DT e-Paper 15 March 2017

SECOND EDITION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 | Falgun 31, 1423, Jamadi-us Sani 15, 1438 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 4, No 317 | www.dhakatribune.com | 24 pages | Price: Tk10
Govt signs deep
sea exploration
deal with Posco
Daewoo › 2
PHOTO COURTESY: ABANOFFSHORE.COM
PM seeks AL’s
re-election for
continuation of
development › 3
Tk230cr down the hole
How an ill-conceived offshore deal cost Bapex big › 2
Facebook
surprised at
complaints of
hurting religious
sentiments › 3
Eight JMB
militants
held across
country › 7
EU headscarf ban ruling
sparks faith group
backlash › 9
Bangladesh up against
daunting task in
100th Test match › 18
May keeps
suspense
over Brexit
trigger › 8

2
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
News
Tk230 crore down the hole
How an ill-conceived offshore deal cost Bapex big
• Aminur Rahman Rasel
Bapex, Bangladesh’s lone state-run
oil and gas exploration company,
has lost $28.85 million – roughly
Tk230 crore – in an offshore drilling
partnership that many had warned
against.
On January 27 last year, the Dhaka
Tribune reported that Bapex
would lose big if it entered the joint
venture with Australian oil and gas
giant Santos to drill the offshore
Magnama Well-2.
For one thing, the nearby Magnama
Well-1 was dry. For another,
the Well-2 drilling operation had
been planned without a well test –
a procedure deemed mandatory in
the extraction industry.
The result was no surprise to
Dhaka University geology professor
Dr Badrul Imam. “Since Well-1
was found to be dry, the second dig
was ill-advised. This was a conspiracy
by both sides to misuse public
money and siphon it abroad.”
A Bapex high official, asking not
to be named, concurred, telling the
Dhaka Tribune: “Since no gas was
found in Magnama Well-1, Bapex
and Santos, with ill-interest, did
away with the well test in the Magnama
Well-2 dig.
“While drilling the well, Santos
officials realised that there was
no gas in the well. This was being
shown in the daily geological data
reports, and especially the Logging-While-Drilling
(LWD) report.”
LWD is a type of well logging
that incorporates the logging tools
into the drill string, transmitting
real-time formation measurements
to the surface.
Normally, a drillstem test (DST)
– to determine whether or not gas
is present in a well – is also conducted.
But abnormally, a DST was not
an item on the Magnama Well-2
drilling programme.
Between February 7 and March
2, Santos drilled the Magnama
structure in Block 16 in the Bay
of Bengal, 60 kilometres south of
Chittagong port, using the Deep
Driller-8 rig.
They planned to go down to
3,100 metres from 10 metres below
water level and ended up drilling to
a depth of 3,179 metres. But there
was no gas to be found.
Bapex managing director Md
Nowshad Islam confirmed that the
drilling had failed to discover gas.
He said the lead partner, Santos,
would formally notify Petrobangla
about the results of the dig.
Santos Bangladesh spokesman
Mahmudul Karim said the drilling
of the Magnama Well-2 had been
completed and that the well was
being plugged and abandoned.
‘Plug and abandon’ means that
the operator of a well permanently
closes the well so that the it does
not pose a future environmental
hazard.
The Santos spokesman declined
to say anything further about the
matter.
Costly decision
A Petrobangla official, asking not to
be named, told the Dhaka Tribune:
“The nearly $29 million deal slung
around Bapex’s neck was made to
save Santos its $4 million. And government
high-ups took advantage
of this.”
Santos’ 1994 production sharing
contract (PSC) with Petrobangla
mandates the digging of a well in
the Magnama structure. Two-anda-half
years ago, Santos proposed a
work programme, with a $4 million
bank guarantee, to drill the Magnama
structure.
After failing to find partners,
Santos lured Bapex into signing
a Sale and Purchase Agreement
(SPA), exposing the state-run company
to potential losses. On June
27 last year, Bapex and Santos had
signed a binding offer agreement.
A Bapex official, seeking anonymity,
told the Dhaka Tribune
yesterday: “Bapex agreed to this
because of the interest of high-ups
in the government.”
The Bapex team charged with
negotiating the partnership with
Santos told management that the
project would not be viable, according
to the Bapex official.
But Bapex’s board authorised
the signing of the Sale and Purchase
Agreement with Santos on
January 18 to drill the well at a cost
of $28.85 million.
On January 11, the Cabinet Committee
on Economic Affairs approved
in principle that Bapex sign
the SPA with Santos as a joint gas
exploration partner.
Cost breakdown
The Sale and Purchase Agreement
required Bapex to pay $28.85 million
to Santos by January 31.
Since 1994, Santos spent $92
million for 2D and 3D seismic surveys,
and other activities. According
to the SPA, Santos held a 51%
stake in the joint venture, while
Bapex held 49%.
Under the SPA, Bapex would pay
Santos 17.5% of the $92 million as
“sunk costs” – amounting to $16.15
million. Furthermore, it would pay
49% of the $26 million Magnama
Well-2 drilling cost – amounting
to $12.70 million. Bapex’s total expenditure
therefore came to $28.85
million.
This amount was supposed to be
taken as a loan from the Gas Development
Fund.
But Bapex officials told the Dhaka
Tribune that it was paid with
temporary loans from Titas Gas
Company, Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd
and Bapex’s own funds.
Last fiscal year, Bapex incurred
losses of Tk56 crore.
The Magnama structure was
discovered by British oil-and-gas
firm Cairn Energy. Santos acquired
it in 2007.
The structure is located within
the Block 16 area where the nowshut
Sangu well used to be. On October
1, 2013, Sangu was shut down
permanently after its reserves rapidly
dried up. •
Govt signs deep sea exploration deal with Posco Daewoo
• Aminur Rahman Rasel
The government has finally signed
a deal with South Korean company
Posco Daewoo Corporation to conduct
seismic survey and explore oil
and gas resources in deep sea block
(DS) 12 under the Speedy Supply of
Power and Energy (Special Provision)
Act 2010.
The deal was signed yesterday
by Sayed Asfaquzzaman, secretary
of Bangladesh Oil, Gas and
Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla),
and Khadiza Nazneen, deputy
secretary of Energy and Mineral
Resources Division (EMRD), on
Bangladesh’s behalf, and Si Bo Joo,
senior executive vice-president of
Posco Daewoo, on his company’s
behalf, at Petrobangla Headquarters
in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.
This deal is technically the second
one under the special act. The
first one was signed in June 2011,
when US company ConocoPhillips
signed an agreement with the government
to explore DS 10 and 11.
However, that deal fell through
when ConocoPhillips pulled out
of the deal in 2014; they did not
accept the government’s proposal
of buying gas extracted by them at
$4.5 per 1000 cubic feet.
Yesterday’s deal has come at a
time when the country is reeling
from energy crisis and consequently
many factories are out of operation.
Speaking after the signing ceremony,
EMRD Secretary Nazimuddin
Chowdhury said the deal was
signed under the special act due to
its urgency.
“Not many international oil
companies have shown interest
to drill in deep sea as oil price has
fallen in the international market.
That is why we have signed it under
the special act,” he said in reply
to a query by the Dhaka Tribune.
The special act allows the government
to bypass the usual bidding
rounds and select a company
directly for deep sea exploration.
Speaking to reporters, Posco
Daewoo CEO Young Sang Kim said
the company would invest around
$112 million in the first five years of
the agreement.
“Around $5 million will be invested
in the first two years for a
1,000-line-kilometre 2D seismic
survey,” he explained. “In the third
year, we will invest $7 million for a
1,000-square-kilometre 3D seismic
survey.
“In fourth and fifth years, the
company will invest around $100
million for exploratory well drilling.”
According to the deal, Posco Daewoo
will have to sell 60-85% of the
gas produced from DS 12 at $6.50
per 1000 cubic feet, and 65-90% of
the oil produced from the block in
accordance with the model product-sharing
contract pricing formula
and international market price at
the time when the oil will be sold.
The IOC can offer to sell the rest
of the gas or oil to Petrobangla on
its own terms. If Petrobangla rejects
the offer, then the company
will be allowed to sell it to other
companies in Bangladesh.
If Posco Daewoo fails to strike
a deal with the local companies as
well, it can sell the remainder of
the fossil fuel to foreign buyers.
If the initial drilling does not
work out, the company will conduct
another exploratory drilling
in sixth through eighth years of the
contract.
Posco Daewoo will start its 2D
seismic survey by December. •

News 3
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
PM seeks Awami League’s re-election
for continuation of development
DT
• UNB
IGP: Facebook refuses to sign MoU with
Bangladesh Police
• Kamrul Hassan
Social networking giant Facebook
has refused to sign a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with
Bangladesh Police, the Inspector
General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul
Hoque has revealed.
“Bangladesh wanted to sign
an MoU with Facebook, however
they refused as such deals
are against their policy,” the
IGP said. “But they assured us
that they would cooperate with
Bangladesh Police whenever
required.”
The IGP added that, while
no MoU would be signed,
representatives of the social media
site said they would discuss
the proposed measures placed
before them by the Bangladesh
Police.
Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh
Police asked Facebook authorities
to require additional identifications,
including NID numbers,
from Bangladesh nationals who
want to sign up to the social network.
The proposition was raised
during a bilateral meeting between
Bangladesh Police and
Facebook representatives on the
sidelines of the ongoing conference
of police chiefs of South
Asia, as many militants are found
to have been radicalised through
social media.
Shahidul made the comment
while speaking to reporters at the
closing session of the conference,
which was attended by the police
chiefs of Afghanistan, Australia,
Bhutan, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia,
the Maldives, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Nepal, South Korea, Sri
Lanka and Vietnam. •
Facebook surprised at complaints of hurting
religious sentiments
• Kamrul Hasan
Facebook representatives were
surprised at allegations that the
social media site was being used
to hurt religious sentiment, said
the chief of Bangladesh Police.
Inspector General of Police
(IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque made
the statement after the closing
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday
again urged the country’s
people to cast their votes in favour
of Awami League and its symbol
“Boat” in all the future elections
for the continuation of development
activities.
“Awami League means development,
so you please keep your
trust in Awami League the way you
cast your votes in 2008 and 2014
elections. Please vote for the ‘Boat’
symbol in the all upcoming elections
to give us the scope of serving
you,” she said.
The prime minister was speaking
at a mammoth rally at Lakshmipur
Stadium held with district
Awami League President Alhaj Golam
Faruk Pinku in the chair.
Hasina said Awami League always
wants the country to move
ahead. “Insha Allah, we’ll do that...
we’ll build Bangladesh with the
spirit of the Liberation War,” she
said.
She said the aim of the Awami
League government is to develop
the country whereby it has taken
numerous projects for the balanced
development. “We work for
people’s welfare and whenever AL
comes to power it takes the opportunity
to give something to people.”
“I want to tell you very clearly
that I have nothing of my own
as I’ve lost everything. Losing
everything, I’ve come to you, the
people of this Bengal and I’ve got
the touch of lost affection of my
parents and brothers. I’ve sacrificed
my life only for you,” the
prime minister said.
Noting that she has dedicated
her life to people’s welfare, she
said, “If necessary, I’ll sacrifice my
life like my father to free the country
from hunger and poverty.”
Coming down hard on BNP,
Hasina said whenever BNP comes
to power they give a rise to militancy,
carry out killings and indulge in
corruption and looting.
She also said BNP had established
a reign of terror in Lakshmipur
during their regime.
The prime minister said BNP
also resorts to killing, torture while
in the opposition.
She said BNP Chairperson
Khaleda Zia, staying in her Gulshan
office, had ordered her party
activists to practice the politics of
destruction. “And her notorious
son staying abroad gave orders to
his cadres to kill and torture people
and carry out arson attacks.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greets her supporters at a mammoth Awami League
rally held in Lakshmipur Stadium yesterday
BSS
session of the Chiefs of Police
Conference of South Asia and
Neighbouring Countries at Pan
pacific Sonargaon.
Facebook Trust and Safety
Manager Vikram Langeh attended
the conference.
The IGP said: “Bangladesh has
been facing several cyber crimes
in recent times. To determine preventive
measures for such crimes,
police sat with a Facebook representative
team.”
The team was very surprised
upon hearing that certain individuals
used the site to post
statements, images and pictures
that hurt religious sentiment, he
added.
Shahidul quoted the Facebook
team as saying that they had never
received such complaints from
other countries.
Meanwhile, the IGP also said
that no MoU would be signed
with Facebook, though representatives
of the social media
platform assured that they would
cooperate with police whenever
required. •
Claiming that BNP never believes
in religion, Sheikh Hasina
said: “Or else, they would not have
burned hundreds of holy Qurans in
front of Baitul Mukarram.”
She also urged the Islamic scholars,
parents and teachers to look after
their children so that the country’s
young generation does not
resort to the wrong path of militancy.
“Islam is the religion of peace.
It never allows the killing. Whoever
kills innocent people will never
be in the heaven, only hell will be
their destination,” she said.
Observing that she knows every
nook and cranny of the country
and its people, the prime minister
said she has been working to develop
the country and her party
has proved that progress and advancement
could be made if there
is a will.
She urged people to create mass
awareness against the social menaces
like militancy.
In her speech, Hasina elaborated
various steps of her government
for the development of education,
health, communication, ICT and
other sectors.
Earlier, arriving at the stadium
the prime minister inaugurated
10 development projects and laid
foundation stones of 20 others. •
Eden College
student Putul’s
killer arrested
• Hedait Hossain, Khulna
Members of Rapid Action Battalion
(RAB) have arrested a fugitive
death-row convict, who slaughtered
his wife Eden College student
Putul in 2013, from Satkhira district.
The elite force members were
tipped-off about the fugitive convict,
Md Mahmudul Alam Sikder,
and arrested him from Satkhira bus
stand area yesterday, confirmed Lt
AMM Zahidul Kabir of RAB 6.
Sikder, 33, son of late Shamsul
Alam Sikder from Udaypur
Daibakandi village of Mollahat in
Bagerhat, slaughtered his wife Sharifa
Begum Putul, 22, three days
into their marriage on May 13, according
to case records.
The convict was arrested after
Putul’s father filed the case with
Mollahat police. But he secured
bail and went into hiding later on
April 8, 2016.
After examining witnesses and
evidences, the court of Bagerhat
District and Sessions Judge sentenced
the fugitive man to death
on May 12, 2016. •

