06 Sep, 2016 by DhakaTribune

SECOND EDITION

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Bhadra 22, 1423, Zil-Hajj 3, 1437

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 132

Beefy border bribes make cattle costly Jamil Khan, back n Mohammad from Chapainawabganj The process of buying the cattle from India, transporting them across the border to Bangladesh, and delivering them at the local market is not only hectic, but also expensive, according to the seasoned cattle traders of Chapainawabganj who frequently bring cattle from India. And if you want to travel safe, you have to let the border security in on the plan, which makes it even more pricey. One way to counter it is to smug-

gle the cattle much earlier than when the demand increases significantly before Eid-ul-Azha, several cattle traders and smugglers told the Dhaka Tribune.

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“That is why in recent years, we have been bringing in cattle from India months before Eid-ul-Azha to avoid the festival price hike,” said Md Titul Haque, a cattle trader from Shibganj upazila. “I brought my four cows seven months ago.” A cattle smuggler, requesting

not to be named, said a pair of cows that were brought from India at the cost of Tk20,000-25,000 a few months ago, would cost Tk35,00040,000 if brought before Eid. The price gets even higher when border security of the two countries get involved, he said. “Usually when we bring cattle from India, we first contact Indian traders to ‘place an order,’ giving them the number of cattle we need. When they let us know the price, we send them the money via hundi,” the cattle smuggler explained. “Once the fund transaction  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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Terrorism and the oxygen of publicity N E W S

ANALYSIS n Faiz Sobhan

NEWS

On his recent visit to Bangladesh, in the course of remarks made at the Edward M Kennedy Center, US Secretary of State John Kerry said: “If you decide one day you’re going to be a terrorist and you’re willing to kill yourself, you can go out and kill some people. You can make some noise. Perhaps the media would do us all a service if they didn’t cover

ANALYSIS

it quite as much. People wouldn’t know what’s going on.” Kerry’s offthe-cuff remark, rightly or wrongly, garnered him a good deal of media attention, and some flak as well. But what Kerry said is nothing new. It has been said many times before, and has been discussed often in various circles. What role does the media have when it comes to reporting acts of terrorism? News of terrorism is now almost an everyday occurrence, but always makes headline news in the media, from newspapers to television channels to the internet. We live in an age of mass digitalisation where there is an easy flow

NEW ANA

NEWS ANALYSIS

ANAL

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

NEWS ANALYSIS ‘Imposition

of 15% tax on NEWS private unis DT illegal’ ANALYSIS n Tribune Report

With the advent of Autumn, many open areas on the outskirts of Dhaka city are seen covered in a bed of beautiful white kashphool (Kans grass). The picture taken yesterday shows two joyful little girls plucking kashphool from a field at Mirpur’s Duari Para in Dhaka SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

INSIDE ‘If Indian coal is used, the power plant will fall’ The authorities concerned are saying that the machinery in Rampal power plant would be harmed if Indian coal were used. A high-level government delegation has toured three countries – Indonesia, Australia and South Africa – and submitted a report saying the coal from these countries is suitable for the plant.  PAGE 3

Prices of native cattle up in Rajshahi As the Eid-ul-Azha is only a few days ahead, buyers have started crowding at cattle markets in Rajshahi city.

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India to use chilli-filled shells in Kashmir

Indian security forces will use shells full of a chilli compound as an alternative to shotgun pellets, to control crowds in Kashmir.  PAGE 9

Emory holds memorial for Faraaz and Abinta

College at Emory University in Georgia held a memorial for two victims of the Dhaka terror attack on campus on the 28 August.  PAGE 32

NEW

The High Court yesterday declared the two gazette notifications issued by the government that had imposed 15% income tax on private universities as illegal. The court also asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to give back the money already extracted from the universities under the authority of the gazette notifications. The High Court bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty delivered the verdict disposing off 46 writ petitions filed by several private universities challenging the government decision. The NBR in a gazette notification on June 28, 2007 imposed income tax on University Grants Commission-approved private universities. However, private medical, dental and engineering universities and colleges were exempted from the tax. But on July 1, 2010, another gazette notification was issued saying that all private higher educational institutions have to pay 15% income tax. One of the lawyers for the petitioners, Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, said the court declared a Rule Absolute, which it issued earlier questioning the legality of imposing income tax. l

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

PGCB seeks army deployment for security n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) has sought army deployment at the Bangladesh-India Power Transmission Centre in Bheramara, Kushtia for security, according to a letter it sent to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. In the letter, sent to the ministry on September 1, the company cited the existing security crisis due to militant attacks in both Bangladesh and India as the reason behind seeking security by army members at the centre. The letter said hundreds of people work at the centre every day, a good number of whom are foreign nationals, but the establishment, cat-

egorised as a key-point installation (KPI), has only 40 Ansar members for security. That is why, considering the circumstances, the PGCB asked for army members to strengthen the security of the KPI establishment. “The present security system of this sophisticated establishment is not sufficient,” said PGCB Managing Director Md Masum Al Biruni when the Dhaka Tribune contacted him on Sunday. Bangladesh has been importing 500MW of electricity from the Indian state of West Bengal through the first high voltage, direct current (HVDC) substation in Bheramara since October 2013. Work to bring 500MW more power is in progress. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chairs a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat yesterday

BSS

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Beefy border bribes make cattle costly is complete, the Indian traders give us serial numbers of the cattle we are supposed to collect.” Then the Indian traders hand over the cattle to a cattle rearer living close to the border. On a day previously agreed upon, a representative from the Bangladesh side goes to the Indian side and collect the cattle by matching the serial numbers. “If we want to use a safer route, we have to pay at least Tk12,000 to the Border Security Force officials in India for each pair of cows, and they let us through the border with the cattle,” the smuggler further said. “Once we enter Bangladesh,

we have to pay Tk6,000-8,000 to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials for a pair of cattle. The cattle rearer who represents us gets Tk4,000-6,000.” Due to this entire process, the price of an Indian cow gets almost doubled by the time it reaches the local market, he added. The Dhaka Tribune contacted Lt Col Abul Hasan, commanding officer of 9 BGB Battalion stationed in Chapainawabganj, in this regard. He said: “We have no issues with the business. We only require the local traders to ensure that the Indian traders leave the cattle at

the No Man’s Land. Because if we find anyone illegally trespassing, we will definitely arrest them.” Asked about traders paying “toll” to border security, he said: “We do not know what happens on the Indian side, but here we try our best to perform our duty with sincerity and honesty. We will allow any illegal activities to take place on our side.”

Registration fee Tk500, broker fee Tk100

Before taking the cattle to the local markets, the khatal receipt must be obtained.

Titul Haque explained what khatal is. “It is the registration fee that you must pay to the customs in order to legally sell the cattle you bring from India outside your district,” he told the Dhaka Tribune. The Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the document, which states that the registration fee is Tk500 per animal; in exchange of the fee, the customs issues a “legal receipt” to the traders to show at check posts so that the cattle does not get seized by customs officials. “Once we get our cattle, we contact brokers who are well-connected with the local customs office,” said a

cattle trader, seeking anonymity. However, brokers bring the registration forms to the traders and charge Tk100 for each document. “If we could deal with the customs directly, we would not have to pay the additional Tk100 per cow,” the trader said. When contacted in this regard, Sachin Kumar, customs official based in Chapainawabganj, said: “We provide legal receipt for Tk500 for Indian cows, but we are not aware of traders paying additional fees to brokers. We will take appropriate action if we find anything or anyone files a complaint.” l

addressing violent extremism and terrorism: l The need for objectivity The media has to be neutral and objective when reporting a story. The media has a solemn duty and a legal obligation to present both sides of the story fairly and without bias. This will enable the audience to make up their own minds about the story being presented.

a powerful one. To respond to this narrative, the media can counter with an equally clear and appealing narrative to stave off the propaganda tool employed by such groups. There is also a need for the media to separate the different kinds of violent extremist and terrorist groups. They can provide a background of such groups so the audience knows who they are and what their motives are for committing acts of terrorism.

Terrorism and the oxygen of publicity of information within the reach of millions of people, nationally and internationally, at lightning speed and in real time. The media regard it as their responsibility to people everywhere to report the news, however appalling it is. But when it comes to the media’s coverage of terrorist attacks, it needs to walk a fine line. Does the media really have a duty not to fully report the misdeeds of terrorists, which includes individuals being killed and injured?

The oxygen of publicity

The objective of terrorist groups is simple – to obtain as much publicity as possible, through its violent acts. Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister put it correctly, when she said: “...we must try to find ways to starve the terrorist and the hijacker of the oxygen of publicity on which they depend.”

A symbiotic relationship

The media and terrorists thus share a symbiotic relationship and one that is mutually beneficial. Global terrorism expert, Bruce Hoffman,

said: “Without the media’s coverage the act’s impact is arguably wasted, remaining narrowly confined to the immediate victim(s) of the attack, rather than reaching the wider ‘target audience’ at whom the terrorists’ violence is actually aimed.”

The role of the media

The media’s role consists of two aims: first, to provide sufficient coverage on either a terrorist attack or a terrorist-related story, and second, to disseminate such stories as widely as possible. Whether it is the coverage of the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States or July 7, 2005 in London, or that of the Holey Artisan Café attack of July 1 in Dhaka, and many others perpetrated by the Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups around the world, for media outlets such stories are headline news. However, whether on a national or an international level, the media has a duty to play a responsible role while undertaking reporting on violent extremism and terrorism.

Instead, the media is tasked with having to satisfy the public’s insatiable appetite to receive timely and up-to-date news about any terrorist attack anywhere in the world.

Media objectives of terrorists

According to security experts, violent extremists and terrorists have a number of objectives when they threaten to or commit an act of terrorism: l The first is to gain attention and awareness of the audience, and to create fear. l The second goal is to demonstrate the group’s motives for carrying out the attacks. l The third objective is to gain the respect and sympathy of those in whose name they claim to attack. l The final objective is to gain a type of legitimate status and a media treatment similar to that of legitimate political actors.

What should be the role of the media in addressing terrorism?

The following steps should therefore be undertaken by the media in

l A Balanced and Responsible View

It is the aim of terrorists to misinform the public after an act of terrorism and plant seeds of doubt as to whether it was their group or another who was responsible for the act. In the media’s case, it is their duty to provide a balanced, responsible and factual account to prevent the misinterpretation of terrorism-related incidents by the general public and concerned parties. This will enable them to take decisions quickly and effectively in responding to any particular attack. l A positive tool

The narrative posed by violent extremists and terrorist groups is

l Working with the government

The media and government can work closely together to form practical guidelines and measures in reporting on any violent extremism and terrorism-related story. This is an important factor as the media may have diverging political loyalties. The central goal of the media should be to keep the public informed, while the government needs to ensure that this information is measured, and be mindful of national security considerations while avoiding undue publicity or providing extremists and terrorists the “oxygen of publicity.” l

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

‘If Indian coal is used, the power plant will fall’ n Tribune Desk The authorities concerned are saying that the machinery in Rampal power plant would be harmed if Indian coal were used. A high-level government delegation has toured three countries – Indonesia, Australia and South Africa – and submitted a report saying the coal from these countries is suitable for the plant. Delegation member and Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain said: “Because Indian coal is low quality, it was not even mentioned in the project proposal. If Indian coal is used, the power plant will fall. So Indonesian, South African or Australian coal will be used there. Those are of far better quality than Indian coal.” Indian coal will not be used in the Rampal coal-based power plant because of its low quality, the au-

thorities told the Bangla Tribune’s Shafiqul Islam. Australian, Indonesian and South African coal contain less sulphur, about 1 to 2 percent and therefore they are more environment-friendly. Indian coal contains 6 to 7 percent sulphur. In reply to a query, Mohammad Hossain said: “Coal for Rampal will be obtained through a tender process. Suppliers will provide coal according to the terms and conditions of the tender. The government has no hand in this.” Bangladesh’s environment act bans the import of coal that contains more than 1 percent sulphur. Asked if coal from the Fulbari coal mine will be used in the plant in the future, he said: “How do we transport coal from Fulbari to Rampal? There’s no waterway. Can it be done by road? Rampal will need 10,000 tonnes of coal every day. So

we will need railways and wagons. Do we have that? Can we imagine the cost of laying these lines, getting these wagons and transporting this much coal every day? The whole idea is just fanciful.” Coal Power Generation Company Managing Director Abul Kashem told Bangla Tribune: “Australian, Indonesian and South African coal are of high quality and much better than Indian coal. Authorities have recommended those kinds of coal for Rampal.” In the international market, high quality coal is $70 per tonne and low-grade coal costs between $50-60 per tonne. Importers said coal prices were dropping worldwide and export out of Indonesia and South Africa had increased. In 2015-16 financial year, 2.3 million tonnes of Indonesian and South African coal was imported

through Chittagong port. On the other hand, only about 100,000 tonnes of Indian coal came through the custom stations in Sylhet. In the previous years the amount of Indian coal import was 1.7 to 2 million tonnes. High prices and low quality were discouraging importers from going to India for coal. According to the Sylhet Coal Importers Association, Indian coal costs $85 per tonne or around Tk6,700. After import this is sold at Tk7,500. On the other hand, Indonesian and South African coal costs $52 per tonne and after import their price is Tk6,000. Importers said coal from Australia would cost about the same. These low prices are the reason importers are diverting their attention away from Indian coal. The association said Bangladesh’s annual demand for coal is

Bodies of 13 militants still at DMCH mortuary

COMMUNAL HARMONY?

n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Workers are seen to build a makeshift cattle market for Eid-ul-Azha on the grounds of the 400-year-old Jashomadhab Jatrabari Temple in Dhamrai, where members of the local Hindu community say their prayers every day. The community, in protest, has called on the local administration, the police and the home minister to halt the making of the cattle market in front of their temple DHAKA TRIBUNE

Govt employees get six day holiday n Shohel Mamun The government has extended the Eid-ul-Azha holiday by one day. A government order yesterday announced a holiday on September 11 albeit with the condition that public servants will have to work on September 24, Saturday as compensation. Muslims in Bangladesh will celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha on September 13, which is on Tuesday. Government employees typically enjoy

a three-day Eid holiday. Friday and Saturday are weekends while September 11 falls on Sunday. This means government employees are getting a six-day Eid vacation. The announcement came shortly after the Public Administration Ministry proposed declaring holidays on September 11 and 15 to extend the Eid holiday. Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam told reporters that the ministry had proposed keeping government of-

4 million tonnes, of which 3 million come from India. Coal is used in brick kilns, tea stalls, re-rolling steel mills and road construction among other purposes. According to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s chemical engineering department, around 80 to 90 thousand tonnes of coal is extracted from the Barapukuria mine in Dinajpur annually. This coal is used in the state-owned Barapukuria 250-300MW power plant. In some years, a small amount of surplus coal from Barapukuria is given to local brick kilns. No other coal mine in the country is in production, though there are a growing number of coal-based power plants. Once the 1,360MW Rampal thermal power plant is operational it will require 4.5 million tonnes of coal annually – nearly equal to the current national consumption. l

fices open on September 17 and 24 as compensation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the meeting that a decision on the matter would be taken within a day or two, the secretary added. If September 15 is also declared a holiday, it will mean another nine-day vacation for public servants since the next two days are weekends. Government employees were given a nine-day vacation in the Eid-ul-Fitr in July. l

Bodies of 13 militants, who were killed in Kallyanpur, Narayanganj and Mirpur raids, are still at the mortuary of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). The bodies still remain at the mortuaries basically for two reasons—the DMP authorities are yet to receive reports of various tests carried out on the bodies and family members are yet to claim those, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media wing) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Talking with the Dhaka Tribune, the DMP official said: “The reports of various tests carried out on the bodies of the 13 militants have not yet been received. We will take further decision after getting the test reports. “Moreover, no members from their families officially claimed the bodies. The authorities will finalise whether the bodies would be handed over to their families after receiving the test reports.” DMCH forensic department Assistant Professor Dr Sohel Mahmud said: “The bodies of 13 militants, who were killed during police raids in Kallyanpur, Narayanganj and Mirpur, are still at our morgue. “We have requested the DMP authorities to take necessary steps to take back the bodies of the militants as the mortuary’s normal activities are being hampered due to a dearth of space in it.” Of the 13 militants, nine were killed during police raid in the capital’s Kallyanpur area on July 26. Verifying their fingerprints with

those in the Election Commission’s database, police identified eight of terrorists. They are--Abdullah, Abu Hakim Nayeem, Taj-ul-Haque Rashiq, Atiquzzaman Khan, Shazad Rouf Arko, Md Motiar Rahman, Md Jubayer Hossain, Raihan Kabir. The remaining four bodies are of militants who were killed in Narayanganj and Rupnagar raids. Three militants, including Tamim Chowdhury, the mastermind of Gulshan attack, were killed in Narayanganj on August 27 while Tamim’s second-in-command Murad was killed at Rupnagar in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on September 2. On the other hand, the bodies of five Gulshan attackers are still at the morgue of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. According to police source, the fingerprints of Gulshan attackers have also been verified. They have been identified as Nibras Islam, Rohan Imtiaz, Meer Sabeh Mubasheer, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Ujjal. The body of chef Saiful Islam, who was first identified as one of the suspects, also remains at the CMH mortuary. When contacted, OC (Investigation) of Gulshan police station Salauddin told the Dhaka Tribune: “The six bodies are still at the mortuary of the CMH as none from the families of the five militants claimed those. “Only Saiful’s family verbally wanted to take his body, but they did not file any written application in this regard. We will help the family members if they want to take the body.” l

