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SECOND EDITION
People of all ages in Hrishipara unite, demanding life of dignity, in front of the media on Thursday, two days after two housewives were violated
DHAKA TRIBUNE
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INSIDE
News
5 Dense fogs continued to disrupt road and water transportation yesterday.
International
Party supporters gather at Suhrawardy Udyan to join Awami Leagues first post-election rally yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
8 Nearly 500 people, among them 85 civilians, have been killed in a week of fighting pitting Syrian rebels against the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a monitoring group said yesterday.
Op-Ed
11 The 10th parliamentary election was held amidst a lot of confusion, obstructions, and violence. During the period preceding the election, many substantive issues were discussed widely in the media.
2
RAB 'locks up' Narayanganj BNP office
Correspondent, n Our Narayanganj
District BNP leaders alleged that members of RAB 11 Narayanganj camp had locked up the district BNP office yesterday morning. They alleged that RAB members came into the office and locked it down while a maulana and some madrasa students were reciting the Quran for those who were killed during the 18-party Alliances hartals and blockades.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
AL leaders oppose
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Kamal alleged that RAB members locked up the office and walked the maulana and the students out. The peon was warned not to reopen the office
Lt Col Tareq Sayeed Mohammad, the commanding officer of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB 11), rejected the allegation outright and told the Dhaka Tribune: RAB personnel neither conducted any operation in Narayanganj yesterday nor shut down any of the offices of BNP. He further said if anybody had raised such an allegation, they were not right. City BNP General Secretary ATM
Kamal opened the BNP office on Thursday morning after two months, returning with some other BNP leaders after imprisonment. Kamal said a RAB vehicle came in front of the office yesterday morning. Later two more vehicles also came there and RAB members from the vehicles entered the office, he alleged. Seeing the RAB members coming towards the office, city BNP Joint General Secretary Nurul Haq Chowdhury Dipu and Office Secretary Akter Hossain Khokon Shah fled by scaling the boundary wall at the back, he said. A RAB member who was present in one of the vehicles said they did not enter the BNP office though they were in front of the office. Kamal alleged that RAB members locked up the office and walked the maulana and the students out. The peon was warned not to reopen the office. Whoever opens the office will be arrested, they said, Kamal said. Condemning the government, Naraynaganj district unit BNP President Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker said, BY locking up the BNP office, the government has locked up democracy. The government has also proved that it is anti-religious by stopping the recitation of the Quran. l
government. Another leader told the prime minister not to sacrifice more than two ministries for them, sources said. AL Presidium member and newly-elected MP Mohammad Nasim told the Dhaka Tribune that the premier would like to form a government based on mutual agreement with the participation of all parties represented in parliament. This is why, JaPa may have a token participation in the government. Their representation might be in one or two posts, but how is it possible if they demand more than five? he said suggesting that the JaPa should not join the government. It should play the role of a real opposition which would help increase its popularity. And they will also get the anti-Awami League votes that were supposed to go to BNP who rejected them for being allies with Jamaat, he explained. Party Adviser Suranjit Sengupta said at an event yesterday: The opposition desires to be a part of the cabinet as well. It means they want all the benefits for themselves. We hope it will not be something absurd in the name of a consensus government, he said. AL leader Amir Hossain Amu said there was no scope for any party to be a part of the government and the opposition at the same time. l
Vehicles, mostly goods-laden trucks, stuck in a 15km-long jam from Paturia towards Dhaka after they started operating yesterday when there was no blockade of the opposition. The photo was taken at Rajbari DHAKA TRIBUNE
So, we want to be in the cabinet and in the opposition bench. It is better to share power with the government when the blame of domestic opposition is a must, he said, justifying the Jatiya Partys decision to be in the cabinet. Raushan Ershad Thursday night saw the prime minister Sheikh Hasina and conveyed her partys desire to join the cabinet besides holding the post of opposition leader. Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday just smiled in reply to the Dhaka Tribune question whether it was possible for a party to be in the opposition having representation in the cabinet. In the face of boycott by the Awami League and the BNP, HM Ershads Jatiya Party formed the fourth parliament
in 1988. A faction of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) joined the polls and its leader ASM Abdur Rob became the opposition leader. The political parties then called Rob a domestic opposition leader. Kazi Feroz Rashid, another presidium member, told reporters that the Jatiya Party did not want to only fight with the government. This is possible to be in the cabinet and the opposition simultaneously, he said. Academicians and experts vehemently oppose the Jatiya Partys opportunistic attitude. There is no instance of such eccentric nature that a party can be in the cabinet and the opposition simultaneously. They consider people to be foolish, Prof Nizam Uddin Ahmed, a
Chittagong University teacher who has several books on parliamentary politics in Bangladesh to his credit, told the Dhaka Tribune. According to the parliamentary lexicon, he said, a party having single cabinet member cannot be in the opposition. The Jatiya Party basically shows an unprecedented sign of opportunistic politics for their gains, he said. However, a section of the Jatiya Party MPs, who have no possibility of being selected in the cabinet the Awami League is set to form on Sunday, opposed the party decision to select seven leaders for induction in government. Raushan Ershad, who was unanimously selected as the opposition leader at the parliamentary party meeting on Thursday, saw the prime minis-
ter Sheikh Hasina and handed over the names of the seven JaPa MPs for induction in the cabinet. They are: Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ziauddin Ahmed, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Mujibul Haque (Chunnu), Salma Islam, Moshur Rahman Ranga and ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader. Moshiur Rahman Ranga, who accompanied Raushan Ershad for meeting with Sheikh Hasina, told the Dhaka Tribune that the seven lawmakers are likely to become ministers in the government of consensus. Fakhrul Imam MP, also a presidium member, told the Dhaka Tribune: If the government is thinking of forming a government of consensus, at best one can be minister from our party. But if we have seven ministers, we will actually lose our status as the
opposition party. Out of the total 33 MPs, three JaPa MPs talked to the Dhaka Tribune and opposed the idea of joining the cabinet besides playing the role of opposition in parliament. At the Thursdays parliamentary party meeting, a JaPa MP said joining the cabinet would demonstrate our party as a domestic opposition. So, the JaPa should not join the cabinet. But the other members opposed him. He finally agreed with the other members who were in favour of joining the cabinet. The Dhaka Tribune asked four JaPa members Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Salma Islam and Moshiur Rahman Ranga whether they got any call from the cabinet division for induction in the cabinet. l
Contacted, Enamuls Private Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Babu refused to make any comment and at one stage disconnected his cell phone call. District unit Vice-President Abdul Wadud is an incumbent lawmaker from Chapainawabganj-2. It was alleged that the lawmaker picked Jamaat district Amir Latifur Rahman and nominated him as an academic committee president of the City College and executive committee president of Fulkuri Islamic Foundation in the district town. Asked about Awami League organisational activities, Abdul Wadud, who was earlier a BNP leader, told the Dhaka Tribune that the responsibility of the entire party activities did not rest with him.
The lawmakers nephew Harun-orRashid is an organising secretary of Rajshahi unit BNP. Wadud blamed district unit President brigadier Enamul Haque and its Secretary Mynuddin Mandal for the weakness of the party. Asked about their forging links with Jamaat-Shibir, he said the country was going through a political stalemate and it required cooperation of all to continue political activities. He, however, refused to have established any link with Jamaat-e-Islami and claimed he always tried to work for the party welfare. Why not any protest even after Jamaat-Shibir attack on AL leaders, he said it was Shibganj where the incident took place and he was not entrusted with
looking after the party issues in that area. Our district unit president is tasked to do the job in Shibganj and moreover it is the area of Golam Rabbani who is an MP-elect, he said. Contacted, Chapainawabganj-3 lawmaker said the party activities were somewhat laid-back there because of poor organisational structure. We are working hard and hope that we would be able to rein in the situation very shortly, he added. District unit Awami League Secretary Mynuddin Mandal also dodged the question that their leaders were pampering Jamaat-Shibir. He said: I have heard something like that, but I do not know the details about it. As many as 19 political killings have
been recorded in Shibganj over the past nine months. It is irony of fate that five of them were Awami League men who were killed in Jamaat-Shibir attacks, police said. All the cases and complaints were recorded by the police as the victims families dared not file any complaints against the attackers. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibganj police station, said: We wait for the victims families to approach us and file cases, but they do not respond. Most Awami League leaders in Shibganj and its surrounding areas spend nights away from home in fear of Jamaat-Shibir attack. This correspondent met Awami League activist Mostafizur Rahman in
front of the district super market who said he went home once a week fearing attack. Recently, the Jamaat men attacked Mohammad Selim, 28, in Ranihata area on his way home, he said. In the latest killing a group of Jamaat-Shibir activists allegedly set fire to the shop of upazila Awami League Adviser Enamul Haque who was burned to death inside his shop. When asked why no case was filed and no action taken Awami League district unit Health Secretary Shahjalal Shahin attributed the failure to the organisational flaw while its Join Secretary Faruk Masum laid blame on their leaders. Faruk said the district unit leaders were unconcerned about the problems of leaders and activists in the upazila. l
Khan Tipu Sultans son. They even prevented Tipu Sultan from putting up posters in the area ahead of the election. Election officials had to postpone voting in 60 polling centres in Monirampur upazila alone as the Jamaat-Shibir activists wreaked havoc in the area to foil the poll. The number is highest in a single upazila where polling was postponed across the country. Family members of the rape victims said 10-12 masked men equipped with firearms had gone to one of the houses at Rishipara around 10pm on Tuesday and asked for drinking water. Seeing firearms with them, the dwellers thought they might be law enforcers. Then the criminals entered the house, tied the family members and raped a woman at gunpoint until midnight. The family members said the rapists then went to an adjacent house both situated at a corner of the Hrishipara village and raped another woman until 3am on Wednesday, holding the family members hostages at gunpoint. The victims were taken to Jessore General Hospital yesterday morning for medical tests, said police. UNB quotes Officer-in-Charge of Monirampur police station Mir Rezaul Hossain: Those who are on the run following the ongoing drives of the joint forces are behind the incident. l
