07 Oct, 2016

SECOND EDITION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | Ashwin 22, 1423, Muharram 5, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 160 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 24-page Weekend supplement | Price: Tk10

NGO amendment bill draws flak n Tribune Desk Rights activists and groups have condemned the passage of the Foreign Donations (voluntary activities) Regulation Bill, 2016 in parliament as repressive since it provides a provision of cancelling registration of NGOs for making malicious and derogatory statements against the constitution and constitutional bodies among other reasons.

The law also makes it mandatory for NGOs to take prior approval from the NGO Affairs Bureau to un-

dertake any project and implement it with foreign donations, reports BSS. Apart from making offensive remarks, it empowers the government to revoke registration of the NGOs for their involvement in subversive activities, terror and militant financing and patronising, and women and children trafficking.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, also in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office in parliament, moved the bill in the House for its passage on Wednesday. The

bill was passed with voice votes with Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Miah in the chair.

The bill will empower the NGO Affairs Bureau, which is under the direct supervision of the PMO, to inspect, monitor and assess activities of the NGOs operating in the country.

NGOs receiving foreign funds must register with the Bureau and seek approval for all planned activities before receiving the grant, it says.

On July 25, Chairman of the Par-

liamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Suranjit Sengupta placed the report on the bill in parliament.

The cabinet approved the bill on June 2, 2014.

Executive Director of Transparency International (TIB) Iftekharuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that the bill on cancellation of the registration of NGOs for offensive statement against the state would be contradictory to the constitutional right of freedom of speech.

“I think the country’s NGO personnel abstain from delivery of any malicious or offensive statements against the state,” he said. The government’s objective of establishing good governance in the country would not be succeeded if it shuts down NGOs for criticisms against the government activities.

“The government has given licence to operate NGOs for the betterment of country’s people and help free the country from corruption and misappropriation of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Caretaker sued over death of retired Brig Gen n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Security forces escort the dummy players to safety during the security drill at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Bangladesh look to make it seven ODI series in a row n Mazhar Uddin Security issues, uncertainty surrounding the tour and players refusing to travel will all take a backseat today as Bangladesh begin their quest of their seventh consecutive ODI series win when they take on England in the first match in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The day-nighter gets un-

derway at 2:30pm.

The Tigers’ success graph has continued to rise ever since they defeated England to reach the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals.

Since then, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and his troop have maintained their brilliant form at home, emerging as the new Asian powerhouse.

The recently-concluded Afghan-

istan series also worked out well for the Tigers as they returned to the ODI arena after a 10-month break.

Through the Afghanistan ODIs, the Bangladesh cricketers made up for their lack of match preparation and got the opportunity to rectify their mistakes.

And against the visiting England side, the five pillars of Bangladesh  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Brig Gen (retd) Wazy Ahmed Chowdhury has been found dead at his New DOHS flat in the capital’s Mohakhali.

The reason behind his death could not be ascertained immediately.

But the police suspect that Wazy might have been killed during a robbery since his neck, hands and legs were found tied up with rope, some valuables were missing from the flat and the caretaker, Abdul Ahad, went into hiding.

Wazy’s nephew Reshad Ahmed Chowdhury filed a case with Kafrul police against Ahad and some other unknown people yesterday.

Widowed Wazy, his younger son Fuad Ahmed Chowdhury – who has hearing and speech disorders, and caretaker Ahad lived in the flat on the first floor of the building.

According to Reshad, Fuad woke up from sleep Wednesday noon and found his room locked from outside. Failing to open the door, he climbed down using the veranda and informed the security guard about the matter.

When they went to the flat, the duo found the door locked. They then opened the lock and found Wazy’s body on the floor.

Wazy was rushed to Combined

INSIDE Now joint venture coal power plant in India

Bangladesh and India have agreed to jointly set up a 750MW coal-based power plant in India. Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited will set up the power plant.  PAGE 5

Grabbers swallowing Kaptai Lake

Kaptai Lake is losing its natural beauty due to aggressive land grabbers, excrement of illegal slum dwellers and unabated dumping of garbage and wastes every day.  PAGE 7

Dhakai Jamdani set to get global patent as BD product Jamdani, the country’s one of the finest textiles, is going to get registration by this month as Bangladesh’s first Geographical Indication (GI) product.

 PAGE 32

Military Hospital where the duty doctors declared him dead around 1pm. Later, a team of Kafrul police collected the body from the CMH and sent it to Dhaka Medical College morgue for an autopsy.

TV, mobile phones, a laptop and some other goods worth Tk1.21 lakh have been missing from the flat since the incident Police primarily suspect that Wazy might have been strangled to death early Wednesday by Ahad and some other people. Fuad could not know what actually happened that night as he has hearing and speech impairment.

The TV, mobile phones, a laptop and some other goods worth Tk1.21 lakh have been missing from the flat since the incident.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they were trying to arrest Ahad, who hails from Bishwanath of Sylhet. He took the job two-three months back. l

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PM urges India, Pakistan to exercise restraint n BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the leaders of India and Pakistan to exercise restrains in the escalation of their conflicts for sake of saving the people of South Asia from harm.

“We want peace in South Asia.

We do not want any conflict or tensions arising in the region as Bangladesh would also be a victim of that such situation,” the prime minister said while giving her valedictory speech in the 12th session of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is striving to take the country towards peace and prosperity and a conflict in the region would be detrimental to that goal, she said.

During her 31-minute speech, the prime minister expressed her determination to take stern ac-

tion against the culprit behind the recent attack on the college girl Khadiza in Sylhet.

“It’s my conviction that people have learned to carry out such violent attacks from the movement waged by BNP and Jamaat in 2013 and 2015 when they brutally burnt people and police alive in broad daylight,” the prime minister said adding that the brutality of BNP and Jamaat has shown people how to be violent.

The prime minister also reiterated her government’s firm stance against militancy and terrorism saying legal action against the menaces would continue.

She also said that the Imams should preach the real teachings of Islam at mosques adding that the militants through their misinterpretation of the religion are endangering the lives of Muslims. l

Dr Dipu Moni cuts a cake with ULAB authorities to celebrate the university’s 12th Foundation Day DHAKA TRIBUNE

ULAB celebrates 12th Foundation Day n Tribune Desk

The 12th Foundation Day of the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh (ULAB) was celebrated yesterday amid much enthusiasm and festivities at the university’s permanent campus ground in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

Dr Dipu Moni, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, attended the joyous occasion as the chief guest.

ULAB acting vice-chancellor Prof Imran Rahman delivered the welcome speech at the event, which was addressed by ULAB Board of Trustees member Kazi Nabil Ahmed as well.

Dipu Moni and the ULAB authorities also cut a cake to cele-

brate the occasion. The event was formally concluded with a vote of thanks by ULAB Registrar Prof Akhter Ahmed.

A fair was organised by ULAB Co-Curricular Office as part of the celebration, where some of the main attractions were ferris wheel, pitha shops, indoor and outdoor games, etc.

The day’s events were followed by a concert where ULAB student bands Shoishob and Orunodoy, student singers Shaibal Saha, Ishrak Hussain and Bammy Rahman, and popular fusion band Chirkutt performed before a cheering crowd.

Faculty members, administration members, students of all departments and alumni were present at the event. l

An electrician installs CCTV cameras in front of a police watch tower near Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka yesterday as a part of police’s security arrangement for Durga Puja DHAKA TRIBUNE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Bangladesh look to make it seven ODI series Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Mashrafe bin Mortaza - will once again have to guide the side while young guns like Sabbir Rahman and Taskin Ahmed must bring out their best performance.

Imrul Kayes is likely to replace the struggling Soumya Sarkar today after the former smashed a scintillating hundred in the practice match in Fatullah on Tuesday.

However, Al Amin Hossain, who recently made a comeback to the national side after missing the Afghanistan series, and Nasir Hossain have slim chances of making it into the playing XI. On the other hand, it’s not the same England side who exited the

2015 World Cup down under, courtesy Bangladesh’s 15-run win in Adelaide. They have played some exciting cricket in the last year or so and are now more than a handful for any opposition, especially in the limited-over formats.

England will miss their regular ODI skipper Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales, who were instrumental behind their recent success, but makeshift captain Jos Buttler definitely has momentum on his side after an impressive run lately.

The wicketkeeper-batsman though has his hands full this time around as he will not only have to marshal the batting department but also guide his charges in challeng-

ing sub-continental conditions.

Jason Roy has been in terrific touch with the bat and will lead the new-look attacking English opening line-up where he may have James Vince or Ben Duckett as his partner.

Moeen Ali will play the role of Shakib for England and his experience of playing in Bangladesh before will certainly help his side to get the proper knowledge of pitch and conditions.

According to sources, the pitch is expected to be a sporting one and will offer runs. However, there will be some assistance for the spinners.

The only bad news is the weather as forecasts suggest there is a possibility of rain today. l

NGO amendment bill draws flak public money,” Iftekhar added.

Rights activist Khushi Kabir said: “It is a democratic right to talk about any issues. However, the practice of making comments should be honest and truthful. If the government asks the NGOs beforehand not to pass any remarks, then they will refrain from disseminating information.”

SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar thinks such a decision is an infringement of the international law that Bangladesh has ratified.

“The right to expression is one of the fundamental rights. The constitution has ratified the international law to freedom of speech.

“The democratic system will be at faults if such laws are implemented. It will invite dire consequences and tarnish the image of the country if any individual or organisation is restricted to speak,” Badiul told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (an OMCT-FIDH partnership) has demanded that the “highly controversial and internationally criticised” law be revoked since it would further repress critical human rights work in Bangladesh.

“The absurdity is that freedom of expression is a constitutional right in Bangladesh. Yet it is a right that is no longer afforded to those who question the institutions that govern the country,” said Gerald Staberock, secretary general of World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

“The bill, besides being manifestly anti-democratic, leaves no doubt that the intention is to shut down any existing human rights work and critical voices in the country. This is a sad day for Bangladesh, as silence is the end

of democracy and the beginning of insecurity,” Staberock said in a statement yesterday.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) President Dimitris Christopoulos said: “This bill imposes disproportionate restrictions on freedoms of expression and association in Bangladesh, in violation of international human rights standards. Therefore, it represents a real threat to the legitimate activities of independent NGOs.” In November last year, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Maina Kiai urged the Bangladeshi parliament not to adopt the bill, stressing that “registered and unregistered NGOs should be able to operate and function freely without prior authorisation or other undue impediments.” l

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PM: Khadiza’s attacker must be punished n Tribune Desk Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured that stern actions will be taken against the culprit who attacked college student Khadiza Akhter Nargis in Sylhet.

Addressing the House during a parliamentary session yesterday, she said: “We are not giving the culprit any indulgence; he must get punishment,” She also alleged that a section of the press and a quarter with vested interest were trying to highlight the incident from a political standpoint, reported BSS. The prime minister criticised the onlookers who did not step forward to save Khadiza from the attack.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal paid a visit to Square Hospital to see Khadiza yesterday and said necessary steps would be taken for quick trial of Badrul, reported UNB. During the visit, the home minister inquired about Khadiza’s condition from the doctors.

Khadiza, 23, an honours second-year student at Sylhet Government Women’s College, was attacked on Monday evening by Badrul Alam, fourth-year economics student at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) and a top leader of Chhatra League’s SUST wing, while she was on her way back home after taking an exam at Sylhet MC College exam centre.

Locals rescued a severely wounded Khadiza and took her to Osmani Medical College Hospital, while others gave Badrul a good beating before handing him over to Shahporan police station.

The victim was transferred to Square Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday morning, where she is currently on life support and under observation for 72 hours.

Senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy also demanded speedy trial and punishment of Badrul yesterday, but expressed doubt on whether Khadiza would get due justice.

“The government failed to ensure the trial of the murders of journalist couple Sagar-Runi and Comilla college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu. Khadiza’s incident may also be brushed under the carpet,” he said at a human chain event held

by Jaityabadi Mahila Dal in front of National Press Club.

The human chain was held in protest of the attack on Khadiza, reported UNB.

Demonstrations held in Sylhet

Fellow classmates of Khadiza at Sylhet Government Women’s College staged demonstrations in Sylhet city yesterday demanding punishment for Badrul, our Sylhet correspondent reported.

The started their demonstrations by trying to block the Jindabazar-Chauhatta-Ambarkhana

Campaigners for Badrul’s punishment threatened

Khadiza’s father Mashuk Miah leaves Square Hospital with family members after visiting his daughter yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Road. Before moving to the deputy commissioner’s office around 11am, where they submitted a memorandum addressed to the prime minister demanding highest punishment for Badrul, case trial under speedy trial tribunal, safety for women and no defence counsel for Badrul.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Syed Aminur Rahman received the memorandum on the deputy commissioner’s behalf.

Students said they would continue their protest on their college campus. “We and speedy trial. We want security,” said Fazilatunnesa, spokesperson for the protesting students.

Former students of the college as well as students of Sylhet MC College held protests as well.

Sylhet Kotwali police station OC Sohel Ahmed said traffic was slightly disrupted in the city because of the demonstrations. l

Fazilatunnesa, spokesperson for the campaign demanding punishment for Badrul, was given a death threat over the phone yesterday.

The threat was delivered via an anonymous call to her mother’s phone around 12pm, she said.

“The person warned me to step away from the movement, or else I would be killed,” she said. “But no amount of threats can reduce the strength of this movement.”

One of Khadiza’s classmates was also issued a threat. She was allotted police protection on her way to an admission exam.

Zillur Rahman, assistant professor at the college confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune and said a number of students had been threatened over phone calls and SMS. He said law enforcement authorities had been duly informed about the threats.

Shahporan police station OC Shahjalal Munshi said police were actively looking into the matter.

“We are taking steps in this regard.

We have also accorded police protection to an examinee when her parents requested us.” l

Police keep Tahmid’s passport

Police declare Tk5 lakh bounty for prime accused Musa

n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has kept the passport of Tahmid Hasib Khan, a hostage of July 1 Holey Artisan café attack, so that he cannot leave the country.

“He [Tahmid] is still under observation. We have kept his passport so that we can get him, if required to meet,” counter terrorism and transnational crime unit chief Monirul Islam told Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.

“He cannot leave the country until the issue is resolved com-

pletely. The matter is still under investigation,” he added.

Mentionable, Canadian university student Tahmid walked out of jail on bail on October 2 after police said they found no evidence of his links to the Gulshan attackers or any other militants.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a Dhaka court dismissed charges of his suspected involvement in the attack.

Tahmid was one of the hostages of the deadly terrorist attack that killed 23 people including 17 foreigners at Holey Artisan Cafe in Gulshan, Dhaka on July 1.

The same court on Wednesday accepted an application filed by the IO on September 28 to file a prosecution report under section 176 alleging Tahmid’s uncooperativeness with the investigation despite repeated legal notice. The IO said that Tahmid withheld information on the terrorists during interrogation.

The court set October 16 to hear the application. l

MITU MURDER Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has put a bounty of Tk5 lakh on information about Kamrul Islam Musa, prime accused in the murder of Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of former superintendent of police Babul Akter.

CMP Commissioner Md Iqbal Bahar made the announcement yesterday at a press briefing in the CMP Headquarters regarding preparations of law enforcement agencies for Durga Puja, Ashura and security of the visiting England national cricket team.

“During investigation of the brutal murder, police learnt that it was planned and carried out by Musa, who went into hiding after the inci-

dent. We need him to find out why he murdered Mitu and who was the mastermind behind the attack,” the CMP commissioner said.

“Anyone who provides information on Musa’s whereabouts or help police in arresting him will be rewarded with Tk5 lakh.”

Mitu, 32, was stabbed and shot to death near her house in Chittagong’s GEC intersection area on June 5 while she was waiting with her son for his school bus.

At first, police suspected that militants might have been involved with the murder, given Babul’s track record in anti-terrorism drives. But later police said professional killers were hired to kill Mitu.

Babul filed a murder case with Panchlaish police station accusing three unnamed people who were seen fleeing the scene after killing Mitu in CCTV footages.

“Babul Akter is plaintiff in the case; the investigation officer is always in contact with him to discuss

the case and has asked him to visit Chittagong to help with the investigation. He [Babul] has agreed and will visit Chittagong soon to cooperate with the investigators,” Iqbal said.

Asked about Musa’s wife’s claim that he was arrested by plainclothes police on June 22, the CMP chief said: “We have yet to arrest him. If the court wants to know about it, we will provide the proof.”

Police have arrested seven individuals suspected to be connected with Mitu’s murder. Two of the arrested suspects confessed to being involved in the murder before a court. Two other suspects were killed in a gunfight with police when they went to arrest them on July 5.

CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Debdas Bhattacharia, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Masood-ul-Hasan and Additional Commissioner (Admin and Finance) Saleh Mohammed Tanvir were present at the press briefing as well. l

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ACC arrests two Janata Bank DGM Sakhawat and n Adil Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday arrested two deputy general managers of Janata Bank in Bismillah Group loan scam cases.

The duo – Ajmul Haq and SM Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal – were arrested from Janata Bank local office in Motijheel by a team of the commission led by its Director Mir Jainul Abedin Shibly, confirmed a higher official at the commission.

ACC Deputy Director Jalal Uddin, also investigation officer of the case, later produced the two arrested before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, praying for a three-day remand for each.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sajjadur Rahman fixed October 18 for hearing of remand and ordered to send the arrestees to jail.

