13 March, 2016

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

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Falgun 30, 1422, Jamadiul Sani 03, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 327

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

AIR CARGO SECURITY COMPLIANCE

UK deadline almost impossible

Poet Rafiq Azad no more

n Ishtiaq Husain Direct cargo flights between Bangladesh and UK are likely to remain suspended well beyond March pending airport security requirements within March 31.

Although Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon has repeatedly said the government will be able to complete all tasks within the stipulated deadline, it is unlikely that formalities will be complete by the month end.

Menon even started working out of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, to implement the

n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

MORE ON PAGE 15  UK recommendations to ensure security and smooth functioning of the crucial communication hub of Bangladesh.

Expressing their concern, industry insiders said the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) could not fulfil British requirements in the last four months.

They told Dhaka Tribune on Saturday, it was already too late to meet all the requirements since they require more than a month.

The British government, on March 10, put an embargo on direct cargo flights from Dhaka as airport

The file photo shows air cargo containers waiting on the tarmac at Dhaka airport. Britain recently slapped a temporary embargo on direct air cargo shipment from Dhaka to London citing security issues DHAKA TRIBUNE security procedures did not measure up to their standards.

The Civil Aviation Ministry held an urgent meeting following the British sanction.

CAAB and national flag carrier Biman promised to work closely while the ministry would super-

vise and coordinate the measures.

Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon was set to meet the British envoy today but the meeting was cancelled on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a three-member team of US aviation experts is scheduled to arrive today to assist

Bangladeshi authorities with enhancing security measures.

Improvement of overall security management, development of cargo facilities are expected to be the major focus from the government’s end.

Rafiq Azad, one of the most prolific and versatile poets of Bangla literature, died yesterday at the capital’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). He was 73.

Azad, perhaps known to most by his incendiary poem “Bhat Dey Haramjada, Noile Manchitro Khabo,” written during the 1974 famine, was a freedom fighter who remained an embodiment of the nation’s struggle against injustice and oppression throughout his life.

BSMMU’s Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Horrible security weakness in banks, finds BIBM study

Rain threatens Tigers’ decider against Oman

n Tribune Report

Uddin Khan n Minhaz from Dharamsala

an IT expert and BIBM Associate Professor Md Mahbubur Rahman at a discussion on Cyber Security, arranged by FinExcel, an advisory firm to the financial markets, in the city yesterday.

The information revealed at a time when the biggest ever money laundering incident surprised the people, raising concerns also among the senior bankers of the country.

“Big investment is needed in IT security, but as per the findings

this is overlooked,” Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune on the sidelines.

The BIMB findings came after carrying out the study on 50 such cases occurred during the period of 2013 and 2014 in the country’s banking industry.

Around 90% banks are dependent on IT vendors for maintaining very sensitive tasks in the automation, which is riskier for the banks, he said.

Other factors like big gap

KL to not recruit 1.5m Bangladeshis

Two-month-old abandoned now safe

Contractors blamed for Gulshan collapse

Malaysian government has halted the recruitment of new foreign workers, including 1.5 million new Bangladeshi workers.  PAGE 3

The two-month-old baby left abandoned by an unidentified woman in Paribagh area of the city on March 9 is now being treated at the DMCH.  PAGE 5

Locals blame negligence of Rajuk-appointed contractors for the collapse of a Gulshan road which subsided on Friday during development work.  PAGE 32

INSIDE

About 78% of the former and current employees in the banking sector of Bangladesh are involved with the financial fraudulence, according to a new study.

Around 3% investment of the banks goes to IT security, 64% to hardware, 13% network and rest 20% to software, the study by Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIMB) reveals.

The findings were disclosed by

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

The journey so far for Bangladesh has been a sound one in the 2016 World Twenty20.

Backed by a winning momentum, they started with a narrow victory against the Netherlands, only to be rocked instantly by the suspected bowling actions of two of their key bowlers – Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny. The rain

then denied them of a positive result against Ireland.

And today in Dharamsala, the Tigers find themselves in a do-ordie situation as they take on minnows Oman in their last qualifying game of the tournament. The equation is simple; the winning side will go through to the Super 10 round of the competition.

However, if rain were to play foul yet again, Bangladesh will be the one moving forward, given that  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

1st Round

Sport Page-28

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

UK deadline almost impossible According to the British sanctions, however, indirect cargo airlines, touching other airports between Bangladesh and UK will be allowed to fly in provided they rescreen the cargo before their final leg to UK. These include almost all airlines except Biman, which has direct flights between Dhaka and London.

CAAB sources said UK inspection teams visited Bangladesh twice at the end of last year when they stressed on the inadequate security in Dhaka Airport.

They also pointed out that airport security was weak due to easy access to sensitive areas of the airport.

Biman is the lone ground handling operator at Dhaka airport.

The team observed that the entire cargo area of the airport was run by outsiders who are not even permanent employees of the ground handler.

They pointed out that it would not be possible to identify the temporary staff members if they commit any crime that threaten security.

Moreover, outsiders, mainly employees of different Clearing & Forwarding Agents, are another threat on the ground.

The UK inspection team went on to mention that the cargo village area had turned into a ‘den’ for outsiders.

They recommended skilled security personnel to ensure better security management.

A civil aviation official said a

Horrible security weakness

HIGHLIGHTS Airport security weak due to easy access to sensitive areas No time for CAAB to train required security experts Lax procedure for cabin crew, CIPs and VIPs Poor body search, ineffective passenger and staff screening One-third of CAAB employees are temporary Security personnel's skill not attainable within the short time Menon has started working on improving Dhaka airport Government to purchase modern ground handling equipment worth Tk90cr A three-member team of US experts scheduled to arrive today special unit dedicated to airport security was formed last month.

The official, wishing to remain unnamed, also said this was the prime achievement in the last four months.

In the meantime, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), has approved a project worth Tk90 crore to purchase modern ground handling equipment following British directives.

Requesting anonymity, another CAAB official said the procurement process of the new equipment would take at least 3-4 months.

Former CAAB chief, Air Commodore Iqbal Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that the bureaucracy could not take swift decisions in any project due to cumbersome procedures.

He said CAAB and Biman has not been able to fulfil their requirements in last few months. “Now, they don’t even have a month to comply with the requirements.”

He said there was not much time to locally train or recruit the required security experts in the airport as suggested by UK. “In that case, we will have to hire foreign experts. But that will also take time.”

He said: It will take more time for a government body to implement the measures compared to a private organisation. It will be a major problem to complete the tasks within the stipulated time.

According to the UK report, body search is poor while passenger and staff screening is ineffective.

The procedure for cabin crew, CIP and VIP’s is also quite lax and not up to the mark.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, former member of Biman board said UK raised questions on security personnel’s skill which is not attainable within the short time.

He said the CAAB recruitment process was also flawed since a third of its employees are temporary raising security concerns. l

Poet Rafiq Azad no more the poet breathed his last at 2:13pm while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

“The poet was suffering from diabetes as well as kidney and lung complications for a long time. We tried our best to treat him,” he said.

Rafiq Azad’s son Abboy Azad said: “My father always said that he had no regrets. So we also say we have no regrets. My father was a born fighter.”

The poet’s wife Dr Dilara Hafiz, a former chairman of Dhaka Education Board, said: “My husband was not a certified freedom fighter. But I am proud that I am the widow of a freedom fighter.”

Azad’s family, friends and wellwishers hoped that as a freedom fighter, the poet would receive a state burial.

Poet and author Syed Shamsul haq, poet Asad Chowdhury, poet Nirmalendu Goon, poet Tarik Sujat, Bangabir Kader Siddiqui and many other cultural and literary figures came to the hospital at the news of Azad’s demise.

Eminent cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu announced that the body of Azad

will be kept at the Central Shaheed Minar from 10am to 12pm tomorrow for people to pay their respects.

Later, the poet’s body will be taken to Bangla Academy for poets and writers to pay respect. His namaze-janaza will be held at Dhaka University Central Mosque. He will be buried at Mirpur Shaheed Buddhijibi Graveyard on the same day.

On January 15, the poet was brought to the hospital from Anwar Khan Medical College Hospital in Dhanmondi.

The poet was kept under the supervision of Prof Dr Harisul Haque.

Earlier, Rafiq Azad was admitted to Anwar Khan Medical College Hospital following a brain haemorrhage.

He was born on February 13, 1943, in Guni area under Tangail district. Azad finished his studies in Bangla at Dhaka University in 1967. After that, he was engaged as a teacher for a while.

With his first poetry book published in 1973, Rafiq Azad has 45 books to his credit, including an autobiography.

His notable works include “Prokriti O Premer Kobita,”

“Oshombhober Paye,” “Shohosro Shundor,” “Haturir Niche Jibon,” “Porikirno Panshala Amar Swadesh,” “Khub Beshi Durey Noy,” “Opar Oronno,” “Karo Osrupat,” “Moulobir Mon Bhalo Nei” and “Pagoler Thekay Premikar Chithi.”

Rafiq Azad received Ekushey Padak in 2013 and Bangla Academy Award in 1984 for his outstanding contribution to the realm of poetry.

In a condolence message, President Abdul Hamid said the poet’s contribution to the world of Bangla poetry will be remembered forever. He said the loss that created in the literary arena of Bangladesh by the death of Rafiq Azad was irreparable.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep shock at the death of the poet and freedom fighter. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her profound sympathy to the bereaved family.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a message offered her condolences to the poet’s family and loved ones.

She said the poet’s work reflected humanity and humanism and his death was an irreparable loss to the literary world. l

between bank board and IT, poor IT audit, lack of knowledge, right people in wrong place and unhealthy competition are mainly the causes behind the data leakage, according to the BIBM findings.

The BIBM professor said as threats in IT security continue to mount, “we need to keep IT sector updated for preventing cyber attacks.”

On the $100 million cyber heist from Bangladesh Bank, which took place over one month ago, veteran banker and a director of FinExcel Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed has expressed his surprise about the digitally stolen money from the BB. “It is beyond my imagination,” he said, adding that it must demand enquiry to stop such incident in the future.

He recommended forming a national committee drawing representatives from the country’s IT related people.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) executive director (advisory) Arijit Chakraborti said when cybercrime rises in any institution, it means that the institution has poor quality of IT security system.

“In most cases, insiders like employees, former employees and vendors are behind the cybercrime.”

“With the growing use of mobile phones and internet, Bangladesh is more vulnerable to cyber attacks, but important thing is that how we

can deal with the issue.”

Meghna Bank Managing Director Mohammed Nurul Amin said such incident is really alarming and this is a threat to the digital transformation.

“The banks must be careful about issues like software, recruitment process and IT vendors to check cyber attacks.”

Chairman of Financial Excellence Mamun Rashid said since cybercrime occurs in the country during holiday, Friday should be aligned with the overseas countries to deal with the situation.

Such incident might create negative image for the country, he said, recommending increased investment in IT for fending off the cybercrime.

Rashid, who is also partner-incharge of PwC, presented a study of PwC on Global State of Information Security Survey 2016.

According to it, in 2015, 38% more security incidents were detected than in 2014 and theft of hard intellectual property increased 56% in 2015.

Employees remain the most cited source of compromise as current employees involvement in cybercrime is 34% in 2015, slightly down from 34% in 2014 and former employees’ involvement 29% from 30% during the period.

Average total financial losses due to security incidents decreased 5% to $2.5m in 2015 from 2014. l

Rain threatens Tigers’ decider they have a better net run rate than Oman.

Batting is hardly a concern for the Tigers, who ended up as the runners-up in the Asia Cup T20. Opener Tamim Iqbal has been in tremendous form of late, having led the Tigers to challenging tallies in last two matches. In today’s game, he will be expected to continue his amazing display.

The game against the Irish was abandoned due to rain but not before Bangladesh, especially Tamim, made a mark. There are concerns regarding the side’s two senior campaigners - Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim – who have not been up to the mark with the willow.

Captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza believes the duo can turn around, bearing in mind the format of the game. Mashrafe also thinks Tamim’s performance so far in the tournament should encourage the duo.

As far as bowling is concerned, the Tigers’ attack was hurt badly after pacer Taskin and spinner Sunny was suspected of illegal bowling actions by the International Cricket Council. But that should not hamper the confidence moving forward in the tournament. The recent successes of Bangladesh were backed by their sharp bowling attack and the side’s pace bowling coach Heath Streak believes it will remain the same despite all the hurdles.

The only challenge for the Tigers in the game will be not knowing much about the Oman team. The occasion is the first that the ICC Associate side have made this far in a major cricket tournament and that they will be facing a Test-playing nation. For obvious reasons, there is very less information available on the Omani cricketers.

Cricket is the secondary option for almost all of the Oman cricketers. All of them have primary professions, be it administrative roles in multi-national companies, working for the Oman government or in super-stores. Over the years, the structure of cricket in Oman has developed and these days, players from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka regularly partake in the league.

Oman have been flying high in the last 15 months or so and their biggest achievement within this time was beating Ireland by two wickets in their opening game of the 2016 World T20.

Rain has played spoil-sport in Dharamsala and according to forecasts, it looks like it will remain the same, at least for another four-five days. Both the sides will be looking forward to the game taking place and if it doesn’t, then it is Bangladesh who will progress to the main round, thanks to their superior net run rate. l

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Nirmalendu Goon, poet “Azad created his own style and expression in Bangla poems. He was a guardian of the nation’s poets. He played a vital role in bringing fresh blood into the literary arena.”

Poet Rafiq Azad’s body is being taken to Birdem Hospital from the BSMMU hospital. The Ekushey Padak-winning poet died yesterday at the age of 73 RAJIB DHAR

Syed Shamsul Haque, poet

Asad Chowdhury, poet

“Today the nation has lost not only a great poet but also a poetry researcher. His poems will remain a valuable asset of Bangla literature.”

“Rafiq Azad had a great skill in organising poets. He had a strong sense for real talents and knew how to nurture them. He always keep inspiring them so that they could flourish.”

Bangabir Kader Siddiqui, freedom fighter

Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu, cultural activist

“He was a greater freedom fighter than I was. He fought not only with weapons, but with poems as well. He never bowed down to anyone.”

“His was a life full of poetry. He was our poet when we went to the Liberation War and remained our poet after the war.”

Malaysia halts recruitment of 1.5m Bangladeshis n Tribune Report The Malaysian government has decided to halt the recruitment of new foreign workers into the country, including the 1.5 million new Bangladeshi workers who were supposed to get employment opportunities there.

The decision comes nearly a month after Bangladesh signed a deal to send 1.5m workers to Malaysia under Government to Government Plus mechanism.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the country’s cabinet has decided to

halt the recruitment of new foreign workers into the country, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported. He said this also meant that the initial plan to bring in 1.5m Bangladeshi workers was officially scrapped.

“There will not be one, let alone 1.5 million new foreign workers coming into our country,” he added.

“Employers who need workers will have to apply to legalise existing foreigners in the country without work permits or whose permits have expired,” Ahmad Zahid was quoted by The Star. He also said employers had until June 30 to le-

galise such foreign workers.

“The government is bringing forward the deadline from December 31 because employers continuously ignore the chances given to them,” Ahmad went on.

“Instead, the government is criticised and pressured. If they cannot hire anyone, they should just get the Malaysian Employers Federation, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers and Malaysian Trade Union Congress to help them find locals to do the job,” the deputy prime minister said.

On February 19, Malaysia took

Mob kills 4 suspected robbers n Our Correspondent, Noakhali

At least four people suspected to be robbers were beaten to death while two others were gravely injured by an angry mob at Chairman Ghat in Hatiya upazila, Noakhali yesterday.

Three police members were also injured in the incident, sources said.

The deceased were identified as Akbar Siddiq, 28, from Joypurhat, Ashiqur Rahman, 27, and his younger brother Saiful Islam Sujon 25, from Govindaganj in Dinajpur, and Sunam, 25, from Chapainawabganj.

The injured robbers – Sumon, 28, from Chilirbandar in Dinajpur, Abu

Bakar, 35, from Chapainawabganj – were taken to Noakhali General Hospital for treatment. Among the injured police members, Fazlul Haque and Jahangir Alam were admitted at Noakhali General Hospital and Md Kamrul Islam was admitted at Char Jabber Upazila Health Complex.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Hatiya police station OC Arisul Haque said a boat carrying a gang of 10-12 people reached Chairman Ghat around 12:30am on Saturday. Suspecting them to be robbers, the locals informed police who conducted an instant drive and captured four of the suspected criminals.

“Acting on the information provided by the detained robbers, we launched a search for their cohorts hiding in the area. But the criminals came out of hiding and attacked the Chairman Ghat police camp, leaving three policemen injured,” the OC said.

Following the incident, locals chased the rest of the gang and gave them a good beating. Four of the robbers died on the spot while two were severely injured. The rest of them escaped, the OC added.

The four dead bodies was taken to Noakhali General Hospital for an autopsy. l

the decision to freeze all recruitment of foreign workers.

However, in a statement the day after the decision, Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot said the decision to “freeze all recruitment” of foreign workers will not affect the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Bangladesh.

Harun al-Rashid, regional coordinator for Karam Asia Berhad, a Malaysian organisation that deals with the plight of migrants, criticised the Bangladesh government for not carrying out proper assess-

ment on the situation of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants who are already living there before signing an MoU with Malaysia.

“All the negotiations before the MoU were clearly linked with individual companies or political personalities who are linked with the current government. As a result, there were lots of criticism and protest against this deal,” Harun said.

He also questioned why the new G2G Plus scheme was introduced without assessing the previous G2G system, and why the draft of the new MoU was not made public. l

BNP looking to make Tarique more active in politics n Tribune Report The BNP charter is being amended to fix the job responsibilities of the senior vice-chairman post, currently occupied by Tarique Rahman, the party said yesterday.

“We have made Tarique Rahman inactive organisationally in the party as he was not assigned any specific duty... So, we want to fix Tarique Rahman’s job responsibility and make him more active in the party,” Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, a standing committee member

of the party, told a discussion at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

Goyeshwar said a proposal regarding Tarique’s responsibilities in the party would be placed to Khaleda Zia. “Then the party leaders and activists will know what are the job responsibilities of Tarique Rahman, and party leaders can communicate with him accordingly.”

Before the March 19 BNP national council, Khaleda and Tarique have already been elected uncontested as the party chief and the senior vice-chairman respectively. l

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Gas cylinder blasts injure ASI remanded over shooting cable operator 8 of a family, 5 others n Tribune Report At least 13 people, including eight members of a family, sustained severe burn injuries in two separate gas cylinder explosions in Brahmanbaria and Dhaka city.

In Brahmanbaria's Sarail upazila, a family of eight, including three children, received burns in the explosion around 8pm yesterday.

The injured family members are Abul Kalam, 30, Shiuly Begum, 30, Jarina Begum, 30, Ekhlas Mia, 20, Ibrahim Mia, 17, Abdur Rahman Ratan, 9, Taslima, 7, and Yamin, 6.

Abul Kalam, Ratan, Ibrahim, and Yamin are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Of them, Abul Kalam is in critical condition, said Partha Shankar Paul, DMCH burn unit resident surgeon.

Brahmanbaria Fire Service Station Officer Md Kabirul Islam said: “The incident took place in the upazila’s Kuttaparha village around 8pm yesterday due to a pipeline leak in a cooking gas cylinder at Shiuly Begum's home.

“We suspect the kitchen was already full of gas from the leak, and the fire occurred when Shiuly tried to light the stove in the kitchen to cook dinner.”

Meanwhile, a gas cylinder blast at the capital's Kadamtali area caused five workers of an iron melting factory to be severely injured.

The workers are Billal, 25, Enamul, 28, Mizanur Rahman, 29, Mujibur Rahman, 27, and Rubal, 26.

Dhaka Fire Service control room official Palash Chandra Modak said the blast took place at Halim molding workshop yesterday around 4pm after the hydraulic well-cylinder suddenly exploded.

The factory workers sustained burn injures in the fire and were later taken to the hospital.