second time from Satkhira 3 uncontested in the 10th parliamentary election, claimed that he had visited the constituency at least twice a month. People can build resistance against any atrocities, but they cannot do it when the leadership fails, said Mustofa Lutfullah, who has been elected MP from Satkhira 3 in the January 5 poll from the Workers Party. He believes Satkhira situation will remain the same until a strong political intervention is made against Jamaat. Our leadership has failed us. I do not see any hope at the end of the tunnel and I believe this is high time I quit, said an AL union-level leader. He does not even dare talk on record and requested that his identity be concealed by all means. Rivalry between Ruhal and Muzibur, president of the district unit, is evident from the statement they made to this reporter. Ruhal categorically blamed the partys district leadership for its current deplorable condition. Better known as Engineer Muzibur Rahman, the district unit chief, however, accused the administration of patronising Jamaat violence, when it is believed that the former minister had a hand behind designing the administration. Muzibur is also facing allegations of corruption and misappropriation. He allegedly took over three years to build the Satkhira-Khulna road, raising its cost from Tk7 crore to Tk16 crore. Con-
tractors alleged that Muzibur even prevented them from dropping tenders to ensure that he gets the contract himself. On the other hand, masterminds behind the atrocious 10 months since Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death on February 28 for war crimes have remained out of the law enforcers dragnet. Habibur Rahman, Jamaats Satkhira upazila Nayeb-e-Ameer, who led the February 28 attack on Satkhira Circuit House that resulted in the deaths of seven Jamaat-Shibir activists, is the brother of Satkhira Awami League General Secretary Nazrul Islam and is still at large. Abdul Khaleque, the husband of Nazruls cousin, is Jamaats district nayeb-e-ameer and the principal of Agardari Aminia Kamil Madrasa, which is widely said as a Jamaat-Shibir cantonment for giving shelter to cadres. Khaleque is still out of the law enforcers reach. Jamaat was so successful in winning public faith through constant political campaigns that it had been able to manipulate general people to believe that Sayedee and Abdul Quader Molla were innocent and victims of the Awami Leagues politics against Islam. Thousands of villagers joined Jamaat demonstrations, proving their impression of the government. The Awami League leadership has failed to counter Jamaats propaganda politically and save general people from abuse in the name of Islam. Even Ruhal is not hopeful of end-
ing the partys pitiable condition. He blamed the partys district-level leaders for non-cooperation as they did not even respond to his calls to meet him to find a solution. I have tried to reform Satkhira politics in the past three years, but failed, Ruhal said. Regarding party leaders having familial relations with Jamaat, Ruhals opinion is: Jamaat men can be relatives, but the relation should not overshadow political ideology. At the same time, he mentioned that there were numerous occasions in the past when influential district AL leaders pressured police for releasing arrested Jamaat leaders. But the story takes an interesting turn if the volley of allegations made by local leaders against Ruhul is taken into consideration. ALs Kaliganj upazila unit President Sheikh Waheduzzaman alleged that 80% appointment made in the district during the last five years were Jamaat-Shibir activists. Kaliganj falls in Ruhals own constituency and Waheduzaman alleged that the appointments had been made in exchange of money. Newspaper reports quoting the ministers declaration disclosed to the Election Commission ahead of the polls reveal that his wifes property grew at a stunning rate of 782% when her husband was a minister. His son turned into a businessman from a service holder. Ruhal claimed that there must be a typo in registering his wifes wealth information. On the appointments, he said there were only three to four
Jamaat-Shibir activists who had been recommended by the AL leaders. Local leaders alleged that said Ruhal had prioritised the Jamaat and the BNP men because of his APS Moshayet Ali Khokon, who was general secretary of Kaliganj College unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the BNPs student wing. The former health minister dismissed the allegation. The [former] minister always overlooked our recommendations and demands. He rather worked for the Jamaat for money, claimed district AL unit Organising Secretary Sarder Firoz Ahmed. Rivalry between Ruhal and Muzibur over supremacy in the partys leadership is a common topic of discussion in the district. People said they rarely saw these two political figures on the same stage in the last five years. Party insiders allege that the two leaders lacked moral strength to stand by the side of the people affected by the recent attacks perpetrated by the Jamaat-Shibir. Muzibur visited Deyara union unit Swechchhasebak League President Rabiul Islams family first time on December 26, a month after the leader was hacked to death in broad daylight. And then, he, guarded by 10-12 youths looked like his body guard, stayed there less than 10 minutes and hurriedly left the area apparently in fear since the village is known as a Jamaat den. Muzibur said it was not politically safe for him to visit the victims for a number of reasons, including his safety concern centring intra-party feud.
The election has created division among the party men. And I had a concern for my safety too. Ruhal said the blockades put by Jamaat supporters had prevented him from visiting the victims families. He wondered how he could visit the places when even the law enforcers could not take him. On the other hand, Jamaat leaders, even the ones wanted by police, attended janaza of their activists killed in the firing of law enforcers. They arranged the funerals and reportedly gave every family of a deceased Tk5 lakh. Satkhira did not see violence only in 2013. Former Jatiya Party lawmaker HM Golam Rezas Satkhira 4 constituency saw one of the most significant Hindu repressions in 2012, allegedly fuelled further by the lawmaker. Another former JaPa lawmaker MA Jabbar from Satkhira 2 seat is said to have spent most of the government aid distributed under Test Relief and Kabikha (food for work) programmes to Agardari Aminia Kamil Madrasa. The present crisis in the area is not all about Jamaat. The Awami League is also equally responsible for all of these, aggrieved, said a district AL leader preferring anonymity. Jamaat found a golden opportunity to do what it has done in absence of a competent leadership in Satkhira. And the grand alliance leaders were never seen talking anything about secular politics, said Abul Kalam Azad, acting editor of local newspaper the daily Patradut. l
they cast votes in favour of the Awami League ignoring their call to boycott the poll, Hasina said. Threatening the opposition BNP Jamaat for criminal activities, the premier said: You wanted to resist the poll, but failed. Now stop killing innocent people in the name of hartal and blockade. Otherwise...the Awami League knows how to prevent it. She said the BNP chief and some war criminals and terrorists would not be able to stop the progress of Bangladesh. So, I request you to stop violent activities and come to a negotiation table... Let us resolve the crisis through talks, the premier said. She also asked the people to assist the government in preventing the criminal activities of BNP Jamaat. The AL chief again thanked the people for not responding to the call of the BNP chairperson who had urged them to foil the 10th parliamentary poll. She thanked the 40% voters for casting their rights in favour of the AL braving all sorts of obstacles. The premier said a vested quarter had been hatching conspiracy to foil the poll to take benefit from an unconstitutional government. But the people cast votes to establish democracy in the country, she said adding that the countrymen would not want to see any terrorist party in power anymore. Informing the people about her meeting with the president on Thursday, the premier said: I met with the President as leader of majority party. We will form the next government and take oath on January 12 [tomorrow]. AL leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury and Syed Ashraful Islam also addressed the rally with Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair. There was a huge crowd during the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu had given his historic speech on March 7, 1971. Controversial lawmaker Shamim Osman and former state ministers Quamrul Islam and Jahangir Kabir Nanak joined the programme along with a large number of activists. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Activists of Ganajagaran Mancha bring out a procession at Shahbagh yesterday before starting for the road march to Malopara of Jessore. The Mancha called out for the march to protest communal violence by the oppositions DHAKA TRIBUNE
Being informed by the parents, we started searching. With technological support, we were able to detect the location of the abductor and detained him from his village
Nesar was one of my co-workers at the restaurant. He took my child from
Highways, city roads witness long queue Potiya madrasa headmaster n killed, two injured
Tribune Report
Major highways and city roads yesterday witnessed long tailbacks as people came out in large numbers after getting a reprieve from the back-to-back hartal and communication blockade of the BNP-led 18-party alliance. The streets were affected by a triple whammy of dense fogs, swarming vehicles and haphazard parking in the morning, but there were little signs of easing up even after the fogs lifted later in the day. There were long queues of vehicles packed with passengers around almost every intersections in the capital, while its entry points were clogged by inbound and out-bound long-route busses and trucks. Comilla witnessed a 36-kilometre tailback on both sides of the highway between Chandina and Daudkandi toll plaza, caused by heavy fogs and high concentration of vehicles, especially goods-laden trucks, reports our Comilla correspondent. The passengers of a Dhaka-bound bus from Chandina said they had started for the capital around 6am but couldnt get past the upazila periphery even after four hours. Mohammad Sohel, driver of a covered van, said it had taken him over five hours to drive the 27 kilometres from Chandina to Gouripur. It was not totally unexpected. People got a two-day break before another spell of blockade begins on Sunday; naturally, they will try to make the most of it. A 60-kilometre tailback was witnessed on the road between Comillas Iliotganj to Narayanganjs Meghna Bridge.
The situation was no better on the waterways as ferry operations on the MawaKeurakandi route were suspended because of dense fog on Thursday night
The jam ensued after some vehicles got stuck in the foggy weather early in the morning, and by 10am it stretched over 60 kilometres, said Sargent Md Saiful Islam of Bhoberchar Highway police camp. Meanwhile, a slow traffic movement was reported at the Hatikumrul Highway of Sirajganj, on both sides of Bangabandhu Bridge, early in the day. It got worse as the day wore on, said Ali Farid Ahmed, officer in charge of Hitikumrul Highway police station. The situation was no better on the waterways. Ferry operations on the Mawa-Keurakandi route were suspended because of dense fog on Thursday night, leading to long queues of vehicles
waiting to cross the Padma. Ferry crossing at the integral point to South from Dhaka resumed after 11 hours around 10am, but there was already a long jam with buses and trucks from 21 districts stuck on both sides of the river. Passengers on launches, speed boats and trawlers had to suffer similar delays because of the fog and resultant tailbacks. Citys Situation Traffic pressure in the capital was higher compared with the past few days. Commuters had to wait for long hours to get into their desired vehicles and reach their destinations. I have been waiting for more than 20 minutes for a bus from Sukrabad to Azimpur. I tried several times to get into one but failed each time, said Nahid Jahan, a Masters student of Eden Mahila College. A similar situation was seen around important intersections like the Sonargaon, Farmgate, Bijoynagar, Shahbagh, and Gulistan. A traffic sergeant posted at the Panthapath intersection, seeking anonymity, said jams in these points were in part contributed to by the Awami League rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, which was organised to observe the homecoming day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. l
inately. The miscreants later dumped the body in the tank, he added. He said the miscreants had also slashed at the madrasas domestic help, Rowshan Ara Begum, 55, and a student, Abdu Rahman Tipu, 15, when they came out of their rooms hearing the headmaster shout. Rowshan received injuries on her head and Tipu on his leg, he added. The ASP said the domestic help was currently undergoing treatment in Chittagong Medical College Hospital and the body of Abdul Aziz was sent to the morgue for autopsy.
