e_Paper, Tuesday, June 20, 2017

SECOND EDITION
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 | Ashar 6, 1424, Ramadan 24, 1438 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 5, No 46 | www.dhakatribune.com | 24 pages | Price: Tk10
PHOTO: DIU FACEBOOK PAGE
What brings foreign students here? › 2-3
Online media to be
regulated by broadcast
commission › 3
Plan after plan
leaves no dent
on traffic › 6
Relief comes late to
Rangamati, list of affected
people not ready yet › 7
SEHRI
AND IFTAR
TIMES
WORLD REFUGEE DAY | A passage to Italy: Life in refugee camps › 5
Ramadan June Sehri Iftar
24 20 – 6:52
25 21 3:38 6:52
26 22 3:39 6:52
Source: Islamic Foundation

2
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
News
Education destination:
A good number
of foreign
nationals come
to Bangladesh
to pursue higher
studies for the
affordable costs
• Mahadi Al Hasnat
SPECIAL
Until a few months ago, Mohammad
Ashuur, from Mogadishu, Somalia,
thought his dream of studying
abroad was over when he could
not find a programme that he could
afford in developed countries.
However, he learnt of Bangladesh
and found that education was
comparatively cheap here. Now,
Ashuur is studying pharmacy in
Daffodil International University,
on his way to fulfilling his dream.
“After completing high school
in Somalia, I decided to go abroad
for higher education. I had almost
given up hope of studying in European
or American universities
because of the huge costs, but then
I learnt about Bangladesh from one
of my friends studying here, and
made a decisive choice to come
here,” said Ashuur.
Abdul Hakim, another Somalian
student, has been studying electrical,
electronics and telecommunication
engineering at Dhaka International
University since 2016.
“A good number of African students
have been studying in different
universities in Bangladesh because
of the high-quality, low-cost
education system here,” Hakim
told the Dhaka Tribune.
Over the years, Bangladesh has
been a favourite destination for
higher education for thousands of
foreign nationals from Cameroon,
Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya,
Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania,
Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Students from developed countries,
such as Australia, Canada,
China, Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Poland, the Netherlands,
Turkey and the US also
pursue higher education in Bangladesh,
according to the University
Grant Commission (UGC).
Students from Bhutan, India,
Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan,
Palestine, Papua New Guinea,
A haven for South Asian medical students
• Mahadi Al Hasnat
SPECIAL
Many South Asian students flock
to Bangladeshi medical schools because,
as prices for medical studies
are going up in developed countries
in Asia, Europe and America,
Bangladesh is increasingly standing
out as an attractive option for
medical aspirants.
Every year, many students from
Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Pakistan,
Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka
enrol in both public and private
medical colleges in Bangladesh,
which offer high yet affordable
standards of education.
There are more than 75 seats for
international students in various
government-run medical colleges in
Bangladesh, while 20-25% of seats in
private medical colleges are reserved
for them, according to sources.
Bangladesh is a popular destination for higher education among students particularly from South Asia and Africa
“Foreign students are increasingly
interested in studying in
Bangladeshi medical colleges because
of the quality education and
low costs,” said a high official of
Dhaka Medical College.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune,
several foreign students said the
quality of medical studies in Bangladesh
is similar to that of India,
both in terms of syllabi, books,
teaching methods, and duration of
study.
Krishna Kumar Isar, a medical
student from Rajbiraj in Nepal
who has been attending the Dhaka
Community Medical College and
Hospital since 2015, said: “The
number of seats in medical colleges
is not enough in Nepal, but in
Bangladesh, Nepalese students can
get admitted easily because of the
availability of seats. Bangladesh
is geographically close to Nepal,
which is another advantage.”
Azae Sha, another Nepalese
student from Kathmandu who is
currently enrolled in MH Samorita
Hospital and Medical College, said:
“Medical studies cost $100,000 in
India, which is too expensive. But
we can get the same quality of education
in Bangladesh with only
$30,000-$45,000.”
Given these advantages, 400-
500 Nepalese students come to
Bangladesh for medical studies, he
added.
Bangladesh attracts large numbers
of Indian students from West
Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala,
Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Tripura
and Manipur as well.
Bangladesh is particularly popular
among Kashmiri students because
it is a Muslim majority country,
said Yasir Javed, a student from
Jammu and Kashmir who goes to
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
the Philippines and the UAE frequently
attend public and private
universities in Bangladesh as well.
According to the UGC Annual
Report 2015, a total of 593 foreign
students were studying in 18 of the
country’s 37 public universities in
2015, compared to 432 in 2014 and
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College.
“Bangladeshi culture is quite
familiar to Kashmiri students because
of its Islamic traditions. The
quality of education is also pretty
good, and the cost is affordable
for middle-class families,” he explained.
Tousif Khan, a student from
Kolkata who goes to Uttara Modern
Medical College, said Indian
students trained in Bangladesh
frequently come out on top in the
entrance examination of the Medical
Council of India, which is for
Indian students completing their
medical degrees abroad.
“Many Indian students favour
Bangladeshi medical colleges as
they don’t require the NEET score,
which is compulsory in India because
of the limited seats and huge
number of applicants. The tuition
cost is also higher in India,” he said.
“Indian parents also prefer Bangladesh
for their children’s higher
studies, since it is close to home.”
When contacted, Education
Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said
Bangladesh had become a popular
destination for foreign nationals because
of the significant progress in
the standards of higher education.
“India may be wealthier than
us, but it cannot meet the demands
of its vast population, which is
why many Indian students come
to Bangladesh for higher education.
Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and
other neighbouring countries also
have confidence in our quality of
education,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
He further said if the educational
institutions in Bangladesh
continued their progress and further
hone the quality of their education,
more students from foreign
countries would be encouraged to
study here. •

News
TUESDAY,
3
JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Bangladesh
326 in 2013.
Some 525 foreign students were
studying in the public universities
in 2012 and 210 in 2011.
On the other hand, 1,548 international
students were studying in
private universities in 2015, while
the number was 1,643 in 2014, 1,612
in 2013, 1,642 in 2012, and 1,651 in
2011.
Quality education at an affordable
cost
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune,
many foreign students said they
chose Bangladesh for higher education
because high quality education
comes at reasonable costs
here, compared to education in
American or European universities
which middle class families in Africa
find too expensive.
“Education quality in Bangladesh
is better than that in other
countries since a high number of
PhD holders teaches in the universities,”
said Ayesha Aden Ali, a
public health student in Daffodil
International University. “Besides,
the living cost in Bangladesh is
cheaper than in in American or European
cities.”
The university’s assistant registrar,
Md Maruf Chowdhury, said
they maintained a high standard
of education compared to universities
in other developed countries,
and this reputation had drawn foreign
students.
“Our faculty members are highly
qualified and trained; a number
of them got their degrees from developed
countries and have been
teaching our students in line with
American and European educational
standards,” he told the Dhaka
Tribune.
A friendly environment
Foreign students are always overwhelmed
by the hospitality and
friendliness of Bangladeshis. Several
African students said while
they routinely face racism in the
neighbouring India, in Bangladesh
it is the opposite.
“Bangladeshi people know how
to treat their guests with hospitality
and friendly behaviour. People
are very friendly and respectful,”
said Mohamed Ibrahim, a foreign
student in Daffodil International
University. “When we visit our
family and friends back home, we
tell them stories of the hospitality
of Bangladeshi people.”
Since Bangladesh is a Muslim
majority country, many foreign
students from other Muslim countries
have found Bangladesh’s culture
and traditions very familiar.
They said the communal festivals
and religious harmony in the country
serves as an attraction for them
joining different events in their
universities, as well as in their daily
lives.
“Bangladeshi culture is vibrant
and pleasant,” said Ayesha Aden
Ali. “We love going to the cultural
festivals, such as Pohela Boishakh.
The different types of street food
available here is also very delectable.”
Bangladesh offers a lot of options
for entertainment as well;
international students take part in
sports and go to concerts, cinemas,
museums, theatre.
Football is particularly popular
among the foreign students.
“I love playing football. But here
in Bangladesh, people love to play
cricket more. I rarely have time to
play because of my studies, but
when I do, I like playing football
with my friends,” said Abdul Razzak,
another Somalian student in
Daffodil International University.
“During the holidays, we go
swimming, watch cinemas, or visit
museums in Dhaka,” he added.
Bangladesh is an excellent tourism
destination too, said Mohamed
Shukri Hassan, a Somalian who
recently visited Chittagong Hill
Tracts and the southern part of
the country at the invitation of his
friends.
“Bangladesh has a lot of natural
beauty, with many rivers, forests,
mountains, and a vast bay. Its people
are beautiful and cordial, which
make me feel right at home,” he
said.
The flip side
There are some issues that foreign
students have to face in Bangladesh,
however.
The language barrier is a major
problem that most of the students
have to cope with. Though their
classes and exams are conducted
in English, they find it difficult to
communicate with others outside
of their classrooms.
“We communicate with teachers
and classmates in English, and
Currently, there are some 3,000 foreign
students studying in public and private
universities, medical and engineering institutes.
Most of them are from the Saarc countries, and
some other Asian and African nations
we speak our native language during
conversations amongst ourselves.
I hope to be able to speak
Bangla soon,” said Abdul Hakim.
Another issue is the lack of student
dormitories. “Most public and
private universities don’t have dormitories
for international students
in Bangladesh. Most of us are currently
living in rented flats or houses,”
Hakim said.
Daffodil International University
Assistant Registrar Maruf said
most of the 350 foreign students
enrolled at the university live in the
flats nearby.
“The International Affairs Department
in our university has managed
to find a flat for 25 female foreign
students at Indira Road,” he said.
UGC’s initiatives for foreign
students
The UGC has taken multiple initiatives
to attract foreign students
to public and private universities
in Bangladesh, publishing a book
titled “Universities of Bangladesh”
and providing copies to different
embassies and high commissions
in the country.
It has also sent a list of public
and private universities to the
Chinese and Filipino embassies
following their interest in sending
their students to Bangladesh for
higher education, said UGC Chairman
Prof Abdul Mannan.
“Currently, there are around
3,000 foreign students admitted in
different public and private universities,
including medical and engineering
institutes. Most of them
are from the Saarc countries, and
some other Asian and African nations,”
he told the Dhaka Tribune.
“We have asked the universities
to provide them with necessary accommodation
and other facilities.
The UGC is ready to support them
if they build international dormitories.
We have also asked them
to establish an international desk
to address the concerns of foreign
students,” he added.
Mannan further said the UGC
had been working on expanding
the range of Saarc scholarships to
attract more students, all while
maintaining an international
standard of education. •
FRONT CAPTION
A good number of Somalian
nationals attend Daffodil
International University in
Bangladesh
Online media to be regulated by broadcast commission
• Shohel Mamun
GOVERNMENT
The Cabinet has approved the draft
of National Online Mass Media
Guideline keeping the provision
that the country’s online news media
will be regulated by the National
Broadcast Commission.
The draft was approved in a
regular Cabinet meeting at parliament
on Monday with Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina in chair.
Speaking to reporters after the
meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad
Shafiul Alam said though
around 1,800 online media had
applied for registration with the
Press Information Department,
they would be regulated by the
broadcast commission.
“The existing print or electronic
media who have already
acquired the approval under the
Press and Publication Act 1973 will
not need any new approval, even
Online media houses
have to follow the
wage board rules and
pay their employees
through banks. All
houses must have tax
identification numbers
if the media organisation has an
online version,” he said. “However,
the media authorities are
to inform the commission about
their online versions. If any online
media organisation violates
the guidelines or human rights,
the victims can file a complaint to
the commission and it will take actions
accordingly.”
In reply to a query, the cabinet
secretary said until the National
Broadcast Commission was
formed, online media would be
regulated as per the existing rules.
What’s in the policy?
The draft speaks of preserving the
history of the Liberation War when
publicising, publishing and broadcasting
information or data on the
war. It also directs running news
that fully respects all religions.
Local dialects can be used in
the news but not for making fun.
Apart from running reports on regional
cultures, the news media
will also have to present the culture
of ethnic minorities.
Incoherent, misleading and
false information or data cannot
be used in news published or run
by online media.
The media has to run all government-endorsed
important national
programmes and information.
These include addresses by
the head of the state, emergency
weather report, health bulletin,
government press notes, and government-approved
important national
programmes.
In order to uphold Bangla as
the state language, the standard of
spelling or pronunciation cannot
be relaxed in reading, publishing
or broadcasting the news.
Online media houses have to
follow the wage board rules and
pay their employees through
banks. All houses must have tax
identification numbers.
Advertisements run or published
in the online media must
not use politicians, foreign diplomats
and national heroes for product
promotion or services. But
advertisements aimed at raising
awareness and social reform can
include renowned citizens with
their permission.
Language, scene or direction of
the advertisements – published,
publicised or broadcast – must not
be hurt religious or political feelings.
But pictures or images that
do not offend the religion can be
published or showcased.
All information and data that violate
The Censorship of Films Act
1963, the Information and Communication
Technology Act 2006, copyright,
trademarks, patents design,
Geographical Indication Act and
other laws cannot be published. •