4
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
Khaleda skips
court for
illness, again
• Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did
not appear before a Dhaka court
for hearing in 11 cases yesterday
due to illness, according to her
lawyer.
Earlier, she had skipped the
court three times, citing illness.
The three-time former premier
was set to appear before the
court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions
Judge Mohammad Kamrul
Hossain Molla yesterday.
The court accepted Khaleda’s
time petition and fixed March 28
for the next hearing.
“She has suddenly fallen sick,”
defence lawyer Sanaullah Mia told
reporters in the morning.
One of the 11 cases accuses
Khaleda of sedition while the
rest were filed over sabotage.
Yesterday, the court was
scheduled to hold indictment
hearings in 10 cases and take another
case to cognisance.•
BB heist probe
still dangling
• Kamrul Hasan
It has been a year since the investigation
of the Bangladesh
Bank heist of $101 million began,
but no major progress has
been made in tracing the lost
money or the culprits.
Bangladesh has only managed
to retrieve around $36
million and investigators are
still unsure about how the rest
of the money will come back
to the country.
In January this year, a Bangladesh
Bank executive said
they are expecting to retrieve
more $30 million from the untraced
$65.68 million as they
believe the money is stuck in
Solaire Casino of Philippines.
He said legal procedures to
bring the money back is ongoing
at a court in the Philippines.
Sources in the Criminal Investigation
Department said
they were yet to identify the
hackers and the people involved
with the heist. A team
from the CID has already visited
both Sri Lanka and Philippines
but they failed to make
any progress, alleging that the
countries were uncooperative.
A CID high official told the
Dhaka Tribune that they have
roughly completed their investigation
in Bangladesh and they
have identified officials from
Bangladesh Bank who could be
involved with the heist.
“We are waiting for hard
CEC favouring AL
leaders: Ctg city BNP
• Anwar Hussain,
Chittagong
Chittagong City unit BNP
President Dr Shahadat Hossain
has alleged that the
Chief Election Commissioner
(CEC) gave priority to ruling
Awami League leaders
while distributing smart
national ID cards in the port
city.
“The CEC lost his neutrality
by giving priority to
the ruling party while distributing
smart NID cards
in Chittagong,” said the BNP
leader in a statement issued
on Tuesday.
The CEC had been implementing
the agenda of
a particular political party,
the statement added.
CEC KM Nurul Huda during
his maiden official visit
to Chittagong on Monday
distributed the smart NID
cards among distinguished
evidence on the matter as accusing
someone on the basis
of suspicion might give them
the scope to escape using legal
channels,” he added.
When contacted Additional
DIG Shah Alam told the Dhaka
Tribune that they were not in a
position to disclose any updates
regarding the investigation.
When asked about lack of
cooperation from the other
countries, he denied the claim
and said they were helping in
the investigation as much as
they could.
He said he had talks with
chiefs of police of the concerned
countries and they
have assured their force
would cooperate with Bangladesh
CID.
On February 4, 2016, hackers
attempted to steal $101 million
from Bangladesh Bank’s account
with Federal Reserve Bank in
New York which was noticed on
February 6. On March 15, 2016
investigation began after a case
was filed on the same day the
then governor of Bangladesh
Bank Atiur Rahman resigned.
Of the $101 million, transfer
of $20 million was immediately
stopped by a Sri Lankan
bank but the hackers, managed
to transfer $81 million to Rizal
Commercial Banking Corporation
(RCBC) in the Philippines.
Bangladesh also retrieved
$68,000 that was left behind
by the hackers at RCBC. •
News
personalities.
But the leaders of a big
political party were neglected
as they were not invited
to the ceremony, alleged the
Chittagong City BNP President.
“People are beginning to
doubt as to how the CEC will
conduct the much-awaited
general election with neutrality
and impartiality. The
CEC will not be able to conduct
elections in a free, fair
and impartial manner,” said
Dr Shahadat.
Chittagong Mayor AJM
Nasir Uddin, former mayor
ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury,
eminent academic
and sociologist Dr Anupam
Sen, prominent journalist
and poet Abul Momen
and Chittagong Chamber of
Commerce and Industries
(CCCI) President Mahbubul
Alam received the smart
NID cards from the CEC.•

News 5
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
2 more weeks to issue judges’ conduct rule gazette
DT
• Ashif Islam Shaon
The Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court has yet again extended
the deadline to issue a gazette
notification on disciplinary and
conduct rules for lower court judges.
An eight-member bench of the
apex court, headed by Chief Justice
Surendra Kumar Sinha, passed
the order extending the deadline
by another two weeks yesterday in
response to the attorney general’s
time petition.
However, before the order, the
Chief Justice expressed his dissatisfaction
over the government
praying time repeatedly in this regard.
He said that by the judiciary
has been held hostage by the
procrastination in issuance of the
gazette.
The bench while delivering the
order said that the matter relating
to the gazette issuance should
be dealt with as smoothly as
the government is running the
country.
“Isn’t the government in operation?….
Isn’t there is a government?
How is it operating?….The country
is not stuck, right?” it asked Attorney
General Mahbubey Alam.
On December 12 last year, the
court had asked the authorities
concerned to issue the gazette by
January 15, but the date was deferred
till February 5.
The next hearing date was February
27.
Earlier, President Abdul Hamid
had decided not to issue the
gazette despite
a court
ordering the
government
to do so. Then
the bench
had said that
the president
might have
been misinformed.
A historic Appellate Division
verdict on the Masdar Hossain
case mandated drafting a
12-point guideline on the separation
of the judiciary from the executive.
The government had drafted the
rules and sent it to the apex court
for its opinion, which made some
changes and sent it back for the gazette
issuance.
So far, the court has issued
multiple orders asking the government
to issue the gazette but in
vain. •
TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY
DRIZZLE OR HEAVY
RAIN LIKELY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Dhaka 32 14 Chittagong 30 18 Rajshahi 31 14 Rangpur 30 14 Khulna 32 14 Barisal 32 15 Sylhet 30 13
DHAKA
TODAY
TOMORROW
SUN SETS 6:07PM
SUN RISES 6:07AM
YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW
31.1ºC
11.4ºC
Sitakunda
Srimangal
Source: Accuweather/UNB
PRAYER
TIMES
Cox’s Bazar 30 19
Fajr: 5:50am | Zohr: 1:15pm
Asr: 4:45pm | Magrib: 6:15pm
Esha: 8:00pm
Source: Islamic Foundation

6
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
Advertisement

8 militants held across country
• Tribune Desk
Law enforcers arrested at least
eight suspected members of
different militant groups in
separate drives from five districts
in the last 24 hours.
Over 110 others including
listed criminals were also arrested
or detained during the
operations for their alleged
involvement in crimes.
Our Sirajganj correspondent
Aminul Islam Rana said
a fugitive JMB leader Abul
Kalam Azad, 58, was detained
from Ullapara yesterday night.
Sirajganj DB police OC Wahiduzzaman
said Azad is the
militant outfit’s district unit
secretary.
In Jamalpur, police arrested
Abdul Majed, 45, and Abdur
Rahman, 30, two members
of the Old JMB, from
Jagabandhu Eidgah of the
town around 2am yesterday.
Jamalpur Kotwali police
OC Md Nasimul Islam said
that the duo were held while
holding a clandestine meeting
to carry out sabotage,
reports our correspondent
Bishwajit Deb. They had been
accused in cases filed in October
2009, he added.
In Pabna, police arrested
Old JMB’s regional commander
Mostafizur Rahman
Shahin, 41, from the town’s
court area, our correspondent
Md Emroz Khandaker said.
Sadar OC Abdur Razzak
said that Mostafizur was also
an accused in a 2005 series
bomb blast case.
Members of banned outfit
Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh
(JMB) blasted bombs in
63 districts on August 17 that
year and distributed leaflets
“to invite people to establish
Islamic rule in the country.”
On Monday, police arrested
two listed militants – Ziaul
Karim Sujon and Shafiqul Islam,
leaders of extremist outfit
Allah’r Dal from Radhanagar
area of Pabna town.
Meanwhile, Tangail police
arrested Old JMB member
Amanullah Liton, 40, from
the town late Monday night.
He has two cases filed in 2005,
reports our correspondent
Mohammed Afzal Hossain.
Baghmara police in Rajshahi
arrested a listed Old JMB
member, Abdul Quddus, 44,
from Shantopara of Jugipara,
reports our correspondent
Abdullah Al Dulal. •
News 7
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT

DT
8
World
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
SOUTH ASIA
Dozens of Myanmar soldiers
killed in rebel clashes
Dozens of Myanmar soldiers have
been killed in several clashes
between ethnic rebels and the
army along the border with China,
state media reported on Tuesday,
threatening leader Aung San Suu
Kyi’s chief goal of ending decades
of ethnic strife. “There were at least
48 armed clashes with the Burmese
Army, resulting in the deaths of
dozens of soldiers,” Myanmar’s
state-run daily, the Global New
Light of Myanmar, said. REUTERS
INDIA
India’s defence minister
quits to lead Goa state
India’s defence minister resigned
Monday to lead the coastal state
of Goa after BJP secured enough
support from minor parties to
retain power in the popular tourist
region. Manohar Parrikar will be
sworn in as Goa’s chief minister on
Tuesday more than two years after
vacating the job to join Modi’s
team in New Delhi. AFP
CHINA
17 killed in China coal mine
accident
17 Chinese coal miners were killed
when a lift used to move workers
fell down a shaft, state media
reported, the latest deadly mishap
in the country’s accident-prone
coal-mining industry. The accident
occurred Thursday when a cable
supporting a mining cage caught
fire, causing the rig to tumble
down into a state-operated coal
mine in northeast China’s Heilongjiang
province. AFP
ASIA PACIFIC
Thailand seizes rhino
horns worth $5m
Thai customs have confiscated
21 rhino horns with an estimated
value of nearly $5m in the biggest
such seizure in Thailand for years,
officials said on Tuesday. Thailand
has become a major transit point
for the trade in endangered species
to other Asian countries. REUTERS
MIDDLE EAST
Russian-led Syria talks
derailed as rebels boycott
Russian-led peace talks on Syria
were derailed on Tuesday as
rebels backed by Turkey boycotted
a third round of meetings
in Kazakhstan and the Kremlin
indicated there were international
divisions over the process. Russia,
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s
most powerful ally, said the rebels’
reasons for staying away were
unconvincing and their decision
came as a surprise. REUTERS
May keeps suspense over Brexit trigger
• AFP, London
British Prime Minister Theresa May
said Tuesday she would be given
the power to start Brexit talks within
days but declined to name a date
for a process already disrupted by
Scotland’s independence bid.
After speculation in Brussels
and at home that she would start
the withdrawal process this week,
May told the House of Commons
that she would fulfil her promise
to do it by the end of March.
Parliament late Monday approved
a bill empowering the government
to trigger Article 50 of
the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, starting a
two-year countdown to Britain’s
departure.
May said the bill would receive
formal assent from Queen Elizabeth
II “in the coming days”, leaving
the prime minister free to start
Brexit at any time.
This would put UK on course to
become the first country to leave
the 28-member bloc by March 2019.
Splits in Britain ‘deepening’
May appeared to be caught off guard
Monday when Scotland’s nationalist
States jointly sue to block
Trump’s revised travel ban
• Reuters,
A group of states renewed their
effort on Monday to block President
Donald Trump’s revised
temporary ban on refugees and
travellers from several Muslim-majority
countries, arguing
that his executive order is the
same as the first one that was
halted by federal courts.
Court papers filed by the
state of Washington and joined
by California, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New York and Oregon
asked a judge to stop the March
6 order from taking effect on
Thursday.
An amended complaint said
the order was similar to the original
January 27 directive because
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May
Protesters rally against US President Donald Trump’s new executive order on
travel ban in Sydney, March 9
REUTERS
it “will cause severe and immediate
harms to the States, including
our residents, our colleges and
universities, our healthcare providers,
and our businesses.”
A Department of Justice
spokeswoman said it was reviewing
the complaint and would respond
to the court.
A more sweeping ban implemented
hastily in January caused
chaos and protests at airports.
The March order by contrast gave
10 days’ notice to travelers and
immigration officials.
Last month, US District Judge
James Robart in Seattle halted the
first travel ban after Washington
state sued, claiming the order
was discriminatory and violated
the US Constitution. •
government said it would next week
seek authorisation for a second referendum
on leaving the UK.
The prospect had been mooted
since the June referendum vote for
Brexit, in which a majority of Scots
had wanted to stay in the bloc, but
the announcement had not been
expected so soon.
May immediately condemned
the plan, less than three years after
Scots voted by 55% to reject
independence, saying it would be
“divisive”.
“This is not a moment to play
politics or create uncertainty,” she
repeated on Tuesday, saying it was
time to “bring our country together”.
Facing nationalist movements
across the continent, the EU is determined
that no other countries
follow Britain out the door, and big
battles await over budget contributions,
immigration and trade ties.
Manfred Weber, a German lawmaker
who leads the European
People’s Party, the biggest grouping
in the European Parliament,
said Scotland’s breakaway bid signalled
“a deepening of the splits in
British society”. •
Study: US media give 4.5
times more coverage to
terror attacks by Muslims
• Tribune Desk
REUTERS
Muslims commit far fewer terrorist attacks
than non-Muslims, the research
found, but when attacks by Muslims
do happen they are written about 4.5
times more than other attacks, reports
the Independent.
Researchers at Georgia State University
first looked at all attacks in the
United States between 2011 and 2015,
as listed in the Global Terrorism Database
(GTD).
The GTD defines terrorism as “the
threatened or actual use of illegal force
and violence by a non-state actor to
attain a political, economic, religious,
or social goal through fear, coercion,
or intimidation.” “Since the 11 September
2001, attacks, when most people
in the United States hear the word
‘terrorism,’ they think of Muslims,” the
researchers wrote in the Washington
Post. “But terrorism comes in many
forms.”
The GTD included the attack by
Frazier Glenn Miller, a white supremacist
and former grand dragon of the
Ku Klux Klan, on a synagogue in Overland
Park, Kansas; Robert Dear’s attack
on Planned Parenthood in Colorado
Springs; and Wade Michael Page’s attack
on a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin,
along with many other lesser-known
attacks.
In total, the team, academics Erin
M Kearns, Allison Betus, and Anthony
Lemieux, documented 89 attacks
committed by different perpetrators in
the United States during the five-year
period examined. Between 2011 and
2015 in the United States, Muslims perpetrated
12.4% of those attacks.
The researchers then searched for
media coverage of each attack from
US-based print sources in the LexisNexis
Academic database of newspaper
articles. Since many Americans get
their news online, they also looked at
coverage from CNN.com.
Each article they counted focused
primarily on the act of terrorism, its
perpetrators, or the victims. It had to
appear in a US-based media source between
the attack date and the end of
2016. They found 2,413 news articles
that met their criteria.
Of the 89 attacks, 24 did not receive
any media coverage from the
sources they examined. The small
proportion of attacks that were by
Muslims, only 12%, received 44% of
the news coverage. In only 5% of all
the terrorist attacks, the perpetrator
was both Muslim and foreign-born, but
those four attacks got 32% of all the
media coverage.
In real numbers, the average attack
with a Muslim perpetrator is covered
in 90.8 articles. Attacks with a
Muslim, foreign-born perpetrator are
covered in 192.8 articles on average.
Other attacks received an average of
18.1 articles. •