The two DGMs were accused in

two cases filed with Motijheel police station on November 3, 2013.

On February 26 last year, the ACC had filed the charge sheets in the cases, dropping the names of the two arrested following which Dhaka Divisional Judge M Atour Rahman ordered to reinvestigate the case.

After reinvestigation, the ACC found proof that the two were involved in the loan irregularities.

Seeking anonymity, a ACC high official yesterday said that based of the reinvestigation report, the team conducted the arrest of the bank officials.

On November 3, 2013, the ACC filed 12 cases with Ramna and Motijheel police stations accusing 53 individuals in connection with the Bismillah Group loan scam of Tk1,200 crore from several banks.

Bismillah Group had embezzled Tk345 crore from Janata Bank in the name of two organisations. l

A ban on road crossing in front of Dhaka airport brings all the pedestrians to the foot overbridge nearby, creating a scenario that is somewhat similar to how a typical Dhaka road looks like during rush hour. The photo was taken yesterday around 5pm SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Govt to demolish 461 risky buildings Gemcon general manager n Shohel Mamun The government has decided to demolish 461 buildings across Bangladesh identified as vulnerable to earthquakes within December 31.

Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Secretary Shah Kamal disclosed the deadline at a press conference held in the Secretariat yesterday afternoon.

“We have already sent a latter to the Public Works Ministry to destroy the listed risky buildings with the support of the city corporation authorities concerned,” Shah Kamal told reporters.

In line with the order, the ministry has urged the authorities concerned to strengthen the structure of 10 vulnerable buildings including Buildings No 2 and 4 in the Secretariat compound.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Mitford Hospital, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and Sylhet Medical College Hospital are also among these 10 buildings.

Besides, letters have already been sent to utility service providers to disconnect connections to those buildings.

According to the list, there are 321

risky buildings in Dhaka, 40 in Khulna, 31 in Sylhet and 24 in Chittagong while the rest establishments are situated elsewhere of the country.

The Building no 4 houses the Disaster Management Ministry and the Health Ministry is situated in the Building no 2.

The secretary informed that though the International Day for Disaster is observed on October 13, the ministry would observe the day on October 9 this year due to Durga Puja.

That day the Disaster Ministry will arrange an earthquake drill at the Secretariat for the first time. It will be conducted by the Fire Service. l

passes away n Tribune Desk Gemcon Group’s General Manager (Audit) Md Hafizur Rahman passed away yesterday.

Hafizur is survived by his wife, two children, friends, relatives, and well wishers.

He completed his FCA in 2015 and served Gemcon Group from

October 12, 2014.

Hafizur Rahman was born on March 1, 1967 in Maulavibazar. He also served in various companies including Rangs, Brac, MIR Telecom, and Ornet Group.

Gemcon Group offered prayer for the salvation of his departed soul and expressed condolences to his bereaved family. l

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Now joint venture coal power plant in India n Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh and India have agreed to jointly set up a 750MW coalbased power plant in India.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Limited (BIFPCL) will set up the power plant in India, according to a press release from the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry of Bangladesh yesterday.

The same company is also setting up a power plant at Rampal in Bangladesh that has led to protests in the country and abroad.

Both the counterparts agreed to go forward with the plan during a meeting between Bangladesh State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid and Indian State Minister for Power, Coal, Renewable Energy and Mineral Resources Piyush Goyal in Delhi yesterday.

Currently, BIFPCL, a 50-50 joint venture between Bangladesh Power Development Board and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation, is building a 1,320MW coalfired power plant near the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.

Protests have been ongoing in Bangladesh as the plant is 14km from the mangrove forest Sundarbans in light of environmental concerns.

During the meeting, the countries have also agreed to import 100MW electricity to Bangladesh from India's Tripura state.

After completion of technical and financial feasibility study, Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan will hold discussions for import of electricity from Bhutan to Bangladesh, the release said.

The meeting also finalised Bangladesh's purchase of 1,000MW electricity from the Indian Assam-Bangladesh-Bihar transmission corridor that will transmit 3,000MW electricity. India will deliver the electricity to Bangladesh for using the transmission route covering Bangladesh border.

The press release quoted Indian State Minister Piyush Goyal as saying the works will be done at a coordinated manner and both the countries will enjoy the benefits.

State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid thanked India for its positive attitude on the import of hydropow-

Rampal protesters to ask for Modi’s intervention

n Shadma Malik Anti-Rampal power plant protesters will send a letter to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to take steps against the construction of the 1,320-megawatt project near the Sundarbans.

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports will hand the letter to the Indian high commissioner on October 18, according to a press release.

Anu Muhammad, the committee’s member secretary, made the announcement at a briefing at the National press Club yesterday. l er from Bhutan to Bangladesh and said the decisions on the matter should be taken immediately.

He also invited Piyush Goyal to attend the Power and Energy Week 2016 events in Bangladesh.

Nasrul held a separate meeting with Indian State Minister for Pe-

troleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Pradhan informed Bangladesh that India had insufficient gas reserves at the moment, but would consider exporting gas from Tripura to Bangladesh in the future.

India also welcomed Bangladesh’s interest in connecting to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, the press release said.

During the meeting, Indian state-owned company Numaligarh Refinery Limited proposed to set a premium of $5.50 per barrel of diesel, three times higher than Bangladesh's proposed rate, for the installation of the 130km Indo-Bangla Friendship Fuel Pipeline for exporting one million tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh from Assam.

Last month, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) suggested the premium at $1.78 per barrel if the cost of the pipeline project was fully financed by Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and India also agreed to have the tariff for fuel trade sorted out by a joint working committee.

In March this year, Bangladesh received a goodwill consignment of 2,281 tonnes of high-speed diesel loaded in 42 rail wagons from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). BPC spent $7 per barrel in the first import consignment.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Nasrul Hamid and his counterpart also discussed issues related to gas import from Tripura and Myanmar, LNG supply from Indian Oil Company and a setting up a joint venture re-gasification project in Bangladesh.

The meeting also discussed the scopes for setting up a pipeline for LNG import from India. Indian Oil Company Limited (IOCL) has sought land at Moheshkhali for installing an LPG plant.

On October 5, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) of Bangladesh and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) of India signed a memorandum of understanding in New Delhi for enhancing energy efficiency and its conservation.

On October 2, a 19-member delegation team, led by Nasrul Hamid, went to India. The team will return on October 8. l

Sajeeb Wazed Joy to join AL council as councillor n UNB Prime Minister’s ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy will join the 20th council of ruling Awami League as a councillor from Rangpur district.

“PM’s son Joy will join the council for the first time. He’ll participate in the council as a councillor from Rangpur district,” AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said.

He was addressing a meeting of

the office subcommittee on Rangpur division for council held at AL president’s Dhanmondi political office.

The ruling party’s council is scheduled to be held on October 2223 at the city’s Suhrawardy Udyan.

Rangpur district unit of Awami League has already sent a list of its councillors to the party office which features Joy’s name. He will take part in the council as a son of Rangpur, said Hanif. l

DMP: Three-tier security for Taziah procession n Arifur Rahman Rabbi A three-tier security blanket will be set up for the Taziah procession on the day of Ashura in Old Dhaka.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told reporters during his visit to Hussaini Dalan Imambara yesterday.

“Three-tier security measures will be taken around Hussaini Dalan to ensure smooth observance

of Ashura and Taziah processions.

The whole Chankharpul area, the main gate of Hussaini Dalan and the buildings inside will see heightened security by law enforcement agencies,” the commissioner said.

He said: “No one can carry any sharp objects or bags during the processions and no outsider will be allowed in the processions without the permission of authorities concerned. l

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Organisers are decorating a pavilion on Kalabagan playground in Dhaka yesterday ahead of Durga Puja as the biggest festivities of the Hindus are set to begin today. The devotees will bid farewell to Goddess Durga and her four children through immersion of the idols in rivers on Bijaya Dashami, Tuesday

Dhaka

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Chittagong

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MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

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Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 5:41PM

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Rangpur

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Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:52AM

35.5ºC Tarash

23.8ºC Patuakhali

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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Fajr: 5:20am | Jumma: 1:15pm Asr: 4:30pm | Magrib: 5:56pm Esha: 8:00pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Bogra-Sadanandapur rail link yet to be implemented in eight years n Nzmul Huda Nasim, Bogra People in Bogra suffer as the Bogra-Sadanandapur Railway in the district has not been set up yet though a project in this connection had been declared eight years ago.

Benzirul Islam, superintendent of Bogra Railway Station, said the project of Tk600 crore had been declared to build up the 117 kilometre long railway so that the people of Bogra, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat could communicate with Dhaka to boost up their trade and business.

In 2008, Economist Ashok Kallayn Mitra of Bangladesh Railway Sector Improvement Project Implementation Consulting Services, Moris Gordon, consulted of

SMEC, Australia, and railway officials of India and Bangladesh conducted a survey in the district.

They submitted reports and requested the government to construct the railway line.

On April, 10, a meeting was held at the office of the Bogra Railway Station Master with the local elites and political persons. The meeting proposed that the railway line would be constructed between Bogra and Sadanadapur.

The meeting proposed that the station of the railway would be set up at Theen Matha Buffer Godown area. Eight trains will run everyday through Ranirhat, Sherpur, Chandaikona, Royganj of Sirajganj, Kishoredara, Harianpur, Roypur from the station and they

will reach Sadanadapur. Later, the trains will reach Dhaka through the Bangabandhu Bridge.

In August 2008, Abdul Wahab, chief superintendent of Rajshahi Railway, submitted the report to Railway Project Director.

The director sent the proposal to the Asian Development Bank.

The ADB and World Bank agreed to donate the fund. But due to some political reasons, they were not interested for giving the fund and the government did not take any steps in this regard.

Benzirul said locals politicians and lawmakers were also informed the matter but they did not steps to implement the project.

If the project was executed, the residents of the areas could save

minimum three hours to communicate between Bogra to Sadanadapur.

When contacted, Nurul Islam Omar, local law maker from Jatia Party, said he had discussed the matter in the last parliament session. He wanted the help of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard, he said.

Alhaz Momotajuddin, president of the district unit Awami League, said they had oragnised several kinds of movement demanding the rail line.

Benzirul said leaders and activists of the district unit Railway Sormik League continued their movements like human chain, procession and discussion for the rail line.

If the government would not take decision within 15 days, they would go for tougher movements, said he. l

Juba League man found dead in Savar n Nadim Hossain, Savar

Police have recovered body of a Juba League activist from Turag River three days after he went missing from Birulia of Savar The deceased is Arafat Sajal, 22, son of one Ummat Mia. Birulia police outpost In-Charge SI Tariqul said: “We recovered Sajal’s body from Turag River in the morning.

“A local named Roki called Sajal over the phone and asked him to meet at Kakabar Chowdhury Tek on Monday night. He did not return home after that night.” Following the matter, angry locals handed over Roki to the police next morning.

The body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the SI added. Police suspects the murder might have taken place over previous enmity. l

Two missing as boat capsizes n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A boat carrying students capsized in the Shangkha River yesterday morning.

A total of 17 students were rescued alive with the help of locals. However, two female students remained missing till filing of this report at 10pm yesterday.

Divers from Bangladesh Coast Guard (East Zone), Bangladesh Navy and Fire Service and Civil Defence were conducting an operation in search of the missing students.

The missing female students were identified as Jannatul Mawa, a sixth grader and Hanufa Akter, a seventh grader.

Both the missing students along with other rescued alive were going to their respective educational institutes from Anwara upazila from Banshkhali upazila.

Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Chittagong Fire Service, said: “The boat which sank had the capacity of carrying 12 passengers. Regrettably the overloaded boat sank with all of its 19 passengers.” l

Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and “Entrepreneurial Leadership” participants take part in a photo session after the training programme at Theatre Institute of Chittagong yesterday RABIN CHOWDHURY

Training on entrepreneurial leadership held in Ctg Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong With a view to turning youths into successful entrepreneurs and eligible leaders, a life-changing leadership training programme was held at Theatre Institute in Chittagong city yesterday evening.

The Youth School for Social Entrepreneurs (YSSE),Chittagong divisional chapter organised the event.

Dhaka Tribune was the media partner of the event.

Around 275 youths from different educational institutions took part in the training session.

The organisers said they had hosted the programme aiming at supporting youths to develop and integrate new effective business models and ideas.

Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation AJM Nasir Uddin attended the closing session of the session as the chief guest. The city mayor was also accorded a reception.

Speakers at the programme discussed about the present scenario of global economical market and they also answered different questions of the participants.

Managing Director of Well Group Sirajul Islam, Executive Director of Regent Group Abdul Matin Mukto and Trainer of Brac University and also General Secretary of Bangladesh Yoga Federation Dr Almasur Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion. l

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News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Water level of Kaptai Lake rises dangerously n Ziaul Haque, Rangamati

Grabbers have built a number of buildings on Kaptai Lake violating rules. The photo was taken from Reservebazar area in Rangamati town on Wednesday ZIAUL HAQUE

Grabbers swallowing Kaptai Lake n Ziaul Haque, Rangamati Kaptai Lake is one of the most beautiful and largest lakes made by human being. Every year, a huge number of tourists visit Rangamati district to enjoy the beauty of Kaptai Lake. But, the lake has already lost its natural beauty due to aggressive land grabbers, excrement of illegal slum dwellers and unabated dumping of garbage and wastes every day.

The slums have been built all over the lake by influentials, which have been destroying the lake. The grabbers have also built buildings on the banks of the lake, especial-

ly, in Reservebazar, Tobolchhori, Bonorupa and College gate area, violating the government rules.

Along with illegal buildings, dumping of wastes has also been affecting the lake’s natural beauty as well as flora and fauna. Sajol Kanti Dash, deputy assistant engineer of Public Health Engineering, said: “Once people of the area used water of the lake in daily household chores and other purposes, but now the water of Kaptai Lake is not safe for drinking due to dumping of wastes and open defecation of people.”

“Locals, including indigenous people, used to drink the lake water directly, but now water from

deep pumps is the only source of drinking water,” said the engineer.

Hefajat Bari, president of Global Village, an environment-related non-government organistion of the area, said: “Kaptai Lake has lost its fame as natural tourist spot, as people grabbed its embankment.”

The environmental activist said: “Local influential people are building houses in the lake violating rules and rent them to common people.”

He urged the authorities concerned to take immediate actions against the land grabbers to save the lake.

Akbar Hossain, mayor of Rangamati Municipality, said: “We are

Attack on Bhabodaha demonstrators protested n Tauhid-Uz-Zaman, Jessore A meeting was held on Thursday in Daratana Bhairab Shaheed Chattar area in Jessore town protesting police-attack on the demonstrators staging a sit-in in Abhaynagar upazila on Wednesday.

The Bhabodaha Water Drainage Action Committee Convenor Ranjit Baowali presided the function where among others Rabiul Alam, JSD central leader, Zillur Rahman Bhitu, Workers’ Party secretary, Hachinur Rahman, coordinator of Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), Abul Hossen, president of Bangladesh Communist Party, Taslimur Rahman, secretary of United Communist League, Boikuntha Roy, the committee secretary spoke on the occasion.

Prof Sukumar Sen, former president of Sammilito Sangskritik

Jote, Touhidur Rahman, president of Jessore Press club and Rashed Khan, president of Biplobi Chhatra Moitree spoke supporting the movement.

The speakers demanded immediate withdrawn of police-in-charge of Abhaynagar police station. They also demanded exemplary punishment of the attackers.

According to sources, at least 50 people, including several women, were injured as police charged baton on demonstrators staging a sitin the upazila, demanding the water-logging problem in Bhabodaha be solved.

The Bhabodaha Water Drainage Action Committee had called for the protest programme at Swadhinata Chattar in Noapara at noon.

Witnesses said hundreds of people from the water-logged areas had poured into Prembag area

by the Dhaka-Jessore Highway since morning. They sat down on the road in Nurbag area around 11:30am.

All of a sudden, police baton-charged demonstrators to disperse them.

Chaitanya Kumar Paul, acting member secretary of the Action Committee, alleged that police intercepted people in different areas to prevent them from joining the sit-in.

OC Anisur Rahman said law enforcers charged baton on demonstrators after coming under attack from them.

The demonstrators later held a rally in front of the Veterinary Hospital in protest at the police action.

People in Bhabodaha have been staging demonstrations for the last two months demanding a solution to the water-logging problem. l

now working with a proposal to save the lake from the grabbers and water pollution. We are also trying to proceed with an overall urban plan for the town, which will ultimately save the lake.”

Earlier, on Tuesday, five people died when a two-storey building, erected in the lake illegally, collapsed.

The lake, encompassing an area of 700 square kilometres, was created after setting up Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP) in 1960. The dam was constructed at Kaptai upazila for electricity generation, development of waterway and large scale fish production, sources said. l

Due to heavy rainfall in last few days, water level of Kaptai Lake has risen dangerously posing a great threat to Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP), the country’s lone hydroelectric project.

To save KHPP from damage, 9,000 cusec (cubic feet per second) water is released from the lake through 16 spill ways of the power plant, said KHPP sources.

KHPP is now at its highest operation. On Wednesday, all the five generators of the plant were in full operation and it produced 190mw power, where its highest level of production is 230mw per day.

