The Bangladesh Today (04-02-2018)

Sunday
Dhaka : February 4, 2018; Magh 22, 1424 BS; Jamadi-ul-awal 17, 1439 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www. tbtlive.com
Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.16; No.47; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
InTeRnaTIOnal
saudi, uae intended
to invade us: Qatar
defence minister
>Page 7
aRT & CulTuRe
grammy body vows
to tackle gender
bias after furor
>Page 8
SPORT
sri Lanka declare with
200 lead after Chandimal,
dickwella fifties
>Page 9
world failed to protect rohingya
women : un women
DHAKA : Describing the situation of
Rohingya women as very bad, visiting
United Nations Under-
Secretary-General and UN Women
Executive Director Phumzile
Mlabmbo-Ngcukaon Saturdaysaid
the world has failed to protect the
Rohingya women, reports UNB.
"I think the world has
failed...Their [Myanmar] country
has failed them in a massive way.
Everybody [women] has been trying
to rescue [them from] the situation
because it has been a tussle. It has
not been easy and possible for all
those involved, including the UN
system to be as effective as possible,"
she said.
She made the remark at a media
briefing in a city hotel wrapping up
her five-day visit to Bangladesh.
Stressing the need for collective
responsibility to address the challenges
of Rohingya women, the UN
Women Executive said, "We continue
to do our best. Sometimes our
best is not good enough because the
situation is so bad. So, this is a collective
responsibility."
Noting that the UN Women faces
problem in conducting its operation
in Myanmar, she said it is interested
in assisting the Rohingya women
with microcredit. "We're also interested
in helping them with microcredit."
She said they came to Bangladesh
to encourage the women to participate
in the upcoming national election.
"Because the election is coming,
we're here to encourage the
women to participate in the vote
and encourage women leadership."
Phumzile Mlabmbo-Ngcuka expressed
concern over the incorporation of
provision in 'Child Marriage
Restraint Bill 2017 that allows
under-age marriage in exceptional
cases. "It could undermine the good
intention of the law as too many
exceptions remain."
Country Representative of UN
Women Bangladesh Shoko
Ishikawa was present.
italy Macerata
drive-by attack
Foreigners targeted, say police
At least six people have been wounded
in a series of drive-by shootings in a
town in central Italy, and one man has
been arrested, police and media say,
reports BBC.
Those targeted in Macerata were
black immigrants, media said.
The suspect, named locally as Luca
Traini, 28, had an Italian flag wrapped
around his neck when he was detained.
He had taken part in regional elections
for the anti-immigration Northern
League last year and reportedly made a
fascist salute when he was captured.
Italy votes in national elections on 4
March, with immigration one of the key
issues.
Mr Traini, who is from the surrounding
Le Marche region, did not resist
when he was detained after fleeing from
his car near the town's war memorial.
He is now being questioned. Police
found a gun in his car.
The shooting had begun two hours
earlier at about 11:00 local time (10:00
GMT), La Repubblica website reports.
10 rocket launchers
recovered from
Habiganj forest
MaMun CHowdHury,
Habiganj Correspondent
Members of Rapid Action Battalion
(Rab) in a drive recovered 10 rocket
launchers from the deep forest of
Satchhari National Park area in
Chunarughat upazila of the district
early Saturday.
Members of Rab-9 recovered the
deadly weapons conducting a drive in
the forest from Friday night to
Saturday.
Media and Legal Wing chief of Rab
Mufti Mahmud at a press briefing said,
acting on information of the detective
wing, the elite forces members recovered
the 40 mm anti-rocket rocket
launchers.
Earlier in 2014, huge arms and
ammunition were recovered from the
same area.
Zohr
05:22 AM
12:17 PM
04:10 PM
05:50 PM
07:07 PM
6:38 5:47
Khaleda's 6 conditions
to join polls
'People, police, administration,
army with us', she says
DHAKA : Urging the government to
create a peaceful atmosphere in the
country for the next election shunning
its 'repressive acts', BNP Chairperson
Khaleda Zia put forward six conditions
on Saturday to join the parliamentary
polls by her party, reports UNB.
The demands are holding the next
general election under a polls-time neutral
government, ensuring a congenial
atmosphere for voters to go to polling
centres, conducting election by the
Election Commission neutrally, army
deployment during the polls, discarding
the plan to use EVMs and dissolving
parliament.
"We're a pro-election party. We
assumed power again and again
through elections. We didn't come to
power with the help of anyone or being
national liars," she said speaking at the
inaugural session of the party's national
executive committee's daylong meeting
that started at Hotel Le Meridian
around 11:05 am.
Khaleda continued: "For that, the
next general election must be held
under a polls-time neutral government.
The Election Commission will conduct
the polls where they'll maintain neutrality."
She also said army should be
deployed alongside the police to create a
congenial atmosphere for the voters.
About the EC's 'plan' to use electronic
voting machines (EVMs) in the election,
the BNP chief said, "We've noticed in
the newspapers that they (EC) are talking
about the EVMs. But EVMs will not
work," asking her party leaders whether
they agreed with her.
Describing the current parliament as
'illegal', she demanded its dissolution to
ensure a participatory election.
Khaleda also called upon other political
parties to get involved with BNP's
movement by forging a national unity to
save the country and ensure a credible
and inclusive election.
Pointing at the verdict in her graft
case to be delivered on Thursday, the
BNP chairperson urged her party leaders
and activists to remain united and
face together any upcoming danger in
an peaceful and democratic manner.
"I would like to say I'm always with
you and will be with you wherever I
stay. Let's face any type of upcoming
danger together ...we'll work together
for the country in our good days, too,"
she said.
She further said, "We'll have to be
courageous to register our protest against
any type of injustice and put up resistance
against any injudicious move."
Khaleda, however, asked her party
leaders and activists to carry out their
protest programme in a peaceful and
democratic manner. "I also urge the
country's people involved in peaceful
programmes of BNP and 20 parties to
restore democracy in the country."
"From today's meeting, I would like to
urge all to remain united in any circumstances.
There'll be various plots and
repressive acts against you. They'll try to
harass you in every way but don't get
afraid," Khaleda said.
> (Contd. on page-2)
Mahmud
Hossain
takes oath
as new Cj
DHAKA : Justice Syed Mahmud
Hossain, a judge of the
Appellate Division of the
Supreme Court (SC), on
Saturday took oath as the new
Chief Justice (CJ) of the country,
reports UNB.
President Abdul Hamid
administered the oath to him at
Bangabhaban around 7:10pm.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
former chief justices, ministers,
advisers to the Prime Minister,
chief whip, Supreme Court
judges, attorney general, senior
lawyers, chief election commissioner
and chiefs of the three services
were, among others, present
at the oath-taking ceremony conducted
by Cabinet Secretary
Mohammad Shafiul Alam.
Mahmud Hossain was appointed
Chief Justice barely three
months after Surendra Kumar
Sinha resigned from the post.
Hours after the announcement
of the new CJ on Friday, Justice
Abdul Wahhab Miah, the senior
most judge of the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court
who had been carrying out the
activities of Chief Justice, quit
his post.
Members of rapid action battalion (rab) in a drive recovered 10 rocket launchers from the deep forest of satchhari
national park area in Chunarughat upazila of the district early saturday.
photo : Mamun Chowdhury
justice syed Mahmud Hossain, a judge of the appellate division of the supreme Court (sC), on saturday
took oath as the new Chief justice (Cj) of the country.
photo : tbt
no mass arrest, police trying catch
'terrorists', says Home Minister
DHAKA : Home Minister Asaduzzaman
Khan Kamal on Saturday denied BNP's allegation
of mass arrest, saying that police has
been trying to arrest 'terrorists', reports
UNB.
The Home Minister came up with the
remark when his attention was drawn
about BNP's allegation of 'mass arrest' of its
leaders and workers to thwart the party's
prospect of poll participation.
Minister was inaugurating the Passport
Service Week 2018 at the Bangabandhu
International Conference Center (BICC) in
the capital on Saturday.
"The national elections are far away.
Before that, you have seen that chaotic situation
was created on way of Khaleda Zia to
special court of Bakshibazar and return to
her Gulshan residence. Police were
attacked, attempts were made to snatch
away rifles as well as accused were snatched
away from the prison van after vandalizing
it in front of High court Mazar Gate area on
Tuesday ," the Home Monster said.
Attempt on the life of police was there in
Rajshahi back in 2014. Attack on police on
Tuesday is similar to that of Rajshahi incident,
he said.
"So we already identified the attackers
scrutinizing video footages of Tuesday's
incident. Police is now trying to arrest those
identified people," the Home Minister said
adding that there is no political purpose
DHAKA : A month-long campaign titled
"Nikhoj Shobder Khoje" to encourage the young
generation to reconnect with those Bengali
words that have been missing from the language
for a long time was launched at Bishwo Shahitto
Kendro in the city on Saturday, reports UNB
Coca-Cola Bangladesh launched the campaign
on the occasion of the International
Mother Language Day.
The main purpose of the campaign is to create
awareness on the issue that many Bangla
words that were once used to enrich and beautify
the language are missing and encourage people
to be part of this campaign to help popularise
the idea of utilising the once used Bangla words.
The campaign will run under the guidance of
three distinguished and prominent Bangla linguistic
experts of the country. The guardians of
this campaign are the eminent writer and academician
Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman,
Professor of Bangla Department at Dhaka
University Bhismadeb Chowdhury and notable
writer and novelist Anisul Hoque.
During the campaign, Coca-Cola bottle will
showcase those missing Bangla words which
were once a regular part of the writing and
speech but have been missing for many days as
not being practised anymore.
The campaign has undertaken several initiatives
to look for the missing Bangla words.
The campaign comprises of several engaging
activities such as rallies, postering, wall writings,
quizzes and much more while a website has also
here. "We have been arresting terrorists."
Home Minister said after completion of
issuing Smart NID, there will no need for
police verification to get a passport as NIDs
have been given after verification, he said.
"Police verification is similar to Smart ID
verifications," he added.
Replying to another question about allegation
of providing police verification in
exchange of money, Assaduzaman Khan
Kamal said "I think it is not correct."
In one or two instances it might have
taken place but actions follow whenever
such incidences are brought into attention,
he said. "It is a continuous process...Actions
are taken if any irregularities are identified."
Earlier addressing the inaugural session
of the Passport Service Week 2018, the
Home minister said that the government
has taken various pragmatic steps for modernisation
of the passport department. "We
have been working to introduce e-passport
as well to set up e-gate at the international
airports. " After setting up e-gate at airport
immigration points, people carrying e-passports,
can cross immigration quickly without
any hassle, the Home Minister said.
Home Ministry's Security Services Division
Secretary Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury,
Director General of Immigration and
Passport Maj Gen Masud Rezwan, local MP
Jahangir Kabir Nanok also addressed the
function, among others.
Campaign to revive missing
bangla words launched
been launched at www.coca-cola.com.bd/21 for
this campaign. There will be fun games and
quizzes with Bangla words on the website,
where anyone can participate, play and win
rewards.
The participants are encouraged to submit
missing or less used Bangla words on the website
to enrich the collections of the missing
words and upon the completion of the campaign,
all the missing Bangla words collected
from the website would be compiled together in
a publication.
Moreover, Coca-Cola Bangladesh has also
allocated a stall named "Nikhoj Shobder Khoje"
in Ekushey Book Fair to enrich the vocabulary of
the Bangla language for the people who are
interested in the Bangla linguistic.
As part of the campaign, there would be 20
dramas based on Bangla language in many
public and private universities of Bangladesh
while the dramas would be staged on the
Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka University,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and
Technology, Chittagong University, Rajshahi
University, Jahangirnagar University,
Jagannath University, Khulna University,
Shahjalal University of Science and
Technology, North South University, BRAC
University, Independent University, East
West University, American International
University of Bangladesh, Ahsanullah
University, United International University
and ULAB.

NEWS
SUnDAY,
FEBRUARY 4, 2018
2
Export of raw, processed
livestock products sees
phenomenal growth
DHAKA : Export of raw and processed livestock products
witnessed a phenomenal 301.32 percent growth over the last
nine fiscal years as the country earned Tk 5,576 crore in the
fiscal year 2016-17, up by Tk 4186.59 crore against Tk
1,389.41 crore of fiscal year 2008-09 by exporting livestock
products.
The production of meats, milk and eggs rose significantly
during the period, thanks to the government's measures,
including policy support, for the development of the sector.
During the period the availability of animal protein has also
increased in the country as per capital consumption of
animal protein, milk and egg stood at 121.74 gram, 157.97
milliliter and 92.75 pieces respectively in FY17.
"Production of meats has been increased to 71.55 lakh
tonnes in FY17 from 10.84 lakh tonnes in FY09. Production
of milk was 92.85 tonnes in FY17 which was 22.86 tonnes in
FY09 while eggs was 1493.16 crore pieces in FY17 against
469.20 crore pieces in FY09," said Dr Hasan Imam of
Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
Talking to BSS, Dr Imam said the government has been
implementing a number of programmes, including training,
e-service and preservation of semen, for the development of
the livestock sector. Farmers and entrepreneurs can easily
get any suggestion about rearing cattle, ducks and chickens
by sending SMS (short-message service) to 16358 from any
mobile operator as part of e-service, he added.
"Some 69 lakh 45 thousand youths, destitute women,
landless and marginal farmers imparted training on raising
cattle and rearing ducks and chickens under DLS from FY09
to FY17 as part of the government's move to encourage selfemployment,"
he said.
With a view to increasing cattle production, 41.84 lakh
doses of frozen semen were produced and 36.68 lakh cattle
were bred during the aforesaid period, according to DLS.
"During the last nine fiscal years, some 63 upazila livestock
centres have been set up and move is underway to establish
23 more to impart training to farmers on raising cattle, ducks
and chickens to create small farms and provide veterinary
services in rural area," said Dr Imam.
To protect country's livestock from trans-boundary
diseases, the government has already set up a total of 24
quarantine stations at land ports, seaports and airports.
Besides, 22 mini animal food testing laboratories have
been set up to provide necessary services to ensure balancediet
for cattle, ducks and chickens. Another project is at the
final stage for setting up 18 more such laboratories in the
country.
At present, there are 45 duck and 16 chicken farms under
DLS. There are also seven dairy, one buffalo and six goat
development farms. DLS also runs three sheep
demonstration farms.
The government has also launched credit schemes for
encouraging people in poultry and animal farming especially
in rural areas across the country. In January, 2015,
Bangladesh Bank introduced a Tk 200 crore refinancing
fund and 12 commercial banks and one financial institution
are now providing farmers with maximum Tk 2,00,000 from
the BB's fund for buying four cows to make the country selfreliant
in milk production.
"A total of Tk 93 crore 46 lakh 55 thousand and 200 has
already been given to 8,919 beneficiaries from the BB's
refinancing fund. Small farmers and women entrepreneurs
are getting priority in this programme," he added.
According to DLS, the country exported 4,20,172
kilograms beef, 22034-kg mutton, 2000-kg duck meat,
3000-kg chicken, 15,954-kg curd and sweets (rosmalai),
35,60,201-kg bones, 6532-kg beef curry, 1476-kg beef burger
from FY14 to FY17.
Journos demand quick
enactment of media
workers law
DHAKA : Journalist leaders yesterday demanded
immediate enactment of Media Workers (conditions of
services) Act, soon to bring the TV channel and other
electronic media journalists and workers under the
purview of the newly formed 9th wage board, reports
BSS.
In a joint statement, Bangladesh Federal Union of
Journalists (BFUJ) President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul
and Secretary General Omar Faruk, Dhaka Union of
Journalists (DUJ) President Shaban Mahmud and
General Secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury made the
demand.
They expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina for declaring the 9th wage board and hoped that
the government would implement the proposed act
before the first sitting of the board so all media workers,
especially those employed in different electronic media,
can enjoy the benefits of the wage board award.
The statement mentioned that being the apex body of
the journalist unions BFUJ submitted the draft of the
proposed law to the Information Ministry three years
back.
With the enactment of this law, the act given by Father
of Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for
newspapermen " Newspaper Employees (Services and
Conditions) Act, 1974 will be revived in an amended
form, the leaders said.
Bangladesh General Students Council continued their hunger strike program on Saturday.
Photo : Star Mail
Hawaii man says he's devastated
about sending missile alert
A former Hawaii state worker
who sent a false missile alert
last month said Friday he's
devastated about causing
panic but was "100 percent
sure" at the time that the
attack was real, reports BBC.
The man in his 50s spoke to
reporters on the condition that
he not be identified because he
fears for his safety after
receiving threats. He says an
on-duty call that came in on
Jan. 13 didn't sound like a drill.
However, state officials say
other workers clearly heard
the word "exercise" repeated
several times.
The ex-worker disputed
that, saying he wasn't aware of
any performance problems.
While starting a Saturday shift
at the emergency operations
center in a former bunker in
Honolulu's Diamond Head
crater on Jan. 13, the man
said, a co-worker took a phone
call over the U.S. Pacific
Command secure line that
sounded like a real warning,
he said.
The man said he didn't hear
the beginning of the message
that said, "exercise, exercise,
exercise." Federal and state
reports say the agency had a
vague checklist for missile
alerts, allowing workers to
interpret the steps they should
follow differently. Managers
didn't require a second person
to sign off on alerts before they
were sent, and the agency
lacked any preparation on
how to correct a false warning.
Those details emerged
Tuesday in reports on
investigations about how the
agency mistakenly blasted
cellphones and broadcast
stations with the missile
warning. It took nearly 40
minutes for the agency to
figure out a way to retract the
false alert on the same
platforms it was sent to.
Hawaii Emergency
Management Agency
Administrator Vern Miyagi
resigned as the reports were
released. Officials revealed
that the employee who sent
the alert was fired Jan. 26. The
state did not name him.
The agency's executive
officer, Toby Clairmont, said
District Detective Police arrested Rakibul Khandker (22) with the murder
weapon at Fultala upazila.
Photo : Titas Chakraborthey
Wednesday that he stepped
down because it was clear
action would be taken against
agency leaders after the alert.
Another employee was being
suspended without pay,
officials said.
The incident "shines a light"
on the state's system failures,
the man who sent the alert
said, adding that he believes
the federal government
should handle such alerts.
Testing of the alert system
began in November and
protocols were constantly
changing, he said. "As far as
our level of training was
concerned, I think it was
inadequate," he said. Hawaii
state Department of Defense
spokesman Lt. Col. Charles
Anthony declined to comment
on what the former worker
said. Officials said the man
refused to cooperate with state
or federal investigations
beyond providing a written
statement. He wasn't trying to
impede any investigations, he
said: "There really wasn't
anything else to say."