OC Mafiz said they were investigating the matter and a case was lodged with Potiya police station in this regard. SUM Abdus Samad, presidium member of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, alleged that Jamaat-Shibir men had killed the headmaster. However, Mohammad Ullah, publicity secretary of the city unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, denied the allegation. The ASP said they were looking into the matter to see whether the killing was political or it was related to any previous local dispute. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
There may be drizzles across the country except for Chittagong region today The ongoing moderate cold wave for 12 hours at night for the last two have been prevailing on all routes n Abu Bakar Siddique n Tarek Mahmudd, Chittagong with chill wind and dense fog that is weeks due to heavy fog, causing a few including the Dhaka-Chandpur and
The ongoing moderate cold wave with chill wind and dense fog that is sweeping over the country is causing difficulties in everyday life, especially for low-income people in the northern districts
Sirajul Islam, a manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation at Mawa, said water transports and ferry services remained suspended to avoid accidents, resuming at 9.30am every day after the fog disappears. Communication problems
Bloomberg Philanthropies organises a street show in the citys Shahbagh yesterday to raise awareness against tobacco usage
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WEATHER
n Tribune Desk
Members of the Army will remain deployed in eight constituencies till January 17 as there will be re-polling in 392 centres on January 16. Armed forces will remain deployed as a striking force in the eight constituencies along with the law enforcers, said an ISPR media release. The eight constituencies are Dinajpur-4, Kurigram-4, Gaibandha-1, 3 and 4, Bogra-7, Jessore-5 and Laxmipur-1. The Election Commission has taken the decision of keeping the army personnel deployed for free and fair re-polling in the centres, reports UNB. On Sunday (Jan 5), elections were held in 147 constituencies. The voting in the 392 polling stations was suspended due to widespread violence during the elections. l
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:23am 6:42am 12:06am 3:53pm 5:29pm 6:49pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
Members of Amra Obhoynagar Bashi form a human chain in front of the National Museum yesterday, protesting communal violence in Jessore SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Feature
most as if for sale, something young people need to be able to do when in search of their first job. He asks me: Do you know: Whats the point of a necktie? Erm It is like a ribbon you wrap yourself up in a ribbon to present yourself like a gift. Zaman is hugely enjoyable company, self-effacing and witty. Hes not remotely bothered that some people might think he looks like a stuffy anglophile. In fact he is totally self-aware, and seems to acknowledge the prospect that formal clothes can be a source of comedy. When I mischievously suggest his already dandy-like appearance could be improved further with the addition of a trilby, he doesnt take the bait. Giggling, he says: I think wandering around Dhaka in a hat would be totally ridiculous! In spite of his congeniality, the reality of Zamans life has been much tougher than one would expect from someone so fond of fine clothes. Born in Dinjapur as the youngest of six siblings, his family struggled to make ends meet after the early death of his father left them in semi-poverty. As a student at Dhaka University in 1971 when the war broke out, he joined the Mukhtibahini at a very early stage, seeing extensive combat and later being awarded the Bir Protik for his efforts. These days he works in IT, and pursues his interests in mens style he hates the word fashion whenever he can. The next phase is his quest to re-educate peoples dress-sense is to set up his own tailor shop here in Dhaka. The problem is when the British left, the flow of technology stopped. Not one to be put off, Zaman has been training a set of local tailors over the last 4 years, and is soon to open a tailoring service that will
n James Saville
November 7, 2013: If you look closely you will notice that a button is missing from the front of the jacket (I am trying to hide the missing button by folding my hands where the first button should be)
December 17, 2013: With a pink and blue striped silk bow-tie
had not been in Dhaka long before I heard rumours of a wonderful local eccentric, a man who goes by the nickname The King of Dhaka. Who could this pretender be? Some long-lost heir to the sultanate of Bengal? Or a scion of an old Nawab perhaps? Eventually I was told that His Majestys kingdom is, alas, in cyberspace. But anyone who heads to kingofdhaka.com will find all the regal splendour they could ever want. The man behind the site is Shahzaman Mozumder, and it is the most unique fashion blog I have ever seen. The sites homepage consists of a series of daily photo-posts bearing the title What I am wearing today, with pictures of Zaman in his immaculate, and often flamboyant, ensembles. Smart English-style tailoring is very much the order of the day. There is a menu with clickable links for sartorial advice, all organised under helpful headings such as Suit jacket buttoning rules and Pocket square folds. The website is aimed at young professionals who find themselves wearing suits and ties for the first time, and seeks to provide guidance to those navigating the minefield that is mens tailoring. This need comes from personal experience. Zaman tells me: In 1980-83 I actually didnt know what to do. I wish there had been a resource that I could have consulted, just to learn a little bit about what colours go with what, he says. For example, what should be the colour of my first suit? ... I purchased a suit in a very funny colour. What colour did you buy? I ask. It was blue, but not the blue I would buy these days. Was it a light blue? Not exactly light. It was funny. Zaman tells me that kingofdhaka.com has had more than 110,000 hits since its inception a year ago, proving that he may be onto something. He fervently believes that the purpose of style is to present oneself, al-
operate from inside Sonargaon Hotel. Products will include made-tomeasure suits for $100 plus material costs, and also fully bespoke suits, the cost of which will depend on how extravagant the customer wants them to be. After more than an hour of enthusiastic discussion on the benefits of different styles double-breasted would be a good look for me, he confirms we part ways. I leave slightly ashamed of my ill-fitting t-shirt and slightly torn trousers. l
A necktie is like a ribbon you wrap yourself up with a ribbon to present yourself like a gift
nspired after a disappointing trip to Coxs Bazar, cousins Ishnad Chowdhury and Tadib Muqtada decided to introduce an adventurous new water sport to Bangladeshs growing tourist destination: parasailing. As beautiful as the place was, we found that there was absolutely nothing to do, Tadib said in an interview with the Dhaka Tribune. Coxs Bazar, despite its natural advantages as the worlds longest natural sand beach and its surrounding lush greenery, is still developing as a beach resort area.
It did not take long for these two enterprising young men to figure out a solution. They took a second trip to Panowa (the local name for the seaside town) and scoped out the possibility of offering parasailing and other beach activities. In September 2012, they decided to launch Fun Fest. Within a month, they convinced the Coxs Bazar Beach Management Committee that this would be beneficial for tourism,and by November that year, they bought the necessary equipment and started training the workforce. They officially went into operation a month later. We faced many constraints from
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It isnt clear why some people get asthma and others dont, but its probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors. Asthma can appear at any age, but it typically develops during childhood. Those most at risk include people with allergies or a family history of asthma. Having a parent with asthma makes children three to six times more likely to develop the condition.
Children and older people are advised to use the inhaler with a device called a spacer, which helps them take the medicine properly
cal fumes, gases or dust Allergy-induced asthma triggered by particular allergens, such as mold, dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches or pollen. your lungs are working. A lung function test, also called spirometry, measures how much air you can breathe in and out. The results will help determine whether you have asthma and how severe the condition is. Your doctor may also recommend allergy testing to pinpoint some of your asthma triggers. Sometimes children with asthma can grow out of their symptoms, or many years of regular treatment with anti-inflammatory asthma medication may make the disease disappear. It is tempting to think that your asthma has been cured if you have not had symptoms for a long time, but you will usually still have a tendency to develop asthma if you are exposed to the appropriate triggers in the future. Most people with asthma are able to keep the conditions under control. Allergy treatment using hyposensi-
It is virtually impossible for people with asthma to avoid all their triggers all the time. For this reason, many people need to take daily medication to prevent asthma attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most common medication for the long-term control of asthma.
Asthma trigger
For some people, asthma symptoms flare up in certain situations: Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry Occupational asthma,triggered by workplace irritants such as chemi-
If pollen is one of your triggers, youll probably notice your asthma symptoms are worse at certain times of the year.
Diagnosing asthma
Managing asthma
Even with the use of long-term medication, asthma symptoms sometimes flare up. When this happens, youll need another type of inhaler to provide quick relief. Short-acting beta2agonists are the most common choice. These rescue inhalers quickly relax the tightened muscles around the airways, restoring the flow of air to the lungs. It is better to take asthma medications through an inhaler or nebuliser, which assures efficacy, prompt relief and fewer side effects. Children and older people are advised to use the inhaler with a device called spacer, which helps them take the medicine properly. Some asthma attacks require emergency treatment in the hospital. l Dr Kazi Saifuddin Benoor is Assistant Professor of Chest Medicine in National Institute of Chest Diseases and Hospital.
Afirst-aid kitis a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid. A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Keep at least one first-aid kit in your home, your office and one in your car. Store your kits in easy-to-retrieve locations that are out of the reach of young children. You can purchase firstaid kits at many drugstores or assemble your own. Contents of a first-aid kit should include:
Basic supplies
If you have symptoms of asthma, your doctor will want to check how well
While there is no cure, there are highly effective strategies for keeping asthma symptoms at bay.
