e_Paper, Tuesday, December 13, 2016

SECOND EDITION 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 | Agrahayan 29, 1423, Rabiul Awwal 12, 1438 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 226 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10 

› 2 

New video shows police role in Santal arson 

When education becomes 

a luxury › 3 

HOLIDAY 

NOTICE 

The Dhaka Tribune will remain closed today on 

the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi. Therefore, the 

newspaper will not be published tomorrow (December 

14). However, our website www.dhakatribune.com 

will keep you updated on the latest news. 

Looting amid panicked evacuation alleged during 

fire at Sattola slum in Mohakhali › 32

2 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 

DT 

News 

LEAD STORY 

A screen shot of a video footage shows a member police setting fire to the houses of Santals in November 

New video shows police 

role in Santal arson 

• Tribune Desk 

In light of new evidence, police are 

seen to be directly responsible for 

setting fire to the Santal houses in 

Gaibandha in November. 

A video acquired by Bangla 

Tribune, available at www. 

dhakatribune.com, shows a 

platoon of armed policemen 

marched towards an abandoned 

Santal village. The police kicked on 

the doors as if carrying out a raid 

on a militant den. 

Finding the huts unoccupied, a 

handful of policemen proceeded to 

set fire to the houses. 

The villainous act was matched 

solely by the ineptitude shown by 

the police as they fumbled in lighting 

a fire. 

One of the civilians accompanying 

the police then proceeds to 

set the house on fire, and within a 

matter of hours, the whole village 

is ablaze. 

The police and their civilian cohorts 

strolled nonchalantly amid 

the burning huts – an honest-to- 

God implementation of “scorched 

earth” policy – as part of a “clash” 

that has since killed three Santal 

men and displaced 2,000 families 

from their ancestral lands. 

On November 6, a clash was 

reported between the police and 

Santal community in Gaibandha. 

A sizable number of trained law 

enforcers bearing firearms against 

Santals with bow and arrows guaranteed 

the Santals would have to 

relent. 

The reason behind the conflict 

was revealed to be eviction of the 

Santals when they attempted to 

reclaim their lands granted to the 

Rangpur Sugar Mill which the Santals 

alleged the sugar mill reneged 

on the contract. 

Santals lament they were deceived 

by the local lawmaker who 

promised them his support in securing 

their lands. The same lawmaker, 

they alleged, was involved 

in the attack that saw a small-scale 

invasion in the form of police, Rab, 

sugar mill workers, local Bangalis, 

AL-JAZEERA 

and many more essentially expel 

the Santals from their lands. 

In the wake of the initial conflict, 

15 Santal villages in the Shahebganj-Bagda 

area were raided 

by police and sugar mill authorities 

with the support of local politicians. 

Police filed a case against 42 

Santals arrested who were granted 

bail by the High Court. 

Although many human rights 

organisations have pleaded for 

justice to be carried out and 

the Santals be returned to their 

lands, the scorched earth remains 

witness to the schools burnt down 

and the BGB patrolling the fences 

affirm the land is anyone’s but the 

Santals’. • 

Deaths of 

land rights 

defenders 

treble 

• Thomson Reuters Foundation 

The battle over land and resources 

turned bloodier in the past year 

with treble the number of land 

rights defenders killed, amid fears 

the violence will get even worse. 

An average of nearly 16 farmers, 

indigenous people and advocates 

of land rights were killed every 

month through November worldwide, 

or three times the average in 

2015, according to advocacy group 

Pan Asia Pacific (Panap). 

From January to end-November, 

171 people were killed in relation to 

land rights, Panap’s data showed. 

At least 118 were detained 

through November, compared with 

82 last year, as conflicts with rural 

communities and indigenous people 

intensified. 

In the fight for land and the environment 

- which UK-based watchdog 

Global Witness calls “a new 

battleground for human rights” 

- communities are locked in deadly 

struggles against governments, 

companies and criminal gangs exploiting 

land for products including 

timber, minerals and palm oil. 

Global Witness documented 185 

murders in 16 countries last year, or 

more than three people a week being 

killed defending land, forests and 

rivers in the deadliest year on record. 

In Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia 

and Cambodia saw the most 

number of victims, while in Latin 

America, it was in Honduras, Bolivia 

and Peru, Panap data showed. 

Harassment and killing of land 

rights defenders in India are also on 

the rise. 

In Brazil, more than 20 land 

rights activists were killed as of 

August this year, according to the 

Pastoral Land Commission. 

But communities are fighting 

back. In Cambodia, for example, a 

group of farmers is at the centre of a 

landmark legal case that could change 

the way global corporations manage 

large-scale land acquisitions. • 

Investigator: Some Bangladesh Bank officials involved in heist 

• Reuters 

Some Bangladesh central bank officials 

deliberately exposed its computer 

systems and enabled hackers to steal 

$81million from its account at the Federal 

Reserve Bank of New York in February, 

a top investigator in Dhaka told 

Reuters on Monday. 

The comments by Mohammad 

Shah Alam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police 

(DMP) are the first sign that investigators 

have got a firm lead in one of the 

world’s biggest cyber heists. 

He said arrests are likely to take 

place very soon. 

On Thursday, the head of a Bangladesh 

government panel that investigated 

the heist said five bank officials 

were guilty of negligence but that they 

were only unwitting accomplices. 

Shah Alam told Reuters his investigations 

had discovered that some 

bank officials had knowingly created 

vulnerabilities in the bank’s connection 

to the Swift system, used for global 

transactions. 

“Bangladesh Bank’s Swift network 

was made insecure by some bank employees 

in connivance with some foreign 

people,” he said. “They knew what 

they were doing.” 

He said investigators were now 

trying to find out how the mid-ranking 

officials were connected to the hackers 

and whether they benefited financially 

from the heist. Asked if the officials 

would be arrested, Shah Alam said: 

“We are very close to it.” 

Bangladesh Bank spokesman Subhankar 

Saha declined to comment. 

Another investigator, who declined 

to be named, said more than 

100 Bangladesh Bank employees had 

been interviewed in connection with 

the heist, and some were barred from 

leaving the country. 

The hackers used fake orders to order 

the transfer of nearly $1billion from 

Bangladesh Bank’s account at the New 

York Fed, using the international Swift 

payments network. 

Many of the transfer orders were 

blocked or reversed but $81million was 

successfully transferred to four fake 

accounts in a branch of Rizal Commercial 

Banking Corp (RCBC) in the Philippines. 

Most of the funds then disappeared 

into Manila’s loosely regulated 

casino industry. •

News 3 


CHILD LABOUR IN SYLHET STONE QUARRIES 

When education becomes a luxury 

DT 

• Mohammad Jamil Khan, back 

from Sylhet 

At the beginning of every year, the 

atmosphere in the primary schools 

of Sylhet’s Gowainghat upazila is 

the same as schools in the rest of 

the country: crowded with children 

who are excited about starting 

a new school year and getting new 

books. 

But as the year progresses, the 

situation changes in all 124 primary 

schools of Gowainghat; the classrooms 

lie empty, the teachers have 

no pupils to teach. 

The students who should have 

been in school are found working 

diligently in the stone quarries. 

“In Jaflong, no less than 70-80% 

of the students who enrol in school 

stop going to classes to work, particularly 

in winter,” said Mahfuzur 

Rahman, headmaster of Ballapunji 

Government Primary School. “They 

are mainly found collecting and extracting 

stones in the Piyan River.” 

“We frequently visit our students’ 

houses to bring them back 

to the classroom, they rarely come 

back as most of them work for the 

stone quarries,” said Nurun Nahar, 

associate teacher at Ballapunji 

Government Primary School. 

“The majority of the absentee 

students turn up for the final exams, 

but it is not much of an improvement 

as they barely pass the 

exams,” she added. 

However, while the absence rate 

is extremely high, the drop out rate 

is impressively low. 

The official student drop out 

rate at primary schools varies between 

9% and 11%, which usually 

rises in Classes IV and V, according 

to Gowainghat Education Office. 

The readmission rate in the same 

class varies between 4% and 6%. 

Students make sure that they 

are enrolled in school by making 

sporadic appearances throughout 

the year and appearing in the exams, 

but most of the time they are 

absent, said several school sources. 

Poverty is the biggest reason 

behind this alarming trend, said 

Shahid Miah, education officer in 

Gowainghat. 

“To support their impoverished 

families, these children stop going 

to school and start working,” he 

told the Dhaka Tribune. “We are 

working to raise awareness in this 

regard; we have been meeting with 

their mothers to make them understand 

the importance of being regular 

in school.” 

The situation has started to improve, 

he said. “Students are slowly 

coming back. We are hopeful that it 

will gradually become even better.” 

‘Poverty makes us illiterate’ 

This correspondent went to Jaflong, 

Bisanakandi and Bholaganj – 

three border areas in Sylhet where 

the stone quarries are located – last 

week on a visit arranged by Bangladesh 

Shishu Adhikar Forum and 

funded by Terre des Hommes, an 

international child relief agency. 

Most of the children that this 

correspondent saw working at the 

stone quarries or in the rivers collecting 

and extracting stones were 

aged between 8 and 16 years. Most 

of them were seen working with 

their parents. 

Kamrun Nahar is one such parent. 

Her nine-year-old daughter 

Shila was working with her near 

Piyan River when this reporter approached 

them. 

Asked why she was keeping her 

daughter from school, Kamrun Nahar 

snapped at this reporter. “Will 

school put food in our belly? If we 

do not work, we will have to go to 

sleep with an empty stomach.” 

Shila wants to go to school, but 

she understands that she has no 

option. “I go to school once a week, 

sometimes once in two weeks – 

whenever we have some money 

saved up so we can take a break 

from working. I cannot go to school 

regularly. If I do not work, how will 

I eat?” asked the nine-year-old. 

SC: Jan 15 deadline for finalising judicial code 

• Ashif Islam Shaon 

A child worker prepares to dive into the Piyan River in order to extract more stones from the riverbed in Jaflong, Sylhet 

MOHAMMAD JAMIL KHAN 

The apex court has directed the 

government to issue a gazette notification 

finalising the rules determining 

the discipline and conduct 

of lower court judges by January 

15, 2017. 

The eight member bench of the 

Appellate Division headed by Chief 

Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha also 

fixed that date for further hearing 

and orders while holding a hearing 

yesterday on the Masdar Hossain 

case, widely known as the judiciary 

separation case. 

Later Attorney General Mahbubey 

Alam, who represented the 

state at the hearing, told reporters 

that they have informed the court 

about Sunday’s Law Ministry notification 

which says that the president 

has decided that there is no need for 

a gazette notification on the matter. 

“We prayed for two months’ 

time before the court to settle the 

matter. The court granted time till 

January 15,” he said. 

In the earlier order, the Apex 

court had asked the government to 

issue the gazette notification and 

place it before the court Monday. 

Besides, it asked the two secretaries 

of Law Ministry – ASSM Zahirul 

Haque and Mohammad Shahidul 

Haque to appear before the bench. 

The two secretaries appeared before 

the court yesterday morning. 

But the Sunday’s Law Ministry 

notification said that there is no 

need to publish a gazette notification 

on the Disciplinary Rules for 

the Judicial Officers and Judicial 

Officers Conduct Rules. 

During the hearing, the court 

asked the attorney general why the 

two secretaries have not brought 

the gazette notification. As Mahbubey 

mentioned the Law Ministry’s 

notification, the court asked 

him to read it out. 

In response the court expressed 

dissatisfaction saying the court 

had delivered 12-point directives in 

the Masdar Hossain case but those 

were not fully implemented in the 

last 14 years. The government sent 

a draft to the court and the court 

made some corrections but the final 

gazette is yet to be published. 

The court said the whole thing 

was conveying a wrong message 

to the public and lawyers that the 

court was behind all of these, which 

is not correct. The court just made 

some changes to the draft and 

asked to publish the final gazette. 

The court said, “Do not misunderstand 

us. This court handles 80-90% 

of government-related cases. We are 

not government’s antagonists.” 

The apex court said the president 

might have been misinformed 

about the matter of the gazette. The 

Law Ministry officials could not 

have done this if they had the minimum 

knowledge. The court criticised 

the government for seeking 

time from the court on several occasions 

to issue the gazette and then 

saying there is no need for a gazette. 

Law and Justice Division Secretary 

ASSM Zahirul Haque told the 

court they prepared the letter as per 

Shila’s situation is what most 

children are going through in the region. 

In some cases, there are children 

who cannot manage to go to 

school more than once in a month. 

In Bisanakandi, this reporter 

met Ashraful, 8, who is a boatman’s 

assistant in a tourist boat. 

He said his daily earning is Tk50 

after he works from dawn to dusk. 

“Some days are better when tourists 

give me tips,” the child told this 

correspondent. 

He said he goes to school when 

he can save enough money to take 

a break from work. 

Speaking to numerous child 

and adult labourers, this reporter 

learned that most of them did not 

cross the threshold of primary education. 

Assraf Seddiky, assistant professor 

at the department of public 

administration in Shahjalal University 

of Science and Technology, 

conducted a study on stone quarry 

workers in 2014, where he found 

that 58.83% of the workers managed 

to study until Class V, while 

33.33% were found to be illiterate. 

Only 10.84% of the workers 

have studied beyond the primary 

level, some studying up to Class 

VIII. But none of the workers have 

gotten to Secondary School Certificate 

exams. 

“People in this region do not 

know better than working at the 

stone quarries, because there are no 

alternative livelihood options available,” 

Assraf told the Dhaka Tribune. 

“Unable to pursue education, 

they remain detached from the rest 

of the country, let alone the world.” 

He said the government must 

take steps to alleviate this situation, 

otherwise it would be extremely 

difficult to change these 

people’s lives. • 

the direction of the President’s Office. 

While the court said it did not 

want any confrontation with the government, 

it pointed out that in the 

parliamentary system the president 

had no power except appointing the 

prime minister and chief justice. 

“The president acted as the government 

recommended in the file.” 

The court said that the gazette is 

necessary for the independence of 

the judiciary. The control of the judiciary 

needs to be in the Supreme 

Court’s hand and it cannot be compromised. 

The court asked to issue the gazette 

by January 15. It said there 

was no need to place the rules before 

parliament or cabinet. The 

government can finalise the rules 

through a notification. •

4 


DT 

News 

President to meet five political 

parties to discuss EC reforms 

• Syed Samiul Basher Anik 

President Abdul Hamid is going to 

hold dialogues with the country’s 

five registered political parties, including 

BNP, beginning from December 

18, to discuss formation of 

Election Commission (EC). 

The president will exchange 

views with BNP at 4:30pm on December 

18 in the Bangabhaban, 

president’s Press Secretary Joynal 

Abedin has said. 

President’s Secretary Shampad 

Barua sent letters to the five political 

parties, inviting them to attend 

the view exchange programme. 

The letter, sent to BNP Secretary 

General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 

asked him to submit a list of not 

more than 10 people by December 

15, who will attend the programme. 

The EC is stipulated to be reconstituted 

by February of next year, 

as the tenures of incumbent commissioners 

including the chief election 

commissioner (CEC) will expire 

halfway through that month. 

The meeting was called within 

seven days, after a BNP delegation 

on December 6 submitted a 

13-point proposal on the reformation 

of the Election Commission to 

President Abdul Hamid. 

Earlier, on November 21, BNP 

Chairperson Khaleda Zia called 

upon the government to initiate 

talks over reformation of the Election 

Commission, based on proposals 

she made on November 18. 

On November 18, Khaleda Zia 

recommended a search committee, 

clean EC, ballot reforms and 

empowerment of the military during 

elections as focal points for the 

reconstitution of the election commission 

(EC). 

‘BNP says, discussion 

with the president to 

focus on it’s 13-point 

proposal’ 

Later, during a press conference on 

December 3, Prime Minister Sheikh 

Hasina said: “She [Khaleda] has 

made her proposal; now she can 

tell the president about it, and he’ll 

make the decision … we’ve nothing 

to say ….” 

When asked, BNP Secretary 

General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir 

said: “It is a positive sign and 

the party is expecting a good outcome 

from the discussion.” 

BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General 

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed told 

the Dhaka Tribune that they had earlier 

submitted a letter and its booklet 

on the 13-point proposal on formation 

of a strong Election Commission 

to the President Abdul Hamid. 

“Discussion with the president 

will mainly focus on our 13-point 

proposal, on the process of formation 

of the EC,” he said. 

Party sources told the Dhaka 

Tribune that a 10 member delegation, 

led by BNP chief Khaleda Zia, 

will attend the meeting. 

The delegation will place proposals, 

including calls for formation 

of a search committee, before 

the president, they said. 

The president will also hold 

meetings with the Jatiya Party on 

December 20 around 3:00pm, with 

the Liberal Democratic Party and 

Krishak Sramik Janata League on 

December 21 around 3:00pm and 

4:30pm respectively, and with the 

Jatiya Samajtantrik Party-Inu on 

December 22 around 3:00pm, according 

to the schedule. 

The president will hold talks 

with other registered political parties 

in phases, said the president’s 

press secretary. 

In 2012, late President Zillur 

Rahman appointed incumbent 

chief election commissioner Kazi 

Rakibuddin Ahmad and the election 

commissioners through a 

search committee, after holding 

meetings with the country’s 23 registered 

political parties. 

Currently, there are 40 political 

parties registered with the EC. 

Invited political parties welcomed 

the move 

The political parties, invited by the 

president for discussion, have welcomed 

the move and told the Dhaka 

Tribune that they will place proposals 

for a strong EC that can help 

hold a fair and unbiased election. 

Jatiya Party Secretary General 

ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader said: 

“The initiative from the president 

will help shape country’s democracy 

institutionally, and will also 

work to raise the faith of the public 

on the country’s democratic system. 

“The president’s initiative to 

help political parties deliver their 

opinion will help country’s democratic 

practices on a long term basis. 

The meeting will work for formation 

of a neutral EC and will also 

help holding a fair election.” 

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 

Joint Secretary General Shahadat 

Hossain Selim said that they have 

received the letter and they will 

send a delegation to present their 

proposal for a strong election commission 

as well. 

Krishak Sramik Janata League 

President Abdul Kader Siddique 

said that the president can discuss 

with any political party in a democratic 

state and that such an initiative 

is a very good sign for country’s 

democracy. • 

400kV double circuit 

electricity transmission 

line begins 

• Aminur Rahman Rasel 

The newly constructed 400kV 

Bibiyana-Kaliakoir double circuit 

electricity transmission 

line by the Power Grid Company 

Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) 

started its operation yesterday. 

It is the first 400kV grid 

transmission line of the country, 

Masum-Al-Beruni, managing 

director of PGCB said. 

Each of this double circuit 

line of PGCB has a capacity of 

1200MW, he said. 

He also said that with this 

high voltage line, it will be 

possible to transmit around 

1000MW electricity to the 

national grid from some constructed 

and under construction 

power plants in Bibiyana 

of Sylhet region. 

The capacity of the national 

grid will also be increased with 

the introduction of this new 

high voltage line. 

RMG worker 

gang-raped 

in Dhaka, 

one arrested 

• Mahadi Al Hasnat 

A 16-year-old RMG worker was 

gang-raped on Saturday at Mohammadpur 

in Dhaka. Police arrested 

a man in this connection 

and took him on a seven-day 

remand. 

The victim, a resident of Nabadoy 

housing area at Mohammadpur, 

was raped on Saturday when 

she went to Ekota Housing area 

with a male friend. 

Five local miscreants aged18- 

22 violated her in a nearby catkin 

bush, confining her friend forcefully, 

a source said. 

The victim was sent to Dhaka 

Medical College Hospital on Sunday 

and is currently admitted to 

One Stop Crisis Centre in the hospital. 

The victim named Rakib, Yunus, 

Billal, Kabir and Shahin as the rapists. 

