12 Sep, 2016

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

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Bhadra 28, 1423, Zil-Hajj 9, 1437

Karim was Tamim’s second man Murad’s wife left Azimpur den last week n Arifur Rahman Rabbi The terrorist who died in Azimpur on Saturday night was the most important person in New Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) after Tamim Chowdhury, police have said.

Shamser Uddin alias Jamshed Hossain alias Abdul Karim, who killed himself during a raid at the Azimpur den had been coordinating the terror group after the death of Tamim, who masterminded the Gulshan attack.

Shamser was a close and trusted aide of Tamim. Under his instructions, Shamser planned attacks, provided training and implemented targets.

Police earlier claimed Zahidul alias Maj (retd) Murad, killed in Dhaka’s Rupnagar on September 2, was Tamim’s second-in-command.

After Tamim’s death, Shamser was the interim head of the organisation. He was planning to reorganise the group and carry out more attacks. He was collecting money and arms. Police found four guns and Tk3 lakh at the den.

On the other hand, Shamser committed suicide with sharp weapons, said the autopsy doctors of Dhaka Medical College Forensic department Sohel Mahmud.

Police found an NID in the den which identified the man  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Tampaco death toll rises to 29 Hasan and n Kamrul Raihanul Islam Akand, Gazipur Fire fighters were able to bring the Tampaco factory fire under control yesterday evening but could not start rescue operation inside the building due to excessive heat and dense smoke.

Four more bodies were recovered from the spot yesterday afternoon while a worker succumbed to his burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College

Hospital, pushing the death toll to 29.

Of the 24 who died on Saturday, 19 bodies were recovered from the spot while five succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at hospitals.

Ten injured workers – five in critical state – have been undergoing treatment at the DMCH while nine more workers remained missing as of last night.

Around 70% of the three PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

NOTICE All offices of the Dhaka Tribune will remain closed for three days from today for Eid. Therefore, there will be no issue of the daily on September 13, 14 and 15. However, our ONLINE service will be on to keep readers updated.

The Dhaka Tribune wishes all its readers, advertisers, hawkers and well-wishers a very happy Eid-ul-Azha

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 138

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Karim was Tamim’s second man as Shamser Uddin from Boalia Rajshahi, but Rajshahi police are not certain about this identity.

Of the three children detained from the den, the teenage boy who called himself Rasel claimed Shamser was his father and his name was Jamshed.

Rasel and the other children, Pinky and Ruhi, were sent to the victim support centre in Dhaka.

Planning more attacks

According to the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit officials, New JMB has become weak after the deaths of its many agents since the Gulshan attack.

Shamser was trying to revive the group, communicating with fugitive militants and planning more attacks.

He also communicated with

local and international militants.

Before the Gulshan attack, he conducted training and motivated the militant in Basundhara flat.

They also trained another hideout, which the police have not yet found, sources said.

Sanwar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of CT unit’s bomb disposal unit, told Dhaka Tribune that in primary investigation they found that after the death of Tamim Shamser played an important role.

A CT unit source said Shamser rented the flat on August 1 for a year under the name Jamshed Hossain.

He gave an address of Meherchandi Purbopara in Boalia, Rajshahi.

DB Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten disclosed at the DMP Media office. The boy among the

three kids rescued during the raid claimed Karim as his father.

‘Suicide to evade arrest’

ADC Sanwar said Shamser committed suicide with a sharp weapon and two other women attempted suicide because they did not want any to face interrogation.

Dhaka Medical College forensic department’s Dr Sohel Mahmud told reporters that the militant Shamser committed suicide with a sharp weapon.

“There is a deep cut on the left side of his neck, three inches long, half-an-inch wide and deep. He did that himself. There are also bomb injuries on the right hand,” he said.

“His body has five injury marks.

However, he died from the neck wound,” he added.

Samples have been taken from the autopsy for DNA and drug tests, the doctor said.

‘Murad’s wife left four days ago’

According to the CTTC source, Maj (retd) Murad’s wife Jebunnahar alias Shila alias Soniya was not in the Azimpur den. Four days before the raid, Jebunnahar left that flat with her younger daughter leaving the elder daughter behind.

CT unit officials suspect that after Tamim’s death at Narayanganj, Murad’s family hid at the Azimpur den.

Sources said when the four militants including the three women sensed that the police had found them, they attacked the police and tried to flee the place. One woman got out with knife left her child of 10—11 months behind.

Shamser’s son Rasel has a twin, police said. The other one is also involved in the terror group, they suspect.

Police officers involved in the operation expressed shock at how the terrorists had radicalised their children and abandoned them to face law enforcers by themselves.

Detective police have primarily identified the female militants as Sharmin alias Ruhama, Shayla alias Afra and Khadija alias Hany. They are admitted at the DMCH. Jasmin Akter, residential surgeon (Casualty department) of DMCH, told Dhaka tribune that of the three women, Khadija and Shaila had stab wounds in different parts of their bodies while Sharmin had bullet injuries. Khadija’s condition was critical, she said. l

Tampaco death toll rises to 29 storey factory collapsed due to the fire which was intensified by the chemical substances kept in the building, fire officials say.

Reason behind the fire still remains unclear. Primarily, it was reported that the fire erupted because of a boiler explosion. But the government officials claimed that the boiler had not exploded, and that it could be originated from a gas leak.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that the fire fighters found four bodies from the site around 5:30pm after the Gazipur City Corporation authorities had started removing debris with bulldozers.

Their identities could not be ascertained immediately.

Fire fighters were spraying water inside the factory last evening but could not enter the building as it became risky.

Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence (training, planning and development) Lt Col Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that they had doused the flames after 36 hours of frantic efforts. “But we need more time to put out the fire completely.

“The building has titled and become too risky to conduct rescue operations,” he said, adding that the total number of deaths can be confirmed after the debris are removed.

The injured worker who died at the DMCH is Ripon Das, 30. He was admitted to the hospital with 90% burns. He died around 5:30am, said Partha Shankar Pal, resident surgeon at the DMCH burns unit.

Ripon’s family was given Tk20,000 as compensation from the Gazipur deputy commissioner office.

Ten victims are still undergoing treatment at the DMCH. Of them, five critically injured workers are getting treatment at the Casualty Department. Resident Surgeon Jasmine Nahar said that three of them – Shipon, Rokon and

Relatives of the victims burst into tears following the deaths of their near and dear ones in the Tampaco fire MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Jahangir – had head injuries.

Four others are admitted in Ward 101. One of them – Pran Krishna Sarker – has multiple fractures. Another is undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU).

Sumon Mollik, brother-in-law of Pran Krishna, said that they had received Tk10,000 from the Deputy Commissioner’s office as compensation.

According to the government’s announcement, the families of the dead workers would get Tk2 lakh each and the injured a maximum Tk1 lakh each as grants from the Labour Welfare Fund.

The injured workers would get Tk10,000 each from the district administration while the families of the deceased would be given Tk20,000 each for funeral.

Soumen Barua, AIG of the Department of Labour, said that they were preparing a list of injured workers admitted to the hospital to

determine the extent of injury and the amount of compensation.

The families of the injured workers had to buy some medicines from outside the hospital Saturday as those were not available.

Learning about this, Director General of Health Services Dr Md Abul Kalam Azad instructed the DMCH authorities to arrange the medicines for free since those were on the list of medicines given by the government.

After Dr Azad visited the hospital yesterday, DMCH Director Brig Gen Mizanur Rahman informed him that all the patients were given free medicines.

Negligence blamed

The National Human Rights Commission chairman yesterday said that they would form a high-powered committee to probe the incident.

On Saturday, two probe bodies – one under the district administration

and another by the fire service – were formed to look into the fire incident.

NHRC chief Reazul Hoque said that they would assess the technical aspects of the fire incident – the issues of renewal of licence, fire clearance and factory visits by officials concerned.

“We will prepare a list of all the relevant issues and identify who to blame. We will also advice the government to take necessary action,” he told reporters after visiting the site.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal who visited the spot Saturday told reporters that the police would check whether the industry had permission to use chemicals, or else, legal action would be taken against its owner.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the fire that claimed 29 lives after investigation.

He said that the government

would take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents at factories to ensure workplace safety for the workers. All the factories that use boilers in Tongi area would be inspected.

NHRC Chairman Reazul said that the owner cannot evade responsibility for the deaths. “He has failed to ensure safety for the workers though he has been doing business for the 45 years and extended it.”

He said that the commission would assist if anyone files a murder case against the owner for negligence.

Reazul also questioned whether the government wings had carried out their due jobs. This fire incident could be averted had the authorities concerned inspected the factory regularly and force the factory owner to ensure compliance.

“The government has appointed over 200 factory inspectors who are supposed to visit the factories regularly and identify the risky units.

“The whole world is watching us after Tazreen fire [in 2012] and Rana Plaza collapse [in 2013]. Our exports were hampered... but the government has been able to regain its image through different efforts.”

The country’s image would be tarnished if such incidents could not be prevented. “We have to see whether it was part of a sabotage against the country,” he added.

While visiting the factory yesterday afternoon, veteran politician and jurist Dr Kamal Hossain demanded punishment for those responsible for the fire. “There are domestic and international laws to address these issues. The culprits must be punished.

“The government should compel everyone to follow the rules.

The whole world observed what happened to Rana Plaza. They will follow this incident too. Recurrence of such tragedies will not bring any good to the country,” he said. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

31 'IS supporters' killed in 10 months n Tribune Desk

Law enforcers have dealt Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh's new faction a severe body blow over the last ten months, killing leader Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and 30 of its operatives. Two other identified members of the deadly group have died by their own hands – one in a suicide mission and another to evade arrest.

The dead militants were involved in attacks carried out and claimed by the Islamic State group since October last year.

Militant Md Tarek Aziz alias Musa died in a suicide attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Baghmara, Rajshahi on December 26.

Md Shamsher Uddin alias Abdul Karim, who rented safe houses for New JMB operatives in Bashundhara, Kallyanpur and Narayanganj, killed himself during a police raid in Dhaka's Azimpur area on September 10.

Nine of the militants belonging to the banned militant outfit were killed before the July 1 Gulshan attack and another eight have been killed in raids since August.

The government does not recognise the killed militants as IS members because they say the international terrorist group does not have an organisational structure here. Instead, it labels the militants members of New JMB. After the police operation in Narayanganj that killed New JMB coordinator and Gulshan attack mastermind Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury on August 27, and Tamim's second-in-command in a Mirpur raid on September 2, investigators

TALLY OF MILITANT DEATHS November 25, 2015: Al-Bani alias Hozza Bhai alias Member Bhai alias Shahadat alias Mahfuz, 28, killed in a gunfight in Dhaka. A group commander, he was involved in attacks on police in Gabtoli and Ashulia, and the bomb attack on Hussaini Dalan.

January 13, 2016: New JMB's Dhaka north military wing commander Abdullah Al Noman alias Abdullah, 31, and second-in-command of JMB's central military wing Kamal alias Hiron, 25, killed in a gunfight in Dhaka. They were involved in attacks on police in Gabtoli and Ashulia, and the bomb attack Hussaini Dalan attacks.

June 7, 2016: New JMB mid-level leader Sultan Mahmud aka Kamal aka Rana and Tareque Hasan Milu alias Ilias alias Osman killed in a shoot-out in Dhaka.

They were involved in the Shia mosque attack in Bogra and the murder of Prof Rezaul Karim Siddique.

June 7, 2016: New JMB member

identified Maulana Abul Kashem as the group's spiritual leader.

Detectives say the once-mighty JMB, which was formed in 1998 and banned in 2005, has now split into three small groups due to the detention of its second ameer Maulana Saidur Rahman in 2010 and the execution of five top leaders, including its founder Shayakh Abdur Rahman, in 2007.

Law enforcers are now looking for Kashem – a former leader of the

Jamal Uddin, who helped suicide bomber Md Tarique Ajij to carry the bomb inside the Ahmadiyya mosque in Baghmara, Rajshahi, killed in a shootout at Godagari of Rajshahi a day after his arrest.

June 8, 2016: New JMB member Md Kawser alias Kawsar Ali, accused in Bogra Shia mosque attack, killed in a gunfight at Shibganj in Bogra.

June 18, 2016: Detained New JMB member Golam Faizullah Faheem killed in a gunfight in Madaripur, three days after he was caught for hacking a Hindu teacher in Madaripur.

July 2, 2016: Five New JMB members killed in Operation Thunderbolt at Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen, Gulshan.

July 7, 2016: New JMB member Abir Rahman killed during a gunfight with police in Sholakia.

July 26, 2016: Nine members of New

main JMB and former principal of Okhabari Madrasa in Dinajpur, and a dozen other coordinators and top leaders of the New JMB including Nurul Islam Marjan. Detectives claim they have identified a number of foreign and local financiers and patronisers of the group.

Tamim, 30, a Canadian citizen, who came to Bangladesh on October 5, 2013 via Dubai is believed to have formed the new militant outfit. Tamim is believed to have met

JMB killed in Operation Storm 26 in Kallyanpur.

August 2, 2016: Wanted in 11 cases of militant attacks and facing Tk1 lakh bounty, Nazrul Islam alias Bike Hassan killed during a raid in Rajshahi city.

August 4, 2016: Sholakia attacker and Joggeshwar murder accused Shafiul Islam Sohan alias Shariful alias Abu Muktadil killed in a gunfight in Nandail, Mymensingh.

August 27, 2016: New JMB coordinator Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, Kazi Fazle Rabbi and Tausif Hossain killed in Operation Hit Strong 27 in Narayanganj.

August 28, 2016: Khaled Hasan alias Badar Mama, New JMB's northern region military wing commander, and his assistant Ripon killed in Rajshahi.

September 2, 2016: Zahidul Islam alias Major Murad, the second-in-command of Tamim Chowdhury, killed in a raid in Dhaka's Mirpur.

Kashem in July last year. During the meeting, Kashem gave Tamim the nom de guerre Abu Bakar alHanif.

Dabiq, the IS's propaganda magazine, published an interview of al-Hanif and referred to him as IS's chief in Bangladesh.

In the interview, he said attacks were being planned against India and Myanmar where he said Muslims were being persecuted, from their base in Bangladesh. But this

process will take time due to the presence of Hindus in Bangladesh, Hanif said.

The group began its operations last year by killing Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio in Kaunia, Rangpur on October 3, according to the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit that deals with militancy-related cases.

But according to IS news agency Amaq, the group's first attack was the killing of Italian citizen and NGO worker Cesare Tavella in Gulshan on September 28. Police recently pressed charges in the case against a number of BNP leaders and activists who allegedly hired gunmen to target and kill an expatriate.

Amaq lists 26 operations carried out until August 23, when a Hindu grocer survived a machete attack in Narsingdi. During this time, the deadliest single attack, which left 23 people including 17 foreigners dead, took place at a Gulshan eatery on July 1.

Other victims of the attacks include non-Sunni and non-Muslim preachers, liberals and law enforcers.

Even though IS did not claim the July 7 attack on police near the Sholakia Eid congregation and another attack on a Hindu college teacher in Madaripur on June 15, investigators believe the same group was behind those attacks.

Some attacks, including militant-style strikes against Christians, Hindus, Shias, two Hindu temples in Dinajpur and grenade attacks on Navy mosques in Chittagong, have not been claimed by any group. l

Govt hospitals prepared for emergencies during Eid n Kamrul Hasan Officials of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the government-run hospitals in the country is prepared to treat patients during Eid. In the event of an emergency they urged people to go to the nearby government-run hospitals specially in the capital as they are well equipped and able to provide all sorts of treatment.

DGHS Director (Hospital and clinic) Prof Dr Shamiul Islam Sady, said they had made sure that on-duty doctors would be present at work during Eid. An inspection team has also been formed to inspect if any government run hospital deny admitting patients during that time, he added. l

The Dhaka South City Corporation distributes bags free of cost among city dwellers yesterday to carry refuse of sacrificed animals to the designated dumping places to keep the capital clean MEHEDI HASAN

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Train schedules derailed, buses delayed n Shohel Mamun Train schedules yesterday collapsed after a train went out of order at Dhaka’s Airport Railway Station much to the sufferings of holidaymakers ahead of Eid-ulAzha.

Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Shitangshu Chakrabarty said: “Sylhet-bound Parabat Express went out of order 20 minutes after its departure from the Kamalapur Railway Station.”

Ir happened around 6:45am at the airport station.

The glitch was fixed and the train left the station two hours later, he said.

A dozen of trains missed their schedules by two to five hours because of the Parabat.

The holidaymakers who procured train tickets had to endure immense sufferings due to the schedule collapse. They had to wait at the station for hours.

Kamalapur Railway Station authorities said Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express, Chittagong-bound Mohanagar Probhati, Karnaphuli Express, Sonar Bangla Express, Netrakona-bound Mohua Express, Dewanganj-bound Eid special train, Joydebpur Express, Jamalpur-bound Agnibina Express, Rangpur Express, Dinajpur-bound Ekata Express were delayed by hours.

Rajshahi-bound Silk City train was scheduled to leave Kamalapur at 1:45pm but it was yet to arrive at the station as of writing this report yesterday evening.

Some 73 trains leave Kamalapur every day and 31 of them are inter-city services. More than 60,000 passengers are leaving by train from this station ahead of Eid. Only a few trains were able to leave on schedule.

Home-bound people occupy every bit of the space of a train risking their lives to go to their homes to celebrate Eid. The picture was taken yesterday from Airport Railway Station MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU “We have been waiting for five hours at the station for the train with my husband, son and a daughter. We do not know when the train will move,” said Afsana Shaon, a passenger at the Kamalapur Railway Station.

Amzad Hossain, director general of Bangladesh Railway, told the Dhaka tribune: “This failure is unfortunate.”

Sufferings at bus-stop

Sufferings at the bus stops too knew no bounds with the passengers waiting for more than 24 hours for buses.

The situation was such that even bus service officials could not say exactly when buses will arrive at the city’s bus stops.

