February 27, 2016

SECOND EDITION

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

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Falgun 15, 1422, Jamadiul Awal 17, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 312

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

Strange policies make rice market volatile Showkat Kallol and n Asif Abu Bakar Siddique A strange decision to let the private sector import huge amounts of rice despite near self-sufficiency in production has destabilised the staple food grain’s local market.

As a result, with just about two months to go for another Boro harvest, the government is starting yet another bout of popular open market sale (OMS) of rice to clear the stocks.

And the government does not want any publicity.

Over the last few years, the average annual demand for rice in Bangladesh has been around 36.5 million tonnes, Food Ministry data shows. Average production has been there and there about – 36.06 million tonnes in 2014-15 fiscal year.

Theoretically, therefore, the small gap – of around 440,000 tonnes in this case – between demand and production should be met by import.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE Joggeshwar murder mastermind held Police claim to have arrested three members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh including the mastermind of the killing of a Hindu priest in Panchagarh on February 21.  PAGE 3

Bigshots involved in ATM skimming scam Many more influential persons were involved in the recent ATM booth skimming scam than initially anticipated, investigators have found.  PAGE 4

Two die as five of a family burnt in gas explosion Two members of a family died and three others were severely burnt in an explosion caused by gas leak in their flat in Uttara, Dhaka yesterday.  PAGE 32

RMG fate uncertain after Obama signs bill against forced labour n Tribune Desk

The government is letting private sector import around 700,000 tonnes of rice this fiscal year despite near self-sufficiency in rice production. This photo of a rice warehouse at Mohammadpur Krishi Market was taken recently SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The fate of Bangladeshi RMG exports to the US seems uncertain, after US President Barack Obama signed a bill on Wednesday barring the import of goods produced by forced labour from entering the United States.

Shipments derived from slavery will be kept out of the country under the new law that closes a legal loophole that allowed import of such goods if US demand exceeded domestic production.

Although there was no official remark on whether Bangladeshi goods would be affected by the restrictions, the US government lists garment products from Bangladesh among goods that are produced by child or forced labour.

According to a 2014 assessment by the United States Department of Labour, the other goods produced by child or forced labour in Bangladesh are bidis, bricks, dried fish, footwear, steel furniture, glass, leather, jute textiles, matches,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Tigers bowlers sink hapless UAE

n Mazhar Uddin An all-round performance by Mahmudullah in all the three departments guided Bangladesh to a convincing 51-run win over the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup Twenty20 at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Following a face-saving unbeaten 27-ball 36, Mahmudullah, who also grabbed a magnificent catch to dismiss Shaiman Anwar, picked up two wickets as the UAE, chasing 134, were skittled out for 82.

The Bangladesh bowlers did everything right with pace bowl-

ing sensation Mustafizur Rahman (2/13) returning to his usual brilliant self after disappointing in the tournament opener against India.

Skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Shakib al Hasan shared four scalps between themselves while Al Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed notched one each in what was a commanding bowling display.

Earlier, the Bangladesh batsmen were found wanting against the UAE bowlers under the Mirpur floodlights.

The UAE bowling attack started from where they had left off against Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, restricting Bangladesh to 133/8 in 20 overs.

Asked to bat first, Bangladesh opening batsmen Mohammad Mithun (47) and Soumya Sarkar (21) made a cautious start, adding 46 runs before the latter found the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah plays a shot during his match-saving 27-ball 36 against the UAE in the Asia Cup T20 in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

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BNP: Election irregularity to trigger protests n UNB BNP chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain yesterday warned that the consequences will be dire if the government intervenes in the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) polls.

Speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, he also urged BNP leaders and activists to get ready to take to the streets defying bullets to restore democracy and

people’s voting rights.

“The grassroots leaders and activists will wage a strong movement if the ruling party cadres or law enforcers intervene in the Union Parishad polls, and the government won’t be able to tackle it,” the BNP leader said.

Mahbub alleged that the government has decided to arrange the UP polls along party line as part of its conspiracy to show people its artificial popularity by manipulating

the election. “But, the government won’t be able to make the country’s people and international community fool with its trick.”

The BNP leader claimed that around their 5 million leaders and activists are being harassed and tortured across the country facing “false cases.”

To get rid of it, he said, all will have to get united to oust the current regime. “No movement in the past became successful

without sacrifices and shedding blood.”

Mahbub said the nationalist forces must carry out a movement in a democratic way to ensure the fall of the despotic regime.

“Let us get united and take to the streets together defying bullets. If we can take to the streets braving all obstacles, lakhs of people will join us under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, to force the government to quit.” l

PM to inaugurate Mohila Samity complex today n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the new complex building of Bangladesh Mohila Samity at the city’s New Bailey Road today.

Under the Tk35.44 crore project, a five-storey complex with two auditoriums have been constructed alongside a 45-seat conference room and two basements for parking. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Tigers bowlers fielder at mid-on. Mithun on the other hand looked rusty and was eventually dismissed in a rather comical way.

Following the openers’ departure, Bangladesh plunged into further trouble as Sabbir Rahman (six), Mushfiqur Rahim (four) and Shakib (13) all departed cheaply.

However, Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on 36 off 27 balls, blasting 17 runs in the 20th over to give the Tigers some sort of a fighting total.

The UAE bowlers bowled superbly and kept the Bangladesh batsmen quiet for the most part of the innings. In what was a disciplined bowling performance, Mohammad Naveed picked up two wickets while captain Amjad Javed bagged as many. l

RMG fate uncertain after Obama signs bill against forced labour poultry, salt, shrimp, soap and textiles.

When contacted, Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that there was no scope to include Bangladesh in the provision of forced labour or workers’ abuse, as “forced labour is completely banned by the constitution and there is no such abuse of women in the country.”

However, he added that an official statement would be made after a US statement reaches the Bangladeshi government and discussions are held with authorities concerned following a review.

Meanwhile, BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman said: “There is no

slavery, child labour, forced labour or abuse of RMG women workers [in Bangladesh].”

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune over phone from Singapore, he claimed that such allegations of forced labour were totally absent in other industrial sectors too.

Bangladesh is an International Labour Organisation-ratified country and follows the labour act and the ILO standards to ensure workers’ rights, the BGMEA chief added.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue, also said that allegations of abuse on female workers in the RMG sector did not reflect the reality and were unjustified.

Even in the 16 conditions outlined by the US government after the suspension of GSP, the Obama administration did not mention this issue of forced labour, he added.

Sirajul Islam Rony, president of pro-government Bangladesh National Garment Workers-Employees League, said that any allegation about abusing women in the RMG sector was insulting for the tens of thousands of workers as they were aware of their own rights through trade unions.

After the 2013 Rana Plaza incident, the level of compliance, safety, and workers’ rights had reached such great heights that there could be no abuse of women workers in

the country, Rony claimed.

US Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio, who sponsored the amendment, said Wednesday that his office was already asking the US Customs and Border Protection to ensure they begin enforcing the new rules when the law takes effect in 15 days.

“It is embarrassing that for 85 years, the US let products made with forced labour into this country, and closing this loophole gives the US an important tool to fight global slavery,” he said.

The ILO estimates that 20.9m people are victims of forced labour globally and the illegal industry is estimated to generate $150bn in profits per year. l

paddy has been the biggest contributor to Bangladesh’s near self-sufficiency in food.

Boro is processed to make cheap coarse rice. This, of course, caters to the needs of the lower-middle and lower income people, who comprise a majority of the population.

Aman, on the other hand, is another popular rice but it is a finer and relatively expensive variety.

So, naturally, Aman does not feature very prominently in the government’s stock.

According to market experts, the imported Indian rice is slightly better in quality than the coarse rice produced from Boro paddy. So, the imported rice competes with Aman and reduces its price.

Last year, the production of Aman was healthy. This year, the government is yet to release the Aman production figure but producers say the amount has remained almost the same although there has been two moderate floods.

Ministry sources said that the finance minister has probably asked the Food Ministry to not go for broad publicity for the OMS because it might affect the price of Aman, which is already reeling

from the competition with imported rice.

So, the Aman growers are likely to be the worst sufferers as their produce may remain unsold because of the excess imported rice in the market coupled with the low OMS price.

“Even the growers of coarse rice will be affected by the low OMS price. Needless to say, Aman growers would also suffer heavily,” said SK Murshid, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

Food Minister Quamrul Islam, however, does not quite agree. He said the fear of a negative impact on the price of rice is not logical.

“The low price of OMS will only serve the poorer section of people,” he said.

Strange policies make rice market volatile During the ongoing fiscal year, around 393,000 tonnes of rice have been already imported – mostly from India. Interestingly, letters of credit (L/Cs) have been opened for another 322,000 tonnes of rice, which add up to around 700,000 tonnes.

The quantity alone is not big enough to destabilise the local market. But, what has made the situation a total hodge-podge for the government is the staggering amount of rice – nearly 1.5 million tonnes – that was imported in the previous fiscal year.

A near self-sufficiency means that Bangladesh produces enough rice to feed everyone. Therefore, the huge quantity imported the previous year should theoretically remain unsold. Again people often prefer imported rice over local rice.

Whichever way it is, a huge amount of rice has remained unsold from the previous fiscal year and this is now exerting a pressure on the market.

Add to that an estimated Tk300 crore that the government will have to pay as subsidy for selling rice and flour at reduced prices, sector insiders say.

Local rice merchants had been trying to pursue the government

to impose duty to discourage importers. Early last year, months after the proposal was raised from local merchants, the government imposed a 10% duty on rice import.

In December, that was increased to 20%.

But by that time, most of the imported rice was either brought into the country or L/Cs were opened.

As a result of the high duty, however, the import of rice has remained low this year.

A stock-take

The government’s current stock of rice is now nearly 1.11 million tonnes. Almost entire of this is the coarse rice made from Boro paddy.

At this time one year ago, just before the Boro harvest, the government had a little over 1.13 million tonnes of rice in stock.

So, the scenario of the government’s collection and stock has not changed very much. The government usually uses this stock as security for future events such as major flood, cyclone or drought.

According to Nirod Boron Saha, chairman of the Husking Mill Owners’ Association, the country is headed for yet another bumper harvest of Boro in a couple of months’ time if the weather does

not go haywire.

Therefore, an open market sale of rice – in which the government sells stocked rice at a lower-than-market price to help people with low incomes – is a perfectly rational decision at this moment. Because the government needs to clear its stocks to make room for the upcoming bumper Boro harvest.

Earlier this month, the Food Ministry proposed selling 1.5 million tonnes of rice and flour in stock at reduced prices.

Usually, the government goes for massive publicity every time it launches an OMS of rice. So, why does the government not want publicity for an OMS now?

The Aman adversity

Before going to the USA last week, Finance Minister AMA Muhith wrote to Food Minister Quamrul Islam, asking him to stay low profile with this OMS. The letter that the Dhaka Tribune has seen reads that rice would be sold at Tk15 per kilogram in the OMS. Food Ministry’s latest data from February 18 shows that the lowest market price of coarse rice was Tk24.

For several decades, the Boro

The way out

Nirod Boron Saha, an influential merchant from the north, the hub of domestic rice supply in the country, said that the market could be stablised if the government starts exporting the excess rice.

Bangladesh usually does not export rice. Last fiscal year, however, around 50,000 tonnes of rice was exported to Sri Lanka experimentally. l

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Mastermind, 2 others held in Joggeshwar murder Jamil Khan in n Mohammad Dhaka and Sazzadur Rahman Sazzad in Panchagarh Police claim to have arrested three members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh including the mastermind of the killing of a Hindu priest in Panchagarh on February 21.

The trio – all suspected members of JMB that eyes establishing Shariah law in the country – were arrested in separate drives conducted in Panchagarh and Nilphamari early yesterday, Humayun Kabir, DIG of Rangpur range police, told reporters at Debiganj police station. He did not disclose their identities.

Dhaka Tribune, however, managed to identify the three arrestees.

They are Abdul Hares, 32, of Kalir-

danga village; and Ramzan Ali, 25, of Pronabad village in Debiganj; and Rabiul of Nilphamari, who allegedly collected arms and shared plans with Hares.

Police sources claimed that rickshaw-puller Hares had masterminded the attack.

The wife of Hares, Momiron Khatun, claimed that her husband had been working as a rickshaw-puller in the area for the last seven years. Earlier they used to live in Tangail. She claimed that Hares had never been involved with any militant group.

Neighbours Abdus Shahid and Mostafizur Rahman also claimed that they had not heard of Hares’ involvement in any criminal activities.

Joggeshwar Roy, 50, the principal of Sonto Gaurio Temple in

Debiganj, was slaughtered on the verandah of his house by two assailants on February 21 while neighbour Gopal Chandra Roy, 35, received bullet injuries as he tried to save the priest.

Three killers took part in the operation while five others kept the crime scene under surveillance, police claimed.

Earlier, the law enforcers arrested three suspected JMB men in the case. The latest drive was conducted based on information given by Khalil, Babul and Jahangir, who are now on a 15-day police remand.

DIG Humayun Kabir yesterday also said that they had recovered all the weapons used in the killing. A machete, two pistols, three magazines, five rounds of bullets, three knives and three crude bombs were

Marxist politician Badruddin Umar addresses a meeting organised to protest the curb on freedom of expression and the right to think at National Press Club in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

recovered from a house in Debiganj.

A bicycle used in the murder was also recovered. But the motorcycle, on which the killers had left the scene, is yet to be traced.

“We have found similarities between the recovered arms and those found after the killing of a Japanese citizen in Rangpur and the attack on a Christian priest in Dinajpur,” the official added.

The trio confessed that at least eight people were involved in the murder of Joggeshwar. “We have arrested six of them. We are hopeful that the two others will be arrested soon,” Humayun said.

IS claim made from a Patia madrasa

The tweet claiming responsibility for the murder by Dae’sh men was uploaded from a madrasa in

Chittagong’s Patia area, said Tanvir Hassan Zoha, the focal person of the ICT Ministry’s Cyber Security Programme.

US-based jihadi activities monitoring website SITE Intelligence Group recognised the tweet as a claim made by Dae’sh.

“We are trying to trace the exact location of the computer and hope to arrest the culprit,” said Zoha, who is giving technological support to the Police Bureau of Investigation.

The account had remained inactive since the day of the murder, he added.

The law enforcers earlier found that al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent had claimed responsibility for the murder of secularist Oyasiqur Rahman Babu from a madrasa at Hathazari in Chittagong. l

Ajoy Roy, father of slain blogger-writer Avijit Roy, lays flowers at the scene in Dhaka University's TSC area yesterday where his son was attacked a year ago RAJIB DHAR

Speakers: Without freedom of AVIJIT KILLING Moncho slams law enforcers expression, other rights fail n n

Tribune Report

Where freedom of expression does not exist, the public essentially have no rights, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, father of slain publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, yesterday said.

He alleged that the government was trying to establish an autocracy by suppressing freedom of expression.

'A just society cannot be created if the right to free thought is infringed upon' The government was taking away democratic rights in the name of development, Prof Fazlul Haque said at a discussion titled “Taking Away Rights of Thought and Freedom of Expression” organised by the Bangladesh Author Camp and the National Mukti Council at the National Press Club.

“Different people may have different opinions – this needs to be respected,” he said, adding: “A just society cannot be created if the right to free thought is infringed upon.”

Speaking at the discussion, Professor Dr Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University’s law department said: “The government’s hands are tied and they can at any time bind the public’s hands.”

He said the government was using the law to suppress freedom of expression. “The government’s strategy for success consisted of conducting mass arrests and crushing freedom of expression.”

Professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University, emeritus professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury and National Mukti Council President Badruddin Umar were among the attendees at the discussion presided over by Professor Fazlul Haque.

Calling freedom of expression a serious issue, Anu said: “People of all walks of life, including writers, singers and politicians, must stand together to raise awareness about it.” l

DU Correspondent

A faction of Gonojagoron Moncho has criticised the law enforcement agencies for failing to arrest assailants who hacked to death writer-blogger Avijit Roy a year ago on the Dhaka University campus.

Speaking at a discussion yesterday, Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker said: "Police claimed several times that they have identified the murderers, but they could not arrest anyone. Their insincerity is why they have failed.”

Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam on Thursday said police had found evidence of six people’s involvement in the killing and that banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team was behind the attack.

Machete-wielding assailants attacked Avijit, an engineer and administrator of Mukto-Mona blog who wrote against religious fundamentalism, and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya,

both US citizens of Bangladesh origin, on February 26 last year when they were leaving Ekushey book fair.

Moncho activists took out a torchlight procession towards the TSC last evening and placed floral wreath at the spot where Avijit was murdered.

Avijit’s father Prof Ajoy Roy said police told him that they identified several killers and were running DNA tests and scrutinising evidence from the crime scene. l

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Bigshots involved in ATM skimming scam n Mohammad Jamil Khan Many more influential persons were involved with the recent ATM booth skimming scam than initially anticipated, investigators have found.

After analysing the mobile phone and laptop of the prime suspect, Piotr Szczepan Mazurek, detectives found that top businessmen, hotel owners, bankers and other important personalities had close ties to members of the ATM scam, sources close to the investigation told the Dhaka Tribune.

A senior official of the Detective Branch even expressed his concerns that the investigation might encounter obstructions as some of the names that came up during the probe were too much of a bigshot.

However, the official refused to disclose names of the new suspects.

Seeking anonymity, the DB official said Piotr has been putting on a smile during interrogation. Piotr was quoted as saying: “Who do you think I am? I am not a street guy. I used to pay some of your top bosses.”

The involvement of the new

BD expresses concern over delay in Thai visa processing n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh has expressed its concern over the recent trend of much longer processing time for Thai visa in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem expressed the concern during a meeting with Suvat Chirapant, deputy permanent secretary in charge of visa and consular matters in Thai foreign ministry on Thursday.