“Following downpour in the hilly areas of Rangamati district in last few days, the water level of Kaptai Lake increased two feet,” said Md Abdur Rahman, director of KHPP. The director said: “To reduce heavy pressure of water on KHPP, we have to open all 16 gates of it and continued operating all five units of the plant KHPP to save it from damage.”

In the meantime, several areas of the district including Belaichhari upazila, Juraichhari upazila, Langadu upazila and several parts of Rangamati town were inundated as the water level has increased.

Beside, lower parts of Chittagong district have submerged after KHPP opened all its gates partially to save it from any kind of scratch. l

25 hurt as police charge batons on agitators Islam Akand, n Raihanul Gazipur At least 25 people were injured, as police charged batons on hundreds of people when they gathered in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gazipur city yesterday demanding legitimisation of illegal gas connections.

Local sources said hundreds of people under the banner of Mohanagar Unnayan Committee took position in Rajbari area to press home their several-point demands including, restoration of gas connections which have been severed

by Gazipur City Corporation in the last two months.

With Gazipur Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Jahangir Alam, president of Mohanagar Unnayan Committee, in the chair, the agitation programme was also addressed by its General

Secretary Waz Uddin Mia, Councillors of Gazipur City Corporation - Jobed Ali Jobe, and Azizur Rahman Shirish.

Then suddenly, police swooped on the agitators and started charging baton on them, leaving 25 people, including journalists injured.

The journalists include Mohiuddin Ripon (Jamuna TV), Debesh Mallik (NTV), Aktar Hossain (Doinik Khobor Bangladesh), Masud Rana (Doinik Nobochetona).

During the action of police, phone and camera of the Jamuna TV representative were also smashed.

Officer-in-Charge of Gazipur Detective Branch Amir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that the demonstration was illegal and disrupted highway traffic for hours.

“They did not take any permission from the DC or the police for their demonstration.” l

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8 World

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan passes antihonour killing law Pakistan’s National Assembly passed law Thursday closing a loophole that allowed people who killed in the name of “honour” to go free, mandating life imprisonment even if the victim’s relatives forgive the murder. The legislation was essential in order to prevent these crimes from being repeatedly committed. AFP

INDIA

7 militants killed in foiled Kashmir base attack The Indian army said Thursday it foiled an attack by suspected militants on an army camp in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing a total of 7 suspected militants. Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the militants fired at sentry posts and tried to enter the camp in the forested Langate area early Thursday. AP

CHINA

China eyes progress at Apec for free trade area China hopes to see progress at next month’s summit in Peru of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) bloc in pushing ahead with a Chinese-backed trade liberalisation framework, China’s foreign minister said while on a trip to Lima. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a feasibility study on Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific had been basically completed and China hoped to present it at this Apec summit. REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Indonesia holds major military drill at South China Sea

The Indonesian air force Thursday held a major exercise around its islands in the South China Sea where there have been clashes with Chinese vessels in waters claimed by Beijing. Thousands of personnel as well as F-16, Sukhoi and Hercules planes took part in the drill around the remote Natuna islands with President Joko Widodo in attendance. AFP

MIDDLE EAST

IS Bomb kills 25 in north Syria A bomb claimed by Islamic State at a Syria-Turkey border crossing killed at least 25 people, most of them foreign-backed Syrian rebels, and wounded dozens more on Thursday. The attack targeted rebels from factions which have been battling the jihadist group with Turkish military support along another stretch of border further to the northeast. REUTERS

Q&A

Who is Guterres, the next UN chief n Tribune International Desk

The Socialist former prime minister of Portugal has been chosen as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations – taking over at a time when the world is rocked by terrorism, reeling from the refugee crisis, and struggling to resolve the war in Syria.

On Wednesday morning the 15 members of the Security Council held their sixth “straw poll” to decide the future leader. Thirteen countries encouraged his candidacy and none discouraged it – making him the clear winner of a process which began publicly in April.

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously nominated former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres to be the next Secretary-General, recommending that the 193-member General Assembly appoint him for five years from January 1, 2017.

The General Assembly is likely to meet next week to approve the appointment of Guterres, 67, who would replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea. Ban will step down at the end of 2016 after serving two terms.

Who is Antonio Guterres?

Guterres, a trained engineer who worked as an assistant professor before entering politics in 1974, led his country from 1995 to 2002 as head of the Socialist Party.

From 2005 to 2015, he served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He is credited with cutting costs at the agency during his tenure, as well as lifting its performance as it grappled with the migrant crisis. During his tenure, Guterres oversaw the most profound structural reform process in UNHCR’s history and built up our organisation’s capacity to respond to some of the largest displacement crises since the end of World War II. In his role, he has faced the challenge of providing assistance for more than 65m displaced people around the world most recently, he has been working to secure aid for the refugees of the Syria civil war.

A practicing Catholic, Guterres remarried after his first wife died of cancer, and has two children.

In Guterres’ vision statement in applying for the position, he wrote of the challenges facing the world in terms of rising inequality, terrorism and organised crime, climate change and the proliferation of armed actors internationally.

He wrote that the UN was “uniquely placed to connect the dots to overcome these challeng-

es,” but that change and reform was needed.

“People in need of protection are not getting enough. The most vulnerable, such as women and children, are an absolute priority. We must make sure that when someone sees the Blue Flag, she or he can say: ‘I am protected’.”

Speaking to reporters in Lisbon, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he had congratulated Guterres.

“It is great for the United Nations because the best one was elected, and we many times have the feeling internationally that because of imbalances, weights and counterweights, not always the best is chosen. Here the best one was chosen,” he said.

“This is very good for the world, very good for the United Nations, and it is very good for Portugal.”

How is he appointed?

The 15-member Security Council cast secret ballots for each of the 10 candidates on Wednesday and none were found to oppose Guterres. They were asked to select from a choice of ‘encourage’, ‘discourage’ or ‘no opinion’ for each candidate, with the former Portuguese prime minister receiving 13 ‘encourage’ votes and two ‘no opinion’ votes.

He beat nine other candidates, including EU budget commissioner Kristalina Georgieva from Bulgaria, to become the next UN chief.

How has the world reacted?

The ambassadors to the UN for the US and the UK -- both veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, along with Russia, China and France -- welcomed the result.

Russia’s ambassador and current head of the UN Security Council, Vitaly Churkin, said all the candidates had “a lot of wisdom, understanding and concern for the fate of the world,” but “we have a clear favourite, and his name is Antonio Guterres”.

Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, said that “in the end there was just a candidate whose experience, vision and versatility across a range of areas proved compelling. People united around a person who has impressed throughout the process and has impressed across multiple axes in his service in Portuguese politics and at the helm of UNHCR.” Matthew Rycroft, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, paid tribute to the seven women who had run for the role.

While it was “high time” for a

NEXT UN SECRETARY GENERAL

Antonio Guterres Born on April 30, 1949 (aged 67) JOB 1995–2002: Prime Minister of Portugal 1999–2005: Secretary of Socialist International 2005–2015: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

EDUCATION He was taught at the prestigious Liceu de Camoes in Lisbon. He graduated from there in 1965 with distinction. That same year he won the "Premio Nacional dos Liceus" as the best student in the country. He then studied physics and electrical engineering at Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon. He graduated in 1971 with a 19/20 average and started an academic career as assistant professor teaching Systems Theory and Telecommunications Signals KEY MOMENTS 1974 : 1976 : 1988 : 1992 :

Joined the Socialist Party in Portugal Deputy for Lisbon in the Portuguese National Parliament Leader of the parliamentary bench of the Socialist Party Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, Leader of the opposition against Anibal Cavaco Silva's government Vice-president of the Socialist International 1995 : Prime Minister of Portugal 1999 : Re-elected as prime minister 2000 : President of the European Council 2005 : High Commissioner of UNHCR OTHER EXPERIENCE Caixa Geral de Depositos (A Portuguese state-owned banking corporation) , Advisor to the Board (2003–2005) European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member Infograph: Dhaka Tribune/ Mohammad Razon

woman secretary-general, he said, “it’s fair to say that Antonio Guterres has come through this new and improved and more transparent process at the top of the league of the thirteen who competed.”

He said the world needed a strong secretary-general who would “provide a convening power and a moral authority at a time when the world is divided on issues, above all like Syria.” “And I think that Antonio Guterres has demonstrated at the hearings and throughout this process that he is the person to do that.”

There was some disappointment among campaigners who had hoped for a first female secretary general, or a candidate from Eastern Europe - which has never held the position.

Will Guterres matter?

A key qualification of Guterres is his skill for public outreach — his ability to make a case for refugees and the need to assist refugees that grabs the attention of the world.

Public advocacy isn’t the strong suit of Ban, a soft-spoken diplomat who chooses his words carefully and is, to his critics, far too hesitant to criticise major powers like

Washington and Moscow.

This is especially important because the UN secretary general doesn’t have much in the way of formal powers. It’s an important sounding post — leader of the UN. But in truth, that control extends to a few UN agencies, which command budgets tiny in comparison to those of most individual countries.

The true power of a secretary general rests in perception: The sense of legitimacy that comes from being in charge of the world’s largest and most famous international organisation. This sense of speaking for the world confers a level of notoriety and moral authority; a canny secretary general can leverage that to broker negotiations or spearhead major new humanitarian initiatives.

It’s not clear if Guterres, no matter how charming or compelling he may be, will be able to persuade anyone to act differently. That’s especially true since the secretary general can’t pick sides in a conflict where the permanent members of the UN Security Council are divided. l

Source: TELEGRAPH, BBC, CNN, VOX

9

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Israel: Why it matters in 2016 US Election n Tribune International Desk Support for Israel has been a mainstay of American foreign policy since the Jewish state’s creation in 1948. Despite occasionally strong and even pointed differences, successive US administrations of both parties have steadily increased financial, military and diplomatic assistance to Israel over the past six decades. The US now provides Israel with roughly $3bn every year, making it the largest single recipient of American foreign aid, and the Obama administration boosted that amount to $3.8bn with a new memorandum of understanding on defence, reports The Associated Press.

Public debate over Washington’s pro-Israel position has intensified in recent years - notably over the Iran nuclear deal that Israel opposes, failed efforts to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and Israel’s continued construction in territory claimed by the Palestinians. But the Democratic and Republican parties and their presidential candidates have never wavered from that stance and strong congressional backing for Israel makes

any significant change in policy unlikely.

USA

Trump backs off praise of Putin after debate US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump backed off from praising Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying he was unsure of his relationship with the Russian president. The day after running mate Mike Pence appeared to break ranks with Trump during a vice presidential debate and called Putin a small and bullying leader, Trump adjusted his own previously warm rhetoric toward the Russian. REUTERS

Where they stand

Republican Donald Trump raised eyebrows during the primaries by saying he would be “neutral” in trying to resolve the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has since said he loves Israel and he would be “somewhat neutral” in pursuing what he calls “probably the hardest negotiation there is.” As a businessman who prides himself on his negotiating skill, Trump says he would try to get peace talks back on track but has offered no specific proposals on how he would do it.

Democrat Hillary Clinton, who as secretary of state oversaw a failed effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, has also pledged to continue work for a two-state solution - one that would create a Palestinian state alongside Israel - while offering strong support for Israel’s defence and its co-called “qualitative military edge” in the tumultuous Middle East. She has boasted of helping to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hamas movement in Gaza, but was also a leading critic of Israel’s settlement building while she was secretary of state.

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World

THE AMERICAS

Canada ratifies Paris climate deal In this March 20, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres, left, are photographed through a window and the crowd as they are greeted by children waving Israeli and American flags upon their arrival at the Peres’ residence in Jerusalem AP

Why it matters

Although it has not been a major campaign issue thus far, Israel remains the staunchest US ally in the volatile region, even after the well-publicised spat over the Iran deal and disagreements over the peace process.

With the war in Syria showing no sign of easing, Iraq on edge and an increasingly authoritarian government in Turkey, Israel is stable and at peace with neighbours Jordan and Egypt. And, US presidents from both parties and Israeli

leaders from across the political spectrum have hailed their shared values and democratic ideals.

Israel enjoys great support from members of Congress and American Jews, who are traditionally politically active and courted by politicians, as well as others. But a growing and vocal group of pro-Palestinian activists has tried to blunt US backing for Israel. Given the stated pro-Israel positions of both Clinton and Trump, however, those efforts are not likely to yield much success no matter who wins in November. l

DEADLY HURRICANE MATTHEW KILLS 102 IN HAITI

Canada’s Parliament on Wednesday ratified the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions, bolstering Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bid to tackle climate change after a decade of inaction by the previous government. Legislators voted 20781 to formally back the deal, which is designed to encourage a move away from fossil fuels. REUTERS

UK

‘Brexit without parliamentary vote not illegitimate’ It is not illegitimate for Britain’s prime minister to begin the process of leaving the EU without parliamentary approval, a lawyer representing the government told a Northern Ireland court hearing on Wednesday. A cross-party group of politicians, including members of the British province’s two largest Irish nationalist parties, has brought a High Court challenge of plans to leave the EU, arguing that a vote in the Northern Ireland regional assembly should also be required. REUTERS

EUROPE

Putin to meet Hollande on October 19 Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with his French counterpart Francois Hollande during a visit to France on October 19, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. The two leaders will discuss international issues including Syria and Ukraine, Lavrov told France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at a meeting in Moscow. AFP

AFRICA

Al-Shabaab kills 6 in northeast Kenya

Damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. The fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade kills more than 100 in Haiti

REUTERS

Islamist militants from the Somali group al Shabaab killed 6 people in an attack in northeast Kenya on Thursday, the latest in a series of raids by the group in the region.

Mandera on the Somali border has often been targeted by al-Shabaab, which says it will continue its campaign of attacks in Kenya until the Kenyan government withdraws its troops from Somalia. REUTERS

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World

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

INSIGHT

Aleppo to fall eventually, but war will go on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s clerical leaders have not wavered in their support for Assad.

But the backers of the rebellion -- ranging from the United States to Turkey and the Gulf -- have been wary of being sucked into a Levantine quagmire and unnerved by concerns that Islamic State will fill the vacuum if Assad’s rule implodes.

Yet, despite the ferocity of the bombardment of eastern Aleppo, it may be too soon to count the rebels out.

Assad loyalist forces encircled the opposition enclave in July. But with manpower shortages, the Syrian army could not keep step on the ground with the Russian aerial assault. In August, rebels broke through government lines southwest of Aleppo, opening a corridor and briefly lifting the siege.

As a harbinger of the future, the rebel counter-offensive was led by Nusra Front, the jihadi force that had just split from Al Qaeda and re-branded itself as the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, or Front for the (Islamic) Conquest of the Levant.

Even while negotiating the terms of a short-lived ceasefire with Washington, Russia kept bombing the corridor south of Aleppo. When the brief break in hostilities ended, the intensity of the bombing increased.

The Russian and Syrian forces have been using much more powerful “bunker-buster” bombs, which residents of opposition-held areas say have the force to bring down entire buildings.

Western countries say Syria’s government and its Russian allies are guilty of war crimes for targeting civilians, aid deliveries and hospitals. Moscow and Damascus say they target only militants and deny they have hit hospitals.

Despite the intensity of the bombing, the opposition are unlikely to stop fighting, not least because the Syrian establishment has left it nowhere else to go.

“Aleppo is not a turning point, not yet,” said Ford, who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington who has criticised US President Barack Obama for failing to arm the mainstream rebels.

“It shows that the (Assad) regime is winning the war now but there will be no end to the war because the opposition will continue to fight,” he said. “Aleppo will fall but it may not be quick, it may take one year but it will fall.”

Rolf Holmboe, a former Danish ambassador to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan who is now a research fellow at the Canadian Global Af-

SYRIA: RUSSIAN AND US FORCES INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT Zones of control Syrian regime Islamic State group Kurds Rebels and/or Fateh al-Sham Front

Russia

TURKEY

Kobane

Hasakeh Hmeimim

United States

Syrian regime

Support

Rebels, Kurds

IRAQ

Tartus Palmyra

Airforce bases

Abu Kamal

N

Assad lucky with friends and enemies

NO

It may take weeks or months, but Aleppo is likely to fall to Syrian government forces backed by Russian air power and the most lethal bombardment in nearly six years of war.

Capturing the strategically important city, an economic and trading centre which is key to controlling Syria’s northwest, would be an important military triumph for President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.

It would be a crippling setback for the Western-backed Syrian rebels who, without quick reinforcements from their foreign backers, look set to be bombed out of their stronghold.

But the fall of Aleppo will not mean an end to the war, military and political analysts say.

Instead it is likely to give way to a long-term Sunni guerilla insurgency in which the remaining moderate rebel groups, backed by the West and the West’s regional allies, are driven into the arms of militant jihadis.

In a war with so many global and regional actors backing local clients, Assad will survive as leader of a shrunken, broken and fragmented country enduring the world’s worst refugee crisis since World War Two. “The Russians are doing in Aleppo and Syria what they did in Grozny -- it is the same”, said Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria in 2011-14, referring to the fierce bombardment that all but destroyed the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region during Moscow’s 1999-2000 war against Islamist separatists there.

The opposition to Assad, he told Reuters, will “go from holding territory ... to being an insurgency, a guerilla war, and that will continue a long time.”

