20 July, 2016

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

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Shraban 5, 1423, Shawwal 14, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 84

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

‘JMB man Rajib behind Gulshan attack’

Faces in RAB CCTV footage unclear

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Elite police force Rapid Action Battalion yesterday released some pieces of CCTV footage showing four persons, including a woman, as suspected associates of the Gulshan restaurant attackers.

The footage was collected from two CCTV cameras installed at the intersection of Road 75-79 at Gulshan 2, close to the Holey Artisan Bakery.

It shows the suspicious movement of three men and a woman, walking and talking over phone between 8:46pm and 9pm, apparently waiting for the attackers' return. A vehicle was also seen in the footage.

At least five militants stormed

Officers investigating the Gulshan restaurant attack claim to have identified the coordinator of the joint militant operation that killed 22 people including foreigners and police on July 1.

The suspect – Rajib alias Shanta alias Adil – is a mid-level leader of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Police are yet to arrest him.

Police earlier said that the mastermind, who had instructed Rajib to execute the operation, had fled to West Bengal at least seven months ago. The law enforcers are looking for another top militant involved in

the attack who is now in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, detectives suspect that a teacher of Islamic University of Technology (IUT, Gazipur) in Gazipur was one of the financiers of the operation on Holey Artisan Bakery.

The teacher, who could not be named, transferred a large sum of money to several accounts days before the attack. The receivers include an associate of one of the five Gulshan attackers killed on July 2 morning in a commando operation.

In 2009, detectives arrested one Pakistani and three students from the IUT, Gazipur campus allegedly for planning an attack on the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

Rajib main coordinator

The Gulshan attack was finalised at a meeting attended by top militant leaders of the JMB and two other outlawed groups – Ansarullah Bangla Team and Hizb ut-Tahrir – in a northern Bangladesh district two months ago.

To implement the plan, Rajib rented two flats at Bashundhara and west Shewrapara for the attackers, collected arms and bombs, and finalised the escape route from the restaurant.

Rajib and other members went to the restaurant on Road 79 in Gulshan 2 several times to make a layout, especially to ensure smooth  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

into the Spanish restaurant around the same time on July 1 and killed some of the guests before they were set to leave the place around 9pm. But they were barred by a patrol team at that time, forcing them to enter the restaurant again and take the other guests hostage.

All the attackers were killed in a commando operation the next morning, police said.

RAB’s Online Media Cell uploaded the video on their Facebook page yesterday afternoon, Legal and Media Wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

The investigators could not say where they had gone but confirmed that they had been associates of the attackers.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Global warming to cost $2tn in lost productivity Reuters n Thomson Foundation, Jakarta Rising temperatures caused by climate change may cost the world economy over $2tn in lost productivity by 2030 as hot weather makes it unbearable to work in some parts of the world, according to UN research published yesterday.

It showed that in Southeast Asia alone, up to 20% of annual work hours may already be lost in jobs with exposure to extreme heat with the figures set to double by 2050 as the effects of climate change deepen.

Across the globe, 43 countries will see a fall in their gross domestic product (GDP) due to reduced productivity, the majority of them in Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India and Bangladesh, researcher Tord Kjellstrom said.

Indonesia and Thailand could see their GDP reduced by 6 percent in 2030, while in China GDP could be reduced by 0.8% and in India by 3.2%.

"Current climate conditions in tropical and subtropical parts of the world are already so hot during the hot seasons that occupational health effects occur and work capacity for many people is affected," said Kjell-

strom, a director at the New Zealand-based Health and Environment International Trust.

He said the increasing need for rest "is likely to become a significant problem" as climate change makes the hottest days hotter and leads to longer periods of excessively hot days.

Kjellstrom authored one of six papers on the impact of climate change on health that were put together by the United Nations University's International Institute for Global Health in Kuala Lumpur and published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.

Kjellstrom warned that the lowest-paid workers - those in heavy labour, agricultural and manufacturing - were most at risk of exposure to extreme heat.

He urged countries to take "decisive action" to tackle global warming.

"Failure will cause the frequency and intensity of disasters to worsen dramatically beyond 2050, and the situation at the end of this century will be especially alarming for the world’s poorest people,” the researcher said.

The other papers in the series showed around 2.1m people worldwide died between 1980 and 2012  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanges greetings with members of the Special Security Force at her office yesterday on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of the SSF BSS

Prime minister: Stand united to get rid of terrorism n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that a special investigating team comprising all forces had been formed to go to the root of the Gulshan and Sholakia Eidgah attacks.

The premier informed the House while taking part in a general discussion.

“A special team comprising almost all forces was formed to probe into the incidents to find out who are their patrons, from where they are receiving the weapons and who are guiding them,” she said.

“We have to reach to the root of these incidents.”

Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim moved the proposal to hold a general discussion to condemn the loss

of lives in the recent terror attacks at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, Sholakia Eid congregation, Madina in Saudi Arabia, the French city of Nice and other terror attacks across the globe.

The prime minister categorically reiterated her firm determination to eradicate terrorism and said the government would find out the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

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Prime minister

DMP asks missing persons to return home n Arifur Rahman Rabbi The Dhaka Metropolitan police has requested the missing persons to return to their families, to evade strict legal action.

“If they do not return home voluntarily and the police find them involved in any militant activity, they will be brought to book,” DB Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten said yesterday.

Since the July 1 Gulshan terror attack, the law enforcers have collected information about nearly 300 youths aged between 15 and 30 who have remained missing for months. Of them, the identities of 17 people, including five members of a family, with suspected militant links have been disclosed.

Some of the militants who took part in the Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks had been missing for quite some time. “Now we have found that many other youths are missing too,” Baten told reporters. l

Ministers alerted to terror attacks n Shohel Mamun Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner alerted the cabinet members to the potential militant terror attacks through a short mobile message.

As they might be attacked any time by militants the cabinet members, their officials, gunmen have been alerted,” said Rashed Khan Menon, while talking to the reporters at his secretariat office yesterday.

He said: “I have been alerted and my security at my residence has been tightened. He, however, said he was not scared of being killed.

Law Minister Anisul Haq said: “We are moving carefully.”

He made the statement while talking to the reporters at his secretariat office yesterday.

In response to a query he said the government did not enhance our security as the existing security is sufficient. The government should be concerned about the security of mass people and it should ensure their security first.

Everybody watched what happened in France, Germany and also in the USA. So we are careful about such kinds of attacks.

However, some of the cabinet members are yet to find the police commissioner's message alert.

Liberation War Affair Minister AKM Mozammel Haque told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have yet to find any message from the DMP. Whatsoever it may be I know the content of the message. We are aware of militant attacks but I am not frightened.” l

A screen grab from the released RAB footage shows a suspect marked within a red circle. However, because of the low resolution of the footage released the faces of the four suspects were unclear

Faces in RAB CCTV footage unclear The elite force has asked people to contact with any RAB office or call their hotline at 01777720050 if they can identify any of the four suspects.

Meanwhile, social media was abuzz yesterday after RAB released the video, many expressing frustration with the poor quality of the

footage as the faces of the suspects were not clear. They were also doubtful whether it would lead to any successful arrest.

Many Facebook users asked RAB to provide blown up photos and clearer footage so that people could identify the suspects.

Some users even came up with

suggestions asking the elite force to check phone calls made to or from that area, as the suspects were seen talking on their mobile phones in the footage.

Recovering the licence plate number of the car seen dropping off one of the suspects was also a concern of the users. l

JMB man Rajib escape of the attackers, detectives said.

But the plans did not work as the militants faced obstacles during the operation. First, they were barred from entering the restaurant by the two security guards, who were unarmed; and they fled the scene as soon as the attackers fired blank shots.

The militants had to spend more time inside the restaurant than previously assumed as their instructor wanted photos of slaughtering the victims.

And when they were leaving after killing most of the foreign guests a patrol team of local police appeared at the scene all of a sudden, forcing the militants to open fire and get inside the restaurant again. More teams of police came to the scene quickly and made it impossible for the attackers to flee.

Rajib was waiting outside with the other members of the gang. But they had to return without the attackers.

Even though all the five militants had been killed on July 2, the law enforcers have got a lot of information about the Gulshan attack plan from a person arrested in connection with the Sholakia attack.

Saiful Islam, acting deputy commissioner of the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes unit, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they had made some progress but refused to share details for the sake of investigation.

in November last year.

The militant outfit faced another setback as two JMB leaders – Abdullah Al Noman and Kamal alias Hiron – were killed in gunfights in mid-January this year.

They later finalised the Holey

On June 27, the DMP commissioner was alerted by an intelligence agency about a possible attack in the Gulshan area Diplomatic zone an old target

Investigators have learnt that the JMB planned to attack an establishment in the Gulshan diplomatic zone nearly a year ago. Their first plan was to launch attack on a private television station office.

But the plan was foiled following the arrest of several JMB men.

The law enforcers also increased security at the TV station.

They later planned to attack a high profile restaurant, but it could not be executed as one of the key militants – JMB leader Albani alias Hozza Bhai alias Shahadat – was killed in a gunfight with the police

Artisan Bakery attack and assigned Rajib to execute the plan.

On June 27, the DMP commissioner was alerted by an intelligence agency about a possible attack in the Gulshan area. The report said that the top leaders of some militant groups had taken shelter in Dhaka and Tangail recently in a bid to launch attacks.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said that several law enforcement agencies were conducting drives across the country to arrest the masterminds and financiers behind the two attacks. l

root cause of the recent terror attacks in the country.

“We will arrest these terrorists by any means necessary and put them on trial, and I am confident that we can do it,” she said.

“We will find out the kingpins who are derailing the youths of the country,” she added.

Putting stress on how serious the government is regarding the recent terror attacks, the prime minister said: “It is not as if the government will arrest one or two people and the investigation will stop.

Our duty will not be finished until we reach the root of the matter.

We have taken steps in this regard and we will succeed in getting rid of terrorism,” she said.

She also mentioned that the government has received information regarding the terror attacks.

“It is not possible to tell everything right now for the sake of the investigation,” she said.

Expressing her regret that the children of well-off families are getting derailed and have gotten involved in terrorism and militancy, the prime minister said: “They have everything in their lives but now they have jumped into action to have Hur Pori in heaven by killing innocent people.”

She urged the people of the country to come forward and get united to resist these evil menaces of the country.

“Through the united power of all, we will be able to free the country from terrorism and militancy,” she said.

Later, the proposal was adopted in the parliament unanimously.

Citing from the Qur’an and Hadith, the prime minister said that the militants were enemy of the nation, enemy of the country. “The masterminds behind this menace must be identified.” l

Global warming to cost $2tn in lost productivity due to nearly 21,000 natural catastrophes such as floods, mudslides, extreme heat, drought, high winds or fires.

In Asia Pacific, 1.2bn people have been affected by 1,215 disasters - mostly flood, cyclones and landslides - since 2000.

In April, 175 countries signed a Paris climate deal to restrain the global rise in temperatures to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

The first three months of 2016 have broken temperature records and 2015 was the planet’s warmest year since records began in the 19th century. l

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DIPLOMATIC ZONE SAFETY

Efforts on to remedy seven security loopholes n Mohammad Jamil Khan Security arrangements for the diplomatic zone in Dhaka’s Gulshan and Baridhara will be restructured as part of efforts to ensure a foolproof system in the areas following the Gulshan terror attack.

Law enforcers have so far identified seven loopholes in the security system there. They are: establishment of political offices in the zone, holding political programmes, having no specific area designated as the diplomatic zone, widespread business operations, slums in Sattola and Korail, movement of rickshaws, and inadequate number of CCTV cameras.

Following a Police Headquarters request regarding this issue, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said they have already directed authorities concerned to remove all barriers that stood in the way of ensuring foolproof security for the diplomatic zone.

On July 1, militants entered the Holey Artisan Bakery inside the highly secured Gulshan area and carried out an attack that claimed 24 lives.

Asked about removing political offices from the diplomatic zone, the home minister did not give a direct answer, but said again that all barriers would be removed.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has a political office in Gulshan, while Jatiya Party leader HM Ershad also has an office in Banani.

Moreover, Awami League’s different wings have offices in Gulshan.

A source in the Home Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that in the aftermath of the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks, 23 embassies

have requested the ministry to increase security measures for them.

The US Embassy, meanwhile, had already sought additional security measures before the Gulshan attack took place, the source added.

Commenting on security measures, Md Jashimuddin, deputy commissioner of police for the diplomatic zone, said existing measures include patrol teams and checkpoints. Additional members also remain deployed at some key points as well as ongoing CCTV surveillance, he added.

Sources in Dhaka Metropolitan Police said steps have already been taken to stop rickshaw movement in the area and introduce an alternative bus service that would operate only in Gulshan area.

Other measures would include stationing more law enforcers near the slums and installing new CCTV cameras, the sources said, adding that authorities concerned would try to build modern residences in the slum area.

Other officials concerned also told the Dhaka Tribune that the number of permissions to open up new businesses inside the diplomatic zone would be minimised, while no new permission would be given to hold business or political programmes inside the zone.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said they had long been requesting authorities to ease gatherings from the diplomatic zone, while the Gulshan attack reinforced the need for that demand.

On July 10, a law enforcement meeting decided on selecting a specific area to be designated as a diplomatic zone. l

Teachers and students at Dhaka University’s Japan Study Centre stage a mourning programme on the campus yesterday in memory of the Japanese citizens who were among the victims of the Gulshan terror attack MEHEDI HASAN

AG asks for a database on militants n Tribune Desk Attorney General Mahbubey Alam has urged the authorities concerned to develop a common database on militants, especially those who are on bail, which will be accessible to law enforcement and government agencies.

Speaking to reporters at his office yesterday, the attorney general also said there should be a monitoring cell coordinated by different government agencies to keep an eye on militants out on bail.

“There should be a central computer database where all information about the known militants,

especially case details and bail information, is stored and is readily available to public prosecutors,” Mahbubey said, adding that an integrated computer application may be built which will help with the information sharing among stakeholders.

“The system should be accessible from my office as well, so I can monitor it,” he added.

Asked about arrested militants getting bail in courts around the country, the attorney general said in order to stop it, the designated monitoring cell would have to work night and day and keep liaison with the public prosecutors and the at-

torney general’s office, sharing the required information.

But at first, the prosecution has to make sure that the charge sheets and case statements have no loopholes, which the militants may use to acquire bail and then disappear.

“If the case statement is weak and there in no specific declaration of illegal possessions recovered from them, it becomes easy for the militants to get bail.”

The authorities should also ensure that the cases are filed accurately, charge sheets are without loopholes and seized illegal possessions are all presented properly before the court, he added. l

US Embassy holds Q&A session on election on Facebook n Tribune Desk US presidential candidate Donald Trump seems to have changed his strict stance on immigration and is now calling for “extreme vetting” of people coming from questionable areas, said Emmy Award-winning journalist Betsy Martin.

The US elections expert took part in question-and-answer session on Facebook with Bangladeshi citizens yesterday, where she addressed selected questions posted on the Facebook page of the US embassy in Dhaka.

One participant asked how the relationship between the US and Muslim countries – like Bangladesh

– would fare if Donald Trump became president, given that he had called for a ban on Muslims from entering the US.

ries’ with a history of terror as opposed to his previous position of banning all Muslims from entering the US.”

Anything could happen before the elections in November. There are several factors that can suddenly influence an election Calling it “a valid concern,” Martin said Trump seemed to be trying to soften his rhetoric on this front. “In his big interview with 60 minutes on Sunday he called for ‘extreme vetting’ of persons from ‘territo-

The session ran for an hour starting from 7pm local time, where 75 Facebook users posted comments and queries on the election under the tag #RoadtotheWhiteHouse.

Discussing the chances of pres-

idential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump winning the elections, Martin said both still had decent chances of winning.

But Hillary is a little ahead in the running so far. According to the latest poll from NBC News – Martin’s former employer – Clinton is leading Trump by 46% to 41%, she said.

However, she pointed out that the anything could happen before the elections were held in November. “There are several factors that can suddenly influence an election,” she said.

Asked how the American people was going to decide between Clinton, who has a long career in politics, and Trump, who is

a business tycoon, Martin said: “The Trump campaign makes the argument that the American people are looking for something new and different and that all that experience translates into an inability to institute change.

They make the case that what the country needs is a new way of thinking, fresh ideas and the ability to do ‘big things.’”

Martin currently co-hosts “Masters in Politics” podcast at Bllomberg Politics, and has previously worked as senior executive producer and managing editor of NBC News Political Programming.

She is also a contributing editor for Washington for MORE Magazine. l

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SUST Ansarullah leader, 19 JamaatShibir men among 22 held Serajul Islam, Sylhet and n Md Arifur Rahman Rabbi in Dhaka Two university students detained in Sylhet on Monday for their suspected involvement in militant activities were brought to Dhaka yesterday.

Abdul Aziz, a final year student of industrial and production engineering (IPE) department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, was picked up from the campus in the afternoon. Police say he is the coordinator of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team at SUST. The other arrested by a team of Counter-Terrorism And Transnational Crimes unit is Mahmud Chowdhury, a final year student of Leading University.

A former student of Sylhet Cadet College, Aziz did not attend his

classes last year and resumed studies this year.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said: “We have information that Abdul Aziz worked as a coordinator of Ansarullah Bangla Team at the uni-

Abdul Aziz worked as the coordinator of Ansarullah Bangla Team at SUST versity. We have detained him for further questioning.”

Ansarullah members are accused of killing at least 11 secularist writers and publishers and two LGBT rights activists since 2013.

Two of the victims – Ananta Bijoy Das and Nazimuddin Samad – are from Sylhet.

On the other hand, Mahmud is a resident of the Sylhet city’s Jalalabad area. He was an LLM student.

Leading University Vice-Chancellor Prof Kamruzzaman Chowdhury confirmed the arrest of Mahmud to the Dhaka Tribune.

Wishing to be unnamed, a LLM student said that Mahmud had been picked up from an exam hall.

A high official of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said that the duo had been under the CTTC unit’s surveillance for a long time.

