15-01-2020

Wednesday
DHAKA: January 15, 2020; Magh 1, 1426 BS;Jamadi-ul Awal 18,1441 Hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.17; No.339; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
16 killed in avalanches
in Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir
>Page 7
art & culture
Huma Qureshi has to say
about her relationship with
the 'Pati Patni Aur Woh'
>Page 8
sport
Mortaza opts out of
nat’l contract but wants
to continue playing
>Page 9
61 days to go
DU Disciplinary Council
for expelling 67 students
on various charges
DNCC, DSCC polls on
Jan 30; HC turns down
plea for deferment
DHAKA : The High Court (HC) on
Tuesday turned down a writ petition
seeking its directive to defer
the elections to the two Dhaka city
corporations.
The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan
and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed
the order considering the progress in
the election process and the Secondary
School Certificate (SSC) examinations
scheduled to take place on February 2,
reports UNB.
Following the HC order, the elections to
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)
and Dhaka South City Corporation
(DSCC) will be held as per its previous
schedule on January 30.
On January 6, Advocate Ashoke
Kumar Ghosh, a Supreme Court
lawyer, filed the writ seeking its directive
to defer the polls as Saraswati Puja,
one of the biggest religious festivals of
the Hindu community, will be celebrated
across the country on the day.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated in all universities,
colleges and other educational
institutions across the country while
polling stations will be set up in different
educational institutions in the city
for the polls which will hamper the celebrations,
the writ said.
On December 22 last, Chief Election
Commissioner KM Nurul Huda
announced the election schedule for the
polls to DNCC and DSCC fixing
January 30 as the voting date.
SC upholds war
criminal Qaiser's
death penalty
DHAKA : The Appellate Division on
Tuesday upheld the death sentence
awarded to former Jatiya Party minister
Syed Mohammad Qaiser in a case
filed for committing crimes against
humanity during the Liberation War in
1971, reports UNB.
A four-member bench, led by Chief
Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, pronounced
the verdict in the morning.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam
and deputy attorney general Biswajit
Debnath represented the state while
Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain
and Advocate S M Md Shahjahan stood
for the convict.
Now defunct International Crimes
Tribunal (ICT)-2 on December 23,
2014, sentenced Qaiser to death as the
14 charges out of the total sixteen
framed against him were proven
beyond any doubt.
The tribunal handed down the death
penalty to him on seven charges, life
imprisonment on four charges, jail
term of 10, 7 and 5 years on three
charges and was acquitted in the
remaining two charges. But the jail
term will naturally get merged into the
sentence of death.
Zohr
05:26 AM
12:08 PM
03:50 PM
05:35 PM
06:53 PM
6:43 5:32
DHAKA : The Disciplinary Council of
Dhaka University (DU) on Tuesday recommended
expulsion of its 67 students
on various charges, reports UNB.
Of them, it suggested action against
63 for getting enrolled at the university
through fraudulent means from 2012-
13 to 2017-18 academic sessions while
four others for drug abuse and possessing
illegal arms.
It also suggested that 24 other students
be suspended for different
terms on various charges, including
fraudulence, attacking journalists,
taking drugs and getting involved in
mugging.
The decisions were taken at a meeting
of the council chaired by DU Vice-chancellor
Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, said
Prof AKM Golam Rabbani, DU proctor
and member secretary of the council.
The Syndicate will now take the final
decision, he added.
The accused students were involved
in question leakage and admission forgery,
they helped others to follow illegal
Govt agencies' surplus money to
go to public coffer; bill placed
means to get admitted to the university,
the proctor added.
The DU Disciplinary Council recommended
that nine other students be
suspended on charge of adopting unfair
means in the admission tests.
Two other students will be kept
away from academic activities for six
months for assaulting journalists on
the campus.
Besides, action was recommended
against 13 more students for their
involvement in mugging and consuming
drugs, said the proctor.
On August 6 last, the DU authorities
suspended 69 students on charges of
cheating and adopting unfair means in
university admission tests.
They had also been served showcause
notices to explain their position
over the allegations brought against
them within seven days.
The explanations provided by the
accused did not satisfy the authorities
and finally they recommended expulsion
of 63 students.
SANGSAD BHABAN : Parliament on
Tuesday placed a bill paving the path
for bringing the surplus money of
different autonomous, semiautonomous
and statutory agencies,
including non-financial corporations,
to the national exchequer,
reports UNB.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal placed the Bill to bring selfgoverned
agencies that have Tk
2,12,100 crores of idle money in
different banks to the national
exchequer.
The Bill was sent to the respective
Parliamentary Standing Committee
and it was asked to submit its report
within seven working days.
The title of the bill is 'Deposition of
Surplus Money of Self-Governed
Agencies including Autonomous,
Semi-Autonomous and Statutory
Government Authorities and Public
Non-Financial Corporations to the
National Exchequer Bill 2020'.
Of the idle money, the surplus one
will be deposited to the national
exchequer after keeping aside the
operational cost, additional 25 percent
of operational cost as emergency
fund, money for general provident
fund (GPF) and pension.
The respective organisation can
estimate its operational cost.
While briefing reporters after a
cabinet meeting, the Cabinet
Secretary on September 2 said the
latest balance of 68 organisations, an
amount of Tk 2, 12,100 crore
remains stagnant as FDR in different
banks and the money is not being
invested for its better use.
So, he said, the policy of the government
is to bring the surplus
money to the national exchequer
with the proposed law for financing
different development projects and
supporting public welfare.
Citing the example of five organisations
having the highest idle
money, the cabinet secretary
said Bangladesh Petroleum
Corporation has Tk 21,580 crore,
while Petrobangla (Bangladesh Oil,
Gas and Mineral Corporation) Tk
18,204 crore, Power Development
Board Tk 13,454 crore, Chattogram
Seaport Tk 9,913 crore and Rajuk
(Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha)
Tk 4030 crore.
Four fake RAB members were arrested while snatching money from a RS of a company in Narayanganj
on Tuesday.
Photo : PBA
21st span of the much-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge was installed on Tuesday at Jajira point, making
over 3 kilometres out of total 6.15km of the main structure of the bridge visible.
Photo : Star Mail
Over 3 km of
Padma Bridge
visible as 21st
span installed
DHAKA : The 21st span of the muchawaited
Padma Multipurpose Bridge
was installed yesterday at Jajira point,
making over 3 kilometres out of total
6.15km of the main structure of the
bridge visible.
"The 21st span among the total 41
was placed between the 32nd and the
33rd pillars at the Jajira point of the
bridge around 3:00 pm," said Dewan
Abdul Quader, an executive engineer
of the Padma Bridge Project.
Earlier, the 20th span was installed
on pillars 18-19 to complete 3km of the
bridge on December 31, 2019.
The authorities have planned to
install three spans every month and all
of 41 spans will be installed by July
2020.
In the meantime, 33 spans have been
brought to Mawa from China while
two spans are on the way.
The works of constructing six more
spans are going on in China, said
Dewan adding that all of the 41 spans
will arrive here by March.
On December 18 and 31, the 19th
and 20th spans were installed respectively.
On October 14, 2018, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina unveiled the name
plaque of Padma Bridge Toll Plaza at
the Mawa end.
According to experts, the national
economy is expected to witness 1.2
percent GDP growth rate, while 0.84
percent poverty will be reduced every
year after completion of the bridge to
be built with an estimated cost of Taka
30,193.39 crore. The first span of the
Padma Bridge was installed on
September 30, 2017.
Why asst teacher
recruitment test results
not illegal: HC
DHAKA : The High Court (HC) on
Tuesday issued a rule seeking explanation
as to why the final test results of
assistant teacher recruitment to government
primary schools should not be
declared illegal.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur
Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur
Rahman issued the rule after hearing a
writ petition, reports UNB.
Advocate Md Kamal Hossain stood
for the petitioner while Deputy
Attorney General Amit Talukdar represented
the state.
Secretary to the Primary and Mass
Education Ministry, Director General of
Primary Education Directorate and others
concerned were asked to respond to
the rule within 10 days.
Kamal Hossain said as per the
Primary School Teacher Recruitment
Rules 2013, the vacant posts must be
filled with 60 percent women candidates,
20 percent dependents and the
remaining 20 percent male candidates.
Sixteen candidates filed the writ as the
recruitment test results published on
December 24 did not follow the rules.
Land Officer suspended for
harassing service receivers
DHAKA : Mutation-cum-certificate
Assistant of Dhaka Kotowali
Revenue Circle Nazir Md Delwar
Hossain Talukder has been put on
temporary suspension and another
Office Assistant of the Sutrapur
Land Office Md Siddiqur Rahman
transferred for violating discipline
and harassing the service
receivers of the Land Offices
The incident took place on Monday as
the Land Secretary Md Muksodur
Rahman Patwary made a surprise visit to
Demra Revenue Circle Office, Motijheel
Revenue Circle Office and Sutrapur Land
Office under Kotowali Revenue Circle, a
DHAKA : Attorney General
Mahbubey Alam on Tuesday said the
government may look into the suspension
of BNP Chairperson
Khaleda Zia's sentence upon an
appeal in this regard, reports UNB.
He came up with the remark
while talking to reporters at his
office at the Supreme Court.
"Usually, any sentence is suspended
if a convict serves jail term
for a long time. The government
can suspend jail term of such convicts
under special consideration.
If they (BNP) can make out such a
case, then the government will
look into it," he said.
Pointing at the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 401(1), senior Supreme
Court lawyer Khandaker Mahbub
Hossain on Thursday demanded
suspension of Khaleda's sentence
to allow her to take treatment
abroad as per her will.
land ministry press release said.
During the surprise visit, the Land
Secretary found that official-incharge
Nazir failed to obey a legal
order of sending a miss-case copy,
issued by Assitant Commissioner
(Land) of Dhaka Kotowali Revenue
Circle, and thereby deliberately
delayed the procedure for about
three months that resulted in depriving
the concerned service receivers of
getting the legal benefits.
Senior Assistant Secretary of the
Ministry of Land Md Samsuzzaman
accompanied the Land Secretary
during the period.
Khaleda's sentence
AG says govt may look
into it upon appeal
According to The Code of
Criminal Procedure, 401(1),
"When any person has been sentenced
to punishment for an
offence, the government may at
any time without conditions or
upon any conditions which the
person sentenced excepts, suspend
the execution of his sentence or
remit the whole or any part of the
punishment to which he has been
sentenced."
Khaleda Zia has been in jail since
February 8, 2018 after she was sentenced
to five years' imprisonment
in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
She has been receiving treatment
at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMU)
since April 1 last.
Her party has been accusing the
government of not providing adequate
treatment facilities to
Khaleda Zia.

NEWS
WEDNEsDAY, JANuARY 15, 2020
2
Dhakabashi sangthatan and Bangladesh Ghuri Federation jointly organized a rally marking
sakraine Festival.
Photo : Courtesy
Trump support for Iran protesters
could fuel anti-us forces
President Donald Trump's embrace of
anti-government protesters in Iran is
another departure from his
predecessors, who feared such overt
support could backfire and
inadvertently help hard-liners in the
Islamic Republic, reports UNB.
Trump has tweeted repeatedly in
recent days in support of protesters
who surged into the streets in anger
over the apparently accidental
downing of a Ukrainian jetliner and
their government's initial attempt to
conceal its role in the disaster.
But his encouragement carries a risk
by seeming to confirm the claims of
Iranian hard-liners who accuse the
U.S. of fomenting the unrest.
"When the Iranian people are upset
with their government for blatantly
lying about shooting down a plane, he
should have taken the high road and
send his condolences to the families,"
said Jon Alterman, director of the
Middle East Program at Center for
Strategic and International Studies.
"By seeming to make it about him, he
de-legitimizes the protesters and
allows the government to portray the
protests as a U.S. plot."
Previous administrations have
sought to keep some distance between
Washington and demonstrators
opposed to Iran's Islamic leadership.
That was why the Obama
administration offered only muted
expressions of support during the
major political unrest in Iran in 2009.
Trump and his team have no such
BNNCP delegate
meets with Js
speaker
DHAKA : A delegation led
by President of Bangladesh
Network for NCD Control
and Prevention (BNNCP)
Professor Brigadier Abdul
Malik paid a courtesy call
on Jatiya Sangsad Speaker
Dr. Shirin Sharmin
Chaudhury at her office
yesterday, reports BSS.
During the meeting, they
discussed about preventing
non-communicable
diseases, committee
formation of 'Noncommunicable
Disease
Prevention and Control'
and tobacco control
agenda.
The speaker thanked the
delegation of noncommunicable
disease
prevention and control
committee for performing
their duties successfully.
She also emphasised on
the formation of a
parliamentary caucus over
the prevention and control
of infectious diseases, said a
press release.
Health fairs can be
organised to prevent noncommunicable
diseases,
she opined.
She continued: in
addition to engage youth
people under the noncommunicable
disease
prevention and control
network team, mothers
should be involved as well.
She assured the
delegation of extending all
assistance to the sector,
including budgetary
enhancement, the release
added.
Dr. Md. Habibe Millat,
MP, officials of Bangladesh
Network for NCD Control
and Prevention and senior
officials of the Parliament
Secretariat were also
present at the meeting.
qualms. They see their prodemonstrator
comments - even the
president's tweets in Farsi on Sunday -
as a way to further pressure Tehran.
Popular anger swelled Monday in
Iran over the downing of the
Ukrainian jet, which was apparently
knocked out of the sky by an Iranian
missile hours after the Islamic
Republic fired a barrage of missiles at
Iraqi bases housing American
soldiers. Iran's action was in response
to the U.S. killing of its top military
leader, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in a
drone strike.
All 176 people on board the jet,
including scores of young Iranians
and people of Iranian descent, were
killed, prompting widespread shock
and outrage in Iran and around the
world.
Ali Rabiei, a government
spokesman, insisted Iran's civilian
officials learned only on Friday that
the Revolutionary Guard had shot
down the plane. The Guard answers
directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei.
"The point is that we did not lie,"
Rabiei said. He went on to blame the
U.S. for "spreading the shadow of war
over Iran."
Ebrahim Raisi, the head of Iran's
judiciary, issued a warning to
protesters, saying "the agents of
America and agents of foreign
countries" want to use anger over
Flight 752 to "compromise" Iran's
security. Iran often blames antigovernment
protests on foreign
conspiracies.
Yet others say the Trump
administration's hands-on approach
might not make any difference.
"The reality is when (President
Barack) Obama offered only tepid
support to Iranian protesters in 2009,
the regime still called them American
agents and crushed them. If the
Trump administration offers more
enthusiastic support, the regime will
call them American agents and
attempt to crush them," said Karim
Sadjadpour, an Iran expert and senior
fellow in the Middle East program at
the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.
"The best thing any U.S.
administration can do is inhibit the
regime's ability to shut down the
internet and repress people in
darkness," he said. "But, I think the
Islamic Republic's penchant for
repression is high regardless of
whatever anyone says in D.C."
In a series of tweets sent since late
last week as protests against Iran's
shooting down of a Ukrainian
passenger jet intensified, Trump has
personally exhorted the Iranian
people to rise up and be heard.
He has applauded the apparent
refusal of some to walk over painted
flags of Israel and the United States at
a Tehran campus in a quiet show of
defiance. He has also demanded that
the government allow the protests and
protect the demonstrators.
ZEE5 to start its journey in Bangladesh
with new movie, web series
DHAKA : ZEE5, the digital entertainment
destination, is going to launch its official
journey in Bangladesh with the release of a
new movie, web series and a talent hunt
event.
The official announcement was made at a
programme held at a city hotel on Tuesday.
Archana Anand, chief business officer of
ZEE5 Global, one of the biggest onlinebased
platforms,sharedsome of their plans
and initiatives taken especially for
Bangladesh in deep collaboration with key
local partners.
She said the launch of ZEE5's first
Bangladeshi originals (a web series and
movie being produced in partnership with
local production house Asiatic's Good
Company and to be released within few
months and will have all local star cast,
reports UNB.
Bangladesh is in fact the very first market
in which ZEE5 is rolling out its local content
production, she said.
A romantic movie titled
'Jodi..Kintu..Tobuo' directed by Shihab
Shaheen will take the audience on a journey
of what happens when a groom gets cold feet
before his weeding day while the web series
'Contract' based on a novel written by
Mohammad Najim Uddin is another
original series directed by Kriahnendu and
Tanim and will be a cat and mouse thriller
about a contact killer, a police cop and an
underworld don.
Alongside, ZEE5 also shared details of its
upcoming talent hunt titled Bangladesh's
Global Superstar to be launched within
January while this talent hunt will give an
opportunity to conquer the OTT
entertainment industry with a chance to
feature in ZEE5 originals.
Participants will have to upload their
audienceauditions on the brand's website
www.global-superstar along with some
basic details about themselves.
The platform is also planning to open an
office in Bangladesh to reach the local talent
in the global stage, Archana Anand said.
Commenting on the announcement, CEO
of ZEE International and ZEE5 Global said
localisationis a very key part of their agenda
this year as they look to establish deeper
relationship with markets.
The platform launched across 190+
countries in October, 2018 and has content
across 17 languages.
ZEE5 also offers 60+ popular Live TV
channels.
Chandraganj Thana samity, Dhaka formed a human chain in front of National
Press Club yesterday demanding Chandraganj upazila.