World
EU headscarf ban ruling sparks faith
group backlash
• Reuters, Brussels
Companies may bar staff from
wearing Islamic headscarves and
other visible religious symbols under
certain conditions, the EU’s top
court ruled on Tuesday, setting off
a storm of complaint from rights
groups and religious leaders.
In its first ruling on a hot political
issue across Europe, the Court
of Justice (ECJ) found a Belgian
firm which had a rule barring employees
who dealt with customers
from wearing visible religious and
political symbols may not have discriminated
against a receptionist
dismissed for wearing a headscarf.
The judgement on that and a
French case came on the eve of a
Dutch election in which Muslim immigration
is a key issue and weeks
before France votes for a president
in a similarly charged campaign.
French conservative candidate
Francois Fillon hailed the ruling
as “an immense relief” that would
Hijab
A scarf covering the
head, ears and neck.
The face remains
visible
Widely used in the
Muslim world
contribute to “social peace”.
The judges in Luxembourg
did find that the dismissals of the
two women may, depending on
the view of national courts, have
breached EU laws against religious
discrimination. They found in particular
that the case of the French
software engineer, fired after a
Tchador
A long cloak
covering the body,
traditionally worn
by Iranian women
(especially
practising Muslims)
While the head
is covered, the face
remains visible
Niqab
A full veil with a small
slit for the eyes
Its use has spread
due to the influence
of Wahabi Islam
from Saudi Arabia
Mainly used
in urban areas
customer complaint, may well
have been discriminatory.
Reactions, however, focussed
on the conclusion that services
firm G4S in Belgium was entitled
to dismiss receptionist Samira
Achbita in 2006 if, in pursuit of legitimate
business interests, it fairly
applied a broad dress code for
Burqa
Full veil traditionally
worn by Pashtuns
in Afghanistan
Completely covers
the head and body,
with a mesh screen
over the eyes
Obligatory under
Taliban rule
all customer-facing staff to project
an image of political and religious
neutrality.
In the Belgian case, the ECJ said:
“An internal rule of an undertaking
which prohibits the visible wearing
of any political, philosophical
or religious sign does not constitute
direct discrimination.” •
Nigeria water shortages hit Boko Haram displaced
Dutch brace for
election as Turkey
row intensifies
nationalism
• AFP, Amsterdam
Dutch politicians hit the airwaves
and the campaign trail Tuesday,
battling to win over undecided
voters in the final countdown to an
election overshadowed by an acrimonious
row with Turkey.
Many of the 12.9m eligible voters
appear not to have made up
their minds on which of the record
28 parties in the running to choose.
A snap poll showed a boost of
three seats for Rutte’s VVD and two
for Wilders’s PVV in the 150-seat
parliament at the expense of smaller
parties to the left. •
• AFP, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Tens of thousands of people who fled
Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria are
facing a severe lack of water, compounding
widespread food shortages
and security fears, aid workers said
Monday.
For the past week supplies have
been low at the Muna camp for internally
displaced people (IDPs) in the city
of Maiduguri after one of its five solar-powered
water pumps broke down.
Muna camp, on the edge of the city, is
currently home to some 41,000 people.
The water drawn up from boreholes
is used for cooking and, crucially, washing
to prevent the spread of disease
through the densely populated compound
of makeshift tents.
Borno state governor Kashim Shettima
confirmed on Sunday that there
was a “breakdown of water supply” at
the camp but engineers were trying to
fix the problem.
Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency
has killed at least 20,000 people and
forced more than 2.6m others from
their homes since it began in northeast
Nigeria in 2009.
But as the military opens up areas
formerly in rebel hands, the true scale
of the devastation has emerged, revealing
people cut off from food supplies
and unable to plant crops.
The UN has said 7.1m people are
“severely food insecure” in northeast
Nigeria and parts of neighbouring Cameroon,
Chad and Niger that have also
been hit by the conflict. •
Bulbs, sim cards are ‘helping’ security
agencies kill militants in Kashmir
• Tribune Desk
Woman collecting water at the dirty main water source, carrying a baby on her
back, in Borno, Nigeria
COLLECTED
An increase in militant deaths
across Kashmir, especially its
southern region, has given rise to
rumours that intelligence agencies
have “enrolled” common technological
devices such as electric
bulbs and sim cards in their crusade
against rebel elements, the
Hindustan Times reports.
According to sources, it began
with unverified reports that
residents of South Kashmir were
smashing subsidised LED bulbs
being distributed by the government
under the Ujala scheme.
There was a widespread belief
that they were fitted with “micro
chips that could track down
militants the moment they enter
a person’s house”. Some even
claimed that the bulbs, distributed
at Rs20 against the actual market
price of Rs250, were fitted with
surveillance cameras.
According to another rumour
that began doing the rounds after
two alleged militants and a civilian
were killed on March 10, a senior
separatist leader has asked Kashmiri
residents to boycott a mobile
company that’s distributing “free
sim cards”, equipped with inbuilt
technology capable of tracking
militants, across the state. However,
the leader has denied issuing
such a statement.
As many as 11 militants were
killed in seven encounters across
the Valley last month.
However, rumours like these
are nothing new in Kashmir. Last
year, its residents were left shuddering
over rumours that hundreds
of children had died after
being administered polio drops by
government agencies.
“Once, in the 1990s, rumours
arose that security agencies had
dumped poison in the main reservoir
that supplies water to
Srinagar. Masjid authorities made
announcements that residents
should not drink its water,” said
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a retired
government servant. •
9
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
USA
‘Trump will donate his
salary by year’s end’
Donald Trump will donate his
annual presidential salary of
$400,000 to charity by year’s
end, spokesman Sean Spicer said
Monday – and he even wants the
media he often criticizes to help
him choose a worthwhile cause.
Several times during his presidential
campaign, the billionaire
businessman said he did not plan
to take a salary, save one dollar,
the legal minimum. AFP
DT
THE AMERICAS
Colombia to set up special
war crimes courts
Colombia’s senate late Monday
approved a constitutional reform
to set up special war crimes courts,
a key component of the historic
peace agreement with Farc guerrillas.
The court system will be
made up of three sections: a truth
commission, a unit to search for
missing people, and a temporary,
autonomous body to try crimes
committed during the armed conflict
before December 1, 2016. AFP
UK
Sturgeon: Theresa May
not elected by anyone
Nicola Sturgeon has issued a direct
challenge to Theresa May, pointing
out that she was voted in on a clear
manifesto commitment to Scottish
independence but that the Prime
Minister “is not yet elected by
anyone”. In a taunting reminder
that May’s premiership is yet to be
endorsed by the public at a general
election, or even by members of
her own party, the Scottish First
Minister said she had the mandate
to call a second referendum on
independence. INDEPENDENT
EUROPE
Germany proposes heavy
fines on Facebook for
hate speech
Germany’s justice minister proposed
a law Tuesday that could see
social networks such as Facebook
slapped with heavy fines if they
fail to wipe illegal hate speech from
their sites. The minister, Heiko
Maas said the new measures could
carry penalties against the offending
company of up to $53m. AFP
AFRICA
Death toll from Ethiopia
landslide reaches 72
The death toll from a landslide at
Ethiopia’s largest rubbish dump
reached 72 on Tuesday as the
country’s parliament declared
three days of national mourning, a
government minister said. The Koshe
landfill, the country’s largest,
has for more than 40 years been
the main garbage dump for Addis
Ababa. REUTERS