SUST Proctor Rashedul Islam said: “We received a letter from the government on Tuesday [yesterday] asking for information on the students who have remained absent for long.

“We have formed a body under my leadership and letters have been sent to all departments seeking information.”

ROOPPUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Russia approves $11.38bn loan to construct the plant The loan will be used to pay for the construction of the plant from 2017 to 2024

n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Russian government approved a deal to loan up to $11.38 billion to build the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, Russian RT news reported on Monday.

The Bangladesh cabinet on June 27 approved the draft of the inter-governmental state credit agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Russia for constructing the Power Plant project with an estimated cost $12.65 billion, Bangladeshi officials said.

According to the deal, Russia will provide 90% of the fund on credit Among the amount, $11.38bn will come from Russia and the rest of the funding will be provided from Bangladesh own fund.

A high-profile government delegation will fly to Russia this morning to sign the state export credit deal for the construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant’s main phase.

The agreement will be signed on July 26.

Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman is heading the delegations comprising five members.

The four other members are State Minister for Finance M A Mannan MP, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Mezbah Uddin, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Abul Mansur Md Faizullah and Additional Secretary of the Science and Technology Ministry Anwar Hossain.

The loan will be used to pay for the construction of the plant from 2017 to 2024.

Bangladesh will repay the money over 20 years in equal semi-annual installments starting from March 15, 2027.

The Rooppur nuclear power plant will be located on the east bank of the Ganges River, 160 kilometers off Dhaka, the country’s capital.

It will have two reactors with 1,200MW capacity each. The first reactor is planned to start in 2023 while the second will be open a year later. The lifespan of the reactors is 60 years with an option to extend it by 20 years.

On December 25 last year, Bangladesh and Russia signed a general contract for the construction and commissioning of the nuclear power plant in Pabna at a cost of $12.65 billion.

According to the deal, Russia will provide 90% of the fund on credit at an interest rate of Libor plus 1.75%.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission under the Science and Technology Ministry will implement the project. l

19 Jamaat-Shibir men detained

Meanwhile, police yesterday detained 19 activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir with improvised bombs and sharp weapons from Dhaka’s Khilgaon.

The detainees include Shibir’s Khilgaon unit President Md Motaher Hossain and General Secretary M A Razzak. Police also detained building owner Reazul Karim.

Inspector (investigation) Asaduzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that they were detained in a raid at a hostel near Comilla Hotel in Khilgaon Block A area early yesterday.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said: “We recovered a large number of jihadi books, seven improvised bombs, four machetes and a computer from their possessions.” l

IS releases video of German train attacker n Reuters, Cairo

Islamic State posted a video on Tuesday in which a man whom it identifies as the Afghan refugee who attacked passengers with an axe on a train in Germany vows to carry out a suicide mission and urges other Muslims to do the same.

In the two minute and 20 second video, entitled “Germany Video of the Islamic State Soldier Muhammad Riyad Who Carried out the Wuerzburg Attack”, a young man wields a small knife, which he says he will use to slaughter infidels and avenge the deaths of men, women and children in Muslim countries.

It was not immediately possible to verify that the man in the video was the train attacker. The video was posted by Islamic State’s news agency, Amaq. l

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Admission tests at public universities start from September n Tribune Desk Public universities will start holding undergraduate admission tests for the 2016-17 session from late September while the exams will continue through to December.

The announcement was made yesterday at a meeting of the Association of Universities of Bangladesh, a platform of vice-chancellors from all public universities.

Dhaka University will hold admission tests for its different units on September 23, 24, 30 and October 21 and 28.

Jagannath University will take its tests on the same dates as the DU, but the exams will be in the evening so the DU-aspirants can also sit for it. The admission tests at Jahangirnagar University, meanwhile, will be held between November 19 and 27.

Outside Dhaka, admission exams for Chittagong University will take place from October 23-31, Rajshahi University from October 23-27; Khulna University from November 2-5; Barisal University on November 18 and 19; and Comilla University on December 2, 3 and 9.

Students will be able to appear in admission tests for Bangladesh University of Professionals on October 14, 15, 21 and 22; and for Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University from November 13-17.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) will hold its test on October 22; Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) on November 5; Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) on October 26; Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) on November 26 and Bangladesh Textile University on November 18.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University in Gazipur will have its admission test on November 8, Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh on October 19, Dhaka’s Shere-Bangla Agricultural University on December 9, Sylhet Agricultural University on November 25, and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University on December 3.

The tentative dates for admission tests will now be sent to the home minister.l

Wild vegetation grows over vehicles that continue to lie abandoned for years at the Chittagong port’s Jetty No 6. The Customs authority has failed to arrange an auction for these expensive machines. The photo was taken yesterday RABIN CHOWDHURY

Public hearing on gas prices from August 7 n Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will begin an eight-day public hearing from August 7 on gas transmission tariff and price hike proposals submitted by seven state-owned gas transmission and distribution companies.

It will also hold a hearing on gas bulk tariff. The hearings will be held at the TCB Bhaban in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar.

The interested persons and organisations will have to write to the commission by August 1 to participate at the hearing, a BERC official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The hearing on proposals of the Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) will be held on August 7, while that of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd on August 8 and Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited will be held on August 10.

The hearing on Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited will be held on August 11 and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited proposals on August 14.

The hearing on proposals of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN TUESDAY, JULY 20

Distribution System Limited will be held on August 16 and Sundarban Gas Company Limited will be held on August 17.

The bulk tariff hearing of Petrobangla, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited, Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited and Sylhet Gas Fields Limited will be held on August 18.

The seven companies earlier submitted their proposals after the government decided to increase gas transmission and gas prices.

Besides, other companies including Petrobangla submitted their proposals to increase gas bulk tariff.

According to their proposals, domestic users will have to pay Tk1,200 every month instead of Tk650 for double burners, which is an 85% hike.

On the other hand, Tk1,100 has been proposed for single burners, up from the current Tk600.

Consumers using meter-based burners will have to pay Tk16.80 instead of Tk7 for per cubic metre of gas, an increase of 140%.

The proposals also asked for increases in prices of gas used for

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‘Half a million premature babies born’ n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

commercial purposes, in power plants and tea gardens. Fertiliser companies and industrial users will also face a price hike under the proposals.

Gas Transmission Company Limited has proposed that the BERC raise gas transmission tariff from Tk0.1565 to Tk0.4213 per cubic metre.

In February last year, the BERC organised a series of public hearings after state-owned gas distribution companies pressed to have gas tariffs increased.

After the hearings, the government increased gas prices from September 1 last year. l

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Barisal

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TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:23AM

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23.5ºC Rangamati

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PRAYER TIMES

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday at the parliament said that around 450,000 children are born premature in the country.

Of the premature babies, 26,000 died, which is 45% of the infant mortality rate, he said, adding that other premature babies suffered from various complicated diseases later on.

The minister said the government has taken steps towards stopping the kidnapping of infants at government hospitals.

He said CCTV cameras were being set up at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the government has made it compulsory for all hospital staff to wear uniforms. l

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Fajr: 4:50am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 6:58pm Esha: 8:45pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Diarrhoea breaks out in Kushtia n Kudrote Khoda Sobuj, Kushtia Diarrhoea has broken out in the district alarmigly since Friday.

According to local sources, at least 500 patients were admitted to Kshtia General Hospital till yesterday.

Beside the general hospital, the several health complexes became also fullfill with the diarrhoea patients.

Of the patients, maximum are old women and children.

Many doctors think dirty food, polluted water and environment are causes of the diseases.

Miraz Hossen, a worker who was admitted to the hospitl, said at first he was feeling squeamish and later started vomiting in unhealthy environment at the industry.

He said he hd been in the hospital for three days.

Azad, a truck driver said he got diarrhoea after he had breakfast at a local hotel in the town.

Shamoli and Sheela, patients at the hospital, alleged that they did not get treantment due to lack of physician and staffs.

Marzina Khatun, a nurse at the hospital, said of the patients, maximum were old women and children and there was no place for them in the hopital Dr Taposh Kumar of the hospital said the victims snd others should avoid rotten and dirty foods.

Dr Zahiruddin, assistant professor of the hospital said everyday at least 90-100 patienst were admitted to hospital and there was no seat for them.

Maximum patients had taken shelter at the corridor of the hospital due to shortage of space, he said. l

Locals panicked at hostage incident Minor girl rescued after eighthour captivity Hossain, n Tanveer Narayanganj Polcie rescued a minor girl, who was kept hostage for eight hours in a room by a woman, at Fatulla upazila, Naraynganj yesterday morning.

Local sources said Suraya Begum, 28, daughter of Habibur Rahman in Naria of Shariatpur, came to the tea stall of Nurul Haque in Shahi Bazar area around 12:30am.

She gave her identity to Nurul as the wife of one Joinal in Tangail.

She said she had come to look for her relatives in the area, but did not find them.

She also wanted shelter from Nurul as it was night.

Nurul took her to his home and arranged her night stay with his 9-yearold grand-daughter Biponti around 3am.

As soon as she entered the room, Suraya locked it from

inside put a sharp knife at the throat of Biponti. She asked the family members to leave the house.

The woman also threatened them if they did not follow her order, she would kill the girl.

The family members got afraid at the incident and wanted help form the neighours.

The neighours went to the spot and tried to rescue the girl. But they did not suceed.

On information, police went to the spot around 8 am and rescued the girl after cutting the door with gas-cutter around 11am.

The police also arrested the woman.

Sub-Inspector of Fatulla Model police station Golam Mostofa said the woman tried to kill herself with the knife when they held her.

The woman might have been mentally disordered, said the SI. l

The Bangabandhu Parishad, Islami University, Kushtia unit, organises a human chain yesterday, protesting Gulshan and Sholakia terrorist attacks DHAKA TRIBUNE

Three youths remain missing in Pabna n Md Emroz Khandakar, Pabna Police in Pabna suspect that three youths who have remained missing are involved with militancy.

The three youths are Likhon Haque, 19, son of Fazlul Haque of Atghoria, Sojib Sheikh, 29, son of Monowar Hasan, of Iswardi, and Sumon Islam, son of Nazrul Islam of the same area.

Additional Police Super of Pabna (special branch) Siddiqur Rahman

yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that they were investigating the missing youths’ involvement with militancy.

“The youths might have been forcibly disappeared or kidnapped,” said the APS, adding that they were handling the issue seriously.

Officer-in-Charge of Atghoria police station SM Faruk Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that Likhon Haque, 19, son of Fazlul Haque, went missing on May 20.

“Father of the youth told us that

his son left house over family dispute,” said the OC. Officer-in-Charge of Iswardi police station said Sumon had been remained missing since March 29, 2015.

Sumon and Sajib told their families that they were going to their friend’s house before their departure.

Separate general diaries have been filed with respective police stations. l

7

DT

News

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Family sees no ray of hope over investigation TONU MURDER CASE

n Mohiudding Molla, Comilla Anwara Begum, mother of slain Comilla Victoria Government College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu, yesterday said they were frustrated as investigation over the killing of her daughter had remained stalled.

She said: “Now the case has remained stalled over matching of DNA samples of sperm which was

found on the cloth of my daughter.

Once, police told us that they will examine sperm of suspects, but now they are preferring to keep mum.”

An official who preferred to be unnamed told the Dhaka Tribune that they were investigating the case. He, however, said they would not say anything over progress of the case for the sake of investigation.

Anwara Begum said: “Officials of the Criminal Investigation Department earlier told us that investigation of the case get will get a boost after Eid. Thirteen days of Eid have passed, but we are not

getting any information over the case from them. The CID is the last hope for us, if the department does not work for the investigation of the case, where will we go?

“I have lost my daughter, we will be happy, if we get justice.”

This correspondent could not make contact with investigation officer of the case Gazi Md Ibrahim despite several attempts.

Earlier, Anwara Begum in a rally alleged that attempts had been made to kill her husband Yaar Ali. She then alleged that Tonu’s family members had been barred from talking to the media.

She also termed Tonu’s post-mortem report as wrong. She demanded punishment of doctor who performed autopsy of Tonu.

She said: “Four months have passed since Tonu had been killed, but the criminals had not been identified yet.”

On the night of March 20, Tonu’s body was recovered from a bush near her house inside Comilla cantonment.

Father of Tonu filed a case with Kotwali Model police station on the same day.

Autopsy was performed on her body twice – the second time after

exhumation – and the first report, released on April 4, drew widespread criticism as it concluded that no sign of murder or rape was found.

The second report was released on June 12 and it also sparked controversy.

The second autopsy found evidence of sexual intercourse in Tonu’s corpse. It also found sperm of three persons on Tonu’s cloth.

On May 10, parents of the victim named Army Sargent Jahid, his wife and soldier Jahid for killing their daughter. They also alleged that law enforcers were trying to save the killers. l

5 die taking home-made liquor n Abdullah Al Dulal, Rajshahi Five people died after drinking home-made liquor at the sweepers’colony of Sardah Police Academy at Charghat in Rajshahi yesterday.

Deceased Jawhar, 65, Badhoni Rani, 70, Anil, 50, Helal, 50, and Mahtab, 50, were sweepers, residing at the colony, said Nibaran Chandra Barman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Charghat Model police station.

The police said they fell sick after drinking the liquor on Monday night and breathed their last yesterday afternoon.

Enamul Haque, assistant sub-inspector of the police box at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said quoting the hospital’s ward master that excessive amount of the liquor was traced in the blood of the dead bodies in post-mortem. l

Labourers place concrete blocks on the bank of the Padma in Bulonpur, Rajshahi city to save a dyke by the river. The picture was taken yesterday

AZHAR UDDIN

Tk10 lakh found abandoned in Gazipur

BNP leader Aslam to be Youth killed in gunfight n quizzed at jail gate

n

n

Raihanul Islam Akand, Gazipur

Police recovered Tk 10 lakh, which was lying abandoned on Naojor Alekjan Girls High School’s boundary wall in Gazipur City Corporation area, yesterday.

Locals saw a bag on the boundary wall yesterday afternoon and informed Morsheda Begum, head mistress of the school, about it.

Morsheda found 10 bundles inside an envelope of Dutch Bangla Bank after opening the bag, containing the amount, said Jakir Hossain, sub-inspector of Bhogra police outpost under Joydevpur police station.

Morsheda informed the police of the matter, said Jakir. l

Md Tauhid-Uz-Zaman, Jessore

FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

A Chittagong court yesterday allowed police to interrogate BNP’s Joint Secretary General Aslam Chowdhury at jail gate in connection with a case filed under explosive act.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Nirmalendu Bikash Chawakrabarty told the Dhaka Tribune the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmul Hasan Chowdhury had ordered police to interrogate BNP leader Aslam rejecting his remand prayer.

“He was shown arrested in the case and produced before the court

with 10-day remand plea”, added the CMP official.

On Monday, BNP leader Aslam was placed on three-day remand in another case filed with Kotwali police station in connection with subversive activities.

BNP leader Aslam became the talk of the country after his alleged meeting with an agent of Israeli Intelligence agency Mossad.

Later, he was arrested by the detectives from capital’s Khilkhet area on May 15.

On May 26, a case was filed against him on charges of hatching conspiracy against government.

Apart from that Aslam was also shown arrested in two arson cases after his arrest. l

A youth was shot dead allegedly in a gunfight between drug peddlers, robbers and police in Jessore town early Tuesday.

The deceased Nesar Ali, 32, son of Abdul Gaffar from Azimabad Colony at Bezpara in the town, left a daughter, said Hasan Ali Tikka, elder brother of Nesar.

Ilias Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jossore Kotwali police station, said being informed that a gunfight was going on between a group of drug peddlers and a gang of robbers in Barandipara area of the town, law-enforcers rushed to the spot and shot 10 rounds of blank fire to disperse the criminals.

Later, the police recovered the body of Nesar from the spot and

brought him to Jessore General Hospital, he added.

There were seven cases against Nesar, including robbery, theft, mugging, drug and arms, said the OC. On the other hand, Tikka said police detained his brother from home on Sunday night. He came to know about the death of his brother yesterday morning and identified the body kept at the hospital, Tikka added.

However, Illias denied the allegation.

Dr Kajal Mollik at emergency department of the hospital said the man died before he brought to the hospital.

A pipe gun, three rounds of bullet and three local sharp weapons were recovered from the spot, claimed the OC. l

DT

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistani court orders seizure of Musharraf’s assets

A special court hearing treason charges against former Pakistani president and army chief Pervez Musharraf ordered the seizure of his assets on Tuesday after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital Islamabad. Musharraf in March left Pakistan for Dubai to seek medical treatment, shortly after the country’s top court lifted a ban on his travel.

-REUTERS

INDIA

India SC warns Rahul Gandhi may face defamation suit India’s top court has ordered a scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi family to express regret or face defamation charges for blaming the country’s top Hindu nationalist organisation for the 1948 assassination of independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not accept Rahul Gandhi’s plea that what he said in 2014 was based on government records and a court ruling and that he didn’t directly refer to Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

-AP

CHINA

Taiwan bus inferno kills 26, mainly China tourists A Taiwan tour bus carrying tourists from China crashed into a highway railing en route to the airport on Tuesday and burst into flames, killing all 26 on board. The bus was carrying 24 tourists on an 8-day tour organised by a travel agency in China’s northeastern province of Liaoning.

-AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles North Korea fired 3 ballistic missiles on Tuesday which flew between 500 and 600km into the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s military said. The US military said it detected launches of what it believed were 2 Scud missiles and one Rodong, a home-grown missile based on Soviet-era Scud technology.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

US-led strikes kill 56 civilians in Syria Children were among at least 56 civilians killed in strikes by a USled coalition early on Tuesday near a Syrian village held by the IS. The victims were apparently mistaken for jihadists and bombed while fleeing fighting in Al-Tukhar in Aleppo province, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

-AFP

ANALYSIS

In coup’s aftermath, rifts between US and Turkey grow Obama was quick to endorse Erdogan’s return to power, but the Turkish leader holds Washington partially responsible for the coup anyway

n Tribune International Desk The Obama administration has spent years feuding with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the White House quickly condemned this weekend’s coup attempt and made clear that it believed Erdogan — whatever his faults — was the legitimate leader of his country and needed to be returned to power as quickly as possible.

