October 7, 2013

Education

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Ashwin 22, 1420 Zilhajj 1, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 196

Importance of a minor next to a major

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International

Sport

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Muslim victims say Myanmar police aided attackers

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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JS passes controversial ICT law DB raids tribunal Police need no warrant to arrest violators; offences non-bailable

cleaner’s quarter

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

n Kailash Sarkar and Udisa Islam

Parliament yesterday passed a legislative proposal to amend the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006, according to which hacking into an individual’s computer system will be a non-bailable offence, punishable with upto 14 years’ imprisonment.

According to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (Amendment) Act 2013, a person will face similar punishment without bail

for will fully publishing anything “untrue and obscene” on a website that may result in “defamation, deterioration of law and order situation, tarnishing the image of the state or individuals and hurting people’s religious sentiments.”

Again any person illegally accessing a protected computer system of the government will become liable for punishment and face jail term between seven and 14 years and fine upto Tk1m.

The House enacted the law by voice

vote in absence of main opposition BNP, which had earlier rejected the bill saying it would curtail freedom of opinion and expression, when Information and Communication Minister Mostafa Faruque Mohammed had proposed the amendment bill.

The 2006 act, passed by the BNP, had the provision for 10 years’ imprisonment for such crimes and it was possible for the accused to obtain bail.

Defending the bill, the minister said the amendments were tabled to stop

misuse of the information and communications technology.

The bloggers Asif Mohiuddin, Mashiur Rahman Biplob, Subrata Adhikari Shuvo and Rasel Parvez, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman and rights organization Odhikar’s secretary Adilur Rahman have been arrested in cases filed under the ICT act.

On August 19 this year, the cabinet approved the draft ICT (Amendment) Ordinance-2013 proposing to empower  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Family members of Enamul Haque, security guard of an ATM booth in Mohammadpur area, burst into tears, hearing the news of his killing. Story on page 2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Detectives yesterday raided the room at the International Crimes Tribunal where detained cleaner Nayan Ali used to live, and claimed to have found a lot of evidence in connection with the leak of draft verdict of war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

Led by Krishnapada Roy, a deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch (south), the investigators began searching the room around 11am. Nayan was with them.

“We searched the room and seized various materials as evidence from there,” he said.

Cleaner Nayan and the tribunal registrar’s stenographer Mohammad Faruque were arrested on Friday in connection with the leak.

Krishnapada declined to give details about the search but said: “The materials we found will be helpful for the investigation as well as for placing as evidence in the case.”

The room is located on the ground floor of the tribunal building where Nayan resided along with a few other staffers of the special tribunal. There was no computer in the room.

Sources said the investigators also interrogated other boarders of the room and kept them under surveillance.

Krishnapada declined to comment on whether the other boarders had any involvement in the incident.

After the raid, the investigators also talked to Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, chairman of tribunal 1, which sentenced BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Choudhury to death on October 1.

“The investigators talked to the judge as part of the investigation as well as to discuss some matters with him,” said the DB officer.

Night before the delivery of the verdict, a portion of the verdict was found online. Later, it was revealed that a draft copy of the verdict had been stolen from the computer.

The tribunal registrar filed a general diary the next day. DB officials investigating the matter seized the computer and video footages from the CCTVs installed in and around the tribunal the same night.

They arrested Nayan and Faruque on Friday and showed them arrested in connection with a case filed by police under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act with Shahbagh police station.

Apart from the two, the detectives also made Mehedi Hasan, a junior to Salauddin Quader’s lawyer Fakhrul Islam Chowdhury, accused in the case

'The materials we found will be helpful for the investigation as well as for placing as evidence in the case.' along with some unnamed others.

After the arrests, the DB officials at a press conference disclosed that Nayan had stolen the document from the computer of the tribunal chairman using a flash drive and supplied to Mehedi while Faruque helped them in the process. Nayan also said he had been bribed and later blackmailed to provide Mehedi with the documents.

Law enforcers also raided Fakhrul’s chamber at Kakrail and seized two computers, a printer, around 50 CDs and some other evidence from the room of Mehedi.

Both Nayan and Faruque are now on an eight-day remand while Mehedi is on the run.

Asked if they would interrogate Fakhrul, Krishnapada said it was difficult to say right now whether they would be interrogated or not.

“We have a suspect list and we will question them all one by one,” he added.

After staying more than two hours at the tribunal building, Krishnapada faced the media. Shibli Noman, DC of Ramna, was with him.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Rapists yet to be identified n Tribune Report

Cabinet to hear proposal MPs can participate in elections keeping their posts: Abu Hafiz on 20% DA today

The authorities have decided to hold a Test Identification Parade so that the adolescent victim, who was allegedly raped for three days at the Gobindaganj police station of Gaibandha, could identify the five police constables allegedly responsible for the incident.

The doctors yesterday conducted medical test on the 16-year-old girl, who was kept in safe custody in jail, upon a court order. But the results could not be known immediately.

Jail inmates, however, told a magistrate that she would be younger than

n Tribune Report

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The finance division’s proposal to announce 20% dearness allowance for 1.1m public servants will be placed before the cabinet committee meeting today for approval aiming to what officials said to ease the impact of price hike on government employees.

“The proposal was sent to the cabinet meeting last week but not tabled because of time constraints,” said a senior finance division official.

The official said it was likely to take

effect from November 1 following cabinet approval.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the inflation stood at 7.39% in August and 7.78%in July.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a meeting of the Professional’s Coordination Council at the Bangabandhu Conference Centre: “We have decided to give 20% dearness allowance, with 1,500 and Tk6,000 as minimum and maximum raise. Besides, we will also announce a pay commission.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

n Mohammad Zakaria Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz yesterday said lawmakers could participate in elections while keeping their offices as the MP position was non-profitable.

“There is no need to go to the court.

There is no bar for MPs to participate in parliamentary elections as the High Court delivered a verdict that the post of MP is non-profitable,” he told reporters at the EC Secretariat in the capital.

He said the EC was trying to collect the copy of the verdict.

However, two election commissioners – Abdul Mobarak and Md Shah Newaz had – earlier said the post of MP was profitable and the commission would go to court to get its view about the matter.

Commissioner Hafiz said the EC would keep equal scope for all parties while preparing the electoral code of conduct.

“The commission would prepare similarly strict electoral code of conduct for those who are in the government and those who are not, if parliament remains active during the polls.”

Hafiz also said democracy and level playing field could not be ensured by formulating laws, but it was a matter of exercise. There would be no problem if democracy and law were exercised properly, he added.

The commissioner informed that the EC was examining the electoral code of conduct for the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Malaysia. The electoral code of conduct for India could get more preference, considering the similarities of political culture and tradition between the two countries, he said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 7, 2013

Tribunal gives Mahbub 2 weeks to explain n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal yesterday asked Khandker Mahbub Hossain, vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council, to explain within October 21 why a contempt of court notice should not be issued against him for his comment about the trial.

The tribunal, however, exempted him from personal appearance before the court since he was a senior Supreme Court lawyer.

The three-member tribunal 1 headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir observed in their order that Mahbub’s comment after the delivery of verdict in the war crimes against BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was equivalent to contempt of court.

The tribunal said the allegations brought against Mahabub were logical. His statement about the tribunal was a 'threat to the judiciary.'

Mahbub, also an adviser to the BNP chairperson, shortly after the conviction of Salauddin Quader on Tuesday told a press conference that “each and every person” involved in the trial process would be tried if the BNP assumed power. He also said the party would hold trial of the “real war criminals.”

The press conference was organised

by Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a BNPbacked lawyers’ organisation.

Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum filed the contempt application on Thursday, stating that the accused had said the trial was “biased, baseless, and utterly false and fabricated, ill-motivated and not made in good faith.” Such remarks would cast doubts on the tribunal’s proceedings. It was made to scandalise the tribunal, he added.

Moudud hospitalised n Tribune Desk BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed was admitted to a city hospital as he suddenly fell sick yesterday afternoon.

Moudud’s personal staff Shahidul Islam told UNB that the BNP leader was rushed to United Hospital and kept under close observation of physicians at the coronary care unit there.

Shahidul said the condition of the senior leader was seemingly improving, though doctors said it would take six hours to assess his condition.

Moudud, a current MP and also a former minister, went to Sylhet to join a public rally of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday. He complained of light chest pain at night and flew back to the capital in the morning yesterday.

He got fainted around 1:30pm at home while going to washroom and then taken to the hospital, close to his residence, Shahidul added.

Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka, chairperson’s Adviser Abdul Awal Mintu, and party MPs Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anee and Khandaker Mahbubuddin Khokkan visited him at the hospital. l

ATM booth security guard killed in city n UNB An ATM booth security guard of Dutch-Bangla Bank was chopped to death in the city’s Mohammadpur area early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Enamul Haq, 25, hailed from Bhauail village, Tarail upazila, Kishoreganj, who was an employee of private security provider Elite Force. He had been residing in a slum in the area.

Ratan, a sub-inspector of Mohammadpur police station, said the miscreants might hit Enamul in his head with a sharp weapon in front of the booth at Nurjahan Road between 4am and 5am.

Local people found him lying in a pool of blood there and informed the police, he added. Later, the police recovered the body and sent it to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy.

However, no money was looted from the ATM booth, the SI said, adding that the motive behind the murder could not be known immediately. l

During hearing, the prosecution said the comments were made to threaten the security of all the related parties including the chief Justice, judges of both the Appellate Division and the tribunals, members of the defence and the prosecution, investigators, witnesses, and the journalists of the electronic and print media covering the trial.

Yesterday the tribunal said the allegations brought against Mahabub were logical. His statement about the tribunal was a “threat to the judiciary.”

Mahbub, however, at a programme on Saturday said: “Each and every person – plaintiff and witness – except for the judges will be tried. If after investigation we find that the cases were false and the witness told stories, they will not be spared.”

The petitioner had sought the issuance of contempt of order under section 11 (4) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 that stipulates imprisonment of maximum one year or fine of Tk5,000 or both.

Recently, two participants of a talk show at Channel 24 and New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch were issued contempt of court notices for remarks on the tribunal. The two tribunals also warned several journalists for “misreporting” on the proceedings.

Earlier, three Jamaat-e-Islami leaders – acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan, lawmaker Hamidur Rahman Azad and Assistant Secretary General of Dhaka city unit Selim Uddin – were sentenced to three months jail for threatening to stop the trial and were fined.

On February 4, speaking at a rally in Motijheel on the eve of the tribunal’s verdict in Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla’s case, Selim and Hamidur had warned the tribunal that the judges needed to think before giving out verdicts, “for they could lead the country into a civil war.” l

Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on October 16 n UNB The holy Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on October 16 as the moon of the month of Jilhaj was sighted in the Bangladesh sky yesterday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram conference room in the city yesterday evening.

Director General of Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afzal presided over the meeting in absence of State Minister for Religious Affairs and also Chairman of the committee Advocate M Shahjahan Mia. Other committee member also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, the Islamic Foundation DG told reporters that the Jilhaj moon was sighted in Gaibandha district. l

Professionals Coordination Council honoured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with a crest during yesterday’s National Grand Rally of the organisation at the Bangabandhu Internation Conference Centre PMO

HC rejects Rampal petition n Nazmus Sakib

A day after the prime minister inaugurated work of the India-Bangladesh 1,320MW coal-fired power plant, the High Court yesterday rejected a writ petition seeking directives to halt its construction until an experts’ report was prepared.

The bench comprising of Justice M Moazzam Husain and Justice M Badruzzaman passed the ruling describing that the plea did not have sufficient merit.

Petitioner’s lawyer Manzill Murshid told the reporters that they would appeal against the verdict.

Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain decided on the bench for settlement of the issue when on Wednesday Justice Zafar Ahmed, a member of the division bench led by Justice Naima

Haider, said he was “embarrassed” to hear the petition.

Groups of environmentalists caution that the plant, situated on the bank of the Pashur River near the Sundarbans, would have a detrimental impact on the biodiversity of the Sundarbans in Bagerhat, and pollute the air and water in the vicinity.

The petitioner appealed to the court to direct the government to form a committee comprising national and international experts to assess the impact of the proposed plant on the environment and on the lives of the people of the surrounding area.

The plea, lodged on September 29, sought a stay order on the project until submission of the final report by the experts’ committee. It also sought the

High Court’s directive so that the government could take necessary steps to protect the Sundarbans. It also pressed for setting up the power plant in any environmentally-friendly area as advised by the committee.

Earlier, environmentalists filed two petitions against the project demanding the site be changed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the project work on Saturday at a programme in Kushtia. She was earlier scheduled to inaugurate the project on October 22.

The National Committee to Protect the Oil Gas Natural Resources Power and Ports had organised a long march last month from Dhaka to the Sundarbans demanding the project location be shifted. l

Speaker apprises JS of SQC’s punishment n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday apprised parliament of the conviction of BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury for committing crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. AKM Nasiruddin, the registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal that handed down the death penalty to Salauddin Quader, sent a letter to the Speaker informing her about the ruling against the BNP lawmaker.

According to parliament’s rules of procedure, the Speaker read out the registrar’s letter in the house yesterday.

Shirin, however, did not make it clear whether Salauddin Quader would lose his membership following his conviction.

The Rules of Procedure of the Jatiya Sansgad obligates the relevant authorities to inform the Speaker about the conviction or arrest of any member of parliament. Furthermore, the Speaker must share the information with the MPs. l

KAMALAPUR RAIL EMPLOYEE MURDER

Family points finger at railway insiders n Kailash Sarkar The family of railway booking-clerk Israfil Hossain, who was found killed inside the vault room at Kamalapur Railway Station early Saturday, held railway insiders responsible for the murder.

They also alleged that employees who had access to the place had committed the murder for the motive of looting the ticket-sales proceeds.

Dr Taniya Akhter, the daughter of the deceased, told the Dhaka Tribune that employees from the ticket booking section had killed her father for the money.

“The place is very restricted, there is no possibility of outsiders’ involvement in it”, said Dr Taniya, adding: “Delay in arrest of the killers made us astonished as very few people were supposed to remain present there during the time.”

She said her father had no personal

or family-related feud.

Meanwhile, Nazrul Islam, superintendent of Railway Police, said they could neither arrest anybody nor ascertain the motive behind the murder.

“We are investigating the case keeping different issues under consideration, including internal feud among the employees and personal enmity of the deceased person,” he said.

Replying to a query, SP Nazrul said the 10 security members who were on-duty at the time of the murder were not detained or interrogated, as they had no access to the room where Israfil was killed.

Seeking anonymity, an official of the General Railway Police (GRP) at Kamalapur who is close to the investigation, said a few employees were under observation as police also suspect that the murder might have been the work of railway insiders.

Israfil was killed on Saturday while he was on duty in the vault room located inside the restricted ticket counters, at a time when the area was crowded with several thousand ticket seekers and law enforcers from different agencies.

After the murder, Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Shakhawat Hossain Khan filed a case with the GRP at Kamalapur, mentioning that over Tk1.7m was also looted from the vault.

Four members of Railway Police and six railway security guards were suspended for negligence in duties, while separate committees have been formed to probe the murder.

Other booking-clerks staged demonstration inside the railway station and observed an hour-long work abstention yesterday, demanding the arrest of the killers of their colleague and calling for ensuring their own security. l

Sylhet Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury along with officials wades through stagnant water caused by torrential rain at Shibganj in the city BANGLAR CHOKH

JS passes controversial ICT law law enforcers to make arrests without seeking permission from the authorities and increasing the minimum jail term for the offence to seven years and maximum punishment to 14 years.

The next day the amendment was published in a gazette notification.

According to the law, the government will form a cyber tribunal headed by a judge or an additional judge. The tribunal will be able to conduct trial of the absconding persons in absentia.

Destroying or misusing computer data with ill motives, hacking computers or intranets and being involved in obscenity would be considered a cognisable offense and authorities concerned would take actions against such activities under the new law.

The ICT industry and legal experts have been saying there is a huge chance that the law could be misused in the name of preventing cybercrimes. Some have also said they were planning to challenge the law in the court. l

Cabinet to hear proposal on 20% DA today

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DB raids

MPs can participate

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Krishnapada evaded a question as to whether Farhat Quader Chowdhury, wife of the convict, would be interrogated. After the judgement, Farhat showed some documents claiming that it was the draft verdict found at the law ministry.

When asked, he told the Dhaka Tribune that the investigators were not concerned with the security of the tribunal building area as it was not the matter of their investigation.

“We are dealing with the immediate crime. Those who are involved to ensure the security of this place will assess it.

We are here to find out who leaked the verdict and in what process,” he said.

“We are also trying to find who persuaded them to do it. And hopefully we will find them soon,” the DB officer added. l

About the preparation of the next general elections, Hafiz said a lot of work had already been completed, including the amendment to electoral laws, updating the voter list, and re-fixing of parliamentary delimitation.

Saying the EC would change the electoral code of conduct before announcing the polls schedule, the commissioner expressed hopes that all political parties would reach a consensus before the polls.

However, Hafiz said the EC was still unsure of sitting with political parties before the polls, which is due between October 27 and January 24 next year.

The current parliament and cabinet will continue during the elections following, what the government says, the 15th amendment to the constitution. l

But there was no connection between the announcement for dearness allowance and the permanent pay commission, she said.

“This is entirely a one-time thing, and will be provided separately. I also want to create a permanent pay commission so that salaries can be revised regularly.”

The finance division is now working on a summary of the planned permanent pay commission which will go to the finance minister for his consent and then to the cabinet committee for approval, official sources said.

Finance division estimates that the increased dearness allowance will cost the government Tk21bn.

President of Bangladesh Secretary Karmachari Oikyo Parishad(a platform of secretariat employees) Abdul Kudus Khan told the Dhaka Tribune the dearness allowance will not be effective retrospectively.

“Finance secretary Fazle Kabir has assured us that the dearness allowance proposal will be placed at the cabinet today for approval,” he said.

He also said the government will announce the permanent pay commission within short time after finding a

chairman for the commission.

The government has not kept any block allocations in the current fiscal’s budget to meet the new pay scale which will require the government to spend Tk2.5bn every month in addition to regular salary.

The government announced the seventh national pay scale in 2009 fixing the highest salary at Tk40,000 and lowest at Tk4,100. The last pay scale came up with a 52% increase, on an average, in the basic salary of public servants. This enhanced pay scale will cost the government an additional amount of Tk62.22bn annually. l

Rapists yet to be identified  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

as mentioned by the police.

To identify the culprits, the Gobindaganj police authorities would hold the TI Parade. But a date for the test has not been set.

Magistrate Tarique Hassan recorded her testimony on Saturday and directed police to file an FIR based on the deposition. Later the police filed a case against five unnamed.

The case has been transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of Police.

Earlier on Thursday, district police formed a three-member probe committee led by Additional Police Superintendent Mosharraf Hossain.

Yesterday, a team of district Mohila

Parishad wanted to see the girl at the jail, but they were barred by police. ASP Mosharraf said he would inform the matter to the court and give a decision today about meeting the girl.

The team included President of the women’s council Amatun Noor Chhara, General Secretary Rikto Prasad and ward councillor Nazma Shawkat.

Locals found the girl, hailing from Bhanga of Faridpur, in Masta area of Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Gobindaganj on September 28 when she was crying as she had reached the place mistakenly.

They informed the police who, led

by Sub-Inspector Akmal Hossain, took her to the police station. A general dia-

ry was filed the next day, but the police did not produce her to the court within 24 hours as per law.

Police produced her in court on September 30 when she fell ill. The same day the Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court ordered police to send her to safe custody in the district jail. The court also directed the district civil surgeon to give a report on the girl’s medical examination.

The victim told the jail superintendent that she was raped in police custody, but could not name anyone.

As the court was informed, the district magistrate met her at the jail on Saturday and recorded her statement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Monday, October 7, 2013

EC yet to find traces of 12,000 N’ganj voters

Case against Mir Kashem begins Oct 28

n Mohammad Zakaria

n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal 2 has fixed October 28 to begin the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali through opening statement of the prosecution and then placing the first witness.

Tribunal 2 yesterday also adjourned proceedings of the case against Jamaat leader AKM Yusuf until October 8.

Meanwhile, tribunal 1 deferred the date of recording deposition of the investigation officer in the case against former Awami League leader Mobarak Ali alias Mobarak Hossain to October 8.

The case against Mir Kashem was transferred from tribunal 1 to 2 on September 30 following the indictment order.

A total of 14 charges against Jamaat executive council member and a key financier of the party Mir Kashem were pressed on September 5. The charges include involvement in abduction, confinement, torture and murder of unarmed people during the 1971 Liberation War in Chittagong as an al-Badr commander.

Mir Kashem’s counsel Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin yesterday drew attention of the tribunal and submitted an application to review the indictment order which one was already submitted at the tribunal 1.

On the other hand, prosecutor Sultan Mahmud opposed the defence plea and urged for the beginning of formal trial against the accused. The prosecution said they were ready to begin the trial.

The tribunal then asked the defence to come the next day and in the meantime, the tribunal would check with the tribunal Act whether it allows hearing such application that submitted to another tribunal.

First witness questioned in Yusuf case

After the defence grilled the prosecution’s first witness, Liakat Ali Khan, against Jamaat leader and alleged razakar founder AKM Yusuf for the second day, the tribunal 2 yesterday adjourned proceedings of the case until October 8.

The tribunal asked the prosecution to place the second witness.

The trial began on September 6 with the prosecution’s opening statement.

IO to testify on Oct 8 in Mobarak case

The tribunal 1 yesterday deferred the date of recording deposition of the investigation officer in the war crimes case against former Awami League leader Mobarak Ali alias Mobarak Hossain to October 8.

After placing 11 witnesses, the prosecution on September 30 decided to place the investigation officer. But as the tribunal was busy with proceedings in another case, it deferred the deposition.

The prosecution said after the war, Mobarak was a member of Jamaat’s Akhaura unit. Later he joined the Awami League but was expelled two years ago. l

Traders gather sugarcane at a Narayanganj ground yesterday. The place is known to locals as ‘Gendarir Haat’ – sugarcane market

Khaleda wants to free war criminals: Hasina n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that opposition leader Khaleda Zia wanted to build a “Hasina-free Bangladesh” to save war criminals.

“If I am not in state power, she [Khaleda] will release the war criminals and make them ministers and will provide them with the national flag. Thus she dislikes me and does not want to see me in power,” Hasina said.

The ruling Awami League president was addressing a views-exchange meeting with her party’s grassroots level leaders from Narail, Joypurhat, Madaripur, Brahmanbaria, Meherpur and Jhalakathi at her official residence Ganabhaban.

The grassroots leaders conveyed their opinions to the PM about party nomination for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The AL chief has been holding such

meetings since September 4 and will continue until October 12.

In her address, Hasina vowed to conclude the trial of war criminals. “As long as I am alive, I will move on the ethical path and fulfil my pledges.”

Regarding Khaleda’s statement that snakes could be trusted but not the Awami League, Hasina said: “Khaleda Zia lives with snakes. As she has relations with anti-liberation forces such as Jamaat-e-Islami, [Islami Chhatra] Shibir and Hefazat-e-Islam, she likes snakes, not the Awami League.”

Terming the next election “very important,” she urged people to cast votes in favour of the Awami League to help continue the ongoing development activities, execute the verdicts against war criminals and make Bangladesh free from poverty and hunger by 2021.

Hasina asked leaders and activists of her party to remain united and persuade people in favour of the Awami League.

Responding to Khaleda’s allegation that free and fair election was not possible under the Awami League, the prime minister said: “Khaleda is making such remarks while sitting beside the newly elected city mayors. How did her candidates achieve victory if there had not been any credible polls?

“Resorting to falsehood is her character.”

Hasina recalled the misrule of the previous BNP-Jamaat coalition government, saying Bangladesh had come to be known as a country of militancy, terrorism and corruption at that time.

“When Khaleda Zia was the prime minister, she whitened her black money and her sons smuggled money out of the country,” the prime minister said, adding that her government had recovered the smuggled money.

Awami League leaders Abdul Latif Siddique, Satish Chandra, Faridunnahar Laily, Mrinal Kanti Das, among others, were present at the meeting. l

Four witnesses set to defend Nizami n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal has allowed four witnesses to defend the charges pressed against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami as it thinks there is “no burden of proving any matter” upon the defence.

The tribunal 1 gave the order yesterday upon a defence petition to place at least 25 witnesses. Earlier the counsels for Nizami had placed a list of 10,111 witnesses.

It also asked the defence to complete

the cross-examination of the investigation officer in the case by the first session today.

The prosecution alleged that the defence wanted to delay the trial. The defence said since the prosecution had placed 25 witnesses, they too had the right to produce witnesses of the same number.

The tribunal in its order said by considering the hearing of both parties, “it is not necessary to place same number of witnesses in both sides. The burden of the

case lying upon prosecution as per rule 51, not upon the defence, and the defence has no need to prove them innocent.”

The three-member tribunal headed

by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir said justice would be made if the defence was allowed to place four witnesses.

The prosecution stared placing witnesses against Nizami since August 26 last year. Of the 25 witnesses, the prosecution announced the seventh witness, Pradip Kumar Dev, as hostile witness as he had not mentioned the

name of Nizami in his deposition.

Meanwhile, yesterday was set to complete the cross-examination of IO Abdur Razzaque Khan. But as they did not do so, the tribunal chairman said: “Now you are not taking this order seriously but if we close it then you will say we are not giving you enough time.”

Justice Jahangir, one of the members, said: “The IO took two and a half sessions to close his deposition while you have got five sessions to grill him.

Now you have to close.” l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

The Election Commission is yet to find any trace of 12,000 voters of Sonargoan upazila under Narayanganj district on the voter list and National Identity card database.

The commission asked the authorities of NID wing to search the old information on the database.

The task of listing voters with photographs had been done during the army-backed caretaker government in 2008.

Seeking anonymity, an official of National Identity card wing told the Dhaka Tribune there were many mistakes in doing the work in a hurry and the voter list missing was one of the flaws.

“But we are searching the old database. If the list is not found there, the commission would think about re-registration of voters,” he added.

About 11,825 voters of Sonargoan upazila under Narayanganj district registered their names with photographs as voters.

The registered voters also got NID cards, but their names vanished from the 2008 database.

The Election Commission took a number of initiatives to scour the list of voters following an allegation in this regard on April 18, 2011. l

IMF predicts 6% economic growth for Bangladesh n Tribune Report The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted Bangladesh’s economic growth at below 6% in the 2013-14 fiscal year, whereas the government had set the target of 7.2% for the period.

“We are seeing the slowdown in the economic activity as some special indicators, like import, export and credit to the private sector, are showing a slow trend. All of these indicators indicate that the economy is slow-going,” said Rodrigo Cubero, who headed an IMF mission to Dhaka.

“The indicators are very important for the economy, and they are likely to slow down in the next six months due to political uncertainty, labour unrest and poor demand of private sector credit,” he added.

Cubero expressed the outlook on the Bangladesh economy at a press conference yesterday at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters in the capital.

The IMF mission chief also announced the release of a $140.5m fund for Bangladesh under a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF), which

will bring the total disbursement under the arrangement to about $562.3m.

The IMF mission arrived in Dhaka on September 22 for a two-week visit to conduct a review of the ECF arrangement.

Cubero also said Bangladesh Bank had addressed the weaknesses of stateowned banks and enhanced their corporate governance, internal audit and credit risk policy to ensure profitable lending opportunities.

“The government has made significant reforms in the economic sector, including the Bank Company Act and debt management of banks, which has had good impact on the economy. So, we are confident about the strength of the Bangladesh economy,” said Cubero.

The mission also welcomed the government’s plans, in coordination with development partners, the business community, labour unions and international buyers, to improve working conditions and safety standards for workers in Bangladesh, which are critical to ensuring sustained and inclusive growth, particularly in the readymade garments industry. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 7, 2013

HALL-MARK SCAM

ACC likely to file charge sheet this week n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission is likely to file a charge sheet this week against 25 people including Hall-Mark Group and Sonali Bank Limited officials for their alleged involvement in Tk15.7bn scam by the group and its entities from a branch of the bank.

Seeking anonymity, a member of the ACC probe committee on the scam, made the disclosure, adding that the charge sheet would be filed with a Dhaka court within a day or two.

Earlier on September 16, the ACC approved the filing of charge sheet after the commission declared the ACC probe report as satisfactory.

The accused in the case includes Hall-Mark Group Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud, his wife and Chairman Jasmine Islam, General Manager Tushar Ahmed, Sonali Bank former managing director Humayun Kabir, former manager of the bank’s Ruposhi Bangla branch AKM Azizur Rahman, and 20 other people.

HC gets 10 judges n Nazmus Sakib President Abdul Hamid regularised ten additional judges at the high court as judges yesterday.

He made the appointments in consultation with the Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain.

The Law Ministry yesterday issued a gazette notification in this regard saying the appointment would come into effect from the date of their swearing-in.

Supreme Court registrar AKM Shamsul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the Chief Justice would conduct the oath taking ceremony today at 10.30am at the Supreme Court auditorium.

The new regular judges are, Justice SH Md Nurul Huda Jaigirdar, Justice KM Kamrul Kader, Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah, Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam, Justice Mohammad Ullah, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice AKM Shahidul Huq, Justice Shahidul Karim, Justice Md Jahangir Hossain and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman.

According to the article 95(1) of the constitution, the country’s president in consultation with the chief justice shall appoint the judges of the appellate division and the high court.

Earlier on Wednesday, under this constitutional provision, Md Muzammel Hossain recommended to the president to regularise the 10 judges. l

According to an investigation report the central bank released in May last year, Hall-Mark and the five other companies, with the connivance of a number of Sonali Bank officials, had taken out loans for Tk35.5bn from the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of Sonali Bank using forged documents.

Of the money, Hall-Mark alone swindled around Tk26bn while its business entities swindled billions more.

Following a letter from Bangladesh Bank on July 15 last year, the ACC formed a six-member probe committee to conduct the inquiry.

On October 4 last year, the ACC filed 11 cases against seven top executives of Hall-Mark Group and 20 officials of Sonali Bank for embezzling Tk15.7bn of funded and around Tk12.8bn nonfunded money from the bank’s Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch.

On the basis of several petitions filed by the ACC, a Dhaka Court on June 26 ordered the freezing of all the 260 bank accounts of the various Hall-Mark businesses. l

People, who did not get appointment despite passing the recruitment exam, demonstrate at the central Shaheed Minar, demanding appointment as primary school teacher

RAILWAY RECRUITMENT SCAM

Arrest warrants issued against railway GM n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday issued arrest warrants against Yusuf Ali Mridha, suspended general manager of Bangladesh Railway’s east zone, and three others who are accused in a recruitment scam, a court source said.

Chittagong Metropolitan Senior Special Judge SM Mujibur Rahman passed the order yesterday after taking into cognizance the charge-sheet of a corruption case filed with Kotwali police station, said Md Fuad, bench assistant of the court.

The court also ordered seizure of the suspects’ properties if they remain on the run.

The court, meanwhile, fixed November 17 as the next date for hearing the case, Fuad said.

A total of six people are accused in the case that involves corruption in a railway recruitment examination for the east zone.

On February 10, Md Nazim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Anti-Corruption Commission, lodged three corruption cases against the six suspects

with Kotwali police station.

The five other accused in the case are Golam Kibria, suspended social welfare official of BR (east), and four illegally recruited employees, Mosammat Shahida Akhter, Nazim Uddin, Md Ismail Hossain and Sohel Rana.

