SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 | Magh 7, 1422, Rabius Sani 9, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 274 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

HEFAZAT SIGNS FATWA AGAINST MILITANCY PAGE 5

PUBLIC UNI TEACHERS POSTPONE STRIKE PAGE 32

AND THE JAPA DRAMA CONTINUES... PAGE 3

Moghbazar � yover project cost rises 58%n Tribune Report

The cost of the Moghbazar-Mouchak � yover has gone up by nearly 58% or Tk446 crore, as the government yesterday decided to grant the extra fund and extend the project dead-line to June 2017.

The approval came at a meeting of the Ex-ecutive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city yesterday.

Now the project cost will stand at around Tk1,219 crore, up by 57.8% from the initial es-timated cost of Tk772 crore. Of the increased cost, the government will provide Tk242 crore while the rest will come from donors.

Originally approved in 2011, the � yover project received several deadline extensions and was � nally scheduled to be completed by December 2015. But the latest extension will now give builders 18 more months to � nish their jobs.

Following a directive from the Prime Min-ister’s O� ce, the � yover will now also have a 450 metre extension from the FDC entrance to Hotel Sonargaon at Karwan Bazar, in-creasing the total length of the � yover from 8.25km to 8.7km.

When the project � rst got its nod from Ec-nec in 2011, it was meant to be � nished by De-cember 2013. But the � yover’s construction has moved at a slow pace since work began in 2013 – two years later than originally planned.

Dhaka residents have had to bear the con-sequence of the delay with regular tra� c congestions plaguing the nearby streets.

As of June last year, only 54% of the work had been completed for an expenditure of over Tk382 crore, half of the originally allot-ted fund.

About the rising construction cost of the � yover project, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters after yes-terday’s meeting that the project cost was pushed up because of the new 450 metre ex-tension, which was approved after taking the area’s tra� c congestion into account.

Sources, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that the extension would cost only Tk85 crore.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

n Shohel Mamun

The under-construction Moghbazar- Mouchak � yover has major design � aws and may turn out to be detrimental for vehicles once it is opened to tra� c, a team of experts have found.

There are two major � aws: � rst, the up-ward ramps are shorter than the downward ramps instead of being the other way round; and second, the design has been made for left-hand-drive tra� c, but all vehicles in Bangladesh drive right-hand and the roads are also designed that way.

According to the plan, the upward ramps of the � yover stand on eight pillars while the downward ramps stand on 11.

Shorter upward ramps is a problem be-cause vehicles need longer and less steep slopes to climb compared to what they need when they are coming down. Shorter upward ramps mean that many heavy vehicles such as big commercial buses and trucks might not be able to use the � yover at all.

There are a total of 16 ramps – eight up-wards and eight downwards.

The left-hand-driving design made by a US consultant means that the � yover has all the wrong turns. For example, the only right turn on the � yover – if someone is coming from the direction of Moghbazar – is at Shan-tinagar. The remaining turns are all on the left because the design was made for vehicles with left-hand drives.

The design of the � yover was prepared by a US consultant. When the Local Govern-ment Engineering Department (LGED) began

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Flyover � asco runs up costsBuilt for wrong side of road, among other major � aws

Construction work of the Moghbazar-Mouchak � yover goes on as per the wrong design meant for left-hand driving with the upward ramp steeper than the downward ramp. Bangladesh roads are made for right-hand driving. The picture was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Upward ramp is steeper than the downward ramp

Heavy vehicles will have a tough luck getting on the � yover because of this

The � yover is designed for left-hand driving, but Bangladesh roads areright-hand-drive

Overall tra� c will be a� ected by this

If the design is to be recti� ed, 60 pillars have to be rebuilt

LGED prefers carrying on with the existing faulty design

HOW THE FAULTS WILL AFFECT

News2DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Flyover � asco runs up costsconstruction, the unplanned underground utility lines caused troubles.

Then a team of experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) was appointed for a solution. That team, while working on a local design tweak, found out the � aws in the � yover’s overall layout.

Prof Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, teacher of civil engineering at Buet, said that the ex-pert team identi� ed some faults and referred them to Prof AMM Tau� qul Anwar, the lead-er of the expert team. But Prof Tau� qul did not want to make any comments over their � ndings.

Sources said that the experts have already sent their recommendations to the authori-ties along with suggestions for a redesigning of the � yover.

If their suggestions are followed, as many as 60 pillars, which have already been built, will have to be demolished to reset the length of the ramps.

However, the LGED did not care about the

suggestions. It said the suggestions could not be entertained because most of the construc-tion work has been completed.

Project director Najmul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune: “If we change the design, the cost will increase again and the project dura-tion will also be longer.

“More importantly, the donor will not agree to make more investments in the pro-ject.”

He also said: “One group of experts is say-ing that the design is not right. Others are saying that it is okay.”

Meanwhile, Buet experts who identi� ed the design � aw in the � rst place said they had nothing to do because the LGED only sought their help regarding the underground utility lines, not the entire layout of the � yover.

Architect Ikbal Habib said: “Earlier, we have seen that a ramp could not be built to-wards Nabisco-Shatrasta from the Mohakhali � yover because that too was built for left-hand driving. As a result, the Mohakhali � yo-

ver did not come to much use either in reduc-ing tra� c pressure.”

When contacted, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Oabidul Quader recom-mended talking to the secretary of the Na-tional Road Safety Council (NRSC).

MAN Siddique, member secretary of NRSC and secretary to the Road Transport and Highways Division, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have a separate wing for road safety and it is working to solve the engineering prob-lems in roads and infrastructure. If anybody or any authorities tell us about the problems, we will try to solve them.”

The 8.7km Moghbazar-Mouchak � yover is being built in three phases. In the � rst phase to be completed by March, the part from Shatrasta to Holy Family Hospital will be opened to tra� c.

In the second phase slated for Decem-ber opening, the part connecting Mouchak and Bangla Motor will be opened. In the last phase, scheduled for June 2017 completion, the hand from Rampura to Shantinagar will

be opened, according to a revised plan.The new plan also suggests that the � yo-

ver can withstand earthquakes of up to 10 on the Richter scale. l

Moghbazar � yoverMajority of the cost was increased because of delay in implementing the project and the rise in price of construction materials.

Currently, the � yover is being built in three parts – from Moghbazar to Tejgaon, from Kakrail to Rampura and from Mouchak to Banglamotor – to ease tra� c congestion between the capi-tal’s northern and southern areas.

The Saudi Fund for Development and OPEC Fund for International Development are funding some of the additional costs of the project.

Yesterday’s Ecnec meeting also approved nine more development projects worth about Tk4384.92 crore. Of the 10 projects, seven are new and three are revised. l

PMO seeks civil servants’ opinion on salary disparity n Asif Showkat Kallol

In accordance to a directive from the Prime Minister’s O� ce, civil servants are now sub-mitting applications to the Implementation Wing of Finance Division with their opinions on salary disparities under the new pay scale structure.

An o� cial from Youth and Sports Minis-try said they have submitted their demands to the � nance secretary after the PMO asked top o� cials of ministries and divisions to present their grievances.

The Prime Minister’s O� ce wants to know the overall demands and discrimination that dif-

ferent ministries found in the eighth pay scale, the o� cial said on condition of anonymity.

Sources said almost 500 civil servants have already submitted their claims about salary discrimination to Senior Finance Sec-retary Mahbub Ahmed.

However, it was unclear whether the core committee or the separate salary disparity solving cabinet committee would address the issues presented by the public servants.

The core committee to address these is-sues is headed by the prime minister’s Prin-ciple Secretary Abdul Kalam Azad.

A separate cabinet committee on solving salary discrimination is headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

The government issued the gazette for the eight pay scale on December 15, while the new pay scale for 2.1 million civil servants has already come into e� ect from July 1, 2015. l

5-murder accused Nazma remandedn Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

A district court yesterday granted the police � ve days to question Nazma Akter, an ac-cused in the � ve-murder case, in custody.

Detectives produced her before the court of Judicial Magistrate Ashek Imam at noon and sought seven days’ remand in the case. The court granted the police � ve days after a hearing.

Nazma, who lives in Kalabagan area, was ar-rested yesterday from Damudya of Shariatpur.

According to the case, one of the deceased, Taslima, had borrowed Tk12 lakh from Naz-ma and several others. Nazma used to visit the family in Baburail area of Narayanganj and issue threats as Taslima had failed to pay the monthly instalments in time.

The case was � led by Taslima’s husband Sha� qul Islam on Sunday, a day after the po-lice recovered the bodies of � ve members of the family including two minors.

The law enforcers have so far detained � ve persons – Sha� qul’s niece Mahfuz, Delwar, Shahadat, Parvez and Nazma. Of them, Parvez was remanded for seven days on Monday. l

Khaleda lays wreathon Zia’s graven Tribune Report

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia along with sen-ior party colleagues laid wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman to mark his 80th birth anniversary.

Khaleda reached the gravesite in the capi-tal’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11:45am.

After placing � oral wreaths at her hus-band’s grave, the BNP chairperson o� ered prayers for his departed soul.

BNP standing committee members and activists of the party’s associate and front or-ganisations also placed wreaths at Zia’s grave.

After layinig wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman to mark his 80th birth anniversary, the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “Bangladesh is itself at stake. We are moving forward to restore democracy to the country.

“The main challenge for BNP today is to restore democracy, restore people’s rights

and restore voting rights.”About the possible relocation of Zia’s

grave from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, party Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman said: “This is part of a government conspiracy. They [the governemnt] are observing the public’s re-action – how will the public react to such an initiative?

“In the history of Bangladesh, there is no example of a mazar being relocated.”

Noman said the government should act to rescue the country from the “present crisis” and hold an all party conference to devise a future election policy.

Born on January 19, 1936, at Bagbari in Bogra, Zia became the country’s 7th presi-dent and formed the BNP. He was a sector commander during the Liberation War in 1971 and later became chief of the army.

Zia founded the BNP on September 1, 1978. He was assassinated in an army coup in Chittagong on May 30, 1981. l

HC order on SI Masud yet to reach policen Arifur Rahman Rabbi

Police yesterday said they were yet to get a certi� ed copy of the High Court order directing them to accept central bank o� cial Golam Rabbi’s complaint against Sub-Inspector Masud Sikder as FIR.

“We will follow the court’s direction once we get the copy,” Mohammadpur police sta-tion’s O� cer-in-Charge Jamaluddin Mir told Dhaka Tribune.

The High Court on January 17 ordered po-lice to register Rabbi’s complaint against SI Masud as FIR. On yesterday, plainti� Zahid Hasan submitted a ‘lawyer’s certi� cate’ at Mohammadpur police station.

He told Dhaka Tribune that he � led the document as he, too, was yet to get copy of the court’s order.

A lawyer’s certi� cate is issued by a lawyer after the court gives an order.

But OC Jamaluddin said it was “not the proper document” and that they would wait for a certi� ed copy of the court’s order before starting legal procedures.

Rabbi claimed Masud had tortured him and threatened to kill him unless he paid Tk5 lakh. Masud was suspended two days later.

Rabbi’s friend Zahid said doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital would release him in a day or two. The doctors have advised the central bank o� cial to attend counselling sessions for six months as he was su� ering from trauma.

Meanwhile, police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday defended SI Masud, accus-ing Rabbi of “obstructing police duty” on the night of January 9, reports our Savar corre-spondent.

Shahidul claimed SI Masud wanted to frisk Rabbi but the central bank o� cial’s non-cooperation annoyed the on-duty po-licemen.

“So, SI Masud detained him for two hours but it was not what he should have done,” the IGP said, responding to a question at a pro-gramme in Savar. l

The new pay scale for 2.1 million civil servants has already come into e� ect from July 1, 2015

n Tribune Report

What is the Asol BNP?Asol BNP is an o� shoot of the Bangla-desh Nationalist Party led by Kamrul Hasan Nasim, who gained notoriety on January 9 last year when he declared the BNP of Khaleda and Tarique Rahman “illegal.”

The little known outsider claims he is restoring the BNP to the original princi-ples of founder Ziaur Rahman.

Nasim, sometime spokesperson of Saheda Obayed’s Gorbo Bangladesh, came to the spotlight during BNP Chair-person Khaleda Zia largely self-imposed con� nement to her Gulshan o� ce last year.

He has been barred entry to the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters on several oc-casions due to resistance by Chhatra Dal leaders and activists.

He has claimed to be a Krishak Dal member, but Krishak Dal leaders deny he was ever a member.

Some have claimed that he is fund-ed and patronised by supporters of the ruling party to split the BNP, but this has not been substantiated.

What is BNA?At almost exactly the same time, on January 15 last year, former BNP min-ister Barrister Nazmul Huda � oated the Bangladesh National Alliance, a group of 25 little-known political parties.

After being expelled from the BNP, Huda formed the Bangladesh National-ist Front (BNF) and then the Bangladesh Manobodhikar Party (BMP) before es-tablishing the BNA.

Nazmul was later expelled from his brainchild, the BNF.

One of the BNP’s founders, Nazmul has a record of returning to the BNP de-spite several expulsions from the party.

After a year-long silence, Huda re-cently expressed a willingness to join the Awami League led-alliance.

What does BNP rank and file think of all this?The average BNP supporter feels that splinter factions and their leaders will not be very successful.

They cite the experience of Prof Badrudozza Chowdhury, Col (retd) Oli Ahmed and other senior leaders who have left the party over the years, but

subsequently failed to make an impact on either national politics or the BNP. They tend to disappear from the public consciousness, BNP supporters point out.

Is there a split/schism within the BNP?While the party has not split, serious distrust between party leaders and activists has been a persistent problem.

Grass roots leaders believe that some top-ranking leaders enjoy good relations with the government.

What does this mean for the future of the BNP?The party is in the midst of a crisis fuelled by distrust and a series of em-barrassing decisions, including the de-cision to boycott national elections in 2014 and to run a pitiless blockade in 2015.

Very little organisational work has been done by the party in a very long time.

And inactivity, insiders and observers alike say, is probably the worst thing that can happen to a political party. l

What’s going on with the BNP?After two years outside of active politics in parliament and a disastrously ine� ective political programme in the streets, the BNP appears fractious, rudderless and spent. Is that really the case?

News 3D

TWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

And the drama continues ...n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Drama was the order of the day for the Jatiya Party yesterday after the party’s parliamen-tary committee rejected Chairman HM Er-shad’s reshu� e of the party leadership.

In a hurriedly-called press brie� ng around 2pm yesterday, the dictator-turned-demo-crat appointed ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader general secretary, relieving Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu of the post.

On Sunday Ershad made younger brother GM Quader co-chairman of the party. Ob-servers say the move signalled Quader as Er-shad’s favoured political successor.

Hours after announcing Bablu’s dismiss-al and Hawlader’s appointment, the party’s parliamentary committee, headed by wife Rawshan Ershad, held a meeting at the par-liament building, attended by the party chairman and all 40 of its lawmakers.

Before the meeting’s conclusion, Ershad and Hawlader were seen leaving.

Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam later told journalists that the parliamentary com-mittee had rejected both of Ershad’s deci-sions.

“All of the members of the parliamentary committee have rejected the decisions made by the chairman. We cannot accept them,” the opposition chief whip told journalists shortly after the meeting.

In what appeared to be a conciliatory note, Tajul added: “It was suggested that the deci-sions be taken after the presidium and parlia-mentary party meetings are held. The chair-man said the decision would be taken after

consulting with the leader of the opposition.” Unfazed by the rebu� of the parliamenta-

ry committee, the former army strongman is sticking to his guns.

“I will stick by my word until death,” he said, in a dramatic declaration to journalists. “The decision will not be changed.”

The opening actAt yesterday afternoon’s press brie� ng at the party’s Banani o� ce at which Ershad � rst announced Bablu’s dismissal, journalists quizzed him about whether the party was in danger of falling apart.

“Impossible. No one can split the party,” he told reporters.

“When I made Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu acting chairman and general secretary, respectively, no one raised any questions.

“Why are questions being raised now? Ba-blu failed to hold a council during his time as secretary general. He failed to carry out his role. So I am relieving him of the post and appointing Ruhul Amin Hawlader as general secretary for the sake of the party,” Ershad said.

At the press brie� ng, Ershad had defend-ed the reshu� e as being within the purview of his role.

About naming GM Quader co-chairman of the party, he said his brother “will do as I say.”

But the day after Quader’s appointment, Bablu proclaimed Rawshan Ershad as the party’s acting chairperson.

Ershad retaliated by denouncing Bablu’s declaration as “illegal.”

The cut and thrust of settling the party leadership ahead of its overdue council ap-pears to be behind yesterday’s in� ghting, with the Ershads on opposite sides of the battle lines.

Ershad, referring to his wife, assured jour-nalists yesterday: “I have no quarrel with Rawshan Ershad.”