Victim’s mother has filed a case 

with Mohammadpur police station 

on Sunday, Mohammadpur police 

station OC Jamal Uddin Mir told 

the Dhaka Tribune. 

Police arrested Rakib, 22, for his 

alleged involvement in the rape. 

The OC said: “We are carrying 

out drives to arrest the other accused.” 

• 

The length of this new 

transmission line is 168km. It 

has been constructed under 

the 400kV Bibiyana-Kaliakor 

and 230kV Bibiyana-Fenchuganj 

line development project. 

The project is implemented 

with the combined funding 

from the government, PGCB’s 

own fund and Korean Economic 

Development Fund (EDCF). 

This new line has passed 

over Nabiganj, Baniachang, 

Ajmeriganj upazilas of Habiganj 

district, Itna, Mithamoin, 

Nikli, Karimganj, Kotiadi, Pakundia 

upazilas of Kishorganj, 

Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh, 

Kapasia, Sripur, Gazipur 

Sadar and Kaliakoir upazilas of 

Gazipur district. 

The 400kV line will start 

in full capacity from Kaliakoir 

today. Earlier, the 

Meghnaghat-Aminbazaar 

400kV line was started with a 

230kV transmission.•

GFMD summit 

ends with 

agreement on 

governance of 

migration 

• Jebun Nesa Alo 

Global Forum on Migration and 

Development (GFMD) summit 

ended yesterday with an agreement 

on an instrument for migration 

governance. 

Germany chaired the closing 

session of the three-day long 

summit where representatives 

from 130 countries came to 

Bangladesh to participate in the 

summit. 

The 9th GFMD was the biggest 

event Bangladesh has ever hosted 

with 600 government delegation in 

attendance, said Shahidul Haque 

foreign secretary of Bangladesh 

and chair of GFMD 2016. 

“Bangladesh pressed home the 

idea of designing a global compact 

on migration that would ensure 

the rights of emigrants. Most of the 

countries present were in favor of 

an international law on the issue 

while some countries wanting a 

convention on it. 

“Regardless of their difference 

of opinion, all countries agreed that 

there needs to be an agreement on 

a global governance of migration,” 

said Shahidul. 

Migration issues will no longer 

just be mitigated bilaterally but 

through a global mechanism, he 

added. 

It was a positive sign that 

during the summit no destination 

countries expressed negativity 

towards the home countries of 

emigrants and vise versa. 

Topics such as geopolitics, 

economy, migration cost, security 

etc were discussed during the 

summit. 

The global compact on migration 

was also discussed heavily and 

how it should be designed with 

migration cost being a focal point 

of discussions as well. • 

News 5 


Service chief tenure capped at 4 years 

• Shohel Mamun 

The cabinet has approved in 

principle the draft of the “Defence 

Forces Chiefs (Appointment, 

Retirement and Salary and 

Allowances) Act 2016,” capping the 

service tenure of army, navy and 

air force chiefs at four years. 

The approval came in a weekly 

meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat 

with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 

in the chair yesterday. 

Briefing reporters after the 

meeting, Cabinet Secretary M 

Shafiul Alam said the proposed 

legislation was expected to be 

framed regarding the services of 

the three services chiefs in line 

with the constitutional provision 

enacted 44 years back. 

“So far the process [of their 

appointment, retirement, salary 

and allowances] was being done 

by the official order Joint Service 

Instructions,” Alam said. 

The draft proposed that the 

president will appoint the chiefs 

of defence forces and they will 

hold the offices for maximum four 

years at a stretch or with extension 

if they are not given retirement in 

public interest or opt for voluntary 

retirement themselves. 

According to the proposed law, 

the chiefs of three services will 

receive salary in same scale of the 

cabinet secretary in addition to 

Geo-data for advanced farmers soon 

• Abu Siddique 

Pillars that demarcated the land of Turag River can be seen lying on the field broken and removed from the ground. These were placed to fight encroachment of river 

land. The photo was taken yesterday near Birulia in Savar 

RAJIB DHAR 

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding 

(MoU) was signed yesterday, 

with the aim of developing 

a satellite based agricultural information 

system in Bangladesh. The 

three parties were the Department 

of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 

Advanced Chemical Industries Ltd 

(ACI) and the Netherlands Development 

Organisation (SNV). 

The information services will be 

created under project Intelligent Decision 

Support System (IDSS) to provide 

customized advisory services to 

smallholder farmers through the use 

of advanced Geo-data. 

The MoU was signed by Director 

General of DAE Md Hamidur 

Rahman, Executive Director of ACI 

Agribusiness Dr. F H Ansarey and 

Country Director of the SNV Jason 

Belanger. Project Team Leader 

Shamim Murad was also present 

IDSS aims to raise awareness for 

advanced agronomic practices and 

increased resilience by providing 

monitoring and early alert services. 

Initially, the project will be implemented 

in 12 districts of the 

country, before expansion to the 

national level. • 

allowances. 

On expiry of their four-year 

tenure, they will be deemed 

disqualified to be reemployed in 

any civil or military administration. 

However, they can get 

appointment in any constitutional 

position and work contractually in 

any private organisation, the draft 

law said. 

Border haats 

The cabinet also approved the 

draft of a memorandum of 

understanding (MoU) and a modus 

operandi to renew the tenure of the 

border haats between Bangladesh 

and India, increasing the time to 

five years from the existing three 

DT 

years. 

The cabinet secretary said: 

“Border haats began in October 

2010 and was extended in 2013. 

There are four haats along the 

border of the two countries which 

have already expired. As per the 

new MoU the tenure of the haats 

will be increased. The number of 

haats will also be increased.” 

The draft also proposed to 

increase the number of traders 

from each side to sell products in a 

border haat to 50 from the present 

25. 

“The purchase limit for 

customers will also be increased to 

$200 from $100,” Cabinet Secretary 

M Shafiul Alam added. • 

TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY 

Dhaka 27 13 Chittagong 27 17 Rajshahi 26 12 Rangpur 26 12 Khulna 28 12 Barisal 28 13 Sylhet 28 11 

Cox’s Bazar 28 18 

DRY WEATHER 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 

DHAKA 

TODAY 

TOMORROW 

SUN SETS 5:13PM 

SUN RISES 6:33AM 

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW 

31.1ºC 

9.8ºC 

Teknaf 

Rajshahi 

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 

Floating farms bring smile to ultra poor women 

The new concept of such farming started a year ago at Notunpara village in Pabna 

• Imroj Khandaker Bappi, 

Pabna 

Combined farming of vegetables, 

poultry and fish on rafts on the 

Gumani River in Pabna has become 

successful in turning the plight of 

ultra poor women of the area. 

The new concept of such farming 

stared a year ago at Notunpara 

village in Bhangura upazila. It requires 

a raft made of drums. 

On the raft, there is space for 

laying eggs of ducks, which spend 

all day in water and lay eggs on 

the raft at night. The excrement of 

ducks is used as fish feed, as the 

fish are cultivated under the raft. 

For growing vegetables such as 

bitter gourd, cucumber and pumpkin, 

plastic bucket is used from 

where maca is raised on the raft. 

Initially, five women of the village 

spent Tk25 to 30 thousand to 

start such a farm, while no further 

investment is required from next 

year. A non-government developmental 

organization is helping 

them in this regard. 

Hosne Ara, wife of Dulal Kha, 

Hafiza Khatun, wife of Mohir Uddin, 

Saleha Khatun, wife of Anwar Hossain, 

Afroja Khatun, wife of Lablu 

Mia, and Rehena Khatun, wife of Jakir 

Hossain, from Char Bhangura Purba 

Para village have been able to change 

the poor plight of their families by doing 

the farming within a year. 

The farm also provides the families 

with the proper nutrition. 

They told the Dhaka Tribune: “We 

have earned more than Tk100000 

from the farm in a year. Now, our 

children can go to schools. Now, 

many other villagers are willing to do 

the farming seeing our successes.” 

According to Directorate of Agriculture 

Extension of the district, 

peasants are being trained up on 

this type of farming. 

They are becoming self-dependent 

by implementing the skills and 

knowledge obtained from such 

training, said the directorate. The 

directorate has been working to 

spread the farming in the region. 

Bibhuti Bhushon Sarker, deputy 

director of the directorate, said: 

“If such floating farms are spread 

throughout the district, it will contribute 

to eradicate poverty from the 

locality. Many parts of Chalan Bil 

area remain under water six months 

a year. Such farming can bring smiles 

to the people of those areas.” • 

Like what you’re reading? 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY 

Call: 0161-I-WANT-DT (01614926838) | Visit: dhakatribune.com/subscribe 

Dhaka Tribune

News 7 


Tobacco production in Kushtia on rise 

• Kudrate Khoda Sabuj 

Tobacco production in the district 

is on the rise in recent years, 

cutting the total amount of arable 

lands where essential food grains 

were produced earlier, said related 

sources. 

Farmers who started tobacco 

production in this season said: “We 

are doing so due to the frustrating 

market price of essential food 

grains which we produce through 

dawn-to-dusk hard labour. Moreover, 

tobacco companies offer lucrative 

incentive packages.” 

Sources from district Agricultural 

Extension Department (AED) 

said tobacco production is continuing 

uninterruptedly and increasing 

every year which may lead to 

decreasing cultivation of essential 

food grains. Farmers are cultivating 

tobacco on different fertile lands of 

the district including Doulatpur, 

Mirpur and Veramara upazilas. 

“Earlier, a variety of essential 

food grains including paddy, sugarcane, 

jute, wheat and pulse used 

to be cultivated overwhelmingly in 

these three upazilas. Almost half of 

the produced food grains were distributed 

among other districts after 

meeting the local demand. But in 

recent years, a sharp rise in tobacco 

production has alarmingly decreased 

the total amount of lands 

that produce food grains; although 

it poses a serious threat to fertility 

of lands and farmers’ health,” said 

an AED official. 

NHRC: Gobindaganj 

Santals evicted illegally 

• Rezaul Haque, Gaibandha 

Cultivators mount up tobacco leaves after the harvest. In Kushtia, almost one-fourth of the total arable lands are now being 

used for tobacco production, posing serious threat to fertility of lands and farmers’ health 

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN 

The eviction of Santals from their 

village in Gobindaganj was illegal, 

the National Human Rights Commission 

has said. 

“In primary investigation, we 

have noticed many crimes including 

murder and arson that took place 

during the eviction,” he added. 

A 10-member team consisting of 

NHRC members, the parliamentary 

caucus on indigenous issues and 

the United Nations Development 

Programme (UNDP) visited the village 

yesterday morning. 

After the visit and interviews 

with victims from the Santal community, 

the team spoke to the 

press at Madarpur village in front 

of the church. 

“No one has the right to forcibly 

evict people. Whether the Santals 

settled in the sugar farm legally or illegally, 

their eviction required a court 

order,” the NHRC chairman said. 

The Caucus convener Fazle Hossain 

Badha, members AK Fazlul 

Haque and Tipu Sultan and technocrat 

member Prof Mesbah Kamal, 

NHRC Director (investigation) Sharif 

Uddin, UNDP Chief Technical 

Adviser on Human Rights Sharmila 

Rasul, Taslima Nasrin and Shankar 

Pal were members of the team. 

Rezaul Haque said the government’s 

initiatives for the Santal 

community were insufficient. 

The mill authorities could have 

leased out the land to Santals on 

a priority basis. It should not have 

given the land to local influential 

people,” he said. 

Earlier the delegation spoke to 

the Rangpur Sugar Mill authorities 

and later recorded the interviews 

of seven evicted villagers, both 

Santal and Bangali. 

Asked about their findings, the 

NHRC chairman said further investigation 

was required, but there 

was clear indication of abuse during 

the eviction. 

The Santals carried out a procession 

with bows and arrows and 

sticks as the delegation left the 

area, shouting slogans demanding 

the return of their land. • 

According to AED statistics, out 

of 1,15,875 hectors of total arable 

land in Kushtia, tobacco is being 

cultivated in 30,000 hectors of 

land at present. 

AED officials and concerned citizens 

of the district apprehended 

that adequate production of food 

grains might be affected “if this 

trend continues”. 

They said various tobacco manufacturing 

companies like British 

American Tobacco Bangladesh, 

Dhaka Tobacco, Abul Khayer, Jamil 

Group and Nasir Group are luring 

the farmers offering lucrative incentive 

packages. 

Contacted, Mirpur upazila Deputy 

Assistant Agriculture Officer 

Monirul Islam said: “The companies 

supply fertilisers, seeds and 

insecticides to the cultivators in 

5 alleged HujiB 

leaders put on 

3-day remand 

• FM Mizanur Rahaman, 

Chittagong 

A Chittagong court yesterday 

placed five alleged leaders of 

banned Islamic militant outfit Harkat-ul 

Jihad Bangladesh (HujiB) on 

a three-day remand in connection 

with three cases filed with Chittagong 

city’s Akbar Shah police. 

The arrestees were Mowlana Tajul 

Islam, Nazim Uddin, Hafez Abujar Gifari, 

Nure Alam and Iftesham Ahmed. 

Chittagong Metropolitan Police 

(CMP) Additional Deputy Commissioner 

Nirmalendu Bikash Chakrabarty 

said: “The court of Metropolitan 

Magistrate Nazmul Hossen 

Chowdhury placed the five HujiB 

leaders on a three-day remand in 

each case after the remand hearing.” 

On December 8, RAB busted 

a HujiB den in Chittagong city’s 

Colonel Hat area and arrested them 

including three regional commanders. 

They found two firearms, large 

stash of bullets, improvised explosive 

devices (IED)s and bomb making 

materials in their possession. • 

advance. As a result, farmers do 

not pay heed to the consultations 

of AED officials who encourage 

them to produce wheat, lentils, 

gram, pea, maize and mustard. 

More and more farmers in the district 

are joining tobacco production 

as they do not get fair prices of 

their produced food grains.” 

He said out of 24,030 hectors 

of total arable land in the upazila, 

CU VC sued for making 

derogatory comments 

• FM Mizanur Rahaman, 

Chittagong 

DT 

tobacco is being cultivated in this 

season at 8,000 hectors of land 

where wheat, lentils, gram, pea, 

maize and mustard were cultivated. 

Earlier, after meeting the local 

demands; the upazila had about 

2,500 tonnes of surplus food grains. 

“If we can provide, considering 

the existing reality of the region, 

essential farming materials including 

fertilisers, seeds and insecticides 

as government incentives to 

farmers to inspire them to produce 

alternative crops, it might bring 

expected results,” the agriculture 

officer observed. 

Observing that cultivation of 

boro does not even return the fertiliser 

and irrigation costs; Mojibur 

Rahman, a farmer from Haringachi 

village under Rifaitpur union in 

Daulatpur upazila said: “That’s 

why I started tobacco cultivation 

few years ago. Tobacco production 

at per bigha of land costs Tk8,000 

to Tk12,000; and after the harvest, 

produced tobacco of per bigha 

land can be sold at Tk45,000 to Tk 

50,000.” 

Contacted, district AED’s Acting 

Deputy Director Dr Hayat Mahmud 

said: “Tobacco production takes 

six months of time, whereas cultivation 

of wheat, lentils, gram, pea, 

maize or mustard takes only three 

months with double profit.” 

“As we do not have any legal way 

to stop tobacco production, we are 

focusing on awareness building; 

discouraging the cultivators from 

tobacco production,” he added. • 

Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury, 

vice chancellor of Chittagong University, 

has been sued in a defamation 

case for making a derogatory 

comment about another teacher of 

the university. 

Prof Gazi Saleh Uddin, a teacher 

at Sociology Department of the 

university, filed the case against 

the VC with a court of Chittagong 

Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) 

yesterday over making the comment 

about him, terming him a 

fake freedom fighter. 

Prof Iftekhar made the comment 

on November 28 in a commemorative 

meeting of former VC 

late prof Abu Yusuf, according to 

the case statement. 

Defence lawyer Mujibor Rahman 

Chowdhury told the Dhaka 

Tribune: “Taking the case into 

cognizance, the court directed the 

deputy commissioner of Detective 

Branch, Chittagong Metropolitan 

Police, to submit a report in this regard 

within 30 days.” 

Prof Iftekhar told Dhaka Tribune: 

“I will fight the legal battle.” 

However, he refuted the allegation 

brought by Prof Saleh Uddin in 

the case. 

Prof Saleh Uddin mentioned in 

the case statement that his father 

Ali Karim, a former railway official, 

was murdered by Pakistani occupational 

force on November 10 in 

1971. 

Prof Saleh Uddin fought for the 

country under Sector Two in the 

liberation War and his freedom 

fighter’s certificates numbers are 

“BMS-27910” signed by Prime Minister 

Sheikh Hasina and “M-6056” 

issued by the ministry of Liberation 

War Affairs, as mentioned in 

the case statement. 

Besides, Prof Saleh Udin’s two 

brothers Gazi Mesbah Uddin and 

Gazi Samsuddin were also freedom 

fighters, while a commemorative 

postal stamp was also released by 

Bangladesh Postal Department 

in the name of his father, said the 

case statement. •

DT 

8 

World 


SOUTH ASIA 

Pakistan names new ISI 

chief 

Pakistan has named a new head of 

its powerful military Inter-Services 

Intelligence agency (ISI), two weeks 

after replacing the chief of army 

staff in a significant shift for the 

military that wields huge influence. 

Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar 

was appointed as director-general of 

the ISI, replacing Lieutenant General 

Rizwan Akhtar. AFP 

INDIA 

India police probe politicallydriven 

Twitter hacking 

Indian police on Monday said they 

were trying to track down a group 

of cyber criminals suspected of 

hacking high profile Twitter accounts 

amid allegations the breaches 

were politically motivated. The 

unknown group, ‘Legion Crew’, 

on Saturday targeted two Twitter 

accounts belonging to prominent 

television journalists, both seen as 

critics of the policies of the ruling 

Hindu nationalist government. AFP 

CHINA 

China to continue opposing 

UN ban on Masood Azhar 

China said on Monday its policy on 

Pakistan-based terrorist Masood 

Azhar hasn’t changed, indicating it 

will continue to block India’s efforts 

to get the JeM chief sanctioned by 

the UN. Answering a query on Indo-China 

relations, foreign ministry 

spokesperson Geng Shuang said 

that “on the listing issue China’s 

position remains unchanged”. HT 

ASIA PACIFIC 

Taiwan calls on youths to 

join army 

Taiwan’s defence minister called 

on youths to join the army Monday 

after Chinese military aircraft 

came near the island over the 

weekend during a drill for the 

second time in the past month. 

Officials gave no further detail on 

how close the planes had come to 

the island, but they did not enter 

Taiwan’s airspace. AFP 

MIDDLE EAST 

Iran: Gulf worried about 

war risks with Trump 

Donald Trump’s election has led 

to unease over threats to peace in 

the region, Iran’s defence minister 

said on Sunday, warning that a war 

would destroy Israel and the small 

Gulf Arab states. Trump’s election 

victory has raised the prospect the 

US will pull out of a nuclear pact it 

signed last year with Iran, which 

Barack Obama’s administration 

has touted as a way to suspend 

Tehran’s suspected drive to develop 

atomic weapons. REUTERS 

Myanmar calls Asean talks over 

Rohingya issue 

• AFP, Yangon 

Myanmar has called an emergency 

Asean meeting to discuss the Rohingya 

crisis, a diplomat said Monday, 

as regional tensions deepen 

over a bloody military crackdown 

on the country’s Muslim minority. 

More than 20,000 Rohingya 

have flooded into Bangladesh 

over the past two months, fleeing 

a military campaign in Myanmar’s 

western Rakhine state. 

Their stories of mass rape and 

murder at the hands of security 

forces have galvanised protests in 

Muslim nations around the region, 

with Buddhist-majority Myanmar 

facing diplomatic pressure from its 

neighbours. 

