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Rickshaw-pullers look on at a burning bus after pro-blockade activists torch the vehicle in the citys Gulistan yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Mohammad Nasim said: People in areas without polls will get relief from violence as the BNP Jamaat has resorted to destruction and bloodshed in the pretext of movement against the election
The party leadership forced many of its leaders to withdraw their nomination papers to get the alliance candidates elected unopposed as polling in 300 constituencies without the main opposition would certainly result in a severe bloodshed. Its allies have reciprocated. Party leaders anticipate that the BNP Jamaat will be more aggressive against the Awami League candidates during the elections. The ruling party has left seats for
INSIDE
News
4 The government has started distributing free textbooks among students from the first day of the year, but it appears not everything labelled free may always come for free.
Feature
6 History does a remarkable job of downplaying the role of women, so it is no surprise that few people have heard of Anjali Lahiri.
2
Samira Sadeque and Syed n Syeda Samiul Basher Anik
In Dakhin Khan, a tinge of indifference, yet a strange sense of fear, lingers in the air regarding the upcoming elections. While many locals expressed anger over continuous blockades causing businesses to deteriorate, others were afraid to talk about the elections. The rest were indifferent. Dakkhin Khan falls under Dhaka 18 constituencies, where the candidates are former minister Shahara Khatun for Awami League, contesting M Atikur Rahman of Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF). However, the area was rather naked of the usual electoral campaign post-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Similar fears were also seen among the voters from Dhaka 5 constituency, where a gloomy scene was observed across all the four unions under the constituency
scared. Sneha said she was not aware of any of the candidates in her constituency. Fearing the consequences, many locals refused to speak to the media
about the election. Similar fears were also seen among the voters from Dhaka 5 constituency, where a gloomy scene was observed across all the four unions under the constituency. Although Dhaka 5 had the highest numbers of candidates compared to other Dhaka constituencies, people from all four unions - Demra, Donia, Matuail and Sarulia expressed reluctance to comment on the polls or about their favorite candidate. Locals said the constituency lacked any festive election mood, as there was no campaigning and the main opposition BNP was absent. Only Awami League leader Habibur Rahman Molla had campaigned
properly, while the other three candidates were hardly seen seeking votes from over four lakh voters in the constituency. The constituency could have witnessed tough competition between two former labour leaders - Habibur Rahman Molla and Arju Shah Sayedabadi, as a good number of labourers and garments workers live in the area. Mohammad Shiraj, 45, a tea-stall vendor, said never before had he seen an election like this. Theres supposed to be some excitement, some noise, some chaos before any election, but I have not seen anything like it this year, he said, adding that he did not even know who was running. l
inflow during the elections will have no positive impact. A vibrant rural economy is key to the countrys development. As blockades and strikes have affected it, rural-urban wealth distribution will suffer a severe jolt and Bangladeshs inclusive growth target will not be attained, he said. According to existing rules, candidates are allowed to spend a maximum of Tk25 lakh each for pre-election activities such as printing publicity posters, banners, festoons, hiring vehicles and other campaign related works. The limit was Tk15 lakh in the 2008 elections.
In most cases, however, candidates exceeded those limits by spending five to ten times more. The common practice before elections has been to donate money for various local development activities like repairing and construction of mosques and temples, schools and colleges; even cash incentives for the voters. Although all these expenditures are illegal, they give the rural economies the much-needed boost every time before elections by creating additional employment opportunities in the areas and enhancing the purchasing power of the rural populace. Subodh Chandra Mandal is a fishermen from the Ashtagram upazila in
Kishorganj district. He told the Dhaka Tribune: We are not concerned about the elections because President Abdul Hamids son has already been elected [unopposed] a member of parliament because there is no other candidate. Our only concern now is that our livelihoods are now at stake because of the oppositions prolonged blockades. Not only has the elections brought no good news for the struggling rural economies, fears of escalating violence after the elections has also gripped many villages. Abdur Rahim, a paddy grower from the same area, said: We are worried not about the elections; but about what
will happen after the elections. Because of the political turmoil, we have not been able to sell our paddy. The fishermen have not been able to sell their catch either. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumuir, chairman of economic think tank Unnayan Onneshan, told the Dhaka Tribune that pre-election boost for the rural economies was much needed this year, especially the blows that these economies suffered because of the prolonged political turmoil. Huge amount of funds will not go to the public this year as there will be no elections in a total of 154 constituencies, Titumir said. Zahir Alam, an official of the finance
ministry, said the people in the rural areas are not concerned about elections because of the hardships that they had been going through in recent times. The fact that there had not been any usual economic activity ahead of the elections, would only add more misery, Zahir said. Rural people have poor savings. If political violence continues, many people will slide below the poverty line. Construction work, supply chain and channeling of public funds to the rural areas through development projects will be affected severely. These will have long term adverse impact on the rural economies, he explained. l
have been elected uncontested. Except for these five districts, the government has announced public holidays in the remaining 59. A total of 389 candidates are contesting in the 147 constituencies where 43,93,8931 voters will get the chance to exercise their voting rights. The number of polling centres in these constituencies are 18,209 and polling booths 91,213. Only more than half of a total of 9.2 million voters in the country will not be able to exercise their voting rights in tomorrows elections because of the unopposed elections. Twelve out of the 40 parties registered with the Election Commission
are contesting in tomorrows polls. Even many voters in those constituencies, where voting will take place from 8am to 5pm tomorrow, are wondering whether or not to go to the polling centres sensing violence. Yesterday, opposition activists have set fire to more than a dozen poll centres in a number of constituencies in various districts including Feni, the home district of opposition leader Khaleda Zia. The arson attacks were part of the nationwide violence that has been going on for the last few months centring the mode of the polls-time government and the trial of war criminals. More than a hundred people have been killed since the opposition stated
enforcing the countrywide blockade protesting tomorrows polls more than a month ago. Some of those have been killed in violence centring the execution of war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla. To ensure peaceful voting, apart from a huge number of police, Rab and BGB personnel, the Election Commission has also deployed the army for 15 days. The governments health department has asked all public medical colleges, specialised, district and Upazila hospitals around the country to remain alert and take all-out preparations to ensure emergency healthcare services in case there are casualties and injuries resulting from violence. All these
establishment are also advised to keep their emergency departments ready with special reinforcements. However, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune, voters from a number of constituencies in and outside the capital, have expressed concerns about the situation on the Election Day. Many female voters in particular, from a sense of insecurity, have expressed their unwillingness to go to the polling centres tomorrow. In addition to the fear factor, many voters are in a big dilemma in their localities as the ruling Awami League is urging them to go to the polls without fear and the main opposition BNP is telling them to do the opposite. Many have said they are scared that
they may be labelled Awami League supporters if they go to cast their votes; while others said they would not want to be labelled as supporters of BNP by not going to the polling centres. Despite the opposition boycott, in many constituencies, local BNP leaders are reportedly working for the candidates, who are contesting against Awami League runners. There has been one instance of a similar kind of a polls on February 15, 1996, where the then ruling BNP held one-sided polls amid boycotts from the then main opposition Awami League and the other opposition parties including HM Ershads Jatiya Party and Jamaat. In that election, 49 candidates were elected uncontested. l
Khaleda calls
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an escape route on his own. The nearby police outpost is only two minutes walk. Police later said they could not leave for the spot to protect the outpost although at least 16 policemen were at the outpost that night. Joj had to give in, luring the attackers to three houses away by jumping over the adjacent rooftops and then climbing down a tree to surrender himself. The Jamaat-Shibir men paraded Joj on the main road of Sarashkati Bazar, hurling abuse at him all the way. Mind your language. I am a man of honour, Joj protested. But they did not stop. Joj was taken to a culvert on the main road, less than 500 metres from his house. His groans broke the silence of the night as he was slaughtered. All of Jojs fingers were cut off, apparently during his fight with them. Jojs niece Tania Sultana told Abdur Rahman about the place Joj was lying dead. Rahman and several relatives went out around 3am to bring the body. The police did not come until 10am next morning. The murder was not unexpected to anyone in the village. Many, in fact, said it was not even a matter to guess. Just an hour before the killers went to Jojs house, former Awami League president of Kolaroa ward 6 Azizur Rahman had been chopped to death in his own house around midnight.
What are the police for if they do not protect a person in danger? said an infuriated Rita Sultana, Jojs widow with two children. Can you please make it sure that we get justice? she told this correspondent on December 28. Jojs 10-year-old son Abul Kalam Azad was the first person to begin describing how his father was slaughtered like a cow or a goat. Locals said at the morgue the superintendent of police told Sharashkati police outpost in-charge Liakot: It is not Jamaat-Shibir, but you who killed Joj Miah. Local Awami League leader Sarder Mujib echoed the SP. Liakot, however, came up with a different version of the incident. I knew Joj only by his name and never met him. He did not call me that night, he said. But Sharashkati police outposts second-in-command Asad, who was present at the outpost on the night Joj was killed, admitted that Joj had called Liakot. Liakots relation with Joj is well known to the locals: Joj was fond of fishing and Liakot would take a good share of his catch. Asad claimed that they had been besieged by a large number of Jamaat-Shibir activists at the outpost that night and that their high-ups had prioritised protecting the outpost first. Asked if they had sought reinforcement on that night, Asad could not find an answer. The only action taken against Liakot so far was closing him to the Satkhira
police lines. He said he was currently performing election duty. This is how things always were with the Sharashkati police outpost throughout 2013. In August, a local Jamaat leader was freed within two hours of arrest allegedly after Jamaat-Shibir men had held the police hostages. Liakot claimed that he had bailed the Jamaat leader as he had fallen ill. In an apparent publicity stunt, police arrested a Jamaat activist and suspected murderer Mukul Hossain on December 27 in connection with Jojs killing. The Dhaka Tribune investigation found evidence still left at the crime scene as of December 28 even after two weeks of the murder such as the nasal drop that fell from Jojs pocket and the newspaper has a photograph of it. Joj had bought it for her daughters cold. The findings of the Dhaka Tribune investigation are substantiated by locals suspicion of polices having a link with influential Jamaat politicians. They accuse Kolaroa police stations Officer-in-Charge Shah Dara Khan of having relations with Jamaat men. They told this correspondent that the local Jamaat activists had often claimed in public that the OC and the SP were their men and so they could do anything. The OC is still posted at Kolaroa although a new SP took over on December 15.
