18 July, 2016

SECOND EDITION

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

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Shraban 3, 1423, Shawwal 12, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 82

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

PM: Gulshan attack a blemish on Bangladesh’s honour n Tribune Desk

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the Gulshan terrorist attack has marred Bangladesh's prestigious position in the global stage as a nation taking a strong position against militancy and terrorism and gearing up its development.

“We have been marching towards development and have taken the country to an esteemed position despite many adversities.

But the Gulshan incident has put a break to that,” Hasina told reporters yesterday at a press conference in Ganabhaban.

“Before this, when I was in the Asem summit in Milan I proudly spoke of our accomplishments. But now Bangladesh is experiencing the same problem the rest of the world is,” she said.

But Bangladesh was still a role model for the developing world and her government had succeeded in reaching its aim of reducing poverty, the prime minister said at the press conference telecast live

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina answers a question by a reporter at a press conference on her three-day Mongolia visit for 11th Asia-Europe Meeting. The press event took place yesterday at Ganabhaban PMO by several television stations.

She also said a national unity against terrorism and militancy already exists in Bangladesh.

Hasina said world leaders at the

Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) had congratulated her government on the strong stance after the Dhaka terror attack.

She lamented that though there

Kamal: We had intel about Gulshan attack n Kamrul Hasan

was a perception that mainly madrasa students and children from poor families get involved in militancy, now children from well-off families were indulging in terrorism, even though they were wanting for nothing.

She further said Bangladesh’s stance was always against terrorism and militancy, so the people of the country will always need to be aware of the militant threat.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon all to stand against the threats of killing across the country.

Criticising militants' plea to save Islam, Hasina said: “Islam is a religion for peace and could not support innocent people. So Heaven is impossible by killing people.”

Sheikh Hasina said the world leaders at the Asem had discussed reaching a consensus on exchanging intelligence reports on militancy among states.

“Militancy is not a crisis in Bangladesh only, it is a serious threat for the whole world. The world

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal claimed yesterday that the police and his ministry had prior information on a possible attack in Gulshan.

The minister shared this information while delivering a speech at Krishibid auditorium yesterday where he said that the government had intelligence that “something might happen in Gulshan” and “all kinds of preparations for it” had been made.

Kamal claimed that as soon as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner received information of firing at Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, the police reached the vicinity within three minutes due to their “preparation.”

He also highlighted that the public are aware of the 13-minute operation, where the army took control of the situation.

He lauded the role law enforcers played in the Gulshan attack and also mentioned July 7, where police foiled the attack attempt of terrorists in Sholakia, sacrificing the

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Sholakia attacker gave info on Bashundhara flat n Mohammad Jamil Khan Detectives say they raided the flat owned by North South University acting pro-VC Dr Gias Uddin Ahsan in Bashundhara residential area based on information given by a youth detained for his involvement in Sholakia attack on July 7.

Some of the five youths who took part in the terror attack on a Gulshan eatery on July 1 used to stay in the 1730sq-ft flat with a family.

The flat was rented by a middle-aged man in May this year. He was supposed to stay there with his wife and two sons, aged eight and ten. But his wife was never seen at

the flat which the man had abandoned along with his sons just two days before Eid. Dr Gias was arrested on Saturday for not collecting information about the tenants, police claimed, adding that they had arrested his nephew Alam Chowdhury and building manager Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin the same day.

However, family members of the arrestees claimed that the law enforcers had detained Mahbub on Tuesday morning and Alam on Wednesday night. Later, police called Gias on his mobile phone on Thursday and asked him to go to  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

INSIDE ‘Private universities ignoring instructions’

Verdict in 8 Jamalpur alBadr men’s case today

Some private universities were ignoring instructions from the University Grants Commission and ignoring many rules on running the institutions, the UGC chief said.  PAGE 3

A special tribunal is set to deliver its judgement in the war crimes case against eight al-Badr operatives for crimes against humanity in Jamalpur during the Liberation War.  PAGE 5

Police officials speak with the other residents of building no 441/8 in West Shewrapara, Dhaka, where attackers of Holey Artisan Bakery moved in months before the attack. Police arrested the building owner, Nurul Islam, for not collecting the required personal information from the tenants and submit them to police, as per a DMP directive issued earlier this year MEHEDI HASAN

Another den of Gulshan attack gang busted Rahman Rabbi and n Arifur Kamrul Hasan Detectives have arrested a landlord from west Shewrapara in Dhaka on charge of not preserving necessary documents of the tenants, some of who are believed to be accomplices

of the Holey Artisan Bakery attackers.

The landlord, Md Nurul Islam, was arrested from his house by plainclothes police early yesterday.

He is a former headmaster of Mirpur Adrosho School.

DMP Deputy Commissioner

(media) Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that Nurul had not collected any documents from his tenants as per the DMP order.

A hand-made grenade, black dress and other materials were recovered from a flat on the ground  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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3 officers shot dead in Louisiana n Reuters, Baton Rouge Three police officers were shot to death and several others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, the city’s mayor said, as the country remained on edge in the wake of police shootings of black men and the killings of five Dallas officers.

The officers in Baton Rouge were responding to a call of shots fired when they were ambushed by at least one gunman, Mayor Kip Holden told NBC News. A gunman was shot but his condition was not clear, a Louisiana State Police offi-

cial told NBC. A spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff ’s Office said police and sheriff ’s deputies were involved in the shooting incident.

“Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals,” he said in an email. He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries.

While the scene of the shootings was contained, police warned residents to stay away from the area, near Airline Highway, which is a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where

dozens of protesters were arrested earlier this month..

Two nearby hospitals were on lockdown, CBS reported. Efforts to confirm the report were not immediately successful.

The reports come a week after a wave of protests against police violence in Baton Rouge and other cities after a 37-year-old African-American father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. At one of the demonstrations in Dallas, a gunman opened fire on white officers assigned to the protest, killing five of them. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Kamal: We had intel about Gulshan attack lives of two members of the force.

He praised civilians for their attitude towards condemning the actions of terrorists and aiding law enforcers to arrest militants in Madaripur and Sholakia.

“Even family members of the dead terrorists were so ashamed that they did not receive their bodies,” he said.

He said that the government is aware of who were behind these heinous attacks and he urged those who were planning to be involved in militancy to return from following their delusional paths.

He said that the terrorists have killed bloggers, Hindu priests, Christian priests and that the Gulshan cafe attack was a new dimension to their activities.

He said that law enforcers will explore how the terrorists

motivated young people and would investigate if drug abuse was involved.

While law enforcers have managed to stop madrasa, especially Qawmi madrasa, students from being involved in terrorist activities, the students of English-medium schools and private universities were already lured into this trap, the home boss said.

The minister expected to receive recommendations from educationists and intellectuals attending the programme, to identify how misled youths can be rehabilitated back to normal lives.

Additional Commissioner Monirum Islam, during his key speech, proposed that students should be involved in extracurricular activities.

He proposed an anti-terrorism

committee to be formed in every educational institution, whose task would be to identify vulnerable groups and provide appropriate counseling.

He urged universities to conduct research to identify why youths were being misled and how they can be rehabilitated.

Rapid Action Battalion Director General Benazir Ahmed said that at present, the law enforcers were witnessing that students from affluent families are getting involved in terrorism. He questioned whether teachers were creating a “lost generation.”

The RAB chief said that his agency is ready to provide any assistance university authorities want from them in countering students from being involved in militant activities. l

Sholakia attacker gave info on Bashundhara flat Bashundhara, and then took him to the DB office.

Each of the three were placed on eight-day remand yesterday.

A source close to the investigation said that they had learnt about the den based on information provided by Abu Muktadil alias Shariful alias Shafiul Islam Sohan. He was detained for his involvement in the terror attack at Sholakia in Kishoreganj on Eid day that left three people including two police members killed.

Hailing from Dinajpur, Sohan is the son of Hyi Prodhan, a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader facing charges of carrying out sabotage during the 10th parliamentary election.

They did not see any suspicious activities of the tenants during the last one and a half months Police claimed that both the attacks were carried out by the members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB. However, international terrorist outfit Islamic State claimed five of their members launched the Gulshan attack that killed 22 people including 17 foreigners and two police officers on July 1. They all were killed in a commando operation the next morning.

Officials close to the Gulshan attack probe said that the terrorists

PM: Gulshan attack a blemish on Bangladesh’s honour leaders have expressed deep concern about the recent militant attacks in different countries.

“During the summit, we had a consensus on getting united to tackle terrorism. We have discussed on how to exchange intelligence reports among states,” she said.

The prime minister said she had

also sought cooperation from the world leaders on how to identify criminals who had been inspiring and financing militancy and inquiring why innocent children from rich families were getting involved in criminal activities.

floor of the building owned by Nurul Islam, the official added.

Residents of the building said that four youths used to stay in the flat who had identified themselves as students of Mirpur Bangla College.

Police, however, did not disclose details of the raid or the identities of the suspects.

Meanwhile, Nurul, and three others – North South University’s acting pro-VC Dr Gias Uddin Ahsan, his nephew Alam Chowdhury and manager of Gias’ building Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin – arrested from Bashundhara residential area

on Saturday were placed on eightday remand yesterday.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tasruzzaman gave the order in reply to a 10-day remand plea sought for each by the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) unit.

CTTC unit Investigation Officer Md Humayun Kabir produced them before the court after showing them arrested under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Police said all the five attackers were killed in a commando operation carried out at the Spanish restaurant on the morning of July

National unity already exists

Replying to another query from

used the Bashundhara flat as a den to gather tools and discuss their plans. A carton full of sand found in the flat was supposedly used to store the grenades and bombs, they said.

Some black clothes, generally used by the IS members, were also found in the flat – located on the sixth floor of the seven-storey building.

The detectives early yesterday discovered another den of the same gang at west Shewrapara in Dhaka.

They said some accomplices of the Gulshan attackers had been staying in the flat since May and left the place just after the Eid. Meanwhile, security guards and tenants of the Bashundhara building claimed that they had never seen any suspicious activities of the tenants during last one and a half months. There is no CCTV camera installed in the building.

A security guard named Manzurul yesterday said that although the flat is owned by the NSU professor’s wife, their nephew Alam used to look after the flat. A family of four members rented the four-bed flat in May for Tk22,000 as monthly rent. They also gave an advance Tk40,000.

When contacted, several other tenants could not give any details about the youths, and insisted that they were surprised to learn that the flat had been used as a shelter by some terrorists.

Investigators said that several other groups of militants also rented flats in some other parts of the city including Uttara and Jatrabari where they get training. l

a journalist, Hasina said: “National unity against terrorism and militancy has already been formed.”

Hinting at BNP’s call for national unity, Hasina said: “I heard that some political parties have called for national unity to stop the threat of terror.”

She said she believed those who

needed to unite to resist terrorism had already become united.

“And this unity will stay strong.

Those who are involved with terrorism, crime, burning people on the streets and war criminals are a different issue,” she added.

Reply to a query about introducing student politics in private uni-

versities, the prime minister pointed out that student politics had never been banned anywhere but “the universities will decide what is best for them.”

Sheikh Hasina returned home on Saturday evening after a threeday visit to Mongolia to attend the 11th Asem summit in Ulaanbaatar on July 15-16. l

2, but they had some accomplices outside. Investigators dealing with the sensational case also suspect that the Gulshan attackers had link to those who conducted the attack at Sholakia in Kishoreganj on July 7. A total of 25 people were killed in the attacks.

one of the four youths, aged between 18 and 22, after the Eid day.

They did not talk to anyone.

He also claimed that a team of plainclothes police had raided the flat around 4am Thursday. At that time, they brought two persons wearing helmets and bulletproof jackets with them. The law enforcers entered the flat breaking open the lock and found panjabi and jaynamaj.

During yesterday’s raid, the police found a grenade and black clothes, usually used by Islamic State members, and arrested the house owner.

Israfil, another tenant of the

ground floor, said that they had seen three of the tenants three days before Eid. The youths rented the flat in May. The flat remained locked most of the time from outside, he said, though sometimes he had heard noise coming from inside. When he complained the matter to the landlord, Nurul replied that they were students and might be studying.

They were young and polite, Israfil said.

Another tenant who enquired about the identity of the youths was told that they were students of Mirpur Bangla College. l

Another den of Gulshan attack gang busted

Grenade found in second raid

A Dhaka Tribune reporter visited the five-storey building situated in a narrow lane of Shewrapara. Four suspected terrorists used to stay in a flat on the ground floor.

Sajib Hossain, a tenant of the adjacent flat, said that they had seen

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Private universities ignoring instructions Hasan and n Kamrul Shadma Malik Some private universities were not following instructions from the University Grants Commission and ignoring many rules on how they should run the institutions, the UGC chief has claimed.

Professor Abdul Mannan said many of these private universities often admitted more students than they were permitted, and secured stay orders from courts whenever any action was taken against them.

Addressing a programme at Dhaka’s Krishibid Institution yesterday, UGC Chairman Mannan said these universities did not hold regular syndicate meetings; and even when they did have such meetings, the members were informed only on the day before the meeting instead of getting any written notification beforehand.

Also speaking there, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said they had issued some directives to a private university after a probe body found militant links with the university. However since then, that university had not provided any information on what steps they had taken to address this issue, the minister added.

A team that was sent to the university were told by authorities there that more time was needed to implement different steps.

Recently, a UGC team led by UGC member Prof Dr Dil Afroza Begum visited North South University to see whether the university was taking any steps to prevent terrorism. Both the executive body and UGC have suggested further surveillance of students.

‘Why is NSU singled out?’

Students of North South University have voiced anger at being scruti-

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid speaks at a discussion with the top brass of private universities on public safety and law and order at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE nised by the media over the university’s link to militants.

Seeking anonymity, an NSU student told the Dhaka Tribune that their university was being unjustly singled out when many identified militants were former students of other private universities.

However, Chhatra League President Saifur Rahman Sohag claimed that terrorist activities were spreading at private universities as there was no student politics.

The private universities often

claim there was no student politics in the campuses, but the politics that takes place there secretly was causing terrorism and militancy, he said.

Sohag also claimed that NSU has a student organisation named Liberal Youth Generation, also known as LY-Z, which was an organisation of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

But an NSU student, who also requested not to be named, pointed out that those who allege that NSU has a club linked to Hizb utTahrir were forgetting that the

banned youth-based militant outfit was originally founded in Dhaka University’s IBA. Meanwhile, UGC chief Prof Mannan said there was no reason to single out private universities as the only source of militants. “We received a list of thirty three students’ names [who are suspected militants] from both public and private universities.”

Also addressing the programme at Krishibid Institution, NSU Vice-Chancellor Atiqul Islam said:

“We must own the problem and work with everyone to solve the problem. The university will be working in accordance with the government’s directives.

“A teacher will be assigned for every 30 students to keep them under monitoring. We would also work on finding out the vulnerable students so that they can be provided proper counselling,” he added.

Every inch of North South University has been brought under CCTV surveillance, the VC said. l

Ansarullah men in Ctg TAVELLA MURDER CASE Court accepts charges against 7 remanded again Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong A court in Chittagong has given the police three more days to interrogate four members of the banned Islamist outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team in an illegal weapons case.

Judicial Magistrate Hossen Mohammed Reza granted the remand after they were produced in the court yesterday on completion of their five-day remand in another case filed under Anti-terrorism Act with Sitakunda police station, said Chittagong Court Inspector (prosecution) AHM Mosiur Rahman.

The accused are - Musayeb Ibn

Omayer, 25, Faisal Hossen alias Shipon, 25, Khorshedul Alam, 31 and Rasel Md Islam, 41.

Another Ansarullah member Ariful Mostafa was also put on a twoday remand in a case filed under Anti-terrorism Act with the same station by the same court.

Earlier Mostafa was also placed on four-day remand in the case filed in connection with Arms Act on Saturday, said court sources.

Police say they have foiled a plot by Ansarullah to launch a big attack in Sitakunda upazila by arresting these four men including a financial manager of the terrorist group. l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court has accepted a charge sheet against seven men including BNP leader MA Quayum in a case filed over the murder of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sabbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury took the charges into cognisance against the seven accused yesterday.

Tavella’s murder is the first crime claimed by the so-called Islamic State in Bangladesh.

The court also issued an arrest warrant against Quayum, a joint convener of BNP’s Dhaka city unit, and Sohel alias “Bhangari” Sohel.

The court directed the officer-

in-charge of Gulshan Police Station to submit a report on the arrest of Quayum and Sohel by July 28.

The other five accused are Quayum’s brother Abdul Matin, Tamjid Ahmed Rubel, Russell Chowdhury, Minhajul Arefin, also known as Bhagne Russell, and Shakhawat Hossain Sharif. They are now in jail.

DB Inspector Golam Rabbani, who is the investigation officer of the case, submitted this charge sheet on June 28 to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Cesare Tavella, an aid worker and veterinary surgeon, was shot dead at Road 90, Gulshan 2 on September 28 last year. After the

murder, Islamic State claimed responsibility, but the government has downplayed the claim.

The police charge sheet said BNP leader 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 he hired three killers to kill a “white man” and Tavella became their prey, investigators mentioned.

The charges also said although Matin admitted his involvement during interrogation, he had refused to confess before a court. l

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Scope for higher edu in Germany n Tribune Desk EURASIA Institute for International Education, Berlin and SS Business Corporation introduced a Germany based ELLE programme as its German Resource Centre in Bangladesh at a press conference on Saturday at Fars hotel in Dhaka.

SSBCL is offering programs on basic Ger-

man language education for schools and university to ensure opportunities for Bangladeshi students in Germany.

The programme aims to bring German language teacher to the centre from Germany to teach courses in the language.

The centre will arrange for admission at any German university after the completion of 3 Levels of the German Language Course. l

No gas reserve found at Rashidpur well n Aminur Rahman Rasel State-run Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFL) announced its decision to abandon exploratory Well 10 of Rashidpur Gas Field as no reserves were found there after a threemonth search.

On July 1 last year, the government awarded Russian energy giant Gazprom contract to drill five wells.

Rashidpur 10 is one of them.

“We have drilled some 2,900 metres [into the well]

and the analysis of the data found showed no sign of gas.

So, we decided to abandon it,” SGFL Managing Director Nizam Shariful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“I think the drilling location was faulty. A 3D seismic survey in Rashidpur had hinted at possible gas reserves,” he said.

This well was expected to supply 30 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Gazprom’s drilling of each well would cost around

Tk150 crore, whereas Bapex could do the same job for Tk70-80 crore per well.

The five gas wells under the contract – Bakhrabad 10, Rashidpur 9, 10 and 12, Srikail 4 – are owned by three different state-owned companies.

Earlier, Bapex dug three explorations well in Comilla’s Srikail separately in 2004, Sunetra structure in Sunamganj-Netrakona in 2012, Kapasia in Gazipur in 2011 but could not find any gas reserves at the sites. l

Three accused on 3-day remand for Mitu murder Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong A court in Chittagong yesterday placed Ehteshamul Haque Bhola 41, Saiful Islam Saku, 45 and Shahjahan Mia, 28, on three-day remand in connection with the killing of Mahmuda Khanam Mitu.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Nirmalendu Bikash Chawakrabarty told the Dhaka Tribune: “The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Harun-ur-Rashid passed the three-day remand order against the trio after the remand hearing.”

