02 Sep, 2016

SECOND EDITION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 | Bhadra 18, 1423, Zilqad 28, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 128 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 40-page Weekend supplement | Price: Tk10

Police: Obaidul confessed to Third Bangladeshi being obsessed with Risha Muslim fatality in NY Sanaul Islam Tipu and n Md Arifur Rahman Rabbi

n Tribune Desk

Obaidul Khan confessed to stabbing 14-year-old school student Suraiya Akhter Risha, claiming he was driven by his obsession with her, police said yesterday.

He said he was alone when he attacked Risha, a Class VIII student at Willes Little Flower School and College in the capital’s Kakrail area on August 24, said HM Azimul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Division, Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

“During primary investigation,

Students of Willes Little Flower school yesterday form a human chain in front of their school demanding punishment to Risha’s killer Obaidul MEHEDI HASAN

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An elderly Bangladeshi woman was stabbed to death about a block and a half away from her home in New York’s Queens on Wednesday, New York Daily News reported quoting the city police yesterday.

Nazma Khanam, 60, was stabbed to death while on a nighttime walk with her husband in Queens, according to police.

A knife was recovered nearby.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, according to NYPD. She was reportedly walking ahead of her husband when she

A time for retrospection for BNP at 38 The BNP created more trouble for itself by taking wrong steps one after another

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ANALYSIS n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

NEWS

Perhaps never before was the BNP, one of the two main political parties in Bangladesh, in need of such retrospection instead of celebrating its founding anniversary.

While the ruling Awami League, the oldest and biggest political party in Bangladesh, tightens its stranglehold on power by the day, the 38-year-old BNP has been bumbling from one blunder to another.

Furthermore, with no presence in parliament, thanks to a national

ANALYSIS

election boycott two years ago, party morale and organisation are far from what it would take to launch a persevering political campaign to return to power.

It has been almost 10 years since the BNP was in government.

The main political opposition basically has no organisational activities. National-level activities have for more than a year been limited to routine press conferences at the party headquarters in Dhaka.

The recent press conference where the party extended support to the anti-Rampal power plant protesters should be a welcome change from those mainly harping on how the party’s democratic rights are being violated by the government.

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PM opens Shimanto Bank for BGB

Agitators now to create mass awareness

Shimanto Bank, a bank for the members of BGB, was formally launched yesterday for their welfare. Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the bank at BGB Headquarters in Dhaka.  PAGE 3

Being failed to get any response from the government’s side, students of Jagannath University, have decided to create awareness among mass people about their demand.  PAGE 7

Meet our supergirls The Bangladesh Under-16 women’s team have defeated Iran, Singapore and Kyrgyzstan in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers.

Take a look at each player in the squad.  PAGE 24-25

was attacked.

“Her husband was behind her one and a half blocks away and he didn’t see nothing,” news outlet Pix11 reported quoting Mohammed Rahman, a nephew of the victim.

“She’s just crying or something, ‘Somebody kill me, somebody kill me,’ and he’s coming to help. He didn’t realise somebody stabbed his wife,” Rahman told Pix11.

Quoting Khanam’s family members, New York Daily News reported that her death could have been a hate crime because the victim was wearing traditional Muslim clothing when she was attacked, but the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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It was a butcher who helped police detain Risha’s murderer Taiyeb Ali Sarker, n Md Nilphamari His aimless movement grew suspicion in Dulal as he was getting ready for the day’s work in his shop in a market of Sonara in Domra upazila.

Dulal, a butcher by profession, saw Obaidul, the prime suspect in the murder of Willes Little Flower School student Suraiya Akhter Risha, wandering around the village market early in the morning of Wednesday.

It was 7:45am. The behaviour of the young man seemed odd to Dulal.

He called the youth and took him to a tea stall nearby.

“While having tea together, I asked him who he was. He did not give a straight answer, which made me even more suspicious. I could recognise him and I informed Domra police station.

A team of police and RAB came and took him away.”

Dulal, 45, is a native of North Harinchara village in Domra.

Sources said just the night before, police had raided Sonara and the

nearby areas on information, looking for Obaidul. During the raid, they also distributed Obaidul’s photos among the locals and business owners requesting them to inform police if they saw Obaidul.

Some locals in Sonara said they spotted Obaidul in the market on Tuesday night.

Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Zakir Hossain Khan said by helping police in arresting Obaidul, Dulal proved that people are now more conscious about upholding the rule of law.

“If everyone follows Dulal’s footsteps and help law enforcement agencies, criminals will never be able to get away.”

Obaidul allegedly stabbed Risha, 14, when she was returning home from school after an exam on August 24. Severely wounded, Risha struggled for her life for four days before succumbing to her injuries on August 28 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Her mother Tania Hossain filed a murder case in this regard with Ramna police station. l

Third Bangladeshi Muslim NYPD is not categorising it as such.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told Pix11 that there’s nothing to indicate this incident was a hate crime.

Earlier on August 14, another Bangladesh-origin imam of a Queens mosque and his assistant have been killed as a lone gunman attacked them from close range in what members of the mosque quickly denounced as a hate crime.

In that case, the victims were

wearing religious attire too but police have not commented on whether the shootings were a hate crime. The slayings happened about five miles from where Khanam was killed Wednesday night.

NY beat cops responding to an assault outside a house on in Queen’s Jamaica area at about 9:15pm, arrived to find Nazma Khanam, stabbed in her chest and unconscious. Khanam lived in a house less than two blocks away. l

Police take Obaidul Khan, suspected murderer of 14-year-old school student Risha, to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Obaidul confessed to being obsessed with Risha he said he was obsessed with Risha.

He also said he did not have any accomplice when he attacked her,” the police official told the Dhaka Tribune. “We are now looking for the murder weapon and working to gather more information.”

Obaidul was placed on remand for six days by a Dhaka court yesterday in a case filed by Risha’s mother Tania Hossain.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Delwar Hossain issued the order after Ramna Model police station OC Md Ali Hossain, who is investigating the case, produced Obaidul before the court and sought a 10day remand for interrogation.

In the remand petition, the investigation officer said Obaidul needed to be placed on remand in order to find the motive behind the attack and whether anyone else was involved in the attack.

“We need to interrogate him to find the knife he used to stab the victim as well.”

The investigation officer also requested the court to convert the case from an “attempt to murder”

to a “murder” case, which was granted.

Risha’s parents were present at the court during the case proceedings .

There was no defence counsel to petition for Obaidul’s bail or remand rejection plea.

Risha’s family was represented by Fahmida Akhter Rinky from Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association.

Risha was stabbed by Obaidul when she was returning home from school after exam on August 24.

She was severely wounded when she was admitted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and succumbed to her injuries on August 28.

Tania Hossain, the victim’s mother, filed the case on the same day with Ramna Model police station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000, accusing Obaidul as her daughter’s attacker.

Tania claimed that Obaidul was a tailor and a cutting master at Baishakhi Ladies’ Tailor in Eastern Mollika shopping mall, in Dhaka’s

Elephant Road area. A few months ago, Risha went to his shop and placed an order for some clothes, for which she had given her phone number to Obaidul.

Since then, he had been harassing her by phone calls. As she did not respond to her advances, he attacked and stabbed her.

Obaidul was on the run until he was spotted by a local at Domra upazila in Nilphamari on early Wednesday morning, who informed police. A combined team of police and Rapid Action Battalion then arrested him and brought to Dhaka in the afternoon.

Police also arrested Obaidul’s sister Khadiza Begum, 36, and her husband Khadimul Islam, 46, Niratongi village in Birganj, Dinajpur on Tuesday.

Fellow students of Risha at Willes Little Flower School and College have been staging protests demanding justice for Risha after she died. The took to the streets again yesterday demanding capital punishment of her murderer and speedy trial. l

government, launching violent movement that claimed hundreds of lives, extending support to Hefazat-e-Islam’s programme and so on. These put the party into the back foot.

Apart from these, it created division within the party in the name of reorganising itself which weakened the party’s strength.

BNP’s ties with Jamaat-e-Islami, once significant but which has clearly deteriorated over the last two years, does not help its image either. That is not altogether lost on the stalwarts of the BNP, a large portion of whom wish to part ways

with Jamaat.

The fact that the party has not been able to rejuvenate its grassroots has been another problem to deliberate upon. Being out of power for a decade does not help of course, but its top leadership tried to form grassroots committees from the comfort of their air-conditioned offices in Dhaka rather than acknowledging and ascertaining the preferences of their rank and file.

In other words, it would have been apt for the BNP to begin practising democracy, but that never happened. l

A time for retrospection for BNP at 38 BNP’s predicament could be attributed to the boycott in 2014, that too soon after sweeping the elections in four newly formed city corporations.

It should have been enough of a reassurance for the party to go into elections given the obvious anti-incumbency factor weighing heavily against the Awami League.

Having boycotted the election, the BNP, along with its fundamentalist ally Jamaat-e-Islami, which has seen most of its top leadership convicted for war crimes, then waged a violent campaign to topple the government through a spate of

extremely violent street protests during January-March 2014 when hundreds were burnt alive and thousands of vehicles firebombed.

Eventually that movement only added to the BNP’s woes, seriously damaging its image at home and abroad. But the party did not learn from this mistake, repeating a similar violent street protest starting on the one-year anniversary of the election it had boycotted. Another three months of deadly street protests yielded another big zero for the party.

The party has since been on a political hiatus, still obviously reel-

ing from the aftermath of two failed campaigns which further demoralised grassroots party workers.

The government, predictably, retaliated with mass arrest and lawsuits against BNP leaders from all tiers, and in the process sent them running for cover instead of being vocal against a regime which became increasingly intolerant about political dissent.

But the party created more trouble for itself by taking wrong steps one after another: Refusing to meet the Indian prime minister, hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over polls time

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10 Bangladeshis infected with Zika virus in Singapore; number likely to rise n Adil Sakhawat At least 10 Bangladeshis have been diagnosed with Zika infections in Singapore, the Bangladesh High Commission there said.

Bangladeshi High Commissioner in Singapore Mahbub Uz Zaman confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. He also said that the number of infected people could increase. When asked, he said the commission was unable to verify the identities of the affected.

All of them were working at a construction site in Sims Drive area

along with Indian and Chinese nationals.

Mahbub said: “The Singaporean Health Ministry has informed us that the labourers were infected with mild syndrome. The construction site and its adjacent areas are under surveillance along with other possible areas that employ Bangladeshi workers.”

Singapore announced the first locally contracted case of Zika late on Saturday, Reuters reports. The number of confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the citystate rose steadily to over 100 this week.

A High Commission official told the Dhaka Tribune that they were first notified about the infection on August 29. “We went to the site immediately but the local authorities did not allow us in or speak to any Bangladeshis,” he claimed.

“That is why we are not sure about the number of confirmed cases of Bangladeshi victims,” the official said, adding that they feared Zika infection among Bangladeshi labourers could rise.

Twenty-three Chinese and 15 Indian nationals are among those tested positive for Zika, said Filzah Diyana Rahman, assistant manag-

er of Corporate Communications Division of Singapore Health Ministry.

“All had mild illness. Most have recovered while the rest are recovering well,” Filzah informed the Dhaka Tribune in an e-mail.

The Singapore government has already initiated full force mosquito control efforts since yesterday morning, a day after it was revealed that the Zika virus might have spread outside the initial Aljunied-Sims Drive cluster in Singapore, Singaporean newspaper The Straights Times reported.

The Zika virus, which has spread

through the Americas and the Caribbean since late last year, is generally a mild disease but is a particular risk to pregnant women as it can cause microcephaly – a birth defect of small head size which can signal brain damage.

In January, US scientists urged the WHO to take urgent actions to combat Zika virus, which they said, had “explosives pandemic potential.” There is no cure for the virus and the hunt is on for a vaccine.

Zika was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947 and the first human case was detected in Nigeria seven years later. l

SC: Two ministers violated oaths n Ashif Islam Shaon The Supreme Court has said that Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq violated their oaths by questioning the authority of the judiciary.

The ministers have acted in violation of the law and are in breach of their oaths of office to preserve, protect and defend the constitution, the apex court observes.

“In their exuberance, they have undermined the sanctity of the institution of the judiciary by questioning the justice delivery system,” said majority of the eight-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha in the full judgement of a contempt of court case against the duo released yesterday.

On March 27, the apex court rejected the unconditional apology tendered by the two ministers and fined them Tk50,000 each for making contemptuous statements about the chief justice and the judiciary with regard to the verdict in war criminal Mir Quasem Ali's appeals case.

Justice Muhammad Imman Ali and Justice Hasan Foez Siddique wrote the full judgement. As four judges agreed with Justice Imman Ali, his views have been accepted as the court's decision. The other judges of the bench were Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Md Nizamul Huq. The judgement said that the two ministers had scandalised the Supreme Court in a highly motivated manner in order to influence the judgement of the court. This is gross criminal contempt and a violation of the provisions of the constitution.

“The contemnors deserve no sympathy other that the lenient view taken in awarding sentence which has already been expressed in the short order passed by this Court on March 27, 2016,” it said.

Justice Hasan Foez in his opinion said that he had agreed to the findings of guilt of the contemners and the sentence awarded. But he disagreed with the portion that the contemners are in breach of their oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the constitution.

“It is not the issue in the proceeding to adjudicate whether the contemner-respondents have acted in breach of their oath of office or not. No notice was issued in that regard drawing attention to the contemner-respondents, who are sitting ministers of the cabinet.”

The contempt of court proceeding was initiated as the duo heavily criticised the chief justice on March 5 ahead of the appeal verdict in Quasem’s case.

Qamrul demanded formation of a new bench to rehear the case, excluding the chief justice, alleging that Justice SK Sinha was talking like a defender of the war criminals. He expressed doubt that the war criminal would be handed down death penalty. He also wanted the attorney general out of the hearing.

Echoing Qamrul, Mozammel said that the chief justice should not be delivering the verdict in the case. Other speakers at the discussion too criticised the chief justice.

Before delivering the verdict in Quasem’s case that day, the top court issued a contempt of court ruling against the ministers and ordered them to appear before it on March 15 to explain their remarks. The prime minister too said her government would not own such comments. l

Shimanto Bank Chairman and BGB DG Major General Aziz Ahmed hands over a portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a gift during the inauguration ceremony of Shimanto Bank BSS

PM opens Shimanto Bank for BGB n UNB Shimanto Bank, a bank for the members of Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB), was formally launched yesterday for their welfare.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the bank at a ceremony at Fazlur Rahman Khondoker Auditorium at BGB Headquarters in the capital.

The prime minister also became the first client of the bank by opening an account.

Shimanto Bank Managing Director and CEO Mokhlesur Rahman made an audio-visual presentation on the bank on the occasion.

With the launching of this public sector bank, a brainchild of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the long-cherished dream of the BGB are expected to be fulfilled.

According to the BGB, the bank's main vision is to turn it into a balanced technically sound client-friendly financial institution which will contribute to the country's overall advancement as part of its social responsibility.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instantly gave verbal consent to set up a bank for the border guards when the demand was raised during her Darbar held at Peelkhana marking the BGB Day on December 20, 2014.

Later, BGB Director General Major General Aziz Ahmed speedily moved forward the activities for setting up the bank and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled its logo at the BGB Day function on December 20, last year.

On February 28 this year, eminent banker Mokhlesur Rahman was appointed managing director

of Shimanto Bank while this bank got final license from the Bangladesh Bank on July 21.

Shimanto Bank will be operated as a sister concern of BGB Welfare Trust which ensures welfare for the BGB members.

From the bank, the BGB members will be provided with various types of loans on easy conditions alongside operating deposit pension scheme, house building loan, medical assistance conducting treatment both at home and abroad, and financing at the One House One Farm project.

As a commercial bank, it will deliver banking services to all sorts of people across the country, especially in border areas where the BGB have networks.

Shimanto Bank Chairman and BGB DG Major General Aziz Ahmed gave the address of welcome. l

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Muhith: Bangladesh Grameen Foundation protests not under risk of false AP news story on APG grey-listing Muhammad Yunus n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said the government is hopeful about Bangladesh not getting listed as a risky country in the money laundering evaluation report of Asia Pacific Group.

APG has put Bangladesh in low categories in four indicators, but the minister said this was due to information gap that the government has tried to address in its latest report.

Muhith was speaking to reporters yesterday after issuing the final draft of the evaluation report for Asia Pacific Group at Finance Ministry auditorium.

According to APG’s anti-money laundering meeting documents, the evaluation of Bangladesh’s 11 Immediate Outcomes – the criteria for evaluating anti-money laundering and countering terror financing – have resulted in one substandard outcome, six moderate and four low level outcomes.

In this regard, the minister also said some of the immediate outcomes were substandard, but overall immediate outcomes of anti-money laundering activities in the country were good.

“Some of the categories of APG indicators will be negative and we

are now working on the matters,” he admitted.

The 2016 APG Annual Meeting and Technical Assistance and Training Forum will be held in San Diego, California, United States from September 5-8.

The government’s draft report also said according to APG there was a coordination problem between the Home Ministry and the Attorney General’s Office in cases of anti-money laundering activities.

In reply to a query, Muhith said there was no lack of coordination between the two.

In reply to another question, the minister said it was not true that the performance of courts was bad in terms of settling anti-money laundering cases and there were no delays in anti-money laundering cases.

Regarding gold smuggling, he said due to strong vigilance by the government security agencies, the smuggling of gold through the airports and border areas had come down to zero.

Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering postponed its 19th annual general meeting due to the terror attack in Dhaka’s Ghulsan.

It was scheduled to be held on July 23-28 in Dhaka. l

n Tribune Desk The US-based non-profit Grameen Foundation has said that the Associated Press report alleging Prof Muhammad Yunus’ involvement in its obtaining USAID funds contains false information.

Referring to the AP news article of August 23, 2016, “Many donors to Clinton Foundation met with Hillary Clinton at State Department,” a press release from Grameen Foundation said the statement that Muhammad Yunus runs the foundation and that it received USAID money based on unethical means rather than through standard competitive processes and based on merit was incorrect.

Yunus did not run the foundation and USAID did not give the money to the non-profit, the release said.

“Prof Yunus was a founding member of the Grameen Foundation board. He served as a board member until 2009, and has been an Emeritus member since that time,” it said.

“But Prof Yunus does not run Grameen Foundation. Grameen Foundation is an independent USbased nonprofit organisation with its own leadership and staff.”

The release said the AP news story also incorrectly implied that

the foundation’s partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and subsequent grant funding were the result of a meeting between Yunus and Hillary Clinton in April 2009.

“The partnership between USAID and Grameen Foundation in 2009 was based on their mutual commitment to microfinance as a path out of poverty for the world’s poor,” it said.

Grameen Foundation said its partnership with USAID, inked in October 2009, involved extending $162.5 million as loan guarantees in support of microfinance institutions in poor countries.

“These funds were not provided to Grameen Foundation. They were used to provide credit guarantees to enable microfinance institutions in poor countries to serve low-income clients,” the release said.

