06 March, 2016

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

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Falgun 23, 1422, Jamadiul Awal 25, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 320

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

Moment of truth for high-flying Tigers n Mazhar Uddin The whole nation has raised its hands together in prayers, hoping for the Tigers to roar once again when they face India today in the high-voltage final of the Asia Cup Twenty20 at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

A pleasant breeze has been blowing around the horizon ever since the Tigers came of age in ODIs last year.

There were however, slight concerns regarding the shortest format of the game. Until of course, the time when Mashrafe bin Mortaza and his troop announced their grand presence in the ongoing Asia Cup. This is the second time in history that the Tigers have reached the final of the regional showpiece competition. The first final appearance came in 2012 when hosts Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by a tantalising margin of two runs. The scenario might be a bit different this time, owing to the T20 format, but the hunger and desire still remain the same.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Bangladesh limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza bowls during their Asia Cup Twenty20 opener against India in Mirpur on February 24. The entire country is waiting patiently for one more blistering roar from Mashrafe and his troop today when they take on India in the grand finale MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH BANGLADESH

Shakib Al Hasan

The most experienced Twenty20 cricketer for the Tigers, all-rounder Shakib’s displays in the ongoing Asia Cup have been a bit below-par according to his own high standards.

The maverick southpaw however, will be desperate to finish things off in a grand manner against India. With a strike rate of 121.71 and bowling average of 20.54, Shakib will surely be a key component of the Tigers’ playing XI today.

Sabbir Rahman

The 24-year old dashing batsman has been an unprecedented success at the No 3 position in this tournament. His 54-ball 80 almost single-handedly steered the Tigers to a match-winning total against Sri Lanka. The right-hander possesses a strike rate of 120.05 and if he gets going today, his pyrotechnics will surely be a treat to watch for the packed Mirpur crowd.

INDIA

Taskin Ahmed

In the absence of pace bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin stepped up to the occasion and delivered just when the Tigers needed it the most. The 20-year old bowled superbly against Pakistan, giving away only 14 runs from his quota of four overs.

More importantly, he made life difficult for the Pakistan batsmen with his sheer pace and bounce, coupled with his consistent line and length.

Rohit Sharma

The stylish right-hander has played some brilliant knocks against the Tigers in the recent past. His highest score (83) in this edition came against Bangladesh.

His responsible 55-ball knock guided his side to a respectable total before India eventually clinched a 45-run victory. The 28-year old will no doubt eye yet another flying start against the high-flying hosts.

Virat Kohli

Kohli has been the backbone of the Indian batting line-up for quite some time now. It was no different in the Asia Cup as he posted significant knocks of 49 and 56* against Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively. His 49 was especially important as his side were under the cosh after losing three quick wickets. All eyes of the Indian fans will be fixated firmly on Kohli today.

Hardik Pandya

The youngster has impressed all and sundry with his performance in the Asia Cup. He has picked up a creditable seven wickets and has initiated many a crucial breakthrough for his side. The right-hander is yet to fire fully with the bat, with the exception of his brisk 18-ball 31, which rescued Team India from sure trouble against the home side.

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Two ministers criticise CJ for prosecution remark n UNB Two ministers at a roundtable discussion yesterday criticised Chief Justice SK Sinha for his reported remarks that “the prosecution is doing politics with the trial of condemned war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali.” Earlier, during the hearing of arguments on Mir Quasem Ali’s death row review petition on February 23, the Chief Justice purportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of the prosecution and the investigation agency.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said as some irrelevances were found during the appeal hearing, the court expressed the dissatisfaction.

The prosecution and the investigation agency have failed to exhibit the skills and dedication, he observed adding that the witnesses they produced before the court were exposed to the media in no time.

“Are you playing politics with those sitting in the prosecution?”

Chief Justice questioned during the hearing.

Meanwhile, concluding the hearing on Mir Quasem’s review petition death sentence, the Supreme Court on February 24 set March 8 for delivering its verdict on the appeal.

Addressing a roundtable held at BILIA auditorium in the city’s Dhanmondi area on Saturday, Food Minister Md Kamrul Islam expressed his dissatisfaction over Chief Justice SK Sinha’s remarks, saying “we can assume what would be the verdict on this case (of Mir Quasem Ali) through the remarks made by the Chief Justice openly at the court.”

The roundtable was organised

by Ekatorrer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul

Committee.

Noting that an allegation against the prosecution eventually stands as an allegation against the state and the government, the minister said the Chief Justice has spoken in tandem with BNP-Jamaat and their international lobbyist group in this connection.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said: “[I] would request the Chief Justice… withdraw your statement. Or else, [I] would let him judge how much scope there is for him to stay in the post.”

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Muntasir Mamun of Dhaka University noted that the judges of the International Crimes Tribunal had already given their verdict based on the information by the prosecution and the investigation agency, and the Chief Justice’s remarks against the prosecution also go against the judges.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction at the prosecution and the investigation agency of the War Crimes Tribunal.

On February 9, the Supreme Court started hearing the appeal filed by condemned war criminal Mir Quasem Ali challenging the death penalty.

Mir Quasem Ali on November 30, 2014 filed the appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the death penalty awarded to him by the International Crimes Tribunal 2 for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. l

Family members of a patient cart him off from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment, to a private hospital across the street for an x-ray, because the x-ray machine at Suhrawardy Hospital is out of commission. The photo was taken at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Dhaka-Delhi to combat ‘antiprogress’ manifestations n UNB Bangladesh and India have stressed combating “anti-progress” manifestations to take forward the relations to the next level.

Both countries also put emphasis on reinforcing their cooperation in the field of maritime security.

“Both countries may keep the blue economy at the centre of maritime cooperation,” said a joint deceleration titled Dhaka Declaration after the two-day Seventh Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue that concluded last night.

The two countries laid emphasis on developing further shared interests in the preservation of natural resources and improving security

Moment of truth for high-flying Tigers On the eve of the all-important clash, the Bangladesh dressing room received a slight jolt in the shape of all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who took a blow on his right thigh during a nets session yesterday.

Team physio Bayejidul Islam however, swatted away all the worries when he confirmed that there is nothing to be worried about and that Shakib will be fit to play, much to the delight, and relief, of the fans.

Heading into the clash, a lot will depend on opening batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar.

The latter, following a few stop-

start displays in the tournament gained some confidence after his magnificent 48-run knock against Pakistan.

Tamim, on the other hand, missed the start of competition but returned to the side in the Pakistan tie. Having made seven, the southpaw will look to go back to his regular run-scoring ways.

Coming in at No 3, Sabbir Rahman will be expected to persist with his counter-attack approach, no matter what the situation. If his 54-ball 80 against Sri Lanka is anything to go by then the Tigers supporters are in for a real treat.

The Tigers’ experienced mid-

dle-order, comprising Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim, however, are yet to fire from all cylinders. It is a slight concern for the hosts but the duo might just be saving their best for the big occasion.

The ever reliable Mahmudullah will shepherd the lower middle-order along with skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza, who can be dangerous with the willow in the latter overs.

The Tigers’ pace bowling department, meanwhile, will be marshalled by usual suspects Mashrafe, pacemen Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain while it was learned in the eleventh hour that young pace bowler Abu Haider

in the Indian Ocean, evoking the historical bonds that exist between the two countries.

This cooperation, the deceleration reads, is expected to provide an opportunity for the maritime forces of both Indian Ocean nations to work more closely together on a comprehensive perspective.

It said much emphasis would be laid on seabed exploration for hydrocarbons, marine services, seafood processing and aquaculture, fishing, deep ocean water application, seaport related activities, marine renewable energies, exchange of expertise and ocean knowledge.

The dialogue viewed that Bangladesh and India may exchange, develop, and improve jointly quality of

literary and artistic creation, confirm and commend “values of the true, good and beautiful” and criticise backward and the weak things and combat anti-progress manifestation.

The next round of dialogue will reconvene in New Delhi, India by the end of 2016 or early 2017 to conclusively discuss the identified intervention areas.

In the last two days, ministers, economists, diplomats, business leaders and senior officials from Bangladesh and India came together and assessed and measured how far India and Bangladesh have reached in terms of verifiable progress made so far. The theme of the dialogue was “Ground Rules of a New Paradigm.” l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Rony might be included as a surprise inclusion in place of left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny.

India, in contrast, have played clinical cricket to reach the final, successfully maintaining their hundred percent record in four round-robin matches. World-class players like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, among others, make up a formidable batting lineup and boast the ability to take the game away from the opposition in a jiffy.

In the meantime, India’s bowling, which has fallen short on numerous occasions in the past, has

been a breath of fresh air as far as the Indian fans are concerned. Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah have been consistent right throughout the tournament while spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have taken regular wickets besides being economical.

Seamer-allrounder Hardik Pandya has also played his part well, especially with the leather.

The pitches at the home of cricket in Mirpur have surprisingly aided the pacemen for the majority of the ongoing edition but it is all set to change with today’s wicket expected to promise much for stroke-making. l

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The vehicle (R) of a BRTA mobile court (L), which is set up in front of the Supreme Court in the capital to prevent illegal car parking, is parked illegally on a footpath. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

BANASREE SIBLINGS MURDERS

Mahfuza again confesses to killing her children n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Investigators yesterday said they were puzzled about the normal behavior of the mother who was accused of killing her two children on last Monday afternoon.

Mahfuza Malek Jesmin, 35, on the first day of remand she again told police that she had murdered her two children, investigators said yesterday.

She gave almost the identical confession during the interrogation

by RAB members on Thursday night.

Officer-in-Charge of Rampura police station Rafiqual Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the accused stuck to her earlier confession and did not divulge any other information on the killings.

He said as the grandmother was the only person present on the flat apart from the three, police would question the grandmother too.

Afroza Akhter Mili, younger sister of Mahfuza, told journalists on her flat in Road 5 of Banasree that her sister could never kill her children only from depression over their upcoming future.

She said her daughter was also reading at the same school with Oroni and her child got the fourth place in the class. As she reprimanded her daughter for her being fourth Mahfuza then pacified Afroza and advised her not to scold her children.

Seeking anonymity the family members said they didn’t believe in what Mahfuza said. Father of the killed two children Amanullah is currently staying at a relative’s house at Rampura.

During the primary interrogation Mahfuza again confessed that she did it out of depression about the sibling’s future, said Rampura Police Inspector (operation) Mustafizur Rahman yesterday.

He also told Dhaka Tribune that Mahfuza’s statements are nearly identical. But we’ll probe whether there are any other motives behind the murder of the children.

Asked he also said Mahfuza’s behavior was natural and she was normal when we interrogated her.

Earlier, Nusrat Aman Oroni, 14, and her brother Alvi Aman, 6, were found unconscious at their Banasree home in Dhaka on the afternoon of Feb 29. They were declared dead after being rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The RAB had brought the parents from Jamalpur to the capital on Wednesday. The elite force on Thursday also said Mahfuza had confessed to killing her two children “out of anxiety over their education and future”.

A Dhaka court on Friday sent her into police custody for five days for questioning. l

Quader: We need to look into 1/11 n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader has said the armybacked caretaker government in 2007-08 needed to be looked into in order to identify all the culprits behind the conspiracy.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, was speaking at a press conference at Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office yesterday.

“We have not forgotten the inhuman attitude with which

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was treated without any reason.

“The army backed government detained former opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in jail for 11 months based on falsified corruption reports against her in two newspapers,” Quader said.

The press conference followed a meeting held in preparation of Awami League’s March 7 rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan.

March 7 marks the anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic speech in 1971 calling fellow Bangalees to arms for Bangladesh’s liberation.

Referring to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s allegations of secret ties between the 1/11 regime and Awami League, Quader said: “Do not try to misguide people. The nation knows better why the army interfered with state affairs in 2007-8. Your greed and politics of destruction created that situation.

“You appointed that army chief [Gen Moeen U Ahmed] skipping nine of his seniors. That’s why they detained Sheikh Hasina before you. You wanted to come to power through the back door with the army’s help, but your dream failed.” l

Govt urged to include grassroots level migrants’ voice in GFMD 2016 n Adil Sakhawat To facilitate the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) which Bangladesh will host for the first time in December this year, a national civil society forum comprising 43 organisations was formed yesterday.

The forum titled Bangladesh Civil Society Coordination Committee (BCSCC) called on the government to give the grass-roots level migrants a chance to have their voice heard at the GFMD. The BCSCC also urged the government and other GFMD stakeholders to ensure the voice and presence of the civil societies in the official GFMD sessions. This will reflect the key recommendations in the official GFMD process to influence its outcome and to ensure follow-up like Bangladesh did during the Chairmanship in the Colombo Process.

Beginning in 2007, this is the second time the GFMD, which is a voluntary, informal, non-binding and government-led process to advance understanding and cooperation regarding mutually reinforcing relationship between migration and development, and to foster practical and action-oriented outcomes, is going to be held in Asia.

The BCSCC feels that the GFMD provides a unique opportunity to push the issue of rights and dignity of migrants and that the civil society of the host country has an important role in shaping the GFMD agenda and highlighting concerns not covered in the official process at the people’s Global Action on Migration, Development and Human Rights.

The committee will ensure that

seminars and workshops are organised ahead of the GFMD, in addition to different kinds of activities to include the voice of the grass-roots level migrants to the GFMD, which will be attended by stakeholders from different countries.

The committee is now planning to establish a working group which will develop and implement a plan on migration-specific and migration-reflected targets of the 2030 agenda for Bangladesh, and ensure links with the broader civil society in the region and around the world.

The working group will also monitor the targets set for the Sustainable Development Goals regarding migration-related issues and push those in the GFMD through the government.

The committee’s chairman, Dr CR Abrar who is the coordinator of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, said: “We expect the government will respond and cooperate with this committee in organising the GFMD where migration issues related to not only Bangladesh but other parts of the world will be highlighted.”

“We also expect that other organisations will come under this umbrella of civil societies,” he added.

Yesterday’s launching event was participated by representatives of 43 human rights organisations, migrant associations, development NGOs and international organisations. They chalked out programmes to mark the upcoming GFMD. The session was chaired by CR Abrar and co-chaired by Syed Saiful Haque of WARBE Development Foundation. l

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Zia’s brother to float new political party n Tribune Report BNP founder and former military strongman Ziaur Rahman’s younger brother Ahmed Kamal has announced that he would form a new political party soon.

“I cannot control myself seeing the shaky condition of the BNP. Sometimes it hurts me when I see that there is no similarity between Ziaur Rahman’s ideology and the current activities of the BNP,” said Kamal, who wanted to float a new party during HM Ershad’s regime but failed.

He was addressing a discussion on Zia’s ideology and restoring endangered democracy at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh yesterday. Former BNP leader Ashraf Hossain, former editor of the daily Dinkal Kazi Siraj and former leader of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Sheikh Shahidul Islam also addressed the programme among others.

Unmarried and detached from the Zia family for a long time, Kamal claimed that the BNP leadership and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia had been misguided by vested

interests and the anti-liberation forces.

“They want to keep the BNP chairperson in dark by giving her false and wrong information. Due to this quarters, from senior leaders to the grassroots leaders are paying huge pay,” he said.

Kamal, who retried from service as a director of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in 2006, said that there should not be any controversy over the number of martyrs in the Liberation War of Bangladesh while Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rah-

No new negotiation on Teesta deal n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

International Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Gowher Rizvi said it was not possible to begin new negotiation on Teesta water sharing agreement.

He was speaking at the seventh round of Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue held at a city hotel yesterday.

The adviser said both sides have already agreed to sign an agreement and Bangladesh hopes that the agreement would be signed soon on that basis.

“The ball is now in India’s court,” he said.

During the visit of the then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2011, the two countries were supposed to sign the Teesta water sharing agreement, but due to strong resistance from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it could not have happened.

About the border killings, he said though the number of murders has gone down the government is not satisfied.

“One death is too many,” he said adding unacceptability and high emotions are at-

tached with the border killings.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque in his remark said given the global balance of power shifting towards Asia, it is time to look at Bangladesh-India relations from the strategic angle.

He also rolled out four areas of future cooperation where both the countries can strengthen their relationship.

Basin-wide river management, connectivity, energy security and combating terrorism and violent extremism are the areas, he said.

“The comprehensive basin-wide solution in this sector with an inbuilt solution to water sharing for all common rivers would hold the key,” he said.

About connectivity, he said the BBIN motor vehicle agreement has already laid the foundation for more initiatives and with connectivity there would be changes in the economy, trade flow as well as in the field of security.

About the rise of terrorism and violent extremism, he said it could jeopardize both countries’ journey towards peace and stability.

He was of the view that

cyber security would be the prerequisite for facing smart digital South Asia.

About energy security, he said it would be another important factor of bilateral future relations.

Joint Secretary of Indian Ministry of External Affair Sripriya Rananathan said her government is deeply grateful to Bangladesh for apprehending and repatriating many insurgents who had been causing problems to its northeastern states.

She said agencies of both the countries are currently talking to each others to try to find out the location of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed to be hiding in India.

About border killing, she said the death along the border is yet to be eliminated. “This is unacceptable and we have to address the problem.”

She said if anything affects the security of Bangladesh would affect the security of India and vice versa.

“In the peace and economic development of our northeast lies in the peace and economic development of Bangladesh as well,” she said. l

BNP: 1/11 aimed at annihilating nationalist forces n UNB BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the main motive behind the 1/11 political changeover was to annihilate nationalist forces.

Speaking at a discussion, he alleged that those who supported the 1/11 administration at the time are now talking against it for political gains.

Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chha-

tra Forum arranged the programme in Dhaka marking BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman’s 10th anniversary of imprisonment.

“Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman were arrested as part of a move of the 1/11 administration to suppress the politics of nationalists. They arrested many others who believe in nationalism,” he said.

To overcome the situation, he said the youth must come forward. “They must vow to

resist the plot of re-establishing one-party rule.”

