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BNP looks back to move forward Hasina 'ready' to talk to Khaleda

Khaleda suggests interim government can comprise 10 advisers from ‘successful’ 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments plus a consensus chief adviser n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee Awami League President and Prime n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said

she was ready to communicate with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to bring the opposition party to negotiation table, if necessary, to reach a consensus on polls-time government.

The ruling Awami League considers Khaleda’s proposal on such administration unacceptable and backward and said it would not accept any unconstitutional proposal.

The government would do its best to bring the opposition party to the forthcoming parliamentary polls, Hasina told her cabinet colleagues after a meeting yesterday.

“If needed, I will communicate with Khaleda Zia and talk to her,” a senior minister who was present at the meeting quoted Hasina as saying.

Wishing anonymity, the minister told the Dhaka Tribune that the prime

In response to the prime minister’s proposal for an all-party polls-time government, main opposition BNP has tabled its own formula for an ad-hoc government that would comprise 10 advisors from two previous “successful” caretaker governments.

Opposition chief Khaleda Zia came up with the proposal yesterday at a jam-packed press conference at city hotel.

“In 1996 and 2001, two credible elections were held under non-partisan and neutral caretaker governments, in which all parties participated …I am

P5 FULL SPEECH proposing that from the 20 advisers who were part of those two governments, the ruling party can propose five names and the opposition another five. These 10 will then be the advisers in the interim government that will oversee the forthcoming elections,” she said.

The losing parties in both those two elections – the BNP in 1996 and the Awami League in 2001 –rejected the results claiming the votes were rigged against their favours.

In a televised nation address on Friday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed the formula for an all-party polls-time government and sought names of opposition lawmakers for the interim cabinet.

About who would head the pollstime government, Khaleda Zia yesterday said: “I propose that on the basis of consensus between the government and the opposition parties, a respected citizen of the country can be chosen as the chief adviser to the interim government.”

In her nearly 38-minute speech, the opposition leader also elaborately discussed the plans that her party planned to execute if voted to power.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Proposal will require amending constitution Reza Chowdhury and n Kamran Mohammad Zakaria The BNP’s proposal on the polls-time administration is not possible to execute without amending the constitution, constitution experts and legal professionals say.

They say Khaleda Zia’s proposal will not help to resolve the existing political deadlock.

The constitution does not allow any unelected person to head a government.

Only 10% of unelected persons can be inducted as technocrat members.

“Khaleda Zia’s proposal has pushed the problem towards a deadlock instead of resolving the crisis,” Dr Shahdin Malik told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said people had some hope until Khaleda disclosed her party’s alterna-

Not 20, they are 14 n Tribune Report

The BNP chairperson yesterday proposed forming a 10-member non-partisan cabinet from 20 advisers of the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments

to conduct the next general elections, but 18 persons manned the two cabinets with barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed and businessman Syed Manzur Elahi having served both. Four of the 18 advisers meanwhile died. l

Police swoop on Khaleda’s convoy, detains Tuku n Mohammad Al Masum Molla

tive proposal. “The politics now heads towards a labyrinth,” he said.

Dr Kamal Hossain, who headed the constitution framing committee after the country’s independence, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that the two political parties must reach a consensus on implementing Khaleda’s proposal.

“If they reach a consensus, then everything becomes a question of formality. But the constitution must be amended [before that],” he said.

Barrister Rafique-ul-Huq also welcomed the opposition leader’s proposal but said its execution was not possible without amending the constitution.

Clause 2 of article 56 of the constitution says the appointments of the prime minister and other ministers “shall be made by the President

In the presence of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, police detained former president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, as the law enforcement officials and the BNP chairperson’s security force (CSF) locked into a scuffle during her visit to the party headquarters at Nayapaltan last night.

Khaleda met ailing BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at the party office, but on her way out, the police forces deployed in the area constrained one of the vehicles in her convoy. The vehicle was carrying three members of the CSF and Salahuddin Tuku.

At one point, they involved in an argument which resulted in a scuffle.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Former caretaker advisers: No thanks n Muktasree Chakma Sathi Advisers to the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments observed that the proposal made by opposition leader and BNP chief Khaleda Zia was unlikely to be accepted by the ruling Awami League.

She yesterday proposed forming a 10-member caretaker government to oversee the upcoming national elections. According to her proposal, the government would be comprised of five members selected by the AL and five by the BNP from 1996 and 2001 caretaker government advisers, as those two caretaker governments were widely considered neutral.

Adviser to the 2001 caretaker government ASM Shahjahan, also former inspector general of police, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Awami League will never accept the proposal.

“The whole country is concerned about the present political situation.

They [AL and BNP] should reach some sort of consensus. Although, I must say, as far I can predict, such consensus is unlikely,” he added.

Asked if he was considering taking the duty of caretaker adviser again, he said it would be hard to comment in advance. “I must arrive at a bridge before I can cross it. I do not see any bridge.”

In reply to the same question, former adviser M Hafiz Uddin, said: “Am I mad?”

Hafiz Uddin, a trustee of Transparency International, Bangladesh, also observed that the ruling party would “never accept the proposal.”

Economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, an adviser to the caretaker government in 1996, answered in a satirical way to the same question: “I was an adviser a long time ago. If I have to be something now, I would be a prime minister.

“I am not interested to make any comment,” Wahiduddin said when asked what he was thinking about the recent proposal. l

minister was determined to make any sacrifice for democracy and clarified her stance that the government wanted participation of all parties in the polls.

In her address to the nation on Friday, Hasina had proposed a structure of an all-party government to hold the polls and appealed to the opposition to give names of its lawmakers for the interim cabinet. She requested Khaleda to respond to her call positively.

Awami League terms BNP proposal unacceptable, backward Opposition leader Khaleda Zia yesterday gave a counter proposal for forming a 10-member caretaker government – five selected by the Awami League and five by the BNP from the advisers of 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments, which she said had been “widely considered neutral.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Khaleda's militancy claim contrary to the facts kar Ali Manik and n Julfi Probir K Sarker BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia yesterday claimed that militancy and terrorism had taken the root during the Awami League’s 1996-2001 tenure. However, past records and investigations reveal that it was Khaleda’s first regime when the first terrorist organisation Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, Bangladesh (Huji) was launched openly.

“People know how terrorism and militancy took root during the preceding Awami league regime,” Khaleda told a press conference while revealing her proposal for a non-partisan interim administration to oversee the next elections.

Huji, which is blamed for many ter-

rorist attacks, emerged through an open declaration of its jihad agenda at a press conference at the National Press Club in early 1992. Following this, they even carried out a procession in the city.

Even there are more records how Khaleda’s previous administrations and some of her party’s influential leaders, former ministers and parliament members were widely blamed for patronising and extending their support to Islamist militants spread their network and to carry out several terrorist acts.

Huji got nourished almost unchallenged for years until the Hasina-led Awami League government began chasing them in January 1998 as it made an attack on the late poet Shamsur Rahman.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Ershad: JP will not take part in polls if BNP boycotts n Manik Miazee

alliance or separately.”

Ershad yesterday said Ashraf’s claim had surprised him. He termed the Awami League general secretary’s statement “untrue, baseless, and unfortunate.”

Senior Awami League leaders, while contacted, refused to comment on Ershad’s remarks.

After the Jatiya Party chairman’s press conference yesterday, AL presidium member Kari Zafarullah told reporters that he was not aware why Ershad took such a decision. “Ershad frequently changes his stands. Jatiya Party secretary general was also there when Syed Ashraful Islam was briefing reporters on Sunday. Then why Ershad has made such remarks today is not clear to me,” the AL leader said. l

Former military dictator and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said his party would not participate in the next national elections unless all political parties, including the BNP, took part.

Ershad also said his party would not also contest the elections if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina headed the interim government to oversee the polls because the election would not be free and fair under Hasina.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Banani office, he also trashed media reports that the Jatiya Party would take part in the election with the ruling Awami League-led alliance as “rumours.”

He also protested the “misleading” reports about a party delegation’s meeting with the prime minister and her party representatives on October 20.

Claiming the whole thing was merely a rumour, Ershad urged the media to bring out the “truth.”

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam had told the media on Sunday that the Jatiya Party had agreed to participate in the upcoming polls as part of the 18-party alliance at the meeting.

“The grand alliance has remained intact. We will contest the election from the alliance,” Ashraf had said, adding: “If other political parties do not participate in the elections, we will decide whether to go to elections as an

People call for consensus n Rabiul Islam

Eminent citizens fear political instability

The Dhaka Tribune took the reactions of several citizens on the streets in the capital to find out how the opposition chief’s proposal for a polls-time government resonated with them.

Md Moniruzzaman, assistant vicepresident of a private bank, said the proposal was “not bad.” "However, before picking from those advisers, checks would be needed to see whether they are currently engaged in politics."

Rafiqul Islam, a farmer from Khulna, said it was a “proper proposal.”

Shafiul Alam, from Noakhali, who sells tea in Sutrapur, said: “The two larger parties can reach a consensus through this proposal.”

Fahima Aktar, a teacher of FM College Mirpur, termed the proposal “good,” but was unsure of its chances of success.

Some, however, thought Khaleda Zia’s proposal was not a viable solution.

Monirul Islam, a manager at a leasing company, said the BNP initiative would not solve the ongoing political problems.

Mahtab Morshed, who works in a private company, said outright he thought the issue of the election-time government would be settled on the streets through conflict. “We know our two leaders never compromise.” l

n Mohammad Zakaria Several eminent citizens reacted to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s proposal on polls-time government yesterday by voicing concerns that the political situation of the country would worsen as the two major political parties have chosen divergent paths over the issue.

'If the two parties cannot reach a consensus, the country’s political stability will be jeopardised ahead of the next parliamentary elections' In addition, they also pressed the importance of a dialogue between the two parties in order to reach an agreement.

Jurist Barrister Rafique ul Huq said the constitution would have to be amended to form a caretaker government as proposed by the BNP leader in her speech yesterday.

He pointed out the importance of a meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia and said the political situation would worsen if the two major political parties cannot reach consensus on the formation of the pollstime government.

Hasina 'ready' to talk to Khaleda  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

However, senior Awami League leaders think there is no scope for discussing the “unacceptable” proposal.

The Awami League will convey its official reaction to Khaleda’s proposal today or tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday termed the BNP’s proposal “backward.”

“Khaleda Zia’s proposal was backward and did not hint at making any progress,” Ashraf was quoted by prime minister’s Special Assistant (media) Mahbubul Hoque Shakil as saying.

Ashraf said the opposition leader’s proposal reflected her personal rivalries whereas the prime minister had called for strengthening the country’s democracy.

Expressing her reaction to the Dhaka Tribune, Awami League Presidium

member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said Khaleda’s proposal was an old formula in a new wrapping reflecting her unwillingness “to walk in the constitutional path.”

Soon after Khaleda’s press briefing, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif said the nature of the government in her proposal was no different from that of a caretaker one and “there is no scope for discussion on her proposal.”

Hanif told reporters at his Karwan Bazar office that talks were possible only on the prime minister’s proposal laid out in her address to the nation.

Meeting sources said Hasina had asked her party leaders not to give separate statements on a single issue.

“Give reactions to any issue, including Khaleda’s proposal, after discussing it in the party forum,” she said. l

Meanwhile, former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan in his reaction said the two major political parties had clarified their stances, “but if they cannot reach a consensus over the ongoing crisis, the country’s political stability will be jeopardised ahead of the next parliamentary elections.”

Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Iftekharuzzaman, said leader of the opposition has in substance remained firm on her demand for the non-party caretaker government, and that the only difference now is some indications on how such a government can be formed.

“The proposal has not been accepted by the ruling party. While the prime minister has proposed an all-party election-time government, the ruling party remains essentially firm against a non-party caretaker government,” he said.

“Hence the scope and prospect of a mutually agreeable solution no longer appears available,” he said, adding that there are reasons to be concerned about a worst possible turnout of this mutually antagonistic position which can be detrimental to public interest and future of democracy. l

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police Mehedi Hasan assaults BNP chairperson’s security staff while detaining party leader Sultan Salahuddin Tuku from Khaleda Zia’s motorcade NASHIRUL ISLAM

Khaleda to sit with Khaleda forgives 'offenders' ily and have made personal attacks and BNP lawmakers n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla has continued to do so.”

She regretted her previous mistakes, Khaleda Zia yesterday said the BNP, if tonight voted back to power, would not take any saying: “I have no hesitation to admit vengeful step against those who “of- that we have made mistakes in the past. n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla In the same breath, I would like to say fended” her and her family members.

BNP Chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaelda Zia will sit with the party’s members of parliament tonight to analyse the current political situation of the country.

“Madam [Khaleda] has called the parliamentary party’s meeting tomorrow at her Gulshan office at 8pm,” Zainul Abdin Farroque, the opposition chief whip, told the Dhaka Tribune last night.

Sahiduddin Chowdhury Annie said the leader of the opposition had called the meeting to discuss the current political situation.

A lawmaker seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that if the government took initiative to amend the constitution the opposition MPs would join parliament. If the government did not, they might resign, he said.

The BNP chief held a meeting with the party’s standing committee members on Saturday and with the leaders of the BNP-led 18 party alliances on Sunday. Yesterday she addressed a press conference to present a proposal on the polls-time interim government. l

provided that not less than nine-tenths of their number shall be appointed from among members of Parliament and not more than one-tenth of their number may be chosen from among persons qualified for election as members of Parliament.”

Clause 3 says: “The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the member of Parliament who appears to him to command the support of the majority of the members of the Parliament.”

Clause 4 says: “If occasion arises for making appointment under clause 2 or clause 3 between a dissolution of Parliament and the next following general election of members of Parliament, the persons who were such members immediately before the dissolution shall be regarded for the purpose of this clause as continuing to be such members.”

we have learnt from those mistakes.”

She said: “I agree with the adage – if you fail to learn from history, history will repeat itself. We will not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

Police swoop on Khaleda’s convoy  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Members of the police then allegedly broke the windows of the car to drag Tuku out. They also allegedly swooped on the CSF members, leaving them injured. Tuku was later detained.

BNP sources alleged that during the scuffle the police had torn off the clothes of two of the CSF members.

The incident left Khaleda Zia, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with the convoy stranded for half an hour.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of police Mehedee Hassan claimed: “One of the cars in the opposition party leader’s convoy tried to run over some members of the police. At that time, one of the passengers of the car was detained.”

Asked why the driver was not detained, he said the driver had escaped.

However, the driver was seen to have driving away with the car, contrary to the police’s claim. l

BNP looks back to move forward  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Barrister Rafique said almost all the previous advisers had been available.

“The political situation will worsen in case of failure of the political parties to reach a consensus on polls-time government,” he said.

Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University considers Khaleda’s proposal to be “cumbersome” for finding a solution to the ongoing political crisis centring the next general elections.

“This is almost impossible to execute such a proposal without amending the constitution. If the government remains rigid on not amending the constitution, the two parties must ask 10 sitting MPs to resign, making way for election of 10 agreed persons through by-polls,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

“But this is a time consuming and cumbersome way. We do not have enough time in hand,” he said. l

As is usual with her press conferences, Khaleda Zia did not entertain any question from the journalists present at the venue, which, her press secretary said were unnecessary because the speech was “self-explanatory.”

She urged the prime minister to take initiative to form the interim government as per constitutional. “I would like to add that before the current Parliament is dissolved and if felt necessary, the interim government can be elected in the same way the president, the speaker and the women MPs are elected.”

Although Khaleda, in her long written speech, did not say anything her party’s October 25 rally in the capital, she said: “We do not want confrontation. We want compromise; not autocracy but democracy. We want to leave behind the culture of violence, of a killing frenzy using oars [a symbol often associated with the ruling party], bamboos and machetes, burning passengers in buses by spraying gunpowder, stripping office goers during hartal and publicly humiliating them.”

Criticising Hasina for not clarifying who would head the proposed all-party polls-time government, Khaleda said:

regime spilled over during our time.

“But we were able to identify the militants, to ban their organisations and activities, to capture their leaders and to try and prosecute them.”

Though Khaleda claimed credit for her 2001-2006 alliance government in taking steps against militants and their outfits, it is also evident how she herself and her cabinet members, lawmakers and party and alliance leaders strongly denied the existence of militants. They also came down heavily on media that carried out reports on Bangla Bhai and his outfit. The government then said Bangla Bhai was a “fictitious character,” a “mere creation” of the media.

The then prime minister Khaleda Zia herself, while exchanging views with newspaper editors in August 2004, said there was no Bangla Bhai.

“It is propaganda against the government and the country. And it [the propaganda] is aimed at causing a rift within the four-party alliance,” she said in parliament on March 15, 2005.

Then member of Khaleda’s cabinet Motiur Rahman Nizami, also ameer (chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami, on July 22, 2004 said: “Bangla Bhai has been created by some newspapers.”

The BNP even expelled its lawmaker Abu Hena for speaking out against extremist activities at a time when the of-

ficial view was that such extremists did not exist.

USA then also expressed concern over the rise of militancy in Bangladesh.

A US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report of January 31, 2007 said the BNP, by ruling in coalition with Islamist parties – Jamaat and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) – demonstrated its willingness to work with radical Islamists. It said radical Huji had ties with both al-Qaeda and the IOJ. The report also mentioned: “Jamaat is thought to have had ties with fundamentalist leader Bangla Bhai.” The report was leaked by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks on February 2, 2009.

Two senior members of the IOJ were reportedly connected with the re-emergence of Huji under the name “Conscious Islamic People.” The political wing of Huji may seek to enter politics under the name Islami Gana Andolon, the CRS report said.

It referred to Selig Harrison, a prominent South Asia analyst, who noted in early August 2006 that a growing Islamic fundamentalist movement “linked to al-Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence agencies is steadily converting the strategically located nation of Bangladesh into a new regional hub for terrorist operations that reach into India and Southeast Asia.”

The US Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism, released in April

Proposal will require amending  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Promising to bring a positive change in the country’s political culture, she said: “I announce in unequivocal terms that I forgive those who in the past have unfairly treated me and my fam-

“This has resulted in growing concern among the people that she [Sheikh Hasina] is inviting the opposition to participate in an uneven competition by keeping power in her own hands, keeping the MP’s in place and the administration in her tight grip. This is not acceptable to the people.”

“She has left no room for any discussion on the popular demand for an election time non-party neutral government and has made a proposal convenient only to herself.”

The opposition leader, however, said that there was still scope for discussion. “The sooner they [discussions] are held, the better.”

Strong stance against militancy and terrorism

Khaleda blamed the ruling party for increasing “restlessness and confrontation” due to the Awami League led government’s “wrong policy of identifying militancy” with the “peace loving” religious organisations and religion-based legitimate political parties.

She went on to claim that BNP, when in power, kept militancy down; it was during the Awami League’s rule that militancy nourished in Bangladesh. l

Khaleda's militancy claim contrary to the facts  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Later, the extremist group made an assassination attempt on Sheikh Hasina in 2000 by planting bomb in Gopalganj when she was the prime minster. Her government did not succeed to check its advancement until handing over power to a caretaker government in October 2001.

The extremist outfit also carried out several terror attacks during Hasina’s previous (1996-2001) regime that include bomb attack on left-leaning cultural organisation Udichi’s programme in Jessore, Chhayanat’s age-old Bangla new year celebration function at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka and the Communist Party of Bangladesh’s public meeting in Paltan.

In June 2007, police charged Huji chief Mufti Hannan and three accomplices with trying to assassinate Anwar Choudhury, then UK high commissioner to Dhaka, in a bomb attack at Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet. Around 50 people including the envoy were injured in the grenade attack.

Though the Awami League chief and progressive, secular people and organisations were targeted by the extremist outfit, Khaleda yesterday put the blame on Hasina administration citing those terrorist attacks.

Huji during Khaleda’s regime carried out grisly grenade attacks to assassinate Hasina on August 21, 2004 when she was

addressing a party rally at Bangabandhu Avenue. Hasina, then the opposition leader, narrowly escaped death with an ear injury but 24 party leaders and activists including central leader Ivy Rahman were killed and 300 others were maimed.

However, the then BNP administration cooked a story framing one Joj Mia saying he had admitted to have carried out the grenade attacks.

Later, during the 2007-08 army-backed caretaker regime, a fresh investigation revealed Huji’s involvement in the attacks. That investigation also revealed involvement of a former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu with the attack and also the then government’s administrative support to the terrorists.

In a further investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) revealed involvement of Khaleda’s elder son and BNP Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, the then premier Khaleda’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury, then state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and many others from her party, alliance and extended family members.

They have been accused in the August 21 grenade attack cases now under trial.

Some bigwigs from the Khaleda’s past administration, including the then senior- and mid-level army officers who were either in intelligence agencies or involved with the investigation into the

militant groups and terrorist attacks, have already gave testimony in the trial court as prosecution witnesses of the case.

Their depositions show how some influential people ensured safe escape route for Huji leader Maulana Tajuddin, brother of Pintu and a key accused in the case. He was sent to Pakistan and some DGFI officials arranged everything for his safe passage.

The emergence and rise of Islamist outfits Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) also took place during the past regime of Khaleda Zia. Infamous leader of the two outfits Siddqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai enjoyed enormous support of Khaleda’s administration when he was carrying out criminal and terrorist activities initially in northern Rajshahi region, and later across the country.

The BNP-Jamaat led alliance government, however, was compelled to take some measures including banning JMB, JMJB and Huji, and started to arrest few leaders of those outfits after JMB’s unprecedented simultaneous bomb attacks across the country on August 17, 2005.

The move of launching crackdown on militants came in the wake of pressure from home and abroad. However, Khaleda yesterday claimed: “Terrorism and militancy during the Awami League

2006, also observed that Bangladesh experienced an increase in terrorist activities.

Khaleda in her speech at yesterday’s press conference said: “We were able to destroy the militant networks by concerted efforts. To tackle this menace, we created elite force Rab which earned widespread success and fame.”

Rab, formed in March 2004, played the leading role during Khaleda’s rule to investigate into the militant issue and arrest the militants but after August 2005.

A former Rab official Maj Atiqur Rahman served as deputy director (interrogation) of the intelligence wing at Rab headquarters from October 2004 to June 2009. He led the Rab team that arrested Huji leader Mufti Hannan on October 1, 2005. Hannan is an accused of August 21 grenade attack case.

Atiqur in his statement in the August 21 grenade attack case said he had come to know during the BNP regime that Mufti Hannan disclosed significant information that the perpetrators had a meeting with Babar and Tarique at Hawa Bhaban at the planning stage of the August 21, 2004 attack.

Babar and Tarique promised to provide security and administrative help to those who would carry out the blasts at the time of the attack, said Maj Atiqur in his statement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

New electoral code by this week, two major changes n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission may finalise the draft of a new set of electoral codes of conduct by this week.

“We will finalise the draft of the electoral code of conduct for the next general election within two or three days,” Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz told reporters at the EC secretariat yesterday.

“The commission is working to prepare the draft, keeping in mind that we have to ensure level playing field for all parties,” he said.

The commissioner said the EC was going to make two changes in the electoral code of conduct.

“We already have a set of codes. We will make just two changes in the political part of the code. First, the commission will specify in the new electoral code of conduct how the candidates from a political government will hold their election campaigns before the polls,” Hafiz said.

“Because we know, as per the constitution the next general election will be held under a political government,” he added.

Hafiz said the commission would define the role of candidates who would participate in the polls from the government in the electoral code. The commission would specify what the ruling party candidates can or cannot do.

The earlier elections were held under caretaker government, who had no political roles, he said.

“We still do not know whether the next parliamentary election will be held without dissolving the parliament or not. If the elections are held without dissolving the parliament, MPs will be able to participate in the polls keeping their post,” he added.

The second change was if the polls were to be held without dissolving the parliament, the commission would ensure equal facilities for candidates contesting against MPs. Last week, sources in the EC told the Dhaka Tribune that to this end, the draft had proposed certain facilities including the government bearing the campaign expenditures for the chiefs and 20 selected leaders of all the political parties.

But the draft code of conduct also had provisions for the prime minister, ministers and lawmakers to enjoy special facilities, including protection, for campaigning, according to the sources.

Hafiz yesterday said the commission had scrutinised the electoral codes of other democratic countries.

The EC would upload the draft electoral code of conduct to its website and send it to the registered political parties for suggestions, he said. The commission would finalise the electoral code of conduct after getting suggestions from the political parties and civil societies.

People of the city suffer as the streets go under water after a heavy downpour. The photo was taken from Kamalapur yesterday

RAILWAY RECRUITMENT SCAM

Two more arrest warrants against suspended GM Mridha n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday issued arrest warrants against eight persons including Yusuf Ali Mridha, the suspended general manager of railway’s east zone, in two more cases regarding irregularities in recruitment.

Chittagong Metropolitan Senior Special Judge SM Mujibur Rahman passed the order after taking charge sheets in two cases into cognisance. The court also fixed on December 4 for hearing in the cases.

Apart from Mridha, the court issued arrest warrants against suspended social welfare officer Golam Kibria, suspended additional chief mechanical engineer Hafizur Rahman, and recruited employees Md Shahin, Azizul Haque, Rabiul Islam, Saifur Rahman and Ashraful Islam.

The cases were filed for irregularities in the recruitment process for the posts of tool keeper and ticket issuer, said Mohammed Fuad, bench assistant of the court.

SM Rashidur Reza, assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), lodged the cases on September 13 last year. The charge sheets were submitted before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mashiur Rahman on October 2. Those were transferred to the court of Chittagong metropolitan senior special judge the same day.

On October 20, the special judge’s court issued arrest warrants against Mridha and the seven others in two other cases related to the scam in recruiting fuel checker and assistant chemist posts.

On October 6, the same court issued

arrest warrant against Mridha and four others in another case related to the recruitment of clerks.

Sources at the railway said the east zone had issued seven advertisements in October and November, 2010 to fill up 3,419 vacant posts in 38 categories.

The scam came into light after Mridha, Kibria, railway’s Dhaka divisional commandant Enamul Huq and Omar Faruk, sacked assistant personal secretary (APS) of the then railway minister Suranjit Sengupta, were detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh at its headquarters with Tk7m in a microbus on April 9 last year. It is learnt that the money was collected from the job seekers as bribe.

Driver Ali Azam, who took the vehicle into the BGB headquarters, has been remained missing, mysteriously, since the incident.

B Chy finds Khaleda’s formula ‘balanced’ n Tribune Desk Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury has welcomed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s polls-time government formula and urged the government to accept it.

“We support the formula. The government should accept the proposal positively for the sake of neutral election,” he said in a statement yesterday evening, reports UNB. The former president of the republic said the caretaker government formula given by the opposition leader is balanced and a very neutral one. “I agree with the formula and support it.”

Appreciating the various aspects of Khaleda’s speech especially her admission of the previous mistakes, he said: “We wish her good journey in the coming days.”

The former president said the formula is right, but it can’t be a perma-

nent one because men are mortal and the past advisers will not remain alive for ever.

“So, I think, only the next election should be held under this formula,” he said, adding that his party will come up with a permanent formula for future national elections.

Earlier, in the day, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia offered an alternative formula to form a polls-time government led by a revered person comprising 10 ex-advisers from the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments to be chosen by the ruling and opposition parties to hold an inclusive and credible election.

“I’m proposing that from those 20 Advisers the ruling party can propose five names and the opposition another five. They’ll be the Advisers to the forthcoming election-time government,” she told a crowded press conference at city’s Westin Hotel. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sumi’s bail plea rejected again n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday rejected a petition seeking bail for Khadiza Khatun Sumi who was arrested in connection with the murder of Special Branch Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife Swapna Rahman.

Dhaka Metropolitan Session’s Judge Md Jahrul Haque passed the order after hearing the bail plea for Sumi, a domestic help at the slain couple’s residence.

Earlier on September 29, the Dhaka Juvenile Court also rejected a bail petition for her.

On August 16, Mahfuzur and Swapna were found dead in their Chamelibagh residence, and about 22 hours later, their daughter Oishee along with Sumi showed up at the Paltan police station.

Police arrested Oishee’s boyfriend Mizanur Rahman Rony on the same day.

Both Oishee and Sumi were later sent to the National Juvenile Development Center in Gazipur. l

Defence places ‘out of list’ witness in Nizami case n Muktasree Chakma Sathi

Post and Telecommunication Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurates Banglalink 3G service at Westin Hotel yesterday

NASHIRUL ISLAM

The war crimes tribunal yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the defence counsels’ “fraudulent behaviour” as they produced before it a witness to testify in favour of Jamaat-e Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami even though his name was not in three lists the defence had provided earlier.

Lawyer of Pabna Judge’s Court KM Hamidur Rahman, 66, in his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 claimed that he had never heard about the involvement of Nizami in any crimes during the 1971 Liberation War in Pabna’s Santhia.

“I was a freedom fighter in 1971.

None of my findings or sources ever told me that he was involved in any sort of crimes in 1971 in Santhia,” the witness said.

The “fraudulence” came to the tribunal’s knowledge when prosecutor Mohammad Ali started cross examining him and asked his permanent address.

The tribunal intervened and asked such details were supposed to be in the hand of the prosecutors. Ali replied

CASE AGAINST LIMON

Hearing for withdrawal deferred fourth time n Our Correspondent, Barisal Charges against Limon Hossain in a case against lodged for attempted murder, injuring Rab personnel and obstructing government duty are yet to be withdrawn, nearly four months after the government declared to withdraw the charges against him in the two cases filed by the elite force.

Yesterday was set for hearing in the case. But it did not take place since the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court of Jhalakathi has no judge now and the acting judge has no jurisdiction to hear such appeal, said M Alam Khan Kalam, additional public prosecutor of Jhalakathi.

The hearing was deferred, for the fourth time, until December 24.

Charges against Limon in the other

case, filed for possession of arms, was withdrawn on July 30.

The home minister announced on July 9 about withdrawal of the charges against Limon in both the cases lodged

by Rab. The order reached the Jhalakathi district magistrate on July 16 while the public prosecutor submitted it to the court on July 21. After a hearing, Kiran Sangkar Haldar, judge of the

special tribunal 2, accepted the appeal and ordered on July 30 to drop the charge against Limon in the arms case.

Limon, who used to work in a brick kiln to bear his educational expenses, was allegedly maimed by Rab as the elite force had gone for a drive at Jamaddarhat of Rajapur upazila in Jhalakathi on March 23, 2011 to arrest local criminals “Mizan-Morshed gang.” l

that they did not have any details about the witness. He said the final list of five witnesses submitted to the tribunal and given to the prosecution by defence counsel Tajul Islam did not have Hamidur’s name.

On Sunday, Tajul submitted the list containing five names – Abdul Hamid, Abdul Samad, Abdul Hamid, Mujibur Rahman and S Alam. The day was set to begin recording of defence witness deposition. But the proceedings were postponed following a petition filed by Tajul saying that they were unable to place any witness.

The tribunal yesterday asked the defence counsel whether the first witness’s name was in the list of 25 short-listed names the defence had submitted earlier. The defence was asked to shortlist the primary list of 10,111 witnesses.

Defence lawyer Mizanul Islam claimed that the shortlist only mentioned the number of witnesses.

Another defence lawyer Nazib Momen, also the son of the alleged war criminal, claimed that Hamidur’s name was in the primary list.

The tribunal responded: “You are a senior lawyer. We do not expect such behaviour from you. You are behaving in a fraudulent way dealing with the defence witnesses.”

Both the defence lawyers then apologised to the tribunal and defended saying that it was a clerical mistake.

Later, the tribunal said they would decide on accepting the deposition in the afternoon after cross-checking the primary list of 10,111 witnesses.

