27 Aug, 2016 by DhakaTribune

SECOND EDITION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Bhadra 12, 1423, Zilqad 23, 1437

Upstream rain behind rising waters in Bangladesh n Abu Bakar Siddique The water level of the Padma River has been rapidly rising in recent days, causing concerns that a flood was just waiting to happen in the river's neighbouring areas. However, flood warning authorities assured that even if waters continue to rise and cause an imminent flooding

Farakka Barrage was built to divert water during lean period, not in monsoon. So, all the gates are supposed to be open during monsoon near the Padma, there would not be widespread damage across the country as two other major river systems were currently seeing falling water levels. The Padma's recent change in water level is apparently because of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment are-

as of the Ganges across the border in India, contrary to media reports and rumours suggesting that Padma water was rising because gates had been opened at the Farakka Barrage. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), this latest water level rise was natural and not unusual as heavy rainfall in the upper catchment of the Ganges was causing water to flow downstream. “The rate of water level rising in Padma River is not abnormal in the month of August,” said Md Sazzad Hossain, the on-duty forecasting officer at the FFWC. August is considered as mid-monsoon and heavy to very heavy rainfall is a normal trend during this time across the whole catchment of the river from its origin at northern India to Bangladesh. In the coming days, the Indian Meteorological Department forecasts that: “Uttarakhand state of India, from where the river originated, might experience widespread rainfall in next five days”. As a result, the water level in the lower catchment areas in Bangladesh might also experience an increase in the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE

Wanted Bangladeshi man held in Malaysia

Ganges floods India’s Uttarakhand

Peyar Ahmed Akash, involved with Jamaat-Shibir and facing Interpol red alert, is facing interrogation in Malaysia for his suspected link to terrorist activities.  PAGE 3

After only six weeks of India’s annual 17-18 week summer monsoon, India’s Uttarakhand state is reeling under a series of flash floods that experts blame on the hydroelectric projects.  PAGE 5

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News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

‘Be aware of people around you’ n Kamrul Hasan

Speakers at an awareness programme yesterday urged citizens to be aware of their surroundings, watch the behaviour of young family members and assist police to combat militancy. Killing people cannot be acceptable by any means, the speakers said. The event was held at Mirpur Bangla College premises by the Jongi and Santrasbad Birodhi Oikka Committee (Citizens United Committee Against Terrorism and Militancy) yesterday afternoon. Saiful Islam Rafique, the principal of Mohammabad Islamia Alia Madrassa, said militants were luring young people with false prom-

ises but the truth was that Islam asks to protect foreigners in one’s land. Prof Golam Wadud of Bangla College said those who were involved in militancy were deviants from the society. Local Awami League leader Bajlur Rahman said it was difficult for law enforcers to look for criminals because their posting keeps changing frequently. “It is the local people who have been living in the area for a long time that can identify outsiders,” he said. He called on the public to keep watch on their neighbours and inform the police if suspicious. DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said police would up-

root militancy from the country and for this purpose the force was being upgraded to meet current threats. “The nation that can shed blood for its mother tongue can never allow terrorist activities to go on. Police will ensure that every criminal will face justice. Nobody will be spared.” The officer urged teachers to be careful in their institutions against people trying to radicalise students. Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque said law enforcers had uncovered the criminals behind most of the killing and attack cases and charges had been brought against many of them.

He said 57 militants had been already sentenced to death. Both the IGP and the DMP Commissioner urged people to assist the police to identify those who seem to have moved into any locality with bad intentions. The IGP criticised people who had questioned the police’s role in the Kallyanpur drive, saying the militants did not want to be arrested by the law enforcers. “They wanted to go paradise and get Hoors,” he said. “We went in four-and-a-half hours after we found them. All that time they were slandering us and shooting at us,” he said, referring to the Kalyanpur drive where nine militants were killed. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Houses on the bank of the Padma River in Talaimari Shaheed Minar area of Rajshahi city have been submerged by flood water. The photo was taken yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Upstream rain behind rising waters in Bangladesh next few days, FFWC official Sazzad said. In its flood bulletin yesterday, the flood forecast centre warned: “The Ganges River may continue to rise for the next 72 hours. Ganges at Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points are flowing 17cm, 22cm and 21cm respectively below their danger level and the river Mohanonda at Chapainawabganj point is flowing 23cm below its danger level.” But Sazzad Hossain said the danger level near Hardinge Bridge point might be crossed if the trend continued for the next three days.

However, he rejected any possibility of a devastating flood in Bangladesh in the coming days, saying that even though Ganges water level was on the rise, Brahmaputra and Surma-Kushiyara Rivers were in a falling trend. According to yesterday's FFWC bulletin, water level in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna Rivers may continue to fall for the next 72 hours and Surma-Kushiyara rivers may continue to fall for the next 24 hours. Bangladesh usually experiences major floods when three major river systems – Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna – simultaneously ex-

perience a rising trend.

'No links to Farakka Barrage'

There has been speculation – both on Bangladeshi media and social networks – that Padma water level was experiencing a sharp rise because Indian authorities had opened all the gates of Farrakka Barrage located in West Bengal. But there was no strength behind such rumours as the Farakka gates were supposed to stay open during monsoon every year, said Prof Ataur Rahman, chairman of the department of water resources management at Bangladesh Uni-

versity of Engineering and Technology (Buet). “Farakka Barrage was built to divert water during lean period, not in monsoon. So, all the gates are supposed to be open during monsoon,” the Buet professor told the Dhaka Tribune. In addition, the feeder canal of the barrage had the capacity of only 40,000 cusec, while the river carried around one million cusec of water during monsoon. So, the Indian authorities do not have any reason to keep the gates closed during this time of the year, the hydrology expert added. l

Nazrul’s 40th death anniversary today n UNB The 40th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed today with due respect. Nazrul, popularly known as Bidrohi Kabi, through his powerful poems had inspired the people to fight against all kinds of odds and injustice and repression during the colonial rule. Nazrul's songs and poems were also a great source of inspiration for the freedom fighters during the country's Liberation War in 1971. On August 27, 1976, the poet passed away in Dhaka at the age of 77 after suffering from a long ailment. Different socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day. The programmes will start with Qurankhwani after Fazr prayers at Dhaka University (DU) central mosque. Later, teachers and students of the university will place wreaths at the grave of the national poet at 7:15am. Besides, special prayers will be offered at the poet's grave and a discussion will be held there where DU Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique will be present. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will also place wreath at the grave of Kazi Nazrul Islam in the morning. In the evening, it will arrange a discussion and cultural programme where Cultural Affairs Secretary Aktari Mamtaz will be present as the chief guest. Bangla Academy will organise a solo-lecture session followed by a cultural show at its Poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium at 4 pm. Ruling Awami League will pay homage to the national poet by placing at wreath at 8am. Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on May 24 in 1899 at Churulia village in Asansol subdivision of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India. l

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Wanted Bangladeshi man arrested in Malaysia n Rafiqul Islam, Feni Peyar Ahmed Akash, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Malaysia involved with Jamaat-Shibir and facing Interpol red alert, is facing interrogation in the South-east Asian country for his suspected link to terrorist activities. He was arrested by detectives from his house in Puchong, Malaysia on August 19, and has remained in police custody since then. Akash was earlier arrested by Malaysian police for his suspected involvement in terrorist activities on December 15, 2014. Akash came into light in 2005 after RAB arrested him for selling off four AK47 rifles – stolen from the 10-truck arms seized in 2004 – to Delwar alias Azrail Delwar, a listed terrorist linked to Shibir. But he managed to come out of jail on bail by the grace of his brother-in-law Abu Yusuf – the nayeb-e-ameer of Feni district unit Jamaat. The Malaysian government launched crackdown on suspected militants since last year after two Malaysian radical preachers in an IS video called for carrying out attacks in the country. It also enacted a strict anti-terrorism law to help curb the growing number of Malaysian citizens joining IS. Since then, its government has arrested several hundred people

Shibir leader Akash (in red shirt) and his associates after their arrest in 2005 for their link to IS and al-Qaeda. The arrestees include armed forces members, police officials, imams and women. On June 21 this year, IS released a video, featuring its Malaysia-origin operative Muhamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, urging supporters to kill non-Muslims in Malaysia. In recent months, several dozen Bangladeshis were arrested in Singapore for recruiting members to join Islamic State in Syria and wage armed attacks in Bangladesh. Some of them have been sentenced to different jail terms. Hailing from Noyonpur village under Dagonbhuiyan upazila, Akash joined Jamaat-e-Islami’s radical student wing Shibir while studying in Shaheen Academy

School of Feni town, run by Jamaat. He passed SSC in 1993 and eventually got engaged in arms trading. RAB arrested him along with three of his associates in Feni on September 18, 2005 based on information given by Delwar, who was killed in an alleged gunfight with RAB at Fatikchhari of Chittagong on May 7, 2005. During interrogation, Akash told the police that he had been aware of the 2004 arms smuggling and had sold off the arms to different terrorist outfits with the help of sergeants Alauddin and Helal Uddin. Jailed for seven years in the case, he secured bail after some time and resumed arms trading, according to sources in Feni police. Akash went to Malaysia after the 1/11 changeover and got engaged

in manpower and hotel businesses, and soon became an influential leader of the Feni community in Kuala Lumpur. He is also accused of campaigning against the war crimes trials in the Bangladeshi community in Malaysia for long. Being informed, Bangladesh government last year requested Interpol for his arrest, and later Interpol issued the red alert. Md Fazlul Amin Javed, a manpower agent partner of Akash, told the Dhaka Tribune that Akash had threatened him with death in 2014 over business issues. Later, the Malaysian police arrested him in the case. “Akash has long been conspiring to damage Bangladesh’s manpower market in Malaysia by circulating false and fabricated information. Surprisingly, the Bangladesh High

Commission officials in Malaysia, who were informed about the Interpol alert, have always remained silent,” he alleged. Sources said Akash campaigns from his restaurant named Rasana Bilash in Kuala Lumpur. He often organises discussions at the restaurant with Jamaat leaders and supporters to condemn the ongoing war crimes trails. He even attended a meeting of pro-Jamaat firm Mission Group as the chief guest in Kuala Lumpur on April 19 last year. Akash identified himself as a community leader when Jasad MP Shirin Akhter of Feni 1 constituency went to Kuala Lumpur to attend a conference in July. He often attends the high commission’s programmes as a community leader, apparently to hide his misdeeds. His Bangladeshi associates in Malaysia include Zahirul Islam Hiron, Mohammad Mohiuddin, Saleh Ahmed Sagar, Shahnoor, Mominul Huq, Ziauddin Mahmud and Mohammad Akhter Hossain, sources say. When contacted, Jamaat leader Yusuf said that he had no contact with Akash for long, and that he was unaware of his arrest. Superintendent of Police Rezaul Huq said that he had not been instructed by the government highups to take any steps regarding Akash. l

Govt ‘mulling to revoke’ Reports on ‘withdrawing’ Zia’s Swadhinata Zia’s Swadhinata Puroshkar Puroshkar raise BNP’s concern n Bangla Tribune The government is mulling to revoke late president Ziaur Rahman’s Swadhinata Puroshkar or Independence Award in line with a High Court order. The Cabinet Committee on National Awards has already recommended the move showing three reasons. The recommendation will soon be placed for consideration at the Prime Minister’s Office. In its recommendation, the cabinet committee said: “Those who assumed power violating the constitution should be tried so that no one dares to commit in future. But on the contrary, he [Zia] was given the award posthumously. “From November 1975 to March 1979, the country was ruled without any active parliament. This clearly indicates autocracy. During the time, former president Ziaur Rahman led the autocrat government.” Zia was awarded with the Swadhinata Puroshkar in 2003, during the BNP-Jamaat alliance rule. The award – a medal and a citation – has

been kept in the National Museum. According to a report by Bangla daily Ittefaq, a meeting of the cabinet committee on Wednesday unanimously nodded for the decision and now waiting for the premier’s opinion on the issue. If the prime minister gives a goahead, the medal and the citation will be removed from the museum. However, the government will publish a gazette notification before that. The committee also maintained that the 2003 decisions on Swadhinata Puroshkar were contrasting to the amendments brought on the award procedures till 2016. A source in the cabinet committee said since Zia’s assuming to power had been declared unlawful by the High Court and the Appellate Division, the cabinet committee too considers it as a punishable offence. The committee also decided unanimously that since the Independence Award was the highest national award, it should be given only to the people who contributed for the country and are not controversial. l

n UNB

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday voiced deep concern over media reports that the government had taken a move to take away the Independence Award given to its founder Ziaur Rahman posthumously. “Newspapers today [yesterday] ran a news item that Ziaur Rahman’s Swadhinata Puroshkar to be taken back. The entire nation has got worried and surprised with it,” he said. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Fakhrul further said: “The BNP-led government awarded late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman with the Swadhinata Puroshkar in 2003, and it is a glorious example of political generosity in Bangladesh history.” Asked whether BNP has got any information in this regard from any source, Fakhrul said: “We have somehow come to know that the Cabinet meeting has decided to withdraw Ziaur Rahman’s Swadhinata Puroshkar.

“It is a suicidal and unbecoming decision of the cabinet.” Claiming that Zia had declared the independence and led the war from the front, Fakhrul said: “He was awarded with the gallantry award of Bir Uttam by the post-liberation government in 1972 for his contributions to the Liberation War.” Mentioning that Ziaur Rahman had introduced the Independence Award, the BNP leader said the ruling party could dishonour him by withdrawing his award, but would not be able to erase his achievements. Swadhinata Puroshkar is the

highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh in recognition of any person’s outstanding contributions in any field. Zia was given the award posthumously in 2003 during the BNP-Jamaat rule. The BNP secretary general said they were observing with frustration that the ruling party was trying to divide the nation instead of uniting it. “They are doing it in a planned way to make their political gains.” He alleged that the Awami League was pushing the country towards destruction through its negative politics. Mentioning that their party believes in the politics of unity, he said there was no alternative to “restoring” democracy and forging unity to overcome the country’s current problems, including militancy. He called upon the government to restore democracy in line with people’s hopes and aspirations shunning its negative and destructive politics. “Or else people will not forgive you and you have to be accountable to them some day,” he said. l

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

JnU students warn to wage tougher movement n

Rafikul Islam

Students of Jagannath University have warned that they would wage tougher movements if their demand of constructing student halls at the vacated Dhaka Central Jail in Old Dhaka is not realised by the government. They made the announcement during a solidarity rally yesterday organised at the Central Shaheed Minar in the afternoon. Students from a total of 13 public universities including Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology expressed solidarity with the rally. Several students from private universities also joined the rally to express their support. Former students of JnU were also participated in the rally. JnU Samajtantrik Chhatra Front President MM Mujahid Anik said: “Tomorrow [today], human chains demanding the construction of the halls will be organised at all public universities across the country. If the authorities concerned do not assure us in meeting our demands within Sunday [tomorrow], we will organise tougher programmes to

Jagannath University students stage demonstration in front of Central Shaheed Minar yesterday demanding residential halls in the vacant space of old Dhaka Central Jail premises MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU press for our movement.” Students have been demanding the announcement of specific locations of the new dorms and to transfer the old Central Jail plot to the university for building new dorms since August 1. On Thursday, DU students under

the banner of “General Students of Dhaka University” expressed their solidarity with the protesting JnU students through a press conference at Madhur’s Canteen. “JnU students have been fighting for their rational demands for years and we support this move-

ment” said Samantha Sharmin, a masters student of fine arts. The DU students also condemned the police attacks on JnU students who were marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office to press home their demand for residential halls. l

JU Chhatra Dal leader killed in road accident n Mahadi Al Hasnat

The vice-president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Jahangirnagar University unit was killed in a road accident on Dhaka-Aricha highway yesterday. Shahidullah Tushar, a graduate student of statistics department, hailed from Bhola district. Eyewitness Abdur Rahim Saikat, the JU unit Chhatra Dal general secretary, said that four JCD leaders were returning to Savar from Dhaka on a BRTC bus around 3pm after attending a scheduled programme. “Tushar was standing on the doorway talking on his mobile phone when the bus driver swerved to let a vehicle through but he hit a parked rickshaw van in front of Sheikh Hasina National Youth Centre,” Saikat said. “The impact caused Tushar to fall off the bus and onto the road,” he added. Tushar was rushed to Enam Medical College Hospital at Savar in a critical condition where the doctors declared him dead. OC of Ashulia police Mohsinul Kadir said that they could not detain anyone in connection with the death of Tushar. JU unit Jatiyatabadi Teachers’ Forum and Chhatra Dal expressed deep shock at his death. l