That may not be enough to prevent the failed coup from emerging as the latest strain in Washington’s chilly relationship with one of its closest regional allies.

The United States has long wanted Erdogan to do more to fight the Islamic State and moderate his increasingly authoritarian tendencies, but the coup attempt seems likely to push Erdogan in the opposite direction. Turkish officials, for their part, have blamed the coup on Fethullah Gulen, a 75-year-old cleric living in exile in Pennsylvania, and hinted that Washington was somehow complicit in the attempted putsch, charges the White House has angrily denied.

“The most damaging aspect of the last few days has been the aggressive rhetoric from Turkey directed at the US,” said Nicholas Heras of the Centre for a New American Security, who has carried out extensive field research in Turkey. “Erdogan clearly takes Gulen’s presence in the US personally and can’t understand why a man he sees as a terrorist can live freely here.”

The growing tensions have been on full display in the immediate aftermath of the military effort to oust Erdogan, which left more than 290 dead and Turkey — a Nato member with aspirations of one day joining the European Union — reeling.

On Saturday, Turkey shut down all US and Nato operations at the Incirlik Air Base, home to at least 1,500 American personnel and a vital hub in the US-led air war against the Islamic State. It also cut electricity to the base, leaving US forces using what the Defence Department described as “internal power sources.”

Turkish officials justified the closure by saying that coup plotters were operating out of the Incirlik base and had used airborne

tankers at the facility to refuel F-16 fighter jets piloted by coup supporters. The base commander, Gen Bekir Ercan Van, was arrested Sunday along with other officers at Incirlik, though Turkey also reopened its airspace to US warplanes.

Just as alarming to the administration, a high-ranking member of the Erdogan government accused Washington of directly helping to foment the putsch, with Turkish Labour Minister Suleyman Soylu bluntly saying that “the US is behind this coup attempt.” Erdogan and his aides have linked the violence to Gulen and indirectly hinted that Washington bore some responsibility because the cleric lives in the US. The allegations prompted a sharp rebuke from US Secretary of State John Kerry. According to the State Department, the top US diplomat used a conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Saturday to reiterate “US support for the democratical-

TURKEY COUP ATTEMPT

Influential US-based Turkish cleric

Situation on July 18, 1300GMT

312 killed during the coup bid 208 loyalists/civilians

104 coup plotters 7,543 detained 6,038

Age: 75

755 judges

The man Turkey’s leaders accuse of being behind the recent coup

military personnel

103 generals/ admirals 100 police Others 8,777 civil servants sacked

End 1970 Founds Hizmet,

of whom

a powerful liberal Islamic movement criticised by Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a parallel state 1999 Departs Turkey for the US, settles in Pennsylvania

4,500 police

2003 Supports Erdogan during

officers 614 gendarmes

29

Local council leaders

1

Provincial governor

Source: Turkish interior ministry

On Saturday, Turkey shut down all US and Nato operations at the Incirlik Air Base, home to at least 1,500 American personnel ly elected government in Turkey,” but to also stress “that public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations.”

Kerry also pointedly “urged restraint by the Turkish government and respect for due process — and its international obligations — as it investigates and uncovers additional information about those involved.”

That plea is likely to fall on deaf ears with Erdogan, whose government has already launched a broad crackdown on alleged coup plotters. As many as 6,000 people — including nearly 3,000 military officers and troops — have already been detained. Turkish officials say they are continuing to look for other potential plotters and issued an arrest warrant Sunday for Erdogan’s top military aide, Colonel Ali Yazici. The Turkish leader says those involved in the coup will “pay a heavy price for their treason.”

The sharp exchanges in the aftermath of the coup come on top

FETHULLAH GULEN

of the long-standing US criticism of Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies, which include opening roughly 2,000 legal cases against political opponents, journalists, comedians, and ordinary Turks accused of insulting the president.

Top Obama administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, have also said Erdogan needs to step up his efforts to seal Turkey’s southern border with Syria to prevent foreign fighters from passing through to link up with the Islamic State. Earlier this year, for example, Defence Secretary Ash Carter said he would “like Turkey to do more” to fight the Islamic State.

Ankara, for its part, has bristled at American support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which has emerged as one of Washington’s most effective battlefield allies in the ground fight against the Islamic State. Ankara sees the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a militant group that has killed

his early years in power, apparently to weaken the historic influence of the army in Turkey

2013 Breaks with Erdogan after a government crackdown on demonstrators in Taksim Square, and a high-level corruption scandal hundreds of Turkish civilians and security personnel as it battles to create a Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. Turkey, the United States, and the EU all view the PKK as a terrorist group, and Kurds have been blamed for a string of recent bloody bombings inside Turkey.

Harsh rhetoric aside, it’s not clear how far Turkey is willing to go to try to force Washington to return the cleric. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the US has yet to receive a formal extradition request from Turkey, and Kerry and other administration officials say Ankara would first need to show clear and convincing evidence of Gulen’s direct involvement in the failed coup, a bar Turkey might not be able to clear.

Even if the Gulen controversy is defused, however, Washington will almost certainly have to sit back and watch as Erdogan ignores its pleas for restraint and uses the failed coup to further consolidate power and crack down on his real and perceived enemies. l

This is an excerpt of a Foreign Policy magazine article, which can be accessed through http://atfp.co/29VZXTc

9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

EXPLAINER

USA

Do US political conventions still matter? n

Tribune International Desk

American political conventions once had real drama as parties held rounds and rounds of voting before settling on a presidential nominee. Now, they are highly staged television pep rallies as party loyalists anoint a nominee determined in state primaries and caucuses.

So as Republicans convene in Cleveland this week to nominate Donald Trump, with Democrats waiting to follow with Hillary Clinton’s nomination next week in Philadelphia, it’s reasonable to wonder whether the soirees still matter — especially in a year in which Trump has upended American politics.

The answer is not a simple yes or no. Here are some points to consider:

This is not a normal election year

Conventions normally offer nominees an opportunity to command the spotlight, basking in the praise of their adoring supporters. But Trump has had a rough run-up to the convention. Top Republicans, including the party’s last four nominees, are boycotting the con-

vention. Trump’s rollout of running mate Mike Pence was shaky.

And the first hours of the convention were marred by tumult on the convention floor in a fight over Republican rules.

So does a rocky start to the convention bode ill for Trump? Not necessarily. The first rule of the 2016 campaign is that usual rules may not apply. The political power brokers who have been abuzz about the turmoil in Trump’s campaign are some of the same ones who couldn’t imagine the outlandish billionaire developer winning the Republican nomination. Many were also shocked that Clinton faced a strong challenge from Bernie Sanders, a 74-year-old senator who identifies as a democratic socialist.

Tough re-branding efforts

Conventions offer candidates opportunity to shape their images to voters who hadn’t really tuned in before.

That will be a tough task this year. A July Associated Press-GfK poll found more than 6 out of 10 voters held an unfavourable view of Trump; Clinton did poorly on that front as well, with a 57% unfavourable rating.

For Trump, Cleveland is about making himself more “likable,” according to top Republican advisers. A prime target: women,

THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Start of the official campaign Democrats Advanced voting in Philadelphia in several states (Pennsylvania)

Republicans

in Cleveland (Ohio) 18-21 25-28

July 2016

Voters choose

538

5

August

100

26

September

435

corresponding corresponding to the Senate to the House (2 per state) of Representatives (number per state according to *Proportional system population) in Maine and Nebraska grand electors

Election Day

Presidential debates

Conventions Delegates vote to choose their candidate

Popular vote, by state

The candidate who wins most votes in a state wins all available grand electors* 9

19

8

October

3

electors from the District of Columbia (Washington)

who make up more than half the electorate. For Clinton, the hurdle is “trust.” Democrats say the way to overcome persuadable voters’ scepticism is to tell them about what she’s accomplished in her public roles, convincing them she’s best for the job, even if they may not completely trust her.

Party unity?

Parties traditionally strive to project an image of unity at their conventions. The Democratic Party has rallied behind Clinton, with Sanders and President Barack Obama among those speaking at the convention. Clinton will use surrogates to tell her story until she appears on her convention’s final night to accept the nomination.

The Republican Party, meanwhile, is fractured, as was evident in

Electoral College

20

November

elects by absolute majority

December

January 2017

The President Inauguration Day

Trump’s wife accused of stealing Michelle Obama’s speech Melania Trump found herself in the midst of an embarrassing plagiarism controversy Tuesday after a prime-time defence of her husband Donald that appeared to be lifted in part from a speech given by Michelle Obama at the Democratic convention in 2008. The speech was the highlight of a chaotic opening day of a Republican convention.

-AFP

THE AMERICAS

270

the rules fight Monday. Yet Trump doesn’t seem to care about party fissures. He’s the outsider selling himself to voters. His party label is secondary. That would seem to give the united Democrats an advantage over the chaotic Republicans. But maybe not. Trump’s primary product is his personal brand. Because of Trump, Republican primary debates set ratings records. Republican primary turnout set records. His name almost guarantees a large audience for his acceptance speech Thursday.

Trump enhanced his fame as a reality TV star, succeeding in a genre in which audiences tune in to see the unpredictable. Democrats could have a hard time attracting as many viewers — and voters — to their carefully scripted show. l

Source: AP

Indian coal firm violates community rights

Colombia HC backs referendum on peace deal with FARC Colombia’s constitutional court gave its approval on Monday for a popular referendum on a historic peace deal being negotiated with FARC rebels.

The top court held more than 8 hours of deliberations before giving its go-ahead to a government bill on the plebiscite, which has already been approved by Congress.

-AFP

UK

UK MPs back renewal of nuclear deterrent British lawmakers voted by 472 to 117 on Monday to back the renewal of the country’s ageing nuclear weapons system. Parliament agreed in principle in 2007 to replace the deterrent system and Monday’s vote rubber stamped the decision to go ahead with approving the building of four submarines to ensure Britain can have nuclear weapons continuously at sea.

-REUTERS

EUROPE

n Tribune International Desk India’s state-controlled coal firm routinely violates the rights of local communities in the rush to open new mines to meet the country’s growing demand for power, Amnesty International said earlier this month.

A report from the human rights group said Coal India, the world’s largest coal producer, had failed to consult the indigenous communities living near mines in central and eastern India on acquiring the land, or the environmental impact.

In some cases, it found, local communities did not even know that their land was being acquired for mining purposes until it happened.

“Both the company and central and state governments don’t seem to care to speak or listen to vulnerable Adivasi (indigenous) communities whose lands are acquired and forests destroyed for coal mining,” news agency AFP quotes Aakar Patel, head of Amnesty International India as saying.

India’s indigenous communities form more than eight percent of the country’s 1.2bn people, according to the latest census of 2011.

Many are illiterate and live in

DT

World

EU takes China to WTO over export curbs

In this 2012 file photo, workers drill at an open cast coal field in Indian state of Jharkhand extreme poverty, relying on the land for food.

The report said the central government had acquired land in all three Coal India mines its investigators examined, without directly informing affected families, or consulting them about their resettlement.

One interviewee said he only discovered the land was being acquired after the deal was signed.

A Coal India official dismissed the findings of the report, saying it was “next to impossible” to blatantly flout rules and regulations in place for such communities that are often protected by various agencies, including state governments.

“CIL (Coal India Limited) cannot forcibly evict people for projects. There are too many laws,

rules, statutory stipulations in place to check such violations,” the official said on the condition of anonymity.

Coal reliance

Amnesty, however, says Coal India followed rules superficially only to show on paper and failed to genuinely enforce them on the ground, citing cases of authorities spending barely minutes to explain impacts of mining or government panels hardly raising the communities’ concerns at approval meetings.

“Authorities and companies appear to have seen public hearings more as a bureaucratic hurdle to overcome than a genuine opportunity to hear and address community concerns,” said Aruna

REUTERS

Chandrasekhar, a senior researcher at Amnesty International India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing government is seeking to double coal production by 2020 to one billion tonnes annually to meet the needs of its burgeoning economy.

India sits on the world’s fifth largest coal reserves and already relies on coal for 60% of its power.

The Amnesty report was based on interviews with 124 affected people, government officials, Coal India representatives and local journalists, activists and lawyers between January 2014 and February 2016.

Amnesty said it had submitted its findings to state authorities and the companies concerned for comment, but had not received a response. l

The EU launched a 3rd legal challenge on Tuesday to restrictions on Chinese exports of 11 key metals and materials, joining the US in suing Beijing for unfairly favouring Chinese industry. The bloc is seeking formal consultations with China, the first step in World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement procedures, over restrictions on graphite, cobalt, copper, lead, chromium, magnesia, talcum, tantalum, tin, antimony and indium. -REUTERS

AFRICA

10 soldiers killed, 38 wounded on Mali army base attack Authorities say gunmen have killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded 38 in an attack on an army camp in Mali. A militia defending the Peul ethnic group claimed the attack that enabled gunmen to briefly seize control of the base. Oumar Aldjana, head of the National Alliance for the Protection of Peul Identity and the Restoration of Justice made the claim.

-REUTERS

DT

10

World

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

INSIGHT

Europe’s eyes on Merkel to rebuild EU after Brexit BRITAIN’S POLITICAL FAULT LINES FRACTURE ONCE AGAIN Tory Theresa May set to become prime minister on Wednesday, Angela Eagle takes on Corbyn for Labour crown July 11

July 9

Thurs June 30

Senior Labour figure Angela Eagle announces she will stand against to Corbyn

Corbyn faces leadership challenge from former colleagues Conservative leadership campaign begins, Brexit leader Boris Johnson decides not to stand Tues June 28

Theresa May’s only rival for the top job withdraws. May to become Britain's prime minister on Wednesday Friday June 24 Angela Eagle launches Result: 52% - 48% in favour of her Labour leadership quitting bid Thurs June 23 Britons vote in a referendum on whether to quit the EU

Nationalist leader and “Leave” campaigner Nigel Farage celebrates “independence day”

n Reuters, Brussels When the chips are down in Europe, everyone turns to Angela Merkel for a solution. But the German chancellor often sits on her hands until the last minute, then does the minimum necessary to keep the show on the road.

Since last month’s shock British referendum vote to leave the European Union, all eyes have been on Berlin to indicate a way out of danger for the 27 members who will remain.

As usual, Merkel, the continent’s most powerful and experienced leader, is biding her time and letting underlings air their differences without tipping her hand before she departs for her three-week summer break this week.

Votes had barely been tallied in Britain when her vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, and European Parliament President Martin Schulz rushed out a 10-point plan for a “refoundation” of Europe.

Lamenting that ever more citizens doubted Europe’s ability to deliver a better future, they called for a more federal Europe with the European Commission as its government, and a more flexible, growth-friendly economic policy turning away from austerity to investment in an “industrial renaissance”.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble rapidly shot down those ideas, rejecting any need for economic stimulus spending and reaf-

Corbyn loses confidence vote.

172 of 230 Labour lawmakers voted against him

Sun June 26 Opposition Labour Party in crisis. Senior party figures begin to desert leader Jeremy Corbyn

Prime minister David Cameron who backed “Remain”, says he will resign firming his balanced budget target up to 2020 at a time when many in Europe are pleading with Berlin to borrow money free of interest and invest massively in infrastructure.

He refuses to accept that surplus countries like Germany, which has a giant current account surplus of eight percentage points of GDP, should help poorer deficit countries adjust by spending more on public investment and boosting consumption.

Furthermore, Schaeuble said those calling for a bold federal leap forward in integration had failed to understand the public disenchantment with the EU that fuelled the British vote and is driving nationalistic euroscepticism elsewhere in Europe.

Rather than give more power to Brussels, the veteran conservative, who once advocated a federal “core Europe”, said it was time for national governments to take matters more into their own hands if the Commission was unable to do the job.

Schaeuble is blocking the next steps forward in euro zone risk-sharing - the creation of a European bank deposit insurance system and of a fiscal backstop for the currency area’s single resolution fund to help wind down failed banks.

The 71-year-old finance minister has also managed to delay any debt relief for Greece until after next year’s German election in September and manoeuvered to delay public support for Italy’s ailing banks, saying there was no acute crisis.

Less vulnerable

Even the German head of the euro zone’s rescue fund, Klaus Regling, argued last week that Berlin and its partners needed to go further to make the currency area less vulnerable to shocks.

Restructuring Italian banks’ bad loans and forcing investors including retail savers to take losses before any public money can be injected under the EU’s new bank recovery and resolution rules could trigger precisely that kind of post-Brexit shock.

Regling called for completing European banking union by phasing in a deposit insurance scheme after a transition period. He also advocated a limited budgetary capacity for the euro area to cushion economic shocks hitting only some countries.

Both proposals have so far been anathema to Schaeuble, who speaks for a school of German fiscal hawks in warning that such steps would lead to unacceptable permanent north-south transfers inside the monetary union.

At least there is debate in Germany about what the EU should do to regain momentum and overcome the trauma of losing Britain, its second largest economy, even if much of it resembles shadow boxing before next year’s German elections.

In many EU countries, politicians have simply fallen back on blaming Brussels, with some demanding the scalp of European Commission President Jean-

#BREXIT

WHERE DOES EUROPEAN UNION GO FROM HERE? A 7 BILLION EURO HOLE IN EU’S ANNUAL BUDGET EU needs to quickly fill a 7-billion-euro hole in its 145-billion-euro annual budget, as it loses Britain’

CLARIFYING RIGHT TO TRADE AND WORK The EU will clarify as quickly as possible the status of firms and individuals currently using their EU rights to trade, work and live

SHOW OF UNITY

EU leaders will push for a show of unity in the face of Eurosceptics inspired by the result in Britain; including National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who leads polls for next April’s French presidential election.

SECURITY POLICY REVIEW A major EU security policy review focusing on a new push to tighten control on irregular immigration from Africa.

Claude Juncker as a scapegoat.

