SECOND EDITION

DHA K A T HURS DAY A PRI L 1 8 , 2024

Regd. No. DA 781 Vol. XXXIV No. 89 Baishakh 5, 1431 BS Shawwal 8, 1445 Hijri 16 Pages Plus Campus : Tk 15.00

P3 Tangail’s only P6 Oli Louis: The P7 BJP may fall P11

gym a Rab camp PSG
Nigerian who well short of its exorcise old
for 18 years fell in love with 400 target seats ghosts
Bangla music in India polls

14 die as truck
ploughs into
five vehicles
6 of a family, 4 wedding guests
among the dead
STAR REPORT

A car and three battery-run auto-rickshaws were crawling in a queue to

pay the toll for the Gabkhan Bridge in Jhalakathi around 1:30pm yesterday.
A small truck carrying furniture ahead of the car paid its toll and
trundled on at the northern end of the bridge.
Then the car paid the toll to the collector. The moment it was about to
accelerate away, an out-of-control cement-laden truck ploughed into the
vehicles in the queue crushing them and the people inside them.
Eyewitnesses were stunned as they could only watch the three-
wheelers being reduced to scrap metal.
The truck shoved the car into the rear of the smaller truck. The car
was crushed beyond recognition and the smaller truck flipped to its side.
Fourteen people, including six of a family and four guests of a wedding
reception, were killed. Twelve others were injured, five of them critically.
Md Mohitul Islam, additional superintendent of police in Jhalakathi,
told The Daily Star last night that the trucker, who has been apprehended,
claimed that his brakes had failed. He also said the driver did not have the
licence to drive heavy vehicles.

An adolescent boy risks life and limb while trying to board a moving train in the capital’s Tejgaon yesterday. This is not an isolated incident as people have
long been getting on and off moving trains on this particular stretch of the rail line. PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

ROAD SAFETY
Bank Asia to take
Maladies every over Bank Alfalah’s
Bangladesh unit
step of the way MD MEHEDI HASAN

Bank Asia is likely to acquire the Bangladesh operations

The crash on the Khulna-Barishal road happened less than 30 hours
after a bus and a truck collided in Faridpur, leaving 14 people, including
five of a family, dead.
Yesterday’s crash killed Nahida Akhter, 27, resident of Sangor village
under Jhalakathi’s Rajapur upazila; her husband Hasibur Rahman, 32;
their four-year-old daughter Takia, and eight-month-old son Tahmid;
Nahida’s sister Nipa, 22; and her husband Imran Hossain, 26; Nazrul
Islam, 35, of Gabkhan village; Shafiqul Majhi, 50, of Ostakhan village;
Atiqur Rahman Sadi, 11, of Shekhertek Nowapara; Tahmina, 25, of
Kathalia Talgachhiya village; her daughter Nurjahan, 7; Sonia Begum, 30,
of Uttar Southpur village; Ruhul Amin of Swarupkathia, and Shahidul
Islam.
Seven of the deceased, including the six of a family, were in the car.
Nipa and Imran were newlyweds.
They along with her sister’s family were heading to Barishal from
Jhalakathi’s Rajapur upazila in the car to rent a home for the newlyweds,
said their union parishad member.
Witnesses and sources said six of the deceased were in the auto-
rickshaws. The fourteenth person to have died, Shahidul Islam, was
asking for alms on the side of the road.
Of the six killed in the autorickshaws, four on two vehicles were going
to the wedding reception.
Nazrul Islam, 35, was one of the four. Nazrul’s mother Mira Begum was
inconsolable after she saw her son’s body.
“How will I live without my son?” she was saying.
One of their relatives said it was supposed to be a happy moment for
all as they were to return home with the bride and groom. Instead, they
SEE PAGE 2 COL 3
TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY
The entire road transport sector has long been
plagued by multifaceted problems, which are
worsening every day amid sheer apathy from
the authorities responsible for ensuring road
safety.
Two major back-to-back crashes, which took
away 28 lives in last two days, are yet another
manifestation of these deep-rooted problems.
When it comes to the drivers of commercial
vehicles, they do not just lack formal training,
they are overworked.
A large number of the vehicles are
unregistered and lack mandatory fitness
scans, while the fitness clearances of many are
questionable.
Meanwhile, safety audit is not done on most
roads, while a large number of them are in poor
condition and riddled with accident-prone
spots. Illegal roadside structures increase the
vulnerability of the roads.
The weakness of the regulatory authority
and other relevant bodies tasked with enforcing
laws and procedures only compounded the
situation.
They not only face a shortage of capacity and
manpower, but many of their officials remain
involved in corrupt practices, perpetuating
anarchy on the roads.
Meanwhile, some vested quarters, who have of Karachi-based Bank Alfalah, according to information
been benefitting from this situation, want to disclosed to the Pakistan Stock Exchange yesterday.
maintain the status quo for their own interests. The disclosure, by Bank Alfalah itself, said its board
The Daily Star has come to this conclusion approved in principle
after speaking to over a dozen experts, road the non-binding offer
safety campaigners, transport leaders and given by Bank Asia to
officials of the government agencies concerned. take over Bank Alfalah’s
“We’ll not be able to rid ourselves of this Bangladesh operations,
situation unless revolutionary steps involving subject to compliance of
political leaderships are initiated immediately.
all applicable laws and
If we fail to do so, things will keep going
regulations as well as
downhill,” Prof Moazzem Hossain, former
the necessary regulatory
director of the Accident Research Institute at
approvals.
Buet, told this correspondent yesterday.
“We will now seek
On Tuesday, 14 people, including five of a
family, were killed in a road crash in Faridpur. approval from the State
The bus involved had no route permit, fitness Bank of Pakistan for Bank
clearance or tax token, while the pickup it Asia to commence due
collided with was carrying passengers illegally. diligence on Bank Alfalah,
Yesterday, 14 others were killed in a road Bangladesh,” the bank
crash in Jhalakathi when a truck ploughed said in the disclosure.
through several vehicles. Bank Asia Managing Director Sohail RK Hussain said
The driver of the truck had no valid licence. negotiations are still underway.
ROOTS OF THE PROBLEMS “But it is not linked to the ongoing discussion about
Almost all drivers of commercial vehicles do the merger of some weak banks [with other banks],” he
not receive any formal training and instead told The Daily Star yesterday.
learn driving from their seniors. He added that Bank Alfalah’s Bangladesh unit is
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority running smoothly.
(BRTA) provides a one-day refresher training Bank Asia’s board will convene a meeting on Sunday,
SEE PAGE 2 COL 1 SEE PAGE 2 COL 3

Man dies after MYANMAR CONFLICT

cops ‘beat him’ Fighting flares

Police say he ran away, up across the
died of exhaustion; family
says he was hit in the chest Teknaf border
OUR CORRESPONDENT, Sylhet MOKAMMEL SHUVO

A 53-year-old man of Sunamganj’s The fighting in Myanmar between the

Tahirpur upazila died on Tuesday
evening allegedly after being beaten up
by police during an arrest attempt.
Romij Miah of
Burungachhara in the
upazila was a convenience
store owner.
His family claimed that
police beat him up but left
without detaining him as
he had collapsed.
Romij Miah
Police claimed that Romij ran away
during the arrest attempt and died of
exhaustion as he had been suffering from
breathing and heath complications for a
long time.
Romij’s wife Josna Begum said, “My
husband was at his shop in front of our
home that evening when two people on
a motorcycle went there and hit his chest
first.
“They then grabbed him and beat
him up while trying to get him on the
motorcycle. After my husband started
bleeding from the nose, they left,” she said.
SEE PAGE 2 COL 6
military junta and the Arakan Army
across the border from Teknaf of Cox’s
Bazar intensified yesterday, heightening
anxiety on the Bangladesh side.
The sounds of explosions heard in
Teknaf municipality, and Whykong
Hnila, and Shah Porir Dwip unions were
louder and more frequent since yesterday
morning, locals and a union parishad
member said.
Nasir Uddin, a resident of the Teknaf
municipal area, said, “There have been
loud explosions on the other side of the
border since morning and it seems like
there is a war going on next door.”
Mohammad Alam, UP member of
Ward-8 of Whykong union, said, “Loud
sounds of bombs and mortar shells
have been heard on the border since
morning. Compared to other days, the
sounds today [yesterday] were louder and
scarier.”
The fighting in Myanmar’s Rakhine
State has triggered a fresh influx of
Cattle farmers of Bara Khalisha village in Khulna’s Dacope upazila have built small canopies on their field to shelter the cows from the Myanmar troops into Bangladesh.
scorching sun. The intense heat has caused surrounding waterbodies to dry up, prompting the farmers to collect water from other places to
keep the cows hydrated and healthy. PHOTO: HABIBUR RAHMAN SEE PAGE 2 COL 4

DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
2 BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
Buet students
continue to
boycott exams
Call for banning
politics on campus
DU CORRESPONDENT
As part of the ongoing movement
against politics on campus, students of
Buet are continuing to boycott exams
even after the Eid holidays.
Only eight of the 1,279 students of
the 21st batch sat for the term final
exam held yesterday, students said.
Exams were also boycotted before
the vacation.
Abrar Faiyaz, a student of the batch,
yesterday told The Daily Star that a
whopping 1,271 students, 99.37 percent
of all students of the 21st batch, were
absent during the term final exam.
Another student, wishing
anonymity, said the university banned
student politics after the murder of
second-year student Abrar Fahad
inside the Sher-e-Bangla Hall on
October 7, 2019. “It [student politics]
should not resume.”
The movement began when Imtiaz
Hossain Rahim Rabbi, a student of the
university and a leader of Bangladesh
Chhatra League, led over 100 BCL
activists to gather on the campus in the
early hours of March 28, violating the ban.
In the face of protests, the university
administration had cancelled Imtiaz’s
hall seat.
He then filed a writ petition with the
High Court, after which the bench of
Justice Md Khosruzzaman and Justice
KM Zahid Sarwar on April 1 stayed the
university’s ban on student politics.
Suu Kyi moved
to house arrest
REUTERS
Myanmar’s detained former leader
and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
has been moved from prison to house
arrest, a spokesperson for the military
government told media.
“Since the weather is extremely
hot, it is not only for Aung San
Suu Kyi ... For all those, who need
necessary precautions, especially
elderly prisoners, we are working to
protect them from heatstroke,” junta
spokesperson Major General Zaw Min
Tun said in comments reported by four
media outlets late on Tuesday.
Maladies every step of the way 14 die
FROM PAGE 1
to professional drivers while renewing
licences every five years, which is deemed
insufficient. Many drivers receive licences
without giving tests properly, while some
do not have valid licences at all.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in
June 2018 directed the authorities
concerned to ban driving for more than
five consecutive hours on highways. Her
directive went largely ignored.
Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday,
Osman Ali, general secretary of
Bangladesh Road Transport Workers
Federation, said, “Most of the drivers are
overworked.
“They have to drive for eight to
10 hours at a stretch, in many cases
amid congestion, resulting in a loss of
concentration. This in turn leads to
road accidents … The government isn’t
investing enough for the drivers but often
blame them for the accidents without
proper investigations. The situation won’t
improve this way.”
Besides, many drivers have eye
problems, which can compromise safety
on the roads, but there are no facilities to
look after their health.
Meanwhile, the number of registered
vehicles without fitness clearances has
been rising over the years.
Till April 15, 6.17 lakh vehicles did not
go through the mandatory fitness tests.
The number was 4.79 lakh in July 2019.
On the other hand, the quality of the
clearance given by the BRTA remains
questionable.
The agency has only one vehicle
inspection machine, meaning most of the
vehicles are tested manually. With around
140 inspectors, it is almost impossible to
have all the vehicles thoroughly checked.
As the government is yet to enforce
the economic life set for commercial
vehicles, thousands of outdated vehicles
are operating on the roads.
BRTA data shows there are 35,782
registered buses over 20 years old, and
37,275 trucks and lorries aged over 25.
Unlicensed drivers are operating tens
of thousands of unregistered vehicles,
including three-wheelers and locally-
made Nosimon and Korimon, across the
country. The authorities concerned, on
the other hand, have no clue about the
fitness statuses of such vehicles.
Local political leaders, in collusion
with a section of law enforcers and
transport associations, have been
allowing these illegal vehicles to run on
the roads.
The Roads and Highways Department
has conducted safety audits on only
1,055km of roads, which means over 95
percent of its 22,476km road network has
never been audited.
These audits are a systematic, formal
and thorough assessment that identify
potential risks on existing or planned
roads and recommend measures aimed
at reducing accidents.
At least 2,152km or 10.48 percent of
the 20,523km of surveyed roads under
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina places a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Dhaka’s Dhanmondi-27
yesterday to pay homage to the Father of the Nation on the occasion of the historic Mujibnagar Day. Senior Awami League leaders
were present.
Gaza ceasefire talks at ‘delicate phase’
Says Qatar; 56 more Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes
REUTERS, Dubai
Talks on a Gaza ceasefire and a release
of hostages are at a “delicate phase”, said
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani yesterday.
“We are trying as much as possible to
address this stumbling block,” he added,
without giving further details.
Qatar’s premier condemned what
he described as the policy of “collective
punishment” still followed by Israel in
its offensive against the enclave’s ruling
Palestinian group Hamas and the latest
escalation in the Israeli-occupied West
Bank.
The ceasefire discussions, mediated
by Qatar and Egypt, are continuing
as a humanitarian crisis devastates
Palestinians in Gaza with severe shortages
of food, medicine and hospital care.
Israel’s has continued to pound Gaza
in an air and ground offensive which
has killed at least 33,899 Palestinians,
according to Gaza health authorities
the RHD were in “poor, bad, or very bad”
conditions, according to an RHD survey
published in June last year.
The BRTA, highway police and traffic
police are responsible for enforcement
of traffic laws. But all of them are
understaffed.
The BRTA has 19 posts for executive
magistrates, who carry out mobile court
drives. Eleven of the posts are currently
vacant. In some cases, executive
magistrates of district administrations
had to conduct mobile courts against
errant vehicles and drivers.
Highway police mainly covers the
national highways, which make up a
small portion of the country’s total road
network. This means most of the roads
remain unchecked.
On the other hand, traffic police are
mostly deployed in city corporations
and district headquarters and there is
scarcity in their numbers.
The main problem, however, is that
many transport owners and workers
believe obtaining valid documents from
the BRTA is unnecessary as they can
easily run their vehicles by paying bribes.
Many unlicensed drivers operate unfit
vehicles by paying monthly bribes to a
section of crooked law enforcers and
political leaders who hold sway over the
transport sector, insiders said.
Moshiur Rahman Ranga, president
of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners
Association, said many unfit vehicles are
operating right under the noses of the
authorities.
“No action is taken against them,
which is worsening the road safety
situation,” he told The Daily Star last
night.
Prof Moazzem said most of the drivers
of commercial and small vehicles do not
have any formal training. They also lack
the sense of responsibility, which usually
develops during training.
“So, an anarchic driving culture
prevails on the roads, which is
deteriorating every day due to a lack of
effective enforcement of the law.
“After any major road crash, you’ll see
the vehicles or drivers involved did not
have valid documents. Who do they pay
to operate these vehicles?” he asked.
“Given all these facts, the roads are very
unsafe. It’s like an atom bomb,” he said,
adding that vehicle speed is increasing
with the improvement of roads, meaning
the situation will keep worsening until
revolutionary steps are taken.
Osman Ali recommended enhanced
monitoring, enforcement of law and
adequate training for the drivers, while
Ranga said restricting the operation of
unfit and illegal vehicles can be a major
step towards reducing road crashes.
Contacted, ABM Amin Ullah Nuri,
secretary of the Road Transport and
Highways Division, did not comment on
the overall situation. However, he said
they would investigate the two major
road crashes that took place recently and
take action against those involved.
City
Playground in Maghazi refugee
camp struck
Israel follows policy of collective
punishment: Qatar PM
Death toll in enclave rises to
33,899
yesterday.
Fifty-six Palestinians have been killed
and 89 injured in the past 24 hours, the
ministry added in a statement.
Israeli air strikes hit a playground and
busy market in Maghazi refugee camp.
Another strike on Gaza City’s Sheikh
Radwan neighbourhood killed at least
seven people and wounded 20 others.
Video from the scene showed the bodies
of the victims were being transported to
the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City.
“There was a tent where people
FROM PAGE 1
returned with bodies.
Six people died on the spot and six
others were declared dead after being
taken to Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital, said
Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of
Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station.
Two people died of their injuries at
the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical
College Hospital, said the hospital’s
Director Saiful Islam.
Nine others were being treated
there and five of them were in critical
condition, he added.
Jhalakathi Civil Surgeon HM Zahirul
Islam said three others were undergoing
treatment at Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital.
Jhalakathi Superintendent of Police
Mohammad Afruzul Haque Tutul said
apart from arresting truck driver Al Amin
Hawlader, police also detained his assistant
Nazmul Sheikh and seized the truck.
The SP told journalists that Al Amin
was not the regular driver of the vehicle
and that he was filling in for someone else.
CCTV footage of the accident,
apparently collected from the toll plaza,
went viral on social media.
[Our Barishal and Pirojpur
correspondents contributed to this report]
Bank Asia
FROM PAGE 1
and will likely provide more details about
the move afterwards, said a senior official
of Bank Asia.
If the current deal carries through, it
will be Bank Asia’s third acquisition of a
foreign bank.
In 2001, the private commercial bank
acquired the operations of Canada-based
Bank of Nova Scotia in Dhaka, the first of its
kind in the banking history of Bangladesh,
according to Bank Asia’s website.
Subsequently, it also took over the
Bangladesh operations of Muslim
Commercial Bank Ltd, a renowned
Pakistani bank.
Bank Asia started operations in
1999, and is a pioneer in Agent Banking
services in Bangladesh.
It posted a 12 percent year-on-year
increase in profit to Tk 305.47 crore
in 2022. Its disbursed loans were Tk
28,960.27 crore till December last year,
with 5.51 percent of it turning into bad
loans, according to Bangladesh Bank data.
On the other hand, Bank Alfalah is
one of the largest banks in Pakistan, with
a network of over 1,024 branches across
more than 200 cities in Pakistan, and an
international presence in Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bahrain and the UAE.
Its profit from the Bangladesh unit
soared more than three times in 2023,
which is Tk 43 crore, posting a 214
percent rise year-on-year.
Bank Alfalah started its operation in
Bangladesh in 2005, and currently has
seven branches in the country.
Its total disbursed loan stands at Tk
1,616 crore, of which 1.87 percent was bad
loans last year, according to BB data.
NEWS
Halt unnecessary
C-sections, NHRC
urges govt
STAR REPORT
The National Human Rights Commission has
urged the secretary of the Directorate General of
Health Services to halt unnecessary C-sections,
enhance women’s awareness in this regard, and
penalise those responsible for the abnormal spike
in Caesareans.
In a press statement yesterday, the NHRC urged
the government to investigate the root cause
of this surge in C-sections and swiftly impose
restrictions on unnecessary caesarean deliveries.
Quoting a recent news report on 71TV, it said
that a pregnant woman was pressured into a
C-section at Midford Hospital, despite previous
successful vaginal deliveries. She also faced
offensive remarks and was harassed by the doctor,
even though she later birthed her child at a
different government hospital in Mugda.
The NHRC also asked the director of Midford
to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against
the hospital and inform the commission after
taking appropriate action against the doctor
concerned.
PHOTO: PID
Man held for rape
in Rajshahi
STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Rajshahi
gathered to communicate with their Police yesterday arrested a man on charges of
families in Rafah and Khan Younis. raping a girl in Rajshahi’s Kashiadanga upazila.
Children, young men, and women were The arrestee, Sree Polash alias Rambo, 35,
martyred inside the tent,” Islam al-Jaidi, a is also accused in several other criminal cases,
resident and an eyewitness of the attack, including for extorsion, said Emran Hossain, OC
said. of Kashiadanga Police Station.
According to the latest report by The case statement said Rambo and some
Human Rights Watch (HRW), surging others, on April 12, abducted the 18-year-old girl
settler violence against Palestinians in from near the Bornali intersection while she was
the occupied West Bank has been aided walking back home.
by the Israeli military, whose forces have She was released after four hours in a critical
either taken part in or failed to protect state and was rescued and taken to RMCH by a
Palestinians. rickshaw-puller.
In one instance, Israeli soldiers The victim’s father later filed a case against
participated alongside illegal settlers in an Rambo and five to seven unnamed persons
attack on the Palestinian Bedouin village under Section-9(1) of the Women and Children
of Wadi as-Seeq, the report said. Repression Prevention Act.
In a statement marking the Palestinian Contacted, he said his daughter would often go
Prisoner’s Day, Hamas emphasised that for a walk by herself. “That night she didn’t come
freeing its prisoners from Israeli jails is a back so we went out to look for her. Police then
“top priority”, reports Al Jazeera Online. informed us from the hospital that she was there.
“[Israel] continues to practice the most The victim told her father that the abductors
heinous crimes against prisoners inside took her to a room near Ullapara College and
prisons and detention centres, including three people raped her there.
medical negligence, torture and direct “We’re interrogating the arrestee now to find
killing,” said Hamas. the whereabouts of his accomplices,” the OC said.
Fighting flares up across Man dies
FROM PAGE 1
the Teknaf border She alleged that the people identified
themselves as policemen.
Contacted, Rajon Kumar Das,
FROM PAGE 1 The conflict between the Myanmar
On Tuesday night, 46 more members junta and the rebel Arakan Army additional superintendent of police
(crime and operations) of Sunamganj
of Myanmar Border Guard Police (AA) intensified from the start of
District Police, said, “Deceased Romij
(BGP) took shelter in Bangladesh February along the Ghumdhum
was accused in seven cases and a
amid the ongoing conflict. Yesterday, border in Naikhongchhari upazila of
group of policemen went to arrest
one more BGP member crossed over Bandarban.
him with a warrant. During the
into Bangladesh, said Shariful Islam, Myanmar troops had to retreat
arrest attempt, he [Romij] managed
public relations officer of Border and many fled to Bangladesh due to
Guard Bangladesh (BGB). the heavy intensity of the attacks by to run away through the backdoor of
A total of the rebel group. his shop and took cover in a nearby
261 Myanmar Concern is growing On February house.
border guards “After police had reached the spot,
among the people living 15, a total of
are currently in they were confronted by other people
custody of BGB,
along the Naf river in 330 Myanmar
at the house and by this time, Romij
nationals who
he said. Teknaf as they have been had entered ran away to a house some 10 to 15
BGB members hearing sounds of loud Bangladesh were minutes away. Exhausted from the
also seized the
explosions coming from returned to their running, he collapsed on the ground
weapons of the
BGP personnel
the other side for the last country. Among
them were 302
and died,” he said.
“He was suffering from breathing
who crossed one month. BGP members and heart issues and was treated at a
into Bangladesh
and four of their hospital recently. We have found no
through different points of the border family members, two army personnel,
sign of him being beaten up,” he said.
in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari 18 immigration officials, and four He claimed that they learnt about
upazila, Shariful said. civilians, his health issues after talking to his
Concern is growing among the Meanwhile, BGB and Bangladesh
family and others on the spot.
people living along the Naf river in Coast Guard have increased day and
An autopsy was done at the
Teknaf as they have been hearing night patrolling on the border road
Sunamganj Sadar Hospital. After
sounds of loud explosions coming and the 54-kilometre stretch of Naf
from the other side for the last one river from Whykong to Shah Porir getting the autopsy report, it will be
month. Dwip. clear, he added.
A dog stands on rubble as rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building during a Russian missile strike, amid
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, in Chernihiv, Ukraine yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS
 2nd Edition