Bernicat meets FS, Four smugglers detained with discusses preparation 12kg gold in Dhaka for Kerry’s visit n Kamrul Hasan

n UNB US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat yesterday met Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at the Foreign Ministry and discussed the overall preparation over US Secretary of State John Kerry’s Dhaka visit. Security arrangements during Kerry’s visit was also discussed at the meeting that lasted for over an hour from 11am, said a diplomatic source. Kerry arrives here on a one-day visit on Monday morning, and both sides think the visit will help take the Dhaka-Washington relations to a new height. Bernicat had several meetings over the last few weeks and discussed various aspects of Kerry’s “less than 12-hour” stay in Dhaka, including security arrangements, Foreign Ministry sources said. A big advance team from the United States is already in the city to inspect security arrangements for the visit. The team is likely to

visit the Foreign Ministry today. US Embassy spokesperson Nancy VanHorn said priority areas for the visit will include US’ growing cooperation on global issues, bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights. On August 30, Kerry and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will co-chair the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD). Secretaries Kerry and Pritzker will be joined by their respective Indian co-chairs, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, along with members of the US delegation and their Indian counterparts. The S&CD is the signature mechanism for advancing the United States’ and India’s shared priorities of generating sustainable economic growth, creating jobs, improving the business and investment climate, enhancing livelihoods, and sustaining the rules-based global order. l

Four members of an international smuggling gang were detained on Thursday with 12kgs of gold from Dhaka’s Tati Bazar and Savar’s Aminbazar areas. The detainees were the ring leader Dinabandhu Sarker, 39, and his accomplices Tapash Malakar, 32, his wife Monti Malakar, 26, and Dulal Chandra Das, 32. RAB 1 Commanding Officer (CO) Lt Col Tuhin Mohammad Masud said at a press briefing yesterday that a RAB 1 team detained Tapas, Monti and Dulal at Turag bridge area on Thursday afternoon with 7.991kgs of gold. The gold was being smuggled from Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East. The group evaded customs by smuggling gold into India and the employing clever strategies to smuggle them into Bangladesh. Tapash disguised himself as an entrepreneur used his own car to smuggle the gold through the border. RAB later detained Dinabandhu

RAB produce four gold smugglers in front of the media at the RAB 1 office yesterday PHOTO: RAB from his house at Panitola building and recovered 4.15kgs of gold. He is the owner of Antor Silver Store in Tatibazar area. Tapash and his wife Monti have been smuggling for last 5 years, the CO added saying: “He has a shop in Tatibazar where he invested Tk 60 lakhs and has been smuggling

since 2011.” He previously worked in a goldsmith shop at Baitul Mokarram area. Three more – Hridoy Das, 55, Neel Krishna Ghosh, and Sumon De, remain at large. RAB is conducting drives to arrest them, the CO added. l

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Ganges floods India’s Uttarakhand as ministries bicker over dams

Jubo Dal leader killed in mob beating n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

Mountain communities are cut off by floods and landslides Dev Dutt Sharma/Mountain Partnership. Flash floods have been devastating Uttarakhand DEV DUTT SHARMA/MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP

n Tribune Desk After only six weeks of India’s annual 17-18 week summer monsoon, India’s Uttarakhand state is reeling under a series of flash floods that experts blame at least partly on the hydroelectric projects that had been started in the Himalayan state and then abandoned under a Supreme Court directive following the huge flash floods of 2013. Faced with this double whammy of climate change impacts and abandoned partially-built dams that have channelled rivers in new directions, residents of many Uttarakhand villages are now stuck behind multiple landslides, with food running out and their homes in danger of being washed away or buried under yet another landslide. People suffer, ministries bicker In such a situation, different ministries of the Indian government are quarrelling over the resumption of the stalled dams. The ministries of power and of environ-

ising a fresh hydropower policy to give a push to the sector that has been virtually halted due to opposition on the ground from people likely to be displaced by the projects. Environmentalists have also been opposing the projects, and the situation in Uttarakhand gives strength to their arguments. There were 24 hydropower projects under construction in Uttarakhand when the 2013 floods hit the state, out of the 70 that have been planned for many years. Together, these 70 projects are supposed to generate 9,000MW, but the water resources ministry has now pointed out to the Supreme Court that this potential has been bandied about without any consideration given to the carrying capacity of the rivers, the minimum water flow required to keep the rivers alive (the so-called environmental flow or e-flow) or the needs of local residents. The ministry now wants a cumulative impact study, taking all the proposed projects into account.

ment, forests and climate change have told the Supreme Court that they want five of the hydroelectric projects resumed, while the ministry of water resources and Ganga rejuvenation has opposed any resumption. The Indian Water Resources Ministry told the Supreme Court: “The three rivers, namely Alaknanda, Mandakini and Bhagirathi, and Ganga river from Dev Prayag downwards till Ganga Sagar should remain in their current condition without any further disruptions/ interruptions or diversion.” Alaknanda, Mandakini and Bhagirathi together make up the Ganga before it descends from the Himalayas to the plains. Ganga Sagar is at the mouth of the Ganga, where it flows into the Bay of Bengal. Officials in the ministry said the prime minister was keen to ensure “sufficient” water flow in the Ganga to dilute at least the worst of the pollution it suffers from further downstream. But the power ministry is final-

The five dams that the other ministries want to resurrect are the 300MW Alaknanda project, 24.3MW Bhyunder Ganga project, 4MW Khirao Ganga project, 171MW Lata Tapovan project and 195MW Kotlibhel 1A project. The government has recommended “considerable design modifications” on the Alaknanda and Kotlibhel 1A projects. Opposing this and pointing out that rejuvenating the Ganga was one of its mandates, the ministry has told the Supreme Court: “If the origin of the Ganga is compromised, then the rejuvenation of the river will be impossible.” The Environment Ministry had told the Supreme Court something similar in 2014 but has now changed track. There are media reports that the change came after a meeting convened by the prime minister’s office. l This thirdpole.net article has been republished under Creative Commons licence.

A Jubo Dal leader was beaten to death allegedly by an angry mob in Chittagong's Raozan upazila early yesterday. The dead Abul Hashem alias Heja Hashem, 42, was son of Md Moslem, a resident of Raozan's Sattarpara area, Raozan police station OC Kefayet Ullah to the Dhaka Tribune. Local BNP leaders said Abul Hashem was the joint convener of Raozan thana Jubo Dal unit and also the convener of Raozan municipal Swechchhasebak Dal unit. However, according to police, the BNP youth wing leader was a professional robber and was killed when he went to the area to commit robbery along with other members of his gang. OC Kefayet Ullah said: “Hashem was a charge sheeted accused in a robbery case filed with Raozan police station in 2014.” “The incident took place when a group of armed robbers went to Golachipa area of Yasin Nagor village under Holudia union in the early hours to rob the locals,” the OC said. “Locals then caught Hashem red handed and beat him up indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured,” he added. Police went to the spot and rescued him after receiving information, and later took to a local hospital. Later he was shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where he succumbed to his injuries around 5:30am, the OC said. When asked, Jasim Uddin, president of Raozan municipal ward 7 Jubo Dal unit, claimed that the allegations against Hashem's were false. He said the police were telling a fabricated story as local goons of Chhatra League and Jubo League picked him up for political rivalry and beat him up. l

School building collapse kills 1 n UNB A man was killed and 50 people were injured after a school building collapsed at Bana in Alfadanga upazila yesterday. The dead was identified as Mohammad Rubel, 40, a resident of Dighal Bana village in the upazila. Bana union parishad chairman

Upazila Health Complex and Faridpur Sadar hospital, he said. Meanwhile, Rakibul Hasan, 4, was killed and two people, including his mother Fatema Khanam, 34, were injured after a wall of their house collapsed at Rajuarghona in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar around 3pm, said Hoanak union parishad chairman Mostafa Kamal. l

Humayun Kabir Babu said a group of people was witnessing a friendly football match at the school ground from the rooftop of the tinshed building in the afternoon. The building collapsed around 6pm when they were getting down from it hurriedly after the match, leaving Rubel dead on the spot. The injured were taken to the

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

DRIZZLE SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

Dhaka

Chittagong

Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:22

Rangpur

Khulna

Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:38AM

35.6ºC Sylhet

21.8ºC Tetulia

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES

Sylhet

Cox’s Bazar

Fajr: 5:05am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:00pm | Magrib: 6:36pm Esha: 8:30pm Source: Islamic Foundation

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Power shortage rattles Lakshmipur Islam Swapan, n Saiful Lakshmipur For a month now, some 18 lakh consumers in the Lakshmipur district have been suffering from regular and frequent power cuts that have brought their lives to a standstill. Across the district, people say they have had three-hour power cuts almost every two hours. Apart from the town, the crisis is worst in the 13 unions of Lakshmipur Sadar, Ramgati and Kamalnagar upazilas and nine unions in Chandraganj. The town’s commercial areas have been the hardest hit. Arun

Chandra and Baker Hossain, two traders from Dalalbazar, said since July 30, there has been a regular power cut at 5am that lasts till 1011am. For the rest of the day power supply comes back for half-anhour at a time. Traders were suffering due to the lack of electricity, they said. On Thursday, between 5am and 2pm there were four power cuts. Dakkhin Hamchhadi Union’s Awami League leader Nur Nobi Master said for a month now there is no power supply in the evening. Students are the worst victims of this problem, he said.

Water supply management officials at the Raipur municipality said because of the frequent power cuts they had been unable to supply water continuously to citizens. Ali Hossain, a journalist from Chandraganj, said in Kamalnagar upazila people were getting no more than four-five hours of power every day. Sources at the Lakshmipur Palli Bidyut Samiti said at present it was only able to provide some 23-27MW of the 50MW demand made by its 2.1 lakh clients across the district. Samiti’s General Manager Shahjahan Kabir said the crisis was be-

ing caused by the Chandpur plant which had stopped production. Also, development work was underway at the 33,000 KV transmission lines in the Chownuhani– Lakshmipur local grid. Some warned that discontent was forming among the public and could end up in protests. In October 2014, public anger over power outage turned into a riot as an angry mob attacked the Raipur Palli Bidyut office and set fire to seven vehicles. Locals also blocked roads and seiged Palli Bidyut offices in other parts of the district. l

Gazipur sweater factory catches fire n Tribune Desk

A fire broke out at a sweater factory in Fakir Market area of Tongi, Gazipur on Friday afternoon. Duty officer Saiful Islam of Tongi office of Fire Service and Civil Defense said the fire erupted as a gas pipe got leaked at ‘Saad Fashion’ around 4pm, reports UNB. On receiving information, two units of fire fighters rushed in and put out the flame around 4:30pm, he added. However, no casualty was reported. l

Suspected pirate killed in Sundarbans ‘gunfight’

n Hedait Hossain Molla, Khulna A suspected pirate has been killed in a “gunfight” with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB and police in Fultala area in Sundarbans. The deceased is Abu Bakar, 45, chief of pirate gang Saija Bahini. RAB 6 Assistant Director Md Jahid Hossain said: “Acting on a tip off, a team of RAB accompanied by Koira police raided the area around 7:30am on Friday. “The pirates opened fire at us when we reached the spot.” In retaliation, the law enforcers fired back that left on of them dead while the others fled the scene. Meanwhile, two firearms, four rounds of bullets and two machetes were recovered from the spot. The body has been sent to Khulna Medical College morgue for autopsy. Khulna Police Super Md Nizamul Hoque Mollah said confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. l

Trawler capsizes, one dies n Zahirul Islam Khan, Madaripur

A woman died and 12 others went missing after an engine-run boat sank in the Kumar River in Madaripur. OC of Madaripur Sadar police station Ziaul Morsed said the boat capsized at Kenduya around 7pm on Thursday after a head-on collision with another boat. A number of Hindu pilgrims were returning home after celebrating Janmashtami at Madaripur district headquarters. All of passengers of the boat managed to swim ashore, expect 13 people. Later, local people rescued Bhanumoti Bala in critical state. She was taken to Madaripur Sadar Hospital where she died. l

A procession is brought out in Dinajpur district town yesterday, marking the 10th anniversary of the Phulbari Tragedy Day

Quader for RMG workers’ Eid leave in alternate phases n Raihanul Islam Akand, Gazipur

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday urged owners of readymade factories to grant leave to their employees duing Eid in alternative phases to ease traffic cognestion on highways. He said: “Traffic congestion takes a severe turn in Savar and Gazipur where most garment factories are situated, as authorities of garments give leave to their workers simultaneously before every Eid. This trend should be changed.” The minister said this while talking to journalists during a visit

to the construction site of the Gazipur-Tangail four-lane highway at Bhogra, Gazipur in the morning. He also said the government earlier requested garment owners to give leave to their staff in alternative phases, but they did not pay heed to the appeal. “This year, my ministry [Road Transport and Bridges Ministry] has already given directives to the BGMEA to take steps over the issue, he added. Terming keeping vehicular movement on highways smooth before and after Eid aș a big challenge, Obaidul said: “The government had

taken a decision not to allow any cattle markets beside highways. It also asked people concerened for stopping the unfit vehicles carrying cattle at the start point of their journey.” Home-bound people faced no trouble in roads and highways during the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, claimed the minister, adding that they had already started taking preparations to make the people’s journey safe and trouble-free during Eid-ul-Azha as well. During the visit, high officials of Roads and Highways Department and police personel accompanied the minister. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Schoolboy hacked to death

Md Abdur Rouf, n Khondaker Naogaon A schoolboy was hacked to death Chokabir village, Badalgachhi upazila, Naoganon. Ahosun Habib Bidduit, 16, son of Md Anowar Hossein of village Kola, was a student of class X at Balubhora High School. Family members said Bidduit went out of house after getting a phone call. But, he did not return home at night. Local people found his body at a paddy field on Friday morning and informed police about the matter. l

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Waterway strike on, passengers suffering Plying of passenger vessels starts on limited scale Mamun with Anisur n Sohel Rahman Swapan, Barisal Suffering of commuters continued on Friday, as operations at most river ports across Bangladesh were disrupted for the fourth consecutive days. Most vessels in Barisal, Chandpur, Chittagong and other ports in the country have been anchored at terminals since early hours of Tuesday when transport workers under the banner of the Water Transport Workers’ Movement Committee went on a wildcat strike for indefinite period, demanding their several point demands. The demands include fixation of minimum salary for the river transport workers at Tk 10,000 and stoppage of extortion on river routes. Ohidul Islam Bulbul, convenor of Water Transport Workers’ Movement Committee, told the Dhaka

Tribune that they would continue their strike until the government fixed Tk10,000 as minimum wage for waterway transport workers. He also said vessels were plying in a limited scale at several places and the percentage was less then 30%. He also expressed hope that a solution might come from today’s meeting which would be held between the representatives of the government and leaders of transport workers. State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Mujibule Haque Chunnu is likely to preside over the meeting at Labour Department in Dhaka. Earlier, a meeting was held between the government and launch owners association over the deadlock on Thursday, but no solution came out from the meeting. After that meeting, Director of

Labour Department FM Ashrafuzzaman told journalists that they would sit with transport leaders soon to resolve the ongoing crisis. According to our Barisal correspondent, operation of passenger-carrying vessels started on the Dhaka-Barisal route in a limited scale. Passengers alleged that taking the advantage of strike, transport work took additional money. Rezanur Rahman, a resident of Muladi, said: “I have to go to Dhaka for an emergency. Transport workers are taking extra money from us. I have no way but to give them the amount what they are demanding.” Mustafizur Rahman, an official at Barisal river port, said MV Suravi left Barisal port for Bhola via Sreepur and Veduria at about 2pm and MV Green Water left the port for Maju Chowdhurir Hut via Patarhut at 4pm.