Photo : TBT
PM's new principal
secretary meets
President
DHAKA : Newly-appointed
Principal Secretary to the
Prime MinisterAhmad
Kaikaus made a courtesy call
on President Abdul Hamid
at Bangabhaban on
Tuesday, reports UNB.
During the meeting, the
President congratulated the
new principal secretary,
saying he has proved his
skills during his various
assignments.
He also expressed the
hope thatKaikaus will also
be able to perform his duty
with honesty and sincerity in
the future, President's Press
Secretary Joynal Abedin told
UNB.
At the meeting, the
principal secretary sought
cooperation and direction
from the President.
Ahmed Kaikaus, who had
been serving as the senior
secretary at the Power
Division, replaced Md
Nojibur Rahman as the
principal secretary on
December 29 last.
Secretary to the President
Sampad Barua, Secretary
attached to Bangabhaban
Wahidul Islam Khanand
Military Secretary to the
President Major General SM
Shamim-Uz-Zaman were
also present.
Forty-three dengue
patients being treated
at hospitals
DHAKA : Forty-three
dengue patients, including
38 in the capital, are being
treated at hospitals across
the country, reports UNB.
Three new dengue
patients were hospitalised in
the last 24 hours till 8am in
the capital on Tuesday, said
the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS) in
its regular update.
The Institute of
Epidemiology, Disease
Control and Research
(IEDCR) received 266
reports of dengue-related
deaths. It reviewed 263 of
them and confirmed 164
deaths last year, the
Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS)
said in its regular update.
9th death anniversary
of journalist Eqbal
Rezvi today
Today is the ninth death
anniversary of
renowned journalist
Sayed Eqbal Rezvi,
former Associate Editor
of The Good Morning.
He died at the Central
Hospital, Dhaka (15th
January, 2011) on this
day, says a press release.
He was a permanent
member of the Jatiya
Press Club and senior
member of DUJ and
BFUJ.
In his long journalism
career of 50 years ,he
worked in The Unity,
ENA, The New Nation,
The Daily News, UNB,
The Morning Sun , The
Bangladesh Today , The
Bangladesh Observer
and The Financial
Express.
He joined the
profession in 1960 and
wrote reporting items
for English and Urdu
dailies published from
Patna, India.
A Milad Mahfil
followed by Quran
Khatam will be arranged
on the occasion at the
deceased's Narayanganj
residence. All the
relatives, friends,
colleagues and wellwishers
of the deceased
are requested to attend
the Milad Mahfil and
pray for the salvation of
the departed soul.
Philippine volcano spews lava,
ash for 3rd day, 30,000 flee
A volcano near the Philippine capital
spewed lava, ash and steam and trembled
constantly Tuesday on the third day of an
eruption that could portend a much bigger
and dangerous eruption, officials warned as
tens of thousands of people fled ashblanketed
villages in the danger zone.
The continuing restiveness of the Taal
volcano after it rumbled to life Sunday
indicates magma may still be rising to the
crater, the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology said. It raised
the alert level to 4, indicating a hazardous
eruption is possible in hours to days. Level
5, the highest, means such an eruption is
underway, reports UNB.
The volcano was spurting fountains of
red-hot lava 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the
sky with dark-gray plumes of ash-laden
steam that reached 2 kilometers (more than
1 mile) high. The massive volcanic column
at times flashed with streaks of lightning.
More than 200 earthquakes have been
detected in and around Taal, 81 of which
were felt with varying intensities. "Such
intense seismic activity probably signifies
continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the
Taal edifice, which may lead to further
eruptive activity," the volcanology institute
said.
The picturesque volcano in the middle of
a lake in Batangas province south of Manila
rumbled to life Sunday in a powerful
explosion that blasted a 15-kilometer (9-
mile) column of ash, steam and pebbles into
the sky. Clouds of volcanic ash blowing over
Manila, 65 kilometers (40 miles) to the
north, closed the country's main airport
Sunday and part of Monday until the ashfall
eased.
The government's disaster-response
agency counted more than 30,400 evacuees
in Batangas and nearby Cavite provinces.
Officials expected the number to swell.
Government work was suspended and
schools closed in a wide swath of towns and
cities, including Manila, because of the
health risks from the ash. The eruption has
not directly caused deaths or major damage.
The death of a driver in a crash on an ashcovered
road was linked to slippery
conditions.
The small island where the 1,020-foot
KURIGRAM : Marking the 'Mujib Year' , a
total of 410,238 primary level students have
been brought under the facility of schoolfeeding
programme so that students of 2,166
schools under 16 upazilas can reap the benefit
of the scheme.
State Minister for Primary and Mass
Education Md Zakir Hossain yesterday
revealed the information while addressing a
school feeding inauguration programme as
the chief guest on Rowmari Model
Government Primary School premises in
Rowmari upazila of the
district.
The state minister said
lunch (mid-day meal) will be
provided to primary-level
students across the country as
the government has already
approved the National School
Meal Policy-2019.
The school feeding
programme simultaneously
started on Tuesday at 16
upazilas across the country,
including Rowmari and
Rajibpur of Kurigram
district, he said, adding that
the government is hoping
that the proper
implementation of the
scheme would increase the
school attendance side by
side preventing drop-out
rate.
Praising the sincerity of the
present government towards
development of education, he
said Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina is determined to
ensure standard primary
education across the country,
adding that in continuation of
her endeavour to this end,
she directed to start such
kind of initiative to ensure
food or meal for students.
The drop-out rate of the
students of the schools was
over 50 percent during the
rule of BNP-Jamaat, the
minister said, adding that
"That scenario has totally
been changed increasing the
attendance rate of the
students during the current
(Awami League-led)
government."
He said the school feeding
programme started in 2010 to
poor-stricken schools of the
country and a total of 104
poor-stricken upazilas are
being benefited from the
(311-meter) volcano lies has long been
designated a "permanent danger zone,"
though fishing villages have long existed
there. Those villages were all evacuated,
though volcanology officials have called for
a total evacuation of endangered
communities within a 14-kilometer (8.7-
mile) radius of Taal.
Taal's last disastrous eruption, in 1965,
killed hundreds of people. It is the secondmost
restive of about two dozen active
volcanoes in the Philippines, which lies
along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where most
of the world's seismic activity occurs.
A long-dormant volcano, Mount
Pinatubo, blew its top north of Manila in
1991 in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions
of the 20th century, killing hundreds of
people.
Prosecutors seek
nearly 5 years in prison
for ex-Congressman
A former congressman should serve nearly
five years in prison for insider trading,
especially after coming to represent "the
cynical idea that those in power who make
the laws are not required to follow them,"
prosecutors said Monday, reports UNB.
Christopher Collins, 69, is scheduled to be
sentenced on Friday after the Republican
pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to
commit securities fraud and lying to law
enforcement officials about feeding inside
information about a biotechnology company
to his son.
His lawyers say their "humbled, penitent
and remorseful" client should face no time
behind bars.
But prosecutors wrote in presentence
arguments to a federal judge that Collins
doubled down on his crime by lying to
investigators.
They also said that his crime was
"exacerbated by its total gratuitousness"
because Collins at the time needed no money
since he had $13.8 million in assets, not
including another $6.9 million that was
owed to him.
4.10 lakh brought under
school feeding scheme
marking 'Mujib year'
GD-97/20 (3 x 2)
programme. "All the schools across the
country will get the benefit of school-feeding
scheme by 2023," he added.
With Deputy Commissioner Sultana
Parveen in the chair, the programme was
attended, among others, by Secretary on
Primary and Mass Education Akram-Al-
Hossain and Directorate of Primary
Education Director General (Additional
Secretary) Dr AFM Manzur Kadir as the
special guests and Rajibpur Upazila chairman
Akbor Hossain Hero.
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Amin Engineering
A 100% local Invested Import, Export, H-BIM and L-BIM manufacturing
Company is looking For Below position For Immediate
Employment.
Name of the Post: Technician, Number of the Post: 03 (Three)
Requirement: 1. Diploma Engineer / College Degree, 01 (One) year
working experience in relevant sob sector. 2. Education Qualification is
relax able for expert and experienced candidate only. Interested
Candidate is requested to apply after publication this advertisement.
Application Deadline: 20 January, 2020
Suitable candidate are request to drop their CV mentioning the post on
the Top of Envelop to the below address by Managing Director of Amin
Engineering (Shuvadda, Purbapara, Keranigonj, Dhaka).
Mobile: 01619968384 Email : aminengneering2016@gmail.com
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
A 100% Export Readymade Garments Industry is looking for highly
ambitious, careerist, experienced to work in apparel division for the following
positions:-
General Manager Merchandising 01 Person
Assistant Quality Control Manager 01 Person
Qualification: HSC or Diploma or Equivalent
(Educational Qualification may be relaxed for experienced candidate)
Experience: 8 Years.
Type of Job: Merchandising, Quality, Production, Technical Support
Development and buyer requirement etc. Having experience speaking
English. Please send your CV with contact Telephone no, recent photograph
two copies & Salary expectation to the address: Vancot Limited,
Plot- 18-20, Sector-3, Karnaphuli EPZ, Chittagong, Bangladesh within
08 days. E-mail: shiblu@shinshingroup.com
Òwkÿv wb‡q Moe †`k
†kL nvwmbvi evsjv‡`kÓ

METRO
WEDNEsDAY, JANuArY 15, 2020
3
Dr razzaque for ensuring good
governance in railway
SANGSAD BHABAN : Good
governance needs to be ensured in
railway sector for curbing
irregularities, corruption and black
marketing of its tickets, said
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur
Razzaque.
"All irregularities will come to an
end if good governance can be
established," he told Parliament on
Tuesday, reports UNB.
The minister made the statement
while responding to a supplementary
question in absence of Railways
Minister Nurul Islam Sujan from
BNP MP Rumin Farhana in the
House.
Making a pointed reference, Dr
Razzaque said his driver informed
him that there was no ticket at the
counter but he found seats vacant in
the train he travelled from his district
town.
Another BNP MP, Harunur Rashid,
proposed to allot unused Khash lands
of Bangladesh Railways to landless
people.
The minister welcomed the
proposal saying, "It's a beautiful
proposal. I also thought about it ...I'll
place it at cabinet meeting."
He urged the BNP MPs to come up
with such good proposals in
Parliament from which the nation
could be benefitted. "Your popularity
will also increase."
Replying to a written question from
M Mozaffar Hossain elected from
Jamalpur-5 constituency, Railways
Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said the
amount of Railway land in 1972 was
60,405.85 acres and now it has
58,606.57 acres under its possession.
He mentioned Bangladesh
Railways earned Tk 459.34 crore in
the 2018-19 fiscal by leasing out its
lands.
The minister said the outstanding
amount of Bangladesh Railways from
different organizations and lease
takers is Tk 124.43 crore.
While answering to a question from
Gloria Jharna, an MP from reserved
women seat, the Railways Minister
said 21 people died and 141 got
injured in various train accidents in
2019.
Responding to Shamsun Nahar,
another MP from reserved women
seat, he said some 1048 accidents
occurred in the railways from 2008 to
2019, leaving 59 people dead and 433
injured.
Air Quality Index: Dhaka
ranks 2nd worst
DHAKA : Bangladesh's capital Dhaka
ranked second worst in Air Quality
Index (AQI) on Tuesday morning. It
had an AQI score of 287 around
8:34am. The air was classified as 'very
unhealthy'. Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar
and China's Shanghai occupied the first
and third positions in the list of cities
with worst air with scores of 318 and
222 respectively, reports UNB.
When the AQI score is between 201
and 300, everyone may experience
more serious health effects.
When the AQI score is more than
300, the air quality is considered
hazardous and everyone may
experience more serious health effects.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily
air quality, informs people how clean or
polluted the air of a certain city is, and
what associated health effects might be
a concern for them.
GD-93/20 (7 x 4)
GD-91/20 (14 x 4) GD-98/20 (12 x 4)

EDITORIAL
WednesdAY, JAnuArY 15, 2020
4
stop road accidents
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Increasing the
per hectare yield
Agriculture continues to be too vital
for the food security of Bangladesh
and its macro economic stability.
Growing imports of food products with
the country's rising forex reserve had
been possible in the past. But such
imports climbing and stressing the
reserve on a regular basis, could seriously
strain the country's macro economy or
balance of payments position .
Needless to say, the record of production
of the basic staple-rice-has been
particularly good in recent years. There has
been no need to import any notable
amount of rice in the last three years.
Government is even considering the
allowing of export of some quantities of
fine or aromatic rice from Bangladesh. This
is an unprecedented or matchless record of
the country's agricultural performance.
Sound governmental policies as well as
favourable weather have worked to make
this happen. However, the current
successes in rice production do not provide
any absolute guarantee that production at
the present level will underwrite the
country's food security long into the future.
Experts are impressed with the present
rate of production but they say that
productivity will have to be continuously
raised for meeting future challenges on a
sustainable basis. The population of
Bangladesh was some 75 million in 1971
but this population is over 160 million
today or more than a doubled one in over
four decades. The annual average of rice
production was some 11 million tons in
1971which has increased to 26 million
tons in recent years depending on normal
production without facing natural
calamities. But still, even in the last
decade, food grain production was found
short of total effective demand by at least
half a million tons on average which had
to be met by imports.
The country's population would likely
increase by some 20 million in the next
twenty years and food grain production
must at least rise proportionately to go on
maintaining a balance between population
growth and food supply. But agricultural
lands are being put increasingly into non
agricultural uses. Some 20 per cent of
agricultural lands have been lost from this
process during the last 30 years, according
to one estimate.
In this situation, only increasing the per
hectare yield of food grains seems to be
the way forward for Bangladesh to keep on
matching higher demands with adequate
supplies. The present average output is
about 3 tons per hectare which must be
raised to 5 tons. This is possible because
Bangladesh's soil fertility is good.
Countries such as Japan and Korea with
less fertile soil are growing 5-6 tons per
hectare. There is no reason why we cannot
match or surpass the productivity of these
countries given the facts that we possess a
much greater comparative advantage
compared to then in them in the form of
highly fertile soil and better weather
conditions too.
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
(BRRI) has so far invented 47 new higher
yielding varieties of rice. But only a
handful of them have been popularized
although there are at least a dozen
varieties which can yield substantially
higher outputs than the ones which are
being cultivated. The Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) needs to
maintain regular liaison with BRRI and
undertake a countrywide programme for
the new varieties of seeds developed by the
latter to actually find widespread field
level applications.
No one wants
to obey the
law. So the
road accident has
not stopped.
Drivers, helpers,
parliamentarians,
ministers, judges,
journalists and
ordinary people
broke the law when they came to the
streets. Everyone is the king of the
street. Driving high speed, driving in
the opposite direction, driving a car
without fitness is not a problem for
them. So that is what happens. People
die on the streets.So every year road
deaths are increasing.
Why the road accidents are rising?
Road laws do not apply. The people of
this country do not want to actually
obey the law. What do the unskilled
and ordinary people say, the educated
high class people do not follow the law
and walk in the opposite direction. On
July 2, a judge of the upazila of the
capital Ruposhi Bangla Hotel
(Sheraton) was seriously injured in a
car that was seriously injured. The
accident happened in the opposite
direction of the judge's car (though the
judge was not in the car).
According to Traffic Police's
description, the driver of the car was
coming in the opposite direction from
the direction of Kakrail. When the
motorbike was going towards
Shahbagh and going towards Kakrail,
the car hit him face-to-face. Due to the
crash, the rider fell and the motorcycle
got inside the car. After taking the rack,
the motorcycle was pulled out of the
car. Not only that, he said, the driver of
the car was still helpless after the
accident. That's going on in the
country.
We see the minister's car running on
the opposite street. Very shameful
words. Shame is to be head down.
Those who enact laws, who apply the
law, are the law breakers in this
country. We are living in such a
country that we are. In this country, 53
percent of the road accidents occur,
taking over the road, walking on the
opposite path and driving at an
additional speed. And due to the
reckless driving of drivers, 37 percent
of accidents happen. 10 percent of
accidents due to environmental
conditions and other reasons
Therefore, to prevent road accidents,
the law requires the most. There is a
need for separate allocation in this
sector for law enforcement. There is no
allocation for road safety. However,
the number of people abnormal deaths
in the country is higher than in road
accidents. Road accidents are
happening one after the other. The
creation is a horrific and anarchic
situation. Whom do we blame for?
What is the administration
responsible? What is not responsible
for the country? The administration is
largely responsible for the road
accidents, it is correct. Responsible but
HAPPY New Year. Particularly if
you are young, as the prime
minister has commenced the
decade with the launch of
Hunarmand Pakistan, an ambitious
programme aimed at boosting youth
skills. The initiative seemingly checks
many boxes, helping young people
prepare for the future of work with a
heavy emphasis on AI and robotics,
while also tackling the scourge of
extremism, by focusing on madressah
students. Sadly, it also exists in a
vacuum.
In the same week the prime minister
launched Hunarmand Pakistan, we
were flooded with reminders that the
space for critical thinking and free
expression in the country is closing at
an unprecedented pace. Urdu
translations of Mohammed Hanif's
novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes,
were seized from his publisher and
scared off bookshelves across the
country. With actions that amount to
an unofficial ban (a defamation suit, a
raid, threats), the security
establishment is signalling that the
wider dissemination of content that
could in any way tarnish its image is
unacceptable.