All of the labourers are also being treated at DMCH. Of them, Billal, Enamul, and Mizanur are in critical condition, said Dr Paul.

Mujibur sustained head injuries with minor burn injuries. Rubel too received minor burn injuries, the doctor added.

The blast was so great that it damaged the whole tin-shed room, the control room official said, adding that they were investigating why the cylinder had exploded.

Kadamtali Duty officer Saleh Ahmed said the blast took place at a house near Shyampur Balurmath area. Police are investigating whether the fire was a case of arson. l

PM: Draw inspiration from March 7 speech n Tribune Report Noting that the appeal of the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu is an unfading one, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the young generation to listen to it repeatedly to draw inspirations from it to build themselves as worthy citizens.

The prime minister said this while addressing a seminar at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh, on the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"The March 7 speech is our motivation … this speech has showed us the path … every word of this speech is very much important for us as it gives us the spirit to move ahead with our heads high," Hasina said, reports UNB. She added that this historic speech gives the morale to face any unwanted situation

and enemies. "The appeal of this speech will never fade out and that is why it has secured its position as one of the best speeches of the world."

The premier bemoaned that this speech of Bangabandhu was not allowed to be played on loudspeakers after his assassination, even though it changed the country’s history.

“Once there was an undeclared embargo on playing this speech. A Chhatra League activist was killed for playing this speech over a loudspeaker and many others were tortured for the same reason.

Eminent journalist and columnist Abul Momen presented the keynote paper, titled “Timeless Speech: Preparation and Impact” at the seminar. Dhaka University’s Sociology Prof Dr M Mashiur Rahman and eminent cultural personality Ramendu Majumder took part in the discussion. l

CU student injured under shuttle train n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong A student of Chittagong University had his leg severed under the university-bound shuttle train on Friday night.

Amirul Islam Anik, a third year student of Bangla department, was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in critical condition, university authorities said. His right leg was severed from the ankle after falling under the train.

In another incident, a sexagenarian died after tree branches fell on him in Chittagong’s Banshkhali area yesterday morning. The deceased was Md Islam, 65, an inhabitant of Jon-

gol Napora area in Banskhali, police said.

Eyewitnesses at the Chittagong University railway station said around 9:30pm Friday, Anik fell under the train when he tried to get down on the platform while the train was still running.

CU Proctor Ali Azgar Chowdhury said he was taken to the university medical centre, and from there he was shifted to CMCH. Banskhali police station Officer-in-Charge Sawapan Kumar Majumdar told the Dhaka Tribune that Md Islam was injured when tree branches fell on him while he was going to a local shop in the morning.

He was taken to the upazila health complex where the doctors declared him dead. l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court has granted investigators five days to interrogate an assistant police sub-inspector over the shooting of a cable operator in Dhaka's Khilgaon.

Metropolitan Magistrate Pronab Kumar Bhui gave the order yesterday after investigation officer Md Anwar Hossain sought court permission

to question ASI Shamim Reza for 10 days in custody.

ASI Shamim of Bangshal police station shot cable operator Al-Amin on Friday after a heated argument over paying cable bills. Doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital said the bullet hit Al-Amin in the abdomen and passed through the body. He was discharged shortly.

Bangshal police took him

in custody after the incident and handed him over to Khilgaon police. Lalbagh division Joint Commissioner Mofiz Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that Shamim had been suspended.

Khilgaon police OC Monirul Islam said they had seized a revolver from Shamim's possession and that they would take actions against him after investigation. l

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Two-month-old abandoned in city now safe n Kamrul Hasan It was around 3am on March 9 when a homeless woman, who sleeps on the pavement in front of the Wapda Colony in Paribagh area of the capital, saw a microbus stopped nearby. A woman came down and left the scene in a hurry leaving behind something wrapped with a white cloth.

The vagrant woman became alert as soon as she heard a baby crying from inside the piece of cloth. She went closer and found a baby boy.

She passed several hours until dawn trying to calm the infant, and when people came out on the street she started asking for food.

It worked; some people bought her foods to feed the baby and even medicine.

As the condition of the infant deteriorated on Friday, she sought help from some youths of the area. They took the baby to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 8:30pm and he was registered as Al-Mamun.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, the saviour identified herself as Taslima. She said that she was now relaxed as Mamun is getting treatment at the paediatrics department of the hospital.

On-duty doctor Zakir Hossain said that Mamun, who would be aged around two months, had been very weak due to high fever. “But there is nothing to fear. He is recovering gradually,” he added.

Fahad Amin, one of the youths who took the baby to the hospital,

A nurse asks Taslima about the rescued baby’s condition at the paediatric ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

said that they had informed the police about the matter. He hopes that someone will adopt the baby.

Inspector-in-Charge of DMCH police outpost Mozammel Haque told the Dhaka tribune that they were yet to decide where to send the baby after treatment.

In September, 11-year-old Sabbir and his friends rescued an abandoned baby girl from some dogs in North Kafrul area of the city. The newborn was hurt in some sensitive parts of her body. She is at present staying at an orphanage in Lalbagh area.

On February 1, a teenage rape victim threw out her newborn baby of a fourth floor flat at Bailey Road fearing social stigma. The baby died on February 25 while undergoing treatment at the DMCH. l

Dhaka CNG autorickshaw drivers to go on strike today n UNB Dhaka district CNG-run Autorickshaw Drivers Union will enforce a 24hour strike in the capital from 6am today to press home their demands.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at its Dhalpur office in the city with its President Md Rafique in the chair yesterday morning.

The meeting decided to enforce the strike from 6am today to 6am tomorrow to press home its seven-point demand, said Md Kamal

Ahmed, general secretary of the organisation.

He said the demands included immediately stopping random fine and jailing by the mobile courts over the last several months, immediate release of the drivers who have already been sent to jail by mobile courts, as well as withdrawal of cases filed against them and immediate distribution of 5,000 more CNG-run autorickshaws among the drivers as part of improving quality passenger service. l

Carrying more weight than its capacity, a truck loses control and rolls over in the middle of Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Shiddhirganj area yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Activists vow to resist Rampal plant as march ends today n Tribune Report

Green activists marching towards the Sundarbans to protest against the construction of coal-based power plants and other industrial units near the mangrove forest have vowed to continue their movement until the initiatives are scrapped.

The activists reached Khulna city from Jessore yesterday noon. They brought out a procession on Khulna-Jessore Highway and later held a rally at Hadis Park in the afternoon.

On the concluding day of the four-day event, the mass procession is set to reach Katakhali of Rampal in Bagerhat today.

The leaders of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports are leading the march programme that began on Thursday. Several thousand ac-

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press the movement. Central and local leaders of the organisations spoke at the rally.

Member Secretary of the National Committee Prof Anu Muhammad said that the policymakers had lost their minds. Some of them said that they would prefer humans to animals, birds and forest. “But it is obvious that humans will not be able to survive if the animals and tress cannot. The fate of the Sundarbans is at stake because of such policies,” he said.

“They are sacrificing national interests and awarding all the projects to foreign firms in the name of generating electricity.”

The Sundarbans is a key source of natural resources for both Bangladesh and India, and hence, both the countries should take effective steps to preserve the forest, he said.

long been opposing the coal plants saying that the projects would pose major threat on the biodiversity of the forest, life of the water species and livelihood of the people who depend on the forest's resources.

They also protest the government plan to establish an economic zone, cement factories, shipyards and silo near the power plants.

The government, however, claims that the projects would not harm the Sundarbans as they would use advanced technology to cut emission of hazardous gases including carbon dioxide, fine particles and fly ash, and properly dispose the solid and liquid wastes.

Speakers at yesterday's rally at Hadis Park again condemned the obstructions created by Jessore police on Friday, and said that the government would not be able to sup-

tivists of different left-leaning parties, mainly of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Workers Party and Ganosanghati Andolon, joined the event with a convoy of 10 buses and seven microbuses.

During the march, the protesters distributed leaflets, posters and booklets among the people while cultural activists performed songs with a call to save the Sundarbans – a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL), a joint venture of PDB and NTPC of India, is developing the 1320MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project at Rampal which will use imported coal. Besides, local firm Orion Group is building a 566MW power plant in Rampal area.

The National Committee has

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Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:08AM

36.8ºC Jessore

16.9ºC Rajarhat

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

“But the two governments have indulged in destroying the Sundarbans for the sake of some businessmen,” Pro Anu said.

A 12-member Indian delegation comprising environmental activists, writers and journalists joined the mass procession on March 10.

Moreover, green activists held a rally in London on Friday while another rally was held in Amsterdam of the Netherlands yesterday to express solidarity with the programme.

The Unesco, the Ramsar and other local and international environment experts have expressed concerns regarding the projects. A Unesco delegation of experts is likely to visit Bangladesh this month to learn about Dhaka’s initiatives to tackle the environmental impacts of the Rampal coal power plant. l Sylhet

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Fajr: 4:51am | Zohr: 12:08am Asr: 3:32pm | Magrib: 6:10pm Esha: 7:37pm Source: IslamicFinder.org

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First day of ICAAP 12 marked by mismanagement n Adil Sakhawat

Day one of the International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, (ICAAP) 12, organised for the first time in Bangladesh, was marked by mismanagement.

The largest international AIDS forum was inaugurated in the afternoon by President Md Abdul Hamid.

The registered foreign delegates attending the conference however complained about mismanagement on the very first day.

Among the delegates, Khartini Slamah, the TG Programme Officer of Global Fund ISEAN Hivos Programme, PT Foundation, said to Dhaka Tribune: “Everyone is lost when they are searching a way to what is going on around here.”

“I think the one who is the in-charge of organising this programme is not clear about organising an international conference here in Bangladesh,” Khartini also added.

Many foreign delegates complained to Dhaka Tribune that they had not received their registration card and bag, which includes the session description and directions.

Some did not even get lunch af-

‘For madrasa education, fear is the biggest challenge’ n

Abid Azad

Speakers at a seminar yesterday identified fear as the biggest challenge for students studying in Bangladeshi madrasas.

They said the fear of questioning and the fear of being questioned were two major fears working among madrasa students.

The observations came at a seminar at the Brac Centre yesterday, organised jointly of World Faiths Development Dialogue, Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, and Brac University’s department of Economics and Social Sciences.

People are mostly ignorant about different madrasa education systems – government run-Aliya and the independent Qawmi. This lack of knowledge prompts people to look down on madrasa students and at times becoming suspicious about them, the speakers said.

They noted a rapid growth of madrasas since independence, from less than 2,000 in 1971 to over 20,000 in 2014. At present, there are an estimated 9,341 Alia madrasas and 13,902 Qawmi madrasas, they said. l

ter paying the registration and other fees, observed this reporter.

Khartini also expected to see the participation of young people, such as students, as the conference was about AIDS awareness.

“The committee should have a look at these problems, like briefing the volunteers who are here to help direct the delegation,” she added.

The people who paid to be delegation members became frustrated over these issues, which must be addressed, said many delegates.

Another delegate from the UK, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I have attended so many conferences around the world. But this is the first time I became so confused after seeing the mismanagement.”

Khartini marked the management of the conference as 3.5 out of 10.

Another delegate, IOM official Samir Kumar Howlader, while attending a session, complained about the mismanagement as two to three sessions were running in a single room at International Convention City Bashundhara. Participants of each session were facing

problems participating due to the chaotic environment.

While addressing the complaints and problems faced by the delegates, ICAAP12 Co-Chair Prof Dr AKM Nurun Nabi acknowledged the mismanagement.

He said: “This type of large event is taking place for the first time in Bangladesh. So, on the first day of the event, there is bound to be a disaster, which we also faced when we attended conferences in other countries.”

But he acknowledged the disaster by pointing out the lack of Bangladeshi event management companies with experience organising this type of international conference.

He also said he hopes to sort out the problems from the next day.

When this reporter tried to contact the joint organiser, Partners in Population and Development (PPD), no one responded to the reporter’s query.

In the afternoon, President Hamid in his speech marked the discrimination faced by AIDS patients as “saddening.”

He said: “AIDS is not a curse. But AIDS patients suffer negligence,

Police to refrain from settling land rows n Arifur Rahman Rabbi Dhaka Metropolitan Police has decided not to deal with issues such as recovering borrowed money or providing assistance in settling land disputes.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia disclosed the decision at the monthly crime conference held at DMP Headquarters yesterday.

He said stern action would be taken against any policeman who would act against this decision.

Asaduzzaman said the decision was made as police had often faced lots of criticism in the past when they offered help in such cases.

“The involvement of police in these issues created a bad impression for the police department.

This is why we have made the decision with a view to restoring the image of police. But police will only deal with such cases upon court order,” he explained.

The DMP commissioner expressed his satisfaction

with the law and order situation of the capital over the last two to three months.

But he said there had been an increase in hijack and snatching, and many people had fallen prey to such crimes.

“When other types of crimes are on the wane, hijack and snatching are rising. Police have been instructed to prevent such crimes at any cost.”

According to sources, at least 26 snatching incidents took place in Dhaka city last month.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Maruf Hossain Sarder told the Dhaka Tribune that the DMP commissioner had instructed police to show zero tolerance for illegal drugs trading.

“Police high-ups were present at the conference.

All police officials were asked to work for improving the law and order situation,” he said.

“A number of policemen were also awarded for their good work.” l

which they do not deserve.”

He urged people to change their perception about AIDS and called everyone to be broad-minded.

The president also said: “We have to give more attention to find the HIV patients who are living in disguise, because their cases seem to become a serious threat to spreading HIV among the public.

“It is time for an end to discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS. The plight of the AIDS widows, AIDS orphans or for that matter the children and spouses of those living with AIDS is very challenging.

This year, about 1,000 representatives from 56 countries are participating in the International Congress, jointly organised by the Health and Family Welfare ministry and Partners in Population and Development (PPD).

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim chaired the programme, which was addressed by, among others, State Minister for Health Zahid Maleque, Health Secretary Sayed Monjurul Islam, ICAAP Secretary-General Joe Thomas and Unicef representative Philippe Cori. l

500 magistrates to ensure smooth polling in Phase 1 of UP polls n UNB Some 500 magistrates will be appointed to curb election violence and breaches to the polls code during the first phase balloting of the union parishad elections.

Five magistrates will conduct mobile court to punish polling irregularities for four days in each of 102 upazilas, where 736 UPs are going to polls, slated for March 22.

Four executive magistrates and a judiciary magistrate will be fielded in each upazila for four days – two days before the balloting, the balloting day, and the following day after voting, said Antora Ghosh, senior assistant secretary of Election Commission.

The EC recently sent letters to the Public Administration Ministry and the Law Ministry seeking the executive magistrates and judiciary magistrates to be deployed for the election, she told UNB. Alongside the magistrates, a total of six teams of RAB and two teams of BGB will work as mobile and striking forces in each upazila for the four days. l

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Khulna WDB staff quarter residents dodge rents n Hedait Hossain, Khulna Khulna Water Development Board officials living in housing facilities arranged by the government have been evading rents in defiance of the rules for the last 10 years.

They applied to the board seeking exemptions from paying rents but the Anti-Corruption Commission has described it as irregularity and corruption.

Zulfikar Ali Howlader, caretaker engineer of Khulna Water Development Board and chief of the committee that allocates accommodation, said: “The Water Development Board accommodation were built in the 1960s but they are no longer suitable for living.

The previous committee wrote to the board, urging not to deduct housing allowance. But money is deducted from salaries, 7% for of-

ficials and 5% for workers.”

Deputy Director of Khulna Water Development Board Md Abul Kashem said: “Rents are not deducted because of the decision of the housing allocation committee.

But the committee’s recommendation is still under consideration by the board. If the board rejects it, all the money have to be returned.”

Executive engineer Mojibur Rahman, who is the member sec-

retary of the committee, described the money allotted by the government to renovate the accommodation as very scanty.

“We cannot do anything with that amount. If house rents are not deducted from salaries now, pension of the employees will be put on hold after their retirement.

“Several have retired but they are yet to get pension clearance. It will be released only after the decision

of the board is made,” he explained.

Mojibur also said: “If we demand Tk10 crore for renovating houses, we are only allotted Tk1 crore. So, the money is almost good for nothing.”

SM Shamim Iqbal, assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, said withdrawing the whole salary without paying rents for government-arranged housing facilities is synonymous with corruption. l

‘Govt bringing CHT under network’

n Tribune Report State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Bir Bahadur has said the government is bringing the whole hill region under communications network by constructing roads in remote areas.

The pace of ongoing development activities was being enhanced maintaining peace and harmony in the CHT, he said it yesterday while speaking as the chief guest at a function to inaugurate renovation of Bandarban-Keranihat and Baroaulia-Tankaboti roads at a cost of Tk 21 crore, reports BSS. The state minister said the improvement of econom ic condition of the backward hill people is possible through the development of the transport system.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is giving special attention to the development activities in the CHT areas, he said, adding that development started in the hill region after the signing of the CHT peace treaty. l

Summer is still a month away, yet the weather is turning unbearably hot in the Barind area in Rajshahi. These indigenous farmers take pitchers full of drinking water to their crop fields so they can cope with the hot weather and work comfortably. The photo was taken yesterday at Barshapara in the district’s Godagari upazila AZHAR UDDIN

Super bumper wheat output likely River erosion renders thousands homeless in Rangpur region this season n n BSS

A super bumper wheat production is likely as harvest of the major cereal crop has already begun with excellent initial yield rate in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region during this Rabi season.

Officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) predicted excellent wheat production in the region breaking all previous records to further brighten its prospect in the national agro-economy and food security.

Horticulture Specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said harvest of the crop begun from last week and the process will get momentum very soon as wheat fields are ripening faster though seed formation still continues in the lately sowed fields.

The farmers have cultivated wheat in 31,005 hectares of land against the fixed target of farming the crop in 24,528 hectares to produce 72,840 tonnes wheat exceeding the fixed cultivation target by 6,477 hectares of land or 26.41 per cent this time.

“The tender wheat plants grew excellent amid favourable climatic conditions without any incidents of diseases like head blight or head blasts and farmers took proper care of crop fields using latest technologies to achieve better yield,” he said.

Extension Agronomist of the USAID-BMGF-funded Cereal System Initiatives for South Asia and International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CSISA-CIMMYT) Project at its Dinajpur Hub Anarul Haque also predicted bumper wheat output this season.

He said wheat farming has become very popular and more profitable among farmers as they achieved its repeated bumper production with lucrative price in recent years and again exceeded the fixed cultivation target this season in Rangpur region.

Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia and Africa) Dr MA Mazid expressed satisfaction over expanded wheat cultivation by farmers and predicted bumper production of the cereal crop this season.

He said farmers have mostly been cultivating high quality, disease resistant and stress-tolerant wheat using latest, mechanised and low cost conservation agriculture based technologies after harvesting short duration Aman rice to get bumper production. l

Ariful Islam, Kurigram

River erosion is forcing thousands of people of Kaliganj Union in Kurigram’s Nageswari upazila to live in miserable condition as locals blame the government of paying no heed to their plight.

Residents of 10 villages along the Dudh Kumar River have lost arable land, schools, madrasas, mosques and their houses in the course of a year. Many more establishments in the upazila face an imminent threat. Locals said government agencies took no steps to address the issue despite repeated appeals.

Momin Uddin, resident of Dhanir Vita village, said he had lost his house thrice to river erosion. “I will lose everything again if the government does not do something.”

In the nearby village of Kumriarpar, Krishna Chandra Roy struggles

to meet the ends. He lost everything to Dudh Kumar River. Kachir Vita resident Kulsum Begum’s story is similar. She lives in a shanty on others’ land. She summed up the situation: “We do not want money from the government. All we request the government is to do something about river erosion.”

Kaliganj Union Parishad’s Chairman Nur Islam Mia said he contacted concerned departments to look into the problem in his area.

“I have only received verbal assurance from government officials but nothing happened. More than a thousand people in my area lost everything to erosion last year,” he said, requesting the government to address the issue at the soonest.

