July 27, 2016

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

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Shraban 12, 1423, Shawwal 21, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 91

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

Police and security personnel raided a militant den in Dhaka’s Kallyanpur in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Nine militants were killed and one captured during the hour-long operation

STORIES ON PAGE 2, 3, 4 AND 5

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Terror den smashed

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

They were clad in black panjabi, keffiyeh n Tribune Desk

When police raided the suspected militant den in “Jahaj Bari” on Road no 5 in Kallyanpur, Dhaka early morning yesterday, they found several black panjabis, two black flags with “Allahu Akbar” written in Arabic, and jihadi books.

The militants themselves were wearing black panjabis and “keffiyeh” – the red-and-white chequered scarf commonly used by Arabs, according to police sources.

The black flags and the keffiyehs are particularly used by the members of international terrorist group Islamic State (IS).

However, police say the militants of Kallyanpur were likely part of home-grown outfits, not the international organisation.

“They [the militants] were wearing black clothes and claimed they had links with Islamic State, but we have not found any evidence of that,” said Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque.

He said the militants were members of home-grown militant group, and likely had links with banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

“We also suspect they may have been part of the same group as the attackers of Gulshan and Sholakia.”

A joint force of several units of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) led by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit raided the six-storey building named Jahaj Bari in Kallyanpur around 5:51am yesterday, resulting in a gunfight that killed nine militants.

Two other militants survived, one of whom was able to flee while the other was caught wounded by police, said DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia. The detained militant, identifying himself as Rakibul Hasan Rigan, who is currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), told police that he and his fellow group members were inspired by IS, a DMCH staff member told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.

The DMCH staff further said Rigan said the 11-member group was led by Robin, and some of the other

Taj Manzil, the six-storied building known to locals as Jahaj Bari, was the site of yesterday’s deadly shootout. Police guard the building on Kallyanpur’s Road 5 in the afternoon RAJIB DHAR members were Sabbir, Taposh, Ovi, Atik, Sohan, Imran and Iqbal.

Police, however, did not give any details on the identities of the dead militants until this report was filed late last night.

Militants posed as students to rent the flat

The militants rented a flat on the fourth floor of the building on June 20, but started living in it from July 12, according to sources at the Counterterrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) unit of police.

When renting the flat, they produced fake identity cards and posed as students of Mirpur Bangla College, the sources said.

Police recovered some physics and chemistry textbooks along with bombs and other weapons from the flat during the raid.

The militants were also not friendly with other residents in the building, said one of the residents.

“We never really met or talked with them; we know nothing about them,” the neighbour said, seeking anonymity.

Police has taken all residents of

the building – 42 of them – into custody for interrogation.

The building has been cordoned off; no one can leave or enter the building until further instruction, said Inspector Syed Shahid Alam of Rupnagar police station.

They were shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’

The militants were shouting “Allahu Akbar (Allah is great)” and “Islamer shotru nipat jak (May the enemies of Islam be destroyed)” when they shot at police, said Shaikh Maruf Hasan, additional commissioner of police at DMP. DMP commissioner said when police launched the raid, two of the 11-member group managed to jump from the fourth floor of the building to the roof of the adjacent two-storey building and started hurling bombs at police. Later one fled, and the other was arrested.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said this operation – dubbed Operation Storm 26 – was successful.

“Law enforcers carried out the operation based on prior information. The militants were planning

O P E R A T I O N July 25, 11pm - Mirpur police with the aid of Kallyanpur unit Chhatra League conduct a block raid in Mirpur’s Kallyanpur area. Several houses in Road 6 of the area are being raided.

11:30pm - Police spot a building popularly known as “Jahaj Bari” – a six-storey building mostly tenanted by bachelors - on Road 5.

11:45pm - Police take position in front

large-scale attacks there. When police reached there, they opened fire at them. But police was successful in foiling their attack,” he told reporters at the Secretariat yesterday.

Praising the law enforcers, he said they had shown efficiency in the operation.

In reply to a question, the home minister said: “Considering their attire, it seems that these [Kallyanpur] militants and Gulshan attackers may have been affiliated.”

He also said Gulshan and Sholakia attackers as well as Kallyanpur militants may have been drug addicted. “But it can only be confirmed by necessary tests.”

Police seek public help to identify killed militants

Police have released chilling photos of the operation, which include photos of the dead militants.

Police recovered jihadi books and notebooks, laptops, daggers, pistols and ammunition.

The photos also show HSC textbooks, shaving foam, tooth brush and Wilson backpacks.

One photo shows an IS flag hung

S T O R M

Tactics (SWAT) team rushes into the building. Mahbubur Rahman, ACP of Kallyanpur zone, confirms to the Dhaka Tribune that a drive is under way.

12:30am - Locals hear a single gunshot coming from the Jahaj Bari.

12:45am - Sensing the arrival of police, two men jumped from the fifth floor of the building to an adjacent two-storey school. At this point, suspected mili-

1:00am - Police capture one of the two men who jumped from the building.

The other man managed to escape.

2:00am - A Special Weapons And

2:45am - One of the men who jumped, Hasan, is being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital by a sub-inspector of Mirpur police station as he received

July 26, 12:15am - Police enter the building and move up to the second floor.

Autopsy of dead militants today

The nine dead bodies were taken for autopsy examinations to the DMCH, but it was not done yesterday as the forensic experts did not receive the police inquest report as of last night, said Dr Sohel Mahmud, assistant professor at Dhaka Medical College forensic department.

He said the autopsies would be conducted today.

In reply to a question, Sohel said primary investigation revealed all nine bodies to have bullet wounds.

“Further details will be disclosed after the procedure is done.” l

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tants retaliate by attacking police with hand bombs and guns while chanting “Allahu Akbar,” according to a police official taking part in the drive. The militants are also heard to say: “Islam er shotru nipat jak [Destroy the enemies of Islam].”

of the building’s gate before entering.

over a window as a curtain.

Several photos show burnt remains of paper strewn over the floor, which the militants reportedly destroyed before police entered the flat.

The DMP published the photos of nine dead militants on their official Facebook page last night and sought help from Facebook users in identifying them.

They asked to email the information at cyberunit@dmp.gov.bd or send a message to their Facebook page inbox.

2:30am - Second SWAT team arrives at the spot.

bullet wounds during his capture.

3:00am - A high official of Mirpur division police quoting the detained suspect says there are at least nine people with heavy arms and explosives in the flat. Bachchu Miah, SI of DMCH police outpost, confirms Hasan’s admission to the hospital.

3:30am - Third SWAT team reaches the spot.

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Operation Storm 26: As it happened n Tribune Desk Operation Storm-26, a special police drive, was conducted in a suspected militant hideout in Dhaka’s Kallyanpur area early Tuesday, where nine militants were killed and one detained.

Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team led different units of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in the drive. The operation started from 5:51am and ended at 6:51am. There were no casualties on the police side.

Terming it a successful drive in police history, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said all of those killed were militants.

According to police sources, police first staked out the militant hideout at 11:30pm on Monday and the militants fought back with hand bombs, local guns and 7:62 pistols when they tried to enter the building at 12:45am.

In the six-story building, the militants were occupying a fourth

This photo, released by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday, shows a flag of the so-called Islamic State hanging in a room where the suspected Kallyanpur militants used to live. Bullet holes can also be seen on the wall of the fourth-floor room in Kallyanpur’s Taj Manzil DMP floor flat as tenants. There was a broken area in the grill of the flat’s balcony, from where two militants jumped down over a tin-shade house, situated beside the building. At that time, they attacked the police with bombs. Police were able to detain one of them and the

other managed to escape.

The injured militant who police said was called Hasan, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment and investigators were able to glean information on how many weapons, ammunition and explosives were in the flat. Hasan

informed police there were nine more militants in the flat and they had hand bombs and firearms.

Soon afterward, police cordoned off about one and a half kilometer area from road 5 around 4:30am and vacated the nearby buildings.

Instructions were given to officials that the drive would be conducted after sunrise.

DMP Additional Commissioner Shaikh Maruf Hasan said in the operation SWAT was in the leading position, while members of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CT) unit, bomb disposal, Detective Branch, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police station members joined in.

A senior CT unit member who took part in the drive said they had joined in the drive equipped with modern devices and weapons.

They had improvised M-4 rifles, sniper rifles and drills.

Law enforcers took position on the second floor of the building, said the official.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of CT unit, said their trained officers took position on the roofs of nearby buildings with snipers aiming at the flat while the operation team took position in the stairs.

Getting direction, the operation team started their move firing towards level four where militants took shelter and broke down the door of level four door by firing, he says.

ADC Sanowar says the militants counter the attack with hand made bombs and pistol. However, they would not able to stand long and killed during the fire exchange, he added.

From the flat, police recovered 13 live grenades (which were defused later on the spot), 4/5kg gel explosives, 19 detonators, four 7.62 pistols, seven magazines of 7.62 pistol, 22 rounds of 7.62mm bullets, one sword, three commando knives and two flags with “Allahu Akbar” printed on them. l

Attackers unknown in neighbourhood

‘I thought I was going to die’

n Tribune Desk

n Tribune Desk

Nine suspected militants killed during the police raid yesterday at road 5 in Kallyanpur were unknown to locals interviewed in the neighbourhood.

The Dhaka Tribune asked some of the neighbours of the house that was raided regarding any information they had regarding the militants, but no one was able to identify the militants.

“We heard that new tenants arrived on July 12, but we did not get a chance to talk to or meet them.

We only heard today (yesterday) that they were militants,” said a tenant of the same building, requesting not to be named.

The other tenants in this building do not even know who they were, or whether they were suspicious or not, he added.

“Eight cops knocked at our gate and asked us not to come out. The police informed us that there were militants inside the building opposite us. After the Fazr prayers, po-

4:30am - Police high officials hold meeting to finalise plans for drive, sources say.

5:00am - A team of Fire Service and Civil Defence reaches the spot. The area is cordoned off by police, RAB and SWAT. 5:51am - Drive begins. Gunshots heard.

5:57am - More gunshots heard from

lice ordered us to open our gate for their movement,” said Jalal, owner of a neighbouring house.

He added that about a year back, police officials conducted a drive of the building because of bachelor tenants living there.

“The local people have asked the owner (of the building) to check relevant documents before renting flats to bachelors, but we do not know whether he did it or not,” he said.

“Keep the door and windows closed. Do not look outside,” he said, quoting the police officers.

Many residents of Kallyanpur failed to sleep the whole night due to fear and anxiety, while some woke up from their slumber, hearing constant noises of gunshots.

“It was a night in hell. The entire shoot-out took place just 2-3 buildings away. I have never heard these sounds of gunfire and bombs. As dawn arrived, the firing became much more scarier,” Sadman Bin Alam, a resident of Kalyanpur, shared on social media.

SH Debashish posted: “...heavy sounds of firing. We are very frightened. The police are not allowing us to go outside.”

A mother residing at a nearby building said her 3 year-old daughter could not sleep yesterday. “She was crying out of fear while every gunshot was fired. The frightening sounds put her in a state of constant panic.” l

It was just another day for Allam Iqbal Anik and other mess members living on the fifth floor of ‘Jahaj Bari’ in Kallyanpur. But things took an unexpected and deadly turn when the law enforcers started their “Operation Storm 26” to arrest suspected militants who had been living in the same building.

“It was the scariest day of my life,” Anik said. As the cracking sound of gunshots and explosions pierced the night’s eerie silence, Anik said he thought he would not live to see the daylight. “I thought I was going to die,” he said.

Law enforcement agencies raided the building yesterday morning, where 11 suspected militants lived in a mess on the fourth floor.

Security forces cordoned off the area and evacuated the building before storming into it but it was not possible to get Anik and other members of the mess out as they lived a floor above the militant suspects.

Anik, a former journalist, said he

“Operation Storm 26,” Maruf says, adding that the CID’s Crime Scene Unit would go in to collect evidence.

that he was inspired by the so-called Islamic State and had been with the militant group for the past year.

6:06am - Another ambulance arrives.

7:27am - Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque arrives at the scene.

7:40am - DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia also arrives in Kallyanpur.

7:00am - DMP Additional Commissioner Shaikh Maruf Hasan says all nine militants trying to flee had been “destroyed.” The bomb disposal unit searches for explosives at the end of

7:35am - Doctors say apprehended militant Hasan had fractured his skull and the left leg. Hasan, who is reportedly a former cook from Jibannagar in Bogra, tells police during questioning

7:45am - IGP Shahidul briefs the media, confirming that nine militants have been killed during the drive. The militants had gathered there to carry out a large-scale a terror attack similar

Police asked people not to come out

Locals living in the vicinity of the building on road 5 were asked not to come out, and to keep windows and doors shut, while the police prepared to apprehend the suspected militants.

Almost all the locals on road 5 were asked by police at around 1:00am to follow instructions.

Shuvonkor Majumder, who resides in a building adjacent to the raided building, said that two policemen came to his house and asked them to stay inside.

the building for four minutes.

6:04am - First ambulance reaches the site.

A horrifying night

had been living in the three-room flat for five years with nine others.

“The sound of gunfire and explosions woke us up just before 1am. Soon, we realised that police were raiding the building,” he said.

“We took shelter in the kitchen and spent the whole night there cramped together, fearing for our lives,” he recalled.

‘Please save me’

Minutes before “Operation Storm 26”, as the raid has been named, Anik texted several reporters informing them that he was stuck in his flat with others.

“I am stuck in the fifth floor of the building, please save me from here,” he pleaded in the messages.

Police finally rescued Anik and other members of the flat after the drive ended. They were later interrogated by the Detective Branch.

Police chief AKM Shahidul Haque told reporters that those killed were presumed to be JMB operatives but their identities have not been revealed yet. l

to the Gulshan incident, the IGP says, adding that there were no evidence that suggested that the suspects belonged to the IS terrorist group. The killed militants allegedly had JMB links, Shahidul added.

8:05am - CID’s Crime Scene Unit goes in to collect evidence.

8:30am - SWAT teams that took part in the raid leave.

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DMP chief: Gulshan, Kallyanpur militants belong to same group n Nure Alam Durjoy Suspected militants killed during yesterday’s raid at Kallyanpur and those who attacked Gulsan’s Holey Bakery on July 1 belong to the same militant outfit, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah has claimed.

Though the identities of the suspected militants are not confirmed yet, the police chief said: “What we have understood in primary investigations make it seem that the Kallyanpur militants were a faction of the Gulshan attackers’ group.”

“We have gathered a lot of evidence from the spot, but without proper investigation, we do not want to talk about it. We need time to verify their identities,” he said, while addressing a press briefing on Operation Storm 26 at Minto Road in Dhaka.

Nine suspected militants were killed and two of their accomplices were taken in custody by law enforcement agencies during the raid at a house in Kallyanpur.

They were youngsters, highly educated

The DMP chief said Kallyanpur militants were all well educated and aged between 20 and 25.

“Observing their physical appearances, faces, dresses, style of talking, it seemed to us

What terrorists used to fight the SWAT team

The “terrorists” attacked police with their 7.62 pistols and handmade grenades during Operation Storm 26.

On the other hand, the police’s SWAT team used their guns on the terrorists too.

Nine militants were killed at the location, while one policeman got injured, said DMP commissioner.

Police to post photos in social media to identify militants

Ambulances carry the bodies of the suspected militants who were killed during a police drive in Kallyanpur yesterday. The bodies were taken to the Dhaka Medical College for autopsy MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

The militants, gathered inside the flat, had chanted Allahu Akbar and then fired on police, along with throwing bombs, when law enforcers went there to drive them out, the commissioner said.

During the drive, two suspected

militants jumped onto a corrugated tin roof at the back of the house and threw bombs towards the police.

Police encountered them instantly where one militant – Hasan - got injured and is now undergoing treatment in police custody at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The other suspected militant, however, who also jumped onto the roof, managed to flee.

Prior to the drive, militants were asked to surrender through handmikes, but they opened fire in exchange, he said.

of Nagorik Committee formed by local lawmaker Aslamul Haque in every ward of his constituency to operate anti-militant activities.

“As part of Nagorik Committee’s activities, Awami League men participated in the drive and started search operation at different areas in Kallyanpur from early yesterday, based on prior information. We did the search operation at suspected areas in Kallyanpur’s roads 4, 6, and 11 with the police,” Awami League’s Ward 11 President Mohammad Ullah Kaiser said.

“When we reached the suspected house the terrorists opened fire and hurled bombs,” he said.

At the time, the suspects were using slang words against the prime minister, Kaiser said, adding they were also chanting slogans that included “We will establish an Islamic republic.”

“We were with police. Our citizen committee Member Secretary Mir Mohammad Jashim Uddin was with the team with his licensed gun. We were completely prepared with whatever we had,” he said.

that they were highly educated and belonged to elite society”, he said.

The DMP chief said that all “militants” were wearing black Panjabi and denims, while all except one, were wearing sneakers.

Militants chanted Allahu Akbar

The DMP boss said that police cannot come to a decision regarding identification without analysing the evidence gathered from the spot.

Citing primary investigation findings, he claimed that the militants rented the flat on June 20, 2016 and they gathered yesterday for a special plan to conduct more attacks like the one in Gulshan.

House owner and 41 others detained

The owner of the house, along with 41 others were detained and taken to police custody. The owner was detained for not providing necessary information to the police, he added.

The commissioner ended the briefing by saying that no militant activities will be allowed in the country. l

Ruling party men ‘assisted’ Kallyanpur drive n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Activists from Awami League and its wings reportedly accompanied law enforcers yesterday during the Kallyanpur drive that saw nine suspected militants killed.

Supporters of Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and Awami Swechchhasebak League “directly assisted” police when the drive was on, a political leader who was present during the drive said.