Soon after, Special Committee 6 of the
Punjab Assembly (boasting
nomenclature of which George Orwell
would be proud) banned the
publication and distribution of two
books by Lesley Hazleton, another
historical religious text by Mazharul
Haq, and a newspaper, Al-Fazl, on the
basis that the publications contain
blasphemous material. The
committee also initiated legal action
against 127 social media users for
posting allegedly blasphemous
falls on the government. The
government has the responsibility of
protecting the country's goods. The
government has been severely failed.
Why will I say failure? If the
government wishes, it can prevent
death on the road. The government is
emerging But why this inability to
think us too! It is also true that owners
of transport workers are very
organized and powerful. Previously,
some people from the government
were involved in this. Although there is
a law, it is not possible for the
administration to face the trial of the
perpetrators.
So, our road-highway is going on
everywhere in the chaos!Only eight
days before and after this Eid, 79
people have died on the road. More
than 200 people were injured. Road
junctions of the country are on June
29, 18, 19 June, 4 June, 4 on June 26,
10 on June 26, 2 on June 25 and 26 on
June 24. Many flyovers have been built
in the country to reduce traffic
congestion and accidents. Several
highways including Dhaka-Chittagong
and Dhaka Mymensingh were
upgraded to four-lane. Many bridges
including Jamuna have been
destroyed. The dream of being
obstructed is becoming a bus-bay
today by the Padma Bridge. There have
been many such developments in the
country's road sector. The road
minister is also seen on the road. Why
the road accident has not decreased
after all?
In this way, the horrors of human
death will continue in the roads and
highways of the country? There are so
many road accidents in the country
that there is a demand for the
formation of special forces at the helm
to prevent the accident. If the RABB
forces can be formed to curb terrorism
in the country, why not the national
forces to prevent the accident? As a
result, 70 people died in road accidents
when 30 people died in terrorists in
the country. If the government has a
force to protect the lives of 30 people
including lives, why are not the
government constituting the forces to
prevent road accidents in order to save
the lives of 70 people, including the
lives of millions of people who have
been killed and bought in dollars? The
responsibility of the state to protect the
lives of people of the country. The
government, which has failed to
prevent the accident, will have to think
MIr ABdul AlIM
as quickly as possible in the interest of
the people of the country. We have
learned that only 30 people are killed
every day in the country due to road
accidents. As a result, 900 people in
the month and 10 thousand 800 die
each year. However, according to
BRTA statistics this number is 16 days
and 5 thousand 760 people annually.
The state is not getting the importance
of living on the road. Different sections
of the government, each on one side.
Nobody thinks right thinking. So
whatever happens.
Death is becoming our destiny in
road accidents. There is no way to
control the reckless driver and reckless
motion to stop the procession of death
on the highway. But who will wear bell
around the cat? This situation can not
continue day after day. In this way
society and state can not understand
the face. Those responsible for the
accident must be punished. There is no
alternative to taking strict measures to
bring discipline to the country's
highways. The main aspect of road
accidents is reckless motion. Accidents
Bangladesh's condition in the world is 14th in today's road accidents.
Although the driver of a car accidentally detained, they are not punished most
of the time. Problems in traffic management, complexity in law enforcement,
and lack of planning in emergency management are also responsible for the
accidents. It is possible to reduce the accident in large numbers only if the
driver's license is only to be moral and harsh. It is true that the number of
vehicles is increasing in keeping with the country's expanding population.
HuMA Yusuf
have occurred due to the drivers being
run at reckless speeds and running one
by one.
Bangladesh's condition in the world
is 14th in today's road accidents.
Although the driver of a car
accidentally detained, they are not
punished most of the time. Problems
in traffic management, complexity in
law enforcement, and lack of planning
in emergency management are also
responsible for the accidents. It is
possible to reduce the accident in large
numbers only if the driver's license is
only to be moral and harsh. It is true
that the number of vehicles is
increasing in keeping with the
country's expanding population. I
want to run these vehicles for the
efficient and discerning drivers. Is
there any fair work in the country to
create this huge number of qualified
drivers? Even the licensed drivers
continue to be more cautious in the
running and the work of training or
proper training of the traffic law, the
concerned authorities?
In order to prevent road accidents,
all parties have to be sincere. To be
able to reach a proper solution, be
zealous. Otherwise, if anybody falls
victim to a road accident on any other
day, it will be left to say or crippled. A
few days ago a media report said that
the number of legitimate vehicles in
Missing link
material.
On Twitter, meanwhile, Pakistani
users reported attempts by the
telecoms regulator to block the
website of Naya Daur, a left-wing
online media initiative that hoped a
digital platform would enable it to
circumvent the harsh censorship
imposed on mainstream news outlets.
Access to the site was restored quickly
enough, but few will be surprised if it
is blocked again.
And this is just the past week or so.
More broadly, self-censorship has
been established as the norm,
journalists are reconciled to
publishing partial truths, and bans on
importing books published in India
(including by Pakistani authors)
remain in place.
In the context of higher education, the
Hunarmand
programme
announcement follows a government
crackdown, including arrests, on the
student solidarity marches at the end
of last year, during which students
demanded to be allowed to form
unions and complained about
harassment and surveillance.
What is the connection? Simply put: a
country cannot meaningfully develop
the skills of its youth if it has no
tolerance for critical thinking. Critical
thinking entails careful consideration
directed towards a goal, and
necessarily requires questioning and
challenge. It is a key educational skill
inculcated through wide reading,
engagement with dissenting and
sometimes controversial views, and
the ability to respond to, negotiate, or
reconcile those.
In Pakistan, critical thinking is used as
a synonym for political dissent, but
you need the same skills to be a good
software designer or robotics
In Pakistan, critical thinking is used as a synonym for political
dissent, but you need the same skills to be a good software
designer or robotics engineer. To innovate, you have to test and
challenge, and constantly ask whether something can be
different or better. A stifling environment in which all forms of
debate and critique are demonised cannot facilitate skills
development or workplace innovation.
engineer. To innovate, you have to test
and challenge, and constantly ask
whether something can be different or
better. A stifling environment in
which all forms of debate and critique
are demonised cannot facilitate skills
development or workplace
innovation.
The Hunarmand programme's
complementary initiatives, such as
the Startup Pakistan Programme and
the Green Youth Movement, which
aims to support environmental
innovation, are laudable, yet bound to
fail if we cannot unlock our nation's
capacity for critical thought.
the country is more than 13 lakh. But
the number of legal drivers is only 8
million Their licenses are not valid for
the rest of the vehicles. Many have
multiple licenses. Naturally, the
drivers of this illegal licensee do not
take any legal action while driving. The
number of drivers who are not
properly trained is not less than that.
These drivers have powerful patronage
behind, which is why they have been
identified as difficult. The drivers are
so reckless due to their relative
reasons. This is undoubtedly awful.
Because this situation can not be in
any way for a country. It is worth
mentioning that many things have
been said about the road accidents.
But sadly, the road is not safe even
today. The roadways 'security of the
passenger is sure to be confirmed'.
Occasionally the information about the
road accidents emerges in the media is
a terrible and horror for a country. But
the government's duty should be taken
to take effective measures to ensure
the normal death of the people.
According to official estimates, in
1999, 4 thousand 916 people, 4
thousand 357 in 2000, 4 thousand 91
people in 2001, 4,918 in 2002, 4
thousand 749 in 2003, 3,828 people in
2004, 3 in 2005 954 people, 3,794 in
2006, 4,869 in 2007, 4 thousand 426
people in 2008, 4,297 in 2009, 5,080
in 2010, 3 thousand 688 in 2011, 5
thousand in 2012 911 people, in 2013,
4 thousand 865 And 3 thousand 975
people in 014, 015 in 3 of the 86, two
more than the estimated 016 people in
August salera killed in a road accident.
In such a way, people are dying in road
accidents and it can not be stopped.
Road accidents; This is an
abomination; The angel is standing in
front of the house. Can you come out of
the house and come back home? Such
doubts remain forever. It is difficult to
find a positive answer in this question.
The question is how many lives will be
lost in the road accident? Who is
responsible for the road accident in a
routine? Who will answer this
question? Every day, people are going
to die of accident in some other area.
As a result, it is not inconsistent to ask
that how many people have to taste the
death of this unusual process? Is not
the government responsible for this?
Many priceless lives in road
accidents are falling away in our lives
from our lives. We have seen the news
of the death of the government
officials, teachers, children,
bridegroom and all the government
officials, even the former minister, and
even the former minister, who died
due to the accident, none of which can
be easily accepted. We hope that the
Integrated Uncertainty, Awareness,
Strong, and Responsible Role from
Transport Owners and Law
Enforcement Force to prevent road
accidents.
Writer- Mir Abdul Alim, journalist,
researcher and columnist.
This contradictory approach -
spurring innovation while stifling
thought - echoes the divisions in our
'hybrid' political culture. On the one
hand, we have a civilian government
desperate to hop on the modernity
wagon that other emerging economies
are riding to posterity. This approach
values dynamism and openness;
hence Hunarmand Pakis tan's focus
on tech, virtual skills and partnerships
with international organisations. On
the other side, there is the security
establishment, with a more
authoritarian vision of centralised
project management and elite control
of economic and security
policymaking. In the latter
conception, the public, and
particularly the youth, is a morass that
must learn to fall in line. Until this
fundamental disconnect in the
country's institutional set-up is not
addressed, we will continue to see the
state launch initiatives, only to
undermine them itself.
If the PTI is truly committed to youth
promotion and skills development, it
must view the problem holistically.
One logical step would be to lift the
ban across the country on student
unions at universities.
Another would be to facilitate
international partnerships of the sort
envisioned by the Hunarmand
programme across the spectrum,
including in the fields of social science
and humanities. Ultimately, it is up to
the government to forge the missing
link between its aspirations for the
country's youth and economy, and the
current intellectual environment
Source: Dawn

ENVIRONMENT
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019
5
The embattled environment in 2050
Jonathan Watts
"Good morning. Here is the shipping forecast for
midday, 21 June, 2050. Seas will be rough, with violent
storms and visibility ranging from poor to very poor for
the next 24 hours. The outlook for tomorrow is less
fair."
All being well, this could be a weather bulletin
released by the Met Office and broadcast by the BBC in
the middle of this century. Destructive gales may not
sound like good news, but they will be among the least
of the world's problems in the coming era of peak
climate turbulence. With social collapse a very real
threat in the next 30 years, it will be an achievement in
2050 if there are still institutions to make weather
predictions, radio transmitters to share them and
seafarers willing to listen to the archaic content.
I write this imaginary forecast with an apology to Tim
Radford, the former Guardian science editor, who used
the same device in 2004 to open a remarkably prescient
prediction on the likely impacts of global warming on
the world in 2020.
ood morning. Here is the shipping forecast for
midday, 21 June, 2050. Seas will be rough, with violent
storms and visibility ranging from poor to very poor for
the next 24 hours. The outlook for tomorrow is less
fair."All being well, this could be a weather bulletin
released by the Met Office and broadcast by the BBC in
the middle of this century. Destructive gales may not
sound like good news, but they will be among the least
of the world's problems in the coming era of peak
climate turbulence. With social collapse a very real
threat in the next 30 years, it will be an achievement in
2050 if there are still institutions to make weather
predictions, radio transmitters to share them and
seafarers willing to listen to the archaic content.
I write this imaginary forecast with an apology to Tim
Radford, the former Guardian science editor, who used
the same device in 2004 to open a remarkably prescient
prediction on the likely impacts of global warming on
the world in 2020.
Radford looked forward to a point when global
warming was no longer so easy to ignore. Applying his
expert knowledge of the best science available at the
time, he predicted 2020 would be the year when the
planet started to feel the heat as something real and
urgent. "We're still waiting for the Earth to start
simmering," he wrote back in that climate-comfortable
summer of 2004. "But by 2020 the bubbles will be
appearing." The heat of the climate movement is
certainly less latent. In the past year, the world has seen
Greta Thunberg's solo school strikes morph into a
global movement of more than six million
demonstrators; Extinction Rebellion activists have
seized bridges and blocked roads in capital cities; the
world has heard ever more alarming warnings from UN
scientists, David Attenborough and the UN envoy for
climate action, Mark Carney; dozens of national
parliaments and city councils have declared climate
emergencies; and the issue has risen further to the fore
in the current UK general election than any before it.
With only weeks to go until 2020, the bubbles of
climate anxiety are massing near the surface.
Radford's most precise predictions relate to the
science. Writing after the record-breaking UK heat of
2003, he warned such scorching temperatures would
become the norm. "Expect summer 2020 to be every bit
as oppressive." How right he was. Since then, the world
has sweltered through the 10 hottest years in history.
The UK registered a new high of 38.7C this July, which
was the planet's warmest month since measurements
Hostile world: tackling forest fires in China.
began. He also correctly anticipated how much more
hostile this would make the climate - with increasingly
ferocious storms (for the first time on record, there have
been category 5 hurricanes, such as Dorian and Harvey,
for four years in a row), intensifying forest fires
(consider the devastating blazes in Siberia and the
Amazon this year, or California and Lapland in 2018)
and massive bleaching of coral reefs (which is
happening with growing frequency across most of the
world). All of this has come to pass, as have Radford's
specific predictions of worsening floods in Bangladesh,
desperate droughts in southern Africa, food shortages
in the Sahel and the opening up of the northwest
passage due to shrinking sea ice (the huge cruise liner,
Crystal Serenity, is among the many ships that have
sailed through the Bering Strait in recent years - a route
that was once deemed impossible by even the most
intrepid explorers).
A couple of his predictions were slightly premature
(the snows on Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya have not yet
disappeared, though a recent study said they will be
gone before future generations get a chance to see
them), but overall, Radford's vision of the world in
2020 was remarkably accurate, which is important
because it confirms climate science was reliable even in
2004. It is even more precise today, which is good news
in terms of anticipating the risks, but deeply alarming
when we consider just how nasty scientists expect the
Photograph: Costfoto
climate to become in our lifetime. Unless emissions are
slashed over the next decade, a swarm of wicked
problems are heading our way.
How wicked? Well, following Radford's example, let
us consider what the world will look like in 2050 if
humanity continues to burn oil, gas, coal and forests at
the current rate.
The difference will be visible from space. By the
middle of the 21st century, the globe has changed
markedly from the blue marble that humanity first saw
in wondrous colour in 1972. The white northern ice-cap
vanishes completely each summer, while the southern
pole will shrink beyond recognition. The lush green
rainforests of the Amazon, Congo and Papua New
Guinea are smaller and quite possibly enveloped in
smoke. From the subtropics to the mid-latitudes, a
grimy-white band of deserts has formed a thickening
ring around the northern hemisphere.
Coastlines are being reshaped by rising sea levels. Just
over 30cm at this stage - well short of the 2 metres that
could hit in 2100 - but still enough to swamp
unprotected stretches of land from Miami and
Guangdong to Lincolnshire and Alexandria. High tides
and storm surges periodically blur the boundaries
between land and sea, making the roads of megacities
resemble the canals of Venice with increasing
frequency. On the ground, rising temperatures are
changing the world in ways that can no longer be
explained only by physics and chemistry. The
increasingly hostile weather is straining social relations
and disrupting economics, politics and mental health.
Generation Greta is middle aged. Their teenage fears
of the complete extinction of the human race have not
yet come to pass, but the risk of a breakdown of
civilisation is higher than at any previous time in history
- and rising steadily. They live with a level of anxiety
their grandparents could have barely imagined.
The world in 2050 is more hostile and less fertile,
more crowded and less diverse. Compared with 2019,
there are more trees, but fewer forests, more concrete,
but less stability. The rich have retreated into airconditioned
sanctums behind ever higher walls. The
poor - and what is left of other species - is left exposed
to the ever harsher elements. Everyone is affected by
rising prices, conflict, stress and depression.
This is a doorway into peak climate turbulence.
Global heating passed the 1.5C mark a couple of years
earlier and is now accelerating towards 3C, or possibly
even 4C, by the end of the century. It feels as if the dial
on a cooker has been turned from nine o'clock to
midnight. Los Angeles, Sydney, Madrid, Lisbon and
possibly even Paris endure new highs in excess of 50C.
London's climate resembles Barcelona's 30 years
earlier. Across the world, droughts intensify and
extreme heat becomes a fact of life for 1.6bn city
dwellers, eight times more than in 2019. For a while,
marathons, World Cups and Olympics were moved to
the winter to avoid the furnace-like heat in many cities.
Now they are not held at all. It is impossible to justify
the emissions and the world is no longer in the mood
for games. Extreme weather is the overriding concern
of all but a tiny elite. It wreaks havoc everywhere, but
the greatest misery is felt in poorer countries. Dhaka,
Dar es Salaam and other coastal cities are hit almost
every year by storm surges and other extreme sea-level
incidents that used to occur only once a century.
Following the lead set by Jakarta, several capitals have
relocated to less-exposed regions. But floods,
heatwaves, droughts and fires are increasingly
catastrophic. Healthcare systems are struggling to
cope.
Australia’s struggle on
taking action on climate
Nicky Ison
Change in Australia was at record
levels. Since then at least 27 people
have lost their lives, millions of
animals have died and the navy has
been called in to evacuate beaches.
The devastating impacts of climate
change are tragically becoming real
for many. And many, from bushfire
survivors to business leaders to
firefighters, are calling for action.
