SECOND EDITION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 | Kartik 11, 1422, Moharram 112, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 189 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Police had info on Tazia attackn Kamrul Hasan

Law enforcers failed to prevent a grenade attack on a Tazia procession at Hussaini Da-lan in the Chawkbazar area early Saturday despite having information about a possible attack beforehand.

A teenager was killed and over 100 Tazia procession participants injured in the early hours Saturday when at least three hand-made grenades were blasted at the Hussaini Dalan premises.

Due to a lack of adequate time, the Shia authorities also failed to install metal detec-tor archways. MM Firoz Hossain, superinten-dent of Hussaini Dalan, said that they had planned to install archways but could not do so due to a shortage of time.

Police claimed that they had asked the Hussaini Dalan authorities not to bring out the procession. But Shia community leaders decided to continue with their traditional programme, DMP Additional Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Maruful Hasan said.

Investigators said they could not identify the suspected attackers from CCTV footage as of last night. Several ministers and the po-lice have blamed anti-liberation forces and members of the BNP for the attack.

A case was � led against unnamed persons yesterday afternoon. The investigation was later transferred to the Detective Branch, who are interrogating four people detained

over the incident.The attack took place around 1:45am on

Saturday when members of the Shia com-munity had gathered at the historic religious site to bring out a procession. This is the � rst time in Bangladesh’s history that a Shia pro-

cession has been attacked.According to eyewitnesses, the � rst gre-

nade exploded near the main gate of the es-tablishment with a huge bang creating panic among the people. The two other bombs PAGE 4 COLUMN 2

OBAIDUL HELPLESS AS VIPs FLOUT LAWS PAGE 32

'WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS?' PAGE 5

BLAIR APOLOGISES FOR IRAQ INVASION PAGE 9

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 | Kartik 11, 1422, Moharram 12, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 189 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Anti-liberation forces blamed for bomb blasts and killingsn Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Anti-liberation forces are involved in the re-cent bomb blasts and the killings of two for-eign nationals and an assistant sub-inspec-tor, a minister and the police have said.

Police, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rah-man expressed such statements at di� erent programmes in the city yesterday.

They said such attacks were carried out to destabilise the country.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said law enforcement and intelligence agen-cies had so far not found any organisational presence of any militant groups.

The Harkat-ul-Jihad, JMB, Ansarullah Bang-la Team, Islami Chhatra Shibir are connected with each other, he said while talking to report-ers after a meeting of the parliamentary stand-ing committee on the Home Ministry.

The minister said no militants but some other terrorist groups may be doing this and the � ndings of the investigation will be pub-lished soon. PAGE 4 COLUMN 2

Investigators: Jamaat-Shibir planned to kill secular VIPs on November 1n Mohammad Jamil Khan and

Kamrul Hasan

Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir are planning to foment vio-lence in the country by killing VIPs and sec-ular-minded people, a police detective has said.

According to the detective o� cial, Jamaat and Shibir have already sent their trained op-eratives to the � eld to implement what has been called “Mission 1st November.”

“Primarily we have got a list of seven names. Six of them are in� uential lawmakers of the ruling Awami League. At least one of them is known for his secular views and has demanded speedy trial of the war criminals,” the o� cial said.

He also said that they had got this sensa-tional information by interrogating Masud Rana alias Sumon, 24, who was arrested when he was trying to � ee after killing a po-lice o� cer in Dhaka’s Gabtoli on Thursday.

Based on information given by Masud Rana, police conducted a raid in the Kam-rangirchar area and recovered a number of

bombs and a huge stash of bomb-making equipment.

The o� cial, who was present during inter-rogation, quoted Masud Rana as saying that he had joined Shibir a couple of months back after � nishing his training in Bogra.

Masud came to Dhaka with his leader Enamul Haque Prokash with the purpose of taking part in the Mission 1st November.

Enamul had divided his followers into several groups and assigned various areas of the capital for them to keep surveillance. Masud was tasked with keeping an eye on Kamrangirchar. He was given a camera to take photographs and analyse security weak-nesses of the area.

They would take cover sometimes as a rickshaw-puller and sometimes as a street vendor to avoid raising suspicion.

In Kamrangirchar, they set up their camp in a house owned by a person named Kamal, who is known locally as a Jamaat leader. One of the reporters yesterday visited the house but could not reach Kamal.

Police are now trying to get as much infor-mation as possible from Masud, particularly

about their activities in Bogra and their lead-er Enamul Haque Prokash.

Based on information given by Masud, Bogra police on Friday arrested some 25 peo-ple in the northern district town, of whom 21 were said to be Shibir members.

They were arrested in separate drives in a hostel in the older part of the Borga town on Friday morning and the Adamdihi upazila in the district on Thursday night.

The arrestees include Adamdighi upazila council vice-chairman and local Jamaat unit chief Yunus Ali; Bogra sadar upazila chairman and local BNP unit vice-president Ra� Ahmed; general secretary Mehedi Hasan; and former sadar upazila council member Tou� qul.

They had all been sent to Dhaka on Friday evening. Bogra police chief Md Asaduzzam-an said they had made the arrests following requisition from Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

When contacted, Inspector General of Po-lice (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque said: “An or-ganised group is behind the killing of police’s ASI Ibrahim. Following interrogation of the one arrested, we have come to know that he belonged to Shibir.” l

HUSSAINI DALAN BLASTSPolice have recovered similar grenades beforen Mohamad Jamil Khan and

Kamrul Hasan

The intact grenades that police recovered from Hussaini Dalan after Saturday's blasts are similar to those recovered from Kamran-girchar and Chittagong earlier this month.

Investigators say that not only are these bombs similar, chances are very high that they had actually been made by the same person or group.

In the early hours of Saturday, several hand-made grenades were exploded in the Hussaini Dalan area in the capital city’s Nazimuddin Road when Shia Muslim devotees were pre-paring for the traditional Tazia procession.

A teenager was killed and more than a hundred were injured in what is said to be the � rst such attack on Shia Muslims in Bang-ladesh.

Police later found four grenade pins and one intact grenade that did not go o� and was still there at the scene after the blasts.

The case statement that police � led yes-terday in connection with the attack says the blasts were made by anonymous criminal groups as part of a conspiracy and plan to destroy the existing unity among people and disturb public security.

PAGE 4 COLUMN 4

Fire� ghters examine the Hussaini Dalan in Old Dhaka where three improvised explosive devices were detonated in the midst of a gathering of Shia Muslims early Saturday morning RAJIB DHAR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015News4DT

Police recoveredSanowar Hossain, a high o� cial of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)’s Detective Branch (DB), said yesterday that the grenades – both those that went o� and the one that did not – were handmade and were of poor quality.

On October 5, detectives in Chittagong arrested � ve members of banned Islamist militant out� t JMB and seized nine hand gre-nades and a huge cache of bomb-making par-aphernalia from their possession.

A couple of weeks later, on October 22, po-lice in Dhaka recovered several hand-made grenades from a house in the Kamrangirchar area in the outskirts of the capital city.

A high o� cial of police who works at the force’s headquarters said yesterday that the pins, screws and tapes used in the bombs re-covered in Chittagong and Kamrangirchar were similar to those that exploded in Hussaini Dalan.

Generally, locally made grenades have the pins welded; the pins in imported good qual-ity grenades are not welded, he said.

Moreover, just like those recovered earlier this month, the unexploded grenade from Sat-urday also had a unique number inscribed on it.

“We are suspecting that the same group of people are making and distributing these gre-nades in the country to carry out sabotages,” the o� cial said, strongly requesting anonymity.

Twitter activitiesA cyber security expert said yesterday that the tweet that claimed responsibility of the Hussaini Dalan blasts come from the same source that also claimed the responsibilities for Tavella and Hoshi murders.

Tanvir Hssan Joha, who has been provid-ing law enforcers with assistance on cyber se-curity, yesterday said: “Electronic evidence shows that people who are creating anarchy in the country by killing bloggers, foreigners and other activities and are then tweeting, are all from the same group.”

Two foreign nationals – Cesare Tavella, Italian, and Hoshi Kunio, Japanese – were killed in the same fashion within � ve days about a month ago.

After both the murders – in which armed criminals came on motorbikes and shot the two foreigners dead – international Isla-mist militant organisation Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility through Twitter posts.

After Saturday’s blast as well, similar tweets that claimed responsibility for the blasts, came from groups that call themselves the IS.

The government, however, has been claiming from the beginning that IS does not have any existence in Bangladesh.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Ka-mal said yesterday: “HujiB, JMB, Ansarullah Bangla Team or Chhatra Shibir, they are all from the same platform and are interlinked. We are investigating the matter and are hope-ful to make a breakthrough soon.” l

Anti-liberation forces blamedA schoolboy was killed and over 50 people were injured as three powerful homemade bombs exploded at the crowded Dhaka’s Hussaini Dalan as Shia Muslim devotees were taking preparations for bringing out a tradi-tional Tazia procession marking the holy Ashura early Saturday.

An ASI of police was stabbed to death at a check post in Gabtoli area in Dhaka on Thurs-day night.

Earlier, two foreigners – Italian national Cesare Tavella and Japanese national Kunio Hoshi –were also killed.

The NHRC boss Mizanur Rahman yester-day said all these incidents starting from for-eigners killing to ASI killing and bomb blast on Tazia procession are linked.

“A special group is carrying out the de-structive activities to destabilise the coun-try,” he said.

He also said di� erent countries are issuing red alert over the separate incidents which may be results of international conspiracies.

“The attack is not against religion, rath-er it is a conspiracy to nullify the judgment

against the war criminals,” he added.Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Po-

lice (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque on Saturday blamed anti-liberation forces and war crimi-nals for bomb attack on the Muharram gath-ering.

After a preliminary investigation, police think that it was not an attack from any mil-itant organisation, he said adding that it was carried out by anti-liberation forces and war criminals.

The IGP also said the blast is a part of pre-planned destructive acts.

Shahidul said motive behind killing of a police sub-inspector at Gabtoli and bomb at-tacks on Tazia procession may be interlinked as they appeared almost similar.

Replying to a query, he said police did not � nd any militant link to the murder of police sub-inspector.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Po-lice (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia earlier said: “It seems that no militant out-� ts were behind the attacks; it was a part of planned design of vested quarter.” l

Police had info on Tazia attackexploded on the premises within a short pe-riod of time.

The law enforcers yesterday claimed that the grenades were thrown from the grave-yard beside the Hussaini Dalan where the two attackers had taken position.

Splinters hit Sazzad Hossain Sanju, 16, when he was standing beside the gate, and killed him. Another critically injured, Mo-hammad Jamal Hossain, 55, was entering the premises at that time.

The investigators said that at least � ve hand grenades had been charged. Three of the grenades exploded, one was found unex-ploded while another found intact. The law enforcers later exploded the recovered bomb while the other was seized by the DB’s bomb disposal unit.

They said that the grenades had been thrown from inside the graveyard. From the CCTV footage, they said that the number of attackers was more than two as the grenade pin was too tight to handle by a single person and then throwing it within 30 seconds.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB’s bomb disposal unit Sanowar Hossain said that the grenades had been made by local people using local materials. “The grenade pins that were found from the graveyard’s eastern side and in front of the boundary of the graveyard indicate that those were local-ly made and not supplied from outside the country.”

Another DB o� cial said seeking anonym-ity: “The attackers were not well trained. If so, then the attacks might have killed a num-ber of people. At least � ve persons could be killed by a single grenade.”

According to the investigators, the attack-ers did not use the main gate to leave the place. They might have used one of the two other escape routes.

Chawkbazar police Sub-Inspector Jalal Uddin, in-charge of security of the area, yes-terday � led a case. They also detained four people in this connection. The detainees are Abdul Quader Jilani, 31, Sha� qul Islam, 28, Morsalin, 19, and Mohammad Faisal, 16.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque said that they had been informed of an attack but could not con� rm the place and time.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia while visiting the victims at Dhaka Medical College Hospital told reporters that they had collected footage from all the 16 CCTV cam-eras installed near the spot and were analys-ing the footage to � nd the culprits.

The DMP Headquarters on Saturday formed a three-strong probe body led by Additional Commissioner(crime and ops) Sheikh Mohammad Maruful Hasan. The other members are DMP Joint Commission-er Meer Rezaul Karim and DB Deputy Com-missioner (south zone) Mashrulur Rahman Khaled. l

AL blames BNP-Jamaat for bomb attack on Shia gatheringn Abu Hayat Mahmud

The Awami League has blamed the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for the bomb attack on the Shia gathering at Hossaini Dalan in Old Dha-ka. Ruling party leaders said it was part of a planned conspiracy. “The BNP-Jamaat alli-ance is trying to create anarchy to destabilise the country to come to power through back door and save war criminals,” said AL Joint Secretary General Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif.

And this is why they have ordered their militant groups to do bombings, he said.

He made the statement after a joint meet-ing at AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political o� ce at Dhanmondi.

AL Presidium Member and Health Minis-ter Mohammad Nasim said BNP Chief Khale-da Zia might have been involved in the gre-nade attack on the Shia community.

Nasim was brie� ng media after his visit to an exhibition of newspaper clippings at the Shilpakala Academy in the capital yesterday.

Nasim said Khaleda and Tarique were plotting such attacks on people, foreigners and others to create anarchy in the country.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam said the BNP had plotted to kill foreigners with the help of international terrorist and militant groups to tarnish the image of the country. He was ad-dressing a discussion in Dhaka on Friday.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said those who had failed to topple the govern-ment carried out the blasts and killed the two foreign nationals to malign the image of Bangladesh internationally.

The minister was addressing the inaugu-ration of the 9th International Women’s SME Expo Bangladesh-2015 in Chittagong city’s Pologround area yesterday evening.

Chittagong Women Chamber of Com-merce and Industry organised the fair in association with Export Promotion Bureau, FBCCI, SME Foundation and Jute Diversity Promotion Centre.

Addressing as the chief guest, Tofail Ahmed said Digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream, but it has now become a reality.

Meanwhile, the BNP has demanded a fair and neutral investigation into the incident of bomb attack on a Shia gathering in the capi-tal’s Husaini Dalan.

“We strongly condemn the incident and, demand a fair and impartial probe into the tragic incident to identify the attackers and bring them to justice immediately,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at BNP’s Nayaplatan Central o� ce on Saturday. l

Lawsuit adds to exchequer’s pay scale burdenn Asif Showkat Kallol

A pending lawsuit by government employees could add more to the burdens of the excheq-uer as the costly Eighth National Pay Scale nears its o� cial announcement date.

A 2011 High Court ruling, upheld in 2013 by the Appellate Division, found that civil servants who had been transferred from de-velopment to revenue project posts between

1972 and 1997 were entitled to receive full time scale and selection grade bene� ts.

The Finance Ministry, currently facing a contempt of court case for failing to imple-ment the HC verdict, has sought guidance from the Prime Minister’s O� ce.

Another lawsuit over civil servants’ ben-e� ts accrued between 1997 and 2015 is cur-rently in court. O� cials said this could im-pact the development budget.

A summary sent to the PMO by the Fi-nance Division’s Implementation Wing esti-mates that it will cost Tk6,000 crore to pay the nearly 200,000 government employees.

If implemented, the HC order will “cause the discrimination” of senior civil servants, the Implementation Wing summary claimed.

The secretary general of the Government Employees’ Welfare Association, which brought the legal action against the government, disput-

ed that the payout would cost so much.“It is not true that the government will

need Tk6,000 crore to implement the ver-dict,” said GEWA’s Md Nazrul Islam.

“Only Tk100 crore to Tk200 crore will be needed … most civil servants who were trans-ferred to revenue projects have already collect-ed their time scale and selection grade bene-� ts,” he said. The implementation of the verdict has already been delayed by a year and a half. l

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015News 5

DT

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:24PM SUN RISES 6:02AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.7ºC 19.4ºC

Chuadanga Chandpur

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

PRAYER TIMESFajr 4:43am

Sunrise 5:00amZohr 11:43am

Asr 3:47pmMagrib 5:24pm

Esha 6:54pm

WEATHER

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

SUNNY

F O R E C A S T F O R T O D A YDhaka 32 21Chittagong 30 22Rajshahi 31 18Rangpur 31 18Khulna 32 18Barisal 31 18Sylhet 32 15Cox’s Bazar 30 24

Law enforcers blamed for harassing defence lawyers n Tribune Report

Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, chief counsel of death-row convict and Jamaat leader Ali Ah-san Muhammad Mujahid, yesterday blamed law enforcers for harassing defence lawyers of war crimes cases.

Mahbub, also president of Supreme Court Bar Association and an adviser to BNP Chair-person Khaleda Zia, at a press conference in the Supreme Court auditorium claimed that law enforcers on October 22 went to the resi-dence of Mujahid’s lawyer Shishir Manir and ransacked his house. The law enforcers also picked up Manir’s car driver, he said.

Besides, members of Detective Branch of police picked up Asad Uddin, another jun-ior lawyer of Mujahid from a bus as he was on way to his village home in Sirajganj near Bangabandhu Bridge the same day.

Mahbub said the lawyers were harassed as they stood for accused of war o� ences. Law-yers always work to help in getting justice but they have been harassed personally.

“Don’t be extra enthusiastic while taking steps against any lawyer. The government will be changed. If you want to do anything to achieve your political goal, do that at your own risk,” he warned.

He urged the government to release his junior lawyer to move the case and also urged not to harass any of the lawyers in-volved in the defence team of the convicted war criminals. l

‘ What did we do to deserve this?’n Kamrul Hasan

The brother of the 16-year-old boy slain in the Tazia bomb blasts cannot understand why his brother is dead.

Rashed Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that his younger brother, Sazzad Hossain Sanju, a seventh grader, was standing next to the wall hit by an explosive device early on Saturday morning.

The brothers were visiting the Hussaini Dalan, a shrine central to the Shia observance to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, when it came under attack.

Witnesses recall three separate explosions during the attack that left one dead and at least 104 injured, according to police.

Rashed said he started running after the � rst blast went o� . When the initial commo-tion died down, he learned that his brother had been taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

By the time Rashed got to the hospital, doctors told him his brother had passed away.

“What did we do to deserve this?” he asks.Nurunnessa, younger sister of Jamal Hos-

sain, 55, who is in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of DMCH, also asks why her brother is having to su� er.

She told the Dhaka Tribune she and Jamal were leaving the Hussaini Dalan when Jamal discovered that his mobile was missing.

“I said to him that it had probably been pick-pocketed and to let it be,” Nurunnessa recalls. “He went back to see if it had fallen

somewhere near the gate.”Then there was a bang.“My brother is a tall person and I could

only see his head from where I was. I saw him get hit by something before hearing a loud noise” she said.

She found her brother lying unconscious inside the shrine.

“If I could have stopped him, he would have been spared being hurt in the attack,”

she said.Five members of another family were in-

jured in the bombing, including 18-month-old Kayes Hossain.

The infant’s injured family members in-clude his mother Halima Begum, 22, Hali-ma’s husband Monir Hossain, 35, her broth-er-in-law Nur Hossain, 45, and cousin Kamal Hossain, 27. The family is being treated at the DMCH. l

Nine war crimes suspects sued in two districtsn Tribune Report

A freedom � ghter has sued Maulana Sha� Uddin, central leader of erstwhile East Pa-kistan Nezam-e-Islami, and three others for committing crimes against humanity in Hab-iganj during the 1971 Liberation War.

Taking the case into cognisance, Judge Md Kauser of the Seventh Habiganj Judicial Magistrate and Cognisance Court ordered authorities concerned to forward the case to the International Crimes Tribunal, reports our correspondent.