Apart from this, MV Sundarban 10, MV Kirtankhola 2, MV Suravi 8, MV Parabat 9 and MV Farhan 8 left the port at night, he added. Sheikh Abdur Rahim, vice-president of Barisal Launch Owners’ Association, said a group of water transport workers started strike violating law making the passengers and owners hostages, but they decided to start plying of launches to ease people’s sufferings. Giasuddin, convener of Water Transport Workers Movement Association, said owners trying to ply some passenger launches by creating pressure on workers. “But the numbers of the workers were very few and the strike of 200,000 workers is going on full swing.” Abdul Motaleb, assistant police superintendent of river police at Barisal, said law enforcing agencies arranged and assured safety and

security of the vessels, workers and passengers at the port. Meanwhile, operational activities in 16 jetties of Karnaphuli River and the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port remained suspended. Transportation of goods from jetties of Karnaphuli River to different parts of the country also remained suspended. Lighter vessel workers previously enforced another wildcat strike on April 20 to press home a 15-point demand which included raising minimum wage. After six days of deadlock, the strike was withdrawn after a meeting between Shipping Minister Md Shajahan Khan and cargo ship workers, where the wage was increased to Tk10,000 from Tk7,000. Workers of oil tankers are not participating in current strike as the oil tanker owners’ association accepted the new wage, sources said. l

Two bKash fraud gang members held Islam Akand, n Raihanul Gazipur

Rapid Action Battalion has arrested two alleged members of bKash fraud gang from Joydevpur Chaurasta of the district. On Thursday evening, RAB 1 members detained Md Rashed, 30, a resident of Mohishamori area under Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat district, and Parvin Akter Sumi, 25, daughter of later Nazir Ahmed, from Raghunathpur village under Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur district. Five mobile phone sets being used in the crime and Tk48,000 were recovered from their possession, says RAB’s media release issued on Friday. Both had been living in rented houses in Telipara and Dighirchalai areas near to Joydevpur intersection. In the release, RAB said the members of the gang, introducing themselves as law enforcement agency members, order the targeted individual over phone to switch off his/her cell phone for some time and they used to state security reason as its cause. Then they immediately inform his/her family members that the person has met a grave accident and they advice them to send money to specific mobile number through bKash, popular mobile banking system, to ensure emergency treatment for him/her. A RAB team led by Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mohiul Islam arrested two in a shop while they were withdrawing the money sent by a deceived man. l

Students who are going to sit for the combined medical and dental college admission test for session 2016-15 form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka yesterday, demanding 200-mark intake examination instead of 300-mark MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Mohitul laid to rest with state honour n Tauhid Zaman, Jessore

AFM Mohitul Islam, the plaintiff of Bangabandhu murder case, was laid to eternal rest with state honour at his family graveyard at Kashimpur village, Monirampur upazila, Jessore on Friday. Mohitul, who played a pivotal role in bringing the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the book, was buried after Juma prayers and fourth namaz-e-janaza on the premises of his house. Hundreds of people took part in the janaza.

Earlier, another namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of Jhikorgacha BM High School. Khulna Divisional Commissioner Abdus Samad, Jessore Deputy Commissioner Dr Humayun Kabir, Police Super Anisur Rahman, Khulna City Awami League President Talukdar Abdul Khaled, MP, Alhaj Sheikh Afiluddin MP, Advocate Monirul Islam, MP, Swapan Bhattacharya, MP, Abdul Hai, MP, Professor Nabi Newaz, MP, Kamrul Laila, MP, Jessore district Awami League President Shahidul Islam Milon, district Muktijoddha Sangsad Commander

Rajek Ahmed and local leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies participated in the janaza. After the Jazana, Awami League Central Organising Secretary for Khulna Division BM Mozammel Haq, MP, and Awami League central leader SM Kamal Hossain showed respect to the freedom fighter on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mohitul died of kidney complications at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 63 on Thursday. On October 1976, Mohitul filed

a murder case against the killers of Bangabandhu and his family members with Lalbagh police station in Dhaka. Mohitul was a personal assistant of Bangabandhu when he and most of his family members were assassinated at the dreadful night of August 15, 1975. A milad mahfil would be organised tomorrow on the premises of his house after Zohr prayer on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where BM Mozammel Haq, MP, and SM Kamal Hossain will be present as the representatives of the premier, said family sources. l

8 World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Gunmen kill 7 in southwest Pakistan Unknown gunmen in Pakistan killed 6 soldiers and a provincial government official in an ambush on their convoy in the insurgency plagued southwest province of Baluchistan on Friday. The attack took place about 80 km (50 miles) from Gwadar, a port that will play a vital role in a planned $46 bn China-Pakistan economic corridor stretching from the Arabian sea to China’s far-western Xinjiang district. -REUTERS

INDIA

India: Pakistan is prime perpetrator of terrorism Days after India turned down its invitation to hold talks in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan briefed the ambassadors of the 5 UN permanent members and the envoy of the EU on its exchange of letters with India. India, however, strongly countered re-stating New Delhi’s willingness to hold talks and characterizing Pakistan as the prime perpetrator of terrorism in the region. -TOI

CHINA

Hotels in China block people from Muslim countries Police have ordered some low-end hotels in the Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou not to allow guests from 5 Muslim-majority countries to stay. Three hotels with rooms costing about 150 yuan ($23) a night told that they had received police notices to turn away people from Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan. -REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Govt, rebels sign ceasefire deal in Philippines The Philippine government and Communist guerrillas on Friday signed an indefinite ceasefire deal to facilitate peace talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies. Both sides agreed to implement unilateral ceasefires which are unlimited in time, something that has never been achieved before in the peace process. -AFP

MIDDLE EAST

Syria talks: Kerry, Lavrov to thrash out deal US secretary of state John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, will try to hammer out final details of a cooperation agreement on fighting IS in Syria during talks in Geneva on Friday. As the Syrian government and anti-regime rebels continued to rage across the country, diplomats hope that a deal will lead to a cessation of hostilities and relaunch talks on a political transition in the country. -THE GUARDIAN

Islamic dress has long been a subject of debate in France

Burqa

Niqab

Full veil traditionally worn by Pashtuns in Afghanistan Completely covers the head and body, with a mesh screen over the eyes Enforced by the Taliban in Afghanistan

A full veil with a small opening for the eyes Its use is widespread because of the influence of Wahabi Islam developed in Saudi Arabia Mainly used in urban areas

Burkini

Chador

A swimming costume covering the whole body Dozens of French local authorities have banned the outfit, triggering a fierce debate in the country

Hijab

A long cloak covering the body, traditional clothing worn by Iranian women (mostly practising Muslims) While the head is covered the face remains visible

A scarf covering the head, ears and neck, it leaves the face visible Widely used in the Muslim world

France, burkini and battle of cultures n Reuters, Paris France’s highest administrative court on Friday suspended a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has outraged Muslims and opened divisions within the government, pending a definitive ruling. The Conseil d’Etat gave the ruling following a request from the League of Human Rights to overturn the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet on the grounds it contravenes civil liberties. The ban, which spread to more than a dozen coastal towns, had exposed cracks within the Socialist government’s unity as Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended it on Thursday while some ministers criticised it. The issue has shone a light on secular France’s difficulties responding to homegrown jihadists and foreign militants following Islamist attacks in Nice and a Normandy church in July. It has also made French cultural identity a hot-button issue along with security in political debates as the country switches into campaign mode ahead of a presidential election next April. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended the ban in more than a dozen coastal towns on Thursday, saying France was locked in a “battle of cultures” and that the full-body swimsuit symbolised the enslavement of women. Photographs of armed police ordering a Muslim woman on a beach in the Mediterranean city of Nice to partially derobe went viral on social media this week, upsetting many French Muslims and causing global consternation. In a sign of rifts opening in the socialist government before a

A Muslim woman wears a burkini, a swimsuit that leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed, on a beach in Marseille on August 17 REUTERS presidential election in 2017, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, France’s Moroccan-born education minister, cautioned the debate was fanning racist rhetoric and being used for political gains. Reiterating his stance on the issue, he said: “For me the burkini is a symbol of the enslavement of women.” The debate over the burkini ban encapsulates the difficulties secular France faces as it grapples with a response to homegrown jihadists and foreign militants following Islamist attacks on Nice and a Normandy church in July, with security and immigration now central to the presidential election campaign. Former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy, who joined the presidential race on Monday, told the Figaro magazine that France under President Francois Hollande had become too timid. France is not the only country where restrictions on burqas and niqabs are back in the spotlight, and debate on assimilation is rag-

ing, after a wave of militant strikes in Western Europe and an immigration crisis that has forced a rethink of Europe’s open border policy. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives want a partial ban on the niqab, or face veil, while in Austria right-wing politicians have called for a ban on the burqa, which covers the face and body. In Switzerland there are calls for a popular vote on a ban on the burqa. On a visit to Paris on Thursday, London’s Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, condemned the ban, saying no one should tell women what to wear. “I don’t think it’s right,” Khan told the Evening Standard newspaper. “One of the joys of London is that we don’t simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it.”

Islamic State and the burkini

The burkini has been banned by at least 15 towns from Corsica to the northern coast but most restrictions have been enforced in the southeast, an area where the

far-right is strong and which is a gateway and home for many immigrants. In Cassis, where the ban is in place, a beach-railing sign reads: “Because of the terrorist threat, the security forces and army are on a heightened level of alert.” Sunbathing on the beach below as the summer holidays wind down, one 30-year-old from the northern city of Lille who identified herself only as Karine branded the ban “disproportionate”. Vallaud-Belkacem said she opposed burkinis but dismissed the political argument that the ban was a useful tool in France’s fight against militants. “There is no link between the terror attacks of Daesch and the dress of a woman on the beach,” Vallaud-Belkacem told Europe 1 radio, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. “The proliferation of bans fuels stereotypes and discriminates against a community,” she said. Valls on Thursday rejected the idea the ban might fuel sympathies for militant groups such as Islamic State by leaving some Muslims feeling further marginalised. But some government officials are worried. One senior French government official warned that missteps would only exacerbate tensions heightened since a Tunisian drove his truck through a crowd in Nice, killing 86 people, and the murder of a Catholic priest in Normandy. “We have several million Muslims in France who are mostly moderates or non-practicing. If they feel that it is the only subject in public debate they won’t feel at home and will be tempted to withdraw to their communities,” the official said. l

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

INSIGHT

USA

Modi goaded Pakistan in deliberate yet risky move over Balochistan New Delhi/ n Reuters, Islamabad When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top aides to prepare last week’s annual Independence Day address, some senior bureaucrats warned him against mentioning Baluchistan, arch-rival Pakistan’s restive southwestern province. Referring to Baluchistan in such a prominent speech would be a highly unusual move bound to ratchet up tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours more used to trading barbs over Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars. According to a senior official at the meeting in early August, the more hawkish politicians in the room, angered by what they saw as Pakistan’s recent trouble-making in Kashmir, thought differently, and so did Modi. By siding with the hawks, and including Baluchistan in his address, Modi signalled a more muscular approach towards Pakistan. That dims prospects of bringing the bitter rivals closer together to reduce economic pain and the risk of more violence, an issue that will be high on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s agenda when he lands in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit. “The bureaucrats suggested that talking about Baluchistan is a good idea but may be the Independence Day speech was not a good platform for it,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the meeting’s sensitivity. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar “rejected these ideas”, while Home Minister Rajnath Singh

THE BALOCHISTAN CONFLICT The Balochistan conflict has been going on for several decades. There are five main conflicts that happened but the fifth one is the only one still going on today. This conflict involves three countries, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. The Balochistan region contains large amounts of oil & uranium, both which are very expensive and rare. the Balochs, however, want their independence, be their own country. Pakistan has had many conflicts with India, some of them being that they accused the Indians of helping Baloch nationalists. There are three main ethnic-linguistic groups in the Balochistan land, Pakistani, Iranian and Afghan. All of these ethnic groups want to become independent from these countries and be recognised as Baloch. There have been many killings and violent riotings in the past. Nowadays it can be considered a cold conflict, there is a lot of tension between who owns the land (Pakistan or Iran or Afghanistan) but the Baloch still won't give up and will fight for their freedom. Tehran

AFGHANISTAN

IRAN

Islamabad PAKISTAN

Kabul

Quetta BALOCHISTAN

Gwadar “supported him (Parrikar) by saying we should do everything to silence Pakistan”, this official said. India’s Ministry for External Affairs declined to comment on the debate about Modi’s speech. His office, and the defence and home ministries, did not respond to requests for comment. Speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort in Old Delhi on August 15, Modi thanked the Baluch people for their support after a number of separatist leaders published videos praising him for acknowledging their

Karachi

cause previously. He also lashed out at supporters of “terrorism”, in a more familiar broadside against India’s old foe.

Crossing the red line

Pakistan has seized on Modi’s speech as evidence that India has a hand in a decades-long Baluch separatist campaign, in which insurgents in the resource-rich yet impoverished region have launched sporadic attacks and demanded independence. India denies the charge.

A senior foreign ministry official in Islamabad said Modi had “crossed the red line”. Indian officials said Modi’s speech was designed to remind the world about alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani forces in Baluchistan, just as Pakistan accuses India of abusing civilians in the disputed region of Kashmir during recent unrest. But outside Modi’s entourage, questions are being asked about what strategic reward, if any, India can hope to gain by raising the geopolitical stakes. A New Delhi-based diplomat from a major power with traditionally close ties to India said it will only escalate tension.

Deteriorating relations

Two senior Indian officials said Modi had become frustrated with Pakistan’s latest attempt to draw wide international attention to the Kashmir question and the current clampdown, and to take the matter to the United Nations. At the August meeting, Parrikar, the defence minister, also said that by raising Baluchistan, Modi would be highlighting China’s role in unrest in the region, said the official present. The reference to China reflects Indian unease at Beijing’s backing of a $46bn trade corridor running through land in northeast Pakistan that New Delhi claims, onward through Baluchistan to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea coast. Some of the Baluch separatist leaders who praised Modi before his address worry that their battle for a homeland will become a political football between the South Asian neighbours. l

Clinton, Trump clash over who is best for US minorities n Reuters, Manchester, NH Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump on Thursday of fuelling America’s “radical fringe” with racist rhetoric, even as her Republican rival sought to soften his image with an appeal to minorities. Clinton needs to retain support from black and Latino voters to win the November 8 election, the same coalition that helped propel Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Trump, whose support comes

World

mainly from whites, is unlikely to be victorious unless he can cut into that support. The two rivals’ verbal war has worsened recently which is clearly visible in following comments. On Thursday, Trump criticised Clinton before her speech, saying she and her party had let black Americans down with failed economic policies and were falsely labelling Republicans as bigoted. “When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: You’re racist, you’re racist, you’re racist,” Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. Trump has tried recently to

broaden his appeal to the minorities, hinting at a softening of his hardline position on immigration. In comments broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump said he would be willing to work with immigrants who have abided by US laws while living in the country, backing away from his insistence during the prima-

ries that he would try to deport all 11m illegal immigrants. Clinton released a video on Thursday ahead of her Nevada speech tying Trump to white supremacist groups. The video shows a Ku Klux Klan member praising Trump and plays a recording of former leader Klan leader David Duke calling on white people to vote for Trump. The video also shows newly appointed Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who ran the website Breitbart.com, which has been accused of stoking online racists. Trump’s campaign called for the Clinton campaign to withdraw the video. l

Citigroup: Trump victory could cause global recession Citigroup, an American multinational investment banking and financial services corporation, forecast on Thursday that if New York developer Donald Trump wins the White House in November, the global economy could slip into recession. In a research note a team led by the US bank’s chief economist Willem Buiter said the election was a major source of uncertainty in the global economy. -AFP

THE AMERICAS

Bolivian deputy minister killed by miners Bolivian miners kidnapped, tortured and beat to death a deputy minister who tried to negotiate with protesting workers on Thursday, in what the government condemned as a brutal murder. Rodolfo Illanes, who has served as deputy interior minister since March, had gone to a highway blockade in the western highland town of Panduro in an attempt to mediate with miners after days of violent protests. -AFP

Owen accuses Corbyn of lying over EU referendum Labour leadership contender Owen Smith has accused Jeremy Corbyn, his rival, of lying about his remain vote in June’s EU referendum during a fractious hustings event in Glasgow. In his most direct attack yet, Smith – whose team have placed debate over the EU at the heart of their campaign – said: “I’m not even sure that Jeremy did vote ‘in’ in the EU referendum.” -THE GUARDIAN

EUROPE

Car bomb attack kills 11 police in Turkey A Kurdish militant suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden truck into a checkpoint near a police station in southeast Turkey on Friday, killing at least 11 police officers and wounding 78 other people. The attack struck the checkpoint 50 meters (yards) from a main police station near the town of Cizre in Sirnak province that borders Syria. -AP

AFRICA

Extremist attack kills 8 in Somalia Somalia’s security forces Friday morning ended an overnight siege of a beach restaurant by al-Shabab gunmen in which 8 people were killed. Six civilians and 2 soldiers were killed at the Benadir Beach restaurant, a hangout spot for the capital city’s youths. The attack happened near the new Turkish embassy. -AP

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Wanted Indonesian men breed new jihadists n Reuters, Solo, Indonesia During a May 2011 shootout, Indonesia’s counter-terrorism forces killed the leader of a militant group thought to be behind a series of failed bomb attempts around the city of Solo in Central Java. The death of “Team Hisbah” founder Sigit Qurdowi caused the group to splinter. Some formed an anti-vice squad in the city; many others became associated with a former Solo resident called Bahrun Naim, who authorities believe is a leading Indonesian coordinator for Islamic State (IS). Now, five years later, Naim, based in IS’s stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, is building an ever-more sophisticated network of militants from his former hometown, according to police, self-proclaimed radicals and people who work with the militants in Solo. Solo, which has a long history of schools and mosques associated with radical Islamists, is a breeding ground for Naim’s recruits, counter-terrorism officials say, and many of his lieutenants in Indonesia have come from Team Hisbah. As a result, authorities fear the risk of a major attack in Indonesia is growing. Islamist militancy in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation has been contained since a crackdown on Jemaah Islamiyah – al-Qaeda’s franchise in the region - put hundreds of its leaders and followers behind bars in the mid-2000s. But like al-Qaeda before it, IS is reviving a fragmented radical Islamist movement in Indonesia that has endured in various incarnations for the past century, authorities say. Nearly $800,000 has been transferred from foreign countries to fund radical Islamist groups in Indonesia since 2014, officials from Indonesia’s financial transactions watchdog said at an international counter-terrorism conference in Bali in mid-August. It wasn’t clear how much money has come from Naim, who police say is now Indonesia’s most-wanted militant. A man identified as Naim was contacted last November on the Telegram app, using details provided by one of his acquaintances. In that exchange, Naim said IS had “enough men in Indonesia to carry out an action, more than enough support. Just waiting for the right trigger.” The man’s identity or his assertions could not be independently verified.