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Writ challenges holding offices by two ministers n Ashif Islam Shaon A Supreme Court lawyer has challenged the legality of two cabinet members holding high office or sitting in parliament following a recent observation by the Supreme Court that the two ministers had violated their oaths of office. Petitioner Yunus Ali Akond yesterday sent Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque legal notices seeking explanations within 24 hours on the issue. He also notified them of filing writ petitions if the notices were not answered. In the writ filed with the High Court on Monday, Yunus Ali Akond sought that the court orders ministers Qamrul Islam and AKM Mozammel Haque to explain why they are still in office after the court’s judgment. Citing the Apex court’s judgment, the petitioner said that under the Public Servants (dismissal on conviction) Ordinance-1985, a government service holder will be dismissed if s/he is fined with Tk 1,000 or more. The apex court on March 27 had

rejected the unconditional apology of the two ministers and fined them Tk50,000 each for making controversial statements about the chief justice and the judiciary in connection with war crimes cases against executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali. On Thursday, the Supreme Court released the full text of its verdict that the two ministers violated the oath of office by questioning the authority of the judiciary. The SC came up with the order as ministers Qamrul Islam and AKM Mozammel Haque demanded resignation of the Chief Justice for his reported remarks that ‘the prosecution is doing politics with the trial of condemned war criminal Mir Quasem Ali. They were speaking at a round table organised by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in the city on March 5, 2016. On March 8, the Supreme Court ordered the duo to appear before it by March 15 in connection with their reactions to the remarks of Chief Justice SK Sinha. On 14 March, Qamrul Islam and Mozammel Huq offered unconditional apology to the court for their remarks. l

PLAYING THE PUZZLE

Picking and dropping passengers at the will drivers of different modes of vehicles on the city streets is one of the reasons that lead to traffic congestion in the capital. The picture taken yesterday shows buses placed haphazardly at Mirpur 1 in a rat race to collect passengers by blocking the entire road much to the sufferings of exasperated passengers on other vehicles waiting behind them. RAJIB DHAR

Kashmir Scholars Action Group sends open letter to UN n Tribune Desk

The Kashmir Scholars Action Group in an open letter urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take immediate action against the Indian forces to end state violence in Kashmir. The letter, sent on August 31, addresses the UN’s decision to create a fact-finding mission and deplore the refusal of the Indian government to allow access to UN

Human Rights monitors. The letter further said “in an absence of such a mission, the group feels it is essential that the civil society groups regularly update on the situation in Kashmir.” The Kashmir Scholars Action Group is an interdisciplinary group of scholars of various nationalities engaged in research on Kashmir. In the letter, the action group stated that it believes the Kashmir conflict is not an “internal mat-

ter” as previously claimed by India nor is it a matter that can be resolved by bilateral Indo-Pak negotiations. This unending conflict cannot be resolved without the wishes of the Kashmiri people or “through direct means such as the referendum promised by UN Security Council resolutions in 1948, the conditions of which both Pakistan and India have failed to fulfill,” the letter further stated. l

Special security for foreign aid projects n Asif Showkat Kallol The government will provide special security for the foreigners working in development projects and installations run by international aid, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said. The minister held a meeting on Japanese aid projects security at the Finance Ministry yesterday with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Railway Minister Mujibul Haque, among others. Special training will be given to police and Ansar members to ensure security for the foreigners involved in development projects, he said. Roads and Highways Division will appoint international consultants to ensure security for the foreigners, Muhith said. “I will visit Japan on Sep-

tember 24 so I want to be clear about the security of the Japanese aid project workers and installations,” he said. The Japanese Embassy in Dhaka recently proposed to deploy their own security forces to ensure security for its project workers. Seven Japanese project workers were killed in a terror attack in the O Kitchen restaurant in July. According to the latest annual report of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), Japan spent $479m on aid projects in Bangladesh between April 2014 and March 2015, including grants.

BB heist probe report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said he decided to disclose the Bangladesh Bank heist probe report on September 22 or 23. “I have already talked to Bangladesh Bank and the Bank and Financial Institutions Division to take all necessary measures,” he said. l

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Govt to build new JnU campus in Keraniganj n Shohel Mamun The government has decided to shift Jagannath University campus along with all academic and administrative buildings and residential buildings to Dhaka’s Keraniganj area. The decision came at the regular cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. After the cabinet meeting education minister Nurul Islam Nahid made an urgent press conference and said: “The cabinet has decided to build a new campus at Keraniganj. It’s very good news and we are so happy that students will get all of the facilities at a single campus.” Earlier the minister had said

transfer the old Central Jail plot to the university for building them since August 1. The old site of the Dhaka Central Jail in the capital’s Bakshibazar will be allocated for previously decided museum, park, shopping mall and conference centre, not for anything else, according to the decision made at the cabinet meeting yesterday. A cabinet committee meeting has finalised the decision yesterday afternoon, a cabinet member said asking not to be named. He said: “The old jail is a heritage place. Bangabandhu was once confined in this jail and the four national leaders were killed here. So the place is a part of our history. To conserve the memory, there will

that only the boys dorms would be built in Keraniganj and land acquisition had been completed in this regard. Nurul Islam Nahid also told the reporters although the new campus will be build at keraniganj, however all of the existing infrastructure would be under the university authority. “The university has authority has already procured 25-bigha of land for a hall with the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Now the government will buy more land to build a new campus including will all the facilities of a public university,” he added. Students have been demanding the announcement of specific locations of the new dorms and to

be a museum on the site along with a conference centre, shopping mall and a park. The land will be used for nothing else.” During the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the education minister what measures he had taken about the ongoing demand for dormitories by Jagannath University students. Nurul Islam Nahid told the PM that a boys’ dormitory will be built on the 25-bigha university land in Keraniganj and a girls’ dormitory close to the old-Dhaka campus. Presently, a 20-storey administrative building is under construction on the campus. A slightly irked premier then asked the education minister to keep all the dormitories, adminis-

Cattle price in Dhaka higher than last year

Obaidul confesses to being obsessed with Risha

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Most of the temporary cattle markets in Dhaka are ready to start selling sacrificial animals for the Eid-ul-Azha. Livestock traders have already begun bringing cattle into the city. Apart from the permanent cattle market in Gabtoli, there will be eight more temporary markets set up in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and 14 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) for ahead of Eid-ul-Azha on September 13. The city corporations have instructed cattle traders not to bring their animals to the city before 3 to 4 days of Eid, but a large number of traders were found to be violating the rule. DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq told the Dhaka Tribune that city corporation monitoring teams will visit every cattle market. “If anyone violates our instructions, action will be taken against them,” he warned. At the makeshift cattle market adjoining Eastern Housing at Mirpur section 6 and at the Gabtoli cattle market, this correspondent found that a large number of cattle traders have arrived from different districts including Pabna, Kushtia, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj among others. Most animals in the two markets are home-reared. However, the prices are anticipated to be higher than the last year, as traders say this year they have bought cattle from their localities for a high price. The traders told the Dhaka Trib-

trative buildings and other accommodations on an undivided piece of land, as one public university should have. She told the minister to make a elaborate plan in this regard. The prime minister also inquired if there was more land to purchase so that all the new buildings could be built in Keraniganj. She asked the education minister to work on that. Nurul Islam Nahid said: “After getting the direction of Prime Minister, we have already talked to the people concerned who have confirmed that there is available land beside the 25-bigha land for a new campus.” He also said: “The process of land acquisition for the new campus will be started soon as possible.” l

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

With about a week left for Eid-ul-Azha, makeshift cattle markets are being set up in different areas of Dhaka. The picture taken yesterday is from a cattle market set up in Mirpur’s Eastern Housing field SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN a cow of 2.5 tonnes for Tk30,000. Then I spent around Tk10,000 for its food, transportation and other maintenance. So it will be sold for Tk60,000 at least.” Sifatullah said they came to the cattle market on Saturday. Biplob, a voluntary supervisor of the market, told the Dhaka Tribune that a few customers were coming in every day and looking around asking prices, but few had started to purchase. Most cattle markets are going to be set up at the same locations as the previous years. However, two new cattle markets at Shyampur and Donia have been added to Dhaka south. The locations of the DSCC’s rest

une that they set the price of an animal depending on it’s approximate weight. They are asking for an average of Tk50,000-60,000 for a tonne of meat this year, while it was Tk40,000-50,000 last year. Abdul Momin, a trader who came from Pabna to the Mirpur 6 cattle market, told the Dhaka Tribune: “This year the cattle will be costlier than the previous years. The customers will be paying extra Tk10,000 to Tk15,000 for a tonne of meat.” Momin said a cow of 1.5 tonnes was usually sold for Tk75,000, while this year it will be sold for Tk90,000 to Tk1,00000 because he has spent Tk60,000 to Tk 65,000. Another trader, Sifatullah who came from Kushtia said: “I bought

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Dhaka

Chittagong

Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:12PM

Rangpur

of temporary markets are going to be Jigatala-Hajaribagh, Dhupkhola, Rahmantganj playground, Meradia Bazar Khilgaon, Sadek Hossain Khoka playground, Shahjahanpur Moitri Shangha ground, Brothers Union Balurmath, Postogola-Shashanghat, Lalbagh Delwar Hossain playground, Kamrangirchar cattle market, Jatrabari kitchen market and the free space adjoining Kamlapur Rail Station. DNCC’s temporary markets are: the open area near Khilkhet-Banorupa Residential Project area, the bridges at Uttara 15 and 16, Mirpur section 6, the open space adjoining Bhasantek Palli ground, Badda and the free space between Ashian City Housing and Bhatara. l Khulna

Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:42AM

34.6ºC Rajshahi

25.2ºC Rajarhat

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES

Obaidul Khan, the stalker, who was arrested in connection with the murder of schoolgirl Suraiya Akhter Risha, confessed before a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate to stabbing the 14-year-old schoolgirl saying that he was driven by his obsession with her. Obaidul yesterday told the magistrate Ahsan Habib that he was obsessed with Risha. He also confessed, he was alone when he stabbed Risha, a Class VIII student at Willes Little Flower School and College in the capital’s Kakrail area on August 24, court sources said. Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate Ahsan Habib recorded confessional statement of the lone accused when officer-in-charge (investigation) Md Ali Hossain of Ramna Model Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case produced him before the court with a plea to record his statement. The court also sent Obaidul to jail after recording his statement. On September 1, a Dhaka court granted six-day remand for Obaidul after police produced him before the court.Earlier, on August 24 Obaidul stabbed Suraiya Akhter Risha, daughter of businessman Md Ramzan Ali, a resident of Bangshal in old Dhaka, near her school in broad daylight, leaving her critically injured. After three days of stabbing the schoolgirl died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 28. l Sylhet

Cox’s Bazar

Fajr: 5:05am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 5:00pm | Magrib: 6:26pm Esha: 8:15pm Source: Islamic Foundation

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Prices of native cattle up in Rajshahi n Abdullah Al Dulal, Rajshahi As the Eid-ul-Azha is only a few days ahead, buyers have started crowding at cattle markets in Rajshahi city. Buyers alleged that though there are adequate numbers of cattle in the market for Eid sacrifice, cattle traders are demanding higher prices for moderately-sized native cows than the previuos year. According to the information of Rajshahi Livestock Department, there are a total of 323,684 animals, including 54,000 cows, 2,54,450 goats, 1,234 baffalos and 14,000 sheeps, will be produced at markets while a total of 2,53,000 animals are needed for Eid-ul-Azha sacrifice. According to local sources, native cattles are dominating the market due to the ban on export of cattle to Bangladesh from neighbouring country India. Despite of rain, buyers from all walks of life are crowding at different markets of the city. Abdul Jabbar, a buyer from Bagmara upazila, said: “Usually we buy cattle for sacrifice in a group. In this year, price of local cattle is higher than previous year.” Babor Mia, a cattle trader who buy cattle from Rajshahi City cattle market and sell in Dhaka’s Gabtoli cattle market, alleged that markets were full with native cattle, but prices of the cattle was too high. Atiqur Rahman, the lessee of Rajshahi City cattle market, big-

Eid-ul-Azha is knocking at the door and the Muslims need cattle to sacrifice in this occasion. To get adorable cattle to sacrifice in the occasion, buyers of Rajshahi district have started crowding in different cattle markets in the city DHAKA TRIBUNE gest cattle market of the area said: “There are lot of native cattle in the markets and local farmers are also ready to produce huge amount of cattle in the markets in upcoming days.” Colonel Matiur Rahman, sector

commander of Border Gaurd Bangladesh (BGB), said: “Last year we collected over Tk6.92 crore, as taxes from cattle importers. “This year, we have already collected about Tk22 crore from cattle exporters, as we have boost up our

vigilance in border areas.” Law enforcers of Rajshahi city have taken necessary steps to tighten security of the cattle markets. Iftekhair Alam, an assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said: “The

RMP has already installed CCTV cameras at different markets of the city.” Members of Detective Branch of police along with other law enforcers will stay in market to avoid any untoward situation, he added. l

Lioness Nova at last gets mate Strong tide disrupts n ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia route Anwar Hussain, Chittagong

After a long gap of over 11 years, lioness ‘Nova’ is going to get rid of her agonizing loneliness, as a new lion arrived at Chittagong Zoo. The 11-year old lion ‘Badsha’ arrived at Chittagong Zoo all the way from Rangpur Zoo on Monday. The two lionesses at Chittagong Zoo have long been deprived of their mates in the cages. On the other hand, the two lions at Rangpur Zoo were also passing their days in extreme loneliness in absence of mates. Therefore, to remove loneliness of the captive mammals, an exchange of a lion and lioness took place between the two zoos. Deputy Curator of Chittagong Zoo left for Rangpur Zoo with the lioness ‘Borsha’ on August 29 and returned with the lion ‘Badsha’. The zoo authorities expressed their optimism that the number of visitors would witness a steep increase due to the arrival of the new guest. Dr Md Mongur Morshed Chowdhury, deputy curator of Chittagong

The 11-year old lion ‘Badsha’ arrived at Chittagong Zoo yesterday Zoo, told the Dhaka Tribune that the arrival of a lion breathed a new life into the zoo. “Both ‘Borsha’ and ‘Nova’ have already crossed half of their lifespan at the zoo. Both of them have been passing their days in extreme loneliness without any spouse in their cages for more than 11 years. Consequently, the propagation of the captive mammals stopped due to long absence of their mates in their cages,” said the deputy curator.

While visiting the zoo, eager visitors were seen trying to having a glimpse at the new guest, as the lion was roaring and strutting in its cage. The deputy curator of the zoo told this correspondent that the lion was yet to recover fully from anesthesia-induced unconsciousness and travel fatigue. “We are going to rename ‘Badsha’ at Chittagong. We are going to release the two animals in the same cage after 10-12 days. Before releasing in the same cage, we will keep them in side by side cages so that they could develop intimacy between them. We are optimistic that the two captive mammals would be mates soon and give birth to cubs,” said Dr Morshed. Set up on February 28, 1989, the zoo is now located in a six-acre of hilly terrain in the city’s Foy’s Lake area. Run by Chittagong district administration, the zoo now houses 360 animals of 67 species. Of them, 34 species are of birds while the rest species are of reptiles and other mammals. l

n Tribune Desk Authorities of Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal has taken decision to halt vehicle shifting service by ferries as the Padma River’s tidal surge washed away three terminals out of four on the Paturia-Daulatdia route. The authorities took the decision on Monday morning around 10am. Manager (commerce) of Daulatdia Terminal Md Shafiqul Islam said: “Strong tide of the river forced to stop the service of ferries, as it has already washed away three terminals out of four.” “Vehicular movement to ferry via one of the four terminals remained active which may stop anytime,” he added.