In the afternoon session, the defence submitted a plea to allow them correcting the name to Alhaj Hamidur Rahman.

The tribunal pointed out that this name was also wrong as the placed witness’ name was KM Hamidur Rahman.

It then ordered the defence to submit another petition mentioning the witness’ name properly.

“However, the name of one Alhaj M Hamidur Rahman is at serial number 7,165 of the list,” acknowledged the tribunal, chaired by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir.

The tribunal allowed KM Hamidur’s deposition and set today for further procedure of the case. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Burglary at lawmaker’s NAM Bhaban flat n Mohammad Jamil Khan Police reported an incident of burglary at the NAM Bhaban residence of an Awami League MP early yesterday, in which valuables worth an as-yet-unknown amount were stolen.

Prof Shah Alam, elected from the Pirojpur-2 constituency, was away from his flat when the incident occurred.

Abdul Momin, officer in charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, said burglars entered the flat, broke open a wooden wardrobe and stole cash, one mobile phone and other valuables including 5-7 tolas of gold ornaments.

The flat bore serial number 603 and was situated in the fifth building of the NAM Bhaban, a government establishment in the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue Manik for the elected members of parliament.

Prof Alam went to visit his home village in Pirojpur on October 10 to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha and returned yesterday to find his flat in a messy condition. A theft case was filed in this regard, Momin said.

Both members of police and the criminal investigation department visited the spot after the break-in. Police suspect the incident might have occurred between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

“NAM building is a secure and wellguarded place. It is impossible to do such a thing (burglary) coming from outside. We think it was committed by people to whom the place was wellknown,” Biplob Kumar Sarker, deputy commissioner of police of Tejgaon division, said. l

News

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Conservationists threaten hartal to stop Rampal power plant n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Jahangirnagar University teacher Prof Anu Muhammad has threatened to call shutdowns if the government moves ahead to establish the 1,320MW coalbased Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

“The power plant project is being implemented as part of a master plan to grab the land of the Sundarbans,” alleged the member secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil Gas Mineral Resources Power and Ports.

He also said the people would resist such moves against the biodiversity and ecology of the Sundarbans. “If needed, we will call hartals.”

He was addressing a roundtable titled “Development, Energy Management and Public Interest” in the city. Weekly Shaptahik organised the event held at Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (Bilia).

The prime minister launched the project work on October 6 amid criticisms and concerns. The government claims that the plant would not harm the forest as it would use modern technology to curb pollution. India’s stateowned agency NTPC would build and operate the Rampal power plant in Bagerhat district.

Speakers addressing a round-table discussion on Development, Energy Management and Public Interest at Bilia auditorium yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU The National Committee assisted by left parties and environmental groups and individuals organised a long march from Dhaka to the Sundarbans last month demanding that the project location be shifted.

Prof Anu said the government referred to the operation of coalrun power plants in many countries including in India and China, “but it does not say that the number of coal

plants is falling considering its adverse impact on the environment and higher cost.”

He alleged that ahead of the next general elections, the government was negotiating with some particular groups, both local and international, to award them different projects.

Columnist Syed Abul Moksud, Iqbal Habib of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Dhaka University teacher Prof

Cabinet upbeat with its performance

China offers 600m RMB for Bangladesh Ministers beats their own drum

n Tribune Desk

n Tribune Desk

China will provide 600 million RMB as development assistance for Bangladesh next year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

The offer came during a bilateral meeting between Wang Yi and visiting Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni in Beijing Sunday, UNB reports quoting a foreign ministry release yesterday.

This amount also includes 400 million RMB that has been under discussion between the two countries for different development projects.

During their bilateral talks, both the foreign ministers discussed the whole gamut of Bangladesh-China relations, including trade, investment, connectivity, agriculture, defence, education, climate change, scientific collaboration, maritime cooperation, tourism, and relaxation of visa regime for easing people-to-people contact and travels undertaken by businesspeople between the two countries.

Chinese Foreign Minister hoped that Bangladesh would gradually evolve as a virtual bridge between South Asia and the South East Asia. l

The cabinet has expressed satisfaction over its performance especially in view of the implementation rate of its decisions during the last four years and nine months of the present government.

The satisfaction was voiced during the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held yesterday at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said that Sheikh Hasina thanked all concerned including the government officials for their sincere efforts in implementing 92.86 percent of the cabinet decisions.

He said during its four years and nine months from January 6, 2009 to September 30 this year, the present government held 219 cabinet meetings against 199 meetings of the previous BNP-Jamaat government during Octo-

ber 2001 to July 2006.

The Cabinet Secretary informed that the present government took 1,442 decisions against 707 of the previous government, approved 43 policies and strategies, signed 114 agreements and memorandums of understanding and enacted 240 laws in parliament against 23 policies and strategies, 62 MoUs and 160 laws of the previous government.

The cabinet also endorsed the draft of the National Occupational Health and Safety Policy 2013 to ensure safe working conditions for industrial workers.

The labour and employment ministry placed the draft policy after holding detailed discussions with all stakeholders including owners, workers, ILO, WHO, BILS and experts to ensure health and safety at work places.

The cabinet approved the draft of the Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to incorporate the practicing rules and regulations for

the recruitment, transfer and promotion of its officers and employees in the law.

It also approved in principle the drafts of the Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2013 and the Bangladesh HighTech Park (Amendment) Bill 2013.

Besides, the cabinet approved the ratification proposal of placing of Instrument Acceptance for necessary amendment of the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol.

It also approved the proposal of retrospective endorsement and ratification of the agreement signed between Bangladesh and Belarus to avoid double taxation and to prevent revenue evasion.

A report on Bangladesh’s achievement of CIRDAP Medal in recognition of country’s contribution to poverty alleviation and rural development was placed before the cabinet.

Cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers and sec-

MM Akash and Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim in their remarks implored the government not to take any development project that might harm nature.

Former Power Cell director general BD Rahmatullah advocated renewable energy, saying that it was cheaper than rental power. He claimed that the latter had been chosen to make scope for “hefty loot.”

Talking about the prospects of solar energy, wind power, biomass and hydro energy to produce electricity, he said: “Around 28,000MW electricity can be produced from wind power in Bangladesh.”

However, Power Division officials recently said around 50-200MW of electricity could be generated from wind power in different coastal and inland sites. Bangladesh now produces about 112MW from renewable energy resources.

Shuvo Kibria, executive editor of weekly Shaptahik, said electricity price should be affordable and the existing disparity between prices of electricity in rural and urban areas should be removed.

He also criticised the government for relaxing the conditions of Model Production-Sharing Contract (PSC) 2012 for the sake of international oil and gas exploration companies. l

Court records IO’s deposition n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday partially recorded the cross-examination of the investigating officer (IO) in the moneylaundering case against BNP Senior ViceChairman Tarique Rahman and his businessman friend Giasuddin Al-Mamun.

Dhaka Special Judge 3 Md Motaher Hosain recorded the deposition of AntiCorruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director and IO Mohammad Ibrahim.

The judge also set the rest of crossexamination and examination of the accused under section 342 of CrPC for tomorrow.

Defence counsels Md Sanaullah Miah and Masud Ahamed Talukder cross-examined Mohammad Ibrahim.

ACC lawyer Mosharaff Hossain Kajol filed a petition for closing the witness, which the court rejected. The prosecution and the defence had a brief altercation over the petition.

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

30.7 30.4 32.6 31.3 33.0 30.0 28.0 30.5

24.2 23.6 24.0 23.4 22.6 23.9 23.0 25.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:44am 5:58am 11:43pm 3:49pm 5:26pm 6:42pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

The court has heard a total of 13 prosecution witnesses so far in the case.

ACC filed the case against Tarique and Mamun with Dhaka Cantonment police station on October 26, 2009, accusing the duo of “siphoning off Tk204.1m to Singapore” between 2003 and 2007.

The amount of money was allegedly taken by Mamun as bribe from Khadiza Islam, director of Nirman Construction Ltd, for helping her get the contract of installing an 80MW power plant at Tongi.

On July 6, 2010, ACC submitted the charge sheet in the case to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka after investigation.

On 8 August last year, the court indicted Tarique and Mamun under the Money Laundering Act 2002 and issued an arrest warrant against Tarique.

Mamun allegedly deposited the money into the Capital Street Branch of Singapore’s City Bank. l

JUTA gears up for total shutdown n JU Correspondent

Moderately heavy to heavy falls likely n UNB

City

President Abdul Hamid yesterday urged Singapore to set up a training institute in Bangladesh under joint collaboration for developing skilled workforce especially in the construction, hospitality and service sectors.

“If the training institute is set up in Bangladesh, Singapore can take skilled manpower directly from here especially for its demanding construction sector,” he said when Singaporean High Commissioner in Dhaka Chan Heng Wing paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban, reports UNB. The Singaporean envoy appreciated the president’s idea of establishing a training institute for developing human resource in Bangladesh under the joint collaboration. President Abdul Hamid underscored the need for concerted efforts to increase Bangladesh’s export to Singapore with a view to improving the balance of trade.

Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Singapore in 2010 was more than two billion US dollar of which Bangladesh’s export to Singapore was only 80 million US dollar. Praising the Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector, Chan Heng Wing told the President that he has visited some of the international standard pharmaceutical factories in the country. l

TARIQUE-MAMUN MONEY LAUNDERING

WEATHER

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places over Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka, Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahai and Rangpur divisions in 24 hours till 6pm today.

Moderately heavy to heavy falls are also likely at places, Met Office said.

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

The sun sets in the capital at 5:27pm today and rises at 6am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 33.6 degree Celsius was recorded at Jessore and lowest 20.5 degrees at Dinajpur yesterday.

Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities and towns yesterday were:

President urges Singapore to train Bangladeshi manpower n Tribune Desk

Shefali Aktar, a 25-year-old woman, ploughing her own land with a rented power tiller at Uttar Rayer Char, Keraniganj

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Adilur vows to defend human rights n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Adilur Rahman Khan, the secretary of human rights organisation Odhikar, said yesterday his struggle to defend human rights would continue even after all sorts of “persecution by the state.”

“The government brought charges against my organisation and me for publishing a report on the net that had cited 61 dead in a police drive against Hefajat men on May 5 and 6. We will prove our claim through the legal bat-

tle,” he said at the court premises.

The Dhaka Cyber Crime Tribunal Judge KM Shamsul Alam yesterday fixed November 10 for submission of the report of warrant execution.

Odikhar, in a report, claimed that 61 people were killed in the police drive against a Hefajat-e-Islam rally on May 5.

Detective police arrested Adilur on August 10. On October 8, a High Court bench granted him bail.

Police pressed charges against Adi-

lur under Section 57(1) of the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 and Section 505(c) of the Penal Code.

The case was transferred to the Cyber Crime Tribunal for trial on September 5, a day after DB Inspector Ashraful Islam submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court after investigation.

On September 11, the tribunal took cognisance of the charges against Adilur and Odhikar director AKM Nasirud-

din Elan. On that day the court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Elan as the police showed him fugitive in the case.

The charges against Adilur and Elan include publishing false report and doctored photos on the death toll in the law enforcers’ action on the Hefajat-eIslam men in the capital on May 5.

On August 11, police raided Odhkar’s office and found a list of the death toll from the computers that they seized from there. l

Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association will today begin its complete shutdown programme as part of its movement to depose the vice chancellor and protest an alleged attack on them by the VC and Bangladesh Chattra League activists on October 9.

JUTA sources said it will start the shutdown as their ultimatum to remove VC Prof Anwar Hossain ended without resolution on Sunday.

The association’s President, Prof Ajit Kumar Mazumder, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our complete shutdown programme, as declared earlier will begin from Tuesday as our demands are yet to be met. The shutdown will continue till any further decision.”

JUTA General Secretary Prof Sharif Uddin said teachers would not join in any academic and administrative activities during their strike, which also includes the university’s transportation system.

“We will launch tougher agitation programmes against the VC, including a hunger strike if our demand remains unfulfilled,” Prof Sharif Uddin said.

Agitating teachers’ from another platform, the General Teachers’ Forum, are expected to join JUTA’s movement on October 26.

On October 12, the agitating teachers under the banner of General Teachers’ Forum, obstructed the VC Prof Anwar Hossain from joining the university’s syndicate meeting. During the incident, the VC attempted to enter the administrative building by force, allegedly pushing two teachers.

Later, a fraction of BCL university unit activists, led by its president Mahmudur Rahman Jony, allegedly attacked the agitating teachers, assaulting five. JUTA declared fresh movement. The university’s administrative activities will resume today, while all academic activities will resume Saturday. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

5

Full text of Khelada Zia’s address from the Monday press conference

T

he time has come today, when we must choose between democracy and autocratic rule.

All of you are aware of the situation obtaining in the country. A tragic succession of events has taken place in the last few years. The Rana Plaza collapse which killed over a thousand workers not only stunned the nation but shook the conscience of the world. The share market scam has driven 3.3 million small investors out on to the streets. The scandals involving Hallmark, Destiny and the Padma Bridge not only reflect the unimaginable scale of corruption in the country but have also tarnished our image abroad.

Eminent personalities of the country are alarmed by the harassment of the country’s only Nobel winning institution Grameen Bank and our only Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus as well as the abject humiliation of recognized citizens of the country such as human rights activist Adilur Rahman Khan and journalist Mahmudur Rahman who have been interned in jail.

In the last few years the pages of our history have been drenched by the blood of our citizens.

The indiscriminate attack on the Hefazat rally, the Pilkhana massacre, unabated extra-judicial killings, the abduction and enforced disappearances of Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, the murder of labour leader Aminul and many other political leaders and workers have shaken the nation to the core.

People are denied justice due to the interference in and politicisation of the judiciary. The killers of the journalist couple Shagor-Runi and Upazila Chairman Sanaullah Noor Babu of Boraigram, Natore have not been brought to justice. The powerful get the court verdicts as per their desire.

Convicted murderers get presidential pardons. The rule of law is a far cry.

The administration and police are used for narrow partisan purposes. Terrorist activities of the student and youth fronts of the ruling party have become a matter of agonising concern for the peace-loving citizens of the country.

and the people have frustrated these hopes.

The prime minister addressed the nation on October 18 in the backdrop of the impending general elections.

There was universal expectation that in line with the hopes and wishes of the people of the country that her address would contain a clear statement about the formation of a neutral, non-party poll-time government through discussion and mutual understanding. But this was frustrated. This has become evident from the comments and reactions of a wide spectrum of conscious citizens and representatives of political parties.

The prime minister outlined in her speech a long list of developmental achievements under her government.

I will not comment on this. How much the nation has progressed or not is well known to our countrymen.

Suffice it to say that ordinary people can well understand from their day to day experience the extent of peace, safety, security and economic well-being they are enjoying along with the fruits of development. But as is her custom the prime minister has delved into the past and quite untruly criticised our government.

I would like to comment briefly on this. She has alleged that terrorism and militancy spread during our time. People know how terrorism and militancy took root during the preceding Awami League regime.

Unprovoked terrorist and militant attacks on the musical event by Udichi in Jessore, the new year program at the Ramna Park, the CPB public meeting in Paltan, several political gatherings, the Ahmadiyya mosque in Khulna, the Christian church in Baniarchor.

It was indeed during her time that a very powerful bomb was found in her own home district of Gopalganj.

No proper investigation of any of these incidents was conducted. The opposition party was invariably blamed and its leaders were arrested and harassed while the real culprits were shielded.

Terrorism and militancy during the Awami League regime spilled over during our time. But we were able to identify the militants, to ban their organisations and activities, to capture

I hope the honourable prime minister will accept my proposal in the interest of peace, stability and democracy. I hope she will take effective steps to hold discussions between the two parties quickly on this matter

Our image has been tarnished by the seizure of property of Hindus and Buddhists, and attacks on their places of worship. National unity has been jeopardised. It has now become more urgent than ever before to consolidate national unity and restore confidence among the people. We must all of us together build national unity, irrespective of whether we are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or Christians, people from the hills or the plains, rich or poor. We have to become one unified entity. We must unite for the sake of democracy, to free ourselves from uncertainty and most of all, to effect change.

The people of Bangladesh are inherently democratic. They have sacrificed a great deal for democracy. We are proud of this fact. To protect our democracy we have no alternative but to open the door for a peaceful transfer of power through the holding of a free, fair, credible and competitive national election. How and why that door has been shut is well known to you. I do not want to enter into the details of that now.

You are all aware that the BNP, its 18-party alliance and other opposition parties along with the great majority of people have been vocal in their demand for a neutral, non-party, polltime government. We have taken this movement forward in a peaceful manner. And all of you know how those peaceful and law-abiding programs continue to be obstructed.

Yet, in the interest of peace and considering the sufferings of the people, we did not go for any long-term agitation program. We always hoped that the government would respect the demand of the people and respond positively towards the expectations of the international community. But their rigid stance and the aggressive retaliatory attitude towards the opposition

their leaders and to try and prosecute them. It was under our government that they received the death sentence which was later carried out. We were able to destroy the militant networks by concerted efforts. To tackle this menace we created the elite force called RAB which earned widespread success and fame. RAB was never used against any opposition program nor for any party or political purpose.

To strengthen our preventive operation against militancy and terrorism in our predominantly Muslim country we also used the services of the Islamic religious teachers and imams to create and spread awareness against this evil. On the other hand restlessness and confrontation in the society has increased due to the Awami League government’s wrong policy of identifying militancy with the peace-loving religious organisations and religion-based legitimate political parties.

This has adversely affected the drive against militancy.

I want to emphatically state that Bangladesh is an important partner in the international fight against militancy. My government initiated this cooperation. We will not only continue the current level of this cooperation, but will explore ways and means to expand it with other countries and institutions as an active member of the coalition for the war against terrorism.

We have to remember that terrorism is a threat to peace, stability, sustained economic development, and foreign direct investment. Over and above this, terrorism and militancy endangers national interest and brings disrepute to Islam, the religion of the majority of our population. It is a transnational crime that threatens the quality of life of our own citizen and those of the world at large. We are committed to ensuring that Bangladesh territory will never be used for

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

domestic, regional, international or any other form of terrorism.

In this respect I want to say few more words.

South Asia is home to almost one sixth of the world’s population. We are linked by geography, common rivers, history, shared cultures, language, and a sense of identity. None of the countries in this region can move away or remain isolated from each other. That is why if we form the government in future with the support of the people, we will reach out to our neighbours and expand upon current relationships as well as explore new ways to establish closer relationships in political, economic security, cultural, and social sectors. I believe that peace, stability, security, and regional cooperation is the foundation for promoting and developing an enhanced quality of life for all citizens. It is also the essential element for making the dreams and common aspirations of the people of South Asia a reality.

We cannot deny that problems between neighbouring countries have existed and will exist in the future.

This is no different than other regions of the world. I believe firmly that such problems are not so intractable that they cannot be resolved through honest dialogue and constant exchange of views while respecting mutual interests. At the heart of resolving these differences is not simply government to government contact and communications, but rather it also encompasses people to people relationships.

If we can form the government in future, we shall represent the people rather than a party. We shall implement policies that introduce the next generation to a higher standard of living and towards developing policies that result in sustained development in all sectors of society.

Today’s world is a global society.

Countries and regions can no longer exist as isolated islands, rather we must be contributing members of the global society. Instability in Bangladesh affects South Asia. Instability in South Asia affects the world. That is why we will adopt such policies that ensure domestic as well as regional peace, stability, and security. Our government in the future will work to ensure that Bangladesh and all our neighbours positively contribute to a peaceful and secure global society.

Our country is a great nation with a proud history and even brighter future. One common factor we all share is that regardless of one’s cultural, ethnic or religious affiliation we are all Bangladeshi citizens and entitled to equal protection under the laws and constitution of Bangladesh.

Of particular concern to us are some of the most vulnerable citizens of Bangladesh, our ethnic and religious minorities. Unfortunately they have not always enjoyed equal protection under our laws and there have been instances when religious minorities have faced persecution including attacks on their houses and places of worship.

This must stop. Under our government, all citizens will be guaranteed equal protection and individuals who persecute minorities will face the full weight of the law.

We have called for the establishment of judicial committees to investigate atrocities against minorities, and under our government such committees will exist and will vigorously investigate any and all instances of attacks on minorities.

Tolerance and restraint is civility, and for us to achieve our greatest height, we must live in a civil society where differences are not only accepted, but are welcomed and valued. We must have national unity through our diversity.

Our future depends on a Bangladesh where all citizens regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation are guaranteed equal opportunity to realise their dreams and to live in a peaceful and secure environment, free of threats to their personal security.

I have said this many times and am saying this again that we do not consider any citizen or group in Bangladesh as minority. Our undifferentiated identity is that we are all Bangladeshis.

The honourable prime minister in her address to the nation has spoken many ills about me, my government, party, family, and my political office.

I do not wish to make any counter-statement. Despite facts and evidence, I will not raise any allegations against the prime minister, her family members, or relatives. I believe enough is enough. The people of Bangladesh don’t want to hear any of this anymore.

We have to come out of this poor culture. In the light of the expectations and aspirations of the nation and the demand of the time, we have to introduce a new trend in politics. The time has come to change and improve the political culture. Someone has to start it.

any vengeful steps against them even if we form the government in future.

I assure you that I will look ahead focus on the business of providing a brighter and more secure future for Bangladesh. I do not have time and will not spend time focusing on the past and on retaliation. I hope we can all work together to build a prosperous, peaceful and secure homeland for the future generation. I welcome the ideas and the participation of all those who have in the past been against me.

No one political party has a monopoly on good ideas. For Bangladesh to reach its true potential and for our citizens to prosper, we need and must have the active participation and benefit of ideas from all political, ethnic and religious segments of society.

Our government will be a representative government of all Bangladeshi citizens. Our government will be a government of talent and merit, a government of national unity.

I am giving an open invitation to those who can contribute to society, to those that can bring good repute for the country, to those who are honest and capable, to those who can develop plans and implement them, and to those who can provide leadership, to join and work with our government of unity irrespective of ethnicity, political or religious beliefs.

To err is human, and I have no hesitation to admit that we have made mistakes in the past. At the same time, I would like to say that we have learnt from those mistakes. We are better prepared to take Bangladesh towards a brighter, more stable, and prosperous future.

I agree with the adage “if you fail to learn from history, history will repeat itself.” We will therefore not repeat the

I am proposing that from those 20 advisers, the ruling party can propose five names and the opposition another five. They will be the advisers in the forthcoming election time government

Today, I stand before you with the call for that change. Of course, there will be political differences between us.

We must change the way we debate these differences and insist on civil discourse rather than personal attacks.

We must debate the merits of philosophies and positions on critical issues facing Bangladesh.

Personal attacks serve no useful purpose and the citizens are the ultimate losers because the business of governance takes a back seat and only results in political stalemate and inaction.

I am aware that just doing lip service will not be enough. People of Bangladesh have heard the promise of change in the past as well. That is why today I want to initiate that change by saying something very emphatically.

I announce in unequivocal terms that I forgive those who in the past have unfairly treated me and my family and have made personal attacks and continue to do so. We shall not take

mistakes of the past.

We all know that the whole country now is eagerly awaiting a change. To ensure the continuity of the democratic process and for a peaceful transfer of power there is no alternative to a credible, free, fair, competitive election participated by all parties. That is why we had raised the demand for a neutral, non-party, poll-time government.

With the support of all opposition parties and the people, this has coalesced into a national demand.

Unfortunately, however, whatever the honourable prime minister has said in her address to the nation is not aligned to the hopes and aspirations of the people, because it will not ensure a credible, free, fair national election participated by all parties.

The constitution she is referring to has been amended by her government at will and has led to the present crisis.

She has blocked the road to credible elections and created the way to de-

prive the people of their voting rights.

She has not clarified who will head the all-party election time government proposed by her. This has resulted in growing concern among the people that she is inviting the opposition to participate in an uneven competition by keeping power in her own hands, keeping the MPs in place and keeping the administration in her tight grip.

This is not acceptable to the people.

She has left no room for any discussion on the popular demand for an election time non-party neutral government and has made a proposal convenient only to herself.

The only advice she has sought from the opposition parties is a date for the elections. The nation is frustrated by her statement. I still feel that the matter can be resolved through discussions. The sooner this is held the better. That is why, in line with the hopes and expectations of the people, I would now like to place on behalf of the BNP and 18-Party Alliance a specific proposal for consideration by the prime minister.

In 1996 and 2001 under the non-party and neutral caretaker governments, two credible elections were held which were participated by all parties. The advisers of those caretaker governments were praised by all for their neutrality. The Awami League won one of those elections and BNP the other.

I am proposing that from those 20 advisers, the ruling party can propose five names and the opposition another five. They will be the advisers in the forthcoming election time government. I propose that on the basis of a consensus between the government and the opposition parties, a respected citizen of the country can be chosen to be the chief advisor of the interim government.

I hope the honourable prime minister will accept my proposal in the interest of peace, stability and democracy. I hope she will take effective steps to hold discussions between the two parties quickly on this matter.

I am making a fervent appeal to the honourable prime minister to take the initiative to form this government through the constitutional process. I would like to add that before the current parliament is dissolved and if is felt necessary, the interim government can be elected in the same way the president, the speaker and the women MPs are elected.

I believe this nation which is capable of handling disasters will soon be able to be free from the political crisis.

I have offered this proposal with that end in view. We do not want confrontation. We want compromise. Not autocracy but democracy. We want to leave behind the culture of violence, of a killing frenzy using oars, bamboos and machetes, burning passengers in buses by spraying gunpowder, stripping office goers during hartal and publicly humiliating them.

The people of Bangladesh are anxiously looking forward to be free from the uncertainty and for a change.

Come, let us all respond positively to that expectation. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Five injured over puja eve teasing dispute in Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Clash over romantic relationship 8 injured, 4 held

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Eight people including two policemen were injured as rival families clashed over a romantic relationship in Barisal yesterday.

Police used two tear gas shells, fired three rounds of rubber bullets and employed a baton charge in their attempts to control the situation, which flared when a man was detained by the family of his loved one.

Nurul Amin, chairman of RaipashaKarapur union, said Munir, 26, and Salma, 23, were in love with each other from their early ages but their families had never accepted the relationship.

Salma was forcefully married off to another person by her family last year, but recently she came to her father’s house and entered into contact with Munir again. On discovering this, Salma’s family members captured Munir along with his brother-in-law, Mamun, and confined them in a nearby house.

Munir’s family members informed police and dashed to Salma’s father’s house, where the two groups engaged in a clash.

Police arrested one male, Nasiruddin, and three women: Nilufar Begum, Rashida Begum, and Munni Begum. l

Locals and stakeholders held demonstrations in front of Holling Bery Syed Moazzem Red Crescent Hospital in Barisal yesterday to protest a hike in healthcare charges Dhaka Tribune

Protest against hike in healthcare charges at Red Crescent Hospital

At least five people were injured during an occurrence of eve teasing at a puja pavilion at Mamurdi village under Kapasia upazila, Gazipur on Sunday night.

Around 20 youths equipped with sharp weapons attacked visitors who came to ‘Mamurdi Puja Mandap’, injuring at least five including Tamiz Uddin Chawdhury, 26, Rafiqul Islam, 26, Idrish Ali, 26, and Motahar Hossain, 55.

The injured were given treatment at a nearby clinic and hospital.

Two days previously, a group of up to eight youths had crossed the Bramhaputra River to visit Thakurbari Puja at Mamurdi village from adjacent Kistibadi village, Monohordi upazila, Narsingdi. The youths teased some female visitors, leading to an altercation. At one stage people of Mamurdi village chased the youths of Kistibadi village.

Nazmul Hasan Chawdhury Pintu, a local resident, said local MP Simin Hossain Rimi had visited the spot on Saturday and advised people to keep peace in the area, but the people of Kistibadi village had spread a rumour to attack the villagers of Mamurdi yesterday, creating panic.

Officer-in-Charge of Kapasia police station Delwor Hossain said both Kapasia and Monohordi police visited the spot. l

15 injured after police-student Six-fold rises in outdoor fees of the hospital and for delivery on cesarean section Rab nabs two for clash Golam Kibria Monu, convener of the dered to all without any discrimination Holling Bery, a shipping agent who selling fake idols n Our Correspondent, Barisal committee; Ebaidul Huq Chan, district and within the capacity of stakeholders. owned 1.4 acres of land in AmanatOur Correspondent, Mymensingh n The recently inaugurated 50-bed, ganj area of Barisal district town and in Jhenaidah Locals and stakeholders held demon- BNP convener; Syed Anis, district AL At least 15 people were injured in a strations in front of Holling Bery Syed office secretary; Saidur Rahman Rintu, four-story hospital was the only major opened a 10-bed ‘Coronation Baby series of chases and counter chases Moazzem Red Crescent Hospital in president, Barisal Chamber of Com- health and medical service provider Clinic’ and maternity centre there on 27 n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah among students of Mymensingh Poly- Barisal yesterday to protest a hike in merce and Industries; Principal Mohsin to the low-income grass roots in the September 1937. technic Institute and police yesterday.

Police detained 10 students on charges of vandalising vehicles and attacking their officers following a demonstration and blockade of the Dhaka-Mymensingh road in front of their college in favour of their two-point demands.

The demands were ensuring promotion on time in jobs, and the withdrawal of a government provision that classifies entry-level positions held by diploma engineers as supervisors.

Farid Uddin, principal of the college, said the government had met the students’ demands this month but no gazette notification had been made. l

healthcare charges.

The demonstrators also brought out a procession along the city roads.

Following the action, a memorandum was submitted to the administration demanding the reinstatement of the previous service rates. The protesters also called on the authorities to save the hospital from being turned into a health business centre.

Hundreds of people of all political identities, ages and classes attended the programme organised by Amanatganj Red Crescent Maternity and Child Welfare Center Execution Committee.

The rally was addressed by Prof

Ul Islam Habul; Mokhlesur Rahman, freedom fighter; and Habibur Rahman Tipu, local ward councilor.

Hundreds of people of all political identities, ages and classes attended the programme organised by Amanatganj Red Crescent Maternity and Child Welfare Center Execution Committee The speakers said health was not a personal or special favour, but a basic human right. They said standard health services and facilities should be ren-

northern part of the city, they observed.

The discussants said during its inauguration the hospital was described as a non-profit medical centre, but recently the authorities increased various service charges.

The outdoor fees of the hospital increased to Tk60 from Tk10, and cesarean delivery charges to Tk18,00020,000 from Tk3,000-4,000.

The participants at the programme demanded immediate restoration of the previous service rates, and free medicare and medicine supply for the poor patients.

The hospital is named after Mrs NR

A labour welfare centre opened on the premises in 1964 and continued to be managed by Pakistan Red Crescent Society and later Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Then Holling Bery Syed Moazzem Red Crescent Hospital was constructed at the cost of Tk70m and inaugurated on February 5, 2013.

“The hospital authorities at a meeting on July 7, 2012 decided to increase service charges to meet its management expenditure,” said Syed Moazzem Hossain, donor of the hospital construction and executive chairman of the governing committee. l

5 killed in road accidents Fishermen attack mobile court n Tribune Report

Al least five people were killed in separate road accidents in four districts.

One person was killed and 42 injured in a road accident on the DhakaChittagong highway at Fakirhat in the Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district yesterday.

Police said a Dhaka-bound bus hit a passenger bus belonging to Eagle Paribahan from behind on the highway in an attempt to overtake it, just before Sitakunda Eco Park around 7am.

Immediately after the accident, critically injured Shahrukh, 18, who hailed from the district of Jhalakathi, was rushed to the upazila health complex, where he died.

In Munshiganj, a man was killed and 30 others were injured as a bus overturned on the Dhaka-Mawa Highway in Louhajang upazila in the morning.