Visiting the city’s Mohakhali, Gabtoli and Syedabad bus

Cattle trade gains momentum, buyers waiting for price fall n Abu Hayat Mahmud Sales in the capital’s 23 cattle markets picked up pace on the second official day of trade yesterday as a large number of people visited the markets looking for sacrificial cattle for Eid-ul-Azha tomorrow.

The majority of both traders and customers seemed happy with the arrangements and availability of locally reared cattle in the markets.

However, a number of Dhaka dwellers expressed dissatisfaction over the high price of the cattle – a trend of the past few years, they claimed.

Some of the buyers are hoping

for a fall in price today, the last day before Eid. Mohammad Abdullah, a resident of Jigatola in Dhanmondi, who was looking at different sacrificial animals at Hazaribagh cattle market, told the Dhaka Tribune: “A cattle trader asked for Tk190,000 for two cows, which is absurd.

Judging by how they look, each of these cows weighs 200kg at best.”

He said he was going to wait until today. “I think the price will fall tomorrow [today] as the trader will sell the pair of cows for Tk150,000.”

But the trader in question, Sirajul, who came from Faridpur to sell his cows, said it was unlikely.

“I invested more than Tk100,000 on my cows. I will not sell them for a price less than Tk180,000.”

Ariful Islam, a resident of Mirpur, said he bought a cow which weighed around 120kg for Tk55,000 and a goat which weighed around 25kg for Tk18,000.

Apart from the permanent cattle market in Gabtoli, the city authorities have issued permission for eight temporary cattle markets in Dhaka North and 13 in Dhaka South for Eid-ul-Azha. The Dhaka South City Corporation cancelled the permit of one temporary market due to low price offered by the bidders. l

stands this correspondent yesterday found hundreds of people along with their family members waiting for buses for more than 24 hours.

Sanaullah Sakib wanted to go to his home district Thakurgaon.

“I have to travel tomorrow as they cannot even tell me when the bus will arrive in Dhaka,” he said.

A Tangail police official said

there was an accident early in the morning at Kalihati upazila and that halted the vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway for a long time.

Ismail Khan, station master of Keya Paribahan at the Kallyanpur bus stand, said: “Our bus left Dhaka for Hili Friday night and it came back to Dhaka at 10am on Sunday.

What can we do?” l

Annisul Huq made advisor of Dhaka north AL n Abu Hayat Mahmud Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor and former FBCCI president Annisul Huq has been made advisor of the ruling Awami League Dhaka metropolitan north unit.

Both full committees for the ruling Awami League Dhaka north and Dhaka south units was approved by the party’s President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

Earlier on April 10 this year, on permission of the party central working committee, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved AKM Rahmat Ullah and Abul Hasnat for the posts of presidents of the north

and south units respectively.

Besides, Sadek Khan has been chosen as the general secretary for the north unit, and Shah-e Alam Murad for the south.

Awami League also declared names of presidents and general secretaries of the party’s Thana units in the capital.

The party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tasked Abdur Razzak and Mohammad Faruk Khan with overhauling the party’s Dhaka city units.

On December 27, 2012, the Awami League held the last council of the city unit at Suhrawardy Udyan but no changes to the leadership positions were made. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Rooppur nuclear power plant gets tax exemption n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government has exempted all taxes and duties including import duty, VAT, regulatory duty, advanced VAT and supplementary duty on all imported goods, machinery and parts needed for the first nuclear power plant in Rooppur.

Such exemption is unprecedented in the history of Bangladesh.

Even though the task of re-exporting those imported goods, machinery and parts is given to the stateowned Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), in reality the Russian contractors- Atomostroyexport - appointed for the implementation of the plant will reap the benefit of tax exemption.

The tax and duty exemption was given through a special order in August 27, signed the chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the secretary of the Internal Resources Division.

The order said that, BAEC will be the importer and exporter of all the goods, machinery and parts of Rooppur nuclear power plant.

However, the goods which are not directly related with the elec-

BAEC, the terms say.

The exemption will stay on as long as the project work will go on.

The exemptions will not stand for the import bills, contractor bills and supply bills which are not related with the implementation of the power plant.

Bangladeshi sub-contractors employed by the Russian company have to pay regular income taxes on their incomes from the project.

The order said that these special privileges were given as per the subsection 4 of Section 44 of Income Tax Act 1984.

On May 16, VAT exemption was given on six goods and services collected locally for Rooppur construction.

On June 7, the government declared Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and its sorrowing areas as tax station for import and export of goods. In September 2, the government has also declared those areas as warehousing station.

On December 25 last year, Bangladesh and Russia signed a general contract for the construction and commissioning of the country’s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna at a cost of $12.65 billion. l

tricity production of the plant will not be under the tax exemption.

Those include office materials, vehicles and household materials.

Previously, in this project the goods and services imported under the name of BAEC and under the bills of contractors were given exemption from tax at source.

Meanwhile, along with this, exemption has been given on the income tax of the Russian and foreign employees employed by the Russian contractors and vetted by the BAEC. These tax exemptions were given on July 28 thorough separate special orders signed by the NBR chairman.

Through these special orders, exemption at tax at source was given on the goods, machinery and parts imported under the name of BAEC and on the contractor bills of sub-contractor employed by Atomostroyexport, the associated Russian contractor for Rooppur power plant to put the project work on a fast lane.

However, some conditions were given to avail the tax exemption.

The import bill, project implementation bill and supply bill associated with the power plant implementation will have to be vetted by the

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

RAIN LIKELY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Dhaka

30

25

Chittagong

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Rajshahi

DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:05PM

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Rangpur

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The first and only camel farm in Kamalapur in the capital

First ever camel farm n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

If it is your first time here, you might imagine you have been transported to a desert. No, there is no sand or scorching heat, but yes, there are camels everywhere.

It is the first and only camel farm operating in Bangladesh.

The farm started with 10 camels in 2004; now it has 36.

The owners established the farm on an acre of land in the heart of Dhaka - in Kamalapur. A Sufi spiritual leader, Hajrat Shah Dewanbagi, is the owner.

Khulna

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Barisal

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:44AM

35.8ºC Rajshahi

MEHEDI HASAN

24.5ºC Dimla

Source: Accuweather/UNB

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PRAYER TIMES

The camel farm is known as “Bab-e-Modina Dewanbagh Sharif.” The reporter visited the farm on Thursday and talked to the management about their work.

Dewanbagi’s brother Mojibur Rahman, who manages the farm, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have a plan to sell two or three camels for this Eid.” “Because prophet Muhammad used camels for transport and he drank the camel’s milk, the nurturing of camels is Sunnat,” Mojibur explained.

“Our country’s environment is not suitable for camels. So we got challenge believe of Allah that is it possible to farming them. Allah made us success. Now here 36 camels are farming.

Farmhand Ashraful Islam told Dhaka Tribune that 10 people took care of the camels.

“All the staff got training based on their practical experience. If they face any problem they contact the veterinary doctor,” he said.

Among the 36 camels in the farm, 15 are large, 10 are of medium size and 11 are small.

Three camels give five to six litres milk daily which is sold at Tk400 per liter. In any year, three to four camels will give milk.

“The milk has medicinal quality,” Mojibur said.

“It is a cure for gastroenteritis, jaundice, spleen disease, tuberculosis, asthma, anemia and piles. So there is a huge demand for camel milk,” he added.

Asked about the food habit of camels, Ashraful said camels ate the same kind of fodder eaten by cattle.

The cost for a camel’s food is about Tk3,000-5,000, he said.

Farmhands said every day from across the country, visitors come to see the camels. Many visitors purchase the milk. l Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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Fajr: 5:10am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 4:45pm | Magrib: 6:17pm Esha: 8:15pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Traders reluctant to buy rawhide n Mazahrul Hoque Lipu, Magura Most of the hide traders in Magura are unwilling to purchase skin this year due to high preservation costs and low selling rates of hides offered by tannery owners, according to the district’s hide traders association sources.

Goribullah, a hide trader of Natun Bazar area in Magura town, told the Dhaka Tribune that salt is a must to preserve skin. But price of crude salt has soared to the sky. Crude salt is being sold in local market at Tk15 per kg. On the other hand, tannery owners are conspiring to lessen skin

price this year. They have proposed to fix up the purchase rate of cow hides at Tk35 to 40 outside of Dhaka this year, whereas, it was Tk40 to 45 outside of Dhaka last year, Goribullah elaborated.

“So, how we will survive selling hides at lower prices while the preservation costs are high,” he said.

Besides, they have to spend a lot for transporting hides to tanneries in Dhaka.

Tapon Khan, another hide trader of the town, said: “Every year tannery owners deprive us by forming a syndicate. They offer us

the price lower than our purchase rate. Moreover, though we purchase skin on cash payment, they buy from us on due. Last year, I sold skin of Tk5 lakh to the tannery owners and yet I am to be paid Tk3 lakh. So, this year, I have decided not to purchase skin.”

Abu Sharif, general secretary of the district hide traders’ association, said though small hide traders in Magura had been passing a very hard time for the last several years, banks sanctioned loan only for tannery owners in Dhaka.

He urged for a proper government policy for hide industry. l

A Kurigram-bound BRTC bus from Satkhira hit a roadside electric pole after a collision with a truck in Markaz Mosque area, Jhenaidah yesterday afternoon. At least 30 passengers were injured in the accident DHAKA TRIBUNE

Footballer Taslima’s father: I got justice n

Ashrafuddin Seizel, Mymensingh

Sobuj Mia, father of football star Taslima, says he is satisfied that justice has been served after the school teacher accused of assaulting him was suspended from the institution.

“Although I was hurt, I do not feel bad after getting justice,” he told to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The 40-year-old was allegedly physically assaulted by Taslima’s school teacher Jubed Talukdar and his men at Mohilla Market in Kolshindur on September 7 after she had refused to attend a school match.

Sobuj said: “Police visited me because of the pressure from higher ups. I went with them. They recorded my statement and ensured justice.

The person who was at fault has been suspended.”

Stating that he was happy after

getting justice, he requested that the school and the players should not be harmed. “I do not hold anything against anyone anymore.”

Bangladesh U-16 women’s team has emerged unbeaten champions of Group C of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers. Taslima is the goalkeeper. The Under-16 girls would be honoured at a programme on September 17 in Dhaka, but Jubed asked Taslima and some other players to attend a school match instead.

The players declined participation citing busy schedule. Jubed lost his temper and hurled abuse at the players and parents alike. He also had heated arguments with the parents.

Later that evening, he and his men assaulted Sobuj and reportedly threatened to kill him.

Sobuj filed a case and the school committee subsequently suspended Jubayed on September 8. l

Three killed in robberpolice ‘gunfights’ n Tribune Desk Three suspected robbers were killed in separate gunfights that took place in Khulna, Savar and Brahmanbaria in the early hours of yesterday.

In Khulna, an alleged ringleader of a forest robbery gang was killed in a gunfight at Koira upazila.

Deceased Rabiul Islam Rabi, 24, was a resident of Maharajpur area in Koira, said Shamsher Ali, officer in-charge of Koira police station.

In Brahmanbaria’s Nabinagar, an alleged robber was killed in a gun battle between robbers and police personnel On receiving information, the law enforcers conducted a drive there around 4am in the area. But sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire at the police, triggering a gunfight between them, said the OC. The police recovered the bullet-hit body of Rabiul from the spot. However, other members of the gang fled the scene. Later, locals identified the body, he added.

There were eight cases against him, including arms cases and robbery cases, with the police station, said the OC. The body was sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

Assistant Sub-inspector Lutfar Rahman, Constable Saifullah and Biswanath also received injuries and admitted to Jaigir Mahal Hospital in Koira, said the police.

The police also recovered a point 22-bore rifle, seven rounds bullets, four pieces of deer skin, two horns of deer and two sharp weapons from the spot.

In Savar, a suspected robber was killed in a gunfight between his associates and police at Srikhandalia in Ashulia area in the early hours of the day.

The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain.

Officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station Mohsinul Qadir said on secret information that a gang of robbers was preparing to commit robbery in the area, a team of police conducted a drive there around 4:30am.

Sensing presence of police, the bandits opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight that left Anwar dead. Police later recovered the body.

In Brahmanbaria’s Nabinagar, an alleged robber was killed in a gun battle between robbers and police personnel.

Police said a gang of robbers were taking preparation to commit robbery in the area. When police went there, the robbers opened fire on policemen forcing them to take retaliation. Md Kazol Mia accused in several cases was caught in the cross-fire and died on the sopt, said officer-in-charge of Nabinagar police station Imtiaz Ahmed. l

Seven killed in road accidents n Tribune Desk

At least seven people were killed yesterday in separate road accidents in Naryanganj, Tangail, Cox’sBazar and Bogra districts.

In Narayanganj

Our correspondent said a couple were killed as a passenger bus hit them on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Langalband area in the district.

The deceased was Shakhina Begum, 23, and her husband Shahabuddin, 35, of Nunertek area in Sonargaon upazila.

Sheikh Shariful Alam, officerin-charge of Kanchpur Highway police, said the accident had taken place after the bus hit them leaving critically injured.

Later, they were sent to Narayanganj General Hospital where on duty doctor declared them dead.

In Tangail

Two men were killed after a salt-laden truck veered into a roadside ditch

in Kalihati, leading to a huge tailback on the highway. The accident took place on the Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge road at noon.

Police said two people were killed on the spot while the driver was injured. Detailed identities of the victims could not be known immediately, reports s Bangabandhu Bridge east police station Officer-in-Charge Asabur Rahman said they were working to ease the traffic movement.

of Bonarpara Railway station, said the police had recovered the bodies.

On the other hand, a man was killed as truck rammed into a human haulier on the Bogra-Natore Road at Shajahanpur in the district.

The deceased was Omed Ali, 30.

TSI Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Chilimpur police station, said the accident took place when a goods laden truck hit the human haulier leaving Omed dead on the spot and three others injured.

In Bogra

In Cox’s Bazar

A couple were reportedly killed in train accident near Talora Railway Station in the district.

The deceased were Ariful Islam, 24, and his wife Hasina Begum, 20.

Locals said the couple died as a train coming from Shantahar ran over them while they were crossing the train line around 12.30pm.

Station master Abdur Rahim quoting locals said the couple might have committed suicide over family feud.

Ataur Rahman, officer-in-charge

A local leader of Juba Dal was killed as a private car hit a motorcycle at Chakaria in Pekua upazila of the district, reoports our correspondent.

The deceased was Shahidul Karim Chutto, 37, son of Delwar Hossen of Sikdarpara area in Sadar upazila.

Kamrul Azad, officer-in-charge of Chakoria police station, said the accident took place when the car hit the motorcycle of Shahidul in Emni area in Sadar upazila leaving him dead on the spot. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Rawhide smugglers active in bordering areas n Hedait Hossain Molla, Khulna Due to low price of rawhide in Bangladesh than India and other countries it is feared that local syndicates and smugglers may smuggle rawhide into India through South-Western border areas of the country.

At least 54 smugglers are now active in country’s southern western part to collect rawhide aiming at smuggling the skin into neighbouring country India using 89 entry points of border areas, said a special report of Home Ministry.

Among the smugglers, 22 hail from Satkhira, 15 from Jessore, 10 from Kushtia and seven from Jhenaidah.

Home ministry has directed law enforcers to keep strict vigilance on smugglers to check the possible smuggling of rawhides of sacrificial animals.

But smugglers of the area are used to smuggle rawhide with local law enforcers and others, said the report.

Additional Director General of Police, Khulna range Ekramul Habib said: “The rawhide of an-

Mother, daughter burnt to death in Ctg n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A mother and her three-year-old daughter were burnt to death, as a fire broke out at a slum at the city’s Halishahar area under EPZ police station in the early hours of Sunday.

The deceased identified as Fatema Begum, 27, and her daughter Marjan, 3, hailed from Lakshmipur.

Fire service sources said the fire originated from an electric short circuit around 3:30am.

On receiving information, nine fire fighting vehicles of three units rushed to the spot and doused the fire after five hours’ frantic effort.

Jashim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Fire Service, Chittagong told the Dhaka Tribune that the mother and her daughter had died on the spot when the fire engulfed the slum located beside rail tracks near EPZ. “The bodies of the ill-fated victims were recovered soon after the blazing fire was put out,” said the official, adding that a total of 12 shops and 10 shantis were gutted in the fire. l

imals are mainly smuggled from Bangladesh through various borders points of Jessore (Benapole), Satkhira, Kushtia, Chuadanga and Jhenaidah. To prevent smuggle of rawhide, law enforcement agencies, including BGB and police, will install check posts at the areas.”

“Detectives will stay in the area to check illegal trading of rawhide,” he said.

President of Khunla Rawhide Traders Society Md Aman Ullah said: “Smugglers of the area used to buy rawhide from locals with extra price set by government and smuggled them to India.”

He alleged that, almost 80% of rawhide smuggled into India, as local administration do not help them to stop the smuggling.

A large amount of money is needed for the businessmen to procure rawhide and skin during the Eid-ul-Azha every year, as more than 50% of the annual demand of raw leather has been procured during this only festival. But local small rawhide buyers of Khulna has not able to survive against smugglers and seasonal rawhide traders.

Md Abu Zahar, owner of Yashin Leathe of Sheikhpara of Khulna said: “During the Eid-ul-Azha seasonal traders and smugglers buy rawhide from locals with extra price while we have been continuing our business by taking small loan with good interest from banks for many years.”

Md Shohidul Islam, owner of Mamun leather complex, said: “This year, price of salt is higher than previous so it will cost more to process rawhide. Beside of this, we do not get loan from banks. Moreover, tanners owners do not pay out dues regularly. In this case, we will be compelled to leave the business after Eid.” Earlier, leather goods traders and tanners have jointly declared the price of cow hide at Tk50 per square feet in Dhaka and Tk40 in the rest of the country this year.

According to an estimate, nearly 7.5 millions cattle would be sacrificed across the country during Eid-ul-Azha. Eid-ul-Azha, the second most important religious festival in the Muslim calendar, will be observed across the country on September 13. l

Traders worried over salt price Md Abdur n Khondaker Rouf, Naogaon Rawhide traders in the district are worried due to manifold reasons including skyrocketing price of salt ahead Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of Muslim community.

