29 Sep, 2016

SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

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Ashwin 14, 1423, Zil-Hajj 26, 1437

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 152

‘Saarc Summit boycot is Dhaka’s own decision’ n UNB

Saarc’s effectiveness has apparently become questionable once again as its member states are waiting for a formal communication from the Saarc Secretariat to call off its 19th Summit as a number of countries opted out from it.

However, there had been no communication between the Saarc Secretariat, Kathmandu and the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry until yesterday evening.

Contacted, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams told UNB that the mission is not under the channel the Saarc Secretariat maintains while communicating any such decision.

She said the Saarc Secretariat will convey its decision to all Saarc member states through their respective foreign ministries.

Diplomatic sources in Nepal, however, said the Saarc Summit will be called off as Bangladesh,

Bhutan and Afghanistan followed India’s decision to stay away from the November Summit to be held in Islamabad.

The summit is automatically postponed or cancelled if one member-country skips the event However, quoting Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, Radio Pakistan yesterday reported that Pakistan will host the 19th Summit.

The report did not mention how Pakistan will host the event without four Saarc members.

Earlier yesterday, State Minister

for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said the decision to boycott Islamabad Saarc Summit is purely Bangladesh’s own decision.

“It has no relation with other countries’ decisions. It’s our own decision,” he told reporters at his office at the Foreign Ministry.

Without taking any name, Shahriar said a particular country’s repeated attempts to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs has created an environment which is not conducive to successful holding of Saarc Summit.

“We have conveyed it to current Saarc chairman [Nepal and Saarc Secretariat] on Tuesday that Bangladesh is not attending the Summit,” he said.

The state minister said Bangladesh, as the initiator of Saarc process, believes in regional cooperation and connectivity which was also conveyed to the Saarc chair and Saarc Secretariat. “When time  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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What will be on the agenda for debate number two?

Sayeed Asiful Islam n Abu from Denver, US By now, most of the world has watched the first Us presidential debates between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump.

The debate has been described by observers here in Denver as a “horror,” an “embarrassment,” and a “disappointment.”

Trump’s key contention was that Clinton’s long association with politics has tainted her by the tar brush of political deal making, and Clinton’s key contention was that Trump was simply not presidential material. These accussations have been slung back and forth for so long, that they merit little more than a yawn.

Yet some issues are likely to

come up again. Here are six to watch for-Clinton effectively shot down Trump’s attempt to question her stamina for the job by reading off a litany of her achievements and summarising her extremely busy schedule as secretary of state, drawing cheers in the process.

But it is likely that Trump will keep coming back to it. The question, among other things, is a stealthy reference to the fact that she is a woman and serves to energise his support base.

His misogyny are well known and during the debate he didn’t miss the opportunity to take another swipe at Rosie O’Donnell. And Clinton will keep reminding the electorate about some of the more offensive comments he has made.

Clinton has finally found a chink in Trump’s armour. She points out  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Afghans snatch nervy win against Tigers n Ali Shahriyar Bappa

Bangladesh’s Mosaddek Hossain made an impressive ODI debut, scoring an unbeaten 45 and picking up two crucial wickets, but his all-round performance went in vain as Afghanistan posted a nervy two-wicket win in the second game of the threematch series in Mirpur on Wednesday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Afghanistan clinched a nervy two-wicket win against hosts Bangladesh in the second ODI in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. The three-match series, now locked at 1-1, will be decided this Saturday at the same venue.

Chasing a modest 209, Afghanistan started their innings with a first-ball boundary but the Tigers fought back well. Shakib al hasan, who opened the bowling, took the wicket of opening batsman Nawroz Mangal in the fourth over.

Just one ball later, Shakib took the wicket of Rahmat Shah.

Debutant Mosaddek Hossain took the key wicket of Hashmat-

ullah Shahidi in his very first ball of international cricket when he trapped him in front in the 14th over. He became the maiden Bangladeshi bowler to take a wicket in the very first ball on debut.

Shakib was brought in to the attack again and the bowling change immediately worked in the 16th over as the experienced all-rounder took the crucial wicket of Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad played an aggressive innings of 35 in as many balls with four fours and two huge sixes. Bangladesh were in the driving seat as the Afghans were struggling at 63 for 4.

But then the visitors built a solid partnership for the fourth wicket.

The experienced Mohammad Nabi  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

INSIDE Petrobangla invites bids for Bay exploration

State-owned Petrobangla has invited EoIs from international bidders to explore oil and gas resources from Bangladesh Deep Sea Blocks DS-10 and DS-11 and Shallow Sea Block SS-10.  PAGE 3

Matarbari power plant cost to increase for added security The estimated cost of 1,200MW Matarbari power plant is likely to go up as the two Japanese bidders for the project are revising their proposals, adding the cost of additional security arrangement.  PAGE 5

Artisans having busy hours making idols of Durga With Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindus, drawing near, the craftsmen of the port city having a busy time making statues of goddess Durga.  PAGE 7

Girls’ soccer dream locked in customs warehouse

Kendall, Courtney and Trevor Islam are three siblings based in California who came up with a initiative to provide football boots to schoolgirls of Safura Khatun Girls’ High School in Karimpur.  PAGE 32

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Afghans snatch

Several civic rights groups and bodies organise a rally on the occasion of International Right to Know Day at Dhaka’s Shahbagh yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

‘Saarc Summit boycot is Dhaka’s own decision’ and scope will be available, Bangladesh will attend such events,” he added.

The relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply in recent years after Pakistan’s repeated interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs following the trial and execution of war criminals.

The state minister said: “Bangladesh has never compromised and will never compromise in terms of issues related to the trial of war criminals and execution of the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Dhaka strongly protested Islamabad’s meddling in its internal

affairs and last year Bangladesh expelled a Pakistani diplomat for alleged funding of Islamist extremists.

Meanwhile, the 19th Saarc Summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November, is likely to be postponed as Bangladesh and India on Tuesday announced its inability to join it apparently amid regional tensions.

The summit is automatically postponed or cancelled if one member-country skips the event, Kathmandu Post reported yesterday.

However, an official here said they are yet to receive any message of postponement from the Saarc

Chair Nepal.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi decided to refrain from joining the Summit.

Bhutan and Afghanistan will also skip the summit, according to diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi.

A senior official here, on Tuesday night, said the Prime Minister has decided to skip the summit following Pakistan’s “repeated and shameless” interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs over the trial of war criminals.

The Ministry of External Affairs, India on Tuesday said that Prime

Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Islamabad to participate in the Saarc summit in November as the atmosphere is “not conducive to a successful summit.”

India has conveyed to current Saarc Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc Summit in Islamabad in November 2016.

“In the prevailing circumstances, the government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad,” it said. l

What will be on the agenda for debate number two? that since Trump’s sole claim to competence as a future president are his long years in business, he has to be more forthcoming about his dealings: hence he should release his tax returns.

When Clinton accused Trump of never paying federal taxes, and therefore never contributing to federally funded institutions including the armed forces, he replied: “That makes me smart.”

Every candidate for president in the last 43 years has released their tax returns to the public. No amount of bluster will help Trump on this issue, and we are likely to hear more about this in future debates.

Not one to be cornered with out a fight or an attempt at bargaining, Trump aid he’d release his returns if she releases the 33,000 emails

connected to emailgate. This linkage could win over the minority of millennials and undecideds who are concerned about Clinton’s “distant relationship with the truth “ as a professor of political science at the University of Colorado at Boulder put it to the Dhaka Tribune.

Remember that while 41% of millennials lean towards the Democrats, many do not. Moreover, some educated Trump sympathisers are “shy Torres” meaning that they won’t divulge their sympathies publicly but may still opt for him on November 8.

Race will come up repeatedly, but it is not clear if race relations and the allied subject of police brutality against African American men, will swing the vote. After a shocking series of police shootings

that has caused major rallying in North Carolina and is fuelling the Black Lives Matter movement, it is clear that the problem is a major one. It is likely that voters are already divided and committed along these lines, but a deterioration of the situation could cause the electorate to select the better candidate on this issue.

Finally, Trump savaged Clinton for the foreign policy dilemmas of the last several years and claimed that if she could have achieved anything, she would have by now.

Clinton, in one of the most memorable lines of the debate, countered that the big secret about Trump’s secret plan to take down and defeat IS was that there was no plan.

Disappointingly for most Americans, the meat and bones of the de-

bate – about spurring the economy, tax policy and luring investment – was unconvincing from Clinton’s side and incoherent from Trump’s side.

Trump has made Nafta and other trade deals and halting illegal immigration the centrepiece of his position – meaning he means to bring jobs back to the US or at least stop their migration elsewhere.

Traditional big business will have some objections to that. But the best point on this was made a US government employee who asked not to be named, who said: “Wake up America! We’re not losing jobs to Mexicans and illegals, we’re losing jobs to automation.”

But that is too astute an observation to be taken up at a US presidential debate. l

and skipper Asghar Stanikzai crafted a 107-run partnership which brought Afghanistan right back in the game.

The partnership was eventually broken in the 40th over when Mashrafe bin Mortaza got the wicket of Nabi, who was one short of a well-deserved fifty. In the very next over, Stanikzai was back in the pavilion after making 57. His runs came from 95 deliveries and included four fours and two sixes.

Bangladesh were in a similar kind of situation like the first ODI as the visitors required 23 runs from six overs. Shakib came back and struck right away by claiming Rashid Khan in the fourth ball. It was the 100th wicket for Shakib at home.

Mushfiqur Rahim missed an easy stumping chance of Najibullah Zadran in the 47the over, bowled

by Mosaddek, and it proved to be the home side’s undoing at the end.

Earlier, visiting captain Asghar Stanikzai won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Tigers opening batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarker made a steady start. They scored 43 run in the first powerplay. The first wicket fell in the 11th over when Tamim was caught at third man. Tamim was out for 20 from 36 balls. Mahmudullah was promoted at No 3. Soumya then lost his wicket cheaply, scoring 20.

Both the openers spent time at the middle but were not able to carry the momentum forward.

Mahmudullah was in good touch and played solidly until he inside-edged a delivery onto the stumps off Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haque in the 25th over.

He scored 25 from 39 balls.

Mushfiqur Rahim also played confidently but lost his wicket two overs later in a similar way much like the first ODI at the same venue on Sunday. He played his favourite slog sweep to clear the boundary off leg-spinner Rahmat Shah but this time, he was caught at deep mid wicket. Mushfiq scored 38 from 51 balls with four boundaries.

Shakib al Hasan played a couple of good shots but was adjudged lbw off spinner Mohammad Nabi’s arm-ball. He was dropped at cover just four balls prior to his dismissal.

Bangladesh were in further trouble in the 33rd over as Sabbir Rahman was also trapped in front while trying to pull a googly from leg-spinner Rashid Khan. He managed to score only four runs in 16 deliveries.

Debutant Mosaddek Hossain tried to build a partnership with tail ender Taijul Islam. They managed to score 28 runs for the eighth wicket partnership. But leggie Rashid struck a double blow in the 43rd over to remove Tajul and Taskin Ahmed off consecutive deliveries.

Mosaddek added 43 valuable runs with Rubel Hossain for the last wicket. Mosaddek was unbeaten on 45 runs with the help of four fours and two sixes. l

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Petrobangla invites bids for Bay exploration n Aminur Rahman Rasel State-owned Petrobangla has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from international bidders to explore oil and gas resources from Bangladesh Deep Sea Blocks DS-10 and DS-11 and Shallow Sea Block SS-10 under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act, 2015.

“Upon receipt of EoIs, the interested international oil companies that are deemed best suited to perform the operation will be

short-listed. Thereafter, Request For Proposal documents will be sent to the short-listed companies,” Petrobangla Director Jameel A Aleem told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said the purpose of this EoI was to short list international oil companies (IOCs) interested for oil and gas exploration and development in Bangladesh Deep Sea Blocks DS-10 and DS-11 and Shallow Sea Block SS-10.

The last date for submission is October 19, 2016.

Unlike usual bidding rounds, the government will purchase oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal at a competitive price, to be quoted by the IOCs in bids.

In previous bidding rounds, Petrobangla fixed the prices for oil and gas in model production sharing contracts (PSC) before bid launching.

On February 4, Petrobangla invited EOIs to explore and develop three deep-sea blocks – DS 12, 16 and 21 –in the Bay of Bengal under the Special Act.

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South Korean Daewoo International Corporation has expressed interest to explore for oil and gas at one of the deep sea blocks in the Bay of Bengal instead of three blocks.

On October, 2014, In the wake of a nagging primary energy crisis, US energy company ConocoPhillips after six years of negotiation informed the government that it will not invest in drilling exploration wells in two deep-sea hydrocarbon blocks DS 10 and DS 11-in the Bay of Bengal. l

Ghorashal to get GE turbine n Aminur Rahman Rasel The US company General Electric has been awarded a contract

by China Energy Engineering Group-Guangdong Power Engineering Co Ltd to supply a gas turbine for re-powering the unit 4 of Power Development Board’s (PDB) Ghorashal Power Plant.

The existing gas-fired boiler of unit 4 at Ghorashal plant will be substituted with GE’s advanced 9F.03 AGP Gas Turbine with Advanced Gas Path (AGP) technology.

GE will also provide advisory services for installation, performance testing and two years of operational spares during warranty period under the scope of this project.

The re-powering will result in an addition of more than 200MW of clean energy output and increased efficiency of over 20%

People throng the Central Shaheed Minar premises to pay last respects to poet, playwright Syed Shamsul Haque yesterday

MEHEDI HASAN

Kallyanpur militants buried at Jurain graveyard n Arifur Rahman Rabbi

The bodies of nine militants, killed in the Kallyanpur drive, were buried yesterday at Jurain graveyard

by Anjuman Mofidul Islam.

The graveyard’s In-charge Mawlana Mohammad Sohayeb Hossain confirmed the Dhaka Tribune that the burial was completed around 2pm.

Shahabuddin Ahmed, duty officer at Mugda office of Anjuman Mofidul, said: “Three vehicles were sent to Dhaka Medical College after the authorities there asked us to pick up the bodies to take them to

Jurain graveyard for burial in the afternoon.”

The bodies were received around 11:30am by Inspector Jahangir of DMP’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and MA Kamal, duty officer at Anjuman Mofidul.

Confirming the matter, DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that since no one from the nine militants families had shown interest in receiving the bodies, they were handed over to Anjuman for burial.

Earlier, Home Minister Asaduz-

zaman Khan had said that if the families do not claim the bodies, they would be handed over to Anjuman Mofidul.

When asked, Dr Sohel Mahmud, assistant professor of DMC Forensic department, said: “We have preserved necessary samples from the bodies, keeping in mind that other agencies may require them.”

Law enforcement agencies carried out the raid in Kallyanpur on the night of July 25. After a nail-biting night of gunfire and bombing, the CTTC ended the operation successfully with nine militants killed and one captured. A major cache

of weapons, explosives, and pamphlets related to militancy were found inside the den.

Verifying the militants’ fingerprints with the Election Commission’s database, police had identified eight of the terrorists.

They were Abdullah, Abu Hakim Nayeem, Taj-ul-Haque Rashiq, Atiquzzaman Khan, Shazad Rouf Arko, Md Motiar Rahman, Md Jubayer Hossain, Raihan Kabir.

One militant could not be identified yet.

On September 22, the Gulshan attackers were also buried at Jurain

by Anjuman Mofidul. l

In line with Bangladesh’s power generation expansion plans to add around 12GW electricity by 2018, the re-powering of Ghorashal is an important milestone as it will result in an addition of more than 200MW of clean energy output and an increased efficiency of more than 20%.

Bangladesh is at the cusp of rapid transformation, and electricity is one of the key drivers that is steering the rapid industrialisation of the country.

The re-powering of Ghorashal power station located at Narsingdi district will play a pivotal role in achieving the energy goals of the country.

Collectively, the re-powering of unit 4, close on the heels of Unit 3, will result in an addition of more than 400MW of clean energy to the national grid.

The re-powering will add 25 years to the overall lifetime of the power plant, increase its efficiency from the existing 31% to more than 53% and improve the overall output of the plant to 409MW from the current 170MW. GE is a power generation pioneer with more than 60 years in gas turbine technology and manufacturing. Approximately one third of the world’s installed power base includes GE equipment, with more than 28,000 power generating assets, representing about 1,600GW of installed capacity in 120 countries.

GE has been a partner to Bangladesh for more than 45 years, and today more than 30 GE turbines are installed in the country generating more than 1.9GW of power. l

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

World Heart Day: Emphasis put on building awareness n Kamrul Hasan Building medical institutions is not the solutions rather creating awareness about heart diseases and having healthy diet can help much, says Prof Brig (rtd) Abdul Malik, founder president of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (NHFHRI), on the occasion of World Heart Day. People should walk at least two kilometres a day while going and returning to offices or schools, suggests Prof Malik.

He also recommended that if necessary an inter-ministerial attempt should be taken so that everyone can learn about the diseases during student life and be careful of their food habits.

Bangladesh is observing World Heart Day today through different programmes organised by different hospitals and research institutions specialised on heart diseases.

According to World Heart Foundation, physical inactivity increases the risk of heart diseases and stroke by 50%. Obesity is a major factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. According to the organisers, World Heart Day on September 29 is the biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Heart diseases have been identified as the leading cause of death in the world. Every year, 17.3 million people die from the diseases, says Prof Sohel Reza Chowdhury of Deptartment of Epitomology and Research at NHFHRI. In a recent study of NHFHRI on urban poor, it has been found that unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and family history are factors that contribute to the diseases, he adds.

The urban poor, most of the time, go to nearby pharmacies instead of hospitals or private clinics, he says. l

Septic tank blast hurts 6 in city n DMCH correspondent Six people including a woman, have received severe burn injuries in a septic tank explosion in Dhanmondi area in Dhaka.

Polash Chandra Mandol, Sub inspector of Dhanmondi police station said: “A septic tank of a four-storied building of Dhanmondi area in the city was exploded when workers were cleaning the tank yesterday morning, leaving Abdur Razzak, 50, Razzak, 23, security guard Abed Ali, 50, Saddam Hossain, 28, Masum Ali, 24, Shirin Akter, 27, critically injured.