‘Booming movement’

Amir Mahmud, a former Afghan-trained mujahideen, started the Islamic State Supporters Forum in Solo (also known as Surakarta) in July 2014 to “accommodate the development” of a jihadist movement in Indonesia. Around 2,000 people showed

A man is seen holding a gun towards the crowd in central Jakarta on January 14 this year up to one of its first gatherings at the Baitul Makmur Mosque, where many backed an Islamist caliphate in the Middle East, he said. “This is a spontaneous spiritual calling,” said Mahmud, who is also an Islamic university lecturer. “Islamic State,” he added, “is a booming movement.” Mahmud said two of his sons left Indonesia to fight for IS in the Middle East, and one has since been killed. Indonesia does not prohibit citizens from supporting groups such as IS or fighting for them abroad. Police say they can arrest terrorism suspects only once they have committed a crime on Indonesian soil. “If there is a person who declares support for ISIS, that becomes preliminary evidence for police to investigate whether they are involved in terrorist groups or activities,” Freddy Haris, the justice ministry’s director-general for laws said. “If there is proof they are involved, then we proceed with (legal) action.” Mahmud, who has not been charged in any militant plot, noted that contacting Naim online was not difficult. “Bahrun Naim created a website on detonation, and people can access that,” he said, speaking in a small restaurant near the palace of the Solo sultan. That has been difficult, however, since the government has blocked blogs and websites linked to Naim. Security officials acknowledged that Naim continues to communicate with his recruits through social media and messaging apps. Edi Lukito, leader of an Islamic anti-vice squad called Laskar Umat Islam Surakarta (Surakarta Muslim Battalion) said he knew of regular bank payments Naim made to at least one young recruit in the city. “This young generation has an extraordinary passion for jihad and they want to carry guns quickly,”

said Lukito, who said he does not support IS.

Jakarta attacks

Although not a member of Team Hisbah himself, Naim was the liaison between IS and Hisbah members when he was running an Internet cafe in Solo, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) said. He disappeared in January 2015 after serving time in prison on a 2011 conviction for possession of ammunition and police believed he moved to Syria. Naim emerged from obscurity a year later, when police identified him as the mastermind of gun and bomb attacks in central Jakarta that killed eight people, including the four attackers. Since then, he’s been linked to other thwarted attacks, including a foiled plot, led by Solo native Gigih Rahmat Dewa, to launch a rocket into Singapore’s Marina Bay casino resort area, using a boat from the

REUTERS

neighbouring Indonesian island of Batam. Another member of Team Hisbah, counter-terrorism police said, was 31-year-old Nur Rohman. He blew himself up outside a police station in Solo in July, one of a series of attacks claimed by Islamic State across the world during the Ramadan fasting month, including the killings of foreigners at an upscale cafe in Dhaka just days earlier.

Javanese culture

Nestled in the lush volcanic hills running down the spine of Java, the archipelago’s most populous island, Solo is a hub of traditional Javanese culture, blending elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism. The city of 800,000 is the hometown of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and of the Solo royal family. Solo also has long been host to radical Islamist movements that take their inspiration from the Middle East. It is the hometown of Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of

TERROR GROUPS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Source: The Star

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), who is serving a 15-year sentence for helping to fund a militant training camp in Indonesia’s staunchly Islamic province of Aceh. The city features dozens of Islamic boarding schools, including Bashir’s al-Mukmin Ngruki. “The population of radical groups in Solo is already very high, so they are like raw material ready to be radicalised,” said Solahudin, a leading authority on Islamic extremism in Indonesia. “It’s easier to recruit people in Solo than in other places,” said Solahudin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. A dozen or so radical youth groups operate in the city, including bands of vigilantes, modelled after Saudi Arabia’s religious police like Team Hisbah and the Surakarta Muslim Battalion, who raid the city’s gambling dens, cafes, and brothels, security officials said. They became especially prominent after the fall of Indonesia’s late strongman President Suharto in 1998, who had ruthlessly suppressed any sign of opposition from hardline Islamist groups. Agus Junaedi, who took over the vigilante wing of Team Hisbah after the death of its founder Sigit in 2011, insists the group only conducts anti-vice raids: “Nothing more than that.” “Every time there is an arrest that involves terrorists, it is always linked to Hisbah in Solo,” Junaedi, who runs a small store selling herbal medicines and Korans, complained.

Lacking expertise

Naim uses his contacts in Solo to look for people he believes can be easily radicalised, said a senior counter-terrorism official. “After online contact is established, he will teach them how to make bombs and give them tactical instructions on how to plan attacks,” the official said. Naim’s followers are not capable of mounting a major attack, said Mahmud of the Islamic State Supporters Forum. “They cannot get materials like in the Bali bomb,” he said, referring to the 2002 bombings of night clubs in Kuta Beach, Bali that killed 202 people, most of them foreigners. “It was easy to access in the past, but it has been tightened.” That could be changing. Last week, Indonesia’s counter-terrorism force arrested a suspected militant with alleged ties to Naim. Authorities say he was planning an attack in Bali with the same kind of explosive material used in IS attacks in Paris last November and in Brussels in March. Police seize 150gm of the peroxide-based explosive TATP (triacetone triperoxide), known as “the mother of Satan” in militant circles, in the raid. l

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

US aid to Pakistan shrinks amid frustration over militants n Reuters, Washington, DC Pakistan’s continued support for resurgent militant groups hostile to the US, coupled with warming US military and business relations with India, is sharply diminishing Islamabad’s strategic importance as an ally to Washington, US military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials and outside experts said. The US has cut both military and economic aid to Pakistan sharply in recent years, reflecting mounting frustration among a growing number of officials with the nuclear-armed country’s support for the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan. That frustration has dogged US-Pakistan ties for more than a decade, but has spiked anew as the militant Islamic group has ad-

vanced in parts of Afghanistan that US and allied forces once helped to secure, US officials and analysts say. The US relationship with Pakistan has long been a transactional one marked by mutual mistrust, marriages of convenience, and mood swings. The long-standing US frustration with Pakistan’s refusal to stop supporting the Taliban, especially within the US military and intelligence community, is now overriding President Barack Obama’s administration’s desire to avoid renewed military involvement in Afghanistan, as well as concerns that China could capitalise on fraying ties between Washington and Islamabad, the US officials said. Obama announced last month he would keep US troop levels in Af-

ghanistan at 8,400 through the end of his administration, shelving plans to cut the force in half by year end. American civilian and military aid to Pakistan, once the third-largest recipient of US foreign assistance, is expected to total less than $1bn in 2016, down from a recent peak of more than $3.5bn in 2011, according to US government data. The US has not appropriated less than $1bn to Pakistan since at least 2007. The decrease also comes amid budget constraints and shifting global priorities for the US, including fighting Islamic State militants, a resurgent Russia and an increasingly assertive China. Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter refused to authorize $300m in military reimbursements to Pakistan, citing the

limited gains the country has made fighting the militant Haqqani network, which is based in the country’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. The approval of such funding has been mostly routine in the past. The US Congress has yet to authorise hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan for the next fiscal year. The Pentagon is due to authorize $350m in military aid for the next fiscal year, and is unlikely to approve it under the Obama administration, a US defence official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. In a stark illustration of the limits of US-Pakistan cooperation, the United States killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a drone strike in Pakistan’s remote Baluchistan region in May, without informing Pakistan.

A senior Pakistani defence official said the United States will continue to need Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary to militants operating in Afghanistan. In any event, the official said, Pakistan can turn to other sources of aid, including China. Last year the two countries launched a plan for energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan worth $46bn. Nevertheless, the US tilt toward India, Pakistan’s arch-foe, is likely to continue. Earlier this year, India and the United States agreed in principle to share military logistics, as both sides seek to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China. l

Heritage

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

The Southern Silk Road In China, the lands around the Ganges were known as ‘Western Heaven’

n Tim Steel

hinese historians are quite clear: The first of the great Silk Roads ran between China and the Ganges delta; today, the heartlands of Bangladesh. It is often said that water was the highway of the ancient world, so it comes as no surprise to find that with headwaters in Quinghai Province of China, the great Yellow River and the Yangtze River should provide ample opportunity to access other great rivers that offered outlets to the southern Oceans, and to international markets possibly millennia before the Common Era. The great Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers flow in close proximity, especially to the Yangtze, but they flow into the South China Sea, east of the Malaysian peninsula. There is, however, evidence to suggest the use of the Irrawaddy, with a diversion through ancient Myanmar, possibly from Mandalay

It is slowly becoming recognised in the world of historians that the lands of Bangladesh were some of the earliest, possibly, even the very first, of the great deltaic centres of trade in the world. And we know that such crossroads of merchandise and social and cultural traditions formed, as in the Nile delta, a hot house of economic, social and cultural development

to the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Such an alternative would explain Ptolemy’s map of ancient India marking the modern Bangladeshi city of Ramu. On the other hand, the Tsangpo River in the Tibetan Plateau, and the Lohit River, also with origins on the Plateau, both flow southwards and neither are very distant in their courses from the great rivers of China.

Where they merge, their waters have become known as the Brahmaputra River, with its estuaries in the great Delta, known by the name of the other great South Asian river, the Ganges. Perhaps the “Son of God” epithet owed something to the riches flowing along it? Since the Tsangpo is a very violent river, contained within towering canyons, the Lohit

-- rather more accessible -- was probably the route of choice out of China, with a mild flow through valleys that seldom rise to great heights. Indeed, it was the course of the Lohit that the Chinese Army used when it attacked India in 1962. The romantic phrase, Silk Road, is a recent confection, believed to have originated in the late 19th century in the geographical work

of the German geographer Baron Von Richthofen, uncle of the famous Word War l flying ace. Unfortunately for history, archaeological work of his time was focused on the ancient worlds in proximity to the developed western nations, and so, what is known as the Northern Silk Road achieved the romance and fame that continues to resonate today, making it one of the greatest tourist attractions in the world. However, the contribution of the Southern Road in the economic, social, and cultural development of the world, especially the sharing of early developments within China, cannot be ignored. In fact, it is slowly becoming recognised in the world of historians that the lands of Bangladesh were some of the earliest, possibly, even the very first, of the great deltaic centres of trade in the world. And we know that such crossroads of merchandise and social and cultural traditions

formed, as in the Nile delta, a hot house of economic, social, and cultural development. Former Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, Zhang Xianyi, writes: “The emperor decided to rebuild the connection with the south western region (of China) ... A road that had been there long ago was restored.” How long ago is “long ago,” we cannot tell, but without doubt, it must have been centuries earlier. Local traders of the Han dynasty admitted to an emissary that they used routes to trade in bamboo sticks and cloth, both originating in today’s Sichuan Province, into India where merchants in Bactria -- north of today’s Afghanistan – bought the merchandise, “in the markets of India ... (where) the inhabitants ride elephants when they go in battle. The kingdom is situated by a great river.” It is no great stretch of imagination to suppose that the, “great river” was the Ganges; the use of elephants for warfare is, vividly described, amongst others, by the 4th century BCE Greek traveller Megasthenes. It was nearly two centuries earlier that the name, Bangla, first appeared in Chinese records, in a book named, Records of Different Countries by Zhao Rushi, published

in China in 1225 CE; and in the 14th century, the Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan, wrote what would appear to be a detailed description of the lands around today’s Rangamati. The development of Buddhism within the lands, much of which is now within Bangladesh, became a focus for Chinese interest, after Buddhism was adopted by the Emperor Huang amongst others, as a means of uniting all levels of an increasingly divided Chinese society in the closing years before the Common Era. The evolution of the great Buddhist philosophy continued to contribute to Chinese development. Indeed, whilst in the 7th century, the founder of Islam is credited with inviting his followers to “seek knowledge, even in China;” in China, however, the lands around the Ganges were known as, “Western Heaven.” In the 6th century, it was Buddhist monks who, experimenting with the properties of the naturally occurring chemical, saltpetre, presented their studies to the Emperor of China. From that work in or around Bangladesh originated both the further work that harnessed the chemical’s explosive qualities to develop gunpowder, and the use in the preserving of food, amongst

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

From that work in or around Bangladesh originated both the further work that harnessed the chemical’s explosive qualities to develop gunpowder

many other uses. That the history of its “wealth and trade,” as the sixth Mughal Emperor described these lands, attracted invaders and potential invaders over the ensuing millennia, there is no doubt. And most of the successful flourished, economically, culturally, and socially as a result. Routes and destinations changed over the centuries, and, today, the Southern Silk Road has long ago decayed, leaving only the vast array of architectural splendour to suggest what once was. Even political considerations have conspired to hide it from history, denying to Bangladesh its own opportunity to share in the immense income the Silk

Heritage

Road icons derive from their involvement. But, the history remains. There is considerable tangible, visible, cultural, social, economic, documentary, empirical, circumstantial, and archaeological evidence of what was once one of the most significant routes of ancient times. Ironic, perhaps, the interest China is now evincing, in some form of restoration. Today, a more effective means of transport for goods might be by well made highways, or railways, but the possibility of a new southern Silk Road may not in fact, be entirely out of the question! l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Climate Change

From New Orleans to Dhaka: When climate change adaptation hurts the poor This is the first in a two-part series on urban adaptation to climate change n Zachary Lamb

o one would confuse the bustling megacity of Dhaka for the comparatively sleepy city of New Orleans. Located in the southern United States, where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans is globally renowned for its rich cultural heritage of jazz, street parades, and Creole-influenced cuisine. Like Dhaka, New Orleans is situated on a low-lying delta, putting it in danger from rising sea-levels and other climate change impacts. While New Orleans is a relatively poor small city in one of the world’s wealthiest countries, Dhaka is the booming capital in one of the world’s poorest. After dozens of rain-soaked research outings and countless cups of Bengali milk tea and Louisiana coffee, I have found in my research that while the two cities may be worlds apart, they still share one thing in common -- when it comes to adapting to climate change, the cities’ poorest residents are too often hurt instead of helped. Even under “normal” circumstances, Dhaka and New Orleans are both at risk of flooding and waterlogging. This has led both cities to invest in flood protection infrastructure. Major sections of both New Orleans and Dhaka are surrounded by walls and large earthen embankments (known as levees in New Orleans) designed to keep water out. But it is not just the geography of where these cities lie that puts them at risk of flooding. Decades of social science research has shown that the impacts of what we call “natural disasters” are very much caused by human actions. When urban planners do not pay enough attention to equity in their designs, they contribute to turning natural events like heavy rains and rising rivers into man-made disasters that frequently harm the most economically vulnerable people in society. Eleven years to this day, in 2005, New Orleans’ levees failed following Hurricane Katrina, leaving the city flooded for weeks on end. Television screens all around the world showed images of poor, mostly black Americans crowded on highway flyovers or packed into football stadiums,

waiting to be evacuated from the city. While floodwaters reached both rich and poor neighborhoods, the city’s poorest citizens were hit with the most severe and most long-lasting impacts. Though flooding in Dhaka may not receive similar international