Former Dhaka University VC Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said: “As a political scientist, I want to clearly state that the 1/11 was a military coup. A military coup takes place by some ambitious army officials with the help of many politicians who create the ground for it.

“Military takeover never happens as long as political leaders create the ground for it.” l

man and Ziaur Rahman should be kept above all sorts of controversies.

“Everyone should shun the path of mudslinging and dirty politics.”

He claimed that hundreds of BNP leaders were on the run and passing a dreadful life. “We have to stand beside these dedicated leaders and bring them to the right path. I will be with you to implement my brother’s ideology and strengthen the party. I do not want to do politics for power. I want to serve the BNP in its crisis times.”

Kamal also criticised the in-

cumbent government alleging that there was no democracy in the country, though the Awami League always talks about democracy.

After completing his written speech, Kamal faced a volley of questions from the reporters. In reply to a question whether he would form a party, he said: “Certainly I will form a party and this is why today I am here.”

Asked when the party would be launched, Kamal said: “I will let you know when I am ready to float the party.” l

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United Airways suspends operation again n Ishtiaq Husain Private carrier United Airways yesterday suspended its flight operations again for an indefinite period in the wake of insufficient aircraft and financial crisis.

They earlier suspended operations in mid-January as all the aircraft were grounded. The airliner resumed flights on February 24.

Farhad Hossain, director (marketing and sales), told the Dhaka Tribune that the flight operations were suspended as an ATR 72 aircraft grounded due to technical glitches. He declined to elaborate

300MW furnace oil-based plant proposal to be tabled n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Power Division will place a proposal for the approval of the construction of the 300MW furnace oil-based power plant in Chittagong during the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase.

“The project was planned to meet shortage of electricity in Chittagong.

We forwarded the proposal last week for the approval of the cabinet committee,” a Power Division official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

A local company named United Enterprises and Co Ltd will build the plant and it will be operated as independent power producers (IPPs) on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis.

United Group operates a total of seven plants, currently having the capacity to generate 435MW of electricity.

State-owned Power Development Board will buy electricity from the project at Tk14.70 per unit for 15 years.

The company will import fuel under their own arrangement to operate the plant.

Power Development Board sources said the country already has such plants with the capacity of generating a total of 2,507MW of power.

This is 20.77% of the country’s total power generation capacity.

Earlier, United Enterprises and Co Ltd proposed the government to supply electricity at the tariff of Tk14.98 per unit from the proposed plant to be built at Anwara in Chittagong. l

private carrier having 11 aircraft in its fleet operates flights to eight domestic and seven international destinations.

Moreover, it has not yet paid its dues of aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges worth over Tk125 crore.

The company's revenue earning also decreased drastically, as it could not operate most of the aircraft during the past one year. Most of the employees did not get their due salaries in the recent months, which compelled them to leave the organisation.

According to an official of the

operated by an MD 83 aircraft to Kuala Lumpur in mid-January which finally returned to Dhaka after one of its engines was shutdown at mid-air. The aircraft has since remained grounded due to proper maintenance.

According to the Dhaka Tribune investigation, all the aircraft of the airline are now grounded due to technical glitches.

Earlier, United Airways, which has achieved a number of awards since its inception in 2007, had to suspend operations for three days in September 2014 due to financial crisis. According to its website, the

further.

The airline authorities yesterday sent emails to all domestic passengers who bought tickets in advance. “As per the management decision, due to unavoidable circumstances and tactical reason flight suspended till further advice,” reads the email.

After the fresh suspension, the shareholders are very much worried over security of their money, market insiders said.

United Airways is the first Bangladeshi airlines enlisted in the share market.

Its last international flight was

airlines, around 40% cockpit crews, cabin crews, engineers and officers of different departments have already left their jobs in the last couple of months.

Earlier, the airliner had bought some old aircraft at a cost of Tk400 crore, raised through offering rights shares to its shareholders.

Managing Director Tasbirul Ahmed Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that they would revitalise the activities by investing hundreds of crores of taka. The management is planning to invest more money by raising TK400 crore again from the shareholders. l

Bangladesh celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity at Unesco n Abu Tahir from Paris The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Paris jointly held a cultural event at the Unesco Headquarters in Paris to celebrate International Mother Language Day. A cultural delegation led by Bangladesh Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor participated at the celebration on the evening of March 3 at the Unesco House.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor paid tribute to the Bangali youths who laid down their livies to defend their mother tongue on February 21, 1952.

He thanked Unesco for recognising the unprecedented sacrifice of Bangladesh for mother language by declaring February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. The minister informed the Unesco member states of the activities of International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka, which has received the status of a category II institute of Unesco, in preserving and promoting all mother languages of the world.

Mr Eric Falt, assistant director general of Unesco praised Bangladesh’s leadership role in promoting linguistic and cultural diversity, which is a core mandate of Unesco.

Renowned singers Samina Chowdhury and Fakir Shahabuddin and classical dancer Rachel Agnes Perris performed at this prestigious event.

The Bangladesh cultural troupe began its performance with the

TEMPERATURE FOREC AST FOR TODAY

DRY WEATHER SUNDAY, MARCH 6

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Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, along with delegates of different countries, pose for a picture at a cultural event organised to celebrate International Mother Language Day in Unesco Headquarters in Paris on March 3 ABU TAHIR

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sy enlisted the support of other like-minded countries to celebrate International Mother Language Day for wider dissemination of the spirit of the International Mother Language Day. Initiated by Bangladesh, the event entitled “Celebrating Linguistic and Cultural Diversity” was supported by China, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey.

Farhana Ahmed Chowdhury,

chanting of “Amaar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February”, the hymn of Language Martyrs’ Day. They also performed patriotic and folk songs.

Because of Bangladesh’s special attachment to February 21, the Language Martyrs’ Day, which was proclaimed as International Mother Language Day by Unesco in 1999, the Embassy of Bangladesh to Unesco takes lead role in celebrating this day at Unesco every year.

This year Bangladesh Embas37

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17.8ºC Rajarhat

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first secretary of Bangladesh Embassy acted as the master of the ceremony of the cultural soiree comprising songs, dances and poetry recitations by performers from twelve countries.

More than five hundred diplomats, French government officials, and members of Bangladeshi community in France attended the event.

They were entertained with food items contributed by Bangladesh and other supporting countries. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 4:59am | Zohr: 12:10am Asr: 3:32pm | Magrib: 6:06pm Esha: 7:33pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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Government wants better surveillance at Shahjalal n Asif Showkat Kallol

The Home Ministry has expressed concern over the poor state of surveillance at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and asked that necessary steps be taken to detect narcotics at its entry points.

The ministry issued a letter yesterday asking the concerned authorities including the Finance Division, the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Board of Revenue to take necessary steps for better detection of illegal narcotics at the entrance check points and to

maintain a strong surveillance on foreign nationals, especially Latin Americans, entering the country.

The move follows a letter sent to the ministry by the Department of Narcotics Control on February 3 that said the scanning devices installed at the Shahjalal International Airport were incapable of detecting cocaine, citing at least three incidents from 2013 to 2015 where the drug was found to have gone through unchecked.

In its letter, the Home Ministry asked that modern scanning devices and dog squads be installed at

the airport and asked that these resources be taken from Bangladesh Police if necessary.

According to one report from the International Narcotics Control Board, the UN body on illegal drug control, Bangladesh has become the prime transit route for trafficking heroin to Europe from South East Asia.

Moinul Khan, the director general of customs intelligence, told the Dhaka Tribune necessary steps had already been taken to form a dog squad at the department. It would assist in tracing explosives, arms, drugs and gold smuggling, he said.

The director general said the dog squad would soon start operating at Shahjalal International Airport as well.

Sources at the Civil Aviation Authority said new scanner machines costing around Tk120 crore would be set up at the airport within a short time and these machines would be able to detect drugs like cocaine.

On December 9 last year the DNC detained a Spanish citizen with 3kg cocaine worth almost Tk50 crore at the airport. Earlier in September Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) and

other law enforcement agencies arrested a Peruvian citizen named Jaime Bardales Gomez with 1.8kg cocaine at the Airport.

Gomez claimed he had been given the cocaine by an unidentified woman in Lima. He said a woman would be collecting the drugs from his hotel in Dhaka.

On June 10, 2013, Huan Pablo Rafael, another Peruvian citizen, was arrested with 2 kg of cocaine from a city hotel. Police found that he had carried the cocaine through immigration and scanning machines undetected. l

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News

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Indumoti’s wish, a life of dignity before death n Kamal Mridha, Natore Indumoti never gave up. She fought back every time life threw challenges at her. About 40 years ago, after her husband’s death, she started rowing boats to feed her five children, three of whom were physically challenged.

But years later after her strength waned, Indumoti now 85, is dependent on her daughter, who begs for a living. She calls such life shameful, something, she says, she has always despised.

Indumoti from Sonapatil village of Natore’s Naldanga upazila says she cries every time she eats the food bought with money from begging.

Her struggles started 45 years ago when her fisherman husband Prem Kumar’s body was partially paralysed. They had five chil-

dren to feed including physically challenged Radha Rani and Geeta Rani, and son Upen Kumar.

Indumoti sold her ornaments and bought her husband a boat to ferry people across Barnoi River.

Prem died five years later and she took the helm.

After years of backbreaking work, she married off her daughter Radha and two sons – Bhupen and Nrepen Kumar. Both sons left

a few days later, afraid that they would have to contribute to the family, she said.

Radha’s husband deserted her and their newborn son. Indumoti took them in. Her grandson Probir Kumar assisted her for some years when growing up.

Indumoti collected rice and paddy from villagers once a year, instead of charging them money.

She said she got around 20-25 mounds to sustain the five-member family. Three years ago, Probir got married at 22, and left.

Indumoti continued ferrying people across the river. About six months later, her son Upen died, leaving her devastated. It was not long before her body gave in. She has been bedridden for around two years now.

At that time, her daughter Geeta

started begging to support her mother and sister. “I never wished for such life,” Indumoti said, as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I turned around every time … but now, I feel like a bit beaten down by life.”

Her worries centred around her daughters. “What will become of them after my death? Why has god chosen such a shameful life for me? Will He not allow me food with dignity? Will I not see my dear ones smile?” she said.

She urged the government and the society’s well-off section to rehabilitate her daughters. “For a mother, seeing her daughters beg for a living is like being defeated,” she said.

Indumoti’s spirit remains fiery as ever. “Before I die, I want to rise from this situation like I did in the past.” l

‘Shipbuilding plays significant role in development’ n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan has said local shipbuilders are playing a significant role in the nation’s development due to huge amounts of foreign currency being saved as we no longer need to import ships.

“The country is faring well under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The shipbuilding industry is playing an important role for the country’s economic development,” said the minister.

Shahjahan Khan made the comment yesterday while paying a visit to FMC Dockyard at Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong.

He also inaugurated three projects of the dockyard, including construction work on two ships, and handed over 18 pontoons as chief guest.

The FMC Dockyard has obtained work orders to construct a special inspection multipurpose survey vessel, 53 buoys, and a coastal passenger vessel for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

During the inauguration, the minister also announced plans to procure 20 dredgers at Tk2,200 crores following the direct procurement method instead of the open procurement method. All shipbuilding enterprises in the country can participate in the tender due to the new procurement procedure.

With Md Yasin Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of the FMC Dockyard, as the chair, the inau-

guration was addressed by AJM Nasir Uddin, mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, Ashok Madhab Roy, acting secretary of the shipping ministry, Commodore Md Mozamel Haque, chairman of BIWTA, Md Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Commodore Zulfiqur Aziz, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority, Rear Admiral Reazuddin Ahmed, chairman of Mongla Port Authority, Engineer Shafiqul Islam, principal officer of Mercantile Marine Department, and Khatune Jannat, managing director of the FMC. “The nation’s shipping sector was in a sorry state when the ALled government came to power in 2008. The sector was running with 28-year old ships. However, the present government has brought about a radical change in the sector in the last seven years. We have purchased seven dredgers, and 20 more are in the pipeline. Besides, we have purchased three excavators for conducting illegal establishments, 10 ferries, two ships for shuttling commuters, and two rescue ships,” said the minister.

Referring to Chittagong Port, he said the port had created ripples in the world.

“We had set a target of 2 million TEUS by 2016. However, the port has already reached the target one year ahead. Mongla Port was incurring losses since its inception in 1949. But now the port has turned around and is earning a profit,” the minister added. l

Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury hands over a crest yesterday to economist Prof Rehman Sobhan at the ceremony on the occasion of golden jubilee of Economics department DHAKA TRIBUNE

Golden jubilee of CU Economics department celebrated n CU Correspondent

“Most renowned educational institutions are in Dhaka and Chittagong, but the light of education should be extended to everyone,” said eminent economist Professor Rehman Sobhan. He also suggested a halt be put to the primary and secondary level school dropout rate.

“We have to ensure the four principles of the 1972 constitution to implement the ideology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which will ensure economic emancipation,” he said.

Professor Sobhan made the remarks as the golden jubilee speaker

at a programme organised by the Chittagong University (CU) Economics Department, which is celebrating 50 years of its history at CU. The golden jubilee programme was held at the field of the Abur Rahman dormitory on campus.

CU Economics Department chairman Professor Abul Hossain presided, and CU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowhdury was also present. However, former teacher and Noble Laureate Professor Dr Muhammed Yunus did not attend the jubilee, said campus sources.

Later in the programme, the VC of CU handed out a crest to Rehman Soban.

Terming student life as the most time for a person, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq also spoke at the jubilee. He urged Chittagong University (CU) students to make the best use of their student life to fulfill their destiny.

Recalling his own student life, the DNCC mayor, a former student of the CU Economics department, said: “I am in the 7th batch of students of the department. Though I left the department many years ago, I am still in contact with my honourable teachers Moinul Islam and Sekander Khan. Apart from them, I am also in contact with Professor Dr Mohammed Yunus who taught me.” l

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8

News

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Now mother kills son in Kishoreganj n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

The picture shows Mango orchard at full bloom in Satkhira Sadar. The picture was taken recently DHAKA TRIBUNE

Satkhira mangoes to be exported to UK n Asaduzzaman, Satkhira Satkhira mango traders are hoping to grab the UK’s export market this year as the process of mango production has begun smoothly amid favourable climatic condition predicting bumper production of the fruit.

According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources, the fruit has been cultivated on 3825-hectare land with a target of 53,000 tonne production.

In 2015, the fruit was cultivated on 3621-hectare land and the production was 50,000 tonne.

The traders hope they will export 150 tonne mangoes this year where they exported only 23 tonne in 2015.

The fruit setting stage is progressing now well and the tress started wearing eye-catching looks in the orchards, gardens and homestead areas.

According to official sources in the DAE, and the Horticulture Centres of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), over 85 percent mango trees have bloomed during this season on an average.

Abdul Mannan, deputy director of the DAE, said the fruit setting stathe supermarkets of the United Kingdom ge was progressing well and farmers were contacting the officials and experts to take extensive care for better production.

He suggested that the farmers nurse their orchards at this stage and control pests’ attacks.

According the sources of USIV, a local NGO, there are about 21,000 fruit-giving man-

go trees in the districts and the number continues increasing every yearthe supermarkets of the United Kingdom following expansion of commercial mango cultivation.

They are helping the farmers to be trained up for growing healthy fruits.

The farmers have been showing more interests on commercial cultivation of the sweetest mangoes like gopalbhog, lengra, fazlee, nakfazlee, khirsapati, mohanbhog, chyatapori, haribhanga and lakhna in 60 orchards, added the NGO sources.

Satkhira Chambers of Commerce president Nasim Faruk Khan Mithu said they had already informed the FBCCI about the matter so that the export could be in easy process.

Rowsan Ali, president of Borobazar Kitchen Market Owners’ Association, said: “We are alert so that no one can taint the fruits with chemical.”

Deputy Commissioner Abul Kashem Mohammad Mohiuddin said: “We have taken all kind of measures to help the traders who will export the fruits in the UK.” According a previous report, Bangladesh in 2015 started exporting mangoes for the first time to the supermarkets of the United Kingdom creating a huge commercial prospect for growers to get higher prices of their best quality harvest.

First shipment of mango export in the year entered the Walmart Chain Shop in UK, which was the first export of Bangladesh’s mangoes to mainstream international supermarket. l

In another incident of sheer child brutality, a woman killed her son in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila yesterday, less than a week after a mother in the capital’s Banasree had killed her two children at home.

Salma Akhter slit the throat of her one-and-a-half-year-old boy Mahathir with a machete, which police later seized from the scene.

The shocking incident took place at the house of Salma’s parents at Parabhanga village in the upazila’s Maria union around 11:30am.

Salma, wife of Abul Kalam of Tamni Akandapara village and mother of four children, came to visit her parents two weeks ago.

Yesterday morning, she killed her son on the floor of the house and shouted: “Come and see that I have murdered my child. He can no longer cry.”

Police, who were called in by neighbours, detained Salma from the scene and took her to police station.

They also recovered Mahathir’s body.

Salma’s husband Kalam said his wife has been mentally ill for five years and also tried to kill Mahathir by throwing him in pond in the past.

The couple wedded 10 years ago, and Salma gave birth to three daughters before Mahathir.

Anwar Hossain Khan, superintendent of police of the district, visited the scene and said it was a pathetic incident. l

Boy rescued, abductors held n Our Correspondent, Manikganj Police yesterday rescued a kidnapped boy and arrested one of the abductors after four days of abduction.

The victim was Oshim, 7, son of Ripon Sheikh of village Khalshi under Daulatpur upazila of the district.

Nazmul Nishat, Officer-in-Charge (OC), Daulatpur police station said two cousins of the victim Sohel ,25, and Mithu ,27, kidnapped Oshim from their house.

Father of the victim Ripon Sheikh filed a case with Daulatpur police station.

Acting on a tip-off, police rescued the abducted boy and arrested Sohel. l

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DT

Career

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

A closer look at office politics

BIGSTOCK

n Tahmid Sadman Most people subscribe to the idea that office politics is a negative phenomenon.