A Dhaka-bound bus from Faridpur turned upside down on the DhakaMawa Highway near Khan House as the

driver lost control over the steering after the vehicle hit a gate, leaving Liton, 30, helper of the bus dead on the spot and 30 passengers injured.

In Noakhali, two people were killed and four others injured in a road accident in Sotera mile area on ChatkhilSonaimuri Road under Sonaimuri upazila on Sunday.

The identities of the deceased could not be known.

A bus collided head on with a CNGrun auto rickshaw from opposite direction at about 4pm. They died on the spot.

In Jhenaidah, a man was killed and three others were injured in a road accident in Moheshpur.

The deceased was Mahidul Islam, 25, of the Khorda Khalishpur village under Moheshpur upazila.

Police said Mahidul along with three others was traveling on a human hauler, when a microbus from the opposite direction collided head-on with it, leaving four injured. Later, he died at hospital. l

n Our Correspondent, Chandpur

A group of fishermen yesterday attacked a mobile court in the Bohoria area under Sadar upazila of Chandpur district after it obstructed them from catching fish.

In response to the attack, a team of police and the Rapid Action Battalion, accompanying the court, fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. However, no arrests were made.

Witnesses said a team of police and Rab led by an executive magistrate conducted a drive on the Meghna River to monitor whether the fishermen were violating the ongoing ban on catching all kind of fishes in the district.

After reaching Bohoria, the court found some fishermen, who were violating the ban and tried to stop them.

However, the group of fishermen swooped on the law enforcers with makeshift weapons.

Executive Magistrate Tushar Ahmed

said: “Some fishermen were illegally catching fishes ignoring the ban. The attack took place when we tried to deter them.”

Authorities have imposed a ban on catching of all kind of fishes from October 13 to October 23 to ensure safe spawning and protect the mother fishes.

The ban has been imposed on netting fishes from Shatnol in Matlab area of the district to Char Bhoirobi of Haimchar upazila.

Fisheries department officials, however, said family members of upazila parishad chairman and other local leaders have been illegally catching and selling fishes.

On the other hand, Chairman of Laxmipur Union Parishad, Selim Khan have been allegedly directing the fishermen to catch Hilsa and sell the mother fishes. Local administration have remained silent over the matter due to their political influences, locals claimed.

These fishes are being sold at different places in Akhon ghat, Laxmipur,

Horina ferry ghat, Anandabazar, Dashadi and sluice-gate.

Four pieces of Hilsa were selling at Tk700-900 as some buyers wait on the river banks till late night to get Hilsa at a cheaper rate.

It has also been alleged that, some members of law enforcement forces have been illegally grabbing fishes in the name of protecting mother fishes.

Meanwhile, a fisheries department official in Haimchar upazila said: “We divided the fishes seized from fishermen during drives among poor people and fisheries officers.”

Chandpur District Fisheries Officer Ratan Dutta said: “Some local makeshift markets have been established on the riverbanks. We are trying to protect Hilsa fish. We have already deployed magistrates and Rab in Lazmipur, Anadabazar and Hanarchar.”

“However, sometimes our efforts go in vain due to lack of manpower to monitor the large river,” he said. l

AL activists assault government officials in Jhenaidah, Lalmonirhat n Tribune Report

Traders have kept rawhide at Hazaribagh tannery after collecting those from different areas across the country FOCUS BANGLA

Government officials of Bangladesh Rural Development Board, Jhenaidah and Power Development Board, Lalmonirhat were allegedly assaulted by leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League on Sunday.

All employees of the Harianklundu upazila headquarters, Jhenaidah yesterday observed a two-hour long work abstention, protesting an assault on an upazila level officer of the BRDB by a ruling party man.

Manisankar Halder, upazila officer of the BRDB, alleged that some ruling party men were pressuring him to change the results of the bi-elections of ward one of Chandpur union parishad, which was won by a candidate of the main opposition BNP last week.

On Sunday evening, a gang of villagers led by Abbas Hossain stormed into his office and physically assaulted him, he added.

Manisankar also said he would file a case with the Hariankundu police station in this connection.

When contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abul Bashar said legal steps would be taken in this regard.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Jhenaidah Safiqul Islam said the administration would not favour anybody if someone took law in his own hands.

Elsewhere in Lalmonirhat, six personnel, including residential engineer of the Power Development Board, were allegedly assaulted by ruling party activists when the officials disconnected illegal power connections at Madhya Goddimari village under Hatibandha upazila of the district on Sunday night.

The injured PDB staff – Residential Engineer Abdul Matin, Office Assistant Abdul Mannan, Lineman Tazul Islam, Bill Operator Hafizul Islam and electricians Alam Miah and Babu Islam – were admitted to the Hatibandha Upazila Health Complex.

Assaulted PDB staff alleged that they disconnected 35 illegal power connections in the village and were about to disconnect 15 more illegal connections that night.

At that time, some ruling party ac-

tivists jointly led by Jahanur Islam, Mizanur Rahman Milon, Farooque Hossain and Masud Rana attacked on them on the spot.

Local people said, local Awami League activists, with assistance from the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain’s Personal Assistant and local AL leader Abu Bakkar Siddique Shyamal, gave illegal power connections to 50 households in the village two months ago.

“The house owners with illegal power connections did not submit any applications regarding the matter at his office,” assaulted Residential Engineer Abdul Matin said, adding that he was preparing to lodge two separate cases for assault and stealing electricity.

However, the alleged AL men Jahanur Islam, Mizanur Rahman Milon, Farooque Hossain and Masud Rana denied attacking PDB personnel, and rejected the engineer’s statement regarding the illegal power connections.

The state minister could not be reached for comments despite several attempts over mobile phone. l

Rapid Action Battalion personnel arrested two people for selling brass idols by passing them off as golden ones in Kaliganj town on Sunday night.

The arrestees were Pavel Munshi, 26, of village Parkhirda and Selim Munshi, of Fariadkthi village under Kaliganj upazila, Jhenaidah.

The Rab Camp Commander ASP Harun said, acting on a tip off, Rab officials caught the two red handed around 8:15pm.

A case was filed with Kaliganj police station in this connection.

The arrestees were handed over to police, Rab sources said. l

Three held over murder of boy in Mymensingh n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh Police arrested three people yesterday in connection with the murder of eightyear-old Mahbubur Rahman Maruf of Natun Bazar area of Muktagachha upazila, Mymensingh.

The class three student, son of Arab Ali, a local Awami League leader in Muktagacha, was slaughtered on Saturday night.

Mir Rakibul Haque, officer-incharge of Muktagacha police station, said the accused had confessed in primary interrogation to killing the boy in a planned way following a long-standing dispute over land and family affairs with his father.

The arrestees were Abdur Razzaq, 50, a fish farmer and the brother-in-law of Arab, and his two sons Rakib, 20, and Rezaul, 22, both madrasa students.

Police arrested the trio from Paitashimul village in Muktagacha in the morning. l

Fugitives convicted of murder held in Chittagong n Tribune Report Three fugitives facing the death penalty for a sensational triple-murder case in Chittagong were held early yesterday. They had been on the run since being convicted in 2004.

Police nabbed Mobarak Hossain, 27, Lokman, 27, and Osman, 45, from different areas of Hathazari upazila during an overnight drive, said Liakat Ali, officer in charge of Hathazari police station.

“They were on the run since they were given death penalty for killing three brothers in 2003,” he added.

On May 26, 2003, the three brothers – Abul Bashar, Abul Kashem, and Badsha Alam – were shot to death at a tea stall in the Charia village of Hathazari.

Afterwards, Mafzal Master, a relative of the deceased, lodged a case with the Hathazari police station.

A Chittagong court in 2004 handed down death sentences to five people, including the arrestees, and life terms to eight others involved, said AFM Nizam Uddin, assistant superintendent of police at Hathazari circle in Chittagong range. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

‘Lives put at risk’ on Dhaka-bound launches The same situation could prevail for the next two or three days rush of Dhaka-bound passengers n Our Correspondent, Chandpur mad at the terminal. However, efforts Chandpur Launch Terminal authorities have been risking lives by over-loading vessels and charging extra fares to post- Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja passengers, it has been claimed.

Amid the rush to return to Dhaka, many people have been taking to the rooftops of the launches and passengers’ woes have been compounded by long queues The Dhaka-bound Eagle, MV Rofrof, MV Abe Jomjom, MV Borak, Bogdadia, Meghna Rani, Sonartori, Mitali-2, MV Jomjom, and MV Moyur-2 launches left the ghat yesterday morning and passengers alleged that the launches sailing from southern parts of the country including MV Tipu, MV Sundarban, MV Kornophuli, and MV Coco were overcrowded with extra passengers.

Refuting the allegation, authorities at Chandpur Launch Terminal said they did not charge higher fares to the passengers though there have been a

from the local administration and municipality to remove people from the rooftops seemed to have failed.

Passenger’s sufferings mounted as they waited in queues for hours. The number of launches at the terminal was not adequate to serve the crowd, many of the travelers made the remark The same situation could prevail for the next two or three days, said launch ghat officials.

Deputy Director of Chandpur River Port Md Mobarok Hossain said: “Every launch ghat witnesses a rush during Eid. Besides, passengers do not want to wait. We have deployed magistrates, coastguard and police to ensure no launch carries extra passengers.”

Launch authorities would have to pay a fine if they carry extra passengers, he added. l

A five-member family takes a ride on a motorcycle. The photo was taken in Mawa yesterday

AL-BNP clashes leave 60 injured n Tribune Desk At least 15 people were injured in a clash between local activists of Awami League and the BNP at Dingshaipara under sadar upazila in Bagerhat on Sunday.

Locals said a group of activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam attacked a group of Awami League men and stabbed several leaders and activists with sharp weapons in front of Dingshaipara School while they were returning from a party meeting at about 7pm.

Assistant Superintendent of Police M Zahidul Islam of Bagerhat Sadar (Circle) said the clash ensued as local BNP-Jamaat men attacked the Awami League activists over a trivial matter, reports UNB. At one stage, both groups equipped with home-made arms attacked each other, leaving 15 people injured.

Several houses and three motorcycles were vandalised at that time, said

Zahidul Islam.

Of the injured, six people were admitted to Bagaehat Sadar hospital and Khulna Medical College Hospital.

Denying the attack on Awami League activists by BNP men, Bagerhat district unit BNP president MA Salam alleged that local AL men rather attacked their leaders and activists and injured some activists.

Rab and police members rushed to the spot and fired and lobbed rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the unruly activists They also vandalised their several houses and business establishments during the clash, said the leader.

In Sirajganj, 45 people, including police personnel, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police in Baro Bazar area of the district town on Sunday.

Of the injured, one sustained bullet wounds and was admitted to a local private clinic.

Police said activists of the local unit of the opposition BNP brought out a procession, following a rally as part of the party’s central programme, from its office in the afternoon and when the procession reached the area, the activists vandalised a police van and attacked the house of ruling Awami League leader Habibe Millat Munna and a nearby clinic.

On receiving information, police and Rapid Action Battalion members rushed to the spot and fired and lobbed a large number of rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the unruly activists, leaving 45 injured.

Later, the activists put up a barricade at Rail Gate intersection by torching tyres, which was lifted in the face of police action.

Protesting the incident, activists of the local unit of AL brought out a pro-

Clash leaves seven families homeless n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Members of seven families have been living under open sky for the last three days as their homesteads were torched during a clash at Bajemajurai village under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon.

The people have become helpless as all of their belongings, including furniture and cash, were burnt to ashes in the fire.

Police and local public representatives visited the spot yesterday afternoon but could not assure the victims of rebuilding their dwellings immediately.

A case was lodged accusing nine people, including Nasir Uddin, who is a teacher at a local madrasa, in this connection.

Quoting union parishad chairman, police said a clash had ensued between

madrahsa teacher Nasir Uddin and day labourer Mahir Ali over the ownership of a piece of land.

During the clash, Nasir along with his supporters set fire to the house of Mahir Ali and his brothers.

Mahir Ali, 46, said he and his three brothers had been living on 10 decimal land for long but the madrasa teacher suddenly claimed ownership.

“Taking help of local goons Mahir tried several times to evict us from our homesteads in the last six months, but we foiled his illegal attempt,” Nasir said.

Al last on Saturday he along with some musclemen set fire to our house in order to evict us, he said.

“Now I along with my family members have taken shelter on the khas land adjacent to our houses,” said another victim Abdul Quddus, adding that if the district

administration does not help they could not be able to rebuild their houses.

Valuables worth about Tk1.2m to 1.5m have been gutted in the fire, he added.

Moyzun Bewa said they had been passing their days almost without food.

Bizli Akhter, a student of class X, said she and 10 other children cannot go to school as their educational accessories, including books and uniforms were burnt in fire.

Neighbouring people said they had been providing foods and clothes to the victims.

But Nasir Uddin could not be reached by phone despite several attempts.

Sub-Inspector of sadar police station Ruhul Amin said they were sincerely trying to arrest the people involved in the incident. l

cession in the evening.

The BNP leaders blamed provocation of the ruling party activists by hurling stones on their peaceful procession for the trouble, an allegation which AL denied.

BNP calls half-day hartal in Sirajganj for Tuesday

District unit BNP yesterday called a half-day hartal in the district for Tuesday, protesting the arrest of its leaders and activists.

District BNP president and former state minister for power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku announced the hartal from its party office.

Iqbal said police vandalised houses of many BNP activists in the name of search operation on Sunday night.

Police arrested many BNP activists and their relatives from their houses, he alleged.

Iqbal also demanded immediate release of the party men. l

One killed in clash n UNB, Lakshmipur One person was killed and eight others injured when a land dispute between two groups turned violent at Shaharapara village, Ramganj upazila, Lakshmipur on Sunday night.

The deceased was named as Faridul Islam, a member of the Bholakot union unit Jubo League, a youth front of the ruling Awami League.

Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj police station M Manjurul Islam said two groups, one led by Masudur Rahman, a local BNP activist, and the other by Shahid Ullah, a local Awami League activist, had been in a conflict over a piece of land for a long time.

In the latest flare-up, a brawl ensued between the groups around 8pm.

Equipped with lethal weapons, they engaged in clash with each other, leaving Faridul dead on the spot and eight others injured from both sides, the OC added. l

FOCUS BANGLA

Train tickets sold in black market n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat People departing from Lalmonirhat, who prefer train journey to reach their workplaces after enjoying the Eid-ulAzha vacation, have become victims of immense suffering because of insufficient train facilities and other problems.

Only a few tickets are allocated for the station, whereas hundreds of people throng the station to reach their destination.

As a result, many failed to collect tickets and some were seen getting onto trains without them, considering the necessity of joining their workplace on time.

AKM Majedul Islam of the town’s Hospital Road alleged that he purchased four highly-priced tickets from the counter, but did not get seats as double tickets were sold for the same seats.

A resident of the Thanapara area in Lalmonirhat town, Taherul Haque, said, “I went to the ticket counter but was unable to procure tickets. They told me that all the tickets were sold out.”

Meanwhile, Harunur Rashid, a resident of College Road in the town, alleged that the counter manager of the station was involved with a broker gang from the black market to sell train tickets at double the rate.

Contacted, Counter Manager of Lalmonirhat Railway Station Sumon Islam denied the allegation, and said, “My duty is to sell tickets at the counter not to keep an eye who sells black tickets at double price at the station platform.”

On the other hand, Assistant Traffic Superintendent of Lalmonirhat Railway Division Sazzad Hossain said, “If anybody tries to sell tickets in black at the platform, he will be caught and prosecuted under the law.” l

‘Long-term plan needed for ethnic communities’ n BSS The government should take up a longterm plan to solve the problems of the ethnic community in Rajshahi and develop their living condition by making them self-reliant, community leaders urged yesterday.

They said the usual development programmes and approaches had not yielded the desired results, as empowerment of the disadvantaged communities was vital in order to make them aware of their own rights.

The ethnic community leaders were addressing the regular monthly meeting of the 23-member District Public Policy Forum (DPPF) of Rajshahi at a community centre in the town.

Anagrasar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha

(ASUS), under its “Promoting Democracy Institute and Practices Project,” hosted the programme for discussing ways and means to expedite the DPPF’s activities in order to draw attention of the policy makers to the plights of the region’s plain land ethnic community people.

The three-year project is being implemented by ASUS with financial support from USAID, UKAID and the Asia Foundation in eight unions of Godagari upazila and six unions of Tanore upazila under Rajshahi district, and in four unions of Nachole upazila under Chapainawabganj district.

With DPPF Convener Chitta Ranjan Sarder in the chair, ASUS Executive Director Raj Kumar Shaw and its Project Coordinator Mahbub Alam addressed the meeting. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Section 144 imposed in Daudkandi upazila of Comilla

The local administration yesterday imposed ban on gathering in Hasnabad Bhitikandi Bazar of Daudkandi upazila as opposition BNP and ruling Awami League called separate meetings at the same venue and at the same time.

Daudkandi Uttar Union unit BNP earlier called its biennial meeting at Hasnabad Bhitikandi Bazar of the upazila for 2 pm on Monday while the Awami League leaders of the same union later called another meeting at the same venue and at the same time. Apprehending trouble, Daudkandi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khandakar Zakir Hossain imposed section 144 in the area from 10am till 6pm yesterday. – UNB

Terrorist held with bombs in Jessore

These children could not go to school as their educational accoutrements, including books and uniforms, were burnt in a fire set by some local musclemen in Lalmonirhat DHAKA TRIBUNE

Police arrested a suspected terrorist in Jessore town early Sunday. The arrestee was Shahadat Hossain, 28, of Shankarpur of the town. Police said led by Sub-Inspector Shambhu Biswas of Kotwali police station arrested Shahadat while he was staying behind

Shahnaz Hotel in the area to carry out some terrorist activists around 2:45am.

The police team also recovered two hand bombs from his possession. A case was filed with Kotwali police station under the Explosive Substances Act. – UNB

Mother hilsa, nets seized in Munshiganj

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard yesterday seized 30 mother hilsa fishes and 60,000 metres of fine fishing nets from the Meghna River in Gazaria upazila, Munshiganj. Samsur Rahman, an official of Munshiganj Coast Guard, said they conducted the drive in different areas of the upazila from Sunday night to yesterday morning and seized the mother hilsa and the nets. However, none was arrested during the drive, he said, adding that the seized nets were taken to Pagla in Narayanganj where they were destroyed. The seized fish have been distributed to different orphanages.

The government imposed an 11-day ban on catching, transportation and marketing of hilsa, from October 13 to October 23. – UNB

Youth crushed to death by train in Comilla

A young man was crushed to death under the wheels of a train at Tughuria in Monohorganj upazila on Sunday morning. The deceased was Solaiman Miah, 35, of South Fenua village.

Local sources said a Noakhali-bound demo train from Laksham knocked down the man while he was crossing Tughuria level crossing, leaving him dead on the spot. Officer-in-Charge of Laksham railway police station M Shahidullah said on information, police recovered the body and handed over it to the victim’s family without autopsy. – UNB

Minor boy drowns in Sirajganj

A minor boy drowned in the Fuljor River in Kamarkhand upazila on Sunday evening. The deceased was Shariful Islam, 9, of Dhamkol village of the upazila. Family members said Shariful slipped into deep water and drowned while catching fish in the river in the evening. Local people recovered the floating body of Shariful from the spot. – UNB

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

France summons US ambassador for spying; Mexico also outraged n AFP, Paris France and Mexico have angrily demanded prompt explanations from the United States following “shocking” new spying allegations leaked by former US security contractor Edward Snowden.

The reports published in French daily Le Monde and German weekly Der Spiegel reveal that the US National Security Agency secretly monitored tens of millions of phone calls in France and hacked into former Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s email account.

They come on top of revelations also leaked by Snowden and published in June that the US had a vast, secret programme called PRISM to monitor Internet users.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, on a trip to Luxembourg for a meeting with his EU counterparts, said the US ambassador had “immediately” been summoned to his ministry for a meeting Monday morning.

“These kinds of practices between partners that harm privacy are totally unacceptable. We have to rapidly make sure that they are no longer implemented in any circumstance,” he told reporters.

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, meanwhile, described the revelations as “shocking,” in an interview with Europe 1 radio.

The spy agency monitored 70.3 million phone calls in France over a 30day period between December 10 and January 8 this year, Le Monde reported

US Ambassador to France Charles H Rivkin, right, leaves the Foreign Ministry in Paris, after he was summoned Monday, October 21 in its online version, citing documents from Snowden.

According to the paper, the NSA automatically picked up communications from certain phone numbers in France and recorded certain text messages under a programme code-named “US985D.” Le Monde said the documents gave grounds to believe that the NSA targeted not only people suspected of being involved in terrorism but also high-profile individuals from the world

of business or politics.

Valls said France would demand “precise explanations by US authorities in the coming hours.”

US authorities declined comment to the French daily on the “classified” documents.

The Le Monde article followed revelations by Der Spiegel – also based on documents provided by Snowden – that US agents had hacked into the Mexican presidency’s network, gaining access to Calderon’s account.

AP

According to the report, the NSA said this contained “diplomatic, economic and leadership communications which continue to provide insight into Mexico’s political system and internal stability.”

The agency reportedly said the president’s office was now “a lucrative source.”

Mexican authorities said they would be seeking answers from US officials “as soon as possible” following the allegations. l

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Female suicide bomber attacks Russian bus, kills six n Reuters, Russia A female suicide bomber attacked a bus in southern Russia on Monday, authorities said, killing at least six people in the deadliest such blast outside the volatile North Caucasus region in nearly three years.

The bombing in Volgograd was likely to raise fears of further attacks by Islamist militants as Russia prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in February in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, not far from the mainly Muslim North Caucasus.

The attack, which investigators blamed on a 30-year-old woman from Dagestan, the North Caucasus province at the centre of an insurgency, also wounded 32 people, of whom eight were in critical condition, the federal Investigative Committee said.

State television showed footage, taken from a camera mounted on a driver’s dashboard, of an explosion ripping through the bus as it travelled along a tree-lined road, sending shards of metal and glass flying. Passengers scrambled out of doors and windows after the bus had stopped.

“There was a blast - a bang - all the glass flew out of the windows,” an eyewitness named Ivan, who had been driving behind the bus, told state-run television.

“The cloud of smoke quickly dissipated and then I saw people start to fall out and run out to escape the bus,” he said. “It was a horrible sight.”

Citing a regional investigative source, the Interfax news agency said identity documents belonging to the

suspected bomber were found near the site, and that she was believed to have been the wife of an Islamist militant.

The federal Investigative Committee named the suspect as Naida Asiyalova, 30, of Dagestan.

“This woman got on the bus at one of the stops and the explosion occurred almost immediately afterwards.

This was confirmed by the surviving passengers,” Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

“The blast was big, it was huge,” Vladimir, a man who said his daughter survived the bombing, told Ekho Moskvy radio.

“When I came to pick her up, half the bus was simply not there. It was scary. Very scary,” he said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Volgograd is a city of around 1 million people that lies 900 km (560 miles) southeast of Moscow and a few hundred kilometres north of the North Caucasus and Sochi, at the western end of the Caucasus range, where Russia will hold the Winter Olympics.

President Vladimir Putin has staked his reputation on the Games and ordered authorities to boost security in the North Caucasus, where the Islamist insurgency is rooted in two post-Soviet wars pitting Chechen separatists against the Kremlin.

Insurgents who say they are fighting to create an Islamic state have claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 37 people at a Moscow airport in 2011 and twin suicide bombings that killed 40 people on the Moscow subway in 2010. l

38 dead in Iraq cafe bombing Confusion over longdelayed Syria conference n Reuters, Baghdad

n

A group of Kenyan soldiers, top left and right, exit the store many carrying full white shopping bags which they did not have in earlier footage AP

Security video shows Kenyan soldiers looting mall n AP, Kampala, Uganda Kenyan security forces walked out of a store in Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, holding plastic bags heavy with unknown items after Islamic extremists staged an attack. Others looked behind counters and lifted items.

In security camera video seen by The Associated Press on Sunday, some members of Kenya’s armed forces appeared to loot a store during the fourday siege of Nairobi’s most upscale mall. At least 67 people were killed in the attack by Islamic extremists.

Kenya’s security forces have previously denied any wrongdoing.

Soon after the attack began on Sept.

21, Kenyan officials put a security cordon around the mall, allowing only security forces and a few government personnel to pass through. When the attack was over, some who owned shops inside the mall complained of looting.

Mobile phones were ripped from displays, cash registers emptied, and even alcohol stocks plundered, according to AP reporters at the scene after the siege ended.

Public servants in Kenya, including police, firefighters and soldiers, are poorly paid and frequently accused of corruption. l

WORLD WATCH UAE mosque shows Rihanna the door over photo shoot

Overseers of Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque say they asked pop star Rihanna to leave the compound after she posed for photographs considered to be at odds with the “sanctity” of the site.

Rihanna hasn’t publicly responded to the actions by staff at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Her show took place on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Argentine scientists tap cow burps for natural gas

Argentine scientists have found a way to transform the gas created by the bovine digestive system into fuel, an innovation that could curb greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Using a system of valves and pumps, the experimental technique developed by Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) channels the digestive gases from bovine stomach cavities through a tube and into a tank. The gases which otherwise are commonly known as burps, or “eruptos” in Spanish - are then processed to separate methane from other gases such as carbon dioxide. Methane is the main component of natural gas, used to fuel everything from cars to power plants. Each head of cattle emits between 250 and 300 litres of pure methane a day, enough energy to keep a refrigerator running for 24 hours.

Two killed in attack by Bolivia coca growers

A police officer on Sunday became the second member of a government eradication squad to die of gunshot wounds from an ambush by coca growers, who authorities said continued to hold eight eradicators hostage. Ten more members of the joint military-police team suffered gunshot wounds and 10 were injured by blows in Saturday’s attack in a rural area of the remote municipality of Apolo, about 145km north of La Paz, Interior Minister Carlos Romero said. A bullet perforated the stomach and pancreas of the police officer who died Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. It said the army lieutenant who died Saturday suffered a gunshot wound that pierced a lung.

Israel awards Bloomberg $1m ‘Jewish Nobel’

Israel has recognized New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the first ever recipient of a $1m award popularly dubbed the “Jewish Nobel Prize.” The Genesis Prize Foundation said Monday that Bloomberg was the winner of the inaugural prize.

According to the foundation, the award recognizes “exceptional human beings who, through their outstanding achievement, come to represent a fundamental value of the Jewish people.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present the prize early next year in Israel. Bloomberg will then announce to which philanthropic cause he will donate the prize.

AP, Beirut

Reflecting confusion in efforts to convene an international conference to end Syria’s civil war, the Arab League chief announced on Sunday that talks will take place next month in Geneva, only to have the UN envoy flatly deny a date has been set.

The bizarre diplomatic two-step between Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby and the UN envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, at a joint news conference added to the uncertainty surrounding the proposed peace talks. A decision over whether the long-delayed negotiations will happen at all could come at a meeting of the Syrian opposition early next month that will focus on whether to sit down with President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The United States and Russia, who support opposing sides in the conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people, have been trying for months to bring the Damascus government and Syria’s divided opposition to the table for a peace conference. But with the war deadlocked, neither the regime nor the rebels showed any interest in compromise, forcing the meeting to be repeatedly postponed.

Even now, it remains unclear whether either side is willing to negotiate.

The main Western-backed opposi-

tion umbrella group, the Syrian National Coalition, is scheduled to meet Nov. 1-2 in Istanbul to decide whether to take part in the proposed Geneva conference. One of the most prominent factions within the Coalition, the Syrian National Council, has said it has no faith in talks with Assad’s regime and won’t attend any Geneva negotiations.

But the Coalition’s ability to speak for the broader rebellion has long been in dispute, and fighters inside Syria — many of whom reject negotiations with the regime — have accused the opposition leaders in exile of being out of touch with reality on the ground.

The Coalition’s credibility, already strained, took a major hit last month when nearly a dozen prominent rebel groups publicly broke with the opposition umbrella group. More rebel brigades have since followed suit.

The government, meanwhile, has kept its options via Geneva open.

Some officials have said all opposition groups should be represented in the talks, while others have refused to deal with the Coalition. Assad, however, has stuck to one point throughout: a refusal to talk with “terrorists,” the term the government uses for those trying to topple the president by force.l

A suicide bomber driving a minibus blew himself up outside a cafe in a mainly Shia Muslim district of the Iraqi capital on Sunday, killing at least 38 people, police and medics said.

At least 12 people were killed in a spate of suicide bomb attacks on security personnel and government buildings earlier in the day, police said.

Violence in Iraq, which had eased after reaching a climax in 2006-07, is now rising again, with more than 7,000 civilians killed this year, according to monitoring group Iraq Body Count.

There was no immediate claim of re-

Islamists kill 19 in Nigeria n Reuters, Damaturu Islamist Boko Haram militants disguised as soldiers killed 19 people at a checkpoint on Sunday, mostly by slitting their throats, witnesses said.

Survivor Adamu Mallam, a trader, was hauled out of his vehicle and saw two other people shot dead by men dressed in military uniforms.

“They made me lie face down on the ground. I was next to be killed,” he told Reuters by telephone, voice trembling.

“I heard a man close to me screaming.

They slaughtered him with a knife.”

One of the attackers received a

Egyptian PM condemns attack on Copts n AP, Cairo Egypt’s interim prime minister on Monday condemned an attack outside a Coptic Christian church the night before that killed four people, including an 8-year-old girl, and pledged that police would find and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Attacks against Egypt’s Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the country’s 90-million strong population, have increased in the aftermath of the popularly-backed July 3 coup that ousted the country’s Islamist president. But the attack late Sunday was among the deadliest in weeks.

Two masked gunmen riding on a motorcycle opened fire at a wedding party in Cairo’s Waraa neighborhood as guests were leaving the Virgin Mary church, killing four people, including a woman and a little girl, said Khaled el-Khateeb, a senior health ministry official. The attack also wounded 17 people, he said.

Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi called the attack a “callous and criminal act,” and vowed that such assaults will “not succeed in sowing divisions between the nation’s Muslims and Christians.”

The top cleric at Al-Azhar, the world’s primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning, also condemned the attack in a statement Monday. “It is a crimi-

An Egyptian youth takes in the scene beneath him at a Coptic Christian church in the Waraa neighborhood of Cairo AP nal act that runs contrary to both religion and morals,” said Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb.

Egypt’s Coptic Christians have long complained of discrimination by the country’s Muslim majority, and more recently, over what they see as the failure by the government to protect their churches against militant Muslims.

“What is happening is that all of

sponsibility for any of the attacks, but Shias are viewed as apostates by Sunni Islamist militants whose insurgency has revived this year. The explosion on Sunday evening took place in Baghdad’s Amil neighbourhood. “The cafe was full of people watching a soccer game and others smoking shisha (water pipe) when a minibus drove over the pavement and exploded right at the entrance to the cafe,” said Ali Mahdi, a policeman whose patrol was stationed nearby.

“At first people in the cafe thought it was a drunk driver, until the blast tore them apart, covering the ground with chunks of human flesh and severed limbs.” l

Egypt is being targeted, not just the Christians,” said Fr. Dawoud, a priest at the Virgin Mary church. “Enough! People are getting sick and tired of this.”

The manner of Sunday’s attack harkens back to Egypt’s Islamist insurgency of the 1980s and 1990s, when militants attacked foreign tourists, Christians and senior government officials. l

phone call and they all rode off on motorbikes, Mallam and another trader said. They set five trucks ablaze during the assault, Mallam said. “I suspect they were alerted to a security presence so had to flee. That call saved our lives,” said the other trader, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

Militant group Boko Haram has been fighting for more than four years to try to revive old Islamic kingdoms in religiously mixed Nigeria. It remains the top security threat to Africa’s leading energy producer despite an all-out military offensive against it ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan in May. l

Student protests at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University n Reuters, Cairo Thousands of students from Egypt’s alAzhar University staged a third day of protests on Monday, security sources said, in one of the boldest challenges to the army since it toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July.

