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How to keep a healthy mouth in diabetes
International
13
Sport
Poush 7, 1420 Safar 17, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 267
The usually traffic-heavy Bangla Motor intersection in the capital yesterday puts on its usual look that has become a rarity because of non-stop blockades
Awami League had decided to go for campaigning in favour of party candidate. A committee led by central leaders would start election tours from the next week
We will take tougher measures to maintain the law and order situation. The government will adopt a hard line against the ongoing violence incited by the opposition. Imam said the law enforcement agencies were asked to ensure the peoples security at any cost.
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INSIDE
Nation
5 When vegetable and potato prices have shot up in Dhaka and other cities for short supply, rural markets are replete with agricultural produces due to disruption in transportation because of frequent blockade programmes.
Feature
6 At the age of thirteen, when most teenagers are caught in the race to be part of the cool group at school, Atif Ahmed Akkhor started toying with graphic design on his brothers handme-down computer.
11 With the elections to be held on January 5, it seems that the government and the EC, much to the relief of people, have managed to slash their election costs in half, saving a substantial portion of taxpayer money.
Op-Ed
Ganajagaran Mancha yesterday protest the police action on its activists on Thursday in the capitials Gulshan
RAJIB DHAR
2
Pakistan should apologise for 1971 genocide: Mahbub
BNP Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman yesterday said Pakistan parliaments adopting a resolution on the execution of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla proved that it did not want to maintain a friendly relation with Bangladesh. Terming Pakistan audacious to have poked its nose into an independent and sovereign countrys internal affairs, he said: Pakistan should rather adopt a resolution, acknowledging that genocide took place in Bangladesh in 1971 and seeking apology for that. Asked about Ganajagaran Manchas demand for severing diplomatic relations with Pakistan, the former army official said: Pakistan is a Saarc member state. So, it is up to the government what decision to make.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The BNP leader says it seems Pakistan is not willing to maintain friendly relation On Talibans threat to the Banglan Mohammad Al-Masum Molla desh mission in Islamabad, he said: It
is a very ominous sign. We cannot tolerate such threats. It is the government of Pakistan that should ensure the security of the Bangladesh mission. Responding to a query on the resolution passed by Pakistan parliament, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said at a press briefing on December 18 that the government had split the country to thwart peoples movement which is why a country could pass such a proposal. He said: The government should have protested against the resolution much earlier. The BNP always demands trial of the war criminals, but what the government is doing is a trial of the crimes against humanity. The two are not the same. l Trucks, buses and other vehicles are stuck at Sitakunda on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway yesterday because of the countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance BANGLAR CHOKH
AL plans to work Police attack on Ganajagaran Mancha was pre-planned to increase voter turnout
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People will be able to cast their votes in a secured environment as we are taking every possible step to ensure their security, he claimed. A total of 10 sub-committees have been reformed during the meeting related with the 10th national election. The meeting was held at AL president Sheikh Hasinas political office in Dhanmondi. AL Advisers Mosiur Rahman and MK Alamgir, presidium member NuhUl-Alam Lenin, Media Adviser of Shekh Hasina Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, former foreign minister Dipu Moni, former state minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury were present among others at the meeting. l
Rights activists Shipra Bose said: We were sexually harassed by the police. All we were doing in Gulshan was condemn Pakistans stance on our countrys internal affair and asking the government to severe diplomatic ties with that country. We were demanding justice for our country, for the freedom fighters and the victims of 1971. It is such a shame that we are still being targeted by Bangladeshi police. Bappaditya Basu, leader of leftist student organisation Chaatra Maitree, said: A woman named Banani Biswash was with us [Thursday]. She was wearing shakha [white bangle that married Hindu women wear]. One policeman called her malaun [a slang used by Pakistanis in 1971 to refer to Hindus]. How have the policemen in an independent democratic country become so com-
munal? It seems they still belong to Pakistan. Freedom fighter Nasir Udiin Yusuf Bachchu said a policeman kicked Azad, a freedom fighter who won the gallantry award of Birbikram, despite being told that he was a freedom fighter. We thank the prime minister for her bold stance against Pakistan. Now show the same boldness and find out the policemen, who still possess Jamaats mentality, Bachchu said. Shammi, who was beaten up by police, said: I felt like I was in 1971. I was unarmed and they were armed and were beating me without mercy. I do not understand why they were so aggressive. We were only chanting slogans and nothing else. Writer Muhammad Zafar Iqbal expressed frustration saying: I knew that Jamaat and razakars are against these youth group [the mancha]. But I
never thought Bangladeshi Police carried against them the same hatred that the anti-liberation force does. I never thought Police would charge baton on these young men and women, who are fighting for their countrys dignity. Rights activists Khushi Kabir said: The whole attack on the Mancha was preplanned. There is no reason to believe that it was a sudden reaction. Police were deployed with arms and batons. It was a shameful step taken by the government. I am pretty much sure that the ghosts of Pakistan are still very much alive in the state and the law enforcement agencies. Eliminate them. Meanwhile, Md Kamal Hossain, senior assistant superintendent of the Chancery Unit of Police, ruled out all the allegations. There was no necessity and scope
of such type of misconduct by police. If any such incident took place, there is no scope of hiding it because a large number of media personnel were also present at the spot and the programme had been broadcasted. He said they had tried their level best to keep the situation under control considering the diplomatic norms and image of Bangladesh. The mancha announced a seven day campaign to be launched today, calling upon people to boycott all sorts of Pakistani products. On Sunday, the mancha will submit a memorandum to the home ministry demanding punishment for those who charged batons on and abused the activists. The mancha is also likely to file a separate memorandum to the foreign ministry demanding cutting of diplomatic ties with Pakistan. l
BNP wants
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Pakistans official position is while it is not Pakistans policy to interfere in the affairs of any country, we have noted the concerns raised by the international community and human rights organisations on the way recent trials have been conducted which have added to the current instability in Bangladesh. The spokesperson said the parliament was a sovereign body, the parliamentarians represented the sentiments of the people and had the right to make every statement they deemed appropriate. When asked about her comments on the reports of Pakistani flags and effigies of leaders being burnt in Bangladesh, she said: We would not like to get into responding to everything that may have been said in the public demonstrations because we do not want our response to be construed as recriminations. She called upon Bangladesh to adopt the spirit of reconciliation and cordiality in keeping with the tripartite agreement of 1974. Meanwhile, supporters of Jamaate-Islami have tried to demonstrate in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Pakistan but they were kept far away from the mission complex by law enforcement. Five groups tried to demonstrate
today [Friday] afternoon but they were kept out from embassy [sic] by a good distance, said an official of the foreign ministry. The Pakistan authorities had beefed up security to protect Bangladesh mission in Islamabad and deployed police and Rangers, she said. The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper, reported on Thursday that the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan had threatened to attack Bangladesh Embassy [sic] in Islamabad.in the wake of the killing of Abdul Quadir Molla [sic], Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader in Bangladesh. All the officials and staff went to office and performed their regular duties, the official said. About 20 Bangladeshi officials and staff are posted at the Islamabad mission, which is located in the residential area of F-6/3, considered one of the most posh sectors of Islamabad. The Pakistan authorities also sent a note verbale (unsigned diplomatic document) to the Bangladesh foreign ministry to protect its mission in Dhaka as demonstrators threatened to attack the high commission. Police foiled a demonstration on Wednesday and resorted to charging batons on Thursday when protesters tried to move towards the Pakistan High Commission in Gulshan area. l
and postponed one in Dhaka on November 15 because of Ashura. The plan to hold a rally in Dhaka wants to press home its controversial demands and protest a poster with the caricature of its chief Shah Ahmed Shafi reportedly put up by unknown people. Explaining the reason for Hefazats absence from the anti-government campaign, a close associate of its central leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that Shafi and its Secretary General Junaid Babunagari were indisposed. Moreover, many Qawmi madrasa teachers, students and their parents blamed them and other central leaders for involving madrasa students in destructive and violent activities in Dhaka and elsewhere. After the terror unleashed by Hefazat men in May, many followers conveyed their anger to the top leaders and blamed them for being used as a tool of the BNP Jamaat alliance, insiders said. They also blamed pro-opposition leaders inside Hefazat for making the non-political Islamist organisation controversial, said the sources. In view of such negative reactions within the party and among guardians of the madrasa students besides the government moves, Shafi refrained from announcing any programmes. But there are many leaders in Hefazat who are either directly or indirectly involved in the politics of the BNP Jamaat alliance and work as their active sympathisers, said another close associate of Hefazats top brass.