As two of the accused, Ismail Hossain and Sohel Rana, were given bail by the High Court, the trial court issued the warrants for arrest against four others, Fuad said.

The two accused railway officials, Mridha and Kibria, along with Enamul Haque, a divisional commandant of railway security, were in the car of Omar Faruk, the assistant personal secretary of then Railway Minister Suranjit Sen Gupta when Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel stopped the vehicle at Pilkhana on April 9, 2012 and seized Tk7m from it.

The driver of the car, Ali Azam, has been missing since he drove the car inside the BGB headquarters with the money and the officials that night.

Suranjit resigned from his post following the incident. l

PM urged not to nominate errant MPs again n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

Local leaders of the ruling Awami League have cautioned that giving nomination to sitting MPs, whose corruption, extortion and tender manipulation isolated themselves from the electorate and party loyalists, could end up in sure defeat in the next polls.

The warning this time came from district and upazila unit leaders of Narail, Joypurhat, Madaripur, Brahmanbaria, Meherpur and Jhalakathi who yesterday ventilated their strong disapproval of a number of party lawmakers to party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.

Apart from accusing them of misuse of allocated food grain, extortion, tender and appointment manipulation, the grassroots leaders alleged that some of the MPs had harboured BNP-Jamaat men and ignored the party’s tested workers.

Sharing their concerns with the party chief, the grassroots leaders said if such persons got nomination again, then the party would not be able to retain those seats in the next polls.

Hasina met leaders of thana, upazila and grade I municipality units of those districts as part of a series of such meetings aimed at assessing the party’s sup-

Light to moderate rain likely n UNB

City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.0 27.2 30.0 29.5 28.5 29.8 24.7 27.5

24.7 24.4 23.8 24.3 24.0 25.4 23.2 24.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:38am 5:52am 11:46pm 4:01pm 5:40pm 6:55pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

HC to hear writ for caretaker Thursday n Nazmus Sakib The High Court is expected to hear on Thursday the writ petition that sought directives on holding the next two national polls under the caretaker government in line with the observation of the Appellate Division.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar yesterday fixed the hearing date, petitioner Eunus Ali Akond told the Dhaka Tribune.

The plea, lodged on September 3, urged the court to issue a rule asking why failure to take initiatives to conduct the 10th and 11th general elections under a caretaker administration should not be held illegal and why those responsible should not be ordered to take necessary measures in this regard.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Khaleda Zia, the speaker of parliament, the secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, the law secretary and cabinet secretary, and the chief election commissioner were made respondents to the petition.

The apex court on May 10, 2011 annulled the caretaker government with observation that the next two parliamentary elections could be held under the system, said Eunus. l

Khaleda’s charge-framing hearing deferred again

WEATHER

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions until 6pm today.

Moderately heavy to heavy falls were also likely at places over the country, Met Office said.

Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:40pm today and rises at 5:53am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 32.0 degree Celsius was recorded at Khepupara and lowest 23.1 degrees at Tangail yesterday.

Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were:

ports in the grassroots and choosing candidates for the next general elections. The first such meeting was held on September 4 and the exercise will continue till October 12.

Meeting insiders said Kalia upazila unit AL President Emdad Mollah alleged that local MP Kabirul Haque Mukti was involved in corruption in food-aided projects like Test Relief (TR) and Kabikha (Food for Work).

He also levelled charges of appointment trade, extortion in transport sector and tender manipulation against the party lawmaker.

Abdul Hannan, president of Lohagora upazila of Narail, said local MP SK Abu Baker has isolated himself from the organisation and his son Eric is involved in appointment “trade.”

Meherpur sadar upazila unit AL president Golam Rasul expressed his reservation against local MP Joinal Abedin, saying the lawmaker had tarnished the party’s image by patronising BNPJamaat men and misusing TR-Kabikha allocations meant for the rural poor.

Responding to the grassroots’ allegations against lawmakers, Hasina said she was aware about the allegations and assured the local unit leaders of the party that people of corrupt records would not get party nominations next time. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

People of the Mirpur Bihari camp bring out a procession in the capital’s Mirpur area yesterday to press home several demands including permanent accommodation and passport NASHIRUL ISLAM

The hearing on charge-framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other accused in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases was deferred once again, this time until October 27.

Judge Md Motahar Hossain of the Special Judge Court-3 passed the order yesterday following a petition for time extension by the defence lawyer Sanaullah Miah.

It was for the eighth time that the defence successfully petitioned for time extension, with the seventh being on September 18.

In the petition, Sanaullah said the former prime minister could not appear before the court as the parliament session was ongoing.

The Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was pending in the Appellate Division for quashing while a writ petition was pending in the High Court in the Zia

Charitable Trust graft case.

In addition to Khaleda, her former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former assistant personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna, and Manirul Islam Khan, former personal secretary of Sadeque Hossain Khoka are also accused in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

Of them, Harris Chowdhury left the country in 2007 and has been staying abroad ever since. He was mentioned in the charge sheet as an “absconding accused” while Ziaul and Monirul are now on bail.

In the Zia Orphanage Trust case, in addition to Khaleda, Mominur Rahman, nephew of late president Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda’s former principal secretary Dr Kamaluddin Siddique, and former lawmakers Kazi Salimul Haque and Sharfuddin Ahmed were also shown as accused.

Khaleda last appeared before the court on January 15 when she secured a permanent bail in the graft case. l

Slow progress of projects frustrating: German envoy n Tribune Desk

German Ambassador in Dhaka Albrecht Conze has said Bangladesh can pave its way out of poverty ensuring better governance and using untapped potentials.

“The self-declared goal of reaching middle-income status by 2021 is achievable under three conditions -- better governance, the use of the untapped potentials of the economy

and the establishment of an attractive climate for foreign investors,” he said.

The German envoy made the remark while addressing an agreement-signing ceremony in the city yesterday, said a media release.

Albrecht Conze expressed concern over the slow pace in implementation of programmes and projects in Bangladesh. “It’s most frustrating for development partners, including Germany, to see important projects not being

implemented due to long-term delay in the project approval process.”

Some projects even need to be cancelled due to the approval process getting stuck in the administration, Albrecht Conze said adding that Bangladesh should give priority to addressing this deficit.

Earlier Economic Relations Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Albrecht Conze signed two agreements on projects and programmes of finan-

cial and technical development cooperation implemented by the German Development Cooperation Agency CIZ and other partners.

The deals have an overall financial volume of approximately Tk 1088 crore and for the for first time since the development cooperation between both countries started in 1972 a loan in the amount of Tk 468 crore will be provided.

The loan will be used to promote the ‘Western Grid Network Development

Project’ that is intended to transport power to areas in Bangladesh without proper access to energy.

The grant element of the fund will mainly be used for programmes in the fields of urban governance, social and environmental standards in the industry, overcrowding in prisons, justice reforms and corruption prevention, for the health sector and for projects to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Education

5

Monday, October 7, 2013

Importance of a minor next to a major Ensuring educational There are a number of issues to consider when thinking of coupling your major with a minor

Dhaka Tribune talks with Ahmeer Ahsan about his Fellowship with Teach For Bangladesh and his plan for the country’s education system

n Samira Mostafa As college students, we usually have a better idea about the major that we want to concentrate on than possible minors. Those of us who are considering pairing our major with a minor, we need to think of a number of factors to having a minor next to our major.

Teach For Bangladesh (TFB) is an organisation working to solve one of the oldest injustices in our country: Educational disparity. The opportunity for children to access quality education is determined by the socio-economic conditions of their birth.

Teach For Bangladesh addresses this by creating bold new leadership enlisting top Bangladeshi young adults to a two-year leadership development Fellowship, during which they teach full-time in low-income schools. Currently there are 29 countries which have adopted the model.

Personal desire for a minor

A person often has something which they are passionate about that has little to no real world relevance, and a minor often helps in fulfilling that dream. A major usually shapes us as a professional and establishes our career path for the future.

Having a minor can help you apply to your graduate school.

Your minor can show that you have additional skills while also showing a bit about who you are as a person However, a minor can always be the supporting subject for our major, or be our much deserved occasional break from our major. You may be a finance student doing a minor in music because it is something you’ve always been passionate about, but understand that you cannot make a career out of it.

It can also count towards gaining skills and training in a certain field that you care about but are not interested in pursuing to the extent that a major would require. For instance, you may love history because the subject interests you, or maybe you’ve always enjoyed doing math, and you want to pursue these subjects to a point, but not where you can make a future doing it.

Professional importance

In the professional field minors can be equally important. Minors that support

Interesting facts about left-handedness

n Education desk l Between 10-12% of people on earth

are “lefties.” Women are more likely to be right-handed than men by about 4%. l “Left-hander’s day” is celebrated every year on August 13, since 1996; it raises awareness of the difficulties and frustrations left-handers experience every day in a world designed for right-handers. l At various times in history, lefthandedness has been seen as many things: a nasty habit, a mark of the devil, a sign of neurosis, rebellion, criminality, and homosexuality. It has also been seen as a trait indicating creativity and musical abilities. l The word left is from the Anglo-Saxon lyft, meaning weak or broken. l

equality

I recently completed my undergrads in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).

I did my A’levels from Academia and O’levels from Will’s Little Flower Higher Secondary School where I was conferred The Daily Star Award twice for achieving outstanding results.

BIGSTOCK

your major can become an added advantage to your professional progress.

It usually helps in becoming part of your building blocks and training tools to give you the added benefits for starting your career in your chosen field.

It has added values for your resume and puts extra emphasis on your intentions as a professional to future employers. You may want to complement one part of your academics which will provide practical and theoretical advantages. For example, an HR major with a

minor in Psychology would be in the top of the hiring list for any company.

Additionally, you may be interested in teaching, in which case a minor can come in handy for expanding what subject areas you want to teach.

Academic importance

A minor also complements your resume and future endeavours such as graduate school. Having a minor can help you apply to your graduate school.

Your minor can show that you have ad-

ditional skills while also showing a bit about who you are as a person.

It probably will not be the deciding point for an admission officer but it surely will add value and reflect your personality to the admission board. For example, you may want to study communications in graduate school, and your major was marketing during your undergrads. If you additionally have a minor in linguistics, it can only give you a leg up from the competition. l

Controlling our ‘spoiled’ children n Ameena Ahmed

As a culture, we have extreme measures to build our child’s personality.

There are certain ways they have to speak, they have to listen to anyone who is older than them and blindly follow their parents’ dreams. When do these rules become too much?

The practice of not buying your son a cell phone – which you can easily afford – does not make him learn the value of money, neither does renting him an apartment in London spoil him.

Supporting the kids

It is important to provide our children with emotional as well as financial support as much as we are able. Not providing the support would end up depriving the child instead of teaching a lesson.

Teaching a lesson means if your son bullies at the playground, he should be punished. It doesn’t mean if your teen is jobless, you refuse to help him financially. If you are so fearful about spoiling your child by not allowing him to struggle, then give him money as a loan instead of handing it over.

Controlling their lives

Children need to make their own decisions. Once out of school, they should

decide what they study and where they study. Unless, it is an extreme situation where the child picks a terrible university and a hopeless future, there is no need to interfere. In our culture, we believe the only respectful profession is to be a doctor or engineer, the rest are hopeless.

Keep in mind that the struggles your kids go through are different from your generation. May be if you were in their shoes you wouldn’t be able to handle it I have met a few “doctors” who don’t practice medicine but are stay-at-home moms; they only studied medicine because their father wanted them to.

These ladies could have been a number of things but they missed out on a more active and enjoyable life because they wasted time studying a subject they disliked.

Teaching to respect

Children need to learn to respect elders but what if the senior citizen in question is a terrible person or has an attitude problem? Respect needs to be earned; it is not given because of age.

You need to say no to something which is wrong; only because someone older

than you has said it doesn’t make it right. I see people around getting married because “mom said so” or “my uncle believes she is a saint.” Within a year or two these couples are divorced.

Eventually who suffers? The “child” who is an adult, completely capable of taking care of themself, becomes a victim.

Our culture believes in higher education so intently that even a university degree does not get you a decent job; you need a Master’s degree! What’s the purpose of such education if you have an eighteenth century mentality and can’t even make your own decision when you’re 25?

Additionally, we need to understand that having access to technology makes us smarter.

Children were spoiled even when there were no emails and Skype but only telegraphs. We also need to learn to let the children be and support them in bringing their ideas forward instead of comparing them with the neighbour’s son constantly and telling them about the hardships the parents went through because of the unavailability of online shopping.

Keep in mind that the struggles your kids go through are different from your generation. May be if you were in their shoes you wouldn’t be able to handle it. l

When did you first notice a disparity in our education system; have you always wanted to do something about it?

While I was at university I was involved in many initiatives, which impacted underprivileged children.

They not only lacked proper education but were also denied several basic rights as human beings. I realised that distributing clothes in winter, on Eid festivals, arranging Iftars, giving them food and toys were short-term solutions and would not empower them for the future.

I always wanted to do more. I knew the only way to do this was by giving them an excellent education, so that they could overcome the barrier of illiteracy and really contribute to society.

Please share a little bit about TFB that you have come to experience till now.

The thing that struck me most about TFB was its professionalism and organised structure. When I first talked with some of the representatives of TFB, their passion and dedication for their work was really contagious and inspiring.

When I first met the other 16 fellows, I was really amazed and delighted that I would be embarking on this uphill battle of educational inequity with such bright and talented people.

What led you towards TFB as opposed to the conventional options?

I was in my 2nd last semester of university when I first met the CEO of TFB; her convictions were not only inspiring but infused in me a sense of urgency. Several meetings later I was convinced that this was an opportunity worth considering.

I was fully convinced that this is what I had been looking for. TFB being a part of a global network has the resources and an organised structure with highly trained professionals to reach their goal.

The most important thing is that now I am convinced that this model is going to have a massive impact on Bangladesh’s educational system.

The TFB Fellowship programme is one that is highly selective, In your opinion,

COURTESY

Tell us a little about your educational background.

which of your achievements and roles set you apart from your peers?

I think my work experience with a varied range of organisations gave me a competitive edge. I have worked with international and national organisations such as AIESEC, IEEE, Leaders For Nation, Rotaract, BYLC and others.

I have learnt leadership skills, professionalism, motivational skills, communications and public speaking skills. I also had the firsthand experience of working with underprivileged people under enormous pressures and deadlines.

Do you plan to remain in the education sector following the completion of your two-year Fellowship or do you plan on bringing the professional development and training you receive to another field?

I am not planning to remain in the education sector, but there is a chance I might continue.

My main plan is to move into the development sector; I am planning to do my Masters on development studies and really hope to join credible organisations working relentlessly to solve global issues.

These two years of intense training will take me miles ahead from where I am right now in understanding the mindsets and gaining key skills to improve our country and community.

Where do you see yourself two years from now, at the end of your Fellowship?

As an alumnus of the TFB fellowship I know I would have spent the past two years stepping out of my “cocoon” of comfort and really challenging myself to achieve excellence.

I see myself as someone who is determined, sets ambitious goals and pursues them with rigour and a sense of possibility. I also hope to become a better human being and a better Muslim with compassion and humility.

What is your dream for the children of Bangladesh?

I dream of a Bangladesh where no child is illiterate and will rely on their knowledge to earn their livelihood instead of their physical struggle.

I dream that the future generations will hold a strong sense of virtue and righteousness. Only then can we dream about a beautiful Bangladesh. l

Learn the right words to speak Earnest and Wilde! n Ahsan Sajid

“The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People” is perhaps Oscar Wilde’s best known play, read VOCAB widely and regularly LESSONS produced all over the world even today, over a century after its first production. Apart from a number of made-for-television versions, the play has been adapted for an Englishlanguage film three times, has been adapted into operas and musicals, and is produced for the radio recurrently.

The following is a list of words selected by www.vocabulary.com, used in Act 1 of the celebrated play. How many of them do you habitually use?

Forte

Definition: Forte means an area in which you are strong or good. Your forte is what you would focus on if you decided to enter a competition. The word forte is derived from the Latin word fortis, meaning “strong.” Armies throughout history built big, barricaded structures and called them “forts”

because they were supposed to protect against enemy attacks. In music, playing forte means playing loud.

Synonyms: specialty, strength, strong point, strong suit.

Languid

Definition: Languid comes from the Latin verb languere, which means “to be weak or faint,” and is a somewhat literary word for something that doesn’t use much energy. If you recognise someone across the street and they wave languidly at you, they are not waving with much movement and there’s probably little excitement involved. You can describe yourself as languid in the morning when you have the feeling of being half asleep and half awake.

Synonyms: dreamy, languorous, lethargic, unenergetic.

Lax

Definition: Lax can refer to any phenomenon that is insufficiently tough or so relaxed as to be basically useless. A mother letting her teenage kids stay out past curfew has a lax parenting style. It is interesting to note that lax is the first syllable of the word laxative, which is no coincidence.

The root lax comes from the Latin word laxus, meaning ‘loose’. Lax entered the English language originally to mean a substance taken to relax the bowels.

Synonyms: loose, droopy, limp, floppy.

Induce

Definition: To induce is to move or lead someone to action. Promising candy to a child can induce him or her to do just about anything. Older kids require more substantial remuneration. Induce also means to stimulate the occurrence of something, such as medications used to induce vomiting.

Synonyms: cause, stimulate, effectuate, set up, bring forth, give rise.

Sententious

Definition: The easiest way to remember this word is to think of someone who uses “sentences” “pretentiously.”

When sententious first appeared in the English language, it meant “full of wisdom,” but in modern usage, it has a more negative sense, meaning self-important. A sententious person makes people laugh as he drones on and on, oblivious to the fact that his audience does not care.

Synonyms: self-righteous, tious, oratorical.

preten-

Metaphysical

Definition: The Greek prefix “meta” meaning “beyond” comes together with the base “physical” meaning “nature” and you have the word metaphysical which is almost a synonym to supernatural, meaning phenomena that are outside everyday experience or knowledge. The adjective metaphysical entered the English language through Aristotle, whose “Metaphysics” is a collection of treatises that follows his work, “Physics.” Physics concerned natural philosophy, what we call science today, while Metaphysics dealt with more abstract questions about the reality beyond what we perceive with our senses.

Synonyms: supernatural, theoretical.

Pulpit

Definition: Pulpit was originally used to refer to the platform in a church that a preacher speaks from, but we often use it metaphorically for any kind of preaching, religious or otherwise. If someone is telling others how to live, they’re speaking

WIKIMEDIA from the pulpit.

Synonyms: dais, podium, rostrum, soapbox.

Expurgation

Definition: Expurgation, from the Latin root expurgare meaning “to cleanse out, purge or purify,” means removing of parts of a written work that are considered objectionable or offensive.

Works of literature often undergo expurgation by editors who try to make the stories less “upsetting.” Many consider this as censorship, an unfair sup-

pression of artistic expression by an authority figure.

Synonyms: bowdlerisation, blackout, restriction, suppression.

Surmise

Definition: If you surmise that something is true, you don’t have much evidence or knowledge about it. To surmise is to infer from incomplete evidence. To surmise is to form an opinion or make a guess about something.

Synonyms: deduce, deduct, derive, infer, hazard, conjecture. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 7, 2013

AL to retain power as people Tk13.1m crops damaged by flood are against militancy: Hasina n Our correspondent, Gaibandha

Election Commission, anti-graft body working independently, she claims n UNB Renewing her stance for holding the next national election as per the constitution, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed her firm belief that people would bring back her party to power as they are deadly against terrorism and militancy.

“If people want food and peace, if they want free distribution of textbooks, if they don’t want terrorism and militancy then, I do believe, people will vote for AL. If people voted for AL, we’ll surely retain office, but it depends on people,” she said.

Hasina, however, said if people want corruption, Hawa Bhaban, militancy and chaos, then she has nothing to say as it will depend on them.

The Prime Minister was addressing the National Grand Rally of Professionals held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

PM’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Professionals Coordination Council President Justice AFM Mesbahuddin, Secretary General Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Buet Vice Chancellor Prof SM Nazrul Islam, Professionals Coordination Council leaders from divisional level and the USA also spoke on the occasion.

The premier also renewed her vow that the next parliament election would be held as par the parliamentary system of democracy practiced in other countries of the world.

She alleged that the BNP bagged votes misguiding people through an orchestrated propaganda in five city corporation polls. “The people of those cities have already started experiencing its backlash as their workers have embarked on a race to capture everything, including footpaths.”

Claiming that the Election Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) have been working independently, the Awami League chief said the next election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner, and people would exercise their franchise since votes belong to them.

“We’ve done all the necessary works to maintain a democratic system in the country as we want the democratic march forward to continue in the country,” she added.

In this regard, the premier called upon the professionals of all fields, including teachers, engineers, agriculturist, physicians, journalists, lawyers, and economists, to massively project the government’s development activities before people and tell them about the importance of maintaining devel-

opment so that they could live in peace.

Noting that the country had never witnessed peaceful handover of power except in her previous term, the AL president said that after assuming office this time, her government had amended the constitution through forming a committee to protect the voting rights of people.

“We’ll have to hold the election following the constitutional process, we’ll have to begin the process from a certain stage so that no one could play with the fate of the country’s people, can snatch their voting rights or could deter the pace of the country’s economic advancement,” she added.

Criticizing again the role of the antiRampal Coal-based power plant activists for raising their voice, the Prime Minister said that coal-based power plant is already there at Boropukuria in Dinajpur, but there is no acid rain or crop damage.

“For which motive are they raising their voice against Rampal Power Plant?” Hasina said adding that her government would not do anything harmful to the Sundarbans as the mangrove forest was declared the world heritage in her previous term.

About the opposition leader’s threat to stop the work on Rampal coal-based power plant, Hasina said, “She (Khaleda) could do such thing as she in her term

drastically reduced the country’s power generation through shutting down power plants we had set up.”

The Prime Minister also informed that the government is moving ahead with the plan of generating 6,600 MW coal-fired power generation and requested the anti-Rampal activists to visit the site of Boropukuria coal-based power plant in Dinajpur.

Criticising the much-controversial ‘tetul theory’ of Hefajat-e-Islam Amir Allama Ahmed Shafi, Hasina said if the women stay indoor as per the ‘tetul theory’ then there would be no development in the country.

“If BNP-Jamaat takes power, they would send women back home from their outside jobs.”

The Prime Minister said that her government is moving ahead with the plan to implement the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project with own fund saying that efforts would be there from the government in then future to accomplish all construction works of its own, including designs.

About the freedom of press, including that of private satellite channels, the Prime Minister said her government gave licenses to many TV channels but they are criticizing it irresponsibly.

She urged the mass media to be constructive in their criticisms. l

Standing crops particularly T-Aman paddy worth about Tk13.1m was damaged in four upazilas of the district due to recent flooding.

The loss of the crops has made farmers frustrated and worried about their food security.

According to sources, water level in Brahmaputra river continues to increase from the first week of the last month.

The river was flowing above the danger level from September 14 submerging the chars (shoals) and the river basin of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Saghata upazilas.

The T-Aman paddy field has already gone under flood water.

As the flood water remained stagnant for a few days, the transplanted seedlings of Aman paddy in a total of 250-hectare land of the upazilas were damaged either fully or partially.

Of the total, 22 hectares of land brought under the varieties of Aman paddy seedlings, particularly the late variety, Ganzia, were fully affected while 228 hectares partially.

The Department of Agriculture Extension estimated the damage of standing crop at TK13.1m.

M Saiduzzaman Sarker, chairman of Mollarchar union of Sadar upazila, said like the farmers of the plains in the upazila, people of his union transplanted seedlings of Aman paddy on the land of both sides of the river during the current season.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said from now on, some 30,000 schools, colleges and madrasas would be able to fill up forms for public examinations online.

The institutions can also entry their students’ and teachers’ information online.

Previously these tasks were done manually, for which the teachers had to visit the education office several times.

First, they had to bring the form from there and then again had to go there to submit the filled up forms.

Now, it can be done online without any hassle, Nahid said.

The education minister said this while inaugurating e-service for 10 education boards yesterday at Dhaka Teachers’ Training College auditorium in the capital.

He added the flood-affected farmers of the union were worried about their food security in the days to come.

Nurunnabi Hossain Sarker, chairman of Kamarjani union of Sadar upazila, said summer vegetables of the union were also damaged due to recent flooding that had caused the farmers to suffer economically.

Under the circumstances, the affected farmers urged the government to take necessary steps for agriculture rehabilitation in coming Robi season so that they could cultivate different crops to recover their loss caused by flood. l

n Our correspondent, Chadpur

Chittagong University teachers and students stage a human chain yesterday, demanding punishment to killers of Fellani and an end to killing of Bangladeshis in the bordering area DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nahid inaugurates e-service for 10 education boards n Tribune Report

As the flood water remained stagnant for a few days, the transplanted seedlings of Aman paddy in a total of 250-hectare land of the upazilas were damaged either fully or partially

One gets life term in Chandpur for murder

4 live bombs found in school, 5 explode in Shibir rally n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police found four live crude bombs on the rooftop of a school in Sitakunda upazila, Chittagong on Saturday night.

None were arrested in connection said SM Badiujjaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sitakunda Police Station.

Acting on a tip-off a team of law enforcers from Sitakunda police station conducted a drive at a primary school in the upazila’s Duttapara area at around 9:30pm and found the homemade bombs on the rooftop of the school’s washroom, he said.

Police successfully deactivated the explosives at 12:30am yesterday, the OC said.

Police suspect that a group was attempting to orchestrate subversive activities in the area, the OC said adding that the police was looking into the matter.

At least five crude bombs exploded during a protest by the Islami Chhatra Shibir in the city’s Rahattarpul area yesterday.

Eyewitnesses and locals said around 40 to 50 Shibir men brought out a protest procession sometime around 8:30am which paraded up to the Ek Kilometer area of the city.

While the rally was in motion, the Shibir men blasted at least five cocktails and fled from the scene, said one Md Mithu, resident of the area.

Due to the suddenness of the explosions a panic was triggered amongst passersby, he said.

Mohammad Mohsin and Abdur Rouf, officers-in-charge of Bakalia and Chandgaon police stations respectively, were not able to confirm the matter. l

The transplanted seedlings grew well and the growers were hopeful to get their desired yields, but their hopes and aspirations were reduced to dust due to the untimely flood that visited the chars and the river basins in midSeptember, he added.

M Sahjamal Miah, a farmer of Char Shidhai of the union, said he transplanted the Aman seedlings on three bighas of land during the current season, but his paddy field was damaged totally because of the recent flood.

He said the boards had established a sub domain for some 30,000 educational institutes and this would be linked with the education boards’ website.

The educational institutes can also post their news, history, notices or activities on the server.

“This is a revolutionary change for the education sector of the country,” said the minister.

He also said the ministry had taken various steps in the last few years to digitalise its operations.

“Students are now getting results online. Moreover, we have created multimedia classrooms in 23,300 schools,” he asserted.

Among others education secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Dhaka education board chairman Taslima Begum spoke at the inauguration programme. l

5 kidnapped MBBS, BDS test results published fishermen rescued, private medical and dental colleges. n Moniruzzaman Uzzal 2 pirates held in The student who stood first in the The results of the MBBS and the BDS ad- admission test scored 96.50 out of 100, Noakhali Dr Sifayetullah said, adding that seats mission test were published yesterday.

Prof Dr Khondhakar Md Sifayetul- will be offered to the students as per the n UNB lah, director general of health services, merit list. As many as 1,724 students out Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested two pirates and rescued five kidnapped fishermen in Hatiya upazila early yesterday.

The arrestees were identified as Jahangir, 30, and Sujan, 35.

Coast Guard Hatiya zone Commander Lieutenant Mostafis said a team of Coast Guard members conducted a drive in Dhaler Char and Moulvir Char in the early hours.

During the drive, the coastguards arrested two pirates along with two singlebarrel guns, two country-made pistols, one rifle, seven rounds of cartridges and several sharp weapons.

They also rescued five fishermen who were abducted by the pirates while fishing in the Meghna River on Friday night.

The rescued are Jewel Chandra Das, 30, Durlav Kahar, 35, Krishna Das, 27, Tutul Majumdar, 32, and Rajesh Dham, 26. They all hailed from several parts of the upazila. l

confirmed the news and told the Dhaka Tribune that the candidates will be able to get their results through text messages from state-owned telecom operators Teletalk and also from the www.dghs.gov.bd website.

He informed that a record number of 68,172 candidates signed up for the October 4 admission test for public and

of the 68,172 registered candidates were absent for the admission test.

Currently, there are 2,812 seats available at 22 government medical colleges in the country, while 55 private establishments offer 4,800 seats.

There is only a single public and 18 private dental colleges with 532 and 1,050 seats respectively. l

Road crash kills one in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A man died in a road accident on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Madam Bibirhat of Sitakunda upazila in Chittagong yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Kamal Hossain, 24, son of late Nur Islam, hailing from Shitalpur village of the upazila, said highway police sources.

A speeding Chittagong-bound cov-

ered van hit Kamal from the back around 7:30am while he was crossing the road.

Kamal died on the spot, said Syed Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Baro Awlia Highway police outpost.

Police seized the covered van from the scene of the accident, he added.

The family members of the deceased buried him in their family graveyard after completing legal formalities.l

A district court in Chandpur yesterday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing a man by stabbing in the neck.

The convict was identified as Waliullah, 20, resident of Goreshwar village in Hajiganj upazila.

The court also fined the convict Tk20, 000, in default of which, he is to suffer an additional year in prison.

According to the prosecution, the victim Mainuddin was involved in a romantic relationship with Waliullah’s niece Sharmin, resident of Kalcho village in the same upazila.

On May 27, 2011 when Mainuddin went to meet Sharmin near her house, Waliullah came out of the house.

He swooped on him and stabbed him indiscriminately in the neck, leaving him dead on the spot.

On the same day, Humayun Kabir, father of the victim, filed a murder case with the Hajiganj Police Station.

On completion of the investigation, police submitted charge sheet to the court accusing Waliullah, said Investigation Officer Abul Hashem Majumder.

After two and a half years of the incident, the court gave verdict in the case, he said.

Humayun said he was not happy with the verdict.

He said the killing of his son amounted to premeditated murder by the family members of Sharmin. l

Obaidul Quader urges BNP to join polls n Tribune Report

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday urged the main opposition BNP to participate in the upcoming general elections for the greater interest of the nation.

“Rising above party interest, BNP should participate in the upcoming general elections,” he told reporters at Trishal in Mymensingh during his visit to the Joydebpur-Mymensingh highway in the morning.

Talking about terrorism, the minister said: “Extortionists and terrorists have no political party. They carry political identity just to make money illegally.”

He urged all to unite and build a resistance against extortionists and terrorists for keeping politics free from corruption and terrorism, reports UNB. The minister also directed local administrators to strengthen their vigilance to prevent the setting up of roadside cattle markets which disrupt traffic during Eid-ul-Azha. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Monday, October 7, 2013

DEATH OF FOUR NEWBORN BABIES

Probe body finds no wrongdoing n Our Correspondent, Tangail A probe body formed to investigate the death of four newborn babies in Tangail hospital submitted their report on Saturday night. The report states that the deaths had occurred due to complications arising due to the premature deliveries.

According to the report, the investigators did not find anything wrong with the medicines that were given and the treatment that was administered.

The three-member committee, formed by the assistant director of Tangail General Hospital submitted their investigation report, concerning the deaths on Friday, of four newborn babies at Tangail General Hospital.