The demonstrations demanding Morsi’s reinstatement are a delicate matter for the authorities because the administration at al-Azhar, the ancient seat of Sunni Muslim learning, has historically toed the government line.

In another sign of Egypt’s struggle to impose stability since Morsi’s ouster, the prime minister on Monday threatened tough measures against anyone who attempts to divide Egypt after gunmen killed four people in an attack on a church in Cairo.

The protests at al-Azhar campuses in Cairo and other cities are smaller than previous rallies against the army-backed government. Security sources said a total about 4,000 students were involved, of whom 44 had been arrested.

The unrest suggests Morsi supporters may have shifted tactics, focusing on sensitive sites rather than huge street protests which often lead to strong action by security forces. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Kerry lauds Pakistan as important United States ally

Bomb on Pakistan passenger train kills at least six n AFP, Quetta A bomb hit a passenger train in Pakistan’s restive southwest on Monday, killing at least 6 people and wounding more than 17 others, officials said.

The device, apparently planted on the railway track, exploded when the train approached a station in Naseerabad district, around 250 kilometres (150 miles) southeast of Quetta, the capital of insurgency-hit Baluchistan province.

“It was a bomb blast, the target was the passenger train. At least six people have been killed,” provincial home secretary Asad Gilani told AFP, adding that more than 17 others were wounded in the blast.

Zafar Shah Bukhari, a senior official in the area, confirmed the attack on the Jaffar Express, travelling from Rawalpindi to Quetta, and the death toll.

“We have taken the dead bodies and injured to the nearby hospital,” Bukhari said, adding that the condition of six of the injured was critical.

The explosion derailed the train, Bukhari added.

The identity of those killed in the attack was not yet clear but Gilani said some security personnel were travelling in the train.

“All those killed were men but women and children were among the

wounded,” Bukhari said.

Police and other security personnel cordoned off the area after the blast.

An intelligence official told AFP bomb disposal experts were examining the site to determine the nature of the blast and check for any more devices.

Bukhari said one of the compartments of the passenger train was badly damaged due to the intensity of the explosion.

Faiz Bugti, a senior railway official in the area, told AFP that the train service had been suspended as the blast has damaged the railway track.

Javed Ahmad, another railway official, told AFP that work to clear the track would take hours.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast but in the past, the separatist Baluch Republican Army has claimed such attacks.

Railways minister Saad Rafique accused Baluch separatists for the attack and told reporters the bomb was detonated by remote-control.

“People who claimed to be fighting for the rights of Baluchistan are responsible for this attack,” Rafique said.

Baluch rebels have been fighting since 2004 for political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region’s natural oil, gas and mineral resources.l

Life sentence sought for Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge leaders

Malala inspires school curriculum n AP, Washington

17 die as truck falls into gorge in India n AP, New Delhi

n AFP, Phnom Penh

Malala Yousafzai has inspired the development of a school curriculum encouraging advocacy.

George Washington University announced Monday that faculty members are creating multimedia curriculum tools to accompany a book recently released by Malala. Several faculty members will pilot the curriculum early next year for both college and high school instruction. Free of charge, it will focus on themes such as the importance of a woman’s voice and political extremism, the university said. The tools won’t just look at the teen’s story, but also how the same issues get reflected elsewhere, such as when girls face child marriage and pressures to leave school, said Mary Ellsberg, the director of the university’s Global Women’s Institute. The university’s Global Women’s Institute is partnered with the Malala Fund, a nonprofit that seeks to ensure girls around the world have access to education.

“It’s going to be really interactive and really encourage students to do ... activities outside of school, it will encourage them to get engaged in the communities and as well to help the Malala Fund directly,” Ellsberg said.

In 2012 a Taliban gunman walked up to a bus taking Malala from school in Pakistan’s volatile northern Swat Valley and shot Malala in the head and neck. l

Police say 17 people returning from a wedding were killed after the truck they were riding fell into a gorge in northern India.

Another 28 people were injured in the accident late Sunday near Kaladungi, a town almost 400 kilometres northeast of New Delhi, according to police officer Dinesh Pant.

The driver lost control of the vehicle following a brake failure on a mountainous road in Uttarakhand state, Pant said on Monday. He was among those killed.

The bride and the groom survived as they were in another vehicle, he said.

India has the world’s deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. l

n AP, Washington America’s top diplomat says the US relationship with Pakistan “could not be more important” as the Islamic republic grapples with economic and security woes and regional stability.

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke Sunday as he sat down with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in Washington this week for talks with the White House.

‘We have a lot to talk about, and the relationship with Pakistan could not be more important’

Kerry declined to answer questions after brief remarks to reporters at the State Department. But US officials say the Obama administration is posed to release more than $1.6 billion in military and economic aid to help bolster ties with Islamabad that have deteriorated over deadly American airstrikes and the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

“We have a lot to talk about, and

Storm caused radioactive leaks at Fukushima: operator n AFP, Tokyo Heavy rain at the Fukushima nuclear plant caused a leak of radioactive water containing a cancer-causing isotope, possibly into the sea, its operator said Monday, as a typhoon approaching Japan threatened further downpours.

The leak is the latest in a long line of setbacks at the site and further undermines agreements between operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) and the government, which limit the level of radioactive contamination in water that goes outside the plant.

TEPCO said a barrier intended to contain radioactive overflow was breached in one spot by water contaminated with strontium-90 at 70 times the legal limit for safe disposal.

Strontium-90 is produced during nuclear reactions. It accumulates in bones and remains potent for many years, and causes several types of cancer in humans.

The admission came as a team of experts from the UN’s nuclear watchdog ended their review of Japan’s progress in cleaning up after the tsunami-sparked meltdowns of March 2011 created the worst atomic disaster in a generation.

TEPCO has poured thousands of tonnes of water onto badly-damaged reactors at Fukushima to keep them cool and prevent repeat meltdowns.

This huge volume of water must be stored in large tanks until it is cleaned of the radioactive substances it picks up in the cooling process.

Rain worsens the problem because as it hits polluted surfaces, it becomes contaminated, meaning TEPCO needs to scoop it all up for storage and treatment.

While the storage tanks all appeared to have survived the battering from heavy rain on Sunday, the concrete overflow barriers around them were not high enough to contain the rainwater runoff in several places.

Meteorologists say a typhoon that is likely to bring further heavy rain is churning its way slowly towards Japan.

Forecasters expect it will hit later in the week.

In August 300 tonnes of badly-polluted water leaked from a tank. It is now believed to have mixed with groundwater that is on its way to the sea.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose experts have been in Japan, sounded a largely positive note on progress in dealing with the mess in and around the Fukushima plant.

The mission, which came at Tokyo’s request, is a follow-up to an IAEA visit last year.

“Japan has done an enormous amount to reduce people’s radiation exposure in the affected areas, to work towards enabling evacuees to go back to their homes and to support local communities in overcoming economic and social disruption,” said team leader Juan Carlos Lentijo in a statement accompanying a report. l

9

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the State Department in Washington the relationship with Pakistan could not be more important,” Kerry said as his meeting with Sharif began. “On its own, (Pakistan is) a democracy that is working hard to gets its economy moving and deal with insurgen-

Prosecutors at Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge court on Monday demanded the maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment for two former top regime leaders on trial for crimes against humanity.

“Brother Number Two” Nuon Chea, 87, and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan, 82, are accused of playing a leading role in the “Killing Fields” atrocities in the late 1970s that left up to two million people dead.

Prosecutor Chea Leang said life in prison was “the only punishment that they deserve.”

“On behalf of the Cambodian people and the international community we ask you for justice – justice for the victims who perished and justice for the victims who survived today who had to live through such a vicious and cruel regime under the leadership of these two accused and other leaders,” she added.

The two defendants, the most senior surviving Khmer Rouge cadres, were both in court to hear the requested sentence.

Led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the communist regime wiped out a quarter of Cambodia’s population through starvation, overwork and execution

cy, and also important to the regional stability.”

Sharif did not speak during the brief session with reporters.

The two men met over dinner, shortly before Kerry planned to head to Europe

Khieu Samphan

AP

between 1975-79 in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia.

The kingdom’s UN-backed court is moving closer to a verdict in the complex trial, which has been split into a series of smaller trials.

Life imprisonment is the maximum sentence it can deliver. There is no death penalty.

The first trial has focused on the forced evacuation of people into rural labour camps and the related charges of crimes against humanity.

The evacuation of Phnom Penh in April 1975 was one of the largest forced migrations in modern history.

More than two million people were expelled from the capital at gunpoint and marched to rural labour camps.

“It’s a crime against humanity to send millions of people out into the hot

AP

for peace talks for Syria and between Israel and Palestinian authorities.

He will be meeting with foreign ministers in Paris, London and Rome before returning to Washington on Thursday. l

countryside, to walk for days, weeks, sometimes months without any organised transportation or any provision of food, water or medical assistance,” said co-prosecutor William Smith.

The Khmer Rouge leaders “implemented their criminal program with utter brutality,” he said.

“They decided on who lived and who died. They decided where and how their slaves lived.”

The trial, which began hearing evidence in late 2011, is widely seen as a landmark in the nation’s quest for justice.

Survivors of the regime welcomed the plea for a harsh sentence.

“I’m very happy. Justice is now near. The court must agree to this life imprisonment request because I lost 29 relatives under the Khmer Rouge,” said Chin Meth, 55, who watched the court proceedings.

Closing statements are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month, with a verdict expected in the first half of next year.

Other charges of genocide and war crimes are due to be heard in later hearings although no date has yet been set.

The defendants deny the accusations, saying they were not aware of the atrocities committed under the regime – a claim rejected by prosecutors. l

Winds, heat keep wildfire risk high in Australia n AP, Canberra, Australia

Firefighters battling some of the most destructive wildfires to ever strike Australia’s most populous state were focusing on a major blaze Sunday near the town of Lithgow that stretched along a 300-kilometer (190-mile) front.

Authorities warned that high temperatures and winds were likely to maintain heightened fire danger for days in New South Wales state.

The fires have killed one man, destroyed 208 homes and damaged another 122 since Thursday, the Rural Fire Service said.

Firefighters have taken advantage of milder conditions in recent days to reduce the number of fires threatening towns around Sydney from more than 100 on Thursday night to 61 on Sunday, Rural Fire Service spokesman Matt Sun said.

Fifteen of these fires continued to burn out of control, including the blaze near Lithgow, west of Sydney, which was given the highest danger ranking by the fire service. Authorities expect that blaze will continue to burn for days and have advised several nearby communities to consider evacuating ahead of worsening weather conditions.

Sun said temperatures in the fire zone on Sunday exceeded 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), with winds reaching 20 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour) and humidity dropping to 30 percent.

“It’s not as dire as it could be, but it’s certainly challenging work for firefighters and expected to get worse,” Sun said.

The Defense Department, mean-

Murder charge for Indian school deaths

n AFP, Patna Indian police charged a school principal and her husband with murder on Monday over the deaths of 23 children who were poisoned by a mid-day meal which was contaminated with pesticide.

The children, aged four to 12, fell ill within minutes of eating the lunch of lentils, potatoes and rice cooked at their primary school in a poverty-stricken village in eastern Bihar state on July 16.

The superintendent of police in Saran district, Varun Kumar Sinha, told AFP by phone that headteacher Meena Devi and her husband Arjun Rai faced at least five charges including murder and attempt to murder.

Police believe the poisoning was done deliberately by the couple, who purchased pesticide two days ahead of the tragedy and then stored the lethal chemical in the same room as cooking items. l

Thousands answer Greek appeal on ‘abducted’ girl n AP, Athens, Greece

A New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteer puts out a fire in the town of Bell, Australia, on Sunday, October 20 while, said it was investigating whether there was any link between the Lithgow fire, which started Wednesday, and military exercises using explosives at a nearby training range on the same day.

“Defense is investigating if the two events are linked,” the department said in a statement on Saturday.

Sun said the cause of the fire was also under investigation by fire authorities and would be made public when determined.

Arson investigators are examining the origins of several of more than 100 fires that have threatened towns surrounding Sydney in recent days.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the weather was forecast to deteriorate further over Monday and Tuesday.

“The worst of that weather will be probably culminating on Wednesday, but (there won’t be) much relief in the intervening period,” he told Australian

AP

Broadcasting Corp.

The wildfires have been extraordinarily intense and early in an annual fire season that peaks during the southern hemisphere summer, which begins in December.

Wildfires are common in Australia, though they don’t tend to pop up in large numbers until the summer. This year’s unusually dry winter and hotter than average spring have led to perfect fire conditions.l

A charity says thousands have answered a Greek appeal for help identifying a girl allegedly abducted and raised by a Roma couple.

The “Smile of the Child” charity, which is caring for the child, says it received over 8,000 phone calls and thousands of emails. They include people from the US, Scandinavia, Australia, South Africa and other places.

Spokesman Panayiotis Pardalis told The Associated Press on Monday that “you can imagine the huge number of tips we’re getting.” He says relatively few had specific details, and have been forwarded to police.

The appeal follows the discovery last week of the blond, blue-eyed girl, believed to be about four.

A 39-year-old woman and a 40-yearold man have been charged — and deny — her abduction. They are appearing in court Monday. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Still no clarity

I

f nations could be governed by speeches, then Bangladesh would be fortunate indeed. Fast on the heels of the prime minister’s address on Friday came the response from the leader of the opposition, that was, for the most part, measured and well delivered.

It was a campaign speech, and Khaleda Zia hit almost all the right notes in presenting her outline of what a BNP administration would look like, and the vision for the future that she laid out was something that would surely appeal to all.

However, the nation was not tuning in to hear an election speech so much as to hear the BNP’s counter-offer to the proposal for an all-party polls-time administration set forth by the PM in her address on Friday She would have been night, and it was this part better served to of the speech that was have either insisted unfortunately the most on amending the wanting. constitution to If we had hoped that reinstate the caretaker there would be some government or to have clarity after Begum Zia’s accepted the prime speech and that we minister’s proposal, but would be closer either with modifications to a mutually acceptable resolution of the political impasse, or at the very least that we would have two clear-cut alternatives to choose from, then the speech was a disappointment.

Begum Zia’s idea of an administration culled from the 1996 and 2001 caretaker governments was admirably specific and not without its merits, but the constitutionality of such a scheme remains doubtful.

One cannot help but think that she would have been better served to have either insisted on amending the constitution to reinstate the caretaker government or to have accepted the prime minister’s proposal, but with modifications sufficient to tailor it more to BNP’s liking.

It does not look like we are any closer to a resolution to the political crisis than we were before Friday.

BCIM corridor a welcome move

T

alks on the (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) BCIM economic corridor have progressed and Bangladesh has decided to come on board in support of this initiative. This is a welcome move on the government’s part, and an opening we need to take advantage of.

This trading route is at an advantageous location for us.

It will open up new trade opportunities and improve our interconnectedness within the BCIM region and also within other We should make regions in Asia. the most of this The combination of opportunity as it will roads, railways, waterways make us a stronger and air linkages will nation, and bolster encourage the easy flow ties with our and transport of goods neighbours as well and people, and give us access to other markets in Asia, thereby boosting our foreign trade.

The regional connectivity fostered through trade will in turn promote regional cooperation, since we will be given opportunities to collaborate with the BCIM nations, to create new industrial zones and businesses, which in turn will lead to new jobs, and thereby strengthen our economy further.

Such progress may also lead to a need for better transportation infrastructure being built, as well as spurring on the growth of our towns and cities in the BCIM corridor.

We should make the most of this opportunity as it will work to our advantage. It will make us a stronger nation, and bolster ties with our neighbours as well.

Save us from the ‘unholy nexus’

October 18

One phrase I hoped I would never see in the Dhaka Tribune, unfortunately reared its ugly head today. The phrase is “unholy nexus,” and it appeared on page 16 in the story about cattle markets in the hands of AL men.

Along with such gems as “rosy picture,” “for long,” and “vested quarter,” “unholy nexus” tops the list of sloppy clichés much used and abused by journalists here.

Please, for the love of all that is unholy, let me never see it (dis)grace our pages again!

A concerned citizen

Save Sundarban from Rampal thermal powerplant October 17

The story, “PM reaffirms Rampal won’t harm Sundarban,” has drawn my attention. Even a child can realise that the thermal power plant in Sundarban will destroy the only mangrove forest in Bangladesh.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to those who have been working strongly against this plant for a long time with the long march and other activities.

It seems that those who are in power cannot understand the public’s view as we saw Khaleda Zia, the then PM of Bangladesh had to introduce caretaker government by the consequences of jointly working on the issue of AL and Jamaat. We all know Sheikh Hasina was then lead by AL. We urge all including BNP to work jointly so that the incumbent government lead by Sheikh Hasina has to give up the thermal power plant without any delay.

Sheuly Haque Sirajgonj

October 17

Dear prime minister, if you cannot sit with the opposition, then sit with the common people to see what we want. We do recognise your development works, but yes, we do want a neutral caretaker government to oversee the elections.

Ahnaf

Zaker Chowdhury Last holiday using public funds.

Md Shahjahan Motia Choudury is the only woman minister who created positive examples.

Come to polls for the sake of children: Quamrul

Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif said the number of pilgrims from outside the country totaled 1.37 million, down 21% from last year’s 1.75 million.

Around 1.29 million of them had flown to the Kingdom from 188 countries, he said.

The reduced number of pilgrims is due to the massive expansion projects in Makkah and government’s aggressive campaign to bar undocumented pilgrims from undertaking the pilgrimage.

“The international media has gotten it wrong when it attributed the lesser number of pilgrims to the so-called coronavirus fear,” said Mufreh Al-Ghamdi, a volunteer at a Haj establishment. “The health minister has made it very clear that there has not been a single case of coronavirus among pilgrims.”

Hassanh

Shiam Ashraful Children?!! That means the future?

October 15

Be Heard Dhaka Tribune

Door for dialogue still open

Sajol Ashfaq Is it her last visit in this tenure??

1.5 million pilgrims reach Mount Arafat

Write to us at:

October 18

Moudud Hasan Please stop the political unrest. Come to a compromise for the polls.

Babul Sarwar Crores of supporters are there for each party, but these two party leaders do not want to respect each other. But, at the same time, they are constantly teaching us democracy?!

Eleanor Catton wins Man Booker prize October 17

Well-put! On her age, she said: “I feel very honoured and proud to be living in a world where the facts of somebody’s biography doesn’t give them a way of how people read their work, and I think that’s true of age and also of ethnicity and all sorts of other features of being human.”

- Eleanor Catton Lutfey Siddiqi

FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath 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

PM to address nation at evening October 18

Hope to see a landmark speech ahead of a yet uncertain election that may ease political tensions and let the peaceloving citizens live in peace!

P Sarker

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Myth (5) 4 Curved (4) 7 Self (3) 8 Uncooked (3) 9 Time in grammar (5) 12 Fasting period (4) 13 Suffered (7) 15 Wet, soft earth (3) 16 Transgression (3) 18 Forefront (3) 19 Fastener (3) 21 Bears witness to (7) 24 Stratum (4) 26 Dulcet (5) 27 Mingle (3) 28 Before (3) 29 Praise (4) 30 Least well (5)

Dipu Moni to visit China

October 20

DOWN 1 Festivity (4) 2 Things to be done (6) 3 Yoke (4) 4 Hairless (4) 5 Female sheep (3) 6 Saturn’s greatest satellite (5) 10 Result of addition (3) 11 Break out (5) 14 Prepares for publication (5) 17 Buries (6) 18 Essential (5) 20 Fresh (3) 21 Dry (4) 22 Prophet (4) 23 To let stand! (4) 25 Flightless bird (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

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

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Looking to diplomacy with Iran H Luers and n William Thomas R Pickering

P

The yellow submarine

“F

n Ikhtisad Ahmed reedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four.

If that is granted, all else follows,” wrote Winston Smith in his secret diary. The print, audio and visual media in Bangladesh arguably do not have that freedom.

There is a red line, arbitrarily set by governments past and present, often differing from case to case. If crossed, the criminalisation of defamation that exists in the law from the Stone Ages in Bangladesh, despite the UN’s condemnation of it, is used efficiently and ruthlessly.

The media cowering in fear of the powers that be is only half the story.

Truth, an absolute defence against defamation charges, has ceased to be so since facts are of no consequence. Such is the age of yellow journalism, at the very least equally responsible as said powers for the depreciation of the value of facts.

The term itself dates back to the American Gilded Age, originating during the late nineteenth century circulation war between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. From them to Rupert Murdoch and those who seek to emulate him today – more than a few of whom inhabit the subcontinent – the transition to sensationalism for circulation, often at the expense of the truth, is almost complete.

This driven growth in the industry has seen the advent of biased reporting and tabloid journalism. Their notoriety is pronounced on a daily basis by the

truth-bashing existence of Fox News is the US. Shameful, distasteful recent reminders have been served up by the UK, in the shape of the Sun’s attack on mental patients that completely disregarded facts to cause alarm and sell papers, and the Daily Mail’s bigoted spread about Ed Miliband’s father.

good business, success is dictated by the bottom-line, not the truth, by the appeasement of the patrons, not the education of the masses.

The news and facts are commodities being traded. The quality of the manufacturing process and the manufactured goods determine profit and prosperity.

The media cowering in fear of the powers that be is only half the story. Truth, an absolute defence against defamation charges, has ceased to be so since facts are of no consequence. Such is the age of yellow journalism

The former, infamous for the Hillsborough lies, is no stranger to controversy, neither is the narrow-minded latter. The ability to shock and awe, the by-product of which is to alter perception, has seen a lack of equal representation in the media develop over the years.

Newsworthiness has given way to disproportionality and scandals.

Those seeking to make headlines, as politicians are wont to do, are more interested in becoming the news than taking constructive action.

In Bangladesh too, the dissemination of information has been turned into a lucrative business, and like any

This has created an ill-conceived belief that the job at hand is not to inform the public, rather to steer its opinion by letting on to as little as possible.

The patrons and editors, in a country of a high number of illiterate and a higher number of uneducated, may overestimate the power of the media.

Moreover, people mostly read, watch and listen to what they agree with, what reaffirms their beliefs. A meagre handful can be swayed; fewer still are open-minded enough to respect the full spectrum of thoughts on a subject.

Is it worth it, then, for the media to continuously make up the truth?

The arguments about survival and

existence are put paid to by the fact that doing so panders to the establishment’s wish to control the populace.

For all their yellow journalism, Pulitzer and Hearst invested heavily on weekend publications, which inadvertently saw major strides being made on the weekly and monthly magazines front. The media had also been unleashed on the authorities, to uncover corruption and inefficiency.

The endless streams of talking heads agree that the end is nigh for Bangladeshi society, as it was in 1996, 2001 and 2006 to 2008.

It is time they started paying attention to solutions and facilitate their implementation, for a collective effort to, once and for all, hold the establishment to account. It has long been time that the mission statement of the media was one about informing, educating and civilising. Politicians are under no obligation to tell the truth, certainly not the whole truth. In fact, doing so is counter-productive for their purposes of attaining power.

News outlets and media institutions are exclusively owned by a select group of privileged citizens. They are, thus, at the mercy of, and providing a platform for the self-aggrandising, self-serving agendas of two distinguished assemblies.

Unless values, integrity and a respect for the truth are restored within the media world, ignorance will indeed be strength for the average man. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer.

resident Barack Obama has decided to test whether Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s “charm offensive” is a legitimate effort to reach an agreement on a more constricted and transparent Iranian nuclear program.

With this decision, he embarks on the most transformative and important diplomatic initiative of his presidency.

The closest historical analogy is President Richard M. Nixon’s opening to China in 1971. Nixon had recognized a major adversary’s new willingness to change course and he seized the opportunity to further vital US national security interests.

This China analogy, however, has some flaws. Most important, Nixon and his national security adviser Henry A. Kissinger began their quest in secrecy to avoid a divisive public debate that could have scuttled the initiative. Obama’s public commitment to test an opening to Iran, though, will be subjected to fierce scrutiny by domestic and foreign opponents.

But other historic analogies now being suggested do not work at all. The much cited Munich analogy of “appeasement” of Adolf Hitler on the eve of World War Two is absurd, since Iran’s Supreme Leader has neither the stated objective, nor the capability to take over the Middle East. Iran also has no history of military expansionism.

Nor is Rouhani Iran’s version of Mikhail Gorbachev, as some have suggested. Rouhani’s objective is to strengthen Iran’s governing system, not to “restructure” it, after the crippling eight years of the Ahmadinejad regime. He is working for a Supreme Leader who is determined to hold on to power and to strengthen the Islamic Revolution.

The Obama administration must find ways to drive a tough bargain with Iran Here, again, the China analogy holds.

Rouhani appears more like Deng Xiaoping, who designed a strategy to strengthen Beijing’s political control by easing domestic economic constraints and opening up China to the world.

Today Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is to meet with diplomats from the United States and its negotiating partners - Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany - known as the “P5+1.” He will formally provide the P5+1 delegates his government’s plan for an initial agreement, and also a diplomatic process that will lead to an endgame within a year’s time.

Zarif will most certainly expect an indication from the P5+1 representatives of the “endgame” of the negotiations.

He will want to hear that, if each side complies with a mutually agreed upon plan to limit Iran’s nuclear program, the P5+1 will, in response, agree to recognize an Iranian nuclear program with some uranium enrichment and also agree to lift all sanctions.

Zarif’s presentation this week will likely have surprising proposals for which he will expect - indeed must have - comparable responses. Iranian officials have suggested that they would be willing to negotiate on fundamental aspects of their nuclear program, including a lower level of enrichment (cessation of

enrichment to 20 percent, which is closer to weapons-grade, limits on the number of centrifuges, the number of facilities, the amount of material produced by each centrifuge, and eventually new safeguard rules and new arrangements for the heavy water reactor project.

In the International Atomic Energy Agency’s last quarterly report, Iran signaled its restraint by capping the amount of 20 percent material it produces; not using the advanced centrifuges it has installed, and pushing back the planned start date for the heavy water reactor at Arak.

The tough phase of diplomacy will begin as the P5+1 try to design a response that must include some sanctions relief.

The Obama administration must find ways to drive a tough bargain with Iran, accommodate the positions of its negotiating partners, respond to the anxieties of Israel and the Arab nations and manage the suspicions of Congress.

Obama must determine whether he will be able to provide substantial sanctions relief to get an early agreement on sufficient limits and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program to allay the most serious concerns of the P5+1. Then he can work toward a long-term comprehensive settlement that includes a definition of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program with IAEA inspections, to assure the plan is being carried out.

The banking sanctions are key. The US Treasury Department’s banking restrictions have proved the most effective sanctions on Iran’s economy and its people. They are likely, therefore, to be those Iran is most eager to remove. Central and private banks around the world are reluctant to cross the US Treasury by financing trade with Iran. Unless the international banking community can be assured that Washington has lifted the banking sanctions for good, they are unlikely to undertake the long-term relations needed to open trade with Iran.

Thus, the first hurdle is likely to be the highest on this difficult diplomatic path. If Iran proposes an ambitious plan at Geneva, the P5+1 must be ready to respond in kind. Yet the US political system seems unprepared, psychologically or politically, for that step. Can Washington find a solution that will progressively begin to relieve the most crippling sanctions in tandem with Iran’s movement toward a more transparent and limited nuclear program? Technically, the answer is yes. But politically, Congress may not be ready.

This will require patience and political space in Tehran and Washington - as well as bold early action in Geneva from both sides, to demonstrate commitment to progress.

The United States has led the effort to use sanctions to pressure Iran’s leaders to engage seriously and agree to specific controls on their nuclear program. If Iran is now willing to take concrete and verifiable steps to do so, the rest of the world will expect Washington to lead the process to sanctions relief.

If it does not do so, international support for the sanctions could unravel - leaving the United States without a nuclear deal and without its strongest tool for leverage.

This meeting could be the most important moment in the US-Iranian relationship since 1979. The opportunity must be seized and tested. l This article was syndicated from Reuters.

Food security is in the hands of Bangladesh’s youth n Mike Robson

B

angladesh has made great strides towards improved food security in recent years. Food grain production has tripled over the last forty years. Poverty reduction has been impressive, and Bangladesh is one of the countries to have achieved the millennium development goal on hunger reduction, honoured this year in an award from FAO. One of the factors behind this success is that Bangladesh is a young country – estimates are that half the population is under 25. The people still mainly live in rural settings – despite trends in urban growth, less than one third of the population is classified as urban. And just under half of the total population is engaged in agriculture.

However, despite these successes, the food system in Bangladesh today is at a turning point.

Demand is ever-rising as the population continues to grow – expected to reach around 200 million by 2030.

Under-nutrition – seen in the high percentage of stunting in children – remains a persistent challenge. And the

food system faces significant problems from natural resource degradation.

Production is affected by the slow loss of land available (according to a recent SRDI study at around 0.3P%0.5% per year). Groundwater resources are depleted and expensive to access.

Salinity is a growing problem in some areas; drought in others. And the gradual effects of climate change, coupled with extreme weather events, provide a worrying backdrop.

When I visit farmers one of the questions I ask is what do you want your children to be when they grow up? The usual answer is a roll call of the professions – doctor, engineer, lawyer ... or perhaps less ambitiously a range of trades, or even the readymade garments sector. I then ask, “But none of you want your children to be farmers?”, usually this is followed by a slightly embarrassed silence.

Yet this next generation can be a potent force for modernising agriculture, and addressing the underlying challenges to food security. Young people tend to be more open to new ideas, and new ways of producing crops, livestock or fish. They are the ones who develop new services, who

start businesses, who become traders, who make use of mobile communications technologies and devise new equipment or approaches to solve old problems; and who integrate across production systems to minimise waste, achieve greater energy efficiency and use up by-products.

I say: “it can be,” because a number of factors discourage rural youth from taking on these challenges – and encourage them instead to move to the city, or abroad. These include lack of access to land and resources; lack of rural services; lack of decent rural work; the lack of opportunity to make a living, or develop a business. Investments in rural areas, including access to infrastructure, credit, technology and skills training, are crucial for local economic development, and to create more and better jobs both in the farm and non-farm sector. Though some of this investment needs to come from the public sector, the private sector also has a major role to play.

From a recent ILO report, “Countries such as China and Viet Nam have shown what can be achieved by investing heavily in agriculture and rural development. In China, produc-

tivity growth in agriculture, combined with improved rural infrastructure, is thought to have reduced poverty four times more than growth in industry or services.”

The current Government of Bangladesh scheme of farmers’ cards, and encouragement to open bank accounts to allow direct transfers of funds, avoiding middle men, is a step in the right direction. But landless agricultural labourers and women, who are not considered as primarily “farmers,” need to be brought into such schemes.

Other novel partnerships are needed to develop rural youth employment opportunities, and to add further value to agricultural output. There needs to be investment in training and non-formal education in modern production and processing technologies, but also in book keeping, marketing and finance.

Maybe agriculture needs to find more vocal champions, and become more attractive in the process? If so, it could start in schools. The inclusion of agriculture, food security and nutrition in school curricula can help reinforce positive individual and household messages. School

gardens can become an extension of the classroom, where mathematics, biology, basic sciences and nutrition are taught. Training and certification for skilled farm workers is another key investment. Farmers Field Schools, which test new technologies and encourage adaptive research, are another element to engage the young and more dynamic farmers, technicians and researchers.

In short, rural youth holds the key to

Novel partnerships are needed to develop rural youth employment opportunities, and to add further value to agricultural output. There needs to be investment in training and non-formal education in modern production and processing technologies, but also in book keeping, marketing and finance long-term food security in Bangladesh.