He said these central committee leaders, including Mainuddin Ruhi, Azizul Haque Islamabadi and Mufti Faizullah, had been busy over the past few months persistently pursuing Shafi, Babunagari and other top leaders to announce mass agitation. Other central leaders Nayeb-eAmeer (vice president of the executive committee) Muhibullah Babunagari, Qateb Elias Osmany, BNP leader and former minister Mir Nasirs cousin Moulana Mir Idris and others also played significant roles in motivating majority Hefazat leaders to declare vigorous programmes before the polls. Some of these bigwigs either belong to different Islamist political parties or have leaning towards the BNP Jamaat politics. These leaders told the Hafazat top brass that if they helped BNP Jamaat to regain state power, they would also enjoy authority, even some might get berths in the cabinet, which would eventually help them implement their 13-point demand. During a chat with his close associates, Ruhi once expressed his hope that he might be appointed at least a deputy minister if the BNP-led alliance came to power. Faizullah has a plan to contest future national elections from Chittagong 6 (Rangunia) as BNP leader Salauddin Qader Chowdhury will not be able to take part because of his conviction in a war crimes case. The sources said expectations and hopes were running high among many Hefazat leaders that they would be awarded in many ways if they could
help BNP Jamaat go to power again. The close associate of Hefazat central leaders said Muhibullah sometimes tried to convince others to join Jamaat to resist the Awami League. Hefazat had, meanwhile, conducted some motivational programmes in different districts as a prelude to the December 24 rally, said officials of the Islamist outfit. They said the group was planning to hold some religious programmes such as Shaan-e-Risalat in divisional headquarters and some districts aiming to boost the morale of their leaders and activists so that they join future programmes. Many Hefazat leaders are mainly leaders of the banned Islamist militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (Huji), which is blamed for attempts to kill Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and other terrorist acts. Hefazat Literary Secretary Ashraf Ali Nizampuri, however, told the Dhaka Tribune: The Hefazat high command does not belong to any political party and so it cannot plan programmes according to the will of a few leaders in the organisation. He said they came up with the idea of holding a rally as they had recently observed that bloggers are still writing much worse stuff about Islam and the Prophet. A poster with caricatures of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Hefazat chief Shafi were put up in Sylhet recently. Of course, the rally will be held to press for our 13-point demands, too, said Ashraf, who has not seen the poster yet but claimed a few leaders had. l
any election taking place whatsoever. This election is just as absurd as that one, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNPs Standing Committee member, told the Dhaka Tribune. The former minister said: Democracy right now is in a shambles, the avenue created for landing up once again into the BAKSAL system under a different name. This election does not exist for any practical purpose for the people of Bangladesh, nor for anyone outside the country. The prime ministers recent statement in this respect is by itself a confession that the proposed 10th parliament is a futile exercise so that it has to be disbanded. Khaleda Zia was likely to call upon various professionals to non-cooperate the government terming it illegal. Although she was frustrated by the senior leaders performance in the movement, she was still hopeful of the movements success, said another senior leader. Khaledas Adviser Khandakar Mahbub Hossain also said she might take to the street in a few days to intensify the movement. Before that she is likely to address a press conference to relay her message to people. Issuing a note of warning, Mahbub said if the government did not suspend the one-sided elections, the whole country would be set on fire. He asked the government not to involve army in the electoral process. Senior leaders of the BNP are also holding meetings with diplomats to inform them about the latest political situation of the country. It now seems clear that even the diplomatic community is coming to a better comprehension of the fact that it is difficult to accept the 10th parliament election which has already been blackened by the election of majority of the MPs in a parliament of 300 without any elections at all, Moyeen said. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Authorities of public universities fear prolonged session jam processes as soon as possible; but they n Mushque Wadud are failing because of the consecutive
hartals and blockades, UGC chairman AK Azad Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. In the last few years, all public universities except for three or four, had remained free from session jam. However, we are worried that the nuisance might hit the campuses again as the consecutive shutdowns and blockades are seriously hampering their activities, he said. University authorities said as students come from distant districts to take the admission tests, they cannot conduct the tests on Friday, the only day that remains free of political programmes. Rajshahi University has already rescheduled its admission test a couple of times. The admission tests scheduled for December 25-28 have been rescheduled to December 28-31 because of the fresh spate of blockade. Khulna Universitys admission tests scheduled for December 7, 8 and 9, were cancelled. Fresh dates are yet to be announced. Shere-Bangla Agricultural University postponed the Dec 14 admission tests. New date has not been announced yet. l
Gana Sanghati Andalan protests in front of the National Press Club yesterday, demanding Pakistans apology for war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War
NASHIRUL ISLAM
worst possible
n Muhammad Zahidul Islam
Hundreds of thousands of mobile phone users, chiefly in the divisional headquarters, have been facing frequent network problems for the last couple of weeks. Users in the capital and the major cities are complaining of call drops, long delays in SMS delivery and other problems. They express their disturbance in different public places and different social media like Facebook also. Some group of subscribers who have sufferings from different problems in quality services also created a set of platform. Mobile company officials said they were setting up advanced mobile data services with 3G technology, which might be creating some disturbance. The problems may continue up to March in Dhaka and the next three to four months outside the capital. We are trying to upgrade our network with modern equipment for 3G services from 2G services, so some of our users may face problems in different places in the capital, AKM Morshed, the chief technology officer of Robi, told the Dhaka Tribune. He said the operator needed more than three months to cover the whole capital with 3G. No other operator was willing to comment on the issue. Ruhul Amin, an executive of a private company, who lives in Banashri, said: Suddenly on Wednesday evening my handset lost signal on. I was panicked. But it came back after next morning. Tusher Bin Jubair, a university student, changed his old number to another operator but was frustrated when the same problems persisted. Industry experts are saying 3G network optimisation is a very big challenge. Market leader Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel and
Banglalink are facing the same problems. An official of one of the operators said his company was changing antennas with dual bands for 2G and 3G which was only used for 1800 bands. Under 3G, operators provide their service in 2100 band. We have started network upgrade in a large scale in the last few weeks. We might do bigger network upgrades after the political turmoil ends, so problems may increase and continue for the next six to nine months, a chief technology officer of a mobile company told the Dhaka Tribune.
Activists of Jatiya Party Kazi Zafar faction rush out of the National Press Club yesterday after miscreants exploded crude bombs during a council meeting called by the faction chief NASHIRUL ISLAM
4
Prices of essentials high in Dhaka
n Rabiul Islam
Prices of essentials, including winter vegetables, are high in the wholesale and retail markets of the capital. Traders and retailers say the supply of commodities, including rice and vegetables, has been disrupted because of unrelenting blockades. Trucks carrying goods have not been coming in to Dhaka from across the country, especially from the northern regions, amid frequent blockades, they said. Since November 26, the BNP-led 18 party alliance has enforced four road, rail and waterways blockades across the country trying to pressure the government into postponing the election scheduled to be held on January 5. Traders in Dhaka said, cross-country transportation costs had more than doubled as the few goods trucks that were plying on the highways during the blockade had started charging higher than usual. They feared that the prices of essentials may rise further as another of spell of an 83-hour blockade is scheduled to begin at 6am today. Md Omar Faruk, a rice wholesaler at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said the fare for a rice-laden truck used to be Tk12,000, but since the blockades it has gone up to Tk30,000. Which means we have to pay more than Tk106 per sack of rice for transportation, he said. We are selling a 50 kg sack of miniket for Tk1,950, which was Tk1,850 before, Faruk told the Dhaka Tribune at
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Krishi Market yesterday. We used to sell nazirshail at Tk2,150 per sack, but we now we have to sell them for Tk2,250. However, in Mohammadpurs Town Hall Bazar, a retailer said: We are selling nazirshail at Tk44 per kg now but if carrying cost was not high we could sell at Tk40 per kg. Winter vegetables, which should be available for cheap right now, like onion, tomato, bean, gourd and radish are still rather high. Speaking to this correspondent, Delwar Hossain, a customer at the Krishi Market, said prices of every commodity in general was high. Tomatoes are being sold at Tk60 per kg and red radish for Tk25 per kg while gourds are Tk40 apiece. I have bought a gourd for Tk40. It should not be above Tk20 at this time of the year, Amzad Hossain, a college teacher, told this correspondent. Prices of commodities, however, vary from one market to another. One kg of potato is Tk20 at Krishibazar but in the Townhall Market it is Tk25 per kg. Retailers at Mohammadpur Notun Bazar claimed prices of fish, beef and mutton were stable there. Ruhi fish is being sold at Tk260 per kg while Telapia is Tk200 per kg. Beef is being sold at Tk260 and mutton at Tk450. However, price of broiler chicken has gone up by Tk5 per kg. It is being sold at Tk140 per kg. The prices of dry items, including edible oil and dal, have remained stable in the retail markets. l
A child takes oral exams for admission to kindergarten level in the citys University Laboratory School yesterday after 18-party alliances blockade ended in the morning
RAJIB DHAR
Tariff is not the challenge, rather tackling mega blocks are the challenge for trade facilitation
Dr Mozibur Rahman, the chief executive officer at the Foreign Trade Institute, said Bangladesh was blessed with geographical location and could trade in both goods and services. RMG is a mobile business. It will move to others if we cannot make skilled manpower and to do this, we have to come out from traditional education, he said.