Investigators accuse Bhola of allegedly supplying the firearms used to kill Mitu.

Saku is believed to have

provided the stolen motorbike used during the killing by the assailants.

Police recovered the abandoned motorbike on June 6 from Badurtala, Chittagong.

Saku is the brother of police informant Kamrul Islam Musa the primary suspect in the case, he is accused of plotting the murder and hiring the killers, police sources said.

Police recovered the firearms believed to have been used in the murder from Monir on June 28 who is Bhola’s aide.

Investigators said a group of seven to eight murderers were involved in the killing of Mitu, police have so far arrested six in connection to the case.

Of the arrested men, Mot-

aleb Mia Wasim and Anwar, made their confessional statements before the court under section 164 saying that Musa had hired them and that he plotted the killing.

Based on that statement detectives arrested Shahjahan and Saku from Rangunia upazila on July 1.

Two of the assailants Rashed and Nabi, who had stabbed Mitu, were killed in a gunfight with the police during a raid at Rangunia upazila, Chittagong on June 4.

Investigators say that Musa and Kalu are still on the run.

Mahmuda khanam Mitu the wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Akter was brutally stabbed and fatally shot on June 5 at GEC area, Chittagong. l

Taginavulau new CIRDAP DG n Tribune Desk

Tevita G Boseiwaqa Taginavulau will lead the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) for the next four years as its director general.

He joined CIRDAP on July 6, a media statement said yesterday.

Taginavulau has worked at various Ministries within Fiji’s Public Service in the last three decades and served in different ministries as director, deputy secretary and finally as a permanent secretary. He began his career as a secondary school teacher, according to his profile on

Tevita G Boseiwaqa Taginavulau CIRDAP website.

He has also been the chairperson and member of various government boards and

committees.

CIRDAP is a regional, intergovernmental and autonomous institution based in Dhaka and working for prosperous rural communities. It was established in 1979 at the initiative of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with support from other UN organisations and donor countries and agencies.

Its members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh (host state), Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. l

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Verdict in 8 Jamalpur al-Badr men’s case today n Ashif Islam Shaon A special tribunal is set to deliver its judgement in the war crimes case filed against eight al-Badr operatives for committing crimes against humanity in Jamalpur during the 1971 Liberation War. The three-member International Crimes Tribunal headed by Justice Anwarul Haq fixed the date yesterday. Closing arguments in the case were completed on June 19.

The prosecution presented 25 witnesses before the tribunal during the trial. No one testified in favour of the accused.

Five charges were framed against the accused – all leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami – on October 26

Muhammad Kamaruzzaman raised the group with the members of Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir).

Ashraf was a top organiser of al-Badr in Jamalpur and Sherpur districts.

Shamsul, a lawyer and former ameer of Jamalpur district unit Jamaat, and Yusuf fought for the provincial assembly and the national assembly membership from Jamalpur in the 1970 election but did not win. After the war broke out, they patronised al-Badr in Jamalpur. Yusuf finally became a national assembly member through the by-election held in 1971.

Ashraf’s cohorts Sharif, Harun,

last year. The charges include murder, abduction, confinement, torture, and arson attacks committed between April 22 and December 11 of 1971.

Of the accused, only Shamsul Alam alias Badar Bhai, 71, and SM Yusuf Ali, 84, have been in custody since March 2 last year.

Another accused Md Ashraf Hossain, 65, fled to India while five others – Prof Sharif Ahmed alias Sharif Hossain, Abdul Bari, Abdul Hannan, Harun and Abul Hashem – are absconding.

The first unit of al-Badr, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani occupation forces, was formed after the army entered Jamalpur on April 22, 1971. Executed war criminal

Hashem, Mannan, Bari were members of Chhatra Sangha and later joined killing squad al-Badr.

After the independence, Prof Sharif served as a director of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited from 1987 to 2003. He was also the executive director and managing director of Bangladesh Publications Ltd for 14 years since 1999.

The first charge was brought against Shamsul and Yusuf for masterminding and participating in abduction, torture, murder, plundering and arson in Jamalpur between April 22 and December 11.

Ashraf, Sharif, Mannan, Bari and Harun are accused of abduction, confinement and torture of at least six men and killing three of them

between July 7 and July 22, according to the second charge.

Ashraf, Sharif, Mannan, Bari, Hashem, Shamsul and Yusuf were charged for the abduction and murder of Awami League leader Nurul Amin on July 10.

Ashraf, Sharif, Mannan and Bari were made accused in the fourth charge that describes confinement, torture and murder of freedom fighters in a torture cell at Ashek Mahmud College hostel during the war.

According to the last charge, Ashraf, Sharif, Mannan, Bari, Hashem, Shamsul and Yusuf were involved in confinement, torture and murder at another torture cell set up at PTI Hostel. l

Acquittal of 11 upheld in Ahsanullah murder case n Ashif Islam Shaon

Demolition work of the building where the central office of Bangladesh Awami League is currently located began yesterday to make way for a new building. The photo was taken at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka DHAKA TRIBUNE

Gas facility soon on west of Padma n Aminur Rahman Rasel Industries and residential households on the west of Padma River are going to get their much coveted gas connections soon following the installation of a 30-inch pipeline through the river.

China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPPB), a Chinese state-owned company, successfully completed the installation of the 30-inch high pressure natural gas pipeline across Padma River on July 13.

The project is being implemented by Bangladesh’s state-owned Gas Transmission Company limited (GTCL).

“The project was technically demanding as over 100 years ago at the time of Hardinge Bridge construction, a British company dumped

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN MONDAY, JULY 18

Although almost all of the project work had been finished earlier, only the construction of the Padma River-crossing pipeline remained incomplete.

Following the failure of the previous contractor, the GTCL in July 2015 invited an international tender to install the gas line through the mighty Padma.

The CPPB won the bid and started installing the 2.21km pipeline through Padma River.

AThe GTCL official said that after the installation of this section of pipeline, the downstream line will be connected to the upstream pipeline which has been under operation for more than four years.

After that, natural gas will be transmitted to the areas located on the west of Padma River. l

rock boulders under the riverbank to prevent it from being destroyed by river flow,” a GTCL official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

These rock boulders eventually sank ten meters under the riverbed over time, causing the previous contractor to fail twice during the execution of reaming pass, said the GTCL official Originally, the government planned to construct the 30-inch diameter 1,000 PSIG (70.3kg/cm3) gas pipeline from Hatikumrul to Bheramara, in order to supply natural gas to consumers as well as power stations located in Kushtia and Pabna.

The project consisted of installing 82km of land pipeline and five river-crossing pipelines by Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method.

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The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld a portion of the High Court verdict that acquitted 11 accused in former Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master murder case.

A four-member full bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, yesterday passed “no order” on a government petition that sought a stay order on a portion of the High Court verdict.

Defence lawyers said that following the order, there left no legal bar for the 11 persons to be released from jail as the acquittal order would remain in force.

On June 21, the chamber judge of the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order in response to a petition filed by the state to stop the release of the 11 accused until the full text of the High Court ver-

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:22AM

33.5ºC Tangail

23.6ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

dict was released.

Ahsanullah Master, a popular Gazipur politician, was shot dead on May 7, 2004, while addressing a local conference held at a school ground near his home in Noagaon near Tongi. The attack left a young man Faruq Ratan dead and 17 others injured.

A Speedy Trial Tribunal handed down death penalty against 22 people, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, and life imprisonment against six others on April 16, 2005.

The High Court on June 15 upheld the death penalty for Nurul Islam and five others.

The court also commuted seven convicts’ death sentences to lifeterm imprisonment and upheld the life-term for another convict. The life-term of one convict who did not appeal against his sentence remained unchanged.

Two died during the trial were exempted from the charges. l

Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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Fajr: 4:45am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 7:00pm Esha: 8:45pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Flood hits Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat n Taieyb Ali Sarker, Nilphamari Flood situation in Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts worsened yesterday due to onrush water from the up stream and hevay rain for few days.

According to local sources the flood situation worsened as more areas of the districts were inundated affecting over 1,50,000 people.

The flood victims are now facing an acute shortage of food and potable water.

People of many areas have been marooned in Dimla, Jaldhaka of Nilphamari and Hatabandha , Kaliganj in Lalmonirhat districts.

The water level of the Dalia River has marked rise above 17 centimetre at several points of Nilphamari.

In the last three days, due to erosion by Teesta and Dharla rivers in Lalmonirhat over 100,000 people of some 80 villages in five upazilas were marooned in three-five feet high flood water.

In Nilphamari, over 50,000 peo-

ple were affected as water-level of 16 rivers including Dharla, Teesta, Dudhkumar and Brahmaputra swelled, according to our correspondent. Over 100 families were affected as flood protection dyke collapsed.

Locals are yet to receive any relief although shortage of food and drinkable water turned acute.

The adverse affected areas are Purbachantai, Khagabari, Tepakhari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagus Chapani, Goyabari, of Dimla upazila and Golmunda, Dowabari, Shoulmari of Jaldhak upazila in Nilphamari district.

Aminur Rahman, chairman of Jhunagachi union parishad ,said at least 10,000 families had become the victim of the the flood in the areas.

Zakir Hossen, deputy comissioner of Nilphamari,said many schools, colleges, madrasas and establishments in the district went under water due to onrush water and heavy rain.

“I have informed the incident to the Water Development Board ,” he said.

“Immediately relief goods will be distributed among the flood-victims,” he added.

Abdul Hai, a trader of Ekota Bazar, near the Teesta River ,said they had shifted their business to another place as their establishements damaged.

Rabiul Islam Shaheen, chairman of Tepakhari union council, said 10 villages in the union went under water due to recent flood.

Mostafizur Rahman, executive engineer of the WDB, said the rivers in the the Teesta at Dalia and the Kangsha at Jariajanjail are flowing above its danger levels by 10 cm and 46 cm respectively.

Onrush of water from the upstream and incessant rainfall have flooded many areas of Fulbari, Rajarhat and Ulipur upazila of Kurigram district, rendering over 20,000 people marooned.

According to BSS reports, water

levels in 64 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) marked rises and 18 stations recorded falls.

Among the 90 monitored water level stations, four river stations have been registered steady while two rivers are flowing above danger mark, a bulletin issued by FFWC said here today.

The Teesta at Dalia and the Kangsha at Jariajanjail are flowing above its danger levels by 10 cm and 46 cm respectively.

Significant rainfall was recorded in some stations in different districts during the last 24 hours ending around 6 am.

A total of 95 millimeters (mm) rainfall were recorded at Rangpur, 80 mm at Teknaf, 75 mm at Lorergarh, 68.5 mm at Panchagarh, 67.4mm at Noakhali, 67mm at Cox’s Bazar, 65mm at Sunamganj, 62.5mm at Kurigram, 60mm at Barguna, 58.3mm at Chapainawabganj, 52mm at Chilmaria and 49 mm at Dilia. l

Alleged criminal killed in gunfight

n Saiful Islam Swapan, Laxmipur An alleged criminal was shot dead in a gunfight between police and ‘criminals’ in Parbatinagar upazila of Laxmipur early yesterday.

Tarek Hossain, 38, son of Sukkur Ali of Dakkhin Makardaj village in the upazila, was an enlisted criminal, accused in 11 different cases, including murder, extortion and arms cases, said ASM Mahtab Uddin, police super of Laxmipur.

Four policemen-Mahin Uddin, Helal Chowdhury, Main Uddin and Salah Uddin-were injured in the clash, claimed the police super.

The criminals fired at the law-enforcers while they conducted a drive along with Tarek to recover arms at Parbatinagar, prompting the police to fire back.

A local gun and ammunitions were recovered from the spot. Body of Tarek was kept at Laxmipur Sadar Hospital for postmortem. l

Three held with 20,000 yaba pills in Ctg n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A team of the Bangladesh Coast Guard yesterday morning arrested three persons in possession of 20,000 pieces of contraband pills from Maizzartek area, Karnaphuli police station in Chittagong.

The arrestees were identified as Md Solaiman, 42, Md Nur Alam, 45, Jebunesa, 60.

Lieutenant Commander Julhas Foysal said the trio was coming to Chittagong city on a CNG-run auto-rickshaw from Anwara upazila.

“Acting on a tip-off, the coast guard members intercepted them and searched the auto-rickshaw.

Later, cash money amounting to Tk18 lakh and 20,000 yaba tablets were recovered from their possession,” he added. l

Farmers of Rajshahi are now busy in collecting Aman paddy saplings from seedbeds, as the fields are now ready for cultivating the crop due to sufficient rains. The photo was taken from Margabil at Mohorpur upazila in Rajshahi AZAHAR UDDIN

AHSANULLAH MASTER MURDER CASE

AL men block highway protesting verdict Islam Akand, n Raihanul Gazipur Activists of Awami League (AL) blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Tongi for one hour yesterday afternoon, as the Appellate Division has upheld the High Court’s verdict of acquitting 11 convicts in AL leader Ahsanullah Master murder case.

They staged demonstration and blocked the road by burning tires in

Mil gate, College Gate and Cherag Ali areas, said the witnesses.

Firoj Talukder, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tongi police station, said on information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The High Court in a verdict on July 15 acquitted 11 convicts in the case and gave death penalty to six convicts and life terms to nine other.

A full bench of the Appellate Di-

vision yesterday passed a ‘no order’ on a petition seeking a stay order on the HC verdict.

Ahsanullah and Omar Faruq Ratan, a young man, were shot dead and 17 others were injured by the attack of several gunmen at a biennial conference of Awami Shechchhasebak League, the AL’s volunteers’ front, at Noagaon near the legislator’s house in Tongi On May 7, 2004. l

Attack on journalist’s father n Moazzem Hossain, Lalmonirhat Local hoodlums attacked father of a journalist in Safartari area, Lalmonirhat municipality yesterday over previous enmity.

Akhtarul Islam, father of Dhaka Tribune’s Staff Reporter Jebunnesa Alo, who is now undergoing treatment at Lalmonirhat 100-bed Hospital said a gang of goons led

by Abu Bakar Siddique swooped on him with lethal weapons when he went to his mango orchard locat-

ed adjacent to his house. His elder brother Aminul Islam was also injured in the attack.

Akhtarul Islam said Abu Bakar Siddique and his gang had been resisting him from using a piece of land, although the municipality had given verdict on his favour.

He also alleged that Abu Bakar and his family members were harassing his family members in many ways, although local distinguished tried to settle the issue for several times. l

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

No trace of 3 madrasa students in Netrakona Families allege police not playing effective role Apart from Rafi, another could not find out him.” n Hanif Ullah Akash, Netrakona police madrasa student Al Amin, 14, Jhorna Begum, mother of Members of law enforcement agencies are now active to find out the people, who have been remained missing for long, but family members of three madrasa students alleged that police were not playing effective role to trace out their children.

Local sources said Rafi Hossain, son of Abdus Sattar, went missing on December 28, 2015.

Two days after his missing, a man from an unknown number demanded money from Rafi’s family saying that he was in a critical state. Then, his family sent money through a bKash account.

Momen, cousin of Rafi, said: “We informed police about the matter and filed a general diary with Sadar police station, but

Rafi, said: “I am requesting law enforcement agencies to find out my son. We are panicked because many missing persons are now involved in militancy.”

Md Abdul Hai, a teacher of Bhuiyanbari Madrasa, told the Dhaka Tribune that Rafi was quite as well as obedient student. He did not believe that he was involved in militancy.

President of district chapter of SHUJAN Shyamlendu Pal said all of the people who had remained missing might not involved in militancy or with Islamic State.

“But many missing people are now involved in militancy, so police should take prompt measures to find out them,” he opined.

son of Aiyub Ali, went missing on March 15, 2015.

On April 12, 2015, Wasim Mia, 22, son of Abdul Gani Mia, went missing after he went to Dhaka from Dhoba-Hogla village, Purbo Dholar upazila.

Family members of the missing people told the Dhaka Tribune that they had registered GDs with respective police stations, but police could not play effective role to find out them.

Superintendent of police Joydev Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that they were trying their best to find out missing persons.

“Apart from police, different intelligence agencies have been informed the matters, they are

doing their works.

“We will solve the cases as soon as possible,” he added.

In Jhenaidah, 10 people, including, activist of the ruling party, students and Imam, have been remained missing for the last several months.

According to local sources, six people from Sadar upzila, two from Sailkupa upazila, each from Kaliganj and Harinakunda upzilas, went missing a few months ago.

However, officer-in-charge of respective police stations claimed that they had not been informed about the matter.

People of the district who have remained traceless are Shahin Hossain Parash and Saiful Islam, residents of Sailkupa, Hasan Ali, a tenth grader student at Sadar

Incessant rain disrupts life in Chittagong n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Some parts of the low-lying areas of the premier port city were submerged following incessant rain.

The Chittagong Patenga Met Office recorded 38mm rainfall in the last 24-hour till 3pm yesterday, said Sheikh Harunur Rashid, a weather forecast official.

Many low-lying areas of the city, including Gate 2 area, Agrabad, Prabartak circle, Chawkbazar, Muradpur, Shulakbahar, Bahadderhat, Pahartali, Kalamia Bazar, Kalurghat, Chandgaon and Bakalia went under ankle-deep water.

The office-goers, students, commuters and apparel workers faced suffering due to the incessant downpour.

The water entered some low-lying residential houses and business firms leaving the people marooned.

Motorised vehicles stopped moving in areas under water while many of those were seen stuck in waters with their engines downed in knee deep waters. l

Fisherman shot dead in Bhola

upzila, Hossain Ali of the same upzila, Jahid, a Jubo League activist, Rashed Rose, son of vice-president of district unit Bangabandhu Parishad, Abdur Rob, a madrasa student, Azmul Huda, another madrasa student, Sohel Rana, son of an Imam at Public Health Jam-e-Mosque, and Uzzal Sardar, son of trader Shahidul Sardar.

Officer-in-Charge of Sadar police station Harendranath Sarkar told the Dhaka Tribube parents of Hossain Ali had filed a GD recently.

He said: “We are not informed about other missing people in the upzila.”

Officers-in-Charge of Mohespur, Kotchandpur, Kaliganj and Horinakunda police stations echoed the same words. l

Member of ABT held in Natore n M Kamal Mridha, Natore

Many areas of Chittagong city went under knee-deep water due to heavy down pour yesterday, disrupting vehicular movements. The photo was taken from No-2 Gate area of the city ROBIN CHOWDHURY

Police arrested an Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) member from Singra upazila and seized a laptop and three Zihadi books from his possession early yesterday.

The arrestee was Mizanur Rahman, son of Meher Ali of BoroBaroihatty village at the upazila, said Debobroto Das, sub-inspector of Singra police station.

On secret information that six to seven members of ABT were holding a clandestine meeting at the village, Singra police conducted a drive there. Sensing the presence of the law-enforcers, other members of ABT managed to flee the scene while Mizanur was arrested.