“I met him expressing the government’s concern, explained him the situation in Bangladesh where visa processing period has suddenly increased by 10 times,” she told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, seeking anonymity, said Bangladesh has already submitted to the Thai foreign ministry some specific cases which showed unusually lengthy visa processing period.

“In one case, a visa seeker’s application was refused 50 days after the application was submitted. All this time, the Thai embassy kept the passport,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

In another case, a man applied for Thai visa for medical treatment. He was granted a visa, but his wife, who applied for the visa to accompany him, was rejected, he added.

Before, visa processing in Dhaka usually took three to four days, but since November the processing period has increased to 30-50 days.

He further said the visa processing period shot up to 30-40 days for many businessmen who have travelled to Thailand for many times in the past, and during that time the Thai embassy kept their passports.

The Thai Embassy in Dhaka receives 500 to 600 visa ap-

plications every day on an average. Last year, over 110,000 Bangladeshis visited the country, mostly for medical treatment and health services.

At the meeting with Deputy Permanent Secretary Suvat Chirapant, Muna Tasneem also said a large number of Bangladesh government officials, members of armed forces, businessmen, investors and bona fide tourists visit Thailand frequently each year for multiple purposes and respect the local laws and norms, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand.

The ambassador requested Thai foreign ministry to further ease up Thai visa procedures for these credible visa seekers.

Responding to a query from Bangladesh ambassador on whether there has been any changes in Thai visa policy towards Bangladesh nationals, the Thai deputy permanent secretary categorically said no such policy changes have been undertaken and assured to look into the issue of pending visa applications in Dhaka.

He thanked the ambassador for the update and expressed Thailand’s appreciation to the people of Bangladesh for choosing Thailand as their “number one” destination for medical treatment, health services and tourism.

Stating that the Thai government will always welcome more Bangladeshi tourists into Thailand, Chirapant also assured Tasneem that necessary efforts will be taken to make the visa process smoother.

Earlier this week, Tasneem also met with the chief of Thai Immigration Bureau to address the visa and immigration challenges of expatriate Bangladesh community in Thailand. l

suspects came to light after police conducted a raid at Piotr’s Gulshan residence on Thursday night and seized the Polish national’s phone, laptop and car.

Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were now busy analysing the information provided by Piotr and three other local bankers who were arrested in connection with the scam.

“Once the information is verified, actions will be taken against those responsible,” said Monirul,

also the chief of the Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Unit.

The DB official, who preferred to stay anonymous, told the Dhaka Tribune that the police was trying to estimate exactly how much money was skimmed through the scam. A letter has been drafted to be sent to Bangladesh Bank seeking assistance of private banks in assessing the damages.

The official added that a process is under way to seek Interpol’s help in arresting the suspects who had fled the country. The police were also

keeping an eye on some suspects and activities in the business community.

Law enforcers are also reviewing the background of Piotr’s wife Merina, who used to work as a receptionist at Hotel Holiday Planet, where Piotr stayed after coming to Dhaka.

Investigators said Merina was a student of University of Development Alternative who married Piotr to solve her monetary troubles.

She reportedly helped Piotr in the scam and hosted parties to entertain influential persons Piotr wanted to get close to. l

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MOAS to launch search mission in Andaman Sea n Tribune Report Global search and rescue charity MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) will begin a new drive involving search and rescue of migrants in the Andaman Sea and adjacent waters on March 3.

Ship MY Phoenix and its crew will coordinate with members of the local coast guards, navies, NGOs, experts and the media to track, monitor and, if needed, provide search and rescue services in coordination with the authorities concerned.

For the mission, MOAS will use long-distance drones to measure movement of ships that may be transporting refugees and migrants.

During meetings between MOAS of-

FlexRotor drones will be operated

by American company Precision Integrated Programmes.

MY Phoenix will sail out in early March and remain at sea for a minimum of four weeks. At the end of the period, MOAS will review the findings and funding provisions with stakeholders.

MOAS will be operating within the existing legal framework of the laws of the sea and has engaged in open dialogue with all regional stakeholders, including Malaysia and Thailand.

The crew of MY Phoenix include maritime, security, medical, linguistics, migration, mapping and aviation experts. They will be supported by MOAS staff in Malta and a variety of international experts

technological capability. Data gathered will be analysed and the results will be shared. The goal is to bring a better understanding and awareness of the problem and encourage everyone to work for sustainable solutions.

MY Phoenix will be supported by two other organisations.

Malta-based MigrantReport.org, a news organisation that focuses on migration issues, will be providing information via its ground networks. Also, Fortify Rights, a human rights organisation based in Southeast Asia with experience in working closely with refugee communities in the region, will manage data collection and documentation as well as provide contextual guidance. The innovative Aerovel

ficials and various local and national governments, it was agreed that preventing the loss of lives at sea was a high-priority issue.

“The task of MY Phoenix will be to observe and analyse irregular movement of vessels at sea with the goal of supporting local stakeholders in providing an enhanced life-saving response. Our aim is to generate a better understanding of the movement of refugees and migrants, and be ready to assist in cases where there is an imminent risk of loss of life,” said MOAS founder Christopher Catrambone.

MOAS will be the first NGO to provide a comprehensive firsthand regional assessment of irregular migration and trafficking using a vessel with an unprecedented

and professionals to assist in the core objectives.

“As we have already successfully done in the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas, we are cooperating and participating in an ongoing dialogue with regional stakeholders to see how our mission can be best performed. We are leaving no stone unturned in our mission to mitigate loss of life at sea,” said MOAS Director Martin Xuereb.

“The Rohingyas have faced abuses for decades and untold numbers have died at sea,” said Matthew Smith, co-executive director of Fortify Rights. “Until the root causes are addressed in Myanmar, we’re going to see more people risking their lives in perilous journeys at sea.” l

13 held for protest over govt job entry age limit n DU Correspondent At least 13 students of different colleges and universities were detained yesterday as they blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital demanding that the age limit to enter government jobs be increased to 35 from 30.

A group of students under the banner of Sadharan Chhatra Parishad blocked the intersection from 4:30pm to 5pm, disrupting traffic.

Police later charged batons to disperse the demonstrators and detained 13 of them, including Sadharan Chhatra Parishad President Imtiaz Hossain. However, the protesters again gathered in front of the National Museum, chanting slogans to highlight their demand.

Inspector of Shahbagh police station Zafar Ali said the demonstrators were dispersed in order to avoid traffic congestion.

Earlier in the day, students formed a human chain in front of the National Museum, and said thousands of their fellows could not apply for government jobs because of conditions regarding age.

A protester said: “A student reaches around 28 when he or she finishes university education. This is why they get only two or three years to prepare themselves for government jobs, which is inadequate. So, the age limit should be increased.”

“When the life expectancy was 50, we had the age limit of 30. Now as the life expectancy has jumped to 75, should not the age limit be increased as well?”

Several students said session jams at government colleges and universities eat up too much of their valuable time in life.

According to existing rules, candidates can apply for jobs in the public sector until they reach 30. l

Police detain a number of protesters who blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital yesterday to demand that the age limit for entering government jobs be raised to 35 RAJIB DHAR

Bangladesh keen to set up RMG factories in Myanmar n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

As Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy prepares to take the reins from the country’s ruling military junta next month, Bangladesh is looking to see if ties between the two countries can be deepened.

“We hope that with the change of government in Myanmar, the situation will improve,” a senior Bangladesh government official

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

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Bangladesh has proposed the setting up of a Border Liaison Office under which the security forces of the two countries will cooperate to manage the international border.

“We expect that when it is put in place most border problems will be solved quickly where they arise,” said another official, also asking not to be identified.

Dhaka has also proposed a comprehensive agreement on security and development which was posi-

Myanmar, and vice versa, but they have not yet responded,” he added.

Bangladesh would also like to finance development projects like schools and hospitals, and construct road and bridges in Rakhine state, to improve the quality of life of its residents, the official said.

In security and development, Bangladesh has proposed two agreements – one has been agreed by both sides and the other is currently being negotiated.

said, asking not to be named.

The official said Bangladesh had put forward a number of proposals for improving bilateral relations.

The government has twice proposed the setting up of RMG factories in Rakhine state that would hire only Myanmar nationals as workers, the official said.

“We invited them to sign an agreement on setting up industries in the border areas where Bangladeshi entrepreneurs could invest in

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tively received, he added.

To increase people-to-people contact, Bangladesh has proposed to give scholarships to Myanmar students to study at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka Medical College and Dhaka University.

“Dhaka University and Yangon University are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to further cooperation in higher studies,” the official said. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 5:07am | Zohr: 12:12am Asr: 4:22pm | Magrib: 6:00pm Esha: 7:29pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

LGED Chief Engineer Shyama Prosad Adhikari speaks as the chief guest at a seminar and workshop on the progress of the LGED projects in Rangpur division yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Rangpur LGED meet emphasises 100% ADP implementation n Our Correspondent, Rangpur The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has implemented development works costing about Tk16,000 crore so far and the majority of the work has been done in the Rangpur Division, a review meeting has been told.

LGED’s Chief Engineer Shyama Prosad Adhikari attended yesterday’s meeting in Rangpur as the chief guest, along with 400 other LGED officials.

The development review meeting emphasised full implementation of the Annual Development Programme. The government, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Jica

and Saudi fund are financing 35 projects for development of the city, rural areas and water in the Rangpur Division.

Apart from it, the LGED has taken up a government-funded Tk190 crore special project for the welfare of residents of recently abolished enclaves, the meeting was told.

Moreover, the LGED is supervising the construction of a 1,490-metre bridge on the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat.

Chief Engineer Shyama Prasad advised LGED officials to pay attention to the quality of work and meet deadlines. They were also advised to repair roads in dry season to mitigate people’s sufferings. l

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News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

LGED Chief Engineer Shyama Prosad Adhikari speaks as the chief guest at a seminar and workshop on the progress of the LGED projects in Rangpur division yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Rangpur LGED meet emphasises 100% ADP implementation n Our Correspondent, Rangpur The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has implemented development works costing about Tk16,000 crore so far and the majority of the work has been done in the Rangpur Division, a review meeting has been told.

LGED’s Chief Engineer Shyama Prosad Adhikari attended yesterday’s meeting in Rangpur as the chief guest, along with 400 other LGED officials.

The development review meeting emphasised full implementation of the Annual Development Programme. The government, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Jica

and Saudi fund are financing 35 projects for development of the city, rural areas and water in the Rangpur Division.

Apart from it, the LGED has taken up a government-funded Tk190 crore special project for the welfare of residents of recently abolished enclaves, the meeting was told.

Moreover, the LGED is supervising the construction of a 1,490-metre bridge on the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat.

Chief Engineer Shyama Prasad advised LGED officials to pay attention to the quality of work and meet deadlines. They were also advised to repair roads in dry season to mitigate people’s sufferings. l

DT

8

News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Scarcity of water hits boro Man found dead in Chittagong farming in Khagrachhari n Tribune Report

Correspondent, n Our Khagrachhari Most cultivable land in Khagrachhari remain uncultivable due to scarcity of water as three hill rivers have almost dried this winter season.

Tractors used for carrying soil and woods are now running on the river bed every day as these rivers have no water causing multiple sufferings to hill people.

District Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said the total land of Khagrachhari is around 270,000 hectares.

Only 30,000 hectares out of 270,000 hectares is cultivable land. Immediate past crop’s Amon paddy had cultivated on around 27,000 hectares of land, but boro is cultivated only on 7,000 hectares of land.

The DAE has set a target to

bring at least 10,000 hectares of land under Boro cultivation this season. But the rest 20,000 hectares of land are remain almost uncultivatable due to water crisis.

The big sources of water in hill the district are Chengi, Mainee and Feni Rivers. But all three rivers are drying fast due to silt deposition.

Aminul Islam, a villager of Mohamuni under Ramgorh upazila in the district, said Feni River had almost dried as no dredging had been done in the previous years.

Former principal of Khagrachhari Government College Dr Sudhin Kumar Chakma said once all sorts of trade in the district were continued using boats, launch and steamers on Chengi, Mainee and Feni rivers. But all three rivers have lost its character and now turned as waterless

narrow canal.

“It is not only affecting paddy cultivation, but also our bio-diversity” Dr Sudhin Kumar Chakma.

Mohammad Shamsu Mia said they were used Chengi River for transporting all kinds of goods from Khagrachhari to Rangamati and Chittagong. They used to net fishes from the river and cultivated all river bank land using river water.

Tarun Kumar Battachariya, deputy director of Khagrachhari district agriculture extension, echoed the same thing.

He also said: “Deforestation is the main cause behind the situation of the river.”

He said people would have to face dangerous natural calamities in future if they would not stop anti-environmental activities. l

Man killed in Gopalganj over selling sand Correspondent, n Our Gopalganj

A man was killed in a clash between two groups of villagers at Nokhrirchar, Gopalgnaj Sadar upazila yesterday over selling sand.

Local sources said there had been a long-standing dispute between two group of villagers over grabbing char land.

One Khaza Mollik went to

sell sand from Baor quarry located at Nokhrirchar, then another person namely Alamin tried to resist him. At one stage, they locked into scuffle over the issue.

Hearing the news, supporters of them rushed to spot with local weapons and locked into a clash, leaving Kabir Sardar, 42, critically injured.

She was rushed to Gopalganj Sadar Hopital where on

duty doctors declared him dead.

During the clash, supporters of both groups vandalised 10 houses.

Officer-in-Charge of Gopalganj police station Selim Reza told the Dhaka Tribune that additional police had been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.

He also said police had detained several people in connection with the incident. l

Teachers in Dacope suffer as their institutions left out of MPO n Tribune Report Some 150 teachers and employees along with their families are leading an inhuman life as eight educational institutions in Dakope upazila are yet to be brought under the government’s MPO (Monthly Pay Order) facility.

Sources at Upazila Secondary Education Office said there are 44 high schools, five colleges and five madrasahs in the upazila, and eight of those, including a college and a madrasah, are yet to be brought under the MPO facility.

Though the authorities of these educational institutions have already applied for government’s allocation in this regard, there has been no visible progress.

Tapon Kumar Mondol, headmaster of Talukder Akter Faruk High School, said his institution was established in 2000 and it has not been brought under MPO though it has teaching students without any fee.

“Even though we’ve applied for several times and staged demonstrations for our inclusion under MPO, the authorities concerned didn’t

enlist our institution …now we’ve to teach our students under open sky due to classroom shortage,” lamented the headmaster.

Alokesh Roy, who recently quit the job as a teacher, said, “I worked for 12 years without any salary, now I have no way but to quit it to support my family in any other way.”

Locals said if the authorities concerned do not take steps for including these eight educational institutions in MPO facility, their teachers and employees will leave their jobs soon. l

Police yesterday recovered body of an unidentified person from Halishahar area, Chittagong city yesterday.

Sub-Inspector of Halishahar police station Mustafizur Rahman said local had spotted the body of an unidentified person near Bangladesh Army’s Halishahar Firing

Range area and informed police about the matter.

Later, police recovered the body and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

Police are suspecting that the man might have killed in a road accident.

The body was handed over to Anjuman Mafidul Islam for burial, added the SI. l

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Learn English

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Pre-reading task What do you think the words ‘knights’, ‘squires’ and ‘dawn raids’ mean?

Now, read the article and check if your answers are correct.

Exercise 1 Comprehension: Multiple choice. For each question choose the correct answer: 1. A company might choose to merge with a larger one because . . .

• it wants to trade under a wellknown name.

• it needs financial help to grow.

• it can’t manage its business efficiently.

Mergers

2. A company may want to merge with a ‘white knight’ . . .

• to keep control of its own business.

• to gain control over a competitor.

• to avoid being taken over by another company.

BIGSTOCK

n Margaret O’Keeffe ‘Hostile takeovers,’ ‘dawn raids,’ ‘black knights’ and ‘white squires’ . . . this warlike terminology, believe it or not, is the language of business – and in particular the language of take-overs and mergers.

With all this military sounding jargon, it’s not surprising that people often see mergers as aggressive. So what are the motives behind mergers, and what do all the terms mean?

Two companies often combine, or merge, because it benefits them both. A small company may have plans to grow, but doesn’t have the capital. Joining forces with a larger company can help them realise their plans, while the larger partner benefits by expanding its range of products or services.

But it also happens that smaller companies become the victims of an

aggressive attempt by a larger company to take control of their business. Or, in more dramatic terminology, a ‘black knight’ makes a ‘hostile take-over bid.’ In these situations the smaller company may decide to merge with another company of their choice, rather than being forced into an aggressive take-over. This preferred company is known as a ‘white knight.’

A ‘white knight’ will be big enough to take control of the smaller company, but on terms they both agree. So what’s a ‘white squire?’ Well, this refers to a company that isn’t powerful enough to control the smaller company, but which is able to buy enough of its shares to stop the ‘black knight’ from making the take-over.

Sometimes, however, it’s too late for knights or squires to come to the rescue.

If the company planning the take-over is particularly cunning, they may make a ‘dawn raid.’ This involves getting to the

Word search

stock market as soon as it opens in the morning and buying up enough shares in the victim’s company to gain control.

Before the smaller company knows what’s happened, they’ve been taken over.

So clearly there are many kinds of player involved in a merger. But there are also many kinds of merger – the vertical merger and the horizontal merger, to name but two.

A vertical merger happens when a company takes control of one of its suppliers. A horizontal merger, on the other hand, is when a company merges with one of its direct competitors. The kind of merger companies choose will depend on their overall business strategies.

So now, if someone tells you that a black knight is planning a dawn raid to make a vertical take-over of their family business, you’ll be able to nod wisely and tell them that what they need is to find a white knight. l

The ideas factory

2

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

5 white squire 4 white knight

Answers

6a 5b

2c

4a

1b Exercise 1

3 black knight 2 hostile take-over 1 merger Exercise 2

Want to find more learning activities?

Visit www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

3c

A_gre_sive M_rger Comb_ne squires Hori_ont_l Strate_ies H_stile K_ights Verti_al

3. A ‘white squire’ is a company that . . .

• attempts to take over another company but fails.