Even after all this the law and order has not improved in Satkhira. The local journalists cannot yet visit most places outside the district town and those who come from Dhaka to help their local colleagues have to work in disguise. Statistics of about a dozen murders that took place in the past two months show that half of those had taken place in areas under Kolaroa police station. Kolaroa can be considered a microcosm of police performance in maintaining law and order in Satkhira district where over three dozen people, including 16 ruling party activists, had been killed since war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death on February 28 last year. OC Shah Dara claimed to have done everything in his capacity to ensure security in the area. Please evaluate if I am right or wrong. We are dealing with a situation resulting from a political crisis, he said, adding that Jamaats violence had been widespread on the night Joj was killed and it had taken them a while to move a kilometre removing hundreds of trees felled on the roads. When told that the evidence was still there at the crime scene, the officer only said he would look into the matter. The lax security arrangement has strengthened the Jamaat-Shibir men to an extent that they dare even wash the blood off their body and clothes openly at a local market following a murder. On November 26 just after killing
Deyara Unions Jubo League General Secretary Mahbudur Rahman Babu, 32, in Mirzapur area, they went to a sweet shop at Kolaroas Deyara Bazar and washed the blood off their clothes as if it was dirt. Hours later, they killed local Swechchhasebak League General Secretary Rabiul Islam in Deyara village. These are not the only stories of a weak police performance in Satkhira. In 2012, the police sat idle as Jamaat men burnt houses of Hindus in Fatepur and Chakdah areas. The charge sheets submitted by the police in two cases filed over the incident prompted the district judge courts public prosecutor to plead no confidence against the investigation. The masterminds were let go off intentionally in the charge sheet as mentioned by the prosecutor at the court. Top Satkhira politicians said evidence was aplenty now to substantiate a warm institutionally established relationship between the police and Jamaat-Shibir men. They said only money could ensure such a sustained relationship for years. Police officers and others in the administration in Satkhira are paid the same amount of their salary by Jamaat every month, said an anonymous senior politician, summing up a discussion with a magistrate. When contacted, the new Satkhira SP, Chowdhury Manzurul Kabir, angrily refused to make any comment. l
I am grateful to them. Power is not a big deal to me. I am ready to do any sort of sacrifice in this stage of my life to re-establish peoples rights and their freedom, not to return to power, she said. After my announcement of march for democracy programme, the scared government cordoned off my residence using law enforcers and detectives. I was barred from going out. The government has virtually put me under house arrest. My office and BNP central office are also cordoned off, she said. Thousands of people converged to the capital to join the programme but they were barred from going there and it was proved that: Our programme was peaceful and the governments publicity was untrue. Just after the day of the premiers allegation that dialogue process was foiled due to the opposition party, the opposition chief counter-alleged that they repeatedly urged for dialogue to resolve the crisis but due to the ruling partys stubbornness the dialogue process failed. About one of the ruling party leaders instruction of vote rigging Khaleda said the ruling Awami League had already instructed its leaders and activists to rig vote. l
EC fears poor
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Md Golam Rabbani who has been elected uncontested came under attack recently. Awami League nominee Ragibul Ahsan Ripu filed his nomination paper for Bogra 6 constituency, but later had to withdraw in line with the partys decision. His withdrawal paved the way for JaPa candidate Md Nurul Islam Omor. The party leadership instructed me to withdraw my candidature because of the Jatiya Party candidates refusal to do so, he said. AL Presidium member Matia Chowdhury is more candid about the internal arrangement for withdrawal of the candidature. We played no hide and seek game. We reached a consensus with our allies on withdrawing candidates. At some
places, we have withdrawn our candidates while the allies followed the suit in other places, Matia told the Dhaka Tribune. Mujibul Haque Chunnu, a JaPa Presidium member, told the Dhaka Tribune that the Awami League had asked its nominees to lift their candidature so that more Jatiya Party candidates could be elected unopposed. The JaPa did the same in many areas, he said. People in areas without polls will get relief from violence as the BNP Jamaat has resorted to destruction and bloodshed in the pretext of movement against the election, Mohammad Nasim, an AL Presidium member and spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, told the Dhaka Tribune. Nasim has also been elected MP uncontested.
Voting in Bogra Out of the seven seats in Bogra district, the Awami League candidates have fielded only two candidates. They have been elected unopposed in Bogra 1 and Bogra 5 constituencies. The JaPa candidates have been elected unopposed in three seats (Bogra 2, 3 and 6). Voting will take place in two seats. In Bogra 4, AKM Rezaul Karim Tanshen of the JSD and Md Nurul Amin Bachchu of JaPa are contesting the polls. The Bogra 7 election is an all-Jatiya Party show - ATM Aminul Islam (Manju) and Muhammad Altaf Ali (Ershad). In Joypurhat, AL candidates Shamsul Alam Dudu (Joypurhat 1) and Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan (Joypurhat 2) have been elected unopposed as the JaPa and the Workers Party candidates withdrew their candidatures.
The AL candidates have been elected unopposed in five out of the six seats in Noakhali where the JaPa and the JSD candidates withdrew. Voting takes place only in Noakhali 6 constituency where the Awami League has nominated Ayesha Ferdous, whom its leaders consider as a week candidate. Her contender is a JaPa candidate. The Awami League has nominated only one candidate for the three seats of Feni district, known as a stronghold of the BNP-led opposition. Nizam Uddin Hazari has been elected unopposed from Feni 2. Shirin Akhter of the JSD has been elected uncontested from Feni 1 seat, which is currently held by opposition chief Khaleda Zia, as the Awami League withdrew its candidate. The AL left Feni 2 to JaPa nominee Anwarul Karim,
popularly known as Rintu Anwar. Out of four constituencies in Lakshmipur, the AL gave its ally Tariqat Federation the Laxmipur 1 seat. JaPas Md Noman (Laxmipur 2) and ALs AKM Shahjahan Kamal (Laxmipur 3) have been elected unopposed. Tariqat candidate MA Awal and JaPas Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman Mahmud are vying for the Laxmipur 1 seat. Awal told the Dhaka Tribune that he had been facing security threats in his constituency. In Laxmipur 4, Awami League candidate Md Abdullah faces JaPa Md Belal Hossain and two other independent candidates. Another BNP-dominated district Chandpur sees no election as all the five Awami League candidates have been elected unopposed. l
respectively while BNP achieved 32% votes in the polls. Seeking anonymity, a deputy secretary of the EC told the Dhaka Tribune that this election season, the candidates did not provide voter slips to the voters in their respective zones which had been a usual scenario ahead of polls in the past years. The commission has expressed concern over the matter upon receiving the field level reports, he said. Some field level officials said generally the election candidates distribute the voter slips door to door in their respective areas that include the name of the voter, name of the polling centre and a voter number. But this time, the candidates showed no interest in doing so. As a result more time may be needed for searching the voter number during the polls, said the officials. In tomorrows polls 389 candidates from 12 registered political parties will be contesting. As the main opposition BNP and some other parties are not taking part in the election, a total of 153 candidates have no competitors. Consequently out of 43,862,908 voters, 48,280,620 cannot exercise their franchises this time, shows the EC statistics. A total of 91,213 polling booths will be set up inside 18,209 polling centres across the country for holding polls in 147 constituencies. EC Secretary Muhammed Sadique said the commission would ensure maximum security for the voters. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The Capital
Miscreants set fire to five polling centres set up in four schools and a madrasa in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni with a day in hand for the general election.
Shibir men locked into mild clashes with police in capitals Azampur, Malibagh, Kolabagan and Kamalapur during processions with indiscriminate blasts when 6 Shibir men were arrested and 5 others injured. The blockaders torched at least four buses at Abdullahpur, Gulistan and Pribagh. With a few passengers trains service continued but had delays in maintaining schedule. The number of public transports was higher than the previous days but launches plied with lower number of passengers. At bus stations many passengers were seen trying to arrange alternative vehicles as some small bus companies decided to ply buses on long distance routes. l
Army personnel stand guard at the Kanchpur bus stand in Narayanganj yesterday as part of their election duty
MAHMUD OPU
KHALEDAS CONFINEMENT
BNP lawmakers come out from Bangabhaban yesterday after meeting President Abdul Hamid DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
n Tribune Report
The government has started distributing free textbooks among students from the first day of the year, but it appears not everything labelled free may always come for free. Teachers of two government primary schools in Tungipara Sorydanga Primary School and Purbo Gopalpur Primary School were found to be setting prices for the books meant to be given free of charge. During a visit to the Sorydanga school yesterday, assistant teachers Akbor Hossain and Jharna Patwary were found to be collecting fees from the students while distributing textbooks among them. They took between Tk10 and Tk50 for each set of books depending on the classes (from classes I to V) receiving students were in, said Lipi, guardian of a student.
Sensing the presence of journalists, Hossain, distributing books out in the schoolyard, quickly retreated into his room with some students and continued with the distribution. Later when reporters approached him, he said books would be distributed later. He squarely denied allegations against the school of taking money from its students for their books, saying: Money is being collected for the sports competition. The collected money would be returned to the students later, said Enayet Hossain, president of the school managing committee. Meanwhile, several students of the Purbo Gopalpur Government Primary School said they had paid their teachers for their new books. The government on Thursday started distributing new books for the students of classes I IX across the country. l
Vegetable shopkeepers seat gloomily in an empty market. Continues blockades harm the trade immensely. Yield are being rotten in the field as cannot be carried away. The photo was taken from Durgapur, Rajshahi yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
Three OCs in Pabna withdrawn n Tribune Report n Our Correspondent, Pabna Contacted, a number of politicians of
The officers-in-charge of three police stations under Pabna-1 constituency have been withdrawn following a directive by Election Commission. The departmental action was taken against Shahid Mahamud, Jahangir Hossain and Md Rezaul Karim, the OCs of Santhia, Bera and Atikula police stations respectively. According to sources, independent candidate Professor Abu Sayeed of Pabna-1 constituency in a press conference alleged that the OCs were working in favour of Samsul Haque Tuku, state minister for home. After publishing the report in different newspapers on Friday, the election commission issued a letter to the superintendent of police to take step against the officers in charge. Later, the district police administration withdrew them according to the order of the Election Commission. l
WEATHER
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:22am 6:41am 12:03am 3:49pm 5:25pm 6:45pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
Sonia Akhtar Nupur, wife of Rafiqul Islam Kajol, a convict offender, forms a human chain along with her relatives in front of the National Press Club yesterday. Nupur claimed that her two daughters were abducted by Kajol. She urged the administration to rescue her children and ensure their security RAJIB DHAR
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The turnout of voters in this river-isolated constituency was always less than other seats, while local sources also claimed that Barisal city AL president Advocate Afzal Hossain who was deprived nomination might influence voting trends
Around 7 lakh 80 thousand voters of the other three constituencies would be deprived from voting, as AL candidates in Barisal 1 (Gournadi-Agoiljhara) and Barisal 5 (city corporation and sadar upazila) and JaPa (Ershad) candidate in Barisal 6 (Bakerganj upazila) won the seats uncontested. In the Barisal 2 constituency, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Workers Party-backed candidate Sabina Aktar has accused the local administration of meddling in election affairs in favour of her Awami League rival. Talukdar Md Yunus, district AL secretary and lawmaker from Barisal 1 constituency, is now contesting as the AL candidate for Barisal 2. Yunus denied Sabinas allegations and said he would welcome any probe into the claims against him. Central AL leaders like Amir Hossain Amu and Abul Hasanat Abdullah along with Barisal city AL unit Presi-
Students, teachers and locals roam around the debris of Purba Chandrapur Gajaria Adarsha Academy in Feni yesterday morning. The school was a polling centre, which miscreants burnt down late Thursday night just two days ahead of the 10th parliamentary polls DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Feature
An open door
Offering refuge
Anjali Lahiri
COURTESY
Lahiri, reverently dubbed Jagat Ma (Universal Mother) by Bangladeshi freedom fighters, was no victim. She was a savior.
