e_Paper 4-12-2016

SECOND EDITION 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | Agrahayan 20, 1423, Rabiul Awwal 3, 1438 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 217 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10 

10 Hindu houses torched › 3 

Missing for three years, fingers pointed at RAB › 2 

Gobindaganj Santals still 

under constant threat › 3 

‘Special planes would 

be a luxury’ › Back Page 

DCC captive to political 

muscle › 5 

Teenage Afif’s 

grand entry › 24 

Mahmood Sadaat Ruhul writes about Aung San Suu 

Kyi’s silence on Rohingya issue › 23 

EDITORIAL: The road to 

peace in the CHT › 20

2 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 

DT 

News 

Missing for three years, fingers pointed at RAB 

• Kamrul Hasan and 

Adil Sakhawat 

Having graduated from the department 

of political science in Jagannath 

University, Al Amin had a 

bright future ahead of him before 

it all abruptly ended on December 

3, 2013. 

Three years have gone by without 

a trace or a word from Al Amin, 

the eldest son of Ahmed Ullah, 

since he was allegedly picked up 

by plainclothed RAB men on that 

fateful day. 

Al Amin’s family lives in Badda, 

Dhaka where the perpetual shadow 

of his disappearance hangs over 

the air, a constant reminder that 

something is amiss. 

His mother Jesmin Begum still 

waits for him even though she 

knows that she will never see him 

again. His brother Ruhul Amin told 

the Dhaka Tribune that his mother, 

in her own way of coping with 

his brother’s disappearance, asks 

his father about Al Amin’s whereabouts 

every day only to meet with 

silence as an answer. 

Nobody knows where he is or if 

he is alive. Police have done very 

little so far in helping the family 

find him or his remains. 

Hajera Khatun, mother of Sajedul Islam, takes a moment to collect herself during 

a press conference organised for the victims of forced disappearance at the 

National Press Club in 2014. In the background, photos of missing Mazharul Islam 

Rasel (left) and Asaduzzaman Rana (right) can be seen MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU 

Ahmed Ullah, 55, supports his 

family by running a small shop, 

something he wished he did not 

have to do any more. His eldest son 

was supposed to help him support 

the family – Ahmed has two other 

sons who are still in school, and 

bills have to be paid. 

Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, 

he said every year around the time 

of his son’s disappearance, journalists 

come asking the same old questions 

making him relive the terrible 

days of 2013. Then the media attention 

dies down and everyone forgets 

about his family and their trauma. 

Al Amin was not only a student, 

however; he was involved with Jatiyatabadi 

Chhatra Dal, the student 

wing of the BNP which was the reason 

he was picked up, his family 

claim. 

He was allegedly picked up with 

seven other people by Rapid Action 

Battalion (RAB 1) between 8pm to 

2am that day. 

However, police took only the 

case filed by Al Amin’s family and 

not the seven other cases. 

Ahmed Ullah filed a general diary 

(GD) with Badda police station 

on December 5, 2013 and another 

one with Bathara police station on 

January 14, 2014, known as Case 

24, where the family alleged that 

the police only wrote down “abductors” 

even though eyewitness 

Nilufa Begum, mother of Zahidul Karim Tanvir – a victim of forced disappearance, 

sits with her son’s photo at the press conference 

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU 

accounts repeatedly said it was a 

RAB vehicle the men came out of. 

According to the case, some 

plainclothed men picked Al Amin 

up in a white microbus in Bashundhara 

residential area that night. 

Bhatara police OC (Operation) 

Mohammad Shafiullah told the 

Dhaka Tribune that the case was 

sent to the Detective Branch (DB) 

of police as Al Amin’s parents asked 

for the case to be transferred there. 

RAB Media and Legal Wing Director 

Mufti Mahmud Khan could 

not be reached over the phone for 

a comment in this regard. 

But a RAB official, asking not to 

be named, told the Dhaka Tribune 

that they were aware of the allegations, 

and if any official is found to 

be involved, stern actions will be 

taken against them. 

The other abductees are BNP 

leader Sajedul Islam, Zahidul Karim 

Tanvir and Mazharul Islam Rasel 

from Paschim Nakhalpara, Abdul 

Quader Bhuiyan Masum from 

Purba Nakhalpara and Asaduzzaman 

Rana from Mugdapara. 

Between November and December 

of 2013, some 12 people went 

missing or was allegedly picked up 

by RAB. 

Khalid Hasan Sohel went missing 

on November 28, 2013 from Old 

Dhaka Central Jail gate area. 

Zahirul Islam alias Habibul 

Basher Zahir, Parvez Hossain, M 

Sohel and M Hossain Chanchal 

went missing on December 2 from 

Shahbagh. 

Nizam Uddin Munna and Tariqul 

Islam Jhantu went missing 

from Dakkhinkhan’s Mollartek on 

December 6. 

Mahbub Hasan and Kazi Farhad 

went missing on December 7 from 

Sabujbagh area. 

Selim Reza Pintu went missing 

from Mirpur’s Pallabi area on December 

11. 

Quoting eyewitnesses, families 

claimed that RAB 1 personnel 

picked up Sajedul and five others 

from Bashundhara Residential 

Area on the night of December 4. • 

Lamiya Akhter Mim, daughter of Abu Kawsar, holding her father’s photo during a 

human chain in front of the National Press Club in 2014 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU 

Family members of forced disappearance victims and rights activists form a human chain in front of the National Press Club. 

The photo was taken in 2014 

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

News 3 


10 Hindu houses torched in Dinajpur 

DT 

• Bipul Sarker Sunny, Dinajpur 

A burnt house of a Hindu Family at Bochaganj of Dinajpur 

DHAKA TRIBUNE 

At least 10 houses of the Hindu 

communities in Bochaganj Harijan 

Palli of the district were burned to 

ashes by miscreants led allegedly 

by a local BNP leader’s son early 

yesterday. 

The alleged gang leader, Jewel 

– son of Bochaganj ward-level BNP 

leader Aiyub Ali, was caught by the 

locals while torching the houses. He 

was later handed over to the police. 

A case was filed with Bochaganj 

police by Rubel Basfore against two 

named including Jewel and four 

other unnamed people, OC Habibul 

Haq Prodhan said. 

Meanwhile, Bochaganj upazila 

administration yesterday gave 

each of the affected families 30kg 

rice, blankets, saree and lungi. 

UNO Shilabrat Karmakar said 

that they would distribute cash 

and tin sheets among the victims. 

The attack was launched around 

3am. Seven houses belonging to 

the Dalits (sweepers) and three of 

the local Hindus – situated in railway 

station area of the municipality 

– were torched during the attack. 

Members of the affected families 

have been living under the 

open sky as they lost everything 

in the fire. They claimed that Jewel 

had masterminded the attack as 

a sequel to the conflict with some 

sweepers of the Harijan Palli. 

Jewel had damaged the Puja pavilion 

of the Dalit community during 

the Durga Puja in October. At 

that time, the locals sought explanation 

and also demanded compensation 

from Jewel, triggering a scuffle. 

The matter later turned into a 

dispute and Jewel used to threaten 

arson attack on their houses, the 

Dalits alleged. Birganj Circle ASP 

Sujan Sarker said that the local police 

had been instructed to investigate 

the allegations. 

The arson attack has taken place 

at a time when the religious minority 

groups including Hindus, Buddhists 

and indigenous groups are 

facing persecution at different parts 

of the country by militants, Islamist 

groups and political goons. • 

Gobindaganj Santals still under constant threat 

• Mahadi Al Hasnat 

Hundreds of Santals evicted from 

their ancestral land are now living in a 

constant state of panic following the 

November 06 attacks on them. 

Local ruling party leaders are threatening 

them with dire consequences, 

said Jatiya Adibashi Parishad President 

Rabindranath Saren. 

He termed the November 6 police 

attack a crime against humanity. 

He yesterday said: “The 2,500 evicted 

families of Shahebganj-Bagda Farm 

under Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha, 

who took refuge in two nearby Santal villages, 

are being threatened continuously 

by local political muscle power loyal to 

local lawmaker Principal Abul Kalam 

Azad. The two villages are just beside the 

Sugar Mill authorities of which took part 

in the bloody eviction drive.” 

Contacted, Subrata Kumar Sarkar, 

officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj police 

station claimed to the Dhaka Tribune 

“The evicted Santals have no problems 

now and are staying nearby villages 

adjacent to the Sugar Mill.” 

“What happened on November 

6 was nothing but crimes against 

humanity. And none but state run powers 

backed the sporadic hate crimes 

orchestrated under the leadership 

of ruling party’s MP Azad, in order to 

uproot them from their ancestral land, 

and loot their properties.” 

Expressing grave concern over the 

remarks of deputy attorney general 

terming the killings “a small casualty”; 

Saren said: “How can it be a small 

casualty when policemen shooting 

indiscriminately killed three unarmed 

sandals, being instructed through 

hand-mike by a lawmaker?” 

“None but the state is responsible 

for launching the attack coordinated by 

police and local goons; evicting more 

than 2,500 families after burning their 

homes to ashes. Three were killed and 

numerous others inured who even 

were deprived of proper treatment, as 

they were sure to be arrested immediately 

after reaching the hospital,” he 

added. 

Handcuffs that Gaibandha Police 

put at the hands of two critically injured 

Santals while undergoing treatment 

receiving bullet injuries in the attack 

at Rangpur Medical College Hospital 

were opened only after the High Court 

ordered concerned police officials to 

remove the bondage. 

Arguing that the Gaibanda eviction 

was not a matter of court only, Saren 

said: “Both legal and political measures 

should be mingled to solve the 

crisis properly. There is no determined 

political will in practice to defend the 

individual and human rights of the 

country’s minority communities.” 

“If any determined political will to 

defend such rights really existed in the 

country, the indigenous people would 

have got a better life here; the evicted 

families 2,500 families would have 

been rehabilitated. Their immeasurable 

sufferings are increasing day by day due 

to lack of sincerity of the government 

to resolve the problem,” he said, adding 

that these always ill-treated indigenous 

people,interestingly, become very 

important during the polls. 

According to Santals’ allegation, 

around 2,500 Santal families were 

kicked out of their homes through 

an unprecedented eviction drive 

conducted by police, accompanied by 

armed goons loyal to local lawmaker 

Principal Abul Kalam Azad. They set 

ablaze hundreds of makeshift homes 

after ransacking and looting each and 

every valuables. 

At present, three indigenous people 

– Dijen Tudu, Charan Tudu and Bimal 

Kisku – are undergoing treatment at 

National Institute of Eye Science and 

Hospital in Dhaka under police surveillance, 

after receiving bullet injuries 

from the police attack. 

While contacted, Shahebganj-Baghda 

Farm Bhumi Uddhar Songram Committee’s 

Vice-President Philimon Baske 

said: “The government has provided 

reliefs twice to only 434 had families 

but it was inadequate. We demand 

compensations and financial supports 

from the government, besides relocation 

on our ancestral land.” 

The Santal leader said: “The evicted 

Santals have taken refuges at nearby 

villages, local schools and churches 

since the November 6 attack. But the 

goons loyal to local MP Principal Abul 

Kalam Azad, Shapmara UP chairman 

Shakil Aknd Bulbul and Katabari UP 

chairman Rezaul Karim Rafiq are still 

continuously threatening them not to 

return to their ancestral land.” 

Rabindranath Saren in this regard 

said: “Certainly the victims need relief 

and governmental support immediately 

as they are living here and there 

under the open sky without any access 

to food, water and treatment. Diseases 

like cold, pneumonia and diarrhea 

might plague the community anytime.” 

Informing that both Santals and 

Bengalis are jointly carrying out the 

ongoing land reclaiming movement 

as members of both were evicted, he 

said: “The only solution to the problem 

is returning their land to them as they 

won’t ever agree to be rehabilitated at 

anywhere else.” 

While contacted, Bangladesh 

Indigenous Peoples Forum’s Finance 

Secretary Andrew Sholmar said: 

“According to the Indigenous and Tribal 

Peoples Convention, 1989 (also known 

as “ILO-convention 169”), Bangladesh 

government is legally bound to consult 

the indigenous communities prior to 

adopting any development project on 

their land. But the government is evicting 

Santals violating the agreement. 

“The eviction drive was lunched 

following a government decision. 

Violating ILO-convention 169, the state 

and ruling party-backed corporate are 

carrying out their whims without any 

concern of local indigenous community,” 

he said. 

In the meantime, no visible progress 

could be seen in the investigation of the 

murder case filed against 33 named and 

300-400 anonymous attackers in connection 

with the killings, looting, arson 

and illegal eviction of the indigenous 

community people on November 6. 

Among others, local AL lawmaker from 

Gaibandha-4 constituency Principal 

Abul Kalam Azad, Rangpur Sugar Mills 

managing director Abdul Awal, Gobindaganj 

UNO Md Abdul Hannan and 

chairmen of Shapmara and Katabari 

unions Shakil Aknd Bulbul and Rezaul 

Karim Rafiq were accused in the case 

filed with Gobindaganj police 

station by one Thomas Hembrom, 

on behalf of the indigenous Santal 

community. 

Gobindaganj OC Subrata Kumar 

claimed: “Investigation into their (Santals) 

allegation is going on.” •

4 


DT 

News 

DMP chief contradicts Reuters on Tamim-IS ties 

• Arifur Rahman Rabbi 

Police have no information regarding 

Reuters’ claim that militant 

leader Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, 

who was killed in a drive in August, 

sought and won approval from the 

Islamic State for the July 1 Gulshan 

cafe attack. 

“As we do not have any information 

about it, I will not make any 

comment,” DMP chief Asaduzzaman 

Mia said in response to a query 

during a press briefing at the Police 

Headquarters yesterday. “Now the 

detectives will look into the matter.” 

Quoting a senior police officer 

seeking anonymity, Reuters on 

November 30 ran a report claiming 

that Tamim was told by his contact 

in the Islamic State group, Abu 

Terek Mohammad Tajuddin Kausar, 

to target the foreigners. 

Before Tamim orchestrated the 

attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in 

Gulshan diplomatic zone on July 

1, he sought and won approval for 

it from IS via Kausar, Reuters said, 

adding that its source, the senior 

police official, had seen communications 

between the two. The 

agency said that it could not independently 

verify the contents of 

the communications. 

IS took credit for the attack that 

claimed 23 lives including 17 foreigners. 

The five attackers, who 

stormed the upscale cafe with sophisticated 

arms and machetes, 

were killed in a commando operation 

the next morning. 

Bangladesh authorities deny 

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque inaugurates a photo and video exhibition titled ‘Photo exhibition of 

Bangabandhu and Liberation War’ at Military Museum, Dhaka yesterday marking the Victory Day 2016 

ISPR 

14th International Short and 

Independent Film festival begins 

• DU Correspondent 

The 14th International Short Film 

and Independent Film Festival 

began yesterday with the theme 

“Free Film, Free Expression.” 

Bangladesh Short Film Forum 

arranged the programme where 

participants from 109 countries are 

expected to screen more than five 

hundred films. The ending ceremony 

of the festival will be held on December 

10 at the National Museum 

Auditorium in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. 

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul 

Muhith inaugurated the week long 

film festival at the capital’s Public Library 

premises yesterday evening by 

hoisting the National Flag. 

The festival goals are to bring 

out young talents and to give opportunity 

to the native film makers 

of projecting their works in international 

arena. 

The screening of the films would be 

held at six different venues in Dhaka. 

The venues are Shawkat Osman Hall 

at Central Public Library, Central Auditorium 

and Sufia Kamal Auditorium of 

National Museum, National Music and 

Dance Center Auditorium of Bangladesh 

Shilpakala Academy, Central Auditorium 

of Jagannath University and 

World Cultural Center, Bangladesh. 

The films will also be screened 

in two venues in Rajshahi from December 

3-6. 

In his speech, Muhith said film 

was a key element of flourishing 

culture. He thanked the organisers 

for arranging the festival and 

hoped to bring out brilliant film directors 

through such festivals. 

Addressing the inauguration 

ceremony as special guest, Information 

Minister Hasanul Haq Inu 

said the festival would play a vital 

role in keeping the practices of our 

native culture alive. 

Emphasising on the importance 

of film in society, Inu said: “Film is 

not only entertainment but also a 

social movement.” 

The minister urged film directors 

to make films on global issues 

like poverty, gender discrimination, 

climate change, sustainable 

development and terrorism. 

Bangladesh Short Film Forum 

President Prof Zakir Hossain Raju, 

eminent cultural personality and 

film director Nasir Uddin Yousuf Bacchchu, 

festival director Sayed Imran 

Hossain Kirmani, Chinese film director 

Dr Shi Fi spoke at the programme. 

The awards will be given in four 

categories – Best International Fiction, 

Best International Documentary, 

Network for Asian Cinema 

and Tarek Shahariar Best Independent 

Shot. 

The festival has been organised 

in memory of the first film director 

of subcontinent Hiralal Sen and 

writer Syed Shamsul Haque. • 

presence of IS operatives in the 

country and blame local militant 

groups linked to a new faction 

of banned outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen 

Bangladesh (JMB) for the 

recent targeted killings claimed by 

the IS group. 

Since September last year, IS 

claimed responsibilities for 26 attacks 

in Bangladesh that killed 45 

people. 

The DMP chief yesterday said: 

“The incident [Gulshan attack] was 

first of its kind in Bangladesh ... It 

opened our eyes and later we formed 

the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational 

Crime (CTTC) unit. We have 

also revised our security measures. 

“Which the world could not do, 

we did it in 100 days; we reined in 

the militants. Now we can claim 

that we are capable [of fighting the 

militants].” 

He also listed the raids conducted 

by different law enforcement 

agencies after the Gulshan attack 

– in Kalyanpur, Mirpur, Azimpur, 

Narayanganj, Gazipur and some 

other places. 

At least three dozen members 

of the New JMB including Tamim 

were killed during the raids and 

many others arrested. “We are trying 

to arrest the fugitive militants 

including Marjan, Basharuzzaman 

and Razib. 

“At this moment, the militants 

will not be able to carry out any 

subversive acts,” Asaduzzaman 

claimed. 

A senior officer of the CTTC unit 

recently said that New JMB was 

regrouping through fresh recruitment 

and that it still had a stronghold 

in the northern districts of the 

country. • 

Government forms 

Blue Economy Cell 

• Aminur Rahman Rasel 

The government has formed Blue 

Economy Cell under the Energy 

and Mineral Resources Division 

(EMRD) for exploration, conservation, 

and sustainable collection 

and management of natural and 

mineral resources in the Bangladeshi 

territory of the Bay of Bengal. 

The cell is charged with multi-disciplinary 

responsibilities, 

which mainly include collecting 

saltwater fish resources, exploring 

hydrocarbon resources or fossil fuel 

and looking into tourism prospects. 

The Energy and Mineral Resources 

Division has appointed Additional 

Secretary Golam Fakhruddin 

Ahmed Chowdhury as the 

chief of the cell. Its office has been 

set up at the Petro Centre, the headquarters 

of Bangladesh Oil, Gas and 

Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla), 

in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar area. 

The government believes there 

is a huge chance that there are hydrocarbon 

deposits – both oil and 

gas – under the Bay of Bengal. 

“Chances of discovering hydrocarbon 

deposits in our territory of 

the Bay of Bengal are high, as some 

have already been found off the Myanmar 

coast near Bangladeshi marine 

territory and the Godavari and 

Manandi deltas of India,” EMRD 

Secretary Nazimuddin Chowdhury 

told the Dhaka Tribune. 

“We plan to explore the offshore 

areas of Bangladesh for marine 

resources as well as for hazard assessment,” 

he added. 

The major responsibilities of the 

Blue Economy Cell will be to see if 

different marine resources such as 

fossil fuel, tidal energy, offshore 

wind, etc are available for use and 

have economic values, and if it is 

possible to secure fresh water supply 

and produce salt, use ocean 

thermal energy and mine aggregates 

and marine minerals. 

To this end, the government 

plans to acquire a survey vessel 

with modern dynamic positioning 

and conduct geological, geomorphological, 

geotechnical and geohazard 

reconnaissance mapping of 

coastal and estuary areas and territorial 

sea up to 12 nautical miles 

(22.22km), exclusive economic 

zone up to 200 nautical miles 

(370.4km), and 350 nautical miles 

(648.2km) more onwards. 

Bangladesh won more than 

118,813sq-km of waters altogether 

comprising territorial sea and an 

exclusive economic zone extending 

out to 200 nautical miles (370km). 

It also has undeniable sovereign 

rights in the seabed extending as 

far as 354 nautical miles (around 

656km) from Chittagong coast in 

the Bay of Bengal with all living 

and non-living resources. 

The Blue Economy Cell will 

work for placer mineral deposits, 

heavy mineral sands and some 

radioactive minerals which are 

present in the prospective areas of 

Bangladesh. 

Mineral deposits with large economic 

values are present at different 

depths in mid to outer continental 

shelf from 80m to 200m 

water depth of Bangladesh. 

On behalf of the government, 

Petrobangla needs to acquire the 

initial data through multi-client 

seismic survey to attract potential 

international oil companies in the 

areas which will help the cell. 

Petrobangla also needs to revise 

contractual and financial structure 

of the deep-water model production-sharing 

contract to make it comparable 

with the neighbouring countries 

and current global practices. •

News 5 


DT 

BREB announces 

solar-powered 

charging stations 

for easy-bikes 

• Aminur Rahman Rasel 

To ease the burden on the national 

electricity grid, The Bangladesh 

Rural Electrification Board (BREB) 

are going to install solar-powered 

charging stations for easy-bikes 

and battery-operated rickshaws in 

four different locations. 

Within the next two months, 

four stations with 20-22 kilowatt 

capacity will be established in Mymensingh, 

Comilla, Gazipur and 

Narayanganj. 

Easy-bikes have a set of five 

batteries with a capacity of 60V, 

which consume 1kW of electricity 

daily and take 4-5 hours to be fully 

charged. 

More than 450,000 electricity-powered 

easy-bikes operate 

across the country, consuming 

more than 420MW of electricity 

per day. 

The charging stations are going 

to be placed through the Palli 

Bidyut Samities and is funded in 

part by the Sustainable and Renewable 

Energy Development Authority 

(SREDA). 

A deal was signed between 

BREB and SREDA on Wednesday, 

whereby SREDA will be providing 

BREB with Tk25 lakh in financial 

aid. 

SREDA Chairman Md Anwarul 

Islam said: “We are happy to stand 

beside the effort of promoting renewable 

energy.” 

He added that easy-bikes were 

currently being charged from 

household connections, which 

placed additional strain on the 

national grid and made the solar-powered 

charging stations an 

ideal initiative for this sector. 

He further stressed that the stations 

need to be placed in areas 

with unrestricted sunlight in order 

to be effective. 

BREB Chairman Major General 

Moin Uddin said that lack of sunlight 

would not be an issue as a solar-powered 

charging station was 

already in operation in the Ruhitpur 

area of Keraniganj. The solar 

panels were installed on the rooftop 

of Sunny Filling Station. 

“There was no need to acquire 

land for it. That station is serving 

22 easy bikes on average per day” 

he said. 

The Chairman then announced 

that four more stations would be 

installed as they look to expand the 

initiative. • 

HAWKERS’ RELOCATION 

DCC captive to political muscle 

• Abu Hayat Mahmud 

Helpless before the power of hawkers 

who are backed by local influentials, 

political leaders and law 

enforcers, Dhaka city authorities 

are now backtracking on their mission 

to free Dhaka’s footpaths and 

streets from hawkers and relocate 

them somewhere else. 