• is the victim if a ‘black knight’ stages an aggressive take-over.

• can stop an aggressive take-over from happening.

4. In a ‘dawn raid’, an aggressive company takes control of another by . . .

• buying up shares on the stock market.

• secretly persuading top managers that it’s a good idea.

• suddenly taking control of the company’s suppliers.

5. An example of a vertical merger would be . . .

• two rival travel agents merging.

• a construction company merging with its cement supplier.

• a fast food company merging with a publisher.

6 An example of a horizontal merger would be . . .

• two rival travel agents merging.

• a construction company merging with its cement supplier.

• a fast food company merging with a publisher.

Exercise 2 Vocabulary: Matching. Choose the correct words to fill the gaps in the sentences: black knight / hostile take-over / merger / white knight / white squire 1.

A ........ is when two companies join.

2. Sometimes a merger happens against the wishes of the smaller company – this is called a ........

3. A company making an aggressive take-over is known as a ........

4. A small company may choose to be taken over by a ........

5. A ........ can stop a merger without taking over.

© British Council 2016

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Feature

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Coca-Cola’s 5BY20 progesses in Bangladesh The Coca-Cola Company’s global program, 5by20, saw its second phase launch in Khulna and Bagerhat. The program, which seeks to empower five million women economically worldwide by 2020, was adapted into the Women Business Centre program in Bangladesh.

The first phase, which was launched in Jamalpur in 2015 with 10 women business centres, helped train 10,125 women beneficiaries on agricultural production, marketing services, mobile and computer services, and basic healthcare last year.

The women business centre project aims to address common barriers women face in the marketplace by providing access to business skills training, market information, agriculture training and inputs, mobile banking

assistance, healthcare inputs and counselling, mentoring and networking opportunities.

The groups of five women entrepreneurs running each WBC in every village are provided seed capital for setting up the centre, skill-based training on the aforementioned fields, and assets for operations. The initiative in Bangladesh is implemented by Concern Universal, a non-profit organisation.

The success of the first phase was driven by women entrepreneurs, who worked as change agents to empower more rural women. They reached out to the extended groups of women in the same and neighbouring villages and trained them on income generating skills.

Additionally, they provided many of the services which these

women required apart from being instrumental in the establishment of active women groups.

The 5by20 program reaffirms Coca-Cola’s commitment to inclusive growth and development by serving the larger societal need of

empowering women and promoting inclusivity. By providing access to business skills, financial services, assets and a support network of peers and mentors, this program aims to help empower women to achieve their

entrepreneurial dreams, while also creating thriving, sustainable communities. Key partners for the global initiative include UN Women, IFC, Techno Serve, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IDB and Mercy Corps, among other NGOs. l

PATA appoints Tiger Tours Limited founder Abdul-Muyeed Chowdhury, founder and CEO of Tiger Tours Limited, has recently been nominated to be a member of the prestigious Industry Council of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for the 20162018 term. Currently under the chairmanship of Sarah Mathews, the Industry Council Nominating Committee has selected Chowdhury to contribute to the discussion of key issues and challenges facing the tourism and travel industry, Moreover, the newly set member must also provide viable solutions to shape the association’s focus by formulating policies that support the association’s advocacy role within the industry with key stakeholders and government bodies. The news was personally delivered to him via email by Halona Padiachy, director, International Partnerships, PATA, straight from PATA headquarters.

About Abdul-Muyeed Chowdhury: After six years of executive directorship at BRAC, AbdulMuyeed Chowdhury is currently the chairperson of BRACnet Limited along with being the founder and CEO of Tiger Tours Limited. He completed his M.A in Modern History (First Class) from University of Dhaka in 1965 and started his

career as CSP of 1967 batch.

He also attended University of Tennessee (Knoxville, USA) for nine months as a Fulbright scholar to study Public Administration. During his career as a civil servant under the Bangladesh Government, after over three decades of service, he reached the position of permanent secretary in 1994.

Moreover, from 1991 to 1994 he has also served as the CEO for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, during which it enjoyed great profitability. A mention worthy milestone was the $950 million Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge project that he successfully implemented in 1998 with the help of World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the government of Japan. In light of this achievement, he was made a Fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE). He also started Tiger Tours Limited with the vision of establishing Bangladesh as a global tourist destination and building the nation.

About PATA: A not-for profit association, Pacific Asia Travel

Symphony Mobile organises partners meet

Association (PATA) was founded in 1951. It is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations. It comprises of 88 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 22 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 62 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. l

Symphony Mobile recently organised “Partners Meet 2015” in Penang, Malaysia. A total of 110 dealers and high officials from Symphony participated in the three-day program. This is a usual act for Symphony Mobile for their dealers every year.

Chairman of the company Aminur Rashid expressed his gratitude to the dealers for

their valuable support in the continuous progress of the company. In his speech, he said: “In Bangladesh, now, Symphony is one of the biggest brands, and this has been possible only through our partner’s contributions.”

One Telecom was awarded as the “Best Dealer” with a crest and certificate for their special contribution aswell. l

DT

Editorial 11

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

INSIDE

Of lieutenant generals and secretaries general PAGE 12

The fickle switch PAGE 13

BIGSTOCK

Climate change PAGE 14

More co-operation needed to ensure financing for RMG upgrades

I Circumstancial evidence PAGE 19

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

Send us your Op-Ed articles:

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

t is reported that no funds have been disbursed from a $200 million fund set up by the EU, IFC, and JICA to offer low-interest loans to RMG factories for carrying out remediation works.

The BGMEA, BKMEA, and major buying brands should talk with factory owners to assess the reasons why take-up is lagging.

Efforts by the government, ILO, and the buyer-based multi-stakeholder initiatives, Accord and Alliance, have been making welcome progress on factory inspections.

A majority of factories have either demonstrated full compliance or have successfully been able to progress financing for required remediation efforts.

However, there is still a significant cohort of 522 RMG factories identified

by Accord as having made less than 40% progress on remediation works to improve their workplace safety.

The BGMEA is meeting this week with 80 factory owners in this group to get to know the reasons behind the slow progress of their remediation works.

As there is demonstrably still a clear need for more remediation works to be carried out, all stakeholders in the garments sector need to work together better to maximise the financing available for remediation works and upgrades.

Better conditions and factories will not only help workers but benefit consumers and buyers by helping to raise productivity and quality The best way that buyers can help is by investing more in long-term orders and building relationships with producers to enhance the sector’s cash flow and enable factory owners to secure funds to keep upgrading standards.

For its part, the government should do more to help factory owners develop new, modern, fully compliant factories. It should free up underused, stateowned land for the development of new SEZs and industrial parks with access to reliable gas and power access, to encourage investors to develop new factories where productivity and standards can be cost-effectively improved.

All stakeholders need to work together better to maximse the financing available for remediation

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12

Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Of lieutenant generals and secretaries general Both Yaqub Khan and Boutros-Ghali were faced with decisions on genocide United States Congress had had enough of such appeasement, and over President Clinton’s initial disapproval and howls of protests by the UN bureaucrats, passed legislation that cut off the UN secretary general’s veto option on the use of American forces in the Balkans, and eventually American airstrikes and military advice helped stop the genocide as Bosnians were able to protect what little was left of their once thriving multi-cultural society.

The man most responsible for getting Boutros-Ghali’s thumb off of the Bosnians was the US Senate’s majority leader Bob Dole, a WWII veteran like Yaqub Khan, who had seen and known firsthand what genocide looked like; he knew what Dr Boutros-Ghali failed to acknowledge: There was a genocide going on in Bosnia.

Wars are never pleasant affairs, and professional warriors know so far better than career bureaucrats. What sets chivalrous and prudent warriors apart from their bureaucratic fellowmen is that the former realise when it is a folly to unleash force and when it is necessary to do so.

Many bureaucrats and politicians like Boutros-Ghali looked at war with the bizarrely detached outlook of academics, either cheering lustily for any war or shirking away like cowards from

The decision to go to war is not an easy one

n Esam Sohail

T

he relatively unheralded deaths of two global statesmen within weeks of each other this year lends a curious, and yet ironic, human face to the perpetual dichotomy between peace-makers and warriors, politicians and soldiers, prejudice and pride. Yet, what underlines their respective moments in life is their role in one of the most ancient rituals of human conflict: Genocide.

A prince amongst warriors in the both literal and figurative sense, Yaqub Khan made a fateful decision in the spring of 1971 that his code of honour as a gentleman and an officer did not allow him to do what his superiors demanded.

Rather than use his guns and tanks on his theretofore own unarmed compatriots, the scion of the Rampur royalty gave up his uniform and, with it, the ambition for which he was, till then, almost destined: Chief of staff of the Pakistan Army.

It was an ambition for which he had trained, sacrificed, and bled through three wars, in one of which he actually faced, on the

other side of a Himalayan ridge, a battalion led by his own brother.

The officer who didn’t shirk from his duty against his own sibling in 1948 considered it equally his duty not to become part of a genocide in the making, no matter how far up the orders came from.

Thus ended a military career so close to the ultimate pinnacle, but a prize denied by the call of honour. Decades later, the Sahibzada would become a successful foreign minister, UN mediator, and university president whose fluency in the languages of Shakespeare, Tagore, Ghalib, and Goethe made him a soughtafter sage for those seeking to understand the world at its most instinctual.

But the consummate soldier who served admirably in the deserts of North Africa, the peaks of the Himalayas, and the plains of the Punjab, would never become the chief of army staff, a position which would, eventually, go to the man who succeeded him in Dhaka and orchestrated the genocide with which Yaqub Khan refused to sully his uniform.

At the telling moment of his career, Dr Boutros-Ghali was also

Wars are never pleasant affairs, and professional warriors know so far better than career bureaucrats. What sets chivalrous and prudent warriors apart from their bureaucratic fellowmen is that the former realise when it is a folly to unleash force and when it is necessary to do so

faced with an agonising decision on how to handle genocide. At the pinnacle of his profession in the Egyptian foreign ministry, Boutros-Ghali was the first Arab to be chosen to become the secretary general of the United Nations, the ultimate gift the global community has to bestow upon a diplomat.

The international sanctions on the dissolving rumps of former Yugoslavia were in place and allowed foreign intervention only under the most pressing of circumstances when both NATO and the UN secretary general agreed to such a measure. By 1993, it was obvious to all except the professional international bureaucrats in New York and Brussels, that, rather than a fight between merely several

ethnicities, the conflict in Bosnia was a one-sided extermination campaign by the fully-armed Serbians (who had inherited Yugoslavia’s massive military) against the multi-religious, multiethnic, pluralist Bosnian society.

Concentration camps, rape camps, and targeted bombings of markets, museums, and universities left no doubt that this was a genocide in the making. Even a hesitant President Clinton and NATO commanders wanted to do something to stop the genocide; Dr Boutros-Ghali refused his authorisation month after month, as the killings, rapes, and brutalisation continued.

The UN secretary general’s excuse? He didn’t want to make things any worse! Fortunately, the

it in all circumstances. In the case of Boutros-Ghali, his conceit was paid for by the tens of thousands whose graves dot places like Srebrenica, Tuzla, and Mostar.

Shakespeare said that “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” The shattered lives of those who survived the Bosnian genocide is a testament to Boutros Boutros-Ghali; in the case of General Yaqub Khan, news of his death elicited a perfunctory condolence from a few politicians in his country and then it was off to the dazzle of the professional cricket league again. l Esam Sohail is an educational research analyst and college lecturer of social sciences. He writes from Kansas, USA.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

The fickle switch The Lahore Literary Festival has achieved a Promethean victory

n FS Aijazuddin

T

he Lahore Literary Festival has become a light-switch in the hands of the Punjab administration, to be flicked on and off at a whim.

In case participants at last year’s LLF had forgotten how official permission to hold the event had been withheld until the night before the festival was due to commence, this year they were reminded that such permissions, like the supply of electricity in our country, should not be taken for granted.

One would have thought that the success of previous LLFs, reinforced by the equally happy experience of sister festivals in Karachi and in Islamabad, would have reassured officialdom by now -- however, while the concept of a literary fiesta was revolutionary, its conduct is not.

International and local scholars, writers, poets, artists, and critics gather for a few days to talk to audiences about their craft, to pose obligingly with readers for selfies, give interviews, promote and autograph their books, and then return home laden with publications exchanged with fellow authors.

There is nothing subversive in their assembly. They leave no gunpowder behind. Perhaps it is this very innocuousness that disturbs the equanimity of glassyeyed administrators.

They wonder how such innocent pleasures cannot be sinful, why such congregations can be anything but seditious.

Planning for LLF 2016 began last February, the moment LLF 2015 ended. Experience of the last became the template for the next. During the intervening year, official NOCs were obtained, bookings made at the Alhamra Arts Complex, delegates sourced and invited, a matrix designed of 91 choice sessions spread over three days at six separate accessible venues. Everything was in place for LLF 2016 to commence on February 19.

Suddenly, on the night of February 18, rumours began to permeate, like the noxious ethers in Bhopal, threatening the very life of the LLF. First, that the LLF had been cancelled; then, that permission would be granted but only for two days; later, that the truncated LLF could be held, but at another location.

Some organisers were led to believe that no Indian invitee

It will take more than bureaucratic war to keep literature enthusiasts away would be permitted to speak, except for Ms Sharmila Tagore, at the inaugural session and the arthistorian Dr BN Goswamy at the concluding one. The LLF team was told to relocate, overnight.

In a trice, they set up camp across the road, in the Avari Hotel.

It must have been a logistical nightmare, not unlike the tent camp movements endured in 1837

by Miss Emily Eden, the sister of Lord Auckland, the GovernorGeneral: “It seems somehow wicked to move 12,000 people with their tents, elephants, camels, horses, trunks, etc for so little, but there is no help for it.”

Orders have to be carried out.

Officialdom never supplies the means; it merely demands the ends.

This is not the first time such whimsy has been flaunted. Who can forget the occasion when, in 1996, a day before the Cricket World Cup was due to be played in Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, the then Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Nakai threatened to cancel the match.

His pout was that no CM’s enclosure had been created to accommodate his friends and constituents. No amount

BIGSTOCK

The LLF is the modern Prometheus. Shackled, it has its liver eaten away repeatedly by the eagle of bureaucracy. Yet, it survives. In 2016, LLF created from its own wreck yet another laudable, splendid success

of persuasion could dilute his petulance. In the end, he got his seats, and the World Cup organisers their fixture.

Twenty years later, the LLF 2016 -- compressed, oppressed, but never depressed -- fought valiantly to survive. Deflecting every challenge, dislodging every obstacle, it brought brightness and light into the public recesses of a darkening Lahore.

Such a Promethean victory, however, does not go unnoticed, or unpunished. The cook-book and travel writer Madhur Jaffery was incarcerated in a club and forced to taste offerings stewed by its unimaginative chef.

Hosts living in Lahore’s sacrosanct cantonment were

“advised” to rearrange their dinner for LLF delegates to a less sensitive area, like Scotch Corner.

The actress Sharmila Tagore -- an ageless diva -- was invited to meet the prime minister of Pakistan and his family at Raiwind.

Young when she was, he found it impossible to resist a long dormant impulse to meet his screen heroine in person. If only his underlings had shared his infatuation.

The very next day, Ms Tagore was turned back from Wagah border for failing to report to the police before departing for India.

The LLF is the modern Prometheus. Shackled, it has its liver eaten away repeatedly by

the eagle of bureaucracy. Yet, it survives. Shelley’s lines from “Prometheus Unbound” are a prescient ode to LLF’s spirit: “To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite/To forgive wrongs darker than death or night/To defy Power which seems omnipotent/To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates/ From its own wreck the thing it contemplates.”

In 2016, LLF created from its own wreck yet another laudable, splendid success. And it achieved this, despite the whimsical flick of a switch. l FS Aijazuddin lives in Lahore and is a columnist for Dawn, Pakistan’s main English-language newspaper. This article first appeared in Dawn.

DT

14

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Climate Change

Indigenous knowledge can help fight extreme weather n Md Shafiqul Islam

I

ndigenous or local knowledge, passed down from generation to generation is a valuable resource for Bangladeshis living with extreme weather conditions.A study on the “use of local knowledge systems in drought prediction and extreme weather management” uncovered interesting findings on local knowledge and coping strategies in three districts in the droughtprone Barind area, situated in the northwest region of Bangladesh.

Before the invention of modern technologies, people used nature to predict natural disasters and extreme weather events. The elderly are still reliant on local knowledge in predicting extreme weather events. Indigenous or traditional knowledge systems use the appearance of certain insects, birds, animals, and weather as signals of change in seasonality and impending disasters.

The Barind Tracts are prone to drought due to its geographical location. Over the years, drought has caused huge damage to the crops, livestock, fisheries, horticultural production, and livelihoods. Indigenous knowledge is fundamental in making decisions on agriculture, natural resource management, economic activities, and a host of other activities in rural societies.

Our study uncovered the following indications for both drought and heavy rainfall in the Barind area:

Indigenous knowledge indicating drought

Ü Pigeons lay on the ground by spreading their feathers Ü Western sky appearing bright red during sunset Ü Frequent lightning followed by thunder in the eastern sky at night Ü Termites den and mound in dry soil is thought as indication of extreme drought Ü Flying of hoppers Ü Rainbows appearing in the eastern side

Indigenous knowledge indicating rainfall

Ü Snails climbing on trees, earthworm crawling all over the ground, and ants moving to safer places Ü Ant’s upward movement also indicates immense rainfall Ü Black ants accumulating eggs and grains in secure places Ü Termites den and mound in wet soil Ü Blaring/croaking of frogs Ü Rainbows appearing on the western side Ü The chirping of Fatik pakhi (Common lora) during the period of October to April

Snails can be predictors of rainfall

BIGSTOCK

Farmers have adapted by using a hat made of bamboo, locally known as mathal to protect them from extreme sunlight. They also use moringa leaves as vegetables to protect them from the heat which also helps to balance body temperature and consume a soft drink made from brown palm sugar to keep cool

Indigenous methods to protect against extreme weather events

Indigenous practices to protect against extreme weather events are a combination of belief, myths, and age-old practices.