A life of activism
Lahiri was Indian by nationality, but that never detracted from her deep empathy for the Bangladeshi refugees in her country. She was born in Kolkata in 1922, and raised in Shillong. She studied in Mymensingh from class VI to class IX at Bidyamayee Girls School, where she first became engaged in the freedom movement. Lahiri remained politically active during WWII, Indian independence,
In 1971, seeing the cruelty perpetrated by the Pakistani militias on innocents, Indias then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opened the borders for ten million people from Bangladesh to take shelter in India. As refugee camps sprouted along the border, diseases spread like wildfire. Food became scarce, and hunger would haunt the refugees for days on end. Lahiri described in her diaries: Swarming flies. Dead newborns floating in the water. Nightmare. Lahiri worked tirelessly to ease the suffering of refugees in Cherrapunjee and other border areas, sometimes cooking for hundreds. She distributed relief material at the freedom fighters camps in Basthala, Tamabil and Mailam. Lahiri also helped the refugees find employment to support themselves as private tutors. She even organised a cultural function in Shunamganj, the proceeds from which went to the Bangladeshi freedom fighters fund. Later, Lahiri worked at the refugee camps at Pontung near the Dauki border. The camps were set up on a hillock and were pelted with rain day and night. She would ride a military jeep through dense fog, often pushing it through mud when it got stuck, undertaking the risky drive through Cherrapunji where landslides were commonplace. She not only served the people, but also stayed overnight with them at times to better understand their misery, eating chicken legs with feet and nails.
She and her husband Niren, who worked as a legal aid for the refugees, essentially turned their home into a refugee camp. Members of the Muktibahini would take shelter in her home. One such freedom fighter, Jagatjoyti, left a lasting mark on Lahiri. He came to her house for refuge, lungi-clad and covered in splinters. She offered to admit him to a hospital, but he said the army was after his head. Soon after he left her place, the Pakistani army stabbed him to death with a bayonet, and hanged his mutilated body from a tree in Sunamganj Bazar, to strike fear in peoples hearts.
Lahiri braved social stigma and spent her days aiding strangers in disease stricken refugee camps
descriptions of their plight. Heavy rain and humidity worsened the diseases and deaths. In one entry regarding the outbreak of cholera in the camps, she wrote: I saw a very beautiful young girl lying on the bamboo shaft. She looked up at me and said: Didi please save me I do not want to die. Her expressive eyes were so eloquent, they shall remain etched in my memory as long as I live. She could not be saved for want of saline maybe these two beautiful expressive eyes were pecked by the vultures. Lahiris story is one that deserves to be told. Bangladeshs Ain o Shalish Kendra took on that task and documented the nine months Lahiri spent working in the disease and poverty stricken refugee camps, in a publication called Sriti O Kotha Ekathor (Memories and Tales of 71), collected from an interview by Shahin Akhter.
A lady of letters
The incident with Jagatjyoti left a mark on Lahiri, and she decided to pay her tribute to by immortalizing him through her book. The first piece of writing went missing, but she read out the second piece to some Bangladeshis. They had a misconception that only Muslims participated in the war and that there was no participation by Hindus, but Lahiri sought to prove that Hindus such as Suranjit Sengupta, Bidhu Dasgupta and Jagatjyoti also fought alongside the Muslim Bangalis. Perhaps one of Lahiris most lasting contributions was keeping written records of the conditions of the refugees, with vivid and heart wrenching
At a time when the society was even more conservative about the role of women than it is today, Lahiri braved social stigma, and spent days among strangers in disease stricken refugee camps. How many people today provide services to the thousands of people in Bangladeshs Rohingya refugee camps, or open their doors to strangers who are victims of war in another country? Such acts can only be performed by exceptional individuals, who place others interests above their own and, more importantly, who transcend the artificial borders of countries, and place humanity above nationality. Fittingly, in October 2012, the government of Bangladesh presented her the Friends of Liberation War Honour. l
n Ishrat Jahan
Why did a top graduate from IBA choose the civil service when the corporate world of opportunities lay open to her? Because she wanted to make a difference. She wanted to serve her country. Farhana Jahan Upama graduated with flying colours from Dhaka Universitys Institute of Business Administration, placing 3rd on the Directors Honour List, and landed a corporate job at HSBC by the start of 2011. But she quickly realised that she wasnt happy going down the conventional path. She sat for the 31st Bangladesh Civil Service examinations and passed with merits in her first attempt. The Dhaka Tribune interviewed this dynamic lady over the phone.
I know its not a safe or a very conventional option for an IBA graduate, but thats not really my first concern when I think about what I want in life.
Some people think government jobs are not for successful graduates.
People prefer instant success, and they equate a high salary to greater success. The perception that only jobs in multinational companies will give you success and satisfaction is wrong, at least for me. Im glad I went through with my decision and didnt settle for what I had.
Did the IBA polish help in any way for the civil service?
It does to a certain extent help with taking on more pressure with less anxiety. In a way, IBA prepares you for the uncertainties and challenges you face when pursuing any career.
Project Kombol connects Dhaka based clothing drives with NGOs operating outside of Dhaka. Launched on Dec 14 by the BANDHU Foundation and Garbo Bangladesh Foundation, it has built a vast network with 17 NGOs covering 25 districts. Local NGOs are able to identify the neediest individuals in their respective districts and keep track of who has received donations. The project has 20 zone leaders in the country to collect the goods: 17 in Dhaka and three in Feni, Chittagong and Sylhet. Donors can also contribute cash in person or via bKash and Project Kombol will purchase and
We want to reach the most vulnerable communities in the most remote areas, said Shagufe Hossain, c o director of Project Kombol, and chief operations officer and director of Garbo Bangladesh. This winter pneumonia, asthma and other respiratory illnesses are becoming dominant in the northern districts of Kurigram and Gaibandha. Dr Nazrul Islam, residential medical officer at Kurigram sadar hospital, on December 28 said: 141 people, including 60 children were admitted with cold-related complications yesterday. At least 800 people had been treated at the outdoor unit of the hospital in the last few days, he added.
Happiness is donating a kombol to a very needy person says co-chair Project Kombol Nuheen Khan, shown here with a beneficiary in Netrokona COURTESY there is actually a risk of donations going down the drain. If the warm clothes go to the same people over and over, they simply sell the surplus on the second-hand market, which means the real sufferers are not getting the intended help. So how is it done? Each NGO prepares a survey report of the number of people in need, segregated by age and gender. Project Kombol then notifies the NGO of the date they need to travel to the location, and how many pieces they have to distribute. The day before they leave for the places, individual tokens are issued to the beneficiaries. Suppose we have 300 blankets, Shegufe said. So, 300 tokens are distributed. This will ensure that only the token holders get the blankets. To avoid duplication, the token has two to three logos: the logo of Project Kombol, the logo of the local NGO and/or the logo of the organisations that has donated.
To contribute, find your nearest zone leader: l Hotline: 01819 230 486 l Online: facebook.com/projectkombol l Email contactus@projectkombol.com Or donate via bKash to 0177 939 4909 laments Nuheen Khan, co-chair of the project, president and CEO of Garbo Bangladesh Foundation, and a lecturer of Economics at North South University. Because of the hartal and blockades we are now targeting Fridays for distribution, said Nueen. On December 27, 2600 blankets were distributed in six districts. We booked a whole bus to carry the blankets. Of the cash donations they raise, Nueen explains: We collect Tk150 from individuals and spend Tk105 for buying the blanket. The rest of the money is used for transportation.
We also make sure that there is no overlapping, Shagufe said. Because clothing distribution has been largely ad-hoc in the past,
Many women face discrimination in the workplace, and people say it is more prevalant in government service.
I think we have come a long way in terms of female empowerment in the office, in both corporate and government jobs. But I have not faced anything like that in any of the jobs I have had. My seniors and coworkers encourage and respect me. I believe people have yet to change the way they think of government service. l
In Gaibandha, women shiver while they wait in line for their blankets
Despite the current political instability, they successfully conducted the first drive on December 16. To date, the project had distributed 6000 blankets across the country, of which 2600 were donated by different corporate houses. We had a target to distribute at least 20-25,000 blankets. But in the current political situation we think we can reach not more than 15,000,
Alternatively, for those who want to connect with the beneficiaries directly, the platform also provides them with the option to go out and distribute their collected goods themselves. Project Kombol takes care of all the distribution logistics with local NGOs. It even provides the donor with information on transportation, food and accommodation options in that particular area, to make the experience as hassle-free as possible. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Long Form
RIO SHUVO
n Shaqur Rahman
any historians say that the Enlightenment in Europe in the 18th century, the most important intellectual movement of the modern era, did not come about because of scientists dispassionately searching for objective truths in nature, but because of the rapid spread of civil and free conversation among the educated elite in the clubs, salons and dining rooms throughout the western world. In many ways the current political crisis is very different from everything that happened previously. Although the political leadership are still not talking to each other, the general people are conversing freely and frankly like never before. In print and electronic media, in Facebook and on blogs, in sitting rooms and dining rooms, in buses and tea-stalls, Bangladeshis worldwide are furiously talking to each other. Alas! All of this talking seems to produce not even a trifle, let alone something substantial like enlightenment.