Kurigram Water Development Board sub-division 3 Deputy Divisional Engineer Md Matiar Rahman said the river was under the jurisdiction. l

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Schoolboy’s death in road accident sparks protests Correspondent, n Our Naogaon

Local people blocked road and staged demonstrations on the Dhamairhat-Joypurhat Road at Chakmoyram in Dhamairhat upazila protesting the death of a schoolboy in

a road accident yesterday morning.

Yasir Arafat Swadhin, 12, son of Tuku Hossain of Pharshipara village of the upazila and a Class VI student of Chakmoyram High School, was killed when a stone-laden truck hit his bi-cycle on the road around 9am while he

Sweetmeat industry suffers setback due to milk crisis Ismal Khan, n Zahirul Madaripur The district is well-known for its quality sweetmeat products in the southern region.

But the famous sweetmeat industry is facing serious setback due to scarcity of milk for the last few years.

A random survey shows there are over 700 sweetmeat shops in the four upazilas and four municipalities of the district.

Everyday the shops need 10,000 litre milk. But now there are only 30-40 dairy farms in the district and theses farms cannot meet up the demand.

According to sources, milk production is declining both in dairies and homesteads under four upazilas of the district as the farmers cannot collect sufficient fodder for their cattle.

Reduction in pasture and open fields for raising cattle has decreased the milk production.

Sweets like rosgolla, roshmalai, sandesh, ganga rosgolla, chhana jilapy, mohonvog, komlavog, danadar, kata rosgolla, kata vog, gurer sandesh, curd and others attract consumers from different districts of the country. But, the shortage of milk is hampering production of such delicious sweets according to their traditional standard, sources said.

Sweetmeat traders Naresh, Madhab Mondal, Haran Ghosh and Nakul Kumar said the quantity of cow’s milk declined to a great extent in recent years.

Their views have also been echoed by several milk producers and suppliers in the district.

Milk sells at Tk65 to Tk70 per litre in local markets. Some traders, who buy milk every day, alleged that they do not get pure milk most of the times.

Around 30 per cent of the milk is found contaminated with river water, said sweetmeat trader Zibon Roy of Dodhi Vandar in Madaripur Puran Bazar area.

As a result, the traders cannot run their business for want of pure milk.

Meanwhile, several affected consumers opined that frequent mobile court drives are needed to curb adulteration of milk and sweets in the local shops.

During Eid, Puja and other festivals, they face serious crisis of milk. Most of the customers have to go back disappointed after moving from one shop to another for a packet of quality sweets, said many sweetmeat traders.

Abdur Razzak Khan, agriculture officer of the district, said arable land had decreased rapidly causing fodder crisis.

Steps should be taken to save the sweetmeat industry by cultivating grasses for cattle, he added.

Livestock officer Tarun Kumar Roy said: “To save the sweetmeat industry, number of dairy-farm should be increased by providing job among the youths.”

Auto-rickshaw driver killed Correspondent, n Our Comilla An auto-rickshaw driver was killed when he was punched by a passerby over a trifling matter at Paduar Bazar in Sadar Dakkhin upazila yesterday.

Prashanto Pal, officer-in-charge of Sadar Dakkhin police Station, said Ariful Islam, 30, an auto-rickshaw driver and son of Abdul Khalek in Barura upazila, had an altercation with

Abul Hossain, a tractor driver, over parking his auto-rickshaw on the road around 11:45 am.

At one stage of altercation, Abul Hossain punched Ariful in his head twice, leaving him unconscious.

Later he was rushed to Comilla Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared Ariful dead.

On information, police rushed in and arrested Abul Hossain. l

was returning home, said Shikder Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Dhamairhat police station.

As the news spread, local people took to the streets and torched two trucks, including the killer one.

They also put up barricade on the

road.

On information, police and fire fighters rushed to the spot.

Police charged baton on the agitators and opened fire which left 14 people injured, alleged local people.

The fire fighting team doused

the fire.

On information, pouro mayor Aminur Rahman and upazila nirbahi officer Hossain Ahmed went to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Additional police forces were deployed in the area. l

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Feature

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

“That’s just loser talk!”

5 words successful people don’t use

nSabrina Fatma Ahmad Part of a famous Mahatma Gandhi quote, often misattributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, goes: “Your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”

Just so, part of being successful is to get into the mindset of a winner. And there are certain words that winners avoid using.

Let’s take a look.

Try When you say “I’ll try”, as opposed to “I will,” you’re giving yourself an out even before you dive into the project. If you want to get ahead, you have to have more commitment to the task than that.

Honestly If you have to insist on your honesty, you’re not convincing anyone of your sincerity. Say what you have to say with authority, and then let your actions speak for themselves.

Probably This is a word that lacks spine, and leaves room for doubt. At work, it smacks of uncertainty when what you want are hard facts and proven results. In a relationship, it’s a non-committal statement, when what you need is assurance. Don’t be that person.

Can’t JK Rowling was a single mom living on welfare when she began writing the Harry Potter books.

Steve Jobs was fired from the company he helped found. Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper for having, a “lack of imagination.” These people could have believed what people told them they couldn’t do, and given up, and the world would be a poorer place for it.

The first step towards success is believing that you can.

If That’s another out word. It implies that you’re relinquishing control over your actions and performance to external factors.

If you want life to go where you want it to, you have to take the steering wheel

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Events

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

| initiative |

Joy Bangla Youth Award: Step by step What kinds of initiatives fall under the criterion to qualify for the Joy Bangla Youth Award?

nFeatures Desk The Joy Bangla Youth Award is an exciting milestone for any Bangladeshi youth involved in creating some kind of a social impact. The award, which was first given out in 2015, aims to highlight stories of Bangladeshi youth initiatives that have a social impact.

This year, the winners of Joy Bangla Youth Award 2015 were showcased at the Young Bangla concert held on March 7 in celebration of Bangabandhu’s famous speech in 1971 on this day.

The award acknowledges untold stories and contributions of young achievers and leaders all over the country in a vast array of fields, helping them expand their wings. It is organised by Young Bangla, a platform consisting of change-makers and the youth, to

create biggest youth platform in the country.

One of Young Bangla’s initiatives is the Joy Bangla Youth Award that connects achievers across the country.

The program received around 1,500 applications last year, said an official of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), which is the secretariat for Young Bangla.

The final award was given to the top 30 initiatives, following a shortlisting of the top 60 initiatives.

Last year, there was a divisional meet in every division where a day-long program was held to accept applications from initiatives to be considered for this award. The awards were later divided into five different categories: research and innovation, community development, entrepreneurship,

cultural movement, and social inclusion and empowerment.

Youths within the age bracket of 18 and 35 years are eligible for this award. That is the only

criteria; otherwise, any youth-led initiative is welcome to apply for this award.

“As long as it’s a self-led initiative that has a social impact,

it’s eligible to be considered,” said the official.

Find out more at http://www. youngbangla.org.bd l

| unveiling |

BASE Technologies showcases specials

BASE Technologies unveiled a series of unique technologies at the Bangladesh Innovation and Development Expo and Green Investment Summit 2016, held in the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). The summit is poised to revolutionise the use of energy

consumption and monitoring system in Bangladesh. The fair commenced on March 11, will continue till today.

One of the many milestone projects for this system integration company was provision of all the 786 lighting poles in the Chittagong EPZ,

which is powered by solar energy. The mammoth project is one of the biggest standalone streetlight projects carried out in the nation. It created a significant value addition in realising the firm’s potential.

In the summit, BASE Technologies is going to

introduce their unique solar street light system among other unique technologies intended for businesses. In their outdoor exhibition site, the company showcased the solar power plant technology for all interested potential consumers, investors and partners. They look forward

to translate the tremendously positive impact made by the initial project on a national scale, which is going to greatly reduce the dependency on conventional nonrenewable sources of electricity.

“In line with our vision to harness the full potential of technology and to ensure the best use of it, we have introduced a series of exclusive technologies that will benefit the entire nation by allowing various businesses to adopt innovative measures of obtaining electricity. This will help them get uninterrupted supply of electricity in the long run, as well as reduced emissions. Using our experience and expertise, we look forward to introducing many similar services in near future,’ said Md Jubair Ahmed, chief executive officer at BASE Technologies.

Numerous other renowned organisations in the industry is participating at the summit as well.

The aim is to reflect the trends in the power and construction industry through exclusive focus on mechanical processing technologies for the benefit of exhibitors and visitors. l

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Editorial 11

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

INSIDE

The great Bangladesh cyber heist shows truth is stranger than fiction It all sounds like a pulp fiction that would have been rejected as implausible a year ago PAGE 12

Hysteria Trumps democracy What began as a slightly off-colour joke is acquiring the proportions of a nightmare for many Americans PAGE 13

Memory versus history The siege of Sarajevo began on April 5 in 1992 and lasted for 1,425 days, until February 29, 1996 -- three times longer than the siege of Stalingrad. It was the longest siege in the history of modern warfare PAGE 14

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

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

BIGSTOCK

Leave no stone unturned to answer questions on Federal Reserve hacking

T

he government should set up a special task force to co-ordinate investigations into the theft of over $100m from the Bangladesh Bank’s accounts at the Federal Reserve in New York.

It is an absolute top priority for Bangladesh Bank to find out exactly how this hugely serious breach of financial security occurred.

Key to this is finding out for certain if there was any collusion by complicit individuals within financial institutions that enabled the hackers to mimic Bangladesh Bank’s security protocols, or if there was a more fundamental IT lapse which allowed the hackers to use malware to steal passwords.

The apparent ease with which criminals were able to circumvent the security systems of a large number of international banks and institutions has huge implications for all involved.

All possible avenues of inquiry must be pursued to help ensure any potential loopholes and weaknesses in safeguarding the security of the nation’s foreign currency reserves are fully closed off.

While reports suggest some monies have been traced, at least $80m of Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves remain missing and stolen.

Finding the missing money and the masterminds of this theft is vital to help build confidence in future security. Were it not for a slip up by the hackers and some luck, there is a real possibility that an even bigger amount of up to a billion dollars could have been digitally stolen.

A comprehensive inquiry needs to be pursued with the Philippines authorities and all the other international institutions and banks involved, to fully identify all the individuals who planned or aided the hackers and to bring them before the law.

There is no room for error in safeguarding financial security.

Set up a task force to help find everyone involved and close all potential gaps in financial security

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Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

The great Bangladesh cyber heist shows truth is stranger than fiction The Federal Reserve is faced with the task of having to explain to its customers (essentially all the world’s banks) how funds earned by millions of poor Bangladeshi workers, were so readily stolen

n Niaz Alam

B

eing a bank robber is bad for the soul in more ways than one.

Imagine your plans are successful. How do you sleep if you believe there’s nowhere safe to stash your ill-gotten gains?

Other people’s worries, best ignored perhaps, other than as a useful plot device for novels and films.

Except that, in the case of the Philippines-based hackers who stole $100m of the Bangladesh Bank’s money from the Federal Reserve in New York last month, it turns out to be everybody’s problem.

If ever a story had international crime and globalisation running through it as a thread, this is it.

Like other central banks, Bangladesh Bank uses the Federal Reserve as part of its stewardship of Bangladesh’s $28bn foreign currency reserves.

Most of Bangladesh’s reserves can be traced to remittances sent by hard-working migrants in the Middle East and the toil of the millions of garment workers who help clothe Europe and North America, and are responsible for the bulk of the country’s export earnings.

Thanks to the Philippine Daily Inquirer breaking the story, the world knows now that $100m of Bangladesh Bank’s funds was digitally stolen from the Federal Reserve last month. And that the hackers attempted to steal a whole billion dollars, but were foiled by an elementary spelling mistake.

It all sounds like a pulp fiction that would have been rejected as implausible a year ago. But it happened.

A quartet of hackers opens accounts at a Philippines bank.

Months later, they fraudulently execute transfer orders from the Bangladesh central bank’s holdings in New York to coincide with not just the usual long weekend of the combined Bangladesh and US working weeks, but also the Philippines’ special Monday closure for Chinese New Year.

This allows extra time for stolen funds to be sent to a Chinese national with casino connections and be converted into pesos and hard to trace chips.

Along the way, half a dozen global banks duly execute orders,

making use where called for of the protocols set by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) based in Belgium.

Fortuitously, one of the routing institutions, Deutsche Bank, seeks clarification of an instruction for $20m to be sent to a Sri Lankan non-profit, because the hackers misspelled “foundation” in the NGO’s name.

Alarm bells ring and Bangladesh Bank scrambles to work with its Philippines counterparts and money laundering investigators to get to the bottom of it all.

That would be a happy ending,

It all sounds like a pulp fiction that would have been rejected as implausible a year ago if the stolen money turns out to be revolvable. But instead, it’s more likely to only be the start of a tangled web of inquiries and litigation. Already, there is something of a Mexican stand-off between Bangladesh, Philippines, and the US over culpability for the fraudulent transactions going through.

As the prime victim, Bangladesh Bank has a right to expect strict liability for its losses from the Federal Reserve.

But equally the Federal Reserve will want to point to possible holes in BB’s internal security measures.

Throw in the Fed’s concern about the reputational damage of having to explain to its customers (essentially all the world’s banks) how funds earned by millions of poor Bangladeshi workers, were so readily stolen, and the only happy people left in the room will be everyone’s lawyers.

It is not known yet whether there was collusion by complicit individuals which enabled the hackers to mimic BB’s security protocols and passwords, or if the gang simply used diabolical malware to steal them. Take your pick. Either way, it does not change the fact Bangladesh Bank is the victim here.

If ever a story had international crime and globalisation running through it as a thread, this is it And that systems used by the world’s most secure bank were spectacularly breached.

Ah, but wait a minute, chorus a plethora of comics and commenter on newspaper websites. Hallmark and various frauds in state-owned banks were a bigger loss for Bangladeshi tax-payers, weren’t they? And didn’t leading banks bankrupt the global financial system in 2008 by gambling trillions of dollars of other people’s money on worthless derivatives?

Well yes, that’s all true. But like should be compared with like.

Bangladesh Bank’s track record on repaying multilateral debt and managing international obligations is a sound one, particularly when compared to the government’s record in controlling state-owned banks. It is self-flagellation to imply as some do, that just because Bangladesh scores poorly on Transparency International’s corruption perception index, this cyber fraud is “just another” scandal to add to the list.

It is not. It is a scarily large and almost wholly successful international robbery. The entire point of systems adopted by Bangladesh Bank, the Federal Reserve, and Swift is to prevent theft, and in this case they were short-circuited.

Little light will be shed by pointing to the crony capitalism and corruption which underlay the many scandals that have plagued Bangladesh state-owned banks. Or for that matter similar dynamics at play in the lobbying that prevents US politicians from fixing the system that gave impunity to reckless Wall Street bankers. Not to mention (but I will) prolonged attempts by successive British

governments to suppress reports on corruption allegations in the $40 billion plus Al-Yamamah oil for arms deal with Saudi Arabia in 1984. All these things matter.

Venality knows no boundary. But, none of it makes it easier to steal from the Federal Reserve. If it did, the Fed would be successfully robbed every day.

Of course, this sorry tale makes it imperative that Bangladesh Bank and the Federal Reserve do more to make security procedures as secure as they are meant to be. But let’s not overlook the human interest in the story of the Bangladesh cyber-heist. The greed of the cunning individuals involved does not need elaborate theories to be explained. It is the sheer size of the hackers’ ambitions that intrigues and appalls in equal measure.

To appreciate the scale of their theft, take a look at this week’s sentencing in London of the career criminals found guilty of last year’s Hatton Garden jewellery vault raid, which prosecutors called the biggest burglary in English legal history.

As an analogue “hole in the wall job,” carried out over last year’s Easter public holiday by a gang of senior citizens, the oldest of whom was 75 -- it inevitably fascinated tabloids. It even earned a compliment from the sentencing judge for standing “in a class of its own” in terms of planning and organisation.

Not surprisingly, movie producers and Sir Michael Caine have already expressed interest in filming the story. What leaps out most though, is that this raid involved “only” 14 million pounds worth of jewellery, cash, and gold.

BIGSTOCK

Surely an attempted billion dollar robbery, from the Federal Reserve no less, must throw up similar interest from Hollywood?

After all, the story is almost tailor-made for US film companies looking to appeal to expanding markets in Asia.

Maybe. But geeks at desks sounds a harder sell then Cockney pensioners “doing one last breakin,” so it would need something of the Mission Impossible to be visually appealing.

I had to ask a colleague for the name of the pre-millennial Sean Connery vehicle about a heist at the Petronas Towers which this chain of thought inevitably led to. All I could remember about Entrapment was Catherine ZetaJones limboing around some laser beams for some forgotten plot germane reason.

After some discussion, we both agreed the cast of international organisations, locations, and casinos involved in the Bangladesh cyber heist, means an Ocean’s Eleven-type scenario is definitely on the cards. It even has room for a role for Sir Michael at the location of his choice.

One day perhaps, an expatriate migrant worker in a desert kingdom whose remittances to Bangladesh found their way via New York to a casino in East Asia, will see a film on a plane about the cyber heist story. And the same old Fleet Street cliché will pop in every viewer’s mind.

You couldn’t make it up. l Niaz Alam has worked on ethical business issues since 1992 and is a former vice-chair of War on Want. He is Chief Editorial Writer at the Dhaka Tribune.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

Hysteria Trumps democracy Democracy permits fools to become candidates

n MJ Akbar

B

arack Obama was in a thoughtful mood during the joint press conference with Canada’s Prime Minister Justine Trudeau on Thursday, his sharp mind clearly above the limited demands of conventional political engagement.

Obama could not become a philosopher-president during two turbulent terms in the White House, but as he enters the last lap he is clearly slipping into space that has been left vacant for a long while in American politics.

Elected leaders anywhere have always -- the odd exception apart -- been intelligent. But few have been intellectual. Obama is soon going to become America’s youngest elder statesman.

There was evidence of this at this press conference. One journalist asked about US-Canada relations in case the obstreperous Donald Trump was elected. One wit has already advertised that Canada would be an excellent resettlement residence for Americans in such an eventuality.

But as the Republican primaries roll closer towards a convention, and the Trump momentum continues, what began as a slightly off-colour joke is acquiring the proportions of a nightmare for many Americans.

Obama intervened to ruminate: How and why was the unthinkable entering into the realm of the possible? The reason, he said, was because ever since he had been elected, the Republican Party had created a culture of relentless negativity to everything he said or did.

Nothing was treated on merit.

Everything he did was wrong.

Previous presidents had faced criticism, no one had suffered such alienation. Obama did not use the word “hatred,” but he came close to suggesting this.

He did not mention race, but there was an implied hint that he had been treated like a “usurper.” The Republicans found it impossible to accept the fact that he had been elected. They used lies as a weapon, not least being the canard about his birth certificate.

Trump was a leader of this hysterical reaction, suggesting that Obama was twice an outsider: As a “non-American” and a “muslim.”

It is not an accident that Trump’s candidature is structured around the “threat” to America from outsiders, either Mexicans seeking

It’s becoming harder to find the humour in Donald Trump jobs or Muslims seeking war.

Most Americans rejected this psychotic, delusional, and dangerous narrative, which is why Obama got re-elected. But clearly a majority of Republicans did, which is why they have turned Trump into an idol despite his bizarre views and immature bravado.

The Republican establishment is rubbing its eyes in disbelief, but Trump is also their creation. The politics of hysteria is a standard temptation when you are in opposition, but no one survives the taste of a poisoned apple.

Will India’s Congress Party ever realise that such hysterical negativity shapes itself quickly into a boomerang? There is something visceral, irrational, and deeply personal in its relentless campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nothing he proposes is ever right, even if he offers something that was first suggested by Congress when it was in power.

The GST Bill is only the most obvious example. Its rhetoric is angry; the party froths at the moth under its present leadership. Facts are subverted with an audacious disrespect for truth.

