The Bangladesh Today (23-01-2018)

TueSday 

Dhaka : January 23, 2018; Magh 10, 1424 BS; Jamadi-ul-awal 5, 1439 hijri 

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www. tbtlive.com 

Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.16; No.37; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00 

InTeRnaTIOnal 

UAE-backed group 

vows to 'overthrow' 

Yemen's govt 

>Page 7 

aRT & CulTuRe 

Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi 

Sinha, Karan Johar's 

confused event of the year 

>Page 8 

SPORT 

England win over 

Australia in ODI their 

best to date : Eoin Morgan 

>Page 9 

Myanmar's neighbours 

eager to see progress 

in Rakhine 

DHAKA : Five of Myanmar's neighbors 

including Bangladesh are eager to see 

the progress made so far on the ground 

in the Rakhine Sate as Myanmar and 

Bangladesh are now at final stage of 

starting Rohingya repatriation, reports 

UNB. 

Bangladesh Ambassador to Yangon, 

along with envoys of four countries bordering 

Myanmar - China, India, 

Thailand and Laos, visited northern 

Rakhine couple of months ago from 

where thousands of Rohingya Muslims 

fled and took shelter in Cox's Bazar district 

due to the atrocities orchestrated 

by security forces. 

"Bangladesh wants to see that 

Myanmar invites them again to see the 

progress," an official told UNB. 

He said Foreign Minister AH 

Mahmood Ali is also likely to visit the 

place after envoys of the five countries. 

Minister Ali briefed the diplomatic 

corps on Sunday on the recent developments 

on the issue of return of displaced 

Rohingyas to their homeland in 

Myanmar through bilateral arrangement 

of return signed between the two 

countries on November 23 and the subsequent 

agreements towards the implementation 

of the arrangement. 

After the briefing, the Foreign 

Minister told reporters that he suggested 

involving the European Union so 

that Ambassadors of the EU countries 

in Myanmar can see the progress in the 

Rakhine State. 

688,000 Rohingyas enter 

Bangladesh since Aug 25 : IOM 

DHAKA : The number Rohingya 

arrivals from Myanmar to Bangladesh 

since August 25 last year now stands 

at 688,000 indicating that Rohingyas 

are still coming despite a repatriation 

plan is in progress between the two 

countries, reports UNB. 

The International Organization for 

Migration (IOM) quoting its 'Needs 

and Population Monitoring (NPM) 

Baseline survey' came up with the figure 

on Monday. 

Zohr 

05:26 AM 

12:13 PM 

04:00 PM 

05:41 PM 

06:55 PM 

6:42 5:37 

"We express our deep gratitude to the 

members of the diplomatic community 

for their unremitting support in handling 

the Rohingya influx. We want to 

see that they remain engaged to make 

the repatriation sustainable," another 

official told UNB. 

He said the Foreign Minister urged 

the diplomats to continue their engagement 

with Myanmar for effective implementation 

of the return arrangements. 

The Myanmar Ministry of Health and 

Sports said they will provide healthcare 

services at camps that will start scrutinising 

and accepting displaced persons, 

under an agreement between Myanmar 

and Bangladesh, 

Quoting Director General of 

Myanmar Public Health Department 

Dr Tha Tun Kyaw, Myanmar 

Information Ministry said the ministry 

had already finalised its healthcare programme 

that will be provided at the 

repatriation camps. 

Currently, there are two repatriation 

camps - Taungpyoletwe camp and 

Ngakhuya camp. 

The immigration 

department is 

currently adopting 

repatriation 

p r o c e d u r e s , 

while the health 

sector has 

already formed 

1 1 - m e m b e r 

teams led by a 

doctor. 

The Hla Poe 

Khuang camp, 

which will accept 

returnees transferred 

from the 

two repatriation camps, already has 12- 

member health teams led by a doctor. 

Convener of technical committee on 

repatriation and Cox's Bazar Rohingya 

Repatriation Commissioner M Abul 

Kalam Rohingya said repatriation will 

take more time to start as preparatory 

works are yet to finish though Myanmar 

side says repatriation begins on 

Tuesday, reports UNB Cox's Bazar correspondent. 

The UN migration agency, however, 

said the increase in the number is not 

as a result of a significant influx, but 

due to strengthened assessments. 

The report was produced by the 

Inter Sector Coordination Group 

(ISCG) in collaboration with humanitarian 

partners that covered January 

15-20 period. 

The UNHCR Family Counting and 

NPM will continue to monitor and triangulate 

the population figures and 

report independently based on their 

individual methodology. 

On January 16, Bangladesh and 

Myanmar signed a document on 

'Physical Arrangement' which will 

facilitate return of Rohingays to their 

homeland from Bangladesh. 

The 'Physical Arrangement' stipulates 

that the repatriation would be 

completed preferably within two years 

from the commencement of repatriation. 

Foreign Ministry officials in Dhaka 

said verification and return of 

Rohingyas will be based on considering 

the family as a unit and 

Bangladesh and Myanmar also 

finalised the 'form' for verification. 

"The verification form will be distributed 

among all Rohingya families. 

The forms will be then handed over to 

Myanmar authority for scrutiny. 

Myanmar will send back the forms to 

Bangladesh after scrutiny," an official 

told UNB indicating that the full-scale 

repatriation might take some time. 

Action against 

PO, ministry 

staff, if found 

guilty: Nahid 

DHAKA : Education Minister Nurul 

Islam Nahid on Monday said departmental 

action will be taken against his 

detained personal officer (PO) Motaleb 

Hossain and another Education 

Ministry staff Nasir Uddin, if they are 

found guilty, reports UNB. 

Talking to UNB at the Secretariat 

Nahid said "If the duo is found guilty of 

corruption, the ministry and the department 

will take stern action against them. 

No one will be spared in the case of corruption; 

I'm very strict in this regard." 

The ministry will render all kind of 

assistance to the law enforcers for their 

investigation, he added. 

Earlier on Sunday night, Detective 

Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan 

Police (DMP) arrested the missing 

Lakehead Grammar School owner 

Khaled Hasan Motin, PO of Nurul 

Islam Nahid, Motaleb Hossain and the 

Education Ministry staff Nasir Uddin 

from different areas of the city. 

Earlier, Motaleb had reportedly gone 

missing from the capital on Saturday. 

Motaleb's brother filed a general 

diary with Hazaribagh Police Station in 

this regard. Lakehead Grammar School 

owner Khaled Hasan Motin also 

reportedly went missing on Saturday. 

Nasir Uddin, an upper division clerk 

of Education Ministry, reportedly went 

missing from the city on Thursday 

afternoon. Nayem Ahmed Julhas, 

brother-in-law of the victim, filed a general 

diary (GD) with Banani Police 

Station in this connection. 

3 Bangladeshis 

among 9 killed in 

Saudi road crash 

DHAKA : Nine workers, including 

three Bangladeshis, were killed and six 

others injured in a road accident in Al- 

Baha province in Saudi Arabia on 

Saturday evening, reports the Saudi 

Gazette, reports UNB. 

The Bangladeshi nationals were identified 

as Malam Mia, Alam Shah Mia, 

and Saiful Islam Abu Basheer. 

Four Egyptians and two Indians were 

among the deceased. 

The workers, belonging to a catering 

company that supplies food to patients 

in Baljurashi hospital, were going to 

Qunfuda corniche to spend their dayoff 

when the van they were travelling in 

overturned on a mountainous road. 

Apparently due to time constraint, 

they opted to take the mountainous 

route. Prince Dr. Hossam Bin Saud Bin 

Abdul Aziz, Emir of Al-Baha region, 

offered condolences to the families of 

the deceased workers and wished 

speedy recovery to the injured. 

Saudi Red Crescent Authority along 

with the Ministry of Health and Civil 

Defense emergency teams rushed to 

the site of the accident and shifted the 

injured to Prince Mishari hospital in 

Baljurashi. 

12.1 pc people use electricity 

for cooking purpose: BBS 

DHAKA : A survey, conducted by 

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 

found that some 12.1 percent people 

across the country use electricity for cooking 

purpose, reports UNB. 

According to the survey, the rate is 7 

percent in the rural area, 20 percent in 

municipal area and 27.5 percent in city 

corporation area. 

Thanks to BBS' shortcoming in questionnaire 

setting that it remained content 

with the respondents' replies that they use 

electricity for cooking but offered no 

details on whether the use is only for 

micro-oven or for fulltime cooking. 

State Minister Nasrul Hamid, who was 

present at the survey report release function, 

admitted that if the detail questions 

were asked, the answers might have been 

different. 

"Such respondents might be users of 

both electricity and gas for their cooking," 

he added. 

Prime Minister's Energy Advisor Dr. 

Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury defended the 

BBS survey saying there was no scope for 

asking detail question about the matter as 

it was a computer assisted telephonic 

interviewing (CATI). 

Power secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus 

also defended the BBS survey result saying 

that the use of electric home appliances 

are rising among the people both in 

urban and rural areas due to increased 

A fatal crash kills 4 ijtema devotees in Sylhet yesterday. 

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute-BSTI conducted drive against the substandard water 

across the Dhaka city. 

Photo : Star Mail 

economic capacity. 

The survey report was released at a 

press conference at Bidduyt Bhaban in the 

city on Monday BBS director CS Roy presented 

the report while PDB chairman 

Khaled Mahmud, REB chairman Major 

General Moin Uddin and BBS director 

general Amir Hossain were present on the 

occasion. 

BBS conducted the survey twice-in 

October 2016 and February in 2017- 

among 14,996 people in both urban and 

rural areas on a random sampling basis 

who were rationally selected from a list of 

122,427 male and female mobile telephone 

users across the country. Energy 

and Power Research Council (EPRC) 

financed the survey. 

The BBS collected the numbers from 6 

mobile phone operators and the respondents 

were asked six questions about their 

electricity use. 

It found that 86.9 people are satisfied 

with "the improvement of electricity service 

compared to previous 6 years" while 

13.1 percent is not satisfied. Some 29.9 

percent people are somewhat satisfied 

while 11.2 percent is highly satisfied. 

It also found that in terms of confidence 

regarding government future plan about 

electricity development, 79.7 percent people 

said "Yes" while 5.6 percent said "No" 

and 14.7 percent people are uncertainty 

about their opinion. 


Govt plans to slash 

tax rate: Planning 

Minister 

DHAKA : Planning Minister AHM 

Mustafa Kamal on Monday said that 

government is planning to cut tax rate 

in future with a view to increase revenue, 

reports UNB. 

He said there was no reason why tax 

rate can't be reduced if government 

can earn more revenues than now. 

The minister came up with these 

remarks while he met with the Board 

of Directors of Dhaka Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry (DCCI) led 

by its President Abul Kasem Khan at 

the Planning Ministry on Monday. 

Expressing his optimism about 

attaining SDGs the minister said that 

to attain SDGs government and private 

sector need to work together and 

about $1.31 trillion is needed for 

achieving the SDG. 

Bangladesh is placed at the bottom, 

ranking 177 in the World Bank's 

"Doing Business 2018" report, said 

DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan 

adding that Bangladesh needs to raise 

infrastructure to GDP ratio to 5% and 

"we estimate that Bangladesh will 

require $320 billion by the Year 2030 

for developing reliable, sustainable 

and affordable infrastructure." 

DCCI Senior Vice President Kamrul 

Islam, FCA, Vice President Riyadh 

Hossain, Directors Andaleeb Hasan, 

Kh. Rashedul Ahsan, K.M.N. 

Manjurul Islam, Engr. Md. Al Amin, 

Mohammad Bashiruddin, S M Zillur 

Rahman and Secretary General AHM 

Rezaul Kabir were also present on 

that occasion. 

10,40,51,883 voters 

in the country, 

Anisul tells JS 

SANGSAD BHABAN : According to 

the draft voter list published on 

January 2, 2018, the number of voters 

in the country is 10,40,51,883, reports 

BSS. 

Law, Justice and Parliamentary 

Affairs Minister Anisul Haque, who is 

in-charge of the Election Commission 

Secretariat in the House, informed 

this today in reply to a written question 

raised by treasury bench member 

Nizam Uddin Hazari (Feni-2). 

As per the draft voter list, the minister 

said, the number of new voters is 

33,32,593. 

Responding to another question 

from the same lawmaker, Anisul said 

no proposal was made to upgrade 

Feni Pourasabha to a city corporation. 

"In line with the existing law, necessary 

steps will be taken if a proposal is 

made in this regard," he added.

NEWS 

TUESDAY, 

2 

JANUARY 23, 2018 

People from all walks of life were standing on the both side of road. Businessmen leave their trades and 

stood on beside the road. This waiting for the newly elected Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, Md 

Mustafizur Rahman Mostafa gave a floral greeting. Nobody could think that how much waiting and 

arrangements were for him. On last Sunday afternoon, the scene of the Rangpur city was like that. In the 

city building at 3 pm Mayor was supposed to come but could not come. He reached in the city building at 5 

pm. It takes more than one and a half hours to pass about half kilo-meters. Last 18 January Md Mustafizur 

Rahman Mostafa took an oath as Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

But the road side from Bogra to Rangpur is full of crowd to give floral greeting. 

Photo : TBT 

Khulna roads see changes, 

300 cr tk project on card 

TiTas ChakraborThey: 

Few days ago which roads 

were battered with puddles, 

ditches and were to have a 

bumpy ride for commuters 

by transports, now 

renovation, reparation 

have given a new look. 

Passersby, drivers and 

commuters are safe to use 

roads of Rupsa, Dacope, 

Terokhada areas Sorok and 

Janopad department of 

Khulna implemented 95% 

of a project costing tk 160 

crore tk. 

Another 300 core tk is on 

the pipeline awaiting nod of 

higher authority, according 

to the department. 

The claims, the 

department has been 

implanting a 140 crore tk 

project that covers 

extension, renovation 

reparation of Khulna- 

Chuknagar-Satkhira 27 

kilometers stretched 

regional 

highway.Costing 20 

crore work of Betgram- 

Tala-Paikgacha 16 

kilometers road. 

On the other hand, 

another 285 crore tk project 

is awaiting approval of 

higher authority. 

Sorok O Janopad 

department executive 

engineer Mohammad Abul 

Kalam Azaed, roads that 

were unfit to use previously 

have been renovated, 

repaired and extended for 

public use. Few projects are 

on the pipe line. 

Apart from that, few new 

projects are being taken 

into our cognizance, he 

added. 

DU Television, Film 

and Photography 

Dept to celebrate 

founding anniv 

DHAKA : Television, Film 

and Photography Department 

of Dhaka University will 

celebrate its 6th founding 

anniversary on Tuesday with 

colorful programmes. 

The department has 

arranged first film festival, 

career fair and cultural 

progremmes from Tuesday to 

Thursday on this occasion, 

reports UNB. 

The programmes will be 

held at R C Majumder 

Auditorium of the university's 

lecture theater building. 

BCC wins Open Group 

Awards for Innovation 

and Excellence 

DHAKA : Bangladesh Computer Council 

(BCC) has won the 'Open Group Awards 

for Innovation and Excellence-2018' for 

developing Bangladesh National 

Enterprise Architecture (BNEA) aimed at 

making interoperable of government 

information and services, reports UNB. 

The Open Group, a global consortium 

that enables the achievement of business 

objectives through technology standards, 

has made the disclosure to Deputy 

Director of Leveraging ICT for Growth, 

Employment and Governance (LICT) 

Project of BCC Tarique M Barkatullah on 

January 16 about conferring the 

President's Award to BCC for Government 

Enterprise Architecture category for its 

innovation and excellence. 

Minister of Communications and 

Information Technology of India Ravi 

Shankar Prasad is expected to formally 

hand over the award to representative of 

BCC on February 22 next at Leela Palace, 

Bangalore of India, said Business 

Development Manager of Open Group 

Hetal Sompura in a letter. 

The Leveraging ICT for Growth, 

Employment and Governance (LICT) 

Project of BCC of ICT Division and UKbased 

Ernst and Young (EY) have 

developed BNEA for making interoperable 

of government information and services 

and available those from a single platform. 

The Open Group gave award to 

organizations and individuals for 

innovations and excellence in categories, 

including Enterprise Architecture, IT 

management, Security and Open 

Platform. 

The Open Group Expert Panel selected 

BCC after a rigorous process and 

evaluating innovations of large number of 

governments, industries and academia 

from Asia, Australia, Africa and Middle 

East besides from various States of India. 

The Open Group Awards for Innovation 

and Excellence is limited to two distinct 

levels and president's awards go to those 

nominations in which innovation and 

excellence were clearly demonstrated. 

"The award of distinction goes to those 

nominations in which a clear path towards 

effective innovative and excellent use of 

technology has been taken, but the full 

benefits are yet to be realized," said 

Sompura. 

RUTA 

distributes 

warm clothes 

RAJSHAHI 

UNIVERSITY : Rajshahi 

University Teachers' 

Association (RUTA) 

distributed warm clothes 

among the 250 cold-hit 

poor people in Panchagarh 

district on Monday 

morning, reports UNB. 

RUTA general secretary 

Professor Ruhul Amin, law 

department Professor 

Hasibul Alam Prodhan, 

genetic engineering and 

biochemistry department 

Professor Dr Anil Chandra 

Dev, Panchagarh District 

Bar Association secretary 

Ershad Hossain Sarker and 

Panchagarh district Awami 

League president Sarwar 

Bakul were present, among 

others, during the clothes 

distribution. 

Earlier on this month, 

RUTA distributed warm 

clothes among the cold-hit 

distressed people at Manda 

upazila of Naogaon and in 

Rajshahi district. 

Mawlana Bhashani Oikko Parishad arranged a discussion meeting and doa mahfil on 20 January 

marking 48th Shahid Asad day. Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Chairman Gono Front and president of 

Jatiya Kor Ainjibi Somity with National Awami Bangladesh Party chairman and Mawlana Bhashani 

Oikko Parisad member secretary, principle Benzir Ahmed in the chair. 