DT
10
Business
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
CAPITAL MARKET SNAPSHOT: TUESDAY
DSE Broad Index 5,681.3 0.4% ▲ Index 1,309.7 0.2% ▲ 30 Index 2,043.6 0.0% ▲ Turnover in Mn Tk 9,648.0 -3.6% ▼ Turnover in Mn Vol 330.0 -2.4% ▼
CSE All Share Index 17,608.9 0.3% ▲ 30 Index 15,298.3 0.3% ▲ Selected Index 10,675.2 0.3% ▲ Turnover in Mn Tk 672.0 7.2% ▲ Turnover in Mn Vol 28.4 20.7% ▲
Telcos for tech
neutrality before
4G auction
• Ishtiaq Husain
Mobile operators Grameenphone
and Robi Axiata Limited want implementation
of Tech Neutrality
before announcing 4G auction to
ensure quality of service.
The major market players in the
mobile telecommunication industry
have made the demand while
Bangladesh Telecommunication
Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is
preparing for 4G auction.
According to mobile operators,
technology neutrality would allow
mobile operators to use the 900
MHz and 1800 MHz bands for 3G
services. As the 900 MHz and 1800
MHz bands provide better coverage
than 2100 MHz, mobile internet
services could be provided more
efficiently in rural areas.
Ekram Kabir, vice president,
communications and corporate
responsibility, Robi Axiata Limited,
said spectrum is also one of
the basic and key requirements for
launching 4G/LTE.
Hence the governmnet should
consider spectrum auction and
technology neutrality in all existing
bands prior to issuing the 4G/
LTE License, he said, adding that
without compatible mobile devices,
consumers will not be able to
experience the 4G/LTE.
In summary, the government
initiatives will determine whether
the country is ready for the quality
4G/LTE.
“First and foremost we would
like to see technology neutrality
introduced to ensure the quality of
services and enhanced customer
experience,” said Mahmud Hossain,
chief corporate affairs officer,
Grameenphone Ltd.
The benefits of technology neutrality
are manifold: more efficient
use of spectrum, better quality,
speed and lower prices. Mobile internet
services do not levy any additional
charge for introducing technology
neutrality. Most EU governments,
USA, Canada, Thailand, Pakistan,
Malaysia and many other markets
are experiencing tech neutrality.
4G is the fourth generation of
wireless mobile telecommunication
technology, succeeding 3G, as
defined by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU). Since
its first commercial launch in 2009,
4G has become the fastest developing
system in the history of mobile
communication.
However, BTRC is working on to
launch 4G in 700 MHz band which
is not practically implementable.
Even, adoption in 700 MHz band in
Europe is very low.
Seeking anonymity, an official
of a mobile operator said if the regulator
finally announces to launch
4G without technology neutrality
in 700 MHz band, the price of data
will not be affordable.
Currently, 4G-enabled handset in
700 MHz in the country is only 4%
which is a major obstacle to launching
fourth generation wireless mobile
telecommunication technology.
Most of the frequencies – 900
MHz and 1800 MHz – held by mobile
operators are currently limited
to be used for 2G.
Only 2100 MHz band has been
made technology neutral and is currently
being used for 3G services.
The way of improving 3G services
and introducing 4G in the country
would be to allow technology
neutrality in all existing spectrum
bands which will give mobile operators
flexibility to meet consumer
needs and bring Bangladesh on a
par with global best practices.
“We welcome the initiative on
4G/LTE and hope that the government
will conduct effective consultation
with the industry players
in formulating 4G/LTE Licensing
Guideline keeping in mind the National
Telecom Policy objectives,”
Ekram Kabir said.
“Like any other players in the
market, Robi is ready to adopt and
launch new technology. We are
continuously investing for further
infrastructure readiness. Fiber is
the backbone of 4G/LTE and the
government needs to adopt policies
to allow mobile operators to
invest and lay fibers.”
Asif Ahmed, head of corporate
communications, Banglalink, said
4G is an integral part of Banglalink’s
digital transformation promise.
“We welcome 4G with spectrum
neutrality. However, for that
to happen, we have requested the
regulator to first ensure that spectrum
is made available.”
“Another request we have made
to the regulator is to enable us to
sell our towers which will help us
further invest for spectrum and network
expansion in Bangladesh.” •
A jute entrepreneur receives crest at the concluding ceremony of the five-day jute products fair at Krishibid Institute in
Dhaka yesterday. A total of 95 entrepreneurs were awarded for their contribution to jute sector
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
Jute entrepreneurs honoured
• Nawaz Farhin
LG’s mosquito
away TV sets
• Tribune Business Desk
LG Electronics Bangladesh
launched Mosquito Away TV, which
will act as mosquito repellent.
The TVs will be available at all authorised
LG showrooms at Tk32,900
for a 32-inch set while a 43-inch will
be at Tk51,900, said a statement.
LG wants to dominate Bangladesh
market with customised products,
it said. •
The government awarded entrepreneurs
for their contribution to
promoting jute products at the recently
held jute fair.
The five-day fair began on
March 9 and ended on March 13 at
Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in
the capital organised by Jute Diversification
Promotion Centre.
A wide array of jute products
were showcased in the fair that
drew a total sale of jute goods
around Tk3.65 crore and a supply
order worth around Tk4.12 crore.
A total of 95 entrepreneurs, who
participated in the fair received crests
on the concluding day of the fair.
The fair was held in conjunction
with the celebration of first-ever National
Jute Day and also for expanding
its domestic and international
market since the sector has huge potentials
for economic development.
The award recipients include
CORR The Jute Works, Sonali Aansh
Industries, Prokritee, Deshi Mart,
Fine Fair Curve, Torongo, Brinta
Jute Holding Crust and Golden Grid.
The government initiative is to
bring back the lost glory of jute and
the fortune of jute growers, said
Textiles and Jute Minister Mohammad
Emaz Uddin Pramanik at the
concluding ceremony of the fair.
According to State minister for
textiles and jute Mirza Azam, “Production
of polythene like products
from jute has already started,
which is in fact better than polyethylene.
Within 60 days, it can be
mixed with soil.”
Studies found that jute can be
produced in three seasons – monsoon,
winter and summer, which
Production of polythene like products from
jute has already started, which is in fact better
than polyethylene. Within 60 days, it can be
mixed with soil
can help increase production of diversified
jute products, added Azam.
Bangladesh exported jute products
worth $800 million and jute
bales worth $135.18 million in 2015-
16 fiscal year.
According to Jatiya Sangsad
data, Bangladesh exports jute
products to 118 countries and raw
jute bales to 13 countries. •

‘Focus on human capital
development in budget’
• Ibrahim Hossain Ovi
The government should put an
emphasis on human capital development
through quality education,
tax ratio to GDP and new driving
force of economy in the upcoming
budget for inclusive and sustainable
growth.
Trade analysts, economists and
academics came up with the recommendations
at a Capacity Building
Workshop on Budget Reporting for
Journalists in Dhaka yesterday.
They also stressed the implementation
of budget as it is going
through continuous declining
trend for the past few years.
“Increasing tax to Gross Domestic
Products (GDP) ratio is a big
challenge, which remains at a single
digit,” said former Bangladesh
Securities and Exchange (BSEC)
chairman Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi.
The government should focus
on policy reforms in this regard.
Value Added Tax (VAT) and income
tax would be the next source to
revenues as earnings from customs
duty are on the wane, said Faruq,
also former commerce secretary.
Usually, corporate tax system
is simple across the globe, but in
Bangladesh it is a complex issue
and a little bit higher, he added.
“There are several slabs in our
corporate tax system such as 25%
for publicly traded company, 35%
for publicly non-traded companies
while separate slabs for financial
sector and non-financial sector.”
To earn more revenues, corporate
tax system should be simplified
to draw investment from home
and abroad, the former bureaucrat
said, stressing that policy reforms
are a must.
Implementation of rules is very
important to prevent tax evasion,
or else, no ratio would be viable
for the government to collect revenues,
he added.
“In the budget, the government
gives importance on new investment,
but does not concentrate on
the maintenance of existing projects,”
said former adviser to the
caretaker government, Wahiduddin
Mahmud.
If investment is not made for
the maintenance of existing projects,
how will the new projects
come into being and see success?
he posed a question.
“Implementation of budget
shows continued decline,” said
Mohammad Ali Taslim, professor
Inflation rises slightly
in February
• Asif Showkat Kallol
Inflation rose to 5.31% in February
from 5.15% in the previous month
due to rise in edible oil and meat
prices, according to Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics figures released
yesterday.
Food inflation increased to 6.84%
from 6.53% and non-food inflation
increased to 3.7% from 3.10%.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal presented the data at the
National Economic Council conference
room after a meeting of the
Executive Committee of National
Economic Council.
However, the average inflation
rate in last 12 months fell to 5.41%
from 6.15% in the same period a
year ago, Planning Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal.
The price of beef increased with
impacts on local food prices. Because
of rise in edible oil prices in international
market, inflation rate in Bangladesh
increased, Mustafa Kaman said.
Business 11
of Dhaka University, Department of
Economics.
The government has to increase
efficiency of implementation. In
the last fiscal year, budget implementation
was 76.26%, which was
80.92% in the previous fiscal year.
“The size of budget is a reflection
of the government aspiration,
but the efficiency of budget implementation
is very much needed
to materialise the aspiration,” said
Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairman
To earn more revenues, corporate tax system
should be simplified to draw investment from
home and abroad
BBS Director General Amir Hossain
was also present at the meeting.
According to the BBS data, The
point-to-point overall inflation
rose to 5.14% in rural areas from
4.09% in January.
The non-food inflation declined
to 2.46% in February from 2.52% in
the previous month.
In urban areas, the overall inflation
rate rose to 5.62% in the point
to point basis from the previous
month’s 5.57%.
Food inflation rose to 7.22%
which was 7.11% in the previous
month. Non-food inflation remained
same at 3.91%.
On the other hand, the index
of local wage rate has increased in
that period.
The general wage rate increased
to 6.88% from 6.65%. The farm
wages rose to 6. 99% from 6. 70%.
The sector-wise wages rose to 6.65%
from 6.46%. The rate of wages in the
service sector also rose to 6. 80%
from 6.77% in the previous month. •
of Power and Participation Research
Centre.
In the upcoming budget for the fiscal
year 2017-18, the government has
to think about the present status of
driving force of the economy, which
contributes to the growth, he added.
In parallel with the existing
growth driver, the government has
to mull over new economic growth
driver, plus concentrate on human
capital development through
ensuring equality education, said
Zillur, also a former adviser to caretaker
government. •
DT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
BB sends team abroad
wto probe weak
remittance inflow
• Tribune Business Desk
As the falling trend of the inflow
of remittances is becoming a matter
of concern for the country, two
teams of experts of Bangladesh
Bank (BB) are visiting Saudi Arabia,
Malaysia and Singapore to find reasons
behind the declining trend of
remittances, reports BSS.
BB economic advisor M Akhtaruzzaman
is leading a three-member
team visiting Saudi Arabia where
over 80 lakh Bangladeshis have
been working and the country received
a record US$2955.55 million
in remittance in Fiscal Year 2015-16.
General Manager of BB Governor’s
Secretariat Dr M Habibur
Rahman is leading the other team
visiting Malaysia and Singapore,
the Southeast Asian countries being
the major sources of remittances
for Bangladesh.
The central bank through the
Foreign Ministry has also asked
the Bangladesh missions abroad to
take necessary steps in getting the
cooperation of law enforces of the
respective countries to stop the use
of illegal channels by the Bangladesh
workers in sending remittances
home.
Bangladesh migrants sent home
US$1337.14 million from Malaysia
and US$387.24 million from Singapore
in 2015-16.
According to BB, Bangladesh received
US$1478.42 million in remittances
from Saudi Arabia, US$744.46
million from Malaysia and US$204.61
million from Singapore for the first
eight months of FY17.
But inward remittance maintained
a sluggish trend from
the very beginning of FY17 and
the country received a total of
US$8,112.52 million for the first
eight months of FY17 though the
amount was US$9774.09 million
during the same period of FY16.
In February 2017, the country
received only $936.20 million, the
lowest ever, while the amount was
$1136.27 million in February 2016.
Subhankar Shah, executive director
of the central bank, said
the falling currency rate against
dollar and low oil prices have hit
the incomes of the Middle Eastern
countries where most Bangladeshi
migrants work.
“Some NRBs are also using informal
channel, including mobile
banking, for sending their money
home,” he added.
BB has already asked different
mobile banking operators to enhance
further their surveillance in
the mobile money transactions.
The central bank has also enhanced
its own supervision on mobile
money transactions, besides
lowering the ceiling of such transactions
to check any abuse of the
services. •
Radisson Blu Dhaka is going to launch a food festival titled “Taste of Australia” on March 17 at its Water Garden Brasserie
Restaurant
COURTESY

DT
12
Editorial
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
TODAY
Minorities in the
neighbourhood
The situation in neighbouring northeast
India carries the most strategic
importance for Bangladesh, including a
market of over 30 million people
PAGE 13
On the knife edge
of catastrophe
Europe may not be unravelling, but
it does seem to be in a state of semipermanent
crisis
PAGE 14
Roads of death
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
The death of truth
The sadness of this new world of
‘alternative facts’ and ‘fake news’ is that
this has become the virtual reality of the
current state of politics in the US with
the danger that it could spread to the
rest of the world
PAGE 15
Be heard
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Will our roads and flyovers ever be safe?
Yet another accident -- the fourth of its kind in less
than a year.
Yet another death.
Such blatant disregard of safety and regulations is not acceptable,
especially from a nation that is striving to achieve middle-income
status.
In fact, the recent accident in the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover has
been a long time coming.
Construction of the flyover, and others around the city, has far done
more harm than good, costing the people money in the billions of
dollars, and wreaking havoc in the lives of the pedestrians.
Despite it being mandatory for construction sites such as these to
be cordoned off, there are absolutely no safety precautions set in place
around these areas to prevent accidents such as this.
And since no detours are set in place, vehicles are seen gunning
down the wrong sides, over roads which are not fit for travel of any
kind.
These roads have been in dire straits ever since the beginning of
the construction, with construction debris, dust, and equipment lain
haphazardly on the sides, and continue to be an issue of great risk and
annoyance to the public and, of course, those who work on these sites.
It is understood that the construction of flyovers is instrumental the
continued development of Dhaka city as a burgeoning metropolis, but
that is futile if it comes at the cost of needlessly losing the lives of the
city’s denizens.
It is about time that the authorities in question straightened up their
act and incorporated stricter barriers along these sites to prevent future
mishaps, and to provide more hassle-free alternatives to the public to
minimise commuter troubles.
No progress is worth the loss of life.
There are absolutely no
safety precautions set in
place around these areas
to prevent accidents
such as this