Maulana Sha� is the son of Matiur Rahman from Manpur village under Lakhai upazila. The other accused are Md Jahid Mia and Md Tajul Islam alias Pokon Razakar of Muriauk village, and Md Salek Mia alias Chhayek Mia of Jirunda village under the same upazila.

Plainti� Ilias Kamal in the case said that Maulana Sha� and his accomplices had ab-ducted his father Idris Mia and father of a co-� ghter Abdul Jabbar from Manpur and Muriatek on October 30 and 31. They were later killed near Manpur’s Ujadur Beel and the bodies dumped in the water.

The case also said that the accused had been involved in committing genocide, rape, looting and arson attacks at Krishnapur, Gan-ganagar and nearby villages during the war.

When asked, Ilias said that he could not � le case earlier out of fear. “I have � led the case now as the current government is hold-ing the trials of war criminals,” he added.

During the war, Jamaat-e-Islami,

Nezam-e-Islami and Convention Muslim League had formed di� erent groups of col-laborators to assist the Pakistan occupation forces in committing war crimes against the pro-liberation people.

Meanwhile, another case was � led yester-day against a former lawmaker from Trishal of Mymensingh and four others for their al-leged involvement in war crimes, reports our correspondent.

Anisur Rahman Manik was a lawmaker from HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party. The other accused are Manik’s brother Mokhlesur Rah-man Mukul alias Khaleque Razakar, Saidur Rahman Ratan, Shamsul Huq Fakir and Sul-tan Ahmed Fakir.

Ha� z Uddin from Baroi village under Trishal upazila � led the case with the Third Mymensingh Cognisance Court of Senior Ju-dicial Magistrate Mithaful Islam. The court did not pass any order on the matter.

The plainti� identi� ed himself as a pro-liberation activist.

The case says that local freedom � ghter Abdul Hamid had been abducted from his house on September 10, 1971 and tortured at Ahmedbari razakar camp. The key accused, Manik, shot the freedom � ghter dead around 8pm that day.

Earlier this month, the law enforcers ar-rested the incumbent lawmaker from Trish-al, Abdul Hannan, for his alleged involve-ment in committing crimes against humanity in 1971. Hannan is a Presidium member of Er-shad-led Jatiya Party. l

Halima Begum, 22, comforts her 18-month-old son Kayes Hossain, the youngest victim of the Hussaini Dalan bomb attack, which left � ve members of the family injured MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

I was in line to leave when I heard a massive explosion and saw people rushing towards me. There was another explosion ... I could not bear the pain and lost consciousness. When I came to, I found myself in hospital.

– Johnny Miah, son of Babu Miah

I saw something hit the wall beside the gate. There was a loud noise. I saw smoke … I got scared and started running. More bombs were hurled after the � rst explosion ... My room-mate brought me to hospital.

– Farid Uddin Milon Rakib, son of Abdul Halim

I was standing beside the Dargah when I heard a loud noise near the gate. As I ran towards the gate, I felt something fall next to me ... I reached some injured people and started helping them get to hospital. Later, I realised that my leg had been injured in the explosions.

– Syed Nayeem Hossain, programme volunteer

A bomb went o� near the gate. As I ran towards the Dargah, another bomb went o� next to the graveyard and I was injured.

– Nur Hossain, son of Vulu Miah

I heard a very loud noise from inside the Hus-saini Dalan premises. At � rst, I thought the noise was to indicate that the procession was about to start. But when I heard the second bang, I thought something was not right ... then I saw frightened people rush out of the gate, running for cover wherever they could.

– Rashedul Islam, shopkeeper

SURVIVORS’ ACCOUNTS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015News6DT

Foreign missions condemn Shia blastsn Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Several foreign missions in Bangladesh have condemned the bomb attack on Shia Mus-lims’ gathering to observe Ashura in the cap-ital in the wee hours of Saturday.

The attack killed one person and injured nearly 60 when the Shia devotees were about to bring out a procession from the Hussaini Dalan in Old Dhaka.

EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon strongly condemned the attack on the Shia community gathering, said a press release issued by the EU Embassy yes-terday.

He conveyed his condolences to the fami-ly of the deceased and expressed his sympa-thy to all victims.

The EU ambassador said he was con� dent that Bangladesh would respond with the highest sense of unity to this unprecedented act of violence.

He urged all relevant authorities to ensure thorough investigation and bring the perpe-

trators of this crime to justice.US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom

Bernicat said: “I am shocked by the senseless attack on a Shia Ashura gathering outside Old Dhaka, and o� er my deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

“Bangladesh has a long tradition of reli-gious tolerance and communal harmony. We stand with the Bangladeshi people and the Bangladesh government in these critical mo-ments,” she said.

British High Commissioner Robert Gibson termed the attack as horri� c and unacceptable.

“Horri� ed at attack on#shia #Ashura pro-cession. Such violence and intolerance is not acceptable. My sympathies to those a� ect-ed,” he tweeted on Saturday.

Canada also expressed sadness and ex-tended its support for religious freedom.

“ The High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh is saddened to hear about the attack on a Shia Muslim Ashura gathering outside Old Dhaka, and would like to express deep condolences to the a� ected and their

families. Canada supports religious freedom.“The High Commission of Canada extends

best wishes to the Shia community in Bang-ladesh and around the world on the occasion of Muharram.”

Meanwhile, The UK has updated its trav-el advice for its citizens following the bomb attack.

“A bomb attack on a large gathering by the Shia community in the Old City of Dhaka oc-curred early in the morning of Saturday 24 Oc-tober. One person is reported killed and many injured,” said the updated travel advice.

Australia kept its travel alert at the previ-ous level of “exercise high degree of caution” for its citizens in Bangladesh.

“On 24 October, several homemade ex-plosive devices were thrown into a large Shia gathering in Old Dhaka, causing one fatality and injuring many,” said the Australian ad-vice issued on Saturday.

“The level of advice has not changed. You should exercise a high degree of caution in Bangladesh.” l

ASI Ibrahim murder suspects remandedn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday placed � ve people, suspected to be involved in the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Hossain Mollah, on remand for six days.

Dhaka’s Metropolitan Magistrate Md Im-dadul Haque issued the order after Detective Branch Inspector Md Selim Miah produced the accused – Yunus Ali, Sheikh Ra� Ahmed, Khandakar Mehedi Hasan, Tou� qur Rahman and Masud Rana Rifti – before the court.

Ibrahim Miah was stabbed to death around 9pm on October 22 in the capital’s Gabtoli area, where he was stationed along with his team at a check post.

On Saturday, another accused Masud Rana Sujon was remanded for seven days. Sujon told he court that his companion Enamul Haque Kamal was carrying weapons when they were obstructed by the police in front of Parbat Cin-ema Hall. “Kamal stabbed the police o� cial [Ibrahim] and � ed the scene,” he said. l

Court rejects MP Liton’s bail petitionn Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A district court yesterday rejected the bail petition of Awami League MP Manjurul Islam Liton in an attempted murder case � led over the shooting of a child early this month.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Waheduz-zaman, also acting judge of the Sundarganj Cognisance Court, passed the order in the afternoon, defence counsel Md Sirajul Islam Babu told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Sundarganj lawmaker, who has been in jail since October 15, was not produced be-fore the court during the hearing.

The defence said that they would � le a bail petition with the High Court in the attempt-ed murder case. On October 21, the defence lawyer submitted two bail petitions – one in the attempted murder case and another in a vandalism case.

Prosecutor Md Enamul Huq said that they argued against the bail petition mentioning that the case had been � led under sections 307 and 326 of the Penal Code. The sections deal with attempted murder and voluntarily caus-ing grievous injuries by dangerous weapons.

On October 2, eight-year-old Sourov, son of Sazu Miah of Gopalcharan village, was in-jured with stray bullets � red by Liton from his private arms at Sundarganj, allegedly un-der the in� uence of alcohol. Sourov’s father � led the case the following day.

The other case was � led by Ha� zur Rah-man of Uttor Shahbaz village under Sunda-rganj upazila for vandalising his house and looting valuables on October 2 night.

The Detective Branch of police arrested the ruling party lawmaker from his relative’s house in Uttara on October 14. He was pro-duced before a Gaibandha court the follow-ing day and the court ordered him jail after rejecting the bail petition.

On that day, the supporters of MP Liton locked into a clash with the police.

Liton’s arrest came hours after the Su-preme Court issued a stay order on a High Court ruling that rejected his anticipatory bail petition and ordered him to surrender before the trial court by October 18. l

Araihazar to get new zonal o� ce of rural electric cooperativen Tribune Report

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has inaugurated the construction of administrative and residential buildings at the zonal o� ce of Narayanganj Rural Electric Cooperative 2 in Araihazar upazila.

The inauguration and foundation laying ceremony took place around 2pm on Friday, on the zonal o� ce's own land, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh Rural Electri� cation Board (BREB). The overall cost of the project, to be built on 2.5 acres of land, is estimated to be Tk8.77 crore.

At the ceremony, Nasrul instructed the authorities concerned to � nish the project as soon as possible without compromising the quality of work.

About full power coverage in the country, Nasrul said the incumbent government was committed to bring electricity in every cor-ner of the country. l

Sha� ul new cabinet secretaryn Tribune Report

Senior Land Secretary of the Land Ministry Sha� ul Alam has been appointed as new cab-inet secretary.

The Public Administration Ministry issued a gazette noti� cation in this regard yesterday.

Sha� ul Alam will replace Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan who was made Al-ternate Executive Director of the World Bank.

Musharraf Hossain was made cabinet sec-retary on October 3, 2011. He was the 20th cabinet secretary of the government.

Sha� ul Alam, who is from Cox’s Bazar, graduated from Chittagong University. He will join work on November 1. l

TIB criticises opposition, speaker in parliamentn Tribune Report

The desired e� ectiveness of the national parliament is under question due to unprecedented appendage of the so-called opposition party, says a latest report prepared by the Bangladesh chapter of Transparency International.

Instead of acting against the government’s decisions, the main opposition, led by HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party, has been playing the role of a pat on the back, TIB said in the report named “Parliament Watch” at a press conference in the capital yesterday.

The report has been prepared on the pro-ceedings of the second to sixth sessions of the 10th parliament.

TIB also says that the strong role of the

speaker in parliament to stop non-parlia-mentary behaviour and language was absent. “After forming the government through a controversial election on January 5 last year, lack of e� ectiveness of the opposition in the national parliament is vivid.”

The report was presented by TIB’s Re-search and Policy Manager Juliet Rossette along with her deputies Fatema Afroz and Morsheda Akter.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB, said that the present parliament had become monopolised for the ruling party.

“The present parliament has been used as a forum to tackle other political parties who are not in parliament. On the other hand, the culture of appendage of the so called opposi-tion has been too intense,” he added. l

Kakoli Rani breaks down after her husband Ananta Chandra Biswas is pronounced dead at the DMCH yesterday. Ananta was stabbed when the couple got mugged in Khilkhet, Dhaka MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

UK nuclear deterrent to cost £167bn, far more than expectedn Reuters, London

The overall cost of replacing and maintain-ing Britain’s nuclear deterrent will reach £167bn ($256bn), much more than expected, according to a lawmaker and calculations based on o� cial � gures.

If the � gure is con� rmed, it is likely to spur critics who say Britain should not be committing to spending billions of pounds on defence at a time when they say deep cuts under the government’s “austerity” policies are hurting families.

Some military o� cials also say the mon-ey would be better spent on maintaining the army and on more conventional technology, which have also faced cuts.

Until now, Prime Minister David Cam-eron’s government has said replacing the ageing � eet of four submarines which carry nuclear warheads to provide a continuous at-sea deterrent would cost an estimated 15-20 billion pounds.

It has as yet given no o� cial estimate of the cost of its replacement and mainte-nance.

Critics, who include the Scottish Na-tionalist Party which has campaigned for the Scotland-based Trident to be scrapped, have said Britain will need to spend £100bn, a � gure based on a 2014 report by the inde-pendent Trident Commission.

In a written parliamentary response to Crispin Blunt, a lawmaker in Cameron’s Conservative party, Minister of State for De-fence Procurement Philip Dunne said on Fri-day the acquisition of four new submarines would cost £25bn.

He added that the in-service costs would be about 6% of the annual defence budget over their lifetime. The total defence budget for 2014/15 reached £33.8bn and rises to £34.1bn in 2015-16, according to the minis-try.

“My o� ce’s calculation based on an in-service date of 2028 and a missile exten-sion until 2060 ... the total cost is £167bn,” Blunt said.

“The successor Trident programme is

going to consume more than double the proportion of the defence budget of its predecessor ... The price required, both from the UK taxpayer and our convention-al forces, is now too high to be rational or sensible.”

His � gure was based on a presumption that Britain will spend 2% of its annual gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, as Cameron’s government has promised.

It also uses existing o� cial government and International Monetary Fund � gures, and an assumption of GDP growth of an annual average of 2.48% between 2020 and 2060.

Using the same � gures, the news agency calculated the same sum of £167bn.

A � nal decision on replacing the four existing vessels carrying the Trident mis-siles -- four Vanguard-class submarines -- is due next year and Cameron has said he will press ahead with the renewal.

The opposition Labour Party had also been a supporter of renewal but its new leader, far-left veteran lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, an anti-war campaigner, is opposed to the plans.

He was widely quoted last month as say-ing he would not be prepared to use nuclear weapons if he became prime minister. l

INSIDE

7D

TWorldMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Germany probes new case of US spyingGerman authorities have launched a probe into allegations of a new case of suspected spying linked to the US National Security Agency (NSA), a media report said Saturday. PAGE 8

Blair apologises for Iraq invasion, concedes rise of IS may be linked with itBritain’s ex-leader Tony Blair again apolo-gised Sunday for certain aspects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, adding there were “ele-ments of truth” to the view it was connected to the rise of the Islamic State group. PAGE 9

How an Iranian general designed Syrian assault in MoscowMaj Gen Qassem Soleimani’s visit to Moscow was the � rst step in planning for a Russian military intervention that has reshaped the Syrian war and forged a new Iranian-Russian alliance in support of Assad. PAGE 10

Q&AThe ins and outs of Trident programmeWhat is Trident for?Since 1969, according to government docu-ments, a British submarine carrying nuclear weapons has always been on patrol. The logic is to deter a nuclear attack on the UK because, even if the nation’s conventional defence capa-bilities were destroyed, the silent submarine would still be able to launch a catastrophic retaliatory strike on the aggressor, a concept known as mutually assured destruction. The submarines carry up to 16 Trident missiles, each can be � tted with a number of warheads, which can be directed at up to 12 di� erent targets. Each of the four submarines carries a sealed “letter of last resort” in the prime min-ister’s hand, containing instructions to follow if the UK has been devastated by a nuclear strike and the government annihilated.

What is Trident’s history?It was acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Pola-ris missile system which the UK had possessed since the 1960s. Trident then came into use in the 1990s. There are three parts to Trident - submarines, missiles and warheads. Although each component has years of use left, they cannot last inde� nitely. The current generation of four submarines would begin to end their working lives some time in the late 2020s. Work on a replacement cannot be delayed be-cause the submarines alone could take up to 17 years to develop.

What is the case for UK nuclear weapons?Supporters say Trident is indispensable for protecting the UK’s security. They argue that new threats, both from rogue states and ter-rorist groups, could emerge at any time and a minimum nuclear deterrent is needed to help counter them. l

Source: BBC

BIGSTOCK

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015World8DT

SOUTH ASIA Maldives president accuses ex-deputy of plot to oust himMaldives President Abdulla Yameen said on Sunday his former deputy Ahmed Adheeb had plotted to impeach him, a day after Adheeb was arrested at the airport in connection with an attempt on Yameen’s life last month. Yameen was unhurt in the Septem-ber 28 blast as his presidential boat Finifenmaa approached the capital Male while he was returning from Saudi Arabia, but his wife and two aides were injured. Adheeb was detained on Saturday upon his arrival at Male’s airport from China. -REUTERS

ASIA PACIFICS Korea � res warning shots at N Korea patrol boatSouth Korea � red warning shots at one of the North’s patrol boats as it strayed across the border, Seoul’s defence ministry said, raising tensions while a rare reunion for families separated by the peninsula’s 1950-53 war was underway. The North Korean ship returned across the border soon af-terwards without � ring back, the defence ministry added. But Pyongyang on Sunday described the incident as a “serious military provocation” and ac-cused Seoul of seeking to reverse recent improve-ment in ties. -AFP

MIDDLE EASTSaudi Arabia’s economy running on empty in 5 yearsSaudi Arabia could burn through its � nancial assets within � ve years, as the country grapples with slumping oil prices, according to a latest IMF report. The Middle East’s biggest economy is expected to run budget de� cits of 21.6% in 2015 and 19.4% in 2016. That means Riyadh needs to � nd money to meet its spending plans. Just like its oil exporting neighbours, it plans to make substantial cuts to its budgets. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has withdrawn $70bn in funds managed by overseas � nancial institutions. Its foreign reserves have fallen by almost $73bn, since oil prices slumped, leaving it with $654.5bn. But with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 2%, there is plenty of room for the country to borrow money to fund its growth. -AL-JAZEERA

INDIAIndia govt paves way for women in combat rolesThe Indian government gave its nod Saturday for women to � y � ghter jets, paving the way for them to assume combat roles for the � rst time in one of the world’s largest militaries. The federal defence ministry gave the green light to a proposal for recruiting female � ghter pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF), where wom-en already � y transport aircraft and helicopters. The latest move not only marks the maiden entry of women in combat roles in the IAF but in any branch across the Indian armed forces. women as � ghter pilots. -AFP

CHINAChina newspaper: Country should join US-led trade pactChina should join at an appropriate time the US-backed regional trade accord the Trans-Paci� c Partnership (TPP) as its broad aims are in line with China’s own economic reform agenda, an in� uential Communist Party newspaper said on Sunday. China is not among the 12 Paci� c Rim countries who earlier this month agreed the trade pact, the most ambitious in a gener-ation. The accord includes Australia and Japan among economies worth a combined $28tn. In a commentary, the biweekly Study Times, admitted there were those in China who viewed the TPP as a “plot” to isolate and restrain the country’s global ambitions. -REUTERS

Indian minors served in British army during WWIn Tribune Desk

Britain’s World War I army included Indian chil-dren as young as 10-years-old � ghting against the Germans on the western front, according to a new book on the role of Indian soldiers in the Great War.

The youngsters were shipped over to France from the far reaches of the British Empire to carry out support roles, but were so close to the front line that many were wounded and admitted to hospital, according to ‘For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front 1914-18’.

The account by writer and historian Shrabani Basu is based on o� cial papers at the National Archives and British Library.

Some of the Indian children, including a 10-year-old “bellows blower,” and two grooms, both 12, provided support to cavalry regiments, a ‘Sunday Times’ report said.

One of the youngest boys involved in direct combat was a “brave little Gurkha” called Pim, 16, who was given an award for valour by Queen Mary while he was recuperating in hospital in Brighton.

Basu’s book, to be published by Blooms-bury on November 5, also reveals that British

nurses were barred from treating Indian sol-diers in war hospitals and were allowed only to supervise orderlies, leading to claims of discrimination.

Basu believes many of the children came from poor families and that they would have lied about their age at recruitment o� ces in India, where they were encouraged to sign up for a monthly salary of 11 rupees.

“In the case of a 10-year-old, it should have been pretty obvious that they were underage,”

she told the newspaper. This embarrassment was shared by some Brit-

ish o� cials. In one dispatch to Lord Kitchener, secretary

of state for war, Sir Walter Lawrence, a civil serv-ant tasked with overseeing injured Indian troops, wrote: “It seems a great pity that children should have been allowed to come to Europe.”