A road of Rupsa area. 

2 killed in 

Netrakona 

road crash 

NETRAKONA : Two 

people were killed and 

another was injured in a 

road accident at Azampur 

on Kendua-Kishorganj 

road in Kendua upazila on 

Monday morning, reports 

UNB. 

The deceased were 

identified as Anju Miah, 55, 

son of late Abdur Razzak of 

Pather Garbari in Kendua 

upazila and Aminul, 23, 

son of Motaleb of Suliarpar 

village in Madan upazila. 

The accident took place 

when a Kishoreganj-bund 

bus hit a CNG-run autorickshaw 

coming from 

opposite direction, around 

7:30am, leaving two 

passengers of the autorickshaw 

dead on the spot 

and its driver injured, said 

Sirajul Islam, officer-incharge 

of Kendua Police 

Station. 

GD-111/18 (5 x 3) 

Photo : TBT 

GD-108/18 (6 x 3) 

4 Ijtema devotees killed 

in Sylhet road crash 

SYLHET : Four people, including a union parishad 

member, were killed and 10 others injured as a bus carrying 

Biswa Ijtema devotees collided head-on with a truck on 

Dhaka- Sylhet highway at Lalabazar in Dakkhin Surma 

upazila on Monday morning, reports UNB. 

The deceased were identified as UP member Abdul Khalek, 

45, Abdul Zafar, 45, a resident of Kolaiya village, Abu Bakkar, 

45, of Ulutulu Noagaon village and Ali Akbar, 50, of 

Kandagaon village of Kathoir union. 

Khairul Fazal, officer-in-charge of Dakkhin Surma Police 

Station, said the collision took place when 30 devotees were 

returning to Sunamganj from Biswa Ijtema ground around 

6am in the 'Balaka Pahibahan' bus, leaving four people dead 

on the spot. 

The injured were admitted to Osmani Medical College 

Hospital. 

Ferry services on 2 routes 

resume after 7 hrs 

MANIKGANJ : Ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia route 

and Chandpur-Shariatpur route in the Padma and Meghna 

River resumed after seven and a half hours of disruption 

caused by dense fog on Monday morning, reports UNB. 

"The ferry services on Paturia- Daulatdia route remained 

suspended from 2am due to poor visibility caused by thick 

fog," said Nasir Mohammad Chowdhury, assistant general 

manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation 

(BIWTC) at Aricha. 

Later, the ferry services resumed around 9:30am as the fog 

disappeared, Nasir added. 

Besides, ferry services on Chandpur-Shariatpur route came 

to a halt around 3 am due to dense fog. 

Later, the services resumed around 9:30am following 

disappearance of fog, said Chandpur Sadar's Horina Ferry 

ghat (BIWTC) Manager Md Parvez Khan.

METRO 

3 

TUeSDAY, JANUArY 23, 2018 

Discussion on Netaji Subhas 

Bose in city Today 

DHAKA : A discussion on great leader 

of India's independence movement 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be 

held at Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the 

National Museum in the city, marking 

his 121st birth anniversary and 

'Patriotism Day', reports UNB. 

Industries Minister Amir Hossain 

Amu will be present at the event as the 

chief guest while MP Rezwan Ahmed 

Toufiq and Indian High Commissioner 

to Bangladesh Harsha Bardhan 

Shringla as special guests. 

The cover of 'Birbandana', a special 

publication on Subhas Bose, will be 

unveiled and a website - ICNSI- will be 

inaugurated at the function. 

The celebration committee convener 

Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique will 

chair the programme, and committee 

secretary Ashraful Islam, who is also 

the chief editor of Bohumatric.com, is 

the organiser of the programme. 

'Charpatra', the country's first online 

literary magazine, will be the media 

associate of the event. 

The pogramme will be rounded up by 

an offering of songs in memory of the 

Netaji. It will be followed by a colorful 

procession. 

Student of Laxmipur government college adoring the campus on the occasion of Minister Shajahan 

Kamal's arriaval. 

Photo : Courtesy. 

Dr. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, popular author and professor of Shahjalal University of Science & 

Technology visiting the projects of the students at BFF-Samakal Science Innovation Fair 2017-2018 

began yesterday at Daffodil International University. 

Photo : Courtesy. 

DU student's 

body recovered 

in N’ganj 

NARAYANGANJ : Police 

recovered body of a student 

of Dhaka University (DU) 

from Kayedpara area in 

Rupganj upazila on Monday 

morning, reports UNB. 

The deceased was 

identified as Parvez Ahmed 

Joy, son of Joynal Abedin of 

Borabo village of the upazila 

and a second year student of 

Political 

Science 

Department of Dhaka 

University. 

Md Ismail, officer-incharge 

of Rupganj Police 

Station said on information 

a team of police recovered 

the body of Pervez from the 

area around 9am. 

Later the father of the 

victims identified him as 

Parvez around 12 noon. 

Parvez used to work with a 

local NGO named Sonar 

Bangla, a micro credit 

financial organisation. 

He locked into an 

altercation with NGO 

authority three days ago and 

he was remained missing 

since that day, said the OC. 

Several stabbed marks 

were found on the body of 

the victim, the OC added. 

Gas line 

catches fire 

at Kakrail 

DHAKA : An underground 

gas pipeline in Kakrail area 

of the capital caught fire on 

Monday. 

"The fire broke out around 

2:15 pm," said Mizanur 

Rahman, the duty officer at 

the Fire Service control 

room here, reports UNB. 

Mizan said two units of 

firefighters rushed to the 

spot and put out the fire 

around 2:30 pm. It was not 

still clear what caused the 

fire, he added. 

However, there was no 

report of any casualty in the 

incident. 

FM to attend Davos 

meeting T0day 

DHAKA : Foreign Minister AH Mahmood 

Ali left here for Davos, Switzerland on 

Sunday night to attend the 48th World 

Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, 

reports UNB. 

The four-day annual meeting of the WEF 

begins on Tuesday in Davos under the 

theme 'Creating a Shared Future in a 

Fractured World,' said an official. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended 

the 47th annual meeting last year and she 

was invited this time too but sent the 

Foreign Minister to represent Bangladesh, 

the official told UNB. 

The Foreign Minister will return home 

on Friday. 

Unprecedented participation expected 

from global leaders including 70 heads of 

state or government and 38 heads of major 

international organizations as well as the 

largest proportion of women leaders ever 

The meeting will focus on 

GD-105/18 (5 x 3) 

reinvigorating international collaboration 

as a way of solving shared challenges in 

an era increasingly defined by societies 

under strain and competition between 

nations 

Founder and Executive Chairman, World 

Economic Forum Prof Klaus Schwab said 

the world has become fractured by 

increasing competition between nations 

and deep divides within societies. 

"Yet the sheer scale of the challenges our 

world faces makes concerted, collaborative 

and integrated action more essential than 

ever. Our Annual Meeting aims to 

overcome these fault lines by reasserting 

shared interests among nations and 

securing multi-stakeholder commitment 

to renewing social contracts through 

inclusive growth," said the founder. 

This year's opening address will be 

delivered by Indian Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi, organizers said. 

GD-112/18 (12 x 4) 

GD-109/18 (6 x 4)

EDITORIAL 

TuESdAy, 

JAnuAry 23, 2018 

4 

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam 

Telephone: +8802-9104683-84, Fax: 9127103 

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 

Taxation: The other sides 

Newspaper reports recently indicated that 

government is about to launch a major 

hunt to find out more taxpayers. 

Theoretically, there can be no objection to this as 

the total number of taxpayers in Bangladesh are 

much lower compared to other countries and, 

therefore, government can expect to increase 

revenue collection from such a drive. But there 

should be other considerations also, speciallyin 

the backdrop of the current rather slowed down 

pace of new private sector investments in the 

economy. 

A government needs resources to take up various 

projects and programmes in the social and 

developmental sectors. The resources in large 

measures are supposed to be mobilised as taxes 

given by people and organisations. But as everyone 

concerned probably knows it in Bangladesh, the 

taxes collected by the government in different 

areas are pitiably low compared to the potential. 

But citizens also have points to raise about 

government not spending their tax money as 

efficiently as it should or the hardships it may 

create on sections of people from the move to 

extend the net for taxation. 

Nonetheless, the fact remains that the base of 

taxation remains rather narrow and enlargement 

of it is very important and would be justified to 

augment tax collection. More significantly, the 

augmentation requires revamping, modernisation 

and reforms of the tax administration. No doubt 

such upgrading and streamlining of the taxation 

administration have been going on for the last 

several years and positive results could be seen. 

But these activities need to be broadened and 

deepened further within a short time frame to 

reach early the expected yet higher level in tax 

collection. 

But taking initiatives in taxation cannot be a one 

way process of only adding to the physical 

capacities of the National Board of Revenue 

(NBR).It appears very necessary alsothat people 

or institutions should be made aware of the need 

to pay taxes. There are many people and 

businesses who are able to pay taxes but do not 

pay or pay in proportion as they feel no guilt 

associated to non payment or insufficient 

payment of taxes. Furthermore, the present 

system has deliberately kept many gaps to 

facilitate tax evasion. The culture is rather 

ascendant that tax evasion is the smarter or 

appropriate thing to do than its opposite. A truly 

informative and persuasive campaign should 

precede any move to impose new taxes or 

purposefully increase the number of new 

taxpayers. People must be convinced first of the 

merit of paying taxes and they would also require 

some assurance that their tax money would be 

well spent. Only then their motivation to pay taxes 

can rise. 

The efficiency of the taxation machinery 

depends considerably on retraining the taxmen 

on modern lines. They can be trained in countries 

where the tax administrations are efficient. But 

there should be also recognition that without a 

substantial follow up revamping of organisations, 

procedures and methods of administration, much 

of the training would be wasted. Specially, the tax 

administration needs to acquire real capacity in 

the intelligence and enforcement areas. 

Besides, there has to be realisation also that 

stepped up activities to collect more taxes can 

prove to be successful in a setting where new 

investment operations are taking place in the 

economy, the established enterprises are running 

well or the general health of the economy is a 

sound one. In such a situation of 

widespread,diverseandaccelerated economic 

activities leading to wealth and income creation, 

taxmen may not have difficulty in finding taxable 

enterprises or individuals. Individuals and 

organisation in such a setting are also found more 

cooperative or willing to pay taxes from their 

having the resources or abilities to pay more taxes. 

But the Bangladesh economy for some years has 

been suffering from investment stagnation 

.Notwithstanding massive investments in mainly 

public sector projects, a corresponding high tide in 

private sector investments are note noted, how 

can there be expectation to collect much greater 

taxes in this scenario ? People can of course be arm 

twisted into paying more taxes. But that would 

mean a form of repression. Apart from sending out 

taxmen to squeeze out more taxes from individuals 

and institutions , government should alsoadopt 

policies that would restore the confidence of 

businesses leading to the invigoration of the real 

economy. Collecting more taxes then would not 

prove to be either an oppressive exercise or face 

lack of cooperation from the potential taxpayers. 

Till such further invigoration becomes possible, 

government should aim to fill budget deficits from 

static or less tax collection through receiving and 

utilizing greater foreign aid. 

A war with kurds will serve Erdogan's enemies 

The Turkish government has started 

shelling the city of Afrin, west of the 

euphrates River deep in the Syrian 

heartland, ahead of an upcoming invasion, 

according to Defence Minister Nurettin 

Cankli. The move is largely in response to 

the newly-formed Kurdish army, 

announced last week by the United Statesled 

Coalition, called the Syrian Border 

Forces (SBF). It will build on the already 

powerful Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), 

a coalition of Kurdish militias created two 

years ago to fight Daesh (the selfproclaimed 

Islamic State of Iraq and the 

Levant). 

The new force hopes to reach an 

ambitious 30,000 troops, trained and 

armed by the Americans, charged with 

protecting borders of the Kurdish enclave, 

east of the euphrates River. Five American 

military bases are already dotting the 

Syrian north, and they will make sure that 

the SBF is brought to life and formally 

deployed on the euphrates River Valley. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip erdogan 

has vowed to "strangle" the new army 

"before it is born", and is threatening an allout 

invasion, seemingly determined to 

never let the Kurdish project see the light 

anywhere close to his borders with Syria. 

his artillery is threatening to attack Manbij 

northeast of Aleppo, a city liberated by the 

Kurds back in 2016, once through with 

Afrin. The new US proxy army has taken all 

regional stakeholders by surprise, but it 

struck a particularly raw nerve in Ankara, 

where erdogan has been fuming about US 

President Donald Trump's honeymoon 

with Kurdish militias. Since reaching the 

White house a year ago, the US president 

has turned down all Turkish requests to 

distance himself from the SDF and the 

People's Protection Units (PYD). erdogan 

writes them off as "terrorists," due to their 

The Internet connects people, 

resources and activities. It facilitates 

the exchange of information and 

supports the cooperative work of writers, 

editors, lawyers, doctors, educators/ 

teachers, managers, analysts, engineers and 

others. 

The adoption of a system based on the 

decentralized knowledge discovery 

framework would have significant and 

positive social impacts. Consider the 

following aspects: improved collaboration, 

ease of knowing how the collaboration is 

progressing, and security. 

Thus a system for decentralized knowledge 

discovery provides services for secure data 

exchange, based on rigid access-control 

policies, adopts cryptography techniques 

when data is moved through the Internet, and 

keeps track of all accesses to the data 

performed by contributors. These are not 

trivial legal and technical issues, but work as a 

catalyst in the provision of effective 

knowledge-sharing collaboration through a 

decentralized knowledge database. 

The term "knowledge economy" was 

coined by the Organization for economic 

Cooperation and Development (OeCD) in a 

1996 report. The term describes the 

emergence of economies based on the 

production, distribution and use of 

knowledge and information. 

By comparison, the economy of the 20th 

century relied predominantly on the sale of 

raw resources, commodities and primary 

processing to generate income and wealth. 

The key commodity in the knowledge 

economy, by contrast, is "knowledge" and 

its use to create new products and services. 

Characteristic of the knowledge economy 

are "man-made brainpower industries" 

where there is rapid development, and the 

subsequent merging of new information 

and communication technologies, creating 

WheN in 1960 Mao Zedong sent off 

General Gengbiao, his second 

ambassador to Pakistan, he reportedly 

advised him: "Look after Pakistan; it is China's 

window to the West". 

Mao's depiction may have been as much 

metaphorical as geographical. During the 1960s, 

Pakistan was China's diplomatic window to the 

West, eventually brokering the normalisation of 

China-US relations in 1971. Today, the physical 

facet of Mao's depiction is becoming a reality in 

the China-Pakistan economic Corridor. 

Gen Gengbiao, who went on to become 

China's defence minister and deputy prime 

minister, played a vital role in building the 

China-Pakistan strategic relationship. So did 

Pakistan's prime minister Bogra and foreign 

minister, and later prime minister, Zulfikar Ali 

Bhutto. 

Unfortunately, large swathes of the Pakistani 

pub lic, especially the youth, are not fully 

aware of the history, intensity and rationale of 

the Pakistan-China relationship. Some 

Western-oriented Pakis ta nis even 

question China's desire for a strong Pakistan. 

Pakistan and China must undertake serious 

efforts to preserve, diversify and intensify their 

relationship. 

The Pakistan-China relationship has survived 

the twists and turns of global politics and 

affiliation to the outlawed PKK, while 

Trump regards them as strategic allies in 

the war on terror - friends that ought to be 

both protected and empowered. 

erdogan had pleaded him to let the 

Turkish-backed euphrates Shield troops 

have the honours of bringing down the 

Daesh-capital in Al Raqqa, but Trump 

persistently refused, letting the Kurds do 

the job instead. Trump has cut topped 

military aid to every other military group 

on the Syrian battlefield, but kept them 

flowing to Kurdish warriors. he doesn't 

really seem to care what erdogan thinks or 

says, and in return, the Turkish leader is 

preparing to take matters into his own 

hands, realising that relying on the US will 

lead to nowhere. 

Trump's alliance with the Kurds has 

already inched erdogan closer to Iran 

and Russia. Iranian President hassan 

Rouhani is equally furious with the 

Kurdish project, fearing that whatever 

the Kurds get in Syria they will start 

demanding in Iran, home to no less than 

seven-eight million Kurds. In the 

a global inter-connected economy. 

In this global economy, time and distance 

are compressed through advances in 

information communication technologies 

and travel, leading to the intertwining of the 

world's economic and cultural systems, in a 

process known as globalization. 

Globalization has been defined as "a set of 

economic, social, technological, political as 

well as cultural structures and processes 

arising from the changing character of the 

production, consumption and trade of 

goods and assets that comprise the base of 

the international political economy." 

Globalization is one of many phenomena 

within the knowledge economy, and is the 

result of a larger building process of a world 

markets that started when mankind first 

began exploring the world by land and sea 

expeditions. An effect of globalization is an 

increasing structural differentiation of such 

goods and assets, having spread across 

traditional political borders and economic 

sectors, resulting in a greater influence of 

political and economic changes. 

