SECOND EDITION

NEUTRINO RESEARCHERS WIN NOBEL IN PHYSICS PAGE 32

KUNDUZ NIGHTMARE FOR US IN AFGHANISTAN PAGE 9

JMB REGROUPING IN CHITTAGONG PAGE 3

PAGE 5Ecnec approves national data centre project

PAGE 77,300 die in pregnancy-related diseases every year

PAGE 3BNP asks govt if politics is banned

PAGE 32Woman violently beaten in public in Gazipur

PAGE 9What is Safe Harbour?

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 | Ashwin 22, 1422, Zilhaj 22, 1436 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 171 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Govt had information on possible attacks on expatsn Abid Azad

The government has said it had information on possible attacks on foreigners, but the murders of an Italian and a Japanese nation-als were committed in ways that do not match the information.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told these to reporters at the state guest house Padma in Dhaka yesterday after a meeting with diplomats from more than 40 countries.

Asked why the Bangladesh government did not act on the available information, the minister said: “People who commit crimes do things di� erently than the information they give.”

Asked about possibilities of Islamic State (IS)’s involvement with the murders, Mahmood said: “We do not yet have any con-crete proof of the IS’s activities in the country. But, the US ambassador has told us that they will try to � nd out if IS has presence in Bang-ladesh.”

International Islamist militant out� t IS claimed responsibilities after the murders of both Cesare Tavella, the Italian, and Hoshi Kunio, the Japanese.

The minister also said that the government is now very strict about ensuring foreign na-tionals’ security. Necessary steps have also been taken in this regard. This applies for not just the foreigners living in the diplomatic

zone and other parts of the capital city, but also those living around the country.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert W Gibson told reporters after the meet-ing that they had thanked the government for arranging additional security for the expatri-

ate population living across Bangladesh.Yesterday’s meeting was also attended by

envoys from the US, Canada, Australia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, Switzer-land and Bhutan among others. l

After holding a meeting with the foreign minister and the home minister over ensuring security to foreigners staying inside the country, diplomats come out of the State Guest House Padma in the capital yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Security sought for a visiting APG taskforcen Asif Showkat Kallol

The Home Ministry has been requested to ensure security for an eight-member delegation of the Asia Paci� c Group (APG)who will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday toevaluate the country’s anti-money laundering e� orts.

The letter from the Bank and Financial Institutions Division, signed by its Deputy Secretary Md Rizwanul Huda, was sent to Senior Home Secretary Md Mozammel Haq Khan, asking the ministry to provide security

to the APG taskforce during the entirety of their stay until October 22.

“We will take di� erent strategies to give security to the visiting APG team in wake of the recent killings of two foreigners from Italy and Japan in Bangladesh,” said Banking Sec-retary Aslam Alam.

“The visit of the APG evaluation team is necessary for examining the anti-money laundering activities in Bangladesh and retain an anti-money laundering status,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Foreigners being located for better securityn Mohammad Jamil Khan

In an attempt to provide comprehensive protection to all foreign nationals currently living in the country, the police have started to reach out to them by identifying their resi-dences and workplaces.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Ka-mal yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that a process has begun to locate nearly 224,000 foreign nationals currently residing in Bang-ladesh.

“Once they are all located, we will provide security for their movements, at their recre-ation places and during their social gather-ings,” he said. A special taskforce has also been formed to ensure security of foreign na-tionals, the minister added.

Following the murder of a Japanese na-tional in Rangpur on Saturday, deputy com-missioners and superintendents of police in all districts were directed to beef up security for foreign nationals living in their respective areas and maintain regular contact with them.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque has also directed the top brass of the police force to ensure that the protection of foreigners are monitored closely so that there is no lapse in the process.

He issued the directive at a crime confer-ence yesterday where all deputy inspector generals of police and division-level police commissioners attended, said a senior o� cial present at the programme.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Police: Khijir was murdered by a professional n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Investigators say three possible motives for the murder of former chairman of the Power De-velopment Board (PDB), Khijir Khan, are fami-ly con� ict, property and religious ideology.

Terming it a premeditated murder, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Gulshan Division Mustaq Ahmed Khan said the actual motive for the killing was still unknown and would require further investigation.

Dr Prodip Biswash, lecturer of the DMC forensics department who conducted the

autopsy, told the Dhaka Tribune that the vic-tim’s throat bore a gash 7.5 inches long and 2 inches deep.

“A sharp, mid-sized weapon was used to cut his cortical vessel, causing him to bleed to death,” Dr Prodip said, adding that there were no other injury marks on the body and no ev-idence of a struggle.

Analysing the cut, investigators said al-though a number of people were present, only one of them actually took part in the killing. They said it looked like the work of an

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015NEWS2DT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Foreigners being located for better securityThe police chief also directed his colleagues to identify and locate the killers of the two foreigners and bring them to justice.

The senior o� cial, on condition of ano-nymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that the IGP has refuted the possibility of any presence of militant out� t Islamic State in the country.

Even if someone followed the ideology of the IS, law enforcers would never allow the country to be turned into a militant state, the o� cial quoted the IGP as saying.

Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio was mur-dered in Rangpur on Saturday, only � ve days after Italian national Cesare Tavella was killed

in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic zone on Sep-tember 28. Both were shot and killed from behind by motorbike-riding gunmen.

Following their deaths, international me-dia reports cited an intelligence group’s claim that the IS had been involved in the killings.

Border security strengthenedSecurity has been tightened in the border are-as of the country to prevent any perpetrators from � eeing the country.

Our Jessore correspondent reports that se-curity has been beefed up in the Benapole bor-der checkpost by the immigration authority.

Benapole checkpoint immigration Inspec-tor (investigation) Momin Uddin said the additional security measures would stay in place until further notice.

TM Mozahidul Islam, police superinten-dent of Lalmonirhat, told the Dhaka Tribune they have already been instructed about pro-viding special security to foreign nationals.

The Border Guard Bangladesh has also in-creased their vigilance to prevent any crim-inal from crossing the border, said BGB 26 battalion Commanding O� cer Lt Col Jahangir Hossain. He, however, said no red alert has been issued. l

Security sought for a visiting APG taskforceDuring the visit, the Asia Paci� c Group’s Fi-nancial Action Task Force (FATF) on combat-ing money laundering and terrorist � nancing will evaluate Bangladesh’s regulatory and functional capabilities in tackling the recent terrorist threats and poor records in contain-ing unabated money laundering.

Asked about David Sanan, an Australian member of the APG delegation, the secretary said they would have nothing to do if Sanan decided against visiting Bangladesh based on

a travel alert issued by the Australian govern-ment.

In light of the recent warnings by a num-ber of western countries that militants might attack their citizens and interests in Bangla-desh, o� cials concerned at the Bank Division and Bangladesh Bank are now expressing concerns that the forthcoming evaluation might place Bangladesh in the “grey list” of the FATF.

Last year, Bangladesh managed to get out of

the grey list – which is a list of countries having bad records on money laundering – on which the country was included by the FATF in 2008.

Sources said it was a bad time to be evalu-ated, as the APG team will be taking into con-sideration the recent foreigner killings, the travel alerts, as well as Australia’s decision to postpone its cricket tour to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the cabinet yesterday approved the anti-money laundering (amendment) ordi-nance as per a condition from the APG. l

Police: Khijir was murdered by a professionalexpert professional because the weapon did not tremble while Khijir was being slaughtered.

“We are checking his [Khijir Khan’s] person-al pro� le, family relations and property in our search for a motive. We are looking into religious ideology as he was also a pir,” Police Deputy Commissioner Mustaq said while speaking with reporters about the investigation yesterday.

On whether the murder was being treated as similar to the killing of Channel I presenter Faruqi, the police deputy commissioner said they were not sure. “But the killers carried out the murder in a planned way and brought their weapons with them.”

Mustaq said patrols had been stepped up and check posts were more vigilant around Gulshan, near where Khijir lived and where an Italian man was shot dead recently.

Khijir’s remains were received after the au-topsy at Dhaka Medical College (DMC) by his son-in-law Shahidur Rahman.

Shahidur said the body would be brought to Khijir’s Madhya Badda residence � rst, then to the PDB o� ce where a � nal prayer will be held, before � nally taking it to his native village in

Kushtia for burial.

‘No known enemies’Khijir’s younger son Ahmedullah said his father was not involved in politics.

“He had no con� icts with anyone and never received any death threats,” he said. “We have no idea why my father was murdered.”

Asked about � ling a case, Ahmed said after the funeral, the family will discuss � ling a case.

Asked whether he felt Khijir’s murder was similar to the murder of Channel I presenter Faruqi, Ahmed said Faruqi had made public religious pronouncements whereas his father practised quietly at home.

“I do not think so,” he said. But added that Rokonuzzaman, Khijir’s nephew, was involved with various government development activ-ities. “He was even the chief election commis-sioner of an engineers’ association whose elec-tions were held several days earlier. This might be behind the killing.”

Religious discussionsHailing from Kushtia’s Philipnagar village, Kh-

ijir’s father Rahmatullah � rst established the khanqa sharif in 1940.

Khijir managed the khanqa sharif after his father’s death nearly 12 years ago, setting it up in his house.

Special prayers were held at the khanqa sharif every Thursday. His followers, both men and women, discussed various religious issues, sometimes late into the night.

No arrests, no detentionsAbdul Jalil, o� cer-in-charge of Badda police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that regular po-lice o� cials as well as detectives were investi-gating the case.

No arrests had been made yet. No one had been detained in connection with the killing. No case had been � led in this regard when this report was � led last night.

A year ago, on August 27, 2014, Channel I pre-senter Nurul Islam Faruqi was slaughtered in his home in the capital’s Rajarbagh area. In 2013, a self-proclaimed pir or holy man named Lutfar Rahman and � ve others were slaughtered at Lutfar’s residence in Gopibagh. l

Hoshi Kunio’s body still in Rangpur hospital morguen Kamrul Hasan from Rangpur

The visting four-member team of Japanese police, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday and is now in Rangpur to help local police investigate the murder of Hoshi Kunio, did not receive the dead body until yesterday.

The team went to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital around 9:30pm yesterday. They did not take the dead body but came out around an hour later with a big black suitcase, which they took in their microbus, and went back to the Rangpur Parjatan Motel, where they are staying.

Witnesses said that the suitcase appeared to have something heavy inside but no hospital stu� or police o� cial was available last night to clarify on the matter.

Local sources said the Japanese investigators came to Rangpur in the morning but had not yet visited the crime scene.

Earlier in the day, this correspondent visited the crime scene and saw that the place was cordoned o� with police tape. Local police have also kept the spot covered in polythene sheet so that evidence does not get washed away if there is rain.

The residents of the adjacent villages are mostly paddy growers.

The male members of most of the houses are away on part-time jobs in faraway districts – something that they do at this time of the year after they are down with sowing paddy saplings.

It is now time for the saplings to grow and hence there is very little activities in the � elds apart from watering them.

Local women told this correspondent that this is one reason that the area remains deserted at this time of the year and the killers of Hoshi might have taken advantage of this and � ed easily.

BNP leader remandedA court in Rangpur yesterday granted police 10-day remand for two suspects.

One of them is Rashidunnabi Khan Biplob, a local BNP leader and brother of BNP’s central Habibunnabi Khan Shohel.

The second suspect is Humayun Kabir Hira, business partner of Hoshi and brother-in-law of Hoshi’s house-owner Jakaria.

Biplob’s wife Shirin Khatun Diba said plainclothes men had picked her husband up in the afternoon of Saturday, the day of the murder.

Meanwhile, Hira’s wife Sultana Khatun alleged that her husband was being tortured in custody. “They are trying to make my husband confess to the killing.”

Police sources said the two remanded suspects were being kept in the lockup of the Kotowali police station for security reasons.

When contacted, OC of the Kotowali police station declined making any comments. He also advised this correspondent to contact the Kawnia police station. “We are not involved in the case,” the OC said.

The place where Kunio Hoshi, 65, was murdered on Saturday falls under the jurisdiction of the Kawnia police station. l

Police search bags of two motorcycle riders in Dhaka yesterday. Law enforcers are especially vigilant after the twin murder of foreigners SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

NEWS 3D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

JMB regrouping in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Banned militant out� t Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) aims to set up a stronghold in the district’s heavily forested hilly areas, ar-rested members of the group have told police.

Law enforcement o� cials, based on in-terrogations of the JMB men, said the Isla-mist militant groups operating in the country are working in concert to establish a Shari-ah-based state.

“Their aim is to turn Bangladesh into a model Islamic country through an armed revolution,” Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Detective Branch (DB) Additional Dep-uty Commissioner (ADC) (North-South) Md Babul Akhter said.

JMB has been raising funds through lucra-tive criminal activities in the port city, the mil-itants confessed during police questioning.

They were taken into custody on Monday in the city’s Khowajnagar area together with explosives, explosive materials, arms and am-munition.

The out� t’s explosives wing leader in Chit-tagong district, Tow� qul Islam alias Javed, 22, was killed yesterday in a grenade explosion dur-ing a police drive in the Oxygen area of the city.

ADC Akhter said: “After arresting � ve JMB members, we conducted another drive in the Ananna residential area on Oxygen-Kuaish Road based on information about Javed’s whereabouts.”

“Some of Javed’s accomplices who were trying to escape hurled a grenade at the po-lice, leaving Javed critically injured and three policemen with splinter injuries,” he said.

Javed was taken to Chittagtong Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Sub-Inspectors Moham-mad Elias and Liakat Ali and Constable Mo-

hammad Foysal were treated at the hospital.At a press conference given at Chittagong

Police Headquarters, CMP Commissioner (Acting) AKM Shahidur Rahaman said: “Javed masterminded the September 4 murders of a custodian of a local shrine in the Bayezid area and of his associate.”

He said JMB Chittagong Operational lead-er Md Sujon alias Babu, 25, of the Karnaphuli area of Chittagong, executed the gruesome double murder. He is currently in custody.

During questioning, the arrested JMB men ad-mitted that eight of their members carried out a mugging at Shah Corporation in the city’s Sadarghat area on September 24.

They admitted to � eeing with Tk5.4 lakh and critically injuring Shah Corporation Man-ager Satya Gopal who later succumbed to his injuries.

During the mugging, the JMB militants ex-ploded a grenade to display their � repower, accidentally killing two of their own, Rabiul and Ra� q, who died on the spot, the arrestees told police.

On Monday evening, DB men nabbed Javed, Babu, Bulbul Ahmed Sarker alias Apel alias Fuad alias Mehedi alias Rocky, 26, of Gai-bandha, his uncle-in-law Shah Jahan alias Ka-

jol, 28, and Mahbubur Rahman alias Khokon, 30. The police seized nine grenades, a foreign pistol, a large amount of ammunition and le-thal explosive material from their possession.

The JMB’s second-in-command in Chit-tagong, Bulbul Ahmed Sarker, admitted dur-ing questioning that he was a room mate of JMB leader Ershad who was arrested in the city’s Akbar Shah area on March 23.

Bulbul arrived in the port city in December 2013 after joining the JMB at the end of 2012 under the mentorship of the out� t’s Bogra commander, Nazrul.

Bulbul was sent to the port city as part of a plan for the out� t to re-group. He lived with Ershad in the Akbar Shah area of the city.

“We ran a phone-fax-photocopy shop in the area to earn funds for the organisation and to conceal its activities,” he said. He en-rolled at a private dental college to maintain the identity of a student.

He told police that JMB militants in Chit-tagong were under the command of a man called Fardin.

Nobody is allowed to maintain person-al contacts with other militants, militants’ names are changed after every operation and logistics and supplies are provided by Fardin, he said.

“We meet our teammates the day before an operation. We are then dispersed after the task has been completed and remain out of touch with each other. We cannot question our seniors about anything,” he said.

The JMB arrestees claimed that there are 1,000 JMB militants in the district, discreet-ly working as stationers, day labourers and hawkers to conceal their identity.

Some have set up small shops in dense-ly-populated areas of the city to enable con-tact within the group when required. l

BNP asks govt if politics is bannedn Tribune report

The BNP has urged the government to make it clear whether it will allow other political par-ties to do politics in Bangladesh.

“We want to know clearly from the govern-ment whether it will allow others to do pol-itics. I would say the previous [army-backed caretaker] government was more honest than the present government because they enact-ed a law and said none will be allowed to do politics. But now we are not seeing that hon-esty either,” Nazrul Islam Khan, member of the BNP standing committee, said yesterday.

Addressing a press brie� ng at the party’s Nayapaltan o� ce, the BNP leader protested the “ongoing repression” on the opposition leaders and activists.

“The government are not saying anything verbally, they are not formulating any law, but in e� ect, the way they are ruling the country, no-body can do politics. It is unjust and o� ensive.”

Nazrul alleged that false cases had been � led against the senior BNP leaders including Tariqul Islam to stop the party’s activities.

On the prime minister’s statement that BNP-Jamaat might be linked with the killing of foreigners, the BNP leader said: “The way prime minister blamed without any investiga-tion, it seems there is no needs for investiga-tion and court.” l

2 minor girls rapedn Our Correspondent, Borguna

Two girls, aged seven and 10, have been raped by local youths in their villages under Amtoli upazila of Borguna district.

On Monday around 1pm a man named Hasan Haolader, 22, allegedly raped the seven-year-old girl in Dakkhin Tepura village under Holudia union. She is a student of grade one.

While the victim was returning home after school, he took her to an empty house of one Champa Begum in the neighbourhood, prom-ising her to feed busicuits.

After that the girl returned to her place and told her guardians about the incident. She was bleeding, said Amtoli police station Of-� cer-in-Charge Pulok Chandra Ray.

When the guardians went to Hasan’s place to demand justice, Hasan’s relatives beat them up, he said.

Hasan, his uncle Nazrul Islam, mother Akli-ma Begum and brother-in-law Salam were al-leged in a case lodged with Amtoli police station.

The same day, a grade � ve girl was raped in Raybala village under Kukua union. Around 5pm, an youth Hasan, 30, took the 10-year-old girl to Sabuj’s house and raped her.

The victim’s father Wahab Mridha and aunt Ambia were hacked when they went to Hasan’s place after the incident. They were admitted to Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospi-tal in severely injured condition.

The victim’s mother lodged a case accusing Hasan, his mother Nasima Begum, aunt Fate-ma Begum and helper Sabuj that night.

Four of them were arrested yesterday with the help of locals, OC Pulok Chandra Ray said. l

Uni teachers warn inde� nite abstentionn Shohel Mamun

Teachers of the country’s 37 public univer-sities have threatened to observe inde� nite work stoppage from November 1 if their de-mand for a separate pay scale is not met.

The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Associations (FBUTA) came up with the announcement after holding a negotia-tion meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at his o� ce yesterday.

FBUTA Secretary ASM Maksud Kamal told the reporters: “We have set October 31 as the deadline for meeting our logical demands. If our demands are not met within the period, we will go for nonstop work abstention from November 1.”

When asked about the teachers demand, the education minister said: “I will place the demand in the cabinet committee meeting.”

However, the education minister said: “The government has reformed the cabinet committee on pay to deal with the salary dis-crimination issue.”

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, who is now abroad, heads the committee.

“Upon his return, the matter would be dis-cussed,” he added. The � nance minister will back from Peru on October 16.

Earlier, university teachers opposed the cabinet committee headed by Abul Maal Ab-dul Muhit. The seven-member committee was formed to look into the salary discrimina-tion in the pay scale.

Maksud Kamal said they had sent letters containing their demands to six other minis-ters who are the members of the cabinet com-mittee. l

Oblivious of the risk of an approaching train, children play on rail tracks while a rickshaw-puller also crosses the tracks in Dhaka's Mohakhali yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The JMB arrestees claimed that there are 1,000 JMB militants in the district, discreetly working as stationers, day labourers and hawkers to conceal their identity

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015NEWS4DT

13,000 pilgrims return in 10 daysn Tribune Report

Nearly 13,000 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia over the past 10 days after performing the Hajj.

Tasmin Akter, assistant manager (PR) of the national � ag carrier, told the Dhaka Trib-une that Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been transporting the pilgrims through both its dedicated and regular � ights.

This year, a total of 1,01,758 Bangladeshi pil-grims have performed the Hajj. Of them, Biman has transported 51,000 of the pilgrims, while the remainder have returned by Saudi Airlines.