Nur-E-Alam Siddiquee, officer in-charge (investigation) of the police station, said Mizanur confessed in his statement that he was a member of Ansarullah Bangla Team.

A case was filed in this connection. l

BCL leader jailed for teasing MP’s daughter

n Tribune Desk

n Asaduzzaman, Satkhira

A fisherman was shot dead and 20 others were injured in an attack by pirates on a trawler in the Bay of Bengal near Chittagong Gas Field area early yesterday.

Police said a group of robbers opened fire on the fishermen while catching fish in the Bay around 3:30am, leaving Mohsin, 42, dead on the spot. l

A leader of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday was sentenced to three months of imprisonment for teasing a college girl, who is a daughter of a local lawmaker.

The convict was Ashikur Rahman, BCL president of Satkhira Government College unit and son of Hafizur Rahman Sazu of

Khezurdanga village in Sadar upazila.

Some students of the college alleged that BCL leaders Mithun Banarjee, Abu Taher and Ashikur used to tease female students on the campus.

They said they had informed about it to the administration several times, but the administration did not take any step against the stalkers.

When the students of the college earlier tried to protest the BCL men, they tortured them brutally.

Emdad Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Satkhira police station, said police arrested Ashikur as he was teasing the girl while she was going to the college on the day.

On Sunday, the girl also filed a complaint against Ashikur, the OC added.

The police produced the youth

before a mobile court led by Magistrate Munira Parveen.

Later, the court sentenced him three months of jail.

Over the incident, BCL activists beat up a Chhatra Moitree leader leaving him critically injured in the afternoon.

The administration rescued him and sent to Satkhira Sadar Hospital.

Professor Liakat Parvez, the principal, confirmed the incident.l

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SOUTH ASIA

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi holds landmark rebel talks Myanmar’s de facto premier Aung San Suu Kyi held landmark talks with senior rebel leaders on Sunday, as she strives to seal a ceasefire with a patchwork of ethnic minority militias that have battled the national army for decades.A number of key rebel factions have yet to sign up to a national ceasefire agreement, something Suu Kyi’s government hopes Sunday’s talks might change.

-AFP

INDIA

Tainted liquor kills at least 19, blinds 6 in Uttar Pradesh

At least 19 people have died after drinking toxic bootleg liquor and another 6 blinded in northern India over the weekend. Another 50 people fell ill after consuming the home-brewed liquor on Friday and were being treated in hospitals in Etah district in Uttar Pradesh state.

-AP

CHINA

8 killed after construction elevator falls in China 8 people in an eastern Chinese city were killed when the construction elevator they were in plummeted from an apartment building, the local government said Sunday. 8 people who were in the elevator when it fell Friday were immediately taken to hospitals but none survived, the government said. -AP

ASIA PACIFIC

Vietnam detains dozens in anti-China protest in Hanoi

Dozens of Vietnamese who gathered for an anti-China protest in central Hanoi were taken away by authorities Sunday as they tried to rally support for an international tribunal’s ruling rejecting Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. About two dozen people were bused away from around the landmark Hoan Kiem Lake in the capital even before they began their protest.

-AP

MIDDLE EAST

HRW: Saudi guardianship still restricts women Saudi Arabian laws requiring women to have male guardians have been reformed in recent years but continue to restrict and endanger them, obstructing government plans to reform the economy, US-based Human Rights Watch says in a report.

The report drew criticism on Sunday from a government rights official, who said the system was designed to protect and help women.

-REUTERS

Turkey widens crackdown on military, judiciary after failed coup n Reuters, Istanbul/Ankara Turkey widened a crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed military coup on Sunday, taking the number of people rounded up in the armed forces and judiciary to 6,000, and the government said it was in full control of the country and economy.

Overnight, supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan rallied in public squares, at Istanbul airport and outside his palace in a show of defiance after the coup attempt killed at least 290 people.

With expectations growing of heavy measures against dissent, European politicians warned Erdogan that the coup attempt did not give him a bank cheque to disregard the rule of law, and that he risked isolating himself internationally as he strengthens his position at home.

Broadcaster NTV cited Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying that more arrests were expected

on top of the 6,000 people already detained.

Authorities have rounded up nearly 3,000 suspected military plotters, ranging from top commanders to foot soldiers, and the same number of judges and prosecutors after forces loyal to Erdogan crushed the attempted coup on Saturday.

Among those arrested is General Bekir Ercan Van, commander of the Incirlik air base from which US aircraft launch airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, an official said.

The crackdown appears to intensify a longstanding push by Erdogan to root out the influence of followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Erdogan accuses followers of Gulen, who was once an ally but is now his arch-enemy, of trying to create a "parallel structure" within the courts, police, armed forces and media with an aim to topple the state.

#TURKEYCOUPATTEMPT Black Sea Istanbul ANKARA

Violence in Istanbul and Ankara Gunshots against civilians Bombings by rebel jets Air strikes against rebel tanks

161 loyalists and civilians killed 1,440 injured 124 rebels killed, 2,839 soldiers arrested President Erdogan blames exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who denies any link to the plot The cleric denies the charge and says he played no role in the attempted coup, denouncing it as an affront to democracy.

Erdogan's critics say he will use the purge to create a pliant judi-

INSIGHT

From idealism to disillusion, shifting profile of jihadist attackers n Reuters, Paris As authorities investigate the motives for a mass killing claimed by Islamic State in Nice late Thursday, analysts say the case appears to highlight a shift in the profile of those launching attacks in the name of hardline Islamist groups.

Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, who killed at least 84 people by driving a truck through crowds in the French town, was not a pious, educated man in the mould of Mohamed Atta, one of the hijackers behind the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001.

Rather, neighbours and family describe him as a troubled man who lived apart from his wife and three children and drank alcohol, something forbidden by Islam.

"It seems that he was radicalised very quickly," said French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

That poses a big problem for authorities, who have put much of their focus on tackling hardline Islamist ideology by seeking to spread counter-arguments in schools and mosques.

Tunisia-born Bouhlel, who was shot dead by police, had had several run-ins with the law, including a March 2016 conviction for hurling a wooden pallet at a driver in a road rage incident.

His sister said he saw psychologists for several years before he left Tunisia in 2005.

His case echoes that of Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at an Orlando night club in June in the name of Islamic State, the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

Mateen had a troubled youth, was disciplined often at school and, before carrying out his attack, researched medication to treat psychosis, a relative confirmed.

200 km

Mediterranean

"Islamic State is an organisation which attracts a very broad variety of followers, from the most convinced, to the most adventurous, to the most unstable or psychotic," said Prof Rik Coolsaet, a terrorism expert linked to Ghent University in Belgium.

Several of the men involved in apparently Islamic State-inspired attacks in Paris in November 2015 and in Brussels in March 2016 also had a history of crime.

Among those responsible in Paris, brothers Brahim and Salah Abdeslam had run a pub in a district of Brussels that was closed down after a police raid found drugs.

Brussels Airport bomber Brahim El Bakraoui, meanwhile, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting at police during a robbery. His brother Khalid, who also blew himself up at the airport, had received five years for car-jacking.

According to a recent Europol study, some 80% of Islamic State recruits have criminal records and some 20% were diagnosed with mental health issues.

"In view of this shift away from the religious component in the radicalisation of, especially, young recruits, it may be more accurate to speak of a violent extremist social trend rather than using the term radicalisation," Europol wrote.

That creates a broader challenge for authorities seeking to thwart attacks, something made even harder if the perpetrators act without outside help, as appears to be the case in both Orlando and Nice.

"If more people follow the Nice example it will be a nightmare for security services as it is almost impossible to detect," said Edwin Bakker, professor at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. l

ciary, eliminating any dissenting voices in the courts.

European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said Erdogan would move Turkey away from the core values represented by the EU and the Nato defence alliance - of which it is a long-standing member - if he decided to use the attempted coup to restrict basic democratic rights further.

A successful overthrow of Erdogan, who has ruled the country since 2003, would have marked another seismic shift in the Middle East, five years after the Arab uprisings erupted and plunged Turkey's southern neighbour Syria into civil war.

But the failed attempt could still destabilise the US ally, which lies between Europe and the chaos of Syria.

Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party has long had strained relations with the military, which has a history of mounting coups to defend secularism although it has not seized power directly since 1980. l

#NICEATTACKER Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel 31 years old Born in Tunisia, worked as a delivery driver in Nice Married, separated, 3 children In March 2016 received 6-month suspended sentence for ‘violence with a weapon’ Neighbours say he was a loner.

His father in Tunisia said he suffered from depression, that he had ‘no links’ to religion But while some witnesses say he was not religious, others say he had recently shown signs of becoming religious.

Not known to the intelligence service, he ‘seemed to have been radicalised very quickly’, says Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

INSIGHT

USA

Trump’s VP pick has long conservative record on immigration n Tribune International Desk Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s conservative track record on immigration dates to his earliest days in the US House and echoes the hardline stance of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who chose Pence as his running mate.

During his dozen years in the House, Pence lent his support to numerous bills aimed at overhauling the immigration system, including a limit on the number of visas issued to each country and efforts to allow individual states to stand up border-patrol militias and to define English as the country’s official language.

And he supported building a border fence nearly a decade before Trump made such a pledge a cornerstone of his campaign for the White House.

In 2005, Pence joined efforts to pass a sweeping immigration bill that was among the first to pro-

pose hundreds of miles of fencing along the Mexican border. It also proposed a $3,000 fine for immigrants living in the country illegally who agreed to leave and then stayed. It created punishments for aiding an immigrant living in the country illegally. The proposal was approved by the House, but failed in the Senate.

A year later he supported the successful Secure Fence Act of 2006, a narrower bill focused on border security that ultimately led to the construction of nearly 700 miles of border fencing.

Pence co-sponsored the “Good Fences Make Good Neighbours Act 2006”, a bill to let border states use federal grant money to build “a physical barrier” near the Mexican and Canadian borders to stop illegal immigration.

A year earlier he supported a proposal to let border states launch militias whose members could make arrests.

He supported a bill in 2007 and again in 2009 that would have limited automatic citizenship to children who have at least one parent who is a US citizen, legal permanent resident or is serving on ac-

MIKE PENCE: DONALD TRUMP’S VP PICK Incumbent governor of Indiana

Born on June 7, 1959 (aged 57) EDUCATION Bachelor's Hanover College (1981) JD Indiana University School of Law (1986) QUOTE ''Republicans will stand firmly on principle that the American people don't want to see the American military used to advance a liberal political agenda.''

PRIOR OFFICES 2001-2013 US House of Representatives, Indiana, District 6 Infograph: Dhaka Tribune/ Mohammad Razon

n Tribune International Desk

A supporter holds photo of Bahrain’s leading Shia cleric Isa Qassim during a sit-in outside his home in the village of Diraz west of Manama on June 21 REUTERS called “political societies,” which are allowed under laws that technically forbid political parties.

Its candidates claimed the largest share of seats in parliamentary elections in 2006 and 2010, though it fell short of securing a majority in either.

It boycotted the last elections in 2014, saying it wanted greater power-sharing, the release of political prisoners and a prime minister chosen by elected officials.

The current prime minister, an

uncle of the king, has held power for more than four decades.

Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, crushed the 2011 protests with help from its larger neighbours Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But ongoing, low-level and occasionally violent unrest continues to roil the kingdom despite reforms following the Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

Authorities suspended al-Wefaq’s activities and froze its funds last month, accusing the group of

Tensions between Turkey and the US have escalated following the attempted coup against the Erdogan administration, with the country’s leader demanding the extradition of a US-based cleric accused of orchestrating the violence.

The Obama administration has strongly denied any involvement or responsibility.

-AP

Venezuelans pour into Colombia to buy goods

Term ends: 2017 Republican Party

tive duty in the military.

A 2005 version of the bill that he supported called for automatic citizenship for children whose parents were married, so long

US-Turkish tensions rise after failed coup attempt

THE AMERICAS

January 14, 2013 - present

as one of the parents was a citizen or legal resident. In cases of unmarried parents, the child’s mother had to be a citizen or legal resident. l

Bahrain court dissolves main Shia opposition A Bahrain court ordered the country’s main Shia opposition group to be dissolved on Sunday, deepening a crackdown on dissent in the strategically important Western-allied kingdom, reports the Associated Press.

The order against al-Wefaq marks one of the sharpest blows yet against civil society activists in the Sunni-ruled island nation, which was rocked by widespread protests led by its Shia majority demanding political reforms five years ago.

In issuing its ruling, the High Civil Court accused al-Wefaq of multiple offenses, including objecting to the legitimacy of the country’s constitution and “legislative authority,” supporting violence, and expressing “solidarity with persons convicted for instigating regime hate, a coup d’état and demeaning the judiciary and executive bodies.”

The ruling calls for al-Wefaq’s assets to be liquidated and its funds to be transferred to the state treasury. Representatives for the group could not immediately be reached for comment.

Al-Wefaq is one of Bahrain’s so-

DT

World

creating “a new generation that carries the spirit of hatred” and of having links with “sectarian and extremist political parties that adopt terrorism.”

Abdullah al-Shamlawi, a lawyer who had been defending al-Wefaq, said at the time that the order came “out of the blue.” He has denied all the allegations.

He and other members of the defence team pulled out of the case after the judge refused to allow them access to al-Wefaq’s offices to prepare their defence.

An appeals court in May more than doubled a prison sentence against the group’s secretary-general, Sheikh Ali Salman, following his conviction on charges that included incitement and insulting the Interior Ministry.

Other activists who were not already behind bars on earlier convictions have been targeted in recent weeks.

Authorities last month stripped the citizenship of the country’s leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, prompting protests by his supporters. Officials accuse him of creating a sectarian atmosphere and of forming groups that “follow foreign religious ideologies and political entities.” l

Thousands of Venezuelans crossed Saturday into the Colombian city of Cucuta to buy food and medicine, taking advantage of another brief opening in the border that’s been closed nearly a year. Caracas authorised the temporary opening a week after some 35,000 Venezuelans poured across the border during a 12-hour opening of the pedestrian bridge that connects Tachira, Venezuela and Cucuta.

-AFP

UK

Britain reaffirms commitment to Gibraltar post Brexit Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to Gibraltar on Saturday and said it would fully involve the territory in its discussions with the EU following last month’s vote to leave the bloc. Johnson told Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in talks in London that Britain would never agree to the people of Gibraltar being transferred to the sovereignty of another state against their wishes. -REUTERS

EUROPE

Armenia opposition group takes hostages in police station About 20 armed supporters of a jailed opposition leader attacked a police station in Armenia’s capital on Sunday, killing one officer, wounding four and taking several others hostage. The attackers demanded the release of Jirair Sefilian, who was arrested last month, and the opposition group repeated its call for the government to resign.

-AFP

AFRICA

Sudan’s Bashir travels to Rwanda despite ICC arrest warrant President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has arrived in Rwanda to attend an African Union summit despite calls for his arrest by the International Criminal Court. Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told reporters this week that Rwanda’s government would not arrest Bashir if he travelled to Kigali. She said the ICC had written to Rwanda urging its government to arrest Bashir.

-AP

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Why does France keep getting attacked?

France is historically seen as standard bearer of Western secular liberalism and has been singled out by the so-called Islamic State as a key target n Tribune International Desk JIHADIST ATTACKS ON FRANCE 2015-2016 So once again, there will be the tricolor flag projected on buildings around the world, a hashtag expressing solidarity with France, and declarations of sympathy.

There will also be the question: why is France suffering a wave of extremist violence that is more intense – certainly more lethal – than any other seen in the west since the 9/11 attacks almost 15 years ago?

France has been under a state of emergency — which gives security and legal forces more power to conduct investigations and arrest suspects — for 19 months.

It was due to be lifted on July 26 after the Tour de France cycling race but has instead been extended another three months following the Bastille Day attack in the French Riviera city of Nice on July 14.

Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a Tunisia-born French national, has been named as the person responsible for the massacre.

But his despicable act was just one of several to strike France in the last two years.

Among the most devastating was the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015, when 12 people were killed after brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi launched an attack on the Paris offices of the satirical magazine.

Days later, Amedy Coulibaly went on a shooting spree, killing a policewoman before taking and killing hostages at a kosher supermarket in the French capital.

In June last year, a jihadi decapitated his boss at a gas factory in southeast France.

Then in November, 130 people were killed in Paris during a coordinated terror attack involving gunmen and suicide bombers, who attacked a concert hall, football stadium and cafes and bars.

A string of other incidents, including an attempted gun attack on a train heading for France in August 2015 and the stabbing of two French police officers last month.

So why does France continue to be targeted in Islamist-inspired atrocities?

Beacon of democracy

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity - is the national motto of France.

But those ideals, the fundamental tenets of France’s national psyche, are anathema to extremist groups who hate nothing more than the human rights cherished by liberal democracies in the West.

Sylvie Bermann, the French ambassador to the UK, said this morning in the wake of the Nice attacks that her home nation was a target for terrorism because it was a sym-

Belgium 5 Germany

Magnanville Paris

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Saint-Quentin-Fallavier 7

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A couple walk through the empty flower market in the old city and near a sign which reads, "Pray for Nice" days after a truck attack on the Promenade des Anglais on Bastille Day killed scores and injured as many in Nice REUTERS bol of free speech.

She said: “[France] is human rights and that is what they are fighting.”

James Woolsey, a former CIA director, agreed that those principles may have acted as a catalyst for the latest terror atrocity.

He said: “There is the fact that France is a major spokesman for democracy in the world and the rights of individuals and that falls foul of IS thinking.

“They’re being punished for being real backers of democracy and the rule of law and IS sees that as what they hate more than anything else.”

And Neil Fergus, an expert on international terrorism, said France was “a beacon of liberty, egalitarian and with social values”.

“Paris and France are at the heart of western numinous philosophy.

“It is abhorrent to these people.

Europe is abhorrent to these people. France is seen as the epicenter.”

extremists seeking to whip up hatred as a reason to attack the West.

Professor Peter Neumann, an academic at King’s College London’s International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence, said French people were in denial about the problem.

He told the BBC: “You can deploy as much security as you like, you can deploy as much soldiers on the streets in France, but the ultimate root cause of this problem is there is a vast French Muslim population in France that feels deeply alienated and that has produced the phenomenon.

“We have seen more people go from France to the so-called Islamic State than from any other European country.

“If you go to the suburbs of Paris, for example, and you have similar places it the south of France, they are feeling almost like ungoverned territories.”

Secularism

Air strikes against IS

France is rigidly secular and has legislated against public displays of religion, including a ban on the burqa.

Many blame that decision for worsening social divides and effectively criminalising many Muslims simply for expressing their faith.

The ban has also been blamed on a rise in Islamophobia, which critics say can lead to fractured communities that breed distrust, fear and resentment.

Proponents of the ban argued that face-coverings were a security risk as they prevent the clear identification of a person.

They also say garments such as the burqa harm social integration as society relies on facial recognition and expression to communicate.

Former US spy chief Woolsey added: “France is a secular country and so it does things like not let Muslim women wear veils, and that produces tensions.”

The ban of the burqa was hugely controversial and was seized on by

President Francois Hollande has been a strong advocate for France’s involvement in air strikes against Islamic State jihadis in the Middle East.