Nur Mohammed, assistant director of the hospital, said according to the report, the babies were underweight and suffered from different complications, including severe birth asphyxia and septicaemia, when they were admitted to the hospital and their deaths were a result of these complications.

The investigating committee interviewed three doctors in the child department, one sub assistant community medical officer, and a senior nurse while the committee also looked into the expiry dates of the medicines that were used for the treatment of the babies.

On the other hand, The Ministry

of Health and Family Welfare formed another probe body, comprising three members on the day the deaths occurred and asked it to submit its report within three working days.

The committee, formed by the health ministry, started investigating the death of four newborn babies, on Saturday NahrinNasim, head of the three-member committee, visited the hospital on Saturday.

The other two members of the committee are Nojabot Hossain, deputy director of health department, and ShafiqulAlam, chief of paediatric department at Mymensingh Medical College.

The hospital sources said the committee had already interviewed nine physicians, a sub assistant community medical officer, a storekeeper and two senior nurses.

They also collected samples of the medicines used in the treatment but did not talk to the parents of the victims, added the sources.

The parents of the four babies who died between 9am and 11am on Friday, alleged that the babies died right after a nurse, Rita, administered injections to the babies, according to the prescription given by Dr Syful Islam.

Tangail police said that no case had been lodged with them in this regard and no general diary had been filed either. l

BGB and NSI displays Indian currencies and smuggled goods seized from Anantapur border in Kurigram’s Fulbari upazila yesterday

Cox’s Bazar fire service in need of servicing itself n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Moulvibazar Press Club election held n A Correspondent, Moulvibazar Biannual election of Moulvibazar Press Club was held on Saturday afternoon.

MA Salam, local correspondent of channel l who also works for national Bangla newspaper Daily Sangbad, was elected as president, while SM Umed Ali, local correspondent of television channel NTV who also works for Bangla newspaper Daily Inqilab, was elected as secretary.

Other persons elected, who have been holding official posts, were Abdul Hamid Mahbub, Radha Podo Deb Sajal, Nazrul Islam Muhib, Saleh Elahi Kuti, Hasanat Kamal, Shah Olidur Rahman, MA Muhit, and M Shajahan Ahmed. l

Years of negligence, a dearth of modern firefighting equipment and external challenges have made it difficult for the Cox’s Bazar fire service and civil defence department to provide its basic services.

The department, charged with providing emergency firefighting, rescue and medical services in its jurisdiction, has been unable to properly and equally respond to all such cases.

Sources said the problem was exacerbated by a chronic shortage of manpower in the department. There were only 13 staff members for the entire metropolis, with four important posts left vacant.

In addition, lack of water sources and reservoirs, narrow alleys in densely populated areas, and high-rises built in breach of building codes without adequate safety measures also posed challenges to emergency rescue operations.

Because of these structural prob-

lems, the fire department, despite responding in time, sometimes faces difficulties to reach a fire scene, as fire engines – transporting rescue operatives, fire hoses and other specialised equipment – have insufficient space to move through narrow alleyways.

Currently, the department has only one tanker with the capacity to transport 6,500 litres of water and a television for monitoring, but it has no lighting unit, foam cannon, foam tender, emergency tender, snorkel, and turntable ladder – making fire extinguishing an arduous task Most of the high-rises in the city built before 2011 do not have standard fire safety measures either, said an source

Taga, counsellor of Embassy of Japan, with Arif Sikder, executive director of EC Bangladesh, and Ms. Sharaban Tahura, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Munshiganj Sadar, yesterday inaugurates the Radio Bikramur in Munshiganj DHAKA TRIBUNE

NEWS IN BRIEF ‘Drug peddler’ hacked to death in Faridpur

A man, allegedly a drug peddler, was hacked to death by unknown assailants on Saturday night at the Alipur area in Faridpur town. He was identified as Shawon Mollah, 28, son of Sohrab Mollah. Witnesses said the incident occurred near Shawon’s South Alipur residence around 10:30pm when several men armed with sharp weapons intercepted his motorbike as he was returning home and hacked him viciously. A critically injured Shawon was rushed to Faridpur general hospital where he was declared dead. – UNB

BCL man killed in Jessore The rival unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal was charged with killing an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Jessore, following a scuffle in front of Shilpakala Academy on Friday. The deceased was identified as Sabbir Hossain, 19, son of Abdul Jalil of Kasba area of the town. Sources said, Sabbir was involved in an altercation with some activists of Jubo Dal at a cultural function in Shilpakala on Friday night, which might have been the cause of his death. He was brutally hacked and, around midnight, when he was taken to a hospital, he was declared dead. – UNB

2 jail guards held with arms in Faridpur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested two jail guards with a gun and several rounds of ammunition near Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Saturday.

Arrestees Mizanur Rahman and Ashraful Islam worked with the Faridpur district jail. Assistant Police Super Sumon Deb of Rab-8 said a team of the unit, acting on a tip-off, conducted a drive in the area around 3pm and arrested the two with one foreign-made pistol, five rounds of bullets and one magazine. – UNB

at the department.

Currently, the department has only one tanker with the capacity to transport 6,500 litres of water and a television for monitoring, but it has no lighting unit, foam cannon, foam tender, emergency tender, snorkel, and turntable ladder – making fire extinguishing an arduous task.

There are also concerns over the decrease in the number of open water sources. The department had targeted Lal Dighi, Gol Dighi, Shoibal Dighi, Bazar Ghata canal, Upazila canal, Upal Lake, Probal Lake, Central Mosque Lake and Tekpara Lakefor emergency water supply sources, but it has only been able to get water from Shoibal Dighi, Gol Dighi and the Upazila canal.

The pampant filling of water bodies to construct buildings in town has been contributing to the shrinking size of water bodies.

In addition to the fire station in Cox’s Bazar sadar, there are stations in Chakaria and Pekua, and a recently

built station in Teknaf. However, none of the other four upazilas of the district has a station, so during an emergency on those, fire stations from other upazilas have to respond.

Md Abdul Mazid, station officer of the Cox’s Bazar fire department, said there was also a dearth of drivers in the station.

“Previously there were four drivers, but all were then transferred to the Teknaf station when it was built. So in the event of a fire emergency within our jurisdiction, they have to be reassigned, which doesn’t always work,” he said.

For the same reason, the department cannot provide medical care to fire victims, despite having an ambulance, he said.

Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, deputy assistant director of the station, said the ministry was moving ahead with a plan to build a modern fire station in the district, which both local residents and tourists would benefit from. l

FUCAS BANGLA

Smuggled goods worth Tk1.4m seized in Kurigram n Our Correspondent, Kurigram A joint drive by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and the National Security Intelligence (NSI) yesterday, led to the seizure of Indian currencies and smuggled goods worth Tk1.4m, from the Anantapur border in Kurigram’s Fulbari upazila.

However, no one was arrested in this connection.

Sources said a joint team of Kurigram’s BGB 45 battalion and the district’s NSI unit acted on a tip-off and intercepted a group of smugglers near the Anantapur border in Kashipur union. The traffickers fled after sensing the presence of the security forces, but the joint team managed to seize 925kg of spices, 2,892 pieces of t-shirts, five torchlights and RS4,460 from the area.

Captain Raisul of BGB 45 battalion, who led the drive, informed that NSI assisted in the six-hour drive which was carried out during the early hours yesterday. l

Japan supports Radio Bikrampur FM 99.2 n Tribune Report

Kurigram JCD activist succumbs to wounds

Radio Bikrampur, a community radio station, has been set up in Munshiganj sadar district with the assistance of the government of Japan.

The Embassy of Japan donated $63,204.78 for the project – under Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) to Environment Council Bangladesh – to improve the accessibility of information for the local community, according to an embassy press release.

The inaugural ceremony took place on October 5 at Circuit House Auditorium in Munshiganj.

Masayuki Taga, Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan to Bangladesh, inaugurated the radio station as the chief guest. Md Saiful Hasan Badol, District Commissioner of Munshiganj, chaired the occasion.

Taga said: “Through sharing accurate information, community radio can serve as an effective empowerment tool for the people, contributing to the betterment of their lives and socio-economic development.”

“Community radio can serve in disaster management at the times of cyclones and floods, helping to reduce damages of lives and assets,” he said.

The DC of Munshiganj district said he had listened to some of the programmes being broadcasted.

“The programme on health issues was particularly enjoyable, and helpful in bettering the lives of listeners,” he said.

Radio Bikrampur FM 99.2 will broadcast 69 hours a week, covering a variety of issues including: health and nutrition, agriculture, education, climate change and adaptation, weather, local development news, events, and public service announcements. l

After fighting for his life for 10 days, a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist of Kurigram succumbed to his injuries at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital early yesterday.

Police sources said Chhatra Dal activist Shafiqul was injured on September 25, during clashes between two Chhatra Dal factions outside the Kurigram Town Hall, where the student wing’s representative council was taking place. Shafiqul took shelter inside the Kurigram Government College premises, where a group of criminals allegedly assaulted him.

n Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Shafiqul was initially admitted to the Kurigram Sadar Hospital, but when his condition started deteriorating, he was eventually brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died yesterday.

District Chhatra Dal Convener Mohiuddin Jahangir claimed that Shafiqul was critically wounded during an assault by criminal elements from Bangladesh Chhatra League.

However, the BCL’s district unit president Minhazul Islam Aiyub denied the allegation, claiming that Chhatra Dal was trying to shift the blame of its own internal dispute to others. l

8 Blasts at Iraqi police station, school kill 15 n AFP, Kirkuk Two suicide bombers detonated explosives-rigged vehicles at a police station and a nearby primary school in northern Iraq on Sunday, killing at least 15 people, a local official said.

The blasts in the Turkmen Shiite village of Qabat, near the Syrian border, also wounded dozens of people, Abdulal Abbas told AFP. The bombing at the school collapsed the roof of the building, Abbas said.

The blasts came a day after violence including an attack on Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad and a suicide bombing at a cafe north of the capital killed at least 73 people.

In Iraq, almost nothing is safe from attack by militants, who have struck highly-secured targets such as prisons, and also bombed cafes, markets, mosques, football fields, weddings and funerals.

Violence has reached a level unseen since 2008, and there are persistent fears that Iraq will relapse into the kind of intense Sunni-Shiite bloodshed that peaked in 2006-2007 and killed tens of thousands of people.

The latest violence takes this month’s death toll to more than 140, and more than 4,850 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Experts begin destroying Syrian Iraq violence chemical arsenal: Source kills 73 including pilgrims, journalists n AFP, Baghdad Violence including an attack on Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad killed at least 73 people across Iraq on Saturday, among them two journalists gunned down in the north, officials said.

Violence is at a level unseen since 2008, and there are persistent fears that Iraq will relapse into the kind of intense Sunni-Shiite bloodshed that peaked in 2006-2007 and killed tens of thousands of people.

Accounts differed as to whether the attack on the pilgrims in the Adhamiyah area of north Baghdad, which killed at least 49 people and wounded at least 75, was a bomb followed by a suicide bombing, or a suicide attack alone.

It came as pilgrims walked to a shrine to commemorate the death of Imam Mohammed al-Jawad, the ninth Shiite imam.

Iraq is home to some of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam, and millions of pilgrims visit them each year.

But crowds of pilgrims are frequently targeted by Sunni militants including those linked to Al-Qaeda, who consider Shiites to be apostates.

Earlier on Saturday, gunmen killed

two Iraqi journalists in the northern city of Mosul.

The Sharqiya television channel said two of its journalists – correspondent Mohammed Karim al-Badrani and cameraman Mohammed Ghanem – were “assassinated” in Mosul.

Police and a doctor confirmed the two journalists had been shot dead.

Their reports on security forces and officials in Mosul had brought death threats from militant groups opposed to the government, a Sharqiya journalist told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Iraq has come in for repeated criticism over shortcomings in media freedoms.

“Many Iraqi journalists are routinely exposed to threats, murder attempts, attacks, difficulties obtaining permission, denial of access, confiscation of equipment and so on,” media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said this year.

Journalists, even with government authorisation, are routinely barred from approaching the sites of attacks and prevented from otherwise freely reporting in Baghdad.

Photographic and video equipment is also often viewed with suspicion by security forces. l

Divers recover more bodies in Italy n AFP, Lampedusa

Divers in Italy recovered 16 more bodies Sunday after a shipwreck in which more than 300 African refugees are feared to have died, as a government minister called for an easing of immigration rules.

Officials said the death toll now stands at 127, as divers resumed an operation suspended since Friday because of rough seas off the island of Lampedusa where Thursday’s tragedy unfolded.

Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge was on the dock of the remote outcrop as corpses were being unloaded, after calling for an easing of Italy’s tough rules against illegal immigration.

“The law on immigration cannot be punitive,” Kyenge, who has faced a torrent of racist abuse as Italy’s first black minister, said earlier.

The current law considers all irregular migrants suspects in the crime of “clandestinity” and punishes anyone accused of facilitating landings.

“The migratory flux has fundamentally changed. We have to understand it and change our laws,” she said, adding that she was planning to triple the available accommodation in asylum centres to 24,000 bed spaces because of the growing influx.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta meanwhile said EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso will visit the island on Wednesday and blamed Libya for the growing influx of asylum seekers in Italy.

Monday, October 7, 2013

A convoy of inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons prepares to cross into Syria at the Lebanese border crossing point of Masnaa AP

n AFP, Damascus Experts Sunday began the process of destroying Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal under the terms of a UN resolution that will see Damascus relinquish its banned weapons, an official told AFP. The source in the international mission said the experts would verify details of the arsenal turned over by the Syrian government and start the process of destroying the weapons and production facilities.

The team faces the massive task of

US forces attacked senior Shabab leader in Somalia n AFP, Washington

Coffins (in white) of children are seen alongside coffins of other victims from a shipwreck off Sicily, in a hangar of the Lampedusa airport REUTERS In an interview with news channel SkyTG24, Letta said Libya – where the shipwreck boat departed from – should adopt “stringent” measures to stop the migrant boats from leaving its shores.

“Our problem today is called Libya,” he said.

Letta also called for more European assistance to cope with the influx, saying: “Italy cannot be the first country to have everything on its shoulders.”

Italy has requested that the refugee issue be put on the agenda of a meeting of European interior ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday and of a summit of EU leaders at the end of the month.

Local authorities on Lampedusa struggled to cope with the new arrivals. The refugee centre has 250 places but is now housing more than 1,000 people including those from previous

landings.

Many have been forced to sleep outside. Forty of the 155 survivors – unaccompanied minors aged between 11 and 17 – are among those living in squalor in the heavily-guarded centre.

‘Constant emergency’

Italy has seen 30,000 asylum-seekers arrive so far this year – more than four times the number for last year. Most of the arrivals land on Lampedusa, which is closer to north Africa than to Italy.

Hundreds have perished at sea so far in 2013, adding to the estimated 17,000 to 20,000 who have died crossing the sea over the past 20 years.

“There is no plan for the landings.

There is just a constant emergency,” said Francesco Rocca, the president of the Italian Red Cross. l

destroying an estimated 1,000 tonnes of the nerve agent sarin, mustard gas and other banned arms at dozens of sites in Syria by mid-2014 in line with the UN resolution.

As the operation got underway, President Bashar al-Assad admitted in an interview with Germany’s Spiegel news magazine that his government made “mistakes” in the country’s brutal civil conflict.

But he denied again his forces used chemical weapons in an August 21 attack that eventually led to the UN reso-

US forces staged a predawn raid against a senior Shabab militant leader in Somalia though it was unclear whether he was killed or captured, officials said Saturday.

“I can confirm that yesterday, October 4, US military personnel were involved in a counterterrorism operation against a known Shabab terrorist,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.

The assault took place amid reports that US Special Operations Forces had captured in Libya a man known as Abu Anas al-Libi, a long-sought Al-Qaeda operative indicted in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

A US official said the operation in Somalia sought to capture a “high-value” Shabab leader, and that no US personnel were injured or killed.

The operation marked the most significant US assault in Somalia since commandos killed key Al-Qaeda operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in the same area four years ago.

It followed an attack by Shabab gunmen last month on the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead during a four-day siege.

“US personnel took all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties in this operation and disengaged after inflicting some Shabab casualties,” the official said.

AUTUMN GRAPES

Declining to identify the people who died, the official said that “even in these extreme operational circumstances, the US military is very cautious to minimise civilian casualties.”

The statement was an acknowledgement of US authorities’ concern with the bitter anti-American sentiment fuelled by civilian casualties in US military operations.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab had earlier claimed it was British and Turkish special forces that staged a nighttime sea and air attack on one of its bases, but Britain denied any involvement.

Leaders of the Islamist insurgents in the southern Somali port of Barawe said commandos rappelled from a helicopter and tried to storm a house belonging to a senior Shabab commander, but the assault failed.

The SEAL team approached and fired on the unidentified target’s seaside villa by sea, according to The New York Times.

Although the Shabab leader was believed to have been killed during the pre-planned assault, the SEALs had to withdraw before they could confirm the kill, a senior US official told the newspaper.

“The Barawe raid was planned a week and a half ago,” a US security official told the Times.

“It was prompted by the Westgate attack.” l

Suspect in 1998 embassy bombings seized n AFP, Washington US forces have captured in broad daylight in Libya a long-sought Al-Qaeda operative indicted in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, US media reported.

The operation to capture the suspect, known as Abu Anas al-Libi, took place with the knowledge of the Libyan government, a US official told CNN. In Tripoli, a source close to Libi told AFP he had been “kidnapped close to his home after dawn prayers by a group of armed men.”

Libyan security services said they were unaware of any kidnapping or arrest of the man.

Al-Libi’s reported capture was part of apparent twin raids by US Special Operations forces, after US Navy SEALs were said to have staged a separate assault on a senior Shabab militant leader in southern Somalia, though it was unclear whether he was killed.

The US government had put a reward of up to $5m on Libi, who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list and was born under the name Nazih Abdul Hamed Al-Raghie.

He was indicted in the US District Court in New York for allegedly playing a key role in the August 7, 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.

The bombings left more than 200 people dead. l

WORLD WATCH Six killed in Mexico monster truck accident

A monster truck crashed into a grandstand after its brakes failed during a stunt show in northern Mexico on Saturday, killing six people and injuring 47 others, officials said. Two minors were among the fatalities at the Extreme Airshow in the city of Chihuahua, capital of the eponymous state bordering the US state of Texas, said municipality spokesman Jose Luis Dominguez. Some 3,500 people attended the demolition show, in which pick-up trucks with giant tires crush smaller cars, when the vehicle lost control and smashed into the stands at around 7pm, Dominguez told AFP. At least 35 of the 47 injured people were taken to hospitals. The park El Rejon, where the show took place, was immediately closed and helicopters and ambulances were dispatched.

Man crushed to death by 5 tons of grapes

Two Georgian women, dressed in costume, attend the annual Tbilisoba City Day celebrations in Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday. Tbilisoba is an annual October festival celebrating the diversity and history of Tbilisi held since 1979 AP

lution requiring Syria turn over its arsenal of the banned weapons.

The team of disarmament experts from the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) based in The Hague arrived in Damascus on Tuesday.

An official in the joint mission said Sunday that members of the team “have left for a site where they are beginning verification and destruction.”

“Today is the first day of destruction, in which heavy vehicles are going to run over and thus destroy missile warheads, aerial chemical bombs and mobile and static mixing and filling units,” he said.

An OPCW official said earlier this week that all “expedient methods” would be used to render Syria’s production facilities unusable, including explosives, sledgehammers, or pouring in concrete.

“Phase one which is disclosure by the Syrians is ending and we are now moving towards phase two, verification and destruction and disabling,” the mission source said on Sunday.

Syria agreed to relinquish its chemical arsenal for destruction under a UN resolution that enshrined a US-Russian agreement.

The deal was hammered out in the wake of the August 21 attack on the outskirts of Damascus, which the United States blamed on Assad’s government. l

Emergency services say a man has died after being crushed by grapes during the annual harvest in the central Spanish wine producing region of Castilla-La Mancha.

A local rescue service centre said Friday the man was pulled out of a winery grape reception bay that he fell into the day before, just as a truck unloaded 5.5 tonnes of grapes ready for crushing into juice for winemaking. Ambulance operators and firefighters tried to resuscitate the man — identified only by his initials, AO — but he was declared dead just before midnight Thursday.

NY cabbie charged in relatives’ deaths in Pakistan

On the day two of his relatives were gunned down in a street in Pakistan last year, cab driver Mohammad Ajmal Choudhry was thousands of kilometres away in New York City. That made it all the more shocking to friends when federal agents moved in later that same day and arrested the 60-year-old immigrant who was known for his gentle manner and devotion to his children and grandchildren. An indictment filed late last month charges Choudhry with murder conspiracy in a case US prosecutors in Brooklyn say exposed a bitter family feud. Prosecutors cite a series of vengeful phone calls with the 23-year-old daughter — captured on tape around the time of the deaths — as evidence of Choudhry’s bloodlust. But the defense says that’s not enough to pin a murder rap on him.

Tiger attacks worker at US animal park

A tiger ripped up the left arm of a worker at a central Oklahoma animal park after the woman stuck her hand into the giant cat’s enclosure. Joe Schreibvogel, owner of Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park in Wynnewood, said the woman was in surgery Saturday afternoon at an Oklahoma City hospital where doctors were trying to save her arm. He withheld the woman’s name because he hadn’t been able to contact her family, but informed she is in her early 20s. The tiger, a mixed breed that he rescued, is about 14 years old.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

China braces for Typhoon Fitow: 417,000 people evacuated

China’s Xi: Taiwan solution can’t wait forever n Reuters, Nusa Dua, Indonesia

n AP, Beijing Hundreds of thousands of people in southeast China were evacuated and fishing vessels called back to shore on Sunday because of an approaching typhoon, authorities said.

Typhoon Fitow is expected to make landfall early Monday between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, according to the National Meteorological Centre.

Provincial authorities said that by noon Sunday more than 65,000 boats had returned to port or moved to safer areas. Zhejiang’s provincial government said 289,000 people had been evacuated from fishing boats and coastal areas. Fujian’s government said 128,000 boat workers and dwellers had been evacuated, including 7,000 elderly people and children who were on fishing rafts.

The typhoon will bring heavy or torrential rain to five provinces, Shanghai and Taiwan over the next three days, the meteorological centre said. Some coastal areas may see rainfall of 250 millimeters, it said. l

Frontier soldiers run as a storm surge hits the coastline under the influence of Typhoon Fitow in Wenling, Zhejiang province

Iran: 4 arrested for trying to sabotage nuclear site n Reuters, Dubai At least four people have been arrested in Iran for trying to sabotage a nuclear site, an Iranian official was quoted by Iranian media as saying on Sunday.

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, said officials had monitored and then arrested a “number of saboteurs” before they could carry out their plan.

“Four of these individuals were caught red-handed and their interrogations are ongoing,” he said, according to the Mehr news agency on Sunday. He did not identify which nuclear site they were planning to damage or when those detained were arrested. Israel, widely believed to be the region’s only nuclear-armed state, sees Iran’s atomic work as a military threat and has said it will attack Iran’s nuclear sites if it does not end its programme. l

Japan seeks help on Fukushima n AP, Tokyo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that Japan is open to receiving overseas help to contain widening radioactive water leaks at the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima, with leaks and mishaps reported almost daily.

Abe made the comments in a speech at an international science forum in Kyoto in western Japan.

“We are wide open to receive the most advanced knowledge from overseas to contain the problem,” Abe said in his English speech to open the con-

Malala, Murakami tipped for Nobels n Reuters The Pakistani teenage activist shot by the Taliban and a Japanese author who writes about alienation and a fractured modern world are tipped as Nobel Prize winners ahead of the annual awards that start on Monday.

Malala Yousafzai, 16, shot in the head by the Taliban last year for demanding education for girls, gave a speech at the United Nations in July saying she would not bow to “terrorists” who thought they could silence her. She is a favourite for the peace prize among experts and betting agencies.

“I have Malala Yousafzai on top,” Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of Oslo-based peace research institute PRIO, told reporters. “The EU got the prize last year and the EU prize was poorly understood and fundamentally questioned in many quarters.”

One obstacle could be her age.

Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni human rights activist and youngest winner to date, was 32 when she received the prize and some experts argue the prize would overburden such a young woman. Yousafzai is living in London and still facing Taliban threats.

British bookmaker Ladbrokes has put Japanese author Haruki Murakami in pole position for the literature prize.

Murakami is very popular in Japan, but has also become well-known abroad for his works which deal with isolation and love and bring the surreal into everyday life. His first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, was published in 1979, but Murakami first leaped to literary stardom in 1987 with Norwegian Wood, a bleak comingof-age story dominated by grief and loss and named after a Beatles song.

Since then, his works, including Sputnik Sweetheart, Kafka on the Shore and 1Q84 – which sold one million copies in the first month in 2009 – have all been bestsellers. l

ference on energy and environment.

“My country needs your knowledge and expertise,” he said.

Despite Abe’s reassurances to the International Olympic Committee last month that the leaks were “under control,” many Japanese believe he was glossing over problems at the plant.

Abe did not say whether he still thinks the leaks are under control.

His comments come just days after the plant’s operator acknowledged that highly contaminated water spilled from a storage tank as workers tried to fill it to the top. l

REUTERS

Germany handed Afghanistan’s security forces control Sunday of a key military base in the country’s northern province of Kunduz, where German troops spent almost a decade as part of the international effort to combat Taliban insurgents.

The handover is part of the gradual pullout of Western forces due to be completed by the end of next year.

The Kunduz base, which lies some 250 kilometres north of Kabul, shaped the German armed forces “like hardly any other place,” German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said according to prepared remarks. Nowhere else since World War II have more German soldiers died in combat. “(We) built, fought, cried and consoled, killed and fell here,” de Maiziere was quoted as saying.

Some 20,000 German troops were deployed in Kunduz during a 10-year operation, and 20 of Germany’s 35 combat deaths in Afghanistan occurred

Chinese President Xi Jinping told a senior envoy from self-ruled Taiwan on Sunday that a political solution to a standoff over sovereignty lasting more than six decades cannot be postponed forever, drawing a cool, non-committal response.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since Nationalist forces, defeated by the Communists, fled to the island at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has never ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

While relations have improved dramatically since the China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou was elected Taiwan president in 2008, with a series of trade and tourism deals signed, there has been no progress towards political reconciliation or a lessening of military distrust.

Speaking on the Indonesian resort island of Bali ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Xi told Ma’s envoy to the meeting, Vincent Siew, that political issues could not be put off forever.

“Increasing mutual political trust across the Taiwan Straits and jointly building up political foundations are

crucial for ensuring the peaceful development of relations,” the official Xinhua news agency paraphrased Xi as saying.

“Looking further ahead, the issue of political disagreements that exist between the two sides must reach a final resolution, step by step, and these issues cannot be passed on from generation to generation,” Xi added.

“I have already said many times that (we are) willing to have equal consultations with Taiwan on cross-strait issues within the framework of the one-China (principle), and make reasonable and fair arrangements for this.”

Beijing and Taipei agreed to their own interpretations of the “one China” principle, which includes Taiwan as part of China, in 1992.

However, Ma has signalled no urgency to have political talks with China, saying the time is not yet right, a view backed by Siew who said things had to move slowly.

“Both sides need greater understanding,” Siew told reporters, adding he and Xi did not discuss the possibility of a XiMa meeting. “If we can find a consensus, then we can slowly find a reasonable, rational plan to resolve things.” l

Muslim victims say Myanmar police aided attackers n AP, Thandwe, Myanmar Even as the president came to western Myanmar to urge an end to sectarian violence last week, security forces could not prevent Buddhist mobs from torching the homes of minority Muslims or hacking them to death, at times, unwittingly, even encouraging them.

That has raised questions about the government’s ability to quench a virulent strain of religious hatred blamed for the deaths of more than 240 people in the last 18 months.

Five Muslims were killed in the attack Tuesday in Thandwe township, just hours before President Thein Sein touched down for a scheduled visit.

He promised an immediate investigation and, with uncharacteristic speed, state-run media by Saturday night said 44 suspects had been arrested, though few other details were released.

Still, as soldiers walked the dusty streets in the hardest-hit village of Thabyuchaing, semi-automatics slung across their shoulders, Myint Aung and other Muslims residents were afraid.

They said authorities had plenty of opportunities to prevent a series of attacks Tuesday, each more brutal than the next, but did nothing. More than 110 homes were burned to the ground, and nearly 500 peo-

ing in front of his demolished home, echoing complaints heard by victims in other attacks across the state.

“And the police did nothing. They just looked on. Now everyone is living in fear.”

In an interview with Associated Press in New York, Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin denied the charges that law enforcement or government troops failed to take necessary action.

There was more sectarian violence in Myanmar late Saturday, this time in the southern delta region, with police and residents saying Buddhist mobs destroyed a pair of Muslim homes. It was the first time sectarian unrest was reported in the area since the violence started in June 2012.

The violence in the town of Kyaunggon, about 120 kilometres west of the main city A Muslim woman cries after Rakhine state chief minister’s motorcade passed through a of Yangon, came after news spread that a road in Shwehlay village, western Myanmar AP 14-year-old girl had allegedly been raped by a Muslim man.

Kyaunggon resident Myint Soe said Though police promised the Muslims vilple were left homeless.

Initially, the Buddhist mobs numbering lagers protection — and disarmed them and mobs destroyed the rape suspect’s home, about 150 entered before dawn, setting one ordered them back into their homes — the as well as the home of another Muslim man house on fire, but Muslim residents were mobs returned in even greater numbers at elsewhere in the town. Police confirmed the violence and said Kyauggon was calm Sunable to push them back, said the 52-year- 9:30am, and then again at 2:30pm.

Among the dead were a 94-year-old day. old, standing before a charred mosque and Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nawoman and an 89-year-old man, both too several homes. tion of 60 million, is undergoing a political Police detained three suspects soon af- old to run, each with multiple stab wounds.

“We had no way to protect ourselves” transformation after a half-century of militer, but released them almost immediately said Win Myint, 51, another resident, stand- tary rule. l following threats of more violence, he said.

Germany hands over base to Afghans n AP, Berlin

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Monday, October 7, 2013

in the province. Another 17 died of noncombat injuries, including seven who were killed in a 2002 helicopter crash in Kabul.

For many Germans, the base is synonymous with a 2009 NATO airstrike ordered by German forces that killed 91 Afghans and wounded 11, most of them civilians.

De Maiziere made an indirect reference to the incident, which caused a political furore and the resignation of several senior German officials at the time.

“Kunduz was also the place where grave decisions were made, had to be made,” he said. “It is a place where there were many deaths — on all sides.

Let us today remember all of these deaths together.”

Germany, the third-largest international troop contributor in Afghanistan after the United States and Britain, plans to reduce its force levels in the country from 4,000 to about 800 by 2015. Those remaining will be stationed in the northern city of Mazar-i-Shar-

Left to right: German FM Guido Westerwelle, Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Omar Daudzai, German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Afghanistan’s Deputy Defense Minister Enayatullah Nazari exchange symbolic keys during the handover ceremony AP

if, responsible largely for training and support of Afghan troops.

The US is expected to keep about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan as a residual force after 2014, but no final decision has been made. l

Four soldiers die in Afghan operation n Reuters, Kabul Four soldiers belonging to the NATO-led force in Afghanistan were killed by insurgents during an operation on Sunday, while a fifth was shot dead by a security guard over the weekend in the country’s south.

The Taliban have been recovering ground in the south as forward operating bases have shut as part of the plan to withdraw most foreign troops by the end of 2014.