Delays in return Hajj � ights became a reg-ular occurrence for the national � ag carrier, from the time the � rst of these return � ights took o� on September 27. The return � ights will continue until October 28.

A Biman o� cial said there have been dif-� culties at Jedda airport, as con� rmed by the Saudi civil aviation. But the 60 Biman em-ployees, who were assigned Hajj duties, are not performing their duties. l

BIED launches counselling centre for adolescentsn Syeda Samira Sadeque

Brac Institute of Educational Development (BIED) yesterday launched a centre to address the mental and sexual health issues of adoles-cents in Bangladesh.

Through recent research conducted in 2012, Brac IED found that adolescent girls are more in need of counselling to deal with eve-teasing and sexual assault.

Centre for Psychosocial Wellbeing and Sex-ual Reproductive Health, Rights and Gender (SRHRG) has thus been formed to address mental and sexual health issues among ado-lescents in poverty-stricken communities.

The launch was held at Brac Centre with BIED members and mental health experts dis-cussing the importance of addressing mental health across all echelons of society and re-moving the stigma that still surrounds it.

“The vision is to improve emotional well-being, in mediation with SRHRG, for ad-olescents, children and community members. And the goal is to create a gender sensitive environment,” Anisa Haq, Programme Head at BIED, said at the event.

Dr Mehtab Khanam, Professor, Depart-ment of Educational and Counselling Psy-chology at Dhaka University, spoke about treating children and adolescents with digni-

ty and respect. “In our culture, we have a concept that only

the elders are to be respected by children, and children are only to be loved by adults,” she said. “But we need to respect children as well. They need respect.”

“At � rst they used to not accept us,” Borsha Paulina Mondol, one of the counsellors in the � eld, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“This is part of a larger problem of lack of education among the parents,” Borsha said. “In a family where parents are uneducated, they often fail to understand the need of the children in these areas. But over time, they have begun to trust us,” she added. l

Hearing on plea for Shahadat’s remand tomorrown Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday � xed October 8 (to-morrow) for hearing a plea seeking remand for national cricketer Kazi Shahadat Hossain in a case � led for torturing domestic help.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Nuru Mia passed the order while Investigation O� cer Sha� qur Rahman, o� cer-in-charge (investiga-tion) of Mirpur Model Police Station, sought a seven-day remand for quizzing Shahadat.

The petition was � led with the Chief Met-ropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka.

Shahadat, who had been on the run since the injured 10-year-old domestic help was rescued, surrendered on Monday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Yusuf Hossain passed the order after Shahadat surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.

Shahadat surrendered two days after police arrested his wife Jasmin Jahan Nitto from one of her relatives’ house at Malibagh in Dhaka.

However, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Yunus Khan on Sunday allowed police to inter-rogate Nitto at jail gate for three days, rejecting both bail and � ve-day remand prayer for her.

On September 6, cricketer Shahdat and his wife were sued for torturing their housemaid Mahfuza Akter Happy at their Mirpur residence.

Journalist Khandaker Mozammel Hossain � led the case with Mirpur Model Police Sta-tion under Section 4 (2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000.

According to the case documents, on September 6, plainti� Mozammel found the 11-year-old with marks of injuries on her face and bruises across her body in Pallabi Jour-nalist Colony area.

He was then told by the victim that Shahadat and his wife Nitto had been torturing her since she began work at their house around a year ago.

As she could not endure such torture any more, she � ed from the residence of Shahadat on that morning. Mozammel then took her to Mirpur Model Police Station and � led the case against Shahdat and his wife. l

The road by the Mayor Mahommad Hanif Flyover in Chankharpul, Dhaka lies in a dilapidated state indicating to the irresponsibility of the authorities concerned. The photo was taken yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Nazrul: Govt obstructing BNP’s overhauling processn UNB

Accusing the government of obstructing the party’s activities and overhauling process, the BNP has urged the government to make it clear whether it would allow the opposition to participate in politics.

The party also alleged that there has been a farce in the country in the name of democra-cy as the government has enforced an unde-clared one-party rule.

“Our party’s overhauling process is in pro-gress. You all know that most leaders who are supposed to be engaged in the reorganising process have either been arrested or are be-ing arrested. We protest it,” said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan o� ce, he further said: “Twenty of our leaders sat in a meeting yes-

terday (Monday) in Bhola to discuss our party overhauling activities, but police arrested all of them. We would like to clearly know from the government whether they will allow any other parties other than the ruling party to do politics or not.”

The BNP leader also alleged that their party standing committee member Tariqul Islam was also made an accused in a false and fabricated case in Jessore to cause harm to the party.

Referring to the introduction of one-party Baksal rule enacted in 1975 by then Awami League government, he said: “I think the pre-decessors of the current prime minister were somewhat honest as they implemented a law and declared that no one could do politics other than them. We are not seeing that type of honesty now as the regime is not saying that no one else has the right to do politics. But the way they are running the country, no

one else has the scope to do politics. It is un-fair, unjusti� ed and o� ensive.”

The BNP leader called upon the govern-ment not to obstruct their political and organ-isational activities.

The press conference was arranged to reg-ister the party’s protest against charging Tari-qul Islam with ‘imaginary’ charges.

Mentioning that Tariqul has long been suf-fering from serious diseases, Nazrul said he went to passport o� ce on Monday to apply for an MRP passport to go abroad for treat-ment. “The same day, he was implicated in a false case to stop him from going abroad. We condemn such action.”

He also demanded the release of all their arrested leaders and withdrawal of the false cases � led against them. “We want the gov-ernment to allow people to exercise all their rights without any fear and obstruction.” l

NEWS 5D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Ecnec approves nat’l data centre projectn Tribune Report

The Executive Committee of the National Eco-nomic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved a Tk1,516.91 crore project to ensure maximum use of ICT in government activities.

The project, titled Establishment of Four-Tier National Data Centre, is also supposed to speed up information � ow with safe and se-cure data when complete.

Once built, the data centre is expected to improve the hosting capacity of the govern-ment’s shared data centre, as well as turn all government work paperless.

The project was approved at 9th Ecnec meeting, chaired by Ecnec chairperson and prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved a total of four de-

velopment projects that will cost Tk2,474.95 crore, Tk1,089.54 crore of which will come from the national treasury, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said while brie� ng re-porters after the meeting.

Of the estimated budget for the data centre project, Tk317.55 crore will come from gov-ernment fund, and the rest will be funded by the Export-Import Bank of China as project assistance.

Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), un-der the ICT Division, will implement the pro-ject which will be built on seven acres of land at Kaliakair Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, to be completed by June 2018.

The capacity of the existing data centre is not su� cient against the demand of the min-istries, banking and � nancial institutions, ed-ucational institutions and other government organisations, the planning minister said.

“In addition, there is a need for an exclu-

sive high-security building to ensure the safe-ty of the the data centre,” he added.

In order to computerise the government’s work process, the data centre will have coor-dinated information management system.

It will also improve service delivery system through continuous exchange of information between di� erent government organisations.

The government plans to build three data centres under the project – data centre, data recovery centre and remote data centre – for fruitful implementation of the project.

The other three projects that was endorsed by Ecnec are: WFP-assisted “Enhancing Re-silience to Disasters and the E� ects of Cli-mate Change” project worth Tk715.37 crore, re-excavation of Titas River (upper) in Brah-manbaria district worth Tk155.88 crore, and “Protecting Rajshahi Cadet College and Adja-cent Important Structures from Padma River Erosion” worth Tk86.79 crore. l

Indian Supreme Court defers hearing on Felani killing petitionn Our Correspondent, Kurigram

The Indian Supreme Court has deferred pro-ceedings in a writ petition � led in connec-tion with the death of Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun, who was killed by the BSF.

Even though a hearing on the petition was scheduled for yesterday, the case was not in-cluded in the cause list, said Kurigram public prosecutor Abraham Lincoln, who has been providing legal counsel to Felani’s father.

The Indian Supreme Court would later � x another date for the hearing, Lincoln added.

On July 14, the petition was jointly � led by Felani’s father Nurul Islam and Kolkata-based human rights organisation Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum), rejecting ver-dicts by a special BSF court that acquitted the self-confessed killer Amiya Ghosh.

The Supreme Court accepted the petition and sought explanation on the case from In-dia’s home minister, central government, West Bengal chief secretary, and the director general of the country’s Border Security Force (BSF).

On January 7, 2011, Felani, 15, was shot dead by the BSF at Anantapur border point in Kurigram’s Phulbarhi upazila while she was trying to climb over the barbed wire fence. She was on her way to Bangladesh with her father from Delhi where she used to work as a domestic help.

A photo showing Felani hanging from the fence was widely circulated by the media, sparking protests among people and prompting international rights groups to demand justice.

On September 5 last year, the General Se-curity Forces Court of the Indian BSF in West Bengal acquitted 181 battalion Constable Ami-ya Ghosh because of “inconclusive and insuf-� cient” evidence against him, the court said in its verdict. l

Govt moves to snu� out tobacco production, usen Abu Bakar Siddique

Because previous disincentives for tobacco farming and use have proved ine� ectual, the government is working to formulate a policy under the Smoking and Tobacco Products Us-age (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Tobacco cultivation has risen despite pre-vious ad hoc initiatives to discourage it, in-cluding a Bangladesh Bank circular halting loan facilities for tobacco farming and a ban by the Agriculture Ministry on using subsi-dised fertiliser to farm tobacco, according to Syed Mahfuzul Haque, technical o� cer on tobacco control at the World Health Organisa-tion (WHO) o� ce in Bangladesh.

A weak monitoring system and aggressive interference by tobacco companies has led to a shocking increase in tobacco farming in Bangladesh, he said.

The initiative is being taken as per the provisions of the Tobacco Control Act, 2013, which calls for a comprehensive policy to dis-

courage tobacco farming.Section 12 of the Tobacco Control Act

reads: “The government shall make necessary guidelines to promote for discouragement of producing and using tobacco products, and discouragement to set up industry of tobac-co and tobacco related products, discourage-ment of producing tobacco related produces and farming.”

Roxana Quader, additional secretary of the Ministry of Health said: “We have already tak-en the initiative and hope to � nalise the draft policy by December.”

A committee consisting of various stake-holders including the Ministries of Agricul-ture, Health, Education, Commerce and the National Board of Revenue has been working since April to produce the draft policy.

Mahfuzul Haque, who is also a member of the committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that after the draft is � nalised, it will be discussed at di� erent levels of government before being placed before Cabinet by June next year.

About 108,000 hectares of land in Bang-ladesh was used for tobacco farming in 2014, compared with 70,000 hectares the previous year, according to the Department of Agricul-tural Extension.

That means an additional 38,000 hectares of land went over to cultivating the cash crop in just one year, a 54% increase.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Sta-tistics (BBS) data, some 30,699.45 hectares of land was devoted to tobacco farming in FY2006-07 with production standing at 39,180 metric tonnes. In FY2010-11, the corre-sponding � gures were 48,867.41 hectares and 79,234 metric tonnes, respectively.

The rapid expansion of the lethal cash crop undermines food security, and contributes to the deterioration of public health, forest re-sources, ecology, the environment and land fertility.

Mahfuzul Haque said the draft policy will attempt to curb both the supply and demand of tobacco. l

Medical admission seekers call upon all students to take part in demon DU Correspondent

Admission seekers have convened students of public universities and medical colleg-es across the country to boycott classes and observe strike tomorrow expressing solidari-ty with their demand for cancellation of the results of the admission tests of MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

They continued their demonstration yes-terday for the 18th day demanding a fresh exam, following allegations of question paper leakage.

Khaled Saifullah, a spokesperson of the movement, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our ul-timatum for two days ends today, however, we are yet to get any response from the gov-ernment. So we will observe a strike in public universities tomorrow along with the sit-in programme.”

Progotishil Chhatra Jote and Samrajjobad Birodhi Chhatra Oikya expressed solidarity with the students while they staged a demo for two hours from 11am at Central Shaheed Minar yesterday. l

Medical college admission seekers continue demo for fresh entry tests on the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the capital yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015NEWS6DT

Family still in dark whether Haji Quader alive or dead n Our Correspondent, Chandpur

Despite having passed 11 days after the Mina stampede tragedy, a hajj pilgrim from the dis-trict has remained traceless.

The family members of pilgrim Abdul Quader, 60, from Bargaon village in Matalab Dakshin upazila, are in dark whether he is alive or dead.

They wanted to take back the body to the country from the KSA in case of the death al-though the foreign a� airs ministry claimed none demanded to bring back the body of pil-grims who met death in the Mina stampede and that was why it did not adopt any steps

in this regard. When contacted, Quader’s wife Lutfa Be-

gum urged the authorities concerned upon � nding out her husband and she believes her husband is still alive.

In case of the death, she demanded bring-ing back the body from the KSA.

Local madrasa teacher Quader on August 24 left home to perform hajj and he was in contact with his family members till Septem-ber 23, previous day of the deadliest incident.

Other Hajj pilgrims who were with the miss-ing one said Quader left his passport in hotel room before going to perform Hajj, which was later handed over to the Saudi Hajj mission.

In a query of making contact with any pub-lic department regarding Quader’s missing, the family members failed to give satisfactory answer.

At least 769 pilgrims – according to the Sau-di Health Ministry – were killed on September 24 in a stampede in Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, where some two million people gathered to perform Hajj this year.

Of them, the death toll of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims was 41, said a Foreign Ministry press release on October 1.

Out of 41 bodies, identities of 18 pilgrims has been con� rmed, names of 12 have been found and the remaining 11 are unnamed. l

People of Mahal community bring out a Mongol Shobhajatra in Damkura area, Poba upazila yesterday, marking Jitia Parbon AZAHAR UDDIN

Pest attack hits Aman paddy in Gazipurn Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Farmers in Gazipur district have become frus-trated as pest attacked aman paddy in several areas recently.

Sreepur upazila agriculture o� cer ASM Moydul Hasan said the paddy had been plant-ed on 13,000 hectares of land in eight unions under Sreepur upazila this year.

Of them, the paddy of 20 bisghas in Bhang-hati, Uzilab Telihati unions are attacked severe-ly by Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB),a monsoon disease. The incidence and severity of it is very much in� uenced by rainfall.

The paddies in theses areas turned yellow and dry. Farmers wanted to get away from it, but it had drastically reduced the plant.

Without natural control, damage to the pad-dy was severe if farmers reduced their insecti-cide use, said the o� cer.

There are 31 agriculture o� cers in 38 blocks in the district. But they do not visit their areas timely. As a result, the farmers are deprived of proper training about the pest attack.

Abu Sayed, assistant o� cer of the upazila ag-riculture o� ce, said BLB is an important disease that causes signi� cant yield reduction of crops.

It spreads rapidly from rice plant to rice plant and from � eld to � eld in water droplets. Infected leaves develop lesions, yellow, and wilt in a mat-ter of days. Broadening of the genetic base for identi� cation and transfer of genes for BLB re-sistance from wild relatives of rice is an impor-tant strategy in resistance breeding programs.

The people should become conscious about the disease, he said. Recently fake ferti-lizer and insecticides have � ooded the market. The farmers should be alert about it, he added.

Farmer Zahirul Islam of Uzilab village said: “I have planted the paddy on two acres of land this year. The paddy of the land dried out due to the pest attack.”

Mokter Hossain of Telihati union said: “ We have urged the concern authorities about the incident. But we have not get any help yet.”

The upazila agriculture o� cer special team had been formed to supervise the af-fected area. l

Elderly couple take to the street to save ancestral house n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Finding no alternative, an elderly couple at last took to the street aimed at protecting their ancestral properties from local in� uen-tial quarters.

To grab the attention of the district admin-istration, the couple formed a human chain in front of the o� ce of deputy commissioner in Gazipur on Monday and submitted a mem-orandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through the DC seeking measures in this re-gard.

The couple said a vested quarters with the help of Telihati union parishad Member Iqbal had been hatching conspiracy against them to grab their ancestral house located at Godar-chala village under Gazipur Sadar upazila.

Recently, they took a portion of their house in the name of constructing a road there.

Rustam Ali said: “As we have informed dis-trict administration about their heinous act,

they have erected a fence in front of our house so that we cannot move from our house.”

According to the memorandum, when the couple informed deputy commissioner, he in-structed upazila nirbahi o� cer to take meas-ures in this regard. He said :“The UNO is yet to give any solution about the matter.

“After death of our three sons, we have been living a sub-human life with our two grand children. As we do not have people, the in� uential quarter is trying to gobble up our house.”

Acting deputy commissioner and Addi-tional District Magistrate Mohammad Hos-sain received the memorandum from the couple and assured them that he would take measures in this regard.

When contacted, Iqbal member said he had no connection with the land grabbing. He also alleged that previous chairman Mos-lemuddin took the decision to take land from the house of the couple to construct a road. l

Myanmar citizen held with 1.50 lakh yaba pills n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested a Myanmar national with 1.50 lakh pieces of Yaba pills from Jaliapara in the Naf River in Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar early yes-terday.

Major Jafrul Haque, acting commanding o� cer of BGB-42 said acting on a tip o� , a team of the BGB intercepted a boat which was coming from Myanmar in the area around 12:30am.

Sensing danger, passengers of the boat jumped into the river and managed to � ee. But border force arrested Rahmat Ali, 20, son of Amir Ali, a resident of Tailpara in Banda thana of Akiab in Myanmar, from the scene and seized 1.50 lakh yaba tablets. l

One killed in clash in Naogaonn Our Correspondent, Naogaon

A man was killed and � ve others were injured in a clash at Bonomali village under Raninagar upazila in the district over establishing supremacy in the area.

The deceased Habibur Rahman,50, was the resident of the village.

According to police sources, the incident took place while two group of people got locked in a clash over establishing supremacy on a bus stand in the area leaving Habibur dead on the spot.

Sultan Ahmed, elder brother of the deceased, said miscreants killed his brother over taking control of Nasiman Bus Station in the area.

Md Ra� que, son of Habibur also said that he and his father went to the station to want their due money to a man. At one stage, his people attacked them.

Abdul Latif Khan, o� cer-in-charge of Raninagar police station con� rmed the incident. l

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015NEWS 7

DT

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:40PM SUN RISES 5:53AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.2ºC 23.2ºC

Jessore Srimangal

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

F O R E C A S T F O R T O D A YDhaka 33 26Chittagong 32 26Rajshahi 34 25Rangpur 34 24Khulna 31 25Barisal 31 26Sylhet 32 24Cox’s Bazar 30 27

PRAYER TIMESFajr 4:35am

Sunrise 5:51amZohr 11:46am

Asr 4:01pmMagrib 5:40pm

Esha 7:10pm

WEATHER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

SUNNY

7,300 die a year in pregnancy-related diseasesn Tribune Report

Obstetric � stula that kills at least 2,000 preg-nant women a year in the country is not only a health problem but also social and human rights issue.

According to a study under “National Fis-tula Strategy”, 2011-2016 OF a� icted girls or women usually end up their marital relation being divorced by their husbands and reject-ed by their families and societies.

But the ill-fated � stula patients are usual-ly young, illiterate, poor, rural girls who had been married out at a very young age, became pregnant soon after their marriage but not get adequate antenatal care.

Most of the time, these girls are bound to deliver their baby at home even with pro-

longed or obstructed labour with attendance of traditional birth attendant as their husbands reluctant to take to hospital. As a consequence the girls give birth of stillborn babies.

The injured tissue soon rots away, leav-ing a � stula (hole). If the hole is between the woman’s vagina and bladder, she loses con-trol over her urination, and if it is between her vagina and rectum, she loses control of her bowel movements.

“About 7,300 women are dying each year due to pregnancy related causes, where Ob-stretic Fistula (OF) causes 2,000 deaths among 7300,” said another study conducted in 2010.

The information reveled at a dissemina-tion workshop on “National Fistula Strategy” yesterday at CIRDUP auditorium in the city, reports BSS.

Health Secretary Syed Manjurul Islam was the chief guest at the programme where Joint Chief of Planning wing under the ministry Helal Uddin and UNFPA representative Ar-gentina Matavel Piccin were present among others health experts.

Syed Manjurul Islam emphasised to create mass awareness and advocacy from the com-munity health providers to prevent the dis-ease. He also said government and non-gov-ernment e� ort is essential to combat the disease.