To be sure, Juncker has contributed to the sense of disarray by first trying to rush an EU trade deal with Canada through the European Parliament without letting national lawmakers have a say, then reversing himself under pressure from governments.

The result is that the Canada deal could be bogged down for many months, perhaps indefinitely, and the chances of getting a bigger and more sensitive trade and investment partnership with the United States wrapped up and ratified seem even more remote.

No progress on monetary or banking union, deadlock on trade - that doesn’t leave much scope for restoring public and financial market confidence in Europe.

The German and French foreign ministers, both social democrats, have issued more modest joint proposals for the EU to focus on internal and external security, managing migration and refugee flows, and boosting the economy and job creation.

Their nine-page paper, which would not require changing the

EU’s founding treaty with the risk of more referendum defeats, called for a European Security Compact with a more integrated foreign and security policy and a permanent civil-military chain of command for crisis management operations.

But when it came to the euro the economic heart of the European project - their suggestions of investment-boosting measures by surplus countries and a common fiscal capacity(budget) for the euro zone, ran into the same stonewall in the German Finance Ministry.

Merkel has broadly welcomed the Franco-German paper and broadly adopted its focus on three main themes - migration, security and growth/jobs. Whether she is willing to overrule Schaeuble and take political risks before next year’s federal elections is highly doubtful.

Yet without some initiative to provide fresh wind after the Brexit blow, the EU looks highly vulnerable to the next external shock, whether from Islamist militants, Italian banks or another surge in migration. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Maoist insurgent blasts kill 10 Bihar policemen n Reuters, New Delhi

Maoist insurgents in India killed 10 police after luring them into a hilly, forested area sewn with booby traps and setting off the bombs, officials said on Tuesday, in what was one of the deadliest attacks this year.

Members of an elite police unit

were acting on a tip-off that a group of rebels had gathered at the top of a hill in the remote south of Bihar state when they found themselves trapped at lower ground late on Monday, the state’s director general of police, PK Thakur, said.

The Maoists triggered improvised explosive devices among a group of 25 stranded policemen,

before the police killed three insurgents in a gun battle that lasted into the night, Thakur told Reuters. “The police party had almost 100 troops. The first group got trapped in an area of land mines and there were serial blasts. The terrain is very difficult there and the extremists were on higher ground,� Thakur said.

Maoist insurgents seeking the violent overthrow of the Indian state have been fighting for decades, launching hit-and-run attacks against security forces from jungle camps across swathes of poor and rural central and eastern India.

The number of attacks has fallen in recent years but the Maoists, who say they are fighting to free the

poor and landless from exploitation of their land, continue to enjoy some support among the poor.

According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, left-wing extremist violence has left 236 people dead this year, almost the same as for the whole of 2015. Almost half of the dead have been killed in mineral-rich Chhattisgarh state. l

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12 Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

TOP STORIES

RMG exporters fear hike in production costs The retailers choice to meet with ready-made garment manufacturers in any third country to negotiate business deals will shoot up the production cost.

PAGE 13

Brexit prompts IMF to cut global growth forecasts The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its global growth forecasts for the next two years yesterday, citing uncertainty over Britain’s looming exit from the European Union.

PAGE 14

Oil traders lose millions as LPG glut shocks market

n Reuters, London

Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a “career-ruining” glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to cancel deals.

PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Tuesday DSE Broad Index

4,556.9

-0.3% ▼

Index

1,115.0

-0.4% ▼

30 Index

1,781.3

-0.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

3,996.3 -19.5% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

109.9 -27.4% ▼

CSE All Share Index 14,005.1

-0.2% ▼

30 Index

12,941.1

-0.3% ▼

8,524.2

-0.2% ▼

319.9

0.0% ▼

Selected Index Turnover in Mn Tk Turnover in Mn Vol

8.5 -30.0% ▼

Bangladesh proceeds with strong foothold in global apparel market n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Bangladesh continues to make its firm footing in the global apparel markets that it has successfully shone in all of its export destinations in the just-concluded fiscal year.

The exporters and analysts attributed the growth to political calmness during the year, increased productivity, entrepreneurs’ resilience and improvement of workers’ safety standards in factories.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh export to European Union countries posted an 11.63% rise to $17.15 billion, which was $15.36 billion a year ago.

While the export to US market, the single largest export destination for Bangladesh, has registered 6.37% to $5.62 billion in FY’15-16, in FY’14-15, it earned $5.28 billion.

On the other hand, RMG export to non-traditional markets rose by 10.48% to $4.31 billion, which was $3.9 billion a year ago.

In the just-concluded fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $28.09 billion, exporting clothing products, which is 82% of the total export of $34.24 billion.

Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of clothing products after China and taking the benefits of China shift. Its global market share is 5.1% as of 2014.

“I think Bangladesh market share in the global apparel market has increased a little bit in 2015, and in the current year, we will remain the second largest exporter in the globe,” BGMEA senior VicePresident Faruque Hassan told the Dhaka Tribune.

Brands and buyers are shying away business from China, which would help Bangladesh grab more market shares, said Hassan.

GARMENT EXPORTS IN FY2015-16

Total volume $28bn; Growth 10.21% To EU $17.15bn; Growth 11.63% To US $5.62bn; Growth 6.37% To other markets $4.31bn; Growth 10.48%

EU US Non-traditional markets Canada “A slow and steady entrance in high value products is pumping our export value up.”

New investment in ecofriendly manufacturing is another indicator of increased production capacity that would ultimately attract buyers.

“A good number of green factories are in the offing for production, which would add new volume to the country’s production capacity,” Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association, told the Dhaka Tribune.

If the government ensures utility services including gas and electricity, the market share would increase to 6% by the next two fiscal years.

But it would also depend on the recovery of economy from the recession in the export destinations, he added.

RMG makers want 0.70% tax at source as final settlement n Asif Showkat Kallol

The country’s apparel sector has urged the government to fix 0.70% tax at source on export as final settlement instead of making it just minimum rate.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) made the

3.55 %

RMG EXPORT MARKETS

call in a letter to Finance Minister AMA Muhith on July 16.

BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman sent the letter to the finance minister.

The rate was earlier reduced to 0.70% from 1.50% in the proposed budget.

“Although the budget for the  PAGE 13 COLUMN 5

15.37% 20.02%

Bangladesh has set $50 billion export target by 2021. For achieving the target, the global market share has to increase to 8% with a 12% yearly growth.

“The double digit growth is a positive indication, but the enhancement of global market share will depend on growth in line with global market growth,” Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue, told the Dhaka Tribune.

To retain the growth, Bangladesh has to emphasise productivity and workers efficiency as competitors are getting stronger day by day and also gaining preferential trade advantage, said Moazzem.

Brexit is another issue for Bangladesh’s export. To avert the adverse impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union, the

61.06%

government has to set strategy to avail trade advantage like the previous time, Moazzem adds.

Increasing export to nontraditional markets is an important element to enlarge global market share. In taking the advantage of non-traditional markets, the government and the association have to negotiate to reduce higher tariff bilaterally.

“We have also to concentrate on potential export destination like Japan to enlarge export value.”

According to the sector people, the buyers confidence have been restored in Bangladeshi manufacturers because of safety standard improvement.

Safety assessment by global buyers platform has found less than 2% factories risky to workers’ safety, which have already been closed. l

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13

Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

RMG exporters fear negotiations abroad may hike production costs n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The retailers choice to meet with ready-made garment manufacturers in any third country to negotiate business deals will shoot up the production cost.

The apparel makers apprehend that besides production cost hike, they might lose orders as well, if the current situation in the country continues unabated.

Following the recent terror attack in Gulshan, the global buyers and brands asked manufacturers to meet them elsewhere outside Bangladesh for business deals for the upcoming season.

Some buyers have already postponed their visit and scheduled their meeting in a third country on security grounds.

“Three of my buyers from Italy, France and Spain asked me to get ready for a meeting in a third country for negotiation of new orders for the coming season,” said Moshiul Alam Sajal, managing director of Posmi Sweaters.

They were supposed to visit Bangladesh by the end of July and first week of August, he added.

Like Sajal, a good number of manufacturers are facing the same problem.

It costs over Tk4 lakh to meet the buyers in a third country, but the main problem is that a third-coun-

Stocks edge lower on profit booking

n Tribune Business Desk Stocks edged lower on quick profit booking yesterday, ending a modest rally after three sessions.

The market opened higher in the morning but began to decline steadily later on, which continued until the close of the session.

The DSE benchmark index DSEX lost about 15 points or 0.4% to close at 4,556. The blue-chip comprising index DS30 was down nearly 6 points to 1,781.

The DSE Shariah Index DSES shed over 4 points to 1,114.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX declined 20 points to 8,524. In its third trading day, Evince Textiles Limited (ETL) tumbled more than 9% to Tk19 a share. The company was the biggest loser for the second straight session after rising 135% on its offer value of Tk10 in the debut day.

All the large cap sectors showed negative performances except telecommunications that rose 1.7%, driven by Grameenphone, which closed 1.8% higher. l

Following the recent terror attack in Gulshan, the global buyers and brands asked manufacturers to meet them elsewhere outside Bangladesh for business deals DHAKA TRIBUNE try meeting prevents the manufacturers from displaying a whole lot of samples since it is not possible to carry a good number of styles with them, they said.

“But I am optimistic that the crisis would soon be over and the buyers will visit Bangladesh,” according to Sajal.

For that the government has to take measures to ensure the safety of foreigners, he said, suggesting that the government should unearth the root of militancy and

bring them to book to prevent further attacks.

Terrorism or militancy is a global problem now. Both developing and developed world are facing this crisis, with all coming up with comprehensive and cooperative measures to tackle the situation.

“A french buyer, who has been doing business with me over the last eight years, has cancelled his meeting,” a manufacturer said, seeking anonymity.

He said at first the meeting was

scheduled in Dhaka and later it was shifted to Hong Kong, but ultimately it was cancelled.

Meanwhile, manufacturers fear to lose orders if there is any further attacks on the foreigners and on the countrymen.

The developed world has witnessed a spate of terrorist attacks in recent weeks while their government have tackled the issue with iron hand and unearthed the attackers, said some manufacturers.

If Bangladesh fails to control the

Padma bridge rail work may go to China Railway Engineering Company n Asif Showkat Kallol China Railway Engineering Corporation is likely to get work of Padma bridge rail link project worth Tk34,694 crore, according to official sources.

A proposal in this regard will be placed at the meeting of cabinet committee on public purchase today for approval.

“The work of Padma bridge rail link project will be given to the China Railway Engineering Corporation. A proposal will be placed Wednesday (today) at the meeting of cabinet committee on public purchase,” an official of railway ministry told the Dhaka Tribune.

“But the project cost rate will be higher than that offered earlier by the Chinese company for another rail line project,” he added.

According to the proposal, the 225-kilometre rail link project includes construction of rail lines on the two sides of the Padma bridge, Dhaka-Mawa-Bangha-Faridpur rail

line on the eastern side of bridge and Bhanga- Jessore rail line on the Western side.

After negotiation between Bangladesh Railway authorities and the CREC, the construction cost of one kilometre line remains at $15m or Tk117 crore.

big rail link project will start from January 2017,” he said.

Bangladesh and China agreed in August 25, 2015 to hold limited tendering to be participated by Chinese companies alone for getting the work.

According to the Planning Com-

If the negotiation completes by December this year, the work of the big rail link project will start from January 2017 However, the same Chinese firm, for 150-kilometre long Akhaura-Laksam rail link project, offered $3.3m or Tk25.74 crore per kilometre as cost.

Padma Rail Link Project Director Sagar Krishna Chakraborty said the Economic Relations Division will start negotiation with the Chinese EXIM Bank to fix the terms and conditions of the credit agreement at 2% interest rate.

“If the negotiation completes by December this year, the work of the

mission which approved the Padma Rail Link Project in May, the project work will complete in 2021, three years after the scheduled inauguration of the Padma bridge.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the Padma Rail Link Project on May 3.

Chakraborty said Bangladesh Railway wants to complete the 25km Bhanga- Mawa rail link by 2018 to run a token train over the bridge. l

situation, RMG work orders would be shifted to another country and Bangladesh will lose business, they noted.

The matter is not that the businesses will shy away from Bangladesh, the cost of production will also go up for extra expense to meet buyers in a third country. It would lower profit margin ultimately.

They also fear negative impact on export earnings in the current fiscal season as the orders for the next season would be booked in these two months which would be executed in November-December period.

In the just-concluded fiscal year, Bangladesh RMG sector posted a 10.21% growth to over $28 billion only due to political calm and business friendly environment prevailing in the country.

“We have to do business in the prevailing situation as it is a global phenomena and happening across the world,” BGMEA Vice-President Mahmud Hassan Khan Babu told the Dhaka Tribune.

But the hope is the government has beefed up security in the country’s diplomatic zones, where buyers representative and foreigners live, said Babu.

The authorities have also pledged to provide security on demand for business people and for their clients, he added. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Tax at source FY16-17 proposed to set tax at source on export to 1.5% for the apparel exporters, the rate was later reduced to 0.70% following the intervention,” reads the letter.

If the tax at source of 0.70% is considered as minimum tax, there are possibilities of imposing other higher taxes and there are also possibilities of harassment to entrepreneurs which will make the income tax return submission process more complex, it added.

Urging the Finance Minister to intervene into the matter, BGMEA President in his letter has also requested him for giving necessary instructions to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for amending the income tax ordinance and issue necessary rules to consider tax at source on export for the apparel makers as final settlement which the RMG makers enjoyed before.

The apparel makers have so far enjoyed tax at source on export as final settlement. However, the FY17 budget turned 0.70% tax at source on export as minimum tax. During the last fiscal year, the RMG makers were enjoying 0.60% tax at source on export, which was considered as final settlement. l

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Brexit prompts IMF to cut global growth forecasts n Reuters, Washington The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its global growth forecasts for the next two years yesterday, citing uncertainty over Britain’s looming exit from the European Union.

The move included a nearly full percentage-point reduction in the UK’s 2017 growth forecast.

Cutting its World Economic Outlook forecasts for the fifth time in 15 months, the IMF said that it now expects global GDP to grow at 3.1% in 2016 and at 3.4% in 2017 - down 0.1 percentage point for each year from estimates issued in April.

The Fund said that despite recent improvements in Japan and Europe and a partial recovery in commodity prices, the UK’s Brexit vote had created a “sizeable increase in uncertainty” that would take its toll on investment and market and consumer confidence.

On the day before Britain’s June

23 EU referendum, the IMF was “prepared to upgrade our 2016-17 global growth projections slightly,” IMF chief economist Maury Obstfeld said in a statement. “But Brexit has thrown a spanner in the works.”

The IMF said that the impact will hit hardest in Britain itself, where the institution cut its 2016 growth forecast to 1.7%, down 0.2 percentage points from its April forecast. It cut the 2017 UK forecast more sharply, by 0.9 percentage points, to 1.3%.

The IMF lifted its euro zone forecast slightly for 2016, but cut its 2017 outlook by 0.2 percentage point to 1.4% for 2017.

It said last week that Brexit would have a “negligible” impact on the United States.

The IMF noted that its latest forecasts were made under relatively benign assumptions of a settlement between the EU and Britain that leads to limited political fallout, avoids a major increase in economic barriers and prompts no major further financial market disruptions.

Employees work at a production line inside a factory of Saic GM Wuling, in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China yesterday REUTERS But the Fund also modeled other scenarios, including a “severe” one in which the divorce negotiations go badly, financial stress intensifies, the UK-EU trading relationship reverts to World Trade Organization rules, and London loses a large por-

tion of its financial services sector to continental Europe.

Under that scenario, Britain would fall into recession and global growth would slow to 2.8% in both 2016 and 2017, the IMF said.

A middle scenario labeled

Loss of bank access risks systemic disruptions

“downside” would see tighter financial conditions and lower consumer confidence than the baseline, with the UK losing some of its financial services sector to Europe.

It shows global growth at 2.9% in 2016 and 3.1% in 2017.

Obstfeld said that the financial market recovery following the initial Brexit shock helped persuade the IMF to go with the most benign of the three scenarios.

Responding to the IMF’s report, a UK Treasury spokeswoman said that the Brexit vote marks a “new phase” for Britain’s economy, but the country would remain globally focused.

“Our absolute priority is to send a clear signal to businesses both here and across the world, that we are open for business and determined to keep Britain an attractive destination for investors from overseas,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.

The IMF said China’s outlook was largely unchanged, with a slight improvement to 6.6% seen in 2016, but still slowing to 6.2% in 2017. l

CORPORATE NEWS

n Reuters The loss of correspondent banking relationships in developing countries as major banks try to limit risk exposures could marginalise small economies and cause “systemic” disruptions to their financial systems, the head of the International Monetary Fund said.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, speaking at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said regulators in both major financial centre countries and small countries need to do more to help banks maintain these relationships.

“I am concerned that all is not well in this world of small countries with small financial systems,” she said. “In fact there is a risk that they become more marginalized.”

She said these already have hit a number of Caribbean countries where, as of May, at least 16 banks in five countries have lost all or some of their correspondent banking relationships.

Reuters reported last week that the problem is particularly acute in Belize.

Lagarde said such countries are especially vulnerable, often depend on remittances from workers abroad, and have minimal access to financial services under the best of circumstances.

“Even if the global implications of these disruptions are not visible so far, they can be come systemic if left unaddressed,” she said. l

National Bank Limited has recently held a training course on cash management (core banking software perspective) for its officers, said a press release. The bank’s deputy managing director, Abdus Sobhan Khan was present at the inaugural function of the course as chief guest

ONE Bank Limited has celebrated its 17th founding anniversary on Thursday, said a press release. The bank’s managing director, M Fakhrul Alam was present on the occasion

Marcel has recently opened an exclusive distributor showroom named Lalmohan Electronics at Lalmohan in Bhola, said a press release. The company’s brand ambassador, film actor Amin Khan inaugurated the showroom

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Oil traders lose millions as LPG glut shocks market n Reuters, London

Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a “career-ruining” glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to

cancel deals.