A diplomatic source in the Philippines 

confirmed Myanmar had 

invited them for an emergency 

Asean meeting to discuss “the Rohingya 

issue”. 

The source declined to give 

more details on the meeting, 

which the Nikkei reported would 

be held in Yangon on December 

19. Myanmar officials could not be 

reached for comment. 

The bloodshed presents the biggest 

challenge to Nobel Peace prize 

winner Suu Kyi since her party won 

the country’s first democratic elections 

in a generation last year. 

Last week the UN’s special adviser 

on Myanmar criticised her 

handling of the crisis, saying it had 

“caused frustration locally and 

disappointment internationally”. 

Suu Kyi also held talks over Rakhine 

with the foreign minister of 

Indonesia, after cancelling a visit 

to the country in November following 

protests and an attempted 

attack on the Myanmar embassy. 

State media report almost 100 

people have been killed – 17 soldiers 

and 76 suspects – in the army 

operation in Rakhine that followed 

deadly raids on police border posts 

on October 9. 

Advocacy groups put the death 

toll in the hundreds, but foreign 

journalists and independent investigators 

have been barred from visiting 

the area to verify the figures. • 

Q&A 

Why is Jakarta’s governor on trial for blasphemy? 

Jakarta’s Christian governor Basuki 

Tjahaja Purnama is being prosecuted 

for blasphemy, an offence that carries 

a five-year jail term in Indonesia, over 

remarks he made about the Koran. 

The comments sparked widespread 

anger in the world’s most populous 

Muslim-majority country and the case 

is now seen in part as a test of religious 

tolerance in Indonesia. 

But critics say it is also about politics 

as the governor’s foes whip up anger to 

reduce his support. 

Who is on trial? 

Purnama, better known by his nickname 

Ahok, is Jakarta’s first non-Muslim 

governor for half a century and a 

member of the country’s tiny ethnic 

Chinese minority. 

The 50-year-old has won huge popularity 

with his no-nonsense style and 

determination to clean up Jakarta, an 

overcrowded, disorganised and polluted 

metropolis of 10 million. 

But he has also faced constant opposition 

from hardline Islamic groups, 

who dislike a non-Muslim being in 

charge of Indonesia’s capital. He is running 

for election in February. 

How did this start? 

During a campaign stop in September, 

Purnama told a crowd they had been 

“deceived” by his opponents who used 

Muslims protest against Myanmar’s crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok on 

November 25 

REUTERS 

Indonesian Muslims hold up posters during a rally calling for the arrest of 

Jakarta’s Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in Jakarta on December 2. The 

poster, centre, reads: ‘Jail Ahok, blasphemer against the Koran’ 

REUTERS 

a Koranic verse to try to put them off 

voting for a Christian. 

The speech went viral, angering moderate 

and conservative Muslims alike 

who considered the remarks offensive. 

Purnama apologised but Indonesia’s 

top Islamic clerical body declared 

the remarks blasphemous. 

In November more than 100,000 

Muslims swarmed Jakarta in one of the 

largest mass demonstrations seen in 

the capital in years as hardliners burnt 

cars and clashed with police, demanding 

Purnama face justice. 

President Joko Widodo vowed to 

swiftly resolve the case, and police officially 

declared Purnama a suspect for 

blasphemy. 

Why blasphemy? 

Indonesia’s constitution guarantees 

freedom of religion but officially only 

six faiths are recognised. 

Under tough laws dating back to 

1965, anyone who insults these religions 

or deviates from their beliefs can 

be charged with blasphemy and jailed. 

Critics say today the laws are exploited 

to persecute minorities, like 

Shia and Ahmadi Muslims, and in some 

cases, even atheists have fallen foul of 

the legislation. 

In 2012, a man was sentenced to 

two-and-a-half years prison for writing 

“God does not exist” on Facebook. 

What next? 

The FPI and other Islamic groups have 

vowed to maintain pressure until Purnama 

is prosecuted. 

While rights groups fear the campaign 

against Purnama could further erode 

Indonesia’s reputation for pluralism and 

have urged police to drop the case. 

Widodo too is feeling the pressure. 

He has blamed “political actors” for 

the instability and staged high-profile 

visits with military and political leaders 

to broadcast an image of control. 

But in the hours before a December 

rally, 10 people were detained on 

murky allegations of treason. • 

Source: AFP

World 

Aleppo battle nears end 

• AFP, Aleppo 

The crucial battle for Aleppo entered 

its “final phase” on Monday 

after Syrian rebels retreated into a 

small pocket of their former bastion 

in the face of new army advances. 

President Bashar al-Assad’s 

forces held 95% of the onetime 

opposition stronghold of east 

Aleppo, a monitor and military 

official said, and appeared on the 

verge of retaking the entire city. 

The fall of Aleppo would be the 

worst rebel defeat since Syria’s 

conflict began in 2011, and leave 

the government in control of the 

country’s five major cities. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human 

Rights monitoring group reported 

that the army had captured 

southeast Aleppo’s large Sheikh 

Saeed district. 

‘A total collapse’ 

“The battle of Aleppo has reached 

its end. It is just a matter of a small 

period of time... it’s a total collapse,” 

said Observatory director 

Rami Abdel Rahman. 

In the Mashhad neighbourhood, 

residents fleeing the army 

advance crowded the streets, witnesses 

said. 

Displaced civilians – many hungry 

after fleeing without food – sat 

UK to adopt new 

anti-Semitism 

definition to fight 

hate crime 

• Reuters, London 

Britain said on Monday it would 

become one of the first countries 

to adopt an international definition 

of anti-Semitism to clamp down on 

hate crime after an increase in the 

number of reported incidents targeting 

Jews. 

Adopting the definition formulated 

in May by the International 

Holocaust Remembrance Alliance 

(IHRA) is meant to make it harder 

for people to get away with discriminatory 

or prejudiced behaviour due 

to unclear or differing definitions of 

what anti-Semitism actually is. 

“It means there will be one definition 

of anti-Semitism – in essence, 

language or behaviour that displays 

hatred towards Jews because they are 

Jews – and anyone guilty of that will be 

called out on it,” Prime Minister Theresa 

May said in pre-released extracts 

from a speech she was due to deliver. 

The government is due to publish 

its response on Tuesday to an 

inquiry into anti-Semitism conducted 

by a committee of lawmakers and 

another report published in 2015. • 

ALEPPO’S HUMAN TRAGEDY 

“Aleppo is already a Sarajevo, a black chapter 

in the history of mankind and of international 

politics,” Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian 

advisor on Syria (Nov 29,2016) 

Dec 12 

Photos: K. Al-Masri, G. Ourfian/AFP 

on pavements or lay on the street 

with nowhere else to go, they said. 

State television also aired live 

footage from inside Salhin district, 

one of the areas fully retaken on 

Monday, showing widespread destruction. 

The Observatory said 

Monday another 10,000 people had 

fled rebel areas in the previous 24 

hours, bringing the total number of 

those who have left – mostly to government-held 

territory – to 130,000. 

Russian ‘double-talk’ 

More than 300,000 people have 

Six months on, Brexit rift among 

Britons remains wide 

• AFP, London 

Now, nearly six months after 

Britain’s shock referendum vote 

for Brexit, two thirty-somethings 

prove the debate is still very much 

alive, and just as painful. 

“I’m very, very excited about 

the future,” says Chris Mendes, 

a 31-year-old software engineer 

who supports the anti-EU, anti-immigration 

UK Independence 

Party (UKIP), which helped drive 

the “Leave” vote. 

But Thomas Cole, a 33-year-old 

political analyst who used to work 

at the European Commission in 

Brussels, says the future is still up 

for play. 

Since the vote on June 23, 

many Britons have had to wrestle 

with some of the stark and unsettling 

realities of what “leaving Europe” 

actually means. 

Mendes, sporting a brown 

T-shirt and a three-day-old beard, 

acknowledges there are challenges 

to leaving the EU, not least 

pro-European MPs seeking to delay 

or soften the divorce. 

“There’s obviously a clear resistance 

to Brexit, there’s no question 

about that, but we expected 

that,” he says. 

April-May 2011 Mass student protests against President Assad. Demos crushed. 

July-Aug 2012 

Dec 2013 

Dec 7 

Rebels from Free Syrian Army (armed civilians 

and army deserters) take eastern half of city 

Regime drops 1st barrel bombs on rebel-held 

districts housing more than 250,000 civilians 

Sept 2015 Russia enters war to support Assad 

July 2016 

Sept 22 

Nov 15 

been killed in Syria’s war, and over 

half the country displaced. 

The government assault on 

Aleppo has killed at least 415 civilians 

since mid-November, according 

to the Observatory. Another 

130 civilians have been slain in rebel 

fire on the city’s west over the 

same period, it says. 

Diplomatic efforts to end the 

conflict have repeatedly failed. 

Russia last week said talks were 

under way with US officials on securing 

a ceasefire and the withdrawal 

of all rebel forces from Aleppo. 

But Cole, wearing a smart 

jumper and striped scarf tied at 

the neck, argues that the referendum 

was “legally not binding”. 

Taking back control 

Under pressure from members of 

her Conservative party and EU 

leaders, Prime Minister Theresa 

May has promised to begin formal 

exit talks by the end of March. 

But she is fighting a legal challenge 

against calls for MPs to take 

the final decision on triggering 

Regime cuts rebels’ last supply route into Aleppo 

Regime and Russia announce major offensive 

Regime and Russia launch most intense 

assault on eastern Aleppo in 2 years, 

using barrel bombs and artillery shells 

Nov 21 No functioning hospitals left in besieged part 

of city. Civilians without urgent medical help 

Rebels call for immediate truce and evacuation of 

civilians. At least 80,000 residents have fled since Nov 15 

More than 90% of city in regime hands 

Opposition fighter, central Aleppo, 

July 25, 2012 

Attack on rebel-held district, 

November 24, 2016 

But despite a series of high-level 

meetings there was no progress 

in halting the fighting. 

Moscow is a key Assad ally and 

launched an air war in support of 

his forces last year, while Washington 

and other Western nations 

have supported rebel forces battling 

the regime. 

French Foreign Minister Jean- 

Marc Ayrault said Monday the latest 

round of Russia-US talks at the 

weekend failed “because there is 

double-talk and a sort of permanent 

lie” on the Russia’s part. • 

Pro Europe demonstrators protest outside the Supreme court building in 

London on the first day of a four-day hearing on December 5 

AFP 

Brexit, amid concerns that parliament, 

which overwhelmingly 

wanted Britain to stay in the EU, 

will try to block it. 

Meanwhile the cabinet itself 

appears divided on the key issue 

of whether or not to stay in the 

single market. 

Remainers say quitting the 

world’s biggest trade bloc will 

destroy swathes of British jobs. 

Brexit supporters say Britain will 

forge new trade deals with the 

rest of the world. • 

9 


DT 

USA 

Trump taps John Kelly for 

Homeland Security 

Donald Trump has nominated former 

general John Kelly as homeland 

security secretary, his transition 

team has confirmed. The retired 

Marine Corps general, who stepped 

down in 2016 as commander of the 

US southern command, was widely 

expected to be the president-elect’s 

pick to head the Department of 

Homeland Security. GUARDIAN 

THE AMERICAS 

Venezuela pulls 

100-bolivar note from 

circulation 

The Venezuelan government is 

to withdraw its largest banknote 

from circulation in its latest 

attempt to tackle the world’s worst 

inflation crisis. President Nicolas 

Maduro said on Sunday that the 

100-bolivar note, which is currently 

worth only two US cents on the 

black market, will be withdrawn 

on Wednesday. GUARDIAN 

UK 

UK bans neo-Nazi group 

under anti-terror laws 

A neo-Nazi group that celebrated 

the murder of the Labour MP Jo 

Cox is to become the first far-right 

group to be proscribed as a terrorist 

organisation by the home secretary. 

Britain’s interior ministry 

said the far-right extremist group, 

National Action, was being banned 

under the Terrorism Act as it had 

been assessed to be “concerned in 

terrorism”. The move means that 

supporting or being a member of 

the organisation will be a criminal 

offence, carrying a potential 

10-year prison sentence, the Home 

Office said in a statement. AFP 

EUROPE 

EU, Cuba normalise ties 

The EU and Cuba on Monday signed 

a deal to normalise ties that had 

been blocked for decades by human 

rights concerns under revolutionary 

icon Fidel Castro. Cuba was the 

only Latin American country not to 

have a “dialogue and cooperation” 

deal with the 28-nation EU covering 

issues such as trade, human rights 

and migration. REUTERS 

AFRICA 

Egypt arrests four over 

deadly church bombing 

Egyptian security forces arrested 

four people suspected of 

involvement in a bomb attack 

on a Cairo church that killed 24 

people, President Abdel Fattah 

al-Sisi said Monday. Sisi, who was 

speaking at a funeral for those 

killed, also revealed that Sunday’s 

attack was carried out by a suicide 

bomber who had been identified 

as 22-year-old Mahmoud Shafik 

Mohamed Mostafa. AFP

10 


DT 

World 

China warns Trump over Taiwan policy 

• AFP, Beijing 

China expressed “serious concern” 

on Monday after US President-elect 

Donald Trump said the United 

States did not necessarily have to 

stick to its long-held stance that 

Taiwan is part of “one China”, calling 

it the basis for relations. 

Beijing issued its first clear warning 

Monday over Donald Trump’s 

fiery rhetoric, as state media said 

the Asian giant could back “forces 

hostile to the US” if the president-elect 

follows through with 

threats to drop Washington’s One 

China policy. 

It was the strongest signal yet 

from Chinese authorities that abandoning 

the One China policy, which 

guides relations with self-ruling 

Taiwan, would upset decades of 

carefully managed Sino-US relations 

and end cooperation between 

the world’s top two economies. 

Beijing has not controlled Taiwan 

for more than 60 years but 

foreign ministry spokesman Geng 

Shuang said it considered the island 

a “core interest” that affected 

China’s sovereignty and territorial 

integrity. 

The One China policy was the 

“political bedrock” for relations 

with the US, he added, and if it 

was “compromised or disrupted”, 

sound and steady growth in China-US 

relations and cooperation in 

major fields would be “out of the 

question”, he told reporters. 

The comments came in response 

to Trump’s remarks in an interview 

Sunday that he did not see why 

Washington must “be bound by a 

One China policy unless we make 

a deal with China having to do with 

other things, including trade”. 

Although the US is Taiwan’s main 

ally and arms supplier, Washington 

has not had official diplomatic relations 

with Taipei since 1979, when 

it switched recognition to Beijing. 

Trump’s decision to take the call 

broke with protocol, and seemed 

to catch China’s Communist Party 

leadership by surprise. 

The official response was initially 

muted, and state media largely 

blamed Taiwan for the phone call and 

advocated a wait-and-see response. 

But the remarks on Monday were 

more pointed, and a commentary 

in the nationalistic Global Times 

offered a more menacing warning 

to Trump, calling him “as ignorant 

of diplomacy as a child”, in its Chinese-language 

version. 

‘Novice’ 

Despite the escalation in official 

rhetoric, many Chinese analysts 

still offer a note of restraint, emphasising 

Trump’s background in 

business, not politics, and the possibility 

his actions in office will take 

a softer line. 

“I think this could be his negotiating 

technique because he knows 

the Taiwan issue is an extremely 

sensitive issue, an issue China is 

very concerned about,” Wu Xinbo, 

director of the Center for American 

Studies at Fudan University in 

Shanghai, said. 

Trump last week appointed Iowa 

Governor Terry Branstad, who is 

personally acquainted with Chinese 

President Xi Jinping, as ambassador 

to Beijing, which hailed the nominee 

as a “friend of China”. • 

UNITED STATES AND CHINA 

ECONOMY 

GDP 

2015 

In $ trillions 

17.95 

10.87 

MILITARY 

2015 military expenditure 

In billions of dollars 

USA 

$596.02 

Sources: World Bank/SIPRI 

Reserves 

2015 

In $ trillions 

3.41 

Annual GDP growth 

In % 

15 

11.4 

10 

5 

0 

-5 

-10 

0.38 -15 

3.3 

2005 2010 

RUSSIA 

$66.42 

INDIA 

$51.26 

2015 

6.9 

2.4 

CHINA 

$214.79 

GDP per capita 

In dollars 

44,308 

55,837 

AUSTRALIA 

$23.59 

2005 

2015 

1,740 

JAPAN 

$40.89 

7,925 

SOUTH KOREA 

$36.43 

Tillerson choice raises 

questions of corporate v 

national interest 

The central question facing Exxon Mobil 

Corp Chief Executive Rex Tillerson 

if he becomes US secretary of state is 

whether a lifelong oil man with close 

ties to Russia can pivot from advancing 

corporate interests to serving the national 

interest. 

Tillerson, 64, got his start as a production 

engineer at Exxon in 1975 and 

has worked there ever since, running 

business units in Yemen, Thailand and 

Russia before being named chief executive 

in 2006. He was expected to 

retire next year. 

Senior senators, both Democrats 

and Republicans, have expressed 

concern over Tillerson, who emerged 

this weekend as Donald Trump’s expected 

pick for secretary of state, according 

to a source familiar with the 

situation. By choosing him, the president-elect 

would add another - and 

presumably highly influential - person 

to his Cabinet and circle of advisers 

who may favour a soft line toward 

Moscow. 

Among these is Trump’s choice 

for national security adviser, Michael 

Flynn, who raised eyebrows when he 

sat beside Russian President Vladimir 

Putin at a Moscow banquet last year 

and who has argued that the United 

States and Russia should collaborate 

to end Syria’s civil war and to defeat 

Islamic State militants. 

Tillerson’s links with Russia came under 

fire from top lawmakers on Sunday. 

‘A straight arrow’? 

Many US officials are worried by Russia’s 

increasingly aggressive behaviour. 

It annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 

2014, has supported Syrian President 

Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war 

and is accused of interfering in US domestic 

politics. 

US intelligence analysts have concluded 

that Russia intervened in the 

2016 election to help Trump defeat 

Hillary Clinton, and not just to undermine 

confidence in the US electoral 

system, a senior US official said. 

In his role at Exxon, Tillerson maintained 

close ties with Putin and opposed 

US sanctions against Russia for 

its incursion into Crimea. 

Trump praised Tillerson, saying 

on his Twitter account on Saturday: 

“Whether I choose him or not for 

“State”- Rex Tillerson, the Chairman 

& CEO of ExxonMobil, is a world class 

player and dealmaker. Stay tuned!” 

Reince Priebus, the Republican National 

Committee chairman who has 

been tapped to serve as White House 

chief of Staff, praised Tillerson’s relationship 

with Putin. 

However, Senator Robert Menendez 

of New Jersey, a senior Democratic 

member of the Senate Foreign Relations 

Committee that would weigh Tillerson’s 

nomination, was unsparing in his criticism 

of the possible appointment. • 

Source: REUTERS 

Donald Trump 

Trump faces an early test with 

Republicans over Russia 

• Tribune International Desk 

President-elect Donald Trump is 

facing an early test with fellow Republicans 

over US relations with 

Russia, as lawmakers seek to investigate 

a CIA assessment that Russia 

interfered in the November election 

and issue warnings over the incoming 

president’s potential pick for 

secretary of state, reports the Associated 

Press. 

Trump said Sunday the recent 

CIA assertion that Russian hacking 

had sought to help his candidacy 

was “ridiculous,” and he praised 

ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who 

has emerged as the leading contender 

to lead the State Department. 

But two key Senate Republicans 

— John McCain of Arizona and 

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, 

a leading Trump critic — joined with 

two Democrats in seeking a bipartisan 

investigation into the Kremlin’s 

activities during the election. And 

McCain, the party’s 2008 presidential 

nominee, questioned whether 

Trump should nominate Tillerson, 

citing the executive’s longstanding 

business ties with Moscow. 