The latest episode of eviction by 

the city authorities – the eviction 

drive in Gulistan area by Dhaka 

South City Corporation (DSCC) on 

October 27 – turned into an ugly 

clash among the hawkers, DSCC 

officials and the some activists of 

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the 

student wing of Awami League. 

In face of the hawkers’ protest, 

DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon, on 

October 29, announced that all the 

evicted hawkers of Gulistan and 

the surrounding areas would be allowed 

to set up their businesses at 

the nearby Mahanagar Natyamancha. 

It has been over a month since 

Khokon’s announcement, but no 

visible measure has been taken to 

relocate the Gulistan hawkers. 

Instead, they are back where 

they had been evicted from, running 

their businesses as usual, occupying 

the footpaths and parts of 

the streets. 

The Dhaka Tribune tried to contact 

Sayeed Khokon on his phone 

for a comment, but could not reach 

him. 

DSCC Chief Executive Officer 

(CEO) Khan Mohammad Bilal was 

available for a comment, however. 

Asked about the progress in the 

relocation of Gulistan hawkers, Bilal 

said the city corporation did not 

have any plan in that regard for now. 

“If we take any steps about this 

matter, we will inform you [the 

press],” he added before declining 

to comment on the issue any further. 

But a DSCC official, seeking 

anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune 

that the problem was not the 

hawkers, but those who gave them 

support. 

“There are around 3,500 hawkers 

in Gulistan, and they get support 

from local political influentials 

and some officials from the 

law enforcement. These corrupt 

officials lead a syndicate that extort 

the hawkers and allow them to 

set up their makeshift shops on the 

roads and footpaths,” he said. 

Earlier, Dhaka North City Corporation 

(DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq 

Enraged hawkers gather around a bulldozer, commissioned by Dhaka South City Corporation, to protest an eviction drive to 

free the foothpaths and streets of Gulistan, Dhaka from illegal makeshift shops on October 27, 2016 

MEHEDI HASAN 

also said they were planning to arrange 

holiday markets to relocate 

the hawkers in Dhaka North. 

’We are fed up’ 

To say the hawkers are unhappy 

with the way things are going is an 

understatement. 

This correspondent visited the 

Gulistan area on Wednesday to 

find all the footpaths and parts of 

the busy roads near Baitul Mukarram 

National Mosque, Bangabandhu 

National Stadium, Maulana 

Bhashani Hockey Stadium, Kaptan 

Bazar, Awami League’s office at 

Bangabandhu Avenue and Gulistan 

intersection already occupied by 

hawkers, that too under the watchful 

eye of police. 

Speaking to this correspondent, 

several hawkers complained that 

while they had been able to come 

back, they had paid heavily for it. 

“They are taking advantage of 

us,” said Khokon, one of the hawkers. 

“We paid money to the leaders 

of the ruling party here. We are 

even paying tolls to police, even 

after the eviction drive, so that we 

can sell our products here.” 

Another hawker named Tariqul 

said: “I came here from Sadarghat 

because I thought my business 

would do better here. But it is even 

more difficult here because of all 

the money I have to pay to the linemen 

[toll collectors who are henchmen 

of local political leaders] and 

police. I am now thinking about 

going back to Sadarghat. I have had 

enough.” 

The hawkers said the linemen 

mostly belong to the locals leaders 

of Awami Jubo League, Swechchhasebak 

League, Chhatra League 

and Sramik League. 

On several occasions, both Annisul 

and Khokon have said that 

they have repeatedly faced obstruction 

from local politicians and 

corrupt city corporation officials in 

their mission to free Dhaka footpaths 

and streets. 

Sources said some of the grabbers 

and extortionists enjoy the 

same authority as the officials of 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). 

Asked in this regard, MA 

Kashem, president of Bangladesh 

Hawkers’ Federation and Bangladesh 

Hawkers’ League, said: “It is 

not fair of the authorities to evict 

us without arranging an alternative 

facility for us.” 

Asked about the allegations 

against police, DMP Commissioner 

Asaduzzaman Miah said: “Our top 

officials are strictly monitoring the 

situation. Anyone who is found involved 

in irregular activities will be 

punished accordingly.” • 

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY 

Dhaka 30 16 Chittagong 30 19 Rajshahi 30 16 Rangpur 29 14 Khulna 30 16 Barisal 30 17 Sylhet 30 12 

Cox’s Bazar 30 20 

DRY WEATHER 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 

DHAKA 

TODAY 

TOMORROW 

SUN SETS 5:11PM 

SUN RISES 6:27AM 

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW 

32.5ºC 

14.4ºC 

Teknaf 

Srimangal 

Source: Accuweather/UNB 

PRAYER 

TIMES 

Fajr: 5:50am | Zohr: 1:15pm 

Asr: 4:00pm | Magrib: 5:22pm 

Esha: 7:30pm 

Source: Islamic Foundation

6 


DT 

News 

Ivy to spend Tk15 

lakh, Sakhawat 

Tk8 lakh 

• Tanveer Hossain, 

Narayanganj 

Awami League-backed candidate 

Selina Hayat Ivy will spend Tk1.5 

million in election campaign where 

BNP-backed candidate Sakhawat 

Hossain Khan will spend Tk8 lakh 

in NCC polls. 

Ivy in her nomination statement 

said that she will spend total Tk1.5 

million in election campaign where 

Sakhawat will spend total Tk8 lakh 

in election. 

Among other candidates, Mufti 

Asharul Haque will spend Total 

Tk1.5 million, Moslem Uddin 

Ahmed Tk2 lakh, Mahbubur Rahman 

Ismail Tk1.5 million, Rashed 

Ferdous Tk1.35 million. • 

Slum people foil BIWTA eviction drive 

• Anisur Rahman Swapan, 

Barisal 

The eviction drive in a slum in Rasulpur 

area on the bank of the Kirtankhola 

River in Barisal was foiled 

by the slum dwellers yesterday. 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport 

Authority (BIWTA), who 

owned the land, started the drive 

against 211 shanties and some shops 

around 11:00am as per the direction 

No war monument in 

Lakshmipur in 45 years 

• Saiful Islam Swapan, 

Lakshmipur 

Though 45 years have passed after 

the Liberation War, inhabitants of 

Lakshmipur district town did not get 

any monument for war heroes yet. 

Most of the war-related places 

like mass killing site in the town are 

lying uncared and turned in cattle 

pasture, alleged locals. 

They also alleged that due to 

lack of war monument in the town, 

young generation could not know 

about their war history and national 

heroes. 

According to distinct freedom 

of High Court, said Nazmul Ahsan 

Khan, assistant Commissioner 

(Land), Barisal Sadar Upazila. 

“Though we sent a notice a 

month ago to remove the structures 

from the area, most of the 

shanties were still there. That is 

why we launched the drive,” he 

added. 

The eviction drive was forced to 

stop within half an hour, as the residents 

of the slum became violent, 

fighter command information, 

Lakshmipur town had witnessed 

nearly 90 fights including 19 face to 

face battles between freedom fighters 

and Pakistani Army. Total 37 freedom 

fighters had died in those battles. 

Not only that Pakistani Army 

had set up a torture camp beside 

Madam Bridge area in the town 

where they tortured nearly 150 

women and killed several thousand 

people. 

On demand to save these historical 

place, MA Taher, mayor of 

Lakshmipur municipality built a 

boundary wall to save the place on 

December 14, 2011. 

said Mustafizur Rahman, Barisal 

River Port officer. 

“Now, we have called a meeting 

with local councillor, influentials 

and residents of the area to solve 

the problem and resume the postponed 

drive,” Nazmul added. 

However, Abdullah Al Kabir 

Dhali, a leader of Rasulpur slum 

people, said following the court order 

they were voluntarily trying to 

remove the structures 40 feet away 

Though municipality authorities 

had built the boundary wall, 

they did not take any initiative to 

build war monument yet. Due to 

lack of proper maintenance, the 

mass grave has turned into a cattle 

pasture. Not only that, local traders 

used the place as goods dumping 

place. 

Kajol Kanti Das, acting commander 

of distinct freedom fighter 

command, said: “We will build a 

monument in the place very soon.” 

When contacted, MA Taher, 

mayor and also a freedom fighter, 

said: “I will build the monument 

with my own accord.” • 

Residents of a slum in Rasulpur area on the bank of the Kirtankhola River in Barisal are seen protesting the eviction drive launched by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport 

Authority (BIWTA). The photo was taken yesterday 

DHAKA TRIBUNE 

from the river bank. 

But, BIWTA and the land officials 

after negotiating with influential 

started the eviction drive only 

against the poor slum dwellers, he 

said. 

The brick-built structures of the 

area remained safe, he added. 

At least eight people, including 

four females, were injured, as the 

police charged batons on them during 

the protest, claimed Dhali. • 

‘Bhaiya please 

save me’ 

• Raihanul Islam Akand, 

Gazipur 

Family of Champa Begum, a readymade 

garment worker at Keowa 

Uttarpara village under Sreepur 

upazila in Gazipur is now suspecting 

that she had been trafficked to 

Saudi Arabia. 

Champa, who was sent to Saudi 

Arabia a month back, said to her 

brother Al Amin over phone: “Bhaiya 

[brother] please, save me.” Then, 

the call got disconnected. 

“We sent our daughter to 

Saudia Arabia in order to change 

our fate. But now we cannot make 

contact with my daughter. They 

might have sold my daughter,” said 

Rokeya Begum, mother of garment 

worker Champa, to journalists on 

Tuesday. 

Family of Champa Begum, a 

ready-made garment worker at 

Keowa Uttarpara village under 

Sreepur upazila in Gazipur, is now 

suspecting that she might have 

been trafficked to Saudi Arabia. 

Family members of the victim 

told local journalists that Mobarak 

Hossain, 45, a resident in Kapasia 

allured Champa offering a lucrative 

job in Saudi Arabia. He then demanded 

Tk70,000 from her. 

Then, Champa, a divorcee, gave 

him Tk40,000 in advance and 

requested Mobarak to take the rest 

amount of the money after she goes 

to Saudi Arabia. 

On September 29, she left Dhaka 

for Saudi Arabia. Before her departure, 

Mobarak took signature of 

Nabi, brother of Champa, in a white 

paper saying that the signature was 

needed for Champa’s job. 

When Nabi wanted to know 

whereabouts of Champa two weeks 

after her departure, Mobarak asked 

Nabi not to try to find out her. 

After one month, Al Amin, another 

brother of Champa, went to 

Mobarak, and requested him to give 

her mobile phone number. 

Mobarak then showed mercy 

and gave him a cell number of Saudi 

Arabia. At last Mobarak managed 

to make contact with Champa and 

heard a shout of Champa which was 

saying: “Bhaiya [brother], please 

save me.” 

When Al Amin contacted Mobarak 

to inform him about Champa’s 

hapless condition, he demanded 

Tk2.5 lakh on October 22. 

On the day, Al Amin filed a complaint 

with Sreepur police station 

against Mobarak. 

Police arrested Mobarak on the 

day, but he was released later. 

Officer-in-Charge of Sreepur police 

station Asaduzzaman said they 

were investigating into the matter. 

This correspondent tried to 

make contact with Mobarak, but his 

mobile phone was found switched 

off. •

News 7 


DT 

International Day of Persons with 

Disabilities observed 

• Tribune Desk 

International Day of Persons with 

Disabilities was observed across the 

country yesterday with a call for removing 

all barriers of the disabled 

and working for their welfare. 

In Gaibandaha 

A discussion was held by district 

administration and Department of 

Social Services at the auditorium in 

the town marking the day, reports 

our correspondent. 

Speakers at the function said 

the persons with disabilities would 

have to be developed as worthy citizens 

of the country through providing 

them with all facilities including 

healthcare, education and 

employment. 

Deputy Commissioner (DC) M 

Abdus Samad addressed the meeting 

as the chief guest and additional 

DC (General) M Shamsul Azam 

was present as the special guest. 

With deputy director of the department 

SMS Akram Hossain in 

the chair, the function was also 

addressed, among others, by disable 

affairs officer of Integrated 

Disability Service Centre Mehedi 

Hasan, head teacher of Gaibandha 

Intellectually Disable and Autistic 

School M Idris Ali Sarker and journalist 

Sarker M Shahiduzzaman. 

DC M Abdus Samad said the 

present government implemented 

various programmes since 2009 to 

link the disable persons with disabilities 

with the mainstream of the 

society for overall development of 

the nation. 

The DC also emphasized on 

ensuring congenial atmosphere 

to make an end to discrimination 

against the persons with disabilities 

to enable them leading a decent life. 

In Faridpur 

Social Services Department in association 

with several NGOs observed 

the day with the slogan 

'Achieving 17 Goals for the Future 

We Want' through holding a rally 

and discussion meeting. 

Speakers at the discussion 

stressed the need for changing the 

mind-set towards the physically 

challenged people and helping 

them to contribute to the national 

development. DD of Social Services 

ASM Ali Ahsan chaired the meeting 

while DC Umme Salma Tanzia was 

present as the chief guest. 

DC Tanzia, in her speech, said 

the present government is spending 

huge amount of money for the 

challenged and neglected people 

of society that projects the outlook 

of this people-friendly administration, 

reports BSS. 

She called upon the private organizations 

and corporate houses 

to allocate special job quotas for the 

people with disabilities. The DC said 

her office would look into problems 

of the disabled humanely. 

The meeting was told that 5880 

disabled people are getting allowance 

from the government at the 

rate of Taka 500 each. 

In Rajshahi 

Ensuring congenial atmosphere 

to make an end to discrimination 

against the people with disabilities 

and special needs has become an 

urgent need to enable them leading 

a decent life. 

The physically challenged people 

should be termed as the integral 

part of the society and time has 

come to bring them into the mainstream 

of the society for overall development 

of the nation. 

The observations came in a 

post-rally discussion held in conference 

hall of Shishu Academy in 

the city today. Department of Social 

Service (DSS) and District Administration 

jointly organised the 

discussion in observance of the International 

and National Disabled 

Day-2016, reports BSS. 

"Achieving 17 Goals for the Future 

We Want" was the main theme of the 

Day. Various organisations working 

for elevating living and livelihood 

condition of the persons with special 

needs joined the programme. 

Akhter Jahan, MP, and Social 

Worker Shaheen Akter Rainy addressed 

the meeting as the chief 

and special guests respectively 

with Parvej Raihan, additional 

deputy commissioner (Education 

and ICT), in the chair while Deputy 

Director of DSS Rubina Yeasmin 

welcomed the participants. 

In Chittagong 

National Disable Day was observed 

with several functions under the 

auspice of District Social Welfare 

Office (DSWO) of the district. 

The programme included rally, 

discussion, cultural function and 

drawing competition. 

In Thakurgaon 

A discussion was held at the 

auditorium Social Services Department 

in the morning, said our correspondent. 

Deputy Comissioner Abdul Awal 

attended the programme as chief 

guest while among others Additinal 

Deputy Comissiner Jahurul Islam, 

former upazila chairman Tahmina 

Molla on the ocassion. 

Social Services Department 

Deputy Director Sarder Tariqul Islam 

presided over the function. 

A cultural function participated 

by physically challenged people 

was also held. 

The day was also observed in 

many other districts including 

Noakhali, Madaripur, Feni, Bhola, 

Shariatpur, Panchgarh, Brhmanbaria, 

Comilla and Khulna. • 

Huawei launches advanced dual camera GR5 2017 

• Anwar Hussain, Chittagong 

To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Satkhira district administration and Department of Social Services 

hold a grand rally in the district town yesterday 

DHAKA TRIBUNE 

Huawei, one of the world's leading 

smartphone manufacturing 

company, has launched its brand 

new phone “Huawei GR5 2017” for 

the Bangladeshi market on Friday 

night. 

The ceremony was held at Hotel 

Radisson Blu, Chittagong. 

AJM Nasir Uddin, mayor of Chittagong 

City Corporation, formally 

unveiled the device at a gala event. 

Ziauddin Chowdhury, sales director 

of Huawei Technologies Bangladesh 

Ltd, and other high officials 

of Huawei were present at the 

launching programme. 

About the device, Ingmar Wang, 

director of Device Business at Huawei 

Technologies Bangladesh said: 

“The 'Huawei GR5 2017' follows the 

overwhelming customer demand 

for powerful budget smartphones 

which offers productivity, entertainment 

and superb photography 

experience with a premium dual 

camera. The device has the features 

of high-end smartphones and 

the price is kept at a reasonable 

level. It signifies our commitment 

towards the Bangladeshi market, 

which is a very important market 

for us.” 

Pre-booking for GR5 2017 

began on December 1 and will 

continue till December 15. During 

the pre-booking period, customer 

will also get some attractive gifts 

such as business backpacks, selfie 

sticks and 32GB SD cards. A six 

month EMI facility will also be 

provided. The device will retail at 

Tk21,900. • 

'People with 

disabilities 

need separate 

ministry' 

• SM Najmus Sakib 

Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah 

demanded a separate ministry for 

people living with disabilities in 

the country. 

He came up with the statement 

while speaking at a concert marking 

the International Disable Day 

at Rabindra Sarobar, Dhanmondy, 

Dhaka. 

In the last special Olympic in 

Australia, they brought glory for 

the country by achieving prizes 

including gold medal. But state is 

yet to recognize them enough and 

spend very little financial support 

for their developments. 

The people with disabilities 

should raise their voices to change 

mindset of society so that they can 

get equal opportunity like normal 

people, said he. 

Rabbi demanded immediate 

implementation Prime Minister 

Sheikh Hasina’s assurance of providing 

facilities to the physically 

challenged people. 

“If we fail to bring the physically 

challenged people into main flow, 

it would be tough to meet the SGD 

(Sustainable development Goal) 

goal and to be a developed country 

by 2041” he said. 

He demanded special building 

code, education institution and 

habitation for impoverished challenged 

people. 

Terming transgender as 

sex-challenged people, he mentioned 

them as the most vulnerable 

group of the society and asked 

all to raise voice in favour of them 

to have their rights. • 

Mariyam 

Sultana dies 


Mariyam Sultana, mother of FM 

Mizanur Rahaman, staff reporter 

at Chittagong bureau of the Dhaka 

Tribune, died of various diabetes-related 

ailments at her residence 

in the Port Colony area of 

Chittagong city yesterday. 

She left behind two sons, husband 

and a host of well-wishers to 

mourn her death. She hailed from 

Ranipur area of Pirojpur district. 

Her namaj-e-janaza was held 

at Port Colony Masjid after Johr 

prayers. 

Later, she was buried at a graveyard 

adjacent to Railway Training 

Academy in the city. 

Chittagong Union of Journalists 

(CUJ)’s President Reaz Hyder 

Chowdhury and General Secretary 

Mohammed Ali expressed deep 

shock at the death. •

DT 

8 

World 


SOUTH ASIA 

Afghan Taliban hang 

university student in public 

Taliban militants publicly hanged 

a university student after accusing 

him of killing a senior intelligence 

officer, Afghan officials said Saturday. 

The militants took a student 

at Kabul Polytechnic university, 

from his car as he was travelling 

home to visit his family in the 

Chak district of west of Kabul. AFP 

INDIA 

Modi defends clampdown 

on cash economy 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi on Saturday defended his 

crackdown on the cash economy 

that has left businesses, farmers 

and families suffering, saying it 

was necessary to keep inflation in 

check and ensure basic amenities 

for all. Addressing his party’s election 

campaign rally in the state of 

Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, “Please 

support me in curing the disease 

that has been afflicting this country 

for the last 70 years”. REUTERS 

CHINA 

China mine blasts kill 38 

At least 38 people were killed in 

two separate Chinese coal mine 

blasts this week, according to 

death tolls reported by state media 

Saturday. One blast occurred 

late Tuesday at a private mine in 

Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang province, 

trapping 22 workers, Xinhua 

news agency said. Twenty-one 

were confirmed dead Friday 

night, it said, citing provincial 

authorities. AFP 

ASIA PACIFIC 

Mass protest demands 

arrest of S Korea president 

Hundreds of thousands of protesters 

marched in Seoul for the sixthstraight 

week Saturday to demand 

the ouster and arrest of scandal-hit 

President Park Geun-Hye ahead of 

an impeachment vote in parliament. 

Organisers of the candlelight 

rally in the South Korean capital 

said it was the biggest protest so far 

with a turnout of 1.6m. Police put 

the number at 320,000. AFP 

MIDDLE EAST 

Iran: Extension of sanctions 

shows US unreliable 

A US Senate vote to extend the Iran 

Sanctions Act (ISA) for 10 years 

shows the world that Washington 

cannot be relied upon to act on its 

commitments, Iranian Foreign Minister 

Mohammad Javad Zarif said on 

Saturday. Iran’s nuclear energy chief, 

Ali Akbar Salehi, who played a central 

role in reaching the nuclear deal, 

described the extension as a “clear 

violation” if implemented. REUTERS 

India-Pakistan diplomatic war over 

shortage of dollars 

• Tribune International Desk 

A diplomatic war has sparked off 

between India and Pakistan as the 

demonetisation has hit diplomacy 

between the two countries. 

Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi 

have refused to take their payable-in-dollar 

salaries from the Indian 

bank as the bank has imposed 

additional conditions for the withdrawal 

of the salaries. The Pakistani 

mission has written to Ministry of 

External Affairs (MEA) to protest 

against the policies of the bank. 

According to Pakistan these 

conditions, which came into effect 

only last week, make it mandatory 

for Pakistan officials to fill up 

additional forms specifying their 

expenditures and also that they 

exchange their dollars with the 

same bank. Several senior diplomats 

have refused to withdraw as 

the exchange rate is much lower 

than that offered by the bank. 

Islamabad has lodged a strong 

protest with New Delhi and has 

threatened that disbursal of salaries 

of Indian High Commission 

staff in the Pakistani capital may 

also get affected. The tussle has 

come in the wake of Heart of Asia 

conference in Amritsar, which will 

be attended by Sartaj Aziz, foreign 

affairs adviser to Pakistan Prime 

Minister Nawaz Sharif. 

Diplomats can draw their taxfree 

salaries in dollars. In India, 

withdrawals by diplomats beyond 

$5,000 require documentation on 

purpose of withdrawal. Under that 

limit, there’s no paperwork. 

But demonetisation has led to a 

sharp spike in demand for dollars, 

making it a relatively scarce commodity 

in the financial system. 

RBL Bank, an Indian private bank 

that holds the salary account of the 

Pakistan High Commission staff, 

has asked diplomats for letters of 

purpose for withdrawal of any dollar 

amount. 

Pakistan alleged that the bank 

in question had chosen to target 

its mission specifically and not imposed 

similar conditions on other 

missions. Pakistan said that the 

conditions imposed by the banks 

are unfair as it has even fully supported 

the government’s demonetisation 

move. • 

US: Crackdown could radicalise Rohingyas 


It’s a scene straight out of Myanmar’s 

dark past: a military offensive 

waged beyond world view 

that forces ethnic minority villagers 

from the smouldering ruins of 

their homes. 

The US government, a key 

sponsor of Myanmar’s democratic 

transition, says a security crackdown 

that has displaced tens of 

thousands Rohingya Muslims and 

left an unknown number dead 

risks radicalising a downtrodden 

people and stoking religious tensions 

in Southeast Asia. 

The military moved in after 

armed attacks by unknown assailants 

on police posts along the border 

with Bangladesh in October. 

The attacks in Rakhine State were 

a possible sign that a small number 

of Rohingya were starting to fight 

back against persecution by majority 

Buddhists who view them as 

illegal immigrants although many 

have lived in Myanmar for generations. 