Technological advancement will certainly 

destroy many jobs, but at the same time will 

domestic changes in both countries because it is 

based on a strong and lasting alignment of their 

national interests. Over the last five decades, 

Pakistan has boldly defended China's unity and 

territorial integrity; worked assiduously to 

secure China's legitimate seat in the United 

Nations; resisted attempts to censure China on 

human rights and to denigrate its 

socioeconomic achievements. In 1965, China 

moved its troops to its disputed border with 

India, preventing India from redeploying 

additional forces to the battlefield against 

Pakistan; 

In 1971, as India invaded east Pakistan, China 

defended Pakistan's territorial integrity and was 

prepared to respond to Pakistan's call to 

SAMi MoubAyEd 

summer of 2016, he reached a deal with 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 

letting Russian and Syrian troops regain 

control of Aleppo in exchange for letting 

erdogan's troops carve out an enclave on 

the Syrian-Turkish border, at the cities of 

Jarablus and Azaz, and Al Bab that runs 

deeper within Syrian territory. The idea 

was to create a multi-purpose buffer to 

keep out Kurdish separatists from these 

three towns and eventually use as a safe 

haven for millions of Syrian refugees 

Trump's alliance with the kurds has already inched Erdogan 

closer to iran and russia. iranian President Hassan rouhani 

is equally furious with the kurdish project, fearing that 

whatever the kurds get in Syria they will start demanding in 

iran, home to no less than seven-eight million kurds. in the 

summer of 2016, he reached a deal with russian President 

Vladimir Putin, letting russian and Syrian troops regain 

control of Aleppo in exchange for letting Erdogan's troops 

carve out an enclave on the Syrian-Turkish border. 

residing in Turkey since 2011. 

This time, however, as erdogan strikes at 

Afrin (which falls within Russia's sphere of 

influence), Moscow is doing nothing to 

prevent erdogan from amassing troops on 

the Syrian borders. Some believe that they 

are actually nudging him to push further, 

saying that they will not object, if erdogan 

agrees to leave the city of Idlib in the Syrian 

northwest, which his troops had entered 

last October as part of the "de-conflict 

zones" agreement of the Astana process. 

he is reportedly willing to comply if they let 

him march forward to attack the SBF, 

HAkiMi AbduL JAbAr 

create many new and as yet unknown 

employment opportunities, changing 

dramatically the balance of skill requirements 

The characteristics of the average worker 

in Western economies, for example, and the 

nature of work itself have changed 

enormously over the past few decades. Parttime, 

temporary and casual work, coupled 

with an upward trend in unemployment and 

the widening earning dispersion has become 

the norm in the job market, while 

privatization, deregulation and downsizing 

of public services, and more and more 

pressure on business to increase productivity 

has been characteristic of the workplace. 

Advances in various technologies have 

had and will continue to have an impact on 

the labor market. Thus technological 

advancement will certainly destroy many 

jobs, but at the same time will create many 

new and as yet unknown employment 

opportunities, changing dramatically the 

balance of skill requirements. 

The skill elements referred to are those 

that place great importance on the diffusion 

and use of information and knowledge as 

well as its creation. This skill-base, it is 

intervene militarily but was prevented from 

doing so by an explicit Soviet nuclear threat; 

In 1972, at Pakistan's request, China vetoed 

the admission of Bangladesh into the United 

Nations until Dhaka and Delhi agreed to release 

the 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war; 

China built Pakistan's heavy industrial 

complex at Taxila and other manufacturing 

capabilities virtually on a grant basis; 

Despite US pressure and sanctions, China 

supplied Pakistan with its first ballistic missiles 

and enabled it to develop its now formidable 

missile capabilities; 

For over three decades, new Chinese military 

equipment was made available to Pakistan 

almost simultaneously with its induction in the 

which has now become his high priority. 

Some in Moscow, Tehran, and Damascus, 

actually see the looming battle as a blessing 

in disguise. It would ultimately rid them 

either of erdogan or the Kurds - both of 

which are a thorn in their flesh. That's what 

former US president Ronald Reagan had 

thought when he stood back and watched 

the Iran-Iraq War unfold and drag 

throughout his presidency, not lifting a 

finger to stop it. his reasoning was that it 

would either rid him of Ayatollah 

Khomeini or Saddam hussain: A win-win 

scenario for the US. Putin and Rouhani 

think the same with regard to erdogan and 

the Kurds. Both have been forced to deal 

with the Turkish leader in recent months, 

seeing him as the post powerful and 

ambitious backer of the Syrian Opposition 

who ought to be accommodated if a 

political and military endgame were to be 

reached. 

Slowly they started luring him out of the 

orbit, transforming erdogan from sworn 

enemy into cherished ally, given that 

nothing had succeeded in bringing him 

down, neither Daesh nor a military coup in 

the summer of 2016. 

An open war with the Kurds - one fanned 

secretly by the Russians and Iranians - 

might eventually weaken him or at a bare 

minimum, occupy him for years to come. 

Ultimately, however, Iran and Russia 

realise that the chances of his imminent 

demise are low, and that in the long run, he 

will succeed in crushing the Kurds. In the 

process, however, he will also destroy his 

relationship with Trump, and possibly 

affect his membership in Nato. A 

protracted war with the Kurds will serve 

nobody but erdogan's long list of enemies, 

who are all waiting to see his end. 

Source : Gulf News 

'People's Platform' connects global knowledge economy 

The skill elements referred to are those that place great importance on 

the diffusion and use of information and knowledge as well as its 

creation. This skill-base, it is argued, will allow incumbents to gather 

and utilize knowledge, where strategic know-how and competence are 

developed interactively and shared within sub-groups and networks. 

Continual creative innovation and knowledge-sharing contributions 

will be driven by a decentralized knowledge database that rewards 

contributors with monetary gains and compensation in the form of 

tokens for peer-reviewing and contributing information. 

Window to the West 

Munir AkrAM 

unfortunately, large swathes of the Pakistani pub lic, 

especially the youth, are not fully aware of the history, 

intensity and rationale of the Pakistan-China relationship. 

Some Western-oriented Pakis ta nis even question 

China's desire for a strong Pakistan. Pakistan and China 

must undertake serious efforts to preserve, diversify 

and intensify their relationship. 

argued, will allow incumbents to gather and 

utilize knowledge, where strategic knowhow 

and competence are developed 

interactively and shared within sub-groups 

and networks. 

Continual creative innovation and 

knowledge-sharing contributions will be 

driven by a decentralized knowledge 

database that rewards contributors with 

monetary gains and compensation in the 

form of tokens for peer-reviewing and 

contributing information. This system will 

be the starting point of the Internet for 

finding reliable, accurate information. 

As a practicing international and fintech 

(financial technology) lawyer, I sense the 

global long-term vision to develop a 

knowledge base application programming 

interface (API) that developers can use to 

create next generation decentralized 

applications in artificial intelligence, virtual 

reality, augmented reality and much more. 

By reading the demands and vision of 

Asian civil societies such as Suaram and 

Asian statesmen such as Mahathir 

Mohamed, anyone will sense that the 

direction toward a decentralized 

knowledge database and economy leads to 

just, equitable and democratic knowledgesharing 

solutions that reward contributors. 

Many around the world are excited at the 

existence of the Lunyr (pronounced like 

Lunar) platform design that aligns each 

individual's rational economic behavior 

with benefits to the whole ecosystem and 

its commitment toward ensuring the 

security of its platform. 

The Global Decentralization of 

Knowledge Database and economy is truly 

the People's Platform for a brighter future - 

one that is just, equitable and democratic. 

Source: Asia times 

PLA; 

China was the only country to agree to the coproduction 

of advanced military aircraft and 

other weapons systems with Pakistan; 

As China's economic fortunes improved, it 

quietly and repeatedly extended financial 

support (loans, bank deposits, grants) to enable 

Pakistan to meet economic emergencies and 

bolster its failing finances; 

- China decided to finance the CPeC projects 

in Pakistan as the first leg of its ambitious Belt 

and Road Initiative. No other country's 

companies were prepared to invest or work in 

Pakistan; 

- Finally, as India pursues a global media and 

diplomatic campaign to 'isolate' Pakistan and 

threatens 'surgical strikes' and a 'limited war', 

and as the US exerts pressure on Pakistan to 

support its failed strategy in Afghanistan and 

succumb to Indian diktat, it is China, with its veto 

in the Security Council and influence in major 

capitals, that stands in the way of negative 

international decisions and actions against 

Pakistan. In the currently unfolding Asian 

drama, the power relationships in South Asia 

and adjacent areas will depend on the structure 

and content of Sino-US, Sino-India and 

Pakistan-India relations. 

Source : Dawn

CAMPUS 

5 

TUESDAY, JANUArY 23, 2018 

BUFTMUA organizes first Intra MUN conference 

Abu Bakar Chowdhury 

A Model United Nations Conference is always a 

prestigious event for any university. Event of such type 

promotes peace and tranquillity among the youths 

from all over the world. It spreads knowledge among 

the students and opens a new avenue for them to excel 

in the future career by teaching new skills. The flame 

that was ignited two years ago turned into a 

magnificent firework with the inauguration of BUFT 

Intra Model United Nations conference 2018. This is 

the first grand conference of its kind which is organized 

by BUFT Model United Nations Association 

(BUFTMUNA) - the prominent club of BGMEA 

University of Fashion Technology (BUFT).With the 

theme of "Connected Youth Towards Global Peace" the 

opening ceremony of the conference was held on 4th of 

January. The opening session kicked off with the 

gracious presence of BUFT Vice chancellor PROF. Dr. 

Nizamuddin Ahmed, who was the Chief Guest. Pro Vice 

Chancellor Prof. Dr. Eng. Ayub Nabi Khan along with 

the president of United Nations youth Students 

Association Bangladesh (UNYSAB) Md. Mamun Mia 

was the special guests of this conference. The 

honourable guests conveyed their valuable and 

inspirational message addressing the delegates and 

also discussed how the youth of the country can unite 

together to ensure peace, prosperity and development 

in the world. The whole conference was conducted by 

the conference secretary general Md. Tamzid Hayder 

Tawrat Sikder who happens to be the founder and 

concurrent president of BUFTMUNA. The conference 

attracted 200 delegates who represented various 

countries in the committee sessions involving five 

committees where contemporary political, economic 

and social problems were discussed by the young 

delegates to find out possible solutions. 

The three days long conference offered the best 

experience of a Model United Nations- a delegate can 

imagine. The second day of the conference had a very 

fruitful debate regarding various world problems and 

the delegates got a great experience from it all. There 

were five committees in the whole conference and five 

contemporary global issues were presented as agendas 

to the students who were representing a respective 

nation as a delegate. The delegates were able to come to 

proper solutions regarding the agendas. The day ended 

with a fabulous social event where the students of 

BUFT performed to their fullest offering a highly 

entertaining display of mesmerizing dance and music. 

Conference Music Partner - BUFT Music Club offered 

the best concert to the students. 

The Closing ceremony held on 6th of January which 

concluded the conference with some very noteworthy 

solutions presented. Draft resolutions were represented 

in front of 200 delegates. It was a very exciting moment 

when all the draft resolutions were passed and the 

delegates' faces filled up with joy. The purpose of the 

conference was fulfilled with the students as delegates 

learned a lot, gained new experience and connected 

themselves with global peace. 

Model United Nations is the reflection of how the 

United Nations and their different branches discuss 

the solution of world problems and act to maintain 

peace and tranquillity among different nations. 

BUFTMUNA is committed to connect the youth and 

educate them about the challenges our world is facing 

and equipping them with skills to solve these problems 

in the future. TBT Bangla was the proud media partner 

of the event. 

A career in health and STEM offers many benefits. 

Photo: Monash University 

Monash University- excellent in 

providing health and STEM degree 

Campus Desk 

Did you know that employment in the healthcare and 

social assistance industry has increased by 445,600 

jobs (or 51.5%) in the last 10 years! Healthcare and 

social assistance is the largest employing industry in 

Australia, employing more than 1.3 million people (or 

11.5% of the total workforce). So the opportunities are 

endless. And future employment growth is expected to 

increase further as world population ages and 

developments in medical technology expand healthcare 

options. In addition to the extra demand for workers, 

Australia continues to experience a shortage of skilled 

workers in the health sector, in particular: nurses, 

midwives, medical diagnostic radiographers and 

physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and general 

medical practitioners. 

Monash University is the largest university in 

Australia, ranked in the world's top 100 and a member 

of the prestigious Group of Eight. The university 

named after Sir John Monash, and fuelled by his desire 

for the students to leave here with a greater sense of 

purpose, and the skills and confidence to create 

positive change. 

In under 60 years, it has grown from a single campus 

into an education and research powerhouse with a 

presence on four continents, committed to the 

challenges of the age, making an impact all over the 

world, from bringing clean water to villages in Africa to 

creating new life-saving. Being a Monash student and 

graduate, students are sure that they will have a lifelong 

prestigious degree that will enrich their life. 

According to QS World University Rankings Monash 

is considered Top 60 universities in the world. It was 

listed 21st position in the World's Most International 

Universities in 2017 as released by Times Higher 

Education. The university also ranks at number 57 in 

the Graduate Employability Ranking. 

Monash Faculties of Engineering and Information 

Technology are one of the best in the world. For 

example, the Monash CAVE2 provides a world-leading 

capability for the display and interactive exploration of 

rich and large scientific and engineering datasets. It is 

needed by research scientists and engineers to visualise, 

manipulate and comprehend data such as engineering 

models, multi-dimensional images across the size scale 

from nanoscopic to cosmic, and the outputs of scientific, 

computational and engineering simulations across the 

physical and life sciences. The Monash CAVE2 also 

provides a compelling visual and aural environment for 

exploring the integration of art and 

The Monash CAVE2 also provides a compelling visual 

and aural environment for exploring the integration of 

art and science, for example rendering and interacting 

with generative systems, multi-dimensional fractals, 

synthetic landscapes and more. 

Mistakes that guarantee failure 

Campus Desk 

For every open slot at an Ivy League college or graduate schools, 

there are 10 to 12 eager applicants vying for it-and you're one of 

them. On paper, most applicants appear very similar. All are 

well qualified academically with high grades and test scores and 

solid involvement in extracurricular activities. Imagine the 

admissions officer who must choose which of these welldeserving 

applications to accept. How will he or she make the 

decision? Often, it's the SOP. The 

SOP/essay/motivations/stories is the one chance for you to 

share a piece of yourself that is not encapsulated in the dry 

numbers and scores of the application. It is your opportunity to 

demonstrate why you'd be a perfect fit at the university, how 

you'd contribute to the student unions/community, and why 

the college should accept you over those other 11 applicants. 

The truth is that you don't have to be a good writer to create a 

successful admissions essay. The secret is that any topic can be 

a winner but it all depends on your approach. It doesn't have to 

be beautifully written or crafted as the next great American 

novel. At its core the essay is not a "writing test." It's a "thinking 

test." While there is no single way to produce a winning essay, 

as you will read, there are some traits that successful essays 

share. You'll learn what these are by reading the examples here. 

Why are admissions essays so important to getting into Ivy 

League colleges? At their most basic level, essays help 

admissions officers to understand who you are. While grades, 

test scores, and academic performance can give the admissions 

officers an estimate on how prepared you are to handle the 

academic rigors of college, the essay offers the only way they can 

judge how your background, talents, experience, and personal 

strengths come together to make you the best candidate for 

their school. 

Writing is so individual and the options so limitless that it's 

impossible to develop a combination that will work for every 

essay. However, this doesn't mean that we're going to send you 

off with laptop in hand, without some guidance. In fact, some of 

these mistakes are so bad that they will almost guarantee that 

your essay will fail. Avoid these at all costs! You'll want to avoid 

these. 

This may sound very obvious, and well, it is. But you'd be 

surprised at how many students don't heed this simple piece of 

advice. A lot of students think that they need to be who the 

admissions officers want them to be; but, in reality, the 

admissions officers want you to be you. They aren't looking for 

the perfect student who is committed to every subject area, 

volunteers wholeheartedly for every cause, plays multiple sports 

with aptitude, and has no faults. Instead, they want to learn 

about the true you. Present yourself in an honest way, and you 

will find it much easier to write an essay about your genuine 

thoughts and feelings. 

Many students think that colleges seek students who have 

performed a lot of community service, and it is true that colleges 

value contributions to your community. However, this doesn't 

mean that you must write about community service, especially 

when it's not something that has played a major role for you. 

The same holds true for any other topic. It's critical that you 

select a topic that's meaningful to you because you will be able 

to write about the topic in a complete and personal way. 

You should spend as much time thinking about what you will 

write as actually putting words on paper. This will help you 

weed out the topics that just don't go anywhere, determine 

which topic has the greatest pull for you, and figure out exactly 

what you want to say. It can help to talk yourself through your 

essay aloud or discuss your thoughts with a parent, teacher, or 

friend. The other person may see an angle or a flaw that you do 

not. 

While this seems simple enough, many students simply do 

not heed this. The advice is especially pertinent for those who 

recycle essays. We highly recommend recycling because it saves 

you time to write one essay that you use for many colleges, but 

the caveat is that you need to edit the essay so that it answers the 

question being asked. It turns admissions officers off when 

students submit an essay, even a well-written one, that doesn't 

answer the question. They think that the students either aren't 

serious enough about the college to submit an essay that has 

been specifically written or at least edited for that college, or that 

they just don't follow directions. Either way, that's not the 

impression you want to leave. 

As you know, the main purpose of the admissions essay is to 

impart something about yourself that's not found in the 

application. Still, many students forget this, especially when 

writing about a topic such as a person they'd like to meet or a 

favourite book or piece of literature. In these cases, they may 

write so much about why they admire the person or the plot of 

the book that they forget to show the connection to themselves. 

Always ask yourself if you are letting the admissions officers 

know something about yourself through your essay. 

Naturally you speak differently to your friends than your 

teachers; when it comes to the essay, some applicants 

essentially address the admissions officers with a too-friendly 

high five instead of a handshake. It's important to be yourself in 

the essay, but you should remember that the admissions officers 

are adults not peers. The essay should be comfortable but not 

too informal. Remember that adults generally have a more 

conservative view of what's funny and what's appropriate. The 

best way to make sure you're hitting the right tone is to ask an 

adult to read your essay and give you feedback. 