When it comes to adapting to climate change, the cities’ poorest residents are too often hurt instead of helped

attention, whenever unpredictable monsoon rains or river flooding occurs, poor residents often living in informal settlements are forced to take refuge on embankments while Dhaka’s wealthiest may experience only passing inconveniences like a delayed commute. In both of these cases, ill-advised urban planning turns extreme natural events into debilitating disasters for the city’s poorest. Unfortunately, most scientific projections indicate that these so-called natural disasters are only going to get more severe and more frequent with climate change. Evidence from my research, and that of my colleagues, suggests that as cities attempt to adapt, it is again the poorest residents that seem to lose out. Our ongoing collaborative research project has noted two types of discriminatory adaptation projects: The first are adaptation measures that forcibly displace or impact low-income marginalised residents (what we call “acts of commission”). An example in Dhaka is Hartirjheel, a drainage project located in the city’s centre. This project undoubtedly improved drainage in this part of the city,

protecting against flooding. Yet the project included the mass eviction of low-income residents. Meanwhile, wealthy businesses were both allowed to stay and move into Hartirjheel’s surrounding areas where the poor once lived. Similarly, the first major planning effort after Hurricane Katrina proposed to convert several poorer neighborhoods into “green spaces” to absorb future floods while allowing similarly flood-vulnerable wealthy neighborhoods to remain. Only through strong community mobilisation were neighborhood activists able to stop the demolition of these neighborhoods. The other type of discriminatory adaptation practice exclusively benefits affluent residents at the expense of lowerincome residents (we call these “acts of omission”). For instance, new embankments or drainage infrastructure is often built to protect central business districts and wealthy enclaves (like those surrounding the Hatirjheel project) while residents of poorer areas suffer with little help. The evacuation of New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina represents

another unfair act of omission. When city leaders ordered that city residents leave before the storm, they neglected to provide enough transportation for lowincome residents, leaving many to fend for themselves. In fact, these worrisome patterns of unfair adaptation are not only found in Dhaka and New Orleans. Our research project found similar discriminatory adaptation projects across six other major cities as well: Boston (USA), Medellin (Colombia), Santiago (Chile), Manila (Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Surat (India). It seems when adaptation projects are planned, the cities’ most marginalised bear the cost. But, a different path is possible. Instead of deepening existing inequalities, why not use largescale adaptation projects and try to transform the city into a more just place? Scholars, activists, and progressive government leaders around the world are working to create new models of “transformative adaptation” that will make cities more equitable rather than deepening existing inequalities. In a follow-up column next week, I will return to the issues of transformative adaptation to

climate change. I will draw on ongoing research to offer some principles for how Dhaka might use adaptation to climate change as an opportunity to build stronger and more inclusive planning institutions and new forms of equitable and resilient urban development. l Zachary Lamb is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. During his research in Dhaka he has been a visiting researcher at the International Centre for Climate Change and Developed and a lecturer at the Bengal Institute. This column is based on his preliminary dissertation research in Dhaka and New Orleans and on an article that he co-authored for the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Planning Education and Research. This page has been developed in collaboration with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and its partners, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). This page represents the views and experiences of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of Dhaka Tribune or ICCCAD or its partners.

Learn English

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Learning English through sharing rhymes Getting involved in your child’s learning can have a positive impact upon both his or her attitude and the speed at which he or she learns. When parents help their children outside the classroom, there are real benefits for children’s achievement inside the classroom. Jim Knight, the UK’s Minister of State for Schools and Learners, has said that: “Parents have six times more impact on the learning of primary age children than teachers do.” There are some simple steps you can take to encourage your child and build his or her confidence in using English, one of which is by sharing rhymes.

nOpal Dunn Simple rhymes are thought to be innate in most cultures. From the time young children begin to talk, many enjoy playing and experimenting with sounds by themselves – a precursor to later enjoyment of rhymes. Most children seem to have skills and a built-in drive that enable them to imitate the sounds and pick up the language and special rhythms of rhymes. Picking up and repeating the particular language of rhymes is

another form of play for young children. They learn rhymes unconsciously and effortlessly; it is not the laborious task it can be for some adolescents and adults. By playing with the short texts of rhymes, children explore the mechanics of the English language. They find out how language works and become familiar with the relationship between the 44 sounds of English and the 26 alphabet letters – information that helps them when

they begin reading to decode the sounds that make up words. The value of this type of language play with rhymes in early learning is both underestimated and undervalued. There is a difference between rhymes and simple poems for young children. Rhymes, in general, are short and depend on the melodic use of the voice to recite the text that includes rhyming words, and the repetition of sounds and words in attractive, easy-to-copy rhythms. The traditional and well-known

Activities to use with children My pets

Sit down with your child and help them to identify the following pets. Write the names next to the pictures. If your child is not confident in writing in English, you can write the words for them.

rhymes are sometimes classified as Mother Goose rhymes or nursery rhymes, and many are considered part of British culture. ‘First poems’, on the other hand, generally depend less on the playfulness of the language, and more on the meaning, which evokes feelings, imagination and the discovery of ideas beyond the child’s own environment. First poems may be traditional or modern and they are a natural progression from early rhymes. They are usually less well known and less likely to be handed down

from generation to generation like nursery rhymes. Rhymes are extremely useful in learning English as they are portable playthings. Parents and children can say them at any time or in any place to change a mood or fill a bored moment with fun. Rhymes need no toy, equipment or even a book to set a scene; they depend on the sound of the voice reciting the language to stimulate play. Some may be accompanied by physical actions, which help to confirm understanding and act as an aid to memorisation.l

Exercise

After reading the article on ‘Learning English through sharing rhymes’, decide whether the following statements are true or false: 1 Rhymes depend on meaning and do not depend on the melodic use of the voice. 2 Children learn rhymes unconsciously and effortlessly. 3 Teachers have more impact than parents on the learning of primary age children. 4 Rhymes require equipment and sometimes a book to set the scene. 5 Parents’ help at home can benefit children’s achievement inside the classroom. Answers 1 False 2 True 3 False 4 False 5 True

Rapido and Zen Learn English 4. Homework Have you done the homework yet? Can I borrow yours?

Using colouring pencils, get your child to colour in the pictures following the instructions: Colour the dog in brown. Colour the cat in black. Colour the goldfish in orange. Colour the budgie in green.

For more about the British Council www.britishcouncil.org

Sorry, I left it at home!

Kids

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

color it

art tutorial

ical creature myth

Boggart If you are not a Potter-head yourself, then ask your Potter-head elder sister or cousin what Boggarts are. They will tell you that Boggarts are non-beings that

can take the form of the viewer’s worst fears. Meaning, if you have a fear of spiders, the Boggart will appear in front of you in the form of a spider. And yes, not as any ordinary itsy bitsy spider. Your in-house Potterheads will however not be able to tell you what Boggarts look like. This is because they constantly keep changing form, and no one knows for certain what Boggarts look like. Yes, they sound very scary, but there are ways you can beat them. For one, you can chant the “riddikulus” charm. This charm will force the Boggart to transform into something amusing and, of course, not scary. However, this method will require a magic wand. A second option is to have someone with you

while facing Boggarts. This will confuse them and they will not be able to decide who to target first. For instance, if you are afraid of cats and your friend is afraid of sharks, the Boggart will turn itself into a cat-shark (half cat, half shark). That isn’t really scary is it? If you wish to be on the safe side and

avoid Boggarts entirely, make sure you don’t go to dark closed places, as those are a Boggarts’ favourite places. Now that you know everything you need to about Boggarts, fear not if you ever have to face them. However, keep a friend or a magic wand around, just in case! l

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

magic tricks

diy

Bending a spoon

Round they go This DIY might look easy but you may need some expert skills, safety measures and an adult by your side to pull it off. Read on to find out how you too can breathe life into your boring table fan. What you’ll need • A stand fan • An adult to help you • Paint What to do Rainbows appear in seven colours, which is caused when water droplets split white sunlight into seven beautiful colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. If your stand fan doesn’t have seven blades, you can avoid using the colours indigo and violet. Get help from your adult partner to remove the protective cover off the fan

Kids

One of the oldest trick that the magician in you can learn is to know how to bend a spoon. What you will need: • A metal spoon and start painting (each blade with a different colour). Ask your partner to put the cover back on and wait for the paint to dry off completely before you finally get to enjoy your very own rainbow fan. Safety measures • Don’t be stubborn, let your elderly help you with the steps • Turn off the fan • Unplug the fan l

trivia

Bat Facts

fun science

Poking potatoes with straws What you’ll need: • Stiff plastic straws • Potato

1. Bats are flying mammals. 2. Other flying animals can only glide, but bats are able to fly. 3. Bats have the ability to see in the dark. This is known as “echolocation.” 4. Bats are very active at night. 5. Vampire bats exist, and they only feed on blood. 6. Female bats give birth only once a year. 7. Some species of bats are at a risk of dying out. 8. The newborn bat is known as a pup. 9. Some bats prefer to live alone, while others choose to live with thousands of other bats in caves. l

What to do: Confused with the title? How is it actually possible to poke potatoes with straws? Well it’s easy, and here’s the trick. You hold a straw by its sides and poke the potato. What happens? The straw goes through a small part of the potato. Try again, but this time, cover the top part of the straw with your thumb and you can see the straw go through a bigger part of the potato. What happens here? When you cover the top with your thumb, the air is trapped inside the straw, which makes it stronger, unlike the first attempt which pushed the air out. Have fun poking potatoes! l

The secret: • Take a spoon and face it sideways (towards your audience). •

Hold the spoon with both hands, covering the ends of the spoon’s handle.

•

The bottom of the spoon should touch the table.

•

To show that you are bending it, press down on the table.

•

Let the handle of the spoon fall backwards until it lies flat on the table.

•

While you do that, keep your hands in the position it was when you were holding the spoon. Tada! It is an illusion which will make people think you are bending the spoon, when you actually aren’t! l

Feature

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Speedy visits France

his week has been nice and windy. The “Kalboishakhi Jhor” hits us every now and then, keeping temperatures cool for a short while. Thunderstorms and the rain paint a beautiful picture of nature, and for some reason, the crazy heat of the day makes people want to go out in the rain, express themselves freely and run around like children. Wildly playing around and dancing with the rhythm of the rain...ah happiness! As Speedy watches the grey skies turn anger into smiles and the following blue mornings hurry people off to their daily routines, he packs his bags and thinks of himself as an artist. France was his destination.

He was now ready to become an artist himself, as he was travelling on a boat and watched the city of Paris

When Speedy came to Paris, he was really hungry. He found the nearest Parisian cafe and ordered some croissants, French toast and hot chocolate. After a delicious meal, Speedy found the famous 20th century Dutch artist Van Gogh’s most well-known painting “The Starry Night.” The story behind the painting goes something like this - Van Gogh had cut off his ear on December 23, 1888. He was then sent to live in a mental hospital named Saint Paul De Mausole. The place was called Saint-Remy-de-Provence and this painting is based on the view he saw from the east-facing window of the hospital.

Speedy also found the works of other famous French artists such as Edgar Degas and his work “Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.” This was made with wax, had real hair, a tutu and ballet slippers. He decided to take a packed lunch along with him as he knew the day would be long. His interest was caught by a painting called “Luncheon on the Grass” by Edouard Manet. This painting was rejected by the Paris Salon in 1863, but then, Manet displayed it at the Salon de Refuses (Salon of the rejected) later in the year. Emperor Napolean III created the Salon de Refuses once he saw that the Paris Salon had rejected over 4,000 paintings in 1863. Speedy was pleased to learn about all these great artists and their works. He was now ready to become an artist himself, as he was travelling on a boat and watched the city of Paris surrounded by the river Seine. He started sketching away the city with a smile on his face, hoping to capture the beauty he saw in front of him. l

Biz Info

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Second round of Excelerious 2016 kicks off

he world is much more interconnected than people had expected it to be. The business world is in every way far more connected. Now, no thumb rule can define a business, which is becoming extraordinarily dynamic with the passage of time. To be a core player in the business world, one has to be smarter in every task of business, whether it is a national or multinational corporation. In this sophisticated business world, MS Excel is one of the

basic tools which makes a businessman feel comfortable at handling complicated activities. Excelerious 2016 is a program of Enliven Bangladesh, which aims to make thousands of students and young professionals motivated to utilise Microsoft Excel as a real professional. Through training sessions, workshops and counseling, Excelerious 2016 is dedicated to making interested users efficient in Excel applications.

and public universities took part. Highly skilled trainers and some Excel experts were present to train the participants. First came the Excelerious Youth Seminar series, which was a common platform to collaborate with the professional users of Excel. Nishat Majumder, the first Bangladeshi woman to scale Mount Everest, deputy chief accounts officer, Dhaka WASA, was one of the guest speakers of the panel.

You don’t need to be a superhero to succeed in the workplace, but MS Excel helps to have multiple skils

The event has already arranged three single-day workshops and two one-day seminars at the EMK Center, in which over 500 participants from different private

The second seminar of Excelerious was held at the EMK Center on August 2, and was conducted by the industry`s leading corporate personalities.

The program was moderated by Md Maswud Ul Hassan, lead consultant of the Excelerious program and national trainer of advance MS Excel at NAPD and WASA. The need to excel in Excel has truly grown through the event, a necessary skill to master. Other events include the

second round, and a double-day workshop which was hosted by Eastern University yesterday, and continues till today. 50 participants were selected from the first round. Apart from other trainers, Hridi Reza, senior human resource professional of Sekai Lab, conducted a session in the second round. Excelerious 2016 has partnered with Confidence Group, Unicap Securties Ltd, Green Lab Environments and D-net in order to support the top scorer of the competition with professional grooming and internship opportunities.

It is also sponsored by the EMK Center. Dhaka Tribune is the media partner of the event, amongst other media partners and patrons. Replying to the question of “why Excel?” one of the selected participants from the second round of Excelerious 2016 said, “You don’t need to be a superhero to succeed in the workplace, but MS Excel helps to have multiple skills. Sometimes the addition of just one skill to your repertoire can make you stand out from other job candidates.” l

20 Editorial

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

INSIDE

Trump-lovers of the world unite Once the province exclusively of fringe anti-America elements, such conspiracy theories coming out of the conservative partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nominee for president of the United States is almost like a validation for those who have made careers out of trading in these tales of nefarious plots and intrigues PAGE 21

Brazilian coffee If only the statue of Christ the Redeemer above Rio could be transposed to Wagah border. With one arm outstretched into Pakistan and the other into India, who knows? He might perform the miracle for them he did for the Brazilians. They are still celebrating their soccer gold by crying into their coffee PAGE 22

The attack on Bangladeshi environmentalists does concern all of us -- in and beyond Bangladesh PAGE 23

Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/ DhakaTribune. The views expressed in Opinion articles are those of the authors alone. They do not purport to be the official view of Dhaka Tribune or its publisher.

Earthquake preparedness needs to be a priority

Mourning the Sundarbans

Be heard

REUTERS

he powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.8 originating in Myanmar on Wednesday, and felt throughout Bangladesh, needs to be a wake-up call for all of us. While it is a relief that there were no casualties reported in this particular quake, grim reports of an earthquake that flattened a town in central Italy, killing nearly 250 people remind us of our own vulnerability in the face of future disasters. A recent study published in the science journal Nature showed that Bangladesh could be sitting on top of an active megathrust fault. If ruptured, the resulting earthquake could be of magnitude 8.2 to 9.0. The effects on Bangladesh of such an earthquake would be nothing if not catastrophic. The 2011 Japan earthquake of magnitude 9.0 was caused by the same type of geologic feature. To worsen the problem, there is no way to tell for sure when the earthquake may hit us. Given this uncertainly, it is imperative that the government starts preparing for disaster without any delay. Although our flood relief infrastructure has come a long way, we are still woefully inadequate when it comes to earthquake preparation. Rescue agencies have been suffering from crises of funding, and because of that, volunteers have not received the necessary training. But there can be no cutting corners when it comes to earthquake safety. The nation must be prepared on all fronts. We need to make sure that relief can reach people trapped under debris on time in case of the unthinkable. Furthermore, stringent codes for buildings and new constructions must be enforced. Builders, property developers, and the government need to work together to ensure damage is minimised in the event of an earthquake. Let us not wait for the next major earthquake to hit. Let us prepare now.