Common mitigation and coping measures against drought include local methods of storing water, changing food habits, agricultural practices and lifestyle changes.

Drinking water is scarce and it is extremely hot during the drought period. People in the Barind area, collect drinking water from far away and store it in a mud pot to keep the water cool.

Drought prone areas often face shortage of food and people in these areas eat kolai ruti (Bread) to sustain them for a long time.

Drought resistant and drought tolerant crops are grown when there are signs of immediate

drought and low rainfall. Advance fishing is done in the early stage of drought and is dried to be eaten later when food supply is low.

To protect agriculture against extreme weather impacts people use mulches around fruit trees in their homestead gardens and crop fields.

The practice conserves soil moisture and reduces the impact of extreme temperature by lowering soil temperature. Planting trees also protects against drought and extreme weather impacts.

Extreme sunlight makes hard work on the farm even harder.

Farmers have adapted by using a hat made of bamboo, locally known as mathal, to protect them from extreme sunlight.

They also use moringa leaves as vegetables to protect them from the heat which also helps

to balance body temperature and consume a soft drink made from brown palm sugar to keep cool.

People also wrap themselves with wet clothes to keep cool from extreme temperatures during the day time and bathe two to three times a day.

To manage the high temperature in their homes, people in the Barind areas spread grass on their corrugated iron sheet roof and create an extra ceiling made of bamboo, wood, clothes, or jute stick.

Few infrastructural measures are adopted by the local people including excavation or reexcavation of ponds, canals, or mini-ponds to store water for domestic use and irrigation.

The local knowledge found in rural communities in the Barind area is a combination of skills

and techniques gained through experiences needed to live and survive in a tough environment.

Not all the local knowledge has remained relevant.

People have developed a wide array of coping strategies and their local knowledge and practices provide an important basis for facing ever increasing intensity and frequency of drought brought on by climate change. With the impacts of climate change getting worse, rural communities will need additional support to effectively manage drought and weather extremes. l Md Shafiqul Islam (shafiqul.islam@ulab. edu.bd) is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh and a PhD student, Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka.

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.

15

DT

Arts & Letters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Editor’s Note

W

hat began as a weeklong fair in the late 1970s has gradually evolved as a month-long festival of books since the 1980s, becoming one of the most anticipated literary events for readers and writers alike. The Ekushey Book Fair, which sees thousands of readers swarm to the fair ground, does not only speak of a thriving publishing industry but also of a glorious part of our history as a nation. Taking place in the month of February, fostering among the new generations the spirit of the language movement, it is now a part of our cultural identity.

Having said that, the question arises whether we have been able to protect its sanctity from the forces that had once attempted to ban Bangla from all academic and official activities, to eliminate our rich, secular cultural heritage? The answer is a no if we look

INSIDE

at the continued attacks on freethinking writers and publishers.

Even 64 years after the language movement, we are haunted by the ideological legacy of Pakistan.

}

Taking place in the month of February ... it is now a part of our cultural identity

On Feb 26 last year, writer-blogger Avijit Ray was brutally killed by alleged religious extremists, minutes after he walked out of the fair. The first time the nation witnessed anything like this was in 2004 when Humayun Azad had come under a similar attack after he, too, came out of the fair. What they had in common was a ration-

16

al way of seeing things and an unfluctuating stance against extremist forces that had committed crimes against humanity in 1971.

But why were they both attacked in a similar manner and around the same place near the fair? Evidently, the air of free spirit permeating the fair is something the attackers cannot bear with.

The killings that followed Avijit’s and the way the authorities handled a publisher last week give us all valid reasons to be worried.

We nonetheless believe that the language movement is what binds us all together, irrespective of our differences in terms of race, gender and class and that the Ekushey Book Fair is our strongest expression of that spirit which embraces all languages and views.

It is in this belief that we dedicate this issue of the Arts & Letters to the Ekushey Boi Mela. l

Interview: Mohiuddin Ahmed

18

The utterances are of mourning Abul Hasan

I do not see the meek wife anywhere nor do I see the baby struggling to walk.

The wind spread gold and silver like cotton fibres.

I see the swans these days, moving with their soft bodies, and I see those same, familiar faces.

I do not see my younger brother anywhere nor do I see my younger sister wearing her supple nose-ring; I do not see them anymore.

But that bride, that mumbling baby -I do not see them anymore.

Has the wife become a swan?

Has the baby then turned into the blazing sun in a green field, green sky?

A lot many wars are over after a sea of blood.

Books at Ekushey Boi Mela

I see only flags and festivals and independence.

Is my brother then that independent flag?

Is my sister, then, the festival on the dark scaffold?

Translated by A&L desk.

Send your submissions to: anl@dhakatribune.com

DT

Arts & Letters

16

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

INTERVIEW

‘New writers are not comin n Rifat Munim

academic results.

I doubt young people these days bring up books in their addas, not at least as frequently as we did. Then there are the English medium students who have a commendable reading habit but they are not reading the local authors, they are buying mostly imported books.

T

he Gulshan office of University Press Limited has a corporate touch to it. The furniture is sleek, the decor elegant. But I was used to an old set of furniture and not-so-well-painted office which smelled only of papers and books. Mohiuddin Ahmed’s room in the old Motijheel office had book-filled shelves all over the place, some as high as the sidewall; the furniture in there could hardly be noticed. But here his room is bigger, has a sofa and a conference table on top of smart furnishings. The only shelf is on the wall with his reading desk.

I found him sitting in his wheelchair at the conference table, talking to Badiuddin Nazir, his adviser and most trusted editor. Mohiuddin bhai looked thinner than the last time I saw him, which was two years ago.

Back then he could walk short distances with some difficulty, but now he couldn’t move without the wheelchair. Yet, the smile was there on his face, that lively, generous smile. He held out his hand and took mine.

“How are you doing?” he said.

True age has left him decrepit and restricted his movements, but it could not break his spirit.

May be a revamp is necessary to cope with time, but his ever youthful spirit remains the same.

At 72, he is still carving out newer avenues for publishing.

Known as the publisher emeritus, the highest accolade awarded to any publisher so far, he has seen it all. He established University Press Limited (UPL) in 1975 and has taken ethical publishing practices to an outstanding height. He has given a solid foundation to publishing books of scholarly research and thought-provoking essays. Many of UPL’s books are in the shortlist of recommended books in many acclaimed Asian, European and American universities.

I recently engaged him in a talk about our reading habit, especially about how it changed over the past decades after independence. Soon it branched out in many directions from reading habit to different aspects of the current publishing scene to the unethical practice of depriving authors of their royalties to the possibility of a change for the better.

Do publishers have a role to play in creating and encouraging readership? Does a badly edited book drive us away from reading other books?

MA: I think publishers have an important role to play. Their most fundamental role is to bring out quality books in terms of content and editing. More books are being published now but their qualities have not improved. Some of them are full of spelling errors and typos. It’s because most publishers do not have an editorial panel to review the content and check errors.

Publishers think authors are the editors and after an author submits a work, no further editing is needed. Sadly enough, our authors also believe that their work should not be subject to editing. They think no one should edit their work. So, yes, a badly edited book may affect a reader in many ways; it may drive him or her from reading other books of the same author or publisher.

Mohiuddin Ahmed

}

But forms of literary interaction and types of institutional encouragement have changed, and I don’t think they have changed for the better. In our time there was a competition and those who read more used to do well, even in the job market. But there’s not enough competition now. Those who do well in their career nowadays are not necessarily the ones who read more or have better academic results.

Excerpts from the interview:

Do you think our reading habit has changed over the past decades?

Mohiuddin Ahmed: We have a rich tradition of reading and it has evolved over the years. Reading habit is formed early in our lives, may be in class six or seven or eight. Then it requires nurturing.

In our time, we got the incentives through informal addas with

friends and social gatherings.

May be one friend would mention one book and some other would praise it while another would criticise it. Then what the rest would do is buy or collect the book and read it.

We also got institutional encouragement through debate competitions and cultural programmes where one had to read to perform well.

But forms of literary interaction and types of institutional encouragement have changed, and I don’t think they have changed for the better. In our time there was a competition and those who read more used to do well, even in the job market. But there’s not enough competition now.

Those who do well in their career nowadays are not necessarily the ones who read more or have better

What do you think about fiction readers? Has their taste changed from serious work to popular work?

MA: I think new fiction writers are not coming into play. We’re not getting a Shawkat Ali or an Elias or a Kayes Ahmed from younger generations. That’s why number of fiction readers has not increased.

Would you share your experience of publishing fiction?

MA: My first lot of fiction came in the early 1980s. Nayeem Hasan, a very good editor, took it forward at that time. He brought out 12 books of Bangla fiction that included Shawkat Ali, Elias, Shawkat Osman and Syed Ali Ahsan. All of them sold well. But in the following decades, I found it increasingly difficult to sell fiction because the pipeline dried up. I don’t think younger generations of writers are showing as much promise as their predecessors. That’s one reason why I’ve stuck to essays

17

DT

Arts & Letters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

BOOKS

ng into play’ neatly edited, fine-looking book.

It grabbed readers’ attention as soon as it hit the market. It was possible as the writing was good and the publisher made sure the production was impeccable.

Such a story is rare these days.

No one puts in a good word for another writer. Everyone seems busy with himself.

So, you think the onus is on writers to attract readers and increase readership.

Badiuddin Nazir and research articles, though we’re planning to do some fiction again. We’re also concentrating on children’s literature.

There is another important factor I’d like to mention here. It is directly linked to encouraging young authors.

Our publishing industry is still reluctant about authors’ royalties. It is an author’s right to get his royalties. Transparency, at least, should be ensured while dealing with an author. He has a right to know the updates on sales, production costs, and profit, if there is any.

[At this point, Badiuddin Nazir came in and joined us. Mohiuddin bhai invited him to comment on the role publishers and authors can play in expanding readership] Badiuddin Nazir: I don’t think publishers can play a very big role. Writers write and publishers print. Readers are attracted when the writing is good. So if there’s a dearth of good writing, publishers cannot do much. How does a writer grow? He does not start as a famous one. He attracts readers’ attention and gains some renown. Then publishers get recommendations about him from writers or readers. So, it is only by means of his writing that one can become a writer and create readers.

Let me share a story in this connection. Elias was not famous when he was publishing instalments of his novel, Chilekothar Sepai, in Saptahik Robbar. He was living as a tenant in Shawkat Ali’s house then. It was Ali who spoke highly of Elias to me. He asked me to publish his work. That’s how UPL was introduced to Elias. Then we teamed up with Elias and we put in a lot of effort to produce that

BN: Of course. Think of Humayun Ahmed. Where did he get so many readers? It’s because of his writing. Once you start reading his fiction, no matter what you feel afterwards, you can’t put it back until you finish it. So, this power of taking readers in the story gained him his huge pool of readers. Today’s authors lack this power of storytelling.

MA: I’d point to one more setback for our young writers. A system of literary agencies has not developed in Bangladesh. India has only recently started the use of the PR work of literary agents. In the western developed economies, scouting for good books is made easy for publishers by literary agents. A good literary agent can get a young author published by some famous publisher.

Do you think there has been any positive change lately in the publishing scene?

MA: Yes, there have been some positive changes, which make me optimistic. A few publishing houses, such as Prothoma, have started this practice of signing contracts with authors and they are paying royalties, which, I’m sure, will come as an incentive for young writers.

Readers often complain about which book to pick. Can media play a role in bridging the gap between readers and writers?

MA: Well, we seriously lack good reviews. What we usually have in the form of reviews is just back-slapping. But what we need is real, objective reviews written by strong voices who can productively critique a novel or poetry collection, if necessary, by criticising it severely but logically. So, media can run that kind of review regularly.

It is through good reviews that readers’ interests are piqued. l The writer is Editor, A&L, Dhaka Tribune.

UPL’s new arrivals at Ekushey Mela Bangladeshe Ganatantra

by Moudud Ahmed Price: Tk 750

History of Bangladesh

by Abul Maal A. Muhit Price: Tk 800

Dhaka: An Urban Reader

by Mahbubur Rahman Price: Tk 1280

Uncertain Tomorrows

Rabindranath

by Abul Momen Price: Tk 300

Gresham’s Law Syndrome and Beyond

by Akbar Ali Khan Price: Tk 700

Blame

by Dilruba Z. Ara Price: Tk 750

Mosaic of a Lost Era

by Syeda Rozana Rashid

by Syed Najmuddin Hashim

Price: Tk 650

Price: Tk 500

A Temporary Sojourn and Other Stories

Modhu Shikari

by Nasrin Jahan

Price Tk 875

Price: Tk 400

Kartika Nayar

DT

Arts & Letters

18

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

EKUSHEY BOI MELA Over 3 thousand new titles have hit the Ekushey Boi Mela this year, giving a boost to young poets and writers. Here we take a look at a few of the new arrivals that have already caught readers’ attention.

Hariye Jawa Jibika

By Prasanta Mridha Price: Tk 200 Published by Kothaprakash

Rabindranath Keno Joruri

By Serajul Islam Chowdhury Price: Tk 400 Published by Oboshor

Anya Ganger Gaan, Samudrasaman

Hasan Azizul Haquer Kathasahitya

By Abdullah Al Muktadir Price: Tk 135 Published by Platform

By Chandan Anwar Price: Tk 420 Published by Bangla Academy

Sab Phul Kothay Gechhe

Kayes Ahmed Samagra

By Asmar Osman Price: Tk 200 Jagriti Prakashani

Price: Tk 250 Published by Mawla Brothers

World English Poetry

Kosbi

Edited by Sudeep Sen Price: Tk 500 Published by Bengal Publications

Harishankar Jaladas Price: Tk 300 Published by Oboshor

Ranesh Dasgupta Rachanasamgra

Nagar Dhakay Jonoiko Jibanananda

Price: Tk 300 Published by Bangla Academy

A short story collection by Pias Majid

Yours, Etcetera

Calligraphy of Wet Leaves

Price: Tk 120 Published by Anyaprakash

BENGAL LIGHTS BOOKS

april

by Andrw Eagle and Tulip Chowdhury Price: Tk800

Hasan Azizul Haq (twelve stories)

Translated by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay

Price: Tk500

Syed Shamsul Haq (two novellas)

Translated by Saugata Ghosh Price: Tk500

by Ikhtisad Ahmed Price: Tk600

by Neeman Sobhan Price: Tk300

19

DT

Heritage

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

Circumstancial evidence Bangladesh presents numerous challenges for the heritage detective

n Tim Steel

E

xamination, investigation, and consideration of evidence of the earliest history and origins of the diverse peoples of today’s nation of Bangladesh, present the history and heritage detective with numerous difficulties.

Not the least of these is a thick mantle of alluvium that lies across most of the lands, deposited by hundreds, even thousands, of millennia, since human life may have first existed hereabouts.

The annual deposits are made by the Himalayan meltwaters and the monsoon rains. That rich, fertile mantle may well lie at the roots of the agricultural plenty of today, but inhibits revelations of what is, certainly, an extraordinarily rich history, and an equally rich heritage that derives from it.

Then, there is the evident diversity of origins of such peoples. From north, south, west, and east, there is empirical evidence of the origins of migrations, from the earliest, to fairly recent times.

Warehouses full of documentation, both in Dhaka and in other parts of Bangladesh, may provide some documentary evidence of that rich past. After all, one of the earliest forms of written language developed in these lands. Those documents that survived the vandalism of the Pakistan Army in 1971, and the ravages of time and neglect, could probably also reveal as much. Only time will tell.

Then there is the lack of resources and official, and even academic, interest in archaeological investigation.

Beneath the alluvial mantle lies tangible, archaeological, and

possibly even geological evidence of earliest human habitation hereabouts. But why should we suppose so?

Certainly, such few pieces of tangible evidence as we do have, covering at least the most recent 5,000 years, with a few, faint traces, in the forms of crude stone tools, may take us back over 100,000 years.

been subjected to detailed archaeological investigation.

The stone tools found in the hills of Bangladesh and at Wari Bateshwar, on the low ridges, suggest that there were both Palaeolithic, and, certainly, Neolithic residents of these lands, between 50,000 and 5,000 years ago.

The Bronze age pit dwelling at

In fact, there is unarguable circumstantial evidence for today’s Bangladesh encompassing the existence of very early, civilised human habitation, rich, not only in wealth, but also in culture As our archaeologists, lacking resources, slowly reveal more recent times, with such discoveries as the pit dwelling, beside the ancient course of the Brahmaputra at Wari Bateshwar, which evidences Bronze Age dwelling thereabouts around 4,000 years ago, we should not hold our breath. Ancient history, and especially that which predates Islam, is not much valued here, despite its enormous potential value representing a world leading history and heritage in the world tourism market.

Discoveries in lands in proximity to Bangladesh, however, do not suffer from the same alluvial challenges, and what has been found in countries such as Nepal and Myanmar, certainly suggests there is much more to be found under the plains, especially in the hills, of Bangladesh.

It is unfortunate that the Bandarban district has not

Wari Bateshwar represents, not only a more recent settlement, but, in particular, one on a site with clear evidence of craftsmanship and international trade from about 3,000 years ago.

But the circumstantial evidence of the human history of Bangladesh lies not only in such very ancient archaeological pieces. There is, for example, well before documentary and empirical evidence of trade and probable cultural exchange that may well date back over 10,000 years, questions about migratory peoples.

We know, for example, from local archaeological evidence, that rice was probably first domesticated for cultivation about 12,000 years ago in Yunnan Province of China -- could it be migrants, or was it traders, who brought such rice to the Ganges basin, 10,000 years ago? Or was such development, in such global proximity, simply coincidental?

Much more recent evidence from the archaeology of Yunnan Province in China reveals the presence of money cowries, sourced from the Indian Ocean, in third century BCE tombs, close to the Yangtze River.