DHAKA 3
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

KARWAN BAZAR Won’t tolerate

terrorists in
Wholesale market Bangladesh
relocation starts Says Rab DG
OUR CORRESPONDENT,

this month Bandarban

There is no place for

DIPAN NANDY
Kuki-Chin “militants,”
The relocation of Karwan Bazar, the largest wholesale or any armed terrorists
market hub in the capital, is likely to start by the end of in Bangladesh, said
this month. Rab Director General
Dhaka North City Corporation is taking all necessarry M Khurshid Hossain
measures to initiate the process of shifting the market to yesterday.
two designated locations -- Amin Bazar and Jatrabari. He made the remark
The government is determined to relocate the market at while briefing the media
any cost, labelling the current location as risky. at Bandarban Circuit
Currently, the city corporation owns four markets at House after inspecting the
Karwan Bazar, sprawled across approximately 24 bighas operation of joint forces
of land, comprising 1,789 permanent shops and 180 against Kuki-Chin.
temporary ones. “Proletarian armed
Initially, DNCC proposed relocating the market solely to forces in the country’s
Amin Bazar in Savar, citing the presence of infrastructure plains have laid down
tailored for this purpose there. their arms and returned to
However, businessmen and traders of Karwan Bazar normal life, while pirates of
market demanded that their market be transferred to Sundarbans did the same
Jatrabari as well. as well. So there’s still a
Earlier, businessmen applied to DNCC and Home chance for peace-loving
Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, expressing their people of the hills to return
unwillingness to move to Amin Bazar. to their normal lives by
They voiced apprehensions about the potential dip in surrendering,” he said.
business at Amin Bazar compared to Karwan Bazar. Their “If they want to convey
pleas included the proposal to relocate to an alternative information to us by any
location -- Jatrabari, said DNCC sources. means, we’re ready to
On April 8, Mayor Atiqul Islam led a DNCC delegation negotiate with government
to a meeting with the home minister where they discussed Just outside the capital, these brick kiln operations have wrecked havoc on the environment. Black smoke and dust clouds the entire area, for their surrender and
SEE PAGE 4 COL 6 almost resembling a scene from a post-apocalyptic film. The photo was taken in Aminbazar area recently. PHOTO: RASHED SHUMON SEE PAGE 4 COL 1

TEACHER REG
EXAM 2020
Let candidates
above 35yrs
apply: HC
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The High Court has directed
the Non-Government
Teachers’ Registration and
Certification Authority
(NTRCA) to allow candidates,
who have passed the 17th
Teacher Registration
Examination-2020 and are
now above 35 years’ old,
to apply for the posts of
teachers at non-government
educational institutions.
The court also
issued a rule asking the
authorities concerned
of the government to
explain why the age limit
for the applicants should
not be determined as per
the notification issued
by the Ministry of Public
Administration in 2022.
The HC bench of Justice
Md Khasruzzaman and
Justice KM Zahid Sarwar
SEE PAGE 4 COL 5
Tangail’s only gym a Rab
camp for 18 years
MIRZA SHAKIL, Tangail
The only gymnasium and indoor sports
facility in Tangail once used to buzz with
members engaged in vibrant sports activities
and athletics, alongside being a hub for fitness
enthusiasts.
However, this lone facility in the district
for athletes, gymnasts, and bodybuilders is no
longer being used for its actual purpose.
Instead, for the past 18 years, the Rapid
Action Battalion has been using the building
and its premises as a camp for the members
of the Crime Prevention Company (CPC)-3 of
Rab-14.
The facility, built in front of the district
stadium in 1976, used to serve as a venue for
physical training, gymnastics, weightlifting,
badminton, volleyball, judo, and karate
sessions, among others.
However, due to the facility being occupied
by Rab-14, local athletes have long been
deprived of indoor sports facilities.
According to sources at the Tangail District
Sports Association, following a request from
the local administration, the association
allowed Rab-14 to use the facility as a
temporary solution to the accommodation
We used to train in the
gymnasium until Rab
members began to use the
facility as a camp. Now we
have nowhere to train in the
entire district.
SHAFIQUL ISLAM LOVLU
Black belt holder in karate
crisis for CPC-3 members in 2006.
According to Rab-14 camp sources, more
than 100 members and officers of CPC-3 are
accommodated in the building.
However, even though the sports association
later wrote to the local administration several
times demanding the building and its premises
be vacated, but to no avail, sources also said.
Mirza Mainul Hossain Lintu, general
secretary of the sports association and also a
former footballer, confirmed the matter.
“I have already written to the local
administration to get the building back. Those
who were in charge of the sports association
before me also sent letters. However, there
have been no steps taken yet,” he said.
Lintu also said Rab constructed different
structures inside the building without
discussing the matter with the association.
Local athletes and sports organisers
expressed frustration, saying the sportsmen
in the district are deprived of the amenities to
train and keep themselves fit.
“We used to train in the gymnasium until
Rab members began to use the facility as a
camp. Now we have nowhere to train in the
entire district,” said Shafiqul Islam Lovlu, a
black-belt holder in karate.
Masud Rubol and Tanjeezul Aziz, fellow
karateka, echoed him.
“The Rab members must be accommodated,
SEE PAGE 4 COL 5
Dhaka will face
no waterlogging
this year: Taposh
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh
Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday said there will be no
waterlogging in the capital during the upcoming
rainy season.
He made the remark while inspecting the
cleaning activities of the Panthakunja box culvert
in the capital.
“Last year there was waterlogging in some
places, especially in front of New Market and
Shantinagar. We have cleaned up the areas to free
them of the filth that stopped water flow,” said the
mayor.
“We are also constructing a big drain to get
water to flow through Pilkhana. If this can be
done, there will be no waterlogging in that area,”
he added.
Regarding the dengue situation, Taposh said,
“We have taken advanced measures to control
Aedes mosquitoes. We have no manpower crisis,
and we’ll take action if mosquito infestation
increases anywhere.”
Regarding Panthakunja Udyan, he said, “We
want to present an aesthetic park to the people of
Dhaka. However, a large portion of the park will be
evicted due to the work on the elevated expressway.
Still, the portion we were able to protect, we will be
able to open it to people before July.”

Nine Dubai-
Dhaka flights
cancelled for
rain in UAE
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
A total of nine flights
under three foreign airlines
bound for Dhaka from
Dubai and Sharjah were
cancelled yesterday due
to record rainfall in the
United Arab Emirates.
Of the three airlines,
Air Arabia cancelled five
flights, while Emirates and
Fly Dubai cancelled two
each, said Group Captain
Kamrul Islam, executive
director, Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport.
The rains began late
Monday and by the end of
Tuesday, more than 142
millimetres (5.59 inches) of
rainfall had soaked Dubai
over 24 hours.
At the airport, standing
water lapped on taxiways as
aircrafts landed.
The airport ended up
halting arrivals Tuesday
night and passengers
struggled to reach
terminals through the
floodwater covering
surrounding roads.
12 drug kingpins
amass Tk 178.44cr
Former MP Bodi’s brothers
among them, says CID
MUNTAKIM SAAD
The Criminal Investigation Department discovered
assets worth Tk 178.44 crore belonging to twelve “drug
kingpins,” including two brothers of a former Awami
League lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi.
CID’s investigation into 35 money laundering cases
filed between 2017 and 2023 revealed the involvement
of these individuals, primarily based in Cox’s Bazar, said
CID Chief Mohammad Ali Mia in a press conference at
its headquarters yesterday.
“His [Bodi] brothers -- Aminur Rahman and Abdur
Shukkur -- smuggled drugs in various ways from
Myanmar,” the CID Chief said.
Bodi himself was previously named as the “kingpin”
of yaba trafficking by the Department of Narcotics
Control. “If we find evidence against him [Bodi], he
wouldn’t be spared,” he said.
So far, 122 people have been arrested in 35 cases.
Among them, there are at least 10 godfathers, the CID
official added.
The CID has confiscated 9.14 acres of land and two
houses worth Tk 8.11 crore from the suspects in three
cases. Additionally, Tk 1.01 crore, kept in various bank
accounts, has been seized.
Confiscation proceedings are underway for another
35.173 acres of land, 12 houses, and one car -- valued at
Tk 36.82 crore all together.
The CID chief also cited a Police Headquarters data
that 79,675 drug cases were filed across the country in Shops set up on the footpath opposite Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium are now selling solar panels so that people can fight the woes of load
SEE PAGE 4 COL 6 shedding. These working panels are a popular item amongst lower income groups. The photo was taken yesterday. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
4 BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
A family wiped
FROM PAGE 5
The four deceased were
buried side-by-side on
Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, another
family also fell victim to the
same accident.
Popi Akhter, 21,
was travelling with her
husband, Iqbal Sheikh, 25,
and their one-year-old son,
to visit Iqbal’s cousin in
Dhaka. Popi and Iqbal did
not survive the accident,
leaving their baby an
orphan.
“My daughter and son-
in-law are gone, and now
their little boy has no
parents,” said Popi’s father
Nannu Ali.
“Now how will this child
grow up without a mother
and father?” he cried.
At least 15 people
were killed in the horrific
collision in Faridpur, while
several others were injured.
Won’t tolerate
FROM PAGE 3
return to normal life,”
added Khurshid.
Regarding the arrests of
common people, he said,
“If you go fishing in a pond,
small fish also get caught
in the net. The same thing
happened here.”
PRAYER TIMING
APRIL 18
Fazr Zohr Asr Maghrib Esha
AZAN 4-35 12-45 4-45 6-24 7-45
JAMAAT 5-10 1-15 5-00 6-28 8-15
SOURCE: ISLAMIC FOUNDATION
HOLICHERRA TEA GARDEN
450 trees felled
on govt land
OUR CORRESPONDENT, Moulvibazar
Around 450 trees, including at least 52
Akashmani trees, have been illegally
felled and sold off on a government
land within Luayuni-Holicherra Tea
Garden area under Kulaura upazila of
Moulvibazar.
A case has been filed in this
connection on April 10, accusing
Farooq Ahmad Chowdhury and
Mahmud Hasan Prince, the garden’s
general manager and deputy manager
respectively, and 20 unnamed others.
Amir Uddin, a sub-inspector of
Kulaura Police Station, said,“Bijay
Chandra Sheel, assistant land officer at
Brahmanbazar union land office, filed
the case under the Forest Act on April
10.”
Investigation is going on in this
connection, he added.
Confirming the matter, Mehedi
Hasan, assistant commissioner (Land)
in the upazila said, “A total 450 trees
were cut down and sold from the
garden. On information, Riaz Uddin,
2nd Edition
range officer of forest department in
the upazila, and I visited the spot on
April 8, and observed that the tree
stumps were covered with soil and
debris to hide the proof. The felled trees
are valued around Tk 80 lakh, as per the
declaration of lease agreement.”
Meanwhile, 23 logs of Akashmoni
trees were recovered from a village
near the Tea Estate yesterday. “We think
the logs were from the trees felled at
Holicherra Tea Garden area,” claimed
Mehedi.
“They [tea garden authority] violated
the lease agreement. Besides, the
government has lost revenue,” he added.
Contacted, Mahmud Hasan Prince,
deputy manager of the garden, said
some trees were cut down in the garden
recently after those were damaged in
storm.
The wood from these trees would be
used for construction of staff quarters
and waiting room, he also said.
He, however, claimed that no other
tree was cut or sold, adding that they
did not know anything about the case.
Tangail’s only
FROM PAGE 3
but for that, they need a
modern camp with the
necessary facilities.
gymnasium is not the right
A
place to accommodate
them,” said Shamim Al
Mamun, a badminton player.
“However, if they
have to be kept in the
gymnasium, we demand
that a new indoor facility be
constructed immediately for
the local athletes,” he added.
Contacted, Major Manjur
Mehedi Islam, commander
of CPC-3 of Rab-14, said
they have nothing to do in
this regard as it is a matter
of the government.
“A proposal has been
made to the government
for the construction of a
Rab camp in Tangail. The
matter is under process,”
said Mohibul Islam
Khan, additional deputy
inspector general and also
commander of Rab-14.
Let candidates
FROM PAGE 3
Kajol issued the order and
rule on April 8, following
a writ petition filed by 156
candidates who have passed
the registration examination
and are now above 35.
Petitioners’ lawyer Md
Shahinuzzaman told The
Daily Star that NTRCA
issued a public circular on
March 31 this for recruiting
96,736 teachers at the
non-government academic
institutions including
private schools and colleges.
According to the
circular, the candidates
must be under 35 years of
age. They were under 35
when they attended the
exam, he said.
The results were
published in December
2023 and the writ
petitioners are now above
35 years, he added.
Senior lawyer Shah
Monjurul Hoque appeared
for the writ petitioners.
12 drug kingpins amass
FROM PAGE 3
2021, followed by 82,672 in
2022 and 76,403 in 2023.
ASSETS OF DRUG
KINGPINS
A Teknaf based drug
kingpin Nurul Haq Bhutto
was killed at the hands of
rivals in May 2022, following
the death of his brother Nur
Mohammad in a “gunfight”
with police earlier that year.
A money laundering
case filed against Bhutto,
Nur Mohammad, and their
father Ejahar Mia in 2017
uncovered a network of
42 associates involved in
laundering approximately
Tk 3 crore. The CID seized
Wholesale market relocation
FROM PAGE 3
the issue of compensation
for the businessmen who
wanted to move to the
Jatrabari Market.
According to the
meeting sources, the
home minister gave a
positive response to the
businessmen’s demand.
Mutakabbir Ahmed,
regional executive officer
of DNCC’s Zone-5, said,
“There is no doubt that
Karwan Bazar market will
be relocated. The process
will start very soon.”
“Many businessmen
were unwilling to go
to Amin Bazaar and
submitted a proposal to
relocate to a market in
Jatrabari, which is under
the jurisdiction of the local
government division. We
NEWS
assets including 2.05 acres
of land and a Tk 2.5 crore
house.
Shafiq Alam alias Shafi,
another kingpin, faced
two money laundering
cases in 2021 and 2023. His
illicit gains amounted to
Tk 44.14 crore, with assets
comprising 730 acres of
land and three houses
worth Tk 1.10 crore.
On March 14, 2023, the
CID filed a case against
one Shaheen Alam,
for laundering Tk 6.20
crore. The CID sought to
confiscate his house and
192 acres of land.
Yaba dealer Nurul
will facilitate the transfer to
both of these locations,” he
told The Daily Star.
In the initial phase, a
total of 256 shops are slated
for relocation from Karwan
Bazar, with 180 earmarked
for Amin Bazar and the
remaining 176 for Jatrabari,
said Mutakabbir, who will
oversee the relocation.
However, Lokman
Hossain, secretary
of Karwan Kitchen
Market Businessmen’s
Association, said they have
not received any official
letter or directive regarding
the relocation process yet.
He declined to make any
further comment on this
matter.
On the other hand,
DNCC started the process
of relocating its regional
Kabir faced allegations of
laundering Tk 11.05 crore in a
case in Teknaf on March 20,
202 His assets -- including a
brick kiln, a duplex house, a
poultry farm, a salt farming
business, and 15 acres of
land, are currently in the
process of confiscation.
Furthermore, on March
22, 2023, the CID filed a
case against drug kingpin
Nurul Islam with Adabar
Police Station in Dhaka, for
laundering approximately
Tk 13 crore. His possessions,
including four houses,
0.88 acres of land, a car,
and gold ornaments, were
targeted for confiscation.
office from Karwan
Bazar to Mohammadpur
Community Center on
March 28, due to its risky
infrastructure.
In 2006, the Executive
Committee of the National
Economic Council (Ecnec)
approved a Tk 206 crore
project to construct three
markets in Mohakhali,
Amin Bazar, and Jatrabari,
intending to modernise
markets and supply systems
for farm products and
reduce traffic congestion in
the Karwan Bazar area.
However, the work
on the project remained
suspended until 2013, when
the Local Government
Engineering Department
(LGED) and DNCC revised
the total budget of the
project to Tk 264 crore.
 2nd Edition

CITY 5
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

1 killed, 10 hurt Apr-Sept flu season

in clash over
sand lifting
OUR CORRESPONDENT,
Once outlaws, now in the country
Say scientists
Narsingdi

At least one person has

been killed and 10 others
flower growers STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Scientists yesterday defined the period

have been injured in a clash
between two groups of local
sand lifters in Nilakhya
union under Raipura
upazila of Narsingdi.
About 12-14 houses
were vandalised, torched
and looted while over
300 crude bombs were
exploded during the clash
that took place on Tuesday
morning.
The deceased was
identified as Sagor Mia, 26,
confirmed Rafsan Al-Alam,
assistant superintendent of
Narsingdi police.
No case has been filed
in this connection yet, he
added.
The clash ensued
following a dispute between
Hannan Mia, a follower of
Narsingdi District Council
member Rajib Ahmed, and
Anwar Hossain, a supporter
of Nilakhya union unit
Chhatra League president
Toukir Ahmed.
Rajib and Toukir
could not be reached
for comments despite
repeated attempts.
AZIBOR RAHMAN, Jhenidah
After spending years in hiding and then in jail,
Abdur Rahim of Ganna union, Jhenidah Sadar
upazila, returned to normal life in 2000. He was
a member of the outlawed Biplabi Communist
Party (Haque Group). After rehabilitating himself
into normal society, he built a life as a flower
grower.
“During his involvement, he went into hiding
quite often. He could not stay home due to the fear
of police arrest. Our family was in big trouble,” said
Aktarul Islam, one of Abdur Rahim’s five sons.
When the government gave amnesty to many
outlawed groups in 1999, most of the banned
outfit surrendered to the administration. Some
of them joined Ansar and various NGOs.
“My father surrendered to the authorities and
started farming in 2000. He got the inspiration
from a farmer named Baki Billah,” said Aktarul.
“My father died in 2010. Since then, five of us
brothers have continued with the flower growing
profession, and are leading a peaceful life.”
His elder brother Nazrul Islam recounts the
way he witnessed the area during his youth.
“Our Ganna area was infested with outlaws at
that time,” he said. “My father got involved when
he was inspired by others. It was a massacre at
that time. Every other day, outlaws would die in
crossfires. Fearing death, my father surrendered
and came back to normal life. Now, our lives are
peaceful.”
Younus Ali, also of Ganna village, said that he
joined Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP)
in 1995. He went to jail several times. Eventually
realising the futility of his cause, he started
growing flowers from 2000. Now, he is happy
with his family.
Abdul Kuddus, of Betai village in the same
union, told this correspondent that in 1995,
around 200-300 people joined outlawed groups
like Purba Banglar Communist Party and Haque
Group. Of them, 15-20 were killed in crossfires.
“Later, when the government gave them the
chance to surrender, they joined in different
professions. Some of them came back to farming,
and now they are living normal lives,” he said.
Former Ganna Union Parishad Chairman
Nasir Uddin Malita told The Daily Star, “At that
time, around 1995, locals were in a panic due
to the free movement of armed and banned
outlaws. Now, these outlaws are farming flowers
and leading a happy life.”
Ganna UP chairman Atikul Islam said, “We
often found dead bodies lying around. Now
the outlaws have started growing flowers and
become regular citizens.”
According to Jhenidah Department of
Agriculture Extension sources, 224 hectares of
flowers had been cultivated in six upazilas of the
district in 2022-23 and 235 hectares in 2023-24.
Ganna union accounted for 60 hectares out of
this.
The farmers mainly cultivate marigold, rose,
gerbera and rajanigandha (tuberose).
Nazrul Islam, who is also the General
Secretary of Ganna Bazar Flower Growers and
Traders Cooperative Society, said, “The district
administration has built a flower market where
flowers worth Tk 20-25 lakh are sold every day.”
Asgar Ali, Deputy Director of Jhenidah DAE
said, “Flower farming is increasing at Ganna
union at present due to better infrastructures
and agricultural marketing. The agricultural
marketing department has built a big shade for
selling flowers. The farmers are getting good
profit. We are always there for them whenever
they need our advice.”
from April to September as flu season in
Bangladesh.
As such, influenza vaccine, or flu
shot, should be taken between February
to March yearly to ensure maximum
protection, they said at a seminar.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease
Control and Research, and icddr,b
organised the seminar to present findings
of a nationwide influenza surveillance at
IEDCR in Dhaka.
The surveillance is being conducted in
19 hospitals countrywide with technical
support from the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention and the WHO.
Elderly individuals, healthcare
professionals and patients with chronic
diseases should get priority for influenza
vaccination, the speakers said.
Dr Tahmina Shirin, director of IEDCR
and the National Influenza Center, said
around 11 percent of the 1,15,000 patients
hospitalised with short-term fever and
cough were infected with influenza, of
whom one percent died. “Adults over 60
and patients with chronic illnesses had a
three-time higher death rate,” she added.
icddr,b Executive director Dr Tahmeed
Ahmed, DGHS Additional Director
General Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora,
WHO Infectious Hazard Management
Officer Dr ASM Alamgir, and
Epidemiologist at US-CDC Dr Gretchen
Cowman, also spoke.