World Cancer Day: We can, I can
From Page-12
One of the reasons for observing
Cancer Day worldwide is to
get everyone out of these misconceptions
and everyone
should know about the causes,
symptoms, prevention and
treatment of this disease. We
have a lot of misconceptions
about cancer as well as its treatment.
There is always a talk of
spending a lot of money in cancer
treatment. But most people
have no idea how expensive it
is. To treat cancer disease,
chemotherapy, radiotherapy
and surgery are required. The
cost of surgery in Bangladesh is
less than any other country of
the world. The chemotherapy in
our country also does not cost
millions of taka like abroad. The
breast cancer treatment costs
around thirty thousand to one
lac taka here only. This figure is
not for everyone, but fewer in
many cases. Earlier, our country
did not have the facility for
bone marrow transplant, but
now it is possible in 10 lac taka
only in this country. Depending
on the stage of cancer or expansion
of the disease the treatment
cost varies. The first thing
to know is that the disease is at
which stage and then the
patient needs to be treated
accordingly. If the diagnosis of
disease in the initial stage is
done, the cost and complications
of treatment are reduced
and the success rates are too
high. Many types of cancer are
now cured. If the disease
spreads to different parts of the
body, the treatment becomes
complicated and the rate of success
is also decreased. In most
cases, cancer causes in the elderly
patients. Therefore, like
cancer, other diseases for example
hypertension, diabetes etc.
have to be treated properly.
Cancer is one of the non-invasive
diseases. Cancer cannot be
completely cured. However, it
can be possible to prevent the
risk factors from doing so. If the
Khaleda's 6 conditions
From page-1)
She also warned that those who will maintain contact with
both the government and BNP and betray with the party can
easily be identified and they will not be forgiven this time.
In an oblique reference to the trial of the graft cases filed
against her, Khaleda Zia said country's lower courts are now
under the grip of the government and they do not have the
power to deliver proper judgements.
"The Supreme Court said the lower courts are under the
grasp of the government. They can't work independently
....can't deliver verdicts properly. We've seen the consequences
of delivering proper judgements. A judge had to leave the country
for delivering the right verdict in Taeique Zia's case," she
said.
Regarding the graft case verdict to be delivered against her,
the BNP chief said, "They're holding the trial to keep BNP out
of the election. But why are they holding the trial? Where
there's no crime how can trial be held? They're doing everything
abusing their power."
Khaleda said the judiciary has no not independent as it has
to work at the behest of the government.
The BNP chief alleged that immediate past Chief Justice SK
Sinha had to leave the country and quit for giving a right verdict
and speaking the truth.
She alleged that the government is using police and administration
to gain its political interests. "They're forcing police
and the administration to be used for their political interests.
But they'll work neutrally for democracy if they get a congenial
atmosphere." The BNP chief mentioned, "We've no fear as the
country's people, administration, police and the armed forces
are with us."
She said the national election will be held in December next
as per the Prime Minister's announcement. "If so, why they've
started the election campaign so early? They've no confidence
in themselves as the 'boat' has sunk badly. They won't be able
to win people's hearts through the campaign," said Khaleda.
symptoms of the disease can be
identified before diagnosis of
cancer, then the treatment
chances can be increased. This
is called screening. Due to the
provision of screening in the
developed countries, they can
be detected in the early stage of
the disease. For this reason, the
success of treatment of developed
countries is more. The
screening system in our country
has recently been started. The
public should be made aware of
this screening so that they come
forward to make the screening
procedures. Once the cancer
treatment is finished, it does not
solve all problems. The disease
can come back anytime. That is
why after the treatment, regular
follow up should be done and as
soon as the disease is returned
the treatment can be started.
However, it takes a lot of time
in our country for cancer to
diagnose, because there is no
chance of examining
histopathology in all the district
cities of our country. For this
reason, one needs to go to divisional
cities or where there are
medical colleges. After the disease
is diagnosed, its intensity
will be known. This means that
it has spread to other places or
not in the body. For this reason,
'PET CT' will be required. Thus,
the decision of the treatment
after diagnosing the stage of the
disease can be started. Cancer
treatment requires surgery,
radiotherapy, chemotherapy,
hormone therapy, immune
therapy, triggered therapies,
gene therapy etc. A patient may
need all these treatments in the
field. Before applying any
method, you should know if the
patient has physical fitness.
That is why you should see
heart, lung, liver, kidneys and
blood cells are ok. If someone
has diabetes, high blood pressure,
asthma or any other disease,
then he should need extra
precautions. Then, at every
stage of the treatment, you
Robot makes coffee at new
cafe in Japan's capital
Japan has a new cafe where customers can enjoy coffee
brewed and served by a robot barista, reports BBC.
The robot named Sawyer debuted this week at Henna Cafe
in Tokyo's downtown business and shopping district of
Shibuya. The shop's name in Japanese means "strange cafe."
The single-armed robot scans a ticket purchased from a
vending machine and greets the customer.
It grinds the coffee beans, fills a filter and pours hot water
over a paper cup for up to five people at once. A cup of
brewed coffee costs 320 yen ($3) and takes a few minutes.
Sawyer can also operate an automated machine for six other
hot drinks including cappuccino, hot chocolate and green tea
latte.
Customers, many of them young men, took photos with
their smartphones while they waited in line. The cafe
operator, travel agency H.I.S. Co., says robots can increase
productivity while also entertaining customers.
Tamaki says it's not just about efficiency. "We want the
robot to entertain customers so it's not like buying coffee at a
vending machine," he said. Takeshi Yamamoto, a 68-yearold
restaurant employee who works in the neighborhood,
said his first experience with the robot cafe was very
enjoyable, and his robot-made coffee was delicious.
"It's quite rich, and tastes very good," Yamamoto said, as he
took a sip. "You can get machine-made coffee at convenience
stores, too, and it's actually good. But here, I had great fun."
Maduro picked as Venezuela's
socialist party candidate
Venezuela's ruling socialist party has officially tapped
President Nicolas Maduro as its candidate for this year's
election, reports BBC.
Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello on Friday
announced the unanimous decision. The government has
said the election will be held by the end of April. Maduro
succeeded the late President Hugo Chavez, leading the oilrich
country into a deepening crisis marked by soaring
inflation and shortages of food and medicine. The United
States says it will reject the "snap" election. Several Latin
America countries condemned holding a vote before
Maduro's government and its political opposition complete
negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis.
Venezuela's opposition coalition hasn't selected a
candidate or decided if it will participate. Maduro says that in
his second term he'll wean Venezuela's economy off of oil
production.
Ferry services resume
in Padma River
DHAKA : The ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari and
Daulatdia-Paturia routes in the Padma River, which
remained suspended for several hours due to dense fog,
resumed on Saturday morning, reports UNB.
On Daulatdia-Paturia route, the ferry services were
suspended around 5 am due to poor visibility caused by
dense fog and resumed after four hours at 9 am, said AGM of
BIWTC Nasir Mohammad Chowdhury at Aricha.
Meanwhile, on Shimulia-Kathalbari route, the ferry
services were suspended around 2:30 am leaving at least
eight ferries stranded, said Assistant General Manager of
BIWTC (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation)
Shah Newaz Khaled at Shimulia.
Later, more them 600 vehicles started to cross the river as
ferry services resumed around 11 am, Khaled said.
should see if all is well, whether
it is responding to the treatment
or side effects. This requires further
testing. At the end of treatment,
there should be regular
follow up also.
Cancer is a complex and
incurable disease. Many people
cannot be treated because of
expensive treatment. Therefore,
the mode of lifestyle and some
changes in eating habits and
regular screening can be performed
for its prevention first.
Basically, there are seven ways
of preventing cancer which
includes:
1. Avoid tobacco. Any type of
smoking can increase the risk of
cancer. Smoking increases the
risk of lungs, bladder, kidney
and cervical cancer. Chewing
tobacco such as Gul, Jarda etc.
cause mouth and throat cancer.
So by escaping this poison you
can get rid of many cancers.
2. Get healthy food. If you are
cautious about eating, you can
get rid of many other diseases
besides cancer. For example, lot
of fruits, vegetables and grains
will help to prevent cancer. Eat
less oil and also eat less animal
fats especially the beef and muttons.
Although these are high in
calories, but weight increases,
thereby increases the risk of
heart disease and other diseases
also. Moreover, intake of alcohol
may cause kidney, liver,
lung and breast cancer.
3. Control weight properly.
Keep your weight control
according to your age and
height. For this reason, regular
exercise as well as balanced diet
is must. Do at least 30 minutes of
physical work in the day. More
weight can be the cause of breast
cancer and kidney, prostate
gland and lung cancer also.
4. Stay away from the sun ray.
Avoid sunlight from 10am to
4pm especially because during
this time, the intensity of sunlight
is highest.
5. Take antidote vaccine.
Presently, some cancers are also
called sexually transmitted diseases.
Vaccination against some
viruses will help you to avoid
cancer. For example, hepatitis B
vaccine prevents liver cancer.
Those who are at risk for sexually
transmitted diseases must
take this vaccine. In addition,
human immunodeficiency
virus vaccine can be prevented
from cervical cancer.
6. Change the risky behavior.
Safe sex life will help you to survive
from many cancers such as
uterus, sebaceous and oral cancer.
Those who are polygamous
must use condoms and vaccinations
are necessary for them.
But changing this habit is possible
to be safe. Besides, many
injections of the same index
help in the spread of diseases
such as cancer and AIDS. Those
drug addicts are at risk of these
diseases.
7. Take the initiative to diagnose
the disease at the very
beginning, which we call
screening. This means that the
cancer of these places can be
detected easily or initially by
examining breast exams or
skin, intestines or colon,
prostate and cervical through
the help of physicians and
themselves. These cancers can
be cured if detected early on.
So it can be seen that if you are
warned about a little or you take
action, the killer cancer can be
prevented. In the developed
countries, the screening issue
has become quite widespread.
It is possible to launch it in our
country if we are a little aware.
Our awareness can protect us
from this disease. As the disease
progresses rapidly due to cancer,
it should be taken urgently
to increase public awareness on
this issue. World Cancer Day is
a great opportunity to spread it
and its harmful aspects through
world media.
Dr. A K Lutful Kabir, Associate
Professor of Pharmacy,
University of Dhaka
E-mail: lutful@du.ac.bd

METRO
SUNDAY, FeBRUARY 4, 2018
3
Bangladesh eyes on its share
in Islamic heritage tourism
DHAKA : Bangladesh eyes on a new
door to open up for holidaymakers
offering its Islamic heritage as
tourism ministers of OIC
(Organization of Islamic
Cooperation) member state are set
to gather in Dhaka this week to
discuss various issues regarding
Islamic tourism.
“As the first ever host of any OIC
tourism ministers gathering, we
consider it as an opportunity to
promote our tourism potential and
heritages to the Muslim world,”
Chief Executive Officer of
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB)
Dr Nasir Uddin told BSS.
The 10th Islamic Conference of
Tourism Ministers (ICTM) will take
place from February 5 to 7 at Pan
Pacific Sonargaon Hotel here with
the theme - ‘Promoting Regional
Integration through Tourism’.
“We are ready to welcome tourism
ministers or their representatives
from 57 OIC member countries at
the meeting to showcase our Islamic
heritage in front of the leaders of the
Muslim world,” Dr Nasir said.
He said the OIC understands
Bangladesh has huge potential in the
tourism sector and encouraged
Bangladesh to the event and to
discuss ways of cooperation among
member states.
The conference will discuss core
issues including development of
Islamic tourism, progress on
tourism infrastructure projects, OIC
tourism fairs and OIC City of
Tourism Award (2019 and 2020).
Referring to the tradition of
declaring two cities of OIC member
countries as “Capital of Islamic
Tourism” at every meeting of ICTM,
the BTB chief said the name of
Dhaka would be proposed this time
to select as capital of Islamic tourism
either for 2019 or 2020.
The last 9th session declared
Madina and the Iranian Tabriz city
as the capitals of Islamic tourism for
2017 and 2018 respectively.
“I am highly hopeful that Dhaka,
the city of mosque that hosts
numbers of Indo-Islamic
architecture will be selected. If so,
we will make a yearlong plan for
Dhaka to attract more tourists from
across the Muslim world to visit our
Islamic heritage,” Dr Nasir said.
The BTB is also taking preparation
to propose for being the host to
organize the 5th OIC Tourism Fair
here in 2020.
Apart from the core agenda of
ICTM - development and promotion
of Islamic culture and heritage - the
10th session will also review
progress of the tourism projects in
different countries those are being
implemented in line with joint
cooperation on Islamic tourism.
“We (Bangladesh) will also place
some new projects related to Islamic
tourism to implement in
Bangladesh,” BTB CEO said.
With a market potential of more
than 50 Muslim countries and no
less than 1.6 billion Muslims,
tremendous opportunities await
those who are willing to meet the
demands for Muslim-friendly
tourism products and services.
“We would like to exploit every
possible opportunity to attract more
tourists in our country. We had held
an international Buddhist tourism
circuit conference in Dhaka earlier to
get more Buddhists tourists, now we
have the opportunity to showcase our
Islamic heritage in front of the world
to attract more and more Muslim
tourists specially from middle east
and far east,” Dr Nasir said.
The ICTM is being held in different
OIC member countries in every two
years. Its 9th session was held in
Niamey, the capital of Niger in 2015.
As per the tradition, the
chairmanship of the conference will
be transferred to Bangladesh
tourism minister from his Niger
counterpart (current chair of ICTM)
for next two years at the opening
ceremony of the upcoming 10th
ICTM session.
A recent OIC study revealed that in
2015 the estimated number of
Muslim tourists were 117 million,
representing close to 10 percent of
the entire tourism industry. This
number is forecasted to grow to 168
million visitors by 2020 and 11
percent of the market segment with
a market value projected to exceed
US Dollar 200 billion.
Publication ceremony of a monthly brail magazine ‘Onno Aloi Pori’ was held in the capital city yesterday.
Photo : Star Mail
Veteran journalist
Sheikh Rakib
Uddin dies
DHAKA : Veteran journalist
Sheikh Rakib Uddin died at a
city hospital on Saturday. He
was 85. Rakib Uddin,
diplomatic correspondent of
The Independent and also
founder vice-president of
Diplomatic Correspondents
Association, Bangladesh
(DCAB), breathed his last at
Birdem Hospital at 5:30 am.
He had been suffering from
various old age complications,
reports UNB.
The namaj-e-janaza of
Rakib Uddin was held at the
National Press Club at 11:30
am. He worked at the United
News of Bangladesh (UNB)
and Daily Azad (as chief
reporter). Rakib Uddin, also a
member of the Jatiya Press
Club, will be buried at Azimpur
grave yard after Zohr prayers.
Meanwhile, DCAB has
expressed deep shock at the
sad demise of SheikhRakib
Uddin. DCAB President
Rezaul Karim Lotus and its
secretary general Mahfuzur
Rahman Mishu, in a
condolence message on
Saturday, conveyed deep
sympathy to the bereaved
family members and sought
salvation of the departed soul.
Dhaka hosts OIC tourism
ministers’ meet Feb 5-7
OIC wants to enhance regional integration thru’ tourism
DHAKA : Tourism ministers of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) will gather here on February 5-7 to
talk about tourism potential among 57
member states and discuss ways to
contribute better to their economies,
reports UNB.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will
inaugurate the three-day 10th conference
of the OIC Tourism Ministers to be held
here under the theme of ‘Enhancing
Regional Integration through Tourism’.
During this session, OIC Secretary
General Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-
Othaimeen will present his report to the
Ministers of Tourism of the OIC Member
States.
The report includes the implementation
of the OIC Framework for Development
and Cooperation in the field of tourism in
terms of promoting Islamic tourism,
celebratory activities of Islamic tourism
capitals, promotional tourism activities,
organising tourist exhibitions,
establishing tourism portal, tourism
capacity building programmes, tourism
publications, and tourism statistics and
studies.
The conference will also discuss the
development of Islamic cultural and
heritage tourism, the strategic roadmap
for the development and promotion of
Islamic tourism, and a study on branding
Muslim-friendly tourism in the global
market.
The participants will also review the
progress in tourism infrastructure
projects, such as the Regional Project for
Sustainable Tourism Development in a
Network of Cross Border Parks and
Protected Areas in West Africa, according
to the OIC headquarters.
The event is also expected to address
the challenges faced by the OIC on the
successful organisation of various
tourism fairs and the development of a
joint strategy for the successful
organisation of Islamic tourism
exhibitions.
The session will also select the two
Islamic tourism capitals of 2019 and
2020 in line with the mechanism and the
selection criteria adopted and review the
annual celebration of the capital of
Islamic tourism and programmes to
facilitate the mass people and diverse the
celebration of this year-long event.
A preparatory meeting was held
recently at the Secretariat with Civil
Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM
Shajahan Kamal in the chair.
The minister will brief the media about
the conference tomorrow (Sunday)
morning at the Secretariat.
Bangladesh Online News Portal Association (BONPA) formed a human chain in front of National Public
Library yesterday demanding cancellation of section-32 of Digital Security Law-2018. Photo : Star Mail
Grameen Phone Ltd Sramik Karmachair Oikyo Parishad demonstrates yesterday in the capital city.
Photo : Star Mail
Sd/-
GD-179/18 (8 x 4)
GD-180/18 (6 x 4)

EDITORIAL
SUNDAY,
fEBrUArY 4, 2018
4
A race to the gutter
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
Telephone: +8802-9104683-84, Fax: 9127103
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Sunday, february 4, 2018
Saving the wetlands
around Dhaka
N
otwithstanding
the apparent gloss and glitter of
its high rise buildings, Dhaka is now a seriously
endangered city. The once natural drainage
system of the city with its many natural canals plus the
surrounding wetlands that also helped the purpose of
retention of drained waters and their gradual drainage,
are largely things of the past.
Only a few natural drainage canals remain though in
heavily encroached conditions. The areas of the
wetlands have also shrunk from the activities of real
estate developers and other encroachers. Compared to
their earlier non encroached sizes, the extent of the
wetlands today are far smaller. Thus, any sensible
person can see the imperative of saving these wetlands
and remaining canals from grabbing in the name of
developing them not to speak of trying to set them free
from their present encroachments as well.
The city of over 15 million turn into a flooded one in
almost all of its parts even after a short period of heavy
rains. It acquires the appearance of a city flood as water
fails to drain off for days from the choked conditions of
the city. Thus, the Detail Area Plan (DAP) for the city
proposed that at least 21 per cent of the city's present and
projected areas must be reserved as water bodies where
no real estate development activities would be
permitted. But this meritorious proposal triggered the
wrath of the developers . They made it transparent that
they would be prepared to go to any lengths of
misconduct, piling of pressure and other tactics to have
the DAP changed in their favour.