It is up to the policy makers to find the right incentives to realise this potential. One way they can support this is to promote The Modernisation of Agriculture as a national campaign. l Mike Robson is the country representative of Food Agriculture Organisation.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Aranyak’s new production showcased at BSA n Afrose Jahan Chaity

Seasoned baul singer performing at the festival

123rd Lalon Tirodhan Dibosh 2013 celebrated in Kushtia n Entertainment Desk The 123rd Lalon Tirodhan Dibosh 2013, one of the largest cultural festivals of the country, was held from October 16 20. This gigantic fair was first organised over a century ago to observe the death anniversary of legendary baul and philosopher “Fakir Lalon Shah” in the 3rd week of October.

Lalon Shah is the icon of baul music all over Bangladesh and India. He is considered not just the most recognizable baul icon, but the founder of the baul religion.

After hundred years of celebrations, this event now has become an event of reunion and entertainment for people from all walks of life. To celebrate the

event, hundreds of bauls, as well as thousands of people from all over the country, gather in the Lalon Complex situated in a suburban area of Kushtia town.

The festival is a common platform where people from all ages, races, religions and income levels participate.

Not only the participants but also devotees from the whole country and foreign nations were present.

This is the 7th consecutive time that Banglalink sponsored this prestigious event. “Lalon Academy” is the proud organizers of this five-day long programme.

Over a span of 5 days the festival included a folk music competition among the bauls, a musical concert with the

participation of famous artists, trade fair and many more activities.

Babul Haq, regional commercial head, Khulna Banglalink said: “Banglalink is proud to sponsor this extremely prestigious event of international consequence. Fakir Lalon Shah is a legend ,recognized as the icon of large part of our culture. Today, this festival is the meeting grounds for thousands and thousands of people, to get together and enjoy a good time and forget about the rest of the world for a while. Banglalink has always worked to promote and encourage our cultural traditions and heritage.”

Hasanul Haq Inu, Minister of Information, inaugurated the program as the chief guest. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition Solo painting exhibition Tumi (you)

By Mostofa Jamil Akbar Shamim Time: 12pm - 8pm Institute of Asian Creatives House 9 Road 36, Gulshan-2 Solo painting exhibition Castles in the Sky By late Sohrab Khan Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge House 60 Road 31 Gulshan 1

Popular actor Mou in Eid special drama

Holud Jamar Rohoshsho airs today n Entertainment Desk “Holud Jamar Rohoshsho” will be aired on the seventh day of Eid at 9:15pm on Channel 9. Written and directed by Anjan Aich, the drama features Mou, Shariar Nazim Joy, Ahsan Kabir and Moniraj. The drama is about a couple, Niom and Rashed. Rashed is a busy man who works for a private company.

Niom is a lonely wife and spends most of the day by herself.

One day, Rashed calls Niom and says

his boss will be coming home for dinner. Niom arranges the dinner items.

Rashed calls Niom again to say that he will be late, but his boss will arrive before him.

Hearing this, Niom hesitates, as she does not like Rashed’s boss and has a bad impression about him. Rashed’s boss arrives and uses the opportunity to harass Niom. Rashed arrives home to find that his boss is murdered by his wife. He tries to think of ways to save his wife from the police. l

Soaked Dream

By Firoz Mahmud Time: 11am – 6pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new) House 10 Dhanmondi R/A Group Photography Exhibition POV_Prime 50’s : Season 1 Time: 3pm – 8pm Dhaka Art Center (DAC) House-60, Road-7A Dhanmondi R/A

Workshop

Songwriting: Demystifying the Art Time: 4pm – 7pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new), House 10 Dhanmondi R/A

Popular theatre troupe Aranyak premiered their new production “Swapnopothik” recently at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in the presence of invited guests and the press. The touching play is based on the Savar tragedy that snatched normalcy from the lives of a staggering number of people.

Key factors that led to the tragedy were shown through brilliant performances, innovative set design and through a heartwarming script. The misdemeanors of factory owners who built illegal death traps, politicians bribed to look the other way and large retailers hiding behind policies that deem them untouchable were portrayed in the production.

The tragic tale of the victims, their rescue and the role of police and media was also shown in an adept manner. The musical synchronisation of the entire production was matched step to step with the unfolding of the story. It was what made the

show touchy as well as lively.

The sad story left the audience with a bleeding heart, the response received was very emotional. Especially when the struggle of the trapped victims was portrayed, and their determination to come out on top, despite of the tragedy that shook their very being, the audiences found it very poignant.

The play is written by Harun Rashid and directed by Mamunur Rashid.

Thandu Raihan was the light designer of the production, set designing was done by Foyez Zahir and renowned dancer Warda Rihab, who is the director of Driti Natyanalaya, is in charge of the choreography.

The cast of the production is comprised of popular theatre activists Mamunur Rashid, Momena Chowdhury, Tamalika Karmaker, Arif Ahmed Apel, Abu Hasib Masuduzzaman, Chitra Chobi, Shaju, Kamrul, Monir Zaman.

Almost fifty more actors of the Aranyak group will act in the massive production that tells a heartbreaking tale of the incident that brought devastation and loss upon thousands of life. l

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9:00pm Travel XP A scene from Aranyak’s new production Swapnopothik

SNIGDHA ZAMAN

Hills And Valleys

Second Bangladesh Youth Delegation visits India n Afrose Jahan Chaity As part of the initiative to strengthen people-to-people contact and exchange between India and Bangladesh, a hundred-member Bangladesh Youth Delegation will visit India from October 21–28, after receiving invitation from the government of India.

This is the second time that the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, the High Commission of India have organised the weeklong tour. The first time, this tour took place on October 6-13, 2012.

Members of the delegation are young men and women drawn from diverse institutions of Bangladesh and include doctors, engineers, management graduates, business people, entrepreneurs, journalists, musicians and students. The youth delegation will visit the national capital New Delhi as well as Agra, Bengaluru and Mysore. They will see prominent cultural and historical sites in India apart from holding interactions in educational, business, IT and technological institutions of India.

They are also expected to call on Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India.

Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran addressed the delegation while cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and film personality Jaya Ahsan were also present at the pre-departure interaction with the members of the delegation on October 20 at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre.

Jaya Ahsan and Shakib Al-Hasan with Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran at the predeparture interaction with the members of the delegation on October 20 at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre SYED LATIF HOSSAIN Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran shared his take on the occasion at the pre-departure interaction: “We are a neighbour, which is fact of life. The real challenge before us is to be a good neighbor. When we think about going out of Bangladesh, we think about going to Europe, America, and Canada.

We never think of going to India or to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka or to any other country which is close to us. We have to learn to recognize the places and people living around us. This visit will

enable you to see different aspects of India, its people, culture, achievements and give you a better understanding of the country as a neighbour.”

Pankaj Saran praised the women’s empowerment development in Bangladesh, and said: “Bangladesh is one country which holds its head very high in terms of how Bangladesh has been empowered since 1971.” He also encouraged the youth delegates, saying: “You represent the best of Bangladesh.” l

Saif and Katrina to star in Kabir Khan’s next movie

Yash Chopra Memorial Award bestowed on Lata Mangeshkar

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

After the mega success of “Ek Tha Tiger,” director Kabir Khan is ready with his next project.

Daniyal Khan and Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif have been roped in to play the lead role. Kabir Khan recently went to Lebanon to look for locations where the film will be shot.

Even though Lebanon is in the middle of political unrest, Kabir is adamant to shoot the movie there.

Saif and Katrina will soon be joining the rest of the crew in the forthcoming days. A source close to the director said: “We were a bit skeptical about going to Beirut as there have been bombings as well as clashes over there. But Kabir put his foot down and said that we are definitely going to shoot in the region.”

Kabir has already made all the arrangements for the security of the cast and crew. Saif will be playing a secret agent and Katrina will be his ladylove.

Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar is all applauded for her contribution to Indian cinema and now the industry has also stood up to clap for her input.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari awarded Lataji with first Yash Chopra Memorial Award, on the first death anniversary of filmmaker Yash Chopra in his memory. Manish announced: “Lata Mangeshkar, blessed with a beautiful voice, is the pride of the Indian music industry and a living legend.”

Lata Mangeshkar, in spite of having bad health, made it the occasion. “I have been unwell for three days. I have fever and doctors have asked me to take rest and not go out anywhere. But I wanted to come here. I have not come here for the award and Rs1m. Yashji was special and close to my heart.”

Many renowned faces of the industry marked their presence at the event. l

Like his previous films, this movie will also revolve around the topic of terrorism. Katrina, who is currently in New York, will go to Beirut directly from

there. This will also be Kabir’s third film with Katrina. They have previously worked in “New York” and “Ek Tha Tiger.” l

Veteran playback singer Lata Mangeshkar along with Rani Mukherjee, Hema Malini during the Yash Chopra National Memorial awards night in Mumbai

Did you know?

George Boateng (382 - Coventry City, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Hull City), Dennis Bergkamp (315 - Arsenal) & Edwin van der Sar (313 - Fulham, Manchester United) are the only three Dutch Internationals to have made over 300 English Premier League appearances

Sport

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

14 Arsenal, Barca look to build on perfect starts

14 World Cup to miss either Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 De Villiers confident South Africa can fix first Test woes

Kiwis fight back after batting blitz n Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal grimaces after being was dismissed five short of a century in the first innings of the second Test against New Zealand at SBNS yesterday

Late blows give New Zealand the momentum n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Score Card

After a poor morning session New Zealand came back in the game strongly by picking three valuable wickets right before tea and visiting batsman Ross Taylor thinks they will carry the momentum when they resume the second day today.

As expected weather ruined an exciting day’s cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium as rain washed away the last session of the first day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

“I think with the three wickets that fell in the last session, definitely gave us the momentum. But there’s still a long way to go in this Test match. Bangladesh have scored at over four runs an over, made the Test a little bit more advanced after only 55 overs,” said Taylor to the media yesterday.

When queried if the rain was of frustration to his team, Taylor said, “Yes, the momentum was with us, but

Bangladesh first innings Tamim Iqbal c Williamson b Wagner

95

Anamul Haque c Williamson b Boult

7

Marshall Ayub b Wagner

41

Mominul c Watling b Anderson

47

Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Sodhi

20

Mushfiqur Rahim not out

14

Extras (b2,lb1, w1) 4 Total (for five wickets, 54.4 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Anamul), 2-90 (Marshall), 3-166 (Mominul) 4-208 ( Tamim), 5-228 ( Shakib)

Bowling: Boult 13-1-50-1, Bracewell 10-0-51-0 (w1), Wagner 13-3-42-2, Sodhi 11.4-2-38-1, Williamson 4-0-30-0, Anderson 3-0-14-1 we can’t control the weather. It’s probably still pretty evenly poised. The rain has given our fast bowlers an extra break, and hopefully, weather permitting we can strike early and get them seven or eight down before the second new ball.”

The former New Zealand skipper standing in his 50th Test informed the Kiwis have no specific plan. “The main focus is that our bowlers are still fresh and we want to pick up early wickets whenever we do get out there. As I said if we can get them seven or eight down before the next new ball, I am sure that whatever the total is then we will be satisfied considering Bangladesh won the toss,” added Taylor.

The Bangladesh batsmen were in a commanding mode as they showed no mercy at bad and wide balls, but playing too many shots also made them pay the price and Taylor backed his bowlers for the effort they put in.

“Marshall and Tamim came out and played their shots. It’s quite a small boundary both sides of the wicket probably being brought in ten meters each side which makes for small boundaries, so once you get it through the field it does go.

“We would have liked to have restricted them a little bit more. You have got to give credit to the way Bangladesh batted, but we are happy with the way we came back,” said Taylor. l

MUMIT M

Bangladesh finished the first day of the second Test match against New Zealand at 228/5 with rain washing out the last session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The highlight of the day was opener Tamim Iqbal’s stroke filled innings of 95.

With the newly laid pitch – as well as the overcast conditions - expected to assist pace bowling, Bangladesh made one change from the first Test, with debutant paceman Al-Amin Hossain coming in for Robiul Islam.

After Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and chose to bat, Bangladesh got off to a shaky start. Tamim was dropped on five by wicket-keeper BJ Watling and again on 10 by Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum at slip. Luck however, was not with Anamul Haque, who continued his poor run when he skied an unnecessary pull shot to a back-of-alength delivery from Trent Boult. The catch was taken at slip as Anamul departed for seven to leave Bangladesh 23/1.

The loss brought Marshal Ayub to the crease, who opened his account with a beautiful cover drive and batted with apparent ease. With Tamim settling down as well, the Bangladesh batsmen came to dominate the Kiwi attack and were finding the boundary regularly. Against the run of play, Marshal was bowled by Neil Wagner for a stylish 41 from 62 balls to end

A painful miss n Raihan Mahmood

A collective sigh of distress reverberated through the crowd at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium yesterday afternoon as Bangladesh’s opening batsman Tamim Iqbal fell five runs short of what would have been his fifth Test hundred. The anguish of happening seems to have reached the dashing player himself and Tamim was conspicuous by his absence at the postday press conference and declined to speak to individual reporters who tried to contact him afterwards.

The last time Tamim reached the magical three figure mark was June 4, 2010 in Manchester, England and he had made a hundred in the innings before that one to boot. Since that day, he has played 21 innings – many of them fine efforts – but the big ton has eluded him.

Yesterday looked to be the day. Lady luck was smiling on the man from Chittagong as he began shakily. Paceman Doug Bracewell induced two edges from his bat only to see wicket-keeper Bradley-John Watling drop the first with Tamim on five and Brendon McCullum at second slip spill the second with the opener having moved onto 10.

Gradually, Tamim settled in and

with his confidence rising, took to the Kiwi bowlers in the manner Tigers fans have come to love. He left good balls outside the off-stump with serenity just as he pounced onto anything overpitched with relish.

Putting on 67 with one-down batsman Marshall Ayub (41) and 76 with Mominul Haque (47) for the third wicket, Tamim passed 50 off just 72 balls, studding the effort with no less than nine boundaries.

Continuing on with authority, he moved into the nineties with his sixteenth and seventeenth fours – a pinpoint straight drive after essaying down the wicket off Williamson and a steer through the slips off Neil Wagner – and the New Zealand fielders were as stone as the ball sped over the ropes.

Then the painful moment came.

Wagner dug a bouncer in and Tamim, who had come onto the front foot was perhaps taken by surprise.

With no time to duck, he tried to steer the ball to the third man, only to find the lone man in the slip cordon, Williamson, who took a fine catch to remove the dangerous batsman for 95. Eyes turned to the heavens, Tamim Iqbal walked back to the dressing room and it must have felt a very long walk. l

BFF’s academy suffers setback n Shishir Hoque

The much-awaited renovation work of the Bangladesh Football Federation’s youth football academy at the Sylhet BKSP faces another obstacle as the ministry of finance had taken back the Tk19.5m they had given for the project, leaving the BFF uncertain as to when the work will be finished.

The government allocated the fund for renovation work that would have turned the BKSP infrastructure into a full-fledged football academy in the fiscal year 2012-13 but due to the National Sports Council (NSC) failure to utilise the money in time, the finance ministry has taken back the funds.

The renovation work started in the middle of July this year with four different tenders. The BFF claimed that the process was stopped two weeks before the Eid-ul-Azha holidays and the work has not yet started. The NSC, on the other hand, insisted that the renovation

work is still going on.

Sibnath Roy, secretary of the NSC, admitted that the money was taken back by the ministry of finance. “The ministry of finance returned their allocated money for our delay to start the work but it didn’t stop our work as the ministry of youth and sports are continuing the renovation work. We are hopeful that we will finish the work within one or two months,” Sibnath said yesterday.

Bangladesh Football Federation is doubtful whether they will get the academy this year. “We thought we would get the academy by November but as far as we know, the work has not resumed after Eid. We are concerned if the work will finish this year,” said BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.

At the end of last year, the BFF with the assistance of a Fifa selection panel, had selected a total of 64 players including 37 under-14 players – to be the federation’s football academy’s first pupils. l

Long banners congratulating newly elected BCB president Nazmul Hasan - some of which simply refer to him by his nickname “Papon” hang messily from the rafters of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. With a Test match going on inside and regular visits by overseas teams and iCC officials to the venue, the spectacle makes for a sorry sight, and even drew censure from many spectators yesterday MUMIT M

the 63 run partnership. Marshal was late to react to straight ball which was through him before he could get his bat down.

Mominul Haque, who made his maiden hundred in the previous game, joined Tamim in the middle.

The opener was well set by this point and reached his fifty after stroking two boundaries and a single from consecutive balls. Mominul for his part carried on from where he left of in Chittagong and started with a boundary, as Bangladesh reached 150 in the first hour after lunch.

The 24-year old Mominul seemed to be toying with the Kiwi bowlers as he raced towards 50 but threw it away by edging a wide ball to Watling behind the stump. Mominul’s 47 included eight boundaries and his partnership with Tamim was worth 76 runs.

Tamim, joined by Shakib, continued in aggressive fashion and struck two fours to move from 87 to 95. With a fifth Test hundred in striking distance, the hard-hitting opener was surprised by a lifting delivery Neil Wagner that he could only steer into the hands of third slip. The man from Chittagong - who struck 17 boundaries in his 222 minute, 153 ball knock - left the middle in disbelief.

An upbeat Kiwi side added the wicket of Shakib, who was adjudged LBW as he missed a sweep shot to a full length ball from leg spinner Ish Sodhi, for 20 of what turned out to be the last ball of the day as rain washed out the post-tea session. Mushfiqur Rahim remained not out on 14 as Bangladesh finished the day at 228/5. l

Should get 400: Marshal n Minhaz Uddin Khan Heavy showers led to the first day of the second Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand being called off an hour early at the Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh had the better of most of the day but the loss of the key wickets of opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan just before tea left the match evenly poised.

Electing to bat first on winning the toss, Bangladesh recovered from the early loss of Anamul Haque through a 76-run second wicket partnership between Tamim and Marshal Ayub.

The two batsmen appeared to be well in control and smoothly kept the scoreboard ticking over.

The loss of three wickets – Mominul Haque, Tamim and Shakib - in the span of 14 overs in the second session however, pulled the home side back.

“I think we lost an extra wicket today. Shakib staying in there could have made the scoreboard look better,” said Bangladesh top order batsman Marshal yesterday.

Marshal, who made 25 and 31 on debut in the previous Test in Chittagong, scored 41 fluent runs yesterday. Displaying the stylishness for which he is known for, Marshal played a number of classic shots in his 62-ball innings before he was bowled

by Neil Wagner.

“I should have stayed at the wicket as I was scoring. Should have had lengthened the innings. To be honest, I missed the line and lost the wicket,” confessed Marshal.

With Bangladesh poised at 228/5, Marshal felt that the Tigers should aim for 400. “We never had the plan to attack, rather we wanted to play basic cricket. There were many bad deliveries and half-volleys so we tried to punish those. Both Mominul and Tamim can play big innings. We could have scored at least 350 if they were not dismissed.

“We gave away our wickets to be honest. Tamim, me and Mominul lost the opportunity to play a big innings.

With where we stand now, I think we should aim to score at least 400 runs in the first innings,” he said. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hodgson, Ferdinand join FA commission

Hamburg hold Stuttgart in sixgoal thriller n AFP, Berlin

n AFP, London

Hamburg remain unbeaten in three league games under coach Bert van Marwijk after picking up a point in their thrilling 3-3 draw with 10man VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.

Ex-Holland coach Van Marwijk took charge in September after predecessor Thorsten Fink was fired following a disastrous start to the season, including a 6-2 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund.

The Football Association announced on Sunday that England manager Roy Hodgson and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand have joined a commission to investigate the failings of the national team.

Their appointments take the number of people on the commission to 10, after FA chairman Greg Dyke unveiled a provisional eight-man line-up earlier in the month.

The commission will look at ways to increase the number of English players playing in the Premier League and is expected to present a report by the end of March next year.

Mixed-race Ferdinand’s appointment comes after FA board member Heather Rabbatts criticised Dyke for originally naming an all-male, all-white commission. “Rio’s vast experience as a player developed through West Ham’s successful youth system, winning Premier League and European titles with Manchester United and representing England at World Cups means he has a huge amount to offer to the debate,” said Dyke. The FA waited until the end of England’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign before confirming Hodgson’s place on the commission.

“It is important Roy can offer his views as the current manager of the national team and share the knowledge he has gained when working for many years in a number of countries,” Dyke said. l

Match Results

Arsenal and Barcelona are two of the sides looking to make it three wins out of three when the Champions League resumes this week.

Premier League leaders Arsenal and Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up, faced each other in 2011-2012 when two Robin van Persie strikes gave Arsenal the points at home despite Shinji Kagawa’s injury-time reply. Van Persie and Ivan Perisic were on the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw in the return game.

The Gunners are in the group stage for the 16th season in a row. For the sixth time in eight campaigns they had to negotiate a qualifying round, dispatching

Arsenal player Mesut Ozil (C) warms up with his team mates Per Mertesacker (L) and Santi Cazorla during a training session at the club training centre in London Colney, north of London, yesterday. Arsenal will play Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League soccer match in London today REUTERS

Fixtures St Bucharest Schalke 04 Arsenal Marseille Porto AC Milan Celtic Austria Vienna

v v v v v v v v

Basel Chelsea Dortmund Napoli Zenit Barcelona Ajax Atletico

Fenerbahce 5-0 on aggregate in the playoffs with in-form Aaron Ramsey scoring three times. Dortmund are second in the Bundesliga, a point behind Bayern Munich, after a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Hanover on Saturday. The German side are without midfielder Nuri Sahin who has an ankle injury.

Steaua Bucharest, the 1986 champi-

ons, are looking for their first points in the Champions League this season after defeats to Schalke and Chelsea.

Basel, semi-finalists in the Europa League last season, could not build on their surprise 2-1 matchday one victory at Chelsea, losing 1-0 at home to group leaders Schalke last time out.

Chelsea and Schalke last met in the 2007/08 group stage, with the match in Germany ending scoreless while the English club were 2-0 victors at Stamford Bridge thanks to Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba.

Napoli could be without Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain who has a thigh strain. Goran Pandev is likely to start for a Napoli team who have so far beaten Borussia Dortmund but lost to Arsenal.

Atletico suffered their first league defeat of the season, 1-0 at Espanyol on

1-2

Saturday. Diego Simeone’s men have two wins from two in the Champions League, including an impressive come from behind victory at Porto.

Milan could count themselves fortunate to have grabbed a point against Ajax, a last minute penalty by Mario Balotelli forcing the draw. However, the talented striker is likely to be a key absentee as he suffered a thigh injury in last week’s World Cup qualifier with Armenia. Barcelona, looking for their third win in three group games, failed to score in a league match for the first time since January 2012 with a 0-0 draw with Osasuna. Carles Puyol made his first start after a seven-month absence due to knee surgery while four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi came on for the final quarter after sitting out several games with a thigh strain. l

Stuttgart

Maxim 3 Gentner 37 Djourou 64-og

Wolfsburg

Arnold 35, Luiz Gustavo 42

Hamburg captain Rafael van der Vaart earned his side a point when he equalised for the third time for the hosts on 67 minutes on Van Marwijk’s home debut.

Stuttgart spent the last six minutes with 10 men after Germany Under-21 centreback Antonio Ruediger was shown a straight red for hitting Dutch midfielder Van der Vaart in the ribs.

After a draw at Frankfurt and a 5-0 hammering of Nuremberg, the point kept Hamburg 15th, having been in the bottom three when Van Marwijk took over, while Stuttgart are eighth.

Wolfsburg moved up to ninth with a 2-1 win at Augsburg with Wolves exBayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo heading the first-half winner. l

It's either Ronaldo or Zlatan n AFP, Zurich Continental giants Portugal and Sweden were drawn together in the pick of the World Cup qualifying play-offs in Europe made by football’s governing body FIFA on Monday.

Former champions France were given a favourable pairing as they travel to Ukraine for the first leg on November 15 while Greece will host Romania and Croatia play their first leg in Iceland.

Former World Cup semi-finalists Portugal and Sweden were the first two countries pulled out of the hat as Cristiano Ronaldo will defy Zlatan Ibrahimovic in what will be a battle of star-studded line-ups.

Didier Deschamps’ French side, who were narrowly beaten to top spot in their pool by defending champions Spain, travel to the Euro 2012 co-hosts where they defeated Ukraine 2-0 in group play.

The return leg will be played on November 19.

Ukraine’s key player Artem Fedetsky of Dnepropetrovsk believes in his side’s chances despite a tough draw.

Romania are bidding to return to the final stages for the first time since 1998 and will fancy their chances against goal-shy Greece, who were beaten to top

Play-off Fixtures Portugal Ukraine Greece Iceland

v Sweden v France v Romania v Croatia

spot in their pool by Bosnia-Herzegovina. Finally, Iceland look to qualify for the first time in their history against a Croatia side coming off back to back defeats against Scotland and in the midst of a managerial change.

The four winners will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. The draw for the eight groups of four that will feature in the first round of the tournament will take place on December 6 in Bahia, Brazil. l

Wenger’s harvest finally bears fruit n AFP, London

AFP, Paris

Controversial France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra delivered a vicious tirade aimed at several pundits, among them France’s 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu, on Sunday after they criticised him over a half-time talk he gave his team-mates.

Evra was criticised for speaking his mind during half-time of the World Cup qualifier with Belarus in September, in which he was only a substitute.

The French eventually won the game 4-2, ending a run of five games without a win or a goal, but still ended up having to contest a play-off to see whether they reach the finals or not.

Evra labelled Lizarazu, and three other pundits, as ‘tramps’ and ‘parasites’ on French TV programme ‘Telefoot’.

He was later ordered by French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet and France coach Didier Deschamps to come to Paris and explain himself over the remarks which he made following last Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Finland.

“There are some pundits with whom I will soon settle my differences...they want to sell a lie to the French people that Evra is disliked. But that is not the case at all,” said the 32-year-old. “I do not know what Lizarazu has against me.

I was twice voted best left-back in the world, four times the best left-back in the Premier League.

“Him? I don’t even know if he was ever voted best left-back in the world.

“I recall my first call-up to the national side, all the others shook my hand apart from him. Thierry Henry said to him ‘Oh Liza, here is the opposition’. And Lizarazu looked at me and said ‘Why? Someone told you that I was already retired?’.

“People have a good impression of me, it won’t be these tramps who dirty my image. They must stop lying to the French people,” said the Senegal-born defender, before classing them as parasites. l

Augsburg Werner 10

Bitter Evra labels Lizarazu ‘parasite’ n

3-3

Lasogga 22, Beister 55, Van der Vaart 67

Arsenal, Barca look to build on perfect CL starts n AFP, Paris

Hamburg

Tottenham Hotspur's Roberto Soldado (R) celebrates with Paulinho after scoring their second goal during their EPL match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday AFP

Townsend sends Spurs fifth n AFP, Birmingham England breakthrough star Andros Townsend continued his fine form by inspiring Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-0 win at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 22-year-old winger, who starred as England booked their place at the World Cup earlier this week, scored the opening goal with a 31st-minute cross that crept past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Roberto Soldado added a second after half-time as Spurs moved up to fifth place in the table, three points below leaders Arsenal, and began to atone for their shock 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United.

Villa had last season’s top scorer Christian Benteke on the bench following a hip injury, with Nathan Baker replacing Ciaran Clark in the only change to the side that drew 0-0 at Hull City

Match Result Aston Villa

0-2

Tottenham Hotspur

Townsend 31, Soldado 69

last time out. Villas-Boas brought Lewis Holtby into his team in place of Christian Eriksen, handed Vlad Chiriches his debut at centre-back, and gave Sandro a first league start since January.

Townsend claimed the goal, but it owed to a certain degree of good fortune.

Picking up the ball wide on the right, he cut onto his left foot and attempted to pick out a team-mate in the centre, but his cross eluded both Holtby and Soldado, only to sneak in at the far post.

There was an unsavoury incident in the aftermath of the goal when assistant referee David Bryan was struck by a flare apparently thrown from the Spurs supporters’ section, but after a brief delay, play continued.

Local police later revealed that two men had been arrested over the incident. l

After eight fallow years without silverware, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has seen his side reap a spectacular harvest in the first month of the English autumn.

Saturday’s stylish 4-1 win over Norwich City sent the north London club two points clear at the Premier League summit and extended their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Such a sequence seemed a remote possibility in the aftermath of a shock defeat at home to Aston Villa on the season’s opening day, but Arsenal were revitalised by the club-record £42.4

million ($66 million, 50 million euros) acquisition of Mesut Ozil on transfer deadline day.

The German playmaker, who scored twice against Norwich, has illuminated Arsenal’s play with his vision and deftness of touch, and his artistry appears to have rubbed off on the players around him.

It was the first time that Ozil, Wilshere and Santi Cazorla had started a league game together and their association already promises much, but no-one symbolises the Arsenal revival more strongly than Aaron Ramsey.

His sharply taken goal against Norwich, after a slalom past two defenders, took his tally to nine in 12 games and a roulette turn shown in slow-motion

on popular BBC highlights programme Match of the Day moved the pundits to liken him to Zinedine Zidane.

The adroit Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, now appears the perfect foil for the busy cluster of attacking midfielders operating behind him, who thrive on his precise lay-offs and penetrative flicks.

Wenger’s real masterstroke, however, may have been his decision to bring French holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini back to the club on a free transfer after a four-year exile at AC Milan.

Arsenal’s fans have not had a trophy to celebrate since the 2005 FA Cup, but after years of managerial patience, financial restraint and the loss of a succession of cherished players, the Gunners finally seem ready to fire again. l

Qatar has ‘problems Fourth win on the spin to solve’ ahead of moves Getafe into fifth World Cup: Platini Carlos Bacca put Unai Emery’s side in AFP, Madrid n front after just two minutes before Spann Reuters, Paris Getafe leapfrogged Espan- ish international Alberto Moreno added UEFA president Michel Platini has urged Qatar to solve its “problems” ahead of the 2022 World Cup which will be played in the Gulf state.

“It’s a gift that was made to the Qataris,” the Frenchman told Canal Plus in an interview aired on Sunday.

“But there are problems and they have to solve them. There are more important problems than knowing whether we play (the World Cup) in the summer or in the winter.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted that the 2022 World Cup might be played during the European winter because of the unbearable hear in Qatar in June-July.

Qatar has been criticised for migrants’ working conditions in the country and allegations of workers’ death on construction sites. l

yol to move back into fifth place in La Liga with a comfortable 2-0 victory over 10man Granada on Sunday.

Granada were forced to play the majority of the match a man down after Pape Diakhate was controversially shown a second yellow card in the 30th minute when it appeared as if his teammate Allan Nyom had actually committed the infringement.

And the hosts’ luck didn’t improve at the start of the second-half as Jeison Murillo’s own goal put Getafe in front before Pedro Leon’s third goal in two games sealed a fourth successive triumph for Luis Garcia’s men.

Sevilla wasted the chance to continue their rise up the table as Valladolid scored twice in the final 10 minutes to claim a 2-2 draw against the Andalusians.

a second on the half hour mark.