A family wiped out CTG TUNNEL

in road accident
SAJJAD HOSSAIN
To share the happiness of Eid with his
loved ones, Rakib Mollah, a 55-year-
old employee based in Dhaka, returned
to his home in Shottorkandi village of
Faridpur two days before the festival.
Although his mere presence brought
joy to his family, Rakib, despite his
modest income, went an extra mile to
make the occasion even more special
for his wife, two sons and parents– by
purchasing them new clothes.
Before returning to his usual life
in Dhaka, Rakib wanted to take his
wife Sumi Begum,30, and mother
Hiru Begum for medical check-ups
in Faridpur town. So he, alongside his
wife, mother, and two sons, started to
travel towards Faridpur town in a pick-
up van.
The reason to take his sons Ruhan, 8,
and Abu Sinan, 3 -- along was to have
one last family outing before they part
ways again, until the next Eid.
However, tragedy struck mid road.
Their pick-up collided head-on with a
Emergency
vehicles exempt
from toll
STAFF CORRESPONDENT,
bus in the Kanaipur area of the district, Ctg
killing Rakib, his wife, and their two
sons instantly. Vehicles engaged in
Rakib’s mother was injured and is emergency duties or
currently receiving treatment at Dhaka operational activities will
Medical College Hospital. be exempt from paying tolls
to use the Bangabandhu
Meanwhile, another family Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
also fell victim to the same Tunnel in Chattogram.
accident. Popi Akhter, 21, and Md Abul Kalam Azad, the
superintendent engineer of
her husband, Iqbal Sheikh,
the tunnel, announced the
25, along with their one-year-
government’s decision at a
old son, were traveling to meeting with stakeholders
Dhaka; tragically, both Popi on safety and security at the
and Iqbal died, leaving their tunnel site office in the port
baby orphaned. city’s Patenga yesterday.
Vehicles of the police,
Visiting their village, this fire service, navy, and other
correspondent found their family emergency organisations
members in despair. The air was heavy can enter the tunnel toll-
with grief. free in case of emergencies,
“They went to celebrate and came said Azad.
back in coffins. The whole family has Officials from navy,
been wiped out in one accident,” said police, Ansar, and O&M
Habibur, Rakib’s brother. operators were present at
SEE PAGE 4 COL 1 the meeting.
 City

6 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

ENTERTAINMENT’S RISING STARS Amitabh Bachchan

to receive Lata
OLI LOUIS Mangeshkar Award;
AR Rahman, Randeep
The Nigerian man who fell in Hooda also honoured
Amitabh Bachchan is set to be

love with Bangla music

honoured with the prestigious
Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar
Puruskar.
The Mangeshkar family
announced on Tuesday (April
initially, I felt a profound connection to the 16) via a press release that the
Oli Louis, DOWEL BISWAS
esteemed Lata Deenanath
a Nigerian singers and found my own interpretation of the
In the realm of creative inspiration, few pursuits music. That’s what fueled my admiration for Mangeshkar Award would
garment rival the journey that leads an individual to Bangla music,” reflected Oli. be conferred upon Amitabh
merchandiser, explore unfamiliar musical territories. Yet, who Seeking to bridge cultural divides, Oli Bachchan on April 24.
whose initial could have foreseen that the enchanting verses endeavoured to blend the rich chronicles of Established in memory of Lata
of legendary Bengali musicians Gauri Prasanna Mangeshkar, who passed away in 2022, this
visit to Bangla and African music. His collaboration
award honours individuals for their significant
Bangladesh Mazumder and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay’s with Coke Studio Bangla’s third season
Oiliro Kotha Shune Bakul Hase would was a testament to this endeavour. “My contributions to society.
was solely ignite a passion for Bangla music in a Nigerian inclusion in Coke Studio Bangla felt like a In addition, AR Rahman will receive the
for business musician? divine intervention. A friend approached me Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for
purposes, Oli Louis, a Nigerian garment merchandiser, about joining the show, and I embraced the contributions to Indian music, while Randeep
whose initial visit to Bangladesh was solely Hooda will be acknowledged with the Vishesh
found himself opportunity wholeheartedly,” shared Oli.
Puraskar for contributions to the film industry.
captivated by for the purpose of business, found himself The thematic essence of the song centered
captivated by Bangla songs through this very around weaving struck a chord with Oli, who
Bangla songs. melody. “One day, I stumbled upon the song, perceived it as a metaphor for unity. “Weaving
and it entranced me with its magic. It took me isn’t a prevalent theme in Nigerian music. By
just two days to learn it. As I delved deeper, the infusing elements of my culture into the song, I
profound lyrics, melodious tunes, and sweet aimed to foster harmony,” he emphasised.
harmonies inspired me to delve further into Embracing the collaborative spirit, Oli
the world of Bangla music,” shared Oli, who penned verses for the song, contributing his
recently made his mark in Coke Studio Bangla’s unique perspective to the narrative. “The team
third season with the debut song Tati. entrusted me with writing verses for the song. It
Navigating the bustling streets of Dhaka was a learning experience, crafting verses that
posed a linguistic challenge for Oli, who didn’t resonated with both cultures,” he explained.
speak the language. “Learning Bangla was quite Despite minimal rehearsal time, Oli’s innate
a feat. I picked it up by conversing with rickshaw musicality allowed him to adapt swiftly to the
PHOTOS: COLLECTED song. “The camaraderie amongst the Coke
pullers and garment sellers in Bangabazar,” he
recalled with a grin.
Studio team, especially Arnob bhai, Jaya Ahsan,
and Adnan bhai, was remarkable. Their support Saudi film ‘Norah’
was instrumental in the success of the song,”
Having been part of a choir and musical band
in Nigeria, Oli recognised a rhythmic kinship
acknowledged Oli. enters Cannes Film
Reflecting his cultural heritage, Oli
between Bangla folk and African music, which
piqued his interest in Bangla melodies. “When
adorned himself in traditional Igbo attire for
the performance, symbolising unity amidst
Festival
I began listening to Bangla songs, I sensed a diversity. “My attire, embellished with ‘isi agu’ In a landmark moment for Saudi Arabia’s film
familiar cadence in the improvisational beats (lion-head prints), showcased my Igbo heritage industry, the film Norah has earned a spot in the
and rhythmic patterns. That’s what drew me to while harmonising with Bengali culture,” he official selection of the prestigious Cannes Film
Bangla music,” shared the musician. explained. Festival.
His rendition of Shada Shada Kala Upon hearing his Bangla song, Oli’s mother Helmed by pioneering director Tawfik Alzaidi,
Kala marked a turning point, garnering expressed boundless joy, affirming his decision Norah tells the story of a young woman in 1990s
widespread acclaim and affirming his belief to pursue Bangla music. “My heartfelt gratitude Saudi Arabia, a time when artistic expression was
that Bangladeshis would embrace him as goes out to my fans, who inspire me to create heavily restricted.
one of their own if he pursued Bangla music music. I look forward to crafting more original The film first captured local attention at the
wholeheartedly. Bangla songs in the future,” concluded Oli, his Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah and is now set
“Music transcends language; it speaks to the eyes brimming with hope and enthusiasm for to make its international debut in Cannes’ Un
soul. Even though I couldn’t grasp the lyrics the musical journey ahead. Certain Regard section.

NEWS
Chuadanga logs
FROM PAGE 12
Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka,
Australia unveils new Ensure fair treatment for my son
FROM PAGE 12 their house help. The competent investigation by police,” she added.
Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet
divisions, along with parts of Khulna.
The severity may ease in some
defence strategy, with negligence) and “the unjust media
speculation, spread of falsehoods,
authorities and the investigators
didn’t make such a claim, let alone
Citing a “spot visit,” the said
statement claimed that Ferdausi

other places, according to a Met office
forecast issued for 72 hours from
9:00am yesterday.
Rain or thunder showers
accompanied by temporary gusty
or squally wind is likely to occur at
one or two places over Chattogram
and Sylhet divisions, with hails at
isolated places, said a regular bulletin
of the Bangladesh Meteorological
Department.
Closely monitor
FROM PAGE 12
taken initiatives to set up an economic
zone on 55,968 acres in Maheshkhali
of Cox’s Bazar.
“The government has decided
to form a new authority to provide
necessary assistance to the local
and foreign entrepreneurs who will
work there,” he said, adding that
MIDA will be an institution under
the Prime Minister’s Office, with the
premier as chairman of its board of
directors. A chief executive officer
will be appointed to run MIDA.
Mahbub said the main task of MIDA
will be to ensure the use of the land in
a planned way for the entrepreneurs
after formulating a master plan and
also to ensure compliance with the
rules and regulations.
He said the proposed law will
provide protection to local produce
such as salt, shrimp, and betel leaf.
The cabinet also approved in
principle the draft of The Chief
Election Commissioner and
Other Election Commissioners
(Remuneration and Special Rights)
Act-2024.
Regarding the proposed law,
Mahbub said the ordinances enacted
during the previous military regimes
are gradually being converted into
laws from English to Bangla as per
court orders.
He said that only 16 ordinances are
left to be converted into laws.
“The prime minister is aware of
which ministries are related to these
ordinances. She has directed the
ministers and secretaries concerned
to take prompt steps in this regard,”
the cabinet secretary said.
eye on China
AFP, Sydney
Australia unveiled its first National
Defence Strategy yesterday, signalling
a new focus on deterring China’s
“coercive tactics” in a region seen as
lurching towards conflict.
The 80-page document offers a
gloomy assessment of Pacific security
and sets out a massive increase in
defence spending to retool Australia’s
military to cope.
“The optimistic assumptions that
guided defence planning after the
end of the Cold War are long gone,”
said Defence Minister Richard Marles,
presenting the new strategy.
Warning that “China has
employed coercive tactics in pursuit
Congress, CPI-M pursue
FROM PAGE 12
Later in the day, the TMC released its
manifesto for the upcoming elections
in which it has promised to repeal
the CAA, and stop the NRC, reports
Times of India.
It also vowed that the Uniform
Civil Code “will not be implemented
across India”.
In the manifesto titled ‘Didir
Shopoth (Didi’s pledges), the party
pledged to “uplift every Indian with
guaranteed employment, universal
housing, free LPG cylinders, assured
MSP for farmers, scholarships for SC,
Dubai reels from floods
FROM PAGE 12
are working hard to recover
operations as quickly as possible in
very challenging conditions,” a Dubai
Airports spokesperson said.
Dubai’s flagship Emirates airline
cancelled all check-ins yesterday as
staff and passengers struggled to
arrive and leave, with access roads
flooded and some metro services
suspended.
At the airport, long taxi queues
formed and delayed passengers
milled around. Scores of flights
were also delayed, cancelled
and diverted during Tuesday’s
of its strategic objectives,” the text
describes an Australia vulnerable to
foes strangling trade or preventing
access to vital air and sea routes.
“We are a maritime trading island
nation,” Marles said.
“The invasion of Australia is an
unlikely prospect in any scenario,
precisely because so much damage
can be done to our country by an
adversary without ever having to step
foot on Australian soil,” he said.
So instead of focusing on
maintaining a military that can do
a range of tasks almost anywhere in
the world, Marles said there would be
a laser focus on building a deterrent
force that can protect Australia’s
interests in its immediate region.
ST, OBC students and much more”.
Releasing the manifesto at the
party headquarters, TMC’s Rajya
Sabha party leader Derek O’ Brien
said, “These are the promises which
we will fulfill as part of INDIA bloc,
when it forms the next government.”
The TMC walked out of the INDIA
bloc in January over disagreements
regarding seat-sharing with the
Congress in Bengal.
However, the Mamata Banerjee-
led party had said it continues to be
part of the INDIA bloc at the national
level.
torrential rain.
The storms hit the UAE and
Bahrain overnight Monday and on
Tuesday after lashing Oman, where 18
people were killed, including several
children.
Climatologist Friederike Otto,
a specialist in assessing the role of
climate change on extreme weather
events, told AFP it was “high likely”
that global warming had worsened
the storms.
Official media said it was the
highest rainfall since records began
in 1949, before the formation of the
UAE in 1971.
distortion of facts and far-fetched
misinterpretation” during the
ongoing investigation of the case.
On February 6, Preeti, an irregular
domestic help, fell to her death
from the flat of Ashfaque and his
wife, Tania Khondoker, located
on Shahjahan Road in Dhaka’s
Mohammadpur.
The death came as a huge shock
for the couple, who were asleep at
the time of the accident, and they
both surrendered to law, Anowara
said.
Ashfaque phoned and informed
the police immediately and the
couple was later accused of death
by negligence under Section 304A
of the Penal Code-1860, and the
investigation into the incident is
going on.
Ashfaque and Tania have been
behind bars for the last 71 days, she
said.
Referring to the statement by
117 citizens on April 2, Anowara
said issuing such a statement is
tantamount to contempt of court
because the matter is sub judice.
“The statement condemned what
it called the ‘police inaction’ in
relation to the case.
“About the so-called police
inaction, I would like to say: my son
and his wife were taken into police
custody within hours of the incident;
they were interrogated by police
multiple times during their about
28-hour custody at Mohammadpur
Police Station before being produced
at a court around 2:00pm the next
day. The court sent them to jail,” she
said.
The couple was subsequently
interrogated at jail gates and again
interrogated for four days while on
police remand.
Later, the case was handed over
to the Detective Branch of police.
Detectives questioned Ashfaque and
Tania in their custody and produced
before a court which sent them to
jail.
“As Ashfaque’s mother, I research, criminal investigation and
categorically deny the claim made
in the said statement that Ashfaque
and Tania physically assaulted
the case filed by Preeti Urang’s
family. Hence, it is not clear who
made such an accusation to the
said citizens and based on what
evidence,” Anowara said.
“I wonder what proof the said 117
citizens have in their possession to
ascertain that she was hanging from
the grill for about 13 minutes,” she
said.
It is also not clear on what basis
the said statement claimed that the
CCTV footage at Ashfaque’s home
“went missing”, Anowara said.
Ashfaque and Tania only used a
Chinese camera for streaming live
video footage from their home to
their mobile phones like many other
households and businesses do these
days, she said.
“Since this was a live camera and
no footage was stored on any device
or memory cards ever, the question
of footage going missing does not
arise,” she added.
Regarding the injury from the fall
of Ferdausi from Ashfaque’s home
in August 2023, the said statement
made a number of “fictitious claims”,
said Anowara.
“The statement falsely claims
that she suffered a ‘3cmX3cmX3cm
wounds from deep inside her
reproductive organ leading up to the
opening of anus’. It is an outrageous
claim.”
Doctors at Dhaka Medical College
Hospital, where Ferdausi was taken
after the accident on August 4,
2023, recorded her injury saying: “A
lacerated wound from labia minora
up to anal sphincter in midline
measuring 3cmX2cmX2cm.”
Anyone familiar with the medical
term “labia minora” would know
that labia minora are two small and
thin skin tissues located outside the
female reproductive organ, not deep
inside it, Anowara said.
“I am shocked that the 117
citizens, many of whom are highly
respected and accomplished in
the fields of academia, journalism,
law, would make such uninformed
claims in a matter as sensitive as
this one, especially when it is under
suffered the wounds before the fall
which led her to make an attempt on
her own life.
“Can such serious claims be
established simply by visiting a scene
and without any material evidence?
After months-long investigation,
Mohammadpur police did not
find any foul play by my son and
submitted the final report, and both
the family and the CMM court in
Dhaka accepted it. Ashfaque and
Tania were acquitted by the court,”
Anowara said.
About the financial assistance for
Ferdausi and her family, Anowara
said it was never an out-of-court
settlement. “As instructed by the
court, an amount agreed upon by
all parties was deposited through
Treasury Challan No-310 on
November 1, 2023, in the judicial
account with Bangladesh Bank.”
Rejecting all the “false claims and
the insinuations” made in the said
statement, Ashfaque’s mother said
carrying out this type of propaganda
not only tarnishes the society, but
also influences the institutions tasked
with the investigation of the incident.
She said that Tania also comes
from a respected Muslim family.
Tania draws strength from
Bangladesh’s Liberation War as a
granddaughter of late Khondoker
Abdul Mannan, a Language
Movement veteran and an organiser
of the Liberation War from Bhola
district.
“I am a recipient of the President’s
Award in 1980’s for my special
contribution to agriculture. My son
Ashfaque, much like his freedom
fighter father, has always been
principled, ethical, and respectful in
life,” Anowara said.
Due to Ashfaque’s bold and
fearless journalism over the last 33
years, many have become “resentful
and hostile towards him”, she said.
She said both the families are
suffering socially, mentally, and
physically due to this “vicious
propaganda”.
“I am old now. At 85, I can no
longer tolerate this injustice towards
my son and his wife,” she said.
INTERNATIONAL
Full UN
membership
won’t help
Palestinians
with statehood
Says US envoy
REUTERS, Seoul
US Ambassador to the
United Nations Linda
Thomas-Greenfield
said yesterday she did
not see a UN resolution
recommending the
Palestinian Authority
become a full UN member
helping lead to a two-state
solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict.
Thom as - G re en f ield
made the comments at a
news conference in Seoul,
after being asked whether
the United States was open
to recognise the request by
the Palestinian Authority to
have full UN membership.
The Palestinian Authority
is expected to push the
15-member Security
Council to vote, as early as
today, on a draft resolution
recommending it become
a full member of the world
body, diplomats said.
X blocked in
Pakistan over
nat’l security
REUTERS, Islamabad
Pakistan’s interior ministry
said yesterday it blocked
access to social media
platform X in February on
national security concerns,
confirming a long-
suspected shutdown.
Users have reported
problems using X,
formerly known as
Twitter, in Pakistan since
mid-February, but the
government has made no
official announcements.
The interior ministry
mentioned the shutdown in
a written court submission
yesterday.
“It is very pertinent
to mention here that
the failure of Twitter/X
to adhere to the lawful
directives of the
government of Pakistan
and address concerns
regarding the misuse of its
platform necessitated the
imposition of a ban,” said
the report, seen by Reuters.
It said Islamabad took
up the issues with X, which
demonstrated a reluctance
to resolve them. “The
decision to impose a ban
on Twitter/X in Pakistan
was made in the interest
of upholding national
security, maintaining
public order, and
preserving the integrity of
our nation”, the report said.
Palestinian children check a building destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Israeli media have
quoted security sources as saying the long-feared Rafah offensive was due to start this week but the plans have been upended by the
Iranian attack.
ISRAEL’S OFFENSIVE IN GAZA STRIP
UN still faces obstacles
in bid to fend off famine
REUTERS, United Nations
The United Nations is still
struggling to prevent famine in the
Gaza Strip and while there had been
some improvement in coordination
with Israel, aid deliveries in the
enclave still faced difficulties, a
senior UN aid official said.
Andrea De Domenico, head of
the UN Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,
said on Tuesday aid deliveries
within Gaza were facing significant
checkpoint delays and that last week
41 percent of UN requests to deliver
aid to northern Gaza were denied.
41 percent of UN
requests to deliver
aid to northern
Gaza were denied
last week.
“We’re dealing with this dance
where we do one step forward,
two steps backward, or two steps
forward, one step backward, which
leaves us basically always at the
same point,” De Domenico told
reporters.
“For every new opportunity that
we’ve been given, we will find yet
another challenge to deal with,” he
said. “So it’s really, really difficult
for us to scale up to where we
would like to be.”
The UN has long complained
of obstacles to getting aid in
and distributing it throughout
Gaza. But global outrage at the
humanitarian crisis in the enclave
of 2.3 million people escalated
after Israeli airstrikes on April 1
killed World Central Kitchen aid
workers.
Israel has since approved
reopening the Erez crossing into
northern Gaza and temporary
use of Ashdod port in southern
Israel after US President Joe
Biden demanded steps to alleviate
the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,
saying conditions could be placed
on US support for Israel if it did
not act.
“There has been a steady
increase of the number of trucks
that have entered,” said De
Domenico, adding that the UN
did not know how many private
aid deliveries Israel had allowed
into northern Gaza. But he said
the focus also needed to be on
improving aid access within Gaza.
“The problem is it’s not just
about food. The problem is that
famine is much more complex
... it’s much bigger than simply
bringing in flour,” he said.
“Water, sanitation and health are
fundamental to curb famine.”
US officials have noted steady
progress in the amount of aid
that goes into Gaza, the US State
Department said on Tuesday, but
it was still not at the desired level.
The world is as dangerous as it has been for generations and Europe is in the middle
of it. This is why it is time for the European awakening on defence and security.
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
PHOTO: AFP
TAIWAN STRAIT
China sends
fighter jets to
shadow US
Navy plane
REUTERS, Beijing
China’s military said
yesterday it sent fighter
jets to monitor and warn
a US Navy patrol aircraft
that flew over the sensitive
Taiwan Strait, a mission
that took place just hours
after a call between the
Chinese and US defence
chiefs.
China claims sovereignty
over democratically
governed Taiwan, and says
it has jurisdiction over
the strait. Taiwan and the
United States dispute that,
saying the Taiwan Strait is
an international waterway.
The US Navy’s 7th Fleet
said the P-8A Poseidon
maritime patrol and
reconnaissance plane,
which is also used for
anti-submarine missions,
flew over the strait in
international airspace.
“By operating within the
Taiwan Strait in accordance
with international law, the
United States upholds the
navigational rights and
freedoms of all nations,” it
said in a statement. “The
aircraft’s transit of the
Taiwan Strait demonstrates
the United States’
commitment to a free and
open Indo-Pacific.”
7
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
INDIA LOK SABHA POLLS
BJP expected
to win a third
consecutive term
But may fall well short of its
400 target seats, says poll
NDTV ONLINE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win a third
consecutive term - but fall well short of its “abki
baar, 400 paar” target - in the 2024 Lok Sabha
election, according to NDTV’s poll of opinion
polls. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance
is expected to win 365 of the 543 contested seats,
and the Congress-led INDIA could get 122, with
the remaining 56 going to parties not allied with
either side. The predicted final result may not be a
surprise, given the NDA - its charge led by Modi for
a third consecutive time - is already seen by many
as the clear winner, but the numbers suggest a
narrowing of the gap between the ruling party
and the opposition since 2019. The 365 seats
the NDA is expected to win this year represents
a 3.4 percent increase over its 2019 result; it won
353 seats (the BJP got 303) and the Congress-led
United Progressive Alliance) got 90. The NDA’s
2019 score was five percent up from the 336 it won
in the 2014 election. The BJP’s primary rival - the
UPA in 2014 and 2019 and INDIA in 2024 - went
from 60 in 2014 to 90 in 2019, an increase of 50
percent. In this election INDIA’s expected return
of 122 is a 35 percent jump.
Russian attack
kills 16 residents
in Ukrainian city
60 injured; civilian
infrastructure, hospital
damaged
REUTERS, Kyiv
A Russian missile attack killed at least 16
residents and damaged hospital and municipal
infrastructure in the northern Ukrainian city of
Chernihiv yesterday, local officials said. As Russia
continues to pound Ukrainian
cities starved for air defence,
the country’s top officials
intensified pleas for
international support,
saying the devastation
could have been
avoided. Ukrainian
President Volodymyr
Zelensky called for
determination and
support from allies
hours after the attack.
“This would not have
happened if Ukraine had
received sufficient air defence
equipment and if the world’s determination
to counter Russian terror had been sufficient,”
Zelensky said. Ukraine is facing a shortage of
ammunition, with vital funding from the US
blocked by Republicans in Congress for months
and the EU failing to deliver munitions on
time. Chernihiv’s mayor, Oleksandr Lomako,
said explosions ripped through a busy part of
the city just after 9:00 am, destroying civilian
infrastructure. “Unfortunately, Russia continues
to engage in terrorist activity against civilians
and civilian infrastructure as confirmed by this
strike on Chernihiv once again,” Lomako told
Ukrainian TV.
The European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen
8 EDITORIAL
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