The top US diplomat for East 

Asia, Daniel Russel, is critical of 

the military’s heavy-handed approach 

and says the escalation 

of violence risks inciting jihadist 

extremism in the country also 

known as Burma. He is also calling 

on neighbouring countries, such as 

Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia, 

to resist the urge to stage 

protests that could further stir religious 

passions. 

Assistant Secretary of State 

MYANMAR’S ROHINGYA 

Stateless Muslim ethnic group 

Around 300,000 

Rohingya living in 

coastal areas 

BANGLADESH 

Home to most of the 

1 million Rohingya 

Buddhist-majority 

Myanmar see the 

Rohingya as 

illegal Bangladeshi 

immigrants 

The Rohingya are 

denied citizenship 

and smothered 

by restrictions on 

movement and work 

Russel told The Associated Press 

that, “if mishandled, Rakhine 

State could be infected and infested 

by jihadism which already 

plagues neighbouring Bangladesh 

and other countries.” 

The plight of the Rohingya, 

once characterised by the UN as 

the world’s most friendless people, 

has attracted the attention of 

Muslim extremists since a spike in 

inter-communal violence in Rakhine 

in 2012 that left hundreds dead 

and forced more than 100,000 into 

squalid camps. 

The Somali-born student 

MYANMAR 

Rakhine 

State 

Pakistan High Commission 

Over 120,000 people 

have fled Rakhine since 

religious violence in 2012, 

according to UNHCR 

More than 30,000 

people displaced, 

at least 70 killed 

under military lockdown 

in the north of Rakhine 

since October 

who launched a car-and-knife 

attack at Ohio State University 

this week reportedly protested 

on his Facebook page about 

the killing of minority Muslims 

in Myanmar. And last weekend, 

Indonesian authorities arrested 

two militants who were allegedly 

planning to attack the Myanmar 

Embassy in Jakarta. 

It has also raised hackles in the 

political mainstream. Malaysia’s 

Prime Minister Najib Razak, facing 

domestic pressure over an investment 

fund scandal, is reportedly 

planning to attend a protest in his 

INDIA TODAY 

religiously moderate country this 

weekend condemning the military 

operation in Myanmar. 

With journalists barred from the 

affected area, it’s been near-impossible 

to substantiate reports 

of rapes and killings by Myanmar 

soldiers — the kind of conduct that 

has long blighted the military’s 

reputation in ethnic conflicts. 

Adama Dieng, UN special adviser 

on the prevention of genocide, 

said this week that if reports of 

excessive use of force in Rakhine 

were true, “the lives of thousands 

of people are at risk.” 

Former UN Secretary-General 

Kofi Annan was appointed by Myanmar’s 

civilian leader Aung San 

Suu Kyi in August to find ways 

to help resolve the communal 

tensions. On a fact-finding visit 

Friday, he said that security operations 

must not impede humanitarian 

access. 

That’s been a repeated demand 

from the international community, 

including the US, but it’s made 

little impact. The UN World Food 

Program said Friday that since 

October 9 it has been able to deliver 

food or cash to only 20,000 

of the 152,000 people who usually 

receive assistance, and to 

about 7,000 newly-displaced 

people. 

The military crackdown in Rakhine 

has also exposed the limits 

of Suu Kyi’s power. Human rights 

activists who once lionised Suu 

Kyi now criticise her for failing to 

defend the stateless Rohingya. •

World 

China protests to US after Trump 

speaks to Taiwan leader 

• AFP, Beijing 

China protested to Washington 

Saturday after US President-elect 

Donald Trump broke with decades 

of foreign policy and spoke 

with the president of Taiwan. 

It was not immediately clear 

whether Trump’s telephone call 

with Tsai Ing-wen marked a deliberate 

pivot away from Washington’s 

official “One China” stance, 

but it fuelled fears he is improvising 

on international affairs. 

China regards self-ruling Taiwan 

as part of its own territory awaiting 

reunification under Beijing’s rule, 

and any US move that would imply 

support for independence would 

likely trigger fury. 

During Friday’s discussion, 

Trump and Tsai noted “the close 

economic, political and security 

ties” between Taiwan and the United 

States, according to the president-elect’s 

office. “President-elect 

Trump also congratulated President 

Tsai on becoming President of 

Taiwan earlier this year,” it said. 

Beijing on Saturday offered a 

robust response. 

How wars start 

Washington cut formal diplomatic 

relations with the island in 

1979 and recognises Beijing as the 

sole government of “One China”, 

while keeping friendly, non-official 

ties with Taipei. 

Even before the call with Taiwan, 

Trump’s unorthodox diplomatic 

outreach had raised eyebrows, 

and, for some critics, in 

extending his hand to Taiwan, 

Trump crossed a dangerous line. 

“What has happened in the 

last 48 hours is not a shift. These 

are major pivots in foreign policy 

without any plan. That’s how wars 

start,” tweeted Democratic Senator 

Chris Murphy. 

Very reckless 

In China, analysts painted the call 

as something originating from 

Taiwan, claiming it was a deliberate 

Taiwanese attempt to upend 

America’s China policy. 

Jin Canrong, from China’s Renmin 

University, told the reporters, 

Tsai had been “very cunning” in 

her call to Trump. “Tsai Ing-wen 

would like to draw the US against 

the mainland,” he said. 

“One can see at once that Trump 

is very reckless, not familiar at all 

with the whole context,” Jin said. 

Chinese citizens were quick to 

react to the call on social networking 

platforms. 

“The US dares to recognise Taiwan 

independence,” one user said 

on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. 

Another posted- “He calls Tsai 

as president on Twitter!!! Is Trump 

thinking of using Taiwan as a bargaining 

chip in his negotiations 

with China?” • 

From Pakistan to Taiwan, Trump’s phone calls 

upsetting diplomacy 

• Tribune International Report 

US President-elect Donald 

Trump’s call to Prime Minister 

Nawaz Sharif could “upset the 

delicate balance” of India-Pakistan 

ties, the New York Times said 

as it sounded a critical tone of him 

breaking decades of diplomatic 

practice in free-wheeling calls 

with foreign leaders. 

In an unprecedented break from 

diplomatic practice and a move 

that could irk China, Trump spoke 

with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ingwen, 

becoming the first President 

or President-elect to speak with 

a Taiwanese leader since at least 

1979, when Washington had severed 

diplomatic ties with Taiwan as 

part of its recognition of China. 

Terrific Sharif 

On November 30, Trump spoke 

with Pakistani prime minister 

Newaz Sharif, who according to a 

Pakistani government readout of 

their call, invited Trump to visit 

the south Asian country. The 

readout said Trump had called Pakistan 

a “fantastic” country full of 

“fantastic” people that he “would 

love” to visit as President. The 

President-elect had also called 

Sharif as “terrific” and Pakistanis 

“are one of the most intelligent 

people,” according to the Pakistani 

readout which added that Trump 

said he “is ready and willing to 

play any role that you want me to 

play to address and find solutions 

to the outstanding problems.” 

Effusive in praise for Nazarbayev 

Donald Trump also praised Kazakhstan’s 

leader Nursultan Nazarbayev 

for “fantastic success,” 

in tones that suggest approval for 

Nazarbayev’s strongman rule. 

TAIWAN-CHINA TIES AT CROSSROADS 

1949: Chiang Kai-shek’s 

Kuomintang (KMT) nationalists 

form own government 

in Taiwan after 

Mao Zedong’s 

communists take 

power in China 

1970s 

Pictures: 

Getty 

Images, 

AP 

© GRAPHIC NEWS 

1980s 

2005: Beijing 

1990s 

passes law that makes 

secession by Taiwan illegal, 

at risk of military action 

2008: High-level talks 

resume after Nationalist 

candidate Ma Ying-jeou 

is elected president 

2010: China and Taiwan 

sign preferential trade pact 

2015: China's President 

Xi Jinping and Taiwan’s Ma 

hold historic talks in 

Singapore – first meeting 

of two sides’ leaders 

since 1949 

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets with US President-elect Donald Trump 

at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York on November 17 

REUTERS 

According to the Kazakh 

government’s readout of the 

call, Trump “stressed that under 

the leadership of Nursultan 

Nazarbayev, our country over 

the years of independence had 

achieved fantastic success that 

can be called a miracle.” 

‘His meeting Farage a slap to May’ 

The NYT further said that after 

brushing off the UK, Trump offered 

a casual invitation to British 

Prime Minister Theresa May. “If 

you travel to the US you should let 

me know,” he told her, far short of 

a formal invitation. 

1979: U.S. establishes diplomatic 

relations with China but passes law 

requiring defence aid to Taiwan 

1993: Envoys from both sides 

hold first high-level official talks 

1996: China fires missiles near 

Taiwan in attempt to influence island’s 

first presidential elections 

2000: Nationalists 

lose presidency 

with election of 

DPP candidate 

Chen Shui-bian 

2000s 

2010s 

Jan 16, 2016: Tsai Ing-wen, frontrunner in 

presidential election, is set to become most 

powerful female politician in Chinese world 

Trump also met with Nigel 

Farage, former leader of the fringe 

UK Independence Party — a “slap 

to May,” NYT said. 

Trump later said that Farage 

should become the British Ambassador 

to the US, though presidents 

typically avoid telling foreign 

counterparts how to staff their 

governments, NYT added. 

Invite daughter for Abe meet 

In another break from diplomatic 

protocol, Trump’s daughter Ivanka 

Trump had joined his meeting 

with Japanese Prime Minister 

Shinzo Abe. NYT has said why such 

a move matters is that rather than 

inviting State Department officials 

to staff his meeting with Abe, 

Trump invited his daughter. 

“The meeting alarmed diplomats, 

who worried that Trump 

lacked preparation after a long 

record of criticising Japan. It also 

blurred the line between Trump’s 

businesses, which his daughter 

helps run, and the US government, 

with which she has no role,” 

it said. • 

Source: NEW YORK TIMES 

9 


USA 

Trump ready to offer 

Kabul more support 

DT 

US President-elect Donald Trump 

has assured Afghanistan’s leader in 

a phone call that his administration 

stands ready to up support to the 

country if necessary, a Kabul statement 

said Saturday. “If Afghanistan 

needs more security assistance, 

his administration, after assessing 

the needs, will focus on providing 

more security support,” the statement 

released by President Ashraf 

Ghani’s office read. AFP 

THE AMERICAS 

Venezuela fury at 

Mercosur suspension 

Venezuela angrily rejected as a 

“coup” its suspension from latin economic 

bloc Mercosur on Friday, the 

harshest punishment yet for President 

Nicolas Maduro’s crisis-racked 

government. In a joint statement, 

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and 

Uruguay announced Venezuela was 

suspended from the group after accusations 

that the leftist government 

in Caracas failed to meet democratic 

and trade standards. AFP 

UK 

Labour party would table 

amendment to Brexit bill 

UK’s opposition Labour Party 

plans to table an amendment to a 

bill on triggering the UK’s formal 

divorce talks with the EU, said its 

leader, should a court ruling that 

parliament needs to be involved 

in the process be upheld. Labour 

leader Jeremy Corbyn told on 

Saturday that the party planned to 

put forward an amendment to any 

parliamentary bill. REUTERS 

EUROPE 

Poll predicts Romanian 

leftists win in election 

Romania’s leftist Social Democrats 

(PSD) are likely to win a December 

11 parliamentary election, an opinion 

poll showed on Saturday, bolstering 

their chances of returning 

to government after a year-long 

break. The 10-year-old EU member 

has been governed by technocrats 

led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos 

since November 2015, when the 

PSD resigned from power after a 

deadly nightclub fire in Bucharest 

triggered mass protests. REUTERS 

AFRICA 

Somali forces kill seven 

in clash with IS-backed 

insurgents 

Soldiers allied to the Western-backed 

Somali government 

said they killed seven insurgents 

from a faction loyal to the IS in a 

clash in northern Somalia on Saturday. 

The soldiers from the semi-autonomous 

region of Puntland has 

been under the control of the insurgents 

since November. REUTERS

10 


DT 

World 

Q&A 

Angela Merkel to chart 2017 election battle 

at party congress 

• AFP, Berlin 

After Donald Trump’s shock victory, 

Francois Hollande’s decision not 

to seek re-election and populism on 

the rise, German Chancellor Angela 

Merkel is next up on the campaign 

podium to set out her strategy for 

winning in 2017 polls. 

When her centre-right Christian 

Democratic Union (CDU) holds its 

annual two-day congress from Tuesday, 

she will seek to rally members 

behind her bid for a fourth term as 

Germany’s leader. Merkel has admitted 

that the general election, likely to 

be held in September, will be “more 

difficult than any before it”. 

Her opponents will seek to capitalise 

on resentment over her liberal 

refugee policy that brought one 

million asylum seekers to Europe’s 

biggest economy over the past two 

years. 

Here is an outline of what the 

CDU congress in the western city of 

Essen is about. 

What is expected to happen? 

The event opens Tuesday with 

a speech by Merkel, who has led 

Angela Merkel 

REUTERS 

the CDU for 16 years after ousting 

long-time leader Helmut Kohl. The 

62-year-old is due to give a rundown 

on what she has achieved 

since their last congress, especially 

on the hot-button issue of reducing 

the mass influx of refugees and migrants. 

Crucially, the party faithful will 

be keen to hear how she expects 

to take the party forward into the 

coming election year, which will 

pit the CDU against its current coalition 

partner the Social Democrats 

and several smaller parties. 

Will anyone challenge her? 

There is no question Merkel will 

win a new two-year mandate to 

helm the CDU, but her score, and 

the length of the standing ovation, 

will be closely scrutinised for any 

signs of dissent. At the last vote 

in 2014, she scored a North Korean-style 

96.7%, just below her record 

high of 97.9% from 2012. 

Several potential successors 

have been floated, but no one has 

caught the wider public’s imagination, 

among them Interior Minister 

Thomas de Maiziere and Defence 

Minister Ursula von der Leyen. 

Most German voters still feel comfortable 

with “Mutti” (Mummy), a 

survey found 64% welcomed her 

new candidacy against 33% who 

did not. 

Political analyst Hajo Funke of 

Berlin’s Free University said Merkel 

had made “the correct decision, for 

both the party and for Germany’s 

stability”. Despite some grumbling 

from their Bavarian CSU allies, angered 

by the migrant influx, the 

conservative CDU rank-and-file 

“know who generates power for 

their party,” Funke said. 

What else will they discuss? 

While CDU members approve of 

Merkel’s fourth term bid as chancellor, 

not all are on board with her 

policies. Merkel will be called to account 

for the party’s poor showing 

in five consecutive state elections 

this year in a voter backlash driven 

by the migrant crisis. 

Linked to that are questions 

on how the party can counter the 

leaching away of support to the 

right-wing populist and anti-Islam 

Alternative for Germany (AfD), 

which is polling around 12%. 

To address some of the concerns, 

party chiefs will propose 

banning the full-face Muslim veil 

and cracking down on marriages 

involving minors. Some may seek 

a tougher stance on immigration. 

CDU deputy chairman Thomas 

Strobl last week set out a demand 

to streamline the extradition of rejected 

asylum seekers. 

But it remains unclear if his proposal 

will be put to the congress, 

or whether party leaders will try 

to quash unwelcomed suggestions 

through backroom compromises. 

What’s next for Merkel? 

With the party congress, the CDU 

kicks off a long election campaign in 

which Merkel will seek to capture the 

middle ground. CDU general secretary 

Peter Tauber said “all the questions 

that currently preoccupy the population 

also preoccupy CDU members”. 

Merkel’s party next year faces 

three state elections, with momentum 

steadily building to the 

last regional poll in May in Germany’s 

most populous state, North 

Rhine-Westphalia. 

The new year promises to throw 

up a host of new international challenges. 

It will see Trump move into 

the White House and Britain start 

its EU exit negotiations. 

Merkel will also watch carefully 

the hotly contested French presidential 

election and its impact on 

key EU issues, including migration 

and attitude towards Russia. • 

THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA 

The massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus claimed 800,000 lives in just 100 days, according to the UN 

The start of the killing 

APRIL 6 

Plane carrying president Juvenal 

Habyarimana, a Hutu, is shot down 

APRIL 7 

The first killings as Tutsis in Kigali 

are hacked to death with machetes 

ZAIRE* 

Lac 

Kivu 

UGANDA 

KIGALI 

Mulundi 

BURUNDI 

25 km 

TANZANIA 

8 AVRIL 

The Tutsi Rwandan Patricotic 

Front (RPF), launches offensive, 

heading for Kigali from its base 

in Mulundi 

* Today called the Democratic Republic of Congo 

International community fails 

to react 

APRIL 9-16 

Westerners evacuated 

APRIL 21 

UN cuts peacekeeping 

force from 2,500 to 270 

MAY 12 

Senior UN official describes 

the massacres as ‘GENOCIDE’ 

ZAIRE* 

By 

mid- 

May, 

Butare 

KIGALI 

Regions worst hit 

80% 

UGANDA 

BURUNDI 

TANZ. 

of the massacres 

had already been 

carried out 

France intervenes 

JUNE 23 

France launches Operation 

Turquoise to set up a ‘safe 

humanitarian zone’ 

ZAIRE* 

UG. 

Kibuye KIGALI 

Butare 

BUR. 

TANZ. 

JULY 4 

RPF captures Kigali and Butare 

Population 

before 1994 

7 million 

Mainly peasants 

The Hutu exodus 

JULY 13 

2 million Hutus flee Rwanda 

ZAIRE* 

Goma 

Gisenyi 

Butare 

UGANDA 

Ruhengeri 

KIGALI 

BURUNDI 

JULY 17 

RPF captures Ruhengeri and 

Gisenyi. 

End of the conflict 

Hutus 

Tutsis 

Twas 

Source: UN 

TANZ. 

84% 

15 

1

World 

11 


DT 

Theresa May's Brexit plans face British 

Supreme Court test 


Britain's Supreme Court will Monday 

begin hearing the government's 

appeal against a ruling it must obtain 

parliamentary approval before 

triggering Brexit, in a constitutional 

showdown that has further inflamed 

political tensions. 

The High Court dramatically 

ruled last month that Prime Minister 

Theresa May's government did 

not have the power to invoke Article 

50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the 

formal procedure for leaving the 

EU. The judgement prompted fury 

amongst Brexit supporters who 

fear that lawmakers, who are overwhelmingly 

in favour of staying in 

the EU, may seek to delay or soften 

Britain's withdrawal. 

They have warned of a potential 

"constitutional crisis" as the judges 

rule on the limits of executive power. 

Following a heated and divisive 

campaign, Britons voted by 52 percent 

to leave the EU in the June 23 

referendum. But the act legislating 

the vote did not make the result legally-binding, 

meaning either the 

government or parliament still has 

to pull the trigger. 

In the shadow of the Houses of 

Parliament, all 11 Supreme Court 

judges will on Monday begin four 

days of appeal hearings, with a decision 

due in January. Despite the 

complexity of the issues involved, 

they will be under pressure to make 

a swift ruling, as May has promised 

EU leaders she will invoke Article 

50 by the end of March. 

Resounding defeat 

May argues that as head of the 

government she has constitutional 

authority over foreign affairs, including 

the right to withdraw from 

treaties, under so-called "royal prerogative" 

powers. But the claimants 

in the case, led by investment fund 

manager Gina Miller, counter that 

Brexit would nullify some domestic 

laws and strip citizens of certain 

rights, actions that only parliament 

can carry out. 

The High Court ruling against 

the government was cheered by 

opponents of Brexit, who hope that 

pro-European lawmakers may be 

able to use a parliamentary vote to 

ease the terms of the divorce, for 

French appeal verdict 

due for Rwandan 

genocide convict 

• AFP, Bobigny 

A French jury retired to consider its 

verdict Saturday over an appeal by a 

former Rwandan intelligence agent 

jailed for 25 years in France's first 

trial over Rwanda's 1994 genocide. 

Pascal Simbikangwa was found 

guilty of genocide and complicity 

in crimes against humanity in a 

landmark 2014 trial that marked a 

turning point in France's approach 

to suspected genocide suspects living 

on its soil. 

Simbikangwa, who insists he is 

innocent, launched an appeal in 

October, in a six-week trial to be 

decided by nine jurors and three 

magistrates. 

Prosecutors argued that his 

conviction should be upheld, but 

Simbikangwa insisted he had been 

"demonised". 

"This is my day: either it's freedom 

or (my) ordeal goes on," he 

told the court in Bobigny, outside 

Paris, before it retired. 

Previously France, which was 

seen as supporting the Rwandan 

Hutu regime that carried out the 

bulk of the killings, had been accused 

of dragging its feet on prosecuting 

cases. 

Simbikangwa, who has been 

confined to a wheelchair since a car 

crash in the 1980s, was accused of 

organising roadblocks where Hutu 

militia murdered many of their victims, 

mostly members of the Tutsi 

minority. 

The 56-year-old was also accused 

of arming the militia. 

"I was a soldier but after my accident 

I returned to civilian life," he 

told the court earlier this week. 

Over 800,000 people were 

killed in the three-month orgy 

of killing which began when the 

plane of then president Juvenal 

Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot 

down in April 1994. 

Simbikangwa caused a sensation 

at his trial by declaring he had never 

seen any victims' bodies during 

the slaughter. 

His defence had insisted on the 

fact that the prosecution produced 

no direct witnesses to his alleged 

crimes. 

The former presidential guard 

member was arrested in 2008 on 

the French Indian Ocean island of 

Mayotte, where he had been living 

under a false identity. • 

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May 

example by keeping Britain in the 

single market. 

An added complication in next 

week's hearings will be the presence 

of representatives from the devolved 

Scottish and Welsh governments, 

who are expected to argue that Article 

50 also needs to be approved by 

their devolved parliaments. 

Such a ruling could derail May's 

timetable further and, given that 

Scottish lawmakers are opposed to 

leaving the EU, set up a stand-off 

between the nations. The Supreme 

Court will also hear an appeal calling 

for the Northern Ireland assembly 

to have a vote, brought by 

Raymond McCord, a victims rights 

campaigner. 

Government 'could lose 11-0' 

While the government has publicly 

expressed confidence about its appeal, 

legal expert Michael Zander 

said it has little chance of winning, 

describing the original ruling was 

"unanimous and very strong". "In 

my view, the government could be 

looking at losing 11-0," he wrote in 

legal magazine Counsel. 

If it does lose, the government is 

expected to immediately introduce 

a short bill authorising the invoking 

of Article 50 that it will try to rapidly 

push through parliament. 

The main opposition Labour 

party, which has 231 MPs in the 650- 

seat House, has said it will not block 

Article 50 but it is divided on the issue. 

The government is also braced 

for a potentially complex judgement, 

with Brexit minister David 

Davis this week telling MPs that "it 

isn't just a yes-no outcome". 

Supreme Court judge Brenda 

Hale, one of those hearing the appeal, 

suggested during a recent 

speech that the 1972 European Communities 

Act which is the foundation 

of Britain's EU membership may 

have to be entirely replaced before 

Brexit could begin, a process that 

would bring even further delays. • 

EU, UN: No solution for Aleppo 

without negotiations 

• AFP, Rome 

Top EU and UN diplomats warned 

on Saturday that there could be no 

victory in the battle for the Syrian 

city of Aleppo without negotiations 

aimed at ensuring a viable future 

for the war-torn country. 

"You can win a war but you 

can lose the peace," said Federica 

Mogherini, the EU's foreign affairs 

chief, at a conference on the Mediterranean 

region in Rome. 