Syria’s war began in 2011 after a popular uprising, against the Assad family’s more than four-decade rule, that was inspired by the Arab Spring revolts across the Arab world.

The war, pitting rebels mostly from Syria’s Sunni majority against a minority rule rooted in Assad’s Alawite community, has killed more than 300,000 people. Half the population has been displaced and much of urban Syria has become a wasteland.

There have been moments during the conflict when it looked like Assad might be toppled. Russia sent its air force to bolster Iran-backed militias a year ago when Moscow and Tehran feared Assad was on the point of succumbing to rebel offensives.

The bombing of eastern Aleppo, with a pro-Assad force on the ground spearheaded by seasoned Iran-backed fighters such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is meant to deal a

Naval installations

BA

decisive blow against the rebels.

LE

n Reuters, Beirut

Mobile units deployed

DAMASCUS DA DAM DAMASC ASC

Airforce Naval Recent strikes Since Oct 2015

4,300

Toll August Since 2014 Troops committed

20

3,800

300

Special forces

maximum contingent

As of Sept 18

Soldiers killed Civilian victims

0 1, 600 2,400

Sources: ISW, Thomas Van Linge, Airwars, OSDH, AFP bureaux

fairs Institute, says Aleppo’s fall would be devastating for the rebels, who have used it as a major hub throughout the war.

“The rebels will be isolated in enclaves. The regime will continue attacking one after another without difficulty,” he said. “If Aleppo falls, it will be a strategic loss for the rebels ... Now there is no getting around the fact you have to make peace with Assad –- basically he would have won the war.”

Holmboe considers it would be very difficult for the West or Turkey to resupply rebels in Aleppo -- even supposing they wanted to -- and that Russia and Assad have unleashed a two-pronged attack on eastern Aleppo. Like Ford, he drew comparisons with Russia’s bombardment of Grozny.

Changing dynamics

100 km

JORDAN

Crucial to the outcome of the war in Syria is the stance of external powers: how much they support their Syrian proxies and how they interpret their interests in a conflict with regional and global ramifications.

Russia and Iran not only want to salvage Assad but also hope to establish themselves as regional or global powers, though such goals

Caspian

TURKEY Mediterranean

Syria

Around 10 vessels Aircraft carrier due to arrive in the region mid-October

IRAQ

IRAN

JORDAN KUWAIT 200 km

leave Moscow with little way out of a conflict that could be a huge financial burden.

Under Obama, whose presidency ends in January, the United States seems to have more limited goals -- the main one being to drive Islamic State out of its strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

Washington’s attention is divided, with the US presidential election campaign nearing a climax and US forces also focussing on driving IS out of Mosul and Raqqa in Iraq.

Gulf Arab countries, which supply weapons and funds to the Syrian opposition, have also been distracted -- by a war in Yemen against Houthi rebels aligned to Iran, their regional foe.

Ford said some regional powers could have more influence in Syria but no longer had the stomach for the war.

Jordan, he said, has all but shut down a supply route it ran for the so-called southern front of the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Turkey, which backs the Syrian rebels, is now preoccupied with halting Syrian Kurdish advances near its border. It has diverted its proxies away from Aleppo to fight Kurdish militia crossing west of the

BAHRAIN QATAR U.A.E. Euphrates river at the Syrian city of Jarablus, a move seen by some Syrian rebels as ruinous.

But it remains important for Ankara that the rebels are not defeated, not least because this could increase the flow of refugees to Turkey, which is already sheltering 3 million people who have fled the conflict.

Holmboe foresees the rebels becoming “isolated in various enclaves”, with Assad in control of all big cities and “able to dictate a peace solution on his own terms”.

“Maybe it’s going to take five years, maybe it will take 10 years ... (but) he (Assad) will be the leader of a broken country,” Ford said.

Sarkis Naoum, a leading Arab commentator, predicted a protracted conflict and the de facto partitioning of the country. But he suggested countries in the region would opt to increase their arming of rebel groups.

“The Gulf states are not pleased with the way things are going.

They’re willing to repeat the experience of Afghanistan,” he said in reference to the 1980s when they supplied arms for the Mujahideen to fight the Soviet Union.

“For them this is the war of the century.” l

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

TOP STORIES Hero MotoCorp to start production at Bangladesh plant early next year Indian top two-wheeler motor vehicle manufacturer Hero MotoCorp Ltd will start manufacturing motorcycles in its Bangladesh plant early next year. PAGE 13

Bangladesh elected as POC member of UPU Bangladesh has been elected as the Postal Operation Council (POC) member of Universal Postal Union (UPU). PAGE 13

Protectionism’s rise a balancing act for World Bank, IMF Protectionism’s rise in Europe and the United States is pushing the world’s economic leaders toward a delicate balancing act: defending globalization but acknowledging the pain that sometimes comes with it. PAGE 14

Sliding sterling is a long way from a crisis Sterling is on the slide again, hitting 31-year lows below $1.28. It’s all too easy to equate a falling currency with a crisis. But the pound’s drop is hardly a disaster. PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Thursday DSE Broad Index

4,723.7

0.2% ▲

Index

1,131.4

0.1% ▲

30 Index

1,784.6

0.0% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

4,889.1

-7.2% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

165.9

-4.4% ▼

All Share Index 14,513.6

0.2% ▲

30 Index

13,107.5

0.1% ▲

8,835.1

0.1% ▲

CSE

Selected Index Turnover in Mn Tk Turnover in Mn Vol

307.0 -20.0% ▼ 10.9

-3.6% ▼

Alliance: 55% high-priority repairs done in garment factories n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety said yesterday 55% of high-priority repairs and 63% of all required repairs in its affiliated RMG factories have been completed.

However in forth year, the Alliance will focus on Critical Safety Repairs, which are most important for life safety and Establishment of Worker Safety Committees.

Alliance, the retailers’ platform of North American buyers, made the disclosure in its third annual report launched yesterday.

The report reflects significant progress toward its goal of leaving the industry substantially safer as a result of the initiative.

According to the report, 55% high-priority items have been completed, 41% in progress while 4% yet to start. While the remediation of 43% factories is on track, 30% need intervention, 6% completed Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), 1% in critical situation and 20% shared factories are being remediated by the Accord.

“Ongoing assessments continue in our factories in the form of multiple on-site remediation verification visits (RVVs), during which Alliance engineers assess

ALLIANCE SAFETY ASSESSMENT RESULT OF RMG FACTORIES 759 units complete initial inspections 40 units complete corrective action plans 63% complete required repairs 55% complete high-priority repairs 97 factories face suspension 54 units form safety committees 1.2m workers trained on basic fire safety About 23,000 security guards trained on fire safety 6,676 workers receive wage compensation progress against factory Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) and confirm adherence to our remediation requirements,” said the report.

To date, 55% of high-priority repairs across all Alliance-affiliated factories have been completed, it added.

“By July 2018, all Alliance factories will have either completed

their high-priority repairs or have been suspended from the Alliance’s list of suppliers,” said Ellen Tauscher, independent chair of the Alliance.

Progress toward this goal has been significant and addressing the rest of the issues most critical to life safety remains the primary focus, she said.

“Achieving safety in factories is about more than completing repairs. It must be accompanied by comprehensive efforts to inform, engage and empower the women and men who earn their living in garment factories,” said Alliance Country Director James F Moriarty.

“By approaching remediation and empowerment hand in hand, we are working to set the gold standard for garment factories throughout Bangladesh,” said Moriarty, also former ambassador to Bangladesh.

In the report, the Alliance stated that it is working with factories to prioritise the most critical repairs—most important for life safety.

It also said those issues including the import and installation of fire doors, the reinforcement of structural beams and columns, and the installation of sprinkler

systems are often costly and time-consuming for factories to achieve.

The critical repairs include lightning protection system on the building, exit enclosures are provided with rated, fire-resistant barriers, means of egress are free from impediments, structural columns are calculated as strong enough to support the weight of the factory structure, machinery, and workers, structural system is free of distress, settlement, shifting, or cracking in columns or walls.

Warning to cut relationship with those factories which failed to make progress on repairs that address safety concerns, Alliance said: “Significant remediation is now underway in all active Alliance factories—and those unwilling or unable to comply are suspended and removed from our compliant factory list.”

As of yesterday, the Alliance has suspended 97 factories for failure to make progress on repairs that address safety concerns.

The issue of workers’ safety came under spotlight following the collapse of Rana Plaza, which raised question on workplace safety killing over 1,135 workers and injuring over 2,500 others. l

BTCL to introduce .bangla Citi named best asset service provider in Asia Pacific domain soon n Ishtiaq Husain Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) is going to launch another country-specific domain – dot bangla (.bangla) – by this month.

BTCL has done all sorts of preparations and is awaiting the approval of Post and Telecommunications Division, Meer Mohammad Morshed, director (Public Relations and Publication) of the state-owned company, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“As the highest authority, the division is very much eager to launch the domain immediately and optimistic that the remaining formalities will be completed soon to provide the service by this month,” said Morshed.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) allotted the new dot bangla (.bangla) internet domain to help Bangladesh express its own identity internationally.

The corporation sent a letter

to the government clearing the much-awaited Internationalised Domain Name (IDN) on Wednesday.

Before allocation of the domain, the authority concerned presented logic to get Bangladesh the domain.

Since the year of 2000, February 21 is being observed as the International Mother Language Day to promote peace and multilingualism.

It should also be noted that in 2002, the Sierra Leone government declared Bangla to be an honorary official language for the country.

Now the state-owned telecommunication company has to fix the domain price for users while it would go for a massive campaign for publicity.

According to BTCL, the total number of registered users of existing .bd has reached 36,500.

In 2012, ICANN issued the dot bd (.bd) to Bangladesh, which is still active, but the country failed to make it effective though three years have passed since obtaining the permission. l

n Tribune Business Desk Citi yesterday said it has won the best asset service provider award from The Asset magazine for 2016, said the bank in a statement yesterday.

The magazine’s editors cited Citi’s strong presence throughout Asia Pacific, its sizeable assets under custody and its workforce in announcing the win.

They also said Citi was the only provider to offer fund managers

access to an end-to-end set of investment solutions.

“Asian clients benefited from Citi’s holistic business approach to asset servicing. It excelled in delivering its core service offerings to clients across 16 markets in Asia Pacific,” said an editor.

Citi Bangladesh Head of Markets Sajedul Islam said: “We are delighted to see Citi’s global network, enriched with local market knowledge being recognised once again.” l

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Hero MotoCorp to start production at Bangladesh plant early next year Al-Masum Molla n Mohammad from Hariyana, India Indian top two-wheeler motor vehicle manufacturer Hero MotoCorp Ltd will start manufacturing motorcycles in its Bangladesh plant early next year.

“We expect that our plant in Bangladesh will go on operation between February and March,” said Vikram S Kasbekar, head of operations and supply chain of the Hero MotoCorp Ltd, while talking to a group of visiting Bangladeshi journalists in its factory at Hariyana’s Gurgaon on Wednesday last.

He said the construction work of the factory in Jessore is going on in full swing now.

The Indian motorbike manufacturer in partnership with Nitol-Niloy

torcycles. We will later expand the production to 250 motorcycles per day.”

Initially, Hero is investing some US$29m in its second overseas fac-

Bangladesh has an annual market of half a million motorcycles. We will later expand the production to 250 motorcycles per day Group is setting up the plant on a 12.35 acre of land at Noapara of Jessore with a target to produce about 150 motorcycles a day.

He said: “Bangladesh has an annual market of half a million mo-

tory. Its first plant, which is in Colombia, went in operation in 2015, said Kasbekar.

Pointing out that Hero motorcycles are being exported to 32 countries, he said: “It had secured the

position of the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world by selling around 6.64 million motorcycles last year. Besides, the company has 52.4% share in the domestic motorcycle market.”

In the mid-1980s, its annual production was only one million but now it is producing about 67 million for the last three decades.

More than 7,000 motorcycles can be manufactured in the Gurgaon factory per day.

Bharatendu Kabi, head of cooperate communication of Hero MotoCorp Ltd, was also present during the plant visit. l

Stocks rally for 4th day n Tribune Business Desk

Stocks continued to gain for the fourth session in a row amid persistent volatility yesterday.

The trading swung between red and green throughout the session as investors played both sides of the fence.

The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange DSEX rose nearly 10 points or 0.3% to 4,723.

The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, witnessed a fractional rise of over 0.8 points to 1,784. The DSE Shariah Index DSES gained only over 1 point to 1,131.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX moved up 12 points to 8,835.

Trading activities, however, declined further as the DSE turnover was Tk488 crore, down over 7% compared to the previous session.

Bank seized the big chunk of turnover, accounting for almost 15% of the total trade value on DSE. On sectoral front, life insurance sector was the day’s biggest gainer of over 2%, driven by Sonar Bangla Insurance. Bank, telecommunications and textile increased marginally.

On the other hand, non-banking financial institutions, cement and mutual fund closed marginally lower.

Lanka Bangla Securities said after a volatile trading session the market closed marginally up.

It said banking and consumer stocks tried to support the market, while profit booking on few large cap stocks capped the day’s gain.

Of the total 322 companies that traded on DSE, 128 moved up, 127 down while 67 remained unchanged.

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation was the most-traded share, followed by Mobil Jamuna Limited Bangladesh, BRAC Bank and Lafarge Surma Cement. l

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BRAC Bank signs an agreement with Oracle Corporation and KPMG Advisory Services Private Limited to facilitate efficiency and productivity of the bank in Dhaka recently. BRAC Bank MD and CEO Selim RF Hussain, Sales Director-Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan of Oracle Corporation, Md Aminul Haque and Partner, ERP Advisory Oracle, KPMG India Samik Nandi, were present at the ceremony COURTESY

Bangladesh elected as POC member of UPU n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh has been elected as the Postal Operation Council (POC) member of Universal Postal Union (UPU).

The election was held yesterday at 26th Congress of UPU at the Turkish capital of Istanbul.

An official of Telecommunications Division said: “Bangladesh has been elected as one of the member against the four posts from Asia-Oceania group through a tough competition.”

Apart from Bangladesh, India, Australia and China have won from the region.

State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Division Tarana Halim led the Bangladesh delegation to the 26th Congress of UPU. In Asia-Oceania group, Bangladesh, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, UAE, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait, India, Sri Lanka and Lebanon competed for the four the posts in the POC, that works for different policy making issues.

A total of 147 countries voted to elect the POC members in the congress. Bangladesh attained membership of UPU in 1973 and won POC member five times while elected Council of Administration (CA) 6 times. l

Reuters poll: Asia FX outlook improves n Reuters

The outlook for emerging Asian currencies has brightened somewhat in recent months, as receding expectations of rapid rate hikes in the US restrain the dollar and China’s economy shows tentative signs of stabilising, a Reuters poll found.

While the consensus from more than 70 foreign exchange strategists polled over the past week was for most major Asian currencies to depreciate 1-3% by this time next year, a few were even expected to make modest gains.

The Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Thai baht and Indonesian rupiah are all expected to weaken less that previously thought over the coming year, while the Malaysian ringgit and Philippine peso are likely to strengthen from here.

Just three months ago, the wide-ranging view was that all the major Asian currencies would weaken in 12 months, some by almost 5%, on risks of an imminent Federal Reserve rate hike and easy

monetary policy by regional central banks.

But those forecasts for a steep path of US interest rates have evaporated after the Fed went through most of this year signalling a rate hike without actually delivering one.

Several analysts in the poll said the outlook for Asian currencies over the next six months is closely tied to the US dollar, especially ahead of and after the US presidential election in November.

“The US dollar remains significantly vulnerable in the aftermath of the Fed’s decision to leave monetary policy unchanged in September,” said Daniel Katzive, head of FX strategy at BNP Paribas.

“Fed officials continue to signal that further tightening is likely by the end of the year, but with the FOMC clearly data-dependent and sensitive to new risks emerging, we do not expect markets to rapidly increase pricing for a December move.”

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said last month she expected one rate rise

this year if the US job market continued to improve and major new risks did not arise, leading economists to price in a December move.

Financial markets are pricing in the likelihood of a December hike at just over 50%. A follow-up increase currently carries just a onein-three chance even as far out as September, compared with Fed officials whose most recent forecasts suggest two increases next year.

Coupled with hopes China’s massive economy is stabilising in recent months after years of central bank and government stimulus, that will likely mean Asian currencies will fare better over the coming year, analysts said.

Activity in China’s factories expanded again in September, according to an official survey last week, and industrial profits rose at the fastest pace in three years in August.

Economists, however, cautioned that growing dependence on government spending and a heated property market may pose

risks to the world’s second-largest economy.

The latest poll showed the closely-managed Chinese yuan CNY will depreciate about 3% from now until the end of September 2017, similar to the amount it has lost since January.

Still, the median forecasts from the latest poll are for it to ease to 6.86 per dollar by end-Sept, compared to 6.89 in the previous survey.

The yuan last traded at 6.6685 on Sept 30, the last working day before a week-long holiday in China.

The yuan, also known as the renminbi, was inducted into the International Monetary Fund’s reserve basket, known as Special Drawing Rights (SDR), on Oct 1 something analysts say will likely draw more foreign demand for the currency.