Rehearsals of rebellionSince its establishment in January 1986, the Jatiya Party has split o� into � ve groups. Four are currently registered with the Elec-tion Commission.

The party split for the � rst time when An-war Hossain Monju left the party in 1996. He now heads Jatiya Party (Monju).

In 2001, senior Jatiya Party leader Naziur Rahman Monju left the party and joined the BNP-led alliance, forming the Bangladesh Jatiya Party. Andaleeve Rahman Partha cur-rently leads the party.

This party also split after MA Matin left to form the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Matin).

In the latest division in 2013, Kazi Zafar Ahmed left Ershad’s Jatiya Party to join the BNP-led alliance under his new party, Jatiya Party (Zafar).

Centring the January 5 national elections, the party faced another severe crisis as the top leadership split into two camps – Ershad and Rawshan. l

Chairman of Jatiya Party (JaPa) HM Ershad speaks at a press conference at party o� ce in the capital's Banani yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016News4D

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‘I will quit if I fail to simplify investment process’ n Adil Sakhawat

Promising to resign if he fails to simplify the investment process, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Nurul Islam has called on Bangla-deshi expatriates living abroad to invest in the motherland.

In a sign that nos-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) were being wooed into taking a bigger � nancial stake in the country, the government yesterday awarded Commercially Important Person (CIP) status to 10 non-resident Bangladeshis.

Speaking to journalists at his o� ce at the Ministry of Expa-triates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment yesterday, Nurul as-sured would-be foreign investors of Bangladeshi origin that the process would be made hassle-free.

The government yesterday recognised ten Non- Resident Bangla-deshis (NRBs) as Commercially Important Person (CIP) for their con-tribution to the country’s economy by sending remittances in 2014.

Expatriates Ministry Seceretary Khandaker Md Iftekhar Haid-er said that due to inadequate application only 10 NRBs are rec-ognised CIP instead of 25. l

Agami and Bangladesh Computer Council sign MoUn Tribune Report

Agami, a non-pro� t organisation, yesterday announced a partner-ship with Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) in their initiative to localise the Khan Academy in Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Un-derstanding (MoU) was signed between the parties to this e� ect.

The initiative was launched in July last year through a partner-ship between Agami and Grameenphone with the goal of launch-ing the Bangla website of Khan Academy, a non-pro� t educational organisation created in 2006 by educator Salman Khan to provide “a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere,” this year.

State Minister for the Ministry of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Ex-ecutive Director of Agami Education Foundation Na� sa Khanam, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council SM Ashraful Islam and other o� cials from the ministry and Agami were pres-ent at the MoU signing ceremony.

The initial phase of the website localisation has been complet-ed and launching of the Bangla website of Khan Academy is ex-pected soon. The initiative is expected to further accelerate with the long term goal of bringing the localised platform to students and teachers in the next 3-5 years.

Shamsul made PDB Chairmann Aminur Rahman Rasel

Engineer Md Shamsul Hasan Miah took over the charge as new Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) yesterday.

Prior to his new appointment, he was the member (company a� airs) of PDB, said a press release. He was born on 1957 in Nars-ingdi district.

Shamsul joined Power Development Board as Assistant Engineer in 1980. Later, he served the PDB as execu-tive engineer, superintendent engineer, and chief engineer. l

Charge sheet against Tarique’s mother-in-lawn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday submitted a charge sheet against the mother-in-law of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in a case � led against her for not submitting wealth statement to the commission.

ACC Deputy Director Abdus Sattar Sarker, also investigation o� cer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu to the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shamsul Are� n for taking next course of action in the case.

Con� rming the submission of the charge sheet, Sub-Inspector Shahidur Rahman, general recording o� cer (GRO) of ACC in Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, said: “She is the sole accused in the case and also a fugitive accused.”

On January 10, ACC approved the charge sheet against Tarique Rahman’s mother-in-law in the case which was � led with Ramna police on January 30, 2014.

Syeda Iqbal was served notice on January 25, 2012 to submit her wealth statement to the commission but she acquired a stay order from the High

Court. After the ACC challenged the High

Court order, the Appellate Division stayed the order on September 26, 2013.

Following the order, the ACC was free to collect her wealth statement, particularly to investigate the wealth of Tarique Rahman.

However, without complying with the court order and the commission’s notice, she appealed for fresh inquiry.

In response, the ACC said Syeda Iqbal could � le an objection at the court against the commission’s move. l

DIG prison threatenedn Tribune Report

An unidenti� ed caller threatened Deputy Inspector General (prison) AKM Fazlul Haque of facing dire consequences if he does not pay extortion.

The deputy inspector general � led a general diary with Chawk-bazar police station in this connection yesterday afternoon.

Shamimur Rashid Talukder, o� cer-in-charge of Chawkbazar police station, con� rmed the matter.

DIG Fazlul Haque said he received a call from 01625514282 at 10:56am yesterday. The caller then introduced himself Mohiud-din and identi� ed him as a leader of Sarbahara Party. Later, the caller demanded money for his organisation saying that if the DIG does not pay the money he has to face dire consequences.

The OC said they were investigating the matter. l

PRAYERTIMES

Cox’s Bazar 27 21Dhaka 26 17 Chittagong 26 17 Rajshahi 22 14 Rangpur 18 12 Khulna 26 17 Barisal 28 19 Sylhet 22 12T E M P E R AT U R E F O R E C A S T F O R TO DAY

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:36PM SUN RISES 6:43AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW28.9ºC 8.7ºC

Sitakunda SrimangalWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Fajr: 5:22am | Zohr: 12:09am Asr: 4:00pm | Magrib: 5:36pmEsha: 7:06pm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016News 5

DT

CLOUDY

Three JMB men put on 5-day fresh remandn Tribune Report

A Chittagong court yesterday granted a � ve-day fresh remand for each of three members of the banned Islamist out� t JMB in two arms cases lodged with Hathazari police station.

The JMB men are Naimur Rahman Nayan, 25, Faisal Mahmud, 26, and Md Shawkat Ra-sel, 26 - all students of Chittagong University who were suspended for their militant links.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Mosaddek Hos-sain Minhaz granted the remand after the trio were produced before the court with a ten-day remand plea, said Inspector (court) of Chittagong police Md Mashiur Rahman.

Detectives arrested the three JMB mem-bers from the port city on December 26, 2015.

Acting on their statements, DB o� cials raided a JMB den in Aman Bazar area and re-covered weapons and explosive materials. l

Syed Ashraf Ali passes awayn Tribune Report

Syed Ashraf Ali, former Director General, Islamic Foundation Bangla-desh, and renowned scholar on Islam, breathed his last yesterday, 19 Jan-uary 2016, at Eden

Multicare Centre in Dhaka. He was admitted to hospital a fortnight ear-

lier with complications of the lungs and was in a coma for the two days prior to his death.

Son of the late Syed Badrudduja, former mayor of Calcutta and member of India’s Lok Sabha, and Rakia Badrudduja, Syed Ashraf Ali was born in 1939 and educated at St. Xaviers College, Calcutta, and Calcutta University.

He moved to the then East Pakistan in 1964 and joined Radio Pakistan. In the early phases of Bangladesh’s War of Liberation, he was instrumental in helping set up the Shwa-dhin Bangla Biplobi Betar Kendra in Chit-tagong, where he was posted in March 1971.

Ali authored a number of books and treatises on Islam and hosted regular pro-grammes on Islam on television, particularly Bangladesh Television and ATN Bangla.

His articles in newspapers on a wide range of subjects, including religion and music, were remarkable for their deep insight and liberality. In the course of his career, he par-ticipated in a number of seminars and con-ferences at home and abroad.

He leaves behind his wife Sultana Ali, son Syed Mohammad Ali Zain, his daughter-in-law, siblings and innumerable well-wishers and fans.

His Namaz-e-Janaza was held after Zohr prayers yesterdayat Baitul Mukarram Nation-al Mosque. His mortal remains were buried at the Intellectuals graveyard in Mirpur. l

Hefazat leaders sign fatwa against militancyn Chowdhury Akbar Hossain

Several top leaders of radical Islamist plat-form Hefazat-e-Islam and teachers of its Hat-hazari Madrasa in Chittagong have signed the initiative of 100,000 scholars issuing fat-wa against militancy.

Fatwa committee chief Maulana Md Fariduddin Masud, also the Imam of Sholakia Mosque, said that they had already collected around 15,000 signatures since January 2. He said that they would also collect signatures of scholars engaged with various political parties.

Twelve Hefazat leaders including its Sec-retary General Junaid Babunagari and some teachers including chief mufti Abdus Salam of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam, also known as Hathazari Madrasa, signed the fatwa recently, sources said.

The platform’s organising secretary, how-ever, alleged that Maulana Masud had col-

lected their signatures tactfully. Maulana Azizul Huq Islamabadi said that Hefazat had always been vocal against militancy.

“Maulana Masud tactfully collected sig-natures from the Hefazat leaders during the Ijtema. He did not make it clear that it was part of his campaign,” he alleged.

Qawmi madrasa-based Hefazat came to limelight in 2013 by placing their 13-point demands that include the formulation of anti-blasphemy law after youths launched an unprecedented movement at Shahbagh demanding death penalty for all war crimi-nals, most of who are from Jamaat-e-Islami. Hefazat leaders also termed the incumbent government a patroniser of atheists.

Since the Hefazat movement, over a doz-en secular activists, writers, publishers and teachers were attacked – many of them killed – by religious extremists and militant groups.

At a recent Islamic conference in Chit-tagong, Hefazat chief Shah Ahmed Sha� said

they were also against militancy and vio-lence, but that their � ght against the atheists would continue.

The anti-militancy fatwa involving 11 questions explains the relevant verses of the Qur’an and the Hadiths to discourage extrem-ism and militant activities in the country.

Some 500 scholars present at Jamia Ikra of Khilgaon signed the fatwa on the inaugural day. The organisers will take signatures from female scholars too.

Maulana Masud hoped that they would be able to complete collecting the signa-tures by February. They had sent letters to all mosques, madrasas and religion-based political parties urging them sign the fatwa, which would be sent to the president of the state, the prime minister, the chief justice, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations among others.

Maulana Masud alleged that Jamaat-Shibir had instigated militancy in the country. A

seven-member committee is working to col-lect the signatures.

The initiative was taken after the police chief held series of meetings with Islamic scholars in December where they discussed ways to combat militant activities. A similar fatwa was issued by 1,000 Islamic scholars of India which says Islam is against terrorism, but Islamic State militant group is inciting terrorism.

Also the secretary general of Jamaat-e-Ul-ema, Maulana Masud said they were trying to collect signatures from all Muslim scholars in-cluding Shia, Sunni or Ahle Hadith followers.

“Islam does not support terrorism and mil-itancy. Provoked by an international group, a certain quarter in the country is trying to en-courage the youths in militant activities. If we can collect the signatures of 1,00,000 schol-ars, the world will know that Islam has noth-ing to do with militancy. It will also improve the image of the country,” he said. l

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha conducts a drive in Green Road area of the capital yesterday and demolishes several illegal structures RAJIB DHAR

IMEI registration from February 3n Ishtiaq Husain

From February 3, the government is planning to start the registration of IMEI numbers, a unique number assigned to each mobile phone, and build a central database to catch criminals who use illegally imported phones.

The Posts and Telecommunication Divi-sion and Bangladesh Mobile Phone Import-ers Association (BMPIA) have jointly taken the initiative, which will allow authorities to easily verify whether a mobile phone had been legally imported.

Although the government plans to keep IMEI records of all the phones that would be legally imported after February 3, no plan has been � nalised yet on how to collect the IMEIs of the devices currently in use.

Every phone or mobile broadband device

has a unique 15 digit code, called an Inter-national Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

Rezwanul Haque, general secretary of BMPIA, said the previous initiative to regis-ter SIMs would ensure 50% of the security, while IMEI or handset registration would al-low foolproof security.

“In cooperation with Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), we are also going to introduce au-tomated mobile handset IMEI number data-base which will also help us a lot to verify the genuine handsets,” said Rezwanul.

“Around 20% handsets are entering the country illegally through airports, land ports and sea ports, which is very alarming consid-ering security reasons,” he said, adding that IMEI registration would also play a vital role

in stopping VoIP calls.According to law enforcement agencies,

most criminals use illegal handsets to car-ry out their crimes. A central IMEI database would help law enforcers locate mobile de-vices and arrest criminals.

According to BMPIA, last year a total 26 million smartphones were imported, while the number was only 4 million in 2014.

Industry insiders said the rate of illegal import of mobile phones has also risen expo-nentially in the past year.

Dr Moinul Khan, director general of Cus-toms Intelligence and Investigation, said once the government introduces mobile handset registration, illegal import would be stopped.

Industry insiders said once the system is introduced, the entire security system would come under a single umbrella. l

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016News 7

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No school for 20 villagesn Abdul Aziz, Cox’s Bazar

More than 30,000 school-going children of 20-remote villages in Cox’s Bazar district are deprived of basic education due to absence of educational institutions.

Local sources said the children of South Shilkhali, Unchiprang Uttarpara of Teknaf, Dochori, Mucharkhola of Ukhia, Chakmapa-ra of Bhalukia, Khuniapalong of Ramu, Himchari, Telkhola of Palong, Pachimpara of Aliakbar, Sonadia, Gharibhanga of Mo-heshkhali, Shutnipara of Pekua, Baniachara of Chakaria, Phulchari of Baillyapara unions and Nazirartech of Cox’s Bazar Sadar had remained in dark as they had been far away from the ray of education.

Farid Alam of Himchari, Rashid Mian of

Telkhola, Sayed Akbar of Mucharkhola and Noor Mohammad of Pekua said the govern-ment had no intention to build up education-al institutions in the villages.

If the government was sincere to the peo-ple of those villages, educational institutions had been built up, they alleged.

Educational o� cials of the district said they had taken steps several times to build up schools in the area but due to lack of land it could not be implemented.

According to sources, the government had not taken steps to build up educational insti-tutions in 20 villages out 992, in the district depriving 23 lakh people living in the area.

There are 628 government primary schools, six govt high schools, 117 non govt high schools, 66 kindergartens, seven degree

colleges, one law college and one polytech-nic institution in the district where the 20 villages have no one.

ABM Siddiqur Rahman, o� cer of Second-ary and Higher education Board, said:“If an-yone wishes to build up educational institu-tion in the area, we will help him.”

“Govt rule is to build up an educational institution in an area where at least 10,000 people live,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Hossain said: “The district is famous for many reasons including the world’s longest beach, tourist attractions, Buddhist temples and natural resources.”

“But it is disappointed matter that the people of the district have no good scope to learn education due to lack of institutions,” he added. l

Two siblings to die for killing in Chittagongn Tribune Report

A Chittagong court yesterday morning hand-ed down death sentence to two brothers for killing a business � ve years back.

Judge of Chittagong Divisional Seedy Tri-al Tribunal Muhitul Hoque Md Anam Chow-dury passed the order in absentia of Hesham Uddin and Mohammod Shahid as they went into hiding following the killing.

The court also acquitted six other people as

they were not found guilty during the prose-cution, said Public Prosecutor Aiyub Khan.

The six acquitted were Sajjad, Md Moja-harul Islam, Md Miah, Hakim, Ali Azam and Aiyub Khan. Of the acquitted, � rst three per-sons were present during the time of deliver-ing verdict.

According to the prosecution, a business-man Mansur Ahmed khan was stabbed to death by the siblings over a land dispute on March 7, 2010.

On the following day, deceased’s brother Harez Ahmed Khan � led a case with Chan-danaish police station accusing eight people in connection with the killing.

On April 10, 2012, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police pressed charge sheet against eight persons, including the two convicts.

The court of Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal delivered the verdict after re-cording deposition of 16 out of 26 witnesses. l

Road link between Lama and Alikadam may suspend anytime n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Road communication between Lama and Alikadam upazilas may collapse anytime as a bailey bridge which connects the two upazi-las with Bandarban district town lies in a vul-nerable state.

According to local sources, Kumari bai-ley bridge located on the bordering areas of Chokoria and Lama was the essential medi-um of communication for the residents of Lama and Alikadam upazilas.

Recently miscreants had removed screws and nuts of the bailey bridge that put it in a vulnerable condition and it may collapse at an-ytime. The authorities of the Roads and High-way Department have already put cautionary � ag on the bridge, but people of the locality are still using the bridge putting their lives at risk.

Farid Ahmed, president of Chokoria-La-ma-Alikadam Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity told the Dhaka Tribune that they were com-pelled to operate vehicles through the bridge as they had no alternative.

He also urged the Roads and Highway De-partment to repair the bridge as soon as pos-sible to ease the su� erings of locals.

Selim Saodagar, a trader at Lama Bazar said he used to bring vegetables from a Chit-tagong wholesale market.