"Who is interested in winning a 

war in Syria and getting at a price a 

country that is divided, armed, full 

of terrorists, isolated in the international 

community?" Mogherini 

asked, adding that she did not consider 

President Bashar al-Assad's 

regime as having already won the 

Aleppo battle. 

As of Saturday the Syrian army 

controlled more than half the rebel 

part of Aleppo after seizing overnight 

another sector in an offensive 

that has claimed more than 300 civilian 

lives and forced tens of thousands 

to flee the fighting. UN envoy 

to Syria Staffan de Mistura, who 

was also at the Rome conference, 

voiced concern about the Assad regime's 

advances in Aleppo. 

"If this is going to be an occasion 

REUTERS 

Syrians evacuated from eastern Aleppo, reach out for Russian food aid in 

government controlled Jibreen area in Aleppo, Syria on November 30 REUTERS 

for the government to say: we won 

the war, and therefore no need for 

negotiations, I hope not," he said, 

adding that's why he counts on "the 

influence of Russia and Iran" to 

convince Damascus to seek a negotiated 

solution to the conflict. 

The loss of Syria's second city to 

Assad's forces would be the biggest 

blow yet to Syria's opposition in the 

more than five-year-old war. 

"Now it's time for negotiation, 

but negotiating in real terms, which 

means power sharing... Otherwise, 

the alternative could be no major 

conflict but a creeping, ongoing 

guerilla (war) and no reconstruction," 

de Mistura said. 

More than 300,000 people have 

been killed since the Syrian conflict 

started with anti-government protests 

in March 2011, and over half 

the country's population has been 

displaced. •

DT 

12 

Business 


CAPITAL MARKET SNAPSHOT: PAST WEEK 

DSE Broad Index 4,823.0 0.7% ▲ Index 1,149.5 1.4% ▲ 30 Index 1,787.7 1.0% ▲ Turnover in Mn Tk 36,005.0 -9.5% ▼ Turnover in Mn Vol 1,258.1 -0.2% ▼ 

CSE All Share Index 14,840.6 0.8% ▲ 30 Index 13,245.1 0.3% ▲ Selected Index 9,023.3 0.7% ▲ Turnover in Mn Tk 2,213.3 4.7% ▲ Turnover in Mn Vol 93.9 2.7% ▲ 

Boiler tube, sanitary business on the wane 

• Rafikul Islam 

The merchants of boiler tube, ceramic 

and sanitary products in 

Dhaka are disappointed as they are 

facing downturn in their business 

over the past two years. 

The government ban on gas 

connection to industries hit their 

business very hard while the 

downward trend in Shipping and 

Housing business made a big dent 

in the sale, said the traders. 

Visiting the markets in Suritola, 

Siddique Bazaar, Nawabpur Road 

and Hazi Osman Gani road area 

across the capital, it became evident. 

According to the businessmen, 

rise in package VAT on shops located 

in Dhaka and Chittagong City 

Corporations from Tk28,000 from 

Tk14,000 for the current fiscal year 

is a burden for them. 

The retailers and wholesalers 

said they supply MS Pipe, Semles, 

SS & PVC Pipe, Gas Valve, Steam 

Valve, Boiler Fitting, Ceramic and 

Sanitary goods to different parts 

across the country. 

Md Afzal Hossain Hiron, a proprietor 

of Afzal Trading Corporation, 

said he had been in the business 

over the past few years, but 

never faced such a situation earlier. 

“Once I made a sale between Tk1 

lakh and Tk1.5 lakh on a day, but 

those are bygone days. Even some 

proprietors are forced to close their 

shops as they have failed to pay 

French retailer Mim accused 

of $5m non-payments 

• Ibrahim Hossain Ovi 

their employees.” 

Afzal shared his experience by 

saying that over the past couple of 

days he could not make any sale 

while around Tk1 lakh is spent per 

month on shop rent. 

“However, recently we have encountered 

more business cost than 

what we make as profit.” 

The trader added that they are 

not happy as they did not witness 

any proper initiative by the government. 

Earlier, “Bebosayi Oikkya Forum” 

held rally closing their shops 

in Dhaka Mohanagar, protesting 

the new VAT law which imposes 

Six Bangladesh apparel exporters 

have alleged that 

French retailer Mim did not 

pay them a total of around 

$5m as prices of supplied 

products, said BGMEA. 

“There are complaints 

from six BGMEA members 

that Mim is in default of 

about $5m against the products 

delivered to the retailer,” 

BGMEA Vice President Mohammed 

Nasir told the Dhaka 

Tribune yesterday. 

“Usually the payment 

against LC (letter of credit) is 

made within 21 days of shipment 

of products. But Mim 

failed to make the payments 

even in three months of shipment,” 

he added. 

The exporters who have 

made the allegations are Pioneer 

Causal Wear Ltd, Ocean 

Sweater Ind Ltd, Centex 

Fashions Ltd, Intraco Designs 

Ltd, Ashulia Apparels Ltd and 

Emaz Fashion Wear Ltd. 

In a letter, they urged the 

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers 

and Exporters Association 

(BGMEA) to take steps 

to resolve the issue. 

They said neither Mim 

nor the CM-CIC Market Solutions, 

the client’s bank, are 

responding to the exporters’ 

demand of payments. 

The LC opening bank is 

responsible to pay the prices 

of products to suppliers 

in international trade as per 

agreement. 

Under the LC agreement, 

the bank will endorse the Bill 

of Landing receiving the payment 

from the client to get 

products delivered. 

The exporters said the 

non-payment by the retailer 

put them in trouble to pay the 

bills of raw materials. 

The exporters were supposed 

to pay the bills of raw materials 

on receipt of payments 

from buyers as per the conditions 

of a back-to-back LC. 

“As Mim is yet to pay, it has 

become so difficult for us to 

run business,” said one of the 

six exporters asking not to be 

named. 

“The suppliers of raw materials 

and banks continue to 

press us for the bills of raw 

materials,” the exporter said. 

BGMEA Vice-President Nasir 

said they would raise the 

issue to the Bangladesh Bank 

governor and write to the Bangladesh 

embassy in France. He 

said they also talked to French 

ambassador in Dhaka. • 

Traders sit idle at a boiler 

tube outlet in Dhaka 

recently. The people 

involved with the business 

say they are passing 

sluggish days due to ban 

on new gas connections 

RAFIKUL ISLAM 

a uniform 15% VAT on all types of 

products and services. 

On condition of anonymity, a 

merchant said harassment of buyers 

in loading and unloading of 

products by the police is also another 

reason for the nosedive in sale. 

The lawmen are also alleged to 

seize products if buyers don’t pay 

money as per their demand over 

parking van or truck on road to 

load products. 

Asked about it, Officer-in- 

Charge (OC) of Bongshal Police Station 

Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui refuted 

the allegation. 

Md Murad Hossain Tipu, Al-Aksha 

Trading proprietor, said the 

country’s economic condition is 

not well. 

The government runs the state 

on debt and so the VAT fixed in this 

fiscal year has been increased that 

has affected general people, added 

the trader. 

According to Md Shohel Rana of 

M/S Ananda Trading, the dullness 

on their business is a spillover effect 

of global economic recession, 

plus nonstop strike by opposition 

parties in previous year. 

Md Abdus Salam, proprietor of 

Green Agency, alleged that some 

local businessmen do not pay them 

on time. They purchase goods on 

credit but get away without paying. 

“For this reason, new traders 

cannot continue their business.” 

However, the country’s ceramic 

industry, which has employed 

around 5 lakh workers, has so far 

invested Tk5,000 crore and witnessed 

200% growth in the last five 

years, according to Bangladesh Ceramic 

Wares Manufacturers Association 

(BCWMA). 

Currently, there are over 50 local 

industries that meet the local demands 

and export products to many 

other countries. All these industries 

are involved mainly in production of 

tableware, tiles and sanitary ware. 

Ceramic trader Rony Sarker 

said: “We have no language in this 

regard. We are facing much trouble 

with our families over the business 

downturn. We are waiting to get 

the happy moment back.” 

Bangladesh Pipe & Tube-well 

Merchant’s Association President 

SM Akkas told the Dhaka Tribune 

that the recession is actually going 

on in all business sectors across the 

country. 

He also said increase in VAT, 

License fee and price of different 

goods put a heavy pressure on their 

business. 

Akkas, however, called for proper 

government initiative to ensure 

a favourable business climate. 

“We are hopeful that our business 

will thrive again.” •

Business 13 

DT 


World’s largest investment bankers 

keen to invest in Bangladesh 

• BSS 

The world’s largest investment 

bankers including J P Morgan, Price 

Water and Cooper (PcW), Deutsche 

Bank and Suisse Bank are interested 

to invest in Bangladesh, international 

investment banking sources 

said. 

This “Big 4” in investment banking 

and also an Italian bank are 

looking at the investment opportunities 

in the country. 

Of the “Big 4” PcW’s audit wing 

Huawei launches GR5 model smartphone 

• Tribune Business Desk 

Huawei launched its advanced 

dual camera device Huawei GR5 

2017. The smartphone, having a 

premium design and cutting edge 

technology, was launched at a 

grand ceremony at Radisson hotel, 

Dhaka on Thursday. 

Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and 

Director of Device Business at 

Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) 

LTD Ingmar Wang formally 

launched the new smartphone. 

About the device, Ingmar Wang 

said: “The Huawei GR5 2017 follows 

the overwhelming customer 

demand for powerful budget 

smartphones which offers productivity, 

entertainment and superb 

photography experience.” 

He said the device has the features 

of high-end smartphones and 

the price is kept at a “reasonable 

level” to allow customers to fully 

unleash the potential of smartphones 

and digitize their lives. 

“It signifies our commitment 

towards the Bangladeshi market, 

which is a very important market 

Etihad wins 

‘World’s Leading 

Airline’ award 


Etihad Airways has once again received 

the ‘World’s Leading Airline’ 

award at the 23rd annual World 

Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final 

Gala Ceremony 2016. 

This marks the eighth consecutive 

year that the airline has received 

award before an audience 

of the industry’s leading luminaries 

and international media at the 

idyllic Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Beach 

Resort in the Maldives. 

Etihad Airways also received the 

award for ‘World’s Leading First 

Class’. • 

has been operating here for long 

and JP Morgan’s security wing has 

entered the capital market, for 

quite some time. 

The investment wing of both the 

organisations is planning to start 

operating, here, soon. PcW has already 

upgraded its establishment by 

setting up a liaison office, while the 

others are operating through agents. 

On an average, there is at least 

one investment proposal from 

Bangladesh, every month, going to 

the investment banks. 

for us,” Wang added. 

Pre-booking for GR5 2017 began 

on December 1 and will continue 

till December 15. 

During pre-booking period, customer 

will also get some attractive 

gifts such as business backpack, 

selfie stick and 32GB SD card. 

There will also be six-month EMI 

facilities. The device will retail at 

Tk21,900. 

This chic and powerful smartphone 

is designed for technology 

trendsetter looking for a superb 

smartphone camera on a budget, 

Huawei said. 

Like its predecessor –Huawei 

GR5, the Huawei GR5 2017 offers 

features and technologies to rival 

even the most expensive handsets, 

the company said. 

It said the GR5 2017 provides 

speedy performance, exceptional 

battery life, and for the first time 

ever on the smartphone market, a 

premium dual camera that everyone 

can afford. • 

Stocks rise for five straight weeks 


Stocks extended their gaining 

streak for the fifth week in a row. 

During the week, the benchmark 

index of Dhaka Stock Exchange 

DSEX rose over 31 points or 0.7% to 

settle at 4,823, which is the highest 

level since October 6 last year. 

The blue-chip index DS30 was 

up 18 points or 1% to 1,787. The 

DSE Shariah Index DSES gained 16 

points or 1.5% to 1,149. 

The port city bourse, Chittagong 

Stock Exchange , also ended higher 

with its Selective Categories Index, 

CSCX, advancing 60.97 points or 

0.68% to close at 9,023.26. 

The Chittagong Stock Exchange 

Selective Category Index CSCX 

moved up about 60 points or 0.7% 

to 9,023. 

Most of the major sectors ended 

in green during the week. Cement, 

engineering, food and allied fuel 

and power stocks were the best 

performers of the market. 

“Bull continued to resonate the 

market after hitting the benchmark 

index above 4,800-mark 

during the week and the market is 

moving towards the 4,870 resistance 

level steadily amidst strong 

liquidity,” said Lanka Bangla Securities. 

Long market uptrend attracted 

investors, pushing up the participation 

in trade. The week’s average 

daily turnover stood at Tk720 

crore, down 9.5% over previous 

If they find conditions satisfying 

they will respond positively, perhaps 

by opening a liaison office or going 

ahead with their investment projects. 

According to G4 sources, most 

of the proposals relate to infrastructure 

and banking where there 

are huge possibilities. 

Bangladesh bankers are upbeat 

about the interest by the world’s 

largest invest companies but would 

prefer European banks because of 

their better compliance with the 

Basel agreement, a senior Bangladeshi 

banker told the BSS. 

They are also hopeful that major 

financial areas like acquisition and 

mergers could greatly benefit from 

the global expertise in the short-run. 

But other areas like management, 

technology and capital could 

be largely benefit from their involvement. 

The creation of bond market, 

finding strategic partners for the 

bourses, securitising of assets 

could give depth to our financial 

market as a senior banker put it. • 

Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan (fourth from left) and Director of Device Business at Huawei Technologies Ltd Ingmar Wang (fourth 

from right), among others, attended the launching of GR5 smartphone on Thursday 

week that saw highest block trade. 

Excluding block transaction observed 

in the week before, the last 

week witnessed the year’s highest 

daily average turnover. 

Activities remained mainly confined 

to engineering, textile and 

pharmaceuticals sectors, together 

making up over 40% of the week’s 

total turnover value. 

Gainers took a strong lead over 

the losers as out of 328 issues traded, 

187 closed higher, 107 ended 

lower and 34 remained unchanged 

on the DSE. 

Bangladesh Building Systems 

dominated the week’s turnover 

chart, followed by Quasem Drycells, 

Doreen Power, Lafarge Surma 

Cement and Beximco. • 

9 national level 

top VAT payers 

to be awarded 

• Syed Samiul Basher Anik 

The National Board of Revenue 

(NBR) is set to award nine companies 

and firms on July 10 in recognition 

of their contribution to 

national exchequer by paying the 

highest amount of Value Added 

Tax (VAT) in the fiscal year 2014-15. 

The board has already finalised 

the list of the top nine VAT payers 

under national level to be awarded 

for their outstanding contributions 

under three categories- production, 

services and business. 

An official gazette notification 

was issued recently with the name 

of the companies and firms. The 

top VAT-paying companies will be 

awarded with a crest along with a 

certificate at a ceremony to be held 

in the capital on December 10 as 

part of NBR’s aim to encourage industrialists 

and businesses to pay 

more VAT to the state exchequer. 

The NBR organises the programme 

every year marking the 

VAT Day. 

Star Ceramics (Hobiganj), Berger 

Paints Bangladesh Limited (Savar, 

Dhaka), and Super Petro Chemical 

Limited (Chittagong) will be awarded 

under the production category 

while Gallery Apex (Tongi, Gazipur), 

M M Ispahani (Sales and Marketing 

Department, Chittagong), 

and International Beverage Limited 

(Gazipur) will be awarded under 

business category. 

One World Aviation Limited 

topped in the services category 

followed by Chowdhury Tea Ware 

House (Chittagong) and Mastermind 

School (Dhanmondi). 

Among the nine companies, 

Chowdhury Tea Warehouse and 

Gallery Apex received the award in 

last year as well. 

The award recipients will enjoy 

a number of benefits for one year 

from the issuance of the date of the 

award. 

The revenue authorities have 

chalked out various programmes 

to observe the VAT day on December 

10. 

The central programmes include 

a rally and the award-giving ceremony 

while the district VAT commissionerates 

will also observe the 

day through different programmes 

to encourage more people to pay 

more VATs. • 

Corrigendum 

In the interview “Huawei to be top 

smartphone brand in Bangladesh 

by 2018” published on Thursday 

mistakenly said Huawei’s market 

share in Bangladesh is 3%. It will 

be 18%. Its annual investment in 

R&D is also more than 10%. And 

globally Huawei became the third 

largest smartphone brand in just 

two years. •

14 


DT 

Business 

Banks to Britain: Stagger Brexit 

over years or we could leave 

• Reuters 

Britain must negotiate a staggered 

departure from the European Union 

over several years or risk banks leaving 

the country, the biggest banking 

lobby group will warn the government 

in coming weeks, according to sources 

familiar with the matter. 

The British Bankers’ Association 

will argue its case in a report to Prime 

Minister Theresa May’s government, 

outlining the risks for the country if she 

does not secure a “transition” phase 

beyond the two-year withdrawal period 

that will begin when she invokes 

Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty. 

The document also calls for a clear 

message from the government about 

its vision of Brexit, following perceived 

mixed messages from ministers 

about the importance they place on retaining 

access to the EU single market. 

“We’re saying we need an adaptation 

period ... to stop banks moving en 

masse,” said one person familiar with 

the report, speaking on condition of 

anonymity as the proposals have not 

been made public. 

The BBA’s draft report is the first 

blueprint about how a transition could 

work - and spelling out the risks if it is 

absent. 

May has said she will invoke Article 

50 by the end of March 2017, starting 

formal withdrawal negotiations with 

Brussels, meaning Britain would leave 

in early 2019. 

Banks and business have long 

warned of the need to avoid a “cliff 

edge” or abrupt British exit from the 

bloc without advance knowledge 

about how trading terms might look. 

If no deal has been agreed for Britain 

to retain some access to the single 

market after the two years of talks, UKbased 

banks may be forced to withdraw 

services to EU customers and vice versa 

unless they relocate to the continent. 

Under the currently envisaged 

timetable, the BBA will warn, banks 

will not have enough time to prepare 

themselves for Brexit and their possible 

departure from London. • 

CORPORATE NEWS 

Rangs Electronics Ltd has recently launched Sony Camera Fair 2016, 

said a press release. The company’s general manager (marketing and 

sales), Tanvir Hossain has inaugurated the launching ceremony 

Janata Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with local 

offices, corporate branch and divisional offices regarding achievement 

of the bank’s annual target, said a press release. The bank’s managing 

director, Md Abdus Salam, FCA was present on the occasion 

Exim Bank has recently opened its 113th branch at Shantinagar, said 

a press release. The bank’s chairperson, Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder 

inaugurated the branch 

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently signed a participating agreement 

with Bangladesh Bank for Green Transformation Fund, said a press 

release. The bank’s managing director, Kazi Masihur Rahman and Monoj 

Kumar Biswash, general manager at Bangladesh Bank have signed the 

agreement

Business 15 

DT 


Pumpjacks and other infrastructure for producing oil dot fields outside 

of Watford City 

REUTERS 

Opec deal could 

lead to US shale 

surge 

• AFP, New York 

With this week’s deal to cut 

output, Opec is creating incentives 

for American shale producers 

to boost output just as 

the incoming Trump administration 

vows measures to promote 

US oil development. 

The deal, announced 

Wednesday by the Organization 

of the Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, will cut the 

cartel’s output by 1.2 million 

barrels per day (bpd). 

Oil prices shot up on the announcement, 

which was more 

muscular than many analysts 

expected, boosting prices by 

nearly 10% Wednesday and 

lifting the US benchmark contract 

to above than $50 a barrel 

Thursday. 

Opec’s planned production 

cuts are nearly the 

same amount US producers 

trimmed in the wake of a twoyear 

skid in prices. 

US output has fallen to 8.5 

million a day, down from a 

peak of 9.6 million barrels a 

day in April 2015 following cutbacks 

in West Texas and other 

key shale-producing regions. 

Some believe the OPEC deal 

to boost prices could sow the 

seeds of its undoing as more 

US companies boost output in 

response, which in turn would 

push prices lower. 

US “production could surprise 

to the upside,” Morgan 

Stanley said in a note Thursday. 

“Surprisingly, when asked 

about this possibility during 

the press conference it appeared 

the oil ministers were 

unconcerned.” 

Morgan Stanley predicted 

it would take six to nine 

months for the price increase 

to prompt a supply response 

in the US, around the same 

time OPEC producers also are 

expected to ramp up. 

‘America First’ and energy 

The OPEC meeting this week 

also came amid a sea change 

in US politics as the world’s 

biggest economy transitions 

to President-elect Donald 

Trump, who vowed in the 

campaign to free the petroleum 

industry from burdensome 

restrictions. 

During the campaign, 

Trump promised to open new 

US lands to petroleum production, 

approve new pipelines, 

encourage offshore development 

and cut regulations on 

the industry. 

That cocktail of domestic 

policies “could depress oil 

prices markedly given Trump’s 

promise,” Oxford Economics 

said in a research note. 

Harold Hamm, the chief executive 

of shale producer Continental 

Resources who advised 

Trump on energy during 

the campaign, acknowledged 

the possibility the OPEC deal 

could pose problems for US 

producers if they restore too 

much production. 

“We have the ability to 

oversupply the market,” 

Hamm told CNBC on Thursday. 

“The key is not to.” 

Hamm said limited US refining 

capacity has pinched 

the industry, in part because 

foreign oil companies from 

Saudi Arabia and Venezuela 

own refineries in the US and 

are biased towards imported 

crude. But it is not clear if 

Trump will take on foreign 

ownership of refineries. 

Trump’s full intentions on 

environmental policies also 

remain unclear. 

The president-elect described 

climate change as a 

hoax during the campaign, but 

suggested in a recent interview 

with the New York Times 

that he was open to climate 

mitigation policies. • 

Ex-WTO chief: 

China must 

‘walk the talk’ 

on trade 

• AFP, Beijing 

Beijing’s pledges to pursue trade 

liberalisation in the face of a potentially 

more protectionist US under 

Donald Trump meant it was time 

for China to “walk the talk” on the 

issue, former WTO director-general 

Pascal Lamy said Friday. 

Lamy, also a former EU commissioner 

who negotiated China’s 

entry into the World Trade Organisation, 

said that despite a rise in 

anti-globalisation rhetoric, he expected 

the EU and China to remain 

key players in keeping international 

trade open. • 

Basel banking talks fall 

short of deal in Chile 

• AFP, Santiago 

Regulators failed to clinch a controversial 

agreement on new global banking 

rules aiming to prevent a repeat of the 

2008 finance crisis, at talks in Chile last 

week. 

The Basel Committee, a forum of international 

financial authorities, met 

with banking supervisors to set new 

global norms for banking stability. 

Committee chairman Stefan Ingves 

told the gathering in Santiago that delegates 

were close to a deal after two days 

of talks. 

“Discussions focused on the adjustments 

necessary to adapt to the new 

global regulatory framework, the revised 

standardized approach for credit 

risk, and the growing and important 

role of supervisory stress testing,” said 

the Bank for International Settlements, 

a global central bank, in a statement. 

But the delegates for the time being 

fell short of their aim of finalizing a 

deal to tighten capital requirements for 

banks. 

Ingves had said Wednesday the 

committee would oblige some banks to 

strengthen their capital base to cushion 

them against financial shocks. 

He hoped the members of the forum 

would approve the new regulations, 

known as the “Basel III” reforms, in January. 

Disagreements have threatened to 

complicate the reforms. 

The United States has been pushing 

for strict capital requirements. •

16 


DT 

Feature 

'The main objective of fund-raising is to 

accelerate growth' 

Tanveer Ali, Executive Director of Olympic Industries, talks about fund-raising 

• Nahid Farzana 

Every week expert mentors are 

taking sessions for the top 5 

start-ups of GP Accelerator (GPA) 

which is operated by SD ASIA. The 

sessions effectively guide the startups 

for success in the long run. 

