15 Dec, 2015

SECOND EDITION

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015 | Poush 1, 1422, Rabiul Awal 2, 1437 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 239 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Social media restored but cause of Sunday’s blackout still hazyn Ishtiaq Husain

Less than 24 hours after being blocked by order of the Bangladesh Telecommunica-tion Regulatory Commission (BTRC), access to social networking and video calling ser-vices Twitter, Skype and Imo were restoredyesterday.

All net-based networking and messaging sites including Viber and WhatsApp, which were blocked along with Facebook on No-

vember 18, have now been unblocked, as per the instructions of State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim.

The state minister said she did not direct the regulatory body to block the three servic-es on Sunday night, barely three days after Facebook was unblocked, calling it a “misun-derstanding.”

The exact sequence of events leading to Sunday’s brief temporary suspension of ac-cess to the services remains hazy.

Although the country’s international in-ternet gateways and mobile operators did receive an emailed instruction from the reg-ulator to block the sites, Tarana said a second email was sent on Sunday night instructing the recipients not to block the sites.

Mobile phone and internet gateway com-pany o� cials said they did not receive the second email.

A BTRC o� cial, who asked not to be PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Catch “Genocide,” our illustrated Victory Day special hitting the newsstands tomorrow. Contact your hawker for your copy today

Demand for execution of all war criminalsn Arifur Rahman Rabbi

The nation observed Martyred Intellectu-als Day yesterday with the demand that all Razakars and local collaborators who aided the Pakistan occupation army during the Lib-eration War be hanged as soon as possible.

People from all walks of life gathered at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the capital’s Rayerbazar area, paying tribute to the intellectuals who were systematically picked up and killed by the Pakistan occu-pation army two days before Bangladesh be-came victorious in 1971.

This year’s commemoration was di� erent, as the nation observed Martyred Intellectu-als Day for the � rst time after the execution of a war criminal who was charged with the mass killing of the country’s brightest minds during the war.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, who was also a commander of al-Badr in 1971, was hanged on November 22 for being involved in the heinous crime.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minis-ter Sheikh Hasina paid profound tribute to the martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals by plac-ing wreaths at the memorial in Mirpur.

Meanwhile, common people as well as eminent political, professional, social, cul-tural and academic personalities paid their tribute at Rayerbazar, along with the families of the martyred intellectuals.

Besides the execution of all Razakars, they also demanded that Bangladesh cut o� all ties with Pakistan for supporting the war criminals.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif said: “We separated

from Pakistan and became a sovereign na-tion in 1971. Pakistan is a failed state; it is meaningless to keep relations with it.”

The country will be free from shame once all the war criminals are punished and all fundamentalist and fanatic groups are banned, he told reporters.

Members of Prajanma 71, a platform of the children of the martyred intellectuals, ob-served a minute of silence in memory of the fallen heroes in Rayerbazar before forming a human chain to protest both the national and

international conspiracies against the Inter-national War Crimes Tribunal.

Addressing the protest, Nujhat Chow-dhury, daughter of Dr Alim Chowdhury who was killed on December 14, 1971, said: “Mujahid, an al-Badr commander, has been hanged. We are hopeful that the government will do justice and punish the rest of the war criminals too.”

KM Sha� ullah, chairperson of Sector Com-manders’ Forum, said the 195 o� cials of Pa-kistan occupation army who were identi� ed

as involved in war crimes must be brought to justice as well.

“Pakistan took those 195 army o� cials with the promise that they would be brought to justice, but it never happened. So, our next step is to make it happen. Pakistan must also apologise to Bangladesh for denying that its army committed genocide here in 1971,” said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan.

Members of other political and socio-cul-tural organisations paid their tribute at the memorials as well. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

News2DTTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Social media restorednamed, said the regulator received a direc-tive from an intelligence agency on Sunday to keep Twitter, Skype, Imo, Viber and oth-er services closed to the public until further notice.

Contradicting this account, an o� cial of the Telecommunications Division, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the division called for the blackout to quash pock-ets of connectivity that remained despite the blocks that were supposed to be in e� ect.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday told journalists that his ministry did not issue the directive to block Twitter, Skype and Imo.

Yesterday, all mobile messaging and call-ing apps and social networking sites were again opened to public access.

“I have ordered the Bangladesh Telecom-munication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to withdraw all temporary suspensions on all the social networking sites as well as calling and messaging apps from now [5pm, yester-day] following the government’s decision. Whatever we do, everything follows from government directives, rules and regula-tions. We do not bypass instructions from the government,” state minister Tarana told

the Dhaka Tribune. “All operators will receive the regulator’s

directive within an hour to unblock the sites and apps and they will be reopened after the necessary steps for activation are taken,” she added.

An o� cial of a mobile telephone operator said: “We received a directive from the BTRC at 5:05pm yesterday lifting the temporary block on all social networking sites and call-ing and messaging apps and implemented it very soon afterwards.”

He said the BTRC instructed operators to release all apps and sites including Vib-er, WhatsApp, Line, Tango, Skype, Imo and Twitter that had been blocked at various times earlier.

Social media services have been blocked by the government several times this year.

While Bangladesh’s 18 million Facebook users went without for over three weeks until December 10, WhatsApp and Viber, blocked at the same time as Facebook, remained o� limits until access to all sites was restored yesterday.

On January 18, the BTRC blocked WhatsApp, Viber, mypeople, Line and Tango across the country for security reasons. The apps were unblocked four days later. l

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina observe a moment of silence after placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur, Dhaka on Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday BSS

LDCs united as WTO conference begins todayn Meer Saiful Islam, from Nairobi

Members of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group yesterday called upon World Trade Organisation (WTO) members to ful-ly and faithfully implement decisions taken so far on duty-free and quota-free marketaccess.

They emphasised, in particular, the deci-sions taken in the Hong Kong and Bali Minis-terial Declarations.

The demands were raised at a meeting of the LDCs in Nairobi yesterday, chaired by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, the LDC group’s coordinator at the WTO.

The LDCs put forward the demands, in the presence of WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo, a day before the start of the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi today.

A 21-member delegation from Bangladesh is attending the biennial conference.

“We will take a common stand on our de-mands at the trade negotiation with WTO members,” Tofail said.

The LDCs called for a strong commitment to addressing the marginalisation of the LDCs in international trade and to improving their e� ective participation in the multilater-al system.

All issues of speci� c interest to the LDCs would be pursued on a priority basis to achieve commercially meaningful and legal-ly binding outcomes, the LDC ministers’ dec-laration said.

In the ministerial declaration issued yes-terday, a dispute over cotton emerged at the top of the LDC concerns, with ministers expressing dissatisfaction about the lack of progress over decisions about the cotton in-dustry a� ecting the sector.

The declaration urged members to fast-track the resolution of the cotton issue at the Nairobi conference by adopting a section on it.

It also called upon members to adopt the proposed decision on rules of origin for LDCs which aims to operationalise the guidelines enumerated in the “Ministerial Conference Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs” adopted in Bali, Indonesia. l

News 3D

TTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Alleged Moja losss? admin gets bail n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to an alleged admin of Facebook-based social campaigning page Moja losss?, Md Refayat Ahmed, 28, in a case � led under the Infor-mation and Communication Technology Act with Dhaka’s Bhatara police station.

Vacation Judge of Dhaka’s First Addition-al Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, Je-smine Ara Begum, passed the order when Md Abdur Rob, sub-inspector of Bhatara police station and investigating o� cer, produced him on the expiry of a two-day remand.

In his prayer for taking Refayat back on re-mand, SI Rob said to the court: “The case is

under investigation. We have got important information in connection with the case dur-ing remand. So, we need him in custody for the sake of proper investigation.”

On the other hand, after � ling the bail petition, Refayat’s lawyer Md Nur Morshed Tipu argued that his client did not have an-ything to do with the allegations brought against him by RAB.

He also said his client was just a victim of circumstances and therefore his bail may be allowed.

On December 11, another Dhaka court granted police two-day remand for Refayat.

The same day, a team of RAB picked up Refayat, the former head of Digital Commu-

nications at Airtel Bangladesh Ltd, from the Bashundhara Residential Area. Later, RAB � led the case against him.

The case statement says that Refayat, ad-min of Facebook fun page ‘Moja losss?’, and some other people using this page have been making derogatory remarks about the gov-ernment, various sectors of the country and important persons of the society.

Refayat, however, has since the beginning been saying that he was not an admin of the page.

Asked whether police was now sure if he really was an admin, Nurul Muttakim, OC of the Bhatara police station, did not make any de� nitive comments. l

Gazette noti� cation for the 8th pay scale this weekn Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said that the government will publish the order for the eighth national pay scale for public servants by this week.

The proposal was sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday and she had signed and sent it back the same day, Muhith said yesterday after a meeting with World Bank’s Chief Economist Kaushik Basu at his resi-dence in Dhaka.

Muhith also hinted that Wednesday could be a tentative date for the publication of the gazette noti� cation for the much-awaited new pay structure.

Reliable sources in the government's Fi-nance Division said the multiple-page order was sent to the Bangladesh Government (BG) Press yesterday. l

AL uncomfortable after expelling rebelsn Abu Hayat Mahmud

The Awami League is not com-fortable after expelling 78 mu-nicipal leaders in 60 districts who are contesting the upcoming elections independently, ignor-ing the party’s order to pull out.

Yesterday, after the BNP an-nounced its own election moni-toring committee, AL leaders who are assigned municipal election duties, sat in a meeting at the Dh-anmondi o� ce yesterday.

Seeking anonymity, one lead-er who attended the meeting, said: “If BNP joins the election, things will be more challenging for the Awami League. So, the party will have to manage the re-bel candidates tactfully.

“The Awami League will have to literally make sure that every-one is on the same boat. If the par-ty made any mistake in choosing candidates, it would be better to support the rebel candidates in those places.”

The leader also said that expel-ling rebels was not the only solu-tion. Rather, this might end up weakening the party’s grassroots as the local vote banks might get divided, making it tough for nominated candidates to win.

According to sources, the 78 rebel candidates are still in the � eld because they are being backed by at least two dozens of Awami League lawmakers.

Meanwhile, according to the Election Commission, at least seven Awami League mayoral candidates are enjoying a free run in their municipalities be-cause there are no other candi-dates in their areas – neither BNP candidates nor independent nor rebel candidates. l

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015News4DT

Final LNG terminal deal with Singapore � rm this monthn Aminur Rahman Rasel

The government will sign the � nal deal with Singapore-based Excelerate Energy Limit-ed Partnership this month for building the country’s � rst � oating lique� ed natural gas (LNG) terminal on Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal.

“We hope that we will be able to sign the deal by December. We are now discussing some issues with Excelerate Energy for ink-ing the deal,” a Petrobangla o� cial told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Excelerate Energy has already carried out a met-ocean study and found building the terminal viable, he added.

On January 25 this year, � ve years after an initiative was made to build a � oating storage and re-gasi� cation unit, Petrobangla signed

an agreement with a Singapore-based � rm to set up the LNG terminal.

The � rm will also carry out a geo-techni-cal study and detailed engineering design before starting the construction.

It will build the terminal within 16 months of signing the � nal deal. LNG import might start in early 2017.

Petrobangla will pay 0.474 cents per million BTU (mmbtu) – a measure of the energy content in fuel – for the unit on a build-own-operate-transfer basis for 15 years. It will receive the LNG within the range between 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) and 600mmcfd.

The LNG storage capacity of the unit will be 138,000 cubic metres.

Petrobangla will pay the port service charges and tax on behalf of Excelerate Ener-

gy during the period.A Petrobangla o� cial said once the termi-

nal is set up, the government would have to import LNG from Qatar or other countries by paying $16-$18 per unit.

The Awami League-led government in its last term decided to import LNG to feed the national grid by 500mmcfd from 2013.

State-owned Gas Transmission Company Limited also moved to lay a 91km Mohesh-khali-Anowara gas transmission pipeline to carry re-gasi� ed LNG from the terminal to shore.

Considering the country’s ongoing and fu-ture gas crisis, Petrobangla took the initiative to install the LNG terminal.

At present, the country’s gas production is about 2,700mmcfd against a demand of 3,300mmcfd. l

HC questions gas, power price hiken Ashif Islam Shaon

The High Court in a ruling yesterday ques-tioned the legality of the government’s deci-sion to increase gas and electricity prices.

Responding to a writ petition challenging the legality of the hike, the HC bench of Justices Naima Haider and Mustafa Zaman Islam asked the energy regulator to explain why the deci-sion would not be declared illegal. The bench also asked BERC to explain why it should not be directed to reconsider the decision.

The writ was � led by the Consumers Asso-ciation of Bangladesh.

According to law, price of power or gas can be increased within 90 days of a public hear-

ing on such a proposal, but this time the deci-sion was made after the 90-day deadline end-ed, said petitioner’s lawyer M Saiful Alam.

CAB also requested the BERC to review the decision, but the commission did not re-spond to the plea, he said.

“The High Court also asked why the ‘inac-tion’ of the commission shall not be declared ‘illegal’,” he added.

As per the current tari� which came into e� ect on September 1, the retail price of electricity is Tk6.33 per unit, increased from Tk6.15 per unit.

The tari� for a single burner stove increased to Tk600 a month from Tk400, while Tk650 for a double-burner stove from Tk450. l

Bangladesh Railway to build 53km of new rail linesn Tribune Report

A Tk559 crore rail line construction deal was signed between Bangladesh Railway and Mir Akhter-Ranken Joint Venture yesterday, with an aim to ease communications between Pabna and Rajbari.

The deal will also play a role in connect-ing the capital with the northern parts of the country through the under construction Pad-ma Bridge.

As per the deal, the � rm has been assigned to construct 53.8km of main rail lines and 3.9km loop lines including the construction of level crossing gates, curve post and other structures.

Railway (west zone) General Manager Khayrul Alam and Managing Director of Mir Akhter-Ranken JV Mir Nasir Hossain signed the agreement at the Railway Bhaban in the capital. l

US hails BNP for contesting municipal pollsn Tribune Report

The United States has praised the BNP for participating in the upcoming municipal elections on December 30.

Under Secretary of State for Political Af-fairs-designate Thomas Shannon made the comments during a meeting with former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

“In his meeting with former prime min-ister Zia, Ambassador Shannon commended the BNP’s decision to contest municipal elec-tions in December,” said a press release of the US embassy.

Shannon arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day trip and left for Colombo yesterday. He was accompanied by Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian A� airs Nisha De-sai Biswal and Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand.

His trip, one of the � rst bilateral visits he has made since being nominated, highlights the importance the United States places on its partnership with Bangladesh.

At a talk given on Sunday at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Stud-ies, Shannon said: “Today, I would like to add

just a few words to what Ted Kennedy said 44 years ago. America still cares – about that there can be no doubt. And to his timeless address I would simply add: Bangladesh matters.”

Shannon paid courtesy calls on Prime Min-ister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali. He congratulated the PM for her global leadership on climate change, develop-ment, and women’s empowerment issues.

He also met senior government and parlia-mentary leaders, as well as members of the opposition parties, media, civil society, and labour representatives.

At his meeting with opposition leader Raushon Ershad, Shannon expressed sup-port for the role of opposition parties in en-suring a vibrant, healthy democracy.

Ambassador Shannon also visited a US-AID-funded healthcare clinic during his trip.

He noted ongoing cooperation between the two countries in security, trade, devel-opment, climate change, women’s empower-ment and countering violent extremism.

Ambassador Shannon said the US-Bang-ladesh partnership is one whose strength, resilience and potential will only grow with time. l

Children’s organisation Khelaghar stages a symbolic representation of the 1971 killing of intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Monument in Rayerbazar yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Cox’s Bazar 29 22Dhaka 26 16 Chittagong 27 19 Rajshahi 25 12 Rangpur 23 11 Khulna 24 14 Barisal 27 18 Sylhet 24 11T E M P E R AT U R E F O R E C A S T F O R TO DAY

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:14PM SUN RISES 6:34AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW29.5ºC 13.6ºC

Chittagong Dinajpur and DimlaTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Fajr: 5:10am | Zohr: 11:53am Asr: 3:37pm | Magrib: 5:13pmEsha: 6:43pm

PRAYERTIMES

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015News 5

DT

DRIZZLE

US report: Bangladeshi migrating women vulnerable to abusen Tribune Report

Bangladeshi women who migrate for domes-tic work are particularly vulnerable to abuse, reveals this year’s Tra� cking in Persons (TIP) Report prepared by the US State Department.

“Some [Bangladeshi] women and children are subjected to commercial sexual exploita-tion and forced labour in India and Pakistan,” it says.

Some NGOs allege instances of o� cials on both sides of the India-Bangladesh border allowing human tra� ckers to operate, says the report, which places Bangladesh at Tier II level along with some 90 countries.

The governments of these Tier II coun-tries do not fully comply with minimum standards but are making signi� cant e� orts to bring themselves into compliance.

The report says the governments of Bang-ladesh and India coordinated the rescue

and repatriation of child tra� cking victims through established standard procedures.

About recruiting agencies in Bangladesh, it syas Baira charges excessive amount of money while sending people abroad.

“Some recruitment agencies and agents also commit recruitment fraud, including contract switching, in which they promise one type of job and conditions, but then change the job, employer, conditions, or sal-ary after arrival.”

The report cites the example of Greece where three Greek foremen were accused of shooting into a crowd of some 200 Bangla-deshi migrant workers, but a Greek court ac-quitted the farm owner and his lead foreman in 2014.

More than 320,000 foreign domestic workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, My-anmar and Bangladesh work in Hong Kong and some become victims of forced labour

in the private homes in which they are em-ployed.