“As the bridge lies in a dilapidated state, I am bringing less quantity of vegetable from the wholesale market for that reason I am do-ing less pro� t. Now it has become tough for me to run my family with the income,” he added.

Shuvo Ranjan, a local Awami League leader, said the authorities should repair the bridge as soon as possible to ease the su� er-ings of 500,000 people of the locality.

Deputy Engineer of the Roads and Highway Department Mohammad Yusuf told the Dha-ka Tribune that they had already informed the higher authorities about the condition of the bridge. He said: “We will start repairing works on the bridge after getting fund.”

The bridge was constructed in 1985 during the tenure of the Ershad government. After construction the bridge, visiting of tourists had increased in the area to a great extent. l

Jubo League leader strangled n Our Correspondent, Jhalokati

A Jubo League leader was strangled at Noika-ti village, Saturia upazila in Jhalokati yester-day over extra marital a� air.

Police arrested Maksuda Begum, 30, for her alleged involvement with the killing of Moshin Jomaddar, 40, organising secretary of Jubo League at Saturia Ward 2. OC of Rajapur police station Harun Or Rashid told the Dha-ka Tribune that there had been a licit relation-ship between Mohsin and Maksuda for long.

Mohsin went to the house of Maksuda on Monday evening, but he did not return home. Police recovered the body of Mohsin from the house of Maksuda yesterday morning.

Local people said Mohsin divorced his wife a year back. After that he had developed relation with widow Maksud. l

Truckers set up barricade at Taimari intersection on the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway in Rajshahi town yesterday protesting police attack on a colleague of them. The law-enforcers tortured the driver while he refused to o� er bribe to them AZAHAR UDDIN

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

n Saudia Afrin

The world is comprised of di� erent cultures. Whatever the reason may be behind this, one culture empowers the other, thus making us rather rich and diverse when it

comes to our sense of fashion, style and trends of life. Asian � air is unique, and it will present a sophisticated and relaxing respite if you plan on bringing tiny yet trendy changes to your space. Here are � ve room decorating ideas of Asian in� uence to spice up your living space at home.

BonsaiDid you know that the ancient Chinese kept bonsai trees in their homes? They believed that it promotes relaxation and inner peace. It may work in today’s world since nowadays, people can barely open their windows/doors or hangout for hours outsi de. A tiny yet adult tree in a corner will add that serenity, green and purity to your home.

Colour Choosing the right colour has never been an easy task. A lot of aspects like size of the room, hard/soft colour etc need to be taken into consideration. Settling on the right colour have an immense impact on the state of mind and on our daily lives. A worthy try would be using � re colours like dark blue or deep pink in most activity oriented places, like the dinning or living room. Although according to Feng Shui (a Chinese philosophical system to harmonise everyone with the surrounding environment), while picking out colours always look into your own interest. If you don’t like a particular

colour, no need to use it even if it is considered auspicious in Feng Shui.

LanternSince it’s still winter, lanterns will not only help to keep you warm but also add to the overall look of your room. It comes in lots of vibrant shades and di� erent/interesting geometrical shapes. Decorate the lanterns by covering it in paper adorned with Asian culture-inspired symbols and prints. Let the soft and di� used lighting of lanterns spread its magic to every corner of your room. Or instead, covering the lanterns with solid structures like hole based coconut-shell for hard lighting is also a great way to decorate your house.

Bamboo furnitureFor an authentic Asian look, bamboo furniture is an apt choice. On top of that, it is eco-friendly, sustainable and chemical-free. However, instead of adding just a bamboo dresser, desk or bed, add a bamboo room divider. If you are willing to create a reading nook or a little private corner, this should de� nitely prove to be a worthy endeavour.

Silk bedding and drapesThe two basic elements of any room is the door and the window. Decorate the door and window with elegant silk fabrics in loud

Colours, such as red or gold. Similar fabric adorned with local motifs on pillows can add a coherent atmosphere. Now, you and your room will smile all day long. For a little more perfection, opt for very detailed designs on your fabric. l

Decor 9D

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Dress your room

PHOTOS: BIG STOCK

PHOTO: BIG STOCK

nKhan N Moushumi

Social media has been aiding in globalising today’s world for the last half decade or so. It brings people together, helps raise awareness, and e-commerce has

never been easier. It’s completely free of cost on these social sites.

Besides their humorous and entertaining streaks of posts, memes and videos, the popular Facebook page Moja losss? (the Robin Hood of Bangladesh on social media) is also responsible for bringing many culprits to justice through awareness raising.

But it’s no news that the advantages brought to the table by social media sites come with a set of issues. We have lost count of people who have been bullied or a� ected by rumours circulating about them on the social media. Every post is not always aimed at raising awareness; sometimes they are cooked up to gain competitive advantages or harass someone somebody has a beef with.

There is a skeptical bunch who will think twice before believing anything they read on social networking sites, and then there’s another group of audience, gullible and wayward, who takes everything shared on these sites as the Bible.

Last December, a post describing an American girl tying the knot with a Bangladeshi rickshaw puller went viral. It was accompanied with an attached photo of the two. Later, another post on the US Embassy-Dhaka’s o� cial Facebook page

surfaced, explaining that it’s untrue. The rumour was initiated on di� erent

Facebook pro� les, pages and groups including the ever popular DSD (Desperately Seeking Dhaka) group. It quoted “American girl falls for a Bangladeshi rickshaw puller and the two tie the knot.”

Later, the post on the US Embassy’s Facebook page cleared the air clarifying that the photo which was attached to these false claims was originally posted on September 10, 2015 on the Embassy’s o� cial Facebook page and it was of a US Fulbright Exchange

Student Researcher, next to a rickshaw puller during her time in the country. The rumoured story that was going viral was baseless and untrue.

The western countries have made peace with social media rumours ages ago. Some rumours even lead to suicides in many cases. Legal actions are also taken against the culprits under certain circumstances. But in Bangladesh, we are yet to see something similar happening.

Under the Penal Code, 1860 of Bangladesh, Chapter XXI, legal actions can

Feature10DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

“Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with � ne, or with both”

On the � ipside of the coinRumours and legal actions on social media

be taken against those committing cyber crimes, “Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with � ne, or with both.” We now have the technology to trace o� enders on social media using their IP addresses, with the aid of RAB and the police.

As powerful as it is, social media tools are being misused more often than not. Information, both accurate and false, spreads faster than the speed of light on these sites. We need to continue having access to our freedom of expression, which is why keeping away from opining something baseless at the cost of someone else’s sanity and well-being should be prioritised. l

Seminar held on sexual and reproductive health of garment workersn Syeda Samira Sadeque

Sexual and reproductive health of garment workers is of key importance and must be acknowledged and addressed, health activists said during a

seminar held last week. The seminar “Media Sensitisation:

Value Creation in RMG through embedding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in factories and the need for positive marketing” was organised by the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation’s “Working With Women” project. It was held at BGMEA center last Wednesday.

“SRHR as a topic needs to come out to the public,” said Dr Nazneen Akhter, senior lecturer at North South University while presenting her keynote speech at the seminar.

She added: “We need to get rid of the jargon, and simplify it so that a garment worker can take ownership of the term and say that it is their issue as well.”

Along with Dr Naznee, Shariful Islam, founder of Bangladesh Brand Forum also presented the keynote paper in the seminar,

followed by an open discussion session among journalists and hosts.

Engr Md Kawsar Ali, COO of Com� t

Composite Ltd, shared his experience of the initiatives taken at his factory. Engr Kawser’s factory has set an exemplary record for

volunteering to help SNV with their time on this project.

Members from Kawser’s factory, as well as Southeast Textiles Private Limited, another garment factory, were present during the SNV trainings, and also came forward to invest 60% in this project, according to a SNV representative.

“Often we see that due to lack of certain facilities available at the workplace, the workers become weak themselves,” said Kawser. “Then we lose them from the job market which in turn impedes on the growth of the entire industry.”

“The sector is already su� ering because we’re losing a lot of potential workers,” he added, emphasising on the urgent need to address sexual and reproductive health needs of female garment workers, who make up the majority of the garment workforce.

Ashrafur Rahman Ranju, COO, Millennium Textile and Faruque Hassan, senior vice-president, BGMEA were also present at the seminar. Faruque shared remarks from BGMEA about the project and urged the journalists to promote good practices in the RMG sector in order to stimulate growth of the industry. l

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INSIDE

The proposal by Dhaka North’s mayor to introduce an odd-even number plate tra� c rationing scheme to reduce congestion deserves detailed consideration.

In principle, as the recent pilot in Delhi has shown, it could at a stroke cut congestion and pollution by halving the number of cars plying roads on any given day. However, it is important to also take note of experience from cities such as Athens, where wealthier people have simply bought more cars so they have both odd and even-numbered plates.

The lesson from such drawbacks is a simple one.Dhaka’s chronic congestion problems can only be solved by implementing a

comprehensive approach to bring about a comprehensive di� erence to tra� c problems. Piecemeal e� orts will not be enough.

A uni� ed transport authority answerable to local authorities would go a long way towards improving matters if it was empowered to take a strategic approach to improving public transport and enforcing road regulations.

Making public transport more attractive to tempt more commuters and shoppers out of cars is the most widely proven approach that has helped major cities around the world cope with gridlock and curb costly tra� c jams.

Dhaka needs to do the same and start investing heavily in improving the e� ciency and quality of its buses.

Waiting for Metro Rail and other projects to come online will be leaving it too late. The capital cannot a� ord business as usual.

Making buses better by improving their quality and introducing segregated public transport-only lanes is the best way to speed up journey times for everyone. One properly functioning bus route can easily remove 30 cars o� the road.

The bene� ts of getting rid of tra� c congestion in terms of improving quality of life and attracting business would more than o� set the cost of improvements.

Improving public transport to tempt commuters out of cars is the best way to speed journey times for everyone

The unsinkable Donald Trump

The red road aheadThe fact that the party is resolved to be united with ‘the exploited classes’ is nothing new. It is also worth noticing that the word ‘caste’ does not � gure in the weighting of social movements

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A letter to my sonThe doctor judged me for having pre-marital sex, lectured me for not being cautious. But somewhere in my heart I know I didn’t want to let you go

What happens between now and July is probably speculation now, but as of now, the Republicans cannot wish away the Trump factor

Dhaka needs comprehensive solutions to curb congestion

11D

TEditorialWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Be heardWrite to Dhaka Tribune

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The views expressed in Opinion articles are those of the authors

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Tribune or its publisher.

Opinion12DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

n Ziauddin Choudhury

In June 2015, when the real estate moghul and TV reality show host Donald Trump announced his candidacy for Republican nomination

as a presidential candidate, most people thought it was another stunt by the egocentric billionaire.

He began with a slogan “make America great again,” and followed it up with rallies across America denigrating anyone and everyone who he claimed was responsible for the “economic mess” that the country was going through. His � rst target was illegal immigrants, mainly from Mexico, who he blamed for murder, loot, and rape in America.

He famously declared that he would build a wall, more than 1,400 miles in length, along the US-Mexico border to stop Mexicans from coming to the US, and to boot, he would make the Mexican government pay for the wall. Why, because the wall would be built to stop Mexicans not the other way round, and Mexico has made “a fortune” by having US companies shift their production to Mexico after the North American Free Trade agreement.

But while the saner section of people in the US were appalled by such outlandish

statements from Trump, and corporations severed ties with Donald Trump for such blanket accusations of Mexicans, a large section of people cheered Trump. His poll numbers among Republican loyalists shot up. Thus began the improbable ascent of Donald Trump in the popularity ladder of Republican presidential hopefuls that at the time numbered 16.

Since June, Donald Trump has blustered his way to popularity, albeit among Republican loyalists, and has continued to dominate the Republican candidate debates.

Derision, ridicule, and contempt have characterised Trump’s presidential campaign. No amount of personal attack on other presidential hopefuls, present or past, no amount of denigration of other religious or ethnic groups by Trump seemed to deter his ascendancy in the popularity scale.

He said Senator McCain was not a war hero because he was captured by the Viet-namese; he ridiculed facial features of Carly Fiorina, a Republican presidential hopeful, and then upped the list by calling for the banning of Muslims from entering the US.

Every time he uttered a personally derogatory remark against his opponents,

or made a racially provocative comment, people wondered whether that would bring an end to his rise and conclude his rather surreal quest for the presidency. But to everyone’s amazement, particularly the political pundits, he not only retained his ascendancy in the polls, he even bested his previous standings.

The rise of Donald Trump and his continued ascendancy in popularity among the Republican supporters not only fazes the US public in general, but also the Republican Party establishment (the Republican establishment refers to the permanent political class and structure that makes up the Republican Party.

The establishment tends to control the rules of the party system, party elections, and funding disbursements). This is because Donald Trump is not, nor has been, a part of the old Republican Party system.

In fact, for much of his business career, Donald Trump has been apolitical, more busy building his business empire and contributing to both parties. He even boasted of contributing to Hillary Clinton’s senate campaign.

Much as the Republican Party

establishment and others may express amazement or even dismay at the Trump triumph, the Donald factor in the upcoming Republican nomination for presidency will be a crucial decision point.

So far, his popularity and draw-in rallies have been attributed to the disenchantment of the Republican Party supporters at the grassroots and working class level with the party itself, and their falling economic status relative to others.

Analysts have pointed out Trump’s ability to exploit this disa� ection and fear further by incorporating exogenous elements such as illegal migration, Islamic militancy, and a perception of declining US economy.

But even as Donald Trump continued to corral support from the Republicans, the mainstream party leaders as well as other non-Republicans believed for quite some time that the Donald Trump balloon would burst sooner or later, as other more moderate and pro-establishment candidates gain ground among party supporters.

Unfortunately, none of this wishful thinking has proved true so far, and the Trump train keeps on chugging at full speed.

The silver lining in the cloud that seems to envelop the Republican political sky now is that there are several hurdles that Donald Trump (as well as other Republican Presidential nomination hopefuls) will have to cross before the party convention in July. These are gaining delegates from presidential primaries and caucuses that would be held from February through June.

Candidates with the highest number of delegates will gain nomination (the party convention for presidential nomination is a formality now, as delegates a� liation to

the candidates is already known from the primaries and caucuses. The candidate getting majority votes in primaries and caucuses becomes automatically the uno� cial presidential nominee of the party).

The Republican Party establishment still hopes that their party will be spared the unlikely scenario of having to endorse Donald Trump, the maverick who will probably be the undoing of the GOP, after all the primaries and caucuses are held.

They, as well as other independent voters, are hoping that the emotions that are in display in Trump rallies now are transient, and sanity among the rank and � les of the party will ultimately rule.

What happens between now and July is probably speculation now, but as of now, the Republicans cannot wish away the Trump factor.

Even as many old Republicans have expressed serious doubts about an ultimate victory for Trump in the delegates gathering race, they would face a tremendous challenge in casting their party as a party of inclusion and not of division should Trump succeed.

No one knows whether it is the Republican Party that will change to accommodate Trump, or Trump himself will change to accommodate the party establishment. In either case, people in the country as well as the world will watch eagerly in the coming six months the Trump drama in the US as it unfolds. 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.

The unsinkable Donald Trump

What happens between now and July is probably speculation now, but as of now, the Republicanscannot wish away the Trump factor

While saner Americans are appalled by Trump’s outlandish statements, he continues to be cheered on by a large group

Is Trump the man to make America great again? REUTERS

Opinion 13D

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

n Jostein Jakobsen

Party conventions and assemblies are rarely characterised by excitement. Rather, they are more like yearly rituals where members vote on

agendas and nothing out of the ordinary is expected to happen.

This also seems to be the general impression when the Communist Party of India (Marxist) arranges its assemblies. The year 2015, however, ended in a most unusual manner: The party held its � rst national “plenum” since 1978. Here, the road ahead for a party with di� culties was discussed.

In CPI(M)’s distinct terminology, “plenum” -- or a plenary assembly -- refers to a speci� c party assembly form triggered by what is considered to be dramatic changes in socio-political circumstances.

A plenum is an arena where the core questions that concern the party and its future are discussed. It has been 37 years since CPI(M) last went to such lengths, even though the party has discussed the importance of introspection on other

occasions in the last few years.Last year’s plenary assembly was held

in Kolkata and lasted from December 27-31. The event was a serious conclusion of the year, and the atmosphere di� ered from the plenum of 37 years ago. In 1978, CPI(M) was enjoying unprecedented success after the landmark electoral victory in West Bengal in 1977.

In 2015, the remarks on recession, stagnation, and party crisis were many. CPI(M) has often been described as being unable to regenerate, and prone to lose popular support in its remaining areas of strength in the country -- particularly West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura. While the party had 43 members in Lok Sabha (the Indian parliament) in 2004, last year only 10 remained.

Even though di� culties in support and an atmosphere of losing relevance was an important motivation for the plenary assembly, the fall of 2015 also carried with it a breeze of hope for CPI(M).