Givenchy Group factory in Gazipur Light rain at places catches fire n UNB n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Chances of light rain are likely at one
WEATHER
or two places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Jessore, Kushtia and Comilla until 6pm today. Weather may remain dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, Met Office said. Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during midnight till morning. Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The sun sets in the capital at 5:17pm today and rises at 6:37am tomorrow. Countrys highest temperature 27.5 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Khulna and lowest 10.6 degrees at Dinajpur and Syedpur. Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar High 24.7 25.4 21.7 23.0 27.5 27.2 22.7 27.0 Low 14.5 14.0 11.5 12.2 14.8 14.4 14.2 16.3
A fire broke out in a recycling plant of Givenchy Group yesterday noon. However, no casualties were reported till the filing of this report and sources said the workers were out of the factory for lunch. Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence officer Md Sahin Mia Valuka said the fire was doused after four hours of vigorous attempt around 4pm with the help of Mymensingh fire service unit but the cause of the fire could not be known immediately. When asked about the loss, fire service officials said the amount of damage could not be estimated yet. The Givenchy Group authorities claimed that the fire had burned down machineries, thread, cotton and many goods stored at the factory. The groups factory which burned down made threads from wastage clothes. l
Latest JP faction makes Kazi Zafar chairman, Mosih secretary n Manik Miazee
A special council yesterday made Kazi Zafar Ahmed chairman and Golam Mosih secretary general of the newest faction of the Jatiya Party. The special council of the party, which Kazi Zafar claims to be the main Jatiya Party, was held at the National Press Club in the city around 5pm. Zafar was previously a presidium member of the HM Ersad-led Jatiya Party. Earlier, miscreants exploded several crude bombs during a council of Kazi Zafar Ahmed-led Jatiya Party at the National Press Club in the city yesterday, leaving one person injured. Identity of the injured could not be known immediately. Witnesses said immediately after Zafar arrived at the venue around 2 pm, three bombs exploded near the dais that left one party activist injured The victim was admitted to a nearby hospital. Sub-inspector Sohel Rana of Shahbagh Police Station confirmed the incident. Ershad expelled Kazi Zafar from the party over differing opinions on JPs involvement with the national polls scheduled for January 5. However Zafar, later in a statement, expelled Ershad from the party and announced the special council. In the council, among others, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, BNP leader Lt Gen Mahbubuddin Ahmed, JSD chief ASM Abdur Rob, Krishak Sramik Janata League chief Abdul Quader Siddique were present. l
Weekends only option for city schools to hold exams and tests
n Mushque Wadud
With political programmes almost sixdays a week, a number of city schools resorted to holding annual examinations and admission tests yesterday. Most schools, which were unable to complete its scheduled exams because of 18-party alliances consecutive blockade programmes, utilised the only available day since the opposition has called for another spell of blockade programmes starting 6am today. Sixteen of the citys 24 government schools held their admission test yesterday. The rest eight schools are scheduled to conduct the examination today. Residential Model School, including some others, also conducted viva tests for the new students who passed the written examinations. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Aslam Alam, a guardian waiting for his sons viva test said he was relieved that the school was conducting the test yesterday as he feared his son would not be able reach for exams during blockades. Furthermore, admission tests took place in Rajuk Uttara Model College for class VI students. The school will also hold the tests today and tomorrow. Viqarunnisa Noon School and College held lottery for class I students yesterday and are scheduled to hold the same today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, many guardians expressed concern over the limited number of vacant seats in government schools. They said they were worried about where to admit their children if they do not get a chance in the government schools. Bishwajit Adhikari, a guardian pursuing for his sons admission in Tejgoan Government High School, said: There are only 24 vacant seats in every class but the number of candidates were much more. On the issue, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary Education Fahima Khatun said in usual circumstances, the schools already have students who would get promotion from previous classes and so it was not always possible to increase the number of seats in the schools. l
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:16am 6:36am 11:57am 3:40pm 5:16pm 6:37pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Farmers have stockpiled various types of vegetables, including green chili, gourd and arum, at Nagarbathan kitchen market as they could not send their produces to different parts of the county because of non-availability of transport DHAKA TRIBUNE for the political unrest. Vegetable vendor Nasir Uddin of Faridpur said the continuous blockade had marred their trade as they were not in a position to send any vegetables from Jhenaidah and Jessore markets. A good number of vegetable growers had left their vegetable plots when they failed even to harvest the cauliflowers, cabbage, pumpkin and some other vegetables from the plots as the crops could not cover the harvest cost, he added. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension, the department had set a target to cultivate vegetables on 10,608 hectares of land in the district this year. According to Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), the average prices of per quintal cauliflower, cabbage, bean and brinjal at district level wholesale markets were Tk4,208, Tk2,560, Tk 4,778 and Tk 2,942 respectively in October. But the weekly price bulletins are showing a 30-60% fall in the prices in the first week of December. The DAM figures out the average district-level prices from the weekly bulletins prepared by 68 the DAM stations across the country.
However, none of these decisions were implemented and there is no burn-unit at any of the public or private medical college hospitals in Barisal division yet. Opening a burn-unit in the 45-year old SBMCH still remains a burning issue
Such rudimentary medical care causes excessive time, risk, pain and expense to the patients. Many of them die while many suffer permanent damage to body parts, said Dr Maniruzzaman Shahin, assistant professor of SBMCH surgery department. In July 2010, Dr Md Mumtaz Uddin Bhuiyan, director (Hospital and Clinics), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), issued a letter ask-
ing SBMCH authority to open a special burnunitin the hospital as soon as possible, SBMCH sources said. In the same year, quoting Dr Samanta Lal Sen, director of burn unit opening project and a specialist of DMCH burn unit, Dr Nazrul said special burn units would be opened in public hospitals at divisional level by middle of 2011. Though a circular was issued to open burn-units in 17 medical college hospitals and create 98 posts in those units, no initiative was taken, Dr Nazrul told. On February 23, 2012 the then Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque, while inaugurating fifty-seat dental surgery course and eighteen-bed dental surgery unit at SBMCH, assured of opening aburnunit soon. However, none of these decisions were implemented and there is no burn-unit at any of the public or private medical college hospitals in Barisal division yet. Opening a burn-unit in the 45-year old SBMCH still remains a burning issue, opined Dr Shamsul Hoq, divisional director (Barisal), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. l
The photo taken from Phultala of Bogra shows a good number of traffic got stuck on road yesterday following the end of six-day opposition-backed blockade FOCUS BANGLA
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Feature
Eye on design
more than the demands of a growing body, hormones and mood swings. The ever-present pressure of living up to parental expectation could be deterrent enough for most young people, keeping them from pursuing farfetched dreams. But when I met Atif, my notions about the average Bangladeshi teenager were completely altered. This young man knows his capabilities and his limitations too. Atif decided at age 15 that he could never be anyones employee because he is not good at taking orders. He was gifted with leadership qualities, and did not want to waste them by following instructions. As he walked me through his adventurous journey as a self-starter, I could see how he came to find entrepreneurship so liberating.