Take the immediate instance, where Congress is accusing the present government of abetting discredited tycoon Vijay Mallya’s flight from India. The simple truth is that it was Congress which permitted state-owned banks to keep pouring funds into Mallya’s

REUTERS

One wit has already advertised that Canada would be an excellent resettlement residence for Americans in such an eventuality. But as the Republican primaries roll closer towards a convention, and the Trump momentum continues, what began as a slightly off-colour joke is acquiring the proportions of a nightmare for many Americans

Kingfisher airlines long after it had been deemed sick.

I quote from one published report dated February 21, 2012, written by journalists SPS Pannu and Sanjay Singh: State Bank of India “threw a Rs1,500-crore lifeline on Tuesday to keep billionaire Vijay Mallya’s sinking Kingfisher Airlines afloat in a move that amounts to throwing good money after bad.

The income tax department also softened its stand and unfroze the airline’s bank accounts as part of bailout package for the loss-making carrier.” Congress fed Mallya with a platinum spoon.

Action against him began only when the present government came to power. Mallya left in a hurry because he knew that he would not be able to “manage” the system anymore, that the banks had been instructed to close in upon him.

The story is not over. The law

has long hands, when those hands are protected by government, as Mallya will discover if he does not appear in court on the next due date.

The worry, as Obama pointed out, is not whether America will abandon both its values and common sense; but whether the Republican Party can recover from self-inflicted wounds.

A democracy needs a relevant opposition as much as a credible government. Only fools, as the saying goes, rush in where angels fear to tread; and one strength of democracy is that it permits fools to become candidates.

But electorates are not so lenient. Parties which suffer fools gladly, pay a heavy price in credibility. l MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian.

This article was previously published in The Sunday Guardian.

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Opinion

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

Memory versus history The people of Sarajevo showed unimaginable heroism during the siege that killed almost 14,000 the dissolution of the Yugoslav federation. After 1989, its various parts, influenced of course by the break-up of the Soviet Union, begin to break away from the federation to declare their independence as sovereign states.

The first half of the museum’s historical exhibition ends with the Bosnian declaration of Independence in early March 1992.

The second half is about the war, and especially about the siege of Sarajevo. And the heroism and the grit of the Bosnians during this horrendous siege is a very compelling story. Sarajevo has

The siege of Sarajevo began on April 5 in 1992 and lasted for 1,425 days, until February 29, 1996 -- three times longer than the siege of Stalingrad. It was the longest siege in the history of modern warfare Let’s not forget what happened in Sarajevo

n William Milam

A

s I mentioned in my previous article “Where it all began,” Sarajevo’s Historical Museum is divided into two very different parts. The first part is a paean to Tito’s communist, multi-ethnic federation in which the fractious history of the Balkan states seemed to have finally worn itself out in WWII. One would have inferred from that history, as displayed in the museum, that true harmony prevailed throughout the federation.

Yugoslavians had reason to hold their heads high in postwar Europe, as it was the only occupied part of Europe that basically freed itself from Nazi Germany. By the time the Soviet Army reached the Balkans, Tito’s communist partisans were in control of most of the region, and the Wehrmacht was retreating westward.

That led to Tito’s ability to insist on a Balkan face to his communist regime -- a luxury that none of the other occupied countries of Eastern Europe could manage (all of which soon fell under the Soviet thumb). In fact, none of the occupied countries of Western Europe could claim to have liberated themselves either.

Tito’s communist partisans were the only real successful resistance against the Axis powers.

In the light of this history, the paean to those “halcyon” post-war days is quite understandable. But the enthusiasm for the federation begins to ebb after Tito’s death in 1980. Amid the proud descriptions of Sarajevo’s entry onto the international stage with its successful hosting the Winter Olympics of 1984, there begins to be subtle mutterings about Sarajevo, and Bosnia, not getting its share of national resources.

And as the grumbling becomes louder, the viewer slips into the 1990s when the museum records

rebuilt much of the damage and new modern buildings sprouted throughout the city. I found one building which had not been touched after being shelled into rubble. Evidently, many resembled it 20 years ago.

From what I can make out, the war was fought over territory -- which side was going to control what territory. This tone perhaps started when presidents Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Tudman of Croatia agreed in March 1991, a year before Bosnia declared independence, that BosniaHerzegovina would be partitioned between Serbia and Croatia.

If this seems reminiscent of the Hitler-Stalin pact to partition Poland in 1939, it must have seemed even worse to the Bosnian Muslims, and such an agreement was certainly against post-WWII international standards, which forbid changing borders by force.

Later that year, to keep Bosnia form being drawn into the war, the EU proposed a plan that essentially

divided Bosnia between the Muslims, Serbs, and Croats in a proportional way. The Bosnian president, Izetbegovic, signed the agreement but then withdrew it, saying he would not agree to the ethnic division of Bosnia, although this plan would have given Muslims their share of Bosnia which the earlier Milosevic/ Tudman agreement would not have. But it was not a good deal.

It was a vicious and brutal war, characterised by targeting civilians in an attempt to get the Bosnians to give up, by ethnic-cleansing bordering on, and sometimes becoming, genocide, and mass rape, mainly of Muslim women

by Serbian fighters. Its heroic episodes include the sieges of several cities, and the tremendous spirit and will of the Bosnians not just to survive but to give better than they got despite their inferior equipment and armaments.

The siege of Sarajevo began on April 5, 1992, and lasted for 1,425 days, until February 29, 1996 -three times longer than the siege of Stalingrad. It was the longest siege in the history of modern warfare.

A Bosnian Serb force of 13,000 surrounded Sarajevo, remaining in the hills which overlook the city from which they could bombard the city with artillery and tanks without being directly contested even though there were 70,000 Bosnian troops in the city.

This was mainly true not only because of their position on the commanding heights above the city, but because the Bosnians were poorly armed.

Almost 14,000 people were killed in Sarajevo during the siege, including about 5,500 civilians.

The population dropped from over 500,000 in 1991 to somewhere between 300,000 and 350,000 today. To the visitor, the heroism of the entire population is unimaginable.

The Serbs had snipers in the city (at one point the Serbs were in control of one part of the city) who raked the broad streets and avenues with bullets, firing at pedestrians. One didn’t walk or stroll down the streets, one ran for one’s life. The siege cut off food supplies and people had to line up for bread and water. The Serb artillery found these lines easy targets, and hundreds were killed while standing in line.

The only way in and out of the city was through a tunnel that the citizens had dug, that ran under the airport runway. I talked

to a man who said he had been through it five times during the siege.

Why, I asked. He said: “Because I was young, I could do it.” It meant going through water, sometimes waist high, and bending over because of the low ceiling, but holding one’s weapon up out of the water. After emerging from the tunnel, he had to walk 17 miles up a very steep mountain to avoid the Serbs. I didn’t ask what he was going to do after he got past the siege. I really didn’t want to know.

The citizens of Sarajevo have memorialised some of the heroism. And they remember it too. There is a difference between memorials and memory.

Memorials are to remind us of an event or a person. Memory is how we see the past, and whether we see it honestly. Nations build memorials to their heroes, or to commemorate their successes, but some also build memorials to their moral or political failures.

Statues of famous presidents and generals dot the Washington landscape. But the Vietnam memorial is to a terrible and costly mistake that most Americans now remember as such. Germany builds memorials to the Holocaust, certainly a monstrous moral failure, but many Germans have yet to admit their parents’ or grandparents’ responsibility for it by just looking the other way. Japan builds memorials for its war victims, but refuses to acknowledge its responsibility for the war or for the atrocity of, inter alia, Nanking.

After the Sarajevo siege ended in 1996, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted two Serbians for crimes against humanity during the siege, sentencing one to life imprisonment and the other to 29 years’ imprisonment. The court indicted Radovan Karadzic, of 11 counts, one of which is for the siege. Sarajevo has had some redress.

One of my favorite authors, Ian Baruma, wrote that “failure is more typical of the human condition than heroism.” After a visit to Sarajevo, I have to, for the first time, disagree with him. l William Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Chief of mission in Liberia. This article was previously published in The Friday Times.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

INSIDE DSE, CSE to be exempted of tax this fiscal year The two stock exchanges of the country will be exempted of tax on their income for the current fiscal year so the bourses can go ahead smoothly during the post-demutualisation time, according to NBR officials. PAGE 16

‘Asia reforms key for global economic growth’ Asia is “the world’s most dynamic region” but structural reforms are key given its increasing importance to the global economy, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said in New Delhi yesterday. PAGE 17

China’s industrial output growth wanes China’s industrial production during the first two months of the year grew at its slowest rate since the global financial crisis, the government said Saturday, with top officials vowing to support growth and the volatile stock market. PAGE 18

Capital market snapshot: Past Week DSE Broad Index

4,484.5

0.3% ▲

Index

1,085.6

-0.1% ▼

30 Index

1,721.1

0.1% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

16,146.5 -28.0% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

462.6 -25.3% ▼

CSE All Share Index 13,797.8

0.2% ▲

30 Index

12,491.6

0.0% ▲

Selected Index

8,383.5

0.2% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

1,248.4 -24.9% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

42.2 -20.3% ▼

Tofail: India’s 12% import duty hits Bangladesh’s duty-free export n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said India’s duty-free market access does not benefit Bangladeshi exporters due to the imposition of its 12% countervailing duty on the import from Bangladesh.

The minister came up with the remark at “Bangladesh India Cotton Fest 2016” held at Raddission Blu Hotel in the capital yesterday.

Bangladesh Cotton Association (BCA) and the Indian Cotton Association Limited (ICAL) in cooperation with the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) hosted the cotton fest.

“India has awarded Bangladesh duty- and quota-free access of all products except alcohol and tobacco to its market, but the question appears as to why we cannot avail the opportunity,” said Tofail.

The exporters are not getting benefits of 100% duty-free access to Indian markets due to some tariff and non-tariff barriers, Tofail

said, adding that negotiation is on to address the issue.

According to BTMA, there are 400 cotton mills in the country, which consumed 6.1 million bale cotton worth about $2.2 billion in 2015. BTMA mills can produce 2,250 million kgs of yarn over 11 million spindles.

Last year, Bangladesh imported 49% or 2.99 million million bale cotton from India to meet its demand.

Bangladesh is entirely dependent on the import of cotton from India to meet its demand.

“Our challenges are the procurement of cotton at a competitive price,” said BCA president Badsha Mia. The cotton import from India is on the rise and the neighbouring country has been able to expand its market base in Bangladesh due to easy availability of cotton, variety of its quality and easy commu-

nication facility, said Badsha.

Moreover, the frequent visits by business people from both countries have created a friendly atmosphere, he added.

“India is the largest supplier of cotton and cotton yarn to Bangladesh. Cotton, cotton yarn and cotton fabric are the single largest commodity export from India, which accounted for about 22.5% of India’s total exports to Bangladesh,” said the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Talking on the trade deficit, Tofail Ahmed said there are some people who say that the trade volume between India and Bangladesh is in India’s favour, but it does not matter because “we have to import to meet our needs”.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, Bangladesh imported products worth $5.82 billion from India in the last fiscal year while its export was only $527 million.

BTMA President Tapan Choudhury, Vice-President Md Fazlul Hoque and Indian Cotton Association Limited President Mahesh Sharda also spoke at the event. l

UK ban not to hurt vegetables export much n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The UK ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka is not going to affect the exports of fruits and vegetables as the suppliers are already using non-direct flights in carrying the products, say the insiders.

However, the exporters feared that if the ban continued for long, the country’s exports of vegetables and other agricultural products would be in trouble.

Only Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated direct cargo flights from Dhaka to the United Kingdom while other carriers run non-direct flights. The national airlines operated four weekly flights carrying cargo before the ban.

“We usually preferred other carriers (using indirect routes) to Biman in shipping our products (fruits and vegetables) due to higher charges of the direct flights. As the ban is for direct air cargo only, our exports are not going to be affected,” said Mohammad Monsur, secretary general of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association.

An average of 30-35 tonne of vegetables and other agricultural products are airshipped daily from Bangladesh to different destinations, and 40% of them to the UK market.

A web post of the UK government on March 8 said: “As part of a set of interim measures, cargo will not be allowed on direct flights from Dhaka to the UK until further notice.” It

said the Shahjalal International Airport still fell short of international security standards, which prompted the UK authorities to take the decision.

The exporters feared that if the ban continued for long, the vegetables export would be in trouble The post added: “Airlines carrying cargo between Bangladesh and the UK on indirect routes are being asked to ensure it is rescreened before its final leg into the UK.” On December 19 last year, Australia also imposed a ban order on air cargo from Bangladesh due to security concerns.

The UK ban has come as bane for the country’s main export products – the readymade garment – the exporters of which choose direct flights to meet supply deadline and urgency.

“It will be a big problem for our export sector if we cannot meet deal with the crisis immediately and successfully,” said Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh.

When asked if they were planning indirect flights under the current situation, BGMEA vice president Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, said they could go for indirect flights, but that might fail to meet the RMG buyers’ requirement of timely supply.

The failure to supply products within deadline could even lead to cancellation of orders and the exporters would face losses, he added.

According to Export Promotion Bureau data, during July-February period of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $2.46bn from exports to the UK, of which, $2.27bn were RMG products and $7.5m vegetables and other agricultural goods.

Last fiscal year, Bangladesh exported garment items of $3.23bn to the UK. l

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DSE, CSE to be exempted of tax this fiscal year n Tribune Report The two stock exchanges of the country will be exempted of tax on their income for the current fiscal year so the bourses can go ahead smoothly during the post-demutualisation time, according to NBR officials.

At a meeting recently, the National Board of Revenue came up with the decision in response to the request made by the stock exchanges authorities to finance minister.

Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange recently sent separate letters to Finance Minister AMA Muhith seeking complete tax exemption on income during the fiscal year 2015-16.

In its letter sent, the CSE argued that the exchange needed the facility to enhance its financial and operational capacity, and that “would be in greater interest of the stock market.”

The CSE feared that its net asset value would decline and the share prices might drop if the tax was not exempted, and this could lead to difficulties for the exchange in getting fair prices from strategic shareholders.

As per Demutualisation Act 2013, the bourse will have to sell 25% of its total issued shares to strategic shareholders by 2016.

“It will be very difficult for the bourse to sell its shares at expected high prices to the strategic investors if the NAV drops,” reads the letter.

The DSE, in its letter, sought the tax benefit for continuation of its ongoing reform measures under the demutualisation scheme.

“The tax exemption will help the DSE attract strategic foreign investors for selling its shares in line with the conditions of demutualisation,” claimed the DSE letter signed by Managing Director Swa-

pan Kumar Bala.

Both the DSE and CSE became demutualised stock exchanges in November 2013 following enactment of the Demutualisation Act. After demutualisation, both the bourses turned into profit-oriented entities.

In the FY2014-15 budget, the government offered tax exemption for 5 years to the demutualised stock exchanges in gradually reducing rate “to maintain stability in the country’s capital market.”

As per the latest NBR decision, the DSE and CSE will enjoy relaxation in income tax payment until FY201920. The bourses will get maximum exemption of 80% in FY2016-17, while the ceiling will be reduced to 60% in the FY2017-18, 40% in FY2018-19, and 20% in FY2019-20.

From FY2020-21, the exchanges will have to pay full income tax like other private sector bodies. l

NBR asks all commissioners to be regular in offices n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has asked all its field officials not to stay off their respective duties to regularly monitor the revenue collection activities as the authorities found it necessary to achieve the revenue target in the current fiscal year.

The tax authorities on March 10 took the initiative at a board meeting presided over by its Chairman Nojibur Rahman at its headquarter for smooth functioning of revenue collection for the FY2015-16.

During the meeting, the NBR chair issued a five-point directive to all commissioners from income tax zones, customs houses, and customs, excise and VAT commissionerates including regular presence of the commissioners in their offices, making visits to their subordinate offices and monitoring activities of all their subordinate staff.

NBR members will regularly

visit the income tax, customs, and VAT offices and will keep an eye on the revenue collection scenario, according to the meeting.

The commissioners were also asked to ensure taxpayers friendly and revenue friendly atmosphere at their workplaces. The revenue authorities have asked the commissioners to strictly monitor their subordinate officials so that no taxpayer faces harassment while paying tax, it said.

Earlier in last September, the NBR issued an order to its field offices of customs and VAT wings, asking them to be regular in the offices for smooth functioning of revenue collection for the FY15-16.

The revenue authority took the decision following allegations that the divisional chiefs under both the wings remained absent in offices and stayed in Dhaka without any prior permission, which had a negative impact on the disciplinary system and revenue collection. l

Stocks stay flat in past week n Tribune Report Stock markets stayed flat in the past week after two weeks of losses as extreme volatility along with short-term profit booking tendency made investors cautious.

The volume of trade that ended Thursday continued to decline, reflecting lack of investor interest in taking part in trading activities.

The downward trend halted as benchmark index back to positive territory, touching a support level Of usual five trading sessions, opening session of the past week tumbled while the last four saw small gains.

During the past week, the benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, inched up 11 points or 0.3% to 4,484, marginally offsetting losses of 114 points in the two weeks.

The blue-chip comprising index DS30 gained marginally 2 points to 1,721. The DSE Shariah Index, DSES, saw a fractional loss of 0.8 point to 1,085.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 8,383, moving up 14 points or 0.2%.

The week’s DSE daily average

turnover declined further to Tk323 crore, down 28% over the previous week. The trading was dominated by engineering, textiles and pharmaceutical sectors, together making up 45% of the week’s total turnover.

The large cap sectors showed a mixed performance during the past week. Power posted a gain of 1%, followed by non-baking financial institutions 0.4% and food & allied 0.4%.

Engineering experienced the highest loss of 2.8%. Banks, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals also moved down 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.2% respectively.

Lanka Bangla Securities said: “The downward trend of the market halted as the benchmark index turned back to positive territory, touching a support level though the market participation remained significantly low.”

A majority of the large-cap stocks declined during the week.

Berger Paints and United Power faced erosion of 4.8% and 1.9% respectively.

IDLC Investments said lucratively priced stocks attracted investors to take position along different cap classes. The market participation declined significantly amid surging intra-session volatility throughout the week, it said.

Bangladesh Steel Re-rolling Mills was the week’s turnover leader, followed by Lanka Bangla Finance, Orion Pharmaceuticals, CMC Kamal and Quasem Drycells. l

An exhibition of woman entrepreneurs’ products concluded yesterday at the Bangladesh Bank Training Academy premises in Mirpur, Dhaka SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Saudi Arabia seeks $6-8bn bank loan to shore up state coffers n Reuters, Dubai Saudi Arabia is seeking a bank loan of between $6bn and $8bn, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, in what would be the first significant foreign borrowing by the kingdom’s government for over a decade.

Riyadh has asked lenders to submit proposals to extend it a fiveyear US dollar loan of that size, with an option to increase it, the sources said, to help plug a record budget deficit caused by low oil prices.

The sources declined to be

named because the matter is not public. Calls to the Saudi finance ministry and central bank seeking comment on Wednesday were not answered.

Last week, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had asked banks to discuss the idea of an international loan, but details such as the size and lifespan were not specified.

The kingdom’s budget deficit reached nearly $100bn last year. The government is currently bridging the gap by drawing down its massive store of foreign assets and issuing

domestic bonds. But the assets will only last a few more years at their current rate of decline, while the bond issues have started to strain liquidity in the banking system.

London-based boutique advisory firm Verus Partners, set up by former Citigroup bankers Mark Aplin and Andrew Elliot, is advising the Saudi government on the loan, the sources said.

The firm has sent requests for proposals to a small group of banks on behalf of the Saudi Ministry of Finance, the sources said. l

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

‘Asia reforms key for global economic growth’ n AFP, New Delhi Asia is “the world’s most dynamic region” but structural reforms are key given its increasing importance to the global economy, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said in New Delhi yesterday.