4
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
News
With Eid nearing fast, Haor people still
reeling from food crisis
• Himadri Shekor Vodro, Sylhet
CURRENT AFFAIRS
With Eid-ul-Fitr only a week away,
people of the flood-ravaged Haor
areas in Sunamganj are not yet
sure about how they are going to
observe the festive occasion since
they are still bearing the brunt of
food crisis.
Many affected people say they
are not getting the food that is
being distributed under the Vulnerable
Group Feeding (VGF) programme
of the government.
Earlier on April 23, the government
had announced that some
335,000 families of the flood-ravaged
Haor region would receive
relief. Each family would get 30kg
rice and Tk500 as emergency support
under a 100-day scheme.
Apart from rice and cash, some
171,715 families were supposed to
get relief material through the VGF
and Open Market Sale (OMS) programmes.
“I am not sure if I will be able
to buy clothes for my children,”
said Phul Banu of Puchhna village
under Tahirpur upazila. “All I
am thinking about now is how to
arrange the next meal as we are
gripped by a severe food crisis.”
She said Eid would bring no joy
to her and her children.
She is among thousands whose
plan to celebrate the religious festival
has been shattered due to their
growing miseries caused by the
food crisis. The situation is getting
worse as unemployment has increased
significantly in the last two
and half months.
Crops in 166,612 hectares of land
was inundated in the district, affecting
around 300,000 farmers
and causing at least Tk1,700 crore
of loss.
‘I am not sure if I will
be able to buy clothes
for my children. All I
am thinking about is
how to arrange the
next meal’
However, a non-government estimate
says 200,000 hectares of land
was flooded.
Heavy rainfall in the Meghalaya
hills in India from March 29
prompted the flood situation.
Currently, there are at least
300,000 people in the district who
have been extremely affected by
the flood. Only half of them are
receiving food supplies under the
VGF programme.
Laleha Khatun, also from the
same village, said just four out of 72
poor families are benefiting from
the programme.
Tola Mia, also from Puchha, said
he witnessed many a crisis, but the
prevailing one is the worst.
“There are difficulties all around.
We are facing a growing crisis of
food and employment here,” he
said, adding that the situation is degrading
with days going by.
The recent torrential rainfalls
are also weighing on them heavily.
Many predict that their ordeals will
continue until the Boro harvesting
season.
The district relief and rehabilitation
office said the affected people
of 11 upazilas and four municipalities
will be distributed 1,594 tonnes
of rice against 59,331 VGF cards before
Eid.
Sunamganj Additional Deputy
Commissioner Md Kamruzzaman
said each of the affected families
would get 10 kgs of rice.
Despite the growing crisis in
Sunamganj, Finance Minster AMA
Muhith on June 5 wrote to the Ministry
of Disaster Management and
Relief to stop the VGF programme.
In the letter, he mentioned that
the government ran different food
programmes for the poor across
the country for five months every
year. So, it is unnecessary to continue
the VGF programme.
He said only the low price food
distribution programmes would be
continued instead. •

News 5
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
WORLD REFUGEE DAY
A passage to Italy: Life in refugee camps
This is the third instalment of a four-part series
• Adil Sakhawat
SPECIAL
For those who brave the illegal and
potentially lethal journey to Italy
across the Mediterranean via wartorn
Libya, it is not a gamble, but a
calculated risk.
Any migrants who embark upon
the voyage across the Mediterranean
after surviving the traffickers in
Libya either die in passage or reach
their destination. This is the story
for World Refugee Day 2017, for
those who venture their fate.
As soon as the migrants sight a
ship of the Italian Navy or any humanitarian
agencies, they rest assured
knowing a “good life” awaits
them.
Rana, a migrant who currently
lives in a refugee camp on the outskirts
of Naples, praised the camp
facilities.
“We had been sailing for six
hours when we first spotted a light
in the fog. We turned our boat towards
it and came upon a fishing
trawler. The fishermen called the
navy, who showed up within half
an hour to take us in,” he said.
Rana said the navy was very
kind to them, providing them with
food and blankets on the ship.
Today, Rana lives with 187 other
Bangladeshis in a refugee camp.
“In a way, we are now leading a
very happy life. The Italian camp
BJP picks Dalit leader as
presidential candidate
• AFP, New Delhi
WORLD
India’s ruling party on Monday
named a lawyer from the lowest
Dalit caste as its candidate for president,
a move seen as an attempt to
reach out to the marginalised community.
Ram Nath Kovind, 71, is likely to
take up the largely ceremonial post
when the term of Pranab Mukherjee
ends next month, becoming the second
Dalit to be India’s head of state.
The president is voted in by
an electoral college comprised of
federal and state lawmakers, and
the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) is thought to have the support
it needs to push its candidate
through.
There is an abundance of food and other amenities for Bangladeshis and other desperate migrants in the Italian refugee camp,
but no scope for work
COURTESY
Ram Nath Kovind
“Kovind has always fought for
the betterment of the Dalits and
other backward castes,” BJP chief
Amit Shah said at a press conference
to announce the party’s candidate.
The BJP has traditionally enjoyed
the support of upper-caste
Hindus but has been wooing lowcaste
voters to broaden its nationwide
appeal.
officials treat us like we are special
guests.” Rana said to the Dhaka
Tribune.
Rishat, another Bangladeshi
refugee, said that the Italian government
issues a card within
six to seven months permitting
them to work inside Italy. He
said the government also pays
them €16 per month for personal
expenses.
But it was the food and toiletries
the Bangladeshi refugees gushed
over.
“For breakfast we get two flatbreads
and as much tea and milk as
we can have. For lunch, we get pasta,
vegetables and more flatbread.
And for dinner, as much rice and
chicken we want,” Rishat said with
a big grin on his face.
“Brother, when I was at sea,
every few minutes I thought I
was going to die. But right now, I
love the place where I am. After
everything I have been through,
this is heaven.” •
Britain, EU start historical Brexit talks
• Reuters, Brussels
WORLD
Brexit Secretary David Davis arrived
in Brussels on Monday to
launch talks he hoped would produce
a “new, deep and special partnership”
with the EU in the interest
of Britons and all Europeans.
Beaming as he met the EU’s
chief negotiator Michel Barnier
at the EU executive’s Berlaymont
headquarters, the veteran campaigner
for Britain to quit the bloc
said he aimed for a “positive and
constructive” tone in the talks,
adding: “There is more that unites
us than divides us.”
Barnier, a former French minister,
has voiced impatience in the
past that Britain has taken nearly
a year to open talks. Looking more
sombre than his British counterpart,
he said he hoped they could
agree a format and timetable on
Monday.
His priority, he said, was to clear
up the uncertainties which last
June’s Brexit vote had created. He
and Davis are due to give a joint
news conference in the evening.
Officials on both sides play
down expectations for what can be
achieved in one day. EU diplomats
hope this first meeting, and a Brussels
summit on Thursday and Friday
where May will encounter, but
not negotiate with, fellow EU leaders,
can improve the atmosphere
after some spiky exchanges.
Which Brexit?
May’s election debacle has revived
feuding over Europe among Conservatives
that her predecessor
David Cameron hoped to end by
calling the referendum and leaves
EU leaders unclear on her plan for
a “global Britain” which most of
IN THE NEXT INSTALMENT
A passage to Italy: No other options
Read on about why people like Rana and
Rishat are unafraid to take such tremendous
risks to get to Italy by crossing the
Mediterranea.
*The names in the story have been
changed to protect the identities of the
informants
Fazlur Rahman Raju contributed to
the report. •
them regard as pure folly.
While “Brexiteers” like Davis
have strongly backed May’s proposed
clean break with the single
market and customs union, finance
minister Philip Hammond and others
have this month echoed calls by
businesses for less of a “hard Brexit”
and retaining closer customs ties.
With discontent in europhile
Scotland and troubled Northern
Ireland, which faces a new EU border
across the divided island, Brexit
poses new threats to the integrity
of the United Kingdom.
It will test the ingenuity of thousands
of public servants racing
against the clock to untangle 44
years of EU membership before
Britain is out, 649 days from now,
on March 30, 2019. For the officials
sitting down on Monday, at least on
the EU side, a major worry is Britain
crashing out into a limbo, with
no deal. •
TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY
Dhaka 32 25 Chittagong 31 26 Rajshahi 37 27 Rangpur 30 24 Khulna 32 26 Barisal 32 27 Sylhet 30 24
Cox’s Bazar 29 26
RAIN LIKELY
TUESDAY, JUNE 20
DHAKA
TODAY
TOMORROW
SUN SETS 6:49PM
SUN RISES 5:12AM
YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW
35.2ºC
22.0ºC
Satkhira
Rangamati
Source: Accuweather/UNB
PRAYER
TIMES
Fajr: 3:54am | Zohr: 1:15pm
Asr: 5:15pm | Magrib: 7:02pm
Esha: 8:45pm
Source: Islamic Foundation

6
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
News
Plan after plan leaves no dent on traffic
• Shohel Mamun
SPECIAL
Numerous initiatives to control
the escalating traffic congestion in
Dhaka have fallen flat.
Regulations like the reversible
lane and the use of tire spikes
which had been implemented in
2009, did not last more than two
weeks. In 2012, Finance Minister
AMA Muhith introduced the idea
of forcing vehicles users to carpool,
in his budget speech in parliament,
but it was not subsequently implemented.
The carpooling system, which
is widely popular globally as a deterrent
to traffic congestion, is an
arrangement between people to
make a regular journey in a single
vehicle, typically with each person
taking turns to drive the others.
Through carpooling, travel expenses
are reduced, as is traffic.
In his speech, Muhith said: “In
order to ease traffic congestion, automobiles
should not be allowed to
ply the city roads unless three passengers
travel together. Otherwise,
extra toll should be imposed.”
“I believe if we can properly
enforce traffic rules and introduce
road pricing, traffic congestion will
not only be reduced, additional resources
will be generated for road
maintenance,” he had added.
When approached by the Dhaka
Tribune regarding the traffic ills
plaguing the city currently, Road
Transport and Highways Division
Secretary MAN Siddique said: “At
present, we are not planning to implement
any carpooling law, but in
future we might limit the number
of cars used by each family.”
Several officials whom this correspondent
spoke to, however, expressed
hope that the government
would soon be implementing a
rehabilitation program which was
recommended back in December
2016 by a sub-committee formed
by the Standing Committee on
Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per the recommendation,
instead of strict punishments for
those evading traffic laws, especially
reckless drivers who are either
uneducated or less educated on
traffic laws, the government should
detain the law evaders and provide
them with lessons on traffic regulations
and laws, beside driving
lessons, with the aim to lower or
eradicate unlawful driving.
“Dhaka Metropolitan Police
should establish a training centre
in Dhaka where drivers who break
traffic rules could be given driving
lessons and taught about traffic
Traffic congestion in Dhaka causes losses worth billions of dollars
MEHEDI HASAN
laws and regulations. They should
also receive counseling sessions.
The centre should be operational
from 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven
days a week,” states the recommendation.
In agreement with the recommendation,
DMP Traffic Joint Commissioner
Mosle Uddin said: “If our
drivers and citizens are not aware
about traffic rules, any newly implemented
traffic regulation cannot
be successful.”
The head of the sub-committee
which provided the recommendation,
Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood,
told the Dhaka Tribune that the
suggested rule was not exceptional
to Bangladesh as the US also had a
similar rule in place.
Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan
Malik Samity Secretary General
Khandaker Enayetullah, however,
disagreed with the plan. He felt
that training law evaders was an
unrealistic plan for our country and
is bound to fail.
“Most of the drivers evade traffic
laws, so it is not possible to select
drivers for training. To ensure discipline
on the roads, drivers need
overall training,” he explained.
In 2009, the Dhaka Metropolitan
Police (DMP) introduced a reversible
lane system on VIP road, Mirpur
road and the Mohakhali-Tongi
road to stop drivers from switching
lanes to avoid road congestion and
accidents. It also set 12 check posts
in different locations in the city to
monitor traffic law evasion and fine
law breakers Tk1,000.
Tire spikes were also installed
on Hare Road to prevent vehicular
movement in the wrong direction.
Not only did the reversible lane
rule not last more than two weeks,
when the tire spikes punctured the
tires of several cars belonging to
influential people, the DMP was
forced to desist from using tire
spikes as well. •
Iran calls missile attack
on Syria militants a
wider warning
• Tribune Desk
WORLD
Iran’s ballistic missile strike
targeting the Islamic State
group in Syria served both as
revenge for attacks on Tehran
earlier this month and a warning
that Iran could strike Saudi
Arabia and US interests in the
Mideast, an Iranian general
said Monday.
The launch, which hit Syria’s
eastern city of Deir el-Zour
on Sunday night, appeared to
be Iran’s first missile attack
abroad in over 15 years and its
first in the Syrian conflict amid
its support of embattled President
Bashar Assad.
It adds new tensions in a
region already unsettled by a
long-running feud between
Shia power Iran and the Sunni
kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
as well as a campaign by Arab
nations against Qatar.
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary
Guard, a paramilitary force
in charge of the country’s missile
program, said it launched
six Zolfaghar ballistic missiles
from the western provinces
of Kermanshah and Kurdistan.
State television footage
showed the missiles on truck
missile launchers in the daylight
before being launched at
night.
The Guard described the
missile strike as revenge for
attacks on Tehran earlier this
month. Five IS-linked attackers
stormed Iran’s parliament
and a shrine. That IS assault,
the first to hit Iran, shook residents
who believed the chaos
engulfing the rest of the Middle
East would not find them.
But the missiles sent a message
to more than just the extremists
in Iraq and Syria, Gen
Ramazan Sharif of the Guard
told state television in a telephone
interview.
“The Saudis and Americans
are especially receivers of this
message,” he said. “Obviously
and clearly, some reactionary
countries of the region, especially
Saudi Arabia, had announced
that they are trying
to bring insecurity into Iran.” •