It also argued the AP news story’s claim that the money received

by Grameen Foundation from USAID between 2012 and 2016 was unethically procured or sourced.

“In fact, Grameen Foundation competed for USAID-funded grants, participating in its rigorous and strictly regulated competitive bid process. During that time, we were awarded four grants totaling $3.1 million to design and imple-

ment projects aimed at improving child and maternal health, and improving the financial security of the poor. In addition, we were sub-grantees on six additional grants totaling $2.2 million. We were selected as sub-grantees not

by USAID, but by the prime grantee based on the merit of our work and expertise of our staff.”

The foundation said it was proud of its long-standing relationship with Prof Yunus.

“As the founder of microcredit, Prof Yunus has helped to change the lives of tens of millions of poor people the world over. He founded and ran the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, and ultimately founded a whole family of associated organizations and social enterprises in that country. Based on this work, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. His work has demonstrated how it is possible to create self-sustaining institutions that operate within the market system and serve the needs of the poor. These are models all people, enterprises and governments can learn from as they strive to address the deep-seated problems of poverty, inequity and hunger.”

The foundation has asked AP to correct the “inaccuracies and insinuations” in their article. l

BNP marks 38th founding anniversary n Tribune Report BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday placed floral wreath at the grave of the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman to mark the 38th founding anniversary of the party.

Khaleda along with thousands of party leaders and activists paid respect to Ziaur Rahman and offered prayers at his grave.

The party held various programmes to mark the day including a discussion held at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh where Khaleda was present as the chief guest.

After placing the floral wreath, party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists that the main challenge for the party is to restore democracy in the country.

Fakhrul said“There is no democracy in the country.

The autocratic government

has snatched away peoples fundamental rights. They want to eliminate BNP from the country after resorting to the repression of the party leaders and activists.”

“BNP is a party based on people’s support and thats why BNP will not be eliminated from the country. We have vowed today that we will be able to restore democracy in the country,” he added. l

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Helplines launched for expat workers n Adil Sakhawat The Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment has created a call centre for Bangladeshi expatriates and their relatives at home to solve issues or provide information about any problems they might face.

Expatriates Minister Nurul Islam inaugurated the service yesterday at Dhaka's Prabasi Kallyan Bhaban in the presence of Bangladeshi 41 labour attaché from 27 embassies.

The service was initiated by Wage Earners Welfare Board with technical assistance from the Access to Information (a2i) project.

It has been named 'Prabashbondhu Call centre' (Foreign Friends Call

dead bodies back to the country and ways to find compensation, scholarships for expatriates' children and recovering salary if confiscated by the employers, he said.

Initially the call centre will provide 18 services to the expatriates and their relatives.

Expatriates and their relatives will avail services within 48 hours of calling. Otherwise the complaint or the query will be forwarded to a senior official of the Expatriates Ministry automatically.

The minister also informed that all labour attachés were being trained on providing services swiftly.

Expatriates will be able to call at +8809654333333 for all kinds of assistance from 9am to 6pm (Bang-

Centre) and initially launched for expatriates living in three countries - Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Jordan - as a pilot project.

“From now onwards, Bangladeshi expatriates living in three countries can avail services swiftly with the help of this call centre and gradually this service will be provided to expatriates living in other countries,” Nurul Islam said.

He termed this initiative a new addition to the country's digitalisation project.

Through this call centre Bangladeshi expatriates who have a major contribution to the country's economy can avail services swiftly, like filing complaints to the ministry, getting information about bringing

ladesh Standard Time) everyday.

They will also be able to call or send text messages to +8801678668813 from their mobile phones’ message option or use this number to connect from WhatsApp, Viber and imo accounts.

Besides, they can contact the call centre on Facebook or Facebook Messenger to the page Probash Bondhu Call Center, call the Skype ID Probash Bondhu Call Center or send mails at probashbondhu.web@gmail.com.

To ensure more facilities for the expatriate Bangladeshis living in Lebanon and South Africa the ministry has already planned to open labour wings in the two countries, the minister said. l

Brac achieves Smart Certification n Tribune Desk Brac’s microfinance programme has recently been awarded with Smart Certification after successfully completing the program.

Brac has become the first organisation in Bangladesh to achieve certification. It joins 68 other financial institutions worldwide who are proven industry leaders.

Director of Brac’s Microfinance Programme Shameran Abed said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be Smart Certified. Our clients have always come first, and this achievement confirms the success of our programme’s mission to provide financial services to the poor in a way that is responsible and responsive to their needs.” l

Truck workers stand in front of a Dhaka South City Corporation bulldozer yesterday to restrict it from evicting an illegal truck stand in Sayedabad area. The corporation’s officials later turned back as failed to continue their eviction drive DHAKA TRIBUNE

Green activists meet JS body over Rampal project n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Eminent environmental activists have asked the government to suspend the construction of the 1,320MW coal-based power plant at Rampal and formulate a policy to protect the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

They also suggested that the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project be conducted by a neutral party.

Dr M Shamsul Alam, Prof Anu Mohammad, Dr Badrul Imam and Syeda Rizwana Hasan made the remarks during a meeting with the members of the Parliamentary

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should be suspended and then a policy on the Sundarbans should be formulated for flourishing the world's largest mangrove forest.”

He also said: “In the past, the Sundarbans was destroyed in various ways. We have seen that various initiatives were taken after the Rampal power plant project. Land grabbers and industrialists are active to set up various industries.

“We need a policy on the Sundarbans to strengthen the economic and environmental supports that the forest gives us.”

The committee members have long been protesting the project – being implemented by an In-

Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources at the parliament building yesterday.

On the other hand, a press release issued by the Parliamentary Standing Committee said that the committee had recommended implementation of the Rampal power plant project with caution and by not harming the Sundarbans.

Prof Anu, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, said: “We have explained in details how this project will adversely affect the Sundarbans. We have said that firstly the project Dhaka

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dia-Bangladesh joint venture – and demand that the government relocate the plant for the sake of the forest's ecology and rich biodiversity.

The government, however, is adamant to continue the high-priority initiative claiming that the activists are spreading false information about the mega project.

Rizwana Hasan, chief of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association, said that they had suggested that a fresh EIA is conducted by a neutral foreign company. “If the firm says that there will be no negative impact on the Sundarbans, we will have no objection,” she told the Dhaka Tribune. l Khulna

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Abul Mansur Ahmad’s 118th Birth Anniversary n Tribune Desk Today, September 3, 2016 is the 118th birth anniversary of the renowned litterateur, journalist and politician Abul Mansur Ahmad.

He was born in Dhanikhola village in Trishal Thana of Mymensingh.

Abul Mansur Ahmad made his name as a satirist in Bangla literature. He is also considered as a trailblazer of journalism during the pre-partition era of Bengal.

He was the editor of Dainik Ittehad in 1946. He also worked in other newspapers, such as Krsak and Navayug. He was a leading figure of modern and progressive journalism.

An accomplished politician, Abul Mansur Ahmad served the Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Haqueled United Front government as the provincial education minister.

During 1956-57, he was the central commerce and industry minister of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy’s cabinet.

In his literary oeuvre, he produced famous books like Aina, Asmani Parda, Gulliverer Safarnama, Food Conference and Bangladesher Culture. His autobiographical works include Atto Katha and Amar Dekha Rajnitir Ponchash Bochor.

Since the early 40s, he had been writing on the question of language, and he played a crucial role in the language movement as the editor of Ittehad.

He drafted the 21 point programme of United Front in the election of 1954. It was the earliest political articulation of the political, economic and cultural demands of the Bangalees of East Pakistan.

Abul Mansur Ahmad died on March 18, 1979 in Dhaka. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, ‘’Bikkhon’’ organised a discussion on Friday in Mymensingh. Professor Dr. Sirajul Islam Choudhury graced the programme. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 5:05am | Jumma: 1:15pm Asr: 5:00pm | Magrib: 6:26pm Esha: 8:15pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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Unscrupulous traders get involved in cow-fattening as Eid approaching Tazul Islam, n Md Gaibandha As the Eid-ul-Azha is approaching, a section of unscrupulous traders get involved in the cow-fattening, a practice developed for fetching high price by increasing the weight and size of a cow to do brisk business.

Despite knowing that consumption of meat of these animals may bring serious health risks for humans, traders are practicing the harmful way of rearing cattle.

During a visit to rural areas of the district this correspondent found that traders were using steroids, antibiotics and other chemicals for months for the rapid growth of the cattle as Eid is two weeks ahead.

Local sources said the unscrupulous section could do their busi-

ness smoothly, as livestock department was not serious to stop such practice.

Abdur Rouf, a farmer of Bamandanga, bought a bull at Tk26,000 four months ago.

He then planned to administer steroid to ensure its abnormal growth because he has to pocket profit during Eid’s cattle trading.

Like many of his neighbours, he started feeding the bull small white drug locally known as vitamins.

Soon, the bull gained weight substantially and buyers offered almost double the price he bought it with.

“It looked healthy and a trader offered Tk50,000 for it. But my husband decided to wait for a few more days, and he gave it injections to make it look more fatter,” Rouf’s wife Mazeda Khatun said.

She said the cattle traders pushed dexa-methason injection to fatten up cow which is very harmful for human health.

A section of drug traders supplied the injection in the markets of Sundarganj, Sadullapur, Polashbari, Gobindaganj, Saghata, Phulchhari and Sadar upazila. At least 50,000 cows, 21,000 goats, buffaloes and goats are at the farms in those areas.

When visited the areas recently, it was found that the farm-men are busy to fatten their cows by pushing the injections.

A farm man of Bamandanga village seeking anonymity said they fed the fodder provided by ACI company.

He claimed the medicine was not harmful for human health.

A female farm owner seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that they had fed the cattle a kind of tablet with the fodder.

“We know such kind of fodder is harmful for health, but we are bound to do it due to want of fodder,” said another female farm owner.

Civil Surgeon Nirmolendu Chowdhury said the practice of fattening cow should be stopped immediately otherwise its impact would be serious specially for the pregnant women.

He said consumption of steroid fatten cow’s meat might cause cancer and kidney disease. Moreover, fattened beef causes infertility in women.

Livestock Officer Abdul Latif said they would take steps immediately to stop the illegal business. l

Ansarullah Ctg commander remanded for three day Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

A Chittagong court on Thursday placed the regional commander of banned Islamic outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team Musayeb Ibn Omayer on a three-day remand in a case lodged with Pantenga police station under Anti-terrorism act.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Nirmalendu Bikash Chawakrabarty said the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Abdul Kader passed the remand order after he was produced before the court with 10-day remand plea.

On July 11, police arrested four alleged member of Ansarullah Bangla Team, including Omayer, from Barabkunda area of Sitakunda upazila in possession of sharp weapons, mobile phones and laptop. l

TCB begins open market sale in port city

BCL man hacked to death

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) yesterday began an open market sale of some daily commodities at fair prices in the port city.

The open market sale of sugar, red lentil and edible oil through moving trucks will continue till September 8 in the city.

The TCB fixed the price of sugar at Tk 55 per kilogram, edible oil at Tk 80 per litre and red lentil at Tk 89.95 per kilogram.

A single person can buy 3 kgs of sugar, 2 kgs of red lentil and 5 litres of edible oil at a time.

The TCB representatives are selling the essential commodities in 10 strategic points of the port city.

The selected OMS points are Agrabad ethnological museum, Agrabad CGO building, Alankar intersection, WASA intersection, GPO at Kotwali intersection, Deputy Commissioner (DC) office premises, Sholoshahar Gate No.2, Nasirabad (Purbokone office premises), New Market Railway Station and CEPZ intersection.

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Suza Uddullah Sarker, chief regional officer of TCB Chittagong said: “The state-run corporation has decided to sell three essential items in the city from August 31 so that the low-income households can buy the commodities at fair prices before Eid-ulAzha.”

There are a total of 348 TCB dealers in Chittagong, 145 dealers in the city corporation area and 203 dealers in the district. l

An activist of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was beaten to death by unidentified miscreants at PTI intersection in Khulna city in the early hours of Thursday.

Officer-in-charge of Sadar police station Khandaker Rafik said a gang of miscreants attacked Shaikat Rohan, 24, former executive member of the city unit BCL and resident of Bania Nagar, and hacked him indiscriminately while he was returning home by a motorcycle around 12:30am. Later, he died at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

Khulna city unit BCL General Secretary SM Asaduzzaman Rasel told the Dhaka Tribune that Rohan was student of Government MM City College and he was involved in BCL politics. l

n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong

n Hedait Hossain Molla, Khulna

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday released balloons on the campus of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, marking the 11th founding anniversary of the university DHAKA TRIBUNE

1 dies as fire breaks out at Chandpur warehouse n Md Ibrahim, Chandpur

One succumbed to his burn injuries while four other were burnt severely in a fire incident at Bangabandhu Road in Chandpur town early yesterday.

Raihan, 23, died at the ICU of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 7.45 pm on Thursday.

Mizanur Rahman, 50, Badsha, 45, Masud, 28, and Nur Mohammad, 21, are under going treatment at the burn unit of DMCH.

Ninety per cent of the bodies of Masud, Raihan and Nur have burnt while 68% of Mizan and 40% of Badsha are suffering from burn injuries, According to DMCH. Police and Fire Service sources said the fire broke out at an oil godown while unloading petrol from a lorry in Mijibari area of the road around 12.30am. Soon the fire engulfed the godown on the ground floor of a three-storey residential building and spread to the upper floors.

The residents of the floors took

shelter on the roof and were rescued by ladders with the help of fire fighters and locals.

Five units of Chandpur Fire Station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after a hectic effort of four hours.

Several shops adjacent to the building were also suffered damage due to the fire. Md Faruk Ahmed, senior officer of the fire station, said the fire was devastating.

“We were able to save the area from severe danger, as we got sufficient water from the lake adjacent

to the area and the vehicles of fire fighting units could reach the spot easily,” he added.

Ali Ullah, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said Mizan was doing business of petrol and octane using the ground floor of the three-storey residential building as a godown.

While visiting the site, Abdus Sabur Mandal, the district administrator, said it should be investigated whether the oil godown was running legally in the residential area. l

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

JNU MOVEMENT OVER ALLOCATION OF DORM LAND

Agitators now to create mass awareness n Rafikul Islam Being failed to get any response from the government’s side, students of Jagannath University (JnU), who have been observing demonstrations over a month, demanding allocation of the land of old Dhaka jail for construction of dormitories, have decided to take different types of programmes to create awareness among mass people about their demand.

The students have been staging demonstrations since August 1 for construction of halls at the site of vacated land of old Dhaka jail because the central jail was shifted to Keraniganj, outskirt of the capital, on 29 July, 2016.

Raisul Islam Nayan, a students’ representative, said, they would talk with distinguished people of the old Dhaka to create awareness about their demand.

He also said they would arranged an exchange-view meeting with civil society members at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity tomorrow afternoon.

“We will continue the movement until our demands is met.

Students have played vital roles in different movements, including Language Movement and Liberation War,” Rasedul Islam, another students’ representative.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, JnU unit formed a human chain on campus yesterday while left-leaning political parties university units with general students staged demonstrations at the National Press Club.

Leaders of the left-leaning political parties said they would observe their programmes even today and tomorrow, although the two

SUST students asked to vacate residential halls

CCC fixes 387 slaughter sites for Eid sacrifice

Serajul Islam, n Mohammad Sylhet

Authorities of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) yesterday asked students to vacate all residential halls following clashes that took place between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhtra League, students’ front of the ruling party Awami League.

Male students have been asked to leave their halls by 6pm on Thursday while the female ones by 12pm on Friday, said Md Ishfakul Hossain, registrar of the university at a press briefing on Thursday.

He said the authorities had taken the decision, as a tense situation was prevailing on the campus following injury of some students in the clashes.

A clash took place between the supporters of Sanjibon Chakraborty and Imran Khan president and general secretary of university unit BCL over a football tournament.

Since the day, several clashes took place and scores of BCL activists were injured in the fighting. The university will remain closed till September 15. l

Students of Jagannath University stage a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club yesterday demanding land allocation for dormitories DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong

The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) authorities have fixed 387 spots in the city for slaughtering sacrificial animals and urged the city dwellers to use the designated places to keep the city clean.

Mohammed Abul Hossain, secretary of Chittagong City Corporation told the Dhaka Tribune that they selected 387 slaughtering spots under 41 wards of the city in an effort to accelerate the cleaning work during Eid-ul-Azha this year.

“Besides, we will put up tarpaulins canopies in the slaughtering spots,” said the CCC secretary.

“We have set a target of cleaning all the sacrificial waste within a day.

As part of the cleaning drive, we have canceled the vacation of the cleaning staff of the corporation. Around 5000 cleaning staff will work to keep the city clean on Eid and the day after Eid,” added the CCC secretary.

Vowing to go tough on unauthorized cattle markets, the CCC secretary said they would take tough measures against those who

days were weekly holiday.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League JnU unit SM Sirajul Islam said: “We will continue the movement and get the allocation of the vacated land.”

On Friday afternoon, an exchange view meeting will be held with residents of Old Dhaka.

“On Saturday [tomorrow], we will hold a meeting with teachers and officials of the university to

set up unauthorised cattle markets in the city.

The corporation authorities have already leased two permanent and six makeshift cattle markets in the city for Eid-ul-Azha.

With the two permanent markets in Sagarika and Bibirhat areas, the makeshift markets are located in the city’s Karnaphuli, Saltgola Rail Crossing, Steel Mill, Komol Mohajon Hat, Patenga City Corporation High School and Postarpar School areas.

Meanwhile, Chittagong Metropolitan Commissioner Iqbal Bahar said that no cattle market would be allowed on the city roads.

The CMP Commissioner said this while addressing at a view-exchange meeting at the CMP headquarters in the city yesterday (Thursday).

With CMP Commissioner in the chair, the meeting was attended by the cattle market leaseholders, livestock officials, representatives from Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Bank, Chittagong City Corporation and rawhide traders, among others.

CMP commissioner in his speech

get their supports in favour of our movement.”

“We will call tougher demonstrations such as hartal if our demands are not met after the meeting of Teachers’ Association of the university with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on September 4, he warned to the authorities concerned.”

Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Dr Mijanur Rahman said a

directed the OCs of all police stations stay alert so that no cattle market spread to the city roads.

“There are a total of 10 authorised cattle markets in metropolitan area. Of them, eight cattle markets are located in Chittagong City Corporation area and rest markets are under Karnaphuli police station,” said the Iqbal Bahar.

The CMP Commissioner said that makeshift police camps, watch towers and fake currency detecting machines would be set up in every cattle market.

The CMP Commissioner said that veterinary medical teams would remain deployed in the cattle markets. Besides, members of the RAB, Police and APBn will also keep vigil in the city.

Iqbal Bahar also asked the police not to stop any cattle-carrying vehicles without concrete information.