A separate Reuters poll last week showed sentiment toward most emerging Asian currencies had improved recently and bearish bets on the yuan were scaled down. l

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Protectionism’s rise a balancing act for WB, IMF n AFP, Washington Protectionism’s rise in Europe and the United States is pushing the world’s economic leaders toward a delicate balancing act: defending globalization but acknowledging the pain that sometimes comes with it.

With the US presidential elections a month away, the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund kicked off this week in Washington with a stern warning: For the world to turn its back on trade now would only worsen the ills of a flagging global economy.

“Increasing pressure for inward-looking policies are a particular threat to the global outlook,” the IMF said in downgrading growth forecasts for advanced economies, pushing concerns about Deutsche Bank’s stability and China’s commercial debt binge into the background.

The president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, urged world

The IMF will host the 2016 annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group from October 7-9 in Washington AFP governments to banish “the storm clouds of isolationism and protectionism,” saying that open borders had lifted a billion people out of poverty in over a quarter century.

Unreceptive audience

Long bandied about by the major international financial institutions, this message faces an increasingly unreceptive audience.

In the United States, long a bastion of trade liberalization, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has rallied supporters by promising a trade war with China and retaliatory import duties on Mexico.

Across the Atlantic, the British vote to secede from the European Union threatens to spur other countries to roll back economic in-

FAO: Wheat, rice harvests headed for record high n AFP, Rome The world’s wheat and rice producers are headed for a record harvest this year, drastically reducing the global food bill as prices fall, the FAO said yesterday.

Overall cereal production is projected to rise by 1.5% this year from 2015, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said in its food outlook.

The bumper output will boost food inventories and bring prices down, pushing down the value of total food imports by 11%

in US dollar terms “as lower bills for livestock products and cereal-based foodstuffs more than offset higher bills for fish, fruit and vegetables, oils and particularly sugar,” it said.

However many poorer nations will fail to benefit from the windfall, the FAO warned, because their currencies have weakened, eliminating the benefits of cheaper food through a worsening exchange rate.

Global wheat production increases are being led by India, the US and Russia, which is “poised to overtake the European Union as the grain’s largest exporter”. l

tegration in Europe. The free-trade pact currently under negotiation with the United States, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, faces stiff resistance in Europe.

Bit by bit, globalization finds itself accused of depressing wages, causing industrial decline and keeping low-skilled workers unemployed.

Against a backdrop of sluggish global trade, these accusations extend far beyond the insular clique of activist NGOs and are starting to threaten established dogma.

But Germany says it will hold the line.

“We are committed to build an open world economy, reject protectionism, promote global trade and investment,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said in a statement published Wednesday on the IMF’s web site.

And for now, only a few countries, such as Poland, have gone so far as to enact protectionist measures.

A reckoning

But the possibility of a re-set, or at least a rhetorical one, is setting in amongst the world’s financial centers, which fear they risk encouraging populist movements by remaining deaf to the rising grievances about globalization.

The IMF and its managing director Christine Lagarde have been foremost in this reckoning, conceding that global growth benefits too few and globalization’s losers should receive dedicated support.

In an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal and co-authored with the heads of the World Bank and World Trade Organization, Lagarde also said global trade should benefit everyone.

“Despite the tremendous benefits of trade, too many people feel it has left them behind,” the co-authors said. “Transforming trade into an engine of growth for all... requires reinvigorating trade integration, not rolling it back.” l

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APG to get Bangladesh’s report in July 2017 n Asif Showkat Kallol Bangladesh will have to submit Mutual Evaluation Report on complying with international standards in anti-money laundering activities to the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) in July, 2017.

The APG meeting held in the USA in last September discussed about the anti-money laundering activities and countering terrorism financing in Bangladesh.

At the meeting, a Mutual Evalu-

ation Report on Bangladesh’s performance of anti-money laundering actions was presented.

Bank and Financial Institutions Division officials said in the APG’s mutual evaluation report, Bangladesh’s rating is better than countries like Norway, Sri Lanka and Fiji.

However, the USA, Canada and New Zealand identified Bangladesh as risky for anti-money laundering activities.

It is expected that maintaining

standards in anti-money laundering activities would reduce the cost of doing business of Bangladeshi businessmen.

As a result the local business community will get a footing to bargain in doing foreign trades, such as a charge for confirmation of letters of credit, said a Finance Division official.

He said: “We have done well in anti-money laundering activities despite the risk of being reclassified as a country exposed to money

laundering and terror financing by the APG in the wake of largest-ever Bangladesh Bank cyber heist and growing terror attacks in the country.”

APG, an autonomous and collaborative international organisation, recently recognised Bangladesh’s achievement after its third round of mutual evaluation assessment on the country’s measures to counter money-laundering and financing of terrorism.

The evaluation team of asses-

sors, composed of APG experts in criminal law, law enforcement and regulatory issues, visited Bangladesh in October, 2015 and placed its report before the members at the group’s annual meeting held in the US in last September.

Bangladesh was kept outside the grey list published in February, 2014. The country was put on the list in 2008 for failing to respond positively in checking money laundering and terror financing. l

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Rampal power plant:

is Bangladesh falling behind in reducing fossil fuel emission? n Shaila Mahmud The world beheld the historic Paris Agreement (PA) during the UN Climate Talks last year.

So far this is the first legally binding agreement which brought the world under one roof to universally achieve the goal of

Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh state owned Power Development Board (PDB), named Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (BIFPC). BIFPC signed the agreement with India’s state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited this February to construct the 1320 megawatt

ecologically sensitive area. Thus by, planning to build the Rampal project so close to the Sundarbans we have already violated the Ramsar Convention, only global environmental treaty that includes preservation of wetlands.

On the other hand, the energy advisor to the Prime minister of

the government. Are they actually appropriate to curb the carbon emission from Rampal power plant?

In a research published by Energy & Power shows that the coal-fired power plant will produce approximately 3.16 million kg carbon for every 24

Photo: Bigstock limiting global temperature well below 2°C through mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation and finance. With latest ratification from big emitters accountable for 56.75% of global emission the PA has just become the fastest multilateral agreement to enter into force. Whilst it is officially confirmed that the world will work in unison towards a cleaner environment, Bagladesh has raised many eyebrows, because of the coal fired Rampal power plant.

The Rampal is a joint venture project by the Indian state owned National Thermal

coal-fired power plant with financing from India’s Exim Bank, the same year when the two South Asian countries ratified PA to mitigate greenhouse gas emission.

Environment and ecology experts raised concern on the harmful climatic impacts the Rampal power station will bring due to its localisation in the Bagerhat district of Bangladesh with a distance of only 14 km from the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 350.org article claims, even in India, the environmental law prohibits any thermal power plant to set up within 25 km from any

Bangladesh stated that the plant will have no adverse effect on the Sundarbans as the emission of greenhouse gas will be kept at a minimum level. It was further affirmed that the government will import high quality coal, build a 275 meter high chimney and employ cutting edge technology to preserve environment of the Sundarbans.

While it is true that Bangladesh has prolonged power crisis, it cannot be a reason good enough to build a coal-fired plant near the world’s largest mangrove forest.

This compels our minds to undermine the credibility of the proposed solutions suggested by

hours of operation. As mangroves can store more carbon compared to any other type of forest lands.

According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) coastal surroundings store up to 50 times more carbon in their soils by area than tropical forests, and ten more than temperate forests too.

Even if we importing coal to lessen emission to some extent, environment and ecology experts assert that the Sundarbans and surrounding areas will still be at higher risk of pollution.

According to them, during the coal shipments, huge amount of coal dust, sulphur, fly ash and other

While it is true that Bangladesh has prolonged power crisis, it cannot be a reason good enough to build a coal-fired plant near the world’s largest mangrove forest

toxic chemicals are dispersed into the environment, thereby putting the Sundarbans and surrounding areas, at grave risk.

The third measure to construct a higher chimney to reduce pollution is not feasible, as height is one of the major factors that proliferate air pollution to a larger area. Consequently, causes an interstate air pollution once the power plant starts running. Thus, leading the mangrove forest towards destruction.

It is observed by many environmental economists that Rampal power plant will also affect the economic condition of the people living in nearby villages.

Majority of the people living in this region are either honey collectors or fishermen and depend on the Sunadarbans and the nearby Poshur River for livelihood.

Therefore, a fossil fuel based Rampal power plant to solve the problem of power generation is a curse rather than blessings. It is only obvious that we rule out the fossil fuel dominance and invest in clean power plant very soon.

Otherwise, we will stay as laggards in reducing greenhouse gases emission, regardless of being one of the first countries to ratify the PA to limit global temperature.l

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The Death of Abdul Aziz (Part 1 of 2)

n Sadia Afrin Something is eating Abdul Aziz’s flesh, he is sure of it. What is it, he doesn’t know. And it is bothering him. Not the flesh eating part, but the unknown thing that is eating it. He shared this with his wife, who screamed and started asking a thousand questions. He instantly regretted telling her. Still, he tried to make her understand that the thing is eating the flesh from inside his body, and no, it is not cancer. He knows it is eating him because he can feel it. No, it doesn’t hurt, just a slight uncomfortable feeling, and the awareness that he is losing flesh a little every day. His wife cannot make head or tail of it and decides to take him to a doctor.

After numerous tests that include drawing his blood, scanning first his head and then the full body and analysing every symptom, the doctors conclude that what Abdul Aziz has is not a physical, but a mental disease.

Although they note he has lost some weight in three months, they dismiss it as resulting from his paranoia. Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz is vexed that nobody believes what he is so sure of. He keeps arguing with the medical professionals, berates his wife for taking him to them and complaines to everyone who will listen about the ineptitude of today’s doctors.

His frustration in not knowing what is gnawing at him from inside coupled with the doctor’s insistence that he is perfectly fine somehow pushes him over the edge, so much so that his loving and caring wife has had to admit him to a mental facility. Abdul Aziz goes there without any protest.

To tell the truth that he is a bit relieved with this decision. The constant arguing and defending his belief had made him a little weary. He packs his bag with his most favourite and comfortable clothes, and takes a diary and a pen on the psychiatrist’s instructions. He feels like a child going on his first vacation trip.

A

fter reaching the place, Abdul Aziz’s spirit dampens a bit. He is showed his room by a stern looking nurse, and the sight of his narrow room with beige coloured walls and a single bed saddens him. He sits on the bed for a very long time and then a young, good looking

doctor comes to his room with a toothy smile which does not help him feel any better. The doctor asks some questions, which Abdul Azis answers absent-mindedly. All he can think of is the thing that is slowly eating his flesh at that time. The doctor finally leaves the

room, time flashing a smile which makes Abdul Aziz hate the man passionately.

It is not bothering Abdul Aziz much that a thing inside him is slowly corroding him, bringing him to an end – he says so to another doctor, who has a head

full of grey and white hair and towards whom, Abdul Aziz feels a certain amount of reverence.

The doctor asks him why he isn’t bothered by it to which Abdul Aziz replies that he simply doesn’t know. The doctor tells him to think about it and have an answer

ready by the next session.

Abdul Aziz does not know what to say, his thoughts are not very clear to him and he is not a very articulate person. He keeps trying to write in his diaries but soon realises writing frustrates him. He asks for a sketchbook and enjoys drawing for a little while.

But when the doctor asks him to imagine the thing inside him and to draw it for him it irks him so much that he stops. He feels like burning the sketchbook but his request for matches is denied. He keeps it in his bedside cabinet.

Every time Abdul Aziz is asked about the location of the flesheating thing his answer changes.

Every time he wakes up he feels its presence in different parts.

Sometimes he does not feel it at all. One day, for a whole day he does not feel anything, but when he lies down to sleep, after taking his sleeping and muscle relaxation pills, he feels the thing chiselling at his shoulder. Abdul Aziz sighs and goes to sleep.

It really seems pointless to Abdul Aziz to explain what he feels and why he feels it. It was not that he was complaining to others about it. He argued with other people because he firmly believes in what he feels and what is happening inside him. Now he knows it was a flawed endeavour – to make people understand. After a lot of pondering he decides that this thing inside does not worry him because it gives him a kind of relief. He knows mortality is a part of life, sooner or later he must die. The thing inside is slowly but surely pushing him towards the right direction. He does not expect much from life, he feels he lead a safe and secure life and he has no complaints about it.

He feels he does not have to fear the unknown, or wonder how he is going to die. He knows a thing will kill him from inside, he thinks this is a much better way to die rather than to lie mangled under a speeding bus or getting shot by a fellow human. All this he withholds from telling the doctor, as he feared it will consolidate his status as a “nut case”. l

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Navigating the web Ensuring safe Internet use for children

n Nahid Farzana The modern era is built on technological progress. We are using the Internet in our day to day lives and it has become almost impossible to think of a day without it. Citizens all over the world have become more tech savvy and are finding innovative ways to make life easier with technology.

People are easily connected to each other regardless of their physical and geographical barriers – thanks to the Internet. Sharing information and ideas with others are just a click away. People are dependent on the Internet for the abundant resources available for any needs. Social media has brought people closer than ever; Google is always there with answers to our search and queries, payment systems are easier, more secure and more convenient with online services, and online shopping has made our lives much easier. Regardless of where one lives, their age, income or geography- the Internet has resources for all.

The prime users of the Internet are the youth. According to Telenor - the emerging Asian economies will have over 500 million children going online by the end of this decade. The Internet is indeed the best platform for learning. Children can learn from the vast resources available on the Internet, share ideas with teachers, peers and mentors through social media sites. However, there are certainly some cons attached to the Internet. There are quite some inappropriate, vulgar or explicit content over the Internet, and children have to be taught how to use the Internet safely and responsibly.

Grameenphone, the country’s leading digital service provider, focuses on safe Internet use, and have campaigned countrywide to promote the safe use of the Internet. Rajeev Sethi, chief executive officer of Grameenphone Ltd, has also talked about secure Internet use. He is concerned about the safe use of Internet, not only as the CEO but only as a parent. Recently, he spoke about a few tips for parents to ensure safe Internet use for their children. The tips are provided here below. l

• Parents need to have a friendly and open relationship with their children so that children can communicate and share anything with them.

• Parents should encourage children to use the Internet at specific times of the day, for a fixed period of time.

• Parents can set appropriate security measures, and filters on Internet-access devices. They can keep a check on browser history to keep track of a child’s activity on the Internet.

• It’s not right for the parents to check on their children’s activities round the clock.

There should be a smooth line of communication with children. Children should not be pushed or forced, rather they should be talked to with love and care.

• Children should be encouraged to log out of any online account after they are done using it.

• Article reprinted under special arrangement with SDAsia.com

19

DT

Biz Info

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

| talk |

Bangladesh Media Forum launched to unleash potential of the media industry Discussion on the media industry of Bangladesh, a timely initiative

by Bangladesh Brand Forum, was held recently at Lakeshore Hotel, Dhaka.

The initiative aimed to bring together all the media industry leaders under one roof to have a dialogue on how to build a platform for sustainable development of this sector. The event was therefore attended by media channels, media agencies and advertisers, and consisted of a series of presentations to identify

| welcome |

Bank Managers’ Forum gives reception for BRB Group chairman On Thursday, October 6, 2016, Bank Managers’ Forum came together to give a warm reception to the chairman of BRB Group of Industries, Mojibur Rahman. This event took place at 8pm at the Mujibur Rahman Auditorium in Kushtia. This reception was given to Mojibur Rahman because of the export gold trophy that he recently received from the honourable Prime Minister. The event was chaired by Mir Hasan Jahid, managing officer of Kushtia Sonali Bank. Shamsur Rahman, managing director of MRS Industries and Mir Rahmat Ullah, manager of Islami Bank, spoke at the event, along with managers from different banks in Kushtia. l

the current needs of the industry as well as propose a way forward.

The discussion progressed towards forming a new platform for the industry, and Bangladesh Media Forum and a working committee was formed with the following members: Ajoy Kumar Kundu, media director, Mediacom Limited; Aman Ashraf Faiz, managing director, Gazi TV; Ebne Hasan Khan, sales & marketing director, Channel I; Mazharul Haque Chowdhury, managing director, Havas Media

Bangladesh Limited; Md. Quamrul Hassan, business director, ACI Limited; Mohammed Akhter Hossain, head of operations, Somoy Media Limited; Morshed Alam, executive director, GroupM Bangladesh; Shariful Islam, founder & editor, Bangladesh Brand Forum; Shikdar AkhtarUz-Zaman, head of media, Grameenphone Limited; Shujan Mahmud, head of media, PRANRFL Group; Syed Tanzim Rezwan, marketing director, Reckitt Benckiser (Bangladesh) Limited;

Tanveer Faruq, media and events manager, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd. and Ziauddin Adil, CEO, Top of Mind.

In order to keep the platform under the counsel of immaculate minds from the industry, an advisory committee has also been formed. The committee includes Anjan Chowdhury, Mozammel Haque Babu, Shykh Seraj and Faridur Reza Sagar from Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO); Naim Nizam from Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB); Rafiqul Haque from Private Radio Owners Association of Bangladesh (PROAB); Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury and Ramendu Majumdar from Advertising Agencies Association of Bangladesh (AAAB), and Sanaul

Arefin from Ad Club.

Bangladesh Media Forum has a vision to create a platform where the Bangladeshi media community can discuss, debate, and plan a more transparent and accountable media industry towards progress.”