But it is, of course, the migration of peoples of the very ancient Harappan civilisation, with origins about 10,000 years ago, and Aryans from Central Asia, who combined to develop the culture in the Ganges Basin, of a strong, agriculturally-based, industrialised society, that was the origin of trade through the Ganges delta.

Was it, we may well wonder, that development that enticed the great migratory tribal peoples who appear to have arrived from further north into the Himalayan territories and beyond, to settle around, and within the lands of Bangladesh, probably beginning as much as 7,000 years ago.

And it was, of course, that development of trade that probably lay behind the development of an early, sophisticated, culture that was originally animist, evolving into shamanic, into those of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist, all of which certainly had roots hereabouts.

As we come closer to the birth of Bangladesh, in 1971, the circumstantial evidence accumulates.

If there were no Gangaridai, of which, today, we may reasonably decide, whatever the Indians claim, that the huge, largely unexcavated site at Wari Bateshwar was the eponymous capital mentioned by the first century Roman geographer and historian, Strabo. Then why, in the third century BCE would the Greek writer Apollonius of Rhodes, in his famous re-writing of the even more famous legend of Jason, the

Argonauts, and the Golden Fleece, have included a character named Datis, “a Chief of the Gangaridai”?

Or, possibly the most famous of Roman poets, Virgil, in one of his famous Georgics, in the context of a Roman victory in Asia Minor, about 80 BCE, praise the “men of Gangaridai,” who evidently contributed to the victory, presumably as mercenaries in the Roman Army. That he “would celebrate in gold and ivory” that victory, may give a significant clue to the bounties amongst which, the Roman’s valued the deltaic Kingdom for!

The significance of these references, of course, being, especially in Apollonius’ case, not simply the mention, but that ancient writers and scholars, remote from the lands that are now Bangladesh, should very evidently, be familiar with the martial skills of ancestors of today’s people of Bangladesh?

In fact, there is unarguable circumstantial evidence for today’s Bangladesh encompassing the existence of very early, civilised human habitation, rich, not only in wealth, but also in culture -- developed through the generation of wealth, and international cultural exchange that is part of international trade.

Without doubt, if those alluvial deposits are not all carelessly excavated for commerce and urban development -- the archives left to rot and museum material to be exported, together, they potentially represent powerful evidence, both tangible and circumstantial, of one of the world’s earliest crossroads of human development -- here, in Bangladesh. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

DT

20

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Leave (6) 6 Donkey (3) 9 Nimble (5) 10 Fencing weapon (4) 11 Acting parts (5) 12 First woman (3) 13 Merchant (6) 15 Satisfy fully (4) 18 Woody plant (4) 21 Inventor’s grant (6) 24 Mature (3) 25 Traffic light (5) 28 Drink (4) 29 Unbound (5) 30 Indicate assent (3) 31 Jubilant (6)

DOWN 1 Game of skill (5) 2 Self (3) 3 Airman (5) 4 Beverage (3) 5 Repose (4) 6 Copied (4) 7 Harsh (6) 8 Prophet (4) 14 Liable (3) 16 Slowly (mus) (6) 17 Female sheep (3) 19 Automation (5) 20 Did wrong (5) 21 Chess piece (4) 22 Look after (4) 23 Lofty (4) 26 Extinct bird (3) 27 Compass point (init) (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 10 represents P so fill P every time the figure 10 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

DT

World 21

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

INSIDE

Q&A

Delegates and superdelegates: The critical mass How the West misread Putin over Syria Last July, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad seemed to be losing his battle against rebel forces. Speaking to supporters in Damascus, he acknowledged his army’s heavy losses.

PAGE 22

Big turnout as Iran votes to shape postsanctions era Millions of Iranians voted in highstake elections on Friday that could shift the balance of power within the hardline-controlled Islamic elite by ushering in a reformist comeback or help conservatives tighten their grip on power.

PAGE 23

The nominating contests that will determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the November 8 US presidential election are about to enter a critical phase. On March 1, known as Super Tuesday, primaries or caucuses will be held in about a dozen states, and they could be turnin points in both parties.

But the key to winning the nomination for each party is ultimately not about the popular vote. It is about securing the number of delegates needed to win the nomination at each party’s convention - July 18-21 in Cleveland for the Republicans and July 25-28 in Philadelphia for the Democrats.

Like so many things in politics, there are twists and turns in how the popular vote is used to ultimately select each party’s candidate.

The following is a guide to the nominating process--

Is the delegate selection process the same for the Republican and Democratic parties?

No. The parties set their own rules. One thing that is the same is that at each party convention, a candidate only needs to reach a simple majority of the delegate votes to win the nomination.

How many delegates are there?

The Democratic convention will be attended by about 4,763 delegates, with 2,382 delegates needed to win the nomination. The Republican convention will be attended by 2,472 delegates, with 1,237 delegates needed to win.

Explosive moments from Thursday’s GOP debate in Houston Donald Trump took centre-stage Thursday night in Texas’ Houston as the irrefutable front-runner in the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday. Flanking the billionaire, Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio sought to make clear that the quest for the Republican nomination is a three-man race, not a one-man show.

PAGE 24

Who are superdelegates? Do both the Republicans and Democrats have superdelegates?

Superdelegates, officially known as unpledged delegates, are a sort of wild card in the nominating process, but only the Democrats have them. The category was created for the 1984 Democratic convention. Unlike other delegates, superdelegates may change what candidate they are supporting right up to the convention. There is no fixed number of superdelegates because the group is defined by various categories whose members change from one election cycle to another.

Super Tuesday

DEMOCRATS

March

Delegates elected on March 1

1,017

1 661 REPUBLICANS

4,763 Total delegates 2,472 2,382 Required to win nomination 1,237

Voting Already voted

P Primaries C Caucus C Convention xx Delegates to be elected

Oklahoma 42 P 43

Wyoming C 29

Minnesota 93 C 38

Massachusetts 116 P 42

Tennessee 76 P 58

Alaska C 28 American Samoa 10 C

Vermont 26 P 16

Virginia 109 P 49 Georgia 117 P 76

Colorado 79 C 37 Texas 252 P 155

Arkansas 37 P 40

Alabama 60 P 50

Source: realclearpolitics, The Green Papers

THE DELEGATE COUNT SO FAR IOWA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

SOUTH CAROLINA**

NEVADA

TOTAL

Donald Trump

7

10

50

14

81

Ted Cruz

8

3

0

6

17

Marco Rubio

7

3

0

7

17

John Kasich

4

0

1

1

6

Ben Carson

3

0

0

1

4

REPUBLICANS

DEMOCRATS Hillary Clinton

23

9

-

19

51

Bernie Sanders

21

15

-

15

51

**Winner-take-all

The key to winning the nomination is not about popular vote, rather It is about securing the number of delegates needed to win the nomination at each party’s convention Who gets to be a superdelegate?

All Democratic members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; the Democratic governors; the Democratic president and vice president of the US; former Democratic presidents and vice presidents; former Democratic leaders of the US Senate; former Democratic speakers of the House and former Democratic minority leaders. Throw in the members of the Democratic National Com-

mittee and the former chairs of the DNC and you finally have the whole pool of superdelegates.

What about the other delegates?

Do they get to choose which candidate to support?

Both the Democratic and Republican parties send delegates to their conventions based on the popular vote in the primary elections and caucuses held in each of the 50 states. But the parties have different rules on how delegates are allotted to a candidate. The Democratic Party applies uniform rules to all states. In each state, delegates are allocated in proportion to the percentage of the primary or caucus vote in each district. But a candidate must win at least 15% of the vote to be allocated any delegates. The Republican Party lets states determine their own rules, although it does dictate some things. Some states award delegates proportionate to the popular vote, although most

such states have a minimum percentage that a candidate must reach to win any delegates. Some other states use the winner-takeall method, in which the candidate with the highest percentage of the popular vote is awarded all the delegates. Other states use a combination of the two methods.

States that use the proportionate method may instead use the winner-take-all method if one candidate wins more than 50% of the popular vote. In addition, the GOP requires that all states with nominating contests held between March 1 and March 14 use the proportional method, meaning that all the states holding votes on Super Tuesday will have to award delegates proportionally.

What happens to delegates if a candidate drops out of the race?

For the Democratic Party, in every state, delegates are reallocated to the remaining candidates. For the Republican Party, it varies by state. In some states, delegates are required to stick with their original candidate at least through the first ballot at the Republican National Convention. In some other states, if a candidate drops out, his or her delegates may immediately pledge to another candidate.

There is also a middle ground in which those delegates are reallocated to the remaining candidates.

Source: USA TODAY, REUTERS, PEW RESEARCH

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22

World

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

INSIGHT

How the West misread Putin over Syria Beirut/Washington, n Reuters, DC/Moscow Last July, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad seemed to be losing his battle against rebel forces. Speaking to supporters in Damascus, he acknowledged his army’s heavy losses.

Western officials said the Syrian leader’s days were numbered and predicted he would soon be forced to the negotiating table.

It did not turn out that way. Secret preparations were already underway for a major deployment of Russian and Iranian forces in support of Assad.

The military intervention, taking many in the West by surprise, would roll back rebel gains. It would also accelerate two shifts in US diplomacy: Washington would welcome Iran to the negotiating table over Syria, and it would no longer insist that Assad step down immediately.

“That involved swallowing some pride, to be honest, in acknowledging that this process would go nowhere unless you got Russia and Iran at the table,” a US official said.

At the heart of the diplomacy shift - which essentially brought Washington closer to Moscow’s position - was a slow-footed realization of the Russian military build-up in Syria and, ultimately, a refusal to intervene militarily.

Russia, Iran and Syria struck their agreement to deploy military forces in June, several weeks before Assad’s July 26 speech, according to a senior official in the Middle East who was familiar with the details.

And Russian sources say large amounts of equipment, and hundreds of troops, were being dispatched over a series of weeks, making it hard to hide the pending operation.

Yet a senior US administration official said it took until mid-September for Western powers to fully recognise Russia’s intentions. One of the final pieces of the puzzle was when Moscow deployed aircraft flown only by the Russian military, eliminating the possibility they were intended for Assad, the official said.

An earlier understanding of Russia’s military plans is unlikely to have changed US military policy.

President Barack Obama had made clear early on that he did not want Washington embroiled in a proxy war with Russia. And when the West did wake up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, it was short of ideas about how to respond.

As in Ukraine in 2014, the West

Civil war in Syria Death

Division

Dispossession

271,138 people killed since March 2011: SOHR

TURKEY

TURKEY

SYRIA

Including

79,106 civilians

Kobane

8,760 women

4,719,605 registered Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries

Aleppo

Idlib

Raqa

Fuaa

13,500 children

97,842 pro-regime fighters

Hasakeh

Kafraya

Latakiya Hama

IRAQ

TURKEY

Deir Ezzor

LEBANON 50 km

JORDAN

Homs

EGYPT

LEBANON

Palmyra

Zabadani Madaya

NORTH AFRICA

46,452 non-jihadist

Kafr Batna

rebel fighters

Siege areas controlled by

DAMASCUS

Regime

Moadimayet al-Sham

44,254 Islamist and extremist

IRAQ

Daraa

Opposition

JORDAN

17.6% 4 and under

22.6 5-11

Regime

IS group

Main opposition

Al-Nusra front

Kurds Contested area

Based on ISW map as of February 12

In July last year, one of Iran’s top generals, Qassem Soleimani, went to Moscow on a visit that was widely reported. A senior Middle Eastern official said that Soleimani had also met Putin twice several weeks before that.

“They defined zero hour for the Russian planes and equipment, and the Russian and Iranian crews,” he said.

Russia began sending supply ships through the Bosphorus in August. There was no attempt to hide the voyages and on September 9, it was reported that Moscow had begun participating in military operations in Syria.

A Russian Air Force colonel, who took part in preparations and provided fresh details of the buildup, said hundreds of Russian pilots and ground staff were selected for the Syria mission in mid-August.

Warplanes sent to Syria included the Sukhoi-25 and Sukhoi-24 offensive aircraft, US officials said. In all, according to US officials, Russia

by September 21 had 28 fixed-wing aircraft, 16 helicopters, advanced T-90 tanks and other armoured vehicles, artillery, anti-aircraft batteries and hundreds of marines at its base near Latakia.

Despite this public build-up, the West either played down the risks or failed to recognise them.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on September 22 that Russian aircraft were in Syria to defend the Russians’ base - “force protection” in the view of US military experts.

At the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, the French announced their own first air strikes in Syria.

“The international community is hitting Dae’sh. France is hitting Dae’sh. The Russians, for now, are not doing anything,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Fabius said at the time.

The next day Russia announced its strikes in Syria.

Warnings

One former US official, who was in government at the time, said some US officials had begun voicing concern that Russia would intervene militarily in Syria two weeks before the bombing began.

Their concerns, however, were disregarded by officials in the White House and those dealing with the Middle East because of a

2.9 60+ UNHCR as of February 17

Sources: Institute for the Study of War/ Syrian Observatory for Human Rights/UNHCR

Signposts

52.9% of refugees are children

Divided

fighters, including foreigners

seemed helpless.

French President Francois Hollande summed up the mood among America’s European allies: “I would prefer the United States to be more active. But since the United States has stepped back, who should take over, who should act?”

2,620,553 1,069,111 637,859 118,512 245,543 28,027

lack of hard intelligence, the former US official said.

Yet between October and December, American perceptions shifted.

By December, US officials had concluded that Russia had achieved its main goal of stabilising Assad’s government and could maintain its operations in Syria for years.

“I think it’s indisputable that the Assad regime, with Russian military support, is probably in a safer position than it was,” a senior administration official said.

Diplomatic u-turn

At that point, the US pivoted to the negotiating table with Russia and Iran. Officials say they had few other options with Obama unwilling to commit American ground troops to Syria, aside from small deployments of Special Operations forces, or provide US-backed opposition fighters with anti-aircraft missiles.

In Munich on February 12, Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced an agreement for humanitarian access and a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria, far short of a ceasefire.

Today, US officials sound a far different note than in the early days of the uprising against Assad when they said his exit must be immediate. Now, with the war entering its sixth year, they say they must push

By age group

12.7 12-17

45.2 18-59

the diplomatic possibilities as far as possible and insist Kerry is fully aware of what Russia is doing to change facts on the ground.

In congressional testimony on Wednesday, Kerry acknowledged there was no guarantee the “cessation of hostilities” would work, adding: “But I know this: If it doesn’t work, the potential is there that Syria will be utterly destroyed.

The fact is that we need to make certain that we are exploring and exhausting every option of diplomatic resolution.”

For the rebels, the reality is bleak.

Government forces have closed in on the city of Aleppo, a major symbol of the uprising. Their supply routes from Turkey cut, rebels in the Aleppo area now say it may only be a matter of time before they are crushed altogether. However, they remain determinedly upbeat, saying Assad is only gaining ground because of Russian air power and he will not be able to sustain the advances.

For Syrians living under government rule in Damascus, Moscow’s intervention has inspired a degree of confidence. They credit one of the calmest periods since the start of the war to the death of rebel leader Zahran Alloush, killed in a Russian air strike on Christmas Day. l

FACTBOX

Syria: ceasefire, cessation of hostilities or truce ?

Cessation of hostilities, ceasefire or truce: these terms, all used in attempts to resolve the conflict in Syria, are similar and often used indiscriminately.

However, they have different legal and symbolic meanings.

The US and Russia on February 22 announced plans for a landmark “cessation of hostilities” to take effect in war-torn Syria on February 27 midnight, excluding the main jihadist factions.

While the Damascus regime said it would accept the “cessation of hostilities”, the main Syrian opposition groups said they were committed to a two-week “truce”.

A truce is a limited and temporary halt of activities or hostilities during a war.

In Syria, brief and one-off truces have been concluded on several occasions between the regime and rebels in certain regions of the country, particularly to permit the delivery of humanitarian aid.

A cessation of hostilities is a more formal designation, which, however, falls short of a formal ceasefire signed by the warring parties.

A call for a cessation of hostilities “is an inducement to not exchange fire, while a ceasefire corresponds to an accord reached between the parties, to precise commitments by belligerent parties,” according to a spokesman for France’s foreign ministry. l Source: AFP

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

All eyes on Syria as ceasefire kick starts Friday midnight n AFP, Beirut US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow and Damascus the “world will be watching” their commitment to a ceasefire, as the 17-nation group backing the Syria peace process prepared to finetune the deal.

Obama said the next few days would be critical for the partial truce brokered by Moscow and Washington -- due to begin at midnight Friday -- which has been agreed by both President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and Syria’s top opposition grouping.

The deal -- which excludes Dae’sh jihadist group and other extremists -- marks the biggest diplomatic push yet to help end Syria’s violence, but has been plagued by doubts after the failure of previous peace efforts.

Members of the 17-nation group backing the process are to meet in Geneva on Friday to work out further details of the agreement, which is expected to be endorsed by the UN Security Council on the same day, diplomats said.

There are hopes a successful “cessation of hostilities” will lead to the resumption of peace talks that collapsed in Geneva earlier this month.

“Tomorrow is going to be a very important, I will say a crucial day,” the UN’s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters at the

KEY POINTS OF THE MUNICH AGREEMENT Ü

Ü

Ü

Ü

To try to immediately step up aid deliveries to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria For a US/Russia-led task force to work to achieve a “cessation of hostilities” across Syria beginning in one week’s time “Cessation of hostilities” will exclude action against the so-called Dae’sh group, jihadist group al-Nusra Front and other UN-designated terrorist groups.

To work towards an eventual ceasefire and implementation of a UN-backed plan for political transition in Syria.

UN’s European headquarters in Geneva Thursday.

The agreement allows military action to continue against Dae’sh, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014, as well as against the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front and other jihadist groups.

Obama said he was certain those groups would continue to fight, but stressed the US-led coalition was winning the war against Dae’sh, citing territorial gains.