The men were reportedly helping the police under the banner

O P E R A T I O N 8:58am - A police ADC says over 100 rounds of bullets were fired during the raid.

9:00am - Sources say militants were dressed in black clothes, similar to photos of other suspected Islamic State militants.

9:24am - All 27 schools in the area closed for the day following law enforcers’ suggestion, says headmaster

of local Holy Crescent Model School, S Ahmad Khan Shafiul.

9:27am – ADC Sanwar Hossain, chief of police’s bomb disposal unit, says the killed militants lived in a sevenroom flat on the fourth floor. Seven bodies were found in the corridor and two more were in a room. The unit is examining six grenade-like objects found at the scene, Sanwar says.

When police “ambushed” the suspects at 6am, the terrorists chanted “Naraye Takbir Allahu Akbar,” offered their prayers in loud voices and said they were going to “paradise,” Kaiser added.

In the wake of terror attacks, AL have recently announced to form monitoring committees in every single neighbourhood across the country to combat militancy.

The core aim of such committees is to provide information to law enforcing agencies about suspicious movements, he said. l

S T O R M

Schools in Kallyanpur remain closed n Tribune Desk

All schools at Dhaka’s Kallyanpur remained closed yesterday after nine suspected militants were killed and two of their accomplices were taken in custody by law enforcement agencies during a raid in the area in the early hours.

Schools, including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, near the main road of Kallyanpur and its adjacent areas were kept closed on security grounds, officials concerned confirmed.

The school authorities had to take the decision following a request from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and for the sake of the security of students, they said.

Vising the area yesterday morning, our correspondent found that Kallyanpur Girls Schools and College, Holy Crescent Model School, Kallyanpur Government Primary School, Kallyanpur Laboratory School, Shishu Klayan School and Deen Kindergarten were closed.

Mirpur thana Education Officer Abdul Kader Fakir said academic activities of 27 schools under Kallyanpur and its adjacent areas remain closed following DMP’s instruction.

Holy Crescent Model School Headmaster S Ahmad Khan Shafiul said the schools were closed for the day following a suggestion of the law enforcers.

He said: “I went to the school in the morning and after talking to other school authorities and guardians about the suggestion of the law enforcement agencies, we decide to close the school.”

Kallyanpur Girls Schools and College Principal Shahnaj Begum said they have received several phone calls from guardians and students that they were worried about security.

The location of the school is close to the spot where nine suspected militants were killed during “Operation Storm 26” at a house locally known as “Jahaj Bari” in Road 5 of Kallyanpur in the early hours of yesterday. l

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9:30am - Iqbal Anik, a fifth-floor resident, tells the Dhaka Tribune that they locked themselves inside their own flat as soon as the shooting began.

ants in the flat probably for a month.

“The owners did not submit the tenant information form of the flat, so we do not have details,” he adds.

10:00am - DMP chief Asaduzzaman says the bomb disposal unit is destroying the explosives found in the militants’ flat.

10:37am - A source in police says injured suspect Hasan is a student of Shah Sultan College in Bogra.

10:50am - Seeking anonymity, a high-ranking intelligence official tells the Dhaka Tribune that Hasan has admitted that the group was being “trained for Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh” at the house.

10:43am - DMCH Deputy Director Khaja Abdul Gofur says Hasan was “showing no improvement. We might

11:12am - Mirpur OC Bhuiyan Mahbub said a former customs official named Atahar Uddin Ahmed owns the house.

10:15am - Mirpur OC Bhuiyan Mahbub says the suspected militants were ten-

have to perform a surgery on him.”

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Kamal: Hasnat still being interrogated n Tribune Desk

Geared with bulletproof vests, additional police members were deployed in Kallyanpur as the drive continued against the suspected militants on Road 5 yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

‘Militant’ Hasan missing for a year n Tribune Desk A suspected militant, who was captured in Kallyanpur, had been missing for a year, his family said.

Rakibul Hasan alias Rigan hails from Bogra’s Jamilnagar. His father Rezaul Karim died last year and his mother Rokeya Akther is a senior nurse at Bogra’s Nandigram Upazila Health Complex.

His family says Hasan obtained his SSC certificate from Korotoa Multimedia School and College in 2013 and cleared HSC in 2015 from Shah Sultan College of Bogra. He got admitted to a private coaching centre to prepare for medical entry test but went missing in July last year.

His mother filed a general diary with Bogra sadar police. Officer-inCharge Abul Basar said they interrogated Hasan’s mother Tuesday after her son was arrested.

Hasan has been undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical

12:08pm - The caretaker of the building is taken to Mirpur police station for interrogation.

12:30pm - A senior police official says they found some sand-filled sacks inside the flat.

12:37pm - Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal briefs media at the secretariat. “It was a successful drive because all those who were killed in it

College Hospital since his capture.

DMCH Deputy Director Khaja Abdul Gafur told the Dhaka Tribune that his condition was stable. “He was hit by a bullet in his leg.”

Investigators have questioned Hasan for one and a half hour after his arrest at around 1am Tuesday.

He had jumped off the building’s fourth floor, where the suspected militants were staying.

A hospital staff, who was present during police interrogation, told the Dhaka Tribune that Hasan had informed investigators that they had been living there for a month.

“He said they were all being trained by Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh,” the staff, who declined to be named, said. “Hasan said he was not allowed to go out and was forced to cook for other members of the group.”

Hasan could not provide details about other suspected militants killed during “Operation Storm

were militants,” he says.

1:19pm - DMCH Deputy Director Khaja Abdul Gofur says Hasan is being shifted to a cabin due to security reasons.

1:21pm - The bodies of the slain militants are being shifted to Dhaka Medical College morgue, the DMP chief says.

1:30pm - A police official says 11 ex-

26”. “He gave eight of the suspects’ nicknames,” the staff said, adding that Hasan named one Robin as the group leader.

Hasan identified other members of the group as Sabbir, Taposh, Ovi, Atik, Sohan, Imran and Iqbal.

He also told investigators that they held a meeting on Monday night before going to bed but declined to divulge further, according to the hospital staff.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said the militants were well-educated and aged between 20 and 27. They had gathered in Kallyanpur to execute “a special attack”, he told a media briefing.

“Their identities have not been confirmed yet,” the DMP commissioner added.

Police chief AKM Shahidul Haque told reporters that they suspect they were JMB operatives who had “planned to carry out a large scale attack”. l

ploded and 12 active improvised bombs were found in the flat. All active bombs were later defused.

2:15pm - In a press briefing, DMP chief says the militants were all well educated and aged between 20 and 27.

3:52pm - DMCH Deputy Director Gofur informs that the wounded suspect was now “out of danger.”

Dhaka terror attack survivor Hasnat Reza Karim is still being interrogated regarding the attack, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said yesterday.

“Hasnat Karim is still being interrogated. No information about him is yet confirmed. Everything will be disclosed after the investigation ends,” he said while speaking with reporters regarding the anti-militant operation in Kallyanpur, Dhaka.

However, the minister did not disclose where Hasnat was being interrogated.

At least 20 people including 17 foreign nationals were killed when militants attacked Holey Artisan Bakery and O’ Kitchen building in posh Gulshan area in Dhaka on July 1 night.

UK citizen Hasnat, a former lecturer at North South University, as well as Tahmid Hasib Khan, a resident of Canada and a student at the University of Toronto, were taken into custody by the Detective Branch of police for interrogation with the rest of the survivors after a joint commando team stormed the restaurant ending the 11-hour terror siege and killing the attackers.

While the rest of the survivors were released after debriefing, Hasnat and Tahmid's families said they had not returned home, but law enforcers claimed several times that they had released the duo.

Later, police admitted to having them in custody and under interrogation due to their apparent dubious role during the hostage crisis.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, investigation sources said Hasnat was being detained on suspicion of having played a major role in Gulshan terror attack.

“We suspect that Hasnat rented a house in Baridhara to help terrorists plan the attack. In addition, he had several meetings with the [Gulshan] attackers in that house,” an official said, requesting anonymity.

4:24pm - Seven ambulances leave the spot with the bodies.

4:40pm - Rupnagar police Inspector Syed Shahid Alam says: “The building has been sealed off and all residents safely evacuated. Residents have been taken to Mirpur police station for interrogation.”

4:55pm - The ambulances enter Dhaka Medical College premises with the

He said Hasnat went to Holey Artisan Bakery with his family so he could divert law enforcers' suspicion regarding his “involvement” with the attack.

Police sources said Hasnat went to the bakery prior to the attack, waited there for the perfect time, then sent word to the terrorists to launch the attack.

The attackers released Hasnat and his family before the rescue operation began.

Police have already seized a laptop from his Banani residence and are now scrutinising its content.

Investigators have yet to officially confirm Hasnat's role in the attack.

Law enforcers have long been playing hide-and-seek over keeping Hasnat and Tahmid in custody over their alleged involvement in the terror attack.

Their families and several international human rights groups have been campaigning for their release.

London-based rights group Amnesty International has demanded that Bangladesh government immediately ensure that Hasnat has access to his family, a lawyer and to any medical attention he may require.

Amnesty also said Hasnat should be released unless he is charged with an internationally recognisable criminal offence and presented before a court.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has echoed Amnesty and urged the government to protect the rights of Hasnat and Tahmid.

The US-based group called on the authorities to admit their detentions and clarify their whereabouts.

HRW said the authorities needed to either charge or release them immediately. It claimed the length of time the two men had been held incommunicado was a direct violation of their basic rights.

The rights group also called upon both the UK and Canadian authorities to press for consular access to ensure their safety and well-being. l

bodies.

7:00pm - DMP releases pictures of the militants and the rooms they were living in 7:20pm - Doctors say the autopsy would start tomorrow morning after getting the inquest report.

9:07pm - DMP Facebook page publishes images of the killed militants.

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Madhabkunda Ecopark to lose beauty n Syful Islam, Moulvibazar

Madhabkunda Ecopark at the Patharia Hills Reserve forest in Borolekha under Moulvibazar is going to lose beauty due to negligence of the concern authority.

According to local sources, the park was established in 2001 at the western side of the forest comprising an area of about 500 acres.

The area was declared as Ecopark with a view to conserving the Madhabkunda and Parikunda waterfalls and surrounding biodiversity.

The park has a lot of ecological, regional and economical significance.

A section of Khasia tribe lives in the forest villages of this area and is engaged in some agro-economic activities in the forestland. People of this tribal community traditionally grow betel vine, betel nut, cashew nut, pineapple, lemon for their livelihood.

There are many large and small hillocks around the park. Among those ‘Nagini Tila’ is well known.

Shegun, Garjan, Chapalish and many other species of flora along with attractive faunas are found in the park.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has established picnic spots, restaurants and parking facilities near the Eco Park.

Forest department has taken the responsibility from the beginning to save the beuty of the park.

“The leaseholders have violated the agreement. They are not interested to keep the park neat and clean,” said a forest official.

When visited the area recently it was found that the park has lost its greenery. The benhces, where

A joint team comprising personnel of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Detective Branch of police and Armed Police Battalion conducted a 10-hour-long drive in remote char area in Manikganj yesterday and arrested five people in possession of firearms, Jihadi books and anti-government leaflets.

The SP said they were scrutinising involvement of the arrestees with militancy

Madhabkunda Ecopark in Borolekha under Moulvibazar losing beauty due to dumping garbage surrounding it. The picture was taken yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE the tourists sit for relax are covered with dirty things. The electricity lights have been lying inoperative for many days.

Water falls from the cascade is hampered as landslides took place twice.

The tourists are not allowed at the main spot of the casecde due to fear of landslide and lack of safety.

A 100 feet watchtower was estblished beside a temple to enjoy the beauty of the waterfalls. Tk10 is taken from a tourist for it. Many tourists alleged that they had to

pay the money but they could not enjoy the waterfalls of the cascade due to mismanagement.

Indecent languages on the wall of the tower are common incidents which discourage a tourist for visiting the spot.

Locals told the Dhaka Tribune that tourists did not visit the spot like earlier due to the mismanagement.

Hasibul Islam who came from Rajshahi to visit the spot with his family members said : “ I visited the spot in 2008 lastly. I got frustrated as I do not enjoy the visit like before for some reasons this time.”

Bus service in Rajshahi-Natore route suspended n Tribune Desk

Bus service in Rajshahi-Natore route remained suspended since early yesterday over a dispute between Rajshahi and Natore bus owners’ and workers’ associations.

Rajshahi Motor Workers’ Union has enforced the strike and staged a demonstration in the city’s Shiroil bus stand protesting alleged extortion by ruling party lawmaker from Natore-2 Shafiqul Islam Shimul.

Mahtab Hossain Chowdhury, general secretary of the union, said, “Every bus has to pay Tk 50 as extortion at Natore Harishpur Bypus since Shafiqul Islam Shimul elected lawmaker.”

“Besides, no bus can enter Natore from Rajshahi before 12pm and in case, any bus does it, the staffs of the bus are tortured,” he added.

10-hour operation in remote char area, five militants held n Matiur Rahman, Manikganj

“From tomorrow no vehicles, including bus and truck, will ply the whole northern region,” said Mahtab.

However, Shimul denied the allegations against him and said, “Mahtab and Rabi (another leader of the workers’ union) are drug addicted and involved in transport extortion.”

On the other hand, Lakkhan Poddar, president of Natore Bus Owners Association, claimed that Rajshahi Bus Owners Association leaders had stopped running buses, whose owners are from Natore, through the route without any prior notice to realize their demands for paying extra tolls and employing Rajshahi people as staff in the buses.

“When any Natore bus arrives in Rajshahi, it has to pay addition-

al toll to Rajshahi association and also has to employ staff from Rajshahi,” said Lakkhan.

He said this at a press conference in the association office in Kanaikhali area of Natore town yesterday.

The association leaders urged the concerned authorities for taking steps to solve the problem within 48 hours. Otherwise, they would also resist plying of all kinds of vehicles through Natore soon, they threatened.

Mirajul Islam, a Dhaka bound passenger from Rajshahi, said he was supposed to go Dhaka yesterday urgently, but when he came to the bus counter, he came to know about the strike.

Passengers had to suffer a few days before Eid Ul Fitr this year for the same reason. l

Salman Farsi, a student coming from Dhaka said: “ I have come here to enjoy the nature but after seeing the scene of mismanagement I am totally upset.”

Kamrul Muzahid, officer-incharge of Forest department, said : “ I have sent letters to the leaseholders to keep the park clean . They have violated the agreements.”

A S M Abdullah Mamun, UNO of Borolekha, said a monitoring shell should be build to keep the park clean as it is one of the tourist spot.” l

Superintendent of Police, Manikganj Mahfuzur Rahman said five teams of law enforcement agencies conducted the drive that stated around 6am and continued till 4pm.

People who were arrested during the operation are Abul Basar, acting principal of Bhagutia Alia Madrasa, 55, Ishaq Ali, 40, assistant teacher of Kazi Safiuddin Dakhil Madrasa, Md Nazrul Islam, 50, assistant teacher of Amtali Government High School, Shahalam, 45, a trader, and Chaintan, 60, a robber.

The SP said they were scrutinising involvement of the arrestees with militancy.

The police super said they had information that militants were conducting their activities taking shelter in remote char areas, including Baghutia, Jionpur, Charkatari and Bachamara, under Daulatpur upzila of the district. l

10th death anniversary of Novera Deepita today n Tribune Desk Today is the 10th death anniversary of Novera Deepita, a journalist of The Daily Star and a gold-medalist student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dhaka University.

The Novera Deepita Memorial Trust has organised several programmes to mark the day, says a press release.

The programmes include offering prayers at her grave, a milad mahfil at an orphanage and handing over of the “Novera Deepita Memorial Scholarship.”

The student, who secured the highest marks in the BA (Hons) examinations under the Department of Mass Communications and Journalism of the DU, will re-

ceive the scholarship amounting Tk25,OOO, along with a certificate.

The trust has published a book in her memory titled “Novera Nirupoma Deepita Deepannita” in December, 2015. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

(Left) Vehicles plying on flooded Kurigram-Bhurungamari Road. (Center) Thousands of families have become victims of flood in Kurigarm. (Right) The picture taken from Jatrapur in Sadar upazila shows a woman feeds her poultry birds at flooded home, Following the rise of flood waters, Dharola River flowing above danger levels at different points in Lalmonirhat. The workers trying to protect the river bank by placing bamboo poles near Lalmonirhat-Kurigram dyke. All three pictures were taken yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Flood situation keeps deteriorating in the north n Tribune Desk Flood situation in northern region of Bangladesh deteriorated further as water level of Brahmaputra-Jamuna river rose sharply, said a press release of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) yesterday.

According to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, flood situation in Gaibandha, Kurigram, Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Rajbari Faridpur and Shariatpur has deteriorated as major rivers, including Padma, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Korotoa, Teesta and Dharola.

In Gaibandha, flood situation in the district further worsened as the Brahmaputra River was flowing 50cm above its danger mark .

According to the Water Development Board (BWDB), the water level in the Brahmaputra rose by 37cm, the Ghagot 41cm, the Teesta 21cm, and the Karatoa 3cm from Monday evening to yesterday evening.

homeless as their dwellings eroded by the Brahmaputra River.

Acting Deputy Commissioner M Shamsul Azam, however, said the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief had allocated 450 tonnes of rice and Tk6 lakh for flood victims of the four upazilas.

District Education Officer Amirul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that educational activities at 28 schools had remained suspended due to intrusion of flood water.

In Jamalpur, standing crops on 1,040 hectares of land including Aush paddy, T-Aman seed beds, jute and vegetables went under flood water in Islampur, Dewanganj, and Madarganj upzilas, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension.

District primary Education Officer Md Abdul Alim said 159 primary schools in Islampur, Dewanganj, Madarganj, Melandaha and Sarishsbari upazila had been declared close due to flood.

