Great calibre sees Tigers through

VILLAIN TO HERO: Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed was finding his return to international cricket yesterday to be quite taxing after the Afghans had taken him for 49 in his first six overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. However he turned things around spectacularly, claiming four wickets for just ten runs off his next two overs, as the hosts clinched a win and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Bishwajit Roy

The Tigers survived a scare from Afghanistan on their return to ODI cricket after a long break with a nerve-wracking seven-run win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur last night. Dismissing the last Afghan batsman off the last ball, Taskin Ahmed went for his trademark airplane celebration while captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was punching the air as the victory in the first ODI of the three-match series brought great relief to the Tigers' tent.

Bangladesh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and Taskin deserves credit for the way the agile pacer bounced back in the death overs after some poor bowling up front, but it was the true professional Shakib Al Hasan who was the real hero in denying Afghanistan another upset like the one in the 2014 Asia Cup match in Fatullah. They could have achieved a much better start in their first ODI of the year had they not dropped a few vital catches or leaked runs in the field after some poor batting at the end of their innings, which saw them lose the last seven wickets for 62 runs. In the end however, the way the Tigers managed to overcome the pressure and win only showed the maturity of a team and the hallmarks of a big side.

Shakib scored 48 off 40 balls and then took two wickets for 26 runs in 10 overs to become player of the match. These were merely the statistics but his true impact on the game was much more impressive. While the other batsmen struggled against the Afghan leg-spin, the left-hander showed his true character and the brilliance of his left-arm spin under pressure in the 47th over virtually took the wind out of the visitors' sails, after they rode on a 144-run third wicket stand between Rahmat Shah and Hasmatullah Shahidi to get so close to the 265-run target.

Afghanistan were well placed, needing 28 to win with five wickets in hand, when Shakib started the 47th over. The left-arm spinner conceded only one run to tip the balance in the home team's favour after earlier providing the much needed breakthrough to the Shah-Shahidi partnership, removing Rahmat Shah (71) to become Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in all three formats -- the only cricketer in the world to achieve the feat.

Then the hitherto expensive Taskin grabbed the initiative to complete the job in style. Taskin killed any Afghanistan hope by removing Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Stanikzai in the 48th over. His cunning slower off-cutter to dismiss Nabi was particularly brilliant. Rubel Hossain gave away only eight runs in the penultimate over leaving Afghanistan to score 13 runs from the last six balls with two wickets in hand, but Taskin nailed the yorkers and removed the two remaining obstacles to seal Bangladesh's tense win.

Skipper Mashrafe also contributed heavily to the win through his bowling, recording the team's second most economical figures after giving away just 42 in his ten overs. He also claimed two wickets, the more important one being that of opener Mohammad Shahzad, who had, before being caught behind off Mashrafe, plundered a 21-ball 31.

Taskin's success must have been sweet relief for Imrul Kayes, who put down Mohammad Shahzad in the second over to deny Taskin immediate success on his comeback from suspension. Mahmudullah Riyad would have been similarly relieved as he dropped a sitter at deep midwicket to give Shahidi a life when the batsman was on 63.

Tamim was brilliant during his 98-ball 80 before committing an error while Riyad executed some brilliant shots in his 74-ball 62. The duo batted with authority after the early departure of Soumya Sarkar, who made his first duck to continue his poor form, and the shaky innings of Kayes, who made 37 runs.Earlier, half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal and Riyad should have given Bangladesh a big score but a middle-order collapse left them stranded on 265 and these two batsmen were at fault as their wrong shot selection at the wrong time prevented them from capitalising on good innings to take the team's total over the 300-run mark.

Rashid Khan changed the momentum when he removed Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman with googlies in his last two overs and the late blows slowed down the Bangladesh charge, restricting them to just 69 in the last 10 overs.

Bangladesh trained long and hard before entering the series but they were not up to the mark. Eventually however, their greater experience and calibre came into play as they won the match under pressure.

6 top JMB activists held from WB, Assam

The Statesman, Singur

Six top Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) activists, including four wanted in the 2014 Khagragarh blast case, were arrested from West Bengal and Assam.

Of the six, three were Bangladeshi nationals, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vishal Garg said.

"These people were not in West Bengal after Khagragarh blast. They had left the state and moved to South India and Northeastern states. They were planning subversive activities in some South Indian states. We are trying to find out the details," Garg said.

The JMB activists arrested by the Kolkata Police Special Task Force included Anwar Hussain Farooq, the head of the outfit's West Bengal unit, and Yusuf Sheikh, the second in command in the state.

Sheikh, also the JMB chief motivator in the state, carried a Rs.10 lakh reward on his head announced by NIA.

The four others who were wanted in connection with Khagragarh blast of October 2, 2014, were Shahidul Islam, Mohammad Rubel, Abul Kalam and Jadidul Islam.