According to ‘Situation Analysis of Obstetric Fistula in Bangladesh’, a 2003 survey, over 71,000 women in Bangladesh su� er from � stula. The survey was carried out by the NGO, Engender Health in cooperation with the UNFPA. l

Noor: Panam will be aresort town soon n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor yester-day said the government would take meas-ures to renovate Panam city to make it as a resort town soon.

The minister said the country would earn more revenue when people would visit the city buying tickets. The living standard of the people of region will uplift after the renova-tion of the city.

The minister made the statement while visiting Panam city yesterday. Lawmaker of

Narayanganj 3 constituency Liakat Hossain Khoka, acting secretary of Cultural A� airs Ministry Aktari Momotaz, Additional Secre-tary Moshiur Rahman and Upazila Nirbahi O� cer of Sonargaon Abu Naser Bhuiyan ac-companied the minister.

The minister and his entourages bought tickets to visit the city. From now on, people have to buy tickets to visit the city.

During the visit, the minister inspected renovation works of Boro Sardar Bari and ex-pressed satisfaction over the progress of the work. l

Youth shot deadn Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

A youth was shot dead yesterday in a clash be-tween two rival groups near a shrimp enclo-sure in Cheradia area under Pekua upazila in the district yesterday.

The deceased Ka� luddin, was the son of Jasimuddin in the area.

Sources said there had been a longstanding enmity between Azam Khan and his nephew centering the boundary of the enclosure.

On the day, they got locked in an alterca-tion over the issue and one stage the support-ers of the both sides attacked each other with local weapons and � rearms leaving Ka� l dead on the spot and 10 injured. On information, police recovered the body. l

Batiaghata UNO sued for embezzling government fund n Our Correspondent, Khulna

Batiaghata Upazila Nirbahi O� cer Md Billal Hossain Khan was sued for embezzling money from the fund of a sacri� cial animal market.

Rabindranath, a resident of Ameerpur vil-lage � eld the case yesterday with Khulna court against the UNO and Jalma UP chairman Gofur Molla in connection with the embezzlement.

Sources said more than Tk 20 lakh had been embezzled from the fund by them.

The sources also said they had set up the sacri� cial market in Progoti High School play-ground defying the law.

The district commissioner was not concern about setting up the market and no tender was invited.

The sacri� cial market committee chairman Abdur Gofur Molla said: “ Tk20 lakh has been earned from the market.”

The money was not sent to revenue fund and it was provided among the share holders of the market, he said.

Mizanur Rahman, secretary general of the market committee said, no money was mis-appropriated. The total money was spent ac-cording to the order by Abdul Gofur.

The court sources said the case was � led against the UNO and UP chairman under sec-tion 409. l

The picture shows multiple examples of violations of tra� c laws where � ve members of a family including two children travel on a motorcycle with baggages. None of the riders are protected with a helmet. Such ignorance might bring them dire consequences. The photo was taken at Ramna area of the capital yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015WORLD8DT

Source : WWF

NEPAL

INDIA

BHUTAN

MYANMAR

SOUTHERN TIBET

300 km

New species discovery in the Himalayas211 new species discovered between 2009 and 2014, conservation group WWF says

Plants133

Invertebrates39

Fish26

Amphibians10

Bird1

Reptile1

Mammal1

This undated handout photograph released by The World Wildlife Foundation shows a blue snakehead � sh which can breathe air, survive on land for four days and slither up to 400 metres on wet ground. at an undisclosed location in the eastern Himalayas. A monkey that sneezes when it rains and the ‘walking’ � sh are among more than 200 species discovered in the ecologically fragile eastern Himalayas in recent years, according to WWF. The conservation group has compiled a survey of wildlife discovered by scientists across Bhutan, northeast India, Nepal, northern Myanmar and southern Tibet, in an attempt to raise awareness of the threats facing the sensitive region. The species include an ornate red, yellow and orange pit viper that could pass for a piece of jewellery, a fresh-water ‘dracula’ � sh with fangs and three new types of bananas. The 211 new species discovered between 2009 and 2014 include 133 plants including orchids, 26 kinds of � sh, 10 amphibians, 39 invertebrates, one reptile, one bird and a mammal AFP

Delhi gets 3 days to come up with plan to � ght pollutionn Reuters, New Delhi

India’s Supreme Court has given New Delhi three days to come up with a plan to clean up the air in a city ranked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the most polluted in the world.

This is not the � rst time the court has passed such an order - successive local gov-ernments have failed to build roads to ease congestion.

About 52,000 commercial vehicles, ex-cluding taxis, enter the landlocked city each day, more than double government estimates, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report this week. Such vehicles ac-count for about a third of the city’s pollution.

Hearing a plea � led by lawyer Harish Salve, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the fed-eral government, Delhi’s local government and its municipal body to come up with a solution within three days.

The WHO last year said New Delhi had the worst air quality of 1,600 cities surveyed worldwide. l

INSIGHT

Is there a possibility of third intifada? n Reuters, Jerusalem

The entrances to Jerusalem’s walled Old City are sealed o� by Israeli police and the streets of East Jerusalem are littered with barricades, burn-ing trash and the detritus of battles between stone-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces.

The scenes after 10 days of violence in which four Israelis and three Palestinians have been killed and 170 injured are evoc-ative of the two Palestinian uprisings, or in-tifadas, against Israeli occupation in the late 1980s and early 2000s.

O� cials on both sides are playing down the comparisons, and the violence now is on a much smaller scale than then, but Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth saw enough similarities to declare on Sunday that a third intifada had begun.

A new intifada would further complicate e� orts by world leaders to resolve con� icts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and there is little ap-petite to re-engage in peace e� orts between Israel and the Palestinians after many failures in the past.

As before, events around the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, which is sa-cred in both Islam and Judaism, have helped trigger violence fanned by a volatile mix of religion and politics.

In 2000, a visit by then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the area, revered by Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, was seen by Palestinians as a deliberate provocation and was followed by a � ve-year uprising.

The current violence follows days of clashes at al-Aqsa between Palestinian stone-throwers and Israeli police.

Israel has responded by ratcheting up its military and security presence throughout East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in anticipation of further violence and Pales-tinian leaders have sought to calm the � ames,

worried that militant groups could see this as an opportunity for a confrontation.

“We are operating on all fronts,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Monday, adding that four extra army bat-talions had been deployed to the West Bank.

“The police are going deeply into the Arab neighbourhoods, which has not been done in the past. We will demolish terrorists’ homes. We are allowing our forces to take strong action against those who throw rocks and � rebombs.”

Netanyahu has described the violence as a “wave of terror,” a term suggesting the tensions will pass, and military o� cials with experience of the earlier uprisings were quick to dismiss the suggestion that a third uprising had started.

“That’s exaggerated, it’s far from being at that point yet,” said a senior o� cer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), explaining that dozens were killed on some days during the second intifada. “It’s a totally di� erent situ-ation now.”

Intense but localIn the � rst intifada, which began in December 1987 after four Palestinians were killed when an Israeli army truck collided with a car, the Palestinians threw stones and home-made petrol bombs at the Israeli forces.

The second intifada was characterised by suicide bombings, including on buses and ca-fes across Israel.

How a third intifada would look is not clear but it could be very di� erent.

The IDF o� cer described the current sit-uation as an intensi� cation of violence by a limited number of people, similar to a surge in attacks in Jerusalem late last year, rather than a broad-based uprising against Israeli targets.

“There are about two dozen hotspots in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, not more than that,” the o� cer said.

But Israeli and Palestinian leaders alike see the situation as unpredictable and fear it

could take a sudden and immediate turn for the worse.

European and US policymakers would be wary of getting sucked into a new peace drive, especially when they want to focus on other con� icts in the Middle East. The last peace negotiations with Israel and the Palestinians broke down in April 2014 with no progress. The chances of a resumption during the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidency are slim.

Areas of East Jerusalem, which is predom-inantly Palestinian, have turned into battle-grounds in recent days, with the roads littered with smashed rocks, the tarmac blackened by exploded � rebombs and residents nervously watching for unrest.

At Qalandiya, the main checkpoint be-tween Jerusalem and the West Bank, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Palestinian boys, some with their faces masked by kef-� yeh scarves, hurled stones at Israeli guard-posts on Tuesday, almost taunting armed sol-diers and border police to retaliate.

Palestinian websites have praised what they referred to the “martyrs” who carried out a roadside shooting in the West Bank last week, killing an Israeli husband and wife.

And amateur video posted on the Inter-net appeared to show Israelis celebrating and shouting “Death to Arabs” after Israeli po-lice shot dead a Palestinian man in the street who was suspected by the crowd of having stabbed an Israeli boy.

The Palestinian Authority has threatened several times in recent months to end secu-rity coordination between the Palestinian police and Israeli forces. Doing so would be a sign that the situation is deteriorating, but there has been no sign yet that the threats will be carried out.

“We do not want either military or security escalation between ourselves and you,” Pales-tinian President Mahmoud Abbas said after a security meeting with o� cials on Tuesday. l

FACTBOXIsrael’s controversial practice of razing homesIsrael demolished Tuesday the houses of two Palestinians involved in attacks last year, revert-ing to a controversial measure it claims is a de-terrent. Here is an explanation of the practice–

Resumption of demolitions Israel had for several years stopped this form of punishment in Jerusalem, despite using it widely in the occupied West Bank. But this changed on November 19, 2014, after orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-yahu. Israeli forces blew up the east Jerusalem home of Abdelrahman Shaludi, a Palestinian who the previous month had killed a Ecuado-rian woman and a 22-month-old baby when he rammed his car into them, before being shot by police. Until November 2014, Israel had not resorted to punitive demolitions in Jerusalem since 2009, according to Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer who specialises in issues related to the city.

Deterrent or collective punishment?The demolitions are intended to deter Pales-tinians who may not fear for their own lives in carrying out attacks, but who could be con-cerned with the welfare of the families they leave behind. Israeli rights organisation B’Tse-lem says that the main victims of such demo-litions are relatives forced to pay for another person’s actions. Israel’s close ally the US has been among those who have said the measure only serves to increase tensions. O� cials at the Israeli defence ministry seemed to share this point of view in 2005, at the end of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. After 664 home demolitions across the occupied territories in previous years, they ordered an end to them. Instead of acting as a deterrent, they actually provoked Palestinians into car-rying out attacks, the army had concluded. l

Source: AFP

ANALYSIS

Kunduz brings nightmare week for US in Afghanistann AFP, Kabul

A deadly airstrike on a hospital capped a di-sastrous week for US forces in Afghanistan, but for war-weary Afghans the Taliban’s brief capture of Kunduz only exposed the lack of a credible alternative to the foreign forces.

The bloody three-day conquest of the northern city was harsh evidence that Afghan forces are not yet able to face the insurgents on their own, despite the US pouring in more than $60bn to train government troops and build their capacity since 2001.

Meanwhile US forces, who are o� cially tasked with an advisory and assistance role, are � nding themselves regularly engaged in combat – with all the risks that entails, in-cluding Saturday’s devastating air raid on a hospital run by medical charity Doctors With-out Borders (MSF) in Kunduz, which killed 22 people.

The strike, which MSF branded a possible war crime and which is now being investigat-ed, came after 11 people were killed when an American military transport plane crashed in Jalalabad on Friday.

Now, as the Taliban trumpet their victory in Kunduz, the White House is again being

forced to review its plans for the � nal exit of US troops – currently set for 2016, the end of President Barack Obama’s term.

AlternativesAccording to the Washington Post, the White House is studying plans drafted by former chairman of the joint chiefs of sta� Martin Dempsey to maintain up to 5,000 troops after 2016, against the 9,800 currently in place.

General John Campbell, the head of the Nato mission in Afghanistan, himself has pre-sented � ve options ranging from a small re-sidual force to up to 7,000 men, according to the same report.

Campbell will head to Washington this week where he will be questioned in par-ticular by Republican Senator John McCain, who has accused the Obama administration of having until now ignored ground realities when it comes to the withdrawal of troops.

Many analysts agree on the need for a longer-term engagement.

Propaganda win?While the MSF strike in particular has gen-erated global indignation, there has been a more muted reaction to the events of the last

week among many Afghans.The insurgents, for their part, have loudly

trumpeted their victory in Kunduz. A Taliban source said the o� ensive in the

city was a “symbolic victory... we showed our

power to the world.”As for the bombing of the hospital, the

Taliban were quick to contrast the strike with what they claimed was their own good treat-ment of MSF sta� . l

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015WORLD 9

DT

Top EU court strikes down transatlantic data deal in Facebook casen AFP, Luxembourg

The European Union’s apex court on Tuesday ruled that a key transatlantic data sharing deal re-lied on by companies such as Facebook was inval-id in the light of spying revelations in the Edward Snowden scandal.

In a major blow to US tech � rms, the court said the 2000 “Safe Harbour” agreement between the United States and the EU did not su� ciently guar-antee the protection of Europeans’ personal data and must be struck out.

The stunning decision stems from a Da-vid-and-Goliath complaint against social media giant Facebook lodged against Irish authorities by Max Schrems, an Austrian law student priva-cy campaigner. Schrems � led the case against Ireland’s data protection authority because Face-book’s European headquarters are based there.

“The Court of Justice declares that the (Euro-pean) Commission’s US Safe Harbour Decision is invalid,” the European Court of Justice in Luxem-bourg said in its three-page judgment.

The court said Irish authorities now had to decide whether transfer of data from Facebook’s European subscribers to the US should be sus-pended “on the ground that that country does not a� ord an adequate level of protection of personal data.”

Major US web giants including Facebook and Apple have set up headquarters in Ireland to take advantage of favourable tax laws.

But Schrems had argued that the 15-year-old Safe Harbour deal is too weak to guarantee the pri-vacy of European residents in the wake of details provided by former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Snowden.

Snowden’s revelations showed that the NSA’s PRISM programme used Silicon Valley giants Ap-ple, Google and Facebook to gather user data. l

Snowden: UK spies can hack smartphones n AFP, London

British spies can hack into phones remotely with a simple text message and make audio recordings or take photos without owners knowing, former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden said on Monday.

“They want to own your phone instead of you,” the whistleblower said in an interview with the BBC’s Panorama programme, referring to Brit-ain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) agency.

Snowden claimed that GCHQ used a series of interception tools called “Smurf Suite,” after the blue cartoon characters, The Smurfs.

“Nosey Smurf” enabled spies to switch on a smartphone’s microphone even if the phone was o� , he claimed.

Other programmes used by GCHQ were nick-named “Tracker Smurf” and “Dreamy Smurf,” which allows phones to be switched on and o� remotely, Snowden said.

He said the text message sent by GCHQ to gain access to the phone would not be noticed by its owner.

“It’s called an ‘exploit’,” he said.“When it arrives at your phone it’s hidden from

you. It doesn’t display. You paid for it but whoever controls the software owns the phone,” he added.

The BBC said the government had declined to comment in line with usual policy on intelligence matters.

Snowden, who has been charged by the US with espionage and theft of government prop-erty after leaking documents to the media about digital espionage, has been living in exile in Russia since June 2013.

The British government is planning legisla-tion that would give more powers to intelligence agencies to monitor online activity to investigate crime. l

Q&A

Safe Harbour: NSA’s secured passage to EU? The European Court of Justice has ruled that the Safe Harbour agreement that allowed the transfer of Eu-ropean citizens data to the US is no longer valid. But what does that mean for the Facebooks, Googles and Microsofts of this world?

Q1: What was the Safe Harbour agreement?A1: EU privacy law forbids the movement of its citi-zens’ data outside of the EU, unless it is transferred to a location which is deemed to have “adequate” privacy protections in line with those of the EU. The Safe Harbour agreement that was made between the EC and the US government essentially promised to protect EU citizens’ data if transferred by American companies to the US. The advantage of Safe Harbour was that it functioned similarly to a one-stop shop, allowing the transfer of personal data to the US from any EU country without the need to ask for consent or to sign bilateral agreements in each country.

Q2: Can data still be transferred to the US?A2: Now that the 2000 agreement has been called invalid, American companies – including Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft – can no longer rely on self-certi� cation and must seek to strike “model contract clauses” in each case. These agreements authorise the transfer of data outside of Europe. The impact on large US technology companies and their operations within the EU is likely to be limited to a large amount of paperwork. Many will already have model contract clauses already drawn up. Others may be forced to stop the transfer of data to the US until they have. Many US companies have es-tablished or are in the process of building EU-based data centres to handle data for EU citizens, including Facebook, Apple and Google.

Q3: What about Facebook?A3: For Facebook, which has been placed at the centre of this case by Schrems, the decision means that the Irish data protection authority (DPA) will be

forced to investigate the Austrian’s claims and Face-book’s data protection practices.

Q4: Will the EU citizens notice anything different?A4: The impact on users in the short term is unlikely to be obvious. The dissolution of the agreement will, in theory, ensure better data protection for users’ personal information going forward. It may also help stop the US government from being able to gain access to user data from the EU. Sites and services such as Facebook are highly unlikely to be disrupted to any meaningful level.

Q5: What about cloud services?A5: The companies most a� ected are likely to be smaller, less � nancially and technologically able com-panies. Many use US-based cloud services to store or process data that they could not do themselves. It is the 21st century equivalent of outsourcing. Those companies will have to abide by the same systems as Facebook and Google, agreeing model contract clauses and ensuring that the service they are using, such as Amazon’s web services, also complies with data protection regulations.

Q6: Will a new Safe Harbour agreement be needed?A6: A new Safe Harbour agreement is currently be-ing negotiated between the EU and US, and has been in negotiation for the last two years, following the Snowden revelations. The EU has been trying to limit the US government’s access to EU citizens’ data stored in the US and to allow EU citizens to sue US compa-nies in US courts should they misuse their data. The EU has been using the threat of vetoing future trade agreements as a stick, but an agreement has yet to be struck. The new ruling is likely to light a � re under the proceedings as a new agreement is needed to help lu-bricate international trade in services. l

Source: THE GUARDIAN

WORLD10DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Hong Kong university protest over academic freedomsn AFP, Hong Kong

Around 2,000 protesters at Hong Kong Uni-versity marched Tuesday to support academ-ic freedom as fears grow that Beijing is inter-fering in the city’s education system.

Anger has intensi� ed among students and academics since the appointment of a liberal law scholar to a senior university administra-

tive post was rejected last week.The university council, with a number of

members seen as pro-Beijing, voted against Johannes Chan becoming pro-vice chancellor at HKU.

Chan was a close colleague of pro-democ-racy leader Benny Tai, also an academic at HKU. Tai helped orchestrate last year’s mass pro-democracy protests which brought parts

of the semi-autonomous Chinese city to a standstill.

Students, professors and alumni dressed in black marched in silence through the campus Tuesday afternoon, then gathered to voice their anger.

The protest dispersed after half an hour but another is set for Friday.

Some members of the university council, the

top decision-making body, are appointed by the city’s unpopular leader Leung Chun-ying.

Once a British colony, Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 under a deal which guaranteed the retention of its civil lib-erties and capitalist lifestyle for 50 years.

But teachers report increasing self-cen-sorship over political issues for fear of losing jobs. l

11D

TEDITORIALWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

INSIDE

The prime minister is right to have commented during an interview with Voice of America that there is no logical reason why the US government has not reinstated GSP trade facilities for Bangladesh.

In the more than two years since its GSP suspension was imposed, Bangladesh has made good progress in improving labour conditions and in meeting all the goals set by the US.

The valuable work done by the government and the brand-led Alliance and Accord stake-holder initiatives since the Rana Plaza disaster on improving factory safety and workers rights, deserves to be acknowledged.

It is unfair for the US to single out Bangladeshi businesses and workers for exclusion from GSP, when it maintains these privileges for over 122 di� erent countries, many of which hold similar concerns about labour conditions.

Bangladesh deserves US support to build a stable economy. It is unjust for the US as a major export destination not to recognise the progress Bangladesh has been making.

This is particularly so at a time when other nations like Vietnam are bene� ting are bene� ting from new trade deals with the US such as the Trans-Paci� c trade partnership and the EU maintains duty and quota-free access for Bangladeshi goods.

The US should move forward on restoring GSP and improving trade privileges for Bangladesh to give our exporters a level playing � eld with comparable nations.

In this regard, the US government should review the 15.6% rate of tari� duty it imposes on Bangladeshi exports to the US market. This is the second highest rate it imposes and roughly � ve times that on goods from China and India, amounting to over $828m a year.