Asia already accounts for 40% of the world economy and stands to deliver nearly two-thirds of global growth over the next four years, Lagarde, the IMF managing director, told the Advancing Asia conference in the Indian capital.

“Given this vital economic role, making the most of Asia’s dynamism is of great interest to the entire world,” Lagarde, on stage with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said.

“Increased interconnectedness means that Asia now affects the world more than ever before,” she said. “By the same token, Asia is now more deeply affected by global economic developments than ever before - and must respond to them.”

With the global economy facing challenges, it is key that Asian countries carry out structural reforms to boost competitiveness and jobs and ensure growth in future, she said.

Lagarde cited examples including the need for China to rebalance its economy away from debt-led investment, the need for corporate governance reforms in Japan and for improvements in Indian infrastructure.

Strengthening the business environment and developing bond markets will be crucial across the region, she said.

Lagarde urged Asian nations to employ growth-friendly monetary and fiscal policies to counter challenges posed by a fragile global economy.

The call comes as policymakers the world over are struggling to re-

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde addresses a gathering during Advancing Asia Investing for the Future conference in New Delhi REUTERS vive their economies, which have been buffeted by slowing productivity and high debt.

Central banks in Europe and Japan have resorted to negative interest rates to stimulate consumer demand and perk up worryingly low inflation. But the strategy has added to the volatility in the financial markets and raised the spectre of competitive currency devaluation.

The multilateral lender earlier this week warned of a further downgrade to the global growth outlook on increasing risks of economic derailment.

“What should be Asia’s response?... It is safe to say that structural reforms are key — to boost competitiveness, growth, and jobs,” Lagarde told a conference jointly

hosted by the IMF in New Delhi.

In January, the IMF projected global growth of 3.4% and 3.6% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, having revised down its October forecast for both years by 0.2 of a percentage point.

The third downgrade in less than a year was triggered by China’s worst slowdown in 25 years that has exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s corporate and financial sector.

Lagarde said Beijing should improve credit allocation to rebalance the economy away from debtfuelled investment.

Also speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Modi said that India has “dispelled the myth that democracy and rapid economic

growth cannot go together”.

India’s government has projected economic growth of 7.6% for the financial year 2015-16, making it the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

“My agenda of ‘reform-to-transform’ still needs to be finished,” Modi said.

In January the IMF lowered its outlook for global economic growth this year, warning of substantial risks in major emerging market economies.

Slower Chinese growth, a stronger US dollar, collapsed oil prices and political turmoil could wreak further havoc in struggling economies like Russia and Brazil, putting the brakes on the global recovery, it said. l

Moody’s downgrades Hong Kong outlook to ‘negative’ n AFP, Hong Kong Ratings agency Moody’s downgraded its outlook for Hong Kong on Saturday, citing increasing political riskiness and closer economic ties with China, which is facing a growth slowdown.

Moody’s changed Hong Kong’s outlook from “stable” to “negative” as the semi-autonomous city continues to reel from political unease following mass pro-democracy protests in 2014.

The city saw violent street clashes between police and pro-

testers last month and the fate of five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing and later turned up on the mainland, with four now under criminal investigation, is still in question.

The case has triggered fears of increasing Chinese interference in the city.

“Increasing political linkages are likely to weigh on Hong Kong’s institutional strength,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a statement.

“Political risk has risen in Hong Kong in light of ongoing tensions over the implementation of the

‘One Country, Two systems’ policy,” it said, referring to the policy that grants the city freedoms not seen on the mainland.

It warned that tensions could rise in the lead-up to an election next year for the city’s leader, which it said could “impair the effectiveness of government policies”.

The vote is the first following a failed political reform package last year that saw pro-democracy lawmakers vote down a proposal that would have opened the ballot for the city’s leader to all seven million

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residents instead of only allowing Beijing-vetted candidates to run.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said Moody’s comments were “purely speculative and subjective statements without any ground”.

“There has been no evidence of mainland interference in Hong Kong affairs or Hong Kong institutions losing independence over time,” he said in a statement.

Moody’s report also said risk in China’s economy and financial stability could also undermine the city’s economic outlook. l

Modi signals country won’t join Forex devaluation race to boost trade n Reuters, New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Asia’s third-largest economy has never undervalued its exchange rate to boost trade and signalled the country would not join other countries in pushing their currencies lower.

“We have never tried to gain in trade at the expense of our partners. We do not follow ‘beggar thy neighbour’ macroeconomic policies,” Modi told a conference organised by the International Monetary Fund on Saturday.

“We have never undervalued our exchange rate. We add to world and Asian demand by running current account deficits. We are therefore good Asian and good global economic citizens, and a source of demand to our trading partners.”

European and Japanese central banks have adopted negative interest rate policies to perk up low inflation, but it has also added to the volatility in the financial markets and raised the spectre of competitive currency devaluation.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, however, has resisted pressure from exporters and policy makers to devalue the Indian currency to support exports.

India’s exports shrank in January for the 14th straight month on continued weak demand from Europe. Exports fell 13.6 percent from January a year ago, data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed last month.

India needs exports to grow rapidly to boost its economic growth to 8-10 percent, finance ministry economic adviser Arvind Subramanian said at the same IMF conference on Saturday.

Despite devaluation of currencies by some countries and global economic challenges, Modi said India was a “haven of macro-economic stability and a beacon of hope”, with the country boosting its growth projection for the fiscal year ending March 31 to 7.6%.

However, he said public investment was essential to further bolster economic growth.

“In addition to agriculture, we have increased public investment in roads and railways. This will improve the productivity of the economy and the connectivity of our people,” Modi said.

“Public investment is also essential at a time when private investment remains weak.”

Private capital investment has been dormant for the past four years, despite efforts by Modi’s government to stimulate it through debtfuelled higher public spending. l

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Battle to boost eurozone in doubt despite ECB bazooka n AFP, Paris A long battle to avert deflation and jumpstart the 19-nation eurozone economy is far from over despite an unprecedented barrage of stimulus measures by the European Central Bank, analysts warn.

The ECB surprised financial markets with the scale of the measures it announced Thursday - with a key interest rate dipping deeper into negative territory and a bond-buying programme ballooning to more than 1.7tn euros

($1.9tn) and expanding to encompass investment-grade corporate debt for the first time.

But the final impact of the ECB action on the real economy remains in doubt, economists say, with eurozone inflation subdued and economic growth in much of the region anaemic despite all the bank’s previous efforts.

Despite its “inventiveness”, the ECB’s efforts were not translating efficiently into results, said Ludovic Subran, chief economist at credit insurance group Euler Hermes.

Given its past record, the ECB’s latest policy may have a limited effect beyond simply signalling its willingness to act, New York-based credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service said in a report.

The ECB’s “quantitative easing” programme - in which it buys bonds with money that it creates electronically -- had now grown from 1.1tn euros to a total of more than 1.7tn euros, it said.

“While these new operations may lower financing cost for banks, they are unlikely to boost bank lend-

China’s industrial output growth wanes

A labourer rests during a lunch break at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding company’s shipyard in Shanghai REUTERS

n AFP, Beijing China’s industrial production during the first two months of the year grew at its slowest rate since the global financial crisis, the government said Saturday, with top officials vowing to support growth and the volatile stock market.

The measure, which gauges output at the country’s factories, workshops and mines, rose 5.4% year-on-year in January and February.

The figures were the weakest since November 2008 as China seeks to effect a difficult transition from an investment and export-driven growth model to one led by consumer spending.

Despite the darkening outlook the People’s Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan told reporters Saturday that there was no need for “excessive” monetary stimulus to hit the government’s target of at least 6.5 percent growth over the next five years.

And while worries about the economy have weighed on investors this year and spurred a stock market slump, on Saturday the

chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission said at a briefing that the state would intervene “if the market is not working properly at all or continues to fail”.

“It will be too early to talk about withdrawing” state support for stocks “for rather a long time into the future”, Liu Shiyu said.

Retail sales, a key indicator of consumer spending, increased 10.2% in the same period, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. Fixed-asset investment, a measure of mainly government spending on infrastructure, expanded 10.2% on-year for the first two months of 2016.

Results fell short of economists’ expectations, according to a survey

by Bloomberg News, which predicted a year-on-year increase in retail sales of 10.9%, while industrial production was projected to expand 5.6%.

Restoring confidence

NBS analyst Jiang Yuan blamed the disappointing industrial output data on sluggish foreign demand, the government’s efforts to cut pollution-heavy production of steel,

cement and coal and slumping output of tobacco products.

“The decline in industrial output growth in the January-February period was due to industrial structural reforms and the unstable basis of an industrial recovery as well as seasonal factors,” Jiang said in a statement.

The NBS released statistics covering two months to smooth out distortions due to China’s Lunar New year holiday last month.

Wang Baobin, another NBS analyst, attributed accelerating fixed-asset investment to government policies and construction projects to support the economy and a pickup in property investment growth to three percent compared to one percent for all of 2015.

“The government continued to earmark funds at the start of this year to accelerate the start of a series of major constructions,” Wang said.

But analysts with investment bank CICC Macro said that the pickup in public infrastructure spending will not boost private sector investment unless “their confidence can be restored”.

China’s leaders have sought to reassure global investors during the annual meeting of the rubber-stamp National People’s Congress (NPC), with the country’s top economic planner saying last week that the country “absolutely will not have a hard landing”.

Premier Li Keqiang set the growth target for this year in a range of 6.5-7%, acknowledging in a speech opening the NPC that “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”.

The data are the latest snapshot of the health of the Asian colossus - a major driver of the global economy - which grew 6.9% last year, the slowest rate in a quarter century. l

ing across the euro area, as liquidity has not been a key constraint for many banks,” Moody’s said.

The programme could have a “significant” positive impact if it succeeds in boosting economic growth and inflation, the agency said.

“However, given the relative lack of efficacy thus far, perhaps the most positive aspect is the ECB’s continued willingness to take further action to try and boost growth and inflation in the euro area,” it said.

ECB ‘cannot win on its own’

The ECB’s latest salvo demonstrates that it still has ammunition in its arsenal, said Capital Economics analyst Jonathan Loynes.

“But it can’t win the battle on its own,” he added.

“We have long warned that monetary policy cannot address all of the deep-seated problems facing the currency union, including the fundamental lack of competitiveness of the peripheral countries and structurally weak growth in the core,” Loynes said. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman has recently handed over a cheque of Tk10 lakh to an entrepreneur (SME) of Sonali Bank Limited on the occasion of Women Entrepreneur Conference and Product Presentation Fair 2016, said a press release. MD and CEO (current charge) of Sonali Bank Limited, Md Ataur Rahman was present on the occasion

A conference was recently held on occasion of selecting qualified bidder in context of expression of notice pre-EOI for Ghorashal Polash Fertilizer Project, said a press release. BCIC Chairperson Mohammed Iqbal chaired the conference

National Bank Limited has recently held its annual business review and budget session for the year 2016, said a press release. The bank’s deputy managing director, ASM Bulbul was present at the session among other high officials of the bank

Union Group has recently opened a store named Mobile World in Gulshan for selling high-end smart phones, said a press release. The store was inaugurated

by Raquibul Kabir, managing director of Union Group and Dilip Kumar Agarwal, managing director of Diamond World

19

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Biz Info

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

| summit |

British Council organises PRODIGY

British Council Bangladesh, in partnership with Civil Society organisations including Democracywatch, Shushilan, The Hunger Project, Uttaran and Wave Foundation, organised a National Youth Summit under one of its youth focused projects called

PRODIGY (Promoting Democratic Inclusion and Governance through Youth) at the Bangla Academy today.

PRODIGY has developed the knowledge and skills of 540 young individuals to engage the wider community through volunteer

activities. This includes youth club activities, theatre performances, internships with local government, community radio programs and public dialogues, creating platforms and channels to ensure that the wider community has access to government information.

PRODIGY also supports innovative and creative ways to ensure that marginalised communities receive the information and guidance they need to enable participation in, and contribution to, social change.

The National Summit of PRODIGY invited around 500 people from PRODIGY network in Dhaka to provide them a platform to showcase their brilliant work in the community to increase people’s access government information and services.

Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Honourable Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, was present at the event as chief guest. Barbara Wickham, Director of British Council Bangladesh, was also present among other eminent personalities. Osama Bin Noor, winner of 2016 Queen’s Young Leaders and member of Active Citizens, shared his inspiring story in the session.

“Bangladesh now is going through a very important phase of its history. For at least the next 15 years, the country is going to have a large portion of its population at optimum working age, who, with the right guidance and initiative,

| contest |

| dining |

All about programming

Dessert craze at Bittersweet

Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP), with support from the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), is organising the National Collegiate Programming Contest (NCPC) at the UAP City Campus in Dhaka.

NCPC is a national programming contest which provides a platform for young students to compete against computer programmers within all universities in Bangladesh. Both public and private universities are able to participate.

The NCPC started its journey

could take Bangladesh to the next level of socio-economic and democratic prosperity. Integrating education with social initiatives is extremely important for young Bangladeshis to take the country forward as they move along,” said Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique. ‘‘The British Council recognises Bangladesh as a country with very high potential for rapid development. One of the major driving forces of that optimism is the large number of Bangladeshi youth. They will take Bangladesh towards fast economic growth and social prosperity. We are working very hard everyday to make sure young Bangladeshi citizens are equipped with the right knowledge and awareness to materialise the possibilities ahead of them. PRODIGY is part of numerous similar activities we undertake,’ said Barbara Wickham.

PRODIGY is one of British Council’s many initiatives to enrich the youth of Bangladesh with the knowledge and skills to grow into productive and visionary members of the workforce.l

in 1998 and different universities have been organising the event almost every year. This year, the event aimed to be the largest yet in terms of participating universities, and succeeded. During the preliminary contest held online, contestants from roughly 90 universities participated. Out of the 90, a total of 55 were selected to take part in the final on-site event.

The inaugural ceremony was held on March 11, while the prize giving ceremony concluded on March 12. l

Bittersweet Cafe, situated at Gulshan 2, is a place where a latte and a cupcake, on a comfy sofa with some soft tunes in the air makes them the coziest spot in the city of Dhaka.

If you love chocolate, then this

is definitely a place to check out whether you desire a decadent dessert or just a simple chocolate bar to munch on.

The cafe drink menu is creative, overwhelming and raises curiosity.

“The best desserts, consistently for so many years!

We never get tired of their mouthwatering cheesecake and lasagna, hands down the best in town,” reviewed by one of the customer from Bittersweet. l

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CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Wander (4) 3 Festivities (5) 8 Actual (4) 9 Bird (4) 11 Vestige (5) 12 Sagacious (4) 14 Pronoun (3) 15 Thick (5) 18 Banquet (5) 19 Be indebted (3) 21 Heavy substance (4) 24 Makes a hole in (5) 26 Fissure (4) 27 Spoken (4) 28 Narrates (5) 29 Daybreak (4)

DOWN 1 Opulent (4) 2 Declare (4) 4 Do wrong (3) 5 Tantalise (5) 6 Apiece (4) 7 Glossy (5) 10 Broad (4) 11 Time in grammar (5) 13 Closes up (5) 16 Main actor (4) 17 Automation (5) 18 Wild (5) 20 Had on (4) 22 Prima donna (4) 23 Stupefy (4) 25 Old cloth measure (3)

Downtime CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents H so fill H every time the figure 14 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

INSIDE

US, South Korea deter North Korea with largest ever military drill n Reuters, Pohang, S Korea

Cost of 5-year-long conflict in Syria As the war in Syria enters its sixth year with no clear end in sight, here is a glance on what has been the cost of the war: PAGE 23

Trump under fire for rally violence Donald Trump is under fire from rivals who blamed his incendiary rhetoric for a violent outbreak Friday between protestors and supporters at the Republican frontrunner’s rally in Chicago.

PAGE 24

US and South Korean troops staged a big amphibious landing exercise on Saturday, storming simulated North Korean beach defences amid heightened tension and threats by the North to annihilate its enemies.

The landing and assault drills on South Korea’s east coast were part of eight weeks of joint exercises between the allies which the South has said are the largest ever.

The North has denounced the exercises as “nuclear war moves” and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with a long-range rocket launch last month, triggering new UN sanctions.

About 55 US marine aircraft and 30 US and South Korean ships, including the USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Boxer, which carry AV-8B Harrier attack jets and V-22 Osprey aircrafts, took part in the assault on beaches near Pohang city, the US navy said.

“They will penetrate notional enemy beach defenses, establish a beach head, and rapidly transition forces and sustainment ashore,” the US military based in South Korea said in a statement before the exercise.

The North’s military said it was prepared to counter the US and South Korean forces “with an ultra-precision blitzkrieg strike of the Korean style."

“The revolutionary armed forces of the Democratic People’s

South Korean (blue headbands) and US Marines take positions during a US-South Korea joint landing operation drill in Pohang, South Korea on March 12 REUTERS Republic of Korea (DPRK) holding tightly the arms to annihilate the enemies with towering hatred for them are waiting for the dignified Supreme Command to issue an order to launch a preemptive strike of justice,” it said in comments carried by the state KCNA news agency.

CNN reported on Saturday that North Korea has been searching for one of its submarines that has been missing for days off its east coast.

The submarine may be adrift under the sea or have sunk, perhaps after a technical problem during an exercise, CNN quoted US officials with intelligence of se-

cret US monitoring of the North’s activities as saying.

North Korea has said it is developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles although doubts about that were raised after Western experts said publicly released footage of tests appeared to be fake.

On Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched as his forces fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea.

This month the North conducted drills with what it said were newly developed large caliber rocket launchers.

Kim has ordered the country to improve its nuclear attack capability by conducting more tests, in

defiance of a UN Security Council resolution adopted last week in response to the isolated state’s latest nuclear test.

Kim also said his country had miniaturised nuclear warheads to mount on ballistic missiles, although the US and South Korean governments have expressed doubts about that too.

The South Korean and US militaries have said they had notified the North of “the non-provocative nature” of the exercises involving about 17,000 American troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans.

The United States has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea. l

Q&A

Another Korean Peninsula crisis; maybe not Merkel defends migrant stance before Super Sunday With a passionate defence of her migrant policy, Chancellor Angela Merkel threw herself into one last campaign push on the eve of “Super Sunday” elections in three German states that risk weakening her.

PAGE 24

North Korea threatens nuclear annihilation, fires ballistic missiles into the sea in a show of defiance, tests a nuclear bomb and launches a long-range rocket into space as South Korea and the United States stage huge military drills.

A full-blown crisis, right? Maybe not. Or, at least, not yet.

Things change very quickly on the Korean Peninsula, where a single miscalculation could set off two bitter rivals that face each other across the world’s most heavily armed border.

But, so far, the current state of affairs is not even close to the past standoffs

between the Koreas.

South Koreans, as they usually do, are mostly ignoring the threats, and there’s a feeling among many that this is just another fairly standard development in the long, complex rivalry between Pyongyang and US-backed Seoul.

With the caveat that’s always needed when talking about North Korea - that is, that no outsider, really, can glean the inner workings of authoritarian, guarded Pyongyang - here’s a brief explanation of what’s going on:

Why is north korea doing this?

Some outsiders think of North Korea and its young leader, Kim Jong Un, as crazy and unpredictable. But although it is very difficult to read a country that applies huge constraints on the media, its citizens and foreign visitors, and locks down most information on government workings, many outside analysts believe Pyongyang is, in large part, actually very careful in its calculations.

In this case, North Korea is doing several things at once.

It is expressing its extreme anger over recent “hostile” UN sanctions

over the nuclear test and rocket launch, and over decades of annual US-South Korean military drills - this year’s version is described as the biggest ever.

Pyongyang, poor but proud, surrounded by regional powerhouses, calls the war games a carefully rehearsed preparation for a northward invasion by two countries that want to topple its leadership. The North is also believed to resent having to respond to the drills with costly exercises of its own,  PAGE 22 COLUMN 1

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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

US Gun industry wants looser rules on silencers n Reuters, Fairfax, Virginia The US gun industry is trying to shake off the Hollywood hitman image of the gun silencer and rebrand it as a hearing-protection device in a campaign to roll back regulations that date to the 1930s.