Russia expects to figure prominently 

at the start of a week in 

which Trump is expected to name 

more members of his Cabinet, 

which also has vacancies in the departments 

of Energy, Agriculture 

and Veterans Affairs. 

Trump’s transition team announced 

Monday that his choice to 

head the Department of Homeland 

Security is, as expected, General 

John Kelly. Kelly is a former commander 

of US Southern Command 

with “unique insight into some of 

the challenges the United States 

faces at its southern border,” the 

announcement said. 

During his campaign, Trump 

weathered turbulent relations with 

REUTERS 

fellow Republicans but has since 

forged a more united front with 

GOP lawmakers since his November 

victory over Hillary Clinton. 

The CIA recently concluded 

with “high confidence” that Russia 

sought to influence the US election 

on behalf of Trump, raising red 

flags among lawmakers concerned 

about the sanctity of the US voting 

system and potentially straining 

relations at the start of Trump’s administration. 

Trump’s decision-making on 

whom to select for secretary of 

state has stretched out over several 

weeks. He has been considering 

former Massachusetts Governor 

Mitt Romney, a one-time vocal 

Trump critic, Senator Bob Corker 

of Tennessee, who leads the Foreign 

Relations Committee, and 

Tillerson, the oil industry executive 

who met twice with Trump 

during the past week. •

World 

FACTBOX 

Who are Egypt’s Coptic Christians? 

• AFP, Cairo 

Egypt’s Copts, targeted in a church 

bombing that killed 25 people in Cairo 

on Sunday, are the Middle East’s largest 

Christian minority community, and also 

one of the oldest. 

Making up about 10% of Egypt’s population 

of 90m, the Coptic Orthodox are 

the largest Christian denomination in the 

Muslim-majority country. Here is a recap 

of their history, their status today and 

past attacks against the minority. 

‘Dawn of Christianity’ 

The Copts go back to the dawn of Christianity, 

at a time when Egypt was integrated 

into the Roman, then Byzantine empires, 

following the end of the dynasty of the 

Pharaoh Ptolemy, who was of Greek origin. 

The word “Copt” has the same roots 

as the term “Egyptian” in ancient Greek. 

Their decline started with the Arab 

invasions of the 7th century and the 

progressive Islamisation of the country, 

which today is largely Sunni Muslim. 

The Bible says Joseph, Mary and Jesus 

sought refuge in Egypt after Christ’s 

birth to escape a massacre of newborns 

ordered by King Harod. 

Several churches and monasteries 

in Egypt are believed to be built on sites 

visited by the Holy Family during its flight. 

Copts today 

Copts are present across the whole 

country, with the strongest concentration 

in middle and southern Egypt, and 

are represented in all social classes. 

Most adhere to the Coptic Orthodox 

Church of Alexandria, headed since 2012 

by Pope Tawadros II, while a minority is 

divided between the Coptic Catholic and 

various Coptic Protestant churches. 

Tawadros, who succeeded pope 

Shenuda III, was chosen after a blindfolded 

altar boy picked his name from a 

chalice, according to custom. 

The Catholic Copts, who form part of 

the Church’s eastern rites, are headed by 

patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak since 2013. 

Vatican records show some 165,000 

Catholic Copts lived in Egypt in 2010. 

Weakly represented in government, 

Copts complain that they are sidelined 

from many posts in the justice system, 

universities and the police. 

11 


Deadly violence 

Egypt’s Copts have also been the target 

of deadly violence after the 2011 uprising 

that toppled president Hosni Mubarak 

and the 2013 ouster of his elected Islamist 

successor after just one year of rule. 

Islamist supporters of ousted president 

Mohamed Morsi accused the Christian 

community of supporting his overthrow. 

They pointed to the appearance of 

Tawadros alongside President Abdel 

Fattah al-Sisi in July 2013, when the then 

army chief, also surrounded by Muslim 

and opposition figures, announced on 

television Morsi’s removal. 

More than 40 churches were attacked 

nationwide in the two weeks after the 

deadly dispersal by security forces of two 

pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo on August 

14, 2013, Human Rights Watch said. 

In October 2011, almost 30 people – 

mostly Coptic Christians – were killed after 

the army charged at a protest outside the 

state television building in Cairo to denounce 

the torching of a church in southern Egypt. 

In May 2011, clashes between Muslims 

and Copts left 15 dead in the popular 

Cairo neighbourhood of Imbaba where 

two churches were attacked. 

In March the same year, 13 people 

were killed in clashes between Muslims 

and Copts in Cairo’s working class neighbourhood 

of Moqattam, where around 

1,000 Christians had gathered to protest 

over the torching of a church. 

On January 1, 2011, the unclaimed 

bombing of a Coptic church killed more 

than 20 people in Alexandria. • 

DT

DT 

12 

Business 


CAPITAL MARKET SNAPSHOT: MONDAY 

DSE Broad Index 4,869.6 0.2% ▲ Index 1,157.1 0.2% ▲ 30 Index 1,785.6 0.1% ▲ Turnover in Mn Tk 7,412.4 -10.0% ▼ Turnover in Mn Vol 213.8 -27.1% ▼ 

CSE All Share Index 14,968.6 -0.1% ▼ 30 Index 13,295.0 -0.4% ▼ Selected Index 9,081.7 -0.1% ▼ Turnover in Mn Tk 456.7 -3.7% ▼ Turnover in Mn Vol 16.8 -15.8% ▼ 

ILO: Most female SME owners hardly get loans 

Women entrepreneurs say long application process a big barrier to access to funds 

• SM Najmus Sakib 

Over 60% women Small and Medium 

Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs 

in Bangladesh do not get 

loans neither from the government 

nor the private loan providers, says 

a study of ILO, Bangladesh. 

On the other hand, 88% SME 

women entrepreneurs expressed 

their dissatisfaction over the cumbersome 

loan application process 

that is a great barrier in the way of 

getting their desired loans, view 

specialists at ‘Dhaka summit on 

skill, employment and decent work 

2016’ held at a city hotel yesterday. 

During his presentation, Francis 

De Silva, senior specialist of ILO 

Bangladesh, stated that the average 

loan size for women-owned SMEs 

is 47% less than the amount SMEs 

owned by men, and 36% of women 

reported gender-bias among financial 

institutions. 

“And to get loan, women needed 

nearly 13 time visits to the bank to 

get their loan approved,” he further 

added. 

According to the ILO survey, 

nearly 70% of the women entrepreneurs 

in Bangladesh are in micro 

and rural enterprises and overall 

demand for finance among women-owned 

SMEs is estimated to be 

approximately Tk9,975 crore. 

As an initiative to promote 

women entrepreneurship, the 

Ministry of Women and Children 

Affairs jointly with a2i, SME foundation 

and Bangladesh Women in 

Technology (BWIT) have fixed a 

target to develop 3,000 women as 

ICT entrepreneurs and freelancers 

from the remotest and under-privileged 

areas across the country. 

10 million migrant workers 

stayed abroad till November, 

2016 and sent remittance worth 

US$12.49 billion, said Anir Chowdhury, 

a policy advisor of the Prime 

Minister Office. 

He said: “Apprenticeship is less 

costly to recruit than adult and experience 

workers and condition of 

Bangladesh is yet to be a satisfactory 

one compare to the developed 

and developing countries in giving 

access to the industries.” 

“Apprenticeship helps improve 

companies’ productivity and 

people who have trained as 

apprentice are likely to stay with 

that company, skilling people in 

target areas meet business need 

and help employers to overcome 

structural barriers which will 

ultimately be beneficial for the 

industries,” he reads. 

Under ‘Apprenticeship programme 

in informal sectors for 

unemployed youths’ a2i (is a key 

driver from PM office to operate 

skill development programmes) in 

partnership with ILO has started 

skill development in 600 informal 

industries and workshops in 30 

Upazillas and 1200 unemployed 

youths were receiving training, 

says the ILO study. • 

Curriculum revision needed to develop skilled workforce 

• Ibrahim Hossain Ovi 

Experts suggested revision of education 

curriculum to produce 

need-based skilled workforce as 

demand for skills continues to rise. 

“Generation of about 15m new 

jobs are projected over the next 10 

years in the country’s seven thrust 

sectors including garment, export-oriented 

manufacturing, light 

engineering, shipbuilding, agriculture, 

ICT and pharmaceuticals,” said 

Md Mokhlesur Rahman of the World 

Bank in his key note presentation at 

a seminar in Dhaka yesterday. 

The seminar titled “Skill for Decent 

Employment: An Effective 

Mean of Social Transformation” 

was held at the Dhaka Skill Summit. 

Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry President Syed 

Nasim Manzur moderated the seminar. 

Mokhlesur Rahman urged to 

increase the share of students in 

A woman sews nakshikantha in Jessore. The women SME entrepreneurs in the country struggle to run business due to lack of 

fund 

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN 

the Technical Vocational Education 

and Training (TVET) system to 

25% by expanding access to quality 

technical vocational education and 

training. 

Dhaka University Associate Professor 

of Economics Sayema Haque 

Bidisha was co-presenter of the 

keynote paper. 

She also found that the country’s 

education curriculum is not in 

consistent with the industry’s demand 

and called for making skillbased 

curriculum. 

Principal Secretary to Prime 

Minister Abul Kalam Azad the government 

has taken several initiatives 

to increase skilled workforce. 

According to the World Bank 

data, Bangladesh’s industrial production 

increased by an estimated 

10.1%, driven by growth in large 

and medium scale manufacturing 

and construction, while the service 

sector growth accelerated from 

5.8% in FY2015 to 6.7% in FY2016. 

The data said there are shortages 

of semi-skilled and skilled 

people in general, but the highest 

skill gap is in the agro-food sector 

followed by the RMG and IT. 

Sramik League Leader Shamsun 

Nahar Buiyan said the workers migrate 

to Dhaka and other industrial 

zones for jobs from rural areas. 

She said: “It’s difficult for the 

migrated rural people to bear cost 

of skills development training as 

such training facilities are mostly 

centred in cities. 

Shamsun Nahar stressed the 

need to introduce training programmes 

in rural areas too. 

BGMEA Vice President Mohammad 

Nasir said there is “a huge gap 

between skills produced by our educational 

institutes and demand by 

the industry.” 

“There are more items which are 

highly potential for Bangladesh, 

but they require special skills set 

to operate different types of machines, 

tools, and computer-aided 

devices,” he added 

The key note presenter identified 

lack of incentives for skill 

development, weak linkage between 

school and work transition, 

question of quality at different 

stages of education and training 

programmes, limited scope of skill 

development for those in the informal 

sector, inequalities in terms of 

gender and income and high drop 

out as key challenges. 

The presentation recommended 

to increase allocation in human resource 

development, establish coordination 

between vocational institutes 

and industry, modernising 

tertiary education with more graduates, 

dealing with negative social 

valuers associated with vocational 

education. •

Business 13 

DT 


Doha Bank MD: Gulf countries 

look to invest in Bangladesh 

• Jebun Nesa Alo 

Gulf countries are now looking at 

Bangladesh to invest as the economy 

of the country has been emerging 

with sustainable growth said, 

R Seetharaman, chief executive 

officer of Doha Bank in the state of 

Qatar. 

The Middle Eastern countries 

are diversifying their investment in 

multiple markets and multiple sectors 

beyond the oil business due to 

the fall in oil price in global market, 

said R Seetharaman while talking 

to the Dhaka Tribune in an exclusive 

interview during his recent 

visit to Bangladesh. 

The top manager inaugurated 

representative office of Doha Bank 

in Bangladesh on 8 December. Doha 

Bank, which was incorporated in 

1979, is the third largest local conventional 

bank by assets in Qatar. 

“Because of the fall in oil price, 

gulf economies faced extraordinary 

downturn in capital market, 

liquidity stress and fiscal deficit, 

said the top manager of Doha Bank. 

He continued as saying, “But 

the economy of those countries are 

still financially stable as economic 

fundamental of those is strong and 

they are diversifying their business 

beyond hydro companies to produce 

investment returns.” 

Expansionary fiscal policy taken 

by government of gulf states will 

Doha Bank Managing Director R Seetharaman 

give Bangladesh opportunity to export 

more human capital. Non hydro 

company is marginalised here 

with 1% growth and non hydro 

companies are growing with 7% 

growth and that is exactly to open 

up opportunity for Bangladesh, he 

added. 

He said: “Non hydro companies 

are here to grow and countries 

like Qatar are working on projects 

worth US$40 billion this year mainly 

in transport, communication 

and construction sector.” 

Governments of Gulf states have 

undertaken expansionary fiscal 

policy framework worth hundred 

and seventy billion dollars which 

will need more skilled and non 

skilled labours to implement the 

framework, he stated. 

As Bangladesh is now making 

$15 billion remittance annually 

which is likely to grow further. 

The annual trade between Bangladesh 

and gulf blocks is $3.5 billion 

which is expected to grow further, 

he hoped. 

He said: “Saudi Arab is interested 

to invest in Bangladesh in 

education and agriculture side. It 

already invested in construction of 

hospital in Bangladesh which will 

be very useful for the local community. 

Saudi Bank is coming up with 

investment in construction including 

bridges in Bangladesh.” 

Not only Saudi Arabia but also 

other gulf states are also coming 

up with huge investment in Bangladesh, 

he added. 

Doha bank is now here and also 

looking for exporting LNG into 

Bangladesh from Qatar. Kuwait is 

also coming up with public fund to 

invest in Bangladesh, he said. 

Praising the economic prgress 

of the country, R Seetharaman 

also remided that Bangladesh is an 

emerging economy as the growth 

over 7% is significant, inflation is 

less than 6%, current account deficit 

getting marginalised and could 

be surplus in coming days. The 

country now ranks the 6th position 

in global competitive investment 

index by World Economic Forum 

which is a good indicator that attracted 

gulf countries to come up 

with investment.” 

“We have ample of opportunities 

to support to the banking 

system here in Bangladesh. We 

are also going to work with the 

local banks to invite business 

community here to invest in gulf 

states. There is specific incentives 

disigned for small and medium investors 

in Qatar. Doha bank will be 

guarantee 87% of credit risk for the 

SMEs want to invest in Qatar, concluded 

R Seetharaman. • 

Laptop Fair 

2016 begins 

Thursday 

• Tribune Business Desk 

A three-day Laptop Fair 2016 is set 

to begin Thursday at the Bangabandhu 

International Conference 

Center in Dhaka. 

The country’s largest laptop 

showcasing event styled “Techshohor.com 

Laptop Fair 2016” will involve 

both the local and international 

technology brands. The fair 

will remain open from 10:00am to 

8:00pm while entry fee has been 

fixed at Tk30. 

Expo Maker, event organiser, 

came up with the disclosure at a 

press conference held at a hotel in 

Dhaka Sunday. 

Expo Maker is organising the 

fair for 18th time in a row as it has 

been organising the fair since 2008. 

Nahid Hasnain Siddique, Expo 

Maker head of operations and chief 

coordinator of the fair, Salahuddin 

Md Adil, manager, business development 

of HP, Protap Saha, manager 

(marketing) Dell, Imran Hossain, 

assistant general manager of 

Walton, were present at the press 

conference. 

Both the local and global companies 

will showcase their products 

at 44 stalls. There will be six 

mini-pavilions, six pavilions and 

one mega pavilions, organiser informed 

the press conference. 

Officials of different companies 

disclosed that they would launch 

some new models of their products 

at the fair. • 

Ryder: Skills 21 to ensure a solid base for development 

• Rafikul Islam 

The Skills 21-empowering citizens 

for inclusive and sustainable 

growth project would provide a 

solid base for the future development 

of Bangladesh, International 

Labour Organization (ILO) Director 

General Guy Ryder said yesterday. 

“A modern and inclusive skills 

system 21 initiative will build on 

past achievements and ultimately 

provide greater access to quality 

vocational training for men and 

women alike, he also said” 

Guy Ryder made the speeches 

at a joint project launching programme 

held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon 

Hotel on Monday. 

“With Skills 21, Bangladesh will 

benefit its demographic dividend 

not just in quantity but also in 

quality, he added.” 

Set to run from January 2017 to 

December 2020, the Skills 21 project 

will strengthen the National 

Skills Development System by continuing 

earlier reforms and by developing 

a National Qualifications 

Framework. 

The project also aims to support 

partnerships between private sector 

and relevant training providers 

to develop and implement effective 

professional education and 

training programmes. The initiative 

involves 20 million euro. 

Given the importance of labour 

migration in the Bangladesh economy, 

Skills 21 will also include 

actions for the integration of migration 

issues in the Skills Development 

System. 

The programme will support the 

returning migrants as well as those 

aspiring to migrate so they are able 

to secure better paid work. 

The project will be implemented 

in close collaboration with the Ministry 

of Education, Ministry of Labour 

and Employment, Ministry of 

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas 

Employment, Ministry of Youth 

and Sports, Ministry Of Chittagong 

Hill Tracts Affairs, National Skills 

Development Council Secretariat, 

Directorate of Technical Education, 

Bangladesh Technical Education 

Board and Bureau of Manpower 

Employment and Training. 

However, Education Secretary 

Md. Sohorab Hossain signed the 

Officials speaks at the signing ceremony of Skills 21 project in Dhaka yesterday 

declaration on behalf of the government 

while Ambassador Pierre 

Mayaudon and Director-General 

Guy Ryder inked the document for 

the EU and ILO respectively. Education 

Minister Nurul Islam Nahid 

witnessed the event. 

“This initiative will support the 

government’s commitment to inclusive 

economic growth and full 

and productive employment for 

all,” the Education Minister said. 

He said a skilled and productive 

workforce would make a major 

contribution to the goal of becoming 

a middle-income country by 

2021. 

Pierre Mayaudon said, Bangladesh 

required a skilled labour force 

to ensure sustainable economic 

RAFIKUL ISLAM 

growth. 

“This EU funded intervention 

will also aim at creating the conditions 

for a sector wide approach 

for the TVET policy area in Bangladesh. 

In doing so, we will also 

be instrumental in creating more 

skilled trainers and more diversified 

job opportunities for young 

Bangladeshis”, he added. •

14 


DT 

Business 

IEA: Growth in global coal demand to slow over next 5 yrs 

• Reuters 

Growth in global coal demand will 

slow over the next five years due to 

lower consumption in China and 

the United States and as renewable 

energy sources gain ground, the 

International Energy Agency (IEA) 

said yesterday. 

The IEA said last year that the 

world’s top coal consumer, China, 

could be facing peak coal demand 

for the first time due to measures 

to cap coal use to tackle air pollution 

and curb excess supply. 

“In China, coal demand is in 

structural and slow decline driven 

by a new economic growth model 

and diversification of coal,” the 

Paris-based IEA said in its medium-term 

coal market report. 

Even though China’s consumption 

is likely to have peaked, the 

country will still be the largest coal 

user over the next five years. 

Its coal demand should decrease 

slightly to 2.816 billion tonnes of 

coal equivalent by 2021, compared 

to 2.896 billion tonnes of coal 

equivalent in 2014. 

Globally, the IEA expects coal 

demand to total 5.636 billion 

tonnes by 2021, compared to 5.400 

billion tonnes last year, when coal 

demand dropped for the first time 

this century. This equates to 0.6% 

average annual growth from 2015 to 

2021, below the 2.5% average yearly 

growth over the past decade. 

“Because of the implications for 

air quality and carbon emissions, 

coal has come under fire in recent 

years, but it is too early to say that 

this is the end for coal,” said Keisuke 

Sadamori, director of the IEA’s energy 

markets and security directorate. 