The US should adopt the elegant proposal made last year by the former chief economist of the Bangladesh Bank for a Tari� s for Standards fund, to allocate a portion of the excess tari� s it charges on Bangladeshi goods to help � nance factory upgrades and improvements in working condition.

This would both directly help Bangladeshi workers and address the concerns of the Bangladesh and US governments. It is in the mutual interest of both our nations to ensure Bangladeshi businesses are treated fairly in trade arrangements.

It is in the interest of both our nations for Bangladesh to have a level playing � eld for exports to the US

US must play fair on GSP and trade deals with Bangladesh

Humanity scores another goal

Atheism and its discontentsYet, now that the scienti� c community has itself come to embrace the Big Bang theory, the possible theological implications of such a � nding are no longer considered worthy of respect or consideration. It sometimes seems as if theists can never win

Be heardWrite to Dhaka Tribune

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Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com

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PAGE 12

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Is there any reason to worry?As Bangladeshis, we should stop being critical about our own country, and help a government that is progressive and secular. Foreign countries should not postpone their plans due to fear

Let us not be the generation of by-standers, let us be the � rst generation to become true global citizens

BIG

STO

CK

OPINION12DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

n Nadeem Qadir

The killings of an Italian and a Japa-nese national in the name of Islamic State coincided with many major events; but above all, we never ques-

tioned whether, as Muslim-majority country, we have any issue with the IS that it will take on the government.

In a country where its prime minister covers her head, keeping in line with Muslim customs and o� ers her daily � ve-time prayers ritually, why the IS would target Bangladesh is a major question, and thus minimises the alleged claim of its involvement.

According to Banglanews24.com, three Islami Chatra Shibir (ICS) members were arrested in Mymensingh for planning to resort to terrorist acts in the name of IS, in a bid to tarnish the government’s image. Then came the report in Amadershomoy.com that two Bangladeshi-British girls had tweeted

something that resulted in the postponement of the Australian cricket tour of Bangladesh. They also published the hit-list of free-thinkers and bloggers of Bangladesh. It is apparently baseless. Ansarullah Bangla Team reportedly denied publishing any such hit-list.

The Dhaka Tribune, in a report quoting intelligence, said “anti-liberation forces” were resorting to such activities to scuttle the execution of 1971 war criminals SQ Chowd-hury and Jamaat-e-islami leader Abu Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, the chief of the noto-rious Al-Badr militia.

Indian blogger and journalist Rudroneel Ghosh, in Talking Turkey, published in the Times of India online, was categorical that it is “clear that there is a concerted attempt to target and intimidate foreign nationals in Bangladesh.”

He wrote about the di� erence between the opposition BNP of Khaleda Zia and the

ongoing war crimes trial as major factors for such acts.

With BNP and its allies nowhere, and some radical Islamists feeling they are being cornered, the opposition does not want to allow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take the country forward.

Ghosh writes that it is clear by such acts these groups are trying to portray a di� erent picture to the international community and thereby attempting to in� uence them into holding parliamentary elections earlier than 2019, as required by the constitution as well as a pledge made by the premier herself that elections will not be held earlier than that.

In a related development, two Bangla-desh-British educationists and activists named in the so-called hit-list denied that they ever spoke or wrote on any religion or God, leave aside Allah. But Dr Rumana Hashem, in an interview with the London’s Independent newspaper, said: “I am known for my feminist work and as an organiser for environmentalist, anti-corruption, anti-rac-ist, and secular activism.”

The other lady is Ajanta Dev Roy. She believes she has been targetted for campaign-ing for Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, one of the founders of East London Mosque, to be extradited back to Bangladesh where he has been convicted of war crimes.

Ajanta Dev Roy said: “Hundreds of British citizens went to join IS, many of whom are of Bangladeshi origin, which proves Jihadi sen-timents are very much present among some

of the people here (Britain). None of us are safe (in Britain). They know how to � nd us.”

The Independent, in its report, said: “Those named on the new hit-list say it rep-resents a deliberate targetting of intellectuals and people who are � ghting to keep Bangla-desh a secular country.”

In an interview with London’s in� uential Guardian newspaper, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had rightly said that British Jihadis in Bangladesh are fanning � ames of extremism, and that her counterpart David Cameron needs to do more to combat radicalism. “The British government should take more steps on the ground ... Jamaat has a strong in� uence in East London. That’s true. They are collecting money, they are sending the money,” the prime minister told the daily.

The Guardian quoted intelligence sources as saying British Jihadis were stoking an Islamist revival in Bangladesh, schooling a new generation of young religious radicals

sympathetic to ISIS.The BNP sharply reacted that the prime

minister’s comment hurt the image of Bangladeshi Britons, instead of probing independently and helping the government in tackling the situation as well as building pressure on Cameron to stop such radicalism in Britain.

The Guardian team published three reports based on the PM’s interviews, which many here in London said was unprecedented in recent memory.

For the opposition groups, Sheikh Hasina’s international triumphs are a cause of major irritation and instead of dealing with issues politically, many apparently are resorting to killings, like the grenade attack on the PM on August 21, 2004.

There was a very interesting report in The Times of London on September 18, 2015, headlined “3,000 terror suspects plotting to attack UK.” A very scary report -- but do we have anything like that in Bangladesh, or are people � eeing London?

British security agencies are monitoring the 3,000 “home-grown Islamic extremists willing to carry out attacks in Britain,” it said, adding that MI5 says “British men and wom-en, many in their teens, are being radicalised within weeks.”

The Times said about 1,000 are thought to have joined Jihadist groups in Syria, 300 have returned, and 70 have been killed � ghting in Syria and Iraq since 2011.

Thus the opposition BNP’s criticism is

redundant.Last, but not the least, we should, our-

selves, support the government in not only maintaining security, but also helping to � nd the real perpetrators, and to ensure there is no more killing of any kind for political reasons.

As Bangladeshis, we should stop being critical -- we sometimes tend to be more critical than others -- about our own country, and help a government that is progressive and secular. Foreign countries should not postpone their plans due to fear, which means submitting to the evil forces, but should jointly overcome security concerns and move forward with the schedule. You do not want another Afghanistan in this part of Asia. l

Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism. He is Press Min-ister of the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

Is there any reason to worry?We need to stand together for a better Bangladesh

As Bangladeshis, we should stop being critical about our own country, and help a government that is progressive and secular. Foreign countries should not postpone their plans due to fear

Jumping to conclusions does not help the investigation BIGSTOCK

LONG FORM 13D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

n Sal Imam

The current thinking is that a signif-icant role in evolution is played by what are known as “epigenetic” in� uences -- epigenetic means “be-

yond genes” which by de� nition means that the “exclusively gene-based” neo-Darwinian synthesis is invalid. The latest important books on the subject have titles like Evolu-tion in Four Dimensions (by Eva Jablonka and Marion J Lamb) in which epigenetics is considered a far more e� cient channel than natural selection for the propagation of evolution, and other dimensions are also prominent. The notion of epigenetics is par-ticularly subversive in that it tends to show that the watch-maker is not completely blind after all.

Or let us note the following verdict in a book co-authored by a leading scienti� c thinker, known for his original conceptions:

“According to the new systemic under-standing, the unfolding of life on Earth proceeded through three major avenues of evolution. The � rst, but perhaps least impor-tant, is the random mutation of genes, the centre-piece of the neo-Darwinian theory. These gene mutations, caused by chance errors in the self-replication of DNA, do not seem to occur frequently enough to explain the evolution of the great diversity of life-forms, given the well-known fact that most mutations are harmful and very few result in useful variations.” (The Systems View of Life, by Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi

Another relevant book, What Darwin Got Wrong by Jerry Fodor and Massimo Piatelli-Palmarini, who are both avowed atheists, hones in on what are said to be the irredeemable philosophical and logical problems with the very concept of natural selection. In addition, there are a whole host of powerfully argued books by outright sceptics such as Michael Behe, William A Dembski, and Stephen Meyer who use strict rationalist logic to show that natural selection is not a useful way of explaining the mechanism which is driving evolution -- without, however, o� ering any alternative systematic answers of their own.

It is to be supposed, therefore, that we can all agree that the picture has become extremely complex and, despite the impres-sion given to the general public, the scien-ti� c community today does not have a clear idea about how biological evolution takes place. For example, while strong epigenetic in� uences have been detected, no one as yet knows much more about how these are orchestrated to produce the wondrous results of evolution that we see all around us.

It seems certainly true to say that natural selection, and its concomitant dependence on entirely random processes, has been seriously discredited as the sole answer to this riddle. It only remains to point out that if the arch stone of the atheistic conception is the theory of natural selection, does not the whole edi� ce totter now that its arch stone has been knocked out?

The Big Bang Let us turn now to the greatest natural phe-nomenon known to humans, in terms of its scale and power, the origin of the Universe it-self! Quite understandably, this subject is also redolent with theological implications and, as we will see, the story that has emerged is perfectly suitable for just such speculation. There have been many books written about this topic but I particularly recommend Big Bang by Simon Singh.

Early modern scienti� c thought held that the Universe existed in a steady state, as if it was just there, and had been for eons, with-out any apparent beginning. Some scientists, however, proposed a dynamic model incor-porating a de� nite beginning. In the 1920s it was discovered that the light from distant galaxies seemed to display a phenomenon known as the “red shift,” which proved that these galaxies were all moving away from us. This implied that the universe as a whole was expanding in every direction.

The breakthrough came when US astron-omer Edwin Hubble found that the speed at which the galaxies were receding was directly proportional to their distance from the meas-urement point (ie necessarily, from Earth.) As a little mental calculation will make clear, this precise relation means that if we run the “� lm” of time backwards all the galaxies, no matter where they are situated today (and therefore all the matter in the Universe), will track back to a single spot and arrive there at the same instant! This point of double co-incidence has been dated back to 13.7 billion years ago and it is believed that the universe came into being at that exact moment. This

has been nicknamed the Big Bang.Let us take a minute to appreciate what

happened at the Big Bang: It was a cataclys-mic instantaneous eruption in which not only both time and space came into being, but also all the elementary particles such as electrons and protons, which make up all the matter we know of. This matter, said to amount to 1050 (a number standing for 1 followed by 50 zeros) tonnes, is present in the Universe in the form of trillions of astronomical bodies, from planets to stars to galaxies to super clusters of galaxies, black holes, quasars, pulsars, super nova, and so on.

The Big Bang also originated all the energy which is currently propelling every activity in the universe, including its expansion, which means that today the size of the universe, as far we can detect it, is of a sphere whose radius is about 46 billion light-years from any given centre. Presumably, the recently dis-covered conceptual entities, dark matter and dark energy, about which nothing is known so far, except that they exist and make up ful-ly 95% of the mass of the universe, were also produced in the Big Bang. If, as an exercise, we sit quietly by ourselves and try to imagine the details of what might constitute an “in-terventionist moment of creation” -- we can hardly do better!

The Big Bang model was not immediately accepted and it took many years of further elucidation and evidence-gathering before a scienti� c consensus was reached about its correctness. However, hugely knotty theoretical problems still remain. Among the greatest problems is that, despite much learned speculation in the � eld of what is

called Quantum Cosmology, there is, as yet, no completely accepted scienti� c explana-tion of what brought about the Big Bang. Ac-cordingly, we are within our rights to assert that the spiritual hypothesis (not proof) is as valid as any other.

For our purposesm we could note that when the Big Bang was � rst being proposed in the 1930’s many scientists strongly op-posed such a possibility, but did so primarily on ideological, not scienti� c, grounds. As Simon Singh writes:

“The British physicist William Bonner, for example, suggested that the Big Bang theory was part of a conspiracy aimed at shoring up Christianity -- ‘the underlying motive is, of course, to bring in God as creator. It seems like the opportunity Christian theology has been waiting for ever since science began to depose religion from the minds of rational men in the 17th century.’” (Big Bang)

Yet, now that the scienti� c community has itself come to embrace the Big Bang theory (namely that the entire universe originated in a single mighty explosion) the possible theological implications of such a � nding are no longer considered worthy of respect or consideration. It sometimes seems as if theists can never win.

The notion of the multiverseA third aspect of the � ndings of modern sci-ence, which seems relevant, is the discovery that there are no less than about 30 di� erent physical parameters which have values, or other qualities, which seem to have been precisely tailored to give the universe just the features without which biological life could not have emerged. There have been many ex-cellent books on this subject, such as Just Six Numbers by Sir Martin Rees, but I am going to refer particularly to The Goldilocks Enigma: Why is the Universe Just Right for Life? by Paul Davies (Allen Lane, London).

Let us take just a few examples of this kind of � ne-tuning. Two of the most ubiqui-tous forces in nature are the “gravitational force” and the “electromagnetic force.” It so happens that the former is 1040 times weaker than the latter. This huge disparity in their strengths turns out to be of crucial signi� -cance. In Davies’s words:

“If gravity were stronger, stars would burn faster and die younger; if by some magic, we could make the gravitation twice as strong, say, then the sun would shine more than a hundred times as brightly. Its lifetime as a stable star would fall from 10 billion to less than 100 million years, which is probably too short for life to emerge, and certainly too short for intelligent observers to evolve. If electro-magnetism were stronger, the electrical repulsion between protons would be greater, threatening the stability of atomic nuclei.” l

The concluding part of this series will be pub-lished tomorrow.

Sal Imam is a concerned citizen.

Atheism and its discontentsIslam and the search for truth are not mutually exclusive. This is part two of a three-part long form piece

Yet, now that the scienti� c community has itself come to embrace the Big Bang theory, the possible theological implications of such a � nding are no longer considered worthy of respect or consideration. It sometimes seems as if theists can never win

The universe is old enough to accommodate both scienti� c and theistic explanations for its origins

BIG

STO

CK

OPINION14DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

n Nibir Mostafa Khan

The global goals for 2030 were agreed upon and signed by the 193 leaders of the world in New York recently. The goals are a group of objectives

set in order to make Earth a better place than it is now. There is no doubt that this is going to be a land-mark event in the years to come, it might even be marked as the event that gave birth to a new world, thinking optimistically of course.

Before this, in 1990, a similar plan was devised, with 2015 being set as the target. These were called the Millennium Development Goals. Let’s take a look at how that turned out for us, and what we have to repeat again for 2030, what’s new this time, and if there is any hope for making this a better world by 2030.

The � rst goal of the MDGs was to cut in half the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger. Surprisingly, this goal was achieved, even though it was partial. The number of people going hungry in 2015, compared to 1990, is not half, but it’s close to being so. But on the other hand, in 1990, about 1.9 billion people lived on less than $1.25 a day. In 2015, that number is 900 million.

The next goal was to achieve universal primary education. This was not accomplished, but we were awfully close in achieving it. 90% of children go to school in the developing world, and 91% of all young people in the world are now literate, compared to 83% in 1990.

The third objective was to establish gender equality all over the world. This has not gone according to plan, but there has been signi� cant development in this matter, especially in terms of education. In 1990,

South Asian schools had 75 girls for every 100 boys. Those � gures are now 103 and 100 respectively.

The aim which came after that was reducing childhood mortality by 66% in 25 years. This was not met unfortunately, but we were able to reduce the occurrence of childhood deaths by more than 50%. Meanwhile, maternal mortality rate fell by approximately 75% in 25 years.

The sixth objective was to halt and begin the reversal of the e� ects of HIV and malaria. While some big strides have been made in terms of battling and treating HIV, humanity has tackled malaria far better -- 20% fewer deaths occur in the world today due to malaria than it did in 1990.

The seventh goal was to ensure environmental sustainability. Let us not pretend that this has gone the way we had planned. The Earth is 46 billion years old. Scaling to 46 years, humans have been on the planet for four hours, and the industrial revolution began 1 minute ago. In this time, we have destroyed more than 50% of all the Earth’s forests. This is not the de� nition of sustainability. The last aim of the MDGs was to establish a global partnership to achieve these goals. I guess it’s safe to say that this goal has been ful� lled.

The main goal of the MDGs, in my opinion, was to aim for the moon, so that even if we miss, we’ll end up amongst the stars anyway. While it’s true that not all the goals of the MDGs have been ful� lled, the progress that we have made is extraordinary. I don’t think we even expected this much progress all the way back in 1990.

But it is now 2015, and it is time for us to set for ourselves a new set of goals, which has been done. This time we should seek to ful� ll them perfectly, and complete the goals

that we missed in 2015 as well.We should be able to do this, because we

are in a better position than our predecessors, and we have better resources and a better understanding of the problems at hand, having to deal with them longer. And I think the current generation should take up the challenge because, just as Native Americans have always said, we have merely borrowed the world from our children, we have not inherited it from our parents.

So, what are these new global goals? There are 17 of them in total, and the three main ones are ending extreme poverty, � ghting inequality and injustice, and � nally doing something about our rapidly changing climate.

Poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate have all made reappearances in the list, but there are a few problems which have actually been solved, and the ones that haven’t been solved were very close to being solved. So, with the success that past goals have had, we can be optimistic and we can get to work. The � rst thing we must do is spread awareness about these ideas as widely as we can, so that everyone knows about them.

There are many awareness activities on the global goals website which anyone can help with. These include dizzy goals, goal sel� e, championing a goal by writing the number on one’s body, and there are even posters which we can print. Let us not be the generation of by-standers, let us be the � rst generation to become true global citizens, because these are our problems, and we have to solve them. No one else is going to. So, humanity, let’s get to work! We have goals to score! l

Nibir Mostafa Khan is an intern at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

Humanity scores another goalA better world, one goal at a time

Let us not be the generation of by-standers, let us be the � rst generation to become true global citizens

We have to keep our eyes on the ball BIGSTOCK

15D

TBusiness WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

12 Paci� c countries seal huge free trade deal

17Stocks edge up with improved turnover

19Overseas investors � re warning at China Inc

16 ADB provides new loan to expand water project20

Q1 export growth slowest in 5 yrsn Tribune Report

Bangladesh’s export earnings in the � rst quar-ter of the current � scal year posted 0.83% growth, the lowest in last � ve years due to slow performance of the largest RMG sector.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data released yesterday, in the � rst quarter of the � scal year the country earned $7.76bn.

The � gure was $7.7bn during the same pe-riod one year ago.

The exports were short of target by 4.25% as the government aimed to earn $8.10bn in the July-September quarter.

The apparel sector, the main export earner for the country, has posted a 3.31% growth to receive $6.44bn during the three months.

Knitwear products earned $3.25bn with 0.62% negative growth, while woven gar-ments fetched $3.19bn rising 7.64% from the same period last year.

In September, the total export earnings marked 2.5% rise to $2.62bn compared to $2.55bn last year.

The � gure is nearly 7% higher than the month’s target of $2.45bn.

“Export earnings made slow growth due to reduction of orders’ unit prices, especially in the RMG products,” Faruque Hassan, senior vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manu-facturers and Exporters Association, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The global retailers, especially from Euro-pean Union, cut prices of apparel products due to devaluation of euro and Australian and Canadian dollars against US dollar, he said.

“There was also impact of political unrest slowing down the growth as placing of orders were hampered,” Faruque said.

He said the major concerning issue for the country is the loss of competitive edge.

BGMEA former vice president Shahidullah Azim said the negative earnings, caused by shortage of orders, from the knitwear prod-ucts a� ect the overall export volume.

Azim fears further downward trend as he thinks the Transpaci� c Partnership may af-fect orders in Bangladesh.

“We have to come up with new measures to remain competitive in the global market as 9.5% monthly growth is needed to meet the target,” he said.

Among major sectors, frozen foods export fell by 37% to $120m, which was $191m in the same period last year.

Leather and leather products export de-clined by 11.47% to $273m, while home textile export went down by 13.20% to $160.50m. The export of jute and jute products grew by 4.63% to $206.56m. l

In� ation rises slightly in Septembern Tribune Report

The in� ation rate in September saw a slight rise at 6.24 percentage point from 6.17 in Au-gust, mainly due to increased economic activ-ities during the Eid ul-Azha.

“The general point-to-point in� ation rate in September increased to 6.24 percentage point, up from 6.17 in August,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while releasing monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) at the NEC auditorium in the city yesterday.

The minister said the increased trend of buy-ing during the Eid led to the rise of in� ation.

Although there was a slight rise, the gener-al in� ation rate still remains within the � scal target of 6.5%, he added.