About 1.5m Indian soldiers fought for Britain in the � rst great war, with a handful being award-ed the Victoria Cross bravery medal. l

Soldires in World War I in a trench BIGSTOCK

Wikimedia lawsuit over NSA surveillance quashedn Reuters, Washington, DC

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Wiki-media and other groups challenging one of the US National Security Agency’s mass surveil-lance programmes, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The newspaper said Judge TS Ellis III on Fri-day dismissed the suit � led in March over what is often called “upstream” collection because it happens along the so-called backbone of the Internet and away from individual users.

The lawsuit � led in federal court in Mar-yland, where the spy agency is based, said the NSA is violating US constitutional protec-tions and the law by tapping into high-capac-ity cables, switches and routers that move Internet tra� c through the United States.

The case is one of a number of challenges made by privacy advocates against US spying programmes since 2013, when documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed the long reach of secret government surveillance.

The judge “concluded that the plainti� s had to speculate about key elements of the spy system. So under a 2013 Supreme Court ruling on a similar challenge, he wrote, their case could not go forward,” the Sun said.

“Plainti� s provide no factual basis to sup-port the allegation that the NSA is using its surveillance equipment at full throttle,” Ellis wrote, according to the newspaper.

The plainti� s include the Wikimedia Foundation, the Rutherford Institute; Am-nesty International USA and the National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers, among other groups. The groups said in the lawsuit that upstream surveillance “reduces the likelihood” that clients, journalists, for-eign government o� cials, victims of human rights abuses and other individuals will share sensitive information with them. l

Germany probes new case of US spyingn AFP, Berlin

German authorities have launched a probe into allegations of a new case of suspected spying linked to the US National Security Agency (NSA), a media report said Saturday.

The report by the newsweekly Der Spiegel comes after an investigation into alleged US snooping on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone was dropped in June due to lack of proof.

German-US relations were badly strained after fugitive US intelligence contractor Ed-ward Snowden revealed mass US surveil-lance around the world in 2013.

The latest probe by Germany’s federal prosecutors targets persons unknown for “espionage activities,” Der Spiegel said.

It centres on the personal laptop of a department chief in the chancellery onto which a spying virus known as “Regin” was allegedly installed, the magazine said.

The “Trojan horse” type virus, which

was discovered on the laptop last year, en-ables surveillance of all data entered onto a computer and transfers it to whoever had the software installed, Der Spiegel added.

“We can con� rm that there is an inquiry” relating to “malicious software” called Regin, a spokeswoman for the federal pros-ecution service said, declining to con� rm other details from the Spiegel report.

The magazine, citing specialists, said there “is no doubt” that Regin can be linked to the NSA or Britain’s GCHQ eavesdropping agency, which was revealed in Snowden’s documents to have worked closely with its US equivalent, including in the interception of German phone calls and emails.

While Snowden alleged US spying on many European governments, his disclo-sures triggered particular anger in Germa-ny where bitterness lingers over mass state spying on citizens by the Stasi secret police in former communist East Germany where Merkel grew up. l

An illustration of NSA-made spying chip BIGSTOCK

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015World 9

DT

USA4 killed in Oklahoma parade crashA car with a suspected drunk driver at the wheel barreled into crowds watching a homecoming parade at Oklahoma State University on Saturday, killing four people and injuring more than 40 others, authorities said. The driver, identi� ed as 25-year-old Adacia Avery Chambers, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while under the in� uence of alcohol, said Captain Kyle Gibbs of the Stillwater Police. -REUTERS

THE AMERICASPatricia � attens Mexico homes, but no major disasterHurricane Patricia � attened scores of houses in Mexico’s Paci� c coast, but authorities were relieved to see Saturday that the record-breaking hurricane largely spared the country and dissipated as it moved north. Patricia tore down trees, triggered some � ooding and caused minor landslides elsewhere in Jalisco and neighboring Colima state. But by Saturday regional airports reopened and highways were cleared of obstacles. -AFP

Argentines vote for presidentVoters in Argentina headed to the polls Sunday to choose their next president in an election that will bring an end to 12 years of government under power couple Nestor and Cristina Kirchner. Their heir appar-ent, Buenos Aires provincial Governor Daniel Scioli, is poised to win but may undo parts of their contro-versial legacy. His top rival is Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri, the candidate of Argentines fed up with what they see as the Kirchners’ heavy-handed economic policy and belligerent politics. -AFP

UKCameron rules out 2nd referendum if UK votes to leave EUBritain will not hold a second “In-Out” vote on its mem-bership of the European Union if the public opt to leave the bloc at a referendum due by the end of 2017, a senior aide to Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday. Some in the ‘out’ camp, including Vote Leave campaign director Dominic Cummings, have suggested that if Brit-ain votes to quit the EU it could be used as a bargaining tool to get more concessions from Brussels. -REUTERS

EUROPEEU, Balkan leaders face make-or-break migrant summitEuropean Union and Balkan leaders faced a make-or-break summit Sunday on the deepening refugee crisis after three frontline states threatened to close their borders if their EU peers stopped accepting migrants. The mini summit, called by European Commission Pres-ident Jean-Claude Juncker, groups the heads of 10 EU nations, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, plus the leaders of Albania, Serbia and Macedonia. -AFP

AFRICAIvory Coast votes in post-war presidential pollVoting began in Ivory Coast on Sunday in an election likely to give President Alassane Ouattara a second term, a crucial event after a decade-long political crisis that ended with a civil war in 2011. Ouattara, whose leadership has helped the West African nation re-emerge as a rising economic star on the continent, faces a divided opposition. More than 6m Ivorians are registered to vote at some 20,000 polling stations. -REUTERS

Trump: World would be better place if Saddam, Gadda� still in powern AFP, Washington, DC

The world would be a better place if dicta-tors such as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gadda� were still in power, top Republican US presidential hopeful Donald Trump said in comments aired Sunday.

The billionaire real estate tycoon also told CNN’s “State of the Union” talk show that the Middle East “blew up” around US President Barack Obama and former sec-retary of state Hillary Clinton, his biggest Democratic rival in the race for the White House.

“100%,” Trump said when asked if the world would be better o� with Hussein and Gadda� still at the helm in Iraq and Libya.

Both strongmen committed atrocities against their own people and are now dead. Saddam, the former Iraqi president, was top-pled in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and was executed in 2006.

Gadda� -- who ruled Libya for four dec-ades -- was ousted and slain in October 2011.

“People are getting their heads chopped o� . They’re being drowned. Right now it’s far worse than ever under Saddam Hussein or Gadda� ,” Trump said.

“I mean, look what happened. Libya is a catastrophe. Libya is a disaster. Iraq is a dis-aster. Syria is a disaster. The whole Middle East. It all blew up around Hillary Clinton and around Obama. It blew up.”

Calling Iraq the “Harvard of terrorism,” Trump said the country had turned into a “training ground for terrorists.”

“If you look at Iraq from years ago, I’m not saying he (Saddam) was a nice guy. He was a horrible guy but it’s better than it is now,” Trump said. l

Blair apologises for Iraq invasion, concedes rise of IS may be linked with itn AFP, London

Britain’s ex-leader Tony Blair again apolo-gised Sunday for certain aspects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, adding there were “ele-ments of truth” to the view it was connected to the rise of the Islamic State group.

However, Blair insisted he still did not regret the removal of Saddam Hussein as Iraq’s leader as he said sorry over intelli-gence failings and planning mistakes.

“I apologise for the fact that the intelli-gence we received was wrong,” he told CNN in an interview.

“I also apologise for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime.”

He added: “I � nd it hard to apologise for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he’s not there than that he is there.”

Blair acknowledged there were “ele-ments of truth” to the argument that the US-led and British backed invasion of Iraq eventually led to the rise of IS jihadists in

Syria and Iraq, according to a transcript on the CNN website.

“Of course, you can’t say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015,” he said.

“But it’s important also to realise, one,

that the Arab Spring which began in 2011 would also have had its impact on Iraq to-day, and two, ISIS actually came to prom-inence from a base in Syria and not in Iraq,” he added, using another acronym to refer to IS.

The comments from Blair, a divisive � gure for leading Britain into the Iraq war, come shortly before a timetable for the publication of the much-delayed pub-lic inquiry into the Iraq war is due to be announced.

Amid intense pressure to publish from MPs and families of military personnel killed in the war, John Chilcot will write to Prime Minister David Cameron by Novem-ber 3 saying when the inquiry, launched in 2009, will be completed.

A spokeswoman for Blair said of the CNN interview: “All of this he has said before.”

She added: “Tony Blair has always apol-ogised for the intelligence being wrong and for mistakes in planning. He has always also said, and says again here, that he does not however think it was wrong to remove Saddam.” l

Experts in new bid to unravel secrets of pyramidsn AFP, Cairo

A group of Egyptian and foreign experts launched Sunday a new bid to unravel the “secrets” of the pyramids, including a search for hidden chambers inside four famed pharaonic monuments.

Architects and scientists from Egypt, France, Canada and Japan will use modern infrared technology and advanced detectors to map two pyramids at Giza and the two Dahshur pyramids, south of Cairo.

“This special group will study these pyramids to see whether there are still any hidden cham-bers or other secrets” inside them, Minister of Antiquities Mamduh al-Damati announced at a news conference.

“These engineers and architects will conduct the survey using non-destructive technology that will not harm the pyramids,” he said.

Experts said the study, known as “Scan Pyra-mids,” will also be a fresh attempt to understand how the monuments were built in the � rst place.

Many previous missions have attempted to unravel the mysteries of the pyramids, but ar-

chaeologists and scientists have yet to come up with a concrete theory explaining how the struc-tures were built.

Khufu’s pyramid, also known as the Great pyr-amid of Giza -- the tallest of all the pyramids -- was built by the son of Snefru, founder of the fourth dynasty (2575-2465 BC), while the Khafre’s pyr-amid or Chephren was built by the son of Khufu.

The two pyramids at Dahshur were built by Snefru.

“The idea is to � nd the solution to the mystery of the pyramids,” said Mehdi Tayoubi, founder of Paris-based HIP Institute that is participating in the project.

Project “Scan Pyramids” is expected to last un-til the end of 2016.

Damati said the “infrared and muon” tech-nologies that would be used to search the four pyramids could also be useful to look for a pos-sible hidden chamber in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, which may be the burial place of Queen Nefertiti.

Archaeologists have never discovered the mummy of the legendary beauty, l

Egypt’s pyramid BIGSTOCK

Former British prime minister Tony Blair REUTERS

World10DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

INSIGHT

How an Iranian general designed Syrian assault in Moscown Reuters, Beirut

At a meeting in Moscow in July, a top Iranian general unfurled a map of Syria to explain to his Russian hosts how a series of defeats for President Bashar al-Assad could be turned into victory - with Russia’s help.

Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani’s visit to Mos-cow was the � rst step in planning for a Rus-sian military intervention that has reshaped the Syrian war and forged a new Iranian-Rus-sian alliance in support of Assad.

As Russian warplanes bomb rebels from above, the arrival of Iranian special forces for ground operations underscores sever-al months of planning between Assad’s two most important allies, driven by panic at rap-id insurgent gains.

Soleimani is the commander of the Quds Force, the elite extra-territorial special forces arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and re-ports directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Aya-tollah Ali Khamenei.

Senior regional sources say he has already been overseeing ground operations against insurgents in Syria and is now at the heart of planning for the new Russian- and Irani-an-backed o� ensive.

That expands his regional role as the bat-tle� eld commander who has also steered the � ght in neighbouring Iraq by Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia against Islamic State.

His Moscow meeting outlined the deterio-rating situation in Syria, where rebel advanc-es towards the coast were posing a danger to the heartland of Assad’s Alawite sect, where Russia maintains its only Mediterranean na-val base in Tartous.

“Soleimani put the map of Syria on the ta-ble. The Russians were very alarmed, and felt matters were in steep decline and that there were real dangers to the regime. The Iranians assured them there is still the possibility to reclaim the initiative,” a senior regional of-� cial said. “At that time, Soleimani played a role in assuring them that we haven’t lost all the cards.”

‘Send Soleimani’Three senior o� cials in the region say Soleim-ani’s July trip was preceded by high-level Russian-Iranian contacts that produced polit-ical agreement on the need to pump in new support for Assad as his losses accelerated.

Their accounts suggest planning for the intervention began to germinate several months earlier. It means Tehran and Moscow had been discussing ways to prop up Assad by force even as Western o� cials were describ-ing what they believed was new � exibility in Moscow’s stance on his future.

Russia and Iran’s support did not prevent rebels - some of them backed by Assad’s re-gional foes - from reducing Assad’s control of Syria to around one � fth of its territory in a four-year-long war estimated to have killed 250,000 people.

The decision for a joint Iranian-Russian military e� ort in Syria was taken at a meet-ing between Russia’s foreign minister and Khamenei a few months ago, said a senior o� cial of a country in the region, involved in security matters.

“Soleimani, assigned by Khamenei to run the Iranian side of the operation, travelled to Moscow to discuss details. And he also trav-elled to Syria several times since then,” the o� cial said.

Khamenei also sent a senior envoy to Mos-cow to meet President Vladimir Putin, an-other senior regional o� cial said. “Putin told him ‘Okay we will intervene. Send Qassem Soleimani’. He went to explain the map of the theatre.”

Resident in DamascusRussian warplanes, deployed at an air� eld in Latakia, began mounting air strikes against rebels in Syria last month.

Moscow says it is targeting Islamic State, but many of Russia’s air strikes have hit other insurgents, including groups backed by Assad’s foreign enemies, notably in the northwest where rebels seized stra-tegically important towns including Jisr

al-Shughour earlier this year.In the biggest deployment of Iranian forc-

es yet, sources said hundreds of troops have arrived since late September to take part in a major ground o� ensive planned in the west and northwest. Around 3,000 � ghters from the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbol-lah have also mobilised for the battle, along with Syrian army troops, said one of the sen-ior regional sources.

“Soleimani is almost resident in Damas-cus, or let’s say he goes there a lot and you can � nd him between meetings with President Assad and visits to the theatre of operations like any other soldier,” said one of the senior regional o� cials.

Syria’s foreign minister said on Monday that the Russian air strikes had been planned for months. lMaj Gen Qassem Soleimani WIKIMEDIA

INSIDE

We condemn the bomb attacks on Hussaini Dalan in central Dhaka on Saturday which killed a teenage boy, Sajjad Hossain Saju, and injured around 100 people.

The three home-made bombs, aimed at people gathering for a Shia community procession marking the holy Ashura, were clearly intended to maximise carnage and division.

Bangladesh has no history of Sunni-Shia sectarian con� ict. It is outrageous and unprecedented for this religious gathering, which has been peacefully taking place throughout the capital’s 400-year history, to be violently targeted in this manner.

The frequent violent attacks on Shia communities in Pakistan and the sectarian civil wars which plague Yemen and other parts of the Middle East are completely alien to our nation.

It is vital that the country stands united together in the face of these despicable attacks.

Individuals or groups who conduct, condone, or incite such acts have no place in our society.

Everything possible must be done by the government and law enforcement agencies, to bring the perpetrators of this outrage to justice. A thorough investigation is needed to follow up the suspects held in the case so far, to identify any other persons or groups involved in these attacks, and to help prevent any further incidents.

We are con� dent that Bangladesh’s traditions of religious tolerance and communal solidarity will enable the public to resist the unconscionable acts and vicious propaganda of groups who would seek to use such violence to spread fear and hatred.

It is imperative that, in addition to catching those responsible for these attacks, society stands � rm in the face of groups who seek to sow the hatred and intolerance which embolden individuals to carry out such violent attacks.

Resist those who sow sectarian hatred and incite violence

From merit to mediocrity

The best way to resolve problemsIt would be interesting to learn if the Obama/Sharif discussions get to the core of the problem. Research has shown that, since 1968, only about 43% of the almost 650 insurgencies the world has experienced ended with peace

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Bengal had it right all alongModern Sala� sm often invites Bangladeshis to sort out their allegiance either to an Islam that it posits or to a Bangladeshi culture that it caricatures as being ‘Hindu’

As merit gives way to � nancial incentives and political allegiances, our country will become the land of mediocrity. I believe this is a cause for all who have acquired their position by merit

Sectarianism has no place in Bangladesh

11D

TEditorialMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

BIGSTOCK

Opinion12DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

n Hassan Mneimneh

More than a year ago, the “Islamic State” in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) declared itself a universal Caliphate. Its leader, Abu Bakr

al-Baghdadi, presents himself as the rightful successor to the Prophet and the legitimate ruler of Muslims worldwide.

In the territory that ISIS controls, and in areas within its reach, forces loyal to al-Baghdadi routinely engage in atrocities against those who disagree with their interpretation of Islam, branding them apostates, and exacting from them capital punishment in its harshest forms.

ISIS insists that it represents “true” Islam. Some Muslims, notably among the young, seem inclined to agree. A few, and yet too many, of them have joined ISIS’s ranks, which in fact amounts to leaving promising lives to kill and be killed … in futility.

It is tempting to dismiss ISIS as a betrayal of the spirit of Islam, and even indulge in theories pointing to various nefarious forces responsible for its rise.

Closer to the truth is that ISIS represents the in� ation of a strain of thought that has always existed within Islam, but that, until recently, was con� ned to the margins.

Its journey from the periphery to the centre is one aided and abetted by many actors, some accidentally, others deliberately.

Undoubtedly, though, ISIS � nds the substance of its legitimisation in Sala� sm -- a modern retelling of older understandings of the faith, which claims to give exclusive importance to the fundamental texts -- the Qur’an, as the verbatim divine revelation, and the Hadith, as the canonical corpus of sayings and reported actions of the Prophet.

Throughout history and across geography, Muslims have evidently held both the Qur’an and the Hadith in the highest esteem.

The veneration of the texts, however, was part of the comprehensive endeavour of seeking the Divine, an e� ort that also incorporated mysticism, ritualism, and syncretism, while relying primarily on a teacher-disciple relationship.

Adepts of modern Sala� sm would protest vociferously the proposition that their creed owes much of its precepts to Western scholarship, but the parallels are hard to ignore.

Modern Sala� sm is reductionist in positing an absolute truth that rejects the multiplicity of the religious experience, “rationalist” in its deconstruction of spirituality and standardisation of ritual, and individualist in its denigration of the traditional teacher-disciple relationship.

The resulting conception of the religion is thus closer to 20th century Western models of absolutism than to Islam as lived by Muslims across the ages.

In South Asia, Bengali culture ought to be particularly resistant to this new form of

regimentation in the name of religion. The land that is today Bangladesh -- the core of historical Bengal -- has always been a frontier land: Generous, but harsh, with untamable rivers and even more forbidding rains and � oods.

The people that inhabited it were shaped in their social and political behaviour by its lush and capricious nature. Since the days of Ashoka, imperial designs over this land were only accorded the illusion of success, soon to realise the elusive and resilient character of the place.

The last to learn this lesson were the generals of Pakistan. When Brahmanism was not yet Hinduism -- with stricter caste discrimination and exclusion of the non-conform -- the conversion of many in the land of Bengal to Islam was an act of empowerment and de� ance.

Access to the Divine needed no longer be through the medium of a self-sacralising priestly class, but was instead made available to everyone through simple intuitive rituals.

Soon after, the priestly class changed religious a� liation, and returned as “ashraf” and “fuqaha’” to pursue its attempt at

patronising the common people. Through mysticism, ecstatic practices, and the acceptance of the practices of other faiths as valid paths to the Divine, however, the common people repeatedly proved that the agency in shaping the religious experience remained in their hands.