“Coal demand is moving to Asia, 

where emerging economies with 

growing populations are seeking 

affordable and secure energy 

sources to power their economies.” 

The biggest growth in coal demand 

will occur in India, which 

will have an annual average growth 

rate of 5% by 2021. 

After years of decline, coal prices 

have rebounded sharply in 2016, 

driven by a sharp cut in Chinese 

coal output coupled with strong 

demand across the Asia-Pacific region 

and in Europe. 

Benchmark API2 2017 coal futures 

rose by 4 percent to $65.75 

a tonne yesterday morning, the 

highest level since Dec 2. 

In its report, the IEA forecasts 

thermal coal prices to decline next 

year and then remain relatively flat 

to 2021. 

“Reasonable doubts persist on 

the sustainability of current prices, 

given that climate pressure continues 

and air pollution is a serious 

issue which will shape policies in 

China, India and other emerging 

countries,” it said. 

Coal demand in the United States 

and Europe will continue to decline, 

falling to 475 million tonnes and 337 

million tonnes respectively in 2021. • 

A general view of a crude oil importing port in Qingdao 

Goldman: Non-Opec 

output cut deal aimed 

at inventory glut 

• Reuters 

Goldman Sachs said the formal 

agreement by non-OPEC oil 

producers this weekend in Vienna 

to help curb output was 

reached with a goal of “normalization” 

of inventories and 

not necessarily just at raising 

oil prices. 

The Organization of the Petroleum 

Exporting Countries 

(OPEC) had previously agreed 

to cut output by 1.2 million 

barrels per day (bpd), and on 

Saturday, 11 non-OPEC producers 

agreed to join the effort 

and reduce output by 558,000 

bpd. 

The cut was short of an initial 

target of 600,000 bpd but 

still the first OPEC/non-OPEC 

output deal since 2001 and the 

largest contribution by non- 

OPEC producers ever. 

“Despite the smaller-than-preannounced 

cut, 

the agreement is nonetheless 

noteworthy as it lifts the uncertainty 

on the potential participation 

of non-OPEC producers 

to the OPEC cut,” the 

bank said in a note on Sunday. 

The agreement was followed 

by comments from top 

exporter Saudi Arabia’s energy 

minister Khalid Al-Falih saying 

that the kingdom may be 

REUTERS 

willing to cut output to below 

10 million bpd. 

The world’s top oil exporter 

told OPEC it pumped a record 

10.72 million bpd last month, 

an OPEC source said, up from 

10.625 million bpd in October. 

Goldman said an announced 

production cut from 

Russia was likely to remain 

short of the 300,000 bpd 

promised, noting that Russia’s 

participation was important. 

Goldman said implementation 

of the co-ordinated OPEC 

and non-OPEC production 

cuts was required to sustainably 

support spot oil prices at its 

H1 2017 price forecast of $55/ 

bbl for West Texas Intermediate 

crude. 

A better-than-expected 

compliance would initially 

lead to higher prices, “with full 

compliance worth an additional 

$6/bbl to our price forecast,” 

it said. 

The bank warned, however, 

that as WTI prices neared $55 

a barrel, that producers, especially 

in the United States, 

might begin to raise their output. 

“Ultimately, this remains a 

short duration cut in our view, 

targeting excess inventories 

and not high oil prices,” Goldman 

said. •

CORPORATE NEWS 

Business 15 

DT 


China launches WTO dispute resolution case against US, EU 

• Reuters 

China said yesterday it had 

launched a dispute resolution case 

at the World Trade Organization 

over the surrogate country approach 

used by the United States 

and European Union to calculate 

anti-dumping measures against 

Chinese exports. 

When China joined the WTO in 

2001, it agreed to let WTO members 

treat it as a non-market economy 

when assessing dumping duties 

for 15 years. 

That gave trade partners the advantage 

of using a third country’s 

prices to gauge whether China was 

selling its goods below market value. 

But that clause expired on Dec 

11, and China has demanded that 

countries abide by the agreement. 

US Commerce Secretary Penny 

Pritzker said in November the 

time was “not ripe” for the United 

States to change the way it evaluates 

whether China has achieved 

market economy status, and there 

was no international trade rules requiring 

changes in the way US anti-dumping 

duties are calculated. 

China’s Commerce Ministry said 

in a statement on its website that 15 

years on, all WTO members had an 

obligation to stop using the surrogate 

country approach. 

“Regretfully, the United States 

and European Union have yet to fulfil 

this obligation,” the ministry said. • 

Dutch-Bangla Bank has recently opened its 162nd branch at Kurigram, said a press release. The bank’s 

DMD, Md Sayedul Hasan inaugurated the branch 

GSP Finance has recently elected its directors Moin U Haider as chairperson of the company’s executive 

committee while Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Dr ATM Shamsul Huda were elected as the company’s 

vice chairpersons, said a press release 

Faculty of Shipping Administration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University 

organised a seminar on Role of Inland Waterway Transportation Systems in the Economic Development: 

Bangladesh Perspective on its temporary campus yesterday 

Apex Footwear Limited has recently opened three new outlets in Paltan, Farmgate and Pallabi, said 

a press release. The company’s AMD, Syed Gias Hussain and its COO, Rajan Pillai were present on the 

occasions

18 


DT 

Biz Info 

| awareness | 

Dignity for septic tank emptiers 

Ensuring decent work conditions for all 

The FSM Network in Bangladesh 

has organised the first national 

convention for septic tank and 

pit emptiers, as this population 

group often faces social 

stigmatisation even while risking 

their own health doing work for 

the community on a daily basis. 

Almost 100 septic tank and pit 

emptiers were brought together 

to share their life stories, and 

together with government and 

development officials came up 

with inclusive ways to improve 

their situation. 

The progress to date on 

improving access to sanitation 

and reducing open defecation 

can be seriously undermined 

by failing to sustain the use of 

existing toilets and the unsafe 

disposal of faecal sludge. 

Household sanitation in urban 

areas consists predominantly 

(80%) of on-site technologies, 

i.e. septic tanks and pits. These 

require regular emptying, but 

presently most of them are never 

emptied as they are directly 

connected to drains or open 

water bodies. The ones that 

are, are emptied manually by 

sweepers and not mechanically. 

As the urban population is 

increasing exponentially, there is 

a need for efficient and effective 

faecal sludge management 

(FSM) services. This can only 

be achieved through better 

organisation of the current 

services, and by ensuring 

improved occupational safety and 

health standards for the service 

providers. 

The national ‘Dignity for 

Septic Tank Emptiers’ convention 

held at IGED Bhaban, Shere-Bangla 

Nagar, Agargaon in 

Dhaka on December 7, 2016. It 

was a day-long event, starting 

with an opening speech by 

the Honourable Kazi Reazul 

Hoque, Chairman Human 

Rights Commission, followed by 

speeches from septic tank and pit 

emptiers and other special guests. 

Then issues related to septic tank 

emptying will be discussed along 

with the lines of the four domains 

of Decent Work as defined 

by the International Labour 

Organization (ILO): Dignity, 

Equality, Fair Income, and Safe 

Working Conditions. Suggestions 

and recommendations will be 

collected from septic tank and pit 

emptiers and other stakeholders, 

after which the event will 

be concluded by a cultural 

programme.• 

| meeting | 

Brain Gain talks by AAA 

| notice | 

ISPR Directorate 

reassures students about 

UGC ad 

American Alumni Association 

(AAA), organised tea time talk 

under its Brain Gain Initiative 

yesterday at its Secretariat 

located in Banani. AAA member 

Ehsanur Rahman, an immigration 

lawyer by profession, shared 

his experiences and advice 

regarding various aspects of 

US immigration. The event was 

also graced by AAA president, 

secretary and members. 

AAA launched the Brain Gain 

Initiative in 2011 under which 

AAA considers the intellectual 

capital of the expatriate 

talents, as an asset for national 

development and urges them 

to contribute to the society 

by sharing their education, 

experience and skills. AAA often 

arranges events, seminars and 

presentations to enhance and 

facilitate knowledge transfer. • 

• Features Desk 

The Inter-Service Public 

Relations (ISPR) Directorate 

assured students that the 

advertisement by the University 

Grants Commission (UGC), 

published on November 16 

would not be applicable to the 

three universities run by the 

Bangladesh army. 

The three institutions 

receiving exemption are 

Bangladesh Army University of 

Engineering and Technology 

(BAUET), Bangladesh Army 

International University of 

Science and Technology 

(BAIUST) and Bangladesh 

Army University of Science and 

Technology (BAUST). 

In a press release, the ISPR 

said that the vice-chancellors 

appointed by the boards of 

trustees concerned have been 

running the universities from 

the very beginning. 

The panel of VC’s has been 

placed before the Chancellor 

through the ministry of 

education for approval. This 

move impacts the issuance 

of graduation certificates for 

the students of the concerned 

universities. 

The new release by ISPR 

assures guardians and students 

that the advertisement by 

UGC should have no negative 

impact on the conferring of 

degrees and certificates by the 

universities. •

Auto Connect 

19 


DT 

The dynamic commuter 

2011 Toyota Ractis – a perfect blend of 

comfort and styling 

• Tahsin Momin 

The 2011 Toyota Ractis is designed 

with the most dynamic features, 

paying tribute to the Vitz, on 

which it’s based on. The purest 

aerodynamic design and its 

fabrication of interior and exterior 

with obliging quality gives it a 

higher rating and it radiates a 

lively youth touch to its entire 

presence. Even the name itself 

is self-explanatory - “Ractis” is 

derived from “Run,” “Activity” and 

“Space.” 

Exterior 

With the most vibrant and hightech 

engineering, Toyota has given 

an entirely fascinating shape to 

the Ractis. From its dumping 

bonnet to the hatch back, the 

entire vehicle is smartly designed. 

The crystal brake lights and the 

origami shaped crystal headlights 

embellish the lively existence of 

this car. The chrome accent on the 

front grille adds more elegance to 

the front end and separates it from 

its yore models. The glazing 16- 

inch alloy rims make the running 

of this car smoother and swifter. 

Interior 

On the inside though, it’s quite 

disappointing. It’s all resolutely 

and crushingly Japanese. The 

switchgear is chunky to touch and 

clunky to operate. There’s even an 

odd array of dashboard surfaces 

too, of which the most offensive 

is a pinstriped two-tone outing 

across the instrument binnacle. 

Compared to rivals, it feels rather 

down-at-heel. But then again, the 

car is well packaged and there’s a 

lot of space for the rear passengers 

and abundant of cargo space at the 

back. 

There are other appealing 

features in this car as well. For 

instance the air conditioner, which 

is very reliable, and the audio 

system that ensures a blissfully 

blithe drive. Overall, the interior 

is a compact; even though, luxury 

might not be its strong suit, the 

Ractis tries hard to prove itself 

worthy. 

Performance 

At the heart of the Ractis is a 

1.5-litre four-cylinder 1NZ-FE 

engine that pumps out 110HP 

and 103lb.ft of torque. There is 

no shortage of power; hence, 

you are most certain to have a 

smooth and powerful drive. The 

engine is highly efficient. It is 

very responsive and has a superb 

acceleration. The engine is mated 

to a CVT gearbox, which means it 

is effortless to drive in heavy traffic 

as well as on highways. And the 

best part is that it will do 13km/l 

inside city, which means less 

frequent trips to the gas station. 

Safety 

On par with safety, the Ractis 

comes standard with an antilock 

braking system, electronic brakeforce 

distribution and dual front 

airbags. 

Verdict 

In a nutshell, the Ractis is 

an immaculate car. It is not 

unpleasant to live with in terms 

of maintenance and most 

importantly it comes endorsed 

with the reliability of a Toyota. The 

2011 Toyota Ractis is a fascinating 

machine which is full of modernity 

and class. 

Price: Call for Pricing 

Available at: New City Ride 

32, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed 

Sarani, Tejgoan, Dhaka-1215 

Contact: +8801760127018, 

+8801791235254•

DT 

20 

Editorial 


TODAY 

Bangladesh leads 

on migration 

discussions 

In countries with labour shortages or 

aging populations, migrants can propel 

economies forward 

PAGE 21 

The unlettered 

Prophet (pbuh) 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called 

‘unlettered’ not because he was unable 

to read or write, he was called that 

because his ‘letters’ were innate, not 

acquired 

PAGE 22 

BIGSTOCK 

Where do the 

boys go? 

Not only does Bangladesh need a 

socio-political overhaul (if it so desires 

to attain liberal-democratic values), 

it requires an education system that 

allows for doubt, critical thinking 

PAGE 23 

Be heard 

Write to Dhaka Tribune 

FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, 

Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 

Send us your Op-Ed articles: 

opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com 

www.dhakatribune.com 

Join our Facebook community: 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

DhakaTribune. 

The views expressed in opinion 

articles are those of the authors 

alone and they are not the 

official view of Dhaka Tribune 

or its publisher. 

The message of 

Eid-e-Miladunnabi 

Today is the holy day of Eid-e-Miladunnabi. 

It was on this day that the Prophet Muhammad 

(pbuh) was born into this world in the year 570. The 

date also marks his passing from the earthly realm. 

Eid-e-Miladunnabi then, marked on our calendars as a public 

holiday, is a solemn occasion to reflect on the deep wisdom in 

the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh), and look to his life, which 

exemplified all the virtues for the true Muslim. 

The extent to which Prophet Muhammad’s teachings 

changed the world is incalculable. A man of humble origins born 

in Makkah, he taught mankind the word of Allah, and united 

people in faith, brotherhood, peace, and prayer. 

Islam today has 1.6 billion adherents worldwide. 

As we move forward in a world full of strife, let us remember, 

with love and reverence, the true teachings of the Prophet 

(pbuh). 

This is a day which calls for prayer. This is a day which calls 

for organised gatherings to discuss the birth, life, and message 

of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is a day for feeding the 

poor. 

There is a need, in this day and age, to reach out to non- 

Muslims and dispel any misconceptions about Islam. 

Let us move beyond the endless policiticisation of religion 

and look inward. 

We wish a meaningful and spiritually satisfying Eid-e- 

Miladunnabi for all. 

As we move forward in 

a world full of strife, let 

us remember, with love 

and reverence, the true 

teachings of the Prophet 

(pbuh)

Opinion 21 

Bangladesh leads on migration 

discussions 

DT 


The Global Forum on Migration and Development will benefit both migrants and the nations which 

host them 

• Anne C Richard 

People do not make the 

decision to leave their 

homes lightly, but 

sometimes circumstances 

compel them to move. Many 

Bangladeshis leave home to 

pursue opportunities in the wider 

world. 

And tensions, conflict, 

and discrimination inside 

neighbouring Myanmar have, over 

the years, led people from that 

country to flee across its borders 

into Bangladesh, Thailand, China, 

and beyond. These phenomena 

-- migration and flight -- are not 

limited to this region. 

For many years, Bangladesh 

has taken a leading role in 

multilateral discussions on 

refugee and migration issues. 

Such discussions support 

international efforts to protect 

the most vulnerable people who 

have been displaced from their 

homes. Bangladesh’s leadership 

again was demonstrated this week 

when its government hosted the 

Global Forum for Migration and 

Development (GFMD). 

Around the world, record 

numbers of people are on the 

move. The issue of migrants 

and refugees has exploded onto 

the international agenda. It 

was a dominant theme at last 

September’s high level meeting of 

the UN General Assembly in New 

York and the concurrent Leaders’ 

Summit on Refugees. 

This week, more than 

700 diplomats, officials, and 

representatives from civil society 

converged in Dhaka for the Global 

Forum -- 200 more than originally 

expected. Participants came 

together to better understand 

the root causes of migration, 

share best practices, forge 

partnerships, and discuss ways to 

solve thorny problems. We talked 

about practical steps countries 

can take to prevent the loss of 

life, and to crack down on the 

ruthless smugglers who prey upon 

desperate people. 

In Dhaka, as in previous Forum 

gatherings, we discussed how to 

create and promote legal avenues 

for migration. Well-managed 

migration can, after all, benefit 

both sending and receiving 

countries. Families rely on 

remittances sent home by overseas 

Countries need to recognise what migrants bring to the table 

workers and these remittances 

provide more resources to many of 

the world’s poorest nations than 

development assistance does. 

Employers abroad need the 

energy and skill that migrants 

offer. And in countries with labour 

shortages or aging populations, 

migrants can propel economies 

forward. Studies show that 

migrants usually contribute more 

to society -- including by paying 

taxes -- than they receive in 

benefits. 

Most participants shared a 

sense that more must be done 

to aid and protect those who are 

forced to flee and that we all have 

a legal and moral obligation to do 

this. Just as Bangladesh and the 

international community have 

worked together to address the 

plight of the Rohingya, the world 

must make protection of refugees 

a priority and devote the necessary 

resources to this challenge -- 

including support to nations that 

host refugees. 

Vulnerable and impoverished 

migrants also need ways to 

travel safely and legally. Victims 

of human trafficking, migrant 

smuggling, and people scattered 

by natural and man-made 

disasters want a chance to live 

in dignity, to heal, and to rebuild 

Employers abroad need the energy and skill that migrants offer. And 

in countries with labour shortages or aging populations, migrants can 

propel economies forward 

their lives. 

Clearly nations have a 

sovereign right to control 

their borders. Dangerous and 

unmanaged migration risks lives, 

enriches smugglers, traffickers, 

and criminal networks, and 

undermines public confidence in 

government. Thoughtful nations, 

however, have found ways to 

develop border control and 

migration policies that protect 

citizens, asylum-seekers, and 

migrants while maximising the 

benefits of legal migration. 

This year’s GFMD also advanced 

discussions related to the New 

York Declaration for Refugees and 

Migrants, a document produced at 

the United Nations in September 

that calls for the development 

of two separate “compacts” on 

refugees and safe, orderly, and 

regular migration. 

The compacts hold promise 

for improving the way the 

world responds to the global 

refugee and migration crisis 

-- if nations can overcome their 

reluctance to embrace these issues 

constructively. 

This is why I believe that the 

GFMD -- and other migration 

dialogues around the world -- are 

essential. They bring countries 

together to address equally 

the challenges and benefits of 

migration. 

Governments around the 

world have recognised that the 

time for action is now. Through 

pragmatic leadership -- of the type 

Bangladesh has demonstrated 

by organising and hosting the 

Global Forum on Migration and 

Development -- both migrants and 

the societies that host them will 

benefit. • 

Anne C Richard is the US Assistant 

Secretary of State for Bureau of 

Population, Refugees, and Migration. 

BIGSTOCK

22 


DT 

Opinion 

The unlettered Prophet (pbuh) 

Let the Almighty’s mercy and blessings be bestowed on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 

Perfect purity, free from word and script 

• Syed Rezaul Karim 

The Prophet of Islam, 

Hazrat Muhammad 

(pbuh) was endearingly 

called by Allah as 

Rahmatan lil-Alameen or “mercy 

for the worlds” (21:107) in the Holy 

Qur’an, but he was also addressed 

as “Abduhu” (His servant) in the 

Qur’anic Surah of Bani Israel: 

“Glory to (Allah) who did take his 

servant for a journey by night from 

the sacred mosque to the farthest 

mosque.” 

The night mentioned is the 

night of Ascension (or Miraj). 

Abduhu must indeed be the 

highest possible and most 

honorific attribute given to a 

human being. The Qur’an also 

praises the personality of the 

Prophet in the following words: 

“And surely thou hast sublime 

morals” (68:4). 

What is the significance of 

servanthood of the Prophet? 

One of the earliest 

interpretations comes from 11th 

century Sufi scholar, Hazrat Abul 

Qasim al-Qushayri. In his book 

Al-Risala, he says: “Servanthood 

means to fulfill the duties of 

obedience unstintingly, to look at 

what proceeds from as insufficient 

and to view what is produced by 

your virtues as ordained by God. 