Opinion 13
Minorities in the neighbourhood
A response from Bangladesh on the plight of minorities is imperative
DT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
• Umran Chowdhury
Across the sub-regional
neighboruhood of
Bangladesh, ethnic and
religious minorities in
Myanmar and parts of India are
faced with the suppression of
their human rights and dignity.
As a de jure democracy founded
on the principles of universal
human rights, a response from
Bangladeshi institutions, be it
parliament or the government,
is imperative for our national
security and conscience.
The eruption of the Rohingya
conflict on our southeastern
doorstep is an important case
point. Notwithstanding the
disputes between our government
and international organisations
over the rights and living
conditions of over 300,000
Rohingya refugees, Bangladesh
needs to develop a more vocal
strategy at the global level.
Countering Myanmar
propaganda and advocating
Rohingya rights on the
international stage is in our core
interests. For example, the prime
minister can raise the issue of the
plight of the Rohingya during her
annual speech to the UN General
Assembly in September. She may
wish to highlight the heritage
of Rakhine State as a crossroads
between the Indian sub-continent
and Southeast Asia, stress the
role of Buddhists, Muslims, and
Bengalis in an intertwined history
and recall the promises made to
the Rohingya by the founding
fathers of Burma.
Indeed, the prime minister
may highlight the myriad ethnic
conflicts which plague Myanmar
today as a whole. Aside from
Rakhine State, insurgents control
large parts of the Shan, Kachin,
Kayah, Chin, Mon, and Kayin
States. The Christian Kachin and
Chin populations are also among
the worst affected in Myanmar’s
internal conflict.
Xenophobia towards Muslims
has been reported to have
increased across Myanmar. In
January, U Ko Ni, a leading Muslim
lawyer and pro-democracy leader,
was assassinated in Yangon. The
Hindu Indian-origin community
continues to be barred from
participating in the country’s
politics and government services.
The Chinese-speaking Kokang
region has seen conflict since 2015,
causing thousands of refugees to
move to China.
As the vision of an integrated
multi-ethnic Myanmar remains
elusive, Bangladesh is affected by
the economic stagnation caused
by conflict in its neighbouring
country. A good example is the
stalled progress on the proposed
road and rail links with Yunnan in
China, which would run through
many of the insurgency affected
states in Myanmar.
The southern corridor of the
Trans-Asian Railway, which would
run between Turkey and Thailand,
has also been undermined by the
security situation in Myanmar. The
emergent Rohingya insurgency
in Rakhine State is of deep global
concern due to its potential for
radical religious influences. The
closed door UN Security Council
session convened by Egypt last
November over the Rakhine State
situation underscores the gravity
of the crisis.
Myanmar is strategically
important for Bangladesh as
a gateway to ASEAN. As two
developing nations, both countries
The situation in
neighbouring
northeast India
carries the most
strategic importance
for Bangladesh,
including a market
of over 30 million
people
share common strategic interests
in coping with the influence of
regional powers India and China.
Democracy in Myanmar is in our
longstanding interests. Clearly, the
current dispensation in Naypyidaw
is a power sharing agreement
with the military and undermines
democracy.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence,
inaction, and ignorance over the
plight of Myanmar’s minorities,
especially the Rohingya, have
glaringly exposed the failures
of the recent transition period.
She has betrayed the purpose of
her Nobel Peace Prize and the
democratic aspirations of millions
among Myanmar’s minorities.
India is the world’s largest
democracy and a traditional ally
of Bangladesh. Despite its strong
There is a need for public discourse in this region
pluralistic society, India continues
to be a developing nation which
has democratic deficits in its
insurgency-prone states. The
much criticised Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA)
perpetuates a quasi-military
regime and culture of impunity for
Indian security forces in northeast
India and Kashmir.
Extra-judicial killings and
torture in detention centres are
still rife in these regions. There
has also been a marked increase
in violence towards Muslim and
Christian groups across India
since 2014, especially over issues
such as beef bans and religious
conversions.
The enmity with Pakistan
has been used as a pretext for
harassing members of Indian civil
society by saffron vigilantes. Free
speech has been stifled in several
leading Indian universities and
media, with an outdated sedition
law used to indict students,
journalists, and cartoonists.
Perhaps the situation in
neighbouring northeast India
carries the most strategic
importance for Bangladesh,
including a market of over 30
million people, a prospective user
of Bangladeshi seaports, and the
potential for rich mineral deposits.
The region was once administered
by the British Raj as part of Eastern
Bengal and Assam with Dhaka as
the capital and Chittagong as the
seaport.
It is a natural economic
hinterland of modern Bangladesh.
Its population also enjoys ties
of kinship with the people of
the Chittagong Hill Tracts in
southeastern Bangladesh. Since
partition in 1947, dozens of
insurgencies have engulfed the
landlocked Northeast. The AFSPA
was first enacted in the region in
1958.
It continues to be enforced in
all seven sister states, including
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura,
Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and
Arunachal Pradesh. The AFSPA
deprives the region of Indian
constitutional rights and renders
it akin to a martial law zone.
Anti-immigrant xenophobia has
resulted in atrocities.
India has restricted access for
foreign investors in the region. It
is difficult to see how lucrative it
would be to open the Bangladeshi
transport network to Indian
transit given the militarisation and
economic isolation of northeast
India. Bangladeshi companies
would obviously be drawn to a
region that is open, stable, and
democratic, has a free market,
and welcomes globalisation and
foreign investments.
Parliament has an important
role to play in fostering public
discourse in Bangladesh regarding
our immediate neighbourhood.
Legislatures in the US, the UK,
and India are often seen to
make meaningful advocacy for
disadvantaged minorities in other
countries, including Bangladesh.
Resolutions are adopted calling
on the executive to act through
foreign policy. Bills are enacted
to reflect the parliament’s will on
foreign policy through statute law.
An active role of parliament in
foreign policy will safeguard the
conscience of the nation. It can
also reaffirm our commitment
to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights. •
Umran Chowdhury is an intern at
Bangladesh Enterprse Institute.
BIGSTOCK

14
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
Opinion
On the knife edge
of catastrophe
Europe is going through a rough time
particularly in parts of the deeply
frustrated East. But it still seems
unlikely to grab genuine political
power in the German federal
election in September.
The latest polls predict it
winning barely 11% of the vote,
compared to 34% for Chancellor
Angela Merkel’s Christian
Democrats and 32% for her
rival Social Democrats and its
challenger for the chancellorship,
Martin Schulz.
It’s a reminder of just how
much Europe’s hard right is
struggling. Europe’s left remains
in disarray -- witness the travails
of Britain’s Labour Party, or the
chaos around scandal-hit French
socialist presidential challenger
François Fillon.
Still, only two European
countries -- Hungary and Poland
-- have governments that could
be described as seriously rightwing.
And even they have often
struggled to win battles many
thought would be easy.
When Hungarian Prime
Minister Viktor Orban called a
referendum on banning further
migrants from outside Europe in
October last year, he failed to get a
high enough turnout to make the
results binding.
Europe may not be unravelling,
but it does seem to be in a state
of semi-permanent crisis. For
almost a decade, European “crisis
summits” -- in which leaders
convene over a weekend to talk
over issues such as the single
currency or EU reform -- have been
the norm, and few have produced
particularly incisive results.
and its institutions. That’s a view
shared by much of the US foreign
policy establishment, only because
they fear the consequences if the
EU unravels.
The rest of the world isn’t
helping, either. The growing row
between the Turkish and Dutch
governments over a cancelled
Turkish political rally in Rotterdam
-- which saw Turkish President
Tayyip Erdogan compare the
Dutch to Nazis -- is seen to have
only strengthened support for
Geert Wilders.
Terror attacks in Brussels,
Nice, Berlin, and elsewhere fuel
a sense of division wildly out of
proportion to the threat.
The real question is whether
that narrative becomes entirely
self-fulfilling.
Right now, Europe’s institutions
have the distinct smell of collapse
around them, but their resilience
-- so far at least -- remains striking.
The various European projects
now under pressure -- the EU,
NATO, the single currency, etc
-- are imperfect. But they have
also delivered some remarkable
results, not least keeping the peace
on the continent for more than
six decades and -- broadly, at least
-- delivering effective welfare and
rights to their people.
European liberal democracy is
often hypocritical, and sometimes
ineffective.
But by and large, the citizens
of EU countries have spent recent
decades protected from some very
bad things, in particular excesses
of state power, something not true
of Putin’s Russia.
Europe may not be unravelling, but it does
seem to be in a state of semi-permanent crisis.
For almost a decade, European ‘crisis summits’
have been the norm, and few have produced
particularly incisive results
A crisis of confidence
REUTERS
• Peter Apps
March 2017 is an
uncomfortable time
to be a European.
Almost wherever you
look, traditional certainties are
unravelling in the face of a perfect
storm of crises.
This week, Britain will
trigger Article 50, firing the
starting gun on its departure
from the European Union. A
second referendum on Scottish
independence will likely follow,
with speculation growing that
Northern Ireland might now be
more open to leaving the UK and
joining with the Irish Republic.
In Holland, right-winger Geert
Wilders and his Freedom Party
may get the largest share of the
vote in the general election, even
though the collaboration of more
mainstream Dutch parties will
likely keep Wilders out of power.
In France, Marine Le Pen and
her National Front will almost
certainly finish second in the first
round of presidential elections
this spring, although centrist
Emmanuel Macron looks set to
beat her in the second round.
Further east and north
in Europe, worries about an
increasingly assertive Russia still
dominate. Sweden this month
announced it is reintroducing
conscription -- abolished in 2010
-- to bolster its military against the
perceived threat from Moscow.
Finland is conducting military
exercises aimed at pushing back
against hybrid warfare techniques.
In the Baltic states, NATO is in
the midst of its largest European
deployment since the Cold War.
Nor has the crisis for the
European single currency gone
away -- indeed, having struggled
along ever since the financial crisis
of 2008, it may be entering a new
and volatile stage.
The next Italian election
-- perhaps as soon as June --
could well hand the balance of
power to political parties hostile
to remaining in the currency bloc,
which many Italians blame for
years of slow growth and rising
unemployment.
Not everything is collapsing
quite as fast as naysayers might
suggest. In Germany, the farright
Alternative for Deutschland
party has certainly grown fast,
Much seems a matter of
leadership. At both national and
regional level, Europe’s leaders
appear to be suffering a crisis of
confidence, popularity and -- at
worst -- political legitimacy.
Europe’s state of uncertainty is
something Russian President
Vladimir Putin has been more
than happy to exploit. There are
plenty within the national security
establishments of both Europe
and the United States who believe
Russia’s intervention in Syria was
partly designed to ramp up the
refugee crisis, straining Europe’s
politics to its limits.
Events in the US have arguably
added to that uncertainty.
President Donald Trump surprised
some Europe watchers by
expressing his support for the EU
Europe is certainly becoming a less
friendly continent, particularly
for those who are different -- as
refugees now held in increasingly
horrific conditions in the EU
border states such as Serbia have
noticed.
So have migrant communities
across the EU.
It’s hard to say where things go
from here.
Somehow, Europe has to
convince itself things are not quite
as bad as they look and find some
optimistic route forward.
Otherwise they might get
worse than anyone is willing to
contemplate. •
Peter Apps is Reuters global affairs
columnist. This article was previously
published on Reuters.

The death of truth
In a world of fake news, who can we believe?
Opinion 15
DT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
• Ziauddin Choudhury
Truth as we knew it is
probably dead. Until very
recently, we all knew that
facts are facts and news
is news.
There are no second definitions
of these truisms. But because
of the devious politics that has
polluted the modern world,
we have come to learn about
“alternative facts” and “fake
news.”
We have come to learn
that there could be different
interpretations of facts depending
on who is interpreting, and there
could be news that has been
manufactured for some devious
objectives. In other words, lies
could be passed on as “alternative
facts,” and rumours and gossip can
be passed as news.
Both terms have become parts
of the current political vocabulary
in the US, in particular during last
year’s mud-slinging and namecalling
that characterised the
presidential campaign. Words
flew from candidates’ mouths that
were never heard before in public,
false accusations against rivals
were made with reckless abandon,
and conspiracy theories were
freely manufactured and sold to
the public as real.
In a country highly polarised
by divisions between the
extreme right and extreme left,
and a confused section in the
middle, there was no telling who
was telling the truth. Each day
passed with new controversy as
statements claimed as facts were
disputed by the other camp and
actual truth remained in closed
doors. The media became a
suspect, and, in fact, an anathema
for the rightist party candidate and
his loyalists when they questioned
the unverified claims of the
candidate.
One expected that, with
election fever over, saner counsel
would prevail and facts would not
be confused with lies, and gossip
would not pass as news. But alas,
that has not been the case.
Instead, alternative facts
entered the political vocabulary
when a senior staffer in the
White House, Kellyanne
Conway, cavalierly disputed in
a TV interview the crowd size in
Donald Trump’s inauguration.
She famously uttered the phrase
“alternative facts” when pressed
about the falsehoods uttered the
previous day by White House Press
Secretary Sean Spicer regarding
the crowd size at Trump’s
inauguration.
Is this now the face of truth?
In a way, Kellyanne Conway
was only parroting her highly
tempestuous and blustery boss
who was constantly complaining
that the media was conspiring
against him with fake news.
He routinely dismissed any
unfavourable depiction of him in
the press as “fake” or “false.”
Hence, we came to know how
his loyalists would be influenced
to treat any news that did not
satisfy him or them as “fake.” But
Donald Trump did not just stop
at dismissing all unfavourable
reports on him as fake, he also
disparaged news about people or
events that he held dear to him.
He routinely dismissed reports
of Russian attempts at hacking US
information systems (Democratic
Party in particular) to discredit the
US election process. He mocked
news reports on the crowd size
in his rallies during the campaign
earlier, and at his inauguration
later.
At the same time he did not
think twice about claiming in his
campaign about an imaginary
cheering by Muslims after
September 11 attack in New York.
He would go on with many other
wild and unverified claims of
terrorism in European cities.
His most recent claim, after
he became president, of a false
terror attack in Sweden caught the
Swedish government by surprise,
The sadness of this new world of “alternative facts” and “fake news” is
that this has become the virtual reality of the current state of politics in
the US with the danger that it could spread to the rest of the world
so much that the Swedish prime
minister had to come out with a
disclaimer.
The sadness of this new world
of alternative facts and “fake
news” is that this has become
the virtual reality of the current
state of politics in the US with
the danger that it could spread to
the rest of the world. One of the
most pernicious effects of this
new reality is that real truth has
become a casualty and the public
its victim.
A most recent illustration of
this virtual reality is the claim
by President Donald Trump that
the previous administration of
President Obama had wire-tapped
his private palace in New York
(Trump Tower). This unverified
accusation, made by Trump via his
favourite media, Twitter, not only
stumped the intelligence agencies
but also the key leaders of his own
party.
No one in his party has come
up yet to say that Trump was
trumpeting fake news, but he has
created another big turmoil to
deflect attention from the alleged
Russian influence in US elections.
Already one of his key cabinet
appointees, National Security
Adviser Michael Flynn resigned
because of his meetings with the
Russian ambassador. Another
appointee, Attorney General Jeff
Sessions, has recused himself from
his department’s investigation of
Russian connection.
His future as the attorney
general is uncertain as he was
found to be not entirely truthful
about his Russian meetings during
his testimony for confirmation.
Donald Trump is genuinely
upset because he is now realising
that he has to face some true facts,
and not alternative facts, some
real news and not fake news.
Politics is complex, and people
who take this as a profession know
this well. Truth in politics may
be hard, but these need not be
mutually exclusive. The ultimate
goal of politics may be power, but
this power cannot be achieved by
REUTERS
replacing facts with lies, and news
with gossip.
What we are observing in US
politics today may not be very
surprising for our parts of the
world, because our people have
been witnessing this dichotomy
between fact and fiction and news
and gossip for a long time. Our
leaders are adept in practicing
these.
What is reassuring in the US is
that this country has a check and
balance in its democratic system.
The executive branch cannot get
away with whims and pranks
without control from the other
two branches.
Soon law and the constitution
will weigh down and determine
that crying wolf will not wither
away the cloud of suspicion that
has gathered around the current
executive authority. •
Ziauddin Choudhury has worked in the
higher civil service of Bangladesh early
in his career, and later for the World
Bank in the USA.