News
TUESDAY,
7
JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Bangladeshi commits suicide after
India’s final defeat
• Bishwajit Deb, Jamalpur
NATION
An Indian cricket fan from Jamalpur has
reportedly committed suicide after his favourite
team’s crushing defeat to Pakistan
in 2017 Champions Trophy.
The deceased is Bidyut, 25, son of Anisur
Rahman of Shang Gate area and a food vendor.
GRP police station OC Nasirul Islam said:
“Disheartened by the match result, Bidyut
committed suicide by jumping in front of a
running train Sunday night.”
Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs and
lifted the Champions Trophy. •
Members of Bangladesh Army help locals pass through the landslide-affected roads in Rangamati
yesterday. The road connectivity in the remote areas of the hilly district has broken down in last week’s
landslides
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Relief comes late
to Rangamati
• FM Mizanur Rahman
from Rangamati
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Relief distribution activities
in the landslide-ravaged areas
of Rangamati are proceeding
at a sluggish pace.
The local administration
has yet to prepare a list of
people affected by the disaster.
A Sunday visit to several
shelters in Rangamati town
at Rangamati Radio Centre,
Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation office
and Rangamati Government
College revealed members of
the army distributing cooked
food and providing healthcare
to affected people.
During the visit, locals
aired their grievances saying
that lunch was served late, at
around 3pm. Mothers with
infants are the most susceptible
to malnutrition.
Hosne Ara from Vedvedi,
who took refuge in Rangamati
Radio Centre, said: “The
army gives us food. But there
is very little water to drink in
the shelter.”
Sumi Akhter, at Rangamati
Government College, said
they receive dry foods in the
morning and cooked food in
the afternoon.
Adequate relief material in
stock
Shahida Akhter, assistant
commissioner of Rangamati
district administration informed
that as many as 2,500
people including women and
children have so far taken
refuge in a total of 19 shelters
in Rangamati city.
Among the shelters in
Rangamati, five are being supervised
by the police, seven
by the army, four by the Border
Guard Bangladesh and
four others by Bangladesh
Red Crescent Society. The
district administration is coordinating
the management
for all the shelters.
Manzarul Mannan, deputy
commissioner of Rangamati,
told the Dhaka Tribune:
“Tk65lakh in cash, 300 tonnes
of rice, 500 bundles of corrugated
tin sheets and Tk15lakh
for constructing dwellings
have been allocated for the
landslide victims. In addition,
we have 10,000 sachets of
oral saline and 1,00,000 water
purifying tablets.
“We have not started to
distribute the tin sheets just
yet. Because the affected
people will start constructing
houses on the soft topsoil of
the hills risking further landslides,”
explained the DC.
“All the relief materiel will
be distributed very soon. The
rice has been distributed in
the upazilas already. Right
now, we are distributing food
and medicine,” said the DC.
Replying to a query, the
DC said: “Distributing relief
takes time. We are still assessing
the damage. The assessment
will be completed
by Sunday (yesterday).”
At a media briefing on
Sunday, the DC Sunday said:
“We have adequate stock
of relief materials including
cash and food items. When
the affected people received
the relief materials, they said
they are not in a position to
store them. Hence, we are
distributing cooked food.”
“29,000 litres of octane
have been brought in to ensure
uninterrupted fuel supply
in the district. We are
also conducting mobile court
drives to keep the prices of
essentials at reasonable levels,”
the DC said.
Fear of rain and further
landslides
Meanwhile, a fresh torrent
on Sunday renewed fears of
further landslides. The fear
drove further number of people
to the shelters.
Fire Service and Civil
Defence Deputy Director
Newton Das, reassigned
from Chittagong on special
duty, told the Dhaka Tribune
that the fire service sounds
alarms whenever it begins to
rain, to alert people living in
hazardous areas to relocate
to the shelters.
Md Humayun, in-charge
of Rangamati Meteorological
Office told the Dhaka Tribune
that they recorded 68.4mm
rainfall in the district from
morning till 12 noon Sunday.
At least 114 people died
and hundreds injured in the
landslides last week. Neighbouring
hilly districts are
also affected, but the damage
is centralised in Rangamati. •

8
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
News
Lightning strikes kill 15 in a day
• Tribune Desk
NATION
At least 11 people, including children
and women, were killed in
separate lightning strikes across
the country yesterday.
Our Faridpur correspondent reported
that five people, including a
mother and her son were killed by
lightning strikes in different areas
of the district.
According to police sources, Helena
Begum and her son Helal were
killed by lightning strikes in Saltha.
Omor Ali, hailed from Natore,
died in lightning strikes while
working at Kabirpur village in Sadar
upazila.
Day labourer Kabul was killed
in lightning strikes while working
at Samir Beparu Dangi area in Char
Bhadrasan in the morning.
In Boalmari upazila, an imam
Auwal Fakir, 40, and a devotee
Faruq Molla, 35, died in a lightning
strike.
According to reports of Manikganj
correspondent, two minor
boys were killed by lightning
strikes in Shibalay upazila.
The deceased were Alam, 6, son
of Awlad Hossain, a resident in No
5 Jetty Ghat area and Ruhul Sheikh,
son of a day labourer Awlad Hossain.
Local UP chairman Jammat Ali
said lightning struck Ruhul while
he was returning home picking up
some fruits from nearby garden. He
died on the spot.
Alam died in lightning strikes
while he was picking fruits at a garden
near his house around 11am.
In Magura, two farmers were
killed in different thunderbolt incidents
at Naliadangi and Moghi village
in Sadar upazila of the district,
No charge for rice import LC now
• Shariful Islam
BUSINESS
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
said our correspondent.
The deceased were Kalam
Biswas, 48, of Naliadangi village
and Asad Sheikh, 50, of Moghi village
of the upazila.
Lightning struck Kalam Biswas
while he was working at his vegetable
field in Naliadangi village, leaving
him critically injured.
He was sent to Sadar hospital
where he succumbed to his injuries.
In another incident, a lightning
hit farmer Asad Sheikh in the afternoon
while he was working at
The central bank has issued a directive
on opening Letter of Credit
(LC) for rice import with a zero balance
in the importers’ accounts.
The directive came yesterday in
the form of a circular aimed at all
managing directors and CEOs of
commercial banks.
The notice stated that due to
recent flood in haor areas, heavy
rainfall and natural disaster across
a crop field in the village of Moghi.
Later Asad was sent to the Sadar
hospital where on-duty doctor declared
him dead.
Officer-in-charge of Sadar police
station Hossain Al mahabub confirmed
the incidents.
A youth was killed while lightning
struck him at Doulatpur
upazila of Kushtia around 11am,
reported our correspondent.
The deceased was Badsha, 17,
son of Abdur Razzaque of Thakurpara
village.
Locals said Badsha came under
of lightning strike while he was
cutting grass in the field nearby of
his house. He died on the spot.
Noakhali correspondent said a
man was killed by lightning strike
at Munshir Taluk village under Sadar
upazila of the district.
The victim was Azad, 40, son of
Abdul Malek of the village.
Officer-in-charge of Sudharam
Model police station Anwer Hossain
said lightning struck Azad while
he was working at his poultry farm
around 7.45am adjacent to his home,
leaving Azad dead on the spot.
According to Joypurhat correspondent’s
reports, a woman was
killed in Panchbibi upazila of the
district as lightning struck her in
the morning.
The deceased was Ratna Begum
of Bebokhanda village in the upazila.
Ashraful Islam, officer-in-charge
of Panchbibi police station, said
Ratna became critically injured
in lightning strike while she was
working in the yard of her house.
Later, she was sent to Joypurhat
Hospital where doctor declared her
dead.
In Bagerhat, an farmer named
Kustu Mallik was killed while another
one Sattar Sheikh, 60, injured in
the sadar upazila the afternoon. •
Rice millers as well as dealers had to pay their
loan within 30 days after they took the credit
the country, rice market turned
unstable, shooting up the price of
staple food.
“In the circumstances, LC margin
has been reduced to zero based
on bankers-clients relations to facilitate
rice import.”
General Manager (Banking Regulations
and Policy Department)
of Bangladesh Bank said as per the
BRPD circular issued on December 2,
2003, the LC margin ranged from 0
to 100, which has been replaced with
the new margin that will remain effective
till December 31 this year.
Charge framing in
Banani rape case
on July 9
• Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
COURTS
A Dhaka has fixed July 9 for framing
the charges against five accused
in the Banani rape case.
Dhaka’s Women and Children
Repression Prevention Tribunal
2 Judge Md Saiful Azam fixed the
date after taking the charge sheet
into cognisance yesterday morning.
The court also rejected the bail
petitions of the accused and sent
them to jail.
According to the case, the two
plaintiffs were raped on March
28 at The Raintree Hotel and filed
a case on May 6 with Banani police
against Shafat Ahmed, Nayem
Ashraf, Shadman Sakif, Shafaat’s
driver Billal Hossain and bodyguard
Rahmat Ali. •
Met office: Monsoon
rain to continue for
3-4 days
• Abu Siddique
WEATHER
Monsoon has engulfed Bangladesh
and remains moderate over the
North Bay, the pouring rains will
continue for the next three to four
days, says Met office.
The Met office said: “Trough of
low lies over West Bengal and adjoining
Bangladesh which extends
up to North Bay.”
Meteorologist Mohammad Abdul
Mannan forecasts light to moderate
rain is likely to occur at most
places over Dhaka, Mymensingh
and Rangpur regions.
Heavy rains projected for Chittagong,
Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet. •
The circular also asked all
the banks to strictly follow the
previously issued circular on
advance loan payment by the rice
traders.
Rice millers as well as dealers
had to pay their loan within 30
days after they took the credit.
In another circular, the central
bank also directed all commercial
banks to provide money and relief
for those affected by recent landslides
in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The recent heavy rain in the regions
caused the landslides, leaving
over 100 people dead.
The circular stressed that the
banks give necessary support to
the victims as part of their CSR
activities and incorporate their expenditure
into the subsections of
social and community investment
projects. •

News
9
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Musa Ibrahim rescued, claims
passport seized by rescuers
• Tribune Desk
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Bangladeshi mountaineer Musa Ibrahim,
who was trapped at the base camp of Mount
Carstensz Pyramid in Papua Province of
Indonesia for six days due to bad weather, has
been rescued.
He was rescued, along with two Indians, on
Monday morning.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed
Shahriar Alam posted the information on
his Facebook account earlier in the day.
Musa, the first Bangladeshi to conquer
Mount Everest, also posted pictures on his
Facebook account after reaching Timika airport.
In a second post, Musa dedicated his success
of hoisting the national flag of Bangladesh on
Mount Carstensz Pyramid to all Bangladeshis.
“I want to share this happiness with each
and every person of Bangladesh,” Musa wrote.
He also expressed his gratitude to Minister
Shahriar Alam, State Minister of Information
and Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Ambassador
of Bangladesh to Indonesia Major General
Azmal Kabir and other officials for their
cordial support.
Bangladesh Embassy in Jakarta was in close
contact with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the organisers, rescue team and
local guides, who were coordinating with the
rescue operation, reports the UNB.
Wishing anonymity, a diplomat told UNB:
“We also contacted the National Search and
Rescue Agency and looked for their help.
However, due to bad weather, the helicopter
could not land at their base camp.”
Bangladesh Embassy got the news first
from Musa Ibrahim’s sister and contacted the
Asean Secretariat in Jakarta and the Indian
Embassy.
Later, Shahriar Alam informed the Bangladesh
Mission in Jakarta around 4am Sunday
that the weather was good and they could be
Macron’s fledgling party sweeps
French parliament
• AFP, Paris
WORLD
French President Emmanuel Macron’s trailblazing
centrist party on Monday savoured an
election victory that gave it a strong majority
in parliament, redrawing the country’s political
map and giving the young leader a strong
hand to implement business-friendly reforms.
Although it fell short of a predicted landslide,
Macron’s Republique en Marche (Republic
on the Move, REM) and its allies won 350
seats in the 577-seat National Assembly after
the second round of an election that eliminated
many high-profile figures.
It gives the 39-year-old president one of
France’s biggest post-war majorities in what
editorialist Alexis Brezet of the right-leaning
daily Le Figaro called a “revolution”.
“A profoundly renewed political generation
takes over the reins of legislative power,” he
wrote. “In the history of our institutions, it’s a
revolution without precedent since 1958,” the
COLLECTED
evacuated, but the rescue operation could not
be carried out due to bad weather.
Musa claims passport seized by helicopter
company AsiaOne
In a new post, Musa Ibrahim claimed that
AsiaOne has seized his passport illegally following
a dispute over payment.
“I have been rescued from the base camp
but I am detained by the helicopter company,”
he wrote.
In the post, he said: “Helicopter Company
AsiaOne rescued us from the base camp.
They have illegally seized our passports. They
are demanding $11,000 for flying thrice from
Timika airport to the base camp.
“They got late and arrived at the base camp
around 10am on Sunday and had to fly back
to Timika. That was completely their fault because
we were all prepared from 6am in the
morning.”
He said: “The helicopter went near the base
camp and again returned to Timika without
rescuing us on Monday.”
They were rescued the third time when the
pilot noticed them waving their flags.
The mountaineer said the three have agreed
to give $8,000 but the company is not willing to
settle for anything less than $11,000. •
start of France’s Fifth Republic.
Macron’s confident start at home, where he
has concentrated on trying to restore the lost
prestige of the president, and his bold action
on the international stage has inspired a host
of positive headlines.
REM’s comfortable lower house majority will
give Macron a free hand to pursue his agenda
of loosening labour laws to try to boost employment,
to overhaul France’s social security system
and to breathe new life into the European Union.
More women lawmakers
Only 140 incumbents held onto their seats,
and the new assembly will be characterised by
younger, more ethnically diverse lawmakers
and 223 women, a record number.
Around half of REM’s candidates are virtual
unknowns drawn from diverse fields of academia,
business or local activism.
The other half of the party are a mix of centrists
and moderate left- and right-wing politicians
drawn from established parties including
ally MoDem. •