While the French government argues that this will ultimately reduce the threat posed from terror groups to France, the military action inevitably acts as a catalyst for home-grown terrorists.

It also makes France an international target and the country has been named in IS propaganda videos as a key target in their war against the West.

Historic links to North Africa

France has long-held colonial links to the Maghreb region of North Africa, notably in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the killer was born.

The historic ties means France has a relatively high proportion of immigrants hailing from majority-Muslim countries, including Lebanon and Syria.

While the vast majority of

Italy

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Nice

Spain 1 Paris, 7-9 January 2015 17 killed in attacks that started at the Charlie Hebdo office

6 Paris, 13 November 2015 130 killed in gun attack on restaurants and Bataclan concert hall

2 Nice, 3 February 2015 Three soldiers guarding Jewish community centre targeted in knife attack

7 Valence, 1 January 2016 Man tries to run down troops guarding a mosque

3 Paris, 19 April 2015 Algerian IT student arrested on suspicion of shooting dead a women in her car

8 Paris, 7 January 2016 Moroccan-born man wielding a meat cleaver tries to attack police station

4 Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, 26 June 2015 Man kills and beheads his boss, tries to blow up gas plant

9 Magnanville, 13 June 2016 Police officer and partner killed at their home in knife attack

5 Amsterdam - Paris train, 21 August 2015 Moroccan national opens fire on train but is overwhelmed by passengers

10 Nice, 14 July 2016 At least 84 dead in truck attack during Bastille Day celebrations

those of North African descent are law-abiding, peace-loving French citizens, some communities are home to small but significant groups of impressionable, ofter poor young men who are vulnerable to radicalisation.

Woolsey said there were also links between France and Muslim forces who invaded the south of France and were expelled in 974 AD. He said: “France has a special place in the hearts of the extreme radicals because in the eighth century it was a part of the Muslim empire and from their point of view, all of Spain, part of France, and any place that was once part of the caliphate is still part of the caliphate, they just need to implement it.”

Free movement and migrant crisis

Recent attacks in Paris and Brussels has shown that battle-hardened terrorists are returning from the Middle East, with many sneaking into Europe posing as migrants fleeing war and persecution.

Free movement inside the Schengen zone - which the UK is not a part of - has allowed terrorists to travel between countries relatively easily, and investigators probing the atrocities in Paris and Brussels in November and March have confirmed that suspects crossed freely between countries before and after the attacks.

The head of Europol, Europe’s law enforcement agency, estimates

that up to 5,000 jihadis could have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight and that many of those could have returned to Europe.

Police failures

The method may be unique - a truck attack has not been used on Western soil before now - but it is fair to speculate that he may have been inspired by attacks in the French capital last year.

The events in Paris revealed gaping holes in the French security services and may have encouraged others to carry out similar acts in the knowledge that they were unlikely to be intercepted by the intelligence services.

IS is weakening and wants to prove otherwise Islamic State is under fierce attack in its self-styled caliphate in Iraq and Syria and is keen to demonstrate to the world that it remains a potent force.

Recent communications sent out by senior IS commanders instructed their followers to remain in their home countries to carry out terror attacks there, after sustained bombing raids by a broad coalition of forces decimated much of their territory.

IS now lays claim a fraction of the land it once controlled and acts such as the Bastille Day attack in Nice aim to show it is not yet a spent force. l

Sources: GUARDIAN, SUNDAY EXPRESS, TIME

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TOP STORIES

Low-cost fund sought to modernise textile and powerloom industries

Bangladesh Specialised Textile Mills and Powerloom Industries Association (BSTMPIA) demanded a single-digit loan facility to modernise the historic industry for producing quality products and increasing productivity.

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Walton expands post-sale services

Walton, a local electronics brand, has taken initiatives including appointment of technicians to ensure post-sale services for the consumers.

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Capital market snapshot: Sunday DSE Broad Index

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ADB’s $275m loan to upgrade water supply in Dhaka n Tribune Business Desk The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh yesterday signed $275 million loan agreements for further improving and expanding water supply system in Dhaka.

Mohammad Mejbahuddin, senior secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Kazuhiko Higuchi, country director, Bangladesh Resident Mission of ADB, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective organisations, at a ceremony at ERD in the city.

“Dhaka city is expanding fast, and demand for safe drinking water is rising rapidly,” said Higuchi.

“This project will help over 7 million people in Dhaka get access to safe, regular and affordable water services.”

Earlier, ADB provided DWASA with $400 million for improving water supply system in Dhaka, but physical water losses still need to be reduced to further improve service delivery in many areas.

The new ADB assistance under the Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project will be used to rehabilitate water distribution pipelines and set up new district metered areas, with about 5,000 new and legalised connections established among low-income communities and 2,29,000 connections upgraded for households and communities.

The new project is targeting 24-hour piped water supplies to an additional 6.5 million people

This project will help over 7 million people in Dhaka get access to safe, regular and affordable water services in the new district metered areas by 2022, with non-revenue water losses cut to below 10% from the current approximate rate of around 30%.

A range of actions will be taken to boost the capacity of staff members to manage and operate the network effectively, including providing training for around 700

staff, with 30% of them women.

Assistance will also be given to help DWASA prepare an operational and financial improvement plan and increase public awareness on water conservation.

Dhaka’s demand for water is projected to rise from 2,144 million liters a day in 2015 to around 2,616 million liters a day in 2020, and although the supply authority is taking steps to expand capacity with ADB’s help, it will not be enough to meet projected needs without a substantial cut in ongoing losses.

Climate change, including rising sea levels that could increase salinization of ground and surface water, is also expected to reduce available potable water. l

BB for risk management policy in MPS n Jebun Nesa Alo Bangladesh Bank will take risk management policy to fight the negative impact of militant activities as the country has already started feeling the economic pinch due to a spate of terrorist attacks in recent times.

The central bank is likely to announce its Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) for June-December period of FY’17 on July 21.

This is the first policy statement after Fazle Kabir joined BB as the governor in March this year. ‘’Growing militant activities is suspected to hurt economic growth.

Foreign countries are scared to trade with Bangladesh,’’ said Allah Malik Kazemi, change management adviser to Bangladesh Bank.

The seasoned economist said Bangladesh tourism sector is already affected because of terror attack as tourists are scared to visit the country, he said.

Private sector credit growth which was rising in recent months after a long break might be interrupted due to growing militancy, he said.

He said Bangladesh Bank is concerned about recent militancy and thinking to bring a way out to manage the risk facing the economy.

Private sector credit growth ceiling may be set above 15% at the MPS for the first half of current fiscal year considering the growing demand.

Monetary policy stance will be relaxed as the country’s economy is going in right direction, he said.

There will be no major basic change to policy, he added. l

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China to provide Tk1,852cr to develop telecommunication services Showkat Kallol and n Asif Ishtiaq Husain China will provide Tk1,852 crore for the establishment of a strong transmission system and expansion of data network to develop the overall telecommunication services across the country.

Meanwhile, a project titled ‘Modernization of Telecommunication Network for Digital Connectivity’ has already been undertaken with a cost of Tk2,048 crore.

Out of total outlay of Tk2,048 crore, rest of Tk196 crore will come from the government exchequer.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) had sent a proposal to the Posts and Telecommunication Division last year after a discussion with the Prime Minister’s office (PMO).

Later on, Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Finance Ministry sent a letter to the Chinese embassy in Dhaka with a request to finance the project.

Accordingly, Chinese government has selected ZTE Holding Co Ltd and ZTE Corporation to implement the project.

Finally, board of directors of BTCL, highest policy making body of the organisation, decided to sign a commercial contract after a long negotiation with the Chinese counterpart.

According to the project proposal, this project will play a vital role in telecommunication sector to implement Vision 2021, especially to bring the telecommunication con-

nectivity at the village level.

The project is scheduled to be accomplished by December 31, 2018. After completion of the project, e-commerce, e-governance, tele-education and tele-medicine services will be easily available to the rural people.

Under this project, IP Multimedia Sub-system, Access Network System, Dense Wave Division Multiplexing, Internet Protocol, Network Operation center, e-design and Business Operation and Support System will

be established across the country.

A total 16 lakh line capacity IMS platform will be built in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna and modern technology-supported telecommunication services will be provided at all the divisions, districts and Upazilas, using growth centers.

A subscriber will be able to make voice calls and can use high-speed internet simultaneously using land phone through IMS. Subscribers would also be able to avail all the facilities with low cost. l

Low-cost fund sought to modernise textile and power-loom industries n Tribune Report

16 RMG firms to take part in Paris Texworld n Tribune Business Desk

Bangladesh Specialised Textile Mills and Powerloom Industries Association (BSTMPIA) demanded a single-digit loan facility to modernise the historic industry for producing quality products and increasing productivity.

The association president Azizul Haque made the demand at a dialogue titled “Public private dialogue on overcoming challenges towards modernisation of textile sector in the capital yesterday.

Currently, there are 30,000 to 40,000 textile mills in the country, of which 20% to 30% are modernised and producing high quality export-oriented products while the rest 80% use traditional power-loom to produce saree, lungi, poplin, napkin, long clothes, shirting and suiting, said Azizul Haque.

That is why, the sector needs low-cost fund to set up modern machinery by next 10 years, Haque said, calling for an allocation of low-cost foreign funds for the sector from Bangladesh Bank.

He urged the government to set up textile village and take measures to discourage import of foreign clothes.

In response to the demands of the sector people, Textiles and Jute Minister Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik assured the sector people that he would place the demands to Prime Minister Sheik Hasina.

He was present as the chief guest at the event. State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan was also present as special guest.

The BSTMPIA leaders also sought withdrawal of 15% VAT on textile products imposed for the current fiscal year.

“Specialised textile sector meets 70% local demands. A sudden imposition of 70% Value Added Tax

A total of 16 Bangladeshi fabrics and garment manufacturers will take part in an apparel exposition titled “Texworld – Apparel Sourcing” in Paris on September 12-15.

They will participate in the fourday international fair under the support of Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau. EPB will set a national pavilion for the Bangladeshi participants.

A wide range of fashion products from major manufacturing countries like China, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Pakistan will be displayed at the fair, said a press release of the Messe Frankfurt.

Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s largest trade fair companies, is organising the Texworld.

Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Limited, said his firm will participate in the event. He said they want to produce value-added garment products to enhance export value as “there are a lot of big buyers and brands of value-added products taking part in Texworld.”

He said the fair will help manufacturers and buyers foster a mutual relation, which in turn strengthen trade ties among them. “Such events are also helpful in circulating the latest trend in fashion,” Mostafiz said.

Akij Textile Mills Ltd and Monno Fabrics Ltd will also participate in the fair under fabric category while Denim Expert Limited, a Chittagong-based manufacturer, will take part under denim category.

Anthony Young Garments, Centex Textile and Apparels, Century Apparels, Chorka Textile, DK Knitwear, JM Knitwear, Jericho Imex Limited, MK Sweaters Ltd, Nazia Apparels, Needle Fashion, Sinha Knit Industries, Unitex Attires Limited will display products under apparel category. l

FILE PHOTO

If quality of products is improved, local manufacturers would not import foreign clothes and BGMEA will use the clothes made here

(VAT) is a threat to the sector and it would hinder expansion and modernisation,” Md Haider Ali, a director of BSTMPIA, said.

“Clothing products are being imported from several countries and we are doing business facing huge competition. We are producing products for the country’s poor people. If 15% VAT is implemented, it would increase the prices, which would be

a burden for consumers,” said Shahjahan Mia, another director.

The sector people have experience, but their experience cannot be utilised due to lack of modernisation. On the other hand, factories are turning into sick industry because of old machinery that produce less products, he said.

For modernisation, low-cost fund is a must, but the current interest rate is 14%, while the low-cost fund charge 10% provided by the donor agencies and development partner, Sultan Mahmud, a director of the organisation, said, urging the government to ensure a single-digit loan facility for the industry to contribute more to the economy.

“If the quality of products is improved, local manufacturers would not import foreign clothes and BGMEA will use the clothes made here,” Senior Industry Secretary Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said.

Mosharraf suggested establishing a Testing Laboratory to provide certificate that would help the sector to issue certification for production.

The government can earn in two ways by helping business expansion and creating jobs, while the other is taking policy in line with the recommendation from the world bank, said Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, acting president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The sector is not ready to pay VAT as it not equipped with the manpower and system, added Islam.

He said the government should give time to introduce VAT, or else it would hurt the business expansion.

Currently, 90% demands of knitwear sector is met locally, while woven sector met only 30%. there is huge opportunity to contribute a lot by the specialized sector, said Islam. l

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Walton expands post- Draghi to ask governments to chip in to counter Brexit fallout sale services n Tribune Business Desk

Walton, a local electronics brand, has taken initiatives including appointment of technicians to ensure post-sale services for the consumers.

For ensuring swift and worldclass post-sale services for the users of Walton, the country’s ISO certified Service Management System (SMS) has increased the number of technicians and engineers by 50% to about 2,400 personnel from 1,600 personnel, said a press release.

In addition, the company has stepped to expand the service points network, bringing the service management system under full automation, providing adequate trainings to the technicians on information technology through online television, video tutorial to improve their productivity level.

“We maintain a sound communication with the Plazas’ managers, dealers and customers of Walton products to ensure best post-sale services,” said Md Neamul Haque,

additional director of Walton Group.

Along with the supply of world-class products, Walton laid emphasis on the deliberation of world-class post sales services to the clients, he said.

Shah Mohammed Imtiaz, deputy director of Walton Group said the Walton service points are equipped with advanced technologies and machinery, adequate stock of brand new spare parts, and a large number of highly meritorious, trained, experienced and dedicated engineers and technicians.

To bring the after-sale services within the customers’ reach, WSMS also increased its service centers to 62 from the previous 60 and thus covering 43 district towns.

In addition, about 284 Walton plazas across the country are also acting as a service points.

According to the company, more eight service centres will be opened very soon in different districts including Comilla, Netrokona, Shariatpur, Natore, Joypurhat, Rajbari, Patia and Sunamganj. l

Boosting bank earnings requires more creativity n Antony Currie America’s banks require more creativity. That conjures up fears of accounting fiddles or overly complex products with zero economic or social benefit. The truth is more simple: Return on equity at the nation’s lenders and investment banks remains too low, and banks need to try something new.

Income statements for the second quarter ought, at least, to look better than for the first three months of the year. The likes of JPMorgan, which kicks off earnings season on Thursday, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America all look set to best their first-quarter showing, according to Thomson Reuters estimates. Stock deals, the trading environment and mortgage refinancing have all picked up.

Trouble is, earnings are set to be worse than last year’s second quarter, meaning few are likely to earn enough to beat their cost of capital – which is usually pegged at around 10%. Of the larger banks, only Wells Fargo and US Bancorp are likely to do so. That has often been the case for several years now. Executives everywhere have been trying to improve matters, whether by dumping unprofitable businesses, crimping expenses or laying off staff.

That can only do so much when

top-line growth is stagnant. Citi and JPMorgan have gotten their efficiency ratio – which measures how much per dollar of revenue is spent on operations – below 60%.

That’s impressive; the average of banks tracked by Credit Suisse analysts is around 63%, for example.

But it’s not enough to breach the cost-of-capital threshold. And few are likely to manage to do so in the next couple of years, according to Thomson Reuters estimates.

Creating, or more likely adapting, new technology is therefore becoming all the more crucial. It’s already happening, in part thanks to so-called fintech startups in payments and lending highlighting how inefficient many traditional processes are. Technology can help speed up decisions, improve customer service and eliminate swaths of attendant costs.

But it’s slow going, whether thanks to regulation or institutional inertia. Those banks that manage to speed up modernizing their business are likely to earn the enduring respect of their shareholders. They should get cracking.

Antony Currie has more than a decade of experience as a financial journalist, having worked with Euromoney since 1996, most recently as a US editor. The article was initially published at Reuters. l

European Central Bank (ECB) President Draghi arrives at the EU Summit in Brussels REUTERS

n Reuters, Frankfurt European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is likely to plead for governments to do more to boost the euro zone’s economy in the coming week as the fallout of Britain’s vote to leave the EU and weaker global growth threaten the bloc’s fragile recovery.

Britain eyes new trade deals for Brexit in early 2019 n AFP, London The minister charged with securing new trade deals for Britain outside the EU said yesterday he was aiming for a Brexit date of January 1, 2019, as London made overtures towards Australia and Canada.

“That’s the date I’m working to, which could be brought forward if necessary,” International Trade Secretary Liam Fox told the Sunday Times newspaper.

This would involve triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, which would start a two-year clock running on Britain’s exit from the bloc, by the end of this year.

Before taking office last week following the June 23 vote for Britain to leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May indicated she would invoke Article 50 early next year.

Fox revealed that he had opened “very fruitful” trade talks with Canada on Friday, and was reported to be heading to the United States next week. May also discussed a trade agreement with Australia in a phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, her Downing Street office said.

Turnbull had expressed his desire for a free trade deal as soon as possible, the statement said.

May had campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU in the referendum but says she will make Brexit “a success”. l

Governments in China, Japan and Britain have already started easing their fiscal stance or hinted at plans to do so as sub-par global growth and inflation show that central banks’ ultra-easy monetary policy has run up against its limit.

The ECB is not expected to change its monetary stance on Thursday, its last meeting before

an eight-week summer break. But a reiteration of Draghi’s long-standing call on governments to spend more where possible and speed up growth-boosting reforms is once again likely to fall on deaf ears.

The only country with significant fiscal firepower, Germany, is reluctant to give up its budget surplus and has resisted any attempt to pool more money at the European level in the absence of greater power-sharing.

“We fear, therefore, that Mr Draghi’s calls for a loosening of the purse strings will go unheard, at least for now,” economists at BNP Paribas said.

“As things stand, then, the burden of responding to the Brexit shock will remain with the ECB, which is all too aware that it has fewer and fewer tools with which to respond.”

Calls for greater fiscal spending have been intensifying, with OECD head José Ángel Gurría and doyen investor George Soros throwing their weight behind the argument in recent weeks. l

CORPORATE NEWS

NCC Bank Limited has recently held a business conference for its branch managers and executives, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, SM Abu Mohsin inaugurated the conference as chief guest

Standard Bank Limited has recently opened its 6th agent outlet at Hasimpur Moulvibazar in Narsingdi, said a press release. The bank’s deputy managing director, Md Motaleb Hossain inaugurated the outlet as chief guest

Mutual Trust Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Cellular Mobile (Pte) Limited (CMPL) on providing the bank’s cardholders with 10% discount on purchase of Microsoft Lumia phones from selected outlets of CMPL, said a press release. The bank’s head of cards department, Mohammad Anwar Hossain and Saad M Milkan, head of corporate sales (mobile division) at Union Group have signed the agreement

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Can you ‘spot reduce’ fat?

Our resident fitness expert talks about whether we can actually target specific regions of the body and achieve ‘localised’ fat loss

n Reaz Fiem What is ‘spot reduction’ of fat?