And it is said that servanthood 

means to give up your own will for 

the sake of the manifest order of 

God.” 

The emphasis on Abduhu 

served to remind Muslims always 

Rumi explains that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called ‘unlettered’ 

not because he was unable to read or write, he was called that because 

his ‘letters’ -- his knowledge and wisdom -- were innate, not acquired 

to remember Muhammad (pbuh) 

as a created being even during the 

height of his mystical experience, 

and however much God had 

glorified him and exalted him 

among all creatures. 

We know that Prophet 

Muhammad (pbuh) was an 

orphan; his father Abdullah, son 

of Abdul Muttalib died before 

his birth; his mother Aminah 

died when he was six years old. 

His guardian grandfather Abdul 

Muttalib died when he was eight 

years old. 

He was born in the Hisham 

branch of the clan Quraish. When 

the Prophet was born, Aminah was 

in her uncle’s house and she sent 

a word to Abdul Muttalib, asking 

him to see his grandson. He took 

the boy in his arms and carried 

him to the sanctuary and into 

Kabaa, the Holy House where he 

prayed a prayer, thanking God for 

this gift. 

It was customary for all great 

families of Arab towns and 

certainly of Bani Hashim to send 

their sons to be weaned by a foster 

mother chosen from the Bedouin 

tribes living on the fringe of the 

desert, near Makkah. 

Normally, foster parents were 

on the lookout for a baby from 

well-to-do or influential families, 

not so much for monetary 

considerations, but for social 

relationships at a later period 

when the child grew up. 

In the case of Muhammad 

(pbuh), his father was dead, 

his mother was poor, and his 

grandfather, though famous, was 

old and distant. 

Halima, the foster mother of 

the Prophet, was initially reluctant 

to accept Aminah’s son when 

she came to the town to look 

for a foster child. Having failed 

to manage a suitable ward, she 

accepted him just to avoid going 

home empty-handed. 

While staying at a foster 

parent’s house, an unearthly 

incident happened to young 

Muhammad (pbuh). 

One day, Halima’s son reported 

to his parents that two men 

clothed in white had taken young 

Muhammad (pbuh) and had laid 

him down and opened his chest 

and stirred it with their hand. 

They asked Muhammad (pbuh) 

what exactly had happened -- he 

confirmed Halima’s son’s claims, 

and said: “They searched for it for 

I know not what.” 

Yet, there was not even a scar 

on the foster child’s body. Out of 

apprehension and fear, Halima 

returned the child to Aminah, who 

was surprised at the undue return. 

The Holy Qur’an, in a different 

context, alludes to the above 

incident in an allegorical tone: 

“Have we not expanded thee 

thy breast? And removed thee 

thy burden which did gall thy 

back?” (94:1) The Holy Prophet’s 

human nature had been purified, 

expanded, and elevated. 

Addressing the Prophet as 

“Ummi” 

The Prophet of Islam was 

addressed as “Ummi” by Allah 

in the Holy Qur’an (Surah Al- 

Araf/7:157-188), a word generally 

interpreted in Islamic tradition as 

unlettered/illiterate. 

The Qur’anic verse: “Say, O 

man I am sent unto you all as 

the Messenger of Allah to whom 

belongeth the dominions of 

heavens and Earth: There is no 

God but He that giveth life and 

death. So believe in Allah and His 

Messenger the unlettered Prophet 

who believeth in Allah and His 

BIGSTOCK 

words -- follow him that (so) you 

may be guided.” 

Rumi, the great Sufi sage 

and poet explains that Prophet 

Muhammad (pbuh) was called 

“unlettered” not because he was 

unable to read or write, he was 

called that because his “letters” -- 

his knowledge and wisdom -- were 

innate, not acquired. 

Prophets come out of nonphonic 

world into the world of 

words. Once Rumi commented: 

“Those who have united worldly 

intellect, which is partial in nature 

with the universal intellect, which 

is preserved within the tablet of 

heart, are prophets and saints.” 

Another poignant and 

perceptive point in calling the 

Prophet (pbuh) “Ummi” was 

observed by the late professor of 

Indo-Muslim culture, Anne Marie 

Schimmel of Harvard University: 

“Just as in Christianity, where God 

reveals Himself through Christ, 

the virginity of Mary is required in 

order to produce an immaculate 

vessel for the divine word, so in 

Islam where God reveals Himself 

through the word of the Qur’an, 

the Prophet had to be a vessel that 

was unpolluted by ‘intellectual’ 

knowledge of word and script so 

that he could carry the trust in 

perfect purity.” 

Let the Almighty Allah’s mercy 

and blessings be bestowed on 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). • 

Syed Rezaul Karim is the Ex-Managing 

Director of Hoechst Bangladesh Ltd and 

Advisor to Allama Rumi Society, Dhaka.

Opinion 

23 


DT 

Where do the boys go? 

Too many young men end up taking the path of militancy 

Young minds are ready to be armed 

Not only does Bangladesh need a socio-political overhaul (if it so desires 

to attain liberal-democratic values), it requires an education system that 

allows for doubt, critical thinking 

• SN Rasul 

The problem with security 

is that, given enough 

time, it will start to wane. 

Whereas walking 

into Bashundhara City used to 

involve putting my bag on the 

counter, it being opened and 

thoroughly checked, my person 

given an equally thorough patdown, 

cigarettes and lighters 

inadmissible, it is now a cursory 

spank on the butt and a grunt. 

I suspect it is the same in most 

places. 

We are meant to follow patterns 

and act accordingly. So, when 

something breaks that pattern, 

such as the Holey Artisan attack, 

our danger signals tingle, our panic 

buttons are pressed, we unsheathe 

our swords in defence. But, when 

nothing happens for, say, six 

months, our minds automatically 

recognise a new pattern and we 

relax, we give in to the way our 

world starts to become as it used 

to be: We re-holster our guns. 

And militants know this. 

For the last two weeks, an 

increasing number of boys have 

been going missing throughout the 

country, much in the same way 

the attackers of Holey did. Some 

from here, some from there. A 

few NSU students, of course; one 

from cantonment; one who works 

for the National Curriculum and 

Textbook Board. 

Police thinks militancy is 

again on the rise. Is this what the 

terrorists do, wait for the panic to 

die down, and then start recruiting 

again? And, after Kallyanpur, and 

after killing Tamim Chowdhury, 

the apparent emir of Bangladeshi 

IS, after statements which implied 

that terrorism had, in fact, been 

rooted out, why does this continue 

to happen? 

Is it because the government’s 

insistence that these people are 

under the influence of the JMB 

doesn’t ring true? Is it because, 

that a show of success which 

BIGSTOCK 

prevents the public from panic, 

in the short-term, is much more 

important to the government than 

actual long-term solutions to the 

problem of terrorism? 

To understand why so many 

young men decide to take the 

path towards militancy requires a 

socio-political understanding that 

the government seems to lack. It 

requires a true understanding of 

the culture that has been allowed 

to fester in Bangladesh. 

If one thinks that the Holey 

Attack is not related to the killing 

of the Santals, or the burning of 

the Hindus, or the way Rohingyas 

are oftentimes treated, they’d be 

wrong. These are all connected 

by the thread of difference and 

sectarianism; if not in law, then in 

spirit. 

Bangladesh’s proud history of 

pseudo-secularism is as much as 

myth as the fictional universe of 

current secular values perpetrated 

by the governmental narrative and 

under-the-gun editorials by the 

media. 

Like all of history of all 

the lands in all the world, the 

persecuted have become the 

persecutors. And the circle will 

continue. 

The problem lies in the 

undeniable fact that most people 

in Bangladesh, the ones who will 

not end up reading this piece in 

this paper, have no false notions 

with regards to the religio-ethnic 

identity of their country: Bengali 

Muslims. They do not care, or 

they do not know, or they do not 

recognise the technicalities of the 

Bangladeshi constitution which 

allow for equality and freedom of 

religion. 

This is further the case amongst 

boys in their late teens and late 

20s; they are surrounded by a 

populace who do not validate 

the feelings of disenfranchised 

loneliness and sexual frustration 

that they so desire. The only time 

they get it is when they give in to 

fundamentalist narratives woven 

out of the theocratic ideals of a 

few religious leaders funded by 

Wahhabi agenda. 

The validation is two-fold: 

Society recognises their attempt 

at “goodness.” The recruiters, be 

they IS or JMB, recognise their 

value to the cause, provide them 

with purpose, and offer up eternal 

happiness and 72 virgins (to quote 

the popular notion). If given a 

choice between pure satisfaction 

and continued frustration, which 

would you choose? 

Would you have the knowledge 

required to understand the 

difference? And, even if you did, 

could you take the less violent 

route? 

Most people in the country do, 

despite their common attachment 

to the religion. They recognise 

the Western imperialism, the 

frustratingly one-sided Western 

narrative, but an inherent moral 

code kicks in, thankfully. 

But if most of the populace 

continues to attach itself to an 

interpretation that is potentially 

violent and disastrous, and when 

our government and police forces 

also buy into it to varying extents, 

why wouldn’t young boys not 

be given the free space and time 

where they are heavily susceptible 

to the influences of militant 

recruiters? 

Not only does Bangladesh 

need a socio-political overhaul 

(if it so desires to attain liberaldemocratic 

values), it requires an 

education system that allows for 

doubt, critical thinking, and the 

questioning of the very basis on 

which not only faith was founded, 

but the very identity of the nation. 

Otherwise, the minds that come 

out of the schools only mould to a 

shape that is ripe for the plucking, 

and their hands, ready to be 

armed with a trigger that could 

potentially blow our world to 

smithereens. • 

SN Rasul is a Sub-Editor at the Dhaka 

Tribune. Follow him @snrasul.

DT 

24 

Sport 


TOP STORIES 

Cook: Root ready to 

captain England 

England captain Alastair Cook 

said Monday Joe Root was ready 

to take over as skipper but that no 

decision on his own future would 

be taken until the new year. His 

future was called into question 

just before the tour started. PAGE 25 

Bangladesh’s Tanvir Haider (R) takes a selfie alongside the other national cricketers 

in the sidelines of their training session in Sydney while Mushfiqur Rahim and his 

team mates relax in front of the Sydney Opera House 

COURTESY 

Juventus win derby 

with Higuain brace 

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain 

again showed his killer instinct 

with two expertly-taken goals in 

a late 3-1 win at Torino after their 

less illustrious neighbours had 

scored first and dominated the 

Serie A game on Sunday. PAGE 26 

How Tendulkar put 

Kohli on path to glory 

India captain Virat Kohli revealed 

Monday that sage advice from 

India great and legendary Sachin 

Tendulkar after a disastrous tour 

of England two years ago helped 

turn him into world cricket’s top 

batsman. PAGE 27 

Tevez leads Boca to 

victory at River Plate 

A brilliant Carlos Tevez scored 

twice in the final half hour as 

Boca Juniors came from 2-1 

down to beat River Plate 4-2 at 

El Monumental in a thrilling 

Argentine ‘superclasico’ on 

Sunday. PAGE 28 

Arsenal get Bayern again, 

Barcelona return to Paris 

• AFP, Nyon 

Arsenal were once again drawn 

against Bayern Munich in the last 

16 of the UEFA Champions League 

on Monday, while Barcelona will 

also come up against familiar foes 

in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain. 

Arsene Wenger’s side had 

hoped winning their group for the 

first time in five years would spare 

them a tie against one of the continent’s 

giants in the first knockout 

round. But instead they must 

face Carlo Ancelotti’s German 

champions, who came second in 

their section, with the first leg in 

Bavaria. 

Bayern eliminated Arsenal en 

route to winning the trophy in 

2012/13 and repeated the feat a 

year later, while the teams also 

met in the group stage last season 

-- the Gunners won 2-0 in London 

but lost 5-1 at the Allianz Arena. 

“It’s an interesting and difficult 

draw. We know Arsenal from 

the last few years when we often 

played against them, twice 

already in the last 16, when we 

had a good experience and got 

through,” said Bayern goalkeeper 

Manuel Neuer. 

“Arsenal are a strong team and 

I rate them as stronger at the moment 

than in the last few years.” 

PSG came second to Arsenal 

in Group A, leaving them more 

vulnerable to a tough draw and 

five-time winners Barcelona have 

eliminated the French club in the 

quarter-finals in two of the past 

four seasons, while the teams also 

met in the group stage in 2014/15. 

“If I could have chosen another 

team, I would have done,” admitted 

Paris director of football Patrick 

Kluivert, a former Barcelona 

striker. 

Barcelona vice president Jordi 

Mestre told beIN Sports Spain: 

“There is no guarantee but it does 

give you a certain confidence to 

have beaten them before. Every 

game is different and we will see 

what happens.” 

Reigning European champions 

Real Madrid will face Napoli 

as they look to win the trophy 

for a record 12th time, while Pep 

Guardiola’s Manchester City face 

a testing two-legged encounter 

Reigning European champions Real Madrid 

will face Napoli as they look to win the trophy 

for a record 12th time, while Pep Guardiola’s 

Manchester City face a testing two-legged 

encounter against Monaco 

against Monaco. 

City, currently struggling for 

form, cannot afford to take the 

principality side lightly -- they are 

the most prolific side in Europe’s 

leading leagues this season and 

have beaten Arsenal and Tottenham 

Hotspur in the Champions 

League in the past two years. 

“We are happy to be here, and 

then we have avoided Real Madrid 

and Barcelona,” City’s director of 

football Txiki Begiristain told BT 

Sport. 

“Monaco are playing probably 

the best football in France now. In 

a group with Tottenham and Bayer 

Leverkusen they were top and 

they have young players and a lot 

of talent.” 

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim 

said: “Manchester City are 

looking to win the Champions 

League. We are not the favourites 

but we believe in our qualities.” 

Premier League champions 

Leicester City will take on last season’s 

Europa League winners Sevilla 

as a reward for topping their 

group in their debut appearance 

in the competition, with a visit 

to the Sanchez Pizjuan in the first 

leg. 

Leicester’s European form -- an 

English record 5-0 defeat at Porto 

last week apart -- has provided a 

welcome tonic amid a poor defence 

of their domestic title, but 

Sevilla sporting director Monchi is 

wary of Claudio Ranieri’s side. 

“They are a team that last 

weekend scored four goals against 

Manchester City. They had a great 

group stage and I think they will 

be very difficult opponents,” he 

said. 

Atletico Madrid, runners up to 

city rivals Real in two of the last 

three seasons, were drawn against 

Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in a 

repeat of their clash at the same 

stage in 2014/15. On that occasion, 

Atletico emerged victorious after 

a tense penalty shoot-out. 

Two-time winners Juventus 

were drawn against FC Porto, 

while Borussia Dortmund also 

face Portuguese opposition in the 

shape of Benfica. 

The first legs will be played on 

February 14, 15, 21 and 22 with 

the second legs on March 7, 8, 14 

and 15. •

Pogbas to clash 

in Europa last 32 

• AFP, Nyon 

Manchester United will take on 

Saint-Etienne in the last 32 of the 

Europa League, with Jose Mourinho’s 

side hosting the French club in 

the first leg, after Monday’s draw. 

The tie will see United and 

France midfielder Paul Pogba, the 

world’s most expensive player, 

come up against his elder brother 

Florentin, the Guinea international 

defender. 

The teams met in the now defunct 

Cup Winners’ Cup first round 

in 1977, with United winning 3-1 on 

aggregate. 

On that occasion, United were 

forced to host the second leg in 

the southern English city of Plymouth, 

450 kilometres away, following 

crowd trouble in the first leg in 

France. 

Mourinho’s men finished second 

in Group A behind Fenerbahce 

while Saint-Etienne topped Group 

C. The other Premier League representative, 

Tottenham Hotspur, will 

face Gent of Belgium after being 

eliminated from the Champions 

League. 

Villarreal of Spain will face Italian 

giants Roma in one of the standout 

ties, while Bundesliga club 

Borussia Moenchengladbach were 

drawn against Fiorentina of Italy. 

The first legs will be played on 

Thursday, February 16, with the return 

matches a week later. • 

FIXTURES 

Athletic Bilbao v APOEL 

Legia Warsaw v Ajax 

Anderlecht v Zenit 

Astra v Genk 

Man United v Saint-Etienne 

Villarreal v Roma 

Ludogorets v FC Copenhagen 

Celta Vigo v Shakhtar 

Olympiakos v Osmanlispor 

Gent v Tottenham 

Rostov v Sparta Prague 

Krasnodar v Fenerbahce 

M’gladbach v Fiorentina 

AZ Alkmaar v Lyon 

PAOK v Schalke 04 

Sport 25 

DT 


Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Christiano Ronaldo (2nd R) and his teammates run during a training session at Mitsuzawa stadium in Yokohama yesterday ahead of 

their Club World Cup match against Club America of Mexico on Thursday 

AFP 

Real hot shots ready for Japan test, says Zidane 

• AFP, Yokohama 

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane 

looked frazzled after arriving in 

Japan on Monday but he has promised 

his side will be ready for the 

Club World Cup. 

The European champions, chasing 

a second world title in three 

years, worked out the kinks as 

night fell, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo 

leading the players in a gentle 

jog around a pitch in chilly Yokohama. 

“We’re very tired from the long 

flight of course,” a bleary-eyed Zidane 

told AFP. “But that’s normal. 

We will untangle ourselves a bit 

and feel better after a good night’s 

sleep. 

“The serious work starts tomorrow,” 

added the Frenchman, whose 

side take on Mexico’s Club America 

on Thursday for a place in the final. 

“We are here to win the Club 

World Cup. It’s an extremely important 

target for Real Madrid.” 

Zidane’s Spanish table-toppers, 

who have strung together a club record 

35-game unbeaten run, swept 

into Tokyo before sunrise on Monday 

and were greeted at the airport 

by around 300 fans. 

“Personally, I’m knackered,” 

said a smiling Zidane, who hoisted 

the Club World Cup’s forerunner, 

the Intercontinental Cup, with Real 

in 2002 and Juventus in 1996. 

“But the players will be ready. 

We’re on a fantastic run and that’s 

Cook: Root ready to captain England 

• AFP, Mumbai 

England captain Alastair Cook said 

Monday Joe Root was ready to take 

over as skipper but that no decision 

on his own future would be taken 

until the new year. 

His future was called into question 

just before the tour started 

when he admitted he could quit 

at the end of the series and he was 

finding it difficult to be apart from 

his family for long periods. 

“Those comments I made don’t 

change,” Cook told reporters following 

England’s innings and 36- 

run loss at Mumbai’s Wankhede 

Stadium. 

“It sticks true to the end of 

this series. Then I’ll sit down with 

Straussy (England’s Director of 

Cricket Andrew Strauss) in the 

new year, like we made that pact 

to always talk openly and honestly 

about stuff.” 

Root has been widely tipped 

to succeed Cook and the veteran 

left-hander said the 25-year-old 

was the ideal candidate to step into 

his shoes. 

“I think Joe Root is ready to captain 

England. He’s ready because 

he’s a clued on guy, he’s got the 

respect of everyone in the changing 

room. He hasn’t got much captaincy 

experience but that doesn’t 

mean he can’t be a very good captain,” 

Cook added, saying the magnitude 

of the task should not be 

underestimated. 

“You’re thrown in at the deep 

end and you kind of sink or swim. 

because we have a great bunch of 

players - quality players, intelligent 

players - who work their socks off 

every day in training to be as good 

as they are. 

“We have played nine matches 

in three weeks but we want to keep 

this run going,” added the former 

World Cup winner. 

Real will be without Gareth Bale 

as they look to be crowned the 

world’s best team for a fifth time. 

The Welshman is recoving from 

ankle surgery, but the Spanish giants 

have been boosted by the return 

of German Toni Kroos after a 

metatarsal fracture. 