Locals said the price of salt has increased three times causing the tension among the traders. Now a sack salt of 50 kg is sold at Tk1,020 which was sold at Tk320 last year.

The traders said a huge amount of raw hides might be smuggled to India for increasing the price of salt.

They said there were more than 50 wholesalers and 200 traders in the district. Though they operate the business through the year, Eid-ul-Azha is peaktime for the traders.

The traders collect more than 65,000 hides every year. They process the hides with salt and pile up in godown.

Later, the processed hides are sent to tannery

owners and cottage traders in several areas including Dhaka and Chittagong.

This year the traders could not buy salt as the price has increased dramatically.

Most of the godowns lay idol as the traders have no plan to purchase the hide.

Along with increasing the price of salt, the traders have to face the problem of due payment from the tannery owners’ side.

Trader Milon said only 20 percent payment had been paid of last year.

Mamataz Hossain, president of Naogaon Rawhide Group said the tannery owners and cottage traders had not paid the bill. The traders got TK 50 crore from them.

He alleged that the govt should impose policy throughout the year to purchase the hides.

Colonel Zahid Hasan, BGB 43 battalion commander, said: “Price of rawhide is more in India than Bangladesh. So, it may be the reason of smuggling.” l

The photo which was taken yesterday afternoon showed due to non-availability of vehicles home-bound people were compelled to take ride on roofs of transport while going to their native homes to celebrate Eid with families RABIN CHOWDHURY

166 Eid congregations to be held in Chittagong n Anwar Husain, Chittagong Under the supervision of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), a total of 166 congregations in 41 wards of the city are going to be held on the day of Eid-ul-Azha.

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, is going to be celebrated tomorrow.

The first and main Eid Jamaat of the port city will be held at Jamiatul Falah Maidan at 7:45am.

The second Eid congregation will be held at the same venue at 8:45am. Nur Mohammed Siddiqui, senior Imam of Jamiatul Falah Mosque will lead the first and main Eid congregation while Md Jalal Uddin, Imam of the same mosque will lead the second congregation. l

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SOUTH ASIA

Myanmar army discharges 55 child soldiers Myanmar’s military discharged 55 child soldiers from its ranks on Friday, the UN said while warning that new underage recruits continue to enter the armed forces. There are no verifiable figures on how many children still serve in Myanmar’s huge military, which ruled over the country for 50 years. AFP

INDIA

Five dead in strife-torn Indian Kashmir A police officer and 4 militants were killed in separate incidents Sunday in Indian administered-Kashmir as hundreds of residents clashed with security forces in the region hit by weeks of deadly unrest. Indian soldiers shot and killed 4 militants as they tried to cross the heavily militarised border that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and rival Pakistan.

AP

CHINA

Chinese ships sail near disputed islands Four Chinese vessels sailed into territorial waters around disputed islands in the East China Sea, Japan said Sunday, as Tokyo attempts to engage with Beijing to press North Korea over its latest nuclear test. The four coastguard vessels sailed into waters surrounding the islands, administered as Senkaku by Japan and claimed as Diaoyu by China and left about 90 minutes later.

AFP

ASIA PACIFIC

North Korea: US push for sanctions laughable North Korea said on Sunday that the United States’ push for sanctions following its fifth nuclear test was “laughable” and the country would continue to strengthen its nuclear power. The US may launch unilateral sanctions against North Korea, a US special envoy for the isolated state said earlier on Sunday, two days after it carried out its 5th and biggest nuclear test.

ALJAZEERA

MIDDLE EAST

Turkish warplanes kill 20 IS fighters in Syria Turkey’s military said Sunday its warplanes have killed 20 IS fighters in an attack on targets in northern Syria, while Turkey’s president renewed a pledge to destroy the group. A vehicle and motorcycle also were destroyed in the Saturday evening airstrike that came less than two days before a US-Russia agreement on a ceasefire in Syria takes effect.

AP

ANALYSIS

Syria approves US-Russia peace deal as fighting rages n Reuters, Amman/Geneva The United States and Russia reached a breakthrough deal early on Saturday to try to restore peace in Syria, but air strikes hours later on a busy market place that killed and injured dozens added to rebels’ doubts that any ceasefire could hold.

The agreement, by the powers that back opposing sides in the fiveyear-old war, promises a nationwide truce from sundown on Monday, improved access for humanitarian aid and joint military targeting of hardline Islamist groups.

But hours after it was agreed, warplanes bombed a marketplace in rebel-held Idlib in northwestern Syria, killing at least 58 civilians, many children and women, according to rescue workers and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Locals said they believed the jets to be Russian.

Videos of footage on social media showed rescuers carrying the corpses of a charred child and other victims as other civil defence workers pulled mangled bodies from beneath rubble.

“The market was full of shoppers going to buy presents for their kids, they were all civilians,” said Salem Idlibi, a civil defence worker saying the market was unusually busy ahead of a major Muslim feast on Monday.

Idlib province has endured escalating strikes by Russian planes in recent months, according to international aid workers and residents, destroying scores of hospitals, bakeries and other infrastructure across rebel-held territory.

Aleppo was also hit from the air and fighting continued on the ground on Saturday. The army attacked rebel-held areas, both sides said, pushing to maximise gains before the ceasefire deadline.

Thirty people were killed by barrel bombs dropped by army helicopters on the besieged rebel-held east of the city, and jets, either Syrian or Russian, bombed rebel-held towns along important insurgent supply routes.

Insurgents said they were planning a counter-offensive.

“The fighting is flaring on all the fronts of southern Aleppo,” rebel spokesman Captain Abdul Salam Abdul Razak said.

Razak, of the Nour al-Din al Zinki Brigades, part of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which is backed by the West, said they were studying the

peace deal but feared it merely gave the Syrian army a chance to gather forces and pour more Iranian-backed militias into Aleppo.

WHO SUPPORTS WHOM IN SYRIA? RUSSIA

TURKEY (Sunni)

Approval

The Syrian government has approved the peace deal agreed by the US and Russia, according to state news agency SANA. The state media outlet said the “cessation of hostilities” would begin in Aleppo “for humanitarian reasons. It did not say when the violence will stop, adding that the US-Russia agreement “was reached with the knowledge and approval of the Syrian government.”

Syria’s mainstream political opposition, the Riyadh-based High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said it had not received a copy of the deal and would only react after consulting members.

A spokeswoman had earlier welcomed any deal that spared civilian lives but cast doubt on whether Moscow would be able to pressure Damascus to stop indiscriminate bombing.

In a sign of the multi-sided conflict, Israeli aircraft attacked a Syrian artillery post near the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

The Israeli military said it was retaliation for a shell fired from Syria that had landed inside the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Syrian state television accused Israel of seeking to help an offensive by hardline Islamist rebels.

A number of Islamist and FSA brigades earlier announced they had launched a battle in the province of Quneitra, which borders the Golan region, with the aim of opening a rebel corridor to the western suburbs of Damascus.

Halting all attacks

US Secretary of State John Kerry called on all sides to respect the deal, which was finally reached after several failed attempts over recent weeks.

“This requires halting all attacks, including aerial bombardments, and any attempts to gain additional territory at the expense of the parties to the cessation. It requires unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all of the besieged and hard-to-reach areas including Aleppo,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that despite continuing mistrust, the two sides had developed five documents that would enable coordination of the

CHINA

250 km

S Y R I A IRAQ (Alawite) (Shia-led) LEBANON Shia group Hezbollah Widely thought supports Syrian regime ISRAEL to support

IRAN (Shia)

Linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon

Gaza West Bank Syrian regime (Sunni) JORDAN (Sunni)

LIBYA (Sunni)

KUWAIT (Sunni) BAHRAIN (Sunni) SAUDI ARABIA QATAR (Sunni) Rivals Iran for influence (Sunni) UAE across the region (Sunni) OMAN (Sunni)

EGYPT (Sunni)

UN Security Council

Foreign backers (Sunni/ Religion Shia) of government Government supports Assad’s Alawite regime

Friends of pro opposition Some 120 countries, including:

Arab League

Officially neutral

Gulf Cooperation Council European Union

Backs faction within Syrian opposition

United States

YEMEN (Sunni)

Pro-Assad

Pro-opposition*

*political opposition

fight against terrorism and a revival of Syria’s failed truce.

Both sides agreed not to release the documents publicly.

“This all creates the necessary conditions for resumption of the political process, which has been stalling for a long time,” Lavrov said.

Previous peace efforts have crumbled within weeks, with the United States accusing Assad’s forces of attacking opposition groups and civilians.

Nusra question

Kerry said the “bedrock” of the new deal was an agreement that the Syrian government would not fly combat missions in an agreed area on the pretext of hunting fighters from the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria which has recently changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.

Under the new deal, both sides Russian-backed government forces and rebel groups supported by the US and Gulf states - are to halt fighting as a confidence-building measure.

Cooperation with Fateh al-Sham could bring “dire consequences” for Syria’s mainstream rebel groups once the proposed deal comes into effect, Washington’s envoy to Syria said on Saturday.

In a letter to armed opposition groups seen by Reuters, Michael Ratney urged them to abide by the US-Russian deal, saying it gave them the right of self-defence against attacks by the Syrian army

and Russia.

He said the deal would end aerial bombardment by Russia and the Syrian air force of their positions and of civilians living in areas they control.

If the truce holds from Monday, Russia and the United States will begin seven days of preparatory work to set up a “joint implementation centre”, where they will share information to distinguish territory controlled by Nusra from that held by other rebel groups.

For many FSA rebels, the idea of a clear separation from Nusra is problematic because on several fronts they fight together against the army and allied Iranian-backed militias.

Fateh al-Sham has also played a major role in trying to end the siege of eastern Aleppo which many rebels say has boosted its popularity, and discussions are ongoing to possibly unify ranks under a broader opposition army.

Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah welcomes Syria deal

Iran, a close ally and military backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, welcomed a US-Russian deal for a truce in Syria, saying on Sunday the conflict should be ended through politics.

Hezbollah has announced its support for a US-Russia truce deal for Syria, where the Lebanese Shia movement has intervened militarily on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Clinton, Trump escalate fight on national security n Reuters, Washington, DC Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed over national security again on Friday, with Trump calling his Democratic rival “trigger-happy” and Clinton arguing his proposals would make the world a more dangerous place.

The two White House hopefuls have waged a running battle this week over who is best placed to command the world’s most powerful military, with both touting their support from retired military leaders and attacking their opponent’s temperament and judgement.

Trump also injected drama into the national security debate this week by wholeheartedly endorsing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong leader who has fared better than US President Barack Obama. Clinton, many Democrats and even some in his own Republican party balked.

Trump, speaking on Friday at the conservative Value Voters summit in Washington, painted Clinton as a “massive failure” while she was America’s top diplomat from 2009 to early 2013,blaming her for the current turmoil in the Middle East.

“The problem is, Hillary Clinton is trigger-happy. Her tenure has brought us only war, destruction and death. She’s just too quick to intervene, invade, or to push for regime change,” he said at the summit.

Meanwhile in New York, Clinton met with national security and foreign policy experts who are supporting her campaign to discuss terrorism. She touted the bipartisan nature of the meeting and vowed to work across the aisle as president to tackle national security challenges.

Both candidates are hoping to capitalise on concerns about national security and paint their opponents as unqualified leading into the November 8 presidential election.

Working with the Russians

Trump’s speech on Friday comes after the candidate took the unusual step of criticising US policy in a program aired on Thursday night on Russian government-funded television network, RT, a 24-hour news channel that broadcasts in both English and Russian. He said he disagreed with the US decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and that Obama botched the withdrawal.

Critics of the network, which mostly targets audiences outside of Russia, have described it as a propaganda arm of Putin’s government.

USA

Clinton seeks to recover after deplorables blunder Hillary Clinton seeks to recover Sunday from a major campaign blunder with just over two weeks to go before the first debate in her bitter battle with Donald Trump for the White House. Clinton is fending off outrage over remarks made at a New York fund-raiser late Friday in which she said many Trump supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables.”

AFP

THE AMERICAS

Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton

American presidential candidates are not prone to condemn their country before a foreign audience, even if they are fierce critics of the current administration while campaigning in the United States. Trump has said far worse about Obama in appearances on US television networks.

Clinton blasted Trump for appearing on the network and praising Putin, as he had done on Wednesday night during a televised national security forum.

“Every day that goes by this just becomes more and more of a reality television show,” Clinton said. “It’s not a serious presidential campaign, and it is beyond one’s imagination to have a candidate for president praising a Russian autocrat like Vladimir Putin.”

The White House said it had no comment on Trump’s remarks.

The New York businessman also said on RT on Thursday he did not think Russia’s government

was behind the hack of Democratic National Committee email servers, and doubted it was trying to interfere in the US election. Experts inside and outside the government have pointed to Russian-backed actors as the source of the hack.

Trump, in his speech on Friday, stuck to his belief that the United States and Russia can work together to defeat Islamic State militants. He said any nation that wants to join the United States against IS is welcome.

“That includes Russia,” he said.

“If they want to join us in knocking out ISIS, that’s just fine as far as I’m concerned.”

Trump also sought on Friday to blame Clinton after reports that North Korea had tested a nuclear weapon, arguing it was the fourth such test since the Democrat became secretary of state in 2009 and that she should have ended the nation’s nuclear program before her tenure ended. l

REUTERS

China, Russia naval drill in Saudi launches Persian Hajj South China Sea to begin today TV after tensions with Iran n Reuters, Beijing China and Russia will hold eight days of naval drills in the South China Sea off southern China’s Guangdong province starting from Monday, China’s navy said.

The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in the contested waters after an arbitration court in The Hague ruled in July that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and criticised its environmental destruction there.

China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case.

The “Joint Sea-2016” exercise will feature surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, shipborne helicopters and marines, the Chinese navy said in a statement on Sunday on its official micro-blog.

The two countries will carry out defence, rescue and anti-submarine operations, as well as “island seizing” and other activities, it added.

Marines will participate in live-fire drills, island defence and

landing operations in what will be the largest operation ever taken together by the two countries’ navies, the statement said.

China announced that it had called the “routine” naval exercise in July, saying the drills were aimed at strengthening cooperation and not aimed at any other country.

China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, and have held similar views on many major issues such as the crisis in Syria, often putting them at odds with the United States and Western Europe.

Last year, they held joint military drills in the Sea of Japan and the Mediterranean.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

Russia has been a strong backer of China’s stance on the arbitration case, which was brought by the Philippines. l

DT

World

n Tribune International Desk Saudi Arabia has launched a Persian-language satellite television channel broadcasting the Hajj as Iranians abstain from the pilgrimage amid a dispute between the two regional rivals.

The Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Adel al-Toraifi tells Saudi media that the channel is also being broadcast by radio to Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as via mobile phone applications and the internet.

Minister of Information and Culture Adel al-Turaifi said the 24hour satellite channel would cover Hajj rituals and prayers from the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

“The channel aims to broadcast the message of the Hajj, the eternal meanings of Islam and to show what is being provided by the kingdom” during the pilgrimage, the Saudi Press Agency quoted Turaifi as saying.

It targets “Persian-language speakers, whose number is esti-

mated at 130 million all over the world,” he said. Persian, also know as Farsi, is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

In the days leading to this year’s Hajj, which began on Saturday in western Saudi Arabia, Tehran renewed criticism of the kingdom’s handling of the annual rites and of a deadly stampede last year.

The accusations prompted verbal retaliation from Riyadh and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council of which Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia is the most powerful member.

Shiite Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the “cursed, evil family” of Saudi royals does not deserve to manage Islam’s holiest sites, while the top Saudi cleric Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said Iranians “are not Muslims”.

For the first time in nearly three decades, 64,000 pilgrims from Iran are not participating in the Hajj, after the regional rivals failed to agree on security and logistics. l

Venezuela’s troubles overshadow Nam summit Worries over political protests, poor attendance and food have dominated the build-up to a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Venezuela instead of geopolitical issues the Cold War-era bloc was created to address. President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government hopes to use the event to burnish its international legitimacy and counter US imperialist power, but opponents spoiled the party.

REUTERS

UK

Britain eyeing work permits to control EU immigration Britain’s interior minister Amber Rudd said on Sunday she was looking at a work permits system to control migration from the EU, responding to Brexit voters’ demand for tighter border controls. “Work permits certainly has value,” Rudd told the BBC, saying her department was examining immigration control systems and that no decisions had yet been made.

REUTERS

EUROPE

Catalan separatists rally to push for break from Spain Tens of thousands of Catalans gathered in Barcelona and four other cities Sunday for mass rallies to demand their region break away from Spain, as pro-independence leaders try to iron out differences over a secession plan. Over 340,000 people have signed up to join the demonstrations, scheduled to coincide with Catalonia’s national day, the Diada.

AFP

AFRICA

US ambassador outraged over South Sudan harassment The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, says she is outraged that South Sudan’s government has harassed civil rights activists who met with a UN Security Council delegation during a visit to the young nation. Power said in a statement issued Sunday that the delegation observed chilling living conditions for civilians trapped in the ongoing conflict between the government and rebel forces.

AP

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

INSIGHT

Iraq gears up push to retake Mosul from IS n Reuters, Iraq The US-led war on Islamic State has depleted the group’s funds, leadership and foreign fighters, but the biggest battle yet is expected later this year in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his “caliphate” two years ago.

The jihadist insurgents have lost more than half the territory they seized in Iraq and nearly as much in neighbouring Syria, but still manage to control their twin capitals of Mosul and Raqqa, symbols of the state they sought to build at the heart of the Middle East.

Military and humanitarian preparations are now in full swing to retake Mosul, the largest city under the ultra-hardline group’s control. American troops are establishing a logistics hub to the south, while the United Nations warns of the world’s most complex humanitarian operation this year.

Iraq’s recapture over the summer of Qayyara airbase and surrounding areas along the Tigris river 60km south of Mosul have set the stage for a big push on the city, which commanders say could start by late October.