“The tank was exploded as security guard Abed Ali of the building lit a cigarette near the tank while the workers were cleaning the tank,” said the SI. However, a rescuer Dalim, a tenant of the house said, “The workers carried a lit bulb with them inside the tank. The bulb exploded at once, leading to a huge explosion that rocked the building.”

Later, the injured were rushed to the burn and plastic surgery units of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). l

Aga Khan receives Prize for Global Citizenship n Tribune Desk

Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, popularly known as the Aga Khan, received the inaugural Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship yesterday in a ceremony which concluded the three-day 6 Degrees Citizen Space conference.

The 6 Degrees Citizen Space conference is the new public initiative of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. The award recognises an individual whose life has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the ideals of belonging and inclusion.

Accepting the prize in Toronto, the Aga Khan focused his remarks on the values of global citizenship and the spirit of pluralism on which it rests. He noted that embracing such values “should not mean compromising the bonds of local or national citizenship.”

“The call of pluralism should ask us to respect our differences, but not to ignore them; to integrate

diversity, not to depreciate diversity,” he remarked.

The Aga Khan acknowledged that “living with diversity is a challenging process” but that “the work of pluralism is always a work in progress.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his own warm sentiments in a video message played during the ceremony.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Canada and the world are stronger and richer because of your commitment to diversity and to finding common ground, to helping those most vulnerable and to believing in a better, closer, more inclusive world.”

The Aga Khan, an honorary Canadian citizen and Companion of the Order of Canada, is the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN is active in 30 countries and employs approximately 80,000 people. l

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Matarbari power plant cost to increase for added security n Aminur Rahman Rasel In the aftermath of Gulshan terror attack in July, the estimated cost of 1,200MW Matarbari coal-fired power plant project is likely to go up as the two Japanese bidders for the project are revising their proposals, adding the cost of additional security arrangement.

The bidders – Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation – are going to appoint separate consulting firms to estimate the cost of the security arrangement at their Dhaka office and the project site in Cox’s Bazar during both the bidding ceremony and the execution of the project.

resentatives of Sumitomo and Marubeni re-affirmed their stance on the matter, sources told the Dhaka Tribune.

During the meeting, the Bangladeshi government officials tried to convince the Japanese delegates to submit the bid document, but they remained firm on their decision of not submitting the proposals until an indefinite extension was allowed.

“We have extended the deadline for three months. We will extend it further upon consulting with the Japanese bidders. We are undertaking several measures to assure them of security and that we are prepared to cooperate with them,” CPGCBL Managing Director Md

Children are packed like sardines in vans as they go to and come back from their schools risking their lives. The picture was taken from Kakrail intersection yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

‘Xi’s visit a strong political message’ n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Analysts believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to Bangladesh with a strong political message to take the relationship to the next level.

Bangladesh is important for China for strategic reason while Dhaka needs Beijing assistance for its development effort and the visit will take the political leadership to come closer.

Xi Jinping is coming to Dhaka on October 14.

Former Bangladesh ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad told the Dhaka Tribune that the visit would forge a strong relationship between the two political leaderships.

He said Dhaka and Beijing have enjoyed a strong relationship historically and it would be stronger in the coming days.

In his view, three countries are the most important for Bangladesh’s foreign policy and those are India, the US and China.

China is important for Bangladesh for its contribution to economic development and Beijing has the capacity and willing to assist Dhaka, he said.

Xi Jinping is the second Chinese president to visit Dhaka. In 1986, the then Chinese president Li Xiannian came to Dhaka.

Munshi Faiz said when a Chinese president visits a country like Bangladesh, they announce big economic packages for the country and it is expected it will not be an exception this time.

The Japanese workers’ families are more concerned about security in Bangladesh than the bidders “The Japanese bidders said they would submit their bid proposal after adding the security cost.

The date of submission has not been decided yet,” said an official of Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL), the state-owned company that is implementing the project.

Requesting anonymity, the official further said the Japanese refused to submit any tender proposal in Bangladesh until security situation became normal again.

“The Japanese workers’ families are more concerned about security in Bangladesh than the bidders,” he added.

The original deadline of the final bid submission was on July 24, but following the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 where terrorists killed seven Japanese nationals along with 16 others, the bidders requested the CPGCBL to suspend the tender submission process indefinitely.

Receiving the letters from the bidders, the CPGCBL pushed the deadline back by one month, but the bidders were not satisfied with the extension.

In a recent meeting with the Power Division and CPGCBL, rep-

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY

Abul Quasem told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

The security concerns are mainly over the construction of Matarbari power plant. For the other relevant tasks of the project, the government has assigned 10 armed police officers and 57 armed Ansar members to each site for security.

Following a request from Japanese bodies, the government has also approved a permanent police camp at the project site.

The power plant will have two units, each having 600MW of power generation capacity. Imported coal will be used at the plant to generate power, sources said.

This project is the largest in the country’s power sector in terms of both investment and power generation capacity.

The project will be partly funded by a loan of $3.7 billion from Japan International Cooperation Agency, which will be payable at an annual interest rate of 0.1% over 30 years, with an initial 10-year grace period. The rest of the cost will be covered by the government.

The power plant construction is scheduled to start in January 2017, with its operations set to start in 2023. l Dhaka

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“We hope that many documents will be signed during the visit and a hefty package would be announced for assisting our development efforts,” he said.

He said China would give what Bangladesh can absorb.

Subscribing to the same view, former Bangladesh ambassador to India Liaquat Ali Chowdhury said China was very pragmatic and would not pursue anything that is not welcomed in Dhaka.

“China tries to consolidate its position but if they understand any difficulty in doing so, they will not push,” he said.

Liaquat Ali said the visit of the Chinese president shows the importance of Bangladesh and Xi Jinping would carry a message to take the relationship to new heights.

Currently Dhaka and Beijing have a Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation agreement that outlines an all-encompassing bilateral relations strategy.

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A joint statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China in 2014 said: “The two sides viewed each other’s development as opportunities to further expand and raise the closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation between the two countries to a newer height.”

Liaquat Ali said China was the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh and the relationship was mostly economic in nature.

Beijing is pursuing its long-term strategy of ‘One Belt One Road’ and Dhaka is an important component of that plan. China would do whatever is necessary to make Bangladesh comfortable to join the bandwagon, the diplomat said.

“China wants to invest in Bangladesh heavily and that is very important for Dhaka,” he added.

A senior government official said 25 projects worth over $20 billion would be finalised during the visit of the Chinese president. l

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Fajr: 5:10am | Zohr: 1:15pm Asr: 4:30pm | Magrib: 6:05pm Esha: 8:00pm Source: Islamic Foundation

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Visually-impaired Sumaiya struggling to continue study Alamgir Chowdhury, n Md Joypurhat

Sumaya Akter, a visually-impaired girl, has got chance at Dhaka University, but she will not be able to continue her study because of extreme poverty.

According to local sources, Sumaiya, daughter of Rafiqul Islam, a worker at a cigarette factory in Joypurhat municipality, is a brilliant student and she had scored good marks in the examinations of all classes.

This year, she has passed HSC examinations with GPA 4.67 from Joypurhat Government Women College.

The girl sat for the admission test at KHA unit under Arts and Social Science faculty of the university and scored 397. After the announcement of the results, she became very happy. But her poor family could not be happy, as they have no capacity to send their daughter to Dhaka University for study.

According to the sources, let alone at DU, the father of the girl had no wish to continue the study at schools or colleges. Only the mental strength and desire of the girl helped her to reach DU. Rafiqul had no interest to send her daughter to Dhaka. Her classmates and teachers sent her to sit for the admission test. After pub-

lishing the result they were happy, but her father became worried.

He said: “With a poor salary, I cannot run my family let alone the study of Sumaiya. I also have three other children and they are also studying in several institutions.”

I have to live in a tiny house on 1.5 decimal land facing hard-bitten situation, he added.

Sumaiya said she wanted continue her study facing any difficulty.

“I have been struggling from my childhood. In my school life, when my classmates were studying in coaching centres, I was busy to make my lessons by myself and got good results,” she said.

Baby girl strangled Hossain, n Tanveer Narayanganj “No any restriction could stop my study. I hope, I will be able to continue my study this time and in future,” she said with overconfidence.

Alifa Begum, grandmother of Sumaiya, said the girl had been struggling in her life. Then they could support her as she was near to them.

But now she would have to go to Dhaka and the family members could not imagine what they could do, she added.

Tulshi Das Mohonto, teacher of Bangla department of the college, said if Sumaiya could continue the study, she would be the asset of the country. l

A father in Bandar upazila of the district allegedly killed his minor daughter on Wednesday.

Locals said Najmul Mian, son of Shajalal Mian used to live at Pichkamatal village in the upazila with his wife Muslima Akter and two children.

Muslima said Najmul development an extra marital relation with a woman and started to live with her secretly recently.

On the day, they locked into a quarrel over the issue when Najmul returned home. At one stage Najmul, strangulated his 14-monthold daughter Nusrat Jahan leaving her to death. Parents of the girl went into hiding. l

Four to die for murder n Md Tariqul Islam, Barguna

A Barguna court yesterday sentenced four people to death penalty and two others to life-term imprisonment for killing a cattle trader four years back.

The court also sentenced the convicts to three years in jail and fined Tk100,000 each in another charge.

The four who were give death penalty are Shahidul Islam Chowkidar, Barek Chowkidar, Bashir Matubbar and Moazzem.

People who have been jailed for life are Abdur Rob Chowkidar and Mozibur.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Abu Taher announced the verdict after cross-checking 19 witnesses and examining documents.

According to the prosecution, Naya Mia was thrashed to death on April 10, 2012 when he was returning home at Cholavanga village. The murderers also snatched Tk70,000 from him.

Md Nasir Uddin, son of Naya Mia, a resident of Chalbhanga village under Amtali upzila, filed a case with Amtali police station accusing the six people.

After the announcement of the verdict, Nasir said: “My father has been killed by the hoodlums. We are happy with the verdict. We are also demanding speedy execution of the verdict.

Defence counsel Kamal Kanti Das, however, said they were not happy with the verdict and would challenge the conviction in High Court. l

Hundreds of students from 13 schools block a road in Thakurgaon town yesterday to press home their six-point demand , including change in the existing mark-distribution system DHAKA TRIBUNE

Man gunned down in LA was polite and calm in nature n Mohiuddin Molla, Comilla Family members of freedom fighter Mohammad Abul Kalam, who was gunned down in Log Angles on Saturday, said he was calm in nature.

Atiquzzaman, cousin of slain freedom fighter Mohammad Abul Kalam, said: “Kalam was very polite and calm from his childhood. He had passed his time with playing football with village friends while he was at village home.”

“Abul Kalam joined a training camp of freedom fighters in India during the Liberation War in 1971 and fought for the country,” he said.

“He had worked at BTV and the advertising agency Bitopi after the Liberation War. He also resided in Japan for a few years before moving to the United States. He had been living in USA with his wife and son and daughter for 16 years,” he said about his brother with crying mood.

Earlier, Mohammad Abul Kalam was from Batakandi village under Titas upazila of Comilla district, who was Incharge of a liquor store, when he was closing up the shop, two masked gunmen held him up at gunpoint and demanded money around Saturday midnight (LA Time). The gunmen

shot him dead as he refused, over a month into the killings of two Bangladeshis including an Imam in New York.

Family sources said, Abul Kalam known as a popular footballer in his area and he also used to work as model in different advertisements of popular brands.

Famida Kalam and Asha Kalam, daughters of slain freedom fighter now living at Khilgaon area of the capital, said the family sources.

His body will reach in the country next week and he will be buried in Khilgaon of the capital, said the family sources. l

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Artisans having busy hours making idols of Durga n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong With Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindus, drawing near, the craftsmen of the port city having a busy time making statues of goddess Durga.

There are a total of 12 idol-making workshops or ‘Pratimalay’ in the port city Chittagong. The workshops are located in Patharghata Gangabari, Dewanji Pukur Lane, Nittyanando Dham, Sadarghat Kalibari, Bosh Goli, Hazari Lane and Nalapara areas of the port city.

During a recent visit to the different workshops of the city, it was seen that the craftsmen were working overtime to meet deadline for the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community.

The artisans said the demand for ready made ‘oriental’ figures was increasingly gaining popularity among the people.

Customers prefer ‘oriental’ as the cost of traditional idols rises for jewelry, attires and other accessories.

In case of an oriental installation, the artisans can show his creativity through designs.

The idol makers further said the tradition of awarding the most talented artisans every year acted as an incentive for them.

A visit to Dulal Paul Pratimalay,

16 get life terms for killing farmer Islam Swapan, n Saiful Lakshmipur

A Lakshmipur court yesterday sentenced 16 people for life in a case filed in connection with murdering a farmer in 2009.

The convicts are Md Mostafa, 52, Nahid, 25, Rejaul Haque, 35, Majnu, 39, Altaf, 25, Dhanraja, 42, Rubel, 25, Sahijul Islam, 47, Ayub Ali, 57, Monir Ahmed, 37, Morshed, 34, Ohiduzzaman, 67, Zinnah, 55, Hannan, 32, Abbas, 32, and Maksud, 37, all from Sabuj village in Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur.

The farmer killed was Lokman, 55, of the same village.

According to the case statement, 16 men led by Mostafa swooped on farmer Lokman over a land dispute when he was sowing soya bean seeds in his field on January 21, 2009.

He was beaten up brutally. The farmer succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Dhaka on February 10.

The next day, Abdul Gafur, brother of Lokman, filed a case with Ramgati police station accusing the 16 attackers. l

An artisan works on a sculpture of goddess Durga at Pratimalay in Chittagong city on Tuesday the oldest idol-making workshop of the port city, it was seen that the craftsmen were passing hectic hours painting deities for Durga Puja.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Sujan Paul, owner of Dulal Paul

Pratimalay, said this time he had received orders for making 40 sets of idols.

“We are now working roundthe-clock to complete our work within deadline. We are very much happy as we have received ample

RABIN CHOWDHURY

orders,” added the craftsman.

“The artisans are from families who have practiced this art for many generations. My grandfather Hori Narayal Pual was the most renowned artisan of this region. My father set up the idol-making facto-

ry during 1960’s. I have been with this profession for last 15 years,” said the artisan.

“Making statues for Durga Puja is a family tradition. My father and forefathers were also into this profession,” said Basudeb, proprietor of Nataraj Shilpalay.

“Making images is quite laborious compared to other jobs. Therefore, the young generation does not feel interested to take up this as a profession. My son has not followed in his father’s footsteps too,” said the sexagenarian artisan.

“Nowadays people prefer statues with artistic decorations for Durga Puja. We should also pay due attention to the sanctity and solemnity associated with the auspicious occasion,” added the veteran craftsman.

Each installation usually comprises of Goddess Durga, venerated as the mother of the universe, astride a lion killing the buffalo demon Maheshasur and flanked by her four children.

The four children are Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, Kartik, the god of beauty and warfare and Ganesh, the god who initiates everything good.

This time Durga Puja will be celebrated in 281 Mandap (venues where Puja is held) of the port city. l

ASI suspended for kicking expecting mother Islam Akand, n Raihanul Gazipur The Gazipur district police authorities have suspended an assistant sub-inspector over kicking an expecting mother’s womb as the woman refused to pay bribe to the policeman.

Superintendent of Gazipur Police Md Harun-or-Rashid said: “We have suspended Biplob Hossain, ASI of Tongi Model police station, immediately to calm the local people as a rumour had spread in the

area that Johura Begum, an expecting mother, died after ASI Biplob kicked her womb.

Hearing the news, people of the locality got angered.

“Though, during a primary inquiry, we have found that the ASI was not guilty,” said the SP. Rana Mia, husband of the victim said: “ASI Biplob along with other policemen conducted a drive in Tongi Bank field slum area around 3:30am on Tuesday. During the drive the cops stormed into our house and demanded bribe to my

wife Johura alleging that we are involved in drug dealing and prostitution.

“Being afraid, Johura gave Biplop Tk5,000. But Biplop refused to take the money and kicked on her womb, leaving her critically injured,” said Rana.

On the following morning, Jahura was taken to Tongi Abeda Hospital.

As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Firoz Talukder, Officer-in charge

of Tongi Model police station, said: “Johura Begum had claimed that ASI Biplob beat up her while the our officer denied her allegation.

We are conducting an inquiry to know the actual matter.”

Ignoring the allegation the accused ASI Biplob said: “Johura is a drug dealer. On the day the we caught her red handed with Yaba tablets but we did not arrest her as she was very sick.”

“Being informed about her sickness, I also gave her Tk2,500 for her treatment,” the ASI said. l

Woman held with firearm 2 jailed for using gas illegally Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Officials of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested a woman and seized a foreign pistol and seven bullets from her residence in Chittagong city’s Bakalia area on early Wednesday.

Roksana, 25, is wife of Nasir Uddin, a professional motorbike lifter, said CID’s Special Superintendent of Police Abdur Rahman Khan.

A team of CID went their flat to recover a stolen motorcycle and arrest Nasir in the midnight.

Roksana resisted the CID personnel to enter the flat, monitored by seven CCTV cameras, on the ground floor of a five-storey building in Asrafia Housing Society.

The law enforcers recovered the pistol, ammunition and a magazine searching the flat and detained the woman, said Abdur Rahman.

There were at least 18 cases against Nasir filed with different police stations in Chittagong on charge of lifting motorbike, said the CID sources.

Earlier, a motorbike of a CID member was stolen from the city’s Khulshi area on August 19. l

n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong A mobile court of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd (KGDCL) sentenced two employees of an eatery for using excessive gas through illegally bypassing connections at Tigerpass area of the port city.

Forkan Elahi Anupam, executive magistrate of Chittagong district administration in a drive severed the illegal gas connection of Ms Hotel Niribili and sentenced employees Mozammel Haque, 32 and Abdur Gafur, 26, of the hotel to three months imprisonment on Tuesday night.

Engineer Hasan Sohrab, manager of KGDCL, vigilance department, said: “Acting on secret information, members vigilance department of the KGDCL conducted the fourhour long drive at Tigerpass area of the city and severed the illegal gas connection of Ms Hotel Niribili in allegation of using excessive gas through illegally bypassing connections.”