10
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
News
‘This is not a normal environment to do politics’
BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury
speaks to the Dhaka Tribune’s Manik Miazee about his party’s strategy for the next general election
and its Vision 2030, a 13-year-long development plan for Bangladesh that Khosru helped design
INTERVIEW
Is BNP’s Vision 2030, announced
by party chief Khaleda Zia, an
election manifesto? If not, then
what are the differences between
Vision 2030 and BNP’s election
manifesto?
No, Vision 2030 is not our election
manifesto. It is our vision of Bangladesh’s
future. We welcome suggestions
from everyone on how to
improve that vision.
This is not an unachievable vision.
We think it is very attainable
and can be successfully implemented,
unlike the Awami League’s
vision that they call Roopkolpo
2021/2041. Theirs is an entirely impractical
development plan, ours is
not a dream but an achievable future
plan for Bangladesh.
It is BNP’s dream to develop the
private sector, turn one-party rule
to a democratic government and
increase production in Bangladesh.
This vision of ours takes into account
the socio-economic reality of
Bangladesh because that is our responsibility
as a citizen as we know
we can successfully implement Vision
2030.
What is the difference between
BNP’s Vision 2030 and Awami
League’s Roopkolpo 2041?
There are many differences. The
road-map of Awami League’s vision
is a three-page long plan that
does not describe the means of income
acquisition and expenditure.
But the BNP’s Vision 2030 clearly
states where our will comes
from, what we will invest in and
it is open for public discourse. All
worthy suggestions will be incorporated
into our vision.
Why did not BNP-led alliance
member Jamaat-e-Islami attend
the Vision 2030 programme? Has
the BNP distanced itself from
Jamaat?
Because the vision is BNP’s. It has
nothing to do with the alliance. We invited
political parties, members of the
civil society, diplomats and others.
We have not distanced ourselves
from our alliance member.
How well is the BNP prepared for
the next national election?
The BNP is always prepared for
contesting the election, provided
that it is a free and fair one that reflects
the people’s wishes.
What is BNP’s plan for
participating the in next election?
Election is a fundamental issue, it
is not a party issue. If a party forcefully
calls an election and the people
must obey, then its not a good
political environment. People are
losing faith in the electoral system
as it is broken now.
If the Election Commission organises
an election in this broken
system, then the people will not
accept the results.
The 2014 election was questionable
from all aspects, and for this,
we demand changes in the electoral
system to hold a free, fair, credible
and acceptable election.
First, the government should
change the election system and
then provide an election road-map.
Pragmatically, incorporating the
election system with the constitution,
the results of which cannot be
questioned in future.
If the ruling party held an election
without paying heed to the nationwide
concerns, then the BNP will
not participate in that election. The
country is not obligated to partake in
that election either. We are not participating
to feed into the one-party
power structure that exists now.
Party insiders say that BNP is
feuding on the grassroots level
causing all the party’s initiatives to
fail. What do you make of that claim?
This is a matter of maintaining
a democratic environment and
norms, which is absent in Bangladesh.
When political opponent is a
state terrorist it becomes difficult
to be engaged in politics.
This is not a normal environment
to do politics in this country,
where we face forced disappearance,
torture, killing and homes [of
opposition leaders and activists]
raided on a regular basis. People
are not allowed to exercise their
democratic rights.
This is why the BNP and other political
parties cannot hold programmes.
Not because of internal feuds.
The government has taken away
human rights, civic rights, eroded
the rule of law and has suppressed
press freedom. We do not hold programmes
precisely for this reason,
to protect our lives.
Why does your party allege that
the Awami League is using the
Election Commission for its own
advantage?
There is no question that the Awami
League is doing so. They have
completely broken down the EC.
If the EC really wanted to, then it
could conduct a free and fair transparent
election.
The country does not trust this
government or its ability to hold a
neutral election. If they want to regain
that trust, they have to let the
EC do its job and that is to organise
a free and fair election.
If BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is
convicted by the court, who will be
the next party chief? What will be
the future of the BNP?
That is the central question that
the BNP is grabbing with right now.
The party will take a decision when
the time comes. •
Portugal in mourning as firefighters still battle deadly wildfire
• AFP, Pedrogao Grande
WORLD
More than 1,000 firefighters on
Monday battled a giant forest fire
that swept through central Portugal
at the weekend, killing at least
62 people.
The country was in mourning
after the deadliest such disaster
in Portugal’s recent history, with
many victims burnt as they were
trapped in their cars.
“The fire has reached a level of
human tragedy that we have never
seen before,” said a visibly moved
Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who
announced three days of mourning
from Sunday.
The searing temperatures in
Portugal had dropped slightly on
Monday, the fire was still raging,
spreading to neighbouring regions
of Castelo Branco and Coimbra.
Firefighters were continuing a
grim search for bodies, with Costa
warning on Sunday that the death
toll could still rise.
Police chief Almeida Rodrigues
blamed dry thunderstorms for the
blaze which broke out on Saturday
in Pedrogao Grande, saying a tree
had been struck by lightning.
The expanse of wooded hills in
the area north of Lisbon, which 24
hours before had glowed bright
green with eucalyptus plants and
pine trees, was gutted by the flames.
A thick layer of white smoke
blanketed either side of a motorway
for about 20km on Sunday, as
A firefighter watches a forest fire near Fato, Portugal on June 18, 2017
blackened trees leaned listlessly
over charred soil.
A burnt-out car sat outside
MEHEDI HASAN
REUTERS
partly destroyed and abandoned
houses, while a few metres away
police in face masks surrounded
the corpse of a man hidden under
a white sheet.
‘Sharing their pain’
Portugal was sweltering under a severe
heatwave over the weekend,
with temperatures topping 40°C in
several regions.
About 35 forest fires continued
to burn across the country on Monday,
with more than 2,000 firefighters
and 660 vehicles mobilised.
Dozens of people who fled their
homes were taken in by residents
of the nearby municipality of Ansiao.
President Marcelo Rebelo went
to the Leiria region to meet victims’
families, saying he was “sharing
their pain in the name of all the
Portuguese people”. •

Edison Group brings selfie
specialist Helio S10
News 11
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
Radisson Blu makes Eid offer in Ctg
• Tribune Business Desk
METROPOLITAN
Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View has made
an exclusive offer for the upcoming Eid vacationers
to spend some quality family time.
The offer includes – Stay 1 night, Get
1 night free. Besides, the holidaymakers
DT
will be able to enjoy an unlimited dining
incorporating one couple buffet dinner
and buffet breakfast at Xchange and one
evening.
In addition, private SPA Manicure and Pedicure
or Foot Reflexology Massage and unlimited
pool fun can all be availed at an exclusive
price of only for Tk22,500 per couple all inclusive.
•
COURTESY
• Tribune Business Desk
METROPOLITAN
Edison Group has brought the much-talkedabout
Selfie Specialist Smartphone – Helio
S10 – in the market recently.
The group Chairman, Aminur Rashid, unveiled
the handset at a launching ceremony
in a city hotel.
In line with its metal uni-body design, the
handset incorporates aircraft-grade material,
corning gorilla glass 3 in its front while a latest
generation fingerprint sensor is embedded in
the home button.
With a 5.5-inch full-HD IPS display and a
vivid brightness, the device holds one of the
best screens to enjoy games and videos.
The mobile has 4010 mAh Li-Poly battery
and supports fast charging. It can be charged up
to 47% in only 30 minutes while fully charged
battery can last more than a day with moderate
usage, net surfing, videos, games, music, etc.
The phone is created for those passionate
for selfies. It has a 16-MP camera in the front
with LED selfie flash lamp.
The rear 13-MP camera has f2.0 aperture
with a Sony IMX258 sensor producing photos
with accurate colors.
Helio S10 comes with octa-core processor
combined with 4 GB of RAM for making the
device powerful. This gives the best experience
for playing high-end games. It contains
32 GB of internal storage which allows more
storage of pic, video, apps and games. It can
be increased by memory card up to 256GB.
Helio S10 is priced only at Tk19,990. An attractive
backpack is available for customers. •
Southeast Bank signs deal with Labaid
COURTESY
• Tribune Desk
METROPOLITAN
Southeast Bank Limited signed an agreement
with Labaid Group recently under which the
bank’s credit and debit card members can enjoy
up to 15% discounts on various medical services
in Labaid Hospital, said a press release.
Md Abdus Sabur Khan, head of cards division
of the bank, and Brig Gen (retd) Dr Khan
Md Asadulla Hel Galib, medical director of
Labaid Group, signed the deal on behalf of
their respective organisations. The signing
ceremony was also attended by officials of
the two the organisations. •
BCSIR holds seminar on industrial
research
• Tribune Report
METROPOLITAN
BCSIR held a seminar on Industrial Research
and Enhancement of ISO standard in its auditorium
yesterday.
Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research Chairman Md Faruque
Ahmed was present at the programme as the
chief quest, said a press release.
Benjamin Hembrom, member, science and
technology, presided over the programme
while Md Aminul Ahsan, director, INARS, delivered
his keynote speech.
The seminar held bilateral talks between
researchers and service takers. Representatives
from pharmaceuticals, beverage and
chemical industries were present at the
event. •

DT
12
Editorial
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
TODAY
New Delhi,
I love you
Even with the international wars which
are selfishly raged between our two
nations, I could not, unlike many of my
contemporaries and peers, find it in me
to hate
PAGE 13
The most deserving
side won
Pakistan’s team effort helped them
write history at Kennington Oval on
Sunday. Pakistan proved once again
how beautiful the game of cricket is
PAGE 14
No way to live, no way to die
AFP
Can’t you hear
their cries?
Who will take the responsibility for the
loss of innocent lives?
PAGE 15
Be heard
Write to Dhaka Tribune
FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath,
Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207
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The views expressed in opinion
articles are those of the authors
alone and they are not the
official view of Dhaka Tribune
or its publisher.
Every day, thousands of Bangladeshis put their lives at
peril, seeking a better life elsewhere in the world.
This is a worrying trend that we must address.
It is disheartening that so many people spend
hours on the dangerous seas, crammed into boats, without
food and water.
We must ask: Why are so many of our citizens taking this
path, often drowning, starving, or suffocating to death?
What is worse is that many of these migrants, with
promises of a better life, are lured and kidnapped for ransom.
The government must crack down on these illegal
migration rings.
Too often do we hear stories of boats carrying our citizens
capsizing at sea, leading to the deaths of innocents.
Furthermore, desperate citizens must be made aware that
there are rackets such as these which they must be wary of.
And, most importantly, we must investigate what is
leading them to take such desperate measures.
They must know that this is no way to live life and that no
matter what the circumstances, the government is there to
help.
The authorities must also work with other government
to bring back those who find themselves in compromised
situations and the bodies of those who have tragically lost
their lives.
This unnecessary cycle of death must stop, and it must
stop now.
Let us take care of our citizens, and throw the book at
those who seek to take advantage of them.
This unnecessary cycle
of death must stop, and
it must stop now