In Faridpur, a vast low-laying ar-

With the rise of water level in the Brahmaputra river, the chars and the river basin areas of Sundarganj, Sadar Fulchhari and Saghata upazilas have been inundated and the standing crops, including jute and vegetables, gone under flood water.

Many erosion and flood victims had taken shelter on the nearby flood control embankment with their belongings, including domestic animals and poultry birds. They are passing their days miserably for want of food and drinking water.

Abdus Salam, chairman of Kamarjani union parishad, Ataur Rahman Sarkar, chairman of Ghuridah union parishad, and Khalil Hossain, chairman of Kanchipara union parishad told the Dhaka Tribune that flood-affected people had come to them for relief, but they could not help them as they were yet to get allocation from authorities concerned.

Joinul Abedin Jalal, chairman of Fazlupur union parishad, said over 400 people had been rendered

Two more arrested for killing child worker Sagar n Tanveer Hossain, Narayanganj Two more accused were arrested yesterday in the district for killing Sagar Barman, inserting air from a compressor through his rectum, a child worker at Zobaida Textiles in Rupganj.

The arrested were Azhar Imam alias Shohel, 38, a senior officer of the textile and lineman Ridoy Mian, 35.

Additional Superientent of Police Naresh Chakma of Rapid Action Battelion (RAB)-11, said Azhar was arrested from the textile at night.

Ridoy was arrested from Murapara area in Jatrabari, said SI Jasimud-

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER LIKELY WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

Dhaka

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One more arrested in Savar n Nadim Hossain, Savar

Rangpur

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Police arrested another alleged accomplice of militant Shafiqul Islam Uzzal from Jamgara area, Ashulia police station, Savar, outskirt of the capital yesterday morning.

The arrested was identified as Amirul Islam, a teacher of Alhaj Abu Taleb Mollah Public School.

Confirming the arrest, Officerin-Charge of Ashulia police station Mohsinul Kadir said Amirul had contact with Uzzal.

Headmaster of Alhaj Abu Taleb Mollah Public School Sagir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that Amirul joined the school on July 17, 2015 Khulna

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:24AM

came marooned due to the flood.

Over fifty thousand families became victims of river erosion.

Brahmaputra River at Chilmari point is flowing over 80cm above the danger level and water level of Dharala River is flowing above 100cm at Sethu point.

Following the rise of flood waters, new areas are being inundated and rivers continue to flow above danger levels at different points.

Road communication between Kurigram and different other areas have been disconnected following the inundation of different roads by flood waters.

Agriculture department said cultivated land on over 5,000 hectors were inundated by flood waters and about one lakh fifty thousand farmers have been affected.

Rahmat Ali, a resident of Kulaghat union parishad, in Lalmonirhat, said: “We do not want government assistance, we want river dredging.” He further said they were facing acute water crisis. l

GULSHAN RESTAURANT ATTACK

after the autopsy. The body has been sent to the morgue,” he told reporters.

Sub Inspector Tanvir Hossain of the Rupganj police station said police had received a report of murder and visited the factory.

“We spoke to the workers but could not get any names. The family is at DMCH and we are in contact with them. Details will be learned after a case is filed,” he said.

Zobaida Textile’s security staff refused to let reporters into the factory.

They said the factory’s senior officers were at the hospital with the victim’s family but refused to give their contact numbers. l

din of Rupganj police station.

According to sources, the 10-yearold boy was killed by inserting air from a compressor through his rectum.

His father, Ratan Barman, who also works at the same factory, told reporters he was informed that someone was pushing air into Sagar’s body. He ran to the scene and found Sagar with a bloated stomach and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

In DMCH, on-duty physician Dr Firoz Ahmed said the child may have died because of air inserted through the rectum.

“We will be able to give you details

eas of three upazilas of this district as the water level of the Padma River is gradually rising which is now flowing above 21 centimeters of danger level.

Two unions Decreer Char and North Channel of Faridpur Sadar, four unions of Char Bhadrasan upazila and three unions of Sadarpur have been affected causing immense misery to the inhabitants of these areas.

Several education institutions have been closed due to submersion. About 40 acres of land with standing jute was devoured in the river on Sunday.

In Sadar upazala about 600 people residing in two unions have become marooned due to submersion.

With continuous rise of water, overall flood situation deteriorated further in Kurigram.

According to the statistics of the district administration, 597 villages of 54 unions in nine upazilas are now under flood waters.

More than 400, 000 people be-

33.7ºC Rajshahi

23.5ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

as an assistant teacher, before that he was a teacher at Madari Madbar Memorial Schhol. “Amirul has remained absent from the school since Eid vacation,” he said.

Earlier, police arrested Milon Hossain, another cohort of Uzzal from Bhodail area, Ashulia in connection with Gulshan restaurant attack on July 16.

Later, he was placed on a fiveday remand. Acting on Milon’s information, police arrested Amirul.

At least 23 people, including two police personnel, were killed in Gulshan attack on July 1. Five militants were also killed during commandos attack on the day. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 4:55am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 6:55pm Esha: 8:45pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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8 World

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Gunmen kill 2 military officials in Pakistan Gunmen on Tuesday killed 2 Pakistan army officials in Karachi, where paramilitary forces have been cracking down on Islamist militants and criminal gangs for almost 3 years. Police said the soldiers, who belonged to an intelligence agency, were patrolling a crowded area of the southern city when their vehicle was attacked.

-REUTERS

Mass-stabbing at disability centre leaves 19 dead in Japan

INDIA

Indian protester to end hunger strike after 16 years

Indian human rights campaigner Irom Sharmila announced Tuesday she will end her 16-year long hunger strike to focus on contesting upcoming elections in the country’s remote, underdeveloped northeast. Sharmila, known as the Iron Lady of Manipur for her unwavering and nonviolent protest against rights abuses in the region, said she would break her fast on August 9.

-AFP

CHINA

China joins UN trucking treaty China has taken a major step towards establishing a speedy new Silk Road to Europe by signing up to a UN trucking treaty. China is hoping a revival of its ancient trading corridor to the west will help boost its slowing economy.

China’s new Silk Road to Europe includes countries in Central Asia as well as Russia and Turkey, and potential maritime links to the Gulf and East Africa.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

North Korea: Nuclear tests depends on US North Korea’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that its conducting of more nuclear tests depended on the behavior of the US. The minister, Ri Yong Ho, said, however, that the US had destroyed the possibility of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

UN aims for new Syria talks in August United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said Tuesday he hopes peace talks to end more than 5 years of brutal conflict in the country can resume late next month.

The Geneva meeting with US Syria envoy Michael Ratney and deputy Russia foreign minister Gennady Gatilov came hours after higher level talks on the sidelines of an Asia summit in Laos.

-AFP

A police officer is seen in a facility for the disabled, where a knife-wielding man attacked, in Sagamihara

n Reuters, Sagamihara, Japan A knife-wielding man broke into a facility for the disabled in a small town near Tokyo early on Tuesday and killed 19 patients as they slept, authorities said, Japan’s worst mass killing since World War Two. At least 25 other residents were wounded in the attack at the Tsukui Yamayuri-En facility for mentally and physically disabled in Sagamihara town, about 40km southwest of Tokyo.

“This is a very heart-wrenching and shocking incident in which many innocent people became victims,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later told a gathering in Tokyo: “The lives of many innocent people were taken away and I am greatly shocked. We will make every effort to discover the facts and prevent a reoccurance.”

The suspect was a 26-year-old former employee of the facility who gave himself up to police. The man, Satoshi Uematsu, said in letters he wrote in February that he could “obliterate 470 disabled people”, Kyodo news agency reported.

He said he would kill 260 severely disabled people at two areas in the facility during a night shift, and would not hurt employees.

“My goal is a world in which

the severely disabled can be euthanised, with their guardians’ consent, if they are unable to live at home and be active in society,” Uematsu wrote in the two letters given to the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Kyodo reported.

Uematsu was committed to hospital after he expressed a “willingness to kill severely disabled people”, an official in Sagamihara told Reuters. He was freed on March 2 after a doctor deemed he had improved, the official said.

Uematsu lived near the facility, and a neighbour described him as a polite, young man who always greeted him with a smile.

“It would be easier to understand if there had been a warning but there were no signs,” said Akihiro Hasegawa, 73. “We didn’t know the darkness of his heart.”

The suspect apparently began changing about five months ago, said Yuji Kuroiwa, the governor of Kanagawa prefecture, where the facility is located.

“You could say there were warning signs, but it’s difficult to say if this could have been prevented,” he told reporters.

“This was not an impulsive crime ... He went in the dark of the night, opened one door at a time, and stabbed sleeping people one by one,” Kuroiwa said. “I just can’t

believe the cruelty of this crime.

We need to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Staff at the facility called police with reports of a man armed with a knife on the grounds, media reports said. The man wore a black T-shirt and trousers, the reports said.

The 3-hectare facility was established by the local government. Surrounded by tree-covered mountains and on the banks of the Sagami River, it cares for people with a wide range of disabilities.

The facility’s website said the centre had a maximum capacity of 160 people, including staff.

It makes you weep

Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and residents of Sagamihara said they were in shock. The last murder in the area was 10 years ago.

“This is a peaceful, quiet town so I never thought such an incident would happen here,” said Oshikazu Shimo, one of many residents of the town who gathered near the facility.

Taxi driver Susumu Fujimura said of the attacker: “He said ‘we should get rid of disabled people’ but he’s the worthless one.”

That kind of person can’t defend themselves,” Fujimura said, referring to the victims. “That’s why so many died. It makes you

REUTERS

weep to think of somebody just murdering them.”

The dead ranged in age from 19 to 70 and included nine males and 10 females, Kyodo said.

Police had recovered a bag with several knives, at least one stained with blood, a Kanagawa prefecture official said.

At least 29 emergency squads responded to the attack, Kyodo reported, with those wounded taken to at least six hospitals in the western Tokyo area.

Such mass killings are extremely rare in Japan and typically involve stabbings. Japan has strict gun laws and possession of firearms by the public is rare.

Eight children were stabbed to death at their school in Osaka by a former janitor in 2001. Seven people died in 2008 when a man drove a truck into a crowd and began stabbing people in Tokyo’s popular electronics and “anime” district of Akihabara.

A revision to Japan’s Swords and Firearms Control Law was introduced in 2009 in the wake of that attack, banning the possession of double-edged knives and further tightening gun-ownership rules.

Members of a doomsday cult killed 12 people and made thousands ill in 1995 in simultaneous attacks with sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo rush-hour subway trains. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Democrats set to nominate Clinton n Reuters, Philadelphia Hillary Clinton was set to become the first woman presidential nominee of a major US party on Tuesday, a historic moment that Democrats hope will help eclipse rancor between supporters of Clinton and her rival in the primary contests, Bernie Sanders.

The party will make its nomination on the second day of a convention that began on Monday with anti-Clinton feeling among die-hard Sanders supporters on full and vocal display.

Sanders, one of the main speakers on the first evening, portrayed Clinton as a fellow soldier in his fight for economic equality, but some of his supporters booed the mere mention of her name.

He and the other main speakers on Monday, liberal favourite US Senator Elizabeth Warren and first lady Michelle Obama, offered stirring endorsements of Clinton as the party tried to push through the discord and find a common goal in beating Republican Donald Trump in the November 8 election.

The furore in Philadelphia was a setback to Democrats’ hopes that their convention would contrast with Trump’s sometimes chaotic White House campaign and show the party moving beyond the bruising primary battle between Sanders, 74, a US senator from Vermont, and former Secretary of State Clinton, 68.

Supporters see Clinton’s Washington credentials - she has also been a first lady and a US senator as showing she has the experience needed for the White House. De-

HILLARY CLINTON 26 October 1947 Born Chicago (Illinois) 1969 Yale Law School, meets Bill Clinton 1974-75 Completes her doctorate, becomes a lawyer at the Children’s Defense Fund 1975 Marries Bill Clinton 1980 Birth of her only child, Chelsea 1993-2001 US first lady 2001-2009Senator for New York 2002Votes in favour of the war in Iraq Aug 2008 Loses Democratic nomination to Barack Obama

Age 68

2009-2013Secretary of State 11 September 2012 US diplomatic compound in Libya is attacked Criticised for her management of security Mars 2015 Controversy over her use of a private email server while secretary of state April 2015 Announces her candidacy for the Democratic presidential primaries

June 2016 Wins the presidential nomination

28 July 2016 Set to be officially selected as the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate tractors view her as too cozy with the establishment, and with political baggage dating back to the start of her husband’s first term in 1993.

The convention’s second day is aimed at highlighting Clinton’s work on issues such as women, families and healthcare and as the country’s top diplomat, a Clinton campaign official said.

It will include a prime-time speech by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the formalities of nominating Clinton to be the first woman US president.

In a show-stealing speech on Monday night, Michelle Obama linked that landmark to her own husband’s role as the first black US president.

We want Bernie

Sanders, who drew a fervent following of youth and liberals during a primary campaign that called for a tough hand on Wall Street and more aggressive steps to counter social inequality, struggled on Monday to get his own supporters in line.

At a meeting before the convention began, he was jeered by his own delegates when he urged them to back Clinton and focus on defeating Trump, a man he called a “bully and a demagogue.”

“We want Bernie!” they shouted in anger at both Clinton’s victory in the race for the Democratic nomination and emails leaked on Friday suggesting the party lead-

ership had tried to sabotage Sanders’ insurgent campaign.

Trump revelled in the Democrats’ opening day disorder, and made a pitch for Sanders voters to turn to him.

A Clinton campaign official noted on Tuesday that while Sanders had backed Clinton, the runner-up in the Republican primary contest, US Senator Ted Cruz, refused to endorse Trump at his party’s convention last week.

The DNC issued an apology on Monday to Sanders, his supporters, and the whole party for the email flap and said it would take action to ensure it never happens again. l

Car bombs hit UN peacekeeping base in Somalia, 13 dead n Tribune International Desk Two suicide bombers detonated explosives-laden cars on Tuesday outside the offices of the UN’s mine clearing agency and a Somali army checkpoint in Mogadishu, killing 13 people, including seven guards, Somali police officials said.

The two blasts took place near the African Union base in the area of the Mogadishu airport, Somali police chief Genarel Mohamed Sheikh Hassan said at a press conference.

Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to the group’s Andalus radio station.

Unlike previous attacks by alShabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, gunmen did not accompany the suicide bomber, said police Capt. Mohamed Hussein. The first

suicide car bomber tried to speed through the barrier at the UN office but guards shot at the car, he said. The guards at the UN offices were from a private security firm, said a police official, who insisted on anonymity because he isn’t authorized to speak to the press.

A second suicide blast targeted a checkpoint manned by Somali security forces near the African Union base in Mogadishu, said Hussein.

Casualties there remain unclear.

Al-Shabab is waging an insurgency against Somalia’s weak UNbacked government with the goal of establishing an Islamic emirate in Somalia, ruled by a strict form of Islam.

Earlier this month, eight soldiers were killed when an alShabab suicide car bomber targeted a Somalia military training

DT

World USA

US looking at more counter-terrorism cooperation with China The US is looking at ways to increase counter-terrorism cooperation with China, including information exchanges and helping bring stability to places like Iraq. Speaking to reporters on a conference call, a senior US administration official said at the end of a visit to China by US National Security Adviser Susan Rice the threat of terrorism had been discussed in some detail. -REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Colombia declares its Zika epidemic over Colombia declared Monday its Zika epidemic is over, but warned that the mosquito-borne virus, which is blamed for causing brain damage in babies, would continue circulating on a smaller scale. Colombia has been the second hardest-hit country by the disease after Brazil, with nearly 100,000 cases and at least 21 babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads.

-AFP

UK

Judge hears Corbyn ballot challenge A legal challenge to Jeremy Corbyn’s right to automatically stand in the Labour leadership contest is being heard at the High Court in London. Donor and former candidate Michael Foster is contesting Labour’s decision to allow Mr Corbyn on to the ballot paper without having to secure nominations from 50 other MPs and MEPs. -REUTERS

EUROPE

Russia, Turkey reach decision on TurkStream, nuclear power plant A political decision has been taken to continue work on the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey. A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, due to take place in Siant Petersburg on August 9, is set to give the final impetus to TurkStream, Zeybekci.

-REUTERS

AFRICA

South Sudan president replaces rival as VP A UN peacekeepers’ armoured personnel carrier is seen near the African Union’s main peacekeeping base in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 26 REUTERS camp and attackers then entered the base on foot.

More than 22,000 troops and police serve in the African Union force, which also includes troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. AlShabab opposes the presence of

foreign troops in Somalia and has launched attacks in countries that have contributed to the AU force.

Although al-Shabab was ousted from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in 2011, it continues to wage a deadly guerilla campaign that includes suicide bombings. l

South Sudan’s president on Tuesday replaced his deputy and opposition leader Riek Machar, who fled into hiding this month amid renewed clashes with government forces. The move threatens an already fragile peace deal in a country ravaged by civil war. The appointment raises fears of more fighting because most opposition generals and militia remain loyal to Machar.

-AP

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

INSIGHT

From Beirut to Baghdad, fake bomb detectors guard against disaster n Reuters, Beirut/Baghdad At a checkpoint in central Beirut, a guard checks a small truck for explosives. He is manning the last security barrier before Lebanon’s parliament building 100 metres away, and relying on a bomb detector that experts say is useless.

Holding the device, a swivelling telescopic antenna mounted on a black plastic handgrip, the plainclothes guard walks by the side of the truck. It does not respond, and the truck is allowed to pass.

At the nearby marina where millionaires’ yachts are moored by the glistening Mediterranean Sea, and at entrances to the underground parking of an upmarket shopping mall, the same bomb detectors are used.