16
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
Downtime
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 One affecting extreme
modesty (5)
6 Belonging to us (3)
7 Flowers (5)
10 Silly (5)
12 Declare (4)
13 Wanderer (5)
15 Single thing (4)
16 Fabled monstrous
bird (3)
18 Distress signal (3)
20 Large volume (4)
22 Send money (5)
23 Yield (4)
25 Distinct style (5)
27 Deceives (5)
28 Sharp blow (3)
29 Water pitchers (5)
DOWN
1 Rests in equilibrium (6)
2 Cricket score (3)
3 Planet (6)
4 Hermit (7)
5 Speed up an engine (3)
8 Sorrowful (3)
9 Alone (4)
11 Negating prefix (3)
14 Reduce to fine spray (7)
16 Withdraw (6)
17 Clusters (6)
19 Was indebted (4)
21 Central (3)
22 Corded fabric (3)
24 Greyish brown (3)
26 Rowing implement (3)
CODE-CRACKER
How to solve: Each number in our
CODE-CRACKER grid represents a
different letter of the alphabet. For
example, today 19 represents N so fill N
every time the figure 19 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

What’s on
17
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
EVENTS AROUND TOWN TODAY
THEATRE
EXHIBITON
MOVIE
STAR CINEPLEX
Where Bashundhara City,
Dhaka
What Movie showtime
(March 15)
ORA AAT JON
When 7pm
Where National Auditorium, Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka
What Part of the Dui Banglar Natyamela 2017. Production of Kolkatabased
theatre group Niva Arts, directed by Chandan Sen.
SEMINAR
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D):
1:50pm, 4:30pm, 7:10pm
JOURNEY & IMAGES
When 11am-7:30pm
Where Gallery Kaya, House 20, Road 16, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka
What Solo painting exhibition by Ranjit Das
UPCOMING
HERSTORY: WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS
When 5-8pm
Where EMK Center, Midas Center Building, House 5, Road 16,
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
What The seminar is dedicated to outstanding personas who made
lasting contributions in the fields of science, politics, economics, arts
and letters.
MUSIC
CIRCLE SINGING
When 8-9pm
Where Jatra Biroti, 60 Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Dhaka
What With letting go being the focus this week, bring your stories,
songs, poems, anything you feel will contribute to the theme.
XXX: Return of Xander Cage
(3D): 1:40pm, 6:40pm
Kong: Skull Island (3D):
1:20pm, 2:00pm, 4:45pm,
7:30pm
Bhubon Majhi (2D): 1:30pm,
4:20pm, 6:50pm
Split (2D): 4:00pm
Logan (2D): 1:45pm, 4:10pm,
4:50pm, 7:00pm
March 16
RED SHIFT OPEN MIC
NIGHT
When 6:30-9:30pm
Where Red Shift Coffee
Lounge, 5th Floor, 57,
Gulshan Ave, Dhaka
What Open mic session
featuring surprise guest
artists. Come and sign up by
6:30pm to perform.
FAIR
March 19
BORSHO BORON SALEBRATION
When 10am-10pm
Where White Hall, House 53, Road 4, Sector 3, Uttara, Dhaka
What Shopping carnival hosted by Zunairah’s Garden and Ripple
Eventz, dedicated to Pohela Boishakh, featuring boutique wear,
food, home décor items, jewellery items, etc.

DT
18
Sports
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Mushfiq: Big
moment for
me as captain
• Ali Shahriyar Amin from Colombo
Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim
expressed delight at being able to take part in
their historic 100th Test match, beginning today
at Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium,
Colombo Oval.
“This is a historic moment for Bangladesh
cricket, and a big moment for me as captain.
I was studying in Class 7 at BKSP when we
played our inaugural Test match, in 2000. Of
course I have memories of that game. From
that point, the dream of playing Tests began
to grow,” Mushfiq told the media in the prematch
press conference yesterday.
“We may not have achieved much in the
last 16 years, but to be honest, we have progressed
and improved in the last two and a
half years. We don’t get to play a lot of Tests
each year; sometimes we go through months
of break.
“We are hoping that this year will be better
for us, despite not starting well,” he said.
The diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman admitted
that Bangladesh have to perform a lot
better to in order to bounce back in Colombo
and square the series.
“We couldn’t even play to half of our ability
in Galle, which was very disappointing. We
have to try to get the result in our favour in
Colombo. We have to take every chance that
comes our way. We weren’t sticking to the basics,
so we must improve on those things. We
will give our best in the next game. Our main
target will be to play consistently,” explained
Mushfiq.
Bangladesh played three pacers in the Galle
Test but a final decision on the second Test
playing XI will only be taken today, hours before
the game.
“I have played at P Sara just once, but I
have seen matches here. Wicket looks pretty
good. Here, traditionally there is something
for the quicks early on, but after that,
there will probably be plenty of help for the
spinners also. The wicket looks pretty dry as
well so hopefully the spinners will come into
play,” said Mushfiq.
“Still, we have spinners and quicks in our
squad, so whatever we decide I think we need
to bowl in the right areas more often than
not. Then the results will come. We are looking
forward to it. [Today] morning we will
come and decide who will play in the best
XI. I think this is a sporting wicket, so we will
pick the XI we feel will bring a win for Bangladesh,”
he said.
Mushfiq added, “I have only played 53
Tests in 10 years, although someone like
Alastair Cook has played more than 100 Tests.
This is why it has been hard to improve Bangladesh
cricket. When we go out to play a Test
after six months, we see five or six players
from the previous game are no longer around.
“Tests require a combination of skill and
mentality, so everyone takes a bit of time to
adjust to the format. If we get years like 2017
a few more times, we can certainly become
a better side. We have to start this Test well,
and bring the result on our side.” •
Bangladesh’s Kamrul Islam Rabbi delivers a ball during training at P Sara Oval in Colombo yesterday
Bangladesh up against daunting
task in 100th Test match
Mushfiq to keep wickets instead of injured Liton
• Ali Shahriyar Amin
from Colombo
Bangladesh are determined to
bounce back in their historic
100th Test match when they play
host Sri Lanka in the second and
final five-dayer at Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Stadium, Colombo
Oval, starting today.
It will be a daunting task for
the Tigers to level the series as
probable changes in numerous
positions in the starting XI would
likely make their job difficult
against a spirited Lankan side.
Liton Kumar Das, who kept
wickets for Bangladesh in the Galle
Test, was hit on the chest by a
bouncer during a practice session
last Monday.
After receiving the x-ray report,
it was learnt that he will be out for
the second Test. In his place, Test
captain Mushfiqur Rahim will don
the gloves. In that case, Mushfiq is
likely to bat at No 5.
Mushfiq has been outstanding
with the bat as he has scored 441
runs at an average of 88.20 this
year. Reshuffling the middle-order
means the captain will have
to play a big role.
Mahmudullah has been
dropped for the Colombo Test
so changes are likely in the middle-order.
Sabbir Rahman or
Mosaddek Hossain will replace
Mahmudullah.
No 3 batsman Mominul Haque
could also be dropped from the
starting XI with Imrul Kayes a
likely replacement for the Cox's
Bazar cricketer. Mominul has
come under the line of fire after
scoring two half centuries in his
last 10 Test innings at an average
of 23.20.
Bangladesh played three pacers
in the last Test but it is unlikely
to happen in the second Test.
Right-arm paceman Subashish
Roy could be replaced by left-arm
spinner Taijul Islam.
AFP
However, a final decision regarding
this issue will only be
taken hours before the match.
Subashish picked up one wicket
in the first innings and went wicket-less
in the second essay, finishing
with match figures of one for
137 runs.
Before the series, critics predicted
that the relatively inexperienced
Lankan side, missing
regular captain Angelo Mathews
to injury, will face tough times
against the comparatively experienced
Bangladesh. However,
Sri Lanka thoroughly outplayed
Bangladesh in the Galle Test.
History is also against Bangladesh
as they have lost 15 times
in 17 matches with the other two
matches ending in a draw.
Bangladesh have played three
times at P Sara Oval and conceded
innings defeats in all of them.
The last time they played here
was back in 2007 where they were
bowled out for 62 in the first innings.
Mushfiq played that Test as
a wicketkeeper-batsman.
History suggests that the P
Sara Oval pitch generally offers
good pace and bounce for the fast
bowlers in the first few sessions.
But as the game progresses, just
like the other sub-continent wickets,
the cracks of the pitch will
open up and assist the spinners.
Weather might play an important
role in the eventual outcome
as it drizzled yesterday in the afternoon
and evening. It was still
raining later in the evening when
this report was filed and according
to forecasts, it will rain today
and tomorrow as well.
A short programme has been
arranged to mark Bangladesh's
historic Test. BCB president Nazmul
Hasan has already arrived in
Sri Lanka, along with other board
officials. BCB will give special
blazers to the cricketers during
the occasion. SLC will also provide
medals to the players. •