“Four... were killed by enemy forces during a partnered operation,” the release by the joint command said.

The nationalities of the dead soldiers was not released.

Also in southern Afghanistan, a contracted security guard shot one soldier dead in a separate incident on Saturday. A spokesman for the NATO-led force said the nationality of the security guard was under investigation.

So-called “insider attacks” on foreign soldiers by their Afghan allies escalated last year prompting coalition troops to heighten security measures and reduce interaction between foreign and Afghan forces.

The move has helped stem the number of incidents this year but also further eroded trust between foreign service members and their Afghan allies.

If Saturday’s gunman turns out to have been an Afghan security guard for coalition troops, it would be the ninth insider attack this year bring the toll of foreign personnel killed to 14. l

A divided Egypt marks anniversary of Mideast war n AP, Cairo Egyptian jetfighters staged celebratory flights over Cairo on Sunday, ushering in a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the nation’s last war with Israel on a day when rival rallies by supporters and opponents of the ousted Islamist president carry the potential for violence.

Security forces have been deployed across much of the Egyptian capital in anticipation of clashes, with thousands of troops and police manning checkpoints.

October 6 has long been a major national holiday but the streets of Cairo, a city of 18 million, were uncharacteristically empty by late morning as many residents stayed home to avoid being caught up in possible clashes. Only the scream of some two dozen, low-flying

F-16s that rattled the city broke the quiet.

Sunday’s rallies in Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 2011 uprising against autocrat Hosni Mubarak, are likely flashpoints. Authorities have vowed not to allow supporters of the ousted president Mohammed Morsi into the square and police and troops have erected barricades at all entrances to the sprawling plaza in the heart of the city. Morsi’s supporters are threatening to force their way into the square.

The possibility of bloodshed on an occasion revered by most Egyptians is seen as a sign of the schism that began to surface soon after Morsi’s narrow election victory in June 2012. He was ousted in a July 3 coup that followed demonstrations by millions of Egyptians demanding that he step down. l

Tunisia deal brings an end to Islamist government n AFP, Tunis Tunisia’s political rivals agreed Saturday on a timetable for the unpopular Islamist-led ruling coalition to quit and be replaced by a government of independents, aiming to end a festering political crisis.

The Islamist Ennahda party and opposition groups in the country that gave birth to the Arab Spring signed a roadmap aimed at creating a new government within three weeks.

Saturday’s deal, signed in the presence of politicians and media, was brokered to end a simmering two-month crisis sparked by the assassination in July of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi.

The document, drawn up by four mediators, foresees the nomination

of an independent prime minister by the end of next week, who would then have two weeks to form a cabinet.

It says that after the first day of national dialogue, “the government will resign with a delay not exceeding three weeks.”

One of the leaders of Ennahda, Abdelhamid Jlassi, told AFP the national dialogue proper is not expected to start on Monday, however.

“First there will be preparatory meetings, and the date of the government’s resignation will not be determined until the start of the real national dialogue,” he said.

“Ennahda’s signature today is a major concession made in the interests of the country,” he added. l

10 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, October 7, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Taxpayers still scared of NBR offices October 2

Do not sacrifice city environments for Eid

Is it really news that we fear tax offices still? Things have not changed a bit; only one more layer of corruption has now been added. If anyone is serious about freeing NBR of corruption, the discretionary authority of officers to do whatever they want to do should be taken away.

Minhaz Anwar

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September 29 Ahsan Sajid Education free for “boys” till class 10? What’s this sentence missing?

Faria Begum Riya Making education free for boys ... what about girls??

id-ul-Azha will be soon upon us and to mark the occasion thousands if not millions of animals will be sacrificed. The slaughter of animals for Eid is a sacred religious duty of all Muslims and most Bangladeshis embrace this duty enthusiastically. However, it is time to re-examine the particular way that we go about this task in order to make sure that this joyous festival is not at odds with the environment or public health.

The common practice in Bangladesh is to slaughter the sacrificial animals on individual private property Our government on Eid day. This leads to a should follow the large amount of blood and good practices other animal waste piling of other Muslim up at houses all over the countries country. Since clean-up of the waste is difficult and time consuming, sometime taking days, this creates an unsanitary and unpleasant environment and a hazard for public health.

The problem is especially acute in the densely populated cities, such as Dhaka. Residents of Dhaka can attest to the fact that the atmosphere in many areas of the city is nigh on unbearable for days after Eid. However, things need not be this way. In most Muslim majority countries around the world it is mandatory that the sacrificial animals are taken to designated slaughter-houses where professionals perform the sacrifice and take care of the waste disposal, thus avoiding the problem of polluting the environment of the communities during Eid. It is high time that Bangladesh adopted a similar rule.

Our government should follow the good practices of other Muslim countries and mandate that Eid-ul-Azha sacrifices are only performed in pre-designated, professional slaughter houses.

Such a measure can ensure our Eid-ul-Azha celebrations are truly joyous and not marred by odorous waste and dirty neighbourhoods.

Full privatisation is the best way forward for Biman September 30 Still not convinced of the best route forward.

But I do know Biman before and after its new MD took over is like night and day. So, much credit to the new management.

Biman Flyer How do you privatise a state-owned enterprise like Biman, when the entire workforce stands solidly against it? A number of efforts have been made in the past under different governments? Every time, the Biman management/ government has been forced to back out under violent opposition from the workforce! Even the floating of 49% shares in the market has been objected to! :( WaliulHaqueKhondker

Pass blasphemy law: Shafi October 4

Allah says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 256] So the Qur’an is wrong when it says that there must be no compulsion in Islam, or is threat of death not considered “compulsion” by these people? chairman bill

Permanence breeds confidence

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Women turning to earthworms for self-reliance

Rezaul Haque Loving the (assuming free) healthcare for the marginalised.

I did a little digging. It turns out the reason girls weren’t explicitly mentioned was because there are already government projects to promote the education of children in Bangladesh, including free education for girls up to grade 10. Cool.

September 30

Some people try to stay away from worms and some have to hunt them for their livelihood!

Nazmul Khair

Overturn death sentence of SQ Chy: Amnesty October 2

What a pathetic argument from this organisation. Really feel sorry for them. Why not focus on the Aduri issue which is more justifiable?

Shamim Hasan

Be Heard Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath

The ghost of Felani September 30 Malcolm Arnold Very graphic way to show off this young lady. Not needed. What about thinking about her family?

Havoc Dark Eschewing portraying the viciousness of the violence and atrocity in the name of moderation is serving injustice in itself. Her family is seeking justice; public and global acknowledgement of the crime will further their cause. This is not just another killing to chalk up in the wall, and the visceral picture is the only way to drive that realisation home.

Malcolm Arnold I understand how they think and I see this many times in Bangladesh. All that can be done to bring this young lady’s/young girl’s murder, the better, so in this case I agree with you.

Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Writ seeks HC stay order on Rampal project September 30

It’s a bad project for our Bangladesh. We lost our Sundarbans and want it back now.

Nasrin Sultanna

CALVIN AND HOBBES

he government’s indecision about whether to install a permanent pay commission or carry on with an ad hoc mechanism for increasing wages, as and when required, signals its inability to appreciate the difference between proactive, institutionalised decision-making and one based on reactive, short-term priorities.

A permanent pay commission would develop institutional memory and competent human reA permanent pay sources capable of dealing commission will be with wage adjustments on insulated against the a regular basis, allowing effects of electionthem to determine trends time political and requirements long manoeuvring before inflation outstrips the worth of earnings. It will also allow adjustments to be made incrementally rather than in large chunks every so many years.

A permanent pay commission will also establish an autonomous government body that can determine the best course forward without having to rely on complaints about the “dearness” of living costs, and is a better way to incentivise public sector employees who will feel assured knowing that there is a dedicated government organ dealing with their economic interests and well being.

But perhaps more crucially, a permanent pay commission will be insulated against the effects of election-time political manoeuvring, as their functions and recommendations will be part of their routine assessments and not subject to an incumbent government’s need to win over voters by increasing their wages.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

ACROSS 1 Fortress (6) 5 Rodent (3) 7 Anger (3) 8 Sea nymphs (6) 11 Play on words (3) 12 Raised platform (5) 14 Quick (4) 16 Work into a fabric (5) 18 Fully sufficient (5) 20 Agitate (4) 21 Respond (5) 23 Golfing aid (3) 24 Awakened (6) 27 In favour of (3) 28 Colour (3) 29 Insect (6)

BNP drafts election manifesto

DOWN 1 Long-leaved lettuce (3) 2 Knight’s title (3) 3 Table support (7) 4 Fasting period (4) 5 Iterate (6) 6 Offer (6) 9 Muslim leader (4) 10 Tool (3) 13 Expressive motion (7) 14 Waver (6) 15 Overlay (6) 17 Climbing plant (4) 19 Corn spike (3) 22 Deal with successfully (4) 25 Drunkard (3) 26 Female deer (3)

How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Code-Cracker

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In pursuit of American humility n Iam Bremmer

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his week, as Washington navel-gazed its way into a shutdown, its actions didn’t go unnoticed abroad. In Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, took the opportunity to gloat about the US’s refusal to pay its federal workers, many of whom are on furlough because of the shutdown.

“We are now witnessing the crisis in the US. We have never been a government that could not pay its personnel,” Erdogan said.

Afghans find glory and a reason to smile through sports

AFP

From smoking Kalashnikovs to sporting glory

In Afghanistan, from the ashes of war rise stars in football and cricket good sums. ment the team showed that they were against Nepal, Bangladesh looked like n Towheed Feroze Money is naturally important for a class apart from the rest. sleep-deprived players running as if

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here is widespread corruption, bombs are being detonated at public places, society is deeply polarised between the liberal and the profoundly conservative while centuries of history proves conclusively that no external power has managed to achieve much in these hard terrains dominated by harder men.

In fact, several mighty armies of imperial powers had to retreat under humiliating circumstances. We talk of course about Afghanistan – a paradox in her own right. A complex amalgamation of contrasting situations never falling within any defining template!

Beyond the smoke of the Kalashnikov rifle, this is a land where defiance has always been a potent force.

It’s through this trait that the country has survived so many upheavals.

And now, from the ashes of war rises sporting glory bot h in football and cricket.

Also, both triumphs have happened within a span of one month.

Time to sit and take notice of something that does not smell of gun powder! In football, Afghans ended the Indian domination of the region, brushing past the undisputed kings for over a decade to carve out a new power.

This is the beginning of the Afghan move forward, one footballer of the winning team is said to have remarked after the SAFF triumph. Football fans need to take that casual remark laced with optimism with due seriousness because all throughout the tourna-

Strong, robust, fast and furious, the gladiators on the field were no less ferocious than their gun-wielding brothers for whom capitulating comes only after death.

The team may have several German- based players but surprisingly, for a war-torn country, Afghanistan has a solid sport strategy which involves having local coaches trained by the English Football Federation.

A domestic league has also begun and while it does not see the showering of money like the way it’s done in Bangladesh, there is no dearth of passion or dedication.

a professional player but maybe in all the lust for higher wages, there is a small place for patriotism! In post SAFF-blues we ask – did we play for the flag?

In cricket too, the Afghans have qualified for the World Cup, beating Kenya by seven wickets – a feat which can be deemed a superb achievement because the country is mired in a variety of problems.

Corruption is so rife that Norway, a development partner, has declared reduction of their aid from 750 million Krone to 700 million Krone. Yet, it seems, sport is on the right track.

The war-ravaged state is facing all the problems that we have and much more, yet they are managing to guide sports in the right direction We find it a matter of ignominy that here in Bangladesh, the national team’s despicable performance in the SAFF is being linked to the lack of commitment by some key players, whereas almost all the other nations gave their best to bring home a respectable result.

The allegation that was raised behind the lackluster show by some Bangladeshi players is that since they signed contracts with clubs for meaty amounts, some played “safe” without taking any risk.

Juxtapose this with the never say die attitude of some Afghan players who also play in German clubs for

Won’t be surprising at all if, by 2022, Afghanistan becomes an Asian football powerhouse! As we marvel at two back to back success stories, the state of our football, impenetrable due to the fog of ambiguity, appears to be leading nowhere.

As clubs pour money on players, the national team is a butt of all jokes.

The much-vaunted Dutch approach has sunk though two months were allotted for SAFF preparation.

This writer is not a football expert but he believes, in sixty days, a rag tag unit can be turned into a formidable fighting force. While a lot of noise was created about fitness, in the first game

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with iron bars tied to their feet.

The Himalayan nation completely outclassed us and this after such a “comprehensive” training.

Go back in time, Bangladesh have done far better with only seven days training. No, really! Just to refresh your memory, Bangladesh won the first President Football Cup in 1990 without any major coach.

The senior players decided how to go about each game which saw the team beat South Korea University eleven.

Bangladesh football top bosses were effusive in their praise for the Dutch coaches in the beginning though we now see that their attainment is zero.

Shockingly, even after such humbling experiences, some cling on brazenly to the vision of playing in the 2022 World Cup. Perhaps, lessons from Afghanistan are necessary here.

The war ravaged state is facing all the problems that we have and much more, yet they are managing to guide sports in the right direction.

Maybe these two accolades will inspire many to give the Kalashnikov a little rest to pick up either the boots or the cricket bat.

That radical spirit directed in sports can bring grand results – if the Afghans realise this, soon there will be drones sent by foreign countries not to seek insurgents but to spy on sport tactics. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Whether it’s botched Hurricane Katrina relief efforts or a disregarded redline on Syrian chemical weapons use, the discrepancy between America’s words and deeds opens it up to criticism from abroad

This is how America’s dysfunction at home is undermining its credibility abroad. The latest development: Obama’s desire to maintain laser focus on the Republicans for political gain has prompted him to cancel a pivotal trip to Asia to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. But it’s not just the shutdown: It is a series of issues over the past decade, chief among them the financial crisis. For decades the US had been espousing the virtues of free market capitalism, urging other countries to adopt the model. America’s exceptional economic success, the thinking went, allowed it to give advice about how other countries should build their own economies.

And then the bottom fell out. The crisis, spurred by lax regulations that were manipulated by the big banks, started in the United States, before its impact spread globally. An unemployment and debt crisis soon followed. So did a rush to rethink the way countries handle their economies.

With the free-market system no longer sacrosanct, countries with other approaches were happy to second-guess the system. China’s state capitalist model became a viable alternative as it navigated the financial crisis much better than most. I’ll never forget my meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei in 2009, when he asked me outright, “Now that the free market has failed, what do you think is the proper role for the state in the economy?” The financial crisis was an opportunity to reopen the debate surrounding perceived global values – and to kick the US system while it was down.

That’s a case study that points to America’s larger problem. All too often, America has been leading by rhetoric rather than example. In a G-Zero world – what President Obama described as a “vacuum of leadership” in his UN General Assembly speech – strong words do not qualify as leadership. It’s only credible when you call for reforms or actions that you actually

stand behind – and reflect them in your domestic policy.

Whether it’s botched Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, a failure to close Guantanamo, or a disregarded redline on Syrian chemical weapons use, the discrepancy between America’s words and deeds opens it up to criticism from abroad. It’s hard enough to defend dysfunctional domestic policies – but when you are projecting those values on to the rest of the world, any mistake is that much more glaring.

On these leadership metrics, Barack Obama has proved to be better in theory than in practice. He certainly can give a stirring speech, but contradictions between the United States’ promoted values and its actions have undercut Obama’s leverage in diplomatic negotiations. Just ask Xi Jinping, whose meeting with Obama was neutered by Edward Snowden’s NSA revelations. I wrote a Reuters column back in June explaining the drawbacks of American exceptionalism – and how the Snowden affair was undermining any progress on cyber policy with the Chinese. Even if NSA surveillance and China’s cyberattacks on American intellectual property are apples and oranges, the Snowden affair makes for an easy pretext for China to bury the issue.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding American exceptionalism, from Vladimir Putin arguing against the concept in his New York Times op-ed, to Obama strongly reasserting it in his UN speech. But exceptionalism is dangerous and counterproductive when America’s missteps make it an exception to the

As a shutdown leaves the US government unable to perform its most basic functions, how can it presume to weigh in on what a political system should look like? very rules it champions. Obama was correct in identifying the “vacuum of leadership” in the international system. He could have been more honest about the vacuum here at home. It’s one thing when a student dozes off in class – it’s entirely different if the teacher scolds the student, only to nap right after. As a shutdown leaves the US government unable to perform its most basic functions, how can it presume to weigh in on what a political system should look like?

To be exceptional, the United States need not be the global policeman, nor an indispensable nation. What it needs is a leader who can clearly outline the principles that the administration and the country stand for, uphold them whenever possible, and take ownership of any failures to do so with honest accountability. Recently, America has fallen far short of that mark, and its exceptionalist rhetoric leaves the bar as high as possible. A little humility wouldn’t hurt. l Ian Bremmer is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.

The right to education vs the draft Education Law 2013 n Khandaker Lutful Khaled

A

nation’s position and fundamental philosophy around education reflects through its education policy. In Bangladesh, a long-awaited education policy, believed to be inclusive, prop-poor and accepted by all, was declared in 2010.

That was a huge step towards realising the right to education for all. Article 17 of our national constitution mentions free and compulsory education. It articulates that the “State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of (a) establishing an uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law and (b) relating education to the needs of society and developing properly trained and motivated citizens to serve those needs; removing illiteracy within such time as may be determined by law.”

Education policy and legislation

Since the declaration of the education policy in 2010, the nation were expecting a fresh legislation will also be in place according to the new education policy, which would basically aim to implement the policy promises and provide a system of rules to be passed

by the government obeyed by all. Keeping this hope alive, a twenty-member education law drafting committee was formed by the government on March 16, 2011. On June 1, 2012, a nine-member working committee was declared to prepare the draft of the law. Thanks to these two committees, the draft law was prepared and posted on the Ministry of Education website on August 5, 2013, with the aim to collect feedback from the educationists, experts, academia, education rights activists and all concerned. However, the main criticism of the proposed Education Law 2013 is that it is not satisfactorily inclined to protect the right to education of the people.

Citizen’s right to education is at stake

The Bangladesh constitution doesn’t yet recognise education as a “fundamental human right.” Hence, the state and its government are not obligated to protect and fulfil the right to education of citizens. Article 5 (1) on page 4 of the draft law mentions that primary education will be recognised as a child’s right. However, terming primary education as a child’s right doesn’t actually pledge that the state will be accountable for the fulfilment of the education rights of all children. Therefore, the law needs to clearly define

the right to free and compulsory education where there will be no charges, direct or indirect, for pre-primary and primary education. Education must gradually be made free at all levels. In

Traditionally, citizens have very limited or no voice and participation in the assessment process of local schools fact, declaring an education law is not sufficient unless it is accompanied by an amendment of the constitution, where education is recognised as a fundamental human right.

The draft Education Law 2013 ought to mention the measures to be taken to ensure children’s, particularly girls’, safety en route to and in school. The act has to clearly define the confidential systems for reporting and addressing any form of abuse or violence against girls.

The proposed law doesn’t clearly define the duties, responsibilities and obligations of the government, local government, school authorities, parents, learners, teachers, and communities. Education acts of most of the neighbouring countries have categori-

cally articulated the duties, responsibilities and obligations of different parties.

For example, it is well-defined in the Indian and Vietnamese education acts.

The draft law needs to spell out one dedicated article about child’s right to adequate school infrastructure where there will be an appropriate number of classrooms, accessible to all, with adequate and separate sanitation facilities for girls and boys.

The draft law hasn’t clearly defined the role of the state in providing mid-day school meal although a need for state-provided midday cooked meals is high on the agenda due to the fact that it is nutritious, culturally appropriate and meets the hunger of the children.

The draft education law needs to explain the scope for citizen participation in local education and should mention the mechanisms of how schools as social institutions will be accountable to people. Traditionally, citizens have very limited or no voice and participation in the assessment process of local schools.

At present citizens have limited access to information on school performance, budget, and expenditure.

Therefore, aligned with the right to information act, the draft education law should define from which sources

citizens will get educational information, statistics and data.

The draft law must demystify the nature of decentralisation of education and should also elaborate the roles and responsibilities of local government in education. This is due to the fact that historically one of the fatal mistakes of our education system is the lack of involvement of the local government.

The draft law must uphold the value of public education and deject commercialisation and privatisation of education and any step undermining the role, and accountability of the state in fulfilling and protecting rights to education. The law must keep provision for penalising any commercial agreements that consider education, research, and other social services as tradable items.

The draft education law hasn’t spoken about teachers’ union rights to give the teaching professionals the opportunity to exercise collective bargaining, addressing the conditions of service and pay for the teaching staff, and of course to devise movements for quality public education.

Conclusion

The proposed education law 2013 doesn’t fairly uphold the value of

democracy as it doesn’t allow the citizens to take any legal step if the law is not obeyed and allows only the government parties to do so.

This clearly manifests a totalitarian mind-set of the government where no particular clause is specified for the citizens so that they, in case of the violation of their education right, can take legal steps against the education service providers, eg the school authority and education administration.

Therefore, the draft education law 2013 requires to articulate specific clauses to particularly support the parents of those children who suffer discrimination in receiving quality public education.

As long as the state’s education legislation is concerned, civil societies need to bravely challenge the discriminatory articles and clauses within the proposed law to hold the government accountable to deliver on people’s rights to quality education.

Khandaker Lutful Khaled (lutful.khaled@ actionaid.org) is Manager- Education Programme, Policy and Campaign, ActionAid Bangladesh.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, October 7, 2013

Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini hits the cinemas on Eid Audio album released on October 5 make-up, dialogues to set design and n Afrose Jahan Chaity storyline to canvas everything is poles This Eid, Dhallywood gears up for a new blast for movie-lovers with the release of “Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini” where two of the most demanding actors of the showbiz Jaya Ahsan and “King of Dhallywood” Shakib Khan, will be seen romancing for the very first time. The audience is keen to see the chemistry of the sizzling stars.

The songs of the movie released on October 5. Munni, Chandan Sinha,

apart. When I decided to work between all these, I had to compromise in many cases. I felt like an alien for quite a long time,” shares the diva with Dhaka Tribune.

She adds: “I learned to be loud as everyone else delivers their dialogues in that manner. And those dialogues were not that regular. I felt, it’s a modern and more modified version of our folk theatres.”

Nancy, Tasif and music director Shoukat Ali Imon and lyricist Kabir Bakul was present at the inaugural ceremony of the music release. Jaya Ahsan and Diti was also present at the programme.

Through this movie Jaya is heading towards a new innings of her career since it is her “debut” in the archetypal commercial film.

“Dhallywood is really very different from small screen. From costume to

However, the National Film Award 2011 winner actress says: “We, the actors always criticise our film industry without getting involved with it. I decided to go for it just to give a try and give my inputs as well to some extent.

While shooting for the film, I was more into natural acting and I had to adopt some qualities and make adjustments.

Basically, I have done an experiment and I am very hopeful about my film.”

Directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi, the story, screenplay and dialogues are by Rumman Rashid Khan. Kabir Bakul has written the lyrics and Shouquat Ali Imon is the music director. The star -studded big budget film is produced

by Frindz Movies International and will release at seventy cinemas approximately.

Razzak, Diti, Arifin Shuvo and Mimo have also acted in the film.

According to the director Shafi Uddin Shafi, Dhallywood may get a new chemistry in terms of box office hits after the release of “Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini.”

“The romantic movie will feature some quality songs in fantastic locations, such as Malaysia and Bangladesh. I hope the audience will really love those scenarios,” said Shafi. “I have done a lot of hard work for all my films. I believe my effort will receive the same response as my previous films did.”

Rumman Rashid Khan, writer of the film, shares: “The story is about the bond of love between family members, other social relationships and responsibilities. It also has the element of a love triangle. The story is really very different and I hope that movie-lovers will be keen on watching this film.”

The film is about a man (Shakib) who is engaged to his cousin (Mimo). But, he promises his grandfather that he would not tie the knot before he finds his missing aunt and uncle. In search of his missing relatives, he goes to Malaysia, where he meets a girl (Jaya) who is a UN employee. They become familiar with each other and Jaya helps Shakib find his aunt.

Shakib, in return for her companionship and help falls for Jaya. To avoid him, Jaya gets involved with another man (Arefin Shuvo). In this situation, the climax of the film comes down between responsibility towards family, relatives and love affairs. l

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy staged Munier Chowdhury’s landmark play Raktakto Prantor in traditional Jatrapala style at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Academy on October 4 SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

Ariff ’s works highlight social unrest n Afrose Jahan Chaity

A grand boat race, traditionally known as Nouka Baich, was held on October 5 in Meghna River, near the Syed Nazrul Islam bridge at Bhairab. Thousands of spectators from all segments of society gathered to enjoy the race. Sponsored by Banglalink, this was the fourth installment of the company’s continued endeavor to support and promote boat racing, a symbol of our rich culture and heritage.

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Dhamrai Metal Craft Brass and bronze sculpture exhibition EMK Centre, Dhanmondi 27 I am Gautam Chakraborty Time: 1:00am – 7:30pm Galleri Kaya, Sector 04, Uttara

Invitation to the Dance Carel Richter Time: 12 - 8pm Bengal Art Lounge Gulshan

Dance

Dhaka Amar Dhaka Driti Nartanalay Time: 7pm National Theatre Hall

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Film

Diana Red 2 R.I.P.D (3D) Nishwartha Bhalobasa Udhao Star Cineplex Bashundhara City

A dazzling solo painting exhibition by artist A Ariff Shaheen began at La Galerie at the Alliance Francaise De Dhaka on October 1 and will continue till October 12. This is the fourth solo painting exhibition of the artist titled “Uncertainty 4.”

A total of 40 paintings are displayed on the walls of La Galerie, AFD for the duration of the exhibition and include 21 watercolor paintings, 12 oil paintings, four acrylic and three oil pastel drawings.

The artist tried to express the uncertainties faced by people everyday at every sphere of life. This exhibition is an attempt to give a fresh perspective to his creative talents.

In his estimation, family, civil society, even the entire state mechanism, all appear to be plunged into deep uncertainties. Ariff believes that the whole nation is experiencing widespread terrorism, corruption, nepotism and so on.

However, there is no remarkable initiative to overcome the crisis, he observes.

He realises that within the open prison of the so-called democracy, military or hereditary dictatorship, our mask of humanism is gradually exposed to the real form of beastliness.

Olivier Litvine, director of AFD, formally inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. He was accompanied by eminent artist and Professor Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Faculty

ON TV

Besharam disappoints audience

6:30pm Zee Studio

n Entertainment Desk

6:36pm HBO

Ranbir Kapoor’s Besharam is finally out in the theatres but hasn’t got much positive response from the critics. Most of them have lambasted the movie and said that there is no chemistry between the lead pair, it has too many songs which disrupt the continuity, and some have even described the movie as vulgar and crass.

The film is also getting negative response from the public on social media sites. Even though the movie has earned a respectable 40 crore at the box-office in four days, the future seems bleak and it is going to be tough for it to break the record of “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,” which is Ranbir’s biggest earner till date. Though Ranbir Kapoor has given a good performance, the content and storyline of “Besharam” has proved to be the deal breaker.

Directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap, the film also stars Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Pallavi Sharda in important roles. It’s a big disappointment for the makers of “Besharam” because it was seen as a sure shot hit at the box-office prior to its release.

However, the film still has some days to regain the lost momentum. l

MOVIE

of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Praising the artworks, Mr Samarjit Roy mentioned the skillful use of different mediums by artist A Ariff Shaheen. His illustration of beautiful

A visitor explores the exhibition cactus flowers with spikes may explain the co-existence of good and evil in society, which perhaps infuses uncertainty, he added.

The exhibition is open to all from Monday to Thursday from 3pm to 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 9pm. l

Jiah Khan may have been killed

Real Steel

Minority Report

DRAMA 10:00pm Star Plus

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hain

10:30pm Colors Uttaran

COMEDY 6:00pm Colors

Comedy Nights With Kapil

9:00pm Comedy Central Whitney

MISC 5:30pm Vh1 Rock Rules

8:30pm TLC

Nigella Feasts

n Entertainment Desk Nearly four months after actress Jiah Khan allegedly committed suicide, her mother has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court alleging that she was murdered and demanded a CBI probe into the death. The petition, filed on October 1, is expected to come up for hearing before a single-judge bench

next week.

Rabia Amin has alleged that it has come to light that her daughter may have been killed and made to look as if she committed suicide. To support her argument, Rabia has annexed to the petition an independent forensic expert’s report which indicates the case to be homicidal death rather than suicide. Alleging shoddy investigations by police to help Jiah’s boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi, the petition demands a CBI probe into the murder.

The petitioner said that she had strong reasons to suspect that the probe was carried out by police in a manner which made the death look like a suicide. She claimed that Sooraj, son of actor Aditya Pancholi, and the family had used their clout to “manage” the police.

The petition alleges that Jiah may have been hanged after being killed.

It says that a person who commits suicide would have his or her eyes popping and tongue protruding out, while in the case of Jiah it was not so. Also, in such cases lung or brain hemorrhage is generally noticed, but this was not observed.

The petition says besides ligature marks that occur in death due to hanging, there were injury marks on Jiah’s face and body. l

Did you know?

John Terry made his 400th English league appearance (394th in the Premier League) yesterday. He has scored more PL goals (33) than any other defender (David

Sport

Monday, October 7, 2013

14 Roma stun Inter to boost title claim

14 High-flying Atletico, Barca make it eight

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Former England paceman Harmison retires

Djokovic thumps Nadal for fourth China Open crown n Reuters

Novak Djokovic of Serbia (R) and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose with their trophies after their men’s singles finals at the China Open in Beijing yesterday

Gazi prepared for another battle n Minhaz Uddin Khan Sohag Gazi got hit for a six by Chris Gayle in his first delivery in international cricket last November, but the determination that he staged to come back and win every battle in the series against the destructive West Indian made the 22-year-old an off-spinner Bangladesh were longing for a long time.

The off-spinner is set and excited to face another challenge in the upcoming home series against New Zealand and this time it will be another hard-hitter of the ball - Brendon McCullum.

“I didn’t plan anything with Gayle.

The only thing I tried is to put the ball on my area and which will be the same even in the first Test against New Zealand,”

said Sohag to the media at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

“I have seen video clips of McCullum and others and tried to find out their weaknesses. Don’t have any particular aim against him (McCullum) as because I don’t plan and go out to play. I intend to read the batsman once the game starts and then bowl to them,” explained the Barisal lad.

Since his debut he has bagged 26 wickets in six Tests. However, the first Test against the visitors from October 9 at ZACS will be the first game for Sohag in the port-city. Senior spinners of the team Abdur Razzak and Shakib al Hasan are helping Sohag with their experience, he informed.

“Both Razzak and Shakib bhai are

experienced and have been playing for a long time with the national team. I had discussion with them and they advised me well. We spinners look forward to deliver on the right areas and the right channel and the rest, we will see in the game,” said Sohag.

Bangladesh and New Zealand played nine Tests between them and with eight wins and a draw the Kiwis are yet to be defeated by the Tigers. Putting the statistics aside Sohag rates the hosts as the favorites.

“We are playing in our condition.

I believe we don’t have any kind of pressure on us except for that we won the ODI series against them at home three years ago. Hopefully, we will do the same this time too,” said Sohag. l

Siddikur finishes 3rd Back in top-10 of Asian Tour Order of Merit

BTI Golf tees off today

n Fazley Rabbi Moon

n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman enjoyed his equal-best result on the Asian Tour this season with a joint third placed finish after battling to a five-over-par 77 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters while Australia’s Scott Hend overcame a treacherous conditions posting 74 to win the $600,000 event at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club yesterday.