HEALTH NEWS
Adhesive tape Antibiotic ointment Antiseptic solution Bandages, including a roll of elastic wrap and bandage strip Instant cold packs Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs Disposable latex or synthetic gloves, at least two pairs Duct tape Gauze pads and roller gauze First-aid manual Petroleum jelly or other lubricant Plastic bags for the disposal of contaminated materials Safety pins Scissors and tweezers Soap or instant hand sanitiser Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution Thermometer Triangular bandage Blood pressure measuring machine and stethoscope
BIGSTOCK
The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Sovaldi is the first drug that has demonstrated safety and efficacy to treat certain types of HCV infection without the need for co-administration of interferon. Sovaldi is to be used as a
component of a combination antiviral treatment regimen for chronic HCV infection. Hepatitis C is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver that can lead to diminished liver function or liver failure. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C has got no vaccine. l
Fresh milk, often referred to as homogenised and Brown eggsare often thought as a healthier alternapasteurised milk, is sold in the chilled foods section tive to white eggs. You might be surprised to learn of the supermarket. It has a short shelf life and must that nutritionally, both brown and white eggs are be kept below 4C to maintain freshness. Ultra heat almost identical in content. The only measurable treated (UHT) milk, which is sometimes called longdifferences come from the color and breed of the life milk, is slightly different. It has had extra treatchickens producing the eggs. DID YOU ment which enables it to be stored at room temperaThe colour of an eggshell is determined by the coKNOW? ture (as long as it is unopened) for extended periods. lour of the hen laying the egg. This is very similar to Both fresh milk and UHT milk have undergone pasteurihow your eye color and hair colour are determined by genetsation and homogenisation before packaging and sale to ics. Brown eggs come from brown hens and white eggs come consumers. Pasteurifrom white hens. The sation involves heating color of the yolk inside the milk to 72C for 15 the shell and the egg seconds to kill harmwhite is the same for ful bacteria that may both brown and white be present. The milk is eggs. The nutritional rapidly chilled, before value of brown and homogenisation comwhite eggs are almost mences. This involves identical. passing the milk On average, brown through a fine nozzle eggs are more expento create a smooth, sive than white eggs. creamy taste and texThe higher price tag ture. on brown eggs does not necessarily reflect better quality, Fresh milk is then packaged and refrigerated, while UHT rather it is a result of specific breeds of brown hens being milk is exposed to a more powerful heat treatment to inachigher maintenance than white hens. This occurs betivate harmful bacteria. This allows the milk to be stored cause brown hens are larger than white hens and therefore out of the fridge while it is unopened. It is important to chill require more food, which translates into a higher cost for UHT milk once it has been opened. l consumers. l | Prescription Desk
Medications
Anti-diarrheal medication Over-the-counter oral antihistamine Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children) Calamine lotion Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream Syringe, medicine cup or spoon Oral saline
Give your kit a checkup. Check your first-aid kits regularly, at least every three months, to be sure the flashlight batteries work and to replace supplies that have expired.
avoid passing on fat genes, new research suggests. Recently a study showed that if fathers and grandfathers have a high
For a whole blood donation, you need to wait 12 weeks before your next donation.
provide an alternative to expensive and invasive weight loss surgery with no major side-effects. l
To give blood you need neither extra strength nor extra food, and you will save a life. Most people between the ages of 17 and 65, who weigh over 50kg (7st 12lb) and have a good level of general health will be able to donate blood. If youve had a cold or other illness within a week of donating, you need to wait for 7 days before you can donate. You must also be over 45 kilograms to ensure the blood loss wont affect you.
You should avoid exerting yourself for 12 hours after donating as a precaution, but your energy levels wont be affected. It only takes 1 to 2 days for your blood volume to be back to normal, but make sure you drink lots of water to help the recovery process. hani, Red Crescent, and Quantum are operating blood banks that help in voluntary blood donation. Most hospitals have a blood bank that can arrange the donation. have to fill out a confidential questionnaire and have an interview with a staff member to make sure youre healthy and fit for a donation. If youre in good shape to make a donation, theyll then start the process. After donating blood youll be given something to eat and drink and shown somewhere you can rest for the recommended 15 minutes before
Will it hurt?
Theres nothing to worry about, you wont feel more than a tiny pinprick.
Where to donate?
The actual process only takes about 5-10 minutes. Before donation, you
No. All blood donations are voluntary, following World Health Organization and Red Cross and Crescent policies. l
| Dr Mohammad Sayem
BIGSTOCK
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Ndjamena
Central African Republic President Michel Djotodia has resigned under intense pressure over his failure to stem the sectarian unrest ripping his country apart, a regional grouping announced yesterday. African leaders meeting in neighbouring Chad to seek a solution to the crisis said they had noted the resignation of Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye, whose notoriously fractious relationship with the president had led to political paralysis. Djotodia was under intense pressure from his peers, who gathered in Chad Thursday in a bid to end the violence that has seen more than 1,000 people killed in the last month alone. All 135 lawmakers from the landlocked Central African Republic (CAR) had flown to Chad on Thursday at the behest of Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno to try to resolve the crisis as it threatened to spill over into neighbouring countries. Djotodia has come under fire for failing to stem the spiralling violence between the mainly Muslim former rebels who brought him to power last year and militias formed by the Christian majority. Earlier Friday, thousands of residents in the Central African capital Bangui took to the streets demanding Djotodias departure. We want Djotodia to stand down. We need someone new to lead the country, said one protester, while another said Djotodia should stay in NDjamena, accusing him of responsibility for a massacre. Although he was already due to step down when a transition period expires in a years time, his inability to rein in chaos across the country prompted calls for a swifter change in leadership. Deby, Central Africas perennial kingmaker, had opened the Economic ComJihadist-rebel fighting has raged for a week, mainly in Aleppo, Idlib and Raqa provinces. On yesterday, rebels continued to advance in much of Aleppo and Idlib, where ISILs presence was relatively weak, while the jihadists had the upper hand in Raqa, which has been under their control for several months. Several rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assads regime opened a new front against ISIL last week, accusing the jihadists of seeking control and committing horrific abuses in opposition-held areas. l
Rebel fighters carry the body of a dead man at the Aleppo headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq
AFP
US National Security Advisor Susan Rice The United States reiterates its call upon President Salva Kiir to release the detainees immediately to the custody of IGAD so that they can participate in the political negotiations. On Wednesday, the government proposed to shift the peace talks to the United Nations compound in Juba, enabling the 11 detainees to attend the negotiations during the day and return to custody in the evening. South Sudans presidential spokes-
AFP
man said the rebels appeared to reject that. The UN, which shelters more than 8,000 people at its Bentiu compound, said its mission in South Sudan had cut off military links with the government and was ready to fend off any attack. Farhan Haq, UN deputy spokesman, said the outcome of the battle for Bentiu, capital of Unity state, was unclear and fluid. l
OTHER NEWS
Two drunk Russians cut off own ears for a bet
Two inebriated Russians in a Siberian mining region both cut off their own left ears after betting on the result of an arm-wrestling contest, police said yesterday. The men were drinking to celebrate Orthodox Christmas and held an arm-wrestling contest, agreeing that the loser had to cut off his ear, police reported in the southern Siberian Kemerovo region. One of the men won the first bout, but his opponent insisted on a second round, which he won. The two men then decided that according to their rules, both must cut off their ears, police said. The men voluntarily cut off their left ears. One completely, and the other half off. They were hospitalised with these injuries, police said. The mens drunken escapade echoed Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, who also cut off part of his left ear. With them authorities found a note in which another cartel, Jalisco Nueva Generacion, apparently claimed responsibility. The grisly discovery came in the state capital, the port city also called Veracruz, said a police official. The note said: This is going to happen to any filthy Z that goes around kidnapping and robbing innocent people, according to the police official. The heads, with signs of torture, were found Wednesday night after police were advised by local people. In late December five people were found decapitated in the western state of Michoacan, also along with a note from the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel, which is fighting for control of the state with rival drug gangs called the Knights Templar and La Familia Michoacana. Veracruz is one of the Mexican states hardest hit by drug-related violence by cartels such as the Zetas, which resorts to abductions and extortion, as well as robbery and trafficking of undocumented migrants trying to reach the United States. Also in December the remains of three women and four men were found in several clandestine graves on a beach in Veracruz. The state lies on the Gulf of Mexico and boasts Mexicos biggest commercial port.
French controversial humorist Dieudonne Mbala Mbala arrives for a trial at the Paris courthouse AFP
The decapitated heads of three suspected members of the Zetas drug cartel were found on the trunk of a car in eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, authorities said Thursday.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Phnom Penh
Cambodias opposition warned strongman premier Hun Sen of a final campaign against him unless fresh elections are held, as it rallied yesterday in the countrys northwest despite recent bloody crackdowns on protesters. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha met hundreds of supporters in Siem Reap province after authorities banned anti-government rallies in the capital and renewed calls for Hun Sen to resign over alleged vote fraud in July 2013 polls. If he does not agree to a new election, we will start the final campaign. That will be to make him step down, Kem Sokha told a cheering crowd, according to a live stream from the rally on his Cambodia National Rescue Party website. Authorities chased opposition protesters from their rally site in the capital Phnom Penh on Saturday and banned all anti-government demonstrations indefinitely after bloody clashes between striking garment workers and security forces that saw police shoot several people dead. In the face of growing international alarm, the government has defended the crackdown, denouncing the rallies against Hun Sen as violent and illegal. Rainsy and Kem Sokha, who have been summoned to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 14 for questioning in connection with the recent unrest, are planning similar rallies in two more provinces over the weekend. We are not scared, brothers. We did not commit any wrongdoing, Sam Rainsy told supporters as they chanted Step down, Hun Sen.