This idea has gained wide circulation over the years as the presumption of an office being

or favoritism. There really is much more to it.

Politics in the workplace is often seen as an impediment to career progression, productivity and motivation. In many circles, this is seen as a nagging problem which not only is a thorn in one’s

The negative connotations associated with office politics make us cringe, at least mentally

an extremely competitive place, and has pervasively permeated throughout the world.

But contrary to public perception, office politics is not only about nepotism, backbiting

career but also the source of many sleepless nights.

This negative sentiment is fueled further as businesses get larger, more complex and deploy more teams than ever to get the

job done. Besides, changes in organisations are getting more prevalent as companies make more and more strategic shifts in the face of growing competitive pressures. In addition, the importance of cross cultural communication is also on the spotlight. Such phenomena make the case for addressing office politics even stronger.

Unsurprisingly, the two words - office politics - can bring about contrasting reactions from different individuals at different levels in the corporate ladder.

For the experienced executives, office politics may sound as customary as bread and butter; for individuals who are midway through their careers, the two words are likely to evoke mixed feelings; while for the novices or the career hopefuls, the words are likely to ignite fear and ring warning bells.

The negative connotations associated with office politics make us cringe, at least mentally.

We often tend to believe that we are not yet good at it. This negative perception tends to make us frail and may even increase susceptibility to the most basic of negative perceptions - criticism.

When criticised, one may feel that the forces of office politics are working against him/her. It leads to a loss of morale. Similarly, when an individual’s views do not gain acceptance, that individual is likely to believe that office politics has played a role behind such a circumstance.

However, the thing is, there will always be the prevalence of politics. Take politics away and we would be able to equate ourselves to machines and emotionless. It is natural that people will develop relationships in the workplace and will engage with others who possess similar personality traits. They will often be tempted by the curiosity to engage in conversations with others, ask them for help or get to know them better and so on.

Yes, there are shy folks or introverts who rarely interact.

Then again, working under the same roof or working as a team is likely to galvanise or at least glisten the introverts’ personality with some aura of extroversion.

The need to increase social equity is present in most of us, at least that’s what Maslow says in his hierarchy of needs. This is exactly why the tendency to forge political relationships is also driven by an individual’s rational thought processes.

Being popular with the boss will definitely increase the chances of promotion, and likewise, forming strategic relationships with “key” people will make one a good contender to replace someone “upstairs.”

But in the end, it’s always about forming a positive perception in the workplace, and ultimately playing the right cards in politics. l Reprinted from www.grad-insights.com

DT

10

Feature

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Historical places of Bangladesh

n Sadia Alam Ahsan Manzil: Known as the Pink Palace, Ahsan Manzil is situated in the midst of old town, just beside the bank of Buriganga River. The magnificent architecture was the first thing that attracted me to the palace; its rich history is what kept me intrigued. It reflects the lavish lifestyle of the Nawab dynasty, and portrays the economical circumstances it experienced in its earlier life as a trading house for the French. Later on, it became the residence of Khwaja Abdullah after the English-French war in the 18th century. New additions to the old building and renovations has made this beautiful monument into ever popular pink palace it is today.

A huge green lawn welcomed us as we entered the premises and the smell of the old, creaking house enthralled us as to how something so ancient could remain so alive.

Everything from the utensils to armours to sofas and beds were put on display Reading through the small notes under each item, I thought to myself: at which point did I begin to appreciate history?

Apparently, right then.

The balcony looks out into the river and we could see small boats perched to take on passengers for a ride. I couldn’t help but wonder how it worked for the Nawabs.

Panam City: Next stop on my list was the ancient capital of Sonargaon, Panam City. It thrived as the major inland port and center of commerce in the pre-Islam period.

Governed by the Danujamadava Dasharathadeva, the Hindu ruler shifted his capital from Bikrampur during the 13th century. Most of the existing remains of the city represented residential buildings made by Hindu merchants; European-inspired colonial design demanding admiration. Even after the Muslim invasion, the city was said to have been developed into a commercial metropolis.

ruins, I couldn’t help but feel the energy sustained from the busy bazaar of a bygone era. Medieval monuments under the sunny weather made it a superb occasion to to take some snaps, which would be suggested as the place looks like it’s falling apart.

Standing on the arched bridge and taking in the fresh air seemed to make a lot of difference to a city

dweller like myself. We live in a place where serenity needs to be paid for. In a nerdy sense, it’s a treat for the eyes and the mind.

After the capital was moved to Jahangirnagar in Dhaka to avoid the city’s location becoming too exposed, the fame for the legendary muslin fabric remained undiminished till foreign competition ruined their trade and left the city to oblivion.

As we strolled through the old

Bandarban: The rich ethnicity and culture Bangladesh has can only be truly understood if you’ve been to this Bandarban. If thrill and magic of the hill tracts are your idea of a blissful getaway, there is no better place than this small town.

The presence of numerous tribes and flamboyant cultures make the spot even more of a

learning occasion, and you can even hike to those villages. For people like myself, the lively lifestyle was an uncharted experience.

One of the tallest peaks and arguably the most beautiful spot is Nilgiri, which is situated at Thanci Thana. To begin with, scenic locations are infinite.

The Buddha Dhatu Jadi in Balghata town attracts Theravada Buddhism followers and pilgrims from all over the world. The Boga Lake area shall redefine your understanding of serenity, while the Jadipai Waterfall was the

cherry on top.

The cool and transparent droplets bequeathed such tranquility that the difficulties we faced on the way didn’t matter as much. All you need to do is hire a guide and you are good to go.

Mainamati: Home to one of the most important Buddhist archaeological sites in Bangladesh, Mainamati

dates back to the 12th century and is named after the Chandra queen Mainamati. Shalban Vihara, found in the middle of the Mainamati Lalmai hill range, consists of 115 cells with a cruciform temple in the middle of the structure, resembling the Paharpur Monastery.

A little north of Shalban Vihara, we landed our eyes on the picturesque Buddhist establishment of Kutila Mura.

There were three remarkable monuments representing the Buddhist Trinity - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

The last one we visited was the Charpatra Mura, which an isolated quadrilateral shrine located in the north-west region of the Kutila Mura monuments.

The educational and religious establishment of the Viharas were definitely the largest among the Mainamati monuments.

Unfortunately, military establishments near that area damaged the central shrine, which is a pity given the fact that it could have been an emergent tourist spot. The serenity this place has to offer is beyond comparable.

The tourist spots within our country are just as fascinating as the ones we always hear of in other countries, if not better.

If you wish to have Bangladesh unlocked, these areas are a must to visit. l

The content was provided by Tiger Tours Ltd

DT

Editorial 11

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

INSIDE

Mostafa Sarwar Farooki: Thinking big The Hollywood Reporter called Farooki the ‘maverick Southeast Asian director.’

Maverick indeed, because he did not enjoy state patronage, or nod of appreciation from the cultural elites PAGE 12

A human approach Incentives need to be in place for government staff to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. And the supply of other essential public services, especially health and education, needs to be adequate in terms of coverage and quality PAGE 13

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Of chance and fateful encounters I have driven fast in Dhaka, I used to make it to BUET from Gulshan 2 in less than 15 minutes in a 1000cc Toyota Starlet, but that was the 80s; traffic was always very thin in the newer part of town. It was possible to drive at 70 or even 80 miles an hour on the road that led to the airport. But those days are long gone, and driving in Dhaka city has become a totally different affair in the last two decades PAGE 14

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

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Pride of Bangladesh

T

onight’s Asia Cup final promises to be a treat for all cricket fans.

Win or lose, it is a great accomplishment for Bangladesh to reach the first final of the competition being played in the 20 over format.

It is heartening to witness the Tigers combine great teamwork and exciting individual performances under the skilful captaincy of Mashrafe Mortaza.

Bangladesh’s thrilling performance in their five wicket victory over Pakistan on the path to the final against India exemplifies the huge strides the Tigers have been making in the last 18 months.

Despite concerns about the injury which prevented much sought after star bowler Mustafizur Rahman from taking part, the team has risen to the challenges put before them with growing confidence.

The confidence and determination shown against teams like Sri Lanka gives genuine hope that they can avenge the February 24 defeat to five time Asia Cup champions India, in tonight’s decider.

We hope the camaraderie and success achieved will lift the team to another great performance and build a strong platform for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. The Asia cup has been a worthy showcase for the sport and for Bangladesh as hosts of another crowd-pleasing international tournament.

The Tigers’ success provides an important lesson to all Bangladeshis. Every one of us is capable of great things if we all work hard together.

By setting and aiming for ever rising targets, they prove the value of aspiration and hard work in reaching new heights. They give reason to believe the best of Bangladesh has yet to come.

The best of Bangladesh is yet to come

DT

12

Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Mostafa Sarwar Farooki: Thinking big With his own brand of maverick cinema, Farooki is now getting the attention of a global audience

n Rubaiyat Hossain

M

ostafa Sarwar Farooki is an important and notable phenomenon in Bangladeshi cinema due to his sustained and continual presence in the international festival/awards/production circuit since 2009, his depiction of the contemporary socio-cultural and political milieu, and finally, his success in ushering in a vernacular modernism in Bangladeshi cinema.

Cinema in Bangladesh, historically, adhered to a larger than life, melodramatic, and allegorical form of representation.

Realist cinema on the other hand remained locked into the arena of so-called “art films” that largely failed to draw audiences.

Farooki seems to have broken the binary between art and commercial cinema by creating socially realistic contemporary human stories that pull audiences, especially younger ones, to the theatres.

The Hollywood Reporter called Farooki the “maverick Southeast Asian director.” Maverick indeed, because he did not enjoy state patronage, or nod of appreciation, from the cultural elites. In fact, he was blamed for his use of vernacular Bengali in his films, and many blamed him for his lack of cinematic craft. In the face of an unfriendly tide, he swam to his own shores. He created his own brand of cinematic language, he has continued to evolve with each film, and with each film he has been pushing his boundary from being a Bangladeshi director to an international global player.

Not all audiences responded favourably to Farooki’s use of vernacular Bengali dialogue and humanised, which is something gravely missing in the representation of Muslim communities in cinema. The love, care, and respect that went into representing a society that is closed and conservative, the very society Mostafa Farooki must break out of in order to emerge as a film-maker, is extraordinary.

The Hollywood Reporter called Farooki the ‘maverick Southeast Asian director.’ Maverick indeed, because he did not enjoy state patronage, or nod of appreciation from the cultural elites My personal confession is I have not watched any of his earlier films, except for some excerpts/trailer of Third Personal Singular Number (2009). My first experience of watching a Farooki film was Television (2012) and then Ant Story (2014). Both of these films struck me as profoundly personal and real.

In Television, Chairman Amin, the orthodox religious Muslim man, was greatly explored

That is what lends most strength to his films: His humanisation of flawed and real individuals.

His innate respect for his own culture and community reflects in his cinematic treatment of representing a Bangladeshi reality, and that is why I believe his films are popular locally, and he has been able to deal with taboo topics in a relatively conservative society.

Ant Story is a total sexual play.

The whole film is a tease. Along

with the protagonist Mithu, the entire audience keeps imagining what the video must contain -- which I think is such a clever play on the repressed middle class audience. The film puts them in the state of fantasising along with Mithu. It induces in them the same guilt Mithu is suffering from.

The film at the end is a dark experience. Mithu is nothing but a pest, he is every woman’s nightmare -- he is utterly useless and dangerous. Why is such a flawed character, then, been chosen as the so-called hero of Ant Story?

It reminded me of Chinese films likes Spring in a Small Town (1948) by Fei Mu and Long Live the Mistress (1947) by Sang Hu. During the Japanese-occupied China at that time, films became a powerful allegorical tool to reflect society.

One remarkable feature of films during this period in China is the representation of male characters as morally weak and malevolent; the female characters, however, display higher human qualities such as morality, truthfulness, and bravery.

Scholars have reflected back on that era in Chinese cinema to draw a line between the failure of the nation-state and the

representation of un-hero-like male protagonists on screen. The men of the nation have failed, and cinema must appear as a testimony of time to represent that failed masculinity.

The failed and corrupted protagonist of Ant Story also represents the moral decay of our nation in the face of upward mobility, urbanisation, poverty, lack of infrastructure, corruption, and capitalist desire. The whole film is played on this repressed, failed, powerless man’s libido; his sexual economy is the currency that is the undercurrent of this film.

In his desire to transgress, he uses his masculinity by tapping into the femininity of an upperclass woman. She is naturally weaker than him, as she is a woman in a patriarchal setting -- plus he has got her secret video.

The class tension is also another very important undercurrent of this film.

Ant Story uses humour to drive home a pretty dark story. Ant Story is a testimony of time about the moral decay of Bangladeshi masculinity, and this self-reflective and critical study of masculinity coming from a male director is truly remarkable.

In today’s world, the definition of cinema has become vastly diversified. Local stories are being globally appreciated and consumed. The international market/festivals champion those films that almost always serve an anthropological purpose.

When coming from the underdeveloped world, cinema has to bear the burden of portraying complexities of local realities in a globally comprehensible, artistic, and cinematic language. Thus, it remains a challenge to tell original local stories in a homegrown cinematic language.

The films of Farooki have done this job effectively, and on top of that, he has remained successful in creating a local and international production-distribution-audience base.

Given that he has gotten these two camps secured to a certain degree, and he has bagged Irrfan Khan -- one of the most desirable actors in today’s market as an actor/producer -- it is a matter of time to see how Mostafa Sarwar Farooki further evolves as a director, and to what heights he can fly his own dreams, and the reality of Bangladeshi cinema. l Rubaiyat Hossain is a film-maker.

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DT

Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Social protection isn’t just there to help the poor -- it can help citizens not become poor

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

A human approach Social protection can be a powerful tool for poverty reduction

n Shazia Omar

S

ocial security is not only a net meant to keep those who are extremely poor afloat (“provisional measures”). It is also a system meant to help citizens face the contingencies of life so that they don’t fall into the clutches of poverty (“preventative measures”).

People need support to face challenges of health, caring for babies or elderly parents, disability, floods, water-logging, and the death of earning family members without becoming impoverished. To address the complex interaction of risks throughout a life-cycle of a citizen, a well-designed, overarching social protection system is necessary.

Additionally, a comprehensive social security system also encompasses programs that empower people to join the mainstream economy and climb out of poverty (“promotional measures”) and programs that address policies that affect the poorest (“transformational measures”).

With this in mind, the government has formulated a National Social Security that

calls for a consolidated life-cycle approach to protection. The finance division of the Ministry of Finance has undertaken a project to align with this vision and to strengthen the social protection system through efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources and budget.

The driving force of reform will be value for money.

Challenges that need to be overcome include low levels of coverage of key schemes as a result of small budgetary allocations, fragmentation of spending into many different small schemes, small transfer values,

based planning of policy and budget, efficiency in delivery systems, and the establishment of an efficient impact and expenditure monitoring system.

In order to achieve these aims, high quality data to promote evidence-based dialogue is needed. The government staff

Incentives need to be in place for government staff to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. And the supply of other essential public services, especially health and education, needs to be adequate in terms of coverage and quality As such, a new executive director (joint secretary) and project director were appointed this month in the Ministry of Finance to run the social protection budget management unit. This unit will try to ensure that expenditures and allocation decisions are made in a value-for-money way to support the most appropriate programs.

Various donors are helping this unit develop capacity, run diagnostic studies, and research to build an evidence base for reforms and develop an MIS connected eventually to all line ministries with social protection programs.

limiting the impact on household multi-dimensional poverty, poor targetting, lack of beneficiary databases for individual programs, administrative inefficiency in many fragmented programs, and lack of efficient payment mechanisms, delays, lack of electronic transfer/mobile, inaccurate payments, payments in-kind. Entrenched interests pose an additional threat that needs to be overcome.

The reform aims to increase impact in terms of improved targetting, lower leakages, increased access to services, improved productivity, evidence-

needs to be empowered with better tools for data capture with greater capacity to address problems. The high turnover of government staff needs to be reduced or training needs to be modularised so new people can quickly be brought up to par.

Incentives need to be in place for government staff to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. And the supply of other essential public services, especially health and education, needs to be adequate in terms of coverage and quality.

Social protection is a powerful tool for poverty reduction that brings about some redistribution

of wealth and social justice. For our social security system to be truly transformative in its impact, it needs to be grounded in an understanding of the multidimensional nature of extreme poverty.

Assessing poverty in terms of the proxies of income may be helpful but these proxies do not capture the diverse manifestations of poverty, nor the interplay of socio-economic and political processes that generate vulnerability. A human development approach is necessary, one which builds on the work of Amartya Sen and promotes an understanding of poverty that is “human-centred,” not economy-centred.

Addressing structural vulnerabilities (together with other forms) requires a political approach to social protection, focusing on rights, duties, democracy, and advocacy.

The NSSS is a step in the right direction. l Shazia Omar is the Head of mTracker at mPower Social Enterprises Ltd. Previously she was Head of Advocacy, Gender and Social Protection at the Economic Empowerment of the Poorest program.

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DT

Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Of chance and fateful encounters A wrong turn can end up costing our lives

In our city, every moment is a potential for tragedy to strike

RAJIB DHAR

n SM Shahrukh

L

ast Wednesday evening, as I sat resting on a pavement at Mohakhali, there was a nice breeze, quite chilly.

Maybe it had rained somewhere near. It was more wintry than the usual springtime breeze of these days of Falgun. The traffic in the Mohakhali-Gulshan area was atrocious, not so bad within Banani though, but the mosquitoes have been the rulers of this city of late.

It was in the afternoon of the leap year’s extra day (Monday) that I last came out of my house till I did again on Wednesday. Around noon on that Monday, I was headed for Gulshan 1; it was bright and sunny and I walked some of the way before I took a rickshaw for the remaining distance. I planned on walking all the way back to Banani. A couple of hours later, when I was ready to head home, the sun was still brilliantly resplendent but scorching as well.