FOUNDER EDITOR: LATE S. M. ALI

How we are missing out
Govt’s fatal apathy on higher remittances
towards road safety Tasneem Tayeb
is a columnist for The Daily Star.
workers still made up more than half
of the entire pie, at 50.28 percent,
employment system which is lethargic
by nature and mired in corruption.
Investigate the underlying Her X handle is @tasneem_tayeb.
according to the Bureau of Manpower, There is no way that notorious
Employment and Training (BMET). syndicates are given free reign to do
reasons behind Faridpur crash This is mostly due to our lack of as they wish—exploiting unsuspecting
In yet another tragic road crash on April 16, at least 14 people demand mapping, planning, and and powerless migrant workers—
died in Faridpur—an incident which would most likely not political will to tap into the skilled without the system benefitting from
have occurred had the government prioritised basic road labour market. Bangladesh has always their illegal gains.
safety measures. The bus in question, as reported by this daily, eyed the less skilled market with its The transformative push in the
TASNEEM TAYEB lower barrier to entry, entertaining labour migration landscape of our
did not have the necessary permits to run on that route or
updated fitness certificates. On the other side of the collision,
the pickup van, which was carrying all the individuals who Migrant workers from Bangladesh are
died in the accident, wasn’t authorised to carry passengers at disadvantaged in many ways compared
all. What’s most appalling is how common these violations to their counterparts from other
of crucial road safety measures are in our country, and how countries. To cite one disadvantage: as
apathetic the government remains to the endless loss of lives per a February report by The Business
of its citizens on the road. Standard, an aspiring Bangladeshi
The government continues to cave to transport owners’ migrant worker bound for Malaysia
pressures against banning old and high-risk vehicles, to pays between $4,000 and $4,500 for
withhold strict enforcement of road safety measures and laws, employment in the manufacturing
and against adopting effective laws to hold vehicle owners and or construction industries. But for
operators accountable. Meanwhile, at least 1,477 people were the same opportunities, Indonesian
killed and 1,920 were injured in 1,630 crashes between January workers pay between $340 and
and March this year. Why is it that the government refuses to $742. This is despite the Bangladesh
adopt most of the fundamental road safety measures? Why is it government setting a maximum Tk
still easier to bribe law enforcement personnel than to acquire 78,990 (less than $1,000) migration
licences and fitness clearance legally? Why is letting people cost for workers travelling to
die on roads, without any assurance of safe vehicles, more Malaysia. The cost of migration is
acceptable to the government than employing effective laws equally exorbitant for Bangladeshi
and drives to make transport authorities abide by road safety workers travelling to other countries
regulations? in search of livelihood. In fact, a
According to a World Bank report in 2020, Bangladesh 2020 International Organization for
could halve its road crash fatalities if it invested an estimated Migration (IOM) report suggested that
extra $7.8 billion over the following decade. Unfortunately, the migration cost of Bangladeshi
those recommendations have not been implemented, with our workers is considered one of the
roads becoming even deadlier each year. While the government highest in the world.
is spending scores more on spectacular megaprojects, road VISUAL: NAZIFA RAIDAH
safety remains sidelined.
This cannot be how the roads operate anymore. The case Bangladesh has always into higher remittance for us. demand from traditional markets country would also mean that the
of Faridpur and other crashes over the recent months must be eyed the less skilled Even at a time when our volatile forex needing low-paid unskilled, less skilled Bangladeshi missions abroad would
investigated thoroughly, and the real perpetrators—not just market with its lower reserve remains a major economic workers. But we must understand have to make efforts to identify
the drivers but also those who allowed these vehicles to be on concern and despite the growth in the that in a fast-changing landscape, potential industries for foreign
barrier to entry, number of migrant workers—around
the road without permits or operational fitness—must be put where quality of work is becoming worker recruitment in the countries
on trial, and a white sheet of the underlying reasons behind
entertaining demand 1.3 million workers migrated abroad increasingly important for employers, where they are located and the skills
road accidents must be produced. The government must put from traditional in 2023, a 15 percent increase from new avenues are opening up for the that would be required to fill those
the lives of the citizens of this country at the forefront, not the markets needing low- 1.13 million in 2022, thanks to Saudi skilled workforce. So, being content requirements. The concerned officials
interest of any vested groups, to make the roads safer. paid unskilled, less and Malaysian markets opening up— with pushing more unskilled workers would have to engage in robust
we have not been able to tap the full into the global labour market is no migration diplomacy to negotiate
skilled workers. But
potential of the expanding job market longer an option. good deals for our workers—both in
we must understand
Hurried mergers that in a fast-changing
landscape, where
abroad, both in terms of revenue
volume and skilled worker migration.
The remittance inflow in 2023
Our Asian peers are quickly
upskilling their workforce to capture
the new markets and their workers
terms of wages and living conditions.
It is true that in Bangladesh we lack
adequate technical training centres
may prove unwise quality of work is
becoming increasingly
remained stagnant at the $21 billion
mark, despite more workers migrating
are earning higher wages, while in
Bangladesh, we are patting ourselves
and polytechnic institutes. So the
focus should be on building additional
abroad. In 2022, remittance inflow was on the back for sending about 1.3 capabilities while fully utilising the
Has the process of planning bank important for $21.28 billion and in 2021 it stood at million workers abroad, without a plan existing facilities.
employers
mergers been truly voluntary? $21.74 billion. Given the 15 percent year-
on-year increase in worker migration
on how to tap into the new markets It is high time the government
and enable our workers to find better- came out of its complacency mindset
We are concerned by the way in which Bangladesh Bank This is attributed mostly to the in 2023, the mere 2.54 percent year- paying jobs, in turn us getting higher and transformed the overseas
has decided to proceed with its plan for bank mergers and corruption in the system that has on-year increase in remittance in 2023 remittance. employment sector to make the most
acquisitions. As we saw in the case of the planned merger enabled syndicates to be formed among is a telling tale of wasted opportunities We must study the global labour of the new opportunities opening up
of Shariah-based Exim Bank and struggling Padma Bank, recruitment agencies, in addition to and the inability of formal banking market patterns to identify new for Bangladesh. While demand for
a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed even ineffective migration diplomacy, and channels to woo customers. destinations for Bangladeshi workers, unskilled and less skilled workers will
before a detailed guideline on mergers and acquisitions was limited efforts from the concerned A study of government data by the and the skill sets required to make sustain in the traditional markets for
issued, whereas the sequence of events should have been the authorities to ensure the wellbeing and Refugee and Migratory Movements sure our workers succeed there. some more years, if we do not compete
other way around. And even after the guideline was issued by Research Unit (RMMRU) revealed
rights of the migrant workers. Better coordination, cooperation, and for the new markets in need of a
BB, it is not being followed properly, according to a report by
While the remittances sent by the that of the workers who migrated oversight among the government and semi-skilled and skilled workforce,
Prothom Alo. According to members of these banks, BB itself
migrant workers are valued highly, in 2022, a staggering 78.64 percent private sector actors are critical to our Asian peers will win them over,
has directed which bank should merge with whom. During
we have not taken effective measures were less skilled. In 2021, it stood improving the living conditions of our leaving us little room to manoeuvre.
these meetings, the merger decisions were made in some cases
over the years to map international at 75.24 percent. While there was workforce abroad and driving forex Do we have the vision and political
in the presence of representatives of the two banks concerned,
and in other cases, with representatives of only one bank. market demand for skilled labour and some improvement in 2023, with an earnings. will to accelerate change and make
Some bank directors have even said that they had found out accordingly upskill aspiring migrant increased number of skilled and semi- However, for this to happen, we the most of the opportunities that are
information about their own bank mergers from newspaper workers, which would have translated skilled worker migration, less skilled would need to overhaul our overseas about to unfold?
reports. Therefore, although the central bank has assured
that mergers would be voluntary, it seems as if the reality is
anything but that.
The World Bank had earlier warned that without careful
assessment and prudent implementation of procedures
to avoid weakening good banks as they acquire bad ones,
A pathway to prosperity through
basic freedoms
rapidly implementing bank mergers may further undermine
confidence in the sector. That is exactly what seems to be
happening, with some bank employees expressing concern
regarding the merger proceedings thus far. Moreover, experts
have also mentioned the need to bring about systemic changes
in the sector—such as regulators ensuring that habitual His Excellency Peter Haas Independence. But it also highlights the a friend and development partner
defaulters no longer get bank loans—without which bank is ambassador of the United enormous challenge ahead in moving to Bangladesh for over 50 years,
States to Bangladesh.
mergers will not be beneficial. In fact, without such changes, from being a “mostly unprosperous” acknowledges its shortcomings in
good banks might also end up in difficulty. least developed country today to a this area. Every country grapples with
Even though bank mergers, if properly carried out, would middle-income country in 2026 to a issues like corruption, and securing
be beneficial, it seems Bangladesh Bank is proceeding with developed country by 2041, as forecast economic and political rights. The
them too hastily. As a result, not everyone seems to be aware in the government’s Vision 2041 plan. key lies not in avoiding problems,
of what is going on, and banks are being made party to the Out of the 164 countries the but in actively acknowledging and
mergers not of their own volition. Under the circumstances, BB Atlantic Council has looked at, not a tackling them.
needs to take a step back and discuss the matter openly with PETER HAAS single country ranked “mostly unfree” The United States remains firmly
all stakeholders so that confusion and panic do not seep into
the sector, further damaging it.
The perennial debate persists: Does Out of the 164
prosperity foster greater freedoms, or countries the Atlantic
is it the other way around?
LETTERS The Atlantic Council’s ground-
breaking research into the linkage
Council has looked at,
not a single country
TO THE EDITOR between freedom and prosperity ranked “mostly
offers a compelling case for the latter. unfree” is also ranked
Freedom isn’t merely a byproduct of “prosperous.” This
letters@thedailystar.net
prosperity; it’s the very engine that suggests that to
propels it.
become prosperous,
Adopt flexible work hours Their report on Bangladesh,
being released today, provides some Bangladesh must
Recently Singapore has announced that all employers must sobering insights. Let me start with then take bold steps
have a process in place for workers to formally request flexible the Atlantic Council’s Freedom Index, to expand economic,
work arrangements, which the employers can reject only which ranks Bangladesh 141st out of
backed up by reasonable business grounds. This, in my opinion, political, and legal
164 countries, placing it in the “mostly freedoms for its
is a great example to follow, both for safeguarding employees.
unfree” category. Perhaps more
If there is a balance between working from home and flexible
troubling, since 2000, Bangladesh people.
work hours for specific types of jobs, employees can save VISUAL: NAZIFA RAIDAH
has fallen 25 places. Atlantic Council’s
transportation expenses and time loss on the roads. On the
index is different from other indexes; out of 164 countries, placing it into is also ranked “prosperous.” This committed to supporting both freedom
other hand, it will ease traffic congestion —which will decrease
carbon emissions and fuel consumption. It will also open new it is not just about elections. Instead, the “mostly unprosperous” category. suggests that to become prosperous, and prosperity in Bangladesh. We will
possibilities for remote jobs. Lockdown during Covid-19 was it measures economic, political, and Here, the index is broader than just Bangladesh must then take bold steps continue exploring ways to assist
a proof of concept that offices can operate functionally with legal freedoms. In fact, Bangladesh GDP per capita. It also includes health, to expand economic, political, and Bangladesh in achieving its Vision
employees working from home. This should be a learning ranks higher on political freedoms inequality, environment, minority legal freedoms for its people. 2041 goals. We strongly believe that by
opportunity for us. than it does on economic and legal rights, and education. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all unlocking its full potential through
freedoms. To be certain, this snapshot masks solution. Every nation faces unique increased freedoms, Bangladesh can
Shakhawat Sumon Bangladesh fares better on the the huge development successes challenges on its path to freedom become the next Asian Tiger—a Royal
Aftabnagar, Dhaka Prosperity Index, where it ranks 99th Bangladesh has achieved since and prosperity. The United States, Bengal Tiger, of course!