Because the essay offers a few hundred words to write about 

an aspect of your life, some students think that they need to 

cram in as many aspects of their life as possible. This is not the 

approach we recommend. An essay of 500 to 800 words doesn't 

afford you the space to write about your 10 greatest 

accomplishments since birth or about everything that you did 

during your three-week summer program in Europe. Rather, 

the space can probably fit one or two accomplishments or one 

or two experiences from the summer program. Instead of trying 

to share your whole life, share what we call a slice of your life. By 

doing so, you will give your essay focus and you will have the 

space to cover the topic in greater depth 

Students have started their essays by repeating the question 

asked and even stating their names. This does little to grab the 

attention of the admissions officers. Sure, they'll read the whole 

essay, but it always helps to have a good start. Think about how 

you can describe a situation that you were in, convey something 

that you strongly believe in or share an anecdote that might not 

be expected. An introduction won't make or break your essay, 

but it can start you off in the right direction 

One of the prompts for the Common Application is, "Discuss 

some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern 

and its importance to you." The key to answering this question 

is to carefully think about these words: "its importance to you." 

This is what students most often overlook. They select an issue 

and write about the issue itself, but they don't really explain why 

it is important to them or how they see themselves making an 

impact. If you write about an issue, be sure to pick one that is 

truly meaningful to you and that you know something about. 

You'll probably score extra kudos if you can describe how you 

have done something related to the issue. 

It's better to have a single, well thought-out message in your 

essay than many incomplete ones. Focusing allows you to go 

into depth into a specific topic and make a strong case for your 

position. Write persuasively. You can use examples to illustrate 

your point. 

The essay is not the application form, and it is not a resume. 

In other words, the essay is the best opportunity that you'll have 

to either delve into something you wrote in the application form 

or to expound on something new that doesn't really fit on the 

application form. 

One of the best pieces of advice that we give students is to keep 

asking, "Why?" As an example, let's say that you are writing an 

essay on organizing a canned food drive. Ask yourself why you 

wanted to do this. Your answer is that you wanted to help the 

homeless. Ask yourself why this was important to you. Your 

answer is that you imagined your family in this situation. You 

would greatly appreciate if others showed compassion and 

helped you. Why else? Because you wanted to gain hands-on 

experience as a leader. 

Asking one or two people for feedback on your essay is 

probably enough. If you ask more than that, you may lose the 

focus of your writing. Having too many editors dilutes your 

work because everyone has a different opinion. If you try to 

incorporate all of the opinions, your essay will no longer sound 

like you. 

There are some people who are extraordinarily different, but 

the truth is that most of us aren't. What's more important than 

conveying yourself as the most unique person at your school is 

that you demonstrate self analysis, growth, or insight? 

SOP writing is an art. You've to follow certain steps to succeed in the process. 

Photo: Collected

NATIONAL 

6 

TueSDAY, JANuARY 23, 2018 

Saraswati Puja celebrated 

in Rangpur division 

The largest human rights protection body of South Asia, SAARC Human Rights Foundation 

arranged "International Human Rights Conference" under supervision of central committee on 

20 January. Kazi Reazul Hoque, chairman of National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh 

was chief guest at the programme as chief guest with Mahabubul Alam, adviser of the organization 

and president of Chittagong Chamber Of Commerce & Industry in the chair at World Trade 

Centre in Chittagong. 

Photo: SM Akash. 

Right to information must for 

good governance: Speakers 

RAJSHAHI: Speakers at a 

discussion here stressed the 

need for proper 

implementation of right to 

information (RTI) act to 

empower mass people and 

make all the public services 

transparent 

and 

accountable, reports BSS. 

They said free flow of 

information at all 

government and nongovernment 

organisations 

and offices needs to be 

ensured for ensuring good 

governance in the country. 

The observations came at 

the inaugural session of a 

two-daylong 'Information 

Fair and Anti-corruption 

Cultural Function-2018" 

held at Green Plaza of 

Rajshahi City Corporation. 

District Administration, 

Four years of success as local maker, M A Malek of Dhaka-20 constituency and annual sports competition 

and prize giving ceremony were observed together yesterday at Shailan Surma High School 

in Demarai yesterday. Member of Parliament attended the programme as chief guest. Later, he gave 

away prize among winners in the competition. 

Photo: Milon Siddiqui 

Livestock Service 

Week begins in 

Khulna 

KHULNA: Livestock 

Service Week began here 

yesterday stressing on 

ensuring nutrition and safe 

food for all to help build a 

healthy nation, reports BSS. 

Deputy Director of 

Khulna Livestock Office 

Kallyan Kumar Fouzdar 

presided over the 

inauguration ceremony 

while joint secretary of 

Khulna city unit AL M D A 

Babul Rana addressed it as 

the chief guest. 

District Livestock Officer 

Dr. Md. Sayed Anwar-ul- 

Islam, President of Khulna 

Poultry Fish Feed and Shop 

Owners Association Kazi 

Nurul Islam, Secretary 

General S M Sohrab 

Hossain, central member of 

Bangladesh Krisak League 

Shyamol Kumar Singha, 

addressed the function, 

among others. 

Speakers at the function 

urged all to take milk, egg, 

fish and meat for building a 

healthy and talented 

nation. 

District Information Office 

and Committee for 

Conscious Citizens (CCC) 

jointly organized the event 

yesterday afternoon. 

Deputy Commissioner of 

Rajshahi Helal Mahmud 

Sharif and Superintendent 

of Police Syed Moazzem 

Hossain addressed the 

session as chief and special 

guests respectively with CCC 

President Professor Abdus 

Salam in the chair. 

Among others, District 

Primary Education Officer 

Nafisha Begum, Deputy 

Director of District 

Information Office Md 

Shamsuzzaman and TIB 

Area Manager Mahmud Ali 

were present. 

The chief guest said the 

government is very much 

confident and working 

relentlessly for successful 

implementation of the law. 

The field level government 

and non-government 

officials concerned need be 

positive to supplement the 

government effort. 

Prof Salam said 

implementation of RTI Law 

has become indispensable 

for the sake of establishing 

good governance in the 

society and enhancing 

transparency and 

accountability in all tiers of 

public services. 

Some 34 government and 

non-government 

organisations are taking 

part in the fair showcasing 

their respective servicedelivery 

related 

information. 

Livestock Services Week 

begins in Gaibandha 

GAIBANDHA: Livestock 

Services Week-2018 began 

today in the district as 

elsewhere in the country 

with a call to reach the 

livestock services at the 

doorsteps of common 

people, reports BSS. 

The Department of 

Livestock Services, 

Gaibandha, in cooperation 

with district administration 

has taken various 

programmes, marking the 

week. 

The theme of the week is 

'Barabo Pranij Amish Garbo 

Desh Shastha Medha 

Samriddhir Bangladesh'. 

Livestock services camps 

are set up at Pearapur under 

Boali Union Parishad and 

Kachurar Khamar under 

Union Parishad to provide 

livestock services to local 

farmers. 

Early in the morning, a 

colorful rally, led by deputy 

commissioner (DC) 

Gautam Chandra Pal, was 

brought out from the 

Independence Square and 

ended in front of Zila 

Shilpakala Academy after 

parading the main streets of 

the town. 

Later, a discussion was 

held at Shilpakala Academy 

auditorium with District 

Livestock Officer Dr Abdul 

Latif in the chair. 

DC Gautam Chandra Pal, 

local Awami League leader 

Abu Bakar Siddique, mayor 

of Gaibandha Municipality 

Adv Shah Masud Zahangir 

Kabir Milon, deputy 

director of the Department 

of Agriculture Extension 

(DAE) AKM Ruhul Amin 

and Sadar UNO Alia 

Ferdous Zahan, among 

others, spoke at the 

discussion. 

Upazila veterinary 

surgeon Dr Sirazul Islam 

made a power-point 

presentation on overall 

activities of the department 

and its success. 

DC Gautam Chandra Pal 

said the farmers of the 

district, particularly char 

dwellers, can change their 

BGB distributes 

blankets among 

destitute in 

C'nawabganj 

CHAPAINAWABGANJ: 

The 59 battalion of Border 

Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 

distributed blankets 

among cold-hit people in 

Chanshikari and 

Polladanga areas under 

Bholahat upazila of the 

district on Sunday, reports 

BSS. 

Commanding Officer 

(CO) of the battalion 

Lieutenant Colonel Md 

Rashed Ali as the chief 

guest distributed 320 

blankets among the 

distressed people at a 

simple function at 

Bholahat Rameswar Pilot 

High School here. 

A total of 180 men, 120 

female and 20 orphans 

were provided with 

blankets. 

life by rearing cattle, goats 

and sheep. 

4 killed in 

Sylhet road 

accident 

SYLHET: At least four 

people were killed and 10 

others injured as a bus, 

carrying devotees from Iztema, 

collided head-on with a truck 

at Rashidpur Satmile area 

under South Surma upazila of 

the district on Monday 

morning, reports BSS. 

The deceased were 

identified as Abu Bakar, 50, 

Akbar Ali, 50, Abdul Jafur, 45, 

and Abdul Khalek, residents 

of Sunamganj Sadar upazila. 

Officer-in-Charge of South 

Surma police station Khairul 

Fajal said the accident 

occurred on the Dhaka-Sylhet 

highway at about 7.30 am 

when the two vehicles collided 

head-on, leaving three bus 

passengers dead on the spot 

and 11 others injured. 

RANGPUR: The people of Sanaton 

community celebrated the Saraswati 

Puja yesterday amid huge enthusiasm 

and due religious solemnity and fervour 

in all eight districts under Rangpur 

division, reports BSS. 

Since this morning, the Puja mandaps, 

mandirs and educational institutions 

were decorated and thousands of 

devotees thronged there to seek 

blessings of the Devi Saraswati, the 

Goddess of knowledge. 

The students of different educational 

institutions, attired in colourful dresses, 

offered special prayers and observed 

fasting as per ritual of the religious 

festival to seek knowledge from goddess 

Saraswati. 

In Rangpur city, many images of 

Goddess Saraswati, symbolising a 

graceful woman, was erected at different 

Puja mandaps, mandirs, educational 

institutions and makeshift places for 

worships. 

The Saraswati Puja was celebrated at 

Dharmoshava Ashram, Laksmi Narayan 

Zeu Shiva Mandir, Sree Sree Poresh 

Mandir, Begum Rokeya University, 

Rangpur Medical College, Begum 

Rokeya Government College, 

Polytechnic Institute, Technical School 

and College, Carmichael College, Lions 

School and College, Samaj Kallyan 

Biddya Bithi, Koilash Ranjan High 

School, TT College, Zila School, Dental 

College, Afan Ullah High School, 

Mahiganj College and other educational 

institutions. 

The biggest celebration was held at 

Rangpur Carmichael College where 

thousands of students thronged since 

morning as nearly 6,200 out of around 

26,000 students of the institution 

belong to the Sanaton community. 

The Saraswati Puja was also 

celebrated at Lalbag, Modern Mour, 

Guptapara, Mahiganj, Mulatol, 

Paulpara, Tazhat, Boiragipara, 

Machuapara, Kallyanpara, Shalban, 

Burima Mandir, Textile crossing and 

many other places in the city by offering 

'Devi Aradhona'. 

The programmes also included 

'Puspoanjoli', 'archanas', 'anjolis', 'aratis', 

'Prashad' distribution, 'Arati', 

discussions, different competitions, 

cultural functions, staging of drama and 

prize distribution. 

President of district unit of Bangladesh 

Puja Udjapon Parishad Advocate 

Rothish Chandra Bhowmick, Sanaton 

community leaders and Awami League 

leaders visited different Puja mandaps 

and educational institutions in the city. 

The Saraswati Puja was also observed 

at Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, 

Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon 

and Dinajpur districts under Rangpur 

division with huge enthusiasm. 

Newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Panchgarh district, Mohammad Jahirul Islam speaking 

at a view exchange meeting yesterday of the district. 

Handicrafts 

Fair begins in 

Mymensingh 

MYMENSINGH: A 15-day 

Small Scale Industries and 

Handicrafts fair began in 

Mymensingh today with the 

main thrust of expansion and 

popularization of the goods, 

reports BSS. 

Small-Scale Industries 

Association of Bangladesh 

organised the event on the 

premises of local gymsium. 

Mayor of Mymensingh 

Pourasabha Ekramul Haque 

Teto formally inaugurated the 

fair as the chief guest while 

President of City Awami 

League Eahtashemul Alam 

and President of Mymensingh 

Union of Journalists (MUJ) 

Ataul Karim Khokan were 

present, among others. 

Ekramul Haque said the fair 

will bring positive impact and 

encourage the young 

generation especially women 

entrepreneurs for presenting 

their items of goods produced 

by Small-Scale Industries and 

different Handicrafts. 

Different types of products 

are being displayed at 50 stalls 

at the exhibition. 

The mayor also thanked the 

stall owners for participating 

in the fair and sought 

cooperation for its successful 

completion. 

Holistic support needed for 

human trafficking victims 

rehabilitation: Speakers 

NAOGAON: Speakers at a 

review meeting here today 

underscored the need for 

close-coordination between 

the works of various 

governments and nongovernment 

organizations 

concerned for proper 

rehabilitation of the victims of 

human trafficking for their 

mainstreaming, reports BSS. 

They mentioned that the 

human trafficking victims are 

subjected to repression and 

oppression by their 

surroundings people. So there 

should be integrated 

measures for ensuring their 

access to family and social 

integration. They came up 

with the remarks at district 

directory review meeting at 

Food Palace Hall Room in the 

town. 

Sachetan Rajshahi, a rightsbased 

organization, arranged 

the meeting in association 

with Bangladesh Counter 

Trafficking in Persons 

Programme. USAID and 

Winrock International jointly 

supported the meeting. 

Deputy Commissioner 

Mijanur Rahman, District 

Legal Aid Officer Monirul 

Hasan Sarker, Assistant 

Commissioner Tania 

Tabassum, Deputy Director 

of Islamic Foundation Sultan 

Ahmed, Deputy Civil Surgeon 

Dr. Kazi Mizanur Rahman 

and Deputy Director of Social 

Services Noor Mohammad 

addressed the meeting. 

Project Coordinator of 

Sachetan Rajshahi Mahmud- 

Un-Nabi and its Programme 

Officer Rokshana Parveen 

also spoke. Mijanur Rahman 

stressed the need for 

collective efforts of all 

government and nongovernment 

organizations 

concerned for proper 

rehabilitation of the human 

trafficking victims. 

He mentioned that there is 

no alternative to creating 

mass-awareness to prevent 

human trafficking, victims' 

protection, legal aid and 

participatory approach for 

welfare the victims. 

People not want to see 

BNP in power: Hanif 

KUSHTIA: Awami League Joint General Secretary 

Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif today said the country's people do 

not want to see any corrupted government, led by BNP 

chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, in power, reports BSS. 

"People of the country will prove in the next general 

election that they do not want any corrupted government, led 

by Begum Zia," he said while speaking the inaugural session 

of a seven-day regional small and medium enterprise (SME) 

product fair at collector's point in Kushtia. 

Meanwhile, Hanif said, top BNP leaders, including its 

senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, were convicted in 

courts for corruption. "The people, who think that people will 

elect the dishonest leaders of BNP in next polls, are insane," 

he said. 

Sreemangal Association of North America Ink distributes blanket among poor and helpless people 

yesterday in the district. Photo: Sayed Ahmed.

INTERNATIONAL 

TUESDAY, jANUArY 23, 2018 

7 

US Government services 

closed as working 

week begins 

Aidarous al-Zubaidi held a meeting in Aden on the future of South Yemen. 

UAE-backed group vows to 

'overthrow' Yemen's govt 

A group of separatists in southern 

Yemen, backed by the United Arab 

Emirates (UAE), have declared a 

state of emergency in the port city of 

Aden and vowed to overthrow the 

country's internationally recognised 

government within the next week, 

reports Al Jazeera. 

Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of 

the Southern Transitional Council 

(STC), said Yemen's parliament 

would be barred from convening in 

Aden or anywhere else in southern 

Yemen unless President Abd-Rabbu 

Mansour Hadi replaced Prime Minister 

Ahmed bin Daghr and his entire 

cabinet. Speaking at a meeting on 

Sunday, al-Zubaidi accused Hadi's 

government of "rampant corruption" 

and of "waging a misinformation 

campaign against the southern leaders 

using state funds". 

The SRF, an armed group that has 

clashed with forces loyal to Hadi for 

control of strategic areas including 

Aden airport, will "become the core 

of a new force that will rebuild South 

Yemen's security and military institutions," 

the statement added. 

Several commanders from security 

Spain to seek 

Catalan politician's 

arrest on 

Denmark visit 

The office of Spain's state 

prosecutor said Sunday it 

will move to reissue a European 

arrest warrant for the 

fugitive former leader of Catalonia 

if he leaves Belgium 

and enters Denmark as 

planned, reports CNN. 

The region's ex-president, 

Carles Puigdemont, is 

scheduled to attend a debate 

Monday at the University of 

Copenhagen titled "Catalonia 

and Europe at a Crossroads 

for Democracy." The 

trip would be Puigdemont's 

first outside Belgium since 

he fled there to avoid a court 

summons in Spain for his 

role in an illegal- and unsuccessful- 

secession bid led by 

his government in October. 

If Puigdemont makes it to 

Denmark, the prosecutor's 

office said it would immediately 

ask the Spain Supreme 

Court to approve a European 

warrant for his arrest by Danish 

authorities. Spain issued a 

European warrant for Puigdemont's 

arrest in November, 

but withdrew it after a month 

based on concerns that Brussels 

would send the Catalan 

politician back while restricting 

the crimes with which he 

could be charged. 

Spain is investigating 

Puigdemont for possible 

rebellion, sedition and 

embezzlement linked to a 

unilateral declaration of 

independence by Catalonia's 

parliament on Oct. 27. 

His proposed appearance 

at the debate in the Danish 

capital comes while Puigdemont 

is trying to be reinstated 

as the regional president 

of Catalonia. 

forces set up by the UAE attended 

the meeting and declared their support 

for the announcement. The 

statement, however, did not give 

details on how it intended to topple 

Hadi's government, only that he had 

a week to comply. 