The in� ation rate was 6.84% in September 2014.

The overall month-to-month non-food in� ation rises to 6.73% in September from 6.35% in August. Food in� ation at national level declined to 5.92% last month against 6.06 % in August.

The overall in� ation in urban area rises to 6.96% from 6.94% while it was 5.86%, up from 5.76% in rural area during August-Sep-tember period.

In urban area, food in� ation was down 7.47% from 7.56% while non-food in� ation saw a rise of 6.37% from 6.26% during the period.

In rural area, food in� ation was 5.26% in September, down from 5.42% in previous month while non-food in� ation rises to 6.99% against 6.41%. l

BTRC close to appoint consultant for 4G launch by 2016n Ishtiaq Husain

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has � nalised a short-list of consultants for spectrum roadmap and set-ting price as the government wants to intro-duce 4G mobile broadband service next year.

A BTRC o� cial said the regulator at a re-cent meeting � nalised the list to appoint a full-time consultant. Earlier, the recruitment was a part-time.

For the past few years, mobile phone op-erators have been demanding to formulate a spectrum roadmap outlining bands for di� er-ent technologies and services along with their availability in future.

Sources said the regulator short-listed � ve persons among the applicants taking experi-ences and quali� cations into consideration. All the short-listed individuals are foreigners with one being Bangladeshi-British. They will have to face interview and after that one of them will be � nally chosen.

According to BTRC’s latest rules, duration of the consultant will be one year as said in the advertisement. The duties of the consult-ant will be preparing of band release plan for the country and advising necessary actions to prepare the band for releasing. The consult-ant will also � x acquisition fees and yearly charges for 4G spectrum bands.

The salary will be negotiable while base price is � xed at $5,000.

Recently, the regulatory body and the post and telecommunication division locked in con� ict on spectrum pricing issues.

Telecom industry insiders said these types of con� ict would be resolved by appointing spectrum consultant.

After the appointment, the government must make the spectrum available for mo-bile broadband in time and adopt a standard process and a clear and standard roadmap for spectrum allocation, said a high o� cial of a mobile operator asking not to be named.

A BTRC o� cial said estimation of spec-

trum requirements for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) systems in Bang-ladesh is based on current and next 15 years tra� c forecasting for voice, data and multi-media services.

The BTRC in 2008 had formulated the � rst roadmap for telecom industry with 20 action plans. The BTRC in last few years conduct-ed several auctions and drafted some policies under the � rst roadmap.

The responsibility of the con-sultant will be making an estima-tion of actual spectrum require-ments to ensure the quality of service.

Determining acquisition fees and yearly charges of IMT spec-trum bands will be based on the telecom market di� usion, traf-� c volume, revenue earnings of mobile operators, the country’s economic indicators and other

pertinent factors.In 2013 the BTRC conducted the 3G spec-

trum auction where four private mobile phone companies took licence for 3G servic-es. In the auction Grameenphone took 10MHz spectrum while Banglalink, Robi and Airtel took 5MHz spectrum each at the price of $21m a MHz. l

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

29.98

22.56

2.07

21.24

0.88 0.83

QUARTERLY EXPORT GROWTH TREND (%)

BUSINESS16DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

CORPORATE NEWS

CEO and MD of Janata Bank Limited, Md Abdus Salam, FCA has recently inaugurated its regional sta� college at Agrabad in Chittagong

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently organised a customer night at a hotel in Rangpur. The bank’s chairperson, Alhaj Md Sirajul Islam Varosha was present at the event among others

Overseas investors � re warning at China Incn Peter Thal Larsen

Institutional investors are � nally standing up to corporate China. Two recent shareholder votes in Hong Kong suggest money managers are becoming less tolerant of sloppy govern-ance. Though there’s a long way to go, Chi-nese companies used to silent acquiescence from foreign investors may be in for a sur-prise.

China Merchants Bank is the latest victim of the newly belligerent mood. Just over a week ago, the country’s sixth-largest lender asked shareholders to endorse changes to its employee share ownership scheme. The bank said it had tweaked the scheme after China’s securities regulator asked big investors in lo-cal companies to help stabilise the stock mar-ket by increasing their shareholdings.

The request looked a formality: investors had overwhelmingly approved CMB’s original plan in June. But almost 42 percent of Hong Kong shareholders objected to the revised version, which would have allowed the bank’s chairman and non-executive directors to buy shares at a big discount. As a result, the pro-posal did not get the two-thirds majority it needed to pass.

A month earlier, a large minority of Hong Kong shareholders in CITIC Securities object-ed to the Chinese broker’s plan to issue shares worth HK$11.5bn ($1.49bn) to China’s state-owned social security fund. Though the plan

passed, investors representing more than a quarter of the shares voted against it.

Investor rebellions are common in Europe and the United States, but remain rare in Asia, where governments and families keep a � rm grip on listed companies. Even in relatively sophisticated Hong Kong, shareholders rou-tinely grant companies a so-called “general mandate” which allows them to issue large chunks of equity without further approval.

Doubtless China’s stock market collapse has fuelled fund managers’ unease. Increased scrutiny from professional agencies may also be playing a role. Institutional Shareholder Services, the in� uential proxy adviser, rec-

ommended its clients vote against CMB’s revised scheme because the bank had “not provided a compelling reason” for allowing non-executives to buy shares.

None of this alters the realities of Chinese corporate ownership. Control still lies over-whelmingly with state-backed shareholders. But if institutional investors start using the limited powers at their disposal, big Chinese companies will no longer be able to take the support of foreign shareholders for granted. l

Peter Thal Larsen is Asia Editor of Reuters Breakingviews, based in Hong Kong. The article was initially published at Reuters.

Australia holds interest rates at record lown AFP, Sydney

Australia’s central bank yesterday kept inter-est rates at a record low of 2%, opting against a further cut that would put more downward pressure on the country’s dollar.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last moved its o� cial cash rate in May when it slashed 25 basis points to a historic low as it tries to spur economic growth.

The bank said yesterday that while do-mestic growth remained below longer-term averages, jobs growth had strengthened and indications were that “moderate expansion” was continuing in the economy.

“At its meeting today, the board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2%,” central bank governor Glenn Stevens said in a state-ment almost identical to the one issued in September. “Overall, the economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet, with domestic in� ationary pressures contained.”

The “Aussie” dollar rose after the an-nouncement, buying 71.17 US cents compared with 70.79 cents earlier, although it has fallen dramatically over the past year, bringing relief to exporters. “The Australian dollar is adjust-ing to the signi� cant declines in key commod-ity prices,” Stevens said. l

Trade deal, easy monetary policy boost Asia stocksn AFP, Hong Kong

Agreement on a Paci� c-wide free-trade agree-ment and hopes major central banks will maintain extra-loose monetary policies � red another rally in Asian markets yesterday, tracking advances in Europe and New York.

The dollar was also lower against emerg-ing markets currencies as analysts said last week’s disappointing US jobs report all but put a nail in the co� n of a Federal Reserve in-terest rate hike this year.

In Hong Kong shares in mining giant Glen-core added to the previous day’s surge follow-ing reports it is in talks to sell its agriculture business as it battles weakening demand for raw materials.

But the main focus was on the Trans-Pacif-ic Partnership, which will see the easing of a number of barriers, including to Japan’s clos-eted farm sector and the US car market.

After � ve years, trade representatives from 12 nations on the Paci� c Rim said Monday they had � nally hammered out a deal to cre-ate the world’s biggest free trade area - en-compassing 40% of the world economy.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed a deal and expressed a hope that China would join at some point.

“It’s the opening of a new century for the Asia-Paci� c region,” he said in a televised news conference yesterday. “If China partic-ipates in this system in the future, that will contribute to both Japan’s security and the stability of the Asia-Paci� c region,” he added.

The accord also earned a strong endorse-ment from International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, who said it was “not only

important because of the size... it also pushes the frontier of trade and investment in goods and services to new areas where gains can be signi� cant”. Analysts said the news would boost stocks in the region, adding to an al-ready upbeat mood among investors.

Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities Co. in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News the TPP “has a lot of poten-tial to become a big deal for the US and Japan.”

He added: “Concerns over the global econ-omy had become ingrained in the market’s mindset. It’s possible that the TPP has trig-gered some regret over having sold too much.”

Dollar weaknessCon� dence on Asia’s trading � oors was al-ready buoyant after Friday’s below-forecast US jobs numbers, which raised fears that the recent turmoil in global economies was � lter-ing through to the world’s biggest.

The report also muddied the waters for the Fed as it considers raising rates, with many experts saying its timeline for a hike before 2016 has likely been scuttled.

Japan’s central bank holds a two-day poli-cy meeting from yesterday, with speculation it will widen its already vast stimulus pro-gramme to try to reinvigorate the struggling economy, while its European counterpart is also considering further easing.

“Markets continue to believe that weak data will pressure central banks in Europe and Japan to provide more stimulus and will delay the US Fed in its pursuit to begin withdraw-ing monetary stimulus,” Matthew Sherwood, head of investment strategy at Perpetual Ltd. in Sydney said in a note to clients. l

Commercial towers, including the 329-metre-high Hon Kwok City Center (right), which is under construction, are seen in Shenzhen REUTERS

BUSINESS 17D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

12 Paci� c countries seal huge free trade dealn AFP, Atlanta

Twelve Paci� c rim countries sealed the deal early Monday on creating the world’s largest free trade area, delivering President Barack Obama a major policy triumph.

Working around the clock for days past their deadline, haggard trade ministers an-nounced they reached agreement on the am-bitious Trans-Paci� c Partnership just before dawn, capping � ve years of di� cult talks led by the United States.

Spanning about two-� fths of the global economy, the hard-won deal aims to set the rules for 21st century trade and investment and press China, not among the 12, to shape its behavior in commerce, investment and business regulation to TPP standards.

Obama hailed the agreement as one that “strengthens our strategic relationships with our partners and allies in a region that will be vital to the 21st century.”

“When more than 95% of our potential customers live outside our borders, we can’t let countries like China write the rules of the global economy,” Obama said in a statement.

In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the “historic” accord, saying it opens more access to the Japan market for Canadian farmers and resource sectors.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turn-

bull also said it would deliver strong bene� ts for his country’s businesses.

And in New Zealand, where there was dis-appointment at not achieving more openings to the country’s prodigious dairy exports, Prime Minister John Key said it nevertheless meant “more jobs, higher incomes and a bet-ter standard of living.”

‘Trade deal for 21st century’The accord involves signi� cant market open-ings, tari� cuts on thousands of products, and pledges to protect investors across the 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Japan has made major concessions open its market wider to major food exporters such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

The United States agreed to lower its tari� s on Japanese car parts from non-TPP locations like China and Thailand, even though that will hurt TPP and NAFTA partners Mexico and Canada.

Canada opens up to dairy products from New Zealand; both Australia and Canada get higher sugar quotas in the United States.

But more broadly, the agreement estab-lishes mechanisms to handle disputes be-tween foreign investors and governments; requires governments to not discriminate be-

tween their own state companies and foreign investors in major contracts; and demands countries like Vietnam, Mexico and Malaysia improve labor standards.

It also addresses new issues like data trade and intellectual property that have not been covered in multilateral trade pacts of the past.

Canada Trade Minister Ed Fast called the deal “truly transformational, saying: “The magnitude and importance of rules for 21st century issues can’t be underscored enough.”

Ratification challengeBut as grueling as the negotiations in Atlan-ta, Georgia were, completed only at 5:00 am Monday, the heavy lifting was not over for many of the TPP governments.

They now must sell the pact to their people and parliaments for rati� cation, with many suspicious about a deal negotiated in intense secrecy and being delivered to them as an un-modi� able whole for an up-or-down vote.

That job that promises to be particularly di� cult in Washington, where Congress al-ready sounds hostile and its review will come during the election season next year.

From powerful Senator Orrin Hatch on the right and Senator Bernie Sanders, a presiden-tial hopeful, on the left, President Obama was challenged to demonstrate US business and workers will not su� er.

Hatch warned he will scour the deal “to de-termine whether our trade negotiators have diligently followed the law so that this trade agreement meets Congress’s criteria.”

Likewise in Canada, the TPP tradeaways are already issues in the October 19 general election.

The leftist New Democratic Party, current-ly trailing in the polls, said if elected it “would not consider itself bound” by the deal that “puts family farms at risk.”

In New Zealand, acting Labor Party lead-er Annette King challenged the government over the pact that gave the dairy industry “only crumbs.”

“The government must come clean now on what ugly compromises they have made be-hind closed doors,” she said.

“The devil is de� nitely in the detail in these agreements.

Even in Malaysia, where securing passage should be easier, Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed walked gingerly ahead of public re-view of the treaty, stressing it would not un-dermine the country’s Bumiputera policies to help native Malay-owned businesses.

“Malaysia would never be party to an agreement that violated the nation’s constitu-tion or one that undermined the core policies instituted by the government to bene� t the people,” he said in a statement. l

Japan’s Abe hails new trade era, hopes China will join pactn AFP, Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed a deal to create the world’s largest free trade area yesterday as the start of a “new century” for Asia, and expressed hope Chi-na might one day join the historic accord.

“A huge economic zone will emerge ... the TPP will make our lives more pros-perous,” Abe said in a televised news conference after a dozen nations reached a deal on the long-awaited Trans-Paci� c Partnership (TPP).

“It’s the opening of a new century for the Asia-Paci� c region,” he said, add-ing that the deal would “fundamentally strengthen rule of law in economic activ-ities by establishing a free, fair and open international economic system”.

Spanning about two-� fths of the glob-al economy, the hard-won agreement - which took � ve years to negotiate - aims to set the rules for 21st century trade and investment in the Paci� c region.

China notably is not party to the ne-gotiations and has embarked on plans to set up a rival agreement. But Abe said he hoped Beijing would sign up one day and boost regional security.

“If China participates in this system in the future, that will contribute to both Japan’s security and the stability of the Asia-Paci� c region,” he said.

Under the deal, 98% of tari� s will be eliminated on everything from beef, dairy, wine, sugar, rice, horticulture and sea-food, through to manufactured products, resources and energy.

Abe has been a leading � ag-waver for

the TPP and in doing so has taken on the country’s entrenched agricultural lobby, usually staunch advocates of his Liberal Democratic Party. “Melons made in Hok-kaido, pears made in Oita ... and deli-cious rice ... will have a great opportuni-ty” to access the global market, he said.

Abe also noted that Japan secured ex-clusion in the TPP’s tari� -free principles for some of its domestically sensitive prod-ucts - such as the country’s staple food rice, sugar beet, beef, pork and in dairy.

“With strengthening in rules on intel-lectual property rights and measures to address piracy and counterfeit goods,

Japan’s contents business will enjoy en-tering foreign markets with a sense of safety,” he added. The accord must still be signed and rati� ed by the respective countries, including Japan. Car manu-facturers in the export-heavy economy are likely to bene� t from the TPP.

“We welcome that tari� s on automo-bile parts will be removed immediately between Japan and the United States, and with Canada, relatively high tari� s on ve-hicles will be removed in a short period of time,” Fumihiko Ike, chairman of Honda as well as of the Japan Automobile Manufac-turing Association, said in a statement. l

TPP: What’s in the deal?n AFP, Atlanta

The 12-country Paci� c Trade Partnership, agreed in Atlanta on Monday, is a broad agreement to lower trade barriers and increase investment protections in a region comprising 40% of the global economy.

Key points:v It reduces over time thousands of small and large tari� and

non-tari� barriers on trade between the group, from Japa-nese auto parts to the US market, Australian drugs to Peru, US rice to Japan and New Zealand cheese to Canada. It also allows garment exporters like Vietnam to use yarn and other materials from outside the TPP and still bene� t from TPP country tari� s.

v Countries must open state procurement more to foreign competition and not give state-owned enterprises undue preference. In some cases, including for Malaysia’s Bumiput-era policies favoring ethnic Malay � rms, this will be phased in over time and only for companies and deals over certain sizes.

v The 12 countries agreed to resolve disputes with foreign investors before expert panels. While critics say this “investor-state dispute mechanism” will leave government vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits and extra-territorial laws, the TPP creates exceptions and barriers to frivolous lawsuits, according to negotiators.

v Establishes 5- to 8-year patent protections for cutting-edge biologic drugs, less than the 12-year US threshold but more than Australia’s � ve years. The range re� ects failure to bridge some di� erences and the willingness to allow some countries room to harmonize domestic laws with the treaty.

v Sets standards for the cross-border issues of e-commerce and � nancial services, including preventing governments from forcing companies to place their data storage servers in the country or demanding access to a company’s software source code.

v Requires countries to live up to labor rights and fairness standards of the International Labor Organization, and not to weaken labor protections to attract investment.

v Signatories are obliged to make strong e� orts in environmen-tal protection and not to undermine protections to boost trade and investment. l

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at his o� cial residence in Tokyo REUTERS

BUSINESS18DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

Sector DSE CSE TotalMillion Taka % change Million Taka % change Million Taka % change

Bank 757.36 18.26 140.37 40.50 897.73 19.97NBFI 177.72 4.28 9.21 2.66 186.93 4.16Investment 79.24 1.91 4.57 1.32 83.81 1.86Engineering 463.14 11.16 30.86 8.90 494.00 10.99Food & Allied 213.14 5.14 4.13 1.19 217.27 4.83Fuel & Power 405.47 9.77 29.07 8.39 434.54 9.67Jute 3.99 0.10 0.00 3.99 0.09Textile 221.49 5.34 12.71 3.67 234.20 5.21Pharma & Chemical 911.44 21.97 36.68 10.58 948.12 21.09Paper & Packaging 4.59 0.11 0.87 0.25 5.45 0.12Service 212.29 5.12 14.56 4.20 226.84 5.05Leather 50.91 1.23 3.55 1.02 54.46 1.21Ceramic 102.27 2.47 6.58 1.90 108.85 2.42Cement 167.89 4.05 15.79 4.56 183.68 4.09Information Technology 22.78 0.55 3.22 0.93 26.00 0.58General Insurance 13.72 0.33 0.53 0.15 14.24 0.32Life Insurance 27.33 0.66 1.72 0.49 29.04 0.65Telecom 103.67 2.50 6.95 2.01 110.62 2.46Travel & Leisure 61.81 1.49 6.56 1.89 68.37 1.52Miscellaneous 148.09 3.57 18.71 5.40 166.80 3.71Debenture 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

News, analysis and recent disclosuresPTL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to purchase the Capital Machineries as per following speci� cations: Name of Machinery: Sewing Machine, Supplier Name: PEGASUS SEWING MACHINE PTE. LTD., Country of origin: Chaina/ Vietnam, Mode of Payment: 100% Irrevocable L/C at sight and Total Price: US $ 7,650.00.Information Technology Consultants Limited: Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has given consent for raising of capital through Initial Public O� ering (IPO) and issuance of prospectus by Information Technology Consultants Limited

Dividend/AGMQSMDRYCELL: 10% stock, AGM: 26.11.2015, Record Date: 22.10.2015.EHL: 15% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 12.11.2015, Record Date: 21.10.2015.DBH: 30% cash, AGM: 08.12.2015, Record date: 20.10.2015.PREMIERCEM: 20% cash, AGM: 29.10.2015, Record Date: 18.10.2015.BEACHHATCH: 5% stock, AGM: 08.12.2015, Record Date: 28.10.2015.SAIFPOWER: 29% stock, AGM: 12.11.2015, Record Date: 15.10.2015.APOLOISPAT: 3% Cash and 12% Stock dividend, AGM: 19.11.2015, Record Date: 14.10.2015.MATINSPINN: 27% cash, AGM: 27.10.2015, Record date: 08.10.2015.BSCCL: 10% stock, AGM: 18.10.2015, Record Date: 28.09.2015.MODERNDYE: 10% cash, AGM: 15.10.2015, Record Date: 23.09.2015.GPHISPAT: 17% cash, AGM: 08.11.2015, Record date: 20.09.2015.SAIHAMCOT: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 28.10.2015, Record date: 17.09.2015. BBS: 20% stock, EGM & AGM: 15.10.2015, Record date for EGM & AGM: 20.09.2015.APEXFOODS: 20% cash, AGM: 30.09.2015, Record date: 13.09.2015. APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 04.10.2015, Record date: 09.09.2015. PRAGATILIF: 17% cash and 5% stock dividend AGM: 29.09.2015,. Record Date: 20.08.2015.APEXSPINN: 20% cash AGM: 30.09.2015, Record date: 18.08.2015.