He urged Bangladesh Bank authorities to introduce evening time banking.

Iqbal also requested the traders to take help from the police for carrying a large sum of money. l

museum and four halls would be constructed at the vacated site of the Old Dhaka Central jail named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders – Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman.

Dwellers and their children of old Dhaka would get chance to enter into the play ground if the land is allotted to the university, he also said. However, he urged the agitated students to return to classes.

On Wednesday, Inspector General (IG) of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin said setting up a park and museum in the vacated Dhaka Central Jail would be best for the people.

Replying to another question, he said the designs of the planned establishments would be selected through an open competition and that they were waiting for the prime minister’s permission to publish advertisement in newspapers.

He said the prime minister has wished to visit the jail before the planned makeover. “She will give us suggestions about which parts should be and should not be changed,” he added.

Asked about possibilities of turning the jail into a residential hall, he said: “The government will decide.” l

RU students demand removal of provost n RU Correspondent

Students of Rajshahi University (RU) staged demonstration on the campus yesterday, demanding removal of Rohomotunnesa hall provost.

Hundreds of students took position in front of university administrative building around 11am and chanted slogans against the provost.

During the protest, the students alleged that Provost Mili Jesmin misbehaved with them when they went to her with any problem. She also hurled abusive words at the female students.

“She is not providing seats to third and fourth year students, although many seats remain vacant,” said a protestor.

On Tuesday, students of the university staged demonstrations demanding removal of Provost Mili Jesmin and Residential teacher of the hall Nehad Banu.

On the day, they submitted a written allegation containing signatures of 256 students to students’ adviser Md Mijanur Rahman. l

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SOUTH ASIA

Sri Lanka nationalists protest against UN chief visit Dozens of Sri Lankan nationalists on Thursday protested against a three-day visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, demanding he leave the island and stop an investigation into alleged abuses at the end of the civil war. Ban is in Colombo to assess Sri Lanka’s efforts to address post war reconciliation.

-REUTERS

EXPLAINER

Understanding Syrian Kurds problem n Tribune International Desk

India continued to maintain a high level of pressure on Pakistan on Thursday, dismissing Islamabad’s attempts to drag the international community into the Kashmir issue.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that hey (Pakistan) can write as many letters as they want (to UN).

It won’t change the ground situation that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

-TOI

Syria’s battle-hardened Kurds have proven their mettle against the Islamic State group, and in the process, carved out an autonomous zone across the country’s north.

But their advance has alarmed Turkey, and Ankara on Wednesday sent tanks across the border against IS, and demanded that the Kurds withdraw from recently seized territory, reports The Associated Press.

The tensions between Turkey and the Kurds pit a Nato ally against the most effective US military proxy in Syria’s complex civil war. Turkey, which is battling a Kurdish insurgency in its southeast, is increasingly concerned about an expanding Kurdish enclave just across the border, and the two sides could be on track for a confrontation.

Here is a look at Syria’s Kurds:

CHINA

A history of marginalisation

INDIA

India to Pakistan: Let them keep writing to UN

China’s new Tibet party chief urges stronger criticism of Dalai Lama China’s newly appointed Communist Party chief of Tibet called for stronger denunciations of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, signalling Beijing’s hardline is unlikely to change under his leadership.

China on Sunday named Wu Yingjie as Tibet’s next party secretary, the region’s top official, considered one of the country’s most politically sensitive positions.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Thailand to resume peace talks with Muslim insurgents Thai government said on Thursday peace talks with Muslim separatists operating in the far south of the country would resume in Malaysia.

The separatists from the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been blamed for bombings last month in several tourist towns that killed 4 people and wounded dozens.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Syrian activists: Airstrikes kill 25 people Suspected government warplanes carried out several airstrikes in Syria’s Hama on Thursday, killing at least 25 people, amid a lightning advance by insurgents on government-controlled areas of the central province. The rebel offensive is led by an ultraconservative Islamic group, Jund al-Aqsa, and several factions from the western-backed Free Syrian Army. -AP

The Kurds are a sizeable ethnic group in the Middle East, inhabiting a territory stretching across what is now Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

They number approximately 30 million across the region, including an estimated 2 million in Syria.

Kurds in all four countries have suffered from a history of marginalisation, fuelling aspirations for independence or autonomy. Syria’s Kurds, who make up 10 percent of the country’s population, were only granted the right to citizenship in 2011, with President Bashar Assad seeking to win over the minority in the early days of the uprising against him.

Civil war brings limited autonomy

The main Syrian Kurdish party, known as the PYD, has benefited from a tacit non-aggression pact with Assad since the early months of the war, when the Syrian army withdrew from much of northeastern Syria to battle rebels elsewhere in the country, allowing the Kurds to carve out a zone of autonomy.

The PYD’s armed wing, the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, later expanded that enclave by battling the Islamic State group with the aid of US airstrikes. The Kurds have been driving westward over the past year and a half, and earlier this month captured the town of Manbij, a key IS supply hub west of the Euphrates River.

The Kurds now control all but 50km of Syria’s northern frontier with Turkey.

An effective US ally

The PYD, now allied with Arab fighters in a US-backed grouping

known as the Syria Democratic Forces, has handed IS a string of major defeats, pushing the extremists away from the Turkish border and closing in on Raqqa, the capital of the IS’s self-described Islamic caliphate.

Victory on the battlefield has brought more and more Western support. Today the US, Britain, France and Germany all have special forces embedded with the Syrian Kurds. The US says its 300 servicemen are performing an advisory role. No other group in Syria has received even close to that level of Western support.

The PYD share control of the northeastern city of Qamishli with government forces. Last week, the party clashed with government troops in Hasakeh, a provincial capital also in the northeast, drawing Syrian airstrikes. That in turn led the US to scramble aircraft to protect American troops on the ground, in what could have resulted in the first direct US-Syrian confrontation of the war. The PYD succeeded in expelling the government’s forces from the city.

Angering Ankara

Turkey views the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey’s southeast. Turkey also fears the rise of an autonomous Kurdish zone along its border, and has demanded the PYD to withdraw to the east of the Euphrates.

The PYD also has tense relations with the Syrian rebels fighting to oust Assad, who view them as an extension of his government. The rebels point to Kurdish advances into rebel-held territory last spring following Syrian and Russian airstrikes. The PYD has denied the allegations, insisting it is fighting for democratic self-rule. Turkey is a leading sponsor of the Syrian rebels.

A growing list of enemies

Riding a wave of military successes, the PYD declared in March that it would insist on a federated solution to the Syria war, alarming most of the conflict’s other players who view it as plan for partition.

Both Damascus and Ankara are deeply opposed to the Kurdish proposal, and may have even found some rare common ground over it. Just days after Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions in Hasakeh, Turkey announced that Assad could retain some role during a political transition in Syria, softening its previous insistence that he step down immediately.

On Wednesday, Turkish tanks

A Kurdish fighter stands with his weapons near a fluttering Kurdish flag in the Ghwairan neighborhood of Hasaka, Syria on August 23 REUTERS

THE SYRIAN KURDS

Largest ethnic minority in Syria, making up more than 1 0% of prewar population of 23 million. Kurds have declared their own civil administration in three enclaves, or cantons, under their control - Jazira, Kobani and Afrin - known collectively as Western Kurdistan, or Rojava Main Syrian Kurdish political group has been excluded from Geneva peace talks so as not to anger Turkey.

Ankara views group as extension of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged decades-old insurgency for greater autonomy for Turkey's Kurds

and special forces poured across the border, helping a force of some 1,500 Syrian rebels seize the border town of Jarablus from IS. But while IS was the main target, the operation was widely seen as an escalation against the Kurds, who are dug in just to the south, in Manbij.

Turkey again demanded they withdraw to the east, and visiting Vice President Joe Biden said that failing to do so could mean the end of US support, an indication that even Washington is concerned about the Kurds’ growing strength.

Fears of betrayal

If regional powers fear a proxy run amok, the Kurds worry that they will again be used as a pawn in international statecraft.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

The PKK operated freely in northern Syria under former Pres-

PYD's military wing, supported by U.S. and Russia, has proved highly effective in battling militants from so-called Islamic State group.

Much of Syria's border with Turkey controlled by YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces- alliance includes Kurds, Arabs and Christians

ident Hafez Assad when he was on the outs with Turkey — until 1998, when he expelled the group’s revered leader as part of a thaw in relations with Ankara.

In northern Iraq, Iran’s withdrawal of support for a Kurdish rebellion in the 1970s eventually left the Kurds at the mercy of Saddam Hussein, whose forces killed tens of thousands of them over the next two decades, including with poisonous gas. The US, which was backing Saddam in the Iraq-Iran War, did not interfere.

Today the Kurds of northern Iraq enjoy the kind of autonomy Syria’s Kurds crave. But even the Kurdish government in Irbil, which depends on good relations with Ankara to export its oil, backed Turkey’s incursion into Syria. It said the PYD could not be allowed to threaten regional security. l

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Trump’s Mexico visit likely to backfire for both him and Pena Nieto n Tribune International Desk Many on both sides of the border woke up Wednesday stunned at the news that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump would travel to Mexico City to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. But Mexicans quickly moved from astonishment to action: They organised a protest in the streets of the Mexican capital and filled social media channels, mocking a US presidential candidate they despise and expressing anger at their own president for inviting him.

The trip has caused consternation in Mexico and not just because the bloviating New York businessman has built his presidential campaign on anti-immigrant rhetoric, kicking off his bid for the White House by branding Mexicans as “rapists” and “criminals.” It’s not even that his continued attacks on America’s southern neighbor pushed Pena Nieto — of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which ruled Mexico with an iron fist for decades — to compare him to Adolf Hitler. It’s that the two are among the most unpopular politicians in their respective countries, whose interests are diametrically opposed, with virtually

Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto arrive for a press conference at the Los Pinos residence in Mexico City on August 31 REUTERS no political upside to be gained from the private meeting at the Mexican presidential palace. In other words, Trump’s trip will almost certainly backfire on both.

Pena Nieto “will try and be hospitable and set the stage for positive US-Mexico relations, no matter who the next president is,” Christopher Wilson, the deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told Foreign Policy. “But on the other hand, he will need to show that he is a defender of the Mexican people and that he will not allow Mexico to be used as a political pinata in the US election.”

Trump described his roughly hour-long meeting Wednesday afternoon with Pena Nieto as “open”

and “honest,” saying later in an unannounced question-and-answer session, “We were very strong — we have to be strong.”

An uncharacteristically sedated Trump read from a statement and repeated thanks to the Mexican president, as well as seemingly off-script praise for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, squeezing in a brag about how many he employs. But he also doubled-down on criticisms of Mexico on trade and national security, adding that although they did not discuss who would pay for the proposed wall on the US-Mexico border, he did bring it up.

For his part, the Mexican president reiterated his obligation and intention to protect Mexicans at

home and abroad — the implication being, from Trump and his purported policies. He offered a gentle rebuke, encouraging the United States to do more to curb its insatiable demand for drugs and the flow of illegal weapons south. He didn’t address Trump’s comments on the proposed wall.

“The Mexican people have felt hurt by the comments that have been made,” he said. “But I’m sure his genuine interest is to build a relationship that will improve the welfare of both our people.”

Over the past week, Trump has seemed to back away from one of his campaign’s signature, if dramatic and unworkable, pledges: to deport the some 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States.

That flip-flop has caused him plenty of headaches with plenty of high-profile supporters yet has paid precious few dividends with other voters. His Mexican adventure comes just hours before an immigration speech in Phoenix later Wednesday, potentially forcing the infamously stubborn businessman to make two policy pivots in a single day — if he wants to hold on to his base. l

[This is an excerpt from a Foreign Policy article, which can be found at http:// atfp.co/2bGyyUW]

FACTBOX

The deadly legacy of cluster bombs More than 400 people were killed by cluster bombs in 2015, most of them in conflict-hit Syria, Yemen and Ukraine, according to the Cluster Munition Coalition.

Over the past year seven nations have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions banning them.

Here are some facts about cluster munitions and efforts to end their use around the world: Ü Cluster munitions, usually called cluster bombs, were deployed for the first time in 1943 by Soviet and German forces. Since then, over 200 types of these munitions have been developed. Ü Each bomb’s hollow case can contain up to several hundred bomblets. Designed to be fired from the ground or dropped from aircrafts, cluster munitions open in mid-air and spread the bomblets over a wide area. That makes them inaccurate and likely to harm civilians and soldiers alike. Unexploded bomblets remain on the ground, becoming de-facto landmines. Ü According to the 2016 Cluster Muni-

Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

tions Monitor report, in 2015 Syrian and Saudi forces used cluster bombs in Syria and Yemen. Russia and the United Arab Emirates denied using them. None of these countries has signed the convention banning cluster munitions.

In 2015, civilians made up 97% of casualties caused by cluster bombs.

Since the 1960s, more than 20,000 cluster bombs casualties have been documented. This is probably a conservative figure, since many deaths caused by these devices have not been recorded or properly documented. It is estimated that, since their first deployment, cluster munitions have killed at least 55,000 people.

Vietnam and Laos are the most contaminated countries, followed

by Iraq and Cambodia. At least 24 countries have areas contaminated by cluster munitions.

On May 30, 2008, more than 100 countries adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which banned the use, production,

CLUSTER BOMBS Nearly 100 countries are signing a treaty to ban cluster bombs, while the leading producers of the bombs, including the US, Russia, China and Israel, remain outside the pact.

How cluster bombs work 2. Spinning canister opens (contains about 200 bomblets) 1. Canister released from aircraft Comes in variety of shapes, sizes Typical weight 1,000lb (454kg)

3. Individual bomblets float down to target Length 8 inch (20cm) Bomblets Parachute like device attached Breaks into small metal fragments upon detonation Many fail to go off immediately; civilians at risk when bomblets accidentally detonated

stockpile and transfer of cluster munitions. It also set deadlines for destroying stockpiles and cleaning contaminated areas up. Ü The Convention has been signed by 119 countries, but the United States,

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China, Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Israel, Greece, Egypt and Iran are among the countries that have not signed the treaty. l

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

USA

Poll: Clinton at peak unpopularity Hillary Clinton has never been so disliked by Americans. That’s according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll published Wednesday.

Despite being ahead of her Republican rival Donald Trump in surveys on who should take the White House, this latest poll found that just 41% of Americans have a favourable view of Clinton, while 56% have an unfavourable one. -AFP

THE AMERICAS

Venezuelan opposition floods Caracas in protest Dressed in white and chanting ‘this government will fall,’ opposition supporters flooded Venezuela’s capital on Thursday to press for a recall referendum this year against unpopular President Nicolas Maduro. With protesters in from the Amazon jungle to the western Andes, the opposition coalition was aiming for at least 1m people at rallies across the capital to show anger at Maduro and Venezuela’s deep economic crisis.

-REUTERS

UK

Boris Johnson: UK will remain a European power Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pledged Thursday that the UK would remain a ‘dedicated European power’ even after it left the EU. Johnson told reporters at a gathering of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the eastern city of Potsdam, Germany, that Brexit would not cut Britain off from the continent.

-AFP

EUROPE

Merkel, Hollande worried about Ukraine conflict Germany and France are extremely concerned about the situation in eastern Ukraine, especially along the line of contact between pro-Russian separatists and government forces, the two countries’ leaders said on Thursday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande spoke ahead of an expected meeting next week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. -REUTERS

AFRICA

Gabon opposition: 2 dead in post-vote crackdown Gabon’s opposition leader said security forces killed 2 people and hurt 19 in a raid against his headquarters Thursday, as violence erupted after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of disputed polls. Thousands of angry protesters poured onto the streets of Libreville late Wednesday, accusing the government of stealing the election after Bongo won a second term over rival Jean Ping.

-AFP

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Q&A

Brazil's Dilma impeachment: What we need to know n Tribune International Desk Brazil’s senate voted to oust Dilma Rousseff from the presidency on Wednesday, following an impeachment process that has seen her suspended from office since May. Sixty-one senators, seven more than the two-thirds needed, backed her removal from office, confirming interim president Michel Temer as the country’s leader, reports The Guardian.

How bad is the crisis?

On a scale of one to 10, it has felt to many Brazilians like an 11. Rousseff, the most recent president, was impeached, the previous president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is about to stand trial, the economy is in the midst of its greatest slump for decades, and swaths of the political class have been implicated in the Lava Jato (Car Wash) corruption investigation.

What is Lava Jato?

Depending on your politics, it is either a clean broom sweeping out decades of rotten politicians or part of a conspiracy to end 13 years of Workers party rule without an election. Starting in 2008 but ramping up in 2014, federal police, prosecutors and judges have uncovered a multibillion-dollar kickback and bribery scandal at the state-run oil firm Petrobras, the biggest company in Latin America until the scandal hit.

Essentially, contracts were inflated so up to 3% of funds could be channelled to the three parties that previously formed a ruling coalition: the Workers party, the Democratic Movement party of Brazil (PMDB) and the Progressive party.

The probe, however, has widened to include other parties and other projects, including the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. Some predict it will lead to the greatest jailing of lawmakers in world history.

What has been the impact on the country?

The scandal has paralysed the government because bribes were essential for building coalitions. It has also choked business because prosecutors ordered the suspension of contracts between Petrobras and its major suppliers, which included almost all of the country’s biggest construction and shipping firms. In more than two years, 61% of Petrobras’ 276,000 employees have lost their jobs, according to local media.

Many smaller firms that depended on its business have been made bankrupt.

Many believe this pain will be worthwhile if the investigation leads to punishment of all corrupt politicians and sets the stage for a new era of clean government. But

that future is a long way off, if it comes at all.

DILMA ROUSSEFF IMPEACHED

Why do Brazilian parties need slush funds?

The Brazilian Senate voted by a majority of 2/3 of its members, meaning she is immediately removed

Politicians all over the world need campaign finance, but it is particularly important in Brazil due to the country’s vast size, plethora of parties, three levels of government (with regular elections for municipal, state and national leaders and legislators) and an open-list election system for lawmakers. No single party has ever come close to a commanding majority in Congress, so support is bought with cabinet posts and/or cash.

August 25 and 26 Witnesses called from the 2 from the prosecution 4 defence

August 29 Rousseff defends herself before senators for 30 minutes Rousseff is cross-examined Debate amongst senators

Who is making the accusations?

The investigation is nationwide, but the charge is being led by judicial figures in the southern city of Curitiba. Most influential among them is Judge Sergio Moro, who has become something of a cult figure for his willingness to take on the country’s most powerful politicians and business people. Other prominent figures include Curitiba prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol and police chief Igor Romario de Paula.

Not everyone thinks they are heroes. Some lawyers claim their extensive use of preventative detentions and plea bargains rides roughshod over fundamental civil rights, including the presumption of innocence.

Who is accused?

Prosecutors claim former president da Silva (better known as Lula) was the ringleader of the scheme, though he denies breaking any law and says the charges against him are trumped up to prevent him running for office again in 2018.