As a result, we are in a moment
where the opportunity to implement
effective and long-lasting policy to
lower Australia's climate pollution
could finally be within reach. Indeed,
the independent MP Zali Steggall has
announced her intention to
introduce a climate bill into federal
parliament in March. Meanwhile the
New South Wales energy minister,
Matt Kean, has asked the state's chief
scientist to identify opportunities for
NSW to lead on climate action. Even
the NSW Young Liberals have put
forward a plan to act on climate.
To grasp this opportunity we must
learn critical lessons from the past.
This is not the first time that public
support for climate action has been
sky high, nor the first time that
political opportunity for far-reaching
policy has presented itself. In 2007
Kevin Rudd was elected with a huge
mandate to act on climate. In 2011
the Gillard government, with support
of the crossbench, implemented the
extremely effective clean energy
future package. And last year people
across the country worked tirelessly
to make the federal election a climate
election. In all three of these cases, we
lost in the how - how should Australia
go about acting on climate?
In the first instance, we lost
momentum for action because we
could not agree on the effectiveness
of a policy - would the carbon
pollution reduction scheme with its
5% emissions reduction target be a
springboard for further action, or
lock in rights to pollute for our
biggest emitters?
In the second case, climate deniers
such as Tony Abbott weaponised the
carbon price policy for political ends,
running the extremely effective "Axe
the tax" scare campaign.
Furthermore, the carbon price was
for many Australians an abstract
policy idea disconnected from their
lives but perceived to be hurting their
hip pockets.
In the third, a poll by the Australia
Institute found that there was simply
not enough awareness of the
differences between the two main
parties' energy and climate policies.
With renewable energy booming, the
federal Coalition was able to paint
itself has having a reasonable and
This is not the first time that public support for climate action has been
sky high.
Photo: Steven Saphore
sensible climate policy, even though
it has anything but. I raise these
painful moments in history not to
rehash the past but rather to see what
we can learn for the future. Because
we need to recognise that from public
policy and political perspective,
climate change is hard - the causes
(burning fossil fuels and reducing
carbon sinks) are distant from the
impacts geographically and
temporarily. Its solutions practically
are many and the policies needed
often complex.
Not to mention the fact that
Australia has a powerful fossil fuel
lobby and, in each of these moments,
it took advantage of the
disagreement, disconnection and
lack of understanding to good effect.
Looking forward, we are now
presented with both a policy
challenge and communications
challenges. If the answer is no to
these questions, the policy isn't
working, the government isn't acting
on climate, it's unlikely to be popular
and thus long-lasting and it isn't
fulfilling our obligations under the
Paris agreement.
The basic idea that underpins these
tests is that actually to address
climate change we need a plan, or in
reality multiple plans. For too long,
climate policy insiders and
commentators have been obsessed
with carbon pricing. Carbon prices,
like other policies can be well
designed and effective, or badly
designed and ineffective. But
whether a carbon price is well
designed or not, it's only one tool in
the policy toolkit for decarbonising
Australia. Other tools include
regulatory changes, investment in
research and development, new
standards, support for new markets
and so forth. A plan is needed for
each sector of the Australian
economy that brings together these
different policy levers or tools and
different actors to do the hard work
of decarbonisation. Work, that the
climate science says is urgently
required but, if done right, could lead
to a better, more prosperous
Australia.
The good news is we are starting to
see different organisations calling for
a plan. For example, WWF-Australia
is calling for a climate plan and have
done the research needed to
communicate it to mainstream
Australia. Farmers for Climate Action
are calling for the development of a
climate and agriculture strategy. The
Climate and Health Alliance is
advocating for a climate and health
plan. While, Renew, the Australian
Council of Social Service, the Energy
Efficiency Council and many others
are working on a plan for existing
buildings that is starting to gain
traction.
Experts have identified oceans as a key battleground in the fight to protect humanity's natural 'life support
system'.
Photo: Christian Loader
UN sets target to avert climate
catastrophe in 2030
Patrick Greenfield
Almost a third of the world's oceans
and land should be protected by the
end of the decade to stop and reverse
biodiversity decline that risks the
survival of humanity, according to a
draft Paris-style UN agreement on
nature.
To combat what scientists have
described as the sixth mass
extinction event in Earth's history,
the proposal sets a 2030 deadline for
the conservation and restoration of
ecosystems and wildlife that perform
crucial services for humans.
The text, drafted by the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity,
is expected to be adopted by
governments in October at a crucial
UN summit in the Chinese city of
Kunming. It comes after countries
largely failed to meet targets for the
previous decade agreed in Aichi,
Japan, in 2010.
As well as calling for a
commitment to protect at least 30%
of the planet, the 20-point draft plan,
which has been likened to the 2015
Paris agreement on the climate
crisis, aims to introduce controls on
invasive species and reduce
pollution from plastic waste and
excess nutrients by 50%. The draft
text has been welcomed by
environmental campaigners, who
have called on governments to treat
the targets outlined in the accord as
the minimum acceptable level for
which to aim. The director of
Campaign for Nature, Brian
O'Donnell, said: "Today's draft
shows that countries are listening
and that they recognise the
increasingly important role that
protecting land and water must play
in confronting climate change,
preventing wildlife extinctions, and
supporting people and local
communities. This is a very
encouraging first step.
"Much work remains to be done in
the coming months to ensure that
the rights of indigenous people are
advanced, and bold conservation
and finance targets are included in
the final agreement." By 2030, the
trade in wild species must be legal
and sustainable, according to the
draft document, which also aims to
promote the full and effective
participation of indigenous peoples
and local communities in decisionmaking
about biodiversity.
The planned agreement forms
part of a long-term international
framework that aims to ensure
biodiversity is sustainably valued
and conserved by 2050. Enric Sala,
explorer-in-residence at National
Geographic, and co-author of the
Global Deal for Nature, said: "If
adopted, this target could achieve
what our children have been
calling on governments to do -
listen to the science. If we are to
stay below 1.5C (34.7F), prevent
the extinction of 1 million species
and the collapse of our life support
system, we need to protect our
intact wilderness, and ensure at
least 30% of our land and oceans
are protected by 2030.
"But this is the floor, not the
ceiling. Now every government on
Earth must get behind this bold
mission and drive through a global
agreement for nature this year." In
May, the world's leading scientists
warned that nature is being
destroyed at a rate up to hundreds of
times higher than the average for the
previous 10 million years, due to
human activity.
The destruction of the planet's
coral reefs, rainforests and other
vital ecosystems have placed human
society in jeopardy, with the report's
authors warning of "ominous"
consequences such as freshwater
shortages and climate instability
unless radical action is taken.

NATIONAL
WEDNESDAY, JANuARY 15, 2020 6
Newly elected Baliakandi uNO
Hedayatul Islam joins office
Kallol Foundation arranged a reception meeting at Gurudaspur Pilot School ground on Sunday where
Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, MP Sayeda Rubina Akhter Mira, MP Prof. Abdul Kuddus, Additional
Secretary Md Saidur Rahman, DC Shahriaz and SPLiton Kumar Shaha were present.
Photo: Shekh Toffazzal Hossain
Students should devote themselves
in studies: Dipu Moni
sHeKH toFFAzzAL HossAIn, nAtore CorresPondent:
education minister dr. dipu moni
called upon the students to devote
themselves in studies to obtain glorious
result and knowledge on information,
science and technology which will help
to develop our country and nation.
Besides, you will try to be an honest
man. Honesty is a great virtue. It helps
a man to prosper in life. An honest man
is loved and respected by all. she also
said upon the teachers to attentive at
the class and to present fruitful lecture
using educational materials as students
can understand their lessons without
helping guide books and private
teachers. Any teacher would not teach
privately in any coaching centre. they
would not use guide books. If anyone
use, they will be punished according to
the law and resulations. she also said,
35 crore books have been given to the
hands of students free of cost in this
time, 2730 private educational
institutes have been taken under
mPo's to develop education sector. We
want now standard quality of education
which will help to build a development
country.
she said this while addressing a
reception meeting to meritorious
students at the gurudaspur Pilot model
High school field in gurudaspur
upazila under natore district speech as
a chief guest. the reception meeting
was held under the auspices of
gurudaspur Kallol Foundation on last
sunday.
At the occassion, 664 brilliant
students who got gPA-5 in ssC and
HsC examination-19 were accorded
reception and given away prizes, crest
and flower stick among them. Kallol
Employees of Palli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF), Rangpur region
recently formed a human chain demanding arrest of sacked, corrupt, moneylaundering
managing director of the organization. Photo: Azam Parvez
20 ethnic minority youths get
tiles-fitting training in Rajshahi
rAJsHAHI: twenty ethnic minority youths
both male and female were given a 15-day long
mason and tiles-fitting training aimed at
making them competent for attaining selfreliance
through income-generating activities,
reports Bss.
Agriculture sustainable and socio-economic
development organization (Assedo) and
tradecraft exchange jointly arranged the
training course in association with 'Fighting
Forced Labour with Adivasi and dalit
Communities in south Asia (muKtee)
Project' and european union.
they also hosted a closing and certificategiving
ceremony for the trained youths at
Panchandar village under tanore upazila in
the district on monday afternoon.
upazila Chairman Lutfor Haider rashid
addressed the ceremony as chief guest while
Youth development officer md sadiquzzaman
and Agriculture officer shamimul Islam spoke
as special guests with Assedo executive
director rabiul Alam in the chair.
the speakers viewed that alternative income
sources for the ethnic minority people are very
effective for freeing them from poverty and
hunger.
they categorically viewed that the ethnic
community people in the region suffer a lot
from absence of regular works because their
ancestral practice of selling labour in
agricultural fields remains in only three
months in a year.
Lutfor Haider said alternative income
sources for the ethnic minority people can be
the crucial means of ensuring their food
security round the year side by side with
debarring them from various unemployment
related social crimes including drug addiction.
He urged the trainees for the best uses of the
practical knowledge acquired from the training
in their respective working field properly.
rabiul Alam told the meeting that around
4,000 ethnic minority people including 2,000
women have been engaged in various incomegenerating
activities in 50 villages of tanore in
rajshahi and nachole upazilas in
Chapainawabganj districts with the muKtee
Project intervention.
A total of 1000 people from 2000 households
are being brought under need-based training
on various trades and vocations like electrics,
mobile, mechanic, sewing, tailoring, computer
operating, beautification, driving, carpentry
and building construction and decoration in
phases.
Sewing training for unemployed young women was inaugurated in Taraganj
upazila of Rangpur on Tuesday.
Photo: Biplob Hossain Opu
Foundation was named after the
name` Kallol"of a son of the member of
Parliament of natore-4 seat
(Baraigram- gurudaspur) Prof. Abdul
Kuddus. Kallol was killed in 1971 with
bullets by the then Pakistani army.
Kallol Foundation was founded by
Koheli Kuddus mukti, daughter of Prof.
Abdul Kuddus mP. this reception
meeting was presided over by Advocate
Koheli Kuddus mukti. In this meeting,
special guests were member of
Parliament of Barishal-28 seat syeda
rubina Akhter mira, member of
Parliament of natore-4 seat Prof.
Abdul Kuddus, Additional secretary of
the Health ministry md saidur
rahman, natore deputy
Commissioner (dC) shahriaz, district
Police super Liton Kumer shaha,
gurudaspur upazila Chairman md
Anwar Hossain.
PDBF employees hold
human chain demanding
punishment of ex MD
AzAm PArvez, rAngPur
CorresPondent:
Palli daridro Bimochon
Foundation (PdBF), rangpur
region employees formed a
human chain recently
demanding arrest and trial of
sacked, corrupt, moneylaundering
managing director
of the organization. An hourlong
human chain program was
observed in front of rangpur
city's munshipara office.
during the time, deputy
director (acting) of rangpur
region of PdBF Abdul
razzaq, senior Assistant
director mahbubur rahman,
senior upazila Palli daridro
Bimochon officer rafiq
Patwari, Kaliganj upazila
officer Ayub Ali mandal,
rangpur sadar upazila
officer subash Chandra roy,
Pirganj upazila officer Kazi
Azizar Haque and
Lalmonirhat field organizer
enamul Haque were among
others spoke at the occasion.
speakers at the occasion
immediately demanded the
arrest and exemplary
punishment of former
corrupt, money laundering
managing director madan
mohan saha, who was fired
from Palli daridro Bimochon
Foundation (PdBF).
Sewing training for
unemployed young women
inaugurated in Taraganj
Biplob Hossain opu,
taraganj Correspondent:
sewing training for
unemployed young women
was inaugurated by funding of
upazila development Fund in
taraganj upazila of rangpur
on tuesday. upazila nirbahi
officer Aminul Islam chaired
the occasion at the rdA hall
room.
upazila Parishad chairman
Anisur rahman Liton was the
chief guest at the occasion.
Among others, vice Chairman
of upazila Parishad sabina
Yasmin, BrdB officer
mominul Islam, trainer
Humaira Begum and sultana
razia were also present at the
occasion.
upazila nirbahi officer
Aminul Islam said that a total
of 17 unemployed young
women will be given sewing
training for one month which
is being funded by the upazila
development Fund. this will
create opportunities for them
to be fearless. At the end of the
training each of the women
got a free sewing machines.
meHedI HAsAn mAsud, BALI-
AKAndI CorresPondent:
AKm Hedayatul Islam
joined as the new Baliakandi
upazila nirbahi officer. He
arrived at Baliakandi on
monday. on tuesday
afternoon, the new uno AKm
Hedayatul Islam reported on
his work and personal life.
AKm Hedayatul Islam
entered the service as an
officer of the 31st BCs
(Administration). Prior to
joining as uno of Baliakandi
upazila, he served as the
Personal secretary to the
Information Commissioner.
during his tenure, he
participated in training in
malaysia, Bhutan and
Indonesia. Hedayatul Islam
received his Bsc in Leather
engineering and mBA
(marketing) degree from
dhaka university. He was
born in dinajpur district. In
his personal life, he is a father
of one child. His wife is a
doctor. AKm Hedayatul Islam
said that "I am an employee of
the republic. the government
has appointed us to work in
accordance with state
regulations. I will work
maintaining all the rules. All
the officers of the upazila will
work together as the
Baliakandi team. For this, I
seek the cooperation of people
of all levels of Baliakandi
upazila.
It is to be noted that on
december 26, 2019 the
outgoing uno Ishrat Jahan
was transferred as the deputy
director of the export
Promotion Bureau of the
ministry of Commerce.
Naval ambulance service
launched in Rangabali
KAmruL HAsAn, rAngABALI CorresPondent:
the only means of communication in
water-dependent rangabali upazila is
through naval service. Around 2 lakh
people live in this town surrounded by
rivers and seas on one side. there is no
government or private hospital for
health services. so people have to go to
other places by boats and get health
care. there is also a lot of danger due to
isolation of the upazila. However, a
naval ambulance service was launched
to overcome the danger and to ensure
the health service of the people of the
mAsrAKuL ALom, JoYPurHAt CorresPondent:
the oath-taking and inauguration
ceremony of the newly elected
executive council of Joypurhat district
Lawyers' Association and honoring of
the former president and general
secretary, were held in the conference
room of district Bar building on
Newly elected Baliakandi upazila Nirbahi Officer AKM Hedayatul Islam
joined office on Tuesday.
Photo: Mehedi Hasan Masud
town.
the naval ambulance, called mB
'Payra Boat Ambulance', was officially
launched on monday to relieve the
suffering of the people of the upazila,
which is about 40 km away from
Patuakhali district. the naval
ambulance has a capacity of 10 people,
26 feet long with 115 horsepower
capacity of 5 horsepower, will be able to
reach the neighboring upazila or
district hospital within 20-30 minutes.
the naval ambulance was funded by
IdLC Finance Limited under the
Naval ambulance service was officially launched in Rangabali on Monday.
sunday.
Joypurhat district and sessions
Judge mA Bari Howlader addressed
the occasion as the chief guest. general
secretary Adv. shahanur rahman
shahin moderated the occasion while
among others, Additional
superintendent of Police tariqul Islam,
management of Abhijatrik Foundation.
the naval ambulance was officially
inaugurated at the upazila Parishad
premises. during the time, md and
Ceo of IdLC Arif Khan, district Civil
surgeon dr md. Jahangir Alam,
chairman of the upazila Parishad dr.
zahir uddin Ahmed, vice Chairman
Khalid Bin Walid, upazila Health
officer monirul Islam, rangabali
Police station oC (Investigation)
mostafa Kamal, journalists Abdus
salam Arif and Kamrul Hasan were
among others also present at the
occasion.
Photo: Kamrul Hasan
Newly elected Executive Council of Joypurhat
District Lawyers Association takes oath
former mP senior Lawyer Aem
Khalilur rahman, Adv. momin Ahmed
Chowdhury gP, outgoing president of
the bar and president of the Joypurhat
Press Club nripendranath mondal PP
were also present at the occasion.
senior Advocate Adv. Khaja Jaharul
Haque recited the oath.
Joypurhat District and Sessions Judge MA Bari Howlader as the chief guest addressed the oath-taking
and inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executive council of Joypurhat District Lawyers'
Association recently.
Photo: Masrakul Alom

INTERNATIONAL
WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 15, 2020
7
Trudeau: Plane victims would
be alive if not for tensions
At least 16 people were killed and several others went missing in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in
separate incidents of avalanches in the last 24 hours, a senior official said on Tuesday. Photo : AP
16 killed in avalanches in
Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
At least 16 people were killed and several
others went missing in Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir in separate incidents of
avalanches in the last 24 hours, a senior
official said on Tuesday.