Consequently, hundreds of vehicles carrying people and goods got stuck on both sides of the route. Passengers in above 100 buses have been facing immense suffering because of the untoward condition. Sources said the disruption put the country’s south western 21 districts disconnected from Dhaka. Deputy Assistant Engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Md Shah Alam said: “We are trying repair the ferry terminals but we can’t fight against the strong tide in the mighty Padma River.” Earlier, authorities had halt vehicle shifting via No. one and three terminals for last one month as strong tide washed away them. l

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

JU appoints controversial candidate ignoring more qualified n JU Correspondent The authorities of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have appointed a controversial candidate as a lecturer in Public Administration department discounting more qualified candidates. Sources said the authorities in a syndicate meeting on Sunday appointed Abu Saif Mohammed Touhidul Alam, a former JU government and politics department student as a temporary lecturer in the department disregarding merits and results, as most of the first level candidates of the recruitment were trimmed down.

The newly appointed lecturer Abu Saif Mohammed Touhidul Alam, a non-thesis candidate who attained CGPA 3.54 in honours and 3.81 in masters programme while thesis group candidates along with better CGPA were disregarded by the authorities as Md Saidur Rahman, the chairman of the department reportedly favored him, source said. Meanwhile, several newspapers and online portals have published news regarding the affiliation of Touhidul Alam with Islami Chhatra Shibir during his student life. Touhidul, however, rejected the allegation. He said: “The allegation is ab-

solutely false rather somebody is conspiring against me imposing such tag.” However, JU Pro VC Prof Abul Hossain said they did not find any involvement of Touhidul with Chhatra Shibir activities. The selection board of the recruitment presided by JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam recommended Touhidul Alam among a total of 14 candidates to be appointed as a temporary lecturer, source said. Chairman of the department Md Saidur Rahman said the authorities had appointed him following the recommendation of the selection

board. He said: “If there is any rule that one has to score highest to be appointed then there would no necessity of the selection board in the recruitment process.” Several candidates of this recruitment asking anonymity said they had been discriminated, as their merits and results were not valued properly while the selection board ignored a son of a freedom fighter who scored CGPA 3.81 in honours and 3.87 in masters programme. JU VC Prof Farzana Islam was not available for her comment regarding the matter despite several attempts. l

Comilla University student hurt in blast dies

One held for protesting Mir Quasem’s execution

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested an employee of Bangladesh Railway (BR) from Khulshi area in Chittagong city yesterday for his Facebook post protesting the execution of war criminal Mir Quasem. Being tipped-off, a team of DB detained Shahadat from Segunbagan area of Khulshi around 3:00pm, as he protested the execution of Mir Quasem on his Facebook wall, said Kamaruzzaman. Legal actions were underway against the person in this connection, he added. l

bKash agent shot dead

Raihanul Islam Akand, n Md Gazipur A gang of miscreants shot an agent of bKash to death and snatched Tk16 lakh from him at Satais area, Tongi, Gazipur on Monday afternoon. Sheikh Abdul Hamid, 50, a gunman at bKash, hailed from Rampal, Bagerhat. Quoting witnesses police said when bKash collector Emdadul Islam along with gunman was collecting money from M Media Centre, a gang of miscreant entered the shop and tried to snatch the bag where Tk16 was kept. Abdul Hamid tried to put up resistance against the miscreants, they shot on his head. He was taken to Tongi Sadar Hospital where on duty doctor declared him dead. OC of Tongi police station said a team was working to recover as well as arrest the criminals. l

Tourist found dead in Cox’s Bazar

n Mohiuddin Molla, Comilla A female Comilla university student has succumbed to her burn injuries sustained in an explosion last month. Fahmida Hasan Nisha died while being treated at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital early yesterday, said Comilla University Registrar Md Mujibur Rahman. She was a second economics student and hailed from Brahmanbaria. Nisha sustained 45% burns in a yet unexplained explosion at a private hostel near the university on August 23. A day later, police named her along with five other female students from the hostel for their alleged involvement with Islami Chhatri Sangstha, the female student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. l

News

n Abdul Aziz, Cox’s Bazar

The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting a move to set a power plant at Rampal, an adjacent area to Sundarbans DHAKA TRIBUNE

A tourist was found dead in a hotel room in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. Tazul Islam, 48, checked in Sea Land Hotel in the town’s Kalatali area on Sunday morning. He was the son of Abdul Mannan at Kamlakadar Bhenua village in Netrakona. Bakhtiar Uddin Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model police station, said being informed by the hotel authorities, the police recovered the body from room No 301 of the hotel after breaking the lock of the room. l

8 World

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

SOUTH ASIA

Kofi Annan heads to restive Rakhine state Buddhist hardliners threatened Monday to stage protests against a visit by former UN chief Kofi Annan to Myanmar’s strife-torn Rakhine state, where tens of thousands of stateless Rohingya Muslims languish in displacement camps. Aung San Suu Kyi has asked Annan to head an advisory commission to recommend how her government can narrow bitter sectarian divides in the western state. AFP

INDIA

Indian SC seeks response from central government on triple talaq The Supreme Court granted on Monday four weeks time to the Centre to file its reply on a batch of petitions on triple talaq and the plight of Muslim women. A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice D Y Chandrachud gave time after additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta sought more time to respond. AFP

CHINA

China, Japan seek to improve ties China and Japan should put aside disruptions and propel their relations back on the track of normal development as soon as possible, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The comments were made during a meeting of the two leaders at the G20 summit in China’s eastern city of Hangzhou. REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast as the leaders of the Group of 20 major economies held a summit in China. The missiles were fired from a region south of the capital Pyongyang just after noon and flew about 1,000km, hitting Japan’s air defence identification zone. The missile launches were the latest in a series of launches this year supported by China. REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Oil pares gains after Saudi, Russia sign pact Crude oil futures pared gains after top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate on stabilising the oil market, including limiting output. Brent crude futures for November delivery were up $1.12 per barrel at $47.95 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $49.40. REUTERS

US, Russia fail to reach Syria deal as Islamic State blasts kill 48 n Tribune International Desk Top diplomats from the United States and Russia on Monday failed to reach a deal to ease fighting in Syria as a string of bomb attacks killed at least 48 people there, underscoring the need to stem the violence. Washington and Moscow support different sides in a festering conflict that has left 290,000 dead, and sent hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to Europe. The US and Russia also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to get desperately needed aid into the country. As blasts maimed and killed in Syria, a senior State Department official said fresh crisis talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the margins of the G20 summit in China had ended without agreement. A deal to provide aid to ravaged civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo, and at least partially halt Russian and Syrian bombardments had looked likely on Sunday. But US officials accused Russia of backtracking on already agreed issues that Washington refused to revisit. The talks also appeared to have been overtaken by developments on the ground, with Syrian government troops tightening their grip on Aleppo. State media said they had taken an area south of the city, severing the last opposition-held route into its eastern neighbourhoods. Monday’s string of explosions hit government-held Tartus and Homs, as well as Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces but where the regime of Presi-

dent Bashar al-Assad maintains a presence, according to Syrian state media. At least 48 people perished and dozens were wounded. Tartus, which has become a refuge for many Syrians fleeing violence, has been largely spared the worst of Syria’s conflict since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. The bombings came after advances by Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels expelled IS from the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border under their control. The jihadist group has been losing ground to both an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces and, more recently, a Turkish offensive involving rebels loyal to Ankara.

Into the weeds

Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin had a 90-minute meeting Monday on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, where they agreed to continue talks, a White House spokesman said. The leaders “discussed efforts to reach an agreement on Syria to reduce violence, provide humanitarian assistance and to focus on al-Qaeda -- also known as Al Nusra -- and (IS) in Syria,” he said. But the leaders did not “get down into the weeds”, the official said, saying the remaining disagreements were “technical” and would be discussed in the coming days by Kerry and Lavrov. Earlier truces in Syria have rapidly deteriorated, and Obama warned Sunday that the US was approaching the talks “with some scepticism”. Washington is also highly reluctant to offer Putin a high-profile

Syrian army soldiers inspect the damage at the site of two explosions that hit the Arzouna bridge area at the entrance to Tartous, Syria on September 5 REUTERS stage to gain international legitimacy after his backing for a regime that has used chemical weapons on civilians. US officials had hoped to build pressure on Moscow over its support for Assad’s government during the Hangzhou summit and upcoming UN General Assembly. The US has repeatedly said that Assad must step down if Syria is to reach a lasting peace.

Massive damage

The governor of Homs province said a car bomb struck a military checkpoint in the provincial capital, Homs, killing two soldiers and injuring four others, one critically. The city, Syria’s third largest, is largely under government control, with only one neighbourhood still under opposition control. Monday’s bomb exploded in the government-held Bab Tadmor district, SANA said. The Observatory said four soldiers were killed. Syrian TV aired footage showing massive damage to the area,

with a number of smashed cars and the bloodied body of a guard at the checkpoint, where the blast had taken place. An attacker detonated his motorcycle at the Marsho roundabout in the northeastern city of Hasakeh, killing five, SANA said. Government military forces withdrew from the city in August after street battles with the Kurdish autonomous self-defence force for the region, the YPG. The YPG and its political wing, the PYD, inherited control of the city, though the state’s police force remained.

IS claims responsibility

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a spate of bomb attacks across Syria that left dozens dead in mostly government-controlled territory. The IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said the jihadist group was behind a “string of simultaneous suicide attacks” in Damascus, coastal Tartus, central Homs, and Hasakeh in the northeast. l

Anti-China democrats gain foothold in Hong Kong n Reuters, Hong Kong Several pro-independence candidates won seats in Hong Kong’s legislative election which saw a record turnout in the Chinese-controlled city on Sunday, a result likely to further strain ties with Communist Party rulers in Beijing. Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition also kept its crucial one-third veto bloc in the 70-seat Legislative Council over major legislation and public funding that has helped check China’s influence. The vote, which ushered in a

new crop of legislators including a 23-year-old former protest leader who vowed to “fight” the Chinese Communist Party, underscores growing frustration with how Beijing has handled its “special administrative region” and marks a significant turning point. The former British colony was handed back to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” agreement that promised to maintain the global financial hub’s freedoms and separate laws for at least 50 years, but gave ultimate control to Beijing. Beijing officials have repeat-

edly warned Hong Kong not to stray too far. In a brief statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency, China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said it was “resolutely opposed” to any kind of Hong Kong independence activities in the territory’s legislature. Hong Kong independence is contrary to China’s constitution, harms national sovereignty and security and will harm Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, it added. Despite the disqualification of six pro-democracy election can-

didates from the election in July on the grounds that they backed independence, at least five “localists” and younger democratic newcomers won seats, including Nathan Law, one of the leaders of mass democracy protests in 2014. Localists put the interests of Hong Kong before those of Beijing. “I’m quite shocked,” said Law, 23. “We inherit some spirit from the movement and I hope that can continue in the future... We still have to unite in order to have stronger power to fight the Chinese Communist Party.” l

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

German AfD beats Merkel’s party in her home district n Tribune International Desk A nationalist, anti-immigration party performed strongly in a German state election Sunday in the region where Chancellor Angela Merkel has her political base, overtaking her conservatives to take second place amid discontent with her migrant policies, projections indicated. The three-year-old Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won 20.8% of votes in the election for the state legislature in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Merkel’s Christian Democrats polled 19%, their worst result yet in the state. The centre-left Social Democrats, who led the outgoing state government, were the strongest party with about 30% support. This was a dark day for Merkel,” Thomas Jaeger, a political scientist at Cologne University, told Reuters. “Everyone knows that she lost this election. Her district in parliament is there, she campaigned there, and refugees are her issue.” Economically weak Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in Germany’s northeastern corner, is home to 1.6 million of the country’s 80 million people and is a relative political lightweight. It is, however, the state where Merkel

has her parliamentary constituency, and Sunday’s regional vote was the first of five before a national election expected next September.

The beginning of the end

National AfD leader Frauke Petry celebrated “a blow to Angela Merkel.” Local AfD leader LeifErik Holm told supporters: “Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of Angela Merkel’s chancellorship today.” Merkel’s refugee policies were a prominent issue in the campaign for Sunday’s election, which came a year to the day after she decided to let in migrants from Hungary — setting off the peak of last year’s influx. Germany registered more than one million people as asylum-seekers last year. New arrivals in Germany have slowed drastically this year, policies have been tightened and Mecklenburg is home to few foreigners. Still, New Year’s Eve robberies and sexual assaults in Germany blamed largely on foreigners, as well as two attacks in July carried out by asylum-seekers and claimed by IS, have fed tensions. Merkel has stuck to her insistence that “we will manage” the refugee crisis, and has also said

USA

Obama seeks to convince Asian partners on TTP

FAR-RIGHT SURGE IN GERMAN REGIONAL VOTE Provisional final election results in Mecklenburg-Western Voppommern 2016 Turnout: 2011 In percent 61.6 % SPD 30.6 centre left 35.6 AfD far right 0 CDU centre right Die Linke left Die Grunen green NPD neo-Nazi Other

20.8

18.4

6.0

8.6

5.6 Source: regional electoral commission

that “sometimes you have to endure such controversies.” “This result, and the strong performance of AfD, is bitter for many, for everyone in our party,” said Peter Tauber, her Christian Democrats’ general secretary. He said the state government’s positive record took a back seat for many voters, “because among a recognizable part, there was an explicit wish to voice displeasure and protest, and we saw that particularly strongly in the discussion about refugees.”

8.7

3.0

Mass protests in Brazil against Temer ‘coup’

Regional parliament

23.0

4.8

71 seats

18 5

2016 2011 Sunday’s result could make it more difficult for Merkel to bury a festering dispute with the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian arm of her conservative bloc, which has long criticized her decision to open the borders and advocated an annual cap on migrants. CSU general secretary Andreas Scheuer said that “we feel vindicated in our course.” l

[This is an excerpt of a CBC article, which can be found at http://bit. ly/2bZF7PQ]

India to use chilli-filled shells in Kashmir n Reuters, Srinagar

Indian security forces will use shells full of a chilli compound as an alternative to shotgun pellets, to control crowds in Kashmir, the minister of home affairs said on Monday, after widespread use of the weapons wounded thousands and inflamed public anger. More than 3,800 people have been wounded and one killed by shotgun pellets since protests against Indian rule erupted in the disputed territory in early July, with more than 100 left partially or fully blinded, official figures show. A Pakistani campaign emerged on social media, portraying morphed celebrity pictures of how they would have looked if wounded by pellets, gained much popularity in Kashmir as well as across the globe in last one month. Doctors say most cases go unreported, and critics want the government to use less harmful ammunition. “The committee has given its suggestions and the alternative of the non-lethal weapon has been suggested as PAVA shells,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told report-

A protester throws a stone amidst smoke from tear gas fired by Indian policemen during a protest in Srinagar on August 29 REUTERS ers as he led an all-party delegation to Srinagar, the summer capital of India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said security forces would begin using the shells, made of a compound found naturally in chilli powder, after a panel of experts decided they were sometimes a better alternative to pellet guns. The chilli compound, when fired, is thought to cause severe

irritation and temporarily immobilise the target. “I think that won’t result in the death of anyone. Since yesterday, 1,000 shells have already arrived here,” said Singh, a senior figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist ruling party. Although pellet guns are designed as a non-lethal weapon, police officers have said security forces are often forced to use them at

US President Barack Obama said on Monday that US trading partners in Asia did not need to be persuaded of the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP), just that Washington would eventually approve the trade pact. Obama has made the 12-nation TPP the centrepiece of a diplomatic pivot to Asia, but the prospects for US congressional approval have looked increasingly dim. REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

19.0 13.2

World

close range to protect themselves from mob attacks. India is struggling to contain the worst unrest in Muslim-majority Kashmir since 2010, and Singh’s trip to Srinagar appeared to make little headway in resolving a crisis that has left 73 people dead, 71 of them civilians. On Sunday, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani turned delegation members away at the door of his home, where he is under house arrest. Singh said India was “pained” by the unrest in Kashmir, but lashed out at separatists for refusing to talk. Protests erupted in Kashmir after security forces killed a popular separatist leader on July 8, catching New Delhi off guard. Thousands of stone-pelting locals take to the streets almost every day in the protests, led largely by young people without an obvious leader, complicating Indian efforts to tackle them. Kashmir, claimed in full but ruled in part by India and Pakistan, has been at the heart of nearly seven decades of hostility between the neighbours. l