Others implicated include former house speaker Eduardo Cunha (PMDB); the head of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB); and senior politicians from almost every party.

In addition, many leading businessman have been jailed, including Marcelo Odebrecht, the head of the country’s biggest construction company, and billionaire banker Andre Esteves. Foreign firms, including the UK-based Rolls Royce, have also been accused of making pay-offs.

Is Dilma Rousseff implicated in the Lava Jato scandal?

Not directly. Prosecutors have found no evidence that she was involved and even her enemies acknowledge that she is one of the few politicians in Brazil not to accept bribes.

However, it is widely assumed that Rousseff must have known what was going on because she was a former energy minister and chief of staff at the height of the wrong-

Prosecution and defence teams face the full Senate

Aug 31

Final vote

Majority 54 required Supporters of Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff attend a protest after Brazil's Senate removed Rousseff in Rio de Janeiro on August 31 REUTERS doing. Many of her confidants have been arrested or are on trial. Whether she was aware of what was going on or not, she benefited from the campaign funds and failed to halt the corruption. Prosecutors allege she also tried to obstruct their investigation and protect her ally Lula by appointing him to the cabinet.

Is that why Rousseff was being impeached?

Only partly, and for all the wrong reasons. Rousseff has ostensibly been thrown out of office because she window-dressed government accounts ahead of the last presidential election. The charge is that her government filled holes in its accounts by taking loans from state banks without congressional approval.

Opponents say this creative accounting – accounting sleights of hand known as “pedaladas” (pedalling) – allowed the administration to fund a program for family farmers using money that was not reimbursed until several months later, bypassing Congress, creating a misleading impression of state finances and adding to economic instability.

In her defence, Rousseff said the money was not a loan because it was simply being transferred through the state banks from public coffers. Similar practices had also been used by previous administrations, though not at the same scale.

But this is a pretext. The real reasons for impeachment are political.

Rousseff is enormously unpopular because she is blamed for the multiple crises facing the country and has proved an inept leader. But Brazil’s constitution does not allow a no-confidence vote to eject her from office so her enemies are using

impeachment to do the job.

Some are clearly motivated by a desire to kill the Lava Jato investigation, which Rousseff refused to do. The impeachment process was initiated by Cunha after the Workers party refused to protect him from an ethics committee investigation. Secretly recorded conversations have also revealed that the PMDB leader in the Senate, Romero Jucá, wanted to remove the president so the Lava Jato investigation could be choked by her successor.

61 in favour 20 81

against

senators CONVICTION Rousseff is impeached

Where does that leave interim president Michel Temer?

Rousseff ’s centre-right successor is almost as despised as his predecessor after helping lead the campaign to bring down his running mate, then naming an all-male, all-white cabinet and losing three ministers to the Lava Jato scandal in his first month in office. At the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Rio, Temer was such an embarrassment that his speech was cut to 10 seconds but still drowned out by boos. He is surrounded by politicians implicated in the corruption scandal and – as leader of Brazil’s biggest party – he too has benefited from dubiously acquired campaign financing.

How has the public reacted?

Polls and street demonstration suggest voters are sick not just of the government, but almost all politicians. In March, an estimated 3 million people joined rallies against Rousseff ’s government.

Since then hundreds of thousands have demonstrated for or against impeachment. But none of the alternatives are popular. Temer’s administration has ratings in the low

teens. Lula’s popularity is higher, but he is also hated by more people. The biggest beneficiary might eventually be former environment minister Marina Silva, a losing candidate in the last two presidential campaigns.

Where does Brazil go from here?

In a best-case scenario, the economy will pick up next year and Lava Jato will purge the nation’s political canker, allowing Latin America’s biggest nation to concentrate more effectively on social equality, sustainable development and regional integration.

Alternatively, the old hierarchy will quietly shelve Lava Jato once Lula and Rousseff are out of the way and restore the conservative policies of the past; or even open the way – as in Italy after the Clean Hands investigation – for a Silvio Berlusconi-like right-wing populist. l

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Pakistan army claims it foiled IS expansion n Reuters, Rawalpindi Pakistan’s military on Thursday said it has crushed Islamic State’s attempt to expand there, dismissing as propaganda claims by the Middle East-based Islamist militants that they had carried out a major bombing last month.

The comments were, however, a rare acknowledgment by a senior Pakistani official that Islamic State, mainly based in Syria and Iraq, has had any active presence in a country that is home to myriad militant groups including the Afghan and Pakistan Taliban, al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network.

Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, the military’s top spokesman, also rejected US complaints that it was not acting against the Haqqani network,

suspected of carrying out suicide bomb attacks in Kabul, saying Pakistan was pursuing an “indiscriminate operation” against all militants.

Pakistani authorities have so far arrested 309 people associated with Islamic State (IS) on its territory, he said. They were involved in attacks on media and security personnel, and were planning attacks on government, diplomatic and civilian targets, he added.

Most of those captured by Pakistan were established Pakistani jihadists who had switched loyalties to Islamic State’s self-proclaimed worldwide caliphate, but about 25 were foreigners including Afghans and some Syrians, he said.

Bajwa said that of a core group of 20 organisers, “we have captured all of them, except for one who I am

sure is not in Pakistan”.

He said IS fighters were still present in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Khost and Kunar, which lie along the border with Pakistan.

The movement’s leader for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hafiz Saeed Khan, was killed last month by a US drone strike in eastern Afghanistan.

International concern that Islamic State was establishing an operational presence in Pakistan increased after the group said it carried out a suicide bombing at a hospital in the city of Quetta that killed more than 70 people.

However, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban also claimed the hospital bombing and Bajwa said he believed the Islamic State statement was false.

No good or bad Taliban

The military spokesman also dismissed US concerns that Pakistan has been selectively targeting militant groups on its soil.

“There is no concept of good or bad Taliban,” he said.

“Terrorists of all organisations, including Haqqanis, including Afghan Taliban, have been killed and some apprehended ... so if you say that you know actions have not been taken or (are) not being taken, that is wrong.”

He spoke a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Islamabad to push harder against militants hiding within its borders.

The United States has criticised Pakistan in the past for not acting against those groups, and last month it refused to release $300m in mili-

tary disbursements for that reason.

Critics say Pakistan has targeted only militants who attack its own state, not those active in neighbouring Afghanistan and India.

Pakistan has been fighting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of militants fighting to impose strict Islamic law in Pakistan, since 2007.

It is also home to other armed groups, such as the Haqqani network and Afghan Taliban, who fight international forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Bajwa criticised international and local security forces in Afghanistan for not sealing the border when the Pakistan army began the latest phase of its military offensive against Pakistan-based militants in July 2014. l

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Cattle traders to get free service to identify counterfeit notes

All scheduled banks have been asked to provide free service for cattle traders to identify counterfeit notes in the cattle huts. PAGE 13

Manufacturing falters as global demand weakens Manufacturers across Asia and Europe showed few signs of returning to health in August, as demand remained fitful at best, although British factories bucked the global trend, surveys showed yesterday.

PAGE 14

Chinese yuan, India rupee to fall as US Fed hike risks rise The Chinese yuan is expected to weaken more than previously thought in a year from now, as will India’s rupee, as a slowdown in growth in Asia and rising chances of a near-term interest rate hike in the US boost the dollar, a Reuters poll found.

PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Thursday DSE Broad Index

4,526.6

0.1% ▲

Index

1,097.5

-0.1% ▼

30 Index

1,735.4

0.0% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

4,093.9 -22.9% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

101.9 -19.8% ▼

CSE All Share Index 13,900.8

-0.0% ▼

30 Index

12,632.7

-0.0% ▼

8,462.2

-0.0% ▼

Selected Index Turnover in Mn Tk

220.7 -10.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

7.0 -15.1% ▼

Study: 8% GDP needed to absorb surplus labour force in 15 yrs n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh has to achieve 8% GDP annually for absorbing all the surplus labor force within a period of 15 years, says a study.

The study titled “Bangladesh Employment Diagnostic Study Looking Beyond Garment” conducted by Asian Development Bank in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) was launched yesterday in the capital yesterday.

“Growth should be focusing the employment generation as Bangladesh has surplus workforce which need to be absorbed to maintain an inclusive growth,”

said Rizwanul Islam, lead research consultant of the study.

According to the study, Bangladesh has to create jobs for 1.8 million people to absorb new entrants to the labor force. It has to generate employment for 2.51 million people per annum to absorb the surplus labor in 15 year.

During his presentation Islam said: “Bangladesh is a source of low skilled lobor force, is the perception about Bangladesh in the global market.”

To change the perception, Bangladesh has to upgrade skill training, create awareness about the availability of skills and showcase its ability through its mission

in abroad and bilateral negotiation, he suggested.

While the migration cost is too high, it needs to be reduced and the authority should take steps to stop abuse and harassment of migrant people, he added.

To reduce higher dependency on RMG sector, the study suggested diversification of products within agriculture and to concentrate on the thrust sector like leather and pharmaceutical.

“For creating inclusive and sustainable growth, growth has to create jobs. Skills have to be top priority in eliminating the poverty,” said ILO Bangladesh Country Director Srinivas B Reddy.

Stressing on workers’ skill, Reddy said: “Provide education to young men and women to be leader. Rights of workers are important for inclusive growth.”

“It is important to continue the support to RMG sector for further growing and also look at a non-discriminating policy for ensuring level playing field for the other sectors,” said Reddy.

The study stated that sustainable economic growth has been associated with some positive development in the labor market like increase in the proportion of working age population from 58% to 69% in 2013, opening the possibility of demographic dividend. l

NBR to honour increased number of taxpayers n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to extend its special facilities to more taxpayers who are paying the highest taxes for long time in an attempt to encourage more people for paying taxes.

With a fresh move, the NBR has come up with a decision to amend its existing policy for awarding more top taxpayers for their outstanding contributions to the government exchequer.

The policies are-National Tax Card Policy 2010 and District Wise Top and Long Term Income Taxpayers’ Policy 2008, officials said.

The decision was made at a recent board meeting held at the NBR headquarters with its Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman in the chair.

Currently, the NBR awards prestigious tax cards to top 20 entrepreneurs, 10 each from individual taxpayers and companies, for paying the highest income tax at the national level. The tax cards are awarded in line with the National Tax Card Policy 2010.

According to the NBR plan, from now on, the revenue authorities will award a total of 108 tax cards to the highest taxpaying individuals and companies under its national category from existing 20 tax cards.

Under the individual category, total 57 individuals will be awarded under national category from the existing 10 individuals while 40 firms will receive awards under company category from the existing quota of 10 companies. Another 11 will receive the national tax card under different categories as the NBR has decided to include

DHAKA TRIBUNE

TOP STORIES

them for national awards.

The individual taxpayers will get the awards based on their source of income or their profession. Some individual taxpayers under another five categoriesfreedom fighters, female taxpayers, gazette freedom fighters, physically disabled persons and young taxpayers- will also be awarded with the tax card from this year.

On the other hand, the company taxpayers will receive their awards under 12 categories. There will be another four categories in company taxpayers’ criteriafirms, Local authorities, individual associations and others, according to NBR decision.

The increased number of taxpayers will be awarded on the basis of their income tax statement and tax payment figure as paid in the latest fiscal year once the NBR move comes into effect.

The NBR has taken up the decision to recognise more taxpayers to encourage more people to pay tax which will help widen

the overall tax net and ensure increased revenue collection, said officials concerned.

Currently, country’s revenue authorities mostly award heavyweight taxpayers, mostly business, considering the volume of payments. Professionals like doctors, lawyers, teachers, chartered accountants, engineers are now contributing to the government exchequer alhough they have apparently failed to secure their positions in the list of prestigious tax card winners as given by National

Board of Revenue (NBR).

The cardholders enjoy privileges to use the CIP lounge at airports and get priority in making reservation in all the hotels.

Currently, the NBR also award three highest and two long-time taxpayers from each city corporations and districts for their contribution to previous fiscal year.

Along with these five taxpayers, the board will also award a female taxpayer and a young individual aged below 40 years with this category. l

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Cattle traders to get free service to identify counterfeit notes n Business Tribune Desk All scheduled banks have been asked to provide free service for cattle traders to identify counterfeit notes in the cattle markets.

Bangladesh Bank issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday asking the banks to establish counterfeit note identification booths in the cattle huts under the city corporations of Dhaka north and south.

Banks will provide the service with the help of their experienced cash officers from the first day of starting cattle hut to the night before Eid.

Industry people asked to pay bonus, wages before Eid n Tribune Business Desk The government yesterday directed industry people including the ready-made garment sector to pay bonus and wages by September 5 and 10 respectively.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu came up with the announcement after Crisis Management Core Committee’s meeting held at the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) in the capital yesterday.

“Since Eid ul-Azha is likely to be celebrated on September 12, we have asked BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA leaders to pay bonus and wages by September 5 and 10 respectively,” said Mujibul.

The junior minister also asked the RMG owners to close factories phase by phase to avoid unusual traffic congestion. The $28-billion clothing industry employes 4.4 million workers.

Inspector General of DIFE Syed Ahmed, BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman and trade union leaders were present at the meeting. l

Cattle traders will get the nonstop service during this period free of cost, said the circular.

Banks have been asked to send the list of their officials’ names and their contact numbers to Bangladesh Bank by September 5.

The central bank suggested that the banks contact the city corporations and metropolitan police if need be to establish the booths.

Sonali Bank has been assigned to supervise the activities of establishing counterfeit note identification booths in other districts where there is no office of the central bank.

The banks assigned for provid-

ing service to the cattle huts in Dhaka North City Corporation are Sonali, Pubali, One, Uttara for Mirpur Gabtoli hut; The City, Premier for Khilkhet; ICB Islami, Shahjalal Islami for Uttar 15-16 sector; Bank Asia, Prime for Mirpur section-6, Word-6; BASIC, First Security for Bhashatek Benaroshi Polli; Trust, IFIC for Badda; Standard, Meghna for Asian City housing; Agrani, Union for Vatara cattle market.

The banks assigned for providing service to the cattle huts in Dhaka South City Corporation are Exim, HSBC for Jigatala, Hazaribagh; Bangladesh Commerce, Mercantile for Rahmatganj, Lalbagh;

Eastern, UCB for Meradia Bazar, Khilgaon; Midland, NCC for Sadeque Hossain Khoka field, Dholai Khal; Jamuna, Brac for Lalbagh, Beribadh; AB, Standard Chartered for north Shahjahanpur Khilgaon; Dutch-Bangla, SIBL for Dhup Khola; Commercial Bank of Ceylon, NRB Global for Balur Matt, Gopibagh, Kamlapur; Rupali, Islami for Postogola; Al-Arafah Islami, Southeast for Kamrangirchar; NBL, Dhaka Bank for Jatrabari; NRB Commercia, South Bangla Agriculture for Kamlapur Stadium; BKB, MTBL for Dania college field; Janata, Sonali for Shampur Balur Matt, Kadomtali. l

Samsung, Grameenphone unveil Galaxy Note 7 n Tribune Report Samsung in collaboration with Grameenphone has recently launched Galaxy Note 7 at a programme held at GP House in the Capital.

Bangladesh test cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim officially inaugurated the handset.

In addition to 64 GB of internal memory, the Galaxy Note7 offers expandable storage and microSD support up to 256 GB. The phone is equipped with a 3,500 mAh battery, easy Power Management UX and charges quickly using the new USB-C port.

The phone can also be charged wirelessly.

Interested customers can now pre-book the device, which is available in Black Only and Gold Platinum colors. As a pre-booking gift, customers will receive a starter pack consisting of original Samsung accessories – one wireless charger, one clear back cover and one screen protector with every purchase. The device is priced at Tk79,900 only.

Grameenphone STAR custom-

Sansung, GP jointly unveil Galaxy Note 7 at a programme in the city recently ers will receive an attractive offer from Grameenphone of 7 GB data Free after tagging and 7GB & 100 SMS purchase at a price of Tk500.

The offer customers can avail 12 times in 12 months. STAR customers can enjoy up to 36 months EMI at 0% interest.

For additional product information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com, http://news. samsung.com/galaxy or www.samsung.com/galaxy.

Among others present at the

event were Mohammed Shariful Islam, chief human resource officer, Grameenphone, Seungwon Youn, managing director, Samsung Electronics, Bangladesh, Ravinder Parashar, head of IOT, M4D & Device, Grameenphone, Solaiman Alam, head of marketing, Grameenphone, Sarder Showkat Ali, head of device, Grameenphone, Ruhul Alam Al Mahbub, managing director, Fair Distribution Limited and Salahuddin Alamgir, managing director, Excel Telecom (Pvt) Limited. l

Investment from Korea invited in Bangladesh n Tribune Business Desk

KOTRA, Dhaka, the Commercial Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in cooperation with Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organised a business to business (B2B) meeting with the visiting Korean delegation yesterday at DCCI. Director General of KOTRA,

Dhaka Jinhak Hur, leader of the Korean delegation Ma, Seung-Rok and DCCI president Hossain Khaled were present during the kick-off session of B2B. Six South Korean companies and 50 Bangladeshi companies participated in the B2B. The DCCI president said Bangladesh is a land of huge investment potentials with an emerging

market of RMG, Textile, Leather, Ship-building, Pharmaceuticals, IT& ICT sector. Hossain Khaled urged the Korean investors to invest in Bangladesh in the form of FDI or joint ventures.

Director General of KOTRA, Dhaka, Jinhak Hur said Bangladesh is a potential market for Korean used machinery. To expedite marketing of the machinery, KOTRA will ex-

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Business

tend its cooperation to both Bangladeshi and Korean businessmen.

He said in last November B2B like this one was held in Korea where 11 Bangladeshi companies took part and showed their keen interest in using Korean-used machinery.

He said the exchange of these used machinery will help boost production and bilateral trade between Bangladesh and South Korea. l

Stocks break losses after two weeks n Tribune Business Desk Stocks closed higher in declining turnover yesterday, breaking two weeks of continuous losses.

The rally was led by bank, financial institutions, textiles and power issues.

The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange DSEX rose 22 points to settle at 4,549.

The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, gained 9 points to 1,744.

The DSE Shariah Index was nearly 6 points to 1,103.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX was up 40 points to 8,502.

Trading activities continued to shrink as the DSE turnover stood at Tk407 crore, marginally down 0.5% over the previous session.

Almost all the sectors closed higher. Among the major sectors, bank, cement, power, textile, engineering increased by 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.8% and 0.6% respectively while mutual fund sector increased by 1.31%.

Food & allied, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications also closed higher.

Out of 318 issues traded, 159 closed higher, 95 lower and 64 remained unchanged.

Shahjibazar Power Company Limited was the most traded share with a turnover worth over Tk28 crore.

It was followed by MJL Bangladesh, Doreen Power, Trust Bank, National Tubes and BD Computers.

