electricitybased irrigation with solar irrigation, which will reduce pressure from both diesel and electricity. Bangladesh spends approximately $900 million per year for 1 million tons of diesel to power its irrigation systems.

Once solar-powered pumps are installed, it will help reduce costs, protect the environment and lower carbon emissions.

Apart from irrigation, the company has also taken other initiatives, including one of the largest solar streetlight

projects in Bangladesh to make proper use of solar power in the industrial sector. In addition, the company has many other ongoing processes. All initiatives of BASE Technologies are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Right now, BASE Technologies is offering end-to-end expertise in building infrastructure for solar energy systems. The company believes that solar energy can be used alongside fuel or coal based electricity to meet the growing power demand. They have already set an example by using solar power in their sister-concern BASE Papers.

Solar power is free and it doesn’t have any negative impact on the environment, unlike coal-based or fuel based power.

As the government aims to have 10 percent of its national grid powered by renewable energy by 2020, solar energy can play a big role. And to increase the use of solar energy, it is time we take initiatives to raise awareness to save our environment. l

19

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

| festival |

| meals |

Pond’s Bangladesh Fashion Festival June 2016

“Try Something Generous” at Nando’s this Ramadan!

“Pond’s Bangladesh Fashion Festival June 2016” was held on 24-25 June 2016 at Hotel Sarina.

The fair showcased 30 of the most popular Facebook stores among the youth of Dhaka city.

Online shopping has recently gained significant popularity in Dhaka over the past two years, and at present, over 500,000 women carry out their Eid shopping from Facebook stores. This trend

has given rise to several online designer brands, which while being niche, are extremely popular in social media circles.

Pond’s believes in inspiring women to have a strong point of view, while maintaining their femininity. As a result of this belief, “Pond’s Bangladesh Fashion Festival June 2016” had been inspired by the idea of assisting aspiring designers to arrange a glamorous fair that would offer an extravagant experience to their clients.

While “Pond’s Bangladesh Fashion Festival June 2016” was being held primarily to support local businesses, it also served as a hub where one could meet friends and got the opportunity to meet upcoming artists and budding celebrities like Irin Afroze, Shahtaz Munira etc, who often turn up at these events. l

| expansion |

IELTS Test Operations in Dhaka popular English language test for higher education and global migration, with over 2.7 million tests taken last year in 140 countries, In Bangladesh, over 30,000 tests were taken. IELTS tests are being conducted by British Council in five major cities of Bangladesh - Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna.

The IELTS test is trusted by over 9,000 organisations including universities, professional bodies, employers and migration authorities in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other

The British Council recently announced expansion of its IELTS test operations in Dhaka, with the opening of its new IELTS test venue at Pallabi, Mirpur.

Deep Adhikari, British Council’s Director of Examinations said, “The addition of this new venue would add greater convenience to the lives of an ever-increasing number of IELTS candidates in Bangladesh. Over the years, the British Council has introduced a wide range of IELTS candidate support and improved access to the test for candidates”.

IELTS is the world’s most

countries.

IELTS candidates can now register online for taking a test at the newly opened Mirpur venue, along with the other existing venues in Banani, Bashundhara, Dhanmondi and Uttara. Candidates can also choose a preferred date and time to sit for an exam online. Moreover, continuous efforts to improve the registration process and exam day experience have specially contributed to the soaring popularity of the IELTS test conducted by the British Council.l

DT

Biz Info

The internationally renowned South African restaurant chainNando’s is observing the holy month of Ramadan by offering three tongue tantalising iftar platters- Hungry, Very Hungry and Very Very Hungry for the customers to break their fast with the most wholesome of meals in town. The tempting taste of the signature quarter PERi chicken in the “Hungry” platter will leave everyone wanting for more.

The succulent, flame grilled, butterfly chicken steak makes the “Very Hungry” platter fulfilling to say the least.

Then, the most wholesome of all- the “Very Very Hungry” platter includes the ever so scrumptious Espetada! All these delicious platters will be followed by tasty assortments

including beef egg chop, mini pizza, malai murg kebab, beef kebab, mouthwatering chana chaat, russian salad, pita bread, potato wedges, ice-cream, fruits and lemonade. Thinking about the price? Well, the Hungry platter will be available at Tk999, Very Hungry Platter at Tk1299 and the Very Very Hungry platter at Tk1599!

For take-away iftar platters, Nando’s is offering a lot of variations here as well! The wholesome Jumbo platter worth Tk4000 comes with succulent whole chicken and other mouth watering items to make iftar at home or office, a lot more PERi-fic. Also, the take away solo box will be available at Tk520 consisting of yummy iftar items which can be a great option for the corporate iftar parties. Moreover, throughout the whole Ramadan, special PERi-halim will be sold as well to add the extra allure to everyone’s taste.

Not only during iftar, customers can also feast their souls enjoying special “Buy One Get One” free offer on all Nando’s regular meals during Seheri hours to start off the sacrificing deed with the tastiest foods in town! l

| food |

Iftar platter at Smoke Music Cafe

This Ramadan, Smoke Music Cafe brings you an exciting iftar platter at Tk895++. The outstanding platter gives you mint yogurt, fresh fruit salad, and Tex Mex salad to start off your meal and then lets you enjoy their delicate garlic potato bites, butter glazed shrimps, German potato salad, spicy basil chick-pop, savoury chicken skewers, cajun beef strips, hot

chicken wings, BBQ chicken, authentic Lebanese chicken kebab, and Arabian rice. As for dessert, there are chocolate dates and nuts along with ohso-tasty brownies. So drop by Smoke Music Cafe sometime for an amazing iftar experience that will be hard to forget.

Smoke Music Cafe 6th Floor H 98 Block C, Rd # 11, Banani, Dhaka 1212 l

DT

20 Editorial

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

TODAY

The problem of private investment If the government can use the remittance savings of overseas Bangladeshis to finance higher public investment, why can’t the private sector do the same?

PAGE 21

Pulling the trigger Removal of hate in the mind is most imperative right now. And while removing guns and confederate flags will also help, if we look at the big picture, the effect of it will be like if you placed a band-aid on a bullet wound PAGE 22

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Begging the question

Say no to policies that kill ‘We don’t have any information about what will happen to us. We are lost here and no one cares’ PAGE 23

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

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

T

he government’s decision to make some areas of Dhaka city “beggar-free” zones is a commendable one.

However, when addressing the problem of begging, we must be careful to look at all sides of the issue and provide a lasting solution for those who make a living by begging, and not just for those who are inconvenienced by beggars.

Prohibiting begging in some areas of the capital, such as the airport and diplomatic areas, is a good idea -- cracking down on the petty harassment and minor misdemeanors that some beggars engage in sends a message and sets a tone.

This, in turn, helps reduce incidences of more major disturbances. The improved environment goes a long way in creating a safer and more liveable city for all.

However, it is imperative for the government to provide a lasting solution for beggars. Those who beg for a living have basic human rights just like anyone else, and we must make sure the Tk30 lakh allocated for the rehabilitation program is spent wisely.

In fact, far more most likely needs to be allocated.

If more funds are required, a modest tax on car-owners, who would be the beneficiaries of a ban, would not be out of place.

The government needs to make sure proper and effective rehabilitation is actually taking place, and that the money is not being wasted or stolen. There is a lot that government programs can do to take care of indigent people -- from soup kitchens, to public housing, to employment generation programs.

It’s not enough to take beggars off the street. Let’s make sure they have somewhere to go.