“The vigilance team also found that the hotel was using illegal connections of one burner of 45 cft, four star burners of 25 cft and two double burners of 21 cft,” he said. l

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SOUTH ASIA

US drone strike killed 21 Afghan A suspected US drone strike against IS in Afghanistan killed at least 21 people on Wednesday, most of them militants but possibly including some civilians, Afghan officials said. The attack struck a house where people were sleeping after a gathering to welcome a local elder who had recently returned from the Hajj pilgrimage. REUTERS

INDIA

Bomb blast in Chattisgarh triggered by Maoists A soldier was killed and two others injured in a bomb blast

by Maoists in the insurgency-hit Narayanpur district of Chattisgarh on Wednesday. The patrolling was being conducted to ensure security in the region ahead of a public grievances redressal camp to be held at Akabeda village fall in Abhujmad area. HT

CHINA

China urges Pak, India to solve Kashmir dispute China called on Pakistan and India to solve their differences over Kashmir, as tensions mount between the nuclear-armed neighbours after an attack killed 18 Indian soldiers in the disputed Himalayan region. India has long accused Pakistan of backing militant groups operating in disputed Kashmir, as well as of sending fighters to other parts of the country to carry out acts of violence. REUTERS

ASIA PACIFIC

Indonesia evacuates tourists after volcano erupts

Indonesian rescuers evacuated hundreds of tourists from a volcano that erupted a day earlier and were searching for as many as 50 climbers. Authorities closed the gates to Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s most visited active volcanoes on the resort island of Lombok, next to Bali, and told visitors to keep at least three km away. REUTERS

MIDDLE EAST

Two hospitals bombed in rebel-held Aleppo Government shelling and airstrikes in Syria’s eastern rebel-held Aleppo landed near a bread distribution center and two hospitals Wednesday, killing seven people and putting at least one of the medical facilities completely out of service. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Aleppo Media Center said six people were killed outside the bread distribution center. AP

MH17 shot down by rebels with missile from Russia, probe finds n Tribune International Desk The missile which brought down Flight MH17 two years ago over eastern Ukraine was transported into the area from Russia, a Dutchled international criminal investigation found Wednesday.

"Based on the criminal investigation we have concluded that flight MH17 was downed by a BUK missile of the series 9M83, that came from the territory of the Russian Federation," the head of the Dutch police investigation Wilbert Pualissen said, in a press conference in Nieuwegein, in the Netherlands, adding afterwards the missile launcher system was taken back to Russia. 100 people who may be linked to the missile attack on the plane are also identified by the investigators.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was hit by a surface-to-air missile while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and all 298 people aboard, most of them Dutch citizens, were killed.

At the time of the disaster, Ukrainian government forces were engaged in heavy fighting with pro-Russian separatists. The Boeing 777 broke apart in midair, flinging wreckage over several miles of fields in rebel-held territory.

Kremlin denies the accusation

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that radar data showed that Malaysian airliner MH17 was definitely not brought down by a rocket fired from territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

"First-hand radar data identified all flying objects which could have been launched or in the air over the territory controlled by rebels at that moment," said Peskov. "The data are clear-cut, there is no rocket. If there was a rocket, it could only have been fired from elsewhere."

MH17 impact on Nato-Russia relations

The Ukraine crisis appears especially after MH17 disaster to be a potential turning point in Euro-Atlantic security. Some senior Western officials and politicians have talked of a changed European security landscape, and that the crisis both creates new security realities for the twenty first century and demands a significant response from Nato.

This crisis illuminates very clearly the point that Moscow understands European security in

MH17: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Findings from the Dutch Safety Board investigation, published October 13, 2015

Malaysia Airlines MH17 Boeing 777-200

9N 314M warhead Carried on a 9M 38M1 series missile

Passengers: 283 Crew: 15

Missile travels almost 3x speed of sound, can reach 24,000 m Radar-guided, detonated by proximity fuse

Installed on a BUK surface-to-air missile system

Speed: 543 kph

800 fragments shaped like cubes and bow ties perforated the left side of the cockpit

Disintegration Main fracture lines

Area of armed conflict mid-July 2014

Ptropavlivka

Shakhtarsk Donetsk

Altitude: 10,100 m

Russia disputes conclusion about missile and warhead type

Missile origins

20 km

Explosion at 13:20.03 GMT within 1 m, left of and above cockpit

Shrapnel impact killed three cockpit crew Many fragments found in bodies of cockpit crew

Paint inside damaged cockpit matches paint on BUK missile parts found at crash site

UKRAINE Pat h of MH 17

Crashed on July 17, 2014

Missile was launched from somewhere within a 320 km2 area of eastern Ukraine

Grabove

Snizhne

Impact on passengers Left side fuselage

Caused cockpit and business class section to separate Plane disintegrates on descent No survivors

RUSSIA

very different conceptual terms from the West. Western capitals see the emergence of a Europe ‘whole, free and at peace’, Moscow sees a continent still fragmented, still dominated by bloc mentality and burdened by ongoing conflict.

Where Western capitals see the “open door” policy and the enlargement of organisations such as Nato and the EU contributing to wider European stability, Moscow sees the expansion of these organisations destabilising European security. Where Western leaders have sought to emphasise partnership with Russia, including attempting to develop strategic partnership and the creation of numerous seats at the diplomatic table, Moscow sees itself increasingly isolated, the mechanisms for interaction failing to provide Moscow with a voice.

EU to rethink Russian relations

UK, Germany and France have agreed that the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia in the light of the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Relations between the EU and Russia have deteriorated rapidly. Taking a break from the discussion on the EU’s top jobs, the EU Council made some decisions.

EU thinks, the Kremlin cannot be relieved of the political responsibility for this. A reasonable government would have investigated

Expected immediately Deafening noise of impact Abrupt deceleration and acceleration Decompression, reduced oxygen level Extreme cold and powerful airflow Source: Dutch Safety Board

the issue, unveiled the responsibilities, the lines of command, the shortcomings, the faulty operational procedures and change them accordingly to prevent such an incident happening again. Not so Russia. Russia instead wages an intensive propaganda war to blame Ukraine and confuse audiences in the West. In the UN Security Council, Russia vetoed the establishment of an international tribunal to investigating the issue.

There reasons are clear. A tribunal under the auspices of the UN would not only enhance the legitimacy of the investigation, it would also demand access to the command structures and armed forces of “the rebels” in the Donbass, unveiling much about the Russian presence there, not only regarding to MH17.

The West, both the US and European powers alike – were reluctant to confront Russia on the issue because it would once again raise the questions of consequences again.

The dual mantras of “keeping the channels for dialogue open” and “engaging constructively with Russia” seem to make Western politicians reluctant to raise issues that hinder further dialogue.

EU's military ambition

It is no secret that the EU has a common defence and security policy. Tony Blair practically invented it when he signed a defence coop-

eration agreement with Jacques Chirac in 1998. It is no secret, either, that some would like to see a full-blown EU army.

In practice, the EU currently runs six military missions, plus 11 civilian operations, mostly in the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa. But the troops serving in these missions are not under the banner of an EU army, but national forces.

Britain’s Royal Navy commands the EU operation against Somali pirates; French troops are training infantry soldiers in Mali.

EU defence policy remains in the hands of European governments, not the EU executive. At the end of June the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, will outline a “global strategy on foreign and security policy”. That grandly titled paper will call for deeper EU security and military cooperation, an aim supported by many countries, including Germany.

The head of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has said the EU needs one to show Russia it is serious about defending its values.

The tragedy saw the European Union slap tougher sanctions on Russia, blamed by the West for being behind the rebellion. The punitive measures remain in place as the fighting drags on. l

Sources: CBC, REUTERS, AP

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Indo-Pak tensions rise after postponement of Saarc summit n Reuters, New Delhi/Islamabad The 19th Saarc Summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November, has been postponed after India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan announced inability to take part in it.

Tensions between India and Pakistan rose on Tuesday as India’s leader cancelled a visit to the regional summit and Islamabad warned it would treat it as “an act of war” if India revoked a water treaty.

India blames Pakistan for a deadly assault on an army base in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir this month that has heightened fears of a new conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

India says militants sneaked across the de facto border that separates the countries and killed 18 soldiers on September 18, the biggest loss of life for Indian security forces in the region for 14 years. Pakistan rejects the accusation and says India should conduct a proper investigation before

it apportions blame.

India said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, a regional meeting of South Asian leaders, in Pakistan in November.

“Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc Summit,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad.”

Pakistan’s foreign ministry called India’s move “unfortunate” and said it remained committed to peace and regional cooperation. In a statement, it accused India of meddling in Pakistan’s internal matters.

Water troubles India’s

announcement

came

Flags of Pakistan and India painted on cracked wall BIGSTOCK hours after Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, warned India against drawing more water from three rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. Aziz said Islamabad would seek arbitration with a commission that monitors the Indus Water Treaty if India increased its use of water from the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers.

India says it does not plan to abrogate the treaty but Modi said on Monday India should “maximise” the amount of water it uses without breaching the agreement.

If India revoked the treaty, Aziz

USA

Trump-Clinton showdown breaks TV debate ratings

said, Pakistan would treat that as “an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan”. “It’s highly irresponsible on the part of India to even consider revocation of the Indus Water Treaty,” Aziz told the national assembly.

New Delhi has vowed to respond to the Kashmir attack, and has launched a campaign to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, including through the United Nations. Aziz said India’s provocative posturing constituted a breach of the water treaty and was an attempt to deflect attention from unrest among the Muslim population in the Indian-ruled side of Kashmir.

Divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, the flashpoint of Kashmir lies at the heart of the countries’ rivalry.

Indian and Pakistani mistrust has long undermined South Asian cooperation and is widely blamed for the poor performance of Saarc, which successive Indian leaders hoped would help South Asia become a viable economic counterweight to China. l

US election debate focused on trade deals n Tribune International Desk

At Monday’s debate with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump declared the need to renegotiate trade deals because US trading partners are taking our jobs, reports The Associated Press.

Free trade has become a ripe target in the US presidential campaign. For her part, Clinton, too, is opposing a major Pacific Rim trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

Their opposition resonates with many voters: In this angry election year, Americans are deeply sceptical of free trade - or hostile to it.

The backlash against trade threatens a pillar of US policy since World War II: Through trade pacts and institutions like the World Trade Organisation, the United States has sought to rip down barriers to global commerce, including quotas and taxes on imports.

Economists argue that the benefits of free trade outweigh the costs. Imports cut prices for consumers. And exposure to foreign competition makes American companies and the overall US economy more efficient. Free trade, it was widely believed, paid off.

But doubts grew, especially as China emerged as an economic

power. China overwhelmed the world with hundreds of millions of low-paid factory workers who could crank out products for less than just about anyone else. And critics charged that China didn’t play by the rules - unfairly subsidizing exporters, manipulating its currency to give them a competitive edge and condoning the theft of US trade secrets.

Whatever the reasons, the United States last year ran a $334bn trade deficit with China - a big chunk of America’s $500bn total trade deficit.

Where they stand

Trump and Clinton both oppose the trade agreements that are a hallmark of US economic policy.

Clinton has broken with President Barack Obama by opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement that Obama’s administration forged with 11 Pacific Rim countries (excluding China) and that awaits congressional approval. Awkwardly for Clinton, her position represents a change: When she was Obama’s secretary of state, she had called the Trans-Pacific Partnership the “gold standard” for trade deals.

Trump vows to tear up existing trade deals, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada - “the worst single trade deal ever approved in this country,” he said

THE US PRESIDENTIAL RACE Collated opinion poll results as % 60

53.3

Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton 46.7 44.3

40

33.7 July 2015

Jan 2016

Monday night. He also says he’ll slap huge tariffs on Chinese imports and on American companies that make goods overseas and then ship them back to America.

He traces America’s economic problems to unfair trade deals reached by clueless US negotiators outfoxed by craftier foreigners. The author of “The Art of the Deal” says he can do better.

Why it matters

The first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump drew 84m US viewers, a record for such an event and numbers rarely seen on TV. The audience for the Monday night face-off beat the 1980 record of 80.6m set by the Jimmy Carter-Ronald Reagan presidential debate. The figure included people who watched the raucous encounter across 13 US cable and broadcast networks and public television. REUTERS

THE AMERICAS

Obama names ambassador to Cuba in five decades The US has tapped Jeffrey DeLaurentis to become the first official ambassador to Cuba in five decades. The appointment of an ambassador is a common sense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries, President Barack Obama said in a statement. AFP

UK

UK Labour leader risks further splits over immigration British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will wrap up his party’s annual conference Wednesday with a call to end warfare in the ranks, but risks fresh splits by rejecting calls for immigration curbs after the Brexit vote. In his closing speech to the party conference, Corbyn will call for an end to the rows, which have led to fears that Labour could permanently split. AFP

EUROPE

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Foreign competition is one reason America has lost 3.4m factory jobs since China joined the World Trade Organisation and became a bigger part of global trade in 2001.

It’s also partly responsible for stagnant American wages. Adjusting for inflation, US households earn less than in 1997.

But trade isn’t the only culprit:

July

Sept 27

Source: RealClearPolitics

Technology has allowed factories to cut jobs and still increase production.

Despite the campaign rhetoric, trade deals have far less effect on jobs than do such forces as automation and wage differences between countries. The Pacific deal, for instance, probably would have a negligible impact on American employment, the International Trade Commission has concluded.

Trump’s plans to impose punitive tariffs would risk triggering a trade war and driving up prices for American consumers. The Peterson Institute for International Economics, a nonpartisan but pro-freetrade think tank, issued a report this month saying Trump’s proposals could “plunge the US economy into recession and cost more than 4 million private sector jobs.” l

Germany preparing Deutsche Bank bailout plan Germany is working on an emergency rescue plan for Deutsche Bank. Angela Merkel’s government is preparing a two-stage plan for the worst case scenario, whereby the US justice department imposes a $14bn penalty on the bank for mis-selling mortgage bonds a decade ago, while Germany’s biggest lender fails to raise enough capital to pay the potential fine. THE GUARDIAN

AFRICA

At least 17 Somali killed in inter-regional fighting At least 17 soldiers were killed in clashes overnight between forces from two semi-autonomous regions of northern Somalia. Soldiers in Puntland and Galmudug have clashed repeatedly over territory and political rivalries in recent years. As well as fighting in a civil war that began in 1991, national forces, loyal to the Western-backed Mogadishu-based government, and regional militias are battling an Islamist insurgency. REUTERS

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INSIGHT-

Kashmiris warn India its crackdown is turning some to militancy n Reuters, Srinagar Simmering anger over India’s crackdown on 10 weeks of protests in Kashmir risks drawing more young people to radical rebellion, demonstrators and security officials warn, as the sense of despair and alienation from New Delhi deepens.

In the worst unrest in the disputed Himalayan region for six years, more than 80 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, a widespread curfew is in place and suspected ringleaders are being held without charge.

“They are treating us like ‘dons’, like we are criminals,” said Bilal Bhat, a 27-year-old journalist who is active in a local youth civil rights movement.

Bhat was taken in by police in August and told to stop posting articles on Facebook. It was the second time he has been held. “When I was beaten by the cop, I cursed myself for taking a pen - I should have taken a gun instead,” he said.

A conflict that has seeped for decades and spilled into war twice between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan usually passes little noticed by the international community.

But the scale of the violence and security crackdown, and, more recently, a sharp escalation in tension between the neighbouring countries, have made the outside world sit up and pay attention.

India’s security forces have also reinforced their already large presence in Kashmir, drafting in 20,000 paramilitaries and 10,000 more soldiers.

A senior Home Ministry official said India’s security forces had reduced their use of pellet ammunition, which has drawn widespread condemnation, and had been instructed only to fire when they felt directly threatened.

“It is clear that the local Kashmiri

A man in a balaclava jumps over burning debris during a protest REUTERS

youths were being used by Pakistan to attack Indian forces,” the official said, responding to questions from Reuters about the use of force and risk of youth radicalisation.

“It is true that there is a lot of anger among the Kashmiris, but we cannot legitimise their anger if it is for all the wrong reasons.”

Root of the problem

India blames Pakistan for a raid earlier this month on a base that killed 18 soldiers, in the deadliest attack on its army in 14 years, prompting Hindu nationalist supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to call for revenge.

Several countries, alarmed at the prospect of a military response by India, condemned the attack, while Pakistan denied any involvement.

Journalist Bhat and others see the start of the latest crisis in Kashmir not as the attack on the army camp in Uri on Sept. 18, but the killing by Indian security forces of Burhan Wani, a popular separatist militant leader, on July 8.

Stone-throwing protesters took to the streets in a display of support for the slain insurgent that also reflected deep-rooted unease about a central government they say is pursuing a Hindu-nationalist agenda to pacify and assimilate India’s only Muslim-majority region.

Many of those killed in the clashes died from shotgun pellets or rifle bullets fired by police and paramilitary troops, and the supposedly non-lethal pellet rounds have blinded hundreds of bystanders, including children and women.

“The police are using brute force,” said one protester, a 27-yearold university graduate who works in the private sector and spoke to Reuters at a safe house in the old town of Srinagar, the summer capital of India’s northernmost state.

“They are leaving local boys with no choice but to take up arms. You

Indian army soldiers carry a coffin containing the body of their fallen colleague Ravi Paul, who was killed in Sunday's attack at an Indian army base in Kashmir's Uri on September 19 REUTERS are creating home-grown rebels by your actions - and then you are labelling them as terrorists.”

Hospital ward full

The ophthalmology ward of Srinagar’s main SMHS hospital is still overflowing with patients either partly or fully blinded by pellet rounds fired by police or paramilitary troops.

Some, like Mushtaq, a 22-yearold student from the restive district of Pulwama, say they were demonstrating when they were shot at.

Despite being blinded in his right eye, which was swathed in a bandage, Mushtaq said: “I would go out again and protest once I recover.”

Others, like an 18-year-old high school student who gave his name as Muhsin, say they were bystanders caught in the crossfire.

Four young boys tried to escape by jumping into the nearby Jhelum river but were fired on by police.

Muhsin dived in to try and rescue

Kashmiri men carry a coffin containing the body of a civilian whose family said in local media reports was beaten by Indian police REUTERS

one boy who had been shot, only to be hit himself in the left eye and blinded.

He was unable to save the boy, who drowned.

