20 Feb, 2016

SECOND EDITION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

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Falgun 8, 1422, Jamadiul Awal 10, 1437

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 305

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

Malaysia shuts its doors to foreign workers n Adil Sakhawat Just a day after signing an MoU with Dhaka on allowing 1.5 million Bangladeshis to find work in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has backtracked on its words and decided to suspend recruitment of all foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh.

The Southeast Asian country’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the suspension of recruiting foreign workers and called on employers to recruit locals instead.

Without giving out any details of the plan, Zahid Hamidi, also the Malaysian home minister, said the suspension would be in place while the government reviewed its twotier levy programme for foreign workers, reports Malaysian media The Star Online.

After a meeting with army personnel at Kem Muara Tuang yesterday, he added that existing illegal workers in Malaysia would be detained and deported.

However, Bangladeshi authorities are yet to receive any official statement from Malaysia in this regard.

Terming the move an eyewash, Begum Shamsun Nahar, the acting secretary of Bangladesh Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Malaysian government has made the announcement to calm local pressure groups who are opposed to recruiting foreign workers.”

She said she believes that Bangladesh would send workers to Malaysia as per the deal signed between the two countries on Thursday.

The prices of fuel oil will not be reduced in the next three years in Bangladesh even if the lower price of petroleum products sustain in the international market during this time, officials of the stateowned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation have said.

They assume that if the government does not transform the BPC’s Tk26,350 crore loan into subsidy, it would need at least three years to pay off that amount, provided that the oil prices remain the same in the international market.

The BPC is now making around Tk8,000-9,000 crore profit per year by procuring oil at low prices and selling those at higher rates in the domestic market.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also made it clear that her  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

One confesses in Habiganj 4 murders One of the five people detained over the killing of four children at Bahubol, Habiganj has admitted his involvement in the incident of abduction and murders.  PAGE 3

Metro rail tenders by Dec All tenders for the much-awaited Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will be floated by December, the project’s director said yesterday.

This includes tenders for civil work, equipment, rolling stock, engineering and management systems.  PAGE 5

Tunis attacks mastermind among 40 killed in US strike in Libya

‘Not all 1.5m Bangladeshis coming to Malaysia’

Disputing media reports, the Malaysian human resources minister yesterday said Bangladesh has around 1.5 million people registered for future employment in foreign countries, but that is not the number of workers coming to Malaysia.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Malaysian immigration officials raid  and destroy an illegal settlement of undocumented Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Cameron Highlands, a hill station in Malaysia. The photo was taken three months ago

US warplanes carried out air strikes against Dae’sh-linked militants in western Libya on Friday, killing as many as 40 people in an operation targeting a suspect linked to two deadly attacks last year in neighbouring Tunisia.  PAGE 21

PHOTO: MIGRANT88

Oil price cut unlikely in 3 years n Aminur Rahman Rasel

INSIDE

BPC’s profit/loss and contribution to national exchequer Profit/Loss (Tk. in cr)

Contribution to Govt.

Exchequer (Tk. in cr)

1998-99

366.61

2553.00

2002-2003

(7.61)

2766.00

2005-2006

(3337.78)

2620.26

2006-2007

(2314.63)

2756.55

2007-2008

(7050.30)

3003.61

2008-2009

(1022.63)

1908.99

2009-2010

(2571.22)

2324.25

2010-2011

(9799.91)

3508.50

2011-2012 (Prov.)

(10551.74)

4691.63

2012-2013 (Prov.)

(5368.70)

4794.42

2013-2014 (Prov.)

(2477.69)

4854.06

4407.11

5738.88

Financial year

2014-2015 (Projected)

Comulative loss/commercial deficit Taka 49,975.36 crore till 2013-14

Pope, Trump trade salvos over Christian faith n Reuters Pope Francis forcefully injected himself into the US presidential campaign on Thursday, assailing Republican candidate Donald Trump's views on US immigration as "not Christian" in a sign of growing international concern at the billionaire businessman's election prospects.

Trump struck back. No stranger to controversy, the longtime party front-runner in national opinion polls dismissed the leader of the world's Roman Catholics as "disgraceful" for questioning his faith.

He said he was a proud Christian.

Francis told reporters during a free-wheeling conversation on his flight home from a visit to Mexico: "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may

be, and not building bridges, is not Christian."

Trump has accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug-runners across the United States' southern border and has vowed if elected president to build a wall to keep out immigrants who enter illegally.

It was not the first time US allies have voiced concern over comments by Trump.

More than half a million Britons signed a petition to bar him from entering Britain, where he has business interests, in response to his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.

British lawmakers decided against a ban as a violation of free speech.

Asked if American Catholics should vote for someone with Trump's views, Francis said: "I am  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Minister: Bangladesh safer than US n Kamrul Hasan Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that law and order in Bangladesh is better than in the United States.

Quoting a US-based report, the minister told a programme yesterday that Bangladesh ranked 30th position in the index. “I have mentioned about the USA as everyone used the name as an example.”

According to the 2015 Gallup re-

port, Japan and New Zealand all boast the same score (78 points) while Bangladesh on the 30th position. The USA and Australia, meanwhile, are placed at 38th and 39th place.

Kamal made the remark at a programme arranged by expatriate Bangladeshis at the capital’s Cirdap auditorium in the afternoon.

He claimed that the government had taken zero-tolerance policy to maintain law and order.

Security arrangements at the air-

The minister claimed that security arrangements at the airports had also been increased ports had been increased as part of the counter-terrorism measures so that every passengers could be safe.

Several countries including the US and the UK recently expressed concern over the security measures at the country’s airports. Meanwhile, the US has claimed that international terrorist group Dae’sh (also known as Islamic State) has their activities in Bangladesh, and that it would soon provide the government with information on this.

The Bangladesh government, however, maintains that there is no activity of Dae’sh, and that the

recent attacks were perpetrated by local militant groups with the help of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

In his speech, the minister also claimed that the government was trying its best to ensure safety of the expatriates.

At the programme, some expatriates complained that their lands were grabbed by the ruling party men in some districts due to inaction of the police. They urged the home minister to look into the matter. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Pope, Trump trade salvos not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that.

We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt.”

One of Trump’s Republican rivals, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, speaking in Columbia, South Carolina, said he would not question anyone’s relationship with God. But Bush, a Catholic, said: “It only enables bad behaviour when someone from outside our country talks about Donald Trump.”

Later on the day in South Carolina, Trump, a real estate developer and former reality TV show host, said: “If and when the Vatican is attacked by Isis (an acronym of Dae’sh), which as everyone knows is Isis’ ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president.”

At a later town hall meeting televised on CNN, Trump said he had “a lot of respect” for Francis but that the pope had been influenced by hearing only Mexico’s side of the border issue. The pope’s statement also had been exaggerated by the media, he said.

Last week, responding to the pope’s plan to visit the US-Mexican border, he said Pope Francis did not understand the issues.

“The pope is a very political person ... I don’t think he understands the danger of the open border that we have with Mexico,” Trump told the Fox Business Network.

Republican Catholics appear to support Trump more than other Republicans do, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll that showed 43% of likely Republican Catholic voters supported Trump, compared with 38% of Republican voters generally. The Pew Research Centre has said 71% of the US population identifies as Christian.

That includes the 21% of the U.S. population that identifies as Catholic. l

Malaysia shuts its doors to foreign workers “The perception that 1.5 million workers will be brought in from Bangladesh to work in Malaysia is not true,” said Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot, who signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Dhaka on Thursday.

“The figure is, in fact, the number of Bangladeshis registered with its Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment for the purpose of seeking employment in foreign countries, including Malaysia,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya, according to a report by The Star Online.

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia’s former international trade and industries minister, has questioned the backtracking on the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers over a three-year period.

“What happened? Was there no study of the proposal or policy before it was announced? Were there no discussions with relevant parties to consider all views? Were all the effects and implications – good and bad – studied, such as the

economic, social and security concerns,” Rafidah was quoted by The Star Online as saying.

Rafidah also claimed that the government decision has caused confusion and worries for the private sectors that need foreign workers.

Reactions following the intake freeze

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association expressed concerns following the federal government’s decision to immediately suspend the migration of all foreign workers into Malaysia.

In a statement yesterday, the FMM, which represents the views and interests of over 2,600 manufacturing and manufacturing services companies, said the government should provide full details to employers on the intake freeze.

“It is unclear to manufacturers how long the suspension would take effect. Some employers have earlier received approvals to bring in workers and are in different stages of recruitment, including some

with workers already on their way to Malaysia,” the statement read.

But Tenaganita, a Malaysian non-profit working for the rights of workers, welcomed the suspension by the government.

Ashikur Rahman, Tenaganita’s volunteer senior research officer, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Tenaganita welcomes the halt and would like the re-hiring process to go smoothly without any unethical and corrupt mean for all undocumented workers.

“We would also like to see an assessment of the current labour market and only then recruit according to the labour market demand. We would want all migrant workers to be safe and have a good experience while they are in Malaysia,” he added.

On the other hand, migration experts in Bangladesh criticised the lack of consideration on Dhaka’s part before signing the MoU with Kuala Lumpur.

Dr CR Abrar, executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), pointed out that Bangladesh had failed to analyse criticism from Ma-

Oil price cut unlikely in 3 years government would not cut oil prices soon despite calls from different quarters.

“The prices will be reduced, if necessary, after the BPC repays its loans and clears its dues,” she told parliament on Wednesday, adding that the BPC was yet to pay back about Tk15,000-16,000 crore it had borrowed to subsidise petroleum sales.

The BPC had adjusted oil prices upwards in 2013 when the rate of the commodity per barrel rose to $122 in the international market. It fixed per litre octane price at Tk99, petrol at Tk96 and diesel at Tk68 at the time.

The state-owned enterprise has been maintaining the same prices though the oil price dropped to less than $40 a barrel globally in last two years.

Prof Dr Badrul Imam, teacher of geology department at Dhaka University, observed that the government should at least reduce the price of furnace oil.

“If the price of furnace oil is reduced, then the government does not need to increase the price of electricity as per the proposal of the electricity distribution companies,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Prof Badrul also mentioned that the government’s claims that price cut in other petroleum products bring little or no benefit for the consumers is somewhat true.

BPC Chairman AM Badruddoza, however, said that it would not be possible to cut oil prices since the international market is volatile.

He told the Dhaka Tribune that they had already urged the government to transform the Tk26,349.81 crore loan into subsidy. A letter signed by the BPC chairman was sent to the secretary of the Finance Division on February 1.

The BPC incurred loss from 2007-08 fiscal to 2014-15 because of selling oil in government-fixed low prices in comparison with the international price. The govern-

ment through the Finance Ministry provided the BPC a total of Tk26,349.81 crore at 3% and 5% interest to purchase the oil.

Since June 2014, the BPC has been making a whopping profit of Tk26-35 per litre on petroleum products on the back of the sliding global oil prices.

A report of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee earlier this month said that the BPC had earned over Tk11,078 crore from November 2014 until January this year.

Of the amount, Tk7,000 crore was used to pay the dues and to acquire land for the second unit of Eastern Refinery.

At present, the BPC imports about 1.2 million tonnes of crude oil and 4.2 million tonnes of refined oil from abroad while around 300,000 tonnes of petroleum products are received from different gas fields and private fractionation plants.

laysian media regarding the deal to bring in manpower.

“Their media continuously focused on these debate going on regarding this manpower hiring from Bangladesh. Then why were we not prepared before signing the MoU?,” he said, adding that the government also failed to learn any lesson from the earlier G2G mechanism that resulted in many skilled Bangladeshi migrants becoming illegal aliens in Malaysia.

“Without making any assessment, signing another deal with the same government was not a good decision. Actually our government always negotiated with them from a weak position,” said Abrar, who is also a professor of international relations at Dhaka University.

Malaysia is a popular destination for expatriate workers, where around 300,000 Bangladeshis work legally, while a further 1 million are estimated to be staying illegally.

According to government figures, expatriate Bangladeshis in Malaysia brought in about $1.4 billion remittance to the country last year. l

Crude oil is processed only in the Eastern Refinery to produce diesel, petrol, octane, furnace oil and LPG. On the other hand, top oil exporters Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela agreed on Tuesday to freeze output levels but said the deal was contingent on other producers joining in – a major sticking point with Iran absent from the talks and determined to raise production.

Oil ministers of the countries announced the proposal after a previously undisclosed meeting in Doha – their highest-level discussion in months on joint action to tackle a growing oversupply of crude and help prices recover from their lowest levels in more than a decade.

Iran on Wednesday snubbed the proposal and expressed determination to raise production.

Oil market analysts and banks including Goldman Sachs and Barclays say that the planned efforts by the exporters would have little impact on the oil market. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

One confesses in Habiganj 4 murders Noor Uddin, n Mohammad Habiganj

One of the five people detained over the killing of four children at Bahubol, Habiganj has admitted his involvement in the incident of abduction and murders.

Rubel Mia, 30, gave the confessional statement at the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Khandaker Kowshik Ahmed yesterday evening.

He said that six people had taken part in the abduction and murders under the directives of his father, Abdul Ali, over an arbitration around two months back. The arbitration was held over felling of a tree.

After recording the statement,

the court sent Rubel and two other detainees – Bashir Mia and Arju Mia – to jail.

Two other people – Abdul Ali and Jewel Mia – were detained soon after the recovery of the bodies of the children on Wednesday morning. They were placed on a 10-day remand in the case.

The other detainees also admitted their involvement in the incident, said Sylhet range DIG Mizanur Rahman.

Police yesterday seized the CNGrun autorickshaw used in the abduction, but refused to give details.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki said that trial of the murder case would be held under a

special tribunal.

She also said that proper action would be taken if the allegation of police’s negligence was found during investigation. The junior minister made the comments while visiting the families of the victims at Shundratiki village yesterday morning.

Earlier, the families claimed that the local police station’s officer-incharge was reluctant to look into the matter when they wanted to file a complaint over the matter.

The victims are Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah; Jakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Md Wahid Miah; Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz; and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Kader. Fathers of Jakaria, Tajel and Monir are cousins while Ismail

was their neighbour.

Of the victims, Monir was a student of class I at Shundratiki Primary School, Jakaria of class II and Tajel of class IV. Ismail was a student of Shundratiki Madrasa.

Jakaria’s father Wahid filed a case with Bahubol police on Tuesday night.

Locals traced the bodies buried in a ditch at the village on Wednesday morning and informed the police. According to the post-mortem examination reports, the children were strangled to death.

The district police authorities the same day declared a reward of Tk1 lakh for giving information to trace the criminals.

At an emergency press briefing

yesterday evening, Superintendent of Police Joydeb Kumar Bhadra said that six persons – Arju Mia, Ustar Mia, Helal Mia, Shahed Mia and Rubel – committed the murders.

Quoting Rubel, he said that the children were taken on an autorickshaw owned by Bachchu on February 12. But instead of dropping them at their houses, the killers first sedated them and later strangled them to death.

The bodies were kept in sacks at Bachchu’s garage for two days and later buried in the ditch, the SP said.

“We have sought 10-day remand for three detainees. The hearing will be held on Monday. We hope to complete the investigation in 15 days,” he added. l

Joy: Cases against Mahfuz Anam not an attack on media n Tribune Report

Children busy at an art competition hosted by Liberation War Museum yesterday in memory of Sgt Zahurul Haque, a martyr of the 1969 Mass Upsurge MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

RAB DG: Special security for Language Martyrs' Day n Tribune Report The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has put special security measures in place around Central Shaheed Minar on Dhaka University campus for peaceful observance of Language Martyrs' Day tomorrow.

“We have installed a three-tier security system in the area to tackle any situation, should they arise,” said RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed at a press conference at the Shaheed Minar premises yesterday morning.

RAB will be working in coordination with police tomorrow to ensure optimum security in the area, the RAB chief added.

He further said RAB members in

plainclothes have already been deployed in the area since Thursday to oversee security and resolve any issues.

All measures have been taken following the information provided by the intelligence agencies, he said, adding that smooth coordination with other intelligence agencies would strengthen the security system.

As part of the special security system, RAB teams will conduct raids at the hotels, guest houses, slums and other potentially risky areas near the Shaheed Minar to prevent any untoward situation from arising on the day.

In response to a question, Benazir said the Shaheed Minar area

would be monitored RAB 2, RAB 3 and RAB 4.

RAB personnel will patrol the area both on foot and in cars, and the force's dog squad and bomb disposal unit will be on stand by in the area.

In addition, an emergency response team will also be present in the area round the clock to handle any situation; emergency helicopters will be in place for the same reason.

RAB has also set up its own CCTV cameras in and around the Shaheed Minar area to monitor the overall activities.