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP met with unexpected adversity and falling support in several state elections, including Modi’s own state of Gujarat.

In a situation where the main contender, the Congress Party, also struggles with support, there is an opportunity for CPI(M) to make a comeback and strengthen its position.

Undoubtedly a challenge, but maybe not impossible if the party uni� es behind a renewal? At least new political commentators seem to think so. “The concrete conditions for the CPI(M) to move back from the fringes,” a Kolkata-based

journalist writes, “have never been better.” Here, it must be taken into account that

CPI(M) is both a regional as well as a national party, and the possibilities for a comeback will primarily be driven by political dynamics in the states where the party has some in� uence.

The theme of the plenary assembly was “organisation” -- the renewal thus lies in reorganising the party. This is not wholly unexpected in that CPI(M) is often criticised for being hierarchical, slow, and in� exible with its remaining “democratic centralism.”

The party is also criticised for its brahminical pro� le, where hierarchies of caste and politics coincide to a large degree. And it is exactly “� exibility” that has now become the focus of the party leadership.

At the end of the plenary assembly, the party publicised an extract from a resolution. Here it was revealed that “� exible tactics” are going to push the party ahead. What this actually means and what connection it will have with the organisation is unclear. In the Indian press, it was expressed that “� exibility” could be interpreted as a new openness to join in an alliance with the Congress Party, at least in West Bengal.

The “� exibility” was short-lived, how-ever, as CPI(M) representatives from Kerala immediately proclaimed their opposition to politics of alliance with the Congress. Again, regional considerations can make the attempt for a new national line di� cult.

The resolution also deals with other, more explicit organisational questions. Again, in line with CPI(M)’s characteristic Marxist terminology, it has written about the necessity of strengthening the party’s “mass line” and maintaining co-operation with social movements within the country.

This will enable the party, the resolution proceeds, “to approach sections of the exploited classes who currently are under the in� uence of the bourgeois parties.”

How this will manifest itself remains to be seen.

The fact that the party is resolved to be united with “the exploited classes” is nothing new. It is also worth noticing that the word “caste” does not � gure in the weighting of social movements.

How much renewal that has surfaced from the plenary assembly is thusly not easy to interpret from the well-known and well-worn Marxist jargon.

The next opportunity the party has of showing concrete changes is during the upcoming state elections in West Bengal and Kerala, both to be held in the � rst half of 2016.

How CPI(M) chooses to proceed in these two states with the party’s core areas of support will reveal more about a possible change in course.

Until then, a lot suggests that new organisational turns in reality are less � exible than rhetorical. l

Jostein Jakobsen is a Researcher, Centre for Development and the Environment,University of Oslo.

The red road ahead

The fact that the party is resolved to be united with ‘the exploited classes’ is nothing new. It is also worth noticing that the word ‘caste’ does not � gure in the weighting of social movements

What does the future hold for the Communist Party of India (Marxist)?

Can the CPI(M) stay relevant? REUTERS

Long Form14DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

n Zoynab Ria

I hope you’ve reached safely and are doing � ne. I can only hope and pray, as I have never been to the neighbourhood I have sent you to. How are things there?

Have you seen the sunrise yet? How’s the food? Have you made friends? Do write to me some time.

I am at work now, but I felt like talking to you. I want to tell you so many things, but I’m not sure words will be enough to explain how much I miss you. Even though you were with me for a very short time.

I used to hear people say the best things happen when you least expect it. The very moment when I � rst experienced your presence inside me, I couldn’t share with anyone how happy I was. All my life I have been very alone. I would ask God for someone to call of my own, someone who would be obligated to be my side till the day ends, someone whose world would revolve around mine, someone I would open my eyes to every morning, that one face I will see before I die.

Being a mother is the best feeling in this world.

You used to talk to me through my veins. I bet you are as demanding as your father, as impatient. You remember the times when you were hungry and drove me crazy for cheesecake in the middle of the night? And the day when I could eat nothing but Hyderabadi biriyani to save my life? The number of times I went crazy for a bite of Hershey’s cookies & cream or just a slice of pizza bolognese.

I used to eat like an elephant whenever you started jumping inside out of hunger,

only for you to decide that you didn’t like the food and kicked to make me throw up! You were gradually taking over each stratum of my soul, my body, my ovaries. Just like your father: Too imperious, too challenging.

Now I know you have such a short fuse, but sometimes you should have worked with mommy, no? Like that morning when I skipped breakfast and you decided to make a fuss right in the middle of a meeting and mommy had to go faint. Just like your father: Too tenacious.

Yet, every crazy craving, every heavy-handed bout of nausea just increased my love for you, knowing that I was actually heading forward with a life carried inside me. My dear boy, I don’t know why sometimes it is so hard to keep the best things hidden. Meanwhile, I was furious -- and scared too. I was no longer in any contact with your father. Your father fell back in love with one of his old friends and decided to cut me o� his life way before I diagnosed your existence.

Yes, son, I was never married to your father. But trust me; even though you emerged unplanned, my love for you was

no less than any mother. I tried to tell your father that you were coming, but couldn’t reach him the � rst � ve weeks. He blacked me out from everywhere. There were times when I felt like running away from the country to live with you, where a label of an “unmarried mother” is not a great sin. But I couldn’t. The world is a very hard place. And people, even harder.

To what extent could I have saved you from all the names people would call you? I admit, it was my fault that I didn’t take proper precaution and paved the way for you to enter this world. I feel like a bad person for becoming too intimate with your father before marriage and letting all this happen. I was 25, with no � nancial security to promise you a life worth living without a father � gure. I was helpless. Your mommy is not strong enough to � ght alone against everything, you know?

When you formed as an embryo in seven weeks, your father decided to help me with an abortion through his girlfriend. I wanted to share my inner thoughts and desires to keep you in my life with your father, but he didn’t communicate with me directly,

instead sending his girlfriend to help. Mommy was so scared to get you labelled as a counterfeit child that she decided to go for the procedure as papa didn’t even leave the option to talk about anything.

Then that unusual day happened. It was a very rare occasion that brought these two women together that day. Two women, who absolutely have nothing in common but a man, a mutual love for the same man, your father. It was a getaway call for a love trio.

Once in a blue moon, it happens in this Earth, when a love turns a woman too frantic, too passionate, too Delphic, too unthinkable to believe. Your father’s girlfriend medicated me with Misoprostol (RU486) pills, a non-surgical method to send you back where you came from. She asked for you and your father in exchange of 12 pills which were inserted inside a seven-week-old unwed mother.

It was not the RU486 dissolved in my ovary that night. There, in the $72 a night deluxe suite where she medicated me, a seven-week-old-unwed mother was getting dissolved. In the dark of a pale mid-night, a forlorn soul was getting dissolved. In the ivory of clustered love, an untold story was getting dissolved. There, in a galaxy far away, my worst fear was getting dissolved. There, in the bleeding mistakes, my pride was getting dissolved.

I bled for 36 hours inhumanly in a hotel room your father paid for to get over with this trouble of unwanted pregnancy. I was alone, and it was only you who were still talking to me through my veins. I was craving for a hug from your father, a little touch to help me cope with the cramps going through my body. But as the dawn showed up, no one was there.

It was then that I suddenly I felt strong. I felt like I had overcome my worst fear of being criticised or pained.

I decided to buckle up, to bring you into this world. Maybe the hormones were giving me the courage to think of the unthinkable. I � nally got the courage to pay a visit to a doctor without thinking of all the bad comments and judgments I may receive for being an unwed mother. This was the time I saw you for the � rst time in the 3D sonography.

You were there, safe, untouched, and unaware of how my idiocy almost smashed you o� with oozed blood.

The doctor judged me for having pre-marital sex, lectured me for not being cautious. The sonographer lady sympa-thised with me, but somewhere in my heart I know I didn’t want to let you go anymore. I would � ght and do whatever it took to shape a life for you. I would show your father, my family, and society that we both survived despite all that had occurred. l

The concluding part of this long form will be published tomorrow.

Zoynab Ria is a former communications o� cer and is now working as a corporate executive and freelance writer.

A letter to my son

The doctor judged me for having pre-marital sex, lectured me for not being cautious. But somewhere in my heart I know I didn’t want to let you go

A woman shares her experiences of being pregnant and unwed. This is the � rst part in a two-part long form

Sometimes, we need to keep the best things hidden BIGSTOCK

15D

TBusinessWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

A $59tn tailwind spurs governance changesin Asia � rmsA surge in socially responsible investments to $59tn globally over the past decade is nudging Asian � rms to change a notoriously insular management style to one that active-ly addresses. PAGE 18

113 non-compliant tanners served legal notice The government has served legal notice to 113 tanners that stopped construction of their new infrastructures as part of relocation of their factories from Hazaribagh to Leather Industrial Park in Savar on the outskirts of the capital. PAGE 16

China 2015 growth slows to weakest for 25 yearsChina’s economy grew at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century last year as it undergoes a di� cult transition, data showed yesterday, escalating concern over a crucial driver of global expansion. PAGE 17

Capital market snapshot: TuesdayDSE

Broad Index 4,697.5 0.2% ▲

Index 1,128.3 0.6% ▲

30 Index 1,767.3 0.8% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk 7,207.2 16.3% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 240.6 8.1% ▲

CSEAll Share Index 14,364.6 0.3% ▲

30 Index 12,544.8 0.3% ▲

Selected Index 8,736.4 0.4% ▲

Turnover in Mn Tk 488.8 19.6% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 18.1 8.4% ▲

INSIDE

Slower global growth may strain Bangladesh exportsn Kayes Sohel

The latest cut in global economic growth by the International Monetary Fund might put downside risks on Bangladesh’s export and in� ow of foreign direct investment, an-alysts say.

The IMF yesterday revised down its eco-nomic growth outlook by 0.2 percentage point to 3.4% for both 2016 and 3.6% in 2017, as it cited slower growth in emerging markets, especially in China, falling com-modity prices, and rising interest rates in the U.S. as potential risks to global growth.

World Bank lead economist Zahid Hussain said downgrade in global economic growth means it might bring some strain on Bangla-desh’s export and capital in� ow. He said the country’s substantial export earnings come from the Europe where demand might weak-en as per the IMF’s latest growth outlook.

The Europe accounted for more than 50% of the country’s total export of more than $31bn, according to the latest data of the Export Promotion Bureau.

“The government’s 7% � scal economic

growth target is planned mainly depend-ing on exports,” said Hussain. However, he said, the positive side of the slashing global economic growth is that interest rates might not rise, resulting in lower cost of funds.

However, Centre for Policy Dialogue ex-ecutive director Musta� zur Rahman said the world economy is on recovery path from the recession, which is a positive sign for the Bangladesh economy.

“Look at the export growth trend. In De-cember last, export saw 12.7% growth and overall 7.3% growth in � rst half of this � scal. So far, it looks good,” he said.

For falling global oil prices, it was expect-ed that investment would increase from oil-imported countries, but to no avail, he said. They seemed cautious as their savings caused by the lower oil prices are not trans-lated into investment, he added. l

IMF cuts global economic growth outlookn Reuters

The International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecasts for the third time in less than a year on Tuesday, as new � gures from Beijing showed that the Chinese econ-omy grew at its slowest rate in a quarter of a century in 2015.

To back its forecasts, the IMF cited a sharp slowdown in China trade and weak commodity prices that are hammering Bra-zil and other emerging markets.

The Fund forecast that the world econ-omy would grow at 3.4 percent in 2016 and 3.6 percent in 2017, both years down 0.2 percentage point from the previous esti-mates made last October. It said policymak-ers should consider ways to bolster short-term demand.

The updated World Economic Outlook forecasts came as global � nancial markets have been roiled by worries over China’s slowdown -- con� rmed by o� cial Chinese data on Tuesday -- and plummeting oil prices.

The IMF maintained its previous China growth forecasts of 6.3 percent in 2016 and 6.0 percent in 2017, which represent sharp slowdowns from 2015.

China reported that growth for 2015 hit 6.9 percent after a year in which the world’s second biggest economy endured huge cap-ital out� ows, a slide in the currency and a summer stock market crash.

Shares in Europe and Asia rose and the dollar gained after the China data was re-leased, as investors anticipated greater ef-forts by Beijing to spur growth.

Concerns about Beijing’s grip on econom-ic policy have shot to the top of global inves-

tors’ risk list for 2016 after falls in its stock markets and the yuan stoked worries that the economy may be rapidly deteriorating.

The Fund said a steeper slowing of de-mand in China remained a risk to global growth and that weaker-than-expected Chinese imports and exports were weigh-ing heavily on other emerging markets and commodity exporters.

“We don’t see a big change in the funda-mentals in China compared to what we saw six months ago, but the markets are certain-ly very spooked by small events there that they � nd hard to interpret,” IMF economic counsellor Maurice Obstfeld said in a vide-otaped statement.

He said global � nancial markets seemed to be overreacting to falling oil prices and the risk of a sharp downturn in China.

Obstfeld also said it was critical that Chi-na is clear about its overall economic strate-gy, including its currency.

“It’s not a stretch to suggest that (mar-kets) may be reacting very strongly to rather small bits of evidence in an environment of volatility and risk aversion,” Obstfeld said at a news conference.

“The oil price puts stresses on oil exporters ... but there is a silver lining for consumers worldwide, so it’s not an unmitigated negative.”

The IMF report said con-tinued market upheaval could also help drag growth lower if it leads to major risk aversion and currency

depreciations in emerging markets. Other risks included further dollar appreciation and an escalation of geopolitical tensions.

U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley said the probability of a global recession this year was as high as 20 percent in a worst case scenario.

Soft consumer demand in the United States and Japan and weakness in emerging markets due to worries over plunging oil and commodity prices and capital out� ows from China were among the main risks.

A global recession is loosely de� ned as growth below the roughly 2.5 percent need-ed for the world economy to keep up with an expanding population.

The Fund said the outlook for an accel-eration of U.S. output was dimming as dol-lar strength weighs on manufacturing and lower oil prices curtail energy investment. It now projects U.S. economic growth at 2.6 percent for both 2016 and 2017, down 0.2 percentage point in both years from the Oc-tober forecast. l

Business16DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

No tax on SIM for biometric registrationn Tribune Report

The National Board of Revenue may exempt clients from tax on SIM cards during biom-etric registration process which began from December 16 last year.

The taxes authorities, who were earlier very strict about imposition of the tax, backtracked from their stance following recommendations from State Minister for Post and Telecommu-nications Tarana Halim, o� cials said.

Tarana Halim, earlier, said that it would create double taxation on mobile subscribers if the SIM tax was imposed during biometric

registration procedure.The mobile phone operators also request-

ed the revenue authorities to waive the tax on active SIM cards as the tax was earlier paid when the subscribers bought them.

The NBR has recently sent a summary to Finance Minister AMA Muhith seeking his in-struction on the matter.

According to the existing legal provisions, consumers have to pay Tk100 as � xed tax for getting back SIM cards again if lost or damaged.

The government is now conducting the biometric SIM registration process to prevent misuse of unregistered SIM cards, particular-

ly in criminal activities. With the biometric registration process,

all the SIM cards have to be registered with NID database of Election Commission. The information will include biometric data in-cluding � nger print.

Currently, there are 133.7m active mobile connections in the country, according to the latest data of Bangladesh Telecommunica-tion Regulatory Commission.

Being the second country, Bangladesh has initiated to introduce the human body-based identifying system to curb crimes using mo-bile phone. l

113 non-compliant tanners served legal noticen Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

The government has served legal notice to 113 tanners that stopped construction of their new infrastructures as part of relocation of their factories from Hazaribagh to Leather Industrial Park in Savar on the outskirts of the capital.

Meanwhile, the standing committee on the Industry Ministry will discuss the tan-nery relocation issue in its regular meeting.

In the legal notice, the government asked tanners to relocate their factories within 72 hours after receiving the notice, said MD Shahidul Islam, an advocate of the Supreme Court, who signed the notice.

“You (tanners) are wasting time by not re-locating your factories as per the government directive. The tanneries are polluting soil and river water of Dhaka,” the letter said.

“As per the Industry Minister Amir Hos-sain Amu’s instruction, we have sent legal notices to 113 tanners through lawyer, and gave them 72 hours to reply and start con-struction for relocation,” Leather Industrial Park Project Director Abdul Quayum told the Dhaka Tribune.

The response of legal notice is good as a maximum plot owners started the process of relocation, he said.

He added that the process of serving no-tice is closed for one week and it would be served further if the ministry issues any di-rective.

Earlier, Amu said the polluting factories will be shut if they fail to relocate to the in-dustrial park in Savar within 72 hours.

He also warned that plots allotted to the factories will be cancelled and legal action

taken.The December 31 of 2015 was the deadline

set by the government to relocate the tanner-ies.