Whether Islamic State makes a final stand in Mosul or slips away to fight another day remains in question, but Baghdad expects a fierce battle and the international coalition backing it is preparing for one.

The densely populated river valley may hold obstacles for the military, though Islamic State appears to be putting up relatively little resistance, possibly to conserve fighters for a showdown in Mosul where their forces are estimated at between 3,000 and 9,000.

Hardcore fighters have likely slipped out already through the desert and into Syria, while many top leaders and foreign fighters have been

killed in targeted air strikes, according to Major General Najm al-Jabouri, the Mosul operation’s commander.

He said that victory by year’s end would be easy, in keeping with pledges by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

“We will go to Mosul, they will go to Tel Afar. We will go to Tel Afar, they will go to Baaj,” said Jabouri, referring to IS-controlled districts 70km and 140km west of Mosul, respectively, which can be used to reach Syria.

“We will go to Baaj, maybe. It depends on the situation in Syria.

They can get to Syria but the situation there is not like before. It is not a safe haven for them now.”

Turning tide

Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart, Director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, said on Thursday he expected the Mosul operation could unfold in the next two or three months but that it would be long and difficult.

“Urban war-fighting is not easy and this is a large city that has had at least two years to prepare to defend its position ... It’s going to be a multi-dimensional fight,” Stewart said at a national security summit in Washington.

The war against jihadist insurgents in the Middle East has ebbed and flowed but there is a palpable sense in the region that the tide has turned against Islamic State.

In the past year and a half, the group has lost swathes of territory and strategic outposts. In Iraq it was driven out of Tikrit and Sinjar in the north, the oil refinery town of Baiji, and finally Ramadi and Falluja in western Anbar province, the heart of the insurgency following the US-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein.

In northern Syria, US-allied Kurdish militia of the People’s Pro-

tection Units (YPG) have taken vital territory and border crossings below the frontier with Turkey after capturing Kobani and later taking Tel Abyad, a key supply line for the jihadist capital Raqqa further south.

The YPG has expanded its territory west of the Euphrates, seizing Manbij last month.

Meanwhile Turkey, backing Syrian rebels, this month cleared Islamic State from its southern border by seizing some 20 villages while Libyan government forces are close to flushing IS insurgents from holdouts in Sirte.

Amid those territorial losses, Islamic State has claimed credit for a surge in global attacks this year beyond its main Middle East theatre.

European countries remain on alert for additional strikes based on undisclosed information.

Nonetheless, the US military has said Iraq is on track to retake Mosul later this year. Over the past two weeks, convoys of sophisticated engineering vehicles have been seen approaching Qayyara airbase, which Islamic State wrecked before withdrawing in July.

Repairing it to help supply the 20,000 to 30,000 Iraqi troops expected to be used in the campaign could take another two months. Until then, forces trained by the US-led coalition are amassing further afield.

Mosul fell to Islamic State in June 2014 when Iraqi security forces, riddled with corruption and sectarianism despite billions of dollars in US aid, dropped their weapons and fled from the insurgents.

Kurdish and Shia forces

Kurdish peshmerga forces, entrenched east, north and northwest of Mosul since 2014, will help tighten the noose around the city but might not enter central districts to avoid aggravating political sensitivities.

After retaking 11 villages south-

MOSUL CORRIDOR DISPLACEMENT OVERVIEW Makhmur Over 31,000 displaced people (IDPs) arrived in Makhmur and were transported onwards to Debaga camps since the military operations began in Baiji and Al Shirqat on 16 June. Debaga camps are overcrowded, with a total 36,000 IDPs reported as of 30 August, including 9,000 people in the reception centre.

Extensions to Debaga 1 are underway for 1,200 additional shelters/tents. Along with new arrivals, departures are ongoing. More than 7,000 IDPs have left the camp through sponsorship mechanisms since March, mainly to Kirkuk.

Tinah village As of 29 August, about 3,400 IDPs are in Tinah village. They mainly came from surrounding areas, including al-Qayyarah.

About 2,000 IDPs are in MoDM tents outside the village and 1,400 are hosted in the community. MoDM food distributions have reached Tinah. Priority needs to cover include wash and health.

Baiji Over 5,000 new IDPs were recorded in Baiji since mid-June, mainly from Baiji and Al Shirqat districts. Some families have also arrived from Hawiga, crossing the river. IDPs first go to the checkpoint, then through screening processes. At Al-Hajjaj procedures are in place for displaced families to receive possible sponsorship. Those who cannot find sponsors spend several days or weeks at the registration centre.

Tikrit Over 65,000 IDPs arrived in Tikrit since

mid-June, mainly from al-Shirqat, Baiji and al-Qayyarah. Camp capacity is very limited and most IDPs are sheltered in overcrowded informal settlements, including unfinished buildings and schools.

IDPs fom Hawiga go through al-Alam sub-district’s checkpoint, screening, and reception centre.

Kirkuk The number of IDPs arriving in Kirkuk has steadily increased in August reaching up to 2,500 people per week according to humanitarian partners. Close to 7,000 IDPs were registered in August from the Hawiga district alone. IDPs arrive through Kirkuk checkpoints or are transferred from Debaga camps. l

Source: OCHA

PUSH TO RECAPTURE IS-HELD MOSUL Kurdish peshmerga forces are joining government troops in a campaign to capture Mosul, the last major Iraqi city held by so-called Islamic State militants

Sources: IHS Conflict Monitor/ The Washington Post

east of Mosul last month, they are now eyeing eastern Christian and Shabak villages long abandoned by minority communities the group seeks to eliminate.

The peshmerga’s role is complicated by tensions with the central government, which claims territory the Kurds have taken from IS and effectively annexed to their autonomous region. The Kurds say Baghdad is not forthcoming about its military strategy for Mosul or its plans to manage it after the battle.

“If we do not prepare the politics of it, we may not succeed in the military plan or we may succeed in the military plan but lose the political plan and that would be disastrous,” Falah Mustafa Bakir, the head of Kurdistan’s Foreign Relations Department, told Reuters last week.

The participation of the Hashid Shaabi, a government umbrella for mostly Shia militias, is also unresolved. Powerful commanders have pledged to take part, despite fears among Mosul’s Sunni leaders and residents of rights abuses.

Prime Minister Abadi said this week the demands of the battle would dictate the disposition of forces but that no decision had been made to bar the Hashid.

Confrontation that inflames sectarian tensions between Shia-led government forces and the Sunni jihadists of Islamic State risks turning Mosul into a “bloodbath”, according to a Western diplomat in Baghdad.

Humanitarian crisis

The Mosul operation has also triggered large-scale humanitarian planning, with the UN predicting up to one million people could flee the city in all directions.

The Kurds expect half of those leaving will head towards their territory, which already struggles to accommodate more than one million displaced people.

Regional authorities, fearing a new wave will exacerbate demographic and security concerns, aim to settle new arrivals in camps outside of main cities.

In the best-case scenario, though, there is only enough land and funding for about 450,000 people, according to a senior UN official, raising the prospect of housing others in unused buildings or abandoned villages.

“If there is mass displacement, there could be shantytowns in the disputed border areas because the plan for camps doesn’t accommodate them all,” said Tom Robinson, director of Rise Foundation, which analyses Iraq’s humanitarian crisis.

Aid workers say the authorities are limiting the construction of new camps to discourage displacement. In fact, the military is urging residents to shelter in place as it advances, but that will only be feasible if fighting doesn’t lay waste to homes and infrastructure as it has before. l

11

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12 Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Four more RMG factories complete CAPs n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Four more apparel factories producing clothing products for Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety signatory brands have completed Corrective Action Plans (CAPs).

CAPs are the requirements prescribed by the Alliance engineers to make the factories fully safe, and following the completion, a factory is declared compliant.

With the new four factories, the total number of factories that completed the CAPs stood at 38 while the global retailers’ platform suspended operations with four factories for failure to show evidence of remediation progress.

To date the Alliance cut ties with a total of 95 non-compliant factories, and 38 of them completed the critical repairs outlined in their CAPs. Across all active Alliance factories, 59% of all safety issues have been corrected, said a statement of the Alliance.

“We are pleased to welcome Reliance Box Industries (PKG), Radial International Ltd (Units 1 & 2), Mastrade International Garments Ltd and M/S Standard Group Ltd to our growing list of factories that have completed repairs we required as part of remediation process,” said Alliance Country Director Jim Moriarty, also former U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh.

“And in suspending four additional factories from the Alliance compliant list, we reiterate our no-tolerance policy for factory inaction when it comes to workplace safety.”

The Alliance performs independent inspections on the structural, electrical and fire safety of all factories from which its members source their products.

Each factory is then provided with a Corrective Action Plan designed to help it address safety issues and achieve compliance with Alliance safety standards. The Alliance also provides technical advice and access to low-cost loans to assist factories with remediation.

The issue of safety came under the spotlight following the deadliest factory collapse at Rana Plaza that killed over 1,135 people and injured over 2,500 workers.

The incident raised question about the workers safety and safer workplace.

In the face of a huge pressure from rights group and global trade unions as local ones, the global retailers formed Alliance and Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to improve safety standards in the RMG sector. l

WB Report: Air pollution deaths cost Bangladesh $2.6bn in 2013 n Kayes Sohel Deaths caused by air pollution cost Bangladesh economy nearly $2.6 billion in foregone labour output in 2013, which accounts for 0.58% of its GDP, says a new World Bank Report.

The amount compares with $1.2 billion in 1990 and the total number of air pollution-related deaths, causing human suffering and reducing economic development, rose to 27,452 from 6,379 in the 23 years to 2013.

While pollution-related deaths strike mainly young children and the elderly, premature deaths also result in lost labour income for working-age men and women.

The study, released on Thursday last, says air pollution robs nations of significant potential to grow, which after being calculated through total ‘welfare losses’ and loss in labour output, reaches a staggering amount especially for developing countries.

While air pollution has emerged as the deadliest form of pollution and the fourth leading risk factor for premature deaths worldwide, the economic burden it brings along is massive, a new study by a joint study of the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has suggested.

Between 1990 and 2013, the total welfare losses in Bangladesh stood at $27.5 billion, making up 6.5% of its GDP. The annual labour income lost from pre-mature deaths by air pollution in Southeast Asia accounted for 0.83% of the region’s GDP in the same year.

On a global scale, the report noted an estimated 5.5 million lives lost in 2013 to diseases associated with outdoor and household air pollution, causing human suffering and reducing economic development.

The result was about $225 billion in lost labour income in 2013.

The aggregate cost of prema-

Between 1990 and 2013, the total welfare losses in Bangladesh stood at $27.5 billion, making up 6.5% of its GDP ture deaths was more than US$5 trillion worldwide in 2013. In East and South Asia, welfare losses related to air pollution were the equivalent of about 7.5% of GDP. In 2013, China lost nearly 10% of its GDP, India 7.69%, while Sri Lanka and Cambodia each lost roughly 8%, as a result of pollution-related deaths.

Among some South Asian countries, Pakistan suffered the loss of 5.9% and Nepal 4.7%.

Rich nations are not immune, however. Pollution was found to have cost the United States $45bn,

Low-cost airlines bet on data to drive profit n Reuters, Dublin Europe’s low-cost airlines once mocked the air miles programs run by flag carriers as expensive relics of a bygone era. But after watching wide-eyed as customer databases were valued at billions of dollars,

they are scrambling to catch up.

Europe’s two largest low-cost carriers, Ryanair and easyJet have both swallowed their pride in the past year and launched customer loyalty schemes and both have announced significant investments in data analytics. l

Germany $18bn, and the United Kingdom $7.6bn. Iceland, with losses of just $3m, was found to be the least impacted by deaths related to dirty air.

“Air pollution is a challenge that threatens basic human welfare, damages natural and physical capital and constrains economic growth,” World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Lara Tuck said in a statement.

“We hope this study will translate the cost of premature deaths into an economic language that resonates with policy makers so that

more resources will be devoted to improving air quality,” he said.

The report noted 90% of the population in low- and middle-income countries is exposed to dangerous levels of ambient air pollution.

Between 1990 and 2013, premature deaths from air pollution increased by 94%, leading to damages from ambient premature death.

At the same time, damages from household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels jumped almost four-fold to $1.5 trillion, adjusted to the purchasing power parity in 2011.

The report finds that annual labour income losses cost the equivalent of almost 1%- 0.83%- of Gross Domestic Product in South Asia.

In terms of welfare losses the figures were a staggering 7.5% GDP equivalent. l

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13

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Air ticket seekers return home disappointed n Ishtiaq Husain At the last moment holidaymakers have failed to collect air tickets as they are not available due to huge demand.

To meet the increased demand, different airlines have introduced additional flights on domestic routes, but to no avail.

Air passengers return home disappointed and without ticket from Hazrat Shahjalal domestic airport ticket counter.

Even, passengers are not getting return ticket from all domestic destinations to Dhaka routes.

Tito Siddique, a regular passenger on the Dhaka-Jessore route, vented his expression by saying: “I was lucky. I got a ticket as I bought it 10 days ago, but I had to pay three times its actual price.”

Airliner sources said now domestic routes are passing a busy time ahead of Eid. Return ticket up to September 18 have already been sold out.

If anyone gets any ticket, the airlines management is charging thrice its actual fare.

At present, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair, US-Bangla Airlines and Regent Airways are operating flights on the domestic routes.

Of them, per week seat capacity

A private airline in Bangladesh of Novoair is around 11,000 while the US-Bangla 13,000, Airlines introduced additional flights to Jessore, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sayedpur routes to meet the increased demand of passengers.

Novoair will operate additional two flight everyday till September 18. They also additional flight Dhaka-Jessore, Dhaka-Sayedpur, Dhaka-Rajshahi routes.

The National Flag Carrier, Bi-

COURTESY

man Bangladesh Airlines, also introduced additional flights to Dhaka-Jessore, Dhaka-Rajshahi and Dhaka-Sayedpur route.

Kamrul Islam, deputy general manager (GM) of US-Bangla Airlines, told the Dhaka Tribune that the management of the airlines didn’t increase air fare ahead of Eid. The airlines has eight price segments, he said, adding that as the lower segments have been sold

out, so there remains only the higher segments that cost higher.

Echoing the same reaction, Sohail Majid, head of Marketing and Sales, Novoair, said: “As the lowest airfare tickets are sold out, passengers are buying the tickets of higher fare.”

During Eid ul-Adha, NOVOAIR offered special discounts for four domestic routes to their valued passengers. The four are Jessore, Saidpur, Rajshahi and Barisal.

Passengers travelling from Jessore/Saidpur/Rajshahi and Barisal to Dhaka during 7-13 September and from Dhaka to Jessore/Saidpur/Rajshahi and Barisal during 1319 September had a single ticket at only Tk1,888.

In line with the increasing demand, NOVOAIR will operate additional flights to Jessore, Saidpur, Rajshahi, Barisal and Cox’s Bazar routes. l

Luxury hotels make special offers for guests on Eid holidays n Ishtiaq Husain

The Employees of Posmi Sweaters Ltd, Fame Sweaters Ltd, Spectra Sweaters Ltd. and Sweater-makers Ltd. receives certificates on Skills for Employment Investment Program. The month-long training program, funded by the Ministry of Finance, Asian Development Bank and BGMEA, was recently arranged in the city to enhance the skills of the employees enabling them to ensure compliance of operation with international standards

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inaugurates the LED (light-emitting diode) Light Bulb manufacturing factory of Walton Group at Walton Micro-Tech Corporation at Chandra in Gazipur on Saturday

Dhaka’s luxury hotels have announced special package offers of facilities with discounts as the Muslims are going to observe Eidul-Azha tomorrow.

Hoteliers say most of foreign guests have left Bangladesh due to nine-day long holidays during Eid, leaving most of the rooms vacant.

They hope special offers for guests will attract guests and help them make some business during the Muslims’ one of the biggest festivals.

An official of Le Meridien hotel said for making people’s holidays “more cheerful and enjoyable” at a relaxing city escape, every year hotel management announces different lucrative packages including discounts on room fares.

Le Méridien guests will have the opportunity to choose catch of the day at live-kitchen stations to make their dining experience more memorable with fresh alternatives.

Guests may enjoy this buffet offer at over Tk 3,200 per person every evening from September 15 to 17 at 7pm-11pm. “Buy one get one free” special offer for Robi subscribers and Prime Bank Customers are available.

In celebration of Eid-ul-Azha,

The Westin Dhaka is offering special Staycation room packages from the second of this month and it will continue until the 16th.

The room packages will let guests experience the five-star hospitality of the Westin Dhaka at an irresistible price during the Eid vacation Deluxe rooms can be availed at Tk12,222 net per night and junior suites can be availed at Tk17,777 net per night.

For all the packages, guests will receive complimentary buffet breakfast for two persons at Seasonal Tastes restaurant, swimming pool and gym usage, 20% discount on Spa, 40% discount on lunch at Seasonal Tastes restaurant and late-checkout till 6 pm.

During the festive season, Seasonal Tastes restaurant is also offering an array of new dishes for lunch. Lamb Ouzi, Sushi, Kebabs, Baklava and other tantalising dishes are being offered in the Pan Asian-Western buffet lunch spread at Tk3,000 net per person. Prego restaurant is also offering the “All You Can Eat Pizza” offer.

For Tk2,000 net, two guests will be able to munch out on an unlimited number of pizzas and get mesmerized by the view from the Level

23 Italian restaurant.

Hotel Radission has announced exclusive offers including couple accommodation at Tk15,535. The package includes one night stay at hotel including breakfast, dinner and spa. The offer started on September 9 and will continue till September 18.

Hotel Amari is offering hand crafted chicken burger slider, which is sure to set foodies hearts aflutter. With a successful slider promotion last month Amari is ready to whet your appetite with some mouthful of succulent sliders in every bite to go for the guzzling to quench your thirst for chillness.

To add a little spark these chicken sliders will be served in four different exciting flavors such as minced chicken, crispy chicken, chicken tikka and chicken teriyaki along with soft sesame buns, pickles, onions, topped with a gentle dose of cheese and garnished with a variety of different gourmet sauces.