Therefore, the responsibility becomes greater for the
government to be even more firm in their commitment
to DAP. DAP has been drawn up in the interest of a
planned Dhaka, to save it from collapse due to all kinds
of unregulated activities specially from real estate
developers. The best interests of residents of the city
cannot be allowed to be sacrificed at the altar of a limited
number of greedy developers.
However, it is also true that developers' interests
cannot be so bluntly ignored either. Over the years, they
intruded into the wetlands from a policy vacuum on the
part of the government and no enforcement measures
whatsoever against the same. They have also invested
huge sums of money in partial attempts to develop the
areas of the wetlands they intruded. In some cases, they
have even taken money from private persons as plots
sold to them. Therefore, the reasonable course would be
government making some compromises in areas of the
wetlands where the developers have already gone to
work. But government's policy from now on should be
one of sending very convincing signals to the developers
that they have proceeded this far but won't be allowed to
move further . This means that their further intrusion
into the wetlands would be absolutely prevented in each
such case from now on by the sternest application of the
law.
A wise coexistence of man and nature was visible at the
initial days of development of Dhaka. Until 1950,
development of the city took place on the higher terrain
and the encompassing rivers, networks of canals and the
wetlands were harmoniously used for transportation,
defence, fishing or agricultural purpose.
Vast tract of wetlands at close proximity to the central
city has been attracting private developers since 1980s.
After construction of the Western Flood Embankment,
unplanned development stretched rapidly toward the
low lying areas violating all the laws and regulations.
Designated flood zone at the south and west of Dhaka
are also experiencing the similar fate. It should be kept
in mind, even after completion of the Eastern
Embankment, a sizeable percent of land should be kept
as retention area for storm water storage (according to
the study of JICA).
It was evident from catastrophic floods in 1988, 1998
and 2004 in the city that the poor discharge capacities of
the existing natural drainage channels are responsible
for the longer duration of floods. City dwellers
experienced the severity of rain flood during the month
of September 2004. Entire city collapsed at that time for
poor drainage system of the city. Low-lying lands around
Dhaka works as natural retainers of storm water, acts as
natural drainage network and certainly help to keep
balance in ecosystem. Land filling activities in those
restricted areas have been going on even after enactment
of the Water Body Conservation Act 2000 which
prohibited any kind of development in the wetlands.
It is a myth that today no wetland remains for
conservation. Expert studies show that Dhaka is still left
with 19.3% of wetland, which requires immediate
attention. Wetlands are like living beings. Once they are
destroyed, they cannot be brought back to life again.
Programme for restoration of wetlands of Dhaka can be
termed as the life saving drug for the survival of our
beloved city and its surroundings. Development
authorities in collaboration with experts, NGOs, media
personnel and civil society must undertake a dynamic
role to protect the wetlands. Natural resource
conservation always requires active participation of, and
therefore must include, the local inhabitants.
ICan’t say I'm a big fan of the
Supreme Court's current trend of
taking on suo motu cases regarding
everything wrong in Pakistan.
In fact, if our judiciary were to clear
their backlog of 1.8 million cases
pending before it, our litigious
country would breathe a sigh of relief.
The whole business of granting stay
orders at the drop of a hat needs a
thorough judicial review: just
consider the fact that TV channels
charged with contravening the Pemra
code of conduct have filed no less than
600 stay orders with various courts,
thus rendering the regulatory body
totally impotent. Meanwhile, they go
their merry way, vilifying their
targets, and occasionally putting their
lives at risk.
Fortunately, there are a few
exceptions like the recent unmasking of
one of Pakistan's most popular anchors,
by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who
took notice of his bizarre accusations.
By claiming that the main accused in
the brutal Kasur rape and murder of
little Zainab was at the centre of an
international child pornography ring,
the anchor's allegations could have
derailed the investigation. As it is, the
State Bank almost immediately
debunked his claim that the killer had
37 bank accounts.
Even after his claims have been
discredited, the anchor in question is
still defending himself on his channel.
In one incoherent broadcast, he
rejected the oft-repeated charge that he
had no journalistic background but had
parachuted into senior broadcasting
positions at large media houses.
Naming well-known TV anchors and
broadcasters abroad who had no
degrees in journalism, he sought to
Imagine that you, like me, are a typical
product of Western liberal
democracy, and are invited to give a
lecture to a group of Chinese students in
Beijing or Shanghai on its benefits.
Ignoring the fact that, in reality, the
Chinese government would never allow
such a lecture, ask yourself: What would
you say?
First and foremost, it would be
advisable to acknowledge that you do not
speak from a position of moral
superiority. Western civilization in the
first half of the 20th century was not very
civilized. Human rights were trampled.
Class war destroyed entire political
systems. There were large-scale violent
conflicts and much ethnic cleansing.
Given this history, Westerners are in no
position to lecture on civil liberties or
humane values. It is also worth noting
that the global march toward democracy,
which seemed nearly inexorable after the
fall of the Berlin Wall, now seems to be
reversing. According to Stanford
University's Larry Diamond, several
countries that were democracies at the
beginning of this century have since
shifted to different systems.
Of course, elections alone do not a
democracy make. Consider those cases
when elections empower a majority
ethnic or religious group, which then
rides roughshod over minorities - an
outcome that has been seen all too often
in the Balkans, for example. Then there
place himself in their ranks.
Often anchors peddle half-baked
opinions as facts.
In fact, the subject one studies at
university has nothing to do with
journalistic standards and ethics. In
reputable TV channels like the BBC and
CNN, presenters and anchors, no
matter how famous and well paid, have
to stick to the script written and cleared
by the news desk. If the story is
controversial, additional vetting is
called in. In Pakistan, however, anchors
are the public faces of TV channels, and
are extremely well rewarded. Some
among the very popular ones have a
direct link to the owners, bypassing the
normal professional and managerial
hierarchies other journalists are
subordinate to. They thus produce their
own scoops, and sprinkle their stardust
on the channels they work for.
But this constant battle to top the
popularity chart often becomes a race to
the gutter. Although the chief justice
has set up a joint investigation team to
further probe the anchor's accusations,
are the cases when the election of a leader
is treated as if it somehow legitimizes the
subsequent emergence of dictatorship.
This has been the case in Russia, which,
since President Vladimir Putin's first
electoral victory in 2000, has become a
Potemkin democracy. This year, another
election, neither free nor fair, will give
Putin another term in office. In a real
democracy, free and fair elections are
complemented more broadly by the rule
of law, due process, an independent
judiciary, an active civil society, and
freedom of the press, worship, assembly,
and association. In fact, it is theoretically
possible - though unlikely - for political
systems to have all these elements
without elections at all. (The political
scientist Samuel Finer, in his
irfAN hUSAiN
it appears that there is not much to look
into. Had there been any evidence,
surely the anchor would have presented
it by now to his increasingly sceptical
audience.
However, he is not alone. Not that
long ago, another senior anchor pushed
a claim by a so-called inventor that he
had discovered the secret of making a
car that ran on water. Evening after
evening, the anchor would lament
about how a Pakistani genius was being
Even after his claims have been discredited,
the anchor in question is still defending
himself on his channel. in one incoherent
broadcast, he rejected the oft-repeated charge
that he had no journalistic background but
had parachuted into senior broadcasting
positions at large media houses. Naming wellknown
tV anchors and broadcasters abroad
who had no degrees in journalism, he sought
to place himself in their ranks.
chriS PAttEN
ignored by the scientific establishment.
Finally, his persistence paid off, and the
miracle car was publicly tested.
Surprise, surprise, the whole thing was
a hoax.
In most such cases of false claims and
accusations, no apologies or
explanations are ever forthcoming,
either from the anchor or the
management. And Pemra, as we have
seen, has been made a spectator to this
unprofessional conduct through a spate
of stay order notices so easily granted
by our courts.
Print journalism, by contrast, has
comprehensive study of different sorts of
government, found just one society that
was liberal but not democratic: colonial
Hong Kong.)
Democracies depend on institutional
software, not just hardware. The people
who make them work accept a set of
norms that often do not have to be
codified. The problem comes when the
people - or, worse, their leaders - refuse to
adhere to democratic norms
Democracies depend on institutional
software, not just hardware. The people
who make them work accept a set of
norms that often do not have to be
codified. The problem comes when the
people - or, worse, their leaders - refuse to
adhere to democratic norms. That is what
is happening today in the United States,
higher standards for the verification of
stories. One reason is that reporters are
in a chain of command, and, for the
most part, no newspaper staffer can
bypass the editor to approach the
owners. In reputable publications like
this one, their stories are normally
subjected to cross-checking and factchecking.
Much to my occasional irritation, the
editor of these pages and I don't always
see eye to eye with changes that appear
in my published columns. But more
often than not, I see that the alterations
have been made due to either policy
concerns, or where I have made a
genuine mistake. The odd argument
aside, my editor and I are literally on
the same page.
This kind of back and forth is only
possible because the deadlines in print
journalism aren't as tight as they are in
TV where vicious rivalries and 24/7
rolling news often force ill-considered
decisions, and the news editor's role is
severely curtailed. The results of this
kind of journalism on the run are
clearly visible in the shape of mindless
discussions and poorly informed
debates that have become the norm.
Half-baked opinions are peddled as
facts, and the same talking heads are
invited to offer the same views night
after night. Unproven accusations are
thrown around liberally, while most
anchors encourage the most
outlandish comments without
challenging them.
In this environment of mediocrity
and cut-throat competition, it is no
wonder that unethical so-called media
professionals flourish.
Source : Dawn
in defense of democracy during challenging times
North Korea, if not stopped, will
build an arsenal with multiple
nuclear missiles meant to threaten
the United States homeland and blackmail
America into abandoning its allies in Asia.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un will
sell these weapons to state and nonstate
actors, and he will inspire other rogue
actors who want to undermine the USbacked
postwar order.
These are real and unprecedented
threats. But the answer is not, as some
officials of the administration of United
States President Donald Trump have
suggested, a preventive military strike.
Instead, there is a forceful military option
available that can address the threat
without escalating into a war that would
likely kill tens, if not hundreds, of
thousands of Americans.
When I was under consideration for a
position in this administration, I shared
some of these views.
Some may argue that US casualties and
even a wider war on the Korean Peninsula
are risks worth taking, given what is at
stake. But a strike (even a large one) would
only delay North Korea's missile-building
and nuclear programmes, which are
buried in deep, unknown places
impenetrable to bunker-busting bombs. A
strike also would not stem the threat of
proliferation but rather exacerbate it,
turning what might be a North Korean
moneymaking endeavour into a vengeful
effort intended to equip other bad actors
Democracies depend on institutional software,
not just hardware. the people who make them
work accept a set of norms that often do not have
to be codified. the problem comes when the
people - or, worse, their leaders - refuse to adhere
to democratic norms. that is what is happening
today in the United States, as President Donald
trump challenges some of the foundational rules,
norms, and principles of American democracy.
against the US. I empathise with the hope,
espoused by some Trump officials, that a
military strike would shock Pyongyang
into appreciating US strength, after years
of inaction, and force the regime to the
denuclearisation negotiating table. I also
hope that if North Korea did retaliate
militarily, the US could control the
escalation ladder to minimise collateral
damage and prevent a collapse of financial
markets. In either event, the rationale is
that a strike that demonstrates US resolve
to pursue "all options" is necessary to give
the mercurial Kim a "bloody nose".
Otherwise, he will remain undeterred in
his nuclear ambitions.
Yet, there is a point at which hope must
give in to logic. If we believe that Kim is
undeterrable without such a strike, how
can we also believe that a strike will deter
him from responding in kind? And if Kim
is unpredictable, impulsive and bordering
on irrational, how can we control the
escalation ladder, which is premised on an
adversary's rational understanding of
signals and deterrence?
Some have argued the risks are still
worth taking because it's better that people
die "over there" than "over here" [in
America]. On any given day, there are
230,000 Americans in South Korea and
90,000 or so in Japan. Given that an
evacuation of so many citizens would be
virtually impossible under a rain of North
Korean artillery and missiles (potentially
laced with biochemical weapons), these
Americans would most likely have to
hunker down until the war was over.
as President Donald Trump challenges
some of the foundational rules, norms,
and principles of American democracy.
Trump threatens (as Richard Nixon
once did) to use his power to pervert the
rule of law to target his opponents - most
notably Hillary Clinton, whom he wants
"locked up." He assaults the freedom of
the press, implicitly encouraging
supporters to attack journalists, say, by
tweeting a (since-deleted) parody video of
himself body-slamming a man with a
CNN logo on his head. He attempts to
subvert America's system of checks and
balances. And he seems to place a higher
priority on advancing his family's own
commercial interests than the interests of
the American people.
While some parts of America's
democratic political system - for example,
the judicial check on executive authority -
have proved resilient, others are breaking
down. But Trump is a consequence of this
breakdown, not its cause.
The real problem is that the Republican
Party has, over the years, become a
hollow instrument of lobbyists and
extremists, and both Democrats and
Republicans seem to have abandoned
their commitment to governing by
consensus. As a result, the constitutional
brakes that America's founders created to
prevent the election of a huckster like
Trump have failed.
Source : Asia times
Giving North Korea a ‘bloody nose’ risks hurting the US
Victor chA
Some may argue that US casualties and even a wider war
on the Korean Peninsula are risks worth taking, given
what is at stake. But a strike (even a large one) would only
delay North Korea's missile-building and nuclear
programmes, which are buried in deep, unknown places
impenetrable to bunker-busting bombs. A strike also
would not stem the threat of proliferation but rather
exacerbate it, turning what might be a North Korean
moneymaking endeavour into a vengeful effort intended
to equip other bad actors against the US.
While the American population in Japan
may be protected by US missile defences,
the US population in South Korea, let
alone millions of South Koreans, has no
similar active defences against a barrage of
North Korean artillery (aside from
counterfire artillery). To be clear: The US
president would be putting at risk an
American population the size of a
medium-sized US city - Pittsburgh, say, or
Cincinnati - on the assumption that a crazy
and undeterrable dictator will be rationally
cowed by a demonstration of US kinetic
power. An alternative coercive strategy
involves enhanced and sustained US,
regional and global pressure on
Pyongyang to denuclearise. This strategy is
likely to deliver the same potential benefits
as a limited strike, along with other
advantages, without the self-destructive
costs. There are four elements to this
coercive strategy.
First, the Trump administration must
continue to strengthen the coalition of
United Nations member-states it has
mustered in its thus far highly successful
sanctions campaign. Second, the US must
significantly up-gun its alliances with
Japan and South Korea with integrated
missile defence, intelligence-sharing and
anti-submarine warfare and strike
capabilities to convey to North Korea that
an attack on one is an attack on all.
Source : Gulf news

SCIENCE & TECH
sunDAy, feBruAry 4, 2018
5
youtube: ‘Where fiction outperforms reality’
PAul leWIs
youTube's algorithm distorts truth.
There are 1.5 billion YouTube users in the world, which is
more than the number of households that own televisions.
What they watch is shaped by this algorithm, which skims
and ranks billions of videos to identify 20 "up next" clips
that are both relevant to a previous video and most likely,
statistically speaking, to keep a person hooked on their
screen.
Company insiders tell me the algorithm is the single
most important engine of YouTube's growth. In one of the
few public explanations of how the formula works - an academic
paper that sketches the algorithm's deep neural networks,
crunching a vast pool of data about videos and the
people who watch them - YouTube engineers describe it as
one of the "largest scale and most sophisticated industrial
recommendation systems in existence".
Lately, it has also become one of the most controversial.
The algorithm has been found to be promoting conspiracy
theories about the Las Vegas mass shooting and incentivising,
through recommendations, a thriving subculture that
targets children with disturbing content such as cartoons
in which the British children's character Peppa Pig eats her
father or drinks bleach.
Lewd and violent videos have been algorithmically
served up to toddlers watching YouTube Kids, a dedicated
app for children. One YouTube creator who was banned
from making advertising revenues from his strange videos
- which featured his children receiving flu shots, removing
earwax, and crying over dead pets - told a reporter he had
only been responding to the demands of Google's algorithm.
"That's what got us out there and popular," he said.
"We learned to fuel it and do whatever it took to please the
algorithm."
Google has responded to these controversies in a process
akin to Whac-A-Mole: expanding the army of human
moderators, removing offensive YouTube videos identified
by journalists and de-monetising the channels that create
them. But none of those moves has diminished a growing
concern that something has gone profoundly awry with the
artificial intelligence powering YouTube.
Yet one stone has so far been largely unturned. Much has
been written about Facebook and Twitter's impact on politics,
but in recent months academics have speculated that
YouTube's algorithms may have been instrumental in
fuelling disinformation during the 2016 presidential election.
"YouTube is the most overlooked story of 2016,"
Zeynep Tufekci, a widely respected sociologist and technology
critic, tweeted back in October. "Its search and recommender
algorithms are misinformation engines."
If YouTube's recommendation algorithm really has
evolved to promote more disturbing content, how did that
happen? And what is it doing to our politics? Those are not
easy questions to answer. Like all big tech companies,
YouTube does not allow us to see the algorithms that shape
our lives. They are secret formulas, proprietary software,
and only select engineers are entrusted to work on the
algorithm. Guillaume Chaslot, a 36-year-old French computer
programmer with a PhD in artificial intelligence, was
one of those engineers.
During the three years he worked at Google, he was
placed for several months with a team of YouTube engineers
working on the recommendation system. The experience
led him to conclude that the priorities YouTube
gives its algorithms are dangerously skewed. "YouTube is
something that looks like reality, but it is distorted to make
you spend more time online," he tells me when we meet in
Berkeley, California. "The recommendation algorithm is
not optimising for what is truthful, or balanced, or healthy
for democracy." Chaslot explains that the algorithm never
stays the same. It is constantly changing the weight it gives
to different signals: the viewing patterns of a user, for
example, or the length of time a video is watched before
someone clicks away.
The engineers he worked with were responsible for continuously
experimenting with new formulas that would
increase advertising revenues by extending the amount of
time people watched videos. "Watch time was the priority,"
he recalls. "Everything else was considered a distraction."
Chaslot was fired by Google in 2013, ostensibly over
performance issues. He insists he was let go after agitating
for change within the company, using his personal time to
team up with like-minded engineers to propose changes
that could diversify the content people see.
He was especially worried about the distortions that
might result from a simplistic focus on showing people
videos they found irresistible, creating filter bubbles, for
example, that only show people content that reinforces
their existing view of the world. Chaslot said none of his
proposed fixes were taken up by his managers. "There are
many ways YouTube can change its algorithms to suppress
fake news and improve the quality and diversity of videos
people see," he says. "I tried to change YouTube from the
inside but it didn't work."