Sports 19
DT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Mahmudullah
staying back for
ODIs
• Ali Shahriyar Amin
from Colombo
WHAT HERATH SAID
Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah
will stay back with the team
in Sri Lanka, despite being dropped
from the second and final Test
match, starting today at Paikiasothy
Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo
Oval.
He was earlier selected in the
squad for the upcoming threematch
ODI series.
Bangladesh team manager
Khaled Mahmud informed the media
last Monday that Mahmudullah
will not be part of the Colombo
Test. As a result, he would fly back
home.
However, the decision regarding
Mahmudullah’s return to Bangladesh
was later overturned and
Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim
confirmed that the experienced
all-rounder will be staying in the
island nation for the ODIs.
“He (Mahmudullah) is not playing
the second Test. But since he
is in the ODI squad, he will stay
with the team. It can happen to any
cricketer that he might fall into a
bad patch. It won’t have much of an
impact in the team but he is a senior
cricketer so you feel bad. But we
are 1-0 down, so whoever plays, has
to focus on making it 1-1,” Mushfiq
told the media yesterday in the prematch
press conference. •
Aminul: I feel for
Mahmudullah
• Minhaz Uddin Khan
Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul said he
feels sorry for all-rounder Mahmudullah over the handling
of his exclusion from the side for the second and
final Test match against Sri Lanka, starting today.
“If we are removing Mahmudullah because of his performance,
I would say there are many other cricketers in
the team who should get axed. Test match is for the experienced
players, especially when you are playing against
a team like Sri Lanka at their home. And even if we have
to drop Mahmudullah from the XI, I don't see a reason
behind sending him back home,” said Aminul to Dhaka
Tribune during an interview yesterday.
“This is not an ICC tournament that he cannot be carried
by the team. Even a few months back, the team had
moved with 22 players so why should there even be a discussion
of sending Mahmudullah back home? There is no
question of lack of professionalism with Mahmudullah.
He is not only an ideal cricketer for Bangladesh but for
any team. He is a gentleman and a true team mate,” said
Aminul, who is now a cricket development officer with
the ICC.
According to Aminul, incident like this create panic
in the team, “And that affects the team result. These incidents
break the side apart and create grouping because
surviving in the team becomes important. This is really
sad and I am sorry for Mahmudullah.” •
Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal hits a shot during a practice session yesterday
Abahani begin AFC cup with defeat
• Shishir Hoque
Host Abahani Limited began
their 2017 AFC Cup campaign
with a 2-0 defeat against Maldives
champion Maziya Sports
and Recreation Club in a Group
E encounter at Bangabandhu
National Stadium yesterday
evening.
The Bangladesh Premier
Football League champion
enjoyed better ball possession
throughout the game, especially
in the second half, but
lack of creativity in the attacking
half and solid defending
by the visiting side meant the
home team failed to break the
deadlock.
After conceding an early
goal, the Sky Blues fought
hard but their attackers were
anything but prolific while
the absence of key players like
Andrew Lee Tuck and Sunday
Chizoba was also felt badly.
Abahani's Serbia-born Croatian
coach Drago Mamic was
satisfied with the performance
but said his defenders could
have done better with the
goals.
With five minutes into the
clock, Abahani conceded an
early goal which could have
been prevented if goalkeeper
Shahidul Alam Sohel and the
defenders were a bit more cautious.
Receiving a pass from
Abdulla Asadullah, Imaaz
Ahmed delivered a brilliant
through pass for Umair, who
collected the ball nicely inside
AFP
the right side of the box before
slotting home calmly into the
far post.
Mamic planned his formation
with five defenders,
including three center-backs.
Mamun Miah was supposed
to lead the defence line but he
was more busy playing on the
right wing rather than shepherding
the defence. He was
Action from the 2017 AFC Cup game between Abahani and Maziya SRC
at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday
MD MANIK
I am so happy the way guys played
the first Test. Everybody contributed
well. The confidence level is
high. So I am sure the guys will play
with the same level of mindset in
the second Test as well.
But the first game is finished.
Now we are ready for the second
one. This is a new game. We have to
start from zero.
The pitch is pretty similar to
Galle. We know there is bounce for
the fast bowlers in the first twothree
days, though I’m not sure if
this wicket will live up to that. I’ve
played here a lot, and my experience
is that towards the fourth and
fifth days, it will take some spin as
well.
We have not decided anything
on team selection. We have a team
meeting in the evening and there
we will decide the team.
I wish to congratulate Bangladesh
for their 100th Test. But from
our point of view, it's just another
Test match. We will be focused (on)
winning the match, just like the last
match.
ALI SHAHRIYAR AMIN FROM GALLE
later replaced by striker Nabib
Newaj Jibon at the break.
Ziban's inclusion didn't
have much impact but it did
give more ball possession to
the home side against the organised
touring side, who always
had half of the players in
their own territory, thus providing
little space to the opponent.
It was especially tough
for the Abahani forwards to
meet crosses against the tall
Maziya defenders.
Maziya doubled the lead
three minutes before the end
of stipulated time. Asadullah
snatched the ball from Rayhan
Hasan's feet and broke
into the penalty area before his
left-footer hit the back of the
net. Rayhan and Yeasin Khan
could have done better to stop
Ali Ashadh's pass to Asadullah.
Maziya head coach Marjan
Sekulovski gave credit to his
charges, saying their mission
in the AFC Cup is going in the
right direction. He was also full
of praise for his defence.
Mamic, on the other hand,
felt his defence cost them the
game. •

DT
20
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Legend
Ronaldinho to
visit Pakistan
• AFP, Karachi
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho
is set to visit Pakistan as part of
a goodwill mission to promote the
game in the cricket-mad country.
The recently retired 36-year-old
issued a short video message on
Twitter saying simply "Pakistan, I
am coming".
News of Ronaldinho's visit has
generated excitement among fans,
and comes as the South Asian nation
seeks to revive international
sports fixtures that were disrupted
by a militant attack on Sri Lanka's
cricket team in 2009.
Those efforts were given a boost
when the country successfully
staged the final of its Pakistan Super
League cricket tournament in
Lahore earlier this month, a rare
match featuring prominent international
sports stars.
Ronaldinho is being brought
to the country by UK-based Leisure
Leagues - organisers of 5, 6
and 7-a-side tournaments which
recently announced plans to expand
to Pakistan. Shahrukh Sohail,
a Pakistan representative for the
company confirmed the visit yesterday,
adding the company would
be launching tournaments next
month in Pakistan's major cities
Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.
He declined to say whether the
Brazilian would arrive in time to
make an appearance.
Cricket-obsessed Pakistan has
a strong base of football fans and
players, particularly in southwestern
Balochistan and the southern
city of Karachi.
But its national team has struggled
in recent decades and has fallen
to a lowly 198th place in the Fifa
rankings.
Pakistan Football Federation officials
were involved in court wranglings
against each other for the
last two years, forcing the men's
and women's teams out of international
competitions. •
Sports
Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante vies with Manchester United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba during their English FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge in
London on Monday night
AFP
Conte, Mourinho feud as Kante sinks United
• AFP, London
N'Golo Kante blasted Chelsea to
a fiery 1-0 win over 10-man Manchester
United in the FA Cup quarter-finals
on Monday as Antonio
Conte and Jose Mourinho feuded
on the touchline.
Kante's superb second-half
strike that eliminated the holders
came after they had midfielder Ander
Herrera sent off before the interval
for two fouls on Chelsea star
Eden Hazard.
Incensed by United's aggressive
approach in the first half, furious
Chelsea manager Conte confronted
United boss Mourinho and the pair
had to be separated by the fourth
official.
Mourinho also whacked the ball
dangerously close to Conte in the
final moments as he tried to return
it to the pitch, prompting another
angry exchange with the Italian.
Conte had the last laugh thanks
to Kante and Chelsea's club record
13th successive home win booked
them a semi-final showdown with
Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
The Premier League leaders,
now unbeaten in their last 12 meetings
with United, remain on course
for the double in Conte's first season
since being appointed as Mourinho's
permanent successor.
It was another frustrating return
to Stamford Bridge for former
Chelsea manager Mourinho, who
watched United suffer only their
third defeat in all competitions
since being thrashed 4-0 by his old
team in October.
After a draining trip to Russia for
a Europa League tie last week and,
with the second leg against Rostov
looming on Thursday, this always
looked a daunting fixture for
United, who were without Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and
Anthony Martial due to suspension
and injury. •
Brazilian club signs goalie
convicted in murder
Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was invited by French outfit Paris Saint-Germain handball club to watch the
European Championship match against Kiel Club of Germany on Sunday as their honoured guest
COURTESY
• AFP, Varginha
A Brazilian football club brushed
aside a storm of criticism to sign a
goalkeeper convicted for murdering
his girlfriend, whose body was
fed to the dogs. Bruno Fernandes,
32, was presented before reporters
at a hastily arranged press conference
in the southeastern city of
Varginha, where he pulled on Boa
Esporte club's black and red shirt,
before going to a medical checkup.
Bruno said he would now "concentrate
on (his) work. The important
thing for me is to get started,"
he was cited as saying by the UOL
news website.
However, the talented goalie,
who used to play for top Brazilian
club Flamengo and had been touted
as a recruit for Italian giants
AC Milan, faces a bitter reception.
Sponsors have fled second division
Boa Esporte, including chief backer
Gois and Silva, which withdrew
Monday. Its logo was emblazoned
on the shirt worn by Bruno. •

Man City's De
Bruyne aiming
for Champions
League final
• Reuters
Manchester City midfielder Kevin
De Bruyne believes the Premier
League side can reach this season's
Champions League final as they
head into today’s last-16 second leg
at AS Monaco with a 5-3 lead.
City were eliminated in the
semi-finals by Real Madrid last
year but De Bruyne is hoping to go
at least one step further this term.
"I think we can reach the final,
but of course the other teams will
think the same. And that doesn't
make it easier," the 25-year-old told
British media.
"It will be very tough against
Monaco, they are doing extremely
well at the moment, but we are
very positive and if we beat them
we are through to the quarter-finals,
after which the final is not
that far away."
De Bruyne also felt
that City must improve their performances
in high-pressure games
if they hope to be fighting for some
of the most prestigious trophies on
a regular basis.
"I think it was important as a
team to make the next step. City had
a difficult time in Europe, which is
new for this club, but last year we
did great in the Champions League,"
the Belgian added. •
Sports
Manchester City’s Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho and English forward Raheem Sterling take part in a training session at
City Football Academy in Manchester, north west England yesterday
AFP
21
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
DPL starts
April 7, players'
transfer Mar
17-18
• Tribune Report
Prestigious 50-over tournament,
the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket
League 2016-17 season, gets underway
on April 7 this year.
The players' transfer will take
place this Friday and Saturday at
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
in Mirpur.
Bangladesh Cricket Board and
the Cricket Committee of Dhaka
Metropolis announced the schedule
where the traditional players'
transfer system made its return.
The controversial players' draft
system was in place for the last two
seasons.
Each of the 12 premier league
clubs can include a maximum of
three players from the national
pool while one foreign cricketer
can play in the playing XI. However,
a club can purchase as many
foreign players as possible in their
squad.
A total of 19 players were named
in the national pool for the upcoming
DPL.
Meanwhile, the cricketers have
welcomed the decision to scrap the
controversial players' draft system
in the upcoming season. The players
can now chose their own clubs
and play with liberty. •
Ansar win inaugural
women's baseball
• Tribune Report
Bangladesh Ansar emerged as the
champion in the Walton 1st National
Women's Baseball Championship
after beating Bangladesh
Police 19-5 in the final at Sultana
Kamal Women's Sports Complex
yesterday.
Bangladesh Police led the game
in the early stage but Bangladesh
Ansar came back strongly to clinch
their maiden title. •
DAY’S WATCH
CRICKET
CHANNEL 9, TEN 3
10:30AM
Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka
2nd Test, Day 1
FOOTBALL
TEN 1
1:45AM
UEFA Champions League
Atletico v Leverkusen
TEN 2
1:45AM
UEFA Champions League
Monaco v Man City
SA 'disappointed' as Durban dumped as host
• AFP, Durban
South Africa voiced disappointment
yesterday that Durban had
been stripped of the 2022 Commonwealth
Games, blaming financial
disagreements but vowing to
host major tournaments in the future.
Commonwealth Games chiefs
confirmed on Monday they were
looking for a new venue after Durban
failed to meet "key obligations"
during its preparations.
"(The government) wishes to
express its disappointment at the
announcement...despite all the efforts
and the positive responses,"
sports minister Fikile Mbalula said
at a press conference in Durban.
"Clauses in the agreement were
seriously going to compromise
South Africa and government was
not prepared to sign an open-ended
guarantee."
Mbalula insisted that South Africa
was ready to host other global
sporting events, and said that 2023
rugby World Cup officials were in
the country on an inspection visit.
"South Africa remains a premier
destination for such mega sporting
events and our solid infrastructure
holds the country in good stead,"
he said.
Following the meeting in London,
the Commonwealth Games
Federation said it was "actively
exploring alternative options" but
gave no further details.
Durban 2022 - which had adopted
the slogan "Ready to inspire"
- would have been the first Commonwealth
Games to be held in
Africa.
The city on South Africa's east
coast was named as host in 2015,
but Mbalula said last month that
the government and the CGF had
not reached agreement over costs.
Both the 1995 rugby World
Cup and the 2010 football World
Cup in South Africa are seen as
milestones in the country's efforts
to promote national unity since
the apartheid era. •
Wawrinka cruises into
Indian Wells fourth round
• AFP, Indian Wells
Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka continued
his dominance of Philipp
Kohlschreiber, rolling past the German
7-5, 6-3 on Monday to reach
the fourth round of the ATP Indian
Wells Masters.
Wawrinka recorded his fifth victory
over Kohlschreiber in as many
meetings in a performance that left
him cautiously encouraged about
his prospects of making it past the
quarter-finals in the California desert
for the first time. A break in
each set was enough for Wawrinka,
who didn't face a break point himself
as he advanced to a meeting
with lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka
of Japan, who staged a remarkable
rally to get past 13th-seeded Czech
Tomas Berdych 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.•