For better or worse, the two political factions are firmly entrenched in the people. If we love the country more than our politics, we must interact and meet somewhere
I do not claim to have a firm finger on the pulse of the people my interactions are mostly limited among a particular section of Bangladeshis. What I find surprising is that even among the highly westernised, professional and academic Bangladeshis, two persons may be identical in their taste in popular culture, reading lists of books and movies, outlook on philosophy and life and everything else, but completely talk past each other when the topic is domestic politics. They may completely agree on the politics of USA, Europe and India, but find each other incomprehensible when it comes to politics in Bangladesh. It seems people are living in two separate moral universes that frequently collide but never interact. One is reminded of the famous lines from Rudyard Kipling: East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet. I also do not claim to be an impartial observer of the conversation looking down from Mount Olympus. On the balance, I firmly reside in one of the moral universes, but I fervently try to listen and understand what the other side is saying. I think at this time we
need to put a little break on the futile preaching and try a little listening. In this short essay I will try to synthesise my take on the basic aspirations and apprehensions of both sides. Awami League supporters are most pained and bewildered by the seeming cavalier attitude of their BNP friends to the seminal, the proudest, and the most tragic event in our history, the 1971 liberation war. They perceive that BNP supporters are not very animated by our young nations history, the symbols, and founding leaders. Most particularly, the indescribable crimes committed against innocent civilians in 1971 cry out to heaven for retribution and redress, but BNP supporters dont seem to reach out to a large part of their fellow countrymen. AL supporters see from BNP lukewarm support for the trial at best, indifference on average, and dismissiveness at worst. AL supporters are pained that their secular, cosmopolitan BNP friends do not seem to realise the dangers of cavorting with absolutist religious parties. They see the national trajectory of Pakistan, Afghanistan and sundry Mideast theocracies, and imagine the worst for Bangladesh. They think Awami League is fighting a lonely and beleaguered fight to keep the flame of secularism alive in Bangladesh. They are also very aggrieved with the inconsiderate way BNP supporters dismiss the tragic events of August 15 and 21, when the most heinous attempts were made to wipe out AL leadership from the face of earth. Keeping in mind such traumatic history, AL supporters think that BNP is not yet fit for state power, however much popular support they now have. They fear that such odious violence may be repeated if an angry BNP, partnered with vengeful Jamaat, comes back to power. That is why a democratic vote is not looked upon by AL as a solution but an exacerbating event for the nation. BNP supporters list of grievances starts right from where AL fears culminate. By happen-stance of state of affairs, BNP now finds itself firmly on the right side of democracy. BNP supporters see that a great majority of the nation is fervid about anti-incumbency and ready to vote BNP to power. After the nadir of 2007-8 and five years of repression-marginalisation, BNP regards state power by popular mandate its rightful reward and it regards ALs determination to hold on to power by hook or crook as a great travesty of politics. But the Tantalus Cup of power is only the immediate of BNPs hope and fear; BNP supporters live in a longterm existential angst. They know that since the death of Ziaur Rahman, BNP leadership had never attempted to shore up the ideological foundation of BNP. In the last couple of decades the party has been mostly defining itself vis--vis opposition to AL. BNP supporters are envious of the ideological cohesion of AL and the wide devotion
it still attracts from a large section of the country. More politically-conscious BNP supporters see that the original articulation of Bangladeshi nationalism a political ideal composed of a free market economy with government support, personal and social values derived from religion and community, a state as the Hegelian embodiment for personal growth and freedom, and a nationalism based on geography, history and ethnicity has become the dominant political philosophy of the nation but BNP leadership has failed to lay claim or build upon it. BNP supporters fear dissolution and dispersion of the party in yet another successive oppressive AL regime. Their fear is reinforced every day by proclamations and actions of AL leaders and supporters who never seem to give political legitimacy to a party that has won repeated popular mandate. They see that AL regards BNP as an artificial construct made in cantonment and vocally predicts the demise of BNP routinely. They fear the overwhelming advantage of AL in the media and intelligentsia, an advantage more or less enjoyed by left-of-centre parties in most developed democracies, and feel apprehensive about a concerted effort to establish a dominant one-party rule like the initial years of the republic. BNP supporters are ambivalent about the war crimes trial. Many of them understand the need for bringing to justice the worst perpetrators and collaborators of those terrible crimes, perpetrators who obscenely flaunted themselves for four decades. But they have misgivings about show trials carried out for political advantage. They understand that rule of law is established by rule of law, and targeted show trials and verdicts do not pave the way towards that goal but may worsen the division of the nation. As I see it, deep existential fears are compelling each side to scream and shout at each other in the same wavelength but not hear each other. Moreover, pervasive clientelism in the country mean that a very deep and wide base built on trading of favour gets built every time a political government gets entrenched. As Upton Sinclair famously said: It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his pay depends on his not understanding it. Even many who have no personal stake in the political battle have identified their self image so closely to the political parties that they regard every political reversal as a personal slight and dread defeat as physically crippling. We must recognise that this is no apocalyptic battle between good and evil, where good will finally triumph over evil to usher in a thousand years of peace. For better or worse, the two political factions are firmly entrenched in the people. If we love the country more than our politics, we must interact and meet somewhere. Our political overlords in and out of the country will sort out an intermediary arrangement sometime in the future
Even among the highly westernised, professional and academic Bangladeshis, two persons may be identical in their taste in popular culture, outlook on philosophy and life, but completely talk past each other when the topic is domestic politics
but we the citizens must seek what we can agree upon while respecting our disagreement. With a measure of impudence, I want to propose a program that can at least serve as a catalyst to such an interacting conversation. The war crimes trials must proceed as they are currently advancing. There may be flaws in the process but recognising our limitations and circumstances, flawed but acceptable trials that tick most of the check-boxes, are the best we can hope for. We should not demand any more death sentences to be carried out. This will be very hard to accept for many but I do not think killing a few old men, however heinous their crimes, will bring retribution to the hundreds of thousands of souls untimely terminated in 1971. Jamaat as an organisation should be put on trial as soon as possible and, as many expect, should be banned as a political organisation for crimes against the nation and independence struggle. However, Jamaat leaders and activists who are untainted by crimes in 1971 must be allowed to form political organisations under different names and acceptable charters. Mahfuz Anam, a man whose pro-71 credentials can hardly be questioned, essentially said the same thing recently in his opinion-editorial. Religion is a deep and living belief for most of our people, and people must be allowed to do politics according to their beliefs; this is a fundamental political right enshrined in every democratic country. Most importantly, we must agree to a fundamental constitutional reform so that a party with near or less than 50% popular vote cannot become an omnipotent-autocrat with the constitution and every organ of the state as its plaything. We must recognise that the unbridled concentration and exercise of power has been the main political ill afflicting our nation right from its birth, and we must put up all kind of safeguards to thwart its repetition. We must know that a republic derives its legitimacy from the people, and a credible, inclusive election with participation of all major legitimate parties must take place as soon as possible. This election must be held under the
supervision of an impartial government accepted by the major parties. Now comes the most audacious proposal. Since incumbent political parties and their members of Parliament will never agree to voluntarily give up power, through constitutional reform, the next caretaker government must be in place for six to nine months so that a constitutional convention to reform the constitution can take place. The reformed constitution will be ratified by popular referendum, and the next general parliamentary election will take place under the reformed constitution. The six to nine months will also act as a cooling-off period for the superheated political passion endangering the stability of the country. l Shafiqur Rahman is a freelance contributor.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Jerusalem
US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a second day of talks with Israelis and Palestinians Friday, seeking to hammer out a framework to guide negotiations towards a peace deal. American officials have privately said they believe the direct talks resumed in July after a three-year hiatus have reached a new phase, as an April deadline for an accord looms, but are struggling to overcome fierce opposition from both sides to any compromises. Kerry returned to Israel on Thursday for his 10th trip as secretary of state, and went straight into five hours of meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two men were to meet again around noon on Friday, after Kerry and his team first held breakfast talks at his Jerusalem hotel with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The top US diplomat will later head to Ramallah for discussions with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas at his headquarters in the occupied West Bank. But Netanyahu on Thursday was downbeat on progress so far, launching a scathing attack on Abbas and casting doubt on whether he and the Palestinians were genuine in their desire for peace. I know that youre committed to peace, I know that Im committed to peace. But unfortunately given the actions and words of Palestinian leaders, theres growing doubt in Israel that the Palestinians are committed to peace, Netanyahu told a grim-faced Kerry. Referring to Israels release of long-serving Palestinian prisoners as The fighting in South Sudan has exposed ethnic rivalry between the countrys two largest ethnic groups, the Dinka of Kiir and the Nuer of Machar. The UN has said there is mounting evidence that people were targeted for their ethnicity. Kiir insists the fighting was sparked by a coup attempt mounted by soldiers loyal to Machar on Dec.15 in the capital, Juba. But that account has been disputed by some officials of the ruling party, who said the violence began when presidential guards from the Dinka group tried to disarm their Nuer colleagues. From there, violence spread across the country, with forces loyal to Machar defecting and seizing territory from loyalist forces. South Sudan has been plagued by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the ruling party that escalated after Kiir dismissed Machar as his vice president in July. Machar has criticised Kiir as a dictator and said he will contest the 2015 presidential election. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Aly Verjee, a political analyst, said the conflict was born out of a political dispute among the elites in the ruling party. He said: There are ethnic overtones, unfortunately, that have developed over the course of the last few weeks, Verjee, a senior researcher at the Rift Valley Institute in Kenya, said. But it is still primarily a political dispute. l
South Sudan has been plagued by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the ruling party that escalated after Kiir dismissed Machar as his vice president in July
present as mediators waited for the arrival of the South Sudan governments delegation. Ethiopia is playing a leading role in trying to get the two sides to negotiate a peace deal. But those efforts have been overshadowed by persistent violence in South Sudan since mid-December. Under a regional bloc known as IGAD, East African countries have urged Machar and Kiir to negotiate an end to violence that raised fears of civil war in the worlds newest country.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman greets US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of their meeting at the David Citadel hotel AFP part of the talks, the Israeli leader said Abbas had embraced terrorists as heroes. To glorify the murderers of innocent women and men as heroes is an outrage. He cant stand against terrorists, and stand with the terrorists. But Kerry vowed the United States was committed to working with both sides to narrow the differences on a framework that will provide the agreed guidelines for permanent status negotiations. This will take time and it will take compromise from both sides. But an agreed framework would be a significant breakthrough. US officials have refused to go into specific details about the framework, but have said they hope to conclude it soon. The core issues The US administration has also not yet decided whether it will be made public, but it is unlikely to be signed by both sides. Kerry stressed the framework was building on ideas put forward by both sides over five months of talks, and would set out the agreements and disagreements on the core issues. These include the contours of a future Palestinian state, refugees, the fate of Jerusalem, security, mutual recognition and the end of conflict and of all claims, Kerry said. It would address all of the core issues. It would create the fixed, defined parameters by which the parties would then know where they are going and what the end result can be, he added. l
Tunisia assembly begins Turkey rules out amnesty voting on new constitution for jailed military officers
n AFP, Tunis
Tunisias national assembly on Friday began voting on the long-delayed new constitution, which must be adopted by January 14, the third anniversary of the 2011 revolution. Lawmakers approved, by 175 votes out of the 184 MPs gathered for the session, the title of the charter, which is to be voted on article by article. They were then due to examine the texts preamble, before scrutinising its 150 articles and 225 proposed amendments, completing a process that would represent a crucial milestone in the countrys democratic transition. For the constitution to be adopted, it must be approved by two thirds of the national assemblys 217 elected members or put to a referendum. It has taken more than two years to draft the text, mainly because of disagreement between the ruling Islamist party Ennahda and opposition, which has hampered the formation of functioning state institutions. l
n AFP, Ankara
Turkeys deputy prime minister said on Friday there were no plans to grant pardons for jailed army officers convicted of plotting to topple Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans government. The remarks by Bulent Arinc came a day after it was revealed that Turkeys military had demanded a retrial for convicted officers, accusing the police and the judiciary of fabricating evi-
dence in two separate cases. Nobody should have expectations for a general amnesty, Arinc told reporters. We have no such plans. He said however that the right to fair trial should not be violated. In 2012 and in 2013, hundreds of military officers including former army chief General Ilker Basbug were convicted and given long jail terms for plotting to overthrow the government. l
Qaeda makes gains in Iraq city after days of violence n AFP, Ramadi
Al-Qaeda militants advanced Friday into new areas of one major Iraqi city and held part of another, after days of violence sparked by the removal of an anti-government protest camp. Parts of Ramadi and Fallujah, west of Baghdad, have been held by militants for days, harkening back to the years after the 2003 US-led invasion when both cities in Anbar province were insurgent strongholds. Fighting began in the Ramadi area Monday, when security forces removed the main anti-government protest camp set up after demonstrations broke out in late 2012 against what Sunni Arabs say is the marginalisation and targeting of their community. Anger at the Shiite-led government among the Sunni minority is seen as one of the main drivers of the worst violence to hit Iraq in five years. Fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which operates in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria, advanced amid early morning clashes into areas of central Ramadi and deployed snipers on one street, a police captain said. l
OTHER NEWS
Egypt: slain Swiss couple found buried in their yard
Egyptian police found a murdered Swiss couple buried in the garden of their house in the Red Sea resort town of Hurgada, a security official told AFP Friday. The official said preliminary investigations revealed the two Swiss citizens, a man and his wife, were killed by the houses guard and two of his friends who wanted to rob the couple. He did not reveal the identity of the two killed, but said the couple has been living in Hurgada for a while and went missing a week ago. The corpses were transferred to Hurgadas general hospital. A local official at the hospital told AFP the two corpses arrived at the morgue in a complete state of putrescence, without giving the identity of the two victims. Earlier on Friday, the Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the death of two Swiss citizens in Egypt, saying it did not have immediate details on their deaths, according to Switzerlands ATS news agency. have not yet been informed. Libya has seen growing unrest following the overthrow of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The country is awash in weapons looted from the slain dictators arsenals, and many former rebel brigades have refused to disarm or join the new security forces. Last month a young American teacher was gunned down while on his morning jog in the restive eastern city of Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolt which has since seen scores of attacks on security forces and foreign missions.