In so doing, and in every respect, the people of Bengal were not departing from the spirit of Islam, but were indeed continuing in its tradition of accommodation and freedom -- a tradition that can be plainly traced to the formative period of the faith.

Certainly, a religious scholar may polish the traditions to elevate the importance of conformity and obedience -- the resulting formulation, however, ought to be understood merely as his reading of history and his understanding of the Divine intent, not the Divine intent itself.

This is a truth that Bengali culture seems to have comfortably reached, as demonstrated by the wide acceptance among its pious of practices with which the Sala� st would-be gate-keepers of the faith loudly disagree.

Compared to many Muslim contexts, Bengali culture has displayed considerable resistance to religious regimentation. However, modern Sala� sm has made some important in-roads, bene� tting paradoxically from the increased secularisation of politics and civil life in Bangladesh.

With the rise of globalism, cosmo-politanism, and a future-oriented focus, the function of the faith as a resource for self-assertion and empowerment retreats from the collective consciousness, allowing for versions shaped to equate religion with obedience to gain new prominence.

Modern Sala� sm often invites Bangladeshis to sort out their allegiance either to an Islam that it posits (and that despite all claims to unadultered authenticity is a modern construct), or to a Bangladeshi culture that it caricatures as being “Hindu.”

It is the local version of the challenge that ISIS has launched to Muslims worldwide: Choose “Islam” and submit, or refuse to obey and be reviled for abandoning the faith.

Worldwide, many Muslims are perplexed by the seemingly compelling argument thus presented. It is in fact a false choice that fails to see Islam as lived by its adepts. Similarly, in Bangladesh, succumbing to the challenge and “siding” with Bengali culture is tantamount to conceding to the framework of modern Sala� sm that postulates a non-existing dichotomy.

Fortunately, while a few passionate activists fall into such temptation, most Bangladeshis, by their actions, celebrations, and way of life, dismiss the false challenge. Bengal had it right all along: Islam is what Muslims live. In rejecting the opposition of faith and culture, Bangladesh presents an important model for resisting the irredentism of ISIS. l

Hassan Mneimneh is Principal, Middle East Alternatives, Washington DC.

Bengal had it right all alongWhen it comes to Islam, Bangladesh has proven itself the nation to follow

Modern Sala� sm often invites Bangladeshis to sort out their allegiance either to an Islam that it posits or to a Bangladeshi culture that it caricatures as being ‘Hindu.’ It is the local version of the challenge that ISIS has launched to Muslims worldwide: Choose ‘Islam’ and submit, or refuse to obey and be reviled for abandoning the faith

Bangladesh’s brand of Islamic practicing is what groups such as ISIS cannot tolerate RAJIB DHAR

n William Milam

“The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk,” so said the Dalai Lama,

and for the most part, it is probably true.So when the leaders of countries talk, one

should expect that the problems between their countries will be, if not resolved, at least alleviated -- reduced in importance in the countries’ relationship.

Leaders can, and sometimes do, agree to disagree, and that in itself implies a better level of understanding between the two.

Thus, even though the meetings have not yet taken place, the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington to talk with President Obama draws my attention.

According to news reports, PM Sharif’s agenda begins with Afghanistan and the assertion that Pakistan’s policy of seeking a negotiated settlement there has not changed despite the current rough patch in its relations with the Afghan government.

Recently, the Pakistan foreign ministry an-nounced it is still holding open the possibility of facilitating peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent forces in the country, primarily the Afghan Taliban.

These e� orts have broken down as Afghanistan has blamed Pakistan for sheltering hostile forces that have perpetrated recent vicious attacks in and around Kabul.

The belief that Pakistan is sheltering insurgent forces, primarily the Haqqani Group -- because of the long history of a proxy relationship between the ISI and the Haqqanis -- is neither new nor surprising.

It did not seem credible that the ISI would abandon that relationship completely or easily. Of late, this has come to the fore in the US-Pakistan relationship. The US has pressured Pakistan to stop helping the Haqqanis, and President Obama will certainly raise this early in the conversation.

I am not sure that PM Sharif will welcome President Obama’s explanation of his decision from last Thursday to keep more US troops in Afghanistan, at least through 2017. On the one hand, this decision is probably in Pakistan’s long-tern interests, as it should at least ensure that the insurgent Taliban are not able to control all of Afghanistan.

I assume that it was the conclusion -- though late in coming -- that a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is not in Pakistan’s long-term interests, which prompted an e� ort to facilitate peace talks in the � rst place (even if the proxy relationships with the Haqqanis, though perhaps attenuated, remained in place behind the curtain).

On the other hand, there remain strong political voices in Pakistan that still believe that it is the US presence in Afghanistan that is causing violence (dare I write, insurgency) in Pakistan, and for some the simplistic assumption that if the US went away, all of Pakistan’s security problems would go away. Sharif may face a domestic opposition that

believes that, although he does not face election very soon.

News reports of the upcoming visit also mention that the US is reported by the NY Times to have hatched a plan, which it says is under discussion with Pakistan to “limit the scope” of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. It is not clear to me what “limit the scope” means in this context.

Does it mean to limit the number of nuclear weapons, the kind of nuclear weapons, or the context in which they would be used? There has been a continuing and increasing worry among non-proliferation experts in the US as the size and variety of these weapons grow quickly in the Pakistani arsenal.Soon, I have been told, the Pakistani arsenal will exceed that of France, and could continue to grow quickly at the rate of present production of � ssile material.

Pakistani o� cials have continued to insist that this arsenal is speci� c to India, which is a derivative of the almost 70-year-old doctrine that India is the existential threat to Pakistan.

Washington is reportedly prepared to o� er Pakistan a waiver to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but it is not clear from the public reports what the price for Pakistan would be in terms of its nuclear arsenal.

Nor is it clear to me that entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group makes any sense as an incentive, if Pakistan continues to regard that arsenal as its main deterrent to an existential threat.

This is supported by background statements from Pakistani o� cials that insist that Pakistan would need an international con� ict resolution mechanism between Islamabad and New Delhi as the price for limitations on its nuclear arsenal.

This sounds to me as if it would require, inter alia, either some internationally arranged resolution of the “Kashmir question,” or some way to ensure that Pakistan can still try to separate Kashmir

from India with impunity -- both of which strike me as highly unlikely.

As to the discussions on Afghanistan, President Obama’s decision to leave more US troops there longer than he envisioned is the newest and most interesting development. There are, among the President’s critics in the US, two views.

Some are disappointed that he did not stick to his original schedule -- not because of any e� ect it would have had on Pakistan, but because a large portion of his own party are fed up with the war and think the US should pack up and leave by 2016 as promised, and let Afghanistan fend for itself.

Most of these critics would be horri� ed, however, if that were to lead to a Taliban takeover and the re-imposition of the Taliban version of Sharia on the Afghan population, especially women.

A second group of critics, a smaller number probably, believes the president should have left a stronger force with more � re-power to ensure that the Taliban can’t win.

What the President may have done is to ensure that his successor still has the option to ramp up the e� ort in Afghanistan to levels that would guarantee that outcome, or to go back to the strategic path he chose earlier, ie to let Afghans sink or swim on their own

(after expending much blood and treasure to help them rebuild their army and state).

It would be interesting to learn if the Obama/Sharif discussions get to the core of the problem. Research has shown that, since 1968, only about 43% of the almost 650 insurgencies the world has experienced ended with a transition to peace through a negotiation that included the insurgents.

Almost the same number, 40%, ended through police action. Importantly, only 7% end in military victory over the insurgents.

What these numbers don’t show is that most of the 40% that ended through police action were very small groups with very limited, if any, domestic support, which could be taken down by e� cient police action. Trustworthy reports now show that the Taliban control or contest about 20% of Afghan territory.

They are on a roll. So, getting the Taliban to the table is a necessary component of a political solution that would avoid the horrors of a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan -- with its enormous refugee implications. Their interest in negotiating an inclusive political solution would seem negligible at present. l

William B Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Opinion 13D

TMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

The best way to resolve problems

It would be interesting to learn if the Obama/Sharif discussions get to the core of the problem. Research has shown that, since 1968, only about 43% of the almost 650 insurgencies the world has experienced ended with a transition to peace through a negotiation that included the insurgents

The best resolutions are always found through discussion REUTERS

Would calling American troops back from Afghanistan allay Pakistan’s terrorism problems?

n Saquib Ali

On September 18, the country-wide admission test for all medical and dental colleges were held.

On September 16, two days before the exam, RAB arrested four people. Their Assistant Media Director Maksudul Alam con� rmed that one of the detainees was a mastermind of the medical test ques-tion paper leakage syndicate. Along with the arrested, law enforcement personnel found model question papers, answer sheets, and a cheque for Tk120cr.

On September 22, Rab-13 Company Commander Major Ashraf Ali was report-ed to have said that they had been raiding

suspected coaching centres and other points in Rangpur for three days, prior to the arrest of seven persons on September 20. The detained included three government doctors and four o� cials of two coaching centres.

The commander added that parents of three students paid large amounts of money and one managing director of the coaching centres confessed to leaking the medical question papers during primary interroga-tion.

On September 18, RAB o� cials in Dhaka said that three persons were arrested, including University Grants Commission Assistant Director Omar Siraj, and disclosed that they had nabbed 42 people from the country during the week preceding the medical test.

On October 1, Omar Siraj died in RAB custody. According to another report, while he was arrested, large sums of money and judicial services examination papers were recovered.

Given these developments, which clearly show that law enforcement personnel were very seriously investigating the alleged irregularities of medical admission tests, and the allegations made by the aggrieved students that question papers were leaked on social media before the tests, a plea was made to the High Court to annul the results and order fresh examinations. The court rejected the plea.

Since the exam on September 18, a few hundred examinees and their parents have been demonstrating in the Central Shahid Minar for almost a month.

They had been demanding the assur-ances of the health minister or the prime minister for redress of their grievances. However, government leaders have rejected allegations of irregularities out of hand and ignored their pleas.

The government has almost completed the admission and has declared that the new entrants will begin their classes from Janu-ary 10. The medical college authorities have threatened dire actions against any current student or o� cial who expresses solidarity with the protest and joins the demo.

These demonstrating students are courting the ire of the highest leaders of this country. Given the hostility, some leading citizens have taken up a People’s Inquiry. On its conclusion, the movement will reach its next phase.

The most meritorious students in our country compete for about 7,000 seats -- almost equally divided among government and private colleges.

While government colleges are of high quality and heavily subsidised, the private ones are less sought after and also very expensive.

So it makes economic sense to unscrupulous individuals to bribe their way into government medical colleges, for even then it would be a cheaper alternative to private medical colleges.

The ones detained by law enforcement have not been freed -- one person has died even. The motive and the opportunity were there.

So, the investigation is ongoing. In this situation, can’t a claim of integrity of the medical admission system be construed as obstruction of justice? Isn’t there enough justi� cation for the High Court to intervene?

How can medical colleges and the highest seats of education, forbid the constitutional right of all to voice their opinion?

I myself studied in a cadet college and have worked in the foreign service only by dint of my merit.

I can’t stand by while the system collaps-es, a situation where my son and daughter would not like to return to Bangladesh. If the integrity of our examinations from BCS to judiciary to universities is compromised, then that would deter any knowledge seeker from these services.

As merit gives way to � nancial incentives and political allegiances, our country will become the land of mediocrity. I believe this is a cause for all who have acquired their position by merit.

They are implored to rethink their inac-tion, reverse their stance, and join the move-ment. Otherwise, the soul of the country will be extinguished. And we will see that Zia Haider Rahman’s words have come true, that Bangladesh is a land of dead ideas. l

Saquib Ali is a freelance contributor.

Opinion14DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

From merit to mediocrity

What’s the point of sitting for an exam that values money over merit? BIGSTOCK

The medical college tests, which had been leaked, cannot be allowed to stand

As merit gives way to � nancial incentives and political allegiances, our country will become the land of mediocrity. I believe this is a cause for all who have acquired their position by merit. They are implored to rethink their inaction, reverse their stance and join the movement

15D

TBusinessMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Economists for good governance to facilitate developmentThe economists have called upon the gov-ernment to establish good governance to attain sustainable economic growth. PAGE 16

China cuts rates again as growth engine stallsChina’s central bank cut interest rates on Friday for the sixth time in less than a year, and it again lowered the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves in a bid to jump start growth in its stuttering economy. PAGE 17

ECB to decide in December if economy needs bigger kickThe European Central Bank is studying new stimulus measures that could be unveiled as soon as December and is prepared to cut its deposit rate deeper into negative territory if needed to � ght falling prices, its president said last week. PAGE 18

Capital Market Snapshot: SundayDSE

Broad Index 4,649.3 0.03% ▲

Index 1,116.5 0.29% ▲

30 Index 1,762.2 -0.02% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 3,257.1 -8.56% ▼

Turnover in Mn Volume 95.9 -8.61% ▼

CSEAll Share Index 14,196.1 -0.01% ▼

30 Index 12,527.7 0.14% ▲

Selected Index 8,632.9 -0.04% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 195.7 -36.11% ▼

Turnover in Mn Volume 5.9 -29.30% ▼

NBR o� cials check lorries to � nd VAT evasions by � rmsn Tribune Report

The VAT audit intelligence and investiga-tion directorate under the National Board of Revenue has started drives against the VAT evading companies.

The � rst phase of the drives has already been completed, which was conducted on October 8-15 in Dhaka city.

During the drives, the vehicles carrying goods of the companies were stopped on streets and checked if they had any VAT payment receipts or challans.

The directorate has taken up the initia-tive as VAT evasion by the manufacturing companies has become a common phenom-enon in the country, o� cials said.

The directorate is conducting such type of drives for the � rst time after getting mandate in the budget passed for � scal year 2015-16.

The VAT Act 1991 was amended as a budgetary measure in the � scal year to em-power the directorate so it could take a hard line against the VAT evaders.

O� cials said the drives would contin-ue on regular basis in di� erent parts of the country under anti-VAT evasion steps by the NBR.

During drives on Dhaka streets, the o� -cials found VAT evasions of Tk4.66 lakh by a number of manufacturing � rms and goods, which were being transported on nine lor-ries, were seized on charge of VAT evasion.

Of the nine lorries, eight did not have any VAT challans while the remaining one pos-sesses a duplicate challan.

The goods included cement, furniture, ice cream, ceiling fan, cycle parts, thermoset-ting molding compound power and HDP coil pipe.

According to the law, a vehicle transport-ing products from factories to distributors or to wholesalers must have to carry VAT payment receipts known as VAT challan as a proof of VAT payment.

Currently, there is a 4% VAT applicable at manufacturing stage.

The directorate o� cials also said they raided some big and luxury shopping malls, luxury tailoring shops and motor parts shops in the capital to identify the VAT dodging shopkeepers.

The result was frustrating as only around 10% shop owners were found paying VAT properly, o� cials said. l

Moves underway to set up proposed public servants bank n Asif Showkat Kallol

Public Administration Division has request-ed Bank and Financial Institutions Division to start process to establish Samriddhi So-pan Bank for the government employees.

In a letter recently, the Public Adminis-tration Division has also urged Bangladesh Bank and Bank Division to report progress in works fortnightly.

Meanwhile, Bank Division gave its con-sent to a Bangladesh Bank proposal of set-ting up a bank for Border Guard Bangladesh – Simanto Bank – like Trust Bank operated by Bangladesh Army.

As per the proposal, the Simanto Bank will start its operation with Tk400 crore, of which, an amount of Tk100 crore will come from BGB Welfare Fund and the rest of the money will be borrowed from the state-owned commercial banks.

As per the Samriddhi Sopan Bank propos-al, the bank’s initial paid-up capital will also be Tk400 crore.

An amount of Tk140 crore, which has

been lying idle in the Employees Welfare Board, will be used as seed money for the proposed bank of public servants.

A total of 2.1m current and 0.5m retired public o� cials will be shareholders of the bank. The number of shares will be 4,000, the worth of which is Tk10 per share.

Earlier, National Pay and Services Com-mission (NPSC) recommended setting up of a bank for public servants.

NPSC Chairman Farashud-din Ahmed said the govern-ment welfare fund has a piece of land at Dainik Bangla in-tersection in the capital and selling 20-25 kathas of it could fetch Tk400 crore, enough for the capital of the new bank.

He added the bank would provide development and commercial loans possibly on single-digit interest rates.

The government is set to form two institutions -- a bank and a separate entity -- for

running the pension fund for public serv-ants, after the cabinet gave it the green light.

At present, there is no speci� c authority for doing the pension-related works of about 520,000 pensioners. In this backdrop, the Pay Commission recommended setting up a bank that would have all the serving and retired government employees as shareholders.

The bank will function as both a commer-cial and development bank. l

INSIDE

National Board of Revenue building in Dhaka DHAKA TRIBUNE

The directorate has taken up the initiative as VAT evasion by the manufacturing companies has become a common phenomenon in the country

Business16DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Stocks stay � at amid lacklustre trade n Tribune Report

Stocks closed � at yesterday, as activities on the stock markets remained lacklustre amidst the third quarter earnings announcement.

The volume was thin, down by over 8.6% over the previous day. Investors stood on the sidelines, unwilling to take fresh po-sitions.

After inching down in previous session, the Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index DSEX edged over 1 point higher to 4,649.

The Shariah index DSES rose marginally 3 points or 0.3% to 1,116. The blue chip com-prising index DS30 witnessed fractional fall of 0.4 points to 1,762.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX remained almost un-changed at 8,636, dropping fractionally 0.7 points.

A leading broker said the stocks closed marginally higher amid thin trade on cau-tious activity in the corporate earnings an-nouncement session.

Some, however, were concerned over the political situation remaining uncertain and stagnant private investment.

Almost all the sectors also witnessed � at movement. Power sector was the best per-former rising 0.7%. Food and allied came second, moving up 0.5%, followed by phar-maceuticals 0.2%.

Among negative performers, banks fell almost 1%, followed by non-banking � nan-cial institutions 0.4%. Telecommunication and cement continued to extend their losing streak.

The DSE total turnover stood at Tk330 crore, down 8.6% over the previous session’s value. The gainers outpaced losers as out of 315 issues traded, 140 advanced, 126 declined and 49 unchanged.

LankaBangla Securities said among the heavyweights, BATBC registered 17% growth year on year in Q3, 2015.

“Investors are eying on Q3 earnings of list-ed entities. This earning session will be the major catalyst for next market movement.”

Aman Feed topped the liquidity chart with a turnover worth Tk15 crore changing hands. It was followed by CVO Petrochemical, KDS Accessories, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Unit-ed Airways and Miracle Industries. l

Call for easing MFS guideline to include more unbanked people n Tribune Report

The government needs to ease Bangladesh Bank guideline for Mobile Financial Servic-es in order to create level playing � eld for stakeholders and take steps to ensure proper monitoring and regulatory reforms to � our-ish the sector, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

The speakers came up with the suggestion at a roundtable on “Mobile Financial Servic-es: the Right Delivery Perspective” organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and In-dustry (DCCI).

“Policy support is essential for attracting investment as well as protecting investment

until a rational time as service providers and banks already invested to develop the sys-tem for providing mobile � nancial services,” said DCCI President Hossain Khaled.

He said the initiative of Bangladesh Bank to amend the existing MFS guideline with a condition of multiple equity partnership with no single party having more than 15% stake may discourage many banks and others.

Access to � nancial services especially by the unbanked people is essential for promot-ing inclusive economic growth and improving standard of living, said the DCCI president.

“There should not have any restriction on ownership of mobile banking,” suggest-ed Ishtiaq Hussain Chowdhury, director of

Grameenphone.If the government wants to increase � nan-

cial inclusion, it should go for partnership as it is the key to the sector, he said, adding that banks and mobile operators are the best part-ner.