In a general view Siddikur’s 77 seems like a very bad score, but facing with the onslaught of Typhoon Fitow, where torrential rain and gusty winds up to 55mph posed the greatest threat, no one, but Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant (71) was able to card under or equal the par-score in the final round.

The 2010 Brunei Open winner started the day brilliantly with two birdies in opening five holes, but the disas-

trous condition forced him to make seven woeful bogeys in the remaining holes to make his four-day total of 291 to hold the overnight position.

The score was just enough for the 29-year-old to keep him on the hunt to climb to ninth in the Asian Tour Order of Merit while he earned $36,000 from the richest Asian Tour event staged in Chinese Taipei this season.

The Bangladeshi was delighted to claim his place at the lucrative CIMB Classic with his result which was last qualifying event for players to break into the top-10 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“It was a great week especially playing under such tough conditions. I’m not disappointed even though I didn’t played that well today. Only Thaworn broke par today and that says a lot about the conditions out there,” said Siddikur. l

BTI and BPGA officials at the presser of the BTI Golf yesterday

COURTESY

The four day BTI International Golf Championship begins at the Kurmitola Golf Club today.

Siddikur Rahman, the preeminent golfer of the country and the reigning champion, will not participate as he is currently playing in Chinese Taipei.

Shakhawat Hossian Sohel, Jamal Hossian Mollah and Dulal Hossain, the other renowned names on the local golfing circuit, will play along with a number of foreign golfers - including ace Nepalese Sanjay Lama.

The total prize money at the tournament is Tk3m. At a press conference at the BTI Celebration Point yesterday, BTI managing director F.R. Khan said that he hoped the tournament would help the game to develop in the country.

“Bangladesh is making a mark internationally in the field of sports. In keeping pace with these changes and in promoting our sportsmen, this tournament aims to broaden the horizon of golf in our country and to further distinguish ourselves on an international platform,” he said.

Executive Director of BTI Ashique Un Nabi, president of BPGA Arshi Haider, BPGA officials Gen Salim Akhtar (retd.), Brig Gen Abidur Reza Khan (retd), and Col Sarder Hassan Kabir (retd.), CEO of Kurmitola Golf Club were also present on the occasion. l

AFP

Supreme Court gives BCB election green light n Raihan Mahmood The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court rejected an appeal to withhold the election of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday.

A number of cricket organisers lodged a writ to withhold the election scheduled for October 10, but the five-member full bench of Chief Justice Md. Mozammel Hossain rejected the appeal after the hearing. Attorney General Mahbub-eAlam was the solicitor of National Sports Council and deputy attorney general Ekramul Haque assisted him. Barrister Amir-ul-Islam was the solicitor for the plaintiffs. The deputy attorney general said as the court has rejected the writ, there were no further obstacles in holding the election as scheduled. The court, however, accepted former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury’s appeal to be a part of the writ petitioners. l

Novak Djokovic won his fourth China Open title in five years on Sunday, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in the final against Rafael Nadal who will replace him as the men’s world number one on Monday.

The Serb continued his love affair in Beijing, improving his tournament record to 19-0 after brushing aside Nadal to halt his run of three defeats against the Spaniard.

Nadal had to reach the final in the tournament to displace Djokovic from the top ranking and the issue was put to rest on Saturday when Tomas Berdych retired with a back injury in his semifinal against the Spaniard.

“I needed this win today,” Djokovic told reporters. “I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal, who has been the best player so far in 2013. “It’s very important for my confidence. It’s very important mentally and emotionally for me.”

The 26-year-old Djokovic stamped his authority on the title match early, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowing the Spaniard, who went into the match unbeaten on hard courts this year, to stage a comeback.

The Serb broke Nadal, who has won 10 tournaments and added over $10 million in prize money in 2013, in the first game of the second set - hitting winners almost at will. Since winning the Monte-

Carlo Masters in April against Nadal, Djokovic had lost to the left-handed Spaniard in the French Open semi-finals, the Rogers Cup semi-finals and the final of the U.S. Open.

“I managed to stay tough and not drop my concentration, which I think (happened) in both Montreal and at the U.S. Open in the important moments,” Djokovic said.

“I learned my lesson. It was a few very tough and close matches that I lost against Rafa on hard courts, especially the last one in the U.S. Open final.”

Such was Djokovic’s domination that the 27-year-old Nadal, who boosted his grand slam singles tally to 13 this year by winning the French and U.S. Opens, failed to create a single break point opportunity in the whole match.

“I didn’t see the way to stop him this afternoon,” Nadal said. “This afternoon he was too strong for me. I didn’t play my best match, but he played at a very high level with his serve.

“I was not able to have any chance when I was returning during the whole match. He had the ball staying very low.

It was very difficult to create spin on this ball. “He was able to hit all the balls where he wanted. When that’s happening against a player like Novak, you are dead. You don’t have not one chance.”

Djokovic also won the China Open in 2009, 2010 and 2012, while missing out in 2011 through injury. l

Dream comes true: Akram n Mazhar Uddin Former chief selector and the former captain of Bangladesh Akram Khan is set to become a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and yesterday at the MA Aziz Stadium he informed the media that it was a dream come true.

Akram, who is presently the acting manager of the national team as was requested by the BCB, talked about his future plans.

He and Ajom Nasir have submitted nominations from Chittagong and Akram is likely to take his director post unopposed.

“It’s a dream come true. Whatever I do will be assessed after four years.

I have a lot of planning and I need everyone’s help to help Bangladesh cricket develop.

“There is lot of expectation on me and everyone has given me support.

Being a cricketer, captain or the chief selector was tough, but it is more challenging to be a director and at the same time, it’s a big responsibility,” said Akram.

Part of Akram’s agenda will be to find high quality players and prepare them for international cricket.“Tamim, Shakib, Mahmudullah have already played international cricket for seveneight years and if they can maintain their fitness, they can play another five to six years but after them, we don’t have these type of cricketers on our team and I have the thought about this. If we work according in the right way, we will surely get more cricketers like them,” he said.

The former chief selector also talked about a plan to bring indigenous girls to cricket with the hope that if the game can bring such youngsters fame, more women would be interested in playing the game. l

Mahfujur Rahman Tushar, (2R), the F4 driver of the country reveals his helmet during a press conference yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Shah Cement sponsors Tushar n Raihan Mahmood

Mahfujur Rahman Tushar, the first and only Formula 4 driver from Bangladesh, finally found a sponsor to support him in his sporting endeavors.

The F4 driver, who has been competing on the F4 circuit in India for one and half years while supporting himself, will be sponsored by Shah Cement in upcoming events. Tushar is scheduled to take part in the 16th JK Tyre Racing Championship in Delhi on November 27 and his helmet and the single seat open wheel car will brandish the words- “Shah Cement”. The cement

company revealed the sponsorship deal at a press conference at the BOA auditorium yesterday.

Tushar, who won the Go-Kart championship in the country and is also a diploma holder of car engine maintenance, was looking forward to improve.

“In the race track, the only motto is ‘go ahead’. I will try my best to leap forward and reaching the F1 is my ultimate goal. I thank Shah Cement for stepping forward as my sponsors,” he said.

Ahsan Jewel, the senior brand officer of Shah Cement, said promoting the youth of the country is one of the prime objectives of their company. “We assist-

ed first Bangladeshi Everest conqueror Musa Ibrahim and now we have stood beside Tushar and believe he will open a new horizon. We will be beside Tushar in the upcoming days,” said Jewel.

BOA deputy secretary general Ashikur Rahman Miku said as there are no practice facilities for Tushar in the country, BOA may take initiatives to assist him in the matter.

Tushar said that in the F4 category, the highest speed is 200 and the engine is 1300 CC Maruti. Avalanche Racing is his team and he finished 11th among 22 participants in the last edition held in Chennai. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, October 7, 2013

High-flying Atletico, Barca make it eight

Pep delighted as Bayern go top, eye 30-year record n AFP, Berlin

Pep Guardiola was delighted as Bayern Munich went top in the Bundesliga with a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen, a result which also nudged them closer to breaking a 30-year record.

“Congratulations to my players, we’re first in the table and I’m very, very proud of our performance,” said coach Guardiola as Bayern top the German league for the first time since he took charge in June.

“We gave everything and played very well. Nevertheless, we didn’t win, despite having 27 shots on goal – that’s

Costa, Sanchez hit doubles, Ronaldo rides to the rescue for Real Results n AFP, Madrid Diego Costa made up for the disappointment of his non-inclusion in the Spain squad by scoring twice as Atletico Madrid made it eight wins from eight league games with a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo yesterday.

However, Barcelona also continued their storming start to La Liga as they came from behind to beat Valladolid 4-1 and register an eighth win as well in eight games while Real Madrid remain five points behind but needed two injury time goals from Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo to win 3-2 away to Levante on Saturday.

Costa, the Brazilian-born striker was not included in Vicente del Bosque’s squad on Friday as the paperwork that will make him eligible for the world champions was not completed in time.

In the Saturday’s matches, Barca were without World Player of the Year Lionel Messi due to a thigh injury, but his absence wasn’t noticed thanks to another fanstastic performance by Neymar.

Javi Guerra had headed Valladolid into a shock 10th minute lead, but Alexis Sanchez responded with a stunning strike just four minutes later to level.

Neymar then took over as he fed Cristian Tello, who in turn cut the ball back for Xavi to make it 2-1 just after the break.

The Brazilian was involved again in the third goal as he released Sanchez to slot home his second of the evening 25 minutes from time.

Real also had to come from behind, but were made to work far harder for the three points as they salvaged their falter-

No rivalry with Sturridge, says Suarez n

AFP, London

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez says that he and strike partner Daniel Sturridge are not interested in out-scoring each other and are just dedicated to helping the team.

Both players found the net in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League, meaning they have now scored five goals in the two games since Suarez returned from a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

“We compete for the shirt of Liverpool and we try our best for the team, not for me or him,” Suarez told the club’s in-house television channel, LFC TV. “When you have one big striker and a very good player in Daniel, I am so happy. He tries his best for the team and tries his best to play with me.”

Suarez added: “Last season we didn’t play very well and we finished in a bad position and this season we’ll try to be better. l

Elche

2-1

Espanyol

Rayo Vallecano

1-0

Real Sociedad

Levante

2-3

Real Madrid

Corominas 40, 74 Viera 89-pen

Baba 57, El Zhar 86

Barcelona

4-1

Atletico Madrid

2-1

Sanchez 14, 64 Xavi 52 Neymar 70 Diego Costa 42, 62

Thievy 66

Ramos 61 Morata 90 Ronaldo 90+4

Result Bayer Leverkusen

Valladolid

Sam 31

Javi Guerra 10

Celta Vigo

Nolito 71

ing La Liga title hopes with two late goals at the Ciutat de Valencia.

With Carlo Ancelotti’s men trailing 2-1 entering stoppage time, Morata slotted home from close range before Ronaldo’s effort deflected in off the inside of the post with virtually the last kick of the game to hand Madrid victory.

Levante caught Madrid short at the back on the counter-attack as Jordi Xumetra’s floated cross was swept home by Baba at the back post.

The lead only lasted four minutes as Ramos outmuscled Xumetra to bundle home Angel di Maria’s corner at the back post to restore parity.

Marcelo then somehow turned Di Maria’s precise cut-back over as Madrid piled on the pressure and Ancelotti threw on young strike duo Morata and Jese Rodriguez in a bid to find a winner.

And the comeback was complete deep into added time when Ronaldo received Modric’s pass at the edge of the area and saw his left-footed strike deflect off Juanfran and into the net via the woodwork. l

Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa celebrates his second goal against Celta Vigo during their Spanish first division match at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid yesterday REUTERS

Star is born as Januzaj inspires United win n

AFP, Sunderland

Two goals from 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj inspired a second-half comeback as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

Trailing for 50 minutes to Craig Gardner’s early goal, United were facing a third consecutive league defeat, something they have not experienced since 2001, until the young Belgian struck twice in the second half. Sunderland had opted for an extra man in midfield and that, and another change of central defensive partnership for United, proved decisive in the first goal.

Januzaj’s selection was the most eyecatching of the visitors’ four changes. The teenager, who also qualifies to represent Albania, had been spared the long midweek trip to play Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine because he is not registered in

Result Sunderland Gardner 5

1-2

Man United

Januzaj 55, 61

the Champions League.

A natural number 10, he started on the left, with Nani on the right, but the fact that both players shot narrowly wide from inside the D within the first 20 minutes showed they were quite happy to come inside.

Januzaj soon made it up to the away fans. Ten minutes into the second half, he played a one-two with Evra and finished calmly just inside the left-hand post. His goal gave the visitors confidence and seemed to drain it from their hosts.

Four minutes later, Westwood had to make a good save after Robin Van Persie got on the end of a cross from Evra.

When Nani crossed from the right with the outside of his boot, O’Shea’s clearing header was weak and Januzaj volleyed it expertly into the net. With 29 minutes left, the game had been transformed. l

Bayern Munich

Kroos 29

football, but the most important thing is that we’re top of the table.”

Bayern extended their unbeaten run to 33 Bundesliga games and are closing in on Hamburg’s record of 36, set in 1983, as the Bavarians returned to the site of their last league defeat in October 2012.

In a high-tempo clash at Leverkusen’s BayArena, Germany midfielder Sidney Sam’s 31st-minute equaliser for the hosts came straight after Toni Kroos’ opening goal for Bayern.

Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno guaranteed a point for his side by denying Franck Ribery twice in as many second-half minutes, then Mario Goetze, while Thomas Mueller had a penalty appeal turned down.

“I had expected that I had a lot to do, because Bayern are an elite side,” said Leno. “For a goalkeeper, games like this are great as they are a chance to show what you can do.

“From a playing perspective, we have to acknowledge that we are still some way from Bayern.

“Despite that, I have to pay the team a huge compliment, we fought like lions and earned the point, even if it was a bit lucky.” l

Roma stun Inter to boost title claim n AFP, Milan Francesco Totti struck a brace and Alessandro Florenzi added another before half-time as Roma stunned Inter Milan 3-0 at the San Siro to keep their title dream alive on Saturday.

Roma finished the match with 10 men after defender Federico Balzaretti saw red for a second rash challenge of the game in the final 10 minutes, but by then the damage had been done.

Totti struck a sweet opening goal in the 18th minute when he drove Gervinho’s lay-off past a static Inter defence and beyond Samir Handanovic in the Inter net. Roma won a controversial penalty five minutes from half-time and Totti stepped up to double the visitors’ lead.

Florenzi, one of four scorers for Roma in last week’s 5-0 home rout of Bologna, made it 3-0 a minute before the break to virtually wrap up the points.

Roma’s seventh win in as many games means Rudi Garcia’s men have stretched their lead over Napoli and Juventus to five points ahead of their respective

matches against Livorno and AC Milan on Sunday. Although Roma remain in pole position, club captain Totti was careful not to make mention of the scudetto: “It’s been an amazing start to the season.

In the 18th minute Roma opened the scoring in style, Gervinho collecting a poor clearance and laying off for Totti to send an angled drive low through several Inter players and into the net past Handanovic.

Minutes later Inter forward Fredy Guarin rattled De Sanctis’s upright with a drive that had the ‘keeper well beaten, a

Leaders Monaco go clear

Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj (L) shoots to score against Sunderland during their English Premier League match at The Stadium of Light in Sunderland, northern England, on Saturday REUTERS

1-1

n AFP, Paris

Results

Monaco went three points clear at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday after a late Lucas Ocampos winner gave them a priceless 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne at the Louis II stadium.

Substitute Ocampos was the star for Claudio Ranieri’s Cote d’Azur outfit, when he latched onto a low cross from the right and pounced inside a crowded penalty box to shoot past Stephane Rufier with just three minutes remaining.

The win keeps Monaco unbeaten with six victories from nine matches and lifts them three points clear of Paris SaintGermain who travel to arch- rivals Marseille on Sunday. Monaco’s Italian coach Ranieri however said he had other plans for Sunday rather than watch the French ‘classico’ between Marseille and PSG. Belgian international Yannick Ferreira Carrasco gave Monaco the lead after 15 minutes with a cool finish following a 30-metre pass from James Rodriguez which put him behind the back four before the visitors equalised just inside the second half. Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier could be heard blasting his

Monaco

2-1

Saint-Etienne

Guingamp

2-0

Rennes

Lille

3-0

Ajaccio

Nantes

3-0

Evian/Thonon

Toulouse

1-0

Nice 0

Valenciennes

1-1

Ferreira-Carrasco 15 Ocampos 87 Sorbon 47, Yatabaré 70 Souare 17, Gueye 57, Kalou 70 Djordjevic 2, 34, Djilobodji 65 Ben Yedder 34 Enza Yamissi 90

Hamouna 49

Reims

Oniangue 30

players at half-time and his motivational talk initially did the trick.

Lille are fourth, just behind Marseille, after brushing aside Ajaccio 3-0, Nantes continued their fine form and edged Nice, who lost 1-0 at Toulouse, out of fifth with a 3-0 drubbing of Evian.

Rennes lost their second Brittany derby in as many weeks by losing 2-0 at Guingamp and Reims were pegged back by a late equaliser at Valenciennes in a match that finished 1-1. l

miss that could have turned the direction of the match.

Moments later Ricardo Alvarez rose high to meet a left-wing cross which forced De Sanctis to save on his goalline Roma rode a brief spell of Inter pressure and when Gervinho was fouled by Alvaro Pereira, as he ran in to the area from the right, the referee pointed to the spot amid protests from the hosts.

It was a close call, but Totti stepped up to smash the ball past the diving Handanovic to claim his second of the night.

Roma had the momentum and only a timely header from Andrea Ranocchia stopped the unmarked Miralem Pjanic from getting his head to Florenzi’s cross from the right.

A minute before the break, Inter crumbled again when Florenzi ran on to Kevin Strootman’s lay-off on the right to beat Handanovic with a powerful angled drive.

Although Roma continued to dominate, both sides created chances in a lively second half when Inter had a goal chalked off after Ranocchia was deemed to have fouled De Sanctis with a challenge which left the ball in the net. l

Pellegrini urges Hodgson to show Joe heart n AFP, Manchester

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says England coach Roy Hodgson should trust goalkeeper Joe Hart despite admitting he nearly dropped him from the side that beat Everton 3-1.

Hart had already come in for criticism this season, most notably following City’s 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City and England’s friendly win over Scotland.

But with Hodgson an interested spectator at the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini claimed that Hart had done enough to secure his starting berth for England’s forthcoming – and crucial – World Cup qualifying fixtures against Montenegro and Poland. “It was not a simple decision to pick him. It was a very difficult decision,” said Pellegrini, who was considering calling up seldom-used Romanian Costel Pantilimon for the game.

“But I think Joe needs the trust of all of us – of me, of the other players, of the fans, everyone. “He has to play two more games with England and Joe is exactly the same as all the team – he is an important character for us. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Quick Bytes

Walton-DRU cricket final today Independent TV will lock horns with Maasranga TV in the first semi-final of the Walton-DRU Cricket at the hockey stadium today before NTV contest the second semi-final against Alokito Bangladesh at the same venue. The winners of the semis will feature in the final later in the day. In the quarter-finals yesterday, Independent TV beat ATN News by 11 runs, NTV ousted GTV by 23 runs, Maasranga TV routed Boishakhi TV by 50 runs and Alokito Bangladesh beat Channel i by four wickets.

– RM

Comfortable win for U-19 Mosaddek Hossain’s 75 and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain’s three-wicket haul guided visiting Bangladesh U-19 to a huge 111 runs win in their warm-up game against the Guyana U-19 side at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda yesterday.

Bangladesh, sent in to bat first, piled up a challenging total of 242/5 in 50 overs with Mosaddek and Jasim Uddin striking fifties each. Still the highest Dhaka Premier League scorer this season, 320 runs in five matches, Mosaddek smashed 75 runs off 77 balls while Jasim remained not out on 65 from 77 balls. Najmul Hossain and Shadman Islam also contributed 43 and 33 runs respectively. In reply, Guyana stood no chance in front of a quality Bangladesh spin attack as they were bundled out for 131 runs in 44.3 overs. Jubair claimed 3-19 while Abu Sayeed took 2-19. The visiting youngsters will play their first youth ODI of the seven-match series against West Indies U-19 at the Providence on October 7.

– MU

Bangladesh Under-19 flies to Iraq Bangladesh U-19 football team flew to Iraq to play in AFC U-19 Qualifiers yesterday. Dutch goalkeeping coach Kees Kalk did not travel with the team. With Kalk’s contract with the BFF about to expire, the federation decided not to send him at the last minute. The three other Dutch coaching staff - Lodewijk de Kruif, Rene Koster and Muhammet Yamali – did fly with the team. Bangladesh have been placed in Group C and will face Iraq in the opening match tomorrow at the Francouse Al-Hareeri Stadium. The team’s other matches are against Kuwait on October 10 and against Pakistan on October 12.

– RM

Klitschko wants improvement after Povetkin win Undisputed world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has said he wants to improve despite retaining his titles with a unanimous points win over Russia’s Alexander Povetkin. The Ukrainian champion enjoyed an emphatic victory on Saturday in Moscow in his 24th world title fight, putting Povetkin on the canvas four times, three of which came in the seventh round alone. All three judges awarded the fight 119-104 in Klitschko’s favour as he retained his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts against the previously unbeaten Povetkin.

This was Klitschko’s 61st victory in his 64th professional bout, in front of a 14,000-strong crowd, having earned his first world title back in 2006.

– AFP

Olympic flame arrives in Russia ahead of Sochi Games The Olympic flame arrived in Moscow on Sunday ahead of next year’s Winter Games in Sochi that have been marred by protests over Russia’s new “gay propaganda” ban. The cherished symbol of world peace and international comradery was lit in Greece’s Ancient Olympia on September 29 and officially handed over to a Russian delegation in Athens on Saturday. The torch was flown into Moscow’s Vnukovo-3 airport -- reserved exclusively for VIPs and officials -- before being rushed to Red Square for a cauldron-lighting ceremony overseen by President Vladimir Putin.

The traditional torch relay will kick off on Monday and conclude when the cauldron is lit at Sochi’s brand new Fisht Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony for the Games on February 7.

– AFP

Day’s Watch Ten Sports 12:00pm ATP 1000 Masters 2013 LIVE Shanghai Rolex Masters Round 1 ESPN 11:00pm American League Division Series B 2013 LIVE

Sport

Monday, October 7, 2013

Arsenal held, Chelsea go third n AFP, London Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League table after an entertaining 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, while Chelsea climbed to third place.

Bidding to follow up last weekend’s shock victory at Manchester United, West Brom took a 42nd-minute lead at The Hawthorns when Claudio Yacob converted Morgan Amalfitano’s rightwing cross with a near-post header.

Former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka spurned two glorious opportunities to double the hosts’ lead, fluffing his lines from Saido Berahino’s low cross and then curling wide with only Szczesny to beat.

He was made to pay for his profligacy in the 63rd minute when Jack Wilshere met Tomas Rosicky’s lay-off with a crisp drive that took a deflection off Jonas Olsson and flashed past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

Myhill prevented Olivier Giroud from claiming a late winner, but the draw was enough to take Arsene Wenger’s side above Liverpool on goals scored, while Steve Clarke’s West Brom remain 12th.

Tottenham could have moved level on points with the leaders, but they were dealt a stunning 3-0 home defeat

by London rivals West Ham United.

After a quiet first half, Spurs appeared to be hitting their stride in the second period when Winston Reid put West Ham ahead in the 66th minute, smashing home after Kevin Nolan had inadvertently blocked his header.

1-3

Southampton

2-0

Swansea City

Tottenham

0-3

West Ham

Pilkington 68

Oscar 4, Hazard 85, Willian 86

Lallana 19, Rodriguez 83

West Brom Yacob 42

Chelsea 3

Reid 66, Vaz Te 72, Morrison 79

1-1

Arsenal

Wilshere 63

The result leaves Spurs in sixth place, three points below Arsenal and Liverpool, while West Ham leap out of the bottom three to 13th.

Earlier, Eden Hazard and close-season signing Willian came off the bench to score decisive goals as Chelsea won 3-1 at Norwich City. The visitors took a fourth-minute lead when Oscar drilled home from Demba Ba’s lay-off, but Norwich gradually took the upper hand and equalised in the 68th minute.

Martin Olsson’s deep left-wing cross was headed back across goal by Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Anthony Pilkington ghosted in behind David Luiz to glance a deft header past Petr Cech.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reacted by sending on Hazard and Willian, and it proved a masterstroke.

Hazard completed an 85th-minute counter-attack with a low shot that squirmed beneath John Ruddy to put Chelsea ahead before Willian curled home a glorious left-foot shot a minute later to claim his first goal for the club. l

Vettel one step from title after Korea win n Reuters

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel completed a hat-trick of Korean Grand Prix victories on Sunday to put himself only one week away from potentially clinching his fourth successive Formula One title.

The 26-year-old’s third successive Korean win, and eighth triumph in 14 races, left him 77 points clear of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso with five races - and a maximum 125 points -remaining.

If the German wins in Japan next weekend - as he did last year - and Alonso fails to finish in the top eight - as also happened last year - the championship will be over.

Former England paceman Stephen Harmison retires n AFP

Results Norwich City

“That was a very, very disciplined drive. Well done,” team principal Christian Horner told him over the radio after taking the chequered flag. Vettel, who now has 34 career wins, replied with his customary whoop of delight.

Alonso could manage only sixth place on an overcast afternoon that threatened rain without delivering the downpours that might have mixed up the field and given him more of a hope.

The Spaniard now has 195 points to Vettel’s 272.

“There’s still a chance for Fernando, I think,” said Vettel. “So we have to stay on top of our game. But to be honest... we’re just having a good time.

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (C) celebrates with his team mates after winning the Formula One Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam yesterday AFP

Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian(L) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Brazilian midfielder Ramires (R) during the English Premier League football match between Norwch City and Chelsea at Carrow Road in Norwich yesterday AFP

Mumbai Indians defeated Rajasthan Royals by a margin of 33 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi to be crowned as champions for the second time in the history of Champions League T20.

Chasing an improbable 203 to win, in the absence of Brad Hodge and with Shane Watson not firing on all cylinders, no one would have given a chance to the Royals’ to get past the line.

To make things worse, they lost Kushal Perera in the very first over to a run out, in a mix-up with Ajinkya Rahane. Sanju Samson, coming in at number 3, and Rahane had other ideas though. The pair put together a spectacular 109-run partnership in 11.1 overs.

As the partnership progressed, Samson looked like running out of steam after scoring 60 off 32 balls. Only 27 runs had come off the last 23 balls. The pressure was evident as Royals lost a cluster of wickets including the well-set Samson and Rahane (65 off 47). Harbhajan picked up Watson and followed up with three more wickets in his next over to successfully end any hopes of Royals chasing the total down.

With 48 required off 24 deliveries,

the eventful 17th over bowled by Harbhajan Singh saw Rahane hit a juicy fulltoss to the fielder at deep-midwicket, Binny cleaned up while attempting an wild slog across the wicket and Cooper stumped. Pollard cleaned up the tail by picking up three wickets in the penultimate over to complete the match.

Earlier in the evening, put into bat first, Mumbai Indians lost Sachin Tendulkar for 15 runs. Tendulkar, who is played his last T20 match, saw his woodwork disturbed while attempting a drive of Shane Watson. Despite the presence of Dwayne Smith in the middle, the first ten overs of the innings was sedate.

Dwayne Smith started the counterattack with a hat-trick of fours against Watson. Tambe struck back with a couple of wickets, of that of Smith (44 off 39) and Ambati Rayudu (29 off 24).

Both the batsmen were cleaned up, the former while attempting a wild slog towards midwicket and the latter while charging down to a flatter delivery.

Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers hardly gave anything away and it required something special from Mumbai Indians to turn the tide. What followed was indeed special! The fact that Kieron Pollard was not involved it made it even more extraordinary. l

Stephen Harmison, the former England paceman who has failed to make a single fist-class appearance in Durham’s title-winning year, announced his retirement on Sunday.

The 34-year-old, who took 226 Test wickets for his country, told regional newspaper Sunday Sun that he had “known for a while” that he would be calling it a day at the end of the 2013 season.

“Today I am announcing my retirement from professional cricket,” Harmison said.

“I was hoping to go out on a high in my benefit year but my body has not allowed me to, and I have not made a single first-team appearance.

“With my contract up at the end of the season, I have known for a while I would be calling it a day.”

Harmison’s retirement follows on from that of Matthew Hoggard last month, meaning all four of England’s feared pace attack from the 2005 Ashes have now called time on their careers to some extent. Simon Jones is to remain as a Twenty20 specialist, while Andrew Flintoff retired in 2010.

It was while in an England shirt and specifically while bowling with the likes of Flintoff and Hoggard that Harmison made his name.

His brilliant seven for 12 in the West Indies in 2004 marked him out as one of the most feared fast bowlers on the planet, and he carried his form through to England’s memorable win over Australia a year later. l

Overall standings Drivers 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 272.0pts, 2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 195.0, 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 167.0, 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 161.0, 5. Mark Webber (AUS) 130.0, 6. Nico Rosberg (GER) 122.0, 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 89.0, 8. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 72.0, 9. Jenson Button (GBR) 58.0, 10. Paul di Resta (GBR) 36.0, 11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 31.0, 12. Adrian Sutil (GER) 26.0, 13. Sergio Perez (MEX) 23.0, 14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 18.0, 15. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) 13.0, 16. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) 1.0

Constructors 1. Red Bull Racing 402.0pts, 2. Scuderia Ferrari 284.0, 3. Mercedes 283.0, 4. Lotus 239.0, 5.

McLaren Mercedes 81.0, 6. Force India 62.0, 7. Sauber 31.0, 8. Scuderia Toro Rosso 31.0, 9.

Williams 1.0

“I look forward to Japan because it’s one of the nicest tracks of the whole season.”

In a race that exploded into action, with two safety car periods including one bizarre moment when a fire marshals’ regular 4X4 drove on to the track and led the field before the official Mercedes pace car had been deployed, Vettel celebrated his fourth victory in a row.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen finished second, ahead of Lotus team mate Romain Grosjean, in a race running along familiar lines of Vettel domination before jolting the audience awake with a bang.

McLaren’s Mexican Sergio Perez brought out the first safety car with the explosive delamination of his front right tyre, which had worn through after hard braking, that left a strip of tread lying in the middle of the track on lap 31 of 55. l

Serena Williams celebrates with the trophy after winning her women's singles final against Jelena Jankovic at the China Open in Beijing yesterday REUTERS

Serena powers past Jankovic for 10th title of the season n Reuters

World number one Serena Williams bagged her 10th title of the year with a 6-2 6-2 thrashing of Jelena Jankovic in the final of the China Open on Sunday.

The top-seeded American broke the eighth-seeded Serb twice in the first set and three times in the second to register her 73rd win of the season.

Williams appeared in pain after serving an ace during the third game of the second set and her serve was broken for the only time in the match in that game as Jankovic went 2-1 ahead.

Harbhajan deliveries Mumbai the second CLT20 trophy n Agencies

15

But it was Jankovic who had to take a medical time out after the game due to a problem in her hip. The Serb, however, failed to win another game upon her return to the court as Williams racked up five games in a row to close out the match.