This sliders are coming with two complimentary mocktails which will double your festive happiness. Available mocktail flavours along with the sliders are cranberry apple cider punch, virgin singaria, watermelon ginger spitzer, virgin colada. l

Business

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14

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Iranian oil output stagnates for third month amid OPEC bargaining n Reuters

Bank of England to hold fire after August’s Brexit bazooka n Reuters, London

Iran’s steep oil output growth has stalled in the past three months, new data showed, suggesting Tehran might be struggling to fulfill its plans to raise production to new highs while demanding to be excluded from any OPEC deals on supply curbs.

Iran’s oil output soared to 3.64 million barrels per day in June from an average of 2.84 million bpd in 2015 following the easing of Western sanctions on Tehran in January, adding to a global crude glut which has slashed oil prices.

But since June, output has stagnated and reached just 3.63 million bpd in August, according to fresh OPEC data based on secondary sources, which include consultants and industry media, and seen by Reuters. Iran also told OPEC it produced 3.63 million bpd in August, according to an OPEC source.

Iran became the main stumbling block to an initiative by OPEC and non-OPEC Russia earlier this year to freeze output globally. Tehran said it needed to first regain market share lost while it was under sanctions.

OPEC’s largest producer Saudi Arabia insisted all nations should join and the freeze deal collapsed in April.

As Russia and Saudi Arabia are trying to revive the effort to prop up prices again, Iran has signaled it was more willing to cooperate when OPEC and non-OPEC producers meet in Algiers on Sept 2628. But it stopped short of saying it would join the freeze.

“This (production levels) is a million-dollar question,” said a source familiar with Iranian thinking. “The shuttle diplomacy is going on to clear which level is considered an aim for Iran.”

The Bank of England holds a monetary policy meeting last week as more hard economic numbers trickle in following June’s Brexit shock, while US data and a speech by policymaker Lael Brainard will give Fed-watchers food for thought.

Data and surveys in the coming week will also give a steer on price and industry trends in the euro zone after the European Central Bank disappointed market expectations that it would announce an extension of its asset purchase program.

Speaking to lawmakers on Sept 7, Governor Mark Carney defended the BoE’s big August stimulus package but said initial damage to the economy from Britain’s June 23 vote to leave the European Union looked less severe than the Bank had forecast.

While some critics of the BoE have suggested August’s decision to cut interest rates to a record low 0.25%, restart asset purchases and ease lending by giving cheap loans to banks was too aggressive, the Bank is expected to cut rates again later this year but leave policy unchanged this month.

“We see next Thursday as being too soon for further action and expect the BoE to maintain Bank Rate at 0.25% and the level of QE (asset purchases) at 435bn pounds ($578.5bn),” Investec economists said.

“Our central case continues to be for another 15 basis point cut in Bank Rate to 0.1% at the November meeting.”

Official figures, including inflation on Tuesday, unemployment on Wednesday and retail sales on Thursday, should give a clearer picture of how companies and consumers are responding to the Brexit vote after purchasing manager surveys showed activity bouncing back last month. l

Oil workers are seen in front of a refurbished oil refinery in Esmeraldas

Iran’s oil output soared to 3.64 million barrels per day in June from an average of 2.84 million bpd in 2015 Big bargain

Iran has repeatedly said it needs to reach a level of output of at least 4 million bpd before it agrees to any deal, but one OPEC source said on Thursday the latest request from Iran was to set a target as high as 4.2-4.3 million bpd.

The difference between requested levels and current production would amount to over 0.5 million bpd or half a percent of global oil consumption.

And even if Iran were unable to produce it immediately, it would give Tehran an upper hand in dialogue with OPEC in the future - if and when Iran manages to bring onboard global oil companies to help it develop its massive oil fields.

Meanwhile, Gulf producers led

by Saudi Arabia are insisting that for any deal OPEC members should stick to OPEC’s secondary sources data to put everyone on a level playing field, the source added.

“If we could not do that and ac-

REUTERS

cept one system - which is to use secondary sources - it would complicate things further,” the source said.

However, it might be a tough task as those figures show Iran has already returned to pre-sanctions output levels, pumping today as much as it was pumping back in late 2011.

That chimes with estimates from the International Energy Agency which believes Iran’s production capacity is very close to what it is already producing.

For some in OPEC, the issue is settled. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday Iran’s production has already reached pre-sanctions levels. l

CORPORATE NEWS

An hotel booking website Ghurbo.com and Green Delta Insurance have recently signed an agreement on providing customers of Ghurbo.com with Green Delta’s travel insurance product named Domestic Mediclaim Insurance, said a press release. MD and CEO of Green Delta Insurance, Farzana Chowdhury and Ashraf Abir, CEO of MCC Ltd - the parent organisation of Ghurbo - have signed the agreement

DHS Motors Limited, an authorised distributor of Honda automobiles in Bangladesh has recently launched Honda Civic Turbo 2017 at its Mohakhali showroom, said a press release. The company’s chairperson, Obeid R Nizam was present at the programme

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15

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Britain faces free trade headache after Brexit vote n AFP, London Britain’s desire to become a free trade leader following its vote to leave the EU is seen as wishful thinking by experts, who say London’s hands are tied until a formal exit from the bloc.

Prime Minister Theresa May used this month’s G20 summit in China to explore potential trade deals with Australia, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea.

But international trade experts have been quick to highlight Britain’s lack of experience in such negotiations.

“Currently, legally speaking, the UK is part of the EU and therefore is not able to conclude free trade agreements,” said Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of trade policy think

tank, the European Centre for International Political Economy.

“For me, it is more an experience problem because the UK has actually not negotiated” on such matters since 1973 when the country joined the European Union, Lee-Makiyama added.

At stake is Britain’s position as a major world economy along with its future economic and employment growth.

International trade to and from the country each year totals hundreds of billions of pounds, around half of which is with the European Union.

Brussels and Berlin have lost no time in reminding Britain that while it remains within the EU, trade negotiations on behalf of all member states are the sole responsibility of

the European Commission.

May has meanwhile come up against hurdles outside the EU, with US President Barack Obama insisting that Washington’s priority remains striking a free trade deal with Brussels, however unlikely, before tackling any separate agreement with London.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Friday insisted at a joint ministerial meeting that “Australia is keen to do a free trade deal” and the two countries would be able to “at least to sketch out a very productive deal,” while Britain negotiates its exit from the EU. Australian counterpart Julie Bishop said that Brexit opened “many opportunities to develop an even closer relationship,” but her trade minster warned earlier this

week that formal negotiations on a deal must wait until Brexit is concluded, which could take years.

“We are now in a time where lawyers don’t matter,” Lee-Makiyama told AFP. “It is about high politics.”

‘No friends’

Tim Oliver of the London School of Economics stressed that “there are no friends or special relationships in international trade”.

He told AFP: “Some countries will know the UK is keen to do deals and vulnerable because it has little experience at negotiating them.”

The Conservative government has yet to set out its vision for Brexit following the June 23 referendum, beyond saying it would not start formal exit negotiations with

Brussels until next year.

“The focus for the first deal is that with the EU,” said Oliver. “All others are secondary for the time being.”

Andrew Cahn, a former head of the government’s department for international trade, has suggested it is “highly unrealistic” that London will have several deals ready to sign once Britain’s exit is formalised.

Britain is meanwhile widely seen as having an insufficient number of specialist staff to successfully carry out such negotiations.

“We will have to learn quickly,” said Oliver.

The boss of popular British pub chain JD Wetherspoon last week called on the government to scrap trade talks, as he mocked critics who had forecast economic disaster in the event of Brexit. l

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16

Health

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Know what you eat The different nutritional facts about beef

n Reaz Mahmud Fiem While Eid-Ul-Adha is a special cause for celebration for Muslims all around the world, it may also have some fringe benefits for body-builders and fitness enthusiasts who need a high source of protein as part of their daily meal intake. And beef, probably the tastiest of red meats, certainly has its perks.

Hence, this week, I will focus on the nutritional facts of beef. Interestingly, different cuts of beef have a different nutritional profile, as is stated in the table below:

Cut Type

Grams Protein

muscle cells, providing additional cellular energy for use in recovery and adaptation.8 In addition, creatine can draw and hold water into cells, which in turn supports additional protein-building.

Having talked about the nutrition content of beef, I figure why not share two of my favourite beef recipes with you. If you are also fan of beef, then do give these a try.

Beef Stroganoff Ingredients: (Serves 6) 1/2kg lean beef mince 1/2 tbsp olive oil (not required if the mince Grams Fat

Calories

Chuck, 3 oz.

23.2

20.2

282.2

Ribs, 3 oz.

18.6

25.1

306.1

Short Loin, 3 oz.

19.7

19.8

262.6

Sirloin, 3 oz.

23.6

13

219.3

Flank, 3 oz.

22.4

10.6

192.1

Round, 3 oz.

25.6

8.1

183.6

Beef Brisket, 3 oz.

21.3

24.2

309.4

Corned Beef Brisket, 3 oz.

15.4

16.1

213.3

Please note that beef does not have carbohydrates.

Unlike plant-based protein sources, beef is densely packed with the same types of proteins humans are made of: skeletal muscle proteins like myosin, actin, and troponins, as well as collagen and other connective tissue proteins. Typically animal meat is more than 80 percent protein on a dry-weight basis. Assuming leaner cuts, the protein content of beef rivals fish and poultry at about 6-7 g per oz. depending on the cut. For maximum muscle impact with minimum calories, look for rounds or loins, which are extra-lean meat cuts.

Beef is more than just a piece of charbroiled protein. It is also a major source of micronutrients including vitamin B12 and the minerals phosphorous, iron, and zinc, all of which are crucial in muscle-building and athletic performance. It’s also a key source of carnosine, the dipeptide, which releases beta-alanine during digestion; and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a healthy fat that’s been connected in studies to decreased body fat, among other benefits.

Beef also contains a good amount of creatine. Creatine is a potent anaerobic backup energy reserve in muscle cells, usually applied during the first few seconds of high intensity muscle actions like weight training reps and sprints.1,7 It can also help increase mitochondria content in growing

Beef wrap Ingredients: (Serves 4) 1/2 kg lean beef mince 1 package tandoori seasoning mix 1 onion, chopped 1 cup water 4 whole wheat soft tortilla wraps 1⁄2 cup fat free sour cream 1⁄2 cup salsa 1⁄4 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese Diced peppers, onions and tomatoes (or any other desired vegetable) Shredded lettuce Directions: Brown the beef mince and onion in a wide pan over medium heat. Stir in the tandoori seasoning mix and water and let simmer for four to five minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Once cooled, spoon beef on to the wraps and top with sour cream, salsa, cheese, shredded lettuce and diced veggies.

Wrap and serve.

Nutritional info (Per serving): Calories: 490 Carbs: 36.75 Fat: 19.25 Protein: 40.5 And that is all I had to provide this week for my health conscious readers. Have a blessed Eid and remember to eat healthy! l

Reaz Mahmud Fiem is a fitness enthusiast who wishes to help people stay healthy

contains some fat) 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup sliced mushrooms 2 cloves garlic 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 tbsp all purpose flour 1/4 cup skim milk 1 packet of cream of mushroom soup (prepared according to directions on packet) 1 cup fat free yoghurt 3 cups cooked pasta Directions: In a pan, brown the beef mince, onions and mushroom in the olive oil. Add garlic, salt and pepper and cook for another five minutes or so. Add the milk, fat free yoghurt, flour and prepared soup and stir for five more minutes.

Serve on top of pasta.

Nutritional info (per serving): Calories: 273 Total fat: 13.6g Total Carb: 9g Protein: 27.8g

Photo: Bigstock

17

DT

Feature

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Concerns and hopes for towercos n Mahmood Sadi In line with the footsteps of many other countries, Bangladesh is also heading towards the paradigm shift of engaging independent tower management companies to help mobile operators ensure better quality of services to their subscribers.

Besides, with the government planning to take the provision of mobile tower management from the mobile operators completely, avenues have been opened for others, especially for the local companies to make inroads into this sophisticated market.

Experts are concerned with the telecom industry and stress that a well drawn policy and guideline could tackle the unplanned spread of mobile towers and help make the business more organised.

In a time when the number of mobile towers across the country is soaring, the draft tower management guideline prepared by the country’s telecom regulator can bring a structure to the sector, they said.

Operator’s concern about the tower guideline The mobile

operators meanwhile expressed their concern about the draft tower management guideline prepared by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). In a letter addressed to the BTRC Chairman Shajahan Mahmood, high officials

with the mobile operators expressed their concern about the draft guideline on tower companies.

The letter was signed by Idham Nawawi, Group Chief Corporate Officer of Axiata Group, Wenche Agerup, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Telenor Group and Stephen Collins, Group Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer of VimpelCom Ltd. The letter states that limiting foreign participation to 49% would restrict investments and constrain growth in Bangladesh. It said: “While we are supportive of the involvement of the local partners, foreign investor participation is crucial for a capital intensive business that requires scale and high levels of committed investments, as well as necessary skills and capabilities.”

“As long term investors in Bangladesh, we have spent a significant amount on telecommunication infrastructure (around Tk 80,000 crore) and developed innovative and relevant service offerings for our customers. We urge the removal of the proposed foreign ownership restrictions of 49% in order to attract the investments necessary

to meet national developments targets.”

The letter also said that limiting the number of licensees to just two could lead to duopoly that is likely to restrict competition and give rise to inefficiencies. It states: “For most efficient outcome, new tower

Photos: Bigstock companies should co-exist with existing MNOs and the market should be allowed to compete on a commercial basis.”

“Hence the number of tower companies should not be limited, as long as they are financially, operationally and technically capable.”

At present, six mobile operators have 26,446 towersGrameenphone has 8,845, Banglalink 5,120, Robi 6,592, Airtel 3,734, Teletalk 1,275 and Citycell 880, as per the BTRC figures.

Dhaka alone has 9,552 towers, while the rest are spread across the country.

Why tower management companies then?

Meanwhile, Mohammad Manzoorul Islam, director, Operations and Corporate Affairs, edotco, a renowned global towerco which has acquired and managed more than 9000 mobile towers of different mobile operators in Bangladesh said that tower sharing is the rational and appropriate solution for saving cost for setting up new towers and proper utilisation of space.

According to him, tower sharing reduces barriers of entry for new telco operators and WiMAX companies. It removes the need

to set up network of towers from scratch which can account for 60% of typical network rollout costs.

For established operators in the long run, sharing towers will significantly reduce the cost of network operations. It enables them to achieve market coverage effectively and faster than usual.

“Site (or land) rental, engineering and maintenance cost such as manpower, fuel, power and monitoring expenses are shared which ultimately helps to reduce cost. Operators can also avoid duplicating costs while extracting maximum benefit of scarce resources.”

Manzoorul Islam also said that the amount saved can be used towards enhancing innovation.

He said that there are some innovative camouflaged structures which have been introduced in prime locations in Dhaka (at the entrance of Kurmitola Hospital) and Chittagong (Boat Club roof top).

“Some Proof of Concept (“POC”) site deployments are in progress for carbon fibre tower (light weight) & other new innovative material or tower components which contribute to the environmental and aesthetic view of the city.”

Boon for communities too Manzoorul said that towerco regime opens the door to a new sector for employment starting from civil, design, field engineers, technicians, etc. Also, an efficient towerco would require regional branches, providing high quality job opportunities not just in the capital, but also extended throughout the nation and internationally, he added.

From the experience of the countries in which towerco’s operate, it is seen that the reduced cost, improved efficiency and ability to meet regulatory requirements translate to lower cost and better service for users. In addition to ensure the acceleration of the network coverage, blind spots are addressed and deployment of latest innovations is also increased.

At sites located in areas where electricity grids are not yet available, the electricity generated for the towers can be shared with the community, providing basic necessity to help develop the community who are still marked behind from the line of development. Uses of solar energy, wind turbine, bio fuels etc. in remote locations to power up telecom sites increase green energy production.l

DT

18

Feature

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Etihad Airways and Air Serbia projects provide humanitarian support for refugee children and Serbian orphans in Belgrade

Photos: Courtesy

n Features Desk Etihad Airways and its strategic partner Air Serbia have donated items of winter clothing, stationary, school bags, and food parcels to more than 2,000 refugee children and Serbian orphans in Belgrade.

The aid package, which was officially handed over at the Krnjača asylum centre in the Serbian capital today, reflects the UAE national airline’s ongoing commitment to global education and social responsibility. The children at the centre were joined by orphans from the Home for Children and Youth for a fun-filled few hours.

Hosted by Minja Subota, the famous Serbian television personality, the event also included songs from Serbian children’s choirs, clown and magician shows, as well as the Serbian folklore ensemble, Talija, and Željko Vasić, the Serbian celebrity singer.

In addition to the event at the asylum centre, the Etihad Airways’ delegation visited the Home for Children and Youth in Sremčica, on September 6, spending time with children and staff members and donating blankets, cardigans and wheelchairs.

The events in Serbia are part of an agreement between Etihad

Airways and the UAE Embassy in Belgrade to provide humanitarian and social support in Serbia.

During the last four years Etihad Airways has also supported education for children in Yemen, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Jordan.

Maja Gojković, President of the National Assembly Committee thanked Etihad Airways and Air Serbia and all the partners for their efforts, especially in providing stationary and school items ahead of the start of the academic year.

Khaled Al Mehairbi, Senior Vice President Abu Dhabi Airport Operations, Chairman of the Etihad Sports and Social Committee, said: “Every child deserves to live in a safe and secure environment with access to education. Sadly in this world that is not always possible and so we hope that this initiative goes some way to helping these young children in the months ahead. Our special thanks goes for the UNHCR for supporting us to put a smile on the faces of the children.”

His Excellency Juma Rashed Aldhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Serbia, said: “I would like to thank Etihad Airways, Air Serbia, WAHA and all our partners for their efforts in this important initiative.

It shows that many organisations, and nations, can work together to make an impact on those in need

of help and support.”

Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative with our partners in the Government of Serbia and Etihad Airways, and to show these boys and girls that people care, not just today but in the weeks and months ahead.”