A large number of Nepali, Afghan, and Bangladeshi females – the majority of whom are children – and women and girls from Asia and Eurasia are also subjected to sex tra� ck-ing in India, the report says.

Some out-of-status domestic workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are also reportedly forced into prostitution after � eeing their employers in Jordan.

In February 2015, the media reported a Russian tra� cking network brought hun-dreds of Bangladeshi nationals via Libya to Italy, where they subsequently endured forced labour.

Mauritius’ manufacturing and construc-tion sectors employ approximately 37,000 foreign migrant workers from India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Madagascar, some

of whom are subjected to forced labour.Pakistan is a destination country for men,

women, and children subjected to forced la-bour – particularly from Afghanistan, Bangla-desh, and Sri Lanka.

Romania is a destination country for a lim-ited number of foreign tra� cking victims, in-cluding sex tra� cking victims from Moldova and Poland and labour tra� cking victims from Bangladesh and Serbia.

South African government and NGOs re-ported an increase in Pakistanis and Bang-ladeshis subjected to bonded labour in busi-nesses owned by their nationals.

Thailand is also a transit country for vic-tims from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Myanmar subjected to sex tra� cking or forced labour in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and countries in Western Europe. l

Bangladeshi man shot dead by Myanmar’s border policen Our Correspondent, Bandarban

A Bangladeshi national was shot dead by My-anmar’s border police near Ashartali border in Bandarban yesterday morning.

Joynal Abedin went to the border area to work when Border Guard Police shot him around 9am.

He lived in Ashartali area of Naikkhangch-hari upazila.

Two more Bangladeshi men were with Joynal when he went there, but they were unhurt.

Naikkhangchhari Upazila Nirbahi O� cer Abu Shafayet told the Dhaka Tribune Myan-mar’s border security forces � red six rounds at Joynal. He said the border police also took away Joynal’s body.

Panic spread among locals after the inci-dent.

Naikkhangchhari 15 BGB battalion’s Lt Col Parvez said he had heard of Joynal’s death and was inquiring about it. l

N’ganj 7-murder: HC clears way for further proben Ashif Islam Shaon

The High Court has ruled that if needed, po-lice can conduct further investigation into a case even after the � ling of charge sheet, which means further probe into the Narayan-ganj seven-murder is now possible.

The HC bench of Justices M Enayetur Rahim and Amir Hossain came up with the observation after disposing of a revision pe-tition seeking further investigation into the

seven-murder case.This order ends speculation on legal

points regarding the possibility of further in-vestigation or interrogation of the accused.

Another observation of the court was that the investigating o� cer (IO) has the legal rights to hold further probe; he can also sub-mit supplementary charge sheets to the trial court, if any new accused is found, in the in-terest of justice.

Investigators do not need directives from

the court to conduct further such probes. In the order, the HC also asked the trial

court to include relevant sections of the pe-nal code for trying the o� ences of criminal conspiracy leading to the seven murders.

Especially about the seven murders, the court observed that the IO has not includ-ed the role of the conspirators in the charge sheet under the relevant section.

On November 23, Selina Islam Beauty, wife of victim Nazrul Islam, � led the revision

petition with the HC after the trial court had rejected her no-con� dence plea against the submitted charge sheet.

Selina claimed that detectives had dropped � ve names from the charge sheet which she mentioned in the complaint. Names of others, whose involvement were found in investigation, were dropped too.

She also prayed for taking prime accused Nur Hossain on remand. Nur � ed to India af-ter the murders and was extradited recently. l

Prajanma 71, a platform of the children of martyred intellectuals, forms a human chain protesting Pakistan’s denial of war atrocities and demanding a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir at Rayer Bazar Killing Field in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015News6DT

2006 NARSINGDI FOUR-MURDER CASE

Four sentenced to life in prison, seven others get 10 years eachn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday awarded four people life term imprisonment and seven oth-ers 10 years in jail in the 2006 Narsingdi four-murder case.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribu-nal 3 Judge Sayeed Ahmed delivered the verdict and also � ned them Tk20,000 each, in default, to su� er one year more rigorous imprisonment.

The four lifers are Al Amin, Shahin Mia, Kala Mia alias Kala Chan and Alek alias Alek Chora of Raipura upazila’s Musapur village in Narsingdi. Of them, Al Amin, Shahin and Kala Mia were tried in absen-tia.

The other convicts are Mobarak, Jamal alias Lengra Jamal, Anwar Hossain Anar, Mistu Mia alias Mobarak Ali – a freedom � ghter, Zillu Mia, Tarek Mia and Jamal Mia. Of them, Mobarak was tried in absentia.

A total of 12 people were accused in the case. The trial of a juvenile accused in the case is going on in the district court.

The judge in his obser-vation said there was negli-gence in the investigation of the case and for this reason the convicts could not be sen-tenced to death although they deserve death penalty for the

o� ence.The tribunal also said the

investigators could have col-lected information to prove the case but they did not show interest after getting confessional statements from two of the accused, which is insu� cient to give proper punishment to the accused.

During the trial proceed-ings, 19 out of 61 witnesses gave depositions before the court against the convicts in the case.

According to the prosecu-tion, Al Amin had an enmity with his neighbour Samsud-din Molla of the village over a piece of land.

On November 27, 2006, Al Amin along with his sup-porters went to the house of Shamsuddin and stabbed his two daughters Runa, 27, and Romana, 26, and his two grandchildren – Runa’s nine-month-old daughter Borno and Romana’s 21-day-old son Arnab.

The following day, Sham-suddin � led a case in this con-nection.

CID Inspector Sultan Mahmud submitted a charge sheet in the case against 12 people with the local court on June 4, 2011. Later, the case was shifted to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal on June 19, 2014. l

HC questions construction of Wari kitchen marketn Tribune Report

The High Court yesterday issued a ruling seeking explana-tions in four weeks why the construction of a kitchen mar-ket in a residential area near Baldha Garden in the capital’s Wari area should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo issued the ruling in response to a writ petition � led by Supreme Court lawyer Masud Ahmed Say-

eed challenging the construction of the market.The petitioner’s lawyer, Muktadir Rahma, said an English

daily on August 23 reported that the kitchen market was ac-tually built on a widely-used road and the road was leased to some local in� uential Awami League leaders.

“The construction violated the Government Estates Manual,” he said.

Dhaka South City Corporation leased the road for con-structing the kitchen market, which has 44 shops. l

Journo, wife held with 40,000 pieces of yaba n Anwar Hussain,

Chittagong

The Chittagong Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) yesterday arrested a journal-ist and his wife with 40,000 pieces of yaba from Firingi Bazar area under Kotwali po-lice station of the port city.

The two arrestees were Mohammad Selim, 32 and Munni Akhter, 27.

Selim works as the Cox’s Bazar district correspondent of Gazi Television (GTV) – a private television channel.

He is also the acting editor of a vernacular daily Cox’s Ba-zar Barta.

Deputy Director of Chit-tagong DNC Ali Aslam Hos-sain said a team arrested the couple when they were head-ed to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar on a microbus.

“After receiving a tip-o� , we intercepted the microbus when it was crossing Mariners Road. Later, we conducted a search and seized the yaba pills which were hidden in a luggage,” said the deputy di-rector. l

Dhaka South City Corporation o� cials make a list of vendors, who sell a variety of products at their makeshift stalls illegally set up on footpaths, as part of a plan to rehabilitate them. The photo was taken near the Baitul Mukarram market yesterday RAJIB DHAR

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015News 7

DT

MUNICIPALIT Y POLLS 2015

MUNICIPALIT YPOLLS 2015

M U N I C I P A L I T Y P O L L S 2 0 1 5

M U N I C I P A L I T Y P O L L S 2 0 1 519 candidates elected unopposedn Tribune Report

Nineteen Awami League-backed candidates in di� erent municipal areas around the country were elected mayors and councillors unopposed as the deadline to withdraw from the elections ended on Sunday.

Of them, seven candidates were elected mayor without contest in Feni, Tungipara, Parshuram, Madarganj, Chatkhil, Pirojpur and Chhengarchar municipalities as their respec-tive opponents withdrew their nominations, said Jesmin Tuli, joint secretary (election management) at the Election Commission.

The 12 other candidates, all from Rao-zan municipality in Chittagong, were

elected councillors unopposed, said KulPradip Chakma, Raozan upazila nirbahi of-� cer and returning o� cer in the upazila this election.

A total of 162 candidates in 234 municipali-ties around the country withdrew from the running on Sunday, Tuli told reporters.

However, in Raozan, leaders of Bangla-

desh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that their candidates could not even submit their nomination papers due to threats by the rul-ing party men.

Kazi Abdullah Al Hassan, incumbent may-or and mayor aspirant in Raozan municipal-ity, said: “The ruling party wanted to ensure a one-horse race in the election. We lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and Chittagong deputy commissioner in this regard, but to no avail.”

But when asked about this, Kul Pradip Chakma said: “The candidates should have lodged their complaints, if any, well before the deadline. Now it is no use crying over spilt milk.”

Terming Hassan’s allegation ridiculous, Awami League-nominated mayoral candi-date in Raozan Debashis Palit asked how Hassan himself could submit his nomination paper if there was no favourable atmosphere.

“Knowing it very well that defeat is inevi-table, the BNP did not dare put its candidates out in the � eld.”

After the withdrawals, a total of 921 can-didates are now contesting the December 30 municipal polls for mayoral positions around the country.

Among them, 650 candidates are from di� erent political parties while 271 are in-dependent candidates, according to an EC report. l

AL, BNP rebel candidates still in race in Habiganjn Our Correspondent, Habiganj

Mayoral candidates of Habiganj Sadar and Shaistaganj municipalities in the district were nominated by Awami League and Bang-ladesh Nationalist Party for upcoming elec-tion, but rebel candidates have become a matter of concern for the both parties.

Sources said Mizanur Rahman, organising secretary of Awami League in Sadar munic-ipality, had got nomination as independent candidate after resigning from the party.

According to local people, Mizanur has a big support and great popularity in the area.

His clean image and reserved vote bank might help him to win the race in the elec-tion, they said.

Miznur said: “As a follower of Bangaband-hu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I have a great support.”

“I am hopeful that I will win the election,” he said.

Ataur Rahman Selim, Juba League presi-

dent of the district, was nominated by Awa-mi League for its candidate.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party nominated GK Gawsh, general secretary of the party in the district as their mayoral candidate in the municipality.

Abdul Majid, Juba Dal president of the mu-nicipality and rebel candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party got nomination in Shaista-ganj Municipality as independent candidate.

“I have a great sacri� ce for the people and party. Always, I was beside them. So, I think they will vote me,” he said.

On the other hand, Ataur Rahman Masuk, rebel candidate of Awami League got nomi-nation in the municipality as independent candidate.

Masuk said: “Though the party has sus-pended me, I have support in the area.”

Awami League nominated Salek Mian and Bangladesh Nationalist Party nominated Far-id Ahmed Oli as their mayoral candidates in the municipality. l

Supporters of rebel candidate vandalise AL president’s house in Jamalpurn Our Correspondent, Jamalpur

Supporters of an Awami League rebel can-didate vandalised the house of district unit president at Dewanganj upazila in Jamalpur yesterday.

Local sources said supporters of Awami League mayoral candidate Shahnewaj Shahen-sha locked into an altercation with the sup-porters of rebel candidate Nurnobi Apu in the afternoon. Following the argument, support-ers of Shahnewaj Shahensha went to the house of district unit Awami League president Ishtiaq Hossain Didar and vandalised the house.

Ishtiaq told the Dhaka Tribune that Nurnobi became furious after not getting party’s nomination.

Despite several attempts the correspond-ent failed to talk with Nurnobi as his phone was switched o� . OC of Dewanganj police station said they had sent a police team to the area to avoid further clash. l

Female voters outnumber malesin Bagerhatn Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

The number of female voters have increased in Moralganj and Bagerhat municipalities than previous election.

According to district election o� ce, the total number of voters are 31,728 in the mu-nicipality areas.

In the previous election, this two munic-ipalities had 29,014 voters in total. At least 2,714 voters have increased in the time span of � ve years.

Aspirant candidates are running their campaign before getting selection from their respective parties. Both mayoral and coun-cillor candidates are now passing busy time and goring to door-to-door to get support of voters.

As candidates have not got the election symbol, they are campaigning with party’s logo.

District Election Commissioner sources said the total voters are 34,203 in 12 wards of Bagerhat. Among them, male voters are 16,778 and female voters are 17,425. In the last election, total voters were 31,439. Of them, 15,526 were male and 15,913 were fe-male voters.

In Morrelganj municipality, the total vot-ers are 14,303. Among them, males are

7,090 and females are 7,213. In the previ-ous election, total voters were 13,101.

Male voters were 6,454 and female were 6,647. Voters have increased to 1,202. Female voters dominate this municipality too.

Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) on December 2 postponed electionsscheduled for next six months in Mongla port municipality due to a petition in High Court (HC).

Then the election commission said the up coming election had beenpostponed as the High Court had ruled out a petition, said Election Commissioner Ruhul Amin.

On September 23, Mayor of Mongla Jul� kar Ali asked residents of Baon and Bat-arbad area to pay tax within December 30, after they were listed as voters, said Ruhul Amin.

Later, Abul Kalam, including three other residents of the town, � led a write petition challenging the order of the mayor. l

BNP mayoral candidate Nurul Islam Nuru in Kurigram Municipality takes sheaf of paddy yesterday, the symbol of election, from Returning O� cer Akter Hossain DHAKA TRIBUNE

650 candidates are from di� erent political parties while 271 are independent candidates

News8DTTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Community clinics vital for shrinking mortalityn Tribune Report

High o� cials at a community level discus-sion unequivocally called for improving the essential services of community clinics for ensuring healthcare services to the grass-roots people for their betterment.

To this end, they viewed the district and upazila level o� cials and others concerned should put in their level best e� orts so that the rural people can derive total bene� ts of the community clinics. There is no alterna-tive to make the services peoples-friendly.

They were addressing the discussion styled “Reduction of Maternal and Infant

Death through Maternal and Child Health Services in Communities” held at Sadhanpur Community Clinic premises under Puthiya Upazila of the district yesterday afternoon.

Secretary to Health and Family Welfare Ministry Syed Manjurul Islam and Addition-al Secretary to Cabinet Division Moin Uddin addressed the discussion as chief and spe-cial guests respectively with Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Ra-jshahi, in the chair, reports BSS.

Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi di-vision Munir Hossain, Divisional Director of Health Dr Hedayetul Islam, Director of Prime Minister’s O� ce Nasrin Afroz, Civil Surgeon

Dr Abdus Sobhan, Upazila Nirbahi O� cer Md Nuruzzaman and Shilmaria UP Chairman Sazzad Hossain Mukul also spoke.

Chief Guest Syed Mnjurul Islam said the present government is very much sincere about reaching the healthcare services to-wards the peoples’ doorstep and the govern-ment has been working relentlessly to attain the cherished goal. Reactivation and revi-talisation of the community clinics is great achievement of the present government, he added.

Bangladesh has witnessed marked im-provements in maternal and child health over the last couple of decades. He men-

tioned that women are having fewer children and these children are increasingly likely to live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. They are also receiving more skilled assistance during pregnancy and de-livery than ever before.

Health Secretary urged the health pro-viders to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty for welfare of their re-spective communities.

Later on, the guests went round the com-munity clinic and witness its activities. They also witnessed an innovative pilot project on maternal and child health issues on the oc-casion. l

Transport workers put up barricade on the Dhaka-Narayanganj road at Panchaboti setting tyres on � re following a clash with police that left 15 people injured yesterday morning DHAKA TRIBUNE

Worker-police clash injures 15n Tribune Report

At least 15 people, inclining three policemen, were injured in a clash between police and transport workers at Panchaboti, Narayanganj yesterday morning.

Police said the clash had ensued between labourers and police personnel after a transport worker and a constable got involved into altercation around 11:30am. Following the argument, consta-ble Azad beat transport worker Aminul indiscriminately.

Hearing the news, police rushed to the spot and tried to bring the situation under control.

As soon as police reached there, discontented workers attacked police and a clash ensued between them, leaving 15 people in-jured. Of them, bullet injured labourers - Abdur Rahim and Faruk Hossain – were admitted to Narayanganj 100-bed Hospital.

Three police personnel – Sub-Inspectors of Fatullah Model po-lice station Golam Mostofa and Kadir and constable Azad – were also injured in the clash. l

Alleged robber killed in gun� ghtn Our Correspondent, Satkhira

An alleged robber ringleader was killed in a gun� ght with police in Kopashdanga area of Patkelghata upazila, Satkhira in the early hours of yesterday.

O� cer-in-Charge of Patkelghata police station Torikul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that they had got information that a gang of robbers put up barricade on the Satkhira-Khulna Highway in the area to commit suicide. Then, police conducted a drive in the area around 3am.

Sensing the presence of police, the robbers opened � re at them and exploded several bombs, that left two policemen injured, prompting them to take retaliation, triggering a gun� ght.

Abu Sayeed, 35, son of Elahi Box, of Awalgati village of Keshab-pur upazila in Jessore, died on the spot during the gun� ght.

Police arrested seven alleged robbers in possession of a pipe gun, a revolver, two cartridges, four bullet shells, two machetes and four iron rods. l

Tech 9D

T

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Okapia’s Freedom

Inauguration of IQAC at IUB

n Mahmood Hossain

The Freedom by Okapia has a 1.44-inch TFT display, a single sim card slot, Bluetooth, and a 350mAh battery. Wait what? No typos here, people. This mobile device is a legitimate non-smartphone. For the longest time, a BlackBerry would be considered as your go-to Bat-phone. In other words, your emergency, get down to business phone on the side. And that’s exactly what Okapia can be for smartphone users. Except, well, it also serves as a remote to a larger device, connected through Bluetooth. Again, you read that correctly.