Some specific actions to be taken forward by the forum are promoting media best practices towards commercial media management, educating and enhancing capabilities of media industry professionals, and developing data centric approach and promoting credible measurement systems across media platforms (TV, Print, Radio, Digital, etc.).

For more information visit www.bdmediaforum.com or email at connect@bdmediaforum.com l

| event |

Stone Free at Red Shift Auditorium Stone Free returns to Red Shift Auditorium on Friday, October 7, 2016 to shake off the summer blues with music and entertainment.

Starting from 7pm, the band will be supporting the Bangladesh cricket team in their match against England through music.

Titled ‘Ready for Love’, the performance will include Chotu Khan on vocals, Fahim on lead guitar, Mishu on bass, Nadeer on percussions, and Emon on drums. Stone Free has played to packed audiences at the Red Shift many times before, performing their unique blend of classic rock favourites on acoustic and electric guitars. Without giving too much away, their new set list comprises of the Allman Bros Band, America,

Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Bad Co, The Beatles, and many more.

Doors open at 6:45pm, and tickets are priced at Tk600 each, available at Red Shift/Radius, or online for Tk 660 at www.imdhaka.com or www.jetechao.com (Limited seating so please book early).

The event will also include Star Faruque’s gourmet bite treats as icing on the cake (literally), including white chocolate cookies, blondie brownies and dream bars.

Security has been significantly strengthened at the Red Shift building, so patrons are requested to bear with the authorities if they are held up because of security measures. Kindly refrain from bringing backpacks/bags to the venue. l

DT

20 Editorial

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

TODAY

Saarc tale Just to go that extra mile to antagonise Bangladesh, Pakistan makes sure to hail war criminals as heroes every time Bangladesh executes one of them PAGE 21

Time to end World Bank immunity Utilising a number of privileges and immunities, World Bank acts like a supra-sovereign body -- relieved of any obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for its actions PAGE 22

BIGSTOCK

The law should be there for everyone Despite recent improvement, the country’s courts remain overburdened with huge numbers of long-pending cases. Petty corruption and expense deter many people from attempting to resolve their cases through the formal legal system 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.

Marital abuse is never OK

T

he Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in its findings from the Violence Against Women Survey 2015, revealed that fully one in two women in Bangladesh have been abused at least once in their married life.

That counts for nearly 40 million married women across the country that we have collectively failed to protect.

These numbers should make us all sit up and take notice.

What often gets overlooked in Bangladesh is the culture which constantly turns a blind eye to domestic violence, and sees abuse as something that is quite normal.

We have shown so little respect for women’s agency over their own bodies that marital rape is still not even considered a crime.

The restriction of the basic freedoms for women is seen as business as usual -- over half of married women are subjected to “controlling behaviour,” according to the survey.

Our culture constantly glorifies the roles of mothers and wives, yet uses these same empty praises to shift the entire burden of work at home on to women, regardless of how much she works outside of it.

Despite overwhelming evidence, women are still made social pariahs for having the courage to walk away from abusive marriages.

To protect women from abusive marriages, and to make any real progress in ending the culture of marital violence, this deep malaise within our society must be addressed.

The typical mindset that it is acceptable to raise a hand to one’s spouse, whatever the provocation, is something that needs to change.

Marital abuse is real. It is ugly. And it is never OK.

The typical mindset that it is acceptable to raise a hand to one’s spouse, whatever the provocation, is something that needs to change

DT

21

Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Saarc tale Nothing good has come out of Saarc in three decades, and it is unlikely that anything ever will Forgive and forget -- that is what Pakistan has said with regards to Bangladesh’s long overdue war crimes trials. It was Bangladesh that tried to maintain some kind of relationship by forgoing reparations and releasing Pakistani officers after the war, while Pakistan continues to make it blatantly clear whose side it is on.

Bangladesh is still wounded. It needs justice, healing, and closure.

Pakistan will not be changing its tune any time soon. Islamabad goes on lending support to the perpetrators of some of the worst atrocities in living memory, thereby opposing the very spirit of an independent Bangladesh.

So it only makes sense that Bangladesh would decline to go to the summit in Islamabad. What could we possibly talk about that wouldn’t be a complete joke?

New horizons

Time to shut down?

Just to go that extra mile to antagonise Bangladesh, Pakistan makes sure to hail war criminals as heroes every time Bangladesh executes one of them

n Abak Hussain

H

as there ever been a geopolitical union in the world quite as useless as Saarc?

At this point, the member states don’t even care to pretend that there is anything to be gained by sitting down to discuss the betterment of the region. The bad blood is just too strong.

The 19th Saarc Summit was initially scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 9 and 10. First, India pulled out. Then Bangladesh announced its boycott.

Bhutan and Afghanistan also cancelled.

Pakistan is like the unsavoury kid in the schoolyard ruining everything for everyone else -nobody wants to go to his house.

Not that India can be excused for constantly acting like the regional super-bully, and Modi’s government, a quarter-inch from fanatical, does not bode well for

the various tensions in the region that periodically flare up like wildfire. Still, it is Pakistan that continues to be the one giving South Asia a bad name.

Saarc is meaningless

When Saarc was founded in 1985, it was agreed that it was a body of multilateral cooperation which would, as a rule, keep bilateral issues off the table.

This meant that India and Pakistan, “best enemies for life,” could not talk to each other about the massive elephant in the room.

Kashmir, once a place of stunning natural beauty, a kind of paradise on Earth, has turned into one of the world’s hottest conflict zones, because neither country would give an inch to the other.

With cooperation utterly impossible between Pakistan and India, Saarc was always doomed to fail. The concerns of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives were too trivial.

Why Afghanistan joined later is something of a mystery.

It is unfortunate, because the smaller countries could have actually done something to make life easier for its citizens.

South Asia could really thrive by loosening up its borders and opening up to trade.

Building transnational infrastructure like railway networks that go across countries

and make it easier for people to pass through with less necessary paperwork -- some of the things BBIN is now working on -- would really pull South Asian countries up to a higher standard, increase competitiveness, and in general make life easier for people of these lands. Maybe even fewer innocent people would lose their lives near the Indian border.

But who are we kidding? If you want peaceful borders, go to Europe. The culture here is machine guns and border killings, and India doesn’t want that to change.

So much for neighbourly love.

Saarc has had 31 years to prove itself. The results have been unimpressive. Now, as we are once again predictably witnessing Indo-Pak tensions escalate over Kashmir, it seems as good a time as any for Saarc to call it a day.

Pakistan has always had an attitude problem

Islamabad has never apologised for 1971. In fact, Pakistan continues to live in denial about the genocide that was perpetrated on Bangladeshi soil by the Pak army and its local collaborators.

That’s bad enough, but just to go that extra mile to antagonise Bangladesh, Pakistan makes sure to hail war criminals as heroes every time Bangladesh executes one of them.

Regional cooperation is not necessarily a pipe dream. ASEAN has shown how well it can work in spite of member states having their share of internal problems.

South Asia can now start to forget about Saarc and look to newer horizons. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) includes Saarc nations Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, and adds Myanmar and Thailand to the mix.

Bangladesh shares a border with Myanmar, and improving connectivity with Yangon is crucial. Thailand is also an important trading partner, not to mention a favourite destination for Bangladeshi nationals.

Then there’s BBIN. Member states are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. One of its key goals is paving the way for the seamless movement of vehicles across borders. Some success has already been achieved under BBIN’s motor vehicle agreement.

There are proposed land ports under BBIN which would increase capacity, cut down barriers to movement, and create jobs. If member states were allowed to use the roads of other member states for transportation of cargo, a lot of difficulties we are now facing could be behind us.

None of these alternatives will be an easy ride. Success largely hinges on India agreeing to play ball, and sticking to the program.

If that happens, there could still be hope for South Asia. l Abak Hussain is Editor, Editorial and Op-Ed, Dhaka Tribune.

22

DT

Long-Form

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Time to end World Bank immunity We can sue individuals, corporations, and even governments, but why not WB? This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

n Sushovan Dhar

“T

he IFC’s defense boils down to this: ‘We are above the law,’” Rick Herz, the litigation coordinator for the human rights and environmental advocacy group EarthRights International, which represents the Gujarat farmers, said in a statement on July 13.

He added: “It argues that it is entitled to act with impunity, contrary to its own mission and accountable to no one, even though the risks were so obvious from the start and the IFC’s failure to act [has been] so devastating for precisely the people the IFC is supposed to help and protect.”

In June, 2015 Human Rights Watch came out with a document “At Your Own Risk: Reprisals against Critics of World Bank Group Projects” that highlighted repression against the critics of the bank-funded projects in a number of countries.

Reporting cases from India, Cambodia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere, the document charges that the “World Bank and IFC officials failed to respond meaningfully to abuses that make a mockery out of their own stated commitments to participation and accountability.”

It also points out the World Bank’s collusion with authoritarian governments, violating the right to free speech and opinion and also minimum human rights for people affected by the World Bank’s projects.

Instead, the World Bank has continued providing loans to governments that have carried on violating the minimum human rights standard set by itself.

The report highlights terrible gender violence “where project critics and concerned community members have been the target of threats, intimidation tactics, and baseless criminal charges.

“Some women have faced sexual harassment or genderbased threats, attacks, or insults when they speak out” and are even branded as prostitutes.

In another investigation conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), The Huffington Post and other media partners found out that “the bank has regularly failed to enforce its rules, with devastating consequences for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people on the planet.”

The World Bank should be held liable by the law

BIGSTOCK

The key findings of the report are:

• Over the last decade, projects funded by the World Bank have physically or economically displaced an estimated 3.4 million people, ousting them from their homes, taking their land, or damaging their livelihoods.

• The World Bank has regularly failed to live up to its own policies for protecting people harmed by projects it finances.

• The World Bank and its private-sector lending arm, the IFC, have financed governments and companies accused of human rights violations such as rape, murder, and torture. In some cases, the lenders have continued to bankroll these borrowers after evidence of abuses emerged.

• Ethiopian authorities diverted millions of dollars from a World Bank-supported project to fund a violent campaign of mass evictions, according to former officials who carried out the forced resettlement program.

• From 2009 to 2013, World Bank Group lenders pumped $50 billion into projects graded the highest risk for “irreversible or unprecedented” social or environmental impacts -- more than twice as much as the previous five-year span.

A supra-sovereign body

While we can sue individuals, private corporations, or even the highest orders of our respective governments, inter-governmental organisations like WB enjoy

Utilising a number of privileges and immunities, World Bank acts like a supra-sovereign body -- relieved of any obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for its actions

absolute immunity from any judicial procedure.

Utilising a number of privileges and immunities, WB acts like a supra-sovereign body -- relieved of any obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for its actions. It is therefore exempted from any jurisdiction, taxes, or executions.

We must remember that the World Bank operates like any other bank ie it makes money by charging interests on its loans.

However, the tag of “development” and its absolute immunities excuse the bank from any accountability under any legal or democratic procedure.

In a number of cases, this immunity violates the citizens’ rights to seek protection under law and the right to seek justice.

These immunities are at the roots of the bank’s belligerent attitude towards anything that acts as an infringement on its profits.

It is nowhere accountable, liable, and chargeable for the terrible consequences that its projects, policies, and actions inflict on human lives or the environment.

It is also not interested in

scrutinising its policies against the international legal covenants, many of which are a result of immense socio-political struggles worldwide.

It is only accountable to its shareholders.

This indiscriminate mockery of immunities to IFIs, including the World Bank, must immediately end since lives matter more than profits.

Noreena Hertz, in her book The Debt Threat: The Story of Third World Debt commented on the problems of the third world debt and why it must be resolved soon if we are ever to see global stability.

She also demanded an end to the immunity provided to the IFIs like the WB and the IMF: “Where professional negligence or lack of due diligence in lending can be proven, a claimant, whether a village, an individual, or a nation, must be able to hold the institutions liable in the same way that a bank can be held liable by law.” l Sushovan Dhar is an activist. He is based in Kolkata.

DT

23

Opinion

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

The law should be there for everyone How can we make sure the poor and marginalised get access to the justice system?

n Jerome Sayre

D

espite recent improvement, the country’s courts remain overburdened with huge numbers of long-pending cases. Petty corruption and expense deter many people from attempting to resolve their cases through the formal legal system, and deeply-ingrained prejudices prevent access to justice for many women, poor people, and those from minority ethnic or religious backgrounds.

Millions of Bangladeshis, each year, continue to pursue justice using traditional methods of mediation and dispute resolution.

The most common of these is shalish, the system by which arguments are discussed and resolved by community members.

While many shalish yield fair and just results accepted by all, many others result in illegal and abusive settlements distorted by class, gender, and religious bias.

Despite this, low-cost and local shalish continue to be the first option considered by most Bangladeshis. Our project found that 92% of the public are aware of shalish while only 7% are aware of government legal aid (2013 CLS program survey). This is consistent with other research showing that Bangladeshis overwhelmingly resolve disputes out of court.

To expand justice for average Bangladeshis, the worst abuses of traditional shalish must be reformed while retaining its lowcost, local nature and ability to restore community ties.

We work with an NGO in Chittagong that recently helped a young woman who was trapped in an abusive marriage. She suffered serious injuries after being beaten by her husband and his family and was eventually taken to the NGO to seek help.

Once she had recovered in a safe environment, workers from the NGO arranged for a local mediation session between the couple. The woman’s husband acknowledged that he had treated her badly and dropped his demands for a dowry payment from her family. Using training in the law and modern mediation practices, the NGO developed the capacity of local mediators to provide quick, fair, and equitable solution to disputes.

The young woman agreed to return to their marital home and they are living together again peacefully, and recently, had a baby.

This is an example of a case that was resolved satisfactorily through the reformed local or traditional system and there are many more like this. However, some disputes cannot and should not be handled through shalish. These must have a clear path upward to ensure their resolution in a court of law.

I recently encountered a case in which a young woman had been raped and impregnated. Her family was poor and lacked the resources to pay for proper legal representation or even for the young victim’s medical care. The case was taken up locally and the alleged attackers were ordered to pay a substantial fine. They refused and began harassing the victim and her family.

The case only progressed with the involvement of one of our NGO partners, the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

Thanks to help from BLAST, the young woman was taken to a clinic and given an ultrasound examination before being put on a program of antenatal care. Her case was taken up by a BLASTappointed lawyer, who has filed charges against the three alleged attackers. Two of them have already appeared in court.

Bangladesh law clearly sets out offences which cannot be mediated, and rape is one of those.

The only chance for families like this one to receive proper justice

Everybody deserves justice

BIGSTOCK

Despite recent improvement, the country’s courts remain overburdened with huge numbers of long-pending cases. Petty corruption and expense deter many people from attempting to resolve their cases through the formal legal system is for them to be able to access the formal legal system, which is why the work of NGOs is so important.

With the right training and support, the many NGOs across Bangladesh can work to reform traditional shalish, and also act as a bridge to refer serious offences to government services and the courts.

The government of Bangladesh has recognised the important role of NGOs in increasing access to justice. In the last year, I have spoken with several members of the judiciary who guide government-funded legal aid committees in each district (DLACs). A growing number of these district judges and their committees are actively engaging

with NGO representatives to promote the government’s free legal aid at the grassroots level and to improve the services of DLAC lawyers representing poor and marginalised clients.

In 2015, the minister of law, justice, and parliamentary affairs set an ambitious goal of 90% of disputes in Bangladesh to be resolved out of court, noting a backlog of more than three million cases in the formal court system (government efforts since have reduced this figure, but it remains too high). At the same time, he emphasised that informal justice proceedings at the community level must be consistent with the laws of the land, sensitive to women and free of bias against the poor.

Judicial systems in developed democracies are also increasingly promoting out-of-court settlements of disputes. There is a growing recognition of the rising costs of litigation and the advantages of alternative dispute resolution which saves time and money and can restore relationships between perpetrators, victims, and the wider community.

Bangladesh is actually ahead of this trend, with a long history of traditional mediation to build on, reform, and link to the formal court system. What is emerging is an access to justice approach which builds on Bangladesh’s unique combination of actors and abilities to unify the range of

options available to people seeking redress for grievances.

It combines the community strengths of local development NGOs, the technical expertise of national legal service organisations like BLAST, and the government’s commitment to extending legal aid and access to Bangladesh’s formal court system.

The result will be improved lives and changes in the systems and social norms that disempower the poor, marginalised, and vulnerable. The young women in the anecdotes I recounted, and millions more like them, deserve our help, commitment, and collective effort to make this a reality. l Jerome Sayre is Team Leader of the Community Legal Services Program funded by UKaid and launched in Bangladesh in 2012. It provides grants and capacity building to national legal service and local development NGOs throughout the country to enable them to pursue justice in the courts, reform local dispute resolution, and support the government system of legal aid for the poor.