The term might be new to you but unfortunately the process is not. Whoever has gone through unnecessary body fat gain has probably tried this. So spot reducing fat is nothing but trying to reduce or lose the body fat of a certain area of the body. Yes, over the years we have been taught that it is possible to do so. Go inside any local gym, you will find many of the newbies doing workouts to reduce fat from specific regions of their bodies. The end result is usually leaving the gym after a month without any progress.

To understand the scenario better let us take an example. A person who recently gained a bit of belly fat is concerned with how to lose that unflattering extra bit.

The first thing he would hear from his friends or family is that “you should exercise”. Well it is true!

He most certainly should. So what is his next step? He might either join a gym or take up working out at home. The exercise he ends up giving the most emphasis on is crunches. He performs crunch after crunch with the thought that his potbelly will disappear someday. Unfortunately, no results appear and he ends up far from it!

Instead, he probably ends up with a back pain from a muscle strain.

If you are one who is familiar with the above scenario, then take my advice – you cannot spot reduce fat. This is the greatest myth in the fitness industry. If you want to reduce fat from any specific region, you will have to go on a calorie deficit. The deficit can be created either by diet or by exercise. Wait! Did I just mention exercise? The person in our example has been working out, so how come he had no results to show for it? The reason is simple – the exercises he has chosen are not burning enough calories. For example, crunches are simply not enough for burning enough calories to take you in a calorie deficit to target your belly fat.

Also crunches work on the rectus abdominus. What is that? That is the muscle of the abdomen. Hence crunches will have no impact on the fat lying over the muscle, and that is the hard truth.

Therefore, whenever you want to reduce unwanted body fat from any particular region, you have to think from an overall fat loss perspective. That is, you

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

Whenever you want to reduce unwanted body fat from any particular region, you have to think from an overall fat loss perspective have to reduce the total body fat percentage to see progress.

You have to take up a healthier lifestyle with a balance of effective training, proper sleep and eating the right kind of food. Having said that, I should also mention that your body tends to hold on to certain areas of fat areas more

rigidly than in others even through diet and exercise. We often term them as ‘stubborn body fat’. While there are many reasons behind this, the number one factor to remember is that blood flow is not equal in all areas of the body to mobilize fat equally. Thus do not lose hope and keep working hard

towards that fat loss goal of yours.

I promise you, if you are consistent you will see all your unwanted body fat melt away.

There is also another important point worth mentioning. The speed at which you lose your body fat is dependent on several factors.

For example, if you have a rate of body fat percentage of above 20% the fat loss will be pretty fast.

However, if you are willing to go below 10% then surely you will not see the same results. The loss of fat will be at an annoyingly slow rate. Also, you will lose fat faster in some region of your body than in others. For men, they may see quicker fat loss results in the upper body than in the lower abdomen.

Similarly for women, the fat from

gluts and thigh region tends to go away at the slowest rate.

That is the human anatomy; we have been created that way. The body uses fat for emergency fuel, and it tends to want to hold on to some of those ‘reserves’. Therefore in many cases fat loss may seem like a difficult and sometimes frustrating task. Then again, as I have already mentioned above, a good workout plan and diet strategy can definitely take you there. l

Reaz Mahmud Fiem is a fitness enthusiast who wishes to help people stay healthy.

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Human resource planning in health care Raqibul n Professor Mohammad Anwar Human resource planning is an essential component for any successful health care system, given the fact that two-thirds of the financial resources in the system is put aside for salary and wages of the health care professionals.

The history of this evolving process in the world, however, is extremely discouraging. Many countries do not have any strategic planning for human resource in health care. Few nations, including ours, have had the initiative in the past, the implementation of which never really saw the light of day.

Others have had strategies which were poorly planned and resulted with an adverse effect on their health care system.

Poorly planned human resource strategy would encounter a mismatch between demand and supply, and ineffectively utilise the available health care personnel, often resulting in poor quality and an under-productive workforce.

It is common to see a partial approach to planning human resources by ignoring relationships between health professions. Even

in the most developed countries of the world, there may be some central, but often inadequate, planning of the medical workforce – all from medical student intakes to forecasting future demands of the doctors.

The situation is even worse with nursing professions and allied workforce planning due to the lack of attention given to the distribution of medical and nursing staff between specialties and geographical regions, resulting in preventable inequalities.

The basic economic principle of “incentive” is simply ignored as I have discussed in my own research in “Dual job holding practitioners in Bangladesh,” which was published in the journal of Social Science and Medicine Revealed (2002 Jan;54(2):26779). Instead, many of the policy makers and personnel (both public representatives and civil administration) associated with implementation of health care policies try using the fear factor to force out efficient delivery of services from health care professionals.

The expectations held are well beyond their skill and knowledge.

Moreover, they have inadequate,

Human resource planning in health is mandatory if we care to see a health care that effectively carries out its commitment to the society

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inappropriate and limited resources at their disposal.

Disproportionate production of skilled health care professionals in different categories and their inappropriately planned functional and geographical placement not only result in poor use of health care but also creates a mistrust about the overall health system in the country. It drives away patients, forcing them to seek health care somewhere else, further depriving the system of the already limited resources and valuable hard earned foreign exchange reserves that a country like ours can ill-afford.

Human resource planning in health is mandatory if we care to see a health care that effectively carries out its commitment to the society. Workforce policies, though not yet planned in Bangladesh, tend to assume that existing health care delivery systems is cost-effective. The workforce requirement is driven by health care expenditure allocated from the national budget by the Chancellor of Exchequer, with resources dictating the volume of provision.

Health care policy makers in Bangladesh have to recognise the need for more integrated planning of human resources in health care, which are responsive to the system’s needs and design and to the demographic transition of diseases, particularly those seen in the western world.

The Bangladesh Health System review (which was published in the Health System in Transition, volume 5, number 3, 2015) categorically states that the current health system is not prepared to address emerging health issues such as population ageing and non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and emerging

infectious diseases, injuries related to road traffic accidents, violence, obstetric and neonatal complex conditions and others.

It is clear from the review that Bangladesh lacks a structured policy for health care human resource planning. The first Health Workforce Strategy was published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2008. Though the intention was to implement the HR strategy in collaboration with the private sector, development partners and other stakeholders review the strategy every five years for necessary updates.

The first stakeholder dialogue on Human Resources for Health was held in 2012 with the objective of starting advocacy on the need for an adequate and skilled health workforce and a well-functioning health system, but eventually resulted with no implementation(WHO, 2014).

A well planned health care workforce needs to meet the health needs of the population, as the aspiration is to achieve maximum benefit with minimum cost, while also providing service levels fit and adequate for the populace of the country.

The aim is to have the right number of people with the right skills in the right place at the right time, all in order to provide the right services to the right people.

The task is made even more challenging by the vastness of methods available along with the sparseness of consensus on the quality and appropriateness of those methods.

There is huge discrepancy between demand for health care in Bangladesh and the supply human capital with the appropriate expertise. The number of appropriately qualified doctors, nurses and technicians

in comparison to their skill mix and geographical distribution is alarming. The number of doctors in Bangladesh is less than 1/8th of the WHO recommendation, our strength in nursing is less than 1/25th and that of the technicians is almost less than 1/50th of the requirement.

A number of policy measures may have to be undertaken now to correct this mismatch, such as improving curriculum content and post-graduate training, recognising overseas qualifications, introducing temporary employment regulations, subsidised education for return of service, increasing trainee salaries, raising wages, providing non-wage benefits, introducing incentives for return of skilled migrants, establishing retirement benefits, providing better living conditions, establishing safe and supportive working environments, introducing career development programs and so on.

In other words, targeted investment in health care human development from multiple sources (such as the public, NGOs and private entities) are vital. No matter how difficult it is going to be, the time is ripe to take the leap.

A stitch in time saves nine! l

Professor Raqibul Mohammad Anwar is a Colorectal Surgeon at Bart’s and The Royal London Hospital, Ambassador and Convener of Examinations, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Colonel, UK Armed Forces (RAMC), and President and CEO of RAHETID (RA Hospital, Education and Training Institute Dhaka)

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Interview

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Rezwanul Kabir

The BUET graduate talks about some of the important life decisions he made that helped lead to his successful career in Germany Rezwanul Kabir is an IT architect currently working at Daimler Concern in Germany, which also happens to own renowned car manufacturer Mercedes Benz.

After graduating from BUET, Kabir set his sights on a postgraduate degree abroad, Germany to be exact. Taking time out of his busy life, Kabir patiently talks about his experiences in Germany, and how it is different from the Bangladeshi perspective.

How and why did you decide to study abroad?

During my fourth year of Bachelors, I started planning for my future career. After analysing many parameters, it occurred to me that a higher degree from outside of Bangladesh will be beneficial for my career.

Why did you select Germany?

How did you know which university to apply to?

I was looking for a matching masters course in many different countries and universities. At that time, American visa was literally barred for Bangladeshi students. Canada / Australia were two other options, but the tuition fees were extremely high, and so was (or still is!) the case in UK. This meant, that if had to study in one of the universities in these countries, I needed to carry a huge burden of paying my tuition fees on my own. At that time, I noticed some of the European countries provide tuitionfree Masters courses. Among these countries, I especially noticed those in Germany. It had matching courses that were offered in English. It was a perfect match. So I hopped into the plane to Düsseldorf.

What was the process for your admission?

It was very easy. I started looking for options, and I realised one needs IELTS or TOEFL test scores.

I immediately sat for IELTS which helped me get accepted, along with my transcripts and certificates. Actually, no other papers were required. The process was really fast and lean.

How did you select your course?

I had studied Urban and Regional Planning for my Bachelor’s degree. There I had learned about GIS (basically the computer simulated mapping and geographic analysis tool).

I particularly like GIS and then

there was Remote Sensing, which is imaging earth surface with satellite sensors. This package was fascinating for me.

Personally I am particularly keen on computers, from the inside and out. At that time I was building my own machines and upgrading them frequently, installing drivers, messing up with the boot sequence etc. So I figured out, if I do proceed with my higher studies, it must be something ITrelated.

What was the main difference in the approach to academics compared to Bangladesh?

State-of-the-Art technology in respective field, orientation on practical learning rather than theory, extraordinarily helpful teaching staff, and good IT infrastructure.

How did you adjust to learning German?

The design of our course was that we had to attend some lectures in our 3rd and 4th semesters in German. That’s why it was mandatory for us to attend a German language course beforehand. We needed to pass DaF level four, otherwise there would be no certificate for us.

Because of this indirect pressure, I had to attend German language courses in university.

Afterwards, in professional life, I spent most of my time with German colleagues. There I always tried to communicate in German rather than English (however bad it might be). Slowly, one improves when one tries.

What advice would you give to any students from Bangladesh looking to study in Germany?

Make good use of the DAAD website. This is loaded with helpful information. Just spend some time, you will find what you are looking for on this site (www. daad.de). If you think you will be able to survive in Germany without learning German, then you cannot be more wrong. You have to give up prejudice against learning German to succeed. So buckle up your belt, and learn German.

In terms of a career, Germany is good for engineers and IT people.

However, I don’t recommend Germany if you are from sociology, philosophy or business background, because if you do, then there is 95% possibility that

Rezwanul Kabir

In terms of a career, Germany is good for engineers and IT people

you are not going have a career in Germany. If it’s for just studies, Germany is wonderful.

Once you’re in Germany, make the most use of the university time that you have. Don’t waste a second on movies, bars, parties etc. Two years is a very short period and it will be over before you realise it. So make the best use of this time learning as much and as diversely as you possibly can.

Was it difficult getting a job in Germany after your graduation?

In my case, it was really easy. I started to work in a company as a student intern, and then did my Masters thesis in the company, of course with collaboration from my university. After achieving good milestones, the company offered me a job contract. So the transition from student life to professional life was extremely smooth for me. I had hopped directly into

the professional role as a software developer.

What advice would you give to any students from Bangladesh looking to work in Germany?

Is it necessary to study there previously?

Yes. One needs to be open to learning the German language, and ready to embrace German culture.

There are certain German things that one really needs to stick to.

Timeliness, for example. Good technical know-how is a must in the job market, as one needs to compete with the German professionals. And believe me, some of them are really good! So if you want to mark your place here, you need to be good at what you do.

Are there many Bangladeshis in Germany? What was your support network?

There are some, but not like the numbers in the UK or Australia.

There are some hubs, like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt etc. In the other areas, it is very hard to find Bangladeshis. Networking is quite easy. There is a central Students and Alumni Association. There are also local networking groups, based on mail networking or Facebook.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Visit Germany, there are many misconceptions outside about the Germans. Find out for yourself how much of these are true. Life in Germany is very secure, as we have a very strong social security net. The health system is top notch. If you are ready to learn German, Germany is one of the best places to immigrate to. l Article was reprinted under special arrangement with www.grad-insights.com

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

| workshop |

| offer |

500 Startups to host a workshop at GP Accelerator

Special offers at Dhaka Regency

The GP Accelerator program, powered by SD Asia, is taking another big step to help their second batch of startup founders to become more customer-centric in terms of product design. In collaboration with 500 Startups, GP Accelerator program has designed a two-day workshop curriculum called “Design Drill.”

500 Startups will facilitate the startups from the second batch to tackle their biggest challenges in user experience. This workshop is designed to give early-stage startups a basic understanding of the UX design process, techniques and methodologies. It will briefly cover topics like Persona Creation, Architecture and User Flow developing, Prototyping and much more. The workshop will empower

founders with a fundamental idea of design, functional skills and tools through an immersive design experience.

The GP Accelerator enables tech startups with the resources they need to build, grow, and excel. Along with exposure, seed funding, investor access and other opportunities; startups will get the privilege of learning the process of leveraging design to grow and succeed through “Design Drill.”

This specialised new addition will give the startup founders another good reason to apply for the GP Accelerator Program.

Hopefully, the double day program will lay the groundwork for startups to strike big and unlock the next level of business growth.l

| startup |

Ennovision: Learnings from GP Accelerator program Ennovision is a web-design company that serves all kinds of businesses as a one-stop solution in order to develop an online presence.

Aiming for customers from all around the world, this startup has taken up the responsibility to design the business websites. Recently, they have graduated from the GP Accelerator Program as one of the top five teams.

We spoke to Nazmul Ahmed, CEO of Ennovision, and learned about how the GP Accelerator program helped the startups. He shared his own experience and how much he learned from the program.

Improvement since joining the Accelerator After getting exposure from GP Accelerator and SD ASIA team, Ennovision is now getting more users. Nazmul said they did not have much users and customers during the launch of their prototype. After joining the GP Accelerator Program, their business has spread and the number of the regular users have increased.

Live life well with a getaway of tranquility at Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort.

To the romantic honeymooner, business traveler and family or leisure vacationer looking to escape in abyss, it offers a special package.

This exquisite package is offered only to the local residents up to two adults and two children of ages below 12, with a one night accommodation at Regency Studio, only at the cost of Tk9,999 (all inclusive).

Guests will enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast and dinner at Grandiose restaurant, one of the largest 24 hours multi-cuisine 5-star restaurants, offering food for your every mood.

Other exclusive facilities under this package are extended to a complimentary 30 minutes couple foot massage from 12pm-5pm at Juvenex Spa & Salon, access to its state-of-the art health club with the latest gym installments, swimming pool, steam and sauna.

| food |

Caramel Scoop’s anniversary GP Accelerator experience Expert mentorship from different sectors was the key to success for them. They considered the boot camp as a great learning session.

Moreover, Ennovision was a great opportunity to meet with investors and gain exposure to the market.

Nazmul is considering the media coverage as a great achievement.

Demo day experience The top five startups, including Ennovision, received the opportunity to present their businesses in front of more than 100 attendees including investors and professionals on Demo Day. They even caught eyes from several potential investors at the Demo Day. Equity share Nazmul thinks it is really worth to give up 10% equity, as he strongly believes his team learned and gained a lot more than that.l

With flavours including Belgium chocolate, Swiss chocolate chips, cream & cookies, strawberry cheese cake, caramel crunch ribbon, butterscotch, blueberry yogurt, hazelnut chocolate, Snikers, tiramisu, French vanilla, mango marble, orange starburst, praline & cream, strawberry and much more, Mi Amore ice-cream flavours, Caramel Scoop celebrates their one year of operations with a “buy any flavour and get any flavour free” offer. Moreover, “buy any topping and get any other topping free” offer is also present. You have the option to choose from their available stocks.

To avail, ask the waiter for the offer, which is valid till August 4, 2016.

Normally, the price of each scoop is Tk165 (excluding 15% VAT). l

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19

Biz Info

Aside from this, embark on a culinary journey at the finest restaurants in town with a 50% exclusive discount at Grandiose Restaurant and a 30% discount at Grill On The Skyline.

Both the offers will be valid till the end of July 2016 to elevate your moments with a more relaxing respite.

For reservations, please call at 01713332611 to confirm your accommodation. For reservation at the restaurants, call 01713332661. l

DT

20 Editorial

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

TODAY

Is the destruction of IS enough?

The ideology and promise they made to their followers will continue to attract and inspire other would-be militants and disgruntled elements worldwide PAGE 21

The culture to kill Our current-day movie formula is pretty much based around a lionised mafia culture. Almost all heroes are seen to work for a master criminal who operates a large crime syndicate PAGE 22

Are we ready for the next big earthquake?

Why do jihadists hate women but love porn?

Fighters are attracted to ISIS for a wide number of reasons. Many are social outcasts who are not all religious but join for the same reason as young men join gangs in LA and commit horrible acts -- they want to belong 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.

BIGSTOCK

A

massive earthquake could be brewing beneath Bangladesh.

According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature, we could be sitting on top of an active megathrust fault. If it ruptures, Bangladesh could experience an earthquake of magnitude 8.2 to 9.0.

The effects of this would be utterly devastating. For comparison, it is worth noting that the 9.0 earthquake in Japan in 2011 was caused by the same kind of geologic feature.

There is bad news -- most buildings in the capital are poorly built are not at all earthquake resilient.

More alarming is that there is no way to tell for sure when exactly the earthquake will hit.

Given the urgency of the situation, it is imperative that the government start preparing for disaster right now. Regrettably, the Fire Service and Civil Defense, our top rescue agency, has been suffering from a crisis of funding to train volunteers.

The government has initially pledged a fund balance of Tk160 crore through its comprehensive disaster management program, but funds have stopped. The training of volunteers for rescue efforts has had to be downsized.

There can be no room to cut corners when it comes to earthquake safety.

We need to be prepared on all fronts -- relief needs to reach people trapped under debris in case of a catastrophic event.

Furthermore, the government must enforce more stringent codes for buildings and new constructions. Builders, property developers, and the government, all need to work together in this regard.

This is not the time for petty personal interests. If a major earthquake hits, every single person will be affected. We need to brace ourselves accordingly.

If a major earthquake hits, every single person will be affected. We need to brace ourselves accordingly

Corrigendum In Tanvir Haider Chaudhury’s op-ed titled “The boy who went back,” printed on July 13, it incorrectly stated that Abinta Kabir -- one of the victims of the July 1 attack -- did not share the same nationality as her friend Faraaz Ayaz Hossain, who was a Bangladeshi. Abinta Kabir was in fact a Bangladeshi national and proudly identified herself as a Bangladeshi.