Industry lobbying has led to more than a dozen states legalizing silencers for hunting since 2011.

Now gun advocates are pressing Congress to repeal a Depression-era law that requires a months-long screening process for silencer buyers - far more scrutiny than gun buyers face.

Sales of silencers - or “suppressors,” as the industry prefers to call them - are booming. The number of silencers registered with the US government more than doubled to 792,282 in February 2015 from 360,534 in March 2012, according to the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Silencers are rarely used in crimes, according to a 10-year study published in 2007 by the Western Criminology Review. Researchers estimated silencers were involved in 30 to 40 of the 75,000 federal criminal cases filed each year. The study found only two federal cases involving a silencer used in murders.

Prohibition gangsters

Silencers have been tightly regulated since 1934, when Congress restricted access to machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and other weapons used by gangs.

Those wishing to buy a silencer must pay a $200 fee - the equivalent of $3,500 at the time the law was passed - submit fingerprints

The silencer boom Sales of gun silencers have grown dramatically and the industry is pushing to make them easier to buy.

REGISTERED SILENCERS 800 thousand 700 600 500 400 300 200

lencer in a violent crime under federal law face a minimum of 30 years in prison.

Despite their new popularity, silencers don’t appear to be turning up much on the streets. Police in Philadelphia and Richmond, Virginia, two high-crime cities in the eastern US, haven’t encountered silencers at crime scenes or during investigations, according to spokespeople for the departments.

Silencers were used by a former Los Angeles police officer in a 2013 killing spree, according to the Police Foundation – one reason the law-enforcement research group wants to keep restrictions in place.

Industry officials point out that silencer-equipped handguns are difficult to conceal, reducing their appeal for criminals. That could change: one manufacturer, SilencerCo, is developing a handgun with built-in noise reduction that it sees as a future mainstay of the industry.

‘Silencers’ are hardly silent

100 0

Dec 2010

March 2012

April 2013

March 2014

Feb. 2015

Source: US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives S. Culp, 19/02/2016 and a photograph, and secure the approval of their local police chief.

Approval by ATF typically takes four to nine months.

Despite these hurdles, silencers have grown in popularity. Inflation has eroded the price of a permit.

REUTERS And a new generation of manufacturers has developed lighter and more affordable products. Prices range from about $200 to nearly $2,000.

Penalties for misuse are steep.

People found guilty of using a si-

On a recent Saturday at the National Rifle Association’s headquarters outside Washington, D.C., Knox Williams screwed a black canister on the end of a Remington hunting rifle and sighted a target 60 feet away.

When he pulled the trigger, the resulting crack was still loud enough to require all those nearby to wear ear protection. But it lacked the chest-thumping force of a conventional shot.

As head of the American Suppressor Association, an industry lobbying group, Williams spends much of his time demonstrating that silencers aren’t silent.

They can help muffle the sound

of a bullet leaving the barrel of a gun, but they can’t do anything about the “crack” of a bullet breaking the sound barrier.

His group, founded in 2011, has helped to persuade 16 states to legalise hunting with silencers and 13 states to pass laws preventing local police chiefs from blocking silencer applications. He’s now targeting 12 states that either outlaw silencer ownership entirely or prohibit it for hunting.

Many silencer-friendly laws have passed by wide margins, sometimes over the objections of law enforcement officials.

In Augusta, Maine, police chief Robert Gregoire said silencer-equipped gunshots may sound further away than a typical gunshot, making it hard to track hunters in unauthorized areas. Also, he now cannot block silencer sales for residents he suspects may not use them responsibly.

In Congress, Salmon’s Hearing Protection Act has attracted 51 co-sponsors and support by the NRA and other industry groups.

But it’s unclear whether it will advance. Salmon has announced he will retire at the end of the year, and Congress is unlikely to pass controversial legislation ahead of November general elections.

One new rule change hasn’t gone the industry’s way.

In July, the Obama administration will make it more difficult to buy silencers through a legal trust, a method of purchase that allowed one person to share the device. The rules will require people listed on the trust to submit fingerprints and photographs. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Another Korean Peninsula crisis; maybe not taking its troops away from much-needed work on farms and infrastructure projects. North Korea must also show strength confronting a new, much harder-line stance in Seoul.

Conservative South Korean President Park Geun-hye has responded to the nuclear test and rocket launch by shutting down the last major point of inter-Korean cooperation, a jointly run factory park in the North.

She has also talked openly about the uber-sensitive subject of “regime collapse” in Pyongyang and ordered unilateral sanctions against the North.

North Korea is also trying to give its people a good show.

Ahead of a once-in-a-generation party congress in May, Kim needs to give the impression that he is leading a strong, defiant country that will never bow to outside pressure.

How does this compare to past crises?

So far, it’s not even close to rivalling the kinds of face-offs the Koreas have become infamous for.

South Koreans, never likely to panic over even the harshest North Korean threats, are paying much more attention to the fate of South Korean baseball players in the US major leagues, for instance.

This has not always been the case.

In 1968, dozens of North Korean commandos were killed within a few kilometres of the presidential mansion in Seoul during a mission to assassinate the South Korean dictator, father of the current president. In 1976, North Koreans ax-murdered two American officers in the Demilitarized Zone between the countries, prompting a furious Washington to send nuclear-capable B-52 bombers flying toward the North before veering away. In 1994 and again in

the early 2000s, nuclear crises seemed at times in danger of prompting armed conflict. Just five years ago, 50 South Koreans were killed in two separate attacks blamed on the North.

If anything, this round may resemble the early stages of a confrontation that happened just two years ago.

Young Kim Jong Un, furious about UN sanctions over another nuclear test-rocket launch combination, embarked on a weeks-long torrent of belligerent rhetoric. The North threatened to attack specific targets in South Korea, US bases in the Pacific, even the mainland United States; declared the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War null and void; said it was restarting its nuclear fuel reactor; and closed down the jointly run industrial park. The United States responded by staging flyovers of South Korea of nuclear-capable bombers.

Then the war drills ended in the South, the fiery rhetoric from the North eased and then died, the factory park reopened, talk of reconciliation began again - and the animosity began to dip.

What next?

The realms of media and academia are littered with failed predictions about North Korea’s future.

The country’s demise, for instance, has been predicted regularly since the end of fighting in the Korean War, in 1953. North Korea couldn’t, it was said, survive the death of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, in 1994, and then the death of his son, Kim Jong Il, and rise of the current young, relatively inexperienced Kim, in 2011.

That said, some analysts think Pyongyang could keep up its stream of threatening rhetoric, stage occasional missile firings to show its anger, even do

another nuclear test or rocket launch, at least until the US-South Korean war games stop at the end of April and the North Korean party congress is staged in May. In the past, North Korea has followed periods of conflict by offering talks meant to win aid.

Seoul and Washington have seen all this before, and know in theory how to respond.

The danger comes from the things they can’t control. From a change in the above script. From a miscalculation.

From an act of genuine fury by the human beings squared off against each other across the land border or the disputed boundary separating them in the Yellow Sea. Or from an accident.

All of these possibilities make even a “routine” crisis on the Korean Peninsula something to keep an eye on. l

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

23

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

FACTBOX

SOUTH ASIA

Cost of 5-year-long conflict in Syria As the war in Syria enters its sixth year with no clear end in sight, here is a glance on what has been the cost of the war:

The conflict in Syria 2011

2012

2013

Revolt and repression

All-out war, foreign intervention

Chemical weapons, radicalisation

Dead and injured

There are no reliably precise statistics on the number of people killed in Syria’s war due to an inability to monitor on the ground. According to the UN, over 250,000 people have been killed and well over a million wounded. But officials acknowledge that figure has not been updated in months. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition group that monitors the war, puts the death toll at more than 270,000, while a recent report by the Syrian Centre for Policy Research, an independent think tank, said 470,000 deaths have been caused by the conflict, either directly or indirectly.

The displaced

Almost half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million has been displaced by the war. The UN refugee agency says there are 6.5 million displaced within Syria and 4.8 million refugees outside Syria.

Much of the remaining population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The refugees have mostly fled to neighbouring countries Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq - and have flooded Europe, where most arrive after a treacherous sea journey from Turkey.

The cities

Historic Aleppo, Syria’s largest city

Syria opposition to attend Geneva peace talks

n Reuters. Beirut

Syria’s main opposition group said it would attend peace talks on Monday but accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of preparing to escalate the war to strengthen its negotiating position.

The UN-brokered talks, which coincide with the fifth anniversary of the conflict, will take place in Geneva two weeks after the start of a ceasefire agreement.

The latest talks are intended to focus on future political arrangements in Syria, a new constitution and elections, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said. The opposition HNC said it wanted the talks to concentrate on the establishment of an interim governing body with full executive powers. HNC spokesman Salim al-Muslat said they expected a government escalation with the aim of strengthening Damascus’s position at the negotiating table. l

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World

DAMASCUS

Regime backed by:

Nationwide protests against regime.

Crackdown

Scores of rebel groups battle regime for control of towns

2014

RUSSIA IRAN

Al-Nusra

TURKEY GULF STATES

Emergence of Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra

QATAR WESTERN POWERS

Moderates lose ground to jihadists

US-led coalition attacks Dae’sh Sources: UNHCR, IDMC, SCPR

and former commercial center, has been devastated. Its ancient souks and the famed Umayyad Mosque complex have been trashed, its 11th century minaret toppled. Homs city, Syria’s third largest, lies in ruins, entire blocks reduced to rubble or uninhabitable husks of housing.

Lost heritage

Almost all of Syria’s UNESCO World Heritage sites have been either damaged or destroyed, including Aleppo in the north, the ancient town of Bosra in the south, the Crac des Chevaliers – one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world – and the Palmyra archaeological site. Some have been damaged by

Dae’sh

Jihadist rebels

Dae’sh enters war, fighting:

Regime

Where we are now

Attacks: RUSSIA TURKEY

Rebels Kurds

Deaths:

up to 270,000*

Refugees abroad:

4.8 million (21% ofpopulation)

Internally displaced:

6.6 million (29% of pop.)

*Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR). The UN stopped counting in 2014

fighting and shelling, others intentionally blown up or pillaged.

The Dae’sh, which took control of Palmyra last year, destroyed many of its Roman-era relics, including the 2000-year-old Temple of Bel and the iconic Arch of Triumph.

Economy

There is no accurate estimate for the economic cost of the ongoing war. A recent report by the charity group World Vision and the consultant group Frontier Economics estimated that the conflict has so far cost Syria $275bn in lost growth opportunities - 150 times more than pre-war Syria’s health budget. If the conflict ends in 2020, the cost of the conflict will

grow to $1.3tn, it estimated.

The costs to others

Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq have borne the brunt of the economic impact of the war. Already in fragile situations, many of them are facing tremendous budgetary pressure. The World Bank estimates, for instance, that the influx of more than 630,000 Syrian refugees has cost Jordan over $2.5bn a year.

This amounts to 6% of GDP and one-fourth of government’s annual revenue. Cash-strapped Lebanon is also stretched to a breaking point and Turkey says it can no longer afford to take in refugees. l

Source-ASSOCIATED PRESS

INSIGHT

Activists who lit Syria revolt washed away in migrant wave n AFP, Beirut, Lebanon When hopeful pro-democracy activists in Syria took to the streets in 2011, they couldn’t have imagined that five years later they might end up living as refugees in Europe.

Syria’s conflict erupted on March 15, 2011, when protesters massed on the streets to demand that President Bashar al-Assad step down.

Activists took the lead, using Facebook and Skype to organise protests, speak with international journalists, and broadcast clever slogans calling for the regime’s downfall.

Shahinian, a Christian, joined the movement, and was subsequently jailed and tortured.

When the jihadist Dae’sh took over his native city Raqa in 2013,

he began receiving terrifying death threats.

Smuggled into Turkey in an ambulance, Shahinian became one of nearly five million Syrians who have fled the country since the conflict began.

Like most other new arrivals in Germany, his first port of call was an asylum-seeker camp, where he shared a room with some 10 other people.

He tries to keep his cause alive by volunteering for a civil society group in Berlin named Citizens for Syria and learning German, though he admits “it is very hard to get used to the new life.”

Major powers’ playing field

Ahmad al-Rifai, a 24-year-old who spent months taking photos in opposition strongholds across

Myanmar’s army sparked public criticism Saturday after it nominated a retired general still blacklisted by the US to be vice president of the country’s first civilian government in decades.

Hardliner Myint Swe, 64, is seen as a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe and comes from a military establishment.

-AFP

INDIA

2016

Conflict becomes international UK FRANCE

1,400+ die

Regime uses chemical weapons

S. ARABIA

2015

Rise of Dae’sh Dae’sh siezes 30% of country, most gas/oil production

Rival rebel groups backed by:

Public backlash against Myanmar army’s blacklisted VP nominee

northern Syria, is also in Germany – where more than one million asylum requests were registered last year.

He blames the Syrian government but also the international community for the transformation of the revolt into a war that has killed 270,000 people.

Despite the pain of watching his ravaged country from afar, Rifai tries to stay hopeful.

He has learned to speak German since arriving in Aachen city in 2014, and he serves as a translator between newly arrived refugees and Red Cross volunteers.

In April, he will start an internship with a digital media company. He hopes one day to return to Syria, to help rebuild.

“Once an activist, always an activist,” he says. l

Chinese patrols enter Indian territory Personnel of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China transgressed into the Indian territory in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, twice in the past four days, an official in the security establishment said. While the first incident was reported on March 8, there was a face-off between the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Chinese PLA on Friday as well.

-THE HINDU

CHINA

China’s labour law under fire China’s labour protections are coming under fire from high places as economic restructuring pits officials concerned about social stability against a lobby arguing inflexible policies are stifling job creation and suppressing wages.

Policymakers anxious to modernise China’s slowing economy and slash overcapacity in heavy industry are making similar noises.

-REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

New find of suspected MH370 debris to be sent to Australia A new piece of debris found by a South African holidaymaker that could be a part of the missing Malaysian flight MH370 will be sent to Australia for analysis, aviation authorities said. Teenager Liam Lotter told local media he had found the metre-long piece of metal on a beach while on holiday in Mozambique in December, and had taken it home. It was only when news broke earlier this month of a suspected piece of the Malaysia Airlines plane was found in Mozambique that the family got in touch with authorities.

-AFP

MIDDLE EAST

Turkish air strikes kill 67 Kurdish militants in Iraq Turkey’s army said on Saturday it killed 67 Kurdish militants in air strikes on camps and ammunition storage sites in neighbouring northern Iraq on Wednesday. Jets targeted sites at Qandil, Metina, Avasin, Haftanin and Basyan used by Kurdistan Workers’ Party militants, the armed forces said.

-REUTERS

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USA

Obama has narrowed Supreme Court pick to 3 US President Barack Obama has narrowed his choice to fill the nation’s Supreme Court vacancy down to three judges. The president is considering DC-based Merrick Garland and Sri Srinivasan, and California-based Paul Watford. -AFP

THE AMERICAS

Brazil’s President: Not resigning in political crisis Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff rejected calls for her resignation on Friday amidst a political storm deepened by a massive corruption scandal and blamed her opponents for causing a crisis that has hurt the Brazilian economy. The leftist leader is losing ground among her coalition allies and faces nationwide demonstrations Sunday organized by opposition parties seeking to rally support for impeaching the president in Congress.

-REUTERS

UK

N Ireland calls for unity vote if Britain leaves EU Britain should commit to holding a vote to unite Ireland if its citizens choose to leave the EU in a referendum in June, Northern Ireland’s nationalist deputy first minister said on Friday. A so-called Brexit would represent a political and economic game changer for the island of Ireland, Martin McGuinness of the Sinn Fein party said, calling for an immediate border poll if Britain voted to leave.

-REUTERS

EUROPE

Protest against constitutional crisis deepens in Poland Tens of thousands of Poles marched through Warsaw on Saturday demanding their government respect the constitution, in an escalation of a confrontation pitting the opposition, the country’s top court and the EU against the ruling conservatives. Waving Polish and EU flags and chanting “constitution,” the crowds on the opposition rally called on the government to recognise a court ruling against divisive legal reforms.

-REUTERS

AFRICA

South African court to try misconduct cases against peacekeepers A mobile South African military court has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo to try 32 South African peacekeepers accused of misconduct, the UN mission in Congo said on Friday. Friday’s statement said none of the 32 cases to be tried in Congo involved alleged sexual abuse. It said that the mobile courts, which South Africa first used in 2001, represented an important tool in the fight against impunity.

-REUTERS

Trump under fire for rally violence n AFP, Chicago Donald Trump is under fire from rivals who blamed his incendiary rhetoric for a violent outbreak Friday between protestors and supporters at the Republican frontrunner’s rally in Chicago.

Trump cancelled the event after demonstrators scuffled with his supporters and police struggled to maintain order, with hundreds of protesters showing up.

“When you have a campaign that affirmatively encourages violence, when you have a campaign that is facing allegations of physical violence against members of the press, you create an environment that only encourages this sort of nasty discord,” Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination, Ted Cruz, told reporters.

Throngs of protesters, many of them blacks and Latinos angered

by Trump’s incendiary anti-immigrant rhetoric, had massed outside and inside the venue in Chicago, mingling with the candidate’s supporters.

Pundits said the chaos at the rally was reminiscent of violent protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, also in Chicago, held when the United States was torn apart by opposing views on the Vietnam War. A Trump rally scheduled for Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio has also been cancelled, with the local spokesman for the campaign telling US media that Secret Service supporting the campaign could not complete preparation work in time.

CNN estimated there were between 8,500 to 10,000 people in

the arena in Chicago when tensions erupted into chaos.

The billionaire said he decided to call off the gathering after consulting with police in the city, where tensions had been rising for hours in the build-up to the event at a sporting arena at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

“I don’t want to see anybody hurt,” Trump told CNN afterwards.

“I think we made the right decision (to cancel)... even though our freedom of speech was violated.”

The chaos ended several hours later, but not before members of the crowd threw bottles and other objects at officers, and several tried to take the stage and speak at the podium.

One sign held by a protester inside the arena said “We are not rapists,” referring to Trump’s characterization last year of Mexicans as rapists.

- ‘Address the anger together’ Police made a total of five arrests and two officers were taken to area hospitals after sustaining minor injuries, the Chicago Police Department confirmed to AFP. Critics have accused Trump of fueling the toxic atmosphere. On February 1, as protesters interrupted a rally in Iowa, he encouraged supporters to “knock the crap out of them,” and pledged to pay their legal fees.

When a protester disrupted Trump’s speech in Las Vegas, the brash billionaire said he would like to “punch him in the face.”

Trump dismissed the notion that he was responsible for whipping up tensions.

In a statement, Trump’s campaign said he had determined that “for the safety of all of the tens

Demonstrators hold signs and cheer after Trump cancelled his rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago on March 11 REUTERS of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date.”

“Please go in peace,” it added.

Trump’s rivals framed the outbreak as at least partially caused by the frontrunner’s incendiary rhetoric.

Candidate John Kasich, also a Republican, said that “the seeds of division that Donald Trump has been sowing this whole campaign finally bore fruit, and it was ugly.”

The chaotic scenes come just days before the states of Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri vote in the party primaries on March 15.

Many in the party see next

Tuesday’s votes as the last best chance to derail the insurgent candidacy of the billionaire mogul, who has so far won 15 of 24 primary races.

The sudden security concerns mark a major test for Trump as he seeks to lock up the nomination and turn his attention to doing battle against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner.

Clinton was quick to strike out at Trump over the Chicago violence, releasing a statement late Friday in which she said “we all have our differences, and we know many people across the country feel angry. We need to address that anger together.” l

Merkel defends migrant stance before Super Sunday n Reuters, Berlin

demanding their support.