The Daily Star EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Mahfuz Anam Registered & Head Offices: The Daily Star Centre Newsroom: Fax- 58156306 Advertisement: 01711623910 Subscription: thedailystar.net
Reg. No. DA 781 Printed by him on behalf of Mediaworld Ltd at Transcraft Ltd, 229, 64-65 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka-1215 reporting@thedailystar.net advertisement@thedailystar.net 01711623906 bangla.thedailystar.net/
Tejgaon Industrial Area, editor@thedailystar.net Phone: 09610222222 GPO Box: 3257
OPINION
Gazans remain collateral damage Tehran’s latest move will only help ‘Bibi’ continue his murder spree
Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu
is seemingly a bloodthirsty
warmonger, hell-bent on continuing
the Gaza offensive, ignoring the
whole world. Why?
Israel’s military and political
establishment, particularly under
the leadership of Netanyahu, has
metamorphosed into a monstrous
entity the world can’t control.
Netanyahu has embraced the most
extreme forces, the Israeli orthodox
hardliners, to stay in power. He is
now using Hamas’ terrorist acts
to justify his actions of genocidal
proportions.
The roots of this monstrosity
go back to Britain’s infamous
Balfour Declaration of 1917
wherein it pledged support for
a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
This fateful declaration, driven by
imperial ambitions and strategic
calculations, laid the groundwork
for the creation of Israel—a
nation born out of Europe’s guilt-
consciousness for persecuting the
Jews.
The birth of Israel through
A feminist approach to climate solutions
Participation in climate and
environmental decision-making
is a human right, and the equal
participation of people of all
genders generates outcomes that
are more effective and sustainable.
Yet, women are under-represented
in decision-making in the landscape
of climate negotiations, recent
data sheds light on the persistent
challenge of achieving gender
balance within the UNFCCC space.
There are 132 UNFCCC decisions
regarding gender, with 54 of them
specifically referencing gender
balance in decision-making
processes. Still, gender balance in
the UNFCCC sphere continues to
fall short. At COP28, there were 34
percent of women across all national
delegations, compared to 31 percent
at COP14 in 2008. Only two percent
of the delegations at COP28 had an
equal number of men and women,
while 79 percent of delegations
had more men than women. These
statistics underscore the ongoing
disparity in women’s participation in
climate negotiations, emphasising
the pressing need for more concerted
efforts to promote gender balance
and inclusivity within the UNFCCC
framework.
Women, girls, and gender
minorities often bear the brunt
of climate change impacts,
facing limited access to resources
and decision-making power,
carrying out caregiving duties
during crises, and intersecting
vulnerabilities with socioeconomic
status. Women’s empowerment in
climate action involves ensuring
their representation in decision-
making structures, thus allowing
them to contribute their unique
knowledge and expertise on climate
change. Women’s participation
in developing funding criteria,
allocating resources, and shaping
innovative technologies is vital for
creating adaptive, appropriate, and
sustainable solutions. It is essential
to mainstream gender perspectives
into national policies, sustainable
development plans, and climate
interventions to benefit all.
Integration of women’s voices
and recognising of their agency and
leadership in climate governance
at local and national levels should
be promoted. This needs to happen
at global climate discussions and
within the private sector. The
empowerment of Indigenous and
local women in climate leadership
roles needs to be supported. It will be
a step in the direction of localisation.
To enhance conservation efforts and
achieve better climate outcomes,
Dr Sayeed Ahmed
is a consulting engineer and the CEO of
Bayside Analytix, a technology-focused
strategy and management consulting
organisation.
SAYEED AHMED
the United Nations vote in 1947
to partition the British mandate
of Palestine into two states—one
Jewish, one Arab—inflicted an
indelible wound on the Arabs. About
700,000 Palestinians had to leave
their homeland. Israel occupied
almost 85 percent of the land. It
was a Nakba, or “catastrophe,”
for Palestine, the most traumatic
event in its modern history. Those
who remained in Israel became
minorities in ghettos like those of
the Jews in Nazi Germany.
Israel fought a series of wars
against the neighbouring Arab
countries. It received unconditional
Western support each time, making
it stronger and more aggressive. The
degree of violence inflicted on the
Palestinians also intensified. More
and more Arab land was taken over
for Jewish settlements, restricting
the Palestinians in two enclaves: the
West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Liberation
Organization (PLO), born in 1964
to fight Israel for Palestinian
rights, became prominent but later
it is crucial to promote locally led
initiatives for adaptation, with
women’s participation ensured.
It is essential to integrate gender
into these operations, ensuring
that the transitions in energy;
agriculture, food, water, and land;
cities; transport; and manufacturing
benefit women and men. Women
cannot start green businesses or get
green jobs if they are tied down with
care work. The lack of affordable
childcare is also a hindrance. The
gaps in ownership of assets and
access to finance impact the efforts
to boost resilience and adaptive
capacity in gender-sensitive ways.
Economic disparities intersect with
climate injustices, with low-income
communities lacking resources
for adaptation while wealthier
individuals can afford resilient
infrastructure.
We need to prioritise resilience
focusing on gender-sensitive
approaches and initiatives.
ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB)
involves women in disaster risk
management efforts, such as the
Women-led Emergency Group
(WLEG), which has led responses
during disasters since the late 1980s.
AAB has supported women’s access
to Climate Resilience Sustainable
Agriculture (CRSA) practices for
climate resilience for decades.
Bangladesh has created an example
of women-led emergency response
and adaptation by communities.
Intersectionality is a critical
framework for understanding
the multifaceted nature of social
identities and power structures,
recognising that individuals
experience overlapping systems of
oppression and privilege based on
various aspects of their identity, such
accepted the Oslo Peace Accord in
1993. However, it lost much of its
earlier prominence as the Israeli
establishment didn’t follow the
agreed-upon path to peace and the
“two-state solution.”
Hamas, originally an Islamic
charity, was nurtured by Israel
to counter the PLO. Hamas has
controlled Gaza since 2006, while
Netanyahu must continue the war for his survival because he draws
power from his coalition of religious zealots and hawkish ideologues.
PLO became confined within the
West Bank. Hamas turned down
the peace move and adopted suicide
bombings and other violent means,
making it convenient for Israeli
hardliners to reject the Accord.
Netanyahu led demonstrators
carrying Rabin’s mock coffin,
calling him a “traitor, murderer,
Farah Kabir
is a country director at ActionAid
Bangladesh. Reach her at farah.
kabir@actionaid.org.
FARAH KABIR
ILLUSTRATION: BIPLOB CHAKRABORTY
as race, gender, class, sexuality, and
ability. Applying intersectionality
to climate activism reveals how
environmental issues intersect
with social injustices, highlighting
the disproportionate impacts of
climate change on marginalised
communities. Environmental
racism, for example, refers to the
disproportionate siting of pollution
and hazardous waste facilities in
marginalised communities, where
industrial plants and landfills are
often located near low-income
neighbourhoods inhabited by racial
minorities, resulting in higher
rates of pollution-related health
issues and vulnerability to climate-
related disasters, as seen in the Dalit
community in Bangladesh.
Indigenous communities,
deeply connected to the land,
suffer disproportionate impacts,
highlighting the importance of
Indigenous knowledge and rights in
conservation efforts amidst broader
issues of colonisation and systemic
injustice. Lastly, people with
disabilities face unique challenges
in climate-related disasters,
necessitating inclusive emergency
planning and infrastructure to
address accessibility barriers and
health conditions exacerbated by
environmental changes.
Feminist approaches are
put across the discussion on
debt and tax from a feminist
and climate justice perspective,
funding at the nexus of climate
and gender, alternatives to the
extractive obsession with economic
growth, and ways to advance the
structural transformation of our
economic and financial systems.
Patriarchy, entrenched gender
inequalities, and traditional power
and Nazi.” Thus, hardline Israelis
became stronger at the cost of
the moderates who backed Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s signing
of the peace agreement with
PLO’s Yasser Arafat. Rabin was
assassinated after delivering a
speech at a peace rally in November
1995.
Over the decades since its birth,
FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Israel morphed into a behemoth
of military might and a political
untouchable—a concept that no
one can question. This has given
rise to a power block in Israel, which
is accountable to none for its actions
towards the Arabs.
Some Arab groups such as the
PLO, on the other hand, resorted to
structures inhibit the effectiveness
of feminist approaches by limiting
women’s access to decision-
making processes, resources, and
opportunities to influence climate
policies and interventions. Moreover,
limited awareness of the gendered
dimensions of climate change among
policymakers, practitioners, and
community members, coupled with
insufficient capacity to implement
feminist approaches effectively,
further complicates efforts to address
the differential impacts of climate
change on various gender groups.
Additionally, resistance to gender
equality initiatives stemming from
traditional attitudes and patriarchal
norms presents a significant barrier
to progress toward more inclusive
and equitable climate solutions.
Furthermore, limited data and
research on the gendered impacts
of climate change pose challenges
to the development of evidence-
based policies and interventions that
effectively address the needs of diverse
gender groups.
However, despite these challenges,
feminist approaches offer significant
opportunities for driving positive
change. Empowering women and
marginalised gender groups, enabling
their meaningful participation in
decision-making processes, and
ensuring equitable access to resources
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
clandestine warfare and terrorism,
which some call “weapons of the
weak.” Israel, as was expected,
retaliated with full force on the
whole Arab population, including
women, children, and refugees in
other countries. The result was
incidents such as the massacres in
Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in
Lebanon in 1982, and many others.
But it is all good for Israel’s
hardliners because these are
strengthening their position in
the country’s power game and
practically killing the so-called
“two-state solution” option.
Netanyahu must continue the
war for his survival because he
draws power from his coalition
of religious zealots and hawkish
ideologues. His governing coalition
holds a fragile majority, with 64
seats in the 120-seat parliament.
Days after Hamas’ surprise attack
on October 7, some of Netanyahu’s
centrist rivals joined him to form
a broader emergency government
and bolster his small war cabinet.
However, they did not sign any
coalition agreements saying they
would leave the government at their
will. That means Netanyahu must
keep them happy by continuing the
war to stay in power. Meanwhile, he
faced trials for fraud, bribery, and
breach of trust in three cases filed in
2019. If he is convicted, these cases
could result in up to 10 years in jail
and/or a fine. It will be much more
difficult for him to deal with these
and opportunities are crucial steps
toward enhancing the effectiveness
and sustainability of climate
change mitigation and adaptation
efforts. By mainstreaming gender
considerations into climate policies
and frameworks, feminist approaches
can promote synergies between
gender equality, climate action, and
sustainable development, leading
to more integrated and effective
policy responses. Moreover, feminist
approaches have the potential to
catalyse broader social transformation
towards more equitable and
sustainable societies by challenging
patriarchal norms, promoting gender
equality, and addressing systemic
injustices.
Collaboration between government,
non-governmental organisations (I/
NGOs), and grassroots organisations
are essential for advancing climate and
gender justice. By investing in evidence-
based policy advocacy, capacity
building, and community engagement,
NGOs can integrate feminist
perspectives into climate change
planning processes and empower
marginalised voices in decision-
making related to climate change
adaptation and mitigation. Leveraging
strong partnerships with governments,
international organisations, and
diverse stakeholders enables NGOs to
promote women’s leadership, foster
9
without being in power.
When Netanyahu was mulling
over his next move in Gaza in the
face of global pressure to stop the
indiscriminate attacks on civilians,
Tehran made an unprecedented
move. Until now using only proxies
such as Hezbollah in Lebanon to
attack Israeli interests, it launched
more than 300 missiles and drones
targeting Israel on April 13. It was
a “retaliation” against an Israeli
strike on the Iranian consulate in
Syria that had killed two Iranian
generals. Israel intercepted most
of the missiles midair with US
assistance, so no actual harm was
done except wounding a Bedouin
girl in Southern Israel.
But Tehran’s move helped
Netanyahu in several ways. First,
it made it easier for him to seek
more US military assistance.
Second, it bolstered confidence
in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF),
which suffered serious damage to
its reputation after the October 7
security breach. Third, its missile
defence system proved effective in
stalling such attacks. On the other
hand, Iran’s real capability to harm
Israel in conventional warfare is
put into question. All these have
strengthened Netanyahu’s political
position.
Iran has done Bibi a big favour
and the Gazans—who will remain
collateral damage—a disfavour. The
possibility of a wider war is now
more real.
gender-responsive approaches to
climate action, and advocate for the
implementation of gender-sensitive
policies and programs. Additionally,
collaboration with grassroots and
local organisations facilitates the
implementation of context-specific,
community-driven climate solutions,
enhances local resilience, and ensures
that climate action is inclusive and
equitable.
We need policymakers, movers, and
shakers (both nationally and globally)
to consider funding locally-led Gender
Just Climate Solutions; ensuring
gender-responsiveness of climate
finance; understanding the imperative
of financing SRHR for climate justice;
prioritising the vision of economic
justice by young women, indigenous
communities, and address poverty in
its multifaceted dimension; making
the new Loss and Damage Fund
gender-responsive; and decentralising
and empowering local government
as well as communities, especially
women and youth.
By working together, governments,
I/NGOs, and grassroots organisations
can leverage their unique strengths,
expertise, and resources to implement
sustainable practices, raise awareness,
and influence policy decisions
effectively, ultimately contributing to
a more just, equitable, and sustainable
future for all.
10 BOOKS
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

HIGHLIGHT
Unveiling voices:
Ananke’s Women in
Literature Festival 2024
NAMRATA

Featuring a diverse lineup of 38 authors from 9

countries—including UAE, Bangladesh, Pakistan,
India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Scotland—the
festival promises three days of engaging panel
discussions, interviews, poetry readings, and
discussions on the theme of language and erasure.
Past guests have included prominent figures such
as Urvashi Butalia of Zubaan, writers like Meena
Kandasamy, Anam Zakaria, K Vaishali, Kiran
Manral, Arpita Das of Yoda Press, Naveen Kishore
of Seagull Books, and Mehr F Husain of Zuka
Books (Pakistan), along with esteemed authors
such as Sana Mir, Saba Karim Khan, Sabyn Javeri,
and Safinah Danish Elahi.
This year, Dr Niaz Zaman, an eminent academic,
writer, and translator from Bangladesh will also be
a part of Ananke’s Women in Literature Festival
2024 among others. On her participation, she
said, “I look forward to participating in Ananke
Women in Literature Festival 2024, to listening to
the voices of women from different backgrounds
and with diverse experiences, and in sharing my
experiences in our common pursuit of freedom
DESIGN: AMREETA LETHE of thought and expression.”Bangladeshi-born
independent artist and writer Nupu Press will be
ESSAY releasing her first art book titled My Illustrated
Camino Diary in April. Nupu Press will be in

‘The day begins wrong’: conversation with Nigerian-born Bangladeshi

American writer and photographer, Abeer Hoque
on the theme of gender, focusing on the invisible
work of women, especially in South Asian contexts.
Scheduled for April 23, this immersive event

Mastering tension and suspense in fiction
Who is Mr. ARIF ANWAR
Farraday,
and where is In my creative writing classes, whether at
Darlington the University of Toronto or the Hermitage
Residency in Bangladesh, I emphasise that
Hall? From any student of fiction must first master
their manner
suspense. Suspense is the lifeblood of fiction,
of speech the whether a literary novel or the latest airport
reader can bookshop page turner, a state in which the
formulate some audience (in this case the reader) is neither
assumption landed nor flying, but awaiting information.
about the This information is being withheld from them
narrator, such by the writer, and the implication is that this
as that they information is important enough, of stakes
seem, if not a that are high enough, to be worth the while of
little uptight, the reader to keep turning the pages.
Suspense therefore defines the state of mind
then perhaps
for the reader. What then is ‘tension’? Tension
hidebound. is the story state that generates suspense.
That this is a Often, this state of tension is established at the
person clearly
beginning. Take for example the opening lines
attached to of Atlas of Unknowns (Random House, 2009)
their job, that by Tania James:
taking a holiday “The day begins wrong. Melvin feels it upon
is something waking, as though he has slipped his right foot
unusual for into his left shoe and must shuffle along with
them, and that a wrong-footed feeling all day. That today is
they hold Mr. Christmas Eve brings no comfort at all.”
Here tension is established right away. The
Farraday in
very first line is a premonition of things to
high esteem. come, likely something unexpected, or even
unpleasant that might happen to Melvin.
Neither the character, nor the reader has any
idea what it is (or perhaps he does, and has
kept it hidden even from himself: “a knowing
so deep it’s like a secret’, as Toni Morrison puts
it). The writer has created tension, the reader is
in suspense, and we all want to keep turning
the pages to find out.
In the opening lines of Kazuo Ishiguro’s
The Remains of the Day (Faber and Faber,
1989), the tension is of another kind:
“It seems increasingly likely that I really
will undertake the expedition that has been
preoccupying my imagination now for some
days. An expedition, I should say, which I
will undertake alone, in the comfort of Mr.
Farraday’s Ford; an expedition which, as I
foresee it, will take me through much of
the finest countryside of England to the
West Country, and may keep me away from
Darlington Hall for as much as five or six days.”
Unlike with Melvin in Atlas of Unknowns,
tension is established as the protagonist here
is (partially) sharing information known to
them but not known to the reader. The reader
is in a state of suspense awaiting resolution
to a number of intriguing questions: Who
is speaking? What kind of work do they do?
Who is Mr. Farraday, and where is Darlington
Hall? From their manner of speech the reader
can formulate some assumption about the
narrator, such as that they seem, if not a little
uptight, then perhaps hidebound. That this
is a person clearly attached to their job, that
taking a holiday is something unusual for
them, and that they hold Mr. Farraday in high
esteem. These are all assumptions the reader
might make as they read these lines, but they
want to find out for sure. They want to know
more. They are, in other words, in a state of
suspense.
As a final example, take the iconic first lines
of One Hundred Years of Solitude (Perennial
Classics, 1998) by Gabriel García Márquez:
“Many years later, as he faced the firing
squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to
remember that distant afternoon when his
invites attendees to join the conversation and
explore what it truly means to be human amidst
the diverse linguistic and cultural tapestry.
father took him to discover ice.”
This is an excerpt. Find the full event report on DS
Here the reader is privy to a future event, Books and The Daily Star’s websites.
one that the protagonist himself is unaware
of. Even though we will ostensibly begin with
Aureliano Buendía’s childhood, we have been
given a peek into his future, his inevitable end.
The author has foreshadowed his death, has
shared a secret with us, and we are thrilled
by it. We want to know everything that lies
between Aureliano’s childhood and death.
The above examples illustrate how writers
create tension on the page, and therefore
suspense in the reader by selectively and
strategically withholding information, either
from the character, from the reader, or both.
Of course, for this strategy to be effective, the
information has to be of enough interest and
intrigue for the reader to keep them engaged,
and of high enough stakes for the character
for it to be meaningful to them when it is
inevitably revealed. No one, for example,
would be interested in the resolution of what
brand of toothpaste someone will buy (unless
it somehow figures strongly in the plot).
However, most people would be interested to
know what a private detective has uncovered
about the shadowy past of a new paramour.
Once a writer masters tension, they will
generate suspense and keep the reader turning
the pages. This thread of unease can be likened
to a fishing line, sometimes slack, sometimes
taut, but always present, and running the
breadth of a reader’s engaged interest, its
weighted hook sinking deep into the recesses
of their imagination, awaiting the bite.
Arif Anwar is the author of The Storm (Atria
Books, 2018) and the curator of the Hermitage
Residency. COLLAGE: MAISHA SYEDA

BOOK REVIEW: FICTION

The unanticipated consequences of caretaking

Review of ‘The Last Caretaker’ (Lake Union Publishing, 2023) by Jessica Strawser
FARAH GHUZNAVI
To make significant changes as part of a new
beginning after a divorce is a fairly standard
response to such a major life change,
especially one that is so often traumatic to
one or both parties involved. Divorce, after
all, is said by psychologists to be one of the
top three most intense experiences of grief
that a person is likely to experience over the
course of their lifetime.
Rather less common as a response is the
decision to move out into the wilderness
by accepting a job as a caretaker in a nature
preserve. But after the humiliating break up
of her marriage, that is precisely what Katie—
with the support of her best friend Bess,
who moved to the area previously with her
husband and children to work—decides to do.
But when a panicked woman shows up on
her doorstep late at night, expecting a very
different kind of help from the caretaker,
Katie has to wonder what she has let herself
in for, and how much Bess might have
known about this hitherto unmentioned
part of the job description, since she was
the one who encouraged Katie to take the
job after the previous caretaker suddenly
resigned (and became unreachable).
This is a brilliantly atmospheric story
which brings alive the pleasures of the
outdoors. From the sensory delights of
birdsong in the morning and sunset views
from a lookout point to the less appealing
realities of monitoring stagnant pond water
and counting newts, we accompany Katie
on her journey of discovery.
On a very different note, this novel also
reminded me of one of the other books I
have really loved in recent years—Jessica
Barry’s Don’t Turn Around (Harper, 2020).
The similarities are not absolute, but
something about the two stories remind
me of each other. Not just a few common
themes—like the many forms of ugliness
that gender-based violence can take, how
desperately some women need an escape
or an intervention, and the widespread
prevalence of misogyny worldwide that we
are almost resigned to—but also the sense
of fear that the storytelling evokes at times.
There is the unwelcome realisation that
most women have encountered this threat
in some form at some point in their lives.
Whether it is as an observer of the fault lines
in the relationships of other couples, or an
awkward encounter at a party that could
have gone badly, or even just a moment of
someone realising their vulnerability in the
midst of an argument where the tension is
almost physically palpable.
A friend of mine married someone she
fell in love with, only to find him to be
very different as a husband than he was
in terms of sick leave and lost income) has
been estimated at £2.3 billion pounds.
If this is the situation in the Western
world where laws and support services do
exist to protect the vulnerable, one must ask
how much worse it might be in a country
like India, where the NFHS 5 found that
nearly one-third of married women had
experienced some form of spousal abuse—
most commonly, physical violence.
Interestingly, this novel does indirectly
address why such extreme abuse is still
unacceptably commonplace in a country
like the US. And one of its real strengths
is to use the stories of the women that
Katie meets, like “Sky” and “Lindsey”, to go
beyond the economic figures and the mind-
blowing statistics and allow readers to just
empathise with the incalculable human
ILLUSTRATION: MAISHA SYEDA
as a boyfriend. Forced to choose between
her marriage and her parental family,
There is the unwelcome
her husband and her friends, she became
isolated from almost all the people that
realisation that most
she loved. This alienation from loved ones women have encountered
is, of course, a strategy commonly used this threat in some form at
by abusers. And in my friend’s case, her some point in their lives.
own sense of humiliation and self-blame Whether it is as an observer
prevented her from seeking help for years. of the fault lines in the
Nor is this all too familiar story in any way relationships of other
limited to South Asia. couples, or an awkward
Volunteering for a well-known human
encounter at a party that
rights organisation as a student in London could have gone badly,
some years ago during a mid-career break,
I was shocked to learn that in the UK,
or even just a moment of
emergency services received one call for someone realising their
vulnerability in the midst
help in a domestic violence situation every
minute, and in the US, they received a call of an argument where the
every fifteen seconds! As recently as 2019, tension is almost physically
the cost of domestic abuse to the health palpable.
service alone in England and Wales (leaving
aside the cost to employers and households
cost of suffering in these instances.
As Katie soon learns, the job of
the caretaker involves not only some
unexpected responsibilities, but also a
sharpening of the senses and a growing
feeling of mistrust or suspicion towards
everyone in her life—from her hard-to-read
colleague, Jude, who has an unsettling habit
of showing up where he’s least expected (or
wanted), to some of the dog-walkers and
bird-watchers in the park, and ultimately,
even her BFF Bess...
And even though I guessed one major
element of the storyline (the drawback of
being a writer who reads is that you are
always thinking of how you would write the
story that you’re reading!), I was nevertheless
completely absorbed by the compelling
plotline and the beautiful shading-in of tiny
details in Strawser’s storytelling.
This is a memorable book, featuring
relationship dynamics that are easily
recognisable, between friends, colleagues,
and siblings. It also asks difficult questions
about what we accept as normal, and how
far we are willing to go in the service of
justice—especially when it may involve
personal risk. The Last Caretaker is a well-
written and thought-provoking novel that,
much like her earlier offering Not That I
Could Tell (St. Martin’s Press, 2018), marks
Strawser out as a writer of note.
Farah Ghuznavi is a writer, translator, and
development worker. Her work has been
published in 11 countries across Asia, Africa,
Europe, and the USA. Writer in Residence with
Commonwealth Writers, she published a short
story collection titled Fragments of Riversong
(Daily Star Books, 2013), and edited the Lifelines
anthology (Zubaan Books, 2012). She is currently
working on her new short story collection and is
on Instagram @farahghuznavi.
 DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024, BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
T Sports Roma vs Milan (Friday)
Indian Premier League Live from 1:00 am Sony Sports 3
Punjab vs Mumbai (Friday) West Ham vs Leverkusen
Live from 8:00 pm Sony Sports 2 Live from 1:00 am
Sony Sports 1 Atalanta vs Liverpool (Friday)
UEFA Europa League Live from 1:00 am

Imranur, Sabina
‘Dortmund got one
scoop top awards
goal: Wembley’ SPORTS REPORTER