“I’m really excited. I didn’t think I’d win this tournament starting out, so I’m really happy to be here holding the trophy,” Williams, who complained of a sore back after Saturday’s semi-final, said during the presentation ceremony.

Sunday’s victory also gave the 32-yearold Williams her 56th career title. l

Del Potro wins hard-hitting Japan Open final n AFP, Tokyo

Mumbai Indians batsman Sachin Tendulkar was bowled in his final T20 appearance for 15 against Rajasthan Royals during their Champions League final in Delhi yesterday INTERNET

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro survived some fierce body blows from Milos Raonic in Sunday’s Japan Open final, winning a heavyweight clash 7-6, 7-5 to take his third title of the year.

Third seed Raonic, also runner-up last year, had proved an irresistible force at the $1.43 million Tokyo event, not dropping a single set and firing a tournamenthigh 64 aces before running into an immovable object in the shape of del Potro.

Another 17 failed to get the job done against the giant Argentinian.

Del Potro, beaten in the 2008 final by Tomas Berdych, clinched victory with a whipped forehand pass and celebrated with an ear-splitting roar of delight after a hard-hitting contest lasting an hour and 46 minutes. One lucky fan caught his sweat-soaked bandana to take home as a souvenir. “This is a fantastic win for me,” del Potro told reporters, flanked by the silver trophy engraved with some of greatest names in tennis.

“Milos serves aces all the time. You have to try to stay patient and not get frustrated. I waited really patiently for my chance in the last two games. You have to be more aggressive with players like Milos.” l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, October 7, 2013

DNA test results of Rana Plaza victims likely after Eid n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The DNA test results of the unidentified victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy will be made public after Eid-ul-Azha, sources have said.

The Combined DNA Index System (Codis) software, set up at the National DNA Profiling Laboratory of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), has already successfully traced most of the identities.

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the process of matching the DNA profiles of 321 unidentified victims against those of 550 relatives is almost complete.

However, it could not be known how many of the victims have so far been identified.

Seeking anonymity, a senior official of the women and children affairs ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that Prime Minister’s Office had given strict directive to keep the test reports confidential until it got approval from there.

Dr Sharif Akteruzzaman, chief of the DNA profiling laboratory, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is true that we have managed to identify some of the victims through DNA matching by the Codissoftware.”

However, declining to disclose any further information, he said: “We have nearly completed the matching. But some minor works are still left. Hopefully we will be able to officially reveal the results soon.”

If the DNA test results are made public, the ill-fated relatives of the unidentified victims who has been waiting for more than six months, will be able to claim monetary compensation from the government and the donor agencies.

Some 550 people, who said their relatives had been missing since the tragedy, have so far provided DNA samples.

They have not got any kind of help from any organisationbecause their relationships with the victims could be proved.

Out of the 1,115 bodies pulled from under the rubble of the collapse, 234 remained unidentified mainly because they had decomposed beyond recognition and were buried to the Jurain Graveyard in the capital.

The authorities, before burying the bodies, kept DNA samples from each of the bodies so that they could be later identified; but did not have the necessary apparatus to do the tests.

On September 22, experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA finished setting up the Codissoftware at the DMCH DNA laboratory.

The nine-storied Rana Plaza in Savar near Dhaka, that housed five garment factories, came down on April 24 with thousands trapped inside. l

33 more districts to have MRP offices n Tribune Report

Construction work of Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover is about to finish and Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the flyover on October 11

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Part of Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover opens to traffic on October 11 Only the main section of the flyover from Shanir Akhra to Gulistan has been completed October 11. In the last few days, rainfall links roads to those of Jatrabari and the first week of October. n Abu Hayat Mahmud At first, the authorities concerned hampered construction which was on Gulistan.

After failing to meet more than half a dozen deadlines, at least part of the much-awaited Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover is set to open to public on October 11.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 10km-long flyover aiming to reduce traffic congestion and easy movement of vehicles, confirmed Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Md Ansar Ali Khan yesterday evening.

Earlier, sources at the Prime Minister’s Office and the DSCC hinted at the inauguration of the overpass on October 11 by the premier.

Ansar Ali told the Dhaka Tribune: “We would pay a visit to the flyover site today [Sunday] and opening date would be finalised thereafter.”

The decision to open the overpass before the upcoming Eid ul-Azha was taken earlier, he said, adding that rain might be a bar to opening the flyover on

the finishing stage, he said.

Contacted further yesterday evening, Ansar Ali said: “We have fixed the date of October 11. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the flyover.”

The overpass construction missed several deadlines, and now the date had finally been fixed for opening only part of the much-awaited flyover.

The Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover has been named after one of Dhaka’s previous mayors Mohammad Hanif.

The government aimed at opening the flyover sometime before its tenure ends on October 24.

There are 13 ramps in total, including six entry and seven exit ramps connecting roads and bus terminals.

The flyover will have seven toll booths and a control room, all of which have already been built in Jatrabari.

The overpass connects Dhaka with Chittagong, Maowa and Demra, and

However, a visit to the area yesterday revealed that only the main section of the flyover from Shanir Akhra to Gulistan had been completed.

Of the total 13 ramps, construction of the remaining three is yet to be completed. Even, road construction under the flyover have not started yet because of the delay in overpass construciton.

About three and a half years, the city dwellers experienced unbearable traffic jam in the roads stretching from Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Tikatuli, Joykali Mondir, Kaptanbazar and Gulistan.

CEO Ansar Ali said, “Over 90% of the total project work have been done and it will take up to December to complete the building of ramps and roads.”

In August this year, State Minister for Local Government Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the flyover would most likely be open for traffic movement by

said part of the flyover would be inaugurated in September after the inauguration of its construction in 2010 June.

In April last year, Nanak said the flyover would be ready by December 16 of 2012. M Ashiqur Rahman, project director and superintendent engineer of DSCC, said the flyover would be open on March 26 this year, and in April, he again told the Dhaka Tribune that the flyover would be ready by June.

Built at a cost of Tk23bn, the flyover is the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in the country that is being constructed on a “build, own, operate and transfer” basis.

Orion Group was given the contract to build the flyover in 2005.

According to the contract, the investor will transfer the facility to the government after a concession period of 24 years. l

Quality of education suffers for MPOs: Muhith n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

The government has decided to start issuing machine readable passports from 33 more district passport offices from January next year.

A meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase presided over by Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday approved a home ministry proposal in this regard.

Two foreign firms would provide necessary machineries and materials to set up the regional passport offices to this end at a cost of Tk1.36bn, Additional Secretary Nurul Karim yesterday told reporters after the meeting.

SM Nazrul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Immigration and Passport, told the Dhaka Tribune that additional 264 officers and employees would be recruited for the new passport offices, which would start working on January 1.

With these new passport offices, 64 districts would have the facility, he pointed out, adding that an assistant director would head a district passport office.

The 33 districts to have machine-readable passport offices are Gazipur, Narayanganj, Sunamganj, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrakona, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Rajbari, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Lakshmipur, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhenaidah, Narail, Magura, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bhola and Barguna.

The Awami League in its previous term in the government had set up six regional passport offices at Jessore, Faridpur, Noakhali, Habiganj, Gopalganj and Sirajganj and opened a visa centre at the Shahjalal International Airport. The following BNP-led four-party alliance government, however, did not follow up on the project.

The present government has already set up 19 passport offices and made preparations for installing 33 more in the fiscal year 2011-2012.

At present, there are three passport offices in Dhaka and two in Chittagong. l

Dhaka to use digital tracking for missing children n Tribune Desk Bangladesh and Nepal are set to introduce online children tracking system, which has been proved a success in India to find missing children, a Saarc official said in New Delhi.

“Bangladesh and Nepal will replicate the Track Child project and the Indian government has offered help to Bangladesh in this regard. Bilateral discussions are in progress. The programme is scheduled for 2014,” said Rinchen Chophel, director general, South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) on Saturday, reports BSS. The SAIEVAC is an inter-governmental Saarc apex body working for children’s rights in the region.

India’s union women and child development ministry launched the Integrated Child Protection Scheme in 2008 to trace missing children through real time data on children availing rehabilitation services under the project. It was introduced for the first time in West Bengal. Recently the central government has decided to expand the programme pan-India.

Currently, Plan International runs a Missing Child Alert project in Bangladesh, India and Nepal with participation from Pakistan. l

senior Awami League MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim stood up for making a supplementary question on the MPOs of the private schools, colleges and madrasas.

He said the government had achieved remarkable successes in the educational sector over the last four and half years.

“But the successes are overshadowed by the delay in releasing the money,” said Selim.

He said the education ministry had estimated annual expenditure of Tk10b per year for providing MPOs to

900 teachers of the non-government schools, colleges and madrasas.

“Tk10b is a paltry amount against our national budget of over Tk2000b.

The finance minister has left; he should have listened to us. He must release the funds.”

Many of the teachers are starving.

So the finance minister must release the funds for the MPOs. This is the sentiment of the House, he noted.

The attending MPs shouted ‘yes’ in chorus as Sheikh Selim asked the lawmakers: “Don’t you want MPOs?” l

Law passed to drop war criminals from voters’ roll

Two BCL men held over mugging n CU Correspondent

Clashes in Egypt kill 34

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Police detained two activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League allegedly for snatching a mobile phone from a university student on the Chittagong University campus yesterday.

The detainees were Shameem Uddin Shameem, 1st year student of Dramatics, and Mizanur Ahmed Misu, first year student of Institution of Education and Research Training.

Campus sources said Abu Riad, masters’ student of political science department was chatting with his friend at the CU central library premises around 6:45 pm. Then suddenly the two accused youth came to the couple and stanched the cell phone after beating Riad.

Liyaqot Ali, officer-in-charge, Hathazari police station, said after receiving the victim’s complain police detained the alleged duo around 7:25pm. l

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Sunday told parliament that the monthly payment order (MPO) for educational institutions had led to slide in the quality of education.

Muhith came up with the anti-MPO statement in response to a question of Awami League lawmaker Abdul Matin Khasru who asked him whether he would release the Tk10b MPO for 900 teachers.

“The quality of education has suf-

Convicted war criminals will be dropped from the voters’ list soon as parliament yesterday enacted the Voters’ Roll (Amendment) Act 2013.

The House passed the Voters’ Roll (amendment) Bill 2013 by voice vote in the absence of the main opposition BNP, the political ally of Bangladesh Jaamat-e-Islami that has the highest number of war criminals facing trial.

Jamaat opposed Bangladesh’s birth in 1971 and sided with the Pakistani occupation forces in committing crimes against humanity.

The constitution of Bangladesh has an article that restricts the voting rights of those proved to have committed such crimes.

The bill proposed inserting a section saying persons convicted under the Bangladesh Collaborators (special tri-

fered because of the MPO system,” the finance minister told parliament during the scheduled question-answer hour for the ministers.

Earlier, on September 19, the education minister in absence of the finance minister told parliament that he was ready to release MPOs provided that the finance ministry granted necessary funds. Nahid has drawn flak from lawmakers several times for not releasing MPOs. Another Awami League MP ABM Abul Qasem on Sunday took the floor and said the lawmakers had ‘lashed’

bunals) Act 1973 and the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 would not be included in the voters’ list.

If already included, convicted persons will be dropped from the voters’ list, says the bill.

A person relinquishing Bangladeshi nationality and declared insane by a court will also be dropped from the voters’ roll, according to the section four of the proposed law.

National ID card registration law passed

The House also passed a law to amend the voters’ roll act aimed at giving all citizens the national ID cards, which was previously given to adult people.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed proposed its passage and the House enacted it by voice vote.

According to the bill, the Election Commission will be the authority to issue ID cards to Bangladesh nationals.

the education minister for not releasing MPOs. “The finance minister has earned reputation for his skills but he can receive more compliments by granting the MPOs. Why isn’t he doing so?” said Qasem.

Fazle Rabbi Miah, another Awami League MP, made similar observation.

“I do understand the interests of the MPs in the MPOs. I can consider the issue but not the outcome,” said Muhith.

During the scheduled question-answer hour for the ministers on September 19,

The military-led interim government of Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed first initiated the process to provide national ID cards to voters – nationals above 18 years of age.

The bill proposed inserting a section saying persons convicted under the Bangladesh Collaborators (special tribunals) Act 1973 and the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 would not be included in the voters’ list The voters’ identity cards are used for many official purposes although not mandatory always.

Complexity in official procedure often arises as people below 18 cannot submit their ID cards. l

n Agencies

At least 34 people were killed in clashes between Islamists and police in Egypt yesterday, as thousands of supporters of the military marked the anniversary of 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, overthrown in a July military coup, tried to converge on a central Cairo square for the anniversary celebrations, when police confronted them.

At least 30 people were killed in Cairo, and four south of the capital, while 209 people were injured, senior health ministry official Khaled alKhatib said in a statement.

Yesterday’s death toll was the highest in clashes between Islamists and police since several days of violence starting on August 14 killed more than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists.

An interior ministry official told the AFP that no policemen were killed in

the clashes. In central Cairo, policemen fired shots and tear gas to disperse stone-throwing protesters.

AFP correspondents saw several suspected demonstrators being arrested and beaten.

After several weeks of relative calm, the Islamists said they would escalate their protests by trying to rally in the symbolic Tahrir Square.

Yesterday, security forces guarded entrances to the square, frisking people arriving for the anniversary celebrations. Several thousand people, some carrying pictures of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, waved Egyptian flags as warplanes flew overhead in formation and patriotic songs blared from loudspeakers.

In Delga, an Islamist bastion south of Cairo, one person was killed when Islamists clashed with civilian opponents and police, a health ministry official and witnesses said. Clashes also erupted in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya, a security official said. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed at Romask Limited, 184, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1215. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

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B2 Banglalion permitted to launch high-speed LTE

B3 Biogas-run captive

power can cut energy subsidy: Experts

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

Banks exempt Tk1bn interest Political links and influences intensify interest waiver n Jebun Nesa Alo The commercial banks have waived Tk1bn in interests against 4,080 loan accounts in the first two months of current fiscal year.

Of them, the state-owned commercial banks waived Tk687m against 330 accounts and the private banks waived Tk281m against 2,370 accounts, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Bankers said the loan defaulters were making hectic efforts at the fag-end of the government’s tenure to get rid of the interest burden, intensifying the interest waiver.

“They are putting pressure particularly on the state-owned banks through using political links and influences,” a senior banker told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.

Bangladesh Bank has no guideline on exemption of the interest on loan and it is decided on the bank-client relationship. The board of directors of the banks considers applications for the waiver as per their respec-

tive policies.

A senior executive of Bangladesh Bank said the banks have been asked to recover the default loans that increased rapidly in the recent times.

“The banks are granting interest waivers to expedite the loan recovery although it is not good for the banking sector to waive at such a higher rate,” he said.

According to the central bank data, the state-owned specialised banks waived Tk40m interest against 1,256 accounts and the foreign commercial banks waived Tk8.6m against 124 accounts during the months of July and August.

The senior executive continued: “Bangladesh Bank has signed memoranda of understanding with different state-owned banks to expedite the loan recovery.”

Besides, the International Monetary Fund is putting pressure on the authorities to ensure rapid recovery of the classified loans, he added.

The executive said the banks suffer a

Tk37bn shortfall of provisions, forcing the banks to focus more on recovering default loans than making profit.

He said the boards of the banks can waive interest to recover loans if they see that the loans unlikely to return from the sales of the collateral or other related assets and even after taking all possible legal steps.

During the period 2009-2012, the banks waived a total of Tk6.81bn of interest against 217,992 loan accounts. The total classified loans of the state-own banks amount to Tk233bn.

The non-performing loans to total loans and advances increased to 10% in 2012 from 6.2% in 2011.

“Waiving interest is a sensitive issue. Giving such privilege hampers normal loan recovery. It is better to avoid a waiver of loan as far as possible,” said a senior executive of a private bank.

Bringing a borrower out of the loan burden may be logical only when the borrower is genuinely affected, he added. l

28 corporations owe banks Tk92bn n Tribune Report Twenty eight corporations owe different banks of the country a total of over Tk92bn as of July 31.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith informed the parliament of the sorry state yesterday, replying to a question of Nasrin Jahan Ratna (women seat-42).

Of the outstanding, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation Tk25bn, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Tk23bn, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation Tk16.8bn, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Tk13.7bn, and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation Tk5.4bn.

Muhith said the banks have already taken initiatives to realise the dues from the corporations – in some cases, banks filed cases against the corporations. Responding to another question of Moazzem Hossain Ratan, he said there were 3,357,519 TIN holders across the country till September 30 last.

However, he said there are some duplicate TIN holders among them. “TIN-cleansing is now underway and we’ll know the exact number of TIN holders by December this year.” l

Batexpo 2013 eyes better response despite RMG disasters n Tribune Report Apparel manufacturers are expecting more response from Batexpo 2013 than the previous occasions despite having back to back two disasters as they are working hard to improve safety conditions of the country’s readymade garments industry with the global buyers.

“We are expecting better feedback from the buyers this year,” said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exports Association (BGEMA) President Atiqul Islam told a press conference in Dhaka yesterday, marking the 24th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition begins Thursday.

He said a total of 55 buyers, including 23 newcomers, have already confirmed their participation at the three-day annual event to be held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

In BATEXPO-2012, around 159 apparel buyers and 2,846 representatives from foreign and local buyers visited the show, placing spot orders worth about US$62m.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair as the chief guest while opposition leader Khaleda Zia is expected to grace the closing ceremony as the chief guest.

“We would like give a message through the fair that Bangladesh is working together for the betterment and development of the

BGMEA president Atiqul Islam speaks at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday RMG sector as the government and BGMEA are working with the buyers and International Labour Organisation (ILO) to improve the fire and building safety conditions,” Atiq said.

BGMEA expressed grave concern over the slower export growth in last couple of months and the orders being diverted to the competitors including India, China and Vietnam.

RAJIB DHAR

The BGMEA president said: “the shifting of orders is a great challenge for us.” The exports registered 22% growth in July, but came down to 5.5% only in August.

He said devaluation of Indian Rupees against dollar is also a big challenge for Bangladesh RMG sector as buyers are moving toward India due to low cost. India has wit-

nessed 27.91% depreciation of Rupee, while Bangladeshi Taka saw a 9.41% appreciation.

“It is a big advantage for India.”

Replying to a query, Atiq said BGMEA has decided to arrange the Batexpo a month earlier than usual time due to the upcoming election time. He said the foreign buyers are not willing to take part in the show during the election fearing violence.

“We have put emphasis on displaying ready stock apparels as a number of entrepreneurs requested for the arrangement of spot sale,” he said. There are huge stock lots as buyers canceled orders due to reasons, including economic slowdown, he added.

“If the buyers get out of here, it will be very difficult to get them back,” said the BGMEA president. “It’s time to work together.”

On the sidelines of the show, there will be three seminars – Reinventing the RMG Sector: Emphasising Social Accountability and Security, Taking the RMG Sector Forward: the Role of Media in Sustainable Development, and Eco Friendly and Compliant Factory – A pre-Condition for Future Business.

BGMEA Second Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi), former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy, former Vice President M Siddiqur Rahman, Chief Coordinator of the event Abu Mahmud Khan and vice President Shahidullah Azim and Reaz Bin Mahmood were present at the press conference. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Banglalion permitted to launch high-speed LTE n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The Wi-MAX operator Banglalion has received permission from the BTRC to launch the long-term evolution (LTE) which is equivalent to the fourth generation broadband service.

LTE, marketed as 4G, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. Once the WiMAX operators bring LTE service, the users will enjoy receiving data at a faster rate than the WiMAX. When contacted, BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose said the regulator has given the permission along with no objection certificate (NOC) after a formal request from the Banglalionfor the LTE operation.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) gave the permission on Thursday last week, which has made

Banglalionthe second operator after Qubee to launch LTE in Bangladesh.

The Banglion users will have to change their modems to get the LTE service which will be faster than the Wi-max service.

‘We also provided LTE permission to the mobile phone operators having 3G licence. But they are probably not going to bring the service to the customers so quickly’ Qubee’s LTE received the regulator’s approval in the early of the past month.

Currently,Banglalion has 183,980 subscribers while Qubee has 131,317 subscribers, showed BTRC data as of August.

Earlier, Banglalion was denied LTE approval last year.

Besides, the regulator provided LTE permission to the mobile phone operators who got 3G broadband licence, although they are not expected to go into LTE launch in a short time.

“We also provided LTE permission to the mobile phone operators having 3G licence.

But they are probably not going to bring the service to the customers so quickly,” said BTRC chief.

Meanwhile, Ollo, a co-branded operator with no Wi-max licence,has already imported LTE equipmentand installed in different BTS, although it has no NOC from the BTRC for the LTE equipment.

The market insiders predict that as the BTRC will soon give Wi-max license to Ollo (Bangladesh Internet Exchange) as it has already imported the LTE equipment. l

HP begins sales campaign in Dhaka n Tribune Business Desk

$112m ADB loans for Bangladesh-India power grid

HP has offered gifts for the buyers of its laptops and desktops in a sales campaign styled as ‘‘Hoi-Hullor,” said a company statement yesterday.

The customers can join the campaign and get “spectacular” gifts by purchasing HP branded ENVY, Probook, Pavilion G-Series, HP 1000/2000 laptop and desktop computers from HP partner outlets in Multiplan Center located at the Elephant Road in the city. The campaign will continue till Eid. “The company always brings innovative products for its tech-savvy customers considering customers’ needs, tastes and satisfaction to keep them updated with rapidly changing technology world,” said Imrul Hossain Bhuiyan, country manager, printing and personal systems of HP Bangladesh. l

n Tribune Report

Photoffee holds photography exhibition n Tribune Business Desk The Photoffee held photography competition and exhibition styled as “Srishti-Shukher Ullas 2013” on Friday.

Artist Monirul Islam, planner-engineer and managing director Sheltech Dr Toufiq M Seraj and photographer Nasir Ali Mamun attended the inaugural function of the threeday event, said a press release.

The artistic photographs of 50 young photographers were displayed at the exhibition.

Photographer SA Shahriar Ripon, creative head of Photoffee Sudeepto Salam, photographer Kudrat E Khoda, rhymester Anik Khan were also at the inaugural function.

Nasir Ali Mamun received the Photoffee Award this year. l

Asian Development Bank has provided US$112m soft loans for Bangladesh-India Electrical Grid Interconnection.

Electricity is expected to begin to flow from India to Bangladesh today through a new transmission line, marking South Asia’s first-ever high voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection between the two countries and a key step forward in regional power sharing and cooperation.

The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited built and financed the infrastructure in India.

“This groundbreaking link will help provide urgently needed power to Bangladesh. More importantly, it is a key milestone for South Asia as it looks to set up a regional energy market to make the best use of its diverse and unevenly distributed energy resources,” said Juan Miranda, Director General of ADB’s South Asia Department, in a statement yesterday.

ADB helped finance the $199m interconnection facilities in Bangladesh with a $112m soft loan.

The transmission line will link the eastern electrical grid of India to the western grid of Bangladesh. Testing of the sub-station installations has been ongoing since early

September but the interconnection will be in operation starting Saturday. The HVDC interconnection allows better control over power flows and improved stability on the two grids.

The interconnection on the Bangladesh side comprises a 500 megawatts (MW) HVDC substation at Bheramara, about 27 kilometers in 400 kilovolt transmission lines from Bheramara to the Indian border and a link to the Bangladesh electricity grid.

Only about half of Bangladesh’s people have access to electricity, and those who do suffer from regular power outages lasting up to five hours a day in major cities.

Expanding supply will help business and improve the delivery of essential services like education and healthcare.

Buying electricity from India will also help gas-reliant Bangladesh diversify its energy sources and the link will later allow it to tap into energy resources from other parts of the region.

More cross-border energy links are currently being considered in South Asia, including on Bangladesh’s eastern borders.

Such links, which already have support from South Asian governments, would promote greater trade and other cooperation within the region. l

5-day handicraft fair begins in Dhaka n Tribune Report

A five-day handicraft fair began in Dhaka yesterday, aiming to make the handicraft products popular among the people.

The state-run Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has organised the handicraft exhibition titled “Sharat Mela” in its premises.

BSCIC chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder inaugurated the fair to be ended on October 10.

A number of entrepreneurs set up 47 stalls to display their handmade products like fabrics with block, boutique and embroidery, jute and leather products, and various types of food items.

The exhibition remains open for all from 10am to 5pm every day.

Earlier, BSCIC had provided training to 26,958 small entrepreneurs on handicrafts with innovating 31,424 new designs and models. l

NRB Bank opens branch at Mawna n Tribune Business Desk The NRB Commercial Bank Limited opened a branch at Mawna in Gazipur.

The bank’s director Dr Nuran Nabi inaugurated the fourth branch of the bank yesterday, said a press release.

The function was also attended, among others, by the bank’s chairman Farasath Ali, vice chairman Dr Toufique Rahman Chowdhury and alternate directors AM Saidur Rahman, AKM Mostafizur Rahman and Syed Shahjahan and managing director and CEO Dewan Mujibur Rahman. l

EBL extends credit facility to farmers n Tribune Business Desk Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) launched “EBL Projukti” for extending credit facility to farmers for buying agricultural machineries and equipment.

Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman and EBL managing director and CEO Ali Reza Iftekhar launched the facility at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

“EBL Projukti’’ is designed to extend credit facility to any farmer aged between 22 and 65 years and are directly engaged in farming, said a press release.

The quarterly installment-based term loan ranging from Tk10,000 to Tk1,50,000 for a maximum period of two years for purchasing agricultural machinery and irrigation equipment. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

3

DSEX sinks to nine-week low n Tribune Report

Environment Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attends a roundtable on biogas in Dhaka yesterday

RAJIB DHAR

Biogas-run captive power can cut energy subsidy: Experts n Aminur Rahman Rasel Energy experts advised yesterday to produce captive electricity by using poultry litter and human waste to reduce subsidies on power and import of fuel oil.

They urged the government to set up commercial captive power plant to produce biogas.

They put forward the recommendation at a roundtable on “Narrowing the Demand-Supply Gap with Commercial Biogas-based Captive Power Generation in Bangladesh” in Dhaka, jointly organised by Energy & Power, a fortnightly magazine, and GIZ-SED. “We have to protect environment to survive,” Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud told the meeting. “But we need power for development. Production of electricity will be environment-friendly, if we use biogas.”

He said there are 25,000 biogas plants across the country and stressed the need for working to create awareness among the commoners to go for such plants.

There is a power shortage in the country, which could get rid of it to some extent through producing power by commercial biogas plant, said Dilder Ahmed Taufiq, Senior Adviser, GIZ-SED. In his keynote presentation, he said the country has a potential to get 50MW of electricity if 10% of the small and medium scale commercial poultry farms having bird population of 5,000 and above are brought under power generation programme.

“It is very tough to manage waste of poultry firms, but it would be very easy if it is used in biogas plants,” said Rafiqul Islam, managing director of Seed Bangla Agro Limited. He said it would bring benefits to the firm owners.

Islam said if biogas plant is built by using

poultry firms waste; it would help to reduce subsidies for the power and energy sector. It would also help provide uninterrupted power supply, he noted.

Speaker urged the minister to remove hurdles in importing machineries for biogas plant and solar panels, and to provide loans at lower rate.

In response, Hasan asked the entrepreneurs to submit a written proposal, which he would convey to the ministries concerned.

Moderated by Energy & Power Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain, the roundtable was addressed, among others, by M Monirul Islam, Chief Financial Officer of IDCOL, MA Gofran, Consultant (Biogas), Grameen Shakti, Samiul Ahsan, Chairman of Phenix Agro Ltd, David Hancock, Progaram Coordinator, GIZ-SED, Sk Nasir Uddin, Chief Engineer, Kazi Farms Group, and Tahseen Haroon, CEO Eurastar Bangladesh. l

Young entrepreneurs fair being held in Dhaka n Tribune Business Desk A two-day fair has been organised in the capital to display the products of the country’s young entrepreneurs.

President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Md Sabur Khan formally inaugurated the fair at the Women Voluntary Association auditorium at Dhanmondi yesterday. The event holds the slogan “We will not look for jobs but give jobs.”

A number of innovative young entrepreneurs from the sectors including IT, handicrafts, publishing, software, renewable energy, readymade garment, jewellery and herbal products are participating in the event.

Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) in association with Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) jointly organised the event styled as “Uddyokta Haat.”

While speaking at the inauguration, Md Sabur Khan urged the young entrepreneurs to come up with visions and keep their mindset strong.

He said an entrepreneur has the power to generate employments for the people and contribute to the country’s economy.

General secretary of BdOSN Munir Hasan, senior vice president of BASIS Syed Almas Kabir, managing director of Datasoft Ltd Mahboob Zaman and managing director of

BD.Venture Ltd Shakhwat Hossain were also present at the function.

DCCI has recently taken an initiative to create 2,000 young entrepreneurs this year.

The interested young people have been asked to participate in the initiative with innovative business ideas.

The ideas can be submitted to DCCI at the site: business.org.bd.

The DCCI in cooperation with Bangladesh Bank will support the 2,000 entrepreneurs in funding and capacity building efforts.

“We have a strong base of young population. If we can make them entrepreneurs, the country’s economic outlook will change,” said DCCI president. l

Stocks dropped sharply yesterday on sales pressure in fear of further fall ahead of Eidul-Azha, with benchmark index DSEX sinking to almost nine-week low.

The market was in positive territory for a brief period in the morning but late selling pressure mainly on engineering, textile and cement issues erased the early gains.

The benchmark DSEX index lost 66 points or 1.7% to 3,882, lowest since August 4. The blue chip index DS30 dropped 24 points or 1.7% to 1,418.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, declined 137 points to 7,584.

Market opened the current week with a steep fall, taking out the recent lows and falling decisively below 3,900 marks, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its daily market analysis.

Index was under pressure as most of the stocks were down ahead of Eid-Ul-Azha and consistent concern over political impasses in the country, which led to a sharp correction in the benchmark index, it said.

More than 90% issue prices closed red as out of 282 issues traded, 21 advanced, 239 declined and 22 remained unchanged.

Financial sector took a beating with bank, insurance and financial institutions sector losing 1%, 1.5% and 0.8% market capitalisation respectively

Market volatility increased as price swing on large and mid-cap was predominant over last few trading sessions.

IDLC Investment said fear of further decline in line with index’s positioning below psychological level of 4,000 points for the sixth consecutive session acted as the catalyst behind sell pressure and forced the market to end in negative territory.

It said investors continued cashing out their portfolio to meet their expenses ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Trading remained sluggish at the DSE as the total turnover stood at Tk2.5bn, which was 6.8% lower than the previous session.

Financial sector took a beating with bank, insurance and financial institutions sector losing 1%, 1.5% and 0.8% market capitalisation respectively.

A sale pressure was observed throughout the day in a target to finance the festivals due next week, said Zenith Investment.

With the disposal of legal disputes, a cumulative of 2100% stock dividend for last eight years since 2005 declared by Delta Life Insurance for the year ended 2012, caught investors’ attention from the very beginning of the session.

As a result, it captured leading position in the turnover list with more than Tk313m, accounting for over 12% of the total turnover.

Except food and allied sector that edged 0.9% higher, all the sectors were down. Engineering sector declined most 2.9%, followed by textile 2.4%, cement 2.2% and non life insurance 2%. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Wal-Mart says retail plans with India’s Bharti ‘not tenable’ n Reuters Wal-Mart Stores Inc’s retail plans with India partner Bharti Enterprises are “not tenable” and both sides are looking for the best way to move forward, an executive with the US retailer told Reuters.