The 850-bed hospital has received hundreds of casualties from street clashes, which have died down for now.

“I don’t know how we managed,” said Dr Nisur Al-Hassan, a consultant at the hospital and president of the Doctors Association of Kashmir.

Hassan said he had seen patients “with eyes gone, spleens gone, kidneys gone. These pellets have pierced their hearts, their abdomens, their brains. We can only operate on three to five patients at a time. You can only imagine.”

‘Failure to anticipate’

Human rights activist Khurram Parvez, a vocal critic of the security crackdown, was on the way to present his findings to a UN rights meeting in Geneva when he was turned back at Delhi’s international airport on September 14.

After Parvez returned home to Srinagar he was briefly detained, and then re-arrested under a public safety law that allows suspects to be held for six months without being charged.

Parvez is not alone: in jail is moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while hundreds more suspected protest ringleaders have been detained over the past month in raids on towns and villages across the Kashmir Valley.

Schools in Srinagar have been commandeered and turned into barracks and, even in quieter parts of the city of 1.3m where the

curfew has been lifted, there is a heavy security presence. Most shops remain shut.

A senior army officer said the outbreak of protests in Kashmir had at first been overwhelming.

“Our failure was in not being able to anticipate the extent of the protests,” the officer said, on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the record.

“We were unable to stabilise the cycle of violence and killing. Some lives were lost because the use of force was required. Our crowd control methods are primitive, but in this part of the world nothing else would have worked.”

In the meantime, the protests have given a new lease of life to militants who have been sighted among the crowds and are believed by the authorities to be playing an active role in organising them.

“It’s a very organised hoodlum element that works with the militants,” said a senior police officer with long experience of the insurgency in Kashmir that first broke out at the end of the 1980s.

The officer pulled a smartphone out of his pocket and showed a video circulated by Zakir Rashid Bhat, named to replace Wani as Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander in South Kashmir.

The video shows men in uniform beating protesters and is accompanied by a soundtrack of rhythmic chants urging people to be faithful and to take revenge against the police.

“This is the imagery of IS,” the police officer said, referring to the extremist group Islamic State. “The radicalisation is growing stronger.” l

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May

REUTERS

Why May can bypass parliament over EU divorce papers n Reuters, London The British government’s legal reasons for stating that Prime Minister Theresa May has the power to begin divorce proceedings from the European Union without parliament’s authority were made public for the first time on Wednesday.

In its submission ahead of a Brexit court challenge next month, the government argued that it had been “unequivocal” that the outcome of June’s referendum would be respected and that constitutionally a decision to withdraw from the bloc was a power that only MPs could take on behalf of the monarchy.

A series of claims have been brought to force May and her MPs to accept parliament must trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal exit procedure.

Gina Miller, a co-founder of London fund manager SCM Private, is the main claimant, who says she hopes their action will force a more informed debate on Brexit and its implications.

The official response to these claims was made public after lawyers acting for another group involved in the legal action won permission to publish the government’s defence case.

“The court’s order allows a floodlight to be shone on the government’s secret reasons for believing it alone can bring about Brexit without any meaningful parliamentary scrutiny,” said John Halford.

May, who has said Article 50 would not be triggered this year, told parliament earlier this month the decision on when to do so was a prerogative power, one that MPs can take on behalf of the Crown.

‘Prolong the process’

“No one should be in any doubt

that those who are trying to prolong the process by their legal references in relation to parliament are not those who want to see us successfully leave the European Union,” she said. “They are those who want to try to stop us leaving.”

Those bringing the challenge’s principal argument is that triggering Article 50 without an act of parliament would undermine the rights enacted

by European Communities Act of 1972, passed when Britain joined the EU. In its submission, the government said this argument was unfounded.

“It would be constitutionally proper to give effect to the referendum result by use of prerogative powers,” it said.

“It was clearly understood that the government would give effect to the result of the referendum for which the 2015 Act provided, and that was the basis on which the electorate voted in the referendum.”

The submission also spelled out that it also did not need the agreement of Britain’s devolved parliaments in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, saying they did not have any “competence” over foreign affairs.

It also argued it would be constitutionally “impermissible” for a court to force ministers to introduce legislation.

The Lord Chief Justice, the head of the judiciary in England and Wales, is due to oversee the case next month and lawyers expect whatever the outcome it will be appealed to the Supreme Court, the highest in the land, in December.

Its ruling will be final.

Victory for the claimants would mean parliament would have to debate triggering Brexit, vote on Article 50 and then pass legislation, a process which could delay an EU exit. l

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World

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

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12 Business

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Alibaba.com plans to create 5k local SME entrepreneurs n Kamrul Hasan Alibaba.com, the world’s biggest online commerce company, plans to create thousands of SME entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, said a top official of the company yesterday.

“We want to provide a platform that would create 5,000 SME entrepreneurs in three years in Bangladesh,” said its Strategic Director Jack Zhang who participated at a program held in Dhaka through a video conference.

Jack Zhang said: “Currently, Bangladesh has more than 15 million online subscribers and if we net 10% of them, it would be a huge market for us.”

While inaugurating Alibaba’s partnership with local e-commerce company Tradeshi Ltd in the city, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak welcomed the Alibaba’s plan as saying “It would create 20,000 more entrepreneurs indirectly.

“The government is considering to formulate an e-commerce policy soon for promoting e-commerce in the country.”

Chairman of Tradeshi Rajib Hossain said: “Our joint initiative will help diversify export of the country.

Through the platform, the SME entrepreneurs would easily export their products. Alibaba would provide all sorts of e-commerce solutions for exporting the products.”

Managing Director of Tradeshi Shadaf Hossain put emphasis on national branding to attract global buyers, and establish networking with African, South American, Eastern Europe and Russia, East Asia and Asia-Pacific countries’ buyers, particularly non-traditional ones.

E-commerce Association of Bangladesh President Razib Ahmed proposed to make a platform, so they could import products from China. l

Capital market snapshot: Wednesday DSE Broad Index

4,677.7

-0.1% ▼

Index

1,122.4

-0.0% ▼

30 Index

1,775.1

0.2% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk

5,342.1

-3.4% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

171.6 -13.9% ▼

CSE All Share Index 14,381.1 30 Index Selected Index

-0.1% ▼

13,040.0

0.2% ▲

8,756.1

-0.1% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk

331.4

-6.5% ▼

Turnover in Mn Vol

13.0

-2.4% ▼

Bangladesh ranks 106th in Global Competitiveness Index n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh has ranked 106th in Global Competitiveness Index among 138 countries in 2016-17, one notch above its position held last year.

In the previous year, the country held 107th position among 140 countries.

Though Bangladesh scored 1.06% higher to 3.80 from 3.76, it lagged behind the ranking among the countries surveyed.

Bangladesh’s position would have remain unchanged at 106th if the survey was conducted over 140 countries.

The World Economic Forum popularly known as Davos Forum has been publishing the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) since 1979.

A total of 11 sectors including infrastructure, technology, financial environment, foreign trade and investment, business operations and innovation, security, governance, education and health, etc, were focused on to prepare the report.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue explained that Bangladesh is lagging behind the global ranking as it still underperforms in basic re-

BANGLADESH PERFORMANCE IN 12 PARAMETERS Parameter Institutions Infrastructure Macroeconomic environment Health and primary education Higher education and training Goods market efficiency Labour market efficiency Financial market development Technological readiness Market size Business sophistication

Innovation

Rank

125 114 65 105 118 96 120 99 122 38 107 121

Source: GCR

quirements under sub-indexes.

The Bangladesh think tank came up with the report at a press conference held in the capital yesterday. As a partner, CPD has been carrying out its role in Bangladesh part for the report. The survey was conducted from February 1 to May 1 this year.

India has made remarkable improvement while Pakistan is the worst performer among the South Asian countries. India advanced to

39th position from 55th last year while Pakistan came 122th from 126th, according to the report.

Top 10 countries topped the list this year as well, with Switzerland being 1st, Singapore 2nd and the United States occupying 3rd position.

Corruption and inadequate supply of infrastructure were the top two problematic factors this year as in the last year.

Corruption slightly improved to second position, scoring 16.5 from 18.7 score last year.

Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of CPD, said corruption is still a major problem in Bangladesh, but the problematic factors have spread out to other topics.

The country’s financial sector deteriorated this year as no indicators were found at least good this year, but in the last year, the survey found two good indicators. All indicators in this sector were found either bad or worse, according to the report.

The cost of financial services impedes business actively rated 65%, which was 66% last year, all scoring bad. Limited access to financing has become a major problem placed

3rd this year from 5th last year.

Moazzem said the country’s banking sector has plenty of money, but businessmen are more concerned about the cost of borrowing than the availability of fund.

The entrepreneurs who were surveyed observed limited progress in infrastructure facilities during 2015 excepting power sector. Road transport infrastructure is underdeveloped rated as worse, which is 76% this year from 73% last year.

Businessmen want developed transport system which will reduce their supply cost, said Moazzem.

Governance is the weakest part of Bangladesh’s competitiveness as most of the indicators are still in either bad or worse category.

“Bangladesh is moving towards competitiveness but at a very slower pace while other countries are moving very fast,” Moazzem commented.

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of CPD, suggested that Bangladesh needs focus more on productivity and skill development to increase competitive ability.

The GCR report will signal to the policy makers what they should concentrate on, he added. l

Bangladesh may enter list of APG on money laundering gray risky nations again n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh still runs the risk of being reclassified as a country exposed to money laundering and terror financing by Asia Pacific Group on money laundering (APG) in the wake of largest-ever Bangladesh bank cyber heist and growing terror attacks in the country.

The Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), the global body that ranks countries, however, acknowledges that Bangladesh has formulated laws in this regard but there are problems with their implementation “The recent incident of BB reserve heist and terror attacks including Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka will be taken into consideration during the next APG money laundering evaluation,” said Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, deputy governor of central bank, while addressing a press conference at Bangladesh Bank headquarters in the city yesterday.

Bangladesh was kept outside the grey list In February 2014. The country was put on the list in 2008 for failing to respond positively in checking money laundering and terror financing.

He said: “As the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) which rated Bangladesh as good was prepared in October 2015, the recent incidents did not hit the ratings.”

The central bank organised the press conference to disclose that Bangladesh was rated as compliant with international Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards by APG. Hassan came up with the announcement while the country is going through a hyper tension situation because of the growing terror attacks and largest-ever BB cyber heist.

The APG annual general meeting was scheduled to be held in Dhaka in July but it was postponed soon after Gulshan terror attack.

The incident was discussed in the APG meeting which later held in United States and Bangladesh was

appreciated for smooth handling of the situation, he added.

He, however, hoped that Bangladesh will overcome the recent crisis by this time as the next evaluation will be held at least seven or eight years later on.

“There was apprehension in the market that Bangladesh could be listed in the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) in MER due to the recent growing militant attacks but now the country is out

of that risk,” he added.

Hassan also noted that Bangladesh government’s role to withstand money-laundering and terror financing activities was discussed and appreciated by APG member countries at the meeting. Bangladesh’s position was improved in two ratings by the APG assessment team. The meeting did not consider a proposal of downgrading Bangladesh in four ratings by APG member countries. l

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Efforts on to unlock potentials of blue economy n Tribune Business Desk The government is making efforts to unlock the potential of the blue economy offered by the Bay of Bengal.

As part of the process, different ministries and state-owned research firms exchanged their views on the potential and prospects of the blue economy at an inter-ministerial workshop on Blue Economy organised by the Planning Division in the NEC conference yesterday.

During their deliberations, they suggested to follow the method of other countries that have already developed their blue economy in tapping vast Bay resources.

Private sector might be encouraged to invest for exploiting seabed resources, they said.

But the country still lacks knowledge, technology and skills to explore the resources of the Bay. Presiding over the workshop, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said after winning maritime boundary from India and Myanmar, the prospect of the country’s blue economy expands.

He said: “We have no time to wait. For seizing the potential of the blue economy, we need to gather experiences of other countries that has already developed their blue economy.”

He said countries like China,

Korea, Australia and Sicily have developed their blue economy and Bangladesh can get knowledge from those countries.

Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain said Bangladesh lacks preparation to utilise and protect the resources of seas and oceans.

“However, we have taken a number of initiatives like maritime course in universities to build skilled manpower in this regard.”

Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies Nazneen Ahmed said: “We need to make massive research about the blue economy once to tap into the resources of the Bay of Bengal.”

She recommended involving private sector in the development of maritime resources.

Earlier, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding on blue economy during the visit of Indian Premier Narendra Modi in Dhaka.

Bangladesh resolved maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar in 2012 and with India in 2014 and got the sovereign authority of 0.12 million square kilometres in the Bay of Bengal.

About 1.4 billion people live along the Bay of Bengal coastline while 30 million people in Bangladesh directly or indirectly dependent on marine resources. l

Runner ties up with UM n Tribune Business Desk

Local motorbike brand Runner has joined hands with the American UM International LLC to manufacture high-end motorcycles to meet local demand.

“We have joined with the UM International LLC to bring UM-Runner brand high-end motorcycles to our customers,” said Runner Group Chairman Hafizur Rahman Khan after an agreement signing yesterday between two companies.

A showrrom for the UMRunner brand motorcycles was also inaugurated in the city’s Malibagh yesterday. The products are also available at the Runner’s showroom. l

The Team at Le Méridien Dhaka, celebrating Marriott International’s successful completion of the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., creating the world’s largest hotel company bringing together 30 leading brands to ensure Marriott will have the right brand in the right place to serve guests wherever they travel

Bangladesh to get $1.5bn ADB loan for rail network dev n Tribune Business Desk Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Bangladesh with $1.5 billion to build a dual-gauge railway line that will bring key trade and tourism to the southernmost parts of Bangladesh, said the bank in a statement yesterday.

The new railway, part of the Trans-Asia Railway network, will also improve access to Myanmar and beyond. The investment is the largest ADB has ever made in Bangladesh and the biggest the bank has made in railways.

The Trans-Asia Railway – an initiative led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific – aims to provide seamless rail links between Asia and Europe to better connect people and markets.

“The planned 102-kilometre stretch of railway will connect the tourist town of Cox’s Bazar with the existing Bangladesh railway network,” said Markus Roesner, principal transport specialist with ADB’s South Asia Department.

Building the rail section and nine stations between Dohazari and Cox’s Bazar will cost a total of $2.012 billion, with the government providing $512 million in finance on top of the four-tranche ADB financing, and a further $1 million in technical assistance to help Bangladesh Railway with safeguards, safety awareness, and procurement.

The stations will integrate design features that are friendly to the elderly, women, children and people with disabilities.

The government itself is rehabilitating the 47-kilometre rail section

between Chittagong and Dohazari.

Demand is expected to be high from 2.2 million people living in the Cox’s Bazar district, and to make travel easier, all train stations will have connections to other kinds of transport.

The government is also keen to develop Cox’s Bazar as a tourism hub. Around 1.9 million tourists visit the beaches of Cox’s Bazar every year and with this expected to grow 5% annually. Special tourist trains will operate between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar along the new line.

The construction of the railway section is one of a number of ADB railway projects to help Bangladesh meet its targets under its 7th FiveYear Plan and its Railway Master Plan to boost Bangladesh Railway’s freight market share to 15% and passenger market share to 10%.

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Both are currently around 4%.

ADB and other development partners are funding other railway projects concentrated on two rail corridors from Dhaka, through Chittagong, to Cox’s Bazar and from Dhaka to Khulna, a major city in western Bangladesh.

Under a second phase, ADB expects to enhance the capacity of the upcoming railline and finance extensions to the Myanmar border and to the planned deep seaport on Matarbari Island, north of Cox’s Bazar. Converting the Dhaka-Chittagong section of the railway to dual-gauge will be financed under another ADB project.

In another statement, the lender said ADB and Bangladesh signed $200 million loan agreement for new train carriages, locomotives and other equipment for Bangladesh’s rail network. l

Siddhirganj power plant to be overhauled after repeated breakdown n Tribune Business Desk The government has decided to overhaul the Siddhirganj Power Plant (SPP) in Narayanganj for smooth power generation and transmission following the recent breakdown of some mechanical equipment of the plant, officials said.

The decision has been made due to recurring breakdown of the plant that had severely hampered uninterrupted power generation and supply.

At a meeting yesterday, the cabinet committee on public purchase yesterday approved the power ministry’s proposal to overhaul the plant. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu presided over the meeting.

“The cabinet committee on public purchase has given its consent to overhaul the Siddhirganj Power Plant,” said Additional Secretary Mostafizur Rahman after the meeting.

The cost of overhauling the plant has been estimated at over Tk372 million, said a high official of the Power Division.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), through an international tender bidding, selected Consortium of LLC Inter Rao Engineering and LLC-MC-IED Holding for overhauling the plant.

“The overhauling of SPP will be done through turn-key basis,” the official said.

According to the proposal, the breakdown in “bus bar conductor” and “stator winding” of generator numbers 8, 11 and 16 were later repaired locally.

The power plant used local expertise to repair the second-time breakdown.

The 210-megawatt Siddhirganj Power Plant has been running on commercial basis since its commissioning on September 3, 2014.

The experts suggested running of the power plant with derated loads (100-120 MW) after recurrence of the breakdown, according to the Power Division.

The Siddhirganj plant exceeded 70,978 running hours until March 30, 2016. But experts say boiler, turbine, generator, auto control and other equipment of the power plant need urgent overhauling when the running hours of the plant reach 50,000.

The BPDB in its meeting on November 19, 2013 decided on overhauling of the plant.

The country is now generating over 8,000 MW of power daily, according to official sources. l

Business

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Saudis soften oil stance on Iran but OPEC deal still elusive n Reuters

OPEC might still agree an oil output-limiting deal later this year as the economic problems of its de-facto leader Saudi Arabia force Riyadh to cede more ground to arch-rival Iran.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said Iran, Nigeria and Libya would be allowed to produce “at maximum levels that make sense” as part of any output limits which could be set as early as the next OPEC meeting in November.

That represents a strategy shift

for Riyadh, which has previously said it would reduce output only if every other OPEC and non-OPEC producer followed suit. Iran has argued it should be exempt from such limits as its production recovers after the lifting of EU sanctions earlier this year.