New Delhi, I love you
Opinion 13
How can you hate a nation when your life is steeped in its culture from childhood?
DT
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
THE
WORLD IN
PARENTHESES
• SN Rasul
It would be rather
disingenuous of me if I were
to claim that no part of my
cultural and psychological
make-up has been influenced by
the powerhouse that is Indian
culture.
From the childhood memories
of 90s Bollywood to the more
contemporary dances at holuds,
I have partaken in Indian culture
in many instances as if it were my
own.
Masala dosa
From the moment I was born,
my eyes had glued themselves
to the constant influx of Hindi
serials and films which the kaajer
meye consumed with a vociferous
hunger. And I, too, did the same.
From the melodramatic
drums of Sanjeevani and Kasautii
Zindaggi Kii to the classic
romances starring the Khans,
I revelled in the musicality of
what made Indian culture so
mesmerisingly appealing to a
starry-eyed, impressionable child
in the 90s.
I grew up loving Shah Rukh
Khan and his reverberating voice;
I lay shocked with my head in my
hands when I found out that the
actors were not, in fact, the actual
singers. At 13, watching Kal Ho Na
Ho in a theatre in Ahmedabad, I
wept tears of joy and sorrow.
To say nothing of the times I
actually visited the country. The
food was exquisite and, every time
I went through Kolkata, it was an
extravaganza: I dipped crunchy
dosa into sambhar (how did the
South make vegetarian food taste
so good?) and devoured the spicy
chicken rolls next to New Market.
I went up the Eden-like
mountains of Darjeeling and
came down to the gritty suburbs
of Mumbai. I traversed across the
breadth of the sub-continent in a
36-hour journey by train spanning
a dozen states, passing a multitude
of languages and cultures the likes
of which I hadn’t experienced
within the span of a singular
country’s borders.
And through it all, I was not
at home, but I could function
thoroughly, for the constant
barrage of Indo-linguistic
entertainment, I could speak my
Every Bangladeshi recognises these faces
mind, for I was fluent in Hindi.
Which language is mine?
My fluency with the language
came about largely because of my
cousins, and, by extension, many
of my friends -- the people under
whose influence a young teenager
might find himself functioning.
So, if someone had asked me
at the time whether or not I loved
the country of India, I would have
said yes. Why wouldn’t I? What did
the teenager in me know of border
killings and Teesta, of pockets
of no man’s land and cultural
hegemony? What did I know of
India’s dominance as a nation state
over the slowly dying nation of
ours?
Anyone growing up here
receives an education in three
languages: Bangla, the mother
tongue; Hindi, the language
of television; and English, the
language of schools.
By the time we were coming out
of the illusion of Hindustan as the
go-to place for cultural superiority,
society had already been divided
by such linguistic means.
Which language, then, do we call
our own?
My mouth found a home in
Bengali, while my writing found
the most comfort in English.
English, with its simplistic Roman
characters made it easier to find
Even with the international wars which are selfishly raged between our
two nations, I could not, unlike many of my contemporaries and peers,
find it in me to hate
patterns and nuances, whereas
Bangla was complex, its letters
interwoved, its multiple letters
for the same sound confusing.
Where could we then place Hindi,
a language we at once loved and
hated?
Loved because I cannot indulge
in nostalgia without revisiting
Baadshah; hated because -- why
exactly?
Even with the international
wars which are selfishly waged
between our two nations, I
could not, unlike many of my
contemporaries and peers, find it
in me to hate.
Though hating India and
Pakistan (for different reasons)
seemed to have become the staple
for any hot-blooded Bangladeshi.
After all, I had met Indians and
enjoyed their company, eaten
their delicious food, danced to
their (now “khaet”) songs with
merriment. Even if I hadn’t, was
hatred for an entire nation and its
people something I could muster?
This was a hatred that hadn’t
been sanctioned by state or
society, but existed, and still
exists.
Mauka mauka
There was an article last week
about how India’s “Mauka
mauka” campaign during the 2015
Cricket World Cup, where they
mocked the other nations, was
instrumental in cultivating the
hatred for the Indian cricket team
and, subsequently, the nation.
Though I’m sure the campaign
didn’t help, I remember hating
the Indian cricket team for as long
as I have been watching cricket. I
have consistently enjoyed India’s
losses more than I have enjoyed
Bangladesh’s wins.
And so, when India lost on
Sunday to Pakistan, and that too,
devastatingly, I, with the rest of
the country, was overjoyed.
Why?
Because of the arrogance,
the sick nationalistic pride, the
egotistical fans, the face of Kohli.
But are we any different? Or
have they made us become the
same?
Bangladesh’s luck and talent were
instrumental in them reaching the
semi-finals, and this was worth
celebrating.
But how much of this sport
is used to cultivate certain
sentiments, both of patriotism and
hatred, which keep us inundated
in our respective cycles of life?
Growing up, sports was
something that brought the
neighbourhood together. It seems
that sports (and politics) had torn
the neighbourhood asunder. Not
without cause, of course.
But, through the hatred of
specific people and their specific
policies, now one feels like an
outcast when one appreciates a
certain kind of music of a certain
culture, or expresses the beauty of
a certain country’s landscapes.
Bangladesh is beautiful. And
so is India (and Pakistan, I’m sure,
though I’ve never been). Can’t we
leave it at that? •
SN Rasul is an Editorial Assistant at
the Dhaka Tribune. Follow him on
Twitter @snrasul.
REUTERS

14
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Opinion
The most deserving side won
Pakistan showed that anything is possible in cricket
it being his very first time as a
captain on such a big stage.
PCB put their trust in him by
conferring the captaincy, which
he repaid by taking the helm
proficiently.
After losing by a huge margin
to India in the very first game, it
was hard to move on to win all of
the next matches with a possibly
spirit-broken team. But this man
had faith in his team, the faith
was sheer power against their
opponents.
Pakistan never lost their cool
• Raihan Rahman Rafid
Pakistan started the
tournament with the
lowest team rank, but by
the end, this unpredictable
team took home the trophy as
champions winning against
their arch-rival India in the ICC
Champions Trophy final on June
18.
As the second biggest
tournament of ICC’s curtain
was raised, Australia, England,
and South Africa were the
teams expected to reach the
final with fan favourite India
to be considered too (for their
formidable batting line-up and
consistent performance).
Only a few might have named
Pakistan out of affection, even
former players from the country
didn’t think the new team
had what it took to become a
champion.
Pakistan in their first group
stage game against the title
defenders were almost toyed with
by India in a 124-run defeat. Blown
away were the hopes of fans, and
at stake was their survival in the
tournament.
But the plot soon changed, as
the results of Group B matches
proved to be unexpected with
India’s loss to Sri Lanka, not to
mention Pakistan upsetting South
Africa. No one could exactly
predict or guess which team would
qualify for the semi-finals from the
group.
Dramatically, Pakistan secured
their place with a nail-biting finish
against Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, the host
team England remained unbeaten
in their group and chased down a
target of 306 set by Bangladesh in
the first match. They defeated New
Zealand. Initially, they struggled
with the bat against Australia,
but proved their strength of the
middle order by winning the rainaffected
match.
Whereas their batting seemed
unstoppable, and Adil Rashid and
Woods being amongst the top
wicket-takers, none could even
imagine what was waiting for
them as the Group A champions
marched forward to face Pakistan
in the semi-final.
To everyone’s surprise, Pakistan
crushed the home side.
Batting has been Pakistan’s
weakness for a long time now.
But in the final, they batted
exceptionally well, attaining the
highest total scored in a final.
The so-called best batting side
was thwarted by possibly the
best bowling side, and Pakistan
for the first time clinched the
champion’s title after reaching the
semi-finals thrice in a total of eight
appearances.
Amir shows his strengths
Hafeez once said: “I can’t share the
dressing room with someone who
hurts my country’s integrity.”
Even players started to boycott
training sessions because of
Amir’s inclusion in the Pakistan
team. With a taunting history that
tarnished his career, Mohammad
Amir kept on regularly taking
wickets making himself a key
bowler in the team.
In the final, everyone knew
that 338 runs were within the
reach of India. The captain of the
opposition had a good record of
chasing big totals and winning
matches for his side. The opening
pair, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar
Dhawan, were in good form.
Dhawan had scored most runs
in the tournament. Coming into
the attack, Amir dismantled the
trio. His three wickets at the very
early stage of the match were
instrumental to the victory of
Pakistan.
He missed the semi-final, but
made sure that fans don’t forget
his contribution to the win. The
bowler also scored with the bat
in a match-winning partnership
against Sri Lanka. His exemplary
performance shows how a man
can write his own bright future,
fading away their dark past.
Other stars of the match
Hafeez was questioned for his
performance; the once top allrounder
of Pakistan cricket. He
was not quite lethal with his
bowling as he once used to be.
But he responded in the final with
his 57 off 37 balls that led to the
MD MANIK
massive total.
Overall, the pitch seemed
to have nothing to offer to the
bowlers, and became battingfriendly.
Still, very few bowlers
were able to produce magic with
the ball, and Hassan Ali was the
best among them. Hassan Ali
earned 13 wickets to his name and
was rightfully named the Player of
the Tournament.
The fabulous find
Had Pakistan not scored such a big
total, the scenario could have been
much different. Thanks to the
young Fakhar Zaman for scoring a
century in his first match against
India.
This wonder boy played his
first ICC tournament and went
on to score more and more runs
beautifully in the four games that
he played. His ordeal was to face
the big game, but he overwhelmed
his team with a match winning
performance of 114 runs off only
106 balls.
Fakhar was named the Player of
the Final.
O captain, my captain
Confidence always results in
success, boosting up your team’s
morale is important for any
captain, and the man who did that
job behind the wickets was none
other than Sarfraz Ahmed. With
the timely change of bowling in
every match, Sarfraz proved how
well he can lead his team despite
Pakistan’s team
effort helped them
write history at
Kennington Oval on
Sunday. Pakistan
proved once again
how beautiful the
game of cricket is
The genius behind the scenes
Last but not the least, how the
bowling coach Azhar Mahmood
influenced the bowlers was visible
in their performance. Former
Pakistani player Azhar had played
a good number of matches in
England, and his experience on
the grounds of London and Wales
added an advantage to the bowling
department.
Seamers didn’t disappoint their
sensei with noticeable reverse
swings.
Junaid, Azhar Ali, and others
contributed to the team and
played well throughout the
tournament. Pakistan won the
title undoubtedly as the most
deserving side. They also avenged
their only loss in the tournament
with a 180-run win.
Previously, Pakistan had lost
all three knockout matches that
were against India in an ICC event.
Pakistan’s team effort helped them
write history at Kennington Oval
on Sunday. Pakistan proved once
again how beautiful the game of
cricket is, and how any team can
make anything possible. •
Raihan Rahman Rafid is a freelance
contributor.

Opinion 15
Can’t you hear their cries?
The death toll in the Hill Tracts keeps rising
DT
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
ecosystems, which means the
destruction of their bio-diversity.
Rubber, teak, and eucalyptus
monocultures for export have
provoked negative ecological
effects by the substitution of part
of the forest, as well as conflicts
between local communities
belonging to the 13 indigenous
Jumma groups that inhabit the
region.
Now the question is: Who will
take the responsibility for the loss
of innocent lives?
We still have enough time
to protect the culture and the
livelihoods of the CHT Jumma
people.
It is therefore crucial for the
government to take appropriate
measures to make the ruling
classes of this country understand
that the diversified flora and
fauna they are destroying are
part and parcel of our lives and
are extremely important for our
climate.
We should respect the diversity
of nature and the traditional
knowledge of the indigenous
Jumma peoples. •
Human activity has been wreaking havoc on the region’s soil
DHAKA TRIBUNE
John Tripura works for the Kapaeeng
Foundation.
• John Tripura
This week, we witnessed
the loss of over 160
innocent lives to a climate
disaster in the Chittagong
Hill Tracts (CHT), a tragedy
that has touched many people
nationally and also internationally.
Even Russian President
Vladimir Putin expressed his deep
shock over the huge casualties and
large-scale devastation caused by
landslides in five south-eastern
hill districts of Bangladesh.
He sent his condolence message
to the Bangladesh government
through their diplomatic mission.
UN Resident Coordinator in
Bangladesh Robert Watkins has
also expressed his solidarity with
the families of the deceased.
But I haven’t yet seen the
government of Bangladesh declare
a national emergency, or even
issue a statement mourning the
tragedy.
I’ve been following numerous
talk shows and different print and
online news covering the issue. So
many heated debates have risen
regarding the issue, but no one is
thinking of a permanent solution.
Is Jhum cultivation to blame?
At one point, some of them tried
to blame it on the traditional
(shifting) cultivation system,
Now the question is: Who will take the responsibility for the loss of
innocent lives?
which is widely known as jhum
cultivation. I would argue that
they have very little knowledge
of this traditional system, since
shifting cultivation is done
without harming the land.
I would rather blame the ruling
classes of this country, including
the political parties (starting from
the Ziaur Rahman regime in the
1980s) and the military, for their
political demographic engineering
and unlawful land-grabbing for
many years in the region.
We know how the government
of Bangladesh has silently
sponsored the political migration
of non-indigenous people from
different parts of Bangladesh to
the CHT since the 1980s.
As a result, the population
of non-indigenous people
dramatically increased from about
7% in 1971 to over 60% by 2011 (the
figure was 1.8% in 1947), and this
overcrowding is one of the major
causes of landslides in CHT.
Another factor is the unplanned
hill-cutting and unbridled
deforestation by capitalists,
without any respect for the
traditional knowledge of local
communities in the region,
and with the sole intention of
enriching themselves. Over the
last two decades, deforestation in
Bangladesh, especially in the CHT,
has been excessive.
Forest management
Studies have found that when
indigenous communities in the
CHT manage forest resources, they
do so in a sustainable manner,
striking a balance between
exploitation and conservation.
Those studies recommend that
the indigenous model of forest
management should be expanded
if we want to save our forests.
Instead, we are focusing more
on planting foreign trees for
personal benefits like commercial
tree plantations.
Illegal logging, dam megaprojects,
and forced displacement
are responsible for the accelerated
destruction of those precious

16
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Downtime
CROSSWORD
CODE-CRACKER
ACROSS
1 Wards off (6)
5 Tree (3)
7 Hawaiian garland (3)
8 Beverage (6)
11 Female swan (3)
12 Rub out (5)
14 Prophet (4)
16 Concise (5)
18 Interior (5)
20 Nigh (4)
21 Rends (5)
23 And not (3)
24 Girl (6)
27 Wildebeest (3)
28 Fish eggs (3)
29 Ruler (6)
DOWN
1 Curve (3)
2 Fairy being (3)
3 Arbitrator (7)
4 Rank (4)
5 Electrical unit (6)
6 Obstruct (6)
9 Prophetic sign (4)
10 Consume (3)
13 Understanding
instinctively (7)
14 Wrongdoer (6)
15 Meal course (6)
17 Wise man (4)
19 Male sheep (3)
22 Storm (4)
25 Owing (3)
26 Fastener (3)
How to solve: Each number in our
CODE-CRACKER grid represents a
different letter of the alphabet. For
example, today 12 represents Q so fill Q
every time the figure 12 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