Sheikh Monirul Islam, chief external and corporate a� airs o� cers of bKash, urged the government to allow veri� cation of National Identity Card (NID) by operators to avoid fake registration of accounts and SIM (subscriber identity module).

Stressing proper monitoring and regula-tory reforms, the discussants called for crea-tion of level playing � eld for mobile � nancial services and supportive policy guidelines.

If all transactions come under mobile � -nancial services, it will re� ect the environ-ment of inclusive economy which will help alleviate poverty from the society, they said.

“The government is committed to provide facility for service providers to bring people of all sections into the activities of inclusive economy in Bangladesh, said MA Mannan, state minster, Ministry of Finance and Planning.

He said mobile � nancial services can play a vital role in creating an environment for in-clusive economy in the country. The govern-ment will support the entrepreneurs of this sector with proper policy guidelines, added the junior minister. l

Economists for good governance to facilitate developmentn Tribune Report

The economists have called upon the gov-ernment to establish good governance to at-tain sustainable economic growth.

It is not possible to ensure proper devel-opment without strengthening the country’s institutional capacity and good governance, eminent economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, advisor of a former caretaker government, told a discussion session at the second con-ference of Bangladesh Economists’ Forum (BEF) held at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in the capital on Saturday.

He identi� ed tax-GDP ratio and education as two major weak areas where the govern-ment should give more attention, and called for steps to make the government institu-tions more transparent and accountable.

In his address, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the Trans-Paci� c Partnership (TPP) agreement will not a� ect the export of RMG, as the participants of TPP have a very little share in Bangladesh’s exports except the USA.

He said: “Despite various limitations, we have achieved a lot more signi� cant progress

in many sectors than our neighboring coun-tries, including India and Pakistan.”

Bangladesh would achieve on average 7.4% GDP growth during the Seventh Five-Year Plan (SFYP) and reach its goal of becom-ing a middle-income country, he hoped.

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan attended the meeting as the special guest and Policy Research Institute Vice-Chairman Sadiq Ahmed was in the chair.

Earlier in the � rst session, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury inaugurated a collection of essays by leading economists in the country under the title Bangladesh Vision 2030: Frame-work for Economic Policy Making and Strategy Formulation in a Pluralistic Democracy.

In particular, the essays elaborated an inclusive and sustainable vision for Bangla-desh and identi� ed challenges that need me-ticulous attention for sustaining progress in the coming years.

Addressing the inaugural function, the speaker said Bangladesh is no more a bot-tomless basket, rather the country has be-come a model for many of the countries for its excellent performance both in the � led of economy and social sectors.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman stressed the need for strengthening the insti-tutional capacities of government institutions.

“Public institutions like monetary, � -nancial and capital market regulators have su� ered much from undue external in� u-ence denying them free hand in decisions on licencing, regulation and supervision of � nancial markets and institutions,” said the governor.

Mohiuddin Alamgir, one of the members of the BEF, discussed an array of issues high-lighted in the book, which was organised into four thematic parts: economic growth and macroeconomy; poverty reduction, inequal-ity and social protection; human develop-ment; and good governance and institutions.

Presenting a keynote paper on “Strength-ening Institutions to Accelerate Growth and Lower Poverty”, he emphasised the impor-tance of sound planning, regulatory manage-ment, and creating stable capacity to deliver mega-infrastructure.

Sadiq Ahmed concluded by enunciating the role of good governance and strong insti-tutions which are prerequisites to facilitate future development. l

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and others hold up copies of a book on Bangladesh Vision 2030 at the launching of the book yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business 17D

TMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

China cuts rates again as growth engine stallsn Reuters, Beijing

China’s central bank cut interest rates on Friday for the sixth time in less than a year, and it again lowered the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves in a bid to jump start growth in its stuttering economy.

Monetary policy easing in the world’s sec-ond-largest economy is at its most aggressive since the 2008/09 � nancial crisis, as growth looks set to slip to a 25-year-low this year of under 7%.

Yet underscoring China’s drive to deepen � nancial reforms, which many believe are necessary to invigorate the economy, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said it was freeing the interest rate market by scrapping a ceiling on deposit rates.

The change, which Beijing had promised to deliver for months, will in theory allow banks to price loans according to their risk, and remove a distortion to the price of credit that analysts say fuels wasteful investment in China.

China’s policy loosening came a day after the European Central Bank said it could give a bigger policy jolt to the economy as soon as December to � ght falling prices.

“We’ve got half the world’s central banks in easing mode,” said Joe Rundle, the head of trading at ETX Capital in London. “And we’ll probably see more easing from China to come.”

The PBOC said on its website that it was lowering the one-year benchmark bank lend-ing rate by 25 basis points to 4.35%, e� ective from Oct 24. The one-year benchmark depos-it rate was lowered by 25 basis points to 1.5%.

The reserve requirement ratio (RRR) was also cut by 50 basis points for all banks, tak-ing the ratio to 17.5% for the biggest lend-ers, while banks that lend to agricultural � rms and small companies received another 50-basis-point reduction to their RRR.

The late-evening moves come just ahead of a high-level meeting in Beijing starting on Monday where senior Chinese leaders will thrash out the country’s economic blue-print for the next � ve years.

Investors in Europe took cheer and shares soared, while the Chinese o� shore yuan fell against the U S dollar.

“In the next step, monetary policy ... will be kept not too loose or too tight to ensure stable economic growth,” the PBOC said in a separate question-and-answer session.

It added that China’s current muted con-sumer in� ation and falling market interest rates provided a window for the country to liberalize its deposit rates.

Sobering dataIt has been a tumultuous year for China’s economy.

A summer stock market plunge and shock

devaluation of the yuan in August roiled global markets and fanned fears of a hard landing, prompting Chinese leaders to take drastic measures to assure investors they have the economy under control.

Friday’s easing came minutes after Pre-mier Li Keqiang was quoted on state radio as saying that China will make “reasonable use” of rate and RRR cuts to keep its economy growing at a reasonable pace.

Senior Chinese leaders do not usually comment directly on the country’s rate or RRR adjustments.

The cuts came in the same week as sober-ing economic data for the third quarter that demonstrated the daunting challenges faced by the country’s leaders, not least in achiev-ing a growth target of around 7% set by the government.

Data released on Monday showed China’s economy grew 6.9% between July and Sep-tember from a year earlier, dipping below 7% for the � rst time since the global � nancial crisis.

With Chinese imports tumbling for the 11th straight month in September and pro-ducer prices stuck in de� ation for more than three years, some analysts say China’s poli-cymakers have their work cut out.

“We’re still waiting for clear evidence of an economic turnaround,” analysts at Capital Economics said in a note to clients.

“We are retaining our forecast that bench-mark rates and the reserve requirement ratio will both be cut once more before the end of the year, with a further move in both early in 2016.” l

A customer chooses products at a supermarket in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China REUTERS

‘In the next step, monetary policy ... will be kept not too loose or too tight to ensure stable economic growth’

China CB sees ‘very normal’ growth of 6-7% in next few yearsn Reuters, Beijing

China will be able to keep annual economic growth at around 6-7% over the next three to � ve years, a top People’s Bank of China (PBOC) policymaker said on Saturday, a day after the bank cut interest rates for the sixth time in less than a year.

The comments from Yi Gang, vice gover-nor of the People’s Bank of China, appeared to be aimed at reassuring investors this level of growth, China’s slowest pace in two dec-ades but still faster than other major econ-omies, is the Chinese economy’s “new nor-mal”.

“China’s future economic growth will still be relatively quick. Around seven, six-point-something. These will all be very normal,” he told a conference in Beijing.

As well as cutting interest rates on Friday, the PBOC lowered the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves.

Both moves were bids to jumpstart growth in China’s slowing economy, a drag on glob-al growth that has been of major concern in emerging markets and other leading econo-mies.

Monetary policy easing in the world’s sec-ond-largest economy is at its most aggressive since the 2008/09 � nancial crisis, as growth looks set to slip to a 25-year-low this year of under 7%.

Yi said China in the future would lower the reserve requirement ratio for banks, the amount of cash that major lenders need to keep on hand - at a “normal” pace.

“Our reserve requirement ratio is still at a relatively high level so there is still room to lower the RRR. In future, we will proceed to lower the RRR at a normal pace,” he said.

Yi said the PBOC planned to keep inter-est rates at a reasonable level to reduce the corporate debt burden, and noted that in-terest rate liberalisation does not mean that the central bank would reduce regulation of rates.

China will also continue to set benchmark lending and deposit rates for some time, he said, but these rates would not restrict mar-ket pricing. l

Musharraf made alternative ED of WBn Tribune Report

Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan has been appointed as the al-ternative executive director at the World Bank.

A press note in this regard was published by the Ministry of Public Administration yes-terday, which said Musharraf would take up his new responsibilities at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC, the US on November 1.

Musharraf was supposed to go on his pre-retirement leave on December 15, which has now been cancelled and he will be sta-tioned in Washington, DC for the next three years, the note said.

Musharraf is succeeding Mohammad Tareque, who was � nance secretary in the government in 2007-2012. l

Business18DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

CORPORATE NEWS

Bank Asia has recently opened an agent-banking outlet at Naya Bazar Akbar Hat of Sandwip Upazila. The bank’s DMD, Mohammed Roshangir inaugurated the outlet

Dutch-Bangla Bank has recently launched an online sanction screening system from Accuity. The bank’s chairperson, Sayem Ahmed inaugurated the system at a ceremony

Pubali Bank Limited and Instant Cash FZE, UAE have recently signed an agreement on money transfer with facility of Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). The bank’s managing director, Md Abdul Halim Chowd-hury was present as chief guest at the signing ceremony along with Sanjana Farid, country manager of Instant Cash

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently launched foreign remittance distribution services through Meghna Bank Limited for Placid NK Corporation-a global Exchange House under associate bank agreement with Jamuna Bank. Managing director of Jamuna Bank, Sha� qul Alam, managing director of Meghna Bank, Mohammed Nurul Amin and director & CFO of Placid NK Corporation, Mohammed H Rashid were present at the launching ceremony, among others

ECB to decide in Dec if economy needs bigger kickn Reuters, Frankfurt

The European Central Bank is studying new stimulus measures that could be unveiled as soon as December and is prepared to cut its deposit rate deeper into negative territory if needed to � ght falling prices, its president said last week.

Consumer prices in the 19-country euro zone slipped by 0.1% in September, prompt-ing calls for the ECB to expand or extend its 60 billion euros ($68bn ) a month of asset purchases. The programme was launched in March to help push in� ation back to the ECB’s target of just under 2%.

ECB chief Mario Draghi said falling in-� ation expectations, driven in part by low-er-than-expected demand for oil, have led the central bank to consider a wide variety of possible measures, including a deposit rate cut, to shore up in� ation.

“We are ready to act if needed ... and we are open to the full menu of monetary poli-cy,” Draghi said.

“The Governing Council has tasked the relevant committee to examine the pros and cons of various measures ... The attitude is not wait and see but work and assess.”

His comments knocked the euro almost 2 US cents lower, leaving it on track for its big-gest daily loss in two months, while Europe-an bonds and shares rallied.

Draghi said the ECB’s governing council, which includes the executive board and the heads of the bloc’s 19 central banks, would be in a better position to make a decision once it gets new in� ation forecasts from its sta� in December.

He highlighted a stronger euro, falling com-modity prices and a worsening of the economic conditions in emerging markets as the key risks that the ECB will monitor. A fading of the base e� ect from 2014’s oil price plunge may also have helped push in� ation higher by then.

“In this context, the degree of monetary policy accommodation will need to be re-ex-amined at our December monetary policy meeting,” he said.

Deposit rate cutAfter stating a year ago that no further cuts to the deposit rate -- already in negative territo-ry - were on the cards, Draghi said that was one of the instruments the governing council had discussed and may use.

“When expectations of in� ation become more and more negative, we have higher and higher real rates,” Draghi said.

“That’s one of the reasons why we con-sidered other non-standard policy measures, one of which was the negative rate of the de-posit facility.”

The ECB � rst pushed its deposit rate be-low zero in June 2014, e� ectively making banks pay to park funds overnight at the cen-tral bank. Two months later, it was trimmed to -0.2%, and Draghi said no additional rate cut was possible.

He dismissed suggestions that this turn-around might dent the ECB’s credibility in � nancial markets.

“The credibility of a central bank is meas-

ured by its ability to comply with its man-date, and to this extent any instrument could be potentially used,” Draghi said.

“Given the conditions prevailing a year ago, that was the statement. Today things have changed.”

QeBefore Thursday, � nancial analysts’ core view was that the ECB would intervene in December or January to extend or expand its quantitative easing scheme, while few ex-pected a deposit rate cut.

Draghi’s words strengthened those expec-tations but gave little away as to which tool the ECB was likely to choose.

“It was an open discussion on all the mon-etary policies,” Draghi said. “We have dis-cussed some other monetary policy instru-ments besides (a deposit rate cut).”

Analysts have warned that upping the pace of purchases may create a shortage of bonds down the line and that extending the scheme may require the ECB to change some of the rules of engagement to avoid hitting technical limits.

These issues, along with the ECB’s failure to revive the market for asset-backed securi-ties, have raised the prospect of an expansion in the range of assets that the ECB can buy to include corporate bonds or even equities.

But its direct involvement in private cor-porations could meet political and internal resistance. In a direct call to euro zone gov-ernments to add their weight to a still-tenta-tive recovery in the region, Draghi stressed that structural reforms and � scal measures to stimulate demand were also needed. l

The sculpture ‘Gravity and Growth’ by Italian artist Giuseppe Penone is displayed outside the new headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany REUTERS

News 19D

TMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Construction of Bhulta Flyover likely to start in December n Tribune Report

Construction of Bhulta � yover on the Dha-ka-Sylhet Highway is likely to begin in De-cember this year with a view to make journey towards the country’s northeastern districts hassle-free.

People have to face huge tra� c congestion at Bhulta point every day due to huge rush of tra� c on the highway.

The Road Transport and Highways Di-vision is going to sign a deal with the China Railway 24 Bureau Group Co Ltd-SPECTRA

Engineers Ltd-Mohiuddin Builders and Engi-neers Joint Venture (CR24B-Spectra-MBELJV) in this regard.

The construction cost of the 1.2-kilomitre long four-lane � yover is estimated at Tk240 crore.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told the Dhaka Tribune that the construction work of Bhulta Flyover would start in December and complete within December 2017.

O� cials at RTHD said the contract signing ceremony would be held at the Sonargoan ho-

tel in the capital. Bhulta point is about 25 kilometer away

from of the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway which reg-ularly experiences huge tra� c congestions as this point is used for the Dhaka-Sylhet High-way as well as Dhaka bypass.

Besides, the Bhulta point is the connecting point of the two highways_ Bhulta-Rupganj and Bhulta-Araihazar. As a result, the Dhaka or Sylhet-bound vehicles have to face huge congestions while crossing this point. Keep-ing this hazard in view, the RTHD has taken up project. l

10 killed in separate road accidents n Tribune Report

Four people were killed and three others in-jured in a road accident on the Tangail-My-mensingh road in Madhupur upazila, Tangail.

O� cer-in-Charge of Madhupur police station Sha� kul Islam said a Tangail-bound truck had hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw com-ing from opposite direction in Gangair area at about 6:30am leaving Jony, 20, Malek, 60, Khalek, 44, and an unidenti� ed man dead on the spot.

In Gazipur, a person was killed and four others injured in a head-on collision between a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a pick-up van at Sipir crossing under Sreepur upazila. The de-ceased is Sajeeb, 20, son of Firoz Mia of Sho-nab village.

Sub-inspector of Sreepur Model police sta-tion Rashedul Islam said: “An auto-rickshaw collided head-on with a pick-up van at Sipir crossing around 11am, leaving four people in-jured.”

He said: “Sajeeb died while he was being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. The others have been treat-ed in di� erent local clinics.”

In Hobiganj, three persons were killed and two others injured when a passenger bus hit a human haulier near Shaestaganj police sta-tion on Saturday, leaving Bulbul Miah died on the spot and four others injured.

The injured passengers were admitted to Habiganj Sadar Hospital and two of them suc-cumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

In Jhalkati, a day labourer died in a road ac-

cident near Biswasbari area, Rajapur upazila in the morning.

Locals said Abdul Awal had died on the spot after a motor cycle hit him around 10am.

In Sirajganj, a man was killed and four oth-ers were injured in a road accident at Nabo-gram village under Ullapara upazila of the district this morning.

The deceased was Ra� kul Islam Babul, 32, son of Shamsul Haque, a resident of Neur-gachha village of the upazila.

Police said the accident occurred when a bus collided head-on with a CNG- run au-to-rickshaw in the area, leaving one auto rickshaw passenger dead on the spot and four others injured. The injured were sent to Ul-lapara Upazila Health Complex.

A case was � led in this connection. l

Street children getting involved in crimes in Ctg n Anwar Hussain, Chittagong

Involvement of street children in di� erent criminal activities especially in stealing has increased in an alarming rate.

According to sources, most street children aged between seven and 16 years are doing di� erent types of crimes.

The police on Saturday night busted an organised gang comprising of street children who are engaged in stealing of valuables from houses in the port city. The police unearthed the lifting syndicate after arresting two chil-dren from a slum located in Shantinagar area, Bakalia police station in Chittagong city.

The children are Nayan, 10, and Jamal, 16. Jamal and Noyon along with other four

members of the gang stole valuables, includ-ing cash money and ornaments, from the house of a policeman in Rasulbagh residen-tial area, Bakalia police station on October 21, said O� cer-in-Charge of Bakalia police sta-tion Md Mohsin.

A case was lodged with Bakalia police sta-tion in connection.

According to their statement, police arrest-ed a woman to whom the boys sell stolen val-uables. The arrested woman was identi� ed as Nasima Begum, 30.

“The boys roam around streets posing as searcher of junk items. Getting opportuni-ty the enter houses and steal valuables from there,” said the OC quoting the boys.

The OC also said they had information that about six gangs of street children were en-gaged in stealing in the city.

He said they were caring out drives to stop activities of the boys.

“People caught the duo a few months back while they were stealing valuables from a house in Jamalkhan area.”

Apart from this, many of the street chil-dren are getting addicted to various forms of drugs. l

Three pharmacies � ned in Ctg n Tribune Report

A mobile court of Chittagong District Admin-istration yesterdat � ned three pharmacies and seized a huge quantities of food supple-ments and physicians’ samples from city’s Chawkbazar area.

Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Dis-trict Administration Mohammad Ruhul Amin led the mobile court in Chatteshwari Road area of Chawkbazar and � ned Jannat Phar-macy, Raju Medicine and Linnas Pharmacy a total of TK30,000 for selling unauthorized medicines, food supplements and physicians’ samples.

The mobile court also seized huge quan-tities of food supplements and physicians’ samples worth about Tk1.5 lakh during the drive.

The executive magistrate said the phar-macies were selling unapproved medicines, illegal food supplements and medicines used as physicians’ samples, which is legally pun-ishable.

The pharmacies were � ned under Drug Act 1940, the executive magistrate added. l

Truckers block the Doyaganj-Tikatuli road in Old Dhaka yesterday protesting extortion by police. The blockade created a huge tailback on the both sides of the road causing su� ering for commuters DHAKA TRIBUNE

News20DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Thousands of people of di� erent ages from several areas of Gopalganj gather on the bank of the Ghgor River to enjoy the boat race held on Friday on the occasion of Durga Puja DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juba League activist hacked to death in Noakhalin Tribune Report

An activist of District Juba league was hacked to death in Chayani-Tagba area under Chatkh-il Municipality yesterday morning.