There is a lot that government programs can do to take care of indigent people

21

DT

Long Form

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

The problem of private investment Private investment has always depended on the level of domestic savings, but that’s only half the story. This is the first part of a two-part long form

n Nofel Wahid

C

omplaining about the level of private investment and what it implies about the state of the economy has become a favourite pastime of Bangladeshi economists.

The narrative seems to be this: People are not investing, that’s why the banks are sitting on a lot of idle cash, and all of this means the economy is not in great shape.

That narrative may or may not be true in the final analysis.

But linking bank liquidity with private investment may not be the best way of arriving at such a conclusion.

Generally speaking, it of course makes sense to link bank liquidity with private investment. After all, banks lend money to businesses to invest. Or to put it in another way, the supply of investable cash depends on the banks, while the demand for that cash comes from businesses.

While most pundits claim that there is no problem with the supply of cash, and that the problem is mostly on the demandside, it is worth investigating the actual numbers on investment to reach a conclusion.

Investment growth is pretty good According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, total investment in Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2015 was Tk437,865 crore. The private sector accounted for 76% of that total investment, with the rest coming from the government.

Moreover, private investment has, on average, grown by 14%

annually in the last 10 years, rising from Tk99,271 crore in 2006 to Tk334,472cr in 2015. Double digit

hardly be dismissed as low or weak growth.

Nevertheless, when most

terms of GDP. Private investment as a share of GDP has hovered around 21-22% for the last 10 years.

If the government can use the remittance savings of overseas Bangladeshis to finance higher public investment, why can’t the private sector do the same?

growth in any economic indicator is impressive, and an average of 14% annual growth in private investment over a decade can

economists complain about slow investment growth they tend to point to a different figure, which is the share of private investment in

More significantly, public investment as a share of GDP has grown from 5% to 7% over the same period, accounting for the overall increase in total investment share of GDP. In other words, the government has accelerated its investment spending while private sector investment has kept pace with GDP growth. Chart 1 illustrates the trend in investment share of GDP over the last 10 years.

Why isn’t private investment as a share of GDP growing?

An accurate way of answering that question involves looking at how much of our total national savings is invested every year.

One simple theory in economics suggests that total investment in an economy depends on total savings and/or international debt, including development aid.

Total savings by all Bangladeshis, living at home and

abroad, was equivalent to 39% of GDP in 2015. Domestic savings by Bangladeshis living at home was equivalent to 22% of GDP. It is no coincidence that private sector investment and domestic savings as a share of GDP has been the same in recent years, as illustrated by Chart 2.

The chart demonstrates that private investment in Bangladesh has mostly depended on the level of domestic savings. It implies that under the status quo for private investment as a share of GDP to grow domestic savings has to be much higher.

But that’s only half the story.

The other half of the story is that public investment by the government appears largely to be financed by foreign savings, mainly in the form of international remittance sent by Bangladeshis living abroad.

It begs the question -- if the government can use the remittance savings of overseas Bangladeshis to finance higher public investment, why can’t the private sector do the same?

We attempt to answer this question in part two of our series on private investment in Bangladesh. l The concluding part of this long form will be published tomorrow.

Nofel Wahid is an economist. This article previously appeared in orthonomi.com.

22

DT

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Pulling the trigger Why can’t Americans reach a consensus about gun control?

n Achol Chowdhury

S

o far, 2016 has been rather interesting. Perhaps eventful would be a better word to describe it, but nonetheless very interesting.

What’s so interesting about this year is how we’ve managed to take a U-turn from progressive values and find ourselves barreling back to the values our grand parents had seen fading out.

Hundreds of lives have been lost from us, lost due to differences in the colour of their skins, the differences in their preferences and difference in beliefs. Issues that had been resolved 70 years ago are emerging now in our present day.

This was foreshadowed by the release of the sequel to Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, set in the early 1930s. In the sequel, Go Set A Watchman, we see beloved character Atticus Finch, the character least infected by prejudice in the novel and the voice of reasoning and morals, adopt incredibly abhorrent views on race.

Ironically, it is seen that, in the sequel, which is set 20 years later, any hint of progress in the desertion of racism and segregation has been reduced to nothing, as even the moral compass of Maycomb begins pointing to the wrong direction.

While the widely anticipated book received widespread criticism and sparked outrage at the loss of the moral integrity of a beloved childhood hero, in hindsight it is evident that the book was a foretelling of the events to come as we slowly realise it is more of a narration of our current events rather than just plain fiction.

Evidence of this is clearly seen in recent occurrences such as the Orlando Shootings and the Charleston Church shooting. In both cases, the factors leading to the devastating fatalities were race or sexual orientation.

What happened in Charleston or the Boston Marathon goes much deeper than just xenophobia.

The alleged gunman drew from the beliefs of the “Council of Conservative Citizens,” a prominent white supremacy group that uses the internet to send out its teachings and take in more followers, much like jihadist groups do.

The Tsarnaev brothers responsible for the Boston bombings drew inspiration from the actions of well-known terrorist

Could better gun laws have prevented this Orlando shooting victim’s death?

REUTERS

Removal of hate in the mind is most imperative right now. And while removing guns and confederate flags will also help, if we look at the big picture, the effect of it will be like if you placed a band-aid on a bullet wound organisations, despite there not being any evidence of them being linked to any. In both cases, extremely twisted beliefs led to the horrifying incidents.

Another common motif in these incidents is the unopposed, uncontrolled use of guns in the US. These incidents not only spark outrage over the blatant racism running rampant in the United States, but also call for what may bring an end to the streak of mass shootings in the states -- gun control.

It is a topic of constant debate; the removal of guns could definitely reduce the frequency of such incidents. Who would disagree with that? Unfortunately, too many people would.

Oppression like that can’t possibly be enforced, after all, in the land of the free right?

The reasoning for this may be how greatly mass shootings drive up the sales and profit for the gun industry. Manufacturers of firearms see steep increases in sales of weapons each time a large shooting occurs, which along with searing tensions among people -- tensions further fuelled by the devastating incidents that seem to be occurring every other day -- lead to more people going out and purchasing guns for their own safety.

Rage-fuelled supporters, armed by the fear of finding themselves in one of these events, fervently support and fetishise the firearm industry, making it even harder to impose control laws.

This goes on to separate the liberals and conservatives; the former of these are seemingly on par with the rest of the world on

its stance on gun control but are viewed by the latter as plain irrational, which makes it even more difficult to reach a consensus.

So, perhaps yes, making it a few steps more difficult to attain firearms will help mollify the situation, but we must remember that guns are not the ones doing the killing, people are, and in order to return to the accepting and tolerant society we should be, there are much deeper rooted evils that need to be weeded out first.

Removal of hate in the mind is most imperative right now.

And while removing guns and confederate flags will also help, if we look at the big picture, the effect of it will be like if you placed a band-aid on a bullet wound. l Achol Chowdhury is a freelance contributor.

DT

23

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Say no to policies that kill We must find a way to minimise the suffering of those forcibly displaced

Don’t prolong their anguish

REUTERS

reception conditions, and the complicated, ever-changing registration procedures aggravated the already miserable conditions imposed on thousands fleeing war, poverty, and oppression.

This served only to make fleeing more dangerous and increase the suffering of those on the move.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2015, MSF teams provided more than 100,000 medical consultations to refugees and migrants on its search and rescue vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, in Italy, Greece, in the Balkans, and in Western Europe. But MSF rescuers are witnessing and hearing similar stories of fear, misery, and violence the world over: From Morocco, Mexico, Yemen, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, and southern Europe, and from Central and South America into the United States.