The announcement underscores rising 

tensions between Hadi's government, 

which is supported by Saudi 

Arabia, and the southern separatists, 

who are backed by the UAE. The UAE 

entered Yemen's war in March 2015 as 

part of a Saudi-led coalition after 

Houthi rebels, traditionally based in 

the northwest of the country, overran 

much of the country, including the 

capital Sanaa, in 2014. 

Nearly three years on, Saudi Arabia 

has said it "wants out" of the war, 

but the UAE has become more 

involved in the conflict, indicating a 

divide in the two countries' agendas. 

The UAE has been financing and 

training armed groups in the south 

of the country who answer to al- 

Zubaidi, a 50-year-old militia leader 

who emerged from relative obscurity 

in late 2015 after helping purge the 

Houthis from Aden. 

Al-Zubaidi was initially rewarded 

and made governor of Aden by Hadi, 

but soon fell out of favour after 

reports emerged he was receiving 

patronage from the UAE to campaign 

for secession. The Middle East 

Eye news website, quoting sources, 

reported that Hadi was incensed 

with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi 

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed 

of acting as an occupying force, as 

opposed to a liberation force. 

Hadi's weakening has gone handin-hand 

with the UAE's growing 

power in southern Yemen. The Gulf 

nation has financed a network of 

militias that only answer to it, set up 

prisons, and created a security establishment 

parallel to Hadi's government, 

according to Human Rights 

Watch. The Arab coalition has so far 

failed to achieve its stated aims as 

Houthi rebels continue to hold the 

capital Sanaa and much of the north. 

The war has taken a huge toll on 

the country with more than 60,000 

people killed and wounded by fighting, 

and millions of Yemenis at risk 

of famine amid a massive cholera 

outbreak. 

'Executed' N Korean 

pop diva takes 

Olympic spotlight 

Just a few years ago, she was reportedly 

executed by a North Korean firing squad. 

Now, Pyongyang's top pop diva is a senior 

ruling party official and a surprise headliner 

in the run-up to the South Korean 

Winter Olympics, reports The News York 

Times. 

Hyon Song Wol, the photogenic leader 

of Kim Jong Un's hand-picked Moranbong 

Band, has made two excursions 

across the Demilitarized Zone as a negotiator 

and advance team leader working 

out the details of Kim's surprise offer for 

the North to participate in the 

Pyeongchang Games. South Korea's 

media have been treating her like a true 

K-pop celebrity. 

On Monday, as she wrapped up her latest 

visit and prepared to return to 

Pyongyang, the South's Yonhap news 

agency reported a large crowd waited outside 

her hotel for a glimpse of her eating 

breakfast. Journalists, it noted, received 

only a "subtle smile" in response to their 

questions before she was whisked away 

with the North Korean delegation. 

But not all South Koreans welcomed her 

or North Korea's plan to join the games. 

After a visit to the eastern city of 

Gangneung, Hyon was met at Seoul railway 

station by about 150 to 200 activists. 

The demonstrators later burned Kim's 

photo, a North Korean flag and a "unification 

flag" the rival Koreas plan to carry 

during the opening ceremony. North 

Korea is expected to send 22 athletes, a 

demonstration taekwondo team, several 

hundred members of an all-female cheering 

group and the 140-member Simjiyon 

Band to the games. 

Hyon's role in the pre-Olympic preparations 

is a good example. It has received 

virtually no coverage in North Korea's 

official media, which hasn't said much at 

all about whom it is sending. And while 

Hyon is the leader of North Korea's bestknown 

pop band, the overriding message 

is that in North Korea there is only one 

megastar, Kim Jong Un. 

The Moranbong Band was created 

specifically to sing his praises. The band, 

which has 10 or so members, made its 

debut in 2012, less than a year after Kim 

assumed power upon the death of his 

father, Kim Jong Il. 

Hyon and the band were supposed to 

make their international debut in Beijing 

in 2015, but that plan was derailed mysteriously 

at the last minute. It has held 

firmly to the party line with lyrics that 

inevitably stress love and devotion to Kim 

Jong Un or hail the wisdom of the ruling 

party and the values of selfless sacrifice 

and "single-minded unity." It frequently 

is called on to perform for major party 

events - often with Kim Jong Un, the military 

and missiles on big screens behind 

them - and alternate between mini-skirts 

and military uniforms when they take the 

stage. 

Kim Jong Il, who was much more 

involved in the arts, and particularly in filmmaking, 

also founded a band, which he 

called the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble. 

It was known for its synthesizer-heavy 

sound and Hyon was a prominent member. 

While still guaranteed a special role as 

the "soft" face of Kim's regime, the novelty 

of Moranbong Band might be wearing 

thin. 

A similar group, the Chongbong Band, 

was created in 2015 in what appeared to 

be an effort to revive interest in a similar 

kind of vaguely youth-oriented, popinfluenced 

music. 

But the regime doesn't seem to be promoting 

the Chongbong Band very seriously 

and it now rarely appears in public. 

Photo: Internet 

Survivors of Taliban 

attack on Kabul hotel 

recount ordeal 

Survivors of the Taliban 

attack on Kabul's Intercontinental 

Hotel are recounting 

the ordeal of the deadly, 13- 

hours-long standoff that 

claimed 18 lives, including 14 

foreigners, reports BBC. 

Mohammad Humayun 

Shams, telecommunications 

director of eastern Laghman 

province who was visiting 

Kabul and staying at the 

hotel, says he was able to 

escape by jumping into a tree 

form a hotel window as the 

attackers roamed the hallways, 

killing people. 

Shams says that "it was the 

worst night of my life." He 

says that as he ran he didn't 

know who were the police 

and who were the Taliban - 

they all had same uniforms. 

More than 150 people were 

rescued or managed to 

escape, including 41 foreigners. 

Eleven of the 14 foreigners 

killed were pilots and 

employees of KamAir, a private 

Afghan airline. 

Measles, malnutrition 

kill nearly 100 in 

Indonesia's Papua 

A measles outbreak and a 

spike in cases of malnutrition 

in Indonesia's easternmost 

Papua province have 

killed at least 97 people, 

mostly indigenous children, 

reports CNN. 

An army chief in the 

provincial capital of Jayapura, 

Boni Christian Pardede, 

said Monday that 27 people 

in one sub-district had died 

from malnutrition and an 

outbreak of diarrhea. He said 

the situation in Okbab subdistrict 

was first reported last 

week by church activists, 

who said 23 children and 

four adults had died. Pardede 

said the military has sent 

a 12-member health team. 

Meanwhile, a health official 

in remote Asmat district 

said the death toll from a 

measles outbreak and malnutrition 

since September 

has risen to 70 people. 

Hundreds of thousands 

of federal workers will 

be unable to report for 

work on Monday, as the 

US Senate struggles to 

end a government shutdown, 

reports BBC. 

Some will not be paid 

until the stalemate is 

resolved. A rare Sunday 

session of the Senate 

yielded no agreement 

between Democrats and 

Republicans, with 

immigration one of the 

main sticking points. 

Essential services will 

still run but famous 

sites such as the Statue 

of Liberty have already 

been affected. 

The monument was 

closed on Sunday but 

New York Governor 

Andrew Cuomo said he 

would dip into state 

funds to pay the daily 

employment bill and 

reopen the popular 

tourist site. 

It missed a deadline. At 

midnight on Friday, lawmakers 

failed to agree on 

a spending bill. The bill 

was not a plan for funding 

for the whole of 2018, 

but would have kept 

things running until the 

middle of next month. 

Democrats refused to 

back a temporary deal 

until their concerns on 

immigration reform were 

dealt with. 

Efforts to reach a compromise 

ahead of the 

working week failed late 

on Sunday. 

A vote to end the shutdown 

was postponed 

until midday (17:00 

GMT) on Monday, 

meaning many federal 

government offices will 

not open. Under Senate 

rules, the bill needs 60 

votes in the 100-member 

chamber. The 

Republicans currently 

have 51 senators, so 

they need some Democratic 

support to pass a 

budget. 

Democrats want President 

Trump to negotiate 

over immigration as part 

of a budget deal, but 

Republicans say no 

agreement is possible 

while federal government 

services are closed. 

Republicans want 

funding for border security 

- including a proposed 

border wall with 

Mexico - and immigration 

reforms, as well as 

increased military 

spending. It means no 

pay for those federal 

employees who are "furloughed" 

- on unpaid 

leave - even though 

their workplaces are not 

open. 

Most staff in the 

departments of housing, 

environment, education 

and commerce 

will be staying at home 

on Monday. 

Half of workers in the 

treasury, health, 

defence and transportation 

departments will 

also not be going to 

work. 

But essential services 

that protect "life or 

human property" will 

continue, including 

national security, postal 

Prison officers are blocking streets outside prisons in a call for tighter security. 

services, air traffic control, 

some medical services, 

disaster assistance, 

prisons, taxation and 

electricity generation. 

And the Trump 

administration said it 

planned to keep national 

parks open - their closure 

in the 2013 shutdown 

provoked an 

angry public reaction. 

The shutdown began on 

the first anniversary of 

President Trump's 

inauguration. His trip 

to the World Economic 

Forum in Davos, 

Switzerland, has also 

been called into question. 

It cost the government 

$2bn in lost productivity 

and led to "significant 

negative effects on the 

economy", the OMB 

said at the time. This is 

the first time a government 

shutdown has 

happened while one 

party, the Republicans, 

controls both Congress 

and the White House. 

Friday's vote fell 50-49, 

far short of the 60 needed 

to advance the bill. 

This is due to a number 

of key disagreements. 

Democrats have 

demanded protection 

from deportation of 

more than 700,000 

undocumented immigrants 

who entered the 

US as children. 

But Vice-President 

Mike Pence reiterated 

his party's stance in a 

speech to US troops in 

the Middle East on Sunday. 

French prison guards in nationwide 

strike after attacks 

A series of attacks 

against prison guards by 

inmates at institutions 

across France has led to 

a nationwide strike in 

the country, reports 

BBC. 

Unions have vowed a 

"total blockade" of prisons 

on Monday as their 

dispute with the government 

over safety 

improvements and wage 

rises enters its second 

week. 

France's Justice Minister 

Nicole Belloubet said 

she would meet union 

leaders to try to end the 

crisis. Last week, unions 

rejected government 

proposals to end the 

strikes. 

Guards at prisons 

across the country, 

including the high-security 

institutions Fleury- 

Mérogis and Fresnes 

prison outside Paris, are 

on Monday taking part 

in protests supported by 

France's CGT union, the 

Force Ouvrière (FO) 

union and the Ufap- 

Unsa Justice union. 

France's justice ministry 

has urged union 

representatives to 

"resume dialogue immediately", 

adding that it 

was the responsibility of 

all sides to ensure that 

prisons were functioning. 

The strike comes after 

a number of guards were 

injured in scuffles at several 

prisons. 

Last week, three officers 

were assaulted in an 

attack at Fresnes prison, 

which is situated south 

of Paris. On Sunday, two 

prison guards required 

hospital treatment after 

they were attacked at a 

detention centre at 

Longuenesse prison, 

near Calais, according to 

prison officials. 

"This is once again an 

attack on the staff, we 

cannot stand it anymore," 

spokesman for 

the Ufap-Unsa union, 

Yannick Lefebvre, said, 

adding: "It's a daily 

thing." 

The unions are taking 

further action after 

rejecting a draft agreement 

proposing the creation 

of 1,100 guard jobs 

over four years. 

Currently, the prison 

service employs 28,000 

guards in 188 establishments 

holding about 

78,000 prisoners, 

according to AFP news 

agency. 

Photo: Internet

ART & CULTURE 

TUeSDAY, 

JANUArY 23, 2018 

8 

Welcome To New York trailer: Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi 

Sinha, Karan Johar's confused event of the year 

The trailer of multi-starrer 

Welcome To New York has 

been released and it seems to 

be about a big Bollywood 

event hosted by Riteish 

Deshmukh and Karan Johar, 

reports Hindustan times. 

But that's not all, because 

Karan Johar will be seen in a 

double role and the other 

character will go by the name 

Arjun. Karan-Arjun? Got the 

drift? 

It's about an unlikely couple, 

Hero (Diljit Dosanjh) and 

Jeenal Patel (Sonakshi 

Sinha). While Diljit is a sloppy 

recovery agent, Sonakshi is a 

fashion designer. 

Somehow, they become a 

part of a big Bollywood event 

that is to take place in New 

York. 

Weeklong 'Madhu Mela' 

inaugurated in Jessore 

A weeklong 'Madhu Mela' in celebration of 

the 194th birth anniversary of poet 

Michael Madhusudan Dutta was 

inaugurated at Sagordari in Keshabpur 

Upazila of the district recently. 

District and upazila administration in 

association with the cultural affair 

ministry jointly organised the fair to mark 

the birth anniversary of the poet. The 

Mela will continue till January 26. 

Local Government, Rural development 

and Co-operatives Minister Khandaker 

Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated the 

Madhu Mela as the chief guest while State 

Minister for Public Administration Ismat 

Ara Sadique, Advocate Monorul Islam 

Monir MP, Zila Parishad Chairman 

Saifuzzaman Pikul, Police Super 

Mohammad Anisur Rahman, district 

Awami League president Shahidul Islam 

Milon, Keshabpur Upazila Parishad 

Chairman HM Amir Hossen, Press Club 

Jessore President Zahid Hasan Tokon, 

Keshabpur Municipality Mayor Rafiqul 

Islam were present as special guests. 

Dad always wanted 

her to be a writer, 

Twinkle 

Twinkle Khanna said through a tweet that her father 

Rajesh Khanna always wanted her to write, reports 

Hindustan Times. 

Twinkle Khanna is now popular among fans for 

her books and satirical columns and she says her 

father always knew about her hidden talent. 

The 43-year-old star, who became India's 

highest-selling female writer of 2015 with her book 

Mrs Funnybones, says her actor father Rajesh 

Khanna always wanted her to write." Dad always 

said I should be a writer -- was proud of my 

maggot filled poetry -- would've been beaming that 

I got that paper in my hand eventually," Twinkle 

posted on Twitter on, while sharing an articles on 

her. 

It has been more than 16 years since Twinkle has 

appeared in any film, she was last seen on the big 

screen in the movie Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. 

H o roScope 

ArIeS 

(March 21 - April 20): No 

matter how negative certain 

people may be you must be 

positive each and every day. 

The fact is there are so many good things 

going on in your life, so you have no 

right to be unhappy. Count your 

blessings - there are so many of them. 

LIBrA 

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): At 

some stage over the next 

few days you will see or 

hear something that makes 

you view the world in a new light. A 

change of perspective will lead to new 

ways of thinking, ways that answer all 

the questions you have been asking. 

Three Billboards 

triumphs at Screen 

Actors Guild awards 

Black comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri scooped the top prize 

at the Screen Actors Guild awards, reports BBC. 

The film about a bereaved mother's fight for justice picked up the prestigious 

outstanding cast in a film prize at Sunday's ceremony. 

It also collected two acting honours for Frances McDormand and Sam 

Rockwell. British star Gary Oldman, hotly tipped for an Oscar for his turn as 

Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, picked up the best actor prize. 

Media captionWilliam H Macy: "It's hard to be a man these days" Oldman 

fought back tears and called the award "a tremendous honour". 

Speaking backstage, he sounded philosophical about his success, saying: "So 

my feeling is: enjoy the moment in the sun, it will eclipse, it always does, and it 

will be someone else standing up here next year. I'm enjoying it." 

The ceremony was dominated by support for the fight against sexual 

misconduct in Hollywood, with several speeches about female empowerment. 

Rosanna Arquette, one of the actresses to allege she was harassed by producer 

Harvey Weinstein, was applauded on stage at the ceremony as she presented an 

award, accompanied by Marisa Tomei. 

TAUrUS 

(April 21 - May 21): The 

obstacles you face at the 

moment may be daunting 

but you have what it takes 

to overcome them. Don't try to avoid 

what fate sends your way over the next 

few days - it is designed to strengthen 

you, not destroy you. 

GeMINI 

(May 22 - June 21): There 

may be times when you 

would like nothing better 

than to cut yourself off 

from the world at large but that simply 

isn't possible. Make the best job of 

what you are expected to do and try to 

steal a few hours for yourself later on. 

cANcer 

(June 22 - July 23): Some 

things are important and 

some things are not and if 

you don't yet know the 

difference then it's time you found out. 

This should be a productive time for 

you but you need to learn how to say 

"no" when people ask you for favours. 

Leo 

(July 24 - Aug. 23): If you 

are not yet getting the 

rewards and the respect you 

deserve don't worry, in a 

matter of days your name will be on 

everybody's lips. The sun in Aries makes 

you both creative and adventurous, so 

do something out of the ordinary. 

VIrGo 

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): You may 

be tempted to go on a 

journey today but the planets 

warn it could lead you in 

some unforeseen directions, so make 

sure you take a map and don't promise 

to be at a certain place at a specific time 

- because you won't make it. 

ScorpIo 

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): Find 

out why a partner or loved 

one is behaving so 

erratically, then do what 

you can to assist them. Most likely 

their problems are nowhere near as big 

as they think they are and can quite 

easily be corrected - as can your own! 

SAGITTArIUS 

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Yours is 

a sign of boundless selfconfidence 

and that's good 

because you will need it 

over the next few days. If you are not 

happy in your current environment 

don't be afraid to pack a bag and take 

off for a few days. 

cAprIcorN 

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): You seem 

to lack purpose at the 

moment but that will change 

if you look for ways to express 

yourself. Whatever challenges come your 

way, and there will be plenty, see them as 

opportunities to be embraced rather than 

as threats to be avoided. 