9
Pakistan teen dies stopping suicide bomber n Reuters
A Pakistani schoolboy who died stopping a suicide bomber from attacking his school has been recommended for the countrys highest civilian award, a provincial police chief said. On yesterday, Nasir Khan Durrani recommended Aitezaz for Pakistans top civilian award - Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Aitezaz Hassan, 15, tackled the bomber as he tried to enter a government school in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hassan and the bomber died, but no other students or staff were hurt, police said. Though I lost my sweet son I have no regret for what he has done. He has done a heroic job and I am proud of his bravery, Mujahid Ali, Aitezazs father, told Reuters news agency. The bomber approached the school with explosives hidden under a school uniform on Monday, but students noticed and started shouting out warnings to stop him. Aitezaz tackled him head on, but the bomb detonated and Aitezaz died of his injuries, said head teacher Azmat Ali. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni Muslim sectarian group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The school is in Hangu, a predominantly Shia Muslim area. The boys parents said no government official or politician had contacted them. Aitezazs father said authorities could rename the school after him and officially declare him a martyr, a designation that would bring some financial relief to his family. His mother, brother, and two sisters were mourning Aitezaz, but took some comfort in knowing that he had saved many others, the father said. l
Devyani Khobragade hi, has demanded contract details for domestic staff employed by American diplomats and even stopped the mission importing duty-free alcohol. On Wednesday, it ordered an embassy leisure centre popular with American expatriates in the capital to stop admitting non-diplomatic members, while scheduled visits by US officials to India have been cancelled. The United States through presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama has invested heavily in improving ties with India which it has embraced as part of its pivot to Asia, designed to check Chinese influence. The row exposed a gulf in perceptions and values between the two countries. Khobragade, a wealthy 39-yearold, was seen at home as the victim of heavy-handed policing and her treat-
AFP
ment was viewed as a humiliation of India by the worlds superpower. Domestic servants are routine for the middle classes in India where few employees have contracts, many are abused, and none make even a fraction of the US minimum wage. In the United States, there was little public sympathy for a woman allegedly exploiting a vulnerable employee who had lied to bring her to the country. We are proud Indians. We may be a poor country but we dont compromise the sovereignty of the country, Khobragades father, Uttam, told a press conference on yesterday. We as a family would not like to touch the soil of a country that treats a human being in such a way, he added, saying that Khobragades children and American husband would follow her to India. l
In the face of growing international alarm, the government has defended the crackdown, denouncing the rallies against Hun Sen as violent and illegal
The strike has since been called off and most of the garment workers have returned to work. In the clearance of the long-standing opposition rally site in a Phnom Penh park on Saturday, activists said dozens of security personnel armed with shields and batons chased away hundreds of protesters including monks, women and children. Hun Sen, 61, has vowed to stay in power until he is 74. l
Lightning streaks across the sky of Montevideo, over the Legislative Palace seat of the Uruguayan Government during a thunderstorm early on January 10 AFP
Malaysia court throws out charge against oppositions Anwar n AFP, Sydney
Australian PM likens people-smuggling Tibetan Buddhist institute engulfed in flames crackdown to war
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on yesterday likened the fight against people-smugglers to war, while defending the detention centres asylum-seekers are held in as effective and humanely run. Indonesian officials say the Australian navy has turned back at least one boat carrying asylum-seekers to its shores, although The Australian newspaper said as many as five have been secretly returned. Abbotts conservative government has refused to reveal details of the incidents or other operational matters, sparking claims from the Labour opposition that it is overseeing a Stalinist-style media blackout. In the end, we are in a ierce contest with these people-smugglers, he told a breakfast television programme. And if we were at war, we wouldnt be giving out information that is of use to the enemy just because we might have an idle curiosity about it ourselves. Abbott said he would not release information which would be exploited by people-smugglers to the peril of their customers and to the tremendous disadvantage of our country. The conservative Liberal Party leader, who won power in September polls after campaigning to stop the boats, has introduced the military-led Operation Sovereign Borders to crack down on asylum-seekers coming by boat. Under the policy, Australia will turn back boats to Indonesia when it is safe to do so, while those who reach Australian territory will be processed within 48 hours and quickly sent to Pacific island camps on Nauru or Papua New Guinea. Australias tough policies have irked Jakarta, which has warned that turning boats back could breach Indonesian territorial sovereignty. l
n AFP, Beijing
A remote Tibetan Buddhist institute thought to be among the largest in the world has been seriously damaged in a huge fire, reports said yesterday, while the cause of the inferno remains a mystery. The fire at the Serthar, or Larung Gar, Institute in Sichuan province in southwest China started on Thursday evening, according to a China News Network report. The blaze destroyed at least 10 structures but no casualties had been reported, the report said. More than 450 rescuers, police and fire-fighters carried out relief efforts at the scene and an investigation was underway, it added. Pictures posted on Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter, showed throngs of onlookers standing in a street, gazing upward as bright yellow flames consumed a huge portion of the sprawling institute and smoke wafted into the night sky.
A Malaysian court on yesterday threw out illegal-assembly charges against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim over his part in a 2012 rally that could have barred him from standing for election, his lawyer said. Anwar, 66, and two other members of his party were charged in 2012 with violating newly enacted restrictions on public gatherings as well as a court order banning the rally from the centre of the capital Kuala Lumpur. But the charges were dismissed after a separate court ruled on Monday that the ban on the gathering was invalid, Anwars lawyer Ram Karpal said. Tens of thousands had gathered April 28, 2012 to demand reform of an electoral system that critics say is biased toward the ruling coalition that has controlled Malaysia since independence in 1957. Azmin Ali, the deputy president of Anwars Peoples Justice Party and a co-defendant, called the latest developments a moral victory for the opposition. The rulings show that the authorities have to respect the right of citizens enshrined in the constitution to assemble peacefully, he told AFP. A former deputy prime minister and rising ruling-party star, Anwar was sacked in a 1998 falling-out with his boss, then-premier Mahathir Mohamad, and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges in an episode that rocked Malaysian politics. l
The blaze destroyed at least 10 structures but no casualties had been reported, the report said
In one of the images rescue workers appeared to be moving debris and aiding several shaven-headed monks in long scarlet robes. Serthar, known as Seda in Chinese, is in a Tibetan area more than 4,000 metres above sea level and hundreds
of kilometres from the nearest city. The institute was founded in 1980 in an uninhabited valley and has since grown to become one of the worlds most important centres of Tibetan Buddhism, with an estimated population of 10,000 monks, nuns and students living in small wooden homes on the hillsides surrounding the complex. Its founder, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, who died in 2004, was known for keeping a strict focus on Buddhism rather than politics at the institute. He maintained a close relationship with both Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader and Nobel peace laureate who Beijing condemns as a separatist. But the Buddhist academys survival was threatened in 2001 when armed police forced hundreds of nuns and monks to leave the site, destroying more than 1,000 homes to prevent them returning. Police demanded that nuns sign documents denouncing the Dalai Lama and pledging not to return, according to overseas campaign groups, and Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok was detained for a year after the incident. In early 2012, Serthar was rocked by violence when police fired tear gas and began shooting into a crowd of hundreds of peaceful Tibetan protesters, exile groups said. Chinas official Xinhua news agency said that the incident, in which one person was killed, was triggered when rioters attacked police with knives, bottles of petrol and guns. l
10
www.dhakatribune.com
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
n a recent interview with the New York Times, Khaleda Zia gave hints that the BNP might consider cutting its long-standing ties with Jamaat-e-Islami. That she is giving this move any thought at all is a good sign, and might work to the advantage of her party. But it might be time for BNP not to think of this only in terms of strategy or tactics, but in terms of the partys long-term platform. Between the elections of 2008 and the more recent Shahbagh movement, and most crucially with the abiding support for war crimes, it has become clear as day that there is little tolerance in this country for the kind of politics represented by Jamaat. While Jamaat has served as a good tactical ally in electoral seat sharing in the past, the war crimes baggage and now the horrors of more recent violence make them too toxic an association for anyone seeking broad-based support. Jamaat-Shibir activists were already infamous for their brutal violence against other activists and law enforcement, but they have gone so far as to target the general public in the past year. The sickening violence on and after election day serve as further reminders of the costs to the BNP of maintaining such an alliance. From the time Jamaat joined the 18-party alliance, there have been internal disagreements with some party policymakers showing discomfort with having Jamaat in the fold. Khaleda Zia has rightly said that her partys internal decisions are theirs. We understand this, and it is to her and her partys best interests that we appeal. There was always notable support for BNPs demands for a free and fair election. Free of Jamaat, BNP might have succeeded in building a more successful movement for that demand through peaceful means. The murky coupling with Jamaat and its agenda of foiling war crimes trials through violence has hurt BNPs legitimate demands badly. Cutting Jamaat loose would also put the government on the spot as Sheikh Hasina has said on more than one occasion that she would welcome dialogue with BNP if it put an end to violence and dropped its alliance with Jamaat. It is clearer than ever before that BNP stands to gain by cutting Jamaat loose, sooner rather than later.
January 6 On January 3, I received a message in my mobile phone. It was a government information text issued by the election commission. It said: Apnar vote apnar gonotantrik odhikar, apnar vote, apnar pochondo. Dayittoshil vabe pochonder prarthike, dekhe shuney, bujhe apnar vote din election commission. I just cannot believe my eyes. How could the Election Commission send such a message? It is audacious, and reflects a total disregard for peoples feelings and their rights. 153 candidates have already been elected uncontested, and 47 candidates are going to be elected in a rigging process. In the one-sided January 5 election, the government is depriving people of their basic rights. For its autocratic decision, the country is falling to pieces. Nur Jahan
The war crimes baggage and now the horrors of more recent violence make Jamaat too toxic an association for anyone seeking broad-based support
Democracy at a crossroads
January 5 Ifty Islams full page essay on the above subject succinctly portrays the total decline and downfall of democracy in Bangladesh today. All political, civic and moral principles have been battered by our self-centred politicians. This writer feels that for us democracy has reached a dead end. Maybe we should forget it, and the alternative of autocracy or even dictatorship may be a better option. At least it will ensure peace and law and order for the common man, which is their prime need, instead of this bent and broken governance by democracy. When all is said and done, democracy is dead, and our future smeared in uncertainty of lawlessness and destruction, fights and endless rowdiness. The way we are going, it is an invitation for total destruction of the country due to the unmanageable infighting between the political parties. That is the irony of our fate! SA Mansoor
Be Heard
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
Storm in a teacup
he swearing in of 289 MPs has taken place, albeit amid some controversy. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury conducted the oath-taking ceremony a few days ago, though the 10th parliament does not go into effect until January 24. Many people, including some of our legal and constitutional experts, have raised a hue and cry about this legal debate, with BNPs acting secretary general going so far as dubbing it a violation of the constitution. Under our reading, the procedure being followed is both constitutional and logical. But, more to the point, we do not think specious arguments on this issue are either helpful or enlightening. Arguing about whether the swearing-in is unconstitutional or not is a non-issue, in our opinion. This is hardly where the focus should be. We have much bigger problems that need to be dealt with. Over the past months, Bangladesh has been combating a crisis of democracy, with numerous arson attacks, crude bomb attacks, as well as atrocities on minority communities across the nation. On top of that, the blockades have dealt a crippling blow to our economy. This is where the focus should be, on finding a workable solution to the crisis, on holding those behind the attacks accountable, on repairing the damage thats done to the economy, and making the nation safe for the public. While we congratulate the MPs on taking their oaths, we hope that they understand their constitutional obligations, and act accordingly for the public good. Legal nit-picking about when they take office and what happens until then is neither here nor there. There is far more serious business to attend to.