Let us not wait for the next major earthquake to hit. Let us prepare now

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Trump-lovers of the world unite Who are the not-so-typical Trump supporters?

n Esam Sohail

ard to believe, but Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s nominee in America’s next presidential elections, does have a seemingly dedicated fan club outside of his core base of less educated, working class whites in the non-metropolitan parts of the United States. The motives of these unusual fans differ somewhat amongst themselves but their admiration, indeed adulation, of the orangehaired real estate developer from New York City is quite evident from their activities on the ground and posts on social media. Who are they? Well, four major types of non-typical Trumpists come to mind. First, there are the saffron cultists in India who have been often seen -- and mocked -- for doing regular public prayers to invoke the blessings of the deities on Donald Trump’s endeavours since he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination last year. Often aligned to the Hindutva supremacist groups like RSS, Bajrang Dal, and VHP, these gentlemen are likely enamoured by two things they perceive to be represented by the Trump phenomena, one substantive and the other symbolic. Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric must be sweet to the ears of the Sangh Parivar while his dalliance with swastika-wielding, white nationalists finds resonance amongst a constituency where the swastika is revered, albeit for different reasons perhaps. In fact, an article in a September 2014 issue of the Jerusalem Post by Josh Steinert alluded to the potential of the Adolf Hitler cult to influence the saffron brigade in India. Second, there are the Islamists in the Middle East and elsewhere who have taken an incredible shine to Donald Trump’s pronouncements. Giddy about the billionaire’s peddling of various conspiracy theories about the 9/11 massacre, the most ardent of the Islamists on social media can barely conceal their excitement in saying, in so many words: “We told you so.” Once the province exclusively of fringe anti-America elements, such conspiracy theories coming out of the conservative party’s nominee for president of the United States is almost like a validation for those who have

People who love Trump are not always what we would expect made careers out of trading in these tales of nefarious plots and intrigues. Additionally, for the more religio-culture warriors of Islam, the shrill and narrow ethnic nationalism of the Trumpists provides a great boon to their own arguments that Muslims need to live in insular conditions away from all others if they are to have peace. Even America, that ultimate haven of freedom and pluralism -- this thinking goes -- is no refuge for even the most modern and cosmopolitan of the so-called “Ummah.” Third, there are the revanchists of Eastern Europe, whose homelands are yet to recover from the debris of 50 years of Marxism and whose cultural identity has been reduced to little more than a function of their largely all-white societies. A toxic mix of nostalgia for the Cold War, dystopian culture, and authoritarian structures that provided a basic sense of stability in the not-so-good old days fuels a resentment for the prosperity and freedoms evident in the much more cosmopolitan West, freedoms and cosmopolitanism that Donald Trump himself openly derides. The result is a sense of kinship that finds Vladimir Putin and Trump engaging in a mutual

REUTERS

Once the province exclusively of fringe anti-America elements, such conspiracy theories coming out of the conservative party’s nominee for president of the United States is almost like a validation for those who have made careers out of trading in these tales of nefarious plots and intrigues

adoration fest in statements while Vice President Biden is greeted by Serbian nationalists with protests and pro-Trump signs on his recent official visit. Last, but not least, are those who, for various reasons, have always been frightened of a muscular American foreign policy. To these people -- from the North Korea to Zimbabwe to the various hard Left remnants in Western Europe -- an American presidential nominee disparaging NATO and talking up isolationism is sweet music to the ears. Too often the meddling diplomatic efforts of the United States on behalf of precarious NGOs are the only checks, albeit feeble, on the full throated march to absolutism that many a Robert Mugabe or Kim Jong-Un wish for themselves. These four types of Trump

admirers are very different people with different geographic and political anchors. What is chillingly similar about them all, however, is deep-seated ethno-nationalist chauvinism ungirded by a fascination for authoritarianism and nostalgia. In him, these people abroad see their own vilest instincts validated by the potential leader of the free world, though how much “free” that world will be under a Trump presidency remains to be seen. Heck, I am even seeing posts from one or two Bangladeshis these days who are enamoured by Trump and, invariably, these Bangladeshis are also very fond of the current dispensation in Dhaka. Colour me surprised … or not! l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Brazilian coffee Colour and race have received inordinate exposure at the Rio Olympics

To commentators at Rio, race mattered

REUTERS

If only the statue of Christ the Redeemer above Rio could be transposed to Wagah border. With one arm outstretched into Pakistan and the other into India, who knows? He might perform the miracle for them he did for the Brazilians. They are still celebrating their soccer gold by crying into their coffee

n FS Aijazuddin

ow do you take your Olympic coffee -- white, or black? In Rio, coffee is prepared from beans imported from countries across the world -- Bolivia, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Kenya, Australia, even Thailand. Its percolating machines filter them, a metaphor for the transient internationalism of the Olympic Games themselves. Never before, though, in the history of the Olympic Games, has the subject of colour and race been given such inordinate exposure by sports commentators. Until Rio

2016, certain categories of sport were reserved, like the poorer seats at the end of a segregated bus, for coloureds and blacks. It has been a given that any sport requiring equipment or facilities could be pursued only by those who could afford it. Sports such as archery, canoe/ kayak, cycling, equestrian, rowing, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting and triathlon squads were, as one commentator put it, blindingly white. The blacks were good for running and boxing. Nothing proved this point than the statistic that out of all the gold

medals won by runners, more than half have been by “African” athletes, and in boxing “Africans” alone have won 40 medals. Or that, in the 1960 Rome Olympics, the winner of the showpiece marathon Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian, ran his race barefoot. Rio 2016 has changed that, irreversibly. Black is the new gold. The Western media crew of voluble sports commentators have yet to adapt to the new paradigm. A young American girl wins a gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle swimming, and she is touted as the first black/Afro-American girl ever to win such an event.

Her compatriot Simone Biles wins four gold medals in gymnastics and the media marvels at how a black girl can break the colour bars, horse, and rings. Daryl Hanes gains a silver medal in the men’s sabre fencing, and his achievement carries the addendum that it is the first time in 112 years that a black/AfroAmerican has won in this category. Almaz Ayana secures the gold for 10,000 metres long distance run, but then, she is from Ethiopia. And when a young woman Ibtihaj Muhammad appears -- in a hijab -to compete in a fencing match, the attention of the viewers is drawn not to her skill with an epee, but her decision to hide her hair. No hijab will ever be large enough or thick enough to hide the bias of some of the more raucous elements of the reporting media. Their remarks about black/Afro American female sportspersons remind one of Dr Samuel Johnson’s famous observation about female preachers. Told by James Boswell that he had heard a woman preach, Dr Johnson’s retorted: “Sir, a

woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.” For one particular contestant -- Yulia Refomiva, from coldshouldered Russia -- the Rio Olympics were another battlefield. “Rio was awful,” she lamented, “it was war.” To be booed after four years of preparation, effort, training and high-pressure performance was more than a waste of adrenalin. It was a negation, a perversion of the Olympic spirit. The spectators became judges, and the judges spectators. If the Russians are to be believed, the United States has conspired to hamstring Russia. Whether Russia could have posed a serious challenge to the US or for that matter Great Britain in the medals table is now a matter of Monday morning conjecture. It would appear though that both Russia and China have lost interest in the Olympics. They no longer see it as an arena in which they need to prove themselves. In Beijing 2012, China could not afford to lose. In Rio, China did not care if it did not win. That is not to say its Olympic team did not give their best. They did. But the embers of Beijing had been banked, its fire tempered. The colour of the medal no longer drove the Chinese. India had sent the largest Olympic contingent in its history to Rio. Over a billion Indians hoped for a richer trawl of medals than one silver and a single bronze -- the first for badminton and the second for wrestling. The silver came as a hard-won surprise. The latter was to be expected. After all, India has had enough practice. It has wrestled with Pakistan for 69 years over everything -- Sir Creek, Rann of Kutch, a seat in the UN Security Council, a place in the ECO, and perennially Jammu & Kashmir. If only the statue of Christ the Redeemer above Rio could be transposed to Wagah border. With one arm outstretched into Pakistan and the other into India, who knows? He might perform the miracle for them he did for the Brazilians. They are still celebrating their soccer gold by crying into their coffee. l FS Aijazuddin lives in Lahore and is a columnist for Dawn, Pakistan’s main English-language newspaper. This article first appeared in Dawn.

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Mourning the Sundarbans Not only is the destructive Rampal project moving ahead, dissenting voices are being quashed Hashem and Alfredo n Rumana Quarto

uly was the month of Mangrove Action worldwide, and July 26 was International Mangrove Day, when the world was, in theory, imagined to celebrate mangrove action for conservation of the mangrove and associated ecosystems across the globe. The recognition of Mangrove Action Day by the UN is an achievement of the consistent struggle of a number of transnational environmentalist organisations including the Mangrove Action Project, Red Manglar, ASIA, African Mangrove Network, and many international activist-grids that have been celebrating July 26 as International Mangrove Day for over a decade. Although this year the world was poised to hear joyous sounds of celebration for the mangroves, the ominous din of devastation cast a dark shadow across the Earth, instead. We heard about the plans that threaten the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, contrived by corporations and governments of Bangladesh and India who signed a contract to build a new coal fired power plant at Rampal. This project was originally proposed by an Indian corporation, called the National Thermal Power Company. The detrimental aspects of the project were highlighted by the county’s experts. The plant was opposed strongly by national and international climate experts and campaigners, whose advice was ignored. Despite strong opposition and thorough critiques, a new deal was signed by both Bangladesh and Indian governments that has given the go-ahead to the controversial Rampal coal-fired plant to be built within 14 kilometres to the Sundarbans, an invaluable ecosystem along Bangladesh’s coast. This situation is saddening. The decision of the two neighbouring governments could destroy this unique wetland ecosystem and its bountiful life. We witnessed outcries and protests across the country and beyond, and also the violent ways these protests have been suppressed. Official estimates show that the Rampal plant, if implemented, will produce 1,320 megawatt coal fired power by burning 4,720,000 tons of coal which will lead to the

production of 750,000 tons of fly ashes and 200,000 tons of bottom ashes, indicating the amount of carbon emission the plant would cause. Long-term research by the environmental and climate scientists show that the Rampal coal-based power plant will further annually generate 52,000 tons of toxic sulfur-dioxide, 30,000 tons of nitrogen-dioxide, 0.75 million tons of fly ashes, and 200,000 tons of bottom ashes. Moreover, water withdrawal from the River of Pashur at a rate of 9150 cubic meter per hour, subsequent colossal discharge of the polluted water into the river, temperature of the discharged water, and various toxic elements dissolved in the water will damage the natural water flow of the river, its ability to carry sediment, and affect the life cycles of fish, plants, and other living beings.

In a democratic state, people should have the right to express their independent views

The attack on Bangladeshi environmentalists does concern all of us -- in and beyond Bangladesh Ultimately, the aquatic ecology of the Sundarbans will be destroyed by Rampal coal-plant. Coal transportation through the Sundarbans, liquid and solid toxic wastes from the ships, oil spillage, and flood-lights will devastate normal life cycle and biodiversity of the Sundarbans’ mangroves. It was heart-warming to see that the national and diaspora Bangladeshi climate campaigners have taken to the street to protest this deal. But utterly shocking was the news that the campaigners were not only ignored, but also were beaten and abused by the state law enforcement force as they marched to the prime minister’s office to handover a statement that demands cancellation of the undemocratic deal over a destructive plant that was approved in the month of Mangrove Action. Mangroves are a cornucopia of life -- a rainforest by the sea, surviving in inter-tidal zones of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Mangroves are the markets for traditional communities: Providing food, tannins, fuel wood, medicinal remedies, and building materials. They protect shorelines and property from storm damage, erosion, and prevent silt and polluted runoff from reaching fragile

coral reefs and seagrass beds. Mangroves are amazing carbon sinks, sequestering five times the amount of carbon than any other forest type, storing that carbon for millennia. Our friends from Ecuador from the local charity Fundecol suggested July 26 to be international Mangrove Action Day, so that they could commemorate their decadeslong struggle to remove illegal shrimp farms from the mangroves around Muisne, Ecuador. The UN eventually accepted the proposal and the planet Earth was meant to observe the date for conservation of mangrove everywhere. Instead of doing so, Bangladeshi and Indian governments have signed the destructive Rampal deal, two weeks before the Mangrove day. And a day after Mangrove Day, police unleashed violence on those who sought to conserve the mangrove ecosystem in Bangladesh. Instead of celebrating International Mangrove Day, Bangladeshi environmentalists were found super anxious, traumatised -- mourning over mangrove policy of the government that has put the interests of the corporations before national and natural resources of Bangladesh.

Our concerns are therefore two-fold: What should be the government’s role in protecting national resources and conserving the country’s ecosystems, largest mangrove area, which is also a World Heritage Site? The more pressing question concerns state policy in regard to democracy and freedom of expression. In a democratic state, people should have the right to express their independent views, to speak to and meet with their elected leaders when and as they need to. Nonetheless, when concerned citizens of Bangladesh went to the prime minister’s office to handover a public statement, detailing their views about the damage of the world’s largest mangrove and national sovereignty, the response of the government of the state appeared brutal. It is unclear why the front-line environmentalists and progressive activists, wanting to meet with their prime minister, were prohibited, humiliated, beaten, and imprisoned by state law enforcement force. Our question is: Would the attack on progressive activists and peaceful environmentalists be read as an ultimate threat to democratic protests in the state? Should people not be allowed to

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

express independent views about national interest and natural resources of the nation? Does the government approve the heinous acts of police who unleashed violence on a peaceful march to save the Sundarbans? If so, and if the government doesn’t take the responsibility to protect national interests and resources such as Sundarbans, a pride of the nation, then what would be the final advice to the national climate activists from the government? Should the government fail the voices of concerned citizens in Bangladesh? Are they not encouraging people to take a rather violent resistance, like Phulbari and the Bashkhali outburst, in future? As climate campaigners from Bangladesh, UK and the US, the attack on Bangladeshi environmentalists does concern all of us -- in and beyond Bangladesh. Unless the Bangladesh government wants a bloody resistance, they ought to put out a clarification on the above questions. There is little doubt that outcries to save the world’s largest mangrove forest can be stopped by suppressing voices and abusing activists. It would be far wiser for any democratic administration to let the local voices for mangroves be heard. l Rumana Hashem is a political sociologist and a post-doctoral researcher at University of East London and Alfredo Quarto is a Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Mangrove Action Project since 1992.

24 Sport

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

TOP STORIES

Bangladesh girls up against Iran test Bangladesh U-16 women’s team are expected to encounter their toughest test in the inaugural day of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers when they take on Iran today at BNS. The match begins at 6pm. PAGE 25

Pep excited about Barcelona reunion

Pep Guardiola is excited about the prospect of returning to his former club Barcelona, though he acknowledges that Manchester City have their work cut out to advance from a testing Champions League group. PAGE 26

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan (C) addresses the media at his Gulshan residence yesterday while vice president Mahbub Anam (L) and director Ismail Haider Mallick look on DHAKA TRIBUNE

Positive England set for Bangladesh tour n Mazhar Uddin

BCB set to name bowling coach today BCB is likely to announce the national side’s new bowling coach today, informed the board president Nazmul Hasan to the media yesterday. Earlier in May, Zimbabwean Heath Streak left the job. PAGE 27

Goals galore on second day NRB GLOBAL 2-4 BRAC BANK The first match of day two was the much anticipated “Battle of the Financial Institutions” as NRB Global took on Brac Bank. From the word go it was evident neither of these teams were willing to give each other a cent. PAGE 28

A much relieved decision came across Bangladesh cricket after the England and Wales Cricket Board gave the green signal for its upcoming tour of Bangladesh, scheduled for next month, through a media release yesterday morning. England’s one-day team is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 30 for a three-match ODI series and two Tests. England players including Test captain Alastair Cook and ODI skipper Eoin Morgan were briefed by the ECB’s security advisor Reg Dickason on Thursday regarding the security arrangements and risk assessment. Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive David Leatherdale and the ECB’s director of cricket operations John Carr, both of whom were part of the delegation that inspected the venues and security measures in Dhaka and Chittagong alongside Dickason, were also present at the meeting along with Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, and Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive. “England’s tour of Bangladesh

will continue as planned,” said Strauss after the meeting. “Safety and security of players and management are always paramount. We’ve received a thorough risk assessment, had excellent insight into the current situation and been fully briefed on security commitments. ECB and PCA have the utmost confidence in the advice and support we’ve been given. “Tonight we discussed details with the players and management in an open meeting. They asked lots of questions, have time to ask more and will clearly want to take it all in - we understand that. Selection for the tour will be made after the end of the summer internationals. “We will, as always, continue to monitor the situation right up to and throughout the tour.” It has been a nervous few days for the Bangladeshi fans, board members, journalists and general people after the terrorist attack in Dhaka on July 1, keeping in mind that Australia cancelled its tour of Bangladesh last year due to security reasons. Cricket Australia also pulled out from participating in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year owing to the same reason.