YouTube told me that its recommendation system had
Photo: Tubefilter
evolved since Chaslot worked at the company and now
"goes beyond optimising for watchtime". The company
said that in 2016 it started taking into account user "satisfaction",
by using surveys, for example, or looking at how
many "likes" a video received, to "ensure people were satisfied
with what they were viewing". YouTube added that
additional changes had been implemented in 2017 to
improve the news content surfaced in searches and recommendations
and discourage the promotion of videos containing
"inflammatory religious or supremacist" content.
It did not say why Google, which acquired YouTube in
2006, waited over a decade to make those changes.
Chaslot believes such changes are mostly cosmetic, and
have failed to fundamentally alter some disturbing biases
that have evolved in the algorithm. In the summer of 2016,
he built a computer program to investigate.
The software Chaslot wrote was designed to provide the
world's first window into YouTube's opaque recommendation
engine. The program simulates the behaviour of a user
who starts on one video and then follows the chain of recommended
videos - much as I did after watching the
Logan Paul video - tracking data along the way.
It finds videos through a word search, selecting a "seed"
video to begin with, and recording several layers of videos
that YouTube recommends in the "up next" column. It
does so with no viewing history, ensuring the videos being
detected are YouTube's generic recommendations, rather
than videos personalised to a user. And it repeats the
process thousands of times, accumulating layers of data
about YouTube recommendations to build up a picture of
the algorithm's preferences.
Over the last 18 months, Chaslot has used the program
to explore bias in YouTube content promoted during the
French, British and German elections, global warming and
mass shootings, and published his findings on his website,
Algotransparency.com. Each study finds something different,
but the research suggests YouTube systematically
amplifies videos that are divisive, sensational and conspiratorial.
When his program found a seed video by searching the
query "who is Michelle Obama?" and then followed the
chain of "up next" suggestions, for example, most of the
recommended videos said she "is a man". More than 80%
of the YouTube-recommended videos about the pope
detected by his program described the Catholic leader as
"evil", "satanic", or "the anti-Christ". There were literally
millions of videos uploaded to YouTube to satiate the algorithm's
appetite for content claiming the earth is flat. "On
YouTube, fiction is outperforming reality," Chaslot says.
He believes one of the most shocking examples was
detected by his program in the run-up to the 2016
presidential election. As he observed in a short, largely
unnoticed blogpost published after Donald Trump
was elected, the impact of YouTube's recommendation
algorithm was not neutral during the presidential race:
it was pushing videos that were, in the main, helpful to
Trump and damaging to Hillary Clinton. "It was
strange," he explains to me. "Wherever you started,
whether it was from a Trump search or a Clinton
search, the recommendation algorithm was much
more likely to push you in a pro-Trump direction."
Trump won the electoral college as a result of 80,000
votes spread across three swing states. There were
more than 150 million YouTube users in the US. The
videos contained in Chaslot's database of YouTuberecommended
election videos were watched, in total,
more than 3bn times before the vote in November
2016.
Even a small bias in the videos would have been significant.
"Algorithms that shape the content we see can
have a lot of impact, particularly on people who have
not made up their mind," says Luciano Floridi, a professor
at the University of Oxford's Digital Ethics Lab,
who studies the ethics of artificial intelligence. "Gentle,
implicit, quiet nudging can over time edge us toward
choices we might not have otherwise made."
Chaslot sent me a database of more YouTube-recommended
videos his program identified in the three
months leading up to the presidential election. It contained
more than 8,000 videos - all of them detected
by his program appearing "up next" on 12 dates
between August and November 2016, after equal numbers
of searches for "Trump" and "Clinton".
It was not a comprehensive set of videos and it may
not have been a perfectly representative sample. But it
was, Chaslot said, a previously unseen dataset of what
YouTube was recommending to people interested in
content about the candidates - one snapshot, in other
words, of the algorithm's preferences.Jonathan
Albright, research director at the Tow Center for Digital
Journalism, who reviewed the code used by
Chaslot, says it is a relatively straightforward piece of
software and a reputable methodology. "This research
captured the apparent direction of YouTube's political
ecosystem," he says. "That has not been done before."
keeping bedroom a phone-free zone
Alex hern
I never quite fell in love with smartwatches, but I do
credit my brief time with one for sparking the most positive
change to my life for years: relegating my smartphone
to the hallway. With only one plug socket by my
bed, and no space for an adaptor, I had to choose one
device to win the hallowed bedside charging position.
Thanks to my desire to eke out one final hour of standing
time to goose my activity tracking, the watch won.
It turns out that keeping your bedroom a phone-free
zone is a really, really good thing. Within days, I was
reading more in the evening, and getting out of bed faster
in the morning. Within weeks, I was sleeping noticeably
better, and feeling fewer symptoms of my anxiety disorder
at night. Not that any of this should have surprised
me. There's a growing body of evidence that pulling out
your phone in bed is one of the worst things you can do.
Matthew Walker, UC Berkley professor and author of
Why We Sleep, places the blame on light in general, and
screens in particular: "Stay away from screens, especially
those LED screens - they emit blue light that actually
puts the breaks on melatonin. And those blue-light emitting
devices fool your brain into thinking that it's still
daytime, even though it's nighttime and you want to get
to sleep."
Some phones now attempt to compensate for the blue
light emission. Since 2016, iPhones have had an optional
feature, Night Shift, which changes the colour balance
of the phone after sunset. As an optional feature, though,
A bedroom without phone can result in quality sleep and less anxiety.
with a sliding scale of intensity, it's not really clear
whether it actually works: even Apple will only go so far
as to note that "this may help you get a better night's
sleep". And anyway, the physiological effects of blue light
are only one reason to keep devices out of the bedroom.
Far worse - in my experience, at least - is the psychological
damage. In short, social media sucks, and if you have
a phone near your bed, it all but guarantees that some
social network will intrude into your consciousness in
those precious minutes before sleep. A study published
in 2017 in the journal Sleep found that "social media use
in the 30 minutes before bed is independently associated
with disturbed sleep among young adults". And the trend
seems to be linear: the more social media use there is, the
more likely sleep is to be disturbed.
It feels telling that I exiled my phone from my bedroom
around the same time I began reading the horror bestseller
House of Leaves, yet still found myself with fewer
sleepless nights. Although, admittedly, what nightmares
there were were much worse until I moved on to lighter
fare.
Lest it sound like I'm presenting myself as a virtuously
technology-free ascetic, living a life of paper, ink and
face-to-face conversations, don't worry: the phone has
been replaced with a Kindle. In fact, the starkest biggest
advantage of changing my habits? I get out of bed quicker.
Not because I've had more sleep, though - just that,
well, I've still got to check my notifications within seconds
of waking up. Now, though, that involves getting on
my feet first. Look, it's a start, OK?
Photo: getty Images
Bitcoin - the currency of choice for online drug dealers and cybercriminals.
Photo: The Merkle
What digital money really
means for our future
Technology Desk
In a word, yes. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency,
and is still the biggest, but in
the eight years since it was created pretenders
to the throne have come along.
All of them have the same basic underpinnings:
they use a "blockchain", a
shared public record of transactions, to
create and track a new type of digital
token - one that can only be made and
shared according to the agreed-upon
rules of the network, whatever they may
be. But the flourishing ecosystem has
provided a huge amount of variation on
top of that.
Some cryptocurrencies, such as Litecoin
or Dogecoin, fulfil the same purpose
as bitcoin - building a new digital currency
- with tweaks to some of the details.
Others, such as Ethereum or Bat, take the
same principle but apply it to a specific
purpose: cloud computing or digital
advertising in the case of those two. A bitcoin
doesn't really exist as a concrete
physical - or even digital - object. If I have
0.5 bitcoins sitting in my digital wallet,
that doesn't mean there is a corresponding
other half sitting somewhere else.
What you really have when you own a
bitcoin is the collective agreement of
every other computer on the bitcoin network
that your bitcoin was legitimately
created by a bitcoin "miner", and then
passed on to you through a series of legitimate
transactions. If you want to actually
own some bitcoin, there are exactly two
options: either become a miner, or simply
buy some bitcoin from someone else
using conventional money, typically
through a bitcoin exchange such as Coinbase
or Bitfinex.
A lot of the quirks of the currency come
down to the collective agreement about
what constitutes "legitimacy". For
instance, since the first bitcoin was created
in 2009, the total number in existence
has been growing slowly, at a declining
rate, ensuring that at some point around
2140, the 21 millionth bitcoin will be
mined, and no more will ever be created.
If you disagree with that collective
agreement, well, there's nothing stopping
you from splitting with the wider
network and creating your own version
of bitcoin. This is what's known as a
"fork", and it's already happened multiple
times in the past (that's what competitors
such as Litecoin and Dogecoin
are). The difficulty is persuading other
people to follow you. A currency used by
just one person isn't much of a currency.
In theory, almost anything that can
be done with a computer could, in some
way, be rebuilt on a cryptocurrencybased
platform. Building a cryptocurrency
involves turning a worldwide network
of computers into a decentralised
platform for data storage and processing
- in effect, a giant hive-mind PC. In practice,
however, the available uses are
rather more limited. Bitcoin can be used
as a payment system for a few online
transactions, and even fewer real-world
ones, while other cryptocurrencies are
even more juvenile than that. The excitement
about the field is focused more on
what it could become than what it actually
is.
At their heart, cryptocurrencies are
basically just fancy databases. Bitcoin, for
instance, is a big database of who owns
what bitcoin, and what transactions were
made between those owners. In its own
way, that's little different from a conventional
bank, which is basically just a big
database of who owns what pounds, and
what transactions were made between
those owners.
But the distinction with bitcoin is that
no central authority runs that big fancy
database. Your bank can unilaterally edit
its database to change the amount of
money it thinks you have, and it does so
often. Sometimes that's to your advantage
and sometimes it's not.

NATIONAL
6
SUNDAY, FeBRUARY 4, 2018
Deptuy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia distrbutes warm cloth among cold
hit people in Phulchari Upazila under Gaibandha district.
Photo: Rafiqul Islam
Deer skin, scull,
crab recovered
from
Sundarbans
KHULNA : A special team
of west zone Coast Guard in
separate drives recovered
deer skins, scull, 500-kg
crab fries and over 50,000
tiger shrimp fries from
Kalabogy canal area in
Dakop upazila and Zorsing
area under Koyra upazila in
Sundarbans in the early
hours of Saturday, reports
BSS.
Operation Officer of west
zone Coast Guard Lt.
Abdullah Al Mahmud said,
being informed, a team of
the Coast Guard conducted
the drive in Kalabogy canal
area and seized the deer
skins and sculls in an
abundant condition.
In Koyra upazila, the team
recovered tiger shrimp fries
and crab fries in Zorsing
area.
All recovered goods
handed over to Hadda
Forest Station, he added.
Seminar on Global Health, Arxenic Crisis
and Reproductive study held in Pabna
ABDUL HAMID KHAN, PABNA
An International Seminar
titled Global Health, Arsenic
Crisis and Reproductive study
organised
by
DhakaCommunity Hospital
was held at Radhanagor
Majumder Academy School
and College uditorium in
Pabna district town on
Wednesday last.
Resource person on
arsenicfrom Ameria and
China joined the Seminar.
Professor Dr. Kazi
Qamruzaman, Chairman of
Dhaka Community Hospital
Trust presided over the
seminar. Professor David
Christiani of Harvard School
of public Health, USA and
Professor Donghui Zhang of
School of Education of
Nanjing Medical University,
China, read out the key note
papers at the seminar.
Professor of Toxicology
Qizhan Lui, and Professor
Feng chen of nanjing Medical
University also spoke on the
seminar. S Mustakim Sabuj of
Pabna Community Clinic
delivered welcome address.
Among others Dr. Riazul
Haque,Principal of Pabna
Medical College. Md. Jasim
Uddin,
Deputy
Commissioner of Pabna and
professor Dr. Humayun Kabir
Majumder Principal of Pabna
Edward College also spoke on
the seminar. About 200
Participants including
Doctors, Educationist,
journalist elite person and
NGo officials were attended
on the Seminar. Project
Director of Dhaka
Community Hospital Golam
Mostafa said Dhaka
Community Hospital runs a
three- way international
collaborative project along
with the China Nanjing
Medical University and
Harvard School of Public
Health USA entitled Metal
Exposures and Adverse Birth
cohort study, funded by china
Ministry of science and
Technology.
Dhaka Community
Hospital in the last 20 years
has run several studies across
the country about the arsenic
affection and Pabna is one of
the key vulnerable districts of
arsenic infection in
Bangladesh since 1990. The
speakers said, Arsenic is a
global crisis in the present
world. Arsenic infection
cannot be removed so easily.
Generation after generation
carries the crisis. Chairman of
DCHT Professor Dr. Kazi
Qamruzzaman said. We have
to develop effective methods
to be accepted of the
community levels. We believe
voluntary participation from
the society can play a vital role
to combat global arsenic
problem.
Interview
for IU 'F'
unit
waiting
list today
ISLAMIC
UNIVERSITY: The
interview from 'F' unit
waiting list for
admission into the first
year honors courses
under the 2017-18
academic session of
Islamic University (IU)
in Kushtia will be held
today, reports BSS.
It will begin at 10 am at
the unit coordinator
office of the university,
an IU press release said.
About 14 seats are still
vacant in two
departments under 'F'
unit after admission of
the candidates named in
merit list. The vacancy
seats will be filled up
from the waiting list of
candidates.
Finally selected
aspirants must have to
complete their
admission process
within February 5 next.
Bumper wheat
production likely
in Rangpur region
RANGPUR: The officials concerned and
farmers are expecting a good wheat production
as the tender plants are growing well despite a
shortfall in the acreage this season in Rangpur
agriculture region, reports BSS.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) said the farmers have
cultivated wheat on 21,419 hectares of land,
5,068 hectares or 19.13 percent less than the
fixed target of bringing 26,487 hectares under
its farming this time in the region.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing
88,732 tonnes of wheat from 26,487 hectares
of land in all five districts under the region
during this Rabi season.
However, the farmers finally brought 2,647
hectares of land under wheat cultivation in
Rangpur, 2,680 hectares in Gaibandha, 8,997
hectares in Kurigram, 1,830 hectares in
Lalmonirhat and 5,265 hectares of land in
Nilphamari districts under the region.
Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional
office Khondker Md. Mesbahul Islam said the
fixed wheat farming target could not be
achieved following various reasons, including
more crop diversification.
"Despite shortfall in farming target, the
farmers are expected to achieve better yield of
the crop as they have sowed high quality,
disease resistant and stress tolerant variety
wheat seeds timely using latest technologies,"
he said. The farmers have mostly cultivated
high yielding variety wheat like 'Bijoy', 'Pradip',
'Sotabdhi', BARI Gom25, BARI Gom26, BARI
Gom27, BARI Gom28 and BARI Gom29 this
time.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional
office Md Moniruzzaman said harvest of wheat
will begin by this month end as 60.40 percent
of the growing plants are at tillering, 30.21
percent at panicle initiation and 8.65 percent at
booting stages now in the region.
Talking to BSS, farmers Echhahaq Ali of
village Kathihara and Ariful Haque of village
Najirdigar here said that they are expecting
excellent wheat production this time as the
tender pants growing superbly amid favourable
climatic conditions.
Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md
Shah Alam said cultivation of the high yielding
and stress tolerant wheat varieties adopting
latest technologies has started increasing in the
region.
He suggested the farmers for large-scale
adoption of the CA-based technologies to
increase wheat yield at reduced costs saving
huge seed, irrigation water, power and fuel for
ensuring food security.
BD Cyclists, a voluntary organization distribtes cow, van, rickshaw and cash money among destitues
and students of Phulbari Upazila under Dinajpur district.
Photo: Mehedi Hasan
RWASA installs 22 pumps in
Rajshahi city
Professor Dr. Kazi Quamruzzaman, Chairman of Dhaka Community Hospital Trust speaking at a
seminar on Global Health, Arsenic & Reproductive Health in Pabba town yesterday. Delegates from
USA and China Resource Persons are present on the stage.
Photo: Abdul Hamid Khan
BSTI fines 19 shops in
Rajshahi, Rangpur
RAJSHAHI: Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution
(BSTI) penalised 19 shops about Taka 1.86 lakh in Rajshahi
and Rangpur divisions in January this year for selling and
manufacturing adulterated food items, reports BSS.
Mobile courts of the BSTI Rajshahi regional office in
association with local administration conducted drives at
different parts of Rajshahi and Rangpur regions and found
selling of substandard food items, violating the rules and
regulations. The courts also realised Taka 1.86 lakh from the
shop owners during the drives conducted in nine districts
under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.
BSTI director (Rajshahi) Altab Hossain said the regional
office has conducted its drives against the shops involved in
manufacturing substandard and adulterated food items.
Such drives will continue in the future, he said.
The BSTI regional office also conducted 27 surveillance
drives for prevention of pilferage in weight and
measurement, and formalin use in fruit and fish.
Two cases were filed during the drives, BSTI officials said.
Ferry service on Paturia-Daulatdia
route resumes
MANIKGANJ: Ferry service on Paturia-Daulatdia route
resumed yesterday after five and a half hours of suspension due to
dense fog, reports BSS. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport
Corporation (BIWTC) sources said the movement of ferries on the
route came to a complete halt at 5 am due to poor visibility as the
dense fog blanketed the river bed.
Nearly 300 vehicles, including passenger buses, trucks and cars,
were stranded on Paturia ghat side of the route.
Police hunt in Khulna sabotage
planning meeting
Detained with firearms -1
TITAS CHAKRABARTI, FROM KHULNA
District Detective Police arrested Rakibul Khandker, (22)
with the murder of one Suratgan in the case of Fultala
upazila. District Detective Police Officer In-Charge Inspector
Inspector Shikdar Akkas Ali confirmed the news. Detained
Rakibul active member of the extremist group.
According to police, on 2 February, at the direction of
Superintendent of Police Nizamul Huq Moll on the night of
February 2, Deputy Inspector General of Police Inspecting
Inspector of Police, Sikder Akkah Ali Ali, under the
supervision of the Inspector (Unarmed) Sek Koni Mia, under
the supervision of the SI, SI (N) Mohammad Lutfar Rahman,
Shalapuram, one of the members of the North Alka Sakeen,
a monirujjaman Are doing it. Rakibul Khandakar (22) was
arrested on the basis of the secret information. Later,
Rakibul's body was searched and recovered on the right side
of his pants, he was recovered by the fact that he was able to
recover the latest one Sutragon from the active iron. In the
interrogation, he said that more than 4/5 weapons with him
escaped with a bomb. In the initial interrogation, he said that
on February 8, the absconding associates were with him to
commit crimes against the government for creating a
movement against the government on the verdict of
opposition leader Begum Khaleda. There are 5 cases
involving murder and arms against Rakibul. In this case, the
District Detective Branch of Khulna, Mohammad Lutfur
Rahman filed a complaint with Phultala Police, and Phultola
Police Station Case No-02 dated 02/02 / 018 AD was
replaced by the 19 (i) Arms Act of 1978. Detention of weapon
source and the arrest of associate accused continued.