Prime Insurance led the price gainer board with a 8.4% price rise while ICB AMCL Second Mutual Fund led the price loser board with a 10% loss. l

184 ISPs lose BTRC licence n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has suspended operational activities of 184 ISPs as they didn’t submit operational function in time.

A notice was released about the cancellation yesterday signed by Director of the Legal and Licencing Department of the BRTC, MA Taleb Hossain.

During the last month, telecommunication regulatory commission made a decision not to renew licences of 200 Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Of them, 16 ISPs submitted their respective operational functions by 25 August. Warning subscribers, the regulator has also asked them not to take any services from 184 ISPs. “The commission will take legal action as per Telecommunication Act 2001,” said the notice. l

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Economic diversification stressed to thrive on BD’s middle-income status n Tribune business Desk Improved infrastructure and a more diversified economy can help Bangladesh increase economic growth, create meaningful jobs and enhance the country’s structural transformation as a thriving middle-income economy, says a study report.

The study titled – Bangladesh: consolidating export-led growth – conducted by Asian Development Bank (ADB) uses economic diagnostic tools to identify critical constraints to growth and sets out policy recommendations.

The study was released in the capital yesterday.

“The ready-made garment sector and overseas remittance fuelled strong growth of over 6% in the past decade, allowing the economy to recently graduate to middle-income status,” said Edimon Ginting, director in ADB’s Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department.

“Moving forward, the country can sustain higher growth through investment in sectors such as light engineering, machinery repair and agricultural cold chains. Better infrastructure and policy reforms can help the country capture these opportunities.”

The study has identified three constraints to sustainable growth over the medium-term. These are property rights, infrastructure and self-discovery to diversify domestic product that led export growth.

Bangladesh can be benefited through the regional electricity market while establishing mega power plant will help get electricity at less costs, said Valerie Mercer-Balckman, senior economist of ADB. She also said energy subsidy is not needed in Bangladesh and the private sector needs more incentives to grow up.

“In the seventh Five-Year Plan, Bangladesh government has given importance on human development and reliable energy,” said

Shamsul Alam, member of Planing Commission in response to the ADB’s findings.

Talking on the investment, Alam said Bangladesh has investable resources, but there is capital insecurity. That is why capital flight takes place here, he said.

Commenting on the subsidies, Alam describes subsidies as distortion, but said sometimes it is needed.

Public-Private Partnerships can contribute to infrastructure upgrades in some of the country’s most successful economic sectors while secured land ownership and improved urban planning and development will help attract more foreign investment, according to the report.

Reliable electricity, efficient urban transport systems and measures to support new industries and economic activities are also important, it added.

Poverty in Bangladesh declined rapidly from nearly 49% in 2000 to below 24% in 2016.

The study notes that poverty is getting reduced more evenly across the country, boosting access to financial services by low-income groups, and strengthening social safety nets will further improve livelihoods and increase economic opportunities.

Bangladesh has been an innovator in micro-credit services globally and there is a significant scope to boost the sector further, particularly with the growing use of mobile technology.

Incentive programmes to improve financial services for small and micro depositors can also create a pool of funds that can be channeled for infrastructure development.

Other priority areas include improved access to power, better fuel pricing mechanisms, increased energy conservation and efficiency.

Private investment in power and oil and gas exploration and tapping further into regional electricity market could help Bangladesh meet its energy needs. l

Bangladesh to host 3rd ACD meeting in 2018 n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh has been selected as the host country for holding the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting on tourism in 2018.

The decision was taken in the first ACD ministerial meeting on tourism held in Tabriz, Iran on Tuesday.

A two-day ministerial meeting on tourism styled ‘First Asia Cooperation Dialogue’ held at Tabriz in Iran. Cambodia will arrange the 2nd ACD meeting in 2017.

A three-member delegation led

by Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon attended the meeting.

About 100 participants from different countries of Asia including ministers, high officials and tourism experts attended the first ACD meeting and discussed various issues.

On the first day of the meeting, high officials and experts from the member states of ACD discussed various tourism related issues and prepared a draft Tabriz declaration for the approval from ministerial meeting. l

Manufacturing falters as global demand weakens n Reuters

Manufacturers across Asia and Europe showed few signs of returning to health in August, as demand remained fitful at best, although British factories bucked the global trend, surveys showed yesterday.

Britain’s manufacturing rebounded from the shock of June’s vote to leave the European Union, helped by a boost to exports from sterling’s post-Brexit slump.

Recent data have shown consumer demand holding up, and Thursday’s survey suggests manufacturing, which accounts for 10% of Britain’s economy, is weathering the impact of the vote better than feared.

“The plunge in sterling is boosting the UK’s competitiveness, which is helping to support export orders, while the aggressive stimulus from the Bank of England and the smooth transition of political leadership has also helped calm immediate fears for the economy,” said James Knightley at ING. “Nonetheless, the risks of recession have not disappeared and with surveys still suggesting a significant pullback on hiring and investment intentions we remain concerned about the prospect of a weaker performance around the turn of the year.”

The UK Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) jumped to a 10-month high of 53.3 in August after tumbling to a three-year low in

A worker inspects a roll of steel inside the China Steel Corporation factory in Kaohsiung July following the referendum. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

August’s monthly surge was the joint largest in the manufacturing survey’s near 25-year history and beat all forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists. After the release, the pound jumped over a cent to $1.3250, putting it on course for its best day in two weeks.

However, survey compiler Markit said reduced sales to Britain were partly to blame for slowdown in orders in the neighboring euro zone.

Manufacturing growth in the

currency bloc slowed during August. Much of the expansion remained focused in the north, and the survey hinted at a further slowdown this month.

Germany, the Netherlands and Austria again provided the main power. France and Italy showed declines, Greece stagnated and both Spain and Ireland saw their worst growth since mid-2013.

Markit’s PMI for the bloc dipped to 51.7 in August from 52.0, below a flash estimate of 51.8. An index measuring output came in at 53.3,

REUTERS

below July’s 53.9.

Manufacturing growth in the United States also eased last month, data are expected to show later yesterday.

Storm clouds

Coming a week after the US posted sluggish second-quarter growth, the uninspiring manufacturing surveys may give Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen pause before a Fed meeting on Sept 20-21 to decide whether to raise interest rates.

In China, the world’s sec-

ond-biggest economy the official PMI ticked up to 50.4 in August, compared with the previous month’s 49.9. But the private Caixin PMI, which covers a greater share of smaller firms, showed activity stagnated last month.

“While it is encouraging that manufacturing activity appears to be stabilizing, there is a risk that this is a ‘calm before the storm’ moment for the sector,” said Danae Kyriakopoulou at Cebr.

With central banks almost exhausting their monetary policy support, governments have increased fiscal stimulus. Underlying demand in many of Asia’s export-reliant economies remains weak, however.

In Japan, manufacturing showed signs of steadying, but the IHS Markit/Nikkei PMI was still in contraction at 49.5 in August. Although output increased for the first time in six months, export orders continued to fall, bolstering expectations the Bank of Japan will need to offer more stimulus.

The pressure on Japanese policy makers was underscored by separate data showing Japanese business expenditure fell in April-June from the previous quarter.

Conditions were even gloomier in South Korea, a bellwether for global demand. An extended slide in exports has hit manufacturers in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, with the August PMI contracting at its fastest pace in a year. l

DT

15

Business

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Chinese yuan, India rupee to NBR asks field offices fall as US Fed hike risks rise to use ADR in settling n Reuters The Chinese yuan is expected to weaken more than previously thought in a year from now, as will India’s rupee, as a slowdown in growth in Asia and rising chances of a near-term interest rate hike in the US boost the dollar, a Reuters poll found.

The survey of over 60 foreign exchange strategists, conducted Aug 26-Sept 1, showed the yuan is expected to slip to 6.80 by the end of February, and eventually to 6.89 by this time next year - a fall of more than 3% from Wednesday’s close of 6.68.

That 12-month consensus is the weakest in several years of Reuters polls and, if realised, would mark the lowest level for China’s closely managed currency since mid-2008 - just before the collapse of Lehman Brothers brought on a global recession.

The yuan is already down almost 3% this year and trading near sixyear lows, although it has stabilised in recent months as the People’s Bank of China fixed higher midpoints and hopes for a near-term Fed rate hike started to recede.

But Fed Chair Janet Yellen and

other US policymakers last week brought the possibility of higher rates back on the table and signalled one could come as soon as this month.

That has sparked a dollar rally and broadly dented the outlook for emerging currencies. A separate Reuters poll yesterday confirmed investors began piling up short bets on the Chinese yuan again in the past two weeks after a brief period of bullishness, while long positions in the Indian rupee were more than halved.

“With a weakening economy and possibilities of policy tightening by the Fed, it is likely that Chinese authorities keep managing USD/CNY higher,” Guillermo Mondino, head of emerging market research at Citi wrote in a note.

“A continued march higher for USD/CNY is likely to have a negative impact on Asian FX more broadly, at least in terms of generating some underperformance.”

Activity in China’s factories unexpectedly picked up in August but the pace was still modest, an official survey showed on Thursday, suggesting growth in the world’s second-largest economy remains sluggish.

While the upbeat data may rein-

force growing views that the PBoC won’t cut rates again soon, high levels of overcapacity in Chinese industries, any weakening in the housing market and soft exports will likely keep alive some hope for policy easing.

In the short-term much will depend on Friday’s US employment report, which economists polled by Reuters expect will show 180,000 new jobs were created in August.

While a solid reading could help boost speculation about a rate hike as soon as this month and propel the dollar higher, poor data might do the opposite, especially since the November Fed meeting is just days before the US presidential election.

Indian rupee to trough sooner

The Indian rupee will likely perform slightly better than the yuan, but analysts expect it to trough only in six months before recovering marginally by August next year.

Bonds worth about $26bn issued by the Reserve Bank of India in 2013 to shore up foreign reserves, amid a raging emerging market currency crisis, are set to mature beginning this month which is likely to lead to dollar outflows. l

CORPORATE NEWS

National Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Robi Axiata Limited on availing corporate post-paid subscription, said a press release. The bank’s deputy managing director, Shah Syed Abdul Bari and Md Adil Hossain Nobel, executive vice president of Robi Axiata Limited have signed the agreement

NRB Global Bank has recently opened a branch at Kashipur Bazar in Noakhali, said a press release. The bank’s director, Mohd Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan inaugurated the branch as chief guest

disputes n Tribune Report

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has asked its all the field level officials to settle all the pending tax-related cases in a faster way by using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.

ADR is a mechanism that can resolve tax-related disputes and ensure a win-win situation for both the revenue authorities and taxpayers.

While addressing NBR’s monthly revenue conference at its headquarters in the city, NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman delivered necessary instructions to its field level officials to make the ADR more effective and useful, said a press release issued yesterday.

The NBR has asked all its commissionerates to prepare a list of pending cases that can be settled through ADR at the beginning of every year. The income tax wing, customs wing and Value Added Tax (VAT) wing field-level officials were asked to organise discussion programmes to encourage people to settle the cases through ADR, ac-

cording to meeting resources.

Different income tax zones, custom houses and commissionerates were asked to build friendly relations with the taxpayers.

The revenue authorities also requested its field level officials to work in a service-oriented mood, so the taxpayers can have their positive attitude towards the taxmen.

“Become more active to expand the tax net instead of putting more pressure on the public as instructed by the Prime Minister,” the NBR boss told the revenue officials at the meeting.

The tax authorities in 2012 introduced ADR mechanism but it is yet to get momentum as only a few taxpayers have adopted it. There is a lack of awareness among the taxpayers about the system.

According to the system, a panel of facilitators will assist both taxpayers and revenue officials to resolve disputes within two months of filing applications. There are hundreds of court cases, involving some Tk28,000 crore income tax, customs duty and value added tax. l

DT

16

Feature

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Connecting Classrooms: Bridging Education in Bangladesh and the UK n Features Desk

E

ducation is the pillar which upholds civilisation and carries it forward.

With passing time, as civilisations evolve, the way education is provided must also evolve. Today’s youth, for instance, are more globally connected than ever before, which is why they need to be provided with education, which would enable them to stay on top of global developments in order to

be forged into effective leaders.

The British Council’s Connecting Classrooms program aims to serve precisely this purpose.

Connecting Classrooms is the British Council’s flagship global education program, co-funded by the Department for International Development, designed to help young people develop knowledge, skills and values to live and work in a globalised economy and to make a positive contribution locally and globally.

The program aims to improve

teaching in areas including professional development for teachers and school leaders, sustainable partnerships between schools in the UK and Bangladesh, professional dialogue opportunities for policy makers that will support national and regional level debate, reflection and action, and awards to schools for international work focusing on the core skills, as well as online access to high quality resources to support teachers in delivering improved learning outcomes.

Already, the British Council has completed two phases of the program in Bangladesh since 2009. The third phase, which was launched in 2015 is focusing on 21st century skills, also known as the core skills to help develop capacity among teachers in Bangladesh to embed within the curriculum the following six core skills: collaboration and communication; critical thinking and problem solving; citizenship; creativity and imagination; digital literacy; and student leadership.

The goal of the current phase of Connecting Classrooms is to provide professional development training on the Core Skills to at least 3,000 school teachers and at least 600 school leaders. It also provides grant awards to at least 60 sustainable school partnerships between UK and Bangladesh.

Schools across Bangladesh will have access to high quality online classroom resources to support teachers in delivering improved learning outcomes for the pupils.

And finally, to create professional dialogue opportunities for policy makers that will support national and regional level debate, and create platform for reflection and action.

Since the launch of phase III in September 2015, 1,100 teachers and head teachers already have received face-to-face capacity development workshops.

The Government IET School at Narayanganj is among the schools under the Connecting Classrooms program. The school is currently partnered with Boston Spa School at Yorkshire in the UK. Md Eusuf Ali Howlader, the head teacher, Md. Tamiz Udding, teacher of Science, Mohammad Alamgir Kabir, teacher of English, and Rashedul Kabir Rasel, teacher of Biology at the school recently received training under the program.

“Partnership between schools worldwide and exchange of knowledge and skills among educators on a global scale is essential in order to ensure continued progress of education.

Such initiatives ensure that the youth of today can be better forged into the flag bearers of a bright future. We are glad that the British Council has provided us with such an opportunity to interact and exchange knowledge with schools in the UK. This will help us better enrich our curriculum and improve the way we teach our children,” as expressed by Mr Rashedul Kabir Rasel, the school partnership coordinator from I.E.T School at Narayanganj, who is also one of the British Council School Ambassadors.

The current phase of Connecting Classrooms will run until 2018. l

17

DT

Feature

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Call to humanity n Saudia Afrin

and sentenced the young girl’s parents and the influential local government member. Many other social organisations and NGOs helped us too,” said Shahidul.

One of the biggest campaigns run by the Orunodoyer Torun Dol team entails forcing the authority to uphold regulations relating to tobacco products. “It’s impossible for uneducated people to understand the written warning message on the cigarette packets.

Moreover, image is far more communicable than text. Thus, we demanded for image cautionary massages,” Shahidul Islam said.

With help from 135 active volunteers the organisation

W

ith over a hundred youths, Orunodoyer Torun Dol aspires to build a supportive and positive society.

Two weeks ago, the road infront of a well-known hospital was jam packed with pedestrians.

Around 8 pm, a middle-aged man was crossing the road with the crowd. Suddenly he was surrounded by a few boys. Before realising what was going on he got beaten up severely. So much so that after they were done with him his shirt was completely red with his blood.

People around the incident stopped at first, seeing the commotion. But instead of trying to stop the attackers or extending help to the victim they just watched. The injured man had to lie down over road for quite a while until an aged man urged others to take him to the hospital.

But people suggested that they should do nothing and wait for the law enforcement to arrive.

This incident pretty much sums up a reality of our country.

We refrain from helping others and deem that getting involved in ‘unnecessary problems.’

It is our good fortune that there are still a good number of human beings who believe in helping others and devote themselves for the others welfare.

Orunodoyer Torun Doll (the youth of the dawn), is such a group of youngsters who vow to do the essential work that is widely neglected.

From raising money for incurable diseases to rescuing

girls from child marriage, assuring security and equity for women, safeguarding environment and health safety, educating the upcoming generation, Orunodoyer Torun Dol concerns itself in all matters related to helping the underprivileged.

Recently they raised a decent amount of money for a canceraffected boy. However, their efforts and sincerity do not always go unquestioned. People often raised doubts about the genuineness of their intentions.

While volunteering to return a missing kid that was wandering in the streets, eight members of Orunodoyer Torun Dol unsuccessfully tried to reach the child’s parents. Finally they decided to take the matter to the law enforcement. But the police simply refused to believe them

and locked up the volunteers as suspects. “That might be explicable initially since young children do get kidnapped. But to lock us up for more than eight hours in police custody without any scintilla of evidence is simply unacceptable,” said Shahidul Islam, the founding chairman.

From their inception in 2010, they have been successful in returning children to their parents on many occasions. “This is quite common for us facing these sorts of challenges from every segments of society, ranging from the general public to politically influenced people.”

But the story is not all bleak.

“In one incident when we tried to stop a child marriage we came under severe pressure from the local Council member. However, a mobile court supported our efforts

and prepare them to take part in the flower tribute on the Language Movement day. The principle motivation behind this is to educate these children to read and write in their mother language.

‘Hashi hashi khela khela gaan geye lekha pora,’ is another programme where underprivileged children get training on performing arts. It has been running since 2011. From then, about 65 children have been trained and are currently working in different television channels.

In addition to a plan of setting up a school for deprived street children, the enthusiastic group also wants to train unemployed

The seven year old organisation also runs an initiative of educating at least one underpriviledged child each year

provides emergency need supplies such as clothes and quilts during winter, particularly among the children and the elderly.

The seven years old organisation also runs an initiative of educating at least one underprivileged child each year.

They teach the children Bengali

people in many different skills and subsequently help them find jobs in related fields.

All the funding required to run these initiatives come from donations from volunteers.

Orunodoyer Torun Dol believes that is the way they can contribute to keep humanity alive.l

DT

18

Writing

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

5 ways to use social media to promote your writing Because writing the piece is only the first step So when posting a tweet, or a new update about your work, pay some thought into the accompanying image (or GIFs even) as a way of drawing more attention to your words.

Titles get noticed

Any writer worth their salt would know the power of a good headline or title. Particularly for online posts, it pays to have a couple of good backup headlines. Check out sites like Upworthy or the Greatist for inspiration on the kind of headlines that compel you to check out the story. Like them or hate them, you cannot argue that they’re effective.

Customisation is key

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad The internet is the great equaliser, and this holds true for writers as much as any other professional.

Particularly for self-published or

| book review |

indie authors, if you don’t have a big budget for marketing your work, social media can help put you on the map. So how does an aspiring writer get the word out on social media? Here are five tips

Pictures speak volumes

If you’ve spent any time on social media as a casual user, you’ll have noticed that posts with images get more clicks. Buzzfeed is the best example of how this works.