RAB chief said the elite force will also provide security at all other monuments, including the temporary ones, commemorating the language martyrs tomorrow. l

Describing the dozens of lawsuits filed against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam as civil litigations, Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said that it has nothing to do with the media as a whole.

“This is not an attack on the media. It is also not even criminal litigation. It is civil litigation… If you cause someone harm, the aggrieved party has every right to sue you for damages,” Joy wrote in his Facebook page yesterday.

Mentioning about the criticisms over the cases, he said: “Our government has not filed a single case against him. The cases are all civil in nature, claiming damages and monetary compensation.

“So I would like to ask, is the media immune from any liability whatsoever?”

The son of the premier said that politicians have to abide by the law or go to jail, the police have to abide by the law or go to jail, “but there is no law against writing false stories.”

“The only recourse that politicians and fam o u s personalities have is civil law by claiming damages.

If nothing else,

at least the pain of legal fees and time in court should make a journalist think twice before publishing something false and destroying a person’s good name,” he said in his post.

At least 70 cases on defamation and sedition charges have been filed against Mahfuz Anam with different courts since early this month for publishing “confusing” and “defamatory” newspaper reports on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

The plaintiffs claim that these news stories led to her arrest during the military-backed caretaker tenure.

On a TV talk show on February 3, Mahfuz Anam admitted that he had made a "big mistake" by running corruption stories involving Hasina based on information provided by the DGFI. Supporters of the Awami League and its affiliate bodies started filing the cases with different courts across the country after Joy had demanded the arrest of Mahfuz Anam and closure of the English-language newspaper. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Visa complexity hinders operations at Banglabandha Correspondent, n Our Panchagarh

India pushes back 27 trafficked Bangladeshis n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Complexity over issuing visas hindered operations at the Banglabandha land port yesterday, a day after it was opened, immigration officials said.

On Thursday, a group of 32 people, led by the Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ashraful Alam Patwari travelled to India on special visas.

Many said they could not use the checkpost as their visas did not cover this route.

Partex furniture’s dealer Harun-ur-Rashid said he would have to apply to Indian High Commission’s Rangpur visa centre to change the route. “Only then will I be able to use this checkpost. New passport holders will be able to use this route if they apply for Banglabandha-Fulbari route.”

Banglabandha Immigration Checkpost’s Officer-in-Charge Mohseul Gani said the governments were yet to permit travellers to use this port. “I hope more people will use this checkpost from next week.”

Meanwhile, the checkpost is hardly covered by mobile network. PCCI chief Ashraful said they were unable to perform important tasks. “We can not even contact anyone,” he said.

Mahbubul Alam Montu, who travelled to India though Banglabandha, said he could not speak with his family before departing.

Journalists covering the checkpost’s inauguration said they had a hard time. “We had to travel to Tetulia to send reports,” a reporter said.

Bangladesh’s largest private mobile operator Grameenphone’s Panchagarh Territory Officer Jibon Kumar Shil said he also faced similar problem. “We have informed our regional head and technology department about it. I hope our network will cover Banglabandha soon.” l

The Indian authorities pushed back 27 Bangladeshi nationals into the country through Shewla tax station on the Bangladesh-India border in Sylhet’s Beanibazar upazila yesterday.

All of these Bangladeshis served imprisonment terms from two to four years for illegal stay in India before they were sent back, said Sugyan Chakma, additional superintendent of police in Sylhet.

Of the 27 men, 26 are from Chapainawabganj district and one is from Magura district, police said.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Abdul Khalek, one of the victims, said he had lost all hope of return-

ing home.

“I am grateful to everyone who helped bring us back to the country,” he said.

He said a gang of traffickers posing as recruiters lured them with the offer of lucrative jobs in India and smuggled them into the country.

But after they arrived there, the traffickers put them on jobs without payment and kept them in inhuman conditions.

“Whenever we asked for our payment, they kept postponing it, saying they would pay us in a few days,” Khalek said.

He further claimed that the Indian police was also not helpful at all.

ASP Sugyan Chakma said these 27 men and four others were traf-

A cycle rider excitedly tags along behind a running truck by holding onto a rope tied to the truck’s cargo, completely disregarding the risks of an accident. The photo was taken on Dhaka-Bogra highway yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Nasim: BNP spreading falsehood worldwide n Tribune Report

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said the BNP was spreading falsehood to tarnish the image of Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He made the statement at a memorial meeting of late city Awami League President MA Aziz organised by Bangabandhu Academy at Diploma Engineers Institution.

ficked to india in 2012. When they demanded their wages, the traffickers informed police that the 31 men had entered India illegally.

Police arrested them and presented them at a Manipur court, where they were given different terms in prison.

After the 27 victims finished their terms in prison, the Indian authorities contacted the Bangladesh consulate in West Bengal, who upon verification issued a special travel pass for them.

With the help of the travel pass, the victims were pushed back in Bangladesh yesterday afternoon.

Sugyan further said police has taken all preparation to send the victims to their homes safely. l

“There was no controversy over the number of martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War, but BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her party leaders are tarnishing the country’s image by deliberately spreading falsehood against the history of independence,” he said.

Nasim, also a presidium member of Awami League, alleged that Khaleda was trying to create a chaotic situation

in the country’s political arena through delivering false, untrue and baseless speeches at different times.

Referring to BNP leaders’ frequent remarks that the present government was Illegal, he said: “The BNP is raising question about the legality of the government and at the same time it is participating in the municipal and upazila parishad polls in line with the party’s symbol of paddy.” l

RAB claims foiling Sonali Bank heist attempt n Kamrul Hasan

The Rapid Action Battalion has claimed to have foiled an attempt to rob state-owned Sonali Bank in Dhamrai, on the outskirts of Dhaka.

RAB sources said the robbers had been plotting the heist for three months. A suspected robbers, Masuk, 41, was killed in “gunfight” with RAB yesterday morning when RAB raided a flat located a floor above the bank branch.

Six persons Sabuj, 62, Shila Akhter, 28, Rumena Begum, 25, Riazul Islam, 33, Badsha Miah Dewan, 35, and a 10-year-old boy, were arrested with weapons and machines from there.

A RAB source said Mashuk rented the flat on the second floor of Haji Mohammad Riaz Uddin Plaza posing as RMG workers, our Savar correspondent said. RAB claimed the arrestees had confessed to being involved in previous robberies.

They planned breaking into the bank by drilling a hole on the floor.

RAB raided the building yesterday after being tipped off and arrested three men, two woman and a child.

Masudur Rahman, Company Commander of RAB Nabinagar unit, said a third room was found locked from inside. “Masuk opened fire when our team forced broke in but he was fatally wounded in the gunfight. He was rushed to Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex where doctors pronounced him dead.”

The robbers made a hole on the floor, he said adding that drilling tools were found there. RAB handed over the arrestees to police and filed a case. Masud said the 10-year-old boy was not involved in the crime.

RAB-4 Commander Khandkar Lutfar Kabir said they suspected Masuk was involved in other bank robberies, including the recent heist at Gazipur’s Shahjalal Bank branch, our Savar correspondent reported. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Dhaka MRT tenders to be floated by December n Shohel Mamun

All tenders for the much-awaited Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will be floated by December, the project’s director said yesterday. This includes tenders for civil work, equipment, rolling stock, engineering and management systems.

According to the plan, main construction work for the MRT will start with Line 6 at the beginning of next year. An amended Metro Rail Bill, 2015 was passed in parliament on January 26.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has committed to providing Tk16,594.59 crore for the project, while the Bangladesh government will put up Tk5,390.48 crore.

The project aims to curb traffic congestion by providing quick transport services within the capital. According to a Jica study, trains will run every three minutes and

Two-year-old rescued 39 days after kidnapping n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

A two-year-old child was rescued in Comilla yesterday, 39 days after he was abducted from Narayanganj.

Four suspects were also arrested in connection with the kidnapping.

Following the rescue in Comilla’s Durgapur area, the child, Mohammad Leon, was brought to Fatullah Model police station in the afternoon and returned to his family.

The detained suspects are Parvin Akhter Shoma, 28; her husband Majnu Miah, 36; Anwar Hossain, 35; and Zaman, 55.

Shoma and her husband admitted of abducting the child and selling him to the other two for Tk5,000.

Quoting Leon’s family, Fatullah Sub-Inspector Shahidul Islam said Shoma, a neighbour of Leon’s family, came to Leon’s house and abducted him on January 10; she later called the child’s father and demanded Tk10,000 in ransom.

Following a written complaint on February 1, Fatullah police used mobile phone records to track and arrest Shoma and Majnu on Thursday. Based on their information, Leon was finally rescued, while Anwar and Zaman were detained. l

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

carry 60,000 passengers an hour.

Trains will run from Uttara to Motijheel via Pallabi, Rokeya Sarani, Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Hotel Ruposhi Bangla, Dhaka University’s TSC, Doyel Chattar and Topkhana Road.

The project will be implemented under eight contract packages (CP), with only CP1 and CP2 for depots and the rest (CP3 to CP8) for the main construction work, including equipment, viaducts and stations.

“We have already completed the necessary surveys and are now working on detail design which will finalised by August. This year we will float tenders for CP3 through CP8. Pre-qualified bidders will be invited to participate in the tender process,” said Mofazzal Hossain, Dhaka metro rail project director.

Tenders for CP1 (depot land development) and CP2 (civil work in depot) have already been floated.

“After completing the tender

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First surgery of Bangladeshi ‘Tree Man’ today n Abid Azad

process we will sign contracts with the nominated companies beginning next year. Then they can start their work,” Mofazzal said.

“We hope the first phase of construction from Uttara North to Agargon will be completed by December 2019, and the second phase from Agargaon to Motijheel by December 2020, even though the duration of the project on paper continues to 2024,” he added.

According the latest project summary, the tender for civil works (viaducts and stations from Uttara North to Agargaon) will be floated in February.

The tender for civil work from Agargaon to Motijheel will be floated in October. Tenders for engineering and management systems and equipment will also be floated in October.

“We have already got concurrence from Jica to evaluate pre-qualified bidders’ documents to invite tenders,” Mofazzal said. l

The first surgery of the Bangladeshi “Tree Man” Abul Bajandar is scheduled to be held today in the morning at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit.

The nine-member medical board which was assigned for his treatment took the decision yesterday.

DMCH burn institute’s founding director, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, said: “Abul Bajandar will be taken to surgery around 11am.” “First we will operate on his thumb and index fingers and if the surgery is successful, we will try again,” he added.

Earlier, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said that the government will bear all cost of Abul Bajandar’s treatment until he returns to a healthy and normal life.

Abul, 26, who was admitted to DMCH on January 30, has been suffering from an extremely rare genetic skin disease epidermodysplasia verruciformis, which is also

referred to as “Tree Man Disease.”

The disease is caused by a defect in the immune system.

It causes abnormal susceptibility to human papilloma viruses (HPVs), which eventually leads to the overgrowth of scaly macules and papules, especially on the feet and hands.

Abul is the fifth person in the world reported to be suffering from the disease.

The others are Ion Toader, Dede Kosawa, Zainal and Ivan. Dede and Zainal hail from the same area in Indonesia. Ivan is from Netherlands but his father grew up in Indonesia while Toader is a Romanian.

Except Toader, the other three have genetic roots in West Java.

The problem with “Tree Man Disease” is that there is still no cure.

The warts can be surgically removed but they will grow back, sometimes faster, as in the case of Dede Kosawa, who appeared in a Discovery channel documentary “Treeman: Search for the Cure.” l

Muhith’s ‘Sonali Dinguli’ hits Ekushey Boi Mela n Abid Azad

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has given a rare and detailed glimpse into his life in the first volume of his autobiography.

The 82-year-old recounts his life until 1955-56 in “Sonali Dinguli”, unveiled at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy yesterday, his publisher said.

“A brilliant work,” said Dhaka University’s Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman while eminent linguist Dr Moniruzzaman hoped readers would enjoy it.

“People usually prefer to avoid negative incidents in autobiographies but Muhith covered everything,” Bangladesh National Museum’s founder Director General Enamul Haque said.

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Chairman Rehman Sobhan said the book covered the end of Muhith’s university days. “I did not have the opportunity to be with him in those days but I was with him in the ‘Sonali Dinguli’ of 1971 when we campaigned for Bangladesh’s independence in the US.” Kamruzzaman Kajol, executive director of Chondraboty Academy, which published the book, said the minister would write two more books. “We are currently working Dhaka

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Finance Minister AMA Muhith unveils his autobiography ‘Sonali Dinguli’ at Shishu Academy auditorium in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

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getting old. So I started writing on January 11, 2015 and finished on October 8.”

He said he was working on the second part. “It will start just after my academic life. I have covered events until 1962 in the last three months,” he added.

Commerce Minister Tofail

on a special edition of “Sonali Dinguli” for children. I hope it will come out next month,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

At the launching ceremony, Muhith revealed the reason for taking up pen. “Last year, I suddenly realised that I need to write an autobiography as I am 37

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:28AM

34.8ºC Khulna & Mongla

15ºC Rajarhat

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Ahmed, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, former finance minister M Saiduzzaman, PKSF Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, artist Hashem Khan, among others, were present.

Dhrubo Esh designed the cover of the 216-page book, available for Tk600 at the Ekushey Boi Mela. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 5:11am | Zohr: 12:12am Asr: 4:19pm | Magrib: 5:58pm Esha: 7:26pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Most traffic lights remain idle in Ctg city Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Traffic signal lights installed at different points in the port city with a view to improving traffic system have remained idle due to lack of coordination between Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC).

Traffic police are facing difficulties while controlling traffic movement during the rush hour as they maintain traffic flow manually.

A total of 11,321 trucks, 2,855 buses, 10,879 minibuses, 4,974 mini trucks, 29,292 cars, 1,503 hu-

man hauliers, 56,995 motorbikes and 4,974 pickup vans ply the Chittagong city streets every day, said a recent research conducted by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development.

Sources at Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) said the traffic signal lights were installed at 39 key points in the city for the first time in 1989-90 fiscal year. Later, the CCC had installed five more traffic signal lights.

Before the Cricket World Cup in 2013, 10 more intersections had got the modern traffic signal lights with countdown system while hal-

ogen lights were also installed at 15 more intersections.

Msahfuzul Hoque, superintendent engineer (Electrical) of the CCC, told the Dhaka Tribune that the CCC had installed 10 LED traffic lights and 15 halogen traffic lights at a cost of Tk1.50 crore, but police were reluctant to use it despite the modern facilities.

While visiting several key points, this correspondent found that chaotic traffic situations erupted as police were manually controlling traffic.

At GEC and Nizam intersections, traffic police were found con-

trolling the vehicular movement using ropes as road barrier to keep the traffic in line instead of using the signal lights.

In a recent visit, traffic lights were found fully functional in Sagarika, CEPZ, Laldighi ground, New Market and GEC areas while lights in Lalkhan Bazar, Agrabad, Kazir Dewri, Tigerpass areas were seen out of order.

AKM Shahidur Rahman, additional commissioner (finance, administration and traffic) of CMP, said: “There is a huge unsimilarity between the traffic light time-set system and traffic flows which is

the barrier behind the facility”.

“Considering this problem CCC has already prepared a proposal over “Remote Control System Traffic Light” and it will be sent to the higher authority seeking approval”, said the CCC official.

He also said if the city corporation authority handed over the maintenance of the traffic lights to the CMP, it would fix time-set system with the flow of traffic.

CCC engineer Msahfuzul Hoque declined to say anything why the maintence of the signal lights are not handed over to the CMP authority. l

Fire at N’ganj power plant Correspondent, n Our Narayanganj Generating electricity has come to a halt as a blaze erupted in a diesel power plant in Siddirganj area of the city.

However, no casualty was reported in the fire that took place at a 100MW capacity power station yesterday morning. Sources said a transformer of Desh Energy Ltd caught fire around 8:30am and it soon spread.

Being informed, three fire fighting units from Narayanganj, Demra and Ramna rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after two hours of frantic efforts.

Around 14-ton of diesel and the transformer were badly damaged in the fire. Finally the plant authorities compelled to halt the production there. Despite repeated attempts the Desh Energy Ltd authorities denied to disclose anything before journalists.

Siddirganj police station OC Sorafat Ullah quoted the authorities by saying that none was injured in the fire and fire fighters brought it under control within 2 hours. l

Firefighters try to extinguish fire that broke out at a diesel power plant in Siddhirganj area, Narayanganj city yesterday

Chumki: Habiganj killers to be tried under special tribunal n

Our Correspondent, Habiganj

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki yesterday said people who were involved in the killing of four schoolboys in Hobiganj would be tried under special tribunal.

The minister said this while talking to journalists after visiting the parents of the four children whose bodies were recovered from a ditch at Sundrateki village, Bahubal police station on Wednesday morning.

The minister said: “If any policeman showed negligence in finding out the victims soon after

their missing report was filed, we will take action against those policeman after investigation.”