LPG, a historically niche and dislocated market, has ballooned with the advent of US exports due to the shale boom. The United States went from an importer to the largest single exporter of propane in just a few years, rivalling the Middle East Gulf producers.

“I can’t remember it being this bad. There was massive new production out of the US and people hoped the Chinese market might absorb it,” one LPG trader said.

“There was strong buying in the first four months of the year with low oil prices but that stopped and

the market is now a few million tonnes long.”

A glut was expected, but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas, which is increasingly oversupplied.

LPG is the collective term for pro-

pane and butane. The United States exports mostly propane used for heating and in the petrochemical industry to make propylene, a base for plastics manufacturing.

Traders have been left scrambling to mitigate losses as China has failed to be the driver of demand. l

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16

Feature

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

For style and substance The modern-day gentleman’s behaviour has evolved and will go unnoticed unless you fully acknowledge it

n Mahmood Hossain Let’s get the old terms of chivalry out of the way. There is no knight in shining armour, no princess in distress and not a single villain to struggle with.

The way a man should approach being a gentleman is how he treats human beings in general.

Treating women, with careful consideration, falls in the same category. The world, with a sophisticated audience, is more aware of their society’s faults and the necessary changes it needs to make. Nowadays, it’s about equality and meeting half-way more than ever.

Classy not trashy

Having straight As on a report card means jack squat if you haven’t applied what you’ve studied in real life situations. In order to impress the opposite sex, you must not try too hard to begin with. Approaching a woman in an effortless manner, with the utmost respect, is a completely different class of its own. Men tend to think too hard, over complicating the entire scenario. The way a gentleman can carry himself in public will determine the true class he finds himself in.

It’s not where you come from, but where you are now and where you will

be. It’s not about how expensive your wardrobe is but how you where those clothes is what matters most. Sure, you’ll have to dress in a sophisticated manner, but you’re only half the article if you’re actions say otherwise. To be presentable is a priority. The language, dialect and accent may differ but it’s the message you’re trying to convey that makes up the ultimate goal.

PHOTOS: BIGSTOCK

Balance amount

On this matter, tread carefully.

While it’s a respectable trait to hold doors for a lady, you should be considerate to all peoples.

Holding the door for others, before you walk in, is an action well received by a woman. And don’t feel as if you’re less of a man if a woman holds the door for you.

Pure and simple, it’s common courtesy. Going back to the basics never hurt anyone; it’s just good behaviour.

The world, with a sophisticated audience, is more aware of their society’s faults and the necessary changes it needs to make

signals between the sexes, and that’s where are the trouble begins. Dialogue is the most important factor between any relationship. Forget about body language for a second and focus more on what is being said. Just because a female is being nice to you or even, dare we say, flirtatious doesn’t necessarily mean she’s interested in you and wants to elope. Jumping to conclusions is also frowned upon.

Sometimes, just sometimes, she might just want to be friends with you.

The takeaway The same is applied for taking care of the bill at a restaurant or eatery. Presuming that you should always pay for the bill is a no-no. Equally, feeling shy or reluctant to discuss how you should split the bill is also something to consider.

People tend to get uncomfortable on the topic of money, only because they don’t speak of it. A

simple nod to the future will never place you in an unfavourable position. “I’ve got your coffee today, you can get me back next time,” is a positive gesture, letting the opposite sex know you are willing to be a team player. Meet halfway and contribute an equal amount to the relationship. The only thing you should expect from a partner is the reciprocation in effort.

What women want

Stop right there. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived on this earth for decades or how much experience you’ve had with multiple women.

The fact remains: you will never know what women really want. If we all just stopped assuming and asked instead, the world would be a more peaceful place. Somewhat.

One of the biggest mistakes men make is they act without thinking.

The idea of patriarchy or predetermined notions is what ruins it for the rest of us.

There are plenty of mixed

Never engage a woman without her consent. It’s that damn simple.

The other person’s comfort and relatable nature is also a priority.

Putting it all together, being a gentleman is really being a good human being. Treat a woman as you would like to be treated. There is no one superior nor inferior. A woman’s opinion is to be placed next to your own. Go past playing games or beating around the bush, and get straight to the point.

The art of conversing can only be practised to perfection overtime.

Both parties need to have a mutual understanding and intellect. What you don’t know can actually hurt you, and the unknown can be a legitimate fear. We tend to forget to educate ourselves by simply asking proper questions so to avoid crossing lines or boundaries that the other does not approve of. A gentleman is judged by the use of language, behaviour and his overall understanding of others with class, dignity and plenty of grace. And guess what? The same can go for the opposite sex too.l

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17

Feature

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

How not to be Romeo and Juliet Teaching young people about love and rejection n Tasneem Chow Karim was studying for his HSC exams when he met Dipti (not their real names) at a coaching centre. While their brief romance blossomed initially, circumstances led them to higher education in different countries. The separation was hard for both of them, and Karim started to become suspicious and eventually aggressive, and Dipti decided to end things. Karim’s behaviour became increasingly erratic after that, jumping from tears and entreaties to threats and insults.

He threatened self-harm and suicide, and threatened to harm her as well.

While this is not always the case, it is fact that people can react badly to breakups, especially young men and women. Suicide threats and threats of self-harm, from both sexes on the event of a breakup, has turned into something we casually joke about.

We all know someone who has allowed their lives to change and exhibited extreme negative attitudes and behaviour after having their hearts broken. We tend to trivialise it as a fault of youth, something that happens when your ‘blood runs warm’ as we call it. While it is good to be in touch with your emotions, emotional blackmail and violent reactions should not be okay (this seems quite obvious), but it is far from uncommon in modern relationships.

How do we deal with this?

Relationships are still considered a taboo in our societies that parents set very few examples for their children on how to behave in them. The first reaction is always – don’t be in one – but let’s stop being naive and just accept that young people will fall in love, and will get their hearts broken. But how do we teach them to channel the pain into something positive, instead of having negative

outbursts of emotion, and move on like sensible almost-adults?

Loved ones, not property

According to clinical psychologist Eric Herman, the ability to have healthy relationships is rooted in the ability to form healthy attachments to others, especially caregivers, and early on in life.

Forming healthy attachments early on in life is imperative to ensuring that young adults have healthy emotional bonds later.

Children are psychologically aware that they are helpless without adults, and it is up to us to ensure

that they feel safe and protected.

However, it is equally important to not create dependency on one specific attachment, but ensure that they are able to have multiple relationships with other adults and children as well.

While most parents focus on making their children feel loved and protected (as they should), what we often tend to overlook is the importance of encouraging independence in teenage years, and the danger of creating dependency. When we allow this dependency to exist, we inadvertently give the lesson that

It is also imperative that parents lead by example, and don’t exhibit that lack of independence in their own relationships as well

love is something to be demanded and owned. When this happens, they are more likely to grow up to be young adults who become dependent on their significant others later on in life, and then react negatively or violently when they no longer have that person in their lives.

It is also imperative that parents lead by example, and don’t exhibit that lack of independence in their own relationships as well. If you have a mother who bows down to your father’s every whims, you’re obviously more likely to internalise that lesson, and except your other half to behave in the same way as well.

Teaching consent from an early age

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

Most parents do try and discipline their children and in most households, you will hear the usual refrain – ‘no means no’.

While this is a necessary lesson to pass on, it can often ignore the nuances of consent, such as consent given through peer pressure and emotional blackmail, and also ignores that people have the right to say ‘change their minds and yes’ once but ‘no’ later. How children learn about consent will inform their future relationships, so it is necessary for adults to discuss it in a comprehensive manner. Make sure that your children not only know how to ask for consent, but know that it can be taken away as easily

as it is given. It is also important to teach them the difference between a non-response and enthusiastic consent, and talk about the concept of pressuring others against their will.

According to feminist writer Joanna Schroeder, it is never too early to teach your children about consent, and you should start giving these lessons and setting an example as early as possible. One example of a good way to drive home this lesson is to never give in to temper tantrums. When you validate this sort of behaviour, you are teaching your child that in future, they can pressurise or force their partners into doing what they want. It is also necessary to constantly encourage them to use their imagination and put themselves in other people’s shoes, so that they learn that their own way isn’t the only way.

Talking is the only option

Last but definitely not least, the only way to ensure that young people are making the right choices and not letting their sadness and anger get the best of them, is to talk to them. We tend to focus a lot on ensuring our children excel at school, that they have good manners and they treat adults with respect. But we need them to know that respect is not just bottom-up, and youngsters themselves need to be treated with respect as well. Allowing young people to make their own choices and respecting their emotions is crucial to building up their personalities, but we also need to tell them where the line is drawn, and this is impossible without open and honest conversations.

So let’s be more open when talking about relationships, rather than shutting young people down and telling them to simply focus on their education and ignore their feelings. Let’s talk about different degrees of control within relationships, and how to love someone without disrupting your life or theirs. Let’s be more open when talking about bodies and how they have full control of their bodies and choices, and let’s continue to have dialogue about consent. We still live in a country where sex education is completely taboo, but the taboo needs to be broken by parents themselves if they are going to raise awareness.

This taboo needs to be broken not only on the physical afflictions that come with relationships, but the mental ones as well. l

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18

Pet

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Bunnies and you n Noor-E-Shahrin People have their fields of interests, expertise and passion.

Some people collect coins, some collect stamps and some are animal people growing old among their adorable and mesmerising pets. In the list of pets available and suitable for animal lovers in cities, rabbits make it to the top. They are the most adorable and beautiful pets; the kind that make you want to believe in love at first sight. But before you get all excited about the idea of buying a few of these cuties, there are a few factors you have to analyse.

10+ years), then the bunnies will be the best thing that will ever happen to you.

Make them feel at home

The apartments in Dhaka city make it relatively difficult to recreate a bunny’s habitat, which is a burrow. But that is just not a good enough reason to be

deprived of bunny love! What you can do is order a custom made rabbit cage big enough for all of them (please don’t buy just one bunny, lest it should feel lonely).

Make sure the door is big enough to allow the rabbits in or out. You don’t have to worry much about the details, as the pet shop you buy it from will have trained cage-builders.

Place this bunnyhouse on the roof top or if you have a small grassy space in front of the building but within the compound.

If you want your rabbit in your room, things get tricky and a little

Making the decision

First, make sure your entire family is up for it because bunnies will not tolerate hostility from a member. Be aware that rabbits are definitely not a low-maintenance pet. Cuteness will cost you. The initial cost might be reasonable, but there is the accommodation, the food, the veterinary fees and extra for the help if you are making your maid clean up after the rabbit. But if you think you are mentally and financially able to make this 10 year commitment (rabbits have a life span of

They are the most adorable and beautiful pets; the kind that make you want to believe in love at first sight

smelly. You will find fur all over the place, but who doesn’t want to see a mobile furry show-piece as room décor? First you have to bunny-proof your room. This process includes getting all wires away from the rabbits’ reach (they will chew through the insulation and electrocute themselves; we don’t want that) and close the door so it can’t get into the kitchen. You might think it’s cute when bunnies nibble at your flower plants, but it’s bad for the bunny’s tummy; some plants are poisonous to them. Move your important papers and projects and all things dear to you because your bunny will not think twice before chewing through them.

of showering. And they don’t need it that badly as they do a pretty good job cleaning themselves and sometimes their significant others on bunny-dates. All you need to do sometimes is to help them get rid of poopy behinds. Use water and rub the feces off of the bunny tail and the area under it.

Don’t make the crunched-up “this is disgusting” face, that’s your baby! The most difficult part you would rather leave for your vet is chipping those nails. Once these tough tasks are over, all you have to do is brush their dome shaped body to get rid of shed fur. And you have yourself a hygienic and happy pet.

Know their diet

Bunnies are very playful and active. They always need something to chew on. What you need to do is get your DIY-flick on.

Go ahead and build a cardboard home for them; they can chew on it to make doors and just have fun running around the many compartments; like they would in a rabbit hole. Allow your rabbits time alone in the open but check on them at intervals. Also, a lesser known fact is - they love the shake and rattle toys we give your human babies. Rolling toys like toilet paper rolls work too.

This is going to be the least of your worries. When it comes to feeding rabbits, there are just a few options and they are all accessible.

Your pet consultant from whose shop you bought the rabbits will brief you about their diet and even sell you the food. Rabbits get most of their nutrition from hay grass and vegetables (carrots are their favorite). That’s literally all they live on for life. Of course, needless to say, put plenty of water in bowls for them.

Potty training

Rabbits are not exactly wild, but they are not tame enough to train either. The only training you can attempt to give your bunnies is litter training. You won’t need to worry about this if your rabbit is residing in your garden because the soil will swallow what they discard. But if you want a rooftop that smells normal, you need to use polythene layers or plastic bins under their cage. Use newspapers inside their cage. To deal with accidents they have in your room, put them on a tray with some hay; they eat and poop at the same time so your floor stays clean.

Grooming PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

The rabbits will probably not tell you this, but they are not big fans

For their entertainment

Bonding with the bunny

Firstly, be warned that kids and babies are not to be left alone with rabbits; they might not know the difference between playing with bunnies and choking them.

Bunnies are very delicate and reserved. If you think cats have attitude, you should really spend a day trying to impress a bunny.

They do not like to be manhandled or cuddled. If you are a wanna-sleep-next-to-my-pet and carry-my-pet person, rabbits are not for you. Rabbits do not fetch or play dead, they are their own boss.

So you can take Snapchat pictures with them and make your friends jealous, but the shoot better not take too long; rabbits won’t hold their poses for you.l

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19

Biz Info

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

| achievement |

Five Bangladeshi female mountaineers complete training

The Bangla Mountaineering and Trekking Club organised a press conference on the successful completion of basic mountaineering training by a team of five Bangladeshi women at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in India. The press conference was held on July 16, 2016 at the

National Press Club. Sultana Kamal, advocate, human rights worker and former advisor of the last caretaker government, Geeteara Safiya Choudhury, chairman, ADCOMM, Nishat Mazumder, first female Everest conqueror from Bangladesh, Enam Ul Haque, expedition-

goer to Antarctica and the North Pole, were present as honourable guests, while another conqueror of the mighty Everest, M A Mohit led the conference.

The five mountaineers Iffat Farhana, Fowzia Ahmed, Shayla Parvin, Reshma Nahar and Bibi Khadiza started gaining

experience by trekking on the hills of Bangladesh and the Himalayas until the team finally went to India, where they received basic mountaineering training from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi for 28 days. The team shared their stories and experiences and were grateful towards the Fair & Lovely Foundation, which sponsored their training.

All the speakers praised the five mountaineers on completing their training and hoped that they will stand as symbols of women empowerment in Bangladesh.

Geeteara Safiya particular recalled an experience, “I remember attending an international Rotarian conference where I had to talk about women empowerment in Bangladesh in a room of 500 delegates. Nishat had recently conquered Mt Everest and her story was on my last slide. The conclusion of my speech was met with a standing ovation. Delegates came up to me and marvelled about the bravery of our girls and

suggested that their perception of Bangladeshi girls, was now a changed one.” She motivated the five young mountaineers by telling them that the next time she goes to an international forum like the previous one, she wishes to include their achievements. “We have previously proven that we are capable and we will continue to prove that we can,” she added.

Human rights activist and advocate Sultana Kamal proudly talked about how these are the ways in which the new generation should represent Bangladesh on the global platform.

“The five women mountaineers here today are amazing representatives of the youth of Bangladesh, and they are making us proud on a global platform,” she said. “This sends a very clear statement to the world – that we are not scared of terrorism and other enemies of progress, and we will strive through this all in support of our strong and independent women.” l

| industry |

| education |

Monash Engineering: make your mark as a future engineering leader

UGC holds meeting with the public university Vice-Chancellors

Monash University has been awarded $5 million by the Australian Research Council to advance the development of construction materials through the creation of an Industrial Transformation Research Hub to be based at the University’s Clayton campus.

The hub will draw on the expertise of 38 scientists and researchers from Monash and 28 partner institutions including CSIRO, Australian universities and industry, international research centres and universities including the National University of Singapore, Northwestern University (USA), and Princeton (USA).

The research hub will develop

novel construction materials including binders, cement additives, high performance concrete materials, concrete structural systems, polymer composites, and pavement materials.

Monash University vice-provost (Research) Professor Pauline Nestor says the funding will create a world of opportunity for Monash and our partner institutions.

“Today’s generous funding announcement will provide a centralised platform to transform the construction materials industry into an advanced manufacturing sector that will deliver sustainable and resilient infrastructure assets,” said Professor Nestor.

“In addition to delivering tangible solutions to some of the challenges faced by the construction industry, the collaborative hub will also create a cutting-edge knowledge platform for training researchers

and practitioners in engineering and materials science.”

Hub Director, Associate Professor Wenhui Duan said the hub would drive advances in nanotechnology, cement chemistry, concrete technology and develop extreme engineering solutions, with the support from the next generation construction technology like 3D printing.

“The location of the Australian Synchrotron near the Clayton campus of Monash University will provide ready access to state-of-the-art beamlines. The team will also have ready access to the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, a central university research facility for research in electron microscopy.”

The Australian construction materials industry is vital to the nation’s future economic prosperity, operating cement, concrete, aggregates, polymer composites and chemicals manufacturing and distribution facilities, contributing nearly $12 billion to GDP and directly employs 18,000 Australians and indirectly, more than 85,000 people. l

University Grants Commission (UGC) held a view exchange meeting with the vice-chancellors of public universities regarding the current situation and other issues related to universities at UGC auditorium on Monday, 18 July.

UGC chairman Professor Abdul Mannan presided over the meeting.

The meeting began with the observance of one minute silence in paying homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Gulshan and Sholakia. UGC chairman welcomed the vice-chancellors at the meeting. Vehemently condemning the militant activities at university level, the vice-chancellors said that university authorities will extend all kinds of help and assistance to the government to root out militancy and extremism.

The vice-chancellors urged the

UGC to play a pro-active role in solving the various problems of the universities and sought cooperation and assistance of the government about the overall security of the universities.