AQUArIUS 

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): Stay calm 

and keep setbacks in 

perspective. If you can learn 

to take yourself a bit less 

seriously over the coming week then your 

problems, such as they are, will fade into 

insignificance. Rest assured your successes 

will always outnumber your failures. 

pISceS 

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): It does 

not matter if other people 

approve of what you are 

doing, it matters only that 

it means something to you. The very 

last thing you should be doing now is 

asking friends and family for their 

opinions - it's your views that count. 

Bhavana ties the knot with Naveen; see all photos, 

videos from their wedding and reception 

Malayalam actor Bhavana 

entered the wedlock with her 

boyfriend Naveen on Monday 

morning in a temple wedding at 

Thrissur. Her Kerala style 

wedding was a simple and quick 

one in the presence of close 

family members and friends. It is 

the first big celebrity wedding of 

the year in the South Indian film 

industry, reports Indian Express. 

After tying the knot, the 

couple, in a quick address to the 

media, thanked everyone for 

their wishes. Bhavana has been 

dating Naveen, a popular film 

producer in Kannada, for several 

years now. 

Newly wed Bhavana's besties 

Navya Nair and Manju Warrier 

were spotted at the wedding 

reception. 

Others seen at Bhavana's 

special day by her side were 

Remya Nambeesan, Shritha 

SIvadas, Shafna, Sayanora and 

Mridula Murali. 

The couple in last March took 

their relationship to the next 

level by exchanging the rings at a 

hush-hush event. A picture of the 

couple from the private 

ceremony was leaked online and 

went viral, spreading the news 

about their engagement like 

wildfire.

SPORTS 

9 

TUESDAy, JANUARy 23, 2018 

England win over Australia in ODI their best to date, says captain Eoin Morgan. 

More batting 

woes for 

Pakistan in 

T20 against 

New Zealand 

W E L L I N G T O N : 

Pakistan's batting woes 

continued Monday in the 

first Twenty20 against 

New Zealand in 

Wellington as they 

bundled out for 105, 

reports BSS. 

Only Babar Khan and 

Hasan Ali, in a 30-run 

partnership for the eighth 

wicket, reached double 

figures. 

Babar was the last man 

out for 41, with two balls 

remaining in the innings, 

while Hasan (23) 

distinguished himself with 

a huge six to see Pakistan 

pass their lowest 

Twenty20 score of 74 set 

against Australia six years 

ago. 

Before the late charge by 

Babar and Hasan, 

Pakistan had again been 

let down by their 

recognised batsmen, just 

as they were when losing 

all five one-day 

internationals against New 

Zealand. 

The tourists had hoped 

the change of format 

would bring a change of 

fortune but they were in 

trouble in the second over 

when Tim Southee, 

standing in as captain for 

the injured Kane 

Williamson, removed 

Fakhar Zaman for three. 

Fakhar's opening 

partner Umar Amin faced 

seven balls before he was 

captured by Seth Rance 

without scoring. 

Mohammad Nawaz, a 

regular tail-ender who 

never faced a ball in his 

previous seven matches, 

was promoted up the 

order to replace Fakhar 

and was dropped by Ross 

Taylor on the first ball he 

faced. 

He managed to get off 

the mark in the following 

over but only lasted nine 

balls before he became 

Southee's second victim 

and was gone for seven. 

Anaru Kitchen 

dismissed Haris Sohail for 

nine and Pakistan were 

four for 22 in the sixth 

over. 

Southee finished with 

the best New Zealand 

figures of three for 13 

while Seth Rance took 

three for 26. 

Jimmy Armfield: Blackpool and England legend dies at the age of 82. 

Photo: BBC. 

Dimitrov changing 

gears for summit 

ride at Open 

MELBOURNE: Grigor Dimitrov says his 

ability to change gears in his crunch win over 

Nick Kyrgios has given him the impetus to go 

even further at this year's Australian Open, 

reports BSS. 

The Bulgarian world No.3 admits he was 

struggling in the early rounds but he was 

outstanding in a high quality four-set win 

over the mercurial Australian before a 

roaring full house on Rod Laver Arena 

Sunday. 

Dimitrov, yet to go beyond the semi-finals 

at a Grand Slam, has a quarter-final with 

British 49th-ranked Kyle Edmund on 

Tuesday and a potential semi-final with 16- 

time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. 

He said what came out of his high-pressure 

win over Kyrgios was his ability to up gears 

through a major tournament. 

"I learned that I can switch to another gear 

when I really need it," Dimitrov said. "I think 

this is something that I have been obviously 

struggling with in this tournament. 

"The first three rounds I was not striking 

the ball well. I know that, but I was still 

clutch (able to succeed) on the important 

moments, which was good." 

Dimitrov, under Andy Murray's former 

coach Dani Vailverdu, said he was able to 

raise his level against the unpredictable 

Kyrgios. 

"I was just able to lift my game completely, 

having a high percentage in the first serve, 

high percentage on the return, counting a 

little bit more on my strongest weapons," he 

said. "That was a good step forward for me." 

Dimitrov lost to Nadal over five sets in last 

year's semi-final and he is heading in the 

same direction again this year. 

"You're entering into a stage of a 

tournament where all these matches matter 

a lot more to all of us," he said. 

"I think especially when you have a long 

tournament, it's important after certain 

rounds to reassess your game a little bit. 

"You reassess your behaviour and kind of 

find a way to do something better, to change 

something in order for you to be better." 

Dimitrov said he now planned to just "live 

in the moment". 

"You never know how many times you're 

going to be able to come out on Rod Laver 

Arena and just play," he said. "That itself 

gives me the motivation and that kind of 

kick, hey, man, like, you're here now. Just 

play." 

Wozniacki, Svitolina aim for 

semis showdown at Open 

MELBOURNE: In-form duo 

Caroline Wozniacki and 

Elina Svitolina step up their 

quest for a first Grand Slam 

title aiming to avoid potential 

banana skins in the 

Australian Open quarterfinals 

Tuesday, reports BSS. 

Second seed Wozniacki 

reached eight finals in 2017, 

winning twice, while fourthranked 

Svitolina won five 

WTA titles. They are on 

collision course for an 

expected semi-final 

showdown at Melbourne 

Park. 

Wozniacki routed 19th 

seed Magdalena Rybarikova 

6-3, 6-0 in round four and 

faces a familiar foe in Carla 

Suarez Navarro, whose two 

wins in seven career 

meetings with the Dane have 

both been on the Spaniard's 

favoured clay. 

"Obviously hard courts are 

a little different," said 

Wozniacki. 

"But we've had a lot of 

tough encounters on hard 

courts as well. Three-set 

gruelling matches. I'm 

expecting a tough fight." 

Svitolina, who won the 

Brisbane International to 

kick off her season, is on a 

nine-match win streak this 

year and also faces an 

unseeded opponent in 

Belgium's Elise Mertens. 

The world number 37 has 

similarly enjoyed an 

unbeaten start to 2018, 

winning the warm-up 

Hobart International, and 

Svitolina is not surprised to 

meet her in the last eight. 

"She was playing great 

tennis, and, you know, she 

can produce really good and 

high-level tennis," said the 

world number four after 

storming past qualifier 

Denisa Allertova 6-3, 6-0 in 

57 minutes in the last round. 

"You know, she's been 

playing well, definitely. I 

didn't see so many of her 

matches here, but if she's in 

quarter-finals, definitely she 

deserves to be there. There is 

no easy ways to get into a 

quarter-final." 

Wozniacki is wary of the 

guile of the gritty 29-year-old 

Suarez Navarro who 

possesses one of the few onehanded 

backhands in the 

women's game and models it 

on former great Justine 

Henin. 

The Dane has been in 10 

previous Australian Opens 

but has rarely lived up to the 

hype, only reaching the semifinal 

once in 2011. 

Wozniacki is clearly a fan 

of the diminutive 29-yearold 

Spaniard, the shortest 

player left in the draw at just 

5ft 4in (1.62m). 

"She's really a great person, 

one of those girls you like to 

see around," said the Dane. 

"She's also a great player. It's 

a very good combination." 

Suarez Navarro, who is 

currently without a coach 

after splitting with long-time 

mentor Xavier Budo last 

July, ended 2017 ranked 40, 

the first year she has finished 

outside the top 20 since 

2012. She will be in her sixth 

Grand Slam quarter-final 

after a fighting 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 

win over Anett Kontaveit in 

the fourth round. 

Photo: BBC. 

Celtic in pole position as 

Scottish Premiership returns 

GLASGOW, Jan 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) - 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers 

believes his side are in even better 

shape than they were during last year's 

record-breaking season as the Scottish 

Premiership resumes following the 

winter break. 

The Hoops manager handed out the 

ominous warning even though his side 

have already dropped more points in 

the league than they did during the 

whole of the last campaign and have 

failed so far to significantly strengthen 

in the January transfer window. 

"Looking at the team out in Dubai 

last week, I was much happier with 

where we are in this moment than 

where we were last year," the Northern 

Irishman said following his side's 

winter training camp. 

"I know we're better. Sometimes you 

may not have the points to show it. It's 

all about perception and my 

perception is that the team is 

developing really well." 

The Glasgow giants, who saw off 

Championship side Brechin 5-0 in 

Saturday's Scottish Cup tie, will 

resume league duty against Partick 

Thistle on Tuesday in their familiar 

position at the top of the table with an 

eight-point lead over Aberdeen. 

However, there were signs last 

month of the Scottish champions' 

vulnerability as their 69-match 

unbeaten domestic run came to an end 

at the hands of Hearts while there were 

draws with Hibernian and Old Firm 

foes Rangers. 

Rodgers had said there would be a 

revolving door at Celtic Park in 

January as he looked to boost his tiring 

squad for their Europa League and 

domestic campaigns. 

But the predicted flurry of activity 

has not materialised, with only Marvin 

Compper and Lewis Morgan signed. 

Injury will deny the Hoops German 

international Compper's services for 

another month while Morgan has been 

loaned back to St Mirren until the end 

of the season. 

Such has been the dominance of 

Celtic in recent years many would 

argue they do not need a large influx of 

new arrivals to retain the treble they 

won last season. 

"Rangers dip into transfer market - 

However, their lack of transfer 

activity is in contrast with rivals 

Rangers, who have been swelling 

their ranks with a number of loan 

signings. 

Scottish trio Jamie Murphy, Russell 

Matthew Cross' century steers Scotland to victory over UAE. 

Martin and Jason Cummings arrived 

from their English clubs while 

midfielder Sean Goss signed from 

Queens Park Rangers as manager 

Graeme Murty attempts to put his own 

stamp on the club. 

The Ibrox club, who also recalled 

Andy Halliday and Michael O'Halloran 

from their loan deals, enjoyed a 

productive winter break as they 

recorded wins over Brazilian sides 

Atletico Mineiro and Corinthians in 

the Florida Cup. 

The postponement of Sunday's 

Scottish Cup fixture against 

Fraserburgh means the new players 

will get their first taste of competitive 

action in a fiery fixture against 

Aberdeen at Ibrox on Wednesday. 

It will be the first time the sides have 

met since Dons boss Derek McInnes 

turned down the chance to take over at 

Ibrox last month and a win for Rangers 

would see them leapfrog Aberdeen 

into second place. 

The Dons lost back-to-back matches 

against Rangers at the tail end of last 

year but the visitors have been boosted 

by the return of Northern Irish winger 

Niall McGinn to the club while 

midfielder Chidi Nwakali signed on 

loan from Manchester City. 

Berdych powers into the Open 

quarters for seventh time 

MELBOURNE: Tomas Berdych 

powered past Fabio Fognini in 

straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals 

of the Australian Open on 

Monday for a seventh time, reports 

BSS. 

The Czech, seeded 19 and a two-time 

semi-finalist in Melbourne, downed 

the 25th seeded Italian 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 

2hr 8min on Margaret Court Arena 

and will face either Roger Federer or 

Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in the 

last eight. 

It will be his seventh quarter-final in 

his 15th Australian Open appearance 

and opens up the possibility of a 26th 

encounter with Federer. 

"I like your optimism," Berdych 

smiled when asked on court about the 

prospect of facing the Swiss ace yet 

again. 

"What to say? How many times is it 

going to be? So let's see who's going to 

win. I have no choice to choose the 

opponent and may the better man 

win," Berdych said. 

"I am going to get myself ready, it's 

all I can do, and prepare the best I can. 

So far I think I've done pretty well, I'm 

feeling good, healthy, so I feel I am on 

the best base line I can be." 

Federer leads the big-serving Czech 

19-6 in their matches going back to 

2004 at the Athens Olympics. 

Berdych was in little trouble against 

the maverick Fognini, breaking the 

Italian's serve six times, hitting 37 

winners and offset with 20 unforced 

errors. 

"He's a very tough opponent, you 

especially have to stay very focused 

from the first point to the last because 

you never know what's going to come 

up," Berdych said. 

"He can always come up from the 

back of the court with amazing shots 

and turn the match around so being 

focused was the best thing I could 

have done today." 

Berdych went into the match 

holding the record for the most 

number of Australian Open round of 

16 appearances by a Czech man with 

10 ahead of Ivan Lendl's eight. 

He improved his record to 44-14 at 

the Australian Open, representing his 

most successful major tournament in 

terms of matches won and quarterfinals 

reached. 

Berdych has reached the semi-finals 

twice in Melbourne, losing to Stan 

Wawrinka in 2014 and against Andy 

Murray the following year. 

Photo: BBC. 

Magic stun Celtics, Pacers stop spurs 

WASHINGTON: The 

Orlando Magic parlayed a 

big third quarter into a 

103-95 upset of the 

Boston Celtics on Sunday, 

their third win in 20 

games coming against the 

NBA's 

Eastern 

Conference leaders, 

reports BSS. 

Elfrid Payton scored 22 

points for the Magic, who 

had lost their last 14 

games in Boston in a skid 

stretching back to 

February 2010. 

"It feels good to get a 

win, especially after 

playing well," Payton 

said. "We felt we played 

well against the Cavaliers 

and didn't come out with 

the victory. So to get the 

win today feels good." 

Orlando spoiled the 

return from injury of 

Boston point guard Kyrie 

Irving, whose 40 points 

couldn't prevent the 

Celtics from dropping a 

third straight game for 

the first time this season. 

Irving had missed 

Thursday's loss to the 

Philadelphia 76ers with a 

nagging shoulder injury. 

Jaylen Brown scored 17 

points and Marcus Morris 

finished with 12 to score 

in double figures for the 

fourth consecutive game 

for the Celtics. 

"We haven't played 

consistently on both ends 

for a while now," Celtics 

coach Brad Stevens said. 

"I felt like they were 

shooting layups for the 

most part tonight." 

Evan Fournier scored 

19 points and Aaron 

Gordon produced a 

double-double of 11 

points and 12 rebounds 

for the Magic, who 

started the day in a threeway 

tie for the worst 

record in the league. 

Orlando trailed 59-58 

at halftime, but outscored 

the Celtics 32-12 

in the third quarter to 

take a 90-71 lead into the 

final frame. 

The Magic's upset bid 

appeared to be coming 

unstuck as they made just 

one of their first 16 shot 

attempts of the fourth 

quarter. 

The Celtics trimmed the 

deficit to seven points on 

Al Horford's hook shot 

with 1:13 remaining. 

A free-throw from 

Payton and Fournier's 

floater in the final minute 

stretched Orlando's lead 

back to 10. 

Elsewhere, Victor 

Oladipo delivered 19 

points as the Indiana 

Pacers ended the San 

Antonio Spurs 14-game 

winning streak at home 

with a 94-86 victory. 

Darren Collison tallied 

15 points for the Pacers, 

who halted a three-game 

losing streak in San 

Antonio. 

The Spurs lost at home 

for the third time this 

season and the first since 

November 10 against 

Milwaukee. 

Pau Gasol had 14 points 

to lead the Spurs who 

were minus Manu 

Ginobili, Rudy Gay and 

Kawhi Leonard because 

of injuries. 

Tony Parker came off 

the bench to record 12 

points and five assists. It 

marked just the 14th time 

in 1,165 games that 

Parker has come into the 

game off the bench. 

In Los Angeles, Jordan 

Clarkson had 29 points 

and 10 assists, Julius 

Randle added 27 points 

and 12 rebounds, and the 

Los Angeles Lakers beat 

the New York Knicks 127- 

107. 

Kyle Kuzma added 15 

points for the Lakers, 

who have won their six of 

their last eight games and 

the last two without 

injured rookie Lonzo 

Ball.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS 

TUESDAy, 

THE 

BANGLADESHTODAY 

10 

JANUARy 23, 2018 

Qatari delegation to 

visit Kuwait to enhance 

trade relations 

Annual Managers' Conference -2018 of Northern General Insurance Co. Ltd. has recently held at Hotel Cox Today, Cox's Bazar. 

Engineer Abdul Matin, Chairman presided over the conference. Hon'ble Director & Chairman, S. Alam Group Alhaj 

Mohammed Saiful Alam. KDS Group Chairman Khalilur Rahman. M A Maleque, Alhaj Abdus Samad, Nasir Uddin, Ms. 

Thamina Rahman, Md. Mortuza Siddique Chowdhury, Prof. Dr. Zainab Begum, Barrister Faysal Ahmed Patwary, CEO Abdul 

Haque FCA, Company Secretary Sujit Kumar Dey FCA, Senior Executives of Head Office & Branch In-charges of the Company 

were present. Branch Managers were advised to enhance business through better Customer Services to uplift company's 

growth. 

Photo: Courtesy 

US economy is perhaps the best 

it has ever been: Trump 

The US economy is 

perhaps the best it has ever 

been and the country is doing 

really well, President Donald 

Trump has said. 

Trump was speaking on 

the eve of the first 

anniversary of him becoming 

the President of the US. 