With a passionate defence of her migrant policy, Chancellor Angela Merkel threw herself into one last campaign push on the eve of “Super Sunday” elections in three German states that risk weakening her.

Migration is the touchstone issue in the three votes - two in western states, and one in the east - with many people worried how Germany can cope with a refugee crisis that saw over 1 million migrants arrive in the country last year.

Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) have been losing support to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has profited from popular angst about migrants after her high-risk decision last year to open Germany’s borders to refugees fleeing war in Syria.

Already represented in five of

Wine queen

Rally against the German government’s immigration policies and migrants in Berlin on March 12. The slogan reads ‘Merkel must go’ REUTERS Germany’s 16 regional parliaments, the AfD looks set to burst into three more on Sunday, campaigning on slogans such as “Secure the borders! Stop the asylum chaos!”

Now Merkel, in power since 2005 and facing a federal elec-

tion next year, is trying to secure a Europe-wide solution to stem the flow of refugees. She alarmed many European Union leaders at a summit this week by gambling on a last-minute draft deal with Turkey to stop the migrant flow, and

At the rally in Baden-Wuerttemberg, where the CDU candidate is trailing the incumbent Greens state premier in polls, she said European leaders were spending too long talking about the Turkey deal and that it was a sensible, cost-effective solution.

Merkel must still seal the Turkey deal with EU leaders at their next summit on March 17-18. She will go into that meeting weakened if her party performs poorly in the state elections.

In Baden-Wuerttemberg, a CDU stronghold for over 50 years before turning to a Green-led coalition with the Social Democrats after Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, the Greens’ state premier is poised to pip his CDU rival. l

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INSIDE

Rumana spins web around Irish women Rumana Ahmed ran circles around Ireland women with her leg-spin, grabbing 4 for 12, as Bangladesh women completed a clinical eight-wicket win with 7.3 overs to spare in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2016 warm-up match in Bangalore yesterday. PAGE 26

Afghans thrash Zim, enter Super 10s Mohammad Nabi’s brisk fifty and a clinical bowling show helped Afghanistan knock Zimbabwe out of the World T20 with an emphatic 59-run win to storm into the Super 10s in Nagpur yesterday. In pursuit of 187, Zimbabwe were shot out for 127. PAGE 27

My methods are working: Van Gaal Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that his methods are working despite his side’s one-sided Europa League loss to arch rivals Liverpool.

United’s Champions League qualification hopes are also fading in the Premier League. PAGE 28

Majestic Buffon sets new club record Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon has beaten Dino Zoff ’s club record of 903 minutes without conceding in Serie A. The Italian has now gone 926 minutes since being beaten in the league after a 10th successive clean sheet in Friday’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo. PAGE 29

Bangladesh cricket team were confined to their hotel in Dharamsala yesterday owing to persistent rainfall. Amid the pouring rain, captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza did not miss the opportunity of taking a selfie in the presence of team mates (R-L) Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal INTERNET

We found nothing wrong with Taskin’s action: Streak Uddin Khan n Minhaz from Dharamsala Bangladesh pace bowling coach Heath Streak believes there is nothing wrong with pacer Taskin Ahmed’s bowling action. Taskin, along with spinner Arafat Sunny came under the radar of the International Cricket Council after match referee Andy Pycroft reported their actions following the first round match against the Netherlands in the 2016 World Twenty20 in Dharamsala last Wednesday.

Streak informed that following the report, the Bangladesh coaching staff worked on Taskin’s visuals, trying to explore if there is anything wrong, but had failed in their pursuit.

According to the former Zimbabwe captain, Taskin is disappointed with the situation but is fully confident of coming out of it. The right-arm fast bowler is scheduled to fly to Chennai today to attend the bowling action test before joining the team in Delhi tomorrow.

Sunny, meanwhile, underwent his test in Chennai yesterday and is all set to join the Tigers before their game against Oman in Dharamsala today.

TODAY'S MATCHES Group A 3:30PM, 11th Match

Ireland v Netherlands 8:00PM, 12th Match

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

“Obviously he (Taskin) is disappointed that this has happened but we are hundred percent confident that he will be cleared. I have looked at footage from when I had started till now and there is no change in his action. The coaching staff and a few others have also looked into it and we believe he is fine.

I am confident. I am not just saying this just to support him. I

honestly believe he is fine and is going to play an important part for us in the World [T20],” Streak told the media yesterday.

“I think it is simple. If you feel there is a problem, it is something you have to deal with. In this situation it is frustrating and in the visuals he can see it himself that he is okay. I believe he is now happy after seeing the visuals of that match and other visuals that we had.

“We do not have excuses to everything but in our opinion he has got a perfect and legal action.

There is a process we have to go through which is to go and give the test and hopefully it will put the dust to this,” said the former Zimbabwe paceman.

Bangladesh face Oman today in a winner-takes-all clash in Dharamsala and Streak believes the Tigers are ready for the challenge.

“We do not take any team lightly. Oman have caused a few upsets and beating Ireland is the big thing. So, we are not taking them lightly at all,” he added. l

What if BangladeshOman match is abandoned?

Both the Group A matches in the first round of the ongoing 2016 World Twenty20 last Friday were called off in Dharamsala due to persistent rainfall. In a sad turn to events, it also rained throughout the entirety of yesterday in the hilly city.

According to the weather forecast, Dharamsala will also experience heavy rain today, putting the Bangladesh-Oman Group A decider in jeopardy. Both the teams have three points from two matches so the winner of the tie will progress to the main round of the global showpiece event where hosts India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand lie in wait.

But what if the rain-gods intervene again today? Tigers fans, rest assured. According to the net run rate, Bangladesh (+0.4) are ahead of Oman (+0.2). In the event of another postponement, the two sides will share the points but it is the men in red and green who will go through by virtue of a superior net run rate.

TRIBUNE REPORT

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Rumana spins web around Irish women n ICC Rumana Ahmed ran circles around Ireland women with her leg-spin, grabbing 4 for 12, as Bangladesh women completed a clinical eight-wicket win with 7.3 overs to spare in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2016 warm-up match in Bangalore yesterday.

After opting to bat at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Ireland could only manage 74 for 9. It was a total that was below par and, unsurprisingly, Bangladesh barely broke sweat in the chase.

Ayasha Rahman and Sharmin Akhter began brightly with a 27-

BRIEF SCORE Ireland women 74/9 in 20 overs (Laura Delany 17; Rumana Ahmed 4-12) lost to Bangladesh women 79/2 in 12.3 overs (Sharmin Akhter 36*) by 8 wickets run stand in four overs, before Ayasha fell to Lucy O’Reilly for 11. Ciara Metcalfe then bowled out Sanjida Islam, but Sharmin got some welcome time in the middle, hitting five fours in her 37-ball 36.

She helped take Bangladesh across the line in the 13th over, with Jahanara Alam (16 not out in nine balls) finishing it off with a six. l

Bangladesh women celebrate following their eight-wicket win over Ireland women yesterday in their second warm-up match of the 2016 Women’s World Twenty20 ICC

Aamir Kaleem, from a catering manager to a national hero Uddin n Mazhar from Dharamsala A catering manager by profession, Oman vice-captain Aamir Kaleem is living his dream in the ongoing 2016 World Twenty20.

Even a couple of years ago, Kaleem never thought of taking the field against a Test-playing nation as he worked eight hours everyday in a catering service provider company in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

His dream however, will turn into reality today when they face Bangladesh in the first round of the global showpiece event.

“Professionally, I am a catering manager in Muscat where I work for eight hours a day. Later, I practise in the evening. Almost all the members of the Oman team work in different professions but our love for cricket connects us together,” said Kaleem on the eve of the Bangladesh clash.

The 34-year old received good support from his office. Kaleem was allowed to take part in the sixth edition of the World T20 and he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Oman created a mighty upset

in their first-round opener against Ireland, registering a historic two-wicket win. Kaleem, a left-arm spinner who also bats left-handed, chipped in with his contribution, picking up a wicket and conceding only 27 runs from his quota of four overs.

And following the cancellation of their second game against the Netherlands due to rain, Oman suddenly find themselves on the verge of history as a win against the Tigers will take them through to the main round of the competition.

Irrespective of whether Oman make history or not, Kaleem said

they are already national heroes back home.

“I speak with my family almost everyday. There are huge celebrations whenever our football team wins. But after our win over Ireland, people back home started to notice us. I heard that there have been huge celebrations on the roads after we beat Ireland in the first game,” he said, pride clearly visible in his eyes.

Today, Oman will be up against a huge challenge in the shape of the high-flying Tigers. Having only become an Associate side last year, they have never encountered a Full Member nation before.

Kaleem too is under no illusions with the tough task facing them.

“We never thought of reaching this stage. We never thought that we would come this far. We now have a chance to qualify for the main round of the World T20.

But things changed after our win against Ireland which helped us to dream even bigger now. The confidence is there with us and you never know, we might surprise the world,” he explained.

Kaleem added that, win or lose, the Omani cricketers will be better for the Dharamsala experience. l

PLAYERS TO WATCH

TAMIM IQBAL

MUNIS ANSARI

The dashing left-hander is in terrific form in the ongoing 2016 World Twenty20. Tamim displayed power cricket along with some sheer class in both the first-round matches against the Netherlands and Ireland. The 26-year old stood firm in the face of adversity against the Dutch, remaining unbeaten on 83 off just 58 balls, despite the fall of regular wickets at the other end. The swashbuckling southpaw continued from where he had left off, blasting a quickfire 26-ball 47 against the Irish.

The Tigers will once again look to Tamim to provide a blistering start against Oman today.

The right-arm seamer was outstanding with the ball in their historic two-wicket win over Ireland in the first game of the qualifiers. The 29-year old, whose bowling action is similar to that of Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga, was the chief architect behind the victory, courtesy his 3/37 from his four overs.

Oman, who are now just a win away from creating further history, will depend heavily on Ansari as they face the high-flying Tigers today.

The Tigers would do well to observe Ansari's bowling action closely before launching against him.

–MAZHAR UDDIN

Bangladesh

Oman

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Afghanistan thrash Zimbabwe, enter World T20 Super 10s

WT20 BYTES England beat New Zealand in warm-up England defeated New Zealand by six wickets in their World Twenty20 warm-up match in Mumbai yesterday. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat with captain Kane Williamson smashing a 63 that included nine fours as the Black Caps made 169 for eight in their 20 overs. The second highest scorer for New Zealand was Ross Taylor who finished on 19 not out at the western Indian city’s Wankhede Stadium. England opener Jason Roy then powered his way to 55 off 36 balls, including seven runs and two sixes, while Alex Hales notched 44 as England reached 170 for four with four balls remaining.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid was the standout performer of England’s bowling attack, grabbing three wickets for just 15 runs.

n AFP, Nagpur

-AFP

Team must rise above threats in India: Waqar Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis on Friday said a potentially hostile environment in India should motivate the country’s national cricket team as they prepare to travel to their arch-rival’s turf to compete in the World Twenty20.

Waqar called on his squad to rise to the challenge minutes after the Pakistani government announced it would send the team to India following security assurances from New Delhi, ending months of uncertainty. Pakistan had delayed their departure for neighbouring India earlier this week citing concerns about threats from Hindu religious extremists against the team.

–AFP

Stump-hoarding Dhoni eyes more memorabilia at WT20 Mahendra Singh Dhoni has grown a reputation as a notorious hoarder of souvenir stumps and considering India’s imperious form going into the World Twenty20, few would be surprised if he adds one more to his formidable collection on April 3. After all, inaugural champions India go into the sixth edition of the tournament as the top-ranked team in the world, having won 10 of their 11 matches this year. India’s most successful captain has the comfort of being able to take on the challenge on home soil. “It would be great. I have to do my post-cricket plans you see,” he said. “I don’t mark the stumps that I collect. (Postretirement) I’d watch the matches, look at the stumps and say ‘ok, this is from that match’. I have enough to keep me occupied for years.”

–REUTERS

Afghanistan players celebrate victory over Zimbabwe during their ICC World T20 match in Nagpur yesterday AP

Mohammad Nabi’s brisk fifty and a clinical bowling show helped Afghanistan knock Zimbabwe out of the World T20 with an emphatic 59-run win to storm into the Super 10s in Nagpur yesterday.

Batting first, Afghanistan rode on a 98-run stand between Nabi (52) and Samiullah Shenwari (43) to post 186 for six, a score which proved to be a winning total after Zimbabawe were shot out for 127 in 19.4 overs.

In-form opener Mohammad Shahzad provided a blazing start to the innings with a 23-ball 40 but his departure saw Afghanistan lose their way to 63 for four.

Tinashe Panyangara grabbed three wickets to rattle the top-order after left-arm spinner Sean Williams got Shahzad back in the dugout. Nabi, who registered his highest T20 score, and Shenwari then got together to turn things around in the knockout encounter,

with some precise powerhitting.

The duo combined the right dose of caution and aggression and took a particular liking to medium-pacer Tendai Chatara and Donald Tiripano, whose economy-rates went for a toss.

Zimbabwe, who remain winless

BRIEF SCORE Afghanistan 186 for 6 (Nabi 52, Shenwari 43; Panyangara 3-32) beat Zimbabwe 127 (Raza 15; Rashid 3-11, Hamid 2-11) Afghanistan won by 59 runs against the Asghar Stanikzai-led side in five attempts, were never in the chase after losing their openers early. Burdened by the increasing run-rate the Zimbabwe batting failed to get going with Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 15.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan turned on the heat with a three-wicket haul as medium-pacer Hamid Hassan contributed with two scalps.l

Organisers, former players urge BFF election boycott n Tribune Report A group of former national players and renowned sports organisers of the country yesterday urged to boycott Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin in the upcoming election amid the slogan “Football Bachao” (Save Football).

The former footballers and organisers spoke in an event titled the same as the slogan at a city hotel yesterday where they also expressed their desire to see changes

in the current executive committee.

Among the former players, Golam Sarwar Tipu, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, Zakaria Pintoo, Pratap Shankar Hajra, Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu, Shamsul Alam Manju, Kaisar Hamid, Wasim Iqbal, Rumman bin Wali Sabbir, Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib, Abdur Gaffar and Shafiqul Islam Manik were present on the occasion.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi president Manjur Kader was at the centre of the attention among the

organisers while others included Mohammedan’s director-in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Manjur Hossain Malu, Abu Hossain Chowdhury Prince, Ashrafuzzaman Sohrab and Nasirul Mallick Pintu.

The organisers blamed Salahuddin and his committee for the downward graph of the country’s football in recent times and also accused the BFF boss of corruption in his eight-year tenure. In Salahuddin’s place, Kader was requested by the former footballers and organisers to participate in the forthcom-

Aussies bank on IPL experience: Smith n AFP, New Delhi Skipper Steve Smith said yesterday that Australia were determined to break their World T20 hoodoo, saying his team’s vast experience of playing in the Indian Premier League would give them a definite edge.

Five-time World Cup champions Australia have been under-performers in the shortest format and their best showing in the tournament has been the runners-up finish in 2010 when they lost the final to England. “Traditionally we haven’t done as well as we would have liked in this format of the game.

This is a tournament that has eluded us so we are here to try and win

it,” Smith told reporters in Kolkata at Australia’s opening press conference of the 16-team tournament.

“We feel pretty settled, we have 15 guys who can give this tournament a pretty good shake,” he added.

Smith, who leads the team in all the three formats, said they will be banking on their allrounders who have recently performed well.

He said inclusion of debutant leg-spinner Adam Zampa in the squad will boost the team’s bowling department on slow Indian tracks.

The 26-year-old skipper said his team will adapt to the conditions quickly and will fully utilise the Indian experience to win the cup.

“We know what to expect from

the conditions over here, a lot of us have played here before, either in IPL or against India so we know what to expect and we’re ready for the challenge,” the skipper said.

Smith and five of his teammates in the World T20 squad are part of the various IPL franchises and their familiarity with Indian pitches will auger well for them.

Coming into the sixth edition of the tournament at the back of a 2-1 T20 series win against South Africa, the fifth-ranked side will play New Zealand in their opener on Friday.

Australia will play favourites India on March 27 and Smith insisted that there is no added pressure on the side. l

ing election.

“BFF failed to organise district football across the country. Salahuddin’s committee also failed to establish a development plan in eight years,” said Kader yesterday.

Zakaria, captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team, said, “We want to see a deserving person as BFF president. If the leadership of an organisation becomes weak, it doesn’t move forward. Same thing is happening in BFF. There will not be any development under Salahuddin.” l

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My methods are working: Van Gaal n AFP, London Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that his methods are working despite his side’s one-sided Europa League loss to arch rivals Liverpool and struggles in the Premier League.

United’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Thursday left them facing elimination from the Europa League and with Van Gaal’s side three points below the top four in the Premier League, having played a game more than fourth-place Manchester City, their hopes of Champions League qualification are fading.

United continue to search for an identity under Van Gaal and were well beaten by Jurgen Klopp’s effervescent Liverpool, but the Dutchman cited injuries, suspensions and the strain of competing on three fronts as mitigating factors.

“I think it is working, because you have to see how we have to work and under which circumstances,” said Van Gaal, whose side host West Ham United in the FA Cup quarter-finals today. “When you don’t have too many players and you have to play in three competitions, it is very difficult to play. l

Scots end drought at ICC global events

LA LIGA Barcelona

6-0

Getafe

Rodriguez 8-og, El Haddadi 19, Neymar 32, 51, Messi 40, Turan 57

n Cricinfo

Scotland had gone 20 matches in ICC global events - since the 1999 World Cup - without a win. Against Hong Kong yesterday on an unexpectedly rainy night in Nagpur, they finally did it and exited the World T20 with an eight-wicket win, which was set up by a sharp bowling performance.

Hong Kong went to bat first and scored 127/7 in 20 overs. Then rain gave Hong Kong brief respite, and the contest was then reduced to a 10-over shootout, after which Scotland overhauled the revised target of 76 with ease.l

BRIEF SCORE Hong Kong 127/7 (20/20 ov) Chapman 40, Rath 21, Machan 2/26 Scotland 78/2 (8/10 ov, target 76) Cross 22, Coetzer 20, Aizaz 1/11 Scotland won by 8 wickets (D/L)

GROUP B TEAMS

M W L PTS NRR

Afghanistan (Q) 3 3 Barcelona's Lionel Messi (R) vies for the ball against Getafe's Alvaro Pereira during their La Liga match at Camp Nou yesterday. Barcelona equalled a club record of 12 consecutive league wins as Neymar and Messi were among the scorers in a 6-0 thrashing of struggling Getafe REUTERS

0

6 +1.540 4 -0.567

Zimbabwe

3 2

1

Scotland

3

1

2

2 -0.132

Hong Kong

3 0

3

0

-1.017

Palace through to FA Cup semis n Reuters, Reading

Man City lose ground, Pelle propels Saints

Late goals by Yohan Cabaye and Fraizer Campbell gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 victory at Championship (second-tier) club Reading in their FA Cup quarter-final on Friday.

Cabaye opened the scoring with a penalty in the 85th minute after Jake Cooper was sent off for fouling Yannick Bolasie. Substitute Campbell made sure of Palace’s place in the Wembley semi-finals when he pounced on a clever pass from Wilfried Zaha and beat goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi in stoppage time. l

Manchester City’s faltering Premier League title bid sustained another blow on Saturday as a 0-0 draw at Norwich City left Manuel Pellegrini’s side nine points below leaders Leicester City.

Victory would have taken City above Arsenal into third place, but instead they remain fourth, only two points above fifth-placed West Ham United, with Manchester United two points further back.

Pellegrini paired Sergio Aguero with Wilfried Bony in attack, but

n AFP, London

it was Norwich who came closest to scoring when on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford rattled the crossbar from 25 yards shortly before half-time.

“We are disappointed,” said Pellegrini, whose side take a 3-1 lead into the home leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday before visiting Manchester United in the derby next weekend. We tried to be aggressive with and without the ball.