The Saudi and Iranian economies depend heavily on oil but in a post-sanctions environment, Iran is suffering less pressure from the halving in crude prices since 2014 and its economy could expand by almost 4 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Riyadh, on the other hand, faces a second year of budget deficits after a record gap of $98 billion last year, a stagnating economy and is being forced to cut the salaries of government employees.

“Does the salary cut indicate the Saudis are ready for a fight or does it indicate that they are ready for a deal,” said an OPEC source from a Middle Eastern producer, when asked about the Saudi shift.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Wednesday talks about a deal to cap output were ongoing. OPEC will hold an informal

meeting at 1400 GMT, following by a formal, regular gathering on Nov. 30.

Oil prices were up around 1.5%, with Brent crude LCOc1 nearing $47 per barrel by 1125 GMT. Saudi Arabia is by far the largest OPEC producer with output of more than 10.7 million barrels per day (bpd), on par with Russia and the United States. Together, the three largest global producers extract a third of the world’s oil.

Iran’s production has been stagnant at 3.6 million bpd in the past three months, close to pre-sanc-

tions levels although Tehran says it wants to ramp up output to more than 4 million bpd when foreign investments in its fields kick in.

“Iran is not losing as much as Saudi. They are in a stronger position,” an OPEC source traveling to Algeria this week said when asked about the shifting dynamic within OPEC. Saudi oil revenue has halved over the past two years, forcing Riyadh to liquidate billions of dollars of overseas assets every month to pay bills and cut domestic fuel and utility subsidies last year. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Transcom Beverages Limited has recently signed an agreement with Pizza Inn on becoming the restaurant’s exclusive beverages partner, said a press release. National sales manager of Transcom Beverages Limited, Anisur Rahman and Sayda Saeeda Zaman, CEO and director of Pizza Inn were present at the signing ceremony

Shariah supervisory committee of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has recently held a meeting, said a press release. The committee’s vice-chairperson, Mufti Moulana Sayeed Ahmad was present at the meeting

Standard Bank Ltd has recently held its 259th board meeting, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Brexit and terror fears loom large for German consumers n AFP, Frankfurt German consumers’ mood brightened slightly in September, a monthly survey found yesterday, but researchers spotlighted fears of trouble in the wake of Brexit and a summer of violence.

The headline consumer senti-

ment index from market research firm GfK crept up to 10.2 points in September.

But the pollsters said that “just the announcement that Britain would leave the EU has caused increased uncertainty” and forecast a slight fall in consumer confidence in October.

Analysts surveyed by Factset had predicted the index would remain steady in October.

GfK warned that “overall the atmosphere among consumers was slightly weakened,” pointing to sub-indices that showed falling inclination to buy, income expectations, and expectations for the

whole economy.

GfK acknowledged that the overall reading reflected a “stable mood at a good level” so far, while all three sub-indices remain at higher levels than the same time last year.

The European Central Bank in September lowered its growth forecast for the 19-nation eurozone

in 2017 and 2018 slightly, partly in response to the June 23 vote.

Consumers’ fears of potential Brexit fallout contradicted attitudes among German businesspeople, which an Ifo institute survey on Monday showed soaring in expectation of a “golden autumn” for Europe’s biggest economy. l

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Feature

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

It’s only words But you’re probably saying them wrong

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Have you ever read a story or an article that flowed like a symphony, only to find a misused word or phrase that strikes a jarring note, spoiling the whole thing? Do you ever worry that your writing has the same problem?

Here’s a handy cheat sheet of commonly misused words to help you avoid such pitfalls

Fewer vs Less Use “fewer” when you’re talking about tangible items, i.e., things you can count.

Eg. “There were fewer boys than girls enrolled in the English department.

Use “less” when you’re talking about things you can’t count. “Adding potatoes to an over-salted curry makes it less salty.”

Lie vs Lay To “lie” means to rest on something. Eg “The phone was lying on the table” To “lay” means to place something somewhere. Eg. “Travis Bickle lay his guns down on the floor.”

When you’re talking about placing yourself in a position of rest, consider “I want to lie down for a bit” or “I want to lay me down for a bit”. The second is a little more purple, but still works.

Accept vs Except These two words are totally different in meaning. To “accept” something is to receive it or agree to it. E.g.

“Leo accepted his Academy Award to thunderous applause.”

“Except” refers to an exemption, or non-inclusion.

E.g. “Everyone was smiling, except Rhona.”

Farther vs Further “Farther” refers to a physical distance. Eg. “The store is located much farther than you think.”

“Further talkes about advancement. Eg. “Please notify the doctor if you experience further pains.”

Affect vs Effect One’s a verb, the other a noun. To “affect” something is to influence it. E.g “Global warming will affect the coastal regions the most”. An “effect” is the result of an event or action. E.g.

“The effect of the red lipstick was instant and dramatic.”

Loose vs. Lose This one’s a personal peeve. “Loose” is the opposite of tight; it means relaxed, roomy. E.g: “He had lost so much weight, his clothes were hanging loose on his body.”

To “lose” something (possibly something that is loose) is to not be able to find it, or to experience defeat. E.g: “If I lose that ring, my family will never forgive me!”

Got writing tips to share?

Fiction in your bones? Poetry in your soul? Share it with us!

Write to us at featuresdt@ gmail.com

17

DT

Travel

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Temples in Busan Seokbulsa Temple

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Busan, port city of South Korea, is a very famous tourist spot for it’s beautiful beaches, colourful cultural festivals, world famous Busan Film Festival and of course for the delightful Buddhist Temples

n Sakib Mridha Busan is the second largest city of South Korea. With a population around 4 million, it is located on the south-eastern part of Korean peninsula; near Fukuoka, an island of Japan. Buddhism was introduced in this region long after Buddha had died and spread throughout this area because of the peace that is taught in Buddhism. Although Christianity is most practised in South Korea, Buddhism is the most practised religion in Busan. Busan is also blessed with some ancient and beautiful temples.

Throughout its history, Korean culture has been influenced by Buddhist teachings and its practice in the country, and it is said that there are almost 300 small and large temples in South Korea alone. Many of the older and more famous temples were built in the mountains, and one can even hike the mountains to enjoy the beautiful views of these temples.

Exuding heavenly vibe these temples attract travellers like moth to the flame, and most tourists at least plan to visit these temples while visiting Busan.

Here are a few famous temples of Busan: Beomeosa Temple

Beomeosa Temple has the most traditional look along with stunning views and gorgeous surroundings. Located on the mountain Gaumjeongsan, it is one of the most important temples in Korea. An interesting aspect of Beomeosa temple is that it has variety of unique features for the benefit of visitors. There are all sorts of activities that run throughout the year which include a detailed temple tour that can be a very memorable cultural experience, as the visitors are introduced to the background and history of the temple.

Samgwangsa Temple

Samgwangsa Temple

Beomeosa Temple

At the base of Baegyangsan Mountain, stands Samgwangsa temple which has a panoramic view of the city. It is located centrally in Busan city and worth a visit any time of the year. It is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive temples to see around

the time of Buddha’s birthday anniversary. This temple has expansive grounds, scenic beauty and hiking trails. But the biggest attraction is the celebration in the weeks leading to Buddha’s birthday anniversary. During this time, Samgwangsa Temple holds Busan’s largest Lotus Lantern Festival, and the temple become an incredible display of light and colour as the place is decorated with thousands of lanterns, providing an unforgettable experience and quite a lucrative chance to take impressive photographs.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

One of the most astonishing and unique temples, Haedong Yunggungsa is located on the coastline overlooking the East Sea and Songjeong beach. For its location and the breathtaking views, it is also called The Water Temple. This is one temple one shouldn’t miss while visiting Busan. Over the rocks, by the ocean, this temple has a soothing ambiance to it that cleanses the visitors’ soul. There is a golden Buddha statue looking at the temple. There are also 12 Chinese zodiac sign statues and other monumental statues, dragon statues, impressive gates, staircases with great architectural beauty to see. When the waves crash on the stones the spectacle is simply magical.

Seokbulsa Temple

Another unique and original temple, and of course not for the faint hearted people is Seokbulsa

temple, which requires quite a bit of a hiking to reach. After grime roads and some abrupt climbs, the spectacular temple can be found. Along the way one will also pass through some interesting mountain villages and see some colourful views. Although the trail is not perfectly identified, there are some signs that mark the route, and obviously locals are always willing to help out.

Not only the view from the top that’s incredible, but the temple in and of itself is just mesmerising.

Carved into rocks, Seokbulsa offers a massive engraved Buddhist imagery.

temple grounds. The temple is the largest in Korea and is about 1500 years old. Adjacent to the entrance, there is a stream that is popular among locals and is a beautiful start to a visit to this popular site. This temple also offers Korean dishes within the premise from various food shops and restaurants.

Eunsusa Temple

Eunsusa is a very small temple that sits at the base of the Elephant Rock (locally called Sutmaibong).

Not very far from the city, this temple is mostly famous for an extremely rare pear tree which

Tongdosa Temple

Tongdosa Temple

Tongdosa temple is considered as one of the Three Jewel Temples of Korea. Unlike most temples, there are no statues or images of Buddha present outside the temple.

Rather, Tongdosa is famous for its relics. Legends say, several of the relics includes Buddha’s skull and robe, which are contained within

is believed only to exist there.

Legend has it that this tree is more than 600 years old. The literal meaning of Eunsusa is Silver Water Temple. This temple is considered a natural monument of the giant rock formation behind it. Busan is just not only a port city of South Korea but the heart of Buddhist culture and magnificent temples.l

Temple Stay Temple Stay accommodates everyone who wishes to stay there.

Regardless of where they are from, which religion they follow, if interested, anyone can stay in the temple. Not only staying in but they can meditate, pray and live Buddhist monastic life in it. Monks help the guests to know the way of Buddhist life, giving them instructions and guidance about peace. This is an extraordinary opportunity for anyone.

DT

18

Feature

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Affordable higher education in the UK? Possible

n Features Desk

T

he UK houses some of the most renowned higher education and research institutions in the world.

Three UK Universities rank among the top ten universities in the world, according to Times Higher Education Ranking. The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15 ranks UK second in the world for the quality of its scientific and research institutions. As much as 8% of global scientific publications in the world stem from the UK, while as many as 107 Nobel Prize winners have been produced by universities and research institutes based in the UK. It is natural that students and young professionals all over the world aspire to gain a higher education or professional training experience from the UK. Along with quality education, the multicultural environment in the UK provides young students and professionals a unique opportunity to grow as an individual and as a competent global citizen with not only a broad perspective about the world, but also a deeper understanding of themselves.

However, the aspirations are often obstructed by the financial demands that accompany the prospects of a UK higher education. A higher education or professional training in UK is expensive. Many Bangladeshis, despite having the necessary talent and the intellectual

resources, fail to realize their dreams of a UK higher education simply because they cannot meet the financial demands.

To allow more Bangladeshis access to the world class higher education and professional training in the UK, the British Council Bangladesh links prospective students to international scholarships for Bangladeshi students seeking financial support for their UK education. Eligible candidates can use the awards to finance higher education or professional development programmes.

Since 1960, over 1600 Bangladeshi citizens have been awarded Commonwealth Scholarships by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK to pursue post graduate study and professional development with UK institutions. These award holders have gone on to become academics, engineers, health experts and influencers in a variety of key sectors in Bangladesh and beyond. The British Council in and University of Grant Commission in Bangladeshi have been supporting this feature in coordination with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) under the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) who administers the fellowship program. The schemes offers Bangladeshi nationals on PhD, Masters, Split-Site Doctoral, Shared Master’s and Distance Learning Masters Study.

The A.S.Hornby Educational Trust scholarships are awarded every year to English language teachers from outside the UK to study for Masters in ELT at the University of Warwick. The Trust was set up by A S Hornby in 1961 to support English language teaching worldwide. A S Hornby had a distinguished career in English language teaching and developed the Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary, which is still published in its 8th edition by Oxford University Press. The Trust is a registered charity in the UK. The scholarships fund study on the one-year Masters in ELT at the University of Warwick.The Hornby Scholarships are intended to support experienced English language teachers who have the potential to make a significant future contribution to English language teaching and teachers in their countries .

The British Council IELTS Scholarships are awarded to assist more people to access international education experience. Five applicants planning to attend an undergraduate or postgraduate program with an IELTS recognised organisation overseas receives a scholarship worth BDT 300,000 each. Students applying to higher education institutions in Australia, USA, UK and other countries may apply for this scheme. Scholarship payments are made directly to the attending higher educational institution in order to assist students with their tuition fees.

Equity and Merit Scholarships – The University of Manchester This scholarship scheme aims to support Bangladeshi students, specifically from disadvantaged background, who have no means of studying in the UK without this financial support. The scholarships are jointly funded by the University of Manchester and its alumni. The University waives the tuition fee in full and the generosity of alumni covers students’ living costs and flights to the UK.

the British Council to pursue post graduate education in the University of Manchester. He says that his future plan is “to serve my country, when I return, and work on my professional expertise.”

In April this year, the British Council awarded four eligible candidates Taka three lakh each to earn a higher education in the UK through the IELTS Scholarship program to finance undergraduate and postgraduate higher education. Deb Dipa Dipika, a recipient of the scholarship to pursue a higher education on Environmental, Resource, and Development Economics at the University of Winnipeg, said, “When you have the right blend of hard work and passion you are on the right track. IELTS unlocked the door to higher study abroad for me and British Council just made it easier!”

In addition, the Charles Wallace Professional Visits Programme aids mid-career professionals to undertake three week to three month visits in the UK to broaden their professional knowledge, skills, and contacts.

Likewise, many students every year are enjoying various scholarships with the support from the British Council to pursue higher education.

Often, eligible candidates do not know where to look for scholarship offerings.

Sometimes, eligible candidates give up their plans of a higher education abroad due to expenses involved, while looking at the right place could allow them the

S M Labib, an Urban Planner working in the field of development management as well as GIS and Remote-Sensing for the last couple of years, recently earned the Equity and Merit Scholarship with support from

opportunity of their dreams with a scholarship. The British Council welcomes students looking for a postgraduate or professional development training scholarship in the UK to consult them, and to find out if they are eligible.l

| innovate |

virtual reality (VR) solutions. In addition to R&D resources from both companies, Huawei and Leica plan to collaborate with German and international universities and research institutions.

The launch comes seven months after the public announcement of their long-term technology partnership in the field of optical engineering, and five months after the launch of the globally successful, multiple-award winning Huawei P9 and P9 Plus smartphones.

The lab’s establishment is the result of the vision and support of Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, and Dr Andreas Kaufmann, majority

shareholder and chairman of the advisory board of Leica Camera AG. “In the future, over 90 percent of data traffic will be images and videos,” said Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei. “The Max Berek Innovation Lab provides the capacity to establish an even closer partnership with Leica, leading to continuous improvements in image and video quality. As a result, we will deliver the most advanced innovations in the smartphone camera market and bring greater value to consumers.”

“Huawei and Leica share not only enormous innovation power and years of research experience, but also their dedication to providing the highest quality standards.

The innovation lab offers an opportunity to unite the resources and extensive expertise of both companies to pioneer gamechanging technologies,” said Markus Limberger, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Leica Camera AG and director of the Max Berek Innovation Lab. The research and innovation center is named in remembrance of Max Berek (1886 – 1949), the German pioneer of microscopy and creator of the first Leica lenses.l

| dine |

Indonesian Food Festival at Le Méridien Dhaka

Le Méridien Dhaka are delighted to present a vibrant culinary smorgasbord featuring the very delicate yet intense flavours of Indonesian cuisine from September 29 to October 8, 2016.

The gourmet excursion of the ostentatious pleasure that the Indonesian Food Festival has will be presented by Masterchef I Wayan Andi Pranata from Le Méridien Bali. Irresistible dishes will showcase the diversity of Indonesian culinary tradition at

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

| celebrate |

Huawei and Leica establish research and innovation center

Technology giants Huawei and Leica Camera AG have expanded their strategic collaboration through establishing a jointly operated research and innovation center for achieving excellence in optical engineering.

The ‘Max Berek Innovation Lab’, located at Leica’s global HQ in Wetzlar, Germany, will drive further development of optical systems and softwarebased technologies to improve imaging quality in a wide range of photographic and mobile device applications. Additional outcomes will include the creation of computational imaging, augmented reality (AR) and

19

DT

Biz Info

Latest Recipe. H E Iwan Wiranataatmadja, ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bangladesh has kindly consented to unveil the festival of the flavours as the chief guest.

Guests visiting during the festival period will get to enjoy an exquisite collection of new cuisine with scrumptious dishes such as Nasi Goreng, Soto Betawi, Sate ayam, Nasi Kuning, and more.

The Indonesian Food Festival will

be featured every evening during this ten-day period from 18:00 till 23:30 with the usual buffet dinner at Latest Recipe at Tk3600++ per person.

Special discounts and buy one get one free offers are also available with various bank and telecommunication partners. Guests may contact +8801990900900 or +88017666673443 to learn more and reservations.l

Dhaka Regency celebrates World Tourism Day

“Tourism For All – Promoting Universal Accessibility” was the theme of World Tourism Day 2016. To mark this special occasion, Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort celebrated on September 27, 2016.

Representatives and associates from all departments of Dhaka Regency organised a colorful rally from Motsho Bhaban to TSC Circle, led by Civil Aviation and Tourism

Minister Rashed Khan Menon.

Dhaka Regency promoted the occasion all over the country according to the theme, which underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, creating movements that have the power to drive inclusive development, create jobs and build the sustainable societies we want for our future.l

| enjoy |

Buy 1 get 1 free on International Coffee Day

International Coffee Day is just around the corner and Bistro E has a treat to celebrate - a free cup of coffee for every cup that you buy. It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy the contemporary chic ambiance

of the establishment with friends while catching up over a delicious cup of coffee. The offer is valid for coffees only, and from September 30 to October 2. l

DT

20 Editorial

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

TODAY

No triumph for Trump in the first debate He tried to bluster his way out, as before, but unlike the rallies he is used to, he had no cheering supporters to back him in the debate PAGE 21

A word for wilderness If we do not protect the Sundarbans today, all it will become is a chunk of general knowledge in history and geography books PAGE 22

BIGSTOCK

Justice delayed

Britain’s seat at the table The UK is a diminished presence on the world stage. It has enjoyed a seat at every high table of international affairs for centuries, in virtue of its imperial past and its continued global power and status. But with Brexit, it has also forfeited much of that power and status 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.