Each different platform has its own unspoken rules about presentation. Facebook, for example, works best with an attention-grabbing headline, a relevant photo, and a short description. With Instagram, you’d need to get your hashtag game on. Tumblr makes the best use of GIFs. Familiarise yourself with the

rules of your chosen platform(s) and then customise your post for maximum exposure.

Timing is everything

If you really pay attention to your social media, you’ll know that certain times of the day get more traffic than others. Those are the times you want to be sharing your post. If monitoring the internet to know what the best time for you is too much screen time, invest in tools like Google analytics to break it down for you. A good post may pass by unnoticed if it’s posted at a time when no one is looking at it.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease

If you’re serious about driving traffic to your content, be prepared to make multiple posts about the same topic. Vary the headlines and the images, but post the same story a number of times throughout a given span of time to maximise the number of readers you get.l

Season of Snark The Knockoff may just be the juiciest thing you’ll read this summer

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad The Devil Wears Prada, you’ve had a great run, given us a fantastic fashion movie too, but perhaps it’s time to step aside and hand the spotlight to a lovely new roman à clef by the name of The Knockoff, by Jo Piazza and Lucy Sykes.

The skinny: Imogen Tate, editor in chief of Glossy magazine returns from a prolonged medical leave, only to find that her beloved fashion magazine is being turned into an app. Running this digitization process is her former assistant Eve Morton, back from Harvard with a shiny MBA, a gleam in her eye, and Tate’s position on her mind.

Reversing the TDWP formula, we now see the old guard of fashion scrambling to keep up, while the young Turks with their social media, and their apps and coding, keeping the “grey hairs” on their toes. Will

Imogen retain her fragile hold on her publication, even as her colleagues and peers give up, or will Eve succeed in her campaign? Is this the end of the print magazine? You’ll have to read to find out.

The characters: Although right off the bat, we’re told who the good guys and bad guys are, the characters are pretty well fleshed out, with backstories and motivation, so that they don’t come off as cartoonish.

Imogen is a cancer survivor, and Eve had a rough childhood. The things that they stand for are also presented in ways that you can’t completely argue against either, so the tension between the two crackles right off the page. The fact that the story is pretty closely based on real-life people adds excitement to the read.

The prose: While the story moves on smoothly enough, the one thing that may prove jarring for a serious

reader is that the multi-perspective thing doesn’t quite work. Imogen Tate’s viewpoint takes over the majority of the story, but then we suddenly leap into Eve’s head, or the head of some third party, without a smooth transition. Having said that, we’ve read worse, and the story itself is interesting enough to keep one turning the page.

The verdict: There’s plenty in here that a lot of people will be able to relate to, whether or not they work in fashion. The pace at which social media is evolving, businesses have to race frantically in order to stay on top of the race and use these shiny new tools to further their own interests. One can’t help but sympathise with Imogen’s befuddlement as she tries to get the hang of all these platforms. Having said that, this is a book that’s probably best relegated to “beach read” status (or turned into a movie), and won’t be winning any major literary awards.l

19

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

| welfare |

| seminar |

Huawei distributes relief among flood victims

‘Career Lab’ held at United International Universitya

Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd has recently distributed relief among the flood-affected people of Singra in Natore as part of its community CSR program.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for ICT, graced the occasion as the chief guest, and Zhao Haofu, CEO of Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd attended the Huawei Flood Relief Camp as the special guest.

While distributing relief, Mr Zhao Haofu said, “We all are

aware that the flood condition in Bangladesh has worsened recently. We love Bangladesh, and its people. As part of our responsibilities and affection to the people of Bangladesh, we have distributed packed dry food among flood affected people.”

Huawei distributed packed dry food containing rice, lentils, potato, jaggery and oral saline, among 1,233 floodaffected people. In addition, a dedicated medical team provided healthcare to the affected

population during the relief camp.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for ICT division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said, “Huawei is working in cooperation with the ICT Division to implement the government’s vision of Digital Bangladesh. I thank Huawei for extending their helping hand to the flood affected people of Natore’s Chalan Beel and Singra area.”l

A seminar on “career lab” was jointly organised by UIU Career Counseling Center and ACI Ltd at United International University (UIU) yesterday. The workshop was graced with the presence of the chief guest, Vice Chancellor of UIU, Prof Dr M Rezwan Khan.

HR team of ACI Ltd was invited to the workshop to help guide the new grads in taking their first step into the world of professionalism.

Important topics like a career talk show, professional CV writing, interview tips and tricks, job searching techniques, mock interview sessions and strategic communication were carried out in the workshop.

Md Moinul Islam, director, HR, ACI Ltd was present as keynote speaker. Moreover, Md Hasan Tarik, senior manager, HR, ACI Ltd, Kaiser Rajib Sherpa, assistant ,anager, HR, ACI Ltd, Md Nazmul Hoque Chowdhury, senior executive, HR, ACI Ltd, Md Yasin Shohag, senior executive, HR, ACI Ltd, Akifa Rahman, senior executive, HR, ACI Ltd and Mohammad Rafi, executive, HR, ACI Limited were also present as speakers in the workshop.

Among others present at the seminar was Manjurul Haque Khan, director, career counseling center, UIU. l

| workshop |

| signing |

Seminar on ‘Communication in Job Interview’ at BUBT

Magnito Digital signs contract with Grameenphone

Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) in partnership with Online Career Portal Chakri.com organised a seminar on “Communication in Job Interview” at the university’s auditorium on August 29, 2016 (Monday).

A F M Sarwar Kamal, chairman of the BUBT Trust, was present at the seminar as the chief guest

while BUBT Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Abu Saleh presided over it. Mohammed Masud Rayhan, assistant vice president and senior manager, Organization Development and HR Strategy of The City Bank Ltd, was the keynote speaker at the seminar.

A F M Sarwar Kamal said the job seekers must require some techniques and creativity

to successfully face the job interview.

While delivering his speech, Prof Md Abu Saleh said that the seminar would orient students with practical arts and techniques to face interview board. He also said that this seminar would help the graduates identify their potential career.

Students from different departments of BUBT attended the seminar and gained practical knowledge on various requirements of the job market such as professional CV writing and skills to face an interview board.

Deans of different faculties, registrar, proctor, controller of examinations, joint registrar, chairmen of different departments, teachers, officers and a large number of students were present on the occasion.l

DT

Biz Info

Magnito Digital, one of the leading digital agencies of the country has signed a contract with Grameenphone. Under the contract, the agency will manage four digital service brands of

Grameenphone.

In 2015, Magnito Digital won Gold and became Campaign Asia Pacific’s Digital Agency of the Year under the “Rest of South Asia” category. l

DT

20 Editorial

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

TODAY

A poet for all seasons After his third book, he took a long hiatus from writing. Did publishing take too much out of him? Did he want to get away from the spotlight, away from his fans? We may never know why PAGE 21

Rampal: The political environment Kansat and Phulbari were small time local problems; and local involvement and agitation played a major role. But Rampal is a national one and the only way it can be successful is if there is a national agitation PAGE 22

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Two months on

T The evolution of a bold agenda The evolution of the economic zones agenda, in particular the progress made with getting the private sector involved, is heartening for many reasons PAGE 23

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

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

wo months have passed since the devastating attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery, and in this time, the country has taken some major steps towards hitting back at militancy.

July 1 changed the way many imagine terrorists. Gone is the age-old stereotype -- Islamist militants can now come from affluent backgrounds with expensive educations. The nation’s sense of safety and comfort was understandably shaken after the attacks that took 20 lives.

However, progress in finding the culprits has been steady.

Most recently, Operation Hit Strong 27 in Narayanganj successfully took out Tamim Chowdhury, the mastermind behind the Gulshan attack. It was a well-coordinated and precise attack which took out two other militants as well.

The previous successful raid in Kallyanpur, Operation Storm 26, killed nine militants and captured two alive without any police casualties. That was also an exemplary operation, and restored some much-needed confidence of the public in the police force.

Because of these operations and other security measures, Bangladesh has returned to a state of normalcy, which is heartening to see. People, including foreigners, are less afraid to go out, and cafes and restaurants are once again buzzing with activity.

Hats off to our law enforcers for foiling three major attacks since July 1 through their amped up efforts. Many militants have been identified, and much information has been obtained, not to mention the destruction of two major militant dens.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is right in saying that militancy and terrorism can only be fought together, as a nation. Rooting out terrorism completely is a tall order, but the progress we have made so far is nothing to scoff at.

Let us keep up the good work.

Rooting out terrorism completely is a tall order, but the progress we have made so far is nothing to scoff at

DT

21

Tribute

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

A poet for all seasons With Shaheed Quaderi’s death, Bangla literature has lost one of its brightest stars poet’s new book stashed away.

With the door shut, Shaheed bhai read out the entire book and claimed he was reciting by heart.

The young poet had nearly died of excitement. When he found out the truth, to say he was angry would be an understatement.

Literary legends can at times be as childish as anyone else.

With Shaheed bhai no longer around, these little biographical nuggets will fade away, and I am sure that that particular young poet he pranked has forgiven him since then. What will live on for the ages is his work.

May his soul rest in peace. l Abak Hussain is Op-Ed Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

Greetings to you, my Beloved

n Shaheed Quaderi Fear not, I will take such measures That the army will march past you With a bunch of flowers On their shoulders And salute, only you, My beloved.

Goodbye, beloved poet

n Abak Hussain

T

he great poet Shaheed Quaderi had been suffering from kidney ailments for the past decade. Nevertheless, his passing on the morning of August 28 at the age of 74 was a shock to his legions of fans in Bangladesh and all across the globe.

Quaderi was one of those rare poets to achieve mythical stature within his lifetime. Like his friend Shamsur Rahman, his work stands on a class of its own, and continues to speak to and inspire new generations.

Proof of that is the size of the crowd that flocked to the Shaheed Minar for a last goodbye -- his body was flown back to Bangladesh, as Quaderi always felt he belonged here, in spite of the émigré life of his later years. The roots were too deep, he always said.

Shaheed bhai became my relative after marrying my cousin.

I had the privilege of meeting him in New York when making a mandatory visit to my cousin Neera apa’s home in Jamaica, Queens. Her little apartment had been transformed after Shaheed bhai moved in -- books now covered every surface of the house.

He read omnivorously, but wrote sparingly. Uttaradhikar

(1967) and Tomake obhibadon priyotoma (1974) were his two early collections that established him as a major voice. After his third book, he took a long hiatus from writing. Did publishing take too much out of him? Did he want to get away from the spotlight, away from his fans? We may never know why.

A copy of Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra lay on his coffee table.

“It’s poetry,” he said. “If you think of it as poetry, the book is not so strange.”

I was no stranger to the book myself -- I had studied it recently in college and was curious about what Shaheed bhai thought about my take on the epic. With a bit of trepidation, I launched into my own analysis.

Shaheed bhai listened intently and gave me his feedback. Here I was, a twentysomething college student giving my two cents to this doyen of literature, but from his end there was not a whiff of condescension towards me.

He paid attention to my perspective as though we were equals.

I felt grateful and humbled.

But there was a lighter side to him -- when things got too serious he would make a joke to clear the air. Even while in pain, while exhausted from repeated trips to

After his third book, he took a long hiatus from writing. Did publishing take too much out of him? Did he want to get away from the spotlight, away from his fans?

We may never know why

the hospital, and hooked up to a dialysis machine, he was full of good humour.

“We used to play pranks all the time, we even pranked each other” Shaheed bhai said. “It was me, Shamsur Rahman, Al Mahmud, and a few others.”

Knowing the delicate egos of emerging poets, one time Shaheed bhai told an up-and-comer of the time (who later became very famous) that he had memorised all his poems. The young poet was incredulous, but Shaheed bhai snuck into his bathroom where he happened to have a copy of the

Fear not, I will take such measures That crossing forests and thickets, Barbed-wire fences and barricades, Carrying memories of many battlefields, Armoured vehicles will come to your threshold Laden with violins, Only for you, my beloved.

Fear not, I will take such measures— Such measures will I take that B-52s and MIG 21s will zoom overhead, And like paratroopers, Chocolates and toffees and lozenges, Will shower on your lawn, Only for you, my beloved.

Fear not, fear not, Fear not…I will take such measures That a poet will command All naval fleets in the Bay of Bengal, And in the coming election A lover will defeat a Minister, My beloved.

Know this, all conflicts will end— I will take such measures That a singer will easily

Become the leader of the Opposition Party, Trenches in the borders, Will be guarded all-year round By red, blue and golden fishes— Everything will be banned, Except the smuggling of love, my beloved.

Fear not, I will take such measures That inflation will decrease, And production of excellent poetry will increase daily, I will take such measures That the assassin’s knife will slip from his hand, Not through fear of the mob’s fury, But through fear of the mob’s kisses, Only for you, my beloved.

Fear not I will take such measures That like the secret attack of Spring Upon a wintry park, Revolutionaries will invade the city With accordions.

Fear not, I will take such measures, That when you go to the State Bank You can exchange a bunch of roses and chrysanthemums For at least four lac Taka, Four cardigans for a single jasmine.

Fear not, fear not I will take such measures That air, naval and artillery battalions Will surround only you, night and day, And greet you, my beloved. __________________________________________ Translated by Shawkat Hussain

22

DT

Long Form

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Rampal: The political environment BNP has lost its moral high ground of the anti-Rampal cause. This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

The consequences of Rampal will be known in the future

BIGSTOCK

Kansat and Phulbari were small time local problems; and local involvement and agitation played a major role. But Rampal is a national one and the only way it can be successful is if there is a national agitation. But that mood is very much amiss

n Afsan Chowdhury

H

owever, the AL is in such a state of power that it’s almost able to ignore all opposition and questions, and place its points publicly.

It also does have a lot to say on its behalf, leaving quite a bewildered public who have little clue about the technicalities of the argument.

The oil and gas committee has no political clout, though it does have moral power. But in politics, that really doesn’t matter, so it’s at a severe disadvantage. Even the obvious anti-Indian mood in the country is not much of a help.

Kansat and Phulbari were small time local problems; and local

involvement and agitation played a major role.

But Rampal is a national one, and the only way it can be successful is if there is a national agitation. But that mood is very much amiss.

There is no comparison between the causes. In Kansat and Phulbari, the government was not a direct player, but here it is. So the question is not just of scale, but of priority as well.

Like the Padma Bridge project, the government has tied its prestige to the project and can’t back down even if it wanted to.

It’s at this juncture that BNP stepped in to lend a hand and ensured an early Eid for the AL and its leader making sure the problem goes to the space the AL

wanted it to go. ***** Now the advantage is fully with the AL, as BNP’s support has taken away the moral high ground of the anti-Rampal activist’s cause.

At the moment, the equation is simple.

It runs this way: BNP=Jamaat=JMB=Jongibad, and that’s one lousy cause to get entangled with.

The best measure of that mood is the escalation of tolerance for crossfiring. Although many suspect that the encounters between the jongis and the police are set up and media has hinted that way occasionally, it has had no public impact, and Facebook posts are full of approval for police

action in getting the jongis.

The attitude is “get them boys and they have no rights.”

It shows how little ground the militants have, how little the militants and their supporters understand the public mind, and how little HR activists do either.

Bangladesh is saying, simply put: “Don’t spoil my rice or I’ll kill you.”

And Khaleda Zia has spent more time criticising police action and seeking membership of a joint anti-terrorism committee and much less in condemning the jongis. She has also refused to part ways with Jamaat, who in most public minds are a variation of the militant theme, and not a bunch of peaceful politicians. ***** Hasina’s handling of the press conference shows that she is utterly confident, and really doesn’t care who says what.

Although several of her claims have been contested by academics and activists, she knows the public doesn’t care -- even if they were right, and if she can keep a tight grip on the terrorism scene, she has little to worry about.

India is now directly lending a hand in managing the militants as

India media has reported -- though unconfirmed -- and as the party that really matters, she is playing on the front foot.

Media members present at the conference have displayed that a loyal media reigns, and by preventing critical media even to be present at the meet, Hasina has dispensed with the problem of answering embarrassing questions, as none came or can come.

But as the consequences of Rampal will be known in the future, the political consequences will be too.

Given that BNP is totally out of breath, and Khaleda Zia may well be inside jail within the year and the party is virtually power and leaderless; Hasina has no opposition.

Her main worry is to ensure that she has no cause to worry soon.

And BNP has to make sure that given its present state, it has to have that spirit of sacrifice and not use good causes to launch a campaign and in the process, ruin a truly good cause. l Afsan Chowdhury is a journalist and researcher.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

The evolution of a bold agenda Let’s move away from haphazard development to a more disciplined path Drawing upon global experience, the report laid out several options for private zones, including different models of partnership between the public and private sectors.

A bold idea at that time for a country long-used to a public sector economic zones regime.

Like many good reports produced by donor agencies, this could have been relegated to the government bookshelves. But it was different this time.

once a site has been selected, a proper environmental and social assessment has to be carried out.

Prospective private zone developers do not get the goahead the moment they first walk through the BEZA doors.

They have to satisfy a number of conditions in order to get a prequalification license and do more work before they get the final license, which Meghna has just received.

Seven other pre-qualification

The evolution of the economic zones agenda, in particular the progress made with getting the private sector involved, is heartening for many reasons. It shows that there is a place for bold ideas in Bangladesh There is a place for bold ideas in Bangladesh

n Akhtar Mahmood

T

he first full license for an economic zone to be developed by a local private company has just been awarded. The Meghna Group of Industries, a leading conglomerate of Bangladesh, has received the final license from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority to establish the Meghna Economic Zone (MEZ). This pioneering zone will be built on 245 acres of land in Sonargaon, on the banks of the Meghna river.

Sonargaon, a symbol of the past, now becomes the harbinger of the future.

The vision of that future was first articulated exactly 10 years ago when the World Bank Group published a path-breaking report called “Bangladesh: Piloting Reform through the Development and Management of Economic Zones.”

That report, published in June 2006, had two key messages.

First, in a land-scarce country, like Bangladesh, industrialisation had to be carried out in a manner that made optimum use of land.

Bangladesh has had a fairly respectable rate of industrialisation and this rate is likely to accelerate. This is good news for Bangladesh.

Industrialisation, especially if labour-intensive, is likely to be the most effective way of creating jobs and income opportunities for poor people while also generating other

positive outcomes, such as export revenues and growth synergies in the economy.

But industry requires land and industrial production can tax, the environment.

The rapid industrialisation of recent times has adversely impacted the environment. In the absence of a good zoning policy, entrepreneurs have set up factories wherever they could find a plot of land.

Often the sites are far off a major road or an electricity transmission line. Not only are extra costs incurred in building the connecting road and the last-mile power distribution line to the factory, often more land is used up than would have been under better-planned industrial growth.

The report thus argued for an economic zones agenda ie a substantial push to build economic zones in large numbers so that industrialisation proceeded in an organised manner.

But who would build the zones?