Tens of thousands took to Brazilian streets to support sacked leader Dilma Rousseff and protest the new government of Michel Temer, who has taken power and downplayed the protests. Demonstration organisers have rejected Temer’s ascendancy as a coup, said some 100,000 protestors filled the major artery Paulista Avenue. AFP

UK PM wants government control on migration British Prime Minister Theresa May said she wants a new system to give the government control over who is able to enter the country after it leaves the EU, rather than a points-based system that selects candidates based on criteria. May recalled how staff at Heathrow airport had told her that migrants were able to abuse student visa rules when they applied to come to Britain. REUTERS

EUROPE

Czechs to guard BulgarianTurkish border Czech President Milos Zeman says his country and the EU should help Bulgaria guard its border with Turkey in efforts to stop migrants. Bulgaria is an EU member but is not part of the EU visa-free Schengen zone. Some refugees have travelled through its territory on their way to rich western European states. The influx of refugees to Greece and also Bulgaria was significantly reduced after a recent deal between Turkey and the EU. AP

AFRICA

South Sudan to deploy 4,000 new peacekeepers South Sudan has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force approved by the UN Security Council after first rejecting the peacekeepers as a violation of its sovereignty. Sunday’s announcement came after the Security Council met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir during a rare visit to the turbulent East African country. AP

World

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Student debt: Why it matters in 2016 US election n Tribune International Desk More Americans are getting buried by student debt - causing delays in home ownership, limiting how much people can save and leaving taxpayers at risk as many loans go unpaid. The statistics look daunting, reports The Associated Press. Student debt now totals around $1.26tn. This amounts to a stunning 350% increase since 2005, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Not everyone sees that surge as troubling. President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers issued a report this year saying that the debt is beneficial because college graduates earn more money than people with only high school degrees. But college drop-outs who borrow are increasingly less likely to repay their loans, as are former students at for-profit colleges that in some cases never provided the stable careers promised in their brochures. Nor are

college graduates necessarily repaying their loans, a reflection of the stagnating incomes for many. More than 60% of the class of 2014 graduated with debt that averaged nearly $27,000, according to the College Board. Not all that taxpayer-backed debt is getting repaid. Out of the 43 million Americans with student debt, roughly 16 percent are in long-term default -a potential hit in excess of $100bn that taxpayers would absorb.

Where the contenders stand

Democrat Hillary Clinton hopes to curtail debt dramatically for undergraduates. She has modified her initial plan after talks with the presidential campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who ran on the promise of taxpayer-funded college. Clinton now proposes no tuition for students from families making less than $85,000 when they go to an in-state, public college. That threshold would rise to $125,000 by 2021. All community colleges would be tuition-free, in addition to mak-

ing it easier for existing borrowers to refinance at lower rates, limit repayments to 10 percent of income and forgive any remaining college debt after 20 years. The plan would cost the federal government an estimated $500bn over 10 years, which the Clinton campaign says would be paid for by ending tax preferences for wealthier Americans. Republican Donald Trump has promised a “great” student debt plan, details to come. Trump appears to view student debt as inflating college costs to levels that are only worsening the problem.

Why it matters

Education debt has become a drag on the kinds of spending and saving that historically helped US economic growth. The average college-educated head of household under 40 owes $404 a month in student debt payments, according to an AP analysis of Federal Reserve data. That’s slightly more than what the government says the average college-educated

In this May 15 file photo, students embrace as they arrive for the Rutgers graduation ceremonies in Piscataway, NJ. More Americans are getting buried by student debt, causing delays in home ownership AP family spends at the supermarket. An analysis of renters this year by the company Apartment List found that education loans make it more difficult to buy a home, a critical rite of passage. College-educated millennials with student debt must typically save for a full 10 years to afford a 20% down payment, compared with five years for those without debt. The high debt loads and need for

many workers to return to school also mean that older Americans make up a growing share of education loans. Americans over 40 account for 35% of education debt, up from 25% in 2004, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Contributing to this surge: longer repayment schedules, more midcareer job changes and additional borrowing for children’s education. l

World

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Taliban attack in Kabul kills 24, injures 91 n Reuters, Kabul

A Taliban suicide attack near the defence ministry in Kabul killed at least 24 people on Monday, including a number of senior security officials, and wounded 91 others, officials said. Two blasts in quick succession hit a crowded area of the city near

government buildings, a market and a main intersection, defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said. Troops, police and civilians rushing to help victims of the first explosion were caught in the second, triggered when a suicide bomber blew himself up.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the first explosion happened people crowded to the site and then the second blast occurred, which was really powerful and killed lots of people,â&#x20AC;? said Samiullah Safi, who witnessed the attack. The casualty total may increase as more information becomes available, said Mohammad Ismail Ka-

wousi, a spokesman for the public health ministry. An army general and two senior police commanders were among the dead, a defence ministry official said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said killed 58 officers and commanders. The militants have stepped up

their campaign against the Western-backed government in recent weeks, following a brief lull after the death of their former leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. The double bombing came less than two weeks after gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13 people. l

12 Business

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

TOP STORIES Export earnings rise by 20% in Aug Bangladesh’s export earnings have seen a nearly 20% rise to $3.30 billion in August, the second month of the current fiscal year, thanks to the higher growth of earning from clothing products. PAGE 13

G20 to set up forum to combat world oversupply The Group of 20 leading economies will set up a global forum to combat world industrial oversupply, a senior European Union diplomat said yesterday at a summit in China. PAGE 14

Oil pares gains after Saudi, Russia sign pact Crude oil futures pared gains yesterday after top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia said they have agreed to cooperate on stabilizing the oil market, including limiting output. PAGE 15

Capital market snapshot: Monday DSE Broad Index

4,563.7

0.1% ▲

Index

1,106.6

0.2% ▲

30 Index

1,751.6

0.2% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

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CSE

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12,733.6 8,535.4

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Turnover in Mn Tk

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MNP auction now on Sept 28 n Ishtiaq Husain Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced a fresh schedule for the long-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) auction on September 28, instead of September 21, to give mobile phone subscribers a portable advantage. Telecom regulatory body yesterday came up with the new MNP auction date through its official website. According to the new schedule, the name of the qualified bidders will be disclosed on September 7. The date for submission of bid earnest money is now fixed on September 18, letter of acceptance or rejection is September 20 while consultation of auction procedure will be held on September 25. MNP allows the subscribers to switch their services among operators without changing their phone numbers. On August 10, the regulator announced a schedule for MNP auction procedures, keeping the auction date unchanged on September 21. But finally, the regulator changed auction date announcing all the fresh auction schedule procedures. Earlier on June 14, BTRC had set June 16 for the invitation of application while last date of submission of any query was on June 30. Base price of the auction will be fixed at Tk1 crore while bank guarantee would be Tk1 crore.

Mobile Number Portability allows users to switch to another operator keeping numbers same The annual license renewal fee will be Tk20 lakh while the company will have to share 5.5% revenue with the BTRC. The commission has fixed Tk1 lakh as the application fee and bid earnest money would be Tk10 lakh. After the bidding process, a license will be given to an independent company for 15 years to run the MNP system. The company will have to roll out the MNP service within six months after given the license.

Once the MNP is introduced, customers can switch from one mobile phone operator to another, while keeping their number unchanged within the country’s territory and they can avail the facility again after 40 days with a subscription fee of Tk30. Any registered Bangladeshi company can participate in the bidding but no mobile operators are eligible for the bidding. 72 countries, including neighbouring India and Pakistan have already adopted the popular sys-

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

tem for their customers while Singapore is the pioneer in the field. Any Bangladeshi or expatriate Bangladeshi owned company registered in the country will be eligible to bid in the auction, but foreign companies partnered with Bangladeshi ones can also take part in the auction. The foreign companies, however, can hold as high as a 51% share, and must invest in foreign currency with no chance to mobilise funds from the Bangladeshi market. l

Customs houses to remain Banks open on Sept 10, 11 open on Sept 9-11 n Tribune Business Desk

n Tribune Business Desk The customs houses will remain open on September 9, 10 and 11 ahead of Eid-ul-Azha for ensuring smooth export and import services of readymade garments. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) made the decision yesterday to facilitate export and import activities of the country’s main export earning industry, said a press release. The revenue authorities came up with the decision following request from apparel exporters for smooth export activities of the leading exporting sector, officials said. However, the government has declared September 11 a holiday as part of a six-day long vacation starting from this Friday (September 9). The government offices will go into six-day long holidays

starting from September 9 ahead of Eid ul Azha. The NBR said its customs houses in Dhaka, Chittagong, Mongla, Pangaon and Benapole will remain open to provide services to exporters during the period for smooth import-export activities, according to a press release. Customs Bond Commissionerates in Dhaka and Chittagong, as well as Inland Container Depot at Kamlapur, will also remain open for three days --from September 9 to September 11 – to support exporters ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, said the NBR. Similarly, the revenue authorities has requested all the relevant stakeholders, including relevant ports, bank branches, and other concerned agencies to keep their offices open during these three days so the necessary activities can be carried out smoothly, it added. l

Bangladesh Bank asked all the banks to keep respective branches open in different places across the country next Saturday and Sunday to facilitate salary payment of garment workers as well as export-important business. AD (Authorised Dealer) branches of banks located in airport, seaport and land port will remain

open on September 10 and 11 to facilitate business, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday. Moreover, bank branches located in apparel industry areas will remain open next Saturday and Sunday to facilitate payment of salary and other allowances ahead of Eid to the garment workers. The transaction will be from 10am to 4pm during the two days. l

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Export earnings rise by 20% in Aug n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Bangladesh’s export earnings have seen a nearly 20% rise to $3.30 billion in August, the second month of the current fiscal year, thanks to the higher growth of earning from clothing products. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, Bangladesh earned $3.30 billion, which is 19.76% higher compared to $2.76 billion in the same period a year ago. The figure is 16.53% higher against the target of $2.84 billion set for the period. On the other hand, the overall export earnings in July-August period of Fiscal Year 2016-17 has posted an 8.42% rise to $5.84 billion compared to $5.38 billion a year ago.

However, export earnings failed to reach the target. The target was set at $6.21 billion. Of the total export earnings, 82.87% came from the apparel sector while Knitwear products earned

vice-president Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune. The shipment for the Christmas Day, the largest religious festival for the Christian, will begin from next month while the earnings will

‘Since this is a lean time for the clothing industry, an 8% growth is not a very bad one’ $2.47 billion with a 9.49% rise. Likewise, woven products fetched $2.37 billion, which is 6.49% higher compared to $2.22 billion in the same period a year ago. “Since this is a lean time for the clothing industry, an 8% growth is not a very bad one,” former BGMEA

show a big jump, hoped Azim. Though the current growth is not in line with the $50 billion export target, it would be possible as the existing production capacity is being expanded, said Azim. To achieve the $50 billion export target by 2021, the sector has to re-

sister a 13% growth. While a good number of green factories are coming into operation, they would help grab more work orders, he added. “In July, there were less working days due of Eid ul-Fitr vacation. But in this month, we have usual working days, which helped to push export earnings up,” Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy told the Dhaka Tribune. In July, Bangladesh’s export earnings have seen a 3.5% fall to $2.53 billion due to negative growth of clothing sector in the first month of the current fiscal year. This was due to vacation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr compared to the same period a year ago. l

‘Walton products have potentials in Thai market’ n Tribune Business Desk Chokedi Kaevsang, deputy secretary general of Thailand Board of Investment, sees an enormous market potentialities of Bangladeshi Walton products in Thailand and other Asean markets. Chokedi came up with the remarks while he was talking to the journalists after visiting the Walton Hi-Tech Park at Chandra in Gazipur. A 20-member delegation of Thai businessmen led by Chokedi Kaevsang visited the factory to see the production system and quality of electronics products produced by the local manufacturer. “Thailand is a potential market for Walton products and it has also a vast opportunity to expand its market in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries through Thailand,” said Chokedi. Chokedi also urged the Walton to build a strong business relationship with the Thai businessmen to expand its market in the region. Walton, the largest manufacture of electronics and electrical products, is manufacturing world-class home appliances, which are ideal for Asean countries including Thailand even for Europe and American markets, he said. With the partnership of Thai businessmen, the market of Walton products can be extended in Thailand as well as in the Asean region, said Chokedi. The rise of Walton is not only an example to Bangladesh but also to other countries in the World, he added. The business delegation said that Bangladesh is the front runner among the world’s fastest growing economic countries. l

A worker is arranging rawhide in Dhaka as global prices of processed leather fall 32%

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Tofail asks tanners to set rawhide prices by tomorrow n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed asked the tannery owners to set “rational prices” for rawhide of sacrificial animals during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha within 48 hours. “Come up with rational prices for the rawhide of sacrificial animals this year within next two days,” he asked the tanners at a meeting with tannery sector leaders yesterday. Bangladesh Tanners Association and Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association leaders attended the meeting held at the commerce ministry auditorium. It was to discuss the rawhide prices and processing during Eid-ul-Azha this year. Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the Eid on September 13. “The tannery owners associa-

tion will have to set prices keeping conformity with international market prices,” Tofail Ahmed said. He said most of rawhide collection in the country come from sacrificial animals. Tofail said as there is a chance of smuggling leather, law enforcers have asked to take steps against it. He said import of salt was allowed to meet its demand for rawhide preservation. At the meeting, the tannery sector leaders agreed to set prices for sacrificial rawhide. But they said the current situation in global market would be taken into account as prices fell 32% in the international market. Tannery owners urged commerce minister to allow them tanning rawhide of sacrificial animals in Hazaribagh area of Dhaka as the

Business

Leather Industrial Park in Savar “is yet to get ready fully” for processing rawhide. In response, Tofail Ahmed said he would talk to Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu about it. Earlier, industries ministry asked the tannery owners to process rawhide of the sacrificial animals in the Savar industrial park. Shaheen Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had requested the minister to allow tanning rawhide in the present factories in Hazaribagh as the Savar Industrial Leather Park was not yet ready. He said the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is not ready to treat wastes while the factory owners are not getting electricity and gas connections. l

Stocks end flat on profit booking n Tribune Business Desk Stocks witnessed a flat session yesterday, as investors booked profit mainly on financial institutions, general insurance and energy issues. The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange DSEX inched 6 points or 0.2% higher to finish at 4,563, extending its gaining streak for the fourth straight sessions. The DS30 index, comprising blue chips, rose over 3 points or 0.3% to 1,751. The DSE Shariah Index was marginally up 2 points to 1,106. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX gained 22 points to 8,535. Trading activities decreased as the DSE turnover stood at Tk425 crore, down about 12% over the previous session. Among the major sectors, bank, cement and telco increased by 0.2%, 1% and 0.2%% respectively, while non-banking financial institutions, general insurance, and food & allied sector decreased by 1.3%, 1.6% and 0.07% respectively. Out of 321 issues traded, 125 securities gained, 147 declined and 49 remained unchanged. Shahjibazar Power Company Ltd continued to be the most traded share for the fourth session with a turnover worth over Tk27 crore. It was followed by Singer Bangladesh, Islami Bank, Doreen Power, Lafarge Surma Cement and BSRM Ltd. l

Metlife gets international business awards n Tribune Business Desk MetLife has been awarded in two categories in the 13th Annual International Business Awards. MetLife Asia’s first lifestyle and health plan for women namely “Beautiful” won the Gold Stevie® Award in the Best New Product or Service of the Year category and Bronze Stevie® Award for the Most Innovative Company of the Year – in Asia Australia and New Zealand category. First launched in June 2015, the product was designed to address the needs of the fast-growing 30 to 50 year-old female segment and empower them to lead beautiful and healthy lives, as well as providing financial security and protection in case of illness. “Beautiful is a life-enhancing product designed specifically to help women improve their health and lifestyle through fitness, nutrition and beauty benefits, as well as providing the trusted navigation of a health concierge and health recovery service when illness strikes,” said Ralph Brunner, CMO of MetLife Asia. l