AFP, Dortmund Sprinter Imranur Rahman was adjudged as the

Striker Niclas Fuellkrug on Tuesday backed
Borussia Dortmund for a return to Wembley, 11
years after the club last reached the Champions
League final at the same stadium.
Dortmund beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in the
second leg of their quarterfinal, coming from
behind twice in the tie to progress 5-4 on aggregate
to the last four, where they will face Paris Saint-
Germain.
Fuellkrug’s brilliant second-half header
brought Dortmund level in the tie, just three
minutes before Marcel Sabitzer scored the hosts’
decisive fourth goal.
Describing the night as “magical”, Fuellkrug
savoured moving into the semi-finals, but said
Dortmund were not finished.
“We’ve got one goal: Wembley.”
Fuellkrug was playing second-division football
with Werder Bremen two seasons ago and made
the move to Dortmund this past August.
“We’re playing in a Champions League semi-
final. For someone like me I think it’s a little more
Dortmund became only the second side after
Juventus (in the 2018-19 season) to have knocked
out Atletico Madrid from the knockout stages of
the Champions League after losing the first leg of
the tie away from home.
PSG exorcise old ghosts
AFP, Paris
Paris Saint-Germain’s emphatic victory over Barcelona
keeps alive the French club’s dream of ending the
Kylian Mbappe era by lifting the Champions League
trophy at Wembley in June.
Their hopes of going all the way in Europe’s elite
club competition for the first time hung in the balance
after they lost 3-2 at home to Barca in the first leg of
their quarterfinal last week.
They had never previously won a Champions League
knockout tie after losing the first leg at home, and their
prospects of doing so this time appeared slim after
they conceded the opening goal on the night.
Another disappointing exit threatened for the
Qatar-owned club who had gone out in the last 16 in
five of the previous seven seasons.
But they seized the opportunity given to them in
Catalonia after Ronald Araujo’s red card left Barcelona
to play over an hour with 10 men, allowing Luis
Enrique’s team to go on and win 4-1 on the night and
6-4 on aggregate.
PSG were rampant with the extra player, as Ousmane
Dembele again stood out against his old team by
best sportsperson for 2023 while footballer Sabina
Khatun received the same prize for the following
year as the City Group-Prothom Alo Sports
Awards ceremony (2022-2023) was held at a hotel
in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Cricketer Najmul Hossain Shanto and footballer
Rakib Hossain received the runner-up trophies
for 2023 while footballer Sheikh Morsalin was
adjudged the most promising sportsperson for
the year. Cricketers Liton Das and Mehedi Hasan
Miraz received same awards for the previous year.
Archer Nasrin Akter received the best women’s
sports person award for 2022 while shooter
cricketer Fargana Haque received the same
award for 2023. Bangladesh Football Federation
president Kazi Salahuddin received lifetime
achievement award in 2023 while former athlete
Rawshon Akter Chobi won this award for 2022.
SHORT CORNER
coach we were going to win and qualify,” PSG president
Nasser al-Khelaifi proudly told broadcaster Canal Plus.
The final scoreline was identical to that on their last
visit to Barcelona in February 2021, when Mbappe hit a
hat-trick in the first leg of a last-16 tie they eventually
won 5-2 on aggregate.
But the manner of this victory surely finally exorcises
the ghost of their humiliating collapse in Barcelona in
2017, when they won 4-0 at home in the first leg only to
lose 6-1 in the return in a stunning implosion.
LeBron, Curry, Durant
This time it was PSG who produced the turnaround, head US Olympic ‘Dream
and they now have a glorious opportunity to reach a
second Champions League final in five seasons. team’
“This means a lot,” Dembele told Canal Plus. “We are LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant
crossing our fingers that we can get to Wembley.” will spearhead a star-studded United States
The closest PSG have come to winning the Olympic basketball squad chasing a fifth straight
gold medal at this summer’s Paris Games,
officials announced Wednesday. USA Basketball
confirmed a formidable 12-man roster bristling
with NBA talent that also includes reigning Most
Valuable Player Joel Embiid along with Boston
Celtics standouts Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday.

It was only the second time that Atletico

conceded four or more goals in a single knockout
game of the competition. The last time it
happened was when they lost 4-1 against Real
Madrid in the 2013-14 final.
special, there’s a few others here who experienced
that before.”
Under coach Jurgen Klopp, Dortmund made it
to the final in 2013, where they lost to rivals Bayern
Munich 2-1.
Defender Mats Hummels and Marco Reus
are the two remaining Dortmund players from
that match, while defender Niklas Suele won the
Champions League with Bayern in 2020.
“The atmosphere, the energy on the field, was
extreme. We knew from the first minute that
nobody was going to give an inch,” said Fuellkrug.
“We were crazy aggressive. That’s something we
need to take with us for the coming weeks.”
Dortmund played PSG in the group stage,
losing 2-0 in Paris before drawing 1-1 at home to
top the section.
“We played well at home against them but not
away. We want to do better -- and of course reach
the final,” said midfielder Julian Brandt, who
opened the scoring on Tuesday.
scoring the equaliser on the night and winning a
penalty which Kylian Mbappe converted.
In between, the outstanding Vitinha -- who had
already scored in the first leg -- netted with a brilliant
strike from outside the box, and Mbappe made sure of
the win late on to spark wild celebrations in the away
contingent at Montjuic.
“It is a magnificent, historic moment for the club. It
is not easy to win here, but I was confident. I told the
Luis Enrique became the first former Barca manager to
knock the Catalan side out of the Champions League
knockout stages. The last time he made the semi-finals
of the competition, he went all the way with Barcelona
in 2014-15.
This is the first time in 14 occasions that Barca have not
been able to go through in a knockout European tie after
winning the first leg away from home.
PSG failed to qualify four times after going down in the
first leg of a knockout tie at home. This was the first
time that they managed to overturn the deficit and go
through.
Kylian Mbappe is now second to only Cristiano Ronaldo
in away goals scored in the knockout rounds of the
Champions League. The Frenchman has taken his tally
to 15 in 12 matches on the road, while Ronaldo sits top
with 23 in 39 games.
Mahmood in search of
Pakistan’s best XI ahead of
T20 WC
Ahead of Pakistan’s home assignment against
New Zealand, newly appointed head coach
Azhar Mahmood spoke in detail about his squad,
player combinations, and strategies. Pakistan
Champions League trophy with Mbappe, bound for play 12 T20Is – five against New Zealand, three
Reakl Madrid next season, came in the 2020 final against Ireland, and four against England – in
loss to Bayern Munich, behind closed doors in Lisbon preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
during the pandemic.
It really would feel like a waste for them if they do
not manage to win it with such a generational talent Romario returns to
in their ranks.
Questions have been asked about Mbappe’s recent professional football at 58
performances, but his goals on Tuesday took him to 41 Brazilian football legend
for the season in all competitions. Romario has officially come
He is now just two goals away from a half-century out of retirement after
in the Champions League, and is the competition’s 15 years since his last
leading marksman this season with eight. professional match. The
He also scored in the group stage against Borussia 58-year-old World Cup
Dortmund, who will be PSG’s opponents in the
winner has signed with
semifinals.
Luis Enrique’s side -- who could wrap up the Ligue 1
America-RJ, a club playing in
title before then -- must be considered huge favourites the 2nd division of Carioca in the
to overcome the team who are currently fifth in the Rio de Janeiro football league system.
Bundesliga. If they do that, then they would just be one
*Read full stories on The Daily Star website
game at Wembley away from the glory they have chased
for so long.

Atalanta ready to deal fatal

Will Mushtaq make his presence felt?
SPORTS REPORTER series and the T20 World Cup in mind. We
have discussed long-term plans and about
and a mentor to many national team stars,
felt that perhaps too much focus is being
blow to Liverpool
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed how the move benefits us. But nothing is laid on Mushtaq’s past as a leg-spinner. AFP, Milan the Covid-19 pandemic which devastated
former Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq certain. When a coach of Mushtaq Ahmed’s “He will look after all the spinners; it’s Bergamo.
Ahmed as the national team’s spin bowling level comes to Bangladesh, seeing that we not like there will be separate coaches for Atalanta have a chance to make history It was also unexpected as Atalanta’s
coach on Tuesday. The decision seemed have a dearth of leg-spinners, it will be a left-arm spinners, right-arm spinners or a on Thursday as they welcome Liverpool recent form has been patchy with three
like a curious one given the dearth of leg- big support for the promising ones, those leg-spinner. We have not reached that place to Bergamo with one foot in the Europa wins in 11 matches, and throwing away a
spinners in the national team and the apart from Rishad [Hossain], who is in yet. When there is a pool of spinners, he League semifinals thanks to a stunning two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with struggling
country itself. the national side. It will be a big first-leg win at Anfield. Verona on Monday reminded coach
will have opportunity to work. It would be
BCB had brought high- thing that Mushtaq shares Atalanta once again punched way Gian Piero Gasperini of the dangers of
very good if he can watch the players in the
profile coaches in the above their weight last week by dishing complacency.
his vast knowledge with league [DPL] going on.
past too. Daniel Vettori out a 3-0 hammering to Liverpool and are “Liverpool are a team that came back
them. At the same time, “I feel he is relatively more experienced
and Rangana Herath on the verge of reaching the last four of a from three goals down in a Champions
when Mushtaq is with compared to past appointments and he will
-- the past two spin European competition for the first time League final against a team of greats. We
us, we can arrange have less of a language barrier and also have
coaches were both since 1988. know that nothing has been decided and
spin hunt in every a better understanding of culture,” Fahim
left-arm spinners,
nook and corner of felt.
and given that left-
arm spinners are not the country, it will be “There has been too much emphasis In the history of the UEFA Cup and Atalanta have only Jurgen Klopp’s side
only highly-valued very good for us and placed on him being a leg-spinner. When it the Europa League, never have lost one of their 16 have only won three
in the domestic good for the future of comes to spin, he will have expertise on all been a three-plus goal advantage previous home games of their last eight
circuit but are also leg-spinners,” BCB’s kinds of spin. He will also be a role model overturned after the away side in the UEFA Cup/Europa matches across all
high in numbers, their cricket operations and an impact would be there if there is leg- had won the first leg of a two- League, winning 10 competitions, losing
appointments were a chairman Jalal Yunus spin camps or spin hunts,” he added. legged tie by three or more goals. and drawing five. two and drawing three.
regular scenario. told reporters on However, high-profile coaches are not
However, BCB, while Wednesday. a guarantee for improvements in results.
looking at Mushtaq’s vast “It’s very rare to get leg- Fahim opined that spinners have not Back then Atalanta were a Serie B team that we will have to play really well,” said
history of coaching, felt that it was spinners now. But after he comes, improved much in recent years. and knocked out of the Cup Winners’ Cup Gasperini to Sky Sport on Monday.
more than just leg-spin but his experience some will be inspired. Mushtaq gives a lot “Our spinners have not improved greatly, by Belgian outfit Mechelen, but nowadays Liverpool will step out onto a pitch
too which could make a difference. With of tips and given his experience of playing if you look at stats from last two to three the Italians are competing with and beating surrounded by a partly-built Gewiss
coaches such as Sohel Islam already present in World Cups along with his coaching and years. So I don’t know if there was any visible an altogether higher class of opposition. stadium. The shiny new stands will pulsate
as a mentor for majority of the finger playing career, he will create a different difference,” Fahim said. Last week’s win in England was probably with some of the most passionate support
spinners in the country, the BCB went atmosphere. It will be a big help and we How much the spinners progress under the greatest European night in Atalanta’s Italy has to offer. And the only thing
against the grain in its recruitment of the might get that support from him,” Yunus the guidance of Mushtaq will be of great history as their run to 2020 Champions missing from Gasperini’s reign in northern
spin coach. added. importance to the team’s cause going League quarterfinals -- where they were Italy is a trophy, but with last week’s
“We have brought him with the Zimbabwe Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, cricket analyst forward. desperately unlucky to lose to Paris incredible win the path to May’s final in
Saint-Germain -- came at the height of Dublin has opened up.
 City

12 DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024, BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

INDIA’S LOK SABHA POLLS

Congress, CPI-M pursue

‘Loot East’ policy
Says Modi, wraps up campaign in Tripura
OUR CORRESPONDENT, New Delhi corruption -- what ridiculous parties they
are?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “It’s incredibly opportunistic to see
yesterday wrapped up his campaign in them (Congress and CPI-M) fighting
Tripura for the Lok Sabha polls, accusing together in Tripura while opposing each
Congress and its ally Communist Party of other in Kerala. In Kerala, Congress brands
India (Marxist) of turning the country’s the Communists as terrorists while the
“Look East” policy into a “Loot East” strategy. Communists accuse the Congress of
Seeking votes for the corruption,” he added.
BJP in two Lok Sabha Meanwhile, West
seats of Tripura, Modi TMC unveils Bengal Chief Minister and
said Congress and the election manifesto. TMC supremo Mamata
Communists “in the Mamata vows to Banerjee yesterday
name of Look East said the Citizenship
Policy, the previous
repeal NRC, CAA if (Amendment) Act, 2019
governments renamed it INDIA bloc voted (CAA) and the National
as Loot East Policy.” to power. Register of Citizens
Modi further said that (NRC) will be scrapped
soon after assuming if opposition bloc INDIA
power in 2014, he put a stop to the looting forms government at the Centre.
by adopting Act East Policy so that each She also alleged that the BJP has made
state of the northeastern region becomes the entire country a “detention camp”.
a model of development. Addressing an election rally in Silchar
He alleged that Congress and CPI-M are in support of four TMC candidates in
allies in Kerala but are fighting each other Assam, she said that there will be “no
in the elections in the state. democracy and elections if Prime Minister
Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Modi Narendra Modi returns to power” for the
said “Congress Yuvraj demanded that the third consecutive term. Vehicles, mostly buses bound for Dhaka from southern districts, are caught in a tailback in the capital’s Shyampur around 3:30pm yesterday.
(Kerala) chief minister be sent to jail for SEE PAGE 6 COL 2 The entry to the city saw snarl-ups due the rush of Eid holidaymakers returning to Dhaka. PHOTO: PALASH KHAN

Ensure fair
treatment
for my son
Ashfaqul’s mother
pleads
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Anowara Mahbub, mother
of The Daily Star’s former
executive editor Syed
Ashfaqul Haque, has
demanded an unbiased,
thorough, impartial, and
fair investigation into the
death of Preeti Urang, a
domestic help at her son’s
house, to unveil the truth.
In a media statement
yesterday, Anowara, wife of
late freedom fighter Syed
Mahbubul Haque from
Magura, also sought justice
for her son.
“Finally, I urge the
investigators to conduct
a fair investigation. I also
request all media houses
and people from all levels
of the society not to spread
any misinformation, which
may obstruct justice,” she
said.
She said she has
complete faith in the law of
Bangladesh.
Anowara said she made
the statement to shed light
on an accidental death
(according to prosecution
death arising out of
SEE PAGE 6 COL 4
Israel decided to Closely monitor Queen bumblebees
developments survive underwater
retaliate against Iran in Middle East for days: study
Says British FM; Tehran says it is ready Hasina asks ministers to AFP, Paris
make plans in advance
to deal with any response Queen bumblebees can
STAFF CORRESPONDENT surprisingly withstand
REUTERS, Jerusalem to normalise relations” with Israel. days underwater,
Washington and other Western Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has according to a study
Israel has clearly decided to retaliate against governments hope new economic sanctions instructed her cabinet colleagues to published yesterday,
Iran for missile and drone attacks, Britain’s against Iran will help persuade Israel to limit closely monitor the war situation in the suggesting they could
Foreign Minister David Cameron said during the scope of its retaliation. Middle East and prepare plans in advance. withstand increased
a visit to Jerusalem yesterday, the starkest Cameron said Britain wanted to see She gave the directives during a weekly floods brought on by
warning yet of another volley coming in coordinated sanctions against Iran by the cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s climate change that
regional escalation. Group of Seven big democracies, which are Office yesterday. threaten their winter
World powers are striving to prevent a wider meeting this week in Italy. “They need to be Speaking at a press conference at the hibernation burrows.
outbreak of conflict in the Middle East after given a clear unequivocal message by the G7,” Secretariat after the meeting, Cabinet The survival of these
Iran’s attacks on Saturday he said. Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “The pollinators that are crucial to
night, which involved Israel was expected prime minister instructed the ministers ecosystems is “encouraging” amid worrying global
hundreds of missiles and to discuss its response to prepare an outline of steps that might trends of their declining populations, the study’s
drones, the first time Israel will make its own to Iran at a meeting of be needed in different sectors if such a lead author Sabrina Rondeau told AFP.
Iran has directly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin situation lingers.”
decisions about how to With global warming prompting more
Israel after decades of Netanyahu’s war cabinet Responding to a question from a frequent and extreme floods in regions around
confrontation by proxies. defend itself: Netanyahu yesterday, which also journalist, Mahbub came up with an the world, it poses “an unpredictable challenge
“It’s clear the Israelis are includes centrist example, “If the oil price increases due to for soil-dwelling species, particularly bees nesting
making a decision to act,” Iran’s President Raisi rivals brought into the the situation in the Middle East, we will or overwintering underground”, co-author
Cameron told reporters in hits out at countries that government as a unity have to think in advance about measures Nigel Raine of the University of Guelph said in a
his visit to Jerusalem. “We sought to normalise ties gesture. to be taken.” statement.
hope they do so in a way with Israel Israel will make its own The cabinet secretary stressed the Rondeau said she first discovered queen
that does as little to escalate decisions about how to need for making preparations in advance bumblebees could withstand drowning by
this as possible.” defend itself, Netanyahu said to deal with any kind of situation to avoid accident.
Meanwhile, Iran said yesterday during talks with making hasty decisions. She had been studying the effect of pesticide
yesterday its military was ready to confront any German and British foreign ministers, who both He said that the premier asked the residues in soil on queen bumblebees that
attack by Israel, with the air force saying it was travelled to Israel as part of a coordinated push ministers to be proactive instead of being burrow underground for the winter when water
prepared for action. to keep confrontation between Israel and Iran reactive in the wake of any incident. accidentally entered the tubes housing a few of
“Any attack by the Zionist regime (Israel) on from escalating into a regional conflict. The cabinet in yesterday’s meeting the bees.
our soil will be dealt with a severe response,” Netanyahu’s office said he thanked David approved in principle the draft of the “I freaked out,” said Rondeau, who had been
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said at Cameron and Annalena Baerbock for their Maheshkhali Integrated Development conducting the experiment for her doctoral
a parade held for Army Day, state media support, while telling them: “I want to make it clear Authority (MIDA) Act-2024. studies. “It was only a small proportion... so it was
reported. - we will make our own decisions, and the State of Mahbub said the government has not that big of a deal, but I didn’t want to lose
He also hit out at countries that had “sought Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.” SEE PAGE 6 COL 1 those bees.”