DT

24 Sport

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

‘If we play well and win, it’ll feel really good’

TOP STORIES

‘We don’t mind being underdogs’

n Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh were the winner the last time they played against England. The memorable win came in Adelaide, Australia during the 2015 World Cup after which England were eliminated from the tournament. PAGE 25

‘Pakistan ready for World Cup push’ Pakistan’s ODI skipper Azhar Ali insisted that his fast developing team is well set to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. Pakistan whitewashed the West Indies 3-0 with a convincing 136-run win in the third ODI. PAGE 26

Svitolina stuns Kerber, reaches last 8 Elina Svitolina stayed calm in the face of adversity to secure a surprise 6-3 7-5 win over German world number one Angelique Kerber as the Ukrainian advanced to the China Open quarter-finals in Beijing yesterday. PAGE 27

Arsene ideal for England but not now Arsene Wenger would be an “ideal” manager for England but should remain with Arsenal beyond the end of this season, the club’s former star Robert Pires told AFP. Wenger recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as Arsenal manager. PAGE 28

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan takes a good look at his willow during training in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The scenario would have been totally different even two years ago in a Bangladesh-England match.

However, a lot has changed since then so much so that Bangladesh limited-over skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza can rightly expect yet another series win at home.

Bangladesh have grown from strength to strength and despite coming from a 10-month gap in ODIs, the Tigers overcame their lackings against Afghanistan which will surely give them confidence when they face England today in the first game of the three-match series.

“Actually, I don’t think no one has to prove anything here. But in each of our series, if you think about our situation we are playing well. If we think about holding onto our good form then every series is important for us,” Mashrafe told the media in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“This is just another new series and we are very excited. If we can play well and win, it will feel really good,” he said.

England will be missing their regular ODI skipper Eoin Morgan and in-form opening batsman Alex Hales after they opted out from the tour sitting security concern.

But according to the Tigers skipper, England have been playing good cricket in recent times and the absence of these two players won’t make the visitors any weaker.

“First of all I would like to say without these two players England are not going to be any weaker as they have some very exciting players who can change the game single-handedly. I feel England are still a very good side. We are really excited to play against England,” he said.

Bangladesh have the mental edge over England as the Tigers managed to beat today’s opposition in their last two World Cup encounters.

With that said, Mashrafe informed that England are a much better side now and it will be a tough ask for the home side in the upcoming series.

“Those two matches are obviously good memories for us. But everyone is talking about the recent wins and as a player there is no point thinking about those

matches. What matters now is this series and our focus is certainly there,” he said.

“We beat England in Australia in the World Cup. It was one and a half years ago. Since then, England have changed. They have played like a champion team if you look at their performance and form in the last one and a half years. They won most of the series they played.

“Obviously England played really good cricket and most of them have played the IPL (Indian Premier League) so they know the conditions as well. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for them to play in these sort of conditions. But I would also like to say our boys have been playing well for the last two years. We are thinking of how we can improve our game,” he concluded. l

Actually, I don’t think no one has to prove anything here.

But in each of our series, if you think about our situation we are playing well

BANGLADESH V ENGLAND 1ST ODI, MIRPUR HEAD-TO-HEAD BANGLADESH

ENGLAND

16

Matches

16

3

Wins

13

13

Losses

3

18.75

Win %

81.25

Most runs Tamim (265)

Strauss (610)

Highest score Tamim (125)

Strauss (154)

Most wickets A Razzak (12)

Flintoff (12)

Best bowling Rubel (4/53)

Collingwood (6/31)

25

DT

Sport

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

‘We don’t mind being underdogs’ n Ali Shahriyar Bappa Bangladesh were the winner the last time they played against England. The memorable win came in Adelaide, Australia during the 2015 World Cup after which England were eliminated from the tournament.

Bangladesh also defeated England in the 2011 World Cup match in Chittagong while the Tigers claimed six consecutive series’ on home soil in the last two years, beating the likes of Pakistan, India and South Africa among others.

In contrast, English cricket has turned a corner ever since their embarrassing exit from the 2015 World Cup, playing some brilliant cricket in the past year or so.

Interim England ODI captain Jos Buttler however, admitted that hosts Bangladesh would start as the favourites when the first ODI takes place today at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

“Bangladesh is obviously very strong at home and in their own conditions and their recent successes in the ODI series prove that.

We don’t mind being the underdogs at all. That’s something that probably suits us,” Buttler told the media in the pre-match press conference yesterday.

“The series is going to be a fantastic challenge for us. Condition here is going to be tough. We look at the skills of the opponents but at the end of the day we are focusing on how we can play our best cricket and that’s something that will give us the best chance of winning,” he said.

In that eventful World Cup game, Buttler played a crucial innings of 65 in their pursuit of 275 but as soon as he got out, England lost their way, eventually falling short by 15 runs.

Buttler though said revenge will not be in their minds when they face the formidable Tigers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH BANGLADESH V ENGLAND, 1ST ODI

TAMIM IQBAL

Bangladesh Bangladesh will be expecting to put up a good show against England in the three-match ODI series, starting from today. The role of the senior players will be crucial for the home side. Keeping that in mind, the Tigers’ leading runscorer across all formats, Tamim Iqbal, will play a major role in the opening spot. The left-hander has been in terrific form, having been adjudged player of the series against Afghanistan where he smashed his seventh ODI hundred and ended up as the leading run-scorer.

Without a doubt Tamim will eye to continue his brilliant run and give his side a flying start to their innings.

Interim England ODI captain Jos Buttler attempts a scoop shot during training in Mirpur yesterday “Not thinking about revenge.

The current ODI side is a different side than the one that lost to Bangladesh in Australia. Probably I just regretted for that day only as I was in a position where I could have won the game for England. But we have moved on. That was a long time ago. Things move fast in cricket. No real regrets in cricket. We look forward in the competition.

We are fully focused on the current series,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Buttler informed that their

win in the warm-up game against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI will certainly boost their condition levels, as they chased down 310 comfortably.

“I think the run up in the warm up game was great exercise for us.

We fielded in the heat during the day which is a good shock to the system and everyone had a good bat. It was great to come away with a win we wanted to view that game as another ODI and get into that habit. It was a great win, looking forward to more,” he said.

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The 26-year old went on to praise the security measures undertaken by Bangladesh.

“The security has been fantastic for us and it is obviously very visual to us. Everything has been in good order for us. Travel to the ground and to hotel might have been frustrating for the locals with the heavy traffic but it has been great for us. Among us it hasn’t even been mentioned in practice or anywhere else which goes on to show that it has been fantastic for us,” he concluded. l

MOEEN ALI

England The visiting England side will bank on their experienced cricketer Moeen Ali as the all-rounder will be hoping to make an impact against the Tigers, both with bat and ball. The English think tank will look to utilise the left-hander, who started his career as an opening batsman but now plays at the lower middle-order. The 29-year old off spinner is also expected to lead the spin bowling department also comprising Adil Rashid and a few others. l

Security demonstration at SBNS n Ali Shahriyar Bappa

Security forces in action during the demonstration at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur was the scene of a breathtaking commando drill yesterday. The military exercise was conducted with the aim of ensuring flawless security during the England series, comprising three ODIs and two Test matches.

The drill, spanning half an hour, got underway at 11am through the setting off of bombs inside the home of cricket. Dummy players were then taken hostage before the military intervened.

Minutes of shooting ensued following which the army personnel rescued the players from the hostage takers. The players were

then whisked off in a helicopter, stationed at the Academy ground, to safety.

The 1 Para Commando Battalion, Army Aviation Wing, Bangladesh Air Force and a number of other security agencies took part in the security demonstration.

Lt. Colonel MM Imrul Hasan, the commanding officer of the 1 Para Commando Battalion, later spoke with the media following the drill.

England and Wales Cricket Board’s chief security officer Reg Dickason was present during the drill.

Bangladesh will play their first ODI against England in Mirpur today. The second match will be held at the same venue this Sunday.

Both the teams will then move to

Chittagong for the third ODI and the first Test. They will return to Dhaka to contest the second Test.

Our correspondent FM Mizanur Rahaman in Chittagong reports that the Chittagong Metropolitan Police has prepared a six-tier security plan for the England team when they will play an ODI and a Test in the port city during their ongoing tour.

Speaking at a press briefing, CMP Commissioner Mohammad Iqbal Bahar yesterday said the SWAT team, bomb disposal unit, quick response team, detectives, Rapid Action Battalion and fire service personnel would all be deployed in the city during the stay of Bangladesh and England teams. l

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Sport

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Kvitova dumps out Muguruza in China Open n Reuters Petra Kvitova breezed past defending champion Garbine Muguruza 6-1 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals, while world number one Angelique Kerber battled past Barbora Strycova in the second round of the China Open on Wednesday.

Kvitova, the winner of last week’s Wuhan Open title, won three of her four break point opportunities against the second-seeded Spaniard to ease to victory in one hour and 13 minutes and continue her late push for a spot in the WTA finals in Singapore.

The 14th seed will next face eighth-seeded American Madison Keys, who fought back from a 2-5 deficit in the first set to beat Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6(2) 6-2, in the last eight.

U.S. Open finalist Karolina Pliskova also secured a third-round spot after recovering from losing the first set against Daria Kasatkina of Russia to win 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7).

Pliskova, the fifth seed, will face Britain’s Johanna Konta, who beat Hungary’s Timea Babos 7-5 6-2 in a rain-affected match.l

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic plays against Garbine Muguruza Blanco of Spain during their China Open women’s singles third round match in Beijing

REUTERS

Pakistan ready for World Cup push, says Azhar n AFP, Abu Dhabi Pakistan’s one-day skipper Azhar Ali insisted yesterday that his fast developing team is well set to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. Pakistan whitewashed the West Indies 3-0 with a convincing 136-run win in the third and final one-dayer in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The series win lifted Pakistan one place to eighth in the current rankings and relegating the West Indies to ninth in the fight for a direct berth at the World Cup finals in three years’ time.

The bottom four teams in the standings will be joined by six Associate sides in a 10-team qualifying round in 2018 from where only two teams will qualify.

Ali said the win over West Indies was important in the quest for a World Cup place.

“It was an important series and it’s just the start of more challenges,” said Ali. “We have to keep this improvement with one year to go for the (World Cup 2019) deadline.”

Since the 2015 World Cup, Pakistan had slumped to ninth after being routed 3-0 in Bangladesh

and suffering defeats against England (in the United Arab Emirates last year and in England) and New Zealand. But Ali believes the confidence level of the players was high after the series win over the struggling West Indies.

Azam scored 120, 123 and 117 in the three matches to become only the third Pakistani and eighth batsmen in all one-day cricket to hit

three consecutive hundreds. Ali credited new head coach Mickey Arthur with the improvements.l

THIRD ODI PAKISTAN 308/6 in 50 overs (Babar 117, Azhar 101, Joseph 2/62) beat WEST INDIES 172 in 44 overs (Ramdin 37, Nawaz 3/40, Wahab 2/28) by 136 runs

Miller century clinches series for South Africa South African batsman David Miller celebrates after winning against Australia in the third ODI at Kingsmead, Durban on Wednesday AFP

n Reuters, Durban David Miller blasted an unbeaten century as South Africa chased down a massive target of 372 in the third one-dayer against Australia at Kingsmead on Wednesday to clinch the series.

The hosts went 3-0 up in the five-match contest after winning by four wickets thanks to Miller’s brilliant 118 in 79 balls.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and posted 371 for six on the back of centuries from David Warner (117) and Steve Smith (108).

Quinton de Kock made 70 as South Africa reached 217 for five in the 32nd over of their reply but an

unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 107 between Miller and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo (42 not out) saw them home. The hard-hitting Miller blasted 10 fours and a six after going into the game with a question mark hanging over his place, having not passed 50 in 19 previous innings.

The fourth match is in Port Elizabeth on Sunday before the series ends in Cape Town on Oct. 12.l

THIRD ODI AUSTRALIA 371/6 in 50 overs (Warner 117, Smith 108, Finch 53) lost to SOUTH AFRICA 372/6 in 49.2 overs (Miller 118, De Kock 70, Amla 45) by four wickets

27

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Sport

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Svitolina stuns Kerber to reach last eight n Reuters

QUICK BYTES Cahill keen to silence critics and prove worth Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is eager to iron out the “easy to correct” errors in his game to both prove doubters wrong and retain his starting spot in Antonio Conte’s first team. Cahill has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following a number of high-profile mistakes, including a glaring error that gifted Arsenal the opening goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 Premier League defeat at the Emirates Stadium last month.

–REUTERS

Cazorla eager to extend stay at Arsenal Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla would be happy to sign a new contract with Arsenal despite local media linking him with a move to La Liga side Atletico Madrid. The 31-year-old, who extended his contract with the Gunners in July last year, has scored 25 goals under manager Arsene Wenger since joining from Malaga in 2012. “I am happy here. I am trusted by the manager. I am feeling important here, and if they’ll offer me a new contract, I’ll sign it,” Cazorla told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. –REUTERS

Origi to wait for his chance at Liverpool Liverpool striker Divock Origi is not too worried about his lack of starts this season and knows that with the club just two points off the top, and tied with leaders Manchester City in the goalscoring charts, he will have to wait for his chance. The 21-yearold has been restricted to five Premier League appearances from the bench in the new campaign.

–REUTERS

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine plays against Angelique Kerber of Germany during their China Open women’s singles third round match in Beijing, China REUTERS

WADA urges to check accuracy of hacked data n Reuters

The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Wednesday that some of the athlete data leaked by a Russian cyber espionage group has been changed from its initial form, and has asked “affected parties” for feedback on any inaccuracies.

Since the hacking group first released confidential medical data on Sept. 13, it has released five more batches involving athletes from countries including the United States, Germany, Britain, Poland and Denmark who competed at the

Rio Olympics.

The hacking group, known as APT28 and Fancy Bear by U.S. cyber-security researchers, has posted data about athletes such as U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, U.S. tennis players Serena and Venus Williams and England’s Olympic golf champion Justin Rose. WADA said the hackers gained access to its anti-doping administration and management system via an IOC-created account for the Rio Games, which has since been secured and investigated by a premier security and forensic consulting firm.

According to WADA, the account included confidential medical data such as Therapeutic Use Exemptions, which are issued by sports federations and national anti-doping organizations to allow athletes to take certain substances.

“As of Oct. 5 ... analysis is over 90 percent complete, and it has not found any evidence of additional compromise to ADAMS data beyond the export of the Rio 2016 ADAMS Account data through 12 September, as described above,” WADA said.

“It should also be noted that

DAY’S WATCH

in the course of its investigation, WADA has determined that not all data released by Fancy Bear accurately reflects ADAMS data.

WADA has reached out to the national anti-doping organisations and international federations whose athletes have been impacted by the data releases to provide support. WADA, which believes the attacks were carried out as retaliation for the agency’s investigations that exposed state-sponsored doping in Russia, said it would continue to provide relevant updates as circumstances evolve. l

Thakur replaces Kumar in squad for final NZ Test n Reuters

CRICKET BTV, GAZI TV, STAR SPORTS 1 1:20PM England Tour of Bangladesh 1st ODI

FOOTBALL SONY SIX 12:30AM FIFA World Cup Qualifiers France v Bulgaria

SONY ESPN 12:30AM FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Belgium v Bosnia & Herzegovina

STAR SPORTS 1 Indian Super League 2016 7:30PM Mumbai v North East United

TEN 3 3:00PM A-League 2016/17 Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory

Elina Svitolina stayed calm in the face of adversity to secure a surprise 6-3 7-5 win over German world number one Angelique Kerber as the Ukrainian advanced to the China Open quarter-finals in Beijing yesterday.

The 16th-seed saved nine of 10 break points in the opening set, six of them coming in a topsy-turvy ninth game, before unleashing a forehand winner past the stranded Australian and U.S. Open champion to seize the first set after 45 minutes. Svitolina, who stunned former world number one Serena Williams at the Rio Olympics, rallied from an early loss of serve in the second set to break Kerber twice more on her way to a fourth win against a top-10 opponent in 2016. The 22-year-old Ukrainian will next face Australian Daria Gavrilova, who beat Caroline Garcia 6-4 6-3, in the last eight. l

Air Vice Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat hands over the trophy to BAF Base Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman team, who claimed the BAF hockey title in Jessore yesterday ISPR

Paceman Shardul Thakur could make his debut for India after he was called up as a replacement for seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the final match of the three-Test series against New Zealand, the country’s board said yesterday.

Kumar, who suffered a back strain during the second Test, played a pivotal role in last week’s 178-run win in Kolkata.

The 24-year-old Thakur earned his first call-up to the India squad for the tour of the West Indies earlier this year but would be earning his first international cap if he starts in Indore tomorrow. l

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Sport

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Japan snatch late winner against Iraq in qualifiers n Reuters

Japan’s midfielder Yosuke Kashiwagi (L) tussles for the ball with Iraq’s Alaa Abdulzehra (C) during their 2018 World Cup football qualifying match in Saitama, Japan yesterday AFP

Pires: Wenger ideal for England, but not now n AFP, London Arsene Wenger would be an “ideal” manager for England but should remain with Arsenal beyond the end of this season, the club’s former star Robert Pires told AFP on Wednesday.

Wenger, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as Arsenal manager, will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

The Frenchman, 66, has been linked with the England manager’s job following Sam Allardyce’s departure and has said that it might appeal one day, but Pires hopes Wenger will stay at the Emirates Stadium a little longer.

“The English are thinking about it because they think he’d be the ideal person,” Pires, who spent six years with Wenger at Arsenal, told AFP at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London.

“If they choose Arsene Wenger, knowing he’s a good coach, that he speaks very good English and has a good image, he’d be the ideal man.