Ramadan Special
17
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Halal hydration
If you’re tired of the same old Tang, Rooh Afza or lebur
shorbot routine, why not go for a different route to
quench your thirst after a long hard day of fasting?
Treat your taste buds to a little adventure with these
simple, creative drinks. Here are five refreshing drinks to
choose from for today’s iftari:
Hot Chocolate
Have you seen the weather lately? There’s no better way
to unwind after a long day than to sit back with a cup of
steaming hot cocoa and enjoy the rain. Of course, if it isn’t
raining you can always go for the frozen version of this
classic drink.
For this one you’re going to need cocoa powder,
sugar, salt, vanilla essence, water and milk. Mix the dry
ingredients first, add the water and bring to a boil, pour in
the milk and heat to your desired temperature. Take it off
the heat, add a little vanilla, stir and voila! Hot chocolate.
With a few tweaks you can turn it into a cold drink.
Just follow all the steps above, pour into a container and
refrigerate until cool. Scoop out vanilla or chocolate ice
cream into a blender for your base, pour the chilled mixture
in and blend until you get your desired consistency. When
presenting, sprinkle with a bit of cocoa powder and enjoy!
Fruit-infused water
Fruit-infused water is lebur shorbot’s health freak little
brother. It’s the perfect companion for when you’re keeping
an eye on your sugar intake. Not to mention, it’s lovely and
refreshing and you won’t regret giving it a chance.
Fill a pitcher with warm water first, slice up oranges,
watermelons and/or lemons (see the genetic resemblance?)
as thin as you can and toss them in. Allow to cool to room
temperature before refrigerating to get the best flavor.
Mango lassi
What better way to celebrate the fact that mangoes are finally
in season than by incorporating them into the traditional
plain yogurt lassi? This protein-packed creamy goodness is
great when paired with spicy curries.
You’ll need freshly diced mangoes, plain yogurt, milk for
added creaminess, white sugar and a dash of cinnamon for
this one. It’s insanely easy to make, you just have to blend
until smooth and serve chilled for best results.
Date & banana smoothie
This exotic combination of flavors is nutritious and
delicious. What more could we ask for? It’s also a good
option for those of us who have commitments after Iftar,
like Taraweeh, because it’s fill of protein will energize you
and save you from your post-fast exhaustion.
Puree the dates after you’ve removed the seeds; add
bananas, milk and ice cubes and blend to perfection. Add
salt, cinnamon and cardamom to taste, and a squeeze of
lemon for a distinctive flavor with a lot of depth. •
Iced tea
Picture this: you sit down at the Iftar table, shoulders
drooped in exhaustion and there, right in front of you, is a
tall glass of this classy iced drink, with glistening ice cubes
crammed in and submerged in a sea of flavorful tea. Almost
sounds like an ad commercial too good to be true. Almost.
You can make this vision a reality by pouring boiling
water over teabags. Let it collect flavour, add sugar to taste,
stir in a few ice cubes, and put in a lemon slice or two for a
tangy flavor.
If you’re a fan of fruit, marinate pineapples in sugar syrup
beforehand and plop into serving glasses before pouring
your tea over them.

DT
18
Sports
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
Maverick Pakistan tear up the form book again
• Reuters, London
Pakistan captain
Sarfraz Ahmed
poses with the
trophy of the 2017
ICC Champions
Trophy on the
morning after the
final in London
yesterday
Khulna rope in Sarfraz, Shadab for BPL 5
• Tribune Report
BPL T20 franchise Khulna Titans
have roped in Pakistan’s 2017
Champions Trophy winning captain
Sarfraz Ahmed and leg-spinner
Shadab Khan for the 2017 season.
The Titans have also retained
left-arm pacer Junaid Khan, who
was a key part of the Khulna side in
the last edition of the BPL.
The Titans announced the signings
of the Pakistan trio yesterday
through their official Facebook
page, a day after Pakistan lifted the
Champions Trophy title defeating
India by 180 runs in England.
Khulna in their maiden BPL appearance
last year put up a decent
performance, finishing third in the
tournament.
They have already announced
Pakistan enhanced their long-held
reputation as one of the most unpredictable
teams in world sport
with an extraordinary and overwhelming
victory over bitter local
rival India in the Champions Trophy
final on Sunday.
Widely written off after an abject
display in their opening group
match against the same opponent,
the lowest-ranked team going into
the tournament suddenly rediscovered
their mojo.
They beat South Africa, the
world’s top-ranked one-day side,
and Sri Lanka to reach the last four
before dismantling previously unbeaten
host England with a ruthless
semi-final performance.
“It sort of feels surreal really, to
be honest,” Pakistan coach Mickey
Arthur told a news conference.
“But the thing about that loss to
India was we knew that was an aberration.
It wasn’t the norm because
we had prepared properly. We knew
the calibre of players we had so we
just had to keep believing.”
Pakistan still went into the final
as huge underdog against an Indian
team who had beaten them in eight
of their 10 previous meetings in the
World Cup and Champions Trophy.
But a brilliant swashbuckling
century by opening batsman
Fakhar Zaman laid the foundations
for an imposing total of 338 for four
and Mohammad Amir came up
former Sri Lanka cricketer Mahela
Jayawardene as the head coach for
the next two seasons of the tournament.
with a devastating opening spell to
rip out the cream of India’s batting,
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar
Dhawan.
“What I do know is that Mohammad
Amir, he’s a big match player,”
said South African Arthur.
“I do know that when the game
is on the line and the bigger the
game the more he performs, the
more ramped up he gets, so he
doesn’t shy away from pressure situations.
He’s got proper big match
temperament, and he showed that
on the biggest stage.”
Hasan Ali drew inspiration from
his fellow fast bowler to take three
wickets and, supported by tigerish
fielding which has not always been
a feature of Pakistan cricket team,
The fifth edition of the BPL is
set to begin in November this year.
With the inclusion of the Sylhet
franchise, the tournament this year
they bowled out India for 158 to
win the trophy for the first time.
It was Pakistan’s first global 50-
over title since the 1992 World Cup
and a sweet moment for a team
who have been unable to host international
cricket in recent years
due to security concerns.
“I think it’ll be massive (for Pakistan
cricket),” Arthur said.
“I’m sure that the nation of
Pakistan is really happy tonight
because they deserve it for what
they’ve been through.
“The fans not identifying with
their heroes because they just don’t
see international cricket. That’s
massive for the country. So let’s
hope that this really kick-starts that
momentum in Pakistan again.” •
will feature eight teams.
The players’ draft of the franchise-based
T20 league will be held
on September 16. Each side will be
able to recruit their “Icon” cricketers
and retain three local players
from the last season. The name of
the Icon cricketers and local players
will be announced before the
draft.
The teams will have to pick a
minimum of 10 local cricketers,
and maximum of 13, from the draft.
A side can register unlimited
number of foreign players ahead
of the draft but must pick at least
two overseas cricketers from the
draft.
The BPL GC is mulling allowing
five foreigners in the playing XI.
However, the decision is yet to be
finalised. •
Tamim in 2017
ICC Champions
Trophy XI
• Tribune Report
The ICC yesterday named the team
of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy,
including Bangladesh opening
batsman Tamim Iqbal, who enjoyed
a brilliant campaign scoring
293 runs at an average of 73.25.
The list was given out through
an ICC media release.
The side was selected by a jury
of cricket experts, which included
former captains Michael Atherton
of England, India’s Sourav Ganguly,
Ramiz Raja of Pakistan, as well
as Lawrence Booth (Editor, Wisden
Almanack and cricket writer,
The Mail) and Julian Guyer (cricket
correspondent, Agence France-
Presse), with ICC general manager
– Cricket, Geoff Allardice, as chairman.
The jury was tasked with picking
a balanced side on the basis of
performances in the tournament.
Statistics were used, but were not
the sole basis for selection.
The side includes four Pakistanis,
three Indians, three Englishmen
and one Bangladeshi, with Kane
Williamson of New Zealand as 12th
man.
2017 ICC Champions Trophy XI
Shikhar Dhawan
(India, 338 runs)
Fakhar Zaman
(Pakistan, 252 runs)
Tamim Iqbal
(Bangladesh, 293 runs)
Virat Kohli
(India, 258 runs)
Joe Root
(England, 258 runs)
Ben Stokes
(England, 184 runs and three wickets)
Sarfraz Ahmed
(Pakistan, captain, wicket-keeper, 76
runs and nine dismissals)
Adil Rashid
(England, seven wickets)
Junaid Khan
(Pakistan, eight wickets)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(India, seven wickets)
Hasan Ali
(Pakistan, 13 wickets)
Kane Williamson
(New Zealand, 12th man, 244 runs)

Sports 19
DT
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
Twitter reaction
“The biggest thing on display
today is @TheRealPCB’s heart.
They played with courage
and belief. Just an incredible
performance by Pakistan.”
- Former Sri Lanka star Kumar
Sangakkara @KumarSanga2
“Brilliant from Pakistan! Embraced
aggression, freedom in play. Youth
and experience all stood up on the
biggest stage! Great scenes.”
- Former New Zealand star Brendon
McCullum @Bazmccullum
“I was hoping a team in green and
gold would win. Seems there was
a mix up in countries though Well
done Pakistan, congrats Mickey.”
- South Africa fast bowler Dale
Steyn @DaleSteyn62
“Congratulations @TheRealPCB,
the team & the whole country for
such a great win.#CT17 Boys you
made us happy & proud. Up &
above 4rm here!”
- Former Pakistan skipper Misbah
ul Haq @captainmisbahpk
“Congratulations to Pakistan on
winning the #ct17 no one gave
them a chance, but here they
are well deserve Champions..
#PakistanZindabad.”
- West Indies star Daren Sammy @
darensammy88
“Congratulations Pakistan on a
really comprehensive victory
today. Well played, deserved
winners and a great result for
Pakistan cricket.”
- Former India opener Virender
Sehwag @virendersehwag
“Wow wow wow unbelievable
performance by team green. It
feels like deja’vu after winning the
1992 WCup. I am over the moon
#PakistanZindabad”
- Pakistan’s highest one-day
international wicket-taker Wasim
Akram @wasimakramlive
“What a story this is. Pakistan
were utterly useless a fortnight
ago against India. Now they’re
irresistible. It’s so fantastically
unlikely.”
- Cricket writer Lawrence Booth @
the_topspin
“Inconsistent first class structure
.. No home games for 10 yrs ..
No expensive Academies .. Now
#CHAMPIONS Pakistan ... #CT17
- Former England captain Michael
Vaughan @MichaelVaughan
“Congratulations to Team Pakistan
on their great performance in
winning #CT17 And how wonderful
to watch Fakhar’s raw talent in
action.”
- Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning
captain Imran Khan @
ImranKhanPTI
A Pakistan vendor arranges morning newspapers featuring front page coverage of Pakistan's victory against India in the
Champions Trophy final, in Islamabad yesterday
AFP
With celebratory gunfire, sweets
• Reuters, Pakistan
Cricket-obsessed Pakistanis flooded
onto the streets draped in their
national green and white flag in
celebration on Sunday after their
national team trounced arch-foe
India in the Champions Trophy final.
Fireworks and jubilatory volleys
of gunfire echoed around major cities
as traffic ground to a halt, and
young men danced to the beat of
drums following their team’s 180-
run victory in the match at The
Oval in London.
The stunning turnaround
in form of Pakistan, which was
thrashed by India in their opening
game of the tournament and largely
written off, has gripped the nation
of 190 million people.
“I was not expecting that Pakistan
will win the match, it was an
unbelievable turnaround,” said
stock broker Haris Ali, 55, in the
coastal metropolis of Karachi.
TV footage showed some fans
watching in Pakistan shedding
tears of joy after India’s batting order
collapsed.
“I’m so excited Allah has answered
our prayers,” said Nek Amal
Khan, 42, a street vendor who was
amongst thousands to throng the
streets of the north-western city of
Peshawar.
Pakistan itself has hosted only
a handful of international cricket
matches over the past decade due
to security fears.
In the western city of Quetta,
thousands chanted “Pakistan
Zindabad”, meaning “long live Pakistan”,
while vendors distributed
sweets. “I’m so happy,” said Babar
Khan, selling mangoes out of a
pushcart.
Indian fans at The Kennington
Oval ground in London departed
Kashmir fans celebrate after Pakistan won the Champions Trophy final against
India, in downtown in Srinagar on Sunday
AFP
early in their droves as the scale of
the impending drubbing dawned
on them.
In the Indian capital New Delhi,
some fans watching an outdoor
screening at Connaught Place, a
central landmark in the city, chanted
nationalist and anti-Pakistan
slogans but fell silent as the game
neared its climax, before drifting
away, dejected.
The cricketing enmity between
Pakistan and India has morphed
into one of the world’s greatest
sporting rivalries. Former Pakistan
skipper Waqar Younis once said
matches between the two nations
were neither sport nor war, but
“somewhere in between”.
Outbursts of jingoistic rhetoric
and political showdowns between
Islamabad and New Delhi
have fanned the rivalry over the
decades, despite the two nations’
shared cricketing heritage prior to
their violent rupture on the creation
of Pakistan at the end of British
colonial rule in 1947.
In Kashmir - a disputed region
over which India and Pakistan have
fought two of their three wars since
independence - the sporting celebrations
swiftly sparked violence.
In Srinagar, the summer capital
of the Indian Jammu and Kashmir
state, residents accused officers of
India’s Central Reserve Police Force
of smashing cars and beating up
people for celebrating Pakistan’s
win. Many residents in India’s only
majority Muslim state support Pakistan’s
cricket team.
One spectator at the Oval in London
was spotted wearing a T-shirt
saying: “Winner takes Kashmir”. •
Pakistan hailed
by media after
‘confounding
everyone’
• AFP, Islamabad
Jubilant photographs of Pakistan
cricket fans dancing in the streets
were plastered all over national
newspapers yesterday after their
eighth-ranked team produced a
thrilling win against arch-rival India
in the Champions Trophy final.
Pakistan inflicted a massive
180-run defeat upon title-holders
and favourites India at the Oval
in London on Sunday to win the
tournament featuring the world’s
top eight one-day international
nations. The victory was splashed
across most major newspapers,
with leading English daily Dawn
proclaiming: “Pakistan breaks jinx,
trounce India in dream final”.
While the country’s largest
paper, the Urdu-daily Jang, announced:
“Pakistan Champions,
trounced Indian team.”
In an editorial titled “Victory is
sweet”, the Express Tribune said:
“When you are an underdog in a
high-octane tournament final and
your highly-regarded opponent is
the defending champion, hardly
anyone has any expectations of
you.” •
Arthur eager for
World XI visit to
Pakistan
• AFP, London
Pakistan’s former South Africa
head coach Mickey Arthur said he
hoped a proposed World XI visit
to the country later this year went
ahead after his side served notice
of their enduring talent with a
stunning Champions Trophy final
win over India.
Bottom-ranked Pakistan produced
a breathtaking display in
London’s Kennington Oval on Sunday
to inflict a 180-run defeat upon
arch rival India, the title-holder, in
the climax of a tournament featuring
the world’s top eight one-day
international nations.
“We’re scheduled to have a
World XI in Pakistan in September
for three Twenty20 games,” he
said.
“So hopefully that starts paving
the way for future tours. We can
only hope.”
Pakistan’s victory on Sunday
was all the more astounding given
a 124-run defeat by India in their
tournament opener at Edgbaston
on June 4.
The turnaround was a triumph
for Pakistan captain Sarfraz
Ahmed, who impressed in his triple
role of wicket-keeper, batsman
and skipper. •