Point of focus
I love designing. Graphic designing is my way of engaging with designs and designers. As I learned about graphic design, I began to realise how poorly designed the things around me were. I knew I could fix them. My passion for designing coupled with the urge to address a real problem led me to start my own company. Atif gleefully admits that he has never taken any professional courses, and is entirely self-taught.
Ionsketchs design for Bangladeshs World Expo 2012 pavilion in South Korea Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. His young and vibrant team was overjoyed when they landed the project to design the logo for Bangladeshs World Expo 2012 Pavilion in South Korea. Gradually Ionsketch started to establish its brand name among local and multinational companies in Bangladesh. portunities, as I also have my studies to concentrate on. Atif is currently enrolled in Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, and finishes his school work before going to the office. Among the milestones achieved, there were lows in Atifs journey as well. He takes some time to explain the struggles he and his team experienced when they first launched as an advertising agency earlier this year. The first two companies Ionsketch worked with did not turn out to be the best clients. But the prodigy continued with his dream of making a name in the advertising field.
COURTESY
talent and determination they can walk the rest of the path for themselves.
Perspective
Initial sketches
COURTESY
Since then, Ionsketch has grown by leaps and bounds, making a name for itself as an advertising agency among national and international clients. Now 17, Atif is a shining example for youngsters in Bangladesh. He already has four years of experience running a business, which is indeed something to be proud of. The average teenager battles with
Ionsketch had a modest beginning. Atifs father later bought him his own laptop after seeing the budding designer in his son. Gradually the company started to grow, with international clients seeking Ionsketchs help. Soon it was time to hire more people and acquire office space and equipment. Recalling his initial days, Atif said: I started with a passion for designing, but now I am attempting to change the industry of graphic design in Bangladesh.
Not everyone will become an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur can come from anywhere. And his or her vision could change an entire industry, country or even the world
The jubilant teen also shares his experience dealing with offers for mergers and external investment from local as well as foreign companies. From such attention, Atif realised the potential of Ionsketch, but has declined all those offers. Losing control of something you dearly love is very painful, he said. Also, I did not want the additional pressure that comes with these op-
Backup
Golden ratio
With its first few contracts, Ionsketch managed to attract clients from the US,
What does it take for a school-going adolescent, equipped with nothing more than talent and passion, to start his own firm? Atif modestly says, My biggest support system has been my family. Their unwavering assistance helped me get through tough situations. A little encouragement from the people around can go a long way to push young maestros to success, which the youth of our country crave for. With
While he needs to wait one more year to legally claim ownership of the company he founded, Atif needs no license to dream big. Atif currently has 15 employees, both full-time and part-time, working for Ionsketch. It is a brand unto itself now. In the future, Atif wants to get involved with more start-ups, using his knowledge, experience and insight to help young starters. He is already involved with two new startups. He also wants to pursue further studies after completing his HSC exams to show his peers that it is possible to do something big while continuing to study. His advice to those with passion and the will to make it big, regardless of social barriers, age, gender or family background, is: Not everyone will become an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur can come from anywhere. And his or her vision could change an entire industry, country or even the world. l
Men and women have the same rights, so there should be no difference or barriers in what jobs they get. If men can be welders, so can women
After numerous efforts to find jobs had failed, the two saw an advertisement in the paper about the International Labour Organization (ILO)
supported training in welding, under the education ministrys TVETReform Project funded by the European Union. We were excited at the prospect. There would be six semesters, and it was free because it was a pilot, so we joined, Biplob told the Dhaka Tribune in an interview. Both Nupur and her husband enrolled in the program with 16 other men and two other women. From November 2012 to May 2013, they completed the first two semesters of the program and various other training sessions. They even came to Dhaka for training at Linde Bangladesh, where they had to pay a Tk5,000 deposit, refundable after completing the programme. Nupur said she is proud of her achievement as the first-ever Bangladeshi woman to be a certified welder. I want to do this, and I want other girls to know they can as well. They havent learned that message, and they need to, Nupur said. However, despite holding such a record, both Nupur and Biplob have yet to get jobs.
n Feature Desk
ishad Ahmed and Islam Topu, two graduates of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, have brought light to the village of Sabdi. Not being on the grid, the lack of electricity or cheap fuel for generators for lighting is a huge problem in the villages. But thanks to these two engineers Roshnee project, this modern Dark Age may be coming to an end. The people of Sabdi think their lack of electricity is part of a curse, a view more understandable when one learns of the other great burden borne by the locals: The towns water sources are all polluted with industrial waste.
COURTESY
COURTESY
Having the certificate means little when there is no job, when I dont have any earnings, she said. She said both Biplob and she have been looking for jobs but have not been lucky in this regard. We were told that with certain trainings, we could have the chance to work outside the country. We even had our passports made, in that hope. But we are still waiting, Biplob said. When she began the training, Nupurs family was apprehensive about her prospects in the field. They said there was little chance she would get a job after the training. She also faced challenges in defying cultural norms and gender stereotypes in a Bangladeshi village. Today, although she was successful in breaking the gender stereotype, she has yet to prove her family wrong. We need the training to pay off. We both need it. We want to implement our learning, and earn from it, said Biplob, who, unlike Nupurs family, has been supportive throughout her journey. I have assisted her in this project, despite our familys discouragement, because I want to break the attitude that girls cannot. Nupur added: Men and women have the same rights, so there should be no difference or barriers in what jobs they get. If men can be welders, so can women. l
Thanks to the two BUET engineers Roshnee project, this modern Dark Age may be coming to an end
But now this curse has become a blessing, for the bacteria within the polluted water holds the key to Sabdis bright future. The natural decomposition of the organic waste in the water produces small amounts of charged particles; with the help of a Roshnee kit, these can be harnessed to produce a weak electric current. The current is enough to provide 12W of electricity per refill, No carbondioxide or harmful side products are created in the process. The kit costs between $3-$4, and comprises a frame, 2 one litre plastic bottles, a light bulb, some wire, a pair of electrodes and a salt bridge. At onefiftieth the price of a solar panel, the Roshnee kit is a viable option for the villagers whose average income is just $160 per year. In the past the shortage of electricity has meant very few young villagers have been able to study. With only a few, who share great ambition, being able to make their way to college during daylight says Abul Hossain, a local primary school teacher.