Tanveer Ali, Executive Director 

of Olympic Industries Ltd. came in 

as a mentor recently. His session 

was on fund-raising tips for the 

start-ups. He talked about the 

different phases of fund-raising. 

Here are few key points from the 

session: 

Before looking for fund-raising 

what are the crucial topics to keep 

in mind? 

Fund-raising is often a very 

sensitive issue. There is a lot of 

negotiation. It’s not only just 

between the investor and you 

but also between you and your 

co-founders and team members. 

All the members need to agree on 

how much to raise and how much 

of equity are you willing to give 

up. Lots of things should be well 

considered before making the 

decision of fund-raising. The big 

ones are- 

• Where are you today and where 

do you want to be next? 

• How much your business 

spending today? 

• How much do you need to get 

where you want to be in next 

15-18 months? 

• How much of your business are 

you willing to give away to get 

that funding? 

• If you don’t raise money, where 

will you be? 

Why do we take money from 

external investors? 

There could be different reasons 

for each company to raise money. 

But typically 2 primary reasons are 

critical- 

• Diversifying economic risks 

by involving more people. If 

you acquire shareholders you 

spread the chances of risk. 

• Accelerating your growth should 

be the primary reason of why you 

want to raise money. Focusing 

on the growth of your business 

should be your key planning. 

By taking investors’ money, you 

plan the road map of how quickly 

to accelerate the growth or reach 

your goals. If you have certain 

goals that you know you can reach 

in 3 years, would getting external 

capital cut the time to one and 

a half year? If the answer to this 

question is yes, then comes a more 

critical one. How much of your 

business do you have to give away 

to meet your revenue goals in 1 

and a half year? 

What do investors look for in a 

business before deciding whether 

to invest or not? 

These are the three most 

important things that any investor 

would review: 

• Team 

• Product market fit 

• Market size 

Every venture capital investor 

looks at different things in 

business. But the general number 

one item that any investor would 

look for is the Team. Typically 

while assessing different criteria 

in investment assessment, the 

investor put 70% of the valuation 

in Teams. Whether the team is 

confident, compatible and has 

the ability to execute the plan 

has a great impact on investing 

decision. 

Typically it takes an average 

startup 7 years to reach a level 

of liquidity events. Investors 

look for a team that can iterate 

through this time. The role of each 

member of the team might overlap 

and they need to carry along. Also, 

it’s important to figure out how 

the members will react if they fail. 

The team is valued so high 

because you invest in people 

and you do that so that they can 

salvage the business. The team 

needs to truly understand the 

product market fit and the market 

landscape. Their confidence and 

commitment need to be high to 

carry the start-up for 7 years. So 

while trying to get investment, 

focus on the strength and 

dynamics of your team. 

Once you have figured these out, 

you need to think about your 

fund-raising ask. 

• How much you want from 

investors? 

• What right and privilege will 

you give them? 

Fundraising is not a fun thing 

to do. You need to negotiate and 

meet investors many times. Also 

when you do fund-raising, you are 

not building your business which 

is a pretty big opportunity cost. 

So, you need to decide how much 

you are asking for and what will 

you be offering them in return. 

How much do you need to raise? 

How much is too little or too 

much? 

You must have a financial 

model. Ideally, you need to know 

how much money you will need in 

next 15-18 months. 

Risks of raising too little funds 

• You may not be able to spend 

money for acceleration of 

growth 

• You may not see the expected 

results 

• Competition catches up 

• You have to start fund-raising 

again and thus lose focus on 

building your business 

Risks of raising too much 

• You raise expectations of 

investors and if you fail to 

deliver, you stand to lose 

further investment, and 

(possibly) even the original 

investments 

• If they don’t give more funding, 

you will have to raise at a lower 

valuation which will bring 

down the value of business and 

negatively impact your market 

image. 

• The idle hand makes a poor 

decision. You take more 

aggressive chances and make 

wrong decisions. 

How you are going to spend your 

money matters to investors 

Investors don’t just want to throw 

around their money. They analyse 

3 different major components 

of how you going to spend their 

money 

• Your product roadmap is very 

important. Investors like to 

know where you will take your 

company’s technology next 

and it matters a lot in their 

investment decision. 

• How much of your expenses 

are going to be over your 

revenues is also very 

important. Investors focus on 

the optimisation of cash flow. 

• You need to point out where 

you are going to spend the 

money specifically. Marketing, 

advertising, product 

development, hiring, etc. 

budget needs to be specified 

over a period of time. 

What does a perfect investor 

look like? 

• Has experience in similar field 

• Has time to guide you 

• Can add value and strategise 

How do you raise funds? 

• Investor pitch. 

What should be in the investor 

pitch? 

• Dynamic team 

• execution strategy 

• what you will do and what you 

did so far 

• market problem and solution 

• market landscape 

• roadmap 

A typical investment pitching 

process might take some 30-90 

days. You need to be patient and 

plan ahead about the amount you 

need to raise. If you raise less, you 

will again have to spend up to 90 

days in pitching and your business 

performance will eventually fall 

behind. 

Funding is just one piece of 

the entire puzzle; it helps you to 

accelerate your growth. It should 

never be seen as an achievement 

or goal, rather as a mean to 

achieve your objectives. •

Career 

17 


DT 

7 deadly sins at work 

Personality traits that could sabotage your career 

• Sabrina Fatma Ahmad 

Do you find yourself 

changing jobs every 

couple of years because 

the “office politics” 

are getting too much? Here’s a 

newsflash: every organisation, by 

virtue of having a hierarchy, has a 

power structure, and this means 

politics is inevitable. In other 

words, there’s no escaping it. So 

if you’re unable to deal, maybe 

it’s time to look inwards to see 

if the problem may not lie with 

you. Even the best worker can fall 

prey to some social ills that turn 

an atmosphere toxic. Here are the 

seven pitfalls. 

Green eyed monsters 

A little competition is healthy. It 

provides you and your colleagues 

onus to push yourselves and do 

a little better. As a species, we’re 

used to comparing ourselves with 

one another, and whenever we 

come out on top by even a little, 

it’s a natural high. However, some 

people tend to have deep-seated 

insecurities, where competition is 

seen not as such, but as a threat, 

and thus their behaviours tend 

to be directed towards removing 

that threat. In other words, 

they’re jealous. And it is when 

this happens that the resentment, 

the backstabbing and sabotaging 

happens. 

If you find yourself feeling 

the work envy, take a moment to 

step back and ask yourself why 

this is so, and be honest. Is it 

really because the boss is playing 

favourites, or is it just that you 

feel threatened because you feel 

like you’re not good enough? The 

answer might just surprise you. 

If you’re on the receiving end 

of the work envy, take some time 

to identify the parties feeling it, 

and try to reassure them by taking 

interest in their life and work, 

and never being too smug around 

them. 

Monkey see, monkey do 

Every office has a certain work 

culture, and it pays to blend in 

to make things smoother on a 

day-to-day basis. This might 

mean dressing a certain way, 

or suppressing certain natural 

instincts in order to get along. 

Considering how much time we 

spend at work these days, when 

you start to get along with your 

colleagues, friendships form very 

quickly, and it’s a beautiful thing. 

However, it can also result in what 

we Bangalis like calling “cliquebaji”. 

When you have a group of 

people fitting in together, getting 

along, it’s only too easy to view 

anyone who’s slightly different 

through the lens of groupthink, 

and result in negative behaviour. 

It could be that one hijabi in the 

office that everyone shies away 

from, or that one guy who doesn’t 

smoke, that gets the smug sideeyes. 

If others are going all Mean 

Girls on them, it can be a problem. 

If you’re part of a group, 

remember that while it’s great 

to get along with everyone, you 

need to have your own opinions 

too. If you’re an outsider, consider 

blending a little bit in order to 

make things easier on yourself, 

but never feel like you have to give 

up on things that really matter. 

Stuck on a moment 

When the job is demanding, 

the comfort of familiar routines 

is increasingly sought after. A 

well-established workflow can 

make things run smoothly in 

the office. However, when the 

organisation gets too comfortable 

with doing things one way, a sort 

of rigor mortis sets in, and this 

can be a blow to innovation, and 

eventually cause the company 

to stagnate. If a new recruit or 

intern challenges the way things 

are done at work, take a moment 

to consider his/her point of view. 

Be open to new ideas so you don’t 

become inflexible. If you’re the 

young one up against hidebound 

traditionalists who absolutely 

refuse to change the way things 

are done, sorry. This is a battle 

you can’t win. Cut your losses and 

polish up your CV. 

All about me 

This is the age of selfies and 

self-expression. The notion of 

corporate loyalty is fast becoming 

obsolete, so that you are now 

expected to change jobs at least 

a couple of times in your career. 

Having said that, while it is 

important to put your needs first 

and think of how the job benefits 

you, there’s a line between being 

self-interested and just selfish. 

There’s still something called 

karma, so get on the lady’s good 

side by doing a few good deeds 

with no strings attached, and 

you’ll reap unexpected benefits. 

The quicksand 

Anyone who’s ever done a group 

project at school or uni will be 

familiar with this scenario: one 

person does the heavy lifting, a 

couple of people take “shortcuts”, 

and the rest pull a disappearing 

act faster than you can say 

Houdini. Work life is no different. 

There will always be people who 

take the easy way out, or shirk 

responsibilities. As a manager, you 

have to be aware of the slackers 

and hold them accountable. As 

a “star performer”, you need to 

manage your energies and learn to 

say no when your lazy co-worker 

asks you to cover for them yet 

another time. And if you’re the 

slacker, well...you’ll eventually get 

what’s coming to you. Don’t say 

you haven’t been warned. 

As changeable as the 

weather 

Human beings are moody, fickle 

creatures. They’ll break promises, 

change their minds and loyalties 

at the drop of a hat, and go back 

on decisions “set in stone”. This is 

Illustration: Bigstock 

all part of the bigger picture when 

you enter the workforce. Some 

people are more prone to getting 

carried away by emotions, and it 

can be hard to work with them. If 

you tend to be someone who has 

strong emotions, consider taking 

a step back before you act on 

them. If you’re on the receiving 

end of an emotional co-worker, 

treat the person with a certain 

amount of detachment, and you’ll 

be fine. 

Under the rug 

Confrontations are rarely pretty, 

and most people would rather 

avoid them. This is where passive 

aggressive behaviours come 

from. Left to fester, this can 

slowly poison the entire work 

atmosphere. Again, as a manager, 

it’s important to identify the 

source of conflict and try to 

mediate. If your co-worker is 

chronically passive aggressive, 

give that person a wide berth and 

try not to get involved. And if 

you feel like you have a problem 

with someone, sometimes a little 

communication is all it takes to 

smooth the waters. •

18 


DT 

Feature 

British Council 

awards 

certificates to 

Digital Pen Pal 

participants 

The certificate giving 

ceremony of British 

Council’s Young 

Learners’ Digital Pen 

Pal Project was held at 

the British Council Dhaka Office in 

Fuller Road on December 2. 

Jim Scrath OBE, Acting Country 

Director of British Council, and 

Jamie Mann, Manager, Teaching 

Centre of British Council were 

present at the programme, among 

others. 

Digital Pen Pal project is a global 

initiative by the British Council to 

connect children from different 

countries on a single platform 

so that they can learn about and 

appreciate cultures around the 

world through authentic writing 

that develops their communicative 

competence in English. The 

project emphasises on some of the 

most demanding 21 st century skills 

including digital skills, social and 

global awareness development, 

and practice of good citizenship. 

Students of the British Council 

from Bangladesh, Vietnam, 

Slovakia, Spain, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, 

Malaysia and Bahrain participated 

in this project. All participants, 

aged between 9 and 12, have been 

placed carefully into chosen age 

groups as well as level appropriate 

groups. Within the groups they 

were given the opportunity to 

engage with children from other 

participating countries, and get 

to know each other’s likes and 

dislikes, culture, traditions, food 

and celebrations. 

Thirty five Bangladeshi 

participants of the project, along 

with their parents, attended the 

certificate giving ceremony. The 

project was an opportunity for 

young learners to join courses with 

British Council Teaching Centre. 

Jim Scarth OBE, Acting Country 

Director British Council, said, 

“The British Council always 

strives to bring the best in our 

students through exposing 

them to a standardised learning 

environment. Digital Pen Pal 

project was our effort to develop 

the skills and competencies of the 

students through a cross-cultural 

learning process.” 

Jamie Mann, Manager, Teaching 

Center of British Council, said, 

“We have been running this 

project with an aim to bridge the 

cultural gaps between children 

from different nations. Young 

Photo: Courtesy 

learners from Bangladesh have 

spontaneous participation in 

the project which will help them 

broaden their horizon as they grow 

up.” 

The British Council Teaching 

Centre will start their upcoming 

course from December 11 in 

Bangladesh. • 

Nasreen Zamir the newly 

appointed Honorary Consul 

of the Grand Duchy of 

Luxembourg to Bangladesh 

had an audience with the 

HRH the Grand Duke of 

Luxembourg on October 18 

2016. During her visit she 

discussed economic and 

commercial potentials of 

Bangladesh and discussed 

means of expanding those 

ties between Bangladesh and 

Luxembourg. 

© 2016 Cour grand-ducale / 

tous droits

| recognition | 

Biz Info 

Social business idea on sanitary napkins for 

refugees wins Hult Prize 2017 award at BRAC 

University 

| endorsement | 

19 


Bidya Sinha Mim Becomes the 

Brand Ambassador of LUX 

DT 

A lively presentation on a social 

business idea centering on 

providing low cost biodegradable 

sanitary napkins for sanitation 

and sustainable income for 

refugees, stole the hearts of 

the judges and was awarded 

as the winner of ‘Refugees - 

Reawakening Human Potential’ 

challenge of Hult Prize 2017 at 

BRACU. The winning team got a 

seed capital of Tk100,000 from 

City Bank Limited. 

Pioneering the initiative to 

encourage students to compete 

in business competitions, chief 

guest and BRAC University Vice 

Chancellor Syed Saad Andaleeb, 

PhD presented the award to the 

winning team comprising BBA 

students Rafyet Khan, Ivana 

Asfara and Naziba Wafa, and 

Mashiyat Rahman of Economics. 

After the initial rounds at 

the Grand Finale, the top five 

teams comprising of students 

from different disciplines in each 

group presented their disruptive, 

scalable, and marketable social 

business ideas to address the 

most pressing issue globally. 

The Hult Prize Foundation is a 

start-up accelerator for social 

business ideas of budding young 

entrepreneurs. Winners receive 

$1 million, as seed capital. 

Further information on HULT 

prize is available at http://www. 

hultprize.org/. 

BRAC University will be 

sending the winners to Taiwan 

in March 2017, for the regional 

stage to compete against top 

teams from Dubai, Shanghai, San 

Francisco, Boston, and London. 

The top five teams from these 

regions will be competing for 

the HULT Prize Global finale in 

Clinton Global Initiative in New 

York, later in 2017. 

The jury board at the 

program comprised of Nazmul 

Karim Chowdhury, Senior Vice 

President and Head of Brands, 

City Bank Limited; Frédéric 

Jeanjean, Second Secretary, 

Australian High Commission, 

Dhaka-Department of Foreign 

Affairs and Trade; Romena 

Parvin, Program Manager 

(Development Cooperation), 

Australian High Commission, 

Dhaka-Department of Foreign 

Affairs and Trade; M K Aaref, 

Director, Edward M Kennedy 

Center for Public Service and 

the Arts (EMK Center); crocodile 

farmer Mushtaq Ahmed, 

Managing Director, BAN Croc 

Ltd and COO, CHobiChai.com; 

and the chair Reaz Ahmed, 

Assignment Editor, The Daily 

Star. 

Kandell Robbins, Director Arts, 

British Council, Bangladesh, was 

present as a distinguished guest 

as well. 

Photo Caption: BRAC 

University Vice Chancellor Syed 

Saad Andaleeb, PhD, fifth from 

right, presents Hult Prize 2017 

of the Hult Prize Foundation to 

the winning team, BBA students 

Rafyet Khan, Ivana Asfara and 

Naziba Wafa and Mashiyat 

Rahman of economics, of the 

‘Refugees - Reawakening Human 

Potential’ challenge at the BRAC 

University auditorium. • 

Lux has always been the most 

preferred beauty soap brand 

among celebrities around 

the globe. In every era, top 

celebrities of every country 

became brand ambassadors of 

Lux, and Bangladesh has been no 

exception. Following this path, 

the brand has recently announced 

the leading model and actress 

Bidya Sinha Mim, as the new 

brand ambassador of Lux. 

The signing ceremony took 

place on November 19, at the 

corporate office of Unilever 

Bangladesh Limited located in 

Gulshan, Dhaka. On behalf of 

Unilever Bangladesh Limited, 

Zahidul Islam Malita, Finance 

Director, Naheyan Hye, Senior 

Brand Manager of Lux, and Adiba 

Tasmeem, Brand Manager of Lux, 

were present at the event. 

“We are delighted to welcome 

Mim as the brand ambassador of 

Lux. We hope that the journey 

of Lux and Mim will bring many 

more success stories for us to 

share,” said Zahidul Islam Malita, 

Finance Director of Unilever 

Bangladesh. 

The Lux Channel I Super Star of 

2007, Bidya Sinha Mim had won 

the Best Actress award for playing 

the lead in Amar Achhe Jol, a 

movie directed by the famous 

writer and director Humayun 

Ahmed. From then onwards, 

Mim has starred in a number of 

movies, dramas and commercials, 

showcasing her amazing talent 

with each performance. 

Expressing her excitement 

over becoming the new brand 

ambassador, Bidya Sinha Mim 

said, “Each and every brand 

ambassador of Lux has been a role 

model in my life. I am extremely 

proud to be following their 

footsteps along the same path. As 

I took the first steps of my career 

with Lux Channel I Super Star, 

today I am thrilled to be a part of 

Lux once again, and I hope this 

brings more success in my career 

ahead.”• 

| awareness | 

Bipasha visits Bogra for Vaseline Healing 

Project 

Minor skin problems like chapped 

lips, small cuts and wounds, and 

skin dryness are experienced by 

almost everyone. But in case of 

people living in poverty, these 

small skin problems can turn into 

major issues. From that thought 

Unilever Bangladesh Limited’s 

skincare brand - Vaseline has 

initiated its ‘Vaseline Healing 

Project’ to help heal the skin 

of underprivileged people of 

Bangladesh. Unilever has teamed 

up with TMSS, one of the biggest 

NGOs in the country, to provide 

free skin care treatment along 

with petroleum jelly to the 

poverty stricken people. 

As part of the ‘Vaseline Healing 

Project,’ Unilever Bangladesh 

Limited organised a special 

event in Bogra, on November 

22, at TMSS hospital. The chief 

guest of the event was the 

renowned act ress and painter 

Bipasha Hayat, who is the brand 

ambassador of the campaign. 

The event was also attended by 

the District Commissioner of 

Bogra, the Director of TMSS, along 

with its doctors and nurses, and 

representatives from Unilever 

Bangladesh Limited. 

The event kicked off with 

Bipasha sharing her perspective 

on the healing project followed 

by speeches from both sides. 

They shared the importance of 

extending essential derma care 

to poverty stricken people, and 

how a simple jar of Vaseline 

Petroleum Jelly can prevent minor 

skin problems from aggravating. 

The program ended with Bipasha 

Hayat meeting some of the 

deprived patients who were 

visiting the hospital for skin care 

issues, and personally donated jars 

of petroleum jelly to the patients. 

Consumers who are interested 

to participate in the project 

can do so by visiting ‘Vaseline 

Bangladesh’ Facebook page. 

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly jars 

collected through the ‘Vaseline 

Healing Project’ will be handed 

over to the underprivileged 

people. •

DT 

20 

Editorial 


TODAY 

South Korea’s quest 

for stability 

The secretaries and the ministers 

reaffirmed their commitment to further 

enhance ROK-US-Japan trilateral 

cooperation and regional stability 

PAGE 21 

Fidel’s hug 

Although condolences in honour of 

Castro have come from all quarters in 

India, including Prime Minister Modi, 

it is, perhaps, not surprising that it is 

particularly the communist parties that 

now mark Castro’s demise 

PAGE 22 

The road to peace in the CHT 

BIGSTOCK 

Because they 

don’t vote 

Behind the curtains lies a shrewd 

political operator with her finger on 

the pulse of a population that has, for 

decades, endured military rule 

PAGE 23 

Be heard 

Write to Dhaka Tribune 

FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, 

Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 

Send us your Op-Ed articles: 

opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com 

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DhakaTribune. 

The views expressed in opinion 

articles are those of the authors 

alone and they are not the 

official view of Dhaka Tribune 

or its publisher. 

The CHT Accord is one of the most praiseworthy 

undertakings of the Awami League and Prime 

Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. 

It was the AL-led government that signed 

the accord 19 years ago, with a vision to bring peace and 

stability to a region that had known nothing but strife. 

The PM has reason to be extremely proud of this 

achievement, as the CHT Accord stands testament to the 

nation’s spirit of tolerance, diversity, and upholding human 

rights. 

It is, then, very sad to see that almost two decades since 

its signing, the accord is at risk, as it has still not been 

properly implemented. 

It is only through implementation of the CHT Accord 

that the many grievances of the region can be addressed 

and solved. 

There have been far too many outbreaks of violence in 

the CHT, and far too much communal tension. 

The PM, as an original signatory of the accord, 

understands and cares about the rights of all citizens 

who inhabit the Chittagong Hill Tracts, even if other 

governments in the interim may have ignored the area. 

It is up to our government, now, to heed calls from 

local people of the CHT, support dialogue and action, 

and provide the proper resources and budgetary support 

needed to put the accord into action. 

As such, it is hoped that this government will once again 

make it a priority to press ahead and overcome all the 

obstacles that have stood in the way of full implementation. 

Let us not delay much further. 

It is up to our 

government, now, to 

heed calls from local 

people of the CHT

Opinion 21 

South Korea’s quest for stability 

The pursuit of strategic stability in Far East Asia 

DT 


P O S T 

BREAKFAST 

• Muhammad Zamir 

South Korea is facing a 

crisis -- both with regard 

to the future of its current 

president as well as the 

future dynamics expected in 

bilateral relations with the US after 

Trump’s surprising victory. This 

has, however, not stopped it from 

continuing its efforts to ensure 

strategic stability in the Far East. 

South Korean President Park 

Geun-hye’s approval ratings have 

dipped into single digits -- and 

protests calling for her ouster over 

her relationship with long-time 

confidante Choi Soon-Sil appear to 

have gained ground since October. 

Park has issued public apologies 

but the opposition is now saying 

that they will move to impeach her 

within the next few days. 

Park will be suspended from 

official duties and replaced by 

the prime minister if parliament 

passes the impeachment motion. 

The Constitutional Court would 

subsequently need to approve 

the impeachment. However, that 

is being taken for granted at this 

point. 

Despite these difficulties, 

the Republic of Korea has proactively 

been sensitising the need 

for NATO as well as its ally, the 

US, recognising the seriousness 

of the evolving situation in Far 

East Asia with special reference 

to the provocative activities 

being undertaken by its northern 

neighbour -- the Democratic 

People’s Republic of Korea. 

This momentum has continued 

since North Korea carried out its 

fifth nuclear test. 