“I know Arsene a bit. He loves his club and his club is Arsenal.

He’s built lots of things with this club.

“I know he’s getting near the end of his contract. I don’t know what will happen, but for me, the

best thing would be for him to continue with Arsenal.

“I think he’ll stay, even if England are fluttering their eyelashes at him. It’s just my opinion, but (I think he will stay) because he loves being on the pitch every day.”

Allardyce left his post just 67 days into the job after he was caught up in a newspaper sting.

He has been replaced on an interim basis by England Under-21s coach Gareth Southgate, who takes charge of the senior side for the first time against Malta tomorrow.

Pires was speaking at a press conference to mark the launch of a new six-a-side tournament between former international players called “Star Sixes”.

The event, featuring ex-players including Pires, former England midfielder Steven Gerrard, Carles Puyol, Michael Ballack, Deco and Jay Jay Okocha, will take place for the first time at London’s O2 Arena in July 2017. l

Japan’s Hotaru Yamaguchi scored five minutes into stoppage time at Saitama Stadium to give his side a 2-1 win over Iraq in 2018 World Cup qualifying yesterday.

Japan made a disappointing start to the final stage of Asian qualifying with a 2-1 home loss to the United Arab Emirates last month but victories over Thailand and the Iraqis have lifted them into second spot in Group B. Group leaders Australia face third-placed Saudi Arabia in Jeddah later yesterday.

Four-times Asian champions Japan took the lead in the 26th minute through Genki Haraguchi, who capped off a flowing Japanese counterattack with a sublime backheel finish through his own legs from Hiroshi Kiyotake’s near-post cross.

The top two sides in Group A and B qualify for the World Cup in Russia while the third-placed teams meet to decide who goes into a CONCACAF-Asian Zone playoff for a place at the finals. l

Silva: Portugal to give it all against Andorra n AFP, Lisbon European champions Portugal will not let their guard down during their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and the Faroe Islands, FC Porto forward Andre Silva said Wednesday.

“We are going to attack as much as possible and try to score as quickly as possible,” he told a news conference before a training session.

“I know that people see us as favourites, we acknowledge we are the favourites, but we can’t let our guard down. We intend to give our all to win in every match.”

Silva, 20, who got his first call up to the senior national squad last month for a friendly against Gibraltar and a World Cup qualifier against Switzerland, said he was proud to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I have not been in the team for long but he is the best player in the world. Just being near him, in the same team, makes me happy and I hope to score many times alongside him. Of course I am proud,” he said.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos included Silva in his squad for Portugal’s home game against Andorra today and away to the Faroe Islands three days later.l

Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo walks during a training session at ‘Cidade do Futebol’ (Football City) training camp in Oeiras, Lisbon yesterday on the eve of their FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifier against Andorra AFP

29

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Natural gift (6) 4 Helpful hint (3) 7 Ooze out (5) 8 Interior (6) 11 Present (3) 12 Tidy (4) 13 Close up (4) 15 Saloon bar (5) 16 Hazards (5) 20 Prolonged plan (4) 23 Song for two (4) 24 Do wrong (3) 25 Exact satisfaction for (6) 26 Brings up (5) 27 Joke (3) 28 Reddish brown (6)

DOWN 1 Counterparts (5) 2 Tombstone inscription (7) 3 English river (4) 4 Fish (4) 5 Worshipped image (4) 6 Church seat (3) 9 Born (3) 10 Sorrowful (3) 14 Obvious (7) 17 Heavenly body (3) 18 Barrel (3) 19 Beer tankard (5) 20 Region (4) 21 Sleep rugged rock (4) 22 Direction (4) 24 Work unit (3)

DT

Downtime

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 20 represents H so fill H every time the figure 20 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

SATURDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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30

Showtime

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Action Movies-

throwback to the 90’s n Showtime Desk

Die Hard 2 (1990)

innocence and track down the real perpetrator.

Most action-packed scene: After being convicted of firstdegree murder, Kimble is kitted out in a yellow jumpsuit and cuffs and transported to death row.

But the inmates on the bus have other ideas and cause the vehicle to swerve off the road. Kimble scrambles to freedom and hot foots it through the woods, while the US Marshals track him with heavy artillery and hounds. Things only get faster, and tenser, from here on in.

Pinned down by Captain Frye (Gregory Sporleder) with seconds to go until a chemical weapon is released into San Francisco, Stanley (Cage) crams a gas pearl into Frye’s mouth, injects his own heart with atropine, lights a flare to call off an air strike and gets sent sailing through the air by an explosion... all in slow motion, just how Michael Bay likes it.

few good American roundhouses before scrapping in the open doorway, thousands of feet above the ground. Finally besting him with a parachute cord, Ford growls the immortal one-liner: Get off my plane!

Con Air (1997)

Face/Off (1997)

True Lies (1994)

Action hero: John McClane The plot: Another Christmas Eve, another group of terrorists in yet another wrong place and at the wrong time for Bruce Willis who dons the role of an off-duty New York cop. Basically the same as Die Hard, but in an airport.

Most action-packed scene: The bad guys have McClane trapped in the cockpit of a plane. When they start lobbing grenades in, Bruce has no option but to strap himself into the pilot’s seat and pull the ejector lever just in time to escape the blast.

The Fugitive (1993)

Action hero: Dr Richard Kimble The plot: Harrison Ford gives Mo Farah a run for his money as fugitive Richard Kimble, who has been wrongly accused of murdering his wife. Tommy Lee Jones heads up a team of US Marshals who are always one step behind the very nimble Kimble. He skulks in the shadows and sprints through the streets, while he attempts to prove his

Unable to take her foot off the accelerator, Annie (Bullock) has to gun it towards a broken section of the freeway hoping that the bus will be able to jump the gap

Bad Boys (1995)

Action hero: Harry Tasker The plot: It somehow takes Helen Tasker (Jamie Lee Curtis) 15 years to realise that her husband (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is not a nerdy computer salesman. With Arnie actually an undercover superspy embroiled in a nuclear arms smuggling sting, James Cameron takes the Terminator and makes him funny with explosive setpieces to rival anything cooked up

by Skynet.

Most action-packed scene: Piloting a jump-jet through the city streets, Arnie kills two birds with one stone, firing a missile (with Art Malick strapped to it) through a tower block, into a helicopter full of goons. All after a nifty one-liner, of course: You’re fired!

Speed (1994)

Action hero: Jack Traven The plot: Dastardly Dennis Hopper rigs a bomb to Sandra Bullock’s bus that’ll blow as soon as she drops below 50mph. With a lot of traffic on the road and her petrol running out fast, it’s up to SWAT team Officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) to jump aboard and save the day.

Most action-packed scene:

Action heroes: Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett The plot: Michael Bay’s first film is a down and dirty tale of mismatched narcs on the trail of a missing $100m drug haul. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence trade quips in the front seat, while Tea Leoni’s key witness screams in the back.

Most action-packed scene: The car chases take center stage, but where would action cinema (or Michael Bay) be without the walking-away-from-an-explosionin-slow-motion-without-turningaround shot?

Action hero: Sean Archer/Caster Troy The plot: An FBI agent (John Travolta) and a terrorist (Nicolas Cage) swap faces in John Woo’s bonkers shoot em up. Watching Travolta mimic Cage’s speech patterns is just brilliant. And, being John Woo, it involves plenty of slow motion dives, dual wielded gold handguns and a load of random doves.

Most action-packed scene: Archer (Travolta), Troy (Cage) and a whole room full of disposable feds trade bullets in glorious slow-motion - all to the tune of Somewhere over the Rainbow.

Air Force One (1997)

Action hero: Cameron Poe The plot: Nicolas Cage, Steve Buscemi, John Malkovich and Nicolas Cage’s mullet star in Jerry Bruckheimer’s absurdly fun actioner about a transport plane full of convicts that gets hijacked by the passengers. Outside of its action ambitions, it also includes that legendary scene involving Cage and a bunny rabbit.

Most action-packed scene: Strap in ladies, we’re going for a night out in Vegas! Steve Buscemi sings (He’s got the whole world in his hands) while Con Air crash lands on the Vegas strip. Yes, really.

The Matrix (1999)

Action hero: Neo The plot: Ignore the ropey sequels.

Forget Keanu Reeves’ Pinocchio acting. Gloss over the cod philosophy. Whatever else it might be, the Wachowskis original sci-fi is all about the action; glorious, bullet-time, room-spinning, genredefining action.

The Rock (1996)

Action hero: Stanley Goodspeed The plot: The ultimate Michael Bay movie, The Rock remains the template for dumb fun done right. Sean Connery is the ex-SAS specialist who gets released from prison so he can break back into terrorist held Alcatraz, with Nicholas Cage’s FBI geek reluctantly tagging along for the ride.

Most action-packed scene:

Action hero: President Marshall The plot: Harrison Ford plays the American President who has his plane hijacked by Gary Oldmans Russian terrorist. Luckily, the Pres hides out in the kitchen and starts taking down the bad guys with his old army training.

Most action-packed scene: Coming face to face with Oldman’s dastardly hijacker in the cargo bay, President Ford hits him with a

Most action-packed scene: Making shooting the shit out of innocent security guards look a bit too cool, Neo (Reeves) and Trinity’s (Carrie-Anne Moss) slomo PVC assault on the lobby is the stuff of legend. l Source: Collected

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Farhan to play Dawood Ibrahim

Natalie Portman stuns in ‘Jackie’ teaser

n Showtime Desk

n Showtime Desk

Bollywood’s multi-talented star Farhan Akhtar is all set to play the role of an underworld don for the first time in a gangster flick. As reported, the actor-filmmaker will portray the role of the infamous don, Dawood Ibrahim for Ashim Ahluwalia’s gangster biopic Daddy which is based on Arun Gawli. Arjun Rampal will be seen playing the role of the gangster Arun Gawli.

The Dil Chahta Hai writer-director is in the film for a cameo since it is particularly based on the biopic of Arun Gawli.

Farhan has already shot for his parts of the film.

A source close to the production revealed, “The director were keen on Farhan for the role who will shoot for one more day sometime this month and has filmed several sequences including one with television actress Shruti Bapna, who plays an escort in the film. Farhan sports Dawood’s signature moustache too.”

With the film, Farhan is reuniting with Arjun Rampal for the third time after Rock On!! (2008) and a forthcoming sequel to the film directed by Shujaat Saudagar. Meanwhile, Arjun has wrapped up the shoot of the film who took to Instagram to post a picture of the crew and thanked everyone for the experience. l

DT

Showtime

It seems Natalie Portman has officially entered the Oscar race. On Wednesday, Fox Searchlight released the first teaser trailer and poster art for the anticipated biopic Jackie in which the Black Swan star dons the role of former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.

The biopic chronicles the days following President John F Kennedy’s 1963 assassination in a “searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history.”

Scenes featured in the clip include chilling images of Jackie attending her husband’s funeral alongside their young children, and wearing her iconic pink Chanel suit the day he was fatally shot while riding in his motorcade in Dallas.

Moreover, as heard in voiceovers throughout the trailer, Portman successfully adopted Jackie’s signature Mid-Atlantic accent for the role.

After premièring at the Venice Film Festival last month, the film was considered by many pundits as a launch-pad for Portman’s nomination at the Best Actress Oscar race for this year.

Directed by Pablo Larrain and co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt, the film is set to hit the theatres on December 2. l

WHAT TO WATCH Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, Sullivan Stapleton 30 Days of Night Zee Studio, 7:20pm

The Dark Knight HBO, 11:33pm It’s been a year since Bruce Wayne saved Gotham City in the form of Batman. Everything is peaceful with the disappearance of the Scarecrow. Bruce is enjoying being a millionaire and planning to revive his romance with Rachel. But all hell breaks loose,

when The Joker begins to terrorise the city with his eerie grin and maniacal laughter.

Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart 300: Rise of an Empire Movies Now, 9:30pm This movie is about the end of

battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas and his company of 300 Spartan hoplites lie dead at Thermopylae.

Xerxes then beheads King Leonidas, symbolising his victory over the Spartans. Queen Gorgo of Sparta tells her men about the Battle of Marathon, in which King Darius I of Persia was killed by General Themistocles of Athens 10 years earlier. The Democratic city of Athens, first on the path of Xerxes’ army, bases its strength on its fleet, led by admiral Themistocles.

Cast: Eva Green, Hans Matheson,

dogs have been slaughtered. Eben finds the operator of the cell tower murdered. What’s happening at Barrow?

Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome WB, 7:08pm

The usual custom that is followed in Barrow, Alaska, is for seventy percent of the population to go away on the day of the last sunset.

This is because the town will remain without sunlight over the next thirty days. Out on their beat, Sheriff Eben Oleson and Deputy Billy Kitka find many cell phones burned on the road. They get a call from a man saying that his

A lone avenger is on his eternal journey in a post apocalyptic world.

Cast: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Adam Cockburn, Tina Turner, Frank Thring l

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Back Page

ALLIANCE: 55% HIGH-PRIORITY REPAIRS DONE IN GARMENT FACTORIES PAGE 12

‘IF WE PLAY WELL AND WIN, IT’LL FEEL REALLY GOOD’ PAGE 24

Bangladeshi cabbie in Dubai BCL leaders 25kg gold to owner accused of sexual returns n harassment n Mohiuddin Molla, Comilla A female student of Comilla University has accused two Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders in the campus of threatening her with violence after she protested their sexually inappropriate comments.

The archeology student lodged a complaint with the university proctor and a hearing was held at the proctor office yesterday.

The accused, Bangabandhu Hall BCL Joint General Secretary and public administration student Jasim Uddin and Publicity Secretary and economics student Masud Alam, allegedly made sexual comments at the student while she was standing in front of her residential hall on Wednesday.

When she protested the remarks, they threatened to beat her publicly in the campus and strip her.

They also warned her that she would be made to disappear if she complained to anyone.

When contacted, the female student said she could only describe part of what the men had told her.

“I feel ashamed to repeat the things they said to me. The university authority held a hearing where they claimed we did not even meet that day,” she said.

Jasim Uddin could not be contacted for comments. Masud Alam told the Dhaka Tribune he and Jasim had not even come across their accuser.

Masud alleged that the allegations were a conspiracy against them.

Proctor Md Ainul Huq said he had received the complaint from the student and the authority was investigating the accused.

“If the charges are proven, legal action will be taken against them,” he said. l

A Bangladeshi taxi driver in Dubai has shown an extraordinary feat of honesty by returning 25kg gold bars, worth over 3.5 million Dirham equivalents to around Tk7.5 crore, to its rightful owner who had left it in airport taxi cab.

Liton Chandra Nath Nepal, who works for the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) under the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said the incident took place during an after-midnight run when he picked up four passengers from Terminal-1 of Dubai Airport to Muraqqabat in Deira.

“The passengers had four pieces of luggage which they had put inside the boot. When they got off at their destination at around 2:45am, I offered to help them unload the bags as it is customary to do so. But they refused my help. So I went back to the driver’s seat and left after they paid me the fare,” said Liton Chandra. He said the realisation that they left behind the gold amost two hours later.

He said, “It was almost the end of my shift when I received a call from RTA’s Customer Support.

COURTESY

Tribune Desk

The Dubai Police was asking if a customer had left any bag in my taxi. I said I would check and sure enough, found a grey coloured laptop bag with the gold inside the boot. I immediately reported it to the authorities and handed it over to the RTA’s Lost & Found section.”

He said: “I was shocked as there were eight bars of gold in the bag — four fat and four slim. When the authorities weighed the bars, they were around 25kg in total.

One of the passengers whom I had dropped off at Muraqqabat was present there and we returned the gold to him after completing all the necessary formalities. The man was from Libya.”

Asked if the passenger had rewarded him, Liton replied, “He said thank you.”

The taxi driver, however, noted that the RTA had acknowledged his actions and rewarded him generously. “Our CEO Dr Yousuf Al Ali, awarded me a cash prize of Dh1,000 and free housing for a year. Our Rail CEO Abdul Moshin Ebrahim Younus presented me with a cash award of Dh5,000. I also received a certificate of appreciation.”

Liton said: “My mother blessed me and said I had made her proud. My three sisters were also very happy,” added the still-single taxi driver who has been with DTC since 2010. l

Dhakai Jamdani set to get global patent as Bangladeshi product n UNB

RAJIB DHAR

Jamdani, the country’s one of the finest textiles, is going to get registration by this month as Bangladesh’s first Geographical Indication (GI) product.

Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan made the disclosure while addressing the 56th annual meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on Tuesday, according to a message on Thursday.

Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Industries Ministry will provide the registration for Jamdani, popularly known as Dhakai Jamdani or Dhakai.

The historic production of Jamdani was patronised by imperial warrants of the Mughal emperors. The term Jamdani is Persian deriving from ‘Jam’, meaning flower, and ‘Dani’, a vase or a container, named after decorative floral patterns found on Dhakai textile.

The secretary said the government attaches highest importance to preserving intellectual property for ensuring knowledge-based industrialisation. “The government has already formulated laws and rules to provide registration for GI products,” he said.

Mosharraf, who led a two-member Bangladeshi delegation to the WIPO meeting, said Bangladesh in association with the WIPO has already implemented the Industrial Property Rights project with a view to preserving, developing and registering intellectual property. l

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