COURTESY
A few students who try to study at night depend on oil-based fire lanterns called kupi. However, the prohibitive cost of the kerosene for a kupi, about Tk6.8 per 100ml, leads to a large number of college dropouts. The dropout rate is particularly high amongst girls, who are then consigned to household chores and early marriage. Rishad, who also runs a marketing blog called Rishadology, has high hopes that his scheme will change all that. Our vision is to provide lights to the 38% off-grid remote village students and women of Bangladesh, to find a way to study at night. The Roshnee kit was nominated as a semifinalist in Dells Empowering Women Challenge (DEWC). The challenge considered 600 projects, with entries coming from over 50 countries. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
An African Union peacekeeper stands on a chair as a small child sits of the floor at an Islamic center where Peul refugees have sought protection in Bangui
AP
Ukraine expels 8 jailed in corruption probe targeting govt Georgian journalist brother of the mayor of an Istanbul tions, he said on his Twitter account. n AP, Ankara Fourteen top police officials at the district that is an Erdogan stronghold. AFP, Tbilisi n Eight people detained for questioning They face possible bribery charges, ac- national police headquarters in AnkaUkrainian authorities on Friday briefly detained and then deported a Georgian journalist covering mass pro-EU demonstrations that have gripped the Ukrainian capital since November. David Kakulia, a journalist from Georgias Rustavi 2 television station was briefly detained by border guards upon arrival in Kiev airport and deported, its director Nika Gvaramia told AFP. He said that Kakulia, who earlier covered Ukrainian police violence against protesters, was banned by security services from entering Ukraine for one year over the groundless accusation of suspicious activities in violation of all international standards. l this week as part of a massive corruption probe targeting allies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were formally arrested Friday, the state-run news agency reported. The investigation has also ensnared sons of three government ministers and comes amid a power struggle between Erdogans government and an influential US-based Muslim cleric, Fetullah Gulen, who has a strong following in Turkey and is believed to have leverage within the countrys police force and the judiciary. The Anadolu Agency said the eight who were ordered jailed include the cording to the agency. At least 27 other people were also being questioned by court officials on Friday. Erdogan has denounced the probe and the detention of Cabinet ministers sons as a plot to harm his government and has vowed to go after gangs of alleged conspirators. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said Friday the investigation and arrests were aimed at discrediting the party ahead of elections in 2014. These dirty games, operations and traps are being carried out to break the partys bonds of love with the people and affect the local and presidential elec-
ra were removed from office on Friday. That is in addition to more than two dozen who have been relieved of their posts since Tuesdays police raids rounded up more than 50 people for questioning. Opposition parties have denounced the police dismissals as an attempt by Erdogans party to cover up the scandal. The AKP has descended with all its might on those who are combatting corruption and bribery, said Ozcan Yenicer, a legislator from Turkeys nationalist party. At this point, no one should expect anything to come out of these probes. l
WORLD WATCH
LSE apologises over Muhammad image incident
A prominentLondonuniversity has apologised for asking two students to cover up T-shirts depicting Muhammad and Jesus. The representatives of the Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society student union were wearing the shirts at aLondonSchool of Economics fair in October when they were told that displaying an image of Muhammad could constitute religious harassment and were asked to cover them up. Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of Prophet Muhammad. Chris Moos and Abhishek Phadnis filed formal complaints. LSE said Friday it has apologized to the students and acknowledged that, with hindsight, wearing the shirts did not constitute harassment or violate the law or university policies. The school said it takes free speech very seriously and will learn from the incident. the money earned from selling the baby. There have also been reports of young women kidnapped and forcibly impregnated by human traffickers, but such cases are thought to be extremely rare. Ogbonna said the details of the latest baby factory found in Abias capital Umuahia were not immediately clear. The proprietress fled before our men got to the place. We met her son and his wife. They are in custody, he said. Some of the pregnant women, aged between 15 and 23, told police they ran from home to escape the stigma of having unwanted pregnancies they cannot take care of, the police spokesman said. The buyers are most often couples who have been unable to conceive and male children typically earn a much higher price than baby girls.
n AP, London
n AFP, Madrid
An industry group sought to reassure theatergoers Friday that Londons elegant but aging venues are safe after chunks of ornamental plaster fell from a ceiling of the Apollo Theatre, showering patrons with dust and debris and injuring 79 people. One line of inquiry for investigators is whether a brief but intense rainstorm was a factor in Thursdays accident at the century-old building. The Society of London Theatre said all theaters undergo rigorous safety checks and inspections by independent experts, and incidents like last night are extremely rare. Our theaters entertain over 32,000 people in central London every night and all theaters take the safety of their audience, performers and staff very seriously, it said. Witnesses have described chaos and panic as large chunks of plaster, wooden beams and dust rained down on the audience 45 minutes into a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I thought, maybe this is part of the play, said Scott Daniels, an American tourist from the Dallas area. All of a sudden, plaster starts raining down, huge hunks of plaster ... The lights went out and everything filled with dust everybody was coughing and choking. London Ambulance Service said Friday that it had treated 79 people, 56 of whom were taken to local hospitals in ambulances and two commandeered London buses. l
Nigerias police said Friday they had raided a home where 19 pregnant women were staying with plans to sell their newborns, in the latest discovery of a so-called baby factory. The owner of the property, suspected of being a broker in a child trafficking ring, is on the run, said Geoffrey Ogbonna, police spokesman in southeastern Abia state. Police rescued 19 expectant mothers in different stages of pregnancy, he told AFP. Southeast Nigeria is grappling with a human trafficking epidemic, with a series of black market maternity homes discovered in the last year. In most cases, young women have run to such homes to avoid the stigma attached to pregnancies conceived outside of marriage. They take a portion of
If you have a quick temper it may calm you to learn that bouts of rage could be cured by simply taking an aspirin. A study has found that uncontrollable anger may be the result of inflammation in the body. Intermittent explosive disorder (IED), which is known as anger syndrome, usually begins in the late teens and is defined as a failure to resist aggressive impulses. US researchers found that IED sufferers had higher markers of inflammation in the blood. Levels of one protein were on average twice as high in those diagnosed with IED, while another marker molecule was present in those with the worst records of aggressive behaviour. These two markers consistently correlate with aggression and impulsivity but not with other psychiatric problems, said Prof Emil Coccaro, the lead scientist from the University of Chicago.
Spains government met Friday to tighten abortion laws, outraging pro-choice campaigners who warned of a return to the 1980s, when women had to go abroad to end unwanted pregnancies. The government has not revealed details but has indicated it will roll back the previous Socialist governments 2010 reform, which gives women the right to abortion on demand up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. That reform also allows women the legal right to abort up to the 22nd week of pregnancy in cases where the mothers health is at risk or the foetus shows major deformities. Under the previous 1985 law, abortion was a crime in Spain except in cases of rape, risk to the mothers health or deformation of the foetus. Justice Minister Alberto Gallardon has indicated he wants to return to something similar to the 1985 law, but also possibly go further, curbing abortions in cases of deformation. He has also said he wants to oblige girls under 18 to seek their parents consent to have abortions. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoys conservative government presented the divisive draft reform at Fridays cabinet meeting, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said, as pro-choice groups and political opponents called for nationwide protests. The deputy leader of the main opposition Socialist Party, Elena Valenciano, said defenders of abortion rights will mobilise society against what is going to be an incomprehensible reduction in womens freedom. l
Many gay Ugandans have fled the country, saying they are being persecuted
REUTERS
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
Police investigators work at the crime scene after a local town mayor was ambushed in a shooting attack at Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport
REUTERS
India government asks Angry India tells US times have changed court to review anti-gay law after diplomat spat, seeks apology
n AP, New Delhi
Indias government asked the Supreme Court on Friday to review a decision in which it upheld a colonial-era law that bans homosexual acts and makes them punishable by up to a decade in prison. Law Minister Kapil Sibal said he hoped the court would overturn the law. Lets hope the right to personal choices is preserved, he said. The court is expected to take up the review petition soon. The Supreme Court ruled last week that only lawmakers and not the courts can change the law. The ruling struck down a 2009 lower court decision that said the law violated fundamental human rights. The Supreme Court ruling dealt a blow to gay activists who have fought for the chance to live openly in Indiasdeeply conservative society. Gautam Bhan, a gay activist, welcomed the government move Friday and said the Supreme Court was the forum that should decide the issue. The law, dating back to the 1860s, when Britain ruled over South Asia, states that whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal can be punished by up to 10 years in prison. According to international human rights groups, more than 70 countries have laws criminalizing homosexual conduct, with India by far the most populous. l
A National Students Union of India (NSUI) activist holds a placard during a protest outside the US Consulate in Mumbai AFP uty spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters. But there was no sign Friday that the calls had placated the government in India which sees itself as an emerging power that should be treated with respect by an ally such as the US. They should tender a clear apology. We will not accept this conduct against India under any circumstances, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters. The US has to understand that the world has changed, times have changed and India has changed. The conduct and attitude that the US has shown regarding the Devyani issue is a matter of concern not only for India but also for all countries and everyone should raise their voice. Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said he expected to talk with Kerry later in the day in what is likely to be a tense phone call. The only question is what do you do when something happens that is irksome, that is hurtful and that is unacceptable, Khurshid told reporters
after talks with Venezuelas visiting foreign minister. Youve got to find a solution, and we hope we will find a solution. Keen to project a muscular image ahead of a general election due in May, the ruling Congress party has taken a strikingly hard line in the dispute. The vice president of the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, which is expected to win the election, also warned that India expected a full apology rather than expressions of regret. The US will have to apologise, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. This is an extraordinary event and not about the US and India alone. The 39-year-old, who is now free on bail, was detained over allegations that she paid the domestic worker a small fraction of New Yorks minimum wage and lied about the employees salary in a visa application. US federal prosecutor Preet Bharara has insisted Khobragade was arrested in the most discreet way possible and that his sole motivation was to uphold the rule of law, protect victims and hold accountable anyone who breaks the law no matter how powerful, rich or connected they are. India is trying secure full diplomatic immunity for Khobragade by shifting her to its UN mission in New York, although such a move needs State Department approval. l
Kate Smith (2nd L) and Matt Messina (2nd R) perform in a boat during a rehearsal for Chicago Opera Theaters production of Orpheus & Euridice at the Welles Park swimming pool in Chicago, Illinois, December 18 REUTERS
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
December 13
Letters to
the Editor
December 14 I must congratulate a local English daily for having published a section titled Wise Words From Mandela. This must be read by all leaders, of all educational institutions and all political parties in Bangladesh. Hopefully they will understand and appreciate Mandelas noble ideas and follow his sage advice. Let the PM, for the sake of national interest, set a noble example by introducing the caretaker government, headed by a recognised and respected judicial mind like Dr Kamal Hossain, or even the last Chief Justice. Let there be five advisers nominated by AL, and from BNP, and two from Jatiyo Party to form the ad-interim government till the election. Let us, for Gods sake, shun violence and have peace. Frustrated Bangali
ike other important parts of the economy, the real estate sector has been hurt hard by the political crisis. Sales of land and property have declined and the Real Estate and Housing Association has postponed its regular Rehab Winter Fair exhibition this month. Political instability is clearly holding up construction projects and deterring new buyers from moving forward on purchases. However, the government also needs to address longer term structural issues that impede the growth of the real estate sector. Better collaboration The slow rate of increasing the between private provision of gas and electricity developers and the connections is a major obstacle. regulatory body The government has promised is necessary to action on this but industry improve use of land members report that utilities and overcome some are still not being delivered adequately. of the longer term A shortage of funding by banks impediments is also a factor, as the crisis and high interest rates have increased the level of defaults and slowed availability of new funds. Planning perhaps remains the key long-term issue which needs to be addressed. Approvals of routine developments can face many bureaucratic impediments and delays. Rajuk and other authorities concerned need to take heed of calls by the industry and the Housing and Public Works minister to improve co-ordination of approvals for new construction. It is encouraging to see that the National Housing Authority has met with Rehab to work together for development of the governments housing sector. Better collaboration between private developers and the regulatory body is necessary to improve use of land, and overcome some of the longer term impediments holding back the property sector.