The ECB decision therefore, was welcomed by Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan, who spoke in glowing terms at his Gulshan residence yesterday regarding the key role played by the security agencies in this issue. “Firstly, I would like to thank ECB and England cricket team, and our security agencies like police and RAB (Rapid Action Battalion). There is no point saying anything before thanking them. That’s why I want to thank them first,” said Nazmul. “I always had the belief that England would come and there are a few reasons for that. England have always sent their teams, even though Australia didn’t. Even in India, they continued playing. So England are not a team that bow their head down towards terrorist activities. “We always had a good relationship with England. That was also a plus point. “Secondly, the security aspect, well, its almost the same everywhere. One can’t say any country in the world is 100 percent safe. However, the security plan that we gave them and the Bangladesh government is continuing to give,

I don’t think any other board provides such security. “Finally, we managed so many teams during the Under-19 World Cup that I don’t think it will be difficult for our security agencies to look after one side. So, I was confident that they would come,” he added. With that said, the BCB chief informed that the next few weeks would be crucial and that they would need to remain vigilant before and during the tour. “We will make sure that not just players, but fans, family members and reporters, if they let us know beforehand where they will stay, we will arrange security for them, no matter where they are, be it in the stadium or next to the hotel, wherever. This is the kind of mental readiness we have. We believe that there won’t be any problem with regards to this England tour. “This series is important not only for cricket but even for the country. I would like to tell the entire country and the media, let’s all make this tour a tour to remember,” concluded Nazmul. Meanwhile, the BCB supremo later called on the Bangladesh cricketers on the same day and sat for a meeting. l

Sport

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

2017 AFC U-16 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

Bangladesh girls up against Iran test n Tribune Report

Bangladesh captain Krishna Rani Sarkar and her Iranian counterpart shake hands during the pre-match press conference yesterday ahead of their AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifier today DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bangladesh Under-16 women’s team are expected to encounter their toughest test in the inaugural day of the Asian Football Confederation U-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers when they take on favourites Iran today at Bangabandhu National Stadium. The match begins at 6pm. The last time Iran U-16 side came to Dhaka was two years ago in October, 2014, and they returned home as champions, winning all their matches including the 2-1 victory over the home side. Over the last couple of years, there has been a lot of changes in Bangladesh women’s football. The women in red and green are now considered one of the favourites following their title wins in the last two editions of the AFC U-14 Girls’ Regional (South and Central) Championship.

Twelve players from the latest title-winning squad have been retained in the current squad. Iran head coach Shadi Mahini informed yesterday that their current U-16 squad also has a majority of players from the U-14 team that played in Tajikistan, and the U-16 team from two years ago in Bangladesh. Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton will rely on his long-time disciples like Sanjida Akhter, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Marzia Khatun, Monika Chakma and Tohura Khatun, who scored 10 goals in four matches in Tajikistan. “Iran are a very strong team. They are one of the best teams in the tournament. But we are also ready. It will be a tough match and we will definitely play for victory,” said Choton. “If we can win the game [today] it will boost our team spirit and help us to take a big

leap in our bid for qualification,” he added. Bangladesh captain Krishna on the eve of the game said, “We will play our natural game. Iran are a very good team but if we follow our own style and stay calm on the pitch, then we have a chance. We will give our best.” On the other hand, Iran coach Mahini said, “I’m very happy to be here in Bangladesh for the second time. Last year, when we played against Bangladesh team, they were very good and energetic. The Bangladesh girls are doing really good. “All the participating teams came here to win, including Iran. We like to win and we want to become champions.” Meanwhile in the day’s other matches at the same venue, Chinese Taipei will face Kyrgyzstan at 11am while United Arab Emirates take on Singapore in the second game at 3pm. l

Ashraful Huq, the cricketer turned sports organiser

n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh was still recovering following the liberation war when its cricket team made its first international visit. The Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (now known as Bangladesh Cricket Board) had arranged a fitness camp in the months leading up to the competition and what awaited, was history. In its pursuit of qualifying for the 1979 World Cup, Bangladesh started its ICC Trophy campaign in the same year with a win, against Fiji by 22 runs, largely owing to Syed Ashraful Huq’s off-spinners. In their tournament opener at Water Orton Cricket Club Ground near Birmingham, Ashraful was sensational, picking up seven wickets conceding 23 runs in 9.2 overs. He spent most of his club career at Azad Boys Club while in national cricket, the right-handed batsman became the first player to score a double hundred, scoring 214 for

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation in the 1981-82 season after which he retired from the game. Ashraful’s contribution to Bangladesh cricket however, started years back as an organiser. Before Bangladesh had even become an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council, Ashraful, who was living in London at that time, had played a vital role in making the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) visit Dhaka in 1976. Communication between countries was a huge challenge back then but Ashraful, given that he was living in London, had made the job easy for Bangladesh to communicate with the MCC. As time wore on, Ashraful developed himself as one of the finest organisers in Bangladesh cricket. Following his retirement, Ashraful turned into one of the members of the board and under his capacity as the general secretary, Bangladesh’s domestic cricket experienced some crucial changes. The introduction of Nirman School Cricket, the decision to divide the Dhaka first division teams and establishing the Premier Division League were among the ground-breaking decisions which lifted Bangladesh cricket in the years to come.

Despite such feats, Ashraful had to face criticism from a group who said he doesn’t do much for domestic cricket. But then again, his international connections instead made him a better organiser of global events and this ability of his was key behind Bangladesh emerging as one of the Test-playing nations. Bangladesh’s existence in world cricket probably got most highlighted in 1988 when the country hosted the Asia Cup. Ashraful, who was the Asian Cricket Council vice president at that point, was displaying his skill and a lot of efficient organisers around him meant achieving ambitions were easy. Political unrest between India

and Pakistan had often seen one among the two miss the tournament but that year, Bangladesh hosted all the three Asian teams – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The matches were played in Dhaka and Chittagong. The 1990s was unprecedented for Bangladesh cricket in that there were several achievements for Ashraful, along with his peers. Bangladesh had just won the ICC Trophy in 1997 and was waiting to make its maiden World Cup appearance in 1999. But with Ashraful as the general secretary of the board, Bangladesh went on to host the Independence Cup in 1998, followed by the ICC Knockout Trophy, that was later dubbed

the Mini World Cup considering that all the Full Members of the ICC participated in the tournament. A year later, Bangladesh also hosted the Asian Test Championship final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was not part of the tournament as it had still not achieved the Test status. This was the first instance in world cricket of a Test match being played at a neutral venue. A few months later, Bangladesh appeared in their first World Cup and the 62-run win against Pakistan in the group stage showed a glimpse of what the country is capable of. This event had also portrayed how passionate Bangladesh is as a cricket playing nation and the board back then, which had Ashraful as one of its protagonists, made full use of the occasion. Bangladesh then applied for Test status to the ICC. Ashraful knew well the ways to be followed and things to be done in order to claim the status. Thus, the former cricketer, supported by a good team of organisers, as well as the government, worked as a well oiled machine. Soon the country, in the year 2000, joined the main fleet of cricket playing nations and played its first Test against India in Dhaka.l

Sport

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Pep excited about Barcelona reunion n Reuters Pep Guardiola is excited about the prospect of returning to his former club Barcelona, though he acknowledges that Manchester City have their work cut out to advance from a testing Champions League group. City have been drawn in Group C alongside Barca, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Celtic, with Guardiola set to return to the club where he began his career and managed with distinction for four seasons. “I can’t deny it’s something special for me to return to Barcelona,” he told reporters yesterday. “I grew up there, to play there at 13 to become a footballer. “Most of my life I spent there, I know the people, the club, the media, most of the players, the emotion is there.” Guardiola has come up against Barca before, and will be hoping that his City side enjoy better fortunes than Bayern Munich, who

lost 5-3 on aggregate in the 2014-15 semi-finals. “It happened with Bayern,” he added. “The first time it’s ‘wow’, the second time it’s the second time, then it’s normal.” City also have to negotiate Scottish champions Celtic and Gladbach, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season. “We’ll have to make our best performance to go through to the next stage. I know Barcelona quite well and Borussia Moenchengladbach. “I have a lot of respect for Celtic. They have a lot of experience in Europe.” Guardiola has enjoyed a 100 percent record at City, seeing off Steaua Bucharest 6-0 on aggregate in the Champions League playoff and dispatching Sunderland and Stoke City in the Premier League. He will not be handing a debut to new goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for the visit of West Ham United tomorrow, while Kelechi Iheanacho should be in contention after an injury scare against Steaua. l

United meet Fenerbahce, Feyenoord in tough group n

Reuters

Manchester United will come up against their former striker Robin van Persie after being drawn in a tough Europa League group yesterday alongside Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk.

Three-times European champions United must negotiate a competitive group if they are to win one of the few titles that has eluded them. The Premier League side will face 19-times Turkish champions Fenerbahce, who missed out on

EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP-STAGE DRAW

the Champions League group stage after a 4-3 aggregate defeat by AS Monaco in the third qualifying round. They are managed by former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat and include ex-United forward Van Persie who began his career with Feyenoord. The Dutch Cup holders finished third in the Eredivisie last season. Zorya qualified as Ukraine’s fourthplaced team. Southampton, the Premier League’s other representatives, have been drawn alongside Inter Milan, Sparta Prague and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Villarreal, beaten semi-finalists last season, meet former European champions Steaua Bucharest, FC Zurich and Osmanlispor. Group-stage first-timers Dundalk of Ireland meet AZ Alkmaar, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Zenit St. Petersburg, who reached the Champions League round of 16 last season. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups advance to the round of 32 where they will be joined by the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage. The final will be played in Stockholm on May 24. l

Ronaldo crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe n AFP, Monaco Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions League and Euro 2016 with Portugal. Ronaldo, 31, received the accolade for the second time in his ca-

reer after finishing ahead of Real team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann. “I’m obviously delighted to receive this award, it’s been an incredible season. But these two other players deserve it as well,” said Ronaldo, who also won the prize in 2013-14. l

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo kisses his trophy of the best player in Europe in Monaco on Thursday AFP

Sport

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

BCB prepares to name bowling coach today n Tribune Report

Pran organised a walkathon yesterday in order to raise awareness of serving pure drinking water among the flood affected people in the country. Along with the 2000 participants, Bangladesh limited-over captain and Pran Drinking Water brand ambassador Mashrafe bin Mortaza and former national skipper Habibul Bashar took part in the walkathon. During the programme, Mashrafe urged his fellow countrymen to stand beside the flood affected people of the nation COURTESY

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL STAR SPORTS 4 English Premier League 5:30PM Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool 8:00PM Chelsea v Burnley 10:30PM Hull City v Manchester United

SONY ESPN Italian Serie A 10:00PM Lazio v Juventus 12:30AM Napoli v AC Milan

SONY SIX Spanish La Liga 10:15PM Eibar v Valencia 12:30AM Real Madrid v Celta Vigo

TEN 1 7:30PM Sky Bet EFL Cardiff City v Reading

TEN 2 12:00AM French Ligue 1 Nice v Lille

TEN 3 9:00PM Cote-d’or v Olympic Lyon

CRICKET TEN 2 2:00PM New Zealand Tour of South Africa 2nd Test

STAR SPORTS 1 8:00PM India Tour of West Indies 1st T20

STAR SPORTS 2 4:30PM Pakistan Tour of England 2nd ODI

Arjuna bemoans SL reliance on spin n AFP, Colombo Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance on its spin bowlers threatens to undermine their chances at the next cricket World Cup on the faster pitches of England, according to former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to their first and so far only World Cup triumph in 1996, told reporters he had been heartened by Sri Lanka’s recent whitewashing of Australia in a home Test series and their strong showing at the start of the subse-

quent ODIs. But the recent success has been largely due to the performances of spinners such as the veteran Rangana Herath and the left-armer Amila Aponso, who took 4-18 as Sri Lanka won the second ODI on Wednesday. Ranatunga, himself a medium-pace bowler as well as a powerful middle order batsman, said such a formula for success would not work beyond the Indian sub-continent where pitches are much less conducive to spin.

“We need to build our all rounders and fast bowlers. Spin alone is not enough to play in conditions like in England. If we are preparing for the next World Cup in England, spin alone won’t do,” he told Sri Lanka’s Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo late Thursday. “I am not putting down their achievement (in beating Australia), but they need to go out (of the sub continent) and prove themselves. At the moment we are depending entirely on spinners.” l

Bangladesh Cricket Board is likely to announce the national side’s new bowling coach today, informed the board president Nazmul Hasan to the media yesterday. Earlier in May this year, Zimbabwean Heath Streak left the Bangladesh bowling coach job and since then, the board has been in search for a new coach. “We were supposed to announce the name [today]. [BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury] Sujon is constantly in touch with him. Hopefully, we will announce the new bowling coach’s name [today] or the day after,” said Nazmul. Former South African fast bowler Allan Donald is among the front-runners for the post. Donald has just completed his contract as the interim bowling coach of Australia in their series against Sri Lanka. Champaka Ramanayake is Sri Lanka’s bowling coach while currently former West Indies fast bowler Ottis Gibson could also be the one as he is currently contracted with the England and Wales Cricket Board as England’s bowling coach. West Indies great Curtley Ambrose is also in the running for this post. Another Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas and Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad are also among the probables. However, both are not contracted with any board at the moment.l

Henry becomes Belgium assistant coach

Court rejects appeal over ‘lenient’ Pistorius sentence

Former France star Thierry Henry has been named as the new assistant coach of Belgium, the national coach announced Roberto Martinez announced yesterday. “Thierry is an important figure. He will bring something different. He agreed right away to join us,” said ex-Everton Martinez, who was appointed at the start of the month to succeed the sacked Marc Wilmots. “Honoured to be assistant coach @BelRedDevils. Thanks to Roberto Martinez & the Royal Belgian Football Association. Very excited.Can’t wait,” Henry tweeted. Henry, 39, finished his glittering playing career in 2014 with New York Red Bulls after previously starring for Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona. Since hanging up his boots, he has been working as a pundit for British television station Sky and as an under-18 coach at Arsenal. l

A South African judge yesterday rejected the state’s appeal seeking a longer jail sentence for Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who is serving a six-year term for killing his girlfriend three years ago. Thokozile Masipa - the same judge who imposed the sentence last month - said in the High Court in Johannesburg that she was not persuaded there was a “reasonable prospect of success on appeal”. “The application for leave to appeal against the sentence is dismissed with costs,” she said. Masipa presided over Pistorius’s lengthy trial, and South African law empowers the trial judge to grant or reject applications to appeal their own judgements. After Masipa’s decision, the prosecution is now left with the option of directly petitioning the Supreme Court of Appeal to ask it to toughen the sentence. l

n AFP, Brussels

n AFP, Johannesburg

Members of the Bangladesh Cricket Supporters Association, UK, hand over flowers to the personal secretary of England and Wales Cricket Board CEO Tom Harrison for confirming its upcoming tour of Bangladesh COURTESY

Sport

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

11TH ASCENT CUP

Goals galore on second day n Tribune Desk

RESULTS NRB Global

NRB GLOBAL 2-4 BRAC BANK

The first match of day two was the much anticipated “Battle of the Financial Institutions” as NRB Global took on Brac Bank. From the word go it was evident neither of these teams were willing to give each other a cent or a quarter and though the match was deprived of skill, it more than made up for in passion. But Brac had the edge on the first timers NRB, as they shaded the match 4-2 in regulation time. Zia, Sabbir, Hafiz and Shams all scored for Brac Bank while Shakil and Sahadat pulling back for NRB Global.