I thought better of walking in the heat considering the pressure it might put on my heart, and hence the rickshaw. The traffic was remarkably thin, and in almost no

I have driven fast in Dhaka, I used to make it to BUET from Gulshan 2 in less than 15 minutes in a 1000cc Toyota Starlet, but that was the 80s; traffic was always very thin in the newer part of town. It was possible to drive at 70 or even 80 miles an hour on the road that led to the airport.

But those days are long gone, and driving in Dhaka city has become a totally different affair in the last two decades

time I was on Road 11 of Banani.

Made me realise once again how short distances are between two points in this city, but how it takes ages to cover them!

My rickshaw-wallah was a young man in his mid-20s, still full of vigour and quite alert: Many of them waste away so young. The traffic at Road 11, usually found clogged with various types of vehicles and people at this time of day, was so thin that it almost felt eerie. I guess all the “excavation” going on in the area had deterred people from coming to this area in droves of cars as is the case regularly. As is a rickshaw-wallah’s wont, my one just extended his

right hand for a split second and was about to turn into one of the golis that would take me to my destination even faster.

Through sheer luck I was not totally relaxed sitting on the rickshaw, and was still keeping an eye on the traffic. I could easily have been looking elsewhere, but I was not, and I noticed an SUV rushing madly from the opposite side, and I screamed. My rickshaw-wallah, alert in spite of the heat and his profuse sweating, noticed it too: He braked with all his might, and turned his handle to avoid coming in the way of the marauding SUV. The driver of the SUV braked

too, and stopped very near me.

However, as I could see, if my rickshaw hadn’t taken such abrupt manoeuvers at my scream, the monster car would have hit me.

With knees already weakened, I looked at the thick bumpers of the car. The driver, as he rolled down his tinted window, was hardly 16 or 17, with wisps of the first beard of a teenager on his face.

He looked disgusted and angry because this rickshaw carrying this “old man” had made him lose his breakneck speed.

I wondered if he had a license, I wondered also what kind of an idiot drives like that on a Dhaka afternoon street, even when the

traffic is thin. Then I thought, why should he have cared? He would have gotten away with the murder(s) anyway! It was not difficult to imagine the mangled bodies of my rickshaw-wallah and me, our gray matter mixed and spread on his shiny bumper, to be washed off with a hose pipe.

A case filed with the police for reckless driving and then with time, the file gathering dust, till one day it was incinerated with other such “garbage” or, in Digital Bangladesh, going to the icon of a bin on the monitor. Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.

I have driven fast in Dhaka, I used to make it to BUET from Gulshan 2 in less than 15 minutes in a 1000cc Toyota Starlet, but that was the 80s; traffic was always very thin in the newer part of town. It was possible to drive at 70 or even 80 miles an hour on the road that led to the airport.

But those days are long gone, and driving in Dhaka city has become a totally different affair in the last two decades or more. The city has filled up to the brim with cars and people and whatnot!

It took a few seconds for him to start peddling, and I was in a state of shock, still, when I realised he was going past my place, and I had forgotten to tell him to stop.

I told him, he stopped. I felt I was in a state of inertia, but managed to get off and took out the fare and extended it to the young man. He received it in a daze. He was staring blankly at the street, having just seen death like his passenger, but having escaped its clutches.

I offered to bring him some water, but there was no response; I told him to stand still awhile before he looked for his next passenger; I didn’t have a clue if he heard anything that I had said.

I came home and looked for some “short-term” cheer to a long-term problem of living in this city, and only ended up feeling even more bitter. I was shaken to the core, as I kept replaying the incident and felt angrier and angrier, depressed, and maybe, helpless.

As I sat yesterday evening thinking things over, I realised what huge roles coincidences and chance play in our lives. If only I had been looking in any other direction on that fateful afternoon at that almost fateful moment, I would have become a grim statistic along with the young rickshawwallah. Was he a married man, I wondered. l SM Shahrukh is a freelance contributor.

DT

Business 15

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

INSIDE FBCCI wants freedom in overseas investment by local entrepreneurs

n Tribune Report The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has once again urged the government to allow the country’s entrepreneurs to invest abroad. PAGE 16

China cuts 2016 growth target to 6.5-7%

China yesterday cut its growth target for this year to a range of 6.5 to 7%, as the world’s second-largest economy faces a litany of challenges from overcapacity to weak trade. PAGE 17

Oil slump has uneven impact on global prices at the pump A dramatic drop in oil prices is translating into a mixed bag for motorists across the globe - from hefty savings at the pump in the United States to a rare fuel price hike in Venezuela. PAGE 18

Capital market snapshot: Past Week DSE Broad Index

4,472.8

Index

1,086.4

-2.6% ▼

30 Index

1,718.7

-2.0% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

22,433.1

13.0% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

619.0

14.9% ▲

All Share Index 13,774.6

-2.3% ▼

30 Index

12,489.5

-2.1% ▼

Selected Index

8,369.4

-2.3% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

1,662.3

6.2% ▲

Turnover in Mn Vol

53.0

9.1% ▲

-2.1% ▼

CSE

Raw jute demand rises after new packaging rules n Abu Bakar Siddique The local demand of raw jute has increased after making the use of jute sacks mandatory in packaging different agricultural products including rice, say the people related with the sector.

“We now need to produce an additional 1.5m bales of raw jute annually as mandatory jute packaging law pushed up demand,” said Mohammad Kefaetullah,a director of the Department of Jute.

Before the law came into effect, the jute mills under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and private sector had an annual demand of about 4.5m bales of raw jute.

The country currently produces nearly 7m bales raw a year.

“We have so far been around 80% successful in implementing the law since November last year,” Kefaetullah said.

He said most of the rice millers were now using jute sacks in packaging rice and needed to be supplied with around 360m jute sacks a year.

BJMC officials see a return to the golden era of the golden fibre if the law could be implemented successfully.

The government in January 2014 enacted the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.

Under the law, all kinds of

Jute sacks made mandatory in packaging items like rice

JUTE SECTOR AT A GLANCE Private mills 50 State-owned mills 22 Annual production 7m bales Local demand 4.5m bales Demand rises 1.5m bales Target for next season 8.5m bales packaging, particularly for rice, wheat, sugar and fertiliser,must be done with the use of jute sacks.

For violation, the law provides punishment of maximum one year imprisonment or Tk50, 000 as fine, or both for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities.

Despite initial unwillingness,

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

most of the rice millers have now started using jute sacks after the launch of mobile court drive against non-compliance.

In December last year, the government imposed a temporary ban on raw jute export to tackle the rise of local demand.

The government plans to boost raw jute production from next season so the country can export raw jute again after meeting domestic demand.

“Steps have already been taken to increase raw jute production and resume export,” said Muhammad Kefayetulla.

The government has set a target to produce 8.5m bales of raw jute next year.

However, lack of fund has remained a problem in the sector.

Although, the country has 22 jute mills, BJMC often cannot buy enough raw jute from farmers in time due to fund shortage.

The government has recently allocated Tk100 crore to procure raw jute from farmers.

“If proper implemenation of jute packaging law is ensured, jute mills will not need to close down in any part of the year. Then it will become a profitable sector again,” said BJMC Chairman Humayun Khaled.

He said around 66,000 workers in BJMC mills would not have to sit ilde without work then.

Besides, dependency on foreign market would also decline, BJMC chairman added.

New Hope of Export European Union members and some other countries recently imposed restriction on the use of plastic and other synthetic-made products.

According to the UK-based Daily Mail Online, European MPs have voted in favour of strict new targets that forced each country to reduce plastic bag use by 80% before 2019.

“Bangladesh can take this chance increasing jute products supply to these countries, and raising its export volume,” said Quazi Shahabuddin, an economist. l

Diversification needed to revive jute exports n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Diversification of jute products could help Bangladesh grab the foreign market and enter the new era of the country’s golden fibre, said trade analysts.

“To revive the country’s jute sector, products need to be diversified with innovation taking market demand into consideration,” said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director at the local think thank Centre for Policy Dialogue.

He stressed the need to participation of manufacturers in the expositions and to conduct research for diversification of the products as consumers were changing their choice every day.

Environmental concenrns have also brought a change in the consumers’ choice of products.

They are now increasingly preferring more green products.

Demands of gardening products, shopping bags, geo-textile, pulp and paper, home textiles, floor covering and non-woven textiles are on the rise.

Many developed countries are going to replace the use of plastic goods with environment-friendly products.

Bangladesh government has already made jute sacks use mandatory for major crops.

Md Rashedul Karim Munna, convenor of Bangladesh Diversified Jute Products Manufacturers and Exporters Association, also laid emphasis on products diversification as it would add value to the goods.

“We are getting less value from jute exports. But the diversified products can increase value of the exports by 10 times,” he said.

Bangladesh earns $600m exporting one tonne jute, which will rise to $1,200 if it is yarn, he said.

“Manufacturers can earn $1,500$1800 exporting sacks and bags from one tonne of jute. On the other hand, diversified products can earn $3,000-$10,000 with one tonne of jute depending on the quality and type.”

“If we want to increase export

earnings from the jute and jute goods, there is no alternative but to go for product diversification as the demand for such products is increasing every day,” said Munna.

According to Export Promotion Bureau data, in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $494.50m exporting jute and jute goods. Of the total amount, $83.43m came from raw jute, $301.38m from yarn and $72.66m from sacks and bags export. l

DT

16

Business

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

FBCCI wants freedom in overseas investment by local entrepreneurs n Tribune Report The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has once again urged the government to allow the country’s entrepreneurs to invest abroad.

“As we had a meeting with the Prime Minister four years back, we were informed that once the country’s reserve was enough, we would be allowed to do so,’’ said FBCCI President Matlub Ahmad at a programme in the city yesterday.

According to Bangladesh Bank Statics, the country’s foreign exchange reserves now stands US$28 billion.

The FBCCI boss raised the demand as the country’s investors cannot tap the global market because the capital account is needed to be converting one for allowing local businesses and individuals to make overseas investment under a liberalised foreign exchange regime.

In response, State Minister for Finance MA Mannan said: “If investments can be made possible here from outside the country, why our people won’t be allowed to invest in other countries? I do not see any problem here.”

He, however, could not come up with any specific suggestion on

Universities urged to focus on SME segment n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman called on all universities to focus on small and medium enterprises in their academic research.

He made the call while addressing an international conference on “Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Bangladesh: Sharing Asian Experiences” held yesterday in the capital.

The two-day conference will end today.

The event was organised jointly by Bangladesh Bank, BIBM, Southeast University, CIRDAP and MSMEs dedicated banks and nonbank financial institutions.

The governor urged the universities to engage the students with research on this special segment so that they can bring out innovative ideas to flourish the sector.

“We need two growth engines including export and domestic demand and we have been working on both of these engines by empowering MSME,” said Atiur. l

this issue during the programme.

Both FBCCI chief and the junior minister made the remarks at a seminar titled ‘Role of Private Organisations in Promoting Integrity’ held at Bijoy Hall of Bidyut Bhaban in the capital.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) organised the programme in association with Cabinet Division and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to share contents of National Integrity Strategy (NIS) with private sector stakeholders for promoting good governance through promotion of integrity and prevention of corruption in every sectors.

NIS is a collective of institutions and practices that are crucial to maintaining integrity and accountability in government, non-government and private sector.

Cabinet Division Deputy Secretary Abu Saleh Mohammed Ferdous Khan in his key-note paper pointed out that the loan default problems, promotion of corporate governance, proper enforcement of laws and consumer rights and bankruptcy, and promotion of a culture of self control by chambers and associations as challenge of NIS implementation in private sector.

“Once the NIS comes into effect, it will reduce corrupt practices,

reduce intensity of tax avoidance, improve voluntary tax compliance, develop fair market competitions, prevent money laundering and improve compliance of corporate laws,” said NBR member barrister Jahangir Hossain in his presentation.

Identifying unholy alliance between unscrupulous taxmen and taxpayers, and money laundering as the key challenges, Hossain urged country’s businesses to come forward to implement NIS properly in the country.

FBCCI chief Abdul Matlub Ahmad urged the businesses to look out on how to solve different problems including money laundering.

Business people are willing to pay tax and VAT but the authorities concerned have made it difficult just because of the complex law, he said.

He also asked the authorities concern to use the 64 district chamber premises for disseminating the advantage of transparency through NIS. “We will give you corrupt people to your side, you give me the corrupt people from business side.

We must remove them for NIS implementation,” he said.

Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office Mikio Hataeda said: “Establishment of integrity

in a society as a whole cannot be possible without the help of the private sector.”

Bangladesh Auto Re-Rolling and Steel Mills Association President Sheikh Masudul Alam Masud observed that the government had to make the laws transparent and easy if it wanted to thwart hundi, under-invoicing and over-invoicing and other irregularities.

Chartered accountant Humayun Kabir demanded for an easy to implement legal framework to implement NIS in the country.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said: “The country has good acts and laws but there is no enforcement.”

The government needs to simplify the acts and rules in addition to the changes of mindset and partnership with district chambers to make NIS a success, he said.

Among others, Cabinet Secretary (Coordination and Reform) NM Ziaul Alam, NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman, Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) President Rafez Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries Director Mohabbat Ullah and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director M A Motaleb addressed the seminar. l

Muhith: We’re already half digital n Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has claimed that 50% of the country’s digitisation has been completed while the rest would be done soon.

The minister said digitisation is an effective tool to stop corruption.

The finance minister was addressing the concluding ceremony of Bangladesh ICT Expo 2016, a three-day exposition on information technology that kicked off on Thursday in the capital.

With reference to Sylhet Madan Mohan college, Muhith said earlier, there were anomalies in the college admission which were thwarted by introducing digital system.

Now everyone is interested in digitisation which is very much positive to build a digital Bangladesh.

In his address, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said: “We will have to focus on hardware, software and service sectors if we really want to build a digital Bangladesh.”

The manufacturing costs of digital devices in South Korea, Japan and China are very high. Bangladesh can be a suitable place for technology-based companies as the country is building a Hi-Tech

Finance Minister AMA Muhith speaks at the ICT Expo 2016 yesterday Park at kaliakoir.

“We offered a total of 12 incentives for the park which are attractive in comparison with other countries.”

Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), the apex trade body of technology industry, along with the ICT Division of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and ICT hosted the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

Imran Ahmed, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Commit-

tee on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT Ministry, Shyam Sunder Sikder, secretary to the ICT Division, and AHM Mahfuzul Arif, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), also spoke on the occasion.

Some other government organisations and trade bodies also took part in the second edition of Bangladesh ICT Expo.

The exposition showcased technology-based innovations that aimed at unlocking economic potentials of the IT sector. l

Bears tighten grip as DSEX falls below 45,00-mark

n Tribune Report

Low volume and lack of interest from investors turned the stock market towards bearish spell as DSEX, the benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, shed another 94 points in the past week that ended Thursday.

With this fall, the DSEX lost 114 in the past two consecutive weeks to settle at 4,472.

Quick profit booking selling pressure and heavy sell-off for redemption of three mutual funds— AIMS First Mutual Fund, Grameen Mutual Fund One and First ICB Mutual Fund – weighed on stock in the past week, analysts say.

The blue-chip comprising index DS30 fell 34 points or 2% to 1,718.

The DSE Shariah Index, DSES, shed about 29 points or 2.6% to 1,086.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 8,369, moving down 197 points or 2.3%.

The DSE daily average turnover was Tk449 crore, down almost 10% over the previous week. Engineering, pharmaceuticals and textiles sectors contributed 46% of the week’s total turnover.

All the large cap sectors declined during the week. Telecommunication posted a heavy loss of 4.6%, followed by food & allied 2.4%, banks 2.4%, NBFIs 1.5%, power 1.4%. pharmaceuticals 1% and engineering 0.6% during the week.

Ceramic and cement were also the losing sectors. Among the week’s gaining sectors, low-cap jute gained highest 1.7%, followed by life insurance 1.62%.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the sell pressure was high during the past week since three of the mutual funds completed liquidation of their portfolio.

IDLC Investments said the market passed an eventful week amid a couple of corporate declarations and the completion of winding up process of the mutual funds.

Following their poor dividend declarations, Singer BD and Heidelberg Cement faced correction by 21.1% and 9.2% respectively last week, it added.

However, in the final session of the week, value investors came into play to take the benefit of declining prices of some blue-chip stocks, it said.

Losers outpaced gainers as out of 327 issues traded, 231 closed lower, 72 higher and 24 remained unchanged on the DSE. Lanka Bangla Finance was the top turnover leader for the second straight week with shares worth Tk148 crore changing hands, followed by Orion Pharma, Singer BD, United Power Generation & Distribution Company, IFAD Autos and Orion Pharma. l

DT

17

Business

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

China cuts 2016 growth target to 6.5-7% n AFP, Beijing China yesterday cut its growth target for this year to a range of 6.5 to 7%, as the world’s second-largest economy faces a litany of challenges from overcapacity to weak trade.

The country is a key driver of global growth but expansion fell last year to 6.9%, its slowest in a quarter of a century, and worries over its health have sent tremors through stock markets around the world.

Premier Li Keqiang told the opening of the National People’s Congress (NPC) parliament, the country’s Communist-controlled legislature, that this year’s growth target was “6.5% to 7%”.

Li struck a deeply realistic tone, cataloguing the impact on the country’s outlook of weak trade growth, fluctuations in commodity and financial markets, and rising geopolitical risks.

“China will face more and tougher problems and challenges in its development this year, so we must be fully prepared to fight a difficult battle,” he said, adding that the government would increase deficit spending.

“Downward pressure on the economy is growing,” Li said. “Domestically, problems and risks that have been building up over the years are becoming more evident.”

Anne Stevenson-Yang, co-founder of investment advisers J Capital Research, said Li was sending a message that “’This is a painful year. We are going to grit our teeth and hope we can create an upturn in 2017’.”

The annual, highly choreographed event at the Great Hall of the People featured mostly male attendees in dark suits or the colourful costumes worn by ethnic minorities at official ceremonies.