Robert Abela, the newly-elected
leader of Malta's Labour Party, was officially
sworn in as Prime Minister on
Monday at a ceremony at the President's
Palace in Valletta.
Imtiaz Ahmad, commissioner of the
Muzaffarabad division, told Xinhua
that more than 10 people were reported
Occupant of 1,000-yr-old
royal tomb in Inner
Mongolia confirmed
Chinese archaeologists have
confirmed the occupant of a
royal tomb dating back
around 1,000 years in Inner
Mongolia Autonomous
Region as Yelu Abaoji
(Emperor Taizu of Liao),
khagan of the nomadic Khitans
who once ruled the
northern part of China,
reports UNB.
Based on the tomb structure
and burial objects,
archaeologists made the preliminary
conclusion that the
Qijiazi tomb in Kailu County
under Tongliao dated back
to the Liao Dynasty (916-
1125 AD) and was a temporary
burial place of the
emperor.
According to the regional
institute of relics and
archaeology, some of the
unearthed burial objects
were also found in the subordinate
tomb of the emperor's
formal cemetery in the
city of Chifeng.
The function of a stone
house built of giant granite
slabs some 100 km away in
ancient Zuzhou had been
undetermined for years. But
an underground stone
chamber found in the tomb
was believed to be designed
by the same group of people.
missing and feared dead as rescue
efforts were underway, adding that
most of the casualties were reported
from Neelum Valley of Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir.
Dozens of houses, vehicles and shops
were also damaged in avalanches, landslides
and other rain-related incidents,
he added, reports UNB. According to
the official, in one of the incidents, a
huge mass of snow hit some 10 children
when they were on their way to school
in Lawat village of the valley, killing
three of them on the spot while injuring
several others.
Similarly, six people lost their lives
and scores of others were trapped when
an avalanche struck six houses in Dakki
Chaknar area of the valley. Rescue
efforts were underway to retrieve the
trapped people. Leaders of Pakistancontrolled
Kashmir expressed deep
grief and sorrows over the incidents
and directed the authorities concerned
to accelerate rescue and relief missions
in the rain and snow-hit areas.
Robert Abela sworn in
as Malta’s PM
Robert Abela, the newly-elected leader of
Malta's Labour Party, was officially sworn in
as Prime Minister on Monday at a ceremony
at the President's Palace in Valletta.
Abela won the Labour leadership election
on early Sunday, beating Deputy Prime Minister
Chris Fearne, reports UNB.
He replaces Joseph Muscat who was
forced to resign over an investigation into the
2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana
Galizia. Muscat resigned from his post shortly
before Abela took his oath of office.
Abela then walked up the street towards
his new office some 10 minutes away but it
took him almost an hour to walk past hundreds
of well-wishers who lined the streets.
Upon his arrival, he convened the first
Labour parliamentary group meeting. In his
first comments to the media after taking his
oath of office, Abela said he will be communicating
decisions about his cabinet of ministers
"in due course".
Asked about Fearne, Abela said he was
looking forward to working with him.
Robert Abela, the newly-elected leader of Malta's Labour Party, was
officially sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday at a ceremony at the
President's Palace in Valletta.
Photo : AP
SKorea’s Moon could seek exemption
of UN sanctions on NKorea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said
Tuesday that he could push for exemptions
of U.N. sanctions placed on North Korea as a
way to achieve an expansion of inter-Korean
ties that he says would help restart nuclear
negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington,
reports UNB.
Moon has previously made similar comments,
despite outside worries that any lifting
of sanctions would weaken U.S.-led
efforts to eliminate North Korea's nuclear
arsenal. His latest overture came about two
weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un threatened to bolster his nuclear deterrent
in the face of what he called "gangsterlike"
U.S. pressure and sanctions.
Moon said at a New Year's news conference
Tuesday that improved inter-Korean
cooperation would spur progress in stalemated
nuclear diplomacy between North
Korea and the U.S. and help gather international
support for sanctions exemptions.
"If exceptions from U.N. sanctions are necessary
for South-North cooperation, I think
we can make efforts for that," Moon said. "I
think there is a heightened need for South
and North Korea to dial up their cooperation
a little bit and promote North Korean-U.S.
talks, rather than just looking at North
Korea-U.S. talks." Moon acknowledged that
efforts to boost inter-Korean ties would have
limits because of the U.N. sanctions. But he
said exchanges in sports and South Korean
tours to North Korea are among the areas
where the two Koreas can cooperate without
violating the U.N. sanctions.
It was unclear how North Korea would
respond to Moon's comments. The North
recently has ignored his calls for dialogue
and pressed South Korea not to meddle in
negotiations with the United States.
Inter-Korean relations have suffered big
setbacks since the breakdown of Kim's second
summit with President Donald Trump
in February 2019 in Vietnam. That summit
collapsed because Trump rejected Kim's
demands for broad sanctions relief in return
for dismantling his main nuclear complex, a
limited disarmament step.
The development was a blow to Moon, a
liberal who espouses greater reconciliation
with North Korea. He shuttled between Kim
and Trump in 2018, facilitating the early
parts of U.S.-North Korean diplomacy such
as the first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore
in 2018
Some experts say North Korea is angry
with the South because it believes Moon's
push led it to waste time and make too
many concessions in negotiations with the
U.S.
Giant Panda "Yi Yi"
celebrates second
birthday in Malaysia
Fans and tourists from
Malaysia and abroad on
Tuesday celebrated the second
birthday of Yi Yi, the
second giant panda that was
born in Malaysia, reports
UNB.
Fans from Malaysia, China,
Japan, and other places
gathered at Malaysia's
National Zoo to celebrate Yi
Yi's birthday, as zookeepers
put on "Happy Birthday"
decoration and made a big
ice cake.
Zookeeper Akmal Hadi
Bin Samsuddin who is
responsible for taking care of
the Giant Panda, said Yi Yi
now weighs 67 kg and is in
very good health.
"Compared with her sister
Nuan Nuan, Yi Yi is more
gentle and gets along well
with the keepers," he said.
Born in January 2018, Yi
Yi, whose name means
friendship in Chinese, is the
second offspring of her parents,
Xing Xing and Liang
Liang, who arrived in
Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau said the victims of the Ukrainian
jetliner shot down by a missile that
killed 176 people including 57 Canadians
would be alive right now if tensions
had not escalated in the region, reports
UNB.
Trudeau has been careful to avoid
blaming U.S. President Donald Trump
for the deaths of the passengers after
Trump ordered the killing of Gen.
Qassem Soleimani, Iran's top general,
in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad.
"If there was no escalation recently in
the region, those Canadians would be
right now home with their families.
This is something that happens when
you have conflict and the war. Innocents
bear the brunt of it," Trudeau said
in an interview with Global News Television.
Some Canadians including a leading
corporate leader in the country blame
Trump in part for the deaths. Trudeau
has spoken to Trump.
"I've talked about the tremendous
US warns vessels
transiting Gulf amid
tensions with Iran
The United States on
Tuesday warned of threats
to commercial vessels in and
around the Persian Gulf in
the wake of its confrontation
with Iran, reports UNB.
Tensions have soared
since the U.S. airstrike earlier
this month that killed
Gen. Qassem Soleimani,
Iran's top general and the
architect of its regional military
activities. Iran responded
by firing ballistic missiles
at U.S. troops in Iraq, without
wounding anyone, and
accidentally shot down a
Ukrainian jetliner near
Tehran, killing all 176 on
board.
"Heightened military
activity and increased political
tensions in this region
continue to pose serious
threats to commercial vessels,"
the U.S. said in a maritime
warning. "Associated
with these threats is a potential
for miscalculation or
misidentification that could
lead to aggressive actions."
It said vessels transiting
the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of
Oman and the Strait of Hormuz
- through which onethird
of all oil traded by sea
passes - could encounter
GPS interference or communications
jamming.
It said some vessels have
reported communications
from "unknown entities
falsely claiming to be U.S. or
coalition warships."
It said ships contacted by
Iranian forces should identify
themselves and say that
they are proceeding in accordance
with international
law. It advised ships to
refuse to allow Iranian
forces to board but not to
forcibly resist them, and to
immediately contact the
U.S. Fifth Fleet.
grief and loss that Canadians are feeling
and the need for clear answers on how
this happened and how we're going to
make sure it never happens again,"
Trudeau said.
Trudeau added that he would have
"obviously" liked a warning before
Trump ordered the killing of the Iranian
general. Canada has troops in Iraq
as part of a NATO training mission.
Trudeau said is there is anger directed
at Iran.
"There is a demand for justice. And
that is entirely, entirely to be expected
and should be heeded very carefully by
the Iranian government," Trudeau
said. Canada's Transportation Safety
Board, meanwhile, said Monday that
Iranian officials have invited it to participate
in analysis of the voice and
flight data recorders from the Ukrainian
jetliner.
TSB Chair Kathy Fox said Iran has
invited the agency to take part as an
observer for the download and analysis
of the "black boxes" wherever and
whenever that takes place, and the
agency hopes to play a larger role.
"We are working very hard to build
trust daily in order for us to brought in,"
Fox said. "Canada's role is evolving. It
remains to be seen how far that will go."
Natacha Van Themsche, the director
of investigations, said Canadian experts
also have been invited to inspect the
wreckage and the crash site - an unusual
step since the plane was not produced
in Canada and the crash did not
occur in Canada.
Two Canadian investigators have
obtained visas to travel to Iran and a
second team with expertise in recorder
download and analysis will be sent.
The crash early Wednesday killed
everyone on board, mostly Iranians
and Iranian-Canadians. After initially
pointing to a technical failure and
insisting the armed forces were not to
blame, Iranian authorities on Saturday
admitted accidentally shooting it down
in the face of mounting evidence and
accusations by Western leaders.
FILE- In this Jan. 11, 2020 file photo, members and activists Socialist Unity
Center of India-Marxist (SUCI-M) burn an effigy of Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi while protesting against a new citizenship law and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's visit, in Kolkata, India. The head of Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party
in the state of West Bengal has threatened to shoot and jail people who
protest a new citizenship law that has triggered a month of nationwide
demonstrations.
Photo : AP
Indian state challenges new
citizenship law in court
India's southern Kerala on Tuesday became
the first state to legally challenge a new citizenship
law that has triggered nationwide
demonstrations, reports UNB.
The Kerala government in its petition to
the Supreme Court called the law a violation
of the secular nature of the Indian constitution
and accused the government of dividing
the nation on communal lines.
The citizenship law backed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party
provides a path to naturalization for people
from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan,
unless they're Muslim. It has led to
nationwide protests and clashes with police,
leading to 23 deaths.
The rallies have slowly morphed into much
wider anti-government protests.
Critics say the law will be used in conjunction
with a citizenship list that could require
all Indians to produce documents proving
their origins, a challenge in a country where
many people lack official records including
birth certificates.
Political challenges for Modi over the passage
of the new law are mounting with a
number of Indian states saying they will not
implement it.
West Bengal state's Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee, a staunch Modi critic, has led
several mass rallies in her state against the
law. Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
states, which are governed by the opposition
Congress party, have also announced they
will not impose the new law.
The law has also been rejected in the western
state of Maharashtra, where Congress is
part of a coalition government.
Modi's government insists that the law is
needed to help persecuted non-Muslim
minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh
and Pakistan who came to India before 2015
by giving them Indian citizenship.
US sends home nearly two dozen
Saudi cadets after shooting
The U.S. sent home 21 Saudi military
students following an investigation into
a deadly shooting last month by one of
their fellow trainees at the Pensacola
Naval Air Station, an attack that Attorney
General William Barr said was an
act of terrorism driven by some of the
same motivations of the Sept. 11 plot,
reports UNB.
The trainees who were removed had
jihadist or anti-American sentiments on
social media pages or had "contact with
child pornography," including in internet
chat rooms, officials said. None is
accused of having had advance knowledge
of the shooting or helped the 21-
year-old gunman carry it out.
The Justice Department reviewed
whether any of the trainees should face
charges, but concluded that the conduct
did not meet the standards for federal
prosecution, Barr said.
The Dec. 6 shooting at the base in
Pensacola in which Saudi Air Force officer
Mohammed Alshamrani killed three
U.S. sailors and injured eight other people
focused public attention on the presence
of foreign students in American
military training programs and exposed
shortcomings in the screening of cadets.
Monday's resolution singled out misconduct
by individual students but also
allows for continued training of pilots
from Saudi Arabia, an important ally in
the Middle East. "The Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia gave complete and total support
for our counter-terrorism investigation,
and ordered all Saudi trainees to
fully cooperate," Barr said. "This assistance
was critical to helping the FBI
determine whether anyone assisted the
shooter in the attack."
Barr said the kingdom has agreed to
review the conduct of all 21 to see if they
should face military discipline and to
send back anyone the U.S. later determines
should face charges.
Separately, the attorney general on
Monday asked Apple to help extract
data from two iPhones that belonged
to the gunman, including one that
authorities say Alshamrani damaged
with a bullet after being confronted by
law enforcement. Law enforcement
officials left no doubt that Alshamrani
was motivated by jihadist ideology,
saying he visited a New York City
memorial to the attacks of Sept. 11,
2001, over the Thanksgiving holiday
weekend and posted anti-American
and anti-Israeli messages on social
media just two hours before the
shooting. Last Sept. 11, Barr said,
Alshamrani posted a message that
said "the countdown has started."
Officials had earlier said that Alshamrani
hosted a party before the shooting,
where he and others watched videos of
mass shootings. Alshamrani, who also
traveled back and forth between Saudi
Arabia and the U.S., was undergoing
flight training at Pensacola, where foreign
military members routinely receive
instruction.
On the morning of Dec. 6, the gunman
walked into a building on the
grounds of the Navy base and shot his
victims "in cold blood" as Marines who
heard the gunfire from outside yanked a
fire extinguisher off the wall and rushed
to confront him. He was ultimately
killed by a sheriff's deputy during the
rampage.
The gunman shot at a photo of President
Donald Trump and another former
U.S. president and witnesses
reported he was making statements
"critical of American military actions
overseas" during the attack, FBI Deputy
Director David Bowdich said.

ART & CULTURE
WedNeSdAY, jANUARY 15, 2020
8
The Nutcracker and
the Four Realms
A young girl is transported into a magical world of
gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.
Gallery of
the day
Sam Mendes' '1917' is poised for the
biggest bump after only opening
nationwide over the weekend. This
year's class of Oscar best picture
nominees are no box office slouches
— even without Netflix grosses.
Seven of the nine films
nominated Monday in the top
category have earned a combined
$747.2 million domestically,
according to Comscore. There are
no reported grosses for the other
two contenders, Martin Scorsese's
The Irishman and Noah
Baumbach's Marriage Story, since
both are from Netflix.
Regardless, $747 million
represents the second-best showing
for best picture Oscar contenders in
recent memory behind last year's
nominees, which had earned a
collective $1.26 billion domestically
when nominations were announced
on Jan. 22. (Black Panther's North
American earnings alone were $700
million.)
"This year's crop of best picture
nominees represent one of the
highest-grossing groupings in
recent years, and this could
benefit the Feb. 9 Academy
Awards telecast in terms of ratings
because the more people feel they
have a vested interest in the films,
the more likely, theoretically, they
are to watch the Oscars," says Paul
Dergarabedian of Comscore.
A decade ago, the Academy of
Abhishek Bachchan, Navya Naveli Nanda, Agastya Nanda, Rishi Kapoor
and others attended the funeral of Ritu Nanda, entrepreneur and
daughter of late Bollywood actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor. Ritu passed
away on Tuesday in New Delhi. She was 71. Photo: APH Images
Oscars 2020
Best picture Nominees are
no box office slouches
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences —
hoping to stem declining Oscar
ratings — expanded the best picture
category from five to as many as 10
slots in order to include more
commercial fare alongside specialty
titles. The top best picture
contender in terms of box office this
time around is Warner Bros.' Joker,
which has earned $334 million to
date in North America and $1.07
billion globally (the R-rated
superhero pic nabbed 11 Oscar
noms, the most of any film).
That's followed by Sony's Once
Upon a Time in Hollywood, which
has grossed $141.1 million
domestically; Fox and Disney's Ford
v Ferrari ($111.4 million); Sony's
Little Women ($74 million); Amblin
and Universal's 1917 ($39.2
million); Neon's Parasite ($25.4
million) and Fox Searchlight's Jojo
Rabbit ($22 million).
The biggest box office beneficiary
from Monday's Oscar nominations
will be 1917, which opened
nationwide over the weekend.
Some analysts believe the World
War I epic could ultimately gross
north of $130 million domestically,
one of the best showings of all time
for a period war movie.
A best picture Oscar nomination
can also be of huge value overseas.
Little Women, which debuted on
Christmas Day, is also primed to see
a boost from its Oscar noms. Ditto
for Parasite, a South Korean film
which is on its way to becoming one
of the top-grossing foreign-language
films of all time in the U.S.
Jojo Rabbit and Ford v Ferrari
could also add some money to their
coffers, although both are well into
their runs. Once Upon a Time is long
gone from the big screen, while
Joker is winding down.
Two years ago, the films
competing for top Oscar honors had
grossed $380.1 million
domestically at the time
nominations were announced,
preceded by $483.9 million, $606.6
million, $205.1 million, $687.3
million and $620.4 million,
according to Comscore.