"Tomorrow will mark 

exactly one year since I took 

the oath of office. And I will 

say, our country is doing 

really well. Our economy is 

perhaps the best it's ever 

been," Trump said in his 

address to March for Life 

Participants at the National 

Mall through live video 

address from his Rose 

Garden at the White House. 

On June 20 last year, 

Trump, 71, was sworn in as 

the 45th President of the US. 

He succeeded Barack Obama 

in the White House. 

Throughout the first year 

of his presidency, Trump's 

popularity and approval 

rating have hovered in 30s. 

Unmindful of such polls, 

which he has always 

doubted, Trump asserted 

that his policies are working 

for the better. 

"You look at the job 

numbers; you look at the 

companies pouring back into 

our country; you look at the 

stock market at an all-time 

high; unemployment, 17- 

year low," he said. 

"Unemployment for 

African American workers, at 

the lowest mark in the 

history of our country. 

Unemployment for Hispanic, 

at a record low in history. 

Unemployment for women, 

think of this, at an 18-year 

low. We're really proud of 

what we're doing," he said. 

Trump said during his first 

week in office, he reinstated a 

policy first put in place by 

President Ronald Reagan, 

the Mexico City policy. 

"I strongly supported the 

House of Representative's 

Pain-Capable bill, which 

would end painful, late-term 

abortions nationwide," he 

said and called upon the 

Senate to pass this important 

law and send it to my desk for 

signing. 

On the National Day of 

Prayer, Trump said he signed 

an executive order to protect 

religious liberty. 

"Today, I'm announcing 

that we have just issued a 

new proposal to protect 

conscience rights and 

religious freedoms of 

doctors, nurses, and other 

medical professionals. So 

important," he said amidst 

applause from the select 

audience in the Rose 

Gardens. 

Thousands of people 

listened his speech at the 

National Mall on a giant 

screen. 

"I have also just reversed 

the previous administration's 

policy that restricted states' 

efforts to direct Medicaid 

funding away from abortion 

facilities that violate the law," 

he said. 

"We are protecting the 

sanctity of life and the family 

as the foundation of our 

society. But this movement 

can only succeed with the 

heart and the soul and the 

prayer of the people," the 

President said. 

Trump said Americans are 

more and more pro-life. 

"You see that all the time. 

In fact, only 12 per cent of 

Americans support abortion 

on demand at any time. 

Under my administration, 

we will always defend the 

very first right in the 

Declaration 

of 

Independence, and that is 

the right to life," he added. 

In his remarks, Vice 

President Mike Pence said 

that Trump is the most prolife 

president ever in 

American history. 

"From preventing taxpayer 

dollars from funding 

abortion overseas to 

empowering states to respect 

life and Title X, to 

nominating judges who will 

uphold our God-given 

liberties enshrined in the 

Constitution of the United 

States," he said. 

China approves 

five IPO 

applications 

The Chinese securities 

regulator Friday approved 

five new IPO applications, 

which will raise up to 6.7 

billion yuan (about 1.04 

billion U.S. dollars) in the A- 

share market. 

Three companies will be 

listed on the Shanghai Stock 

Exchange and two will be 

listed on the ChiNext, a 

NASDAQ-style board, 

according to the China 

Securities Regulatory 

Commission. 

The firms and their 

underwriters will confirm 

dates and publish 

prospectuses following 

discussions with the 

exchanges. 

A delegation of Qatari businessmen will 

visit Kuwait to boost bilateral trade ties, 

Qatar News Agency reported Sunday. 

A statement of Qatar Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry (QCCI) said that a 

group of 55 Qatari businessmen led by 

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem bin Mohammed 

Al-Thani, the QCCI chairman, will travel to 

Kuwait on Tuesday. 

The two-day visit will aim to discuss 

means of boosting trade relations, as well 

as establishing a forum for business in the 

two countries, the statement said. 

"This visit reflects the deep and robust 

relations between both countries. It aims 

to review and enhance cooperation ties 

Saudi Arabia's Energy 

Minister Khaled al-Faleh on 

Sunday called for extending 

cooperation between OPEC 

and non-OPEC oil producers 

beyond 2018 after a deal to 

shore up crude prices. 

"We should not limit our 

efforts to 2018. We need to be 

talking about a longer 

framework for our 

cooperation," Faleh said before 

a meeting between OPEC and 

non-OPEC countries in 

Muscat. 

This is the first time OPEC 

kingpin Saudi Arabia explicitly 

calls for extending a 2016 deal 

between oil producers to cut 

back production to combat a 

global oil glut. 

OPEC and non-OPEC 

countries signed a landmark 

agreement in November 2016 

to cut output by 1.8 million 

barrels per day to fight huge 

oversupply and lift sagging 

crude prices. 

That deal was initially for six 

months, but the 14-member 

cartel and 10 independent 

producers have since extended 

it until the end of this year. 

"I am talking about 

extending the framework that 

we started -- which is the 

declaration of cooperation -- 

beyond 2018," Faleh told 

reporters. 

But Faleh said the new 

framework for cooperation 

might differ from the current 

agreement and its production 

quotas. 

among businessmen," Al-Thani said. 

Al-Thani also praised Kuwait's leading 

role in resolving the latest Gulf 

Cooperation Council crisis, in addition to 

supplying the Qatari market with products 

and commodities since the beginning of 

the embargo. 

On June 5 last year, the quartet of Saudi 

Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates 

and Egypt severed ties with Qatar, accusing 

it of backing extremism and fostering links 

with their Shiite rival Iran. Doha, however, 

vehemently denies the claims. 

The Saudi-led bloc boycotting Doha also 

has issued a list of demands to lift the 

blockade, which was rejected by Doha. 

Saudi Arabia calls for extending 

non-OPEC cooperation 

"It does not necessarily mean 

sticking barrel by barrel" to the 

same agreement, which has 

helped a healthy rebound in oil 

prices to around $70 a barrel. 

It would mean "assuring 

stakeholders, investors, 

consumers and the global 

community that (the 

agreement) is here to stay". 

It would send the message 

that "we are going to work 

together not only with the 24 

countries, but inviting more 

and more participants," he 

said. 

Faleh said oil producers have 

not yet achieved their target of 

reducing world stocks to 

normal levels and striking a 

balance between supply and 

demand. 

Huge customers' flow 

at Walton Pavilion 

A good number of buyers 

and visitors are thronging 

the Walton Pavilion at the 

ongoing month-long Dhaka 

International Trade Fair 

(DITF)-2018 at Sher-e- 

Bangla Nagar in the capital 

to pick up their desired 

appliances from wide ranges 

of electronics, electrical, 

home and kitchen 

appliances of Walton, says a 

press release. 

The experienced sales 

executives of the pavilion are 

also dealing with the huge 

customers' flow more 

professionally and helping 

the buyers picking up the 

best appliances at affordable 

rates. During several visits 

to the DITF-18, it was found 

that a large number of 

buyers and visitors were 

thronging the Walton 

Pavilion every day. The local 

brand is also experiencing 

an upward trend in the 

number of visitors and 

buyers at the pavilion 

following the pass of the 

days of the country's largest 

international exhibition. It 

was seen that most of the 

fair's visitors entered into 

the Walton pavilion for at 

least once to know about 

what kinds of appliances, 

including new models, are 

showcasing the local brand. 

Dwelling on the visit to 

Walton Pavilion, a buyer 

and housewife Shammee 

Akhter said, "A lot of 

products, specially new 

models, are usually 

showcased and sold out at 

the DITF. I visited every 

pavilions and stalls of both 

the local and the 

international electronics 

brands and also found that 

the local brand Walton was 

showcasing highest models 

of different sorts of 

appliances. Prices of Walton 

brand appliances are 

comparatively reasonable. 

Although I entered into 

Walton Pavilion to just visit, 

I purchased some sorts of 

home and kitchen 

appliances getting cheap 

rates of the items." 

Md Humayun Kabir, 

executive director and the 

operating officer of the 

pavilion, said, "Along with 

the consumer goods, this 

year they are displaying and 

selling out various sorts of 

industrial solutions like 

LGP, LDP, master batch, 

aluminum foil tape, various 

sorts of plastic and still 

components as fresh 

products. These products 

are the basic raw materials 

of various sorts of 

electronics and electrical 

appliances. Walton is now 

manufacturing these 

products at its own factory. 

After meeting the internal 

demands, Walton has 

planned to sell out these 

industrial solutions at home 

and abroad." Pointing at the 

sales of this DITF, he termed 

the overall sales at the 

pavilion as satisfactory. 

Shah Shahid Chowdhury, 

convener of Walton Pavilion 

at DITF-18, said, they are 

displaying more than 700 

models of appliances in 

accordance with the 

demands, tastes and 

purchasing power capacity 

of the local buyers. Of them, 

more than 100 models of 

appliances are fresh. 

He noted that they are 

displaying and selling out 

total of 44 new models 

fridges, including IoT 

technology based smart 

refrigerator, 21 models of 

frost and 9 models of nonfrost 

refrigerators, 8 models 

of tempered glass door 

refrigerators and 6 models 

of freezers. 

In addition, he said IoT 

technology based smart ACs 

as well as ionizer 

technology's ACs have been 

showcasing and selling out 

as new models of Walton 

ACs at the pavilion. 

Among the new models of 

appliances, there are also 

next generation quantum 

dot plus technology's 

Spectra Q- TV, some smart 

and LED televisions, 15.6 

inch display's 7th generation 

laptops powered by Core-i 5 

processor at the Walton 

Pavilion. 

Md. Shafiqul Alam, incharge 

of Walton Pavilion, 

said, customers' flow at their 

pavilion are comparatively 

higher than the other 

participated electronics 

brands of the DITF. And, the 

overall sales are sound till 

today, saying it he hoped 

that the sales will be 

increased by manifolds at 

the end of the fair. 

At the ground floor of the 

pavilion. there are 21 models 

of freezer, 31 models of nonfrost 

refrigerator and 86 

models of frost refrigerator, 

103 models of LED 

television, 2 models of Ultra- 

HD television, 23 models of 

air conditioner, 24 models of 

rice cooker, 5 models of 

kitchen cookware, 13 models 

of iron, 6 models of IPS, 10 

models of auto voltage 

stabilizer, 6 models of fan 

and LED bulb, few models of 

oven, induction cooker, hair 

dryer, air cooler, washing 

machine, rechargeable and 

portable lamp, juicer, multicooker, 

toaster, gas stove 

and water dispenser. 

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice-Chancellor, BUET inaugurated BUET Annual Sports Competition-2018 

on Thursday (18 January, 2018) at the university play ground. Among others: Prof. Dr. Satya Prasad 

Majumder, Director, Directorate of Students' Welfare and Chairman of BUET Athletic Club, Prof. 

Dr. Quazi Deen Mohd. Khosru, Advisor BUET Athletics, other advisors of BUET Athletic Club, 

Provosts and Assistant Provosts of different residential halls and Mr. Maqsudur Rahman, Dy 

Director, Physical Education Dept. & member Scy of BUET Athletic Club were present on the occasion. 

Photo: Courtesy 

China's food delivery 

market grows 23 pct 

in 2017 

China's food delivery 

market registered fast 

growth last year as young 

Chinese are increasingly 

choosing to order food 

online, a report showed. 

The online food delivery 

market hit 204.6 billion 

yuan (about 31.9 billion U.S. 

dollars) in 2017, 23 percent 

more than the previous year, 

according to a report by 

Meituan Waimai, a major 

food delivery firm. 

Almost 300 million users 

have used online services to 

order food, the report 

showed. 

Young people were among 

the most active users, 

according to Jiang Junxian, 

director of the China Cuisine 

Association (CCA). 

According to Jiang, while 

the online food delivery 

market has seen rapid 

expansion, there is still room 

for businesses to grow as 

food delivery accounts for a 

relatively small portion of 

the total catering industry. 

Motor City not just for cars: Detroit 

boasts world's 1st sneaker exchange 

Detroit remains 

synonymous with cars, but 

"Motor City" is also home to 

a virtual marketplace for a 

much smaller consumer 

item: sneakers. 

Located on the 10th floor 

of an ultra-modern building 

in downtown Detroit and 

backed by investors that 

include the rapper Eminem 

and actor Mark Wahlberg, 

StockX is an exchange to buy 

and sell athletic shoes, 

including limited-editions or 

collector's items. 

As with other trading 

floors, prices on the world's 

first sneaker exchange 

fluctuate based on consumer 

perceptions, and can sell for 

hundreds or thousands of 

dollars. 

Instead of poring over the 

utterances of central 

bankers, participants on 

StockX -- which has 

expanded into handbags, 

watches and streetwear -- 

monitor Instagram to see 

what Hermes bag Kim 

Kardashian is carrying or 

what is on Kanye West's feet. 

The market's main floor 

has a display of Air Jordans 

and shoes by Nike, Adidas 

and other brands in a variety 

of colors. All have been 

verified by the exchange for 

authenticity. 

A few feet away, a team of 

young women inspect 

handbags by Chanel, Louis 

Vuitton and Hermes. 

"StockX is a stock market 

of things," said founder and 

chief executive Josh Luber. 

"We just connect buyers 

and sellers but the method 

by how we connect buyers 

and sellers is exactly the 

same way that the world's 

stock markets connect 

buyers and sellers." 

Not unlike Nasdaq, the 

electronic exchange located 

at Times Square in 

Manhattan, StockX has a 

scrolling display that 

updates prices with each 

new transaction. 

On a recent wintry 

morning in early January, 

an order of the Air Jordan 10 

Retro Drake OvoWhite went 

for $400. 

Eminem also has 

conducted business on the 

exchange, selling a rerelease 

of the limited-edition 

Air Jordan 4 Encore. The 

offering was part of a 

fundraising drive for Detroit 

communities that raised 

more than $200,000. 

Although most 

participants are in the US, 

the virtual exchange, which 

opened two years ago, also 

has a solid clientele in 

China. 

StockX tracks different 

"sectorals," such as the 

"Jordan Index," the "Nike 

Index" or the "Adidas 

Index," which aggregate 

prices for various items.

MISCELLANEOUS 

11 

TUeSDAY, JANUArY 23, 2018 

India, Pakistan continue trading 

fire and blame in Kashmir 

Indian and Pakistani soldiers 

again targeted each other's posts 

and villages along their volatile 

frontier in disputed Kashmir after 

a day's lull, killing at least one 

civilian and wounding three 

others, officials said Monday, 

reports CNN. 

Fighting erupted overnight as the 

rivals traded gunfire and shelling 

until dawn Monday, leaving a 

civilian dead and three others 

injured on the Indian side. 

The two sides resumed 

intermittent fighting at several 

places later Monday, officials said. 

The recent flare-up has left 13 

civilians and nine soldiers dead and 

dozens injured on the two sides. 

The fighting also has caused 

extensive damage and sent tens of 

thousands of residents fleeing from 

their border homes. Pakistan did not 

immediately comment on Monday. 

Both of the nuclear-armed rivals 

routinely blame the other for 

starting any firing and insist they 

are only retaliating. 

As in the past, both also called the 

violence an unprovoked violation of 

a 2003 cease-fire agreement and 

summoned each other's senior 

diplomats in their capitals to register 

their anger and protest. They also 

issued statements condemning the 

violence. 

Officials say the latest violence 

has sent tens of thousands of 

villagers fleeing from their homes 

in hundreds of affected villages 

along the border to government 

buildings converted into 

temporary shelters or to the 

houses of friends and relatives 

living in safer places. 

Hundreds of houses have been 

destroyed and bullets and shrapnel 

have scarred homes and walls on 

both sides. Hundreds of cattle and 

livestock have also perished in the 

confrontation. 

Most of the fighting is taking 

place along the portion of the 

frontier which is somewhatdefined 

and where each country 

has a paramilitary border force 

guarding the lower-altitude 200- 

kilometer (125-mile) boundary 

separating Indian-controlled 

Kashmir and the Pakistani 

province of Punjab. But the 

fighting has also escalated to the 

contentious frontier that includes 

a 740-kilometer (460-mile) rugged 

and mountainous stretch called 

the Line of Control that is guarded 

by the armies of India and 

Pakistan. 

India and Pakistan have fought 

two of their three wars since 1947 

over their competing claims to the 

region. Since 1947, they have each 

administered part of it. Many see 

the fighting as part of what's 

become a predictable cycle of 

violence, as the region convulses 

with decades-old animosities 

between India and Pakistan over 

Kashmir, where rebel groups 

demand that the territory be 

united either under Pakistani rule 

or as an independent country. 

A flare-up last year similarly sent 

thousands to temporary shelters 

for days. India accuses Pakistan of 

arming and training anti-India 

rebels and also helping them by 

providing gunfire as cover for 

incursions into the Indian side. 

Pakistan staunchly denies this, 

saying it offers only moral and 

diplomatic support to the militants 

and to Kashmiris who oppose 

Indian rule. Nearly 70,000 people 

have been killed in the uprising 

and the ensuing Indian military 

crackdown since 1989. 

Senate talks fall short, shutdown 

extends into workweek 

The government shutdown is set to sow 

more disruption and political peril 

Monday after the Senate inched closer 

but ultimately fell short of an 

agreement that would have reopened 

federal agencies before the beginning of 

the workweek, reports CNN. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch 

McConnell and Democratic leader 

Chuck Schumer said negotiations kept 

going late into the night, with a vote to 

break a Democratic filibuster on a 

short-term funding bill scheduled for 

noon Monday. 

Under the proposal taking shape, 

Democratic would agree to a threeweek 

spending measure - until Feb. 8 - 

in return for a commitment from the 

Republican leadership in the Senate to 

address immigration policy and other 

pressing legislative matters in the 

coming weeks. 

But Democrats appeared to be 

holding out for a firmer commitment 

from McConnell. "We have yet to reach 

an agreement on a path forward," 

Schumer said late Sunday. McConnell's 

comments followed hours of behindthe-scenes 

talks between the leaders 

and rank-and-file lawmakers over how 

to end the display of legislative 

dysfunction, which began Friday at 

midnight after Democrats blocked a 

temporary spending measure. 