Its Foreign Minister Yun 

Byung-se has recently visited 

Brussels and briefed NATO’s 

North Atlantic Council (NAC), 

the NATO Secretary-General 

Jens Stoltenberg, and EU’s High 

Representative for Foreign Affairs 

and Security Policy Federica 

Mogherini about the security 

situation of the Korean Peninsula. 

The gravity of the North Korean 

nuclear and missile programs was 

underscored with the expectation 

that both NATO and the EU would 

be willing to respond to a change 

in future calculus because of North 

Korea’ s persistent magnitude 

and frequency of nuclear tests 

and firing of ballistic missiles of 

various types. 

It was explained that, through 

How will ROK-US-Japan trilateral cooperation look in the near future? 

such action and plutonium 

reprocessing, the DPRK had 

violated UN Security Council 

resolutions. It was pointed out 

that North Korea’s advances in 

intercontinental ballistic missile 

(ICBM) and submarine-launched 

ballistic missile (SLBM) capabilities 

had made Pyongyang a direct 

threat even to the continental US. 

This equation meant that Europe 

was also within range. 

He also highlighted the need for 

NATO to persuade the UN to adopt 

not only a new Security Council 

resolution to close the loopholes 

in the existing UN Security Council 

Resolution 2270, but also to take 

other necessary reliable deterrence 

measures required for global peace 

and stability and for overcoming 

new challenges created through 

cyber terrorism. 

The minister also drew the 

attention of both NATO and the 

EU to the observation of the 

International Telecommunications 

Union (ITU) in this regard and 

suggested that ROK looked 

forward to the launch of the 

first Korea-NATO Cyber Defense 

Consultative Meeting before the 

end of this year. 

Having drawn attention to 

ROK’s close association with 

NATO and the EU, Minister Yun 

then suggested that NATO could 

deepen its cooperation with ROK 

to defeat terrorism and ensure 

cyber security, along with nuclear, 

maritime, and space security-- 

where both parties shared a 

domain and had common stakes. 

He also recalled the issuance of the 

recent UN Security Council press 

statement which had invoked 

Article 41 of the UN Charter and 

asked NATO members to consider 

taking more resolute measures 

on relations with North Korea, as 

stipulated in Article 41 -- including 

the possibility of cutting off and 

downgrading diplomatic relations 

with Pyongyang. 

One must admit that this was a 

very hands-on approach. 

This exhaustive approach 

was taken forward during the 

2016 Northeast Asia Peace and 

Cooperation Forum (NAPCI) held 

on October 6 and 7 in Washington 

DC. This time, other dimensions 

were added to the agenda. This 

included nuclear safety where 

participants shared their view 

about the establishment of the 

proposed “Northeast Asia Nuclear 

Safety Consultative Body” led 

by the ROK, Japan, and China. 

They also discussed disaster 

management and the need to share 

information on their countries’ 

disaster response systems and the 

need for governments, the private 

sector, the academia, and the civil 

society to play a greater role in this 

sector. 

After this, the effort towards 

drawing greater attention to peace 

and stability in North East Asia, 

despite provocation from DPRK 

was taken forward through a ROK- 

US special ministerial meeting on 

October 19. It brought together 

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se 

and Defense Minister Han Min-koo 

from the ROK, and their respective 

US counterparts -- Secretary of 

State John Kerry and Secretary of 

Defense Ashton Carter. 

The US reaffirmed their 

steadfast coordination on nuclear 

and other issues pertaining 

to North Korea and discussed 

ways on how the international 

community can toughen acrossthe-board 

sanctions and intensify 

pressure on North Korea in a 

holistic manner. It was also agreed 

that recently launched ROK-US 

North Korean Human Rights 

Consultation could be used to 

promote human rights in North 

Korea. 

It was also underlined that both 

governments would try to expand 

the strategy and policy aspects of 

bilateral cooperation within the 

existing ROK-US alliance. To that 

end, the secretaries and ministers 

decided to establish a high-level 

Extended Deterrence Strategy and 

Consultation Group (EDSCG) to be 

co-chaired by representatives from 

the Ministry of National Defense, 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 

Department of Defense, and 

the Department of State, with 

participation from other relevant 

agencies. They also highlighted 

the importance of swift Security 

Council action to facilitate the 

adoption of a new resolution to 

further strengthen international 

response to North Korea’s 

unlawful September 9 nuclear test. 

As part of those efforts, the 

secretaries and the ministers 

reaffirmed their commitment to 

further enhance ROK-US-Japan 

trilateral cooperation and regional 

stability through wide-ranging and 

close consultations. It was also 

highlighted that the momentum 

initiated through the March 

2016 trilateral summit between 

President Obama, President Park, 

and Prime Minister Abe and the 

September Trilateral Ministerial 

Meeting in New York on the 

margins of the 71st UNGA, was an 

important process and needed to 

be sustained with seriousness. 

As partners in the Global 

Coalition to Counter ISIL, the 

meeting also condemned the 

violence and suffering created 

through IS’s violent extremism. 

The ROK also pledged to 

maintain its current level of 

annual humanitarian assistance 

at $44 million every year for the 

next three years to tackle the 

unprecedented refugee crisis and 

also committed an additional 

$100m beyond that level if so 

required within the next three 

years. 

ROK also reaffirmed its 

REUTERS 

The secretaries 

and the ministers 

reaffirmed their 

commitment to 

further enhance 

ROK-US-Japan 

trilateral cooperation 

and regional stability 

contribution of $255m for 

continued promotion of 

peacekeeping activities in 

Afghanistan. The other interesting 

aspect was reaffirmation by ROK 

that given the importance of 

alleviating and adapting to climate 

change, ROK would phase down 

the production and consumption 

of hydro fluorocarbons consistent 

with the Montreal Protocol. 

One must admit that these 

positive meetings within a short 

span of time have raised ROK’s 

profile not only within Far East 

Asia but also in the adjoining 

region. It has also probably been 

the reason why Russia and China 

have now pushed for resumption 

of the six-party talks on denuclearisation 

in North Korea. 

These talks, it may be recalled, 

also involve Japan, ROK, and the 

US -- but have been on hold since 

2008. 

This dynamics will consequently 

attract special attention because 

of the evolving internal Korean 

political crisis, and also because of 

emerging trends after Trump takes 

over in January. • 

Muhammad Zamir, a former 

Ambassador, is an analyst specialised in 

foreign affairs, right to information, and 

good governance.

22 


DT 

Opinion 

Fidel’s hug 

Why Fidel Castro was so important to India 

Siblings in politics 

Although condolences in honour of the deceased Castro have come 

from all quarters in India, including Prime Minister Modi, it is, perhaps, 

not surprising that it is particularly the communist parties that now mark 

Castro’s demise 

• Jostein Jakobsen 

Last week, the world lost 

a historical icon when 

Fidel Castro died at the 

age of 90. Like many other 

countries in the so-called Third 

World, Castro’s demise led to 

mourning and commemoration in 

India. 

A plethora of politicians and 

commentators offered their 

condolences with suitably rosy 

words in honour of the fallen El 

Comandante. 

The event also brought back 

memories of times gone by, and 

can, in India’s case, be said to mark 

a symbolic break with parts of the 

country’s post-colonial history. 

It was especially during India’s 

period as a leading member of 

the Non-Aligned Movement 

during the Cold War that Castro 

made himself known in the 

country. India was among the 

first countries to recognise Cuba 

after the revolution in 1959. Since 

then, relations between the two 

countries have been known as 

close and amicable. 

It appears to have been Castro 

himself who precipitated the 

“friendship” shortly after the 

revolution -- he sent his closest 

comrade Che Guevara with an 

entourage on a “world tour” of 

potentially like-minded partner 

countries, including India. 

Guevara met with then Prime 

Minister Jawaharlal Nehru 

and had fruitful discussions 

regarding, among other things, the 

possibilities for trade cooperation. 

In letters, Guevara showed that he, 

like Castro, looked up to Nehru as 

a socialist visionary -- and Nehru 

showed great sympathy with the 

small Caribbean island. 

Castro himself first visited India 

in 1973. But there was another 

visit, 10 years later, that remains as 

the memorable moment in terms 

of Castro in India. 

The occasion was an assembly 

in Delhi for the Non-Aligned 

Movement where Cuba would pass 

on leadership of the movement 

to India. During the meeting, 

Castro gave a real bear hug to his 

successor and “sister” (as he put 

it), then Indian Prime Minister 

Indira Gandhi. The hug led her to 

retreat somewhat shyly, reportedly 

blushing. The assembly of 140 

heads of state applauded Castro’s 

hug. 

Since the big hug, there have 

also been other famous episodes 

in relations between the two 

countries. Particularly noteworthy 

is the Indian aid sent to Cuba in 

1992 when the country underwent 

an economic crisis. 

The aid consisted of 10,000 

tons of wheat and 10,000 tons 

of rice, sent from India under 

the leadership of the Punjabi 

Harkishan Singh Surjeet, a 

former General Secretary of 

the Communist Party of India 

(Marxist). 

The aid was embraced by 

Castro, who described it as 

“India’s bread.” Since then, India 

and Cuba have maintained their 

“friendship” despite the fact that 

India has established increasingly 

close ties with the US. 

Although condolences in 

honour of the deceased Castro 

have come from all quarters in 

India, including Prime Minister 

Modi, it is, perhaps, not surprising 

that it is particularly the 

communist parties that now mark 

Castro’s demise. 

In the state of Kerala, where 

the Communist Party of India 

(Marxist) maintains a strong 

presence, they declared three 

days of commemoration. For the 

communists in Kerala, Castro has 

been a particularly iconic figure 

-- painted on thousands of walls 

around the state -- which marks 

the cohesion of a larger socialist 

movement. 

There is reason to believe 

that such icons are important for 

Indian communism. Castro was 

a symbol of the ties not only to 

international socialism, but also 

to India’s recent past as a leading 

non-aligned country. 

Without such icons, Indian 

communists can experience 

greater difficulties in finding 

sources of inspiration outside of 

themselves. • 

Jostein Jakobsen is Research Fellow, 

Centre for Development and the 

Environment, University of Oslo.

Opinion 

23 


DT 

Because they don’t vote 

Why is Aung San Suu Kyi still silent? 

The Rohingya issue is a political landmine in Myanmar 

• Mahmood Sadaat Ruhul 

“I 

think that if you live 

under a dictatorship 

for many years, people 

do not like to trust 

one another -- a dictatorship 

generates a climate of mistrust,” 

Aung San Suu Kyi told Mishal 

Hussein of the BBC in 2013 when 

questioned about the persecution 

of Rohingyas in Myanmar. 

The dictatorship in question 

is, of course, the military junta 

which ruled over Myanmar 

from 1962-2011, and which still 

holds significant leverage over 

political life by way of important 

ministerial portfolios such as 

Defense and Border Affairs, and 

the uncontested right to a quarter 

of the seats in both houses of the 

legislature. 

It was under this military 

rule that Suu Kyi was elevated 

to the pantheon of human 

rights defenders, with the Nobel 

Committee, in 1991, awarding 

her the Peace Prize for being 

an “important symbol in the 

struggle against oppression,” 

most prominently for her efforts 

at spearheading the popular 8888 

Uprising which attempted to 

topple the failed administrators of 

the “Burmese way to socialism.” 

It is, without a doubt, that 

Myanmar’s military regimes 

were unadulterated disasters. All 

the usual boxes of tyranny were 

ticked: Economic stagnation, 

suppression of dissent, arbitrary 

detention, etc. 

Behind the curtains lies a shrewd political operator with her finger on the 

pulse of a population that has, for decades, endured military rule. The 

Rohingya issue is simply a political landmine in Myanmar, destined for 

the quagmire, derided as ‘identity politics’ 

Even in 1990, when free and fair 

elections announced Suu Kyi’s 

National League for Democracy 

as the majority party, the military 

rolled back on its promises to 

relinquish power and sent the 

country back down the rabbit hole 

of uncertainty. 

More to Suu Kyi’s argument 

about the “climate of mistrust,” is 

the military’s single most potent 

footprint: Ethnic conflict. 

The military regimes of the past 

have used the full brunt of the 

state machinery to suppress and 

sequester ethnic minorities. In 

Myanmar today, if you can name 

a minority population, you can 

be sure they are presently or had 

been at one time or another in 

conflict with the military. 

The Shans, Myanmar’s largest 

minority group, have been 

tormented by the Tadmadaw for 

decades, and often communities 

have had to flee to neighbouring 

Thailand; because of this, many 

armed organisations such as the 

erstwhile Shan National Army 

have sprouted up seeking selfdetermination 

for the group. 

The story begins to take on a 

coherent narrative as one traverses 

across Myanmar’s geographical 

landscape. The Karen National 

Liberation Army has been fighting 

the government since 1949 for the 

establishment of an autonomous 

“Kawthoolei” state. The Karen 

conflict has been called the 

“world’s longest running civil 

war.” The Kachin war was also 

resuscitated in 2011 after a 17 year 

hiatus. 

In each of these fronts, 

the crimes of successive 

governments are familiar though 

no less depressing: Rape, torture, 

displacement, forced labour, and 

child soldiers. 

The government has even 

resorted to using ostensibly 

less nefarious, though no less 

damaging in the long term, 

formulas to curtail advancement 

and progress in minority 

populated regions. The crumbling 

transportation infrastructure, for 

example, provides a blueprint 

for inequity and according to the 

ADB “after decades of underinvestment, 

provides poor 

access to markets and services, 

perpetuates poverty and regional 

REUTERS 

inequality.” 

And then we have the 

Rohingyas who don’t even have 

the right to be called citizens. Who 

are relegated to realms of “boat 

people” and “floating coffins,” 

or their moniker in diplomatic 

circles: “The most persecuted 

minority in the world.” 

But that was under military 

rule. 

Surely, the newly elected 

government of Suu Kyi, the 

champion of human rights, will 

make efforts to alleviate some of 

the sufferings, right? After all, she 

has an esteemed record in fighting 

against injustices, and now that 

she holds power, all the bulwarks 

that stood against reconciliation 

must fall. 

But here’s the catch. “Why 

won’t she say anything about the 

Rohingyas?” is the question on 

everyone’s lips. The answer is far 

less sensationalistic and more 

disturbing than it may seem. 

There are no votes in it. 

Many in the majority Bamar 

population hold deep-rooted 

prejudices against much of 

the non-Buddhist minorities, 

including Rohingyas. The 

burgeoning 969 movement led by 

monk Ashin Wirathu has fanned 

religious tensions and scapegoated 

Muslims as the cause for the 

country’s ills. This extremist 

movement reared its ugly head 

during the 2012-2013 anti-Muslim 

campaign all over Myanmar, 

especially in Rakhine state. 

Suu Kyi’s party won a supermajority 

in both chambers of 

parliament in the 2015 general 

election, largely on the back of 

support from the Bamar majority. 

Even though it is true that the NLD 

also won many unexpected seats 

in minority regions, like Kachin, 

the fact remains that the Buddhist 

Bamar vote was pivotal in her 

party’s landslide victory. 

Do not let Suu Kyi’s seemingly 

spotless activism fool you. 

Behind the curtains lies a 

shrewd political operator with her 

finger on the pulse of a population 

that has, for decades, endured 

military rule. The Rohingya issue 

is simply a political landmine 

in Myanmar, destined for the 

quagmire, derided as “identity 

politics.” Any proximity to it risks 

provoking the ire of Myanmar’s 

Buddhist Nationalist lobby, who 

hold significant clout as pressure 

groups. 

Even the best politicians are 

no good without power. And Suu 

Kyi seems to have decided that 

keeping mum on the plight of 

the Rohingyas is the best course 

for action. Rohingyas have taken 

backseat to the buzzword of 

“national reconciliation.” 

While it is true that decades of 

mismanagement has left Myanmar 

in a deeply polarised state of 

decay, the argument that some 

issues are more important than 

others does not hold water in this 

case. Constitutional reform rings 

hollow when one million of the 

country’s inhabitants live under 

the threat of ethnic cleansing 

Bangladesh and the UNHCR do 

indeed have a humanitarian duty 

to accept the Rohingya refugees 

who are crossing the border, but 

the international community must 

not let Suu Kyi’s new government 

off the hook while it pursues more 

politically expedient policy goals. 

The same governments that 

bestowed upon her honorific 

titles and prizes, must take 

responsibility to remind her that 

she is the leader of all Burmese 

people, including Rohingyas, and 

not just the ones she sees as vote 

banks. • 

Mahmood Sadaat Ruhul is a freelance 

contributor.

DT 

24 

Sport 


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Striker Diego Costa starred as 

Premier League leaders Chelsea 

roared back to win 3-1 yesterday 

in an ill-tempered game at 

Manchester City, who had 

Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho 

dismissed. PAGE 25 

Barisal end BPL 4 

on sour note 

Rangpur Riders kept their playoff 

hopes alive after beating Barisal 

Bulls by 29 runs in the Bangladesh 

Premier League Twenty20’s 

fourth edition in Mirpur’s Sher-e- 

Bangla National Cricket Stadium 

yesterday. PAGE 26 

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Cup with loss 

Bangladesh suffered a crushing 

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of Sri Lanka in their final roundrobin 

match of the 2016 Women’s 

Twenty20 Asia Cup at Asian 

Institute of Technology Ground, in 

Thailand yesterday. PAGE 27 

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Mercedes’ German driver Nico 

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Teenage Afif’s 

grand entry 

• Mazhar Uddin 

Prior to yesterday’s Bangladesh 

Premier League Twenty20 

2016-17 season match 

between Chittagong Vikings 

and Rajshahi Kings in Mirpur’s 

Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, 

hardly anyone had heard 

of Afif Hossain, the 17-year old 

cricketer from Khulna. 

However, Afif, also known 

as Dhrubo, wasted very little 

time in making a mark when 

he made his BPL debut for 

Rajshahi against the in-form 

Chittagong. Handed the ball 

by captain Darren Sammy in 

the fifth over of Chittagong’s 

innings, the young off-spinner 

displayed sheer brilliance, 

eventually ending up with 

magical bowling figure of 5/21 

from his four overs. 

In the process, the youngster 

created a host of records, 

including registering the best 

bowling figure in the ongoing 

BPL 4. What’s more, he is the 

youngest cricketer in T20 history 

to bag five wickets, surpassing 

Pakistan’s Ziaul Haque. 

Afif, a former student of BKSP 

and currently the vice-captain 

of the Bangladesh under-19 

team, is chiefly a left-handed 

batsman with the reputation of 

being a hard-hitter. Recently, 

he smashed two hundreds and 

a fifty in practice matches and 

is scheduled to take part in the 

upcoming U-19 Asia Cup in Sri 

Lanka later this month. 

Coming back to the game, 

the right-arm spinner initially 

faced the music as he was 

struck for two consecutive 

boundaries by Jahurul Islam in 

his first two deliveries. 

But he came back strongly 

and trapped Jahurul in front. 

With that said, there were 

slight doubts regarding the 

decision dished out by umpire 

Nadir Shah. Afif though didn’t 

mind one bit. After all, it was 

his maiden BPL wicket. 

The offie went on to pick up 

the huge wicket of West Indies 

big-hitter Chris Gayle off a delivery 

that hit the timber. 

Afif did not have to look 

back since then as he bowled 

with great authority to restrict 

Chittagong to a total of 111/9. 

Interestingly, Afif was 

deemed to have a suspect 

bowling action when he joined 

the U-19 squad ahead of the 

U-19 World Cup before his action 

was rectified under the 

guidance of Bangladesh Cricket 

Board’s game development 

coach Mahbub Zaki.• 

Afif’s five-for keeps 

Rajshahi in hunt 


Rajshahi Kings kept themselves 

alive in the running for a place in 

the playoffs after defeating Chittagong 

Vikings by six wickets in 

their Bangladesh Premier League 

Twenty20 2016-17 season match 

in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National 

Stadium yesterday. 

Rajshahi’s young off-spinner 

Afif Hossain was the star of the 

show, picking up five wickets in his 

maiden BPL appearance. 

Chasing Chittagong’s 111/9, Rajshahi 

comfortably chased down 

their target with 6.1 overs to spare. 

The equation for the playoffs 

just got a whole lot interesting as 

Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna Titans 

and Rangpur Riders all have 12 

points each. Khulna and Rangpur 

SCORECARD 

CHITTAGONG VIKINGS R B 

Tamim b Williams 0 1 

Gayle b Afif 5 15 

Anamul b Miraz 8 8 

Jahurul lbw b Afif 13 10 

Malik not out 67 54 

Zakir c Sabbir b Afif 3 8 

Nabi st Nurul b Nazmul 12 7 

Saqlain lbw b Afif 1 2 

Imran c Nurul b Afif 0 4 

Taskin c Franklin b Williams 2 11 

Subashish not out 0 0 

Extras 0 

Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 111 

Fall Of Wickets 

1-0 (Tamim), 2-9 (Anamul), 3-24 (Jahurul), 

4-29 (Gayle), 5-37 (Zakir), 6-69 (Nabi), 

7-70 (Saqlain), 8-70 (Imran), 9-100 

(Taskin) 

Bowling 

Williams 4-0-11-2, Miraz 3-0-15-1, Afif 4-1- 

21-5, Farhad 4-0-36-0, Nazmul 4-0-23-1, 

Patel 1-0-5-0 

RAJSHAHI KINGS R B 

Nurul b Saqlain 12 12 

Mominul b Saqlain 21 28 

Sabbir lbw b Imran 8 9 

Franklin not out 63 27 

Sammy c Malik b Imran 3 3 

Patel not out 3 4 

Extras (w 2) 2 

Total (4 wickets; 13.5 overs) 112 


1-32 (Nurul), 2-37 (Mominul), 3-77 (Sabbir), 

4-93 (Sammy) 

Bowling 

Nabi 4-0-30-0, Malik 1-0-9-0, Saqlain 3-0- 

9-2, Imran 3-0-30-2, Taskin 2.5-0-34-0 

The Kings won by six wickets 

MoM: Afif Hossain (RK) 

Rajshahi Kings youngster Afif Hossain 

bowls during their BPL 4 match 

against Chittagong Vikings in Mirpur 

yesterday 

MD MANIK 

though still have a game in hand. 

However, it is Chittagong who 

are second courtesy a better net 

run rate. 

Table-toppers Dhaka Dynamites 

have already sealed their place in 

the playoffs with 16 points. They 

will face Khulna in their last game 

while defending champions Comilla 

Victorians will take on Rangpur 

in the all-important clash today. 

Chasing 112, Rajshahi lost three 

quick wickets, that of Nurul Hasan 

(12), Mominul Haque (21) and Sabbir 

Rahman (eight) but New Zealand 

all-rounder James Franklin 

made sure his side reached the target 

in double quick time. 

The left-hander remained unbeaten 

on 63 off just 27 balls, featuring 

four sixes and five fours. 

Earlier, the 17-year old Afif attracted 

all the attentions bagging 

5/21 from his four overs, including 

a maiden, thus making himself the 

youngest bowler to take five wickets 

and also the first Bangladeshi to 

take five wickets in T20 cricket. 

Afif was struck for two consecutive 

fours in his first two balls by Jahurul 

Islam but came back strongly 

to dismiss the batsman leg-before 

wicket. The off-spinner went on 

to pick up the huge wicket of West 

Indies giant-hitter Chris Gayle and 

did not have to look back since 

then as he helped restrict Chittagong 

to a small total. 

Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik 

was the lone fighter for Chittagong. 