Netflix picked up a total of 24
Oscar noms on Monday, the most
of any film company in another
sign of the streamer's meteoric
rise in Hollywood. The company
contends that filmmakers get the
benefit of its global footprint, as
well as a run in indie theaters
willing to carry Netflix titles.
Since first opening in late
November, The Irishman has
played in roughly 2,000 theaters
worldwide, and Marriage Story in
about 1,000 theaters, according to
sources. Both are still available to
watch on the big screen, even while
Netflix declines to provide any
grosses.
Source : gulf news
Release Date:
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Taglines:
Genres:
Also known as:
Runtime:
Country:
Language:
Production:
02 November 2018 (USA)
Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston
Ashleigh Powell
Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley,
Morgan Freeman
In 2018, the legend you know
has a dark side
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
The Nutcracker and the Four
Realms
99 minutes
USA
English
The Mark Gordon Company,
Walt Disney Pictures
Singer Sia confirms
she’s adopted a son
Sia has shared two shocking facts about
herself. The singer has confirmed that she
is a mother and that she is sexually
attracted to American DJ Diplo.
In a new magazine interview for a feature
piece on Diplo, the ‘Cheap Thrills’ hit
maker said that she had adopted a son
while admitting that she is not immune to
her friend/collaborator’s sexual appeal,
reports aceshowbiz.com.
During a phone chat with GQ, Sia she
said she texted the DJ propositioning him
with the offer of a casual relationship.
She also said that she found the ‘Be Right
There’ DJ to be “the sweetest thing in the
world”.
Despite her praises, Sia described Diplo as
“one of the most insecure boys I’ve ever
met”. “He doesn’t think that he’s good
enough at anything.
He has crazy low self-esteem. It’s so
interesting, because he’s one of the most
talented and attractive people in the world.
But he doesn’t know it,” she said.
As for motherhood, the ‘Chandelier’ hit
maker had showed off her interest in
adoption in May 2019.
After watching HBO documentary series
‘FOSTER’, she turned to Twitter to
announce: “Hey dasani from ‘FOSTER’ on
@HBO! I’d like to adopt you we’re just
trying to find you and get my house check
done, etc, but I want you to know you will
have a home with me.” She has since
deleted the tweet.
Source : gulfnews.com
Here's what Huma Qureshi has
to say about her relationship
with the 'pati patni Aur Woh'
director Mudassar Aziz
Rumour mills of actress Huma
Qureshi and the 'Pati Patni Aur Woh'
director Mudassar Aziz's relationship
are doing the rounds from the past
couple of months. Their relationship
grabbed everybody's attention recently
when the actress posted on Instagram
a special birthday note for Mudassar,
who replied with a sweet message in
September last year.
Lately, in an interview when Huma
was asked about their relationship,
she said that she has never spoken
about her personal life. She is very
happy with the way her life is headed,
where she is headed emotionally and
personally, but she chooses not to talk
about it.
Storyline : All Clara wants is a key - a one-of-a-kind key
that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her
late mother. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather
Drosselmeyer's annual holiday party, leads her to the
coveted key-which promptly disappears into a strange and
mysterious parallel world. It's there that Clara encounters a
soldier named Phillip, a gang of mice and the regents who
preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of
Flowers, and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave
the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother
Ginger, to retrieve Clara's key and hopefully return
harmony to the unstable world. |Source: IMDb]
Recently, the actress has not been
shying away from sharing pics with
Aziz on Instagram. The director also
shared a loved-up picture a few days
ago and captioned it as “Make smiles
happen! Let the new year bring into
each one of our lives reasons to
smile... and when we find a reason...
let us hold on to it for dear life! Here’s
looking at #2020 with my favourite
reason to smile @iamhumaq right by
me!”
On the professional front, Huma is set
to mark her Hollywood debut with
Zack Snyder’s 'Army of the Dead'. She
hasn't announced any Bollywood
project yet.
Source : gulf news
H o R o S c o p e
ARIeS
(March 21 - April 20) : Some projects
requiring a lot of thought, which you
may have been working on for a long
time, could well be completed today. Your efforts
are definitely going to be appreciated by those
who matter, Aries, and you might even receive
public acknowledgment of some kind. A rise in
income could be just over the horizon.
TAURUS
(April 21 - May 21) : Inspiration
stemming from other places and other
cultures might direct your passions to a
new creative project of some kind, Taurus. Your mind
is quick and resourceful and your energy high, so
you'll probably have a busy day. You could also be
feeling especially romantic and sexy and desirous to
share all you've been doing with a love partner.
GeMINI
(May 22 - June 21): Some images
deriving from dreams or visions might
provide inspiration for ideas to
redecorate your house, Gemini. You might spend
some time perusing books in order to find ways to put
your ideas to work for you. Then you'll embrace the
task with a passion! Speaking of passion, sex and
romance are also very much on your mind at this
time. Get a lover to help you with your work.
cANceR
(June 22 - July 23): Plans for social events to
take place in your neighborhood might have
you spending a lot of time on the phone today,
Cancer. Or you might be running around in the car taking care
of various errands. This could involve the healing profession in
some way. Whatever it is, you feel especially strongly about it.
A current or potential love partner might also be involved with
your project. Invite this person to dinner.
Leo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): New information
regarding opportunities for career,
business, and personal expansion might
shake up your value system today, Leo. This is a positive
development, although it may be a bit disconcerting for
you right now. Your life could well take a different turn,
starting today. An immediate desire for pleasure could
be satisfied by scheduling a romantic dinner with a lover.
VIRGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): New ideas that
you have been studying over the
past few days might have turned
your mind in a different direction, Virgo. Thus,
you are shifting away from the concepts that
you've always accepted toward other ideas that
you may have just learned. This could lead to
projects of your own, perhaps involving writing
or speaking.
LIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Your logical mind
might try to make rational sense of the
strange metaphysical ideas that are
popping in and out of your head today, Libra. Some
of them might be conclusions drawn from books
you've been reading, but others might actually be
messages from the other side. Write down
whatever insights come your way.
ScoRpIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): A growing sense of
intimacy with a close friend or love
partner is likely to stem from mutual
interests. The two of you might even discuss taking a
long trip together, perhaps to a distant state or foreign
country. This isn't the time to hold back or be too
cautious, Scorpio. Your life is very much on track. If
you want to get away with this person, go for it.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): A powerful romantic
attraction might lead to creative or
artistic inspiration. You should be feeling
especially passionate today, Sagittarius, and your
passions are likely to spill over not only into your
relationships but into your work as well. Whatever you
produce creatively is likely to be so inspired it
impresses even you. Work done on the job should
attract favorable attention from superiors.
cApRIcoRN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): A project initiated
by a group with which you're
affiliated could keep you very busy
today, Capricorn. You might have to spend a lot of
time on the phone or running around in the car to
libraries and bookstores obtaining information. A
close friend or love partner might choose to
accompany you.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): New ideas and concepts
regarding the way you make your living
might come your way today, Aquarius,
which could cause a bit of a shakeup in
your value system. You might decide to tackle an entirely
new profession that you've never considered before.
Books on the subject could prove supportive and
encouraging, as could those closest to you. It's important
to follow your heart at this time. Go for it!
pISceS
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): Group activities and
social events excite your passions today,
Pisces. You'll meet lots of new people, take
on some interesting new projects, and, if you haven't
already, you might even fall in love. A number of
fascinating ideas exchanged at these events might propel
you into a new course of study. Partnerships of any kind
formed today stand a powerful chance of succeeding. In
the evening, go to dinner with your new friends.

SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
9
Mortaza also clarified that he has no ambitions of a fairy tale farewell.
Photo: BCB
Mortaza opts out of national contract
but wants to continue playing
Sports Desk: Mashrafe Mortaza
has decided to withdraw his name
from the list of nationally contracted
cricketers for 2020, BCB president
Nazmul Hasan announced, fuelling
rumours of the 36-year-old's
retirement. Akram Khan, the cricket
operation chairman at BCB, had
recently told Cricbuzz that Mortaza's
contract renewal "largely depends on
him" as the board isn't sure what the
all-rounder is thinking about his
international career, reports
Cricbuzz.
"Mashrafe called us today and said
that he is not interested to take the
national contract. He wants it to be
given to some youngster," Nazmul
Hasan said on Sunday (January 12).
"We wanted to give him a farewell
but now it seems he is not interested.
He wants to continue, even if that
means playing domestic cricket.
Earlier in England, during the World
Cup, I had told him that we want to
give him a farewell match in Dhaka
but now it seems that we have to talk
to him again to know a clear picture."
The arrival of Mortaza's family
India’s Mirza
enjoys winning
return after
having baby
Sports Desk: India's
former doubles world
number one Sania Mirza
made a winning return to
tennis Tuesday at the
Hobart International after
more than two years on
maternity leave, reports
BSS.
The 33-year-old last
played at the China Open
in October 2017 before
injuries and then the birth
of son Izhaan in October
2018 meant an extended
spell on the sidelines.
Mirza, who is married to
the former Pakistan cricket
captain Shoaib Malik,
partnered Ukraine's Nadiia
Kichenok to a 2-6, 7-6
(7/3), 10-3 victory over
Georgia's Oksana
Kalashnikova and Japan's
Miyu Kato in the doubles.
"Today was one of the
most special days of my life
to have my parents and my
little baby boy with me in
my first match after so
long… and we WON our
first round," Mirza tweeted
after her win.
"Feel very grateful for the
love I am receiving..
BELIEF!! Takes you places
YES my baby boy, we did
it."
Mirza, regarded as her
country's greatest women's
tennis player, became the
first Indian to win a WTA
singles title in 2005.
She reached the fourth
round of the US Open in
the same year, and by 2007
was among the women's
top 30. But a wrist injury
caused her to concentrate
on doubles, forging a
partnership with Swiss
great Martina Hingis
which produced three
Grand Slam titles.
She is due to partner
American Rajeev Ram in
the mixed doubles at the
Australian Open next
week.
members for the Dhaka Platoon vs
Chattogram Challengers game on
Monday (January 13) fuelled further
rumours of retirement although the
cricketer, who's coming back from a
14-stitch injury, did not make any
such announcement.
"As far as playing cricket is
concerned, let my decision be my
own. When did I say I want to play in
the national team?" Mortaza said
after the game. "I was a national
contracted cricketer till yesterday but
that is not the case now. I don't think
it will be like the board will select a
captain and then select the team.
What the selectors think, they will do.
If BCB asks to quit as a captain I will
leave right now."
Mortaza also clarified that he has
no ambitions of a fairy tale farewell,
that's been publicly offered to him by
Nazmul Hasan, and that he just
wants to continue playing cricket at
the moment, be it for the national
team or not.
"There was a time when I thought
about having a farewell game but at
this point in my career, I don't feel the
need of it," he said. "Maybe some
players want to leave when they are
at their peak while some keep playing
because they enjoy the game. Now it
could be the national team or in
another place. A player does not play
only aiming for the national team. I
want to play cricket: Dhaka League, I
have BPL too. I am enjoying where I
am playing. Selectors will think about
the national team. I think I have that
freedom to play as long as I want. I
won't retire if anyone insists."
For someone who can opt to play
cricket with 14 stitches just for the
love of the game, it must be difficult
to say goodbye. And more so after
living a life in the middle of the
sport for more than 18 years, which
saw him undergo eight operations
on his knee just to prolong his
career. Mortaza has to retire
someday and he will do that sooner
than we think. "Cricket is not bigger
than life but obviously it's a big part
of my life," he summed it up after
his comeback game in the ongoing
Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier
League.
SLC to terminate coach
Hathurusingha’s contract
Sports Desk: Sri Lanka Cricket has
decided to terminate Chandika
Hathurusingha's contract as head coach,
while Hathurusingha has moved for
compensation through the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS), following
months of deadlock, reports Cricinfo.
Although SLC had suspended
Hathurusingha as far back as August last
year, they had continued to pay him for
several months, while lawyers traded
letters and the board sent Hathurusingha
a list of alleged failings as head coach. The
charges levelled by SLC include failure to
adequately prepare the Sri Lanka side for
various assignments, and failure to
maintain good relationships with players.
The board has finally resolved to
terminate Hathurusingha's contract, but
the possibility that they will have to pay
Hathurusingha a substantial amount for
early termination remains. His contract
was due to run until December this year.
"At the last executive committee
meeting, on Friday, it was decided that the
contract would be terminated," board
CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. "I
can't say by memory when we stopped the
payments to [Hathurusingha], but I
believe it was somewhere around October
last year." The board's decision came after
CAS, a global sporting body that aims to
settle disputes related to sports via
arbitration, sent them a letter listing
Hathurusingha's demands. De Silva
confirmed that SLC is bound to the CAS
process, and the board is now understood
to be required to respond. This is likely
because Hathurusingha's contract with
the board had stipulated that CAS could
become involved if something like an early
termination did eventuate. CAS will
facilitate arbitration, and will effectively
function as the intermediary between the
parties for as long as this process lasts.
Hathurusingha's demands, conveyed to
SLC by CAS, are understood to include not
only loss of income from the early
termination, but also compensation for
damages to his reputation. He had
remained in Sri Lanka through the early
months of his legal tussle with SLC, but
had returned home to Australia after the
board's payments ceased.
Hathurusingha is the third head coach
in the last five years whose tenure with Sri
Lanka was ended before the contracted
term was served. Marvan Atapattu and
Graham Ford were both elbowed out of
the position in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
In 2013, SLC had also had to pay Geoff
Marsh a substantial settlement after the
board had terminated his contract early in
2012.
Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to terminate Chandika Hathurusingha's contract
as head coach.
Photo: AP
Barcelona open record gap over
Real in Deloitte Money League
Sports Desk: La Liga
leaders Barcelona have
chalked up a victory over
rivals Real Madrid after
establishing a record gap
between first and second
place in the latest Deloitte
Football Money League,
reports BSS.
Barcelona topped the
2018/2019 earnings table
with 840.8 million euros
($937 million), a record
83.5 million euros ahead
of Real (757.3 million
euros), while Manchester
United, the highest-placed
British club in third,
earned 711.5 million euros
(o627.1 million) for
2018-19.
Reigning German
champions Bayern
Munich were fourth on
660.1 million euros.
Consulting firm Deloitte
suggest United's grip on
the number one status
among English clubs is
under serious threat next
year from Premier League
champions Manchester
City and Champions
League holders Liverpool.
Barcelona leading the
pack is down to bringing
merchandising and
licensing activities inhouse,
according to
Deloitte.
"Barca are a clear
example of a club adapting
to changing market
conditions, reducing the
reliance on broadcast
revenue and focusing on
growing revenues within
its control," Dan Jones,
partner in the Sports
Business Group at
Deloitte, told the Press
Association news agency.
"The club's commercial
Jofra Archer
abuser banned
for two years in
New Zealand
Sports Desk: The man
who racially abused
England bowler Jofra
Archer during a Test
against the Black Caps was
banned on Tuesday from
international and
domestic matches in New
Zealand for two years,
reports BSS.
Archer was targeted by
racial abuse on the final
day of the first Test
between England and New
Zealand in November.
Police tracked down a
28-year-old Auckland
man who admitted
responsibility for the
abuse and was issued with
a verbal warning for using
insulting language, New
Zealand Cricket
spokesman Anthony
Crummy said.
Crummy said the man
has been banned from all
international and
domestic fixtures in New
Zealand until 2022 and if
he breached the ban he
"could face further police
action".
"We'd again like to
extend our apologies to
Jofra and the England
team management for
such an unsavoury
incident and reiterate once
more that this type of
behaviour is completely
unacceptable," Crummy
said.
"We want to thank the
police for their efforts in
identifying the person
responsible, and for
making it clear that this
type of behaviour will not
be minimised."
Crummy said the man
has been banned from all
international and
domestic fixtures in New
Zealand until 2022 and if
he breached the ban he
"could face further police
action".
The Barbados-born
bowler tweeted after the
match it was "a bit
disturbing hearing racial
insults today whilst
battling to help save my
team".
The 24-year-old said the
abuser was a solitary
spectator making
comments "about the
colour of my skin".
operation generated
383.5m euros of revenue,
which is more than the
total revenue of the 12thplaced
club in this year's
Money League.
"With the club expecting
further growth of 30
million euros in
commercial revenues and
total revenue of almost
880m euros in 2019-20,
we expect them to retain
the top spot in next year's
edition."
United's place as
number one English club -
a position they have held
since the first Money
League survey in 1996-97 -
is in peril because they are
forecasting reduced
revenues of between o560-
580 million for 2019-20,
partly because they failed
to qualify for this season's
Champions League.
City, who are sixth in the
list while Liverpool are
seventh, trail United by
just under 101 million
euros (o89 million).
An indication of how
much ground Abu Dhabibacked
City have made up
is that they were o200
million adrift of United 10
years ago.
However, they were
overtaken in the latest
study by Qatari-owned
Paris Saint-Germain, who
moved into fifth place.
"United have been the
top English club since we
started the Money League
but that could come under
a bit of pressure when we
do it in 2021," Jones said.
"That will cover this
season when Liverpool are
having a tremendous
season on the pitch, so we
think there's a possibility
of United losing that
number one position.
Barcelona have chalked up a victory over rivals Real Madrid.
"Part of that will ride on
how the rest of this season
goes, if City or Liverpool go
deep into the Champions
League.
"If you think about
where we were 10 years
ago, the idea that City
would overhaul United in
financial terms would have
seemed far-fetched."
