Teachers extend ‘no agitation’ till Feb 23

Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, secretary general of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA), speaking at a press briefing announcing public university teachers' extension on no agitation on Febraury 4, 2016. Photo: Mahdi Al Muhtasim

Star Online Report

Public university teachers today extended their “no agitation” plan over their issue of eradicating discrepancies in new pay scale until February 23.
Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, secretary general of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA), made the announcement.
“We will sit on February 23 to assess the development. Then we will decide the next course of action,” he said responding to a query.
“We are heading towards a respectable solution. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is aware of our situation,” he said at a programme in Dhaka University Club.
Public university teachers, who have been vocal since May last year over issue of “pay discrepancy,” across Bangladesh went on a seven-day strike last month.
They subsided and postponed their strike on January 20 after assurance from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They said they would disclose further programmes later.
Several meetings were held with four government secretaries and University Grants Commission (UGC) officials to resolve the issue, he said. “We hope a solution will be reached soon.”
Meanwhile, the leading teachers’ platform FBUTA will hold meetings with education and finance secretaries on February 7. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan will chair the meeting.

DNCC U–LOOP Program

Type A U- loop, a CAD Image for buses and cars turnings

Architect Tanwir Nawaz

It is not often that I have the opportunity to write about some specific short term relief program for Dhaka's transport problems that is expected to be implemented shortly. Today I can mention of such a proposed program. Recently, the Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Annisul Huq, made some announcements about introducing a set of U-Loops (path ways where vehicles can make an about turn in the opposite direction) on a major north south transport artery from Joydebpur Chourasta to Satrasta intersection on Shaheed Tajuddin Sharani by June 2016. The aim is to lessen the traffic jams on this route by a method that can also be implemented in a relatively short period of time. The cost out lay compared to many is also modest, not requiring more than sixty million dollars.
A series of specifically designed U-loops systems from Telepra (about 600 meters north of Joydebpur Chourasta) to Satrasta intersection on Shaheed Tajuddin Sharani for a signal free motorised travel is proposed to be built. The broad intention is to provide for faster motorised travel by providing largely signal free motor vehicle movements at all intersections on this alignment. There are 63 road cuts on this alignment. Of these 20 are major road intersections. To quicken the traffic flow, all right hand turnings at all intersections will be closed and by providing right hand turnings through U- loops at points before and after the intersection points.
In all there shall be 22 pairs of (44) (or double U-loops) at 22 locations on the route. Two types of U-loop designs will be built for the purpose. A larger and wider type, Type A' U–Loop shall provide turnings for all vehicles including buses, double decker buses, trucks as well as smaller vehicles such as cars and auto rickshaws. A smaller U-loop, Type B's, shall provide right hand turnings for smaller vehicles such cars, and auto rickshaws.
The U –loops will be located in three broad sections on the proposed road alignment.
A. On the Dhaka–Mymensingh Road, at: 1. Telepara; 2. Autpara; 3. Easter Bypass–east side; 4. Eastern by Pass-west side; 5. Millat Madrasha; 6. Matsha Beej; 7. Open University; 8. People's Ceramic Industry; 9. Ahsanullah Master Stadium.
B. The next nine U-loop locations will be on the Dhaka Airport road from Tongi Bridge to Mohakhali Flyover at: 10. Abdullahpur Intersection; 11. House Building /Muscat Plaza; 12.  Rajlakshmi Shopping Centre/North of Jasimuddin Intersection; 13. RAB 1; 14. Flying Academy/Civil aviation; 15. Army Golf Club/Radisson Hotel; 16. Under Banani Rail Crossing Underpass; 17. Banani/Kakali Rail Station; 18. Chairman Bari; 19. Under Mohakhali Flyover
C. On Shaheed Tajuddin Sharani, at: 20. Moakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal; 21. Kohinoor Chemicals Company; 22. Satrasta Intersection under Mogh Bazaar Flyover.
The proposed U-loops will be accommodated within existing road allowances and with minimal land acquisitions from some other government departments. No private land acquisitions will be required.
Some of the anticipated benefits can be summarised as follows;
• Reduce traffic jams on this arterial corridor
• Faster and signal free motorised travel should save about 30% to 40% in travel time
• This program can be built for a comparatively lower cost (the preliminary cost estimate is under taka 60.00 crores for the entire 32.5 km distance including 22 pairs of double loops, intersection closures' and some with pedestrian crossovers).
• Construction and implementation period is also relatively short, with minimal disruptions to traffic during construction periods.
• A needed companion dedicated bus lane program can and should be integrated with U-Loop program. Modifications to U-loop locations and designs can be made easily
• Reduced carbon emissions expected, because of faster traffic movement and lesser and fewer traffic jams and vehicle emissions, is a positive result and will help in positive climate change actions.
• People will notice a visible positive change in motorised travel on this major transport route.
Implementing the U- Loop program on a single transport artery, will be a first step towards freeing of traffic jams in Dhaka. If the program is to be successful, other major commuter arteries such as the Mirpur Road from Gabtali to New Market, Manik Mia Ave.  and the Airport Road artery from Mohakhali to Sonarganon Hotel and beyond should be brought under its integrated realm. To extend this program to Dhaka South City area for greater benefits, the two city corporations have to co-operate on this program.
The U–loop program will be more successful when it will be combined with and is integrated with the development of a revitalised public bus system program. For this we need companion programs that include a revitalised bus system along with dedicated bus lanes. The number of cities with dedicated bus lanes and revitalised bus programs are increasing every year worldwide. Buses carry more than 70% of all motorised traffic commuter volume in Dhaka and will remain so for years to come. But we need to revamp the entire bus system.
A combination of the two programs is not only possible but very necessary under current and future urban transport plan and mass commuter travel in Dhaka.
The author is an architect, an urban transport specialist. He was a member of STP, Dhaka Advisory Committee, Senior Consultant to DTCB (2010-2011) and prepared the Institutional Management structure for the MRT line 6 and its rerouting plan from Shahbag intersection to the Bangladesh Bank
Email: tanwir.nawaz@yahoo.com 