Chuadanga
logs highest
Dubai reels from
temperature flood chaos after
so far this yr
STAR REPORT record rains
The highest temperature of
the year so far was recorded
at 40.7 degrees Celsius
in Chuadanga yesterday
afternoon.
It was recorded around
3:00pm, Jaminur Rahman,
in-charge of the district’s
Weather Observatory, told
our local correspondent,
adding that the severe
heatwave is likely to
continue.
Aminur Rahman, 45, AFP, Dubai
a local van puller said,
“People are not being able
to come out of their houses Dubai’s giant highways were clogged by flooding and
airport passengers were urged to stay away yesterday as
today [yesterday] due to the
the glitzy financial centre reeled from record rains.
extreme heat, resulting in
Huge tailbacks snaked along six-lane expressways after
losses in our daily incomes.
I am not being able to earn up to 254 millimetres of rain -- about two years’ worth --
enough for my family due fell on the desert United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
to the heatwave.” At least one person was killed after a 70-year-old man
According to the Met was swept away in his car in Ras Al-Khaimah, one of the
office, a severe heatwave country’s seven emirates, police said.
has been sweeping over Passengers were warned not to come to Dubai airport,
Chuadanga and Bagerhat the world’s busiest by international traffic, “unless
while a mild to moderate absolutely necessary”, an official said.
heatwave is occurring over “Flights continue to be delayed and diverted... We
SEE PAGE 6 COL 1 A man touches the head of a child killed following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. PHOTO: AFP SEE PAGE 6 COL 2
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024, BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS • starbusiness@thedailystar.net
BUSINESS
Drones to
help assess
crop losses
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
Bangladesh is preparing to
introduce drones to detect
crop damage caused by
extreme weather events
or diseases, the Asian
Development Bank (ADB)
said in a press release
yesterday.
Around 20 officers
of the Department of
Agricultural Extension
(DAE) are initially receiving
training to learn how to
use the state-of-the-art
technologies, it added.
Malay Choudhury,
additional agriculture
secretary, and Edimon
Ginting, ADB country
director for Bangladesh,
inaugurated a workshop,
titled “The use of drone
and satellite image for
crop monitoring and crop
damage assessment”, at the
Hotel InterContinental in
Dhaka yesterday to initiate
a seven-day training
programme.
The DAE and ADB
jointly designed the
training programme to be
conducted from April 17 to
25.
Renowned geospatial
experts from the
International Crops
Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics will
conduct the training.
The trainees will receive
four days of classroom
training on geographical
information systems and
remote sensing analysis for
crop damage detection and
participate in a three-day
field trip to Sylhet to learn
READ MORE ON B3
Wood plastic composites
in the form of kitchen
cabinets, bathroom and
balcony doors are slowly
gaining popularity in
Bangladesh
Story on B4
Social safety net to get US trade bodies
oppose tariff hike
wider and better plan for garments
from Bangladesh
Rise of Social security ALLOCATION Change in REFAYET ULLAH MIRDHA
beneficiaries SCHEMES FOR SAFETY NET allowance Four major American trade bodies have strongly
from FY25 17% (Allotment in %) 34% opposed the suggestion aimed at imposing
Others Cash Transfer higher tariffs on apparel items imported from
FY23 FY24 Allowance under Bangladesh and four other countries since it is
Beneficiaries for Total mother and the end-consumers who bear the additional prices
old age allowance (In crore 113,576 126,272 child benefit ultimately.
by 2 lakh taka) programme will The American Apparel and Footwear
Association (AAFA), the National Retail Federation
Beneficiaries for rise to Tk 1,000 (NRF), the Retail Industry Leaders Association
widows’ allowance Allocation from existing
(RILA), and the United States Fashion Industry
by 2 lakh in % of 16.75 16.58 Tk 800 Association (USFIA), collectively made the
budget observation in a letter to David Johanson, chair of
Beneficiaries for Benefits for senior
financial support 32% Allocation citizens will rise
the US International Trade Commission (USITC),
on March 25.
for complex Transfer of 4% 13% in % of 2.55 2.52 to Tk 900 from The AAFA is the national trade association
diseases by 20,000 materials Stipend Food GDP existing Tk 600 representing apparel, footwear and other sewn
products companies and their suppliers and the
NRF advocates for the people, brands, policies and
ideas in the retail industry.
REJAUL KARIM BYRON and AHSAN HABIB earlier this month to bring all safety net aged more than 62 with an average annual
READ MORE ON B3
programmes under a new structure in order income of less than Tk 10,000 are eligible.
The government is going to increase the to reduce leakage, misuse, and corruption. All eligible elder citizens are getting the
number of beneficiaries under its social A top official of the ministry said the benefit in 262 upazilas. If the number of
safety net programmes by around four lakh in government would increase the number of beneficiaries is increased by 8 lakh, it will be STOCKS
order to extend support to more poor people beneficiaries in two major schemes – the old possible to bring all eligible individuals under
struggling to make ends meet amid lingering DSEX CASPI
age allowance and the allowance for widows, the scheme in the remaining 233 upazilas,
inflationary pressures. deserted, or destitute women. according to the finance ministry. 0.19% 0.47%
The decision to include new beneficiaries He added that the allowances could not be At the meeting, finance ministry officials 5,763.77 16,459.54
came following a cabinet committee meeting hiked due to fund constraints. said the number of beneficiaries needs to be
on social safety net programmes last week. The increase in the number of beneficiaries increased gradually.
However, the allowance of the schemes will will provide relief to those in need, especially The government has allocated Tk 1,711
remain unchanged. considering the persisting cost-of-living crore for the Widow, Deserted, or Destitute COMMODITIES
The finance ministry issued two circulars crisis. In Bangladesh, the inflation rate has Women programme in 2023-24. Gold Oil
hovered above 9 percent for the Around 25.75 lakh women are already
last 13 months. beneficiaries of the scheme, which will $2,391.34 $84.87
Around 58.01 lakh elderly accommodate a further two lakh. (per ounce) (per barrel)
people are getting Tk 600 per Under the programme, such women aged 18
month in the ongoing fiscal and above and with an annual average income
year. Their number will increase below Tk 12,000, are getting allowances of Tk
by two lakh in 2024-25. 550 per month. ASIAN MARKETS
For the current fiscal year, However, the allowance has been increased MUMBAI TOKYO SINGAPORE SHANGHAI
the government has allocated for some other schemes.
Tk 4,205 crore for the ‘Old Age Under the Mother and Child Benefit 0.62% 1.32% 0.32% 2.14%
Allowance’ programme. Men Programme, the allowance is going to be 72,943.68 37,961.80 3,154.69 3,071.38
above the age of 65 and women READ MORE ON B3
B2 BUSINESS
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS

MetLife, DU strike MoU on EXIM Bank

appoints new
career dev opportunities DMD
STAR BUSINESS DESK

Rizwan Dawood Shams EXIM Bank has promoted an

IPDC Finance
gets new MD
STAR BUSINESS DESK
IPDC Finance has appointed a new
managing director (MD), according
to a press release received yesterday.
The appointee, Rizwan Dawood
Shams, had been serving as the acting
MD since last January following the
resignation of Mominul Islam, who
had served as MD and CEO for over a
decade, in November last year.
Shams joined the non-bank
financial institution in November
2007 and was promoted to the post
of additional MD in April 2021.
He previously worked for Standard
Chartered Bank, Habib Bank and GSP
Finance.
“Despite having one of the lowest
NPLs (non-performing loans) in the
industry, our focus will primarily be on
NPL management alongside ensuring
sustainable growth,” said Shams.
The company will also uphold
the highest standards of corporate
governance through internal process
optimisation and collaboration with
external stakeholders and regulators,
he added.
Shams obtained his bachelor’s
degree from North South University
and did an MBA from Victoria
University of Melbourne in Australia.
Prof Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, treasurer of the University of Dhaka, Prof Hasina Sheykh, chairman of the department of banking
and insurance at the faculty of business studies, and Ala Uddin, deputy managing director and chief financial officer of MetLife
Bangladesh, pose for photographs after signing a memorandum of understanding at the university recently.
STAR BUSINESS DESK
MetLife Bangladesh recently signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with the department of banking and
insurance of the University of Dhaka.
Prof Hasina Sheykh, chairman of
the department, and Ala Uddin, deputy
managing director and chief financial
officer of the life-insurer, penned the MoU
at the university, the insurer said in a press
release.
Through this MoU, students of the
department will have enhanced access
to internship, employment and career
development opportunities at MetLife.
The MoU is part of MetLife’s continued
efforts to build trust and develop talented
resources for the insurance sector in
Bangladesh.
The University of Dhaka is the leading
public university in Bangladesh, nurturing
PHOTO: METLIFE BANGLADESH
numerous professionals in various fields
every year.
Prof Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, treasurer of
the university, Naheed Rabbani, professor
of the banking and insurance department,
Sadia Noor Khan, associate professor,
and Tauhidul Alam, additional managing
director and chief HR officer of the life-
insurer, and Nowfel Anower, additional
managing director and chief marketing
officer, were among those present.
official to the post of deputy
managing director.
The official, Md Moidul
Islam, was serving the bank
as an additional managing
director prior to his new
charge, the bank said in a
press release.
He joined EXIM Bank
as a senior principal officer
in 2001 and worked in
different capacities in Dhaka
division.
An expert in Shariah-based
investment management, he started his banking
career at Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd as a
probationary officer in 1992.
He is an associate member of the Institute of
Bankers, Bangladesh. He completed his Banking
Diploma from the institute.
Oil price dips
REUTERS
Oil prices slipped for the third straight session
on Wednesday as likely higher US commercial
inventories weighed, while weaker economic data
from China and dimmed prospects of interest rate
cuts stoked worries about global demand.
Brent futures for June were down 21 cents, or
0.2 percent, to $89.81 a barrel at 0915 GMT, while
US crude futures for May were down 19 cents, or
0.2 percent, to $85.17 a barrel.
Oil prices have softened so far this week as
economic headwinds curb gains from geopolitical
tensions, with markets eyeing how Israel might
respond to Iran’s weekend attack.

NCC Bank, BRRI sign deal on agri research

STAR BUSINESS DESK

NCC Bank has signed an

agreement with Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute (BRRI) under
which the bank will provide
financial assistance worth Tk 90
lakh to a research project related
to the development of a “Prilled
Urea Applicator”.
Md Shahjahan Kabir, director
general (grade-1) of BRRI, and Md
Monirul Alam, senior executive
vice-president and company
secretary of the bank, signed the
deal at the bank’s head office in
Dhaka yesterday, the bank said in
a press release. Md Shahjahan Kabir, director general (grade-1) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, and Md Monirul Alam,
Kabir said supporting senior executive vice-president and company secretary of NCC Bank, pose for photographs after signing an
agricultural research projects is agreement on an agriculture research project at the bank’s head office in Dhaka yesterday. PHOTO: NCC BANK
a great initiative of the bank and
thanked NCC Bank authorities for M Shamsul Arefin, managing seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and Hasnain Mamun, senior vice-
co-operating with the research director and CEO (current saplings among 15,000 marginal president and head of human
project, which aims to increase charge) of the bank, attended the farmers across the country free of resources division, were present.
fertiliser efficiency. He added that programme. cost. Among others, Md Golam
it would reduce the use of urea Arefin said NCC Bank has Md Mahbub Alam, Mohd Rafat Kibria Bhuiyan, principal scientific
fertilisers in paddy land by 30 supported marginal farmers to Ullah Khan, and Md Zakir Anam, officer of BRRI, Mohammah
percent. cultivate land across the country deputy managing directors of Kamruzzaman, principal
“Through this applicator, urea as a part of its corporate social the bank, Mohammed Mizanur investigator and senior scientific
fertiliser will be placed deep into responsibility. Rahman, senior executive vice- officer, and Mizanur Rahman,
the soil, which will help to reduce Apart from providing loan president and CFO, Mohammed scientific officer of farm machinery
Green House Gas emissions,” he facilities at lower interest rates, he Anisur Rahman, senior executive and post-harvest technology
added. said the bank distributed various vice-president and CIO, and Syed division, were also present.

Japan Inc makes Padma Islami

FROM PAGE B4
“That heightens the
importance of the US
market,” he said, adding
that historically, the United
States has been the most
profitable market for
Japan’s car companies,
exceeding even their home
country.
Toyota late last year said
it would boost investment
by $8 billion at its EV
battery plant in North
Carolina, bringing the
total investment to around
$13.9 billion. The plant,
which is expected to begin
operations in 2025 will be
its first automotive battery
plant globally.
Honda this month said it
would invest at least $700
million in transforming its
Ohio plants as it creates an
EV hub in the state.
The Honda investment
showed how Japanese car
companies weren’t just
investing for next year but
for “years down the line”
said Anita Rajan, general
director of JAMA USA, a
lobby group that represents
the Japanese automakers.
Privately, one senior
executive at a Japanese
automaker said he was
amazed by the dynamism
of the US economy.
That, together with the
difficulties in China,
made him think the US
market offered the better
opportunity for growth, he
said.
NIPPON STEEL
Last year Japanese
overseas acquisitions
totalled 8.1 trillion yen ($53
billion), the most since 2019
and roughly double from
a year earlier, according to
LSEG data. More than half
of that was in the United
States.
But the United
States is not without its
complications.
Nippon Steel’s $15
billion bid for US Steel
has riled politicians,
with President Joe Biden
saying the manufacturer
must remain domestically
owned and operated, while
Donald Trump has pledged
to block the deal if he
becomes president again.
And despite the many
headwinds in China, Japan
Inc remains heavily reliant
on its neighbour, both as a
manufacturing base and a
market.
FROM PAGE B4
“The company has some
plots of land, which were
offered for sale, but buyers
weren’t even offering the
price that the company
bought those for. That’s
why they can’t sell. Due
to this, a huge number of
claims are pending,” he
said.
“I could not reply to
the IDRA’s show cause
notice as I went to perform
Umrah. A reply to the
letter will be submitted to
IDRA today [Wednesday],”
aamra networks’
FROM PAGE B4
corporate clients, who had
realised the necessity of
digitalisation to monitor
and keep their business
Bhuiyan added.
Padma Islami settled 65
percent of its total claims
in 2020, 46.89 percent in
2021, and 72.80 percent in
2022.
Established in 2000,
Padma Islami has 167
branches with 600 agents
across the country. The
company has paid-up
capital of Tk 388.80
million.
There are 35 life
insurance and 46 non-life
insurance companies in
Bangladesh.
Besides, the management
emphasised on creating
awareness among the
employees to reduce
unnecessary expenditure

Biden pushes to triple tariffs running remotely.

FROM PAGE B4
Currently, the average tariff
on steel and aluminum
under this section is 7.5
percent.
The so-called Section
301 investigation was the
primary tool the Trump
administration used in the
trade war with China to
justify tariffs. The White
House added on Wednesday
that Biden is also directing
officials to work with
Mexico to prevent tariff
evasion by China.
Made in America
Meanwhile, the
USTR investigation into
shipbuilding and other
sectors comes after a
petition last month by
unions including the
United Steelworkers.
They urged for action to
address “unreasonable and
discriminatory” policies
and practices used by
Beijing to dominate these
industries.
Biden won the backing
last month of the United
Steelworkers union and has
opposed a bid by Japan’s
Nippon Steel to take over
the Pittsburgh-based US
Steel.
The White House said
on Wednesday that Biden
would continue making
clear that it is “vital” for
US Steel to remain an
American company that
is domestically owned and
operated.
Biden’s National
Economic Adviser Lael
Brainard said the president
understands American
steel “built our nation”
with steel mills helping to
grow the US middle class
in states like Pennsylvania
and Ohio.
This was reflected in
revenue growth. “Our
revenue has grown for the
corporate sector, which
was more profitable,” said
the sources.
ADN Telecom plans
FROM PAGE B4
As per the disclosure, the
company has been granted
the lease for 40 years for
developing manufacturing
facilities of international
standard.
The rate is US $1.50
per square metre, which
and build up efficiency in
running the office, they said.
At the same time, they
were cautious over making
purchases, which helped
generate a bigger profit,
said the sources.
amounts to US $10,642.50
for the first 10 years.
Afterwards the rate will
increase by a maximum of
10 percent every three years.
Shares of ADN Telecom
closed at Tk 114.70
yesterday, down from Tk
115.50 on the previous day.
 BUSINESS
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
B3
MJL to double Stocks fall for
US trade body stake in 3rd day straight
reiterates support Prime Bank
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
STAR BUSINESS DESK

Although companies listed with the Dhaka Stock

Exchange (DSE) regained some strength in the

for GSP revival MJL Bangladesh, one of the nation’s

Prof Md Jonaid Shafiq
Jonaid Shafiq
becomes
director of
Meghna Bank
STAR BUSINESS DESK
Professor Md Jonaid Shafiq, a
renowned physician, has been
elected as director of Meghna
Bank.
Shafiq is a pain medicine
specialist and the founder
of the pain medicine unit of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University, the bank
said in a press release.
He is the managing
director of Japan Bangladesh
Friendship Hospital and
Navana Pharmaceuticals
Ltd.
He is also a founder
member of the Bangladesh
Society for Study of Pain.
Shafiq is the co-chairman
of Japan Bangladesh
Friendship Foundation, under
which there are three nursing
institutes, a nursing College,
a technology institute and a
physiotherapy college.
REFAYET ULLAH MIRDHA
The American Apparel & Footwear
Association (AAFA) has expressed
support for revival of the Generalised
System of Preferences (GSP) to reduce
costs faced by US citizens.
Introduced in 1976, the GSP was a
trade scheme allowing least developed
and developing countries to export
goods to the US at low duties, and, in
some cases, none at all.
Bangladesh was suspended from it in
June 2013 after two industrial disasters,
the Tazreen Fashions fire and Rana Plaza
building collapse, which highlighted
serious shortcomings in labour rights
and workplace safety.
The scheme was cancelled for all
beneficiary countries in December
2020.
“The apparel and footwear industry
encourages Congress to quickly pass
the GSP Reform Act,” said Steve Lamar,
president and chief executive officer
(CEO) of the AAFA, in a statement on
April 15.
“GSP has always had bipartisan
support, and the record long lapse has
been unexplainable and damaging
to American businesses, American
workers, and beneficiary countries alike,
all while handing a huge trade win to
China,” he said.
“This retroactive renewal is far more
effective at making our trusted partners
more competitive than misapplied
tariffs will ever be,” he said.
“This GSP program is also helpful to
mitigate the costs faced by our nation’s
supply chains during this time of
continuous disruption,” said Lamar.
“Once renewed, this can have a very
real impact on the cost and offering
of everyday goods such as luggage for
summer travel and backpacks for school
in the fall,” he said.
“We were pleased to see several
proposed reforms, including measures
to update the competitive need
limitation mechanism and open a
process to consider currently ineligible
products,” said Beth Hughes, vice
president of the AAFA for trade and
customs policy.
Bangladesh has been putting in
the effort to enjoy the duty benefit on
exports, State Minister for Commerce
Ahasanul Islam Titu told The Daily Star
over the phone yesterday.
Bangladesh has fulfilled 16 conditions
for the reinstatement of the GSP and
submitted the progress report to the
United States Trade Representative
twice.
However, on different occasions the
US has been saying that Bangladesh
needs to do more.
Prior to the suspension, Bangladesh
was exporting goods, such as dry fish,
tobacco items and ceramics.
Excluding the main export item,
garments, such goods worth $34 million
were sent under the GSP.
leading lubricants companies, is going to
buy 2.20 crore shares of Prime Bank in
order to increase its stake in the lender.
At the current market price, the shares
will cost Tk 48 crore.
MJL Bangladesh, now a corporate
shareholder of Prime Bank, wants to buy
the shares at the prevailing market price
through the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)
within 30 working days, the lender said in
a disclosure on the DSE website yesterday.
Once the purchase is completed, MJL’s
stake in Prime Bank, one of the leading
private commercial banks in Bangladesh,
will stand at 4 percent, according to officials
At present, the company holds a stake of
around 2 percent.
“We are investing in the bank with the
expectation that it will make good profits
and we will get a good return,” said Azam
J Chowdhury, managing director of MJL
Bangladesh.
The disclosure by MJL Bangladesh
comes just two days after Prime Bank
reported a 20 percent year-on-year rise in
profits, to Tk 480 crore, in 2023.
The bank also recommended a 17.50
percent cash dividend for its shareholders
for 2023. Prime Bank has over 113.22 crore
outstanding shares, each with a face value
of Tk 10.
Officials said MJL Bangladesh, a joint
venture between East Coast Group’s
subsidiary EC Securities and state-owned
Jamuna Oil Company, began to purchase
shares of Prime Bank in the second half of
last year.
Prime Bank shares gained 0.22 percent
to reach Tk 22 on the DSE yesterday while
MJL Bangladesh advanced 0.60 percent to
Tk 83.5 in the market, which closed on a
downbeat note for a third consecutive day.
early hours of trading yesterday, they eventually
ended in a decline extending the losing streak for
the third day straight.
The DSEX, the benchmark index of the premier
bourse of Bangladesh, shed 10.80 points, or 0.19
percent, to close the day at 5,763.77 points.
Likewise, the DSES, an index that represents
Shariah-compliant companies, slipped by 1.65
points, 0.13 percent, to 1,266.41 points.
The DS30, which comprises blue-chip stocks,
fell by 5.36 points, 0.27 percent, to 2,014.93 points.
Daily turnover, which indicates the volume
of shares traded during the session, stood at Tk
482 crore, down 10.68 percent from the previous
trading session.
According to the daily market update of UCB
Stock Brokerage, the travel and leisure, IT, and
tannery sectors closed in the positive while the
ceramics, mutual fund and non-bank financial
institution sectors closed in the negative.
The pharmaceuticals sector dominated the
turnover chart, covering 17.10 percent of the total
market turnover.
In its daily market update, BRAC EPL Stock
Brokerage said the market closed in the red as most
large-cap sectors posted negative performances.
The non-bank financial institution sector
experienced the highest loss of 0.82 percent
followed by engineering (0.64 percent), fuel and
power (0.30 percent), telecommunication (0.25
percent), pharmaceuticals (0.18 percent), bank
(0.18 percent), and food and allied (0.08 percent).
Block trades contributed 2.1 percent of the
overall market turnover. Asiatic Laboratories was
the most traded share with a turnover of Tk 26.4
crore and rise of 1.3 percent in share value.
Of the issues traded at the DSE, 106 nudged
higher, 222 declined, and 67 did not see any price
movement.
Coppertech Industries topped the gainers’ list
with a rise of 9.82 percent followed by SEML Lecture
Equity Management Fund, ACME Pesticides, and
BD Thai Food & Beverage with 8.54 percent, 6.05
percent, and 5.41 percent respectively.