Till then, all industrial zones in Bangladesh were built and operated by the public sector. The country had six export processing zones at that time, all developed and managed by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA).

These were reasonably wellrun, but were all export-oriented; investors catering largely to the domestic market had started to complain. They could, of course, go to the industrial parks, of which

BIGSTOCK

there were about 60 scattered all over the country. But these were in bad shape. Run by an inefficient and resource-starved Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), most lacked good infrastructure and utilities, and some were in locations that made little economic sense.

The public sector was stretched -- in terms of resources and management skills. It lacked market knowledge needed to understand and respond to the needs of investors in a modern, fast-moving, globalised environment. The substantial economic zones agenda that the report argued for could not be implemented through the old public-sector model of zone development.

Thus, the second message of the report: Create the enabling environment for the private sector to step in and develop the economic zones, as well as manage them.

Private companies were already into housing estates, modern commercial buildings, and other types of large-scale construction activity. Being involved in industrial activity themselves, the private sector also had first-hand knowledge of industry.

Building upon this knowledge and, when needed, leveraging foreign companies experienced in zone development, Bangladeshi companies could make an entry into the development and management of economic zones.

The report triggered interest in the government and, thanks to a conscious effort to engage stakeholders and the media, the idea of economic zones started resonating in the minds of Bangladeshis.

The first step was to establish the legal framework for private sector development and management of economic zones.

An Economic Zones Act was first enacted by the care-taker government in 2008 and promptly ratified by the new parliament in 2010. In November that year, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) was established and attached to the prime minister’s office.

Enacting a law and setting up an institution to oversee zone development is a necessary step.

But it is not sufficient. The next task was to prepare and approve a set of implementing regulations that would make the law operational and allow the BEZA to function effectively.

While this took some time, reflecting the challenges of moving regulatory proposals through the many hoops in government, a critical mass of regulations, operational processes and guidance manuals are now in place.

To its credit, the government has all along recognised the importance of environmental and social due-diligence. Proposed sites have to be vetted through a rigorous site selection process and,

licenses have been awarded and the companies are working towards the final license. The investors include well-known companies, such as the AK Khan and Company and Abdul Monem Ltd. Encouraged by the pioneers, another 12 companies have apparently approached BEZA with an intent to join the private zone bandwagon.

The evolution of the economic zones agenda, in particular the progress made with getting the private sector involved, is heartening for many reasons. It shows that there is a place for bold ideas in Bangladesh.

When appropriately supported and nudged, political leaders and government officials are indeed willing to implement such ideas.

But the experience also shows the need to stick with an agenda with patience and resilience, including on the part of development partners who, in this case, have been engaged for the long haul, through ups and down, with strategic vision as well as microlevel operational support.

Above all, it is a story of how it is possible in Bangladesh to move away from the chaos of haphazard development to a more organised and disciplined path, energised by entrepreneurship but cognisant that land and the environment is something we have to bequest to future generations. l Akhtar Mahmood works for an international development agency.

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24 Sport

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

TOP STORIES

Rafique storm hits Cox’s Bazar

Meet our supergirls The Bangladesh Under-16 women’s team have caught the attention of the whole country with their verve and goal-scoring ability during the Asian Football Confederation U-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers in Dhaka. They have so far defeated Iran, Singapore and Kyrgyzstan but what has made everyone take notice is the manner in which they have scored 18 goals, and without conceding a single one, at Bangabandhu National Stadium over the last week. Here we take a look at each player of the U-16 squad.

MAHMUDA AKHTER

MASURA PARVIN

The well-known Mohammad Rafique splay over the legside was on show at Sk Kamal International Stadium in Cox’s Bazar yesterday.

He brought back old memories of his maverick allround skills at Masters Cricket Carnival. PAGE 26

Walsh excited, BCB pleased Former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh said yesterday that he is excited to become Bangladesh’s new bowling coach.

He was appointed yesterday on a three-year contract that would last till the 2019 World Cup. PAGE 26

Schweini bows out in Germany’s win Bastian Schweinsteiger let the tears flow on Wednesday as Germany’s captain made his final appearance for die Mannschaft in their friendly win to Finland. Max Meyer and Mesut Ozil scored Germany’s second-half goals. PAGE 27

MOSAMMAT MISHRAT JAHAN MOUSUMI

Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: Maria is a key player of my side. Her best quality is that she never gets scared in any situation as she knows how to move after receiving the ball.

You can say she is an original midfielder.

SRIMOTI KRISHNA RANI SARKAR, CAPTAIN Nickname : Mahmuda Position : Goalkeeper Birth date : 15.02.2003 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: She is yet to be tested so far. But she is a very good goalkeeper. She has proven her worth before.

SHEULI AZIM

Nickname : Masura Position : Centre-back Birth date : 17.10.2001 Home town : Satkhira Coach’s words: She is my firstchoice defender but she has a yellow-card problem. So, I had to rest her against Kyrgyzstan. She’ll be back.

MOSAMMAT NARGIS KHATUN

Nickname : Mousumi Position : Centre midfield Birth date : 08.06.2001 Home town : Rangpur Coach’s words: Mousumi is a type of player who will serve whenever the team requires. Whenever there is a defensive counter-attack, then only Mousumi knows how to handle the situation.

MARZIA AKHTER

Nickname : Sheuli Position : Centre-back Birth date : 20.12.2001 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: Sheuli is a confident defender and has all the qualities of a good defender. She is also from the hill-tracts area but her main problem is that she hardly talks. But she is focused on her game.

SHAMSUNNAHAR

Nickname : Nargis Position : Centre-back Birth date : 01.01.2001 Home town : Rajshahi Coach’s words: Nargis is also impressive and her speciality is heading. She scored a brilliant goal against Kyrgyzstan.

SANJIDA AKHTER

Nickname : Krishna Position : Centre forward Birth date : 01.01.2001 Home town : Tangail Coach’s words: Krishna is a versatile player. She scored a goal with her left foot while I remember her scoring goals with both her right and left foot against Maldives. She can change the complexion of a game in the blink of an eye.

Nickname : Marzia Position : Left midfield Birth date : 15.10.2002 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: Marzia’s left foot makes her stand out from the rest.

However, she has the ability to strike with her right foot as well and she is more like Maria.

ANUCHING MOGINI

MARIA MANDA, VICE-CAPTAIN

Gemcon, Bando in Ascent Cup semis Gemcon proved once again why they are the team to beat as they took on their sister concern, Meena Sweets. Meena Sweets have undoubtedly been one of the surprise packages but it all came to an end as they bowed out in an 8-2 thrashing. PAGE 28

Nickname : Shamsunnahar Position : Left-back Birth date : 31.01.2003 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: Shamsunnahar is one of the best left-backs I have seen so far in Bangladesh women’s football.

Nickname : Sanjida Position : Right wing Birth date : 20.03.2001 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: Everyone has already witnessed what she is capable of. She has all the qualities of a footballer.

Nickname : Maria Position : Centre midfield Birth date : 10.05.2003

Nickname : Anuching Position : Centre forward Birth date : 01.03.2003 Home town : Khagrachari Coach’s words: There is a similarity between [Sheikh Mohammad] Aslam bhai and Anuching. When the ball is in the air and in a suitable position, it is difficult to stop Anuching. l

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Sport

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

BANGLADESH U16 GIRLS FORMATION 4-3-3

ANAI MOGINI

COACH CHOTON

HEAD COACH Golam Rabbani Choton Choton was the head coach of the Bangladesh side when they lifted the AFC Under-14 Girls’ Regional (South and Central) Championship in Nepal last year. He guided the girls in red and green to the title defence of the same event this year in Tajikistan. He has been nurturing most of his current charges for more than two years now. Nobody knows the Bangladesh girls more than Choton, who also steered the national women’s team in the first two editions of the Saff Championship

10

ANUCHING

MOSAMMAT SIRAT JAHAN SHOPNA

SHOPNA

11

Nickname : Anai Position : Right-back, can play in any role at back four Birth date : 01.03.2003 Home town : Khagrachari Coach’s words: Very cool-headed and a very confident player. Her behaviour is very calm. She talks as less as possible. Very positive. She doesn’t misplace passes and is good on one-on-one. Nothing scares her.

She is very good in crossing.

7

MARZIA

SANJIDA

MONIKA

SULTANA

ASSISTANT COACH

12

Mahbubur Rahman Litu, Mahmuda Akter

KRISHNA (C) TOHURA

TEAM MANAGER Nasrin Akter

15

8

MARIA

MOUSUMI

RATNA

3

SHAMSUNNAHAR NILA/ JOSNA

NAZMA

AKHI

5 2

4

SHEULI

NARGIS

NAZMA

MASURA ANAI

22

MAHMUDA

Nickname : Nazma Position : Centre-back Birth date : 10.12.2003 Home town : Mymensingh

TASLIMA/ RUKSANA

Nickname : Shopna Position : Centre forward Birth date : 10.04.2001 Home town : Rangpur Coach’s words: She was not in her best form in the first two matches but she is still the most experienced striker in the squad. Her contribution in team build-up is important.

MONIKA CHAKMA

TASLIMA

AKHI KHATUN

MOSAMMAT SULTANA

TOHURA KHATUN

Nickname : Monika Position : Left midfield Birth date : 15.09.2003 Home town : Rangamati

NILUFA YESMIN NILA

Nickname : Kolsindur Messi, Tohura Position : Attacking midfield Birth date : 05.05.2003 Home town : Mymensingh Coach’s words: For now she is a supersub as she is very young.

But whenever she comes on, the whole team is rejuvenated. She is the future of Bangladesh women’s football.

Nickname : Nila Position : Left-back Birth date : 15.01.2003 Home town : Kushtia

Nickname : Taslima Position : Goalkeeper Birth date : 15.06.2002 Home town : Mymensingh

MOSAMMAT ISHRAT JAHAN RATNA

Nickname : Ratna Position : Centre midfield Birth date : 07.05.2001 Home town : Rangpur

Nickname : Akhi Position : Centre midfield Birth date : 18.06.2003 Home town : Sirajganj

JOSNA

Nickname : Josna Position : Left-back Birth date : 08.09.2001

Nickname : Sultana Position : Right wing Birth date : 10.08.2003 Home town : Rangpur

RUKSANA BEGUM

Nickname : Ruksana Position : Goalkeeper Birth date : 05.02.2001 Home town : Sylhet

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Sport

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Walsh excited, BCB pleased Mashrafe to finally n Tribune Report Former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh said yesterday that he is excited to become Bangladesh’s new bowling coach. He was appointed yesterday on a three-year

contract that would last till the 2019 World Cup. He is now the most prominent coaching staff in Bangladesh’s cricket history and the second West Indian after Gordon Greenidge to work with the national team.

In a statement via the West Indies Cricket Board, Walsh said he considers the Bangladesh players “a seriously talented bunch of players”.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) as their specialist bowling coach.

I am really looking forward to getting started with the group. Having watched Bangladesh cricket from afar over the years, they are a seriously talented bunch of players,” said Walsh.

“Chandika Hathurusingha has done a wonderful job thus far as head coach so hopefully I can complement his skills and continue the positive progress,” he added.

Walsh, who was the last fast bowler to hold the Test wicket-taker’s record with 519 wickets, said he is about to go into a new direction in his life.

“I have loved my time working as a selector for the WICB and I would like to thank them for that opportunity. Obviously the West Indies is my home but the chance to go in a new direction in coaching at the international level with a talented group, was one I couldn’t let that opportunity pass,” he said.

Khaled Mahmud, former Bangladesh captain and an influential BCB director, said the Bangaldesh bowlers have a lot to learn from Walsh.

“Obviously the name Walsh will provide inspiration. Our fast bowlers need to learn from him. He alongside [Curtly] Ambrose were so good in their days. Walsh had such a nice run-up. I think we have a lot to learn from him,” he said. l

meet his idol n Tribune Report Bangladesh limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza is excited to have his all-time hero West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh as the new Tigers bowling coach for the next three years.

According to Mashrafe, Walsh’s presence in the dressing room will boost the morale of the players. He also believes the Bangladesh bowling attack in Test cricket will improve after his inclusion.

“Obviously it’s great to have a high profile player like him. Not only the pacers, I think he will help all the players in the dressing room. I hope our bowling department will be benefited hugely, especially in Test cricket. I am expecting a lot from him and I

hope all the players will think the same,” Mashrafe told the media yesterday.

Although Mashrafe met another West Indies fast bowling great Andy Roberts before Walsh back in 2001, it is the latter who has had the most effect on the Bangladesh skipper.

“Andy Roberts had a huge influence and was the turning point of my career. He helped me a lot. But I always said in my long playing career, I was always a huge fan of Walsh. I watched him bowl since my childhood,” said Mashrafe.

“And since Walsh himself is coming as our bowling coach, obviously I want to learn a lot from him as there are a lot of things to learn from him. Overall, I am very excited,” he added. l

Bashar, Hasan ready for Gemcon Khulna

Rafique storm hits Cox’s Bazar n Ali Shahriyar Bappa from

Shahriyar Bappa from n Ali Cox’s Bazar

The well-known Mohammad Rafique splay over the legside was on show at Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox’s Bazar yesterday. He brought back old memories of his maverick allround skills when he helped Confidence Group Dhaka Metro beat Renaissance Rajshahi by eight wickets in the opening match of the Masters Cricket Carnival.

The other match between Jaj Bhuiyan Dhaka Division and Ispahani Chittagong was cancelled due to a wet outfield.

Rafique took 1-8 from his two overs and later blasted 22 runs off eight balls in the chase.

The match was reduced to eightovers a side after rain delayed the start by more than two hours. But it didn’t stop the players of the six teams from enjoying their reunion in the dressing rooms.

The crowd got excited when Khaled Mashud came to crease.

Mahmud, his old sparring partner from their days playing for Bangladesh, came into the attack.

Mahmud won the battle by conceding just one run in the over.

Dhaka Metro started fast with opener Moniruzzaman making a 10-ball 23 with three sixes. Mushfiqur Rahman brought Rajshahi back into match by picking up both openers in the same over.

But Rafique finished the match in style as he hit two huge sixes in consecutive balls off the left-arm seamer Morshed Ali Khan. Rafique was later adjudged man of the match.l

Most of the players at the Masters Cricket Carnival are meeting each other after many years. Some of them have played a bit of international cricket while the majority never played for the national team.

Still, it was upon their presence that Bangladesh cricket was built.

When Gemcon Group Khulna take on Ispahani Chittagong today, they will be led by former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar and have Dhaka Premier League stalwart Hasanuzzaman in their line-up.

Bashar, who was a regular run-scorer for Bangladesh in Test cricket from 2000 to 2007, is delighted to be back in the playing field again.

“Actually it’s a get together for us. I am really excited to be back in field again. It’s a festival for us to become reunited in the field together after many years.”

Bashar said although it’s a carnival, there will still be competition.

“Whenever we play in the field, there will be competition between the players. Actually the competition started during the player auction. Everybody tried to build the best possible team. So yes there will definitely be a completion in the field,” he said.

Bashar said he is also happy with the Khulna team and their preparation for the tournament. “We have a balanced team. Although there are not many big names in our squad, still almost everyone

of our team had played in the domestic arena for many years. So I am pleased with the squad. We are targeting semifinal at first. Then we will think about the later matches,” he said.

Bashar played 50 Test matches and 111 ODIs for Bangladesh.

Under his captaincy Bangladesh beat Australia, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka in ODIs. He used to be called Mr Fifty for his consistency in getting the score in Tests.

He has scored 24 Test fifties and three hundreds. Since retirement, Bashar has been serving the Bangladesh Cricket Board as a selector since 2013.

Another important member of the squad is Hasanuzzaman, who never played for the national team but the middle order batsman was an important player in the mid1990s.

He played 39 first-class matches with a highest score of 200.

Hasanuzzaman works for Bangladesh Biman and sometimes as a manager for local sides. He also acts as the liaison officer when foreign cricket teams tour Bangladesh.

He said every player is taking the tournament seriously.

“We have been busy after retiring from cricket. But when we heard of this tournament we all got excited. We are a bit old now, yes, but in our early days we practiced for three-four hours a day. The professionalism and passion for the game is still in our mind,” said Hasanuzzaman. l

Cox’s Bazar

Mohammad Rafique brings out his trademark slog in the Masters Cricket Carnival in Cox’s Bazar yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

BRIEF SCORE RENAISSANCE RAJSHAHI 50 for five in eight overs Hannan 19, Rafiqul 18; Rafique 1-8, Mahmud 1-11 CONFIDENCE GROUP DHAKA METRO 51 for two in 4.5 overs Moniruzzaman 23, Rafique 22; Babu 2-1

Confidence Group Dhaka Metro won by eight wickets

27

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Tearful Schweini bows out in Germany’s win n AFP, Berlin

QUICK BYTES Warner criticises pitches after series win Australian skipper David Warner criticised preparation of Sri Lanka’s pitches following his side’s seriesclinching one-day international victory against the hosts, saying his batsmen were being prevented from scoring big totals. Warner lauded his teammates for their six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI on Wednesday, which handed the tourists an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

–AFP

Swiss investigate Beckenbauer Swiss federal prosecutors said yesterday they have opened an investigation into money laundering against Franz Beckenbauer amid allegations of corruption in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. “I confirm that an operation is underway in this context,” a spokesman for the Swiss authorities in Bern told AFP by email. It confirms a report in German magazine Der Spiegel, which says Beckenbauer faces the threat of prosecution.

–AFP

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger gets honoured after the match on Wednesday

Emotional finale for Ireland’s Keane Robbie Keane told his Ireland teammates to never underestimate the honour of playing for their country after he pulled on the green shirt for the final time. The Ireland skipper bowed out with his 68th international goal in his 146th appearance as Oman went down 4-0 in a friendly international in Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Robbie Brady and Jon Walters (2) scored the other goals, as Martin O’Neill’s men gave the 36-year-old veteran the perfect send off.

–AFP

Syria WC qualifier moved to Malaysia War-torn Syria’s World Cup qualifier with South Korea has been moved to Malaysia, the Asian Football Confederation said yesterday, after Macau was a late withdrawal as host.

A breakdown in talks between Syria and Macau threw preparations for Tuesday’s game into disarray, with South Korea forced to cancel their bookings for the southern Chinese territory.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH TENNIS TEN 1 9:00PM US Open 2016 3rd Round, Session 1

REUTERS

Bastian Schweinsteiger let the tears flow on Wednesday as Germany’s captain made his final appearance for die Mannschaft in their 2-0 friendly win at home to Finland.

Schalke’s Max Meyer and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil scored Germany’s second-half goals, but the night belonged to Schweinsteiger, who played the first 66 minutes in Moenchengladbach on his 121st - and final - international appearance.

“I think you all saw how it effected me. I had just wanted to enjoy every moment, but I hadn’t expected it to be so lovely,” admitted Schweinsteiger who was carried off after the final whistle by his team mates.