Vice-chancellors informed the UGC chairman of various professional demands of the teachers. Assuring the vicechancellors regarding the demands, the chairman said that the demands are under active consideration of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh.

He informed the meeting that UGC will discuss the matter with the government at a convenient time. The chairman also urged the vice-chancellors to closely monitor militant activities and curb extremism at university levels.

UGC members Professor Dr Dil Afroza Begum, Professor Dr M Shah Nowaz Ali, Professor Dr Md Alauddin, president, Association of University of Bangladesh and ViceChancellor, Mowlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, vice-chancellors of different public universities, UGC Secretary Dr Md Khaled and high officials of UGC, among others were present. l

DT

20 Editorial

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

TODAY

Free-thinkers versus assassins Will this struggle go on even when the list of the martyrs keep growing?

PAGE 21

De-radicalising Bangladesh in four steps

BIGSTOCK

Religious entrepreneurs should confidently assume that the strength of religious understanding based on authentic, canonical Islamic texts and scholarly works can keep them upright at the face of any intrusion to their faith PAGE 22

How inclusive is your workplace?

If we work to foster a culture of inclusiveness, young people with disabilities will be more likely to reach their potential. Not only will this benefit society, but the nation as a whole 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.

No, minister

T

his is not how ministers are supposed to conduct themselves.

Comments made by certain ministers recently have been nothing short of embarrassing for the prime minister and indeed the entire nation.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam’s statement that female labourers working abroad lie and spread gossip as an excuse to return home is not the sort of rhetoric one would expect from a government representative. This is not only sexist, but it completely disregards the plight of women who are working abroad under harsh circumstances as well as the very real threat of abuse.

There have been constant complaints by female labourers on how they have been the victims of abuse abroad, often at the hands of their employers, and it is simply audacious of the good minister to make counter-allegations to the victims. We need to remember that the nation depends quite a bit on the remittances sent in by these individuals, and shrugging off their complaints is, at the very least, insulting to the hard work they put up with to shape the economic future of our nation -- a future that our own prime minister has charted to be reached within this century.

Also rather brow-raising is Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal’s continued insistence that the Holey Artisan attack was carried out by a local outfit despite clear evidence to the contrary. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu’s shifting the focus of the issue to unlicensed restaurants, educational institutes, and hospitals -- including Holey Artisan -- does nothing to shed light on the issue at hand. And, with a Nature Geoscience Journal claiming that Bangladesh is over a faultline that could result in an earthquake that might deal irreparable damage, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury’s bullishness regarding this worry being unfounded can prove to be fatal if the worries do indeed come true.

The amount of goodwill and hope that the government had fostered is on the verge of being undone by the careless remarks made by a handful of uninformed, stubborn ministers who, at best, refuse to listen to reason, and outright spit on the cries of the people who are helping deliver the Digital Bangladesh that the prime minister herself has envisioned, far away from their homes.

This kind of negligence should not be accepted, not by the prime minister, not by her people. It’s clear that these rogue elements need to be sorted out, and seeks to undermine much of the prestige the prime minister herself has helped cultivate for the nation.

Careless remarks such as the ones we have seen recently will do more harm than good, and in no way aid in getting to the heart of matters.

Careless remarks such as the ones we have seen recently will do more harm than good, and in no way aid in getting to the heart of matters

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21

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Free-thinkers versus assassins An invisible war is being waged over the future of Bangladesh

n Tasneem Khalil

H

e reached into his rucksack and said with a smile: “I have something for you.”

I extended my hand and took the gift. A small book, 96 pages -- a Bengali translation of Am I a Monkey?: Six Big Questions About Evolution by Spanish-American evolutionary biologist and philosopher Fransico J Ayala. I looked at the illustration on the cover: A sad ape evolving into a human.

One of the translators of the book, Ananta Bijoy Das, was hacked to death by machetewielding assassins on May 2015, outside his Sylhet home. The other translator, Siddhartha Dhar, was standing in front of me, somewhere in Stockholm. A few months after the murder of his friend and mentor, Siddhartha left Bangladesh, and is now in exile in Sweden. Translating a book on evolution is dangerous business sometimes.

Ananta Bijoy Das (1982–2015) was a proponent of free thought, who, in 2005, first organised a small group of free-thinkers in Sylhet (which happens to be my hometown). Most of them were students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, named after a Sufi saint credited for the spread of Islam in the region in the fourteenth century.

Ananta and his comrades had a different mission: Spreading scientific knowledge and propagating rationalism in one of the most religiously conservative

larger network of Bangladeshi free-thinkers founded by the Bangladeshi-American author Avijit Roy. These, of course, were activities that angered lots of people.

Homoeopathy practitioners threatened to sue the editors and writers of Jukti for publishing articles that exposed the pseudoscience behind their trade. Many people were offended by essays critical of Hinduism. Many more were uncomfortable with taboo-breaking discussions on sexuality. When Ananta wrote a book about pseudo-science in the Soviet Union, it ticked off the authoritarian left.

The most vocal opponents, however, were the Islamist students of the science and technology university. They had their own mission: Propagating neo-orthodox Islam. Many of them were members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, the pan-Islamist political party.

While the free-thinkers were translating the works of authors like Fransico J Ayala, the Islamists were busy spreading the gospels of Salafi preachers like Zakir Naik and Bilal Philips.

Across Bangladesh, a battle of ideas was going on between the free-thinkers and the Islamists -- a battle that mostly took place over the internet, in blogs and discussion forums. In this battle, people like Ananta Bijoy Das and Avijit Roy were manning the fort of free-thought. It was under their leadership, free-thinkers in Bangladesh were challenging the forces of ignorance and obscurantism. And, in this war of

These were Bangladeshi Islamists who had graduated from vanilla Salafism to the next level.

They wanted to become the holy warriors of Islam by enlisting themselves as the foot-soldiers of the global jihad. In preparation of this jihad, they translated hundreds of jihadi documents into Bengali -- sermons, fatwas, communiqués, and martyrdom stories. Then, in early 2012, they took a name: Ansarullah Bangla Team.

Thus, a new jihadi group was born on the internet.

In the real world, the founder of Ansarullah Bangla Team was Jashimuddin Rahmani, a mufti who delivered the khutbah-e-Jumuah (Friday sermon) at a mosque in Dhaka. He was one of the most influential Salafi preachers in the country, whose neo-orthodox interpretation of Islam attracted hundreds of young men to the mosque.

Rahmani’s disciples were mostly students from different private universities in the city.

Many of them were former members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned by the Bangladesh government as a terrorist organisation in 2009. It was under the guidance and leadership of Rahmani, they were now trying to link themselves up with another terrorist organisation, al-Qaeda.

Translating important al-Qaeda documents into Bengali was the first step towards that goal.

It was in May 2012, Ansarullah Bangla Team published a Bengali translation of The Dust will Never

Will this struggle go on even when the list of the martyrs keep growing? I asked Siddhartha, as we were walking through the streets of Stockholm.

‘They will never be able to scare us into silence. When we signed up for this, we knew there would be threats against our lives. We accepted it as a fact,’ he told me

corners of the country. They organised study circles; translated influential and critical texts on science, pseudo-science, religion, sexuality, politics, and world history; wrote essays that challenged systems of social, political, or religious oppression; and published a journal titled Jukti (logic).

They were also part of Muktomona (freethinker), a

words, they were winning.

Sometime around 2011, another group of Bangali translators started organising themselves in some hidden corners of the internet. To this day, if one looks closely, some signs of those early days can be found in different places -- in abandoned blogs, Facebook groups, image-hosting websites, and cached pages available via internet archives.

Settle Down, a lecture by the Yemeni-American imam and alQaeda ideologue Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2011. It remains one of the most influential sermons the imam ever delivered, outlining the theological basis for brutal and merciless assassination of blasphemers and apostates.

Al-Awlaki’s genius was in that he produced the blueprint for a

Thinkers may get killed, but the thought will burn forever new form of jihad, in which purely intellectual ventures like a French satire newspaper (Charlie Hebdo) or a Bengali blog (Muktomona) became legitimate military targets.

It, of course, was quite a feat that he, from beyond his grave somewhere in Yemen, became the spiritual leader of a group of highly-motivated assassins in a faraway country like Bangladesh.

And it is in Bangladesh that al-Awlaki’s followers are now slaughtering freethinkers like Ananta Bijoy Das and Avijit Roy. Their only crime was engaging in critical discussions on religion and exposing the systems of religious oppression. Since February 2013, at least ten intellectuals and activists have been assassinated across the country. All of them were hacked to death by machetewielding young men -- members of Ansarullah Bangla Team/Ansar al Islam.

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The latest victims were Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy, slaughtered inside Xulhaz’s apartment in Dhaka on April 25 -- two courageous LGBT rights activists, fighting for gay rights in one of the most homophobic societies in the world.

Will this struggle go on even when the list of the martyrs keep growing? I asked Siddhartha, as we were walking through the streets of Stockholm. “They will never be able to scare us into silence. When we signed up for this, we knew there would be threats against our lives. We accepted it as a fact,” he told me. The fact, of course, is that free-thought can never be assassinated. l Tasneem Khalil is a Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist and the author of Jallad: Death Squads and State Terror in South Asia. A German version of this article was first published in the Jungle World.

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22

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Long Form

De-radicalising Bangladesh in four steps Islamic scholars must learn to embrace all branches of knowledge. This is the second part of a three-part long form

n Asif Shibgat Bhuiyan

T

he problem with faulty religious understanding is that it has the built-in power to tear a person’s intellectual capacity from the domain of what we call “common sense” or “good sense.” A radical self-righteous self slowly ousts the natural humane side of the conscience and, from there, all hell can break loose.

Once this is understood, it must be noted that the worst thing we can do, having in mind the great influence of unrestricted information flow, is to suppress the knowledge flow altogether. That will only worsen the situation. What can prove more effective is to rather facilitate Islamic education for the masses and not restricting it only to the traditional madrasa-going students.

The masses who are receiving secular education (by secular here I mean non-madrasa or nontraditional Islamic education) need to be presented with programs and institutions where they can systematically learn about the cutting-edge research which gives a more purposive, contextualised, nuanced, and “time-travelling” presentation of Islam from its authentic sources.

All the political, social, and religious institutes should come here hand-in-hand to welcome and facilitate such programs where people quench their thirst of spiritual education while not being exposed to radicalised understanding.

It is not in the scope of this writing to immediately go to the details of such a program, but mentioning one of the guiding principles is important.

Let’s be frank, these programs must be headed by credible, knowledgeable Islamic scholars, not secular nationalists who do not have the necessary credentials and are only viewed as those infiltrating the ranks of Islam to pollute it with their “propaganda.”

The success of such a program fringes primarily on how credibility is established, rather than merely building institutions and structures.

Political institutions, including the government and law enforcement bodies, must help create

There is no substitute for an understanding of canonical Islamic texts an environment, often through financial subsidies and mostly by not posing to be obstacles, where people with religious credentials, authorities, and level-headedness can offer religious education to the masses, especially those who are otherwise trained secularly.

Let us call them “religious entrepreneurs.” Here, both the government and religious entrepreneurs have to feed from a trust that binds both of them.

The government has to ensure it doesn’t unnecessarily harass and censor works of religious entrepreneurs as long as they do not pose any real threat.

On the other hand, the religious entrepreneurs must abide by the state decorum and not threaten its security by its teachings and doctrines. I will refuse to believe that such trust can’t be manufactured. Any discussion where Islamic ideas and state politics overlap should take place in a language that is expected from a civilised modern state encouraging freedom of speech.

Those who argue that such an undertaking has the risk of further fomenting terrorism is in the error of mistrusting a historical peaceful observance of Islam by religious leaders and their followers in this country for centuries. This peaceful Islam is older than the hard Bengali nationalism we can

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Religious entrepreneurs should confidently assume that the strength of religious understanding based on authentic, canonical Islamic texts and scholarly works can keep them upright at the face of any intrusion to their faith see, and has largely guided the pluralistic philosophy of the country more than any other ideology.

This common-sense, pragmatic Islam should be given its chance to eradicate the malignant growth caused in its own name.

Creating relevance in religious content

This is a duty of the religious entrepreneurs, regarding whom I have already alluded in the previous section and by whom I mean a mix of scholars, leaders, educationists, academicians, and preachers who care to “sell” the true message of Islam to mass people. This duty entails such people to come out of traditional curriculum, modes, and style of disseminating religious education.

It perhaps is not sufficient, though necessary, to have studied in reputed religious schools and universities.

Such traditional delivery of Islam cannot be deemed as

quality entrepreneurship in a pragmatic sense. This should be bolstered by relevant training in some secular fields which will help them apply their traditional religious understanding in an ever-changing reality so that the mode of religious understanding harmonises well with the intricacies of modern society.

Modern Islamic scholars must have sufficient knowledge of sociology, economics, political science, international relations, and even the natural sciences.

The fear that in doing so they risk losing touch with a pure Islamic pedagogy devoid of the “pollution” of the uncertainty of human mind and knowledge is unwarranted. Rather than living in a cocoon, they must come out to an open embrace of modern human knowledge.

An open embrace doesn’t mean wholehearted support of it. It is simply an invitation towards logical scrutiny, analysis,

discussion, and understanding.

Rather than mistrusting the social and natural scientific disciplines based on scientific enquiries to dilute their mind and disintegrate their faith, the religious entrepreneurs should confidently assume that the strength of religious understanding based on authentic, canonical Islamic texts and scholarly works can keep them upright at the face of any intrusion to their faith.

If we are sure of our faith to withstand any intellectual challenge, we should not mind to lay it bare and accept any challenge. l The concluding part of this long form will be published tomorrow.

Asif Shibgat Bhuiyan is the co-owner of Taqwa School, an Islamic Education platform based in Bangladesh which aims to popularise Islamic knowledge in Bangladesh and Bengali speaking people.

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23

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

How inclusive is your workplace?

Disability inclusion can boost workplace productivity and improve company image

n Kishore Kumar Singh

T

here are 32 million youths in Bangladesh (15-24 years), and in general, about 10% of any population has some form of disability according to the World Health Organisation. Thus, in Bangladesh, approximately 3.2 million youths may have disabilities.

These youths need access to skills training and decent jobs to earn livelihoods. Excluding this population from the labour market represents a waste of potential, and fails to uphold their human rights enshrined in international conventions and the Bangladesh legal system.

The business case for hiring persons with disabilities is rooted in the understanding that they can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line.

Employees with disability make

inclusion in the skills reform process, and included the following recommendations: 5% admission quota for persons with disabilities at all Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions, stipends, hostel facilities with reasonable accommodation, transport and accessible training institutes.

To ensure that training institutes can meet this quota, the International Labour Organisation’s Bangladesh Skills for Productivity and Employment project (B-SEP), funded by the government of Canada, is working with the Department of Technical Education (DTE).

DTE has initiated a pilot program to formulate and implement a departmental policy of 5% admission quota for persons with disabilities, and has appointed an advisory committee to guide on these matters.

Further, it has integrated

If we work to foster a culture of inclusiveness, young people with disabilities will be more likely to reach their potential. Not only will this benefit society, but the nation as a whole A developed country always takes care of its disabled good, dependable employees who often perform better than nondisabled co-workers. They stay longer at the same job, reducing costs related to recruitment and retraining, and are more loyal to their company.

Hiring persons with disabilities tends to boost overall workplace morale, productivity of employees, and company image.

However, finding people with the right skills may be a challenge.

Many persons with disabilities are from poor backgrounds, and were unable to complete primary school due to the lack of facilities to accommodate their challenges.

Persons with disabilities who are women or rural dwellers had even less chance of accessing education services. How can these people be brought into the economic sphere to meet the demands of private sector companies?

The government of Bangladesh has taken steps to include persons with disabilities in its skills training system.

The National Skills Development Policy 2011 prioritised disability

disability inclusion in its annual work plan, budget, procurement plan, performance appraisal, and monitoring system, and developed a disability inclusion guideline for TVET institutes.

The challenge then is to ensure that all persons with disabilities who attain training can get jobs.

But where should do they go for employment? Are there any employment services available for this group specifically?

Often, employers shy away from hiring persons with disabilities, despite the many successful examples from Bangladesh.

Keya Group, for example, has successfully employed and retained over 800 persons with disabilities.

There are more than two dozen such companies in different sectors promoting disability inclusion such as BEXIMCO, Viyellatex, AKH Garments, Renata Pharmaceuticals, and Square Fashions.

To bring these champions together so they may motivate other employers, ILO partnered with the Bangladesh Employer’s Federation (BEF) to initiate a

process to form a Bangladesh Business Development Network (BBDN), aligned with the ILOsupported Global Business and Development Network.

A core group of employers has come together to form a task force to give shape to BBDN. The task force also includes disability organisations and representatives of development partners.

The BEF and ILO have developed a practical guideline to help employers become disability inclusive. If anyone would like to join this movement, they should get in touch with BEF. Companies interested in becoming more disability diverse need to think about “attitude, accessibility, and accommodation.”

To make a workplace accessible to persons with disabilities, the company may need to make certain policy adjustments.

For example, a first step could be a human resource policy that includes a statement on nondiscrimination and inclusion that should be communicated to all key stake-holders.

Once the commitment is made, it is important to assess the current situation with regard to disability inclusion. What are the barriers which need to be addressed? Do the staff and managers understand disability?

Do they have positive attitudes about hiring? Are there infrastructural barriers that need to be addressed to make the workplace accessible?

Next, a plan needs to be established with specific priorities, targets, activities, people responsible, and budget to share with the team.

A clear and positive message needs to be communicated from leadership, preferably from the CEO, supporting and encouraging the initiative.

From the start, management and staff should be informed through corporate or organisational communication for branding, and to create a sense of pride.

Stories can be sent to local business publications, presented at business and disability seminars; newspapers, especially journalists from the business section, can be

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invited to cover the company as the plan is being implemented.

Finally, recruiting can begin and persons with disabilities can be hired.

Finding qualified candidates with disabilities can be a challenge.

To find the right employees, partnering with training institutes, DPOs (disabled people organisations) and NGOs working on disability issues can be helpful.