They have been a familiar sight at checkpoints across the Middle East for about a decade, acquired for thousands of dollars apiece by authorities desperate to contain deadly waves of bomb attacks.

But the devices - which have even been sold to UN peacekeepers - have been condemned by forensic specialists as a dangerous waste of money, based on bogus science.

Marketed under names such as ADE651, GT200 and Alpha, they are supposed to respond to the presence of explosives, causing their metal antenna to swivel on a hinge towards the material.

Britain imposed export bans on ADE651 and GT200 detectors in 2010, warning they were fake, and the British businessmen who made millions of pounds by manufacturing and selling them around the world were subsequently sentenced to jail.

Yet is was only this month that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi - whose country bought hundreds of ADE651 devices eight years ago - ordered his security services to stop using them, after a huge truck bomb killed 292 people in Baghdad.

And devices of a similar design were seen by Reuters correspondents being used at checkpoints in countries including Lebanon, Syria and Egypt in recent weeks or months.

Scientist Dennis McAuley said he examined a device of a similar design to the ADE651 and GT200 when he worked at Northern Ireland’s Forensic Science Laboratory. He took it apart to see how it worked.

“There is no scientific basis to it. It’s a complete fraud,” he told Reuters. “If authorities are putting any reliance on this to detect explosives, it’s ludicrous. It’s unbelievable they are still using this.”

Objects with no value

In Egypt, a soldier was seen using one of the wand-like devices this month at a checkpoint in Ras Sidr, checking cars waiting to pass through a tunnel in Sinai. The equipment was used in conjunction with thorough searches of the vehicles.

Egyptian military spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said any equipment bought by Egypt “is subject to specific standards and is tested before the contracts are signed”.

In the Syrian capital Damascus, frequently targeted by rebel and jihadist bombings during Syria’s fiveyear-old conflict, guards outside a hotel and a government complex were seen carrying similar-looking devices in April.

In Beirut, where twin suicide bombings killed 44 people in November, officials declined to comment about the detectors, although guards in the city who were using them this week said they were effective. One said he discovered a concealed package in a car, but did not say whether it contained explosives.

While specific devices seen by Reuters correspondents in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt could not be individually identified, they were of a similar design to the ADE651 and GT200 detectors which Britain imposed export bans on.

Dan Kaszeta, managing director of London-based security consultancy Strongpoint Security, and a graduate of the US military’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal school, said no device could work based on the concept of an aerial swivelling in response to traces of explosives it detects.

“Given the state of current technology there is nothing that is in hand-held use that remotely detects explosives with any degree of accuracy or specificity. It just does not exist.”

McAuley, the forensic scientist, also said any device based on the swivelling detecting antenna principle - which he compared to rods used for water divining - was fraudulent.

Some customers who bought such detectors never used them.

Several years ago, peacekeepers with the United Nations’ UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon purchased some ADE651s but quickly found they were a waste of money.

“We had purchased four of these devices and none of them were working. They were objects with no value,” said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti.

The British businessman whose

THE FAKE BOMB DETECTORS

The ADE-651

(supposedly shorthand for Advanced Detection Equipment) was sold to Iraq, Niger and other Middle Eastern countries by Somerset-based businessman, James McCormick, who is now serving 10 years in jail. The Iraqis spent $85m on the devices at around $8,034 a time.

Some sold for as much as $40,178.

The GT200 “remote substance detector”, sold by Gary Bolton mainly in Mexico, Thai-

land, the Middle East and Africa. The device retailed at $8,034 but the highest price it achieved was $803,000. Bolton was sentenced to seven years.

The Alpha 6

manufactured by Samuel and Joan Tree and sold to Egypt, Thailand, Mexico and Middle East, usually at $3,213 per device. The highest sale price was $24,906. Tree was given three and a half years behind bars while his wife was ordered to do 300 hours unpaid community work. company made and sold ADE651 devices, Jim McCormick, was jailed in 2013, three years after Britain banned export of the devices to Iraq or Afghanistan where its soldiers were deployed.

The judge sentencing him said his device was modelled on “failed American manufactured golf ball detectors” and cost less than $50 to make. McCormick sold 7,000 of the devices for $2,500-$30,000 each, with one invoice showing sales worth $38m to Iraq over a period of three years, the judge said.

The judge added McCormick’s fraudulent conduct helped create a false sense of security and probably contributed to deaths of many innocent people.

The businessman behind the GT200 devices, Gary Bolton, was convicted of fraud and sentenced to jail in 2013.

Mexico bought hundreds of the devices. After Bolton’s conviction, a Mexican interior ministry official said the devices were no longer in use.

It serves as scarecrow

In Iraq, even after Abadi’s decree, the ADE651 detectors were still in evidence in Salahuddin and Diyala provinces, north of Baghdad.

One police major in Salahuddin said his force had not received written orders to stop using it. Another, in Diyala, said his men had tested the device themselves by stashing a handgun and a grenade one of their vehicles.

The device did not detect them.

Police captain Raad Shallal, manning a checkpoint near the town of Khalis in Diyala province said he knew the detector was useless.

“It serves as a scarecrow, more than a real bomb detector,” he added, standing close to a colleague who was checking vehicles with one of the devices.

That theory, that they might deter bombers even if they cannot detect bombs, was lampooned on Iraqi television by satirist Ahmed al-Basheer.

“So it’s a scarecrow,” he said.

“This is the right thing to do, use a device that the entire globe knows is not working in order to scare terrorists who live on the same globe we’re on.”

Basheer’s programme broadcast footage from several politicians and officials defending the equipment including Nuri al-Maliki, the former prime minister whose government ordered the devices. He said the first batches worked but subsequent fake deliveries did not.

When ordering the withdrawal of the detectors on July 3, after the truck bombing, Prime Minister Abadi also announced a reopening of an investigation into the “corrupt contracts” involved in the purchase of the devices.

Iraq’s judiciary spokesman, Judge Abdul Sattar al-Bayraqdar, said an Iraqi general and several officers were currently in jail, having been convicted of multiple accounts of corruption related to the import of the detectors. l

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12 Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

TOP STORIES

Government to upgrade jute mills to boost production The government has undertaken a move to modernise the decades-old 24 state-owned jute mills for producing diversified jute goods. Under the project titled Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) of Public Sector Mills, primarily three jute mills will be upgraded at an estimated cost of US$340m under the Chinese assistance.

PAGE 13

Muhith: Treasury buildings to be renovated Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the treasury buildings will be renovated or newly constructed across the country.

PAGE 13

Business community stunned over DBCCI president’s death

Expressing concern and deep shock at the unnatural death of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) president Hasan Khaled, business people said they are worried over their own security.

PAGE 14

Capital market snapshot: Tuesday DSE Broad Index

4,550.2

Index

1,116.6

0.1% ▲

30 Index

1,777.8

-0.0% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

4,481.6

13.4% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

101.8

16.8% ▲

0.0% ▲

CSE All Share Index 14,006.7 30 Index Selected Index

12,877.8

0.1% ▲ -0.0% ▼

8,524.6

0.1% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

292.3

47.6% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

8.6

38.1% ▲

New monetary policy eyes to pick up credit growth n Jebun Nesa Alo Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir has announced the Monetary Policy Stance (MPS) for July-December of the current fiscal year with a focus on private sector credit growth to achieve higher economic growth.

After years of sluggish credit growth, the central bank believes a pick-up in credit offtake due to prevailing political stability and restoring confidence.

The new monetary policy was unveiled at a function held at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters in the city yesterday.

This was the first monetary policy, which Kabir termed as “cautiously accommodative,” after he joined the bank as governor in March, this year.

Private sector credit is projected to grow by 16.6% by December and 16.5% by June of FY17.

The demand for credit by the private sector was expected to go beyond the ceiling, as credit growth is on the rise, said the governor.

Private sector credit grew by 16.4% as of May, whereas the target up to June was set at 14.8% in the last monetary policy.

The credit space would be revised in December following its demand, he added.

“Credit growth is picking up due to the prevailing political stability and restoring confidence among the businessmen,” said SK Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of

KEY THINGS TO WATCH OUT n Repo rate and reserve repo rate unchanged at 6.75% and 4.75% n Broad money growth set at 15.5 % n Private sector credit growth target at 16.5% n Public investment growth at 15.9% n Forecasts economic growth at 7.2% n Inflation target kept at 5.8%

Bangladesh Bank.

He also admitted that consumer financing was rising as central bank had relaxed its monitoring on this long segment to accelerate credit growth.

In response to a quarry, Chief Economist of BB Biru Paksha Paul said: “Inflation is expected to be downward as global market is favorable for us. Oil price fall and lower trend of commodity price in global market will keep our inflation downward.”

Bangladesh Bank will put more efforts on the supervision, so the credit does not flow to the risky sectors, said BB governor Fazle Kabir.

He also warned that farm loans will be under strict monitoring by the central bank to ensure adequate credit flow to agriculture sector.

GDP growth and CPI inflation targets are set at 7.2% and 5.8% respectively in the latest monetary policy.

Credit from foreign source at low interest rates will also remain open for businessmen, said Kabir.

WHAT FARASHUDDIN SAID The central bank showed liberal in credit flow coming out from contradictory policy stance Increasing money supply does not necessarily put pressure on inflation Despite growing militancy is a major concern at this moment in Bangladesh, the bank did not talk about anything in the MPS on how to face the risk of militant activities.

However, Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, deputy governor of BB, said: “Militancy is a global concern.”

“There is no need to cite it in monetary policy. However, we will remain cautious about curbing its impact on economic growth,” he explained.

Regarding stable exchange rates, Change Management Advisor Allah Malik Kazemi explained that central bank withholding appreciation of local currency to facilitate remittance inflow.

“Though some exporters are claiming that they are affected by

the depreciation of taka, the central bank believes that they are well compensated by the low cost loan.”

Mohammed Farashuddin, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, appreciated the latest monetary policy announced by Bangladesh Bank, terming it “moderate expansionary” policy.

He said central bank showed liberal in credit flow coming out from contradictory policy stance.

“Increasing money supply does not necessarily put pressure on inflation”, said seasoned economist.

He, however, suggested for increasing output from investment which will keep inflation cool. He also recommended that fiscal policy, monetary policy and exchange policy-all should be well co-ordinated by the co-ordinate council to make this policy effective. l

BB: Entire heist money is possible to recover n Jebun Nesa Alo

The central bank will recover its US$81 million heist fund from Philippine.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir came up with the disclosure while announcing the half-yearly monetary policy at a programme held at Bangladesh Bank headquarters in the city yesterday.

In one of the biggest cyber heists in history, hackers stole $81 million from the Bangladesh Bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 4.

“Philippine central bank has been conducting a massive investigation over the reserve heist which is now at the last stage. RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) is likely to be liable for the digital heist in

the report. Then, AMCL (Anti Money Laundering Council) will take action against RCBC following the investigation report. If AMCL can properly liable the RCBC, Bangladesh Bank will get back the full amount of stolen money,” said Kabir.

He said: “We are in touch with the governor of Philippine central bank over the issue. AMCL has already identified some individuals who are involved with this heist and ceased their assets. Bangladesh Bank will soon get $15.25m through AMCL. We will get back the rest of the money after completion of the investigation that is underway by the central bank of Philippine.”

On February 4, unknown hackers used SWIFT credentials of Bangladesh Central Bank employees to send more than three dozen fraudu-

lent money transfer requests to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York asking the bank to transfer millions of the Bangladesh Bank’s funds to bank accounts in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia.

The hackers managed to get $81 million sent to RCBC in the Philippines via four different transfer requests and an additional $20 million sent to Pan Asia Banking in a single request. l

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BPO summit begins tomorrow n Tribune Business Desk

The production will be increased to 2,75,500 metric tonnes high quality traditional and multipurpose jute goods annually after upgrading three mills

COURTESY

Government to upgrade jute mills to boost production n Tribune Business Desk The government has undertaken a move to modernise the decades-old 24 state-owned jute mills for producing diversified jute goods.

Under the project titled Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) of Public Sector Mills, primarily three jute mills will be upgraded at an estimated cost of US$340m under the

Chinese assistance.

If the project is implemented under the supervision of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), the production will be increased to 2,75,500 metric tonnes high quality traditional and multipurpose jute goods annually.

Products like dash boards, doors, windows and seats of the expensive vehicles, which are now in high demand of car manufac-

turers, will be produced, using the jute goods.

To this effect, Vice President of China Textile Industrial Corporation for Foreign Economic and Technical Cooperation Fang Eei and BJMC Chàirman major general (retd) Humayun Khaled signed a MoU on behalf of their respective organisations at the secretariat yesterday. State minister for jute Miza Azam also attended the meeting.

According to the BJMC, currently it has 26 mills, which are 60 to 70 years old. Of which, 24 mills, which is now in operation, are annually producing 2,08,642 metric tones jute goods from their original annual production capacity of 3,45,000 metric tones.

BJMC officials said the production capacity of those decades-old mills came down to between 50% and 100%. l

A two-day 2nd Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) summit begins tomorrow at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in the city.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT advisor to the Prime Minister, is scheduled to inaugurate the summit which is being jointly organised by the ICT Division of the government and Bangladesh Association of Call Center and Outsourcing (BACCO).

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT Division, came up with this disclosure at press conference held at his office at Agargaon in the city yesterday.

The press conference was attended, among others, by Shyam Sunder Sikder, secretary to the ICT Division, Ahmadul Haque, president of BACCO, Tauhid Hossain, general secretary of BACCO. Addressing the press conference, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said: “Progress of BPO business is satisfactory while its current business value is around US$180 million dollar while Bangladesh wants to reach the target of $1 billion by 2021.”

A total of 12 seminars and a workshop will be held in the sideline of the summit. Experts from home and abroad will attend the programmes. l

Centre for IT start-ups Muhith: Treasury buildings to n Ishtiaq Husain

The government’s ICT Division and private mobile phone operator Banglalink have jointly created an “IT Incubation Centre” to promote IT sector start-ups established by young entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy will formally inaugurate the centre today.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union Houlin Zhao and Managing Director and CEO of Banglalink Erik Aas will also be present at the launching ceremony at the Software Technology Park (Janata Tower) in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Officials said the centre will support the youths in executing their innovations seamlessly and help the young entrepreneurs earn expertise in the ICT sector.

ICT industry people said the centre will also help to create over 100,000 jobs in the country’s ICT industry over the next 10 years and help to earn foreign currencies as well.

Officials said each start-up has the credentials and unique innovations which will help build a sustainable future along with a suc-

cessful Digital Bangladesh.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy hopes that the revolutionary project start-ups might result in an industrious future.

In February, ICT Division and Banglalink also launched an event to select top 10 start-ups Bangladesh.

After an extensive process 50 start-ups were selected as finalists in the competition. After a scrutinised procedure 10 start-ups from 50 were finally selected.

Officials said with the support of the government, Banglalink has come forward as the incubation and telecom partner. Other partners of this initiative are Fenox Venture Capital, GAP and Kizki.

The 10 winning start-ups will get complete sponsorship for one year.

Of 50 finalists, top 10 will be given a free office space along with dedicated mentor-ship. The rest of the finalists will be provided with a co-working office space for three months including the accelerator support.

Overall, the winning start-ups would be benefited with necessary supports for their development to represent themselves both locally and globally, said officials. l

be renovated n Tribune Business Desk Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the treasury buildings will be renovated or newly constructed across the country.

He said the treasury buildings in different districts are now in dilapidated state and need repairs or replacement.

While talking to reporters after the deputy commissioners’ conference at the secretariat in Dhaka yesterday, Muhith said initiative will be taken in coordination with public administration ministry to implement the project.

Finance minister also said the government was also trying to solve housing problem of the public servants and reviewing the steps taken by foreign governments on the matter.

He said lack of coordination among offices was one of major problems in implementing development projects.

The meeting sources said the DCs had requested the ministers to prevent ruling party men from

Finance Minister AMA Muhith taking tenders of development projects in their favour by forcefully foiling the whole process.

Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal was also present at the conference. He said the DCs had been requested to take measures to disburse farm loans from banks instead of NGOs due to rise in interest rate.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Finance minister assured that the agriculture loans would be disbursed through agent banking when there is no bank branches.

Planning Minister said the DCs were also asked enhance security in government buildings and banks because of threats of terror attacks across the country. l

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Oil prices edge up but supply glut woes return n AFP, Singapore Oil prices edged up slightly in Asia yesterday after tumbling more than two percent the day before, while a weaker dollar also provided support, although fears about a global supply glut are returning to the fore.

After topping $50 a barrel early last month on the back of output disruptions, the cost of crude has tumbled about 15% in recent weeks as the crucial US holiday driving season comes to an end and global demand remains weak.

Traders have been spooked since last week when the US Energy Information Administration said US inventories had fallen less than expected, and that petrol supplies had risen, despite it being peak season for demand in the country.

An increase in the number of rigs coming online - meaning more production - has also dented prices. l

Business community stunned over DBCCI president’s death n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Expressing concern and deep shock at the unnatural death of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) president Hasan Khaled, business people said they are worried over their own security.

President of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) Md Hasan Khaled had been missing since last Saturday morning.

On Tuesday, policy recovered the body of Hassan from Buriganga riverside in Keraniganj on the outskirt of the capital.

“The death of Dutch-Bangla Chamber president is an untoward

incident for the country which indicates insecure environment,” former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune.

People setting out for business and not returning home alive suggest a wrong signal to the business community as well as the countrymen, he said.

The government should take steps so that this type of incident does not happen further, added Nasir.

It is a shocking incident, which worries people especially those involved in business organisation, Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) president Abdus Salam Murshedy told the Dhaka Tribune.

“I think the government is more cautious about the business peo-

Renewed oil weakness sparks demand fears

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices REUTERS

n Reuters, New York US oil prices topped $50 a barrel in June, boosting optimism a two-year price rout might end. Six weeks later, the long hoped for recovery has yet to take hold.