We apologise for this error.

DT

21

Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Is the destruction of IS enough?

The jihadist fight does not end at IS

n Ziauddin Choudhury

T

he first official knowledge of the existence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) became public when the militant group wrested control of a large chunk of Iraq including the cities of Mosul and Tikrit, and famously declared an Islamic caliphate in the captured territory in June 2014.

Their much touted victory over a thoroughly unequipped and decimated Iraqi army and retreating Syrian government forces made it possible for the Islamic radicals to find a home, and attract thousands to join the band from not only the Middle East, but also from other parts of the world including Europe, America, and Asia.

At the beginning, everyone among the political pundits and media dissed the idea of this militant group sustaining its gain, let alone expanding the territory and military organisation.

Even President Obama called the group a JV team (a term used for junior varsity sports teams), and did not direct any US resources toward containing or fighting this incipient band of militants. Meanwhile, ISIS expansion and consolidation of territory in Iraq and Syria continued, and reports of hundreds of youths from Europe and Asia joining the band continued to pour in.

The wake-up call would not come until about a year later, when ISIS-trained and inspired radicals carried out random bomb attacks, mass killings, and suicide missions in cities in France, Denmark, USA, Turkey, Tunisia, Yemen, and, of course, Iraq.

These activities doubled when the group or people swearing affiliation to it launched indiscriminate attacks on civilians in non-military bases in European and US cities as well as the Middle East, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

The West’s response to contain and defeat the nascent militant state was tentative, with US reluctant to have a ground force engaged in yet another Middle East battle, except for sporadic bomb attacks from air.

Dilly-dallying on a sustained and determined approach by Western nations to contain and destroy ISIS partly happened because of unwillingness among most of these countries to get involved in another Iraq-type war, and a feeling that such an entity did not pose an existentialist

threat to them.

Many political analysts and strategists argued that ISIS was an Arab problem, and should be dealt with by the Arab nations.

Strangely, many other non-Arab Muslim countries, including Turkey, had denied to get involved militarily on similar grounds.

It took some time for the US and European countries, including the non-Arab Muslim countries, to realise that ISIS was not just an entity to remain satisfied with establishing an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East, but also, more importantly, was the sponsor and proselytiser of a concept based on a twisted interpretation of Qur’an and Sharia.

This concept not only advocated expansion of its dream of Islamic caliphate all over the

We must not let our youth fall prey to radicalised beliefs and hateful ideals

It may be possible that the group will finally retreat. But they will run and hide elsewhere. The ideology and promise they made to their followers will continue to attract and inspire other would-be militants and disgruntled elements worldwide

Muslim world, but also wherever Muslims are, and it considered everybody who opposed this concept, irrespective of them being Muslims or followers of other religions a threat.

The concept of a state based on Islamic laws of Sharia, and rigid interpretation of the religion is not new. But the campaign launched

by ISIS and its followers and sympathisers was also, in a sense, existential. It is existential because the supporters believe that their ideology is one that every Muslim should live by.

Ironically, although the ideology was born decades ago in one form or the other, beginning with the Muslim Brotherhood in the same geographic area, and was later followed by more extremists groups such as Taliban in Afghanistan, and more famously al-Qaeda in later years, ISIS (which broke away from Al-Qaeda) took it to new levels by adopting Trotskyite tactics of mowing down opponents in a brutal manner along with conventional wars.

They started to behead people they believed to be their enemies including all “non-believers,” and encouraged and undertook suicide missions in non-military areas and indiscriminate killing of civilians in foreign soil.

Their conquest of two cities of Iraq and proclamation of the Caliphate, an act that no other radical groups were able to do before, also fired the imagination and zeal of the romantic youths abroad who were either disenchanted with their environments, or the lives they were leading.

They joined ISIS in droves, either because of their disenchantment, or because they already had nurtured radical thoughts and temperament in them. What we witnessed in Bangladesh in recent times in growth of religious radicalism and its manifestation in many forms is also not detached from this global spread of such extremism.

Unfortunately however, our political leaders seemed to put the blame on their political opponents for such violence whenever it occurred. Violence during election times and other political protests is not the same thing as those inspired by religious radicals.

The goals of violence caused by established political parties are short term, but those caused by the religious radicals are long term goals. These are changing the country from its established principles to ones that are based on a different ideology.

We have had a variety of

religious radicals sprouting in the country in last two decades, but none with the ferocity and viciousness of the groups who have been identified with some of the most violent acts of the last two years. The worst examples have been the tragic happening of Gulshan and Sholakia.

What is most revealing of the recent violent incidents is the identity of the perpetrators, who did not fit the usual profile of radical fighters emanating from religious institutions or from hardcore religious backgrounds.

They are youths drawn by a socalled ideal that has been able to draw many other youths like them from various parts of the world, and imbued them with hate, intolerance, and violence to spread that ideal. Now that a sizeable chunk of the territory occupied by ISIS has slid out of its hands, and it is poised to lose control of its last stronghold in Syria, it may be possible that the group will finally retreat, and the so-called Islamic caliphate might come to an abrupt end. But they will run and hide elsewhere.

The ideology and promise they made to their followers will continue to attract and inspire other would-be militants and disgruntled elements worldwide.

BIGSTOCK

They may be deprived of a home base, but they will strive for another in a likely soft state elsewhere.

What will prevent the further spread of this new radicalism is lack of public support. No movement can last for long on intimidation, terror, and indiscriminate killing. No religion sanctions that. The current movement of the so called jihadists, if we can call it a movement at all, is rooted neither in Islam, nor the vast followers of Islam.

It is a false movement based on false interpretation of the religion and its doctrines. No movement without mass support can survive for long. While countries gear up to confront the menace of this radical group, and take measures to stop their youth from falling prey to such ideas, alongside they will need to raise mass awareness about the falsehood of this radical thought, and the danger confronting us all.

In Muslim countries such as Bangladesh, this will mean more reforms in our educational curricula and institutions focusing on teachings of religion, values of life, liberty, and freedom of thought.

These will also need to be cast in the overall framework of transparency in governance, rule of law, and equality before law of all citizens in the country. Maybe we can see a better future free from violence for all our next generations if we strive together. l Ziauddin Choudhury has worked in the higher civil service of Bangladesh early in his career, and later for the World Bank in the USA.

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DT

Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

The culture to kill When does butchery leave the silver screen and enter real life? the plots always see the bad guys losing, but the hero, in most cases, begins as an underground goon, remaining at the extreme end of the law, carrying illegal weapons, delivering theatrical dialogues laced with death, vengeance, and vendetta.

In short, our current-day movie formula is pretty much based around a lionised mafia culture.

Almost all heroes are seen to work for a master criminal who operates a large crime syndicate.

Most films I have seen, including the three released this Eid: Badsha, Shikari, and Shomrat have some common scenes where gang-lords move in dark-coloured cars in convoys.

This projection of power of the underworld, carrying the air of impunity, is pervasive.

The hero of today is the mastaan or the goon. Of the three major films this Eid, Shakib Khan, a leading actor of the country, plays the role of a top terror in two of them. The other one, a joint production between Bangladesh and India, has Kolkata actor Jeet, playing a thug called Don Badsha.

by these films, entered the underworld, becoming a gun toting guard for one of the many sleazy hotels in the area, running prostitution rackets.

Lost in a fantasy world, he developed delusions of becoming a top boss. A love affair ensued with a young sex worker, and the dreams proliferated.

A year later, he was shot and left by the garbage bin; the girl went back to her work. Hardly a dreamy end!

Just for celluloid variation, Godfather-like movies are welcome once in a while. It’s disquieting when eight out of 10 movies released now have the mafia culture as the core premise.

As a writer, I do some humourbased reviews on these movies to entertain readers. However, serious concerns arise.

When the hero’s fiery leap towards vigilante justice receives a loud applause from a young audience or when the dream realisation of a young man to become Dhaka’s top terror is welcomed with an uncontrolled scream, I laugh, but also wonder.

Our current-day movie formula is pretty much based around a lionised mafia culture.

Almost all heroes are seen to work for a master criminal who operates a large crime syndicate Do local films glorify terror and carnage?

BIGSTOCK

n Towheed Feroze

I

ask for forgiveness beforehand for writing on movies at a time when the city plus the country is trying to digest the horrific attack at a café and at an Eid day prayer congregation.

But I feel that the tendency towards violence which we see in society today, and the brutality with which abominable acts are being committed -- sometimes against minors and under age workers -- have a link to the vicious culture of underground crime, glorified relentlessly in modern-day filmdom.

We may laugh it off, take Dhaliwood movies as utter nonsense with no semblance of rationality, and simply go to watch such productions for silly sensations, but there must be some serious thought beyond the lighthearted approach.

There are people who hold a dogged view that violence in movies never has influence;

well, I beg to differ. Long before machetes were used in real life to carry out savage attacks on people, the weapon was being used with fervour in celluloid.

In modern day movies -- this means films made in the last eight to 10 years -- sharp weapons have featured regularly with hacking off limbs shown in grisly detail.

In fact, in teasers and posters, film protagonists are now shown to discard the gun in favour of a large blade-like instrument.

Someone working within the industry tells me: Machetes, swords, and similar blade-like weapons accentuate the bravado of the hero.

Well, the violence shown on the large screen may not have any impact on mature people (though how many mature persons go to the halls is a question), but the young, especially the ones in rural Bangladesh, often imbibe local movies, and the perverted ideologies they try to present.

Almost inevitably, in the end,

Obviously, all these cinematic goons, played by leading actors, eventually show some redeeming side to their characters, but their transformation for the better comes after two hours of gun-toting action, extortion, super-charged bellicose dialogue, mocking the law, and bragging about the glory of being a terror.

I am shocked to see that in an Eid release called Badsha, the character of Jeet is obsessed as a child with the film role of Amitabh in Don and has only one aspiration: To be like him.

He eventually takes the name Don Badsha; of course, to add spice to the plot, the leading heroine falls head over heels for him -- sending another wrong message to people that women are mad for such men.

To recall a real episode: About a decade ago, when the celluloid gang culture was being popularised by Bollywood, I came across a young guy from Moghbazar area who, influenced

After the Holey Artisan carnage, there has been plenty of deliberation on how the young has become predisposed towards barbaric acts.

Well, I feel that wherever we look, brutal acts from shooting at public spaces, to killing with sharp instruments have risen with one of the reasons being the unending romanticising of the mastaan culture.

Perhaps the censor board needs to be a bit careful.

Interestingly, aside from the blood and gore of the Eid movies, the plots were stolen and, shockingly, some so-called movie connoisseurs have reportedly said of the three releases: “If such decent movies are made, then the habit of going to the cinema halls will return.”

Definition of “decent” has undergone a metamorphosis, one must say. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

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23

Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Why do jihadists hate women but love pornography?

We tend to ignore the problem of the ‘young man’

Living the sex slave fantasy is one of the reasons that drive young men to groups like IS

n Azeem Ibrahim

O

ne of the defining aspects of our culture right now, though it is rarely acknowledged and discussed, is the problem of the young man.

We often reflect, as a society, on the way in which our culture, especially as it is articulated in the media, has very strong and very negative consequences for our young women.

From the way in which our media is affecting our cultural understanding of normal body image, to the psychiatric disorders (including, but not limited to, eating disorders) that ravage a shocking proportion of our teenage daughters, to the ways in which this new culture is making it difficult for our young people to form long-lasting emotional connections built on trust with each other, these are aspects that receive a fair amount of attention.

What is less frequently discussed, and one feels is not taken quite as seriously, is the ways in which young men find themselves equally abused by the dominant mainstream cultural narrative.

The ideal of “masculinity” that our media projects is not just equally mismatched to our biology as the ideal of “femininity” that is sold to young girls, but it is also completely incompatible with the

way our society works: We live very interconnected, peaceful societies with little gender rolespecialisations (and most of us agree that the vestiges of such specialisation should go away sooner rather than later), but young men are still told that to be a “man” you need to be a violent, emotionally retarded, and socially inept alpha-male over whom women will swoon.

And if they don’t, then obviously, they are seen as too willing targets of sexual conquest.

Notice that it is still essential for the “man” to be acknowledged by “women.”

Skewed ideal of masculinity

So what is a young man to do when he has bought into the ideal of masculinity sold to him by the media, but has no outlet to express this masculinity. He cannot be socially dominant through violence because violence is not tolerated and will get you in prison.

He cannot become a celebrity because there are only so many celebrities that even a culture like ours can sustain.

He cannot become wealthy because such opportunities are still limited to only a few lucky ones, often despite talent and hard work -- the last few years since the financial crisis have put rest to the myth of economic meritocracy in our society.

REUTERS

psychological and emotional abuse on his victims -- often complete strangers.

But nowhere is there more scope for a man to be “manly,” which also includes the abuse of women, than in a war. And there is no war like “holy” war. Pick-up Artists everywhere must stand in awe of what the ISIS “lads” have achieved. Forget silly one-liners in the hope of a one-night stand.

Grab a Kalashnikov, move to Syria, and get yourself a bunch of underage sex slaves. This is not to dispute the complex entwining of causes, ideological, socioeconomic, or geopolitical, that gave rise to the monstrosity that is ISIS. But nor can there be any doubt about the prevalence of the maladjusted young man among the ISIS ranks, and indeed the attitudes of these people towards women.

-- they want to belong. Many from the UK and other Western countries fit this category and have a history of petty crime, drug dealing, and broken families.

Exhibit B: I know from reliable journalist sources in Turkey that many foreign fighters are joining ISIS attracted by the entire sexual slaves fantasy.

In fact, a lawyer friend of mine who, up until 2010, represented over 50% defendants in antiterrorism cases, confirmed to me that those arrested in the UK in anti-terrorism raids had over 90% of their hard drives filled with pornography. These are social misfits who are sexually frustrated.

But deeper than that is a lack of empathy and understanding: For these men, “females” are an enigma, a strange animal, which they fail to understand and thus must control and subjugate

Fighters are attracted to ISIS for a wide number of reasons. Some may be ideologically-driven militants who want to establish Islamic state. But many others are social outcasts who are not all religious but join for the same reason as young men join gangs in LA and commit horrible acts -they want to belong

He will be lucky to get a normal job. But, as “luckw” would have it, he can still be abusive towards women. That is still something that our society tolerates.

Enter the resurgence of misogyny that we have seen in recent years, from the Twitter trolls that hound women with death threats any time an intelligent woman has an opinion on the television to mass shootings.

The logical conclusion of the problem of the young man left behind is the emergence of social phenomena like the Pick-up Artist movement, which regards women as little more than a hunter would regard a fox, and attributes to half of the world’s population just as much agency and personhood.

Women, in this frighteningly prevalent ideology, are nothing more than objects of sexual interest for “real men” and are the prize a man will inevitably gain if he “plays” the right game of

Extreme sexual behaviour

Exhibit A: A recent report has indicated that ISIS fighters are engaging in some extreme sexual behaviour. This should not come as a surprise as even pornography was found in bin Laden’s compound when he was captured by Navy Seals and we have all seen CCTV images of the 9/11 hijackers in strip clubs days before the attack.

More recently, Edward Snowden exposed how the NSA was fully aware of the hypocritical relationship between radical preachers’ public image and their private pornographic habits with at least two radical preachers grooming underage girls online.

Fighters are attracted to ISIS for a wide number of reasons.

Some may be ideologically-driven militants who want to establish Islamic state. But many others are social outcasts who are not all religious but join for the same reason as young men join gangs in LA and commit horrible acts

brutally. Which is why they engage in deviant sexual practices whilst at the same time forcing women to cover their faces and even hands in public.

Like in many other things, ISIS is the ugly symptom of some really rather ugly realities. And not just in the Muslim world -- our young men have been seduced by this ideology. But the problem of the young man does not seem to be going anywhere any time soon, and it is imperative that we recognise it.

There are no obvious or easy solutions to it, but we must start thinking about it, sooner rather than later. Until we do, there will always be some kind of ISIS fantasy somewhere in the world. l Azeem Ibrahim is a Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College and an International Security Lecturer at the University of Chicago. This article was prevously published in Al-Arabiya.

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All-round Shakib helps Tallawahs to huge win

TOP STORIES

n Agencies

Abahani, Sk Russel eye top-flight title A confident Abahani Limited, led by experienced Austro-Hungarian head coach George Kottan, are focusing firmly on continuing their brilliant form this season when the Bangladesh Premier Football League begins this Sunday. PAGE 25

BRIEF SCORE

BFF reduces BPL venues to four The Bangladesh Football Federation has reduced the number of venues to four from seven for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League which kicks off on July 24. A meeting was held at the BFF House yesterday. PAGE 26

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS 183/6 in 20 overs (Sangakkara 65, Shakib 34, Santokie 3/24) ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS 75 all out in 15.5 overs (Carter 23, Williams 3/19, Shakib 2/2) Jamaica Tallawahs won by 108 runs

Henin, Safin ushered into Hall of Fame Justine Henin, a shy, petite Belgian with a fierce desire to win, and bigserving Russian Marat Safin were honored as the new inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday. PAGE 27

Shakib al Hasan of Jamaica Tallawahs hits a six during their Caribbean Premier League match against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday INTERNET

The Jamaica Tallawahs pace bowlers led them closer to the top spot in the Caribbean Premier League table by wrapping up St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for 75 in 15.5 overs to secure a 108-run win in Kingston. The margin was second-highest for a victory in the CPL, and incidentally, the record for the highest margin belongs to Patriots’ 119-run win against Tallawahs. Tallawahs’ win on Saturday was their fourth in six matches, placing them a point behind Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Patriots’ chase of 184 didn’t get the start they wanted as Andre Russell removed Lendl Simmons for a duck on the third ball of the first over, which conceded only one run. Dale Steyn also stifled with an equally economical first over.

Like Hodge, Devon Thomas also fell for a first-ball duck in the next over before Steyn and Shakib al Hasan wiped out the tail, as Patriots lost their last eight wickets for only 22 runs. While Williams finished with 3 for 19, Russell, Steyn and Shakib took two apiece with economy rates of less than six each.

When Tallawahs were asked to bat, they lost their openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle cheaply but Kumar Sangakkara steered them towards a competitive total with a half-century, his first of the tournament in six innings. He forged crucial partnerships with Rovman Powell - 74 in 7.1 overs - and Andre Russell - 45 in 5.2 overs. When Sangakkara fell for 65 in the 16th over, Shakib provided a late surge with an unbeaten 34 off 17 balls, including five fours and a six, to take them to 183, a total that proved to be too much for Patriots. l

BFF still hasn’t signed Saintfiet ‘Argentina will be fine without Messi’ Argentina will fight for major honours despite Lionel Messi retiring from international soccer after the disappointment of last month’s Copa America final shootout loss to Chile, the country’s former forward Hernan Crespo has said. PAGE 28

n Tribune Report Bangladesh Football Federation hasn’t yet penned the deal with coach Tom Saintfiet even after the first training camp under him ended at the Kamalapur Stadium yesterday.

Saintfiet, who said he is “quite satisfied” with his charges, is scheduled to leave Dhaka for a one-week vacation soon.