Our focus should be on finding a workable solution to the crisis, on repairing the damage thats done to the economy, and making the nation safe for the public
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Effective power (5) 4 Inflamed swelling (4) 7 Land measure (3) 8 Make brown (3) 9 Practical intelligence (5) 12 Incline (4) 13 Showed contempt (7) 15 Pale (3) 16 Secret agent (3) 18 Top card (3) 19 Used a chair (3) 21 Regain health (7) 24 Faithful (4) 26 On two occasions (5) 27 Tool (3) 28 Transgression (3) 29 Judge (4) 30 Explosion (5) DOWN 1 Church service (4) 2 Peaceful (6) 3 Inherited character unit (4) 4 Hairless (4) 5 Numeral (3) 6 Rangy (5) 10 Ply the needle (3) 11 Efface (5) 14 Make into a statute (5) 17 Abstract (6) 18 Performed (5) 20 Pull along (3) 21 Quantity of paper (4) 22 Passport endorsement (4) 23 Payment for property use (4) 25 Employ (3)
SUDOKU
YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword
How to solve Sudoku: 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 numberrepeating.
Code-Cracker
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
n MH Bari
n M Shamsul Haque
he 10th parliamentary election was held amidst a lot of confusion, obstructions, and violence. During the period preceding the election, many substantive issues were raised and discussed widely in the media. Issues such as there being too much of a concentration of power in the hands of the prime minister, restrictions on floor-crossing by the elected members from one party to another, and frequent boycotting of parliament sessions by the opposition were raised. All these made the government of the country seem unaccountable and authoritarian. In this regard, Afsan Chowdhury said the 15th amendment was passed to make elections difficult for everyone except the ruling party. The enormous phase of violence was a joint product of the AL and the BNP. There was no need to pass this when no compulsion existed. The reaction of the BNP supported by Jamaat showed
how deeply callous our politicians can be. But together, it showed, after 42 years we hadnt yet found out a constitutional way to rule and transfer power through elections. Too much authority given to parliament members made the local government institutions virtually ineffective. The powerful position of MPs allowed them to accumulate vast amounts of wealth at the cost of good local governance, as it is revealed in their submission to the election commission. Dr Kamal Hossain, in this connection, expressed that parliament and its members could be more effective if the functioning of parties could be brought into conformity with the mandates of the constitution. He said Article 70 of the constitution appeared to have made members apprehensive of speaking out on issues for fear of incurring their partys displeasure. Reforms needed to be carefully considered to strengthen parliamentary democracy. If the
strategic goals set for 2021 were to succeed, meaningful change had to be made in our institutions and our political behavior.
To deliver public services to this vast growing population requires effective legislative and executive decentralisation
Too much centralisation of power at the headquarters of the government in Dhaka has hindered expected growth some of the regions, especially the northwestern parts of the country such as North Bengal, as well as some southern districts. As a result of this deprivation, people in these areas clearly showed their disliking of the Awami League government at the centre. These revealed preferences of the people need to be recognised through changes in They should, especially, be withdrawn from their chairmanships of schools and colleges. Headmasters and principals should be made ex officio chairs of managing committees with all powers. In addition, administrative and financial control of educational institutions should be placed under district education offices. l M Shamsul Haque is Vice-Chancellor, Northern University Bangladesh.
oes society need the death penalty? It is the million dollar question now, as voices in favour of certain universal human rights are getting stronger day by day. The EU countries, Australia, Canada, and some US states have abolished capital punishment. The UN opposes the imposition of the death penalty under any circumstance, even for the most serious crimes. However, Bangladesh has retained the practice of death penalty as punishment. Proponents of the death penalty say it is an important tool for preserving law and order, that it deters crime, and costs less than life imprisonment. They argue that retribution, or an eye for an eye, honours the victim, helps console grieving families, and ensures that the perpetrators of heinous crimes never have the opportunity to cause future tragedy. Those who support capital punishment argue that all guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime. It is argued that death penalty provides closure for victims families. Some proponents of capital punishment argue it is beneficial for society overall. It is undeniable that those who have been executed cannot commit further crimes. On the other hand, opponents of capital punishment say it has no deterrent effect on crime, that it wrongly gives governments the power to take human life, and it perpetuates social injustices by being racist and classist, disproportionately handing out punishment to minorities or the underprivileged. They say lifetime jail sentences are a more severe and less expensive punishment than death. Everyone thinks human life is valuable. Opponents say everyone, even those who commit murder, have an inalienable right to their own life. Sentencing a person to death and executing them violates that right. Those against capital punishment believe that human life is so valuable that even the worst murderers should not be deprived of their right to live. Those who are against capital punishment also argue that death penalty is wrong because it lowers the dignity of people, that it is a surrender to the worst that is in human beings, that it uses a sort of power the official power to kill by execution that has never elevated a society, never brought back a life, and never inspired anything but hate. The most common and most cogent argument against capital punishment is that innocent people may also get killed because of mistakes or flaws in the justice system. Witnesses, (when they are part of the process), prosecutors, and jurors can all make mistakes. When this is coupled with flaws in the system, it is inevitable that sometimes innocent people will be convicted of crimes.
Where capital punishment is used, such mistakes cannot be set right. Another important and crucial argument against retribution is that it is immoral. In addition to all these issues surrounding capital punishment, some argue that all ways of executing people cause so much suffering to the condemned person that they amount to torture, and are therefore wrong.Many methods of execution are quite likely to cause enormous suffering, such as beheading, execution by lethal gas, electrocution and so on. A number of points can be made to logically argue against the death penalty. There is a better alternative: life without parole. The death penalty puts innocent lives at risk. Race and place determine who lives and who dies.Poor legal defence leaves many sentenced to death.Capital punishment does not deter crimes. There is a better way to help the families of murder victims. No civilians job description should include killing another person.
It may be noted that people are not born criminals. Rather, it is society that makes them criminals. Two of the main causes for crimes are fear and want. We know that human rights are freedom from fear and want. If we can enforce human rights effectively, then society will be automatically peaceful. Why should we go for punishments that cannot deter or stop crime? It would be good if the state could use them in better ways, keeping criminals in custody for life. We are a developing steadily, our rate of education is increasing and our illiteracy rate is decreasing. The poverty level is going down and our per capita income has crossed $1000. More importantly, we are practicing the most sophisticated system of governance, democracy, which is supposed to protect human rights. Bangladesh is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Bill of Rights. So, Bangladesh might want to consider scrapping the death penalty from its penal code. The death penalty might someday become unlawful in Bangladesh. It will, at that point, be a reflection of the larger social consensus that capital punishment is inhumane. l MH Bari works in the global marketing of seafood from Bangladesh.
n Shazia Omar
very day, we as a nation, open the papers and look with horror and sadness at the meaningless violence taking place in our country. While our politicians play games for power, it is our poorest people that suffer most. Day labourers are unable to work or earn without risking their lives, and as a result, their families go without meals, sometimes go into debt, and are thrown into such depths of poverty, that they may never be able to climb out of their nightmare. Little boys taking lunch to their fathers and mothers who cannot afford to stay home are hit by bullets and lie bloody on our roads, as we wonder how our leaders will get over their differences and let democracy play itself out. We want our leaders to stop nurturing personal bank accounts and instead, do what we are voting them into power for and that is serve the people. In our beloved country, 17.6% of the population lives below the lower poverty line. That is approximately 25 million extremely poor people or 6 million extremely poor families. Jui is an extremely poor girl I met in Rajshahi. She is chronically underfed, malnourished and frequently ill. She faces social, economic and gender exclusion. Her father left her mother, as is common among extremely poor families. Her mother owns no assets,
savings or land. She has no skills or education. They will remain in abject poverty throughout their lives and from one generation to the next.
Our success is considered a paradox and has made us the global poster child of development
Is this the sort of country we want? What is your vision of our country in ten years? What sort of country do we dream of? Let us dare to dream big. Let us dare to dream of a nation where young single mothers are not left without support to raise beautiful daughters like Jui, where children can eat, learn to read and write, find safe jobs, and live with dignity.
well on several social indicators. We have achieved significant reductions in poverty, including, extreme poverty, over the past 10 years. Womens participation in economic activity has increased from 8% to 57% between 1983 and 2011, putting Bangladesh ahead of neighbours such as India (29%), Pakistan (22%), and Sri Lanka (35%). Our success is considered a paradox and has made us the global poster child of development. The world looks to us to lead the way in poverty-reducing innovations.
of extreme poverty. Bangladesh has several successful programs (CLP, BRAC CFPR, shiree, REOPA, FSUP, Nobo Jibon, UPPR) that have transformed the lives of the extreme poor through asset transfers or vocational skills training. Lets scale up our efforts.
for rapid eradication of poverty, now its a matter of setting a target and working towards this clear objective. Yes, 2022 is an ambitious target, but why not be ambitious? 2021/2022 is a significant year for Bangladesh symbolically our 50th anniversary. If we eradicate extreme poverty by 2022,
National challenges
Economic growth is high but the benefits dont trickle down to the poorest. We are still a nation with high inequality, governance challenges, lack of justice, especially for the poorest, rights and entitlements are not always upheld, political instability, poor infrastructure, not enough jobs, vulnerability to climate change.
Some of the benefits are obvious the elimination of severe hardship and suffering of 25 million fellow citizens, national solidarity and pride. Also, this will mean enhanced economic benefit for all of us. As the extreme poor join the economy, they will consume, produce and buy more. Our labour force will be stronger (well nourished, skilled, capable) and there will be a multiplier effect, increasing economic growth. Internationally we will also be better respected.
We will be judged as a nation by the way we treat our poorest. How can we answer to our own conscience if we do not move to eliminate this poverty?
the nation will truly have come of age. Once we establish a healthy, democratically elected government, let us start to tackle issues of real relevance. Let only those who love to serve their people come into power and then, let us work together, those of us who can, to mobilise the resources and actions necessary to relieve 25 million people of their pain and suffering. We can be a country where girls like Jui will have a fair chance at a good life. Let us honour our nation and our independence and build the beautiful Bangladesh we are meant to be. l Shazia Omar is Head of Advocacy at Shiree.
National successes
Bangladesh, despite its huge population, political instability and climatic vulnerability, has had remarkable achievements in development. We invented Micro Finance and ORS. We have had great results against MDG indicators. We have reduced maternal mortality, improved family planning and scored
We will be judged as a nation by the way we treat our poorest. How can we answer to our own conscience and to our children if we do not move to eliminate this poverty?