Mounting fears that demand has fallen short of expectations as production increases and rig counts rise has analysts believing that any oil price recovery may be a year or more in the future.

The demand response has been slower than bulls had hoped. US drivers have covered fewer miles than expected this summer, and as they speed toward the Labor Day holiday in September, the overhang of gasoline in

storage may put downward pressure on crude and refined product prices.

“Right now, the only thing that would drive prices higher is robust demand,” said John Paisie, executive vice president at Stratas Energy Advisors, a Houston-based consultancy. The growth must be across the board, for products including distillates like diesel and jet fuel, as well as gasoline.

“Demand just can’t be made up by one product,” he said, and demand for diesel has been lagging.

Instead of seeing $60 a barrel, which would support an increase in production, the demand questions, and ongoing supply concerns, mean oil could fall further.

US crude settled at $43.13 on Monday, after earlier hitting a three-month low.

“Demand is growing very moderately,” said veteran oil economist and independent consultant Phil Verleger.

“There’s no real surge to it call it the great moderation.”

While gasoline prices have declined, the lower cost at the pump has only a moderate effect on consumer’s buying habits, Verleger said. Instead of racing out to fill their tanks, consumers are using the savings to pay down debt, he said.

The US Department of Energy has trimmed its outlook for gasoline demand growth for the remainder of the year, and now forecasts growth of 160,000 bpd, compared with 220,000 bpd previously.

Gasoline demand data often lags by two months or more, but as figures for the beginning of this year’s summer driving season have been released, analysts have trimmed their outlook for 2016 growth. US drivers logged two percent more miles in May than a year earlier, compared with 2.2% in April, according to the US Department of Transportation.

US gasoline demand rose by a modest 0.8% in April according to the Department of Energy. May data is due out on Friday. l

ple’s security, which needs to be more tightened.”

It is a problem for the country and a consensus needs to be reached to overcome the crisis, he suggested.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in its statement has condemned the unnatural death of Md Hasan Khaled and offered condolence for the bereaved family.

The apex trade body of the country urged the law enforcement agencies to take immediate measures to arrest the culprits involved in the incident.

They also demanded exemplary punishment to the killer. l

Banks allowed to rent office for maximum 20 years n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Bank has relaxed its business centre establishment guideline allowing all scheduled banks to take office on rent for a maximum period of 20 years.

Banks can take building, floor space on rent or lease them for 20 years in case of a long-time agreement, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

Earlier, banks could take office on rent for highest 10 years.

Bangladesh Bank relaxed the guideline, considering cost effectiveness and other facilities, said the circular.

The central bank also increased the allowable floor space to 6,000 square feet for branches in urban and 3,000 square feet in rural areas from 5,000 square feet and 2,000 square feet respectively. l

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Interview

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Woman with wanderlust A look into the incredible life of journalist-explorer Sarah Begum

Your favourite lyrics of all time?

The world as I see it by Jason Mraz.

It goes: “The world as I see it, is a remarkable place A beautiful house in a forest, of stars in outer space From a birds eye view, I can see it has a well-rounded personality From a birds eye view, I can see we are family.”

n Saudia Afrin Sarah Begum’s tale is one of triumph – of a striking young women who has achieved great heights at a young age through her dedication and passion for her work. She is part of the Royal Geographical Society, an investigative journalist, an anthropologist-explorer, a filmmaker, a speaker and an activist. Throughout her journey across the world, she has intimately explored the lives of different indigenous tribes and worked on documentaries. This included venturing into the depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest in 2010, thus fulfilling her childhood dream. She has also visited the Berber tribe of Ourika Valley in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco on one of her expeditions.

Her nature of work involves studying ethnic groups and investigating current affairs.

Sarah has immersed herself in the analysis of the impacts of oil exploitation in the Ecuadorian lands. To raise awareness and help the local tribes protect their land, she married a warrior of the Huaorani tribe. This investigation was turned into a film titled Amazon Souls, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013.

Her latest endeavour is called Life In the Darien Gap, where she aims to dig out “undiscovered” petroglyph in the area. For this cause, she has won the “Spirit of Adventure Award” from the Captain Scott Society in 2014.

Despite her busy schedule, Sarah took some time out to talk to Dhaka Tribune about her likes, habits and passion for life.

How do you start your day?

Prayers and something inspirational - like a quote or talk, and exercise if I have time.

What are you most excited about these days?

Making the world a better place and the development of new technologies and methods enabling that to happen.

The most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?

Probably surviving Caracas - the murder capital of the world!

What is the happiest colour for you?

Green. My mum wears it a lot and it reminds me of nature.

The best thing about your family?

We all look adopted. We are all different, except the twins. The best thing is when we are all in the

What’s the best way to relax?

Watch a really good film with someone you love.

Favourite band of all time?

Red Hot Chilli Peppers/ Beatles The movie that inspired you to work in this field?

The Godfather Favourite food?

Anything that has coconut in it

“The world as I see it, is a remarkable place A beautiful house in a forest, of stars in outer space From a birds eye view, I can see it has a well-rounded personality From a birds eye view, I can see we are family.” same room and don’t argue. I love my niece and nephew very much.

The biggest surprise or shock you ever got?

Bungee jumping by accident.

The best feedback you’ve ever received for your work?

A tweet by Bear Grylls after he watched my documentary.

If you could switch lives with a person for a day, who would you choose?

Richard Branson.

If there’s one thing missing in your life, what is it?

My dad, who passed away from lung cancer a few years ago.

What’s one thing you always carry with you?

My phone.

Is there anything you wish you had?

A spaceship One quality of yours that people underestimate?

That I’m a woman.

One question you wish people would stop asking you?

Are you still married to the Amazon warrior?

If you had one superpower what would it be?

To save lives with the power of my mind.

One bad habit of yours you wish you could change?

Giving into temptation when I’m hungry The first thing you notice about a person?

Their aura and energy Your absolute biggest phobia?

Snakes. I hate snakes!

When you felt most nervous?

Walking through the most dangerous slums in Latin America.

Favourite app?

Google Maps The cutest thing on earth?

Babies and kittens Favourite book?

The Godfather (Mario Puzo) Favourite ancient civilization?

Egyptians and Mayans Favourite animal?

White tiger Favourite season?

Autumn One thing you still have from your childhood?

First ever textile piece I made in art class One trend you hope doesn’t exist in the next few years?

Quick Facts Sarah Begum made a film on the Amazon at the age of 21, making her the youngest filmmaker to do this work.

In 2014, Sarah partnered with Russ Malkin and created a platform to connect, share, empower and encourage women to set up The Adventures Club.

Sarah is a public speaker and trains in martial arts.

Combining the idea of adventure, art, science, space and new technology, she created, “Adventurion 3D-360,″ which was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the first ever adventure themed 3D UV chroma depth body paint to be captured on both linear and 360 camera lens, representing the past, present and future of exploration.

Stupid haircuts The best part about being a female?

We have powers How do you spend your weekends?

Depends; relax, recover, family, food, rest and ticking something off my to do list.

If you could meet one historical figure who would it be? the Prophet Muhammad What is your favourite sport to watch?

Martial arts What do you hope to be doing next year?

Living and breathing my dreams whilst making a difference around the world. l

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Interview

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Tagore through the generations Farhin Khan Joyita talks about her latest musical creations

nFeatures Desk When you look at her musical background and experience, it’s no surprise that Farhin Khan Joyita has released her latest album comprising completely of songs from the great Rabindranath Tagore. Daughter of renowned musician Mita Haq and actordirector Khaled Khan, Joyita grew up with the creative influences of both her parents, and went on to combine that with her own musical talents to create a new album titled Koto Madhusomire.

The product of almost two years of hard work and innovation, the album contains eight songs, which were arranged by Partho Pal and recorded in Kolkata. This week, Joyita sits down with Dhaka Tribune to discuss her latest creative endeavour.

What makes this album special?

As we all know, Tagore’s music is incredibly diverse and has a range of influences behind it, including Hindustani classical music, folk music and Western songs. In the case of Hindustani classical music, you can see many different forms in the songs of Tagore. In this album, I tried to focus on one of these forms in each song. So for example, “Morey barey barey pherale” is influenced by the kheyal form and “Prochondo gorjone” by drupad, whereas “Shukhheen nishidin poradhin” is more inspired by the parana form.

all included songs from Tagore which specifically had many global influences, such as from Scottish ballads and South Indian or Punjabi songs. While mine focuses on songs with classical backgrounds, this was a huge inspiration to me, and I still listen to it whenever I can.

Why Tagore?

I’ve heard my mother sing songs of Tagore from as far back as I can remember, and the love of his music has pervaded my household always. My mother also takes music classes at home, and for every song she teaches, she always explains the philosophy behind it.

So I have always been immersed in Tagore and have internalised his philosophies throughout my childhood, and that is what is expressed in this album. But Tagore wasn’t the only influence in my life, my father used to listen to a wide variety of music, and I think I am equally influenced by his tastes as well.

Who are your favourite artists?

Kanika Banerjee, Lata Mangeshkar, Begum Akhter, Shandha Mukherjee, and Hemanta Mukherjee. For Bangladeshi artists, Aditi Mohsin, Laisa Ahmed Lisa and of course my mother. I could go on and on!

Do you think the younger generation like/understand Tagore?

I think there was a bad time in

There are all these young artists who are experimenting with different genres, styles and arrangements, and there is a renewed interest in Rabindranath – not just his music, but his philosophies, and that is wonderful to see

some! But now I think we’ve had a real revival in our arts and musical culture. There are all these young artists who are experimenting with different genres, styles and arrangements, and there is a renewed interest in Rabindranath – not just his music, but his philosophies, and that is wonderful to see.

One other talent you wish you had?

I wish I could dance.

What inspired you to make this album?

One of my favourite albums of all time is one by Arati Mukherjee.

Although she is best known for her modern songs, this album

the music scene, around 1213 years ago, when there was waning interest in Tagore. A lot of people used to tell me that Rabindra Shongeet would put them to sleep, which I guess is a common complaint among

What is your greatest inspiration?

It’s difficult to pinpoint just one person, because there are so many people who inspire and influence you over your lifetime.

My parents obviously, but I also owe a huge deal to my friends. I can be quite lazy sometimes and drag one project on and on! But in

the case of my music, they would constantly egg me on and even scold me, but they would make sure I get things done.

If you could have an alternative career, what would it be?

I would have loved to be a teacher.

In fact I am already involved in it – I am currently teaching music at the Bangladesh Film and Television Academy.

What is your favourite food?

Rice, spicy beef and lots of different bhortas – the perfect meal!

What song is stuck in your head now?

“Tumi jakey bhalobasho” by Anupam Roy, from the film Prakton.

What is your worst habit?

I’m unbelievably lazy, it’s the worst thing!

What advice would you give aspiring musicians?

If you want to sing or make music, you just have to do it. You can’t let yourself be encumbered by the complications of life – just go ahead and make music. It doesn’t matter how much you sing, what matters is that you tried. Another important thing is not to be rigid.

Even in my case, a lot of people have asked why my album has only Tagore, whereas others have asked why I did an item song last year, in the commercial film U-turn by Alvi Ahmed. But I think it’s important to explore your limits and be as versatile as you can. Art can’t be allowed to stagnate. l

DT

18

Feature

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Five types of people you meet at the airport Siddique and n Tasnuva Naveen Rahman We all have our very own set of bitter-sweet memories of the long time spent at airports.

Quite naturally, in any place that requires waiting for quite a while, you can’t help but find different varieties of people. Some might truly manage to get on your nerves and drive you nuts with rage at their outrageous demeanour in public, while others only evoke surprise and curiousity within you.

Then there are also the “regulars” that just happen to pass you by.

Unnoticed, you barely spare them a thought. This week, we look at some stereotypical airport regulars that we love to hate (or hate to love).

1

The Tech Junkies

You are bound to come across this specific group of people when you are at an airport. They flaunt their expensive suits and formal wear while walking with an ohso-important air matched with an unwavering glare. They will

always be on their Blackberries or their laptops, looking as if all the work in the entire world was for their shoulders alone. It is only very rarely that you will find a smile on their faces, and that is only because of some successful business deal that they got tidings of on their phone or other handheld device.

2

The Firsts

Even if you’re having a terrible day, dreading the idea of long hours and endless queues at the airport, you can easily be cheered by the Firsts. First time air travellers are always filled with childlike wonder and awe, and their enthusiasm can be contagious. Regardless of how many different kinds of cronies you come across at your junction, these ones can always brighten up your day.

3

The Loud Pack of Teens

In defence of teens, it is hard not to be loud when you’re young and excited,

especially if you have people who are of a similar age travelling with you. The thrill of adventure, the excitement of travel and the company of friends invariably make them the boisterous bunch of teens we love to hate. They get all excited and riled up over nothing and prefer having a good hearty laugh with friends instead of sitting in a corner, waiting glumly. For the latter lot, these kinds are the ultimate form of annoyance, getting on the nerves of those who’ve just landed from long flights or have to suffer endless transits.

4

The Late Comers

The late comers are a sight to behold. They try to zoom through the airport, heavy luggage in tow, faces a picture of panic and distress. Struggling to make it through the last slot at immigration, they are the ones we can’t help but feel sorry for.

Whether at airports or elsewhere, we’ve all experienced being the last man to reach a destination.

5

Team Casuals

Finally there are those who breeze through the airport in tracks and crocs, backpack in tow, headphones plugged on. Team Casuals are the ones you envy for being able to confidently travel through the airport in pajama pants or tropical flipflops, looking like they’ve just arrived or are

about to leave for a vacation in the tropics. One look at them and you regret not dressing more comfortably yourself. l

19

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

| winners |

| food |

Aarong and Novoair hold prize giving ceremony for Shop and Win Campaign

KFC offers new menu to their customers

Aarong and NOVOAIR has partnered to reward three customers every week of Ramadan with two roundtrip flight tickets to select destinations (Yangon, Cox’s Bazaar and Sylhet). Aarong customers were required to make an online purchase, and the top three customers with the highest purchase amounts in a single invoice were selected as the respective winners. The prize giving ceremony was held at Aarong’s Grassroots Café in Uttara on June 24, 2016. A total

of 12 winners were awarded 24 tickets. Md Abdur Rouf, chief operating officer, BRAC-Aarong, and AKM Mahfuzul Haque,

manager of marketing and sales, Novoair, were present at the ceremony. l

| competition |

BUFT debate team win first round of UCB Public Parliament National Debate Competition 2016 BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT) debate team has won the first round at UCB Public Parliament National Debate Competition on July 23, 2016 at the ATN Studio in the capital. The topic of the debate was “only social awareness can remove terrorism.” The BUFT team was in favour of the motion while Prime University debate team acted as the opposition and stood against the motion.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was present as the chief guest while Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, chairman of ATN Bangla, and M A Sabur, chairman of UCB Bank, were present as special guests. Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman

of Debate for Democracy, was present as the speaker of the mock Parliament.

Md Nazmul Morshed Shemul was the leader of the BUFT team, while Mehedi Hasan, Syed Khalid

Mahmud, Md Javer and Sabrina Amin were present as members.

They were guided by moderators of the BUFT Debate Club Md. Atikur Rahman, deputy librarian, and lecturer Engr Faruk Ahmed.l

| event |

‘Where Art Meets the Masses’ at ULAB On July 20, 2016, ULAB arranged a seminar titled “Where Art Meets the Masses” to provide expert advice to the students for their “Voiceless Bangladeshi” project. The keynote speaker was Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, editorial cartoonist at Dhaka Tribune and associate editor of Unmad magazine. Morshed Mishu, editorial cartoonist at The Bangladesh Today and assistant editor of Unmad magazine, attended as a guest. Aquib Ul Wadud Alam and Md Ata Islam khan Mojlish, students of ULAB, were the other speakers of the event.

The “Voiceless Bangladeshi” project is an initiative to teach the students of public relations

DT

Biz Info

KFC, the globally renowned international restaurant chain that is run in Bangladesh by Transcom Food Limited, will be launching their new menu on July 25, 2016, as this year marks their 10th anniversary in Bangladesh.

The menu will include new items, some price changes and many attractive offers. The Freedom Box introduced by KFC this year has become very popular, so they are now offering Freedom Box with

Rice and Freedom Box with Zinger, and the Best of KFC at an attractive price. The Freedom Box will have five varieties of product in one box, while Best of KFC will be a bucket of three varieties of chicken (HC, Hot Wing & Strip) for Tk888.

The event was inaugurated by key officials of Transcom Foods Limited. Actress Bonna Mirza, TV personality Sharmin Lucky, Munmun and Tusty also joined the inauguration ceremony. l

| meal |

Le Migliori Polpette di Tonno Italian Style Tuna Meatballs For those who love fish, Bistro E has come up with “Le Miglori Polpette Di Tonni.” It’s a delightful take on Jamie Oliver’s famous version of the Italian classic, and is a welcome addition to the bistro’s contemporary menu.

The dish is a generous serving of tender, panseared meatballs made with North Atlantic tuna on a bed of linguine. The combination of fresh herbs, cashew and butter brings delectable tanginess to the house sauce, resembling a Napolitano.

Freshly grated parmesan and a lemon wedge garnish adds the last touch. This tuna meal is also

super healthy with its Omega 3 fatty acids that help reduce cholesterol, and perfect for those who watch what they eat. Nestled in the very security conscious Bay’s Edgewater on North Avenue in Gulshan 2, Bistro E provides a chic and cozy setting for perfect meals. l

| dining |

Tastebud offers free coffee with two breakfast meals

how to apply theory into practical projects, and also see the power of their message leaving a mark in the community. It is a student led community outreach project with a social media phase and a street art phase. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/VoicelessBangladeshil

Tastebud is making the most important meal of the day even better with a complimentary cup of coffee by Café Vergnano with two of their scrumptious breakfast meals. These are: Set 1- Smoked turkey with eggs on bread, chicken sausage, baked beans, baked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and sliced bread.