December 14 A decent bit of historic recollection. However, the issue remains, were the individuals who heart wrenchingly lost their lives targeted because of their so called intellectual credentials? Or were they singled out for their ideals of independence and secession from the larger idea of Pakistan? faiz
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concavity of the Bangladeshi coast. Distorting means the claimed sea areas of Bangladesh under UNCLOS are cut-off by the boundary line of its neighbours from the west and east, denying Bangladesh a 12-mile territorial sea, 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and outer continental shelf beyond the 200 miles of the seabed. In short, Bangladesh becomes a sealocked state. India ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNLOS) in 1995, while Bangladesh ratified it in 2001 and are bound by rules of dispute settlement as envisaged by UNCLOS. Since the sea boundary could not be resolved bilaterally, the Bangladesh government, on October 8, 2009, initiated arbitration proceedings against India before the Court of Arbitration in The Hague. UNCLOS provides general guidelines of delimitation of territorial sea under Articles 15, delimitation of EEZ under Article 74, and delimitation of continental shelf under Article 83. The interpretation and application of maritime law of delimitation have been expounded by the International Court of Justice and Tribunals. On the maritime dispute on the North Sea among Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, in 1969 the ICJ in its landmark judgment rejected the equidistance method and declared that: Delimitation is to be effected by agreement, taking into account all the relevant circumstances including general configuration of the coast of the parties, physical and geological nature. The most significant precedent in the case of the Bangladesh-India maritime dispute is arguably the judgment delivered by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on March 14, 2012 in the Bangladesh-Myanmar Maritime Delimitation Case. The ITLOS judgment accepted the Meghna estuary as part of relevant coastline, upheld that Bangladesh cannot be a sea-locked state by cutting off its boundary, recognised Bangladeshs 12-mile territorial sea, 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and the rights of Bangladesh to the outer continental shelf (the exact area is to be decided by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf under Article 76).
When we think of resources, we imagine only the resources of the land, ignoring marine resources of the country. Bangladesh is not only a riverine country, but also a maritime nation
W
n Isral Khosru
ith the election declared to be on January 5, 2014, it seems that the government and the Election Commission, much to the relief of the general public, have managed to slash their cost of conducting the national election in half, thus saving a substantial portion of taxpayer money at the expense of their right to vote. More than 50% of the seats have been declared uncontested, and we, the electorate, are delighted to have our representatives elected without having to go to the voting centres at all. Such is the joy of democracy. For those of you who are thinking that this sounds more like a fervent tirade of a frustrated citizen, I would like to say that you are spot on. A little bit of sarcasm never harmed anyone. So, as the nation waits for the remaining, albeit fortunate, voters to cast their votes in January, there is no doubt about the fact that we are surely plunging into a deeper crisis. A country which is dubbed to be a beneficiary of electoral democracy where citizens only matter when they cast their votes, we seem to be heading towards a hybrid system of autocratic democracy where a democratic outfit will rule us with absolute power indefinitely and take our mandate for granted, thus deeming the electoral
system to be null and void. While our political government might think that it is eventually possible to give shape to such a system, I would humbly like to say that they are grossly mistaken. The exclusion of the general populace from the political process is a common phenomenon during an ongoing term of a government in this country. The formulation and execution of the 15th Amendment by the current government is a prime example in this regard.
BNP. It is imperative to note that the electorate remained quiet through these two phases, where their voices were ruthlessly overlooked. Now we come to the crucial third phase, where the ultimate act of denial awaits the people of this country. The act of denying their right to vote, or rather the denial of their right to make their votes count to reflect the change they want to see. This, I must say, is chartering into a dangerous territory.
We seem to be heading towards a hybrid system of autocratic democracy where a democratic outfit will rule us with absolute power indefinitely and take our mandate for granted
The current government visibly proceeded with this almost unilaterally by virtue of the judiciary where they utterly disregarded the option of a referendum or another mode of accommodating public opinion. In the second phase of their strategy, they concocted the system of an all-party government, which does not necessarily reflect the will of the people and looks to be rather ambiguous in its nature. The current breakdown of candidates in all the 300 seats reveals that it is going to be a staged election of a single coalition in the absence of the
The current government can delve into relatively recent history to reconsider their strategy in this regard. On February 15, 1996, the then BNP government conducted an election without the participation of the now ruling Awami League, which eventually resulted in two prominent developments. Firstly, it led to the constitutional inclusion of the caretaker government. Secondly, the election held under that newly constituted caretaker outfit saw the AL come out victorious, and form a government. However, it should be pointed out that there was scope of constitutional
reprieve then because a consensus was reached regarding the nature of the election period government, through which the BNP eventually handed over power. The current AL government does not have that luxury today, because they have effectively done away with the very system which can ensure a smooth handover of power and enable a constitutional justification. This has no doubt compounded the situation further, and put forward a new set of challenges which almost looks insurmountable for the current government. That February 15 election clearly reveals that the people of this country do not take a one-sided election too lightly. The ball now lies in the governments court. In the context of current political consciousness in Bangladesh, the days of holding on to power by ignoring the electorate are long gone. While we have a long way to go in terms of adhering to democratic principles that are participatory, we have, on the other hand, perfected the system of electoral democracy. This essentially ensures the continuation of the democratic system, however imperfect, in this great country of ours. It is up to the government to take this into consideration and act accordingly, or pay a very high price. l Israfil Khosru is a businessman, and runs a youth-led think tank called The Bangladeshi.