Dr Khawla Salem Rashed Al Saaedi, Presidential Representative from WAHA International (the Women and Health Alliance International), said: “It is a great pleasure and honour for me to attend this wonderful event, which marks the beginning of a new alliance between all the partners. It is my wish that this project will be a beacon of hope to these children, as well as an example to others who wish to express their humanity to those in need.”

Special addresses were made at the event by Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia; Mladen Šarcević, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia; Maja Gojković, President of the Serbian Assembly; Khaled Almehairbi, Chairman of the Etihad Sports and Social Committee; HE Juma Rashed Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador

to Serbia; Dr. Khawla Salem Rashed Al Saaedi, Presidential Representative from WAHA, from the office of HH Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Bin Mohamed Al Nahyan; and Dane Kondić, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia.

It was also attended by Ali Al Shamsi, Vice President Emiratisation Strategy; Linda Celestino, Vice President Guest Services (all Etihad Airways); and Branislav Malović, Chief

Government Affairs Officer; and Luka Tomić, Chairman of the Shareholders’ Assembly (all Air Serbia).

The donations in Belgrade were funded by money raised through a series of charitable initiatives that have taken place in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with WAHA, including ‘Walk for a Cause’, the Etihad Garage Sale, and the Holy Month of Ramadan Football Tournament.l

19

DT

Biz Info

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

| event |

Closing ceremony of the NPCE 2016 The closing ceremony of the Apex National Photography Competition & Exhibition (NPCE) 2016 was held at the Rajuk Uttara Model College premises on Saturday, September 3.

The three-day nationwide photography event, which began from September 1, was organised

by Rajuk College Photography Club (RCPC), with footwear manufacturing giant Apex Footwear Limited as the title sponsor.

More than 3,000 photos were submitted by the students of several educational institutes from 34 districts. Among them, a total of 91 photos were showcased in the exhibition, which were categorised into two groups, one consisting of school/ college students and the other for university students.

Prominent photographers – Hasan Chandan, Latif Hossain and Shafiqul Alam Kiron took part in the judging panel of the nationwide exhibition.

Twelve photographers were awarded different prizes from both Group A and Group B. The

Best Photographer of Apex NPCE 2016, Faria Binte Kader from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Dhaka, was awarded a Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar air-ticket

by Icon Travel & Tours Ltd. The First Prize winner from Group A was Zeeyan Khan from Puranbazar Degree College, Chandpur and the First Prize winner from group B was Zahid Hasan Tushar from Haji Abul Hossain Institute of Technology, Tangail.

Special participatory prizes were also distributed by Brig Gen M M Salehin, Principal of Rajuk Uttara Model College, to inspire and further encourage the young enthusiastic photographers.

The event was attended by Hasan Chandan, as the Chief Guest, and Pradip Kanti Saha, GM, Apex Footwear Limited, as the Special Guest.

“Photography is an endless creative work and it is a strong media to express your feelings,” said Brig Gen M M Salehin before distributing the prizes.

He also thanked the organisers, sponsors and others involved in

the organisation of the national event.

The Rajuk College

Photography Club (RCPC) was founded in 2012 for photography enthusiasts of the college. Since

Corrigendum On September 9, an article titled “In Memoriam” was published under the wrong name in the Weekend Tribune magazine. The author of the article is Zeenat Ikramullah. We apologise for the error.

then, the club has organised a number of exhibitions and events celebrating photography. l

DT

20 Editorial

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

TODAY

The animals are gone The Bakr Eid is a perfect microcosm for a country that finds itself being pulled in two directions, one of tradition and one of modernisation. Which traditions do we hold on to, which do we sacrifice?

PAGE 21

The dignity of our nation The trial of the international crimes committed in Bangladesh in 1971 has no legal restriction in taking place PAGE 22

Of itchy palms and greasy wheels For people with limited income, such as myself, Eid is a difficult time. Bakshish rates increase every year, but incomes not so much 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.

NASHIRUL ISLAM

A clean Eid-ul-Azha for all

T

his has been a tough year for Bangladesh.

With Eid-ul-Azha just around the corner, it is up to us as a nation to show the resilience that makes us. Now more than ever the authorities and the public must come together to ensure that the festivities are celebrated in peace and harmony.

This is especially difficult in the wake of the Tongi factory explosion which took the lives of 24 people. As the holiday approaches, and as we will pass them by, it is imperative that the authorities ensure that the kind of negligence that lead to this incident does not repeat itself.

It is also crucial that the city does not suffer as a result of the Eid-ul-Azha animal sacrifices. Though the tradition had always been to slaughter the animals on private property or even on public roads, it was laudable when the government decided to designate slaughterhouses for sacrifices, thereby ensuring that the city’s environmental integrity is preserved.

But the designated slaughterhouses remain in poor conditions, both in terms of the services they provide and an inability to meet burgeoning demands.

Dhaka South has two slaughterhouses while Dhaka North has three. This is not enough for the Eid-ul-Azha demands.

Though both mayors’ pledge to remove all waste within 48 hours of the slaughter are appreciated, more must be done to ensure that the slaughterhouses are renovated and modernised in order to meet public needs.

What was worse was that, last year, the ruling party’s leaders themselves ignored the government-mandated slaughterhouses and sacrificed their cattle on the city roads.

But the responsibility does not lie on the authorities alone. The common citizen too must understand that they have a role to play in keeping their city clean and orderly.

We hope that the authorities heed the public’s call and ensure that the Eid-ulAzha celebrations are practiced in full splendour and joy, not ruined by waste and a filth-ridden environment.

We hope that the authorities heed the public’s call and ensure that the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations are practiced in full splendour and joy, not ruined by waste and a filth-ridden environment

DT

21

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

The animals are gone And what did they take with them?

Do I miss some of those bloodsplattered streets? Perhaps. Staring in awe at the spectacle of an angry cow as it wrestles before being eventually tipped over and ripped out roughly on the concrete, while other animals watch in silent surrender at what their future might look like.

It may not have been humane, but it felt like Eid to me at the time.

Nowadays, the animals are not there anymore. Occasionally, I see cattle being herded along the streets, while yells of “koto, bhai?” come from all sides (a piece of information I’ve never found any interest in) and, from the top of high-rise luxury apartments, one occasionally sees a head or two of a horned cow or goat mooing or bleating its apparent ignorance of the upcoming slaughter.

But that’s about it. They have been replaced by slaughterhouses and designated public spaces. Or so they say. I haven’t been to one personally, but people tell me these are laudable initiatives. After all, who wants to see the death and blood and nari-bhuri? Not us, of acquired taste and lofty ambitions.

Even then, though, the size and price of the cattle determined status. Now, you hand out a few thousand Gs or a lakh (do the wealthy even think in thousands anymore; we livin’ in the lakhs now, baby), and your manservant herds a humongous cow to your door, which you can then cut up into pieces and give a portion to the needy and feel good about yourself and your religious sensibilities.

some of us understand that ritualistic sacrifice, the idea of taking a life, cannot be as easy, or as brutal, as what we once used to witness.

New generation, upper-middlers may understand this, but the rest of the country, perhaps not.

Perhaps “understand” isn’t exactly the right word; it’s perspective.

The Bakr Eid is a perfect microcosm for a country that finds itself being pulled in two directions, one of tradition and one of modernisation. Which traditions do we hold on to, which do we sacrifice?

Is it possible to see the beauty in watching a young child feed leaves of grass to a goat while abhorring the eventual killing of the goat?

Is it possible to understand the importance of sacrificing an animal so that we, our neighbours, and the poor have something to eat in celebration while simultaneously empathising with the plight of the animals? Is it possible to understand those who go so inherently against what we ourselves believe in?

Yes, no, maybe. Some of us will ignore the government designated areas and enjoy the sight of dead animals in our driveways and lawns, wake up the next day and crinkle our noses at the disgusting smell of the gutters, blink judgementally at the distatefully blood-splattered streets, and comment on how the government doesn’t do enough to keep Dhaka clean.

The Bakr Eid is a perfect microcosm for a country that finds itself being pulled in two directions, one of tradition and one of modernisation. Which traditions do we hold on to, which do we sacrifice?

This Eid, a little perspective is on the plate

n SN Rasul

A

s a child, befriending the khashi that we would eventually slaughter, by feeding it leaves (oh, how blissfully they bit into it, and chewed on it like an old man chewing on tobacco) and petting its soft peppered fur, was, for me at least, not that big a deal.

Some of us now abhor the Eid-ul-Azha blood and waste, the

DHAKA TRIBUNE

filth clogging up the arteries of the cities. Splattered streets and thick drains filling the air with odorous stench.

But, before that, I didn’t think much of it. It seemed only natural, ingrained into the Eid festivals.

Of course, it’s the Eid of sacrifice. It only makes sense, for that is how it’s always been done: Treat an animal like it’s your own and then kill it.

Later on, I was told that was

the whole point. Kill something you love. Otherwise, there’s no sacrifice.

This was before all the liberalism and animal rights and the self-awareness set in. Before we realised that food on the table was once life with a beating heart.

Before we wondered if nonhumans had feelings, dreams, perceptions, pain.

Whether or not this is a good thing, I have yet to figure out.

Not to pine for old times, but the idea of ritual sacrifice seemed full of meaning through a young boy’s eyes, a boy who knew little of the plethora of deep-rooted tradition and egotistical narcissism behind dishing out huge chunks of cash for multiple cows, portions of which were dedicated to dead members of the family when live ones ran out.

But let bygones be bygones.

Now, it’s easier. Now, perhaps,

We will shake our heads with the tupis on in disappointment and go to the mosque and then sit around a dining table gorging on excess.

We will look down at our plates and see the meat, and not realise that, when the animals left, they took our humanity with them. l

SN Rasul is a Sub-Editor at the Dhaka Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @ snrasul.

DT

22

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Long Form

The dignity of our nation Bangladesh has every legal right to try those who sought to harm her. This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

n Emraan Azad

S

ince then it has been misunderstood that Bangladesh would not have any jurisdiction for the trial of those 195 POWs. However, the Delhi Agreement very clearly shows that they were not freed without charges; rather, they were handed over to Pakistan so that they could be prosecuted by the Pakistani authorities.

It is true that the Bangladesh government did not proceed with the trial as an act of clemency was shown to the POWs under the Delhi Agreement.

But such an act of clemency is not tenable under international law and even does not relieve a perpetrator from criminal responsibility. Similarly, repatriation does not mean condoning murder, rape, arson, and other atrocities.

For the sake of debate, one may say that the agreement exempted perpetrators from criminal liability. Despite that, such contention does not sustain in the eyes of customary international law for the following reasons.

Firstly, under customary international law, it was imperative of Pakistan to try the responsible officers in Pakistan on their return. Secondly, Articles 53 and 64 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969 provides that the treaties in conflict with peremptory norms of international law (either existing or emerging) are void and terminated. In international law, atrocities or acts of criminal violence amount to the breach of a peremptory norm of international law, or jus cogens.

And international crimes that rise to the level of jus cogens constitute obligation erga omnes which are non-derogable, according to M Cherif Bassiouni.

The implication of such a position is that they are subject to universal jurisdiction, meaning all states can exercise their jurisdiction in prosecuting a perpetrator irrespective of where the crimes were committed.

Taking into account another aspect -- since this tripartite agreement has not been ratified

by Bangladesh parliament under Article 145A of the constitution, it carries no legal basis.

In this connection, I would like to refer to Article 145A which requires all international treaties to be submitted to the president

It’s not about vengeance, it’s about justice who will cause them to be laid before parliament.

Till now, this tripartite agreement of 1973 has not been placed before the parliament as per constitutional requirement.

Consequently, this tripartite agreement is legally not an obstacle to the trial of 195 POWs. Now, let us see whether Bangladesh can step into the process of trying these war criminals under the existing legal system of Bangladesh in general and the ICT Act 1973 in particular.

Legally, Bangladesh has every right to hold trial of those perpetrators, since the crimes committed by Pakistanis in 1971 took place on the soil of Bangladesh.

As a matter of exercising its right to self-determination, Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) was born with retrospective effect on March 26, 1971 through the Proclamation of Independence adopted on April 10, 1971.

The trial of the international crimes committed in Bangladesh from March 26 to December 16, 1971 has no legal restriction in taking place.

Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the reality is that many of the 195 POWs by now

As a matter of exercising its right to self-determination, Bangladesh was born with retrospective effect on March 26, 1971 through the Proclamation of Independence. The trial of the international crimes committed in Bangladesh in 1971 has no legal restriction in taking place

have passed away. Hence, only the living ones will face the trial, if Bangladesh wants to prosecute.

The trial is possible to take place under the ICT Act 1973 which was enacted “for the detention, prosecution, and punishment of persons for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under international law.”

The jurisdiction of the tribunal extends, as per Section 3, to try and punish any individual or group of individuals, or member of armed, defence, or auxiliary forces irrespective of his nationality, who has committed the abovementioned crimes under international law in the territory of Bangladesh before or after the commencement of this act.

In this sense, this law has both retrospective and prospective effect. This act has been

safeguarded well against the principle of non-retroactivity as per Article 47(3) of the constitution.

We believe that the trial of 195 POWs is still possible in Bangladesh like the way Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed in his lifetime.

Once, Richard Nixon’s former treasury secretary John Connally, being a special envoy in South Asia, asked Bangabandhu what he would do about the POWs. Bangabandhu vehemently replied: “We must try them. They must pay for these crimes. Not all of 1,500, maybe 300, maybe 200, or maybe 100. But we must have some trials.

They must be tried on this soil for the crimes committed on this soil.” l Emraan Azad is a Lecturer of Law, the University of Asia Pacific.

DT

23

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Of itchy palms and greasy wheels The culture of giving bakshish before Eid leads to more misery than celebration

Everybody wants some

For people with limited income, such as myself, Eid is a difficult time.

Bakshish rates increase every year, but incomes not so much

n Mushfique Wadud

A

n Australian NGO worker, who has been residing in Bangladesh for some time now, asked me an interesting question the other day: “Mushfique, can you tell me what Eid bakshish is?”

Maybe some street urchins had demanded Eidi from him or something, I thought: “It’s something you give to kids during Eid.” “No. No. I’m not asking about that. Is it a tradition in your country to hand out extra money at every office to get your work done?”

Oh boy.

I felt ashamed. “It’s an ‘informal’ tradition,” I told him. He smiled, clearly understanding my implication.

Even though I minced my words to him in an attempt to save face, this “informal tradition” is the norm in nearly

every municipal office here in Bangladesh. Bribery isn’t anything out of the ordinary for us, but it takes a special meaning during the Eid seasons.

“Bakshish” is a word you hear pretty much everywhere in the run-up to the two Eids. From rickshaw-pullers to your building’s waste management staff, you have to pay up a bit more if you want people to do their work for you.

During the holidays, the normal rate for bribery skyrockets at every workplace, and the reasoning used in these instances is nothing short of baffling.

An employee from the Department of Land Records and Survey once demanded an extra Tk1,000 as bribe. “You know Eid is celebrated next week. You will celebrate Eid, and so will I. Why not give me some more money so we can both celebrate it happily?” was his splendid attempt at bending logic.

Upon asking if he gets an Eid

bonus from his employer (ie the government), he said: “Yes, but the amount is not enough. We can’t manage with such a small amount.”

I tried to explain how it’s not feasible for an average schmoe such as myself to pay up at every “bakshish stop” in every government office -- he turned sour and threatened to rescind his services to me. “Geeb ekshtra maani or I no do your work.” He tried to sound commanding, broken English and all.

Sensing his middle-class rage, I told him: “I was just kidding!

Of course you will get the extra money! It is the duty of the average citizen to make sure you get to celebrate Eid properly, after all,” I said, with a smile on my face but pain in my heart.

During the last Eid-ul-Fitr, the watchman in my building got real angry with me. I gave him Tk200 on the occasion of Eid but it seemed it wasn’t an amount that had pleased him. He would often be deliberately late in opening the gates for me and barely spoke to me for over two days.

And then it hit me.

I gave him a further Tk300 and apologised to him for not having his “required amount” when I gave him Tk200. Talk about a turnaround. From then on he opened

the gates for me with a beaming smile.

The local city corporation staff that collects waste from my house didn’t bother to collect the festering pile of filth from in front of my apartment for almost four days after the last Eid-ul Fitr holidays.

My neighbours told me that their waste was being collected.

I didn’t know what was wrong. I met the trash guy and inquired about his obvious flippancy in doing his job right.

“I thought you would take care of your own waste,” he shot back at me with enough snark to make Robert Downey Jr consider a career in children’s TV. This made me angry. The guy demanded Tk100 as Eid bakshish! What other option did I have but to cave in to his demand?

For people with limited income, such as myself, Eid is a difficult time. Bakshish rates increase every year, but incomes not so much.

But it’s hard to not enable this culture of bribery and forced hand-outs when, at the end of the day, we’re still a very poor nation in general. l Mushfique Wadud is a journalist currently working in the development field.

DT

24 Sport

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

5 THINGS WE LEARNED

TOP STORIES

ENRIQUE’S ROTATIONS TO BE MANAGED MORE CAREFULLY Barcelona splashing out on six players this summer was to give the squad greater depth and to allow coach Luis Enrique to rotate more.

Last season he had a mostly fixed first XI and towards the end of the season, the team began running out of steam. After the international break the Asturian decided he would shuffle his pack, with this the first of seven games in 23 days. He left Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto, 50 per cent of his strongest defence, out of the squad entirely.

ULAB fight but finish runners-up Sri Lanka’s Business Management School became Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament champions, beating University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh by 24 runs at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday. PAGE 25

ALCACER SHOWS ADAPTATION PROCESS IS NOT EASY Few men walk into the Barcelona team and just fit. Luis Suarez is the world’s best No 9 and even he took months to get used to the club’s style and working with his teammates. Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal suffered the same problems last season, only starting to find their feet now. Alcacer barely touched the ball in the first half.