Libyan troops have found the bodies of a British man and a New Zealand woman shot dead southwest of Tripoli, a security source told AFP Friday. The bodies of a British man and a New Zealand woman who had been killed by bullets were found on the beach in Mellitah on Thursday afternoon, the source said. The bodies had been moved to Tripoli, the source added, without giving any details on the circumstances of the deaths. New Zealands foreign ministry said it was aware of the report and was working with the relevant authorities to confirm this. It added that the bodies have not yet been formally identified and the next of kin People react to the fireworks on the new years celebration at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 1
AFP
Chinese police have seized three tonnes of crystal methamphetamine during raids in a southern city authorities say is notorious for providing a huge share of the countrys supply of the drug. Police seized the crystal meth also known as ice in a series of raids last Sunday in Lufeng. Paramilitary troops and police officers used helicopters and speedboats in the raids, which also saw 23 tonnes of raw materials seized and the arrests of nearly 200 suspects from 18 drug rings, Xinhua reported on Thursday. Methamphetamine is the second most popular drug in China after heroin, according to a report last year by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which estimated that sales of the two drugs in China and Southeast Asia totalled more than $30bn in 2012. Seizures of crystal meth in 2012 jumped 12-fold in Myanmar, 10-fold in Brunei, 91% in Hong Kong, 75% in both Indonesia and Cambodia, and 33% in Japan, according to the report. Chinese seizures of the drug rose 13% in 2012, from 14.3 tonnes to 16.2 tonnes, the UNODC estimated.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n Reuters, Phnom Penh
Cambodian military police opened fire on Friday to quell a protest by stone-throwing garment factory workers demanding higher pay, killing at least three people, witnesses said. Chaos during nationwide strikes erupted for a second day as security forces were deployed to break up the demonstration by thousands of workers, who refused to move and threw bottles, stones and petrol bombs outside a factory in Phnom Penh. The clash represents an escalation of a political crisis in Cambodia, where striking workers and anti-government protesters have come together in a loose movement led by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Unions representing disgruntled garment workers have joined opposition supporters protesting against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen to demand a re-run of an election in July that the opposition says was rigged. Military police confronting the protesters fired live ammunition, Reuters journalists said, and bullet casings were later seen scattered across the ground at the scene. Two witnesses said they had seen at least three dead bodies during the chaos. Military police spokesman Kheng Tito, however, said only one protester was killed. We are sorry we heard one was killed and some were injured, he said. But we were just following our duty, role and tasks. Now, we are securing the situation. It followed a similar crackdown on Thursday in another part of the city,
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China says vaccines didnt cause nine kids deaths n AP, Beijing
Vaccines did not cause the deaths of nine children shortly after they were inoculated for hepatitis in a Chinese government program and no links have been found in eight other cases still being investigated, health officials said Friday after safety concerns arose. At the same time, Chinas national product safety watchdog said three drug makers one of whom was scrutinized over the recent deaths had suspended production because they failed to meet new manufacturing standards. Public confidence in Chinese health authorities and the countrys drug safety regime is shaky at best, though improvements have been made in recent years since government agencies withheld information about the spread of SARS and bird flu. Concerns over vaccine safety have surfaced after reported problems with vaccines for encephalitis, hepatitis B and other diseases. In those cases, the health ministry said the vaccines had been improperly stored but were unrelated to subsequent illnesses that were reported. Nine were clearly unrelated to the vaccines, the commission said, while a preliminary investigation found no links in the remaining cases. The cause of those eight deaths would only be confirmed after autopsies are completed. The causes of the deaths instead were acute pneumonia, suffocation, kidney failure, severe diarrhea, death of intestinal tissue, sudden infant death, congenital heart disease and so on, the commission said. The children were all younger than 5 and lived in nine provinces across China, the commission said without further details. l
Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh addresses a press conference, in New Delhi illed the Congress-led coalition. The Congress fared badly in elections in four large states towards the end of last year, largely due to voters anger over corruption. Compared with the relatively untested Gandhi, Modi has years of experience as the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat where he has built a reputation as a business-savvy and investor-friendly administrator. But he has been unable to fully shake off allegations over anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Muslims. Modi denies wrongdoing and a Supreme Court investigation found no evidence to prosecute him. Singh was scathing about Modi, saying he would be bad for India. I sincerely believe that it would be disastrous for the country to have Nar-
AP
Two witnesses said they had seen at least three dead bodies during the chaos
endra Modi as the prime minister, said the softly-spoken Singh. Singh rejected a suggestion that he had been a weak prime minister and again referred to Modi. If by strong prime minister you mean that you preside over the mass massacre of innocent citizens in the streets ... I do not believe that sort of strength this country needs. Least of all in its prime minister, Singh said. BJP spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman said on her Twitter account she was utterly disappointed with Singhs remarks. In what was seen as his farewell news conference, the prime minister took a conciliatory tone on a dispute with the United States over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. Singh said the government was committed to good relations between the two countries. l
The opposition alleges 2.3m of its votes were stolen to allow the ruling Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP) to return to office. The CPP won 68 seats in the election to the CNRPs 55, according to the National Election Committee, but the CNRP says the commission is one of many agencies under CPP influence. The government is refusing to raise the wage beyond $100 dollars a month and has ordered factories to reopen to prevent damage and job losses in an industry worth $5bn a year to what is one of the worlds poorest countries. Until this week, security forces had exercised restraint to try to cool tempers as pressure mounted on a government facing some of the biggest protests ever seen in Cambodia. l
China tells police to be loyal to party amid graft crackdown n Reuters, Beijing
Chinas police chief wrote on Friday that his officers must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party and be loyal to it, as the government targets the domestic security apparatus in a crackdown on corruption. Sources have told Reuters that Chinas former security tsar, Zhou Yongkang, one of the most powerful politicians of the decade, has been put under effective house arrest while the party investigates corruption allegations against him. Last month, the government began a graft investigation into a one-time deputy public security minister, Li Dongsheng, an ally of Zhous. Li held a rank equivalent to cabinet minister, and state media says he is the first member of the ruling partys Political and Legal Affairs Committee, the influential domestic security body which Zhou used to head, to be investigated for graft. Writing in the partys official Peoples Daily, Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun said his more than twom officers had to be absolutely loyal and absolutely clean and stand steadfastly in line with the orders and politics of President Xi Jinping. All public security personnel must take real actions to resolutely defend the leadership of the Communist Party, Guo said. Unswervingly be a loyal defender of the party and the people. Guo made no direct mention of Lis case or of Zhou. The government has yet to make any official statement about Zhou. l
A Thai soldier stands guard on a school bus in Thailands restive southern province of Narathiwat
AFP
n AFP, Bangkok
Thailands anti-government protest movement reassured tourists Friday that it would not target the kingdoms airports or public transportation during a planned shutdown of Bangkok later this month. The demonstrators, who are seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and curb herbnaire familys political dominance, say they will occupy Bangkok from January 13. Operation Occupy Bangkok does NOT involve airport closures or the disruption of any mass transport services. Public buses, trains, BTS sky-trains, MRT underground trains, and public boats will operate normally, the protest movement said on its English-language Facebook page.
The demonstrators have vowed to set up protest stages around the capital, prevent government officials from going to work and to cut off power and water to government offices as well as to the residences of the prime minister and her cabinet. The protesters also plan several marches in Bangkok starting from Sunday to build momentum ahead of the occupation attempt. Thai stocks and the baht currency have fallen sharply on concerns that the deepening crisis will scare off foreign tourists and international investment. In 2008 opposition protesters paralysed Bangkoks main airports, stranding thousands of tourists. A number of foreign governments have advised their nationals to avoid the current protest sites.
But the protest movement insisted tourists had nothing to fear. Shops and hotels near the protest sites are full. I ask tourists to feel relieved they can join the protesters, said spokesman Akanat Promphan. I understand about some entrepreneurs concerns. But if the prime minister resigns, everything will be solved, he added. Yingluck has called February elections but the protesters have vowed to block the vote, which they fear will only return the Shinawatra clan to power. The protesters, who largely comprise southerners, royalists, middle class Thais and urban elite, accuse thebnaire tycoon-turned-politician of corruption and say he controls his sisters government from his self-exile in Dubai. l
n AP, Yangon
Activists have rallied peacefully in Myanmars biggest city to call for changing the constitution to allow pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to serve as president. The small demonstration Friday in Yangon came as demands have grown louder among politicians and lawmakers for amending the constitution. The charter was adopted under the stewardship of Myanmars previous military government to ensure that the military retains a major voice in administering the country. A provision of the constitution says anyone whose spouse or children owes allegiance to a foreign power cannot become president or vice president. Suu Kyi was married to the late British scholar Michael Aris, and her two sons are foreign citizens. l
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www.dhakatribune.com
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
Not a madman
January 2 It seems we have forgotten that: The men or women in the masses rule the realm, and the political government is there to serve them. Small wonder that the very concept of democracy has been completely high-jacked, and we are brainwashed to conceive it as Of the leaders, for the leaders, and by the leaders. The very idea, for the people, by the people, of the people has been totally washed off in our form of democracy. Who will bell the ferocious cats let loose in our political area? Does anyone dare? Unfortunate Voter
ne clear indication from the Dhaka Tribune national opinion poll published yesterday is that we should not be where we are today, on the brink of an election without the main opposition party and in which 153 seats out of 300 have already been decided without a single vote being cast. This is not what the people want. According to our poll, fully 77% say that elections without the BNP are unacceptable. This being the case, it falls on both sides to find a way to fresh elections within a reasonably short period of time. For that to happen, both sides need to be willing to be reasonable and to act in the interests of the Bangladeshi people. The BNP must understand that hartals and blockades are an unacceptable imposition on the general public and not the way to negotiate. Peaceful means of pressing their case will not only be more effective, but will be popular with the voters, too. They must renounce violence. The AL must respond in kind. All senior BNP leaders and any political prisoners must be released. BNP and other opposition parties must be given full democratic space and freedom, and the AL must commit itself to new elections, acceptable to all, as soon as practicable. Both sides need to commit to meeting and negotiating in earnest on the form and structure for the next elections. The AL must not hide behind legalities and tactics to defer inclusive elections, and the BNP must let the ordinary mass of citizens get on with their lives without fear or hindrance and not hold the economy hostage.