More locally, MSF teams witness it across the Andaman Sea, in Myanmar, and also in Kutupalong, Bangladesh, where MSF runs a clinic offering health care to Rohingya people fleeing

‘We hope the war will come to an end, the bloodshed will stop and displaced people will be able to return home.

But it seems it’s not likely to happen soon. We are doing what we can and even more. We are happy when we see our patients recover. It gives us more resolve to continue the work we are doing’ -- Yahya Jarad, nursing supervisor at MSF’s Al Salamah Hospital, Syria

n Dibarah Mahboob

A

massive 60 million people are now displaced worldwide -- the largest number since World War II, according to the UN. Between January 1 and December 31, 2015, an estimated 1,008,616 fled to Europe by sea.

84% of them came from refugeeproducing countries, with 49% of them coming from Syria, 21% from Afghanistan, and 9% from Iraq.

17% were women and 25% were children under the age of 18.

Despite winter conditions, and attempts to close the Mediterranean Sea route, people have not stopped fleeing, and between January and April 2016, more than 180,000 people have arrived in Europe. Another 1,200 people have died or gone missing on the way.

Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the international medical humanitarian organisation, believes that today’s humanitarian

crisis in Europe is the result of a collective catastrophic failure to respond to the urgent need for assistance and protection of over a million men, women, and

Myanmar as well as for the local community in and around Ukhia.

In a world plagued by conflict, poverty, and inequality, population movements are

‘We don’t have any information about what will happen to us. We are lost here and no one cares. We left everything behind. I had a job, I was a tiler, we had a house. But we had no security: We were living in fear in Kabul; suicide attacks were happening every day, everywhere. I paid thousands of dollars to reach Greece and save my family lives. We want to go to Germany, where my cousin’s wife has lived for 15 years. We are just looking for peace. We are not numbers, we are human beings who need your solidarity’ -- Mohammed, from Kabul, Afghanistan

As a medical humanitarian organisation with more than 40 years of experience providing assistance to people on the move, MSF’s request is simple: Stop applying policies that kill and prolong anguish.

Health care in rescue ships

In 2015, MSF teams on board three search and rescue ships in the Central Mediterranean assisted over 23,000 people in 120 separate rescue interventions.

The hardship people endure on these journeys is shocking for MSF teams to witness. They know first-hand the devastation war inflicts in places like Somalia, Syria, and Sudan, the systematic discrimination in Myanmar and the subsistence living and constant social and political turmoil in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, which force millions to flee.

‘We thought that Europe might protect people who have suffered the kind of suffering we have undergone.

But we feel like criminals, forced to hide in the mountain. Look at where we are. We pray that someone hears us, so that the road opens. I don’t want to die here. I don’t want to die watching my grandchildren suffering. I don’t have much time left on this Earth, so I don’t have much longer to wait. Ever since what happened in Sinjar, I haven’t sung any more’ -- Khaled, a Yazidi man from Sinjar Mountain in Iraqi Kurdistan. He is in Katsikas camp, Greece, with his family since March 18, 2016.The family apologised twice because they had no tea to offer, and offered to share the food distributed by the NGO

children. The lack of safe and legal options for people to flee, the razor wire fences, capriciously closed borders, squalid, inhumane

inevitable and governments must find a way to manage migration that minimises suffering rather than create it.

But they also hear horrific stories of the flight itself -- people left to die of dehydration in the Sahara, packed like cattle into

warehouses, trucks, and ships or raped, tortured, and starved in Libya and Thailand. Indeed, the journey itself, both for the forcibly displaced and the so-called migrants, can quite literally be fatal. At the very least, the chronic abuse suffered on the journey leads to lasting physical injury and psychological trauma.

Again, governments must stop applying policies that kill and prolong the anguish; instead, they must provide protection and assistance based on humanitarian imperatives according to needs that ensure basic human dignity. l Dibarah Mahboob works for Médecins Sans Frontières.

Médecins Sans Frontières, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation, has worked in Bangladesh since 1992. Its teams have responded to numerous humanitarian emergencies in the country, bringing medical support to victims of natural and man-made disasters.

MSF also worked with the Ministry of Health and Family Planning to reduce the burden of diseases such as malaria or visceral leishmaniosis.

MSF currently operates two projects in Bangladesh. In Kamrangirchar, a suburb of Dhaka, it provides medical services to young adolescents and factory workers. In Ukhia Upazilla, Cox’s Bazar, MSF runs a 50-bed hospital providing maternal and medical care to the local population, including Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. MSF works in almost 70 countries worldwide. Additionally, MSF operates land-based migration projects in five countries: Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Serbia, and FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

DT

24 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

TOP STORIES

Del Bosque: Spanish era goes on Spain’s former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque batted away questions about his future and denied it was the end of an era for his side they lost 2-0 to Italy on Monday in the Round of 16 and crashed out of Euro 2016. PAGE 26

Portugal starting to click, says Nani Portugal’s experienced winger Nani says team unity is a key asset for the national team ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2016 quarter-final against Poland. The Portuguese have had their backs to the wall in the competition so far. PAGE 27

Diego urges Messi to shelve plans to quit World Cup winner Diego Maradona has called on compatriot Lionel Messi not to abandon international football after the Argentina captain announced he was quitting the national side following Sunday’s Copa final defeat. PAGE 28

PSG name Unai Emery as new coach PSG yesterday named Unai Emery as their new coach on a two-year contract. Emery, 44, takes over from Laurent Blanc, who left his role with the Qatari-backed French giants on Monday, and his contract includes an option for an additional season. PAGE 29

Iceland players celebrate after their Euro 2016 Round of 16 win over England in Nice on Monday

Thank you Iceland n The Guardian Takk fyrir Island. Thank you Iceland. Thank you for Gudmundur Benediktsson’s epic falsetto commentary, for bringing one-tenth of the population to France to take part in this odyssey, for making Cristiano Ronaldo uppity and reminding the rest of us of the essential valour of the little guy’s right to his aspirations, for competing so fearlessly to defeat England, for blowing our minds. Thank you for your co-manager’s other job in dentistry, your class and determination in searching for a first win at a major finals, your exemplary coaching system, your comradeship within the team, your inspired hothousing of young talent in a weather-beaten place. Thank you for showing us imaginative ways of doing things can bring extraordinary achievements.

The summoning of trolls, smiting and human/monster hybrids have been fun but extraneous as these weeks in France have turned out to be a saga worthy of any tales of old. Iceland’s players, coaches and supporters have etched a modern sporting myth.

Iceland did not even play a game on grass until the 1950s. Before that football took place on gravel formed of crushed lava. Until the 1990s it was an amateur game.

Like all the best surprises, all this will not be forgotten.

“It is a huge happiness,” said Lars Lagerback. “There are not

many occasions you have these feelings.” They do not want it to end and are itching to prepare for France, up next. “It is an even bigger game,” said Lagerback. “We will see if we will improve a bit when we come to Paris.”

The idea of this team, this adventure, growing coursed through their performance. Although they did not get off to an auspicious start conceding an early penalty, one of Iceland’s notable qualities during this tournament has been an unshakable spirit. An exemplary sense of team pushed them onwards and into football’s history books.

RESULT England Rooney 4-P

1-2

Iceland Sigurdsson 6, Sigthórsson 18

The riposte to England’s early goal was speedy and sharp as Ragnar Sigurdsson belted in from a well-rehearsed throw-in routine.