D

espite the murder of Oyasiqur having taken place more than a year ago, justice remains elusive in the case.

The targetted killings of writers and bloggers, a spate of which Bangladesh has recently faced, are a terrifying and shameful stain on the country’s recent history.

For that reason, it is crucial that the trials of those who were involved in the case take place with the utmost haste.

It is regrettable that Oyasiqur Rahman’s murder trial has faced such a delay, with five deposition dates being fixed by the court.

Lax treatment of the Oyasiqur case will only encourage future acts of crime, and that is a dangerous path to tread.

We understand that delays are common, as those charged must be given a fair and thorough trial, with no room for malpractice.

It is sincerely hoped that the legal authorities will ensure that the case is now handled swiftly and with full transparency, that correct procedures are being followed, and that no stone is left unturned as we approach the new trial date of October 29.

The new scheduled date should not be treated as just another deadline docked for inevitable delay.

The death of any citizen is a tragedy that demands justice from our legal system. The Oyasiqur murder was part of a series of murders that hit at the spirit of the nation, and as such, it is all the more important to get a move on these trials.

The families of the victim need closure, and deserve justice.

Without justice, the healing cannot begin.

Without justice, the healing cannot begin

DT

21

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

No triumph for Trump in the first debate The Republican contestant revealed his lack of knowledge of politics, domestic or international

Donald Trump showed his true colours about 15 minutes in

REUTERS

n Ziauddin Choudhury

T

he much hyped and much anticipated first presidential debate between maverick business tycoon turned politician Donald Trump and veteran politician Hillary Clinton took place on Monday. It was all but what was ballyhooed in the press recently.

It began with a whimper and ended with a thud, not from blustering Donald Trump, but from Hillary Clinton. The media had predicted that the debate would attract millions (and it did attract a record 84 million viewers), but it also anticipated a probable mutation of Trump into a more malleable contestant contrite for all his bombast that characterised his rise to this stage.

But none of that change happened.

Donald Trump has defied all predictions in the past, by both media and public in general. When he began his impossible journey in this hazardous race to presidential candidacy, he was only known for his so-called real estate empire dominated by towers and casinos, and his TV celebrity status as the host of a show called The Apprentice.

He had also called attention to himself by going after President Obama calling him a non-citizen who had manipulated his way to presidency by hiding his birth place, Kenya. He steadfastly held on to this canard even though Obama published his birth certificate (he was born in Hawaii), because he knew his lie played well with a section of

He tried to bluster his way out, as before, but unlike the rallies he is used to, he had no cheering supporters to back him in the debate

the American population who despised Obama being POTUS. Donald Trump followed in the trail of his Obama hatred to seek nomination for US presidency from the Republican Party, a party he had joined only recently after leaving it many times before. As a businessman, Trump had contributed to both major parties for all these years (as he himself had claimed) because as the shrewd operator that he had always been, Trump wanted to be seen as an independent who could support any side he chose.

The day of living independently came to an end first with open declaration of hostility toward Obama with his infamous “birther conspiracy,” and later by declaring his candidacy for Republican nomination. But the Republican Party establishment was not prepared to welcome Trump into its arms, not so much for his Obama birth controversy, but because of his unstable character and predilections for pompousness and self-promotion that bordered on narcissism.

Trump was known for frequent changes in positions suiting his selfish objectives and changing tunes according to the flavour of the day. He was never considered a conservative because of his sponsorship of events that

contradict conservative ideals.

He had never associated himself with conservative causes such as the anti-abortion movement, fiscal conservatism, opposition to same sex marriages, etc. But most important of all, he had never held a political office of any recognition to deserve even remote consideration for the Republican presidential nomination.

And yet, despite all these odds stacked against him, Donald Trump succeeded in defeating not one or two, but an array of 16 other presidential hopefuls seeking nomination of the Republican Party. And these candidates were no mere political non-entities.

They included current and former governors of states, sitting US senators, and people of political eminence who had spent years in politics and had served their party.

Many reasons have been cited for Trump’s triumph, not least of which are his ability to tune to the dormant anger and angst of a so-called down-trodden white population, who have been disillusioned and dismayed by their falling economic status and fear of a growing foreign born population, thinking they are the main cause of their falling status.

To this, Trump added the false notion of job losses in the

US because of free trade, loss of US status as a super powerhouse because of the US’s inability to bring down militancy abroad, and continuous incidents of domestic terrorism. Trump blamed not only Obama and his government for whatever is wrong in the country, but also what he called the conventional politics and mainstream politicians -including the party he was seeking nomination from.

The more Trump railed against the politicians and used foul rhetoric to disparage Obama and the government, the more support he got from the people he had been able to corral. His rallies grew in numbers and soon he was able to outnumber his opponents to secure the nomination. His supporters were so enthralled by him that they no longer cared what language he used or whether he dilutes facts with fiction. All they cared about is that he was different from others, and they began to believe that he was their voice.

It was too late when the Republican Party realised that the Trump train could not be stopped.

Therefore, the party establishment had to swallow his rise and anoint him as the Republican presidential nominee.

But the party expected changes

in Trump’s behaviour, and indeed it was an unwritten agreement with Trump that he would mend his ways, particularly his language against minorities and some of his bone-headed policy statements (such as expulsion of some 11 million illegal immigrants, ban on Muslim migration, building a wall with Mexico, charging fees for protecting Japan, etc).

Indeed, a few weeks before the first debate, Trump started to change his tone on some of the issues beginning with illegal immigrants, Muslim travel ban, NATO membership, etc. He started to say that he would actually not repatriate all 11 million illegal immigrants, but only those who have criminal records, and not actually ban travel of Muslims to the US, but only those from known terrorist areas. But the most famous flip flop was about Obama’s birth place -- he finally agreed that Obama was actually born in the US. Unfortunately, the first debate failed to rise to the level that Trump’s minders wanted to.

For the first 15 minutes, Trump remained a little subdued, uttering laboured sentences that would make him less of a fighting bull than he had appeared publicly before. He tried to remain polite.

But as time progressed, Trump was peppered with questions on all of the statements he had made before. He revealed his true colours then -- a person who has little knowledge of the economy, international trade, or politics, and even domestic policy. He tried to bluster his way out, as before, but unlike the rallies he is used to, he had no cheering supporters to back him in the debate.

The presidential debates are only a small process in the US presidential elections which began with Nixon-Kennedy race in the 60s. These debates do not forecast the election results by any means.

But these surely help the voters, particularly the independent voters, to assess the candidates and vote ultimately.

The debates may not sway the Republican or Democratic voters one way or another, but this first debate must show even to the most indolent voter how risky it is to vote for a candidate who has no skill or knowledge to handle the duty of the US presidency. l Ziauddin Choudhury has worked in the higher civil service of Bangladesh early in his career, and later for the World Bank in the USA.

22

DT

Opinion

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

A word for wilderness Don’t let the Sundarbans become a thing of the past

n Syeda Tahmina Ferdous

W

ilderness. That is where all the great stories happen.

You see, Lord Rama was not exiled to the concrete jungle. He was exiled to the wilderness, bonobaash.

When Prophet Ibrahim sought the one true God he longed for, he did not petition for a technological movement. He simply looked into nature and pondered over its mysterious mesmerising ways.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) longed to know God so badly that he left his comfortable life in the city and journeyed to the uninhabited embrace of the wild.

When their own family tried to kill them off, it was the forest that offered refuge to the homeless Pandava family. After all, it was in a forest that Shakuntala met Raja Dushyant, and as you and I know, the rest is history.

I grew up as a city kid. To me the forest is more fiction than truth.

It is tragic really, to have the greatest mangrove forest in the entire world, the home of the famed Bengal Tiger, within my vicinity, and to have never actually set foot in it.

One random day last year, as I sat in front of my television, mindlessly flipping through the channels, a particular scene on the Discovery Channel made me stop right there.

It was a swampy looking place, with roots of trees poking up out of the mud, facing skywards, and two people, very carefully, treading their way through it.

Pneumatophores, my high school biology lesson kicked in.

I immediately knew it was the Sundarbans.

I had seen pictures of it all my life. But to see two non-Bengali

so much closer, had never had the opportunity to visit it.

The point is, I want to. I really, really do. I could tell you about climate change, and how deforestation is going to make it so much worse. I could talk about how detrimental a power plant smack dab in the middle of the land that is now the Sundarbans would be to the regional and global biodiversity, and how it would destroy the balance of nature.

I could tell you how disastrous that would be to humanity in the long run. Floods, tsunamis, salinity intrusion -- all of that is going to happen.

But you already know that.

In theory. But there is a world of difference between knowing something, and experiencing and realising it.

With experience comes a realisation so profound, that knowing simply does not cut it. It is almost like a revelation.

I, of course, cannot say I have experienced the jungle, but this idea rings true with almost everything.

I had heard of tiramisu before; I knew what it would or should taste like, but none of that could remotely compare to that first moment when I tasted it on my tongue.

I want that experience with the Sundarbans; and I do not only want it for myself. I want it for my loved ones, for my family, my children, my students.

I want it for all of humanity, and I want every individual with the opportunity and means to make the trip, to really go ahead and make the trip and watch their own great story unfold.

I am begging for this opportunity to be preserved. I would love for all of us to live the jungle and live its impact on the world, not only in terms of

The world’s largest mangrove forest

If we do not protect the Sundarbans today, all it will become is a chunk of general knowledge in history and geography books

people, foreigners, making their way through it, was touching and heartbreaking at the same time. They had journeyed across the world to experience this magical morsel of land, while I,

environmental science, but also in terms of our own emotional wellbeing and spirituality.

If we do not protect the Sundarbans today, all it will become is a chunk of general

knowledge in history and geography books, or God forbid, trivia.

Our children will grow up knowing about this wondrous place, but never getting to live it.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The jungle will only be this mythical land they see in the Disney movies and old films and history books.

As that song in Disney’s Pocahontas movie went, “How high does the sycamore grow?

If you cut it down you’ll never know.”

Protect this magical land, because we all need our own stories and our own personal revelations. Protect it, because numerous great stories are yet to unfold. l Syeda Tahmina Ferdous is an aspiring poet and is currently working as an adjunct lecturer at IUB.

DT

23

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Britain’s seat at the table After Brexit, London will be sitting at the back of the queue

n Azeem Ibrahim

T

he Security Council of the United Nations was set up after World War II to oversee the international political development of the world in the post-war era, and it locked in the powerful position of the allied victors in that new world, by giving them each a permanent position in this council.

It was thus that the United States, the Soviet Union, China (originally the Western-allied Republic of China, Taiwan), France, and the United Kingdom were designated as the most powerful countries in the world.

And in 1945, they most certainly were. France and the UK still held huge empires, the US and the Soviet Union were the new, undisputed military superpowers of the world, and China, though in a politically very complicated situation, was then recognised due to the heights it was reaching.

But whereas China’s seat at the table was ultimately claimed by the ever ascendant continental People’s Republic in 1971, and they have since grown ever more into their role as a global leader, the position on the Permanent Security Council of France and the UK in the wake of them losing their empires has become progressively more difficult to justify.

One reasonable response these two countries have had in response to such criticism is that they remain militarily among the most powerful countries in the world, and that they retain a huge amount of political and cultural influence. But on both these counts, there remain problems.

As far as military power is concerned, both the UK and France remain in the global top 10, but, on that basis, it is difficult to see why Britain should be on the Permanent Council and not, say Saudi Arabia, which in the past year has had a 50% higher military spending than the UK, or India, which spent a similar amount to both the UK and France.

Saudi Arabia may not also be a nuclear power, and much of its spending would have been inflated in the past year as a consequence of its involvement in regional conflicts such as in Yemen, but India?

It is both a nuclear power, and matches France and the UK for spending even though it is carrying out fewer operations.

And on the cultural and political argument, the same can be said.

The glory of Britain can’t last forever

REUTERS

The UK is a diminished presence on the world stage. It has enjoyed a seat at every high table of international affairs for centuries, in virtue of its imperial past and its continued global power and status. But with Brexit, it has also forfeited much of that power and status

Britain and France’s positions in the political heart of the European Union, the world’s largest economic bloc, has continued to put them at the forefront of global affairs.

But India has a good 50% higher population than the entire EU, and, even though it is still significantly behind economically, it is catching up with a vengeance.

And the UK has just resigned from the EU.

Flimsy grounds

Even if we were to concede that France will continue to be important in foreign affairs in virtue of its position in the EU, though by that measure Germany is much more influential, what about the UK? On what grounds could we now justify the UK’s

position on the Permanent Council, against an Indian bid?

India is the world’s largest democracy, it is a nuclear power, it has the second highest population in the world, and it has among the highest rates of economic growth anywhere in the world -- indeed, it is expected to become a bigger economy than the UK before 2020.

By contrast, the UK is a diminished, and diminishing presence on the world stage. It has enjoyed a seat at every high table of international affairs for centuries, in virtue of its imperial past and its continued global power and status.

But with Brexit, it has also forfeited much of that power and status. In the wake of Brexit, the UK is no more than an averagesized country with an oversized

past. Germany is currently more relevant in the world.

When the leaders of the Free World need to call Europe, they will not be calling the UK anymore.

They only need to call the German chancellor’s office, if they want to know what Europe will do.

And if they want to know where the world is going, they will be calling Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, and soon, Delhi. In that order.

After Brexit, London will be sitting at the back of the queue. l

Azeem Ibrahim is Senior Fellow at the Centre for Global Policy, Fellow at Mansfield College, University of Oxford and Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College.

He tweets @AzeemIbrahim. This article first appeared on Al Arabiya News.

DT

24 Sport

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

TOP STORIES

Second ODI tidbits Mosaddek in, Imrul out Bangladesh made a tricky decision of dropping Imrul Kayes and giving the chance to Mosaddek Hossain. While Mosaddek proved his credentials with a vital knock, it was Imrul who proved to be the unlucky one. PAGE 25

All eyes on Bangladesh boys Bangladesh youngsters are keeping their eyes on the historic final of the Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey and are quite confident ahead of their last four battle against Chinese Taipei at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium today. PAGE 26

Australia’s raconteur bowler Walker dies Former Australia medium-pace bowler and colourful television commentator Max Walker has died aged 68 after a long battle with skin cancer. Cricket Australia said Walker played 34 Tests between 1972-73 and 1977. PAGE 27

Schuerrle frustrates Real, Foxes win again German supersub Andre Schuerrle smashed in a late equaliser as Borussia Dortmund held defending champions Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Leicester City claimed another famous European victory. PAGE 28

Bangladesh debutant Mosaddek Hossain cuts one during the second ODI against Afghanistan in Mirpur yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Mature Mosaddek shines on debut n Mazhar Uddin It might not have been the type of situation that youngster Mosaddek Hossain had probably envisaged when he went out to bat in his ODI debut for Bangladesh.

The 20-year old, who was picked in the playing XI in place of Imrul Kayes in the second ODI against Afghanistan, came to the middle when the Tigers were struggling on 138/6 in the 33rd over after being asked to bat first.

Mosaddek, the 119th ODI cricketer for the Tigers, walked in as the last recognised batsman for the home side. The situation demanded a mature knock in order for the home side to post a decent total on the board and he delivered accordingly.

He made a quiet start and tried to adjust at the wicket that was providing a lot of purchase to the

spinners. But at the same time, the right-hander kept the scoreboard ticking along.

As Bangladesh’s innings wore on, he was running short of partners at the other end but even that didn’t stop him from smashing

a delightful scoop shot for a six off the bowling of paceman Naveenul-Haq in the 48th over and followed it up by another magnificent pull shot for a six off Dawlat Zadran in the very next over where he took 15 runs. The young-

What’s more, Mosaddek became the first Bangladesh bowler to pick up an ODI wicket in his very first delivery when he trapped the dangerous Hashmatullah Shahidi in front to bring the Tigers back into the game the bad balls to the fence.

Mosaddek added a valuable 43run partnership with Rubel Hossain for the last wicket and solely took up the challenge of run-scoring, making sure not to expose the tail-ender that often.

The Mymensingh lad smashed

ster’s confidence was there for all to see.

Bangladesh soon went past the 200-run mark which at one stage seemed impossible.

But just when it appeared that the youngster was gearing to launch in the final over of their in-

nings, Rubel was caught short of the crease and Mosaddek was denied a well-deserved fifty on debut.

He remained undefeated on a run-a-ball 45, featuring four fours and two sixes.

For those who followed him closely in the last couple of years, it was no surprise to see the cricketer in full flow, having witnessed his prolific run-scoring ways in the domestic circuit. He was calm and collective with the willow, a rare sign of a 20-year old rookie.

What’s more, Mosaddek became the first Bangladesh bowler to pick up an ODI wicket in his very first delivery when he trapped the dangerous Hashmatullah Shahidi in front to bring the Tigers back into the game.

Mosaddek ended up with impressive bowling figures of 30/2 from his quota of 10 overs. l

25

DT

Sport

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

SCORECARD BANGLADESH R Tamim Iqbal c Dawlat b Ashraf 20 Soumya Sarkar c Ashraf 20 Mahmudullah b Naveen 25 Mushfiqur c Naveen b Shah 38 Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Nabi 17 Sabbir Rahman lbw b Rashid 4 Mosaddek Hossain not out 45 Mashrafe Mortaza c Dawlat b Nabi 2 Taijul Islam lbw b Rashid 10 Taskin Ahmed lbw b Rashid 0 Rubel Hossain run out 10 Extras (b1, lb7, w8, nb1) 17 Total (all out 49.2 overs)

B 36 31 39 51 21 16 45 10 31 1 16

2ND ODI TIDBITS Mosaddek in, Imrul out

Bangladesh made a tricky decision of dropping Imrul Kayes and giving the chance to rookie Mosaddek Hossain. While Mosaddek proved his credentials with a vital knock, it was Imrul who proved to be the unlucky one as he had scored 37 runs in the first ODI. The decision however, was based on the pitch, conditions and team combination.