Twelve years since his debut, the 32-year-old announced his retirement at the start of August, but head coach Joachim Loew gave the Manchester United midfielder the chance to skipper his country one last time. Even before kick-off, with German FA president Reinhard Grindel heaping praise on the departing captain during a pre-match presentation, Schweinsteiger struggled to hold back the tears. l

Luiz back at Chelsea, Foxes splash the cash n Reuters

Chelsea re-signed David Luiz and Premier League champions Leicester City broke their transfer record for striker Islam Slimani as Premier League clubs exceeded the one billion pounds barrier when the curtain fell on transfer deadline day.

Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere completed an unexpected loan move to Bournemouth, while Tottenham Hotspur pipped Everton to Newcastle United’s Moussa Sissoko in a deal said to be worth 30 million pounds

($39.41 million).

Fees paid by Premier League clubs passed one billion pounds for the first time, according to financial analysts Deloitte.

That was inflated by the world record 89 million pounds that Manchester United paid Juventus for France midfielder Paul Pogba earlier in the window. United also got one of the close-season bargains in Zlatan Ibrahimovic who joined as a free agent.

The highest fee on deadline day, reported to be about 34 million pounds, was paid by Chelsea

for Brazil defender Luiz who had left the London club to join Paris Saint-Germain two years ago for 50 million pounds.

Chelsea also completed the signing of Spanish left back Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina for 24 million pounds, making them the Premier League’s biggest spenders on the final day.

Leicester were among 13 Premier League clubs to break their club transfer record, paying an initial 30 million euros ($33.47 million) to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Slimani. It was the third time they

had set their club record in the window.

France midfielder Sissoko appeared set for a move to Everton before Spurs nipped in to sign the player, having earlier completed a deal to bring Olympique de Marseille forward Georges-Kevin N’Koudou to White Hart Lane in a five-year deal.

Manchester City, who splashed out millions on players such as England defender John Stones earlier in the widnow, were among the clubs trimming their squads on deadline day.l

Nadal rolls into third round under new US Open roof n AFP, New York Rafael Nadal glided into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as smoothly as the new roof over Arthur Ashe stadium slid shut for the first time during a match.

Two-time champion Nadal, seeded fourth, defeated Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 to book a meeting with Russian Andrey Kuznetsov for a place in the round of 16.

The new $150 million roof was called into action for the first time when light rain began falling in the

second set.

The giant structure took only a few moments to close before Nadal and Seppi resumed their match beneath it.

“Play was suspended at 10:38pm (0238GMT) and play resumed at 10:46 (0246GMT) - total suspension of play was 7 minutes and 22 seconds,” said a statement by the US Tennis Association.

“The roof closed in 5 minutes and 35 seconds. The closing occurred prior to Nadal serving at 3-3 in the second set. Nadal won the first set 6-0."l

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their 2016 US Open men’s singles match on Wednesday AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

Gemcon, Bando in Ascent Cup semis Quddus and Syed n Arsalan Shabab Neo Zipper 11-3 Therap BD

Neo Zipper hit the ground running as they blitzed Therap BD to an 11-3 mauling. Hasan scored a whopping seven in this match, which just about knocked the stuffing out of the IT company. We bid adieu to Therap BD (The Big Bang Theory), they have a lot of heart and play with the soles of their feet. Neo Zipper in the meantime are precariously poised to make history in the plate.

Gemcon Group 8-2 Meena Sweets

Gemcon proved once again why they are the team to beat as they took on their sister concern, Meena Sweets. Meena Sweets have undoubtedly been one of the surprise packages of this year’s spectacle but it all came to an end as they bowed out in an 8-2 thrashing; Monu and Shamim stringing together a staggering seven goals between them.

Comfit 7-2 City Bank

Comfit barged into the quarters with a 7-2 pasting of City Bank.

This impressive run of Comfit has had everyone speculating about a top-two finish in this year’s tourney. We witnessed a combination of slick one-touch passing and a comprehensive team performance for the garments giant. One of the outstanding goals of the tournament was when Raju back-heeled a shot into the City Bank net. For their part City Bank, who find themselves relegated to the plate, gave a very good account of themselves and have won many fans.

Bando Design 6-2 Sterling Group

Bando Design versus Sterling Group was a classic tale of Kane and Abel as real life brothers Imran of Bando confronted his younger sibling Mizu. It was a battle of biblical proportions to say the least.

Action from the 11th Ascent Cup match between Gemcon Group and Meena Sweets yesterday However, it wasn’t a happy ending for Sterling Group as they sank to a 6-2 defeat. Sterling will now face Securex in the plate quarter-finals as a means of redemption, but for Bando the day was theirs.

Day 7

In Wednesday’s matches, Brac Bank held Asiatic in a 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation time. As usual, the dreaded penalty shootout had to settle the tie. Brac Bank showed no mercy as they converted each spot kick with ruthless precision. To be fair to Asiatic, they

only missed one. It was a glorious return for Brac Bank in the Ascent Cup as they booked their place in the quarters of the bowl. Asiatic were left to rue their missed opportunities.

NRB Global put in a fine performance as they edged out Swiss Contact from the tournament in a 2-0 battle. Meanwhile Metronet held on for dear life in a 3-3 encounter with Galaxy Group, but to no avail as Galaxy Group got the better of the internet company in the second penalty shootout of the day.

A far more relaxed Securex

were seen passing the ball around with ease against Runner Group.

However, true to form a couple of silly defensive errors got Runner back in the game. Ball possession doesn’t amount to much if you get slaughtered in the counterattack.

But Palash’s hattrick ensured that the security firm moves on to the plate quarters. Home side Ascent were locked in an epic battle with IIDFC. The home fans made a lot of noise with their drums and vuvuzelas but alas it was all in vain.

The leasing company romp into the plate quarterfinals with 2-1 win. l

REZWAN HUQ

TODAY’S RESULTS 11-3

Therap BD

M. Hasan Uzzal (7), Adnan (3), Uzzal Khan (1)

Safwan (1), Imran (2

8-2

Meena Sweets

Neo Zipper

Gemcon Group

Monu (4), Shamim (3), Sohel (1)

Comfit

7-2

Raju (2), Tanin (2), Asgar (3)

Bando Design

Imran (1), Rana (1)

City Bank Mamun (1), Habib (1)

6-2

Imran (3), Mamun (1), Shakil (2)

Sterling Group Shajeeb (2)

ULAB to partake in Red Bull Campus Cricket n Tribune Report

(L-R) ULAB coach Sheikh Mamun, registrar Lt. Col. Md. Foyzul Islam (retd.) and captain Hasanuzzaman address the media in a press conference yesterday

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh will fly off to Sri Lanka tomorrow to take part in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Finals from September 5-11.

A total of eight cricketing nations will battle for the world championship. Along with ULAB, the other participating teams are Business Management School of Sri Lanka, University of Sydney, Australia, Loughborough Universi-

ty of England, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce of India, University of Central Punjab, Pakistan, Assupol TuksCricket, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, UAE. The semi-finals and final of the tournament will be played at Galle International Stadium in Colombo.

ULAB, reigning Twenty20 private university champion of Bangladesh, was invited by the tournament organisers as they earlier

participated in the same tournament twice in Sri Lanka and England previously. This will be the third time ULAB is going to partake in the Red Bull Campus Cricket.

Taufiq Aziz, Field Sports Club advisor and ULAB team manager, will accompany the team in Sri Lanka. Lt. Col. Md. Foyzul Islam (retd.), registrar, Sheikh Mamun, the coach, and Hasanuzzaman, the captain, were present during the pre-departure press conference. l

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Break suddenly (4) 4 Contest (5) 8 Threaten (6) 9 Sullen (4) 11 Giver (5) 12 Garden pest (4) 14 Drink (3) 15 Light (6) 19 Excessive fondness (6) 21 Fuel (3) 22 Stretched tight (4) 24 Sends out (5) 27 Coarse file (4) 29 Keep (6) 30 Out of sorts (5) 31 Daybreak (4)

DOWN 1 Sorrowful (3) 2 Talisman (6) 3 Country (4) 4 Insane (3) 5 Fruit of the oak (5) 6 Number (3) 7 Multitudes (6) 10 Norwegian capital (4) 13 Band’s engagement (3) 14 Snakes (6) 16 Obtain (3) 17 Large lizard (6) 18 Makes lace (4) 20 Performed (5) 23 Dry (4) 25 Choler (3) 26 Pigs enclosure (3) 28 Female swan (3)

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Downtime

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents B so fill B every time the figure 14 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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30

Showtime

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

BBC releases first look into Sherlock 4

Justin Trudeau: a marvel superhero

n Showtime Desk BBC whipped Sherlock fans up into a frenzy this afternoon with the release of the first official picture from series four. It’s still months away from the start of next season, but viewers are already trying to guess what the future holds for Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock and Dr John Watson.

In the snap, which was posted on the official Sherlock Twitter page, the two men look very suave indeed.

Benedict, 40, is dressed in a dark grey suit as he stares down the camera lens with a concerned look on his face. Martin, 44, is standing next to him wearing a check shirt but looks away from the camera with his arms folded.

The caption alongside the picture reads: “The boys will be back soon! Here’s the first official

n Showtime Desk

picture of Sherlock and John from #Sherlock Series 4.”

Eagle-eyed viewers believe

there may be a deeper meaning to the teaser photo and are already speculating from the clues.l

Coldplay honours Gene Wilder and it’s ‘Pure Imagination’

With his relative youth and rockstar charisma, Justin Trudeau changed the stereotype of a Prime Minister. And ever since he took hold of the Canadian office last year, he has taken the media by storm. His rare combination of good looks and sharp wit has earned him high approval ratings.

On top of that he is also a part of a

Star Cineplex back in business

n Showtime Desk n Showtime Desk Coldplay took the stage a few hours after Gene Wilder died, and the band members honoured him the only way they knew how.

As Wilder said in his role as Willy Wonka, “Hold your breath.

Make a wish. Count to three.”

Chris Martin sang “Pure

Imagination” for concert goers in Denver, Monday night. And for some fans of both the band and the movie, it may have been a “view of paradise.”

The band then shared a clip of the song on its Twitter page early Tuesday morning.

Wilder starred in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the

Chocolate Factory, singing the song “Pure Imagination.”

Coldplay is the latest in a string of stars to remember the actor, who passed away due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease Monday, at the age of 83.l

political dynasty.

Other than being a boxer, hiker, surfer and Prime Minister, the 44 year old is now a Marvel superhero. He is featured in one of the latest editions of Civil War II: Choosing Sides. In the past, real people had been featured in the Marvel universe. But in recent years none of them were as hyped about as the Prime Minister of Canada himself. l

On August 21 Bashundhara City mall caught fire, leaving the mall closed for days. Popular movie theater Star Cineplex was also affected in the aftermath. As a result, the mall was temporarily closed to handle maintenance.

Earlier on, the management of Cineplex announced that due to unavoidable circumstances, their Cineplex may not have been fit for audiences.

Yesterday Star Cineplex resumed business, opening its door for all. Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, senior manager, Media and Marketing of Star Cineplex informed: “The theatre was safe from fire but we thought we needed some time to make the place smoke free. From September 1 onwards, our regular shows will commence.”

Cineplex has invited all movie lovers to enjoy movies in the Cineplex premises once again. l

Bigg Boss to rope in common people

n Showtime Desk Salman Khan is back as the host of Bigg Boss 10. Bhaijan’s high voltage reality show will kick-start on October 16. This time around the makers have

planned an interesting twist in the format of the show by roping in common people. So it will not be the controversial lesser known celebrities who have been in the news, to be locked in a glasswalled house, but random people

Souls’ remakes ‘E Emon Porichoy’

instead.

The actor just wrapped the first schedule of his upcoming movie Tubelight with Kabir Khan in Ladakh. He is also gearing up for the second schedule in Manali.

The film is supposedly inspired

by Hollywood movie Little Boy and set against the backdrop of the Indo-China war.

The actor will have another newcomer opposite him, Chinese actress Zhu Zhu. In fact, Salman is being accompanied by his real life ladylove, Iulia Vantur.

Coming back to Bigg Boss 10, BollywoodLife was the first to tell that the actor had finished shooting for the promos ahead of leaving for Tubelight’s shoot. The actor has demanded for a different pay structure this year. Initially it was reported that Salman wanted to bow out of the show, however, the channel was adamant on retaining Khan as he is one of the most popular hosts on small screen. This season’s promo too was different with Salman dressed as an astronaut. l

Stranger Things season 2 on its way

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH

The Animal WB 9pm After receiving organ transplants from various animal donors, a man finds himself taking on the traits of those animals.

Cast: Rob Schneider, Colleen Haskell, John C McGinley, Ed Asner, Michael Caton

Evan Almighty Star Movies 10:17pm God contacts Congressman Evan Baxter and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.

Cast: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, Wanda Sykes Man of Steel Movies Now 11:05pm Clark Kent, one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable human, is forced to reveal his identity when Earth is invaded by an army of survivors who threaten to bring the planet to the brink of destruction.

Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon

n Showtime Desk The first song Partha Barua composed for the band Souls was “E Emon Porichoy.” In 1989, an album of the same name came out. Now, Souls brings a new version of the 27 year old song along with a video too.

Tapan Chowdury sang the first version of the song while in the new version, Partha Barua is the main singer while Sajal

Salahuddin has penned the lyrics.

Filming of the music video took place in Melbourne, Australia with Australian model Lea Bournakas featured in it.

Last April, Souls went on a tour in Australia. During the tour the band took part in a few music videos. The music video of “Mukhorito Jibon,” which was filmed during the tour, is out already.l

n Farhan Shahriar On Wednesday Netflix finally announced a second season of Stranger Things, this summer’s streaming sensation scheduled to premier next year. The trailer for the second season is out on YouTube and guess what? It seems even better this time.

Previously, Stranger Things season one kicked off, with its debut being deemed as an incredible phenomenon. Ever since, it has become the most gripping premier on Netflix.

Stranger Things ended its first

season the same way it started, with a lot of hints and twists.

Much like the first Dungeons and Dragons battle between our heroes foreshadowed the Demogorgon, we’ve now got the eight-headed Thessalhydra, the Lost Knight, the Proud Princess and the Flowers in the Cave.

What do they all mean, and what else can we expect from season two of this dynamic series? Surely Netflix will not disappoint us.

A few more months, and we’ll finally know what the series has in store.l

Rush Hour HBO 11:43pm Two cops team up to get back a kidnapped daughter.

Cast: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Ken Leung, Tom Wilkinson, Chris Penn

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Back Page

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

STUDY: 8% GDP NEEDED TO ABSORB SURPLUS LABOUR FORCE IN 15 YRS PAGE 12

COLDPLAY HONOURS GENE WILDER AND IT’S ‘PURE IMAGINATION’ PAGE 30

The unstoppable twins n Tribune Report Anuching Mogini is only five minutes younger than Anai Mogini but the young striker looks quicker, more aggressive and skillful than her twin sister when they are together on the pitch. The older one is calmer, cleverer and more cool-headed, the abilities that a defender need most.

Both are in the 23-member Bangladesh U16 national team squad.

None of the 13-year old sisters are first-choice options for Bangladesh head coach Golam Rabbani Choton but circumstances created an opportunity for them to start together for the first time against Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday in the AFC U16 Women's Championship qualifiers.

Anuching earned her place with her performance in the second match against Singapore where she came off the bench to net a quick brace in the last eight minutes of the game. When she replaced first-choice striker Sirat Jahan Shopna in the next match against Kyrgyzstan, the 13-yearold made an immediate impact scoring twice again. Four goals in two matches made her the second top scorer among her teammates.

Anai is the versatile defend-

er who the head coach can rely on playing in any position in the back-four and in the absence of center-back Masura Parvin, who was rested ahead of the vital tie against Chinese Taipei as she already has a yellow card, allowed

Anai to start the game.

The Khagrachari twins were a regular member of the AFC Under-14 Girls Regional (South and Central) Championship in Tajikistan this year where Anuching scored five goals. Anai also got

one in the score-sheet.

As Choton hinted, the twins will surely be the future of Bangladesh women's football. Choton compared Anuching's ability with one of country's greatest striker in 1980's and 90s, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam.

“There is a similarity between Aslam bhai and Anuching. When the ball is in the air and in a suitable position it is difficult to stop Anuching. She doesn't miss it. The ability to volley or side-volley is excellent. She never rests on pitch, always keeps running,” said Choton to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Although Anuching and Anai are from Khagrachari they represented Rangamati and Narayanganj in national level as their home district was not taking part in the competition. Both has been under the guidance of Choton in the last two years. When he scouted Anai she was a stopper but later he found out Anai's other ability to take the role in any full-back position.

“Anai is very cool headed and a very confident player. Her behavior is very calm and talks as less as possible. Very positive.

She doesn't misplaces pass, and is good on one-on-one. Nothing scares her. She can put ball on attacking zone and also very good in crossing,” said Choton. l

Mir Quasem again seeks time for mercy plea n UNB Death-row convict war criminal Mir Quasem Ali yesterday sought more time to decide on seeking presidential mercy, upon being asked by Kashimpur jail authorities.

“We asked him [Mir Quasem] whether he would apply for presidential clemency; in reply he sought more time to decide about it,” said Jail super Proshanto Kumar Banik.

The jail super entered the condemned cell around 10:30am where Mir Quasem Ali is being kept.

Six family members of Quasem met him at the jail on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Quasem’s wife Khandaker Ayesha Khatun said her husband wanted to wait until the last minute to decide whether he would seek clemency, and before that he wanted to see his son Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who has been missing for the past couple of days. He will decide about the mercy plea after talking to his son, she added.

Earlier in the day, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin said Mir Quasem would get reasonable time for seeking presidential clemency.

The copy of the Supreme Court verdict rejecting his review plea reached Kashimpur jail from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 12:45am on Wednesday. l

Army Colonel honoured by UN

n Tribune Desk The United Nations has awarded a Bangladesh Army officer for her outstanding role in the peacekeeping operations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Col Dr Najma Begum, of the 12th Medical Battalion of Bangladesh Army, contingent commander of a 56-member medical team in the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), was honoured during a medal parade on August 16, an ISPR press release said.

Col Najma and her team were honoured by UN Secretary General’s Special Representative Aichatou Mindaoudou.

The colonel is also the first woman to ever lead a medical battalion in UN history.

The UN in its award recognised her exemplary leadership and for displaying “extraordinary skills in dealing with issues of SEA, reproductive health, child care, HIV/AIDS.” “With her passion for safe motherhood, she requested her government to bring in a gynecologist from her army to deal with special complications on maternity cases,” the award said.

“She created a conducive environment where not only women but also men who had suffered sexual violence and acquired sexually transmitted diseases could speak freely...

This led to many women reporting SEA and gender based violence cases and getting counseling and treatment.”

The “Blue Helmets,” the 56-member Bangladeshi medical contingent she successfully led, was also praised for its exemplary behaviour. l

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