Kalam and Rubel were carrying on their heads a reward of Rs.3 lakh and 1 lakh respectively.

Kalam was held from Coochbehar station in north Bengal on Sunday while Jahidul was arrested from Cachhar district of Assam on Saturday.Yusuf and Shahidul were arrested from Natun Bazar under Basirhat area of North 24 Parganas district on Sunday while Farooq and Rubel were picked up from Bagda Road in Bangao in the same district, Garg said.

Forged ID papers, 2 kg white powdery substance, one laptop, mobile phones, detonator, wire cutters, batteries Bangladeshi and Indian currency, letters written in Bengali, travel guide, books on chemicals and memory cards for camera were seized from them.

China likely to pledge big

During President Jinping's visit next month, China may commit loans under 5-year cooperation plan involving billions of dollars

Rejaul Karim Byron

China may commit to a five-year comprehensive cooperation plan, including assistance in several billion-dollar projects, during the Chinese president's Bangladesh visit in the middle of next month.

Already, the Chinese government has expressed initial interest in giving around $23 billion in soft loan for 20 projects to be implemented between 2016 and 2020. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is likely to be signed in this regard when Xi Jinping comes to Dhaka on October 13 or 14, finance ministry officials said.

The comprehensive plan may also include a commitment for increasing Chinese grant and long-term cooperation in disaster management.

All the line ministries will hold a meeting at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) to discuss the latest about the 20 projects on October 2. The projects will later be finalised at an inter-ministry meeting, said one official.

Before that, on September 28 and 29, the ERD will sit with officials of the Chinese Exim Bank over signing of loan agreements for two of these projects. The two projects involve purchasing six ships from China with a loan of $184 million and setting up Dasherkandi Water Treatment Plant with a $280-million loan. 

The loan agreement is likely to be signed during the Chinese president's visit, said an ERD official.  

Bangladesh has already selected some Chinese companies to implement seven to eight of the 20 projects, said the finance ministry official, asking not to be named.

Bangladesh will try to sign the loan agreements within the next two years and start implementing the projects.The cabinet committee on economic affairs has given the go ahead to the line ministries for implementing the projects through those companies.

Since taking office in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited China twice, the last time in June 2014.

After that Bangladesh sent lists of dozens of projects to the Chinese government for soft loan. The Chinese side also made verbal commitment for giving assistance of $10 billion, $20 billion and $30 billion. But there was no written response.

During the Chinese president's visit, Bangladesh expects big pledges from him, the ministry official said. According to primary indications from China about the projects it wants to fund, seven are in the power and energy sector, which would cost about $7.7 billion.

The projects include a 1,320 megawatt coal-based power plant in Kalapara upazila at Payra Seaport. An MoU was signed in this regard during Hasina's last visit to China and the government is already acquiring land there to set up the plant.

Another project involves a 350MW coal-fired thermal power plant at Gazaria in Dhaka's Munshiganj, where China will provide $433 million. China may also give a soft loan to build an industrial park for setting up garment factories in Gazaria, where Chinese businesses will invest.

In the rail sector, China has shown interest in funding four projects costing around $6.21 billion, including the 172km Padma Rail link project.

The three other projects involve upgrading the rail lines from Joydevpur to Mymensingh, Joydevpur to Ishwardi and Akhaura to Sylhet.

In four projects under the Roads and Bridges Division, Beijing may offer $6.65 billion. The projects include Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Sylhet four-lane highway and Sitakunda-Cox's Bazar Marine Drive Expressway.

To attract Chinese investment, the Bangladesh government has already allocated two economic zones in Gazaria and Anwara in Chittagong. 

China may offer soft loans to develop these zones as well, said another finance ministry official.

Over the years, China has invested trillions of dollars against treasury bonds in the US and countries in Europe. As interest rates on those bonds continue to fall, China is now eager to invest in developing countries which will bring it profits through interest and also help it expand its businesses.

And Bangladesh wants to take this opportunity, but on easier borrowing terms, officials said.

At present, China charges two percent interest on soft loans with a repayment period of 15 years plus five years of grace period. The loan also carries 0.2 percent commitment fees and 0.2 percent management fees.

In case of such loans, the Chinese government selects the contractor, and stipulates that all materials for the projects be purchased from China.

Bangladesh will try to get the loan at 1 percent interest and introduce limited tender system, which is done in case of bidder selection under Indian soft loan.

Under the limited tender system, bidders from the loan-providing country participate in the tendering process, instead of being handpicked by the government.

About the limited tendering process, China has already given its primary consent, sources said.

Since independence, China has provided Bangladesh $1,519 million in soft loans and grants. Of the sum, $916 million came in the last seven years from FY10 to FY16 alone.

It was $303 million in the preceding seven years from FY02 to FY09.