“I didn’t talk to the federation

about my contract because my focus was fully on the training camp,” he said.

Saintfiet is in Nigeria’s shortlist of three coaches as their next manager. Saintfiet, the former Togo coach, said the Nigerian federation has made contact with him.

If he is chosen by Nigeria, his days with Bangladesh are numbered.

He however, said he had good time with Bangladesh in the past week. The players, divided

into two teams, played a practice match in Kamalapur and the camp ended with penalty shootout practice.

“We had nine training sessions together which gave me a lot of information. I’m quite satisfied with the commitment and motivation of the players. “It was a pleasure to watch them for six days. I saw some very good quality players.

Physical shape is not up to the level yet but in the coming weeks,

when the league starts, I’m sure they will be fit. I hope to find some other players who will be ready to play for national team.

“I have only two real strikers now. [Nabib Newaj] Jibon, [Shakhawat Hossain] Rony and [Jahid Hasan] Ameli is not there.

I spoke to Jibon and Rony [yesterday] and I hope they will be ready in coming weeks. The more choices I have, the more opportunities I will get,” said Saintfiet.l

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Ebadat, Mahedi vow to improve n Mazhar Uddin The 25 member High Performance squad started its training camp under strength and conditioning coach Corey Bocking at the National Cricket Academy in Mirpur yesterday.

HP head coach Simon Helmot, who is currently at the Caribbean Premier League as the coach of Trinbago Knight Riders, will join the camp after the tournament.

On the first day of the camp, cricketers also spent time in the nets. According to Bocking, they will initially work on the players’ fitness and later do skill training under match situations.

“It will be a short camp and we have planned accordingly as we will work on fitness in the first stage of the camp. And then we will work on the skills and later practice in match situations and at the last stage of the camp we will play a few games as well,” Boking said yesterday.

“Primarily I observed some of them are in pretty good shape. Yet there are a few players who will have to work a lot on their fitness.

We will provide individual programme for the cricketers and our

main goal is to prepare a few players for the national team,” he added.

The camp includes fast bowler Ebadat Hossain who used to play handball for Bangladesh Air Force not so long ago. His fortunes changed after he was selected at the Robi Pacer Hunt earlier this year and later impressed the Tigers coach Chandika Hathurusingha when he bowled in the national team nets.

“Hathurusingha and Heath Streak liked my bowling and told me to bowl regularly in the national team nets. However, I was unable to attend regularly as I did not manage to take the leave from my job,” he said.

“But later I was selected in the pacer hunt. In the beginning I started with the taped-tennis ball and after completing my SSC I have played with the cricket ball. Afterwards I joined the Air Force where I use to play handball,” he added.

The 23-year old is aiming high and looking forward to showcase his talent and utilise the opportunity in the upcoming days.

On the other hand young Mehedi Hasan, who was also picked up in the 25 member HP squad for the

first time after his brilliant performance in the Dhaka Premier League for Gazi Group Cricketers this season, is looking forward to making the best use of his first opportunity.

“This is the first time I have been selected in such a programme. If I can improve my fitness level along with my skills I think it will help me in the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League), BCL (Bangladesh Cricket League and NCL (National Cricket League) in the coming seasons,” said Hasan.

“Every cricketer dreams to play for the national team but for that I have to take it step by step. My goal would be to improve as much I can,” he added.

2016 High Performance squad

Shadman Islam, Mehedi Maruf, Abdul Mazid, Mehedi Hasan, Saif Hasan, Nazmul Hossain, Al Amin, Tasamul Haque, Sanjamul Islam, Noor Hossain, Tanveer Haider, Saqlain Sajib, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Alauddin Babu, Ashikuzzaman, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Subashish Roy, Nur Alam, Abu Haider, Dewan Sabbir, Ebadat Hossain, Irfan Sukkur, Zakir Hasan, Salman Hossain l

Bangladesh’s High Performance squad member Nazmul Hossain Shanto (L) performs jumping drills during training in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Abahani, Sheikh Russel eye top-flight title n Tribune Report A confident Abahani Limited, led by experienced Austro-Hungarian head coach George Kottan, are focusing firmly on continuing their brilliant form this season when the Bangladesh Premier Football League begins this Sunday in Chittagong.

The Sky Blues reached the final in both the domestic tournaments – Independence Cup and Federation Cup - this season, including title victory in the latter, thus bring-

ing an end to their five-year trophy drought.

However, the four-time professional league champions have not won the league since 2010-11 so they are determined to end their long wait.

In contrast, former treble winners Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra are not having the best of times, having failed to lift any trophy in the last three years. Guided by Uefa A licensed coach Maruful Haque, Sheikh Russel are desperate to

put their bad times firmly behind them.

Along with Abahani and Sheikh Russel, Rahmatganj MFS and Uttar Baridhara Club faced the media at the BFF House yesterday where they also expressed their expectations and targets for the upcoming season.

ABAHANI

George Kottan, head coach Last year we knew that we wouldn’t be champions but this time, four-

five teams have almost same kind of squad and we will try to get the championship title. All are in good shape and fully fit except [Nabib Newaj] Jibon who is out due to sickness. They are getting good practice sessions. They worked very hard. We will try to play one or two friendly matches. We are ready to start the league. My team is now better than before. I will try, my boys will also try to win the league title and I believe they are able of making it.

Ariful Islam, captain Motivation is high since we became the champions in the Federation Cup. The condition of the team is very good after taking part in two tournaments. The fitness and confidence levels are fine as well.

SHEIKH RUSSEL

(L-R) Captains of top-flight teams Uttar Baridhara Club, Abahani Limited, Rahmatganj MFS and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra pose for a photo at BFF House yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Maruful Haque, head coach When we formed the squad, our target was to win every tournament we participate in but we failed to perform upto the mark in the last two events. Now we are taking preparation for the league.

We will try our best to win the league. There are some injuries in the team that need time for full recovery. [Jahid Hasan] Ameli will not be there from the beginning due to injury but [Shakhawat Hossain] Rony will make it. Fikru [Teferra] picked up an injury during the Independence Cup but he is fit now. The other teams will also

fight but our main rivals are Abahani and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. The central defence is not good enough. The new players in the striking position need time to adjust. They just played two tournaments. Hopefully, they will get their form back in the league.

RAHMATGANJ

Kamal Babu, head coach Nobody can tell who are the favourites. There is not much difference between the quality of the players in every team, say it local or foreign players. After playing two tournaments, we are proud of how we played. The young players are playing great football. This inspires me to be hopeful.

We have a squad with a mixture of youth and experience. There are many young players who are doing great while we have experience in the team too. We will fight for the championship from the beginning.

Football is a game that needs hard work. I don’t know why our players have issues with the new format.

UTTAR BARIDHARA

Rashed Ahmed Pappu, head coach As a new club in the league, we have a comparatively good team.

Our target is to finish the league at sixth or seventh place. We are happy with the recruitment of the local players. We are trying to recover our mistakes from the two previous tournaments. l

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BFF reduces BPL venues to four n Tribune Report The Bangladesh Football Federation has reduced the number of venues to four from seven for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League which kicks off on July 24.

A meeting of the professional football league committee was held at the BFF House yesterday where the decision was made to omit Barisal, Rajshahi and Gopalganj.

After yesterday’s decision the BPL matches will now be held in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Mymensingh. Two round matches from both legs will be held in Mymensingh while the rest will be held in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

BFF said the reasons behind reducing venues are to finish the league as soon as possible, as they have national team’s assignment against Bhutan in the Asian Cup Qualifier play-offs, Sheikh Russel’s AFC Cup campaign and international tournaments at the end of the year.

But it was learned that the BFF changed its decision after a few clubs requested to do so but the federation denied this.

“We had to change the decision considering many issues like the current situation of the country and some clubs also demanded to reduce the number of venues,” said Abdus Salam Murshedy after the meeting. l

USADA wants blanket ban on Russian athletes n Reuters The United States and Canadian Anti-Doping Agencies want a complete ban on Russia competing at the Rio Olympics after next week’s key report into allegations of statebacked doping at the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics is published, according to a leaked draft letter seen

by Reuters on Saturday.

Russia’s track and field athletes are already banned from competing at next month’s Olympics by the world governing International Association of Athletics’ Federations over widespread doping in the sport. In the draft letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee United States Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calls for a ban on all Russian athletes, not just in track and field.

“We write on behalf of a community of clean athletes and anti-doping organizations with faith that the IOC can lead the way forward by upholding the principles of Olympism,” said the draft letter signed

by Tygart and Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports CEO Paul Melia.l

Pakistan’s Yasir Shah celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Gary Ballance during the fourth day of their first Test at Lord’s yesterday

REUTERS

Shah double puts Pakistan on top n AFP, London Yasir Shah grabbed two wickets in quick succession as Pakistan moved closer to victory in the first Test against England at Lord’s yesterday.

At tea England were 155 for six needing a further 128 runs to reach their victory target of 283.

Jonny Bairstow (28 not out) and all-rounder Chris Woakes (five not out) - who had already taken 11 wickets in this match - were still at the crease but with just the tail to come.

The most England had ever made before to win in the fourth innings of a Lord’s Test was 282 for three against New Zealand in 2004.

If England achieve their target in this match, it would be the second-highest such chase in a Lord’s Test behind the West Indies’ 344 for one back in 1984.

England were making steady progress at 135 for four when leg-spinner Shah, who took six for 72 in the first innings, struck yesterday.

A ball after Gary Ballance had pulled him for four, Shah bowled the recalled left-hander behind his

legs for 43 with a delivery that spun out of the rough.

Moeen Ali (two) then charged down the pitch in an attempt to drive Shah, only to be bowled between bat and pad by a well-flighted delivery.

Shah had taken two wickets for two runs in six balls and England were 139 for six.

spot-fixing crime.

But it was fellow left-arm quick Rahat who stunned England.

His back-off-a-length ball had left-hander Cook (eight) edging through to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Cook’s opening partner Alex Hales made a brisk 16 before carelessly chasing a wide ball from

If England achieve their target in this match, it would be the second-highest such chase in a Lord’s Test behind the West Indies’ 344 for one back in 1984 Earlier, Pakistan’s Rahat Ali removed England’s top three batsmen in a breathless pre-lunch session that saw the hosts score 90 runs in 22 overs.

England captain Alastair Cook launched the chase with a four off the very first ball of the innings when he cut a loose Mohammad Amir delivery to the boundary.

All the pre-match focus had been on Amir, making his return to Test cricket at the scene of his 2010

Rahat outside off stump, with Mohammad Hafeez holding a good catch at first slip.

Joe Root, England’s new number three, struck two superb coverdriven fours off Rahat - one of the back foot and the other the front.

But the star batsman fell into a hooking trap on nine when he paddled a Rahat short ball to Shah, set back at deep square leg.

James Vince too got off the mark with a cover-driven four off Rahat.

Vince was on nine when his edged drive off Rahat flew to Younis Khan only for the second slip to drop both the initial low catch and the rebound.

Vince struck nine fours, mainly through the offside, on his way to a Test-best 41 not out at lunch without looking assured.

It seemed he might give a catch in the slips at any moment and he did so again early in the second session.

Vince added just one run to his lunch score when, not moving his feet, he edged a booming drive of a Wahab Riaz delivery that moved away to second slip Younis, who this time clung on at the second attempt.

Earlier, Pakistan added just one run to their overnight 214 for eight.

Pace bowler Woakes led England off the field after taking five for 32 for a match haul of 11 for 102. l

DAY FOUR, AT TEA PAKISTAN 339 & 215 (Shafiq 49, Sarfraz 45, Woakes 5/32) v ENGLAND 272 & 155/6 (Ballance 43, Vince 42, Rahat 3/41) England need 128 more runs to win

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QUICK BYTES Hewitt pulls out of Rio coaching role Two-times grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has opted out of his role as coach of the Australian men’s tennis team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for “personal reasons”, local media reported yesterday.

Hewitt’s withdrawal is another blow for Australia’s prospects at Rio after top-ranked players Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic withdrew themselves from consideration.

–REUTERS

Howard makes smooth transition to MLS Goalkeeper Tim Howard has had no problems in making the transition to Major League Soccer and has been brilliant for the Colorado Rapids from the outset. The long-time United States goalkeeper spent the last 13 years in English soccer, including 10 seasons at Everton, before it was announced in March that he would sign a three and a half-year deal with Colorado.

–REUTERS

Napoli signs Giaccherini Italy midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini ended a disappointing spell at Sunderland after signing a three-year contract with Napoli on Saturday, the Serie A runners-up announced.

Giaccherini joined Sunderland from Juventus in 2013, but the 31-year-old struggled to earn regular playing time at the Stadium of Light and spent the past season on loan at Bologna.

–AFP

Singh edges Hope to clinch Asia Pacific title Indian boxing star Vijender Singh was crowned the WBO Asia-Pacific Super Middleweight champion Saturday after edging out Australia’s Kerry Hope by a unanimous decision in the country’s maiden professional fight in New Delhi.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1 4:00PM Pakistan Tour of England 1st Test, Day 5

SONY SIX 6:30AM Caribbean Premier League T20 Jamaica v Trinbago

FOOTBALL SONY SIX 7:30PM Premier Futsal League Kolkata v Goa Mumbai v Chennai

Great Britain’s Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot in action during their Davis Cup quarter-final doubles match against Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic at Tasmajdan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday REUTERS

Henin, Safin ushered into Hall of Fame n Reuters Justine Henin, a shy, petite Belgian with a fierce desire to win, and big-serving Russian Marat Safin were honored as the new inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday.

Seven-times grand slam singles winner Henin and twice grand slam champion Safin were joined in the festivities by France’s Amelie Mauresmo, who won election last year but was unable to attend induction ceremonies due to the birth of her son. Henin, 34, the first Belgian elected to the shrine, said standing in the spotlight was difficult for her but very much appreciated as the culmination of a dream that began at age six.

“Being the centre of the attention is not always the best for me,” she told reporters. “Today is also quite emotional, not only get this honor, but also need to remember how hard was the way, but how beautiful was the way from the little girl of six years old that was not that big.

“Being part of the history of the game, it’s much more than I could expect for as a little girl. I’m really proud, happy.”

Safin burst to prominence

with a stunning straight-sets rout of Sampras in the 2000 U.S. Open final and added the 2005 Australian Open crown over Hewitt in addition to helping Russia win two Davis Cup championships. The big Russian, known for taking his frustrations out on his rackets and tennis balls, said he felt like a kid in Disneyland in visiting the Hall of Fame museum.

Mauresmo, an Australian and Wimbledon champion and first French woman to reach world number one, said joining the Hall of Fame community was a thrill.

“You feel part of a special family that have achieved special things,”

she said. “It’s such a great honor, privilege.”

Henin, remembered for her all-round game and devastating one-handed backhand, said her fate was sealed at an early age.

“At 10 years old I went to the French Open. It was the final between Steffi (Graf) and Monica (Seles),” recalled Henin. “I said to my mum, ‘One day I will be on this court and I will win.’

“I was getting to my bedroom, I was jumping like I was winning the French Open. For me, it was clear I was going to do that. French Open and number one,” she added. “At 21 it became real.” l

Marat Safin of Russia (L), Amelie Mauresmo of France (C) and Justine Henin of Belgium smile as they sit for an interview before being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday REUTERS

Croatia still alive in Davis Cup quarter-final n Reuters, London Croatia kept alive their Davis Cup hopes when Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig won their doubles match in four sets against the United States in Oregon on Saturday.

Cilic was not expected to play doubles, but was drafted in at the last minute after Croatia lost both singles rubbers on Friday to slip to the brink of elimination.

And the 2014 U.S. Open singles champion teamed up superbly with Dodig against American doubles specialists the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, winning 6-2 2-6 6-2 6-4 in Portland. The U.S. lead 2-1 heading into yesterday’s reverse singles, while Davis Cup holders Britain also enjoy a 2-1 lead in Serbia after Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot won Saturday’s doubles.

Davis Cup holders Britain edged into a 2-1 lead in Serbia after Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot won Saturday’s doubles.

Rain meant only one of Friday’s two scheduled singles were completed but Serbia quickly squared up the quarter-final on day two as Dusan Lajovic thrashed James Ward 6-1 6-3 6-2. However, Murray and Inglot were too strong for veteran Nenad Zimonjic and Filip Krajinovic, winning 6-1 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 to put Britain one rubber away from the semi-finals.l

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Argentina will be competitive without Messi, says Crespo n Reuters, Chennai

Chelsea’s Oscar vie for the ball with a Rapid Vienna player during their pre season friendly at Allianz Stadion, Vienna, Austria on Saturday. Chelsea lost 2-0

REUTERS

Conte lauds Kante signing after debut defeat n AFP, Vienna

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte hailed the signing of N’Golo Kante after the France international joined from Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday.

Kante, 25, became Chelsea’s second major signing this month, following the arrival of Michy Batshuayi from Marseille, after the Blues paid a reported £32 million (38 million euros, $42 million) for the defensive midfielder.

Benatia eyes titles with Juve n AFP, Rome Morocco defender Medhi Benatia is targeting more success with Juventus after joining the Serie A champions on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.

Benatia, 29, completed his move to the Turin giants on Friday in a deal that gives Juventus the option to make the signing permanent.

“The aim this season is that of retaining the Scudetto but also to be increasingly competitive in Europe as well,” Benatia said as he was presented at Saturday’s press conference.l

“I want to say Kante was a target and for this reason I’m very happy the club bought the player,” said Conte, after watching Chelsea lose 2-0 to Rapid Vienna in his first match in charge.

“He’s a good player. He has good technique, fantastic stamina and I like this type of player. If you want to win then a team needs this type of player that works hard for the team. All together we are working to improve the squad. We know we have to but we prefer to wait and go

for our targets, rather than go with emotion and take the players who don’t adapt to our idea of football.”

Conte fielded an experienced side with John Terry named as captain for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Rapid in the Austrian capital.

The Italian also handed starts to several first-team regulars including Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Willian and Branislav Ivanovic, but the English giants fell behind when Brazilian teenager Joelinton scored

after just eight minutes.

Chelsea academy product Ola Aina fired against the post in the second half. However, Rapid struck again through Tomi Correa on 82 minutes to wrap up the victory.

“This is the first game for us but I knew it would be very difficult after three days of double training,” said Conte.

“I think it was a bit normal to meet these difficulties in the game, but I don’t like to lose and it’s the same for my players.” l

Mourinho hails fit-again Shaw n AFP, Wigan

Jose Mourinho paid tribute to England left-back Luke Shaw as he continued his comeback from a 10-month injury lay-off in the new Manchester United manager’s first game in charge of the club.

Shaw, out since suffering a double leg break in a Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven, came through the first 45 minutes of a 2-0 victory at Championship side Wigan as the Portuguese manager began the latest chapter of his career in winning style.

“When I found Luke at the training ground it was a surprise for me

because I thought he couldn’’t be ready to train without any type of limitation but he did fantastic in the summer,” said Mourinho.

“He sacrificed his holiday. He stayed in Manchester and was at the training ground every day putting himself in condition. Of course you lose a bit of sharpness of condition and confidence that is normal but he is trying hard.