Democrats have sought to use the 

spending bill to win concessions, 

including protections for roughly 

700,000 younger immigrants brought 

illegally to the U.S. as children. 

Republicans have appeared 

increasingly confident that Democrats 

were bearing the brunt of criticism for 

the shutdown and that they would 

ultimately buckle. The White House 

and GOP leaders said they would not 

negotiate with Democrats on 

immigration until the government is 

reopened. 

A high level delegation including board and senior management of Norfund- the Norwegian 

Investment Fund for Developing Countries has recently visited City Bank head office in Dhaka. 

Photo: TBT 

Saudi Arabia 

Kingdom 

announces 

Two billion US 

dollar 

Based on the interest of the Kingdom of 

Saudi Arabia in lifting the suffering of the 

brotherly Yemeni people and helping 

them to face the economic burdens cause 

by the crime and violation of the Huthi 

militias, which loot the state's capabilities 

and seize the revenue of Govern mental 

institution, including the sale of 

petroleum product and the collection of 

amounts in Yemeni Riyals and 

manipulating the exchange rate of 

currencies and exploring it to achieve 

their personal interests without fear of 

religion or conscious, which led to the 

deterioration of the exchange rate of the 

Yemeni Riyal and the loading of Yemeni 

citizen consequences of this, The 

Custodian of the two holy Mosque King 

Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of 

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-May Allah 

protect him-has issued directives to 

deposit two billion US dollars in the 

Central Bank of Yemeni as an extension of 

the Kingdom's support to the brotherly 

Yemeni people. The total deposit of 

Kingdom's in the Central bank of Yemeni 

was reached three billion US dollars in the 

context of enhancing the financial and 

economic situation in the Republic of 

Yemen, in particular Yemeni Riyal which 

will be reflected by the blessing of Allah, 

positively on the living conditions of 

Yemeni citizens, a press release said. 

The3 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms 

its continued support for the Yemeni 

Government and its assistance to perform 

duties in order to restore the security and 

stability of Yemen. 

Turkish troops face fierce 

battles in Syrian Kurdish 

enclave 

Intense clashes erupted Monday 

as Turkish troops and their 

allies advanced on a Kurdish 

enclave in Syria, the third day of 

the Ankara offensive aimed at 

ousting the Kurds from the area, 

a Kurdish militia and a war 

monitoring group said, reports 

CNN. 

The Turkish offensive on 

Afrin, codenamed Operation 

Olive Branch, started on 

Saturday, heightening tensions 

in the already complicated 

Syrian conflict and threatening 

to further strain ties between 

NATO allies Turkey and the 

United States. 

The U.N. Security Council is 

convening Monday to discuss 

the situation in Syria. In a 

statement Monday, NATO said 

it has been in touch with Turkey 

over the developing offensive. 

NATO said Turkey has 

suffered from terrorism and has 

the right to self-defense but 

urged Ankara to do so in a 

"proportionate and measured 

way." 

The U.S-backed Kurdish 

militia said it has repelled 

Turkish troops and their Syrian 

allies from Shinkal and Adah 

Manli, two villages they seized a 

day earlier in Afrin, the 

northwestern Syrian district 

that straddles the Turkish 

border. 

The militia said the Turkeybacked 

forces have opened a 

new front, pushing their way 

into two other villages in the 

district's north. The militia said 

they are fighting to push back 

the advancing troops in Balia 

and Qarna. 

The Syrian Observatory for 

Human Rights said the Syrian 

Kurdish militia waged a 

ferocious counteroffensive late 

Sunday, repelling the Turkish 

troops and allied Syrian fighters 

from the two villages they briefly 

captured. 

The Observatory said Turkeybacked 

troops were attempting 

once again to enter Afrin. 

Access to Afrin is restricted 

and it is difficult to 

independently verify the 

reported developments. 

The Kurdish militia, known as 

People's Defense Units or YPG, 

said it was clashing Monday 

with the Turkish troops 

northwest of Afrin. 

Turkey considers the YPG a 

terror organization because of 

its affiliation to its own Kurdish 

insurgency. Turkish President 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has 

promised to expand the 

operation. 

GD-106/18 (10 x 4) 

GD-110/18 (8 x 4)

UNITING PEOPLE EVERYDAY 

TUESDAy, DHAKA, JANUARy 23, 2018, MAgH 10, 1424 BS, JAMADI-UL-AwAL 5, 1439 HIJRI 

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim presented shital pati to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as 

part of celebrating the UNESCO recognition to the object as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) 

of Humanity. 


No election keeping 

BNP leaders, activists 

in jail: Fakhrul 

DHAKA : BNp secretary 

general Mirza Fakhrul Islam 

Alamgir on Monday warned 

that their party will not allow 

the government to hold the 

next general election keeping 

their leaders and activists in 

jail. 

"Around 78,000 cases have 

been filed against over 7.5 lakh 

BNp leaders and activists. our 

Chairperson Khaleda Zia has 

also been harassed in false 

cases," he said, reports UNB. 

Speaking at a warm-cloth 

distribution programme, the 

BNp leader further said, "We 

would like to clearly say no 

election can be held here sending 

BNp leaders and activists 

to jail in those false cases. All 

the cases must be withdrawn 

before the polls." 

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the 

BNp's women wing, arranged 

the programme in front of the 

party's Nayapaltan central 

office, marking the 82nd birth 

anniversary of its founder 

Ziaur Rahman. 

Execution of Cabinet 

decisions improves 

DHAKA : Some 78 percent 

decisions of the 

Cabinet, taken in the 4th 

quarter of the last year, has 

been implemented, which is 

nine percent higher than 

that of the same period of 

the previous year, reports 

UNB. 

This was revealed at the 

regular Cabinet meeting 

held at the prime Minister's 

office with prime Minister 

Sheikh Hasina in the chair 

on Monday. 

Cabinet Division secretary 

of coordination and reformation 

NM Ziaul Alam 

briefed reporters after the 

meeting at the secretariat. 

He said a total of 68 decisions 

have been taken in 

eight cabinet meetings from 

october 1 to December 31, 

2017. 

"Among them 53 decisions 

have been implemented 

while 15 decisions are 

under the implementation 

process," he said. 

During the corresponding 

period of previous year, 

68.94 percent of cabinet 

decisions were implemented. 

The Secretary said the 

cabinet was informed about 

the measures taken for the 

graduation of Bangladesh 

from the status of Least 

Developed Country (LDC). 

He said three indexes are 

considered in the graduation 

process from the LDCs 

status and Bangladesh has 

already fulfilled the necessary 

conditions to come out 

from the LDC status. 

The three indexes are 

Gross National Income 

(GNI) per capita, Human 

Assets Index (HAI) and 

economic Vulnerability 

Index (eVI). "Bangladesh's 

position is very good in all 

the three indexes," he 

added. 

A country needs at least 

US$ 1,230 GNI per capita, 

66 HAI and maximum 32 

eVI. 

Ziaul said the GNI per 

capita of Bangladesh is US$ 

1,271, while HAI is 72.9 and 

eVI is 24.8 according to the 

statistics of Bangladesh 

Bureau of Statistics (BBS). 

As per the statistics of 

CpD, GNI per capita of 

Bangladesh is US$ 1,271, 

while HAI is 72.8 and eVI is 

25. 

He said the name of 

Bangladesh will be recommended 

for the graduation 

in the upcoming triennial 

LDC review to be held in 

March next. 

Bangladesh will need to 

sustain its achievement in 

the three indexes in two 

consecutive triennial 

reviews for coming out from 

the LDCs status. 

The Bangladesh 

Today 

congratulates 

Professor 

Maksud Kamal 

TBT RepoRT 

editor and publisher of 

The Bangladesh Today Md. 

Jobaer Alam congratulated 

professor Dr. ASM Maksud 

Kamal on the occasion of 

getting elected as a registered 

graduate representative 

at the Dhaka University 

(DU) Senate. 

earlier, the Awami 

League backed Gonotantrik 

oikya parishad swept the 

registered graduate election 

for the Dhaka 

University (DU) Senate. 

The panel bagged 24 out of 

25 posts while the BNp 

backed Jatiyatabadi 

parishad got only one post. 

The election was held to 

elect 25 representatives to 

the university senate which 

is the highest policy making 

body of the university. 

In an interview with The 

Bangladesh Today 

professor Kamal remarked 

that "As an elected senate 

member we will work on to 

transform Dhaka 

University through academic 

and infrastructure 

development." points to be 

mentioned here, Dr. Kamal 

is the president of Dhaka 

University Teachers 

Association (DUTA), the 

Dean of earth and 

environmental Sciences, 

the provost of Mastar Da 

Surja Sen Hall and the 

founding chairman of the 

department of Disaster 

Science and Management. 

Beside this, he is an 

acclaimed academician 

with profound teaching 

experience, a disaster risk 

reduction expert and a 

renowned researcher who 

has published over 53 

research articles in various 

national and international 

journals. 

Editor and Publisher of The Bangladesh Today strikes a pose with the newly 

elected DU senate member Professor ASM Maksud Kamal. Photo: TBT 

13,400 mts rice imported from 

Myanmar in 10 months: Report 

DHAKA : Bangladesh has imported over 

13,400 tonnes of rice from Myanmar through 

the Maungtaw Trade Zone during the 10 

months of the 2017-2018 fiscal year, reports 

UNB. 

Up to January 14, 2017-2018 FY in 

Myanmar, some 13420 tonnes of rice were 

exported to Bangladesh from Myanmar 

becoming the largest export to Myanmar's 

neighbouring country, the Global New Light 

of Myanmar reports quoting unnamed officials. 

The first largest export to Bangladesh is 

rice, while the second one is aquatic products, 

and the third follows instant foods and other 

manufacturing products, such as sweets, 

Thanaka, a yellowish-white cosmetic paste 

made from ground bark, anti-acne cream, 

blankets, shoes and coffee mix, reads the 

report. 

"Rice from Buthidaung is transported by 

truck to Maungtaw port and exported to 

Bangladesh. exports were temporarily 

stopped in September. There are nearly 100 

workers in that port. They can also make a 

good living when a sea route to Bangladesh 

returns to normalcy," said the report quoting 

a rice trader. 

"There are about 10 traders in Maungtaw 

Town, including me. our main export to 

Bangladesh is rice and palm jam, dried fish. 

Ginger and cosmetics are also being exported. 

A round way to the Bangladesh side is by private 

rental motor boats, which takes three 

days. The water way is now favorable and, 

therefore, we are continuously exporting. We 

transport about 2000 sacks of rice at one 

time. As the market is also better, we can earn 

profits," he added. 

Myanmar's main exports to Bangladesh are 

rice, ginger, silk, cotton, onions, fish, prawns, 

dried fish, bamboo, cane, and other industrial 

goods. 

Imports arriving through the Maungtaw 

Border Trade Zone from Bangladesh have 

ceased since the violent attacks in october 

2016. 

The trade zones between Myanmar and 

Bangladesh mostly rely on the swell and ebb 

of the river, and the Kanyin Chaung trade 

zone is being developed to pave way for larger 

cargo vessels, according to officials. 

Elbphilharmonie: A Spectacular 

New Concert Hall in Hamburg 

INTeReSTING NeWS 

exactly one year ago, on January 11, 

2017, a new concert hall opened in 

Hamburg, Germany. Like a ship on dry 

dock, the new glassy construction resembles 

a hoisted sail and is set upon a giant 

brick warehouse, surrounded on three 

sides by water of Hamburg’s historic harbor. 

Since the first public performance, the 

elbphilharmonie has won accolades in 

cultural circles because of its iconic architecture 

as well as for its brilliant acoustics 

and sound clarity. 

The old warehouse upon which the 

modern building sits was once the largest 

warehouse in the port and the only one at 

which ships could dock directly. The warehouse, 

called Kaiserspeicher, was built in 

1875 but was destroyed in the Second 

World War. In 1963, the ruins were blown 

up and a new warehouse was constructed 

in its place. It was renamed Kaispeicher. 

Until the 1990s, the Kaispeicher was used 

to store cocoa, tobacco and tea. 

With the rise of container traffic, 

Kaispeicher lost its importance and was 

eventually abandoned. In the early 2000s, 

the city of Hamburg undertook a multibillion-dollar 

redevelopment project of 

Hamburg’s harbor, converting 19th-century 

brick buildings and empty lots into 

residential, office and commercial space. 

The Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron 

were hired to design a new concert hall on 

top of the old Kaispeicher. After ten years 

of development and over 850 million 

euros later, the elbphilharmonie was officially 

opened. 

The façade of the elbphilharmonie is 

made up of about a thousand curved glass 

windows. The roof is undulated, rising 

from the lower eastern end to its full height 

of 108 meters at the tip of the peninsula. A 

curved escalator from the main entrance 

at the east side connects the ground floor 

with an observation deck, the plaza, at the 

8th floor, the top of the brick section. 

Trial in Kim Jong 

Nam's murder 

resumes in Malaysia 

SHAH ALAM : The highprofile 

trial in Malaysia of two 

women accused of killing the 

estranged half brother of 

North Korea's leader resumed 

Monday after a seven-week 

recess, with witnesses taking 

the stand to verify the authenticity 

of security camera videos 

capturing the attack, reports 

UNB. 

Indonesia's Siti Aisyah, 25, 

and Vietnam's Doan Thi 

Huong, 29, are accused of 

smearing VX nerve agent on 

Kim Jong Nam's face in a 

crowded airport terminal in 

Kuala Lumpur last Feb. 13. 

They pleaded not guilty to 

murder charges when their 

trial began oct. 2. The two are 

the only suspects in custody, 

though prosecutors have said 

four North Koreans who fled 

the country were also 

involved. 

prosecutors, who last year 

showed the security videos to 

the court, called four employees 

of the airport and airport 

hotel to the stand Monday to 

explain how they extracted the 

relevant images from the main 

computer server and copied 

them to discs. This was to 

enable the court to accept the 

videos as formal evidence. 

The court heard that the 

original videos in the main 

server were automatically 

deleted after 30 days. 

prosecutor Muhamad 

Iskandar Ahmad told the 

court they will call four more 

witnesses and that the defense 

will cross examine a previous 

witness, the chief police investigator, 

before prosecutors 

wrap up their case. So far, 29 

witnesses have testified. 

United Arab Emirates donated 4 pick-ups, 2 ambulances, tents and medicines for the Malaysian field 

hospital which is engaged for the treatment of Rohingya refugees. 


Facebook to roll out new feature 

to help BD people need blood 

DHAKA : As Bangladesh has the shortage 

of safe blood like many other countries, social 

networking giant Facebook is set to roll out a 

new feature here on Tuesday to help people 

in need of blood by connecting them directly 

to blood donors, reports UNB. 

Bangladesh is the second country after 

India where Facebook is coming up with the 

toll to make it easy for people to find blood 

and bring the blood donors, blood recipients 

and organisations together more efficiently. 

"Starting on Tuesday, people using 

Facebook in Bangladesh will be able to sign 

up to be blood donors. To sign up, people can 

edit their profiles to let others know that 

they're willing to donate blood or visit facebook.com/donateblood," 

Facebook product 

manager, health Hema Budaraju, told UNB 

on Monday during an interview. 

To help encourage participation, she said 

they will show a message in news feed or people 

can edit their profiles to sign up. "All 

information will remain private and set to 

only Me by default, but people can choose to 

share their donor status more widely. This 

feature will be available on Android, ioS and 

www." 

In the next few weeks, Hema said they will 

make it further easier for people and organisations, 

such as blood banks and hospitals, to 

connect with blood donors on Facebook. 

According to WHo, she said Bangladesh is 

one of the 71 countries in the world which is 

facing the shortage of safe blood supply. 

Besides, Hema said, people in Bangladesh 

have been making thousands of posts on 

Facebook looking for blood donors while 

more than 1400 blood donation groups 

working to help blood recipients during 

emergency. 

Under the circumstances, the Facebook 

product manager said, "We want to help people 

find blood as early as possible and make 

the process of getting blood easy." 

She said they have launched the feature in 

India in october last year and more than six 

million people have already signed up as 

blood donors there. 

ERD informs cabinet 

of preparedness for 

post LDC status 

DHAKA : Three prime economic 

indicators suggested 

Bangladesh's preparedness for 

graduation as a "developing 

country", discarding its status of 

a "least developed" one or LDC 

by 2025, the eRD said in a presentation 

to the weekly cabinet 

meeting, reports UNB. 

prime Minister Sheikh 

Hasina chaired the meeting 

when the economic Relations 

Division placed the report 

referred to the indicators-the 

per capita Gross Net Income 

(GNI), Human Assets Index 

and economy Vulnerability 

Index (eVI) -- and said the 

country was ready for its elevated 

status by March 2025. "The 

standard GNI of a country 

should be US$ 1230 for graduating 

from the LDC group 

which, in case of Bangladesh, is 

now US$ 1272 according to 

CpD and US$ 1271 according to 

the BBS," the report read. 

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam, Advisory Editor: Advocate Molla Mohammad Abu Kawser, Managing, Editor: Tapash Ray Sarker, News Editor : Saiful Islam, printed at Sonali Printing Press, 2/1/A, Arambagh 167, Inner Circular Road, Eden Complex, Motijheel, Dhaka. 

Editorial and News Office: K.K Bhaban (Level-04) 69/K, Green Road, Panthapath, Dhaka-1205. Tel : +8802-9611884-85, Cell : 01832166882; Email: Editor : editor@thebangladeshtoday.com, Advertisement: ads@thebangladeshtoday.com, News: newsbangla@thebangladeshtoday.com, contact@thebangladeshtoday.com, website: www.thebangladeshtoday.com

The Bangladesh Today (23-01-2018)

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