In all there are eight
Premier League clubs in
the Money League top 20,
more than any other
country, and all the clubs
hail from Europe's big five
leagues of England,
France, Germany, Italy
and Spain.
Tottenham, beaten in
last season's Champions
League final, have
achieved their highestever
position of eighth,
with revenue of 521.1
million euros (o459.3
million).
Photo: AP
Pacers hand 76ers sixth
straight road defeat
Sports Desk: T.J. Warren scored 21
points and produced a big block with 29
seconds left Monday as the Indiana Pacers
extended the Philadelphia 76ers' road
woes with a 101-95 NBA victory, reports
BSS.
In a battle of teams jockeying for playoff
position in the Eastern Conference,
Indiana notched their second win in 14
days over the 76ers, handing Philadelphia
their sixth straight defeat on the road.
The Sixers have lost two of three since
Joel Embiid was sidelined by a left hand
injury and fell to 25-16 - just a hair behind
the 25-15 Pacers for fifth place in the East.
The Pacers rallied from an 11-point
third-quarter deficit to snatch the victory,
withstanding a double-double of 24 points
and 14 rebounds from 76ers guard Ben
Simmons.
Malcolm Brogdon, who had played just
eight minutes since December 22 because
of strep throat and a sore back, added 21
points, seven rebounds and nine assists for
the Pacers, who had knotted the score at
69-69 heading into the fourth quarter.
"We just hung in there," Pacers coach
Nate McMillan said. "It was obvious that
our guys who came back tonight didn't
have a rhythm and that first group didn't
have a rhythm and really struggled for
three quarters. "I thought this was a good
win in the sense that we didn't play well
and we were able to stay with it."
Philadelphia's Josh Richardson did what
he could, scoring nine straight points to
put the 76ers up 95-94 with 2:03
remaining.
Indiana's Myles Turner made a pair of
free throws, and Brogdon added another
from the line to make it 97-95.
Warren then blocked a three-point
attempt by Tobias Harris as the Pacers
held on.
The Boston Celtics, second in the East
behind the Milwaukee Bucks, notched a
convincing 113-101 victory over the
Chicago Bulls.
The Celtics turned an early 8-8 tie into a
16-8 lead and never looked back, leading
by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Jayson Tatum scored 21 points to lead
six Celtics players in double figures. Jaylen
Brown added 19, Enes Kanter 15 and
Kemba Walker 14.
It was close in Detroit, where the New
Orleans Pelicans beat the Pistons 117-110
in overtime.
Lonzo Ball scored the first five points of
overtime as the Pelicans seized control. He
finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and
nine assists for New Orleans, who were led
by Jahlil Okafor's 25 points.
Derrick Rose led the Pistons with 23
points but went 0-for-2 and coughed up
two turnovers in overtime.
Barcelona sack Valverde and
appoint Setien as successor
Sports Desk: Spanish
champions Barcelona have
sacked their coach Ernesto
Valverde and appointed
Quique Setien as his
replacement, the club
announced on Monday,
reports BSS.
The decision to remove
Valverde was confirmed
following a board meeting
that lasted more than four
hours at Camp Nou on
Monday afternoon.
Barca are top of La Liga
but have won only one of
their last five matches.
Valverde is the first coach
the club has sacked midseason
since Louis van
Gaal in 2003.
"FC Barcelona and
Ernesto Valverde have
reached an agreement to
terminate the contract that
united both parties," read a
club statement released on
Monday night.
Setien will be presented
in a press conference at
Camp Nou at 2.30pm local
time (1330 GMT) on
Tuesday.
"Barcelona and Quique
Setien have reached an
agreement for the latter to
become first team coach
until 30 June 2022," the
club said.
"Setien is one of the most
experienced coaches in
Spanish football," it added.
"Throughout his career he
has been a proponent of
possession based,
attacking football that has
been attractive to the fans."
His first game in charge
will be at home to Granada
on Sunday. Barcelona play
Napoli in the last 16 of the
Champions League next
month and Real Madrid in
the league at the start of
March.
Setien has made no
secret of his admiration for
the stylistic traditions of
Barcelona, with the 61-
year-old also renowned for
favouring an exciting,
offensive mode of football.
A former player of
Atletico Madrid and
Racing Santander, he was
circled as a potential Barca
coach during a particularly
successful period in charge
of Real Betis.
Setien led Betis to a sixthplace
finish in 2018 and
qualification for the
Europa League but,
despite overseeing a
thrilling 4-3 victory at
Camp Nou early the
following season, results
tailed off.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS
WednesdAY, JAnuArY 15, 2020
10
Asian shares rise on optimism
about us-China trade deal
recently Modhumoti Bank Ltd signed an Mou with Bank of Huzhou Co. Limited represented by May
International Trade services Limited for opening of rMB nastro accountat the Bank Head Office
premises. Md. shafiul Azam, Managing director & CeO of Modhumoti Bank Limited and syed
Aminul Kabir, CeO of May International Trade services Limited signed the agreement on behalf of
their respective organizations. Among others, Kazi Ahsan Khalil, dMd & Chief Business Officer,
shahnawaj Chowdhury, dMd & Chief Operating Officer, Fahmida saeed saki, Head of International
divisionand high officials of both the organizations were present.
Photo: Courtesy
saudis pledge to maintain oil market stability
Saudi Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz
Ben Salman said Monday the kingdom
has taken every step to secure its oil
facilities and guarantee market
stability amid rising regional tensions,
reports BSS.
The US drone strike that killed
Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on
January 3 has exacerbated fears of
broader conflict in a region that has
seen attacks on ships and Saudi oil
facilities in the last year.
"We have taken all the possible
precautions," Prince Abdelaziz told the
opening of the 2020 International
Petroleum Technology Conference in
the eastern Saudi city of Dhahran.
The minister said Saudi Arabia's oil
production would hit 9.77 million
barrels per day in January and
February. In December, in the
presence of the OPEC cartel and 10
other oil producing countries, the
kingdom announced it would cut its
production in order to support prices.
Just before Saudi oil facilities were
attacked in September, Saudi Arabia was
pumping 9.9 million barrels per day, or
nearly 10 percent of world demand.
"There exists no other surer and more
responsible source (of oil) than the
kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Prince
Abdelaziz said. "When the kingdom's oil
facilities were attacked several months
ago, we acted quickly and have
maintained stability of oil supplies and
that's what counts for consumers," the
minister said. "We protected the world
economy," he added.
Drone and missile attacks on Saudi
Aramco oil facilities in September,
blamed on Iran, slashed crude
production from the world's top oil
exporter by almost half.
And a string of attacks on vessels in
the troubled waters of the Gulf last
year, which Washington and its allies
blamed on Iran, also stoked fears for
the security of global supply.
Prince Abdelaziz said the September
crisis "showed the Saudi oil sector's
flexibility and the Saudi leadership's
long-term strategic vision, as well as
Aramco's quality and strength."
Saudi Aramco last month floated its
shares on the stock exchange for the
first time but was hit more than a week
ago by a panicky sell off amid Iranian
vows of retaliation for Soleimani's
killing.
Asian shares followed
Wall Street higher on
Tuesday amid optimism
that a trade deal between
the U.S. and China will be
a boon for the regional
economy, reports BSS.
Japan's benchmark
Nikkei 225 rose 0.7% in
morning trading to
24,026.10, while
Australia's S and P/ASX
200 added 0.6% to
6,946.80. South Korea's
Kospi gained 0.8% to
2,246.88. Hong Kong's
Hang Seng edged up 0.1%
to 28,990.45, while the
Shanghai Composite was
up nearly 0.2% at
3,120.72.
Monday's rally on Wall
Street added to gains from
last week driven by an
easing of tension between
the U.S. and Iran.
Investors are now looking
ahead to the signing of an
initial trade deal between
Washington and Beijing
and the potential for future
talks.
The world's largest
economies are expected to
sign a so-called "Phase 1"
trade agreement on
Wednesday. It is being
viewed as an opening to
future negotiations that
will deal with more
complicated trade issues.
Investors'
"unquenchable appetite
for stocks is in hyperdrive"
thanks to the thawing
tensions between the U.S.
and both China and Iran,
Stephen Innes, chief Asia
market strategist at
AxiTrader, said in a report.
Even a partial deal
between Washington and
Beijing should remove
much of the uncertainty
that has weighed on
companies and investors,
at least until after the U.S.
presidential election in
November, said Scott
Ladner, chief investment
officer for Horizon
Investments in Charlotte.
"We don't think the tariff
overhang is going to be
very relevant over the next
nine months," Ladner
said. "Acting tough with
China and imposing tariffs
two years before an
election is a very different
story than doing it two
months before an
election."
The S and P 500 index
rose 22.78 points, or 0.7%,
to 3,288.13 on Monday.
The Nasdaq composite,
which is heavily weighted
with technology stocks,
climbed 95.07 points, or
1%, to 9,273.93. The S and
P and Nasdaq previously
set new highs last
Thursday.
The Dow Jones
Industrial Average gained
83.28 points, or 0.3%, to
28,907.05. The Russell
2000 index of smaller
company stocks picked up
11.96 points, or 0.7%, to
1,669.61.
Across markets, worries
about a recession have
faded since last year as
central banks cut interest
rates and pumped
stimulus into the global
economy. In addition, the
promise of the trade deal
between the U.S. and
China has helped lift
markets in recent weeks,
easing investors' concerns
of further escalation in the
costly conflict.
Full details of the pact
are due to be released after
the agreement is signed at
the White House on
Wednesday.
Chipmakers were among
the gainers in the
technology sector
Monday. Nivida climbed
3.1% and Micron
Technology rose 1.4%. The
sector is particularly
sensitive to developments
in trade relations because
many of the companies
rely on China for sales and
supply chains. Apple also
rose, closing 2.1% higher.
Industrial and
communication services
companies also made solid
gains. General Electric
rose 3.9% and Facebook
added 1.8%.
Electric car maker Tesla
jumped 9.8%, closing
above $500 for the first
time.
Netflix climbed 3% as
the streaming video
service earned two best
picture nominations for
the 92nd annual Academy
Awards. Both Martin
Scorsese's "The Irishman"
and Noah Baumbach's
"Marriage Story" are
contenders.
Walton AC sales go up by
216pc in 2019
The company targeted 2.5 lakh AC sales in 2020
The local electronics giant Walton
Group has posted 216 percent growth
in its air conditioner or AC sales in 2019
against the previous year's AC sales,
says a press release.
In this context, Walton and Marcel,
two brands of the local multinational
electronics company, set a target of
selling 2.5 lakh of AC in this year. The
target is about 187 percent higher than
their previous year's AC sales.
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited
(WHIL) Director S M Mahbubul Alam
announced the AC sales target for 2020
while addressing the 'Mega
Achievement Celebration and Best AC
Branding Award' at the Walton
Corporate Office in the capital on
January 7, 2020.
The director named the target set for
2020 as "Lakkho Moder 2.5 Lakh."
At the day-long function, some 13
area managers, 3 zonal managers and
19 department heads of Walton and
Marcel were honoured with Mega
Achievement Celebration Award for
their outstanding contribution in
achieving 216 percent growth in AC
sales in 2019. In addition, 9 distributors
and plaza managers also received 'Best
TV Branding Award' for conducting
extra-ordinary advertisement of the
'Walton AC Exchange' and 'Digital
Campaign Season-5' during last year.
During that time, WHIL Chairman
SM Nurul Alam Rezvi, Vice-Chairman
SM Shamsul Alam, Managing Director
SM Ashraful Alam, Directors Manjurul
Alam Ovee, Mahbub Alam Mridul and
Rifa Tasnia Swarna were also present.
Among others, WHIL's Chief
Marketing Coordinator Eva Rezwana,
Walton Distributor Marketing's Head
Amdadul Haque Sarker, Plaza Sales
and Development Division Head
Mohammad Rayhan, Marcel Head of
Sales Md. Shakhawat Hossen,
Executive Directors SM Zahid Hasan,
Humayun Kabir, Uday Hakim, Golam
Murshed, Tanvir Rahman, Sirajul
Islam, Colonel (retd) Shahadat Hossain
and Amin Khan, Walton International
Business Unit President Edward Kim,
Deputy Executive Director Firoj Alam
and other senior officials of the
company were present.
Addressing the function, SM
Mahbubul Alam said, "A team of local
and foreign experts of Walton AC
research and development department
has been working to deliver world-class
and energy efficient AC to the
customers. Already, the quality of
Walton and Marcel brand sales AC is
increased by 46 percent in 2019 while
the energy efficiency is gone up by over
50 percent. As a result, sales of the two
brands were gone up by 216 percent in
last year."
The director also said that this year,
they targeted to sale out 2.5 lakh units
of AC. To meet the target, new models
of air conditioner with energy efficient
inverter, ionizer and IoT based smart
technologies will be released in every
months of the current year. In addition,
4 and 5-ton cassette and ceiling type AC
will be marketed targeting hospital,
school, college, mosque, madrasa and
sorts of medium range houses or
rooms, he informed.
Walton AC Department's Chief
Executive Officer Md. Tanvir Rahman
said, the annual market size of AC in
Bangladesh has been increased by
around 1 lakh units to 4.2 lakh units in
2019.
This year, he noted that the annual
demands or market size will be jumped
to about 5.5 lakh units. Thus, Walton
this year eyes to capture 50 percent of
the total annual market of AC,
mentioning it he added that Walton AC
is currently holding 22 percent share of
the annual domestic market.
In Walton AC, perfect BTUs are
ensured. The inclusion of air equalizer
technology in Walton ACs keeps the
room dirt and bacteria free along with
cooling. The Smart and Inverter ACs of
Walton save up to 60 percent
electricity. The Turbomood of the
compressor of Inverter ACs cools the
room reducing its temperature quickly.
In this technology, the speed of the
compressor is controlled according to
the temperature of the room through
special programming of
microprocessor installed on the PCB or
motherboard of the compressor.
World's recognized environmentalfriendly
HFC free R410A refrigerant is
used on Walton ACs. Rust-resistant
Golden Fin Color Technology is being
used in condensers of Walton ACs
which ensures the longevity of the
cooling product.
Besides, accurate BTU and six-month
replacement guarantee led Walton ACs
to secure the top choice of customers.
First security Islami Bank Ltd. inaugurated Barishal zonal office at M. Jahan Tower (3rd floor),
Fallpotri, Port road, Holding # 790, Barishal City Corporation, Barishal sadar, Barishal recently
with a view to providing shariah based modern banking services in a greater extent to its clients.
syed Waseque Md Ali, Managing director of the Bank inaugurated the activities of zonal office.
Among others, Abdul Aziz, Additional Managing director, Md. rezaul Islam, Barishal Zonal Head,
Md. H. A sayem, Manager, Barishal Branch, First security Islami Bank Ltd. along with local elites
were present on the occasion. A doa Mahfil was organized in this regard.
Photo: Courtesy
Truenoord leases two further
ATr 72-600s to us-Bangla
Walton and Marcel AC department's higher officials receive 'Mega Achievement Celebration Award' for
their outstanding contribution in achieving 216 percent growth in AC sales in the last year at the Walton
Corporate Office in the capital on recently.
Photo: Courtesy
TrueNoord, the specialist
regional aircraft lessor, has
placed two more ATR 72-
600 aircraft on new longtermoperating
leases with
expanding Bangladeshi
domestic and international
operator, US-Bangla. The
aircraft have been financed
by Citibank, Société Général
and Royal Bank of
Canadaunder TrueNoord's
new warehouse finance
facility. Milbank, Tweed,
Hadley & McCloy LLP
represented TrueNoord and
Clifford Chance advised the
banks on the financing side
of the transaction, a press
release said
These new aircraft
supplement the recently remarketed
ATR72-600
which TrueNoord
transitioned from HOP! in
October and bring
TrueNoord's total fleet
placed with US-Bangla to
three ATRs. This aircraft
type now shapes the
backbone of the airline's
modern regional fleet.
Anne-Bart Tieleman, CEO
- TrueNoord says "We are
delighted to further support
US-Bangla's fleet
modernisation programme.
Our recent deliveries to
them form part of a growing
footprint for TrueNoord
across the Indian sub-
Continent. We are currently
working on a variety of
transactions where the
flexibility and operational
route
expansion
opportunities provided by
regional aircraft suit the
growth ambitions of several
airlines. These two
turboprops increase our
number to fourteen ATRs
out of an aggregate fleet of
49 regional aircraft
operating worldwide."
Mohammed Abdullah Al
Mamun, Managing Director
of US-Bangla Airlines
remarks "These newvintage
ATR72-600s are
needed to meet the growing
demand for domestic travel
across our route network.
We are very pleased to work
with TrueNoord as a
specialist lessor in the
regional sector - their
expertise with turboprop
aircraft perfectly
complements our business
strategy."
Headquartered in Dhaka
and flying to sixteen
destinations, US-Bangla has
a long history of operating
regional aircraft across their
domestic skies.Currently
their network covers eight
cities: Dhaka, Chattogram,
Cox's Bazar, Jashore, Sylhet,
Saidpur, Rajshahi and
Barishal. TrueNoord is
proud to support their fleet
up-grade programme and
work with them to develop
extra capacity for an
increasingly buoyant local
market.
The economic and
logistical benefits of
turboprop aircraft provide
the best solution where local
geography is inhospitable
and shorter runways are
commonplace. TrueNoord's
portfolio of turboprops is
operating across India,
Bangladesh and South East
Asia improving connectivity
and commerce. The
Company is seeing
significant growth across all
parts of Asia, and as air
travel becomes more
affordable and the regional
airport infrastructure
expands, this increase is set
to continue.