20
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Sports
Chile’s Alexis Sanchez in action as Cameroon’s Joseph Ondoa looks on during their Confederations Cup match in Moscow on Sunday
Late goals hand Chile winning start
• Reuters, Moscow
Alexis Sanchez
came on as second
half substitute
to inspire
Chile to a 2-0
victory over Cameroon
in their
opening Confederations Cup outing
on Sunday but he had to share
the spotlight with the video assistant
referee.
Sanchez provided the cross for
Arturo Vidal to head home their
81st minute opener and inspired
the second goal as well. He beat
the offside trap but failed to score.
Eduardo Vargas was on hand to put
the ball into the net in the dying
seconds. The Video Assistant Referee
also made an impact as Chile
were denied a legitimate looking
goal on the stroke of halftime and
technology was used again at the
end of the match to overturn a
linesman’s offside call.
Vargas had the ball in the net
as the match moved into stoppage
time at the end of the first half,
deftly lifting it over the onrushing
Cameron goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa
after being expertly fed by a
defence-splitting pass from Vidal.
RESULTS
GROUP B
Cameroon 0-2 Chile
Vidal 81, Vargas 90+1
GROUP A
Portugal 2-2 Mexico
Quaresma 34, Hernandez 42,
Cedric 86 Moreno 90+1
Slovenian referee Damir Skomina
awarded it but then, more than
minute later, he suddenly reversed
the decision on the advice of the
VAR, Clement Turpin of France.
Vargas looked to be millimetres
REUTERS
ahead of the last man in a tight call
that was hotly contested by the angry
Chileans as they headed down
the tunnel for the interval.
But Vargas was on the right side
of technology for Chile’s second
as Sanchez sprung the offside trap
from just inside the Cameroon half
to round the goalkeeper only to
have his own effort blocked. Vargas
followed up the rebound only
to see the linesman’s flag shoot up.
But a quick check with the VAR
found both Chilean players had
been onside and the decision was
reversed to confirm a two-goal
winning margin. •
Ronaldo’s Real rage genuine or a cunning ploy?
• AFP, Madrid
Extremely enraged by Spanish
tax authorities and a perceived
lack of support from Real Madrid,
Cristiano Ronaldo is threatening
to leave the European champions,
but is it genuine or part of a greater
ploy?
Ronaldo’s departure from Real,
reportedly a given according to a
Portuguese newspaper, triggered
an avalanche of speculation over
the potential destination of the
world’s highest-paid athlete.
Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport
on Sunday threw Bayern Munich
into the mix, while British tabloids
proposed Chelsea as a shock
landing spot, adding to former
club Manchester United and Paris
Saint-Germain, with their financial
clout, as likely suitors.
But neither the Real star, on international
duty with Portugal at
the Confederations Cup in Russia,
nor the club itself have confirmed
reports that he is heading for the
exit at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to A Bola, the fourtime
Ballon d’Or winner will quit
Spain in outrage at the country’s
tax authorities and dismayed by
Real’s subsequent response.
Spanish prosecutors on Tuesday
accused Ronaldo of evading 14.7m
euros ($16.5m) in tax related to image
rights through offshore companies
between 2011 and 2014.
If put on trial and found guilty,
the 32-year-old risks “a fine of at
least 28m euros” and could be
jailed for three-and-a-half years,
the Gestha union of experts at
Spain’s Inland Revenue said in a
statement.
Real insisted they were “absolutely
convinced” Ronaldo would
prove his innocence and pledged
him the club’s “full confidence”.
“We understand he has acted
in accordance with the legality regarding
the fulfilment of his fiscal
obligations,” Real said in a statement.
“Sometimes the best answer
it’s to be quiet,” Ronaldo retorted
Thursday on Instagram, with a
photo of himself in a Portugal polo
shirt and right forefinger raised to
No need for
alarm bells
after draw, says
Ronaldo
• Reuters, Russia
Portugal twice surrendered the
lead against Mexico in their Confederations
Cup opener on Sunday
but the 2-2 draw was no cause for
alarm, according to captain Cristiano
Ronaldo.
Hector Moreno scored in added
time to earn a point for the Mexicans
five minutes after Cedric put
the Portuguese in front.
“It wasn’t the result that we
wanted,” said Ronaldo. “There’s no
need to set off any alarms, the team
was good. It was a good result at 2-1
but that’s football. They scored in
the last few minutes and now we
think of the next game.
“We need to keep believing in
ourselves, we know we have a great
chance. There are two games to go
and that’s why we’re cool, we’re at
ease. Now we need to think of the
next game, which we have to win.
If we win we’re one step away.”
Portugal play host Russia in
capital Moscow tomorrow, while
Mexico take on New Zealand in
Sochi. The Russians top Group A
after beating the All Whites 2-0 on
Saturday.
The Fifa Player of the Year, who
had scored 11 goals in seven games
coming into Sunday’s encounter,
was perhaps not as influential as
usual but was still named man-ofthe-match.
The Real Madrid striker, whose
club future has been the subject
of media speculation after he was
accused by Spanish prosecutors
of committing tax fraud, which
Ronaldo denies, set up Portugal’s
opener.
His pass split the Mexican defence
and gave Ricardo Quaresma
a golden opportunity to open the
scoring. •
his lips.
But A Bola dropped a bombshell
the following morning, with Marca
swiftly running with the story.
The Spanish sports daily
claimed Sunday that Real coach
Zinedine Zidane broke off his holiday
to call Ronaldo in a bid to persuade
his unsettled star not to walk
out on the club.
Marca reported the Frenchman
told Ronaldo that “Real are a team
that wins because of him” and “he
needs his competitive spirit just
like his goals”.
The paper added captain Sergio
Ramos also reached out to Ronaldo,
who has a club-record scored
406 goals in 394 matches for Real,
pleading with him to stay. •

Sports
21
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
U23 squad named as coach Ord laments lack of fitness
• Shishir Hoque
The BFF yesterday announced a
36-man Bangladesh U-23 preliminary
squad ahead of the AFC U-23
Championship 2018 Qualifiers next
month.
The residential training camp
will be supervised by newly appointed
head coach Andrew Ord
and begins today at BKSP, Savar.
The played have already reported
to England-born Australia coach
Ord yesterday.
Following a five-day trial in Dhaka
recently, this will be Ord’s second
involvement with the players.
Team manager Satyajit Das Rupu
informed that the camp will continue
until Sunday before a three-day
break due to the Eid holidays. The
camp will resume on June 29.
He also said the federation is
planning to hold friendly matches
at both home and away against foreign
(sub-continent) teams before
the qualifiers.
Injuries and a lack of fitness
however, have hit the camp as Ord
seemed unsatisfied with his attacking
options currently available in
the squad. Rupu believes that the
injuries and illness of Jewel Rana,
Rubel Miya and Hemanta Vincent
Biswas are the reasons why Ord is
unhappy.
The trio have been included in
the 36-member list.
“We kept them in the team, hoping
they will recover soon and join
the camp. After that, the coach will
start his work with the full squad,”
said Rupu.
Ord said he already has one eye
on the future as nine out of the 36
players are under 19 years of age.
“Twenty-five percent of the
squad are U-19 players. They are the
future of Bangladesh football. They
will have game time, match experience,
which would help them. I
got one eye on the future and one
on present,” said Ord, adding that
he only found one solid left-back -
Nurul Naim Faisal - in the squad.
Among the 36 footballers, highest
nine players are from Chittagong
Abahani Limited, six from Saif
Sporting Club, five from Sheikh Jamal
Dhanmondi Club, four from
Dhaka Abahani Limited and three
each from Mohammedan Sporting
Club Limited, Sheikh Russel Krira
Chakra, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira
Chakra and Arambagh Krira Sangha.
“I got surprised in the trial to see
a lack of fitness among the players.
Whatever the reasons and explanations,
players are not fit. We need
to train hard with lots of intensity,”
Ord explained.
Group E pits Bangladesh against
Jordan, host Palestine and Tajikistan.
The Group E matches of the
qualifiers will be held in West Bank
from July 19-23.
Ord added, “One month of time
has got to be good enough.
“They all are strong. In Palestine,
the ground’s going to be foggy.
It will be hostile. They will not
be easy games. We just have to get
fit, organised and earn some team
spirit. We have to improve and
build and get some experience.” •
Attack victim Kvitova relishing Wimbledon return
• Reuters, Birmingham
Twice Wimbledon champion Petra
Kvitova says returning to the scene
of her “fairytale” first grand slam
win will be a particularly emotional
occasion this year.
Kvitova only recently returned
to competition after a knife attack
at her home in the Czech Republic
in December left her with an injured
left hand.
Rehab has only been part of the
work that the 27-year-old has had
to undergo. Psychologically, the
violent attempted robbery clearly
left a scar.
She returned to action at the
French Open this month, losing in
the second round, and she is playing
on the grass at the Aegon Classic
at Edgbaston this week as she
builds up to her favourite event.
“When I was on the way back I
thought, I would really like to play
Wimbledon and I feel that I can say,
in some way, I am ready for Wimbledon.
I played Roland Garros as a
preparation,” she told Reuters.
Kvitova, who plays fellow Czech
Tereza Smitkova in Birmingham
today, said she had been overwhelmed
by the welcome she got
from fellow players and others in
the game.
“It was amazing. I was really
looking forward to seeing other
players and coaches (but) I didn’t
expect that huge welcome from all
of them. It was so nice to see them
all smiling and wishing me good
luck and welcoming me back,” she
said.
She can expect much more
of that when she turns up at the
All England Club where she enjoyed
a surprise win over Maria
Sharapova in the 2011 final and
then triumphed again three years
later, beating Canadian Eugenie
Bouchard.
“I love the people there. I love
England. At Wimbledon, it feels so
quiet, so comfy, for me as a home.
I am always renting a house and for
me it is more than a tournament,
I feel like we are a family there. It
is just more relaxed for me, it is
amazing,” she said.
Kvitova was an eighth-ranked
21-year-old when she first won
Wimbledon and she admits she did
not really know how to handle the
moment.
“The first one was like a fairytale,
I have to say. I really didn’t
know what was happening. I won
the grand slam but I was like ‘OK,
what now?’. It was really happiness
but I never expected to win that, so
it was a surprise for me and other
people. The second one was more
special, deeper, I really enjoyed it
more,” said the Czech.
It would be a major surprise
if, after everything that has happened,
Kvitova were to claim a
third Wimbledon title.
While she is back in action, her
hand remains troublesome and she
is not sure if it will ever fully be
back to how it was.
“Naturally, it is not fully recovered,
it will still take a few more
months, maybe a year, who knows,
no one can really say,” she said.
“I am not sure if any day it will
be 100 percent, I don’t think so but
I just need to do what I can.”
She added: “I need to live with
it. I think I will have to get used to
my ‘new hand’ if I can call it that,
we are still worried about some inflammation
and that kind of thing
but I think it is a small risk, now
compared to a few months ago.” •
Fedex fine
tunes assault
in Halle
• AFP, Halle Westfalen
Roger Federer is in action at Halle
this week as the Switzerland legend
puts the finishing touches to
his assault on an eighth Wimbledon
title.
Federer, who made his comeback
after skipping the entire clay
court season at Stuttgart last week,
faces Lu Yen-Hsun, Taiwan’s world
number 73 today.
The ring-rusty 18-time Grand
slam winner was knocked out
in the first round in Stuttgart to
39-year-old Tommy Haas.
Haas, a former world number
two but now down at 302, won 2-6,
7-6 (10/8), 6-4 for just his fourth
victory in 17 meetings against his
close friend.
It was just the second defeat of
2017 for the 35-year-old Federer,
who claimed the Australian Open
for his 18th major in January.
Federer, aiming for a ninth title
at Halle, has won all three of his
match-ups against Lu.
He turns up in the Westfalen
town after recharging his batteries
at home in Switzerland. •
DAY’S WATCH
CRICKET
SONY SIX
Asian Premier League 2017
10:30AM
Bangladesh Tigers v Afghanistan Bulls
2:30PM
Indian Stars v Sri Lankan Lions
HOCKEY
STAR SPORTS 2
Men’s FIH Hockey World League
Semifinals 2017
4:45PM
Scotland v Canada
7:00PM
India v Netherlands
11:00PM
China v Malaysia
1:00AM
England v Korea
Karlovic serves 12,000th ace
• Reuters
Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller outaced
the record-breaking Ivo Karlovic
in a landmark battle of the
big-serving veterans to lift the
grasscourt title in Den Bosch on
Sunday.
Croatia’s 38-year-old Karlovic became
the first man to ever pass the
milestone of 12,000 aces as he blasted
down another 19 yet he still could
not stop his 34-year-old opponent
coming out on top 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4) in
the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.
It was the oldest singles final
on the ATP World Tour since Hong
Kong in 1976 when 42-year-old Ken
Rosewall defeated 30-year-old Ilie
Nastase. Earlier, Estonia’s Anett
Kontaveit, one of the rising talents
of the WTA, won her first tour title
in the women’s final, beating Russian
Natalia Vikhlyantseva 6-2 6-3.
Muller, Luxembourg’s best-ever
player, has enjoyed a remarkable
season, winning his second title of
the year here after previously never
having managed to earn one in
13 years of trying.
The left-hander even blasted 22
aces to outperform Karlovic, the
most prolific purveyor of aces the
game has ever seen, winning two
tiebreaks after neither man had enjoyed
even the sniff of a break point
in the one hour 35 minute contest.
The 21-year-old Kontaveit, who
had already reached one WTA final
and beaten world number one
Angelique Kerber this season, overcame
a dip in concentration at the
start of the second set to earn her
victory in just under an hour and a
quarter.
The 20-year-old Vikhlyantseva,
another promising talent, was
outplayed in the opening set but
after breaking to take a 3-1 lead
in the second, Kontaveit moved
into overdrive to halt the comeback
swiftly and win the next five
games. •