Wal-Mart was expected to make a decision on its Indian retail plans later this month and Bharti will accordingly decide if those plans match its overall retail ambitions.

“We created a franchise in retail with Bharti in the hopes that there could be a potential freeing up (of foreign direct investment) that would allow it to potentially be the base of the business. But frankly, the FDI has passed,” said Wal-Mart Asia Chief Executive Scott Price on the sidelines of the APEC conference in Bali, Indonesia “That means the existing franchise to Bharti is not tenable as the base. What we are talking about with Bharti is what we do with that business.”

Wal-Mart has an equal joint venture with Bharti under which it runs its Best Price Modern Wholesale Stores in India and the US retailer last year called Bharti its “natural partner” to open its retail stores in the country.

In July, Reuters reported Bharti was looking to exit its joint venture with Wal-Mart.

India permitted foreign retailers to own 51% of their Indian operations in September 2012, but ambiguity around rules governing the policy has ensured no foreign retailer has so far applied to enter the country.

Workers walk inside an aisle of the newly opened Bharti Wal-Mart Best Price Modern wholesale store in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad REUTERS “I don’t see how any foreign retailer can comply and quite honestly no domestic retailer is complying either,” Price said.

The biggest stumbling block for companies has been the government’s requirement that 30% of their products be sourced locally.

Despite the uncertainty over the retail business, Price said the world’s largest retailer was not planning on leaving India and was actually hoping to expand its wholesale busi-

ness. “We are committed to India and we are not thinking of leaving India anytime soon,” he said.

Price also said Wal-Mart had no immediate acquisition plans in China but was keeping its eyes open for opportunities.

The US retailer also had no plans for expansion into Thailand or Indonesia, two countries where supermarkets have faced tough competition from local mini-markets. l

Abe vows to seek talks with China, South Korea leaders n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday said he would seek talks with leaders of China and South Korea at a regional economic summit in Indonesia despite strained ties.

“I want to seize on an opportune time to exchange views” with them, he told reporters before leaving for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali on Monday and Tuesday.

“I want to send a message that the door of dialogue is always open.”

Abe has not held formal talks with the Chinese and South Korean leaders since taking office last December. Tokyo’s ties with its neighbours have been strained by territorial disputes and the legacy of Japan’s 20th century wartime aggression.

But Abe, a conservative hawk, had a handshake and a five-minute chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Saint Petersburg in early September.

The meeting was the first between leaders of the two countries since relations took a nosedive a year ago over the ownership of uninhabited islands, a row that has led to warnings of a possible armed confrontation.

Abe also had a brief stand-up chat with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye in the Russian city during the G20 gathering.

But Japanese media reports said last week that Abe’s hoped-for talks with Xi and Park in Bali might not materialise due to reluctance on the part of China and South Korea. l

Dubai wants to be centre for Islamic business n Reuters, Dubai Dubai unveiled plans on Saturday to become a centre for business that follows Islamic principles in areas from banking and insurance to

A general view shows Dubai’s cityscape

food processing, tourism and education.

With a freewheeling commercial culture and a diverse population with cosmopolitan lifestyles, the booming emirate of 2.1 million people is not known for its Islamic scholarship.

REUTERS

But in the past few decades, Dubai has used its international ties to become the Gulf’s main centre for finance, trade and travel.

Officials said they would now focus on business related to the religious beliefs of the world’s 1.6bn Muslims.

“The total foreign trade of the Muslim world is $4tn. This shows the potential that is available for Dubai,” Mohammed al-Gergawi, chairman of Dubai Holding, a conglomerate owned by the emirate’s ruler, told a conference.

In finance, Dubai wants to become a top centre for the issuance and trading of Islamic bonds, which are structured to avoid the payment of interest. It aims to rival the main hubs for Islamic bonds, Kuala Lumpur and London, by creating a set of clear, commonly accepted standards.

Abdulaziz al-Ghurair, chairman of the authority overseeing Dubai’s financial centre, said the emirate would also focus on Islamic re-insurance. In conventional insurance, risk is transferred from one party to another; under Islamic rules, risk is shared among members of an insurance fund.

Because there are only 19 Islamic re-insurance firms globally, Islamic insurers are forced to transfer some of their risk to con-

ventional re-insurers, creating a business opportunity for Dubai in establishing more firms, Ghurair said.

He predicted the global Islamic re-insurance market would grow to $20bn by 2020 from $11bn at present.

Islamic endowments, estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars globally, are another area which Dubai is targeting. Analysts say many of them invest their money passively and inefficiently, creating potential for economic gains if they are reformed.

Dubai intends to establish by the first quarter of next year an International Endowment Authority, headquartered in the emirate, which will promote best practices in the global industry, officials said.

The emirate will get involved in the business of certifying halal food and other products that are prepared under Islamic principles.

It plans to set up an international laboratory and accreditation centre by the first quarter of 2014, aiming to gain 10% of the global market in the next three years.

Officials said they would also promote Dubai as a centre for Islamic tourism, education and fashion, though they did not give details of those initiatives. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

5

WTO chief says global trade deal within reach n AFP, Nusa Dua The World Trade Organization (WTO) appealed Saturday for support from Asia-Pacific nations to help clinch a deal on easing global trade constraints at crunch December talks, saying agreement is “clearly within reach”.

Roberto Azevedo urged the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping to throw its weight behind the negotiations so that the WTO can agree a deal in time for its ninth ministerial meeting in early December in Indonesia’s Bali island.

“Now we are in need of support as much as ever,” Azevedo said at a news conference after days of fervent diplomacy, including speaking to foreign and trade ministers at an APEC plenary session to drive home his point.

“We hope that by coming here, I would have given the message to ministers of APEC of where we are and how importantly we need the engagement from capitals and from the ministers themselves.”

Differences over the concessions needed have led to clashes notably between China, the European Union, India and the United States, leading to a gridlock in the so-called Doha Round of global trade talks since 2008.

However, the most deadlocked portions of the Doha agenda have been put aside and countries are focusing talks on areas where agreement is possible, namely trade facilitation, agriculture and development issues.

Azevedo said agreement in these areas at the December meeting in Bali could break the gridlock and allow the WTO to discuss other issues.

“We are making progress but not fast enough. We need to be quicker and we need ministers to engage,” he said Saturday.

World Trade Organisation Director-General Roberto Azevedo delivers his address during a joint press conference with Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan at the conclusion of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali AFP “I’m very positive. What we have before us on the table is doable,” he added. “I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that we can reach this. We are clearly within reach.”

Although the areas under negotiation are limited, the gains can be enormous, Azevedo

said, citing estimates showing that the easing trade constraints could result in savings of up to a trillion dollars worldwide.

US Trade Representative Michael Froman also told reporters in Bali he was hopeful a deal would be reached in December.

“I am pleased to announce that there is a hopeful sign this week of our ability to work collectively together to solve problems and make progress in the WTO,” he said.

“If we fail, it will be hard to see how we further that agenda.” l

GE sees 10-15% infrastructure growth in emerging markets

Tech glitches add to Obamacare challenges

n Reuters

n AFP, Washington

General Electric Company vice chairman John Rice said on Sunday that despite the shaky global economy, he expected the firm’s infrastructure businesses in emerging markets to post 10-15% growth in the next five to 10 years.

GE’s presence in most parts of the global economy, including energy, finance, manufacturing and transportation, makes it an indicator of macroeconomic trends.

China, GE’s biggest single market for infrastructure outside of the United States, would continue to have “healthy double digit” growth in the coming years, having grown some 15 to 20% growth in recent times, said Rice on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific leaders summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Shrugging off the impact of the US government shutdown on GE’s businesses, Rice remained bullish on GE’s renewed focus on core infrastructure areas including oil & gas, power generation, aviation, healthcare and

Vice Chairman of GE and CEO of GE’s Global Growth and Operations John G Rice speaks to reporters during a news conference in Mumbai REUTERS

transportation.

“In the mid-to-long term the demand for infrastructure is going to be as acute as ever,” Rice told Reuters at the Asia-Pacific Econom-

ic Cooperation (APEC) conference, where a key theme is sustaining the region as an engine for global growth.

“We see significant double digit growth ... in what we call growth markets. We think we should see 10-15% growth,” said Rice of this projection for its composite infrastructure businesses in markets outside of the US and Europe.

He noted, however, that the financing of infrastructure projects by banks was getting more complicated amid greater economic uncertainty, including concerns the US Federal Reserve will soon begin reducing its stimulus that has already weakened some Asian currencies like the Indonesian rupiah.

“When you have the currency swings you have to be even better in connecting capital to infrastructure projects,” said Rice.

The oil and gas equipment business was also singled out as one of GE’s key growth areas, signaling the importance of energy to the conglomerate as it retreats from finance and returns to its industrial roots. l

It is not just politics, but technology issues raising questions about the future of Obamacare, the landmark health reform spearheaded by President Barack Obama.

As the enrollment system went live October 1 for new Affordable Care Act to cover the uninsured, websites set up for the federal and state governments saw overloads, glitches and crashes, in a big embarrassment for the program.

“Whether you are for or against Obamacare, everyone seems to agree the government really dropped the ball on this rollout,” said independent technology analyst Jeff Kagan.

“Why didn’t the government ask for corporate help before the train wreck?”

US health officials and some experts said the surge of interest was positive, but the technical problems could deal a blow to the program, which aims to extend coverage to millions of Americans lacking insurance. l

6

DSE Broad Index: 3882.33 ⇓ 1.67%, Turnover: 2465.95 M.Tk ⇓ 6.83%, PE: 12.29 Turnover Combined Turnover Leader Delta Life Insu. -Z Argon Denims Limited-A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 142548 D: 22.70 ⇓ 0.44% | 22.74 | 23.00 / 20.70 C: 22.50 ⇓ 0.88% | 22.58 | 22.80 / 20.50 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 378830 D: 15.20 ⇓ 0.65% | 15.32 | 15.50 / 13.80 C: 15.30 ⇓ 1.29% | 15.31 | 15.40 / 15.20 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 405115 D: 19.80 ⇓ 1.49% | 20.06 | 20.30 / 19.00 C: 19.70 ⇓ 1.50% | 19.89 | 20.20 / 19.60 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 278818 D: 35.60 ⇓ 0.28% | 35.63 | 36.00 / 33.00 C: 35.40 ⇓ 0.56% | 35.39 | 35.70 / 35.30 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1685125 D: 10.00 ⇓ 0.99% | 10.04 | 10.20 / 9.20 C: 10.10 ⇓ 0.98% | 10.13 | 10.20 / 10.10 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 686299 D: 31.20 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.24 | 31.50 / 28.20 C: 30.90 ⇓ 0.64% | 30.89 | 31.40 / 30.70 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 5700 D: 57.60 ⇓ 3.19% | 57.64 | 58.10 / 57.50 C: 58.00 ⇓ 3.17% | 58.00 | 58.00 / 58.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 688866 D: 17.30 ⇓ 1.70% | 17.38 | 18.00 / 15.90 C: 17.40 ⇓ 1.14% | 17.34 | 17.50 / 17.00 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 160116 D: 25.10 ⇓ 0.40% | 25.19 | 25.80 / 22.70 C: 25.10 ⇓ 0.40% | 25.06 | 25.20 / 25.00 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 246000 D: 5.80 ⇑ 1.75% | 5.73 | 5.90 / 5.70 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 120470 D: 26.30 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.36 | 26.50 / 24.00 C: 26.00 ⇓ 2.62% | 26.02 | 26.40 / 26.00 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 285584 D: 13.70 ⇓ 1.44% | 13.85 | 14.00 / 12.80 C: 13.80 ⇓ 1.43% | 13.81 | 13.90 / 13.70 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 42444 D: 16.90 ⇓ 0.59% | 16.93 | 17.10 / 16.00 C: 16.70 ⇓ 5.11% | 16.69 | 17.20 / 16.50 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 267351 D: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.51 | 14.80 / 13.20 C: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.40 | 14.50 / 14.20 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 21255 D: 17.40 ⇓ 2.25% | 17.40 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.30 ⇓ 2.26% | 17.24 | 17.30 / 17.20 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 220961 D: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.83 | 11.00 / 10.00 C: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.79 | 10.90 / 10.70 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 1361700 D: 11.10 ⇓ 1.77% | 11.28 | 11.40 / 10.20 C: 11.20 ⇓ 0.88% | 11.27 | 11.50 / 11.20 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 3700 D: 88.70 ⇓ 1.22% | 88.65 | 91.50 / 85.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 30000 D: 14.30 ⇓ 1.38% | 14.33 | 14.50 / 14.30 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 159165 D: 12.60 ⇓ 0.79% | 12.61 | 12.70 / 11.70 C: 12.50 ⇓ 1.57% | 12.51 | 13.00 / 12.00 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 789673 D: 14.00 ⇓ 2.78% | 14.16 | 14.50 / 13.00 C: 14.00 ⇓ 2.10% | 14.14 | 14.40 / 14.00 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 97722 D: 18.80 ⇓ 2.08% | 18.93 | 19.20 / 17.40 C: 19.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.00 | 19.00 / 19.00 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 403442 D: 11.30 ⇓ 0.88% | 11.43 | 12.00 / 10.50 C: 11.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.33 | 11.40 / 11.20 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 353106 D: 10.70 ⇓ 0.93% | 10.73 | 11.00 / 9.80 C: 10.60 ⇓ 0.93% | 10.61 | 10.70 / 10.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 36960 D: 12.80 ⇓ 1.54% | 12.87 | 14.30 / 11.70 C: 12.80 ⇓ 1.54% | 12.79 | 12.80 / 12.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 457175 D: 27.50 ⇓ 1.08% | 27.67 | 28.50 / 25.50 C: 27.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.41 | 27.60 / 27.20 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 134329 D: 13.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.66 | 14.00 / 12.40 C: 13.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.53 | 13.70 / 13.50

Share

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Vol.

TO M. Tk.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

2,644.03 MTk . ⇓ 7.84% October 6, 2013 MarketCap. 1,899.10 BTk. ⇓ 1.51% CSE All Share Index: 12019 ⇓ 1.67%, Turnover: 178.08 M Tk. ⇓ 19.87%, PE: 12.09 % of TTL

Avg. P 6,144.64

52900

325.05

2.29

3087620

139.26

5.27

95.52

45.10

UNITED AIR-A

5952272

3.61

16.05

Orion Pharma-N

1267160

80.27

3.04

63.35

Uttara Finance -A

1031524

74.28

2.81

72.01

PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 314656 D: 8.90 ⇓ 1.11% | 8.94 | 9.10 / 8.10 C: 9.00 ⇓ 2.17% | 9.06 | 9.20 / 9.00 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 50715 D: 16.50 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.56 | 16.70 / 15.00 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 341833 D: 10.80 ⇓ 2.70% | 10.97 | 11.10 / 10.00 C: 10.90 ⇓ 1.80% | 10.96 | 11.20 / 10.70 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 55775 D: 55.60 ⇓ 2.97% | 55.93 | 57.00 / 55.00 C: 56.50 ⇓ 1.22% | 56.48 | 61.90 / 55.80 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 103715 D: 25.70 ⇓ 1.15% | 25.78 | 26.20 / 25.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 1031524 D: 72.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 72.00 | 72.60 / 65.00 C: 72.00 ⇑ 0.42% | 72.65 | 74.00 / 72.00 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 22007 D: 32.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.94 | 32.00 / 29.20 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 184538 D: 24.10 ⇓ 2.43% | 24.25 | 24.70 / 22.70 C: 24.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.23 | 24.30 / 24.10 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 217878 D: 21.60 ⇓ 1.82% | 21.81 | 22.30 / 20.00 C: 21.80 ⇓ 1.80% | 21.83 | 22.10 / 21.70 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 154750 D: 22.10 ⇓ 3.49% | 22.33 | 22.80 / 22.00 C: 22.30 ⇓ 3.04% | 22.35 | 23.30 / 22.20 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 145300 D: 10.20 ⇓ 1.92% | 10.29 | 10.50 / 10.00 C: 10.30 ⇓ 0.96% | 10.30 | 10.30 / 10.20 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 273213 D: 15.30 ⇓ 1.92% | 15.49 | 16.00 / 14.10 C: 15.50 ⇓ 2.52% | 15.60 | 15.60 / 15.50 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 190184 D: 55.00 ⇓ 2.14% | 56.11 | 59.00 / 50.60 C: 55.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 56.73 | 59.00 / 55.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 105027 D: 16.40 ⇓ 4.09% | 16.69 | 17.40 / 15.40 C: 16.40 ⇓ 5.75% | 16.89 | 17.30 / 16.30 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 88120 D: 18.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 18.12 | 19.10 / 17.80 C: 17.90 ⇓ 2.72% | 17.93 | 18.00 / 17.70 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 71874 D: 29.10 ⇓ 2.35% | 29.17 | 29.90 / 27.00 C: 29.00 ⇓ 1.36% | 28.80 | 29.00 / 28.70 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 243498 D: 20.70 ⇓ 4.61% | 21.31 | 22.30 / 19.70 C: 20.80 ⇓ 4.59% | 21.24 | 22.10 / 20.80 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 251945 D: 14.10 ⇓ 2.76% | 14.16 | 14.50 / 13.30 C: 14.00 ⇓ 4.11% | 14.03 | 14.10 / 14.00 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 154028 D: 28.10 ⇓ 1.75% | 28.36 | 28.80 / 26.00 C: 28.10 ⇓ 2.09% | 28.07 | 28.20 / 28.00 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 470734 D: 14.20 ⇓ 2.07% | 14.27 | 15.00 / 14.10 C: 14.10 ⇓ 2.76% | 14.04 | 14.30 / 13.90 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 26524 D: 54.30 ⇓ 3.21% | 54.26 | 56.80 / 51.00 C: 54.20 ⇓ 2.87% | 54.22 | 54.50 / 54.20 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 227225 D: 28.90 ⇓ 3.02% | 29.15 | 29.90 / 28.70 C: 29.20 ⇓ 1.68% | 29.25 | 29.70 / 28.90 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 48560 D: 25.80 ⇓ 2.27% | 25.92 | 26.40 / 24.00 C: 25.60 ⇓ 3.40% | 25.88 | 28.20 / 25.60 ICB | 109.65 | 769.98 | Vol. 10957 D: 1857 ⇑ 0.95% | 1905 | 1939 / 1839 C: 1902 ⇑ 5.55% | 1902 | 1902 / 1902 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 24764 D: 24.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 24.02 | 24.80 / 22.00 C: 23.70 ⇓ 4.44% | 23.33 | 24.00 / 22.40 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 852500 D: 15.80 ⇓ 5.95% | 16.22 | 16.80 / 15.80 C: 15.90 ⇓ 5.92% | 16.11 | 16.60 / 15.80 INVESTMENT 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 8500 D: 45.00 ⇓ 0.88% | 45.06 | 45.50 / 44.70 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 3500 D: 49.20 ⇑ 1.23% | 49.14 | 49.90 / 48.70

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

DSE Loser

C%

A%

CP

Progressive Life-A

9.97

9.65

104.80

Deshbandhu Polymer-A

-16.51

-14.65

17.70

Reliance Insur-A

3.69

3.43

75.80

Kay & Que (BD) -Z

2.29

1.65

17.90

Monno Ceramic -B

2.02

3.74

35.30

ICB Islamic Bank-Z

1.75

0.00

5.80

UNITED AIR-A 1st BSRS M F-A LR Global BD MF1-A BD Fixed Income MF-A

1STBSRS | 14.43 | 161.88 | Vol. 39500 D: 85.80 ⇓ 9.97% | 85.80 | 86.00 / 85.80 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 138500 D: 37.70 ⇓ 2.08% | 37.95 | 38.50 / 37.60 C: 37.50 ⇓ 2.60% | 37.84 | 38.10 / 37.40 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 6000 D: 16.70 ⇓ 1.76% | 16.67 | 16.90 / 16.70 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 205000 D: 44.60 ⇓ 1.76% | 45.14 | 46.50 / 44.30 C: 44.50 ⇓ 3.26% | 44.50 | 44.50 / 44.50 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 5500 D: 22.10 ⇓ 0.90% | 22.18 | 22.60 / 21.90 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 142000 D: 9.00 ⇓ 2.17% | 9.10 | 9.30 / 9.00 C: 9.30 ⇓ 1.06% | 9.30 | 9.40 / 9.20 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 569400 D: 16.10 ⇓ 2.42% | 16.24 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.10 ⇓ 3.59% | 16.21 | 16.60 / 16.10 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 580000 D: 22.50 ⇓ 3.43% | 22.96 | 24.00 / 22.30 C: 22.40 ⇓ 3.45% | 23.13 | 23.60 / 22.30 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 164585 D: 6.80 ⇓ 4.23% | 6.87 | 7.00 / 6.80 C: 6.80 ⇓ 5.56% | 6.83 | 7.00 / 6.80 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 158500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.61 | 5.70 / 5.60 C: 5.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 5.51 | 5.60 / 5.50 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 61500 D: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.79 | 5.90 / 5.80 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.70 | 5.70 / 5.70 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 612126 D: 7.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.59 | 7.80 / 6.90 C: 7.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 7.53 | 7.80 / 7.40 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 117500 D: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.19 | 5.40 / 5.00 C: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.20 | 5.20 / 5.20 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 142500 D: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.47 | 5.50 / 5.40 C: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.48 | 5.50 / 5.40 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 712689 D: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.37 | 6.50 / 6.30 C: 6.20 ⇓ 3.13% | 6.27 | 6.30 / 6.20 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 122500 D: 5.30 ⇓ 5.36% | 5.41 | 5.60 / 5.30 C: 5.40 ⇓ 5.26% | 5.42 | 5.50 / 5.40 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 237000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.02 | 5.10 / 5.00 C: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.01 | 5.10 / 5.00 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 206000 D: 5.70 ⇓ 3.39% | 5.74 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.79 | 5.80 / 5.70 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 246500 D: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.16 | 5.20 / 5.10 C: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.19 | 5.20 / 5.10 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 487684 D: 5.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 5.95 | 6.10 / 5.60 C: 5.90 ⇓ 1.67% | 5.89 | 6.00 / 5.80 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 135000 D: 5.10 ⇓ 3.77% | 5.21 | 5.50 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.21 | 5.30 / 5.20 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 471000 D: 5.40 ⇓ 3.57% | 5.48 | 5.60 / 5.40 C: 5.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 5.53 | 5.70 / 5.40 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 25000 D: 6.40 ⇓ 3.03% | 6.49 | 6.50 / 6.40 C: 6.50 ⇓ 2.99% | 6.45 | 6.50 / 6.30 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 61500 D: 6.20 ⇓ 3.13% | 6.28 | 6.40 / 6.20 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 843250 D: 8.10 ⇓ 3.57% | 8.15 | 8.40 / 8.00 C: 8.10 ⇓ 2.41% | 8.13 | 8.20 / 8.10 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 911550 D: 8.40 ⇓ 2.33% | 8.58 | 8.80 / 8.40 C: 8.40 ⇓ 3.45% | 8.70 | 9.20 / 8.30 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 378500 D: 8.20 ⇓ 9.89% | 8.37 | 8.70 / 8.20 C: 8.10 ⇑ 1.25% | 8.28 | 8.80 / 8.10 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 19000 D: 6.90 ⇓ 1.43% | 6.95 | 7.00 / 6.80 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 1158100 D: 9.40 ⇓ 3.09% | 9.65 | 10.00 / 9.30 C: 9.40 ⇓ 3.09% | 9.64 | 9.90 / 9.40

-12.22

-11.17

15.80

-9.97

-8.86

85.80

-9.89

-8.42

8.20

-9.89

-10.87

8.20

FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 1000 D: 8.20 ⇓ 9.89% | 8.20 | 8.20 / 8.20 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 11000 D: 10.00 ⇓ 2.91% | 10.00 | 11.00 / 9.90 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 506000 D: 6.80 ⇓ 8.11% | 6.95 | 7.30 / 6.70 C: 6.90 ⇓ 8.00% | 7.09 | 7.50 / 6.80 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 271073 D: 102.9 ⇓ 3.47% | 103.68 | 106.0 / 96.00 C: 103.1 ⇓ 3.19% | 103.83 | 105.5 / 102.5 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 17350 D: 21.30 ⇓ 9.36% | 21.49 | 23.80 / 21.20 C: 23.70 ⇓ 8.85% | 23.62 | 25.40 / 23.40 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 58197 D: 204.6 ⇓ 2.99% | 204.95 | 211.0 / 200.0 C: 204.0 ⇓ 3.27% | 204.00 | 204.0 / 204.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 13555 D: 146.6 ⇓ 4.18% | 147.07 | 153.0 / 145.0 C: 147.2 ⇓ 3.98% | 147.19 | 147.3 / 147.0 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 2800 D: 70.40 ⇓ 0.98% | 70.45 | 71.00 / 70.10 C: 71.70 ⇑ 6.70% | 71.68 | 71.90 / 71.50 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 2050 D: 317.5 ⇓ 6.18% | 319.51 | 333.8 / 315.1 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 48774 D: 193.4 ⇓ 3.15% | 194.56 | 199.9 / 183.0 C: 193.4 ⇓ 3.30% | 194.24 | 198.5 / 192.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 6400 D: 167.5 ⇓ 1.99% | 167.97 | 171.5 / 167.0 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 24600 D: 42.80 ⇓ 5.73% | 43.37 | 45.20 / 42.50 QSMDRYCELL | 1.17 | 57.54 | Vol. 106250 D: 33.70 ⇓ 0.88% | 33.91 | 34.50 / 31.20 C: 33.00 ⇓ 2.94% | 33.12 | 33.30 / 32.80 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 6850 D: 147.6 ⇓ 4.40% | 151.09 | 152.4 / 145.8 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 30240 D: 72.40 ⇓ 3.21% | 72.82 | 75.50 / 72.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 293983 D: 28.90 ⇓ 3.99% | 29.06 | 30.00 / 28.00 C: 28.60 ⇓ 5.30% | 29.04 | 29.50 / 28.40 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 70000 D: 26.40 ⇓ 7.37% | 26.85 | 28.80 / 26.10 C: 26.90 ⇓ 6.92% | 26.83 | 28.10 / 26.30 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 18000 D: 17.90 ⇑ 2.29% | 17.89 | 19.00 / 16.10 C: 17.50 ⇑ 2.94% | 17.50 | 17.50 / 17.50 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 31500 D: 93.20 ⇓ 5.86% | 93.32 | 95.50 / 92.60 C: 91.30 ⇓ 7.78% | 91.30 | 91.30 / 91.30 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 81780 D: 38.90 ⇓ 2.26% | 39.00 | 39.60 / 36.00 C: 38.50 ⇓ 3.99% | 38.67 | 39.00 / 38.40 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 114129 D: 40.00 ⇓ 2.91% | 40.50 | 41.00 / 37.10 C: 39.70 ⇓ 4.11% | 40.01 | 40.30 / 39.70 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 132539 D: 63.80 ⇓ 2.15% | 64.15 | 65.20 / 58.70 C: 64.00 ⇓ 2.14% | 64.06 | 64.20 / 64.00 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 60710 D: 63.60 ⇓ 2.75% | 64.38 | 65.90 / 62.50 C: 63.30 ⇓ 3.51% | 63.52 | 64.00 / 63.10 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 1173903 D: 17.70 ⇓ 16.51% | 18.24 | 19.00 / 15.00 C: 18.00 ⇓ 15.89% | 18.38 | 20.00 / 17.80 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 44500 D: 41.00 ⇓ 2.84% | 41.67 | 43.00 / 38.00 C: 40.10 ⇓ 5.65% | 41.65 | 42.00 / 40.10 BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 146400 D: 43.90 ⇓ 1.35% | 44.21 | 44.90 / 43.20 C: 43.60 ⇓ 0.91% | 43.52 | 43.60 / 43.50 NPOLYMAR | 2.01 | 324.37 | Vol. 45810 D: 54.60 ⇓ 5.54% | 55.60 | 57.40 / 54.00 C: 55.10 ⇓ 9.67% | 56.92 | 58.00 / 55.10 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 57050 D: 92.40 ⇓ 3.25% | 92.49 | 94.40 / 91.50 C: 93.40 ⇓ 0.85% | 93.54 | 94.90 / 91.10 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 43828 D: 451.2 ⇓ 5.07% | 460.58 | 482.0 / 449.0 C: 452.2 ⇓ 5.24% | 457.38 | 463.0 / 450.6

BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 10602 D: 1514 ⇑ 1.66% | 1501 | 1549 / 1400 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 200 D: 200.5 ⇓ 5.02% | 200.00 | 211.0 / 197.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 650 D: 800.9 ⇓ 1.85% | 801.54 | 802.1 / 800.0 ZEALBANGLA | -23.01 | -193.09 | Vol. 1100 D: 9.40 ⇓ 6.00% | 9.09 | 10.00 / 9.30 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 48400 D: 250.1 ⇓ 5.59% | 254.10 | 262.3 / 249.0 C: 252.9 ⇓ 5.14% | 253.02 | 254.5 / 250.1 SHYAMPSUG | -36.87 | -355.85 | Vol. 2500 D: 8.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.20 | 8.20 / 8.20 FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 347737 D: 24.50 ⇓ 4.30% | 24.81 | 26.00 / 24.00 C: 24.50 ⇓ 4.67% | 24.85 | 25.60 / 24.40 MEGHNAPET | -0.58 | -1.02 | Vol. 35500 D: 9.30 ⇓ 5.10% | 9.13 | 10.00 / 8.90 MEGCONMILK | -6.68 | -16.22 | Vol. 15000 D: 8.30 ⇓ 3.49% | 8.33 | 8.50 / 8.30 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 1666480 D: 25.50 ⇓ 1.92% | 26.12 | 27.00 / 23.50 C: 25.30 ⇓ 2.32% | 25.96 | 26.80 / 25.00 FINEFOODS | -0.11 | 10.58 | Vol. 740780 D: 29.20 ⇓ 7.59% | 30.83 | 32.50 / 28.50 C: 29.00 ⇓ 7.94% | 30.19 | 32.00 / 28.80 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 744298 D: 22.40 ⇓ 6.28% | 22.82 | 24.30 / 21.70 C: 22.40 ⇓ 6.67% | 22.78 | 23.90 / 22.20 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 232860 D: 42.80 ⇓ 4.25% | 43.45 | 45.10 / 40.30 C: 42.90 ⇓ 4.03% | 43.22 | 43.70 / 42.80 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 3200 D: 642.0 ⇓ 3.02% | 645.63 | 650.0 / 638.1 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 113938 D: 315.0 ⇓ 2.84% | 316.69 | 322.3 / 313.0 C: 313.6 ⇓ 3.60% | 316.99 | 319.4 / 312.2 EASTRNLUB | 6.32 | 68.68 | Vol. 350 D: 342.4 ⇓ 5.52% | 342.86 | 345.0 / 339.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 449606 D: 22.40 ⇓ 5.08% | 22.97 | 23.90 / 21.40 C: 22.40 ⇓ 5.49% | 22.65 | 23.30 / 22.30 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 208442 D: 31.50 ⇓ 0.94% | 31.57 | 32.50 / 28.70 C: 31.30 ⇓ 1.57% | 31.79 | 33.20 / 31.30 DESCO | 2.80 | 35.25 | Vol. 43002 D: 71.80 ⇓ 2.45% | 72.17 | 72.70 / 70.00 C: 71.70 ⇓ 1.92% | 70.63 | 72.10 / 70.00 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 21500 D: 54.10 ⇓ 1.46% | 54.10 | 54.50 / 54.00 C: 54.00 ⇓ 1.82% | 54.00 | 54.00 / 54.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 148172 D: 222.4 ⇓ 1.46% | 223.22 | 231.0 / 215.0 C: 222.4 ⇓ 0.98% | 222.34 | 223.0 / 222.0 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 131323 D: 259.1 ⇓ 1.82% | 259.87 | 264.0 / 250.0 C: 259.5 ⇓ 1.85% | 260.09 | 262.0 / 259.5 TITASGAS | 9.01 | 36.56 | Vol. 253315 D: 81.90 ⇓ 0.24% | 82.02 | 82.30 / 74.00 C: 81.30 ⇑ 0.12% | 81.19 | 81.50 / 80.90 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 58992 D: 44.70 ⇓ 1.32% | 44.93 | 46.00 / 41.00 C: 44.70 ⇓ 1.32% | 44.80 | 45.00 / 44.60 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 782778 D: 27.40 ⇓ 2.14% | 27.61 | 28.10 / 25.20 C: 27.40 ⇓ 1.79% | 27.42 | 27.60 / 27.40 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 47511 D: 69.80 ⇓ 1.97% | 69.85 | 73.00 / 64.10 C: 69.40 ⇑ 0.43% | 68.97 | 71.00 / 68.80 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 247098 D: 25.10 ⇓ 3.09% | 25.30 | 25.80 / 23.50 C: 25.20 ⇓ 2.33% | 25.25 | 25.80 / 23.90 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 301790 D: 49.80 ⇓ 3.68% | 50.13 | 51.60 / 46.60 C: 50.00 ⇓ 3.10% | 50.15 | 51.20 / 49.80 JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 6500 D: 113.1 ⇓ 8.20% | 113.85 | 120.0 / 112.4 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 8750 D: 145.7 ⇓ 4.40% | 146.06 | 149.0 / 144.6