CSE GAINER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

3rd ICB M F-A 11.32 11.32 295.00 295.00 295.00 295.00 0.059 35.57 8.3Continental Insur. -A 9.87 5.64 16.11 16.70 16.70 15.70 0.021 3.02 5.3Green Delta M.F.-A 8.51 7.05 5.01 5.10 5.10 4.90 0.804 0.49 10.2AFC AgroBiotech-A 5.71 6.43 62.87 62.90 62.90 59.40 2.053 3.10 20.3Brac Bank -A 4.97 4.94 45.68 46.50 47.00 44.20 6.092 2.88 15.9Rupali Bank - A 4.13 4.17 47.93 47.90 48.00 45.00 0.145 2.20 21.8Sun Life Insurance-B 4.03 3.73 28.33 28.40 28.60 28.00 0.190 0.00 -Rahima Food -Z 3.80 4.09 55.24 54.70 56.10 54.10 0.404 -0.47 -veShinepukur Cera-Z 3.36 3.36 12.30 12.30 12.40 12.10 0.431 0.30 41.0 Trust Bank-A 3.23 4.40 22.52 22.40 22.80 22.00 2.082 4.26 5.3

DSE GAINER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Jute SpinnersA 8.53 9.73 59.76 59.80 60.00 58.50 0.325 -31.68 -veProgressive Life-A 7.65 7.56 64.70 64.70 64.70 64.70 0.014 2.30 28.1Green Delta M.F.-A 6.12 6.51 5.07 5.20 5.20 4.90 8.188 0.49 10.3Islamic Finance-A 5.81 3.34 16.08 16.40 16.60 15.60 17.948 1.08 14.97th ICB M F-A 4.78 4.28 103.00 103.00 103.00 103.00 0.031 20.76 5.0Rahima Food -Z 4.55 4.98 54.98 55.20 55.90 53.00 6.115 -0.47 -veBrac Bank -A 4.50 5.45 46.06 46.40 46.70 43.10 163.404 2.88 16.0Continental Insur. -A 4.43 3.67 16.37 16.50 16.60 16.00 3.791 3.02 5.4MutualTrust Bank-A 4.37 3.46 18.86 19.10 19.20 18.40 9.268 2.70 7.0Shinepukur Cera-Z 4.17 3.43 12.35 12.50 12.60 12.00 5.073 0.30 41.2

CSE LOSER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Sonargaon Tex -Z -7.61 -7.61 8.50 8.50 8.50 8.50 0.000 -2.26 -veGreenDeltaInsu -A -7.24 -7.24 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 0.010 1.80 27.8Tallu Spinning -Z -6.22 -5.94 21.20 21.10 22.10 21.00 0.154 -0.21 -veFAR Chemical-A -4.58 -1.38 44.34 43.80 45.80 43.00 4.560 3.23 13.7Prime Textile -A -4.37 -4.11 17.50 17.50 17.50 17.50 0.018 0.99 17.7EBL First M F-A -4.35 -1.11 4.46 4.40 4.50 4.40 0.130 0.62 7.2AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A -4.00 -3.22 4.81 4.80 5.00 4.80 0.070 1.49 3.2Asia Pasi� c Insu. -A -3.85 -3.54 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 0.005 2.32 6.5Phoenix Finance-A -3.74 -4.10 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 0.022 1.54 11.7Quasem Drycells -A -3.66 -2.53 75.00 73.70 76.00 73.70 0.438 1.52 49.3

DSE LOSER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Tallu Spinning -Z -6.67 -4.88 21.45 21.00 22.60 20.50 5.998 -0.21 -veModern Dyeing -Z -6.24 -6.52 160.14 156.30 168.80 152.00 0.683 1.16 138.14th ICB M F-A -5.78 -5.78 212.00 212.00 212.00 212.00 0.013 36.29 5.8FAR Chemical-A -4.79 -1.24 44.52 43.70 46.50 42.80 72.560 3.23 13.8SAIF Powertec-A -4.03 -3.38 89.39 88.10 92.10 87.50 148.044 3.07 29.1EXIM Bank 1 MF-A -3.85 8.85 5.66 5.00 5.10 5.00 0.004 0.74 7.6AramitCementA -3.79 -2.30 41.20 40.60 43.90 40.10 8.546 0.90 45.8Singer BD -A -3.76 -2.39 160.78 158.70 164.40 157.60 41.901 1.92 83.7ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A -3.72 -3.62 18.11 18.10 18.20 18.00 0.086 2.61 6.9Sa� o Spinning-A -3.63 -0.11 18.97 18.60 19.70 18.10 4.344 1.00 19.0

DSE key features October 6, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

4,148.35

Turnover (Volume)

113,052,751

Number of Contract

85,326

Traded Issues 324

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

161

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

152

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

11

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,675.17

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.43

CSE key features October 6, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

346.63

Turnover (Volume)

16,195,622

Number of Contract

11,392

Traded Issues 247

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

118

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

119

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

10

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,574.23

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.20

BUSINESS 19D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Stocks edge up with improved turnovern Tribune Report

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) closed the session in green yesterday with improved turnover of Tk4bn due to sell-o� pressure in the closing hour.

DSEX, the benchmark index of the premier bourse moved up by a skimpy 1.74 points, closed the session at 4,833 points.

However, the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) lost 2.75 points or 0.24% to end at 1,168 while the DS30 index ended at 1,843 points with a gain of 2.70 points.

The day’s turnover stood at Tk4.1bn, which was 7.9% higher than the previous session’s value.

Riding on stronger local consumption and higher export expectation, World Bank predicted a 6.5% GDP growth for Bangladesh during FY2015-16.

IDLC Investments, however, in its regular market com-mentary said textile being the prime export driver of the country was challenged by inking of Trans-Paci� c Partner-ship (TPP) deal with 12 paci� c rim countries, intensifying sti� competition for the apparel export of Bangladesh.

Considering those economic phenomena, the market react-ed accordingly and remained � at at 4,833.3 points, it added.

“The indecisive nature of the market is still evident with the DSEX struggling to close above the 4,840 level,” said LankaBangla Securities.

Banking stocks continued to support the market, while textile’s performance might have been a� ected by the news of Trans-Paci� c Partnership (TPP) agreement, the stockbro-ker said.

TPP deal was signed on Monday which made investors vig-ilant about the export outlook of Textile industry, it added.

The yesterday’s trading saw four banks appear in the top 10 gainers’ list and pushed banks to be the largest market capitalisation sector after 17 months.

Large cap sectors showed mixed performance with ce-ramics upped by 2.3% that led the performance chart, fol-lowed by banks 1.0%.

Engineering lost 1.5%, Cement 1.2% and Textile 1.2%. Power declined by 0.60% while Pharmaceuticals and Tele-communication went down 0.41% and 0.32% respectively.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals, which went up by 1.4% topped the liquidity chart with turnover worth Tk344.8mn.

Green Delta Mutual Fund was the highest gainer, posting a rise of 6.12% while Tallu Spinning was the day’s worst los-er, plunging by 6.66%. l

The indecisive nature of the market is still evident with the DSEX struggling to close above the 4,840 level

ANALYST

Daily capital market highlightsDSE Broad Index : 12974.65560 (+) 0.04% ▲

DSE - 30 Index : 1842.87460 (+) 0.15% ▲

CSE All Share Index: 14821.27530 (+) 0.07% ▲

CSE - 30 Index : 12974.65560 (+) 0.25% ▲

CSE Selected Index : 9020.92920 (+) 0.07% ▲

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

% of Total-Turnover ClosingP Change % ClosingY DHIGH DLOW AvgPrice

Shahjalal Islami -A 8,039,163 97.27 28.06 12.20 1.67 12.00 12.30 11.80 12.10Beximco Pharma -A 242,991 18.17 5.24 75.30 1.76 74.00 75.50 73.60 74.80LafargeS Cement-A 122,843 12.95 3.74 105.00 -1.32 106.40 107.00 104.50 105.45SAIF Powertec-A 108,025 9.64 2.78 88.20 -3.40 91.30 93.00 87.20 89.28BEXIMCO Ltd. -A 270,711 8.28 2.39 30.70 1.32 30.30 30.80 30.20 30.57Aman Feed-N 131,970 8.15 2.35 60.90 -2.87 62.70 63.30 60.80 61.77BSRM Ltd. -A 59,141 7.84 2.26 132.40 0.99 131.10 133.80 131.50 132.50Brac Bank -A 133,362 6.09 1.76 46.50 4.97 44.30 47.00 44.20 45.68City Bank - A 276,300 5.63 1.63 20.30 1.00 20.10 20.70 20.10 20.39RAK Ceramics-A 79,299 5.61 1.62 71.00 2.16 69.50 72.00 69.60 70.74UCBL - A 236,808 5.32 1.53 22.50 1.81 22.10 22.70 22.00 22.47Grameenphone-A 19,008 5.30 1.53 277.20 0.04 277.10 282.00 275.50 278.87United Power-A 34,285 4.92 1.42 142.80 -1.04 144.30 145.20 142.60 143.62FAR Chemical-A 102,846 4.56 1.32 43.80 -4.58 45.90 45.80 43.00 44.34Khulna Power-A 58,911 4.31 1.24 73.20 0.69 72.70 74.00 72.50 73.14SummitAlliancePort.-A 70,899 4.20 1.21 58.60 -2.66 60.20 60.10 58.10 59.20

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

% of Total-Turnover ClosingP Change

% ClosingY DHIGH DLOW Avg-Price

Beximco Pharma -A 6,628,529 493.35 11.89 75.00 1.35 74.00 75.20 73.60 74.43Brac Bank -A 3,547,787 163.40 3.94 46.40 4.50 44.40 46.70 43.10 46.06SAIF Powertec-A 1,656,220 148.04 3.57 88.10 -4.03 91.80 92.10 87.50 89.39Square Pharma -A 554,701 136.77 3.30 246.50 -0.52 247.80 248.80 245.80 246.56Grameenphone-A 333,825 92.53 2.23 275.20 -0.33 276.10 282.20 274.80 277.18RAK Ceramics-A 1,266,512 89.00 2.15 70.60 2.32 69.00 71.60 69.00 70.27LafargeS Cement-A 838,920 88.34 2.13 105.00 -1.04 106.10 107.00 104.40 105.30BATBCL -A 30,062 87.18 2.10 2930.30 0.09 2927.70 2931.10 2900.00 2900.07 Trust Bank-A 3,773,197 84.35 2.03 22.40 3.23 21.70 22.80 21.40 22.35IFIC Bank - A 3,500,837 83.18 2.01 23.70 2.16 23.20 24.10 23.20 23.76FAR Chemical-A 1,629,865 72.56 1.75 43.70 -4.79 45.90 46.50 42.80 44.52City Bank - A 3,499,824 71.06 1.71 20.30 1.00 20.10 20.50 20.00 20.30UCBL - A 3,012,330 67.81 1.63 22.50 1.35 22.20 22.70 22.20 22.51BSRM Ltd. -A 505,330 66.96 1.61 132.80 1.30 131.10 134.20 131.00 132.52DESCO Ltd. -A 766,286 57.16 1.38 74.20 -0.54 74.60 75.50 74.00 74.60IDLC Finance -A 913,605 56.73 1.37 62.00 -0.32 62.20 62.90 61.60 62.09ACI Limited- A 93,207 53.64 1.29 575.20 -0.38 577.40 579.80 572.50 575.50BEXIMCO Ltd. -A 1,741,082 53.09 1.28 30.70 1.32 30.30 30.80 30.10 30.49UNITED AIR-A 5,068,665 52.72 1.27 10.40 0.00 10.40 10.60 10.30 10.40BSRM Steels-A 555,354 52.23 1.26 93.70 -1.26 94.90 95.40 93.40 94.05

BUSINESS20DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

BTRC inks deal with CA � rm for Grameenphone auditn Ishtiaq Husain

The BTRC yesterday signed a deal with a char-tered accountants company for conducting a second time audit of the market’s leading mo-bile phone operator Grameenphone.

Finance Director of Bangladesh Telecom-munication Regulatory Commission Ashis Kumar Kundu and audit � rm Toha Khan Zam-an Co Chartered Accountants director Nasir Ahmed signed the deal on behalf of their re-spective organisations.

The regulator may sign another deal with Masih Muhith Haque & Co Chartered Ac-countants for running audit of another opera-tor Robi by next week at a cost of Tk7.82 crore.

In 2011, the BTRC had Grameenphone au-dit done by a � rm, which found the operator owed Tk3,034 crore to the government.

Later, the Grameenphone took the matter to the High Court and challenged the auditor appointing process, which still remains pend-ing.

However, the audit company sources said they had already started preparation for the audit and hired an additional manpower for running the audit of the leading operator.

A BTRC o� cial said within a short time the auditors would soon go to the Grameenphone o� ce to conduct “a massive auditing” of � -

nancial and technical issues. He said the auditors would enter into the

billing system and cross-check with their taxation � gures, actual subscribers number and � gures of airtime along with some other issues.

Grameenphone and Robi said they had no problem with audit though the BTRC move was “surprising.”

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, they questioned why other operators should not face same audit.

BTRC told the government that it allocated Tk40.88 crore for audits of di� erent mobile phone operators this � scal year. Once the au-dits into Grameenphone and Robi are done, the regulator will initiate similar audit to oth-er operators, the regulator said.

An attempt to inspect Banglalink in 2011 failed as the appointed auditor, Ahmed Zaker & Co, could not � nish the job. l

ADB provides new loan to expand water projectn Tribune Report

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing fresh assistance to expand a water resources project in the southwest of Bangladesh that has sharply increased agriculture production and bene� ted over 1,91,000 people, including landless farmers and women.

ADB is providing a $45 million loan and the Netherlands is expected to provide a grant of $7 million, to be administered by the ADB, to increase the scope of the Southwest Area Inte-grated Water Resources Planning and Manage-ment Project, said a press release yesterday.

ADB provided $20 million and the Nether-lands provided $12.5 million for the original project, which was approved in 2005 and has renovated dilapidated infrastructure and es-tablished water management organizations with broad community participation.

“We’ve seen considerable bene� ts in the project pilot areas of Narail and Chenchuri Beel already, with rice production nearly dou-bling and � sh production rising 30%,” said Natsuko Totsuka, Senior Resources Specialist in ADB’s South Asia Department.

“This new � nancing will allow us to rep-licate the success of the project across nine nearby areas, covering 84,000 hectares, and with a population of nearly 470,000.”

In each of the new subproject areas, sup-port will be given to enroll farmers into wa-ter management organisations to help them better operate and maintain the water infra-structure, and develop integrated water man-agement plans.

The expanded project will also support the development of skills for members of water management organisations to help them in-crease the productivity of their agriculture

and � shing activities, and to enhance their livelihood activities.

On the infrastructure side, funds will be used to renovate or build gated water retention struc-tures and � ood embankments, and to re-exca-vate clogged drainage and irrigation canals.

Sustainable water resources management is crucial for economic livelihoods and pover-ty reduction in Bangladesh, where more than

80% of poor people live in rural areas and de-pend on agriculture or � sheries for their live-lihoods.

Serious deterioration of � ood control, drainage and irrigation schemes has under-mined agriculture and � sheries production, and upgrading infrastructure and establish-ing a way for local people to manage their own water resources is an important goal for

the government and its development part-ners, including ADB.

ADB has held several trials focused on estab-lishing participatory water management groups across Bangladesh, and the existing project has been the � rst successful case of a large-scale participatory water management scheme.

The expanded project is expected to be completed in June 2022. l

DCCI: Killing of foreign nationals may a� ect FDIn Tribune Report

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and In-dustry (DCCI) yesterday apprehended that incidents like killing of two foreign nationals might have an adverse impact on foreign di-rect investment in� ow as well as exports.

It urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure security of the foreigners to encourage investors’ con� dence for increased FDI in Bangladesh, according to a press re-lease yesterday. l

CSE capital market fair begins tomorrown Tribune Report

CSE 5th Capital Market Fair 2015 will kick o� tomorrow at GEC Convention Centre in Chit-tagong.

Wali-ul-Maroof Matin, managing director of Chittagong Stock Exchange, came up with the announcement at a press conference held yesterday at its headquarters.

The two-day-long fair arranged by the Chit-tagong Stock Exchange will end on October 9.

The aim of the fair is to build awareness among the investors, said Matin. l

Banks asked to lend MSMEs of former enclavesn Tribune Report

Bangladesh Banks asked the banks to intro-duce group-based lending to Micro Small and Medium Enterprise entrepreneurs in former enclaves that have recently been included in the map of Bangladesh.

All banks and non-bank � nancial institu-tions have been asked to include cottage, mi-cro and medium entrepreneurs under group-based SME lending, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

The entrepreneurs who got Bangladeshi citizenship among enclave residents will be entitled to the group-based lending facilities, said the circular.

The instruction will take immediate e� ect. Enclave residents have spent nearly seven

decades beyond the reach of basic � nancial services, being denied the opportunity even to open a simple bank account.

Almost entirely dependent on agricul-ture for their livelihoods, enclave residentshave never been able to get farm loans from either Bangladeshi or Indian � nancial institu-tions.

Bangladesh Bank asked the banks to pro-vide � nancial facilities at a minimum cost to the residents of new areas of Bangladesh. l

The new � nancing is expected to replicate the success of the project across nine nearby areas DHAKA TRIBUNE

Another such deal is likely next week for audit of another operator Robi

21D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015T

-JUN

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ION

22Trial roomLondonCalling

24NewsThe new Nissan Almera

INSIDE

Runway in rougePhoto: Omi Chowdhury

Trial roomWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

T-JUNCTION22DT

LondonCalling

From the creative minds to the desirable runways

n Omi Chowdhury

When London Fashion Week opens its doors twice a year, it brings in a marauding hoard of fashion elites who converge on the streets of London, with their trendsetting posture and their seemingly fail-safe bespoke attires. The bloggers, stylists, make-up artists, editors, writers, photographers, the buyers, the sellers, all come together to engage the progression of high fashion and the commerce that drives it. That evaluation can make or break small designer boutiques and validate larger ones instantly. So it is no surprise that there is stress, there is glamour, there is con� ict and there is closure at every show that is lucky enough to have a proper presentation.

Despite the aura of surrealism, fashion, like art, imitates life in its success and failure, whimsy and substance.

The general public gets a glimpse of high fashion in the form of runway shows; a few bloggers and media elites see it through the prism of tightly controlled backstage access that transitions into front row seats of the spectacle. But between the polished catwalks and chaotic back-stages, a lot of e� ort, a lot of soul searching, a lot of creative ideas emerge and fail in the dust of high expectations and low tolerance for mediocrity. London Fashion Week’s excellence also breeds a competitive edge that cuts through the sentimentality of doing a good enough job and demands doing the best job possible. And there lies the reality of high fashion. There are no shortcuts, overnight success in fashion, everything is weighted, substantiated and sold according to the sense of prevailing aesthetics.

London Fashion Week wrapped up this week amidst the gloom of typically British weather. Despite the doom and gloom of unrelenting rain and occasional cold spell, the catwalks were buzzing with the glitz of celebrities and designers of enviable talent. From the glamour of Burberry to the soho chic, “devil may care” collection of Vivienne Westwood. From the gender bending glitter of Asish to the feminine charm of Zeynep Koltan, from the dark brooding edginess of Ccuoco to the playfulness and colour of Ryan Lo, the runways were anything but monotone.

Photos: Omi Chowdhury

Trial room T-JUNCTION 23D

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Vivienne Westwood, Burberry and Paul Smith, being the stalwarts of British fashion, introduced a series of substantive collections that had glamor, grunge and androgyny as the main components of construct. With the added layer of “politics meets fashion” in the Vivienne Westwood show, and it was a strong showing of the best of British fashion. But traditionally, London Fashion Week has always been a springboard for newer Anglophone designers as New York is too restricted, and access to NYFW requires not only talent but also substantial cash backing from investors. This year, LFW was � ush with such talents.

Few of the shows (of the newer designers) that stood out were Ryan Lo, Zeynep Koltan, Fydor Golan and Eudon Choi. All four of these shows had an element of classic mixed with the modern. While there were other contenders like Anya Hindmarch and Asish, their collections were more of an experiment in aesthetics than an outright dash to functional clothing.