Rahimafrooz Securex Bangla CAT Beximco Tex Sterling Group Gemcon Centro Tex Bando Design Meena Sweets Comfit Com Swiss Contact Green Delta

RAHIMAFROOZ 3 1 JAAGO

After last night’s debacle against Qubee, Rahimafrooz returned to winning ways by slotting three goals past Jaago. It has not been the best of times for newcomers Jaago Foundation who were also thrashed last night 9-0 by a rampaging Securex side. However, the spirit shown by this side from a sporting point of view is well worth commending, and they even scored a goal for their efforts by Shamol. Barkat scored a brace for Rahimafrooz and Rashed added one for the cause.

SECUREX 2-2 QUBEE

Team Securex were bought firmly back down to earth after their heroics last night by a steadfast Qubee, who it must be said did their homework and closed down the Securex attacking line. The tight man marking meant that Monir and Jashim

Brac Bank Jaago Qubee Rangs Group GE Therap BD MTB Neo Zipper Galaxy Group Aarong Dairy Orion Group BATB Brac

An action from yesterday’s match between Securex (L) and Qubee in the 11th Ascent Cup

were deprived of any space and Qubee hit back hard on the counter attack with goals from Arafa. By half time the internet giants were two-nil ahead. It took a very determined approach from the securitywallahs to claw back the deficit at the end of full time. This result means that Qubee and Securex are joint table toppers in Group H and their remaining match will seal their fate, which might be in the form of goal difference.

humbling. Asraf scored a magnificent four goals along with Sowad who also put in two for the CAT cause. It must have been painful viewing for the MD of Rangs who witnessed firsthand how ruthless Ascent Cup really is. No worries, we expect captain Samiur Rahman and Co to hold the Rangs Group flag high in their upcoming matches. Meanwhile, Bangla CAT are looking ominous as group toppers.

BANGLA CAT 7-2 RANGS GROUP

GE’s misery continues in the Ascent Cup as they fell victim to a swashbuckling Beximco Tex in an eight-nil thrashing. The worldwide conglomerate have now con-

Fresh off their success from last night’s mauling of GE, Bangla CAT resumed their scoring spree by demolishing Rangs Group in a 7-2

BEXIMCO TEX 8-0 GE

ceded a staggering 21 goals in two games but we salute their spirit and sportsmanship which epitomises the true spirit of this tournament. We truly hope more teams had their attitude. Wasim of Bextex scored a whopping five goals while his teammate Palash scored a hattrick.

STERLING GROUP 4-0 THERAP BD

Therap BD who we lovingly call “the big-bang theory” found the going tough against a rampant Sterling Group who dispatched four into the opposing team’s net. One could speculate that Therap BD are missing the flair of their star defender Shahed (Sheldon) who is

out of the country at the moment and is expected back [today]. But as of now they are left with nothing but to reflect of what could have been. Sajeeb and Akbar both converted a brace for Sterling who look to be in pole position for group F.

GEMCON 11-1 MTB

Reigning champions silenced their critics by taking MTB to the cleaners. The MTB goalie had a tough day as Proshanto rained six goals and the rest of his team steadily contributed. However, MTB has a way to redeem themselves by winning their remaining games and qualify for the Cup Championship part of the tourney. l

Mourinho gives Schweini warning

Cillessen vows to fight for place n Reuters, Barcelona New Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has pledged to fight fellow goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for his place in the team after joining the La Liga champions from Ajax. The Netherlands international was presented at the Nou Camp yesterday after sealing his move on a five-year deal for 13 million euros ($14 million). Claudio Bravo, who moved to Manchester City on Thursday, played the club’s league fixtures and Ter Stegen featured in the King’s Cup and Champions League games after the pair joined Barca in 2014. “The coach will decide but I’m going to make things tough for him,” Cillessen told a news conference yesterday. l

2-4 3-1 2-2 7-2 8-0 4-0 11-1 11-0 12-0 11-1 9-0 0-6 8-1

n AFP, Manchester

FC Barcelona’s newly signed soccer goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen poses during his presentation at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain yesterday REUTERS

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho indicated to outof-favour midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger yesterday that there will be no place for him at Old Trafford this season. The Germany international has two years to run on a reported £190,000-a-week ($251,000, 222,200 euros) contract, but has been frozen out by United’s new manager. Schweinsteiger, 32, has declared he will not join another European club and Mourinho suggested that if he stays, he may not even play in the Europa League or the English Football League Cup. Asked if Schweinsteiger might

play this season, Mourinho said: “I think it’s very difficult to happen. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s very difficult. “I have Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick. That’s five players for two positions. It’s difficult that a chance will arise.” Mourinho admitted he is surprised Schweinsteiger is willing to see out his deal. “I cannot answer for him,” he said. “It’s his life. It’s his career. He has a contract with Manchester United and has decided to stay. That’s not a problem for us. “Football is about decisions. I’ve done that throughout my career. Not just me, everyone does. Some players react in a different way. l

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Lukewarm (5) 4 Enemies (4) 7 Tool (3) 8 Be vicious (3) 9 Ethical (5) 12 Equipment (4) 13 Publication executives (7) 15 Female sheep (3) 16 Pigs enclosure (3) 18 Tree (3) 19 Corn spike (3) 21 Naval rank (7) 24 Prophet (4) 26 Gap (5) 27 Edge (3) 28 Perfect score (3) 29 Ugly amphibian (4) 30 Search (5)

DOWN 1 Domesticated (4) 2 Book of the Bible (6) 3 Persian fairy (4) 4 Fruit (4) 5 United (3) 6 Regretful (5) 10 Consumed (3) 11 Cried, as cattle (5) 14 Quantities of paper (5) 17 Vestiges (6) 18 Useful thing (5) 20 Tear (3) 21 Dry (4) 22 Scold (4) 23 Fasting period (4) 25 Period of time (3)

Downtime

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 21 represents X so fill X every time the figure 21 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

Showtime

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Trio tour

n Mahmood Hossain

Behold, all you motor-heads out there, the original band of misfits and former hosts of Top Gear will finally be presented on their new show The Grand Tour. It’s been a long time coming for Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. After the controversial exit of the trio, especially by Clarkson, Amazon was pretty quick to pick them up in July of last year. The show itself, as stated by the producers, will be 12 episodes a year for the next three years. The Grand Tour will debut this autumn, which is right around the corner. Into more details, the showrunners have confirmed that each episode will be around 60 to 70 minutes. The new show is in a similar fashion or DNA as BBC’s Top Gear, which let’s be honest, hasn’t done a great job in the ratings department. It will consist of pre-recorded material; parts of it will be shot in exotic locations, while the studio audience recordings are to be added at a later date, in different locations all over the world. As told by Wilman (producer), Clarkson actually got the idea by watching an episode of True Detective that featured

a scene with a church gathering under a large tent. After dismissing the rumour about Amazon paying over $212 million for three reasons, he cleared things up by saying the entire show is shot in 4K resolution. “Making a drama in 4K makes a lot of sense. Making the kind of actuality show we make, it doesn’t make sense at all, but that’s what we’ve been tasked to do.” The requirement of 4K by Amazon was the main reason for a higher budget more than anything else. When Wilman was asked why they had chosen Amazon over other streaming networks, he added, “The main reason is we are left alone, which as anybody who’s worked with us, knows we like. But we are left alone because it is logical [as they need to be allowed to create with complete freedom]. You’ve got to go a new world. That’s because they are new outfit – they are like a blank canvas.” He was then later asked about the trio’s exit from Top Gear, and why things imploded. “A perfect storm. That show got bigger and bigger and bigger, and because it got bigger by accident we never adjusted to that. We were collapsing under the weight of the

world we were doing.” “Everything became personal and confrontational. It was going to

be a victory for somebody, not a resolution,” WIlman added. Well, let’s hope this time around it’s a

much smoother ride down the road. Pun intended. l

some sensational thing said about him — and many of them won Academy Awards. In Hollywood, people love to see other people fail, but we should judge films on their merits. From what I hear, the picture’s really good. I think it’s a shame people have to bring things like this up to try to hurt it.” — Tab Hunter (Damn Yankees), actors branch “I’ve been following the case. I read the transcripts and the

movie. I will probably see it because I try to see everything. But I have to admit, I’m going to go in with a very biased attitude toward this guy because I think what he and the co-writer did to this girl was terrible — especially how they harassed her after she reported their behavior. They got off, but they are not innocent. Parker stands behind his wife and his five daughters, but that doesn’t wash with me.

comments of the girl who died. When I was having my hair done last week, even my hairdresser was livid. Other people haven’t heard about it yet, but it’s going to unfold in a very big way. They need a Ray Donovan guy in there to fix this because there’s so much money invested in this

The only thing that would make this better for me would be for him to say, ‘I’m gonna serve my six months in jail.’ Otherwise, it will be very hard for me to vote for this movie. What is the life of a woman worth?” — Rutanya Alda (Mommie Dearest), actors branch l

Birth of a dilemma n Showtime Desk The controversy behind the film Birth of a Nation isn’t about the film itself, but the filmmaker. Writer-director Nate Parker has sparked the wrong kind of attention after his resurfaced rape trial.

This is nothing new in the arena of directors and other filmmakers with shady pasts. Although it is a shame to see such a fantastic film or work of art being shunned over the actions of the people involved in the project, you can’t blame the audience for having second thoughts over watching the film.

Out of a report in The Hollywood Reporter, two long-time Oscar voters voiced their opinions on the matter. “He wasn’t found guilty, and even if he was, we’re not voting for the man — we’re voting for his film. I’ve never met a Hollywood star who hasn’t had

Out in September n Showtime Desk

with devastating consequences.

all 155 passengers on board.

August has only a few days left, which means it’s time to look forward into the new releases of September. Here’s a list of highlight-worthy films to be released in the coming month.

September 9

September 16

The Wild Life From the over-exuberant parrot Tuesday to the snackobsessed tapir Rosie, from the persnickety echidna Epi to the acrobatic pangolin Pango, from the ditzy goat Scrubby to the commonsensical kingfisher Kiki and the always-cool chameleon Carmello, things are larger than life on a tropical isle that is pure wild animal paradise. Then Robinson Crusoe, a marooned human, arrives in the midst of a furious storm, and their lives are forever changed by this bewildering new “creature.”

Blair Witch A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James’ sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realise the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

September 2 Morgan A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent, “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger. The Light Between Oceans

Sully Capt Chesley Sullenberger (Tom

Snowden Snowden reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the polarising figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for one of the most compelling films of the year.

September 23

In the years following World War I, Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), a young veteran still numb from his years in combat, takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a remote island off the coast of Western Australia. As the island’s sole inhabitant, he finds comfort in the monotony of the chores and the solitude of his surroundings. When he meets the daughter of the school’s headmaster, Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander), in the local town of Partageuse on the mainland, Tom is immediately captivated by her beauty, wit and passion, and they are soon married and living on the island. When a rowboat with a dead man and infant girl mysteriously washes ashore, Isabel believes their prayers may have finally been answered. As a man of principle, Tom is torn between reporting the lost child and pleasing the woman he loves, and against his better judgment he agrees to let Isabel raise the child as their own, making a choice

Hanks), a pilot for more than four decades, is catapulted to fame after birds fly into the engines of flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, crippling the jet. He lands the plane safely on the surface of the Hudson River, saving the lives of

The Magnificent Seven With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack

Showtime

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH San Andreas HBO 2:29pm Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

September 30

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realises that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is. Masterminds A night guard at an armored car company in the Southern US organises one of the biggest bank heists in American history. This action comedy stars Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Zach Galifianakis, Kate McKinnon, Jason Sudeikis and Leslie Jones. l

In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife across the state in order to rescue his daughter. Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd, Archie Panjabi, Paul Giamatti Men in Black 3 Movies Now 7:20pm Agent J travels in time to M.I.B.’s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history. Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mike Colter, Nicole Scherzinger Captain America: The First Avenger Star Movies 5pm

Steve Rogers, a rejected military soldier transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a “SuperSoldier serum.” But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a war monger and a terrorist organisation. Cast: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan Constantine WB 6:52pm

Supernatural detective John Constantine helps a detective prove her sisters death was not a suicide, but something more. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Djimon Hounsou, Max Baker

Back Page

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

THE SOUTHERN SILK ROAD PAGE 12

POSITIVE ENGLAND SET FOR BANGLADESH TOUR PAGE 24

BIRTH OF A DILEMMA PAGE 30

From green to grey Over the past two decades, mangrove trees such as the ones pictured here were grown on the Kuakata sea beach. Although such vegetations thrived in the past and added a shade of green to the coastal sands, many of the trees are now dying because of increased salinity and rising water levels of the Bay of Bengal. The photo was taken recently at Patuakhali's Kuakata beach SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Top French court suspends burkini ban

Japan to double terror intelligence unit staff

n Reuters, Paris

The Japan government has taken initiatives to double the number of officials assigned to the Counterterrorism Unit-Japan (CTU-J) to improve its ability to collect and analyse information. The government would increase the unit’s personnel to 40 people. The number of officials stationed overseas, who are not part of the unit, will be increased from about 20 to about 40, the Japan News reports. In total, about 80 officials at home and abroad will be in charge of information-gathering. Major terrorist attacks have killed hundreds of people around the world recently, including the bombings that struck Belgium in March and the attack on a restaurant in Bangladesh on July 1 that left seven Japanese among 17 foreigners dead. Another Japanese, Hoshi Kunio, was killed by the supporters of Islamic State in Rangpur on October 3 last year. In response to these incidents, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered that the nation’s intelligence gath-

A top French court yesterday suspended a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has angered Muslims, feminists and civil liberties campaigners. The ruling by the Council of State relates to the Mediterranean resort of Villeneuve-Loubet, one of more than a dozen French towns that have imposed such bans. The burkini ban has shone a light on secular France's long-standing difficulties integrating its Muslim population and dealing with the aftermath of a series of Islamist attacks. The court said in a statement the decree to ban burkinis in Villeneuve-Loubet "seriously, and clearly illegally, breached the fundamental freedoms to come and go, the freedom of beliefs and individual freedom." The lawyer representing the League of Human Rights campaign group which had challenged the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet told re-

porters the ruling meant all town halls would need to reverse their bans. The group argued the bans contravened civil liberties.

The burkini ban has shone a light on secular France's longstanding difficulties integrating its Muslim population and dealing with the aftermath of a series of Islamist attacks But one mayor in Corsica said he would not suspend his own ban, showing that the ruling will not put a quick end to the heated controversy that has already filtered into early campaigning for the 2017 presidential election. "There's a lot of tension here and I won't withdraw my decree," Sisco mayor Ange-Pierre Vivoni

told BFM TV. The issue has also made French cultural identity a hot-button issue along with security in political debates ahead of next April's presidential election. Prime Minister Manuel Valls robustly defended the burkini ban on Thursday while some ministers criticised it, exposing divisions within the government as campaigning begins. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday he would impose a nationwide ban on burkinis if elected as he seeks to position himself as a strong defender of French values and tough on immigration. "This is a slap for the prime minister and a kick up the backside for Sarkozy," Abdallah Zekri, secretary general of the French Muslim Council said of the ruling. "We're satisfied with this." Socialist Party spokesman Razzy Hammadi told BFM TV he hoped the ruling "will put an end to this nasty controversy." l

n Tribune Desk

ering system be strengthened. “Information is essential to preventing terrorism,” Abe said. Increasing the unit’s staff to about 40 people is part of this effort. IS in its Dabiq magazine stated that they targeted the Japanese people after the country had joined the anti-IS coalition. The Japan News says one objective behind the latest step is to bolster the nation’s ability to prevent terrorist attacks during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The unit was created in December after incidents including the simultaneous attacks in Paris the month before. Organisationally, it is part of the Foreign Ministry. The unit currently gathers intelligence on the activity of Islamic extremists in four areas — Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Northwest Africa. The Joint Intelligence Committee for Counter Terrorism met Wednesday to confirm these changes. In addition to the staff increase, the unit is expected to receive additional training on languages, local conditions and other areas. l

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