BNP and other opposition parties must be given full democratic space and freedom, and the AL must commit itself to new elections, acceptable to all
December 27 Mephisto Well written, but writing well is not enough. You must also assess and analyse things as they are, without fear and favour. My countrymen and countrywomen are not learned like you, they are not constitutional experts, and they care little of legalese. But they do care about rule of law. They care about a system where they can exercise their right to choose who shall rule them, a system whereby the change of government each five years should be like clockwork. At the moment they want a free, fair and inclusive election. And they reckon re-instating the CTG will allow that to happen. This may not tally up with your thoughts, but their views rule supreme. Its called democracy. I take it you have not given up on it. nds Mephisto: Apparently your arguments look very sound and safe not because of their inherent strength but because they have good marketability right now. The arguments made here give one the impression that democracy means simply playing to the gallery; no need to enforce any rule of the game. Once, the majority used to think that educating females was highly injurious to the well-being of society. On the basis of your argument, that belief should not have been violated since it was a most democratic belief system. In 2006, the majority thought the military government was far more acceptable than the two main political parties then playing on the stage, so, according to you that was a democratic choice. I think the obstinacy and autocratic behaviour that Hasina is being accused of is not her inherent trait of character but mostly imposed by the exigencies of circumstances that the opposition has created in a very calculated way. WaliulHaqueKhondker A very well written op-ed looking in to the pros and cons of the impending political situation. Even the prime minister concedes that the forthcoming 10th parliament wont have legitimacy, when she declared there could be a midterm poll as soon the two parties come to a consensus on poll time government structure. CTG is seen to be a system which guarantees a five-year rotation of governments between the two major political parties. Opposition in parliament is always in favour of it and party in power is always opposed to it. Which causes this five-year trouble for the people. We have already burnt our fingers twice in the past over CTG, ie first, while getting it and next while trying to corrupt it to pliability by the incumbent. Hence, there has to be a new option, for which time is needed. And there will be a five-year period for the two major parties to brainstorm and devise such a system. Meanwhile, the war crimes and crimes against humanity trial will continue without any interruption. Our people understand this; hope our leaders do the same.
All in
December 27 This article clearly tells us that the Bangladesh government can stop the killings, arson, and unrest. Let there be more and more combing operations all over Bangladesh, everyday if needed. I thank (from my heart) the Government of Bangladesh for bringing peace to Satkhira. We dont want anyone to destroy our beloved motherland. Most Bangladeshi citizens (I believe 99% of them) want peace there. Muktijuddho Dr Emarat Hossain Pannah USA
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n the midst of the prevailing political turmoil, it is good to see that the countrys eight export processing zones (EPZs) have had good growth in both local and foreign direct investments. The EPZs attracted an investment growth of 29.8% in the first five months of the current fiscal year. This amounts to $154.47 million in the July-November period, representing a healthy growth from last years $109.08 million. The investment scenario in the EPZs is good news at a time when our business sector is facing catastrophic losses all over. We need the EPZ investments and should try to keep these high investment levels in that sector. The Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authorities (BEPZA) has already signed investment agreements worth $85.35 million with nine new companies, five of which are fully foreign-owned, to set up industrial units in the EPZ. If this is successfully done, jobs for 25,750 Bangladeshis may open up. While this wont solve the unemployment problem fully, it will make significant progress towards job creation. As of now, 382,000 Bangladeshis are employed in the 425 industrial units in the countrys EPZs. The government should find ways to create more EPZs, especially along corridors that can reach the ports easily. If properly guided and developed by the government, these zones could provide a much-needed boost to the countrys economy and more balanced growth across the country.
The investment scenario in the EPZs is good news at a time when our business sector is facing catastrophic losses all over
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
n Abdullah Zobair
FOCUS BANGLA
n Mridul Chowdhury
ivil society leaders have called for the postponement of the January 5 elections something that I wholeheartedly agree with. However, I also expected them to bring back to the table the debate over what form of an election-time government this country should ideally have. When Sheikh Hasina made the announcement that the caretaker government (CTG), as we knew it, would be abolished in the 15th amendment, many in the society flared up as if heresy had been committed. The many negative reactions that I heard from different quarters can be summarised in the following 3 points: Firstly, the AL itself fought for the CTG system how can they themselves now get rid of it? Secondly, politicians cannot be trusted with something as important as an election. Thirdly, polls suggest that people want the CTG how can AL overturn what is clearly a strong preference of the masses? I would like to throw a counternarrative to each of the above seemingly popular viewpoints.
the CTG itself is a system that needs to be re-thought, given the history of its abuse, can we really blame them, no matter which side of the fence we are on? However, what we can blame AL for is to give a formula for an election-time government during a late stage in the run-up to the election, thereby not giving enough time for the society to debate this matter constructively.
composition of this government be, and how should important ministries, such as Home and Establishment, that controls the posting of bureaucrats, be divided up? It should also be noted that rigging of elections is not easy in this age of digital media, with about a dozen private TV channels, several national and local newspapers and a number of international election observer
So why continue with yet another undemocratic instrument to fix a broken democratic system, and not try to strengthen democratic institutions?
Can politicians be trusted with conducting a free and fair election?
This is a fair question. That is why we need some kind of a level-playing field so that we can ensure an election-time government with equal representation and power from major parties (given that our Election Commission still has significant scope for improvement in being able to exert its independent authority). That is a discussion I feel has not yet got much traction in the media and in the civil society circuits, since we have already thrown the baby out with the bathwater. It is true that the head of this election-time government, given the powers vested under the current rules, can over-shadow any other cabinet post. Hence, the discussion that should have been raised much more strongly by the civil society force was: How can there be a way to neutralise a head of this electiontime government by placing certain restrictions, what should the ideal bodies, some equipped to engage the youth from different corners of the country for mobile phone-based reporting. Yes, it is an age when citizens all over can rise up to the occasion, but only if we have an election worth rising up for.
How can the AL get rid of the CTG when polls clearly show its popularity?
It is true that multiple poll results have suggested that people do want an election to be held under the CTG. However, the implicit choice given to respondents of these polls was a CTG comprised of civil society members versus the incumbent in charge during the election. And the result was as one would expect. But it is important to realise that the polls did not give people an option to choose between a traditional CTG and an election-time government with equal representation and division of control among major parties. So, we dont honestly know what people really want.
I believe that it is time to put this issue of appropriate election-time government back on the table. Why dont we as citizens, or civil society members, campaign for an electiontime government comprised of elected representatives accountable to the people? Why dont we push the major parties to come to a decision about the composition and division of power in this government? We know that a government comprised of unelected officials, even if it is for a few months, is somewhat undemocratic in its very nature. So why continue with yet another undemocratic instrument to fix a broken democratic system, and not try to strengthen democratic institutions accountable to the people, and the citizens themselves, empowered by new technologies? Mahfuz Anam, the editor of The Daily Star and a noted political analyst, has stated in his recent commentary on December 27: Sheikh Hasina ... does not have to replicate the former CTG concept and can reflect much of the PMs own ideas of an all party government. The only hurdle remaining is: Who will head it? Along the lines of Mr Anam, I believe that it is a critical need to re-surface this debate and put more directed pressure on the political parties to end this impasse. Instead of just calling to the AL for a postponement of elections, or to BNP for an end to the strikes, let us direct our demands to more specific and achievable terms. I am sure that our civil society leaders can rise above the allegations that they are unwilling to vouch for an electiontime government system, which they themselves are not a part of. l Mridul Chowdhury is co-founder of Jagoree, and CEO of a social enterprise.
mockery scheduled for January 5 is at the threshold of the country amidst the ongoing country-wide violence, the house arrest of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, and the capturing of the oppositions top leaders. The constitutional but illegitimate national election is a great travesty in which 153 MPs out of 300 have been elected unopposed. The unethical general election will not bring any positive change to the countrys governance and democracy, nor will it add any new feather on the ruling Awami Leagues cap. The election, where major political parties including BNP, wont be participatory at all since both the Election Commission and the ruling party have failed to ensure a level playing field for all. The countrys politics has already witnessed bloodshed, prolonged violence, and numerous killings centering the caretaker government system (CTG). On June 30, 2011, the ruling party trashed the caretaker government provision by amending the constitution through a verdict of the Supreme Court. The court deemed the CTG provision void, adding a suggestion to the government that they hold the next two general elections under the provision. But the ruling party and its allies, who secured two-thirds of the votes in the ninth parliament, banned the provision without consulting the constitution experts and opposition lawmakers, or arranging any referendum. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas stubbornness to hold the 10th parliamentary election under her regime left her and her government alienated at home and abroad, though she said the AL government amended the constitution to uphold peoples right to vote. Over 300 opposition activists, including law enforcers, children, and women, were killed within a year while demanding the restoration of the CTG, and the death toll is increasing. The opposition imposed several bouts of blockades and hartals, carried out rampage, and engaged in arson and violence. And it hasnt stopped.
it will cause more death and violence in the coming days and further hurt an already damaged economy. It will damage the image and reputation of Bangladesh. The violence will significantly affect our RMG sector. The continued unrest will create social instability and prolong peoples agony, bringing us closer to becoming a failed state.
The incumbent government has lost all of its foreign friends, except India
If the PM does not stop the January 5 elections, surely it will cause more death and violence
Now comes the question of who will be benefited from the election. Who will be served by the polls? Is it Bangladesh, is it democracy, or is it Awami League itself? Maybe no one will be benefited. And the aftermath of the polls an unelected parliament will never have the legitimacy that comes from a fully contested election. If Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not stop the January 5 elections, surely
Through this election, we will get an autocratic regime where no opposition party will stay, no power can challenge the governments vendetta. In short, we will have a regime that represses democracy despite the PMs terming the polls a restoration of peoples voting rights. Moreover, when we see that about 50 million voters out of a total of 91.9 million have been deprived of their voting rights, and that as many as 153 candidates have been elected uncontested, peoples faith in democracy goes astray. After the 1991 election, the CTG was applauded by the people as an election-time government, but the ninth parliament banned the provision causing the on-going political bickering. The task of deciding which type of democracy or representative system is best for this country is yet to be set. Despite repeated urging from the countrys eminent citizens, teachers, lawyers and the countrys development partners, including World Bank, EU, and Japan, to ensure a participatory national election, the AL-led government paid no attention to them, thereby alienating the country internationally. News reports, editorials, and op-eds published in local and international dailies, periodicals, magazines, and wires expressed their concerns about the countrys future. The US based magazine, Foreign Policy, put our countrys name under the banner Next years War whereas The Economist used the sub-heading, The ruling party will win Bangladeshs election. The country will lose, to illustrate the countrys fate. However, the incumbent government has lost all of its foreign friends, except India, for its oppression of the opposition, continuous human rights violations, forced disappearances, judicial killings, and dividing the people into pro and anti-liberation forces. The spirit of our liberation war will be dishonoured by such one-sided polls. We urge the prime minister to stop this mockery which disregards the peoples voting rights and the fate of millions. l Abdullah Zobair is Executive Director, Bangladesh Initiative for Political Development.
n MH Bari
uch has been said and written about our upcoming 10th parliamentary election. This election is boycotted by the BNPled 18-party opposition alliance and many other parties. Our civil society members and political parties opposing this election will not bring any good results. Our friend states, development partners, and even the UN are not accepting this one party election. They want a free and fair election, but the government is determined to go ahead with the national election at any cost, where 153 candidates have already been elected unopposed. About 52% of the voters have been denied their right to elect their representatives to parliament, and the other half has been left with no choice but to vote for the one or two candidates left in the race. Is this not a mockery of democracy? The whole country is under siege from opposition parties, police, BGB and RAB. Our economy is hit hard by strikes and blockades. This continued unrest will create social instability and break down the law and order situation further. Ordinary people can understand easily that the January 5 voterless election will not solve any of the
existing problems. It will not stop the strikes, blockades, street violence or the destruction of property. It will not stop the killings and the burning. But the government is going ahead with the election. The AL is already alienated at home and abroad for this clever trick. No major political party faced these situations before in Bangladeshs political history. The situation is bizarre, dangerous, and inexplicable. The AL has successfully left the BNP and the other major parties out of the election.