The intricacies of Zeynap Koltan’s gowns were exceptional and provided a strong contrast with an industry that is making more and more gender-neutral clothing. Ryan Lo incorporated a classic mid 1800s look with modern functionality, while Eudon Choi added a layer of colour and contrast with their new collection. Designers like Christopher Raeburn experimented with geometric shapes, while Roksanda reimagined the jumpsuit within the construct of high fashion meets functionality. The glitz and gloss were evident in Versus, as it paid homage to Donatella’s Versace. JW Anderson found a way to play with pop art on his collection, which he described as “intergalactic Olympics.”

By time the LFW SS16 called curtains on the proceedings, the spring and summer trends were � rmly set for the upcoming year. And amidst the chaos, the glamour, the rain, the crowd what stood out were the celebration of an art form that drives one of the biggest industries in the world, and shapes our understanding of aesthetics in many forms. l

NewsT-JUNCTION24DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Paci� c Motors Ltd has launched the NEW Nissan Sunny in Bangladesh, under the

new name “Nissan Almera.” This new model is now on sale at their three showrooms in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

The Nissan Almera is positioned as an a� ordable sedan with “best

value in class,” and will compete very strongly within its segment of brand

new and recon sedans. The Almera is one of Nissan’s top sellers and has now

been introduced in over 150 countries, winning awards all over the world.

The new model attempts to break the convention with its bold, fresh face courtesy of a bigger front grille, sophisticated headlamps and with a sporty modern look. The chrome detailing around the car also gives the sedan a premium luxury appearance.

It also features a sophisticated, comfortable and spacious interior, complete with a modern redesigned dashboard, stylish piano black centre console, premium audio system and a new premium steering wheel with added functionality.

With dynamic performance and the modern fuel-e� cient technology, the new Nissan Almera is a car to consider, now available for sale with only a Tk2,59,000 down payment* (*call for terms and conditions), and easy monthly installment (EMI) along with a three year manufacturer’s warranty.

Visit Facebook for more details: nissanbd, millenniumsylhet l

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka and Medtronic Inc. celebrated World Heart Day by organising a health talk session and o� ered a unique patient centric service to their patients on October 3 at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka. The session focused on patients who might be at risk for sudden cardiac arrest, a condition that a� ects more than one million people a year and the leading cause of death in US and other nations.

The event was inaugurated by Shams Munwar, coordinator and senior consultant, clinical and interventional cardiology at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka.

The session featured a lecture by Dr A H M Waliul Islam, associate consultant, clinical and interventional cardiology at Apollo Hospitals Dhaka on the risks of sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, Prof Md Shahabuddin Talukder, senior consultant of clinical and interventional

cardiology, stressed on the need for patient counseling: “More than ten lac patients died last year due to sudden cardiac arrest, many of whom were undiagnosed prior to it.” Shakira Islam, a patient in the audience, praised the seminar saying: “There are many like me who don’t know enough about heart disease and this kind of learning is beneficial.”

The session was attended by patients, consultants from the cardiology and cardiothoracic department of Apollo Hospitals Dhaka, including R Basil, chief executive o� cer and executive director, STS Holdings Ltd (owning company of Apollo Hospitals Dhaka), Prasad Muglikar, director of medical services, and the top management of Apollo Hospitals Dhaka. After the informative session, the patients in the audience received a 50% discount on echo screening.l

BRAC University hosted renowned Professor Joya Chatterji, a fellow of Trinity College, director of the Centre of South Asian Studies and the editor of the journal Modern Asian Studies, as a speaker in their “Distinguished Scholars Series” program on September 23 at the BRAC Centre Inn Auditorium.

Her public lecture focused on a topic based on inter-regional migration of the Bengali people since 1907. She presented her topic on “Being Stuck: Immobility and poverty in a divided Bengal.” A large number of distinguished guests and historians in Dhaka attended the event.

The BRAC University Distinguished Scholars Series is designed to bring innovative, in� uential and inspiring movers and shakers to the campus of BRAC University to heighten awareness of the academic and wider community to the new horizons of knowledge and enrich their perspectives on contemporary issues. The speakers are chosen from famous academicians, writers, advocates, politicians, business and media experts, statesmen, and designers who have all helped to shape the world in which we live. l

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka and Medtronic Inc on World Heart Day

‘Distinguished Scholars Series’ public lecture at Brac University

The new Nissan Almera

25D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

BALE VOTED WELSH PLAYER OF THE YEAR AGAIN

OPINION:CRICKET IS SAFE TO PLAY IN....

26 2928

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has been recalled to face

England in the upcoming Test series in the UAE, o� cials said Tuesday,

� ve years after his last match in the longest format

RECALLED

Sport4-0 LOSS ENDS BANGLADESH U-19 HOPES

NAT’L CRICKET LEAGUE BRIEF SCORES, ROUND 2Barisal v Sylhet, SANSBarisal (1st innings): 527/9 dec Sylhet (1st innings): 400-allout in 155.2 overs (Rajin 89*, Shanaj 58, Gazi 4/87)Barisal (2nd innings): 146/7 in 56 overs(Mosaddek 61)

Match drawn

Dhaka Metropolis v Khulna, SBNSKhulna (1st innings): 455-alloutMetro (1st innings): 271-alloutMetro f/o (2nd innings): 248/5 in 83 overs(Marshal 115*, Asif 70)

Match drawn

Dhaka v Rangpur, SCSDhaka (1st innings): 449-allout Rangpur (1st innings): 248-alloutRangpur f/o (2nd innings): 255-allout in 111.1 overs (Sohrawardi 121, Mahbubul 4/51, Shuvagata 3/36)Dhaka (2nd innings): 55/2 in 4.2 overs

Dhaka won by eight wickets

Chittagong v Rajshahi, SKSChittagong (1st innings): 383-alloutRajshahi (1st innings): 308-alloutChittagong (2nd innings): 181-alloutRajshahi (2nd innings): 260/3 in 55.5 overs(Junaid 102, Nazmul 92, Jubair 3/92)

Rajshahi won by seven wickets

Marshall saves Metro blushes, Junaed hundred secures Rajshahi win n Mazhar Uddin

Dhaka stroll to first winSohrawardi Shuvo’s heroics went in vain as Rangpur su� ered an eight-wicket defeat to Dhaka division yesterday. The win in their second Tier 1 game took Dhaka second in the four-team table.

Rangpur, who resumed the last day on 55 for three in their second innings, despite Shuvo’s 121 were able to set a target of 55 runs which Dhaka accumulated losing three wickets.

Rangpur made 255 in their second innings managed to avoid the innings defeat, but Dhaka’s � rst innings 449 was proved cru-cial in the end. Fast bowler Mahbubul Alam picked up four wickets while Shuvagata Hom took three for the winners.

Double-up Marshall rescues MetroNational discarded batsman Marshall Ayub

smashed his second hundred in the match to save blushes against Tier 1 leaders Khulna.

Marshall shared a crucial 143-run partner-ship with Asif Ahmed after Metro was staring at an innings defeat being placed at 35 for four.

Marshal, who scored 107 in the � rst in-nings, was unbeaten on 115 facing 216 balls (11 fours, one six) while Asif scored 70. Metro reached 248 for � ve at stumps.

Junaed ton secures Rajshahi winRajshahi resumed the last day with a victory in sight against Chittagong. Needing 257 to win the match, the former champions resumed the last day on 98 for no loss with Junaed Siddique and Nazmul Hossain unbeaten on 53 and 45 respectively. Although Junaed made 102 to register his eighth � rst-class ton, his overnight partner fell short of a hundred by eight runs.

Batting at No 5 Sabbir Rahman racked up a quick-� re 49 o� just 38 balls (� ve sixes, three

fours) as Rajshahi cruised to a seven-wicket win over the port-city side.

200* and 61 for Mosaddek in Barisal drawThe only Bangladeshi player to register three � rst-class double hundreds in one single sea-son, 19-year-old Mosaddek Hossain produced another eye-catching half century on the fourth day against Sylhet.

Barisal rode on his unbeaten 200 in the � rst innings to post a mammoth 527 before the prodigy made another valiant 61 in his side’s 146 for seven in the second innings as both teams settled for a draw.

Earlier, Sylhet, who resumed their � rst in-ning son 363 for seven, replied strongly scor-ing 400. Imtiaz scored 127 while Zakir Hasan and veteran Rajin Saleh scored identical 89 runs. O� -spinner Sohag Gazi picked up four wickets for Barisal while Monir Hossain and Mosaddek took two wickets each. l

TIER 1TEAMS M W L D PTS

Khulna 2 0 0 2 20

Dhaka 2 1 0 1 13

Rangpur 2 0 1 1 11

Dhaka Metro 2 0 0 2 10

TIER 2TEAMS M W L D PTS

Rajshahi 2 1 0 1 21

Barisal 2 0 0 2 18

Chittagong 2 0 1 1 10

Sylhet 2 0 0 2 9

Dhaka Metro’s Marshall Ayub plays on the on-side during his match saving 115 against Khulna in the second round of the National Cricket League at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Sport26DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

47 associate cricket coaches learn trade at SBNS n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The six-day long Asian Cricket Council “Level 3” coaching programme concluded at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The programme, third of its kind, was conducted by International Cricket Council Asia.

Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul, who now works as the development o� cer of ICC Asia, said they tried to accom-modate as many coaches – 47 – as possible in the programme that touched on every theo-retical and practical aspect of cricket coach-ing, including teaching budding coaches mainly from the associate nations.

“We have told them it is not possible to make you a good coach with just six days of training but what we have tried is to make sure they are acquitted with the basics,” Bul-bul informed the media.

“We had everything designed so there was nothing rushed up. We had told them that they can always use the information that they are taking from here and use them back home. It is never possible to make them learn batting in just two and a half hours so what we did is give them as much information as possible,” he explained.

Iran’s Mozdeh Banvandapour was one among those 47 coaches from 18 di� erent countries. Although it has not been con-

� rmed o� cially but Mozdeh might just be the � rst and only Iranian woman to have attained the Level 3 course.

Cricket is only played by a few in Iran, a country located on the Persian Gulf. There, the game of cricket is a � edgling sport gradually growing in popularity, especially among the youth and the women. The nation made signi� cant progress in Under-16 and women’s cricket recently and has some 25 cricket clubs.

“Cricket is not that popular in Iran but I want my country to pick up the game like Malaysia and Nepal did. That’s the reason why I wanted to learn more about the game, so that I can spread it when I go back home,” Mozdeh shared her motive.

For Mozdeh, the experience was a brilliant one. She said she has many things to take back home. Her companion in the programme, Ge Toa from China, on the other hand has been involved with the game since 2004 and it is the aspect of team-work that makes him in-terested to know more about the sport.

“I like cricket because it is a di� erent sport game. It involves a lot of teamwork. Before, I used to play volleyball and by chance, I got to learn about cricket back in China and that’s how I started my cricket. The ACC had found-ed the Chinese Cricket Association in 2004 and they had a foreign coach who taught us cricket,” said Ge. l

Iran’s Mozdeh Banvandapour (L) is seen during the Asian Cricket Council Level-3 coaching programme at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

AFC UNDER-19 QUALIFIERS

4-0 loss ends Bangladesh youth hopesn Tribune Report

Bangladesh � nished as runners up of Group A in the AFC Under-19 Championship quali� ers despite su� ering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan at Bangabandhu National Stadi-um yesterday.

The loss also ended any hopes Bangla-desh were harbouring of making it to the � -nal round, scheduled to be held next year in Bahrain.

Doston Ibragimov netted two for the vis-itors, who concluded their qualifying cam-paign as group champions with maximum nine points from three matches. The hosts, on the other hand, � nished theirs on four points from the same number of games.

Bangladesh head coach Saiful Bari Titu made four changes to the playing XI that drew 1-1 against Bhutan last Sunday with Rahmat, Shakil, Anik and Sarwar Zaman Nipu replac-ing Jahangir Alam Sajeeb, Bappy, Rohit Sarkar and Saad Uddin respectively.

Mid� elder Ibragimov gave the Uzbeks the lead in the 13th minute when he placed home a shot from a goal-mouth melee.

Ibragimov doubled the tourists' lead in the 62nd minute before substitute forward Abdixolikov Bobir extended the scoreline 10 minutes from time. Sukhrov Nurulloev com-pleted the rout in injury time.

Earlier yesterday, Sri Lanka ended third in Group A following a facile 2-0 win over Bhu-tan at the same venue. Forward Mohomed Afam Akram scored both the goals for the is-land nation.

The Lankans concluded their campaign on three points, two more than Bhutan, who � n-ished bottom of the four-nation group. l

Uzbekistan’s Doston Ibragimov, who scored two goals, vies for the ball against Bangladesh defender Tutul Hossain Badshah during their AFC Under-19 Quali� ers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Sport 27D

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Pakistan NSA rules out cricket with IndiaPakistan’s National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz on Monday ruled out a potential cricket series against India, saying he saw no chance of a revival of ties between the arch-rivals under “the current situation”. Aziz’s remarks come with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) awaiting a � nal response from their Indian counterparts on a series due to be played in Dec-Jan in UAE.

–AFP

Another death rocks high school gridironA Seattle area high school football player injured in a game on Friday died in hospital on Monday, the latest in a spate of fatalities among youth gridiron players. Kenney Bui, a senior at Technology, Engineering and Com-munications (TEC) high school in Seattle, was playing defensive back when he was hurt in the fourth quarter of a game on Friday.

–AFP

Brazil faces World Cup clashes without NeymarMuch has changed for Brazil’s national team since last year’s humiliating World Cup exit, but as the 2018 qualifying campaign gets underway Thursday one worrying factor stays the same: the absence of superstar Neymar. More than a year has passed since that extraordinary 7-1 meltdown against Germany in Brazil’s own WC.

–AFP

ICC for consistency in application of cricket lawsCricket’s governing body on Monday stressed the need for consistent application of the laws across all formats of the game.  After the Inter-national Cricket Council (ICC) held a conference for Elite panel umpires and match referees in Dubai, ICC General Manager Geo� Allardice said it had been useful in understanding the various new laws and their application.

–AFP

Pakistan’s new � nd Asif’s action reportedPakistan’s new o� -spinner Bilal Asif has been reported for a suspect action, team manager Intikhab Alam told AFP on Tuesday, making him the team’s third player within the last year to be investigated for illegal bowling. Asif, 30, took 5-25 in the third and � nal one-day interna-tional against Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday to help Pakistan win the match by seven wickets, taking the series 2-1.

–AFP

Pistorius ordered to undergo psychotherapyParalympian star Oscar Pistorius will have to undergo psychotherapy, South Africa’s parole review board said Tuesday after blocking his release from prison just 10 months into his � ve-year sentence for killing his girlfriend. The review panel decided that an earlier decision by the parole board to allow the 28-year-old athlete out on house arrest was “premature” and referred the case back for reconsideration.

–AFP

QUICK BYTES SCORECARD, 2ND ODIBANGLADESH WOMEN INNINGS R BAyesha Rahman c Bismah b Anam 39 56Shamima Sultana c Nain b Asmavia 3 10Farjana Hoque lbw b Asmavia 0 4Lata Mondal c & b Asmavia 0 5Rumana Ahmed b Anam 2 14Salma Khatun b Sania 7 38Jahanara Alam b Anam 0 1Nigar Sultana not out 30 109Ritu Moni lbw b Anam 28 48Nahida Akter run out (Sana) 1 8Khadija Tul Kubra not out 4 7Extras (w 9) 9Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 123FoW: 1-21 (Shamima), 2-23 (Farjana), 3-24 (Lata), 4-42 (Rumana), 5-53 (Ayesha), 6-53 (Jahanara), 7-67 (Salma), 8-114 (Ritu), 9-117 (Nahida)BowlingAsmavia 7-1-28-3, Sania 10-1-24-1, Anam 10-5-7-4, Sana 10-2-30-0, Bismah 3-0-8-0, Nida 6-0-14-0, Aliya 1-0-2-0, Marina 2-0-5-0, Javeria 1-0-5-0PAKISTAN WOMEN INNINGS R BMarina Iqbal run out (Salma) 31 67Javeria Khan c Rumana b Nahida 7 26Bismah Maroof c Jahanara b Rumana 41 66Nain Abidi st Shamima b Nahida 22 41Sana Mir not out 12 18Aliya Riaz not out 7 13Extras (w 4) 4Total (4 wickets; 38.3 overs) 124FoW: 1-20 (Javeria), 2-63 (Marina), 3-99 (Bismah), 4-109 (Nain)BowlingJahanara 9-1-30-0, Nahida 8.3-3-22-2, Salma 4-1 -17-0, Khadija 5-0-22-0, Lata 5-1-15-0, Ritu 1-0-5-0, Rumana 6-1-13-1

Pakistan women won by six wickets

Salma and Co end tour with defeatn Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh women completed their tour of Pakistan with yet another defeat as the hosts beat the visitors by six wickets in the second and � nal ODI at Southend Club Cricket Stadi-um yesterday.

In the process, the home side wrapped up the two-match ODI series 2-0.

Taking � rst guard, Bangladesh posted a be-low-par total of 123/9 from their 50 overs. Open-ing batter Ayesha Rahman was the highest scorer with 39 from 56 balls while the undefeated Nigar Sultana registered a pedestrian 109-ball 30.

Pakistan left-arm spinner Anam Amin picked up four wickets conceding only seven runs from her allotted 10 overs while Asmavia Iqbal took three.

The hosts faced no problems whatsoever overhauling the target as they cantered home with more than 11 overs to spare. The in-form Bismah Maroof top-scored with 41 from 66 balls while opener Marina Iqbal chipped in with 31.

Salma Khatun and her troop earlier lost the two-match Twenty20 international series 2-0 and will return home today. l

Pakistani captain Sana Mir (C) shakes hands with Bangladeshi cricketers after winning the series at the Southend Club in Karachi yesterday AFP

Crucial BCB meeting todayn Minhaz Uddin Khan

The Bangladesh Cricket Board directors will sit in a board meeting with their president Nazmul Hassan today. It is expected that the meeting will provide a clear stance on secu-rity measures for Nazmul to highlight in the upcoming ICC meeting, scheduled for this Friday, in Dubai.

Following Cricket Australia’s footsteps, Cricket South Africa also pulled its women’s team from touring Bangladesh which is now becoming extremely frustrating for the crick-et administrators and players in this country. Nazmul vowed to speak with all the high-ups present in the ICC meeting and assure them of the security situation in Bangladesh.

The meeting today at the BCB headquarter will also decide the tenure of two national se-lectors Habibul Bashar and Minhajul Abedin while the preparation for the third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 will also be discussed. l

NADAL THROWN BY EX-BALL BOY, DJOKOVIC CATCHES FIRERafael Nadal stuttered to victory against one of his former ball boys at the China Open on Tuesday as top-ranked Novak Djokovic swept imperiously to his 25th straight win in Beijing. Out-of-sorts Nadal was broken four times by China’s 230th-ranked Wu Di, who once tossed him balls and towels in Shanghai, before winning an error-strewn match 6-4, 6-4 REUTERS

28DT Sport

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Crowd trouble forced two interruptions in play during the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Monday as India slid to a six-wicket defeat against South Africa. Play was held up for more than 50 minutes during South Africa’s chase after spectators began throwing plastic bottles onto the � eld

OPINION

Cricket is safe to play in....n Reazur Rahman Rohan

The cricket lovers of Bangladesh, not to men-tion the administrators, are still demoralised by the fact that the Australian government has stopped its national team from touring Bang-ladesh on security grounds. Cricket Australia was directly informed by their Department of Foreign A� airs and Trade (DFAT) of potential threats and the death of an Italian aid worker, who was shot dead in Dhaka with ISIS claim-ing the responsibility, sparked the event.

A Western country citizen murdered in a Muslim country is enough to arouse an emo-tional response, but was not carrying an in-ternational tour forward the right follow up? Even Cricket South Africa joined the Aussies as they too postponed their scheduled wom-en’s tour of Bangladesh this month. However, Bangladesh Cricket Board was brave enough to send its women’s team to Pakistan where teams refuse to tour after the attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in 2009.

If a Bangladeshi was murdered instead, would the Australians still have postponed? Reality is that people are murdered in every city in every country for all kinds of reasons and at times, even blanket security is not enough. Cricket is loved and played in plac-es that don’t always o� er blanket promises of security.