However, substitute Manucho brought Valladolid back into the game with a thumping header nine minutes from time and Patrick Ebert rescued a point with a brilliant free-kick three minutes later. Elche moved into the top-half of the table with a third successive win of their own, 2-1 at Real Betis. l

Match Results Granada

0-2

Almeria

0-1

Real Betis

1-2

Valladolid

2-2

Molina 41

Manucho 81, Ebert 84

Getafe 2

Murillo 47-og, Pedro Leon 55

Rayo Vallecano

Galvez 78

Elche

Del Moral 29, Fidel 34

Sevilla

Bacca 2, Moreno 31

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Federer confesses to mistakes, vows to keep playing n AFP, Basel

Quick Bytes

Dimitrov stuns Ferrer to win maiden title in Stockholm Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov battled back from a set down to stun top seeded David Ferrer and claim his first ATP title in Stockholm on Sunday. The 28thranked Dimitrov won through 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 against world number three Ferrer for the 22-year-old’s first victory over the Spaniard in four meetings. The boyfriend of Russian star Maria Sharapova mixed up his game to ambush the more experienced Ferrer, playing in his 40th final. “(It’s a) dream come true,” said an emotional Dimitrov, competing in just his second final. “Everyone has always told me how important a step this is.”

Sharapova, who has called time on her own season because of injury, was watching from the sidelines and took to Twitter to congratulate Dimitrov. “Wow! What a special moment,” tweeted the Russian star. Sunday’s win, which will send Dimitrov to a career-high of 22 in the world, also came at his first event with new coach Roger Rasheed at the helm.

–AFP

Fiorentina rewarded for gambling on Rossi comeback

Giuseppe Rossi’s extraordinary comeback from successive cruciate ligament injuries continued on Sunday as his 14-minute hat-trick ended titleholders Juventus’ unbeaten start to the season.

The U.S-born Italy forward helped Fiorentina complete one of the most remarkable fightbacks in recent Serie A history as they came from two goals behind to beat Juventus 4-2. Fiorentina have already been handsomely rewarded after they took a 12 million euros ($16.43 million) gamble in January by signing Rossi from Villarreal before he had completed his recovery from the injury nightmare that effectively cost him two years of his career. “There’s no doubts about his quality, although we didn’t expect he would regain his form so quickly,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella told reporters after Rossi helped his side overturn a 2-0 halftime deficit.

– Reuters

Marquez vows to forget error Rookie Marc Marquez has vowed to put his costly mistake at the Australian MotoGP behind him, insisting his bid to be crowned the youngest MotoGP world champion is on track. The Spaniard had his 43-point championship lead over rival Jorge Lorenzo slashed to just 18 points after he was disqualified from Sunday’s chaotic race at Phillip Island for failing to stop for a black flag. Defending champion Lorenzo on a Yamaha went on to win while Marquez and his Repsol Honda team left empty handed, offering his countryman renewed hope ahead of this weekend’s Japan MotoGP at Motegi.

Marquez, 20, who could have wrapped up the title in Australia, cannot afford any more slip-ups in the two remaining races if he is to become the first rookie since American Kenny Roberts 35 years to win the world premier class championship. He would also become the youngest MotoGP champion since it started in 2002 when it took over from the 500cc category.

–AFP

Twente coach loses tooth in celebrations Twente Enschede manager Michel Jansen is facing a costly dentist bill after having his tooth knocked out by his assistant as they celebrated a goal by the Dutch league leaders on Saturday.

Youri Mulder accidentally caught Jansen in the mouth with a fist pump as the pair celebrated Twente’s opener at home to champions Ajax Amsterdam. “Youri celebrated rather excitedly,” Jansen told reporters. Jansen’s day didn’t get any better as Twente gave up a late equaliser to draw the match 1-1.

–Reuters

South Africa await Amla, Donald returns South Africa are anxiously waiting on star batsman Hashim Amla’s return to Dubai in time for the second Test against Pakistan starting from Wednesday, team manager Mohammed Mossajee said.

Amla is in Durban with his wife for the imminent birth of the couple’s second child. Team manager Mohammed Mossajee told reporters after team practice on Sunday: “We are still waiting for Amla to return.”

–AFP

Day’s Watch Gazi TV 9.30am New Zealand tour of Bangladesh 2nd Test, Day 2

15

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Children take part in a football training at the Ajax clinic in the youth complex The Future in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, yesterday. 160 young participants experience, during their autumn holiday, how it feels to train at the Ajax complex AFP

De Villiers confident South Africa can fix first Test woes n AFP, Dubai Star batsman AB de Villiers expressed his confidence on Monday that South Africa can rectify the problems which led to their defeat against Pakistan in the first Test last week.

Speaking ahead of the second Test starting here on Wednesday, the 29-year-old admitted South Africa were disappointed to lose by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi.

“The mood is good, we’ve moved on from the disappointing performance, obviously we were hurt quite a bit after the Test, we haven’t played cricket like that in a long time and we were very, very disappointed,” de Villiers said after team practice on Monday.

“We’re finding ways to fix it and that’s the most important thing. We’ve looked at a few areas where we went wrong and we’re going to try and get it right,” said de Villiers.

“It’s a must-win game for us and we’re going in there with that attitude to win that game, we’re still the number one team in the world and we are going to play like it.”

South Africa slumped to 249 and 232 against a spin-cum pace Pakistan attack and failed to stop their rivals from putting up a mammoth 442 for a comfortable win.

To add to South Africa’s batting problems, first Test centurion Hashim Amla may not be available for the second Test as the reliable batsman returned home

for the birth of his second child.

Left-hander Dean Elgar is likely to replace Amla. Dale Steyn also suffered a back problem, but De Villiers believes the paceman will recover.

“He did tweak something in the fielding practice yesterday, but we think it’s not too serious, so we are just taking a good precaution and making sure he will be ready for the second Test,” he said.

De Villiers praised Pakistan’s bowling, led by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who finished with 4-74 in the second innings.

“I thought they bowled quite well with clever plans. But then again few soft dismissals including myself, you never know what could have hap-

pened,” said De Villiers, referring to his bizarre run out in the first innings.

De Villiers played a defensive shot and was out of his crease after the slip fielder threw to wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal who ran the batsman out.

He hit a fighting 90 in the second knock. “I think we didn’t do the basics well, didn’t adapt quickly to the conditions, few highlights were probably Hashim’s innings and a couple of partnerships, and that was it, other than that it was quite a disappointing performance.”

South Africa may also look at their spin option, replacing leg-spinner Imran Tahir for left-arm spinner Robin Peterson who finished wicket-less in the first Test. l

Roger Federer admitted on Sunday that he made serious errors in his planning which have contributed to a disastrous 2013 campaign but insisted that retirement is not on his agenda.

The 17-time Grand Slam title winner has slumped to number seven in the world and eight in the race for the World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many in the sport to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.

The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.

“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which starts on Monday.

“I should have left in Indian Wells (last March, with back pain) before the quarter-finals against (Rafael Nadal).

This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.

“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn’t able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break following Indian Wells, I fell into a negative spiral.”

Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists that he will keep playing.

“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing, I’m successful. I’ll be playing for some time. That hasn’t changed due to a tough six months,” he added.

“Playing at the Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later. It’s just an idea.”

Federer also said that his decision to split with Annacone – the man who helped Pete Sampras to greatness -- was amicable. “We had a great working relationship and a great friendship as well.

That’s something I know is going to continue. We’re still in touch almost every other day,” said Federer.

“We talked a lot. It was always important to communicate about our feelings and that’s what we did after the training block in Dubai.

“It went really well, but I felt it was best to talk about it and he also thought it was good to have a change and end it there. I think we had a great three and a half years. All I can do is thank him for all his efforts. We got the most out of each other, which was the idea for the relationship.” Federer also pronounced himself ready to battle to earn a place in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Swiss, who has won the yearender six times, set out his goals for the final two weeks of the regular season as he prepared for a Monday start at the Swiss Indoors which he has won five times. l

Serena aims to end 2013 on high in Istanbul n AFP, Istanbul Serena Williams’ verdict that she is “a bit disappointed” with her 2013 season indicates her urgency to overtake the 18 Grand Slam titles of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert and to get on with chasing Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22.

Whether the 32-year-old still has time to achieve that may be suggested by her performances at the season-ending climax, the WTA Championships which starts on Tuesday.

It was an extraordinarily critical selfjudgement by Williams on a season in which she has won another two Grand Slam titles and taken her total to 17 -perhaps caused by a fear that time is short.

More than that, Williams has lost only four matches, taken her career earnings past $50 million, and become the oldest woman to hold the world number one ranking.

She claims not to be mindful of such records, but nevertheless volunteered that: “I’m excited about the possibilities.”

Retaining the title this week will be a great momentum builder for her offseason work -- increasingly important as Williams gets older -- just as it was, she says, when she regained the title at the 2012 WTA Championships.

Williams is probably a stronger favourite now than then, partly because of the absence of Maria Sharapova, who is rehabilitating her vulnerable shoulder.

The player most capable of upset-

Fixtures Groups (x denotes seeded player)

Red Group Serena Williams (USA x1), Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x3), Petra Kvitova (CZE x5), Angelique Kerber (GER x8)

White Group Victoria Azarenka (BLR x2), Li Na (CHN x4), Sara Errani (ITA x6), Jelena Jankovic (SRB x7) ting her is Victoria Azarenka who has no doubt over where the American stands in the history of the sport.

“She can be the greatest of all time,” Azarenka reckoned after losing to Williams in the longest US Open women’s singles final in 30 years last month. “Serena’s still not done.”

The Belarusian also suggested that the American now focuses more intensely, and raises her level more dangerously when it really matters.

Judging from the Grand Slam wins in Paris and New York, that level is sometimes higher than ever. On the evidence of setbacks at Melbourne and Wimbledon it can also be variable.

Williams has lost twice to Azarenka this year -- in Doha in February the day after having regained the number one ranking from her rival -- and in Cincinnati in August after leading for most of the match.

Azarenka, at her best, has a chance of repeating these successes, because she has a big game and the boldness to try to impose it.

“Against her you have to take risks,” Azarenka says, “because she will (do that), and she will do that really well.”

But Azarenka will need to recover from a disappointing build-up to the WTA Championships. The world number two lost in the second round in Tokyo, where she had been feeling unwell, and in the first round in Beijing, where she served 15 double faults.

The other six qualifiers in an eightplayer field are Agnieszka Radwanska, the former Wimbledon finalist from Poland, Li Na, the Chinese pioneer who reached her third Grand Slam final in Melbourne this year and Petra Kvitova, the 2011 WTA Championships winner.

The fiels is made up of Sara Errani, the Italian who also tops the world rankings in doubles, Jelena Jankovic, the former world number one from Serbia, and Angelique Kerber, the German who won her first title of the year immediately after becoming the last player to qualify. l

BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag speaks in the opening ceremony of Fifa women’s refereeing course at the BFF House yesterday COURTESY

Beauty enrolls in Fifa refereeing course n Shishir Hoque Country’s fastest woman Nazmunnahar Beauty is one of the participants in the Fifa Women’s Refereeing Course 2013, organised by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) women’s football committee, which got underway at the BFF House yesterday.

It is the first time a women’s refereeing course under the world’s football governing body Fifa is being held in Bangladesh. A total of selected 22 participants from various districts are taking part in the course which will conclude on October 25.

The course is being conducted by Japanese football referee and Fifa instructor Mayumi Oiwa who is the chief

course instructor. Mayumi refereed two games in the 2007 Fifa Women’s World Cup in China, and was also the fourth official in the final between Germany and Brazil. The local instructors of the course are referees committee member MR Mukul and fitness instructor Ibrahim Nesar.

BFF women’s wing chairman Sirajul Islam Bachchu inaugurated the fiveday course as chief guest. AFC executive committee member and deputy chairman of BFF women’s wing Mahfuza Akter Kiron, BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, BFF executive committee member Sheikh Maruf Hasan and deputy chairman of referees’ committee Monirul Islam were also present. l

16 Pran’s turmeric powder to be tested for lead n Tribune Report The government has decided to test Pran’s turmeric powder as the US government has recently detected excessive use of lead in the item available in stores there.

“The National Consumer Rights Protection Department has started collecting packets of Pran’s turmeric powder across the country through random sampling,” Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The samples would be tested at the laboratories of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).

“We will decide the fate of Pran’s turmeric powder after the testing,” the commerce secretary said.

The US government’s test found high levels of lead, ranging from 28ppm to 53ppm in Pran’s turmeric powder.

The permissible limit of lead in a product in Bangladesh is 2.5ppm.

According to BSTI officials, the limit may vary from country to country but it cannot exceed 2.5ppm in any country.

The Pran-RFL Group would be in deep trouble if the US government’s finding turned out to be true, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said.

The Pran-RFL Group has, however, already refused to withdraw the product from local markets, claiming to have tested samples of the spice and found no lead in it. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

South Asia on the brink of water crisis Water strategists warn against commodification of water supply n Tribune Report South Asian countries may face scarcity of water by 2030 due to climate change, warns a report released by the Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre.

The report titled “Human Development in South Asia 2013: Water for Human Development” found that regional wellbeing was largely determined by access to water and sanitation.

While the region has done relatively well in ensuring people’s access to water, its performance, however, has not been up to the mark in terms of sanitation, which eventually compromised the health of people and the overall quality of life, the report said.

One-in-three people already lives in a country with moderate to higher water crisis, and by 2030 nearly half the global population could be facing scarcity of water with demand outstripping supply by 40%.

It said competition for water had been growing among farmers and herders, industry and agriculture, town and country, upstream and downstream, and across borders.

Climate change and the corresponding needs of the ever-growing population, coupled with prosperity has meant that all must work together to protect and manage water – a fragile and finite resource.

The overview of the report says: “South Asia is at a critical juncture with respect to its water resources. The management of shared river systems

Proffesor Ainun Nishat Speaks at the launching ceremony of a report on Human Development in South Asia 2013 yesterday, organised by Institute of Governance Studies, Brac University RAJIB DHAR needs to evolve from a unilateral or bilateral perspective to a regional one, where optimal and sustainable use of water is ensured.”

Speaking at the launch of the report, development thinkers stressed that South Asian countries must find an end to disputes over shared rivers and work out a mechanism of basin-wise management for a better future for the population in the region.

They cautioned that commodification of water supply in the region is being considered a major threat to human security and development. They also voiced their concerns at the increase in unsustainable agricultural and indus-

trial use of water.

Former chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Nazrul Islam unveiled the cover of the report at a programme in Dhaka yesterday.

The programme was chaired by Ainun Nishat, water resources and climate change specialist and vice-chancellor of Brac University.

Former finance minister M Sayeduzzaman, Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Debapriya Bhattacharya and former energy secretary AMM Nasiruddin were present at the programme.

Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre was set up in November

1995 in Pakistan’s Islamabad by the late Mahbub ul Haq, founder and chief architect of UNDP Human Development Reports.

Prof Nazrul Islam said: “Access to sanitation and safe water is a human right. It should be included in the constitution. Bangladesh has policies and plans; but unfortunately, steps have not been taken for proper implementation because of inefficiency and corruption.”

Terming the report timely, Ainun Nishat said: “Because of climate change, rainfall has declined by 40% during monsoon, resulting in a change in harvesting patterns. Demand for water is increasing day by day, while the level of underground water is sliding, which is alarming.”

Sayeduzzaman said water management was imperative for meeting the UN’s Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Debapriya Bhattacharya said water pricing was important for human development and efficient water management. “One in every nine people has no access to water …Inequality in water distribution could be seen everywhere.”

Every year, the human development report published by Mahbub ul Haq Centre analyses an issue concerning socio-economic development in South Asia. Realising the critical importance of water and its significance for survival and prosperity, this year’s report discusses water in a people centered framework and discusses the various channels through which it directly or indirectly affects human development. l

Civil rights leader threatened by MP at Mymensingh n Tribune Report Shacheton Nagorik Shamaj, a platform for civil society members in Gouripur in Mymensingh, expressed deep shock and condemned State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Captain (Retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir (Mymensingh-3, Gouripur) for forcefully entering their leader’s house and taking video shots, through a press release.

According to the press statement, Dr Mujibur Rahman Fakir went to the house of Ekram Hossain, convener of the Shacheton Nagorik Shamaj, with police and local Awami League leaders on Friday.

Standing on the premises of the house, he shouted to the family members asking where Ekram was, what he did and if he was going to take part in the upcoming election. He slammed Ekram using abusive words.

Without taking permission from the family members, local Awami League leader Munnaf started taking video shots inside the house.

Following the incident, Ekram’s younger brother Advocate Sakhawat Hossain went to file a general diary with Gouripur police station on the same day around 11pm.

However, police refused to file the GD, the press release said.

Mujibur Rahman Fakir told the Dhaka Tribune that he went to a graveyard nearby Ekram’s house that day to offer prayers.

He claimed that such allegations were baseless. l

RANA PLAZA TRAGEDY

Sowing seeds of hope amidst the debris n Ashif Islam Shaon

Begum Khaleda Zia, chairperson of BNP, exchanges views with the leaders of Grand Alliance after the press conference at Westin Hotel yesterday

Top foreign diplomats upbeat about dialogue prospects n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Three top foreign diplomats have welcomed the speeches of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia as they feel it will open doors for engaging in constructive dialogues.

After Khaleda Zia’s afternoon speech yesterday, the high commissions of Britain and Canada in Dhaka issued separate statements, while US Ambassador Dan Mozena spoke with the press after meeting with the opposition chief in the evening.

The diplomats also hailed Khaleda Zia’s remarks about her commitment to fight international terrorism, promoting regional cooperation and renouncing violence.

They also appreciated her pledge to move away from the culture of blamegame politics and focus on the challenges facing Bangladesh.

Mozena said a number of exciting things had happened over the last couple of days. “I hope that the lieutenants of the two parties, the major two parties, will sieze this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue to find

a way forward, an agreed way forward to hold free and fair and credible election.”

“That’s my hope. So I am feeling optimistic that is what will happen,” he said.

In reply to a query about his meeting with the opposition chief, the US Envoy said there was no discussion about what might happen if the parties fail to reach agreement.

“We discussed prospects for dialogue and we discussed the prospects for finding a way forward to holding a free, fair and credible election.”

Mozena said Zia had shared some of her visions with him. “The honourable leader of the opposition shared some of her views about what a possible government [would be like], if she were elected,” he said.

About the ban on demonstrations in the capital, he said peaceful rallies were an important part of the democratic process.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Dhaka Robert W Gibson in a statement said the suggestions made in Zia’s speech would be considered by the government.

“Meaningful dialogue will quickly begin which would offer the people of Bangladesh more certainty over the election process and lead to elections that are transparent, inclusive and credible,” the British envoy hoped.

He also hoped that all sides would approach the dialogue in a spirit of compromise and trust, and that while the dialogue was continuing, they would refrain from any disruptive acts of violence or harassment.

The Canadian High Commission in its statement welcomed the proposals by the government and by the opposition.

It urged the parties to use this opportunity to engage in negotiations in good faith so that transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections could be ensured.

“Good faith political dialogue will help create an environment free of political unrest and violence. We continue to call on all parties to respect the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly and urge everyone to exercise these rights in a peaceful and democratic manner eschewing violence,” the statement read. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

MV Gladys reaches Chittagong port jetty after 82 days

n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong

MV Gladys – an Indonesian flag carrier vessel which went inoperative in the Andaman Sea on July 30 – managed to arrive at the berth of Chittagong Port yesterday 82 days after it reached the outer anchorage.

Port sources said five tugboats dragged the vessel laden with 849 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) of container to the Chittagong Container Terminal jetty safely from the outer anchorage around 2pm.

Captain M Shahajahan, member (harbour and marine) of CPA, said they had to take adequate security measures during bringing the vessel to the jetty as the capsize of such a vessel in the port channel could paralise the whole port.

According to sources at the Chittagong Customs House, the vessel had been carrying goods worth Tk5bn.

MV Gladys, which sailed from Port Klang of Malaysia, went inoperative near the Myanmar coast of the Andaman Sea on July 30 forcing 18 crewmen of the vessel to leave it while three others remained onboard. l

The Rana Plaza collapse is a grim reminder of the perils of excessive greed and corruption, bringing about the deadliest garment-factory disaster in history, but it is also a polite reminder that hope can persist even in the most desperate times.

Perhaps the biggest victims of the disaster—which killed over 1,100 people and destroyed dreams of thousands more—were the children of those killed or survived to live the life of an amputee. They were left with a bleak future.

Many of the children who used to attend schools before ceased doing, not only out of the post-disaster psychological trauma, but also because they were simply unable to do. They had little or no money to afford schooling and no assurances of meals.

“After the tragedy, we noticed a sufficient dip in class attendance. Many children stopped coming at all,” said Gazi Shahana Islam, headmistress of Imandipur Govt. Primary School, situated around one and a half kilometre off the Plaza.

Teachers waited for a week to see if they come back and, when they didn’t, started visiting their homes individually.

“It transpired that those students, who either lost one of their parents or both, were upset. So we waited for about a month for their recovery, but more than two months in the accident, most of them couldn’t still make it to the school.”

The teachers then found out the more pressing reason for their absence, which had nothing to do with their mental shock.

“Some children lost their mothers, some their fathers, all earning members of their family. With their deaths came money crisis, which created another problem: scarcity of food,” Shahana said.

“In many families, there was no one to cook in the morning. Some of our female students had to do the cooking themselves and other household chores, and some boys were busy helping out their parents.

“Some of them who managed to come had to starve till afternoon.”

That gave Shahana the idea to manage a day-meal for the children.

So funds were raised from locals and teachers agreed to donate part of their salary for buying foods. But that was not enough.

“In October, an NGO called Sheva Nari o Shishu Kallyan Kendra came to our help and started supplying two meals a day for the 30 students who lost their parents and had no one to cook at home in the morning,” Shahana said.

“And now, as expected, a good number of the absentees have returned.”

The organisation rented an office near the school to organise their affair. Locals, friends of teachers and the NGO’s employees donated large sums of money voluntarily.

“Our initial plan is to continue this programme for four more months; by that time we will have decided what to do afterwards,” said Bulbul Ahmed Joy, the monitoring and evaluation officer of Sheva Nari o Shishu Kallyan Kendra.

He further said there are still a large number of dropouts and absentees in other schools and colleges around Savar, who couldn’t resume their studies because of financial constraints or problems at home.

“I am lucky that I am fighting for some of these dropouts. But I don’t know what will happen when the donations dry up,” he added.

In this regard, Shahana said: “I think the government and affluent people should do something about these children, so that they can rebuild their life which was shadowed by the tragedy.” l

‘Likely service disruption’ strikes Facebook n AFP, Washington A “likely service disruption” struck Facebook on Monday, preventing its 1.15 billion members from updating their status on the social media website.

Users trying to do so were met with an error message that stated: “There was a problem updating your status.

Please try again in a few minutes.”

“Facebook status update issues are not uncommon, but this one seems global - we’ve tested it from several

IPs and received the same message,” technology website Mashable.com reported.

Downrightnow.com, which monitors service outages on major websites, reported at 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) that Facebook had encountered a “likely service disruption.”

There was no immediate comment from Facebook, but the problem was sufficiently widespread for #facebookdown to become a trending hashtag on Twitter. l

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B2 BGMEA defers fresh

proposal to Sunday next

B3 PM: Expand export

basket, grab international market

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

Customs to follow same office hours Dhaka and Delhi agree in principle that two customs stations of each country remain open 7 days Bangladeshi customs stations remain non-tariff barriers India imposes on its imports, certificates from BSTI and we are hopeful,” n Syed Samiul Basher Anik open from 9am to 5pm while the Indian cus- improvement of infrastructure at the Indian he said.

Bangladesh and India have agreed in principle to re-fix the working hours and holidays of their customs houses to facilitate trade between the two countries.

A meeting of the customs officials in Dhaka also decided yesterday to make similar timing for all the customs stations of both sides to ease the customs related issues and remove the barriers, hindering smooth functioning of trade between two countries, a senior official who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune.

The two day meeting of the customs officials of Bangladesh and India began in Dhaka yesterday within the bilateral framework of Joint Group of Customs (JGC). It is the ninth round of JGC after the last one held in April last year in New Delhi.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Ghulam Hussain and Indian revenue secretary Sumit Bose are leading their respective sides.

toms stations work till 2pm. Due to the differences of working hours, the exporters face complexities.

In addition, the weekly holiday in Bangladesh is on Friday and Saturday while Indian customs houses remain closed on Sunday.

In response to a proposal from Bangladesh, the official said, India has agreed to keep same timing for the all customs stations to ease the process.

The official said the meeting decided to keep open for seven days two customs stations both of Bangladesh and India.

“From the Indian side, Agartala and Petrapole will be open for seven days and from Bangladeshi side, we will keep open Benapole and Akhaura,” he said.

Bangladesh drafted a 17-point proposal for consideration by India at the meeting while India to table 15-point proposals.

Bangladeshi proposals include removal of

land customs stations along the border with Bangladesh, review the existing mechanism for exchange of customs related information, infrastructure facilities available at the Land Customs Stations (LCSs) and procedural bottlenecks like testing facilities, online processing facilities, congestion and documentation.

Bangladesh strongly requested India to allow testing certificates provided by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI), said another official, who attended the meeting.

“Bangladesh cannot increase its export to India due to some non tariff barriers. In addition, India sometimes does not allow testing certificates from BSTI for a number of goods,” he said. “On the other hand, most of the Indian customs stations do not have standard testing units which results in hassles to the exporters.”

“Thus, we have requested India to allow

The official also said both parties were cooperative in solving the issues and expected to have positive outcome from the meeting.

Along with the NBR chairman, high officials from National Board of Revenue, home ministry, foreign ministry and commerce ministry also attended the meeting while a nine-member delegation from India took part.

According to the meeting agenda, Indian authorities sought construction of a road for trade route from Ichamati-Beltoli village at East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya to Lubia village in Sylhet, holding of annual meeting at the Director General of Customs Intelligence level, exchange of all certificates of origin under SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area), delay in unloading and return of Indian trucks from Bangladesh, exchange of customs intelligence information between two countries, exchange of import-export document electronically etc. l

Clean Clothes launches better wage campaign n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The Clean Clothes Campaign yesterday launched a new campaign across Europe calling on clothing companies to “Pay a Living Wage” to garment workers.

The campaign is scheduled to continue till October 28 in 15 European countries.

The week of action would see campaigners across Europe promoting a consumers’ living wage petition at press conferences, via social networks, films, street actions, conferences and celebrity testimonials, said a CCC statement.

The campaign was launched at a time when Bangladesh is working on fixing minimum wage for the RMG workers.

As per the wage board for the garment workers, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has proposed increase of Tk600 or 20% from the existing minimum wage of Tk3,000 per month.

Leaders of RMG workers, however, have proposed Tk8,114 as the minimum wage.

In the face of growing labour unrest, the BGMEA is likely to place a fresh proposal to the board on October 27.

The CCC called upon clothing brands and companies to take action by setting concrete and measurable steps throughout their supply chain to ensure garment workers get paid a living wage.

It also called upon national governments in garment producing countries to make

SOURCE: CLEAN CLOTHES CAMPAIGN

sure minimum wages are set at living wage standards.

CCC urged the European governments to implement regulation that make sure companies are responsible for the impact they have on the lives of workers in their supply chain, including their right to earn a living wage.

According to the CCC, a living wage means that the wage a worker earns in a standard working week (never exceeding 48 hours) is enough to provide for them and their family’s basic needs – including

housing, education and healthcare as well as some discretionary income for when the unexpected happens.

The campaign comes exactly six months after the devastating collapse of Rana Plaza, in which 1,133 Bangladeshi workers were killed and over 2,500 sustained injuries.

In Bangladesh, there are around 4m people, of which 80% are women, work in the garment industry. The current minimum wage is just Tk3,000 (€28.60) a month.

“A living wage should be earned before overtime and allow a garment worker to be

able to feed herself and her family, pay the rent, pay for healthcare and education and have a small amount of savings for when something unexpected happens.” says Dr. Jeroen Merk, research and policy coordinator at Clean Clothes Campaign.

“Companies must take steps to ensure they are paying a living wage in the countries they source from. Governments must ensure that minimum wages are set at levels that allow people to live with dignity. While low labour costs continue to be exploited throughout the industry it remains impossible to argue that the garment industry is benefiting those who work within it.”

For many workers, the lack of a living wage means they must work long hours to earn overtime or bonuses and cannot risk refusing work due to unsafe working conditions or taking time off for ill health, he noted.

Over 15m people are employed within the garment industry in Asia alone, with the region accounting for more than 60% of garment production worldwide. Yet, as the campaign highlights the people sustaining the industry in factories and workplaces continue to be paid poverty wages.

Low wages mean that workers often have to rely on loans just to make ends meet and have no savings to use if they find themselves out of work, due to illness, unexpected factory closure or if, as with Rana Plaza, there is a disaster such as building collapse or fire. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

MINIMUM WAGE

BGMEA defers fresh proposal to October 27 n Tribune Report Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has sought three working days more to place a fresh minimum wage proposal for the workers.

The proposal now will be made on the Minimum Wage Board’s seventh meeting on Sunday next.

“Due to Batexpo and the vacation of Eidul-Azha and Puja, the BGMEA could not finalise the fresh proposal. So, we have sought time to place it,” said Arshad Jamil Dipu representing owners in the minimum wage

board for the readymade garment workers.

The BGMEA was scheduled to make a new proposal yesterday (Monday) to the board revising the previous one which was for 20% increase.

“As they (the owners) said they will come up with a better proposal of minimum wage, we agreed to give them the time,” said Sirajul Islam Rony, workers’ representative to the Wage Board.

The Wage Board chairman AK Roy hoped a better proposal from the RMG owners would come after three days.

“The board will sit again on October 27

(Sunday next), and the owners will have to submit their proposal on the day,” AK Roy told the journalists.

On September 17, the BGMEA proposed an increase of Tk600 or 20% of the existing minimum wage of Tk3,000 per month arguing that the hike was consistent with the inflation.

But their proposal drew severe criticisms from the workers and the rights groups.

After the announcement of that proposal, many workers took to the streets and stage demonstration.

The workers proposed Tk8,114 as the minimum wage in the sector. l

Dollar rises in Asia ahead of key jobs data n AFP, Tokyo

Stocks close flat in high volatile trade

The dollar rose yesterday in Asia as risk sentiment got a boost following last week’s US debt deal with investors now looking to the release of key jobs data later in the week.

In Tokyo afternoon trade, the greenback bought 98.03 yen, up from 97.72 yen in New York Friday afternoon.

The euro fetched $1.3677 and 134.01 yen, compared with $1.3682 and 133.75.

Markets remain buoyant after Washington’s pullback last week from the budget and debt crisis that threatened to send the country into a disastrous default.

The US will release existing home sales data later in the day while closely watched non-farm payrolls and unemployment figures are scheduled for Tuesday, after their publication was delayed due to the twoweek government shutdown.

The political crisis in Washington and fears about its impact on the world’s biggest economy have stoked expectations that the US Federal Reserve will delay tapering its stimulus drive - a negative for the dollar.

“Markets appear to be pushing back expectations of Fed tapering especially as US politicians will likely gear up for another fight over coming months when the debt ceiling/budget will need renewed agreement,” Credit Agricole said.

“Fed tapering by December looks highly unlikely unless the US delivers a series of very positive data surprises.

“The net impact on the US dollar is clearly a negative one, with the currency continuing to languish at multi-month lows and showing little sign of turning around over the near term,” it added.

The euro and yen benefited from a weekslong flight away from the dollar, with the European single currency touching an eightand-a-half month high of $1.3703 on Friday.

Investors are also keeping an eye on a string of eurozone data this week and any further clues from the European Central Bank about its plans for further monetary easing.

The dollar was mostly higher against other Asia-Pacific currencies. l

n Tribune Report Stocks closed flat amid high volatility yesterday, as late institutional buying pressure cut early losses.

The market started with freefall in indices with the benchmark DSEX index declined more than 82 points in the first one and half hours.

But in the mid-session, institutional buying led by state-owned ICB, has recovered the market well.

Combined Turnover Leader

Vol.