Labourers work at a construction site in front of residential buildings in Shanghai

REUTERS

‘Domestically, problems and risks that have been building up over the years are becoming more evident’

ciencies and overcapacities, will be prompted “to make structural adjustments”, he said, with some reorganised, merged, or forced to exit the market.

Such pledges have been made many times before and Christopher Balding, professor of economics at Peking University’s HSBC Business School, told AFP the cuts were insufficient to cancel out additional capacity recently added or still coming online.

“A lot of these problems they’ve been talking about for many years but nothing has come of it,” he said.

China is attempting a difficult transition from dependence on exports and investments to consum-

Li’s nearly two-hour speech to serried ranks of delegates was punctuated by regular bursts of polite applause, and the sound of thousands of sheets of paper turning simultaneously each time he finished reading a page.

Audience member Zhao Jiajun, a doctor from Shandong province in the east, called the speech “fairly pragmatic”, adding it “touched on many problems”.

“Every area has places that are still imperfect, lots of things can’t be accomplished in one shot,” he told AFP. “It’s like climbing a mountain. You go up step by step.

It’s impossible to walk to the top in a single step.”

‘Market expectations’

Premier Li said that authorities would make much-needed cuts to overcapacity in the steel, coal, and “other industries facing difficulties”.

State-owned enterprises, many of which are plagued by ineffi-

er-led growth, seen as slower but more sustainable.

Nevertheless, Li said that this year, central government investment spending would rise to 500bn yuan ($77bn), while nationwide spending on railway construction would exceed 800bn yuan and road-building would top 1.65tn yuan.

China’s leaders have sought to reassure jittery global markets in recent weeks with a unified message that authorities still have monetary and fiscal policy tools in their arsenal to keep the economy from further slowdown.

Li projected a government deficit for 2016 of 2.18tn yuan, 3% of GDP, up from 2.3% last year, which would be the highest for several decades.

A three percent level has long been seen as a red line by authorities, but Li noted that such a ratio was lower than in other major economies.

China was also targeting consumer inflation of around 3% and unemployment within 4.5%, he added, and pledged reductions in releases of some major pollutants.

Li did not give a specific target for trade, which fell last year, only aiming for “a steady rise in import and export volumes” and “a basic balance in international payments”.

The GDP growth target had been set at “about seven percent” last year.

China’s leaders have traditionally declared it at an easily achieved level that was regularly exceeded, and even then usually approximated to provide room for positive spin. Using a range, rather than a single figure, will widen the goal further.

Li said the declared band will “help guide market expectations and keep them stable”. l

IMF to identify holdings of yuan in reserves surveys

Poultry farmers want tax waiver until 2021

n Reuters, Washington

Poultry farmers have demanded tax waiver till 2021 to save the sector and turn the prime minister’s pledge for ensuring “nutrition for all” into reality.

The demand was made at a mega rally of poultry farmers that filed into it from 16 districts, including Dhaka.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) in Comilla hosted the really yesterday.

The poultry farmers claimed that they were facing serious setback with incurring losses due to price hike of eggs and chicks.

They also highlighted a num-

The International Monetary Fund said on Friday it will separately identify China’s yuan currency in its official foreign exchange reserves database starting Oct 1, a move prompted by the yuan’s new status in the Fund’s reserve currency basket.

The move will aid China’s effort to secure a bigger role for its currency, also known as the renminbi, by revealing quarterly reserve holdings of yuan among the 188 IMF member countries.

Last November, the IMF agreed to include the yuan in its Special Drawing Rights basket after determining that it is “freely usable.”

Friday’s move means the renminbi will join the other currencies that are separately identified in the IMF’s quarterly survey of foreign exchange reserves: the U.S. dollar, euro, yen, pound sterling, Swiss franc, Australian dollar and Canadian dollar. All other currencies are lumped together.

“IMF member countries will be able to record as official reserves their holdings of RMB−denominated external assets that are readily available for meeting balance of payments financing needs,” the Fund said in a statement.

The change will be effective in time for the Q4 survey to be published in March 2017, the IMF said. l

n Tribune Report

ber of problems, which they are now facing, like non-availability of avian influenza vaccine in the country, hostage to some foreign firms, threat of bird flue breakout in neighbouring country and extortion.

They said production needs to be doubled along with increased investment in the poultry sector for materialising the PM’s announcement.

BPICC Convener Mashiur Rahman said the withdrawal of tax exemption for the poultry industries has hit the sector hard in the current fiscal year.

In FY16, the government raised tax from existing zero to 10% on income of poultry industry, 3% to

10% on income of poultry feed, zero to 5% on importing essential raw materials for producing poultry feeds and imposed 10% tax on hatchery (duck-hen).

“Not only this, but Advanced Income Tax and VAT have also been slapped. This mainly has raised the production cost manifold, which brings pain for the farmers.”

Comilla District Commissioner Hasanuzzaman Kollol said after achieving food autarchy, the premier has declared nutrition for all.

“For translating this pledge into action, egg, milk, fish and meat should be made cheaper for bringing within the purchase capacity of commoners.” l

DT

18

Business

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Stocks almost erase 2016 losses as bulls charge n Reuters, New York The bulls have gained the upper hand in the US stock market in recent weeks and strategists are cautiously optimistic the rebound will continue.

A lot is riding on whether economic data can continue to hold up, since upbeat reports in recent weeks have eased fears the United States may be headed for a recession.

Friday’s jobs report was the latest signal that those worries were overblown, with February US payrolls surging more than expected.

The S&P 500 has gained in 10 out of 15 sessions since its Feb. 11 low, and on Friday closed above its 100-day moving average for first time in 2016. Half of 10 S&P sectors - including energy, which had been severely beaten down - are now positive for the year.

In another upbeat sign for the market, the Dow Jones transportation average has been outperforming the broader market. It is up 1.9% since Dec 31, largely because of the recent gains in oil prices, while the S&P 500 is down 2.2%.

“If you were pricing this thing for a recession, you’ve got to take it back out,” said Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis. He added that the S&P 500 could test its high from May 2015, when it closed at a record 2,130.82.

He and others are expecting data to continue to support the view that the United States will avoid a recession, though they said plenty could still derail the market.

For one, while stock investors cheered Friday’s payrolls, investors worry more upbeat data will bolster prospects for a rate hike from the Federal Reserve this year.

Investors see the Fed as holding off on rate hikes for now, helping stocks in recent weeks, said Donald Selkin, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York.

A majority of Wall Street’s top banks expect the Fed to raise interest rates only two more times by the end of the year, a downgrade of earlier expectations, according to a Reuters poll on Friday.

The economic, Fed and earnings calendars are light next week. Oil prices are likely to keep their dominant role.

“You don’t want oil prices to go back below $30,” Selkin said.

The energy index, which was the worst-performing sector of 2015, is now up more than 20% from the Jan 20 bottom.

Stabilizing oil prices, along with some weakness in the dollar, could support US earnings, which are expected to be down for a third consecutive quarter in the first quarter of 2016. l

Oil slump has uneven impact on global prices at the pump n Reuters A dramatic drop in oil prices is translating into a mixed bag for motorists across the globe - from hefty savings at the pump in the United States to a rare fuel price hike in Venezuela.

Oil prices have dropped nearly 70% in the past 20 months, driven down by a glut in supply. All countries have access to the same oil prices on international markets, but retail gasoline prices vary wildly, largely because of the taxes and subsidies imposed on them.

That has meant the impact of diving oil prices has been uneven around the world.

In the United States, for example, drivers have enjoyed the fall as average gasoline prices tumbled to $1.64 a gallon ($0.43 a liter) last month from $3.37 a gallon ($0.89 a liter) two years ago. That has spurred a road renaissance of sorts as Americans hit the highways in greater numbers.

“It’s great. It used to pain me to fill up my car, but now it’s no big deal,” said Patsy Gehring, a 59-year old who lives in Philadelphia. She says she notices the low pump prices every time she fills up her 2014 Honda Civic and is considering driving instead of flying on an upcoming trip to Florida.

“I’m probably going to end up driving. I’d prefer to fly, but gas prices are so cheap it just makes sense,” she said.

The decline in prices at the pump has been more muted in countries like Indonesia, China and India, which have tried to reduce subsidies and absorb some of the gains from lower oil prices as taxes or levies, Barclays said in a research report.

Overall, retail fuel prices in Asia - which is home to three of the world’s four largest energy importers - have fallen only about 35% de-

Fuel prices are seen at a Puma gas station on the Hugo Chavez roundabout in Managua, Nicaragua spite the almost 70% decline in oil prices since July 2014, Barclays said.

“No choice”

In China, the wholesale gasoline price ceiling - which is set by the country’s central planning commission - has fallen 29% since February 2014. But in January regulators set a floor on price cuts, saying they would no longer adjust prices down when oil prices are below $40 a barrel. One benchmark oil price, Brent crude, was trading at around $36 a barrel this week.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has also raised the consumption tax on fuel three times six since the slide in oil prices began.

In Beijing, motorists appeared resigned to the limited benefit.

“When you look at oil prices, you can see the price at the pump should be a lot lower,” said a 35-year-old man driving a black Audi A6, who gave his surname as Gao. In Hong Kong - which has the world’s most expensive gasoline at $6.69 per gallon ($1.76 per liter) ac-

cording to www.globalpetrolprices. com - the slow downward march in prices has not impressed car owner Simon Lam. “It’s been at this price range for so long and we have no choice but to accept that,” he said.

A different story is being played out in two major oil producing countries - Saudi Arabia and Venezuela - where prices at the pump have actually risen due to cuts in subsidies, imposed to compensate for the economic hit from the oil price crash.

Venezuela in February increased pump rates for the first time in nearly 20 years. Its 95 octane gasoline rose more than 6,000% from 0.097 bolivars to 6 bolivars per liter.

(From 0.36 bolivars to 22.7 bolivars per gallon.) While that is $0.60 at the strongest official exchange rate it is far less at the weakest official rate and just $0.006 on the black market, making it the cheapest fuel in the world at that rate.

The price is so low – especially in the face of raging inflation – that many Venezuelans support raising

REUTERS

fuel rates even more.

“Gasoline is too cheap here. A liter of water is still more expensive than a liter of fuel. I have family abroad in Ecuador, and there it’s very expensive, here it’s nothing! They should have increased it a bit more,” said taxi driver Raul Ramirez as he filled up his car at a Caracas gas station recently.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia - with its finances also hit hard by the oil slump - in December raised the price of 95 octane gasoline to 0.90 riyal ($0.24) per liter from 0.60 riyal.

(From 2.27 to 3.40 riyal per gallon) That still keeps Saudi Arabia among the countries with the cheapest gasoline prices in the world, so motorists are not complaining too much.

“It is still cheap, still reasonable - people can afford it,” said a 40-year-old as he filled up at a gas station in Khobar near the state oil company’s headquarters.

“You don’t usually tip the guy at the pump but in Saudi Arabia you do because petrol is so cheap.” l

CORPORATE NEWS Pedrollo celebrates its 30 years in Bangladesh

n Tribune Business Desk

Pacific Motors Limited has recently opened its new showroom to display Nissan vehicles in Tejgaon, Dhaka, said a press release. The photo shows a view of the new showroom

Pedrollo nk Limited has recently celebrated its 30 years in Bangladesh by organising a family day programme for the company’s employees, said a press release.

The company’s managing director, Nader Khan was also present at the programme along with hundreds of other employees of the company. l

19

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

| event |

| offer |

No pressure

Women’s day celebrations at Six Seasons

Consultant Endocrinologist of Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore, Dr Ng Jen Min Ben has states that around 69% of all hypertensive patients in Bangladesh failed to reach their target blood pressure event after taking antihypertensive drugs.

He has opined that the new anti-hypertensive combination drug named COVERAM, is very effective for uncontrolled hypertensive patients.

Dr Ben has delivered the keynote speech in a symposium organised by Servier Bangladesh Operations in Dhaka Club

on Saturday. More than 100 physicians from different institutes including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, BIRDEM, Dhaka Medical College, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases attended the symposium.

In reference to different clinical studies, Dr Ben has said that COVERAM reduces systolic blood pressure by 41.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 23.2 mmHg. He also said that this new drug is able to reach target blood pressure in 84% of patients. In reference to an ASCOT study,

he said that the drug reduces cardiovascular mortality by 24%, strokes by 23% and new onset of diabetes by -30%.

In conclusion, citing the example of his own clinical practice, Dr Ben has advised our physicians to take the benefits of COVERAM for the treatment of hypertensive patients in Bangladesh.

COVERAM is a research brand of Servier which has been recently available in Bangladesh.

It is widely prescribed worldwide for the management of high blood pressure. l

This women’s day, Six Seasons Hotel is offering special privileges for all the strong, beautiful and compassionate women in Dhaka. To celebrate the special day, the 13th floor signature restaurant, Bunka, will be offering female guests 50% discount on the all-youcan-order menu.

| launch |

| meals |

MetLife launches ‘CI ROP Super’

The Dining Room offer

MetLife launched a new life insurance product named CI ROP Super in Bangladesh.

This new product will provide customers financial protection from 10 critical illnesses for

DT

Biz Info

Additionally, a 30% discount will be offered on the a-lacarte menus at all F&B outlets.

Women will also be able to enjoy a 40% off on spa services at the Saran Rom Spa. This offer is valid only for March 8, and certain conditions apply. For further details, please call 01987009810. l

10 years. Regional senior-vice president, head of Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, Md Nurul Islam introduced the product to the Branch Managers of MetLife Bangladesh. l

Enjoy a variation of Bengali delicacies at The Dining Room’s a la carte menu all throughout the month of March.

A competition is also being rolled out where one has to take

a selfie with their partner at The Dining Room, post it on the restaurant’s wall with a caption, and order from the special menu or a la carte in order to get prizes.

One lucky couple gets a free air ticket to Kolkata, who shall be selected via a lottery. This competition is valid from March 1 to 28. l

DT

Downtime

20

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Church recesses (5) 6 Pithy saying (3) 7 Praise highly (5) 10 Protective garment (5) 12 Way out (4) 13 Conscious of (5) 15 Festivity (4) 16 Become firm (3) 18 Stain (3) 20 Egg-shaped (4) 22 Greek island (5) 23 Circle of light (4) 25 Staggers (5) 27 Hazards (5) 28 Favourite (3) 29 Composition (5)

DOWN 1 Astounded (6) 2 Mild explosion (3) 3 Bombard heavily (6) 4 Politician (7) 5 Container (3) 8 Golf mound (3) 9 Citrus fruit (4) 11 Be indebted (3) 14 Drive backwards (7) 16 Slumbers (6) 17 Reliable (6) 19 Period of time (4) 21 Consumed (3) 22 Long-leaved lettuce (3) 24 Illuminated (3) 26 Meadow (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 17 represents N so fill N every time the figure 17 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

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World 21

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

INSIDE

What need to know about Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal The corruption scandal that Brazilian investigators believe ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took part in is likely the biggest in the country’s history - and law enforcement’s response has also been massive.

PAGE 22

This undated aerial photo received on March 4, 2010 shows Rongelap Island, one of more than 60 in a necklace of coral islands that was engulfed by a snowstorm of radioactive fallout on March 1, 1954.The tiny Marshall Islands will on February 7 seek to convince the UN's highest court to take up a lawsuit against India, Pakistan and Britain which they accuse of failing to halt the nuclear arms race AFP

13,000 refugees at Greek border ahead of crunch EU-Turkey migration summit Some 13,000 refugees are crammed in unhygienic conditions on Greece’s border with Macedonia, officials said Saturday, with all eyes on a key EU-Turkey summit on Monday that is seen as the only viable solution to the crisis.

PAGE 23

Five more states ready to chip in delegates to Campaign 2016 It’s an odd moment in the 2016 campaign: Not even half the states have voted for the party nominees and no candidate has half the delegates needed to win, yet the sense is spreading that it’s practically game over.

PAGE 24

Marshall islands to open nuclear arms battle at top UN court n AFP, The Hague, Netherlands The tiny Marshall Islands will Monday seek to convince the UN’s highest court to take up a lawsuit against India, Pakistan and Britain which they accuse of failing to halt the nuclear arms race.

Lawyers representing the small Pacific island nation will launch the opening salvos in a David-versus-Goliath battle in which the International Court of Justice is to examine whether it is competent to hear lawsuits against India and Pakistan.

A third hearing against Britain, scheduled for Wednesday, will be devoted to “preliminary objections” raised by London.

In 2014, the Marshall islands - a Pacific Ocean territory with 72,000 people - accused nine countries of “not fulfilling their obligations with respect to the cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.”

They included China, Britain, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States.

The Marshall islands maintained that by not stopping the

nuclear arms race, the nine countries continued to breach their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) even if the treaty has not been by signed by countries such as India and Pakistan.

But the court only admitted three cases brought against Britain, India and Pakistan because they already recognised the ICJ’s authority.

Dire consequences

The Marshall islands decided to sue the world’s nuclear heavyweights as “it has a particular awareness of the dire consequences of nuclear weapons,” it said.

Between 1946 and 1958 the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall islands, Majuro’s representatives said in papers filed in court.

While also focusing on the threat of global warming causing the world’s oceans to rise, the Marshall islands “have come to realise that it cannot ignore the other major threat to its survival: the ongoing threat posed by the existence of large arsenals of nuclear weapons.”

In March 2014, the Marshall is-

lands marked 60 years since the devastating hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, that vapourised an island and exposed thousands in the surrounding area to radioactive fallout.

“The Marshall islands wants a moral and judicial pronouncement that can strengthen their political campaign against nuclear weapons,” said Lyal S Sunga, who heads The Hague Institute for Global Justice think-tank’s Rule of Law program.

“It’s very interesting because international law, as part of a range of diplomatic and political tools, can be used to lend weight to the argument that nuclear testing is very dangerous and harmful not only for the Marshall islands, but for the whole world,” he told.