The Ministry of Industries decided to

transfer the tanneries from their current lo-cation in Hazaribagh amid pressure from the Rights Group, environmental activists and buyers because of their hazardous e� ects on public health and environment.

It allocated plots to 155 tannery owners through Bangladesh Small and Cottage In-dustry Corporation (BSCIC) at the Leather In-dustrial Park established on a 200-acre land in Savar. l

2nd South Asian SME Summit kicks o� tomorrown Tribune Report

With a view to developing regional small and medium enterprises, the 2nd South Asian Countries SME Summit will kick o� Thurs-day in the city.

A total of 300 representatives from dif-ferent sectors including businesses and SME Forums, plus sector experts and policymak-ers from the SAARC countries will attend the summit at Hotel 71 in Bijoynagar of the capital.

The summit is jointly organised by South Asian Countries’ SME Forum and National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB), in association with the Industry Ministry and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and In-dustry (FBCCI), said a press release.

Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu will inaugurate the summit as the chief guest while the South Asian Countries’ SME Forum Presi-dent Mirza Nurul Gani Shovon will chair it.

Dhaka University Professor Dr Momtaz Uddin, also chairman of advisory council of NASCIB, will present a keynote paper titled ‘SME’s in South Asia with Special Reference to Bangladesh’ at the summit.

Fifteen business persons of the South Asian region will be recognised in the summit for their outstanding contributions to respec-tive economies and national development. l

Stocks inch up with higher turnover n Tribune Report

Stocks inched up amid upbeat trading ac-tivities yesterday, as Dhaka Stock Exchange turnover crossed Tk700 crore after a week.

The market was in the positive territory throughout the entire session with an uneven trading as investors mainly put funds into tel-ecommunication, cement and insurance, and some, however, booked modest pro� t.

The benchmark index DSEX gained 10 points or 0.3% to settle at 4,697, extending its gaining streak for the second straight ses-sion.

The Shariah index DSES moved up 6

points to 1,128. The blue chip comprising index DS30 rose about 14 points or 0.8% to 1,767.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX settled at 8,736, mar-ginally rising 31 points.

Participation in trading surged to Tk7,20 crore, a jump of over 16% over the previous session.

However, the market breadth remained negative as out of total 325 scrips traded at DSE, 153 declined, 138 advanced and 34 re-mained unchanged.

Investors’ concentration was mostly fo-cused on engineering sector, contributing al-

most 18% of the day’s turnover, followed by textile over 16% and power 11%.

On sectoral front, telecommunication posted the highest return of 4.5%, driven by heavyweight Grameenphone that attract-ed investors on the news that the company grabbed the highest number of new connec-tions last year.

IDLC Investments said enthusiasm spurred in the market from the very begin-ning of the session, pushing DSEX beyond 4,700-mark, a psychological level. As a re-sult, investors opted to book a quick pro� t during the latter part of the day, closing the prime index � at, it said. l

Workers are busy processing raw hide RAJIB DHAR

Business 17D

TWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

China 2015 growth slows to weakest for 25 yearsn AFP, Beijing

China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century last year as it undergoes a di� cult transition, data showed yesterday, escalating concern over a crucial driver of global expansion.

The 6.9% � gure was the slowest in the People’s Republic since the 3.8% of 1990, a year after the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown rocked the country and isolated it internationally.

World markets have been hammered in re-cent weeks by worries over China, the world’s number two economy, and its fourth-quarter expansion also slowed to 6.8%, the Nation-al Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, the softest since the global � nancial crisis.

Both � gures matched the median fore-casts in an AFP survey of 18 economists.

“The economy is in the process of stabili-sation, but it hasn’t stabilised yet,” Liao Qun, chief economist at Citic Bank International in Hong Kong, told AFP.

China’s leaders - who targeted growth of “about seven percent” - are looking to trans-

form the country’s economic model away from the investment and exports of the past to one more oriented towards domestic con-sumer demand.

The services sector accounted for 50.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, the NBS said in a statement, the � rst time it was more than half the economy.

The structural transformation was still underway, it added, calling it “a crucial peri-od during which challenges need to be over-come and problems need to be resolved”.

“The task of comprehensively deepening the reform is still heavy,” the body said.

Last year’s growth was well below the 7.3% of 2014, and the AFP survey projected it would fall to 6.7% this year.

“The situation in 2016 will be more or less the same as in 2015 and China’s economic growth will still face a complicated and vol-atile international situation,” NBS chief Wang Baoan told reporters.

But while some sectors will see destock-ing and overcapacity reduction, he pointed to new areas such as online retail and renew-able energy cars as still growing fast. l

Workers rest after lunch at a construction site in Shanghai, China REUTERS

Global retailers at Heimtextil Fair positive to RMG makersn Tribune Report

Bangladeshi RMG manufacturers and ex-porters received a good response from global retailers at Heimtextil Fair held in Frankfurt, Germany.

A total of 21 Bangladeshi companies took part in Heimtextil 2016. Of them, 11 compa-nies participated in the fair under the banner of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and 10 displayed their products in the expo directly.

The fair concluded on Friday last that

started from January 15, 2016.“We have been taking part in Heimtextil

Fair over the last seven years and witnessed a good response from the global retailers as buyers from the EU countries, Australia and South Africa visit fair every year to choose products from here to source, said Shah S Alam, managing director of Unilliance Tex-tile Ltd, a participant of the expo.

The fair is very helpful for the manufac-turers to be connected with the global retail-ers, he added. l

Business18DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

CORPORATE NEWS

Millennium Companies and Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh have recently signed an agreement on providing the bank’s credit cardholders with additional discount on pre-booking of vehicles distributed by Millennium Companies. The bank’s CEO, Abrar A Anwar and managing director of Millennium Companies, Shareq Fahim Haque were present at the signing ceremony

Midland Bank Limited has recently held its annual business conference for the year 2016. The bank’s chairperson, M Moniruzzaman Khandaker was present at the conference as chief guest

ACI Motors has recently launched a new model of Sonalika tractor in Bangladesh. Managing director of ACI Limited, Dr Arif Dowla and president (international business) of International Tractors Ltd India, Gaurav Saxena were present at the launching ceremony

Marcel has recently opened its exclusive showroom named Fatema Enterprise at Syed Atur Ali Road in Magura. The company’s brand ambassador, � lm actor Amin Khan inaugurated the showroom, said a press release

A $59tn tailwind spurs governance changes in Asia � rmsn Reuters, Singapore

A surge in socially responsible investments to $59tn globally over the past decade is nudging Asian � rms to change a notoriously insular management style to one that active-ly addresses corporate governance concerns.

As earnings growth and China’s econo-my slow, corporate executives are becoming more receptive to the investment messages from funds committed to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.

That commitment can be measured in tril-lions of investment dollars - global investors who have signed the United Nations Princi-ples for Responsible Investing (PRI) now own or manage $59tn, a surge from a mere $4tn in 2006, re� ecting growing evidence that responsible investments translate to higher long-term returns.

Companies in Asia are beginning to take heed as boardroom indi� erence to issues like minority shareholder rights and the environ-ment is giving way to stronger corporate gov-ernance that seeks to satisfy all stakeholders.

Asian � rms now make up more than half of the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index, a benchmark for environ-mental, social and governance performance. Seven of the 13 additions to the index last year were from Asia.

“A company’s willingness and ability to ad-

dress ESG issues relevant to its business can be a material driver of the company’s perfor-mance and valuation,” said Arthur Lau, head of Asia ex-Japan � xed income at PineBridge Investments, a signatory to the UN PRI.

Indeed, even as pro� t growth remains a focus for managers, an increasing number of Asian businesses and regulators are linking this growth to moves they are making to im-prove corporate responsibility such as track-ing carbon footprints and creating indices of sustainable businesses.

Asian investors and managers who have signed the PRI climbed to 70 in 2015 from seven in 2006.

Malaysia and Japan introduced their own responsible investment indices in 2014.

In a sign that such investments are grow-ing in importance to investors, Japan’s tril-lion-dollar Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s biggest, now benchmarks its performance against the JPX-Nikkei index 400, instead of the traditional Nikkei 225 or the Topix. l

International Customs Day to be observed on Jan 26n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Customs is going to observe In-ternational Customs Day 2016 on January 26 to promote digitalisation of all customs pro-cedures for trade facilitation.

Bangladesh will celebrate the day, along with a total of 179 member countries of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), to mark the � rst o� cial conference of the Customs Co-operation Council now named as World Customs Organization (WCO).

This year, the WCO member countries will celebrate the day with the slogan “Digital Customs: Progressive Engagement” in their respective countries.

On this occasion, the WCO members will have the opportunity to showcase and fur-ther promote use of Information and Com-munication Technologies (ICT) in the cus-toms procedures.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will celebrate the day centrally in Dhaka and re-gionally at nine other customs o� ces across the country.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Economic A� airs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, President of parliamentary stand-ing committee on economic a� airs Abdur Razaak and President of Federation of Bang-ladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmad will attend as special guests. l

People walk in the shadows of o� ce skyscrapers in a business district in Tokyo REUTERS

Biz Info 19D

T

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

The finale of “Get in the Ring,” a global startup competition where promising start-ups from different public and private universities of Bangladesh took part, was held on January 17, at Radission Blu Dhaka Water Garden. Daffodil International University (DIU) hosted the international competition considered as the olympic of start-ups. This was the first time such a competition was introduced in Bangladesh.

Atiur Rahman, governor at Bangladesh Bank, graced the event as the chief guest. Md Sabur Khan, chairman of Board of Trustees of Daffodil International University conducted the program. The judges pannel comprised of Abdul Matlub Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI); Sukomal Singh Chowdhury, a consultant of Bangladesh Bank; Naaz Farhana Ahmed, president of Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Ishtiaq Ahmed, chief executive officer of Omera Petroleum.

A start-up that redistributes leftover food from social functions, restaurants etc to slum dwellers won the inaugural edition of the competition in Bangladesh among seven other competitors. The four members of the app’s Food for People led

by Atiqur Rahman from Entrepreneurship Department of Daffodil International University, will get a chance to present their idea at the regional finale of the competition in Ryadh, Saudi Arabia. The other members are co- founder Nusrat Jahan Happy, Iqbaq Hossain Shimul and Ansara Humaira Lima. Other contestants were from Dhaka University, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), DU, Brac University and North South University.

Dr Atiar Rahman said that all the eight start ups that made it to the national finale deserve finance and investment, so the banks can look at them as profitable projects. He further commented: “It is heartening to see that the competition puts them in the spotlight, giving them a podium to create a global fan base and connecting investors”.

He also said that regulation is needed to encourage start-ups and the government too, has to come forward as a facilitator.

He also said that the nuts-and-bolts of doing business such as providing taxpayers identification number, trade licenses, winding up of a business, entrepreneurial and equity finding, providing incubation facilities and tax breaks must be made easily available to start-ups. “We all have

A student of Department of Management, Faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University named Zarif Enam, created an Android operated game. Oswald from the famous cartoon called Oswald has been featured as a lead character in the game.

He started his journey from his school days by drawing cartoons in the Unmad Magazine, followed by Bangla Track Miaki Vas, Apple Box, Control N, BYLC and some other reputable companies that enhanced his working experience.

His intention was to develop games since childhood. Zarif launched a game named Hoppy Octto from Notred. While it takes 10 to 20 people who struggle to develop an android game, Zarif alone had to work for six months on this game. However, his close friend from the same department, Abdullah Al Sayem, supported him in each step of the way.The responsibility of building characters has been done by renowned cartoonist of Unmad, Tariq Saifullah.

Download your game from the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.notred.hoppy_octto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notredgames l

Food for People app win ‘Get in the Ring’

Android game by a BBA Student

to handhold these small entrepreneurs and help them grow into successful groups of business leaders at a large stage” he added.

FBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmed, said: “Industrialists look for new ideas to make investment. I think this platform will give us ideas and we hope to partner with them to take them forward”.

In his presidential address Md Sabur Khan that said 90 start-ups applied for the competition but only 36 made the cut. Through two rounds of the competition the number was brought down to eight for the national final. “These start-ups will create jobs and lay the foundation for the economy,” he added. l

The DIUDC National Debate Festival 2016, patronised by Da� odil International University (DIU) and organised by Da� odil International University Debating Club (DIUDC), will be inaugurated on January 21 at 3:00pm at the DIU auditorium in Sobhanbag, Dhanmondi. The competition will end with a gala cultural programme and prize giving ceremony.

It will be the fourth national debate festival organised by DIUDC. And this time DIUDC will appear with the pure � avour of ancient Bangla with the slogan “Cokhe nilakash, buke biswas paye urbor poli.” The competition is divided into four segments which are titled as the four glorious era of Bangla.

The Inter-Club English debate is titled “Dhrupodi Era,” which will commence from January 21-23. The Inter-School Bangla debate is called “Pal Era,” which will commence January 28-29, the Inter-University Bangla debate is titled “Boidik

Era,” which is scheduled to take place from February 4 to 6 and the Inter-College Bangla debate is named “Mourjo Era,” which will start on February 11 and end on February 12.

All the � nales of the four glorious eras are scheduled to take place at the permanent campus of DIU at Asulia in Savar.

The champions and runner-ups of each segment will be awarded with trophies and certi� cates. The best debaters of each � nale and debaters of the tournament in each segment will be also awarded with crests and certi� cates.

About a hundred and thirty school, college and university teams will take part in the festival. The debates will be held on the following issues: Good governess, cultural exchange, women empowerment, human tra� cking, human rights, climate change, food security, philosophy, national and world politics, eliminating child abuse and right to information. l

DIUDC National Debate Festival begins this winter

The leading physicians of the country reaveled that seven out of ten hypertensive patients in Bangladesh failed to reach their target blood pressure after taking antihypertensive drugs. For hypertensive patients, they said that the new anti-hypertensive combination drug COVERAM is very e� ective in reaching the target blood pressure and reducing future risk of mortality, stroke or diabetes. Servier Bangladesh Operations organised the meeting in Dhaka Club on Tuesday to adress this issue.

COVERAM is a research brand of Servier which has been recently available in Bangladesh. It is widely prescribed around the world for high blood pressure.

A group of professors from di� erent institutes including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, attended the meeting. Citing the examples of di� erent clinical studies, they said that this new drug was able to reach target blood pressure in 84% of the patients. Accordng to ASCOT study, they said COVERAM reduces cardiovascular mortality by 24%, strokes by 23% and new onset of diabetes by 30%. They suggested Bangladesh to avail the bene� ts of COVERAM for the treatment of Bangladeshi hypertensive patients. l

A new hope for hypertensive patients

Downtime20DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

DILBERT

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.

CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

CODE-CRACKER

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a di� erent letter of the alphabet. For example, today 15 represents F so � ll F every time the � gure 15 appears.You have two letters in the control grid to start you o� . 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, � ll in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check o� the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CROSSWORD

Across 1 Thailand’s former name (4)4 Precious stone (5)8 Incentive (6)9 Dull heavy sound (4)11 Chairman’s mallet (5)12 Consumer (4)14 Mature (3)15 Come forth (6)19 Sober (6)21 Help (3)22 Bundles of notes (4)24 English composer (5)27 Quote (4)29 Representatives (6)30 Drank habitually (5)31 Given shoes (4)

Down 1 Drunkard (3)2 Entertained (6)3 Fashion (4)4 Large (3)5 Dodge (5)6 Speed an engine (3)7 Soothed (6) 10 Immense (4)13 Soak (3)14 Agreement (6)16 Gull (3)17 Salad item (6) 18 Essential part (4)20 Proverb (5)23 Book of the Bible (4)25 Opening (3)26 Colour (3)28 Conclude (3)

SUDOKU

INSIDE

21D

TWorldWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

UN: Staggering death toll for Iraqi civilians since 2014The number of civilians killed in violence in Iraq over the past two years is “stagger-ing”, the United Nations said Tuesday, with a death toll of at least 18,802 people and another 36,245 injured.

PAGE 23

Political paralysis leaves Palestinians questioning their futureAs Israel frets about the lifting of sanctions on Iran and its troubled relations with the European Union, on the other side of the Middle East con� ict - the Palestinians - an uneasy quiet has fallen that speaks of ideas running out.

PAGE 24

Pressure builds on Merkel to close borders as support slidesA group of conservative lawmakers urged Angela Merkel to reverse her open-door refugee policy as a poll showed a slide in support for her bloc on Tuesday, raising the stakes for a German chancellor exposed by deep rifts in her right-left coalition.

PAGE 24

Amnesty links DR Congo child labour to global auto, tech brandsn AFP, Kinshasa

Cobalt mined dangerously by children in the Democratic Republic of Congo could end up in the lithium batteries of smartphones and electric cars made by Apple, Samsung or Sony, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

After questioning 16 multinationals, the human rights watchdog said world-class electronics brands are failing to ensure that no child miners were involved in lithium-ion batteries used in their products, according to a joint report released with Afrewatch.