Ronaldo is expected to take centre 

stage as he waits to hear if he 

has won his third Ballon d’Or, set 

Nothing can really prepare you for 

it. You are the forefront of the team 

and it comes onto your shoulders 

when you win or lose. 

“In the heat of the battle you 

make those decisions. You either 

make good ones or bad ones and 

you have to live with that,” said 

Cook. 

Cook, who recently overtook 

Michael Atherton’s record of 54 

Tests as England captain, said a 

lack of world class spin bowlers 

had hurt his side in India. • 

to be announced later on Monday 

- early Tuesday morning Tokyo 

time. 

“We will stay up tonight to see if 

he’s won,” said Brazilian defender 

Marcelo. 

“We’re all nervous to see if Cristiano 

wins. He’s a great player and 

he deserves to win. I have so much 

respect for him.” 

Real president Florentino Perez 

has demanded the team complete 

a Champions League, UEFA Super 

Cup and Club World Cup treble. 

But Marcelo shrugged: “This 

is Real Madrid - we’re obliged to 

win. We haven’t had much time to 

sleep and it’s a crazy schedule but 

it would be a dream for the players 

to win this title.” •

26 


DT 

Rangpur, 

Mymensingh in 

football final 

• Tribune Report 

Rangpur and Mymensingh district 

swept into the final of the JFA under-14 

Women’s National Championship 

2016 yesterday. The two 

sides will face each other in the 

grand finale at Bangabandhu National 

Stadium tomorrow at 3pm. 

Rangpur defeated Thakurgaon 

in the penalty shootout 3-1 in the 

second semi-final of the day at BNS 

to secure their final berth while favourites 

Mymensingh got a walkover 

from their last-four opponents 

Satkhira in the day’s first semi-final 

After the game ended 1-1 following 

the stipulated time of 70 

minutes, Mayuri took the last four 

by storm with her heroic display in 

the tiebreaker. The young Rangpur 

goalkeeper produced two lovely 

saves to oust Thakurgaon from the 

tournament. 

It was Thakurgaon who went 

ahead in the game with only eleven 

minutes into the clock through 

a goal from midfielder Baby before 

Rangpur midfielder Rabeya cancelled 

out the lead at the stroke of 

the opening half with a long-range 

strike. 

Mayuri saved two shots from 

Munni and Ashamoni in the tiebreaker. 

Rumi, Rekha and Nargis 

converted their chances for Rangpur 

while Mini scored Thakurgaon’s 

only goal in the shoot-out. 

Mayuri was included in the national 

U-14 women’s team camp 

but was the fourth-choice keeper 

there. 

Meanwhile, the tournament 

kicked off with the participation of 

eight teams on December 5. • 

Sport 

Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain in action with Torino’s goalkeeper Joe Hart during their Italian Serie A match at Olympic Stadium, 

Turin, Italy on Sunday 

REUTERS 

Juventus win Turin derby with Higuain brace 

• Reuters, Milan 

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain 

again showed his killer instinct 

with two expertly-taken goals in a 

late 3-1 win at Torino after their less 

illustrious neighbours had scored 

first and dominated the Serie A 

game on Sunday. 

Substitute Miralem Pjanic 

scored the third goal as the Italian 

champions opened up a seven-point 

lead over AS Roma and AC 

Milan, who clash in the capital on 

Monday. 

Napoli’s Dries Mertens scored 

a hat-trick to lead the revitalised 

team to a 5-0 rout at leaky 

Cagliari, while bottom club Palermo 

slumped to their ninth league 

defeat in a row, losing 2-0 at home 

POINTS TABLE 

Team P W D L GD Pts 

Juventus 16 13 0 3 21 39 

Roma 15 10 2 3 19 32 

AC Milan 15 10 2 3 8 32 

Napoli 16 9 4 3 17 31 

Lazio 16 9 4 3 12 31 

SERIE A 

Cagliari 0-5 Napoli 

Mertens 34, 69, 72, 

Hamsik 45, Zielinski 51 

Atalanta 1-3 Udinese 

Kurtic 47 Zapata 45, 

Fofana 72, Thereau 87 

Bologna 0-0 Empoli 

Palermo 0-2 Chievo 

Birsa 14, Pellissier 49 

Torino 1-3 Juventus 

Belotti 16 Higuain 28, 82, Pjanic 90+2 

Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa 

Brozovic 38, 69 

to Chievo. 

Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic 

scored twice to earn a 2-0 win over 

Genoa, leaving Stefano Pioli’s side 

in eighth place. 

The Croatian midfielder volleyed 

the ball in from a corner seven 

minutes before halftime and 

tapped home the second after a 

surging run by Joao Mario midway 

through the second period. 

Torino, a respectable seventh 

under Sinisa Mihajlovic, made a 

bright start at home to Juve and 

went ahead after 16 minutes when 

Andrea Belotti headed in Daniele 

Baselli’s cross for his 11th goal of 

the season. 

Juve were on the ropes but 

levelled 12 minutes later when 

Higuain collected Mario Mandzukic’s 

flicked pass in his stride and 

burst through the defence to place 

his shot past Joe Hart. 

Torino had the better of the 

second half and Adem Ljajic could 

have put them back in front but his 

shot clipped the far post. 

Juventus, though, have made 

a habit of grinding out results and 

they did it again with two goals in 

the final 10 minutes. 

A long ball forward found 

Higuain and, although the Argentine 

was closely marked, he turned 

past Antonio Barreca and fired an 

unstoppable shot past Hart for his 

ninth league goal of the season. 

Paulo Dybala set up the third 

with a run down the touchline 

and Hart did well to save shots by 

Higuain and Pjanic before the Bosnia 

midfielder scored at the third 

attempt. 

“Even when Higuain doesn’t 

score, he provides a big contribution,” 

said Juve coach Massimiliano 

Allegri. “I know he lives for goals 

but that’s not the only reason he 

was signed.” 

Mihajlovic told reporters: “Juventus 

didn’t have a shot on goal 

during most of the second half but 

when you don’t take your chances 

against a team like that, you get 

punished. 

Napoli’s Mertens broke the deadlock 

against Cagliari after 34 minutes 

with a shot on the turn before 

their inspirational captain Marek 

Hamsik turned in a rebound on the 

stroke of halftime after Lorenzo Insigne 

headed against the bar. • 

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE IN GAMEWEEK 15 

Vardy’s party back on 

“Jamie Vardy’s having a party!” became 

a familiar chant at the King Power 

Stadium last season as the rough-cut 

striker inspired Leicester City to their 

fairytale title triumph. His difficulties in 

front of goal this season had come to 

symbolise the club’s post-title hangover, 

the England striker going 16 games 

without a goal as Claudio Ranieri’s 

side slithered towards the relegation 

zone. But he blew off the cobwebs in 

style in a rain-lashed evening game 

against Manchester City on Saturday, 

firing Leicester to victory with his first 

hat-trick since his non-league days. All 

three goals were taken in the clinical 

fashion that was Vardy’s calling card 

last season, with the second -– teed up 

by Riyad Mahrez’s gossamer-soft pass 

-– a particular treat. 

Arsenal show title mettle 

Trailing to Charlie Adam’s 29th minute 

penalty, Arsenal faced a potentially defining 

moment in their Premier League 

campaign, and to Arsene Wenger’s 

delight his players rose to the challenge. 

It was the sort of scenario that has 

caused Arsenal to collapse many times in 

recent years, but this season looks a little 

different. They equalised in the 42nd 

minute when Theo Walcott bagged his 

100th club goal and took the lead four 

minutes after half-time through Mesut 

Ozil’s header before youngster Alex Iwobi 

sealed the points in the 75th minute 

to extend Arsenal’s unbeaten league run 

to 14 matches and keep the pressure on 

title rivals Chelsea. 

Conte willing to adapt 

Faced with an obdurate opponent in 

Tony Pulis’s well-drilled West Bromwich 

Albion, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte 

showed his flexibility by ditching his preferred 

three-man defensive formation 

and his gamble paid immediate dividends. 

Conte’s side had been frustrated 

for over an hour at Stamford Bridge on 

Sunday when the Italian sent on Willian 

and Cesc Fabregas in a switch to a 4-4-2 

system. The move gave Chelsea more 

attacking options and in the 76th minute 

a Fabregas pass induced a mistake from 

Albion defender Gareth McAuley that 

was punished by Diego Costa’s clinical 

finish. Chelsea’s ninth successive league 

win reopened a three-point lead at the 

top and underlined that Conte is more 

than a one-trick pony. 

Mkhitaryan United’s missing link? 

Having spent the best part of three 

months as a virtual spectator following 

his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, 

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has belatedly 

emerged as Manchester United’s go-to 

attacking player. After a pair of assists 

in a 4-1 League Cup win over West Ham 

United and a first United goal against 

Zorya Luhansk, he settled Sunday’s 

game against Tottenham Hotspur with 

a burst from deep and an emphatic 

shot. The Armenian playmaker was 

stretchered off after injuring his ankle, 

but to sighs of relief all round Old Trafford, 

manager Jose Mourinho said it 

was not serious. United have struggled 

for goals in the league, scoring eight 

in their last nine games, but in the jetheeled 

Mkhitaryan they possess a player 

capable of bridging the gap that had 

existed between the team’s midfield 

and lone striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

Liverpool case for defence weak 

For a second successive match Liverpool’s 

dazzling attack wasn’t sufficient 

as their defence was again exposed as 

the Achilles’ heel with struggling West 

Ham taking a point in a 2-2 draw. The 

yield of just one point from the last six 

could prove very costly come the end 

of the season. German goalkeeper Loris 

Karius will again be under the spotlight, 

especially with Dimitri Payet’s freekick, 

but the back four do not inspire confidence 

and January could see action at 

Anfield in the transfer market. • 

EPL POINTS TABLE 


Chelsea 15 12 1 2 22 37 

Arsenal 15 10 4 1 21 34 

Liverpool 15 9 4 2 17 31 

Man City 15 9 3 3 13 30 

Tottenham 15 7 6 2 13 27 

Man Utd 15 6 6 3 4 24 

Watford 15 6 3 6 -5 21 

West Brom 15 5 5 5 2 20 

Everton 15 5 5 5 0 20 

Southampton 15 5 5 5 -1 20 

Stoke 15 5 4 6 -5 19 

Bournemouth 15 5 3 7 -4 18 

Burnley 15 5 2 8 -10 17 

Leicester 15 4 4 7 -5 16 

Crystal Palace 15 4 3 8 -2 15 

Middlesbrough 15 3 6 6 -3 15 

West Ham 15 3 4 8 -16 13 

Swansea 15 3 3 9 -12 12 

Hull 15 3 3 9 -18 12 

Sunderland 15 3 2 10 -13 11

Sport 27 

DT 


How Tendulkar 

put Kohli on 

path to glory 


Virat Kohli revealed yesterday that 

sage advice from India great Sachin 

Tendulkar after a disastrous tour of 

England two years ago helped turn 

him into world cricket’s top batsman. 

Kohli flopped during India’s 

3-1 series defeat in England in the 

summer of 2014, making a total of 

only 134 runs over 10 innings and 

mustering a top score of just 39. 

Two years on and 28-year-old 

Kohli is celebrating a 3-0 series victory 

over Alastair Cook’s side. 

Kohli said he spoke to Tendulkar, 

regarded by many as the 

greatest batsman ever, and attributed 

some of the turn-around in 

his form to what the former India 

captain had to say. 

“The best advice was not to read 

or look up things that were being 

said about me. I’m not joking or 

trying to be sarcastic. That was the 

best advice I got,” said Kohli. 

“That was one thing that kept 

pulling me back as far as Test cricket 

is concerned,” added Kohli, who 

succeeded Mahendra Singh Dhoni 

as captain early last year. 

“Being captain took my mind 

more off those things because I had 

absolutely no time to read up or 

hear what people had to say about 

me. It was all about thinking about 

what the team has to do and that 

has helped me immensely to stay 

focused on what I have to do on the 

field,” said the star batsman. • 

DAY’S WATCH 

FOOTBALL 

STAR SPORTS 1 

7:20 PM 

Indian Super League 2016: Semi 

Final 1 

Mumbai v Kolkata 

STAR SPORTS 2 

7:20 PM 

Indian Super League 2016: Semi 

Final 2 

Kerala v Delhi 

STAR SPORTS HD 1 

1:50 AM 

Premier League 2016/17 

Everton v Arsenal 

STAR SPORTS SELECT HD 2 

1:35 AM 

Premier League 2016/17 

AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City 

TEN 1 

1:45 AM 

Sky Bet EFL 2016/17 

Norwich City v Aston Villa 

CRICKET 

SONY ESPN 

10:00 PM 

CSA T20 Challenge 2016 

2nd Qualifier v 3rd Qualifier 

India hail ‘sweetest’ win over England 


Virat Kohli hailed India’s series 

win over England as his “sweetest” 

as captain yesterday after the 

hosts humiliated the tourists by an 

innings and 36 runs in the fourth 

Test. 

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin 

tore through England’s lacklustre 

lower order in just half-anhour 

in Mumbai as India clinched 

the five-match series 3-0 with a 

game to spare and equalled their 

longest unbeaten run. 

England started the final day 

at the Wankhede Stadium trailing 

by 49 runs with four wickets remaining, 

and needing something 

extraordinary to avoid defeat. But 

Ashwin grabbed all four wickets 

to send England crashing to 195 all 

out and finish with figures of 6-55 

in the innings, and 12 scalps in the 

match. 

Skipper Virat Kohli was named 

man of the match for his brilliant 

double century in a win that confirms 

India as Test cricket’s top side 

and avenges their two consecutive 

series defeats to England. 

“This series win is probably the 

sweetest we have had in the last 14- 

15 months,” said Kohli, who took 

over from Mahendra Singh Dhoni 

as Test captain last year. 

India have now won five straight 

series under Kohli, who struck his 

third double century of the year, 

and are unbeaten in 17 Tests, which 

equals their best-ever run which 

was set back in 1987. 

England captain Alastair Cook 

paid tribute to Kohli’s batting, saying 

his Indian counterpart had led 

from the front and was in the form 

of his life. 

“Clearly (he is) one of the greatest 

batsmen of our generation,” 

said Cook, the highest scorer 

among current Test players. 

Cook, who has hinted he may 

step down after the series, also admitted 

it was a mistake to pick only 

two specialist spinners in Mumbai’s 

spin-friendly conditions. 

Ashwin first dispatched Jonny 

Bairstow, who could only add one 

run to his overnight half-century, 

before clean-bowling Chris Woakes 

for nought. Adil Rashid followed, 

caught in the deep by Lokesh Rahul 

for two, off Ashwin’s bowling, 

to put England at 193 with just one 

wicket remaining. 

Emotions then threatened to boil 

over as Ashwin approached and exchanged 

words with James Anderson 

as he came into bat. He walked 

with him down the crease, forcing 

the umpire to intervene. Anderson 

was soon caught to become Ashwin’s 

sixth victim of the innings as 

England were all out for 195, failing 

to make India bat again. • 

LankaBangla organised a football tournament for its employees at National Handball Stadium, Gulistan in Dhaka last Saturday. 

Bangladesh Football Federation senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy was present on the occasion as the special guest 

4TH TEST, DAY 5 

England 1st innings 400 (K. Jennings 112, 

J. Buttler 76; R. Ashwin 6-112) 

India 1st innings 631 (V. Kohli 235, M. Vijay 

136; Rashid 4-192) 

England 2nd innings 195 (J. Root 77; J 

Bairstow 51; R Ashwin 6-55) 

ENGLAND R B 

J. Bairstow lbw Ashwin 51 107 

J. Buttler not out 6 17 

C. Woakes b Ashiwn 0 6 

A. Rashid c Rahul b Ashwin 2 7 

J. Anderson C Yadav b Ashwin 2 6 

Extras (b15, lb2, nb2) 19 

Total (10 wickets, 55.3 overs) 195 

Fall of wickets 

1-1 (Jennings), 2-43 (Cook), 3-49 (Ali), 

4-141 (Root), 5-180 (Stokes), 6-182 (Ball), 

7-185 (Bairstow), 8-189 (Woakes), 9-193 

(Rashid), 10-195 (Anderson) 

Bowling 

Kumar 4-1-11-1, U. Yadav 3-0-10-0, Jadeja 

22-3-63-2 (1nb), Ashwin 20.3-3-55-6, J. 

Yadav 6-0-39-1 (1nb) 

Result: India win by an innings and 36 runs 

India’s players celebrate the wicket 

of England batsman Jonny Bairstow 

during their Fourth Test at Wankhede 

Stadium, Mumbai yesterday REUTERS 

17 

IN NUMBERS 

Consecutive Tests in which 

India have remained unbeaten, 

which equals their record 

- they also went 17 Tests without a 

defeat between September 1985 

and March 1987; however, they 

only won four of the 17 matches 

over that stretch, drawing 12 while 

one was tied. In this stretch of 17, 

India have won 13 and drawn four. 

Successive series wins for 

5 India, which also equals their 

record: they had won five in a row 

between 2008 and 2010, at home 

against Australia, England and Sri 

Lanka, and away in New Zealand 

and Bangladesh. This time, they 

have won at home against South 

Africa, New Zealand and England, 

and away in Sri Lanka and the West 

Indies. 

Instances of teams losing by 

3 an innings after scoring 400 

or more in the first innings of a Test. 

The two previous such instances 

were in 1930, when England lost to 

Australia at The Oval, and in 2011, 

when Sri Lanka lost in Cardiff. 

Ten-wicket hauls for R Ashwin, 

7 just one behind Anil Kumble’s 

eight, which is the highest for India. 

Ashwin has played just 43 Tests 

for his seven such hauls - only two 

bowlers have reached there quicker: 

Sydney Barnes, who got there 

in 27 Tests, and Clarrie Grimmett 

(37). The next fastest is 58 Tests, by 

Dennis Lillee. 

Five-wicket hauls for 

24 Ashwin, which takes him 

past Kapil Dev, and into third place 

in India’s all-time list, after Kumble 

(35) and Harbhajan Singh (25). In 

terms of number of matches to get 

to 24 five-fors, Ashwin is second 

fastest after Barnes, who had 24 in 

27 Tests. Muralitharan got there in 

58 Tests, and Richard Hadlee in 60.

28 


DT 

Sport 

Fans of Cruzeiro show Chapecoense logos in tribute to the victims of the Colombia plane crash containing the Chapecoense players during their Brazilian Series A 

Championship match against Corinthians at the Mineirao stadium, Belo Horizonte, Brazil on Sunday 

REUTERS 

Tevez double leads Boca 

to victory at River Plate 

• Reuters, Buenos Aires 

A brilliant Carlos Tevez scored 

twice in the final half hour as Boca 

Juniors came from 2-1 down to beat 

River Plate 4-2 at El Monumental in 

a thrilling Argentine ‘superclasico’ 

on Sunday. 

The victory put Boca top of 

Primera A with 28 points from 13 

matches, one point ahead of Estudiantes, 

who lost 3-2 at San Martin, 

and San Lorenzo, who beat Union 

3-2 on Saturday. 

“I had a great match,” said Tevez, 

who may have played his last 

superclasico as he mulls over a 40 

million euro ($42.18 million) offer 

from China’s Shanghai Shenhua. 

“The Boca fans know I would 

die for this shirt.” 

Boca coach Guillermo Barros 

Schelotto said Tevez was a key 

component of his team and is hoping 

to persuade him to stay at least 

until the end of the season in June. 

“I’ll talk with him, he knows 

what we want,” Barros Schelotto 

said. 

“We built a team around him. 