22
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
DT
Showtime
Sara wants to team up with Ranveer
• Showtime Desk
Speculations have been rife that
Saif Ali Khan’s daughter, Sara
would soon be making her Bollywood
debut with the remake of
the Hollywood flick Fault In Our
Stars, opposite Shahid Kapoor’s
brother Ishaan Khattar. However,
latest reports suggest that the
star kid has pulled out of the project.
This is the second film that
Sara has reportedly walked out
of, the first being Karan Johar’s
sequel to Student of the Year,
opposite Tiger Shroff.
Recently Sara was
found taking selfies with
Bollywood Hot shot
Ranveer Singh. As it
turns out, Sara Ali Khan
is keen to debut opposite
Ranveer Singh. She has
a huge crush on him and
feels they will look great
together on screen. But
word is, she is making
her debut in a Karan
Johar film. To work with
him, she needs to debut
in a YRF film. She has
always had a crush on
him ever since she saw
his first film. She feels he
is more of her age, and at
a wedding in Hyderabad
took many selfies with
him.
Meanwhile, another
source revealed that the
Karan Johar-Fox Star
Studios co-production
may be scrapped since
it doesn’t even figure
in either of the studios’
film schedule for the
next two years. While
plans are afoot at Dharma
Productions to launch
Ishaan with another film,
Sara’s debut plans are yet
unknown. •
Madhavan: Seven
films back to back
• Showtime Desk
After shedding a lot of weight
for his upcoming Tamil film
Vikram Vedha, R Madhavan
took to his social media
accounts to flaunt his brand
new avatar. He recently shared
pictures on Instagram and he
has never looked hotter.
It has been more than a year
since Madhavan was seen in
Saala Khadoos. While many
wondered what he was up to,
considering the fact that there
hadn’t been many announcements
in months to come, here
is the big one. The actor has
signed as many as seven films,
all of which would be wrapped
up by the middle of next year.
He will be seen in Tamil
gangster-cop drama Vikram
Vedha. He has also signed for
Chanda Mama Door Ke, the
space flick with Sushant Singh
Rajput. Maddy has started
shooting for his web series
Breathe, with Amit Sadh. There
is also Tamil flick Charlie (tentatively
titled) and a Hindi movie
with the curious title Ameriki
Pandit. In addition to these, he
also has a couple of bilinguals in
the pipeline: Gramophone and a
yet to be titled biopic.
3 Idiots star R Madhavan
started his career on the small
screen. Back in the 90’s, those
TV serials became mega hits
and a lot of performers from
that generation came out to
rock the B-town. Banegi Apni
Baat was one of the shows.
The show was on air for four
years. It focused on college life,
family drama, young romance
and complicated relationships.
Sutapa Sikdar joined the Singhs
for this venture and wrote the
script. The show starred actors
such as Irrfan Khan, R Madhavan,
Shefali Shah, Anita Kanwal,
Divya Seth, Achint Kaur,
Raman Trikha, Roshini Achreja,
Firdaus Dadi, Sadiya Siddiqui,
Varun Badola, Rakhee Tandon
and Rituraj, among others. •
What the Rock is cooking for his fans
• Showtime Desk
The shooting of Dwayne ‘The
Rock’ Johnson’s upcoming movie
Jumanji has been completed.
The movie was shown to him
and a room full of people. Taking
to Instagram, the actor shared a
photo of him at a table with a lot
of people working to deliver the
“awesome movie.”
Directed by Jake Kasdan and
produced by Matt Tolmach and
Dwayne Johnson, the movie
stars Jack Black and Kevin Hart
alongside Dwayne Johnson in the
leading role. The award-winning
writer, Chris Van Allsburg
has penned its script.
Chris made headlines
when he wrote The
Polar Express for
Robert Zemeckis.
Baywatch is
another most
anticipated films of
Dwayne Johnson. In
this film he plays the
leading character,
alongside Zac Efron.
Alexandra Daddario,
Kelly Rohrbach,
Priyanka Chopra, and
Pamela Anderson are
also cast in important
characters in the film. The
movie is scheduled to be released
on May 26, 2017. After San
Andreas, it is the second project
of Johnson and Daddario, so fans
have high expectations from the
movie.
And, last but not the least,
The Fate of the Furious is one of
the most anticipated Hollywood
films for which The Rock also
lending his thespian skills. This
latest installment of the Fast and
the Furious franchise welcomes
Charlize Theron and Helen
Mirren. Johnson says that he
worked hard on this project, and
hopes to meet the expectations
of his fans. Vin Diesel, Michelle
Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and
Scott Eastwood, are in the
supporting roles. Director
F Gary Gray is already
famous for dozens
of Hollywood
blockbusters.
Hopefully, The
Fate of the Furious
will break the
records of his
previous films.
The movie is
expected to
release in the
third week of
April 2017. It
is the story of
a mysterious
woman who
seduces Dom into
the world of crime.•

Francophonie festival
commences in Dhaka
• Showtime Desk
Alliance Française de Dhaka
(AFD) is celebrating the International
Day of the Francophonie
through various programs which
started from yesterday, March 14
and is scheduled to end on March
25.
The ten-day festival began
with a Concert de la Francophonie
performed by the Vincent
Meyer World Music Quartet held
at Café La Véranda of Alliance
Française de Dhaka yesterday.
Other events like francophonie
short films festival, literary discussion
on Matin Brun by Franck
Pavloff, translation competition,
petanque competition, guided
tour in French at Jatiyo Sangshad
Bhaban and francophonie quiz
competition are among some
of the events throughout the
festival.
Other embassies of countries
in Dhaka belonging to francophonie
including Canada, Egypt,
France, Morocco, Qatar, Switzerland
and Vietnam are also organising
various events to celebrate
the day.
Francophonie refers to an
international organisation of
French-speaking countries and
governments, and also to the
community of French speaking
people which represents one of
the biggest linguistic zones in the
world.
The International Day of the
Francophonie is observed around
the world every year on 20th
March to celebrate the love for
French language, the cultural
diversity and the harmony that
it beckons, as well as foster the
values of peace, democracy and
respect for human rights. This
day can be compared to the celebrations
of Bangla language on
February 21.
Established in 1970, the
International Organisation of La
Francophonie makes an effort to
Melody with Bonny is out
• Showtime Desk
A mixed album titled, Melody
With Bonny which features
five talented singers under a
newly launched label, TIARA
Studio is now out on online
music platfroms. Bonny Ahmad
composed the music for all of
the songs which were sung by
the likes of Shawon Gaanwala,
Limon Chowdhury, Keya Rahman,
Shakila Shukla and the composer
himself.
TM Sabbir and Saif Hasnat
penned down the lyrics for the
songs while Nerd Castle Limited
and bitBirds Solutions patronised
the album.
The album launch took place
at the BASIS auditorium at
Karwanbazar on Sunday. Singers
and the crew of the album along
with Joy Shahriar, Chandan Roy
Chowdhury, music video maker,
Fahim Mashroor, founder and
CEO of Bdjobs.com, among
others, were present at the event.
While talking about the
album, Bonny Ahmad said: “Even
though, it can be referred to as an
‘album’ it is actually a compilation
of common covers for five singles
by five different singers. We took
enough time to work on the songs
with dedication. I’m sure listeners
Showtime
achieve its mission to embody
the active solidarity between its
80 member states and governments
(57 members and 23 observers),
the sum of the nations
represent over one-third of the
United Nations’ member states
and account for a population of
220 million French speakers.
Further details of the
events can be found at Alliance
Française de Dhaka’s Facebook
page: facebook.com/afdhaka.•
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/TIARA STUDIO
will love the romance in the songs
from the album.”
The album is now available
on GP Music along with TIARA
Studio’s website and their
YouTube channel. Meanwhile,
TIARA Studio stated that they
have finalised the decision to
make music videos of the songs
as well. •
• Showtime Desk
American acting duo Dave
Franco and Alison Brie
have been hitched recently.
Representatives of the actors
confirmed the news to People
on Monday, refrained to
disclose when or where they
tied the knot.
Dave Franco, 31, and Alison
Brie, 34, – who became close to
each other after meeting at the
2011 Mardi Gras parade in New
Orleans – announced their
engagement in August 2015
after three years of dating.
Last February, Alison Brie,
whose next TV series Netflix’s
GLOW is scheduled to come
out on June 23 in which she
will be seen playing the role of
a professional woman wrestler
from the 80s, told Yahoo!
Style, “I’m not very bridal,
instinctually.”
23
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
Dave Franco and
Alison Brie tie the knot
“Marriage never really
interested me, I guess because
I was very focused on my work.
I wasn’t sure if I really saw the
point to it. I bought a dress
on Net-a-Porter, and I’m like,
‘Maybe I’ll wear that,’” she
added.
And she explained what
changed her mind about
marriage, “I just met that
person that I was like, ‘Well,
I’m really in love with you and
would like to grow old with
you.’ I actually think it’s much
more romantic when two
people are like, ‘Oh, I could go
either way on marriage, but I
want to marry you.’”
Dave, the younger brother of
James Franco, has carved out a
nice career for himself. He will
be seen in an upcoming movie
titled, 6 Balloons which will be
released later this year.•
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017
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COMMENCES IN DHAKA › 23
‘Our motto is accurate diagnosis without
unnecessary testing’
In an exclusive interview with Abu Siddique of the Dhaka Tribune Dr Zaheed Husain talks about
cancer treatment in Bangladesh and how he plans to provide cancer-related healthcare facilities to
Bangladeshis through Praava
Dr Zaheed Husain is a cancer immunologist
who heads the Laboratory
of Immunobiology and teaches
medicine at the Division of Interdisciplinary
Medicine and Biotechnology
in Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Centre, one of the teaching
affiliates of Harvard Medical School.
He is also the senior director of cancer
diagnostics at Praava Health,
the first molecular cancer diagnostics
lab in Bangladesh, which will be
launched in Dhaka soon.
Explain the name Praava.
The word Praava is a combination
of the words “Pran,” which means
life, and “Ava,” which means light.
Praava means excellence of life.
What kind of healthcare service
will Praava provide?
We want to give hope to patients
and ensure proper diagnosis of diseases
so that patients get appropriate
treatment.
Our primary goal is to bring back
the concept of “family doctor” – the
doctor who knows you and your
family, and can help you manage
your day-to-day health needs, and
referring you to other specialists or
hospitals when required. They will
also follow up on your progress.
We will also focus on the creative
use of IT in healthcare, starting
with Bangladesh’s first patient portal
which will give patients access
to their medical records and make
appointments online or from their
phones.
However, Praava will not provide
hospital service.
What sets Praava apart from other
diagnostic centres in Bangladesh?
We want to create a hub of medical
services. We will have a large pool
of doctors specialised in different
disciplines. And we will have facilities
for all medical tests so patients
can get quick and accurate services.
Our motto is accurate diagnosis
without unnecessary testing.
We also want to introduce cancer-related
tests which are not
available in Bangladesh yet.
Tell us about the cancer diagnostics
lab.
Praava Health’s molecular cancer
diagnostics lab will be the first
molecular cancer diagnostics lab in
the country with a state-of-the-art
facility for cancer screening and
diagnosis.
Initially, we will offer KRAS mutation
detection for treatment of
colorectal cancer, HER2/neu gene
amplification to diagnose breast
cancer, and HPV DNA genotyping
to detect cervical cancer.
In future, we plan to roll out other
molecular diagnostic test panels
including BRAF, CTNNB1, EGFR,
FOXL2, GNAS, PIK3CA, TP53, as
well as blood-based testing – or
liquid biopsy – and quantitation of
circulating tumour cells over time.
There are other technologies
that Praava will bring to Bangladesh
as well.
What is molecular cancer diagnosis?
Immunotherapy and molecular
cancer diagnostics are leading the
way in cancer treatment. Using genetic
markers in our DNA, molecular
cancer diagnostics can help us
learn whether an individual has a
predisposition to a particular type
of cancer, which can facilitate prevention
or early detection. It has
the best prospects for survival.
Also, molecular cancer diagnostics
can help us understand the
best treatment options for a patient
who has already been diagnosed
with cancer. It has been effective in
reducing cancer mortality based on
early detection as well as identification
of effective treatments. For
the first time ever, there is hope for
patients who are in despair.
How big an issue is cancer in
Bangladesh?
Cancer is the sixth leading cause of
death in Bangladesh, and here the
cancer-related death rate is expected
to be 13% by 2030, increasing
from 7.5% in 2005. There are an
estimated 1.5 million cancer patients
in Bangladesh, with around
200,000 patients newly diagnosed
every year. •
Norwegian ambassador honours groundbreaking women
• Afrose Jahan Chaity
The Royal Norwegian Embassy
hosted an event celebrating Women’s
Day on Monday night at Ambassador
Sidsel Bleken’s residence.
The ambassador along with the
Swedish Ambassador Johan Frisell
and the Head of Cooperation of the
Danish International Development
Agency (Danida) Peter Bogh Jensen
hosted the event honouring Bangladeshi
women from all walks of
life who are breaking the gender
barrier.
Norwegian Ambassador Sidsel
Bleken spoke on the need for women’s
emancipation in all spheres
of life, saying: “Women empowerment
is important not only on an
individual level, it is equally important
for society. Women’s participation
in politics as well as in
Dr Zaheed Husain
the formal economy is crucial for a
country’s development.”
Speaking on violence against
women, gender inequality and
discrimination Sidsel Bleken
said:“It happens everywhere – it’s a
violation of women’s fundamental
rights. It is both a cause and a
consequence of inequalities
between women and men. We
really need to do better to deal with
this.”
The women who were
honoured at the event have shown
remarkable strength in overcoming
challenges posed by society to
empower themselves.
Women such as Sandha Rani
Mistri, a low-caste Hindu woman,
has been an elected local Union
Parishad Member from Banaripara
Upazila of Barisal thrice said she
had to overcome the barriers posed
PHOTO: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
Norwegian Ambassador Sidsel Bleken sits along with Swedish Ambassador Johan
Frisell and Rokia Afzal Rahman listening to the stories narrated by the women
honoured at the Women’s Day event held at her residence
RAJIB DHAR
by society after she became a teenaged
widow to be where is she in
life now.
A domestic violence survivor,
Rubina Ahmed began her journey
with buying a sewing machine
to make dolls. After divorcing
her abusive husband, she is now
financially independent having
turned her doll making into a
business.
In an attempt to highlight sexual
harassment on campus, twenty
year old Sumaya Rahman from the
faculty of law, Rajshahi University
became an activist using the
theatre to highlight the issue both
on and off campus.
President of Bangladesh Federation
of Women Entrepreneurs
(BFWE) Rokia Afzal Rahman was
the chief guest at the event and
spoke on how she became successful
in her professional life emphasising
that entrepreneurship is
the key to helping women achieve
equal rights in society. •
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