Mourinho points finger after loss Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho singled out some of his players for stinging criticism following their 2-1 loss to derby rivals Manchester City. He hauled off Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard at half-time. PAGE 26

NEYMAR IS STILL ON AN UPWARD CURVE FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (R) duels for the ball against Alaves’s Marcos Llorente during their Spanish La Liga match at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday AP

Enrique takes blame Lyon suffer first home loss, Monaco stroll Ten-man Lyon crashed to a “nightmarish” first home defeat at Parc OL as Bordeaux came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory, while Monaco are the early season pacesetters after crushing Lille 4-1. PAGE 27

Kerber begins reign as No. 1 Still glowing from a US Open semi-final win that propelled her to her third Grand Slam final of the year the 28-year-old German was gently chided for being just a little too “predictable” in describing the emotional roller-coaster of her day. PAGE 28

n AFP, Barcelona Barca boss Luis Enrique admitted he must take responsibility for the Spanish champions’ shock home defeat to newly promoted Alaves after starting Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench.

Enrique made seven changes on Saturday after many of his squad returned to club duty after taking part in World Cup qualifiers around the world in the past week, whilst Messi was also struggling with a minor groin injury.

“I am the one ultimately responsible for all the bad things that happen,” said the Barca boss after suffering just his fifth home league defeat in three seasons in charge at the Camp Nou. “Many of the changes came from the circumstances surrounding us, but we have 22 players and we are going to use everyone this season.”

As well as leaving out Messi and Suarez, Enrique changed his entire back four, whilst goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and striker Paco Alcacer made their debuts.

Deyverson beat Cillessen from

close range to hand Alaves a surprise lead before half-time, but Jeremy Mathieu brought Barca back into the game when he headed home Neymar’s corner a minute into the second-half.

Mathieu somehow then blasted wide when it seemed easier to score from another set-piece before Barca’s makeshift defence was caught out once more when Ibai Gomez slotted home the winner.

Enrique called upon Messi,

RESULTS Celta Vigo

0-4

Atletico Madrid Koke 53, Correa 88 Griezmann 73, 80

Real Madrid

5-2

Ronaldo 6, Danilo 40, Ramos 45+1, Pepe 56, Modric 62

Sevilla

Riera 64, Garcia 78

2-1

Sarabia 89-P, Fernandez 90+3

Malaga

Osasuna

Las Palmas Tana 16

0-2

Villarreal

Costa 33, Sansone 44

Barcelona Mathieu 46

1-2

Alaves Deyverson 38, Ibai Gomez 63

Suarez and Andres Iniesta from the bench, but even they couldn’t break Alaves’s resistance as Messi fired wide deep into stoppage time.

“We lacked fluidity, precision and we were fragile in defence, which is one of the things that normally makes us strong,” added Enrique.

“The one positive is it is a time to reflect on what this team has won over the years. Everyone makes us favourites for everything, but it is not easy to win any game.”

Enrique is expected to revert back to his strongest line-up for Celtic’s visit to the Camp Nou to start their Champions League campaign.

The Scottish club will be high on confidence after thrashing old rivals Rangers 5-1 on Saturday.

“It’s clear it wasn’t our best game, they didn’t have many chances but they were very effective,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“We lacked a spark, we lacked a lot of things. It is hard to say it is a deserved defeat because they also didn’t create a lot.”l

At times it is easy to forget Neymar is only 24. Particularly when he carries the weight of his country on his back—and Brazil is a big country, in both geographic and footballing terms. Returning after helping the Selecao to gold at the Rio Olympics and also starring in their World Cup qualifying wins over Ecuador and Colombia, Luis Enrique started him while his South American partners in crime, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, were left on the bench.

RONALDO REFRESHED AND WILLING TO REST Fully bronzed and back close to full fitness, Ronaldo looked refreshed from his time off by taking barely minutes to get his goalscoring count rolling for the season. In fairness, it would have been harder to miss so perfectly had Bale set up the Portuguese with an unselfish low cross which suggests the Welshman still knows his place in the pecking order at the Bernabeu.

ZIDANE’S STAR RISING Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane looks on during a training session at ValdebebasRising up: Zidane continues to grow as a manager Despite landing the Champions League after just five months in the job, Zidane’s feats in turning around Real’s divided dressing room into a winning machine since January has largely been downplayed.l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Demand high for Mahmudullah, Sabbir n Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh Premier League will start on November 4 but the first bit of excitement comes on September 30 when the players’ draft will be held in Dhaka.

The likes of Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mashrafe bin Mortaza will be the centre of attraction for the franchisees but there are a handful of local players who will have great value and interest among the franchises.

These include some established names and young performers who did well in the 2015 BPL as well as in the international T20s and in the Dhaka Premier League.

Dhaka Tribune looks at the top five players who will be much sought after by the franchises:

Mahmudullah, allrounder

He was the first pick among the icon players in the last BPL draft.

The fourth highest run-getter in

last year’s BPL, Mahmudullah guided Barisal Bulls to the final but ended up being the runners-up behind Comilla Victorians. He scored 278 runs in 13 matches at an exact 100 strike-rate. He led his side from the front throughout the tournament and once again he will be the top choice for most of the franchises dueto his his ability to perform.

He will be one of the most valuable players ahead of the tournament.

Sabbir Rahman, batsman

The dashing right-hander has all the quality of a perfect T20 cricketer. Sabbir displayed some power cricket to guide Barisal Bulls to the final scoring a match winning 79 off just 49 balls against Rangpur

Riders in the second qualifier. Sabbir who is a magnificent fielder can also bowl handy leg spin whenever the situation demands.

One of the most experienced cricketer in the domestic circuit, Mosharraf has been in fine since the BPL’s third edition. The leftarm spinner bagged 16 wickets in 10 matches for Dhaka Dynamites.

Sri Lanka’s Business Management School became Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament champions, beating University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh by 24 runs at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

ULAB though put up a strong fight in the mammoth 192-run chase, and were impressive during the only international college cricket tournament tournament.

They were dealt an early blow when opener Sabit Hossain fell with the score on five. Captain Hasanuzzaman and Avishek Mitra then added 88 runs for the second wicket.

The Sri Lankan university included two international players – Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva – but were made to sweat on way to their maiden title.

Hasanuzzaman played eye-catching strokes and survived two dropped chances, making 39 off 32 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Mitra made 28 off 20 balls with six fours.

But they lost four more wickets adding just another 25 runs as they slipped into a collapse, and the asking run-rate became more challenging.

Maraj Niloy, who was heroic in his hitting in the semifinal against University of Punjab, smacked two sixes and a four in his 9-ball 20 but

when he fell in the 18th over, ULAB faded away.

Koshan Jayawickrama took four wickets for the home side while Chamika Karunarathne picked up two wickets.

Earlier batting first, BMS ramped up their total to 191 for 9 in 20 overs.

But the story could have been different after the hosts slipped to 108 for six at one stage. BMS No 8 Ranitha Liyanarachchi smashed 52 off 27 balls with six fours and two sixes, during which he added two vital partnerships with Thilaksha Sumanasiri and Madushan Ravichandrakumar.

Left-arm spinner Arifur Rahman took three wickets while Saiful Islam picked up two wickets. l

emerging player of the tournament and his side will surely look to retain their best performer of the previous season in the players draft.

Al Amin Hossain, pace bowler

Abu Haider, left-arm pace bowler

Mosharraf Hossain, left-arm spinner

ULAB fight but finish runners-up n Tribune Report

He is also a handy batsman lower down the order. The 34 year old was recently included in the 20-member Bangladesh ODI pool for the upcoming Afghanistan and England series and he can play a vital role in the upcoming BPL, making him a sought-after buy among the franchises.

He has been the biggest find in the third edition of the BPL. Young Haider was the highest wicket-taker among the Bangladeshi bowlers, with 21 scalps from 12 games for Comilla. He was just one wicket behind the top wicket taker Kevon Cooper.

The twenty-year old was the

The absence of fast bowling sensation Mustafizur Rahman could cause another Tigers pacer Al Amin Hossain to be the most wanted fast bowler in the players draft. The right-arm paceman had a terrific time with the ball for Barisal Bulls picking up 17 wickets in 13 games at an economy of 7.93 including a hattrick against Sylhet Superstars. The 26 year old will look to continue his performance. No doubt Al Amin will be the first choice for any franchisee in the fourth edition of the BPL. l

Bangladesh crush South Korea n Tribune Report Bangladesh men’s chess team finally returned to winning ways in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad by outplaying South Korea 4-0 in the eighth round in Baku yesterday.

It was a comfortable victory for the men’s team consisting three Grandmaster in the open section against South Korea who have no GM or IM in their team. GM Abdullah Al Rakib beat Lee Jun Hyeok, GM Ziaur Rahman beat Kim Inguh, IM Minhaz Uddin beat Chon Yongjoon and GM Niaz Murshed beat Kwon Sehyun.

Elsewhere, after winning their previous two rounds, the women’s

team conceded a narrow defeat at the hands of the higher-ranked Austria, losing 1.5-2.5.

Women Fide Master Zakia Sultana (rating 1883) beat WFM Hapala Elisabeth (rating 2021) and WIM Rani Hamid (rating 1993) drew with WFM Schnegg Anna-Lena (rating 2133) while WFM Sharmin Sultana Shirin (rating 2002) lost to WGM Theissl Pokorna Regina (rating 2331) and WFM Nazrana Khan Eva (rating 1965) lost to WFM Exler Veronika (rating 2220).

The men’s team earned nine match points and 20 game points while the women collected eight match points and 17.5 game points after the end of the eighth round.l

Volleyball team’s uphill task FINAL BMS: 191/9 in 20 overs Liyanarachchi 52, De Silva 32, Arifur 3/20, Islam 2/22 ULAB: 167/8 in 20 overs Hasanuzzaman 39, Avishek Mitra 28, Jayawickrama 4/27, Karunarathne 2/17 BMS - SL WON BY 24 RUNS

ULAB captain Hasanuzzaman goes big during their Red Bull Campus Cricket final at the Galle yesterday

RED BULL

n Tribune Report Bangladesh national volleyball team will begin their FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2018 qualifying campaign when they take on hosts Kyrgyzstan in the inaugural game on Monday.

A 15-member Bangladesh contingent including 12 players, head coach Golam Rasul Khan, assistant coach Masud Hafiz and team manager Nurul Alam Tutul left here for Bishkek on Sunday morning. The team will return home on September 19.

Bangladesh will play four more matches in total, including ties

against Turkmenistan, Maldives and Nepal on September 13, 14 and 15 respectively.

The champions will qualify for the second round and after the end of qualifying rounds in different zones, the top four Asian teams will make it to the Volleyball’s World Cup in 2018 co-hosted by Italy and Bulgaria.

Bangladesh squad

Saeed Al Zabir, Shafiqur Rahman, Kaiser Hamid, Masud Hossain, Mahsin Uddin, Humayun Kabir, Syeeduzzaman, Sohel Rana, Narayan Devnath, Fakruddin, Atikur Rahman, Imran Haider.l

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Sport

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

5 THINGS WE LEARNED CITY SHOW DEPTH OF ATTACKING OPTIONS The enforced absence of star striker Sergio Aguero, serving the first of a three-game ban for violent conduct, was seen as a major disadvantage for City. But Pep Guardiola showed the range of attacking options he has at his disposal by picking young forward Kelechi Iheanacho to lead the line.

MOURINHO GOT HIS TEAM SELECTION WRONG With only 24 minutes gone, and United trailing 1-0, Mourinho instructed Martial, Mata, Rashford and later Herrera to warm up, knowing he had picked the wrong starting-line up and change was needed. Selecting Mkhitaryan and Lingard for their first competitive starts under him backfired, the former looking like he was still feeling the effects of a rib injury, while Lingard, making his return after injury, was also off the pace, although they were by no means alone, with none of United’s players justifying their selection.

DE BRUYNE COMES BACK TO HAUNT MOURINHO Not deemed good enough by Mourinho at Chelsea, De Bruyne came back to haunt his former boss, scoring City’s opener and having a hand in their second, after his angled shot came back off a a post, into the path of Iheanacho for the simplest of finishes. De Bruyne was afforded so much freedom by United and took full advantage, punishing United for their slack defending and lack of focus at the back.

BLIND, BAILLY DEFENSIVE PARTNERSHIP EXPOSED Mourinho kept faith with Bailly and Blind in central defence, after their impressive start to the season and the understanding they had developed as a pairing. But both endured afternoons they will want to forget, particularly Blind, who let De Bruyne through for City’s opener, then played Iheanacho onside for the visitors’ second goal.

BRAVO FAILS TO JUSTIFY HIS INCLUSION Having jettisoned Hart, Guardiola handed his replacement, Bravo, his City debut, but the former Barcelona keeper was at fault for United’s first goal, clashing with John Stones and dropping the ball, allowing Ibrahimovic to pull one back with an exquisite finish. It was a big call to hand Bravo his debut in a game of such significance and intensity, and the Chilean was lucky to escape a red card for a reckless lunge on Rooney when he mis-controlled the ball inside his own area. l

Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in action with Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel and Christian Fuchs at Anfield on Saturday

Mourinho points finger n AFP, Manchester Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho singled out some of his players for stinging criticism following their 2-1 loss to derby rivals Manchester City.

The United manager hauled off Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard at half-time and said it was only because he did not want to “destroy them” that he did not substitute them earlier.

But he saved his most trenchant remarks for centre-backs Daley Blind and, in particular, Eric Bailly, saying some players had shown signs they did not possess the requisite big-game temperament.

“We had problems with poor performances,” Mourinho told reporters at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“We lost the ball very, very easy.

Even our central defenders, that were really top class until today, they lost easy balls.

“Back-passes, first-station passes, from Bailly to (Marouane) Fellaini, from Blind to (Paul) Pogba.

We lost the ball in these kinds of positions. So it was not (just) Mickey (Mkhitaryan) and Jesse, it was much more than Mickey and Jesse.”

Pep Guardiola’s City took a deserved 15th-minute lead when Kevin De Bruyne beat Blind to Kelechi Iheanacho’s flick-on before steering a shot past David de Gea. The same pair combined to dou-

ble City’s lead, Iheanacho tapping in after De Bruyne’s low shot came back off the post.

An error from City’s debutant goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who flapped at a deep free-kick from Wayne Rooney, allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull a goal back.

But although United improved following the half-time introductions of 18-year-old Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera, they could not find an equaliser.

“What I told them at half-time was that for some of you, it looks like you are trying to do what I told you not to do,” said Mourinho.

“I told Bailly 20 times, never play a first-station ball. Never. Be-

cause this is where they want to press. Never do that. He did it 20 times during the game.

“I think really some of the boys, they felt the dimension of the game. Everything around the game -- the derby, the big game, Man United-Man City, the focus, the attention -- some of the guys felt it.

“It has nothing to do with inexperience or age because you have the kid (Rashford) then in the second half and the kid looks like he was playing in the Under-18s against Salford City.

“So it’s about the individual and every individual reacts to the dimension of the occasion in different ways. It’s difficult to predict. l

Jose Mourinho reacts from the touchline during the English Premier League match against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday AP

REUTERS

Champions Foxes outclassed by vibrant Liverpool n Reuters Roberto Firmino scored twice and Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana also found the net in an eye-catching attacking display from Liverpool as they beat Leicester City 4-1 at home on Saturday.

Firmino opened the scoring in the 13th minute after being found by a superb pass by James Milner, taking a touch to evade the defenders before finishing calmly across Kasper Schmeichel’s goal. Mane added a second in the 31st minute, chipping home to cap off a delicious team move after being picked out by Daniel Sturridge.

A defensive mix-up gave the champions a lifeline seven minutes later when Jamie Vardy capitalised on Lucas Leiva’s mindless ball across goal to tap in from close range, but while Leicester pressed manfully, they struggled to construct a coherent attacking threat.

The hosts restored their twogoal advantage in the 56th minute when Lallana met Giorgino Wijnaldum’s lay-off and rifled a fine shot into the top corner, before Firmino added a late fourth from a searing counter attack after Schmeichel underestimated Mane’s speed and was caught in no man’s land. l

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Lyon suffer first home loss, Monaco stroll n AFP, Paris Ten-man Lyon crashed to a “nightmarish” first home defeat at Parc OL as Bordeaux came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory, while Monaco are the early season pacesetters after crushing Lille 4-1.

Aldo Kalulu marked his first appearance of the season for Lyon with the opening goal inside two minutes, but Brazilian teenager Malcom replied for Bordeaux on the half hour.

Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons was sent off for a reckless challenge on the Bordeaux goalscorer mid-

DAY’S WATCH Today FOOTBALL STAR SPORTS 3 1:00AM English Premier League Sunderland v Everton

Tuesday FOOTBALL STAR SPORTS 2 4:00PM AFC Champions League

TEN 1 12:45PM UEFA Champions League Tottenham v Monaco

SONY SIX FIFA Futsal World Cup 5:00AM Panama v Portugal 7:00AM Colombia v Uzbekistan

SONY ESPN FIFA Futsal World Cup 5:00AM Egypt v Russia Medellin 6:30AM Thailand v Cuba

Thursday FOOTBALL

UEFA Europa League

TEN 3

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Shanghai Shenhua

TEN 3 12:45AM UEFA Champions League Bayern v Rostov

TEN 2 10:00PM UEFA Youth League PSG v Arsenal FC 12:45AM UEFA Champions League PSG v Arsenal

11:00PM Young Boys v Olympiacos 1:00AM Nice v Schalke

TEN 2 UEFA Europa League 11:00PM Feyenoord v Man United 1:00AM Internazionale v Beer-Sheva

SONY SIX FIFA Futsal World Cup

TEN 1 12:45AM UEFA Champions League Man City v Monchengladbach

SONY SIX FIFA Futsal World Cup 5:00AM Morocco v Azerbaijan 7:00AM Argentina v Kazakhstan

Wednesday FOOTBALL TEN 3 12:45PM UEFA Champions League Club Brugge v Leicester City

TEN 2 10:00PM UEFA Youth League Real Madrid v Sporting Club 12:45PM UEFA Champions League Juventus v Sevilla

5:00AM Australia v Brazil 7:00AM Paraguay v Vietnam

SONY ESPN FIFA Futsal World Cup 5:00AM Guatemala v Italy 6:30AM Ukraine v Mozambique Spanish La Liga 1:30PM Osasuna v Celta Vigo

TEN 1 1:00AM UEFA Europa League Panathinaikos v Ajax

way through the second half and the visitors took full advantage as Gregory Sertic headed the visitors in front.