He also said he was not “under any illusions” about possible pitfalls, but that the ceasefire could help bring about an end to the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to do “whatever is necessary” to ensure the ceasefire is implemented.

Potential spoiler

Russia and the United States are on opposing sides of the conflict, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition, but the two powers have been making a concerted push for the ceasefire to be respected.

Iran is also a supporter of Damascus, and US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that Tehran had withdrawn a “significant number” of its elite Revolutionary Guards troops from Syria.

Turkey’s position towards Syrian Kurdish forces is a potential spoiler, and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday that Ankara would not be bound by the ceasefire if its national security is threatened.

Turkey has shelled Kurdish forces in northern Syria, saying the army was responding to incoming fire.

Ankara regards the main Kurdish militia in Syria, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

A YPG spokesman said Thursday that Kurdish forces would respect the ceasefire but fight back if attacked. l

Big turnout as Iran votes to shape post-sanctions era n Reuters, Tehran Millions of Iranians voted in highstake elections on Friday that could shift the balance of power within the hardline-controlled Islamic elite by ushering in a reformist comeback or help conservatives tighten their grip on power.

There were early signs of enthusiastic participation in the first polls since a nuclear deal last year led to a lifting of sanctions and deeper diplomatic engagement abroad.

Long queues formed at polling stations in the capital and state television showed throngs of voters in Ahvaz and Shiraz. It was unclear how the turnout might shape the outcome.

“Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should vote. Iran has enemies. They are eyeing us greedily,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after casting his ballot.

At stake is control of the 290-seat parliament and the

An Iranian woman casts her ballot during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Friday REUTERS 88-member Assembly of Experts, the body that has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader, Iran’s most powerful figure. Both are currently in the hands of hardliners.

Control of parliament will influence the ability of moderate President Hassan Rouhani, constrained so far, to deliver on his promises of greater freedoms and economic reforms.

The Guardian Council, ap-

pointed half by Khamenei and half by the ultra-conservative judiciary, disqualified thousands of candidates. That included Hassan Khomeini, the moderate grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and Khamenei’s predecessor.

As the day went on, Iranians waited patiently in long lines outside polling stations to cast ballots, with whole families coming to-

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gether with their young children.

Rouhani said the government would spare no effort to protect people’s votes and ensure healthy and legitimate elections, the official IRNA news agency reported.

While reformists saw a high turnout as an opportunity for change, conservatives said it showed widespread popular support for the Islamic Republic’s political system -- and perhaps by extension the status quo.

Influential former president Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, allied to Rouhani, said Iranians knew this was a day of destiny.

Vote counting will start on Friday evening and some small constituencies could declare on Saturday morning, an electoral official said. Full results are expected early next week.

But it could take longer to get a clear picture of who has come out on top, as the numerous small parties and independent candidates form alliances and declare their allegiance. l

SOUTH ASIA

Kidnapped ex-Afghan governor freed in Pakistan shoot-out A former Afghan governor kidnapped nearly two weeks ago in Islamabad was freed Friday after a shoot-out with police. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi said he was being transported by his kidnappers, blindfolded, when they were stopped at a police checkpoint in Mardan, gunfire rang out, and the three men holding him ran away.

-AFP

INDIA

Death toll hits 28 in India’s caste riots The death toll from caste unrest in Haryana has risen to 28 but violence has subsided, officials said Thursday, as a court asked authorities to investigate reports of rape during the riots. On Wednesday the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the government to investigate alleged incidents of sexual violence after media reports said at least 10 women were raped by Jat rioters in Sonipat district.

-AFP

CHINA

China adopts law on deep sea exploration China on Friday adopted a new law on deep sea exploration, state media said, the country’s latest move to cement its status as a seagoing power. The new law will “protect the rightful interests of Chinese citizens and organisations in their search for resources and in deep sea surveys,” the official Xinhua news agency said after China’s top legislature passed the measure.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Australia unveils massive increase in defence spending Australia unveiled a massive new investment in the nation’s defence capabilities on Thursday. Citing increased defence spending around the region and potential flashpoints in the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government was committed to combating the most challenging strategic environment “we have faced in peacetime”. The government said it would spend Aus$195bn ($139bn) over the next decade.

-AFP

MIDDLE EAST

Saudi extends Hezbollah sanctions Saudi Arabia on Friday extended sanctions on Lebanon-based Shia militant group Hezbollah. The kingdom froze the assets and prohibited dealings with three Lebanese nationals and four companies.

The kingdom on Tuesday halted a $3bn-programme funding French military supplies to Beirut.

-AFP

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

USA

3 killed in Kansas shootings

Kansas authorities on Friday were investigating the motives of a gunman who killed three people and wounded 14, five critically, during a 26-minute shooting spree that ended when an officer shot the suspect to death at the factory where he worked. The gunman was served a protection from abuse order about 90 minutes before the shooting in Hesston on Thursday, and this could have triggered the incident, local media reported on Friday. -REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Argentina rights group to ask Obama for dictatorship-era records A prominent Argentinian rights activist said Thursday she would ask US President Barack Obama to declassify US documents related to the country’s dictatorship. Obama is expected in Argentina on March 2324. The dates overlap with a mass protest marking the 40th anniversary of the coup that led to Argentina’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship. -AFP

UK

Trafficking prosecutions hit record in UK following slavery law Prosecutions for human trafficking in England and Wales have increased since the introduction of a new anti-slavery law last year. There are an estimated 13,000 victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude in Britain.

-THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION

EUROPE

US, EU say free-trade deal possible this year Negotiators on a huge EU-US trade treaty claimed Friday they were making progress towards reaching an accord by the end of the year as they completed the latest round of talks. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), under negotiation since July 2013, would create the world’s biggest free trade zone, removing tariffs and harmonising regulation between the Europe Union and the US. -AFP

AFRICA

African leaders to conclude Burundi peace push visit Five African heads of state met with Burundi’s president in Bujumbura on Friday at the end of a two-day visit to push for talks to end the country’s political crisis.

The African Union agreed to send the delegation -- headed by South African President Jacob Zuma and including the leaders of Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania and Senegal -- during its January summit when Burundi successfully faced down a plan to deploy 5,000 peacekeepers to the country.

-AFP

Explosive moments from Thursday’s GOP debate in Houston D o n a l d Trump took centre-stage Thursday night in Texas’ Houston as the irrefutable front-runner in the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday.

Flanking the billionaire, Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio sought to make clear that the quest for the Republican nomination is a threeman race, not a one-man show.

Here are the most memorable moments of the night--

Rubio engages Trump

Fielding a question on immigration, Rubio in his response went after Trump for hiring illegal immigrants and paying $1m after a suit was filed. Rubio pointed to some of the businessman’s past stances on immigration, remarking that many of Trump’s positions are new. Trump said he hired immigrants for part-time jobs during hot seasons in Florida that most people didn’t want to work.

After a tense exchange, Rubio concluded, “He hired workers from Poland and he had to pay a million dollars or so in a judgment. That’s a fact.” While Trump maintained Rubio was wrong, Cruz later jumped in to say Trump was found guilty as part of a con-

Republican US Presidential candidates Senator Marco Rubio, left, Senator Ted Cruz, right, look on as rival Donald Trump speaks at a debate Thursday REUTERS spiracy for hiring people illegally.

Statute of limitation on Trump’s lies

Trump supporters rarely challenge Trump on the veracity of his often controversial remarks. But Rubio isn’t a Trump supporter and accused him of lying about the lawsuit in Poland. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was 38 years ago,” Trump said. “Oh, he lied 38 years ago,” Rubio said sarcastically. “I guess there’s a statute of limitation on lies.”

Trump praises Planned Parenthood

Trump said he would defund the women’s health organisation

because he’s anti-abortion, but he also lavished praise. “I’m totally against abortion having to do with Planned Parenthood, but millions and millions of women, cervical cancer, breast cancer, are helped

by Planned Parenthood,” Trump said. “So you can say whatever you want, but they have millions of women going through Planned Parenthood, that are helped greatly.”

Trump to release his tax returns… after his audits

Mitt Romney this week called on the top three presidential candidates to release their tax returns, hinting that Trump’s could con-

ANALYSIS

Battle heats up over ninth seat on US Supreme Court n

AFP, Washington, DC

Warring sides dug in Thursday in an epic election year battle between President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals over a tie-breaking vacancy on the US Supreme Court.

Much is at stake in the struggle over who will replace Antonin Scalia, the conservative justice who died unexpectedly February 13 -- and whose successor could potentially tip the court towards a liberal majority.

Republicans in the Senate, which must approve any nomination, say it should be left to the next president to choose the new justice, while Obama says it is his constitutional duty to act now.

On Thursday, Democratic senators dramatised the conflict by gathering on the steps of the Supreme Court behind a sign telling Senate Republicans: “Do Your Job.” Under the US Constitution, the president nominates judges for the

lifetime position at the nation’s highest court, subject to Senate approval.

Obama says he intends to put forward a candidate with impeccable legal credentials and that the Senate should perform its constitutional role of advice and consent, and not let politics stand in the way.

But Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans on the Judiciary Committee will not even meet with any appointee announced by the president.

In a timid sign of progress, the White House said Thursday McConnell had agreed, along with the Democratic leader in the Senate and leaders of its judiciary committee, to join Obama in the Oval Office next Tuesday for consultations on the process.

The Supreme Court’s decisions shape American life to a large extent, and with Scalia gone the court is now evenly divided 4-4 between conservatives and progressives.

Conservatives fear Obama might name another liberal to tip

the balance of what had been a conservative court when Scalia sat on the bench.

The main Republican candidates for the presidency -- Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio -- contend that tradition holds that an outgoing president abstains from naming Supreme Court nominees in an election year.

There have been exceptions, however, and in any event election year vacancies on the apex court have been rare events.

In an editorial Thursday, the liberal New York Times accused McConnell of having “lost touch with reality and the Constitution.”

Names have been circulating for days, including that of attorney general Loretta Lynch, the first black woman to hold that job, and Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security.

Other less well known figures also have been mentioned, such as Sri Srinivasan, a highly respected appellate judge of Indian origin. l

tain a “bombshell.” In reply, He slammed Romney on the debate stage for looking “like a fool” when he released his tax returns during the 2012 cycle under pressure from Democrats. “I want to file it except for many years, I’ve been audited every year — twelve years or something like that,” Trump explained. “Every year they audit me, audit me, audit me.” Trump will “absolutely” release his tax returns, “but I’m being audited now for two or three now so I can’t.”

‘Middle East peace isn’t a real-estate deal’ Rubio slammed Trump for remarking that he would be an “honest broker” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stay neutral, calling that stance “anti-Israel.”

Trump disregarded Rubio’s response because he’s not a negotiator. “I watched him melt down and I’ll tell you it was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen. And these people may even be tougher than Chris Christie,” Trump said in a clear jab at Rubio, who quickly shot back that Middle East peace isn’t a real-estate deal. “No, no, no.

A deal is a deal,” Trump declared, before conceding that that particular scenario would probably be “the toughest deal of any kind.” l

Source: POLITICO

Nevada governor withdraws as possible SCOTUS pick

n Reuters, Washington, DC Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a moderate Republican, took himself out of consideration for appointment to the US Supreme Court on Thursday as Senate Republicans dug in on their vow not to act on any nominee by President Barack Obama.

Asked if the White House was disappointed by Sandoval’s decision, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, “He’s obviously entitled to make decisions about his own career.”

Sandoval’s name surfaced as a possible nominee on Wednesday, but Senate Republicans quickly said they still would not hold hearings or vote on any Obama nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the February 13 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. Obama’s appointee could pivot the court to the left for the first time in decades.

Sandoval, a Mexican-American who was Nevada’s first Hispanic governor, did not offer a reason for his withdrawal. l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

INSIDE

Sexwale pulls out before first round Tokyo Sexwale withdrew from the FIFA presidential race minutes before the vote yesterday, announcing his decision at the very end of his candidate’s speech.

“I have got a surprise for you: my campaign ends today and I suspend my participation." PAGE 26

Arambagh KS set for new identity Arambagh Krira Sangha are all set to appear in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier Football League with a new addition to their title.

The club’s new identity would be Sheikh Moni Arambagh Krira Sangha, named after Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni. PAGE 27

Utd to face Liverpool in Europa last 16 Manchester United and Liverpool, English football’s two most decorated clubs, were drawn together in the last 16 of the Europa League yesterday. The arch-rivals have won 38 top-flight titles between them as well as eight European Cups. PAGE 28

Derby win a must in Barca chase Cristiano Ronaldo insists Real Madrid can still catch La Liga leaders Barcelona if they can overcome their hoodoo against local rivals Atletico Madrid today.

Real trail Atletico by a point and are nine adrift of Barca with just 13 games remaining. PAGE 29

Today's Match 7:30PM at SBNS

India v Pakistan Maasranga TV, Gazi TV, Star Sports 1

Pakistan (L) and India put the finishing touch to their preparation on the eve of their all-important Asia Cup T20 clash today in Mirpur

Afridi counting on pacemen, Rohit’s focus on batting n Minhaz Uddin Khan All the three matches of the ongoing Asia Cup Twenty20 saw the pacemen rule the roost. The condition and the wicket at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium have been different from usual, thus giving the edge to the speedsters. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi ahead of their match against arch-rival India in Mirpur today said the pacers are likely to dominate their game too.

History indicates that the Pakistan pace attack has troubled India every time the two sides met. Afridi believes all his pacers, including the likes of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Amir are in good shape and are ready to trouble the Indian batsmen.

“Certainly it can be the case (pace bowlers forming the main source of attack in this conditions). We have got four pacers and they are cricketers who are considered to be wicket-takers.

Our fast bowlers will try to utilise the opening six overs and try to remove their batsmen as that is

considered to be their strength,” Afridi told the media at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium yesterday.

“Indian batsmen usually play the spinners very well and they have in-form players in their squad as they have come here playing some good cricket (against Australia and Sri Lanka).

Our fast bowlers are in good shape whether it is Amir, Wahab or Irfan. I know their batting is strong but we also have a formidable bowling attack. I hope the result will be good for us,” the Pakistan captain added.

Meanwhile, in-form India opener Rohit Sharma said India will not like to think of the Pakistan bowlers much. The right-handed batsman said India rely on their batting, much like Pakistan do with their bowling.

“They have a formidable bowling attack no doubt but we would want to concentrate more on our strengths and prepare our plans accordingly. Our strength is batting and depending on the wicket, we will have to focus on that,” said Rohit.

“Every team has its own specialities. They have good left-arm seamers in their armoury while our bowling attack is more potent and has more variety in it,” he added.

The wicket in Mirpur has been atypical. The green grass on the wicket has taken all the teams, including home side Bangladesh, by surprise. The respective top-orders have suffered the most due to the early movement which gives the pacers the edge. But Rohit informed that they are not concerned, bearing in mind they had scored big in their previous game.

“It’s not a matter of concern because we still scored big (against Bangladesh). Games will happen where you will lose wickets but we have a solid team which is ready to take up the challenge. Against Bangladesh, our middle-order did well. Hardik [Pandya] came in and did well. As a batsman, you have to concentrate on basics. Your technique has to be sound and you have to assess the conditions as soon as possible,” the India batsman explained. l

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

PLAYERS TO WATCH MOHAMMAD AMIR Pakistan

It was only in November last year when Pakistan seamer Amir got his second chance. The left-arm pacer had just returned to competitive action following his ban for spot-fixing. He made a flying start in domestic cricket and was soon roped in by Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 franchise Chittagong Vikings. The Vikings did not do well in the tournament but Amir had accomplished his mission. The 23year old will be quite eager to keep the India batsmen on their toes.

VIRAT KOHLI India

The hard-hitting batsman was denied a sound start to the tournament after being dismissed by Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza early in his knock. There is no doubt that the Delhi cricketer will be desperate to score big today against their eternal rival. His brilliant run of form in the T20 format against Australia should inspire him to come good against Pakistan. So far, Kohli has played 34 T20Is, averaging a healthy 48.88. The righthander has an immaculate record against Pakistan, averaging 75.

–MINHAZ UDDIN KHAN

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

WHAT JAVED SAID UAE Captain

ON THE TARGET OF 134 134 in a Twenty20 game is possible to chase when you get a good start and your batsmen go for their shots, so chasing this target is a bit possible. On the other [hand] you have to see that we are playing against Bangladesh.

We are not used to playing against top teams so when you are facing these kind of attacks for the first time, you will have a tough time in the middle. And if you lose early wickets it becomes difficult to chase even a score like 134.

We have been working together in the ICC academy for the last one year.

But practising in the nets and facing the opponent bowlers in a game is different.

We should get some more games against the top teams because that way we can fix our problems and develop the game.

The Bangladesh bowling side is difficult to play. I think everyone took wickets early into the game and Mustafizur [Rahman] was really exceptional. The off-cutter he is bowling is difficult to judge because the action is the same.

–MINHAZ UDDIN KHAN

Bangladesh pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman grasps a brilliant caught-and-bowled opportunity, that of UAE batsman Rohan Mustafa during their Asia Cup Twenty20 clash at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The third umpire however, moments later adjudged that the catch was not a clean one MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

‘Batting still needs improvement’

SCORECARD BANGLADESH Md Mithun run out Soumya c Amjad b Shahzad Sabbir c Fahad b Rohan Mushfiqur c Patil b Naveed Shakib b Amjad Mahmudullah not out Nurul c Fahad b Amjad Mashrafe c Fahad b Naveed Taskin run out Extras (lb2 w2 nb1)

R B 47 41 21 14 6 12 4 8 13 13 36 27 0 1 0 3 1 2 5

Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 133 Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Soumya), 2-72 (Sabbir), 3-81 (Mithun), 4-83 (Rahim), 5-112 (Shakib), 6-112 (Nurul), 7-114 (Mortaza), 8-133 (Taskin) Did not bat: Al-Amin Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman

n Mazhar Uddin Bangladesh limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza yesterday informed that their batting performance must improve before their remaining Asia Cup Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In pursuit of the Tigers’ modest total of 133/8 at Mirpur’s Sher-eBangla National Stadium, the United

Arab Emirates could manage only 82, losing all of their wickets to give the home side a comfortable 51-run win.