The 15-megaton test on March 1, 1954, was part of the intense Cold War nuclear arms race and 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Bikini islanders have lived in exile since they were moved for the first weapons tests in 1946.

When US government scientists declared Bikini safe for resettlement, some residents were al-

lowed to return in the early 1970s.

But they were removed again in 1978 after ingesting high levels of radiation from eating local foods grown on the former test site.

Proliferation fears

Now the Marshall islands aims to shine a new spotlight on the nuclear threat.

The court case will start days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s order Friday for the country’s nuclear arsenal to be readied for pre-emptive use at any time.

“The case is in a very preliminary stage at this point,” Olivier Ribbelink, senior researcher at the TMC Asser Institute in The Hague told.

“Either way the outcome, the case has certainly sharply refocused attention on the dangers of nuclear proliferation,” Ribbelink said.

Eight of the nine countries originally targeted in the lawsuits have officially admitted to possessing a nuclear weapon.

Israel has never acknowledged having one, but observers believe it is the sole nuclear-armed nation in the Middle East. l

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22

World

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

Q&A

What need to know about Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal in the history n AFP, Sao Paulo, Brazil The corruption scandal that Brazilian investigators believe ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took part in is likely the biggest in the country’s history - and law enforcement’s response has also been massive.

Here is a nutshell look at the probe code-named Operation Car Wash and the mega-scandal that it seeks to unravel.

Q: What is operation car wash?

A: Over the last two years, an army

of prosecutors, auditors and police have been looking into a giant corruption ring that was centered on the state oil company Petrobras, Brazil’s flagship corporation and one of Latin America’s highest-profile companies.

The task force is based in the southern city of Curitiba, out of the way of Brazil’s main power centers - a fact observers say has helped the team, headed by Judge Sergio Moro, to operate independently.

The investigation has revealed that some of Brazil’s biggest construction companies colluded with Petrobras executives to concoct massively inflated contracts, which they then embezzled.

The extra cash - estimated by the company to total at least $2bn - was laundered and divvied up between Petrobras executives, their partners in crime, and politicians who gave them their jobs.

Stolen money was also being funneled to political parties as campaign funds. Lula was in power during the period of the Petrobras scam and his Workers’ Party was allegedly one of the main recipients of these funds.

For much of Lula’s 2003-2010 presidency the gargantuan conspiracy operated undisturbed. But the prosecution task force has made swift advances over the last two year, relentlessly using plea bargains - where the accused agree to testify on behalf of the government in return for lighter sentences - to break through the secrecy.

Q: What is Lula accused of?

A: Investigators say they have evi-

dence that the once wildly popular former president received a luxury seaside apartment and country house as bribes from companies that had been skimming off Petrobras money.

Lula is also suspected of receiving about $8m in donations and speaking fees from Petrobras-tainted companies.

But prosecutors said Friday that the scheme was run from the highest levels of the ruling coalition, indicating that there could be even more serious allegations to come.

“Lula, besides being leader of the ruling Workers’ Party, had the final say in the decision on naming Petrobras directors, and was one of the main beneficiaries of the crimes,” both personally and through the funding of his party’s campaigns, they said.

That cuts to the very heart of the political establishment in Brazil, where the Workers’ Party has domi-

SpaceX satellite launch succeeds, but rocket crash lands n AFP, Miami, United States SpaceX on Friday successfully launched a communications satellite to a distant orbit but failed, as expected, to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on an ocean platform.

The rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 23:36 GMT, propelling the satellite, known as SES-9, built by Boeing for the Luxembourg-based company SES. The satellite successfully reached its geostationary orbit more than 40,000km above the Earth, about 100 times as high as the International Space Station.

From there it will deliver broadband and television channels to southeast Asia.

“Target altitude of 40,600km achieved,” wrote SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Twitter.

After the launch, SpaceX tried to land the first stage of its rocket on a platform floating in the Atlantic Ocean about 600km off the east coast of Florida.

The droneship, as it is called, is marked with a large “X” and the words, “Of Course I Still Love You.” Grainy video footage showed a bright light approaching the droneship from the upper left, before the live feed cut out.

“Rocket landed hard on the droneship.

Didn’t expect this one to work,” Musk wrote on Twitter.

“But next flight has a good chance.”

SpaceX had cautioned it did not expect a successful landing this time, but tried anyway as part of its broader attempt to perfect its tech-

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in this December 21, 2015 file photo REUTERS nique of recycling rocket parts in order to make spaceflight cheaper and more sustainable.

The California-based company has managed to land upright on solid ground once - in December 2015 - but several attempts at ocean touchdowns have failed. l

nated the scene since 2003.

Lula, who has not been charged, denies any involvement in the Petrobras scheme and characterizes prosecutors as out of control. He says he does not own the controversial properties and that he has repeatedly cooperated with prosecutors on a voluntary basis.

Q: Who else is implicated?

A: A Who’s Who of business and

political elites have now been implicated at some level - some of them charged, some already imprisoned, others merely called in as suspects.

At the business end they include Marcelo Odebrecht, the now former-CEO of the huge Odebrecht construction group, former international chief for Petrobras Nestor Cervero, and billionaire banker Andre Esteves.

The political line-up is just as star-studded, including Workers’ Party Senator Delcidio Amaral, former party treasurer Jose Vac-

cari Neto, lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha, Joao Santana, a former campaign guru for Lula and Rousseff, and now Lula himself.

The big question for Brazil watchers is whether accusations will one day be made against Rousseff, who took office in 2011 and was reelected in 2014.

She was chairwoman of Petrobras during much of the period that the corruption scheme was underway, but has denied knowledge of the activity and she has never been formally accused of any impropriety.

She has been praised by many for apparently not attempting to interfere in Operation Car Wash, even as it damaged her party and allies.

But analysts say that relations between Rousseff and investigators are worsening.

After Lula’s detention and questioning on Friday, Rousseff spoke in his defense, saying she was in “complete disagreement” with the police action. l

23

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

13,000 refugees at Greek border ahead of crunch EU-Turkey migration summit n AFP, Idomeni, Greece Some 13,000 refugees are crammed in unhygienic conditions on Greece’s border with Macedonia, officials said Saturday, with all eyes on a key EU-Turkey summit on Monday that is seen as the only viable solution to the crisis.

The huge influx of refugees and migrants has caused major tensions and divisions within the European Union, but EU President Donald Tusk on Friday struck an upbeat note about Monday’s summit in Brussels, which will include Turkey.

European leaders are expected to use the summit to press Ankara to take back more economic migrants from Greece and reduce the flow of people across the Aegean Sea. Greece has been plunged at the heart of Europe’s greatest migration crisis in six decades after a series of border restrictions along the migrant trail, from Austria to Macedonia has caused a bottleneck on its soil.

Over 30,000 refugees and migrants have been trapped in the country, around a third of them at Idomeni border crossing, where aid groups report food and tent shortages.

“There are 13,000 people here and nearly 20,000 in this prefecture, over 60% of the country’s entire refugee and migrant flow,” Apostolos Tzitzikostas, regional governor of Greece’s central Macedonia prefecture, told.

Adding to the EU tensions, Bulgaria said Saturday it will send more than 400 troops and security personnel to guard its border with Greece, amid fears the mi-

World leaders hailed “real progress” in Syria on Friday, but fresh air strikes showed the fragility of the week-old truce as the opposition cast doubt on its attendance at talks next week in Geneva.

Warplanes struck a key rebel bastion east of the Syrian capital for the first time since the US-Russia brokered truce – which excludes the fight against jihadists - began last weekend, a monitor said.

Eastern Ghouta had been regularly bombarded by government forces, but has been relatively calm since the ceasefire came into force, which has also allowed the United Nations began delivering aid to three rebel towns in the area.

British, French, German and

SOUTH ASIA

Taliban reject peace talks with Afghan government The Taliban on Saturday refused to resume long-stalled peace talks with the Afghan government, reiterating their preconditions for holding dialogue, a statement said. The statement comes as direct face-to-face talks between the militant group and the Kabul government were expected to start in Islamabad this week.

-AFP

INDIA

Delhi court discharges Abdul Karim Tunda Suspected LeT bomb expert Abdul Karim Tunda and three others, who were accused of helping Pakistani and Bangladeshi terrorists sneak into India in 1997 to carry out terror strikes, were on Saturday discharged in the case by a Delhi court, which cited lack of evidence. Tunda, one of the 20 terrorists India had asked Pakistan to hand over after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

-THE HINDU Refugees and migrants queue for food in a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian borders near the Greek village of Idomeni AFP grant flow along the Balkan route will pick up with the onset of warmer weather.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel - a key player in the drama - meanwhile said Greece should have been quicker in preparing to host 50,000 people under an agreement with the European Union in October.

“Greece should have created 50,000 accommodation places for refugees by the end of 2015,” Merkel told Bild newspaper in an interview to appear Sunday.

“This delay must be addressed as soon as possible as the Greek government must provide decent lodgings” to asylum claimants, she said.

Greece sent in the army in Feb-

ruary to speed up the creation of open camps for migrants and refugees but has occasionally run into opposition from local authorities.

Tents and protests

The Doctors Without Borders charity on Saturday began erecting additional tents at Idomeni to shelter over 1,000 people who could not fit in the camp and have been sleeping in muddy fields and ditches.

In past days, the mainly Syrian and Iraqi refugees have regularly held protests in front of the barbed-wire fence guarded by Macedonian riot police, demanding to be allowed through.

Hussam, a 25-year-old Syrian, says the refugees are hoping that

Monday’s EU-Turkey summit will provide a breakthrough.

According to Greek officials, Macedonia has allowed some 2,000 people through its borders in the last two weeks. The same number of people fleeing war and poverty arrive in Greece from neighbouring Turkey in two days.

Some 200 people were allowed through between Friday and Saturday, with Macedonian police calling into question registration documents handed to refugees by Greek police at the islands.

In many cases, the documents do not carry full dates of birth, only the year, while disputes over the correct colour of a police stamp can also hold up the process for hours. l

World leaders hail real progress in Syria n AFP, Paris, France

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World

EU foreign ministers met in Paris to discuss the truce, saying there had been “real progress.”

Protesters in opposition-held areas - buoyed by the ceasefire - also took to the streets for the first time in years to demonstrate against the regime under the slogan “The Revolution Continues!”

Waving the three-starred tricolour flag that has become the uprising’s emblem, demonstrators in opposition-held areas of Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa and Homs called for Assad’s downfall.

Late Friday, a group of rebel fighters seized control of a crossing on the Iraqi border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The border point at Al-Tanaf, which is controlled on the Iraqi

side by the Islamic State group.

Focus on Geneva

The quartet of foreign ministers said the focus now was on convincing all parties to return to UN-brokered peace talks in Switzerland tentatively set for next Wednesday.

But Riad Hijab, head of Syria’s main opposition body, the High Negotiations Committee, said the opposition had not yet decided whether it would come to the talks.

Citing continued sieges and the fact that thousands still languish in regime jails, Hijab said President Bashar al-Assad would have “no place” in a political transition because he has “blood on his hands.”

Speaking by phone on Friday,

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need for a return to the negotiating table.

“The two sides called for a speedy start to negotiations in Geneva between the Syrian government and the opposition under the UN’s auspices,” a Russian foreign ministry statement said.

Turkish armed forces launched new artillery strikes on positions of the Dae’sh group in Syria, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

Russia however accused Turkey of continuing to bombard Kurdish positions and allowing jihadist groups to receive weapons across its border, putting “the ceasefire in danger,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. l

CHINA

Beijing steps up warnings on Taiwan independence Beijing stepped up its rhetoric against Taiwanese independence on Saturday, with Premier Li Keqiang warning against separatist activities on the island and pledging to safeguard China’s territorial integrity. China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still considers the self-ruled island part of its territory awaiting reunification, and has an estimated 1,500 missiles aimed at stopping Taiwan from declaring independence. -AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

Philippines seizes N Korean cargo ship to enforce UN sanctions The Philippines said on Saturday it had seized a North Korean freighter that was covered by harsher United Nations’ sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear programme.

Manila will also deport the vessel’s 21 North Korean crew and will await a UN inspection team, foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message.

-REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

UN: Syria peace talks to start on March 10 Syria peace talks set for March 9 will begin the following day with participants due to arrive in Geneva over several days, the UN envoy said in statements published Saturday. Staffan de Mistura told the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat it was his “intention” for the talks aimed at ending Syria’s five-year war to begin in the afternoon of March 9. But he said he expected them to begin in earnest on the following day.

-AFP

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World

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

USA

US wants UN resolution on peacekeepers accused of sex abuse The United States is preparing a draft Security Council resolution to expel peacekeepers facing sex abuse allegations from UN missions if no action is taken by their countries to investigate or prosecute them, officials said Friday. It would mark the first time the Security Council considers a formal measure taking aim at the worrying rise of such claims against peacekeepers.

-AFP

Five more states ready to chip in delegates to Campaign 2016 n Tribune Desk

Colombia has seen more than 47,700 cases of Zika, including thousands of pregnant women infected with the mosquito-borne virus, the country’s National Health Institute reported Saturday. A total of 8,890 pregnant women have come down with the disease, which has been tentatively linked to a serious birth defect affecting babies born to women who became infected while pregnant.

-AFP

It’s an odd moment in the 2016 campaign: Not even half the states have voted for the party nominees and no candidate has half the delegates needed to win, yet the sense is spreading that it’s practically game over.

This weekend, voters in five states and one territory are taking their turn. They possess the power to make Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump closer to unstoppable or to give the conventional wisdom about one or both front-runners a shake, Associated Press reports.

A look at a weekend of politicking anchored by primaries and caucuses, capped by a Democratic debate Sunday night:

UK

Where?

THE AMERICAS

Colombia reports more than 47,700 Zika cases

UK business chief suspended in Brexit row The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce has been suspended after he called for Britain to leave the European Union, against the wishes of most of the organisation’s members, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. The newspaper said John Longworth had told Thursday the UK would be better off exiting the 28-member bloc.

-AFP

EUROPE

EU urges Turkey to respect media freedom The European Union on Saturday urged Turkey to respect media freedom after Turkish police seized top-selling opposition newspaper Zaman, days before the two sides hold a summit on the migrant crisis. The EU has repeatedly stressed that Turkey, as a candidate country, needs to respect and promote high democratic standards and practices, including freedom of the media.

-AFP

AFRICA

West Africa’s Sahel nations to set up anti-Islamist units Defence ministers from West Africa’s arid Sahel region have agreed to work together to establish special rapid reaction forces to counter the growing threat from al Qaeda and Dae’sh-linked militants At a meeting in Chad’s capital N’Djamena, defence chiefs from Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania pledged to form special units to respond quickly to threats and attacks from Islamist militants.

-REUTERS

On Saturday, both parties have contests in Kansas and Louisiana.

Republicans in Maine and Kentucky and Democrats in Nebraska also vote.

On Sunday, Maine Democrats and Puerto Rico Republicans are up.

The campaigning

Republican Marco Rubio, in a sign of retrenchment or at least strategic focus, canceled Louisiana and Kentucky events Friday, instead landing in Kansas to unload on Trump at a Topeka airport. The Florida senator did so in stark terms, telling a few hundred supporters Trump “accentuates the most dangerous instincts in humanity.” Rubio’s Waterloo will be his home-state primary March 15 and Florida is where he’s cam-

paigning the hardest.

Trump staged a late rally in New Orleans followed Saturday morning by one set for Wichita, Kansas.

Maine also drew considerable attention, with visits in recent days from Democrat Bernie Sanders, Trump and his GOP rival Ted Cruz.

IFFY impact

It’s easier for GOP hopefuls to gain delegates in the weekend round of voting than it was in the Super Tuesday extravaganza. That means it’s harder to have a breakout that changes the nature of the race.

Candidates in Kentucky must get just 5% of the statewide vote to get delegates, and in Kansas and Maine the bar is 10%. In Louisiana’s primary, there is no threshold to earn a portion of the delegates. Contrast this with 20% thresholds in some other states.

And in coming Republican contests, like Florida and Ohio, all delegates in a state will go to the winner, for the first time in the campaign.

The delegate numbers

The weekend contests will divvy up 175 delegates among the Republican candidates and 134 delegates between Clinton and Sanders.

Going into the weekend round, Trump leads with 329 delegates, Cruz has 231, Rubio 110 and John Kasich, 25. It takes 1,237 delegates to win the GOP nomination.

Clinton is farther along in the hunt. She leads the Democratic race with 1,066 delegates to 432 for Sanders. It takes 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.

Kentucky phantom

A phantom hangs over the Ken-

The US delegate count so far DEMOCRATS Already

4,763

Total delegates pledged

1,062

Hillary Clinton 609

2,382 Needed to clinch nomination Total with ‘super delegates’ Pledged delegates

Bernie Sanders 412 431

REPUBLICANS Already

Total delegates pledged Donald Trump

338

Ted Cruz Marco Rubio

2,472

236 112

1,237

Needed to clinch nomination

John Kasich 27 Ben Carson 8 Source: thegreenpapers

tucky GOP caucuses, that of home-state Sen. Rand Paul. The new caucuses were arranged so he could run for president and his Senate seat at the same time, a step that required Kentucky to move away from its usual May primary to avoid a legal challenge.

Paul even paid for the switch, donating $250,000 to cover the party’s expenses.

But his presidential bid failed.

He and other departed candidates are still on the ballot and party leaders are posting signs at caucus locations listing who is out of the race but still on the ballot.

One suspense in Kentucky is whether people will be motivated to come out - and whether they can even find out where to go and what to do.

Republican political consultant

Scott Jennings said he hasn’t seen the “basic mechanics of what you would expect in a get-out-thevote operation.”

Eye on louisiana

Analysts expect Clinton to do well, as she’s done in other Southern states. She’s drawn strong support from black voters, a sizable part of the Louisiana Democratic primary electorate.

On the Republican side, Louisiana has tended to vote for conservative, evangelical candidates.