It was telling that after Iceland were pegged back in the one group game that left them disappointed – when they conceded a late equaliser to Hungary – their coaches stressed how they felt there was more possession, more quality, more control in their ranks. It was just a case of coaxing it out to add to their muscular efforts.

So it proved as they took the lead. A slick one-touch passing move was finished by Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, who cared little for

Joe Hart’s semi-contribution as his poke crept over the line. The co-coaches, the wily Lagerback and the charming Heimir Hallgrimsson, clasped hands and laughed at the beautiful madness of it.

Iceland’s capacity to tussle toeto-toe with England was captivating. Their blend of confidence and concentration, to track and block one moment, to drive forward gamely the next, seemed to drain their opponents of any sense of purpose. England looked confused by it all. Iceland were cohesive; they all understood the plan. An opportunity was there to be seized and they chased it voraciously.

Some English commentators had been backhandedly dismissive of Iceland. Alan Shearer suggested defeat would be the biggest embarrassment of England’s football’s history, Danny Mills that a defeat would prove England did not deserve to be here.

For the establishment it was as if a blow struck by tiny Iceland would be extra unacceptable. It is a sentiment that pays no heed to the clever management of a relatively small group of people with a significant and enterprising sporting plan. Size isn’t everything.

The argument that this expanded European Championship with 24 teams would be inherently weird has been diluted by the moments of success earned by so many of the less fashionable nations. Iceland, the smallest of those, have made it the furthest.l

REUTERS

Beating England life-changing Iceland coach n AFP, Nice Iceland’s co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson toasted a potentially life-changing win for his team after the small nation stunned England at Euro 2016 on Monday.

“If you want the best out of life you have to be ready when the opportunity comes. That is a fact and these boys were ready today and this opportunity that was put in our hand was huge, it can change their lives,” said Hallgrimsson, who combines his role as co-coach alongside Lars Lagerback with his job as a dentist.

In their debut appearance at a major tournament, Iceland can now look forward to a fairytale quarter-final against hosts France at the Stade de France on Sunday.

“This will probably be a day that we will talk about for the rest of our lives and now we get an even bigger chance in a week,” added Hallgrimsson, who will take sole charge of the team after the Euros.

“We are optimistic. Some Icelanders maybe think we are too optimistic, that we don’t think we can fail, but we have a game plan.”

“It was a key moment in the game. It was a shock to concede a goal so early but to answer right back probably had more effect on England than the first goal that we conceded,” said Lagerback.

“A part of why I am sitting here now is thanks to Roy Hodgson when he came to Sweden, so I’d like to express my big respect to him.”l

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Heartache, no one does it better than England n

Rashad Banna

Hope and expectation slowly builds up among fans back home around this team. The media takes great pleasure in espousing the team as one of the title favourites.

The travelling party of supporters leave their workplaces and homes dreaming about silverware that has eluded them for five decades.

Millions of fans around the globe become hopeful thinking that it might just be their time for glory.

And then, unprecedented disappointment. Each and every single time.

Welcome to the world of the English football team in major tournaments. Here, one will witness a comedy of errors proving to be their undoing, rather than the class and might of the opposition.

Granted, many a classy opponent has had the better of England in the past, but more often than not, they are the architects of their own downfall.

Without doubt, goalkeeping errors feature on top of the list every time England exit a tournament meekly. And not without reason.

Monday’s Round of 16 defeat against Iceland is a case in point.

For those who follow the English Premier League closely, Joe Hart is picture of brilliance for Manchester City. He routinely pulls out scintillating saves to rescue his club.

However when it comes to the international stage, the 29-year old is painfully frustrating, as was the case on Monday night. If anything, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson was hoping against hope when he let go of a harmless shot towards Hart’s path

England's Joe Hart reacts after Iceland's Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scores during their Euro 2016 Round of 16 match at Stade de Nice, Nice, France on Monday REUTERS with the tie nicely poised at 1-1.

What transpired though was beyond anyone’s imagination. Given Hart’s stature, everyone expected him to parry the shot away to safety. But he fluffed his lines and allowed the ball to squirm inside the net.

Iceland 2 England 1 in the 18th minute. As it ended, there was to be no comeback from England.

Hart was also culpable for the goal conceded against Wales in the group stages. An innocuous Gareth Bale free-kick should have been a customary save but Hart made a mess of it.

Although the mistake did not prove to be costly with England going on to win the encounter 2-1, the sup-

porters were wondering if he would repeat his howler in the knockout stages. It didn’t take too long for their nightmare to be realised.

History though suggests Hart is not the only guilty English goalkeeper. Many before him have let their country down, courtesy some silly mistakes - Robert Green against the USA in 2010, Scott Carson against Croatia in 2007 and David Seaman against Brazil in 2002 to name but a few.

Besides such silly mistakes, the manager’s conservatism is another reason why England continuously come up short in major tournaments. Roy Hodgson followed his predecessors almost to a tee.

Jamie Vardy was underused, Adam Lallana was persisted with even though there were better alternatives on the bench while Raheem Sterling, young and talented but extremely low on confidence, was named in the starting XI against Iceland when any other player could have proven to be the better choice.

It is really tough being an England faithful. The ridicule and criticism that follow every time they are ousted from a tournament seem to be boundless. And going

by England’s displays, it will be quite a while before the fans can hope to provide a riposte and feel proud of their team. l

Leadership crisis after Hodgson resignation n Reuters, Nice England’s shock defeat by Iceland in Nice and subsequent Euro 2016 exit on Monday suggested that the British government isn’t the only national institution threatened with a leadership vacuum.

Roy Hodgson’s post-match resignation leaves the Football Association searching for a successor, but the national team’s crisis of authority stretches beyond the dugout following another characterless display lacking in the mental qualities that have underpinned England’s greatest football achievements.

“We haven’t got leaders,” former winger Chris Waddle told the BBC in the immediate aftermath of England’s inglorious exit. “They’re all pampered, they’re all just headphones. They don’t communicate on the pitch or off it.

“You can’t get anything out of them,” he added. “That’s why we’re no good.”

Hodgson’s players wilted after falling 2-1 behind, struggling to string passes together and failing to master basic techniques as the enormity of their impending exit dawned on them.

“Everyone was waiting for someone else to pull them out,” Ian Wright said on British television.

“They were petrified.”

Next month, England will celebrate half a century since Bobby Moore, their greatest captain, lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1966.

Moore has been succeeded by the likes of Bryan Robson, Terry Butcher, Tony Adams and John Terry, all of whom took responsibility and guided the team through troubled spells. l

ENGLAND’S HIGH-PROFILE EXITS

HAND OF GOD 1986 WC quarterfinal v Argentina

GASCOIGNE’S TEARS 1990 WC semifinal v West Germany

SOUTHGATE’S DOOM 1996 Euro semifinal v Germany

RED MIST OVER BECKHAM 1998 WC R16 v Argentina

SEAMAN’S HOWLER 2002 WC quarterfinal v Brazil

UNEVEN BECKHAM 2004 Euro quarterfinal v Portugal

RONALDO TRICKS ROONEY 2006 WC quarterfinal v Portugal

QUALIFYING IGNOMINY 2008 Euro qualifying stage v Croatia

LAMPARD DENIED 2010 WC R16 v Germany

HART GETS PUNKED BY PIRLO 2012 Euro quarterfinal v Italy

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Italy skipper and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon hangs on the bar as he celebrates with team mates at the end of their Euro 2016 Round of 16 match against Spain at Stade de France on Monday

REUTERS

Italy unchain their attacking hearts n Reuters, Paris Forget Italy’s image of Catenaccio (or “door chain defence”). Antonio Conte’s Italy showed in a 2-0 defeat of Spain at Euro 2016 on Monday that they can do unchained attacking football too.