And despite sealing a convincing victory, Mashrafe said batting is still their main area of concern in the shortest format of the game.

With the exception of Mahmudullah’s 27-ball 36, none of the Bangladesh batsmen appeared at ease in the face of some disciplined bowl-

Bowling Naveed 4-1-12-2, Amjad 4-0-34-2 (nb1) Shahzad 4-0-38-1 (w2), Raza 4-0-17-0, Rohan 4-0-30-1 UAE Rohan c Mustafizur b Mortaza Kaleem c Mortaza b Al-Amin Shahzad c & b Mustafizur Shaiman c Mahmudullah Usman b Taskin Swapnil c Mortaza b Mustafizur Javed hit wicket Mahmudullah Fahad Tariq st Nurul b Shakib Saqlain c Mortaza b Mahmudullah Raza St Nurul b Taskin Naveed not out Extras ( w3) 3

R 18 0 12 1 30 0 3 0 2 5 8

B 17 5 12 4 30 1 10 2 4 14 7

Total ( all out; 17.4 overs) 82 Fall of wickets 1-2 (Kaleem), 2-25 (Rohan), 3-33 (Shaiman), 4-34 (Shahzad), 5-34 (Patil), 6-45(Amjad), 7-46 (Fahad), 8-55 (Saqlain), 9-71 (Usman), 10-82 ( Raza) Bangladesh won by 52 runs

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza bowls during their Asia Cup Twenty20 tie against the UAE in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

ing by the UAE. “We can obviously do a lot better than this. If we leave out the last two matches, we scored above 150 but we were unable to score over here. It’s unfortunate,” Mashrafe told the media in the post-match press conference.

“Especially [yesterday], since we had a partnership going, we should have scored more than 150. We just planned not to be over-excited, we did not want to do anything over-ambitious. We just wanted to play normally, bowl normally and that was it. Everyone had the right attitude,” he said.

The “Narail Express” praised player of the match Mahmudullah, who had a memorable outing yesterday. After rescuing his side with his unbeaten 36, Mahmudullah further aided the Tigers’ cause by taking two wickets and a brilliant catch of Shaiman Anwar.

“He always was and still is a very important player. He knows his role very well. Sometimes when the team is under pressure he goes out to bat and when he cannot play his best knock then everybody talks so his job is very difficult. [Yesterday] was a similar situation and it feels good that he took the pressure and played the best possible innings for the team.

And at the same time, the bowling is going well for him. Hopefully he can continue,” added Mashrafe. l

Sexwale pulls out before first round vote n Reuters, Zurich Tokyo Sexwale withdrew from the FIFA presidential race minutes before the vote yesterday, announcing his decision at the very end of his candidate’s speech.

“I have got a surprise for you: my campaign ends today and I suspend my participation. With only four people, it is your problem now,” he told delegates at the extraordinary FIFA Congress.

“I am prepared to serve under the new president.”

The South African businessman and politician was one of five candidates standing to lead soccer’s scandal-plagued governing body out of the worst crisis in its 112-year history.

There has been speculation throughout Sexwale’s low-key campaign that he could pull out, but he began his speech by saying: “I am a soldier and I die with my boots on.” l

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QUICK BYTES German World Cup scandal claims latest scalp German football federation (DFB) general secretary Helmut Sandrock, who helped organise the scandal-hit 2006 World Cup, has resigned, the DFB announced yesterday. The move comes on the day a law firm charged with investigating Germany’s bid for the 2006 World Cup was due to deliver its report, and hours ahead of FIFA’s vote for a new president.

–AFP

Little Afghan Messi fan still keen to meet idol The five-year-old Afghan boy who won the Internet’s heart when he was pictured wearing a plastic bag as an improvised Lionel Messi jersey is still eager to meet the Argentine football superstar, he told AFP yesterday. Murtaza Ahmadi travelled with his family to Kabul this week to receive two jerseys autographed by Messi and presented to the young fan by UNICEF. –AFP

Russian duo halt doubles win streak of Hingis-Mirza Top ranked women’s doubles pair Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza had their 41-match winning streak halted on Thursday after they were beaten in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open. The Swiss and Indian, the current Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open champions, were beaten 2-6 6-4 10-5 by Russian duo Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina. “That was an amazing match for us,” Vesnina was quoted as saying by the WTA Tour.

–REUTERS

Hiddink rules out Terry, tight-lipped on Conte Chelsea will be without captain John Terry when they visit Southampton in the Premier League today as the centre back is still recovering from a hamstring injury, manager Guus Hiddink said yesterday. Hiddink, in charge of the team until the end of the season, refused to comment on reports that he will be replaced by Italy coach Antonio Conte after this year’s European Championship.

“You have heard more than me because that’s your job,” the Dutchman told a news conference.

“I’m not involved in this and that’s all you’ll get from me. I’m in favour that when things are done, you make it transparent.”

–REUTERS

India, Pakistan brace for Asia Cup blockbuster n Minhaz Uddin Khan The wait for perhaps the most enterprising game of the Asia Cup Twenty20 will end today when India take on arch-rival Pakistan at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The match begins at 7:30pm and Star Sports 1, Maasranga TV and GTV will telecast it live.

It is not only India and Pakistan who are excited about the tie.

Millions of fans in Bangladesh are expected to be nailed to their sofa seats at home while demand for tickets has already reached a crescendo.

Considering the popularity and history of the contest, the game promises to be a thrilling encounter. This will be the first meeting between the two sub-continent rivals in any format since last year’s World Cup. Pakistan batting-allrounder Shoaib Malik believes his side will start today’s game as the favourites but if recent form is anything to go by, then it is India who are flying at the moment.

India made a fiery start to the tournament, defeating hosts Bangladesh by a comprehensive margin. Before arriving in Bangladesh, India had defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in a three-match T20I series. Prior to that series, the Indians whitewashed Australia down under in three T20Is. Then there is the batting factor.

There is hardly any team in the world who can boast such power and strength as India, especially in the shortest format. While batsmen like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan can be more than handful for any opponent on a particular day, captain MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh add some much-needed experience to the line-up.

The combination was further improved through the inclusion of youngster Hardik Pandya. Pandya experienced a brilliant outing

Central eye win, South have it all to do in BCL Central v North, Cox’s Bazar

Central Zone will be looking to seal their maiden victory in the Bangladesh Cricket League longer-version and leapfrog North Zone to the top of the points table when the fourth and final day’s play takes place today.

Following the third day’s proceedings yesterday at the academy ground of Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, North were batting on 22/2 in pursuit of a huge target of 422.

Earlier on the day, Central presented North with a mammoth target after the former posted 329/7 declared in their second innings, riding on Marshal Ayub’s 231-ball 141, featuring 18 fours and two sixes. Alongside Zabid Hossain (92), Marshal added 229 runs for the second wicket to take Central to a strong position.

South v East, Cox’s Bazar

India batsman Yuvraj Singh arrives to training yesterday against the Tigers, hitting some powerful shots in the latter overs to take India to a challenging total.

The pace unit, comprising veteran left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah have proven that they can work in tandem while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can be deadly on his day.

Pakistan though will be no pushovers as they have played a lot of T20s recently. They were the last team to arrive in the capital city for the Asia Cup, given that they were busy competing in the inaugural Pakistan Super League T20. Many of their cricketers are on song at the moment and the Pakistan team

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

management will be desperate to see the trend continue.

And if India possess one of the most formidable batting line-ups in the world then Pakistan’s bowling department can easily be labelled world-class. The bowling order includes experienced campaigner Mohammad Sami, tall left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Anwar Ali. With so many bowlers in their rank, Pakistan will look to the inform Mohammad Hafeez to lead the batting charge while Malik, Umar Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed also have the ability to take the game away from the opposition.l

Bottom side South Zone are on the back-foot against East Zone heading into today’s play at the same venue. South registered 204/4 by the end of yesterday, a lead of only 59 runs.

Much will depend on Anamul Haque (84*) and Taibur Rahman (52*) if South are to give East a challenging total to chase.

East, resuming yesterday on 345/5, added 62 runs to their first innings tally before losing their remaining five wickets with Bangladesh Under-19 hero Zakir Hasan staying unbeaten on 128. South’s veteran campaigner Abdur Razzak was the pick of the bowlers with his 5/161. l –MAZHAR UDDIN

4TH BCL, RD 3, DAY 3 Central Zone 260 & 329/7 dec (Marshal 141, Zabid 91, Farhad 5/49) v North Zone 168 & 22/2 North need 400 more runs to win South Zone 262 & 204/4 (Anamul 84*, Taibur 52, Iftekhar 2/76) v East Zone 407 (Zakir 128*, Mominul 112, Tasamul 87) South Zone lead by 59 runs

Arambagh KS set for new identity n Tribune Report Arambagh Krira Sangha are all set to appear in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier Football League with a new addition to their title.

The club’s new identity would be Sheikh Moni Arambagh Krira Sangha, named after Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, nephew of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“As Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni is the son of our region, Arambagh KS will appear in the premier league

after his name. We, the current committee, will announce it officially with a colourful ceremony next week,” said club president Mominul Haque, who is also a Jubo League leader.

He continued, “The club will then become a limited company like Abahani and Mohammedan.

We also want to leave a legacy in Bangladesh sports. There are no alternatives than being a limited company and we are moving forward step by step.”

Arambagh returned to the top

flight after three seasons in the second tier. They finished second in the Bangladesh Championship League and were promoted to the top tier alongside champions Uttar Baridhara.

While talking about his ambitions regarding the club, Mominul said, “As a president my dream is to see my club reach the highest level in Bangladesh football. We are trying to form a better squad with a quality coach, a decent set of foreign players and local young players. I believe it will be a good team.”

Mominul informed that the club are trying to recruit a striker from Brazil named Tyson de Silva, who previously played for Muktijoddha, and added that they have also talked to long-time premier league attackers Samad Yussif, Kester Akon and Ismail Bangoura.

“There was a time when Abahani and Mohammedan were afraid of facing Arambagh because they were known as ‘giant killers’. But this time we are on the way to becoming giants from the tag of giant-killers,” he said. l

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Dream debut for Rashford n AFP, Manchester Marcus Rashford, a teenage product of Manchester United’s academy, enjoyed a dream debut by scoring twice in a 5-1 victory over Denmark’s FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford on Thursday that took the Premier League side into the last 16 of the Europa League.

The 18-year-old was only thrust into the starting side when Anthony Martial was injured during the warm-up.

But he showed no nerves when he struck in the 64th minute, with a clinical, low strike from eight yards after Juan Mata had pulled an Ander Herrera far-post cross back across the area from the left-hand by-line, to put United 2-1 in front on the evening.

That matched the same scoreline by which Louis van Gaal’s side had lost the first leg in Denmark last week and, after 75 minutes, Rashford’s second goal of the evening gave United a 4-3 aggregate advantage.

Again, the young forward showed great composure, following nice footwork and a cross from full-back Guillermo Varela which Rashford met at full speed and drove the ball home. l

United to face Liverpool in Europa last 16 n Reuters Manchester United and Liverpool, English football’s two most decorated clubs, were drawn together in the last 16 of the Europa League yesterday.

The arch-rivals have won 38 league titles between them as well as eight European Cups yet both are struggling in the Premier League this season and are unlikely to relish being pitted against each other at this stage of the competition.

Bookmakers’ favourites Borussia Dortmund were also handed a tricky route into the last eight after being drawn against Tottenham Hotspur, who are second in the Premier League behind Leicester City.l

KEY RESULTS Schalke 04

0-3

Shakhtar Donetsk

Marlos 27, Ferreyra 63, Kovalenko 77

Liverpool

1-0

Augsburg

3-1

Galatasaray

Milner 5-P

Lazio

Parolo 59, Anderson 61, Klose 72

Tottenham

3-0

Öztekin 62

DRAW

Fiorentina

Mason 25, Lamela 63, Gonzalo 81-o.g.

FC Porto

0-1

Dortmund Casillas 23-o.g.

Napoli

1-1

Hamsik 17

Villarreal Pina 59

5-1

Midtjylland

Bodurov 32-o.g., Rashford 63, 75, Herrera 88-P, Depay 90

Sisto 27

Man United

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring during their Europa League match against Midtjylland in Manchester on Thursday AP

Shakhtar Basel Villarreal Athletic Bilbao Liverpool Sparta Prague Dortmund Fenerbahce

v v v v v v v v

Anderlecht Sevilla Leverkusen Valencia Man United Lazio Tottenham Braga

Two-legged ties to be played March 10 and 17

FANS ELEVATING BUNDESLIGA TO THE VERY TOP OF EUROPE n Safir Zawad The German Bundesliga is home to some of the biggest clubs in Europe; Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 to name but a few.

These clubs have been performing extremely well in the Champions League with Bayern winning the crown as recently as 2014.

The critics on the other hand label the Bundesliga as a one-horse race dominated by Bayern but clubs like Dortmund and Schalke have been participating regularly in the knockout stages of the Champions League and creating problems for some of the biggest European teams.

Even though the Bundesliga has been around for more than 52 years in its current format, it is not the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about the “best league” in Europe. The English Premier League has more money, the Spanish La Liga has more glamour and the Italian Serie A has more history when compared with the Bundesliga but the German league has some strong points of its own which makes it special, and in this article, I will be explaining why the Bundesliga is the best league in Europe.

Ever since its inception, the Bundesliga has been all about its fans.

The stadiums are huge, the tickets are cheap and the fans get to have a say in

the decision making process of a club.

As a result, the stadiums are always filled with cheerful fans chanting for their beloved clubs and the stadiums are also hospitable for the fans of away teams. The “50 plus one” rule ensures that no individual can have a majority stake in a Bundesliga side and fan members of the club are the majority shareholders. This prevents clubs from being under the thumbs of Russian oligarchs and Arab sheikhs who would end up treating the clubs as their personal “play things”, as seen in the Premier League.

In short, in the Bundesliga, the fans own the club. The ticket prices in the Bundesliga are also cheaper when compared to the Premier League and the big La Liga clubs. A season ticketholder at Dortmund, who are one of the biggest clubs in Europe, would cost 600 euros at most. On the other hand, season tickets at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium would cost above 1000 pounds. The presence of standing tickets also allows more people to enjoy the game and creates a volatile atmosphere for any away team.

In the late 90s, the German

national team were facing a decline.

They had hit rock bottom when they ended up finishing last in their group in the Euro 2000, and changes were required. This caused the German Football Association to overhaul the youth academies of the clubs and do talent recruitment programmes, which provided the clubs with fresh young talent. Clubs who had youth academies improved their facilities and clubs without proper youth academies had to create them. This resulted in the injection of new, younger talent in the German footballing structure. Players

like Thomas Mueller, Marco Reus, Jerome Boateng and Mario Goetze were a product of the overhauled German youth system and this resulted in better performance from the national team, ending up reaching at least the semi-finals in all the World Cups held after the year 2000 and also the creation of the golden generation who won the 2014 Fifa World Cup. All the elite clubs in Europe look at the Bundesliga for the recruitment of quality players. Recent examples include Toni Kroos’ transfer from Bayern to Real Madrid and Son Heung-min’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur. In summary, this overhaul in the youth system has resulted in a huge increase of quality in German football and the effects of these changes will be felt for years to come.

Ultimately, all these elements mix together to form a high quality, attractive, fast-paced brand of football loved by the fans. With the talent on offer, the German national team are going to dominate world football for many more years and the Bundesliga will be doing the same in Europe.

Bayern are already a major force in European football and clubs like Dortmund, VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer are slowly catching up. The English Premier League was the past, the La Liga is the present, and the Bundesliga will become the future. l

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V FIXTURES

Real Madrid Getafe Sporting Gijon Real Betis Real Sociedad

v v v v v

Atletico Madrid Celta Vigo Espanyol Rayo Vallecano Malaga

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas dives full length and saves a goal during a training session at the club ground on Thursday prior to the Madrid derby against Atletico today

DAY’S WATCH CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1 6:30PM Asia Cup T20 2016 India v Pakistan

FOOTBALL English Premier League

STAR SPORTS 4 6:35PM West Ham United v Sunderland 9:00PM Southampton v Chelsea 11:30PM West Brom v Crystal Palace

SONY ESPN 9:00PM

Derby win a must for Ronaldo in Barca chase n AFP, Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo insists Real Madrid can still catch La Liga leaders Barcelona if they can overcome their hoodoo against local rivals Atletico Madrid today.

Real trail Atletico by a point and are nine adrift of Barca with just 13 games remaining, but can move up to second place should they beat Diego Simeone’s men for the first time in six league games.

“It is a game we need to win,” Ronaldo told Madrid’s website.

“It is an important game at home, in front of our fans and

against a very strong team that defends well. We know that (winning) La Liga will be difficult, but we need to fight until the end. Football is box full of surprises and anything can happen.”

Real are expected to once again be without Gareth Bale as the calf injury that was initially expected to keep the Welsh star out for three weeks in mid-January drags on.

Karim Benzema is likely to return having missed the 1-1 draw at Malaga last weekend, whilst James Rodriguez could start after being left on the bench by Zinedine Zidane at La Rosaleda.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid Getafe v Celta Vigo 1:00PM Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano 3:35PM Real Sociedad v Malaga

n AFP, Leicester

TEN SPORTS 6:00PM Sky Bet Championship Wolves v Derby County 9:00PM WTA Tour 2016 Qatar Total Open - Final

TEN ACTION 5:00PM I-League 2016 French Ligue 1 2015/16 10:00PM Montpellier Herault V LOSC Lille 1:00AM Stade De Reims v Girondins

TEN CRICKET 9:00PM Sky Bet Championship 2015/16 Fulham v Middlesbrough

patient, I’ll be the first to wait,” said Simeone.