Lawyers RKP Shankardass, Alain Pellet, Michael Reisman, and Sir Michael Wood argued on behalf of India, while Lawrence Martin, Philippe Sands, Payam Akhavan, Paul Reichler, Alan Boyle, and James Crawford spoke for Bangladesh. On the opening day, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Indian Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati made opening statements on behalf of their respective countries. Former Foreign Minister Dipu Moni also made introductory remarks as the agent of Bangladesh. At the Tribunal, Bangladesh lodged its statement of claim by May 2011, while India submitted its counter-memorial by July 2012. (Originally, India was to submit it in May but took two months time to examine the ITLOS verdict of March 2012 between Bangladesh and Myanmar.) The rejoinder by Bangladesh was submitted on January 31 and Indias reply was submitted by July 31 this year. Note that bilateral talks with India started in 1974, and the negotiations continued for almost four decades. However, delimitation of the sea boundary could not be resolved through these bilateral negotiations because the two nations differed on what methods should be applied to delimit the boundary. One may recall that in 1974, Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to enact a maritime law the Territorial and Maritime Zones Act to claim maritime areas in the Bay of Bengal. Under its law, as well as in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNLOS), Bangladesh has claimed the territorial sea of 12 nautical miles, 188 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and another 260 nautical miles of seabed known as the outer continental shelf. (One nautical mile = 2000 yards while one land mile = 1760 yards.) Bangladesh is a coastal state with a highly indented coastline of islands and islets. The configuration of the coastal line is concave, similar to the shape of a semi-circular arch. It also faces the concave nature of the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, one can easily say that Bangladesh faces double concavity in the configuration of its coast. In the negotiations, while Bangladesh insisted on applying the equitable method, India was firm about the equidistance method in drawing the boundary. The equidistant line is mostly applicable to opposite states (India-Sri Lanka). Furthermore, it can be argued that the equidistant method cannot be applied in the case of Bangladesh and India because it distorts the boundary due to the double
The most significant precedent in the case of the BangladeshIndia maritime dispute is arguably the judgment delivered by the ITLOS in the Bangladesh-Myanmar Maritime Delimitation Case
Taking into account the judgment of the ITLOS in March 2012, Bangladesh hopes that the Court of Arbitration will deliver its judgment in its favour. In the meantime, let us wait for the verdict. Finally, in our conventional way of thinking, when we think of resources, we imagine only the resources of the land, ignoring marine resources of the country. Bangladesh is not only a riverine country, but also a maritime nation that opens to the south toward the Indian Ocean through the Bay of Bengal. It was the ocean route that, in the past, led many foreigners to come to Bengal (now a greater part of Bangladesh), and Chittagong port was the conduit for interaction between Bengalis and foreigners, including European colonisers. l Barrister Harun ur Rashid is former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
The leading lights of Bangladeshi politics believe that the government of the day owns the country and the PM of the day owns the government
Every public agency, commission, and constitutional body is no more than a mere appendage of the prime ministers office now, notwithstanding the vocal denials of the cerebral information minister of the comically named all-party government. The tragedy is that this state of affairs was unlikely to be much different if the prime ministers main adversary was in power instead. Thus, when we are shaken back
AFP
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Afrose Jahan Chaity
The two-day classical music festival of Chhayanaut concluded today with festivity. The audience present were impressed by the dexterity and dedication of all the performers. The festival saw participation of noted local and two Indian vocal artistes Saurav Kumar Nahar and Tushar Dutta who performed on the first session and third session respectively. The concluding session observed Khairul Anam Shakil, Fakir Shahidul Islam, Anil Kumar Saha, Rezwan Ali, Asit Dey and Priyanka Gope singing while Ebadul Haque Saikat, Md Maniruzzaman and Swarup Hossain played violin, the flute and tablas. Additionally, Chhayanaut artistes presented group performances in every session SADIA MARIUM
SADIA MARIUM
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12 8pm Shilpangan, House 7, Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi To live is to be slowly born By Kashef Chowdhury Time: 12 8pm Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue, Circle 1
n Entertainment Desk
Telefilm My husband My Hero will be aired today at 2:30pm on Channel 9. Written by Shourab and directed by Nuzhat Alvi Ahmed, the telefilm features Shojol, Tarin, Jitu Hasan and others. The story revolves around a girl named Nazneen, who is from a simple middle class family. She grew up in a household where they had to borrow money at the end of the month to get by properly. Nazneen had an unrealistic fantasy, she dreams of marrying actor Shojol one day. It was her belief that all her unhappiness will evaporate, once she marries her dream guy. All around her, Nazneen saw that almost everyone admired Shojol. However, her dreams never sees the light of the day. Nazneen gets married to Shah Alam, who belongs to her niche in society. She then starts to question whether her husband can meet her ecpectations and be her hero. l
Festival
Amar Ami, the celebrity talk show will be aired tonight at 9:05pm on Banglavision. Produced by Sazzad Hossain and anchored by Rumana Malik, todays guests will be singer Rahul Anondo of Joler Gaan and Tanzir Tuhin of Shironamhin
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communication, said to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Jalal further said that the events in question were not arranged by the BCB and that the PCB would have to deal with the ICC and ACC if they were to pull out. They will have to deal it with ICC and ACC. As said before, the situation will never be the same for long. Both ICC and ACC are monitoring the situation here and we have nothing to worry about until they (ICC and ACC) say anything to us on the issue, he explained. Earlier this month, Bangladesh cricket was left stunned after the West Indies Cricket Board withdrew their U-19 side from a seven-match youth ODI series against Bangladesh U-19 after a crude bomb exploded a short distance from the team hotel in Chittagong. The incident caused many around the world to raise eyebrows about the security situation in Bangladesh but the BCB said it was an isolated incident and cricketers were not a target. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
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0 8 5
DAYS TO GO
14 Suarez pens new long-term deal with Liverpool 15 Pujara, Kohli put India in command
Winners of Open Contact Karate organised by Kyokushin Bangladesh pose with their trophies at the wooden floor gymnasium Paltan Ground yesterday COURTESY
BCB president Nazmul Hasan briefs the media about the V-day T20 at the SBNCS yesterday
MUMIT M
Each of the four teams has three Grade A players, while the remaining squad members are of Grade B. Grade A players will receive a tournament fee of Tk250,000 while the fees for Grade B has been fixed at Tk150,000. We have World Cup Twenty20 ahead, for which the cricketers need to practice. We needed an alternative tournament since we are not able to hold BPL (Bangladesh Premier League). This is why we took the challenge and arranged the tournament on short notice and we have achieved it, said Nazmul Hasan. The BCB boss gave special credit to former national skippers Akram Khan and Khaled Mahmud, who are now directors of the board, for arranging the tournament. Tickets to the matches will be sold for Tk50. A spectator will be able to watch two games for one ticket. The first game will start at 1pm and the second at 5pm on match days. This tournament might not be as big as BPL and not have international cricketers but we have stars like Shakib, Tamim and Mushfiq playing in the tournament. The tournament will be a competitive one and I believe it will create hype across the country and this is why we have decided to sell tickets, informed Nazmul. The BCB boss added that the board is in talks with a private satellite channel in order to at least televise the matches at Mirpur live. l
The three phase league will be a hard task to cope with. I have observed that all the BPL clubs, though they couldnt practice too much, played a good brand of football in the Federation Cup
charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan said the issue will be settled today. Soccer Club, Feni have kept their squad at BKSP with a view to fine tuning them before the big challenge and Federation Cup runners-up Muktijoddha are also working hard to prove their prowess under seasoned coach Shafiqul Islam Manik. Indian football legend Naeemuddin has put the focus on raising the fitness levels of his Brothers Union side over the last few days while Team BJMC, Uttar Baridhaha and Chittagong Abahani are trying to hit peak form before the final challenges. l
Md. Fazle Mahmud Rony - Asst.Manager, Marketing, Square Toiletries and Sheikh Maruf Hasan, the chairman MFLC are all smiles das the sponsorship cheque is handed over at the BFF House yesterday MUMIT M
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match since Andre Villas-Boass sacking on Monday. Tim Sherwood took charge on a caretaker basis for the midweek League Cup loss to West Ham and his first move was to bring back Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who had been dropped by Villas-Boas. Adebayor responded with a brilliant strike against the Hammers and he said: I was hanging in there waiting
for my chance. Tim gave me the chance to play football again. Ive still got my smile on my face. I got a chance, I took it well. We just have to keep working hard, put more heart into it and it will be better. Meanwhile, Manchester United, languishing 10 points behind the leaders, host West Ham looking to build on their back to back away wins at Aston Villa last weekend and then Stoke in the League Cup on Wednesday. Manager David Moyes is hopeful Wayne Rooney will have recovered from a groin injury in time for the tie. Rooney, 28, missed Uniteds 2-0 win at Stoke, but Moyes is desperate for the England forward to be fit to face the Hammers as he tries restore the champions to the Premier League title race. With Robin van Persie out for a month with a thigh problem, Moyes needs Rooney, who has scored 10 goals so far this season for his club, to climb off the treatment table. l
A picture released by Liverpool yesterday shows striker Luis Suarez signing a new longterm deal with the club
Barcelona forward Pedro Rodriguez (front) dives with sharks to celebrate Christmas time at the Aquarium of Barcelona on Thursday. Banner reads "A sea of hope for a better future." AFP
tomorrow. Neymar had just hit top form in front of goal for the first time since his summer arrival from Santos with six goals in Barcas previous three games. However, the Brazilian has already travelled back to his homeland for an early Christmas break after picking up a suspension with his fifth yellow card of the season in last weekends 2-1 win over Villarreal. With Messi also still recovering from his hamstring tear, the focus will be on Cesc Fabregas, Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez to score the goals needed to keep Barca on top.