The Azzurri, who will take on world champions Germany in a fascinating quarter-final on Saturday, had promised they would not be afraid to go forward against Spain.

They certainly kept to their word, creating scores of opportunities and forcing David De Gea to

make several superb saves.

Italy’s defensive performance were outstanding, the back three of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli shutting down the Spanish forwards and comfortably cutting the wingers’ crosses throughout.

“It was definitely a great performance. I’m pleased because this is a team who play football,” said coach Conte, who was in the last Italian team to beat Spain in a competitive game at the 1994 World Cup. “People think of Italy as a defensive side, but it’s not the case.

I don’t coach players to counter attack. We are very well organised defensively but we are also organised going forward.”

Italy wasted several opportunities but their superiority in midfield, where they always field five players in a 3-5-2 formation, caused Spain plenty of trouble. The disciplined football was possible because the Azzurri have embraced a club culture, Conte said.

“I’ve always said since I took over that the only route forward to achieve some semblance of success, was to try to be a club,” he

said. “To try to be a team who play a league season. There is no point in hiding the fact that it’s not the rosiest period in terms of football talent for Italy so we need to be a team from every perspective.”

Man-of-the-match Bonucci added: “We found a national team that has no top talents and we had to create a team, with a game plan, and Conte has been our leader.”

Monday’s victory was all the sweeter for Italy since it came four years after they were humbled 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final.

“We had revenge on our minds

and today we had something extra.

We played well, we had positive feelings and so much willingness to do well,” said Chiellini l

QFs LINE-UP Thursday, June 30, At Marseille Poland v Portugal Friday, July 1, At Lille Wales v Belgium Saturday, July 2, At Bordeaux Germany v Italy Sunday, July 3, At Paris France v Iceland

Del Bosque: Spanish era goes on n AFP, Paris

Spain’s Gerard Pique (2R) reacts after missing a chance to score against Italy during their Euro 2016 Round of 16 match on Monday REUTERS

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque batted away questions about his future and denied it was the end of an era for his side they lost 2-0 to Italy on Monday and crashed out of Euro 2016.

“It has been and is a great era for Spanish football. We have Italy ahead of us for the World Cup qualifiers in Russia and we have to prepare for that,” Del Bosque said after Monday’s defeat at the Stade de France.

“I don’t think an era has ended.

Spanish football is very well structured - there are good academies, good players and good clubs.

“This shows us how difficult it is to win a major championship. Only one can win - the other 23 will be eliminated.”

Of his future he said: “There is no point going over and over this, I will speak with the president and decide the best thing for the national team. In the first half we were a bit timid and we didn’t play with the bravery or decisiveness we had in other games,” added the Spain coach.

“In the second half we played with a lot of risk, which meant we were caught on the counter-attack, but we tried until the end for the equaliser. We didn’t score and for sure Italy played better.”

Even though Italy were superior throughout the game Del Bosque insisted his team were always in it.

“I confess Spain were inferior our players tried until the end and we had the chances to equalise but I agree Italy were better, (but) to say it was a thrashing I feel is excessive,” he responded to suggestions it had been a one-sided contest.

“It cost us a lot to defend against them. We didn’t have a lot of penetration, we took a lot of risks, but always with good intentions and going to look for the goal.”

Spain could have avoided meeting the Italians so early on but a 2-1 loss to Croatia condemned them to second spot in Group D. l

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Hazard sits out Belgium training n Reuters, Bordeaux

QUICK BYTES Alves begins new chapter with Juventus

REUTERS

Eden Hazard missed training yesterday with an injury suffered in Belgium’s 4-0 Euro 2016 victory over Hungary on Sunday but should return for their quarterfinal against Wales.

Hazard scored and contributed an assist in an excellent individual performance when Belgium crushed Hungary in Toulouse but picked up a quadriceps injury in the first half.

“That’s why I took him off,” coach Marc Wilmots told journalists yesterday. “I think he’ll be back the day after tomorrow.

“He’s working with the physios and he should be 100 per cent on Thursday.”

Thomas Vermaelen, suspended for Friday’s quarter-final in Lille, also missed the team’s training in Le Haillan yesterday. l

formance against Hungary, when they came from behind three times to draw 3-3, seems to have been a turning point.

“I think we have played good games, like against Hungary, where we scored lots of goals and gave an attacking exhibition,” said Nani, whose 100 appearances make him the fourth-most capped player in Portugal’s history.

“But it’s clear that it can’t always be like that.”

If Portugal have to eschew attractive football to win, Nani says they will.

“Our aim is to go as far as possible and if we need to sacrifice

playing well in order to do get a result, we will do so,” the Fenerbahce winger said.

Unbeaten Poland, who defeated Switzerland on penalties on Saturday, will be a big hurdle to clear.

“There are no favourite teams in this tournament,” Nani said.

“We know that Poland is a strong side, with experienced players, and we will have to be at our best to go through.”

Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho joined training yesterday morning after missing Monday’s session, while Raphael Guerreiro and Andre Gomes did gym work for a second successive day. l

Brazil international Dani Alves on Monday signed a two-year deal with Juventus, the Italian Serie A champions announced. 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. “Dani Alves is bianconeri,” Juve declared in a statement, hailing their new signing’s “class, athletic qualities and international experience”. After leaving Sevilla for the Camp Nou in 2008, the Brazilian claimed six La Liga titles and three Champions League winners’ medals. Alves was part of the Brazil squad that was knocked out of the Copa America earlier this month.

–AFP

Liverpool complete Mane signing

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani during a training session yesterday

Striker Sadio Mane has joined Liverpool on a long-term contract from Southampton, the Premier League club said yesterday. The 24year old moved to Juergen Klopp’s side after two successful seasons at Southampton, netting 25 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions.

According to British media reports, the Senegalese forward has signed a five-year contract with Liverpool who paid 34 million pounds ($45 million) for his services.

–REUTERS

Sevilla confirm Sampaoli as Emery’s replacement Sevilla have appointed Jorge Sampaoli as their new manager after the Spanish side confirmed that the former Chile coach has agreed a two-year deal with the Europa League champions to replace Unai Emery. “Sevilla are counting on the best coach of America in 2015, who begins his first adventure in Europe,” Sevilla said in statement of the man who led his country to their first Copa America triumph last year.

–REUTERS

Williams fitness boost for Wales Captain Ashley Williams has given Wales a fitness boost ahead of their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium after his shoulder injury turned out to be less serious than feared. Williams was hurt in a collision with Jonny Williams during the closing stages of the last 16 win over Northern Ireland. He played on in clear discomfort, and refused to come off even when James Collins was stripped and ready to replace him. The 31-year-old left the Parc des Princes in a sling with an ice pack on the problem area.

–AFP

It’s all starting to click for Portugal, says Nani n Reuters, Marcoussis Portugal’s experienced winger Nani says team unity is a key asset for the national team ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2016 quarter-final against Poland.

The Portuguese have had their backs to the wall in the competition so far, with goals generally hard to come by, but the players have dug in and appear to be starting to come alive.