Business

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

G20 to set up forum to combat world oversupply n AFP, Hangzhou The Group of 20 leading economies will set up a global forum to combat world industrial oversupply, a senior European Union diplomat said yesterday at a summit in China. The final communique will say that “measures like subsidies are a root cause of market distortions” and a forum will be set up “to monitor the process” of cutting overcapacity, the official told reporters. The global steel industry is assailed by huge oversupply with Chinese demand plummeting as its economic growth has slowed. The G20 host produces half of the world’s steel and it stands accused of dumping on global markets by the US and European Union. Both sides have slapped anti-dumping duties on each others’ products in various sectors. But Chinese firms are suffering crippling losses from low steel prices too, and Beijing has repeatedly pledged to cut overcapacity in the country. Ahead of the summit, US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said President Barack Obama

would press Beijing to limit steel overcapacity at the meeting. “Excess capacity distorts markets and the environment, harms our workers and runs counter to our efforts to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth,” Lew said in Washington. China would not be named in the final document to be issued after the gathering in the eastern city of Hangzhou, the diplomat said, and had committed to participate in the forum. “Half of members wanted this concrete deliverable,” he added. “Now of course we have to enforce and to follow up,” the official added. “Politically it is an important step.” Beijing has vowed to eliminate 100-150 million tonnes of capacity - out of a total of 1.2 billion tonnes - by 2020. Furthermore, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the G20 summit that the downside risk to the global economic outlook is increasing, a senior Japanese government spokesman said. The summit its happening in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Partex Furniture has recently opened a dealer’s showroom in Narsingdi, said a press release. State minister at Ministry of Water Resources, Muhammad Nazrul Islam inaugurated the showroom

NRBC Bank has recently opened its 47th branch at Gazipur Chowrasta in Gazipur, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, Engr Farasath Ali inaugurated the branch

Business

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Oil pares gains after Saudi, Russia sign pact n Reuters, London Crude oil futures pared gains yesterday after top producers Russia and Saudi Arabia said they have agreed to cooperate on stabilizing the oil market, including limiting output. Brent crude futures for November delivery were up $1.12 per barrel at $47.95 a barrel at 1125 GMT, after hitting a session high of $49.40. US crude for October delivery was up $1.11 a barrel at $45.55 a barrel, after reaching a high of $46.53 a barrel earlier in the session. Saudi Arabia and Russia said on

the sidelines of the G20 summit in China that they signed an agreement to set up a task force to review oil market fundamentals and to recommend measures and actions that will secure market stability. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the two countries were moving to a strategic energy partnership and that a high level of trust would allow them to address global challenges. Alexander Novak described the announcement as marking a “new era” in cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia and insisted it would have a “critical significance”

for oil markets, news agency Interfax reported. But there were no details in the announcement on any elusive agreement to freeze oil output, just weeks before Moscow and OPEC meet in Algeria to discuss the crisis. Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih told a UAE-based television channel he was optimistic about cooperation with other producers ahead of a meeting this month in Algiers, adding freezing production is not the only solution. Saudi deputy crown prince told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the same sum-

mit that cooperation between the two countries would bring benefit to the global oil market. “Verbal intervention was again needed to trigger a recovery towards $50,” senior ABN Amro economist Hans van Cleef said. “After all, if prices remain too low ahead of the meeting, there is a risk that at some point Russia and Saudi Arabia actually need to act. That would probably be the last thing they want as long as Iran is raising output.” Brent rallied to above $50 a barrel in late August, helped by growing talk of a coordinated produc-

tion freeze, but prices have since fallen as few believe OPEC will act. Iran, OPEC’s third largest producer, has said it would only cooperate in talks to freeze output if fellow exporters recognized its right to fully regain market share. Iran is ready to raise its output to 4 million barrels per day in a couple of months depending on market demand, a senior official from the National Iranian Oil Company said. “Even if successful, an OPEC freeze would likely be a short-term positive but a medium-term negative for oil prices,” Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note. l

Tech

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

IFA findings Berlin was the host of the biggest tech convention in Europe

n Mahmood Hossain Tradeshows and conventions are nothing new. IFA 2016, as per usual, is the biggest tech trade show in all of Europe. Just like every year, you see plenty of amazing and equally strange gadgets for the technology of tomorrow. This year is no exception, as we take a look at some highlights from the past weekend.

Gaming beast

Acer did something incredibly bold, and quite ridiculous. In fact, some may say it’s absolutely unnecessary. But to hard-core gamers, this could be something out of their wildest dreams. Acer introduced a 21-inch gaming laptop that weights, get this, 17 pounds. That’s not a typo. The Predator 21X is a behemoth with four speakers and two subwoofers that needs two power supplies to run. Jaw dropped yet? Well, maybe the five system fans and eight heatpipes might make you want to take a breather. That’s not all, of course. The Predator is also the world’s first laptop with a curved display. It houses two GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs and has a built-in mechanical keyboard. Now, hold onto your horses you PC gaming geeks. This is only a prototype that was introduced at IFA. And with those ridiculous specs, you bet your tush it’ll cost much more than your average premium laptop.

Sony safe

Last year’s Sony reveal of the Xperia X5 was absolutely unnecessary. It introduced the visitors to the world’s first ever 4K screen on a smartphone. And

what exactly did that accomplish? Not much. Fortunately, this time around, Sony took the safer path. The company presented the new 5.2-inch displayed Xperia XZ. The new XZ boasts a better 23-megapixel rear camera and a 13-megapixel selfie cam up front. There’s also that sexy all-metal build that you can submerge into water for about five meters for around 30 minutes. In addition, there’s the Qualcomm 820 chipset, ran by the Android Marshmallow. Great innovative approach? Of course not. The reason this model stood out because the rest in comparison wasn’t as logical as the XZ. This little device was possibly the one that made the most sense. When you’re in a room full of strange devices, normalcy is a very welcomed concept.

Wireless noise

It should come to no surprise the next step in tech is to be as wireless as possible with all

major devices. We’re still waiting for those rumours to come true about Apple getting rid of their 3.5mm headphone jack. In turn, you’ll see more and more wireless accessories and headphones in the market. Wireless headphones are going to take things up to the next level, going super luxe as people say in the trade. Sony’s MDR-1000X is very pricy, but with legitimate reason. It clearly offers incredible sound with active noise-cancelling that goes head-to-head with Bose. It goes so far that the headphone takes the shape of your head and ears into account. It can even tell if you’re wearing glasses. The better the ear-cups knows your shape, the more comfortable and noise it can block out.

Yoga stretches

Lenovo is no stranger to the laptop market; they are seasoned veterans of the game. What is more impressive is how they have improved in design. The company

introduced both the Yoga 910 and Yoga Book, which are hybrid PCs that fold over on themselves to become a tablet. The 910 pretty much gets rid of the bezel around the screen, which means there’s almost a perfect trade-off between the screen size and actual size of the entire device. The Yoga Book, however, takes the cake. It’s the best representation of a futureesque design for a new laptop. This wonder takes away the traditional keyboard. Instead of the traditional physical buttons, the space where you would usually type has been replaced by a touchscreen. The touchscreen displays a digital keyboard which makes the entire device slimmer and lighter. It’s sort of like a thirdparty app you might use on your smartphone’s keyboard like Swift. This touchscreen is customisable and you can even turn into a drawing pad. Versatile? You bet.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

University Review:

The Empire Strikes Back This is the third in a five-part review series of top US and UK-based universities

nSajid Amit

he School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a public university and a part of the University of London umbrella. SOAS, honestly, is a school like no other, not just on account of its history, but its raison d’etre, its culture, student politics, and student demography. To start with its history, SOAS, founded in 1916, had the express purpose of advancing British knowledge of the colonies. The colonies of the British Empire had become perfect sites for British experimentation in anthropology, linguistics, historiography, and so forth. The school’s focus therefore came to reflect the focus of the British Empire, i.e., Asia and Africa. Until WWII, the school became elemental to the education of British administrations and colonial officials. However, at present, the spirit of SOAS has taken a very different, if not altogether, a 360 degree turn. The school has since its founding been the vanguard of academics on Asia and Africa but where it differs at present is that it has achieved a decidedly post-colonial liberal-progressive mission. Now, it trains people like you and me, and those from other parts of Asia and Africa, to give back, through scholarship, research, and various forms of activism, to the regions they are from. In effect, SOAS is now bent on remedying its colonial past by empowering the erstwhile colonised. The school has, since its turn, produced several foreign heads of states, civil servants and diplomats and its School of Law is a particularly favored training ground for barristers in South Asia. It is one of the leading institutions for lawyers intending to practice in Asia and Africa. The School of Law offers LL.B., LL.M. and MPhil/PhD programs to over 400 students, the majority of which are foreign students. SOAS has famous History and Development Studies Programs as well. To cite an example of its depth of commitment to the study of its preferred geographies, when I went to SOAS, the Faculty of Arts & Humanities alone had

over 30 South Asia focused faculty members. The Development Studies Program at SOAS also has cutting-edge applications of cultural theories and anthropology allow development frameworks to be thought through in relation to the socio-cultural context of different countries. In terms of demographic diversity, of the 3,015 students in 2014-15, 43% of the students

from the British Museum, the British Library, and the worldfamous Oxford Street, where more shoppers gather every day than at any other place in the world. Moreover, the University of London universities have several opportunities for collaboration amongst themselves. So a student at SOAS may well be working with a Professor at LSE, KCL, or UCL, and vice versa. This system allows

place of learning, socializing, and fun, and the learning does extend far beyond the classroom. London is also a city like no other for learning and self-development. But that being said, SOAS is not a school for everyone, as a lot does go on in SOAS, from politics to parties that can be distracting for those intending to bury their noses in textbooks. Moreover, the focus on Asia, Africa and the Middle

were international, representing 140 countries, while 60% were female. According to the QS World University Rankings, SOAS has one of the highest percentage of international students in any university in the world. One of my classmates once remarked that at SOAS, most Caucasians were either in Saris or chappals. It is largely true. Situated in the heart of central London, SOAS is walking distance

a great cross-pollination of social and intellectual impulses. And London is a famously studentfriendly city with University of London students enjoying a whole host of benefits on account of their university ID card, from access to various events all over the city to discounts on virtually everything, e.g., sporting events, movie tickets, clothing stories, and London’s famous musicals. Overall, SOAS is a fantastic

East is also not for everyone, and many students who like a more traditional approach to their undergraduate or post-graduate studies, will find several other options to choose from, among the University of London constellation of very fine academic institutions. I, for one, however, thoroughly enjoyed the SOAS experience. l

Education

The school has since its founding been the vanguard of acdemics on Asia and Africa but where it differs at present is that it has achieved a decidedly postcolonial liberal-porgressive mission

Sajid Amit is Director, CES, University of Liberal Arts (ULAB). He is an alumnus of Dartmouth College, SOAS University of London, and Columbia University.

Biz Info

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

| visit |

| release |

Commerce Minister: EPZ workers satisfied with facilities and labour rights

Sysnova ICT Computer: providing students with lowcost computing

Honourable commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the working environment of EPZs is very good and suggested that workers at the EPZs are getting higher salaries and other facilities than non EPZ workers. They are getting opportunities to bargain with owners through Workers Welfare Association (WWA). He asserted this at the opening ceremony of Remi Holdings Limited, a garments factory of Adamjee EPZ which has already achieved LEED Platinum Certificate with the highest score. The minister further said that the EPZs workers are satisfied with their wages, facilities, working environment and security. Compliance is ensured in the EPZ factories and that, no labour rights are violated here. Addressing the US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, who was also present at the program, he said that the export of our garment products has increased in the USA market despite the withdrawal of GSP facilities. He urged USA to give duty free access to our garment products. He highly appreciated the overall activities of BEPZA. The special guest of the program executive chairman of BEPZA Major General Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan, ndc, psc said, “The majority of the eight EPZs of the country has completed under the leadership of honourable prime minister,

H E Marcia Bernicat, US Ambassador in Bangladesh said, “Remi Holdings Limited is operating in a perfect way,” after observing the overall activities of the factory, especially workplace safety, workers facilities, medical services, day care centre and international standard green initiative. She hoped that Bangladesh will certainly turn into a developed country very soon if all the factories of the country are run like this factory situated at Adamjee EPZ. Sheikh Hasina. BEPZA aims to become a significant contributor to the economic development of Bangladesh.” He added that during the last couple of years, BEPZA has been contributing around 20% to both total national export and FDI of the country from the EPZs located in different parts of the country consisting of only 2307.27 acres of land. Mentioning the remarkable success of BEPZA in the last seven years under the dynamic leadership of the honourable prime minister, the executive chairman of BEPZA said that during the period between 2009-2015, BEPZA achieved

an astounding 147.76% growth in investment, 187.47% in export earnings and 123.29% in employment generation compared to that of the previous seven years, and that, in the last seven years, 233,117 people have been employed in the EPZs. The BEPZA executive chairman asserted that around 65% of the EPZs workers are female. BEPZA always tries to sustain a congenial working atmosphere giving the highest priority on workers’ rights, welfare and safety including medical and other compliances issues. l

| recognition |

Magnito Digital bag eight awards at Commward 2016 Magnito Digital, one of the leading digital agencies of Bangladesh, has bagged an astounding eight awards at the recently concluded Commward 2016, held on September 3, at Le Meridien Hotel, Dhaka. Commward is an initiative of Bangladesh Brand Forum, in association with Cannes Lions and The Daily Star. It is the country’s most prestigious award platform, recognising achievements in the advertising and communication industry. Among the eight awards, Magnito won two Grand Prix in the “Integrated Digital Campaign” and “Mobile Marketing” category for Grameenphone and WowBox (Telenor Digital), respectively. They won five Gold in the categories of “Copywriting,” “Video for Web,” “Social Campaign,” “Best Use of Content”

and “Best Use of Digital Media” for Grameenphone, WowBox and Access to Information (a2i) Program. Magnito also won a Silver in the “Social Media Campaign” category for Grameenphone’s “Haater Guru” campaign.

“Having recently signed a contract for four digital services brands of Grameenphone and winning eight accolades at this year’s Commward, our team is energised for a brighter journey ahead”, said Riyad S A Husain, CEO, Magnito Digital. l

Remember the controversial TV news report on a few SSC and HSC students who failed to answer some of the most basic general questions like the differences between hardware and software? Not anymore, now that Sysnova Information Systems Ltd have taken matters into their own hands. The tech-company recently announced the nationwide availability of the “Sysnova ICT Computer,” a low-cost educational computer intended for students following the SSC and HSC ICT (Information and Communication Technology) syllabus. Until now, computers were not affordable for the vast majority of students. The Sysnova ICT Computer reduces cost by excluding a number of expensive computer components. Instead of a hard drive, the Sysnova ICT Computer data uses a memory card for storage. Instead of connecting to a computer monitor, the Sysnova ICT Computer comes with cables which enable users to attach it to any older CRT TV as well as any new LCD/LED TV. The Sysnova ICT Computer can be connected to the Internet for web-browsing with most GPRS modems and broadband cables. It also includes Bluetooth hardware which allows it to share an internet connection with an Android smartphone. The Sysnova ICT Computer also lowers cost by running on the free and open-source Linux operating system (instead of the pirated and illegal copies of MS Windows which are common to find). Linux includes a web browser and the free LibreOffice word processor, spreadsheet and presentation applications (which

are all compatible with MS Office). The GIMP image editing software is also included. Together, Linux, LibreOffice and GIMP enable a student to fulfill the requirements of the SSC ICT syllabus. The Sysnova ICT Computer also includes Klavaro, a free and opensource typing tutor for learning the English keyboard, as well Avro Bangla, a phonetic typing software. The Sysnova ICT Computer also comes with a free user guide which teaches students how to use all of the above software. For HSC students, the Sysnova ICT Computer includes Geany, a programming software used to learn C programming, and the LibreOffice Base database for learning the SQL programming language. HSC students can also use the web browser to learn the HTML web page programming syllabus. The Sysnova ICT Computer includes free and open-source textbooks on C programming, SQL programming and HTML programming. The innovative low-cost hardware and free and opensource software used to create the ICT Computer allows Sysnova to introduce this product at an MRP of only Tk7500, which is a small fraction of the cost of most other computers. Sysnova expects that this product will fulfill the computing needs of hundreds and thousands of SSC and HSC students each year, who are unable to afford expensive computers. Shops in each district selling the Sysnova ICT Computer can be located at www.sysnova.com/ictcomputer Visit their webpage: www. sysnova.com l