The deceased was identi� ed as Tarek Hos-sain Swapan, 25, son of Siddiq Ullah of Jama-der Bari under the same area.

“Tarek was sleeping in his room at about 11 am,” o� cer-in-charge of Chatkhil Police Sta-tion Md Nasim Uddin said, adding that Robin and his associates numbering four to � ve en-tered the room and chopped Tarek indiscrim-

inately, leaving him seriously injured. Hearing the screams of Tarek, the inmates

of the house rushed to the spot and took him to Chatkhil Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.

Being informed, police recovered the body and sent it to Noakhali 250-bed hospital for autopsy.

Siddiq Ullah, father of the victim, � led a case accusing Robin and his � ve associates.

Md Tarek, convener of the District Ju-bo-league, con� rmed that Tarek Hossain Swapan was an active activist of their party. l

Illegal sand lifting goes unabated, govt loses revenuen Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

At least 21 sand banks under � ve upazilas are illegally operating under the surveillance of Khagracchari district administration, disrupt-ing collection of revenue and leading roads to collapse.

According to locals, there are 26 sand banks in � ve hilly upazilas of the district of which eight are in Manikchhari, seven in Matiranga, six in Ramgarh, four in Khagrac-chari sadar and one in Panchhari upazila.

The district administration has given four sand banks on lease in Manikchhari and one in Khagrachhari sadar in � scal year 2015-16. In� uential locals including Awami League and BNP men are lifting sand from rest of the 21 sand banks illegally, they said.

Rahomot Ali, a villager of Gachchabil under Manikchhari upazila said AL leaders – Abul Kalam, Joynal Abedin, Labray Aung Marma

and Chatradal leader Masum – have been ille-gally lifting sand from Gachchhabil, Dashbil, Barobil, Tulabil, Pannabil, Chenguchhara and Joggochola areas without taking lease.

Every day, more than 100 trucks of sands are sent to adjacent districts of Chittagong and Feni. Many roads have already broken while many houses are on the verge of col-lapse.

“We have submitted complaints to the Upazila Nirbahi O� cer, who several times had conducted mobile court dives and re-alised � ne. However, after a day or two, the scenario gets back to square one,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Anwar Hossain, a villager of Khedachhara under Matiranga upazila claimed that local AL leaders Shamsul Hoque and Rohomot Ali, and associates of BNP leader Tazul Islam were lifting sand illegally from Khedachhara, Gumti, Belchhari, Dalu, Hatiyapara and Bail-

lachhari areas every day. None of them have taken lease, moreover the administration never took any action against them.

Nurul Alam, an AL leader of Ganjapara under Khagracchari sadar upazila, said BNP leader Joynal Abedin had been lifting sand from at least eight points in the district. He had been given lease of only one.

“Many houses, mosques have been ma-rooned by river bank erosion due to the illegal sand lifting,” he alleged.

Mohammad Saju, a local journalist of Panchhari upazila said Awami League and BNP men along with employees of regional UPDF-JSS are lifting sand from Logung bank illegally. But no action had been taken by the adminis-tration even despite receiving complaints.

Khagrachhari Paribesh Andolan Forum President Mohammad Robiul Islam alleged that 21 out of the 26 sand banks were operat-ing illegally.

“Government earned Tk25 lakh by giving � ve sand banks on lease, which indicates that the government had lost revenue of Tk1 crore from rest of the 21 sand banks,” he said.

Acting deputy commissioner Molla Mu-hammad Mizanur Rahman said: “Some for-malities need to be done before declaring any spot as a sand bank. Maintaining all the criteria, we have already declared 12 spots as sand banks and � ve of them had been given on lease while rest of the seven are under pro-cess to be given on lease.”

“We have already investigated the other 14 spots through our UNOs. If criterias are met, we would announce those as sand banks by the next � scal year,” he added.

Admitting about the illegal sand lifting at Ramgarh, Manikchhari, and Matiranga, he said executive magistrate had conducted drives and � ned over Tk2 lakh. Such drives would continue in future. l

Housewife killed for dowry, 3 heldn Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

Police arrested three people yesterday in Sa-dar upazila for killing a housewife on Satur-day for dowry.

Sources said Runa Khatun, daughter of Wahid Sheikh of Bijoypur village had been married o� with Syful Islam of Laupala village under Sadar upazila three years back.

After the marriage, Syful and his family members started torture to Runa for dowry.

The father of Runa said Syful had been giv-en Tk2 lakh as dowry after the marriage. But family members of Syful used to torture her more money. Village arbitrators held meeting several times over the incident, he said.

On the day, Syful and his family members tortured Runa, leaving her dead on the spot as she failed to bring the money demanded by them, said the victim’s father.

Mahbubur Rahman, o� cer-in-charge of Bagerhat Model police station, said Syful’s parents Abdus Salam, Taru Begum and his sis-ter Lucky Akter were arrested in connection with the murder. Syful went into hiding after the incident, the OC said. l

Jamaat ameer heldn Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Police yesterday in a drive held a local ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in connection with arson attack on February 6 in Sadar upazila. The ar-rested was Dr Abdur Rahim,55, owner of Ra-bea Clinic and ameer of Jamaat in the district.

Mehedi Hasan, o� cer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said on a tip-o� , the police raided the house of Rahim at Terminal Road and arrested him.

According to sources, during a non-stop nationwide blockade since January 5 of 20-party alliance, a Dhaka-bound bus of Nipu Paribahan, carrying around 40 people, came under arson attack in Gaibandha around 9pm on February 6, leaving eight persons burnt alive. Later, the police � led a case over the at-tack with Gaibandha Sadar police station.

Rahim was an accused of the case, the OC said. 25 people were arrested in this connec-tion, the police said. l

One to die for killing wifen Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

A court in the district yesterday sentenced a man to death for killing his wife in 2014.

The convict was Shahidul Islam Prokash Shahidullah,27, son of Shamsul Alam of Mat-barpara village under Kutubdia upazila.

According to prosecution, Shahidullah had been living with his wife Esteza Begum,19, at a rented house in Pekua area.

On August 25, 2014, he beat up Esteza leav-ing her dead as she was gossiping with a per-son named Sujangir.

Shahidullah was also an employee of a bakery owned by Sujangir.

On information, police recovered the body and it to hospital morgue. l

Education 21D

T

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

SECTION: WRITING

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that teaching children at

home is best for a child’s development while

others think that it is important for children to

go to school.

Discuss the advantages of both methods

and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include

any relevant examples from your own

knowledge or experience.

Surviving mathematics

IELTS

Practice with us every week and be on top of your game.

test practice

Here’s a sample of the IELTS General Training Writing.

Read the instructions for each task carefully.

Write at least 250 words.

You have 40 minutes.

Venue: Bashundhara, Baridhara

Test date: November 7Module type: IELTS Academic Registration deadline: October 28

Test date: November 7Module type: IELTS General TrainingRegistration deadline: October 28

Test date: November 14Module type: IELTS Academic Registration deadline: November 2

Test date: November 21Module type: IELTS General TrainingRegistration deadline: November 9

Venue: Banani

Test date: November 14Module type: IELTS Academic Registration deadline: November 2

Test date: November 21Module type: IELTS Academic Registration deadline: November 9

Test date: November 21Module type: IELTS General TrainingRegistration deadline: November 9

Test date: December 5Module type: IELTS General TrainingRegistration deadline: November 23

Venue: Dhanmondi

Test date: November 21Module type: IELTS General Training Registration deadline: November 9

Test date: December 5Module type: IELTS Academic Registration deadline: November 23

Test date: December 5Module type: IELTS General Training Registration deadline: November 23

Test date: December 12Module type: IELTS General Training Registration deadline: November 30

IELTSdates and locations

nRafi d Ahnaf

Most of us have this indiscernible fear of mathematics. However, this is one of the few subjects where

one can score full marks very easily. Here is how.

Firstly, when you have taken the deci-sion to study for your test, start practising as early as possible. Revising earlier has proven to bring better results, and this is not only the case for mathematics. It is wise to read your texts, and class notes thoroughly. Before you put your pen on the paper, understand your mathematics topic. Once you get a good grip over the course content, start practising the exam-ple problems. While you’re revising, you may not be able to recall everything. It’s fine. Do not get a nervous breakdown. See your class notes for ref-erence, see how you have solved a particular problem in class. If going through the class notes does not ring a bell, then try solving it yourself.

Remember, if there are some chapters you find complicated, revise them first. Don’t keep the harder ones for the last. A good idea is to start with the chapters covered during the end of your term, since the last few chapters are usually more challenging. Refrain from memorising formulas, no matter how tempting it sounds. It is advisable to clear-ly understand how a formula is derived,

and how it is used and then memorise it. This way you wouldn’t have to spend time thinking too much, if your teacher tweaks the math problem a bit. Prepare well for the toughest questions. Moreover, you can also arrange a mock test for yourself by changing the values a little. It is perfectly okay if you make a few mistakes but try to learn from them.

Timing is crucial. It is ideal not to waste time solving easier problems. Spending more time on difficult problems will train you to think more critically. Your exam tests how good you are at using your logic. If you find difficulty in understanding a topic, you can go to your teacher and if that option is not available, one

of the best ways to re-vise is to study in a group. You might want to give this a try.

It’s okay if you are not too sure about your calculus. But make sure that you have a good understanding of all the other top-ics. The night before your exam, you can skim through your class notes and books and go through the problems that you’ve solved. You may also write down all your formulas without seeing, and try to solve a

few problems just to get your brain ready for the big day tomorrow. It may work for a few people but, it is not ideal to pull an all-nighter the day before the exam.

Make sure you have all the stationery with you, and your calculators work fine. Have a good breakfast and reach your exam hall on time.

While you are seated, you may be tempted to skim through your notes and copies just like your peers are doing. But know this, whatever you have studied is enough, and these last few minutes of frantic page turning will lead you nowhere. Instead you will feel more nervous. Just sit and relax. When your paper is handed

to you, be calm, take a deep breath and start. You should spend at least 10 minutes browsing through the questions. See which questions are the most easy to answer, mark them. Try and chalk out a mental map for

solving each problem. Brain storming is very crucial for math exams, which many fail to realise. Once you are done skimming, start your paper. Time management is also part of your test. Attempt the easier questions first and give most time for solving difficult problems afterwards. Make sure you have at least a few minutes spared for revision.

Before handing in your Paper, make sure you have answered all the required questions, and that your writing is neat and legible. l

News22DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 201522D

T

Muzaffar U Siddique, founder chairman, BOT, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) presenting a crest to Sophie Aubert, ambassador of France at the BUFT auditorium on October 21. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), ex-president

of BGMEA, senior vice-president of FBCCI and member, BOT, BUFT; Faruque Hassan, senior vice-president of BGMEA and member, BOT of BUFT; Prof Dr Syed Masud Hussain, vice-chancellor of BUFT were present at the event. l

French ambassador visits BUFT

A reception programme for GPA 5 recipi-ents of HSC 2015 organised by the admis-sion and public relations office of Eastern University (EU) was held on October 20 at the EU premise. AKM Mozammel Huq, Minister of Liberation War Affairs, Bangla-desh was present as the chief guest at the programme. Abul Khair Chowdhury, chair-man, BOT, EU was present as the guest of honour. The programme was chaired by the vice-chancellor of Eastern University, Prof Dr Abdur Rab while Shakir Amin Chow-dhury, deputy managing director, Dhaka Bank Limited; Fariduddin Al Mahmud, deputy managing director, IFIC Bank Limit-ed were present as special guests. Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, pro-vice chan-cellor of EU, delivered the welcome speech.

In his speech the chief guest said that today’s children are our future. Hence, they need to be nurtured properly. In order to materialise the vision of Bangladesh, these children and the future generations are the key. He also hoped that the advance-

ment of the universities and today’s youth will take Bangladesh to the doorsteps of implementing a “Digital Bangladesh” as envisioned by the present government.

Prof Dr Abdur Rab said that education is the key to development and no nation can ascend to the pinnacle of development without being properly educated. He also mentioned that EU has been taking part in the nation building process by imparting quality higher education to its students since its inception. l

Eastern University holds reception of top grade recipients of HSC 2015

Lawmaker RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chow-dhury is set to attend a programme on diaspora and development in the Nether-lands on October 31.

He will be attending the 10-year com-memorative programme of BASUG, styled “Diaspora and Development: The Case of Bangladesh” at the Bel Air Hotel in the Hague as the chief guest.

BASUG works on a number of issues including remittance, development, in-vestment and entrepreneurship, gender, diaspora engagement in development of Bangladesh and South Asia, ready-made garments, migrants’ rights and for participation of overseas Bangladeshis in development of Bangladesh.

The programme will also be attended by senior officials of the Dutch foreign ministry, and Bangladeshi embassy representatives from Rome, the Network University of Amsterdam, Oxfam Novib Netherlands, African civil society organ-isations, members of Bangladeshi com-munity in the Netherlands and European

countries and other stakeholders.The day-long programme will be

rounded off by a brief cultural afternoon with Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan perfor-mances. l

Obaidul Muktadir to attend programme on diaspora in Netherlands

Following a major global health mile-stone last month, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka urges the Bangladeshi community to join them alongside Rotary in the global fight to eradicate polio by participating in their social media awareness campaign in recognition of World Polio Day on October 24. Bangladesh is one of the 11 South Asian countries declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the last case of wild polio-virus transmission recorded in August 2000.

This comes at an important time in the fight to eradicate polio, which would be only the second human disease to be eradicated, after smallpox. In September, the WHO declared Africa’s last polio-en-demic country, Nigeria, polio-free,

leaving only Pakistan and Afghanistan to have not attempted in stopping the virus. In 1988, when Rotary and its partners committed to eradicating the disease, polio paralysed more than 350,000 children per year in 125 countries, more than 1,000 per day. Since that time, the number of polio cas-es has been reduced almost completely, with less than 50 cases in two countries to date in 2015. l

Apollo Hospitals Dhaka urges community to end polio

Pizza Hut now introduces all new flatbread hand stretched pizza, which is available in four different flavours including simple vegetable, beef bbq, chicken sausage and spicy chicken. These six inch by nine inch pizzas are sold at a price of Tk250 each. Pizza Hut combines innovation with great value with this offer and hope to uphold and deliver on their commitment to valued customers.

Transcom Foods Ltd launched the flat-bread hand stretched pizzas on October 20 at Pizza Hut RM Centre outlet on Gulshan avenue (above Agora). To commemorate the ceremony, Akku Chowdhury, managing director and CEO of Transcom Foods Ltd was joined by renowned celebrities like Sharmin Lucky, Topu, Bonnya Mirza and Munmun. l

Flatbread hand stretched pizza launched at Pizza Hut

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

One question, why?Runa Khan gives an insight on Global Dignity Day, and its importance in Bangladesh

nRad Sharar Bin Kamal

Global Dignity Day, which was observed on October 21, is the brainchild of three friends: Prince Haakon, Pekka Himanen and John

Hope Bryant. An autonomous, non-pro� t, non-criticism and non-partisan group is an initiative, which commenced on the belief that “every human being has a right to lead a digni� ed life,” and that everyone has a common responsibility, and opportunity to strengthen the dignity of others.

The cause was based on a simple truth. People can live in poverty. However, some requirements must always be full� lled. When one adds in the presence of work, the existence of aims for the betterment of their family and children, a few square meals to live by and a pinch of happiness and joy, these requisites will essentially enable a person to live for a reason, of course taking into consideration the basic needs. But when put in an environment where their self-respect is lost, their hope is taken away and subsequently, their dignity is snatched, they truly have no motivation to exist.

Poverty is taken as a serious issue in every economy, but aid may only create a certain level of impact on their lives. In the scenario where conscious, hope and dignity are absent and not nurtured, human beings have nothing much to live for. It is in fact

this principle through which Friendship, an organisation founded by Runa Khan in 2002 to serve the marginalised and isolated communities of Bangladesh, operates.

“Never take more away from a person than what you’re giving them. When you grant a bag of rice to the poor in a manner, which is rude and disrespectful, you take away their dignity. And when you take that away, you leave them worse than how they were in the � rst place.”

The operations in Bangladesh began through engaging the youth primarily, though keeping in mind that the issue well exceeds the realms of adolescence. The dignity day sessions, carried out on the third Wednesday of each year, were aimed at bringing consciousness of this important dialogue to youths around the world. Last year, Bangladesh was one of 60 countries around the world to take part in this event, and this dialogue was implemented in 78 Friendship schools, 21 government schools and Scholastica in Dhaka.

 This year, the approach was more widespread. To prepare for it, facilitators from the schools joined in on a training session at the Friendship o� ce on October 17, where Runa Khan trained them personally to increase individual impact through their actions. The process continued

as they returned to their respective institutions the next day and conducted sessions with the students. Following the sessions, the facilitators/teachers were requested to choose stories of dignity to share from the students themselves.

 A closing session will be held today at the Krishibid Institution where the Education Minister might be present as the chief guest. The heads of the organisation, the facilitators, and the selected students and their parents would be able to join this session as well.

This year, over 65 countries and 400,000 students participated in Global Dignity Day activities on October 21. l

Photo: Courtesy

“What is that single factor, which assures human sustainability?

Conscience, hope, self-respect, empathy, compassion, humility; all true, yes. All under one bracket, one word, it would indeed be, dignity.”

Runa Khan, founder and executive director of Friendship, also the chair of dignity of Bangladesh, as appointed by HRH Crown Prince of Haakon of Norway

Health24DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Putting me � rstThree ways to learn to love yourself

nAnika Rabbani

Non-attachmentI notice in my yoga practice and also in that of my students’ – that when there is pain (and there is plenty of pain in Ashtanga yoga) we tend to give up easily and look for something else. Consequently, where we � nd pleasure, we become attached to it. Like a pendulum; these two attributes hold us prisoner in a pattern of which we cannot break free.

Yoga advocates the notion of equanimity – the ability to not take sides or di� erentiate. This practice makes it easier for us to approach pain or pleasure much more objectively. To reach inner peace, yoga advocates becoming a passive observer to the storms and the calms that life may bring. The wisdom of yoga teaches us to cultivate a great deal of moderation, acceptance and patience.

Be your ownsuperheroWe have set unrealistically high standards for ourselves in today’s capitalist world. We need to do several things to be classi� ed as successful or smart. Look a certain way, be a certain amount of charming, outgoing, and fashionable. We have to have the ability to multitask, outdo our neighbour, and look like a model too, like we are superheroes.

(Only so that when we fail – we can feel like losers).

How many of you are true to your original self? I’m talking about the child you once used to be. And how many of you have lived to be your childhood’s dream self – an artist, a gardener or a nurse? We live our lives sometimes worrying about the next paycheck or expensive holiday so much that in our desire to achieve that, we neglect ourselves.

Self-love is a topic close to my own heart. For years I have stru� led to understand and accept myself for who I am. At � rst of course I blamed my parents, then my teachers, then my friends and so on. Then I realised there was no one left to blame and it was all up to me to be that superhero and pick myself up

o� the rotting � oor of self-deprecation.

When people come to my class and berate themselves for something they cannot do – even if it is their � rst class – I tell them to think about all the things they can do instead. We can be such harsh critics of ourselves and never stop to give ourselves the time to fail a few times, so that we can eventually succeed.

Unconditional loveLearn to accept yourself just the way you are, warts and all. Each time you pass by a re� ection of yourself in the mirror, look deep into your own eyes and say “I love you.” Make it a daily practice.