She also asked Superintendent of Habiganj Police Joydev Kumar Bhodro to take necessary steps to ascertain whether there was any negligence on the part police.

Terming the killing of the four boys “heinous”, the minister said: “The killers will be brought to book soon after their arrest and they will get exemplary punishment.”

The junior minister also handed over cheques of Tk50,000 to family members of each victim.

Being informed by locals, police

recovered the bodies of the schoolboys - Monir Miah, 7, son of Abdal Miah; Jakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, son of Md Wahid Miah; Tajel Miah, 10, son of Abdul Aziz; and Ismail Hossain, 10, son of Abdul Kader – on Wednesday morning. The boys went missing on February 12.

A total of five people have so far been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder.

Of the arrestees, Abdul Ali, 50, and his son Jewel Mia, 22, were placed on 10-day remand each on Thursday while three others are still under the custody of Bahubal police. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

2 abducted in Khagrachhari n Tribune Report Two officials of a construction firm were reportedly kidnapped by some miscreants from a remote area in Panchari upazila, Khagrachhari on February 14.

The incident came to light on Thursday as one of the victims, Saifuddin Shaheen Gazi, made a phone call to his wife seeking help for his release.

Local sources said renovation work of a road from Panchari Bazar to Maratila was underway under the supervision of Ruhul Amin, 50, manger of contraction firm Al-Falah Trading Corporation and Saifuddin Shaheen Gazi, 35, assistant sub-contractor, reports UNB.

Nasir Mallik, owner of the construction firm, said some local miscreants had been demanding extortion from him since the beginning of the work.

When Ruhul and Shaheen went to the spot for supervision the miscreants picked them up on February 14.

Later, the kidnappers demanded Tk50 lakh as ransom for their release from him over phone.

Sarbottom Chakma, chairman of Panchari upazila parishad, said they were trying to rescue the victims.

Abdul Jabbar, officer-in-charge of Panchhari police station, said no complaint has yet been lodged over the incident. l

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DT

Learn English

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Pre-reading task What do you understand by the term logistics?

Now, read the article and see if you are correct.

Logistics

However, there is more to it than that. It is certainly true that transport is an important part of logistics, but logistics also involves other processes.

Another common misunderstanding is that logistics is the same thing as supply chain management. Supply chain management, however, is only one part of logistics – its practical part.

Far from being a new, fashionable word, the term ‘logistics’ was first used in a business context back in the early 1950s. It comes from military language: the improvement of

Word search

The ideas factory

P F Y I L

I M

P H O R R O F N S F

I N O A S S E C X E

I

I M

Y G R Z Q G P P Q U W E N G J T E U P

I

V

I N A U S G F

3 Logistics is not a new concept.

4 Modern logistics is a military invention.

5 Logistics has become more important because of expanding global markets.

6 Transportation companies have redeveloped the way they operate.

7 A large number of trucks is the only thing necessary for a logistics company.

8 Logistics has a role to play in reducing environmental pollution.

b interconnected

ENGIN_ERING

3 ideas

c

SU_PLY

4 fundamentally

d inherently

EX_ESS

5 include

e theories

6 contemporary

f

7 interrelated

g vital

8 process

h context

9 imperfect

i

TRAN_PORT

Exercise 2

Want to find more learning activities?

Visit www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

2 Supply chain management is the same thing as logistics.

2 crucial

6f

P O R N R S T V G D B A

‘Logistics’ is just a new word for ‘transportation.’

RATIONALIS_NG

Exercise 1

P L W

Answers

I

1

1

7b

U P E S O E N X Q I

Comprehension: True/False. Read the article and decide if the following statements are true or false:

DELIVE_Y

1h

S O V Q C U E A G R N M A A

PROCESS_S

5 True

X N I X E P M N R M R O N B

COMPAN_ES

1 False

T T C O D

8a

H R L W S T E A I

MANAGEM_NT

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E V S G G V C G U Q I M

6 True

U I

Exercise 1

Vocabulary: Synonyms. Match a word from the first column (1 to 9) with a synonym from the second column (a to i):

CHAIN

2 False

B E D A E Y A Z S U N A T F

trucks, but now work as logistics consultants, managing the supply chain from start to finish.

Not surprisingly, the way in which things are transported has become a significant question for companies attempting to cut their carbon emissions.

Rationalising transportation processes is one crucial way of doing this. This has given rise to the field of ‘reverse logistics.’ Reverse logistics deals with problems of waste products, used packaging, and the return of defective or excess products.l

Exercise 2

9i

J N F Q J W E A U

3e

G C A V M F V Z R G

I

4d

C T L

Q Y V Q S

7 False

N Y M J Q M T X H T

See if you can find these words in the grid. They can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal and backwards.

3 True

C H A I

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5c

Giving old jobs or industries new, interesting sounding names is something which is often criticised today. Rubbish collectors have been called ‘environmental waste operatives’, and people who work in fast food restaurants ‘food preparation executives.’

Some people have suggested that ‘logistics’ is nothing but a new word for what used to called ‘transportation.’

8 True

Logistics: a new word for an old process?

supply processes has always been a vital part of military planning.

Much modern logistics has its origins not only in recent theories of ‘just in time’ management, but dates back to the Second World War. In the army, it was seen as a branch of engineering.

The engineering department of the British army, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, changed its name to the Royal Logistics Corps nearly 20 years ago.

Logistics has become so important because the changing world means it is necessary to radically rethink how products are

4 False

n Chris Rose

delivered. And not only products: logistics also deals with the delivery of services, information, or energy – gas or electricity.

As has already been noted, logistics is more than just transportation. It also incorporates lessons from ‘just in time’ and ‘total quality management,’ looking at overall processes (inventories, co-ordination of activities, and maximalisation of available resources), rather than just supply chains.

In a modern organisation, many different operations take place at the same time. All of these operations are interconnected, and have to reach the same project output. These operations take place on a global scale, involving different branches of a company, or different companies, who are possibly in different continents. This makes logistics – much more than delivering a package from point A to point B – a necessity.

Companies such as Norbert Dentressangle or Eddie Stobart have not just renamed themselves as ‘logistics’ organisations, but have actually rethought their entire working procedures. They are no longer just delivery companies with a fleet of

situation

a procedure

incorporate

modern

defective

© British Council 2016

DT

10

Biz Info

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

| achievement |

JITA Bangladesh founder receives Ashoka Fellowship

Shaikh Saif Al Rashid, founder and chief executive officer of JITA Bangladesh, has been awarded the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship. Recognising his work on building a rural distribution network and embedding economic

opportunities for marginalised women across Bangladesh, Rashid now joins the world’s largest and most influential network of social entrepreneurs.

Abdullah Chowdhury (Robin), country leader of

Ashoka Innovators for the Public (Bangladesh) said: “We are delighted over Saif Rashid’s inclusion in our network as a Fellow. This award is a reflection of his ability to re-engineer traditional distribution network

| celebration |

Khazana launches food festival Renowned Indian cuisine restaurant Khazana is set to host a food festival named “Kebab Aur Parathe Ki Jugalbandi,” starting from February 16 to 25.

The festival will offer a vast range of mouth-watering vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs. The unique gourmet event brings the authentic taste of legendary kebabs and Indian breads from their visiting chef from India and in-house chefs.

Avishek Sinha, director of operations said: “Kebab and paratha are integral part of the Awadhi Cuisine. We have put well chosen exotic spices and

ingredients in the kebabs which would result in unique tastes.”

There will be a range of new kebabs and parathas to choose from as well. Paratha is another dish to be served prominently during the festival. Served with butter or ghee, in plain lacchedar or stuffed, and also stuffed with seasonable vegetables such as cauliflower, radish, potatoes, paneer, and non-veg, it won’t be the usual delicacies. Moreover, the parathas shall be served with curd and pickle for a change of taste.

The kebabs and parathas to be presented are bharwan murgh

tangdi, murgh kakori, murgh surkh tikka, tawa gosht, gosht chandini, ashrafi mahi tikka, paneer cheese kurkure, phaldhari ajooba kebah, rajma makkai, tikki, turkey paratha, khamiri roti, kesari nan, and darbari andha paratha.

For reservations, please dial +8809846127, +8809842965, +8801711476379 l

of commodities, which excludes women from making purchasing decisions.” He also added: “His approach of merging the private sector efficiency, with a strong social impact of providing economic opportunities has proved to be a great tool in transforming the lives of many marginalised women, and has immense potential for global replication.”

According to Ashoka’s official announcement: “In rural Bangladesh, communities practice a strong patriarchal culture, excluding women from economic and livelihood activities. Saif’s hybrid model has been effective in providing livelihood opportunities for the base of the pyramid female population in rural Bangladesh by defying, social, cultural and gender barriers. In JITA Bangladesh, Saif has nurtured a rural distribution network, incorporating women microentrepreneurs to provide access

of essential consumer products to communities that are excluded from mainstream distribution channels. He has crafted a new scheme to amplify women empowerment through developing a replicable enterprise model that leverages the complementary strengths of both citizen-sector organisations and private commercial companies.”

Rashid now joins the network of over 3200 fellows globally across 80 countries, which includes two Nobel Peace Prize winners. In Bangladesh, Ashoka has elected over 75 Fellows across different sectors since 1988. According to them, Bangladesh is placed as a top priority, particularly in the areas of education and economic inclusion. The network in Bangladesh also includes Ashoka Academy Member, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, who is recognised as one of the “Global Greats” by the same organisation. l

DT

Editorial 11

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

INSIDE

The need for deception PAGE 12

Primary needs PAGE 13

BIGSTOCK

Climate change PAGE 14

EPZ labour reforms can go further to restore GSP

T The legacy of Hiram Cox PAGE 19

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@ dhakatribune.com

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opinion.dt@dhakatribune. com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook. com/DhakaTribune

he cabinet’s approval of the draft EPZ Labour Law 2016 enhancing workers’ right of association in export processing zones is a boost for calls on the United States to restore GSP trade privileges.

It is significant that the government has indicated its intention that the new law should help EPZs in Bangladesh comply with ILO conventions on freedom of association. Such compliance has been stated by the US to be a pre-requisite for it to restore GSP for Bangladeshi exporters.

Although the draft does not lift the prohibition on EPZ trade unions contained in the Bangladesh EPZ Act 2010, officials have expressly stated it is intended to help meet the demands of workers’ rights groups.

The proposed draft builds on the 2014 EPZ Labour Act which permits Workers’ Welfare Associations in EPZs to negotiate on behalf of workers in relation to working conditions and remuneration. It also lays down new compensation provisions for workplace injuries in EPZs. Moreover the cabinet secretary has also told reporters that associations should be permitted to work like trade unions, while not being called as such.

While this shows the government is actively listening to concerns expressed by workers groups, it still leaves workers’ associations lacking the same legal status as unions The government should rethink its rationale for barring trade unions from EPZs in the first place.

Improving rights of association for workers is vital to help guarantee conditions are continuously improved and safe-guarded. It is also sought after by many global consumers and brands, seeking to help guarantee compliance with rising expectations for workplace standards.

Ensuring labour rights are respected equally across the whole of the country would help make Bangladeshi-made goods more attractive, and have a positive impact on US legislators reviewing GSP status.

Improving rights of association is vital to guarantee conditions are continuously improved and safe-guarded

12

DT

Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

The need for deception It’s not a lie if you believe it

n SM Shahrukh

W

hen a bird is put in a cage, it tries to look for a way out. As time goes by, the bird gradually reduces its struggle. It gets grains to eat, a water trough to drink from, its cage is covered to save it from the elements, it gets to see the same people whom it starts to trust as friends, and one day, the bird totally forgets its initial struggles and starts to sing. You can open the cage door now but the bird will not fly away.

It has forgotten that it has wings and it can fly to wherever it wants once outside the cage -- the open blue sky that once beckoned, beckons still, but the bird cannot read its language anymore. It has become a prisoner of its illusions, and its perception of freedom has changed. Now, when it sees a free flying bird, it thinks of it as a poor creature with no guarantees of security and misreads the other bird’s freedom as unnecessary struggle, and no freedom at all.

We as people are also prisoners of illusions. We like to stick to the established ethos of the society, we develop a herd mentality and feel uncomfortable doing anything contrary to what the herd is doing, the past becomes a lesson for the future and the present is lived by following rules that remain mostly unquestioned. We suffer from insecurities when someone talks of ways beside the accepted ones,

love the cage and avert our eyes from the open skies. There is a comfort in conformism albeit at the expense of our individual freedoms. We surrender ourselves and merge as if to a “collective self” of society.

Nietzsche said: “Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”

Hence, the need for deception becomes all important.

People use deception more than they would care to admit. It starts from quite an early age. Parents use deception to keep things from their kids, they tell them fairy tales; in doing so, parents apparently teach certain morals to their kids -- there is always a moral at the end of a story -- but also deceive them about the actual ugliness of the world that they have just entered. Children learn the art soon enough, and use deception to hide things from their providers -- complete disclosure may cause disturbances in getting parental favours.

Deceptions are prevalent in the romantic relationships between men and women. They don’t always make confidences to each other; men, however, tend to divulge more than women. Does that mean women know men better than men do women? Well, the answer would differ from person to person, depending on individual experiences of a particular person. It has worked

We are prisoners of illusions. We like to stick to the established ethos of the society, we develop a herd mentality and feel uncomfortable doing anything contrary to what the herd is doing

We are all caged beings in one way or another because we have stopped to think for ourselves.

We fear death because our society has not taught us to take it as a natural end to life. We fear any type of chaos that a contrarian view may create in our minds, we fear change because it may deprive us from the security that the herd ostensibly provides -- thinking for ourselves makes our illusion of being a part of the whole, shatter into pieces. We have started to

well for all parties so far. Too much naked truth about the world we live in may become a hindrance to living in denial, the cornerstone of happiness in the Earthly life.

In Chance, Joseph Conrad has these words come out of Marlow, his fictional friend, who is narrating the story to the author about a ship’s captain who suddenly marries a young woman and brings her on voyage in the ship Ferndale where Charles

Powell, a new entrant to the seas and the replacement second officer of the ship mentioned, finds much chagrin among the captain’s old mates (subordinates) who have served him loyally for years; the mates are unhappy with the marriage of their long-time captain for whom they have had tremendous respect as he seems to have lost his pre-marriage demeanor and has become aloof.

Powell finds this attitude of the

mates rather silly.

Marlow’s words: “It’s true that the sea is an uncertain element, but no sailor remembers this in the presence of its bewitching power any more than a lover ever thinks of the proverbial inconstancy of women. And Mr Powell, being young, thought naively the captain being married, there could be no occasion for anxiety as to his condition. I suppose that to him

BIGSTOCK

life, perhaps not so much his own as that of others, was something still in the nature of fairy tale with a ‘they lived happily ever after’ termination. We are the creatures of our light literature much more than is generally suspected in a world that prides itself on being scientific and practical, in possession of incontrovertible theories.” l SM Shahrukh is a freelance contributor.

13

DT

Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Primary needs Children are not getting the education they deserve, and our primary school system is to blame conducted by Research for Advancement of Complete Education (RACE), more than half of 100 primary school teachers who took part in a survey are still unclear about creative education method introduced about five years back. Even more alarming is that about half of the teachers (47%) surveyed rely on guidebooks to prepare lessons, while 92% students take the help of guidebooks to understand their lessons. The findings of the report, titled “Ambiguity in understanding among teachers and students render creative method ineffectiveness -- a study on primary school in Bangladesh,” also reveal that our students are failing to comprehend what they are being taught in school.

Corruption and coaching business

School-children are often forced to carry needlessly heavy backpacks

n Sheikh Nahid Neazy

A

lthough Bangladesh has achieved significant progress in primary education in terms of enrolment of the students and free distribution of books across the country, the present scenario of primary education is not up to our expectations.

When it comes to ensuring quality basic education for all at primary level, we are still lagging behind. I would like to focus on some specific issues which need to be addressed by the government immediately if we really want to make quality primary education accessible to all, and ensure retention of children at schools across the country.

Discriminatory system at primary level

The existing system creates discrimination among the students at primary schools, although ensuring uniform primary education is our constitutional pledge. Article 17 of our constitution clearly declares that the state should ensure a “uniform, mass-oriented, and universal” system of education.

But have we been able to ensure uniform education for all? We all know that we have various types of education at primary level such as Bangla medium, English version, English medium, kindergarten, and madrasa, and there is no uniformity among the existing systems. For example,

students who attend Bangla medium schools get an education which hardly matches education of madrasas.

Exorbitant tuition fees at nongovernment schools

High tuition fees has recently been a burning issue. Many schools, especially in Dhaka city or other metropolitan cities, hiked tuition fees including admission from this January. The unusual hike made guardians/parents take to the streets. Many guardians from Dhaka and Chittagong protested this decision, and demanded the withdrawal of excessive fees. Later, the Ministry of Education issued an order asking the school authorities to limit this hike to not more than 25% of the existing tuition fees.