“We have shown camaraderie and that we are all rowing in the same direction,” Nani said at yesterday’s news conference. “I can certainly say that for me, this is the

best time in the national team for the group that we have.

“This has been one of the factors that has proved that we are much stronger than before and that we are in a good condition to go as far as possible.”

Portugal have gone from a team who squeezed into the last 16 after three consecutive draws in Group F to one that upset in-form Croatia, 1-0, in the last round.

Nani, who is playing in his third European Championship since making his senior international debut in 2006, has started every game in France, scoring twice.

Portugal’s battling, resilient per-

We have no trauma about Italy, Germany’s Loew says of nemesis n Reuters, Evian Germany’s dismal record against Italy in major tournaments is not a source of trauma for the world champions, who will face their international nemesis in the Euro 2016 last eight, coach Joachim Loew said yesterday.

The Germans, who are fourtime world champions and have also won three continental crowns, have always lost to Italy in World Cups and Euro knockout rounds, including in the 1970 World Cup last four, the 1982 World Cup final, a 2006 World Cup semi-final and a Euro 2012 semi-final.

The 2012 defeat was under Loew and was especially bitter, with the Germans, favourites at the time, exiting the competition following a

2-0 loss to the Italians.

“We have never beaten them in a tournament but we have no Italy trauma,” Loew said. “I do not rate the past too much.

“They are now a different team.

That’s all cold coffee. A fresh espresso is better and I hope it tastes better on Saturday,” he said, taking a sip from his own coffee.

Italy advanced to the last eight with a 2-0 victory over holders Spain on Monday.

Loew, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, said his players, who beat Italy 4-1 in a friendly in March, would be fully fit and rested when they faced the Italians in Bordeaux.

“We don’t fear them. We know what we can do and if we do it then we have a good chance to win it,”

said the coach.

Germany went through to the last eight with a comfortable 3-0 win over Slovakia but Loew said not too much should be read into that victory.

“I think emotions from the outside are running pretty high. We were almost written off after our 0-0 (group match) against Poland.

Then we win 3-0 and everything is great. Okay, we did it well ... but with all due respect for our opponents, I don’t think that this victory was the measure for winning the tournament.

“What we need now is humility and modesty. Let’s keep the bar low, the ball on the ground. I have a good feeling for the weekend but we need to improve. We have got to get better.” l

Motta banned for quarter-final, De Rossi a concern n AFP, Paris Italy are facing a serious selection headache in midfield ahead of their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Germany after Daniele De Rossi came off hurt in Monday’s win over Spain and Thiago Motta incurred a suspension.

Roma midfielder De Rossi came off early in the second half of the game at the Stade de France.

He was replaced by Thiago Motta, but the Paris Saint-Germain player was booked and will now serve a one-game suspension, ruling him out of the clash with the world champions in Bordeaux next weekend.

“Motta is suspended and that will penalise us because De Rossi has hurt his hip. We have already lost Candreva,” said Italy coach Antonio Conte. l

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Maradona urges Messi to shelve plans to quit Argentina n Reuters, Buenos Aires

Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after missing a free kick during extra time of the Copa America Centenario final against Chile on Sunday AP

World Cup winner Diego Maradona has called on compatriot Lionel Messi not to abandon international football after the Argentina captain announced he was quitting the national side following Sunday’s Copa America final defeat.

Maradona, captain of his country in the their second World Cup triumph in 1986, was among many leading personalities to speak out in support of Messi, who appeared badly affected by the penalty shootout loss to Chile in New Jersey.

The 29-year-old Messi, a multiple trophy winner with Barcelona, has now been part of four final defeats with the national team, three in the Copa America and at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Messi must carry on in the national team... because he still has a lot to give, because he’ll get to (2018 World Cup hosts) Russia with chances of being world champion,” Maradona was quoted as saying in the Argentine daily La Nacion on Monday.

“He has to lean more on the lads who can help him take the team

forward and less on those who say he should leave,” added Maradona, who played in two World Cup finals.

“Messi was abandoned and I don’t want to abandon him. That’s why I want to talk to him, to fight against all those who abandoned

Messi was abandoned and I don’t want to abandon him. That’s why I want to talk to him, to fight against all those who abandoned him him,” said Maradona, who coached Messi and Argentina at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

A dejected Messi, who had said he would swap his five world player of the year awards for one title with Argentina, told reporters after the match he was leaving the national team.

“In the dressing room I thought

that this is the end for me with the national team, it’s not for me,” he said.

“I tried so hard to be champion with Argentina. Now I am leaving without having managed it,” he said after the defeat at the tournament hosted in the United States to mark the centenary of South America’s flagship competition.

There was a strong show of support for Messi when the team returned to Buenos Aires, with fans displaying banners at the airport saying: “Without you we’re nothing, don’t go Messi” and “Stay Messi, you’re the best”.

A call went out on social media for a demonstration to be held on Saturday at the Obelisco monument in the centre of Buenos Aires, a traditional spot for celebrating sporting victories, to urge Messi to reconsider.

President Mauricio Macri, a former chairman of Boca Juniors who was pictured watching Sunday’s match wearing an Argentina shirt, joined in the show of support for Messi with a message on Twitter.

“I hope the joy of seeing the best in the world will continue for many more years,” he wrote. l

Suspect bowlers’ remedial Conte theatrics a boon for Italy, work from July 20 and Chelsea supporters n Mazhar Uddin

The bowling action review committee from July 20 will start remedial work of 10 among 11 bowlers who were reported for suspected bowling action during the recently concluded Dhaka Premier League.

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s media committee chairman Jalal Younus informed this after the first meeting of the four-member committee at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who was reported for suspect bowling action earlier this year in the 2016 World T20, will not be part of the remedial process as he has already started working with his action and will be monitored by the national team management instead.

“It was the first meeting of our committee and we discussed about quite a few issues [yesterday]. It’s a very complicated issue so we have to work on quite a few aspects.

Mainly we discussed about the policies [yesterday]. Still, we need to discuss about a few other issues and we will once again sit for a meeting after Eid. What we can do to correct the bowling action of the cricketers, how much time it will

take and for how long we will allow those bowlers to play are among the issues we have discussed.

“A total of 11 bowlers were suspected 18 times during the Dhaka league and we will work with 10 bowlers from July 20. We will work with three bowlers at a time from July 21, 22, 25 and 26 and after that, we will get to know the details,” said Jalal, who is also the head of the bowling action review committee.

He informed that they are planning to engage the 10 bowlers in question with the National Cricket Academy.

Jalal also said if the first stage of the process turns out to be successful, then the bowlers can play for the next 120 days. However, if the bowler is reported again then the committee will take further decisions.

Jalal went on to inform that the board will buy the bowling action review-related equipments and cameras before the start of the correction work.

The four-member bowling action review committee comprises Omar Khaled, who is a former spinner, along with former pace bowlers Dipu Roy Chowdhury and Golam Faruk. l

n AFP, Montpellier A “great” Italian feat toppled Spain at Euro 2016, but Antonio Conte’s touchline theatrics were just as dramatic for Italy and Chelsea fans during an emphatic 2-0 win over the defending champions.

Italy fans hailed a brilliant collective performance that avenged their 4-0 hammering to Spain in the 2012 final, Conte’s energetic, and sometimes hilarious touchline antics had Chelsea fans champing at the bit.

As Spain coach Vicente del Bosque sat on the bench patiently waiting for a reaction to Giorgio Chiellini’s 33rd-minute opener, Conte was constantly on his feet, screaming at players and officials and gesticulating wildly at almost every kick of the ball.