The DR Congo accounts for more than half of global production of cobalt, mainly from the southeastern Katanga province.

Thousands of clandestine miners includ-ing numerous young children work in tun-nels with rudimentary tools at risk to their health and their lives.

The � rms contacted by the report were identi� ed as clients of Asian battery manu-facturers that acquire processed cobalt from Chinese mineral conglomerate Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd, which wholly owns a subsidiary in DR Congo, the report said.

The report describes how traders buy co-balt from areas where child labour is rife and sell it to a local subsidiary of Huayou Cobalt. Once processed, the cobalt is sold to battery component manufacturers in China and South

Korea, which supply the multinationals.The report, entitled ‘This is what we die

for: Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo power the global trade in cobalt,’ also includes testimony from adult and child miners who work long shifts with no protective equipment, in danger of fatal accidents and permanent lung damage.

One company interviewed acknowl-edged the link, but two multinationals de-nied sourcing cobalt from DR Congo and others took intermediate positions. Six said they were investigating the claim.

“Crucially, none provided enough details to independently verify where the cobalt in their products came from,” the report said.

People don’t ask how products are madeLeading automobile and electronics � rms such as Daimler, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung were unable to declare the origin of the cobalt used in their lithium-ion bat-teries, Amnesty said.

Amnesty urged “multinational compa-nies who use lithium-ion batteries in their products to conduct human rights due dil-igence, investigate whether the cobalt is ex-tracted under hazardous conditions or with child labour, and be more transparent about their suppliers.”

“Millions of people enjoy the bene� ts

of new technologies but rarely ask how they are made,” said Mark Dummett, busi-ness and human rights researcher for the non-governmental organisation.

“It is a major paradox of the digital era that some of the world’s richest, most inno-vative companies are able to market incred-ibly sophisticated devices without being required to show where they source raw materials for their components,” Afrewatch executive director Emmanuel Umpala said.

The vast DR Congo in central Africa has immense mineral resources but remains one of the least developed nations in the world.

Rather than easing poverty, mining has helped fund more than 20 years of con-� ict, particularly in the eastern North and South Kivu provinces, which furnish large amounts of gold, tin, coltan and tungsten.

To prevent companies from indirectly � nancing con� icts, a US law on so-called “blood minerals” took e� ect in 2014 oblig-ing � rms listed in the United States to in-form its regulators if they use such raw ma-terials, mined not only in DR Congo but its nine neighbouring countries.

In a report published jointly in April 2015 with Global Witness, another non-govern-mental organisation, Amnesty International accused major American � rms of neglecting their duties under the legislation. l

Half of the workforce of the artisanal mining sector is comprised of children. Without viable economic alternatives, most children must join their parents in rudimentary mining pits. Children as young as two years transport, wash, and crush minerals to earn half a dollar a day COURTESY: THE CARTER CENTRE

AdvertisementWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

22DT

UN: Staggering death toll for Iraqi civilians since 2014n AFP, Geneva

The number of civilians killed in violence in Iraq over the past two years is “stagger-ing”, the United Nations said Tuesday, with a death toll of at least 18,802 people and an-other 36,245 injured.

Those � gures, which are likely an under-estimate, count casualties incurred from January 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015, according to a report by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN hu-man rights agency.

“Even the obscene casualty � gures fail to accurately re� ect exactly how terribly ci-vilians are su� ering in Iraq,” UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned in a state-ment.

“The � gures capture those who were killed or maimed by overt violence, but countless others have died from the lack of access to basic food, water or medical care,” he pointed out.

The UN said around 3.2m people have been internally displaced in Iraq since the beginning of 2014 when Dae’sh took over large parts of the country.

The UN gave speci� c attention to the atrocities committed by Dae’sh jihadists, detailing “numerous examples of killings...in gruesome public spectacles, including by shooting, beheading, bulldozing, burn-

ing alive and throwing people o� the top of buildings.”

It also decried reports of Dae’sh mur-dering child soldiers who tried to � ee, and lamented that the jihadists “continued to subject women and children to sexual vi-olence, particularly in the form of sexual slavery.”

“These acts may, in some instances,

amount to war crimes, crimes against hu-manity, and possibly genocide,” according to the report, which was based largely on witness and victim testimony.

The experts also said numerous mass graves had been discovered in Iraq, includ-ing in areas that had been under Dae’sh con-trol, but also some dating back to the rule of Saddam Hussein. l

WorldSOUTH ASIAMaldives’ Nasheed hopeful of political revival Jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, in Sri Lanka for a two-day stopover before heading to Britain for surgery, is hope-ful of a political revival once he returns to the country, his party spokesman said on Tuesday. Nasheed, the Maldives’ � rst democratically elected president, is serving a 13-year sentence on terrorism charges which drew international criticism. Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday thanked the world leaders who helped secure his release after being granted temporary leave from his prison cell. -REUTERS

INDIADae’sh letter threatens to kill Narendra Modi Goa police has started investigations into an anonymous letter signed by Dae’sh that says the terror out� t will assassinate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for banning beef in India. The letter was received at the home and general administrative departments. IGP V Renganathan said that they have initi-ated an inquiry into the matter. -TOI

CHINAChina: Manila exaggerating tensions with aircraft claimChina accused the Philippines on Tuesday of deliberately trying to scare people by saying China had warned a small civilian plane car-rying Philippine o� cials it was trespassing as they inspected an island in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines said the incident happened on January 7 to an aircraft inspect-ing Thitu Island in the Spratlys. Chinese For-eign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei repeated that China has sovereignty over the Spratlys and that the Philippines had illegally occupied eight islands there since the 1970s. -REUTERS

ASIA PACIFICAussie PM urges China to avoid power con� ict trapAustralian Prime Minister Malcolm Turn-bull called on China on Monday to avoid ac-tions in pursuit of territorial claims in Asia that could make con� ict with the United States more likely. Speaking in Washington ahead of a meeting with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Turnbull said Chinese President Xi Jinping had spoken of his desire to avoid the so-called Thucydides Trap - an academic theory that sees a risk of rivalry between a rising and an established power turning to con� ict. -REUTERS

MIDDLE EASTUS envoy accuses Israel for enforcing separate justice for Israelis, PalestiniansUS ambassador to the state of Israel Dan Shap-iro on Monday charged that Israel seems to apply separate standards of justice for Israelis and Palestinians, drawing a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Too much (Jewish) vigilantism goes unchecked, and at times there seems to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law, one for Israelis, and another for Palestinians, Shapiro said in a speech at the annual meeting of the Institute for Strategic Studies in Tel Aviv. -AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 201623

DT

India plans laser fences along Pakistan bordern AFP, New Delhi

India plans to put up laser fences along “vulnerable” stretches of its border with arch rival Pakistan after a deadly attack on one of its air force bases, a home ministry o� cial said Tuesday.

New Delhi blames gunmen belonging to a Pakistan-based militant group for the audacious attack on the base in Punjab state close to the Pakistan border earlier this month that left seven soldiers dead.

“We will soon use laser wall technology developed by India’s Border Security Force to plug all riverine and other unfenced vul-nerable stretches along the Pakistan border in Punjab,” a senior o� cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

A laser beam over a river sets o� a loud siren when someone passes through it, the Press Trust of India reported this week.

Laser fences have already been tested along stretches of the border in the dis-puted Kashmir region, an unnamed secu-rity o� cial said on Tuesday.

India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over Kashmir, last week post-poned talks after the fatal January 2 attack on the Pathankot air base.

The assault came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the � rst Indian leader to visit Pakistan in 11 years, raising hopes of a softening in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours. l

ANALYSIS

UK 2015 election: Pollsters got it all wrongn Reuters, London

A post-mortem into why opinion polls failed spectacularly to predict a Conservative Party victory in Britain’s 2015 parliamentary elec-tion has blamed sample recruitment meth-ods and, potentially, unintended herd behav-iour by pollsters.

For months, right up to the eve of the May election, opinion polls were showing a dead heat between the ruling Conservatives and opposition Labour Party. In the event, Prime Minister David Cameron’s party was ahead by well over 6 percentage points.

The polling � asco angered many in poli-tics and the media because expectations that neither party would win an overall majority in parliament meant the campaign was dom-inated by speculation about potential allianc-es with smaller parties.

This may have in� uenced the outcome, the argument goes, because there was little scrutiny of what a one-party Conservative government would do.

It also bolstered Conservative warnings that Labour would need support from the pro-independence Scottish National Party to govern, an unpopular scenario in England.

The accuracy and impact of opinion polls remain live issues ahead of a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the Euro-

pean Union that could take place this year. Polls suggest a tight race between the “in” and “out” campaigns.

After the May election, an association of pollsters commissioned an inquiry by a panel of statistics experts, who reported on Tuesday the main problem was the make-up of samples.

In particular, the samples had too many young voters and too few elderly ones. Young people are more likely to support Labour but less likely to vote, while the elderly are over-whelmingly Conservative-leaning and more likely to vote.

“We’ll be suggesting some things that we think will reduce the risk of being wrong, but there’s no silver bullet,” inquiry chairman Patrick Sturgis, professor of research meth-odology at the University of Southampton, said.

The panel also said it could not rule out “herding”, where pollsters considering ways to adjust their raw data select the option that produces the most “reasonable” results, which they may perceive to be those in line with other polls.

“When they’re choosing what to do, they may be in� uenced by what they think the result should be. That comes from the other polls,” Sturgis said, adding herding was unin-tentional. l

Members of the Iraqi forces battle with Dae’sh � ghters east of Ramadi, after they took control of the agricultural area surrounding the eastern part of the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province on January 12 AFP

WorldWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

24DT

USAUS top court to review Obama immigration actionThe US Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear President Barack Obama’s bid to resurrect his plan to shield more than 4 million illegal immigrants from deportation, a unilateral executive action he took in 2014 to bypass the Republican-led Congress. The dispute, to be argued before the court in the coming months with a ruling due by the end of June, will be one of the centerpiece cases of the court’s current term. -REUTERS

THE AMERICASMaduro seeks to share pain of economic emergencyVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s move to decree an economic emergency seeks to make the ascendant opposition share the po-litical cost of the South American oil giant’s economic mess. The decree, which gives Maduro 60 days of extraordinary powers to combat a deep recession and triple-digit in-� ation, was issued Friday and now passes to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which must approve it, reject it or demand changes within eight days. -AFP

UKWebsite targets parents who fear children may join Dae’shBritain launches a new website on Tuesday which aims to educate Muslim teenagers against groups like Dae’sh, as the govern-ment backed the right of schools to ban girls from wearing veils. The Educate Against Hate site will warn parents and teachers to watch out for signs of radicalisation amongst youngsters. It says the symptoms include wanting to shut down debate or pursue the path of segregation as well as spending too much time online. -AFP

EUROPEMSF denounces EU’s catastrophic failure to support migrantsRelief agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Tuesday denounced the EU’s catastrophic failure last year to help waves of asylum seekers, demanding that safe transit corridors be provided for them. The Medecins Sans Frontieres report adds to a litany of complaints about how the EU and its 28 member states responded to the worst migrant crisis since World War II. The report said deterrence and anti-immigration policies have actually spurred the problem of migrant smuggling and pushed people towards ever more dangerous routes. -AFP

AFRICAS Africa opposition vows to tackle racism within its ranksThe � rst black leader of South Africa’s main opposition party Mmusi Maimane vowed Tuesday to root out racist members, saying the country was being torn apart by renewed racial tension 22 years after apartheid. A series of bitter race rows have erupted in South Africa in recent weeks, specially after Democratic Alliance (DA) member Penny Sparrow compared black beachgoers to monkeys on a Facebook post, exposing deep divisions between blacks and whites. -AFP

Pressure builds on Merkel to close borders as support slidesn Reuters, Berlin

A group of conservative lawmakers urged Angela Merkel to reverse her open-door refugee policy as a poll showed a slide in support for her bloc on Tuesday, raising the stakes for a German chancellor exposed by deep rifts in her right-left coalition.

Conservative allies in Bavaria, the en-try point for most migrants, are regularly breaking ranks and criticism is also mount-ing from her Social Democrat (SPD) coali-tion partners. Some media have even start-ed to speculate about Merkel’s future.

An INSA poll in Tuesday’s top-selling Bild newspaper showed support for Merkel’s con-servative bloc down 2.5 percentage points at 32.5%, its lowest since the 2013 election.

It also put the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which campaigns against refugees, up 1 point at 12.5%.

The AfD has gained from worries about migrants, exacerbated by sexual attacks on women in Cologne and other cities at New Year blamed largely on asylum seekers, and is likely to make big gains in elections in three states in March.

Merkel’s insistence that Germany will cope with the in� ux of 1.1m migrants last year and more this year, has angered lo-cal authorities struggling to house people, many � eeing war zones in Syria and other Middle East countries.

Pressure is mounting on her to shut the borders � ve months after Germany opened its doors to asylum seekers from Syria, ef-fectively suspending EU rules.

In a letter to Merkel, 44 conservatives - many from her own Christian Democrats (CDU) as well as Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU) - urged Merkel to change course.

One of the initiators of the letter said a total of about 100 conservative lawmakers backed it.

The letter is just the latest headache for Merkel. The CSU wants a cap on migrants and some members are talking about taking the government to the Constitutional Court.

‘Helpless’The Social Democrats (SPD), at odds with conservatives on planned new rules on mi-grants, are also stepping up criticism.

Conservatives fear Merkel’s attempts to persuade other EU countries to take in quo-tas of refugees, push for reception centres to be built on Europe’s external borders and

pay Turkey to keep refugees from entering the bloc are not working.

There are signs that Merkel, traditionally known for her pragmatic approach, is hear-ing at least some of the criticism but she has remained � rm in resisting a cap.

Last December she reassured her CDU that the number of migrants would fall. Her government is trying to speed up asy-lum procedures and make it easier to deport failed asylum seekers.

Coalition o� cials said on Monday Ger-many wanted to limit migration from North Africa by declaring Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia ‘safe countries’.

Merkel still enjoys higher ratings than most post-war German chancellors and with no clear successor in sight, it is still widely expected that Merkel will stand in the 2017 federal elections. l

INSIGHT

Political paralysis leaves Palestinians questioning their futuren Reuters, Ramallah/Gaza

As Israel frets about the lifting of sanctions on Iran and its troubled relations with the European Union, on the other side of the Middle East con� ict - the Palestinians - an uneasy quiet has fallen that speaks of ideas running out.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, elected to a four-year term 11 years ago this month, rarely appears in public. His pledge to hold a congress of his Fatah party to elect new leaders has repeatedly been put o� . Factionalism is growing. Abbas has no clear successor.

His e� orts to raise Palestine’s pro� le on the world stage, principally by joining the International Criminal Court last June, ap-pear to have lost momentum. ICC prosecu-tors have so far declined to open any crim-inal investigation, despite the Palestinians handing over heaps of evidence.

Hopes that the French would usher through a new UN resolution on Palestinian statehood have not come to fruition, even if discussion on the subject continues.

Faced with such an array of problems, the response from the Palestinian leader-

ship has been to resort to an age-old solu-tion: to call for an international conference. Political analysts � nd themselves aggrieved at the lack of direction.

Fading prospectsCommon Palestinians are not alone in his sense of despair. European diplomats who liaise with the Palestinians have taken to rolling their eyes when asked how they see the situation unfolding.

Some mid-level Palestinian o� cials are

open about their frustrations and their con-cerns not only about divisions between Fa-tah and the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, but splits within Fatah itself, which could tear Palestinian politics asunder.

The political sclerosis comes at a time of stepped up Palestinian-Israeli violence, with 25 Israelis and a US citizen killed in stabbings, shootings and car rammings over the past four months. In the same period, 148 Palestinians, most of them attackers, have been killed by Israeli forces. l

Israeli, Palestinian peace activists walk behind cardboard cut-outs depicting the Israeli controversial separation barrier during a peace march at an Israeli road near a checkpoint AFP

German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne Hauptbahnhof AFP

25D

TSportINSIDE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Nepal set up � nal date with Bahrain U-23Nepal swept into the grand � nale of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup, setting up a clash with Bahrain Under-23 football team, after thrashing Maldives 4-1 at the Bangabandhu National stadium yesterday. Forward Nawayug Shrestha bagged a sensational hat-trick to give the Gorkhalis a solid platform. PAGE 26

East struggling, Shamsur propels CentralCentral and East Zone made contrasting starts in the opening day’s play of the second round in the BCL yesterday. Central opening batsman Shamsur Rahman smashed a century to propel his side to a relatively comfortable position against South Zone but East were in all sorts of trouble against North Zone. PAGE 27

Nadal, Halep stunned as shocks rock OpenRafael Nadal and Simona Halep went crashing out of the Australian Open � rst round yesterday as a dramatic day of upsets grabbed attention away from a match-� xing controversy which has left tennis reeling. Nadal su� ered one of the worst results of his career. PAGE 28

Mathews questioned in � xing probeSri Lankan police yesterday questioned skipper Angelo Mathews as part of investigations into an attempt to bribe players to under-perform in a cricket Test against the West Indies. Mathews said the police recorded a statement about what he knew of an approach to two Sri Lankan players. PAGE 29

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan throws the ball back to the centre wicket while youngsters (R-L) Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Haider Rony, Sabbir Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain look on during training in Khulna yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Experimental Tigers eye series winn Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh might be in the mood to experi-ment but a series victory will be very much on the agenda when they face Zimbabwe to-day in the third and penultimate Twenty20 international at Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. The match begins at 3pm and GTV and Star Sports 4 will telecast it live.