Nowadays we see plenty of heavy users on mobile devices, reaching out for that power brick so they can harness the extra juice for those extra hours. That’s a wonderful gadget to have, except we’re always falling in the risk of losing our very expensive phones. This is where your emergency back-up comes into play. The demission of this phone are so small, you won’t ever have issues discretely calling for backup in your time of need. It does serve as a functioning phone, but the real attraction comes in its remote capabilities.

You can even backup information like your messages or contacts, transferred through Bluetooth, if you ever do need to use this device as your last resort. As mentioned

before the size of this thing is absolutely tiny; it’s as if you’re holding an Apple Remote for your Apple TV. It weighs next to nothing and you can place in the palm of your hand with room to spare. Will it replace your own remote control at home? Of course not. At Tk1,990 though, it could be a legitimate investment.

There’s nothing spectacular about this device, and it’s not pretending to be anything else. It serves a very simple purpose. Like the navigation throughout the device, it’s too darn easy to get these confused. However, those of you with glasses or not-so-great eyesight, it’ll be a bit di� cult to view certain options. In addition to one drawback, this phone can only connect and synchronise with Android devices. There seems to be a little hitch with its pairing with an iOS or Windows device. Surely, the updates in the near future will � x all that.

The inauguration and inception of Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) was held on December 13 at the IUB campus in Bashundhara.

Three papers were presented at the workshop by Prof Dr Mesbauddin Ahmed, head, Quality Assurance Unit (QAC), University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC), Prof Dr Abul Kashem, quality assurance specialist and Prof Dr Sanjoy Kumar Adhikari, quality assurance specialist, UGC.

Among others, Prof M Omar Rahman, vice chancellor, IUB, Prof Milan Pagon, pro-vice chancellor (designate) and Dr Mahbub Alam, director of IQAC, IUB, also spoke on the occasion.

The workshop was organised and supported by the Quality Assurance Unit (QUA) under Higher Educational Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP), UGC and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).

Your substitute to the Bat-phone

Prof M Omar Rahman, vice chancellor, IUB, is addressing at the inauguration and inception of Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)

This or that

Kik

Released in 2010, Kik is the � rst ever messenger developed with a built in browser. The app already has a hundred million users and is very popular in many places. You will often come across the phrase “Kik me,” especially on Instagram. Give it a shot, might just be worth it. Pros: Ability to chat without disclosing phone numbers on Kik Chatrooms. Cons: Possibility of external group users bothering you.

TangoTango is a free app that allows you to make fast voice and video calls along with the usual text options. The app is widely used in Bangladesh and has over 200 million users around the world.Pros:Great video bu� ering and easy to use.Cons:Inconsistent and uneven video quality.

WeChat

This app has been immensely successful with over 600 million users. Its popularity grew after Facebook bought over Whatsapp and has been dominating in America. With Whatsapp’s 450 million users, WeChat might be the most suitable replacement.Pros: Flawless and instantaneous voice messaging, with superb privacy features. Cons: No “online” or “o� ine” statuses.

ChatON

This app can be used on almost every platform we have now: iOS, Android, Windows and BlackBerry. A creation of Samsung, it has no calling features and extra embellishments. Without the extra burdens, the app is seen to be very simple, comprehensible and easier when it comes to getting used to. Just like most other apps, ChatON requires your phone number and

user name to check all the contacts you have in your account, and lets you know if they are on ChatON as well. Pros:Intuitive interface, and available for almost all platforms.Cons:No delivery info for messages.

Hangouts

We all know Google Hangouts as it has quickly become widely used in our daily communication. This app ties into every Google account you have on the planet and has SMS integration features. That means it can be easily accessed on Android and iOS, and web mail, through a Gmail account. It might not be as widespread as Whatsapp or WeChat, but the app is surely worth a shot during these troubled times.Pros:Clean and crisp, with SMS and google voice integration. Cons:Requires Google+ account for advanced integration.

LINE

With a massive 300 million users worldwide, LINE is available in 231 countries. It can be used on almost all platforms and has a very simple interface. You’re able to integrate your LINE account with your email. This provides you with email security to reclaim your chats and contacts when you change your phone number, or god forbid, lose your phone.Pros: It has voice calls too with a timeline style view similar to Facebook, so it’s easy to adapt to.

Cons:With too many features comes a slight lag in constant usage, which may get on your nerves.

Telegram

Telegram is gradually becoming a very successful and widely used app around the world, with a bump up to 50 million users from only 35 million (during October 2013). This app allows you to send secret chats and have restricted access retaining your privacy. It’s similar to Whatsapp, with much more choices for emojis and you have private chat integration within group chats as well. The chats can only be accessed through the device it was sent in. Pros:Greater privacy and photo quality over Whatsapp, with similar speed. You can even send as much photos as you’d like at once, not just the usual 10.Cons:Annoying method of notifying new users from your contact list. l

Alternative apps for the blocked social media sites

Tech10DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

n Chisty Rahim

With the authority frequently blocking most of the popular chatting apps and websites, it already feels like we are growing distant from our loved ones (pun intended). Hence, to solve the problem for you, here are a few suggestions of other apps you can use as an alternative.

INSIDE

Digital Bangladesh is one of this government’s most visionary and popular initiatives.

Five days ago, the nation was relieved when the block on popular social media platform Facebook was lifted. Now we are glad that the

Home Ministry has said that there will be no ban on Twitter, Skype, and IMO. Furthermore, the ban on Viber has also been lifted. This is a move in the right direction.

Moves to block social media are understandable when the government makes short-term strategic measures in the face of immediate threats in the interest of security. It is good news that it has not been necessary for the government to impose newer restrictions.

Twitter, for example, is used all over the world for citizen journalism, and has been instrumental in circulating important news stories from Tahrir Square to Shahbagh. Keeping these platforms open and accessible is the hall-mark of a tolerant and progressive society that values free exchange of information and open debate.

Online services like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, and IMO are the engines of the technological age in which we live now. There is no going back, digital is here to stay.

Apart from the concerns about the freedom of speech, a very large volume of business is done online. Every time these popular services get blocked, the e-business sector reports massive losses. All these losses attest to the fact that it is vital to our nation that social media platforms stay open.

Most importantly, the government should bear in mind that any bans on social media would hamper the country’s development agenda and stand in the way of the promise of Digital Bangladesh.

Online services like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, and IMO are the engines of the technological age in which we live now. There is no going back, digital is here to stay

Justice be damned

Bangladesh and beyondLong-term stability and prosperity cannot be achieved without building e� ective institutions for sound governance. Bangladesh needs foreign investment in infrastructure for an expanding transport network

Be heardWrite to Dhaka Tribune

FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207

Email [email protected]

Send us your Op-Ed articles:opinion.dt@dhakatribune.

com www.dhakatribune.com

Join our Facebook community:

https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

PAGE 13

PAGE 12

PAGE 14

Wait, what just happened in Paris?How does the Paris Agreement stack up? In my opinion, it’s a mixed bag -- some improvement, some backwards movement, certainly far short of where we need to be

Since we’re such fans of � nding a scapegoat and sending them, post-haste, to a destination comprising of physical harm and often, subsequently, beyond the grave, it cannot be denied that, for us, the face of justice is black and blue

Digital is good. Let’s stay on course

11D

TEditorialTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

BIGSTOCK

n SN Rasul

When a man, dressed smartly, suspiciously stands near a game of cricket, only to try and steal the bag which has everyone’s

expensive smartphones in it, a heavy-handed approach is only a matter of course if he gets caught red-handed. In what has become a common thread of brutality in the guise of street justice, the individual in question was manhandled by the witness, dragged all the way to the entrance of the “physical” � eld, and beaten by the crowd that eventually surrounded him.

By the time I personally reached the ruckus, the blue sports jacket he had been wearing had been taken o� , his face was a dishevelled maroon, and his eyes spoke of fear and his face of desperation. He was, apparently, a well-sought-after thief amongst the regulars of the � eld, with various residents quipping in with their own stories of how he had taken his or her bag, his or her laptop, his or her mobile phone.

Random passers-by threw in a punch or two, a slap or three. The sound reverberates across the open area of the private playground. One informs me: “We’ve been trying to catch this guy for months.” Another: “Should kill the bastard.” Someone else:

“Don’t beat him that much. Take him to the police.”

By the time the crowd is moving out of the � eld, one of the guards is smacking the thief’s shins with a wooden stick. The thief remains silent throughout. And by the time we got back to our game, we were merely surprised there wasn’t blood oozing out of every pore of his skin.

Someone says, dejectedly, that taking him to the police will yield nothing. They’ll give him a few more slaps, leech out whatever money he had on him, and send him on his merry way, only for him to try his hands again at some other � eld, at some other person’s bag.

As the recent incident in Narayanganj attests, the thief I personally witnessed was lucky to not have been beaten to death or at least be critically injured and spend the night � ghting for his life at some shoddy hospital. In Narayanganj, eight “suspected” robbers were “justiced” to death by the village’s residents after they had, allegedly, broken into a rice shop.

In Dhaka Tribune on August, 2013, it was reported that at least 650 people were killed in the last four years as a result of mob violence. What drives presumably sane citizens in our nation to resort to such heinous acts as murder?

Tales of the Bengali sense of empathy, of human intimacy, are dispersed a-plenty in the national narrative. Our religion and ideals of brotherhood and sisterhood, all under the banner of one nation, have always been touted by nationalist and non-nationalists alike, with multitudes upon multitudes of reasons being thrown to justify patriotism.

Perhaps it’s too much of a stretch to bring in ideas of national identity into singular incidents, but with the recent passing of the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day and the

upcoming Victory Day -- which only serves to highlight how cruel an oppressive and brutal regime can end up being -- acts such as these only serve to highlight how violence serves to make villains of us all, and does nothing for either side in the battle.

Since we’re such fans of � nding a scapegoat and sending them, post-haste, to a destination comprising of physical harm and often, subsequently, beyond the grave, it cannot be denied that, for us, the face of justice is black and blue.

With other recent hullabaloo such as Moja Losss?’s supposed admin being arrested for “spreading anti-state propaganda,” what seeps through is that we, collectively, as a nation, do not have our priorities in order and have a severely warped sense of justice. When it comes to matching the punishment to the crime, we, continuously, fail.

And since we’re also such fans of � nding someone to blame, who should we put at the end of the � ring range for perpetrating such a culture of violence? Is it our police, who we, once, in a di� erent setting, perhaps under a di� erent timeline, expected to serve as our guardians but who now cannot be relied on to protect us on and o� streets, as they’re too busy looking for avenues to � ll their pockets with bribes?

Or is it our legal system, which cannot be trusted to dole out true justice in any form? Because, with enough money, enough power, anyone and everyone can buy a verdict or lengthen a judicial process? Because our version of so-called justice is not blind, merely blindfolded as much as its greed allows? Because anyone and everyone can be above the law?

Or should we turn to our politicians, the ones we elect out of a lack of choice, whose empty promises we feed on despite knowing full well how empty they truly are? Or is the fault within us? Are we so removed from humanity that killing another individual for a crime as small as theft is acceptable and justi� ed? What is a nation to do that is stuck between a rock and a hard place? When there is only one way to go about doing things that in itself becomes the right way. Who is to blame in such a blameless game?

As much as can be repeated, the solution to errant behaviour isn’t to answer it with a quick roughing-up and/or a threat to life, otherwise incidents such as these would be shoved into the nation’s past, and that’s where it would remain. Punishment that relies on an eye-for-an-eye approach has no hopes of curbing future crime, and such a damned form of justice is doomed from the start.

What needs to be changed is the situation itself, and the people themselves will automatically accommodate. A culture of impunity will continually and consistently regurgitate mob behaviour from a people that has no inherent desire to do so. Or, at least, one can hope. Will we have the audacity to call it a sickness when this becomes the only thing we can do? Will we dare call it errant when this becomes the new normal? l

SN Rasul is a writer. Follow him @snrasul.

Justice be damned

Since we’re such fans of � nding a scapegoat and sending them, post-haste, to a destination comprising of physical harm and often, subsequently, beyond the grave, it cannot be denied that, for us, the face of justice is black and blue

Justice is blindfolded only as much as greed allows BIGSTOCK

Are we so removed from humanity that killing as punishment for theft seems normal?

Opinion12DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Opinion 13D

T

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

n Md Nazin Uddin, Rafi a Sultana,and Md Saiyod Ali

Globalisation is a complicated issue. There is no question that globalisation has been a good thing for many developing countries

like Bangladesh who now have access to global markets and can export cheap goods. But globalisation has been very good for multi-national corporations. Proponents of globalisation argue that it allows poor countries and their citizens to develop economically and raise their standards of living, while opponents of globalisation claim that the creation of an unfettered international free market has bene� ted multi-national corporations in the West at the expense of local enterprises, local cultures, and common folk.

Globalisation is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of di� erent nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has e� ects on the environment, on culture, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.

Globalisation has in� uence on di� erent spheres of life viz economical, cultural, political, geographical, technological, among others. Economic globalisation is the increasing economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology, and capital.

With improvements in transportation and communication, international business grew rapidly after the beginning of the 20th century. In most countries, such trade represents a signi� cant share of GDP. Industrialisation, advanced transportation, multi-national corporations, o� shoring and outsourcing, all have a major impact on world trade. Singapore, the top country in the Enabling Trade Index, embraced globalisation and became a highly developed country.

On the other hand, cultural globalisation

refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings, and values around the world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations. It involves the formation of shared norms and knowledge with which people associate their individual and collective cultural identities.

Supporters of globalisation argue that it has the potential to make this world a better place to live in, and solve some of the deep-seated problems like unemployment and poverty. According to supporters, globalisation and democracy should go hand in hand -- it should be pure business with no colonialist designs. Globalisation represents free trade, which is supposed to reduce barriers such as tari� s, VATs, subsidies, and other barriers between nations. Free trade promotes global economic growth, creates jobs, makes companies more competitive, and lowers prices for consumers. The presence of competition between countries is supposed to drive prices down.

Sharing technology with developing nations will help them progress. As a result, globalisation has made tourism a popular global leisure activity. WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are in � ight at any one time. Modern aviation has made it possible to travel long distances quickly. According to UNESCO, in their 2014 World Conference on Higher Education report, over 3.5 million students were studying outside their home country.

But globalisation has not been good for the working people and has even led to a continuing de-industrialisation. For billions of people, business-driven globalisation means uprooting the old ways of life.

The global social justice movement, itself a product of globalisation, proposes an alternative path, more responsive to public needs. Intense political disputes will continue over globalisation’s meaning and its future direction.

The general complaint about globalisation is that it has made the rich richer while making the poor even poorer. Globalisation is supposed to be about free trade where all barriers are eliminated but there are still many barriers. For instance, 161 countries have VATs on imports which can be as high as 21.6%, as it is in Europe. Large multi-national corporations have the ability to exploit tax havens in other countries to avoid paying taxes. Those corporations are accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions, as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage.

Bangladesh’s progress is the very picture of achievement, with only a few disappointments. Over the past 40 years, Bangladesh has increased its real per capita income by more than 130%, cut poverty by more than half, and is well set to achieve most of the millennium development goals. The economy today is a lot more � exible and resilient, as indicated by the ability to withstand the global � nancial crisis with minimum adverse e� ects. Bangladesh is now much more capable in handling natural disasters with minimum loss of life.

This remarkable progress was achieved despite numerous internal and external constraints. Yet our country remains a low-income country -- almost a third of the

population remains below the poverty line, and some 40% are illiterate. This situation must change for the better. For achieving the targets of Vision 2021, signi� cant policy reforms and a long-term strategy can make that possible. The economy needs to be managed within the framework of a market economy with appropriate government interventions to correct market distortions, to ensure equality of opportunities, and to ensure equity and social justice for all.

For Bangladesh, the journey to middle income country and high HDI status requires sustained growth and its equitable and inclusive nature. To reach the middle income threshold by 2021, industrial expansion must go hand-in-hand with highly productive farm and non-farm agriculture. Furthermore, a strong and competitive manufacturing sector is especially important for generating productive high income jobs.

Long-term stability and prosperity cannot be achieved without building e� ective institutions for sound governance. Bangladesh needs foreign investment in infrastructure for an expanding transport network and our burgeoning urban centres cannot and need not be met from domestic resources alone. With improved economic management and a highly liberalised investment regime, and with strategic locational shifts in labour-intensive industries, Bangladesh could become an attractive destination for private capital � ows over the next decade. But political stability is a prerequisite for foreign investment as well as to create new local entrepreneurs.

Globalisation is not without its opportunities and potential. To � nd the right balance between bene� ts and costs associated with globalisation, as citizens we need to understand how globalisation works and to choose proper policies.

Moreover, democracy in its fullest sense can help us utilise the opportunities o� ered by globalisation, restore hope, and lead Bangladesh to the prosperity it has always yearned for. l

Md Nazim Uddin, Ra� a Sultana, and Md Saiyod Ali are students of MDS Program, University of Dhaka.