When a Uefa official was slow to respond to Conte’s request to help him make a substitution in the second half, the Italian unashamedly screamed at him: “Faster! Faster!”

Conte’s emotions ran over in hilarious fashion in the 75th minute when an angry reaction saw him take a dramatic swipe at the ball

and kicking it into touch.

And when Graziano Pelle hit Italy’s second goal to seal their win at the death, Conte’s epic celebration saw him sprint to jump on to the roof of the dugout to salute fans.

It is no wonder, after Chelsea finished the Premier League season in 10th place to miss out on Europe, Blues fans can’t wait for his arrival.

“Don’t think I’ve been this ex-

cited to see a manager at Chelsea in a long time!!!” said Twitter user TweetChelseaFC. Another is already looking forward to a potentially combustible Premier League rivalry between Conte and newly-appointed Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

“Oh Dear, #Conte v #Mourinho will be good for the eyes. Touchline drama!!!” said @julietbawuah. l

Italy’s Antonio Conte reacts during the match against Spain on Monday

REUTERS

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PSG name Unai Emery as new coach n AFP, Paris Paris Saint-Germain yesterday named Spaniard Unai Emery as their new coach on a two-year contract.

Emery, 44, takes over from Laurent Blanc, who left his role with the Qatari-backed French giants on Monday, and his contract includes an option for an additional season.

Emery had terminated his contract with Sevilla earlier this month, having guided the Spanish side to three successive Europa League titles.

“It is with great pride that I agreed to become the Paris Saint-Germain coach,” said Emery.

“The club has become one of the biggest in Europe over the past few seasons and I am both happy and honoured to be able to help realise its great ambitions. I am eager to meet up with my new players as well as the people who work tirelessly every day to help the club grow.

“I know that an immense fervour exists around the Paris Saint-Germain and I will be giving my best to ensure its millions of fans have a great deal to cheer about.” l

US player Serena Williams returns against Switzerland’s Amra Sadikovic during their women’s singles first round match on the second day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London yesterday AFP

Serena racks up 80th Wimbledon win n AFP, London

DAY’S WATCH CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1 5:58 PM Sri Lanka Tour of England 4th ODI

TENNIS STAR SPORTS 4 6:00 PM Wimbledon Championships 2016

World number one and defending champion Serena Williams racked up her 80th Wimbledon victory yesterday as she began her bid for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.

The 34-year-old six-time champion battled to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic, ranked at 148 in the world. She will face fellow American Christina McHale for a place in the last 32.

“My mom was up there in the Royal Box, so that was nice,” said the American star after giving mother Oracene Price an afternoon to remember on Centre Court.

Williams claimed victory over Sadikovic on a second match point courtesy of a successful Hawk-Eye challenge.

“I never underestimate any opponent. I always expect the best of myself,” added Williams, who won 12 straight points at the start of the match to open a 3-0 lead.

However, not everyone gave her the royal seal of approval.

“It was one of the worst serving efforts I’ve seen from Serena.

This is what is giving other players hope,” said US legend John McEnroe, commentating for the BBC. Top seed Williams won her 21st major at the All England Club 12 months ago by beating Garbine Muguruza.

But her hopes of going level

with Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 has stalled since that day.

She went down to a US Open semi-final loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci followed by defeat in the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber and then to Muguruza in the French Open final earlier this month.

Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka defeated American teenager Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 to set-up a second round blockbuster against Juan Martin del Potro.

Injury-plagued del Potro, a former US Open champion, is playing in his first Grand Slam event since the 2014 Australian Open after undergoing three wrist surgeries.

Del Potro made the second round by beating France’s Stephane Robert 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.

The Argentina star is ranked at 165 but made the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2013, while Wawrinka has twice been a quarter-finalist.

Nick Kyrgios, the Australian 15th seed, beat Czech wildcard Radek Stepanek, the oldest man in the draw at 37, in four sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9/11), 6-1. He next faces German wildcard Dustin Brown who got past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Both Kyrgios and Brown have been headline makers in the past at Wimbledon after beating Rafael Nadal in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Kyrgios had a mid-match fallout with chair umpire Mohamed Lahy-

ani and even told his own entourage to get out of the court.

The match took place on the same Court Two where last year the 21-year-old was accused of “tanking” a game against Richard Gasquet.

“The crowd likes the way I play here, I entertain. I’m comfortable here and they know the tennis I bring every day,” said Kyrgios, who was warned for bad language by Lahyani.

Second up on Centre Court is Andy Murray, the world number two and 2013 champion who tackles compatriot Liam Broady.

Murray has lost the Australian and French Open finals to Novak Djokovic this year and has since rehired Ivan Lendl as coach.

The two worked together when the British world number two won Wimbledon in 2013 and the US Open the year before.

They celebrated their renewed partnership with Murray claiming a record fifth Queen’s Club title on the eve of Wimbledon.

Broady, 22, is ranked 234 in the world. He has won just one match on the main tour in his career and that was at last year’s Wimbledon.

Later yesterday, two-time champion Petra Kvitova, the 10th seeded Czech, faced injury-plagued Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Australia’s Bernard Tomic, the 19th seed, played experienced Fernando Verdasco of Spain.l

Stepanek might coach me one day, Kyrgios says n Reuters, London Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios outmanoeuvred Radek Stepanek in four sets yesterday, saying he could imagine a professional partnership developing with his opponent once the gritty Czech veteran finally hangs up his racket.

Kyrgios, currently without a coach and to whom Stepanek has already passed on playing tips, kept both his power game and his notorious temper in check in their first-round clash.

He controlled much of the match as he moved Stepanek around with three quarter-pace groundstrokes fired deep into the corners.

But after faltering in a marathon third set tiebreak in which the Czech saved two match points, the Australian admitted he was relieved to come through in four.

“That’s a nightmare first round for anyone at Wimbledon. No one wants to play Radek here,” he told reporters after his 6-4 6-3 6-7(9) 6-1 win.

At 37, wildcard Stepanek was bidding to become the oldest man to win a grand slam singles match since Jimmy Connors reached the second round of the U.S. Open in 1992.

Tiring the quicker of the two, Stepanek failed to repeat his firstround heroics of the French Open.l

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CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Marsh (6) 6 Faucet (3) 9 Proverb (5) 10 Habitual abode (4) 11 Make merry (5) 12 Monkey (3) 13 Guide (6) 15 Tip (4) 18 Golf mounds (4) 21 Container (6) 24 Kimono sash (3) 25 Nimble (5) 28 Gaunt (4) 29 Glossy fabric (5) 30 Attempt (3) 31 One granted a lease (6)

DOWN 1 Month (5) 2 Lyric poem (3) 3 Bird (5) 4 Mature (3) 5 Vend (4) 6 Ugly amphibian (4) 7 Electrical unit (6) 8 Look narrowly (4) 14 Liable (3) 16 Curve of equal pressure (6) 17 Make lace (3) 19 Sends out (5) 20 View (5) 21 Fastener (4) 22 Wee (4) 23 Comfort (4) 26 Fuel (3) 27 Falsehood (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 12 represents U so fill U every time the figure 12 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it 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

Aurthohin’s new album released

Tussharw becomes a father

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Showtime

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

Led Zeppelin wins copyright case over Stairway to Heaven

n Showtime Desk

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Showtime Desk

Earlier, the Aurthohin frontman and lead vocal “Bassbaba” Sumon hinted June 30 to be the possible release date for the band’s latest album. Apparently, the band thought that they have already tested enough of their fans’ patience and therefore, their latest album titled Cancer er Nishikabbo was released a couple of days earlier than scheduled, on June 27 though a music streaming service, Robi Yonder Music.