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

BD Submarine Cable-A

490640

85.78

4.66

174.83

Argon Denims Limited-A 1247900

69.06

3.75

55.34

Square Pharma -A

387647

67.50

JMI Syringes MDL-A

314000

Envoy Textiles Ltd-N

963430

56.46 51.98

n Tribune Business Desk Export-import activities through Banglabandha Land Port (BLP) resumed yesterday morning after eleven days of suspension due to Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja festivals, officials in Rangpur said.

All activities including imports, exports, customs clearance, loading and unloading of goods resumed yesterday as the vacation ended, reports BSS. l

Railway brings SPASS smart cards in trains n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Railway started a pilot project on smart card ICT fair system yesterday with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This pilot project includes 8 stations from Gazipur to Kamalapur introducing ICT fair system in the commuter train service, said a press release. The project commenced from the Kamalapur Railway. Earlier, with the help of JICA by using the SPASS cards, the ICT fair system was introduced on pilot basis in two BRTC bus routes in Dhaka including Abdullahpur - Motijheel and Mirpur – Motijheel.

The project was operational from October 2011 to November 2012. l

Avg. P

3.67

174.13

3.07

179.80

2.83

to end in flat region,” said IDLC Investment in its market analysis.

It said, however, fear about political instability still persisted in the market.

Strong buying and selling sprees has pushed the trading activities up. As a result, turnover increased by 51.32% to Tk1.7bn from previous session’s 10-month low.

The total turnover remained below Tk2bn for the second consecutive session after the festival holidays.

Banglabandha Port resumes operation

53.96

At the end of the day, the benchmark DSEX index lost marginally 7 points or 0.2% to close at 3,763. The index extended its losses for the seventh consecutive session.

The blue chip index DS30 saw fractional drop of 0.2% to end at 1,358. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was down 7 points to 7,361.

Investor presence in the trading floor was still very thin as holiday hangover gripped the market.

“In line with earlier session’s toll created a snapshot of price advantage for investors.

Consequently, buying spree started and pulled up indices, which helped the market

‘In line with earlier session’s toll created a snapshot of price advantage for investors.

Consequently, buying spree started and pulled up indices, which helped the market to end in flat region’ Meanwhile, scrip-wise swings returned, with 48 out of 283 traded scrips changing more than 4% of their respective prices.

Amid mixed movement, telecommunications gained 1.4%, food and allied 1.3%, textile 1%, whereas life insurance fell 3% and cement 1.5%.

Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd was the most traded stock of the session with turnover worth Tk75.7m changing hands, followed by Square Pharmaceuticals, Argon Denims, JMI Syringe and Medical Devices Ltd, Envoy Textile and Bangladesh Building Systems. l

BKash CEO talks success of mobile financial service

n Tribune Business Desk The CEO of bKash Kamal Quadir delivered his speech about the success of bank-led mobile financial service (MFS) at a function in New York City recently.

He discussed the service’s impact on achieving financial inclusiveness among the poor and the unbanked people in Bangladesh, said a press release. The function was the GSMA Mobile Money Summit.

A BRAC Bank subsidiary bKash is a leading Bangladeshi MFS whose other shareholders are the US-based Money in Motion and the IFC of the World Bank Group. l

StanChart South Asia executive Ananth in city

n Tribune Business Desk Ananth Narayan, co-head of wholesale banking of Standard Chartered South Asia, arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a two-day official visit.

He will be meeting Bangladesh Bank officials and clients and senior officials of the Standard Chartered during the visit, said a press release. Ananth Narayan joined Standard Chartered in August 2009. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

PM: Expand export basket, grab international market 28 get Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award n Tribune Business Desk Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked authorities to promote food processing industry across the country to add more items to the country’s export basket for grabbing the international market by exporting processed agricultural products as well as fish and meat.

The Prime Minister said this while distributing the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award among 28 recipients at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, reports UNB. “Bangladesh economy depends on the development of agriculture sector ... the food security of the country’s huge population, improvement of their lifestyle and creating employment opportunities for them are directly and indirectly related with agriculture,” she said, stressing the importance of increased research in agriculture sector to meet the country’s rising demand for food and nutrition through boosting domestic production.

Sheikh Hasina said her government like its previous term gives importance to agriculture research and it has been able to meet the huge demand for food grains amid global crisis.

She said her government for the first time in the country’s history had allocated Tk120m for research during its previous term (1996-2001).

“This time the government has increased the allocation for research manifold and increased financial incentives for the researchers apart from extending the retirement age,” Hasina told the function.

She said the country’s researchers have innovated drought and salinity-tolerant varieties of paddy and helped expand the cultivation of maize and vegetable in char areas, fruits on mountains, floating vegetable on marshy lands.

Sheikh Hasina said the decoding of genome sequencing of jute has opened up a new horizon in the country’s history of agro-technology, brightening the image of the nation abroad. “In recognition of the government’s success, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) awarded the prestigious ‘Ceres Medal’ to Bangladesh.”

Recognising the importance of agriculture, she said, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had called for ‘Green Revolution’ soon after the country’s independence to build “Sonar Bangla.”

Hasina said Bangabandhu introduced the President’s Award in 1973 for the development of agriculture at national level to inspire the farmers.

Congratulating the recipients of the award, the Prime Minister said the award is being given to promote the agriculture sector, and hoped that many others will come forward for the development of the sector following the examples of the award recipients.

In this context, the Prime Minister said

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributes medals among the recipients of Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka yesterday FOCUS BANGLA her government has reduced the prices of non-urea fertilizer in the first meeting of the cabinet and later the prices were reduced twice. “Now TSP fertilizer is now selling at Tk22 per kg while MOP at Tk15 and DAP at Tk27.”

She said the government has given over Tk240bn in subsidy in agriculture during the last four and a half years and distributed Tk460bn as agriculture loan. “Besides, agriculture loans are being distributed among sharecroppers at nominal interest rate.”

As a result of government measures rice production has increased to 37.3m metric tonnes in fiscal 2012-2013 from 33.3m tonnes in fiscal 2008-09, Hasina said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working with a specific goal of turning Bangladesh into a middle-income nation by 2021, the golden jubilee year of independence, and sought all out cooperation of all achieve the target.

Of the award recipients, four individuals and organisations got gold medal, Tk25,000 and a certificate each while seven individuals and organisations received silver medal, Tk15,000 and a certificate each and 17 individuals and organisations bronze medal Tk7,500 and a certificate each.

The gold medal recipients are: East Beercote IPM Women Club of Senbag, Noakhali, Gadkhali Nurturer and Flower Traders Welfare Association of Jhikargachha, Jessore, M Lutfor Rahman of Sadullahpur of Gaibandha, Mamun ur Rashid, deputy director of Agriculture Extension Department (AED).

The silver medal recipients are: Biotechnology Division of Bangladesh Atomic Agri Research Institute, Mymensingh, Asaduz-

zaman Chowdhury of South Bishnupur of Badarganj upazila, Rangpur, Soil Resources Development Institute, Kumardugi Vegetable CIG Cooperatives Ltd of Krishnapur of Chandpur, Mritunjoy Roy, AED, Bagerhat, Amzad Khan of Madabpur of Habiganj and Sanjib Sutradhar, upazila animal resources officer of Brahamanbaria.

The 17 people who received the bronze medal are: Parimal Sarkar, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Mithapukur, Rangpur, Maksudur Rahman Lebu of Nalitabari of Sherpur, Syed Nurul Awal Taramia, storekeeper of AED, Khamarbari, Kishoreganj, Salma Akhter, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Brahmanbari Sadar, Selim Reza, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Muktagachha, Mymensingh, Logy Begum of Rajbari Sadar of Rajbari, M/S Fatema Enterprise of Syedpur of Nilphamari, M Ansar Ali of Shibganj of Bogra, Selina Zaman of Shibpur of Narsindi, Adarsha Krishi Khamar of Ishwardi, Pabna, Mati Ma Monindra-Sabitree Afforestration Project of Dumuria of Khulna, Syed Abdul Matin of DJ Agro Ltd of Rampal, Bagerhat, Masum Sikder of Kalagacha of Patuakhali, Altab Ali of Biswanath of Sylhet, M Jaherul Islam of Ranishangkoil of Thakurgaon, Amirul Islam of Lakshmikunda of Ishwardi, Pabna and Mayeen Uddin of Omarpur of Daganbhuiyan of Feni.

Presided over by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury the function was addressed, among others, by Fisheries and livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas and Forest and Environment Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud.

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Dr S M Nazmul Islam conducted the award ceremony. l

3

Q1 farm loan rises 25% n Tribune Report The agriculture loan disbursement registered nearly 25% growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year due to poor credit demand from the industrial sector.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, scheduled banks have disbursed farm loans of around Tk28bn in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which was about Tk5bn more than Tk23bn of the corresponding period of last year.

Majority of the banks disbursed significant amount of loans to the agriculture sector, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

He said big entrepreneurs were reluctant to take credit due to the political turmoil, resulting in substantial decline in private sector credit growth.

As a consequence, the specialized and commercial banks have been asked to divert the credit flow to the agriculture sector in achieving the credit growth target set by the central bank, he added.

The banks also became cautious in disbursing loan to the industrial sector due to the recent loan scams, said a senior executive of a private bank. “So, they gave more attention to the agriculture sector.”

The farm loan disbursement target has been set at Tk146bn for the current fiscal year. Of which, already 19.6% has been achieved in the first quarter.

Bangladesh Krishi Bank disbursed the highest firm loan of Tk11bn, followed by Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Tk2.37bn and Sonali Bank Tk1.13bn. l

Oil prices mixed as investors await delayed US data n AFP, Singapore Oil prices were mixed in Asian trade yesterday as dealers await long-delayed US economic data for clues about the health of the world’s largest crude consumer, analysts said.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November, dipped five cents to $100.76 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for December was up one cent at $109.95.

“The US economic data that came out before the shutdown was quite lacklustre, and people will be watching this week’s numbers to see whether they should go back into risk assets,” Kelly Teoh, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore, told AFP. A slew of US data delayed by the 16-day US government shutdown will be released this week. The US September jobs report out on Tuesday will be particularly in focus as investors try to get an idea of when the Federal Reserve will start to reel in its $85bn a-month bond-buying scheme.

The stimulus programme has been credited with fuelling a global equities rally for most of the year. The Fed said in September that it would not wind down the programme if there was no broad improvement in the economy. l

Business Sharp Japan export slowdown dents ‘Abenomics’, flags Asia weakness

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

n Reuters, Tokyo Japan’s export growth fell well short of expectations in September, a sign that slowing demand in Asia is taking the shine off Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies and clouding the outlook for a budding economic recovery.

Some analysts said a sharp drop in export volume may offset the boost from a weak yen, which tends to give a competitive advantage to Japanese goods sold overseas, and could mean external demand will shave off some third-quarter economic growth.

Despite the weak trade data, the Bank of Japan yesterday raised its assessment for all nine regional economies and its governor stressed that the world’s third-largest economy will continue to recover - due mostly to robust domestic demand.

“Japan’s economy is making steady progress toward achieving the BOJ’s 2% inflation target,” BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told a quarterly meeting of the bank’s branch managers.

Exports rose 11.5% in September from a year earlier, less than a median market forecast for a 15.6% increase and 14.6% growth in August, trade data from the Ministry of Finance showed yesterday.

A notable slowdown was in exports to Asia, which rose just 8.2% in September after increasing 13.5% in August, suggesting that weak demand in countries such as Indonesia and Thailand - big markets for Japanese automakers - was taking a toll.

Real exports, which the BOJ calculates by stripping out the effect of price changes, is considered a good indicator of volume trends: It fell 4.4% in September from the previous month.

Similar pattern in China trade

“The positive effect of the weak yen may have run its course. We might not see a marked improvement in exports from here

A man rides a bicycle past containers at a port in Tokyo on yesterday if the recovery in overseas growth does not pick up,” said Junko Nishioka, chief Japan economist at RBS Securities.

China’s latest trade data showed a similar pattern with exports down 0.3% in September from a year earlier, the Customs Administration said.

Exports to Southeast Asia, China’s fastest growing export market in the past year, dived to a 17-month low in September, reflecting slack demand and the strengthening of the Chinese yuan, economists said.

On Monday, Taiwan’s export orders for September reinforced concerns about weakness in other parts of Asia and dented hopes for a year-end recovery for the region’s exporters.

Taiwan’s orders - an indication of strength of overall Asia exports and of global demand for technology - rose 2% from a year earlier, on gains in Europe and the U.S. That was im-

REUTERS

provement from August’s 0.5% increase, but China was down 6.1% last month.

Tim Condon, regional economist for ING in Singapore, said there’s “really no change in the main thing that’s going on across Asia - which is no growth in exports the past two years. I think it’s weak global spending, it’s as simple as that.”

In Condon’s view, the best hope for higher exports is stronger growth in the U.S., Europe and Japan, which he called “a baseline scenario for 2014, but we’re not seeing the fruits of that yet.”

Export outlook murky

Japan’s economy expanded for three straight quarters in April-June as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies boosted business sentiment and personal consumption. Analysts expect Japan to avoid a sharp downturn in the third quarter as robust domestic de-

mand continue to offset softness in exports.

A Reuters poll, taken before Monday’s trade data, showed analysts expect Japan’s economy to expand 0.6% in the July-September period from the previous quarter.

Still, policymakers are counting on overseas growth to pick up in time to make up for an expected slump in personal spending after Japan raises its sales tax in April next year.

That assumption may have shaky grounds. The International Monetary Fund cut its world growth estimate for this year to just 2.9%, saying that a stronger performance in most advanced economies would fail to make up for more sluggish expansion in the developing world.

In a quarterly report issued after the branch managers’ meeting, the BOJ raised its assessment of all of Japan’s nine regional economies, pointing to signs that companies are starting to increase hiring and salaries.

But Shigeki Kushida, who as head of the BOJ’s Osaka branch oversees the Kinki region of western Japan, said exports lacked momentum in his area, which is home to electronics giants such as Panasonic Corp.

“I am a little worried about emerging markets, particularly emerging Asia,” Kushida told reporters after the meeting.

“We see good demand for electronic parts, but demand for materials and intermediate goods - such as exports of steel or machinery to Asia - is not doing so well.”

Nomura Securities said in a research note on Monday they expect external demand to shave 0.2 percentage point off Japan’s economic growth in the July-September quarter.

With the weak yen inflating the cost of importing fuel, Japan logged a trade deficit of 932bn yen ($9.5bn) in September, running a negative balance for the 15th straight month, the trade data showed.

In the April-September fiscal first half of this year, Japan ran a trade deficit of 4.99tn yen, a record amount on a fiscal half-year basis, the data showed. l

Mexico drives North American auto investment, challenges China n Reuters, Detroit

The Mexican auto industry is about to go on a $10bn factory building spree, illustrating the nation’s rising economic challenge to rivals from the United States to China.

Japanese and German auto manufacturers are spearheading the drive, say parts suppliers and researchers who see more auto factories built south of the border than in the United States between now and the end of the decade.

The United States will consume the vast majority of the new cars, but Mexico’s domestic market has rebounded from a long slump, and in a sign of Mexico’s growing global role, auto exports outside of North America will rise faster than those to the United States.

BMW AG, Toyota Motor Corp and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz are expected to

announce at least $2bn of deals in the next year or two, according to supplier and other industry sources. That’s on top of nearly $6bn in announced plants by Nissan Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG. U.S. automakers, all of whom have been building cars in Mexico since before World War II, will spend another $1bn or more to upgrade Mexican plants. And Nissan and VW also are considering expansions at existing factories that could total $1bn or more, according to sources familiar with their plans.

Mexico “is quickly turning into the China of the West,” said Joseph Langley, a senior analyst at Michigan-based research firm IHS Automotive, pointing to Mexico’s low wages, a strong supply base and a global web of freetrade agreements.

Mexican auto exports beyond North Amer-

ica are growing even faster than those within, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. They accounted for nearly 30% of the 2.4 million exported last year. Altogether Mexico built 3 million cars and trucks, according to Automotive News, compared with 10.4 million in the United States and 2.5 million in Canada.

By 2020, Mexico will have the capacity to build one in every four vehicles in North America, up from one in six in 2012, according to IHS. The investment shift has implications for auto jobs and labour unions north of the border, particularly in Canada, which will see a 20% decline in production, IHS projects. Output will soar 62% in Mexico.

US auto production will rise 12%, and Detroit-based automakers are expanding domestic production by ramping up the pace at

existing factories to as many as three shifts running six days a week, said IHS. By those calculations, Mexico is building more auto plants than in the United States or Canada through 2020.

“It’s all about lower production costs and lower export costs,” said Michael Tracy, principal at the Agile Group, a Michigan-based auto consultancy. “That’s what Canada used to be — the place for low-cost manufacturing and shipping. Now, everybody is targeting Mexico.”

Mexico’s economy is seen growing faster than Brazil’s next year, underscoring the success of Mexico’s export-driven model versus regional economic powerhouse Brazil’s more protectionist policies. The promised auto investment could help Mexico challenge regional dominance by Brazil. Analysts are warning of excess Brazilian auto production capacity within five years. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

5

EU unveils rules to ensure level playing field in bank tests n Reuters, London Europe’s top banking regulator has set out rules to ensure EU banks cannot rely on national definitions to obscure the true state of their books in an upcoming assessment of whether they need more cash.

The last two rounds of the EU’s “stress tests”, which were widely criticized for not being tough enough, gave national authorities leeway to set key definitions such as what counted as a bad loan and which loans were subject to “forbearance”.

This time around, with its credibility resting on the third attempt to convince investors banks have enough cash, top regulator the European Banking Authority (EBA) has prescribed newly-detailed rules to level the playing field.

The rules will be used by the European Central Bank (ECB) in its upcoming asset quality review (AQR) looking at whether the eurozone’s top 130 banks such as Deutsche Bank, Unicredit and BNP Paribas have properly faced up to the extent of their bad loans.

The 11 EU countries outside the eurozone must also carry out their own AQRs, which will also have to use the new rules.

The ECB will announce initial details of how its tests will be conducted at 0800 GMT on Wednesday.

“These recommendations promote con-

sistency to the process and outcomes of the AQRs at the European level so that remaining doubts about the quality of assets across the EU may be alleviated,” the watchdog said in a statement on Monday.

The bloc’s financial services chief Michel Barnier said last week the results of the EU tests were not expected to be dramatic and that shortfalls of capital will most likely be plugged by tapping markets - rather than having to go cap in hand to taxpayers as during the 2007-09 financial crisis.

Asset reviews

The EBA said all asset reviews across the EU should be completed by the end of October 2014. A separate bloc-wide stress test - to see if banks are prepared to deal with economic and financial shocks - will also be completed

by October 2014.

A single set of bank-by-bank results showing any capital shortfalls will be published around October 2014. The EBA has yet to say what the “pass” threshold will be or how long lenders will have to plug any capital gaps.

The Authority’s two previous stress tests failed to convince investors that lenders hold enough capital to withstand shocks unaided when the ECB money many of them hold is returned.

Its first rule set out yesterday relates to

File photo of a tram travelling past the euro sign landmark outside the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt REUTERS when a loan has gone sour - thus forcing the bank to set aside more capital - and replaces a patchwork of national definitions which have made it hard for investors to compare banks.

The EBA defines a loan as non-performing when a repayment is more than 90 days overdue or when repayment is unlikely.

A second rule defines when forbearance on a loan has taken place, meaning the bank has allowed the borrower to skip or reduce

payments.

The watchdog said forborne loans can be identified in both non-performing and performing loans portfolios, meaning a forborn loan is not automatically deemed to be non-performing and thus trigger extra capital requirements.

The EBA will also publish by the end of this year updated figures on government debt holdings and types of capital held by the 90 or so banks it tested in the past. l

Japan posts record string of trade deficits n AFP, Tokyo

Japan posted a record 15th consecutive monthly trade deficit in September, as data on Monday showed the country’s energy bill soaring, but exports to China rebounded after a territorial row last year hurt demand for Japanese goods.

While the yen’s sharp decline is generally seen as a plus for Japan’s export picture, the overall volume of shipments turned down last month as an uncertain US economic recovery held back growth.

Sky-high energy bills from imports of pricey fossil fuels - made more expensive by the weak currency - also weighed on the nation’s trade balance.

Energy imports surged after the 2011 Fukushima crisis forced the shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors, which once supplied a third of the nation’s power.

There is little public appetite to turn the reactors back on although Japan’s conservative government has said a restart was all but certain once safety is assured.

“Japan will continue to rely on energy imports, and any boost to exports from the weaker yen won’t be enough to turn around the trade deficit,” said RBS Securities chief economist Junko Nishioka.

The dollar was at 98.12 yen in afternoon Tokyo forex trading, up from 97.72 yen in New York Friday afternoon, which helped the Nikkei 225 stock index to end 0.91 percent higher.

The finance ministry said Monday that Ja-

The photo shows a cargo ship berthing alongside a container wharf in the port of Tokyo. Japan’s trade deficit expanded 64.1% on-year to $9.5bn in September as a weak yen pushed up import costs, official data showed recently AFP pan recorded a deficit of 932.1bn yen ($9.5bn), 64.1% higher than a 568.2bn yen deficit a year earlier. It also marked the 15th straight month of deficit, the longest spell since comparable data started in 1979.

The value of exports rose 11.5% to 5.97tn yen, helped by shipments to China - Japan’s largest trading partner - which rose 11.4% from a year earlier.

The improving figures come after a territorial dispute over a set of islands in the East China Sea set off protests in China and a consumer boycott of Japan-branded goods.

The unrest last year forced Japanese businesses to temporarily shutter operations in China, while the Asian neighbours’ trading relationship took a huge hit.

“Exports to China are on a gradual recovery path,” Masahiko Hashimoto, economist at Daiwa Institute of Research, told AFP. Shipments to the key US market were up 18.8% on year, but analysts said growth appeared to be stalling, after a two-week government shutdown threatened to send the US into a debt default.

“US consumer sentiment isn’t great be-

cause of the government shutdown,” Junichi Makino, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Demand for Japanese goods from emerging Asian economies, which then sell to the United States, was also lacklustre, Makino said. “Exports to Asian emerging economies such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India and Thailand won’t recover unless the US economy improves further,” he added.

Overall, imports jumped 16.5% to 6.90tn yen owing to the higher energy costs and rising demand for some electronic equipment and smartphones such as Apple’s iPhone.

Japan’s mixed trade picture is largely a result of the weak yen, which boosts the costs of imports but also inflates the value of exports.

The yen has declined by about a quarter against the dollar in the past year, boosting exporters’ competitiveness overseas and their bottom line.

The currency has been under pressure since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took office late last year, launched a policy blitz that meshed government spending with a central bank monetary easing plan unveiled in April. The moves are aimed at rebooting the world’s third-largest economy, which has suffered from growth-sapping deflation for years.

Abe’s efforts have started to bear fruit with the economy growing at an annualised rate of 3.8% in the first half of the year, far outpacing other G7 economies, while business confidence hit a five-year high. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Share

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 3763.89 ⇓ 0.21%, Turnover: 1671.16 M.Tk ⇑ 51.32%, PE: 11.72 Turnover 1,840.02 MTk . ⇑ 50.15% October 21, 2013 MarketCap. 1,828.39 BTk. ⇑ 0.01% CSE All Share Index: 11650 ⇓ 0.16%, Turnover: 168.85 M Tk. ⇑ 40.31%, PE: 11.59 Combined Turnover Leader BD Submarine Cable-A

490640

85.78

1247900

69.06

387647

67.50

JMI Syringes MDL-A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 141966 D: 22.70 ⇓ 0.44% | 22.66 | 23.00 / 21.00 C: 22.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.45 | 22.70 / 22.30 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 523180 D: 16.10 ⇑ 0.63% | 15.97 | 16.30 / 15.00 C: 15.90 ⇑ 0.63% | 15.65 | 16.10 / 15.50 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 396317 D: 20.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.21 | 20.50 / 19.00 C: 20.00 ⇓ 0.50% | 19.93 | 20.20 / 19.70 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 333130 D: 33.60 ⇓ 3.17% | 33.61 | 35.50 / 32.00 C: 34.00 ⇓ 2.58% | 33.90 | 34.60 / 32.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 946358 D: 10.30 ⇓ 0.96% | 10.29 | 10.80 / 9.90 C: 10.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.23 | 10.40 / 10.20 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 249199 D: 31.00 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.01 | 31.90 / 27.90 C: 31.30 ⇑ 2.96% | 30.86 | 31.50 / 30.10 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 4800 D: 57.40 ⇓ 1.20% | 57.71 | 58.70 / 57.30 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 987237 D: 18.10 ⇑ 0.56% | 17.98 | 19.50 / 16.20 C: 18.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 17.92 | 18.10 / 17.70 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 168692 D: 25.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.28 | 25.60 / 23.10 C: 25.40 ⇑ 1.20% | 25.31 | 25.40 / 25.00 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 142200 D: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.65 | 5.80 / 5.60 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 382000 D: 26.20 ⇓ 0.76% | 26.05 | 26.30 / 25.90 C: 25.20 ⇓ 3.82% | 25.19 | 26.30 / 24.50 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 177665 D: 13.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.74 | 13.90 / 13.00 C: 14.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.91 | 14.00 / 13.70 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 255875 D: 18.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 18.01 | 18.30 / 16.20 C: 17.90 ⇑ 1.13% | 17.90 | 18.50 / 17.60 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 602595 D: 14.10 ⇑ 1.44% | 14.08 | 14.30 / 12.60 C: 14.20 ⇑ 2.16% | 14.03 | 14.20 / 13.90 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 52264 D: 17.60 ⇑ 1.15% | 17.60 | 17.80 / 17.30 C: 17.50 ⇑ 1.16% | 17.47 | 17.50 / 17.30 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 244453 D: 10.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.69 | 11.00 / 10.00 C: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.67 | 10.80 / 10.50 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 269768 D: 10.80 ⇑ 0.93% | 10.80 | 11.00 / 9.90 C: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.81 | 10.90 / 10.60 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 16000 D: 92.20 ⇑ 0.77% | 92.31 | 94.00 / 89.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 42020 D: 14.40 ⇑ 2.13% | 14.34 | 15.00 / 14.10 C: 14.30 ⇑ 0.70% | 14.30 | 14.30 / 14.30 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 125394 D: 12.60 ⇓ 0.79% | 12.60 | 12.70 / 12.00 C: 12.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.44 | 12.70 / 12.40 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 467235 D: 14.00 ⇓ 0.71% | 13.99 | 14.20 / 13.50 C: 14.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.99 | 14.20 / 13.80 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 68208 D: 17.90 ⇓ 2.19% | 17.96 | 18.10 / 16.50 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 164862 D: 11.40 ⇓ 0.87% | 11.47 | 11.60 / 10.40 C: 11.50 ⇑ 0.88% | 11.43 | 11.50 / 11.40 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 360632 D: 10.60 ⇑ 0.95% | 10.58 | 11.50 / 10.00 C: 10.60 ⇓ 0.93% | 10.53 | 10.80 / 10.40 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 60200 D: 13.00 ⇑ 1.56% | 13.04 | 13.10 / 12.00 C: 12.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.85 | 13.00 / 12.70 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 85096 D: 27.40 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.13 | 28.10 / 25.00 C: 27.80 ⇑ 2.58% | 26.45 | 27.80 / 24.40 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 144689 D: 13.60 ⇓ 1.45% | 13.67 | 14.00 / 12.50 C: 13.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.71 | 13.90 / 13.60

TO M. Tk.