“He was mad to play for more than just 45 minutes but for me it is better 45 safe minutes than more, so let’s go step by step.”

Shaw, 21, looked composed and fit, even in such low-key surroundings, and is clearly relishing the

challenge of re-establishing himself in the United line-up under the new manager.

“I’m just looking forward and to carry on doing what I did last year from the start,” said Shaw.

“Everyone helped me from the club and my family and friends played a massive part in helping me through so a massive thanks to all them.

“I don’t want to put things in my mind, I am going to take it as it comes. The main thing is to get through pre-season and to be ready.

Every pre-season is important. But I have been out for 10 months and I can’t wait to get going.”l

Argentina will fight for major honours despite Lionel Messi retiring from international soccer after the disappointment of last month’s Copa America final shootout loss to Chile, the country’s former forward Hernan Crespo has said.

The 29-year-old Messi, a fivetimes World Player of the Year, is Argentina’s top scorer with 55 goals and although he has played in three Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016, plus the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina have lost them all.

Despite media reports suggesting the Barcelona forward is reconsidering his decision, Crespo, 41, said the focus should now be on ensuring Argentina remain a force and take the next step to end the country’s 23year wait for a major trophy.

“The Argentina national team is very competitive. If you watch the last three tournaments - two Copa America finals and one World Cup final - you are competitive, you arrive in the final of great events,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“I hope to see our national team win but I don’t want to say that Messi was at fault, it’s not good.

Messi played very well. He is the top scorer of the national team. He is the best player in the world. It’s unlucky.

“But it’s not about Messi. It’s about the last 23 years the national team never won (a major trophy).

Yes they won the Olympic games (in 2004 and 2008) but, at the same time, we have lost a lot of finals.

However, we are still competitive.

“This is just the way. I think maybe next time we will win.”

Crespo, who played for clubs across the continent, including Chelsea and AC Milan, urged aspiring youngsters to stay level-headed when they are in the spotlight.l

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Paris subway (5) 4 Yield (4) 7 Make a mistake (3) 8 Floor covering (3) 9 Looks well in (5) 12 Docile (4) 13 Become visible (7) 15 Mature (3) 16 Arch (3) 18 Donkey (3) 19 Consume (3) 21 Accompanies (7) 24 Part of a yacht (4) 26 Comb projection (5) 27 Pale (3) 28 Honey maker (3) 29 Level (4) 30 Correct (5)

DOWN 1 Table-shaped hill (4) 2 Breaks out (6) 3 Journey (4) 4 Domestic animals (4) 5 Greek letter (3) 6 Foe (5) 10 Beverage (3) 11 Wise men (5) 14 Respond (5) 17 Brasslike alloy (6) 18 Joint (5) 20 Also (3) 21 Dash (4) 22 Garment (4) 23 Cast off (4) 25 Female sheep (3)

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Downtime

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 1 represents L so fill L every time the figure 1 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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

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Showtime

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Remembering Kiarostami layer and extended beyond their original cuts to detail the budding relationship between the prospective couple, which at times feel both voyeuristic and tender.

These multiple and extensive observations into one situation constantly unveil new and varying layers to a situation already thought to be well-established, which is something that is often ignored by most directors either due to naivety or inexperience

Abbas Kiarostami

n Rumpa Farzana Zaman Abbas Kiarostami, a director whose films served as many cinephiles’ introduction to the vibrant world of Iranian cinema, died Monday, July 4, at his home in Paris. He was 76.

The great director’s films are marked by an unforced intimacy, by their certainty that the most interesting struggle in life is that of any human being to live on her own terms. They often take place in our quietest, most contemplative spaces. Indeed, some of them are primarily about the feeling of driving around in a car, lost in thought.

Kiarostami has a body of work stretching back to the early 1970s, much of which was long unavailable in the US, but has gradually begun to sneak out. For instance, 1974’s The Traveler is available on the Criterion edition of Close-Up. Famously, Kiarostami’s movies walk a thin line between fiction and reality. Some of his footage was captured in documentary fashion, while other footage was improvised from brief story descriptions or semi-scripted scene And most recently there was 2012’s Japan-set Like Someone In Love which sadly proved to be his final film. It’s something of a companion piece to Certified Copy in many ways, and suffers somewhat from the comparison, or at least it did on first viewing.

Here are some of his most famous movies worth watching: Where Is the Friend’s Home? (1987) The inimitable Iranian filmmaker struck gold early on with his second feature, following a young boy attempting to deliver a notebook to his classmate which he absent-mindedly left at school.

Should the boy return to class without this, he’ll most certainly

be expelled. The duration of the story involves the journey, which entails meeting various folk along the way who provide insight as well as directions. In a way it’s kind of like the loosely-plotted road movies we’ve all come to know and love; the filmmaker uses the light premise to explore the rural areas and typical culture of the area.

Life and Nothing More… (1992) Meta is as meta does. In 1990, a devastating earthquake ravaged Northern Iran where the director’s Where Is the Friend’s Home? took place. Worried over the well-being of his two young leads, Kiarostami took to the road to make sure they were alive and well. The film follows this premise with an actor

A scene from Close-Up

Close-Up (1990) Playing fast and loose with the tenets of cinematic truth, documentary truth and outright lies, this genre-bending experiment focuses on the true-life story of a man who impersonated a filmmaker to ingratiate himself into the lives of an innocent family in Tehran.

While this is played for fiction, Kiarostami has the real-life people playing themselves, acting out the charade of their lives, while peppering in actual footage of the ensuing trial. The combination of truth and playfulness seems like a rarity in the often seemingly stone-faced work of Kiarostami, but if anything, this film helps one to appreciate the sly humour and deconstructionism of the rest of his oeuvre by being such a self-conscious experiment. Even (and perhaps especially) with the theatrics, it’s one of his most straightforward and fulfilling pictures.

cast in the Abbas role and a young boy journeying with him. It’s another chance to partake in Iran’s culture, but it also examines life, determination after tragedy, and human compassion. Though it has extra layers, the picture doesn’t suffer from over-saturation and remains just as moving, if not more, as the first film in the Koker Trilogy.

Through the Olive Trees (1994) Studios and creative teams struggle to build off a successful feature, but Kiarostami effortlessly squeezes two beautiful and naturalistic tales out of his 1987 treasure Where Is the Friends Home?. In this closing part of the trilogy, a man from Life and Nothing More… attempts to woo his love interest, who (along with her family) is turned off by his lack of income and prospects. Love doesn’t just give up, though, and the male seeks advice from the Abbas character while doing a scene involving his main squeeze.

Bits from ‘Life’ are given a new

Taste of Cherry (1997) Having collaborated with former assistant Jafar Panahi on the screenplays for the excellent The Journey and The White Balloon, Kiarostami came back in force with another semi-road movie: Taste of Cherry. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the filmmaker having only just been allowed to leave the country to attend the festival at the last minute, and it launched the director to international fame. Following Badii (a superb Homayoun Ershadi, who in reality is an architect), a middle-aged man searching the countryside outside Tehran for someone to throw earth in his grave after he commits suicide, it’s one of Kiarostami’s most divisive films — patient and languid to a fault, many have dismissed the film as dull and self-indulgent.

Ten (2002) Returning the director to Cannes and starring female director Mania Akbari, this 2002 entry sported a simple premise: ten car conversations are accounted with two consumer DV cameras attached to both sides of the vehicle. While it may sound amateur in scope and overly-talky, it’s actually a nonpareil, private look into the social (and political) climate of modern-day Iran. These non-actors dig deep and expose themselves, and one of the most memorable instances involves a teary, jilted woman removing her headscarf and revealing a shaved head — one of the first (if not first) times this has been done on film

in the country. There’s also the mother-son relationship, one that’s severely tainted by an on-going divorce that the boy isn’t taking particularly well, something that is universally relatable. The youth vocalizes his frustrations without any sort of dignity or censorship — exactly as a child would — and the result is something a bit offputting, but real.

The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) Bafflingly, Kiarostami has a reputation among some of his critics for being overly serious, even po-faced, but those who think this clearly haven’t seen The Wind Will Carry Us. His second international festival success in a row, winning the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the picture once again blends truth and fiction, documentary and drama, but to effect more dryly funny than anything in his career to date. Following The Engineer (a filmmaker of sort), who’s come to a small village to document the death of a woman who may be as much as 100 years old. Again, the central characters’ motives remain cloudy for much of the film, even to himself, and it’s one of the most genuinely spiritual films you could ever hope to see, but never in a way that feels preachy or forced.

Certified Copy (2010) With Kiarostami finding life increasingly difficult in Iran. His films haven’t been shown there in a decade, and his friend Jafar Panahi receiving a disgraceful sixyear prison sentence. It was only a matter of time before he started to look outside Iran for subject matter, and, following a contribution to the portmanteau picture Tickets it came in the Cannes debut of the excellent Certified Copy.

Casting international star Juliette Binoche, a longtime friend of Kiarostami, who also appeared in his experimental film Shirin, was bound to raise the film’s profile, and it’s the director’s most accessible film by about a million miles. l

Prova featured in new drama series n Showtime Desk

Sadiya Jahan Prova portrayed lead roles in numerous TV

dramas and telefilms, but this time around, the celebrated model-actress is set to appear in a TV drama serial in the role of a

famed actress.

In the drama serial titled Cinemawala, Prova will be seen playing the role of one of the country’s best actresses, named Heera. The drama, written and directed by Sumon Anowar (who also played a role in it), will go on air today on NTV, and will be shown every Monday and Tuesday at 9:45pm.

Talking about Cinemawala, the director said, “My own story has been depicted in the drama in which I’ve also taken a part.”

The story of the drama follows Heera who hails from a small city. After garnering attention and winning a beauty pegeant, she debuts in a film. Afterwards, she started to lead a new life.

The drama forwards from this point with twists in her story in frequent intervals.

The drama also casts Shamol Mawla, Shahed Sharif Khan, Azad Abul Kalam, Farhana Mili, Sushoma Sarkar, Moushumi Hamid, Sonia Hossain, Meem and Tanzika Amin. l

Katy Perry and Britney Spears just released new singles

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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016

Emmys 2016:

Game of Thrones and The People v. O.J. Simpson lead in nominations

n Showtime Desk The Television Academy announced the nominees for the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards on Thursday morning.

Black-ish star Anthony Anderson and once-and-future Gilmore Girls actress Lauren Graham had the honour of naming this year’s nominees from the Academy’s North Hollywood headquarters.

In addition to Game of Thrones once again earning the most nominations, FX’s The Americans finally broke through. Moreover, in its first year of eligibility, USA breakout Mr. Robot made a strong showing.

List of nominations in major categories: Best Drama Series The Americans (FX) Game of Thrones (HBO) House of Cards (Netflix) Downton Abbey (PBS) Better Call Saul (AMC) Mr. Robot (USA) Homeland (Showtime) Best Comedy Series Veep (HBO) Transparent (Amazon) Silicon Valley (HBO) Modern Family (ABC) Master of None (Netflix) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) Black-ish (ABC)

n Showtime Desk It could be the definitive pop moment of the year, as Katy Perry and Britney Spears released new songs at exactly the same time on Friday, July 15.

Perry’s “Rise,” which has been written for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and will soundtrack NBC’s coverage, finds the California girl belting out a towering, electro anthem of

courage.

“This is a song that’s been brewing inside me for years, that has finally come to the surface,” Perry explains in a statement.

“I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite.” Spotify listeners might struggle to hear this rallying cry of unity, as Perry has made “Rise” available only on Apple Music.

Spears, meanwhile, is making another attempt at a comeback.

With the just-released “Make Me,” she has at least moved away from the weak EDM aspirations of her 2013 album, Britney Jean.

The sultry track sounds like both vintage and 2016 Britney all at the same time, it’s catchy, sexy and fresh. “Make Me” also features rhymes from rapper G-Easy. l

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Showtime

Best Actor in a Drama Series Kyle Chandler (Bloodline) Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) Matthew Rhys (The Americans) Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) Best Actress in a Drama Series Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder) Claire Danes (Homeland) Taraji P. Henson (Empire) Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) Keri Russell (The Americans) Robin Wright (House of Cards) Best Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) Aziz Ansari (Master of None) Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) William H. Macy (Shameless) Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent) Best Actress in a Comedy Series Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) Laurie Metcalf (Getting On) Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer) Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) Best Limited Series American Crime (ABC) Fargo (FX) The Night Manager (AMC) The People v. O.J. Simpson (FX) Roots (History) l

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ADB’S $275M LOAN TO UPGRADE SHAKIB HELPS TALLAWAHS REMEMBERING TO HUGE WIN PAGE 24 WATER SUPPLY IN DHAKA PAGE 12 KIAROSTAMI PAGE 31

How a Danish city helped its radicalised youths n Tribune Desk One day in 2012, a group of policemen in a calm Danish city were sitting around in the office when an unusual call came in. This city, called Aarhus, is an orderly place with very little crime. So what the callers were saying really held the cops’ attention. They were parents, and they were “just hysterical,” recalled Thorleif Link, one of the officers. Their son was missing. They woke up one day and he was gone.

The officers put together whatever clues they had about the missing person: He was a teenager who went to a local high school, and he lived in a largely Muslim immigrant neighborhood just outside town.

But before they got any further with their investigation, they got another call, from another set of parents. Their son was missing too.

“Why is this going on?” asked Allan Aarslev, a police superintendent.

After talking to the parents and snooping around the neighborhood, the police figured it out: These young men and women had gone to Syria. They were among the exodus of thousands of European citizens who were drawn to the call put out by the so-called Islamic State (IS), the jihadist terrorist group.

The ‘Aarhus model’

Link and Aarslev are crime prevention officers. They usually deal with locals who are drawn to right-wing extremism, or gangs. The landscape of global terrorism was completely new to them. But they decided to take it on. And once they did, they wound up creating an unusual — and unusually successful — approach to combating radicalisation.

The rest of Europe came down hard on citizens who had travelled to Syria. But the Danish police officers took a different approach: They made it clear to citizens of Denmark who had travelled to Syria that they were welcome to come home, and that when they did, they would receive help with going back to school, finding an apartment, meeting with a psychiatrist or a mentor, or whatever they needed to fully integrate back into society.

Their programme came to be known as the “Aarhus model.” It’s been called the “hug a terrorist” model in the media, but this description never sits well with the cops. They see themselves as making an entirely practical decision designed to keep their city safe.

As they see it, coming down

Food Market close to Aarhus’ premier Art museum Aros, a landmark of the city (inset) Allan Aarslev, an Aarhus police superintendent, one of the pioneers of the programme BIGSTOCK

The missing teens from Aarhus were among the exodus of thousands of Europeans who were drawn to the call put out by the Islamic State hard on young, radicalised Muslims will only make them angrier and more of a danger to society.

Helping them is the only chance to keep an eye on them and also to keep the peace in their town.

Psychological views

Link and Aarslev were intuiting what scientists who study radicalisation are coming to see.

“The original response was to fight [extremism] through military and policing efforts...that kind of response that puts them as suspects and constrains them and promotes discrimination — that is only likely to exacerbate the problem,” says Arie Kruglanski, a social psychologist at the University of Maryland who studies violent extremism.

Christopher Hopwood, an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State University, studies something called non-complementary behaviour.

Complementary behaviour is the norm. It means when one acts warmly, the person he/she is with is likely to act warm back. The same is true with hostility. But non-complementary behaviour means doing the unexpected. Someone acts with hostility and the other responds warmly. It’s an unnatural reaction,

and it’s a proven way to shake up the dynamic and produce a different outcome from the usual one.

The non-violent resistance movements of Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi are the most well-known examples of this tactic. The Aarhus model is another. How did it unfold in real time?

The case study of Jamal

Consider the case study of a young man we call “Jamal.” He doesn’t want to be known as a person who almost became a terrorist. He wants a job and a life now. But that didn’t seem possible for a while.

Jamal was born in Somalia; his family moved to Denmark because Somalia was in the middle of a civil war. His was the only black family in the neighbourhood and the only Muslim family, and his childhood wasn’t easy. Kids called him names, asked him if he had the same blood as they did, and teased him. For a long time he just would fight back, but he knew he was disappointing his father.

When he was a little older, Jamal decided to take a different tack. He tried to be the good kid. He studied and made jokes in class, and his stress eased. The teachers liked him, his classmates liked him, and he began to make Danish friends

and even to feel more Danish.

Then one day in high school, his teacher organised a debate about Islam. Jamal had just been on the hajj with his family, and he was infused with a new-found religious identity. And during the debate one of the girls started saying to the class that Muslims “terrorise” the West, and kill people and stone women. Jamal lost his temper, saying, “People like you should never exist.”

After that moment, Jamal’s life went off the rails. The teacher told the principal, who told the police, who questioned Jamal about being a terrorist. Jamal had to stay home from school and miss his final exams.

The police cleared him, but it was too late for him to redo his exams, so he had to redo some of high school. He was furious about it. Soon after the investigation, his mother died, and he blamed her death on the stress caused by the investigation. He began to feel rejected by the West.

During that year, he ran into a group of fellow Muslims who had experienced some of the same discrimination. One of them had an apartment, and the group spent a lot of time there talking, praying and watching videos of Anwar al-Awlaki, a notorious English-speaking radicalised preacher. The friends talked

a lot about jihad and making the trip to Syria. Two of the guys in the apartment began planning their trip.

While he was living in that apartment, Jamal got a call from Link, who had heard about his case. Jamal cursed him out and tried to hang up the phone, but then Link did something Jamal didn’t expect: He apologised, for the ordeal his fellow officers had put Jamal through. Hearing a policeman take responsibility for his life getting derailed really moved Jamal. He agreed to come into Link’s office.

When Jamal got there, Link introduced him to Erhan Kilic, one of the first official mentors hired by the programme. Kilic was a fellow Muslim who had also faced discrimination in Denmark as a child. But he had taken a very different path. He had decided to embrace Denmark as his country. He now had a wife and two daughters and a successful practice as a lawyer. Kilic relayed to Jamal the main message of the Aarhus programme: If he chose to, Jamal could also find his place in Denmark.

Kruglanski says: “There are strong correlations between humiliation and the search for an extremist ideology,” he says. Organisations like IS take advantage of people who, because of racism or religious or political discrimination, have been pushed to the margins of society.

Link and Aarslev’s programme showed people like Jamal that there was a place for them.

“Aarhus is the first to grapple with [extremism] based on sound social psychology evidence and principles,” Kruglanski says.

A success story

Starting in 2012, 34 people went from Aarhus to Syria. Of the 18 who came back home, all showed up in Aarslev and Link’s office, as did hundreds of other potential radicals in Aarhus — about 330 in total.

But the programme is admired for another accomplishment: Since the initial exodus of young people, very few have left from Aarhus for Syria, even when traffic from the rest of Europe was spiking. Last year, in 2015, it was just one person.

And Jamal? He and his mentor met for two years, exploring parts of Aarhus Jamal had never seen. He says: “I am Danish.” Reflecting on his path, he concludes, “I’m lucky I got that phone call from Thorleif.”l The article was first published in npr. org, which can be accessed through the following link http://n.pr/29UIKZS

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