208

Fall of wickets 1-45, 2-50, 3-111, 4-122, 5-138, 6-138, 7-141, 8-165, 9-165, 10-208 Bowling Nabi 10-3-16-2, Dawlat 8-1-47-0, Ashraf 5-0-23-2 Naveen-ul-Haq 8.2-0-49-1, Rashid 10-2-35-3, Shah 8-0-30-1 AFGHANISTAN Shahzad c Taskin b Shakib Nawroz Mangal c Taijul b Shakib Rahmat Shah lbw b Shakib Hashmatullah lbw b Mosaddek Stanikzai c Sabbir b Mosaddek Nabi lbw b Mortaza N Zadran c Mosaddek b Taskin Rashid Khan lbw b Shakib Mirwais Ashraf not out Dawlat Zadran not out Extras (lb2, w5)

R 35 10 0 14 57 49 22 5 9 4 7

Total (eight wickets; 49.4 overs)

212

B 35 16 2 29 95 61 32 14 13 1

Fall of wickets 1-14, 2-14, 3-59, 4-63, 5-170, 6-174, 7-189, 8-208 Bowling Mortaza 10-0-31-1, Shakib 10-0-47-4, Taskin 4.4-0-32-1, Taijul 10-0-38-0, Mosaddek 10-1-30-2, Sabbir 2-0-8-0, Rubel 3-0-24-0 Result: Afghanistan won by two wickets Series Result: Three-match series tied 1-1

Soumya’s outrageous shot

Opening batsman Soumya Sarkar has been struggling with the bat for quite a long time now. The talented left-hander was under pressure after being dismissed for nought in the first ODI. However, he started well yesterday with some confident shots. But eventually, he got out in what looked like an unimpressive shot.

100 ODI WICKETS AT A VENUE PLAYER

M

W

BBI

AVE

Wasim Akram (PAK)

77

122

5/38

19.5

3.55

Waqar Younis (PAK)

61

114

6/26

20.17

4.58

Shakib al Hasan (BD)

70

100

5/47

24.57

4.01

Uncharacteristic Sabbir

ER

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan celebrates with limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza during the second ODI against Afghanistan in Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Mashrafe rues batsmen’s failure n Mazhar Uddin Following a near escape in the first ODI, Bangladesh were unable to correct their mistakes and eventually paid the price as Afghanistan clinched a two-wicket victory in the second game in Mirpur to level the three-match series 1-1.

The Tigers batsmen displayed yet another disappointing performance and were all out for 208 where Soumya Sarkar (20), Tamim Iqbal (20), Mahmudullah (25), Mushfiqur Rahim (37) and Shakib al Hasan (17) all got starts but failed to prolong their innings which, according to the Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza, was the reason behind their defeat.

“Regarding batting, I think that the top four batsmen all scored more than 20 and got out. The wicket [yesterday] was good for a 240-230 score. Unfortunately, we got out after getting set. One simply can’t get out after getting set.

We lacked in this aspect,” Mashrafe told the media.

“We simply played very bad cricket in the first two matches, we luckily won the first match or else

we would have lost the series. We are very lucky that we still have a chance to win this series. Maybe if we can learn from our mistakes we can win the series,” he said.

The Bangladesh bowlers tried hard to defend the small total as Shakib once again bowled brilliantly and bagged four wickets while debutant Mosaddek Hossain also picked up two wickets. But in the end it was not enough to win the game.

But there was still some hope at the end but Mushfiqur Rahim missed a rather simple stumping opportunity of Najidbullah Zadran

off the bowling of Mosaddek when Afghanistan still required 13 runs in the last four overs with three wickets in hand.

“Actually if you keep blaming us for this match, it will become difficult. You are talking about that stumping. Maybe yes, we probably lost a chance there but this happens in cricket. This happens in cricket. I don’t think you should blame him alone,” he added.

The 32-year old praised the Afghan side and informed that the visitors played some good cricket to restrict the Tigers for a low total.

He also lauded youngster Mosaddek for his brilliant display both with the bat and ball.

“Normally, when I brought him into the bowling attack, obviously I thought of bringing (Mahmudullah) Riyad. But then I thought he did well in batting so he must be confident. I saw him in the nets. He bowls well,” he said before adding, “But I think he did a lot better as a bowler then what I had seen of him before. He had an outstanding innings with the bat. If the others could have helped him a bit then we could have won this match.”l

NABI: WE’LL CELEBRATE AFTER WINNING SERIES

n Ali Shahriyar Bappa

Afghanistan’s experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi said the partnership between him and captain Asghar Stanikzai was vital behind their memorable win against Bangladesh.

“The partnership was crucial. The pitch condition was not so suitable for batting because it was turning and skidding. The plan was to play until the 40th over and if we could just

concentrate on singles and doubles and not boundaries then we can build a partnership and it happened,” Nabi told the media yesterday.

“The win against a Full Member is a big thing for Associate teams like Afghanistan. Cricket is improving day by day in Afghanistan and this win will bring more energy to the people of Afghanistan. Everyone watched this game back in home and I am sure everyone is happy for the win,” he said.

Nabi, who opened the bowling against the Tigers, informed that it was the condition and team strategy which forced him to do so.

“It was the plan of the captain and coach to select me to open the bowling as two left-handers opened the batting for Bangladesh. It worked in the past and it worked [yesterday] as well,” he said.

“We will try to win the series. Then we will celebrate,” he concluded. l

The 24-year old Sabbir Rahman is often considered a Twenty20 specialist for Bangladesh due to his healthy strike-rate in the international arena. But he was surprisingly slow yesterday. When he came out to bat, Bangladesh were struggling at 122 for 4.

Generally, Sabbir rotates the strike in these kind of situations but yesterday he was struggling against the Afghan spinners and failed to take ones and twos. He scored only four runs facing 16 deliveries.

He went on to lost his wicket in a crucial moment in the 32nd over when Bangladesh were on 138.

Rashid’s hattrick moment

The Afghan leg-spinner impressed yet again yesterday. He took backto-back wickets in the 43rd over, removing Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed respectively. Then came the Tigers’ No 11 Rubel Hossain.

Rashid bowled his best weapon, the googly, but Rubel was equally good with a forward defence. And thus, Rashid’s chance of becoming the first ever Afghan bowler to claim a hattrick in ODIs disappeared.

Shakib’s ripper

Shakib al Hasan bowled almost a near perfect delivery to Mohammad Nabi in the 16th over. It drifted in, turned and jumped just past the outside edge. And it was very close to the off-stump as well. Nabi was clueless. It was a gem of a delivery for a batsman who just came into the crease. Shakib could barely believe his luck and even sported a smile.

–ALI SHAHRIYAR BAPPA

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

FOURTH BANGLADESH PREMIER LEAGUE TWENTY20

Mosaddek, Nasir retained by Dhaka n Mazhar Uddin A total of 38 foreign players have been bought by the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 franchises ahead of the players’ draft, scheduled to be held tomorrow.

The most eye-catching purchase was perhaps that of West Indies big-hitter Chris Gayle, who will feature for Chittagong Vikings in the fourth edition of the money-spinning tournament.

Gayle was signed for five matches and the left-hander will be available for the latter stages of the tournament that gets underway on November 4. The Jamaican cricketer previously played for Barisal Bulls in the last edition.

Meanwhile, according to the member secretary of the BPL governing council, Ismail Haider Mallick, there will be no icon player in the upcoming edition as they have decided to change it into “A+” category where the players can choose their own team.

Shakib al Hasan will receive Tk55 lakhs, the highest among the seven A+ players, and turn out for Dhaka Dynamites.

Tamim Iqbal will once again play for Chittagong, Mushfiqur Rahim for Barisal and Mahmudullah for Khulna Titans while Mashrafe bin Mortaza was retained by defending champions Comilla Victorians. Each of these four A+ cricketers will pocket Tk50 lakhs.

Sabbir Rahman and Soumya Sarkar, the new A+ category players, will feature for Rajshahi and Rangpur Riders and get Tk40 lakhs each.

“The seven icons, who are the most senior players, came to us officially and asked us to let them choose their own team. In other countries, the local players get the same as foreign players.

Thirty-eight foreign players have already been bought. And their pricing is very high. For example, Gayle, Andre Russell, Kumar Sangakkara and Imad Wasim; they are getting a lot more than the A+ players. So we adjusted accordingly,” Mallick told the media yesterday.

The “A” grade category players

will receive Tk25 lakhs, “B” Tk18 lakhs, “C” Tk12 lakhs and “D” Tk five lakhs.

On the other hand, the BPL GC has decided that the franchises can retain two A category players from the previous season.

Dhaka retained Mosaddek Hossain and Nasir Hossain, Chittagong kept Taskin Ahmed and Anamul Haque, Rangpur retained Arafat Sunny and Mohammad Mithun, Comilla kept Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das while Barisal retained Al Amin Hossain and Taijul Islam.

It was also decided that the foreign coaching staff of the Bangladesh team will not be able to be a part of any franchises. However,

the local coaches can be a part of the teams, along with the national selectors, who were not allowed to take part in the previous edition. l

LOCAL PLAYERS RETAINED DHAKA DYNAMITES Mosaddek Hossain and Nasir Hossain

CHITTAGONG VIKINGS Taskin Ahmed and Anamul Haque Bijoy

RANGPUR RIDERS Arafat Sunny and Mohammad Mithun

COMILLA VICTORIANS Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das

BARISAL BULLS Al Amin Hossain and Taijul Islam

FOREIGN PLAYERS SIGNED BY FRANCHISES

CHITTAGONG VIKINGS

COMILLA VICTORIANS

DHAKA DYNAMITES

KHULNA TITANS

RAJSHAHI

RANGPUR RIDERS

BARISAL BULLS

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Shoaib Malik, Chaturanga de Silva and Mohammad Nabi

Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Ashar Zaidi, Nuwan Kulasekera and Thisara Perera

Kumar Sangakkara, Andre Russell, Mahela Jayawardene, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis and Ravi Bopara

Kevon Cooper, Nicholas Pooran, Riki Wessels, Mohammad Asghar and Benny Howell

Darren Sammy and Mohammad Sami

Shahid Afridi, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Shahzad, Dasun Shanaka, Gidron Pope and Richard Gleeson

Dilshan Munaweera

UNDER-18 ASIA CUP HOCKEY

All eyes on Bangladesh boys n Shishir Hoque The Bangladesh youngsters are keeping their eyes firmly on the historic final of the Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey and are quite confident ahead of their last four battle against Chinese Taipei at Maulana Bhasani Naional Hockey Stadium today.

The match begins at 12:30pm and ATN Bangla will telecast it live.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns with each other in the day’s other semi-final at 3pm at the same venue.

Bangladesh have never reached the final of the U-18 Asia Cup tournament but it can all change today.

The signs of something big were apparent from the very first game when the boys in red and green earned a brilliant 5-4 victory over favourites India, against whom the Bangladesh U-18 side had never won before.

The home side continued to shine in the next match against Oman, thrashing the Middle Eastern side 10-0.

“We want to play the final and for that, we have to beat Chinese Taipei. Chinese Taipei are not much stronger than us but there is no way to take them lightly. The way we played in the group stages, we want to continue in the same way in the semi-finals as well.

We are confident,” Bangladesh manager Kawsar Ali told the media yesterday.

TODAY’S MATCHES SEMI-FINALS Bangladesh v Chinese Taipei, 12:30pm (Live on ATN Bangla) India v Pakistan, 3pm PLAY-OFF Oman v China, 10am Drag-and-flick specialist Ashraful Islam, who netted seven goals in the group round, will once again carry Bangladesh’s hopes along with the experienced trio Romman Sarkar, Fazle Hossain Rabby and Arshad Hossain, who have played for the senior team.

Mohammad Mohsin and Mah-

bub Hossain also proved their worth against Oman and can play a vital role against Chinese Taipei.

“The players have been training together for quite a long time. They have a good understanding. They are giving their best on the turf.

Hopefully we will win [today],” said Kawsar.

On the other hand, captain Romman said, “Every match is important. There is no other alternative but to win the game against Chinese Taipei. We are confident we can do it.”

Chinese Taipei began their campaign with a 6-1 defeat against Pakistan before beating Hong Kong 9-0 in the second game. They drew against China 2-2 to confirm second place from Pool B. If Bangladesh can beat Chinese Taipei, they will face either India or Pakistan in the final tomorrow.

Meanwhile in the day’s first match, Oman will face China in the other classification match at 10am from which the losing side will finish seventh while the winners will face Hong Kong tomorrow in the fifth-place decider. l

Draws galore in NCL n Tribune Report

The first round of the 18th edition of the National Cricket League came to an end yesterday on a moderate note as none of the four matches in tier one and two failed to produce a resut, largely due to the inclement weather in the last few days.

The game between Dhaka Metropolis and Dhaka division in Bogra’s Shaheed Chandu Stadium saw the least amount of action with the former stranded on 47/2 in their first innings.

Away in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Barisal division were batting on 248/8 in their second innings when the umpires signalled the end of the day’s play.

Khulna division had earlier posted 424 in their first innings, replying to Barisal’s 261.

Elsewhere in Rajshahi’s Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium, the home division posted 120/4 in their second innings, in reply to Sylhet division’s first innings tally of 175.

Rajshahi had registered 199 in their first innings.

The other match between Chittagong division and Rangpur division at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium also ended in a draw. l

POINTS TABLE TIER 1 Teams

M

W

L

D Pts

Khulna

1

0

0

1

Barisal

1

0

0

1

7

Dhaka

1

0

0

1

3

Metro

1

0

0

1

3

D Pts

11

TIER 2 Teams

M

W

L

Chittagong

1

0

0

1

10

Rangpur

1

0

0

1

9

Rajshahi

1

0

0

1

7

Sylhet

1

0

0

1

6

18TH NCL, RD 1, DAY 4 DHAKA METROPOLIS 47/2 V DHAKA Match Drawn BARISAL 261 & 248/8 V KHULNA 424 Match Drawn RAJSHAHI 199 & 120/4 V SYLHET 175 Match Drawn CHITTAGONG 368 & 251 V RANGPUR 355 & 224/5 Match Drawn

27

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

QUICK BYTES Granada sack Jemez after winless start

Sarfraz reckons 3-0 win will lift Pakistan n AFP, Abu Dhabi

Colourful Granada coach Paco Jemez became the third La Liga boss to lose his job already this season after failing to win any of his six games in charge. Jemez’s constant outbursts, penchant for substituting players in the first half and kamikaze approach to defending have made him one of Spanish football’s more controversial coaches. “Granada CF have decided to bring to an end Paco Jemez’s time in charge of the team,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

“After studying in detail the current situation and results, the decision was taken unanimously.”

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed believes the clean sweep over the world champions is the first step towards building a formidable outfit for the future.

Pakistan blanked West Indies 3-0 in the Twenty20 series with an-

other dominating eight wicket win in the third and final match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

They had won the first two matches by nine wickets and 16 runs in Dubai.

Ahmed said the win will go a long way towards establishing a Twenty20 team, struggling after

being ousted in the first round of the World Twenty20 held in India in March-April this year.

That forced the then skipper Shahid Afridi to step down and Ahmed was handed over the leadership, who won all four matches -also beating England at Manchester earlier this month.

–AFP

Ukrainian underdogs visit United, Saints in Israel Manchester United host unheralded Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford on Thursday with Jose Mourinho’s side aiming to get their Europa League campaign off the ground after a bumpy start.

Mourinho’s reluctant contenders in Europe’s second-tier club competition kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Feyenoord in Rotterdam a fortnight ago. That Dutch disaster, which left United bottom of Group A, was the second of three consecutive reverses in between Premier League losses to Manchester City and then Watford.

BRIEF SCORE, 3RD T20I

–AFP

Serena vows no ‘silence’ on social injustice Serena Williams vowed she would not be “silent” on issues of social injustice Tuesday as she reflected on the recent deaths of AfricanAmerican men at the hands of law enforcement. In a heartfelt post on her Facebook page, the tennis superstar said she felt moved to speak out after being unnerved at the sight of a police officer while being driven by her 18-year-old nephew.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH FOOTBALL

UEFA Europa League

TEN 1 11:00PM Schalke v Salzburg 1:00AM Roma v Astra

TEN 2 11:00PM Sparta Praha v Internazionale 1:00AM Man. United v Zorya

TEN 3 11:00PM Shakhtar Donetsk v Braga 1:00AM Olympiacos v Apoel

“Of course, this is the first step towards building a new team,” said Ahmed. “If we want to become a good team then we have to bring consistency. Both junior and senior players are performing and contributing and that is the sign of a good team.”

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, declared man of the series for his nine wickets in the series, rocked the West Indies’ top order with figures of 3-21.

West Indies below par total of 103-5 was never a bother for Pakistan, who chased down the target in 15.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.

All did not go well for the West Indies after winning the World Twenty20 title.

World Twenty20 winning captain Darren Sammy was replaced

by Carlos Brathwaite while successful coach Phil Simmons was sacked.

Ahmed admitted a 3-0 win wasn’t expected before the series.

“We didn’t estimate we would win 3-0,” said Ahmed. “But I will give full credit to the boys for doing everything better than them and that’s why we have won the series.”

Ahmed said he was enjoying the captaincy.l

West Indies batsman Johnson Charles was bowled for 5 by Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim (unseen) during their 3rd T20I in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday

Australia’s raconteur bowler Walker dies n AFP, Sydney Former Australia medium-pace bowler and colourful television commentator Max Walker has died aged 68 after a long battle with skin cancer.

Cricket Australia said Walker played 34 Tests between 1972-73 and 1977. He took 138 wickets at 27.47 and played 17 one-day internationals.

Sporting a handlebar moustache, the Tasmanian was a fan favourite nicknamed “Tangles” for his unusual bowling action. A key figure into the launch of World Series Cricket in the late 1970s, Walker backed up quick legends Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

Former Test opener and coach Dean Jones tweeted: “So sad to hear of the passing of Max Walker.

“What a great cricketer, author and story teller.