Is the AL realising that the oldest political party of the country is becoming isolated from its own arena?
They also failed to rope in the thirdin-line Jatiya Party (JP), which it thought would be its partner in the political gambit. The AL becomes even
more alienated as 153 candidates are elected without a single vote. So, we are going to have a non-representative parliament. Our people love to vote because it is the only opportunity they get to have some say in state affairs. Now they know they dont even have that right. In the international arena, the situation is no better. All countries except India have already made it known that they have no reason to consider this election a free, fair, and participatory one. The US, Russia, and EU have declared that they will not send any election observers to the upcoming election in Bangladesh. Diplomats of western countries feel the election is nonsense. They are moving to break the deadlock, but it seems that no one is hearing them. Many diplomats wonder on what level their governments would engage with the new government if formed through such a farcical election. This will have grave implications for the countrys development. In this tumultuous situation, our eminent citizens, on December 29, called on the government to defer the January 5 parliamentary election to make it participatory and credible. Deferral of such an election is the main task now in order to hold dialogue among the major political parties and resolve the ongoing crisis.
Renowned jurist Rafiqul Haque said the January 5 polls could be deferred up to 90 days even after the dissolution of the ninth parliament within the constitutional framework. As per the constitution, parliament members must be directly elected by the people, he pointed out, but 153 candidates have already been elected uncontested to the tenth parliament. There is no constitutional bar to holding the election within 90 days after the dissolution of the current parliament, said Asif Nazrul, professor of law at Dhaka University.Elections have to be inclusive for the legitimacy of a democratic government, said Rehman Sobhan, chairman of CPD. Deferment of such a meaningless election is now a demand of the majority of the people, said former adviser to a caretaker government Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman. Prof Anisuzzaman, a supernumerary professor at Dhaka University, said bloody violence, arson, and sabotage in the name of political programs have devastated public life. But our PM blasted them in her response. She said: The election process has reached such a stage when it can be stopped only by adopting unconstitutional means. I dont know why the eminent citizens are calling for taking the abnormal and unconstitutional path.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Is the AL realising that the oldest political party of the country with a long tradition of struggle for democracy is becoming isolated from its own arena? Is that not going to put a permanent blemish on them? The question is: How long will this government last, and at what cost? What will they achieve with this election? l MH Bari works in the global marketing of seafood from Bangladesh.
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Limana Solaiman
The glamorous and witty starlet Bindu came into the limelight through the beauty pageant Lux Channel i Superstar. After that, it was a rapid rise to stardom for the talented and beautiful actor. Her first movie Daruchini Dwip gained significant audience appreciation and her last silver-screen project Ei Toh Prem is on the pipeline for release. Dhaka Tribune got to know the actor on a personal basis in an exclusive interview.
last two years. I want to do some business and capture the international market through my film, he added. Lead actor of the film Emon shared with Dhaka Tribune: Hopefully, my audience will love to watch me in the challenging different character. This is
a different story, and is the first sci-fi film of our country which will be internationally premiered. Ibrar Tipu, Nancy, Dilshad Nahar Kona, Porshi, Elita, Tishma, Harim Faysal and Arif Rana have composed music for the film. l
I dont know where to start, it was one of the most difficult yet enjoyable periods of my life. The shooting continued for well over three years. My role in the film demanded that I keep the same hairstyle, weight and maintain a steady appearance. Therefore, I could not change my hairstyle for three years straight. It was demanding to say the least. The storyline is touching as it recalls the glorious Liberation War of our country. It portrays the struggle and determination of our freedom fighters. Shohel Rahman is amazing, as a person and also as a director. I gave my best possible performance in the film, tried hard to be realistic and believable, in the end, I hope we will be able to give the audience a good movie. I am thankful for the opportunity of working in a film of this magnitude.
I am a TV person, it is more my type of work. I enjoyed working in films, but my comfort zone lies in the work related to television.
It keeps on changing. Right now, I would love to play the role Deepika Padukone played in the film Cocktail.
There is no love life, I am opting for arranged marriage. My parents are on the lookout to find a suitable man for me. You may hear my wedding bell ringing this year.
Shakib Khan is a star for a reason, he is humble, talented, good-looking, and hardworking. He is everything
I am a simple person; and I like the traditional simple lifestyle. Ten years from now, I see myself as a mother, taking my children to school. I see myself as a homemaker, like my mother and her mother before her. I see myself looking after my family
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, Dhaka
Film
Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex, Bashundhara Cityd Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas, Jamuna Future Park
Theatre
Ayna Bibir Pala By Natyadhara Time: 6:00pm 7:30pm Studio Theatre Hall, BSA Baramkhana Time: 6:00pm 7:30pm By Troupe: Theatre, Shilpakala National Theatre, Shilpakala Academy
Chupkotha airs on SA TV
n Entertainment Desk
Drama series Chupkotha airs on SA TV at 9:30pm. Directed by Nazrul Islam Razu, the drama series features Nisha, Azad Abul Kalam, Sweety, Joyraj, Swagata, Saberi Alam, Mahmood Sazzad and many more. The story of the drama series revolves around a girl named Nodi who has been rescued from a tropical cyclone, which was one of the worst natural disasters in Bangladesh. After being rescued she was named Nodi by Tahminas daughter. Nodi possesses the supernatural power of soothsaying, which becomes a problem for Tahminas family. On the other hand, Rawnak a psychiatrist who is very close to Tahminas family is surprised after observing Nodis prediction power, and takes on her case for treatment. l
n Entertainment Desk
The first runner-up of Mangoli Nacho Bangladesh Nacho, Mim Chowdhury, is set to make her silver screen debut in Safi Uddin directed film Red Colour of Love, where she pairs up with Dhallywood king Shakib Khan. Mim will be playing the role of Tamanna and Shakib plays Turjo. Embarking on her new journey, the potential actor said: This is a new experience for me to work on a bigger canvas. Also, to work with a big star like Opu Biswas is an amazing feeling. The cast and crew are friendly towards me, so it is being an easy journey for me. I hope the audience will appreciate my effort. The team of Red Colour of Love will finish making the movie soon. Mims first commercial for Chocoberry Chocolate is also being aired on various satellite channels. Promising actor Mim was first seen on screen with the popular actor and director Mahfuz Ahmed in the telefilm Shorisrip, where her role as Raha was applauded by the audience. Mim also impressed the viewers in Jochona Aloi Chaad. After that, she worked in numerous ventures such as Kebole Raat Hoye Jai, Ural Pankhi and Timirey Fotai Phul. Mim who will pursue her SSC exams this year has completed a dance diploma course from Nrityanchal Performing Arts Academy. l
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Sport
could not score goals off it. However when we conceded the goal the message was clear, we have to save the match. We tried and pulled the equaliser out, said Emily. However Emily pointed out that he thinks that the foreign players of Muktijoddha are better than his foreign recruits. Muktijoddha coach Manik pointed out that the refereeing again went against his team I dont want to lodge any complaint but it is evident that the refereeing in the most crucial time of the match was not up to the mark. When a team is leading by a solitary goal, it is more than natural that the trailing team will create pressure using all the tricks in the dying minutes. In this part of match, the local referees were short of composure, they provide unfair decisions, said Manik, who thought the penalty awarded against him was not appropriate. The same thing happened to Muktijoddha against BJMC in the Federation Cup. If this kind of thing continues, the players will get frustrated and overall, the football will suffer. We need fair decisions, not tilted one, he added. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 7 1
DAYS TO GO
14 Arsenal-Spurs tops bill in FA Cup third round 15 Smith rescues Australia with home ton
Mohammedan forward Wahed Ahmed (L) vies for the ball with a Muktijoddha player during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the BNS yesterday
MUMIT M
RESULT
Mohammedan
Emily 90+
11
Muktijoddha
Kingsley 86
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
keeper Rasel 34Muktijoddha Mahmud Liton produced a decent save from a Jahid Hossain cross before it reached to Seddik. Zahid Hasan Emily volleyed the ball over the bar from the box after Eleta Benjamins cleared Jahids cross. Egyptian forward Mostafa Md Seddik did a lovely turn to doze a Muktis defender but his weak shot went straight to the lap of the keeper. After receiving a square pass from Biplob, Enamul fired a shot over the bar from the top of the box. Mintu Sk made a brilliant clearance after Nochowach Kingsley square-pass allowed Eleta Kingsley to put the ball in the middle. GOAL! Marufs long ball from halfway fell inside the box. Nkwocha Kingsley outmuscled Baybeck to take control of the ball and sent the ball past the keeper. GOAL! Eleta Benjamin brought down Jahid inside the penalty area. Emily stepped up and equalized the margin.