Set 2- Spanish omelette, hash browns, chicken sausage, baked

beans, sauteed mushrooms.

Breakfast is served from 8 am to 12 noon. l

DT

20 Editorial

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

TODAY

We’ve always been under attack We still have the energy to create a counter-narrative against the hatred preached by terrorists. But to do that, we have to start with considering these terrorists as ‘very bad people,’ not ‘faceless monsters.’ Otherwise, it’s just easier for them to lurk in the shadows PAGE 21

Notes on a trip to England Even in that rarefied, carefree atmosphere, the Brexit wave gave a little stir

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

PAGE 22

A job well done

A death sentence for the Sundarbans The development paradigm is affecting our thought process so much that we are compromising with reason and rationality 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.

H

ats off to our police and security personnel. We would like to congratulate them on an exemplary operation.

Yesterday’s raid of a six-storey apartment building in Kallyanpur was an unqualified success. Further terror attacks on the nation have almost certainly been averted as a result, and the nation stands safer thanks to the efforts of our courageous police and security personnel.

This is the sort of effective action the public has been wanting to see from the authorities, and our law enforcement has shown that it is up to the challenge facing the nation. The operation has gone a long way to restoring the public’s sense of safety and confidence in our law enforcers.

With nine militants killed and two suspects in custody, Operation Storm 26 seems to have been conducted with a high degree of precision and efficiency, with no civilian casualties reported. In the midst of a heavily populated urban area, this was remarkable.

The Kallyanpur raid was clearly well-planned and well executed, and was based on good information and reliable intelligence.

Operations of this nature are the need of the hour to root out terror networks and save lives.

It is never pleasant when police operations end up this way, but we are satisfied that there was no alternative to the killing of the nine men, and that they died as a result of a legitimate shoot-out. The fact that two suspects were apprehended is itself testimony to the restraint of the operation, and we have no reason to think that any more force was used than was needed.

The horrific attack at Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 was an attack on all of us. The entire nation has been shaken. We are all in this together and we all have a stake in rooting out the militants.

As such, public confidence in the process and public trust in law enforcement is of utmost importance at the present time.

Clinical and professional operations such as these help restore the people’s faith in the authorities and help unite us in the fight against terror.

Operations of this nature are the need of the hour to root out terror networks and save lives

DT

21

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

We’ve always been under attack The harsh truth behind our extremism problem

The only language terrorists know is violence

BIGSTOCK

narrative to the jihadi prospectus.

Because we don’t.

Because we have already decided that we hate the madrasas. We hate their middleaged, constipated conservatism.

They are backward mullahs who are outcasts in our society.

At best, they can teach us the Qur’an (without meaning), lead our janaza prayers, and commit Quran khotoms for us in times of crisis. Oh, and sometimes we use them in marriages and khotnas too.

But in any other case, their point of view is outdated. They are not worthy of our middle class attention. They are minds waiting to be radicalised. They are not liberal or modern like our upper middle class kids.

You know who else aren’t like our upper middle class kids? Our politicians. Their kids may be upper-middle class, but they are decidedly not. They still believe in the age-old system of hooliganism

We still have the energy to create a counter-narrative against the hatred preached by terrorists. But to do that, we have to start with considering these terrorists as ‘very bad people,’ not ‘faceless monsters.’ Otherwise, it’s just easier for them to lurk in the shadows

n Fardin Hasin

A

fter the Holey Artisan attack, a wide range of emotions sprang up on social media and popular news outlets. On the part of Bangladeshis, this mostly involved statements about how this isn’t Bangladesh, how this violence doesn’t represent this country, and that this is simply a foreign demonic ideology invading our serene and gentle culture.

Conspiracy theorists emerged out of their cocoons as fast as they could and we were so eager to believe them -- anything seemed better than ignorance. We were all moved. Some of us screamed in angst, others were apologetic.

Then there were those who just couldn’t understand how “sweet and sexy” Nibras became a “coldblooded killing machine” (make note that I’m personally against characterisation of that sort).

I’m sorry but I beg to differ.

Bangladesh in its current path is quite like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, or Libya before the

“doom” arrived in those parts of the continent. Those countries had not seen a single fair election in the years preceding terrorism.

They didn’t have a tolerant political space, no scope for a multi-party electoral system, and the media was suppressed and abused by those in establishment.

That is, the news outlets which weren’t already banned/destroyed.

Yet, we are never going to admit that it’s partly a governance issue now, will we? Because it’s just so much easier to lament the loss of privileged middle class innocence and talk about terrorists hiding in plain sight, plotting to corrupt our hearts with their poisonous words.

It’s not like the political parties with their takfiri ideologies that consider all other parties to be traitors/Islamophobic/bourgeois are in any way to blame.

It’s not like our intellectuals politicised themselves to a point that they no longer have any idea about how the mass people feel. And it’s not like we have a religious institution that can promote a healthy counter-

and muscle power. Not that they ever let it contaminate their kids. Because otherwise, it just wouldn’t be hypocritical now, would it? And are politicians ever known for not being hypocritical?

No. The kids of our journalists and media figures are also middle class. That’s why there’s so much sympathy pouring for these middle class murderers in our newspapers and TV channels.

Yesterday’s “faceless terror” has become today’s “misunderstood brainwashed poor kid.”

The fact that the victims are also middle class allows us all to sleep at night. It allows us to feel “touched” by the incident.

Because who the hell cared when it was non-middle class political gundas,mastans, and kamlas getting axed right? Where was our sea of tears when the poor were getting torched in their filthy local buses?

The middle class didn’t care then. It sat comfortably inside its safe and secure residence when Bangladesh was getting burned. It

didn’t want to get its hands dirty, it didn’t want to get involved.

Now when the rust has gone the full circle, we wonder: How did we let this happen? Where did it all go wrong? How did this country, once a dimly-lit democracy at best, become a nation of intolerance and violence? No, I’m not lamenting our past. I don’t want to go back to Pakistan or spend years under military dictatorship.

I don’t want to see any militarybacked caretaker government either. But I do want to progress.

While our South Asian neighbours are all trying to get back to a steady culture of electoral politics, we are only a few steps from completely banning it.

What do we really expect out of a nation where elections have become jokes made at a national expense? Roses, kittens, chocolates? What happens when the middle class in a country becomes obscenely depoliticised, at the point of being desensitised to the country getting ruined?

Butterflies, marshmallows, coconuts?

Back to religious institutions.

With all our scorn for madrasas, why aren’t we investing to create an alternative? We blame the Salafis these days for everything but Saudia Arabia releases tons of research done on Islam every year. We may not agree with their viewpoints but their academic merit is pretty solid.

Even Western universities have renowned faculties of theology.

What do we have? Where can the middle class learn Islam for its entirety and not just memorise a bunch of ayats from our holy book without ever realising their meaning? It would have helped if the reputed private universities had faculties of theology, but they don’t.

As I said in the beginning about terrorism, it is, in many ways, a crystal clear picture of Bangladesh.

But it’s not the only true picture out there. Those who said our culture is serene and gentle were true to some extent too.

We still have the time to develop those other images. We still have the energy to create a counter-narrative against the hatred preached by terrorists. But to do that, we have to start with considering these terrorists as “very bad people,” not “faceless monsters.” Otherwise, it’s just easier for them to lurk in the shadows. We don’t want that now, do we? l Fardin Hasin is a freelance contributor.

DT

22

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Long Form

Notes on a trip to England

The flavour of Brexit is present in everyday London life. This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

A playground for the world’s top 0.1%

BIGSTOCK

n Sal Imam

T

oday, the latest nutrition research recommends moderation, which is common sense. Saturated fats should play a significant but not major role in diet. All the foods which were considered suspect for so many years, from eggs to butter, from steaks to ice cream, can be consumed regularly, but not to excess.

Not only will this bring back the glorious taste which only saturated fats can deliver, but there is new evidence that they do not correlate directly to higher risk of heart disease.

Clearly, every diet needs to be supplemented by exercise and good living habits. The basic lesson appears to be that we should be wary of extreme formulations.

Many fad diets that are being pushed by various groups, from Atkins to “clean eating” to palaeo to macro-biotic could well be inventions lacking a solid medicoscientific basis.

I suppose the rule of thumb is not to follow any diet which is too exclusive, too finicky, and too demanding, especially if it is based on fanciful theories.

London life and leisure

Thanks to Airbnb, I was able to

Even in that rarefied, carefree atmosphere, the Brexit wave gave a little stir. Many of the staffers, young men and women of impeccable manners and taste, were of foreign origin, mainly French, and as we departed, they urged me to come back again in six months and said: ‘We’ll see you if we still have our jobs here’

rent a small apartment just off the Kings Road in Chelsea. I enjoyed going up and down this fabled street which has everything on it: Designer boutiques, art galleries, a bookshop, a cinema, a supermarket, and this time, I even found a place for foot massage and reflexology in a calm and inspiring environment.

Eating places range from the legendary Ivy with seating in its flower-filled garden to the intriguing Rabbit, which specialises in a kind of permanent farm-oriented “degustation” menu, along with the usual cluster of Lebanese restaurants and gastro-pubs and burger joints and French bakeries and coffee houses of every London neighbourhood.

But no one should miss the Saturday farmer’s market, which takes place close to Sloane Square and is full of stalls offering cooked

food from all over the world, as well as specialist shops for fresh country products such as cheeses, teas, breads, and usually, a table or two of oysters.

Finally, in a tradition which goes back to the 60s, the Kings Road is the champion place for people-watching; why not, when such a fine figure is cut by the city’s men and women, all ages and all races, turned out in the cracking fashion styles of the day, the innate British sense of reserve allowing them to stop short of dandyism or skank?

I got to indulge in an orgy of hedonism when I was invited to accompany two glamorous and charming ladies to the grand opening of a Christian Dior shop on Bond Street. Once inside its doors, we were transported to a fairy-tale zone of tinkling green diamonds and hushed luxury. The

whole ground floor, stretching for 20 metres under a high ceiling, was devoted to jewelry and handbags.

The second and third floors, up a winding staircase, showed the Christian Dior haute couture collection with the basement set aside for men’s clothes.

To the left of the shop an atrium had somehow been created with an intricately constructed glass roof open to the sky.

This led to yet another floor which housed Dior’s line of home products from linens to towels to decoration items.

The very lavishness and scale of the whole shop points to the importance of London as the playground of the world’s 0.1%.

Not being quite in such a percentile, I was a mere spectator.

But one of our party, F, was the toast of the store, not because

she was a big spender, but for the dynamism of her personality.

From the store manager to the ladies at the counters and several layers in between, everyone either knew her, or knew of her.

Aware of what she liked, they presented her with further endless examples of bejeweled rings and necklaces, the latest silverlook handbag styles, shaped fur coats, high-heeled shoes in an unusual filigree design, and all the paraphernalia of the modern girl about town.

I did check out for myself a Christian Dior men’s suit in a subtle variation of the Prince of Wales check, which I calculated would take me about six more months of careful saving to afford -- but I have always found that in the long run, designer-wear is the most economical, because such clothes are timeless and can be worn for 20 years or more without going out of style.

Even in that rarefied, carefree atmosphere, the Brexit wave gave a little stir. Many of the staffers, young men and women of impeccable manners and taste, were of foreign origin, mainly French, and as we departed, they urged me to come back again in six months and said: “We’ll see you if we still have our jobs here.”

Sal Imam is a concerned citizen.

DT

23

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

A death sentence for the Sundarbans Let us collectively say ‘no’ to the Rampal power plant

Will we watch silently as one of the nation’s most treasured possessions dies?

BIGSTOCK

n Ziaur Rahman

D

evelopment and sustainability have been hot topics around the world and, recently, in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh seems to focus on the development narrative while often undervaluing the issues of society, people’s will, ecology, biodiversity, and the overall scheme of things; mainly, the environment and its climactic impact on Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a country that has weathered many a natural disaster and, due to its people’s resilience, we have pieced together our broken dreams in pursuit of a golden future.

The Rampal coal-fired power plant project that the government is planning to set up near the Sundarbans will endanger our precious forest, World Heritage site, announced by UNESCO in 1997, comprising approximately 345,947 acres.

The size of the Sundarbans has diminshed over the years. It was originally measured to be of about 16,700 square kilometres. Due to the encroachment of population, destruction of the forest cover, and timber, the size of the Sundarbans has dwindled to about one-third its original size.

It is now estimated to be about 6,000sq-km, of which about 1,700sq-km is occupied by waterbodies. The forest lies under two forest-divisions, and four administrative ranges.

Presently, 80,062 acres of the Sundarbans have been declared as three wildlife sanctuaries and was brought under the UNESCO

The development paradigm is affecting our thought process so much that we are compromising with reason and rationality. The nation needs to address issues with facts, figures, and scientific analysis. Walking with emotion and ego can destabilise the environmental fabric of the Sundarbans

World Heritage Site banner in 1997. These wildlife sanctuaries were established in 1977 under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (amendment) Act, 1974.

The mosaic of islands in the Sundarbans is home to many exceptional terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats; ranging from micro to macro flora and fauna.

The Sundarbans is not only a site of importance for Bangladesh, but is a site of global importance due to the fact that it is home to globally endangered species including the Royal Bengal Tiger, Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphins, estuarine crocodiles, and also the critically endangered endemic river terrapin (Batagur baska).

It is the only mangrove habitat in the world for the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) species.

UNESCO documentation mentions that a population of 400 to 450 tigers remains, while a recent newspaper article puts the number closer to 200 in our part of the Sundarbans.

As part of the world’s largest delta, the composition of the Sundarbans is created by the sediments deposited by three great rivers: The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna,

and covering the Bengal Basin; the land mass has been molded by tidal action, resulting in a distinctive physiology, and any artificial changes to this land mass will have sustained and visible impact, further endangering the eco-system.

According to UNESCO, the Sundarbans is the only remaining habitat in the lower Bengal Basin for a wide variety of faunal species. UNESCO states: “Its exceptional bio-diversity is expressed in a wide range of flora; 334 plant species belonging to 245 genera and 75 families, 165 algae, and 13 orchid species.

It is also rich in fauna with 693 species of wildlife which includes 49 mammals, 59 reptiles, 8 amphibians, 210 white fishes, 24 shrimps, 14 crabs, and 43 mollusks species.”

The delightful dream environment of the Sundarbans is now being punctured by the construction of a 1,834 acre coal-fired power plant. Orion Power has already taken 200 acres in the same location and Confidence Cement has also taken some land in the vicinity in the process of constructing their own facilities. The very homes of

these endangered species is under threat, and it is hard to fathom why the government is so gung-ho about building the plant.

This site belongs to Bangladesh and is an asset to all of humanity.

Needless to say, a plant 14 kilometers from the Sundarbans will significantly alter the biodiversity of the area. With such a large power plant, other support infrastructure will spring up in the vicinity, bringing more clutter and noise, puncturing the peace and tranquility of the surroundings.

Ships with 10,000 tons of capacity are supposed to ply approximately 50-plus days between Akram Point, an inward location upstream, through the Passur River, which is noted as the breeding ground for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.

At Akram point, these massive hauls of coal will be offloaded to smaller vessels, adding to the risk of coal spillage and exposing toxic coal dust released into the environment.

According to documented information shared by MS Siddiqui, the Rampal plant alone would generate “940,000 tons of toxic residue (called coal ash) each year.” Coal ash has heavy metal

ingredients like arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and selenium.

The economic impact and proper cost-benefit analysis is hard to arrive at, but estimates show that due to this power plant, 1,285 tons of rice and 561.41 metric tons of fish will be lost from the area, let alone other negative economic impact. He goes on to mention that over 8,000 families are permanent residents of the allocated land, of which 7,500 families live on the mentioned farming and fishing.

The climatic impact shall set in 10-15 years from now, and be so substantial that the reversal process, even after spending billions of dollars, will not be possible.

The development paradigm is affecting our thought process so much that we are compromising with reason and rationality.

Undoubtedly, the nation needs to address issues with facts, figures, and scientific analyses.

Walking with emotion and ego can destabilise the environmental fabric of the Sundarbans; Bangladesh stands to lose its richest treasure trove, which attracts millions of tourists.

Invoking the fiery spirit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, we entreat our current prime minister to re-assess the project, understanding the deep-rooted scar that this project would etch into the history of Bangladesh and humankind at large. I ask her most humbly, would her government want to be remembered as the ones who destroyed the Sundarbans?

We invite the government to construct an alternative energy source from the same project area, since the land has been acquired. We invite our readers to have a firm perspective on this issue of national and international importance, and pledge their support by convincing the government to cancel the coal-fired power plant in lieu of alternative competitive options in solar and/or wind turbine based power plants.

Let us save the Sundarbans and show once again that we are a nation that fought valiantly during the War of Liberation. Our fight now is intellectual, and based on reason and rationality. Let us forge ahead and bring people’s power to this engagement. Let us collective say “no” to Rampal. l Ziaur Rahman is CEO, IITM, a consulting, training, market research, and survey firm.

DT

24 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Another day of draws

TOP STORIES

Hoque from n Shishir Chittagong

Hockey players remain marginalised Can you guess how much a Bangladesh national hockey player receives as his monthly salary?

The only thing a hockey player of the highest caliber recieves is Tk 300 per day when they join a national camp. PAGE 25

Aus openers ram home advantage An unbroken stand of 59 between Smith and Khawaja placed Australia in firm command yesterday against Sri Lanka after the hosts were bowled out for just 117. Australia were 66 for two at the end of day’s play . PAGE 26

Tom Saintfiet (C) watches the first round of Bangladesh Premier League in Chittagong yesterday

RABIN CHOWDHURY

Saintfiet focuses on rookies 19 Olympic Village yet to pass tests

Hoque from n Shishir Chittagong

2016 Olympics are set to begin in Rio de Janeiro in two weeks, yet the majority of buildings in Athletes Village aren’t ready.