The Manifesto for the Extreme Poor is a civil society document that has received great national support from private sector companies, civil society organizations, donors, NGOs, think tanks and academics.
One demand
These conditions need not continue. Evidence shows that with adequate support, families can climb out
The Manifesto has one demand: the complete eradication of extreme poverty from Bangladesh by 2022. All the pieces of the jigsaw already exist
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk
Twenty-six films including six Bangladeshi films will be screened on the second day of the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) at different venues across the capital today. The films cover six categories- Retrospective, Cinema of the World, Childrens Film, Women Filmmakers, Short and Independent Films Section, and Spiritual Films Section. The festival features a competition in three categories- Asian and Australian and those of the six segments. Five films will be screened today at the National Museum auditorium from 10am to 9pm in the Cinema of the World category. Antaral, directed by Nepali film maker Dipa Basnet will be screened at
13TH DHAKA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Mahfuz Ahmed brings yet another mega series 26 films to be screened at Dhaka
n Punny Kabir
After bringing out one after another successful mega serials, eminent TV actor and director Mahfuz Ahmed is all set to entertain the audience of small screen with a remarkable record in maintaining quality. Directed and scripted by Mahfuz Ahmed, new mega serial Amader Chhoto Nodi Chole Bake Bake will begin airing today on Channel i at 7:50pm.
to everyone who loves the beauty and serenity of the villages of our country. But, ironically our rural community is no more a sweet place. Corruption has engulfed the villages. From educational institutes to government organisations to NGOs corruption is everywhere. The series portrays the sad reality of the villages.
I grew up in a village and know what a real village looks like. So I am shooting the serial in different locations of greater Noakhali belt which depict the diverse landscape of our rural life. Most of other TV plays featuring rural storyline are shot in Gazipur and Pubail which do not represent the wide variety of our rural landscape.
I have a deep connection with village since I grew up there. As the new generation directors are less interested in narrating stories of village people I feel that I should keep on presenting such tales.
from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. T Adhib by Raquel from Spain and Okul Nodi (Endless River) by Tuni Chatterji, Clay Dean from USA will be screened from 7:30pm to 9pm. For competing in the three sections, five films will be screened at the Public Library auditorium-- Bardou by Seyed Hadi Mohaghegh at 10am, The Blindfold by Garin Nugroho at 1pm, Eve Donus Sarikami 1915 (The Long Way Home) by Alphan Eseli at 3pm, Udhao (Escape is not an Opinion) by Amit Ashraf at 5:30pm and Steppe Man (Colcu Cholchu) by Shamil Aliyev at 7:30pm. Finance Minister AMA Muhit graced the first day of the festival as the chief guest while Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Hasanul Haq Inu was present as the special guest. Director of the festival Ahmed Mustafa Jamal delivered a speech. l
The serial presents the mighty villain of Dhallywood film, Misha Saudagar, for the first time in TV. What made you cast him?
In this serial I have chosen such actors who are not very regular faces in TV. I feel that the TV audience is tired of seeing some common faces in repetitive manner. Misha Saudagar has never worked in TV before and this time he is enacting a role fully opposite what he is used to doing in films. It was a great challenge for me and a director always looks for challenges. The drama features a rural storyline and the cast includes Misha Saudagar, Raunak Hasan, Punam Hasan Jui, Nader Chowdhury and others. Dhaka Tribune managed to have a conversation with Mahfuz Ahmed who, besides being a popular actor, has gained huge acclaims as a director for the serials such as Tomar Doyay Bhalo Achhi Ma, Buno Chaltar Gaye, Choita Pagol and more.
No. Though I have acted in Choita Pagol, I prefer not to appear in productions I direct. It hampers my concentration.
I have signed for Animesh Aichs upcoming film Zero Degree, and this is the only project I have in my hands right now.
Chorabali
The Blindfold
The title Amader Chhoto Nodi Chole Bake Bake is taken from Tagores poem which is a loved poem
These days the industry has a sheer lack of new stories and experimental directors. The repetitive stories and common narrations made me very tired. So Im taking a break. l
A scene form Mahfuz Ahmeds new mega serial Amader Chhoto Nodi Chole Bake Bake
ON TV
MOVIE
7:20pmHBO
Miss Congeniality
COMEDY
2:30pm Comedy Central
Up All Night
DRAMA
8:30pm Star Plus
Meri Bhabi
MISC
10:30am TLC 7:30pm AXN
Rude Boy Food The Millionaire Matchmaker
11:30pm Colors
Balika Vadhu
We have done a few steps here and there in films, whether Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif they all have done it but not the real part. There is no one who has actually done belly dancing on screen. Besides belly dancing, the 40-year-old actress would like to do some bike stunts and acrobatics, which she says fascinate her. l
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old), Dhanmondi City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12 8pm Shilpangan House 7, Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi Zainul Quamrul Exhibition Time: 10am 8pm Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery National Museum Shahbagh Fire Star Cineplex Bashundhara City Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka-244, Kuril Pragati Avenue, Dhaka
Film
Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 6 4
DAYS TO GO
INCREDIBLE
(L R) Muktijoddhas Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin controls the ball and executes a perfect right-footed propeller kick to score against BJMC during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Muktijoddha
Shafikul 3, Eleta 45
21
Samson 60
BJMC
21
40 45+
60 86
his fierce angular shot from the right edge of the box slipped from the gloves of diving BJMC goalkeeper Ariful Islam and rolled into the far post. Abdullah al Parvezs cross from the right flank found BJMCs Nigerian midfielder Samsom Iliasu inside the box who headed the ball wide. Aminur Rahman Shojibs header inside the box hit the woodwork, following a free kick from Abdullah Al Parvez. GOAL! Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin took Maruf Ahmeds corner and showed great control and technique to back-volley past BJMC keeper Ariful Islam from right of the box. GOAL! Nigerian midfielder Samson Iliasu scored an absolute screamer from 20 yards out, after a lobbed pass from Omar Faruk Babu. Eleta Benjamins powerful strike from the edge of the box saved brilliantly by the keeper.
Current Australian Open tennis champions Serbias Novak Djokovic (R) and Victoria Azarenka from Belarus pose with the championship trophies to the official draw ceremony at Melbourne yesterday. The Australian Open begins on Monday REUTERS
14
Real ease past Osasuna
n AFP, Madrid
Real Madrid took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win over Osasuna in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Thursday. Karim Benzema got the hosts off to the perfect start when he headed in Luka Modrics cross after 19 minutes. Jese Rodriguez then gave Madrid breathing space in the tie when he chipped home Cristiano Ronaldos pass after half-time. And Madrid were only denied a third in comic circumstances moments later as Ronaldo deflected Gareth Bales goalbound effort behind. Ancelotti named a strong side with Bale returning to the starting line-up for the first time in four games following a calf injury. Despite failing to find the net, the Welshman showed flashes of his best form in the second-half and Ancelotti is confident he will go from strength to strength having completed the 90 minutes. However, after originally pointing to the spot, referee Jesus Perez Montero reversed his decision and harshly booked Jese for diving. Minutes later Madrid were in front as Benzema flicked home Modrics free-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
kick to register his 99th goal for the club. Ronaldo passed up a great chance to double the advantage when he fired straight at Riesgo after a lovely scooped pass from Bale as Madrid began the second-half with more purpose than they ended the first. And the hosts took advantage of some woeful Osasuna defending to make it 2-0 just before the hour mark as Benzema and Ronaldo combined to tee up Jese to loft the ball over Riesgo.
RESULTS
Real Sociedad Real Madrid
Benzema 19, Jese 59
00 20 00
Rayo Vallecano
That was to be the Spanish internationals last major involvement as he pulled up injured shortly afterwards and was replaced by Isco. Bale should then have had his first goal since November as his goalbound shot from Benzemas cut-back was deflected behind by Ronaldo. But despite failing to add to their tally Madrid will be strong favourites to set up a quarter-final meeting with Alcorcon or Espanyol when they travel to Pamplona for the second leg next Wednesday. l
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after a missed scoring opportunity against Osasuna during their Spanish King's Cup match at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Thursday
REUTERS
FIXTURES
Cardiff City Everton Fulham Hull City Man United Southampton Tottenham v v v v v v v West Ham Norwich City Sunderland Chelsea Swansea City West Brom Crystal Palace
urged fans to remain loyal to both the team and Moyes. West Ham have conceded 11 goals in two games, having previously lost 5-0 at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, and find themselves second from bottom in the league table ahead of Satur-
days trip to Cardiff City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be taking charge of his first home game as Cardiff manager, after masterminding a 2-1 win at Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend in his first match at the helm. Buoyed by the mid-week success over Manchester United in their League Cup semi-final first leg, bottom club Sunderland will hope to bridge the four-point gap that separates them from safety when they visit fifth-bottom Fulham on Saturday. Third-bottom Crystal Palace, meanwhile, face Tottenham, who have climbed to sixth on the back of a fourgame unbeaten run under rookie manager Tim Sherwood. Another club with a new boss are West Bromwich Albion, who have appointed Spaniard Pepe Mel as head coach, although caretaker Keith Downing will remain in charge for Saturdays trip to Southampton. l
RESULTS
Roma
Torosidis 6
10 10
Udinese
Maicosuel 32
comfortable margin of victory but for a sterling display from visiting goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo who among a series of saves pulled off an incredible double stop to deny Alessandro Florenzi. The tie with Juve will be a chance for revenge for Roma after their 3-0 defeat by the Serie A champions on Sunday. l
LIST OF WINNERS
African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure Best African-based Player Mohamed Aboutrika Coach of the Year Stephen Keshi Most promising Talent Kelechi Iheanacho National team of the Year Nigeria National Youth Team of the Year Nigeria Under-17 Club of the Year Al Ahly of Egypt Referee of the Year Haimoudi Djamel Legends of the Year Bruno Metsu, Jose Faria Africa XI Vincent Enyeama - Ahmed Fathi, Mehdi Benatia, Kevin Constant - John Obi Mikel, Yaya Toure, Mohamed Aboutrika, Jonathan Pitroipa - Emmanuel Emnike, Asamoah Gyan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Coach Stephen Keshi
Bayern Munich's Claudio Pizarro (L) shoots to score next to Al-Merrikh's Ali Jaffar during their friendly match in Doha on Thursday REUTERS
after they won an eighth CAF Champions League trophy. Nigeria scooped several awards to underline a very successful year with coach Stephen Keshi voted Africas best coach, while the Super Eagles were the best national team after they won a third Africa cup of Nations in February and qualified for a fifth World Cup. The countrys Under-17 team were picked as the National Youth Team and Kelechi Iheanacho, who was voted the MVP of the 2013 Under-17 FIFA World Cup, received the Most Promising Talent award. l
Ronaldinho Walcott injury forces extends deal with Wengers hand Atletico Mineiro We have (Alex) Oxlade-Chamn AFP, Rio De Janeiro n AFP, London berlain back and we have many other
Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho has signed an extension to his contract with Atletico Mineiro, the Brazilian sides president announced on Thursday. The 33-year-old Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 and a winner of the Copa Libertadores with Atletico last year, was due to be a free agent at the end of this year and had been a target for Turkish side Besiktas. Brazilian press reports claimed that the Istanbul outfit had offered the former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan player an annual salary of 6 million euros ($8.2m) to sign for them. Ronaldinho moved to Atletico, from the city of Belo Horizonte, from Flamengo in June 2012, and has scored 35 goals in 70 games for them. l Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted on Thursday that he has had to reassess his plans for the January transfer window after Theo Walcott succumbed to injury. England winger Walcott has been ruled out for six months, forcing him out of the World Cup in Brazil, after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Wenger is a notoriously cautious operator in the transfer market, but with his side seeking to defend their position at the top of the Premier League table, he could now move for attacking reinforcements. (Walcotts injury) has accelerated speculation first and of course my desire as well, but lets not forget about Serge Gnabry, who can play in the first team, Wenger told the Arsenal website.