Bangladesh and beyond

Long-term stability and prosperity cannot be achieved without building e� ective institutions for sound governance. Bangladesh needs foreign investment in infrastructure for an expanding transport network

Weighing the pros and cons of globalisation in the context of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is slowly finding its place in a globalised world BIGSTOCK

Opinion14DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

n Neil Tangri

In the wake of the climate change negotiations in Paris, there are (at least) two contradictory narratives circulating about the resulting treaty. Governments

and mainstream NGOs are trumpeting a triumph of diplomacy which is � nally going to move us away from the fossil fuel era and holds out hope of preventing climate catastrophe.

Meanwhile, climate justice activists are despairing that the treaty is weak, unjust, pro-corporate, and fails to ensure climate stability.

So, what is the real story?As I wrote earlier, both narratives are

essentially true, and were easily foreseen months ago: The Paris Agreement, as the formal treaty is known, signi� cantly but insu� ciently bends our trajectory away from the cli� of climate chaos.

It is less clear what impact it will have in terms of climate justice -- the distribution of the costs and impacts.

At a deeper level, the contradictory narratives are partly the result of di� erent views about international law and how it does, or should, function.

Unlike national or sub-national (state/city-level) law, international law is an opt-in arrangement. Because every nation is sovereign, no one can impose international law; each nation chooses which international laws should apply to them.

This creates a dramatically di� erent lawmaking process than at the national level where the minority may vote against a law but ultimately has to abide by it. At the international level, getting nations to agree to a law (rati� cation) usually means watering it down substantially. The wider participation you want, the weaker the law.

As a result, international law rarely demands strong measures or penalises failures with enforcement provisions. If the law bites too deeply, a country can simply withdraw, as Canada did when it was unable to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

It is instructive to think about the exceptions -- international laws which have universal participation, stringent requirements of their member nations, and strong penalties: International trade law.

The fact that trade deals overcome these structural weaknesses and international environmental laws do not tells us a lot about where governments’ priorities lie.

Given those priorities -- the international climate regime’s founding document explicitly states that it will not con� ict with free trade -- we can see the climate negotiations in a di� erent light. What is the real impact of an international treaty process, if it does not force countries to take action? I would argue there are three impacts:

National regulationFormally, countries that ratify the Paris Agreement should then enact national legislation to implement it. Since many countries refused to commit to more than

they were already doing, this does not necessarily imply a � ood of new national legislation.

However, there are smaller ways in which the goals of the Paris Agreement will establish a standard against which regulations, planning processes, and new legislation will be measured, at the national and local levels.

For example, we have already seen this with the 2 degrees Celcius goal becoming an increasingly accepted benchmark for calculating the e� ects of sea level rise.

Authorities can now evaluate projects for their consistency with the global goal of “peaking emissions as soon as possible with rapid reductions thereafter,” which their national government has now adopted as its own.

In concrete terms, most of the impact of the Paris Agreement will be dependent on the degree to which it is incorporated into local and national policy-making.

Financial flowsMuch of the struggle in Paris was about money: How much developed countries would pay for developing countries to reduce emissions, adapt to changes, build resilience, and recover from disasters.We don’t have a number -- and one wouldn’t be particularly meaningful anyway, since pledges are never fully met, but the agreement should augur some increase in funds.

In addition, developing countries such as China are increasingly devoting their own

funds to climate projects. Perhaps most importantly, the Paris Agreement also sends a signal to private sector investors that the window to invest in polluting industries is rapidly closing.

Unfortunately, the Paris Agreement has also further enshrined the importance of carbon markets and the privatisation of indigenous land and forests.

Global conversation One of the most important impacts of the annual negotiations is that it focuses the world’s attention on the problem of climate change for two weeks every year. It is a unique opportunity to hold our leadership accountable, to inform the public, and to generate political pressure for action on climate change.

By partly embracing goals such as 1.5C and carbon neutrality, the world’s governments have sent a unanimous message about the importance of the issue -- and established a

standard that we can hold them to. Obviously, the standard is not as high as

we would like, but the impact of the Paris Agreement on the zeitgeist will depend heavily on who interprets it and how it is used. That is why a few words, and their interpretation, is so important.

So, on these measures, how does the Paris Agreement stack up? In my opinion, it’s a mixed bag -- some improvement, some backwards movement, certainly far short of where we need to be.

It is not the treaty that will save the planet, nor does it clearly doom us. It certainly gives additional impetus to the struggle -- and that means that there is more work to do, and more opportunities to do it. l

This article was originally published on Medium.com.

Neil Tangri is Campaign Director for GlobalAnti-Incinerator Alliance.

Wait, what just happened in Paris?Did we win or did we lose?

How does the Paris Agreement stack up? In my opinion, it’s a mixed bag -- some improvement, some backwards movement, certainly far short of where we need to be. It is not the treaty that will save the planet, nor does it clearly doom us

The real story behind COP21 is a complicated one REUTERS

15D

TBusinessTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Japan business con� dence � at despite signs of recoveryJapan’s biggest manufacturers were in a cautious mood during the last quarter of the year, a central bank survey showed yester-day, despite a modest pick-up in the world’s number three economy. PAGE 17

Oil prices drop below $38 on oversupply worriesCrude oil futures fell for a seventh straight session yesterday, their longest losing streak since mid-2014, as a forecast from the Inter-national Energy Agency (IEA) that the global supply glut was likely to deepen next year dragged on prices. PAGE 18

Regent Textile � ops in trading debut Investors did not have much of an appetite for shares of Regent Textile Mills in its stock market debut, sending its shares up only 2% by the close of trading yesterday. The Chittagong-based textile mill for woven fabrics raised Tk125, based on the o� ering of � ve crore shares. PAGE 16

Capital market snapshot: MondayDSE

Broad Index 4,533.9 -0.2% ▼

Index 1,094.6 -0.1% ▼

30 Index 1,724.7 -0.1% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 3,349.6 22.2% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 83.1 17.3% ▲

CSEAll Share Index 13,820.1 -0.5% ▼

30 Index 12,293.9 -0.0% ▼

Selected Index 8,411.0 -0.4% ▼

Turnover in Mn Tk 249.5 35.4% ▲

Turnover in Mn Volume 8.6 45.9% ▲

INSIDE

WB stresses raising investment for 8% GDP growth n Tribune Report

World Bank’s Chief Economist Kaushik Basu said Bangladesh could lift its annu-al economic growth to an 8% rate in next three years if the country increased GDP-in-vestment ratio to 34% from the current 29% and met infrastructural needs.

He said World Bank and Bangladesh gov-ernment had built a new partnership with each other as the country was among top receipients of the lender’s International De-velopment Association (IDA) loans.

Basu said Bangladesh had recently grad-uated to lower middle income status as the World Bank assessed the country’s econom-ic progress, a group in which neighbouring India also falls.

“Bangladesh’s economic growth rate is remarkable when other economies slow down around the world,” he told journalists after a meeting with Finance Min-ister AMA Muhith in Dhaka yesterday.

“Bangladesh’s growth should not be stuck within 6%, rather that should be even higher. Our observa-tion is that Bangladesh is going toward that goal,” Kaushik said.

He said if the growth rate was 8%, the country would be one of � ve economies in the world now expanding at that rate. Kaush-ik suggested the government taking “strong plans” to raise GDP-investment ratio.

Finance minister, however, plans a lower GDP-invesment ratio than that of Kaushik.

“We focused on dealing with poor invest-ment situation in the country and plan to increase GDP-investment ratio to 32% for an 8% economic growth. The new partnership with the World Bank will be helpful here.”

About imroving the GDP growth rate and making investment, Muhith said the govern-ment would introduce a capital budget next � scal year to address the current low-invest-ment situation. He also stressed the need to improve private sector investment situation. l

Slow export growth hits FDI in RMG n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the coun-try’s ready made garment and textile sector have seen over 7% decline last year due to slow export growth in the apparel sector.

RMG manufacturers and trade analysts attributed the reason to political unrest for the downswing of the FDI.

According to the Board of Investment (BoI) data, in 2014, Bangladesh’s textile and RMG sector witnessed $391 million foreign investment, which was 7.34% less com-pared to $422 million in 2013.

Bangladesh’s gross FDI was 2.05 billion in 2014.

Bangladesh needs FDI in backward link-age, textile and high-end products as it needs a large amount of capital and skilled manpower.

The sector people added that they do not need foreign investment in cutting and making units of RMG industry.

“As the demand for apparel products shrunk in the global markets due to reces-sion and economic slowdown, it discour-aged the investors from investing in the in-dustry,” said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, additional research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue.

Political instability was also the reason for slow FDI, but it was not the only reason, added Moazzem.

If the market becomes vibrant again, the investment will increase, said Moazzem.

The country’s entrepreneurs should show positive attitude towards FDI as it will help transfer new technology and new knowledge to the industry, he forecasted.

If there is FDI for higher-end products, it will help Bangladeshi manufactures to add value to their products, said the CPD o� -cial.

Bangladesh needs foreign investment in backward linkage and high-end products as the country has already enough investment in forward linkage, sector people said.

“Investment in RMG sector was less than that of the previous year due to political unrest. Factory inspection was also anoth-

er reason since it cost more to install safety equipment in factories,” Exporters Associa-tion of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy told the Dhaka Tribune.

Bangladesh does not need any FDI in for-

ward linkage, it needs investment in back-ward linkage, especially in textile and high-end products as it costs much to establish a factory, said Salam.

Currently, Bangladesh has 26 denim fab-ric producing factories, which meet about 45% of local demands and there is a huge opportunity of investment.

Currently, Bangladesh can meet 80% de-mand for knit fabric demand while 40% for woven fabric. l

0

100

200

300

400

500

20102011 2012

20132014

145 272 307 422 391

FDI IN RMG IN US$ (figure in million)

Sour

ce: B

oI

Kamal bins Barakat’s remark on Islami Bankn Tribune Report

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yes-terday said Islami Bank has no link to any unlawful activities, and there was nothing wrong in taking money from the bank to ar-range the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

“Some might think that Islami Bank is involved with terrorism � nancing, but as a minister I have no information in this re-gard, and so far as I know the government has no such information,” he said at a press brie� ng at the NEC conference room.

His reaction came in response to the remark made by Bangladesh Economic As-sociation President Abul Barkat who held Planning Minister responsible for taking money from the bank for sponsoring ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 yesterday.

The economist at a function recently said the government was wrong in making Isla-mi Bank the sponsor of Cricket World Cup.

“This is suspicious, motivated and irrele-vant to make such comment four years after the world cup,” said the minister.

“For sponsoring the World Cup, I re-quested all the banks, but Islami Bank re-sponded and gave Tk10 crore,” he said.

Kamal added that the prime minister knew it and encouraged him to do that. Isla-mi Bank is doing business legally in Bangla-desh, and so, where is the problem in taking money from them? he posed a question. l

In replying to a query, he said I have no stake in Islami Bank. l

Business16DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

WB chief economist for public-private joint e� orts to ensure stable economy n Tribune Report

World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu has underscored the need for a combination between public and private sector for ensur-ing stability in Bangladesh’s economy.

“Bangladesh needs to make a combina-tion between private sector and the state for bring stability in country’s economy,’’ said Basu while delivering a speech at an Inter-national Workshop on ‘Macroeconomic Sta-bility, Private Sector Development, and Eco-nomic Growth’ held in the capital yesterday.

Speaking as Chief Guest, World Bank Top-most Economist, he said: In Bangladesh’s banking sector, I feel that private banks are playing very important role but the country also need active role of the state-owned banks.

Bangladesh has taken many important steps to create a stable monitoring system and Bangladesh is doing much better than most other countries in the world in terms of some stability indicators, he added.

He recommended Bangladesh for engag-ing the country’s private sector with the gov-ernment activities.

In this regard, citing an example, he said,

“If a poor country wants to provide food to the poor directly through government entire system, there will be some leakages as it is di� cult for any government organisation to reach all the households and farmers across the country.”

He also suggested the government to build private sector for taking entire respon-sibilities for going to the farmers, buying the foods and carrying the foods to poor.

World Bank has now adopted a new goal of shared prosperity while Bangladesh has tak-en policy of inclusive growth, he mentioned.

He hoped that the agenda of inclusive growth and adoption of shared prosperity goal would open up a new window of partner-ship between Bangladesh and World Bank.

Speaking as special guest, Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said, “Private sector will take the leading role in reaching the expected 8% GDP growth target as per 7th � ve year plan.”

Bangladesh is an attractive destination for foreign direct investment in terms of ge-ographical locations and demographic divi-dend of the low-cost labor force, said the BB governor. l

Regent Textile � ops in trading debut n Kayes Sohel

Investors did not have much of an appetite for shares of Regent Textile Mills in its stock market debut, sending its shares up only 2% by the close of trading yesterday.

The Chittagong-based textile mill for wo-ven fabrics raised Tk125, based on the o� er-ing of � ve crore shares.

In the morning on the day, the company’s shares opened at Tk31 and closed at Tk25.5 compared to an initial o� er price of Tk25 per share on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

The stock, however, struggled to gain some strength in the middle of the trade as most shares were traded between Tk26-Tk27 a share—which is marginally higher than its maiden o� ering price.

Analysts attributed the stock’s dismal turnout to the market’s weak sentiment and the sectors as well.

Some, however, see the company’s initial o� er price mismatch with its � nancial health.

“Negative sentiment is now hanging over the market, leaving impact on the textile company’s debut,” Md Moniruzzaman, man-aging director of IDLC Investments.

In addition, the textile sector remained under pressure too due to fall in cotton price in the world market, he said.

A � nancial analyst on anonymity said the current textile sector’s price earning (PE) ra-tio is 10.

“And considering the company’s nine-month diluted earnings per share, which is Tk0.86, and the sectoral PE, its o� er value

stands at Tk12 per share, not Tk25.”The securities regulator, Bangladesh

Securities and Exchange Commission, ap-proved the company’s initial o� er price at Tk25 a share, including the premium of Tk15.

An executive familiar with the IPO process said: “It was a little bit disappointing, but this is just the beginning. It is a kind of company with a lot of long-term growth opportunity...”

Regent Textile is the 42nd listed � rm in the textile sector on DSE, accounting for 3.2% of the total market capitalisation.

IPO subscription of the company was oversubscribed by 5.72 times.

The company raised the funds for its BMRE (balancing, modernisation, rehabilita-tion and expansion) and to set up a new gar-ment project. l

Western Marine hands passenger ship to New Zealandn Tribune Report

Western Marine, a leading shipbuilder in the country, yesterday handed over an Interna-tional SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) passenger ship to New Zealand in port city.

Western Marine authority handed over the ship, MV Mataliki, to Harry Stronach, representative of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign A� airs and Trade.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bang-ladesh Benoit Pierre Laramee and Ellicott Dredgers-USA president Peter Bowe were also present as special guests at the ceremony.

MV Mataliki is the � rst ship, made in Bangladesh, going to set its voyage to Paci� c Ocean.

Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, the Canadian envoy praised the ship-building industry of Bangladesh, citing the recent achievements in this sector.

The New Zealand’s representative, Harry Stronach, said the ship will be used for the people of Tokelau which will also contribute to the New Zealand’s economy.

“Shipbuilding industry is contributing highly to Bangladesh’s economy, making a positive image of the country before the world,” said Western Marine Shipyard’s Chairman Md Saiful Islam. l

Stocks fall for 6th straight session n Tribune Report

Stocks continued to decline for the sixth ses-sion in a row amid volatility yesterday.

The market had a slight uplift at the open-ing hour, which was subsequently battered by a heavy sell pressure. The buyers, how-ever, came forward from the mid-session, refraining the index to fall any further.

The benchmark index DSEX lost marginal-ly 9 points or almost 0.2% to 4,534.

The Shariah index DSES inched 1.5 points or 0.2% down to 1,094. The blue chip com-prising index DS30 settled at 1,724, slightly shedding 1.5 points.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX was down 38 points to 8,410. Investors continued to prefer to stay on the sidelines as the DSE turnover stood at Tk335 crore, which is up over 22% over the previous session.

But the market breadth remained nega-tive as out of 313 issues traded, 81 advanced, 185 declined and 47 remained unchanged.

The rise in activities, however, can be at-tributed to debutant Regent Textile which was the second biggest in terms of turnover and accounted for nearly 10% of the total turnover.

The debutant, however, performed poor-ly, as it closed at Tk25.5, up only 2% over its o� er price.

On sectoral front, life insurance, pharma-ceuticals and banks closed positive while cement, food and allied, power, cement and non-banking � nancial institutions declined marginally. Telecommunications closed un-changed.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals was the most trad-ed share with a turnover worth Tk33.4 crore.

Other top turnover leaders were Square Pharmaceuticals, Quasem Drycells, Delta Life Insurance, BSRM Steel, BRAC Bank, SAIF Pow-ertec, Aftab Automobiles, KDS Accessories, Lafarge Surma Cement and FAR Chemical.

After Regent Textile, Global Insurance was the highest gainer rising over 6%, followed by Desh Garments, Apex Spinning, ICB AMCL Second Mutual Fund, Renwick Jajneshwar, Meghna Life Insurance, Delta Life Insurance, Aftab Automobiles and Nitol Insurance.

The top losers were Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, Hakkani Pulp and Paper, Shinepukur Ceramics, GQ Ball Pen, Eastern Insurance, SIM Textile, ISN Limited, Tosrifa Industries, Al-haj Textile and Aziz Pipes. l

Mr. Tanvir Haider Chaudhury, CEO, Kazi Food Industries Ltd has recently inaugurated Kazi Farm Kitchen’s 20th franchise outlet at Rupnagar, Mirpur. Bellissimo and Za n’ Zee, the two ice cream brand of KFIL will also be available at the outlet. Customers will get 20% discount on all frozen food packs and fried items from December 8 to December 14, 2015 at this outlet as a promotional o� er

NRB Commercial Bank Limited (NRBC Bank) has recently donated blankets to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to help su� ering people of the country. The bank’s chairperson, Engr Farasath Ali handed over a sample blanket to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban

Business 17D

TTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Japan business con� dence � at despite signs of recoveryn AFP, Tokyo

Japan’s biggest manufacturers were in a cau-tious mood during the last quarter of the year, a central bank survey showed yester-day, despite a modest pick-up in the world’s number three economy.