He was not out on 67 off 54 balls, 

featuring six fours and three sixes, 

but all the other batsmen failed to 

score significantly. •

Sport 25 

DT 


Chelsea rock 

title rivals City 

• AFP, London 

Chelsea cemented their position on 

top of the Premier League with a 

3-1 victory at title rivals Manchester 

City, who had Sergio Aguero and 

Fernandinho dismissed in a fiery finale, 

while Sunderland climbed off 

the bottom with a 2-1 win against 

Leicester yesterday. 

Gary Cahill’s own goal from a Jesus 

Navas cross gifted City the lead 

on the stroke of half-time, but Diego 

Costa equalised with a clinical 

finish in the 60th minute. 

Costa capped a dominant display 

by setting up substitute Willian 

for Chelsea’s second goal in 

the 70th minute before Eden Hazard 

struck to send Antonio Conte’s 

men four points clear of City at the 

top. 

City’s frustration boiled over 

in stoppage-time with red cards 

for Aguero and Fernandinho, the 

former for an ugly lunge on David 

Luiz, the latter for pushing Cesc 

Fabregas over an advertising board. 

Struggling champions Leicester 

remain just two points above the 

relegation zone after a fifth successive 

league game without a win. 

Harry Kane’s double and a brilliant 

strike from Son Heung-Min 

inspired Tottenham as they got 

back on track with a 5-0 demolition 

of Swansea. Mauricio Pochettino’s 

fifth placed team suffered their first 

league defeat of the season at Chelsea 

last weekend, but they won for 

just the second time in their last 

seven league games. • 

EPL 

Crystal Palace 3-0 Southampton 

Benteke 33, 85, 

Tomkins 36 

Manchester City 1-3 Chelsea 

Cahill 45-og Costa 60, 

Willian 70, Hazard 90 

Stoke 2-0 Burnley 

Walters 20, Muniesa 35 

Sunderland 2-1 Leicester 

Huth 64-og, Defoe 77 Okazaki 80 

Tottenham 5-0 Swansea 

Kane 39-pen, 49, 

Son 45+1, Eriksen 70, 90 

West Brom 3-1 Watford 

Evans 16, Brunt 34, Kabasele 60 

Phillips 90 

Real Madrid’s Spanish skipper Sergio Ramos heads to score the equaliser during their Spanish La Liga Santander match against Football Club Barcelona at Nou Camp 

Stadium, Barcelona yesterday 

REUTERS 

Ramos rescues Real in El Clasico 

• AFP, Barcelona 

Sergio Ramos’s stoppage-time 

equaliser maintained Real Madrid’s 

six-point lead at the top of La Liga 

as the European champions salvaged 

a 1-1 draw at Barcelona in 

yesterday’s El Clasico. 

Luis Suarez looked to have 

breathed new life into the title race 

when he headed home the opener 

from Neymar’s free-kick eight minutes 

into the second half. 

Neymar and Lionel Messi then 

passed up huge chances to add to 

Barca’s advantage, and the hosts 

were made to pay when Real captain 

Ramos met Luka Modric’s 

free-kick with a powerful header 

to stretch Madrid’s unbeaten run in 

all competitions to 33 games. 

Before kick-off both sides 

came together to pay homage to 

the 71 victims that wiped out almost 

the entirety of Brazilian side 

Chapecoense’s squad in a plane 

crash in Colombia earlier in the 

week. 

However, once the action got 

underway old hostilities were renewed 

as Madrid screamed for a 

penalty less than two minutes in. 

Lucas Vazquez went down under 

Javier Mascherano’s challenge, 

but referee Carlos Clos Gomez 

waved play on. 

Barcelona enjoyed the majority 

of possession, but with captain 

Andres Iniesta left on the bench on 

his return from a two-month injury 

layoff, lacked the creativity to break 

down Madrid before the break. 

Sergi Roberto’s shot was deflected 

behind by Raphael Varane before 

Messi’s harmless free-kick was 

easily handled by Keylor Navas. 

At the other end the spotlight 

was on Cristiano Ronaldo more 

than ever in the absence of the 

injured Gareth Bale and following 

allegations of grand scale tax 

avoidance published by a series of 

European media organisations yesterday. 

The Portuguese came to life 

towards the end of the first-half 

as he had Madrid’s first shot on 

target that was turned behind by 

Marc-Andre ter Stegen eight minutes 

before half-time and the German 

stood firm to deny another 

driven Ronaldo effort moments 

later. 

RESULTS 

Granada 2-1 Sevilla 

Pereira 27, Lomban 56 

95-pen 

Ben Yedder 

Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid 

Suarez 53 Ramos 90 

Varane also headed straight at Ter 

Stegen as Madrid looked the more 

likely to break the deadlock as halftime 

approached. 

However, Barca got the goal they 

badly needed to kickstart their title 

defence when Neymar’s free-kick 

from the left found Suarez somehow 

unmarked to head home from 

point blank range. 

Iniesta was then introduced to 

a hero’s welcome and teed up Neymar 

for a huge chance to seal the 

three points 21 minutes from time. 

The Brazilian skipped past Dani 

Carvajal, but blasted over the bar 

with the goal at his mercy. 

Madrid substitute Casemiro 

then made a brilliant block to deny 

another goalbound Neymar shot. 

Iniesta produced a sublime pass 

to lay the chance Messi had been 

waiting for all afternoon on a plate, 

but the Argentine pulled his effort 

wide of the far post with just Navas 

to beat. 

And Barca were made to pay for 

their profligacy as Ramos rose unmarked 

to power home Modric’s 

free-kick as the game entered stoppage 

time to silence the Camp Nou. •

DT 

26 


‘BPL is one 

of the better 

tournaments’ 


Bottom side Barisal Bulls ended 

their Bangladesh Premier League 

Twenty20 2016-17 season on a 

disappointing note, losing against 

Rangpur Riders by 29 runs in Mirpur’s 

Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium 

yesterday. 

It was no surprise therefore, 

when Barisal’s English batsman 

Dawid Malan expressed grave disappointment 

in the post-match 

press conference. Here are the excerpts: 

Following three wins in a row 

initially, Barisal suddenly lost the 

momentum. What went wrong? 

Malan: We had injuries and 

changed (the playing XI) quite frequently. 

We lost the momentum in 

Chittagong. Whether we play the 

right balance at the team or not, towards 

the end we only played five 

batsmen with [Thisara] Perera at 

number six pretty much in all the 

games. The pitch we have played 

in, 140 is a good score. We need 

those extra batsmen. I think we 

were a batsman short. 

Barisal captain Mushfiqur Rahim, 

Shahriar Nafees and yourself 

scored regular runs. Despite that, 

your team failed to get the desired 

results. What were the lackings? 

It’s disappointing, especially after 

we won three out of four games 

upfront so I think that was very 

tough for us. You know we didn’t 

have enough people chipping in for 

the rest of the team as you said, we 

three have scored most of the runs. 

But maybe one other guy could 

have put his hands up. So I think 

we did not have a collective team 

performance. If we had played as 

a team like we played in the first 

three games, I think we could have 

made it to the top four. 

How did BPL 4 treat you? 

It was a little bit of a mixed bag. 

Felt like I played pretty well in 

the whole tournament but sort of 

missed out in a few of the games. 

And the injury that I had didn’t really 

help my personal momentum. 

But I ended up finishing quite well. 

And getting 240-odd runs at an 

average of 30, you know I have finished 

quite strongly. I think it’s one 

of the better tournaments. 

How was the team atmosphere? 

I think there’s more pressure. If you 

have one bad game, suddenly, you 

may miss two games. And I think 

that’s probably the only difference 

in franchise cricket in general. You 

know the owners have put down a 

lot of money and they want results. 

So it is quite tough if you fail to score 

in one or two games. Fear of getting 

dropped from the side is there.• 

Sport 

Rangpur Riders’ Shahid Afridi celebrates dismissing Barisal Bulls’ Thisara Perera during their BPL 4 match at Sher-e-Bangla 

National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday 

MD MANIK 

Rangpur win as Barisal end 

BPL 4 on sour note 


Rangpur Riders kept their playoff hopes 

alive after beating Barisal Bulls by 29 runs 

in the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20’s 

fourth edition in Mirpur’s Sher-e- 

Bangla National Stadium yesterday. 

With four wins in 12 matches, Barisal became 

the first team to complete their campaign 

while Rangpur, who have won six of 

their 11 games, are still in the running for a 

playoff berth with one tie remaining. 

Barisal were bundled out for 125 in 18.2 

overs after Rangpur posted a fighting total 

of 154/5. 

Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad 

Shahzad, who was suspended for 

two matches after poking Rajshahi Kings’ 

Sabbir Rahman, saw his ban reduced by 

half after promising to the BPL governing 

council that he would not repeat such acts 

in future. 

And he made the most of the opportunity 

with the bat scoring the highest 48 off 40 

balls, featuring four boundaries and a maximum 

after Rangpur elected to bat. 

The in-form Mohammad Mithun was 

the second highest scorer with 38 off 41 

balls. And even though Pakistan superstar 

Shahid Afridi missed out after being dismissed 

for seven, Ziaur Rahman remained 

not out on a quickfire 17-ball 23, studded 

with two fours and a six to guide Rangpur 

to a challenging total. 

Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Sri Lankan 

seamer Thisara Perera picked 

up two wickets each for Barisal. 

In reply, Barisal never looked comfortable 

as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. 

English batsman Dawid Malan’s 

30 off 26 balls, decorated with half a dozen 

boundaries, was the highest score for Barisal. 

Perera added 24 while Fazle Mahmud 

scored 21 but they were helpless to prevent 

yet another defeat. • 

TODAY’S MATCHES 

Comilla Victorians v Rangpur Riders, 1pm 

Dhaka Dynamites v Khulna Titans, 5:45pm 

Both games will be held at SBNS, Mirpur 

POINTS TABLE 

TEAMS M W L PTS 

Dhaka 11 8 3 16 

Chittagong 12 6 6 12 

Rajshahi 12 6 6 12 

Rangpur 11 6 5 12 

Khulna 11 6 5 12 

Comilla 11 4 7 8 

Barisal 12 4 8 8 

PLAYS OF THE DAY 

SCORECARD 

RANGPUR RIDERS R B 

Shahzad lbw b Emrit 48 40 

Soumya c Shahriar b Rabbi 17 12 

Mithun c Taijul b Perera 38 41 

Afridi c Shahriar b Rabbi 7 3 

Ziaur not out 23 17 

Anwar c Mushfiq b Perera 7 5 

Dawson not out 7 2 

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 5) 7 

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 154 


1-29 (Soumya), 2-105 (Shahzad), 3-116 

(Afridi), 4-118 (Mithun), 5-138 (Anwar) 

Bowling 

Taijul 4-0-27-0, Emrit 4-0-32-1, Monir 4-0- 

28-0, Rabbi 4-0-39-2, Perera 4-0-26-2 

BARISAL BULLS R B 

Emrit c Mithun b Gazi 1 4 

Malan c Shahzad b Anwar 30 23 

Mushfiq c Soumya b Gazi 1 3 

Mendis lbw b Naeem 12 6 

Fazle st Shahzad b Afridi 21 16 

Shahriar c Sunny b Dawson 14 24 

Perera c Naeem b Afridi 24 17 

Enamul not out 7 5 

Taijul lbw b Dawson 9 9 

Monir b Rubel 1 2 

Rabbi b Rubel 0 1 

Extras (lb 2, w 3) 5 

Total (all out; 18.2 overs) 125 


1-2 (Emrit), 2-16 (Mushfiq), 3-29 (Mendis), 

4-68 (Fazle), 5-68 (Malan), 6-104 (Perera), 

7-109 (Shahriar), 8-124 (Taijul), 9-125 

(Monir), 10-125 (Rabbi) 

Bowling 

Gazi 4-0-12-2, Anwar 3-0-25-1, Naeem 

1-0-14-1, Ziaur 1-0-16-0, Rubel 3.2-0-21-2, 

Afridi 4-0-24-2, Dawson 2-0-11-2 

The Riders won by 29 runs 

MoM: Mohammad Shahzad (RR) 

Barisal conclude disappointing BPL 4 season 

Despite winning three out of their first four games, Mushfiqur 

Rahim’s Barisal lost their way totally thereafter. They 

went on to lose six consecutive matches before eventually 

winning in the seventh attempt. But it was too little, too 

late for Barisal by that time. And during their 12th and final 

game of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20’s 

fourth edition, it looked like Barisal would finish the tournament 

on a winning note. 

But once again, it was their batting which led the side 

down as they were eventually bundled out for 125 in pursuit 

of Rangpur’s 154/5. Mushfiq and Shahriar Nafees are 

currently among the top 10 run-getters while their English 

batsman Dawid Malan also shone with the bat. But with 

the exception of these three, none of the other batsmen 

showed any kind of resistance. 

Shahzad’s suspension reduced 

Rangpur’s Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad 

Shahzad’s two-match ban in the ongoing BPL 4 due 

to a breach of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s code of conduct 

was reduced by half following an appeal from the 

franchise. Besides his suspension, the 28-year old was also 

fined 30 percent of his match fee after he poked Rajshahi 

Kings’ Sabbir Rahman with the bat in Mirpur’s Sher-e- 

Bangla National Stadium last Monday. Rangpur lodged an 

appeal with the BPL’s governing council last Wednesday 

for a reduction of the two-game ban. 

Shahzad served the first of his two-game ban during 

Rangpur’s match against Dhaka Dynamites. The appeal 

was referred to the BPL technical committee with the consent 

of the GC and in the “greater interest of the tournament”, 

reduced Shahzad’s suspension to one match, thus 

making the player eligible for selection in Rangpur’s match 

against Barisal. And the hard-hitting right-hander made 

full use of the opportunity as he was named player of the 

match, thanks to his brilliant 40-ball 48-run knock which 

guided his side to a 29-run win. 

–MAZHAR UDDIN

Sport 27 

DT 


Zamal makes 

cut in Panasonic 

Open India 

• Tribune Report 

Bangladesh golfer Zamal Hossain 

Mollah made the cut in the Panasonic 

Open India when the second 

round concluded yesterday at Delhi 

Golf Club. Zamal struck one-overpar 

73 to take his overall aggregate 

to one-over-par 145, nine shots behind 

early leader Mukesh Kumar. 

Two double bogeys on the 12th and 

14th hole ensured he would end 

the second round at 35th position, 

tied alongside 11 others.• 

DAY’S WATCH 

CRICKET 

SONY SIX 

1:00PM 

Bangladesh Premier League 

Comilla Victorians vs Rangpur Riders 

5:45PM 

Bangladesh Premier League 

Dhaka Dynamites v Khulna Titans 

SONY ESPN 

2:00PM 

CSA T20 Challenge 2016 

Bizhub Highveld Lions v Warriors Lions 

STAR SPORTS 2 

9:00PM 

Australia v New Zealand 

1st ODI 

FOOTBALL 

TEN 2 

French Ligue 1 

8:00PM 

Stade Rennais v Saint- Etienne 

10:00PM 

Olympic Marseille v Nancy 

1:35AM 

Nice v Toulouse 

TEN 3 

12:00PM 

A-League 2016/17 

Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC 

STAR SPORTS 1 

7:30PM 

Indian Super League 

Kerala v North East 

SONY SIX 

La Liga Santander 

5:00PM 

Real Betis v Celta Vigo 

9:10PM 

Athletic Bilbao v Eibar 

11:30PM 


Alaves v Las Palmas 

1:40AM 


Valencia v Malaga 

SONY ESPN 

2:00AM 

Serie A TIM 2016/17 

Fiorentina v Palermo 

GOLF 

STAR SPORTS 4 

10:30AM 

BWF GP Gold 2016 

Macau Open Final 

FSV Mainz 05’s Yunus Malli takes a free kick against Bayern Munich during their German Bundesliga match at Opel-Arena, 

Mainz on Friday. Bayern won the match 3-1 

REUTERS 

Ctg Abahani still in 

title race 


Rising powerhouse Chittagong 

Abahani kept their hopes alive in 

the title race of the Bangladesh 

Premier League as they edged Arambagh 

Krira Sangha in a hardfought 

1-0 win at Sheikh Fazlul 

Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj 

yesterday. 

Alison Uduoka’s first-half header 

from midfielder Mamunul Islam’s 

corner in the 29th minute 

was enough for the port-city club 

to salvage three vital points – their 

third consecutive league win. 

The victory helped the Chittagong 

outfit cut the gap to two 

points with table-toppers Abahani 

Limited at the summit of the 

12-team standings with four more 

rounds remaining. 

Sitting comfortably at second 

position, Chittagong Abahani have 

37 points from 18 matches to extend 

the gap to eight points with 

third placed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi 

Club, the reigning champions. 

The title race now is pretty 

much a fight between the two Abahanis. 

Abahani will faceMohammedan 

this Tuesday.• 

Women end Asia Cup 

campaign with loss 


Bangladesh suffered a crushing 

seven-wicket defeat at the hands of 

Sri Lanka in their final round-robin 

match of the 2016 Women’s Twenty20 

Asia Cup at Asian Institute of 

Technology Ground, Bangkok in 

Thailand yesterday. 

The loss ended any hopes Bangladesh 

harboured of qualifying for 

the grand finale. The women in red 

and green previously lost to India 

and Pakistan and won against Nepal 

and Thailand. With four points, 

Bangladesh ended their campaign 

Maxwell hit 

with team fine 

over Wade row 

• Reuters, Sydney 

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell 

has been hit with a team fine 

for criticising Matt Wade over his 

decisions as captain of the Victoria 

state side, skipper Steve Smith said 

yesterday. 

Maxwell was recalled to the squad 

for today’s one-day international 

against New Zealand and took the 

opportunity to express how “painful” 

it had been for him to bat behind 

wicketkeeper Wade for Victoria. 

Australia coach Darren Lehmann 

said he would speak to power-hitting 

Maxwell to try to resolve the issue 

and yesterday Smith said the players 

had decided to take action. 

“Everyone was disappointed in 

his comments, I’ve expressed that 

with him myself and spoke to the 

team,” Smith told. “One of our values 

is respect and having respect 

for your team mates, opposition, 

fans and media.• 

BFF prepares ‘master plan’ to improve fortunes 


Bangladesh Football Federation is 

yet to sit for a dialogue with the 

two professional clubs, premier 

league champions Sheikh Jamal 

Dhanmondi Club and second-tier 

outfit Fakirapool Young Men’s Club 

in a bid to settle for a new structure 

for domestic football. 

With co-ordination from BFF’s 

new technical director Paul Smalley, 

the country’s football governing 

body is preparing a “master 

plan”, which they are planning to 

reveal by next week. From the final 

quarter of last month, the federation 

started sitting with the club 

officials to discuss their ideas regarding 

the proposed master plan 

for four years. 

Starting from November 23, BFF 

and Smalley talked with 18 club officials 

so far out of the total of 20 

clubs from both the Bangladesh 

Premier League and the Bangladesh 

Championship League. 

Among the remaining two clubs, 

they are expected to sit with Sheikh 

Jamal officials this Tuesday and Fakirapool 

by the end of this week. 

The BFF shared its ideas with 

the clubs regarding the changes 

they will bring in the domestic 

structure as part of its master 

plan. And its main discussion was 

focused mainly on two issues – 

changes in the annual calender and 

the club coaches’ licensing. 

The master plan contains proposal 

of including youth club 

(under-18) football league in the 

annual calender for the next four 

years and, fixed and simultaneous 

fixtures for the top-flight and the 

second-tier football so that the 

tournaments take place at the same 

time of a year. 

In order to implement its new 

structure, the federation has to 

deal with two common objections 

by the clubs – one is financial instability 

of the sides and other one is 

the unavailability of enough young 

players. That’s why they claim different 

youth football tournaments 

across the country are mandatory 

in the annual calender year. 

The proposed plan also includes 

the requirement of B-license for 

head coach and C-license for assistant 

coach for every premier league 

and second-tier clubs. Currently 

there is no requirement of assistant 

coaches in the second-tier. 

The BFF is also planning to announce 

its detailed plan this Saturday 

and implementing the new 

plan from the 2017-18 season onward 

till 2020. Through a press release 

yesterday, Smalley was quoted 

as saying, “They were all very 

positive and open.” He also added 

that after meeting the remaining 

two clubs, the process will begin 

officially to make sure there is integrated 

partnership in order to 

fulfil the minimum requirements 

as required by the Asian Football 

Confederation. • 

at fourth position in the six-team 

standings. 

Arch-rival India and Pakistan 

will take on each other in the final 

on Sunday. 

Lankans chased down their 

target with seven wickets and six 

balls to spare. Jayangani was the 

top-scorer with 39 runs. • 

BRIEF SCORE 

SRI LANKA 97/3 in 19 overs (Jayangani 

39, Mendis 24, Rumana 2/7) beat 

BANGLADESH 93/3 (Sanjida 35, Shaila 

25*, Jayangani 2/24) by seven wickets

DT 

28 


Sport 

Rosberg - master of the road 

• AFP, Vienna 

Nico Rosberg, who retired on 

Friday, will be remembered in 

Formula One as the cool, calm 

and collected driver who doggedly 

overcame a brilliant teammate to 

win a world title. 

Rosberg’s shock decision to 

swap driving in the fast lane for 

helping in his wife’s icecream parlour 

in Ibiza came only five days 

after he claimed his maiden drivers 

crown. His skill behind the wheel 

of the all-conquering Mercedes Silver 

Arrow was undoubted. 

But he also went to a Japanese 

Zen master in Kyoto to hone his 

powers of meditation. 

“In simple terms, the idea was 

to work on the full consciousness,” 

Rosberg disclosed to German daily 

Der Spiegel on Friday making his 

stunning retirement public. 

“You take the time to relax and 

to concentrate on your feelings. 

You learn to accept your emotions, 

including negative emotions like 

anger and worry.” 

There’s been plenty of that over 

the past few seasons as his teenage 

friendship with Mercedes teammate 

Lewis Hamilton degenerated 

into all out war. 

Yet such is the respect the pair 

hold for each other - albeit well 

masked at times - Rosberg revealed 

he had personally broken the news 

of his retirement to Hamilton. 

“I think that’s right and proper,” 

he told German F1 website Formel1.de. 

“We had such great battles so I 

wanted him to know it from me. 

I wanted to inform the team as 

quickly as possible. I sent Lewis a 

message,” said Rosberg. 

The duo’s rivalry gave F1 a 

much needed shot of adrenalin at 

a time when Mercedes’ domination 

threatened to send fans to sleep. 

Whilst relations were often 

tense with Hamilton, they were 

REACTION TO THE RETIREMENT OF F1 CHAMPION ROSBERG 

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff 

“This is a brave decision by Nico 

and testament to the strength of 

his character,” Wolff said in a team 

statement. “He has chosen to leave 

at the pinnacle of his career, as 

world champion, having achieved 

his childhood dream. The clarity 

of his judgement meant I accepted 

his decision straight away when he 

told me.” 

Team mate Lewis Hamilton 

“This is the first time he’s won 

(a title) in 18 years, hence why it 

was not a surprise that he decided 

to stop,” the triple world champion 

told reporters. He’s also got 

a family to focus on, and wants 

more children, and Formula One 

also fraught with another former 

teammate,legendary seven-world 

world champion Michael Schumacher. 

“When I arrived (at Mercedes) 

he was, in inverted commas, bigger 

than God,” Rosberg told Bild. 

Despite losing to Hamilton in 

the final race of the season in Abu 

Dhabi on Sunday, his overall triumph 

against the Briton reflected 

his refusal to give up, a relentless 

competitiveness and a cerebral attention 

to detail. 