RAJSHAHI: Rajshahi Water Supply
and Sewerage Authority (RWASA) has
been installing 22 more production
pumps in the city aiming to ensure
smooth water supply to city dwellers,
reports BSS.
The water pumps are being installed
under a project titled, 'Re-renovation of
Water Supply in Rajshahi city' in
addition to the existing 82 pumps.
RWASA managing director Sultan
Abdul Hamid said 12 pumps have
already been installed in the city
corporation area.
While inaugurating installation
works of a pump at Mokbul Halder
crossing area in the city yesterday
afternoon, he said the newly installed
pumps will benefit more than 10,000
families.
The RWASA is also implementing
another project involving around Taka
34 crore to bring a qualitative change in
the city's water supply system.
Upon successful implementation of
the project by this year, a sustainable
water supply system is expected to be
built in the city through improvement
of both financial and manpower
management capacities of the RWASA.
The government has taken the
project to increase the supply of safe
water to the city dwellers, Hamid said,
adding that the RWASA is supplying
water to the eight lakh city dwellers
through a treatment plant and 84
pumps through extracting
groundwater. But, he said, population
of the city is increasing gradually.
A total of 20 mobile generators will
be brought and 70-km (100 mm) and
45-km (150 mm) new pipelines will be
set up, and 100 water flow metres will
be installed under the project.
Currently, around 57,440-squaremetre
water is being supplied to about
34,263 households and industrial
establishments daily against the total
demand of 1.19 lakh square metre.
Hamid said the RWASA is
committed to establish a safe water and
sewerage management here and it has
been working sincerely to attain its
goal.
Asim Kumar Ukil, Cultural Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League distributes school bag
among students of Sandikkona Govt. Primary School of Kendua Upazila under Netrokona district
yesterday.
Photo: Mainuddin Sarkar

INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAy, fEbRUARy 4, 2018
7
North Korea made $200m
flouting sanctions:UN
North Korea earned nearly $200m
(£141m) last year by exporting banned
commodities in breach of international
sanctions, a UN report says, reports
BBC.
The confidential report by a panel of
experts said several countries including
China, Russia and Malaysia had failed
to stop the illegal exports. It said there
was evidence of military co-operation
with Syria and Myanmar.
Pyongyang is subject to sanctions
from the US, UN and EU over its
nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
But the report, which was
submitted to the UN Security Council
and seen by news agencies, said the
North "continued to export almost all
the commodities prohibited in the resolutions...
between January and September
2017".
The report said several unnamed
multinational oil companies were
being investigated for their alleged role
in supplying petroleum products to
North Korea. It said shipments of coal
had been delivered to China, Malaysia,
South Korea, Russia and Vietnam in
breach of sanctions using "a combination
of multiple evasion techniques,
routes and deceptive tactics". The
expert panel accused North Korea of
"exploiting global oil supply chains,
complicit foreign nationals, offshore
company registries, and the international
banking system".
China's embassy in North Korea
denied flouting Security Council sanctions,
but said in a statement that the
two neighbours had maintained "normal
trade exchanges". It said Chinese
food, fruit and household products
were still being sold in North Korea.
Sanctions in recent years have targeted
North Korea's coal trade with China, as
well as banned exports of ore and other
raw materials and imposed travel bans
and asset freezes on individuals and companies
linked to its nuclear programme.
The latest UN sanctions, announced
in December, were estimated to reduce
the nation's petrol imports by up to
90%. It included a ban on exports of
North Korean goods, such as machinery
and electrical equipment.
Meanwhile, all North Korean nationals
working abroad were told to return
home within 24 months. UN monitors
found that Myanmar and Syria continued
to co-operate with North Korea's
main arms exporter, Komid, despite it
being on a UN sanctions blacklist.
The report said there was evidence
that the North was helping Syria to
develop chemical weapons and providing
ballistic missiles to Myanmar.
Between 2012 and 2017 the panel
revealed there had been more than 40
North Korean shipments to companies
acting for the research centre overseeing
Syria's chemical weapons programme.
Syrian officials had told the
monitors that the only North Korean
experts on its territory were involved in
sport.
Myanmar's ambassador to the UN
said the country had no arms relationship
with North Korea.
Qatar's defence minister stressed the need for open dialogue as a means to end the ongoing GCC crisis.
Photo: Internet
Saudi, UAE intended to invade
us: Qatar Defence minister
Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates had
intentions to invade Qatar
at the beginning of a diplomatic
crisis that erupted in
June, according to Qatar's
defence minister, reports
Al Jazeera.
In an interview with the
Washington Post on Friday,
Khalid bin Mohammad Al
Attiyah said his Gulf neighbours
have "tried everything"
to destabilise the country, but
their intentions to invade
were "diffused" by Qatar.
"They have intentions to
intervene militarily," said
Attiyah.
When asked to confirm
whether he thought such a
threat still existed today, he
responded: "We have diffused
this intention. But at
the beginning of the crisis,
they had this intention.
"They tried to provoke the
tribes. They used mosques
against us. Then they tried to
get some puppets to bring in
and replace our leaders."
KHALID BIN MOHAM-
MAD AL ATTIYAH ON THE
GCC CRISIS:
Q:?You have Turkish
troops in your country. Were
you actually afraid that Saudi
Arabia or the UAE might
invade?
A:?I wouldn't say afraid.
They have intentions to intervene
militarily.
Q:?Saudi and UAE?
A:?Yes, for sure. They have
this intention. But our relations
with Turkey go way
back before the crisis.
Q:?But you seriously think
the UAE and Saudi Arabia
have intentions to invade?
Today?
A:?We have diffused this
intention. But at the beginning
of the crisis, they had
this intention. They have
tried everything. They tried to
provoke the tribes. They used
mosques against us. Then
they tried to get some puppets
to bring in and replace
our leaders.
Attiyah, who met US
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
last week during a visit to
Washington, DC, described
the beginning of the crisis by
the Saudi-led bloc as an
"ambush" that was "miscalculated".
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, and Egypt and
Bahrain cut off diplomatic relations
with Qatar and imposed a
land, sea and air blockade after
accusing it of supporting "terrorism"
and "extremism".
Qatar has strongly denied
the allegations. Attiyah said
Qatar is the only country that
has signed a memorandum of
understanding with the US to
counter terrorism in the
region - namely in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Syria.
He stressed the need for
open dialogue as a means to
end the ongoing crisis. Asked
about Doha's relations with
Saudi's rival, Iran, Attiyah
noted that Qatar maintains
"friendly relations with everyone".
"We are responsible for the
supply of [an enormous
amount] of the world's energy.
We have to have a smooth
flow of energy, and that
means we have to eliminate
having enemies," he said,
referring to the country's
shared oilfield with Iran.
According to Attiyah, the
Saudi-led bloc had planned
to replace Qatari Emir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
with a new leader.
"They put their puppet,
[Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al
Thani, a relative of a former
Qatari emir], on TV," he said
of the "failed" attempt.
"They can't do anything.
The Qatari people love their
emir." On January 14, Sheikh
Abdullah released a video
statement, saying he was a
"prisoner" in the UAE, and
that if anything happened to
him, "Sheikh Mohammed" is
responsible.
While he did not specify,
Abdullah appeared to be
referring to Abu Dhabi's
Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Days
later, he was hospitalised in
Kuwait. Later, reports
emerged he threatened suicide.
Not all details in GOP memo help
undercut Mueller probe
President Donald Trump and his supporters are
using a congressional memo alleging FBI surveillance
abuse to raise questions about the origins of
a federal investigation into his campaign's ties to
Russia. But the four-page document includes revelations
that might complicate the effort to undermine
special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing
probe, reports Dawn.
The document contends that the FBI relied
excessively on an ex-British spy whose opposition
research was funded by Democrats when it
applied for a surveillance warrant on a Trump
campaign associate. Yet it also says the investigation
into potential Trump ties to Russia actually
began several months earlier - "triggered," it says,
by information involving a separate campaign
aide. The spy who compiled the allegations
admitted to having strong anti-Trump sentiments,
but he was not a random find for the
bureau. Rather, he was a "longtime FBI source"
with a credible track record, says the memo from
the House intelligence committee's Republican
chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, and his staff.
The warrant authorizing the FBI to monitor the
communications of campaign adviser Carter
Page? Approved by a judge on four occasions,
according to the memo, and signed off on by
Trump's hand-picked deputy attorney general,
Rod Rosenstein. That omission is important,
Republicans say, because a judge should have
known that "political actors" were involved in
allegations that led the Justice Department to
believe Page might be an agent of a foreign power
- something he has consistently and strenuously
denied.
Research from former spy Christopher Steele,
according to the memo, "formed an essential
part" of the application to receive the warrant,
though It's unclear how much or what information
he collected was included in the application,
or how much has been corroborated. Steele's
opposition research effort was initially funded by
the conservative Washington Free Beacon. It was
later picked up by the Clinton campaign and the
DNC through a Washington law firm
The FBI this week expressed "grave concerns"
about the memo and called it inaccurate and
incomplete. Beyond that, though, the memo confirms
the FBI's counterintelligence investigation
into the Trump campaign began in July 2016 -
months before the surveillance warrant was even
sought - and was "triggered" by information concerning
a different campaign aide, George
Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty last
year to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with
Mueller's investigation.
Inspections of ships have been stepped up, but the UN says more must be done.
Maldives
president fires
2nd police
chief in 3 days
The president of the Maldives
has fired a national
police chief for the second
time in three days, as
political unrest grows
after a court ordered the
release and retrial of
political prisoners,
including an ex-president,
reports Dawn.
President Yameen Abdul
Gayoom's office says he
dismissed Ahmed Saudhee
on Saturday and appointed
Deputy Police Commissioner
Abdulla Nawaz to
act as interim police chief.
No reason was given for
the dismissal.
Saudhee was appointed
interim police chief Friday,
one day after Yameen
fired Ahamed Areef for not
answering his phone calls.
Thursday night's court ruling
ordered the release and
retrial of politicians opposed
to Gayoom, including ex-
President Mohammed
Nasheed, saying their guilty
verdicts were politically influenced.
The ruling has led to
protests by opposition supporters
urging the government
to obey the order.
90 migrants feared
drowned after
boat capsizes off
Libya: UN
About 90 people are feared
drowned after a smuggler's
boat carrying mostly Pakistani
migrants capsized off
Libya's coast early Friday,
the U.N.'s migration agency
said, reports CNN.
Ten bodies have washed
ashore near the Libyan town
of Zuwara following the
tragedy in the early morning,
said International
Organization for Migration
spokeswoman Olivia Headon,
citing information from
its partner agencies.
Initially, the Libyan coast
guard said a patrol it sent out
found no signs of a capsized
boat, survivors, or drowned
migrants. But late at night, it
cited a statement from officials
in Zuwara who said that
13 bodies had been found, all
Pakistani except for one
Libyan woman. Pakistan's
Foreign Ministry said 11 of its
citizens had drowned in the
incident. Ministry spokesman
Mohammad Faisal told The
Associated Press that Pakistani
diplomats reached
Libya's coastal area to collect
more details and begin the
process of repatriating the
bodies of the deceased.
Headon said Pakistani
nationals are increasing
among the number of
migrants attempting to cross
the Mediterranean to Italy
and Europe via Libya. By
nationality, Pakistanis last
year made up the 13th
largest nationality represented
among migrants
making the crossing, but
they were the third-largest
contingent in January.
Australia has said it plans to become one of
the world's top 10 defence industry exporters
within a decade, reports BBC.
The nation currently sells about A$2bn
(£1.15bn; $1.6bn) in defence equipment each
year, making it the 20th largest arms
exporter. Manufacturers would now be
offered government-backed loans to stimulate
the industry, PM Malcolm Turnbull said.
Aid groups said the move would not help
global efforts to build peace, an assertion
rejected by the government. The nation said
it would primarily focus on boosting exports
to the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, but
it would also target markets in Asia and the
Middle East. "This is all about Australian
jobs," Mr Turnbull told reporters on Monday,
adding that "the goal is to get into the
top 10". The expansion includes setting up a
A$3.8bn loan scheme to help Australian
companies sell defence equipment overseas.
The government will also establish separate
agencies to better co-ordinate and promote
industry exports. Defence Industry
Minister Christopher Pyne said prospective
Photo: Internet.
Australia aims to become
'top 10' defence exporter
buyers would face stringent checks to ensure
"[we] don't get into markets where we don't
want to be".
Critics said Australia should not deepen its
investment in defence exports.
"We should not be getting into the game of
marketing weapons which kill, maim, and
bring great sorrow and destruction to communities
around the world," Marc Purcell,
chief executive of Australian Council for
International Development, told the Australian
Broadcasting Corp. However, Mr
Turnbull said nations could not forgo
defence spending because the "price of liberty
is eternal vigilance".
"So that is why every nation, responsible
nation, including our own, sets out to have
the capabilities to defend itself, whatever and
however circumstances may develop in the
future," he said. The US is the world's largest
arms exporter, making up a third of all sales,
according to the Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute.
The next biggest exporters are Russia, China,
France and Germany and the UK.
US says Russia 'developing' undersea
nuclear-armed torpedo
Just as the White House is
caught in a political minefield
over the Russia investigation,
the Pentagon is taking
its toughest line yet
against Russia's resurgent
nuclear forces, reports
CNN.
In its newly released
Nuclear Posture Review, the
Defense Department has
focused much of its multibillion
nuclear effort on an
updated nuclear deterrence
focused on Russia.
"Russia considers the
United States and the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) to be the principal
threats to its contemporary
geopolitical ambitions," the
report says. "The Defense
Intelligence Agency currently
estimates Russia has a
stockpile of 2,000 "nonstrategic"
nuclear weapons
including short-range ballistic
missiles, gravity bombs
and depth charges that can
go on medium range
bomber aircraft," according
to the report.
"DIA also estimates Russia
has nuclear armed anti-ship,
anti-submarine missiles and
torpedoes. What do they need
nuclear depth charges for?"
one US official asked. President
Donald Trump highlighted
the importance of the
review's conclusions Friday in
a written statement.
The Pentagon is adamant
the Nuclear Posture Review
walks the line between
maintaining a nuclear
deterrence and encouraging
controls on nuclear
weapons. The report also
publicly acknowledges, for
the first time, that Russia is
"developing" a "new intercontinental,
nuclear armed,
nuclear-powered, undersea
autonomous torpedo."
Known in English as the
"Status-6" system, the program
is described by US
officials as essentially a
drone-type device fired
underwater that can potentially
travel thousands of
miles and strike US coastal
targets such as military
bases or cities. Upon detonation,
the device is
designed to cause large
zones of radioactive contamination.
The review calls for more
focus on US "low yield"
nuclear weapons to try to
convince Russia that the US
has a credible deterrent
against the potential Russian
threat. The plan calls for
modifying existing US warheads
on submarinelaunched
ballistic missiles
in a $50 million five-year
program.
Each submarine would
only carry a few of these
new missiles, armed primarily
with strategic
longer-range missiles. But
according to some experts,
the plan translates Trump's
urge to "greatly expand and
strengthen" the arsenal
into policy.
Longer-range missiles
could come over the next
decade, and the US would
plan to develop and field
sea-launched cruise missiles
also with lower-yield
warheads. The review is
calling for all of this along
with an overall modernization
of the nuclear force
because the Pentagon
requires an "investment in a
credible nuclear deterrent
with diverse capabilities,"
chief Pentagon spokesperson
Dana White told
reporters.

ART & CULTURE SUNDAY,
FeBrUArY 4, 2018
8
Dhaka Art Summit rolls into
eventful 3rd day Sunday
DHAKA : The 3rd day of the 4th edition
of the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) will
begin with a tour of 'Muzharul Islam's
Dhaka' with architecture historians
Nurur Khan and Aurelien Lemonier
from 9 am to 12 noon on Sunday,
reports UNB.
DAS began at Bangladesh Shilapkala
Academy (BSA) under the aegis of
Samdani Art Foundation highlights the
dynamic evolution of art in
contemporary South Asia and reviving
historical inter-Asian modes of
exchange.
Third day's important events include
a discussion 'Can All Art Be Public' - this
will be held from 11 am to 12 noon at the
auditorium of the national art gallery of
Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy.
The discussants include: Dr. Helen
Pheby (Senior Curator, Yorkshire
Sculpture Park), Alexie Glass Kantor
(Director, Artspace, Sydney), Ruxmini
Choudhury (Assistant Curator, Dhaka
Art Summit), Sally Tallant (Director,
Liverpool Biennial), and artists Rashid
Rana and Munem Wasif.
On the other hand, the illustrated
lecture on Vikram Sarabhai by Matti
NEW YORK : The body that administers the
Grammys vowed Thursday to do more to
tackle gender bias after female artists voiced
outrage over the lack of awards for womenand
controversial comments from the
organization's chief, reports BSS.
The Recording Academy, which is
comprised of 13,000 music professionals who
vote on the industry's most prestigious
awards, said it was setting up an independent
task force to examine the role of gender in the
awards.
The task force will "review every aspect of
what we do as an organization and identify
Braun is scheduled from 12:30 to 1: 20
pm at the auditorium. This illustrated
lecture will examine the biography of
Vikram Sarabhai (1919-71), father of
the Indian space programme,
showing how his work intersected
with leading international modernist
figures and cultural developments of
20th-century India. Another
discussion 'Furthering Non-Western
Narratives from Within the
Institution' will be held from 1:30 pm
to 2:50 pm at the auditorium.
Leading curators of contemporary
art and architecture will discuss their
recent and upcoming work which
challenges and furthers international
understanding of art outside of the
Western canon or international art fair
circuits, speaking of the ethics and
responsibility of engaging locally and
internationally in increasingly
nationalistic times. Shanay Jhaveri
(Assistant Curator, Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York), Sean
Anderson (Associate Curator, Museum
of Modern Art, New York), Tarun
Nagesh (Associate Curator, QAGOMA,
Bribane), Eungie Joo (Curator of
where we can do more to overcome the
explicit barriers and unconscious biases that
impede female advancement in the music
community," the Academy's president and
CEO, Neil Portnow, said in a statement.