Ripper bloke whose smile lit up a room!”l

WEST INDIES 103/5 (Samuels 42, Pooran 16, Wasim 3/21) lost to PAKISTAN 108/2 (Malik 43*, Babar 27, Williams 2/15) by eight wickets

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

RESULTS Monaco

1-1

Glik 90+4

CSKA Moscow

Leverkusen Hernandez 73

0-1

Tottenham Son 71

Dortmund

2-2

Aubameyang 43, Schuerrle 87

Sporting

Real Madrid Ronaldo 17, Varane 68

2-0

Legia Warsaw

4-0

Club Brugge

1-0

FC Porto

1-0

Lyon

0-4

Juventus

Ruiz 28, Dost 37

Copenhagen Denswil 54-og, Delaney 64, Santander 69, Jorgensen 90+2

Leicester City Slimani 25

Sevilla Ben Yedder 52

Dinamo Zagreb

Pjanic 24, Higuain 31, Dybala 57, Semper 85-og

Borussia Dortmund’s German midfielder Andre Schuerrle (L) reacts after scoring during their Uefa Champions League match against Real Madrid at BVB stadium in Dortmund, on Tuesday AFP

Schuerrle frustrates Real, Foxes win again n AFP, Paris Andre Schuerrle smashed in a late equaliser as Borussia Dortmund held Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Leicester City claimed another famous European victory.

Premier League champions Leicester made it two wins from two in their debut Champions League campaign as Islam Slimani’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win against FC Porto, and it was a good

night all round for English clubs as Tottenham Hotspur beat CSKA Moscow in Russia.

Reigning champions Real twice surrendered the lead as they settled for a 2-2 draw against Dortmund to extend their poor record on German soil.

In a tremendous Group F game played at breathless pace, Zinedine Zidane’s side went in front in the 17th minute when Gareth Bale’s back-heel came off Matthias Ginter and fell for Cristiano Ronaldo to

fire home.

It was the Portuguese superstar’s 98th European goal but Dortmund had been in fearsome form ahead of this showdown and they drew level just before the interval.

Making his first appearance of the season after injury, Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas opted to punch a Raphael Guerreiro freekick and the ball struck the face of his team-mate Raphael Varane before rebounding into the net.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

was standing in close quarters, and he was officially credited with the goal by UEFA. However, French centre-back Varane made up for that by restoring Real’s advantage midway through the second half, following in to score after Karim Benzema’s attempt had hit both the post and bar.

But there was to be no first win in Dortmund for Real as substitute Schuerrle rifled a shot into the roof of the net after a Christian Pulisic

cross fell to him on the edge of the box.

“I am gutted for the players, we didn’t deserve that. In the end it’s not a bad result but, playing like that, gutted,” said Zidane.

Madrid have won just four times in 30 away games against German clubs but this result still leaves them in control of Group F. In the other game in the section, first-half goals by Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost gave Sporting a 2-0 victory against Legia Warsaw. l

AFTER ALLARDYCE IMPLOSION, WHO NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

GARETH SOUTHGATE

EDDIE HOWE

ALAN PARDEW

STEVE BRUCE

GLENN HODDLE

ARSENE WENGER

The man in possession, the former England international could yet become the team’s next permanent manager. A former Middlesbrough manager, Southgate, 46, was brought into the England set-up to coach the under-21s in the hope he might ascend to the top job.

Experienced disappointment at last year’s European Under-21 Championship but guided the team to victory at the Toulon tournament this year.

Highly regarded for his achievements and style of football at unfashionable Bournemouth, the 38-year-old has long been talked about as a future England manager and is close enough in age to have a good understanding of the current crop of players. But the question remains as to whether he has sufficient experience to take on what he calls the “ultimate” job right now. More likely one for the future.

Like Allardyce, Crystal Palace manager Pardew, 55, is a former Newcastle boss. Led Palace to the FA Cup final last season and, after a rocky run stretching back to last term, has seen his stock rise again recently having overseen three straight Premier League victories for the London side. Questions remain however about his temperament after a series of touchline flare-ups, including aiming a headbutt at an opposing player.

The former Manchester United defender, 55, was among those interviewed by the Football Association before they decided to appoint Allardyce as Roy Hodgson’s successor after England’s embarrassing exit from the European Championships at the hands of Iceland. Following his talks, Bruce - who played under Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford - quit his post at Hull.

Currently out of work and a leading contender. A solid choice.

No England manager has ever been appointed to the job a second time on a permanent basis so Hoddle’s chances of succeeding Allardyce would appear to be slim. One of the best English midfielders of his generation, Hoddle - in charge of the national side at the 1998 World Cup - was sacked in 1999 after suggesting that people with disabilities were being punished for their behaviour in a previous lifetime.

Now in his 20th year as Arsenal manager, the Frenchman’s success with the Gunners paved the way for the influx of overseas coaches at top Premier League teams. Has long been spoken of as a possible England manager.

Well thought of at the FA, Wenger, 66, is out of contract at the end of the season and unlike most of the leading English candidates to replace Allardyce, he has experience of Champions League football.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Boring tool (3) 3 Very small (6) 8 Bovine animals (4) 9 King (L) (3) 10 Lump of gold (6) 11 Circuitous way (6) 14 Blackboard support (5) 17 Means of communication (5) 20 Soothed (6) 24 Likenesses (6) 26 Insane (3) 27 Yield (4) 28 Builds (6) 29 Opener (3)

DOWN 1 Matured (4) 2 Upper level (4) 3 Bill of fare (4) 4 Accustom (5) 5 Advises strongly (5) 6 Golf mound (3) 7 Praise highly (5) 12 Greek letter (3) 13 Lubricant (3) 15 Afflict (3) 16 Optic (3) 17 Felony (5) 18 Dashing young fellow (5) 19 Choose by vote (5) 21 Puts to a purpose (4) 22 Welsh national emblem (4) 23 Obligation (4) 25 Spoil (3)

29

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Downtime

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

MONDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

30

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Showtime

DiCaprio to meet Obama

nShowtime Desk The Revenant actor will meet with the US President Barak Obama next month to talk about climate change at South by South Lawn festival, the White House announced recently.

The Oscar winner and the President will take part in a conversation about “the importance of protecting the one planet we have got

for the future generations” with climate change scientist Katharine Hayhoe, which will be a part of the inaugural South

by South Lawn: A White House Festival of Ideas, Art, and Action.

The discussion will be followed by a screening of DiCaprio’s new climate documentary, Before the Flood.

DiCaprio has been a long time activist on climate change. He

even made it the focal point in his Academy Awards acceptance speech earlier this year.

Other segments of the program include panels on technology, sustainable food and innovation; performances

by The Lumineers, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and DJ Beverly Bond; and a White House Student Film Fest with special appearances by the cast of Stranger Things. l

Zeenat receives lifetime achievement award nShowtime Desk The 14th edition of Bollywood Film Festival opened with the presence of eminent personalities from Norway.

Dignitaries including the Mayor of Lørenskog, Ragnhild Bergheim, secretary of the state, Bård Folke Fredriksen, Himanshu Gulati, Indian bureaucrat, and celebrities from Bollywood and the Iranian film industry were present at the festival.

Among the highlights of this year, the presence of yesteryear actress, Zeenat Aman, and upcoming actress Huma Qureshi were the guests of

honour. Zeenat Aman was awarded for a lifetime of contribution to Indian cinema.

And her contributions to the cinematic world were also acknowledged in the form of a special stamp which was released on this occasion, from the Postal Department.

Huma Qureshi was awarded as the most promising Bollywood actress.

Also, present at the festival was an upcoming director, Azaan Khan showcasing his first film Bankster, as the opening film of the festival along with the lead cast of the film. The film was screened at the opening. Azaan Khan was also awarded the Shri Vikas Mohan Award for being the most promising new director. l Source: Times of India

PH Design Studio creations now open to public

nShowtime Desk On September 26, fashion designer Parvin Hussain hosted “PH Design Studio,” a grand exhibition showcasing her latest, exclusive collection. As someone who believes in keeping her designs up to speed with international fashion trends, she defines her style as “elegant and timeless.”

While she uses pure French chiffon, she also incorporates contemporary designs and trends into traditional materials such as Muslin and Jamdani. Many of the outfits from this collection were made in the UK. Parvin began her design

career in 2011, prior to which she experimented with different cuts and styles. Last year she had another exhibition where famous designer Bibi Russell inaugurated the event. At this years exhibition held in Gulshan, beauty expert Kona Alam Farnaz, noted fashion photographer Chanchal Mahmud as well as other showbiz personalities graced the event.

Parvin Hussain said, “My aim isn’t to make a profit, but to introduce PH Design Studio to Dhakaites. I want to be able to provide quality products for people and use profits earned to contribute to social welfare that’s my main goal.” l

today in dhaka

Stand-Up Comedy Show

Enjoy some hilarious stand-up comedy performed by Naveed Mahbub and Max Mystel.

Venue: Kiva Han, Level 7, Ahmed Tower, 30 Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Banani Time: 7:30pm Organiser: Naveed’s Comedy Club l

Another Hollywood split: Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber

Hollywood couple Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber ended their marriage after 11 years together.

This just happened after a week since the “Brangelina” split. Watts and Schreiber had two sons, Alexander (Sasha) Schreiber, 8, and Samuel

Schreiber, 7.

“Over the past few months we’ve come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple,” the pair said in a joint statement. “It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and

exploring this new phase of our relationship.”

They ended their joint statement with concern for their children.”While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy,” the statement said.l

Runa Laila and Ustad Ghulam Ali seen together

n Showtime Desk Two of South Asia’s biggest singers, Bangladeshi Runa Laila and Pakistan’s Ustad Ghulam Ali, were recently seen hanging out

together. The Pakistani legend went to visit Runa’s daughter’s flat in London, where the Bengali singer was also present.

Runa took a picture with him and posted it on Facebook page.

The two are known to be family friends. On the other hand, Runa Laila recently celebrated a remarkable milestone; her 50th year in the music industry on September 24. l

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

All we need is a ‘Priyo Protibeshi’

n Rumpa Farzana

n Showtime Desk

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Showtime

Over the past few years, Eid dramas have shown more fizzle than sizzle. This year, very few dramas stood out, proving that over everything else, it is simplicity that attracts audience.

One drama that caught our attention this year was Priyo Protibeshi.

The story starts with a middleaged landlady who is obnoxiously paranoid and curious about her neighbours. Before renting her flat out, she cross-examines each potential tenant. One day, her husband finds a new family of two members, mother and son, for one of their flats without her approval and that’s where the story begins. That landlady begins her interrogation, trying to find out if her new neighbour is perfect or not. Believing in the idea that one should be close to and share their lives with their neighbours, she brings forth an old concept that is lost in today’s age. Eventually, the new neighbour gets irritated with her approach. For him it is unnecessary to interfere as a neighbour because he believes that culture is long gone. The drama is filled with funny incidents and light dialogues which keep the audience connected to the story.

After a while, the neighbours are thoroughly frustrated with the landlady’s habit of meddling in all of their business. All the tenants decide that they need to do something about this. After much thought, they decide to hold an election between the young man and the landlady, to figure out who is right. The lady knows that if it comes down to an election, even her husband wouldn’t vote for her because even he doesn’t approve of her ways. She then approaches the young man, but their conversation ends in a quarrel. As she leaves the house, suddenly, she tumbles down the stairs, injuring herself. Despite the tense situation between the man

and the landlady, the first one to come to her rescue is none other than her opponent, her neighbour, the young man. Taking her to the doctor and giving her first aid, the scene brings out the essence of the drama - that it really is your neighbour who is there in times of need. In times of distress, the first one that can and should help you, is, your neighbour.

It’s a great story, urging viewers to look at living with neighbours through a new lens. It takes viewers back to the old golden days where neighbours were our friends, they were friends that stood by us in times of need.

Nowadays, that concept is lost, with people giving priority to individuality and living alone - but is it worth it? This drama raises these questions. There’s one dialogue that by the landlady that really hit home: “We are human, we are not islands, and we need to stay connected!” Not only did the story bring back old memories of times when neighbours used to be friends, it also showed another happier, positive side of the “aunty” figures in our lives.

There was humour and great acting involved in the drama.

Moreover, the old “aunty” landlord figure was beautifully portrayed by Shuborna Mustafa.

The young man's character was being played by Badrul Anam Soud, Shuborna Mustafa’s real life husband with both of them doing justice to the script.

Priyo Protibeshi is a complete package as far as entertainment is concerned. A simple play, it delivers on every level, with the play having no unnecessary frills or glamour. The director and actors focused on acting giving the drama a complete feel.

Priyo Protibeshi aired on RTV. The script is written by Masum Shahriar while Golam Muktadir directed the film. Other actors were Zahid Hasan Shovon as Shubarna’s husband and Wahida Mallic Jolly as Soud’s mother. l

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

BANGLADESH RANKS 106TH IN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX PAGE 12

RUNA LAILA AND USTAD GHULAM ALI SEEN TOGETHER PAGE 31

Girls’ soccer dream locked in customs warehouse n Tribune Desk Kendall, Courtney and Trevor Islam are three siblings based in California who came up with a unique initiative to provide football boots to the schoolgirls of Safura Khatun Girls’ High School in Karimpur.

The Islam siblings took this initiative after visiting the school in 2014. This school, which had over five hundred students from between 9 and 16 years, was built by their grandfather in 2003.

They were motivated to help the schoolgirls because they were really impressed by the enthusiasm and skills the schoolgirls showed for playing football.

To collect shoes and raise money for the shipment cost, the Islam siblings started a crowd-funding project called “KickStart Karimpur” in October, last year.

“Their soccer skills were impressive, but they played in traditional Bengali clothing and sandals. After

returning home, we wanted to support the school in a way that was special to both the students and to us, so we started an organization called KickStart Karimpur to donate soccer cleats to the girls,” reads the description on their project’s homepage.

By December, 2015 Kendall and her siblings collected 120 pairs of shoes and raised $1060 for shipment cost. However, the boxes of shoes were held at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport by the customs authorities who demanded a duty of $2500, equivalent to Tk160,000.

Neither the Islam siblings nor the school could afford such an amount of money to pay as tax.

The lawyers of Old Bailey Chambers have been fighting this case probono for over seven months now.

“Regardless of the fact that this is a charitable initiative, the state counsels have been toiling to ensure that the government collects the duty on the shoes. They would have saved a

71-foot-tall Durga idol n Ranajit Chandra Kuri, Noakhali

Begumganj upazila, once blessed by the presence of Mahatma Gandhi on a communal peace mission, hit the headlines again after it was reported that a 71-feet-tall goddess Durga idol is being made there to celebrate the upcoming largest festival of Bangladesh’s Hindu community.

Tapash Saha, secretary of Bijoya Puja Udjapan Committee of the Bijoya Puja Mandap on Chowmuhani College Road of the upazila, the largest in Bangladesh by area, claimed that it is the tallest Durga idol in the country.

However, the Dhaka Tribune could not independently verify the claim. It is being made to celebrate 20 years of the mandap, he added.

Durga Puja, the largest festival among Bangla-speaking Hindus both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, will kick off on October 7.

The height of the idol signifies the 1971 Liberation War, members of the Bijoya Puja Udjapan Committee told the Dhaka Tribune.

A huge gathering at the mandap

is expected to witness the idol as the news of the idol has already been circulated through social media, organisers said.

Ratan Lal Saha, president of the district Puja Udjapan Parishad, said 158 puja mandaps had been set up in nine upazilas this year.

Of the total, 19 puja mandaps have been set up in Sadar upazila, 18 in Begumganj, 11 in Sonaimuri, 9 in Chatkhil, 12 in Senbag, 13 in Companiganj, 16 in Kabirhat, 29 in Subarnachar and 31 in Hatia upazila.

Sculptors are busy providing final touches to idols and decorating different puja mandaps ahead of the five-day festival.

Though security measures remained a concern for the organisers this year as news of vandalising idols from different corners of the country have been making headlines lately. Noakhali Superintendent of police Md Eliash Sharif said adequate security had been taken for each mandap.

Each puja committee will engage volunteers along with ansar and police members, confirms Ratan Lal Saha. l

lot of time and effort, and gathered higher value duty from other cases if the same effort was given on the appropriate duty-payable cases instead,” one of the petitioner’s lawyers commented. “This incident draws attention to the utter lack of provisions in our country regarding receiving aid from abroad through individual initiative,” another lawyer from Old Bailey Chambers, Nahid Hossain, writes on INTELLECT. The Old Bailey Chambers explained that the sender initially declared and estimated the value of the shoes for insurance claim purposes before sending them over.

They have estimated the value of the goods as $2500 based on which the customs duty was assessed.

They have sent a letter to National Board of Revenue (NBR) asking for an exemption from the tax in February as goods sent as charity or for public interest “under circumstances of exceptional nature” get exempted from paying duty.

There was no response from NBR. On April 11, the lawyers filed a writ petition when the high court issued a ‘Rule Nisi’.

Deputy Attorney General SM Moniruzzaman said: “Everything depends on NBR’s decision. We cannot act outside the law. Otherwise, the recipient needs a no objection certificate (NOC) from Ministry of Commerce, and then permission from Ministry of Education.”

On August 23, the judges directed customs officials to exempt the 120 pairs of used shoes from paying duty, and that they distribute 120 pairs of shoes in the presence of the local UNO & Upazila Education Officer.

In response to this, the government’s counsels filed an appeal which is due on October 2. If the court order goes in their favour, the Islam siblings will not only be asked to pay the tax for the goods, but also the fee of the customs warehouse where the goods are kept and port charges. l

PM’s birthday programme postponed n Tribune Desk Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday postponed the programmes that were scheduled to mark the 70th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

As per the directives of the PM, the programmes have been put on hold to honour the memory of celebrated writer Syed Shamsul Haque, who died yesterday at the age of 81, PM’s special assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil told BSS last night.

Programmes arranged by other organisations to mark the premier’s birthday have also been postponed.

Versatile writer Syed Shamsul Haque died yesterday at United Hospital after suffering from cancer. He was earlier treated at a London hospital where Sheikh Hasina visited him and took responsibilities of his treatment.

The premier, who is near the end of her US visit, expressed grief at the news of the death of the prominent writer.

Dubbing the late writer as a conscience of the nation, she said the country lost “a writer who was devoted to the truth while she personally lost one of her well-wishers at his death,” PM’s press secretary Ehsanul Karim quoted her saying.

“Syed Shamsul Haque has viewed Bangalee, Bangladesh and Bangabandhu as inseparable entities and through his powerful writings he showed the nation the dream of a secular country,” the premier said.

She added: “Syed Haque’s death is an irreparable loss of the national arena of literature and culture.” l

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