We had a good attitude, but we could not create space. Of course we should create more in the last

third. We were static up front.

“Every time that you drop points it is harder, but you must continue thinking in a positive way. We must always try to win the title while we mathematically can.”

Norwich have taken just two points from a possible 30, but although the result kept them in the relegation zone, manager Alex Neil took heart from his team’s battling display.

“We will see at the end of the season how significant that point was,” said the Scot. “I couldn’t ask any more from our players in terms of effort and endeavour.

Q2: Which venue will host the 2016 T20 World Cup final?

Ans: Kolkata Mumbai Dharamsala Q3: Which edition is the 2016 T20 World Cup? Ans: 4th 5th 6th

RESULTS Bournemouth

0-0

Manchester City

Stoke

1-2

Southampton

Arnautovic 52

Prizes: (First Round) 1st prize 2nd prize 3rd prize 4th prize 5th prize

Dhaka Tribune, F.R.Tower, 8/C, Panthapath, Sukrabad, Dhaka – 1207.

Swansea Barrow 39, Sigurdsson 62

Norwich

The lucky winners among all the participants who have answered correctly will be selected in an official lottery and will have their picture published in the newspaper. v Answers must be sent in only the coupon (photocopy will not be accepted). v Quiz coupon should be submitted in the Dhaka Tribune newspaper address. v No one affiliated with Dhaka Tribune and Walton will be able to participate. v Coupon submission deadline March 13, 2016. v A person can send as many coupons as he/she wants. v Walton-Dhaka Tribune T20 World Cup should be written on top of the envelope.

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3-2

Gradel 37, King 50, Cook 78

Terms & Conditions: v

Q1: Who won the last T20 World Cup in 2014?

Ans: Sri Lanka India Australia

“Last time Norwich got relegated (in 2014) they were five points above the relegation zone with seven games to play, so there’s no reason why we can’t catch some of those above us.” l

: Walton Refrigerator (11.5 CFT) 01pcs : Walton LED Television 24” 01pcs : Walton Microwave Oven 01pcs : Walton Blender 03pcs : Walton Rice Cooker 05pcs

Pelle 11, 30

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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

DAY’S WATCH CRICKET STAR SPORTS 1 ICC World T20 2016: Qualifiers 3:30 PM Ireland v Netherlands 8:00 PM Bangladesh v Oman

FOOTBALL STAR SPORTS HD 4 9:50 PM Barclays Premier League Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur

TEN SPORTS 7:15 PM Sky Bet Championship Wolverhampton v Birmingham 9:30 PM

“If I can push myself up to the 2018 World Cup then I’ll go on.

After that I’ll close the door and stop playing football.”

Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough

TEN HD 1:50 AM French Ligue 1 Rennais v Olympique Lyonnais

TEN ACTION 11:30 AM A-League 2015/16 Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney 7:35 PM I-League 2016 Mohun Bagan v Mumbai FC 9:50 PM French Ligue 1 FC Nantes v Angers SCO

TEN CRICKET 6:50 PM French Ligue 1 Troyes AC v Paris Saint-Germain

SONY SIX 5:30 PM Serie A Chievo v AC Milan 1:40 AM Palermo v Napoli 7:30 PM FA Cup: Quarter-finals Arsenal v Watford 9:50 PM Manchester United v West Ham

SONY SIX HD 1:40 AM Serie A Lazio v Atalanta

SONY ESPN 5:00 PM Liga Bbva Levante v Valencia 9:00 PM Sevilla v Villarreal 11:30 PM Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis 1:30 AM Las Palmas v Real Madrid

TENNIS SONY ESPN 3:30 AM ATP 1000 Masters 2016 BNP Paribas Open Day 4

Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus FC issues instructions during their Serie A match against Sassuolo Calcio at Juventus Arena in Turin on Friday

INTERNET

Majestic Buffon sets new club record n BBC

Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon has beaten Dino Zoff ’s club record of 903 minutes without conceding in Serie A. The Italian has now gone 926 minutes since being beaten in the league after a 10th successive clean sheet in Friday’s 1-0 win over Sassuolo. Buffon, 38, is now on course to set a new Serie A record for the number of minutes without conceding.

Sebastiano Rossi holds the record after going 929 minutes without being beaten while playing for AC Milan in 1994.

Debut

Robson & Jerome were number one in the UK singles chart with "I Be-

lieve" and Newcastle United were six points clear at the top of the Premier League when a 17-year-old Buffon made his first appearance as a professional for Parma against AC Milan on 19 November 1995.

“I remember every last detail of the day itself, particularly the feelings of excitement and joy I had before kick-off that completely overrode any of the nerves or tension,” Buffon said.

AC Milan included Marco van Basten, Roberto Baggio and George Weah yet they could find no way past Buffon - the game ending goalless.

Still a way to go...

In the Premier League, Edwin van der Sar holds the record with 14 consecutive clean sheets.

On top of the world

Buffon first went to the World Cup back in 1998, although he did not play as he remained second-choice option behind Gianluca Pagliuca.

He then took over the starting position from 2002.

Four years later he was a key figure as Italy were crowned world champions, when he did not concede a single goal to opponents during normal play over the course of seven matches - letting in only an own goal and a penalty from Zinedine Zidane in the final win over France.

Buffon has since appeared at both the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.

He’s won what?

As well as the 2006 World Cup,

Benitez given Newcastle mission n AFP, London Rafael Benitez returned to English football on Friday with the task of saving Newcastle from Premier League relegation after the struggling north-east side announced the Spaniard as their new manager.

Former Liverpool boss Benitez, sacked by Real Madrid earlier this season, has signed a three-year deal with Newcastle, who are currently second-bottom in the table with just 10 league games remaining this term.

“I have the pleasure to confirm I have committed to a legendary English club, with the massive

challenge of remaining part of the Premier League,” said Benitez.

He tried to rally Newcastle’s increasingly frustrated supporters by saying: “All of us must push togeth-

er in the same direction and with the same target in mind. This is the reason why I’m going to ask for your total support to successfully complete this task.”l

Buffon is closing in on his seventh Serie A title with Juventus. He also stayed and helped the Old Lady win promotion when they were relegated in 2006 for their involvement in Italy’s match-fixing scandal. He has won the Coppa Italia twice and, when he was at Parma, one Uefa Cup.

What he’s not won

Buffon might be a World Cup winner but he is yet to win the Champions League.

He saved two penalties in the 2003 Champions League final shootout against AC Milan at Old Trafford but still ended up on the losing side.

Buffon also skippered the team as they lost 3-1 in last season’s final against Barcelona in Berlin.l

Sharapova lashes out at critics n AFP, Indian Wells Maria Sharapova hit back Friday at suggestions she received five separate warnings about changes to tennis’ anti-doping rules which ultimately led to her testing positive for a banned drug.

“I should have paid more attention to it. But the other “communications”? They were buried in newsletters, websites, or handouts,” the Russian star said.

“I am determined to fight back,” she said. “No excuses, but it’s wrong to say I was warned five times.”l

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Showtime

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

Malaika and Arbaaz to part

Starred stars n Showtime Desk Element: Water Date range: February 19 - March 20 Strengths: Compassionate, intuitive Weaknesses: Overly trusting, sad

n Showtime Desk Bollywood actress Malaika Arora Khan has made up her mind to separate from her husband, producer-actor Arbaaz Khan.

While Arbaaz’s parents Salim and Salma Khan have left it to the couple to sort out their differences, brother-in-law Salman Khan has been playing the role of peacemaker between the two.

Shattering hopeful expectations,

Malaika has informed Salman and his family of how she couldn’t rely on Arbaaz any longer, given that she has been single-handedly funding her son Aarhaan’s exorbitant school tuition fees and other requirements.

Salman Khan was recently spotted bonding with Malaika at the Golden Petal Awards. While his efforts towards a reconciliation was evident, Arbaaz’s stance towards saving his marriage

remains seemingly ambiguous.

Confessing his fear of losing Malaika, Arbaaz commented, “I love Malaika, but I’m possessive about her. It wasn’t like this when she was younger or when we were newly forming the relationship.

She is precious to me. I’m afraid of losing her now.”

We hope to see the two happy and in good terms. l Source: BollywoodLife

Personality: Pisces are very friendly, and often find themselves in the company of very different people. They tend to be selfless, and willing to lend a helping hand without expectations of return.

Friends and family: Pisces are the greatest friends to ever exist. They are loyal, devoted, and compassionate.

Whenever problems arise among family or friends, they will do their best to resolve them.

Career and money: Intuitive and often dreamy, they feel best in a position where their creative skills can be unleashed, even better if it’s for charity. Occupations which would fit them include the roles of attorney, architect, veterinarian, musician, social worker and game designer.

Famous Pisceans February 20: Shajal Noor (Model/Actor) February 21: Alan Rickman (Actor) February 23: Emily Blunt (Actress) March 12: Shreya Ghoshal (Singer) March 12: Atif Aslam (Singer) March 14: Aamir Khan (Actor) March 15: Alia Bhatt (Actress/Model) l

Kim Kardashian defends nude selfie n

N Anita Amreen

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is known for “breaking the internet” with her NSFW (not safe for work) selfies, and almost always facing major criticism for them. This time around, she posted a nude mirror selfie on Instagram, captioning it: “When you’re like I have nothing to wear LOL.” Posted on March 6, the selfie has Kim wearing absolutely nothing, with two censors to ensure the photo passes Instagram’s nudity rules. Kim’s track record with posting controversial photos has her knowing that she can always expect critics. However, the fierce backlash she faced this time around went all the way to include Hollywood bigwigs such as actresses Chloë Grace Moretz and Bette Midler and even TV personality Piers Morgan.

Bette tweeted: “Kim Kardashian tweeted a nude selfie today. If Kim wants us to see a part of her we’ve never seen, she’s gonna have to swallow the camera.”

Piers Morgan tweeted that he wanted to offer to buy Kim clothes, making a joke out of her Kanye West’s (her husband) tweet where he stated that he was $53 million in debt.

Kim fired back at them in the ultimate form of social media rebuttals, tweeting disses to all three of them. However, it seemed the twitter feud just didn’t cut it for Kim, and she posted an impassioned essay addressing the issues of “bodyshaming and slut-shaming” she has been subject to.

Posting the essay on her website (kimkardashianwest. com) on Internationals Women’s day, Kardashian said that she decided to share that photo because her body was “a source of strength and empowerment.”

Titled “Happy International Women’s day,” a snippet from the essay reads: “The life lessons I’ve learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter. I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable

in her body. I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman. It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming - it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.”

“I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy #happy international womensday.” l

Pandas in Star Cineplex After a massive success in America and China, Kung Fu Panda 3 has just arrived at the Star Cineplex in Bashundhara City for the Bangladeshi spectators.

It was released for theaters on March 11.

Knorr Bangladesh, a premier product from Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, is the promotional partner for the animated film. Customers of Knoor will be able to enjoy this movie at a special offer, which will be unveiled at the Cineplex.

The story proceeds as Master Shifu reveals yet another task for Po, the Kung-Fu Panda.

Enjoying life to the fullest, Po soon understands that he has much to learn if he’s going to fulfill his next challenge. After being reuniting with his long-lost father, Po turns from a student to a teacher in order to train a group of fun-loving, clumsy pandas into martial-arts fighters. Together, they unite to turn against the evil Kai, a supernatural warrior who becomes stronger with each battle. l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016

‘Mrittupuri’ to set new standards beautiful locations, has an unique look, includes top-notch action choreography (by Hollywood action film director Igor Breakenback), boasts excellent songs (by Nagib Hawk) and most importantly, involves the mindblowing acting of Arifin Shuvoo, Prosun Azad, Taskeen Rahman, Saifullah Sadi and Zico.

How do you think the Sydneybased audience will react to Mrittupuri?

The Sydney-based Bangladeshis have been very helpful and encouraging, so as an audience, I believe they will accept the new and improved side of Dhallywood.

n Khan N Moushumi Brisbane-based film director Zayed Rizwan dreams to provide the Bangladeshi audience with Hollywood standard films.

The former creative director of Channel Seven Australia, as well as the line producer and assistant director of the renowned TV series Underbelly-The Golden Mile, Zayed Rizwan just wrapped things up for his first action film, named Mrittupuri.

How did you start off as a director?

I studied Master of Film and TV

in Australia and specialised in directing action/thriller movies.

During my internship at Warner Bros Studios, I had the opportunity to learn more from numerous distinguished personalities, which slowly refined my directing skills and here I am now.

Why go for action films?

I have always been a hardcore fan of action thriller movies, specially the Michael Bay films where action meets emotions. So when I had a chance to direct a Bangladeshi movie, I decided to work in this genre. In addition, I find this

sector very challenging as well.

When is Mrittupuri being released?

The release date hasn’t been finalised yet, but it will be announced within the next few months. Our aim is to release the movie worldwide on a particular day, and that’s why it is taking a bit longer.

Without giving away too much, could you please tell us what to look forward to most in your upcoming film?

The story is original. It’s shot in

In memory of Rafiq Azad n Showtime Desk Rafiq Azad was a lover of humans, nature and love.

His romantic poems had been popular among lovers for ages.

Exerts from his poems “He Doroja” and “Bhalobashar Shonga” remain a popular choice among men to express their feelings to the women they desire.

In “Bhalobashar Shonga,” he said love is the craziness that exists among two people, how they drag each other close, take risks, walk bare feet on the beach.

Love is walking in the rain, talking non stop with coffees turning cold, it means sitting in front of each other even when there is nothing to talk about.

While he defined love, the poet also created epic expressions

like “Bhaat de haramjada, ta na hole maanchitro khabo.” The line from his famous poem “Bhaat De Haramjada” was written during the famine of 1974 turned to be a legendary piece.

Azad was born in 1941 in Guni village of the Tangail district. His father Salim Uddin Khan was a social worker and mother Rabeya Khan was a homemaker. He was the youngest among two brothers and a sister.

His first book on poetry was Oshombhober Pray.

The rebel poet did not confine himself to poems. He participated in the war against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 Liberation War. He worked from 1972 to 1984 as the executive editor of monthly Uttaradhikar published by Bangla Academy.

The Ekushey Padak winner used to write anonymously in the weekly Robbar. Oshombhober Paye, Shimaboddho Jole Shimito Shobuje, Chunia Amar Arcedia are among his books. l

Is it a challenge for Bangladeshi directors to mark their footprints on a foreign land?

Yes, it is a big challenge, specially in a country like Australia where you have millions of rules and regulations with regard to making an action film. Thankfully, my producer Buddy Safi and coproducer Arijit Barua Shawon have been very co-operative, and to some extent, they made things easier for me.

Baz Films is all about bringing a revolution within the industry. We all know that it is not an easy task, but we are up for the challenge.

Have you ever considered releasing your movies for the Bangladeshi audience? If so, how will your action flicks stand out amongst the ones of the same genre in the industry?

Mrittupuri doesn’t belong to the

formula-based categories that we often see in Dhallywood; the strength of my movie is the storyline. I believe if I can keep my audiences engaged with the interesting plot, it will stand out automatically.

Where do you think the Bangladeshi film industry is headed in the next five years?

I am very confident about the progress of the Dhallywood industry, owing to directors such as Mostafa Sarwar Faruki, Iftakar Chowdhury and Ashiqur Rahman.

They are known for thinking out of the box and helping the industry jump to the next level.

What other projects/movies do you have in the pipeline?

We do have some more projects coming up, but at the moment, nothing has been finalised. As everyone has realised by now, I always keep details about my upcoming projects very confidential. When the time comes, they will be announced. l

WHAT TO WATCH A Walk Among the Tombstones HBO 9:30pm Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.

Cast: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, Brian Bradley, Boyd Holbrook, Adam David Thompson Now Boarding TLC 9:30pm Now Boarding is an extraordinary journey dedicated to travel and food from around different parts of the world. From Mexico to Malaysia, each weekend, the series features different countries.

Genre: travel

Prometheus Star Movies 9:30pm A group of explorers, including some archaeologists, are on an undisclosed mission. They arrive at a planet millions of miles away from Earth. The team spot what they believe to be signs of civilization. They go to investigate and find more than just signs. But some of them have an ulterior motive for being there, including the Weyland Corporation. They believe that this is where the human race actually came from.

Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce

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HYSTERIA TRUMPS DEMOCRACY PAGE 13

STREAK: NOTHING WRONG WITH TASKIN’S ACTION PAGE 25

‘MRITTUPURI’ TO SET NEW STANDARDS PAGE 31

Left, a crack from Friday’s road collapse in Gulshan 2 has stretched to the entrance of one of the buildings adjacent to the road, causing residents to raise concerns about their safety. Right, authorities concerned are trying to fix the road in a hurry by filling it with soil yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Contractors blamed for Gulshan collapse n Abu Hayat Mahmud

The portion of a Gulshan road which subsided on Friday had collapsed because of negligence from Rajuk-appointed contractors working on the development of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake, locals have alleged.

Tenants and flat owners living on Road 55 in Gulshan 2, where the lake-adjacent collapsed road is located, claimed that contractors working there had failed to put up any protection fence for preventing a landslide at the work site.

Authorities concerned also ad-

mitted that there was no protective measure in place when the road collapsed.

Visiting the place yesterday, the Dhaka Tribune spoke to several flat owners of Bilkis Villa, a residential building situated right in front of the collapsed road.

“The road would not have collapsed if lake developers took protective measures before pumping water from the lake,” said one of the home owners, seeking anonymity.

“The pumping of water caused the water level of the lake to go down; as a result the road col-

lapsed without any protection,” he said, expressing concerns about the safety of the surrounding buildings.

But the director of the development project told the Dhaka Tribune that no nearby buildings were under any risk at the moment.

“We have already visited the project area and directed the contractors to take immediate steps to fill up the gap left by the subsided road,” Monowarul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.

Asked whether contractors had taken any preventive safety measures beforehand, the project direc-

tor said it was not possible to set up protective measures throughout the entire stretch of the lake.

But he added that by the time the project ends, the roads would be strong enough.

However, the Dhaka Tribune found that cracks caused by Friday’s collapse have extended as far as the entrance of Bilkis Villa.

When approached, a person working with the contractor company claimed that the crack posed no threat to the building. However, he refused to disclose his name.

On Friday, the chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Ra-

juk), GM Zainal Abedin, said he suspected the road had been constructed after filling up parts of the lake. “The truth can be known after reviewing documents,” he said.

After repeated delays, Rajuk only recently started work on the Tk4.10 crore lake beautification project.

On July 6, 2010, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council approved the three-year plan, which was scheduled to begin in July 2010 and end by June 2013.

But time and time again, the plans had been pushed back because of interference from land grabbers in the area. l

Nasim: Graphic warnings on tobacco packs from March 19 n Nure Alam Durjoy

Insertion of graphic health warnings on the packages of tobacco-based products will be implemented from March 19 to create awareness of the adverse effects of tobacco among users, said Health Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim.

An circular in this regard will be issued before March 19 in all upazilas under all districts, said the minister at a discussion at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital yesterday afternoon.

RAJIB DHAR

The event was jointly organised

by National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, United Forum Against Tobacco, Progga and Anti-Tobacco

Media Alliance demanding enactment of the tobacco laws.

Nasim said: “We have a number of laws but they are not properly

implemented. If you want to live, you have to come forward and cooperate with the government in this regard.”

“Pictorial warnings on tobacco product packages must be implemented from March 19. So people’s cooperation is needed.”

Tobacco factories at both home and abroad currently provide plain packaging for tobacco products in Bangladesh. According to the Smoking and Usage of Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2013, graphic health warnings must be inserted on at least 50% outer surface area of the

packages, which will allow smokers and other users understand the health risks of using tobacco.

The act could not be implemented before due to lack of adequate rules, which the government rectified by issuing a gazette notification on March 19 last year stating the rules for proper implementation of the act.

The notification also directed tobacco factories to add the pictorial warnings within 12 months from the issuance of the rules, a deadline which will expire on March 19 this year. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com