Despite making a few experiments, the Tigers still romped to victories in the � rst and second T20Is and the trend looks set to continue today.

Following the second T20I, the national selection panel rested all-rounder Shuvaga-ta Hom and pacemen Musta� zur Rahman and Al Amin Hossain while wicketkeep-er-batsman Mush� qur Rahim was ruled out from the rest of the series due to injury.

In came pace bowlers Abu Haider Rony, Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Shahid and youngster Mosaddek Hossain.

There is a bright chance of Mosaddek and Rony making their international bow while Taskin and Shahid will be looking to shine, which will in turn help them to stake a place

for themselves in the Tigers’ squad for the upcoming marquee tournaments like the Asia Cup T20 and ICC World T20.

The visitors on the other hand will be desperate to script a comeback after suf-fering comprehensive defeats in the � rst two T20Is, which comes on the back of mo-rale-shattering series defeats to Associates Afghanistan in both the ODIs and T20Is.

It was learned that regular skipper Elton Chigumbura is likely to return to the side after being rested in the previous match. Opening batsman Hamilton Masakadza act-ed as the deputy in Chigumbura’s absence.l

Under-19 camp rocked by Gazi injuryn Minhaz Uddin Khan

With only a week to go to the ICC Under-19 World Cup, the Bangladesh camp was rocked with the injury of key spinner Shawon Gazi. Gazi was hospitalised after receiving a blow to his head during training in Chittagong yes-terday.

The left-arm spinner took the blow while attempting a return catch in the nets, in-formed Bangladesh U-19 head coach Mizanur Rahman.

Gazi was immediately rushed to a local hospital for tests and it was later revealed that the injury is not a serious one.

Age-level selector Sazzad Ahmed Shipon, who is also the U-19 team manager, said, “Shawon underwent a CT scan. He might be kept at the hospital [yesterday].”

According to the medical o� cer, Gazi’s condition is very much under control.

In-form Gazi exhibited impressive dis-plays in the recently-concluded three-match youth ODI series against the West Indies, picking up seven wickets in the � rst two games.

Hosts Bangladesh are scheduled to meet defending champions South Africa in the tour-nament opener at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium next Wednesday. l

Despite making a few experiments, the Tigers

still romped to victories in the � rst and second T20Is and the trend looks set to

continue today

26DT Sport

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Nepal set up � nal date with Bahrain U-23n Shishir Hoque

Nepal swept into the grand � nale of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup, setting up a clash with Bahrain Under-23 football team, after thrashing Maldives 4-1 at the Bangabandhu National stadium yesterday.

Forward Nawayug Shrestha bagged a sen-sational hat-trick to give the Gorkhalis a solid platform while Ibrahim Ansar’s strike for the Red Snappers proved to be nothing but a con-solation. Bahrain U-23, who defeated hosts Bangladesh in the last four, await in the � nal which will be held this Friday.

Nepal began the clash brighter of the two sides. Nawayug enjoyed one of his best per-formances in a Gorkhali jersey while Bimal Gharti and Bishal Rai kept the opposition de-fence busy all the time.

And Nawayug duly put Nepal ahead at the half-hour mark. A sublime through pass by mid� elder Bishal set up Bimal but his shot hit the near post. From his resultant rebounder, Nawayug smashed home to give Nepal the lead.

Maldives were desperately unlucky not to equalise in the 44th minute when Easa Ismail’s powerful volley from 20 yards was parried away spectacularly by Nepal goal-keeper Bikesh Kuthu. After resumption, the Maldives defence was � nding it extremely di� cult to cope with the Nepalese wingers as the latter went 2-0 up in the 53rd minute, courtesy Bishal.

Nawayug grabbed his second of the evening with a brilliant e� ort to seal a comparative-ly facile win for Nepal at the hour mark. The Red Snappers managed to pull one back in the 77th minute when Nashid Ahmed placed home following a neat Hassan Naiz pass but it proved to be too little, too late. Nawayug completed his treble in injury time with a lovely � nish. l

Nepal’s hat-trick hero Nawayug Shrestha (C) breaks away from a Maldives defender before eventually bagging one of his three goals during the second semi-� nal of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MD SAZZAD HOSSAIN

Dispute resolved but not before some draman Tribune Report

The long-running saga involving premier league out� t Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi and the national footballers was � nally resolved yesterday with the intervention of top Bang-ladesh Football Federation o� cials.

And according to the resolution, the top-� ight champions are on the verge of losing a number of key players as the player transfer window for the upcoming Bangladesh Pre-mier League 2015-16 season opens today.

In the last few weeks, the footballers were under pressure to extend their contract with Sheikh Jamal against their wish. But all that was settled yesterday at the BFF House as the players became free agents. The footballers will now be able to join any club they desire.

The BFF brought the players to its head-

quarters from the team hotel under heavy police security yesterday morning. National team committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed then sat for a meeting with the footballers where he expressed his disappointment with the current situation.

And much to the players’ delight, Kazi Na-bil announced that they are free to join any club they want. The drama however, started after the end of the meeting.

A few Sheikh Jamal o� cials, led by Abdul Ga� ar, tried to convince national captain Ma-munul Islam and a couple of others to join the club’s training camp for the forthcoming AFC Cup. The footballers however, declined and at one point Mamunul requested the Sheikh Jamal o� cials, saying, “I have decided not to continue with Sheikh Jamal next season. Please pardon me.” Mamunul’s stance apparently

made the Sheikh Russel KC, Abahani Limited and Chittagong Abahani o� cials happy.

It did not stop there. The players were stuck inside the BFF House for more than two hours due to the presence of Sheikh Jamal of-� cials. Mamunul further added, “We are now free agents so we have the right to join any club we want. I have decided to play for Chit-tagong Abahani and this is my � nal decision.”

Veteran defender Nasir Uddin Chowdhury echoed Mamunul’s sentiment, saying, “Na-bil bhai told us that we are now free. Now I will decide where I will play but it will not be Sheikh Jamal for sure. There are chances that I will sign for Chittagong Abahani.”

A dejected Ga� ar, meanwhile, termed the recent developments as a “conspiracy” and blamed the BFF for the exodus of their play-ers to other clubs.l

Sport 27D

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Liverpool back Mignolet with new dealLiverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has signed a new contract, the English Premier League club announced Monday. Although Liverpool’s statement did not specify the duration of the extension, Britain’s Press As-sociation said that Mignolet’s new deal meant he would stay at An� eld for a further � ve years until 2021.

–AFP

Mutu returns home to press case for recallMuch-travelled Romania striker Adrian Mutu, hoping for a recall to the national team, has re-turned to his homeland with ASA Targu Mures until the end of the season, the club said. Mutu was given hope last month of a return to the Romania side for Euro 2016 after coach Angel Iordanescu said the 37-year-old could be recalled if he played at a higher level.

–REUTERS

Norwich sign defender Klose from WolfsburgSwiss international defender Timm Klose has joined Norwich City from Germany’s V� Wolfsburg on a three-and-a-half year deal as the Premier League side’s fourth signing of the January transfer window. Norwich, currently 16th in the 20-team league, did not disclose a fee for the 27-year-old centre-back who has made 39 appearances for the side.

–REUTERS

Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera to retire from TestsSri Lanka’s all rounder Thisara Perera will retire from Test cricket, but will continue playing one-day international and Twenty20 games, o� cials said Monday. The 26-year-old sent his retirement letter to Sri Lanka Cricket con� rm-ing the end of his Test career, an o� cial from the board said, asking not to be named.

–AFP

Vidic released by InterInter Milan announced yesterday they had cancelled the contract of former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, who had yet to make an appearance this season. Vidic missed the � rst half of the campaign after undergoing a hernia operation in August, with the ex-Serbia international now a free agent. The 34-year-old joined Inter on a free transfer from United in 2014 and played 28 times for the Serie A club last season.

–AFP

Watford sign forward Amrabat from MalagaWatford have signed Morocco international forward Nordin Amrabat from Spanish La Liga side Malaga, the Premier League club said on Monday. The 28-year-old Dutch-born player, whose previous clubs include PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray, was due to join up with his new team mates after Monday’s league game at Swansea City.

–REUTERS

QUICK BYTES

East struggling, Shamsur propels Centraln Tribune Report

Central and East Zone made contrasting starts in the opening day’s play of the sec-ond round in the Bangladesh Cricket League longer-version yesterday.

Central opening batsman Shamsur Rah-man smashed a century to propel his side to a relatively comfortable position against South Zone but East were in all sorts of trou-ble against North Zone.

Central Zone v South Zone, RajshahiAsked to take � rst guard at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman stadium, Central posted 233/5 with national discard Shamsur leading the way with a � ne 177-ball 103, featuring nine boundaries and a six.

Shuvagata Hom, who was dropped for

the third and fourth Twenty20 internation-als against Zimbabwe, marked his return to domestic cricket by scoring 83 from exact-ly 100 deliveries, hitting as many fours and maximum as Shamsur. Together, Shamsur

and Shuvagata added 145 valuable runs for the third wicket. Right-arm paceman Robi-ul Islam took two wickets for South while Asif Ahmed, Sohag Gazi and Abdur Razzak bagged one wicket each.

North Zone v East Zone, BograInvited to bat � rst at the Shaheed Chandu stadium, East lost regular wickets and � nd themselves struggling at 203/8 following the � rst day’s proceedings.

In what was a disciplined performance by the North bowlers, Sanjamul Islam scalped three wickets while Nasir Hossain picked up two. East’s top-order batsmen Tasamul Haque, Liton Kumar Das, Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque all registered starts but failed to prolong their innings into signi� cant ones. l

4TH BCL, ROUND 2, DAY 1Central Zone v South Zone, Rajshahi

Central: 233/5 in 63.2 oversShamsur 103, Shuvagata 83, Robiul 2/52, Asif

1/19, Gazi 1/62North Zone v East Zone, Bogra

East: 203/8 in 76 oversTasamul 45, Liton 43, Shadman 33, Sanjamul

3/33, Nasir 2/27

Central Zone opening batsman Shamsur Rahman raises his arms in celebration after reaching his century during the opening day’s play of their second round Bangladesh Cricket League longer-version encounter against South Zone in Rajshahi yesterday COURTESY

Legendary cricketer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar plays cricket with children during a press conference in New Delhi on Monday AFP

Australia o� -spinner Hauritz announces retirementn Reuters

Australia o� -spinner Nathan Hauritz an-nounced his retirement from competitive cricket yesterday, bringing the curtain down on a 15-year career during which he repre-sented the national side in all three formats.

Hauritz did not have a state contract for the last two seasons.

The 34-year-old failed to take a wicket in that clash, against Perth Scorchers, and con-ceded 29 runs in his two overs.

“I was just so shattered after the game,” he told reporters. “I realised I hadn’t come down here to be that disappointed about a game of cricket anymore. I thought ‘I don’t need that anymore’. I just want to get away.” l

28DT Sport

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

Spain’s Fernando Verdasco plays a forehand return during his men’s singles match against compatriot Rafael Nadal on day two of the 2016 Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday AFP

Baby alarm for dad-to-be Murrayn AFP, Melbourne

Andy Murray looked a worried man as he � n-ished his � rst match at the Australian Open - because he didn’t know whether he’d missed any news about the impending birth of his � rst child.

The Scot, who took just over two hours to beat Alexander Zverev in the opening round, hurried to check his phone to see whether there were any messages from home.

“I’m looking forward to any news because I just came o� the court,” he said in an on-court interview.

“I’m hoping my phone hasn’t been buzzing in my bag. Kim will message my team if any-thing goes on and we’ll see what happens.”l

Halep looks for positives after ‘tough’ upsetn AFP, Melbourne

World number two Simona Halep said she simply had an o� -day after she was sensationally dumped from the Australian Open at the � rst hurdle yesterday by Chinese quali� er Zhang Shuai.

The Romanian, who has been struggling with a niggling achilles injury, had no an-swers to Zhang’s dominant baseline game with the Chinese number four scoring a stun-ning 6-4, 6-3 win on Margaret Court Arena.

The odds had been heavily stacked in Ha-lep’s favour with Zhang playing 14 Grand Slam matches ahead of Tuesday and losing them all - the worst record of any top-300 player.

But she was a di� erent player on Marga-ret Court Arena, punishing the Romanian’s scrappy service game while dominating at the net and from the baseline.

“She was better [yesterday]. It’s tough. I’m really disappointed. But it’s only one day, only one match. [Today], it’s a new day,” said Halep, who denied her injury played a part in

the defeat. “I have to look forward and to stay moti-

vated. You know, everyone can lose, every-one can win. I know that. I have just to take it like it is and look ahead.”

Zhang burst into tears during her court-side interview as the enormity of the upset sunk in and the crowd gave her a generous ovation.

“I’m so excited that I played so well,” she said. “I’m so happy, so excited at beating the world’s number two player.”

The 27-year-old, ranked 133 in the world, added that it was the “most memorable mo-ment of my tennis life”.

Halep appeared to regain her composure as the second set unfolded, taking a 3-1 lead before Zhang again stepped up her game, reeling o� a forehand winner to secure the biggest scalp of her career.

“I think it wasn’t my good day, but I give her a lot of credit because I think she played really well,” Halep said.

Despite trying to be positive, it was a huge setback for Halep, who is enjoying her highest ever ranking after a stellar 2015 in which she won titles at Shenzhen, Dubai and Indian Wells.

She made clear ahead of the tournament that the ultimate goal was Grand Slam glory, with that dream now on hold. l

Nadal, Halep stunned as shocks rock Openn AFP, Melbourne

Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep went crash-ing out of the Australian Open � rst round yesterday as a dramatic day of upsets grabbed attention away from a match-� xing controversy which has left tennis reeling.

Nadal su� ered one of the worst Grand Slam results of his career as he was stunned by fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Ver-dasco in a � ve-set thriller which recalled their epic 2009 semi-� nal. Nadal, 29, has only ever lost once before in a Grand Slam � rst round, at Wimbledon 2013, but he has not gone fur-ther than the quarter-� nals at the majors since he won the 2014 French Open.

“It’s tough, but at the same time, I know I did everything that I can to be ready for it,” said Nadal, after 45th-ranked Verdasco’s 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win in four hours, 41 minutes.

“Was not my day. Let’s keep going. That’s the only thing. There is no more thing to do than keep practising hard, keep practising the same way that I was doing the last four, � ve months.”

Rising star Garbine Muguruza beat Estoni-an debutante Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4 in one hour exactly - and immediately set her sights on dethroning Serena Williams in the � nal.

“To win the Grand Slam here you are go-ing to have to beat Serena (Williams). It will be great if I can play against her,” said the con� dent Spanish world number three.

While Murray and Muguruza motored through, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams su� ered an early exit when she lost to British number one Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2. Two-time champion Victoria Azaren-ka enjoyed one of the most one-sided wins of her career when she “double-bagelled” Alisan Van Uytvanck 6-0, 6-0 in just 53 minutes. l

Zhang Shuai, right, of China is congratulated by Simona Halep of Romania after their � rst round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia yesterday AP

Nadal’s ongoing owes August 2014: Withdraws from the US Open with a wrist problem

November 2014: Undergoes surgery to remove his appendix in Barcelona

January 2015: On his return to Grand Slam tennis, Nadal loses in the Australian Open quarter-� nals 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) to Tomas Berdych

June 2015: Novak Djokovic ends the king of clay’s six-year French Open unbeaten streak in the quarter-� nals, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1

July 2015: Concerns grow as Nadal exits Wimbledon in the second round to 102nd-ranked Dustin Brown, 30

September 2015: Nadal throws away a two-set lead to exit the US Open third round against Fabio Fognini, leaving him without a Grand Slam title for the � rst season since 2004

Sport 29D

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Swansea’s Ashley Williams (C) scores

their � rst goal against Watford during their

English premier league match at Liberty

Stadium on Monday

REUTERS

COPA DEL REY Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid Athletic Club v Barcelona

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

DAY’S WATCHCRICKET

BTV, STAR SPORTS 43:00PM

Zimbabwe Tour of Bangladesh 3rd T20I

STAR SPORTS 19:30AM

India Tour of Australia 4th ODI

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy7:00PM

UPCA v Baroda

FOOTBALL SONY SIX1:30AM

The Emirates FA Cup Liverpool v Exeter City

Barca waiting on Messi, Suarez before Cup clashn Reuters, Madrid

Holders Barcelona could be missing two thirds of their proli� c attacking trio for today’s King’s Cup quarter-� nal, � rst leg at Athletic Bilbao, when they continue their bid for a fourth triumph in eight years.