Stefan Savic misses out through injury, so Jose Maria Gimenez will come into the Atletico defence.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres is likely to earn a recall to the starting line-up unless Yannick Carrasco recovers in time from an ankle ligament injury. Barca can maintain their stranglehold on the title race when Sevilla visit the Camp Nou tomorrow.

The Andalusians’ charge for a top-four finish has been maintained by their brilliant home form as they still haven’t won away in the league all season. l

Leicester refreshed in time for title charge

11:15PM

Salgaocar v Mohun Bagan

Zidane’s record at the Bernabeu since taking over has been impeccable with four wins and 20 goals from four games.

However, Atletico’s rock-solid defence will pose a much more difficult obstacle to break down. Simeone’s men recorded their 24th clean sheet in 38 games this season in a 0-0 draw at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek.

However, goals at the other end of the field has been the major problem for Atletico with just one in their last three games.

“The goal will come. We need to keep going and, if we have to be

Djokovic retires with injury during Dubai QF Novak Djokovic pulled out of his Dubai Championships quarter-final on Thursday after suffering an eye problem. The world number one had lost the first set against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez when he decided to retire, the day after achieving his 700th career win. Djokovic had earlier been treated by his trainer during the first set, after having dropped his serve. After losing his serve again to concede the set 6-3, making 18 unforced errors, he decided not to continue, denying him the chance of reaching an 18th successive ATP Tour final. The Serb was not immediately available to explain his decision, but Lopez told the media that his opponent had suffered an eye infection.

REUTERS

While their Premier League title rivals have been battling for cup glory at home and in Europe, shock leaders Leicester City have enjoyed a refreshing two-week break from action.

Now the Foxes are back after a seven day holiday and, according to manager Claudio Ranieri, refreshed for a spell of matches he believes will determine the course of their remarkable season.

In the agony of a stoppage-time defeat at Arsenal in their last game, it seemed that a little momentum had shifted away from Ranieri’s men following an unbeaten league run that stretched back to Boxing Day. Yet they remain two points clear at the top of the table with 12 games remaining, the first five of which pit them against clubs they

will be clear favourites to beat.

They face Norwich today at the King Power Stadium, then meet West Bromwich Albion, Watford, Newcastle and Crystal Palace before the next international break at

EPL FIXTURES

Leicester Southampton Stoke Watford West Brom West Ham

v v v v v v

Norwich Chelsea Aston Villa Bournemouth Crystal Palace Sunderland

the end of March.

“We have a block of games now until March 19 that could be the key to our season,” Ranieri said.

“We are at ‘the turn’. The next five matches are the turn – then there is the run-in and the goal is there.” l

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016

National Film Award 2014 announced National Film Award 2014: Full list of winners

n Showtime Desk The government grant winning film, Brihannala, bagged the best film award while Zahidur Rahim Anjan, the director of Meghamallar, was honoured with the best director award at the National Film Award 2014.

The Ministry of Information announced the winning names in all 26 categories by issuing a gazette on Thursday.

Ferdous Ahmed and Sohana Saba worked in Brihannala, which

addresses religion and its impact on the society through the story of an inter-faith relationship. For the film Brihannala, Murad also recieved awards in the best story and best dialogue categories.

In the meantime, Zahidur Rahim Anjan recieved the award for best director for his directorial work in the liberation war based film Meghamallar. The film is an adaptation of Akhtaruzzaman Elias’ acclaimed work Raincoat.

On the other hand, Ferdous Ahmed bagged the best actor award

for his role in Ek Cup Cha while the best actress award was shared between Moushumi (for her role in Tarkanta) and Bidya Sinha Mim (for her role in Jonakir Alo).

Seasoned actors Syed Hasan Imam and Rani Sarkar were chosen for the lifetime achievement award for their contributions to the film industry.

“The prime minister will hand over the awards to the winners,” said ministry officials, “the date of the awarding ceremony will be announced soon.” l

Rumours surrounding Farhan and Kalki n Showtime Desk Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Akhtar ended their long standing marriage last month, and an official statement was sent confirming the split. Once the news of their marriage ending began circling, many claimed that it was Farhan’s extra-marital affair that caused the crack in their marriage.

Names of Shraddha Kapoor and Aditi Rao Hydari started popping up as reports stated that Farhan was dating one of his co-stars. However, none of them elaborated on the issue at all.

Aditi had dismissed such reports whereas Shraddha never spoke of it. Farhan maintained a dignified silence as well.

Now, as rumor breaks, it’s not Shraddha or Aditi, but Kalki Koechlin who Farhan has been seeing for the longest time. The two actors co-starred in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. They worked together in 2011, and have been

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Jointly Syed Hasan Imam and Rani Sarkar • Best Film: Brihonnola, Director Murad Parvez • Best Short-film: Gariwala, Director Ashraf Shishir • Best Director: Zahidur Rahim Anjan, Meghmallar • Best Actor: Ferdous Ahmed, Ek cup cha • Best Actress: Jointly Moushumi (Tarkata) and Bidya Sinha Mim (Jonakir Alo) • Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Ejazul Islam, Tarkata • Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Chitrolekha Guho, Ekattorer Ma Jononi • Best Actor in a Negative Role (Villain): Tariq Anam Khan, Desha: The Leader • Best Actor in a Comic Role: Misha Sawdagar, Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo • Best Child Artist: Abir Hossain Ankon, Boishommo • Special Award as Best Child Artist: Marjan Hossain Zara, Meghmallar • Best Music Director: Dr. Saim Rana, Nekabborer Mohaproyan

• Best Male Playback Singer: Mahfuz Anam James (Potakata Khamchate), Desha: The Leader • Best Female Playback Singer: Jointly Runa Laila (Priya Tumi Shukhi Hou) and Momtaz (Nekabborer Mohaproyan) • Best Lyrics: Masud Pothik, Nekabborer Mohaproyan • Best Music Composer: Belal Khan, Nekabborer Mohaproyan • Best Story: Murad Parvez, Brihonnola • Best Screenplay: Saikat Nasir, Desha: The Leader • Best Dialogue: Murad Parvez, Brihonnola • Best Editing: Towhid Hossain Chowdhury, Desha: The Leader • Best Art Direction: Maruf Samurai, Tarkata • Best Cinematography: Mohammad Hossain Jemi, Boishommo • Best Sound Recording: Ratan Paul, Meghmallar • Best Costume Design: Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Jonakir Alo • Best Make-up: Abdur Rahman, Nekabborer Mohaproyan

An Evening of Rabindra Sangeet at IGCC n Showtime Desk

friends ever since.

Coincidentally, Kalki’s marriage with Anurag Kashyap also fell apart and they decided to part ways a few years back.

Some reports suggest that the two actors have been going strong together and dating for over 10 months now. This also

means that Farhan was already cheating on his wife Adhuna before their break-up even occured.

Farhan’s marriage was on the rocks for over a year, but it seems his close proximity to Kalki might have put the final nail in the coffin. l

Indira Gandhi Culture Centre (IGCC) has organised “An Evening of Rabindra Sangeet” with Shirsendu Roy and Arena Mukherjee today at the IGCC auditorium, Gulshan-1 at 6pm.

Shirsendu Roy and Arena Mukherjee both are enlisted artists of All India Radio and Doordarshan. They have received national scholarship from the Government of India and also received awards from the “Pandit Sukumar Mitra Smriti Sangsad” and “Pashchimbanga Rajya Sangeet Academy.”

Shirsendu Roy has completed his masters in vocal music from Rabindra Bharati University and later got trained under eminent gurus like Shri Samarendranath Dutta, Shri Arup Mukherjee, Shri Gurudas Roy and Shri Debasish Ganguly. He came runners-up in

All India Radio Music Competition in 2001. He also performed in different TV channels in India like Zee Bangla, Tara Muzik and Doordarshan.

Arena Mukherjee was trained in music by Tushti Bhattacharya, Maya Sen and Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta. She has completed her masters in Rabindra Sangeet and is the recipient of gold medal at Rabindra Bharati University in 2006. She has been working in different TV channel programs of India ever since, organised by Tara Muzik and Star Jolsa.

The event is open to all. l

Although he doesn’t particularly like attention, Tom Hardy did not have any issues to take his talents back on television with his new series on FX, called Taboo. The executive producer of the series being Ridley Scott and Hardy himself, the orginial story was even scribbled by Hardy’s father Chips Hardy and Locke writer

Steven Knight.

Kristoffer Nyholm, a Danish director best known for directing the original Scandinavian version of The Killing, is at the heart of this gritty series, and it looks pretty impressive.

Hardy’s monologue in Taboo’s trailer alone may be enough to capture interest, not to mention the cast including Jonathan Pryce and character actor Michael

Wild Things Zee Studio 5:40pm A police detective uncovers a conspiracy behind a case involving a high-school guidance counselor when accusations of rape are made against him by two female students.

Cast: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell

Kelly.

In the series, Hardy plays James Keziah Delaney, a rogue adventurer who comes back to London in 1814 after spending over 10 years in Africa. Once back, he discovers his father was murdered, and mysterious legacy was left behind by the old man.

Once the East India Company gained power, Delaney refuses to sell his family’s business to them,

Weird Bollwood nicknames you didn’t know n Showtime Desk While a heavyweight Bollywood last name like Khan, Bachchan or Kapoor can ensure a jumpstart to a career in the industry, nicknames too are a big part in B-town. Kareena’s “Bebo,” her sister Karishma’s “Lolo,” Govinda’s “Chichi” and Saif Ali Khan’s “Chotey Nawab” may well be known to all but there are a few other celebrity nicknames which many don’t know about. Some are funny, some cute and the rest are just embarrassing. Read on, to find out which celebrity has a cute nickname and who has a weird one.

Ranbir Kapoor The torch-bearer of the Kapoor khandaan was nicknamed “Ganglu” by his grandfather and legendary actor, Raj Kapoor.

However, that is not the only nickname he owns. Everybody else in his family calls him “Dabbu” and his mother calls him “Raymond,” since she thinks of him as “the complete man.”

Whew, that’s a lot of names to keep track of!

Hrithik Roshan With Greek-god-like features, Roshan junior is widely known by a rather cute name, “Duggu,” insync with his father’s nickname, “Guddu.” D’aww!

Priyanka Chopra The former “Miss World” has done quite well for herself in recent times with stellar performances in Quantico, Bajirao Mastani and others, but her name “Piggy Chops” by Abhishek Bachchan seems to have stuck with her. PC is called “Mithoo” because of her childhood habit of mimicking others. She has also been named “Mimi,” after the French diva Mimi Rogers.

Alia Bhatt While Alia is already a cute and short name, this rising star is called “Aloo” by her family members. Her chubby cheeks during teenage years is what prompted the nickname.

Varun Dhawan “Pappu.” Yes, while it is hard to absorb such a contrasting nickname, with his recent performances, Varun has proved

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that Pappu can actually dance sala.

Shraddha Kapoor Interestingly, it is her childhood friend, Varun Dhawan aka “Pappu,” who gave Shraddha the nickname, “Chirkoot.”

Parineeti Chopra The Bollywood cutie is referred to as “Pari” by her close friends, but her actual nickname is “Tisha.”

Ashwarya Rai The other former Miss World in the list, Aishwarya Rai is known as “Ash” for obvious reasons. But what many don’t know is that her true nickname is “Gullu.” We failed to make a connection between her and the name!

Sonam Kapoor Often thought of as a fashionista, Sonam Kapoor is lovingly called “Giraffe” by her father Anil Kapoor because of her height. l

and plans to build his own trading and shipping empire instead. This thrusts him into the middle of the War of 1812, fought between the US and Britain.

The series shall be introduced in eight-episode bundles, and it feels almost like a Gangs of New York series set in London, but with an even more intriguing lead character for the audience to follow. l

Green Lantern WB 5:45pm Reckless test pilot Hal Jordan is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers that inducts him into an intergalactic police force, the Green Lantern Corps.

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard Predator Star Movies 7:15pm A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall Escape Plan HBO 9:30pm When a structural-security authority finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world’s most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside.

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Sony PIX 11:31pm Famed archaeologist/ adventurer Dr Henry “Indiana” Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artefacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

Cast: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf

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THE FICKLE SWITCH PAGE 13

Back Page AFRIDI COUNTING ON PACEMEN, ROHIT’S FOCUS ON BATTING PAGE 25

AMAR EKUSHEY

NATIONAL FILM AWARD 2014 ANNOUNCED PAGE 30

BOOK FAIR 2016

Friday boost for Boi Mela n Nure Alam Durjoy The month-long momentum culminated yesterday into what book sellers said was the best day of the Ekushey Boi Mela this year.

Thousands thronged the Boi Mela on the final Friday of the annual book fair, pushing sales numbers upward and helping publishers recuperate somewhat from the losses suffered because of a rain-washed lost day of business on Wednesday.

From 10:30am to 8pm, book stall attendants stayed busy dealing with the rush of visitors. The crowd only grew bigger as the day progressed into the evening.

Publishers and stall attendants told the Dhaka Tribune that sales were better than other days.

“Sales have been quite satisfactory as the fair ground is buzzing with thousands of visitors,” said Masud Rana, manager at Abosar Prokashona Shangstha.

Echoing Masud, Tamralipi Publisher AKM Tarqul Islam Roni

premises; cultural personality Ramendu Majumdar and Bangla Academy DG Shamsuzzaman Khan were present for the ceremony.

Remembering Avijit Roy

The fair grounds observed a minute of silence at 4pm to honour the memory of author and blogger Avijit Roy, who was brutally killed a year ago while returning home from the book fair.

All writers, publishers and bookworms visiting the fair observed the minute’s silence and demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.

Publishers plea Visitors throng the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday, the last Friday of the month-long fair said: “It is perhaps the best weekend day of the fair this year.”

Badol Kumar Das, a development worker, visited the fair yesterday with plans to buy over 500 children’s book for his organisation.

“I am buying children’s books which will be distributed among the children through the organisation I work for,” he said.

The Dhaka Tribune also found many representatives from rural

2 dead, 3 burnt in gas explosion n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Two members of a family died and three others were severely burnt in an explosion caused by gas leak in their flat in Uttara, Dhaka yesterday.

The victims were identified as Shahnewaz, 50, an employee at the US Embassy in Dhaka, his wife Sumaiya, 38, and their sons Sharleen, 15, Zarif, 9, and Zayan, 14 months.

Sharleen and Zayan succumbed to their injuries at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery yesterday evening. Shahnewaz and Sumaiya are being treated at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the burn institute. Zarif is in a normal ward.

Dr Partha Shankar Paul, resident surgeon at the burn institute, said both Shahnewaz and Sumaiya sustained 95% burn injuries, Sharleen sustained 88% burns, Zayan 74% burns, and Zarif 6% burns.

“The victims’ respiratory system was severely damaged,” he said.

Giving in to their injuries, Sharleen died around 5:05pm and Zayan died around 6:45pm.

“It is difficult for patients to surviving burns like this,” Dr Partha said. “We’re providing our best medical care to the surviving patients.”

The incident took place around 5:30am yesterday, sources said.

Armin Nishat, a cousin of Shahnewaz’s, said when the family was brought in to the DMCH, Shahnewaz told her that the entire flat caught fire when Sumaiya lit a match to light the stove in the kitchen.

Moniruzzaman Hossain, a neighbour, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I woke up in the morning hearing the loud noise of explosion. When I went out to see what the matter was, I saw heavy smoke coming out of their [the victims’] flat, then burning bodies started coming out.”

Fire fighters suspect there was a gas leak in the stove pipeline in the flat’s kitchen, said Abdul Jalil, in-charge of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters. “The stove was off when the explosion took place. We suspect gas leaked from the pipeline and accumulated in the flat over the night as all the doors and windows were closed,” he told

the Dhaka Tribune.

‘This could have been prevented’

“My cousin complained about the gas leak ever since he moved in to the flat,” said a grieving Nishat.

She said the family had moved in to the flat in Sector 3 of Uttara only a week ago. “He could smell the gas as soon as they moved in. He informed the flat owner, Delwar Hossain, about it, but Delwar did not do anything to repair it.”

The Dhaka Tribune attempted to contact Delwar several times for a comment, but could not reach him.

However, Saleh Uddin, the caretaker of the building, said the building did not have gas supply most of the time. “We submitted a complaint about the leak as well as the shortage of gas supply at the local Titas office.”

Ali Hossain, OC at Uttara West police station, said police were investigating the incident. “We will take necessary action as per the complaint filed by the victims’ family. We will also look into the caretaker’s claim.” l

RAJIB DHAR

libraries visiting the fair, looking for their desired book titles.

The book fair saw its last children’s hour yesterday, with competitions and prize giving ceremony being held on Bangla Academy

Calling for the book fair to stay open from 11am to 9pm for the last three days, the Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh held a press conference at Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday.

But the fair committee’s Member Secretary Dr Jalal Ahmed said they had no plan to extend the time of the fair. l

Europe’s Infantino wins Fifa presidency n AFP

Europe’s Gianni Infantino on Friday won the presidency of Fifa with a convincing win over Asian rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and vowed to lead the scandal tainted body into a new era.

The 45-year-old Swiss-Italian general secretary of Uefa got 115 votes in the second round of the election held at the Fifa Congress while the Asian Football Confederation president got 88.

Infantino takes over the 209-member, multi-billion dollar body from Sepp Blatter with world football’s image at an all-time low.

Blatter has been banned from football for six years and US and Swiss authorities have launched major corruption investigations into Fifa and other football federations.

Infantino said that despite the scandals of the past year football deserves to be “highly respected.”

Newly-elected Fifa chief, Switzerland’s Gianni Infantino “And we will restore the image of Fifa and the respect of Fifa and everyone in the world will applaud us,” a visibly surprised Infantino told the Congress.

Sheikh Salman, a member of the Bahrain royal family, was one of the first to congratulate his rival.

Having got 27 votes in the first round of the election, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan got just four in the second. l

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