The Bank of Japan’s closely-watched Tan-kan report showed con� dence among major manufacturers was � at at plus 12 in Decem-ber from the previous quarter.

The survey of more than 10,000 compa-nies nationwide is the most comprehensive indicator of how Japan Inc. is faring, and marks the di� erence between the percentage of � rms that are upbeat and those that see conditions as unfavourable.

The latest result was slightly better than market expectations, and likely to temper hopes that Japanese policymakers will ex-pand their stimulus programme.

The BoJ holds its last meeting of 2015 this week.

“The upside surprise in today’s Tankan survey will support the Bank of Japan’s up-beat view on the economy and suggests that policymakers will leave the pace of asset purchases unchanged at least until January,” research � rm Capital Economics said in a commentary.

The latest report comes after the BoJ’s previous survey showed sentiment fell from

its highest level in more than a year, as a slowdown in China and weakness at home dented � rms’ con� dence.

Sentiment among non-manufacturers was also unchanged in the latest BoJ report, along with con� dence at medium-size and small manufacturers.

December’s Tankan set a “weak tone” for the mood among Japan’s � rms, while compa-ny forecasts were also lacklustre, said Junichi Makino, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Se-curities.

“In the immediate term, exports and pro-duction have bottomed out,” Makino added.

“Among non-manufacturers ... (senti-ment) remains weak, despite improvement in commercial conditions.”

Last month, o� cial economic growth � g-ures showed another contraction in the Ju-ly-September period, suggesting Japan had fall-en into its second recession in as many years.

But later revised � gures actually showed modest 0.3% growth in the quarter, as capital

spending and factory output picked up.The initial data threatened to deal an an-

other blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has staked his reputation on kick-start-ing the economy with a policy blitz of � scal spending, aggressive monetary policy easing and structural reforms - dubbed Abenomics.

Japan’s economy fell into a brief recession in 2014 after consumers tightened their belts as Tokyo hiked the country’s consumption tax to help pay down a massive national debt.

That downturn spurred the central bank to sharply increase its already massive bond-buy-ing programme - a cornerstone of Abenomics - e� ectively printing money to spur lending.

But the moves, and Abe’s lurch to over-haul Japan’s highly-regulated economy, have been slow going as the conservative premier marks his third year in o� ce this month.

Japan, once boasting Asia’s biggest econ-omy with internationally known brands, has been overtaken by rival China, as years of de-� ation weighed on growth. l

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe AFP

Oil plunge fuels run on energy � rms as Asia stocks tumblen AFP, Hong Kong

Energy � rms led another stock market sell-o� yesterday, but analysts said a fall in oil prices to seven-year lows was driven more by fears over demand and a supply glut than the Paris climate deal.

Crude has slumped more than 12% since the OPEC oil producers’ group on December 4 opted against cutting its output levels, and there are warnings of further pain ahead as the global economy struggles.

Adding to the unease on trading � oors is this week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting that is widely expected to see US interest rates raised for the � rst time since 2006.

Yesterday both main oil contracts fell again, with US benchmark West Texas Inter-mediate down 0.4% and Brent o� 0.5%.

Among energy � rms Sydney-based BHP Billiton shed 3.5%, Rio Tinto was two percent lower and Santos lost almost � ve percent.

Hong Kong-listed CNOOC sank 1.5% and Sinopec fell 1.4%. Inpex dived 2.9% in Tokyo while JX Holdings was 2.5% o� .

But experts said it was unlikely the Paris agreement Saturday to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels had any real impact.

CMC Markets chief analyst Ric Spooner said: “It’s di� cult to strip out what impact there has been, if any, given the day already had so many negatives.

“That said, it’s possible that investors will increasingly start to look to the medium- and long-term future of the oil and gas sector.”

SBI Securities Nobuyuki Fujimoto said the energy-sector losses came “because of a plunge in oil prices”, which since June 2014 have fallen from more than $100 a barrel to about $36.

“That has a more direct impact on shares” than the climate deal, he said.

Shanghai rallies“Global warming is a problem, but it doesn’t mean we won’t use energy at all. Since it’s di� cult to rely on nuclear power now and renewable energy is limited, we have to use thermal power,” Fujimoto said.

Tokyo’s Nikkei had shed 1.8% by the close, while Hong Kong ended o� 0.7%. Sydney slipped two percent by the close and Seoul gave up one percent.

All three main indexes on Wall Street had ended in the red Friday.

However, Shanghai surged 2.5% as trad-ers welcomed surprisingly strong Chinese economic data at the weekend. Miners were also boosted by news that China’s aluminium smelters pledged Friday to halt new mills.

Hong Kong-listed shares in SCMP Group were suspended as it was announced Chi-nese Internet giant Alibaba would pay US$266m for the city’s South China Morning Post newspaper.

The Chinese � rm announced the purchase on Friday, saying it would use its “digital ex-pertise” to provide “comprehensive and in-sightful news and analysis of the big stories in Hong Kong and China”.

Also in Hong Kong, conglomerate Fosun International plunged 9.5% as it resumed trading after it said last week its head was cooperating with authorities over an investi-gation. There were no details about what the inquiry was in connection with.

The � rm’s billionaire chairman Guo Guangchang, dubbed “China’s Warren Buf-fett”, reappeared Monday after he went missing Thursday.

In early European trade London added 0.4%, Frankfurt rose 0.64% and Paris gained 0.5%. l

‘It’s di� cult to strip out what impact there has been, if any, given the day already had so many negatives’

Business18DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

CORPORATE NEWS

Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) has recently launched its new corporate logo. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith revealed IDCOL’s new logo at a ceremony held in Dhaka. The company’s chairperson, Mohammad Mejbahuddin and its executive director & CEO, Mahmood Malik were also present on the occasion, among others

Chairperson of Jamuna Bank Limited, Al-Haj Md Sirajul Islam Varosha has recently handed over 25,000 blankets and Tk 50 lakh to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as donation to the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund, on behalf of the bank

Pubali Bank Limited has recently donated 25,000 blankets to Prime Minister’s Relief fund as a part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility to distribute among cold-hit poor people of the country. The bank’s chairperson, Ha� z Ahmed Mazumder handed over a sample blanket to Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban

Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh has recently signed an agreement with Jet Airways to avail 10% discounts on selected destinations for all Standard Chartered credit and debit cardholders. The bank’s head of retail banking, Aditya Mandloi and SVP (commercial) of Jet Airways, Gaurang Shetty were present on the occasion

National Bank Limited has recently opened its 186th branch at Angaria, Shariatpur. General manager of Bangladesh Bank, Kazi Sayedur Rahman inaugurated the branch as chief guest, at the presence of Abdul Hamid Mia, additional managing director of National Bank Limited

Oil prices drop below $38 on oversupply worriesn Reuters, Tokyo

Crude oil futures fell for a seventh straight session yesterday, their longest losing streak since mid-2014, as a forecast from the Inter-national Energy Agency (IEA) that the global supply glut was likely to deepen next year dragged on prices.

The OPEC cartel’s refusal to cut produc-tion as Iran prepares for the lifting of sanc-tions on its oil exports have brought the price of crude down to levels not seen since early 2009 during the global � nancial crisis.

Traders are also awaiting an expected in-terest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve this week, which could lift the dollar and re-duce demand by making oil more expensive to customers using weaker currencies.

At 0750 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was 18 cents down at $35.44 while Brent crude was 22 cents lower at $37.71.

Both benchmarks have fallen every day since the Organization of the Petroleum

Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Dec 4 aban-doned its output ceiling. In the past six ses-sions, they have shed more than 13% each.

Prices plunged more than 12% last week after the Organization of the Petroleum Ex-porting Countries, which produces about 40% of global oil supply, decided on Decem-ber 4 not to reduce its output levels.

The crash was exacerbated when the In-ternational Energy Agency warned on Fri-day that it sees the global oil glut worsening through late 2016.

OPEC has been pumping near record lev-els since last year in an attempt to drive high-er-cost producers such as US shale � rms out of the market.

New supply is likely to hit the market ear-ly next year as OPEC member Iran ramps up production once sanctions are lifted as ex-pected following the July agreement on its disputed nuclear programme, BMI Research said in a note.

“All new production will be earmarked for

exports,” BMI Research said. “In addition to vol-umes released from storage, Iran will be able to increase crude oil and condensates exports by a maximum of 700,000 b/d by end-2016,” it said.

Iran’s crude oil exports are set to hit a six-month high in December as buyers ramp up purchases in expectation that sanctions against the country will be lifted early next year.

The Middle Eastern country is on track to ship 1.26 million barrels a day (bpd) of crude

this month, according to an industry source with knowledge of tanker loading schedules.

OPEC supply is likely to increase by 1 mil-lion bpd next year, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a research note Monday.

“Almost the entirety of added supplies in 2016 will come from Iran, Iraq and Saudi,” he said.

“Prices are likely to remain under pressure as the market will be closely watching the Federal Reserve’s policy-making this week,” said Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia-Pa-ci� c oil and gas practice at professional ser-vices organization EY.

Traders will also be looking for economic data from Europe on October industrial pro-duction and manufacturing data from energy guzzler China due this week, he added.

Experts saw no immediate impact from the weekend Paris agreement to limit global warm-ing to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels - by re-ducing countries’ reliance on fossil fuels. l

A gasoline attendant works at a gasoline station in Quezon City, suburban Manila AFP

American Standard International School (ASIS) held “ASIS Inter School Craft Competition” in their Gulshan 2, Campus on December 12. The chief guest of the event was Marcia Bernicat, ambassador of the United States of America to Bangladesh. Participants from kindergarten and above from various schools attended the competition for prizes which were distributed by the ambassador.

In his speech during the prize distribution ceremony, the chairman of ASIS, Shah Muhammad Hasan, said that ASIS prides itself to promote and organise out-of-the-box extracurricular activities such as fencing, karate, piano, robotics, art, crafts etc. He also mentioned that drawing and painting has been the predominant focus in society today, and that crafting should be equality recognised

and practiced among school children. Thus the competition would be a great way to promote and create awareness about crafting in the community.

The chief guest, Marcia Bernicat also gave an inspiring speech where she thanked ASIS and appreciated them for organising this event. l

Eastern University (EU) celebrated Victory Day on December 13, through a discussion session and a captivating cultural programme. Organised by the EU Cultural Club, the chief guest at the event was freedom � ghter Dr Sarwar Ali, trustee, Liberation War Museum. It was presided over by Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Choudhury, pro-vice chancellor of EU. Abul Khair Chowdhury, chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of EU and SM Baktiar Alam, member, BoT of EU graced the occasion as the

special guests. The event

started o� with the chief guest paying tribute to all the brave freedom � ghters who took part in the Liberation War and earned our freedom. The guests remembered the courageous � ghters who sacri� ced their lives for the birth of the nation.

The discussion session was followed by a cultural programme. l

Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Leoni Margaretha Cuelenaere has made a visit to Posmi Sweaters Ltd Gazipur on December 13 along with senior vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Faruque Hassan and senior policy adviser of the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Ank Willems. They were accompanied by Md Moshiul Azam Shajal, managing director of Posmi Sweaters Ltd and the factory team

Diamond World in UttaraDiamond World, Uttara Branch celebrated their � rst anniversary in Uttara through a fascinating programme on December 12. Dilip Kumar Agarwala, director of FBCCI and

managing director of Diamond World was present at the event that kick-started with a cake cutting ceremony. l

Biz Info 19D

T

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

ASIS holds craft competition

SPE Petroleum Conference at DU

Dhaka University student chapter of SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) and Department of Geology, Earth and Environmental faculty of University of Dhaka have organised SPE Petroleum Conference on December 4-5, 2015. This event was sponsored by KrisEnergy and RMM Group. Pro-Vice chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr Shahid Akhter Hossain attended the occasion as the chief guest. Special guest of the event was Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, dean, faculty of Earth and Environmental sciences. The main attractions of this programme were Petrobowl (quiz), poster presentation and seminar. O� cials of di� erent multinational petroleum companies were present on the occasion.

Students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jahangir Nagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology also participated in di� erent events in this conference. Also guests from BUET and Barisal university were present at the event.

A student of Department of Geology who participated in this programme said: “This type of conference creates a platform for young geologists to get more exposure to the national and multinational companies. I wish programmes like this will be organised more often in the future in our department.”

President of SPE Dhaka University Chapter says: “For the � rst time we arranged a programme successfully and I hope there will be more to come.”

At the closing ceremony Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, dean, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences handed out crests to the winners on December 05, 2015. l

Victory Day at Eastern University

Leoni Margaretha Cuelenaere visits Posmi Sweaters Ltd Gazipur

Downtime20DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

DILBERT

How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

CODE-CRACKER

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a di� erent letter of the alphabet. For example, today 1 represents F so � ll F every time the � gure 1 appears.You have two letters in the control grid to start you o� . Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.As you get the letters, � ll in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check o� the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CROSSWORD

Across 1 Smart and fashionable (4)4 Greek letter (4)8 Spirit (3)9 Dash (4)10 Eastern ruler (4)11 Remain on feet (5)12 Cult (4)14 Prosecute (3)15 Morse element (3)17 Faucet (3)19 Colour (3)21 Slender (4) 23 Venomous ill will (5)26 Sell (4)27 Opera by Verdi (4)28 Pale (3)29 Look narrowly (4)30 Fasteners (4)

Down 1 Believe (6) 2 Part of the eye (4)3 Remedies (5)4 Wager (3)5 Large antelope (5)6 Make brown (3)7 Also (3)11 Metal (5)13 Wish evil upon (5)16 Barters (6)18 Company of lions (5)20 Furniture item (5)22 Bill of fare (4)23 Plant juice (3)24 Filled pastry (3)25 Sailor (3)

SUDOKU

Muslim Americans struggle with fallout from California attackn Reuters, Corona, California

With tears in her eyes, Mohammad Halisi’s young daughter asked her father “Why are we bad?” after seeing reports that a Muslim couple killed 14 people in California last week, and wanted to know whether she should hide the fact she is Muslim from oth-ers at her school.

Recalling the conversation while choking back his own tears, the 61-year-old father said he felt frustrated that he and his family were being held responsible for the actions of peo-ple he branded “a couple of idiot terrorists.”

“It’s getting to a point where you have to hide who you are,” Halisi said on Friday night at the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco mosque where leaders and law enforcement met to address negative perceptions of the Muslim community.

“Seven-year-old kids cannot say they’re Muslims because of the bad atmosphere we have.”

The mosque is just 40km from San Ber-nardino, where US-born Syed Rizwan Fa-rook, 28, and his Pakistani-born wife Tash-feen Malik, 29, opened � re on his co-workers last week in what the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is treating as an act of terror.

Malik had pledged allegiance to Islamic State on Facebook around the time of the at-tack and the FBI believes the two had been radicalized for some time.

Muslim Americans across the country have said they are worried about a backlash, as happened in the aftermath of the Septem-ber 11, 2001 attacks. A handful of incidents at mosques and a rash of anti-Muslim political rhetoric over the last week appear to be com-pounding their fears of growing Islamophobia.

On Friday, a � re burned the entrance to

a mosque in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, some 75 miles from San Bernardino. A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspi-cion of arson and for committing a hate crime, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A pig’s head was thrown at a mosque in Philadelphia on Monday and a mosque in Jersey City, New Jersey received a letter call-ing Muslims “evil” and telling them to “go back to the desert.”

Several US mosques this year have been subjected to protests by armed groups. On Saturday, a group of fewer than 10 peo-ple, some wearing camou� age and ri� es slung over their shoulders, stood outside a mosque in the Dallas suburb of Richardson and held signs and American � ags, accord-ing to images and reports from local media.

‘We feel it more’US President Barack Obama asked Americans on Sunday to not turn against Muslims after the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, but rather work with the Muslim-American com-munity in � ghting homegrown extremism.

But then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric on Monday by calling for a ban on Muslim immi-grants, students and other travelers entering the country, provoking sharp rebukes across the US political spectrum and from abroad.

Close to San Bernardino, at the Islam-ic Centre of Riverside, where Farook once prayed regularly, members said mosque at-tendance continued to be low because peo-ple did not feel safe.

“Because this happened next door and because our mosque was mentioned, we feel it more,” said a 50-year-old Palestinian immigrant who knew Farook but declined to be identi� ed by name.

It is not just Muslims that fear the attacks on Muslims.

Around the corner from the Islamic Soci-ety of the Coachella Valley, where Friday’s � re occurred, neighbor Israel Orantes said he was concerned about safety, given that it was the second time in about a year the

mosque was targeted.“We are exposed over here,” said Or-

antes, who has lived on what he described as a peaceful, neighborly street for 14 years. It did not help, he added, that Trump was stirring up animosity with his comments.