It also enabled Rosberg to exorcise 

the demons that appeared to 

overshadow his intense competition 

with Hamilton, a relationship 

which dates back to teenage karting 

days as team-mates, roommates 

and rivals. It has exploded 

with collisions and off-track acrimony 

in the last four years. 

In many ways, Rosberg’s success 

- and his identity as a champion 

- has been defined by his relationship, 

and differences, with Hamilton. 

Born to his Finnish father and 

German mother Sina in Wiesbaden, 

Germany, on June 27, 1985, Rosberg 

has raced for both Finland, briefly 

in his early career, and Germany. 

Yet, if anything, he is Monegasque 

and cosmopolitan. 

He speaks five languages yet he 

does not speak Finnish thanks to 

his father’s decision to bring him 

up without it. And, far from having 

an easy life due to inherited wealth 

and privilege, he has, like Hamilton, 

always had a sense that he has 

much to prove. 

Rosberg began karting aged six. 

He and Hamilton met as rivals in 

1997 and became team-mates in 

2000. In 2002, he moved to the 

German Formula BMW championship 

and won the title. Rosberg 

arrived in F1, with Williams, his 

father’s team. For his son, however, 

blessed with flaxen hair and an 

easy charm, it was a harsh school 

for top-level competition.• 

takes so much of your time. Will I 

miss the rivalry? Of course.” 

FIA president Jean Todt 

“I was privileged to receive a 

call from Toto Wolff this morning 

informing me of Nico’s decision. 

I was very surprised, as I’m sure 

everyone is, but Nico has demonstrated 

across the year that he is 

extremely brave. I think he did 

five or six of the hardest laps of his 

life in the final race of the championship 

but the consequence is 

that he made it.” 

Former racer and Sky Sports F1 

commentator Martin Brundle 

“I find it absolutely extraordinary, 

a big surprise...it’s obviously 

NICO ROSBERG FACTFILE 

Born: 27/06/1985 (age 31) 

Place of Birth: Wiesbaden, Germany 

Residence: Monaco 

Teams: Mercedes (2010-2016), 

Williams (2006-2009) 

Driver number: 6 

Grands Prix entered: 206 

World Championships: 1 (2016) 

Race wins: 23 

a personal decision and it’s bad for 

Formula One because we haven’t 

got a world champion through the 

winter and next season.” 

Olympic champion Usain Bolt 

“I can’t really understand it 

but everybody has their reasons, 

I guess he felt like he’s got what 

he wanted,” Bolt told reporters in 

Monaco ahead of the athlete of 

the year awards. “When you get 

where you want to be, if you accomplish 

your goal, I guess there’s 

no reason to keep going.” 

Formula One supremo Bernie 

Ecclestone 

“He needs more time to spend 

his money, that’s all” 

Podiums: 55 

Pole positions: 30 

First race: 2006 Bahrain Grand 

Prix 

First win: 2012 Chinese Grand 

Prix 

Last race: 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand 

Prix 

Last win: 2016 Japanese Grand 

Prix 

Formula One drivers on Twitter 

“Definitely a great Champion!!!! 

Big admiration” 

- Force India’s Sergio Perez. 

“Respect my friend! @nico_rosberg” 

- Haas’ Romain Grosjean. 

“Big respect” 

- Danish driver Kevin Magnussen 

“Well done Nico. More to life 

than chasing round in circles. Respect” 

- 1996 champion Damon Hill 

“Nico what a brave very brave 

decision, he has some very powerful 

reasons I am sure. Brilliant 

World Champion.Very interesting 

for Merc now.” 

- 1992 champion Nigel Mansell. 

CAREER AT A 

GLANCE 

Nico Rosberg is the son of Finland’s 

1982 world champion 

Keke Rosberg, who won his title 

with Williams, and German 

mother Sina. He was born four 

days after Keke won the 1985 

USA-East Grand Prix in Detroit. 

Rosberg grew up in Monaco and 

still lives there with his wife 

Vivian and daughter Alaia. He 

speaks five languages but not 

Finnish. 

He and Mercedes team mate 

Lewis Hamilton, a triple world 

champion, were team mates in 

go-karts in 2000. Rosberg tested 

for Williams in 2004, aged 

17 and before he had his driving 

licence. He declined a place to 

study aeronautical engineering 

at London University’s Imperial 

College. 

Rosberg made his Formula One 

race debut with Williams in Bahrain 

in 2006, scoring points with 

seventh place and setting the 

fastest lap, after becoming the 

first GP2 champion the previous 

season. He ended 2006 in 17th 

place overall. 

In 2007 he was ninth overall. 

The following year he stood on 

the podium for the first time, a 

third place in Australia, but ended 

up 13th at the end of the season. 

In 2009, his last year with 

Williams, he finished seventh 

overall. 

Rosberg joined Mercedes - who 

had bought champions Brawn 

GP - for the 2010 season and 

partnered seven-times world 

champion Michael Schumacher. 

The younger German scored 142 

points to Schumacher’s 72. 

Rosberg also outscored Schumacher 

in the following two 

seasons, taking his first pole and 

grand prix victory in China in 

2012. In 2013, Lewis Hamilton 

replaced Schumacher and finished 

the season fourth overall 

to Rosberg’s sixth. 

In 2013, Rosberg won the Monaco 

Grand Prix exactly 20 years after 

his father had triumphed there. 

In 2014, he had five wins - the 

same number that Keke had in 

his entire career - from 11 pole 

positions and finished overall 

runner-up to Hamilton. 

Rosberg was again championship 

runner-up to Hamilton in 2015 

but ended the year strongly with 

three straight wins. He picked 

up where he left off in 2016 by 

taking the first four races, the 

first driver since Schumacher in 

2004 to do that, while Hamilton 

suffered various problems. 

He is only the second son of a 

Formula One champion to win 

the title, after Damon Hill. Hill 

took his 1996 title 34 years after 

father Graham first became 

champion in 1962. Rosberg’s 

came 34 years after Keke’s success.•

Downtime 

29 


DT 

CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1 Finest quality (4) 

5 Send money (5) 

8 Obstruct (6) 

9 Destroy utterly (4) 

10 Cricket (3) 

12 Regret (6) 

13 Meat pin (6) 

15 Buccaneer (6) 

18 Become established (6) 

20 Drink (3) 

21 Furniture item (4) 

23 Dodges (6) 

24 Stops up (5) 

25 Inherited character 

unit (4) 

DOWN 

1 Creatures of flight (5) 

2 Flightless bird (3) 

3 Grudge (5) 

4 Perfect score (3) 

5 Daydream (7) 

6 Deep mud (4) 

7 Tinge (4) 

11 Single entity (4) 

12 Answers (7) 

14 Part of a yacht (4) 

16 Dwelling (5) 

17 Efface (5) 

18 Preservative (4) 

19 Teaching period (4) 

21 Droop (3) 

22 Marsh (3) 

CODE-CRACKER 

How to solve: Each number in our 

CODE-CRACKER grid represents a 

different letter of the alphabet. For 

example, today 20 represents T so fill T 

every time the figure 20 appears. 

You have two letters in the control 

grid to start you off. Enter them in the 

appropriate squares in the main grid, 

then use your knowledge of words to 

work out which letters go in the missing 

squares. 

Some letters of the alphabet may not 

be used. 

As you get the letters, fill in the other 

squares with the same number in the 

main grid, and the control grid. Check 

off the list of alphabetical letters as you 

identify them. 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 

CALVIN AND HOBBES 

SUDOKU 

How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the 

numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must 

contain all nine digits with no number repeating. 

PEANUTS 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS 

CODE-CRACKER 

CROSSWORD 

DILBERT 

SUDOKU

30 


DT 

Showtime 

Mom-to-be Kareena graces 

magazine cover 

Once more, with feeling 

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick give their 

relationship one more try 

• Showtime Desk 

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott 

Disick are back together after 

spending a year and a half apart, 

but it’s not just happy families yet. 

The couple, who were together 

for over nine years and share 

three children, are keeping some 

distance as they try to repair their 

romance. 

Kourtney and Scott “have been 

romantically involved” but are 

trying to take things one day at a 

time, according to E! News. 

“While they may be giving their 

relationship another try, they 

aren’t technically living together 

in the same home again,” a source 

told the website. 

“But their homes are very close 

to each other so they see each 

other all the time anyway because 

of the kids.” 

The 37-year-old Keeping Up 

With the Kardashians star and the 

33-year-old television personality 

– who have sons Mason, six, 

23-month-old Reign and four-yearold 

daughter Penelope together 

– have reportedly rekindled their 

romance and are giving their 

relationship “a try again” after 

breaking up after nine years last 

year. 

Speaking about the couples love 

life, a source told E! News: “They 

are back together and giving their 

relationship a try again.” • 

Source: Mirror 


Bollywood actress Kareena 

Kapoor is just a few days away 

from delivering her first child, 

but that hasn’t stopped her from 

working. And her fans are so glad 

about the same because Bebo has 

been constantly proving to be a 

sight for them. 

Kareena’s latest work, a 

year-ending cover for Grazia 

magazine’s December issue, is 

indeed candy for the eyes. 

On the cover, she is dressed 

in a blue-black Gaurav Gupta 

custom-made gown. When you 

look at it you will understand 

the meaning of beauty. Bebo 

completes her look with studs 

from Swarovski. 

Inside the issue, there are 

pictures of Bebo dressed in a 

beige lace gown and as expected, 

it’s up for the people to decide 

which looks better on her! • 

Anushka-Virat at Yuvraj-Hazel 

wedding: From airport to dance floor 

An Untimely Story on display at AFD 


Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech’s 

Goa wedding not just had guests 

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, 

but actors Angad Bedi, Rannvijay 

and Nora Fatehi also became a 

part of the celebrations. 

Yuvraj Singh-Hazel Keech 

wedding is all that we have been 

watching and reading these days. 

But the limelight was shifted to 

a very special couple — Anushka 

Sharma and Virat Kohli, who 

became a part of the function on 

Friday, December 2. After much 

speculations whether or not they 

will take part in the festivities, 

Anushka-Virat arrived for Yuvraj- 

Hazel’s Goa wedding. 

Earlier during 

the day, Sultan 

actress Anushka 

Sharma, left 

for Goa with 

rumoured 

boyfriend 

Virat. Even if 

they make their 

relationship 

public or not, 

there isn’t any 

doubt that Anushka and Virat 

make one powerful couple. 

They were spotted at at the 

wedding scene, posing with 

the newly wed couple Yuvraj 

Singh and Hazel Keech. Though, 

Anushka arrived in Chandigarh 

on Monday, a day before the 

mehendi function, she was not 

a part of the wedding held on 

December 1, as she left soon 

after meeting Yuvi’s family. As 

per Yuvraj-Hazel plans, another 

round of wedding rituals were 

held in Goa on December 2. 

Anushka-Virat were not only at 

the wedding, but in a reception 

held post the ceremony, they also 

hit the dance floor. • 

Source: The Indian Express 


The debut solo painting 

exhibition of artist Manjurul 

Shibly, titled An Untimely Story, 

has begun at La Galerie, Alliance 

Française de Dhaka (AFD). 

The inaugural ceremony of the 

exhibition was held on Friday, 

December 2, 2016. 

Prof Anisuzzaman, professor 

emeritus of University of Dhaka, 

graced the occasion as the chief 

guest, while Aly Zaker, theatre 

activist and media personality, 

attended the programme as the 

special guest. 

Time is very scattered, 

constantly muddled with 

confusion, and chaos, and what 

not. One can hardly blame the 

time, for any misfortune he or 

she may encounter as time runs 

on its own, and listens to no one. 

Not so long ago, the phenomenon 

of technology came along, and 

many became distracted by it. 

Shibly’s exhibition An Untimely 

Story, is for those people who got 

confused by that distraction, and 

sought a kind of respite. 

Technology is continuously 

providing newer facilities and 

services, but only by ensconcing 

balance between technology and 

the spirit of human life, time can 

become something worthwhile to 

journey through. And, that is the 

story Shibly wants to tell. 

Manjurul Shibly was born in 

1988. He completed his Bachelor 

of Fine Arts from University of 

Development Alternative (UODA). 

He started his career with Alpha-I 

Media Productions Ltd as a 

director and creative manager. 

The exhibition will run till 

December 10. •

Showtime 

Historical drama by Nassim Abassi 

31 


WHAT TO WATCH 

DT 


In a recent interview with 

Variety, filmmaker Nassim 

Abassi disclosed details on a new 

Portuguese-Spanish-Moroccan 

production collaboration, which 

will be in English. The film will be 

based on the novel Hadil Assaida 

Al Horra (Pigeon Call of Al Hurra) 

Release date for 

Aquaman 


by actor/writer Bachir Damoun. 

The story is based on the 

life of the first Moroccan ruler, 

Sayyida al Hurra (whose name 

means “the free woman”), who 

was forced to flee Granada 

in 1492, after the Spanish 

reconquest of Andalusia. She 

became the 16 th century queen 

of Tétouan. She was also known 

The DC cinematic universe continues to expand, this time with an 

initial date stamped for WB’s superhero movie Aquaman, starring 

Jason Momoa. Directed by James Wan, the film is set to be released 

on October 5, 2018. The film also stars Amber Heard as Mera, the love 

interest of Aquaman and eventual queen of Atlantis. It’s also been 

decided the film, keeping up with standards, will be released in 3D 

and IMAX. 

Momoa made his first appearance as the superhero this past March 

in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film made $873.3 

million worldwide, even though it didn’t go down too well by critics 

and comic book enthusiasts. Not too long ago, Warner Bros had placed 

an untitled feature project for the October date; now it’s clearer than 

ever it was meant for the new Aquaman. • 

as a “pirate queen” because of 

her alliance with Turkish corsair 

Barbarossa. She battled hard 

and waged war and diplomacy 

with the Spanish and Portuguese 

until her son-in-law eventually 

overthrew her in 1542. 

Abassi has a passionate 

connection with the historic 

female ruler. He has been 

handling the project for several 

years, since he believed it would 

challenge the stereotypes of Arab 

women. He went so far as to 

name his daughter after the 16 th 

century figure. 

Abassi went on to express 

his passion through film. “I’m 

increasingly thinking about 

directing and producing my 

Moroccan film in English. Like 

the Italians did in the 1970s with 

Spaghetti Westerns and as Luc 

Besson is doing in France.” He 

continued to explain the current 

climate of the film industry as 

a whole. “Life is particularly 

difficult for actresses in Morocco, 

against the backdrop of the 

position of women in Moroccan 

society. There are sociallyconditioned 

perceptions of how 

women should live, and many 

see the acting profession as being 

too liberal.” 

On the subject of his most 

recent release, My Uncle, which 

makes its world premiere at 

Marrakech, “The main female 

character faces problems with 

her fiancé and family, but this is 

all shown in a funny manner. It 

will make people laugh and think 

at the same time. I think the 

audience will be inspired by her 

dream. I decided to build the film 

around a female lead because 

she symbolises many struggles 

taking place not only in Morocco 

but also throughout the modern 

world. There are many issues 

facing Moroccan actresses – such 

as sexual harassment – that also 

arise in the US and Europe.” 

The 16 th Marrakech International 

Film Festival runs from 

December 2 through 10. Both 

of Abassi’s projects Majid and 

My Uncle will screen out of 

competition. • 

The Jungle Book 

Star Movies 7:15pm 

After a threat from the tiger 

Shere Khan forces him to flee 

the jungle, a man-cub named 

Mowgli embarks on a journey 

of self discovery with the 

help of panther, Bagheera, 

and free spirited bear, Baloo. 

Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, 

Ben Kingsley 

Transformers 

HBO 8:30pm 

An ancient struggle between 

two Cybertronian races, the 

heroic Autobots and the evil 

Decepticons, comes to Earth, 

with a clue to the ultimate 

power held by a teenager. 

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan 

Fox, Josh Duhamel 

Batman Returns 

WB 5:06pm 

When a corrupt businessman 

and the grotesque Penguin 

plot to take control of 

Gotham City, only Batman 

can stop them, while the 

Catwoman has her own 

agenda. 

Cast: Michael Keaton, Danny 

DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer 

Kung Fu Panda 2 

Zee Studio 7:45pm 

Po and his friends fight to 

stop a peacock villain from 

conquering China with a 

deadly new weapon, but first 

the Dragon Warrior must 

come to terms with his past. 

Cast: Jack Black, Angelina 

Jolie, Jackie Chan 

Despicable Me 2 

Movies Now 7:30pm 

When Gru, the world’s most 

super-bad turned super-dad 

has been recruited by a team 

of officials to stop lethal 

muscle and a host of Gru’s 

own, He has to fight back 

with new gadgetry, cars, and 

more minion madness. 

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen 

Wiig, Benjamin Bratt

32 


DT 

Back Page 

INDIA-PAKISTAN DIPLOMATIC WAR OVER 

SHORTAGE OF DOLLARS PAGE 8 

HISTORICAL DRAMA BY 

NASSIM ABASSI PAGE 31 

‘Special planes would be a luxury’ 

• Mohammad Abu Bakar 

Siddique 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday 

said having special planes 

for the country’s president and 

prime minister would be a luxury, a 

too heavy cost to bear for the modest. 

She rejected the idea outright 

as an “extravaganza”. 

The prime minister made the 

observation at a press conference 

held at her official resident in the 

capital at 4pm on Saturday; following 

her three-day visit to Hungary. 

She said she would rather journey 

by planes that carry the common 

people of the country. 

However, she emphasized further 

development of the aviation, 

citing her government’s continuous 

effort to develop the sector. 

She said her government inherited 

airplanes in utterly poor conditions, 

some dilapidated DC-10 from 

the previous regimes. 

Then her government took effort 

to add more planes in the fleet, 

and stepped to modernize aviation. 

Hasina said she is not intimidated 

by the fear of death. 

In reply to a query over the premier’s 

unexpected landing in central 

Asia on her way to Europe, she said 

the emergency landing at Turkmenistan 

on her way to visit Hungary was 

due to “merely a technical glitch. 

“It was just a technical glitch. 

No accident occurred,” she said. 

Confirming the matter is under 

investigation, she added: “What is 

worth importance is I’m still alive.” 

At the press conference, the 

prime minister affirmed there is no 

chance of midterm election as the 

midterm is over already, in response 

to another query of a journalist. 

She said those who say this are 

probably talking of the next election 

by a midterm election, however, 

adding that it is good to dream. 

The prime minister said the 

president would take measures 

regarding the proposal made by 

Khaleda Zia. 

Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda 

should have apologize to the people 

before making any proposal. 

“People were burned alive 

across the country, arson attacks 

were carried out, at her direction, 

now she is making proposals.” 

First she [Khaleda] has to explain 

the killings, then there might 

be the question of considering her 

proposal, she said. 

She asked whether BNP can remember 

the election commission 

that they formed when they were 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking to the media after her three-day visit to Hungary yesterday 

WHAT ELSE SHE SAID 

Not intimidated by death 

No mid-term election 

Khaleda should apologise before 

sending proposals 

Govt to consider payables for TV channels 

Keen on maintaining original design of 

JS complex 

Dhaka’s leadership in water management 

proven during Hungary visit 

in power? 

The government has not made the 

existing The election commission. 

According to the proposals made in 

2008, it has been formed, she said. 

She also said when they win in 

the election it is good then, when 

they lose, they don’t accept. They 

took part in the mayoral election, 

but wouldn’t take part in the district 

council election, despite it is 

also a local government election. 

Prime minister said the recent 

Rohingya crisis triggered off through 

the killings of some Border Guard 

Police (BGP) personnel of Myanmar 

in a terrorist attack. Then Myanmar 

government deployed army; now 

women and children are suffering 

for the acts committed by terrorist. 

Our intelligence are kept alert, 

if anyone slipped into the border 

illegally, they will be handed over 

to Myanmar. 

As journalists told the prime minister 

that the local tv channels has 

to pay many times more to run in 

different countries than the foreign 

channels have to do here, like in India, 

where a private channel of Bangladesh 

has to pay Tk five crore to run, 

while the Indian ones each have to 

pay merely Tk150,000, prime minister 

said the government is already 

considering it as professionals concerned 

are now raising the issue. The 

government is not supposed to interfere 

into cable operators’ issue, 

but as the issue has been brought 

forth, the government would definitely 

consider, and take steps. 

She said her government role to 

opening of private channels and its 

development. 

Talking about upcoming India 

visit, there may be talk about Teesta 

water sharing among other bilateral 

issues of mutual interest. 

Citing Jatiya Sangsad as “a 

unique structure”, the prime minister 

said the government is keen to 

keep the originality of the design. 

She said the original design is in 

the government’s hand. It will be 

shown to the public. The departments 

concerned will arrange the 

public displays. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 

said her visit to Hungary has represented 

Bangladesh’s strong leadership 

in water management. Alongside, 

it would give momentum to 

the bilateral relation of Bangladesh 

with Hungary which had been 

BSS 

stagnant before. Prime minister 

went on the visit to Hungary from 

November 28 to 30 being invited by 

Hungary’ s president Janos Ader to 

attend Budapest Water Summit. 

In the inaugural session the prime 

minister raised seven points which 

include pure drinkable water for the 

poor, infrastructure building to ensure 

water security in the countries 

vulnerable to the climate change, 

effective management of international 

water sharing, efficient use of 

water in agriculture and innovation 

of technologies for saving water. 

In the summit she strongly recommended 

raising a global fund to 

achieve the water related SDGs. 

She held the first press conference 

at her official residence 

Ganabhaban on Saturday in the afternoon, 

it was the first the head of 

the government level visit between 

the countries. In the press conference, 

the primere remembers 

Hungary’s support to Bangladesh 

during the liberation war. It was 

one among those European nations 

which recognised Bangladesh 

During her visit to Hungary, 

three agreements were signed, 

MoU for foreign ministry level 

talk, mou for mutual cooperation 

in water management, mou for 

cooperation for agriculture. The 

prime minister met the president 

and prime minister of Hungary. She 

also met Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, 

president of Mauritius, by the sideline 

of the summit. • 

Bangladeshi 

killed in UK 

detention 

centre 


A sexagenarian 

Bangladeshi, 

who 

had been 

living in the 

UK without 

proper documents, 

Tarek Chowdhury 

was killed 

in an immigration facility in 

Greater London on Thursday. 

Tarek Chowdhury, 64, was 

attacked during an incident at 

Colnbrook Removal Centre in 

Harmondsworth, West Drayton 

on Thursday morning. 

He succumbed to his injuries 

around 9:30pm, Telegraph and 

Express said quoting police. 

Zana Assad Yusif, 31, care of 

the centre, was arrested along 

with two others. Assad was 

charged with murder on Friday 

and sent to jail yesterday 

through Hendon Magistrates’ 

Court. 

The two other men arrested 

on suspicion were later released. 

Colnbrook, in Harmondsworth, 

West Drayton, Hillingdon, 

detains people subject to 

immigration control and has 

the capacity to hold up to 396 

men and 27 women. 

The centre is adjacent to 

Heathrow Airport, and is run 

by Mitie Care and Custody, 

which won the contract to run 

the centre in 2014 after Serco 

ran it from its opening in 

2004, Telegraph reports. 

While it designated as a 

short-term holding facility, 

in practice some detainees 

spend years at the site, according 

to Express. 

Bangla Tribune reports that 

Tarek hailed from south Surma 

in Sylhet. He went to the 

UK around 12 years back. He 

was recently taken to the detention 

centre for deportation. 

Expressing concern over 

his client’s death at the detention 

centre, lawyer Anwar 

Hossain told Bangla Tribune 

that they would take legal 

action after receiving the 

post-mortem report. • 

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 Office: 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

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