Learn to connect with the child you once were and support him or her with words of a� ection and love. If you are tired, take a break and nap. Feed yourself with foods that give you nourishment and will support your health. Look after yourself as though you are an infant, speak to yourself lovingly and give yourself hugs. No, it is not silly to do this.

Keep this up for a few weeks and you will notice that life is changing. People start to be attracted to the light in you and they will re� ect it in their behaviour towards you. If there is someone you severely dislike – send them thoughts of love instead. They will soon start to reciprocate.

Forgive yourself when you make a mistake and free your own heart by learning to forgive others. Do not seek approval from others and do not try to go out of your way to please anyone. Stop desiring “likes” on Facebook. Stop criticising yourself and others. Learn to either change things that you don’t like or accept them if you cannot.

Be kind and generous – especially to your own self. Set healthy boundaries for the way you allow others to treat you. Take responsibility for your own life and happiness. Laugh out loud. Smile at perfect strangers. Learn to be true to yourself and to love yourself as best as you can. Give thanks to life for every small miracle it brings your way and watch as many more start to appear.

The divine light in me bows down to the divine light in you.

Here’s looking at you kid. l

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence,it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”- Audre Lorde

Anika Rabbani is a certi� ed yoga instructor who teaches at Studio107, Gulshan 2. Drop her a line at anika.rabbani@gmail.com or � nd her on Facebook “Anika’s Yoga” or twitter @yoganika

Illustration: Niloufer Abdullah/1964

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Three tons power Proteas to series winQuinton de Kock, Faf de Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India’s bowling attack to post 438-4 and win the deciding one-day international by 214 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. With the � ve-match series tied at 2-2, de Villiers won the toss and opted to bat in hot and humid conditions. PAGE 26

Runs galore as Barisal close in on winHundreds from Tariq Ahmed, Naeem Islam and Dhiman Ghosh helped holders Rangpur to a mammoth 463-allout in their � rst innings of the Walton 17th National Cricket League’s � fth-round tie yesterday. Asked to bat � rst, Rangpur made merry of the Dhaka bowlers as opening batsman Tariq scored 102 o� 183 balls. PAGE 27

Mir, Source through to second roundMatchday 3 in the 2nd Mir Corporate Foot-ball Fiesta, powered by Sailor, kicked o� with the exciting game between Madchef and Magnito Digital. Ariq of Magnito en-sured their control in the game with two � rst-half goals before Madchef’s Shakil stole the limelight. PAGE 28

Pakistan press for win after Younis tonPakistan grabbed three wickets including the key scalp of Alastair Cook to sense victory in the second Test against England after Younis Khan smashed a century in Dubai yesterday. Pakistan will need another seven wickets to force a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The � rst Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi. PAGE 29

I hope Bangladesh fans will support me, says Amir

How does it feel to be a part of an international T20 league like the BPL, given that you have just returned to cricket?I am thankful to the Almighty that I have been able to return to the game. This is my � rst opportunity in that I will be playing in an international league. I did not play in any league, even when I played for the Pa-kistan team. The opportunity is very big for me to be honest. I am making a comeback through an international league and through a well-organised league. I will try my best to use this opportunity and perform for my franchise Chittagong Vikings. I am thankful to Chittagong Viking chairman Abdul Wahed bhai for signing me. I am hoping for the best.

Did you follow the previous seasons of BPL?Yes I did. I have seen many players perform. The matches were very competitive. Many players have made comebacks to their re-spective national sides after performing in the BPL. Even Bangladesh cricket has ben-e� ted from this tournament as I have seen the positive change in the Bangladesh team right after the � rst season of BPL.

What was your first reaction when you were contracted with Chittagong Vikings? Were you elated?Yes, I was very happy. Like I have already said, BPL is an international league and all the big stars of the cricket world participate here. So this is a very big opportunity for me. From what I have heard, the matches there are very exciting. Any player will want to be a part of this tournament and display his talent. So yes, I am a happy man.

People are placing high expectations upon you due to your recent impressive performances in domestic cricket back in Pakistan. What are your thoughts on that?It’s a natural thing. When a player is perform-ing, expectations go high on that player. The team looks forward to the player to perform and win matches for them. But as players, it is our job to deliver the best. As a Muslim, I believe the result depends on the Almighty but I will try to contribute in the best way possible as an overseas player and make sure the team is bene� ted with good results.

People are eager to see you in action in Bangladesh. Are you excited about it?Yes, I have the support and love of the peo-ple, both in Pakistan and I think also in Bangladesh. Cricket is loved in the sub-con-

tinent and so are the cricketers. I am happy for that. My franchise (Chittagong Vikings) is supporting me a lot and are excited. But the excitement will double when the team performs. You only enjoy such attention when your team is performing.

Have you set any goals in BPL 3?To be honest, I never set any goal. I plan ac-cording to the game situation and go match by match. I set targets according to matches and as per the demand of the team strategy. When you work according to the team plan I think your own goal is achieved.

Do you think your journey will be tough in the upcoming days, given your bitter experiences of the past? Are you getting the required support?Yes, it is tough when you return to the game after � ve years and play an international league. But as a professional it is my duty to adjust according to the condition. And as far as support is concerned, I have always been backed by my family and the fans. Especial-ly, I want to mention the names of former cricketers like Wasim [Akram] bhai, Shoaib

Akhter, Michael Atherton and Michael Hold-ing; they have all supported me a lot. I am also thankful to the support provided by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and the ICC (International Cricket Council). I will try my level best to live upto their expectations.

What kept you motivated during your tough times?My legal team - Sajida Malik and Gareth Pearce. And there was Mike Atherton who supported me when I was in England. And at the end of the day, when you know you have the support of your family and you have good friends around to hold you up, you get the boost. I had the con� dence and now I have been given the chance by the Al-mighty. I will look to prove myself.

Any message to your fans in Bangladesh?As I have mentioned before, I am thankful to my franchise Chittagong Kings for the way they are supporting me. The Bangladesh fans have supported me before and hope they will keep backing me. I am coming to their country so I hope they will be there to support me. l

Pakistan left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir created a stir when he made his international bow against England in 2009. In no time, the 23-year old established his place in the side with his wide range of seam bowling and variations.

The youngest bowler to take 50 Test wickets, Amir however, lost the plot thereafter as he got involved in a spot-� x-ing scandal. After serving the mandatory suspension and the subsequent � ve-year ban, Amir is back in the sport he

dearly loves and was picked up by Chittagong Vikings ahead of the upcoming third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20. The Punjab youngster talked with Minhaz Uddin Khan of Dhaka Tribune yesterday and during

the course of the exclusive interview, touched on a various number of topics, including his much-awaited return to competitive action. Here are the excerpts:

Sport26DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

BRIEF SCORESSouth Africa: 438 for 4 in 50 overs (du Plessis 133, de Villiers 119, de Kock 109) India: 224 all out in 36 overs (Rahane 87, Dhawan 60; Rabada 4-41)

South Africa won by 214 runs, win series 3-2

Three tons power Proteas to series winn Reuters, Mumbai

Quinton de Kock, Faf de Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India’s bowling attack to post 438-4 and win the deciding one-day international by 214 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.

With the � ve-match series tied at 2-2, de Villiers won the toss and opted to bat in hot and humid conditions and could not have been a happier man at the close of their in-nings as his team matched their second high-est score in the 50-over format.

A 58-ball 87 from local boy Ajinkya Ra-hane and a 60 from out-of-form opener Shi-khar Dhawan brought some cheer for the crowd but it was never going to be enough for the hosts, who folded for 224 inside 36 overs.

Kagiso Rabada took four wickets while pace colleague Dale Steyn took three for the touring side to complete a 3-2 series win, their � rst in ODIs in India.

It was only the second time that a team had scored three centuries in an ODI innings after South Africa did it against West Indies in January this year on their way to their highest total of 439 for two.

De Kock (109) continued to make merry against the Indian bowlers, scoring his � fth century in nine innings against the oppo-nents after South Africa had lost Hashim Amla (23) early. The left-hander hit 17 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI hun-dred and laid the perfect platform for de Villi-

ers’s onslaught with a 154-run stand with du Plessis (133 retired hurt).

India compounded their misery by drop-ping catches and du Plessis made the most of his good fortune to score his � rst century against India and his � fth overall after being put down twice, on 45 and 85. l

438 South Africa’s total, the joint third-highest total in ODIs.

6 Number of times South Africa have gone past 400 in ODIs; it’s the most

instances by any team.

2 Instances of three batsmen scoring hundreds in an ODI. The only previous

instance was also by South Africa, against West Indies in January 2015.

106 Runs conceded by Bhuvnesh-war Kumar, the second-highest

in an ODI, after Mick Lewis’ 113, also against South Africa, in that game in Johannesburg in 2006.

20 Sixes in the South African innings, the second-highest ever in an ODI.

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United’s Ander Herrera in action during their Premier League match at Old Tra� ord yesterday REUTERS

City return to top after dull derby draw, Kane hits treblen Reuters

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League by drawing 0-0 away to Man-chester United in a disappointing local derby yesterday.

They have 22 points, the same as Arsenal, but a better goal di� erence.

United stay fourth, two points behind, with West Ham United also above them. They came closest to a goal when substitute Jesse Lingard hit the bar six minutes from the end.

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick for Totten-ham Hotspur, who moved into the top six of the Premier League with a resounding 5-1 vic-tory away to Bournemouth in the � rst league meeting between the clubs on Sunday.

In the other match of the day, Sunderland registered their � rst Premier League win of the season by beating local rivals Newcastle United 3-0 at home to move o� the bottom of the table.

Earlier on Saturday, bitter rivals Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho had wildly con-trasting afternoons on Saturday as Arsenal went top of the Premier League and cham-pions Chelsea lost again with their manager being sent o� .

Wenger, once dubbed “a specialist in fail-ure” by the Chelsea boss, punched the air in delight after Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 at a rain-lashed Emirates Stadium.

Mourinho, however, failed to show up at his post-match news conference after the Stamford Bridge club slumped to sixth from bottom following a 2-1 defeat at London ri-vals West Ham United. l

EPL RESULTSBournemouth 1-5 TottenhamRitchie 1 Kane 9-P, 56, 63, Dembele 17, Lamela 30

Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City

Sunderland 3-0 NewcastleJohnson 45-P, Jones 65, Fletcher 86

On SaturdayArsenal 2-1 EvertonGiroud 36, Koscielny 38 Barkley 44

Aston Villa 1-2 SwanseaJ. Ayew 62 Sigurdsson 68, A. Ayew 87

Leicester 1-0 Crystal PalaceVardy 59

Norwich 0-1 West Brom Rondon 46

Stoke 0-2 Watford Deeney 43, Abdi 69

West Ham 2-1 ChelseaZarate 17, Carroll 79 Cahill 56

Sport 27D

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Tigers quintet to return home from SANational cricketers Jubair Hossain, Liton Kumar Das, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman, who are now in South Africa with the Bangladesh A team, will to the capital city this Friday as the quintet are expected to join the preparation camp for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe, scheduled for next month. Naeem Islam, along with Tasamul Haque, Nurul Hasan, Dewan Sabbir and Muktar Ali will join the second-string Bangladesh side as replacements, informed a member of the national selection panel yesterday. “We picked Naeem to strengthen our batting department and as he is a senior cricketer, we expect him to take up the responsibility. Our batting has not been upto the mark and we lacked someone who could play the role of the anchor,” said Minhajul Abedin. Bangladesh A lost their open-ing one-dayer and three-dayer, both against South African side Irene Villagers Club.

–MAZHAR UDDIN

Siddikur � nishes 18th in Hong KongBangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman concluded his Hong Kong Open campaign at 18th position, tied alongside � ve others, at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling yesterday. Siddikur carded one-under-par 69 to take his overall tally to seven-under-par 273, 10 shots behind champion Justin Rose of England. The 30-year old Bangladesh golfer struck three birdies and two bogeys in the fourth and � nal round yesterday and pocketed $23,733 courtesy his 18th-place � nish.

–TRIBUNE DESK

Bangladesh A lose by 131 runsBangladesh A su� ered a shocking 131-run defeat at the hands of Irene Villagers Club in Pretoria last Monday in what was the visitors’ sole three-day match in South Africa. The sec-ond-string Bangladesh side will now turn their attention to their second and penultimate one-day game, against Irene, which takes place tomorrow at the same venue.

–TRIBUNE DESK

Halep races to victory, Sharapova wins marathonRomania’s Simona Halep kicked o� her campaign for a maiden WTA Finals title in emphatic fashion with a thumping 6-0 6-3 victory over U.S. Open champion Flavia Pen-netta in the � rst match of the eight-woman season-ending tournament yesterday.

–REUTERS

Sherwood axed by struggling VillaTim Sherwood was sacked as Aston Villa manager yesterday less than 24 hours after a defeat against Swansea that left his side languishing in the Premier League relegation zone. Sherwood had been under increasing pressure during Villa’s dismal run of six succes-sive league defeats and Saturday’s 2-1 home loss proved the � nal straw for the club’s owner Randy Lerner.

–AFP

QUICK BYTES NCL, ROUND 5, DAY 2Dhaka Metropolis v Khulna, FatullahMetro (1st innings): 399-allout in 115.1 overs (Shamsur 144, Mahmudullah 132, Mehedi 5/96, Razzak 3/113)Khulna (1st innings): 204/4 in 66 overs(Kayes 110)

Khulna trail by 195 runsRangpur v Dhaka, BograRangpur (1st innings): 463-allout in 152 overs (Tariq 102, Dhiman 101* Naeem 100, Nasir 63, Dewan 4/96, Nazmul 3/121)Dhaka (1st innings): 78/2 in 28 overs

Dhaka trail by 385 runsChittagong v Sylhet, ChittagongChittagong (1st innings): 270-allout in 87.2 overs (Tasamul 74, Yasir 55, Raju 4/34, Enamul Jr 3/75)Sylhet (1st innings): 262/9 in 89 overs(Nabil 3/74)

Sylhet trail by eight runsRajshahi v Barisal, RajshahiRajshahi (1st innings): 119-allout in 42.5 overs (Tawhidul 5/30, Salman 5/31)Barisal (1st innings): 311-allout in 86.2 overs (Shahriar 80, Al Amin 71, Fazle 51, Sanjamul 4/87, Shafaq 4/95)Rajshahi (2nd innings): 126/3 in 42 overs(Junaid 58*)

Rajshahi trail by 66 runsKhulna division’s opening batsman Imrul Kayes hoicks one over the mid-wicket region during their Walton 17th National Cricket League’s � fth-round tie against Dhaka Metropolis at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Ctg Abahani reach last four as Zahid sizzlesn Tribune Report

National winger Zahid Hossain put up a spar-kling display to help hosts Chittagong Abaha-ni sweep into the semi-� nals of the inaugural Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, along with I-League side East Bengal, from Group B.

Riding on Zahid’s brilliant hattrick, the home side handed Pakistan premier league champions Karachi Electric FC a humbling 4-2 loss in their last group-stage match at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong last Saturday.

On the other hand, four-time professional league champions Dhaka Abahani crashed out in the group-stage after being held to a goalless draw by Kolkata’s King� sher East Bengal. The Sky Blues dominated the whole match, creating at least half a dozen chances, but were unable to convert any and � nished their campaign at third.

East Bengal earned seven points from three matches to top the group while Chit-tagong Abahani ended as the runners-up with six points. The port-city out� t will face Afghan premier league champions De Spin Ghar Bazan tomorrow in the � rst semi-� nal.

Zahid is now the joint top-scorer in the tournament with four goals, alongside Kara-chi Electric’s Mohammed Rasool.

“I scored in the last two matches. I hope I will continue my scoring spree in the semi-� -nals as well. Hopefully I can lead the side to the � nal,” said speedy winger Zahid after their � nal group-stage clash.

Zahid, on loan from Sheikh Russel, net-ted in the seventh, 34th and 83rd minutes against Karachi Electric and also set up Ni-gerian striker Eleta Kingsley’s goal that came in the 12th minute. Karachi forward Rasool bagged a brace when he scored in the 26th and 43rd minutes. l

Runs galore as Barisal close in on winn Mazhar Uddin

Tariq, Naeem, Dhiman guide RangpurHundreds from Tariq Ahmed, Naeem Islam and Dhiman Ghosh helped holders Rang-pur to a mammoth 463-allout in their � rst innings of the Walton 17th National Cricket League’s � fth-round tie yesterday.

Asked to bat � rst, Rangpur made merry of the Dhaka bowlers as opening batsman Tariq scored 102 o� 183 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes while national discard Naeem registered a century of his own. The right-handed Naeem smashed a dozen boundaries and was ably support-ed by wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman, who was dismissed after making exactly 100. The stumper blasted 13 fours.

Dhaka seamer Dewan Sabbir picked up four wickets while Nazmul Islam bagged three. In reply, the capital city out� t trail the defending champions by 385 runs after end-ing the second day on 78/2.

Ton-up Kayes lead Khulna reply Centuries by Mahmudullah and Sham-sur Rahman enabled Dhaka Metropolis to 399-allout in their � rst innings but Khulna, who narrowly missed out on the title in the previous edition, also managed a solid start as they ended yesterday’s proceedings on 204/4, trailing Metro by 195 runs.

Metro’s out-of-favour national star Sham-sur posted his second hundred in this edi-tion, hammering 18 fours and � ve sixes en route to an 167-ball 144.

Tigers’ middle-order batsman Mahmudu-llah also joined in the party, striking 132 runs o� 224 balls, featuring 14 boundaries.

Bangladesh Under-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz scalped 5/96 for Khulna while veteran spinner Abdur Razzak notched three wickets. In pursuit of Metro’s � rst-innings tally, Khulna began well with national Test opener Kayes remaining unbeaten on 110 o� 192 balls. Kayes bludgeoned 11 fours and half a dozen sixes and will look to prolong his knock when the third day’s play gets underway today.

Sylhet close in on Chittagong’s tallySylhet, who trail Chittagong by eight runs with one � rst-innings wicket in hand, will be eager to take the lead today.

Sylhet skittled out Chittagong for 270 and made 262/9 in reply with skipper Alok Kapali top-scoring with 46. Sylhet’s local lad, Nabil Samad, who is playing for the port-city out-� t, took three wickets.

Chittagong were earlier dismissed for 270 with Tasamul Haque scoring the highest 74.

Abul Hasan picked up four wickets for Syl-het while Enamul Haque Jr grabbed three.

Rajshahi battling to avoid defeat against BarisalBarisal are very much in the driving seat against Rajshahi as the latter ended yester-day on 126/3 in their second innings. Rajsha-hi were earlier bundled out for just 119 in their � rst essay.

Salman Hossain and Tawhidul Islam starred for Barisal bagging � ve wickets each to dismiss Rajshahi for a paltry 119.

In their � rst innings, Barisal put up 311-all-out, riding on half-centuries by Shahriar Na-fees, Fazle Mahmud and Al Amin.

Shafaq al Zabir and Sanjamul Islam picked up four wickets each for Rajshahi. l

28DT Sport

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

GROUP A P W L D GD Pts

Bando 2 2 - - +11 6

Gemcon 2 1 1 - +14 3

Grey 1 - 1 - -10 0

Vizrt 1 - 1 - -15 0

GROUP B P W L D GD Pts

Qubee 2 2 - - +6 6

ITHS 2 2 - - +4 6

Therap 3 1 2 - -5 3

Accenture 3 - 3 - -5 0

GROUP C P W L D GD Pts

Com� t 2 2 - - +8 6

MTB 2 1 1 - -4 3

Madchef 2 0 1 1 -1 1

Magnito 2 - 1 1 -3 1

GROUP D P W L D GD Pts

Mir 3 2 1 - +10 6

C Source 3 2 1 - +5 6

IDLC 3 1 2 - -1 3

Asiatic 3 1 2 - -11 3

Samuel Whitelock of New Zealand jumps for the ball during their Rugby World Cup Semi-Final match against South Africa at Twickenham in London. New Zealand ground their way into the Rugby World Cup � nal for a record fourth time when they proved too strong, too dangerous and ultimately too streetwise for South Africa in a predictably tense 20-18 victory on Saturday REUTERS

Former Barca player pens deal with BFFn Tribune Report

Spanish coach Gonzalo Sanchez Moreno yesterday penned a six-month deal with the Bangladesh Football Federation as the head coach of its youth academy.