“We know we have crazy Muslims, crazy Christians around. They think attacking the mosque is the solution, but we’re over here, exposed,” he said in front of his home. l

INSIDE

21D

TWorldTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Change takes root in India’s seven sisters statesThe ancient root bridges spanning the rivers of the remote northeast are some of India’s most iconic images, symbolising a slower pace of life unimaginable in its bustling megacities. PAGE 22

Iran in search of next Supreme LeaderAn Iranian committee is examining potential candidates to be the next Supreme Leader, for-mer president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday, breaking a taboo of talking publicly about succession in the Islamic Republic. PAGE 23

Brazil impeachment protests downsized but still determinedThousands took to the streets in cities across Brazil on Sunday demanding that embattled President Dilma Rousse� -- facing a weak economy and calls for her impeachment -- be removed from o� ce. PAGE 24

Source: Pew Research Centre and Gallup

MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES

DemographicsThere are almost 3m Muslims living in the US, a majority of whom, 65%, are �rst-generation immigrants.

Political views70% of American Muslims identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party.

Views towards Western civilisationMuslims don’t hate the West, they just don’t want Western ways imposed on them

Views on secularismMajority Muslim population doesn't want secularism, but a democracy based on religious values.

Views on extremism93% of the Muslim population is moderate.

Only 5% of American Muslims have a somewhat favorable opinion of radicalism and jihadism.

How 'American' Are American Muslims?56% of American Muslims say that most Muslims coming to the US want to adopt American customs and ways of life.

M Razon/ DT

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Buddists

Other Religions

Una�liated

Folk Religions

JewsHindus

Christians

Muslims

73

35 34

16

119

6

-0.3

Muslims are the only religious group project-ed to increase faster than the world’s population as a whole.

Source: The future of World Religions: Population growth projections, 2010-2050PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ISLAM GROWING FASTEST

M Razon/ DT

Estimated change in population size, 2010-2050

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 201522D

T WorldINSIGHT

Change takes root in India’s seven sisters statesn AFP, Guwahati

The ancient root bridges spanning the rivers of the remote northeast are some of India’s most iconic images, symbolis-ing a slower pace of life unimaginable in its bustling megac-ities.

But a spate of infrastructure projects designed to improve access to the rest of India and its neighbours is serving as a wake-up call to what has long been a sleepy backwater.

An expanded rail network, a massive road project and new border posts to open up trade with Southeast Asia are underway or in the works -- a prospect welcomed by local businessmen, who struggle to compete with the rest of the country.

Assam is best known for tea production, but the numbers employed by the industry have declined over the years, so its future prosperity depends on the success of companies such as Jain’s Aroma India.

The firm began life producing bottles of massage oils, but has diversified.

It recently landed a contract to bottle spirits for a major liquor firm, although such success stories are rare. Experts say the reasons are obvious.

The northeast region is not only located far from centres of power such as Delhi and Mumbai, but also culturally and linguistically distinct from the rest of India.

Most are sparsely populated and their combined popu-lation is around 46m, a fraction of the nationwide total of 1.25bn.

While lacking in numbers, their importance has grown as successive governments have seen them as a gateway to Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Nepal and Bhutan, which all share a border with at least one of the states.

Signs of changeDuring his inauguration last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “infrastructure is the most important factor” in developing the region, making it a government priority.

Modi attended the opening of a train line connecting two towns in Meghalaya with Assam, the first time the state has been hooked up to India’s vast rail network.

There is also a major rail project in Tripura state and Im-phal, capital of Manipur.

Shillong, Meghalaya’s capital, still has no railway station but signs of change are unmistakable even in its villages.

In one of the wettest places on earth, locals and tourists do still cross rivers on twine bridges crafted from the rubber roots of living trees that date back more than two centuries.

But some are falling into disrepair as locals use steel rope bridges at more convenient spots.

A more brutal example of modernisation is in Mizoram, where around 1,000 workers are constructing a 90km high-way to the Myanmar border.

By the time the NH 502A is completed, expected in mid-2016, as many as 3,100 trees will have been felled and 18m cubic metres of soil shifted,

according to the Indian Express.It is part of a wider programme to halve the, 880km dis-

tance between the border and Haldia port in Kolkata, India’s eastern metropolis.

Experts say it could knock four days off the journey time for vehicles, which now takes at least a week. If overland is a headache, it is not much better for air travellers, who often have to get connecting flights in more westerly hubs rather than fly directly eastwards. l

Water falls in remote areas of the Indian state of Meghalaya BIGSTOCK

WorldSOUTH ASIASuu Kyi launches trash cleaning campaign in MyanmarAung San Suu Kyi took to the streets of Myan-mar Sunday to pick up rubbish, a rare public appearance since her election triumph in a move aimed at highlighting her party’s com-mitment to public service. Garbage is a huge problem in Myanmar, which lacks regular trash collection and proper land� ll sites. -AFP

INDIADiplomat: India only set to discuss Pakistan-controlled KashmirIndia’s representative to Pakistan said Monday his country was only prepared to discuss the part of Kashmir controlled by Islamabad in upcoming peace talks, presenting a potential stumbling block days after the dialogue was announced. High commissioner TCA Raghavan made the remarks after a breakthrough visit by India’s foreign minister at which the resump-tion of ministerial talks was announced. -AFP

CHINABillionaire head of China’s Fosun re-emerges after ‘disappearance’The billionaire chairman of Fosun Group, one of China’s biggest privately held con-glomerates, re-emerged Monday after he disappeared from public view in connection with an investigation by authorities, Chinese media said. Guo Guangchang, dubbed “Chi-na’s Warren Bu� ett”, attended Fosun Group’s annual meeting Monday morning, pictures posted by business magazine Caijing showed. Guo had been out of contact since Thursday and two of the group’s listed arms in Shanghai said in statements last week the 48-year-old was “assisting in certain investigations” con-ducted by mainland authorities. -AFP

ASIA PACIFICAustralian teen pleads guilty to terrorism chargeA Melbourne teen arrested after police found explosives at his home pleaded guilty on Monday to a terrorism-related charge, high-lighting concerns about youth radicalisation following last week’s arrest of a 15-year-old Sydney boy in police raids. The 17-year-old was planning an attack using improvised explosive devices. The boy pleaded guilty to a single charge of “engaging in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act,” the Australian Associated Press reported from the courtroom. -REUTERS

MIDDLE EASTWestern powers call for Libya cease� re, back unity govtWestern powers called for a cease� re in Libya on Sunday to pave the way for an agree-ment to form a national unity government, which US Secretary of State John Kerry said the majority of factions were ready to sign. Seventeen countries met in Rome to give a � nal push to a year of UN-led negotiations for the formation of a unity government in Libya, promising political, economic and security backing, according to a statement. -REUTERS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 201523

DT

TAPI project: Hopes high but security still a big issuen Tribune Desk

The four-country multi-billion-dollar gas pipe-line, which was launched on Sunday by the top leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Paki-stan and India, is expected to help ease energy de� cits in South Asia and stem tensions in the divided region, but analysts are saying ensur-ing security of it remains a big concern.

Presidents Gurbanguly Berdymukhame-dov of Turkmenistan and Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan attended the ceremony in the Karakum desert outside the southeastern Turkmen city of Mary, marking the begin-ning of work on the Turkmenistan-Afghan-istan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) link. They were joined by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan and Indian Vice President Moham-mad Hamid Ansari.

Energy experts say the project does in-deed have potential to ease relationships in the divided region.

“TAPI is a challenging project, partly because of these bilateral tensions,” said Charles Hendry, Britain’s former energy and climate change minister, is quoted by news agency Agence France-Presse.

“But I think it is precisely this kind of big multi-state project that can bind countries

together geopolitically,” Hendry, also chair-man of London-based Eurasia Partners con-sultancy, .

Turmen authorities said the launching also marks the third phase of development of the Galkynysh gas � eld, the world’s sec-ond largest gas reserve, which will provide the resource base for the TAPI pipeline.

The next phase of development at Galk-ynysh -- the second largest natural gas � eld in the world -- will be overseen by a consor-tium of Japanese and Turkish companies in addition to Turkmenistan, energy o� cials of the country con� rmed.

Security risks Uncertainty hangs over the costly TAPI pro-ject, however, with both security and the lack of a major commercial investor stymie-ing optimism.

“Initially the questions were about whether Turkmenistan had enough gas and whether the demand was there in India and Pakistan,” Luca Anceschi, a Central Asia ex-pert at the University of Glasgow, said.

“With the assessment of the Galkynysh � eld and the situation in both those coun-tries, those questions have now been an-swered positively. But the question of secu-

rity is one that really hangs over the project and increases its costs.”

Several major Western energy � rms have appeared to back away from the project, with only Dubai-based Dragon Oil, which works in Turkmenistan’s petroleum sector, con� rming interest.

Nevertheless, a spokeswoman for the company’s Turkmenistan o� ce said in emailed comments last month that “noth-ing had formally been decided” regarding its participation in the project.

The isolated Central Asian state has shown increasing will to get the project o� the ground amid a worrying dependence on China, which imports around three-quar-ters of its national gas output via the Central Asia-China pipeline, completed at the end of 2009.

Turkmenistan once su� ered from a sim-ilar dependence on Russia, which was the country’s main customer before China came to the fore.

But Moscow’s energy giant Gazprom announced its intention to wind down pur-chases of Turkmen gas and was blasted in a Turkmen government publication as an “unreliable partner” this year amid ongoing contractual disputes. l

INSIGHT

Iran in search of next Supreme Leadern Reuters, Dubai

An Iranian committee is examining potential candidates to be the next Supreme Leader, for-mer president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday, breaking a taboo of talking publicly about succession in the Islamic Republic.

Even after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 75, had surgery for prostate cancer last year, public discussion over who would succeed him never gained momentum in o� cial cir-cles because of the risk of being seen to un-dermine Iran’s most powerful � gure.

But with an election in February of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body that appoints the Supreme Leader, such discus-sion is bound to come to the fore.

Moderate President Hassan Rouhani and his allies are hoping to cash in on the popu-larity they have gained by striking a nuclear deal with world powers that could see sanc-

tions lifted to win the majority of seats in the assembly and a parliamentary election that will be held on the same day.

The assembly of 82 elected clerics is charged with electing, supervising and even disqualifying the Supreme Leader.

It is elected by the people roughly every 10 years and Rafsanjani’s comments could be aimed at engaging public support for the election and his allies to give them more power in choosing the next leader.

Over past decade, conservatives have gained more seats both the assembly and parliament, because all candidates are vet-ted by the Guardian Council, whose most in� uential members are chosen directly and indirectly by the Supreme Leader to inter-pret the constitution.

The Supreme Leader is command-er-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints the heads of the judiciary. Key ministers are

selected with his agreement and he has the ultimate say on Iran’s foreign policy and nu-clear programme. By comparison, the presi-dent has little power.

Khamenei is only the second Supreme Leader of Iran, selected in 1989 when Aya-tollah Khomeini died.

Rafsanjani also said the Assembly of Ex-perts would be open to choosing “a council of leaders if needed” instead of a single Aya-tollah who rules for life.

Rouhani and Rafsanjani are both mem-bers of the assembly and are expected to run in the next election.

Last week, it was announced that Has-san Khomeini, a grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the 1979 Revo-lution, would also run for the assembly. Hassan, who has close ties to Hashemi and Rouhani, would be the � rst Khomeini to run for election. l

A painting of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, right, and current leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran REUTERS

Brazil impeachment protests downsized but still determinedn AFP, Sao Paulo

Thousands took to the streets in cities across Brazil on Sunday demanding that embattled President Dilma Rousse� -- facing a weak economy and calls for her impeachment -- be removed from o� ce.

Rousse� is � ghting for her political life as she stands accused of illegal budgeting maneuvers that she says were long-accept-ed practices by previous governments.

A one-time political prisoner during the 1964-1985 military regime, Rousse� derides the attempt to bring her down as a “coup.”

One small bit of good news for Rousse-� was that turnout at the rallies, seen as a barometer of the national mood, was lower than expected.

The turnout hit a total of about 83,000 across 87 cities, the Globo G1 news website cited police as saying.

Organisers disputed that � gure, saying that 407,000 had marched in protest.

Either way, the � gures are sharply lower than the 2.4m anti-Rousse� marchers that took to the streets on March 15, or the nearly 900,000 that marched in mid-August.

Just days ago, pro-Rousse� and oppo-sition lawmakers shoved and screamed at each other in Congress during a vote to form an impeachment commission.

But protesters in the streets were much calmer Sunday.

In Brasilia, thousands marched peaceful-ly behind a giant in� atable Rousse� dressed up as Pinocchio.

And about 30,000 rallied in the country’s wealthy industrial and � nancial hub Sao Paulo, G1 reported.

Fourth national protest waveIt was the fourth time this year that dem-onstrators across the sprawling nation of 204m marched to demand the removal of the country’s � rst female president.

Organisers blamed the weak turnout on

calling the march with just 15 days notice.The turmoil is stirring strong passions

in Brazil, where Rousse� ’s leftist Workers’ Party has been in power since 2003 with the help of its ally PMDB.

The protests come as Brazil prepares to host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the � rst time the Games will be held in South America.

Political uncertainty is adding to the country’s economic woes, with GDP down 4.5% in the third quarter year-on-year, and the national currency down a third against the dollar this year.

A vast corruption scandal centered on state oil giant Petrobras has also under-mined investor con� dence.

Economic downturn gathers paceIn the latest sign of the dismal economy, the government announced year-on-year in� ation for November of 10.48%, the highest in 12 years.

With her approval ratings at only 10%,

Rousse� has little political support to mount a defence.

The impeachment push in part re� ects the country’s anger at multiple crises, in-cluding the high-pro� le Petrobras scandal.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court suspended for one week the commission that will recom-mend whether or not the parliament should impeach the president, citing irregularities.

Of the 65 lawmakers elected in contro-versial circumstances to the panel, about 30% face criminal probes, according to a de-tailed count by specialist website, Congres-so em Foco.

The architect of the impeachment drive himself, House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, has been charged with taking as much as $40m in bribes. He allegedly stashed the money in secret Swiss accounts.

Analysts say that the entire impeachment crisis has in part been linked to Cunha’s bat-tle to distract attention from his case and ensure his continued in� uence as speaker. l

WorldUSAObama may visit Cuba in 2016US President Barack Obama is open to visiting to Cuba in 2016 but � rst wants to see ordinary citizens there enjoy more personal freedoms, he said in an interview released on Monday. In an interview with Yahoo! News, Obama said he has told Havana that without such progress, he is unlikely to visit the Communist island nation before he leaves o� ce, despite the historic re-estab-lishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries earlier this year. -REUTERS

THE AMERICAS42 killed in Argentina police bus crashA bus carrying Argentine border patrol o� cers crashed into a ravine in the northern province of Salta on Monday, killing 42 people, while nine were being treated for injuries, provincial emergency o� cial Francisco Marinaro told local television. Nine people were rescued and being treated in local clinics. The vehicle was part of a three-bus convoy carrying o� cers of Argentina’s gendarmerie, which patrols the country’s borders. Salta borders Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay. -REUTERS

UKLast British Gitmo prisoner claims UK o� cers witnessed tortureThe last British resident to be held at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay has told a newspaper that British security o� cers witnessed him being tortured by American sol-diers at Bagram air base in Afghanistan. Shaker Aamer, a Saudi national married to a Briton, was released in October after 13 years detention at Guantanamo and has returned to Britain. He was never charged with any crime. -REUTERS

EUROPEParis suburb teacher admits inventing story of attack A French nursery school teacher, who claimed that he was attacked on Monday by a man wielding a box cutter and scissors, cit-ing a “warning” from the Islamic State jihad-ist group, later admitted that he invented the story, sources in the prosecutor’s o� ce said. However, reasons behind such false claims are still unknown. The 45-year-old teacher at a school in Aubervilliers, north-east of Paris, was hospitalised with light stab wounds in his side and throat. Prose-cutors said they were still questioning the teacher, whose injuries were not considered life-threatening, over why he lied. -AFP

AFRICAGambia president declares country an Islamic stateGambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared his country “an Islamic state”, but stressed that the rights of the Christian minority in the small west African country would be respected and that women would not be held to a dress code. In television footage of the address on GRTV, the president did not go into detail about what the change would mean for the country, but he reassured Christians and followers of other faiths they would be able to worship freely. -AFP

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 201524D

T

INSIGHT

Political upsets mark dark days for Latin leftn AFP, Caracas

Recent electoral upsets in Argentina and Venezuela could herald a crumbling of the leftist bloc that has prevailed in Latin Amer-ica over much of the past two decades, ana-lysts say.

Tumbling commodity prices have thrown the region into economic turbulence, while many voters are said to be tiring of their left-ist leaders -- though those in countries such as Ecuador and Bolivia seem to be going strong.

In legislative polls last week voters pun-ished Venezuela’s socialist government for a deep economic crisis in the country due to falling oil prices.

The opposition won control of the legisla-tive assembly controlled for the past 16 years by the socialist government.

The opposition had claimed inspiration

from Argentina, where voters last month voted out their left-wing president Cristina Kirchner after 12 years of government by her and her late husband Nestor.

Conservative pro-market candidate Mau-ricio Macri surprised pollsters by forcing a run-o� vote and then beat Kirchner’s ally Daniel Scioli.

In economic powerhouse Brazil mean-while, leftist president Dilma Rousse� is in a political crisis.

Her last election victory in 2014 was a narrow one. Now, her government is beset by a corruption a� air and she herself faces impeachment in a public � nancial scandal.

Party’s overIn Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez used cash from high oil prices to fund social spending.

But after Maduro was elected in 2013, pric-

es tumbled from over $100 a barrel to a sev-en-year low of $34 in the week before the vote.

Leftist leaders in some smaller Latin countries are still in control, despite occa-sional signs of � agging.

In Bolivia, President Evo Morales was comfortably re-elected in October despite his side having lost ground in regional elec-tions in March.

Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa was re-elected in February, though he has since abandoned plans to seek a third mandate in 2017.

Correa and his Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega currently enjoy high approval ratings and positive economic records.

The diplomatic reconciliation of the US with Venezuela’s old ally Cuba this year after half a century of rivalry could have broad con-sequences for the region, where other leftist leaders have strained ties with Washington. l

A demonstrator holds a banner which reads, ‘Out Dilma’ during a protest calling for the impeachment of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousse� in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil REUTERS

25D

TSport

Barcelona face Arsenal, Chelsea play PSG again in round of 16n Reuters, Nyon

Holders and Spanish league leaders Barce-lona will play Premier League leaders Arse-nal in the last 16 of the Champions League, 10 years after the sides faced each other in

the � nal, following yesterday’s draw for the � rst knockout stage.

Spanish league leaders Barcelona, chas-ing a sixth title, prevailed 2-1 in the 2006 � nal at the Stade de France in Paris and also triumphed in the knockout phase in 2010 and 2011.

Chelsea, who are enduring a torrid time in the Premier League, will face French league leaders Paris St Germain in the knockout stages for the third year in succession after the French champions triumphed at the same stage last season and the London club had the upper hand in the quarter-� nals the previous year.

Another clash between big guns will fea-ture former winners Juventus and Bayern Munich, while 10-times champions Real Ma-drid were drawn against AS Roma.

It is the game between the pacesetters in Spain and Arsenal which most catches the eye, however.

“We are certain to see a sporting spectac-ular,” said Barca director Albert Soler.

“Arsenal and Barcelona have a similar

style of play. The fans will enjoy themselves, we’re two sides with a similar understand-ing of the game. They will be two great matches. We must have maximum respect for Arsenal.”

“Barca are used to playing under pres-sure in every sense. But we are the reigning champions and that gives you an edge.”

Arsenal club secretary David Miles said: “It is not easy and the one to avoid at this stage, but it is up to us and we will give them a game.

“Messi, Neymar, Suarez... you could go on, but we have our own world class players and I am sure they will be fantastic games in London and in Barcelona.”

There is also a familiar feel about the Chelsea v PSG tie.

“There is not much we don’t know about Paris,” said Chelsea general secretary David Barnard.

“You only know if it’s a good draw after the tie. We are ambitious, we have two-and-a-half months to prepare,” PSG sports direc-

tor Olivier Letang said.Real Madrid and Roma have also seen a

lot of each other in the competition, though not since 2008 when the Italians won 201 home and away in the last 16.

“You have to be very much on your guard. If we see ourselves as favourites things won’t go well for us,” said Real direc-tor Emilio Butragueno.

“We know what can happen if you have 10 poor minutes on a European night.”

Juventus could come to regret having blown their � nale in the group stage, leaving Manchester City, who will take on Dynamo Kiev, with the better draw on paper.

“Everybody wanted to avoid Barca and Bayern so we are not so lucky but Bayern will not be glad they drew Juve,” said Juven-tus ambassador Pavel Nedved.

Manchester City director of football Txi-ki Begiristain said: “They have a good side (Kiev)and it will be di� cult for us. They are growing in the competition and it will be a big challenge but we hope to be ready.

“They are a strong side, but they like to play football and it is just 11 v 11. We are im-proving and gaining experience in the com-petition so we hope to do well.”

PSV Eindhoven will take on Atletico Ma-drid and Ben� ca will be against Zenit St Pe-tersburg.

The � rst legs of the ties are spread over four days in February, with the returns on March 8, 9 and 15, when there are two matches. l

INSIDETUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Gritty Comilla take on imposing BarisalThe two-most successful teams in the season – Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls – will battle to be crowned champions of BPL 2015 in the � nal today at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. This will be the third time Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls will face o� at Dhaka in the BPL 2015. PAGE 26

NZ grind down stubborn Sri Lanka for 122-run winTrent Boult took two quick wickets after lunch to help New Zealand complete a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka on the � fth day of the � rst test at University Oval in Dunedin. The visitors were bowled out for 282 having been set 405 runs to win and while they were always chasing the game from day one. PAGE 27

Real beaten again, Atletico joint topReal Madrid’s La Liga title hopes were dealt another huge blow as they su� ered a third league defeat in � ve games to Roberto Soldado’s solitary goal at Villarreal. Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao earlier in the day means Real now trail their city rivals. PAGE 28

Five-star PSG punish Lyon to extend enormous leadZlatan Ibrahimovic took his tally to 14 goals in his last 11 Ligue 1 games as Paris Saint-Germain outclassed Lyon 5-1 on a gloomy Sunday night in the French capital. Ibrahimovic and Serge Aurier both netted in the � rst 17 minutes for Laurent Blanc’s side before a shocking error by goalkeeper Kevin Trapp allowed Jordan Ferri to pull one back for Lyon. PAGE 29

ROUND OF 16 FIXTUREGent v VfL Wolfsburg

AS Roma v Real MadridParis St Germain v Chelsea

Arsenal v BarcelonaJuventus v Bayern Munich

PSV Eindhoven v Atletico MadridBen� ca v Zenit St Petersburg

Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City

UEFA Champions League � nal ambassador Javier Zanetti shows the name of Real Madrid during the draw for the UEFA Champions league round of 16 at the European football organisation’s headquarters in Nyon yesterday AFP

26DT BPL 2015

Gritty Comilla takeon imposing Barisal

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

The two-most successful teams in the season – Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls – will battle to be crowned champions of BPL 2015 in the � nal today at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

HEAD TO HEADThis will be the third time Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls will face o� at Dhaka in the BPL 2015. Victorians comprehensively won the previous two encounters by eight and seven wickets respectively.

KEY PLAYERS

Comilla Victorians

Abu Haider Rony: 19-year-old Rony has already being hailed as the true � nd of the BPL 2015. With 21 wickets the left-arm pacer sits right at top of the bowling chart and his service today will be crucial once again. Ashar Zaidi: 16 wickets and 199 runs at an average of 66.33 speaks about his contribu-tion behind Comilla’s success. The low-pro� le Pakistani-born left-handed all-rounder has taken the big names in the tournament by surprise. Despite Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik in the line-up, Zaidi is the player Barisal will not want to click.

Barisal Bulls

Sabbir Rahman: After fetching just 60 runs from the 10 league matches, some had already ruled out his chances of getting a good score. However, he turned around just at the right time for Barisal as it was his 79 that powered the Bulls past Rangpur in the semi-� nal. In absence of Chris Gayle, Sabbir is de� nitely the

batsman to watch out for.Kevon Cooper: The West Indian all-rounder has made a great e� ect on the slow

and sluggisg BPL wickets. He has 20 wickets beside his name, including one � ve-for, and holds the ability to change the game scenario with his wicket-taking deliveries and econo-my rate of just over � ve runs. l

We struggled a lot from the beginning to get � t players. Whoever is getting the chance to play is performing well. We are now at a do or die situation and I am sure we can end on a positive note – Mashrafe bin Mortaza

Being a boy from Barisal, its very inspiring to represent my division at the same time very emotional. I will try my best to perform in the � nal

– Shahriar Nafees

Mashrafe on a hat-trick n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Mashrafe bin Mortaza will be the only captain in Bang-ladesh Premier League’s brief history to lead a side in all the � nals when Comilla Victorians take on Barsial Bulls at SBNS today evening. However, the same couldn’t have been said at the start of the third edition as Comilla, on pen and paper, were not as strong a unit as others.

Does it matter when a brave heart and team-man like Mashrafe is there? Despite having an injury prone squad, Mashrafe and the team think tank did a fantastic job to as-sure the rookies of the tournament reach their maiden � nal.

The veteran pacer, who led Dhaka Gladiators to two ti-tles in the previous editions, is excited about his feat as he said yesterday, “This was important for us. In IPL (In-dian Premier League) Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the strongest team. They have players like (Chris) Gayle, (Virat) Kohli and AB de Villiers, but their results are not that good. So Twenty20 doesn’t not matter because of the cricketers you have, but matters how you are doing as a team in the � eld. The approach of the team is vital in this format.”

He added, “Our cricketers were professional both on and o� the � eld. They were disciplined. Everybody tried to give out their best for the team and this has brought us into the � nal of the tournament.”

The Bangladesh ODI and T20 skipper Mashrafe him-self has been dealing with injuries (Grade 1 hamstring tear on left thigh) as he bowled only 26.2 overs across the 11 matches he played but that hardly kept the 32-year-old out of action.

“I have tried my best but there was pressure on me to be honest with you. Actually this year was tough for me both physically and mentally. But I have tried from the ca-pacity I had. But it will be wrong if I say that I have done everything, a team can never work that way. All the mem-bers of the team – coach, manager, players, management have done their part sincerely and that is why we have the result,” Mashrafe explained.

“We have been able to play the way we wanted so far. It’s a do or die situation now. We are hopeful to be honest and all members in the team are positive,” said Mashrafe.

Mashrafe, who is still unsure whether he can bowl to-day or not, feels Barisal are the deserving � nalists and it will not be an easy game. l

TEAM NEWSComilla have a number of injury worries but it is more than likely that Mashrafe, Malik and Kulasekara will feature in their playing XI. They will, however, miss the all-round skills of Andre Russell, who has left for his Big Bash League commitments in Australia.

Comilla Victorians (probable): Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Shuvagata Hom, Shoaib Malik, Ashar Zaidi, Alok Kapali, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Nuwan Kulasekara, Mahmudul Hasan, Abu Hider

Barisal have shown they can function without Chris Gayle, and they will have to do the same in the � nal. Rayad Emrit could be picked over Evin Lewis as one of the four foreigners in the playing XI.

Barisal Bulls (probable): Rony Talukdar, Mehedi Maruf, Sabbir Rahman, Shahriar Nafees, Mahmudullah (capt), Seekkuge Pras-anna, Rayad Emrit, Kevon Cooper, Mohammad Sami, Al-Amin Hossain, Taijul Islam

Sport 27D

T

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

WI all-rounder Samuels handed bowling banWest Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels was on Sunday handed a 12-month bowling ban by the International Cricket Council for an illegal action as the beleaguered Caribbean side were dealt another blow. Samuels, 34, had already been banned from bowling his quicker deliv-ery in 2013 and his latest setback comes after he was forced to undergo an assessment after being reported by the umpires in the � rst Test defeat against Sri Lanka in Galle in October.

AFP

We are not selling Dybala, say JuventusChampions Juventus have denied media reports that striker Paulo Dybala, who has scored eight Serie A goals this season including a late strike in the 3-1 victory over Fiorentina at the weekend, may leave the club. “We do not want to sell him neither this season nor in the following ones as we have invested a consid-erable sum on him,” chief executive Giuseppe Marotta told Mediaset Premium television.

REUTERS

Lingard picks up injury against BournemouthManchester United manager Louis van Gaal has con� rmed winger Jesse Lingard picked up an injury in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League de-feat by Bournemouth. Lingard was substituted in the � rst half with a suspected hamstring problem and Van Gaal said the 22-year-old would have to be assessed to ascertain the extent of the damage.

REUTERS

Khawaja � tness doubt after Big Bash pulloutAustralia batsman Usman Khawaja has pulled out of a Twenty20 game this week and faces a � tness check before the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies, Cricket Australia said. Khawaja, 28, was due to return from a ham-string injury in Thursday’s opening Big Bash League match for the Sydney Thunder after being included in the 13-man Australia Test squad for Melbourne.

AFP

Finn returns for EnglandEngland have added fast bowler Steven Finn to their squad for the four-match series in South Africa that starts with the � rst test on Boxing Day. He was initially left out because of a foot injury but proved his � tness on the Eng-land Lions tour of the United Arab Emirates.

REUTERS

Dortmund rout FrankfurtBorussia Dortmund set a new club record in routing ten-man Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 on Sunday as the Bundesliga’s top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 18th goal in 16 games.Second-placed Dortmund’s victory gave them a club record seventh win and one draw at home, their best start to a season, as Thomas Tuchel’s side came from behind to � oor strugglers Frankfurt.

AFP

QUICK BYTES

Neil Wagner (L) of New Zealand celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews during day � ve of the � rst Test in Dunedin yesterday AFP

NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS431 (Guptill 156,Williamson 88, McCullum 75; Pradeep 4-112) SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS294 (Karunaratne 84, Chandimal 83; Southee 3-71, Wagner 3-87) NEW ZEALAND 2ND INNINGS267 (Latham 109, Williamson 71; Herath 2-62)SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS R B(overnight 109-3)D. Chandimal lbw Santner 58 132A. Mathews b Wagner 25 61 K. Vithanage lbw Southee 38 38M. Siriwardana c McCullum b Boult 29 39R. Herath c Guptill b Boult 6 15D. Chameera b Santner 14 13S. Lakmal c&b Bracewell 23 27N. Pradeep not out 4 10Extras: (b2, lb4, w1) 7 Total (10 wickets, 95.2 overs) 282

Fall of wickets1-54, 2-64, 3-109, 4-165, 5-165, 6-213, 7-236, 8-249, 9-268, 10-282BowlingBoult 15-2-58-2, Southee 21-6-52-3, Bracewell 19.2-5-46-1, Santner 22-6-53-2, Wagner 17-5-56-2, Williamson 1-0-11-0 (w1)

Result: New Zealand won by 122 runs

NZ v SL

NZ grind down stubborn Sri Lanka for 122-run winn Reuters

Trent Boult took two quick wickets after lunch to help New Zealand complete a 122-run victo-ry over Sri Lanka on the � fth day of the � rst test at University Oval in Dunedin yesterday.

The visitors were bowled out for 282 hav-ing been set 405 runs to win and while they were always chasing the game from day one, they made it di� cult for Brendon McCul-lum’s side.

Having put 431 on the board after be-ing sent in to bat, New Zealand needed 117 overs to bowl Sri Lanka out for 294 in their � rst innings, and were in the 96th over of the

tourists’ second innings before seamer Doug Bracewell took a caught and bowled from Suranga Lakmal to end the game.

“It was a pretty professional display but gee, we had to work pretty hard as well to get 20 wickets,” McCullum said in a televised interview.

“I think the bowlers did an outstanding job. Obviously when you don’t bowl � rst on a wicket like that, it’s going to be tough,” he added of the green-tinged wicket presented last Thursday.

“But the guys batted well, so over all a pretty professional performance and one we’re pleased with.” l

Nepal arrive today for international friendlyn Tribune Report

Nepal national football team will arrive in the capital tonight to play against Bangladesh in a Fifa international friendly on December 17.

The game is part of preparation for both the sides ahead of the Sa� Suzuki Cup scheduled to begin on December 23 in Kerala, India.

The only friendly for the Bengal Tigers before the mega event will kick o� on Thursday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5pm.

Bangladesh, led by the newly appointed head coach Maruful Haque, began their training camp in BKSP, Savar at the end of last month. It will also be Maruful’s debut match as the head coach of the national team after succeeding Italian coach Fabio Lopez. Bangladesh are placed in the same group with Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan. They will start their Sa� campaign against reigning champions Afghanistan on Decem-ber 24. The team is expected to � y for Kerala on December 20. l

V-Day exhibition cricket teams announcedn Tribune Report

The traditional Victory Day exhibition cricket match will be played tomorrow evening. The former cricket stars of the country will gath-er at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium for the much anticipated Twenty20 match.

Shaheed Mushtaque XI: Hasanuzzaman, Shahriar Hossain Bid-dut, Azhar Hossain Shanto, Faruque Ahmed, Naimur Rahman Dur-joy, Mohammad Ra� qul, Sanwar Hossain, Hasibul Hossain Shanto, Anwar Hossain Munir, Khaled Mahmud, Neeyamur Rashid, Enamul Haque Moni, Ehsanul Haque, Saiful Islam.

Shaheed Jewel XI: Jahangir Alam, Javed Omer, Habibul Bashar, Minhazul Abedin, Akram Khan, Khaled Mashud, Saifullah Jem, Alamgir Kabir, Sha� uddin Ahmed, Athar Ali, Mahmudul Rana (Bikash), Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Ra� que, Mehrab Hossain. l

28DT Sport

Real beaten again, Atletico joint topn AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes were dealt another huge blow as they su� ered a third league defeat in � ve games to Roberto Solda-do’s solitary goal at Villarreal on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bil-bao earlier in the day means Real now trail their city rivals and Barcelona by � ve points at the top of the table.

Real were outplayed in the � rst-half, but reacted after the break and were left to rue a hat-trick of missed chances by troubled French striker Karim Benzema as defeat piles the pres-sure on under-� re coach Rafael Benitez.

Elsewhere, a late own goal salvaged a point for Valencia in Gary Neville’s � rst taste of La Liga action as Los Che battled back with 10 men to draw 1-1 at Eibar.

Real had won � ve consecutive games since being thrashed 4-0 at home by Barca last month, but were forced onto the back foot by a whirlwind start from Villarreal.

“I am not happy at all with the � rst half and I think the reaction in the second half is the route we have to follow,” said Benitez.

“Unfortunately, today it has cost us three points.”

Victory takes Villarreal back to within a point of fourth-placed Celta Vigo.

Valencia escaped from Eibar with a point

despite another disappointing display af-ter crashing out of the Champions League against Lyon in Neville’s � rst game in charge in midweek.