Lionel Messi had to come o� at halftime in Sunday’s 6-0 demolition of the Basque club in La Liga and while tests on Monday ruled out a hamstring strain the Argentina captain re-mains a doubt for the clash at the San Mames.

Luis Suarez may also be absent after the Uruguay striker was handed a two-match

ban for allegedly provoking a fracas in the tunnel following the � rst leg of Barca’s last 16 tie against Espanyol this month.

Suarez served one half of the ban in the return game, when Barca progressed 6-1 on aggregate, and the club are waiting to hear if Spain’s Disciplinary Committee for Sports will suspend the sanction pending a � nal de-cision on an appeal.

“It depends what happens behind closed doors whether I’ll be able to play in the Cup but what I do have is a very clear conscience,” Suarez, who has denied causing the bust-up, told reporters on Sunday.

Last week’s draw for the last eight pitted Barca, the record winners, against a Bilbao side whose 23 Cup victories, their most re-cent coming in 1984 against Barca, are only bettered by the Catalan club’s 27.l

SL skipper Mathews questioned in � xing proben AFP, Colombo

Sri Lankan police yesterday questioned skip-per Angelo Mathews as part of investigations into an attempt to bribe players to under-per-form in a cricket Test against the West Indies.

Mathews said the police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) recorded a statement about what he knew of an ap-proach to two Sri Lankan players to arrange a shock defeat at the hands of the West Indies at Galle last October.

“This is about a player approach, no in-vestigation against any of the cricketers,” Mathews said after spending over � ve hours at the FCID o� ce in Colombo.

He said he was questioned about what he knew of the approach made to Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath, to � x the result of a Test played at the Galle International stadium.

The two players refused the o� er of some

$70,000 and Sri Lanka beat the tourists by an innings and six runs after veteran left-arm spinner Herath took 10 wickets.

Mathews said it was the players them-selves who had reported the approach. How-ever, the police investigation was launched after Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera lodged a formal complaint. l

Showtime30DT

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 20, 2016

nGopa Biswas Caesar

Under Construction is an upcoming � lm by Rubaiyat Hossain, to be released on January 22, 2016. It received positive acclaim at numerous international � lm festivals and has � nally arrived on Bangladeshi soil. The � lm is a grand portrayal of the metropolis Dhaka, thus aptly titled “under construction.”

The storyline is not only a re� ection of the city, but also tells the story of city dwellers and how their life too, is “under construction.” Viewers will surely be introduced to so many di� erent aspects and issues in the movie, they will be compelled to wonder if there really is any other aspect this � lm could have been addressed.

The � lm’s storyline employs dramatic foils of the protagonist Roya (Shahana Goswami) in two layers - � rst, through Moyna (Rikita Shimu) and second through her mother (Mita Chowdhury). Roya, is an ambitious theatre actor passionate about her ventures on one end, while on the other end, she is a woman who cannot make time for social ties as she tries to � nd a “room” for herself. Her way of life is frequently questioned by her conservative mother who awaits a husband long lost to another woman, who aspires for a common, lower-class life in a Dhaka slum. Unlike Roya, they both earn their own bread but do not seek freedom the way Roya does. They think women should submit to male-dominating society willfully, consider wife-beating semi-inevitable and believe in motherhood/”wifery.” With a backdrop of

Rabindranath Tagore’s classic, Rakta-Karabi, Hossain explores random play-within-play shots to come up with a solid statement - the moment our women stop being self-less, they become sel� sh!

Hossain’s work seems largely in� uenced by Rituporno Ghosh’s Tagore adaptations which tended to deconstruct classics to tell present stories. The � lm’s music was by Arnab alongside Shahana Bajpaie whose voice was very refreshing. Hossain’s use of dream sequences seems tributary and therefore looked slightly imposed at times. In some shots, she seemed to give in to stereotypes and a Sean Nixonian “male gaze.” But, then again, Hossain did a Herculean job for sure. She had too much on her plate

this time. For example, the treatment of Rakta-Karabi while drawing comparisons to RMG’s industrial sector to its “jakhshapuri” with art-”conservatives” � ghting over the classic’s new reading. Also, the “grouping,” the red-eyed pseudo-radical group leader and the frights of “aging” among female art-practitioners were not easy scenes to portray. Keeping the Dhaka spirit alive throughout the � lm by using news bites, sound inserts and cityscapes is another tough thing to handle. Besides paying heed to the frequent garment industry tragedies (like the Rana Plaza

tragedy), she even gave � oor to the recent rise of fundamentalism and extremism as well as raging debates on women’s “rooms,” common men’s perception about art-practitioners, mechanisation creating calculative corporate men without compassion and motherhood versus career, among others. In a nutshell, the movie is about perks of a beautiful but aging woman trying to construct herself in our metropolis, one that is, without a doubt, “under construction.”

It is a � lm for the women, by a woman who wants to make gender-sensitive � lms. l

A woman that is not self-less is sel� sh!

Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist, dies aged 67

nShowtime Desk

After being silent for a while, Shrabastee Dutta Tinny has made news again. Recently, she has been posting photos of her children, husband, family and her personal life. She has posted a video where she was singing Amar Buker Modhdhokhane along with Shawkat Ali Emon. Shawkat Ali Emon, the music composer and singer was also playing the guitar in the video. It was

recorded almost six years back for TV channel and has become

choice of the audience. The whole package became

very touchy, and the video has now become viral. As we know this was not Tinny’s � rst attempt as a singer. She has sung for a mixed album and the song Showapno gulo shotti was pretty much a hit at that time. l

Tinni’s old video cracked!

The storyline is not only a re� ection of the city, but also tells the story of city dwellers and how their life too, is “under construction.” Viewers will surely be introduced to many di� erent aspects and issues in the movie

nShowtime Desk

Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist, has died at the age of 67 in New York. The founding member of the US rock group who wrote or co-wrote some of the bands most famous songs – including Hotel California and Take It Easy – died in New York from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, according to reports.

Raised in Michigan, he formed the

Eagles along with Henley, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon in 1971 after the quartet acted as the backing musicians for Linda Ronstadt on tour.

The band was wildly successful in the 1970s, selling some 100m albums in the US alone, and a further 50m worldwide.

The 1976 release Hotel California is perhaps their best known, although the Greatest Hits album of the same year was, for a time, the best-selling album in US music history, certified platinum 29 times.

Frey had a successful solo career in the 1980s with hits including The Heat Is On, which featured on the soundtrack to the

Eddie Murphy � lm Beverly Hills Cop, and You Belong to the City from the TV show

Miami Vice. His most recent album, After Hours, was released in 2012. l

Showtime 31D

TWEDNESDAY , JANUARY 20, 2016

Amitabh Reza � lming ‘Aynabaji’

Wedding bell

n Promiti Prova Chowdhury

Amitabh Reza Choudhury, the visionary television commercial director, has come up with his � rst Aynabaji. The trailer has taken the social media by a storm since it’s release on Monday.

In the trailer, Chanchal Choudhury, the protagonist is seen delivering witty against the backdrop of old Dhaka. The hype curiosity is evident in the comments section below the trailer with many keenly waiting for the � rst � lm by this seasoned director who brought in a new style in television commercials some 20 years back. Now, people are eager to experience what the director has to o� er in the � lm.

Showtime got in touch with Mahzabin Reza Choudhury, the producer of the � lm, who had some interesting facts about the movie to share with their audience prior to the theatrical release.

“For the shooting of the � lm we rented a house in old Dhaka and stayed there for two months. This was done because we wanted to make each scene as realistic as possible. We wanted to closely observe the people and the environment of old Dhaka, so that we could design the characters and the story line in a way that would feel realistic. We wanted the audience to believe in our characters. That is why they were built on a real plot,” says Mahzabin.

When asked why people would go to the theatre to watch this � lm, Mahzabin replied: “If people want to experience the intricate realities of Dhaka city, both the old and the new, they can go watch this � lm. We started planning about making a � lm around six years ago. But we could not � nd a reason. We asked ourselves why someone would go watch our � lm. Finally we came up with Aynabaji, which we believe is a � lm of this generation. Yes, it is

a commercial � lm with romance, thrill and all other kinds of emotions. But also it is a � lm of the new stream where directors are trying to make � lms that are realistic and entertaining at the same time. So, people can go watch the movie just to enjoy some hours.”

The shooting hours were tight, says Mahzabin. She describes how the team used to come for shoot at 4am and stay till

midnight. The jolly producer also giggles while recalling how the director, her brother Amitabh Reza, cut his hair during the shooting of the � lm. “My brother wanted a new look because he believed in the character of Ayna. We have seen him in short hair for the � rst time in last 14 years,” she says.

Ayna is expected to get release by the end of March. l

nShow time desk

As part of the ongoing 14th edition of Dhaka International Film Festival, a retrospective session of French New Wave � lmmaker Agnes Varda has been included. Her self-funded debut, the � ction-documentary hybrid 1956’s La Pointe Courte is often considered the uno� cial � rst New Wave � lm; when she made it, she had no professional cinema training and her early work included painting, sculpting, and photojournalism.

Four of her � lms will be screened tomorrow at the auditorium of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi. The Gleaners and I (2000, 82 min), 10amIn this documentary Varda deals with the issue of wealth and poverty in modern day France by exploring the world of gleaners and pickers. Jacquot de Nantes (1991, 118 min), 12pmAn evocation of French cineast Jacques Demy’s childhood and vocation for the cinema and the musicals.

Vagabond (1985, 105 min), 3pmIn winter in the south of France, a young woman is found frozen in a ditch. She’s unkempt, a vagabond. Through � ashbacks and brief interviews, the � lm traces her � nal weeks as she camps alone or falls in with various men and women.

The Beaches of Agnes (2008, 110 min), 5pmThe � lmmaker returns to the beaches that have been part of her life. She invents a poetic self-portrait-documentary, visiting the locales of her past and the people who inhabited them, celebrating her 80th birthday on camera. l

nShow time desk

Ghajini actress Asin Thottumkal’s and Micromax founder Rahul Sharma tied the knot yesterday (Tuesday) in New Delhi. They had planned two weddings on the same day — a church wedding in the morning, followed by an evening Hindu marriage ceremony. The events will take place at Dusit Devarana hotel on NH8, NCR.

Asin has also been posting images of her wedding card on Instagram. Akshay Kumar was the � rst to receive their invitation, given that he’s the one who introduced the couple to one another.

The news of their wedding broke the internet earlier in 2015, when rumours started to � oat that Asin had stopped signing � lms and was planning to put a break on her career for her wedding. l

Agnes Varda retrospectiveat DIFF

Back Page32DT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016

AMITABH REZA FILMING ‘AYNABAJI’ PAGE 31

A LETTER TO MY SON PAGE 14

EXPERIMENTAL TIGERS EYE SERIES WIN PAGE 25

Public university teachers postpone strike until February 3n Arif Ahmed

After nine days of work abstention over pay scale grievances, public university teachers have decided to put their protest on hold af-ter receiving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s assurance of a solution soon.

The teachers of all 37 public universities will go back to work today, postponing the work abstention programme until February 3, said Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, secretary general of the Federation of Bangladesh Uni-versity Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) after a meeting yesterday.

The prime minister on Monday assured the protesting teachers of reaching a solution regarding their demands for a separate pay scale and asked them to return to the class-room during a meeting with the teachers at Ganabhaban.

“The teachers are postponing the ongoing movement respecting the prime minister’s re-

quest and considering the students’ academic progress, but the movement will still go on un-til all our demands are met,” Prof Kamal said.

He further said the FBUTA will meet again on February 3 to assess the progress regard-ing their demands.

“If there is no satisfactory progress, we will decide on further steps to press home our demands.”

Meanwhile, Prof Maksud Kamal and FBU-TA President Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed met with Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain on Sunday evening and submitted a proposal on behalf of the protesting teachers.

In the proposal, the teachers raised two demands: 5% of all public university profes-sors should be made distinguished profes-sors and their pay should be equal to that of senior secretaries, and 25% of all professors should be raised to Grade 1 status.

The FBUTA also urged the government to appoint a representative of the teachers into

the pay scale disparity committee to ensure authenticity and probity.

The teachers, who began protests in May last year, have been demanding that a com-mission be formed to prepare a separate pay scale for public university teachers.

Their four-point demand also includes the immediate revision of the national pay scale, and keeping the pay of senior professors and senior secretaries at an equal level.

The teachers have been claiming that the new pay scale ensures more facilities for sec-retaries and government o� cials but less for teachers.

The salary of the teachers in the new pay scale remains two points below that of the secretaries, which is not only discriminatory but also humiliating, the teachers claim.

Last Tuesday, FBUTA leaders met Educa-tion Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at the minis-try, where the minister said he was optimistic about this issue being resolved soon. l

Home boss: Daud Merchant not to be swapped for Salahuddinn UNB

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday ruled out the possibility of deporting Abdur Rauf Daud Merchant, an associate of ma� a don Daud Ibrahim, in exchange of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, now in India facing trial.

“Salahuddin who is now under trial in In-dia will be brought back on completion of his trial,” he told reporters after the newly elected o� ce bearers of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB)met him at his o� ce.

Replying to a query, Asaduzzaman said the case of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed is not extradition. “He’ll be brought back home on completion of his trial process like Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the Narayan-ganj seven-murder cases.”

He also declined to comment on Daud Merchant, saying the matter is subjudiced. l

Zero preparation on rescue e� orts in Dhaka Read the � fth instalment of a series of Dhaka Tribune reports on earthquake preparedness that have found that rescue agencies are ill-prepared to handle the type of damage a strong tremor can cause n Shohel Mamun

The city authorities in Dhaka have no prepa-ration or training to successfully and e� ec-tively run rescue missions if an earthquake of any magnitude hits the capital city.

Both the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Dhaka South City Corpora-tion (DSCC) lack the equipment required to run rescue operations should a disaster – nat-ural or man-made – occurs in the capital, city corporation o� cials told the Dhaka Tribune.

Nor do these authorities have su� ciently trained manpower to run such rescue drives, the added.

“We are not properly equipped to run res-cue drives in case a disaster such as earth-quake strikes the city,” admitted DSCC May-or Sayeed Khokon. “We are not prepared enough to immediately respond in time of a crisis like that.”

But it is the city authorities that are main-ly responsible for the rescue e� orts post-dis-aster, according to the City Corporation Act 2009.

Since they are lacking the proper rescue equipment, the Dhaka city corporations have been relying on whatever equipment they have in times of disasters.

For instance, after the Rana Plaza col-lapsed in 2013, the authorities ran their rescue operation using lift cranes, digging cranes and tow trucks which are generally used for eviction drives, road construction,

street light setting and garbage management. The Rana Plaza disaster also revealed that

the city authorities do not have specialised tools to rescue victims from rubbles of col-lapsed buildings.

“The city corporations have huge respon-sibility when it comes to protecting the peo-ple living in the cities from any disaster, in-

cluding earthquakes. But our city authorities are simply not prepared at all,” said Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, professor of civil engineering in Buet and an expert on urban development.

“They have a lot of limitations. I think the government should set up a central wing equipped to respond when a disaster strikes with the support of all authorities concerned,

including the city corporations.”Khokon said the government is in talks

with the World Bank about getting a loan to procure rescue equipment.

“The government is negotiating with the World Bank to get a soft loan of Tk14,000 crore, which is to be distributed to the city cor-porations and other relevant organisations to procure the necessary equipment to run res-cue e� orts,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Fire Sevice and Civil Defence, who is usually the � rst government authority to re-spond in times of disasters, are supposed to operate under the supervision of the DNCC and DSCC, according to the City Corporation Act 2009. But in reality, it runs under the Ministry of Home A� airs. There is not much coordination between the two authorities, sources said.

“The act says that the � re service is sup-posed to work under the city corporations. So we are discussing with the Home Ministry how we can make it happen,” Sayeed Khokon said.

The DNCC and DSCC are also responsible for building awareness in the capital on what to do during and after earthquakes by run-ning campaigns and such, but little e� orts have been invested in that, the o� cials said.

“We are preparing to run awareness build-ing campaign. We will also take up training programmes with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on awareness build-ing and disaster response,” said DNCC CEO Md Mesbahul Islam. l

A bird’s eye view shows how the capital city has become a chaos of concrete structures over the years. The photo was taken from Sonargaon intersection point yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

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