"We will also place ourselves under a
microscope and tackle whatever truths are
revealed," he said.
Portnow, a music producer and label
executive who has headed the Recording
Academy since 2002, caused a furor on
Sunday in a customary press appearance after
the awards.
Portnow said that the music industry
Contemporary Art, SFMOMA, San
Francisco) will attend the discussion to
be moderated by Devika Singh
(University of Cambridge).
Moreover, the total anastrophe '8th
Volcano Extravaganza' is scheduled
from 3 pm to 8 pm at auditorium while
field dances (1993) by Merce
Cunningham led by Silas Riener will be
held from 5pm to 6.30pm.
Backstory, illustrated lecture by
Amie Siegel will be held from 5:30pm
to 6:30pm at education pavilion. It is
an associative talk on the speculative,
imitative and extractive actions within
design, art and auctions in connection
to India- on Chandigarh and Le
Corbusier, on Pierre Jeanneret, John
Pawson and Donald Judd, on
modernism, minimalism and
marketing-how these iconographies,
and the behaviors.
of design and art markets, both
mask and disclose the flow of capital.
This accompanies the artist's film
presentations in the exhibition.
The 3rd day will end with film
screening from 7 pm to 8 pm at the
national art gallery.
Grammy body vows to tackle
gender bias after furor
needed to show a "welcome mat" to women
and increase mentorship to new
professionals-but he raised eyebrows as he
explained how female artists could win more
awards.
"I think it has to begin with women who
have the creativity in their hearts and their
souls who want to be musicians... to step up,
because I think they would be welcome,"
Portnow said.
Pop singers Katy Perry and P!nk were
among the prominent women who took
Portnow to task for his remarks.
"Women in music don't need to 'step up'-
women have been stepping since the
beginning of time," P!nk, who performed at
the Grammys, said in a handwritten note she
posted on Twitter.
Portnow, revisiting his remarks in his latest
statement, said "I understand the hurt"
caused by "my poor choice of words."
"I also now realize that it's about more than
just my words. Because those words, while not
reflective of my beliefs, echo the real
experience of too many women," he said.
Only one woman, Lorde, was nominated for
the most prestigious Grammy of Album of the
Year at the latest awards and none were in the
running for Record of the Year, which
recognizes best song.
Funk revivalist Bruno Mars won in both
categories.
The spat comes amid rising scrutiny over
the treatment of women in the entertainment
and other industries in the wake of allegations
of systematic sexual abuse by Hollywood
mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Lady Gaga halts tour due to ‘severe pain’
Lady Gaga has cancelled the last 10 dates of the European leg of her world tour
due to "severe pain".
In a statement posted on Twitter, the pop star apologised to fans and said she
was "devastated", but needed to put "myself and my well-being" first, reports
BBC. The Grammy award-winning singer has fibromyalgia, a long-term
condition which can cause pain all over the body.
Shows in London and Manchester are among those affected.
In the statement, it said the "tough decision" had been made on Friday night
with "strong support from her medical team".
Ticket holders can apply for a refund from 6 February, the statement added.
"I'm so devastated I don't know how to describe it," Lady Gaga, 31, wrote. "All
I know is that if I don't do this, I am not standing by the words or meaning of my
music."
The announcement comes after she started the UK leg of her tour at
Birmingham Arena.
Watching one of those performances, BBC arts editor Will Gompertz noted
"the physicality of her performance compromised her singing at times".
The European leg of her Joanne World Tour had already been rescheduled due
to her condition and followed a decision to pull out of a performance at Rock In
Rio in Brazil in September, after she was hospitalised with "severe physical pain."
The Born This Way singer was due to perform in Zurich, Cologne, Stockholm,
Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin in the coming weeks.
O’Shea Jackson Jr: Straight Outta
dad Ice Cube’s long shadow
LOS ANGELES : O'Shea Jackson Jr
was lavished with acclaim for hip hop
biopic "Straight Outta Compton"-but
the sweet taste of his first big success
was soured by claims of nepotism.
Detractors suggested the untested
actor had landed the role of his own
father Ice Cube in F. Gary Gray's
chronicle of the rise and fall of
legendary hip-hop group N.W.A. only
by virtue of the family connection.
Jackson confounded his critics with
a stunning debut, and has been
proving them wrong ever since, first
as a darling of the festivals circuit with
indie comedy "Aubrey Goes West,"
and now as an action star.
"I love that people doubt me
because it just pisses me off and
makes me get my ass up to go and put
the work in," the 26-year-old told AFP
in a recent interview to promote his
latest project, heist movie "Den of
Thieves."
"That's the Kobe Bryant in me. I love
it, bring it on."
Jackson was born in 1991 -- the year
his dad was getting his big acting
break in John Singleton's acclaimed
social drama "Boyz N The Hood"-and
grew up in LA's distinctly leafy,
unhoodlike San Fernando Valley.
Encouraged by Ice Cube, he began
rapping in his late teens, and before
long father and son were performing
together. But his first love was film,
and Jackson enrolled on a
screenwriting degree at the University
of Southern California.
He'd shown no serious commitment
to acting when Cube suggested
Jackson play him in "Straight Outta
Compton," bringing in acting coaches
to get his son up to speed for a
ArIeS (March 21 - April
20): You must play by the
rules this weekend, even if
you genuinely believe you
can get away with cutting
corners. What happens early next week
won't be pleasant if people in positions
of power discover you have made
choices they disapprove of.
TAUrUS (April 21 - May
21): If there is something
you have wanted to do for
ages but never had the
nerve to go ahead with then
make it happen this weekend. Fear is
an emotion that has held you back far
too many times, so get over it and
follow your desires.
GeMINI (May 22 - June
21): Your good points will
be on display this weekend,
but with the sun moving
through the area of your
chart that governs your wealth you must
make sure that one of your good points -
your generosity - does not cause
problems. Don't give too much away.
CANCer (June 22 - July
23): You need to work more
closely with other people and
you need to realize that while
your opinions may differ on
a range of issues it need not spoil your
relationship. It is one of the wonders of
life that opposites often work well
together.
LeO (July 24 - Aug. 23):
Try not to get carried away
with ideas of your own
brilliance over the next 48
hours, because later on you
may realize that you have missed
something that is of great importance.
Your ego can be your biggest friend -
and your biggest enemy.
VIrGO (Aug. 24 - Sept.
23): The sun in Capricorn at
this time of year does
wonders for your confidence
and you certainly believe
that all things are possible. However,
other influences warn you should limit
your activities this weekend to areas
where you know what you are doing.
somewhat daunting debut acting role.
Giving the lie to the nepotism charge,
Jackson was pitted against hundreds
of other actors in an intense, two-year
selection process that involved
numerous acting classes, auditions,
callbacks and chemistry tests.
A big priority was placed on sessions
recording N.W.A. hits, which Jackson
sailed through, and, finally, a screen
test for executives at Universal.
Dhaka Padatik brings ‘Trial
of Surya Sen’ on stage
DHAKA : Country's leading theatre group
Dhaka Padatik will stage its new show 'Trial of
Surya Sen' on Sunday at the main auditorium
of the national theatre building of Bangladesh
Shilpakala Academy at 6.30 pm, reports
UNB.
Journalist and cultural personality Kamal
Lohani will inaugurate the opening stage
show while former president of the troupe, its
founding general secretary and president of
the Sommilito Sangskritik Jote Golam
Kuddus, president of troupe Mizanur
Rahman and general secretary Firoz Hossain
will attend in the ceremony.
The 38th production under the composition
and direction of Masum Aziz is based on the
anti-British movement, the trial Surya Sen.
The main characters of the drama are Surya
Sen, Pritilata, Kalpana Dutta, Ambika
Chakravarti, Lokenath Bal, Nirmalsen while
40 other characters will be seen in this play.
H O rOSCOPe
LIBrA (Sept. 24 - Oct.
23): You may not be overly
emotional by nature but you
have your moments and you
will certainly feel deeply
about something over the next 48 hours.
The good news is this is the perfect time
to let others know how much you care
for them. Do it!
SCOrPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov.
22): Life seems to be
moving at a faster pace every
day, and yes it is enjoyable,
but there is a danger that in
your eagerness to get ahead you might
overlook some small but incredibly
important detail. Slow down - before
something slows you down!
SAGITTArIUS (Nov. 23
- Dec. 21): If you are too
free and easy with your
money this weekend you
could regret it later in the
month, so think before you buy. Yes, of
course, there are more important things
in life than cash but it's still a crime to
squander your resources.
CAPrICOrN (Dec. 22 -
Jan. 20): You need a
challenge that will bring out
the best in you and what
happens over the next few
days will test you in ways you had not
expected. You cannot help but succeed,
so long as you have learned from recent
mistakes. So, have you?
AQUArIUS (Jan. 21 -
Feb. 19): It may seem to
friends and relatives that
you are aiming too high but
you know that the higher
you aim the more likely it is that you will
realize your dreams. Believe in yourself
and make impossible things happen. If
anyone can do it, you can.
PISCeS (Feb. 20 - Mar.
20): What happens over the
course of the weekend will
open your eyes to new
possibilities. The sun in
Capricorn at this time of year is
especially helpful for group activities, so
get involved in team projects. You'll be
on the winning team, of course!

SPORTS
SUNDAy, FEBRUARy 4, 2018
9
Manjot Kalra leads India Under-19 to World Cup glory.
Mayweather
drops another
hint at MMA fight
LOS ANGELES: MMA
fighter Conor McGregor
switched to the boxing ring to
make one of the richest
professional fights in history
possible and now Floyd
Mayweather hints he might
return the favour, reports
BSS.
Mayweather, who hasn't
fought since knocking out
McGregor in that boxing
match last year, teased fans
Friday night by posting a
picture on his Twitter page of
himself wearing mixed
martial arts gloves and
standing in an UFC cage.
"Billion Dollar Man,"
Mayweather said in the tweet.
Mayweather and
McGregor's cross-combat
fight in August failed to live up
to the hype in the ring as
veteran Mayweather easily
outpunched
the
inexperienced McGregor, but
it did well at the box office.
The contest generated 4.3
million pay-per-view buys in
North America, trailing only
Mayweather's 2015 world title
boxing match with Filipino
Manny Pacquiao that
generated 4.6 million buys
and earned $600 million.
Photo: Internet.
Fowler, DeChambeau top
Phoenix leaderboard
LOS ANGELES: Rickie Fowler survived late
miscues to share the lead at the US PGA Tour
Phoenix Open alongside Bryson
DeChambeau on Friday, as two-time
defending champion Hideki Matsuyama
withdrew injured, reports BSS.
Fowler, ranked seventh in the world, got
off to a blazing start at TPC Scottsdale with
four birdies in his first six holes. He finished
with seven birdies in his five-under 66 for 10-
under 132.
He pushed his lead to as many as two
strokes before a bogey at 17, and
DeChambeau capped his 66 with back-toback
birdies at 17 and 18 to join Fowler in the
clubhouse on 10-under.
"I just feel like I'm comfortable on this golf
course, I've had quite a few rounds here and
there's been a lot of good ones," said Fowler,
adding that his plan for Saturday was to "just
keep the gas pedal down."
Daniel Berger and Chez Reavie both signed
for 65s to lie one stroke back on 133.
Scott Stallings carded a 65 to join a trio on
134 that also included Chesson Hadley and
Chris Kirk, who both carded 68.
Matsuyama's bid for a rare three-peat was
over before the round began as Japan's
world number five withdrew prior to hitting
a shot Friday with a left writ injury.
"The pain in my left thumb area started on
13th hole yesterday," Matsuyama said. "I did
some treatment last night, but the pain was
still there this morning when I practised. I
decided that it was not worth forcing myself
to continue to play and worsen the injury, so
I was disappointed that I had to withdraw."
Former world number one Jordan Spieth
also exited before the weekend, missing the
cut by a stroke after a frustrating two days
amid the raucous crowds of the Phoenix
Open, where the atmosphere resembles that
of a football match more than a staid golf
event. Spieth struggled to get any putts to
drop as he posted rounds of one-over 72 and
one-under 70 to lie one shot outside the
projected cut line. Spieth hadn't missed a cut
since the Byron Nelson in May, a run of 15
straight cuts made worldwide.
Fowler, whose history of strong showings
in Phoenix include a runner-up finish to
Hunter Mahan in 2010 and a playoff loss to
Matsuyama in 2016, couldn't maintain early
his torrid pace on the back nine, following a
birdie at the 10th with a bogey at 11.
He got back on track with bridies at 13 and
15, before a bogey at 17, where a "funky little
chip" led to a disappointing dropped shot.
"I still made some good swings," Fowler
said of his inward run. "Funky little chip on
17 where we were in good position to make
birdie-so a little unfortunate to make bogey.
Other than that, I feel like (it was) a solid day.
"We're in a good spot going into the
weekend," he added.
A big group on 135 included world number
two Jon Rahm of Spain and five-time majorwinner
Phil Mickelson, an Arizona favorite
who birdied his last four holes en route to a
65 that left him just three back.
Figure skating
champ Hanyu
skips team event
TOKYO: Japan's "Ice
Prince" Yuzuru Hanyu has
recovered from an ankle
injury but will miss the
Winter Olympics team
competition, focusing solely
on defending his singles
title, news reports said
Saturday, reports BSS.
The 23-year-old Olympic
champion damaged ankle
ligaments attempting a
quadruple lutz in training in
November. He resumed
training in Toronto in early
January and is now ready to
compete in the Games after
making a smooth recovery,
the Sankei Shimbun said.
But in order to avoid
added strain on his ankle, he
plans to skip the team event
starting on Friday and
instead focus on the men's
singles on February 16 and
17, the newspaper said.
This means he will make
his first competition
appearance on ice since his
November injury in the
Olympic short programme
after he pulled out of
international competitions
and Japan's national
championships.
Immediate comments
from the Japan Skating
Federation were not
available.
American Nathan Chen,
Spain's Javier Fernandez
and fellow Japanese Shoma
Uno-runner-up to Hanyu at
the 2017 world
championships-are among
those lurking, while China's
Jin Boyang could provide a
threat after his Four
Continents.
Dutch ex-skier vows
‘to let it snow’
'S-GRAVELAND, Pays-Bas: They call him
Mr Snowman. But Michiel de Ruiter knows
he is shouldering a heavy responsibility as he
starts his mission at Pyeongchang: making
tonnes of snow to keep the Winter Olympic
ski slopes in tip-top condition, reports BSS.
As a child growing up in the flat, low-lying
Netherlands where not a single real
mountain can be found, the Dutchman used
to use a spade to dig out his own runs, before
snapping on his skis to perform jumps in the
countryside around his hometown of
Ermelo.
Now decades later, this former freestyle
skier who twice represented his country at
the Winter Olympics has arrived in South
Korea ahead of the 2018 Games.
But instead of skis, he is carrying
everything he and his team needs to give
nature a helping hand and blanket the slopes
in the white stuff.
Just before leaving home on his
"adventure" of a lifetime, De Ruiter, 53, was
making final preparations at his business
headquarters in 's-Graveland.
"I feel the same pressure as the sports
athletes," he told AFP, saying he was
"impatient" to experience the magic of being
part of the Winter Olympics, which runs
from February 9 to 25.
First step on his mission? "To evaluate how
much snow has already been produced by
the Korean (snowmaking) cannons. Then I
will bring the snow to where I want it to be
with spades and machines," he explained.
After that he will have to mark out the
runs, and ensure the snow remains in good
condition.
"There is no room for error," he said.
"Otherwise everything could go badly
wrong."If the snow starts to melt, then he
will have to make more himself. He has
enough material to supply some 23,000
cubic tonnes of snow "just in case."
A specialist in making artificial snow, his
chance to take part in the Winter Olympics
came thanks to stroke of genius in Spain in
January 2017.
Then the ski freestyle championships
taking place in Sierra Nevada mountains
were on the point of being scrapped because
the weather was too warm.
Water was even dripping from the jump,
supposed to help propel the skiers 15 metres
(45 feet) into the air.
With the help of pipes filled with ice, De
Ruiter achieved "the impossible" and
managed to stop the jump from melting or
losing shape.
"The pipes consolidated the snow. After
that, they asked me to come to South Korea."
He believes it is already cold enough in
mountainous Pyeongchang for the South
Korean snowmaking cannons to have gone
into action to cover the slopes in snow.
"But if the temperatures rise, it is possible
they will ask me to make some," he said.
He says he has been "playing with snow"
for decades now, having fallen in love with it
when he was very young.
Before representing the Netherlands at the
1992 Albertville Olympics and in
Lillehammer two years later, he even raked
his own jumps.
"Back then we had to do everything
ourselves. But it was a way of making money,
which helped pay for our transport to
competitions." He never won an Olympic
medal, but now with his business, De Ruiter
has made it snow on palm trees on a beach,
and blanketed studios for movies and ads.
"I can make it snow where I want and
when I want," he smiled, "even when it's 30
degrees Celsius" and the sun is shining.
His magic formula uses liquid nitrogen,
water and air. To build the jumps, he and his
team of about 30 people including locals,
first build a structure of wood and metal, and
then fill it with snow.
"Then we leave it for two to three days to
allow the snow to freeze. And then we sculpt
the curve" which allows the competitors to
thrust themselves upwards hoping for
height, distance and speed.
Latin American football seen as rife
with violence against women
BUENOS AIRES: The world of Latin
American football is often criticized as
one in which violence against women is
tolerated, and now there is a new case to
further soil its reputation.
Two top players-Colombians Edwin
Cardona and Wilmar Barrios-who play
for one of Argentina's storied teams,
Boca Juniors, are accused of assaulting
and threatening two women.
However, they are not the first men to
face such controversy. The region has
already been rocked by cases such as
that of Brazilian international Robinho
who was convicted last year in Italy of
taking part in a gang rape.
The former coach of the Colombian
national team, Hernan Dario Gomez,
had to resign after hitting a woman as he
left a bar in Bogota in 2011.
There have been other cases in Brazil,
Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala and
elsewhere. In Latin American football
women "are seen as things, or prey, but
not as partners," said sports psychologist
Oscar Mangione, who used to be on the
staff of Boca Juniors.
In the new case, the women accuse
Cardona and Barrios of putting them in
situations of "physical and verbal
violence." These include an alleged
ordeal in an elevator in which one of the
players was wielding a knife, said Juan
Cerolini, the plaintiffs' lawyer.
The players were initially suspended
but they were back playing last weekend,
just days after their trial started and with
no verdict yet returned. The complaint
seems to have been almost forgotten at
their stadium, called La Bombonera.
"If what they did is wrong, they had
better pay. But there is always
something shady going on. I want Boca
to win. What can I say?" said one female
fan, aged in her 20s, who gave her name
only as Luciana as she headed to the
game in which the players returned to
action.