The dawn of the SUVs n ASM Foysal What further proof do we need to assert that SUVs are here to stay, with chances higher than the Maserati Levante? The Porsche Cayenne set the trend and now all the giants of the automotive industry are falling in line to get their version of a “Sports Utility Vehicle” out on the streets. Although Maserati still tops the list for profit margin in luxury lines of SUVs, they didn’t do it at the cost of their soul, the essence and the feel of a true Maserati is still intact. The Levante looks dazzling, in par with the Italian sports car good looks. Most people will tell you is that looks aren’t everything and they would probably be right, so let’s look into how the Levante compares to the best luxury SUVs out there. Can it hold its own with the likes of BMW X6, GLE coupe by Mercedes Benz or the original trail blazer, Porsche Cayenne? Let’s find out. Wearing the trident and the corporate face of Maserati, the Levante took most of its features from the Ghibli instead of the Quattroporte. The large front grill features a concave vertical slots are snug in between the lean headlights. The front fenders feature the three iconic port holes, a brand identity in itself. Even though the face seems aggressive, it is befitting to the overall look of the vehicle. Moving onto the sides, we can begin to make some comparisons between the Levante and the others. All of them feature a raked roof line but unlike the X6 and the GLE Coupe, the Levante’s lining doesn’t slope down as abruptly; there is a sense of an artistic flow to it. The Levante features roof spoilers like the Cayenne which not only looks visually appealing, but gives the illusion of an extended roofline while the X6 and GLE both sport trunk spoilers. The Levante and the X6 both seem to possess a well-endowed hip, courtesy of the defining character lines while the Porsche and the Merc seem more flat sided. In any case, the Cayenne seems to go head to head with the three new designs despite being the old timer in the series. Going to the back end, we find tail lamps on the Levante to be a close relative of the ones

found in the GranTurismo. That and the dualtipped exhaust on both sides is a sight for sore eyes. While the roofline on the X6 and the Merc banks suddenly at the beltline on the back, the Levante and the Cayenne has a gentler slope to it. Taking a peek inside, we find generous amounts of leather and wood in the Levante. All the metal, wood and leather on display helps reaffirm the visual appeal of the Maserati. The Levante features wide rectangular AC vents, a stark contrast from the leather lining, on both sides of the dashboard. The center vents, just beside the center console, are vertically oriented. The Maserati logo is embalmed into the three-spoke steering wheel and that’s pretty much it on the inside. The Levante has surely signed up Maserati into the top flight of quality SUV game, accompanied by a bright spotlight on it. Top notch design and competitive features is something Maserati is well versed in but whether it will it be enough to go head-to-head against the giants of the SUV class is yet to be seen.l

Auto Connect

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

20 Editorial

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

TODAY

In the light of what we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say In the light of what we can say, some solace can be found from the fact that an open platform, a mere status on a social networking site, is powerful enough to ruffle the most despotic of feathers PAGE 21

Remembering the budget wizard Many of his close associates were not happy with him, as he refused to meet their self-interest, if it meant sacrificing the greater interest of the nation. He believed in real democracy

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PAGE 22

No tax on education

In the face of climate change People are being deprived of basic needs such as education, health, and other modern facilities as they have to move frequently from one place to another PAGE 23

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/ DhakaTribune. The views expressed in Opinion articles are those of the authors alone. They do not purport to be the official view of Dhaka Tribune or its publisher.

e applaud the decision of the High Court to declare illegal the two gazette notifications from the government that imposed a 15% income tax on private universities. Private universities should not be paying income tax. Education is a fundamental right, and private universities are not-for-profit institutions. Levying a 15% income tax on private universities, would have anti-development and antieducation, and singling out private universities to tax would have gone against the spirit of the constitution which guarantees the right of citizens to choose what kind of education to give to their children. There can be no justification on imposing an income tax on UGC-approved private universities only, a burden that public universities do not have to bear. While the government requires that private universities remain not-for-profit, there can be no defense for the fact that government itself would be trying to profit off the earnings of universities, which are the fees paid by the students for their education. It is also a misconception that private university students, as opposed to public university students, are rich, therefore can afford to pay a little more. The truth is, most private university students come from hard-working, middleclass backgrounds, and often struggle to make tuition. Many of them study on scholarships. The imposition of an income tax on private universities, then, under the notion that these universities cater to rich students, is utterly misguided. In developed nations such as the United States, most private universities enjoy tax exemptions. Because of this, they are able to improve their facilities and standard of education. There is no reason the same should not apply to Bangladesh. The High Court made the right call in scrapping the government order to put an income tax on private universities. The future of our youth is what matters.

There can be no justification on imposing an income tax on UGC-approved private universities only, a burden that public universities do not have to bear

Opinion

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

In the light of what we can’t say What price do we pay for our freedom of speech?

n SN Rasul

he best and worst thing about the internet is perhaps that anyone and everyone now has a platform to say whatever they desire. There is no selection process, no criteria, no qualifications required for one to have a page in the Internet Book of All Things Ever. This means that a significant section of the population, be they the most marginalised, the most unsung, the most unheard, have been given, if not lent, a voice, accessible to all who are connected. But this also means that a far more significantly proportional section of the population, whose thoughts are neither dictated by logic or rationale, are allowed to spread “venom” the way they see fit. One could say that if one doesn’t wish to listen to this, to read words they don’t like, they don’t have to. And they’d be right. That is after all the most fundamental tenet of freedom of speech, a crucial element in any democracy. But the internet is not much about choice. How much of what we read, what we are exposed to is something we have actively sought out? How much of the news we get, the “knowledge” we attain, comes from a process that is active from within us, and not something

You can say anything on the internet, but not really

How ironic that nations built on the foundations of language are using the fringes of language to say what they can’t. And, in the light of what we can say, some solace can be found from the fact that an open platform, a mere status on a social networking site, is powerful enough to ruffle the most despotic of feathers

we merely stumble on to? Not much. In fact, most of what we learn nowadays is just that, happenstance. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. There is perhaps, however, something wrong with the fact that no one is burdened anymore with a need for evidence, no need to propose factually conceived judgments. Therein lies the beast within the beauty, the beauty within the beast.

This is the price we pay for freedom. Or isn’t that what governments say when they’re trying to fight so-called “wars against terror”? An “encounter” here, a little “crossfire” there, some Guantanamo-style imprisonment served on the side. Due process, judges, and juries: Pawns and rooks and bishops on a grey and grey chessboard set where no one’s winning. But I digress. Say, when a certain university

student criticises a certain head of state for speaking in favour of a certain nuclear power plant that will lay a certain national treasure to waste, how should a certain government deal with such uncertainties that come with certain kinds of open platforms? Silence bought with imprisonment? The modus operandi of a certain kind of government? That is the environment we find ourselves in. Speaking in tongues and uncertainties, in insinuations

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and euphemisms, hints, allusions, metaphors, similies. How ironic that nations built on the foundations of language are using the fringes of language to say what they can’t. And, in the light of what we can say, a group of words which is getting smaller by the day, some solace can be found from the fact that an open platform, a mere status on a social networking site, is powerful enough to ruffle the most despotic of feathers. The beauty in this is, for the moment, all we can take away from it, the copper lining on this cesspit of a cloud. Now, whether or not this student was a person spewing nonsense to promote some self-serving agenda, or if he was exercising his diminishing right to oppose those in power, remains to be seen. Though most of us will know under which category he rests. But we may also find that, at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter. It bears repeating

that whatever crime he may have committed was a crime of thought, not one of action, and if what you think is deemed wrong by the state, and if you ever find yourself unable to refrain from releasing these thoughts, then ... who knows? These are tremendously frightening thoughts unto themselves. For now though, the string of hope we clutch on to is the interminable force the internet has provided us with. Let it flow through the world, let thoughts and words and phrases of dissent, be they good or bad, ripple across the ocean of digitised revolution, as ineffective as that mostly is. That is one place where they have yet to find the adequate bricks to build a wall around us. And where lies the uncertain future of a certain university student now? Honestly, I can’t say, even if I knew. l SN Rasul is a Sub-Editor at the Dhaka Tribune. Follow him @snrasul.

Opinion

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Remembering the budget wizard M Saifur Rahman’s role in the Bangladesh economy cannot be denied

A visionary in finance

Many of his close associates were not happy with him, as he refused to meet their self-interest, if it meant sacrificing the greater interest of the nation. He believed in real democracy

n Kazi Liakat Hossain

esterday was the seventh death anniversary of M Saifur Rahman. This budget wizard was born on October 6, 1932. He graduated from Dhaka University in 1953. He earned a CA from London and was made chairman of the IMF and World Bank’s Board of Governance. He was a visionary who introduced the new mode of taxation called value added tax (VAT). Ultimately, it proved to be the major source of revenue. Many of his close associates were not happy with him, as he

refused to meet their self-interest, if it meant sacrificing the greater interest of the nation. He believed in real democracy. He did not spare criticising his party men if they went against the interest of the country. He broke the world record by placing the budget 12 times before the parliament. Every nation has some valiant sons who contribute to the nation, and they should be recognised as such. The Washington Post once wrote: “If Bangladesh could produce two Saifur Rahmans, the economy of Bangladesh would have been superior.” Former late Prime Minister

Benazir Bhutto once said: “Give me one Saifur Rahman, I will give you an economically developed Pakistan.” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: “Saifur Rahman was a good economist not only in Bangladesh, but also in South Asia.” M Saifur Rahman was my relative. I remember, one day we went to his residence. We went upstairs where there is an open veranda. A few chairs and tables were set there. We sat in that chair. Durre Samad Rahman came towards us with a very sweet smile and received us cordially. After exchanging greetings, she brought for us some refreshment, carrying the tray by herself. I promptly threw a question to her: “Why are you carrying the tray? You could have asked your maids to carry this.” She replied: “Well, you see, you are my own guests, my nearest relatives, how could I ask servants to serve you?” Let us now give a brief picture

of M Saifur Rahman and Brig Gen (Retd) Qazi Shajahan Hafiz’s matrimonial relations. Both of them married the daughters of late Bazlur Samad Chowdhury, a reputed banker. BS Chowdhury’s eldest daughter married the editor of the Daily Dawn, Pakistan. Saifur Rahman’s only daughter, Saifa Rahman married the son of late MR Siddiqui of Chittagong. Both Saifur Rahman and QS Hafiz’s maternal uncle-in-law was late AK Khan, veteran industrialist and minister. Saifur Rahman’s eldest son married the daughter of former minister Chowdhury Kamal- IbneYousuf, whose father was also a renowned political figure. On one occasion, I went to my uncle Qazi Shajahan Hafiz’s residence to take his interview as a Tagore songs artiste at his previous DOHS residence early in the morning. At about 8:30am, a telephone call came. He told me that Saifur was given a gala reception in his local area and he was profusely garlanded by them. He was in a cheery mood, and happy having been cordially received by the people. He rang me up just to inform me of that good news. On another occasion we went to visit Saifur Rahman in Gulshan. It was 1991. Under a caretaker government, the national election was held. Saifur Rahman could not come out successful in a parliament election. He was sitting idle and relaxing, wearing a genji and lungi. Having seen us entering into the room, he threw a question to my uncle Qazi Jahangir Hafiz in a Sylheti dialect: Kita khobor? Jahangir said: Khobor bala, you are going to become finance minister again. Saifur was surprised to hear this, and asked how he could be a minister again, since he could not pass in the parliament election. He was looking straight at me and was smiling. My prompt reply was yes, you will be finance minister in a technocrat quota, and that became true. According to his wishes, he was buried beside his wife and parents at their family graveyard. May Allah rest their souls in peace. We recall a beautiful line from poet John Milton: “Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.” l Kazi Liakat Hossain is Managing Editor, Dainik Dhaka, and Advisory Editor, The Economy.

Opinion

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

In the face of climate change Climate change is a problem for the whole world, but Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable

The displacement of people is a big consequence of climate change

People are being deprived of their basic needs such as education, health, and other modern facilities as they have to move frequently from one place to another

n Naim Ebna Rahman

limate change is the most daunting environmental issue of our time. It has instigated a wide range of challenges for countries, and many of us are already confronting the adverse impacts of it. The impacts are multidimensional and extensive, ranging from ecology to economy, and other decisive sectors as well. Bangladesh is a small country. It has a long history of being a neutral and peace-loving country, but now the name of this land is frequently uttered in the world forum due to its enormous vulnerability to climate change impacts. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world,

where remittances and the garment industry are the premier contributing sources of its economy. On the other hand, Bangladesh is also one of the largest deltas of the world, a majority of which is hardly above sea level. So, due to both economic and geographic characteristics, Bangladesh is accounted to be the most vulnerable country to climate change in the world. From the inception of its journey in 1971, it has been enduring extreme climatic events like cyclones, tidal bores, floods, storms, etc. Over the last few years, it has undergone frequent and intense natural disasters due to climate change. The memories of devastating Sidr and Aila in the recent past are not to be blurred anytime soon,

REUTERS

which swept over Bangladesh in 2007 and 2009 respectively, claiming thousands of lives, and bringing uncountable economic losses. The country is densely populated, contributing to 2.19% of the world’s population, but in terms of greenhouse gases emissions, it contributes a tiny proportion of 0.14%. Despite negligible contribution of greenhouse gases, Bangladesh is facing devastating impacts of climate change. Many environmental experts are projecting more dangerous climate events in the upcoming days. It is predicted that if the sea level rises by one metre as glaciers melt gradually, 17% of Bangladesh will be inundated permanently, and 19 districts will be affected directly. Other impacts like temperature increase, droughts, etc are evidently present in Bangladesh now, affecting the daily lives of people. In addition, increases in cyclones, flash floods, and floods are prevalent as we are extremely prone to such devastation, with 80% of the total land area being hardly above sea level. We used to expect floods once within 10 years, but now it

occurs once in every two years. Salinity intrusion has become a severe problem in the southern part of Bangladesh. Due to frequent occurrence of tidal bores, cyclones, etc, saline water intrudes agricultural land easily and as a result depletes its productivity. If we attempt to estimate the sectoral impacts of climate change, then we can note that losses are uncountable. We are mainly an agricultural based economy, and this sector provides about 50% of total employment. Due to extreme temperature, drought, heavy fall, and salinity intrusion, cropyielding is decreasing rapidly. People are losing their sources of livelihood and employment. Food security may become another issue in the coming days for Bangladesh, as rice production in the southern part of the country is decreasing due to salinity intrusion. On a positive note, Bangladesh is undoubtedly privileged with a wide diversity of ecosystem, including the mangrove forests and the longest sea beach, and has long coastal areas in its southern part, covering 19 districts. The Sundarbans, a world heritage site, is also being affected

badly by climate change-induced natural disasters. Many species of this forest are on the verge of extinction due to climate change. Even urban areas like Dhaka and Chittagong are being affected directly by extreme temperature and water lodging. It is worth mentioning that 40% of the urban population in Bangladesh lives in slum areas. Moreover, more slums are being formed by refugees, and existing slums have become over-crowded. All these slums are creating new issues like air pollution and accommodation problems. For a research project titled “Socio-economic Impacts of River Erosion: A case study on Faridpur district,” I had the opportunity to work on this issue particularly. During my field work, I observed how devastating impacts of river erosion can be. People are being deprived of their basic needs such as education, health, and other modern facilities as they have to move frequently from one place to another. Recently, I sought consultation of Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, a professor in the department of development studies in Dhaka University, regarding the impacts of climate change in Bangladesh. Dr Khan was stressing on social impacts of climate change. He said: “The economic impacts of climate change are undoubtedly foreseeable by experts and analysts, but the social impacts need to be scrutinised as well. Most importantly, livelihoods of vulnerable groups inhabiting coastal and char lands will be seriously affected, which will result in explicit and implicit impact. The first being a loss of cultivable land and forest areas, while the latter is likely to manifest itself in the form of social inequality, exclusion, leading towards social instability. Major SDG development goals like poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, and bio-diversity preservation will therefore be hampered in the long run.” It’s high time to preserve our planet for our next generation. We should not consider climate change as an isolated problem for any specific nation, rather let’s consider it as our common problem. We need to be responsible for mitigating the impact of climate change successfully and efficiently. l Naim Ebna Rahman is a freelance contributor.