players who can play on the flanks, so to find better solutions than what we have internally will not be easy. Up front we lose Theo as a potential central forward and thats maybe where we have to look outside. But we hopefully have (Nicklas) Bendtner back (from injury) in three weeks. We are there for the opportunities but its very difficult at the moment. Wenger said that Walcott, 24, had the requisite mental strength to make a full recovery from his injury, which he sustained during Arsenals 2-0 victory at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup last weekend. Theo is handling it as well as you can when you have had such a shock because hes mentally strong, hes very balanced as a person and he can put it into perspective, the Frenchman said. l
Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) posing with cousins Maximiliano (L) and Emanuel Biancucchi AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
SCORECARD, DAY 3
Pakistan 1st innings 165 Khurram Manzoor 73; N. Pradeep 3 62, R. Herath 3 26 Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 318 4) D. Karunaratne lbw b Junaid 32 K. Silva lbw b Hafeez 95 K. Sangakkara lbw b Ali 26 D. Chandimal c Ali b Junaid 12 M. Jayawardene b Ajmal 129 A. Mathews c Ahmed b Ali 42 P. Jayawardene b Junaid 9 R. Herath run out 6 S. Eranga b Bhatti 14 S. Lakmal not out 10 N. Pradeep lbw b Ajmal 3 Extras: (b1, lb7, nb1, w1) 10 Total: (all out; 134 overs) 388 Bowling Junaid 36 7 102 3, Ali 36 6 131 2, Ajmal 34 11 56 2, Bhatti 22 3 80 1 (1nb, 1w), Hafeez 6 1 11 1 Pakistan 2nd innings Khurram c Prasanna b Pradeep 6 Ahmed Shehzad c Prasanna b Herath 9 Hafeez c Prasanna b Pradeep 1 Younis Khan not out 62 Misbah-ul Haq not out 53 Extras: (lb1) 1 Total: (for three wkts; 49 overs) 132 Bowling Lakmal 6 1 19 0, Pradeep 10 2 28 2, Herath 21 3 58 1, Eranga 12 3 26 0
Pakistan cricketers Younis Khan (R) and Misbah-ul-Haq (L) look on at the drinks break during the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai yesterday AFP
QUICK BYTES
The long-awaited preparation camp for the Bangladesh athletes in preparation for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2014 along with the Asian Youth Games, began at the residential camp of the Dhaka Cantonment yesterday. A total of 26 athletes from four disciplines are attending the camp. The disciplines are shooting, archery, taekwondo and boxing. Along with 12 shooters, there are seven archers, three boxers and three from taekwondo in the training program. Ukrainian boxing coach Oleksandre Ghurenko was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka yesterday night to take over the boxing discipline. The other foreign coaches for the other three disciplines are expected to arrive soon. SH
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 7:00AM Brooklyn v Miami 9:30AM La Clippers v LA Lakers 12:00PM Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 4 Star Sports HD1 Big Bash T20 8:40AM Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder 2:15PM Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars La Liga 9:00Pm Athletic Bilbao v Almeria 11:00PM Celta Vigo v Valencia Star Sports HD2 Italian Serie A 1:45AM Bologna v Lazio Ten Action Hero Hockey World League Final 2:30PM Belgium v Argentina 4:30PM Netherlands v Australia 6:30PM England v Germany 8:30PM New Zealand v India French Ligue 1 10:00PM AC Ajaccio v PSG 1:00AM Bordeaux v Toulouse FC Ten Golf 4:30PM Volvo Golf Champions Durban, SA - Day 3 Star Sports 4 English Premier League 6:45PM Hull City v Chelsea 9:00PM Tottenham v Crystal Palace 11:30PM Man United v Swansea La Liga 1:00AM At Madrid v Barcelona 3:00AM Elche v Sevilla Ten HD 6:10PM Sky Bet Championship Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United 10:00PM Ram Slam T20 Challenge Warriors v Cobras
KKR retain Gambhir, Narine as DDR make bold move Kolkata Knight Riders retained their ented batsman Ambati Rayudu. n Agencies Aussie pace spearhead Mitchell John- skipper Gautam Gambhir along with
son will in all likelihood be picked up with `Right to Match` card while Dinesh Karthik has also got the boot. Royal Challengers Bangalore had retained their captain Virat Kohli, Jamaican Game-Changer Chris Gayle and explosive South African ODI and T20 skipper AB de Villiers. Rajasthan Royals retained Australian Shane Watson, who will lead the side in IPL VII along with left-arm seamer James Faulkner along with India internationals Ajinkya Rahane and Stuart Binny. The franchise also retained talented India colts wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who did well for the franchise in the Champions League T20. Kings XI Punjab retained hard-hitting South African left-hander David Miller and talented Ranji team opener Manan Vohra. Vohra is another uncapped player to be retained.
RETENTION QUOTA
Chennai Super Kings
Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind), Dwayne Bravo (WI), MS Dhoni (Ind), Ravindra Jadeja (Ind), Suresh Raina (Ind)
mystery spinner Sunil Narine for the next edition of the cash-rich league. Delhi Daredevils unanimously decided against retention of their existing player going into the Indian Premier League (IPL7) auction. The team management explaining the decision said it was the unanimous decision of the management with the focus of building a fresh team that the fans would be proud of. Mumbai Indians expectedly retained five players including skipper Rohit Sharma. Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson will now be favourite to be obtained through `Right to Match` cards that the franchise can exercise during the twoday auction on February 12 and 13. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned Kolkata Knight Riders have retained their captain Gautam Gambhir and mystery spinner Sunil Narine. l
Kings XI Punjab
David Miller (SA), Manan Vohra (Ind)
Mumbai Indians
Lasith Malinga (SL), Kieron Pollard (WI), Ambati Rayudu (Ind), Rohit Sharma (Ind), Harbhajan Singh (Ind)
Rajasthan Royals
Stuart Binny (Ind), James Faulkner (Aus), Ajinkya Rahane (Ind), Sanju Samson (Ind), Shane Watson (Aus)
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Shikhar Dhawan (Ind), Dale Steyn (SA)
Roma, Coma thrive in Dakars Argentine heat n AFP, San Miguel De Tucuman
Spanish driver Nani Roma reclaimed the Dakar Rally lead Thursday as compatriot Marc Coma soared to the top of the motorcycling standings after a brutal fifth stage which saw temperatures nudge the 40-degree mark. Roma, behind the wheel of a Mini, had led after three stages and he reasserted his authority on the gruelling 912km run from Chilecito to San Miguel de Tucuman. Roma clocked 4hr 27min 01sec on the 527km timed section of the stage with South Africas Giniel De Villiers, in a Toyota, in second spot, and Americas Robby Gordon, driving a Hummer, in third place. l
Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria holds the women's singles trophy at the Sydney International yesterday REUTERS
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
The establishment of the service would be focused especially at market places and other developing areas, according to a high ICT ministry official
He said he was optimistic about the project and hoped that the facilities would create employment in the rural areas as well reduce unnecessary hazards. The ICT official said the government has already established more than five thousands Union Information Centres, adding that We will create new centres at haats and bazars. The ICT ministry is currently working on a project of apps development which it expects will enable people to use modern services more easily. l
Labourers covered in dust work in a brick kiln at Kharkhari in Rajshahi yesterday. Most brick kilns in Kharkhari and Godagari in the district are illegally established. A lack of protective measures for the labourers working in such hazardous environment puts them at serious risk of respiratory ailments DHAKA TRIBUNE
X-rays, which shed light on the black holes properties. Astronomers have already secured front row seats. Dr Meyers team is tracking the clouds approach using the Keck Observatory in Hawaii. They can see it stretching like spaghetti as the black hole tugs at its head, now moving much faster than its tail. And while Keck watches the cloud, Swift is watching the black hole. Nasas X Ray space telescope is poised and primed to catch the first glimmers of an encounter. Everyone wants to see the event happening because its so rare, said Nathalie Degenaar, Swifts principal investigator. Sagittarius A* lurks 26,000 light years away in the Milky Ways innermost region. Viewed from Earth, it is in the
southern summer sky near the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius. Even for a black hole it is dim about a billion times fainter than others of its supermassive type. And this makes it something of a mystery. Currently its not easy to see at all. But if the gas cloud suddenly feeds it with much more mass, you might get fireworks. And with that, you can test all sorts of theories, said Dr Meyer. Black holes are thought to play a crucial role in the life cycles of galaxies. They eat matter from their surroundings and blow matter back. This influences how stars are formed, how the galaxy grows, and how it interacts with other galaxies. To get a sense of the typical feeding habits of Sagittarius A*, the Swift team has been making regular observations since 2006. l
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