But we doubt whether the school authorities are complying with this order or not. If this chaos goes on, the academic environment will be disrupted, and the gap between the schools and parents will be further widening.

Excessive burden of books

Students, especially at nongovernment primary schools, have to carry backpacks laden with plenty of books. According to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, school authorities cannot force students to buy extra books which are not approved by the NCTB. But unfortunately, the government does not have any control over the illegal practice.

Are the school authorities more powerful than the government?

BIGSTOCK

Corruption in the education sector is a menace to ensuring quality education at the primary level.

Some of the school management

meritorious students do not come to this profession. In conclusion, I would like to put forward some recommendations which could help the policy makers or the government to work on formulating a uniform education curriculum for all at the primary level.

The government should do the following things: Take proper steps for approving the Right to Education law as per the commitment of the Education Policy 2010. Revamp the whole education system to ensure uniform quality education for all up to class-Eight as per the Education Policy 2010.

Make a strict guideline for the schools to follow the approved chart of tuition fees. Make a comprehensive school mapping to ensure equal access to primary education for all. Take more effective initiatives to train the teachers for Bangla medium, English version and madrasa.

Some teachers do not teach properly in classrooms, and they force the students to come to their coaching centres. We, the parents, seem to be very keen to send our children to those centres. We also think that achieving a GPA 5 is the main goal

How can they keep defying the government rule, which was made in 1983? Is not it pertinent to ask this question to the Ministry of Education? We know that recently, the apex court of India has given a bold directive as to the highest weight of backpack a primary school-going student can carry. I wonder why we, the parents, keep silent in this regard.

Lack of trained teachers

There is a dearth of trained teachers at the primary level. Although the government has taken some initiatives in this regard, not all the teachers have come under the training program. At present, the problem also lies in the English version, because the teachers who teach the English version students do not get specific (subject-wise) training from the Directorate of Primary Education. The government seems not to give proper attention to this problem.

Ineffective creative method

According to a recent survey

committees resort to money-making motives. Some teachers do not teach properly in classrooms, and they force the students to come to their coaching centres. We, the parents, seem to be very keen to send our children to those centres.

We also think that achieving a GPA 5 is the main goal. The obligation of sitting for redundant public exams -- the PSC and JSC -- is the root cause of the mushroom growth of coaching centres.

Poor pay for teachers

It is very unfortunate that primary school teachers are ill-paid. They do not get proper respect from society. Because teachers do not get good salary, most of them are compelled to depend on the coaching business. Since the independence of Bangladesh, no government has taken any positive initiative to offer decent remuneration to primary school teachers who are the real nationbuilders.

And due to the poor pay,

Enact a tougher law to stop schools from imposing extra books on the students at primary level.

Make sure the creative education methods are properly implemented and practiced at schools. Enact a strict law to stop the coaching businesses.

Revise the formation of school management committees which will necessarily comprise of some educationists (from all unions, upazilas, districts, divisions and metropolitan cities) as chairpersons of the governing bodies. Immediately form an independent pay commission for the teachers at all levels.

Ensure quality primary education which must align with 1990 Education Act and National Education Policy 2010. Take strong action against the corrupt individuals who are involved in primary level education. l Sheikh Nahid Neazy is Assistant Professor, Department of English, Stamford University.

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Climate Change

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

A part of the faecal sludge management plant in Satkhira

MD AKRAM HOSSAIN FOR PRACTICAL ACTION, BANGLADESH

A second-generation sanitation problem n Hasin Jahan

B Hasin Jahan

angladesh has achieved remarkable success in reducing open defecation to 1% through the special drives of the government and development partners, with active engagement of local government institutions, and communities over this decade.

Despite these achievements, our struggle for sanitation will not come to an end. People mostly rely on on-site sanitation which

this vicious cycle every day.

Less than one-fourth of Dhaka city is under the coverage of sewerage network. In areas with no sewerage network, more than half of the buildings don’t have any septic tanks and the sewer pipelines are directly connected either to the open drain or to the storm drainage system, polluting the surface water and environment.

A huge number of pit latrines exist in rural areas, and in low income communities of all urban

About 80,000 tons of faecal sludge is generated every day in our country of which only 1% is being treated. The environment is getting polluted by faecal sludge through this vicious cycle every day

generates a mix of solid and liquid human wastes generally termed “faecal sludge.� Due to sanitation movement in Bangladesh, thousands of latrines have been constructed without thinking of the faecal sludge management generated in the pits or septic tanks. Now, this problem has been aggravated, eventually emerging as a second-generation sanitation problem.

People in general are not aware about the disposal of sludge and how it is impacting the surrounding environment.

About 80,000 tons of faecal sludge is generated every day in our country, of which only 1% is being treated.

The environment is getting polluted by faecal sludge through

towns. Due to rapid expansion of low-cost latrines, pits are filling quickly and require frequent emptying. Even septic tanks (without connected to sewerage network) require emptying at longer intervals.

Unfortunately, no proper system exists for managing faecal sludge, including emptying mechanisms from pits or septic tanks. In most cases, this is done manually by sweepers. They dilute the substances with water mixed with kerosene and dump it manually to the nearby open drain.

Mechanical suction devices for emptying, Vacutug, is very limited. Vacutug disposes the faecal waste into sewer or nearby landfill site. In very few cases, pit is dug to bury the sludge. For

both the cases, the faecal sludge pollutes the shallow aquifer and environment at large.

Recently, Department of Public Health Engineering, and many international/national NGOs, and research organisations have shown interest in faecal sludge management.

However, most of their initiatives are confined with construction of plants for converting waste into compost. In most cases, production of compost seems their ultimate goal without thinking of marketing and proper use of it.

We need to think from a different perspective to resolve this problem -- a holistic approach is needed linking between sanitation and agricultural sectors.

Bangladesh uses around 3.5 million tons of fertiliser every year of which about 2.6 million tons is imported.

Government provides subsidy of around 18 taka/kg of fertilisers to the farmers. Hypothetically if we could convert the entire amount of sludge produced in the country to proper soil conditioner/ organic fertiliser, it will turn out to be 3 million ton, which will be more than the amount we import every year.

Even if we could utilise a certain percentage of this potential, it would be a huge gain for the country.

We have to think about designing a proper municipal sanitation service value chain from collection till treatment.

We also need to strengthen the product value chain for ensuring proper marketing and usage of the compost.

While doing so, we need to

simplify the typical licensing process for an organic fertiliser/ compost as its first initiative.

Farmers often apply excessive amount of chemical fertilisers to produce more.

Organic contents in soil strata hold the water, nutrients within it and facilitates plants to absorb the same. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers reduces soil fertility by destroying the soil texture.

The organic content in soil is reducing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh and now has come down to less than 2%. We could take the advantage of increasing organic contents by adding up compost from faecal sludge and ensure better soil health and increase soil fertility in the long run.

The time has come to promote conjunctive use of compost from faecal sludge through policy advocacy for improving soil health and environment. l Hasin Jahan is a development professional with specialised work experience in the Water Supply & Sanitation sector. She is the Country Director of Practical Action, Bangladesh -- a UK based development organisation, using technology to challenge poverty.

This page has been developed in collaboration with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and its partners, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). This page represents the views and experiences of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of Dhaka Tribune or ICCCAD or its partners.

INSIDE

16

Interview: Gillian Clarke

17

Facebook and suffering

15

DT

Arts & Letters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

18

Indian publishing at a glance

Send your submissions to: anl@dhakatribune.com

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Arts & Letters INTERVIEW

‘Poetry in its simplest forms is natural to all’ Gillian Clarke provides answers to questions about life as the Poet Laureate of Wales, and the inspiration of travelling and its effect on poetic practice

n Nathan Hassall

B

orn in Cardiff in 1937, Gillian Clarke has been The National Poet of Wales since 2008 and a remarkable figure in British poetry. She is a poet, playwright, editor, lecturer, and translator. Her work -- including Poetry Book Society Recommendations, Letting in the Rumour (1989), The King of Britain’s Daughter (1993) and Five Fields (1998) as well as her TS Elliot Prize shortlisted Ice (2012) -- are emotionally laden with feminism, politics, life events, and are heavily centered around the theme of place.

Clarke is a poet whose cultural upbringing in Wales shines through her work and her contribution to the arts are widely recognised. She received the Wilfred Owen Association Poetry award in 2012.

How much does the natural world inspire you?

I live in Ceredigion, 900 feet up, six miles in from the Irish Sea, which is visible between hills. We have 18 acres of land, and live several miles from the nearest village.

This is our life. Being alive is what I write about. Wales has a low-density population, and most of our towns and cities are close to the coast. Even when I lived in Cardiff, we were surrounded by the countryside, in sight of mountains, and the sea visible from everywhere I have lived.

Is poetry an extension of our relationship with the physical forces of nature which govern us in our day-to-day experience?

I am sure that is not true. Poetry is art, and like all art, it is about what human imagination makes of what we see, hear, think, etc. A main characteristic of being human is our pleasure in rhyme and rhythm, and poetry in its simplest forms (nursery rhymes, song lyrics) is natural to all. Its sophisticated forms are refined versions of human language. It’s word: Music.

How important is nationality in defining yourself as a poet as your work can be accessed across the globe by a multitude of cultures?

I am Welsh, and I don’t know a life as anything else. I never think of “defining myself,” and did not call myself a poet. Other people did.

The attention my nation gives to poetry and poets is supportive and

nurturing. My parents (not educated people) had a great love for words, books, stories, and poetry, in both langages. However, being Welsh is just one way of being human. The best writers are true to their culture, and are most universal when they express themselves through their own culture. WH Auden says: “A poet’s hope: To be, like some valley cheese, local, but prized elsewhere.”

Seamus Heaney is a fine example, most Irish, most universal.

Small countries look outward.

Because my work is on the GCSE and A Level syllabus, it reaches wherever English is studied. I receive a steady stream of emails from students all over the world, and I answer them all.

Wales, and be tutored by published writers.

Poetry is an art-form that most people believe they can take on.

If someone pens a piece with a bit of rhyme and structure, there is a small potential they can claim themselves to be a poet. If someone were to sit at a piano and hit the keys without any prior instruction, I do not feel they would fancy themselves as a pianist. Do you feel the intrinsic nature of poetry is such that it allows people of all abilities to call themselves poets?

Do you find that travels away from your homeland -- to countries such as Luxembourg and Bangladesh -- help your poetry go in new directions? Do you find these experiences pave the way for new and varied inspirations?

Travel turned my focus from children, home, and the domestic about 30 years ago. Every new place is fascinating, stimulating.

I am an observer. I write what I know. It’s made me friends in many countries, taught me that the human being is the same everywhere, though coloured by a multitude of cultures, languages, ways of life. I must write from my own version of being human.

In 2008, you became the Poet Laureate of Wales. What new challenges has this given you? Has this brought more pressure on you to write your poetry with Welsh readers in mind?

I like deadlines. That goes back to the weekly school essay! Over the past eight years, I must have written well over a hundred commissioned poems and poems to support something. The commissioned, or requested poem, is a tradition in Welsh culture that goes back to the 6th century. It is a “village” tradition, here in Ceredigion, that poets rise to the occasion, as long as it’s an honourable subject.

I write in English, but have ensured that all my public poems are translated into Welsh by a poet-friend whose first language is Welsh. So, on the Literature Wales website, the poems appear in both languages. I have several poems placed on buildings, walls,

}

Travel turned my focus from children, home, and the domestic about 30 years ago. Every new place is fascinating, stimulating. I am an observer. I write what I know

pathways, as part of public places, and I usually use both Welsh and English in their writing.

With social media and online blogs making it simple to share poetry across the globe, do you believe the Age of Information has been beneficial to the poet? Do you think this has saturated the market in a way that devalues the art of poetry?

I don’t use social media, so I don’t see these works. It’s an open space for expression, which is good.

It will have no effect on great poetry, and its enduring value.

The Internet as a tool, an infinite library, is wonderful. As I don’t do Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and delete all invitations to connect, I can choose my correspondents, and my poets.

Some believe that poetic talents are innate or, at least, the potential is. Many fancy themselves as poets. What is your best advice to aspiring poets?

No, it is education, listening, reading, culture, and family that make a poet. Had I been the daughter of painters, maybe I would have been an artist.

In a world where we are bombarded by so much information, what advice would you give young poets who look to get their work out there and noticed?

Advice: Read, and listen. Be alert to language. Forget being “noticed.” A real writer wants to learn and improve, rather than “be noticed.” Submit poems for competitions. Book a week at a poetry course at Tŷ Newydd, our beautiful Writers Centre in North

It is because language belongs to all humans, and a love of rhyme is a child’s natural way forward.

Instead of taking the piano as comparison, take singing. All can sing, though not all are the greatest. If a person wants to write, I salute them, and welcome them aboard.

Write to enjoy it, and don’t expect fame, money, publication.

Poetry, including nursery rhymes, seems to be loved in childhood. Poetry is read at life events such as weddings and funerals, through which they can leave a powerful impact. The emotional nature of poetry is not the issue, but people’s desire to read or listen to poetry outside of these contexts presents a significant problem in poetry’s popularity.

This is an out-of date view. If “poetry’s popularity” is a problem, how come so many Literary/Poetry Festivals in Britain flourish? Why do so many young people contact me, all year round? How are so many readings by the best-known poets sell-out events?

Does modern poetry do enough to connect new readers as well as stimulate the majority of existing readers?

I have no idea. It varies from good amateur to truly great poetry, as all art does. A poet has to write true to herself, himself, and if it is appreciated, that is an extra bonus. My emails from everywhere, those sell-out events, the two-hour queues at Hay Festival signing books, the requests for a poet, special poems for events, buildings, public squares, tell how popular poetry is in Britain. It is a phenomenon, and the envy of many other countries. l Nathan Hassall is a critic for The Luxembourg Review. This interview first appeared on theluxembourgreview.org.

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Arts & Letters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

C U LT U R E

Facebook and suffering Is our socio-political discourse becoming aestheticised by social media?

n Robert Horsfield The measure of suffering is almost moot in a mediated world, and ‘[it] is difficult to think when one is appalled.’

Judith Butler, in a letter from Paris, November 16, 2015

I

n Philip K Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (yes, the inspiration for Blade Runner) we read about a black box capable of generating communal empathy, condensed in the image of a man traversing a “drab hill” under a “drab sky,” projected into the user’s consciousness. Every person feels exactly what the character of Wilbur Mercer feels as he makes a Sisyphean way up the virtual hill: “He experienced them, the others, incorporated the babble of their thoughts, heard in his own brain the noise of their many individual existences. They - and he - cared about one thing; this fusion of their mentalities oriented their attention on the hill, the climb, the need to ascend.”

Later in the novel, Mercer the person is exposed as a fraud by a TV personality, but Mercerism the religion remains a comfort for the survivors, who are trapped in a society living out its paranoia of decay. Every character in the novel is saturated with concern about not just appearance, but with the authenticity of appearance.

The fallout from nuclear war corrupts human DNA to the point where most are considered no longer of the species, but “specials.” The proliferation of powerful, independently thinking android slaves has developed an industry devoted to killing replicant people.

Even Rick Deckard, the bounty hunter, and his wife, Iran, want an animal when the android they own is a perfect simulation of an organic sheep. The atomisation each individual feels in the novel becomes intensely involved with authenticity and empathy. In a society where empathy itself becomes the test by which one is determined human, it is no wonder, then, that its inhabitants seek liquidation, in order to suspend thought, to feel community.

Can we find something similar afoot in the structure of social media? Or, to ask a different question, how did Facebook approach the question of Paris?

After November 13, it handily

Every post on Facebook is at permanent risk of subornation to demagoguery

BIGSTOCK

}

This social currency, combined with the very real one operating within the real Facebook, the economically-minded Facebook, means every post comes with the pressure to micromanage every statement, to preface every comment, to marketise the self, and makes a politician of every user

shilled the Tricolore as a cathartic wash for every user’s profile picture. In many cases this may as well have been a Pavlovian exercise in cynicism, because immediately every person’s wall became a popinjay for thoughts and counter thoughts on a platform whose raison d’être is a unit-byunit commodification of human experience.

As it is for the first French Revolution, it is still too early to sell Facebook as the ultimate arbiter of mass sentiment but so far it has displayed an intention to dictate public terms. As if under the poet’s anxiety of influence anyone wishing to display empathy for the hurt must pass through a wall of disingenuousness to prove their

sentiment’s authentic bent, to pass off as sufficiently human.