Why do British-Bangladeshi women join IS in Syria?

Shamima Begum, 15, Amira Abasi, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16 of Bethnal Green Academy school living in east London, ran off to Syria on February 17, 2015 to join the terror group under the influence of another female British member of the group. Photo: BBC Bangla

Star Online Report

Islamic State (IS) has been successful in recruiting quite a few British-Bangladeshi women, reports BBC Bangla.
The women are being recruited online, only to serve as sex slaves to the IS men, the BBC report said on January 30.
It investigates the reasons behind these women for running off to war stricken Syria to join the clan.
It has almost been a year since the three British-Bangladeshi teenage girls fled from their homes in UK to join the extremist group.
Their unsuspecting friends and family were baffled by the sudden disappearance of the trio who were described as “three regular schoolgirls” and “straight-A students”.
Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abasi, 15, of Bethnal Green Academy school living in east London, ran off to Syria February 17, 2015 to join the terror group under the influence of another female British member of the group.
READ MORE: 3 teenage girls flee UK to join ISIS
“She texted me saying she was far away and would be a bit late. She told me not to worry. But she never returned,” BBC Bangla reports quoting Amira’s grief stricken father.
Like Amira, at least 56 other women from Britain, Glasgow and Bristol have travelled to Syria to join the extremist group. Youths from all over Europe have also joined their forces, of which at least 500 youth are from Britain alone, 10 percent of which are women.

The three girls travelling through Turkey on their way to Syria. Photo was captured in a CCTV camera in the bus stop.

These youths are consciously deciding to join IS after extensive research and contemplation, says Nikita Mallik, a researcher at the counter-extremism think tank, Quilliam Foundation Ltd.
“One of the girls from Bethnal Green Academy searched at least 100 jihadist websites,” said Mallik, adding that there are many women in Britain who have connection with IS. They talk about religion and women’s role in the society.
READ MORE: UK police defend actions over teenage girls who flew to Syria
Some of these girls feel invisible or disregarded in the society or community that they are living in. They get a new found purpose in the teachings of IS.
They think IS is giving them importance.
They are drawn to believe that they do not need weapons to fight the war, educating the next generation of jihadists and being the wife of a jihadist also the responsibility of their religion, the researcher explained.
Apart from young girls, mothers are leaving their families in the name of IS.
Women begin to believe they are part of a bigger plan and can be a good Muslim by fighting against the West in a war against Islam.
ALSO READ: Missing Bangladeshi UK family 'with Islamic State'
They are keeping an equal hand in creating a new state, comments Mallik in the psychology that drives these women behind their decision.
Researchers say, there are a few women Islamic State members whose job is to motivate and recruit more women online. They communicate via different social platforms such as Twitter.
Going to Syria is like a romantic adventure for some of these girls. They are told meticulously how to secretly collect funds, buy a plane ticket, and who to contact in their step-by-step travel instructions to Syria.
They are given a primary idea of their role and responsibilities in the group. They are also promised of marriage.
They are told who they would marry, character traits of their future husband, and whether they would be able to work or not.
Despite the British government’s many initiatives to monitor and take actions against such recruitment facilities, IS is still active in bring girls to Syria.