a solid defence to see the first half out without conceding a goal. In the 34th minute, Muktijoddha keeper Rasel Mahmud Liton produced a decent save to a Jahid Hossain cross before it reached Seddik. Four minutes later, Zahid Hasan Emily volleyed the ball over the bar from the box after Eleta Benjamins cleared Jahids cross. Muktijoddha probably had the best opportunity to take the lead in the first half. Just two minutes before the break, Egyptian forward Mostafa Md Seddik elegantly turned to dodge past a Muktis defender but his weak shot went straight into the gloves of the keeper. Two minutes later, former national forward Enamul Hoque wasted a chance as he fired the ball over the crossbar from the top of the box. Mohammedan posted more attacking threats after the resumption. They made several attacks between 60 and 70 minute mark, but none of them ended with a shot on target. l
38
43 45 77
86
90+
Khaled Mahmud Shujons 67, Khaled Masuds 53, Aminul Islam Bulbuls 27 and Mashrafes 41, Javeds team posted 281/6 in the stipulated 20 overs. Md Isam grabbed two wickets while Raihan Mahmood, Reazur Rahman Rohan and Saeeduzzman all grabbed one wicket each. BSJA responded well, riding on a fighting 106 by Reazur Rahman Rohan, but the score was too big to acquire and the efforts of Mazharuddin who scored 20, Asif Iqbals 21 and Tarek Mahmuds 12 took the score to 188/6. Khaled Mahmud, Habibul Bashar, Sanwar Hossain and Mashrafe all captured one wicket each. l
A winners meet and greet was held in the city yesterday for Robis Play with Shakib contest.. Robi users were able to answer questions regarding the national all-rounder and enter into the quiz via SMS. The winners received an opportunity to meet Shakib Al Hasan, play with him and get signed merchandise COURTESY
14
Atletico jostle for position
n
After a short winter break, Spains topflight clubs are back in action today with Atletico Madrid jostling for position at the top of the table. Reigning champions Barcelona and Diego Simeones Atletico are level on points at the top and are due to face each other in a mouthwatering fixture in Madrid next weekend. Prior to that, though, Atletico go to Malaga on Saturday and Barcelona entertain Elche on Sunday before both sides have Copa del Rey ties to think about in midweek.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
KEY FIXTURES
Arsenal Aston Villa Blackburn Everton Middlesbrough Newcastle Norwich City Southampton Stoke City West Brom v v v v v v v v v v Tottenham Sheffield Man City QPR Hull City Cardiff City Fulham Burnley Leicester City Crystal Palace
FIXTURES
Malaga Valladolid Valencia Almeria v v v v At Madrid Real Betis Levante Granada
Atletico, who have signed Argentine midfielder Jose Ernesto Sosa on loan from Metalist Kharkiv until the end of the season, will face a Malaga side who won their last two league games of 2013 to climb up into mid-table. Brazilian full-back Filipe Luis insists that the Rojiblancos are fully focused on their trip to La Rosaleda as they look to keep the pressure on Barcelona. Knowing the coach and the squad, nobody is thinking about the Barcelona game. Maybe the supporters are, but we all know that the Malaga match is vital, he said. We have not won there in two or three years and it is a difficult venue for us. Both Atletico and Barca have enjoyed stunning starts to the campaign, winning 15 and drawing one of 17 games in La Liga, but the Catalans have not always performed convincingly since Gerardo Martino took over as coach in the summer. Meanwhile, Pizzi, who led San Lorenzo to the Argentine Torneo Inicial title last month, has replaced the sacked Miroslav Djukic in charge of Los Che, who sit level on points with Levante coming into their firstgame of 2014. l
n AFP, London
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (L) talks with teammate Neymar da Silva Santos Junior during an open training session at the Mini Stadium in Barcelona yesterday. Barcelona face Elche tomorrow AFP
Emmanuel Adebayors return to form has ensured Tottenham head into their FA Cup third round clash at Arsenal with renewed confidence they can overcome their north London rivals tomorrow. Adebayor has scored four times in five appearances since being restored to the team by new manager Tim Sherwood after a spell in exile under previous boss Andre Villas-Boas. The Togo striker continued his impressive revival with the opening goal in Tottenhams 2 1 win at Manchester United on Wednesday. And Spurs left-back Danny Rose believes the strike partnership between Adebayor and Roberto Soldado is one of the reasons behind the sides recent renaissance. l
Southampton complain about ref Clattenburgs insult n Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has n maintained that Fulham striker Dimitar
Southampton have accused controversial referee Mark Clattenburg of abusing and insulting their captain Adam Lallana during the recent 2-1 defeat at Everton. The Premier League club have lodged a complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials board and requested that Clattenburg not take charge of any of their fixtures until the investigation by referees chief Mike Riley is complete. Clattenburgs alleged insult was directed at Lallana after he had turned down late penalty appeals for handball at Goodison Park. Manager Mauricio Pochettino complained that Southampton should have been awarded two penalties - including the one where Lallanas cross hit Antolin Alcarazs hand, leading to Clattenburgs confrontation with the England international. l
not rule out a move for a top-calibre player should the opportunity arise this month, but he was guarded on 32-yearold Bulgarian Berbatov. He (Berbatov) is not a name that we have considered at the moment. We have not even been out on the transfer market, we have not contacted anybody, Wenger said. We are just analysing the situation, being very cautious until we are well informed about Bendtner and (Yaya) Sanogo as well, because he is back in
Michael Schumacher
1991 F1 debut 1991 Suzuka, Japan Cervical fracture F1 world champion Injury 1994 Benetton-Ford 1995 Benetton-Renault 1996 Spa, Belgium Damaged knee 1999 Silverstone, England Shin and calfbone injury F1 championship titles 2000 Ferrari 2001 Ferrari 2002 Ferrari 2003 Ferrari 2004 Ferrari
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pole positions Jan 3, 2014 45th birthday Dec 29, 2013 Life-threatening ski accident 2009 Cartagena, Spain Fractured skull, spinal trauma and broken ribs (motorcycle race)
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SCORECARD, DAY 1
Australia 1st innings Chris Rogers b Stokes 11 David Warner b Broad 16 Shane Watson lbw b Anderson 43 Michael Clarke c Bell b Stokes 10 Steve Smith c Root (sub) b Stokes 115 George Bailey c Cook b Broad 1 Brad Haddin c Cook b Stokes 75 Johnson c Root (sub) b Borthwick 12 Ryan Harris c Anderson b Stokes 22 Peter Siddle c Bairstow b Stokes 0 Nathan Lyon not out 1 Extras (b10, lb2, w2, nb6) 20 Total (all out; 76 overs) 326 Fall of wickets 1 22 (Warner), 2 51 (Rogers), 3 78 (Clarke), 4 94 (Watson), 5 97 (Bailey), 6 225 (Haddin), 7 269 (Johnson), 8 325 (Harris), 9 325 (Siddle), 10 326 (Smith) Bowling Anderson 21 3 67 1, Broad 19.5 5 65 2 (2w), Stokes 19.5 1 99 6 (5nb), Rankin 8.2 0 34 0 (1nb), Borthwick 7 0 49 1 England 1st innings Alastair Cook not out 7 Michael Carberry c Lyon b Johnson 0 Jimmy Anderson not out 1 Extras 0 Total (1 wicket; 6 overs) 8 Fall of wicket: 1 6 (Carberry) Bowling Harris 3 1 5 0, Johnson 3 1 3 1
Australian batsman Steve Smith raises his bat after reaching his century on the first day of the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday AFP
Pakistan wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka with a finger injury, the countrys cricket board said on Friday. Akmal hurt himself while taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka opener Kaushal Silva on the third day of the ongoing first Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Adnan Akmal got injured while taking a catch ... and has fractured his left hand index finger, the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement. He has been ruled out for rest of the series. On the request of team management for replacement the national selection committee has decided to send Sarfraz Ahmed to join the test squad in UAE. Sarfraz, 26, has played four tests for Pakistan, the last against South Africa in February, 2013. Experienced batsman Younus Khan took over the gloves for Pakistan on day four of the first Test. Reuters
SCORECARD, DAY 4
Sri Lanka 1st innings 204 A. Mathews 91; Junaid Khan 5 58, Bilawal Bhatti 3 65 Pakistan 1st innings 383 Younis Khan 136, Misbah-ul Haq 135; S. Eranga 3 80, R. Herath 3 90 Sri Lanka 2nd innings (overnight 186 4) D. Karunaratne b Junaid K. Silva c Akmal b Junaid K. Sangakkara c Younis b Bhatti M. Jayawardene c Shafiq b Bhatti D. Chandimal c Ali b Junaid A. Mathews not out P. Jayawardene not out Extras: (lb7) Total: (five wickets; 148 overs)
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 6:30AM Atlanta v Golden State 9:30AM LA Lakers v Utah 12:00AM Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan 1st Test, Day 5 Star Sports 4 FA CUP 6:45PM Blackburn v Man City 11:15PM Arsenal v Tottenham 9:00PM La Liga Malaga v Atletico Madrid Star Sports HD2 La Liga 1:00AM Valencia v Levante 3:00AM Almeria v Granada Ten Sports 3:00PM WTA Brisbane International Finals Star Sports 1 2:15PM Big Bash T20 Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars 5:30AM Australia v England 5th Test, Day 3 (Sunday)
24 81 55 0 89 116 48 7 420
Fall of wickets 1 47 (Karunaratne), 2 146 (Sangakkara), 3 150 (Jayawardene), 4 186 (Silva), 5 324 (Chandimal) Bowling Junaid 31 2 81 3, Ali 33 8 82 0, Bhatti 33 8 131 2, Ajmal 42 10 96 0, Hafeez 9 1 23 0
Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews (R) celebrates his century as Pakistan wicketkeeper Younis Khan looks on during the fourth day of their first Test match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday AFP
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Fruit vendor, insurance worker among Paribagh burn victims n Syeda Samira Sadeque
Nineteen year old Salma sat quietly by her fathers bed. Her father, 60-yearold Farid, had been burnt when the bus carrying him came under attack in the capitals Paribagh area early yesterday morning. Farid is a fruit vendor who, according to Salma, was travelling to pick up fruits for his Friday sale. He was admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital with burns covering 48% of his body. Salma had been catering to his father since she and her brothers arrived at the hospital after hearing the news. When asked if she was aware of the reasons behind the ongoing political violence, she expressed her annoyance: What are we to say or think? We have nothing to do in this whole mess. Farid is one of the two victims of the Paribagh attack moved to the intensive care unit of DMCH because of the severity of their injuries. The other, Shahina Aktar, a MetLife employee, suffered 68% burns. Shahina, 40, was on her way back to Khulna, where she worked, when she came under attack. Her brother, Ruhul Amin, said she had been staying at his Cantonment residence since December 27. She couldnt go back because of the existing situation in the country. After about a week of being stuck at home, she couldnt wait any longer and took off this morning. Although Shahinas extent of burns is categorised as a major one, she was lucky to have survived an attack on her respiratory system, which many burn victims in recent months were found to be suffering from. Shahinas son, a marine engineer, lives in the United States while her husband, a reporter for Khulna-based Kalpotro, was on his way to Dhaka when this correspondent visited her. Another of the victims, 35-year-old Babul, driver of the bus, suffered a minor 8% burn and was released from hospital in the evening. According to sources, unidentified assailants hurled petrol bombs at the Gulistan-bound passenger bus in front of Borak Tower near Paribaghs footover-bridge around 7:30am, injuring the three. l
I do not know Mr Molla, the independent candidate. And I do not want Mr Majumdar because he is a selfish person
Among the more than three lakh voters in the Dhaka 15 seat, many are first time voters. NGO worker Razaia Akhtar Hossain, a first time voter, said: While casting votes, I think women consider a candidates educational background and qualifications. We want to select someone who can fulfill our demands. But [in this years election], we have no option. I do not know Mr Molla, the independent candidate. And I do not want Mr Majumdar because he is a selfish person, Razaia said. Many women from the Dhaka 7 constituency have expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that there was no option to choose from. Seeking anonymity, a government official said: As a government official, it is my duty to cast vote. But who will ensure my security at the polling centre. Hazi Selim and Mr Jalal are both Awami League leaders. So, personally I have decided not to go to the polling centre. Saila Mahbub, a first time voter, said she was very surprised with the pollstime environment. I want fair polls in which all major parties will participate. Only then will I be able to choose my candidate. Farzana Parvin, a homemaker from the Dhaka 5 constituency comprising Demra and Shyampur area, said: I will see who has the ability to do development work and also whether he is educated or not. But in our area nobody knows the men contesting from Tarikot [Bangladesh Tarikot Federation], Jatiya Party and National Awami Party. l
Family members of Farid, 60, stand anxiously by his bed at the burn unit at the DMCH. Farid received burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack on a public bus in front of the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
An expatriate was beaten to death allegedly by Awami League men in Gakulnagar village under Muradnagar upazila of Comilla district on Friday after his refusal to pay them toll. The deceased was identified as Oman expatriate Jasim Uddin, 40, son of Abdul Khaleque of the village. According to sources, ruling party leaders demanded Tk 5 lakh to Jasim as he was filling his pond by earth. As Jasim refused to concede to their
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