CDs of the album will also be released shortly.

Cancer er Nishikabbo is the band’s latest album in five years.

A total of eight tracks have been included in the album that consists a new version of the band’s hit number “Chaitei paro.” Apart from the title track “Cancer-er Nishikabbo,” other tracks includes “Bichoron,” “Nil paharer gaye,” “Bhalobaste jani na,” “Guti 5,” “Nikriishto-3” and “Notun odvut sei cheleti.”

Aurthohin fans will have a lot more to look out for in the coming days since the band has confirmed the release of eight music videos this year. Besides, Bassbaba Sumon’s solo bass instrumental “Soul Food” is also scheduled to come out in September this year. l

Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor has brought home his first son, Laksshya. The new born is the first grandchild of the Kapoor khandaan.

The baby is now home and in good health. Tusshar said that he is thrilled to be a father and that the paternal instincts in him have been overpowering his heart and mind for some time now.

He is excited beyond words to have Laksshya in his life, who is surely the greatest source of joy to him right now. l

n Showtime Desk Led Zeppelin did not steal a riff from an obscure 1960s instrumental for the introduction of its classic rock anthem “Stairway to Heaven,” a federal jury decided on Thursday, legally settling a debate that has divided music fans for decades.

But before reaching a verdict that could have may well rewritten the history of rock, they only wanted to hear strippeddown passages of the two songs in question.

Within 15 minutes of seeing video clips of an acoustic guitarist playing the opening to Stairway to Heaven and a similar passage from Taurus, written by the late Randy Wolfe, the Los

Angeles federal jurors handed Led Zeppelin a major legal victory.

Jimmy Page, 72, and singer Robert Plant, 67, both wearing suits and with their long hair pulled back in ponytails, hugged their lawyers. They said in a statement that they were grateful for “putting to rest questions about the origins of Stairway to Heaven and confirming what we have known for 45 years.”

Earlier, the trust of the late Randy Craig Wolfe claimed that Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page lifted a passage that Wolfe, better known as Randy California, wrote for Taurus, a short work he recorded with his band Spirit in 1968. l

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Back Page

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016

TAX AT SOURCE FOR RMG PAGE 12 MAKERS AT 0.8%

THANK YOU ICELAND PAGE 24

AURTHOHIN’S NEW ALBUM RELEASED PAGE 31

Bashabo monastery priest gets death threat n Arifur Rahman Rabbi The high priest of Bashabo’s Dharmarajik Buddhist Monastery, which is known for its generous gesture of serving iftar to Muslims during Ramadan, has received a death threat by mail.

The letter was signed by a person who identified himself as AB Siddique from Kishoreganj. Although the letter mentioned no affiliation with any militant outfit, a similar threat from the so-called Islamic State of Bangladesh to Dhaka city’s Ramkrishna Mission earlier this month was also signed by a person named AB Siddique.

Addressing the high priest, the letter read: “You will be brutally hacked or shot to death. The golden statues of Gautama Buddha will not be able to save you.”

The sender also mentioned that the high priest would be killed within one month unless he stopped preaching Buddhism.

Terming the Buddhist religion an enemy of Islam, the sender added: “I become a true Muslim by killing Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.”

The monastery authorities filed a general diary with Sabujbagh police station yesterday, OC (investigation) Mostafizur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. Law enforcers have beefed up security surrounding the monastery.

The high priest, Shuddhananda Mahathero, is currently out of the country.

Buddhapriya Mahathero, assistant high priest of the monastery, said a person who regularly deliv-

ers official mails brought the letter in the afternoon. It was addressed to “High priest, Mayakanon Bouddha Bihar, Bashabo.”

The sender’s address was mentioned as “Kishoreganj, Gazipur, Dhanmondi.” There was also a phone number included.

When the Dhaka Tribune called the phone number, a garment worker named Nazrul picked up.

“I do not know what happened.

My mobile phone is in my hand.

How could this be? I have no involvement in this,” said Nazrul, who said he works in a factory in Mirpur.

DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sabujbagh zone, Mohsina Begum, also told the Dhaka Tribune that they suspect the phone number mentioned in the letter was fake.

She added that additional security measures like CCTV surveillance, Ansar guards and police patrol were already in place around the monastery.

Mohsina said they suspected that this AB Siddique might be the same person who sent Ramakrishna Mission the threat earlier this month.

Since September last year, at least nine members from Hindu- Buddhist-Christian communities have been killed by militants, while many more have received death threats.

Several temples, including Dinajpur’s Isckon and Kantaji temples, have also been targets of bomb attacks.

Since 2010, the Dharmarajik monastery has been serving iftar to local Muslims during Ramadan in a unique example of religious harmony. l

Police beef up security at Bashabo’s Dharmarajik Buddhist Monastery after its high priest received a death threat by mail yesterday. The monastery is known for its generous gesture of serving Iftar to poor Muslims during Ramadan, which the priests continued to do yesterday afternoon MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Govt to War crimes trial against six to start on August 2 establish Ilish n Ashif Islam Shaon research facility n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The government has planned to set up an Ilish research facility Chandpur’s River centre, said Fisheries & Livestock Minister yesterday.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Haque at the parliament said the country’s Ilish production has gradually been on the rise and has reached 3.87 lakh metric tones recently.

“To ensure the expected level of Illish production, the government made the decision as part of our continuous research moves,” he said. l

The trial of six alleged war criminals including a former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker will start on August 2 for charges of crimes against humanity in 1971.

The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday framed three charges against them for their alleged involvement in war crimes.

The indicted are-former Jamaat lawmaker and ‘commander’ of local Razakar Bahini Abu Saleh Md Abdul Aziz Mia, 65, his cohorts--Ruhul Amin alias Manju, 61, Abdul Latif, 61, Abu Muslim Md Ali, 59, Najmul Huda, 60, and Abdur Rahim Mia, 62, all hailing from Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha.

A panel of three judges led by Justice Anwarul Haque will hear the opening statements of the prosecution and the depositions

The indicted includes former Jamaat lawmaker and ‘commander’ of local Razakar Bahini Abu Saleh Md Abdul Aziz given by witnesses on the first day of trail proceedings.

All of them had been on the run since the investigation was start-

ed against them on October 26 in 2014.

Aziz, known as Ghoramara Aziz is a central committee member of Jamaat and former lawmaker of Sundarganj constituency during the BNP-led alliance of 2001-2006 tenure.

According to investigators, the incidents of crimes against humanity took place between October 9 to 13, 1971 in Sundarganj and Gaibandha sadar.

The first charge was framed for killing one Gonesh Chandra Barman and torturing 3 unarmed persons.

On October 9, 1971, Aziz along with Pakistani soldiers and razakars caught Gonesh Chandra

Barman and the three others from Moujamali village under Gaibandha Sadar Upazila.

Barman was thrown into a body of water with his arms and legs tied. They are also accused of then looting their homes.

In the second charge, the accused persons shot dead Chhatra League leader Md Boys Uddin. He was tortured for three days before the was killed and buried.

The third charge was framed against them along with the Pakistani Army who caught 13 pro-liberation union council chairmen and members between October 10 to October 13, 1971 and killed and dumped their bodies them near a river. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com