"What matters above all is the issue of
usefulness in terms of the value of
winning or the economic investment the
team has made in a player," said
Sri Lanka declare with 200 lead after Chandimal, Dickwella fifties.
Mangione.
"There is no institutional policy. A kid
joins the world of football at age 12 and
might retire in his 30s. And in all that
time he is only trained to be a football
player. And this is an important span of
time to train him as a man in every sense
of the word," he added.
At the same time players, "like it or
not, are role models. And their behavior
enables a certain kind of behavior which
is not good," Mangione added.
In an Argentina a woman is killed
every 29 hours, according to the
Observatory for Violence against
Women, which recorded 298 such
killings last year.
That stands in sharp contrast to
legislation in which "Argentina is a
pioneer" in laws to protect women, said
Ada Rico, head of an NGO called Casa
del Encuentro.
"You can have as many laws and
measures as you want. But we are not
going to get anywhere without a cultural
change," she added.
Photo: Internet.s
Billy Stanlake picked up three wickets in his opening spell.
Sri Lankan score
705/7 at tea on day
4 in first Test
CHITTAGONG: Lanka are stretching
their first innings as they scored 705 for 7
extending their first innings lead to 192 at
tea on the fourth day of the first Test of
the two-match series against Bangladesh
at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on
Saturday, reports BSS.
Bangladesh fought back after the
second session as Taijul Islam got the
wicket of Dinesh Chandimal (87), who fell
in the first over after lunch. The Sri
Lankan skipper who looked to solid with
bat could not add any run after being a
clean bowled. Chandimal hit three
boundaries during his patient 185-run
knock.
Niroshan Dickwella scored runs quickly
while Dilruwan Perera played the
supportive role. The duo shared 50 runs
for the sixth-wicket stand to extend
further Sri Lankan's lead but dismissed
Dickwella to take his maiden Test wicket
haul. Dickwella departed after scoring 61-
ball 62 runs that studded with nine fours.
Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal
were on the crease till the end of tea
break. Sri Lanka added 93 runs for the
loss of three wickets in the second
session.
Earlier, middle order batsman Roshen
Roshen and Chandimal's fourth-wicket
stand of 135 was broken when Roshen
looked to play off-spinner Mehidy Hasan
Miraz through the off-side. Roshen
rocked back to drive Mehedi through the
covers but the delivery did not bounce
and went through to wicket-keeper Liton
Das, who took the easy catch.
The middle order batsman Roshen
composed 109 runs off 230 balls studded
with six boundaries and one over
boundary after the Islanders resumed
their first innings on the fourth day with
overnight score at 504.
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal still stayed
at the crease completing his half century
with a well knock off 87 along with
Niroshan Dickwella 29 as the umpire
removed the bails for lunch break.
Miraz bagged two wickets conceding 137
runs while Mustafizur Rahman and Taijul
Islam took one wicket each giving away
113 and 181 runs respectively.
Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal
were on the crease till the end of tea break.
Sri Lanka added 93 runs for the loss of
three wickets in the second session.
Bangladesh bowlers had another tough
day on the field as Sri Lanka dominated
the third day and trailed by nine runs with
seven wickets in hand.
Earlier, Bangladesh dismissed their first
innings at 513.
Brief score:
Bangladesh 1st innings - 513 for all,
Mominul 176, Mushfiqur 92,
Mahmudullah 83 n.o, Sunzamul 24,
Mehidy 20, Lakmal 3/68, Herath 3/150
and Sandakan 2/92.
Sri Lankan 1st innings - 705/7 in 197
overs Kusal 196, Dhananjaya 173, Roshen
109, Chandimal 87, Miraz 3/173)
Photo: Internet.
Nigeria sends
off its
bobsledders
with a party
LAGOS: Nigerians got to
meet their Winter Olympic
bobsleigh team for the first
time on Friday night, just
over a week before the start
of the Games in
Pyeongchang, South Korea,
reports BSS.
Seun Adigun, Ngozi
Onwumere and Akuoma
Omeoga were given a
rousing welcome at a
corporate reception held in
their honour at a luxury
hotel in the commercial
hub, Lagos.
The trio-all born to
Nigerian parents and
brought up in the United
States-will be the first
African team to compete in
the sport at the Games.
Their qualification late
last year has since attracted
massive interest around
the world and won the
previously crowd-funded
athletes a string of bigname
sponsors.
Many people in Africa's
most populous nation said
they were unaware the
country even had a bobsled
team. Some were keen to play
up their supposed ignorance
for comic effect.
"So, you are the driver?" the
comedian compering the
event said, pointing at Adigun.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS
SUNDAY,
Syeda Anjuman Ara Girls' School, founded by Anjuman Ara-Mujib Foundation, has been inaugurated at
Jagannath Dighi under Chauddagram upazila in Comilla. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and
Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque, who attended there respectively as chief guest and special guest,
inaugurated the school on Saturday afternoon. Speaking on the occasion, they expressed hopes that the
girls' school with modern education facilities will contribute to enlighten the society. International
Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB) President Mahbubur Rahman, also chairman of the foundation
and the governing board of the school, delivered welcome speech. Founded by Anjuman Ara-Mujib
Foundation, the school will be run as a nonprofit. Comilla Deputy Commissioner Md Jahangir Alam,
Education Board Chairman Prof Md Abdus Salam, the school's governing board member Muzaffar
Hossain Paltu and Principal Meher Moqbula were also present. Later, the guests were taken around the
school premises and they talked with students.
Photo : Courtesy
German car
sales shrug off
new diesel woes
BERLIN : The number of
new car registrations in
Germany leapt in January,
industry data showed Friday,
even as a new scandal related
to diesel emissions shook the
vital sector.
Some 269,400 cars were
registered on the roads of
Europe's largest economy last
month, auto industry
federation VDA said, an
increase of 12 percent yearon-year,
reports UNB.
New registrations of
foreign-made cars grew even
faster than the overall market,
adding 19 percent to 79,900
units and now account for
nearly a third of the total.
Meanwhile, the market
share for diesel cars continued
to decline, accounting for just
33 percent of all new
registrations in January,
compared with 45 percent a
year earlier.
Dollar labours higher
on jobs report,
stocks drop
LONDON: Data showing
strong job creation and wage
gains in the United States fed
expectations of interest rate
hikes, sending the dollar and
US bond yields higher on
Friday, while stocks
slumped.
With 200,000 jobs added
to the US economy last
month, more than analysts
had forecast, expectations
are mounting that the
Federal Reserve will push
forward with more intest rate
hikes.
The Fed's concerns about
tepid inflation will likely be
salved by data showing wage
growth of 2.9 percent, the
largest 12-month increase in
more than nine years.
The greenback snapped
higher after the
announcement, as did the
yield on US government
bonds. Bloomberg reported
the rate of return on 10-year
US Treasury hit a four-year
high of 2.84 percent.
"Rising wages are a good
thing for the economy, but
what is good for the economy
isn't always good for the
stock market if it drives up
rate-hike expectations," said
Briefing.com analyst Patrick
O'Hare.
"The dollar clearly needed
support this week, and
January's impressive US jobs
data has come to the rescue,"
said research analyst
Lukman Otunuga at FXTM
online currency brokerage.
But analyst Craig Erlam
downplayed the size of the
gains by the dollar gains.
"Not an overly large move
in USD when you consider
size of beat on earnings and a
small beat on NFP. Sign of
USD unpopularity right
now?" he tweeted.
The dollar has been
struggling against its major
peers recently.
With dealers betting on
tighter monetary policy at the
European Central Bank and
preferable terms for Britain
when it leaves the European
Union, the euro and pound
have been making gains
against the dollar the past
couple of weeks.
Myanmar
to hold
rice trade
forum
YANGON : The Myanmar
Rice Federation (MRF) will
hold a multi-stake holder
forum for sustainable
development of rice industry
this month, the official
Global New Light of
Myanmar reported
Saturday.
Under the title "Rice Trade
Development Forum," the
event aims to maintain the
status of the country's rice
sector and exchange views
for the sectoral
development, reports BSS.
The forum will also host
panel discussions on
controlling the rice price,
farmers' problems, gaining
appropriate profits for rice
millers, rice merchants and
exporters and providing
assistance to small and
medium enterprises.
Official figures show the
country earned about 700
million U.S. dollars from 2.6
million tons of rice exports
which is a major agricultural
product as of Jan. 19 in the
current 2017-18 fiscal year.
During the period, the
country's agriculture
products export hit 2.4
billion U.S. dollars,
accounting for 25 percent of
the total exports
Challenging with erratic
weather, capacity and
technical know-how to yield
value-added products and
dependence on foreign
market demand, Myanmar
is making efforts to promote
agricultural production,
while addressing the issue of
high transportation cost.
THE
BANGLADESHTODAY
10
FEBRUARY 4, 2018
Sonali Bank to be
ideal one in couple
of years: Muhith
DHAKA : Finance Minister
Abul Maal Abdul Muhith
yesterday expressed his firm
optimism that Sonali Bank
Limited, country's largest
state owned commercial
bank, would establish itself as
an ideal bank within a couple
of years.
"I've earlier said that we'll
turn Sonali Bank into an ideal
bank. It's unlikely by 2019.
But it's my firm belief that in
a couple of years, it should be
again back to such position
(ideal bank) to render one of
the greatest services to the
government and also one of
the greatest services to the
banking sector," he said.
The minister was
addressing the Annual
Meeting-2018 of the Sonali
Bank Limited held at the
auditorium of Institution of
Diploma Engineers,
Bangladesh (IDEB) in the
city's Karail area.
State Minister for Finance
and Planning MA Mannan,
Bangladesh Bank Governor
Fazle Kabir, Bank and
Financial Institutions
Division Secretary Yunusur
Rahman spoke on the
occasion, presided over by
Sonali Bank Ltd Chairman
Md Ashraful Moqbul.
Sonali Bank CEO and
Managing Director Md.
Obayed Ullah Al Masud gave
the address of welcome.
Expressing again his
dissatisfaction over the
weaknesses of the banking
sector, Muhith said: "I'm not
at all happy about it and I
often admit that the banking
sector has weaknesses,"
But, if the banking sector of
1972-1976 and 1981 is
compared with the present
context, he, however, said the
banking sector is now going
through a 'golden era.'
Echoing with the other
speakers, the finance
minister said the Sonali Bnak
has rebound in 2017 while
the year 2018 would be a year
of moving forward for the
country's largest nationalized
commercial bank.
Referring to the demand of
the Sonali Bank chairman of
realizing service charges for
the Taka 94,000 crore L/C
that it opened against the
Rooppur Nuclear Power
Plant Project alongside
necessary steps to address its
capital deficit, Muhith said
the government would
consider these demands with
utmost importance and
sympathy.
Underscoring the need for
properly following the Know
Your Customer (KYC)
formula, the minister also
suggested the bank high ups
to properly examine and
asses a loan project proposal
before giving approval.
Mentioning that some 181
branches of Sonali Bank are
still incurring losses out of its
overall 1211 branches across
the country, Muhith said this
number is a bit high and
suggested the bank
authorities to change their
locations so that those
branches could cover their
areas properly.
Bangladesh Bank Governor
Fazle Kabir suggested for
undertaking a time-bound
action plan to gradually
making those branches
profitable which are
incurring losses over the
years.
He also suggested the Bank
for providing loans without
any fear following rules and
proper assessment,
strengthening the loan
realization measures before
filing cases against the
defaulters, creating
entrepreneurs through
providing start-up capitals,
creating compliance culture
and ensuring the practice of
proper risk management.
Highlighting the successes
of the macro economy and
the banking sector over the
last nine years, Banking
Division Secretary Yunusur
Rahman said the size of GDP
rose by 181 percent to Taka
20, 00,000 lakh crore in 2017
which is only Taka 7, 00,000
lakh crore in 2008, the
number of bank accounts
rose by 118 percent to 8.17
crore in 2017 which was only
3.76 crore in 2008.
He also informed that the
number of loan recipients
increased by 218 percent to
2.74 crore in 2017 which was
86 lakh in 2008.
Walton showcasing more than 700
models of appliances at DITF
Industrial solutions are newly added to the product lines
The country's electronics
giant Walton is showcasing
and selling out more than
700 models of various sorts
of products, including
electronics, electrical, home
and kitchen appliances,
mobile phones, laptops,
computer accessories and
industrial solutions, at the
ongoing month-long "Dhaka
International Trade Fair
(DITF)- 2018," begin at Shere-Bangla
Nagar in the capital
on January 1 of this year, says
a press release.
Targeting the visiting
representatives of the
electronics and electrical
products manufacturing
industries at the DITF-18,
Walton this year has brought
various sorts of industrial
solutions like plastic mould,
die, LGP, LDP, nut, bolts,
screws, plastic and chemical
components, electric
components, mechanical
components, hot melt
adhesive etc. These products
are the basic raw materials of
various sorts of electronics
and electrical appliances.
Walton is now
manufacturing these
products at its own factory to
meet the requirement of
basic raw materials for its
produced fridges, televisions,
air conditioners and other
sorts of appliances and thus
they are going to export
industrial solutions after
meeting their internal
demands.
Md Humayun Kabir,
executive director (PR &
Media) of Walton Group, said,
they are displaying highest
amount of consumer based
electronics and electrical
appliances so that the buyers
can buy their all desired
products from one place.
He noted that this year
Walton planned to highlight
the 'Made in Bangladesh'
labeled world-class
appliances to the fair visitors
and buyers.
This year they are
displaying and selling out
LGP, LDP, master batch,
aluminum foil tape, various
sorts of plastic and still
components as fresh
products in this year's DITF,
he added.
Centering the beginning of
DITF and New Year, Walton
has brought a good number
of new models of appliances,
including IoT based smart
fridges and air conditioners,
ionizer technology's air
conditioners that will flow
fresh air in the room, seventh
generation 15.6-inch display's
laptop that is powered by
core-i 5 processors.
Along with the existing
products, the local brand is
also displaying some
upcoming models of its
various products, including
the country's first-ever
Walton made 32-inch big
screen multi-touch Compo-
TV and few models of its LED
and Smart televisions.
Shah Shahid Chowdhury,
convener of Walton Pavilion
at DITF-18, said, they are
displaying more than 700
models of appliances in
accordance with the
demands, tastes and
purchasing power capacity of
the local buyers.
In this year's DITF-18,
Walton set up a three-storey
premier pavilion (Number-
23) with unique design.
Md. Shafiqul Alam, incharge
of Walton Pavilion,
said, they are displaying
various models of fridges, air
conditioners, televisions,
electrical appliances, and
other sorts of home and
kitchen appliances at the
ground floor of the pavilion.
Among these products, there
are 21 models of freezer, 31
models of non-frost
refrigerator and 86 models of
frost refrigerator, 103 models
of LED television, 2 models of
Ultra-HD television, 23
models of air conditioner, 24
models of rice cooker, 5
models of kitchen cookware,
13 models of iron, 6 models of
IPS, 10 models of auto
voltage stabilizer, 6 models of
fan and LED bulb, few
models of oven, induction
cooker, hair dryer, air cooler,
washing machine,
rechargeable and portable
lamp, juicer, multi-cooker,
toaster, gas stove and water
dispenser. In addition, there
are also single model of
weight machine, electric
oven, pressure cooker,
vegetable (Salad) maker, food
processor, cloth dryer,
sandwich maker, mop set,
room heater, stand mixer and
beaters, air fryers etc.
Anand Shetty, managing director of Novo Nordisk Bangladesh, and Simeen Hossain, managing
director of Eskayef Pharmaceutical Ltd, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
Photo : Courtesy
Outgoing Fed chief Yellen says
no Wall Street 'bubble'
WASHINGTON : Outgoing Federal
Reserve chief Janet Yellen said Friday
she did not believe the major gains on
Wall Street in recent months
qualified as a "bubble," but
nevertheless warned investors to
remain cautious, reports BSS.
Yellen, who leaves her post on
Saturday and will be replaced on
Monday by Jerome Powell, made the
comments in an interview with PBS
television before the Dow closed
down more than 650 points, its
biggest drop since June 2016.
"I don't want to label what we're
seeing as a bubble, but I would say
that assets valuations generally are
elevated," Yellen said, advising
investors to "be careful to diversify in
their investments."
The US stock market has gained
more than 30 percent since President
Donald Trump took office a year ago,
but on Friday, fears about rising
interest rates following better-thanexpected
January jobs data led to the
major dip on Wall Street.
When asked about the state of the
US economy, Yellen said that "things
are looking really strong," and
highlighted the job market, "with
wages beginning to rise at a slightly
faster pace."
The US economy added 200,000
jobs in January, with unemployment
holding at
4.1 percent-its lowest level in
more than 17 years.
When asked about Trump's
decision not to renew her for a second
four-year term at the Federal
Reserve, the 71-year-old Yellen
admitted she was "disappointed."
"I would have liked to serve an
additional term and I did make that
clear," she said, in her first comments
on the matter.
Named in 2014 by Trump's
predecessor Barack Obama to lead
the Fed, Yellen was the first woman to
head the US central bank. Powell, a
Republican former investment
banker, will be one of the rare noneconomists
to fill the role.
Nazmul Hassan MP, President, Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) visits 2
day DIU Pharma Career Expo 2018 began yesterday at Daffodil International University. Dr. Md.
Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Professor Dr. Yousuf Mahabubul Islam, Vice Chancellor
of Daffodil International University are also seen in the picture.
Photo : Courtesy

MISCELLANEOUS
11
SunDAY, FebRuARY 4, 2018
Scientists find massive
Mayan society under
Guatemala jungle
Myanmar government
denies AP report of
Rohingya mass graves
Researchers using a high-tech aerial
mapping technique have found tens
of thousands of previously undetected
Mayan houses, buildings, defense
works and pyramids in the dense
jungle of Guatemala's Peten region,
suggesting that millions more people
lived there than previously thought,
reports BBC.
The discoveries, which included
industrial-sized agricultural fields
and irrigation canals, were
announced Thursday by an alliance of
U.S., European and Guatemalan
archaeologists working with
Guatemala's Mayan Heritage and
Nature Foundation. The study
estimates that roughly 10 million
people may have lived within the
Maya Lowlands, meaning that kind of
massive food production might have
been needed.
"That is two to three times more
(inhabitants) than people were saying
there were," said Marcello A. Canuto,
a professor of Anthropology at Tulane
University. Researchers used a
mapping technique called LiDAR,
which stands for Light Detection And
Ranging. It bounces pulsed laser light
off the ground, revealing contours
hidden by dense foliage.
The images revealed that the
Mayans altered the landscape in a
much broader way than previously
thought; in some areas, 95 percent of
available land was cultivated.