That history might favor Cruz but Ed Chervenak, who heads the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center, said Trump has proved he can win in Southern states with evangelical voters: “He’s tapped into a level of frustration that transcends religiosity.” l

Foreign policy thinkers praised by Trump have divergent views n Reuters, Washington DC If Americans were looking for clarity on leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s world views, they might have come away disappointed from Thursday night’s debate.

Asked who he trusts on national security, Trump had warm words for three men with world views that differ from one another, and who diverge sharply

on some key issues from Trump himself. They are former diplomat Richard Haass and retired US Army officers Gen. Jack Keane and Col Jack Jacobs.

His mention of the eclectic trio did little to satisfy mounting calls for him to announce a list of his campaign foreign policy advisors, who traditionally take top posts should he be elected. His debate comments appeared to be more words of admiration for the three men than a signal he was forming the nucleus of a national security team.

Trump has been rejected by

a significant swath of his party’s foreign policy establishment. Almost 110 Republican foreign policy veterans have signed a letter pledging to oppose Trump, saying his proposals would undermine US security.

The three men Trump mentioned have different views of the 2003 Iraq invasion, arguably the most controversial foreign policy decision in a generation. Trump says he opposed the war, calling it a disastrous intervention and accusing the administration of then President

George W Bush of misleading Americans.

Keane is a defense hawk who helped devise the 2007 Iraq “surge” – a move to send tens of thousands more US troops to Iraq to quell sectarian strife – and served as an informal consultant to Bush. Keane told Reuters on Friday he has never spoken to Trump.

Keane, now chairman of the board of the Institute for the Study of War think tank, said he has briefed seven presidential candidates from both parties, whom he declined to identify. l

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Mashrafe: I got five final tickets

INSIDE

n Mazhar Uddin PCB to send security team to India Pakistan said yesterday it would send a security team to India next week to survey the situation on the ground before the country’s cricket squad travels to play against their arch-rival during an upcoming India-Pakistan World T20 tie. PAGE 26

Russell set for World Twenty20 Andre Russell looks set to play in the World Twenty20 after the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission said on Friday the West Indies all-rounder would not be suspended pending a hearing into his “anti-doping whereabouts” rule violation. PAGE 27

Sanchez rescues 10-man Arsenal Alexis Sanchez salvaged a point for 10-man Arsenal and denied Tottenham Hotspur the chance to go top of the Premier League after a pulsating north London derby ended in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane yesterday. PAGE 28

Djoker, Murray shine in tense Davis Cup Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray sprinted through their Davis Cup openers to edge Serbia and defending champions Great Britain closer to a dream quarter-final showdown. But their teams are still facing a weekend long battle to set-up that July duel. PAGE 29

Bangladesh opening batsman Soumya Sarker grabs a catch while wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim looks on during a practice session in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

An Asia Cup 2016 final ticket has been as rare as a golden deer. With the in-form Tigers taking on India today in the grand finale of the regional competition, almost every single fan wants to see their beloved cricket team in flesh. However, with the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium housing no more than 26,000 supporters, tens and thousands are expected to miss out.

Following the Tigers’ progression to the final, demand for tickets has reached a crescendo. Just a day before the marquee event, thousands of people gathered in front of the United Commercial Bank Ltd branch in Mirpur. Only a lucky few though could count themselves fortunate.

From the Bangladesh Cricket Board officials to the journalists covering the game, almost everyone were flooded with ticket requests. Even the cricketers were not spared in this regard.

When asked over his number of allocated tickets for the final, Bangladesh limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza said, “I got five tickets for the final.”

He continued, “I have seen many people gathering outside the bank from early morning. They were facing a lot of trouble for a ticket. It (ticket shortage) happens more when we play well.

“The supporters were and will continue to be the biggest strength of Bangladesh cricket. Without the supporters, we would have never been able to get the encouragement. Bangladesh cricket would have never reached this position without the contribution and sacrifice from our supporters. It is a great opportunity for us.

If we can do something good, then everyone will be be happy.” l

‘No pressure, we’ll play with freedom’ n Rashad Banna Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza encouraged his side to play with freedom when they lock horns with India today in the blockbuster Asia Cup Twenty20 final in Mirpur.

With the entire country waiting with bated breath, Mashrafe urged his charges not to take undue pressure upon themselves and just do the basics right as their moment of truth has finally arrived.

“Very rarely do we play tournament finals like this. On occasions like this, you can get puzzled at times. But I think only those teams win who are not afraid to take decisions and are aggressive when the going gets tough,” Mashrafe told the press conference previewing the final at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“We will try to continue playing

FINAL 7:30PM at SBNS

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

with freedom. Since we do not have many experiences of playing in hyped-up matches like this, we are trying our best to avoid pressure as much as possible,” said Mashrafe.

When queried by the media if today’s encounter will be the Tigers’ biggest in history, Mashrafe opined, “As a captain I would say the 2015 World Cup quarter-final was more significant. But this game is also a huge one.

“Since this is a final, the flavour is also different. But we’re treating this game as just another tie. We would like to continue the way we have been playing in the last three matches.”

In the recent and distant past, the Tigers have faced India on numerous occasions, especially in limited-over cricket. Consequently, there has been no love lost between the cricketers of the two sub-continent teams.

On the eve of the grand finale against their neighbours, Mashrafe said their rivalry has dished out many intriguing battles in the past and today will be no different.

“Look, there are no questions regarding their strength. Their first six batsmen are all worldclass, especially in ODIs and T20Is. Also in Tests. There are no

specific areas where we can nullify them,” he said.

With that said, Mashrafe added, “We have to bowl well throughout the 20 overs. They will obviously try to charge our bowling. In these kind of matches, the damage is done in the first or final six overs. We have to be focussed during that time.”

Mashrafe believes they are more than capable of mounting a stiff title challenge despite the absence of pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman, who has proved to be India’s nemesis in recent times. Mustafizur missed out on the Pakistan clash after suffering a side-strain injury during their win over Sri Lanka.

In his absence, Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain and Mashrafe himself took up the responsibility and exhibited a fine pace-bowling performance against Pakistan.

The “Narail Express” is hoping for one more of the same today. l

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Pakistan to send security team to India

RAVI SHASTRI India Team Director

n AFP, Islamabad

On the final “They (Indian cricketers) are experienced players and they should treat this as another game. Our approach to every team and every game has been the same. Right from the start, we have approached every game as a knock-out game. The final will be no different for us.”

On the tournament opener against Bangladesh “That was a good game. In the first game, we were under pressure till the last 10 overs when we bounced back. Every game is a tough game. It’s about how you balance things out in batting and bowling. We did an excellent job in that game.”

On Bangladesh’s rise, in both world cricket and Asia “I think all teams are very good in the sub-continent.

You have your ups and downs. Last year [2014], Sri Lanka became the World T20 champions here.

Bangladesh have played very good cricket too. Not long ago, Pakistan were in the top two. Now it’s India.

You can never discount teams in the sub-continent.

You will get a phase when you go up. And a phase where you go off the boil. Then you come up again. It happens to all the teams.”

On Tigers fans “We are used to noise. Let there be hundred percent noise. Who cares! When you play at that level, you are immune to noise. In a sense it can work in your advantage as well. You have to show you can play under pressure.” l

India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh bats in the nets during a practice session in Mirpur yesterday

MI MANIK

Pakistan said yesterday it would send a security team to India next week to survey the situation on the ground before the country’s cricket squad travels to play against their arch-rival during an upcoming India-Pakistan World T20 tie.

The teams are set to square off in India’s Kolkatta, Dharamsala and Mohali during the World Twenty20’s first round that kicks off this Tuesday and ends on April 3.

Islamabad have already voiced concerns about security in India, saying there were specific threats from Hindu activists who forced the cancellation of a meeting between cricket officials from the two countries in Mumbai last October.

“A three-member security team will depart for India [tomorrow] to look into the security situation,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference in Islamabad.

“Our team will be sent to India only if the initial report is positive,” the minister added.

The South Asian adversaries have not played a bilateral series for more than three years amid diplomatic tensions.

Those were worsened by a January attack on India’s Pathankot airbase, which came days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise peacemaking visit to Pakistan in December.

“It will make no difference if we have to delay the team’s departure until we get a clear message that India is safe for our team,” said Khan. l

Philippines’ Ceres FC arrive in Dhaka today n Tribune Report Philippines professional football league champions Ceres la Salle FC are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka tonight ahead of their second AFC Cup encounter against Bangladesh top-flight champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi this Tuesday.

AFC Cup debutantes Ceres, champions of Philippines’ United Football League, will set foot in the capital’s Hazrat Shahjalal Interna-

tional Airport at 8:20pm.

The Philippines club made a solid if unspectacular start to their

Sheikh Jamal started their mission with a 4-0 loss against Tampines AFC Cup campaign, drawing 2-2 against formidable Malaysian outfit Selangor FA, who boast the ex-

perience of playing in this tournament 10 times before.

Keeping the AFC Cup in mind, Ceres roped in a new German player in Stephan Schrock, who recently played in the second tier of the Bundesliga. Schrock repaid the faith instantly by scoring the opening goal against Selangor and bagging the player of the match award.

Ceres coach Ali Go said in the club website that he expects a strong performance from Shafiqul

Islam Manik’s charges. “It’s not gonna be an easy game. They lost to Tampines [Rovers FC] 4-0 but I think they just made key mistakes.

I scouted their team. They have at least five-six good players who can really play. The foreign players are very good. We have to play our best to win the game,” said Go before adding, “I rested a few players from the last game just to make sure that some of our players are gonna be fit, but we’ll see. I think

some of our players are also a little bit tired and injured. Also, we have only two training sessions before the game. We have a nine-hour flight to Bangladesh but hopefully everyone will recover. Then, we have to play one hundred percent to win this game against Bangladesh (Sheikh Jamal).”

Sheikh Jamal, on the other hand, started their mission with a below-par 4-0 loss against Singapore outfit Tampines on February 23. l

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QUICK BYTES Injured Simmons withdraws from Windies squad Injured batsman Lendl Simmons has become the latest West Indies player to pull out of the upcoming World Twenty20, the West Indies Cricket Board announced yesterday. The 31-year-old right-hander, who is a top order batsman, has a back problem and a replacement player will be named in the coming days. The withdrawal of Simmons follows those of experienced batsman Darren Bravo, off-spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Kieron Pollard.

–AFP

Italian clubs announce big losses Clubs in Italy’s Serie A registered combined losses of 365 million euros ($398m, £282m) for the 2014/15 season, sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Friday. Under the headline "Red Alert", the newspaper said the financial situation of the 20 elite clubs had significantly worsened from the previous season, when total losses reached 240 million euros.

The figures reported do not include those of Parma, who went bankrupt near the end of last season, but they do include huge losses made by Inter Milan (140m euros), AC Milan (91m euros) and AS Roma (41m euros).

–AFP

Portugal ‘keeper Rui Patricio extends with Sporting Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio has signed an extension to his contract with Sporting Lisbon through to 2022, his club announced on Friday. The 28-year-old, who has won 38 caps for Portugal, was already under contract until 2018 with the current Portuguese league leaders, where he began his career. The new deal includes a 45 million-euro ($49.5 million) buy-out clause.

–AFP

Van Gaal turning the tide as United eye top four Manchester United’s hopes of Champions League qualification are growing as their injury list shrinks and boss Louis van Gaal appears much more optimistic now than the man who recently looked set for the sack. A fourth successive victory was ground out on Wednesday as Van Gaal’s side beat Watford 1-0, moving them to within reach of the Premier League’s top four as they prepare to visit West Bromwich Albion today.

–AFP

South Africa's Kyle Abbott (L) and David Miller celebrate beating Australia in their first T20 International in Durban, South Africa on Friday

REUTERS

Magical Miller steers Proteas to victory n AFP, Durban David Miller hit an unbeaten half-century as South Africa beat Australia by three wickets in the first Twenty20 international at Kingsmead on Friday.

Miller hit 53 not out off 35 balls to enable South Africa to overhaul Australia’s total of 157 for nine with four balls to spare.

The hosts were in trouble at 95 for six but the left-handed Miller, playing on his home ground, steered them to victory with sensible batting interspersed with some

powerful hits.

The key over was the 16th, which started with South Africa needing 45 runs off 30 balls. Miller hit two big sixes as Andrew Tye conceded 16 runs.

He hit an even bigger six off John Hastings in the 18th over, with the ball sailing out of the ground over square leg, as the target shrunk rapidly. Australia made a fast start after winning the toss, racing to 69 for one in the six-over power play, with Aaron Finch pounding 40 off 27 balls.

He hit four sixes, three of them off the first three balls bowled by

off-spinner JP Duminy, who was surprisingly brought on during the power play. But the tourists lost their way against the medium-pace of David Wiese (two for 16) and the leg-spin of Imran Tahir (three for 21), slumping to 114 for seven.

Mitchell Marsh gave the innings late impetus, hitting 35 off 25 balls.

South Africa made a bad start, losing AB de Villiers to the first ball.

They slipped to 41 for three before captain Faf du Plessis (40) and Rilee Rossouw (19) put on 31 for the fourth wicket.

They were out off successive

Russell set for World T20 n Reuters, Kingston Andre Russell looks set to play in the World Twenty20 after the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission said on Friday the West Indies all-rounder would not be suspended pending a hearing into his “anti-doping whereabouts” rule violation.

The 27-year-old, named in the West Indies squad for the World Twenty20 in India that starts next week, has missed three doping tests within a 12-month period and faces a possible two-year ban from cricket if found guilty.

“The Jamaica Anti-Doping Com-

mission has referred the matter regarding Mr. Andre Russell to the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel,” JADCO executive director Carey Brown said in a statement on Friday.

“The Commission is awaiting a date for the hearing. Mr. Russell has not been provisionally suspended.”

Precedent would suggest that the panel, chaired by Kent Pantry, is unlikely to set a hearing date until long after the World Twenty20 is concluded on April 3.

Russell, who helped West Indies win the 2012 World Twenty20, is

therefore likely to be available for the opening Super 10 match against England in Mumbai on March 16.

Athletes must tell their local anti-doping agency where they will be for at least one hour each day to facilitate drug tests, World Anti-Doping Agency rules state.

If an athlete misses three drug checks within a 12-month period, that counts as a positive test.

Russell, who last month helped Islamabad United win the Pakistan Super league and was named man of the tournament, also plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. l

deliveries before man of the match Miller took charge.

“He played a gem of an innings,” said Australian captain Steve Smith, who said Australia had put in a good performance in the field before Miller took the game away from them. l

BRIEF SCORE Australia 157 for 9 (Finch 40, Marsh 35; Tahir 3-21) South Africa 158 for 7 (Miller 53*, du Plessis 40; Coulter-Nile 3-29) South Africa won by three wickets

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Minnows Eibar next on rampant Barca’s radar n AFP, Madrid

Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez (L) shoots to score against Tottenham Hotspur during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane in London yesterday

Sanchez rescues 10-man Arsenal n AFP, London Alexis Sanchez salvaged a point for 10-man Arsenal and denied Tottenham Hotspur the chance to go top of the Premier League after a pulsating north London derby ended in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Aaron Ramsey’s first-half goal put Arsene Wenger’s side ahead, but the dismissal of Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin in the 55th minute shifted the game in Spurs’ favour, with Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane putting the hosts ahead.

However, the visitors showed impressive determination to recov-

er through Sanchez’s 76th-minute effort to revive their faltering title challenge.

Wenger acknowledged the impoWenger reacted to the Swansea loss by making four changes to his starting line-up, with David Ospina replacing the injured Petr Cech in goal and Kieran Gibbs coming in for Nacho Monreal at left-back.

Arsenal had offered little as an attacking force but still managed to force the lead with their first meaningful attempt on goal in the 39th minute. Welbeck benefited from a fortunate deflection that freed him down the left but the forward showed great awareness to delay his cross before picking out the run

of Hector Bellerin.

The right-back’s pass towards the centre of goal found Ramsey and the Wales midfielder was on hand to direct the ball past Hugo Lloris with a clever back-heel.

Spurs were stunned at finding themselves behind but were given a helping hand in their efforts to get back into the game when French midfielder Coquelin collected a second yellow card for an ill-judged sliding tackle on Kane after being booked for handball in the first half.

The dismissal was always likely to prove costly and within five minutes Tottenham were level when Alderweireld finished from close

AFP

range following a corner.

Spurs were on a high and their renewed confidence was illustrated by Kane’s spectacular effort that put them ahead just two minutes later. Alli worked hard to keep the ball from going out for a goal-kick before Kane picked up possession near the by-line and curled a 20yard shot beyond Ospina from a tight angle.

Arsenal’s cause seemed lost, but to their credit, they continued to pursue an equaliser despite being a man down.

It came in the 76th minute when Sanchez moved to collect Bellerin’s pass and send a shot across Lloris and inside the far post. l

European champions Barcelona can take another step closer to a sixth La Liga title in eight years when they travel to the humble surroundings of Eibar’s 6,000 capacity Ipurua today.

Barca are on a record 35-game unbeaten streak stretching back to October to put them well on course to repeat the treble of league, Cup and Champions League they won last season.

The Catalans hold an eight-point lead over Atletico Madrid with eternal rivals Real Madrid a further four points back in third with just 11 games of the league season to go.

Despite Barca’s incredible run, they had been far from their best in recent weeks until Lionel Messi scored his 35th hat-trick for the club in a 5-1 rout of nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

“The league isn’t finished, there are still plenty of points to play for,” warned captain Andres Iniesta.

However, coach Luis Enrique admitted he was relishing the business end of the season.

“We are approaching the final third of the season and the most beautiful part is still to come.”

The game of the weekend sees second-placed Atletico travel to Gary Neville’s Valencia today.

Valencia moved into the top half of the table with their fifth win in their last six games in all competitions against Malaga in midweek.