24 Sport

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

TOP STORIES

All’s well that ends well

Mamunul, Faisal call it a day Bangladesh men’s football team captain Mamunul Islam and veteran defender Waly Faisal have decided to retire from international football. The decision came after the national duo came to know about their exclusion. PAGE 25

Tigers awestruck by Walsh Courtney Walsh started his journey as Bangladesh’s new bowling coach during a training session at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium yesterday. The players excitedly introduced themselves to the legendary fast bowler. PAGE 26

Bangladesh captain Krishna Rani Sarkar takes a shot at goal against the United Arab Emirates during the AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

n Shishir Hoque ULAB win big in Red Bull Campus Cricket University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh thrashed University of Sydney (Australia) by 10 wickets with 80 balls to spare in their Red Bull Campus Cricket 2016 opener at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Sri Lanka yesterday. PAGE 26

Pouille stuns Nadal to reach QF Lucas Pouille outlasted 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in a five-set classic on Sunday to lead a trio of French men into the quarter-finals of the US Open. Pouille, 22 and ranked 25th in the world, lived up to his promise. PAGE 28

The clinical Bangladesh girls finished their AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers campaign with another comfortable 4-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. In-form captain Krishna Rani Sarkar shone once again with a brilliant a brace while Anuching Mogini and Tohura Khatun added one apiece to give the home side their fifth consecutive victory and in the process, maintain their hundred percent record. The girls in red and green ended their Group C mission at the top with 15 points from five matches. Krishna scored a total of eight goals to become the top-scorer while Anuching netted five. Chinese Taipei finished second with 12 points. Head coach Golam Rabbani Choton retained the same squad which beat Chinese Taipei in the previous match and the Bengal girls began the game brightly. It took the girls only three minutes to open the scoring and it was none other than forward Krishna, who headed home a Marzia Akhter corner. The hosts could have doubled

the lead in the 37th minute when Krishna earned her side another penalty but Shamsunnahar missed from the spot, having shot wide. It was the first time the leftback missed a penalty in the tournament after converting three out of three in the last four matches. Krishna appeared to be more attacking after resumption and the charismatic forward doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, placing home from two yards following a Sanjida Akhter corner.

RESULT Bangladesh

4-0

UAE

Krishna 3, 52, Anuching 56, Tohura 86

Anuching extended the lead four minutes later, sending the ball past UAE goalkeeper from the middle of the box after Maria Manda’s initial shot was deflected off a defender. Tohura came off the bench to net Bangladesh’s fourth goal in the 86th minute with a touch from the goalline, following a Monika Chakma cross from the left flank. “Although we ensured our place in the final round after the game against Chinese Taipei, we wanted to end the group stages on

a winning note. My message to the girls is to continue playing in the same way. I believe that all’s well that ends well,” said Choton after the game.

What awaits the girls

With the immense success of the U-16 girls, the Bangladesh Football Federation is planning to hold continuous preparation for the women’s football team ahead of the South Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship at the end of this year and the final round of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Thailand next year. The fourth edition of the Saff Women’s Championship is expected to be held in Goa, India in November this year and the preparation for the Bangladesh team will begin right after the Eid-ul-Azha vacation on September 16. Just like the South Asian Games in Guwahati early this year, many of the girls from the current U-16 squad are likely to be selected for the national team as well, along with the senior ones. Choton informed that there will be a trial before the selection of the preliminary squad and that age will not come into consideration. With the qualification for the

final round in Thailand next year, Bangladesh U-16 girls will face the top eight teams in Asia. Choton wants non-stop preparation in order to prepare his side for the big event. “I talked to the chairman [BFF’s women’s wing committee chairman Mahfuza Akhter Kiron] and we agreed that there is no option for rest. We have to start hard training from now onwards and continue it for the whole year because we have to face tough opponents in Thailand,” said Choton. Choton informed that Kiron told him the BFF will try to arrange friendly matches against three-time U-16 Women’s Championship champions Japan and China. U-16 captain Krishna, who was also part of the national team in the SA Games and scored in a game against Maldives, also wants more practice matches before the final round. “We have to do long-term training. We also must have to play practice matches against the sides who are stronger than us so that we can know more about us. It will increase our confidence as well,” said the 15-year-old forward, who scored eight goals in five matches. l

Sport

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Mamunul, Faisal call it a day n Tribune Report

Bangladesh men’s football team captain Mamunul Islam and veteran defender Waly Faisal have decided to retire from international football. The decision came after the national duo came to know about their exclusion from the final squad for today’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Play-off match against Bhutan. Bangladesh’s Belgian head coach Tom Saintfiet yesterday was set to announce the 23-man squad for today’s vital match against Bhutan. He excluded Mamunul, Waly, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Pranatosh Kumar, Mohammad Nehal, Aminur Rahman Sajib and Sentu Chandra Sen. Mamunul, who trained with the national team on Sunday afternoon, said he felt insulted after hearing about his omission. The 28-year-old midfielder was also not in the final squad for the international friendly against Maldives on September 1 due to injury.

In his prompt reaction to the media, Mamunul said, “It is not clear to me as to why I was not in the final squad. I’m fit now and did train with team in the last two days. I respect the coach’s decision but I still believe that I’m better than any young players. It’s better to say goodbye.” On the other hand, Saintfiet explained Mamunul’s exclusion. “Mamunul is one of the best players of Bangladesh football. He has done a great job for the national team and I respect him. The only problem started two weeks ago when five players, including him, decided to leave the team and play for the [Bangladesh] Navy team,” said Saintfiet. He continued, “I cannot understand this. I have never in my life seen this. He returned from that game with an injury. He didn’t help his country with that. His replacement [Mohammad] Abdullah did very well and did exactly what I wanted. I made my decision.” l

Bangladesh’s acid test today n Shishir Hoque A disorganised yet determined Bangladesh men’s football team will take on Bhutan in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Play-off today at Bangabandhu National Stadium at 7pm. BTV World will telecast the match live. Bangladesh’s Belgian head coach Tom Saintfiet announced a 23-man squad ahead of the game where he omitted six players from the squad that conceded a humiliating 5-0 against Maldives last week. The major omission is long-time captain Mamunul Islam, who missed the Maldives game due to injury, after which the midfielder decided to retire from international football. Other notable players like Waly Faisal, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Pranatosh Kumar, Yeamin Munna, Sentu Chandra Sen and Aminur Rahman Sajib also missed the cut. Saintfiet, who mostly prioritises discipline and dedication, termed “tactical choice” for the exclusion of some experienced players. He will have to rely on his young force, including Mohammad Abdullah, Jafar Iqbal, Sharif, Hemanta Vincent Biswas for the midfield and attacking line while there is a mixture of youth and experience in defence, like the veteran Mamun Miah and new face Monsur Amin. The men in red and green have never lost to Bhutan in history with, four out of five matches. In their previous clash, Bangladesh

beat Bhutan 3-0 in the South Asian Football Federation Championship in India 10 months ago. But the current situation is different as the visitors have improved significantly while Bangladesh are under pressure for their poor performances in recent times. Bhutan head coach Pema said they would be happy if they returned home with a draw while Saintfiet, for whom it will be his second game in charge, wants to take advantage of the home conditions with a victory, preferably without conceding any. To replace Mamunul in midfield, Saintfiet discovered a promising option in Arambagh forward Abdullah, who was probably the best Bangladesh player against Maldives.

Jewel Rana was not in the previous squad but the Abahani winger impressed the coach and could get some game time against Bhutan while young defender Mansur Amin could make his debut. Young midfielders Didarul and Anamul Haque Sharif and winger Jafar are likely to start. Due to rain in the last two days and the regular matches of the AFC Under-16 Women’s Championship Qualifers, the condition of the BNS is not at its best. Bhutan are used to playing on artificial turf and Pema said it will difficult for his side to play on heavy grass. Bhutan played a friendly as preparation for today’s game against India, losing 3-0. They have been preparing for the Play-off for three weeks. l

Bangladesh’s Belgian head coach Tom Saintfiet (R) addresses the media yesterday ahead of their today’s clash against Bhutan BFF

Mahbubur Rahman (R) and Mahmuda Akhter Ananya MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

A lovely couple behind the indomitable girls n Shishir Hoque It was a common scene in the last couple of months; Mahbubur Rahman Litu training the Bangladesh Under-16 girls during the practice sessions while Mahmuda Akhter Ananya always ran here and there, talking with the girls on and off the field. Litu and Ananya have been married to each other for five years now and are the assistant coaches of the Bangladesh U-16 women’s football team. Not only with the young girls, they also have a great understanding with head coach Golam Rabbani Choton. It was in the middle of June this year. Bangladesh started their camp ahead of the just-concluded AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers and eight players from the camp caught viral fever. Ananya was the only senior member around to give support to the girls during the nights. “Eight players got sick and I lost all my sleep. I was in my home and I remember calling Ananya at 2am in the night. The way she supported the girls at that time, it was no less than what a mother does for her daughter. She was always with the girls,” said an emotional Choton yesterday. “All the time, she was looking after the girls and all their problems. She also assisted during training. Litu is also excellent. I can’t express their contribution in words. I’m kind of a tough person and the girls may be afraid to talk [both Choton and captain Krishna Rani Sarkar breaking out in laughter] but Litu and Ananya filled the communication gap with the girls,” Choton added. While the head coach was talking, Krishna was also behind him and added, “They (Litu and Ananya)

support us all the time. For instance, some of us girls caught fever during the camp. She did everything for us, including bringing medicine. She woke us up every morning and took us to the dining. Sir [Litu] look after us on the field while Ananya handles the personal problems.” It is a rule of the Asian Football Confederation that every girls’ team should have a female coach, which brought Ananya to the scene. She earned her C license in 2014 and has been with the team during their title-winning campaigns in the AFC U14 Girls’ Regional (South and Central) Championships in Nepal and Tajikistan. Holding a B license, Litu, who played for Victoria, Agrani Bank and Brothers Union in the domestic league, has been with different women’s football teams since 2010, including the South Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship. She teamed up with her wife before the U-16 campaign once again. The couple were over the moon following the young girls’ historic qualification to the final round of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2017. “If Bangladesh ever play in a World Cup, these girls will be there. I’m with the girls for quite a while and I’m very much hopeful,” said Litu after Bangladesh beat the United Arab Emirates yesterday. “I’ve been with the girls since 2014 and it feels really great that we achieved amazing results in every tournament we played in. They are improving every day. They will go a very long way. I hope they will prove more people wrong in world football,” said Ananya, who was unable to control her elation. l

Sport

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Tigers awestruck by Walsh n Mazhar Uddin

Courtney Walsh started his journey as Bangladesh’s new bowling coach during a training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The players excitedly introduced themselves to the legendary fast bowler from West Indies as he got to work with the Tigers fast bowlers in the Mirpur green. According to paceman Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Walsh only observed the bowlers since the 30-member squad will play a practice match today. “He asked our names and then wanted to know who among us were right arm or left arm bowlers. As we have a match (today), he didn’t say much and asked us to concentrate on the match. We did spot bowling and yorkers and we also worked on length deliveries where he told us to bowl yorker to the left handers and length ball for the right handers. He also saw our grips and observed the problems of

Sylhet set for BPL ownership change n Mazhar Uddin Bangladesh Cricket Board is likely to scratch the Bangladesh Premier League franchise Sylhet Superstars over payment irregularities from the 2015 edition. According to the BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the board will take necessary steps in the upcoming BPL governing council meeting. “There has been a payment issue with Sylhet Superstars and the board will take further decision after consulting on the matter,” Nizamuddin told Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Dhaka Tribune has learned that the Sylhet franchise are yet to pay around Tk three or four crore with BCB president Nazmul Hasan earlier informing that the board will cash their bank guarantee. However, it was yet to be done due to some technical reasons. Today meanwhile is the last day to submit the expression of interest for aspiring BPL franchises for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to start from November 6. According to the sources this year’s BPL will have seven teams with Rajshahi returning as a franchise while Sylhet too could have a new owner. “We have already received a few applications from interested firms and the board will decide after assessing all the aspects in the coming days,” said Nizamuddin. l

our bowling as we bowled six overs each,” said Kamrul. He said Walsh already knew some of the Bangladeshi players like Rubel Hossain and Al Amin Hossain while he called him “Rab”.

He asked our names and then wanted to know who among us were right arm or left arm bowlers The 24 year old watched the bowling of Walsh on Youtube as he was very young when the fast bowler picked 519 Test wickets before retiring in 2001. “I have been watching his bowling on Youtube for the past few days and I saw the matches and realised what type of bowler he was, actually he is a legend. I was very young when he used to play. Now I know that he likes the basic bowling action,” he said. l

Bangladesh’s newly-appointed bowling coach Courtney Walsh (L) meets limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Taskin, Sunny off to Brisbane n Tribune Report

Bangladesh’s banned bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny left Dhaka for Brisbane last night to appear for the ICC bowling action review. They are scheduled to appear for the test on Thursday. The bowling action will be tested at the Brisbane National Cricket Centre where Taskin is set to appear for the biomechanics test at 10am in the morning while Sunny will undergo his test at 2pm on the same day. The result of the test will be

made available within 10-12 days and if they are given the green signal, both Taskin and Sunny are likely to be available for selection before Bangladesh’s ODI series against Afghanistan later this month. During the whole process Taskin and Sunny will have national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha by their side. Hathurusingha is said to have also arranged practice sessions for the duo before they appear for the test. “We are going with a positive mindset. We are, of course, excited and optimistic that we will be

back with positive result. We seek everyone’s blessing so that we can return to international cricket from the next home series. I believe we have put enough effort in the last four-five months,” said Taskin. “The coach and local experts supported us. Last four months (Mahbub Ali) Zaki sir worked with me. Head coach will be there with us. Hopefully it will give an additional inspiration. Senior players also supported us mentally. We will breeze through the test if the blessings from all are with us,” he added.

But Sunny was guarded in his observation ahead of the flight to Brisbane, saying the duo will be under some pressure during the test. “We have been toiling hard for the last few months. The review committee, our coaching staff and teammates all inspired us. Our bowling actions are better. But there will be a pressure as it is indeed a matter of an examination. Hopefully if we can do our work properly, we must come back to international cricket,” said Sunny. l

ULAB win big in Red Bull Campus Cricket opener n Tribune Report

ULAB team (Bangladesh) after winning yesterday’s match against University of Sydney, Australia COURTESY

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh thrashed University of Sydney (Australia) by 10 wickets with 80 balls to spare in their Red Bull Campus Cricket 2016 opener at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Sri Lanka yesterday. Winning the toss, ULAB sent UoS in to bat first and skittled them out in just 18.1 overs for 74 runs. Anjum Ahmed, Mohammed Islam, Arifur Rahman and Mahbubur Rahman all picked up two wickets each. UoS opener Ben Trevor-Jones top-scored with 28 and was the only batsman who crossed double figures.

ULAB UPCOMING FIXTURES v Loughborough University of England, today v Assupol TuksCricket, University of Pretoria, South Africa, tomorrow ULAB reached the modest target of 75 in just 6.4 overs, thanks to a 24-ball half-century by captain Mohammad Hasanuzzaman. The other opener Anjum was unbeaten on 11. A total of eight cricketing nations will battle for the world championship. The semi-finals and final of the tournament will be played at Galle International Stadium. l

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Sport

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Ireland women pip Bangladesh women n Tribune Report Bangladesh women made a disappointing start to their tour of Ireland, losing the first of the twomatch Twenty20 international series against hosts Ireland women by a narrow margin of six runs in Magheramason yesterday.