"Their agriculture is much more
intensive and therefore sustainable
than we thought, and they were
cultivating every inch of the land,"
said Francisco Estrada-Belli, a
Research Assistant Professor at
Tulane University, noting the ancient
Mayas partly drained swampy areas
that haven't been considered worth
farming since.
And the extensive defensive fences,
ditch-and-rampart systems and
irrigation canals suggest a highly
organized workforce.
The 810 square miles (2,100 square
kilometers) of mapping done vastly
expands the area that was intensively
occupied by the Maya, whose culture
flourished between roughly 1,000 BC
and 900 AD. Their descendants still
live in the region.
The mapping detected about
60,000 individual structures,
including four major Mayan
ceremonial centers with plazas and
pyramids. Garrison said that this year
he went to the field with the LiDAR
data to look for one of the roads
revealed. "I found it, but if I had not
had the LiDAR and known that that's
what it was, I would have walked right
over it, because of how dense the
jungle is."
Garrison noted that unlike some
other ancient cultures, whose fields,
roads and outbuildings have been
destroyed by subsequent generations
of farming, the jungle grew over
abandoned Maya fields and
structures, both hiding and
preserving them. "In this the jungle,
which has hindered us in our
discovery efforts for so long, has
actually worked as this great
preservative tool of the impact the
culture had across the landscape,"
noted Garrison, who worked on the
project and specializes in the city of El
Zotz, near Tikal.
LiDAR revealed a previously
undetected structure between the two
sites that Garrison says "can't be
called anything other than a Maya
fortress." "It's this hill-top citadel that
has these ditch and rampart systems
... when I went there, one of these
things in nine meters tall," he noted.
In a way, the structures were hiding in
plain sight.
Myanmar's government has denied a
report by The Associated Press
documenting at least five mass graves
containing Rohingya Muslim civilians
killed by the military with help from
Buddhist neighbors, saying that only
"terrorists" were killed and they were
"carefully buried, reports BBC.
The AP reported on Thursday that
the mass graves in the village of Gu
Dar Pyin were confirmed through
multiple interviews with more than
two dozen survivors who had fled to
refugee camps in neighboring
Bangladesh, and through timestamped
cellphone videos. Satellite
images and video of destroyed homes
also showed that the village had been
wiped out.
The Myanmar government's
information committee said in a
statement Friday that 17 government
officials including Border Guard Police
went to Gu Dar Pyin to investigate the
AP report and were told by villagers
and community leaders that "no such
things happened." According to the
government statement, a group of
Rohingya "terrorists" skirmished with
security forces in the village during
"clearance operations" by the military.
It said about 500 villagers attacked the
security forces with weapons such as
knives, sticks and wooden spears, and
the security forces were forced to shoot
in self-defense.
It said 19 "terrorists" died and their
bodies were "carefully buried" by the
security forces.
"The Myanmar government will not
deny any human rights violations and
will investigate if there is strong
evidence. And if there are human
rights violations after an investigation,
prosecutors will take actions according
to the law," the government statement
said. In regard to Gu Dar Pyin village,
"the preliminary result of the
examination has proven that AP's
report is wrong," it said.
More than 680,000 Rohingya have
fled Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine
state to Bangladesh to escape a
crackdown by Myanmar's military that
began following attacks by a Rohingya
militant group on Aug. 25. The United
Nations and the United States have
described the crackdown as "ethnic
cleansing." The U.N. human rights
chief has also suggested that it may be
genocide.
Many Rohingya refugees have
accused Myanmar troops of a rampage
of murder, rape and arson to drive
them out of their homes and the
country. The government has blocked
international media from traveling to
Rahkine state to investigate reports,
and has not heeded calls by the U.N.,
U.S. and others for an independent
investigation.
Survivors told the AP that hundreds
of soldiers swept into the village Aug.
27 firing weapons, including hand
grenades and rocket launchers, and
burning down houses. They said
Buddhists from neighboring villages
joined the soldiers, cutting the throats
of the injured and helping to throw
small children and the elderly into the
fires. Community leaders from Gu Dar
Pyin in the refugee camps in
Bangladesh have compiled a list of 75
dead so far, and villagers estimate the
toll could be as high as 400, based on
testimony from relatives and the
bodies they've seen in the graves dug
by the soldiers and strewn about the
area. Rohingya are a long-persecuted
Muslim ethnic minority in
predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.
Myanmar's government regularly says
massacres of Rohingya never
happened, and has acknowledged only
one mass grave containing 10
"terrorists" in the village of Inn Din.
Gay marriage ruling boosts
evangelical in Costa Rica vote
An international court ruling saying
Costa Rica should allow same-sex
marriage has upended the Central
American nation's presidential race,
turning an evangelical candidate who
opposes it from an also-ran with just
2 percent in the polls into the leading
contender in Sunday's vote, reports
CNN.
Following last month's decision by
the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights, Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-yearold
journalist with a prominent career
as a preacher and Christian singer,
vaulted to 16.9 percent in a survey
published Jan. 31 by the University of
Costa Rica's Center for Research in
Political Sciences, or CIEP.
Alvarado's nearest rivals were
Antonio Alvarez of the National
Liberation Party with 12.4 percent,
and Carlos Alvarado - no relation - of
the governing Citizens' Action Party
with 10.6 percent. If no candidate
tops 40 percent in the vote, the first
two finishers advance to a runoff
scheduled for April 1. For deeply
Roman Catholic Costa Rica, the gay
marriage ruling came as an "external
shock" to the campaign, political
analyst Francisco Barahona told The
Associated Press.
Adrian Pignataro, a political
scientist at the University of Costa
Rica, said the country has seen a
marked erosion in party loyalty and
this election has exposed a social
divide between secular and religious
values.
Pignataro sees a parallel to the
2006 election, when voters were
polarized by opposing visions on the
economy: one that favored opening to
the world amid trade negotiations
with the United States, and another
more protectionist approach. Carlos
Alvarado, who is not related to
Fabricio, is also a young candidate at
just 38, a journalist by profession who
began his political career as
communications director for the
Citizens' Action Party and served as
labor minister under current
President Luis Guillermo Solis.
Alvarez, a 59-year-old agricultural
businessman, two-time president of
the Legislative Assembly and former
Cabinet minister under the first
presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-
1990, is running on promises to
create 150,000 jobs, decrease the
deficit and modernize public
transportation. Alvarez has also
opposed same-sex marriage, while
supporting the idea of recognizing
certain other rights for gay couples.
Sunday's outcome is very much up in
the air with more than two-thirds of
likely voters undecided, according to
the CIEP poll. Voters will also be
selecting the 57 delegates that make
up the Assembly.
GD-177/18 (6 x 4)
GD-176/18 (8.5 x 4)
GD-178/18 (7 x 4)

UNITING PEOPLE EVERYDAY
SUNDAy, DhAKA, FeBRUARy 4, 2018, MAGh 22, 1424 BS, JAMADI-UL-AWAL 18, 1439 hIJRI
Book Fair was crowded with visitors on Saturday.
NBR listing
riches to tap
revenue
potential
DHAKA : National Board
of Revenue (NBR) is preparing
a list of the 'apparently'
rich people, who pay comparatively
less taxes, to collect
some more money for
the national exchequer,
reports UNB.
The NBR has taken the
move after its newly appointed
chairman put emphasis
on collecting appropriate
taxes from the known rich
people in the society.
Md Mosharraf Hossain
Bhuiyan, who got appointment
as the NBR chief for
three years, at his first meeting
with taxmen said that
there are many top businessmen
in the country who have
image and influence.
"But when it comes to paying
taxes, they are not the
highest taxpayers," he said.
He mentioned that the
NBR wanted to sit with those
businessmen and let them
know that the NBR wanted
to honour them.
In this connection he also
gave an example that one of
his relatives became a top
taxpayer of a district
although that person was not
the richest man in that town.
The Incredible Magdeburg
Water Bridge in Germany
INTERESTING NEWS
The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable
aqueduct in Germany that connects
the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittelland
Canal, and allows ships to cross over the
Elbe River. At 918 meters, it is the longest
navigable aqueduct in the world.
The Elbe-Havel and Mittelland canals
had previously met near Magdeburg but
on opposite sides of the Elbe. Ships moving
between the two had to make a 12-
kilometer detour, descending from the
Mittelland Canal through the Rothensee
boat lift into the Elbe, then sailing downstream
on the river, before entering the
Elbe-Havel Canal through Niegripp lock.
Low water levels in the Elbe often prevented
fully laden canal barges from making
this crossing, requiring time-consuming
off-loading of cargo.
Construction of the water link was
started as early as in the 1930s but due to
the World War 2 and subsequent division
of Germany the work remained suspended
till 1997. The aqueduct was finally
completed and opened to the public in
2003.
Photo : Star Mail
Govt implementing 218 projects to
develop police as modern force
DHAKA : The government
has been implementing 218
projects as part of the threeyear
'Strategic Plan 2018-20'
for developing the police as a
modern, disciplined, effective
and highly professional force.
"We are implementing the
three-year 'Strategic Plan
2018-20' to turn the police
into a disciplined, effective,
modern and pro-people
force," an official Home
Minister official told BSS.
Home
Minister
Asaduzzaman Khan unveiled
the 'Strategic Plan 2018-20'
on January 28 at a launching
ceremony at the auditorium of
Rajarbagh Police Lines in the
city.
"Members of Bangladesh
Police need to be fully committed
to ensuring successful
implementation of the
Strategic Plan to create an
enabling environment to facilitate
its smooth management,"
he said while unveiling
the plan.
As many as 218 projects are
now being implemented by
the government for
Bangladesh Police with a target
to complete those in three
years with a view to engaging
community people, promoting
proactive policing and
adopting multi-disciplinary
approach for detection and
prevention of crimes to maintain
public order with the
highest professionalism.
The projects are for reducing
dependence on oral testimony
and promoting scientific
and forensic method of
investigation, promoting
intelligence-led policing,
increasing patrol in crime
hotspots to reduce commission
of crime with targets of
completing those by
December this year.
The government is implementing
three other projects
such as fostering public cooperation
through community
policing and ensuring safety of
witnesses and informants of
sensational cases, protecting
crime scene, and making use
of crime scene vans of CID
(Criminal Investigation
Department) with a target to
complete those by 2018.
In a bid to reduce fear of
crime from the public mind,
the government has also taken
some projects such as making
robust police presence in
neighbourhood with appropriate
gear and gadget, ensuring
presence of Tourist Police
in all tourist sports in the
country, visiting victims of
and witnesses to heinous
cases from time to time to
enhance their sense of security
and bring the crime prone
areas under CC camera networks.
The government has also
taken some projects to make
police enable to combat organized
crimes such as formulating
a comprehensive,
multi-stakeholder and effective
operational plan against
illegal drugs where police will
implement and coordinate the
implementation of plans, collect
intelligence to identify the
origin of drug production and
its supply chain, identify
routes and bring kingpins
before the court to stop trafficking
in human beings, and
developing a pool of officers in
CID, PBI, CTTC and all
metropolitan police to fight
cybercrime.
Females dominate
DU highest
academic award
DHAKA : Dhaka
University (DU), country's
most ancient university,
remains a glaring example of
achievements and accomplishments
by women where
female students have been
dominating the academia for
over a decade.
Every year the faculties of
DU honour their outstanding
students with the Deans
Award, the university's highest
academic award, for their
excellent performance in the
Bachelor exams.
For example, in the last 10
years, 398 female students
(66%) of a total 599
awardees, were conferred
the prestigious reward in the
Faculty of Biological
Sciences.
After fulfilling various criteria,
especially securing an
average CGPA of 3.75 without
taking any improvement
exam, graduates become eligible
for the award. If we go
10 years back in 2007, a total
of 71 high achievers in their
honours exams were conferred
Deans Award under
biological science faculty,
where 35 students were
female (49%).
Changing the scenario in
2008, female students outnumbered
their male classmates
by 48 to 41 in obtaining
the Deans Award.
Khaleda likely to start
election campaign
from Sylhet
DHAKA : BNP chairperson
Khaleda Zia is likely to
start her party's election
campaign from Sylhet before
a special court pronounces
its verdict in a graft case
against her, reports UNB.
"Our Chairperson is likely
to visit Sylhet on Monday to
offer fateha at the shrine of
Hazrat Shahjalal ®," BNP
standing committee member
Khandaker Mosharraf
Hossain told UNB.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary
generalMirza FakhrulIslam
Alamgir said they are making
such plan but it is not
confirmed yet. "We shall formally
inform media shortly
about our decision", he
added. The BNP leader came
up with the remarks during
party national executive
committee's daylong meeting
at Hotel Le Meridian in
the morning.
The Special Court-5 in
Dhaka on Thursday fixed
February 8 to deliver its verdict
in the Zia Orphanage
Trust graft case filed against
Khaleda and five others.
Today is the World
Cancer Day. Like the last
two years, the theme of
this day is 'we can, I can'.
In view of the need for
reducing the spread of
cancer as a disease and
the treatment of patients,
it was set to celebrate
World Cancer Day on 4
February each year. The
decision was taken at a
coordinated meeting of
the International
Organization of UICC or
the Union for
International Cancer
Control and several other
organizations. Every year
more than 8 million people
die from cancer
worldwide. This day is
celebrated to save millions
of lives and to make
people aware about this
killer disease. It is really
alarming that 47% and
55% of total death caused
Dhaka ready to welcome
Swiss President Sunday
Solidarity with Rohingyas, closer ties with BD on focus
DHAKA : A red carpet is
set to be rolled out as the
President of the Swiss
Confederation Alain Berset
arrives here on a four-day
official visit on Sunday, the
first official visit by any Swiss
president to Bangladesh,
reports UNB.
President Abdul Hamid
will receive his Swiss counterpart
as he is scheduled to
arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport at
1:15pm on Sunday, an official
told UNB.
Cabinet members, including
Foreign Minister AH
Mahmood Ali and State
Minister for Foreign Affairs
M Shahriar Alam, are also
expected to remain present.
A smartly turned out contingent
comprising members
of Bangladesh Army, Air
Force and Bangladesh Navy
will give guard of honour to
the Swiss President. He will
by cancer occur in the
developing countries.
Experts fear that if the
effective measures are
not taken from now on,
this situation will further
deteriorate by 2030. For
this reason various meetings,
seminars or conferences,
rallies, bannersfestoons,
posters are
made so that the general
people can know more
and may be more aware
of this. In our country,
be welcomed with a 21-gun
salute. Two tiny tots will present
bouquets to President
Berset.
After the warm reception
at the airport, the Swiss
President will be taken to
Sonargaon Hotel in a ceremonial
motorcade where he
will be staying during the
visit.
President Berset will visit
Rohingya camps in Cox's
Bazar district on Tuesday
and listen to stories of tortures
from Rohingyas.
Foreign Minister AH
Mahmood Ali will meet the
Swiss President at
Sonargaon Hotel at 6pm on
Sunday.
On Monday, President
Berset will visit Savar
National Mausoleum to pay
homage to Liberation War
martyrs.
He will also visit
Bangabandhu Museum at
the government and nongovernment
organizations
do these tasks also
to raise awareness of cancer
and to encourage its
prevention, detection,
and treatment. The common
risk factors for getting
cancer are smoking,
obesity, not eating or eating
less vegetables or
fruits, not doing physical
work, drinking alcohol,
living unsafe sex, air and
environmental pollution,
passive smoking, excessive
sunlight contact and
also some hereditary risk
factors. One of the preventive
measures for cancer
is to take human
papiloma and hepatitis
vaccines and be aware of
known risk factors.
Generally, people infected
with cancer are often
negligent; even some
societies are untouchable
Dhanmondi to pay respect to
Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
The Swiss President will
have official talks with Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina at
her office on Monday afternoon.
President Abdul Hamid
will host dinner in honour of
his Swiss counterpart at
Bangabhaban in the evening.
There will be two main
focuses-solidarity with a
country that is severely
affected by the crisis in
neighbouring Myanmar and
the establishment of closer
bilateral relations, says the
Swiss Embassy in Dhaka.
Apart from underscoring
the current status of bilateral
relations, the two countries
will discuss ways to further
strengthen economic, development
and cultural cooperation
during the visit.
Members of law enforcement agency arrested over 20 BNP activists from the meeting of La
Meridian.
Photo : Star Mail
76 Bangladeshi scientists to get
training in UK on NCDs
DHAKA : A total of 76 scientists of the
country working in different institutions
will be send to the United
Kingdom (UK) to have training in tackling
Non-Communicable Diseases
(NCDs) here.
"We would send 76 scientists in different
universities of UK to make them
trained so that they could help the
country in tackling NCDs by guiding
our health strategies," Director General
of the Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Kalam
Azad told BSS.
Recently an agreement was signed
aimed at helping Bangladesh in tackling
NCDs with United Kingdom (UK)
based agencies under Cambridge
Programme to Assist Bangladesh in
Lifestyle Environment and Risk
Reduction (CAPABLE) in this regard,
he said.
"We would call for an open invitation
across the country where doctors and
scientists could apply for the scholarship,"
Prof of University of Cambridge
John Danesh and Principal
Investigator of CAPABLE told BSS.
There would be two types of scholarships,
16 scientists would be provided
one and half year courses and other 60
would get six weeks long training at the
University of Cambridge, University
College London, the University Court of
the University of Aberdeen in UK,
Danesh said. On February, we would
call for the applications through daily
newspapers and we have planned to
start the long courses programme from
June of this year while short courses
would be started later, he added.
"This training would develop and
evaluate practicable and effective interventions
that expose major environmental
and lifestyle risk factors against
NCDs and promote health in the country
in an acceptable, sustainable and
cost-effective manner," Director of
Institute of Epidemiology Disease
Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Dr
Meerjady Sabrina Flora told.
World Cancer Day: We can, I can
Dr. A K Lutful Kabir
to them. Many people
think that it is a contagious
disease and the
patient's attendants will
be affected. We all should
know that the cancer
patients must not be
treated apart. Rather we
should treat them with
all. They have all rights to
live with everyone else
and to associate with
everyone. They can fulfill
all their wishes like everyone
else. They should be
treated as normal and
not be neglected socially.
They should have full
respect and social dignity.
On the other hand
there is no need to show
extra sympathy to them
again. Rather, positive
behavior and speech will
help to get back to their
mental stability.
> (Contd. on page-2)
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam, Advisory Editor: Advocate Molla Mohammad Abu Kawser, Managing, Editor: Tapash Ray Sarker, News Editor : Saiful Islam, printed at Sonali Printing Press, 2/1/A, Arambagh 167, Inner Circular Road, Eden Complex, Motijheel, Dhaka.
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