Organizing committee admitted 19 of 31 buildings in village haven’t passed safety tests yet. PAGE 27

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who is going to sign three-month contract with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) today, is certain to add new names in the Bangladesh national team squad ahead of Asian Cup qualifier playoffs against Bhutan.

The 43-year-old coach had watched the first round of Bangladesh Premier League in Chittagong where he got to see players from 12 clubs in action for once.

The former Togo coach is scheduled to depart the port city for capital today to officially sign the deal in the afternoon.

“I found few players who I really liked. I don’t want to mention the names because I saw only one game of every of them and may be if I see second game they may disappoint me. I think if they satisfy me in the second round we will get new players for Bhutan,” He continued, “I saw good players at Arambagh, in Uttar

Allardyce: Rooney still key to England New England manager Sam Allardyce admitted Wayne Rooney has a significant part to play in his plans but refused to give assurances about the player’s future as captain. Experienced Rooney recently expressed a desire to continue as skipper. PAGE 28

Baridhara, Mohammedan. Not only the big teams like Chittagong, Dhaka, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel but also some small team impressed me and some young players. I will select some new players for sure,” Earlier Saintfiet admitted that he wants to see more strikers for the national team but he seemed a bit disappointed with most of the clubs playing foreign players up front. “It’s not possible to find the strikers as almost every club is playing with foreign strikers.

I only see two local strikers. One from Baridhara and Ziban from Abahani. What can I say? I can’t take foreigners in my team.” said Saintfiet adding that he will now look for players from other positions who have the ability to play as strikers.

Saintfiet, however, will return to Chittagong after signing the contract and will watch the second round matches as well. He added, “In Dhaka I will see one more round and then the selection will be based on what I see

myself. I’m very happy with the league. It’s a very good start. Good games. I’m very happy coach.”

Bangladesh will face Bhutan in the first match of play-offs on September 6 away and host the return leg on October 10. Saintfiet’s search for new players will only for those two matches.

“I’m looking specifically for this match (Bhutan). I’m thinking about strategy we need and I will select my players to this strategy also because we need to win this game. After if we win the game we will get 5-6 months time to create a new team. But now I need to be hundred percent sure that the players I select will do everything for the coach.

While talking about how he enjoyed the premier league so far he said, “It’s very nice. Nice city and the stadium are also good. Grass is not bad. Organisation is very good.

There were lot of people yesterday and day before. This is start. In the coming weeks more and more people will come to the stadium.

The level will be better.” l

The first round of the Bangladesh Premier League ended with Muktijoddha SKC being held to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Team BJMC at the MA Aziz Stadium yesterday. Chittagong spectators have seen a total five draws, all ended with same margin 1-1 in out of six matches.

Nigerian midfielder Samson Iliasu gave BJMC the breakthrough in the 32nd minute from a penalty after Nigerian defender Mufta Lawal fouled midfielder Moklesur Rahman Mukul inside the box.

Nigerian striker Ahmed Kolo Musa equalised the margin two minutes later after bad defending from Nigerian defender Samuel Adams. A misplaced header clearance by Samuel fell before Kolo Musa who sent the ball inside the net from the edge of six-yard box.

Muktijoddha earned a penalty in the 56th minute after BJMC keeper Himel brought down Simon Ezeodika at right corner of the box but Himel denied the Kolo Musa’s poor shot from the spot.

In the 66th minute, BJMC reduced to ten men after Cameroonian defender Bayebeck Esaie showed srtaight red card.

Earlier, Brothers Union and Feni Soccer Club played out a 1-1 stalemate. Sushanto Tripura put the Feni outfit ahead at the very beginning of the game before Haitian striker Augustine Walson cancelled out the lead in the same opening half to salvage a disorganised Brothers side a point.

Brothers’ Nepalese head coach Balgopal Maharajan, who took charge of the club before the Federation Cup, said he was happy with one point but remained discontent with the lack of possession. While Feni head coach Ladi Baba Lola said, “We didn’t deserve this result.

We should have done better.”

Sushanto broke the deadlock with a clever effort with just four minutes in the clock. Brothers goalkeeper Uttam Barua came out of the 6-yard box and Sushanto took the chance from 35 yards with a looping shot that dipped into the post after deflected through the gloves. l

RESULTS Brothers Union

1-1

4’ Sushanto

Muktijoddha Iliasu 32’

Feni Soccer Club 27’ Walson

1-1

Team BJMC Kolo Musa 34’

TODAY’S MATCHES Rahmatganj v Sheikh Russel 4.30 Uttar Baridhara v Sheikh Jamal 7.30

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Hockey players remain marginalised n Mazhar Uddin Can you guess how much a Bangladesh national hockey player receives as his monthly salary?

It’s a shame that he doesn’t get any from the Bangladesh Hockey Federation. The only thing a Bangladeshi hockey player of the highest caliber recieves is Tk 300 per day when they join a national camp. The highest monthly salary drawn by a senior Bangladeshi cricketer is at least Tk 2 lakh.

Life is not the same for a hockey player when compared to cricketers. There’s no expensive car or lavish lifestyle. Instead they have to think of other ways to maintain their livelihood.

Russell Mahmud Jimmy, undoubtedly the best hockey player Bangladesh has produced in decades, started his journey in 1998 when he joined the BKSP. He belongs to a hockey family; his father Sona Mia was the coach of the national team. Jimmy has represented Bangladesh in 2003 and is still going strong.

“Hockey is in our family. My father was the coach of the hockey national team and since childhood I used to play hockey. I took hockey as a profession back in 1998 when I was admitted in BKSP. We always

talk about hockey when we are at home. My father used to guide me how to become a good player. My younger brother is now playing for the U-21 hockey team so you can say I grew up with this game,” Jimmy told the Dhaka Tribune.

“When we won the U-21 Challenge Cup at home beating India, it was the best moment of my career.

The 2007 Asia Cup was great too. I received three consecutive man of the match awards ,” he said.

However the 29 year old went through a tough phase two years ago when the BHF suspended him for two years. The punishment was later reduced to one year. This was the worst phase of his career.

But it was not just the on-field difficulties that bogged down this gifted hockey player.

Even when Jimmy was a regular member of the national team, he started his own business. He runs a cloth store in the city’s famed New Market.

But that never bothered Jimmy when he compare hockey players to the cricketers of the country. He said that it’s the love for the game that has always kept motivating him despite facing many barriers.

“I don’t think I am unlucky as it’s all about maintenance of the game.

So far whatever I have achieved in life playing hockey may be no one in Bangladesh have ever achieved and today whatever I am is because of hockey. In current situation if 100 percent people of Bangladesh recognise Shakib Al Hasan or Mashrafe bin Mortaza, I would say

National forward Russell Mahmud Jimmy represented Bangladesh in 2003 and is still going strong

Fahad becomes unbeaten champion in Dubai n Tribune Report Bangladesh’s youngest Fide Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman became the unbeaten champion in the 14th Dubai Juniors Chess Tournament after winning the last round in United Arab Emirates yesterday.

Fahad defeated CM Al Hosani Omran of UAE in the ninth and final round to finish the tournament as champions.

The 13-year-old earned eight points out of nine rounds. He won seven matches drawing only two.

Fahad, rated 2157, drew with 2390 rated top-seeded player in the event FM Matviisshen Victor of Ukraine. The youngster, who won 14th ASEAN Age-Group (U-10) Chess Championship in Thailand in 2013 to earn the FM norm, received 2000 US dollars as cash prize along with gold medal. l

the others so that the hockey players don’t have to think about their future and can fully concentrate in their game,” said Jimmy.

And to the youngsters who are willing to become a hockey player the advise from Jimmy is to remain focused to the game and don’t need to bother about anything else. It might sound simple but in the current context of hockey in Bangladesh it is still the least viable sport for a youngster to take up as a profession.l

75 percent people recognises me.

Many people come to take a photo with me which is something I am proud of,” he said.

Jimmy, who now has a permanent job as the Chief Petty Officer in Bangladesh Navy, is pretty secured financially. According to him, if the BHF emphasise more on the financial aspects of the players the game will improve automatically.

“The members of the Bangladesh cricket team are getting a monthly salary from the BCB. I

think it’s also possible in hockey.

The top officials in hockey are involved with many big companies and if they give some sort of support to the players it would be a great boost for us.

“As an example the Bangladesh Navy are now giving jobs to the hockey players and now almost 90 percent players from the national team got a job in Navy.

If the other big companies can also support and promote the hockey players it would have certainly help

Proteas to introduce racial quotas

Fizz could play today

n Reuters, Cape Town Fide Master (FM) Mohammad Fahad Rahman of Bangladesh survived a tense battle against Ukrainian top-seed FM Viktor Matviishen to eke out a draw in Monday’s eighth round

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Cricket South Africa (CSA) will formally introduce racial quotas at national team level, the board said on Tuesday.

The organisation has come under fire from the South African government for a lack of transformation in its national teams, leading to a ban on bidding for international tournaments that will be reviewed next year. President Chris Nenzani said in a statement CSA will seek to “move with the times” and set a minimum number of black players to be selected in all their national teams.

He added that these “targets” would be calculated over a year and not apply on a match-bymatch basis.

“In the past we had never set targets in our national teams but with changing circumstances we feel it is essential to move with the times,” Nenzani said. l

n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s MRI report revealed the pacer is suffering from SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior tear) on his left-shoulder. The medical revealed so yesterday.

A source close to the pacer in England informed that Mustafiz underwent the MRI on Tuesday and was taken to the University of Greenwich to meet Professor Tony Kochhar yesterday with the MRI report. Professor Kochhar is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in shoulder, elbow and upper limb.

According to the Bangladesh national team physiotherapist Baizid Islam the injury has two kind of treatment, one through injection and second through operation.

Baizid thinks Professor Kocchar will prescribe Mustafiz with any one of the methods.

Mustafiz, now in England appearing for Sussex in the Royal London One-Day Cup and the Natwest Twenty20 blast, complained of a

niggle in his shoulder three days ago.

He was in the 13-man squad for the game against Gloucestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Sunday and had travelled to the ground to practise with the rest of the team, but persistent pain forced Sussex to take the precautionary move.

According to the physicians, this shoulder injury is old and have only reemerged. As per Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief physician Debashish Chowdhury, Mustafiz is facing the trouble in his effort to bring bring variation in his bowling attack.

BCB has advised Mustafiz to rest until he gains hundred per cent fitness.

Earlier, the left-arm pacer made a brilliant debut for Sussex in the Natwest T20 Blast match against Essex Eagles on July 21 picking up four wickets for 23 runs in an emphatic win for his team.

Mustafiz’s Sussex is scheduled to take on Hampshire today in Royal London One-Day Cup today. The Bangladesh pacer will make his debut in the tournament today if the fitness permit.l

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Aus openers ram home advantage n AFP, Pallekele An unbroken stand of 59 between Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja placed Australia in firm command Tuesday of their opening Test against Sri Lanka after the hosts were bowled out for just 117.

When rain forced an early end to play on the first day in Pallekele, Australia were 66 for two, with skipper Smith (28) and his partner Khawaja (25) ramming home the advantage forged by their bowlers.

No play was possible after tea due to rain, prompting the umpires to call stumps at 4:15 pm.

The downpour in Pallekele cast a further gloom over the Sri Lankan side after they recorded their lowest total at the picturesque ground, undone by a combination of Australian pace and spin.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews decided to bat first on what began as a sunny day, but Australia made early inroads as they reduced the hosts to 84 for five at lunch.

They only needed a further 6.2 overs in the second session to finish off the batting line-up, with the wickets evenly spread between their fast bowlers and spinners.

Mitchell Starc, returning after

DAY 1 SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS R D Karunaratne lbw b Starc 5 K Silva c Voges b Hazlewood 4 K Mendis lbw b Hazlewood 8 D Chandimal c Nevill b Hazlewood 15 A Mathews c Smith b O’Keefe 15 D de Silva c Burns b Lyon 24 K Perera b Lyon 20 D Perera lbw b Lyon 0 R Herath lbw b Starc 6 L Sandakan not out 19 N Pradeep c Smith b O’Keefe 0 Extras: (lb 1) 1

eight months of injury, drew first blood for the visitors when he trapped Dimuth Karunaratne lbw for five in the fifth over, prompting the opener to call for an unsuccessful review.

Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe claimed the prized wicket of Mathews, caught at first slip by his opposite number Smith.

Even though he only bowled three overs, Nathan Lyon took three Sri Lankan wickets to vindicate Smith’s decision to pick both him and O’Keefe -- who picked up two scalps in only his third Test.

Both have been working with Sri Lanka’s record-breaking spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the buildup to the series and his influence appeared to be paying early dividends.

Australia however were soon in trouble themselves, losing both their openers cheaply.

Vice captain David Warner went for a duck, surviving for just four deliveries and Joe Burns made only three before being bowled by the veteran Rangana Herath, leaving Australia wobbling on seven for two. But Smith and Khawaja steadily went about staging a recovery and by the close, Australia were only 51 runs adrift with eight wickets in hand.l

Total (all out 34.2 overs)

If the cricket’s Test Championship mace is presented to the world’s No. 1 team at a private function, is there any point presenting it at all?

In a stark indication of the game’s convoluted and context-less international schedule, Australia’s captain Steven Smith was handed the mace by the ICC’s chief executive David Richardson in a “closed event” at the Earl’s Regency Hotel in Kandy, with no access to the public or the media.

Next to the presentation of the football and rugby World Cups, or even cricket’s own global events in ODIs and Twenty20s, this was a ceremony that bordered on the farcical.

The privacy was the result of a last-minute request by Sri Lanka Cricket to keep the event low key, so as not to deflate their players before the looming Test series between the two nations, due to begin at Pallekele on Tuesday. So late was the decision reached that the ICC had already hired an MC for a pub-

lic event, but he was instead left as a bystander to the hushed handover.

Australia had effectively claimed top spot as far back as February with a 2-0 series win in New Zealand, something formalised when the ICC rankings had their “annual adjustment” on April 1. But the mace stayed with the previous holders In-

117

Fall of wickets 1-6, 2-15, 3-18, 4-43, 5-67, 6-87, 7-87, 8-94, 9-100, 10-117 Bowling Starc 11-1-51-2, Hazlewood 10-4-21-3, O’Keefe 10.2-3-32-2, Lyon 3-0-12-3 AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS J Burns b Herath D Warner b Pradeep U Khawaja not out S Smith not out Extras: (b 4, lb 6)

R B 3 15 0 5 25 54 28 46 10

Total: (2 wickets, 20 overs)

66

Fall of wickets 1-3, 2-7 Bowling Pradeep 5-3-3-1, Herath 6-2-15-1, Dilruwan Perera 4-1-19-0, Sandakan 2-1-13-0, Mathews 3-1-6-0

Sri Lanka’s Kaushal Silva is hit by a rising delivery off Australia’s Josh Hazlewood on day one of their first Test in Pallekele, Sri Lanka yesterday AP

Test Championship mace presented in private n Cricinfo

B 12 25 7 54 24 38 15 2 10 15 4

dia throughout the year, rather than being presented at a more opportune moment in New Zealand.

This is not the first time the mace’s presentation to Australia has not coincided with a notable victory. In 2014 it was handed over at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane in April. l

Smith said he was delighted to have taken possession of the mace, and shrugged at the circumstances in which it had been delivered

Cook glad to get ‘carried along’ with Root n AFP, Manchester Alastair Cook said batting with Joe Root encouraged “blockers like me” to go for their shots after England’s senior batsmen dominated Pakistan’s attack in a crushing second Test victory at Old Trafford.

England beat Pakistan by 330 runs on Monday, winning with more than a day to spare as they levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 following the tourists’ 75-run success at Lord’s.

Cook and Root scored 506 runs between them for just twice out at Old Trafford. After England captain Cook won the toss, they did the bulk of the damage in a huge first-innings total of 589 for eight declared.

Man-of-the-match Root made a Test-best 254, while left-handed opener Cook’s 105 extended his England Test century record to 29.

With vice-captain Root promoted up the order to number three this series, the pair shared a second-wicket partnership of 185.

Then, after Cook decided against enforcing the follow-on, they piled on the runs again in Eng-

land’s second innings. Cook made an unbeaten 76, which included a 55-ball fifty -- the fastest of his Test career -- while Root was 71 not out in a total of 173 for one declared. “(Joe) is a world-class player, and it was a great innings -- one of the best I’ve seen -- to really set up the game for us,” said Cook.

“One thing he does very well is keep the scoreboard ticking over, so blockers like me get carried away,” added Cook. l

BRIEF SCORE ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 589-8 dec (Root 254, Cook 105, Woakes 58, Bairstow 58; Wahab 3-106) PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS 198 all out (Misbah 52; Woakes 4-67) ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS 173-1 dec (Cook 76, Root 71) PAKISTAN 2ND INNINGS 234 all out (Hafeez 42, Shafiq 39; Anderson 3-41; Woakes 3-41) Result: England won by 330 runs Man-of-the-match: Joe Root (ENG) Series: Four-match series level at 1-1 Super Series: England 4 pts Pakistan 4 pts

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Putin to meet Russia’s Olympic team today n Reuters, Moscow President Vladimir Putin will meet Russia’s Olympic team today before they head off to the

19 of 31 Olympic Village buildings yet to pass safety tests n Agencies The 2016 Summer Olympics are set to begin in Rio de Janeiro in less than two weeks, yet the majority of buildings in the Athletes Village aren’t ready.