However, Neville’s men face a much stiffer task against an Atletico side that hasn’t conceded in five games. l

LA LIGA FIXTURES Real Betis Eibar Sporting Gijon Real Sociedad Valencia

v v v v v

Granada Barcelona Athletic Bilbao Levante Atletico Madrid

Pressure cranked up on Juventus n AFP, Milan Just as Juventus have overhauled pace-setters Napoli in the race for the Serie A title, the Italian leaders are under increasing pressure as they head to Atalanta today.

The defending champions qualified for the Italian Cup final beating Inter Milan after extra-time and penalties on Wednesday in what was described as a dreadful performance - by their own players.

“Tonight we played the worst ever game since I’ve been at Juventus,” said defender Leonardo Bonucci. “We were lucky to take it to penalties.”

While his side lead second-placed Napoli by three points, Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday that Real Madrid were preparing to pounce for their coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Meanwhile, Giorgio Chiellini,

SERIE A FIXTURES Torino Atalanta Bologna Frosinone Genoa Sassuolo Inter

v v v v v v v

Lazio Juventus Carpi Udinese Empoli Milan Palermo

Claudio Marchisio and Martin Caceres are all out injured for the Atalanta game, but goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker Mario Mandzukic and defender Patrice Evra should all be back in action.

Goal-shy Atalanta managed a draw with Carpi last weekend to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle, and immediately turned their sights to a win over Juventus.

“We must look forward and try to break this streak of games without a win as soon as possible,” said their Slovenian midfielder Jasmin Kurtic, after scoring his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw at Carpi.l

Roma forward Francesco Totti (R) vies with Fiorentina midfielder Tino Costa during their Italian Serie A match at Olympic Stadium in Rome on Friday.

Roma won 4-1 AFP

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Djoker, Murray shine in tense Davis Cup

Tennis journalist Bud Collins dies aged 86 n Reuters

n AFP, Paris

Hall of Fame tennis writer and TV commentator Bud Collins, who helped popularize the sport during his decades-long career, died at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts on Friday after a long illness. He was 86. Collins, an enthusiastic chronicler of tennis who brightened the scene with his trademark bow-ties and colorful trousers, began his career at the Boston Globe in 1963 and became one of the sport’s preeminent and foremost authorities. l

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray sprinted through their Davis Cup openers to edge Serbia and defending champions Great Britain closer to a dream quarter-final showdown.

But their teams are still facing a weekend long battle to set-up that July duel after Kazakhstan and Japan fought back to level their respective first round ties on Friday.

World number one Djokovic showed no signs of the eye infection which brought his run of 17 successive finals to an end in Dubai last week as he brushed past Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in Belgrade.

DAY’S WATCH CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1

RESULTS

7:30PM Asia Cup 2016

At Birmingham (indoor, hard)

Final: India v Bangladesh

Great Britain

STAR SPORTS 4 09:20AM Day 1: Mumbai v Rest of India

FOOTBALL Serbia

7:30PM Crystal Palace v Liverpool 10:00PM

Italy

STAR SPORTS 2 10:15PM Hamburger v Hertha Berlin

Poland

12:00PM

Olympic Lyon v De Guingamp

SONY SIX Italian Serie A 5:30PM Torino v Lazio 8:00PM Atalanta v Juventus 1:40AM Inter Milan v Palermo

SONY ESPN Spanish La Liga 5:00PM Real Betis v Granada 9:00PM Eibar v Barcelona 11:15PM Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao 1:30AM Valencia v Atletico Madrid

Switzerland

Great Britain's Andy Murray returns to Japan's Taro Daniel during their Davis Cup world group first round men's singles match in Birmingham on Friday AFP

0-2

Argentina

Guido Pella (ARG) bt Michal Przysiezny (POL) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) Leonardo Mayer (ARG) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2

2-0

France

Canada

Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Frank Dancevic (CAN) 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 At Hanover (indoor, hard)

Germany

1-1

Czech Repulic

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt Alexander Zverev (GER) 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 At Melbourne (outdoor, grass)

Australia

1-1

United States

John Isner (USA) bt Sam Groth (AUS) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Jack Sock (USA) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

At Gdansk (indoor, hard)

TEN ACTION

01:20AM

2-0

Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) bt Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 7-6 (16/14), 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 7-5 Andreas Seppi (ITA) bt Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-3

Bundesliga 2015/16

10:00PM

Kazakhstan

At Pesaro (indoor, clay)

West Brom v Manchester United

Stade Rennais v FC Nantes

1-1

Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB) 7-5, 6-2, 6-4

English Premier League

French Ligue 1 2015/16

Japan

At Belgrade (indoor, hard)

STAR SPORTS 4

A-League 2015/16

1-1

At Guadeloupe (outdoor, clay)

Andy Murray (GBR) bt Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 Kei Nishikori (JPN) bt Dan Evans (GBR) 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3)

Irani Cup 2016

Central Coast v Melbourne Victory

Djokovic, who led Serbia to the 2010 Davis Cup title, required treatment on his left shoulder although it did not prevent him from securing an easy win over his 200th-ranked opponent.

“The shoulder is nothing and the eye infection is behind me so I am looking forward to playing the doubles on Saturday,” said Djokovic.

Mikhail Kukushkin, the world 79, stunned 23rd-ranked Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 to level the tie at 1-1 as Kazakhstan kept alive their hopes of a fourth successive quarter-final appearance.

Yesterday, Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic were due to take on Andrey Golubev and Nedovyesov in the doubles.l

At Liege (indoor, clay)

Belgium

1-1

Croatia

Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 David Goffin (BEL) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 6-3

Big-name MLS players face pressure to deliver n Reuters Major League Soccer’s highly-skilled big-name players who command the top salaries are under pressure to deliver results in the upcoming 2016 season after failing to provide success for their teams last year.

LA Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard and New York City FC’s Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard were among the high-profile players who were supposed to lift their clubs to new levels but the big salaries did not bring in the silverware.

The Galaxy, who started last season having won three of the previous four MLS Cups, finished fifth in the 10-team Western Conference and exited the playoffs in the first round while NYFC’s de-

but campaign could not have gone much worse.

The Galaxy have retooled their roster ahead of the 2016 season, which starts today, in an effort to supplement former Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard.

Former England full back Ashley

Cole and Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong bring in some veteran quality to the Galaxy side along with Belgian international defender Jelle Van Damme.

At NYCFC, former Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa was a big-money success but when Lam-

pard and Italy midfielder Pirlo arrived midway through the season the team were unable to find their form and did not threaten to make the playoffs.

Highly-rated young American coach Jason Kreis paid the price for the disappointing season and has been replaced by French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.

One well-known European player on record-breaking money who was a success last year was reigning MLS Most Valuable Player Sebastian Giovinco at Toronto FC. But the team’s decision to invest heavily in a "Big Three" with American internationals Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, wasn’t enough to get them past the first round of the playoffs and they face pressure to finally make a real postseason run. l

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Joy Bangla Concert to hit the stage n Showtime Desk

Young Bangla returns with the Joy Bangla Concert this year, to be held on March 7 at the Army Stadium in Dhaka. Like that year, the concert is pegged to be one of the most significant events yet again, gathering people and eminent artists from all around the capital. The event will mark the monumental speech delivered by nation’s father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Below is the line up of popular artists and bands who are set to perform at the concert.

Lalon The music genre of the band is Bangla folk rock fusion. The band is committed to spread Bangla folk music around the world and represent Baul spirit through their albums.

Members: Chowdhury Fazle Shakib Khwaja Sarfaraz Latifullah Farhan Samad Raef al Hasan Rafa

Members: Suharto Sherif Asif Asgar Ranjan Sufi Maverick Aldnane Alam Nafeez Al Amin

Members: Zohad Reza Chowdhury Raquibun Nabi Ratul Dio Haque Zerif Ahmed Zafir Huq

Shunno Shunno, an alternative rock band formed in 2007, released four albums and a few singles.

Shaker Raza Michael Gomes Rafatul Bari Labib

Members: • Nigar Sultana • Thein Han Maung • Ashfaque Ahmed • Rafi Islam • Julkar Nain (Guitars) Cryptic Fate Cryptic Fate is a progressive metal band formed in the early 1990s. Their first studio album, Ends are Forever, was released in 1994. Their second studio album, Srestho, about the liberation war of Bangladesh, was released in 2001.

In 2006, they released Danob, their third full-length album.

Arbovirus Arbovirus is a rock band formed by producer Suharto Sherif and lyricist Asif Asgar back in College in 2002. Their lyrics cover various elements from self-recognition to the political disarray of Bangladesh. Arbovirus has earned mainstream recognition with the release of their 2006 album 64m 53s.

Nemesis Nemesis, an alternative rock band formed in 1999, has released two studio albums.

Their second album titled Tritio Jatra (The Third Journey) was released in November 2011.

Members: Imrul Karim (Emil)

Popular tracks: Shoto Asha, Gorbo Bangladesh

Members: Mizan Rahman Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu Samir Hafiz Ibrahim Ahmed Kamal Shams Mansoor Ghani Naim Haque Roger Warfaze Warfaze is a Bangladeshi hard rock band formed in 1984. Since their inception, the band has released eight albums, including seven studio albums and one compilation album.

The band has experimented with different subgenres of hard rock and heavy metal over the years. Warfaze’s role in the development of progressive metal in Bangladesh has been an inspiration for several Bangladeshi bands.

Registration is open till March 6. To get your free tickets, please register at: http://ticket. youngbangla.org/ The gates will open at 1:30pm and the concert will commence at 3:25pm through the recitation of the national anthem.

Wishes for the final n Nazia Lopa Are you ready to witness the tigers make history again? Will Bangladesh national cricket team win the Asia Cup 2016? Showtime has asked some of Bangladeshi celebrities the same questions about their speculations. Let’s hear them out.

the Asia Cup this time. If we fail, it wouldn’t matter. This is just the beginning. This is a golden time in our cricket witnessing #The_Rise_of_The_Tigers.

Sharmin Sultana Sumi, band Chirkutt:

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performance. Sometimes luck is also needed to win at the game. I wish and pray that this time luck is on our side. And I believe that if we are lucky, we are going to win the cup.

Joy Shahriar, musician: I have been a huge fan of Bangladesh cricket team since my childhood. I started watching cricket at the stadium since 1998, I still remember the first time I watched Independent Cup against India. I always try my best to support the tigers by cheering at the stadium. After all the years of hard work, our players are now in a very good shape. This is the second time we are playing in a big tournament final. The way our team has advanced into the final, I can safely say that we have great hopes this year. I hope we win

Gazi Sharmeen, RJ: I think the final is going to be tough for both teams. I am positive about us winning. As we all know, cricket is not just about

Urmila Matondkar has become ‘Kashmir ki kali’ n Showtime desk It seems that Bollywood actresses are in a romantic mood. 2016 is perhaps the year of beautiful marriages breaking the news in the film industry. After Preity Zinta shared the news about her nuptials earlier this year, “chamma chamma” girl Urmila Matondkar also tied the knot with Kashmir-based businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir. The ceremony was quite private with Urmila’s close family members who gave their blessings to the newlywed. The wedding was solemnised as per Hindu rituals at Urmila’s residence.

The only celebrity from Bollywood who was present there was designer Manish Malhotra.

After attending the wedding, Manish tweeted the pictures of the marriage and mentioned that Urmila was the best looking bride he has ever seen.

42-year-old Urmila is known as “mast girl of Bollywood.” She is one of the few actresses who gained success from childhood.

Urmila had last appeared on screen in a 2014 Marathi film named Ajoba. The actress became famous after her stupendous performance in Ram Gopal Verma’s Rangeela in 1995. l Source: The Indian Express

Srabonno Tawhida, anchor and model I don’t know, my gut feeling is saying we are going to smash the final. I have been anchoring the cricket show for quite a while and this time I am feeling that the team’s confidence has heightened. As a loyal fan of the Bangladesh national cricket team I just want to say, come on boys, it’s revenge time!

Kashtan Habib, creative director, Adcomm Ltd: I consider myself “Kufa” as an audience when Bangladesh national cricket team plays. I don’t even turn on my TV! I only start to watch when it’s confirmed that we are winning. So that’s a sacrifice, no? I would love to make more such sacrifices for

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

WHAT TO WATCH

Bangladesh cricket team. I wish them a very good luck for the final. Cheers.

There is no other word, no doubt, no confusion, this time we are going to win.

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S K Shaan, musician: During the last match my blood pressure got higher. It wasn’t just me. I think the whole nation was as excited as I. Cricket in Bangladesh is just like that.

We tend to get very attached whenever our national team plays. So, I have no doubt about our team winning if we reflect on the past performance of the team.

The players are on fire this time.

All we need is luck, with which the cup will be ours. l

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Cawst: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Tao Okamoto l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

MOSTAFA SARWAR FAROOKI: THINKING BIG PAGE 12

‘NO PRESSURE, WE’LL PLAY WITH FREEDOM’ PAGE 25

WISHES FOR THE FINAL PAGE 31

ASIA CUP 2016 FINAL

20 injured as fans clash with police over ticket sale n Arifur Rahman Rabbi At least 20 people were injured as cricket fans clashed with police in front of a bank in the capital yesterday over the sale of tickets for the Asia Cup 2016 final match.

The match, between Bangladesh and India, will take place today.

Police said the ticket seekers started queuing up in front of the Mirpur 10 branch of United Commercial Bank Ltd (UCB) since early morning. They started getting agitated when a rumour about all the tickets being sold out began circulating in the area around 12pm.

The ticket seekers started demonstrating in front of the bank when police rushed to spot receiving information and tried to disperse the crowd.

But then the ticket seekers went on a rampage, police said.

“They started hurling brickbats at the bank’s building and vandalising vehicles on the street. At one stage, police charged baton on them to control the situation,” said Bhuiyan Mahbub Hossain, OC of Mirpur police station, yesterday evening.

Witnesses said police also lobbed tear gas cannisters and fired rubber bullets at the vandals to bring the situation under the control.

This led to several episodes of clashes between the ticket seekers which spanned over around five hours, they added.

Police officials charge baton to disperse agitating cricket fans in front of a bank in Dhaka selling the tickets of Asia Cup final match yesterday. Ticket seekers started vandalising properties after a rumour about all tickets being sold out started circulating in the area MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK Some police officials were also injured in the clashes. Police arrested eight people from the spot, sources said.

The ticket sale began around 10am at the bank but had to be suspended for a while when the clashes broke out, said Javed Iqbal, public relations officer of UCB. “When the situation calmed down a little, we resumed the sales around 3pm. It was finished

around 4:30pm,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening on phone.

In reply to a question, OC Mahbub said police were not contacted by any officials of Bangladesh Cricket Board until 5pm last evening. “We are trying to contact them about this matter,” he said.

The cricket fans have been raising allegations of irregularities in the sales of Asia Cup matches.

They claimed that black market agents, mostly children and women, stood in queue with regular people to collect the tickets. They claimed some police members were involved with the black market agents too.

The fans further said tickets priced at Tk150 were being sold for Tk3,000 and tickets priced at Tk200 were being sold for Tk4,000 in the black market. l

Study: Most cosmetics have toxic chemicals n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

There are many toxic chemicals in both imported and exported beauty products in Bangladesh and they pose an alarming threat to human health and environment, a study carried out by an environmental organization said.

The report, styled ‘Toxic Chemicals in Beauty Products- A Potential Threat to Human Health and Environment’, carried out by Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) was launched

yesterday at its office in the capital.

The report was mentioned that Titanium (Ti) in high concentrations, which has been linked to cancer, was found especially in skin brightening creams and baby lotions.

Syed Marghub Murshed, the chairperson of ESDO, said almost all beauty product samples contained at least three heavy metals and toxic chemicals in very high concentrations.

“Long time exposure to these metals can cause cancer. The tox-

ic chemicals that are found in the cosmetics and beauty products have several effects which are detrimental to both human health and the environment,” he said.

The report mentioned that Titanium was found in more than 78% of the skin fairness and bleaching creams, which is two times more harmful than Mercury and also carcinogenic.

Titanium was found 241 ppm in a widely used baby lotion and the average concentration of Zinc in baby lotion was 9.03 ppm, it said.

Dr Shahriar Hossain, the secretary general of ESDO, and Executive Director Siddika Sultana stressed the importance of regulations to limit the maximum concentration of toxic chemicals in beauty products.

Based on the findings, the study outlined some recommendations for the government, related agencies and consumers. It suggested that manufacturers should be required by law to label their products with the accurate concentration of all chemicals. l

DU student among 5 killed in Madaripur accident n Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Five people, including a Dhaka University student, have been killed in a road accident involving a passenger bus and a human hauler at Madaripur Sadar upazila.

The accident took place on the Dhaka-Barisal Highway at Kolabari at around 3pm yesterday, police and fire service officials said.

Among the victims, DU criminology department student Shariful Islam, and one Latif Shikdar, both hailing from the Sadar upazila, have been identified so far.

Madaripur Fire Service’s Deputy Director Nazrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that a Barisal-bound bus of Eagle Paribahan crashed into the Madaripur-bound human hauler, killing three people on the spot and injuring as many.

Two of the injured died while being taken to hospital. Another victim Sona Gazi, hailing from Satkhira, has been sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital, he added.

Sergeant Chandan Kumar said agitated locals blockaded the highway for about two hours after the accident, leading to a huge tailback. Traffic resumed after police drove them off the road.

Police have confiscated the bus. l

Garo woman’s body found on Gulshan street n Tribune Report A body of a woman with stab wounds was found lying on the street in the capital’s Gulshan area yesterday morning.

The woman, aged around 28, is thought to be from Garo ethnicity, however, her identity could not be confirmed. She was wearing a black kamiz and jeans, police said.

Gulshan police Sub-Inspector SM Humayun Kabir said locals spotted the indigenous woman’s body lying on road 12 of Gulshan 1 around 8:30am and informed the police.

“After recovering the body, police found seven to eight stab wounds on the body,” the SI added.

He said it is initially being suspected that miscreants might have stabbed her and dumped the body on the road. l

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