Placing people in the right job is important as is ensuring that they have the support needed to succeed. “Buddy systems” that partner another employee with the person with disability can help break the ice.

If we work to foster a culture of inclusiveness, young people with disabilities will be more likely to reach their potential. Not only will this benefit society but the nation as a whole. l Kishore Kumar Singh is a Senior Skills Development Specialist, Bangladesh Skills for Employment and Productivity (B-SEP) Project, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh.

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24 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Mustafizur flies to Sussex today

TOP STORIES

n Tribune Report Mustafizur Rahman will fly off to London on Wednesday morning after he finally received the UK visa on Tuesday afternoon in Dhaka. This means he is now available for Sussex’s NatWest T20 Blast game against Hampshire on July 21.

He can now play at least seven games for the county side in the T20 and one-day competition apart from their qualification to the knockout stages.

Mustafizur’s departure had been delayed by eight days after he was supposed to leave on July 13. But due to visa delays, he had to wait in Dhaka. During this time, he worked on his fitness.

He had returned to Dhaka from the IPL with multiple leg injuries. The recovery took nearly a month after which the BCB doctors and physios passed him fit. While there was some reluctance from Mustafizur himself with the Sussex stint during his first IPL campaign, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said that a season in England will help him immensely.

In March this year, Mustafizur had signed a deal with Sussex to play the domestic T20 and one-day competitions.

Sussex are currently third from bottom in the South group of the T20 competition while in the oneday tournament, they are right at the bottom of the South group. l

Mezbah, Shirin will go to Rio Bangladesh’s fastest man and woman Mezbah Ahmed and Shirin Akter are the final inclusions in the Bangladesh contingent for the Rio Olympics that will be held next month. They will participate in the 100m sprint events in Rio. PAGE 25

Ronaldo pledges to come back stronger Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to come back stronger for the coming season after suffering a knee injury in Portugal’s triumphant Euro final earlier this month. He was carried off the pitch after 25 minutes against hosts France. PAGE 26

MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN’S TENTATIVE MATCH SCHEDULE FOR SUSSEX

O’Keefe to return in Test cricket?

Steve O’Keefe’s five-wicket haul in the tour match in Sri Lanka has raised his hopes of selection for Australia in the test series with regular spinner Nathan Lyon. Leftarm spinner O’Keefe took 5-43 at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. PAGE 27

Bangladesh pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman share a light moment during a training session at Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Dortmund have started transfer talks with Bayern Munich over attacking midfielder Mario Goetze’s possible return to Westfalenstadion, according to a media report. Goetze won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013. PAGE 28

FORMAT

OPPONENT

TIME (BDT)

Twenty20

Essex

12:00am

July 22

Twenty20

Surrey

11:30pm

July 24

One-day

Gloucestershire

4:00pm

July 27

One-day

Hampshire

7:00pm

July 28

Twenty20

Glamorgan

11:30pm

July 30

One-day

Somerset

4:00pm

Aug 2

One-day

Kent

6:30pm

Taskin, Sunny almost ready n Mazhar Uddin

Dortmund in talks over Goetze return

DATE July 21

Last March, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finally sat up and took notice of the illegal bowling actions in domestic cricket but it took them more than three months to form the review committee, just days before the Dhaka Premier League ended in June.

The board had become concerned only after national team duo Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny were suspended for illegal bowling action during the World T20.

Both bowlers are working on their action since last April.

Taskin played the Dhaka Premier

League from start to finish, starring in Abahani’s championship winning team with 26 wickets at an average of 21.07. Sunny interestingly kept himself away from the matches for most of the tournament, playing only four matches in which he took two wickets.

He kept himself away from most of the league and opted to work on his action on his own.

He is bowling with a different bowling action these days. According to BCB sources, he is regularly sending video footage to Tigers assistant coach Ruwan Kalpage.

It was also learned Sunny is likely to appear for the bowling

test next month.

BCB’s bowling coach Mahbub Ali Zaki, who worked with Taskin, informed that if their progress went well the fast bowler will appear for the bowling test ahead of the England series which is scheduled for October.

“I have been working with Taskin for some time now and so far he is looking good with his bowling action,” Zaki told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“If things went well Taskin may give the official bowling action test before the upcoming England series however we are planning to take few tests personally in the

next few days. So far we did not tinkered his action a lot and tried to kept his action like it was previously and he is comfortable with it,” he said.

Meanwhile the BCB’s bowling action review committee will start working with two of eleven suspected bowlers of the recently concluded DPL from today, informed Jalal Younus the head of the committee.

“We will start working with two bowlers from tomorrow (today).

We will install the cameras by this time. On the first day we will work with the two bowlers Amit Kumar and Naeem Islam jr,” said Jalal.l

25

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Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Mezbah, Shirin will go to Rio n Tribune Report

Bangladesh’s fastest man and woman Mezbah Ahmed and Shirin Akter run during a practice session at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Shakib’s Tallawahs sink Knight Riders n Agencies Andre Russell combined style with substance to ensure Jamaica Tallawahs pipped Trinbago Knight Riders in a tense contest by a margin of 19 runs in a Caribbean Premier League 2016 match played in Jamaica on Monday.

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al Hasan scored only 10 as Tallawahs hustled their way to 158 for 7. The bowlers lit up the stadium with their spirited spells up front to jolt the top-order. Hashim Amla (42) and Denesh Ramdin (31) tried to resurrect Knight Riders’ innings with a 44-run stand.

It was the duo of Imad Wasim and Dale Steyn who joined the dots with their opening spells and were rewarded with the wickets. Russell backed up the new-ball pair by probing away with purpose.

Shakib started with two brilliant overs conceding only nine runs including the wicket of Umar Akmal. But Ramdin took control over him at 14th over hitting two sixes and a four. l

BRIEF SCORES

JAMAICA TALLAWAHS 158/7 in 20 overs (Russell 44, Powell 44; Cooper 3-22, Bravo 2-39) beat TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS 139/9 in 20 overs (Amla 42, Ramdin 31; Russell 4-23, Steyn 2-21) by 19 runs

Bangladesh’s fastest man and woman Mezbah Ahmed and Shirin Akter are the final inclusions in the Bangladesh contingent for the Rio Olympics that will be held next month.

Both Mezbah and Shirin received the confirmation for the wild card entry from athletics after the International Olympic Committee issued it to them. They will participate in the 100m sprint events in Rio. “There was some tension earlier because I always had a dream to participate in Olympics and it would be hard to accept not to get the wild-card after becoming fastest man four times. Now I feel relaxed,” said Mezbah after getting the confirmation.

“The target will be to break my personal best. I clocked 10.72s in the last SA Games and if I can finish 100m in 10.72 then I will be happy,”

he added.

On the other hand Shirin is expecting to give her best shot after getting the wild card entry for Rio. “I have to score a better timing in the Olympics. Maybe we are not giving enough labour and can’t also qualify for Olympics directly as well. But it is proud moment for me to represent the country at any way. I will give my best,” she said.

With the addition of Mezbah and Shirin, Bangladesh now have a total of seven athletes in their contingent but only golfer Siddikur Rahman has qualified to the Olympics directly.

The other members of the Bangladesh contingent are swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagor, Sonia Akhtar Tumpa, shooter Abdullah Hel Baki and archer Shyamoli Roy. Mezbah and Shirin became the country’s fastest man and women respectively after emerging as champions in the National Athletics Championship in May last year.l

Saintfiet to pen deal on July 27 n Shishir Hoque Tom Saintfiet hopes to sign the three-month contract with the Bangladesh Football Federation as the head coach on July 27, after the Belgian was overlooked by Nigeria as their technical adviser.

Saintfiet was part of the threeman shortlist by the Nigeria Football Federation earlier this month, to take over the team for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Sainfiet shared the news with the Dhaka media.

He will now travel Chittagong to watch the first round matches of the Bangladesh Premier League scheduled to kick off on July 24.

“I am mentally totally free unless Real Madrid or Barcelona call me tomorrow. I’m also happy to be here. I was always focused on my team. When I do something I do with full commitment. You never know what happens in life. When I come back from Chittagong on July 26 after the matches, I hope on July 27 I will sign the contract,” he said.

After the deal is finalised the 43-year-old coach is scheduled to return to his home in Belgium and is scheduled to return to Dhaka before the BPL’s 4th or 5th round. He has a plan to start training camp on August 21. The league will be postponed till September 6.

“For me it is important to watch league matches. I now have 28 players in the camp but I want to see all players in the league and

may be select some new faces. I hope players will seek the opportunity,” he said.

The deal, for now, will be for three months only for the Bhutan matches in the Asian Cup qualifying play-offs in September and October. When asked if there any plan for long-term stay, Saintfiet said: “First focus on Bhutan and if we win, I’m sure we will win, then we plan for long term.”

Saintfied sat in a meeting with BFF president Kazi Salahuddin and national team management committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed yesterday. Nabil informed that they have a plan to play friendly match

against Maldives before the game against Bhutan.

“We have a plan to play a friendly match against Maldives on September 1 and return home on September 2 and prepare next three days for the September 6 match against Bhutan,” said Nabil, the BFF vice-president.

While talking about Saintfiet’s current situation, Nabil said, “He may leave on July 27 and we are expected to sign the agreement before his departure. We will sign a three-month contract, we will get the observation of his lawyer.

We will have directions for future long-term contract in the short-

term contract.”

Saintfiet started his job on the field from July 12 and conducted a six-day training camp in Dhaka.

“During the six-day training camp, he assessed the players who were in the training camp and he got a good feedback from them,” said Nabil.

“He will watch the first round of the professional football league and will also watch the last round at Dhaka venue and then evaluate the players again. He will then again call a 32-member squad after watching the matches. If needed, we will send the video footages of other matches,” he added. l

Tom Saintfiet sits in a meeting with Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin and national team management committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed at BFF House yesterday BFF

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Ronaldo pledges to come back stronger after knee injury n Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to come back stronger for the coming season after suffering a knee injury in Portugal’s triumphant Euro 2016 final earlier this month.

The Real Madrid forward, who is in this year’s Best Player in Europe shortlist, was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after 25 minutes in the final against hosts France.

“I just wanted to thank all my fans,” Ronaldo said in a video on his Instagram account.

“I wanted to tell them that all is well and that I will come back much stronger. Thank you, long live Portugal.”

The 31-year-old, who racked up 51 goals in 48 games last season, scored the decisive penalty to seal Real’s second Champions League final success over local rivals Atletico Madrid in three years.

La Liga runners-up Real begin their 2016-17 campaign, in what will be manager Zinedine Zidane’s first full season in charge, away to Real Sociedad on Aug. 21. l

This handout photo released by Rugby League World Cup 2017 yesterday shows (L-R) Australia’s Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, captain Cameron Smith, New Zealand’s captain Jesse Bromwich and coach Stephen Kearney, Papua New Guinea’s captain David Mead and coach Michael Marum posing for photographs with the Rugby League World Cup 2017 trophy after the announcement of the draw in Brisbane AFP

No regrets for departing Del Bosque n Reuters Outgoing Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has no regrets as he prepares to leave his post at the end of July after eight years in charge during which they won the World Cup and Euro 2012.

He called time on his tenure after Spain’s exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Italy in the first knockout round and will formally leave the post when his contract expires on July 31.

The Spanish Football Federation is expected to appoint his successor straight after that date, with former Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla coach Joaquin Caparros the favour-

ite for the role.

Del Bosque enjoyed a dream start as coach after succeeding Luis Aragones in 2008, leading Spain to the 2010 World Cup and helping them retain the European Championship two years later.

Spain then suffered a shock group stage elimination at the 2014 World Cup and lost 2-0 to Italy in the last 16 of Euro 2016 after finishing second in their group behind Croatia. Asked if he had any regrets, the 65-year-old former Real Madrid player and coach said: “No, to be honest I don’t. I’m not saying that I’m leaving having completed every task I was set, because we knew that was unachievable.

“To have won another World Cup and another Euro would have been virtually impossible. I go with a feeling of not leaving any loose ends,” he was quoed as saying on the website of world governing body FIFA (www.fifa.com).

Del Bosque also denied that his reign ended on a sour note.

“There’s been a bit of everything. We’ve had the opportunity to win a lot of things, but we’ve also suffered defeats,” he said. “That’s sport. But I leave with a clear conscience and the feeling of having fulfilled my duty to Spanish football.”

Throughout his tenure Del Bosque spoke of the importance of

Xhaka perfect for Arsenal, says Mertesacker n Reuters

Defender Per Mertesacker expects Granit Xhaka to set the tempo from the Arsenal engine room this season and described him as the “perfect signing” for the club.

The 23-year-old, who joined Arsenal in May, captained Borussia Moenchengladbach to fourth place last season and also helped Switzerland reach the last 16 of the Euro 2016.

British media reported Xhaka’s

transfer fee at about 30 million pounds ($43.95 million), which would make the midfield enforcer Arsenal’s third most expensive signing behind Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

“He’s a leader and that is really important, especially in midfield.

He has got a very good attitude, is very composed on the ball and contributes a lot,” Mertesacker told the club’s website (www.arsenal.com).

“He is a good passer as well, so he will set the tempo. I am look-

ing forward to how he does it, how composed he will be in training and in the games.

“He will be the perfect signing for us.”

Francis Coquelin, who played 26 league games last campaign, said Arsenal needed to dig deep in big games and must pay closer attention to details in order to push for the title after finishing second to champions Leicester City.

“It was a really tight season last season and it was a strange one.

I think it was unexpected that Leicester would win it but they did terrifically. We had a strong season, but it’s going to be about details,” Coquelin said.

“The games all the people expect us to win, we have to win them and respond as well in the big games. I think that’s what we’ve done in the last couple of years so we have to carry on doing this.”

The London side open their 2016-17 league campaign at home against Liverpool on Aug. 14. l

continuing the team’s attacking style of play focused on high levels of possession, a style at odds with the football played by teams coached by his likely successor Caparros. But he said he would have no influence on the way the team played from now on.

“That’s a decision for the new coach and I don’t think I should have any say at all,” he added.

“I’m keeping out of it. Whoever comes in will decide and will get it right. Each one of us sees football in a different way and what seems right to me might not be shared by the next (man) in charge. The next coach must be given absolute freedom to shape things as he sees fit.” l

27

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Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

QUICK BYTES Australian keeper Birighitti joins Swansea Australian goalkeeper Mark Birighitti has joined Swansea City on a two-year contract as a free agent after leaving A-League side Newcastle Jets, the Premier League club said on Monday. The 25-year-old, who faces tough competition from Lukasz Fabianski, Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Gerhard Tremmel for game time, was named in the Australian top flight team of the season. “Growing up, I watched a lot of English football and it (playing in England) was something I wanted to achieve in my career,” he told the Welsh club’s website. “Before coming here I knew there would be strong competition at the club. But my plan is to take each training session as they come and try to be better than them (the other keepers). “I have to make sure when the opportunity comes that I take the opportunity with both hands and don’t look back,” added Birighitti.

–REUTERS

Hull boss Bruce interviewed for England job Hull City boss Steve Bruce has been interviewed by a three-man Football Association (FA) panel for the England manager’s job, according to British media reports. The post became vacant when Roy Hodgson quit following the team’s early exit from Euro 2016.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is tipped as the favourite for the job by British media after the club confirmed he was in talks with FA. United States manager Juergen Klinsmann, Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and former England manager Glenn Hoddle are among those who have also been linked with the job.

England recall Anderson, Stokes and Rashid n Reuters, London England have recalled bowler James Anderson, all-rounder Ben Stokes and leg-spinner Adil Rashid to a 14-man squad for the second test against Pakistan at Old Trafford starting on Friday.

Lancashire’s Anderson and Durham’s Stokes have been facing each other in the County Championship and came through the first innings of the match without any trouble from recent injuries.

Anderson, England’s record wicket-taker, has recovered from a stress fracture of his right shoulder and bowled 22 overs in the match at Southport, taking 3-58 over the weekend.

Stokes, who has not played a test since the victory over Sri Lanka at Headingley in May, has recovered from surgery on a torn cartilage in his left knee

and also made a wicket-taking return.

Yorkshire’s Rashid, who last played in a test in November against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, has been included as a second spin option and is hoping to add to his three caps.

England are aiming to bounce back in the four-test series after Pakistan’s 10-wicket bowler Yasir Shah inspired the tourists to a 75-run victory at Lord’s on Sunday.

Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones, who was in the 12-man squad for the first test, is the only player to miss out.

Squad

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Balance, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakesl

–REUTERS

Murray pulls out of Toronto to focus on Rio Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has pulled out of next week’s Rogers Cup in Toronto so he can give his body time to rest before he sets out in defence of his Olympic singles title at the Rio Games.

Britain’s Murray won his third Rogers Cup title last year in Montreal but the defending champion said that after reaching the final round in each of his last five events that he needed to take some time off.

“My body needs some recovery time after reaching the latter stages of tournaments over the past few months,” Murray, who is second in the world rankings, said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. “I’m sorry to my fans in Toronto but I look forward to being back in Canada next year.”

–REUTERS

Burnley sign Gudmundsson from Charlton Burnley have signed Iceland international winger Johann Gudmundsson and goalkeeper Nick Pope from Charlton Athletic, the promoted Premier League side said on Tuesday. Burnley did not disclose financial details of the deals, but both players have signed three-year contracts, with the club having the option to extend for an additional year. The 25-year-old Gudmundsson, who had a joint league high 11 assists in the Championship (second-tier) last season, started every one of his country’s games at Euro 2016. Iceland pulled off the upset of the tournament when they defeated England in the last 16, before being eliminated by hosts France in the quarter-finals.

–REUTERS

Torino sign Ljajic, Falque joins on loan Torino have signed striker Adem Ljajic from AS Roma for 8.5 million euros ($9.41 million) and brought his team mate Iago Falque in on loan, the Serie A club said. The Serbia international joined the Rome-based club in 2013 but had a one-year loan spell at Inter Milan last season, during which he scored three goals in 25 league appearances. Spaniard Falque joined Roma in 2015 after a one-year stint at Genoa. He scored twice in 22 appearances last season. “After discussions with our coach we spared no effort to buy Ljajic from Roma,” Torino President Urbano Cairo said in a statement on the club’s website. “He was one of our first objectives, so we’re pleased to add him to (Sinisa) Mihajlovic’s squad.”