22
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Showtime
Twice as nice
Twin celebabies
• Showtime Desk
Recently, Beyoncé Knowles and
Shawn “Jay Z” Carter have become
parents to twins after one of the
most highly anticipated celebrity
pregnancies. But it’s not only
Beyoncé; there are many more
stars who happen to be proud
parents of twin children as well.
Here’s a brief glimpse at a few.
George and Amal Clooney
The Monuments Men actor and
his wife, lawyer Amal Clooney,
welcomed babies Ella and
Alexander into the world very
recently. With high hopes pinned
on them already, Clooney’s
mother-in-law, writer and
broadcaster Baria Alamuddin,
has said she would like to
see her grandchildren go into
humanitarian work when they’re
older, much like their parents.
Ricky Martin
La vida loca got a little more loca
when Martin welcomed twin sons
Matteo and Valentino via surrogate
in August 2008. The boys did more
than just make him a dad; they
also inspired him to be true to
himself and come out of the closet
in March 2010.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
It is easy to lose track, but
somewhere in that big Jolie-Pitt
brood is a set of two. Fraternal
twins Vivienne Marcheline and
Knox Leon were born in July 2008.
Céline Dion
After the tragic loss of her
husband, 49-year-old Céline
Dion sat down with The
Sun and revealed that she
and her twin daughters sleep
in the same bed every night.
The Canadian singer is finding
comfort in keeping her 6-year-old
twins Eddy and Nelson Angélil
close and helping them remember
their late father.
Rebecca Romijn and Jerry
O’Connell
Rebecca Romijn and Jerry
O’Connell welcomed twin girls,
Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie
Tamara Tulip, into the world in late
December 2008, but say they are
drawing the line at two. “We feel
like the world was made for pairs.
Four feels like the perfect number,”
Romijn told People magazine.
Julie Bowen
Modern Family actress Julie Bowen
has mastered the “double football
hold” to breastfeed her baby boys
John and Gus simultaneously.
Bowen, who also has an older son
Oliver with real estate investor
husband Scott Phillips, captured a
shot to show the audience of The
View, but the producers nixed it.
Fortunately, George Lopez was
more than happy to show a blownup
version in the background of
his interview with Bowen. “Those
twins are lucky,” he told her.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew
Broderick
SJP used a surrogate to welcome
twin girls Marion Loretta Elwell
and Tabitha Hodge Broderick in
June 2009, joining big brother
James Wilkie, born in October
2002.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
got divorced a few years ago, but
they still remain friends and were
happy to put on a show for their
twins Max and Emme’s birthday,
where the ex-couple came together
to celebrate.
Julia Roberts
Roberts, who gave birth to
Phinnaeus Walter and Hazel
Patricia in November 2004
(singleton son Henry arrived June
2007) may be Hollywood’s glam
girl, but with her kids, she’s just
Mom. Case in point - the streak of
pink hair she sported to a charity
in late 2008, which was the
handiwork of little Hazel.
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
Even though the couple split
in 2014, Mariah Carey and Nick
Cannon have continued spending
family time in public and are
constantly being seen having fun
with their twins, Moroccan and
Monroe. “I can’t believe it’s been
six years since you two came into
this world to the live version of
Fantasy.. ‘the applause!!!’ ” Carey
captioned a 2011 photo of herself
holding “Dem Babies” when they
were just newborns. Moroccan and
Monroe became six this May. •
Global music icons now
featured on GP Music
• Showtime Desk
GP Music has incorporated
popular songs of globally
renowned musical stars like
Justin Bieber, Bryan Adams, and
AR Rahman into their collection.
GP Music subscribers will now
be able to listen to their favourite
tracks of the three artists, as well
as other local and international
musicians on the popular music
platform.
Justin Bieber is among the
most successful artists in the
world right now. Bryan Adams is
one of the most multi-talented
and popular musicians of the last
few decades, while AR Rahman
is highly regarded as a musical
maestro who continues to create
unique pieces of art through
music. All three of these artists
have won many prestigious
awards for their contributions to
music. Each of these three artists
has a large following across the
globe.
Various songs of these
artists have earned widespread
popularity in Bangladesh,
especially in urban areas, mainly
due to a rapidly increasing user
base of social media websites like
Facebook and video streaming
websites like YouTube.
“GP Music is one of the
largest digital collections of
music in Bangladesh, and we
are continuously working to
enrich the platform further by
not only supporting young and
promising local talents, but
also by incorporating songs by
popular local and international
artists. The following of
international musicians in
Bangladesh is increasing rapidly,
which is why we are including
songs by popular and legendary
international musicians in our
library. We hope our surging
number of subscribers will
appreciate the effort, and enjoy
the music even better,” said
Sayed Talat Kamal, head of
External Communications at
Grameenphone.
GP users can listen to the
songs by downloading the GP
Music app from Google Play
Store, or dial *7728*2*2# to
subscribe. •

Showtime
23
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
Shabana and Moushumi
meet with the PM
• Showtime Desk
Iconic film actress Shabana
met with the Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina at her office on
Monday accompanied by other
film personalities, including
Moushumi.
Filmmaker Mushfiqur Rahman
Gulzar revealed a picture of the PM
along with the actresses on social
media which went viral.
Gulzar posted a text along
with the picture on Facebook that
states: “It’s a memorable day of my
life. I will never forget the moment
of meeting with our honourable
leader Sheikh Hasina. Shabana
apa, Alamgir bhai [actor], Wahid
Sadik bhai [film producer and
husband of Shabana], Moushumi
and me went to meet with the
Prime Minister.”
Gulzar, who is also the
President of Bangladesh Film
Directors Association, continued:
“Soon after seeing Shabana apa,
the Prime Minister welcomed the
actress and hugged her. Shabana
apa embraced the honourable
Prime Minister too. Moushumi was
standing just by them. Then the
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/MUSHFIQUR RAHMAN GULZAR
Prime Minister turned to her and
hugged her too.”
In his post, Gulzar also
informed that the Prime Minister
has decided to provide the
expenses for the treatment of
filmmaker Azizur Rahman, who
is currently being at a hospital in
Singapore because of his heart
complications.
Currently living in the US,
Shabana came to the country last
month. This is first time the iconic
actress has been photographed
since her visit.•
Diane Kruger to star
in Robert Zemeckis’
latest
Tanjib Sarowar to release Dj Raza for Eid
• Showtime Desk
Contemporary singer and musician Tanjib
Sarowar is all set to release new song on this
Eid. Composed by Dj Rahat the song is titled
“Dj Raza”.
Talking about the song Tanjib Sarowar said,
“When I discussed the song with Dj Rahat,
he shared some music ideas for the track.
And then, I also sing over it. I tried something
different to my usual style.”
“People that like club pop would love the
track,” the singer added.
Tanjib Sarowar penned the lyrics while
Rafsan rapped for it. Tanjib Sarowar informed
that they are planning to make a music video
as well. “Dj Raza” is brought to market by the
music label CD Choice.
Last year, Tanjib released his debut solo
album Hridmohini, as well as the singles,
“Megh Milon,” “Mittha Shikhali” and “Dil
Amar,”.•
• Showtime Desk
Diane Kruger, who recently
triumphed at the Cannes Film
Festival with the best actress
win, has joined Steve Carrell
for an upcoming film by Robert
Zemeckis.
The yet-to-be titled drama is
based on Jeff Malmberg’s 2010
documentary Marwencol.
The upcoming film, produced
by Universal, will adapt the
documentary, which charts the
recovery of Mark Hogancamp,
played by Carell, who suffered
severe brain trauma when he
was beaten by five teenagers
and ended up in a coma for nine
days.
When Hogancamp emerged,
he had no memory of his life, his
friends and his family. As a form
of therapy, he began building a
1/6 scale model of a World War
II-era Belgian village named
Marwencol in his backyard,
replete with figures made in
the image of him, his friends,
and, shockingly to some, his
attackers. While the process
mended his mind to a certain
extent, it also let him escape
into a fantasy world in which he
created various scenarios with
the dolls.
Leslie Mann and Jenelle
Monae were confirmed earlier
as cast members of the film, and
now Kruger will join them.
Kruger will play Deja Thoris,
a Belgian Witch in the world of
the figures. Along with Caroline
Thompson, Zemeckis penned
the screenplay.
Kruger’s new film In The
Fade, which brought her the
Cannes accolade, is yet to get
theatrical release, while two of
her others films - Butterfly In The
Typewriter and JT Leroy – are
also on the way. •

24
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017
DT
LIGHTNING STRIKES
KILL 15 IN A DAY › 8
Back Page
MAVERICK PAKISTAN TEAR UP
THE FORM BOOK AGAIN › 18
SHABANA AND MOUSHUMI
MEET WITH THE PM › 23
PM asks Muhith to postpone
enforcing new VAT law
• Asif Showkat Kallol
ECONOMY
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
asked Finance Minister AMA Muhith
to postpone implementing the
controversial new value-added tax
law set to be effective from July 1,
Finance Ministry officials said.
The directive came at a meeting
in parliament office yesterday, also
attended by National Board of Revenue
Chairman Nojibur Rahman
and Finance Division officials.
An official who was present at
the meeting said the prime minister
did not want the new law, which introduces
15% flat VAT rate, to create
any extra pressure on people as the
government headed for national
election in just one and half years.
She asked the officials concerned
to further review the implementation
plan of the VAT and
Supplementary Duty Act 2012.
Sheikh Hasina also wanted to
know about the outcome of the
negotiations that continued for the
last four years with the country’s
business community on the new
VAT law.
“Find out if there was any negligence
from the officials that led to
the failure in negotiations with the
business community and left the
problem still unresolved,” she was
quoted as saying by an official.
The government came up with
the postponement plan of the new
VAT law because of the possible
negative impacts on people’s life
and the ruling party’s standing
ahead of the next parliament polls.
Besides, the government also
considered strong oppositions from
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
the country’s business community
to the execution of the new law.
Meanwhile, the prime minister
already directed the NBR to make
a plan how to increase VAT collection
by Tk17,000 crore as per
the budget target in the upcoming
fiscal year without the help of the
new law.
Before Sheikh Hasina
went on an official tour
to Sweden, she had asked
the finance minister to
settle the VAT rate crisis.
Besides, the cabinet
meeting on June 11
reached a consensus on
the imperative of postponing
the implementation of the
VAT law from July 1. But the meeting,
chaired by the prime minister,
did not set any new date for enforcement
of the law.
The VAT Act 2012 is going to
introduce a uniform 15% VAT rate
which many believe will raise the
cost of living. •
Planning minister:
Import duty on rice
to be dropped
• Bilkis Irani
ECONOMY
The government is considering
withdrawal of the import duty on
rice aiming to mitigate the prevailing
crisis in the country.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal made the comment in a
press briefing at his office in Dhaka
yesterday.
Mustafa Kamal said: “It is true
that the price of rice has gone up.
But there is a lot of rice in the market.
Rice mills also have enough
stock. So, the prices will drop once
the import duty is reduced.”
He said the import duty was imposed
to help local farmers get fair
prices.
“But, we are now thinking of
withdrawing the import duty considering
overall situation,” he added.
The development came despite
a recent government decision to
import of 250,000 tonnes of white
and parboiled rice from Vietnam.
Cabinet Committee on Public
Purchase approved a proposal to import
200,000 tonnes of white rice at
$430 per tonne and 50,000 tonnes
of parboiled rice at $470 per tonne.
Replying to a separate query,
he said the slow progress of the
mega projects including the Padma
Bridge is a result of foreign workers
and employees leaving the country
after the July 1 Gulshan attack.
“The funds of the pending projects
were not disbursed as the foreigners
fled from Bangladesh. But,
now they have started returning.
So, the fund disbursement will increase,
leading to quick completion
of the projects,” he said.
Regarding the next budget, he
said the people are in fear of the
new VAT law and the imposition of
excise duty.
“But, there is nothing to worry
about in this regard,” he said,
claiming the private investment is
on an upward trend.
Government and private investment
have not seen even 1% fall in
the last eight years, he said.
Planning Secretary Ziaul Islam,
member of the Department of
General Economics Shamsul
Alam, Secretary of statistics
and information management
department KM Mozammel Haque
and Planning Commission member
AN Sammuddin Azad Chowdhury
attended the press meet among
others. •
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