A point leaves Valencia seven points o� the top four in eighth. l

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

LA LIGA TOP 5Team P W D L P

Barcelona 15 11 2 2 35

Atletico 15 11 2 2 35

Real Madrid 15 9 3 3 30

Celta Vigo 15 8 4 3 28

Villarreal 15 8 3 4 27

Rayo Vallecano 1-2 MalagaJavi Guerra 6 Charles 59, Cop 87

Eibar 1-1 Valencia Enrich 44 Junca 85-og

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao Saul Niguez 47, Laporte 27Griezmann 67

Villarreal 1-0 Real MadridSoldado 8

RESULTS

Real Madrid star forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain on Sunday AP

Barcelona arrive in Japan to rock star welcomen AFP, Narita

European champions Barcelona were greet-ed like rock stars on their arrival in Japan yes-terday to contest the Club World Cup, look-ing bleary-eyed after a long � ight from Spain.

Around 300 screaming fans greeted the Spanish giants trying to take pictures of su-perstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Su-arez as they swept through Narita airport at around 0800 local time dressed in blue team tracksuits.

Walking alongside Suarez, Messi smiled at fans as cameras � ashed, while Neymar, who is an injury concern for the tournament fa-vourites, sported a baseball cap, sunglasses and earphones.

Barcelona, bidding to become the � rst team to win the Club World Cup three times after lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2011, take on China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-� nals on Thursday.

But Barca coach Luis Enrique is sweating over the � tness of Neymar, who is struggling with a groin strain. The Brazilian has scored 16 times in 18 appearances this season, but Enrique could opt to rest him in Japan.

Barring an upset, Argentina’s River Plate will await the European champions in the � -nal in Yokohama on December 20.

European teams have won the title sev-en times of the 11 years the competition has been played under the current seven-team format. l

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez kicks the ball in front of teammates as they attend a training session yesterday ahead of their Club World Cup semi-� nal match against Guangzhou Evergrande in Yokohama REUTERS

Valencia v Rapid ViennaFiorentina v Tottenham Hotspur

Borussia Dortmund v PortoFenerbahce v Lokomotiv MoscowAnderlecht v Olympiakos PiraeusMidtjylland v Manchester United

FC Augsburg v LiverpoolSparta Prague v FK Krasnodar

Galatasaray v LazioSion v Braga

Shakhtar Donetsk v Schalke 04Olympique Marseille v Athletic Bilbao

Sevilla v MoldeSporting Lisbon v Bayer Leverkusen

Villarreal v NapoliSt Etienne v FC Basel

ROUND OF 32 FIXTURE Man United go into unknown in Europan Reuters, Nyon

Triple European champions Manchester United and their under-� re coach Louis van Gaal face a tricky task against little-known Midtjylland in the last 32 of the Europa League following yesterday’s draw.

United, knocked out of the Champions League last week, meet the Danish league winners, an unsung club backed by owner Matthew Benham who are in their maiden European campaign and eliminated South-ampton earlier in the competition.

Midtjylland’s pony-tailed chairman Ras-mus Ankersen, appointed by former � nan-cier and professional gambler Benham, who also owns English second-tier club Brent-ford, issued a warning after the draw.

“We have already beaten one English team so we are not afraid,” said Ankersen. “We are a small club with a small budget and we know we can’t outspend them so we have to out-think them and, so far, this way has worked for us in the Europa League.

“We know we have a chance and we will take up the challenge. If we can beat South-

ampton we can beat Manchester United and the players will feel that and believe it.”

In other eye-catching ties Liverpool man-ager Juergen Klopp returns to Germany to face Augsburg, another club in their maiden European campaign, while Sevilla, bidding for a hat-trick of Europa League titles, meet Norwegian team Molde.

Borussia Dortmund and Porto also lock horns while Olympique de Marseille take on Athletic Bilbao, Anderlecht play Olympiakos Piraeus, Shakhtar Donetsk face Schalke 04 and Lazio meet Galatasaray. l

Sport 29D

T

Juve go fourth, Roma hold Napolin Reuters

Juventus surged back into the Serie A title race with a 3-1 home win over Fiorentina on Sunday, while Napoli and AS Roma played out a 0-0 stalemate and 10-man AC Milan were held 1-1 by bottom club Hellas Verona.

Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala struck second-half goals to add further impetus to Juve’s title challenge after a poor start to the season.

Juve’s sixth successive league win helped

them go fourth on 30 points, six behind league leaders Inter Milan, while Fiorentina stay four points o� the top.

Roma, who have now gone four league games without a win, had goalkeeper Wo-jciech Szczesny to thank for keeping them in the contest against Napoli but they still dropped to � fth place a point behind Juven-tus.Napoli are level on 32 points with Fiore.

Meanwhile, AC Milan coach Mihajlovic was left fuming at the referee as they drew 1-1 at home to bottom club Hellas Verona. l

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Chievo 1-0 AtalantaBirsa 76

Empoli 3-0 CarpiMaccarone 46, 61,Saponara 51

AC Milan 1-1 VeronaBacca 52 Toni 57-pen

Napoli 0-0 Roma

Juventus 3-1 FiorentinaCuadrado 6, Ilicic 3-penMandzukic 80,Dybala 90+2

SERIE A

Monaco 1-0 Saint-EtienneFabinho 82-pen

Marseille 1-1 Gazelec AjaccioBatshuayi 38 Zoua 19-pen

Angers 1-1 Bordeaux Thomas 83 Rolan 40

Paris Saint-Germain 5-1 Lyon Ibrahimovic 11, 77-pen, Ferri 24Aurier 17, Cavani 61,Lucas Moura 90+1

LIGUE 1

DAY’S WATCHChannel 96:30 PMBPL 3: FinalComilla Victorians v Barisal BullsStar Sports 27:20 PMIndian Super LeagueSemi Final 1 Leg 2: Goa v Delhi Strar Sports 46:00 PMInternational Premier Tennis LeaguePhilippine Mavericks v Indian Aces 9:30 PMSingapore Slammers v UAE Royals Ten Sports 12:00 AMDFB Pokal (German Cup)Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen 1:45 AMSky Bet ChampionshipQPR v Brighton & Hove Albion Ten HD1:30 AMDFB Pokal (German Cup)Bayern Munchen v Darmstadt 98

Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic jumps after scoring a goal past Lyon’s French-Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes during their French L1 match at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Sunday AFP

Five-star PSG punish Lyon to extend enormous leadn AFP, Paris

Zlatan Ibrahimovic took his tally to 14 goals in his last 11 Ligue 1 games as Paris Saint-Ger-main outclassed Lyon 5-1 on a gloomy Sun-day night in the French capital.

Ibrahimovic and Serge Aurier both netted in the � rst 17 minutes for Laurent Blanc’s side before a shocking error by goalkeeper Kevin Trapp allowed Jordan Ferri to pull one back for Lyon.

However, Edinson Cavani restored PSG’s two-goal advantage after the restart and Ibra-himovic got his second of the night from a pen-alty. Lucas added the � fth in stoppage time as PSG moved a scarcely credible 17 points clear of their nearest challengers Angers and Mona-co with the campaign just 18 games old.

PSG are now unbeaten in 27 Ligue 1 games, a run going back to March, and remain on course to break the record for the most points halfway through a French season.

The great Lyon team of the last decade had 50 points at the mid-way stage in 2006/07, but Paris already have 48 points and so can set a new mark with a victory at Caen in their last game of the year. l

Klopp salutes atmosphere as Liverpool celebrate drawn Reuters

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has probably not celebrated too many draws with quite the fervour that he greeted Divock Origi’s stoppage time leveller to grab a point at home to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The German would have been forgiven for two more dropped points, but instead greeted the conclusion to a bad-tempered 2-2 Premier League draw at An� eld with trademark enthusiasm. Klopp joined his players in front of the Kop, with arms raised to celebrate and salute the noise that greeted the hosts’ ef-forts in the closing stages. Some older supporters at An� eld might have raised eyebrows at the apparently joyous scenes. l

Cech has completely changed Arsenal’s back four: Walcottn Reuters

The close-season signing of Petr Cech from Chelsea has raised Arsenal’s defending to a new level, according to England striker Theo Walcott.

The Czech Republic goalkeeper equalled David James’ Premier League record of 169 clean sheets when the Gunners beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday to climb to the top of the table. Arsenal boast the second meanest defence this season, conceding 13 goals, and Cech’s clean sheet against Villa, which came in his 349th Premier League game, was his seventh of the campaign.

“He’s changed us completely in that back four. He’s a talker, he believes in us all,” Wal-cott told the club’s website.

“That’s why he wanted to join us and hav-ing that presence behind you is always nice. He’s very commanding, he’s a leader in the dressing room as well. From when we signed him, we all knew how good he was (after) what he achieved at Chelsea,” added Walcott.

Cech won the Premier League title four times at Stamford Bridge and was also instru-mental in their 2012 Champions League � nal victory over Bayern Munich. l

n Showtime Desk

A brand new trailer for the upcoming Sherlock special has been unveiled and, frankly, it’s absolutely terrifying.

Benedict Cumberbatch will be back in action this festive season as Sherlock

Holmes, for The Abominable Bride, a one-o� special episode of the BBC series, set in Victorian London.

But while the � rst trailer, released back in October, focused on � nally getting to see Benedict in the iconic deer-stalker hat that has become synonymous with Sherlock

Holmes over the years, this latest o� ering � xates on the spookier elements of the episode.

The new release will tell the story of Mrs Ricoletti, the titular bride who is out for revenge.

In the clip, she’s seen pointing a gun at an unknown victim, who tells her: “You’re dead, you can’t be here, you died!”

Thankfully, despite it all, Sherlock has still got his wits intact, as he’s heard telling Watson: “To the morgue! We haven’t a moment to lose. Which one can so rarely say at the morgue.”

Benedict delighted Sherlock fans last week when he admitted he had no plans to retire from the role any time soon, revealing he’d be keen to “continue ageing” with the character.

The Abominable Bride marks the � rst time Sherlock fans have seen Benedict and Martin Freeman in action in two years, and will air on New Year’s Day, on BBC One.

A fourth series has also been con� rmed, with � lming due to begin next year. l

Showtime30DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Chhuye Dile Mon to release commercially in India

Sherlock Christmas Special:Latest trailer reveals creepy foe

Breaking Bad to be remade in Bollywood

n Showtime Desk

Chuye Dile Mon, a romantic � lm starring Ar-e� n Shuvo and Zakia Bari Momo as the lead actors, is set to be released commercially to the cinemas of India by February. The � lm, produced by Asiatic Ddhoni-Chitra Limited and Monforing Limited, has already earned the green signal from the Central Board of Film Certi� cation (CBFC) of India.

Shihab Shaheen, the director of the � lm, said: “Over the years, a few Bangladeshi � lms were exhibited in � lm festivals in India where only � lm critics or serious audiences expe-rienced them. But in the larger context, the common audience of the neighbouring coun-

tries seem deprived from this experience.” “By the approval of being released into a

big � lm market like India, a door has opened for Bangladeshi � lms to reach enormous au-diences,” he added.

Piyali Films and Girona Entertainment have been jointly lined up to distribute Shi-hab Shaheen’s � lm in India.

Suvojit Roy, the CEO of Girona Entertain-ment, Bangladesh, has expressed his thought on this big release by saying: “The grade of Bangladeshi � lms are improving with time; this release surely marks the succession of the process.”

The � lm depicts the relationship between two friends, played by Momo and Shuvo,

who seem inwardly intimated to each other since childhood. But as they grow up, due to responsibilities and other issues, their bond begins to fade apart. As the boy relocates to the city to seek for a job and the girl stays back in the suburbs, they come to realise they have feelings for each other.

The director’s debut feature � lm also stars Iresh Zaker, Misha Sawdagor and Ali Raz in major roles, while Iresh has been seen por-traying an antagonist role.

With intense location cinematography and a heavyweight cast, the � lm was released in Bangladesh last April. l

n Showtime Desk

Popular Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan is planning to remake inter-national TV series Breaking Bad, with a desi twist, according to DNA reports.

“I have asked some people who have said that they would get me the rights. I am at that age when it will be interesting to take up such a role,” he said in an interview with the Indian Express.

SRK is said to take up the lead role of Walter White in the remake. Even though Indian television is reluctant to create � lms involving drugs and ma� a, he insists that the plot has the perfect elements to work as � lm.

No o� cial con� rmations have been made yet as to the � lm’s pro-duction as of yet, though the pro-cess to retain the rights for the re-make is already underway. l

Showtime 31D

TTUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

Kalidas Karmakar on exhibition The Lego MovieHBO 5:51pmAn ordinary Lego construction worker, thought to be the prophesied ‘Special’, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis.Voices: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks

The Last AirbenderZee Studio 7:30pmFollows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must master all four elements and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom.Cast: Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone

The MatrixWB 8:16pmA computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesSony PIX 9:30pmBilbo and Company are forced to engage in a war against an array of combatants and keep the Lonely Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage

BattleshipStar Movies 9:30pmA � eet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson

n Nadira Sultana Ava

Kalidas Karmakar, an experienced and internationally renowned artist, returns to the limelight with his 71st solo exhibition titled Alluvial Realization at Athena Gallery of Fine Arts, Badda.

The artistic prowess of Kalidas Karmakar has scaled the heights of proli� c glory and towered beyond most artists. His constant endeavor lies in achieving freedom from pain, frustration and decadence and his noble and glorious artworks are the re� ections of his � rm determination and sincere dedication to its pursuit. In his artistic journey, Alluvial Realization is an impressive addition to the previous alluvial series of the artist. Karmakar, having a vigorous and elongated relationship with brush and colour, unveils 65 inspirational artworks under the titles of Alluvial Soul, Alluvial Symbol, Alluvial Rhythm, Alluvial Awakening, Alluvial Dimension, Alluvial Face and Alluvial Inner Eye. These pieces are imbued with memory and meaning, and are not only paintings but reproduced as a constant companion to our ordinary lives. The maker takes us close to personal world of realism and helps us sink deep into the realisation in routine lives. All artworks in this exhibition are insightful and contain a connectivity with consciousness.

The exhibit portrays his experimental array of art forms through innovative uses of multiple media including acrylics, digital lithography, ink, woodblock, media - collage and printmaking.

Born in Faridpur in 1946, Kalidas Karmakar, devoted his life to art and learning. He graduated from Kolkata Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in 1969. He has also studied at prestigious institutes in France, Poland, Japan and the USA. Displaying his works in nearly 50 countries around the world, his intense realisation has found its exposure through his artworks for years.

Inaugurated on December 4, the exhibition will remain open for everybody from 10am to 8pm till December 22. l

WHAT TO WATCH

Back Page32DT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015

DU cuts all ties with Pakistan n Tribune Report

The Dhaka University has decided to cut all kinds of ties with Pakistan, es-pecially with the educational institu-tions there.

The decision was made in a meeting of the university syndicate yesterday.

Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Are� n Siddique told reporters about the de-cision after the meeting.

The VC has earlier said that DU had

di� erent kinds of agreements, such as MoUs, with several universities in Pa-kistan.

He said that DU could not have ties with Pakistan because it is a terrorist country. l

The � rst third gender person to contest pollsn Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

By becoming a candidate in the municipality polls, 48-year-old Dithi has marked the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh.

Dithi, a member of the community of Hijras, a term widely used to mainly refer to intersex persons, is running for the post of a reserved female ward councillor in Kolaroa Municipality of the southwestern district of Satkhira.

Thus she becomes the � rst person of such gender identity in Bangladesh to

contest an election. There have been similar instances in India and Pakistan in re-

cent years. In January, Madhu Bai Kinnar, a transgender person and a member of the Dalit caste, was elected mayor of Raigarh in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In 2013, Bindiya Rana, a transgen-der person, contested in a provincial assembly seat in Pakistan.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday, Dithi said by participating in the elections, she wants to remove the social discrimination against her gender, who are still far from being mainstreamed in the society.

“You have to keep in mind that no one will give you your rights, you will have to achieve them. I became a candidate in order to ensure our rights. If I win, I will try my best to ensure the rights of transgender people. I will always be by the side of the poor and the deprived,” she said.

Dithi has three brothers, who now live in Jessore, another southwestern district and do not have regular contact with her. She inherited some property when her father died but gave most of what she had to her brothers.

Asked how she is covering her campaign expenditures, Dithi said: “The people of my ward love me and they encouraged me to take part in the election. I am carrying the expenses from the income generated from my business and household earnings.”

Dithi’s candidature a� davit says her profession is “homemak-er/business” and that she is self-educated.

What usually happens when a person is identi� ed as Hijra in Bangladesh is that they have to leave home because of social ta-boo. They have to go and live with the Hijra community. Asked if that has happened with her, Dithi said: “No. I never left home. Instead, I built two houses in Kolaroa and my houses are open for all. I provide shelter for the homeless and destitute in my house.”

Dithi, who lives in the local Hijra Para, is known as “GuruMa,” the teacher and mother, and involved with Awami League’s politics.

Sheikh Aktaruzzaman, a wood trader in Kolaroa, said Dithi is a good soul who always helps the poor.

“She has her own warehouse business. She may be a Hijra, but local people know her as a kind woman. She has made donations in many social activities.”

Foisul Ahsan, whose organistion Bandhu Social Welfare Soci-ety works with Hijras, said: “This is a great achievement. Dithi’s participation will encourage other transgender people to become competent citizens.”

Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam said this is a great news for the cause of a fully inclusive elections.

“People are becoming conscious about transgender people. They are being mainstreamed. People talk about inclusive and universal election and this sort of participation is a big achieve-ment for the commission,” the secretary said.

O� cial statistics shows that at least 10,000 Hijras live in Bang-ladesh now, but rights groups claim the number can be up to 10 times higher.

Hijras in Bangladesh have the right to vote since 2009. In No-vember 2013, the government recognised Hijras as a third gender. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial O� ce: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Website: www.dhakatribune.com