MISCELLANEOUS
WEDNEsDAY, JANuArY 15, 2020
11
Bangladesh National service Ekota Kalyan Parishad, Central Committee organized a program in
front of National Press Club yesterday to free from curse of unemployment.
Photo : TBT
NightCare for floating sex workers
and their children launched
Tabith conducts
election
campaign
DHAKA : BNP-backed
mayoral candidate for
Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) Tabith
Awal yesterday conducted
election campaign in city's
Uttor Badda area.
"We have started our
campaign formally, we are
getting positive response
from voters," he said.
Tabith started Tuesday's
campaign from Fuji Tower
at Uttor Badda of the area
for the five days. Later, he
carried out campaign at
Moddo Badda Bazar, Merul
Badda and ward no 37, 38,
39, 40 areas.
During the campaign, he
exchanged views, greetings
with voters and urged to cast
their vote for "sheaf of
paddy".
Iraqis worry us-Iran tensions
are eclipsing their protests
Young Iraqis who drove mass protests
demanding sweeping political reforms are
worried that the conflict between the U.S. and
Iran, which is playing out in part on Iraqi soil,
is killing their momentum, reports UNB.
Even before the U.S. drone attack that killed
Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the 4-monthold
protests against government corruption,
poor services and rising Iranian influence in
state affairs were beset by internal divisions. A
violent security crackdown heightened
tensions, leading to hundreds of deaths and
thousands of injuries as well as targeted killings
of sympathizers.
And in the stormy aftermath of the U.S.
drone strike that also killed top Iraqi militia
commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, avoiding
another war in Iraq became a top priority for
state officials as they scrambled to contain
hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
"We are afraid that the uprising is being
forgotten and (officials) are focusing on things
we don't want, not our main goals," said Noor,
an activist in Baghdad's Tahrir Square who
asked to be identified only by her first name,
fearing reprisal, like all other protesters
interviewed for this story. "On the other hand,
we are trying to be calm and keep people on the
street to make the point that we are not with
the Americans or the Iranians. We are with
Iraq."
There are hopeful signs as Iran and the U.S.
appeared to back down - at least in the short
term - after Tehran retaliated for Soleimani's
killing by firing missiles at two Iraqi bases
housing American troops. No one was seriously
injured and Iran was unexpectedly forced to
shift gears to manage the fallout from its
accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner
filled with Iranians.
Nevertheless, the issue of U.S. troop
withdrawal in response to the attack that killed
Soleimani minutes after he landed at Baghdad
airport has monopolized Iraqi politics, with
caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi
openly calling for their ouster.
DHAKA: NightCare, a night time
shelter for floating sex workers and
their children, was launched at Mugda
in the capital on Monday night.
INCIDIN Bangladesh launched the
first ever centre supported by Saving
Moses, a USA-based NGO.
Sarah Bowling, President of Saving
Moses, inaugurated the shelter at a
Iqvmv- R: Z: 31/2020
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ceremony. Initiated by Saving Moses,
such shelters are now in operation in
countries such as India, Afghanistan,
Cambodia, Thailand and Angola.
Attending the event as the chief guest,
Sarah Bowling said, she took the
initiative out of profound love for
children. I want to do more for the
children. Necessary supports from
others will encourage me in this regard,
she observed. Chaired by AKM
Mustaque Ali, executive director of
INCIDIN Bangladesh, Lindy Hickmen,
a USA-based development activist,
Nasima Begum, programme liaison
manager of Saving Moses, Mushfiqur
Rahman, operations chief of INCIDIN
Bangladesh, spoke at the event.
Community-based Child
Protection Committee
(CBCPC) members were also
present on the occasion.
Ten children (aged under
5) and their mothers will be
allowed to stay at night at the
shelter where they will get
food, health, rehabilitation
and counseling services free
of cost. The centre was built
mainly for children. But
mothers will get chance to
stay there for the best
interest of their minor aged
children.
rabbi new convener of uK
unit of Bangabandhu
Parishad
DHAKA : Md Rabbi Alam
was made yesterday as new
convener of Bangabandhu
Parishad of the United
Kingdom (UK) unit.
Member of Awami League
Advisory Council Dr SA
Malek made the
announcement, reports BSS
Malek urged the newly
elected convener to take
preparation to celebrate the
'Mujib Year' centrally in
America, marking the birth
centenary of the Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Flight operations
resume after six hours
at Dhaka airport
DHAKA : Flight operations
at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport
resumed on Tuesday
morning after six hours of
disruption caused by thick
fog, reports UNB.
A flight of Biman
Bangladesh Airlines took off
from Shahjalal airport at
9:40am for Kuala Lumpur,
said airport sources.
Flights on domestic routes
remained suspended since
3:30am, Beni Madhab
Biswas, deputy director of
Dhaka airport, told UNB.
Earlier in the morning,
four international flights
were diverted to Kolkata.
Dense fog often disrupts
operations at the country's
airports during winter.
sacked sI held for cheating
people in Cumilla
CUMILLA : Police on
Tuesday arrested a sacked
sub-inspector from Dhaka's
Khilgaon area for cheating
people by introducing
himself as top ranked police
officer, reports UNB.
The arrestee was identified as
Fakhruddin Md Azad, of Bakui
village in Laksam upazila.
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WEDNESDAy, DHAkA, JANUARy 15, 2020, MAgH 1, 1426 BS, JAMADI-UL AWAL 18, 1441 HIJRI
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing a conference of Bangladesh Envoys to the Middle East at Abu
Dhabi yesterday.
Photo : TBT
‘Pro-AL’ officials got election
duty, alleges BNP
DHAKA : BNP on
Tuesday alleged that "pro-
Awami League" officials
have been given the responsibility
for conducting the
elections to two Dhaka city
corporations billed for
January 30.
"We know those having
pro-AL backgrounds given
the responsibility for holding
elections to the two city
corporations. We also know
who went to a minister for
getting approval for a vehicle
and who took the government
land for getting
permission for one's own
school," said BNP secretary
general Mirza Fakhrul
Islam Alamgir, reports
UNB.
Speaking at a programme
at BNP chairperson's
Gulshan office, he further
said, "Those who lack ethical
values have been given
charges to conduct voting
through EVMs. Most countries
have already rejected
these machines as those can
INTERESTING NEWS DESK
The village of Mödlareuth in south
Germany, straddles the border between
the two federal states of Bavaria and
Thuringia. For more than 140 years, this
border, which manifests itself in the form
a small stream, made little difference to
the daily life of the local populace. There
was just one school and one restaurant,
both on Thuringia, and the villagers went
to the same church in the neighboring
Bavarian municipality of Töpen.
But after the end of World War 2, political
boundaries that meant little before
became the source of growing tension.
Germany was divided into four occupation
zones and divided between the Allies
(United States, Britain, France and the
Soviet Union), their boundaries drawn
along the territorial boundaries of 19thcentury
German states and provinces.
be manipulated."
The BNP leader said their
party is against the use of
electronic voting machines
(EVMs) in the city polls as it
thinks people's verdict will
not be reflected if the voting
is held with the machines.
About Monday's by-polls
to Chattogram-8 constituency,
he said voters
were not allowed to go to
the polling stations as the
ruling party supports
exploded hand bombs and
attacked people with sticks.
"Many people may say we
couldn't prevent such acts.
How the gentlemen and
common people will tackle
the hooligans and those
resort to terrorism. This is
the reality. Common voters
don't engage in violence
and they want to cast their
votes, but they aren't
allowed to do so," Fakhrul
observed.
He alleged that the government
is turning
Bangladesh into a failed
state by snatching people's
voting rights.
The BNP leader, however,
urged their party people not
to get frustrated. "Never
give up, no matter how
much suffering, pains and
repressions you are going
through. The people of the
country will stand up and
put up a resistance as they
did repeatedly in the past."
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi
Help Cell arranged the programme
and provided
financial assistance to the
family members of the
party's 10 leaders who were
either subjected to enforced
disappearance, killing or
maiming by law enforcers
and ruling party 'cadres'.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami
League has long been
resorting to serious repressive
acts using the state
machinery to hang onto
power by 'restoring' oneparty
rule.
"They (govt) turned the
entire country into a torture
Mödlareuth: The German Village
Divided by The Cold War
Then talks between the Western Allies
and the Soviets broke down, and two
major regions emerged—East Germany,
occupied by the Soviets, and West
Germany occupied by the rest of the
Allies.
A new border was drawn up. Anything
that came in the way was bulldozed.
Mödlareuth, with its community split
between the two states, found themselves
in a peculiar position. A 10-yard buffer
zone was set up along the stream that
people once walked back and forth at will.
Now they had show papers each time they
crossed. Nearly a decade later, the border
became more tangible, more permanent
and more restricting.
In 1966, East Germany started building
a 1,300 kilometers-long Inner German
border that ran from the Baltic Sea to
Czechoslovakia, right through the middle
of the small farming community.
cell. Those of us took to the
streets protesting the government's
misdeeds, many
of them were made disappeared
and went missing
after being picked up by law
enforcers and many others
were killed or sent to jail,"
he alleged.
The BNP leader turned
emotional pointing at the
children present at the programme
whose fathers
remained missing for a long
time. "These children
always think their fathers
will return while mothers
wait to get back their children
and wives wait to get
back their beloved husbands.
This is an unbearable
and suffocating situation."
He bemoaned that
though the ruling party is
carrying out 'serious repression'
on their opponents,
they never have any repentance
out of their arrogance
of power. "Dictators are
never remorseful."
Be devoted in
innovation,
Joy to ICT
officials
DHAKA : Prime Minister's
ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb
Wazed Joy yesterday urged
ICT officials to be devoted in
innovation, not to replicate
the innovations of others in
the ICT sector.
He came up with the call
while addressing a viewexchange
meeting on activities,
achievements and progresses
of different agencies
of ICT Division held at ICT
Tower here.
State Minister for ICT
Division Zunaid Ahmed
Palak handed over the Asian-
Oceanian Computing
Industry Organization's
(ASOCIO) ICT Education
Award to Joy at the function.
"We've to be dedicated in
innovation without following
others. Bangladesh is becoming
a role model of ICT across
the world and the award is an
acknowledgement of this,"
the ICT adviser said, calling
upon the ICT officials to
adopt the best global practices
in the country's ICT sector.
He greeted State Minister
for ICT Division Zunaid
Ahmed Palak and the ICT
officials for achieving the ICT
award.
Joy observed the 'Digital
Opinion Monitoring System'
introduced recently by the
ICT Division following the
instruction of the Cabinet
Division. "This system will
play an important role in
improving the services of the
ICT Division," he added.
PM leaves Abu
Dhabi for home
ABU DHABI : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
on Tuesday left here for home wrapping up her
three-day official visit to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) to attend the "Abu Dhabi
SustainabilityWeek" and "Zayed Sustainability
Prize" ceremony, reports UNB.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines
carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage
took off from the Abu Dhabi International
Airport at 6:05pm (local time).
Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE
Muhammad Imran saw her off at the airport.
The flight is scheduled to reach Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at
11:59pm (Bangladesh time).
During the visit, delegations of DP World led
by its Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem,
Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) headed
by its Chief Executive Officer Saif Humaid
AL Falasi and member of the ruling family of
Dubai, UAE Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al
Maktoum MAK separately met Sheikh Hasina
on Monday.
Besides, a team of eminent UAE businesspeople
also called on the Prime Minister.
AMemorandum of Understanding
(Addendum to the previous MoU)was signed
between Emirates National Oil Company and
the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources, Bangladesh in the presence of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On Monday evening, the Prime Minister
joined a conference ofnine Bangladeshi envoys
working in the Middle East countries at her
place of residence, Hotel Shangri-La here.
Help govt protect human
rights, Anisul urges all
DHAKA : Mentioning that the government
has taken many initiatives to
protect human rights in Bangladesh,
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday
urged all, including non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), to come forward
to supplement its efforts in this
regard.
He made the call while addressing
an award distribution ceremony at
Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in
the capital, reports UNB.
Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF)
organised the event in association with
UKAid, Canada and Sweden Sverige.
A total of 10 human rights activists
were awarded at the event for their
outstanding contributions to protecting
human rights in the country.
The minister said Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman had tried to establish an
exploitation-free society but he could
not materialise it as he was assassinated
in 1975. "Now, his daughter Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to
ensure human rights in all spheres," he
said.
He also said there are freedom of
press and expression, and human
rights in Bangladesh. "To fully establish
human rights, the government has
set up the National Human Rights
Commission. It has also signed treaties
with all international human rights
organisations," he added.
The government does not want to
keep a single case of repression pending
for long, Anisul said, urging all to
come forward to ensure human rights
in the country. MJF Executive
Director Shaheen Anam said
Bangladesh made progress in many
sectors but climate change is now a big
challenge for the country.
She underscored the need for working
together to ensure transparency
and full accountability in society to
bring a qualitative change.
Human rights activist Sultana
Kamal urged all to be conscious about
their rights. "No-one can move forward
without honesty and sincerity,"
she added.
Christine Johansson, deputy head of
mission and head of cooperation of
SIDA, Judith Herbertson, country
director of DFID, and KM Abdus
Salam, Director General of NGO
Affairs Bureau, also spoke at the event
with Parveen Mahmud, member of the
MJF Governing B, in the chair.
A group of Dhaka University students blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the city on Tuesday afternoon
demanding deferment of the polls to the two Dhaka city corporations billed for January 30. Photo : TBT
Will resist obstructions to
electioneering: BNP candidate
DHAKA : Candidate of BNP's Dhaka South
City Corporation (DSCC) polls Ishraque
Hossain on Tuesday warned that they will
put up a strong resistance from now on
against those who will create obstacles to
their electioneering instead of only lodging
complaints with the 'inactive' Election
Commission, reports UNB.
"Our posters are being destroyed while
those who're going to paste posters being
obstructed and beaten up. My activists are
being threatened to get them arrested by
police. But the Election Commission is not
taking any action responding to our complaints,"
he said. The BNP candidate further
said, "So, we'll no longer make complaints
but put up a strong resistance together with
people against the evil forces if they further
create obstacles to our campaign." He came
up with the remarks while talking to
reporters during his election campaign in the
city's Khilgaon area.
Ishraque, the eldest son of late mayor of
undivided Dhaka Sadeque Hossain Khoka,
started his electioneering for the fifth day on
Tuesday from Khilgaon's Trimohoni Bazar.
He later went to Sabujbagh Madartek, and
Mugdha, Goran and Basabo areas, and
sought votes for him from the local residents.
Ishraque said the current government during
its 12 years' rule has turned Dhaka into
the most pollute and least liveable city.
The BNP candidate said though the government
is taking big projects in the name of
development, the sufferings of the city
dwellers are being aggravated gradually.
He urged people to vote for him for real
development of the city. "Our party has
joined the election as part of our movement
for democracy, bringing a qualitative change,
making Dhaka a liveable city and having our
leader Khaleda Zia released from jail."
Ishraque urged voters to go to polling stations
on January 30 braving all the obstacles,
fear and intimidation to ensure the victory of
'Sheaf of Paddy', the election symbol of BNP.
Robi pays Tk 27.60 cr of
BTRC's audit claims
DHAKA : Robi Axiata Limited, country's
2nd largest mobile phone operator, has paid
Tk 27.60 crore to Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
(BTRC) as the first installment of Tk 138 crore
of the dues as directed by the High Court. The
mobile phone company deposited the money
on Tuesday, BTRC Senior Assistant Director
Zakir Hossain Khan told UNB.
Robi has Tk 867.23 crore in dues to the government,
including Tk 197.21 crore to the
National Board of Revenue (NBR) and GP
has Tk 12,579.95 crore, including Tk 4,085.95
crore to the NBR, as per a BTRC audit. On
January 5 last, the High Court asked Robi to
pay within five months Tk 138 crore.
The court also asked the mobile phone
operator to pay the first installment within
January 30. On July 31 last year, the BTRC
issued a letter to Robi demanding payment
of Tk 867.23 crore dues.
On August 25, 2019, Robi filed a case
against the payment demand with a lower
court and sought temporary injunction on
the BTRC's letter which was turned down.
On September 5, 2019, the telecom regulator
issued show-cause notices to Robi and
Grameenphone seeking explanation as to why
their 2G and 3G licences should not be
revoked for failure to pay dues within 30 days.
DU students
block Shahbagh
seeking city
polls deferment
DHAKA : A group of
Dhaka University students
blocked the Shahbagh intersection
in the city on
Tuesday afternoon demanding
deferment of the polls to
the two Dhaka city corporations
billed for January 30.
The students, mostly
inmates of DU residential
halls, began the blockade
programme around 5pm
after the High Court turned
down a writ petition seeking
its directive to defer the elections.
The court passed the order
considering the progress in
the election process and the
Secondary School Certificate
(SSC) examinations scheduled
to take place on
February 2, reports UNB.
On January 6, Advocate
Ashoke Kumar Ghosh, a
Supreme Court lawyer, filed
the writ seeking its directive
to defer the polls as
Saraswati Puja, one of the
biggest religious festivals of
the Hindu community, will
be celebrated across the
country on the day. On
December 22 last, Chief
Election Commissioner KM
Nurul Huda announced the
election schedule for the
polls to DNCC and DSCC
fixing January 30 as the voting
date.
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