The two sides will lock horns in the second T20I today at the same venue In a curtailed-over game, Bangladesh needed to chase only 55 runs in 10 overs, which the side failed to do owing to a batting debacle. At the end of 10 overs, Bangladesh had 48 runs on the board losing six wickets. Fargana Hoque, batting at number three, was the only batter to reach double figures with 24 runs off as many balls. Ireland pacer Lucy O’Reilly picked up two wickets while Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth bagged a wicket each. Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl first. A joint effort saw Irish register only 54 runs on the board in 10 overs. Off-spinner Khadija tul Kubra notched three wickets in two overs. The two sides will lock horns in the second T20I today at the same venue. Bangladesh will also play a twomatch one-day international series against the hosts this Thursday and Saturday respectively. l

1ST T20I IRELAND WOMEN 54/8 in 10 overs (Shillington 26, Kubra 3/5) beat BANGLADESH WOMEN 48/6 in 10 overs (Fargana 24, O’Reilly 2/5) by six runs

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL SONY SIX 12:30AM FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Switzerland v Portugal

SONY ESPN 12:30AM FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Belarus v France

CRICKET TEN 3 7:30PM Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 1st T20I

TENNIS TEN 1 10:00PM US Open 2016 QFs Singles Session 1

England’s Adam Lallana (L) scores the winning goal against Slovakia during their 2018 World Cup qualifying Group F match at City Arena, Trnava, Slovakia

Lallana gives England last-gasp win over 10-man Slovakia n

Reuters

England’s Adam Lallana scored his first international goal with the last kick of the game as the visitors beat 10-man Slovakia 1-0 in their World Cup Group F qualifier on Sunday to get new manager Sam Allardyce’s reign off to a winning start. With the referee checking his watch, Danny Rose sent a hopeful low ball into the area for Lallana, who jinked left past a defender and struck a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Matus Kozacik for his first England goal in 27 games. However, for much of a lacklustre contest in Trnava it looked like England would be frustrated with a re-run of the goalless draw

the teams shared in their last clash during the group stage at Euro 2016 in Saint-Etienne in June. England struggled to shrug off familiar problems, controlling the game without looking like winning it even after Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel was dismissed for stamping on Harry Kane in the 57th minute. His departure signalled a period of intense pressure from England with Lallana hitting the post, and substitute Theo Walcott seeing a scrambled effort ruled out for offside, before the Liverpool midfielder snatched the last-gasp winner. “We didn’t panic, that was the main thing,” said captain Wayne Rooney, who played in his 116th

Fahad lifts Nat’l Junior Chess n Tribune Report

Fide Master Fahad Rahman of Mahindra Comviva clinched the 36th National Junior (Under-20) Open Chess Championship after collecting 7.5 points in eight games. Pabna’s Candidate Master Ikramul Haque Seam meanwhile became the runners up. In the eighth and final round, Fahad defeated Dhaka’s Shornabo Chowdhury while Seam beat Dhaka’s Abdullah al Raisan. With six points, Joypurhat’s Mohammad Abu Jafar Siddik placed third. Sirajganj’s Mohammad Naim Haque finished fourth, Dhaka’s Yeasir Ali Khan Ivan ended fifth, Natore’s Kowshik Chowdhury placed sixth while Narayanganj’s Monon Reza concluded his campaign at seventh. l

international to become England’s most capped outfield player ahead of David Beckham. “We stuck to our plan and kept our shape. Adam scored the goal to get us off to an excellent start (in the campaign).” Before the game Allardyce, who replaced Roy Hodgson after England’s shock Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, said he would be happy with a point from what he expected to be their hardest qualifying game, so he was delighted with the win. “We got what we deserved,” he said. “It looked like it wasn’t going to be our night and it was pretty nerve-wracking at the end, but well done Adam. It was an important win.” l

REUTERS

RESULTS Group C

0-1

San Marino

Azerbaijan Gurbanov 45

Czech Republic Norway

0-0

Northern Ireland

0-3

Germany

Mueller 16, 60, Kimmich 45

Group E Kazakhstan

2-2

Khizhnichenko 51, 58

Denmark

Poland Kapustka 9, Lewandowski 35-pen

1-0

Armenia

1-1

Montenegro

Eriksen 17

Romania Popa 85

Slovakia

Group F

0-1

Jovetic 87

England Lallana 90+5

Lithuania

2-2

Cernych 32, Slivka 34

Malta Effiong 14

1-5

Slovenia Krhin 77, Cesar 90+3

Scotland

Snodgrass 10, 61-pen, 84, Martin 53, Fletcher 78

Pouille stuns Nadal n AFP, New York Lucas Pouille outlasted 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in a five-set classic on Sunday to lead a trio of French men into the quarter-finals of the US Open. Pouille, 22 and ranked 25th in the world, lived up to the promise of his quarter-final run at Wimbledon, emerging from a roller-coaster ride with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) triumph over the Spanish superstar. Pouille next tackles 10th-seeded compatriot Gael Monfils, a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 winner over Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

Ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also advanced, downing Jack Sock, the last American man left in the draw, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2. Tsonga next faces world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who powered past 84thranked Kyle Edmund of Britain 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. Edmund looked thoroughly out-classed until he managed to put together a run of three straight games in the third set that included two breaks of Djokovic’s serve. But Djokovic regrouped quickly and closed out the match by breaking Edmund at love.l

Lucas Pouille returns a shot to Rafael Nadal during their US Open fourth round singles match on Sunday AFP

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Disencumber (3) 3 Burnt-out coal (6) 8 English river (4) 9 Be indebted (3) 10 Make less sensitive (6) 11 Merchant (6) 14 Woody plants (5) 17 Yellowish brown (5) 20 Bird of prey (6) 24 Brute (6) 26 Offspring (3) 27 Fish (4) 28 Builds (6) 29 Tree (3)

DOWN 1 Fissure (4) 2 Facts given (4) 3 Cypher (4) 4 Inactive (5) 5 Evade (5) 6 Female sheep (3) 7 Tears (5) 12 Edge (3) 13 Female deer (3) 15 Floor covering (3) 16 First woman (3) 17 Degrade (5) 18 Very salt water (5) 19 Respond (5) 21 Woe! (4) 22 Long easy stride (4) 23 Pretended (4) 25 And not (3)

Downtime

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 18 represents M so fill M every time the figure 18 appears. You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares. Some letters of the alphabet may not be used. As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

Showtime

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Keanu’s JW2

n Showtime Desk Keanu Reeves, one of America’s favourite living actors, turned 52 on September 1, 2016. Reeves, the first actor to depict DC Comics antihero John Constantine in live action, is best known for his roles in films like The Matrix and Speed. Currently, he’s working on a sequel to his 2014 indie hit John Wick. Reeves, who is also a filmmaker and musician, once aspired to be an Olympic hockey player, but an

injury put an end to those dreams. Having done better in sports than academics, Reeves sought out another ambitious route for his talents and went into acting. He started his career in the early 80’s. In the 90’s he started touring with his grunge band, Dogstar, with his Hollywood celebrity guaranteeing they would get noticed in the crowded ‘90s music market. After another huge success with 1994’s Speed, he declined a reported $11 million salary to play a role in Speed 2: Cruise Control to tour with Dogstar instead, and

appear in Hamlet at the Manitobe Theatre Centre. Around this time Reeves exploded. Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey was a disappointment, but solidified him as a franchise actor at the same time he had critical success with My Own Private Idaho. In 1992, he starred in a pair of blockbusters: Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break and Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula. Since then, he did the popular Matrix trilogy as well as films like Something’s Gotta Have It and Constantine, rebuilding his rep as a consistent box office draw. He also left music behind, saying that while he enjoys it, he didn’t want to seriously pursue it. Since the mid-2000s, he’s gone on to have mixed success, varying up his roles between comedies, action films, dramas, blockbusters and independents. In addition to John Wick 2, he’s also still developing with costar Alex Winter and writer Ed Solomon a third Bill and Ted film. John Wick 2 is upcoming action movie in 2016. The movie is a sequel to the John Wick movie which was released in 2014. Keanu Reeves is playing the role of John Wick, an ex-hitman who is seeking vengeance of a theft of his vintage car and the killing of his dog, which was a gift from his dead wife. John Wick 2 follows a plot not announced but if you have watched the first part of this series then you can guess what the movie will be like. The film is scheduled to release in 2016. l

Documentary on Professor Anisuzzaman wrapped up

n Showtime Desk Writer-filmmaker Masud Karim, who is famed for his documentary Krishnakoli, recently wrapped up a documentary on the life and works of Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman. The documentary is titled Batighar. Shooting was partially done in Dhaka, Khulna, Kolkata and London covering the vivid life journey of this man, beginning from his childhood. Many unknown facts of Professor Anisuzzaman’s life will be revealed in this documentary. In the documentray, along with his family members, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla, prominent journalist and columnist in London Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, the first

Mawra’s star-struck moments n Showtime Desk Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane, who made her Bollywood debut with Sanam Teri Kasam earlier this year, was rumoured to be with Ranbir Kapoor already. Many are claiming she is Ranbir’s partner especially since his very loud break up with Katrina Kaif. However, she denied the dating rumours. The 23-year-old has indeed learnt from her mistakes. She recalled the incident of how rumours of a secret romance between Ranbir and herself surfaced after she expressed her admiration for the Tamasha actor over social media. “You see, everyone matures. I am well aware of where I stand today and how what I say or do can become a headline. I don’t mention Ranbir anymore, but still get his name in scripts at award shows, so I avoid the topic altogether.” However, Mawra has never

spoken about what kind of relationship she shares with Kapoor, but she definitely is one of Ranbir’s family’s favourites! Mawra Hocane had earlier confessed that she is a die-hard fan of Ranbir Kapoor and the lucky girl also got a video message in response to her star struck attitude. Asked about film genres she wishes to be a part of, Mawra said she is attracted towards “period dramas like Bajirao Mastani or Umrao Jaan”. “I hope that I get offered one of those soon. And another one that really attracts me is the biopic genre. Particularly I want to do Nazia Hassan’s biopic. I heard her story when I was a child. My mother really likes her,” she added. Co-directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, Sanam Teri Kasam, which also starred Harshvardhan Rane, will premiere on Sunday. Sooraj Pancholi earlier shot down rumours that he is more

than friends with Mawra Hocane. According to one media report, Sooraj has been dating the Sanam Teri Kasam actress, and another

report indicated that their linkup is just for the sake of publicity for Mawra’s film. l Source: Indian Express

batch student of Professor Anisuzzaman singer Sayed Abdul Hadi, prominent writer Selina Hossain, Professor Sayed Monjurul Islam, BTV News Director poet Nasir Ahamed, Indian film and stage actor Soumitra Chatterjee, former Rabindra Bharati University VC Professor Pabitra Sarkar and Jadavpur University VC Dr Suranjan Das made their assessment on Anisuzzaman. Marking the 80th birth anniversary of Professor Anisuzzaman, the documentary is scheduled to premier on February 18, 2017 in Dhaka, with a few screenings to be held in Kolkata, Tokyo and London, respectively. Earlier Masud Karim made Krishnakoli, a documentary on noted Indian actor, elocutionist and poet Soumitra Chatterjee which premiered in Kolkata on April 28 this year. l

Tauqir Ahmed bags two at Kosovo film festival n Showtime Desk Bangladeshi actor-filmmaker Tauqir Ahmed bagged two awards at an international film festival held in Kosovo titled The Goddess on the Throne. Ahmed’s recent feature film Unnamed, which is now in theaters, clinched the best director award along with the best screenplay award. Taquir Ahmed was present at the award ceremony held on September 4, spotted holding two statues of the Goddess. After receiving the award Tauqir Ahmed expressed his thought on the film’s

success saying, “Thanks to all the cast and crew of the film. I owe my success to all the people who helped with the film.” The film portrays how human trafficking has affected Bangladeshi expatriate workers, how the abuse of women and girls of the society takes place in this cycle and how these hard workers receive disrespect everywhere. Mosharraf Karim and Nipun have played lead roles in the film. Shahiduzzaman Selim, Shatabdi Wadud, and Fazlur Rahman Babu, among others, played the supporting roles. l

Showtime

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

BSA hosts Mullobodher Natya Utsob 2016

n Hasan Dabir Uddin Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy(BSA) has arranged a seven day long play fest at the Experimental Theater Hall titled Mullobodher Natya Utsob 2016. On September 4, the fourth day of the festival, the District Shilpakala Academy of Barisal staged Shaman Moisan’s Soorak under the direction and planning of Hasanur Rahid Makud. The play reflects on gender discrimination and how it invokes cruelty and destroys humanity. The District Shilpakala Academy of Narsingdi staged Dr Mahfuza Halali’s Chupkotha which focused on the nude dead body of an unknown woman and the subsequent ill practices of people towards the body. This also includes a journalist who tries to publish the picture of the body in his newspaper hoping it will get more readers. The District Shilpakala Academy of Jessore staged Abul Hasan Tuhin’s Notun Korey Shopno Dekhi under the direction of Kamrul Hasan Ripon. The play revolves around an aged school teacher who

lived through three periods of rule (the British, the Pakistan and later the Bangladeshi). He realises Mir Jafor (the evil character from the history of Bangla) lives on. The character aspires to live among the new generation, with one central theme that the evil character should be eradicated. “We’re a long way from being a truly successful nation. Nowadays we are in the midst of sickening competition. Because of this we face a lot of problems such as terrorism, rape, drug abuse etc. Even then, we hope the situation can be changed,” Kamrul Hasan Ripon, the director of Notun Korey Shopno Dekhi. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) arranged the festival co-ordinating productions from all 64 district Shipakala Academy’s. For the first phase, Mullobodher Natya Utsab 2016 is taking place at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA with 20 productions from 20 district Shilpakala Academy’s. The festival will continue till September 7, with the plays being staged from 6pm to 8pm everyday. l

WHAT TO WATCH Wild Wild West HBO 5:28pm The two best hired guns in the west must save president grant from the clutches of a nineteenthcentury inventor-villain. Cast: Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Salma Hayek, Kenneth Branagh, Ted Levine

Wall-E Zee Studio 5:45pm This animation film is set in the distant future when all human beings have left Earth as the planet is fully covered with waste. WALL-E is a robot who is staying alone on Earth to collect all the rubbish and probably make Earth habitable again. Voices: Ben Burtt (WALL·E / M-O), Elissa Knight (EVE)

Iron Man Star Movies 7pm After being held captive in an afghan cave, a billionaire engineer creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil. Cast: Robert Downey JR, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb

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Green Lantern WB 9pm Reckless test pilot Hal Jordan is granted an alien ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers that inducts him into an intergalactic police force, the green lantern corps. Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins

Back Page

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

MNP AUCTION NOW ON SEPT 28 PAGE 12

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL PAGE 24

TAUQIR AHMED BAGS TWO AT KOSOVO FILM FESTIVAL PAGE 31

Dhaka protests Turkey’s reaction n Tribune Report Bangladesh yesterday protested Turkey’s reaction over the execution of condemned war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali. The government sent a “strongly-worded” protest letter to the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka in protest against the country’s statement on the execution of the top

Jamaat financier, says a press release of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The press release reads: “Such reaction over the execution of a war criminal is tantamount to interference in matters pertaining to Bangladesh.” The Foreign Ministry issued the protest letter yesterday, a day after Turkey had expressed sorrow over the execution of 1971 war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali.

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs floated a press release on its website in this regard on Sunday. “We have learned with sorrow that the death sentence issued by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh against Mir Quasem Ali, key financier and central executive council member of the Jamaat-e-Islami, has been executed in Bangladesh,” it said. The press note also reads: “We

stress once again that the wounds of the past cannot be healed with these methods and hope that this wrong practice will not lead to separation among the brotherly people of Bangladesh.” Meanwhile, Bangladesh has summoned Pakistan’s envoy in Dhaka and protested Islamabad’s reaction over the execution of condemned 1971 war criminal Mir Quasem Ali.

In a statement released into six hours of Jamaat leader’s execution, the External Affairs Ministry of Pakistan also condemned the execution. “Pakistan is deeply saddened over the execution of the prominent leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh, Mir Quasem Ali, for the alleged crimes committed before December 1971, through a flawed judicial process,” reads the foreign office statement. l

The Oxford College community is seen gathered near the steps of Oxford’s Seney Hall on Sunday to remember Abinta Kabir and Faraaz Hossain COURTESY

Emory holds memorial for Faraaz and Abinta n Tribune Desk College at Emory University in Georgia held a memorial for two victims of the Dhaka terror attack on campus on the 28 August. The ceremony was held in honor of Faraaz Hossain, 20 and Abinta Kabir, 19 who lost their lives during the siege at Holey Artisan Bakery. Oxford College Dean Douglas Hicks said: “There are no words to capture the loss, the confusion, the rage we feel that Faraaz and Abinta were taken from this world, from us, from their lives of limitless promise that each was living.” He also said at the the ceremony: “We press on now to share words, to remember them even in the face of unspeakable tragedy and to express joy for the lives that Abinta and Faraaz did live.” Faraaz Hossain’s roommate Zanir Malani described him as having an unbreakable belief

in doing what was right. He also said that Faraaz’s courage was apparent all throughout his childhood. Oxford College professor Molly McGehee spoke about Abinta’s presence in the classroom saying: “What a smile Abinta had, what radiance.” She added: “One could easily see she was filled with light that, at times, could not be contained.” “When I think about Abinta, whose name means beautiful, I think about light and goodness and innocence,” McGehee also said, mentioning that Abinta’s interest in exploring serious issues, including the oppression of women and ethnic minorities. The ceremony included the campus bells ringing 39 times to symbolize the short 19 years of life for Abinta and 20 more for Faraaz. The memorial was attended by friends and family of both the victims. l

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