If we think logically, is any place in the world safe for cricket?

Will teams not travel to India? Take Cut-tack as the recent example where the crowd threw bottles and paused the Twenty20 game between India and South Africa for at least 50 minutes on Monday. India’s captain MS Dhoni took it very lightly said, “Frankly, from a safe-ty point of view, I don’t think there was a very serious threat. A few of the powerful people from the crowd were good enough to throw the bottles inside the rope. So the umpires thought it was better that players go o� the � eld for a while. The reaction of the crowd,

you know, we didn’t play well, so at times you get reactions like this.”

The incident raised questions about safety precautions at grounds in India, so what next – will the visitors � y back? This is just a mi-nor incident compared to the Mumbai bomb-ings that haven’t stopped any country from touring India, other than Pakistan, and we all know that is a political decision.

Any visitor entering Johannesburg are alerted as it is said to be an unsafe tourist spot, but Bangladesh A team will be � ying to South Africa soon. Is it the need of the small-er cricketing nations that encourage them to travel to the danger zones?

A New South Wales police employee was shot dead in broad daylight just a few days back. Will the incident become a factor for New Zealand, who will visit Down Under next month?

For a country like Bangladesh, who are making fast progress in the cricketing world, it is a major setback. Bangladesh Cricket Board has always made sure of providing the best security possible, but still there are small incidents that do happen. Surely a touring cricket team, that gets as much security as a minister in this country, should not withdraw on the basis of an isolated crime in such a busy capital. l

BCB has always ensured the best security possible to foreign teams. Surely a touring cricket team, that gets as much security as a minister in this country, should not withdraw on the basis of an isolated crime

TWITTER REACTIONSVVS LAXMAN

The crowds may be upset with the way India played this evening but the way they are behaving is very disappointing. #IndvsSA

YUVRAJ SINGH What a shame ! When we win all is good when

we loosing is that how u behave ? Pl show some respect to your players and respect the game

PRAGYAN OJHA Sad to see the reputation of Odisha brought

down because of few morons. #INDvSA #disgusting

GRAEME SMITH Really sad and disappointing behaviour from

fans in cuttack tonight! Scenes that should not be seen at sporting grounds. #SAvsIND

MICHAEL VAUGHAN Disgusting scenes in Cuttack.... So many

Venues in India.... Easy punishment...Don’t let them host internationals for a few

years...#SAvIND

HARSHA BHOGLE Disgraceful scenes in Cuttack. Nobody has a

right to throw bottles onto the ground. Crowd performance worse than that of the players.

AAKASH CHOPRA How would you like if people threw bottles

at you after a bad day at o� ce? Idiots are ev-erywhere...some have made it to the ground

#IndvSA

WV RAMAN Fans make heroes out of sportsmen alright,

but they can’t let the country down with bad behaviour when their heroes let them down

MOHAMMAD KAIF Not an ideal scene for players n fans at

#cuttack ,When 2 teams play,one wins n other loses, Support the sport, country

automatically wins!

Crowd trouble takes centre stage in Cuttackn Cricinfo

Crowd trouble forced two interruptions in play during the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack as India slid to a six-wick-et defeat against South Africa. Play was held up for more than 50 minutes during South Af-rica’s chase after spectators, largely from one section of the stadium, began throwing plas-tic bottles onto the � eld.

The � rst bottle-throwing incident came in the break between innings - India were bowled out for 92, their lowest T20I total at home - and did not interrupt play. The second came after 11 overs of South Africa’s chase and stopped play for 27 minutes. The play-ers remained in the middle through the de-lay and play resumed at 10pm, with security personnel lining the boundaries. However, a third wave of bottle-throwing two overs later forced them o� . Play resumed after a 24-min-ute hold-up once the police had cleared the section of the crowd causing the disruption.

South Africa required another 4.1 overs, which passed without further incident, to complete the chase and seal the series 2-0.

The incident is the � rst case for the BCCI’s new president, Shashank Manohar, to handle and there would be several points of concern for the board in how the situation was dealt with on the spot in Cuttack.

The matter did not come up at the post-match presentation ceremony, though both captains were interviewed by the broad-casters and could have been asked for their thoughts on it.

The incident also raises questions about safety precautions at grounds in India, espe-cially for high-pro� le matches like today’s. The standard procedure is for spectators who buy drinks at the ground to be given their liquid refreshments - whether water or soft drinks - in plastic cups, which cannot be used as missiles. How the spectators could carry bottles to their seats on Monday will be a mat-ter for investigation. l

India’s Virat Kohli shows a bottle thrown on the � eld to the umpires on Monday REUTERS

Sport 29D

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Ten Sports10:30AM ATP World Tour 500 2015China Open, Round 2 Day 3 Sony KixIRB Rugby World Cup 2015 9:30PM South Africa v USA 12:30AM Namibia v Georgia Star Sports 27:30PM Indian Super League 2015Goa v KolKata Star Sports 48:00AM ATP World Tour 500 2015Rakuten Japan Open Tennis C’ships

DAY’S WATCH

Klopp to the Kop?n Reuters

Jurgen Klopp has emerged as the clear front runner for the An� eld hot seat, with Liv-erpool hoping to appoint the German as a replace- ment for sacked man-a ge r Brendan Rodgers

by the end of the week, British me-

dia reported.The former

Borussia Dort-mund coach is favourite to take over from the

Northern Irish-man, with ex-Chel-

sea boss Carlo A n c e l o t t i

also in the frame.

Klopp is understood to be open to the idea of a move, the reports said, adding that talks between Liverpool and his representatives were progressing well.

The 48-year-old has been out of work since leaving Dortmund in the summer.

Klopp won two German Bundesliga titles at Dortmund and led the club to the � nals of the Champions League in 2013, but lost the German Cup � nal to Wolfsburg in his � nal game in charge at the end of the 2014-15 sea-son during which his side struggled in the do-mestic league, eventually � nishing seventh.

Klopp is understood to have spoken to for-mer Liverpool and Germany mid� elder Diet-mar Hamann about the club, the city and the fans, the BBC reported.

Former Germany mid� elder Stefan E� en-berg believes Klopp will be back coaching “very, very soon” and thinks he is suited to An� eld.

“He gave me this answer a couple of weeks ago. He said, ‘I’m ready for a team that’s not on the highest level, to create something, to build something up’. This could be Liverpool, right?,” E� enberg, who has played 35 times for Germany, told the BBC.

“Liverpool is one of the greatest atmos-pheres. It’s pretty much the same as Dortmund. The fans stay with everything behind the club and this is what Jurgen Klopp likes and what he needs,” the BBC quoted E� enberg as saying at the ASPIRE4SPORT conference in Berlin.

“So maybe, very soon, we’ll hear some-thing from Jurgen Klopp, to make a decision, maybe, for Liverpool.” l

Argentina’s assitant coach Elvio Paolorosso (back to camera) talks to players (L-R) Sergio Aguero, Milton Casco, Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Garay before a training session in Buenos Aires on Monday. Argentina will face Ecuador in their World Cup 2018 qualifying match tomorrow REUTERS

Bale voted Welsh player of the year for record � fth timen AFP, London

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale was voted Welsh player of the year for a record � fth time on Monday.

Bale won the award after being involved in eight of Wales’ nine goals in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, scoring six times and providing two assists.

The former Tottenham forward’s e� orts have left Wales on the brink of qualifying for their � rst major tournament in 58 years.

Chris Coleman’s side need one point from their � nal two quali� ers against Bosnia-Her-zegovina away and Andorra at home to make it to the � nals in France next year.

Bale was also named players’ player of the year and fans’ player of the year at a Cardi� ceremony.

“Look at the last year and he’s scored some incredible goals for us,” Coleman said.

“All the players have done fantastic, but in my book he deserves it because of what he’s done in this campaign.”

Meanwhile, Coleman has accused the ma-jor European nations of being scared to play his side ahead of Euro 2016.

Coleman wants two November friendlies against top-class opposition in what should be the start of Wales’ build-up for the � nals.

But Italy are among the countries to reject the o� er of a Wales friendly, much to Cole-man’s frustration. l

Rodgers ‘incredibly disappointed’ by Liverpool exitn AFP, London

Brendan Rodgers said on Monday that he was “incredibly disappointed” to have been sacked as manager of Liverpool, but paid warm trib-utes to the club’s players, sta� and fans.

“I am, of course, incredibly disappointed to be leaving Liverpool Football Club,” Rodg-ers said in a statement released by the League Managers’ Association (LMA), which repre-sents managers in English football.

“It has been both an honour and a privilege to manage one of the game’s great clubs for the last three years.”

Rodgers, 42, took Liverpool to the brink of the Premier League title in 2014, but they � n-ished sixth last season and are currently 10th in the table with 12 points from eight games.

He was sacked three years and four months into the job, with Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announcing his departure hours after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Everton in the Merseyside derby.

“I have worked every day to represent the club to the best of my ability, to develop both in-dividual players and a team that the club’s mag-ni� cent fans can be proud of,” added Rodgers.

“There have been some very memorable moments during my time at Liverpool and I would like to thank all of the players for their hard work and commitment.

“The current squad is one in transition, but they have some real talent and are showing a strong sense of togetherness.l

DOWNTIME30DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

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 22 represents U so � ll U every time the � gure 22 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

ACROSS1 Fanatical (5)4 Depressed (3)6 Therefore (4)8 Heavenly body (5)9 Indicates agreement (4)11 Leave out (4)12 Step’s vertical face (5)15 Kingly (5)18 Walking-stick (4)20 Augury (4)21 Foreign (5)22 Agitate (4)23 Make lace (3)24 Undressed kid (5)

DOWN1 Happen again (5)2 Collides with (5)3 Discourage (5)4 Machine for weaving (4)5 Direction (4)7 Garden ornament (5)10 Prima donna (4)13 Muslim leader (4)14 Happening (5)15 Bellows (5)16 Cunning (5)17 Cavalry weapon (5)18 Young horse (4)19 Nidus (4)

SUDOKU

SHOWTIME 31D

TWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Court: Heartbreaking and hilarious n Gopa Biswas Caesar

Narayan Kamble (Vira Sathidar), an unapologetic and radical 65-year-old folk singer has been arrested (read, “silenced”) in the middle of a � ery performance against the establishment. The charge is of “abetting suicide” as a drunk sewer-worker is found dead, as he entered a sewer full of poisonous gases without any mask. Pretty presumably, the darkest and ridiculous consequences follow to suggest that justice is the last thing on anyone’s mind in there. A well-bred defense lawyer Vinay Vora’s (Vivek Gomber) keen conscience often pushes him to � ght for defendants like Kamble. He is a paragon of modern civility and sophistication who sips wine over Jazz music to discuss “humanity.” Up against him is the meticulous-monotonous public prosecutor (Geetanjali Kulkarni) boozing over anciently-stagnant laws; besides being a working mother, she is expected to cook meals and clean dishes at home on weekends with family to anti-immigrant dramas with nasty provincialism. Their witnesses frequently fail to show up, evidence goes missing, naive and confused witnesses are often lead away by prosecutors, investigation o� cers “hire” stock witnesses while Sharmila Pawar (Usha Bane) with a painful normalcy speaks of her dead husband and indicts how little anyone cared about him when he was alive but now

the establishment is making a big deal of his death to silence “seditions.” Kamble’s life ebbs away in a series of dates and endless deferrals and he is left to stew in prison while the judge Sadavarte (Pradeep Joshi) goes for a summer vacation. And interestingly, none of them are stock villains holding personal grudges against Kamble but operate like the cogs of a wheel named establishment.

Thus, while the most brewed “types” in Bombay � lms are the half-baked-fantasies where courtroom dramas mean eloquent prosecutors, scandalous witnesses with last-minute exonerating evidences, Court (2015) is a bold satire with a slice-of-life documentary � avour that serves you the darkest comedy of the year. Chaitanya Tamhane shot his entire debut feature � lm in 45 days on location, during the vacations of April-May of 2014 with a cast accommodating mainly non-professional actors with � ve-minute-long shots. Thus, hard work won it 17 international prestigious awards already. Its razor sharp scripting began in 2013 (inspired by Krzysztof Kieslowski’s The O� ce, 1966) and the gradual protest music by Sambhaji Bhagat (featured in Jai Bhim Comrade, 2011), powada (ie Marathi ballads), the Dalit issue, the leftist movement, the neglected sewer-workers slip in this multilingual cinematic rendition of a painful realism brings it all together. Tamhane’s evident fondness for

the long takes to create an objective POV gradually became the language of the � lm, all enhanced by lingering edits. Similarly, the stately tableaux of 2.35:1 wide-screen visuals veer into the frustrating realm of procrastination. Tamhane tried making it apolitical but it started growing dark in many threatening sheds and so triggered his � lmmaking philosophy.

The producer Gomber even prepared himself to face a ban as well, but instead, it is now the o� cial nomination from India for the Oscars. All their hefty-hard work on this brutal comedy is really paying o� . l

n Showtime Desk

With so much drama and speculation around the next three � lms of the Fast and Furious franchise, Universal seems to have an actual shortlist of desired directors for the eighth installment.

From the immense success of Straight Outta Compton, director F Gary Gray has been chosen over names like Louis Leterrier, Adam Wingard and William Eubank. While nothing has been con� rmed and no contracts have been signed, Gray has been tipped to take the role behind the camera. The reason for this decision was triggered by the failure of bringing back Furious 7 director, James Wan. The so called search, soon enough, went public and that’s when

the rumours � ew into social media. In turn, Vin Diesel took to Facebook � irting with the idea of either him or Rob Cohen, who directed the 2001 original � lm, of being the director behind Furious 8.

It’s not as simple as one might think. Vin Diesel, who has no directorial approval rights, met up with F Gary Gray to discuss

the new project. Next thing you know, there’s a friendly picture of the two shared on Facebook. If this does come to fruition, the franchise would have gotten a successful director in Gary Gray. He’s got an impressive list of � lms under his name, such as A Man Apart, The Italian Job, The Negotiator and Law Abiding Citizen. l

WHAT TO WATCH

Night at the MuseumStar Movies 7:00pmA newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc.Cast: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs

The Descent: Part 2WB 7:50pmRefusing to believe her story about cave-dwelling monsters, the sole survivor of a spelunking exploration gone horribly wrong is forced to follow the authorities back into the caves where something awaits.Cast: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Douglas Hodge, Axelle Carolyn, Gavan O’Herlihy

Non-StopStar Movies 9:30pmAn air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic � ight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an o� -shore account.Cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery, Lupita Nyong’o, Nate Parker

Blood DiamondHBO 11:40pmA � sherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Sheen, Arnold Vosloo

Furious 8 director shortlist

BACK PAGE32DT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

COURT: HEARTBREAKING AND HILARIOUS PAGE 31

NEW SPECIES FOUND IN THE HIMALAYAS PAGE 8

Q1 EXPORT GROWTH SLOWEST IN 5 YRS PAGE 15

Woman violently beaten in public in Gazipurn Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A woman was dragged away from half-eat-en lunch and out of her house to be brutally beaten in broad daylight by a village chief in Gazipur because she did not respond to his summon.

The incident took place on Monday af-ternoon at Chhoto Latifpur village in the district’s Kaliakair upazila. The victim, Jos-na Akhtar’s son Noyon Ahmed � led a case against the culprit Jalal Uddin Ahmed and his cohorts, her brother and neighbour Hossain Khan and her sister Zaheda Begum in this re-gard with Kaliakair police station on Monday night.

In the case statement, Noyon quoted her mother as saying Jalal had been harassing her and giving her vulgar proposals for a while.

On the day of the incident, Jalal sum-moned Josna to his house. Alone in the house – her husband Bulbul Miah was at work, Noy-on at barber’s shop and her other son Hridoy Ahmed at school – she did not respond and immediately informed Noyon about it.

When Noyon reached home, he saw Jalal

dragging his mother outside their house. Jalal started beating her in the courtyard while people watched; as Noyon tried to help his

mother, her siblings Hossain and Zaheda held him back.

At one point, Jalal started beating Josna

with a stick supplied by her brother, shortly after which she lost consciousness.

Later, Noyon took her to Kaliakair Upazila Health Complex, where she received treat-ment before being released yesterday morn-ing.

“There are several wounds and bruises all over her body,” said Dr Pabitra Kumar, the doctor on-duty at the health complex’s emer-gency unit.

When contacted, Jalal admitted to tortur-ing Josna, but said he had performed his duty as the chief of the village.

“Josna is a troublemaker in the locality. Her brother complained to me over a family dis-pute, so I summoned her to resolve the feud.”

When asked if he knew that it was illegal to beat a woman, he said he did, but beat Josna anyway as the leader of the community. He also refuted her claim of harassing her.

However, since he heard about the case, Jalal along with the other accused went into hiding, said Omar Faruk, OC at the police sta-tion.

“The search for the accused is in progress,” he said. l

Enigmatic subatomic riddle-solving duo win Physics Nobeln Reuters

A Japanese and a Canadian scientist won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physics yesterday for discovering that elusive subatomic particles called neutrinos have mass.

Neutrinos are the second most bountiful particles after photons with trillions of them streaming through our bodies every second.

University of Tokyo professor Takaaki Kaji-ta and Canada’s Queen’s University Professor Emeritus Arthur B McDonald’s breakthrough was the discovery of a phenomenon called neutrino oscillation.

“It is a discovery that will change the books in physics,” Barbro Asman, Nobel committee member and professor of physics at Stock-holm University, told Reuters.

Kajita and McDonald, using di� erent ex-periments, explained that neutrinos change identities and therefore must have some mass, however small.

The SEK8m ($962,000) physics prize is the second of this year’s Nobels. l

Bangladesh second worst in end-of-life care n Tribune Desk

Bangladesh secured penultimate position in an 80-country “quality of death” study released Tuesday, only one step up above war-ridden Iraq.

The 2015 Quality of Death Index, compiled by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), found Britain to be the best at palli-ative care.

According to the World Health Organiza-tion (WHO), palliative care is an approach that improves quality of life through the preven-tion and relief of su� ering by means of treat-ment of pain and other problems.

Bangladesh scored 14.1 in a scale out of 100. Even junta-ruled neighbouring Myanmar scored higher with 17.1. Other mentionable bottom countries are Iraq with 12.5, Philip-pines with 15.3 and Nigeria with 16.9.

However, four of the last � ve countries in the index – Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philip-pines and Bangladesh – are among the UN’s least-developed countries group. Surprising-ly, China (71st), a rapidly developing country, was found to be among the most vulnerable from population ageing and rising incidences of conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

Top-ranked Britain was followed by Aus-tralia, New Zealand, Ireland, Belgium and Taiwan. Germany, the Netherlands, the US and France are the other top-10 countries.

The report was based on two areas of re-search – the Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Quality of Death Index”, which ranks 80 countries in terms of the quality and availa-bility of end-of-life care; and in-depth inter-views with over 20 experts on the subject

from across the world – including palliative care specialists, physicians, healthcare econ-omists and sociologists – and reviewed exist-ing research on the topic.

The index scores countries across four categories: Basic end-of-life healthcare en-vironment; availability of end-of-life care; cost of end-of-life care; and quality of

end-of-life care. The EIU report, only the second edition,

appreciated progress made by some poor countries such as Mongolia which, ranked 28th has invested in hospice facilities and Uganda – 35th – has managed to improve ac-cess to pain control through a public-private partnership. l

2015 QUALITY OF DEATH INDEX – OVERALL SCORES

0

20

40

60

80

100

UK 9

3.9

AUST

RALI

A 91

.6

NEW

ZEAL

AND

87.6

IREL

AND

85.8

BELG

IUM

84.

5

MYA

NMAR

17.

1

NIGE

RIA

16.9

PHIL

IPIN

ES 1

5.3

BANG

LADE

SH 1

4.1

IRAQ

12.

5

TOP FIVE COUNTRIES BOTTOM FIVE COUNTRIES807978777654321

Jalal Uddin Ahmed, chief of Chhoto Latifpur village in Gazipur, says he is aware that violence against women is against the law, but he beat villager Josna anyway because he thought it was his duty as a leader to teach the ‘troublemaker’ some manners DHAKA TRIBUNE

Takaaki Kajita Arthur B McDonald

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial O� ce: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com