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

7

October 06, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 31,193.94 ⇓ 1.21% NBFI: 19,248.81 ⇓ 1.96% INVS: 4,699.02 ⇓ 1.49% ENGG: 5,710.89 ⇓ 3.27% FOOD: 10,008.84 ⇓ 2.00% F&P: 10,045.58 ⇓ 1.36% TEXT: 3,043.43 ⇓ 2.67% PHAR: 16,820.50 ⇓ 1.41% PAPR: 1,100.87 ⇓ 4.25% SERV: 2,883.36 ⇓ 2.76% LEAT: 5,141.92 ⇓ 0.51% CERA: 491.73 ⇓ 3.30% CMNT: 4,343.60 ⇓ 1.69% INFO: 7,437.78 ⇓ 3.97% GINS: 9,493.54 ⇓ 2.62% LINS: 109,423.87 ⇑ 0.27% TELC: 1,329.03 ⇓ 1.63% MISC: 6,043.39 ⇓ 2.12% TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 53921 D: 93.40 ⇓ 6.13% | 96.98 | 102.2 / 93.00 RAHIMTEXT | 0.51 | 73.88 | Vol. 1811 D: 270.6 ⇓ 2.84% | 270.49 | 279.0 / 260.1 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 557300 D: 31.00 ⇓ 2.82% | 31.21 | 31.90 / 31.00 C: 31.00 ⇓ 2.52% | 31.22 | 31.70 / 31.00 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 2150 D: 104.2 ⇓ 2.98% | 104.19 | 108.5 / 100.0 DSHGARME | 0.72 | 12.00 | Vol. 38700 D: 74.60 ⇓ 7.21% | 77.24 | 83.50 / 73.10 DULAMIACOT | -8.46 | -27.78 | Vol. 7500 D: 9.30 ⇓ 7.00% | 9.33 | 9.80 / 9.00 TALLUSPIN | 2.56 | 12.06 | Vol. 1084860 D: 43.50 ⇓ 3.33% | 44.32 | 46.00 / 42.00 C: 43.40 ⇓ 3.56% | 44.34 | 45.50 / 43.30 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 1400 D: 71.00 ⇓ 5.59% | 70.71 | 73.00 / 68.40 MITHUNKNIT | 4.54 | 30.39 | Vol. 106600 D: 97.70 ⇓ 5.51% | 99.62 | 104.0 / 96.80 C: 97.60 ⇓ 5.06% | 98.38 | 99.00 / 100.0 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 243700 D: 32.20 ⇓ 2.72% | 32.51 | 33.50 / 32.00 C: 32.60 ⇓ 1.51% | 32.69 | 33.50 / 32.30 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 219322 D: 19.40 ⇓ 5.83% | 19.86 | 21.30 / 19.30 C: 19.50 ⇓ 5.80% | 19.89 | 20.50 / 19.50 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 199500 D: 27.10 ⇓ 4.58% | 27.29 | 28.40 / 27.00 C: 27.30 ⇓ 4.55% | 27.45 | 28.00 / 27.20 ALLTEX | -0.11 | 23.81 | Vol. 61500 D: 8.80 ⇓ 5.38% | 8.98 | 9.20 / 8.70 C: 9.00 ⇓ 5.26% | 9.05 | 9.20 / 8.90 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 135500 D: 36.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 35.98 | 37.00 / 35.30 C: 35.80 ⇑ 2.29% | 34.93 | 36.00 / 34.20 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 145765 D: 38.30 ⇓ 7.49% | 39.22 | 40.50 / 38.00 C: 39.00 ⇓ 5.80% | 40.74 | 41.90 / 39.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1705778 D: 31.40 ⇓ 6.55% | 32.07 | 34.00 / 30.50 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 263060 D: 24.70 ⇓ 6.44% | 25.18 | 26.60 / 24.00 C: 24.70 ⇓ 6.79% | 25.27 | 26.10 / 24.60 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 70646 D: 88.90 ⇓ 0.22% | 89.09 | 90.00 / 85.00 C: 88.10 ⇓ 1.01% | 88.18 | 89.00 / 88.00 METROSPIN | -1.00 | 19.59 | Vol. 187447 D: 17.20 ⇓ 4.44% | 17.40 | 18.00 / 16.80 C: 17.20 ⇓ 3.91% | 17.33 | 17.70 / 17.00 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 1305365 D: 15.50 ⇓ 3.73% | 15.71 | 16.50 / 14.50 C: 15.60 ⇓ 4.29% | 15.75 | 16.20 / 15.50 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 250920 D: 26.70 ⇓ 1.84% | 26.86 | 27.40 / 25.50 C: 26.80 ⇓ 1.11% | 26.73 | 27.40 / 26.50 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 1592498 D: 28.50 ⇓ 2.40% | 28.85 | 30.00 / 26.30 C: 28.50 ⇓ 2.40% | 28.73 | 29.20 / 28.40 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 208108 D: 15.50 ⇓ 3.73% | 15.67 | 16.00 / 14.80 C: 15.50 ⇓ 4.32% | 15.68 | 16.30 / 15.50 MALEKSPIN | -1.44 | 46.87 | Vol. 367635 D: 25.00 ⇓ 1.57% | 25.17 | 25.70 / 23.00 C: 25.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 25.14 | 25.30 / 25.00 ZAHINTEX | 1.91 | 35.25 | Vol. 146100 D: 30.20 ⇓ 3.82% | 30.88 | 31.70 / 29.00 C: 30.60 ⇓ 4.08% | 30.99 | 31.70 / 30.50 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 529750 D: 24.00 ⇓ 2.83% | 24.20 | 24.70 / 23.90 C: 24.00 ⇓ 3.23% | 24.14 | 24.50 / 23.90 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 1368880 D: 22.00 ⇓ 3.51% | 22.25 | 22.80 / 20.60 C: 22.10 ⇓ 2.64% | 22.32 | 22.80 / 22.10 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 388400 D: 53.30 ⇓ 2.38% | 53.47 | 54.80 / 53.20 C: 53.00 ⇓ 3.28% | 53.06 | 55.00 / 52.90 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 3087620 D: 44.90 ⇓ 2.18% | 45.09 | 48.20 / 41.40 C: 44.50 ⇓ 3.26% | 45.57 | 47.10 / 44.20 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 452500 D: 35.70 ⇑ 0.28% | 35.56 | 36.00 / 35.30 C: 35.30 ⇓ 0.84% | 35.32 | 35.40 / 35.20

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 4750 D: 275.4 ⇓ 4.44% | 279.50 | 285.6 / 275.0 C: 277.0 ⇓ 4.12% | 278.47 | 282.2 / 273.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 146946 D: 43.00 ⇓ 1.83% | 43.35 | 44.00 / 39.50 C: 43.60 ⇓ 1.58% | 43.65 | 44.00 / 42.80 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 50 D: 882.0 ⇓ 5.16% | 882.00 | 882.0 / 882.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 19107 D: 158.5 ⇓ 1.74% | 158.95 | 161.1 / 146.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 7724 D: 700.9 ⇓ 3.32% | 707.02 | 720.0 / 685.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 20250 D: 177.5 ⇓ 3.85% | 180.20 | 184.7 / 177.1 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 75030 D: 105.4 ⇓ 4.96% | 107.17 | 111.0 / 100.0 C: 105.7 ⇓ 5.46% | 106.66 | 111.0 / 104.0 LIBRAINFU | 4.64 | 1565.37 | Vol. 1800 D: 459.3 ⇓ 6.85% | 459.44 | 477.0 / 456.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 116200 D: 44.40 ⇓ 2.63% | 44.93 | 46.80 / 44.30 C: 44.60 ⇓ 2.62% | 44.81 | 45.10 / 44.50 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 199017 D: 172.0 ⇓ 1.21% | 172.28 | 180.0 / 157.5 C: 171.2 ⇓ 1.15% | 171.70 | 172.7 / 171.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.68 | 5.67 | Vol. 7500 D: 11.20 ⇓ 8.20% | 11.33 | 11.90 / 11.00 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 765050 D: 24.20 ⇓ 2.02% | 24.65 | 25.10 / 22.30 C: 24.20 ⇓ 1.63% | 24.45 | 25.00 / 24.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 7400 D: 828.2 ⇑ 1.09% | 827.26 | 830.0 / 810.1 C: 770.5 ⇓ 0.03% | 770.50 | 827.9 / 713.1 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 40800 D: 76.40 ⇓ 2.05% | 77.15 | 78.00 / 76.20 C: 77.00 ⇓ 0.52% | 77.00 | 77.00 / 77.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 3750 D: 774.2 ⇓ 0.42% | 770.56 | 778.0 / 766.2 C: 776.8 ⇓ 7.41% | 776.83 | 777.0 / 776.5 BEACONPHAR | 0.33 | 11.97 | Vol. 227350 D: 14.20 ⇓ 2.07% | 14.38 | 14.70 / 13.50 C: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.45 | 14.60 / 14.30 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 404728 D: 89.80 ⇓ 2.18% | 90.49 | 91.40 / 82.70 C: 90.20 ⇓ 1.31% | 91.45 | 94.00 / 90.20 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 281405 D: 20.90 ⇓ 5.00% | 21.29 | 22.10 / 19.90 C: 21.00 ⇓ 4.55% | 21.40 | 22.00 / 20.90 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 119000 D: 46.10 ⇓ 1.71% | 46.57 | 47.00 / 46.10 C: 45.70 ⇓ 2.97% | 45.66 | 46.00 / 45.50 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1267160 D: 63.30 ⇑ 1.12% | 63.34 | 68.00 / 56.40 C: 63.20 ⇑ 0.96% | 63.43 | 64.50 / 61.80 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 171500 D: 246.0 ⇓ 3.91% | 255.52 | 268.0 / 243.5 C: 254.0 ⇓ 1.55% | 256.61 | 264.5 / 245.0 CENTRALPHL | 0.61 | 10.99 | Vol. 241000 D: 33.80 ⇓ 1.17% | 33.94 | 34.70 / 33.60 C: 33.70 ⇓ 1.75% | 33.66 | 34.00 / 33.20 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 29000 D: 32.10 ⇓ 5.31% | 32.35 | 33.20 / 31.50 C: 32.20 ⇓ 5.29% | 32.22 | 36.00 / 31.00 SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 20702 D: 106.1 ⇓ 2.30% | 108.54 | 116.0 / 105.4 C: 107.0 ⇓ 0.09% | 107.00 | 107.0 / 107.0

SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 109066 D: 25.10 ⇓ 1.57% | 25.17 | 25.50 / 23.00 C: 25.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 25.20 | 25.60 / 25.00 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 155478 D: 54.10 ⇓ 3.57% | 54.63 | 56.20 / 50.50 C: 54.40 ⇓ 3.37% | 54.50 | 55.50 / 54.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 97900 D: 115.5 ⇓ 2.78% | 116.66 | 119.0 / 115.4 C: 114.7 ⇓ 2.80% | 115.22 | 117.6 / 114.7 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 2800 D: 704.4 ⇓ 2.36% | 704.64 | 710.0 / 698.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 22200 D: 364.8 ⇓ 3.72% | 366.31 | 374.0 / 360.5 SAMATALETH | -0.07 | 12.08 | Vol. 500 D: 11.90 ⇓ 7.03% | 11.90 | 11.90 / 11.90 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 256527 D: 40.80 ⇓ 4.00% | 41.49 | 43.80 / 38.30 C: 40.90 ⇓ 3.76% | 41.31 | 43.60 / 40.30 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 107550 D: 35.30 ⇑ 2.02% | 36.37 | 37.70 / 34.60 C: 36.00 ⇑ 2.27% | 36.29 | 36.60 / 36.00 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 3000 D: 39.40 ⇓ 4.60% | 39.33 | 43.80 / 37.60 FUWANGCER | 1.43 | 13.25 | Vol. 268277 D: 19.40 ⇓ 3.96% | 19.58 | 20.00 / 18.20 C: 19.50 ⇓ 3.94% | 19.55 | 19.60 / 19.50 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 271864 D: 16.00 ⇓ 3.03% | 16.10 | 16.50 / 16.00 C: 16.10 ⇓ 2.42% | 16.17 | 16.40 / 16.10 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 407209 D: 49.90 ⇓ 3.85% | 50.34 | 57.00 / 47.00 C: 50.00 ⇓ 3.85% | 50.66 | 51.50 / 50.00 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 32300 D: 358.7 ⇓ 3.16% | 360.54 | 370.0 / 357.0 C: 364.9 ⇓ 2.30% | 364.87 | 370.0 / 357.3 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 68285 D: 117.1 ⇓ 3.06% | 117.78 | 119.1 / 115.0 C: 116.9 ⇓ 3.47% | 116.93 | 120.0 / 115.7 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 35700 D: 131.5 ⇓ 3.87% | 132.66 | 135.6 / 130.8 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 47650 D: 73.50 ⇓ 6.25% | 74.47 | 76.90 / 73.00 C: 73.80 ⇓ 9.67% | 73.93 | 74.00 / 73.80 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 577000 D: 33.60 ⇓ 0.30% | 33.69 | 33.90 / 33.40 C: 33.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 33.75 | 34.00 / 33.60 MICEMENT | 4.14 | 40.00 | Vol. 136589 D: 91.90 ⇓ 1.82% | 92.03 | 95.00 / 86.00 C: 91.60 ⇓ 2.03% | 91.46 | 92.20 / 91.30 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 71800 D: 103.2 ⇓ 4.27% | 104.07 | 106.8 / 102.1 C: 103.3 ⇓ 5.14% | 103.29 | 103.3 / 103.2 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 131747 D: 19.70 ⇓ 7.94% | 20.05 | 21.10 / 19.50 C: 19.70 ⇓ 8.37% | 19.98 | 21.10 / 19.50 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 179700 D: 26.40 ⇓ 4.35% | 26.43 | 27.30 / 25.90 C: 27.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.38 | 27.90 / 26.20 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 287050 D: 16.60 ⇓ 7.78% | 16.85 | 18.00 / 16.30 C: 16.70 ⇓ 7.73% | 16.89 | 18.00 / 16.50 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 126886 D: 23.10 ⇓ 1.70% | 23.34 | 24.00 / 21.50 C: 23.00 ⇓ 2.54% | 22.99 | 23.10 / 21.30

DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 257000 D: 18.00 ⇓ 4.76% | 18.09 | 18.60 / 17.50 C: 18.20 ⇓ 3.19% | 18.10 | 18.60 / 18.00 AAMRATECH | 1.17 | 20.44 | Vol. 369550 D: 33.90 ⇓ 6.61% | 34.40 | 36.90 / 32.70 C: 34.00 ⇓ 6.34% | 34.42 | 35.20 / 33.80

PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 93022 D: 29.20 ⇓ 2.99% | 29.51 | 30.40 / 27.30 C: 29.00 ⇓ 9.38% | 29.00 | 29.00 / 29.00 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 79500 D: 39.20 ⇓ 3.21% | 39.51 | 40.10 / 39.10 C: 38.90 ⇓ 5.12% | 38.90 | 39.00 / 38.50

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 105724 D: 29.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 29.60 | 30.00 / 29.20 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 37818 D: 97.80 ⇓ 2.20% | 99.19 | 100.8 / 90.00 C: 98.00 ⇓ 3.73% | 97.95 | 98.00 / 102.0 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 6600 D: 44.70 ⇓ 1.97% | 44.85 | 45.50 / 44.50 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 689194 D: 34.30 ⇑ 0.59% | 34.50 | 35.40 / 30.90 C: 34.20 ⇑ 0.59% | 33.99 | 35.00 / 33.20 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 15200 D: 39.40 ⇓ 1.50% | 39.28 | 40.00 / 38.60 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 9489 D: 272.3 ⇓ 4.97% | 277.11 | 285.8 / 271.3 C: 278.0 ⇓ 3.47% | 277.88 | 280.0 / 270.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 10262 D: 40.60 ⇓ 3.79% | 40.64 | 40.70 / 39.00 C: 40.00 ⇓ 2.44% | 40.02 | 40.10 / 40.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 99060 D: 47.00 ⇓ 3.89% | 47.33 | 48.90 / 44.40 C: 46.10 ⇓ 5.14% | 46.30 | 47.10 / 46.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 51000 D: 29.40 ⇓ 1.67% | 29.71 | 30.20 / 29.10 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 68180 D: 24.30 ⇓ 2.41% | 24.89 | 25.50 / 24.30 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 129397 D: 23.30 ⇓ 2.92% | 23.57 | 24.40 / 22.50 C: 23.40 ⇓ 2.90% | 23.61 | 24.00 / 23.30 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 4098 D: 75.80 ⇑ 3.69% | 75.65 | 79.00 / 70.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 172150 D: 22.60 ⇓ 3.83% | 22.96 | 23.80 / 22.10 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 35466 D: 56.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 56.05 | 56.50 / 52.00 C: 53.20 ⇓ 7.80% | 53.20 | 53.20 / 53.20 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 26998 D: 32.10 ⇓ 4.75% | 32.32 | 33.00 / 30.40 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 46100 D: 67.20 ⇓ 1.75% | 67.41 | 68.10 / 66.40 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 55300 D: 28.60 ⇓ 3.05% | 28.70 | 29.50 / 27.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 30005 D: 29.90 ⇓ 2.61% | 30.23 | 31.50 / 29.60 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 30081 D: 34.60 ⇓ 3.08% | 34.77 | 35.50 / 33.50 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 170500 D: 30.90 ⇓ 1.59% | 31.16 | 31.70 / 30.50 C: 30.20 ⇓ 2.58% | 30.56 | 31.50 / 30.20 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 143640 D: 25.90 ⇓ 1.89% | 26.11 | 27.10 / 25.80 C: 25.90 ⇓ 2.63% | 25.93 | 26.00 / 25.90 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 83807 D: 24.40 ⇓ 2.79% | 24.67 | 27.00 / 24.10 C: 25.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.00 | 25.50 / 25.50 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 156155 D: 29.20 ⇓ 3.31% | 29.81 | 30.50 / 28.00 C: 29.80 ⇑ 0.68% | 29.81 | 30.00 / 29.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 241230 D: 33.00 ⇓ 3.79% | 33.42 | 34.60 / 31.00 C: 33.70 ⇓ 1.75% | 33.65 | 34.40 / 33.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 80976 D: 44.50 ⇓ 2.41% | 43.85 | 46.00 / 42.00 C: 43.20 ⇓ 1.82% | 43.13 | 43.60 / 43.00 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 12232 D: 39.30 ⇓ 1.26% | 39.08 | 41.00 / 37.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 77164 D: 45.20 ⇓ 1.31% | 45.07 | 45.90 / 42.00 C: 44.00 ⇓ 1.12% | 43.97 | 44.10 / 43.10 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 78648 D: 46.60 ⇓ 6.61% | 47.08 | 51.00 / 45.00 C: 48.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 51.67 | 48.90 / 48.90 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 131570 D: 28.60 ⇓ 4.35% | 29.46 | 30.60 / 27.00 C: 29.50 ⇓ 1.67% | 29.86 | 30.60 / 27.50 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 10279 D: 31.10 ⇓ 3.72% | 31.25 | 33.30 / 30.00 C: 32.00 ⇓ 3.03% | 32.00 | 32.00 / 32.00

LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 3413 D: 251.3 ⇑ 1.21% | 251.17 | 259.5 / 240.0 C: 241.0 ⇓ 3.48% | 241.00 | 241.0 / 241.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 52900 D: 5698 ⇓ 2.57% | 6142 | 8500 / 5680 C: 5873 ⇑ 4.78% | 6209 | 7799 / 5750 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 23490 D: 69.70 ⇓ 0.71% | 69.94 | 71.60 / 67.50 C: 71.90 ⇑ 2.42% | 70.07 | 72.00 / 69.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 4850 D: 171.7 ⇓ 1.72% | 171.58 | 174.9 / 169.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 30505 D: 92.40 ⇓ 0.54% | 92.41 | 94.00 / 92.00 C: 90.40 ⇓ 1.09% | 92.13 | 93.80 / 90.00 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 29850 D: 100.9 ⇓ 0.39% | 101.65 | 104.5 / 100.1 C: 99.40 ⇓ 0.30% | 99.40 | 99.40 / 99.40 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 27604 D: 104.8 ⇑ 9.97% | 104.64 | 104.8 / 96.00 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 93475 D: 112.6 ⇓ 3.35% | 118.16 | 125.0 / 107.1 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 19900 D: 92.60 ⇑ 0.11% | 92.99 | 95.00 / 85.00 C: 90.00 ⇓ 2.07% | 92.26 | 93.00 / 90.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 64500 D: 98.20 ⇓ 1.50% | 100.42 | 104.0 / 98.20 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 16000 D: 62.80 ⇓ 1.72% | 62.92 | 64.00 / 62.10 C: 62.70 ⇑ 0.16% | 62.43 | 63.00 / 62.10 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 189950 D: 55.70 ⇓ 3.80% | 56.52 | 58.90 / 52.20 C: 55.70 ⇓ 3.47% | 56.30 | 58.50 / 55.10 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 152422 D: 185.7 ⇓ 1.12% | 186.25 | 190.0 / 182.0 C: 185.8 ⇓ 1.01% | 185.85 | 187.1 / 185.2 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 236120 D: 212.7 ⇓ 3.80% | 214.98 | 221.5 / 202.0 C: 213.7 ⇓ 3.22% | 215.06 | 218.5 / 212.5 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 5952272 D: 15.80 ⇓ 12.22% | 16.06 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 15.80 ⇓ 12.71% | 16.01 | 16.90 / 15.70 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 389835 D: 85.50 ⇓ 3.17% | 86.07 | 92.30 / 80.00 C: 84.70 ⇓ 3.75% | 85.14 | 88.00 / 84.30 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 9250 D: 319.1 ⇓ 3.62% | 324.22 | 339.0 / 316.1 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 58190 D: 517.3 ⇓ 2.41% | 520.98 | 532.0 / 516.0 C: 518.0 ⇓ 2.45% | 519.72 | 528.5 / 516.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 40744 D: 149.9 ⇓ 2.41% | 150.74 | 155.0 / 149.1 C: 149.5 ⇓ 2.48% | 150.74 | 152.3 / 149.0 USMANIAGL | 0.50 | 26.03 | Vol. 32950 D: 138.3 ⇓ 5.34% | 141.22 | 146.0 / 137.9 C: 138.9 ⇓ 5.25% | 140.13 | 143.5 / 138.0 SAVAREFR | 0.23 | 12.32 | Vol. 650 D: 63.10 ⇑ 1.61% | 63.08 | 66.00 / 62.10 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 779320 D: 28.70 ⇓ 3.37% | 29.08 | 30.50 / 26.80 C: 28.80 ⇓ 3.36% | 29.01 | 29.60 / 28.50 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 126000 D: 23.20 ⇓ 5.69% | 23.79 | 24.50 / 23.00 C: 23.40 ⇓ 5.26% | 23.80 | 24.60 / 23.00 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 151010 D: 16.40 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.56 | 17.30 / 15.00 C: 16.30 ⇓ 1.21% | 16.54 | 17.00 / 16.20 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 70 D: 954.8 ⇓ 0.13% | 953.85 | 956.0 / 950.0 C: 941.0 ⇓ 0.32% | 941.00 | 941.0 / 941.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 100 D: 870.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 870.00 | 870.0 / 870.0 C: 861.5 ⇓ 0.40% | 861.64 | 862.0 / 860.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

‘Think from a consumer’s point of view in every step’ Yusuf Hassan, a designer, an individualistic communication enthusiast, founding member of both AdClub Dhaka and National Poetry Council, an entrepreneur, and a pioneering brand architect of Bangladesh renowned for his clear vision, insight, brand designing, and brand strategy, shares his view on the brand building and management scenario of Bangladesh with Mehrab Al Islam How did you become the convener of AdClub?

Back in 1990, there was no common platform for advertising professionals. Thus, some of us got together and initiated AdClub, a place where we can share our thoughts on latest happenings in areas of advertising and branding.

How did you start your career in advertising?

It started out with my passion for design.

After brief stints at a few newspaper offices among other places, I stumbled upon the world of advertising. The opportunity to explore new horizons in design lured me into the world of branding and advertising. As I found other creative enthusiasts like me, we got together to start Roop Communications.

How did Roop Communications take form?

What factors did you consider? What sets it apart from other agencies?

In the ‘90s, many international brands were starting their operations in Bangladesh. I sensed a gap emerging between existing creative service agencies in meeting the quality demanded by these international clients.

Thus, Roop came into being with a mission to fill this gap.

Primarily, we focused on branding and using brand elements to create a strong brand identity. The creative flair and strategic acumen in our work sets us apart. Our unique methodology defines, creates, and captures the core essence of any brand into a single brand story.

What’s next for Roop communications?

I would like to see Roop as a knowledge-sharing platform for branding and design. At present, there are around 1,700 brands in Bangladesh. If we can utilise these brands’ powers, it won’t be a surprise if the next Tesco or Apple emerges from Bangladesh. As power of brands is yet to be realised by local businesses, I would like Roop to ignite the awareness about branding.

As you created the first Grameenphone logo, what did the green and red imply?

In 1996, Telenor called me to design the logo for their venture in Bangladesh. They briefed

What is your favourite marketing campaign globally?

Although there are too many to mention, I particularly recall a campaign by Australian Tourism Board, “There’s nothing like Australia”.

Designation: Convener, Adclub

Career background: Newspaper, Advertisemnt, Design

As you have won award for best book cover designer for 3 years in a row, tell us about your experience in the print media.

I have always enjoyed working with newspapers and magazines. The influence and exposure of the print media always fascinates me.

Moreover, I began my career in the communication industry through the print media. In the early years of my career, I had worked for the editorial bodies of many magazines and newspapers.

Academic background: Msc Botany, Dhaka University Interests: Design, Architecture, Gardening, Travelling, Reading, Browsing the net, Collecting books

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

‘There is no alternative to learning in producing noteworthy work.

Learn something new every day’

us on designing the logo with Royal Bengal Tiger or Shapla (lotus) in it, aligned with the national theme. They were looking for a logo, which the mass could relate to. The red and green silhouette of face with a symbol of cell phone was considered. However, after mulling over the concept it felt the logo had a Westernised vibe. This was solved by putting a tiny red dot symbolising a nose pin worn

by Bangladeshi women. That gave the logo a much-needed local (deshi) twist.

How was your experience being the advisory council member of World Brand Congress?

The World Brand Congress not only celebrates successful brands and hard-working minds behind it, but also creates a dialogue between professionals from these disciplines namely from design, marketing, digital etc.

It was a rewarding experience, considering that I also played a part in this initiative personally.

What is the current scenario of the advertising industry in Bangladesh? What is its potential for growth? What services may be offered that will differentiate a successful company from one which is not?

Currently, agencies in Bangladesh are doing great, creative, consumer-oriented work.

However, I am concerned that the core concept of branding is getting lost.

Agencies need to straighten the record and encourage clients to maintain proper branding practice.

With positive economic growth, Bangladesh has the resources to get into sophisticated branding processes. Many local brands have stepped into their 30th or 40th anniversary. It’s time that we celebrate our heritage and bring these local brands in front row instead of idolising foreign brands.

What makes a good marketing campaign?

There is no fixed definition of a good marketing campaign. In the fast-paced world of communication, it is unwise to have one set formula. Any campaign that successfully drives consumers to action, and triggers the desired positioning, is a good campaign.

Tips to be considered while making a marketing/advertising campaign Comprehend the strategic directions of the company. Understand the brand personality, define your objectives and goals for the campaign. Translate your product/service’s unique selling proposition through the Big Idea, keeping it aligned with consumer insight and brand personality. Conduct a thorough competitor analysis before jumping in. Explore strategic concepts for the brand, and try to unearth the minutest consumer insight and expectations to bring it out in the campaign.

Some essential communication guidelines that you always follow I see to it that the consistency is maintained across all communication tools - the brand name typography, colour palette, and other brand elements. Think from your consumer’s point of view in every step. As your creation has to sell the product, emphasise on positioning.

Amidst all the clutter, your communication has to earn the place in consumers’ mind and establish your product in their mind. Strategic planning has to capture the right positioning, creating point of difference in consumer s’ mind.

Please share your feelings about achieving the CMO Award It is amazing that my efforts have been recognised. Given that the award is from an international body, it motivates me to live up to that level of quality in work. l

Japan warns of ‘consequences’ in US debt battle n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s finance minister and top central banker on Friday urged Washington to resolve its political gridlock, warning a debt default could lead to grim “consequences” for the global economy.

The present impasse, where the refusal of a right-wing rump of the Republican Party to pass a budget bill has resulted in a government shutdown,

is already affecting the currency markets, Finance Minister Taro Aso said, warning it could worsen.

“I think this could likely result in a situation where the dollar will be sold and the yen will be bought,” Aso told reporters.

The yen has already soared to multi-month highs against the dollar, as traders move out of the greenback and into the safe haven of the Japanese currency.

The falling dollar is bad news for Japan’s exporters, a key driver of growth in the world’s third-largest economy, because it erodes their repatriated profits.

The Japanese unit was changing hands at 97.08 to the dollar in late Asian trade.

“My feeling is ... the debt limit will have an internationally significant impact,” Aso said, referring to a looming October 17 deadline by which

the US government needs lawmakers to raise the ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.

“Unless it is resolved swiftly, we will see various consequences.”

Japan is a major holder of US government debt.

Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda echoed Aso’s concerns, but said if the emotionally-charged standoff could be resolved quickly, it need not derail the fledgeling US economic recovery. l