Jeremy Menez then sealed a third victory in four games for Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side in the dying stages with his first goal for his new club.l

RESULTS Lyon

1-3

Kalulu 2

Lorient

Bordeaux Malcom 33, Sertic 71, Menez 90

0-2

Nancy Ait Bennasser 32, Dale 88

Lille Palmieri 90

1-4

Monaco Sidibe 2, Traore 17, Fabinho 47, Glik 71

Bastia

2-1

Diallo 20, Bengtsson 82

Guingamp

1-1

Coco 36

Angers

Toulouse Braithwaite 67

Montpellier Sanson 10

3-1

Diedhiou 15, Ndoye 67, Toko Ekambi 75

Dijon Sammaritano 8

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Kerber begins reign as No. 1 n AFP, New York

Angelique Kerber (GER) poses with the trophy after her US Open final match against Karolina Pliskova (CZE) at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Saturday AP

Still glowing from a US Open semi-final win that propelled her to her third Grand Slam final of the year, on the same day her cherished dream of gaining the world number one ranking came true, the 28-year-old German was gently chided for being just a little too “predictable” in describing the emotional roller-coaster of her day.

“I don’t know what you want to hear,” Kerber said with a smile.

It’s a skill she’s honed over the course of a stellar 2016 campaign that saw her knock off Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in January, reach the Wimbledon final in July and, on Saturday, claim a second Grand Slam title at the US Open.

Long established in the top 10, with seven WTA titles before her Grand Slam breakthrough at the age of 28, she is now celebrated by her country’s biggest sports stars as one of their ranks, plaudits pouring in from the likes of Manchester United star Bastian Schweinsteiger, NBA great Dirk Nowitzki, Formula One driver Nico Rosberg and even International Olympic Committee

President Thomas Bach. Through it all Kerber has maintained her down to earth demeanor.

She said her first call after her Australian Open triumph would be to her grandparents in Puszczykowo, Poland, where they run the Centrum Tenisowe Angie tennis academy and where the Bremen-born Kerber is now based.

Coming from a tennis family, she first picked up a racquet at the age of three. During her rise she’s been encouraged by childhood idol Steffi Graf, and after a worrying dip in form in early 2015 turned to the German great for help. l

ROLL OF HONOURS 2016:

Angelique Kerber

2015:

Flavia Pennetta

2014:

Serena Williams

2013:

Serena Williams

2012:

Serena Williams

2011:

Samantha Stosur

2010:

Kim Clijsters

2009:

Kim Clijsters

2008:

Serena Williams

2007:

Justine Henin

Higuain, Callejon star as Juve, Napoli prep for Europe n AFP, Milan Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon starred as Juventus and Napoli warmed up for their respective Champions League opening group games with comprehensive wins over Sassuolo and Palermo on Saturday.

Higuain, who signed for Juventus from Napoli in a big-money move over the summer, answered his recent critics with a well-taken

brace in a one-sided 3-1 win over Sassuolo in Turin.

In Palermo, Marek Hamsik got Napoli off the mark with a 47th minute opener, his 82nd goal for the club overtaking Diego Maradona’s 81-goal haul when he helped them to their two league titles, in 1987 and 1990.

Callejon’s brace came amid a poor defensive display from an outclassed Palermo, but still took the Spaniard’s tally to four in three

games.

But it is Juve who are the most fancied Italian side in Europe this season, and Higuain’s third goal of the campaign -- after his high-profile move to Turin in the summer

RESULTS 3-1

Sassuolo

Higuain 5, 10, Pjanic 27

Antei 33

Juventus Palermo

0-3

Napoli

Hamsik 47, Callejon 51, 65

-- has raised hopes Juve, beaten finalists in 2015, can go all the way, starting with a home win against reigning Europa League champions Sevilla on Wednesday.

Higuain, making his Juve debut after several frantic weeks of trying to lose the excess pounds he piled on over a summer, was buoyed after a promising Juventus display.

“This is the kind of Juventus side we need for the Champions League, but we have our feet firmly

on the ground,” he told Sky Sport.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted “Higuain made the difference”, but was quick to underline his squad have yet to iron out many of their early-season creases.

“We still have a lot of improvement to make... we conceded far too many shots by Sassuolo,” said the Italian.

“Today we played well offensively, but we’re still looking for the DNA of our defensive game.” l

Pohjanpalo’s 11-minute hat-trick n Reuters, Berlin

RESULTS Leverkusen

3-1

Pohjanpalo 79, 90+1, 90+4

Hamburg Wood 58

VfL Wolfsburg

0-0

Cologne

Ingolstadt

0-2

Hertha Berlin

Ibisevic 8, Schieber 86

Darmstadt 98

1-1

Frankfurt

3-1

M’gladbach

Sirigu 90

Freiburg Philipp 54, 85, Petersen 88-P

RB Leipzig Keita 89

T. Hazard 35

1-0

Dortmund

Substitute Joel Pohjanpalo scored a hat-trick in the last 11 minutes to fire Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at home to Hamburg SV on a Saturday of late Bundesligadrama.

Promoted Freiburg also scored twice in the last five minutes to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1, Bundesliga debutants RB Leipzig stunned Borussia Dortmund with an 89th minute goal and Darmstadt snatched a last minute win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Mario Gomez drew a blank on his debut for VfL Wolfsburg, who

were held 0-0 at home by Cologne, while Hertha Berlin’s 2-0 win at Ingolstadt left them and Bayern Munich as the only teams with six points from their first two games.

Pohjanpalo immediately transformed the game after coming on in the 72nd minute with his side trailing to U.S. forward Bobby Wood’s goal just before the hour.

The Finland international, who has returned to Leverkusen after two years on loan at Fortuna Duesseldorf, headed in Julian Brandt’s cross in the 79th minute to equalise. l

Leverkusen’s Joel Pohjanpalo (C) celebrates with supporters on the tribune after the German Bundesliga match against Hamburger on Saturday AP

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Vapour (5) 4 Disguise (4) 7 Evil intent (6) 8 Allude (5) 10 Teaching period (4) 11 Result from (5) 12 Craft (3) 14 Slender support (4) 17 Fitting (4) 19 Employ (3) 20 Small and sprightly (5) 23 Rotate (4) 25 Proverb (5) 26 Rider's seat (6) 27 Precious stones (4) 28 Light beer (5)

DOWN 1 Brook (6) 2 So be it! (4) 3 Planet (4) 4 Acari (5) 5 Top card (3) 6 Sequence (6) 9 Festivity (4) 13 Deny (6) 15 Fish (4) 16 Shooting star (6) 18 Looks after (5) 21 American autumn (4) 22 Notion (4) 24 Male sheep (3)

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Downtime

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

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30

Showtime

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

James in Maldives

Eid TV Guide

Deepto Amplified

A musical show titled Deepto Amplified which features high profile singers and musicians of the country, will be aired on the six days of Eid-ul-Azha starting from Eid Day. Music stars and bands including James, Shironamhin, Indalo, AvoidRafa and Xefer Rahman will be seen performing in the show. Directed by Ashraf Roni, the program will be aired on Deepto TV at 12:00am everyday during the six days. l

n Showtime Desk Iconic Bangladeshi singer, musician and lead vocal of Nagar Baul, James will appear at a live concert in Maldives. James, who will spend his Eid holidays in Maldives, will perform at a threeday concert which marks his first appearance at a live musical show in Maldives.

Rubayet Tagor Robin, James’ manager confirmed on the star performing at the concert to be

held on September 12, 13 and 14.

The concert will be held at the Alimash Carnival held in the capital of Maldives. In addition to James’ performance, traditional Maldives dances will be performed in the festival titled “Divagu Eid Utsab 1437.”

James left the country yesterday along with the band’s manager and members including Khayam Ahmed on keyboards, Gimi on drums, Sabbir on bass) and Rana on guitars. l

Tariq Anam Khan and Mou in Stop

A scientist discovers a medicine that retains one’s youth.

His wife wants to sell it to earn money. But, he doesn’t agree with his wife’s idea since he thinks that the medicine is more valuable. Suddenly, he is abducted by someone. Tariq Anam Khan plays the role of the scientist in the telefilm titled Stop while Sadia Islam Mou plays his wife.

Stop will be aired on SATV on Eid Day at 2:22pm. Besides, the duo is also featured in another telefilm titled Sairen this Eid, directed by Anjon Aich. l

Apurbo-Sujana’s Love-in-coffee shop

Iftekhar has reached the ideal age for marriage, but he decides not to in order to concentrate on his writing. One day, while drinking coffee in a shop, he meets a girl Bithee and immediately falls in love with her. They start a new life together but eventually are bored of each other. The play’s protagonist Iftekhar is played

by Apurbo while Bithee’s role is played by Sujana.

Written and directed by Rakesh Basu, the drama will be aired on RTV on the sixth day of Eid at 7pm. l

WHAT TO WATCH Wild Wild West WB 9:00pm

The two best hired guns in the West must save President Grant from the clutches of a nineteenth-century inventorvillain.

Cast: Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Salma Hayek, Kenneth Branagh, Ted Levine Wrath of the Titans HBO 9:30pm Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.

Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike, Ralph Fiennes, Toby Kebbell The Karate Kid Movies Now 9:30pm

Work causes a single mother to

move to China with her young son; in his new home, the boy embraces kung fu, taught to him by a master.

Cast: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Wenwen Han, Rongguang Yu Die Hard 4.0 Star Movies 5pm John McClane and a young hacker join forces to take down master cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel in Washington DC. Cast: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Maggie Q

Drama on Paharpur Buddhist Viharas

Paharpur Buddhist Viharas, situated at Naogaon, is an integral part of Bangladesh’s thousand years old history. A TV drama based on the archaeological site, titled Chader Shohor revolves around a Chinese archaeologist, Su Sang who wants to unveil valuable stones buried under the Paharpur Buddhist Viharas.

He makes a pact with a guy named Junayed who agrees to him to excavate the site. Once the excavation starts, everyone starts to realise that Su Sang didn’t come here for stones but for some ancient texts written in the time of Ashoka.

The cast of the drama includes Shatabdi Wadud, Mithila, Nirob, Tariq Shopon and others. The drama will be aired on Channel i on the fifth day of Eid. l

Break-free Eid fest on GTV

Frozen Zee Studio 4:50pm When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.

Cast: Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore, Ed Ackerman, Rileah Vanderbilt. l

Setting an example in the history of TV broadcast in the country, the channel has finalised a seven day Eid program, without any commercial breaks from 6:00pm to 2:00am.

Regional drama festival at 6:00pm Seven dramas based on the language and cultural of the seven regions of Bangladesh includes Deyal, Ar Chachar Biye, Pori, Nirbacon, Baap Beta Doirere Upor, Markamara and Tomtom.

The plays will be aired from Eid day and continue to air till the 7th day.

Romantic drama fest at 8:30 pm Seven romantic plays including Aagey Jodi Jantam, Amar Hiyar Majhey, Mon Shudhu Mon Chuyechey, Keno Ei Nishongota, E Ki Sonar Aloy, Ei Poth Jodi Na Shesh Hoy and Ekhon To Somoy Bhalobashar will be aired everyday at 8:30pm during the seven days.

Drama Serial fest at 8:00pm Bhalo Thakar Shatti Upay, directed by Aminul Islam Arun will feature various stories and entertainment in each of the seven episodes. l

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film festival, in its 73rd outing this year. The event is seen as a launching pad for the industry’s award season.

All the movies that won awards were examples of directors’ “lack of compromise, (their) imagination, original vision, daring, and a kind of pure identity,” said Sam Mendes, known for directing James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre, who headed the jury.l

Venice Film Festival:

Philippines drama bags top award n Showtime Desk A nearly four-hour long black-andwhite drama, The Woman Who Left, chronicles a woman’s thirst for revenge and her feelings of forgiveness after 30 years in jail for a crime she did not commit, won the Venice Film Festival’s top award, The Golden Lion on Saturday. After receiving the award, director Lav Diaz described the film as a testimony to the

struggles of the Philippines after centuries of colonial rule.

“This is for my country, for the Filipino people, for our struggle, for the struggle of humanity,” the 57-year-old filmmaker said.

The runner-up grand jury prize went to Tom Ford’s thriller, Nocturnal Animals, the second feature film by the celebrated fashion designer while The Best Director award was shared by Russia’s Andrei Konchalovsky

for the Holocaust drama Rai, and Mexico’s Amat Escalante for The Untamed.

American Emma Stone was awarded as the Best Actress for her role in the musical, La La Land while Argentine actor, Oscar Martinez was named the Best Actor for his performance in the comedy-drama, The Distinguished Citizen.

German actress Paula Beer received the Marcello Mastroianni

Award which acknowledges an emerging performer, for her role in post-war drama, Frantz.

The special jury prize went to Ana Lily Amirpour’s cannibalsurvivor fairytale, The Bad Batch.

While the film earned mixed reviews, the jury appreciated its spirit.

Twenty US and international movies featuring top Hollywood talent and auteur directors competed at the world’s oldest

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ENRIQUE TAKES BLAME PAGE 24

JAMES IN MALDIVES PAGE 30

A day in the life of a cattle rearer n Nure Alam Durjoy

It was nearly eight in the morning on Friday; the day had barely started for business at the cattle market in Gabtoli – the biggest cattle market in Dhaka for Eid-ul-Azha.

As cattle traders were preparing to get started for the day, one young man stood out as he sat on a sand pile, watching his cattle intently.

Arif arrived in Dhaka with his father Abu Bakar and their three cows from Manikganj on Thursday evening, he said when this correspondent asked him. The father-son duo hired a truck for Tk1,500 to bring the animals to the capital city.

“My father owns a small business back home. But we rear cattle in our house and every few years, when the cattle are all grown up and ready for sale, we bring them to Dhaka.”

A man in his late teens, Arif has

Arif with his cattle at one of the stalls in Gabtoli cattle market - the biggest cattle market in Dhaka RAJIB DHAR been rearing cattle at his home in Char Madhabpur village, under Sigair upazila in Manikganj. He passed his Secondary School Certificate examinations with a GPA

score of 3.56 in 2014, but could not pursue further studies as his family could not afford it.

At home, Arif is the primary caregiver for the cattle: he feeds them

three times a day and bathe them.

“I have become a full-time cattle rearer,” he told this correspondent.

In Gabtoli, too, he woke up early in the morning to give the cows food and water, and then to bathe them in the Turag River that flows near the ground of the cattle market.

Stroking the side of one of his cows with affection, he said: “I looked after them for two years.

But now they are ready for sale.”

He is not in a hurry to sell the cows, though, willing to wait until the last day of trade. “That way, we will get our expected price,” he explained.

Besides, sales have yet to pick up pace in the cattle market, he said.

Asked where he was staying until he sold the cows, Arif shrugged.

“Here,” he said.

He explained that he spent the night – as did other cattle traders in Gabtoli – right beside his cows, on a bed of straws with sacks of cattle

feed for pillows.

Is it not uncomfortable sleeping on a field beside animals, surrounded by dirt?

“It’s not too much trouble,” Arif shrugged. “We are not here for long – only two or three days.”

Asked what they are for meals the night before, Arif paused for a while. “We ate a loaf of bread and eggs. We don’t need anything elaborate,” he said. “But I am going to see if I can find some rice for lunch.”

Asked what he was going to do once he went home after selling the cattle, Arif said they were going to get calves. “We will buy four calves from our village and raise them. In two years, they will be ready for sale.”

His eyes were on his cows when he said it, his eyes growing sad.

“The cows you rear becomes a part of your life. It is difficult to sell the animals that you raise. But it is something we have to do.” l

High security measures for Eid celebration n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Security during Eid-ul-Adha celebration has been greatly beefed up across the country to make sure everyone can celebrate safely.

Along with safety measures for all, law enforcers have made special security arrangements for top political leaders, high officials and foreign nationals living in Bangladesh, sources confirmed.

The country is still reeling from the Dhaka terror attack on July 1 which left 22 people dead including two policemen where security has been the main concern on everyone’s mind.

The security arrangements includes additional forces which have already been deployed and makeshift check posts along the residential areas of political leaders and foreign nationals.

Inspector general of police (IGP) A K M Shahidul Hoque said that there will be no possibility of attacks like Solakia this Eid. The IGP said: “Police will be very vigilant before and after Eid. Eidgah prayer ground is

under surveillance by intelligence personnel as well as uniformed police.”

RAB Legal and Media Director Mufti Mahmud Khan and the Deputy Commissioner (media) of DMP Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that they have deployed a large security force including foot patrol, motorbike and vehicle patrol in the city.

Citizens arrange their own security measures Visiting various public spaces in the city this correspondent found the presence of other security personnel besides the police.

Organisations has set up security measures on their own in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Motijheel, Dhanmondi amongst other areas.

Gulshan Jame Mosque has arranged their own security this correspondent found.

Md Kamrul Islam, assistant Imam at Gulshan Society Jame Mosque said: “We have hired five extra people for security measures to make sure people do not enter the premise with bags which have been banned.”

“Gulshan police has have as-

sured us about providing security during Eid,” he added.

While visiting Gulshan Lake Park this correspondent found that there was barely any security measures like security archways or security men at the gate of the park.

The two popular places people visit for Eid - Shaheed Zia Shishu Park and Bangladesh National Museum have taken up special security arrangements by themselves.

The park has always had the presence of the police force in addition to its own security personnel, Md Nuruzzaman, assistant engineer of Shishu Park said.

Even though the national museum will be closed on the Eid day it will have police and RAB security in addition to its regular security personnel said a security official asking not be named.

Senior General Manager, security department of Jamuna Future Park Mukbul Hossain Bhuiyan (ret DIG) said: “We have our own security personnel on every floor and all our staff is prepared to handle security emergencies.” l

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