Let the Chinese wait another six 

months.” • 

Boca Juniors’ Carlos Tevez celebrates after he scored his team’s second goal 

agaisnt River Pate during their Super Calsico math of Argentine First Division at 

Antonio Liberti Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday 

REUTERS 

Cavani saves PSG against Nice 

• AFP, Paris 

A second-half brace from Edinson 

Cavani saw champions Paris Saint 

Germain come from two down to 

earn a 2-2 draw with Ligue 1 leaders 

Nice at the Parc des Princes on 

Sunday. 

The visitors withstood an early 

onslaught to go into the break 2-0 

up after a sumptuous free-kick 

from Wylan Cyprien on 32 minutes 

and a slick left-foot shot from Alassane 

Plea right on the break. 

The result puts Nice on 40 

points from 17 games, one clear of 

second placed Monaco, who beat 

Bordeaux 4-0 on Saturday and four 

clear of under-pressure Unai Emery’s 

champions. 

Nice coach Lucien Favre looked 

relieved with the point after Cavani 

had finished from close range on 

46 minutes and then on the hour 

mark before the champions ripped 

into the Ligue 1 leaders all the way 

to the final whistle. 

“We really suffered out there, 

they imposed a terrible rhythm 

early on and it was difficult for us, 

but then came that extraordinary 

goal,” Favre said after the game. 

Cavani had the ball in the back 

of the net again with 15 minutes to 

go but Blaise Matuidi was offside 

when receiving the ball to provide 

the final pass. 

The PSG front line’s assault saw 

Nice ‘keeper Yoan Cardinale produce 

seven saves, the last a brilliant 

stop on the line from a Layvin 

Kurzawa header in stoppage time. 

But earlier Cavani was in the 

right place at the right time to prod 

home the equaliser after Cardinale 

had punched away a cross right 

into his captain Dante and the Uruguayan 

pounced on the loose ball. 

The opening goal came when 

Cyprien whipped a ferocious freekick 

round the PSG wall into the 

top right hand corner against the 

run of play. And then, just before 

the break, Plea beat both Thiago 

Silva and Marquinhos at the edge 

of the PSG area to dispatch a deft 

left-foot shot that saw the home 

side booed off at the break. 

LIGUE 1 

PSG 2-2 Nice 

Cavani 46, 60 Cyprien 32, Plea 45+3 

Saint-Etienne 1-0 Guingamp 

Hamouna 25 

Lyon 1-0 Rennes 

Valbuena 28 

LIGUE 1 


Nice 17 12 4 1 20 40 

Monaco 17 12 3 2 37 39 

Paris SG 17 11 3 3 19 36 

Lyon 16 9 1 6 11 28 

Rennes 17 8 3 6 -2 27 

Mou left scared 

by Mkhitaryan 

injury blow 

• AFP, Manchester 

Jose Mourinho admits he was 

scared when he saw Manchester 

United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan 

stretchered off the field during 

his team’s 1-0 Premier League 

victory over Tottenham Hotspur. 

Mkhitaryan scored the winning 

goal against Tottenham on Sunday. 

But late in the game at Old Trafford, 

the Armenian went down under a 

foul from Spurs defender Danny 

Rose and had to be carried from the 

field with what appeared a nasty 

injury to his ankle. But to the relief 

of the United manager, Mkhitaryan 

should miss just two games, away at 

Crystal Palace and West Bromwich 

Albion this week, before returning 

for the busy holiday schedule. 

“Hopefully he can play at Christmas. 

We believe it’s possible,” 

Mourinho told reporters. 

“When I saw him on the stretcher 

I thought it would be more difficult. 

When I watched the tackle 

on TV, I was a bit scared. It’s a pity 

because he is going to miss matches 

in his best period but at least we 

don’t lose a player for so long.” • 

In the second half, Paris concentrated 

on the flanks and the 

two Cavani goals, which took his 

league taly to 16 so far, came from 

wide crosses from Serge Aurier 

and Kurzawa. Mario Balotelli came 

on as a late substitute and quickly 

produced a snap shot that PSG 

keeper Alphons Areola saved well. 

Hatem Ben Arfa, who switched to 

PSG from Nice in the summer, also 

made a late cameo. 

Cyprien said after the game his 

side had never expected to be top 

at this stage. 

“That match taught us something 

we didn’t know about ourselves. 

It keeps us top and we can 

do even better,” the striker said. •

Downtime 

29 


DT 

CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1 Spoken (4) 

3 Nothing (4) 

7 Colour (3) 

8 Ooze out (5) 

11 Step (4) 

12 Bishop's headdress (5) 

13 Sport's enclosure (5) 

15 Deeply engrossed (4) 

18 Rational (4) 

19 Sovereign (5) 

20 Lift up (5) 

21 Sibilate (4) 

23 Worth (5) 

24 United (3) 

25 Expensive (4) 

26 Enquires (4) 

DOWN 

1 Musical dramas (6) 

2 Mental acuteness (6) 

4 Period of time (3) 

5 Cooking instructions (6) 

6 Lyric poem (3) 

9 Restaurant cars (6) 

10 Greek letter (3) 

11 Read carefully (6) 

14 Plunder (6) 

16 Makes watchful (6) 

17 Facts (6) 

19 Edge (3) 

21 Brick's trough (3) 

22 Briny (coll) (3) 

CODE-CRACKER 

How to solve: Each number in our 

CODE-CRACKER grid represents a 

different letter of the alphabet. For 

example, today 2 represents L so fill L 

every time the figure 2 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 

Team behind the ‘Detective The Game’ 

• Hasan Dabir Uddin 

It’s not too common in here to 

tell a story on screen through 

animation, especially when we 

are talking about any Tagore story, 

its rare. Jazz Multimedia, one 

of the country’s renowned film 

production companies, brought 

on a full-length animated feature 

titled Detective. Tariq Anam Khan 

wrote the screenplay based on a 

story by Rabindranath Tagore. 

Tapan Ahmed created 3D and 

directed the animated feature. 

Meanwhile, a group of talented 

tech boys created Detective The 

Game based on the film, which 

released last month. The tech boys 

belong to Team Reboot, which 

brought the game prior to the 

film’s release as a promotional act. 

Members of Team Robot are 

Jisan Haider Joy (lead developer), 

Md Rezaul Hasan Evan (lead 

graphics designer), Md Emdadul 

Haque (level designer ), Juned 

Chowdhury (sound engineer), 

Meheraj Maruf (gameplay 

developer), Shazahan Kabir Saju 

(jr developer), Md Shakerul Islam 

(UX/UI designer) and Abdullah Al 

Mamun (jr developer). 

Recently, Showtime sat with 

Team Robot to learn their venture 

with Jaaz. 

What influenced you to make 

video games? 

Basically, we were captivated 

by various video games in 

our childhood. It’s a common 

phenomenon here that we played 

the games, which were made in 

developed countries. 

And eventually, we aimed to create 

a new history in the country’s 

tech industry by creating games 

like those. When we started our 

graduation, we locked our destiny 

to do so we believe. 

How did you connect with Jaaz 

Multimedia? 

That was an exceptional moment 

for us when Jaaz Multimedia 

offered to make a cinematic game 

for promoting their upcoming 

film Detective. We have seen this 

kind of initiative in Hollywood, 

Bollywood, but not in this country. 

They noticed our debut gaming 

initiative Fly. 

What’s the game actually about? 

How is it played? 

Mohim Babu, a detective, found 

a mysterious person with secrets 

and unsolved problems. He starts 

chasing this unknown man who 

tries to escape after conducting a 

theft. A player has to help Mohim 

Babu in his journey in order to 

catch the thief. 

Players have to run, jump and 

slide to save themselves from 

bumping into obstacles and collect 

coins as much as possible to place 

anyone’s name on the throne. 

Players can challenge their friends 

and other players to beat them in 

the leader board. 

Is the game represent our culture 

in any way? 

We tried to represent our culture 

in this game in various ways for 

instance, the game’s background 

is almost like our cities. When we 

created this game, we had to focus 

on our local sights and ambience 

including roads, houses, trees, 

dresses and even the ornament the 

characters put on. 

What are you r future plans? 

We want to promote our country 

around the world. Game could be 

a medium to introduce our nation 

internationally. • 

Patriotic Song by Shusmita 

Anis this Victory Day 

• Showtime Desk 

Shusmita Anis has voiced a 

patriotic song for the coming 

Victory Day. The song titled “E 

Pran Amar Bangladesh” is written 

by Muniruzzaman Munir and 

composed by Sheikh Saadi Khan. 

Famous Indian singer and music 

director Anupam Roy has arranged 

the music for this song. The music 

video has been directed by Gazi 

Shuvro. The music video of the 

song is available online under the 

Gaanchill banner. 

Sushmita noted that the song 

has been prepared to encourage 

youth towards patriotism. 

Shusmita Anis was raised in a very 

traditional family. Her foundation 

in singing was laid by her aunt, 

the famous Nazrul singer Firoza 

Begum. From the age of five she 

trained with Firoza Begum in 

various sections of singing. 

Shusmita Anis who is more 

inclined towards modern songs 

said, “With the change of age, it is 

natural modern instrumentation 

that will come closer to classic 

songs. But we have to ensure that 

the tune of the song remains the 

same. She thinks the dedication 

of the youth is key to maintaining 

this.” 

The music video was shot at a 

remote embankment of the river 

Padma. 50 models of various ages 

participated with Shusmita Anis in 

the video. Regarding the video of 

the of the song she said, “One has 

to see it through their own eyes 

to truly appreciate the beauty of 

Bangladesh.” 

Many may not know about the 

widespread riverbanks just outside 

Dhaka. The blissful and foggy 

winter morning makes the heart 

go crazy. Sweet sunshine starts to 

peek as the day progresses. Clouds 

float in the sky. The distance starts 

to fade away after dusk with the 

emergence of fog. It is the symbol 

of little Bangladesh. 

The focus of the young society 

has been portrayed perfectly in 

the music video. Shushmita said, 

“As the patriotic song has been 

sung and dedicated towards the 

younger generation, they have 

been represented in the music 

video. Along with the usage of 

latest equipment, vivid scenery 

of beautiful Bangladesh. The song 

will also feature various success of 

Bangladesh over the years. 

YouTube link for the song: 

https://www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=O0M5egxbQt8 •

Showtime 

31 


DT 

Mindshare Bangladesh wins gold 


silver in the Rest of South Asia 

(ROSA) Media Agency of the year 

On December 5, Bangladesh’s category in 2013 and two golds 

leading media agency Mindshare, for the same category in 2014 

once again, won the prestigious and 2015. Mindshare made a 

Campaign South Asia’s Agency of significant buzz in the region by 

the year Award. This consecutive winning gold in both South Asia 

accolade is a recognition for 

and Rest of South Asia’s Digital 

the company’s 360 degrees 

Agency of the year category in 

Digital Services and reflects the 2014. 

inspired leadership, management This year, the agency was 

excellence, outstanding business shortlisted in three categories, 

performance and overall 

including ROSA Media agency 

achievements in Asia-Pacific’s of the year and the other was 

advertising and communications ROSA Digital Agency of the year, 

industries; continuing a grand along with local and international 

tradition of 23 years. 

market players. The awards were 

This is the fourth consecutive held on November 30, 2016 at 

year, Mindshare won a Campaign the ITC Grand Central Hotel in 

Asia title, highlighting its 

Mumbai. Executive Director 

dominance in the Digital 

Mr Morshed Alam, Deputy 

Spectrum, along with its 

General Manager Rezaul Hasan 

continuous success in media and Director Tusnuva Ahmed 

business. Since 2013, Mindshare received the a wards on behalf of 

has won accolades including, Mindshare Bangladesh. • 

The latest poster of Ok 

Jaanu received well 


After the super romantic first poster of Ok Jaanu, the makers have 

released another one, which features Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha 

Kapoor. The latest picture of the actors in the poster has Mumbai’s 

famous Chowpatty in the backdrop, while displaying a sense of instant 

tranquility. 

Source: India Times 

Happy 27 to Swift 


Taylor Swift has become one of 

the most powerful celebrities 

in the world. She is famously 

methodical about her multimillion 

dollar brand, and 

meticulously chooses her 

collaborators and projects. Out 

of nowhere late Thursday night, 

Taylor Swift and former One 

Direction member, Zayn, dropped 

a single called “I Don’t Wanna 

Live Forever”. Written by the pop 

megastar herself, along with Jack 

Antonoff and Sam Dew, the song 

is from the soundtrack of Fifty 

Shades Darker, the upcoming 

sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey. 

Within hours, the pop-dance track 

was the number one worldwide 

trending topic on Twitter and 

number one on iTunes. “Well, that 

escalated quickly,” Swift wrote on 

Instagram, as if she didn’t know 

that would happen. Today is her 

birthday. Let’s have a recap of her 

year. 

Despite starting the 

year out with some 

serious Grammys success, the 

rest of Swift›s 2016 was hardly 

music-related at all. Well, at least 

when it comes to her own music. 

From ghostwriting to whirlwind 

romances, take a look back yet 

another year of Taylor Swift. 

At the February 16 ceremony, 

where Swift debuted an Anna 

Wintour-esque bob, she further 

proved to be a powerhouse in 

her field by winning three more 

Grammys to add to her seven 

previous trophies. The most 

notable was her big victory in 

the Album of the Year category, 

marking her second win of the 

marquee award, and becoming 

the first female artist to snag two 

in their career. 

After more than a year of 

establishing themselves as one 

of music’s power couples. They 

were revealed as the highestpaid 

couple in the biz in June 

2015. Swift and Harris apparently 

lost their spark and called it quits 

in early June 2016. 

Swift went rather quiet on 

Instagram following the breakup 

news, but broke her silence to 

reveal that she had surprised 

a fan at his wedding. She even 

serenaded the newlyweds and 

their guests with a strippeddown 

performance of “Blank 

Space”. 

Just about a month after 

‘Swifties’ were devastated to 

find out that ‘Talvin’ was no 

more, Swift threw them for 

a loop when she was spotted 

kissing Thor actor Tom 

Hiddleston in Rhode Island out of 

the blue. The two seemingly had 

quite the fantastical romance, 

traveling to Europe and Australia 

together within the first month, 

but the flame fizzled after only a 

few months. 

With no new material to be 

eligible for the 2017 Grammys, 

Swift needed some other way to 

look forward to the New Year. 

One month after Swift’s deal with 

AT&T was revealed, the company 

announced that it would unveil 

a «new video experience» called 

Taylor Swift Now, which will 

feature 13 chapters of exclusive 

content.•

32 


DT 

MOST FEMALE SME OWNERS 

HARDLY GET LOANS PAGE 12 

Back Page 

ARSENAL GET BAYERN AGAIN, 

BARCA RETURN TO PARIS PAGE 24 

TEAM BEHIND THE 

‘DETECTIVE THE GAME’ PAGE 30 

ANOTHER SLUM FIRE IN MOHAKHALI 

Looting amid panicked 

evacuation alleged 

A dejected elderly woman sitting on her charred belongings after a fire burnt the Sattola slum in Mohakhali early yesterday 

• Kamrul Hasan and 

Arifur Rahman Rabbi 

There have been numerous allegations 

of rampant looting of homes during the 

Sattola fire amid frantic rush for safety. 

The fire broke out in the early hours 

of yesterday at Adarshanagar area of 

the slum and raged on for two hours 

burning down 111 homes before it 

could be doused, said an official of Brac 

urban development project. 

Around 1:10am an announcement 

was made from the Chowdhurypara 

Mosque of the slum. The Fire Service 

rushed to the spot around 1:30am. 

It took seventeen fire service units 

two hours to bring the fire under control 

around 2am, said Fire Service Control 

Room Official Mahmudul Hoque. 

Victims of the fire claim that several 

outsiders broke into their homes and 

looted their valuables. 

Salma, the owner of a computer 

shop in the slum, said during the frantic 

rush to get out of the slum someone 

broke into her shop and stole the only 

computer she owned. 

Another resident, Shilpi Akhter said 

she locked the doors of her home before 

she ran for shelter came back to find the 

door unlocked and her room ransacked. 

RAJIB DHAR 

Many other residents claimed their 

cellphones were pick pocketed during 

the fire. 

Jasim Uddin said the fire broke out 

inside the Brac school in the slum. Salma 

said she heard a big explosion from 

near the Brac school and saw a blue fire 

there. 

“Very soon the fire engulfed the 

whole area.” 

Jasim alleged that drug addicts 

regularly broke into the school to use 

drugs there. However, Brac school programme 

officials said they were unaware 

of that fact. 

Brac school official Rokonuzzaman 

said the school was locked after hours 

and the local parents committee also 

provided security for the building. 

Local Councilor Md Nasir also took 

this view. 

But a resident asking not to be 

named claimed that sometimes powerful 

factions set fire to the slum in a 

bid to grab the land. 

Several residents alleged that a racket 

controlled by a criminal godfather 

named Akhter Mia, who is currently in 

jail, was involved with the fire. 

“Sometimes these fires are set to 

grab property in the slum. The powerful 

shanty owners take over the shanties 

owned by others and the previous 

owners lose everything and become 

tenants at the slum or leave,” one resident 

said. 

This is the second slum fire this 

month in Dhaka. Parts of the nearby 

Korail slum burned down on December 

4, gutting 500 houses. The victims 

there have also alleged that it was an 

arson intended to scare them out of 

the slum. 

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor 

Annisul Huq visited the spot around 

12:30 am yesterday and assured of assistance 

and rehabilitation for the victims. 

Besides, Brac supplied some utensils 

to the victims yesterday afternoon 

and they will sit with Mayor Annisul 

around 11am today to discuss a 

rehabilitation process, said Hasina 

Mushrofa. 

They were arranging cloth tents 

for the victims so that they would not 

be living under the sky during night, 

said Brac School programme Manager 

Tamzidul Islam. 

Banani police station Inspector (Investigation) 

Waheduzzaman told the 

Dhaka Tribune that they had deployed 

police there and investigating into the 

matter. • 

High Court: VAT on 

English medium 

tuition fees illegal 

• Ashif Islam Shaon 

The High Court has declared 

the 7.5% VAT on tuition 

fees at English medium 

schools illegal. 

The court yesterday said 

the imposition of VAT was 

discriminatory and contradictory 

to the constitution, 

and thus it cannot be extracted 

from students from 

January 2017. 

The govt 

imposed a 4.5% 

VAT on fees 

and services in 

English medium 

schools in 2010. 

In 2014, it was 

raised to 7.5%. 

There is no 

VAT for Bangla 

medium schools 

The High Court bench of 

Justice Zubayer Rahman 

Chowdhury and Justice 

Mozibur Rahman Miah 

gave the verdict on a writ 

petition that challenged the 

government decision to impose 

VAT on tuition fees at 

English medium schools. 

On September 17, 2015, 

the High Court stayed the 

collection of VAT on tuition 

fees for six months after 

two guardians filed the writ 

petition. 

At that time the court 

also issued a ruling, asking 

the authorities concerned 

to explain why the VAT imposition 

should not be declared 

illegal. 

The National Board of 

Revenue chairman, secretaries 

to the Education 

Ministry and the Internal 

Resources Division of the 

Finance Ministry were 

made respondents to the 

ruling. 

Yesterday, the court declared 

the VAT imposition 

illegal after concluding 

the final hearing on the 

issue. 

The writ petition argued 

that it was the government’s 

duty to ensure education 

and equal opportunity 

for all according to the 

constitution. Hence, imposing 

VAT on tuition and 

other fees violate it. 

The government imposed 

a 4.5% VAT on fees 

and services in English medium 

schools in 2010. In 

2014, it was raised to 7.5%. 

There is no VAT for Bangla 

medium schools. 

The demand for withdrawal 

of the VAT on English 

medium schools grew 

strong after the government 

decided to remove VAT on 

tuition fees at private universities, 

medical colleges 

and engineering colleges. • 

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

e_Paper, Tuesday, December 13, 2016

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?