The Guardian US writer and researcher Jamiles Larter described the average person commenting on the media coverage as the tragedy hipster, in pointing out that people used the mass murders in Ankara and Beirut not to spread awareness but to belittle another’s grievance, in much the same way that the #blacklivesmatter movement faces opposition from American conservative groups’ #alllivesmatter.

The charge helps articulate some of the concerns towards the traditional media and its approach of a postcolonial world, but doesn’t confront the problem that we risk approaching a scenario in

which our socio-political discourse becomes aestheticised, and we ourselves anaesthetised.

Kurt Vonnegut’s narrator in Slaughterhouse Five feels powerless when his accounts of the Dresden bombings receive calm but brutal comparison with Hiroshima, the Holocaust, and the Tokyo fire bombings. In response, he can only say: “I know, I know. I know,” to preserve the value in his trauma. The trauma becomes asocial, the experience is muted, as it cannot be expressed or valued.

With something like social media this risk is not just magnified.

When thought is divorced from the local experience of the individual, thought loses its penetrative quality, as it ascends into a vague

statement of a possible fact to which it is impossible to relate.

Moreover, each post open to likes, comments, and shares, is at permanent risk of subornation to demagoguery. This social currency, combined with the very real one operating within the real Facebook, the economically-minded Facebook, means every post comes with the pressure to micromanage every statement, to preface every comment, to marketise the self, and makes a politician of every user.

The technology promising the largest communal space in history has emerged as the most powerful method for the standardisation of consciousness.

Important cohorts have already come to depend upon outlets such as Facebook for communication.

The risks inherent in a social media operating within an eroding base for liberty, within a hegemony driven towards peeling away Enlightenment values even from its hitherto prized European stock, may present themselves for a brief time on its communal pages. But only briefly. l Robert Horsfield has worked at the NHS. He is based in Leeds, UK.

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Arts & Letters

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

PUBLISHING

Indian publishing at a glance India can be a great place for ambitious authors to try and get published

n Shazia Omar

SPEAKING TIGERS

Manas Saikia, Managing Director

HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA

Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: Fiction and popular non-fiction.

Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: Good, old-fashioned literature.

However, we have 13 imprints which cover various types of books such as sports books, children’s books, self-help books, and business books.

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: We are a new publishing house, we will launch our first book next month.

Karthika VK , Publisher and Chief Editor

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chouhan.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: 180, including both English and Hindi.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Sure!

Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: We try to, but the taxes are so high. We also partnered with The Daily Star to attempt to overcome some of the barriers.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: We do not know yet. It will depend on what we get.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes, if they are good.

Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: No, the import barriers are too high in the form of taxes and the pirated book trade that is supported by those taxes!

Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: Difficult to say.

VITASTA PUBLISHING

Renu Kaul Verma, Managing Director

Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: Fiction/non-fiction with social relevance

NIYOGI BOOKS

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: India’s Biggest Cover Up by Anuj Dhar -- 15,000 copies.

Bikash Niyogi, Managing Director Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: All kinds, especially illustrated books.

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: A book on Indian tea.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: 65 Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes. Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: No. Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: Any of the Booker Prize winners.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: 40-50.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes! Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: Not yet.

Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: I like books with a message!

HACHETTE INDIA

Poulomi Chatterjee, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Q: What sort of books are you

interested in publishing?

A: Strong commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography – Playing It My Way. Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: 40.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes. Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: Yes. Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: Hard to say.

WESTLAND

Sudha Sadhanand, Managing Editor Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: Fiction or non-fiction with social relevance, a book with a message.

Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: India’s Biggest Cover Up – Anuj Dhar – sold 15,000 copies.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: 40-50.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes! Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: Not yet Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: Amish Tripathi. He sent me his book and I didn’t take it and now he’s a best-seller!

ZUBAAN

Urvashi Butalia, Publisher Q: What sort of books are you interested in publishing?

A: Books by women, about women, fiction, narrative nonfiction, academic books, general books, autobiography, biography, memoir, novels, stories, and books for young adults and children Q: What was your best-selling book last year?

A: Last year our bestselling book was a book by a man! Devdutt Pattanaik’s book Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don’t Tell You is a collection of tales from myth and legend that have to do with queer characters in our epics, etc. This book was a title we originated, and rather like your book, we did it as part of our joint list with Penguin.

It sold very well indeed.

Q: How many titles do you publish per year?

A: We try to do around 35, we don’t always succeed, often money is the problem, sometimes it’s time and sometimes it’s human resources.

We’re short on all of these.

Q: Are you interested in publishing Bangladeshi authors?

A: Yes, of course and we have quite a few: Shazia Omar, Shireen Akhtar, Hameeda Hossain, Sara Hossain, Dina Siddiqui, Shireen Haq, Meghna Guha Thakurta, Amena Mohsin and many others.

Both fiction and non-fiction and we’re looking to do many more.

Q: Do you distribute your books in Bangladesh?

A: Yes, through our distributors, but we don’t always get as many books there as we would like to. We don’t have any control over this, and basically it’s the bookshop and the distributor who makes the call.

Q: What’s one of your favorite books, one you wish you had published?

A: This is a difficult question to put to a publisher. Of course there are hundreds, and of course no publisher will ever admit that she is envious of books others have done.

But I can think of many ... and I’m not going to say how many!

The thing is, you feel envious for not having published those books, but you are also grateful they’ve been published and are available.

So it’s a sort of odd situation.

I’m a reader too so am really glad those books are around, and the publisher in me wishes they’d been published by me.

Shazia Omar is an activist for the extreme poor and Head of ProgressTracker at mPower Social.

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Heritage

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

The legacy of Hiram Cox What Cox tried to achieve for refugees from Burmese violence is not visible today

n Tim Steel

M

rauk U was the curious name of the last Arakanese Kingdom.

Curious, because the English translation would be monkey’s egg.

A kingdom, noted for piracy as one of its central “industries” throughout much of its history, was one in which in its capital “Portuguese, Dutch, and French traders rubbed shoulders with the literati of Bengal, and even refugee Mughal princes.” Its final demise, which can be reasonably dated to the Burmese invasion of the once remnant lands, was in 1784 when the land was ravaged by its Burmese conquerors.

At one time, the kingdom stretched north-wards and westwards, beyond Chittagong, almost

REUTERS

Cox certainly seems to have bequeathed an enduring legacy that appears to justify the opinion of those who memorialised him. The vigour and urgency with which he very evidently tackled the mission entrusted to him reinforces that opinion of him as far as Dhaka. In 1760, in pursuit of the fleeing Prince Shah Suja, the Mughal army retook territory, including Chittagong, as far as the Naf River, today’s border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

A century later, Chittagong and the lands south-ward as far as the Naf, were the first territories ever ceded to the East India Company in the sub-continent. Though then even they showed no interest in lands south of the Bakkhali River -- on the banks of which stood the ancient city of Ramu, and, probably, a Buddhist Temple, that still stands in the centre of today’s Cox’s Bazar -- as evidenced by the extraordinary map surveyed

by Major James Rennell, “the father of Indian cartography” and published by the Company in 1776.

The coastal lands, the myriad islands, and islets offshore had been neglected, ignored, and devastated by first the Burmese then the Mughals, and became lawless lands -- nests of piracy, where once they had accommodated a flourishing, Portuguese-founded shipbuilding industry. The piracy was a thorn in the flesh of traders across the bay of Bengal and beyond.

In ceding the territories to the company, the governor of Bengal was both conceding the strength of

the 1757 victors of Plassey, perhaps to act as a buffer between Bengal and the Burmese Kingdom, and, no doubt, to at least partly assuage the evident hunger for Chittagong harbour that had manifested itself as early as the outset of Child’s War in 1684. In a land of tigers, perhaps he should have known that “feeding the tiger” often only enhanced the animal’s appetite!

When in 1784, Burma finally invaded the remnant of the Arakanese kingdom, south of the Naf, the lawlessness of the company lands to the north of the river was somewhat enhanced by a flood of Arakanese refugees, fleeing the depredations of the Burmese army.

About 1798, Richard Wellesley, the Earl of Mornington, newly appointed Governor of Bengal and Governor General of the East India Company’s territories, eldest brother of the famous Arthur Wellesley, recognised both the problem and the opportunity of these much neglected territories.

In 1798, he gave the task of settling the refugees from Arakan into lands and activities that could prove profitable to the company to Captain Hiram Cox. Cox was born, probably somewhere close to Inverness in Scotland, in 1760. Following

the 1745 rebellion led by the last Pretender of the Stuart dynasty against the Hanoverian rulers of Britain -- the final battle, Culloden, being fought close to Inverness, Scotland had become something of a desert, with few career opportunities except those in Britain’s slowly growing Empire.

Marrying the grand-daughter of the last British aristocrat, he joined, as did so many contemporaries, the service of the East India Company. His early role in the company is believed to have been at sea, which would be unsurprising in view of the strong nautical traditions of east coast Scotland.

He came to prominence when sent, in 1796, probably by Sir John Shore, then Governor of the Company in India, as emissary to the Burmese King in Rangoon.

Burma was an important trading partner for the Company, possibly because it was also a source of the vital supply of saltpetre, for gunpowder and also for its wealth of gems, and, certainly, for timber supplies for company shipbuilding and repairs.

His time in Burma has been a source of controversy, but, given the continuing unrest in the region as a result of Burmese activities, it was, probably, never going to be a comfortable assignment.

Nevertheless, perhaps for well-established administrative abilities, it was upon him that the responsibility fell at Mornington’s behest, to head to Ramu, and the lands that are, today, mostly Cox’s Bazar District.

The plan was to settle the refugees, and others, on areas of cultivable land, or with opportunities for fisheries, and create market places for trading: No doubt where tax collection could be more readily controlled.

There seems little doubt that Cox’s Bazar, named after his death by colleagues and associates, was the first of these market places, and that work rapidly commenced to settle the peoples, now known, within today’s Bangladesh, as the Rakhine people.

Whilst, beyond his own memoirs of his time in Burma, subsequently published by his son, Captain Henry Cox, and pieces written for Calcutta’s Asiatic Society, and his contribution to the esoteric game of fourhanded chess -- we have little documentary evidence of him and his life so far uncovered from company records in London.

However, we do have clear, tangible, evidence of a man of strong opinions, vigour and energy, and one, after his death, described by friends and associates as “a compassionate soul.”

At the time, the lands around the Bakkhali river were, apparently, infamous as malarial. However, in 1797, he contracted malaria, probably not for the first time, and died. He was buried beside the Bakkhali River, it is believed, in Ramu. Subsequent changes in the

course of the river appear to have washed his burial place away.

The only monument to his life and work, it is believed, is the plaque that stands in the pretty gardens of Cox’s Bazar Surf Club, the luxury beach front boutique resort on Shugandha Beach in today’s Cox’s Bazar.

The ancient Buddhist Temple in the town, possibly around which the market originally developed, possesses a small Buddha of Burmese origin, said to have been donated by Captain Cox. Perhaps he was one of the “new men” of the East India Company who appreciated Mornington’s belief that the company needed to reform its behaviour, or risk losing the Indian territories.

Cox certainly seems to have bequeathed an enduring legacy that appears to justify the opinion of those who memorialised him.

The vigour and urgency with which he very evidently tackled the mission entrusted to him by Mornington certainly reinforces that opinion of him bequeathed to history.

Today’s refugees around the world may well, if they knew of Cox’s history, wish for other such “compassionate” souls.

Subsequent history has seen great changes, and, in one sense, what Mornington and Cox attempted to achieve for the refugees from Burmese violence, has vanished.

Sadly that history has repeated itself in more recent years, but without the possibility to repeat any such solution. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

CROSSWORD Across 1 Unmarried (6) 4 Jurisprudence (3) 7 Plaintive cry (5) 8 Tempt (6) 11 Unruly crowd (3) 12 Tidy (4) 13 Soft sheepskin leather (4) 15 Biblical quotations (5) 16 Infectious disease (5) 20 Planet (4) 23 Plunder (4) 24 Headwear (3) 25 Bring into being (6) 26 Fragrance (5) 27 Precious stone (3) 28 Climbing palm (6)

Down 1 Used up (5) 2 Sparkle (7) 3 Water pitcher (4) 4 Peruvian capital (4) 5 Soon (4) 6 Fly trap (3) 9 Born (3) 10 Financial obligation (3) 14 Wealthy (7) 17 Extinct bird (3) 18 Kitchen utensil (3) 19 Beer tankard (5) 20 Female horse (4) 21 Minute particle (4) 22 Cicatrix (4) 24 Ugly old woman (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 12 represents Y so fill Y every time the figure 12 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.

A B C DE FG H I J K L MN O P Q RST UVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

INSIDE

Tunis attacks mastermind among 40 killed in US strike in Libya n Reuters, Tripoli

Kipling to Jinnah: Mumbai’s crumbling colonial homes

Hidden behind a blanket of trees at the back of a university in Mumbai lies the dilapidated, but once grand, former home of writer Rudyard Kipling.

PAGE 22

Cameron struggles to overcome summit resistance to EU-UK deal David Cameron struggled at a European Union summit on Friday to overcome last pockets of resistance to a deal designed to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc, with diplomats forecasting an agreement within hours.

PAGE 23

US warplanes carried out air strikes against Dae’sh-linked militants in western Libya on Friday, killing as many as 40 people in an operation targeting a suspect linked to two deadly attacks last year in neighbouring Tunisia.

A US military officer said among those targeted in the air strikes was a senior Tunisian operative, Noureddine Chouchane, believed to be connected to the attacks last year on a Tunis museum and the Sousse beach resort which killed dozens of tourists. Officials have said those two attacks were carried out by gunmen who trained in Libya.

It was the second US air strike in three months against Dae’sh in Libya, where the hardline militants have exploited years of chaos following Muammar Gaddafi’s 2011 overthrow to build up a presence on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The mayor of the Libyan city of Sabratha, Hussein al-Thwadi, confirmed the strikes daying a building in the city’s Qasr Talil district, home to many foreign workers, was hit.

He said 41 people had been killed and six wounded. The death toll could not immediately

PAGE 24

the rubble, the statement said.

Tunisian security sources have said they believe Tunisian Dae’sh fighters have been trained in camps near Sabratha, which is close to the Tunisian border.

The air strikes came just days after a warning by President Barack Obama that Washington intended to “take actions where we’ve got a clear operation and a clear target in mind.

Since Gaddafi was overthrown five years ago by rebel forces backed by a campaign of Nato air strikes, Libya has slipped deeper into chaos with two rival govern-

Dae’sh expansion in Libya 2014

Fighting for a victory just days before Nevada’s caucuses, Hillary Clinton took one of her toughest shots at rival Bernie Sanders, questioning the long-time independent’s devotion to the Democratic Party he’s running to lead.

be confirmed with other officials.

Thwadi added that some Tunisians, a Jordanian and two women were among the dead, and several Tunisians who had recently arrived in Sabratha were among survivors. He gave no further details.

The air strikes targeted a house in a residential district about 8km west of the centre, the municipal authorities said in a statement.

The house had been rented to foreigners including Tunisians suspected of belonging to Dae’sh, and medium calibre weapons including machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades had been found in

CHRONICLE

Dae’sh has become yet another player in the lawless North African nation, where rival governments and militias are battling for control of territory and major oil reserves.

Facing tight race, Clinton questions Sanders’ Democratic party ties

This file photo taken on March 19, 2015 shows roses on bloodstains in front of the National Bardo Museum in Tunis during a demonstration in solidarity with the victims of an attack on the museum on March 18, 2015 killing 21 people AFP

ments each backed by competing factions of former rebel brigades.

A UN-backed government of national accord is trying to win support, but is still awaiting parliamentary approval. It is opposed by factional hardliners and has yet to establish itself in the capital Tripoli.

Meanwhile, Dae’sh has expanded, attacking oil ports and taking over Gaddafi’s home city of Sirte, now the militant group’s most important stronghold outside of its main redoubts in Syria and Iraq. Calls have increased for a swift Western response to stop the group establishing itself.

Western officials and diplomats have said air strikes and special forces operations are possible as well as an Italian-led “security stabilisation” plan of training and advising.

US and European officials have in the past insisted Libyans must first form a united government and ask for help, but they also say they may still carry out unilateral action if needed.

Last November the United States said it carried out an air strike on Derna, a town on the opposite side of Libya close to the Egyptian border, to target Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi, an Iraqi commander in Dae’sh. l

November 19 The US State Department says it is “concerned” by reports that radical extremists with avowed ties to Dae’sh are destabilising eastern Libya, having already seized vast swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

News reports say the eastern coastal city of Derna is emerging as an Dae’sh stronghold.

December 27 A car bomb claimed by Dae’sh explodes outside the diplomatic security building in Tripoli without causing casualties.

2015

January 8 Dae’sh claims to have killed two Tunisian journalists -- Sofiene Chourabi and Nadhir Ktari -- who went missing in September.