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the next round of the Copa del Rey as both sides eased through their fourthround ties in midweek. Atletico trail Barca only on goals scored and will move top as long as they better Martinos mens result at Getafe. Diego Costa will return for Diego Sime-
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major leagues without a victory so far. Should Dortmund falter against Berlin, fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach can usurp them from third when they host VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. Gladbach are unbeaten in their last seven games and enjoyed a sixmatch winning streak before being held to a goalless draw at Mainz last Saturday. l
You virtually humiliated Brazil over the course of those two matches, yet the Brazilian people dont seem to hold it against you. Do you feel at home in Brazil?
I think humiliate is going a bit far. We won and thats all there is to it. [Smiles] But its true, I dont get the sense they harbour any grudges. Every time Ive come here, the people have given me the impression they admired what I did against them, when you might have expected them to greet me with stones! [Laughs] Incidentally, the other day I bumped into Mario Zagallo, who was the Brazil coach back in 1998, and I was very touched by something he said. He told me that if he could have picked one non-Brazilian to play in his team, he would have chosen me. Coming from Zagallo, The Professor, thats quite a compliment. In a way, you could say your game was steeped in Brazilian football.
What sort of words spring to mind when you hear the name Brazil?
Celebration, joy, happiness, the yellow shirt! Class, pure bliss. And the people know their stuff, too. I think its going to be a fantastic tournament full of fantastic players.
How does it feel to win a World Cup? What does it mean on a personal level?
The World Cup is the icing on the cake. Its the pinnacle: something that cant be topped. Every player dreams of playing in the tournament and very few manage it. Then when you get there, the goal becomes to go as far as possible, to reach the final, to try to win it, to score And when youve done all that, you feel on top of the world! Its every footballers biggest dream.
How does it feel to see the footage from the 2006 World Cup quarterfinal against Brazil, in which you starred?
Zinedine Zidane: Its a nice feeling. Truth be told, I dont often watch videos of my matches, but the good memories quickly come flooding back. There was magic in the air that day out on the pitch; both my team-mates and I felt it. We really did have
France will be there. What did you make of their qualifying campaign?
They qualified thats the good news. France is a country that quite simply has to be at the World Cup. What happened in qualifying is in the past now: whats important is that well be there. Thats what it comes down to.
How do you rate Les Bleus chances at the upcoming World Cup?
They have a good chance. The players are
DHAKA TRIBUNE
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Cheteshwar Pujara embraces Virat Kohli after bringing up his hundred on Day 3 of first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday AP
Neville Neville, the father of former England footballers Gary and Phil Neville, was found not guilty Thursday of sexually assaulting a woman. The 64-year-old, who has worked as an agent for his sons, breathed a sigh of relief before mouthing thank you towards the jury at Bolton Crown Court in northwest England. Gary Neville, who gave evidence in the trial, wept as the verdict was delivered after 75 minutes of jury deliberation. The Neville brothers were part of Manchester Uniteds championship-winning teams under manager Alex Ferguson during the 1990s and 2000s. Neville Neville admitted he engaged in sexual activity with the middle-aged complainant in her car outside his house but insisted it was consensual. He imperilled his marriage and his childrens trust, his lawyer told the court. The woman told the jury that Neville drunkenly forced himself upon her in the early hours of March 23. Neville Neville is a former director of fourth-tier League Two side Bury. Gary Neville, 38, is Englands most-capped right-back, making 85 appearances for the senior team. AFP
P. Fulton c Sammy b Narine H. Rutherford c & b Sammy K. Williamson lbw Narine R. Taylor not out B. McCullum not out Extras (b6, lb2 nb 2) Total: (3 wickets; 64 overs)
11 10 58 56 11 10 156
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Ten Sports 02:00PM South Africa v India 1st Test, Day 4 Star Sports 4 6:45PM Liverpool v Cardiff City 9:00PM Man United v West Ham
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul plays a shot during day one of the third Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday AFP
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RANA PLAZA DISASTER
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Passengers throng the capitals Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday after the 18-party alliances blockade ended in the morning
Hundreds of passengers were stuck for several hours in a 50km-long traffic jam on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway
In addition to the passengers sufferings, the traffic rush also hampered the income of the transport workers. Rasel, a supervisor of Winner bus service in the city, told the Dhaka Tribune that the usual six to eight trips during a regular day was halved be-
Veteran AL leader Zohra Tajuddin dies Joynagar housing project n set to miss deadline
Emran Hossain Shaikh
Awami League Presidium member Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, wife of Bangladeshs first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad, died in the capital yesterday. The 81-year old Awami League leader, who was suffering from various old age complications, was undergoing treatment at the United Hospital when she breathed her last at 10:20am. Her daughter Simin Hossain Rimi, an Awami League lawmaker, told the Dhaka Tribune that she would be buried at the Banani graveyard in the capital after her son Sohel Taj, a former state minister, comes from the USA today. President Abdul Haimd, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia issued separate messages expressing condolence. Her first namaz-e-janaza was held after Asr prayers at the Azad Mosque at Gulshan and the second at Bangnabandu Avenue after Magrib prayers. Zohras body is kept in the mortuary of the United Hopital. Hearing the news of the veteran leaders demise, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to the United Hospital in the morning. The premier, alongside many other Awami League leaders, placed a floral wreaths at Zohras coffin at Bangabandhu Avenuve in the afternoon. Zohra underwent surgery at the Medicity Medanta hospital in Gurgaon of New Delhi in India for a hip-fracture few months ago. She was admitted to the United Hospital 18 days ago and had been on life support for a number of days. Zohra Tajuddin was born on December 24, 1932. She studied social science at Dhaka University and got married to Tajuddin Ahmed in 1959. After the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Zohra held of the partys helm and kept it together before handing over charge to Sheikh Hasina. She is survived by three daughters Sharmin Ahmad Reepi, Simeen Hussain Rimi and Mahjabin Ahmad Mimi; and only son Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj. l
Khaled Khan was born in Tangail on February 9, 1958 and joined the leading theatre group Nagorik Natya Sampradaya in 1978
The famous actor was suffering from motor neuron disease for the last 12 years which left the lower part of his body paralysed. Earlier on Monday, Khaled Khan had been put on life support after he got a respiratory attack in the afternoon. Khaled Khan gained his popularity both on television and on stage playing roles in numerous plays. He joined the leading theatre group Nagorik Natya Sampradaya in 1978. He has received many awards including the IT Theatre Award 2013. He was born in Tangail on February 9, 1958. He worked as treasurer for the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. He was previously the finance director of the institution and had earlier served as the registrar and deputy director of administration. l
Awami League leaders, including PM Sheikh Hasina, pay homage to Zohra Tajuddin in front of the party office on Bangabandhu Avenue DHAKA TRIBUNE
been extended to December 2016. Md Didarul Alam, a Bangladesh Bank official, told the Dhaka Tribune, At a time I was more interested to buy an apartment in Joynagar housing project, but now I am faced with a dilemma. Checking on the progress, it seems that the National Housing Authority will not be able to meet the new deadline, he added. NHA Executive Engineer Md Khaled Hossain, also the project manager, said: It will take more than one year to take possession of the housing project land now illegally occupied by grabbers. When we go in for an eviction drive, the grabbers file writ petition with the High Court against us. But at last we got permission from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to reclaim the land from the grabbers, he said. The project manager added that according to the present market rate, each apartment would cost around Tk60.9 lakh, and its selling price would be around Tk68.1 lakh depending on the price of construction materials. The NHA officials said buyers would be able to purchase apartments by installment for 20 years. l
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