SS Steel Private Limited will bear all the expenses and wages of development coach Moreno, who will work with the age-level players before forming a 21-member youth squad. The deal was agreed in a ceremony at BFF House yesterday.

“Moreno was initially supposed to work with the Under-19 players. But now we have decided that he will work and train the U-16 players and the other youth players in order to select the best 21 players. In total, he will conduct 70 training sessions,” said BFF vice president Badal Roy, who is also the chair-man of the development committee.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin said the se-lected 21 players will play exhibition matches both at home and abroad.

Moreno, who previously played for the reserve team of Spanish champions Barcelona, expressed happiness with the agreement and said, “I’m very happy that the president believes in me. We will work together and can do great things. I want to work with every player and help them be better technically.” All the 70 training sessions will be held in Dhaka. l

RESULTSMir Group 2-1 Computer Source

Therap 2-1 Accenture

Madchef 2-2 Magnito Digital

Mir, Source through to second roundn Tribune Report

Matchday 3 in the 2nd Mir Corporate Football Fiesta, powered by Sailor, kicked o� with the exciting game between Madchef and Mag-nito Digital. Ariq of Magnito ensured their control in the game with two � rst-half goals before Madchef’s Shakil stole the limelight by scoring two goals in the last � ve minutes of the game. The game ended 2-2.

Later at the International Turkish Hope School premises, Mir Group edged past Comput-er Source to top Group D with a 2-1 win. Anwar of Source cancelled out Aghar’s opening goal be-fore Munna netted the winner for Mir in the dy-ing moments of the game. However, it was Mir’s captain Abul Hasan who was adjudged as Man of the Match for his calm head at the middle.

In the last match of the night, Accentu-re drew 1-1 with Therap Bangladesh as the

match went to the tie-breaker to decide their group standings since they both had the same points and goal di� erence. After being locked 3-3 in penalties, it needed the heroics from Therap custodian Saad as they won 4-3.

Earlier, Mush� q gave Accenture the lead early in the game with a superb � nish from the left � ank before Therap captain Imran netted an equally brilliant equaliser with a clever back-heel. l

An action from the match between Mir Group and Computer Source at International Turkish Hope School ground yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport 29D

T

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Ten Action10:30AMWest Indies Tour of Sri Lanka 20152nd Test, Day 5 1:45AM Sky Bet Championship 2015/16Cardi� City v Bristol City Ten Cricket12:00PM England Tour of Pakistan (UAE) 2nd Test, Day 5 Star Sports 411:30PM ATP World Tour 500 2015Swiss Indoors Basel Open Switzerland

DAY’S WATCH

Afghanistan’s players pose with the series trophy after they won the � fth and � nal ODI against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawyo last Saturday AFP

Pakistan’s Younis Khan executes a vicious hook shot against England during the fourth day’s play of the second Test at Dubai International Stadium yesterday REUTERS

Afghans defend 245 in historic series winn Cricinfo

Afghanistan secured a historic 3-2 series win over Zimbabwe, the � rst in ODIs by an Asso-ciate against a Full Member, with a massive 73-run victory in the � fth ODI in Bulawayo. In a strong all-round performance, Afghani-stan set the hosts a target of 246 with � fties from Noor Ali Zadran and Mohammad Nabi, and weathered a � ghting hundred from Sean Williams to bowl Zimbabwe out for 172 in 44.1 overs.

Even though Afghanistan’s middle order did not capitalise on the strong start provid-ed by their top four batsmen, their bowlers, led by Dawlat Zadran, did not allow Zimba-bwe to build partnerships at any point during their innings, striking as early as the second over to quickly derail Zimbabwe’s chase. l

SCORECARDPAKISTAN IST INNINGS378 (Misbah 102, Asad 83, Younis 56, Shan Masood 54; Wood 3-39, Moeen Ali 3-109)ENGLAND IST INNINGS242 (Root 88, Cook 65; Wahab 4-66, Yasir 4-93)PAKISTAN 2ND INNINGS R BMohammad Hafeez c Root b Wood 51 76Shan Masood c Butler b Anderson 1 6Shoaib Malik b Wood 7 13Younis Khan c Ali b Rashid 118 211Misbah-ul-Haq c Cook b Anderson 87 147Asad Sha� q not out 79 112Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Ali 3 6Extras: (b6, lb1, nb1) 8Total: (for six wkts; 95 overs) 354

BowlingAnderson 15-7-22-2, Broad 10-1-34-0, Wood 14-3-44-2 (1nb), Ali 11-0-60-1, Stokes 17-3-54-0, Rashid 25-1-107-1, Root 3-0-26-0ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS R BA. Cook c Riaz b Shah 10 22Moeen Ali c Younis b Khan 1 15I. Bell c Younis b Babar 46 122J. Root not out 59 134 J. Bairstow not out 6 33Extras: (b6, nb2) 8Total: (for three wkts; 54 overs) 130

BowlingKhan 6-2-16-1 (1nb), Riaz 8-1-15-0, Shah 16-5-37-1, Malik 6-0-32-0, Babar 18-7-24-1

England need 361 more runs to win

Pakistan press for win after Younis tonn AFP, Dubai

Pakistan grabbed three wickets including the key scalp of Alastair Cook to sense victory in the second Test against England after Younis Khan smashed a century in Dubai yesterday.

Pakistan will need another seven wickets to force a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after Younis’s brilliant 118 helped them set a daunting 491-run target for England. The � rst Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

At close England were 130-3 with Joe Root unbeaten on a � ghting 59 and with him Jonny Bairstow on six not out as they still need 361 for an unlikely victory or bat out the � nal day on a weary Dubai stadium pitch today.

It will be a tough task for the England batsmen as the pitch was o� ering turn with leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zu-l� qar Babar posing a real threat.

Earlier Pakistan declared 35 minutes after lunch, with Younis scoring his 31st century, Misbah-ul-Haq 87 and Asad Sha� q making 79.

England were tottering at 45-2 at tea but Ian Bell (46) and Root de� ed Paksitan bowling during their 102-run stand for the third wicket and looked to take England safely to stumps.

But Babar broke the partnership when he spun a sharp delivery which Bell tried to leave but gloved it to the slip � elder. l

LA LIGA RESULTSCelta Vigo 1-3 Real MadridNolito 85 Ronaldo 8, Danilo 23, Marcelo 90+5

Granada 1-1 Real BetisFoulquier 2 Ruben Castro 39

Sevilla 5-0 GetafeGameiro 35, 45, 60-P, Banega 50-P, Konoplyanka 80-P

Malaga 2-0 Deportivo la CorunaTighadouini 62, Juankar 85

Rain halts Lankan charge against WIn AFP, Colombo

Rain washed out play Sunday on the fourth day of the second Test in Colombo, with the West Indies needing another 224 for their � rst ever win in Sri Lanka.

West Indies were 20-1 when rain stopped play on Saturday, and the covers remained on the � eld throughout the following day at the P. Sara Oval.

The umpires � nally cancelled play at 2:45pm local time (0915 GMT) following an inspection of the rain-soaked pitch.

Shai Hope was on 17 when rain stopped played on Saturday, leaving the visitors a tar-get of 244 to win the second Test and level the two-match series. l

Real clear at the top after win at 10-man Celtan Reuters, Madrid

Real Madrid pulled three points clear of sec-ond-placed Celta Vigo when they held o� the valiant 10-man Galicians to secure a nervy 3-1 victory in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash in La Liga.

Real have 21 points from nine matches, with Celta level on 18 with Spanish and Eu-ropean champions Barcelona, who play their game in hand at home to Eibar yesterday.

Sevilla continued their improvement after a stuttering start when Kevin Gameiro net-ted a hat-trick for the Europa League holders as they hammered 10-man Getafe, who had defender Carlos Vigaray sent o� on the hour, 5-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Getafe’s defending was appalling and they

conceded three penalties, one converted by Gameiro and one each by Ever Banega and Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Atletico Madrid are fourth on 16 points

ahead of yesterday’s match at home to Valen-cia, when Villarreal, who also have 16 points in � fth, play at promoted Las Palmas.

Sevilla are ninth, level on 12 points with eighth-placed Valencia but behind on goal di� erence.

Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo and full-back Danilo struck early to put Real in con-trol at Celta’s Balaidos stadium and Real’s Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas made sure they went into the break 2-0 ahead with a host of outstanding saves.

Real went ahead in the eighth minute when Lucas Vazquez squared for Ronaldo to � nish past Sergio Alvarez in the home goal.

Danilo made it 2-0 15 minutes later with his debut Real goal when he found space on the right and had time to pick his spot.l

Downtime30DT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 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 16 represents T so � ll T every time the � gure 16 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

SUDOKU

ACROSS 1 Worker in stone (5) 7 Top airman (3) 8 Jurisprudence (3) 9 Bucolic (5) 12 Heavy Substance (4) 13 Gem (7) 15 Billiard rod (3) 16 Sheltered side (3) 18 Insect (3) 19 Joke (3) 21 3rd order of angels (7) 24 Ribbon (4) 26 Artless (5) 27 Arch (3) 28 Fresh (3) 29 Sco� (4)30 Lays Bare (5)

DOWN1 Female horse (4)2 Keen insight (6)3 Dry and withered (4)4 Hairless (4)5 Be indebted (3)6 Evade (5)10 Curve (3)11 Express amusement (5)14 Acquire acknowledge-ment (5)17 Cricket team (6)18 Thespian (5)20 State in western India (3)21 Narrate (4)22 Numeral (4)23 Piles the needle (4)25 Greek letter (3)

Showtime 31D

TMONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

WHAT TO WATCH

n Showtime Desk

Under Construction has been invited to participate in two major � lm festivals in South America; Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil and the Festival de Cine de Bogota, Colombia. Both festivals are recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).

The 39th edition of Sao Paulo International Film Festival (a leading � lm festival in Latin America), also known as Mostra, took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from October 22 and will continue till November 4, screening 312 � lms from 62 countries in 22 venues. Bangladeshi feature � lm Under Construction by Rubaiyat Hossain has been enlisted in the New Directors Competition.

“The festival keeps a close eye on the future with the main competitive section being New Directors Competition, in which

it aims to � nd and present names and propensities of worldwide cinema,” Renata de Almeida, director of the festival cited in the editorial on the festival website. The festival introduced many prospective � lmmakers like Jafar Panahi, Bruno Dumont, Thomas Vinterberg, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Marcelo Gomes to the South American audience.

The festival will open with My Hindu Friend, the most recent work of Hector Babenco. Rubaiyat Hossain has been invited to attend the festival’s opening ceremony and the Q&A session, which will take place prior to the screenings of her � lm Under Construction. The � lm will have four screenings at di� erent venues including a show at Sao Paulo Museum of Image and Sound.

This year’s Bogota Film Festival is taking place in Bogota, Colombia from Oct 20 to 28. Besides giving acknowledgement to

Colombian � lmmakers, the festival also recognises � lmmakers from other countries in Latin America, as well as Europe and Asia. The festival has showcased many notable � lm directors across the world, including the � rst international recognition of Pedro Almodovar as Best Director for his 1987 � lm, La Ley del Deseo.

Under Construction has been included in International Competition at the festival. This year the International Competition has enlisted 13 � lms to compete for the Pre-Columbian Circle award.

Earlier this year, the � lm had its world premiere at Seattle International Film Festival. Under Construction has also participated in Montreal World Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, and Haifa Film Festival among others.

Under Construction will be released in Bangladesh on January 22, next year. l

‘Under Construction’ in two major South American � lm festivals

Blood DiamondHBO 4:31pmSolomon Vandy works in the South African diamond � elds when he discovers an extraordinary rough stone of immeasurable value. He hides the diamond in the most unlikely place, ensuring that no one would come across it. Danny Archer is a mercenary who deals in blood diamonds that are used to � nance terrorist organisations.Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou

EragonStar Movies HD 9:30pmKing Galbatorix who rules over Alagaesia is evil. He is a former dragon rider who betrayed his citizens in order to become powerful. Eragon is a farm boy who has been orphaned at a young age. He � nds a blue stone that has been sent by Princess Arya and soon gets to know that it is actually a dragon’s egg.Cast: Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle

ElementaryAXN 10:30pmThe popular crime solving duo Sherlock and Watson are back to New York to give you the best of the weekend, that too much ahead of everyone else. The last season ended with a clash between the detectives, Watson and Sherlock . Cast: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn, Jon Michael Hill

Saath Nibhaana SaathiyaStar Plus 7:30pmThe series follows the story of Gopi, an orphan who is brought up by her maternal uncle and aunt. While her uncle is nice to her, her aunt Urmilaben treats Gopi like a slave along with her daughter Rashi. Cast: Mohammad Nazim, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Vishal singh

Animal Planet SafariAnimal Planet 12:30pmSafari series takes place in the wild stretches of South Africa, where the native animal species, the harsh and dangerous climate, and the ever-encroaching presence of mankind conspire to create an environment full of natural wonders, dangers, and constant change. This beautiful series follows a team of professional conservationists at work in Africa, lending their expertise and resources to whoever needs it most. Host: Stephen Robert Irwin

n Showtime Desk

Amin Khan recently signed Dhallywood starlet, Mahiya Mahi, as the lead for his � rst � lm.

Khan is to produce the untitled project under Icon Entertainment banner. There are no storyline details on the � lm as of yet. New comer Asif will be seen working alongside Mahiya Mahi while Malek Afsari is reported to be the director of the � lm.

Recently, a contract signing ceremony took place at a restaurant in the capital where Amin Khan, Mahiya Mahi, Asif and Malek Afsari were present.

While talking about their engagement in the � lm production, the 42-year-old producer said: “I’m vastly recognised in the whole nation as a ‘hero’ due to my recent works in the � lm industry. I feel that

I have responsibilities towards this industry, which has given me so much recognition and honour. For quite some time, I’ve been thinking that there are other ways of contributing to the � lm industry rather than just acting.”

“My relationship with the artists who will work in my projects, will not be terminated when the production ends. Rather, I would consider taking a step further to introduce them to the people of the country in every way possible,” Amin Khan added.

Having appeared in over 200 � lms as well as various television shows, Amin Khan came in the media limelight through the competition called Notun Mukher Shondhane in 1990. He started acting in a 1993 movie titled Obuj Duti Mon, which was directed by Mohammad Hossain. l

Mahiya Mahi signs up for Amin Khan’s venture

Back Page32DT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

MAHI SIGNS UP FOR AMIN KHAN’S VENTURE PAGE 31

MOVE ON TO SET UP PUBLIC SERVANTS BANK PAGE 15

I FEEL FOR MOURINHO, SAYS BILIC PAGE 25

Obaidul helpless as VIPs � out lawsn Abid Azad

“Helpless” is how Road Transport and Bridg-es Minister Obaidul Quader said he feels when VIPs and parliamentary colleagues defy tra� c laws.

At a programme titled “Legislative Ini-tiative Promoting Road Safety” hosted by Brac yesterday, he said: “I telephone the law-breaking VIPs that I know but they tell me I ought to � x the roads.”

Turning to the issue of bus fares, the min-ister could not conceal his ire at bus compa-nies for continuing to overcharge passengers despite a government mediated fare hike.

“I do not see any change in the situation. Fares are being collected in an autocratic manner… passengers claimed to me that 97% of buses charge extra fares,” he said.

The minister also expressed annoyance over the illegal grabbing of roads. “I made the Nabinagar–Chandra Highway into a four-lane road but half of it has been grabbed.”

“How many times does a minister need to go to a site to remove illegal land grabbers?” an exasperated Obaidul asked.

Obaidul said the Road Transport Act 2015 is likely to be passed during the winter ses-sion of parliament.

The minister said major changes to the law would not be possible but minor amend-ments could be incorporated by the parlia-mentary standing committee.

Minor amendments would be considered based on the recommendations of a working group comprised of transport owners, trans-port workers, passengers’ representatives and representatives of other organisations, he said.

Former adviser to the caretaker govern-ment, Hossain Zillur Rahman, said the rise

in the number of road accidents, capacity de� cits in the road transport sector and the under-representation of passenger concerns also need to be addressed.

Moderated by Brac Executive Director Dr Muhammad Musa, the programme was at-tended by journalist Abed Khan and Faruk Ta-lukder of the Bus Truck Owners Association. l

Still no trace of kidnapped tourists and their guiden S Bashu Das, Bandarban

Twenty-two days have passed since the two tourists from Dhaka were said to have been kidnapped along with their lo-cal guide in the border areas of Bandarban, but law enforcers still do not have a clue.

A joint team of several law enforcement agencies have been operating a drive in the hills since the day of the alleged kidnapping, but the three re-main missing.

During the drive, which is said to be still going on, the joint forces got involved in deadly gun� re exchanges with criminals and seized arms and ammunition, but the missing have remained out of reach.

According to local sourc-es, on October 3, Jakir Hos-sain Munna and Abdullah Al Zubayer, both residents of Dha-ka’s Mirpur, and their guide Mangsai Mro were kidnapped in the Raikkhang Pukur

Par area in Ruma upazila in Bandarban district.

Initially, the kidnappers de-manded Tk50 lakh in ransom, claiming they were from the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), a separatist criminal group of Myanmar. However, the organ-isation later denied making any such ransom claims.

Local residents say that chances are very slim that the three kidnapping victims are still alive.

Abdullah Al Zubayet, broth-er of victim Zubayer, said: “We think they are not in this country. We do not even know whether they are alive or not.”

Kazi Mohammad Chahel Tasturi, upazila executive of-� cer of Ruma, also said that they do not know whether the victims are still alive or not.

Although NGO and govern-ment o� cials have been kid-napped in the past in Bandar-ban, kidnapping of tourists is rare. l

In this recent � le photo, a VIP’s SUV takes the wrong side of Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue as the right side is packed with the vehicles of ordinary people SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Dhaka MSC, Bazan clinch last semi spotsn Tribune Report

Dhaka Mohammedan swept into the semi-� -nal of the inaugural Sheikh Kamal Internation-al Club Cup after beating Kolkata Mohammed-an 2-1 in the last match of group stages at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. Nigeri-an forward Peter Akinyele stole the show with a brace with the second coming in injury time.

De Spin Ghar Bazan also con� rmed a last-four spot when the Afghan out� t came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory over Sri Lankan champions Solid FC in the day’s � rst game. Bazan also became group champions.

The Black and Whites � nished their Group A campaign as the runners-up with six points while Bazan topped the group with a point more. Kolkata Mohammedan crashed out of the event without a win.

Dhaka Mohammedan dominated their namesake from the beginning and took the lead in the 18th minute when Peter headed home a precise corner from Faisal Mahmud.

Meanwhile, with the memory of a 6-1 loss against Dhaka Mohammedan in their last game, Solid began their last group-stage match against the Afghan Premier League champions. The Sri Lanka Premier League champions stunned the Afghans by taking the lead in the 43rd minute through OA Olayemi.

Mohammedan will face East Bengal while Bazan will take on Chittagong Abahani in the semi-� nals, starting from tomorrow. l

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