January 27 Dae’sh claims an attack on Tripoli’s luxury Corinthia Hotel that kills 9 people.

February 15 Dae’sh releases a video showing the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, all but one Egyptians, that the jihadists say they filmed in January. Egypt carries out air strikes on Dae’sh in Derna.

February 20 Dae’sh claims suicide car bombings in al-Qoba, near Derna, that kill 44. It says the attacks are to avenge losses in the air strikes.

April 19 A new video shows the execution of 28 Christians originally from Ethiopia.

June 9 Dae’sh announces it has captured Sirte, east of Tripoli. It already controlled the city’s airport.

July 12

Zayd al-Zubaydi. Libyan officials identify him as the head of Dae’sh in Derna.

December 4 France says it carried out reconnaissance flights over Libya in November, notably at Sirte, and plans others.

2016

The group acknowledges it has been pushed out of Derna after several weeks of fierce fighting with members of the town’s Mujahedeen Council.

January 4 Dae’sh launches an offensive to seize oil terminals in Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra, which lie in an “oil crescent” along the coast.

August 11

January 7

Heavy fighting erupts in Sirte between residents and IS, with dozens of people dead.

A suicide truck bombing at a police school in Zliten, east of Tripoli, kills more than 50 people, the worst attack since the 2011 revolution. A second attack kills six at a checkpoint in Ras Lanuf. Both are claimed by the Dae’sh.

November 13 The US bombs Dae’sh leaders in Libya for the first time and says it killed Abu Nabil, an Iraqi also known as Wissam Najm Abd

Source: AFP

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HERITAGE

Kipling to Jinnah: Mumbai’s crumbling colonial homes n AFP, Mumbai Hidden behind a blanket of trees at the back of a university in Mumbai lies the dilapidated, but once grand, former home of writer Rudyard Kipling.

Fallen branches, discarded chairs and even empty whisky bottles surround the 19th-century building, while bird droppings mar a bust of Kipling, author of such beloved novels as “The Jungle Book” and “Kim”.

“The bungalow is in very bad condition and needs desperate help,” the college’s principal, Rajiv Mishra, said.

The “Kipling Bungalow”, as locals affectionately call it, is one of several mansions in the teeming Indian city, once associated with famous residents but now in ruin.

Nearby stands the former colonial home of Lord Harris, an ex-governor of then-named Bombay, widely credited with making cricket the

of the city from 1890-1895.

Harris captained England and during his tenure on the subcontinent “did much to lay down foundations for the expansion of the game in India”, according to Cricinfo website. His former home was allowed to come close to collapse before long overdue maintenance work started.

most popular sport in India.

The gothic building housed school classrooms until four years ago, when pupils were moved out because the crumbling structure had become too weak and hazardous.

A few kilometres away in plush Malabar Hill sits the previously imposing residence of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and its first governor-general.

Red tape

Heritage campaigners lament the demise of such buildings, blaming red tape and claiming politicians and developers are more concerned with constructing sparkly new luxury towers than preserving Mumbai’s architectural history.

The wood and stone structure, its green paint peeling, is situated on the grounds of an art school, whose first principal was John Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard’s father.

Built in 1882, 17 years after

Jinnah dispute Indian students gather under the porch of the Kipling Bunglow - the birthplace of author Rudyard Kipling - inside the campus of the JJ School of Art in Mumbai AFP Rudyard was born, the house was home to Lockwood Kipling and subsequent deans until the early 2000s, by which time it had sunk into such disrepair that it was rendered uninhabitable.

Officials plan to turn the building into a gallery exhibiting students’ work and that of decorated artists, and have issued a tender for

the contract.

The building has been caught in a tug-of-war between the college and the government for years over what its restoration should look like.

A short walk away, work has already begun on the former Mumbai residence of batsman and acclaimed cricket administrator George Harris, who was governor

Jinnah’s house has been embroiled in a long-running legal dispute over ownership between his daughter, India and Pakistan. It lies empty in thick forest behind a padlocked gate.

A heritage activist doesn’t believe the buildings owe their dilapidation to any sort of colonial antipathy, citing well-maintained British-era relics like the Bombay High Court and the former Victoria Terminus train station.

“It’s just sheer neglect and bureaucracy,” she says. l

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Cameron struggles to overcome summit resistance to EU-UK deal n Reuters, Brussels David Cameron struggled at a European Union summit on Friday to overcome last pockets of resistance to a deal designed to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc, with diplomats forecasting an agreement within hours.

“We are moving forward but we are not yet at a stage where a deal is almost done,” a British official told reporters after the British Prime Minister held all-night negotiations with top EU officials and a handful of leaders with specific objections to the draft text.

Cameron was hoping to fly home and chair a cabinet meeting later on Friday to endorse what he calls a “new settlement” with the EU, setting in motion plans to call a referendum on Britain’s future in the Union, probably for June 23.

The stakes are high for both Britain and the EU, with opinion polls showing voters almost evenly split.

The risks of Cameron’s strategy were highlighted on Friday when an opinion poll showed the campaign to leave the bloc had a 2% lead with 36% support. The TNS poll showed 34% of British voters wanted to stay in the bloc, 7% percent would not vote and 23% were

A Union Jack and a European Union flag hang in London undecided.

All sides at the summit said the toughest issue remained Britain’s drive to restrict welfare benefits for migrant workers from other EU countries, with east European states fighting to preserve the rights of expatriates already working in the UK and elsewhere.

Summit chairman Donald Tusk held a series of so-called “confessional” meetings with individual leaders to try to clear remaining obstacles in the meantime.

Diplomats said differences with France over London’s demands for a mechanism to protect its financial centre from intrusive

REUTERS

euro zone regulation had been narrowed down to just two words.

Cameron has promised Britons he will exclude new European immigrants from in-work benefits for four years and cut child benefit for workers whose families remain at home.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, representing that group, was battling to prevent the measures being applied to more than a million EU workers already in Britain and to avoid other countries piggy-backing on the child benefit cut.

However, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his

country too was keen to apply a plan to index child benefit for EU workers whose children remain in their native country to their home country’s cost of living if Britain won.

Cameron was keen to show British voters he was fighting hard to secure a deal which he has called “the best of both worlds”.

French President Francois Hollande, backed by Germany, has pushed for amendments to ensure Britain cannot veto deeper integration by the euro zone countries or give City of London banks a competitive advantage through regulation.

Britain is already the EU’s most semi-detached member, having opted out of joining the euro single currency, the Schengen zone of passport-free travel and many areas of police and judicial cooperation.

No country has ever voted to leave the Union. Britain is the EU’s second-largest economy and one of its two permanent members on the UN Security Council. Its exit would end the vision of the EU as the natural home for European democracies and reverse the continent’s post-World War Two march toward “ever closer union”. l

Economy could swing referendum for UK’s undecided voters n Reuters, Eggsford

POLLING AHEAD OF EU SUMMIT

A British private citizen Deborah Hastings will only decide whether UK should ditch its European Union membership on the eve of a referendum likely in late June. She has one key question for those courting her vote: Will leaving make me and the country richer or poorer?

As opinion polls show Britain is divided on the EU, Hastings and up to 10 million other voters, many of them women, have yet to make a decision. How they cast their vote will shape the future of the world’s fifth largest economy and the EU itself.

Hastings said Cameron’s plans to cut the benefits paid to EU migrants have started winning her over in recent days. But weighing against an ‘out’ vote, she would be concerned about what would happen to the coach loads of German tourists who support the local economy.

Open to persuasion, she has a message to those who want her vote. Talk less about immigration and give more detail on whether Britain would be better or worse off outside the EU. Around one in five British voters tell pollsters they have yet to make up their minds. Many are mid-

Briton’s attitude towards EU draft deal

Good 31% Bad 69% Source: Sky News

dle-aged women who support Cameron’s Conservatives and live outside London and Scotland, two of Britain’s most pro-European areas.

If Cameron is to keep Britain in the bloc it joined in 1973, he will need to secure the vote of millions like Hastings.

The rest of Europe is watching warily - Britain is the EU’s second largest economy and one of its top two military powers.

Pro-Europeans warn an exit from the EU would hurt Britain’s economy and could trigger the break-up of the United Kingdom by prompting another Scottish independence vote. Opponents of EU membership say Britain would prosper outside.

‘The economy, stupid’

Whilst surveys suggest immigration - which has dominated headlines in British press - is voters’ top concern, long-term polling and previous votes show concerns over economic security can ultimately turn the undecideds.

“Even though they may be as likely to mention immigration as a big concern or access to benefits, ultimately the economy will swamp them,” Ben Page, CEO of polling firm Ipsos Mori, said.

“People talk about all these things, but ultimately: it’s, am I going to keep my job?”

Britain, whose economy had fallen far behind both Germany and France in 1975 when it last

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voted on membership, has been one of the fastest growing major economies over recent years, overtaking France as the EU’s second largest economy in 2014.

Opponents of membership say the strength of Britain’s $2.9tn economy shows it could prosper if London cut loose from what they say is a doomed experiment in German-dominated unity and excessive debt-funded welfare spending.

Supporters of membership, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, have warned a divorce from the world’s biggest economic bloc could hammer sterling and jeopardise London’s position as the only financial centre to rival New York.

Undecided voters concerned about the economy helped swing the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, when Scots voted 55-45 for a continued union with England, and the 2015 election, when voters gave Cameron an unexpected majority, Page said.

Over half of Britons expect Cameron to get a bad deal on reforming Britain’s EU membership at a summit starting Thursday, according to a ComRes poll. But more voters than not believe that personally, and as a country, they are better off in the EU. l

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan sues perpetrators of India air base attack A Pakistan police spokesman said on Friday a case has been lodged against unnamed perpetrators of a deadly attack on an Indian air base last month. India said it gave actionable intelligence to Pakistan in the weeks following the January 2 attack, but Indian defence minister suggested on Thursday Pakistan was slow to act.

-REUTERS

INDIA

1 killed as BSF fire on caste protesters Security forces opened fire on protesters in Haryana state on Friday, killing one, as rival caste groups clashed during a mass rally over access to jobs and education.

The army was called in after several were injured in the violence in Rothak district of the state, as demonstrators clashing over preferential treatment for certain castes defied police orders and went on a rampage.

-AFP

CHINA

China to ban foreign firms from online publishing China is to ban foreign firms from “online publishing” under new rules issued this week. Regulations posted on a government website, set to go into force next month, state that foreign firms “are not to engage in online publishing”. The regulations define online publishing as the provision over the internet of books, maps, music, cartoons, computer games and “thoughtful text”, as well as other content.

-AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

Vietnam protests China missile deployment Vietnam protested to China on Friday at a “serious violation” of its sovereignty over Beijing’s apparent deployment of an advanced missile system on a disputed South China Sea island. Tensions between China and its neighbours over maritime territory have risen since Taiwan and US officials said Beijing had placed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island, part of the Paracel archipelago it controls.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Saudi Arabia halts $3bnaid to Lebanese army Saudi Arabia said Friday it has halted a $3bn programme for military supplies to Lebanon in protest against Hezbollah. It added that the remainder of a $1bn financing package for Lebanese internal security forces had also been stopped. The $3bn programme funded military equipment provided by France. The modernisation programme, known in France as Donas, aimed to ensure stability in the country.

-AFP

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

USA

Trump slams Iraq invasion, after first supporting it Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump says the invasion of Iraq was possibly the worst decision made by a US president but acknowledged he may have initially supported it. “It may have been the worst decision going into Iraq, it may have been the worst decision any president has made in the history of this country, that’s how bad it is,” Trump said during a town hall meeting in South Carolina.

-AFP

THE AMERICAS

Colombia halts FARC peace talk delegation visit Colombia’s government on Thursday suspended further visits to the country by Marxist FARC negotiators, saying they violated the terms under which they were allowed to return from Havana to explain agreements reached at peace talks to their fighters. Three members of FARC negotiating team were scheduled to travel from Cuba, where talks have been held since late 2012.

-REUTERS

UK

Celebs urge Cameron to let Calais children into UK Jude Law, Gillian Anderson and footballer Gary Lineker were among 145 stars who called on David Cameron to allow migrant children stuck in Calais to enter the UK on Thursday. In an open letter to the British prime minister, they called for children in the “Jungle” camp in France with relatives in Britain to be reunited with them. Figures from charity Help Refugees show that there are 440 children living in this section of the camp, 291 of whom are unaccompanied.

-AFP

EUROPE

Greece may block EU summit conclusions Greece has threatened not to sign off on the final conclusions of an EU summit on migration and Britain’s membership, holding out for assurances EU states will not shut borders over the migrant crisis, government officials said on Friday. Although not related to the issue of Britain’s renegotiation of its terms with the EU - a move ahead of a referendum on whether Britain stays in - the Greek move could complicate an already delicate situation. -REUTERS

AFRICA

19 dead in double suicide attack in Cameroon At least 19 people were killed in a double suicide bombing at a market in northeastern Cameroon on Friday, local officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Cameroon’s northern border region with Nigeria is regularly attacked by Boko Haram fighters.

-REUTERS

Facing tight race, Clinton questions Sanders’ Democratic party ties n Tribune Desk Fighting for a victory just days before Nevada’s caucuses, Hillary Clinton took one of her toughest shots at rival Bernie Sanders, questioning the longtime independent’s devotion to the Democratic Party he’s running to lead.

Clinton accused Sanders of attacking the two most recent Democratic presidents — President Barack Obama and her husband, former President Bill Clinton — both of whom remain popular political figures among Democratic voters.

“I just don’t know where all this comes from,” she said at a televised forum hosted by MSNBC on Thursday night. “Maybe it’s that Senator Sanders wasn’t real-

POLLING AHEAD OF NEVADA PRIMARY

DEMOCRATS 58

60 50

36.8

40 30 20 10 0

Hillary Clinton

Bernie Sanders

Source: RealClearPolitics, February 17

ly a Democrat until he decided to run for office.”

Clinton is hoping to use a win in Nevada on Saturday as a spring-

board into the primary race in South Carolina on February 27 and a slate of Southern primaries on Super Tuesday on March 1, where she’s favoured because of her strength among African-Americans.

Minority voters play a far bigger role than in the recent contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. That will be a test for the Republicans as well going into Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, where brash billionaire Donald Trump remains the front-runner.

Sanders has kept the Democratic race closer than expected, and a win in Nevada after his strong win in New Hampshire would indicate that the contest is far from over.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Sanders described some of President Bill Clinton’s biggest achievements, the North America Free Trade Agreement and welfare overhaul, as “disastrous.” He later said his critique was prompted by a question from

a reporter and that a member of Congress can disagree with a president from his own party.

Both candidates vowed to make reforming the country’s immigration system a top priority of their administrations, should either win the White House. Clinton said she’d take up the issue in the first 100 days of her presidency.

Some of Clinton’s top Latino backers raised questions about Sanders’ advocacy for immigrants, saying the Vermont senator repeatedly voted against immigration legislation. About one-quarter of Nevada’s population is Hispanic.

Clinton’s campaign has long argued that Sanders appeal is limited to white liberals, a relatively limited portion of the Democratic party. A victory on Saturday would show that the breath of his support is more like the coalition that twice boosted Obama to the White House. l

ANALYSIS

Pope highlights Republicans’ minority challenges n Tribune Desk The Republican Party’s tension over its relationship with black and Hispanic voters was under way long before Pope Francis decided to comment on Donald Trump.

On one side, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and others insist the party must attract more minorities to win the presidency. On the other, leading rivals Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz embrace fiery rhetoric designed to motivate angry white conservatives.

Complicating it all is immigration, the issue the party’s pragmatic professionals can’t square with the passions of the most faithful Republican voters.

Pope Francis on Thursday put a spotlight on the debate when, asked about Trump’s call to build a massive wall on the US-Mexican border, he said those who seek to build walls instead of bridges are “not Christian.”

The clash could determine much more than South Carolina’s Republican primary election on Saturday, but also whether the party’s nominee succeeds in November’s general election.

But Trump isn’t alone among the Republican candidates in his calls to build a border wall to stem illegal immigration. Cruz sup-

Catholics in the United States Around 70 million American Catholics North Dakota 26

Illinois 28

Nevada 25 % of adults who are Catholics 2014 0-10

California 28

11-20 21-30

Massachusetts 34 New York 31 Rhode Island 42 Connecticut 33

New Mexico 34 Texas 23

Lousiana 26

New Jersey 34 Pennsylvania 24

31-40 41 + Source : Pew Research Centre

ports the idea, too, and Rubio has repeatedly said that no progress can be made on immigration until Washington can prove to Americans that illegal immigration is under control.

That border-security-first approach is at odds with the recommendations of the Republican National Committee, which determined after an exhaustive post2012 study the party must adopt “comprehensive immigration reform” to help expand its appeal beyond older, white men.