US bakery brand US trade bodies oppose

Cinnabon opens FROM PAGE B1
The RILA is the trade
association for leading
basic sweaters to the US.
Despite ineligibility for
duty-free treatment under
and the US Congress has
not revived it since.
The US suspended the

outlet in Dhaka retailers while the USFIA

represents textile and
apparel brands, retailers,
STAR BUSINESS REPORT importers and wholesalers
based in the US and doing
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas yesterday business globally.
inaugurated an outlet of American bakery brand
Cinnabon in the capital, according to a statement from The four associations
the US embassy. comprise hundreds of
Cinnabon’s expansion into this market not only members, recording sales
tantalises tastebuds but also bolsters the trade amounting to several
and investment relationship between the US and trillion dollars annually.
Bangladesh, he said as he inaugurated the outlet at The USITC is conducting
Kemal Ataturk Avenue in Banani. an investigation -- under
Foreign Commercial Service Officer John Fay and the name of Apparel:
Public Diplomacy Counselor Stephen Ibelli of the US Export Competitiveness of
embassy echoed the same sentiments for the growing Certain Foreign Suppliers
presence of American franchises in Bangladesh. to the United States -- into
“Cinnabon joins a growing number of American the sudden price hike and
People walk outside the Bank of England in London. The central bank is worried franchises interested in operating in Bangladesh,” the supply glut of garment
said Fay, emphasising the role of American businesses
that a smaller workforce will sustain inflation by increasing labour shortages and items to the US markets
interested in investing in Bangladesh, fostering
keeping pressure on wages. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE cultural exchange and economic cooperation. from five countries:
Founded in Seattle in 1985 and now based in Atlanta, Bangladesh, India,
Cinnabon is the market leader among cinnamon roll Indonesia, Cambodia, and
the generalised system of
preferences (GSP), which
excludes apparel products,
the five countries remain
competitive.
“In part, this reflects
the important role these
countries play for apparel
brands and retailers’
broader supply chain
diversification efforts,” the
letter said.
“While some have
suggested that the US
should impose higher
tariffs on apparel products
from these and other
countries, we strongly
disagree.”
The leaders also said
they experienced through
the imposition of tariffs
on products from China,
GSP facility for Bangladesh
in 2013, citing poor labour
rights and poor workplace
safety following the Tazreen
Fashions fire and the Rana
Plaza building collapse.
The USITC heard during
the hearing that the
decision to source products
from a particular country
depends on a variety of
factors.
They include
vertical integration,
speed to market, cost
competitiveness, product
capability, the skillset of
the available labour force,
geopolitical stability,
proximity to raw materials,
adherence to quality,
social and environmental
compliance standards, and

UK lags G7 as labour bakeries, according to its website. The company serves Pakistan. tariffs increase costs for US capacity.
fresh, aromatic, oven-hot cinnamon rolls, as well as a The joint letter comes businesses and American In the case of
variety of other baked goods and specialty beverages. two weeks after the consumers, not for foreign Bangladesh, India,
As of June 2023, Cinnabon had more than 1,850 commission held a hearing exporters. Indonesia, Cambodia, and

market ‘inactivity’ locations worldwide. on the issue on March 11.

In the letter, the
associations strongly
Tariffs are taxes that
are paid by importers and
eventually imposed on
Pakistan, the members
report that these countries
have well-established textile

Social safety net disagreed with the move to consumers. Current tariffs industries, characterised by

hits eight-year high FROM PAGE B1

REUTERS, London
Four years since the outbreak of the
Covid-19 pandemic, Britain remains
beset by a persistent rise in working-age
people who do not have a job and are not
seeking one, a trend that sets it apart
from its peers.
Britain is the only Group of Seven
economy where the share of working-age
people outside the workforce remains
higher than before the pandemic, slowing
its growth and boosting inflation.
A smaller size of the workforce in
proportion to the population typically
reduces average economic output, which
if not matched by an equivalent drop
in demand for goods and services puts
upward pressure on inflation.
The country’s fiscal watchdog, the
Office for Budget Responsibility, says
rising labour market inactivity is likely
to cancel out the positive impact on
the economy of a growing population
and last month it cut its estimate for
output per person, in part because of the
problem.
Last July, the OBR estimated a 1.2
percentage point rise in the inactivity
rate would reduce gross domestic
product by 1.5 percent and increase
annual government borrowing by 21
billion pounds ($26 billion).
The Bank of England is worried that a
smaller workforce will sustain inflation
by increasing labour shortages and
keeping pressure on wages, making it
harder to cut interest rates.
Official data published on Tuesday
showed the inactivity rate hit an eight-
and-a-half-year high, with more than
one in five Britons aged 16-64 neither
working nor looking for work.
“Rising inactivity - and its impact
on the public finances, the benefits
system, and people’s wider health and
wellbeing - is one of the biggest economic
raised from Tk 800 to Tk
challenges facing both this government, 1,000. Also, senior citizens
and whoever wins the next election,” said aged 80 and above will
Charlie McCurdy, an economist at the get allowances of Tk 900
Resolution Foundation think tank. per month from FY25
Ravine sits in the industrial Donbas compared to Tk 600
area in the Donetsk region. presently.
People are considered economically Under the financial
inactive if they do not have a job and support programme for
have not looked for work in the past four cancer, kidney and liver
weeks, or are not ready to start one in the cirrhosis patients, 30,000
next two weeks. beneficiaries are being given
That can include full-time students -
whose education is usually pays off over
a one-off payment of Tk
50,000 this fiscal year. The
the longer term - and a small number of
people who have given up looking for a
number of beneficiaries will
go up to 50,000 next fiscal
year.
job. But it also covers the sick and early
retirees.
The Ministry
Liberation War Affairs
of
Before the pandemic, British rates
recommended raising the
of inactivity had been falling steadily
allowance for freedom
since 2010, dropping to their lowest in fighters by Tk 10,000 to
nearly 50 years at 20.5 percent of the Tk 30,000. However, the
population aged 16-64 immediately committee has not taken
before the Covid-19 lockdowns in early any decision to this effect.
2020. At present, two lakh
Labour market participation fell and freedom fighters enjoy an
inactivity rates then rose, hitting their allowance of Tk 20,000
highest since mid-2015 in the three monthly.
months to February at 22.2 percent, The government set aside
Tuesday’s data showed. Tk 43,389 crore for 1.39
Unemployment hit a six-month high crore beneficiaries under
its 10 core social safety net
of 4.2 percent in the same period but
remains low by pre-pandemic standards.
Inactivity appears to be becoming
programmes. Of them, 8
lakh retired government
employees will get Tk 27,413
more persistent, too.
The proportion of inactive working crore.
age people who tell the Office for Allowances through MFS
linked to national ID cards
National Statistics that they want a job
In a circular issued earlier
has fallen steadily since 2015 with the
this month, the ministry
exception of a sharp jump at the start of said all funds for the social
the pandemic. It was just 18.1 percent in
safety net programmes
the three months to February, its lowest must be provided through
in records dating back over 30 years.
mobile financial services
The number of Britons aged 16-64
that are registered using
who are outside the workforce has risen the national ID card of the
by more than 850,000 over the past beneficiary. This must be
four years to 9.4 million, the highest ensured by June 30 of 2025.
since 2012. At present, allowances
for many programmes are
disbursed through MFS, but
they are often not registered
using the beneficiaries’
national identity cards. So,
it is sometimes misused.
If a beneficiary can’t
provide fingerprints or does
not have a national ID card,
the rule may be relaxed for
them.
Comprehensive report
on safety net programmes
The finance ministry
prepares a detailed
report of social safety net
programmes each year. This
year, it is going to include
some new issues in order
to get a clearer picture of
who the beneficiaries are
and which regions are being
benefited most.
The government
provides safety net
benefits under around 130
programmes and the total
allocation is Tk 126,000
crore for FY24.
Analysts question
whether some of the
programmes are truly
benefitting poor people.
They also say a huge amount
is being wasted, pointing to
allegations of corruption in
distribution channels.
Therefore, the finance
ministry has ordered all
ministries concerned to
submit reports detailing
who is receiving allowances
and the goals of the
programme by April 30.
Based on the reports, the
finance ministry will prepare
a comprehensive report as
per the recommendations
of the World Bank and the
International Monetary
Fund.
raise the tariff rates on the
imports of apparel items.
During
commission’s
the
hearing
attended by the leaders of
the trade bodies, it was said
that the US imposes higher
most-favoured-nation duty
rates on apparel products
than nearly any other
sector and factor into the
cost competitiveness of
source countries.
Bangladeshi apparel
exporters are facing one
of the highest tariffs at
15.62 percent in the US,
which imported more
than $116 billion worth of
garment items last year.
Bangladesh’s share stands
at 9.3 percent.
Bangladesh, India,
Indonesia, Cambodia, and
Pakistan are, respectively,
the third, fourth, fifth,
sixth and the eighth largest
apparel supplier to the US.
Bangladesh exports
products such as denim,
woven shirts, woven pants,
t-shirts, active fleeces, and
Traders get nod
FROM PAGE B4
The price of medium and
fine grains also increased,
according to market price
data collected by the
Trading Corporation of
Bangladesh.
Bangladesh produced
3.9 crore tonnes of rice
in fiscal 2022-23, up 2.49
percent year-on-year.
The NBR cut customs
tariff on rice in early
February to cut import costs
on apparel especially
impact low- and middle-
income consumers, who
would be further harmed
in the case of higher tariffs
on clothing, the leaders
told the hearing.
If the administration
is serious about its desire
for US companies to
reduce dependencies
on any single country,
imposing tariffs on other
source countries would be
counterproductive,
said.
they
“Instead, we encourage
the US government to
take additional steps to
help further accelerate
the ongoing supply chain
diversification efforts.
This includes immediate
retroactive renewal of the
GSP programme, as well as
expanding GSP to include
certain apparel products.”
Currently, the US does
not provide the GSP to
any country. The tenure of
the latest GSP programme
came to an end in 2020
and encourage businesses
to bring in more rice.
The food ministry said
the importers will have
to inform district food
controllers about the
quantity of imported rice,
stocks and marketing.
Imported rice cannot
be repackaged in the
name of the proprietor’s
organisation. Also, the rice
has to be sold in imported
bags, it added.
highly skilled labour forces
and advanced sewing
capabilities, the letter said.
“India and Pakistan are
also vertically integrated.
And increasingly, members
report that apparel
products sourced from
Bangladesh, Cambodia,
India, Indonesia, and
Pakistan contain inputs
also sourced from within
these countries.”
Drones to
help assess
crop losses
FROM PAGE B1
how to collect ground data
using mobile devices.
“Proper assessment of
crop diseases and losses are
critical to take appropriate
measures to ensure
agricultural productivity
and food security in
the context of growing
threats of climate change
in Bangladesh,” said ADB
Country Director Ginting.
“The ADB will continue
to bring in innovative
solutions, including
advanced technologies,
to help Bangladesh tackle
climate impacts,” he added.
“With advanced
geospatial technology, our
officers will be able to assess
crop damage and provide
effective government
programs to mitigate the
expected damage caused
by climate change in the
future,” said Badal Chandra
Biswas, director general of
the DAE.
B4
DHAKA THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024
BAISHAKH 5, 1431 BS
Traders get
nod to import
124,000
tonnes of rice
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
The government has
allowed private traders to
import another 124,000
tonnes of parboiled and
sunned rice after giving
the go-ahead to bring in
83,000 tonnes of the same
kind of rice nearly a month
ago.
This time, 91,000 tonnes
of parboiled rice will be
imported and 33,000
tonnes of sunned rice, the
food ministry said in a
notification on Tuesday.
The new move comes
more than a month after
the National Board of
Revenue (NBR) slashed the
related import tariff.
The importers will
have to market the entire
124,000 tonnes by May
15, according to the
notification.
Over the last month,
prices of coarse rice,
consumed mostly by low-
income people, rose 2
percent to between Tk 48
and Tk 52 per kilogramme
in Dhaka.
READ MORE ON B3
BUSINESS
Padma Islami
served show
cause notice
over Tk 211cr
unsettled claims
SUKANTA HALDER
The Insurance Development and Regulatory
Authority (IDRA) has given Padma Islami Life
Insurance five working days to explain why they
should not be penalised for failing to settle claims
amounting to Tk 211.82 crore last year.
The IDRA had served a show cause notice in this
regard on April 8 based on the insurer’s unaudited
financial reports for the 2023 calendar year.
As per the Insurance Act 2010, claims must
be settled within 90 days of a policy reaching
maturity.
The claims owed to policyholders of Padma
Islami amounted to Tk 233.70 crore in 2023, of
which the company paid out just Tk 21.88 crore,
according to an IDRA document.
The insurance regulator also mentioned that it
is a punishable offence for Padma Islami to not pay
these dues, especially as they have an investment
portfolio amounting to Tk 190.69 crore.
On condition of anonymity, an IDRA official
said Padma Islami was unable to settle claims
due to an ongoing liquidity crisis resulting from
irregularities, including intentionally making bad
Md Lokman Mollah planted these sunflower plants in the middle of December and hopes to harvest the seeds at the end of April. He plans investments.
on pressing the seeds at local mills to extract the oil and sell it for about Tk 300 per litre. The photo was taken at Bhorotkathi village of “They invested in sectors that are bad. This
Jhalakathi district recently. PHOTO: TITU DAS is not the work of a good company,” the official
added.
The official also informed that the company’s

aamra
Wood plastic composites
life fund is in the negative.
A life fund is a fund that is paid to and invested
by insurance companies for life insurance, and
networks’ from which money is paid when a policyholder
dies.

gaining popularity
Noor Mohammad Bhuiyan, chief executive
Q3 profit officer of Padma Islami, said they could not pay the
majority of claims in 2023 because the company is

up 26% facing a cash crunch.

READ MORE ON B2

STAR BUSINESS REPORT
Profits of aamra networks
increased 26 percent year-
on-year in the third quarter
of the current fiscal year
of 2023-24 driven by its IT
support, software services
and internet data sales.
In a Dhaka stock
Exchange website
disclosure yesterday, the
company attributed it to
“efficient cost control”
measures.
According to its financial
statements, the net profit
increased to Tk 7.84 crore
during the January-March
period.
During this time, the
company’s revenue earning
stood at Tk 30.20 crore
whereas it was Tk 29.96
crore in the same period of
the previous fiscal year.
Similarly, earning per
share (EPS) amounted
to Tk 1.26 and Tk 1.01
respectively.
For the July-March
period, it was Tk 3.64 and
Tk 3.25 respectively.
The company’s share
price closed at Tk 39.30
yesterday, undergoing a
3.69 percent increase from
that on the previous day.
Company sources said
they managed to provide
services during the
pandemic to a number of
READ MORE ON B2
The wood alternative used in kitchen cabinets, doors
JAGARAN CHAKMA
is witnessing double-digit growth in sales
Wood plastic composites in the form of
kitchen cabinets, bathroom and balcony
doors are slowly gaining popularity in
Bangladesh for being an alternative to wood,
according to industry insiders and realtors.
The composites are a combination of
wood particles or fibres and thermoplastics,
meaning those that are mouldable at a
certain elevated temperature and solidify
upon cooling, offering a durable and low-
maintenance alternative.
There is no credible data on the annual
market sales of such composites.
However, the manufacturers believe it
crossed Tk 250 crore over the last decade
whereas annual sales of doors made of all
types of materials stands at around Tk 3,000
crore.
The products have been witnessing
a double-digit growth in sales on being
introduced to the market just a decade ago
although the use of such products started
in developed countries many years ago, they
said.
Now, there are at least three manufacturers
in the country -- Pran-RFL Group, N
Mohammad Group, and National Polymer
Group.
National Polymer Group recently made
a fresh investment of Tk 80 crore in the
manufacturing of wood plastic composites.
“We started commercial production just
three weeks ago at our factory in Tongi’s
Cherag Ali area,” said Riad Mahmud,
managing director of National Polymer
Group.
“We had a target to start commercial
production earlier but postponed it due to
the general elections,” he added.
Currently, the wood plastic composite
market is almost wholly dependent on
imports as manufacturers cater to a fraction
of the market and that is why National
Polymer Group wants to grab a bigger portion
of the sales.
Wood plastic composites look like natural
wood but absorb very little moisture while
the price is almost 50 percent less than that
of teak, a good option for those seeking the
looks but not the high price tag.
Now, there are at least
three manufacturers in the
country -- Pran-RFL Group,
N Mohammad Group, and
National Polymer Group
Each door, priced at around Tk 14,000, is
very durable and can last a long time. Besides,
they are environmentally friendly for being
made from recycled materials and for being
recyclable, Ali claimed.
It is one of the most dynamic sectors
in the plastic industry in Bangladesh and
may altogether replace wood meant for the
manufacture of doors, he said.
The sales are increasing steadily as they are
a good alternative to wood while being more
durable than plastic.
According to him, their new production
line is churning out nearly 8,000 doors a
month and the output will gradually increase
in the future.
According to their market assessment, the
annual sale of wood plastic composite doors
amounts to around Tk 240 crore to Tk 250
crore.
Besides, they are producing wood plastic
composite sheets of 180 tonnes per month.
Mohammad Plastic Industries, a concern
of Chattogram-based N Mohammed Group,
has been manufacturing wood plastic
composites on a limited scale for around a
decade.
Mohammad Nazrul Hoque, managing
director of the group, said they manufacture
120 doors per day and mainly cater to the port
city market while the doors were gaining more
popularity than non-plasticised polyvinyl
chloride or UPVC doors.
“We are supplying wood plastic composites
to renowned real estate companies across the
country, including bti, and retailing them in
the market,” he claimed.
Ayesha Siddika, executive director (brand
and communications) at real estate developer
Building Technology and Ideas (bti), said they
use wood plastic composites in bathrooms,
kitchens and balconies as it is a waterproof,
durable and environmentally friendly
material.
However, she said the attraction for natural
wooden doors will never die down.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director
of Pran-RFL Group, said they entered the
wood plastic composite market a few years
ago as they understood that its demand
would grow as an alternative to wood.
Besides, it is durable and since it resembles
original wood, it looks better than plastic, he
said.
He believes it is just a matter of time before
wood plastic composites gradually dominate
the market for doors.
ADN Telecom
plans to make
telecom devices
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
ADN Telecom, a leading IT and telecommunication
service provider in Bangladesh, has availed land
to set up facilities and locally manufacture
telecommunication devices to substitute imports,
according to company officials.
“We are at the initial stage and have just availed
the land for the factory. We have a plan to set up
the facility at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech
Park in Sylhet,” said Company Secretary Md Monir
Hossain.
However, he said they were yet to finalise the
type of telecommunication device that they would
manufacture or how much investment would be
required.
According to him, they would conduct
a feasibility study before investing in the
manufacturing of any device.
“It is tough to grab the telecom device market
as consumers in Bangladesh are very careful about
purchasing any such device. Besides, consumers
do not rely on local products even though some
companies are producing quality products,”
Hossain said.
“So, we will enter the market cautiously,” he
added.
The company signed an agreement with
the park authority on Tuesday to take lease
of 1.75 acres of land, according to a company
disclosure on the Dhaka Stock Exchange
website yesterday.
READ MORE ON B2

Biden pushes to Japan Inc makes a renewed US push

triple tariffs on as China fears mount
Chinese steel, REUTERS, Tokyo cautious view, executives and analysts
say. Almost half of Japanese companies
a senior Astellas Pharma executive
on suspicion of spying - while many
research director at the Canon Institute
for Global Studies think tank.

aluminum Japanese companies are increasingly

AFP, Washington
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged a tripling
of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, citing “unfair
competition” as he seeks to win blue-collar votes in
November’s election.
Biden’s call comes as the US Trade Representative
(USTR) announced it is launching a probe into China’s
trade practices in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics
sectors in response to a recent petition by five US unions.
The president is preparing to address steelworkers in
Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the second day of a three-day
trip through the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania.
Both Biden and his election rival Donald Trump are
competing for vital blue-collar voters, promising to revive
American manufacturing.
“Chinese policies and subsidies for their domestic
steel and aluminum industries mean high-quality US
products are undercut by artificially low-priced Chinese
alternatives produced with higher emissions,” the White
House said in a statement.
A senior US official told reporters that China accounts
for about half of global steel production, while exporting
the metal at a significantly lower cost than US steel prices.
As the USTR reviews tariffs imposed on China during
Trump’s administration, Biden urged it to triple an existing
rate under Section 301 of the Trade Act. READ MORE ON B2
hitching their growth plans to the United
States, as concerns about Chinese demand
and Beijing’s influence over supply chains
prompt a noticeable pivot toward the
world’s largest economy.
Robot maker Yaskawa Electric drinks
company Asahi chipmaker Renesas
Electronics and automaker Honda are just a
few of the companies that in recent months
have either expressed interest in expanding
in the US or announced plans to do so.
While Japan remains tied to
China through extensive trade and
manufacturing operations, Tokyo has
pledged with other members of the Group
of Seven (G7) nations to “derisk” but not
“decouple” from the world’s second-
largest economy.
That trend of limiting supply-chain
exposure to China was highlighted by
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s trip
last week to the United States. Kishida,
who visited North Carolina to tour a
Toyota Motor EV battery facility now
under construction, also emphasised
cooperation on supply chains.
After years of seeing China as a market
of almost endless opportunities, Japanese
companies are now taking a more
operating in China did not invest there
last year or reduced investment, a survey
showed in January.
Some of the caution is due to economic
security risks - China last year detained
Workers assemble fourth generation Toyota Prius cars on the production line at the
company’s Tsutsumi assembly plant in Toyota City.
companies cite pessimism about Chinese
demand and a weakening economy.
“The illusion about the Chinese
economy, the Chinese market, is
disappearing,” said Kunihiko Miyake,
PHOTO: AFP/FILE
“I think Japan and the United States
started to discover the merits of each other.”
Miyake said he has been advising
companies to bring home state-of-the-art
technology from China.
The share of Japanese firms planning
to expand in China fell below 30 percent
for the first time, an annual survey, opens
new tab from the Japan External Trade
Organisation showed in November. Only
Hong Kong and Russia scored worse.
Meanwhile, the share looking to
expand in North America rose above 50
percent. Still, it remains to be seen how
the tension around Nippon Steel’s bid for
US Steel will impact the outlook.
AUTO INDUSTRY
For Japanese automakers, the
importance of the US market has been
amplified by their decline in China, where
they have steadily ceded ground to electric
vehicle giant BYD and other local players.
“China has turned into very rough
going for the Japanese automakers as
sales have declined there a lot, particularly
as consumers have been tilting towards...
electric vehicles made by local brands,”
said Christopher Richter, senior Japan
autos analyst at brokerage CLSA.
READ MORE ON B2