On Monday, Jonathan Watts of the Guardian reported the organizing committee admitted 19 of 31 buildings in the village haven’t passed safety tests ahead of the Aug. 5 opening ceremony.

The Athletes Village is expected to house the majority of the 10,000 Olympians, per Watts, who added stress tests still need to be done on more than half the buildings since they were delivered behind schedule.

“This should have been tested a long time ago,” Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada said, per Watts. “But the problem is there, and now our task is to fix it as quickly as possible and to ensure everything is safe.”

Andrada also said he hoped

the 630 workers sent out to conduct the remainder of the building tests would be finished “by the end of business” on Tuesday. Organizers told Watts they hoped all issues would be resolved by Thursday.

According to Watts, some teams that are already living in the village have been shocked by the poor conditions. Water and gas leaks have occurred, along with a small fire in the Dutch team’s building Saturday.

“A technician was working on a fuse box,” Andrada said, per Watts. “There was a short circuit and a small fire, which he extinguished himself. The electricity was disconnected and there was no need for an evacuation or to call firefighters.”

Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Watts) reported the Italian team has contracted renovations for its living quarters, while the Australian team has refused to live in its assigned building. l

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL SONY ESPN International Champions Cup (Thursday) 5:30AM Real Madrid v PSG 7:30AM Bayern Munich v AC Milan

CRICKET 9:30AM

Chelsea v Liverpool

TEN 3 10:30AM Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 1st Test, Day 2

STARSPORTS 1 6:30PM Royal London One Day Cup Derbyshire v Lancashire

games in Rio, Russian news agencies cited the Kremlin as saying on Tuesday.

The meeting had originally been planned for July 22, but was

postponed amid a widening doping scandal which saw Russian track-andfield athletes banned from the games along with sportspeople from other disciplines. l

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Juventus strike early to beat Tottenhum n AFP, Melbourne

Juventus’ Pol Lirola (L) in action with Tottenham’s Will Miller during their International Champions Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia yesterday REUTERS

Italian champions Juventus scored two early goals and held off a strong finish from their opponents to down Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Turin giants, who won a fifth consecutive Serie A championship this season, struck early through Paulo Dybala and Medhi Benatia to lead 2-0 at half-time.

Argentinian star Erik Lamela sparked a Spurs comeback when he came on for the second half, scoring a goal and almost grabbing another.

Spurs paid dearly early on for failing to clear the ball when defender Dominic Ball lost possession and Roberto Pereyra picked out fellow Argentinian Dybala.

Dybala went one-on-one with

Allardyce: Rooney still key to England plans n AFP, London New England manager Sam Allardyce admitted Wayne Rooney has a significant part to play in his plans but refused to give assurances about the player’s future as captain.

Rooney recently expressed a desire to continue as skipper, despite criticism following England’s disastrous campaign at the 2016 European Championship in France.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho last week promised the 30-year-old that he would keep the armband at club level.

But Allardyce, speaking at his first press conference since taking over from Roy Hodgson, did not follow suit.

Instead England’s record goalscorer will have a nervous wait until September when Allardyce will meet his players for the first time ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Slovakia.

“I don’t want to put myself out in the open just yet. It’s a decision that I’ll make once I’ve got my feet under the table,” Allardyce said, when asked if Rooney would retain the captaincy.

“I have got to leave that until

we reach all the players and get the coaching staff together and plan for the internationals in September.

“Will I wait until I meet the players? I think so. Put it this way - I still think Wayne Rooney still has a massive place to play in the England side. I don’t think there is any doubt about that.”

Allardyce would not be drawn on whether he thinks Rooney is more suited to a midfield or striking role, and plans to follow Mourinho’s lead on where to deploy the player.

“What’s Rooney’s best position?

I’m not saying! I think Jose will determine that,” added Allardyce.

“Because if Jose says he is not going to play him in centre midfield and he is playing up front and scoring goals for Manchester United then it would be pointless me bringing him into England and playing him in centre midfield.”

Allardyce, who signed a twoyear contract to manage England, has promised his players that they will work in a “fun” environment while he is in charge.

“My style is very much in terms of man-management having a good relationship with the players. Not being distant. That’s not my style.

I like to be in amongst the banter.”l

Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorm and found the bottom corner in just the sixth minute.

The Spurs defenders were punished again when they failed to clear a corner and Moroccan Benatia headed home eight minutes later. New Bosnian signing Miralem Pjanic should have made it three early in the second half when he was released by Brazilian Hernanes, but he blazed his shot over the bar.

Tottenham pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when playmaker Lamela finished neatly after Victor Wanyama won possession on halfway. Lamela almost scored again but his shot was beaten down by Juve’s Brazilian goalkeeper Neto.

Neto also had to make a smart save in stoppage time to prevent a Spurs equaliser through Shayon Harrison.l

Pochettino not interested in Argentina job n AFP, London Mauricio Pochettino says he is not interested in the vacant coaching post with his native Argentina because he is happy at Premier League side Spurs.

The 44-year-old said it was natural that being in charge of a high-profile club would see him linked with his country’s top job.

“I think the speculation is normal ... but I am happy at Tottenham,” Pochettino said. l

Higuain on verge of joining Juventus n Reuters Juventus are on the verge of signing Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli, Sky Italy reported on Tuesday.

Higuain, who last season scored a record 36 Serie A goals, is reported to have undergone a medical with the club who have won the title for the past five seasons.

He still has two years to run on his contract but Italian media said Juventus were prepared to pay a buyout clause of 94 million euros ($103.15 million).

If Juventus splash out the full amount it will equal the sum Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, the world’s second highest transfer fee.

On Saturday, Napoli supporters gathered in the city centre to tear up pictures of the Argentine and set fire to replicas of his number nine shirt. l

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez (C) and Lionel Messi during training St Georges Park National Football Centre yesterday

REUTERS

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Bearing (4) 6 By way of (3) 7 Festivity (4) 9 Scrutinise (4) 10 Long-tailed parrot (5) 11 Postpone (5) 12 Copy (3) 14 Singer (5) 17 Endures (5) 20 United (3) 21 Exuded (5) 23 Agreements (5) 25 Stubborn animal (4) 26 Burden (4) 27 Lubricant (3) 28 Actual (4)

DOWN 1 Mass book (6) 2 Dodges (6) 3 Numeral (4) 4 Dry, of champagne (3) 5 Tree (3) 7 Get on (4) 8 Hooked claw (5) 10 Encountered (3) 13 Heathen (5) 15 Small rounded lump (6) 16 Make known (6) 18 Toddlers (4) 19 Distress call (3) 22 Eastern ruler (4) 23 Mild explosion (3) 24 Young fox (3)

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 5 represents O so fill O every time the figure 5 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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Showtime

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Activists target Bollywood

Calvin Harris parties with Kim

n Noor-E-Shahrin

n Mosharraf Kabir A website called Never Forget Pakistan, has posted some hardhitting images of celebrities on Facebook, after reports emerged that the use of pellet guns on protesters in Jammu and Kashmir that have left hundreds injured and blinded many people. The images have been photoshopped to show what these famous faces would look like if their faces had been injured by pellet guns.

Some of the celebrities whose faces have been used in the pictures posted by the group on the social media include Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Mark Zuckerberg, Virat Kohli, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai, and even politicians like Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

“You know these faces. Does

that make the tragedies more important? The stories in the letters are real. The names signed under the letter are real. Just the victim you see in the picture is not real. But do you care what is the profile of the victim for you to sympathise and empathise with them? For you to speak for them?

Why do we need to glamourise a tragedy in order for people to pay attention. Have we all become that numb?” questions their post on Facebook.

The text in each of the photos is meant to describe the alleged atrocities which Kashmiris have faced in the protests that have rocked the Valley since July 7, when Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani was killed by security forces.

While some described a Kashmiri being shot in the left eye when coming back from a cricket practice, others described

how 40 pellets still remain in the body of a victim. All posts criticised the use of the “nonlethal” pellet guns in Kashmir.

The post also says that this campaign is meant to focus on the alleged human rights violations and abuses by the Indian Armed forces and Police.

“Scores have been blinded, several killed and hundreds injured by what India describes as a “non-lethal” weapon i.e. the pellet gun. We condemn and lament the criminal silence and inaction of the Indian Government and Cultural icons of India,” says the post.

The website, Never Forget Pakistan describes itself as a “collective of concerned citizens belonging to various walks of life such as law, journalism, media, etc, who have come together for the advancement of the counter narrative to extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.”l

Before the “Love Story” star Taylor Swift, could even get over her injured rep, guess who was seen partying high with Kim Kardashian? Swift’s most recent ex, Calvin Harris. Her former lover partying with the very celebrity who Snapchatted Swift’s conversation with Kanye, and exposed her to the world.

If this doesn’t kill Taylor, what will?

It was the 47th birthday of the singing sensation, Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas, and a picture taken in J-Lo’s birthday bash shows Harris being all buddy-buddy with Kim. Not to mention, the DJ was in a pretty jolly mood! That probably has something to do with him

getting a chance to dance with the birthday girl.

Calvin proved himself as an expert at heart breaking, after Taylor’s life turned upside down, after their fall out. Two weeks after that, he shared a video of himself enjoying and lip-syncing a Kanye West track. If that’s not enough, he payed a tribute to West, weeks after their break up.

He has made it crystal clear that he has moved on, after dating Taylor for a year. Harris even said that Swift and him have never talked about a music collaboration, when doing the Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, On-Air With Ryan Seacrest. “I can’t see it happening,” he added. He also spoke about Taylor’s new relationship with Tom Hiddleston. l

Tubelight Salman Khan n Showtime Desk No one from Bollywood can even think of calling Sallu Bhai a tubelight, regardless of the situation. Turns out he will be called a tubelight in front of large audiences! And that will only be possible when he is working in a movie!

Salman Khan starts shooting for his next film titled Tubelight from July 28. Tubelight, directed

by Kabir Khan will reunite Salman with his favourite director who has given him hits like Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Kabir

recently took to his social media account to give us a glimpse of the breathtaking location where Tubelight will be shot.

Tubelight will be a cross border love story set in the year 1960-62 where the lead male role is an Indian who falls in love with a girl from China. It will be a period film based on the time when India was at war with China.

While this isn’t the first war film to be made in Bollywood, what is interesting though is the fact that Salman’s character has a unique name. In the film Salman plays the lead role of a man-child who

is lovingly called Tubelight. The reason why he’s called so, is because the script has him playing a man who is a bit slow in picking and learning many things. It would also be the first time when Salman would play a “special” role in his career where he doesn’t do the usual or play to the gallery.

Kabir has taken special effort to make sure that the character is presented sensitively in the film. l Source: Bollywood Time

Armeen Musa sings for a Kolkata film

Thanks to Bangladeshi actress, Jaya Ahsan, the audience are looking forward to a Bangla film in Kolkata, named Eagoler Chokh.

Now, another Bangladeshi, Armeen Musa’s tie-up with the film, though her playback track, could generate more anticipation than before.

On July 24, a video song from the film, Rater Majhare was put up on the Shree Venkatesh Films’ YouTube channel. The video features some footage of the film along with the scenes of Armeen Musa, recording in a studio.

Sujat Guha penned the lyrics while Bikram Ghosh has composed music for the song.

Directed by Arindam Sil, the

film is based on a detective novel, written by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay.

Earlier, Musa did another playback song in a film from Kolkata. She gave voice to the remix of “Nodi Bhora Dheu” in Parambrata Chatterjee’s debut film, Jiyo Kaka in 2011. l

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

The photographer for the historic March 7 speech passes away at 75

n Showtime Desk

n Showtime Desk

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Showtime

Former Director of the Department of Film and Publication (DFP), GZMA Mobin died at a city hospital yesterday at the age of 75. Mobin recorded the historic March 7 speech given by Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the then Racecourse Maidan. He worked as the chief cameraman of the DFP at that time. After the independence, he served as a cameraman for

Bangabandhu. He later retired as the senior producer of DFP. Mushfiq Mahbub Shubhro, the son-in-law of the deceased said Mobin had been suffering from various diseases including cancer, diabetes, and lung infection.

He left behind his wife, three daughters as well as a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

NEW MONETARY POLICY SAINTFIET FOCUSES ARMEEN MUSA SINGS FOR A KOLKATA FILM PAGE 31 EYEING CREDIT GROWTH PAGE 12 ON ROOKIES PAGE 24

Eviction drive starts before deadline n Abu Hayat Mahmud The proprietor of Dawat restaurant just lost an investment of Tk45 crore yesterday as Rajuk closed down his restaurant in an eviction drive in Gulshan.

He also said a total of 32 restaurant staff will be lose their jobs.

The chef of Dawat, Shafiq said: “We are very upset as we will lose our jobs! What will we do when we are let go? How will I support my family?”

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk) is conducting the drive earlier than the eviction deadline it set for October 4 this year.

During the eviction drive one of the restaurant owners, asking not to be named, said Rajuk on July 11 sent a letter telling them to close down the businesses by October 4.

Defending yesterday’s drive, Rajuk Executive Magistrate Khandker Oliur Rahman said: “Rajuk eviction committee sent the letter but Rajuk mobile court is conducting the drive as a continuous process and it has the authority to conduct a drive at any time.”

The mobile court led by the magistrate began the drive around 10:30am on roads no 1,2 and 3 of Gulshan 1 and removed all the signboards, nameplates and all unauthorised additions to the buildings in front of four restaurants Food Palace, Mollika, CFC and Dawat.

The mobile court also disconnected the power and gas supply of

Rajuk authorities use an excavator to demolish illegally-built footpath as part of its eviction drive against business outlets in Gulshan’s residential areas yesterday MEHEDI HASAN all these establishments for illegally operating a business in residential buildings.

Reply to a query on the commercial usage of residential plot, Taufique Ahmed, owner of the building that houses Dawat restaurant, said he rented it out because it is a common practice to do so.

Magistrate Oliur Rahman said:

IS claims attack on French church n Reuters, France

A priest in his mid-80s was killed with a knife and another hostage seriously wounded yesterday in an attack on a church in northern France carried out by assailants linked to Islamic State.

Both attackers were shot dead

by French police. Five people in all had been taken hostage. A police source said it appeared that the priest had had his throat slit.

Speaking at the scene of the attack in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, French President Francois Hollande said France should “use all its means” in its war against the militant group, against which France has launched air strikes in Syria and Iraq.

The president called it a “dreadful terrorist attack” and told reporters the attackers had pledge allegiance to IS. The IS news agency Amaq said two of its “soldiers” had carried out the attack. “We are put to the test yet again, Hollande said.

“The threat remains very high.”

The attack is the latest in a string of deadly assaults in Europe, including the mass killing in Nice, southern France, on Bastille Day and four incidents in Germany.

Many of the attacks have had links to Islamist militants and IS has called for supporters to target countries that it has been fighting, mainly in Iraq and Syria. Tuesday’s attack took place during morning mass at the Saint-Etienne parish church, south of Rouen in Normandy. l

passions, dreams and aspirations?”

When contacted, the owners of the restaurants acknowledged not having Rajuk permission though they claimed to have trade licenses as well as other necessary documents.

Then the mobile court has show caused the owner of Classic Rock Coffee located in high rise tower on road 3 for having an entrance through a residential space.

The Rajuk officials directed the building owners to close the entrance through residential area and open the building’s south entrance for the cafe.

In the wake of the Gulshan terror attack, which claimed the lives of 24 people, the government sent notices to owners of around 13,000 commercial establishments that have reportedly been set up in residential areas.

The decision was made in line with a government announcement from April 4 this year that said all of Dhaka city’s unauthorised commercial establishments including bars, residential hotels and private universities will be shifted from residential areas within the next six months.

Urban planning experts have criticised this decision, saying instead of carrying out a sudden drive to evict establishments that will likely leave many people without jobs, the government and Rajuk should instead move forward with a well thought-out plan. l

“The landlords have rented out the residential spaces for commercial uses.”

Netizens voiced strong opinions on social media about the eviction drive yesterday.

Syed Mohamad Fahim said: “The owners of these restaurants are self made entrepreneurs who not only took the risk to open their

own ventures but created employments for many.”

Fahim went on to elaborate that the frustrations of unemployed youth leave them vulnerable to radicalisation, saying: “We know the biggest weapon to radicalise young minds is emotional distress, what could be more distressful than losing jobs, investment, property,

DBCCI president’s body recovered

‘Close outer campuses of private universities’

n Tribune Desk Police yesterday recovered body of 55 year-old Md Hassan Khaled, president of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI), from the bank of the Buriganga river at Dhaka’s outskirts in Keraniganj.

The body was recovered four days after the businessman went missing from his Dhanmondi residence.

Police went to the Signboard area at around 12:00pm based on intelligence they acquired yesterday and found the body floating in the river, Keraniganj police station officer-in-charge Ferdous Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune.

Police confirmed Khaled’s identity after they found his visiting card in the pocket of his floating body, he added. l

n Shadma Malik The government has ordered closing down of Darul Ihsan University and outer campuses of other private universities operating in the country.

A notification was issued to this effect by the Education Ministry yesterday, ministry PRO Md Saifullah confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

The development comes amid reports of current and former students of private universities being involved in terrorism.

The University Grants Commission website lists 92 private universities operating in the country.

It notes that the Darul Ihsan University, established in 1993, operates on an unauthorised campus under a

court stay order and that its board of trustees were divided into factions.

Several media reports were published against the Darul Ihsan University accusing them of selling degrees to students. A committee was formed to investigate the university where the probe commission of Justice Kazi Ebadul Hoque suggested its closure for unethical practices on February 15, 2012.

The ministry of education sent the report to the president of the university urging him to close it down. However, the university remain open by obtaining a stay order from the high court, according to media report.

The university established 79 outer campus where some campuses were closed temporarily. l

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