It may not matter in South Carolina’s primary, a contest that will be dominated by white voters. In 2012, the state’s Republican pri-

mary electorate was 98% white.

It’s a different story for the November general election, when minority voters are expected to make up more than 30% of the eligible voting-age population, and more than 50% of the voter pool by 2052.

A new Associated Press-GfK poll found that Rubio and Cruz are slightly more popular than Trump among Hispanics, although none is well-liked. All have especially low ratings among blacks. 15% of blacks and 31% of Hispanics have a favourable view of Rubio, the new poll found. Cruz earns positive marks from 11% of black voters and 29% of Hispanics, while

Trump finishes at the bottom with favorable ratings from just 8% of blacks and 16% of Hispanics.

Pope’s comment could determine much more than South Carolina’s Republican primary election on Saturday, but also whether the party’s nominee succeeds in November’s general election Cruz, whose father is also a Cuban immigrant, hopes to win the White House by energizing evangelical and working-class white voters. Republican National Committee member Henry Barbour, who helped author the post-2012 study, praised the minority outreach efforts of candidates like Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

“But it’s troubling to me for the future of our party that we have candidates like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz who think that it’s still 1972,” Barbour said. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

INSIDE

All-round Rohan inspires UAE A brilliant all-round display

by Rohan Mustafa guided the United Arab Emirates to a somewhat shocking 16-run win over Afghanistan in the opening Asia Cup Twenty20 qualifier at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday. PAGE 26

Bayern eye club record at home Bayern Munich could make club history today as a clean sheet against Darmstadt in the Bundesliga would see Pep Guardiola’s side go a record six home games without conceding a goal. Guardiola’s team are in no mood to give Darmstadt any hope. PAGE 27

More United woe in Europa, Valencia win

Following a brilliant PSL, Tamim now turns attention to fatherhood n Mazhar Uddin Dashing Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal recently returned home after completing a brilliant run with the willow for Peshawar Zalmi in the inaugural Pakistan Super League. The Chittagonian lad had to return in the middle of the Twenty20 tournament to attend to his wife, who is expecting their first child.

In an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune yesterday, the 26year old shared his recent experience in the PSL. The southpaw was also barely able to conceal his excitement while talking about his feelings as a father-in-waiting.

Here are the excerpts:

How was the experience in the Pakistan Super League?

It was a very good experience. I was always looking forward to playing in Dubai. Now I have done it, and I actually played quite well.

They (franchise) treated me well and took my suggestions. They let me feel comfortable which was the key behind my performance.

You smashed three halfcenturies and scored 267 runs in six matches. Which was your favourite knock?

I think the second fifty against Lahore Qalandars was quite good.

The 80 (not out) was also good but I enjoyed the 30-run knock which I scored in my last game of the tournament. I was able to start

Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal had a great PSL for Peshawar Zalmi where the opening batsman scored 267 runs in six innings, including three fifties how I originally wanted to. However, I enjoyed each and every innings that I played in the PSL.

You were one of the most consistent performers for your side. Were the franchise owners disappointed to see you leave, that too during the business stage of the competition?

They understood the situation as

Manchester United’s hopes of salvaging their season in the Europa League suffered a stinging setback when they lost 2-1 at Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 clash.

Their best hope of returning to the Champions League next season is now in peril. PAGE 28

You had current form on your side after scoring heavily in the PSL at an impressive average of 66.75.

But you were not picked up in the player draft of the Indian Premier League. Were you dejected?

Honestly I was not disappointed because I knew this would happen. Internationally, I had a fantastic year with the bat but I think they do not actually care for such things.

We play less T20 matches than the other teams. I have also played very few matches and I think I have not played that brilliant an inning.

So that was kind of expected. I was not disappointed for that and was rather focusing on the PSL.

Nadal through to last eight in Rio Open Rafael Nadal won through to the QFs of the clay-court event, beating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. The troubled Mallorcan is the top seed in what is his second tournament since being humbled in the first round of the Australian Open. PAGE 29

I had some bindings. I am flying to Bangkok to be beside my expecting wife. On top of that, our NOC (No-Objection Certificate) from the board was set to expire on February 18. When I let them know these issues they realised and gave me a nice send-off. They also took my word when I said I would play for them in the upcoming edition of the PSL.

Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim also played in the PSL. Do you think more and more Bangladesh players will be picked up in the future editions?

Tamim won the man of the match award twice in six outings

I think we have been playing brilliant cricket as a team. Bangladesh

Actually I am very excited. But honestly, I am still not feeling that I am going to be a father. I do not know how it feels to become a father. However, I heard from friends that it is an awesome feeling.

I am sure when I go there and the situation arrives, it will be the most precious moment of my life. And I would like to request everyone to pray for my family team have totally changed in the recent past and as a result, there is a lot of interest among the franchises regarding us. I think there will be quite a few Bangladesh cricketers who will eventually play in the PSL. My team will try to include at least two or three Bangladesh players next season.

This time there were three. I hope next time there will be more Bangladesh cricketers.

You will be in Bangkok during the Asia Cup. Will you miss it?

Yes, I will definitely miss the Asia Cup. To represent Bangladesh in the Asia Cup is in itself a big thing.

It is a great honour for me to play for Bangladesh. With that said, it was a hard decision for me. I will not be able to forgive myself if my wife encounters complications and I am not there beside her.

You are about to embark on your parenthood journey. Are you nervous?

Not nervous. Actually I am very excited. But honestly, I am still not feeling that I am going to be a father. I do not know how it feels to become a father. However, I heard from friends that it is an awesome feeling. I am sure when I go there and the situation arrives, it will be the most precious moment of my life. And I would like to request everyone to pray for my family. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

ASIA CUP TWENTY20 QUALIFIER

All-round Rohan stuns favourite Afghans in opener n Mazhar Uddin

United Arab Emirates all-rounder Rohan Mustafa celebrates a dismissal during their Asia Cup T20 qualifying match against Afghanistan at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

A brilliant all-round display

by Rohan Mustafa guided the United Arab Emirates to a somewhat shocking 16-run win over Afghanistan in the opening Asia Cup Twenty20 qualifier at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday.

Rohan first struck a blistering 50-ball 77 to steer the UAE to a challenging tally of 176/4. He then followed it up with a fine three-wicket haul as the Afghans were dismissed for 160 with one delivery of their innings remaining.

Batting first, the UAE rode on their opening batsmen Muhammad Kaleem and Rohan who added 83 quickfire runs in 8.5 overs, thus laying the platform for the competitive total.

Following Kaleem’s departure, a determined Rohan took charge, hammering seven boundaries and four sixes, and received valuable support in the shape of Mohammad Shahzad (25*) and Usman Mushtaq (23*).

Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 3/25 from his four overs.

In reply, the Afghans kept losing wickets in clusters and were eventually bundled out for 160. Karim Sadiq played a lone hand, scoring a

BRIEF SCORE United Arab Emirates 176/4 (Rohan 77, Kaleem 25, Rashid 3/25) beat Afghanistan 160 (Sadiq 72, Mustafa 3/19, Farhan 2/28) by 16 runs

brisk 48-ball 72, but a lack of support from the other end meant the Afghans fell 16 short of their target.

Alongside Rohan, UAE opening bowling pair Mohammad Naveed (2/29) and Farhan Ahmed (2/28) were also among the wickets.

Afghanistan will now face Oman in their next game today while the UAE will take on Hong Kong tomorrow. Both the matches will be held in Fatullah. l

Sheikh Jamal fly off for AFC Cup final round n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi will leave here for Singapore today ahead of their AFC Cup final round opener against Singapore League runners-up side Tampines Rovers, scheduled for this Tuesday. The 18-member squad will fly today at noon.

The Dhanmondi-based outfit will get only two days to adapt with the foreign conditions before

their game which will be held at the Jalan Besar stadium.

The clash against Tampines Rovers will be Shafiqul Islam Manik’s first match as the head coach and the veteran tactician is optimistic of making a positive start.

Manik however, only got the opportunity to conduct training with a full-strength squad yesterday despite starting preparation for the AFC Cup a couple of weeks ago.

“I only had the full squad for a

Suspicious bets mostly around tennis in 2015 n Reuters, London Tennis accounted for nearly three quarters of all the suspicious betting alerts issued last year, the European Sport Security Association (ESSA) said in a report published on Thursday.

The organisation, established by regulated bookmakers to monitor suspicious betting patterns and guard against match fixing in sport, said 73 of the 100 events that raised

concern involved tennis.

“The start of 2016 has seen a worldwide focus on alleged match-fixing in tennis,” wrote chairman Mike O’Kane in an introduction.

“The data in our Q4 integrity report reflects previous quarters and, whilst tennis constituted the largest proportion of suspicious betting alerts identified by ESSA members, it should be noted that the vast majority of tennis events are fair,” he added.l

day. Everybody is fit and raring to go with the exception of the Vietnamese player who has slight fitness problem. It would have been better if I had gotten a few more days for preparation. But I am hopeful of a good start,” Manik told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Following the conclusion of the 12th South Asian Games 2016 recently, Jamal Bhuiyan, Yeasin Khan, Sohel Rana and Yeamin Munna joined the national camp yester-

day. Foreign attacking trio Haitian forward Wedson Anselme, Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington and Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe will also be at Manik’s disposal.

The former Mohammedan and Muktijoddha coach added, “We will still be without the services of Mamunul [Islam] and Nasir [Uddin Chowdhury]. But our three foreigners Wedson, Emeka and Landing are fully fit and they cannot wait to play the game.”

Manik informed that he was supposed to leave one or two days earlier to watch their first-match opposition in action but due to visa complications, he missed the opportunity.

“They are a very good team with quality foreign players and a few national players,” he said.

Sheikh Jamal’s second match will be at home against the Philippines on March 8. The Bangladesh topflight champions will face Malaysian club Selangor the following week.l

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar spent some time with kids during a promotional event of Aviva Life Insurance in Mumbai yesterday AP

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QUICK BYTES

Bayern eye club record at home

Del Potro powers into Delray Beach QFs

n AFP, Berlin

Injury-nagged 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro advanced Thursday to the quarter-finals of the ATP Delray Beach Open by defeating Australian qualifier John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 6-4. In only the second match of his comeback after sitting out for nearly a year, the 27-year-old Argentine wildcard entrant booked a last-eight date with French fifth seed Jeremy Chardy, who ousted American wildcard Noah Rubin 6-4, 6-2 in another second-round match.

“We’ve known each other since we were kids. He’s a good friend of mine,” Chardy said of Del Potro. “I was really happy for him to come back. For a tennis player, the worst is to be injured. We need players like him on the tour.”

–AFP

Bayern Munich could make club history today as a clean sheet against Darmstadt in the Bundesliga would see Pep Guardiola’s side go a record six home games without conceding a goal.

Guardiola’s team are in no mood to

Eto’o blocks ex’s ‘Revenge Porn’ book Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o on Thursday succeeded in having a tell-all book written by his former girlfriend banned by the High Court of Paris, but the editor confirmed they have appealed the decision.

Nathalie Koah’s "Revenge Porn - Football, sex, money: the testimony of Samuel Eto’o’s ex", tells the story of a woman who considers herself “humiliated and betrayed”. In the book, which was due to go on sale Thursday, the 29-year-old Koah tells of the affair she had with the married footballer between 2007 and 2014 when he played for Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea.

–AFP

De Gea needs scan on knee injury Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea will have a scan on a knee problem he suffered warming up for their 2-1 Europa League defeat by Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday. Manager Louis van Gaal said the injury would need further investigation after the Spaniard was forced to sit out the last-32 first-leg tie where United’s troubled season took another turn for the worse. Sergio Romero replaced De Gea in the team for the Old Trafford club who were already without 12 players through injury or illness including captain Wayne Rooney.

–REUTERS

McIlroy opens strong, Spieth soars to 79 Rory McIlroy’s first taste of Riviera Country Club went off without a hitch Thursday while any competitive advantage Jordan Spieth was supposed to have quickly vanished in the opening round of the Northern Trust Open. World number three McIlroy blasted his way to a four-under par 67 in his tournament debut while American Spieth, the reigning Masters and US Open champion, slumped to one of the worst rounds of his career on a course he has played more than 30 times in five previous visits.

–AFP

Spurs’ Alli still has a lot to learn: coach Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli’s kick at an opponent in Thursday’s Europa League stalemate with Fiorentina shows the talented youngster still has a lot to learn, manager Mauricio Pochettino has said. The 19-year-old was booked for a foul on Nenad Tomovic in the 1-1 draw in Italy and was lucky not to receive a red card for catching the Fiorentina defender with a boot while he was on the ground. Alli’s touch and vision have lit up the Premier League this season, no more so than when he scored a goal-of-the-season contender against Crystal Palace in January, but this is not the first time his impetuosity has been criticised.

–REUTERS

Wenger might have quit if Arsenal had lost 2014 FA Cup final Arsene Wenger said yesterday that his time as Arsenal manager could have come to an end if the Gunners had lost the 2014 FA Cup final to Hull. Arsenal, who face the same opponents in the fifth round of the FA Cup today, found themselves 2-0 down inside eight minutes as Hull took a shock lead at Wembley two years ago. It looked as if the north London club’s nine-year wait for a major trophy might continue but goals from Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny drew Arsenal level before Aaron Ramsey scored the winner in extra-time. For Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since 1996, the 3-2 victory was a landmark result after the Frenchman had come under increasing fire from disaffected Arsenal fans.

–AFP

give Darmstadt any hope of a first win in Munich in their final match before their Champions League last 16, firstleg clash at Juventus next Tuesday.

With 21 goals to his credit, Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has scored almost as many goals as the 22 the entire Darmstadt team has managed. l

BUNDESLIGA Bayern Munich v Darmstadt M'gladbach v Cologne Hertha Berlin v Wolfsburg Hoffenheim v Mainz Ingolstadt v Werder Bremen

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Irate fans turn on United n Reuters

RESULTS

LAST 32, FIRST LEG Anderlecht

1-0

Olympiakos

2-1

Man United

Mbodji 67

Midtjylland Sisto 44, Onuachu 77

Depay 37

1-1

Fiorentina Bernardeschi 59

Dortmund

Tottenham Chadli 37-P

2-0

FC Porto

Piszczek 6, Reus 71

1-0

Villarreal

Napoli

Suarez 82

Saint-Etienne

3-2

Sall 9, Monnet-Paquet 39, Bahebeck 77

Sevilla

Basel Samuel 44, Janko 56-P

3-0

Molde

0-1

Leverkusen

Llorente 35, 49, Gameiro 72

Sporting

Bellarabi 26

6-0

Valencia

Rapid Vienna

Santi Mina 4, 25, Parejo 10, Negredo 29, Andre Gomes 35, Rodrigo 89

Augsburg Sparta Prague

0-0

Liverpool

1-0

Krasnodar

Julis 64

Galatasaray

1-1

Sabri Sarioglu 12

Sion

Lazio Milinkovic-Savic 21

1-2

Konate 53

Braga Stojiljkovic 13, Rafa Silva 61

Donetsk

0-0

Marseille

0-1

Schalke Athletic Bilbao Aduriz 54

Manchester United's goalie Sergio Romero fails to save the winning goal from Paul Onuachu of Midtjylland at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark on Thursday AP

Manchester United fans turned on their own team after a Europa League defeat to Danish minnows Midtjylland, chanting obscenities that under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal admitted were justified.

United’s travelling support sang their displeasure as the 2-1 loss on Thursday evening dented the team’s best hope of returning to the Champions League next season.

Midtjylland were Danish champions last year but had won just one of their previous ten fixtures and not played a competitive match since December. Van Gaal, whose team trail fourth-placed Manchester City by six points in the Premier League, had played up United’s “positive” start to the year after they came through their first four games of 2016 undefeated.l

More United woe in Europa, Valencia win big n Reuters, London Manchester United’s hopes of salvaging their season in the Europa League suffered a stinging setback when they lost 2-1 at Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 clash on Thursday.

With the triple European Cup winners already immersed in a pall of gloom after a hugely un-

derwhelming campaign, their best hope of returning to the Champions League next season is now in peril.

It should have been as straightforward an evening for United as it was for Borussia Dortmund and holders Sevilla who were among the high-profile clubs to secure comfortable wins as the Europa League’s knockout stages got underway.

There was rare joy for former

United stalwart Gary Neville when his Valencia side crushed Rapid Vienna 6-0. Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 at Fiorentina while Liverpool were held 0-0 at Augsburg.

United conceded the winner in the 77th minute when substitute Paul Onuachu pinched the ball on the edge of the area and swivelled before firing home a low bouncing drive.

It was another cruel blow for

United. Their poor season has left them fifth in the Premier League although the club’s financial might dwarfs the meagre resources of Midtjylland.