–REUTERS

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL SONY SIX 7:30PM Premier Futsal League Bangalore v Kolkata Kochi v Mumbai

CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1 11:30PM Natwest T20 Blast 2016 Yorkshire v Durham

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Habibul Bashar receives a check worth Tk 1 lakh on behalf of his ailing brother Ikram Bashar Tuhin, from NSC secretary Ashok Kumar Biswas yesterday

O’Keefe haul in tour match raises hopes of Test selection n Reuters, Melbourne Steve O’Keefe’s five-wicket haul in the tour match in Sri Lanka has raised his hopes of selection for Australia in the test series with regular spinner Nathan Lyon.

Left-arm spinner O’Keefe took 5-43 at the P Sara Oval in Colombo as Australia dominated the opening day of their sole practice match before the series opener in Pallekele next week.

Lyon went wicketless for 72 runs against the Sri Lanka Board XI but is unlikely to be dropped for the three-test series which is expected to feature drier wickets.

O’Keefe, who made his test debut away against Pakistan in 2014, played only his second match in January, teaming up with Lyon at the spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground against West Indies.

O’Keefe returned marginally better figures than Lyon in both his test appearances but said he was still very much the 28-year-old’s understudy.

“He’s a bit of a role model of mine and a bit of a mentor when it comes to spin bowling,” the Malaysia-born 31-year-old said.

“I’ve always looked up to him in his career and how he’s gone about his business. He’s verging on a couple of hundred test wickets now so there’s a truck load of experience and knowledge that I try to get out of him. And when the big occasions come up he’s always stood up to the challenge.

“He’s in a good place and I feel extremely privileged to bowl with him at the other end.”l

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Dortmund in talks with Bayern over Goetze return n Reuters Borussia Dortmund have started transfer talks with Bayern Munich over attacking midfielder Mario Goetze’s possible return to Westfalenstadion, according to a media report.

Goetze won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013 but failed to secure a starting place in three seasons under coach Pep Guardiola, who has since joined Premier League side Manchester City.

The 24-year-old has also been linked in British media with a move to former Dortmund boss Juergen Klopp at Liverpool.

“I can confirm that talks with Borussia Dortmund have taken place. There have also been talks with his agent, but the deal is not done just yet. Both clubs will have to reach an agreement over a transfer fee first,” Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told.

The Germany international scored three goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances last season having only returned to fitness in February following a five-month injury break. l

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is flanked by Indian Bollywood actor Salman Khan (R) and music composer AR Rahman, goodwill ambassador for the Rio Olympics, at a send-off event for Indian athletes ahead of the Olympic Games that are being held in Rio de Janiero in August, in New Delhi on Monday AFP

FIFA promises appropriate steps over alleged Russian doping cover-up n Reuters, Zurich Soccer’s world ruling body FIFA has promised “appropriate steps” after a report on Monday said a dozen positive doping cases in Russian football were among hundreds covered up by Moscow.

However, FIFA did not comment directly on allegations in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who sits on its supervisory FIFA Council, had ordered the cover-up in the cases of the

footballers.

The independent WADA report, which followed an investigation led by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, concentrated on allegations of systematic doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

It said that Moscow had concealed hundreds of positive doping cases from a variety of sports, including soccer, in the run-up to the games.

“FIFA will request from WADA all details concerning the individu-

al cases of doping in Russian football that are referenced in the McClaren report,” FIFA said.

The report said that Russian Deputy Sports Minister Yuri Nagornykh had decided which athletes would benefit from a cover-up, known as a SAVE order, although Mutko appeared to make the decision with regard to footballers. Eleven Russian footballers also benefited from a cover-up after failing a doping test, the report said.

Mutko, president of the organising committee for the 2018 World

‘Pressure to win EPL more on new managers’ n Reuters Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri is not losing sleep over his team’s Premier League title defence and believes the pressure to succeed is more on the new managers of the big-name clubs.

Under Ranieri, 5000-1 outsiders Leicester won their first ever top flight title last season, with Manchester United and Chelsea failing to secure Champions League qualification and Manchester City only just making the top four.

The 2016-17 season will see

some of the most prized managers with Jose Mourinho guiding Manchester United, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Antonio Conte in charge of Chelsea.

“You imagine the big teams who didn’t win, who didn’t make the Champions League. They are going crazy now, they want to kill now. Not just us, but all the other teams,” Ranieri told British media.

“They have new managers, fantastic managers. Antonio Conte is fantastic; Jose, everybody knows Jose. Pep Guardiola is an amazing person, good manager. I’m laugh-

ing because at the end only one will win. And the pressure is not on me, it’s on them.”

“You imagine the big teams who didn’t win, who didn’t make the Champions League. They are going crazy now, they want to kill now.

“Leicester City? People are just curious. What will happen with Leicester? What can Leicester do

next season? Repeat?

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who played every game of Leicester’s title-winning campaign, said the team remained equally hungry this season.

“I can assure you the hunger is 100 percent still there. We have to go again, do exactly the same again and see where it takes us. We have never said ‘this is what we are aiming for’,” Schmeichel told the BBC. “We go out, we work hard and do our best. Part of being a really good squad is the togetherness and being able to trust each other.l

Cup which will be hosted by Russia, has not commented since the release of the McLaren report.

However, when the same allegations were made in June by German broadcaster ARD/WDR, he described them as “silly” and said that he and Russia were being smeared as payback for winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup. Asked bout Mutko’s situation, FIFA said “the Ethics Committee is an independent body of FIFA and only it can decide what actions to take in respect to this issue.”l

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Support (4) 4 Cricket trophy (5) 9 Female sheep (3) 11 Weary (4) 12 Review unsparingly (5) 13 Operatic air (4) 14 Encounter (4) 15 Dodge (5) 19 Large antelope (5) 21 Cuts with blows (4) 25 Rainbow goddess (4) 26 Hackneyed (5) 28 Numeral (4) 29 Forefront (3) 30 Joint (5) 31 Outlet (4)

DOWN 1 Finest quality (4) 2 Boring tool (3) 3 Stop (5) 5 Pollen-bearing organ (6) 6 Employ (4) 7 One of the Great Lakes (4) 8 Chairs (5) 10 Lawful (5) 16 Ship (6) 17 Game of skill (5) 18 Country (5) 20 Impel (5) 22 Ireland (poet) (4) 23 Close and open eyes quickly (4) 24 Transmitted (4) 27 Tawny brown (3)

29

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Downtime

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 3 represents D so fill D every time the figure 3 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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30

Showtime

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Sultan earns $75 million in 12 days

TV drama director demands punishment of a executive magistrate

n Showtime Desk The top trending Bollywood blockbuster film of recent time, Salman Khan’s Sultan has earned $75 million at the international box office and it is still going strong.

This makes it the fifth highest grossing Bollywood film ever.

Previously, the biggies that stood at the top: PK (Rs792 crore), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Rs626 crore), Baahubali (Rs600 crore) and Dhoom 3 (Rs542 crore).

Surely, the film Sultan would be able to takedown the record of Dhoom 3, Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But it is not sure if it can beat the record of Aamir Khan’s PK. At the domestic box office, the Salman and Anushka Sharma film has earned Rs267.31 crore till now.

With Monday’s earnings at Rs4.08 crore, the film is still going up.

With Rajinikanth’s Kabali and Irrfan Khan’s Madaari releasing this Friday, Sultan’s business will definitely be affected. The Salman film managed an uninterrupted run since its release on July 6 with the only release being Great Grand Masti since them. l

n Cox’s Bazar Correspondent TV drama director Mahmud Didar has demanded withdrawal and punishment of Tushar Ahmed, a Cox’s Bazar District executive magistrate. Didar stated his demand in a press conference held at Cox’s Bazar Press Club on July 19.

Mahmud Didar said that he went to Cox’s Bazar to film two of his TV dramas Swapner Gangchil and Nirjon Upokuley, along with a telefilm Jolbou. While preparing for one of his shoots along with actors Shokh and Niloy, the

executive magistrate harrased him in the name of attaining a permission to film on the beach.

At one point, the magistrate issued a financial penalty of TK8,000 against him for not calling the executive magistrate “sir,” Didar claimed.

Later in the press conference, TV personality Mamunur Rashid, who is also the convenor of Director’s Gulid Association, joined the press conference via telephone and condemned the act of harassing a TV drama director and halting cultural activities by issuing financial penalties. l

Sublime Beauty of Lands and Rivers on display at AFD n Showtime Desk Sublime Beauty of Lands and Rivers, a group painting exhibition, has begun at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka with the inaugural ceremony held last Friday.

Professor Abdul Mannan, former member of parliament and chairman of parliamentary standing committee, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Prof Jamal Ahmed, eminent artist and eminent sculpture Ferdousi Priyavhashini were among the

distinguished guests present during the opening ceremony.

Last year, an art camp with the same title as the exhibition was coordinated by Queenies Art at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and the participants include Abdul Mannan, Nasim A Nadvi, Nasima Khanam Queenie, Laila Sharmeen, Shameem Subrana, Ashraful Hasan, Uttam Kumar Roy, Azmeer Hossain, Anisuzzaman Mamun, Reza K Chowdhury, Istiaque Talukder, Abdullah Al Bashir, Shohag Parvez, Shahnoor Mamun,

Md Mehedi Hasan, Zahangir Alom, Sultan Istiaque, Sourav Chowdhury and Fahmida Khatun.

The participatory artists have focused on natural beauty, the six seasons, landscapes, mountain scapes, rural beauty and greenery, the magnificence of nature,

serene environments, cityscapes, unprivileged people of different professions, varied features of bucolic, urban and riverine life and more. They also portrayed many themes which have a close touch with the articulation of the study period. As it seems, the artists are intense observers

of their surroundings allowing them to meticulously project them on canvas. Their paintings are refreshing and provide the spectators with a sense of pleasure. Their depictions are lively and vigorous.

The exhibition will run till July 20. l

Record breaker PC n Showtime Desk It was Priyanka Chopra‘s birthday yesterday. She is now a thrilling 34! Chopra is just a few steps away from world domination, or so it seems. Here’s a list of the things our wonder-woman has achieved before anyone else did.

PC is the first actress to be a part of two Bollywood sequels She starred in Krrish as Hrithik Roshan‘s love interest and reprised her role in its sequel. She was also Inspector Roma in Farhan Akhtar‘s Don opposite Shah Rukh Khan and was an important part of Don 2.

She is the first South Asian woman to headline an American network series Quantico is a hit series and that’s mainly because of PC. She plays the assertive Alex Parrish only the way she can, and that’s truly the backbone of the show’s success.

PC is the first South Asian actress to win a People’s Choice Award She won the Favourite Actress

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Selina Hossain is now in Bhalobasha Pritilata

in a New TV Series for Quantico.

She is the first Indian actress to cut an international single She blew everyone’s mind with “In My City” and then sang “Exotic” with Pitbull and set our screens on fire.

n Showtime Desk When we think of martyrs one name often comes to our mind: Pritilata Waddedar, the ultimate embodiment of deep devotion and dedication.

Born on May 5, 1911 in Dhalghat village of Chittagong, her commitment towards the nation has been tremendous.

Jagabandu, her father, was a staff in the local municipality, while her mother, Pratibhamayi Devi was a seamstress.

Recently, an announcement was made stating that a movie on her biopic will be made, with shooting set to begin in September 2016. The biopic will showcase the legendary

The first (and only) Bollywood actress to play 12 roles in one movie In the movie What’s Your Raashee!

Remember? It was the only time an Indian actress has played 12 characters in a movie.

She is the first actress to win all Filmfare awards in the acting categories After winning the Filmfare for Best Supporting Actress, Priyanka created history by winning the award in all acting categories – Best Actress, Best Actress Critics, Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Actress in a Negative Role.

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freedom fighter and the first revolutionary female martyr Pritilata Waddedar’s rebellious stories and her fights against the British rule.

With screenplay and dialogues by Golam Rabbani and Rashid Palash as the director, the film will be released under Punnya Film Banner.

Eminent author Selina Hossain got involved with the movie as the script consultant.

Writer Selina Hossain said, “I am happy to be a part of this movie.

I’m hoping to experience the best.”

Selina Hossain is one of the writers who already wrote a biopic about Pritilata Waddedar called Bhalobasha Pritilata. l

GOT season 7 release First Bollywood actress to present an Academy Award Priyanka Chopra presented the Oscar for Best Film Editing, and also looked like a million bucks while doing it.

The first Indian actress to voice an animated character in an English film Other Bollywood actors and actresses have dubbed for the Hindi version of English films, PC

herself has done it for The Jungle Book. But in 2013’s Planes, she was the first Indian actress to voice a character in the original film.

First Bollywood actress to be a part of the Marvel Universe Priyanka joined Dave Franco, Tom Cassell and John Cena in the video game Marvel Avengers Academy where she was the voice of Ms Marvel. l

Marking the 4th death anniversary of iconic writer and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, his family members and fans from all over the country gather at Nuhash Polli, Gazipur and place wreaths before his grave. The day was observed through various programmes including discussions on his works, recitations from the Quran, prayers, blood donating event and distributing food among orphans

n Showtime Desk This time around, there will be just seven episodes for Game of Thrones.

The Home Box Office have confirmed that the trending fantasy sensation will be back a few months later than usual, with an expected arrival date for season seven being summer 2017.

For the past few years, the show has debuted in April.

Moreover, it has been confirmed that the next season will be shorter than usual, consisting of only seven episodes rather than the regular 10.

As it turns out, the delay isn’t due to some Ramsay Boltonlike torturous desire from the

showrunners, but rather the practicality of depicting the decade long winter that finally arrived in season six.

“Now that winter has arrived on Game of Thrones, executive producers David Benioff and D B Weiss felt that the storylines of the next season would be better served by starting production a little later than usual, when the weather is changing,” said the president of HBO programming Casey Bloys.

Viewers are extremely disappointed about this new development, unhappy about having only seven episodes rather than 10. They are expecting a longer runtime from each episode along with plenty of white walker action this time around. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

RMG EXPORTERS FEAR HIKE IN PRODUCTION COST PAGE 13

MUSTAFIZUR FLIES TO SUSSEX TODAY PAGE 24

RECORD BREAKER PC PAGE 31

How to survive an active shooter n Tribune Desk If you find yourself in the middle of an active shooter event keep calm and try to be aware of your environment.

Always have an exit plan where ever you go (this may sound odd but you need to check for exits at restaurants and other places you visit). Know that in an incident like this, victims

are generally chosen randomly, the event is unpredictable and may evolve quickly. You actions can make all difference in your safety and survival.

Surviving an active shooter means

If you can get out, do it. Always try and escape or evacuate even when others insist on staying. Encourage others to leave with you but do not let them slow you down with their indecision.

Leave your possessions behind and try to find a way to get out safely. Trying to get of the line of fire should be your number one priority. Once you have managed to escape call

being prepared for the worst and thinking quickly on your feet. There are three things you can do to ensure your survival: Run, Hide or Fight according to Ready Houston.

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If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate Evacuate even if other’s agree to or not Leave your belongings behind Prevent other’s from entering the area

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Call DMP helpline at 01713-398311

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the police hotline at 1000 and 01713-398311 immediately.

If you cannot get out safely, you need to find a place to hide.

Act quickly and quietly. Try to secure your hiding place the best you can. Turn out the lights and lock the doors.

Silence your ringer and vibration mode on your cellphone.

If you cannot find a safe room or a closet, try to conceal yourself behind large objects that may protect you.

Do your best to remain quite and calm.

As a last resort if your life is at risk, whether you are alone or together as a group, fight.

Act with aggression, improvise weapons.

Disarm the active shooter and commit to taking him down.

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Lock and or block door Silence your cellphone, do not put it on vibrate Turn off the lights Hide behind large objects

YOUR HIDING PLACE SHOULD BE ● Out of the shooter’s view ● Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction ● Not trap or restrict your options for movement

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Attempt to incapacitate the shooter Act with physical aggression Improvise weapons Commit to your actions

Video: Surviving an Active Shooter Event on www.dhakatribune.com

ASMAUL HOQUE MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION: BIGSTOCK

Indian army ‘regrets’ civilian deaths in Kashmir n Tribune Desk

The Indian army has expressed regret over the death of four civilians in an incident on Monday when troops “were forced to open fire when a large mob turned violent.”

A police spokesman, giving details of the incident, said an army mobile patrol party opened fire at an unruly stone-pelting mob in Kashmir’s Churaht Qazigund area when troops had been trying to clear a road blockade.

Four persons, including two women, were killed and seven others injured in the incident.

“An inquiry has been ordered into the incident,” NDTV quotes a defence spokesperson as saying.

The number of casualties reached to 43 as of Tuesday since the beginning of the violence more than a week ago over the death of a popular insurgent, even as curfew remained in force in the Valley.

“The Army deeply regrets, the unfortunate loss of life in the incident at Churat, Qaziund where the troops were forced to open fire yesterday when a large mob turned violent, resorting to heavy stone pelting and attempted to snatch weapons from the soldiers,” the spokesperson said.

“Army today appealed to the people to maintain peace and refrain from attacking security forces or their vehicles or establishments thus creating situations where the security forces are left with no option but to retaliate in self defence,” the spokesman added.

“The security squad while removing the obstructions came under heavy stone pelting by the miscreants from two sides. The Army party warned the mob to maintain distance but it did not relent.

“Some miscreants tried to snatch weapons from them and tried to set ablaze the vehicles. Despite repeated warnings the mob did not disperse and army fired in self-defence in an effort to move out from the spot,” the spokesman said, adding six persons were injured in the incident out of which two had succumbed last night.

Curfew, meanwhile, remained in force across the 10 districts of the Valley as there was no sign of deadly clashes between protestors and security forces ending. l

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