According to their latest annual report, the value of the entire Midtjylland squad is 55.6 million Danish crowns ($8.27 million) - United spent around 18 times that amount on close-season transfers.l

On-fire Barcelona eye commanding La Liga lead n AFP, Madrid Barcelona can open up a nine-point gap at the top of La Liga ahead of their return to Champions League action against Arsenal next week when they travel to Las Palmas today.

The European champions extended their unbeaten run in all

competitions to 31 games with a seventh consecutive La Liga win thanks to a brilliant Lionel Mes-

FIXTURES

Las Palmas Espanyol Real Betis Celta Vigo

v v v v

Barcelona Deportivo Sporting Gijon Eibar

si double and Luis Suarez’s 40th goal of the season in a 3-1 victory at Sporting Gijon on Wednesday.

That match had been postponed from December due to Barca’s commitments in the Club World Cup and, having finally got their games in hand out of the way, Luis Enrique’s men can pile the pressure on pursuers Atletico Madrid and Real

Madrid, who face on paper tougher tests tomorrow.

“There is still a long way to go and, therefore, nothing is done yet,” said Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

“Now we have to focus on the game we have this weekend.

“The unbeaten record motivates us, but what counts is what you

win at the end of the season. We need to remain humble and keep working hard.”

Luis Enrique is expected to rotate once more with the trip to the Emirates in Tuesday in mind. Sergio Busquets is suspended, while Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves are expected to return after being rested in midweek.l

Wenger targets Cup boost n AFP, London A daunting Champions League showdown with Barcelona quickly follows Arsenal’s FA Cup fifthround clash with Hull City, but Arsene Wenger is unlikely to make too many changes to his preferred line-up today.

Wenger’s side are the Cup holders after successfully retaining the

FIXTURES

Arsenal Bournemouth Reading Watford

v v v v

Hull City Everton West Brom Leeds United

famous old trophy last season by thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 in the final.

And for a third season in a row Hull, now in the Championship, will be aiming to knock them out.

The Gunners came back from 2-0 down to beat them 3-2 in the 2014 final at Wembley and then won 2-0 in last year’s third round.

With Spanish giants Barca due to face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday, it would hardly be surprising if Wenger was planning to rest the majority of his starting line-up when Hull visit the Emirates Stadium this weekend. l

Borussia Dortmund fans show a huge banner before their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match against FC Porto at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund on Thursday REUTERS

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Nadal through to last eight in Rio n AFP, Rio de Janeiro Rafael Nadal won through to the quarter-finals of the clay-court event in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, beating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.

The troubled Mallorcan is the top seed in what is his second tournament

DAY’S WATCH

FOOTBALL TEN ACTION 2:30PM

11:30PM Espanyol v Deportivo

STAR SPORTS 4

A-League 2015/16

08:00PM

Sydney FC v WS Wanderers

German Bundesliga

5:00PM

Bayern Munich v Darmstadt

I-League 2016 Mohun Bagan v Sporting Goa French Ligue 1 2015/16 10:00PM PSG v Stade de Reims 1:00AM Angers v Montpellier

TEN CRICKET Sky Bet Championship 6:30PM Cardiff City v Brighton & Hove 9:00PM Burnley v Rotherham United

SONY SIX The Emirates FA Cup 6:30PM Arsenal v Hull City 9:00PM Watford v Leeds United 11:00PM Bournemoth v Everton 1:40AM Italian Serie A Inter Milan v Sampdoria

SONY ESPN Spanish Liga Bbva

NEO PRIME 12:30AM Dutch League 2016 PSV v Heracles Almelo

TENNIS TEN SPORTS 9:00PM Dubai Duty Free Tennis - Final

BADMINTON STAR SPORTS 4 12:00PM Asia Team Championships

HOCKEY STAR SPORTS 1 Hockey India League 2016 3:20PM SF 1: Punjab v Delhi 6:00PM SF 2: Ranchi v Kalinga

KABADDI STAR SPORTS 2 Pro Kabaddi League 2016 7:20PM Jaipur v Bengaluru

9:00PM

9:30PM

Las Palmas v Barcelona

Pune v Delhi

since being humbled in the first round of the Australian Open.

Beaten in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires last weekend by Dominic Thiem, Nadal found world number 53 Almagro rather more accomodating, although he only advanced after one hour, 40 minutes on court.

It was Nadal’s 14th victory in 15

meetings with Almagro and he will face Oleksandr Dolgopolov in the next round after the Ukrainian beat another Spaniard, Inigo Cervantes-Huegun, in three sets.

The 14-time major winner, who won the title in the Olympic host city in 2014, is joined in the next round by compatriot David Ferrer.l

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Showtime

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Joss Stone performs today

Arbaaz Khan goes berserk over rumours n Showtime Desk Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora Khan’s troubled marriage is no secret to the fans. However, infuriated Arbaaz took to Twitter to slam gossipmongers for drawing speculative conclusions about alleged trouble brewing in Arbaaz and Malaika Arora’s marriage recently.

In a series of blistering tweets, Arbaaz has scrapped a report on his marriage saying: “It’s not my work or films you are talking about, it’s my personal life and marriage and we owe no one any explanations, so back off ! Hope

n Showtime Desk Two-times Grammy and Brit award-winning singer Joss Stone is all set to perform today. The diva arrived in Dhaka yesterday.

The soul sensation, Joss Stone, is to headline LiveSquare Entertainment’s event “Pop Republic” at Naboratri Hall of

International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital. The concert starts at 5:00pm.

Alongside Joss Stone, Bangladeshi music sensations, Arnob, Jon Kabir, Rafa, Elita Karim, Armeen Musa, and Minar, will share the stage to perform their popular hits.

Tickets for the event are being

this message is loud and clear.”

However, things are definitely not okay between the two and the truth is evidemt on Arbaaz’s Instagram account. One has to be ignorant to not notice the picture of a book he shared that reads: “Easy ways to love difficult people in your life.”

The hint becomes more clear as he posts a photo with the caption: “Spent my Valentines with these Dumbbells..it was quiet, peaceful and no arguments…cannot complain.” l Source: Bollywoodlife, The Indian Express

sold on Pop Republic’s website, and at a number of physical outlets including Platter, Nawab Chatga, Chittagong Bull, Café Guhaa, Cilantro, Dhaka Republic, Yellow Submarine Café, Veni Vidi Vici, Café Thirty3, and Hakka Dhaka: Auckland Centre. l

Preity Zinta to tie the knot? n Showtime Desk B-town has recently been buzzing with the rumours of actress Preity

Zinta’s marriage to Gene Goodenough, who holds a top position at a hydroelectric power company named NLine. It is rumoured that

the actress met Gene on one of her trips to USA, while visiting her brother.

When confronted, Preity

denied and termed the rumour to be “media manufactured.” However, a close source of the actress seems to have spilled the beans about the marriage, reports DNA. As the report suggests, Preity and Gene are set to tie the knot sometime in April, in an intimate church wedding in

Los Angeles, where the couple will entertain only close friends and relatives. It further asserted that they will hold a grand Rajput wedding in Mumbai for friends from within and outside the film-industry, with no less than three events; the sangeet, mehendi and the wedding ceremony.

The source also said that the actress wishes to get her wedding dress designed by either Manish Malhotra or Surily Goel.

If the report turns out to be true, it would mean that Bollywood awaits a wedding one cannot miss. l

First look at Goutam Ghose’s new flick

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Kim Kardashian makes millions while husband in debt

ing role in the film.

In the ceremony, Goutam Ghose, who has earlier worked with another India-Bangladesh partition film Moner Manush, a biopic of Lalon, said: “Joint venture production is beneficiary for both the countries’ film market. And through this production, my dream of making a film on partition of 1947 has finally seen the light.” l

n Showtime Desk

n Showtime Desk Renowned Indian filmmaker Goutam Ghose recently wrapped up an India-Bangladesh joint production titled Shankhachil. Prosenjit Chaterjee and Kusum Sikder starred in the partition-drama, which is set to release on the occasion of upcoming Pohela Boishakh on April 14. The film will be released in both countries at the same time.

Recently, the film’s first poster came out at a ceremony held at Nandan in Kolkata, where dignitaries associated with the

film, Shibprasad Mukhopadhyay, Nandita Roy, Kaushik Ganguly, Srijit Mukherji, Kamaleshwar Mukherjee and Arindam Sil, were present to support the work of the film’s cast and crew.

Shankhachil chronicles the partition of India in 1947, focusing on a family that parted due to the misfortunate event of the year. Some members were then forced to live on the other side of the border. Their rage against the partition and struggles afterwards are portrayed in the film. Dipankar Dey and Shajbati play the support-

A time when Yeezy tweets about being $53 million in debt, asking billionaires to bail him out, his wife Kim Kardashian West is busy making millions.

Kardashian has made a hefty amount through lucrative endorsements over the years and, of course, with the help of their popular reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

However, she has also made a ton of money off of her Glu Mobile video game “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.”

Although the game itself is free, there are some in-app purchases required to avail full delight of the game, which surprisingly many people are willing to shell out.

CEO of Glu Mobile, Niccolo De Masi said at the DICE Summit conference in Las Vegas on

February 17, that the video game has been downloaded an astounding 42 million times.

After the game was released in the summer of 2014, analysts speculated that the game would earn close to $200 million in a year. While on the other hand, TMZ sources estimated that Kardashian receives a 45% cut of profits, which leaves her with a hefty chunk of money enough to bail out her husband.

Kardashian’s younger sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, also stepped a level up by launching their own free video game app.

In the Glu Mobile game, “Kendall & Kylie,” the girls work as social and life coaches to basically ensure the player looks pretty and rise through the ranks to the A-list. So far, the game has been gaining height substantially. l Source: Huffpost Entertainment

WHAT TO WATCH

Mad Max: Fury Road HBO 9:30pm In an apocalyptic world, a tyrant rules over a stark desert, controlling every drop of water. Two rebels, one escaping grief and the other reaching out to her childhood, are the last hope for a few.

Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough

Taken Star Movies 5:00pm Kim is seventeen and the apple of her father Bryan’s eye. She lives with her mother and stepfather in California. Bryan retires from secret service to live closer to his daughter. Kim goes on a holiday to Paris along with her friend Amanda.

The girls get there and share a taxi with a stranger. Without realising what she is doing, Kim lets slip that they are alone in Paris. Soon, the girls are kidnapped by human traffickers. Will Bryan be able to find Kim and Amanda?

Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, Xander Berkeley, Holly Valance

WWE Namaste India Ten Sports 8:00pm WWE Namaste India brings you yet another breath taking performance by some of the greatest WWE superstars.

The match includes all the top superstars coming together to give an electrifying and terrific performance. Every match will be worth watching. So watch all the action here.

Genre: Wrestling

Gold Rush Discovery Channel 9:30pm A depressed economy has radically changed the way many Americans live their lives. For Todd and Jack Hoffman, those changes mean risking it all, including their health, as gold miners in the wilds of Alaska. With his aviation business grounded, Todd leases a gold claim in southeast Alaska, Porcupine Creek, the same place his father, Jack, mined in the 1980s. They recruit a small group of greenhorn miners from their Sandy, Ore, hometown, and “Gold Rush: Alaska” follows their efforts to strike it rich. It’s the biggest gamble these men have ever taken, a last chance in the heart of “The Last Frontier.”

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Back Page

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

A SECOND-GENERATION TAMIM TURNS ATTENTION JOSS STONE PERFORMS SANITATION PROBLEM PAGE 14 TO FATHERHOOD PAGE 25 TODAY PAGE 30

AMAR EKUSHEY

BOOK FAIR 2016

Best Friday sales so far n Nure Alam Durjoy Publishers and book stall owners at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2016 were elated yesterday as the day marked the highest amount of sale on a Friday this year.

There was no Children’s Hour yesterday, but the fair opened for visitors at 11am – and saw thousands of readers pouring into the fairgrounds.

Despite the absence of Children’s hour, a huge number of children were seen visiting the fair with their parents and buying books to their hearts’ content.

The stalls carrying children’s literature naturally had a busy morning; children were seen looking around with their parents on both the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises.

In the afternoon, the a big crowd gathered in front of the stage under the banyan tree in Suhrawardy Udyan when Tuktuki, Halum and Ikri of Sismpur went up on stage to entertain the children as well as their parents.

“We have had a hectic morning today. It was a struggle, attending such a big crowd of children,” said Muhaiminul of the Sisimpur stall.

As the day progressed, the number of visitors kept growing – even better for the sales.

“Today’s turnout was indeed

Yesterday was the most crowded day of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela so far this year, according to publishers and book stall attendants RAJIB DHAR

Book Names Police Lashti Goom Korte Cheyechhilo Dharmadarshan Bikolango Dirghoshwasgulo Obhishopto Circuit House Jadu o Bastobotar Golpo Ontoheen Firey Dekha Ek Je Chhilo Golpo

Author Shahabuddin Nagari

Genre Short Story

Publishers Somoy Prakashan

Written by John Hick, Translated by Arshad Aziz Asad Chowdhury Nazmul Huda Jyotiprakash Dutt Mihir Sengupta Syed Shamsul Haque

Philosophy Poetry Essay Short Story Novel Short Story

Bulbul Sarwar Siraj Uddin Sathi

Travelogue Biography

Oboshor Prakashan Bateshwar Barnon Magnum Opus Puthiniloy The Royal Publishers Anarjo Publication Limited Oitijhya Adorn Publications

Abul Maal Abdul Muhit Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq

Autobiography Essay

Chandrabati Academy Jagriti Prakashani

Jhilamey Chhilam Jakhon Grameen Bank: The Struggle of Muhammad Yunus Sonali Dinguli Rajnititey Dhormo Motadorsho o Sanskriti

excellent,” said Syed Zakir Hossain, publisher at Adorn Publishers, a huge grin on his face.

“Today’s sales were perhaps the best sale on a weekend day this year,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Several other publishers and stall attendants also said they had had the best weekend sale so far this year.

Around 4:30pm, a big crowd of readers were seen waiting for an autograph in their copies of “Cranial” and “Tituni Ebong Tituni” from author Muhammad Zafar Iqbal near the stall of Tamraplipi.

“Cranial” remains one of the most sought-after books this year; Tamralipi publisher AKM Tarqul Islam Roni said they were currently selling the fifth reprint of the sci-fi.

Heavy dust mars weekend cheer

The weekend enthusiasm was somewhat marred by the heavy dust in the air in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Hawkers selling masks were seen roaming around the fairgrounds, selling surgical masks to the visitors.

The situation got worse in the afternoon as whirls of dust made it difficult to stay in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Yesterday saw 236 new titles published at the fair, raising the total number of new arrivals to 2,259. l

S Sudan army attack at UN base kills 18 To Kill a Mockingbird n author Harper Lee dies AFP, Nairobi

South Sudan government troops took part in a possible “war crime” attack killing at least 18 civilians inside a United Nations base, residents, rebels and aid sources told AFP. At least 18 people were killed and over 70 wounded in the clashes in the UN camp on Wednesday to Thursday in the north-eastern town of Malakal, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has said, including two of their own staff killed. Forty-six of the injured had bullet wounds.

Residents reported gunmen shooting in crowded areas in the tightly packed camp of tents and basic shelters housing over 47,700 people fleeing a civil war that be-

gan in late 2013.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) blamed the clashes on rival tribes inside the camp – “between Shilluk and Dinka youths” – saying at least seven people were killed.

It added that “such an attack against civilians and UN premises may constitute a war crime.”

Resident Jacob Nhial described government troops wearing the uniform of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) “shooting at civilians” with fighting taking place in the camp, as well as gunfire coming from soldiers outside.

Confidential UN communication showed that SPLA soldiers took part in the attack.

“SPLA troops numbering 50-100 have entered the UNMISS POC Sec-

tor 1 and 2 in Malakal reportedly attacking IDPs, shooting sporadically, burning tents and looting properties,” the internal UN document reads.

A POC, or Protection of Civilian site, is the UN acronym for places where South Sudan civilians are supposed to be safe, defended by peacekeepers while IDPs is the term the UN uses for internally displaced people.

An entire section of the camp was razed to the ground, with sporadic shooting still heard in Malakal on Friday morning, aid workers said.

SPLA spokesman Marko Mayol said he had no information on the reports that government troops were involved. l

n Reuters Harper Lee, who wrote one of America’s most enduring literary classics, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” about a child’s view of right and wrong and waited 55 years to publish a second book with the same characters from a very different point of view, has died at the age of 89.

Mary Jackson, the city clerk in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, confirmed the news.

For many years, Lee, a shy woman with an engaging Southern drawl, lived quietly and privately, always turning down interview requests.

She alternated between living in a New York apartment and Monroeville, where she shared a home with her older sister, lawyer Alice Lee. After suffering a stroke and enduring failing vision and hearing, she spent her final years in an assisted-living facility in Monroeville. l

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