Argon Denims Limited-A Square Pharma -A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

314000 963430

56.46 51.98

% of TTL

C%

A%

CP

9.96

-2.82

30.90

BD. Autocars -B

9.84

1.81

33.50

Fine Foods-A

9.43

2.72

17.40

179.80

Anwar Galvanizing-B

9.09

0.58

24.00

53.96

ISN Ltd.-A

9.09

-5.41

16.80

4.66

174.83

3.75

55.34

3.67 3.07 2.83

PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 250022 D: 9.00 ⇓ 1.10% | 9.01 | 9.20 / 8.20 C: 9.20 ⇑ 1.10% | 9.10 | 9.20 / 8.90 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 89585 D: 17.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.73 | 18.50 / 17.00 C: 17.90 ⇑ 1.13% | 17.66 | 17.90 / 17.60 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 46093 D: 10.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.96 | 11.20 / 9.90 C: 11.00 ⇑ 1.85% | 10.85 | 11.00 / 10.70 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 38770 D: 54.10 ⇓ 1.10% | 53.68 | 54.70 / 50.00 C: 53.20 ⇓ 3.97% | 53.40 | 55.00 / 52.20 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 26600 D: 25.00 ⇑ 0.81% | 24.77 | 25.30 / 24.60 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 35822 D: 70.80 ⇑ 0.85% | 70.36 | 71.40 / 65.00 C: 72.40 ⇑ 1.12% | 70.60 | 72.40 / 70.00 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 5000 D: 30.00 ⇓ 6.25% | 30.00 | 30.10 / 30.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 64629 D: 23.20 ⇓ 0.43% | 22.81 | 23.60 / 21.80 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 197633 D: 20.40 ⇑ 0.49% | 20.06 | 22.00 / 18.30 C: 20.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.97 | 20.60 / 19.50 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 91450 D: 21.00 ⇑ 0.48% | 20.86 | 21.40 / 20.50 C: 21.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.93 | 21.40 / 20.40 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 96072 D: 10.10 ⇑ 1.00% | 10.06 | 10.20 / 10.00 C: 10.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.02 | 9.90 / 10.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 113415 D: 14.80 ⇓ 1.33% | 14.74 | 15.00 / 14.00 C: 15.10 ⇓ 0.66% | 15.00 | 15.10 / 14.90 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 105079 D: 51.30 ⇓ 0.77% | 50.43 | 51.50 / 48.00 C: 51.30 ⇓ 2.29% | 50.82 | 52.00 / 50.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 47402 D: 14.90 ⇑ 2.76% | 14.57 | 15.50 / 14.00 C: 15.00 ⇑ 0.67% | 14.50 | 15.00 / 14.00 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 79500 D: 17.70 ⇑ 1.14% | 17.36 | 18.00 / 16.80 C: 16.00 ⇓ 6.98% | 16.04 | 16.20 / 16.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 7553 D: 27.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.27 | 28.00 / 26.00 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 209967 D: 20.30 ⇑ 2.53% | 19.98 | 20.50 / 18.00 C: 19.90 ⇑ 4.74% | 19.37 | 20.10 / 18.70 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 231630 D: 13.30 ⇑ 3.91% | 12.92 | 13.50 / 12.00 C: 13.60 ⇑ 5.43% | 13.18 | 14.00 / 12.50 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 305503 D: 27.50 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.44 | 28.00 / 26.80 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 317500 D: 13.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.23 | 13.80 / 13.00 C: 13.70 ⇑ 1.48% | 13.04 | 13.80 / 12.70 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 76000 D: 51.30 ⇑ 0.20% | 50.62 | 51.50 / 49.20 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 104000 D: 28.10 ⇑ 1.44% | 27.60 | 28.80 / 27.10 C: 27.50 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.50 | 28.00 / 27.20 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 226160 D: 25.90 ⇑ 3.60% | 25.32 | 26.40 / 23.00 C: 25.70 ⇑ 0.78% | 25.89 | 27.90 / 24.20 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 6050 D: 1406 ⇑ 0.39% | 1382 | 1415 / 1362 C: 1419 ⇓ 6.20% | 1419 | 1419 / 1419 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 38725 D: 23.40 ⇑ 0.43% | 23.31 | 23.70 / 23.00 C: 23.50 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.23 | 23.50 / 22.80 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 627500 D: 15.10 ⇓ 0.66% | 14.89 | 15.30 / 14.50 C: 15.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.91 | 15.40 / 14.50 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 100 D: 854.5 ⇓ 0.64% | 850.00 | 859.0 / 850.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 100 D: 230.0 ⇓ 3.08% | 230.00 | 230.0 / 230.0

DSE Loser

DSE Gainer Legacy Footwear -A

Avg. P

174.13

3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 50 D: 176.0 ⇑ 0.46% | 176.00 | 176.0 / 176.0 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 1600 D: 170.0 ⇓ 1.39% | 170.00 | 170.0 / 170.0 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 7100 D: 45.30 ⇑ 1.34% | 45.35 | 45.60 / 44.70 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 5500 D: 49.00 ⇓ 0.20% | 49.09 | 49.40 / 48.10 1STBSRS | 14.43 | 161.88 | Vol. 43000 D: 82.30 ⇑ 0.24% | 82.35 | 83.00 / 82.10 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 145750 D: 35.10 ⇑ 0.86% | 34.46 | 35.40 / 33.60 C: 34.90 ⇓ 0.29% | 34.45 | 35.00 / 34.00 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 6500 D: 16.40 ⇓ 2.38% | 16.46 | 16.50 / 16.40 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 134500 D: 41.60 ⇓ 0.48% | 40.82 | 42.00 / 39.80 C: 42.10 ⇑ 1.20% | 41.07 | 42.20 / 40.00 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 16000 D: 21.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.50 | 21.60 / 21.50 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 79000 D: 8.50 ⇓ 1.16% | 8.52 | 8.60 / 8.40 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 452650 D: 15.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.76 | 15.20 / 13.50 C: 15.20 ⇑ 0.66% | 14.87 | 15.40 / 14.30 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 524500 D: 19.10 ⇑ 3.80% | 18.41 | 19.40 / 17.70 C: 19.60 ⇑ 7.10% | 18.45 | 19.90 / 18.00 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 275500 D: 6.50 ⇑ 1.56% | 6.41 | 6.60 / 6.30 C: 6.60 ⇑ 1.54% | 6.47 | 6.60 / 6.30 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 3500 D: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.43 | 5.50 / 5.40 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 126500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.73 | 5.90 / 5.70 C: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.63 | 5.70 / 5.60 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 459543 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.17 | 7.40 / 7.10 C: 7.50 ⇑ 4.17% | 7.31 | 7.50 / 7.20 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 69000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.01 | 5.10 / 5.00 C: 5.00 ⇓ 3.85% | 5.00 | 5.00 / 5.00 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 364500 D: 5.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.20 | 5.40 / 5.10 C: 5.00 ⇓ 3.85% | 5.04 | 5.10 / 5.00 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 944389 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.12 | 6.60 / 6.10 C: 6.10 ⇓ 1.61% | 6.10 | 6.20 / 6.00 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 101000 D: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.11 | 5.20 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇓ 1.89% | 5.16 | 5.20 / 5.10 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 154000 D: 4.80 ⇓ 2.04% | 4.89 | 5.00 / 4.80 C: 4.80 ⇓ 2.04% | 4.83 | 4.90 / 4.80 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 279500 D: 5.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.54 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.41 | 5.60 / 5.30 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 449000 D: 4.90 ⇓ 2.00% | 4.94 | 5.00 / 4.90 C: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 4.99 | 5.00 / 4.80 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 251518 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.56 | 5.70 / 5.10 C: 5.70 ⇑ 1.79% | 5.65 | 5.70 / 5.60 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 48000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.05 | 5.10 / 4.90 C: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.05 | 5.10 / 5.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 594500 D: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.11 | 5.20 / 5.00 C: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.09 | 5.10 / 5.00 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 17000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.12 | 6.30 / 6.10 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 198000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.96 | 6.00 / 5.90 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 282100 D: 7.80 ⇑ 1.30% | 7.71 | 8.00 / 7.50 C: 7.90 ⇑ 2.60% | 7.85 | 7.90 / 7.80 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 329000 D: 7.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.68 | 7.90 / 7.50 C: 7.60 ⇓ 1.30% | 7.68 | 8.00 / 7.50 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 133500 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.12 | 7.50 / 6.80

C%

A%

CP

-9.78

-10.99

70.10

Eastern Cables-Z

-9.68

-9.73

67.20

Northern Jute-Z

-9.20

-9.17

31.60

Eastern Lubricants-A

-7.48

-8.54

303.00

Standard Ceramic -A

-7.41

-7.31

35.00

Modern Dyeing-B

ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 114500 D: 6.70 ⇑ 1.52% | 6.59 | 6.80 / 6.50 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 474000 D: 8.30 ⇑ 1.22% | 8.22 | 8.50 / 8.00 C: 8.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.25 | 8.40 / 8.10 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 9000 D: 8.50 ⇓ 2.30% | 8.56 | 8.70 / 8.20 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 179500 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.38 | 6.60 / 6.20 C: 6.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.24 | 6.40 / 6.10 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 4500 D: 6.90 ⇓ 4.17% | 6.90 | 6.90 / 6.90 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 235686 D: 97.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 94.43 | 98.40 / 88.00 C: 96.50 ⇓ 1.33% | 93.97 | 97.40 / 92.00 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 17650 D: 17.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.88 | 17.70 / 16.40 C: 17.80 ⇑ 2.30% | 15.92 | 17.80 / 15.70 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 55635 D: 186.8 ⇓ 1.22% | 183.61 | 188.0 / 180.0 C: 187.5 ⇓ 7.32% | 185.68 | 189.9 / 184.6 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 11280 D: 132.9 ⇓ 0.75% | 128.08 | 136.0 / 123.0 C: 132.4 ⇓ 1.71% | 126.82 | 138.5 / 125.0 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 500 D: 67.20 ⇓ 9.68% | 67.20 | 67.20 / 67.20 C: 66.80 ⇓ 7.22% | 66.67 | 66.80 / 66.40 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 1850 D: 275.9 ⇓ 6.85% | 276.22 | 299.0 / 271.0 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 45150 D: 186.1 ⇓ 0.75% | 182.60 | 189.3 / 180.5 C: 184.7 ⇓ 0.81% | 181.73 | 187.0 / 179.1 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 6116 D: 156.5 ⇓ 2.55% | 155.55 | 159.0 / 145.0 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 36870 D: 33.50 ⇑ 9.84% | 31.43 | 33.50 / 27.50 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 38850 D: 27.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.71 | 30.50 / 27.30 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 10550 D: 130.0 ⇑ 6.30% | 123.41 | 131.7 / 116.7 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 26400 D: 65.00 ⇓ 4.69% | 63.71 | 65.60 / 61.50 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 127650 D: 25.70 ⇑ 0.39% | 25.05 | 26.10 / 24.10 C: 25.80 ⇑ 1.18% | 25.66 | 26.00 / 24.20 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 147000 D: 24.00 ⇑ 9.09% | 22.36 | 24.20 / 19.80 C: 24.20 ⇑ 8.04% | 22.41 | 24.30 / 20.20 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 3500 D: 14.90 ⇓ 0.67% | 14.86 | 15.00 / 14.90 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 32000 D: 80.90 ⇓ 1.82% | 79.14 | 83.80 / 76.90 C: 77.00 ⇓ 8.88% | 77.00 | 77.00 / 77.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 75550 D: 36.70 ⇑ 0.55% | 36.07 | 37.40 / 35.50 C: 37.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 36.17 | 37.00 / 35.80 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 170714 D: 40.90 ⇑ 1.24% | 39.85 | 41.40 / 36.40 C: 40.90 ⇑ 2.00% | 40.52 | 41.00 / 40.10 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 100200 D: 62.00 ⇑ 0.65% | 60.86 | 64.00 / 56.00 C: 61.40 ⇑ 0.16% | 60.24 | 63.00 / 59.00 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 58467 D: 60.20 ⇑ 1.01% | 58.80 | 60.90 / 54.00 C: 60.60 ⇑ 2.19% | 59.49 | 61.00 / 58.60 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 206500 D: 16.50 ⇑ 1.23% | 16.09 | 16.70 / 15.60 C: 16.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 16.10 | 16.90 / 15.40 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 83500 D: 40.60 ⇑ 1.50% | 40.20 | 41.00 / 39.50 BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 227000 D: 45.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 43.98 | 45.80 / 42.80 C: 45.20 ⇓ 2.16% | 43.85 | 45.90 / 42.70 BDBUILDING | 1.02 | 12.40 | Vol. 1241000 D: 42.80 ⇑ 2.15% | 40.86 | 43.30 / 38.30 C: 43.00 ⇑ 3.37% | 40.68 | 43.50 / 38.50 NPOLYMAR | 2.01 | 324.37 | Vol. 41800 D: 47.60 ⇓ 0.63% | 46.86 | 47.80 / 45.00 C: 48.80 ⇑ 3.83% | 47.40 | 48.80 / 46.00

FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 22500 D: 91.00 ⇑ 3.88% | 87.07 | 91.50 / 83.00 C: 88.00 ⇑ 4.51% | 89.67 | 91.00 / 88.00 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 50250 D: 390.5 ⇑ 2.17% | 372.31 | 398.0 / 356.5 C: 398.0 ⇑ 3.81% | 374.60 | 409.9 / 355.4 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 1600 D: 1530 ⇑ 1.20% | 1530 | 1550 / 1509 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 1050 D: 163.3 ⇓ 4.22% | 163.81 | 180.0 / 154.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 200 D: 799.0 ⇓ 0.11% | 800.00 | 800.0 / 798.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 45700 D: 211.3 ⇑ 3.33% | 199.86 | 220.5 / 187.2 C: 215.1 ⇑ 6.49% | 196.64 | 219.5 / 185.3 FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 229100 D: 22.50 ⇓ 0.88% | 22.17 | 23.20 / 21.70 C: 22.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.06 | 22.80 / 21.50 MEGHNAPET | -0.58 | -1.02 | Vol. 6000 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.00 | 7.40 / 6.90 MEGCONMILK | -6.68 | -16.22 | Vol. 36000 D: 6.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.89 | 7.50 / 6.60 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 665195 D: 22.30 ⇑ 8.78% | 20.84 | 22.50 / 19.20 C: 22.30 ⇑ 8.78% | 20.66 | 22.50 / 19.10 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 307000 D: 17.40 ⇑ 9.43% | 16.64 | 17.40 / 15.10 C: 17.30 ⇑ 9.49% | 16.64 | 17.30 / 14.90 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 430712 D: 21.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.66 | 21.10 / 19.00 C: 21.00 ⇑ 0.48% | 20.59 | 21.10 / 20.10 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 454880 D: 43.20 ⇑ 0.47% | 42.34 | 43.50 / 38.70 C: 43.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 42.09 | 43.50 / 41.10 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 4634 D: 598.6 ⇑ 2.03% | 592.98 | 609.0 / 584.4 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 87208 D: 273.8 ⇓ 1.33% | 270.01 | 276.8 / 260.0 C: 273.1 ⇓ 1.62% | 270.82 | 275.0 / 266.0 EASTRNLUB | 6.32 | 68.68 | Vol. 150 D: 303.0 ⇓ 7.48% | 300.00 | 305.1 / 302.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 502731 D: 19.90 ⇑ 1.53% | 19.15 | 20.40 / 18.00 C: 20.20 ⇑ 2.54% | 19.46 | 20.60 / 18.50 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 166380 D: 29.40 ⇓ 1.34% | 29.28 | 30.00 / 26.90 C: 29.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.58 | 30.30 / 29.00 DESCO | 2.80 | 35.25 | Vol. 72000 D: 70.30 ⇓ 0.42% | 69.46 | 70.80 / 68.20 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 74000 D: 51.90 ⇓ 2.08% | 51.93 | 52.70 / 51.90 C: 52.00 ⇓ 0.95% | 52.00 | 52.00 / 52.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 110023 D: 221.1 ⇑ 0.05% | 219.37 | 222.0 / 210.0 C: 219.7 ⇑ 0.55% | 217.84 | 221.5 / 212.1 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 126560 D: 251.3 ⇑ 0.36% | 248.56 | 252.3 / 240.0 C: 250.5 ⇑ 0.40% | 248.33 | 252.0 / 241.5 TITASGAS | 9.01 | 36.56 | Vol. 394302 D: 77.50 ⇑ 0.26% | 77.01 | 82.00 / 70.00 C: 77.50 ⇑ 0.39% | 76.97 | 77.90 / 76.10 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 90956 D: 44.10 ⇓ 0.45% | 43.65 | 44.50 / 40.00 C: 44.00 ⇑ 0.46% | 43.85 | 44.30 / 43.10 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 171435 D: 24.80 ⇓ 1.20% | 24.82 | 25.10 / 23.00 C: 24.80 ⇓ 0.80% | 24.85 | 25.00 / 24.30 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 51814 D: 69.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 68.71 | 72.00 / 64.00 C: 69.20 ⇑ 1.47% | 67.89 | 69.30 / 66.40 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 165880 D: 24.50 ⇑ 0.82% | 24.12 | 24.70 / 21.90 C: 24.80 ⇑ 1.64% | 24.54 | 24.90 / 23.80 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 225470 D: 46.40 ⇓ 1.07% | 45.87 | 47.00 / 42.30 C: 46.80 ⇓ 0.21% | 46.10 | 47.20 / 45.10

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

7

October 21, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 31,317.86 ⇑ 0.13% NBFI: 18,459.96 ⇓ 0.58% INVS: 4,539.93 ⇑ 0.27% ENGG: 5,392.15 ⇓ 2.03% FOOD: 9,624.94 ⇑ 0.98% F&P: 9,456.23 ⇑ 0.01% TEXT: 2,948.36 ⇑ 0.29% PHAR: 16,453.50 ⇓ 0.11% PAPR: 966.12 ⇑ 6.01% SERV: 2,752.47 ⇑ 0.35% LEAT: 4,794.62 ⇑ 0.13% CERA: 463.19 ⇓ 1.00% CMNT: 4,208.73 ⇓ 1.63% INFO: 6,868.59 ⇓ 0.67% GINS: 9,114.92 ⇓ 0.13% LINS: 103,774.14 ⇓ 1.38% TELC: 1,253.04 ⇑ 1.85% MISC: 5,700.68 ⇓ 0.53% AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 180365 D: 21.40 ⇓ 0.47% | 21.32 | 21.70 / 19.50 C: 21.00 ⇓ 2.33% | 20.88 | 21.50 / 20.20 DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 343572 D: 17.20 ⇑ 1.78% | 16.80 | 18.50 / 16.50 C: 17.40 ⇑ 4.19% | 16.96 | 17.50 / 16.50 AAMRATECH | 1.46 | 21.90 | Vol. 289500 D: 30.40 ⇓ 1.62% | 29.82 | 30.80 / 29.20 C: 30.40 ⇓ 2.25% | 29.79 | 30.90 / 29.00

JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 11650 D: 102.3 ⇓ 0.20% | 96.31 | 110.0 / 93.00 NORTHERN | -13.80 | -6.19 | Vol. 2800 D: 31.60 ⇓ 9.20% | 31.79 | 32.00 / 31.40 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 16250 D: 138.1 ⇑ 8.23% | 129.78 | 139.0 / 123.2 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 40554 D: 85.30 ⇑ 6.76% | 81.82 | 86.80 / 77.00 RAHIMTEXT | 0.51 | 73.88 | Vol. 550 D: 242.5 ⇑ 3.06% | 241.82 | 245.0 / 240.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 107300 D: 28.90 ⇓ 1.03% | 28.61 | 29.20 / 28.30 C: 28.90 ⇓ 1.03% | 28.66 | 29.20 / 28.00 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 3950 D: 70.10 ⇓ 9.78% | 70.13 | 72.00 / 70.00 DSHGARME | 0.72 | 12.00 | Vol. 64800 D: 59.00 ⇑ 7.47% | 52.04 | 60.30 / 49.50 DULAMIACOT | -8.46 | -27.78 | Vol. 600 D: 8.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.33 | 8.40 / 8.20 TALLUSPIN | 2.56 | 12.06 | Vol. 789900 D: 38.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 36.82 | 39.50 / 35.10 C: 38.50 ⇑ 0.52% | 38.15 | 38.90 / 35.30 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 6200 D: 64.60 ⇓ 0.92% | 64.52 | 68.00 / 63.00 MITHUNKNIT | 4.54 | 30.39 | Vol. 53000 D: 82.20 ⇑ 2.37% | 78.95 | 84.00 / 76.00 C: 84.30 ⇑ 4.59% | 81.51 | 84.30 / 80.00 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 230100 D: 28.70 ⇓ 1.37% | 28.09 | 29.00 / 27.40 C: 29.00 ⇓ 1.02% | 28.17 | 30.00 / 27.50 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 292702 D: 17.20 ⇑ 8.18% | 16.16 | 17.40 / 14.80 C: 17.40 ⇑ 8.07% | 16.69 | 17.60 / 14.90 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 180000 D: 24.50 ⇑ 2.51% | 23.74 | 25.00 / 22.20 C: 24.20 ⇑ 2.54% | 23.36 | 25.00 / 22.40 ALLTEX | -0.11 | 23.81 | Vol. 159000 D: 8.00 ⇓ 2.44% | 7.96 | 8.20 / 7.80 C: 8.10 ⇓ 2.41% | 7.84 | 8.10 / 7.60 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 15000 D: 34.20 ⇓ 0.58% | 34.27 | 35.50 / 32.60 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 115765 D: 34.10 ⇑ 5.57% | 32.25 | 34.80 / 30.80 C: 33.90 ⇓ 4.24% | 33.79 | 34.00 / 32.90 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1133397 D: 29.80 ⇑ 0.34% | 28.42 | 30.20 / 27.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 138693 D: 21.80 ⇑ 3.32% | 20.76 | 22.00 / 19.00 C: 22.10 ⇑ 4.25% | 21.03 | 22.40 / 19.90 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 94541 D: 89.20 ⇑ 0.11% | 88.98 | 89.80 / 83.00 C: 88.30 ⇑ 0.34% | 88.00 | 89.00 / 87.20 METROSPIN | -1.00 | 19.59 | Vol. 240000 D: 15.80 ⇑ 1.28% | 15.22 | 16.50 / 14.60 C: 15.90 ⇑ 2.58% | 15.38 | 16.20 / 14.80 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 668139 D: 14.70 ⇑ 1.38% | 14.28 | 15.00 / 13.20 C: 14.80 ⇑ 0.68% | 14.29 | 14.90 / 13.90 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 199560 D: 26.00 ⇓ 0.38% | 25.81 | 26.80 / 25.40 C: 26.30 ⇑ 1.54% | 26.10 | 27.40 / 24.70 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 1018164 D: 27.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.36 | 27.30 / 24.50 C: 27.00 ⇓ 0.74% | 26.68 | 27.30 / 25.80 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 182655 D: 15.00 ⇑ 0.67% | 14.80 | 15.40 / 13.50 C: 15.20 ⇑ 1.33% | 14.79 | 15.50 / 14.30 MALEKSPIN | -1.44 | 46.87 | Vol. 475655 D: 22.50 ⇓ 1.75% | 21.81 | 22.90 / 20.80 C: 22.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 21.78 | 23.00 / 21.30 ZAHINTEX | 1.91 | 35.25 | Vol. 188000 D: 28.10 ⇓ 2.43% | 27.59 | 28.90 / 26.50 C: 26.40 ⇓ 6.05% | 26.40 | 26.50 / 26.30 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 611750 D: 23.10 ⇑ 1.76% | 22.18 | 23.30 / 21.70 C: 22.90 ⇑ 1.78% | 22.25 | 23.20 / 21.40 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 846480 D: 21.60 ⇑ 0.47% | 21.38 | 22.00 / 19.40 C: 21.90 ⇑ 0.92% | 21.41 | 21.90 / 21.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 963430 D: 54.90 ⇑ 0.92% | 53.97 | 55.20 / 49.00 C: 55.10 ⇑ 0.92% | 53.67 | 55.60 / 52.70

ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1247900 D: 57.30 ⇑ 1.96% | 55.36 | 58.70 / 50.60 C: 57.30 ⇑ 2.14% | 55.17 | 58.70 / 52.40 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 189000 D: 37.40 ⇓ 1.06% | 36.57 | 37.70 / 36.00 C: 37.50 ⇓ 0.27% | 37.07 | 37.60 / 35.60 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 11800 D: 229.5 ⇓ 3.29% | 223.68 | 235.0 / 217.1 C: 233.0 ⇓ 2.96% | 226.70 | 238.9 / 220.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 118508 D: 40.00 ⇓ 0.74% | 39.97 | 40.30 / 36.30 C: 40.30 ⇓ 0.74% | 40.02 | 40.40 / 39.30 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 200 D: 882.1 ⇓ 0.89% | 880.00 | 884.8 / 879.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 15070 D: 150.7 ⇓ 2.08% | 150.82 | 157.9 / 145.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 6827 D: 693.3 ⇑ 0.35% | 685.99 | 698.0 / 675.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 20650 D: 161.0 ⇓ 1.29% | 156.76 | 163.6 / 152.5 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 86360 D: 95.50 ⇑ 1.81% | 91.65 | 98.00 / 86.20 C: 96.20 ⇑ 1.26% | 90.99 | 97.60 / 86.10 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 108800 D: 40.70 ⇑ 0.49% | 39.70 | 41.20 / 38.60 C: 42.40 ⇑ 3.92% | 42.26 | 42.90 / 37.30 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 387647 D: 174.9 ⇑ 0.34% | 174.16 | 186.0 / 165.0 C: 174.5 ⇑ 0.58% | 173.72 | 175.0 / 172.6 IMAMBUTTON | -1.68 | 5.67 | Vol. 26500 D: 7.90 ⇓ 4.82% | 7.88 | 8.40 / 7.60 C: 8.10 ⇓ 10.00% | 8.29 | 9.00 / 8.10 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 387600 D: 22.80 ⇑ 0.88% | 22.39 | 23.00 / 20.40 C: 22.70 ⇓ 0.44% | 22.46 | 22.90 / 22.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 500 D: 793.4 ⇓ 1.69% | 794.00 | 804.0 / 785.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 13220 D: 74.50 ⇑ 0.27% | 73.33 | 75.50 / 71.20 C: 72.00 ⇓ 2.57% | 72.65 | 73.90 / 72.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 2650 D: 755.9 ⇑ 3.92% | 741.13 | 770.0 / 710.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.33 | 11.97 | Vol. 204800 D: 13.40 ⇓ 2.19% | 13.36 | 13.60 / 13.00 C: 13.50 ⇓ 1.46% | 13.39 | 13.60 / 13.20 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 265725 D: 89.50 ⇑ 1.59% | 87.83 | 90.30 / 84.00 C: 89.00 ⇑ 0.79% | 89.68 | 89.90 / 89.00 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 239063 D: 19.90 ⇑ 4.74% | 19.23 | 20.50 / 17.50 C: 19.90 ⇑ 4.19% | 19.33 | 20.40 / 18.50 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 263000 D: 49.70 ⇓ 3.12% | 48.97 | 50.10 / 47.70 C: 49.60 ⇓ 3.13% | 48.78 | 50.00 / 47.80 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 830000 D: 54.40 ⇓ 6.37% | 54.63 | 58.00 / 52.30 C: 54.60 ⇓ 6.83% | 55.03 | 57.60 / 53.70 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 314000 D: 201.7 ⇑ 7.06% | 179.42 | 203.0 / 170.9 C: 201.8 ⇑ 6.15% | 183.31 | 205.0 / 172.6 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 335000 D: 32.50 ⇓ 1.81% | 32.44 | 33.00 / 31.90 C: 33.10 ⇓ 0.30% | 32.45 | 33.50 / 32.00 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 26000 D: 25.30 ⇑ 6.75% | 24.31 | 26.00 / 21.60 C: 26.10 ⇑ 9.66% | 24.29 | 26.10 / 22.50

SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 19230 D: 88.50 ⇑ 0.45% | 84.97 | 95.90 / 80.00 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 140225 D: 24.50 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.26 | 26.50 / 22.50 C: 24.60 ⇓ 1.20% | 24.19 | 24.70 / 23.90 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 203076 D: 52.20 ⇑ 0.58% | 50.17 | 52.80 / 48.00 C: 52.00 ⇑ 1.56% | 49.88 | 52.00 / 48.20 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 108800 D: 110.8 ⇑ 0.82% | 107.36 | 111.8 / 104.1 C: 110.2 ⇓ 0.90% | 108.69 | 111.9 / 105.0 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 3300 D: 667.2 ⇑ 1.26% | 667.27 | 670.0 / 666.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 59200 D: 364.8 ⇑ 7.29% | 352.46 | 369.7 / 331.0 C: 355.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 355.00 | 355.0 / 355.0 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 639876 D: 30.90 ⇑ 9.96% | 27.55 | 30.90 / 25.30 C: 30.90 ⇑ 9.96% | 27.57 | 30.90 / 25.30 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 27800 D: 32.00 ⇑ 0.63% | 31.22 | 33.40 / 29.50 C: 30.00 ⇓ 4.76% | 30.00 | 30.00 / 30.00 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 3500 D: 35.00 ⇓ 7.41% | 35.14 | 36.00 / 34.60 FUWANGCER | 1.43 | 13.25 | Vol. 407500 D: 17.40 ⇓ 2.79% | 17.09 | 17.60 / 16.70 C: 17.30 ⇓ 4.42% | 17.24 | 17.50 / 16.90 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 185910 D: 15.30 ⇓ 0.65% | 15.17 | 15.60 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇓ 0.65% | 15.17 | 15.50 / 14.90 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 212516 D: 47.80 ⇓ 2.25% | 47.94 | 48.50 / 44.10 C: 48.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 47.74 | 48.10 / 47.20 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 60150 D: 353.1 ⇓ 2.00% | 346.96 | 354.9 / 339.3 C: 355.0 ⇓ 2.42% | 352.43 | 355.0 / 352.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 96773 D: 114.3 ⇑ 0.26% | 112.23 | 115.5 / 110.0 C: 113.8 ⇓ 0.09% | 111.71 | 114.9 / 110.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 61600 D: 119.2 ⇓ 3.17% | 115.33 | 119.9 / 111.2 C: 116.4 ⇓ 6.73% | 116.44 | 125.0 / 112.4 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 33500 D: 69.00 ⇑ 3.76% | 66.78 | 69.80 / 64.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 1013000 D: 32.90 ⇓ 0.60% | 32.60 | 33.20 / 32.20 C: 32.90 ⇓ 0.90% | 32.73 | 33.00 / 32.50 MICEMENT | 4.14 | 40.00 | Vol. 123377 D: 90.40 ⇓ 2.69% | 89.81 | 93.20 / 84.00 C: 90.90 ⇓ 1.62% | 89.95 | 91.30 / 89.10 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 84000 D: 96.00 ⇓ 2.34% | 94.93 | 98.00 / 93.20 C: 96.60 ⇓ 3.78% | 96.25 | 96.90 / 94.10 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 151101 D: 16.80 ⇑ 9.09% | 14.86 | 16.90 / 14.00 C: 17.00 ⇑ 9.68% | 15.39 | 17.00 / 14.00 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 167250 D: 26.20 ⇑ 3.97% | 25.41 | 26.50 / 22.70 C: 26.10 ⇓ 6.12% | 26.06 | 27.40 / 25.10 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 331715 D: 15.80 ⇑ 7.48% | 14.81 | 16.10 / 13.80 C: 16.00 ⇑ 8.84% | 15.18 | 16.10 / 13.50

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 49130 D: 28.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.18 | 28.90 / 27.00 C: 28.00 ⇓ 0.71% | 28.00 | 28.00 / 28.00 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 32268 D: 89.30 ⇓ 3.67% | 89.59 | 91.10 / 85.00 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 6230 D: 41.60 ⇓ 3.93% | 41.57 | 43.50 / 40.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 114600 D: 29.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.70 | 29.60 / 27.50 C: 30.10 ⇑ 4.15% | 30.07 | 30.50 / 29.80 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 10578 D: 38.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.24 | 38.80 / 37.00 C: 38.00 ⇑ 0.80% | 38.00 | 38.00 / 38.00 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 17486 D: 241.0 ⇑ 0.31% | 232.49 | 244.0 / 227.5 C: 245.0 ⇑ 2.08% | 235.55 | 245.0 / 230.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 15412 D: 39.30 ⇓ 2.00% | 39.35 | 40.10 / 39.00 C: 40.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 39.90 | 40.00 / 40.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 35400 D: 45.90 ⇑ 1.77% | 45.17 | 46.60 / 44.00 C: 47.50 ⇑ 3.94% | 45.25 | 47.50 / 44.50 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 13000 D: 28.90 ⇓ 2.03% | 28.90 | 28.90 / 28.90 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 32800 D: 22.20 ⇓ 1.33% | 22.10 | 22.70 / 21.80 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 73100 D: 31.00 ⇑ 1.31% | 30.24 | 31.50 / 29.90 C: 31.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.00 | 31.00 / 31.00 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 66259 D: 22.10 ⇑ 0.91% | 21.66 | 22.40 / 20.00 C: 22.10 ⇑ 0.91% | 21.79 | 22.30 / 21.20 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 12000 D: 67.00 ⇓ 0.59% | 67.08 | 68.50 / 67.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 92700 D: 21.30 ⇑ 2.40% | 20.77 | 21.40 / 20.10 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 5931 D: 52.70 ⇓ 0.57% | 52.77 | 54.80 / 50.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 23005 D: 30.60 ⇑ 1.32% | 30.19 | 31.00 / 29.00 C: 31.00 ⇓ 9.09% | 31.00 | 31.00 / 31.00 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 20500 D: 64.90 ⇑ 1.56% | 64.88 | 65.50 / 64.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 39497 D: 28.20 ⇑ 1.81% | 28.03 | 30.40 / 25.00 C: 26.10 ⇓ 9.38% | 26.10 | 26.10 / 26.10 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 98500 D: 27.10 ⇓ 0.37% | 26.90 | 27.40 / 26.30 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 29500 D: 27.70 ⇓ 3.48% | 27.36 | 28.50 / 26.80 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 10500 D: 34.80 ⇑ 1.16% | 34.86 | 35.00 / 34.40 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 11500 D: 27.60 ⇓ 3.50% | 27.65 | 29.90 / 27.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 39326 D: 23.70 ⇑ 0.42% | 23.72 | 24.50 / 22.90 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 166615 D: 23.70 ⇑ 3.04% | 23.26 | 24.30 / 20.80 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 26770 D: 26.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.75 | 27.50 / 25.00 C: 27.50 ⇓ 0.72% | 27.67 | 28.00 / 27.50 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 217908 D: 29.30 ⇓ 0.34% | 28.72 | 29.70 / 26.50 C: 29.80 ⇑ 1.02% | 29.79 | 29.90 / 29.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 50500 D: 42.60 ⇑ 1.19% | 42.38 | 43.80 / 41.00 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 8241 D: 39.20 ⇓ 0.51% | 39.19 | 40.00 / 37.10 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 40128 D: 43.70 ⇑ 2.10% | 42.87 | 43.90 / 40.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 26235 D: 40.40 ⇓ 0.98% | 40.23 | 40.50 / 38.60 C: 42.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.00 | 42.00 / 42.00

ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 30695 D: 26.50 ⇑ 2.32% | 25.98 | 27.70 / 24.00 C: 27.00 ⇑ 1.89% | 26.09 | 27.00 / 25.80 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 13244 D: 31.40 ⇓ 1.57% | 31.41 | 32.00 / 30.30 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 8660 D: 27.60 ⇓ 3.83% | 27.72 | 28.70 / 27.30 C: 27.00 ⇓ 3.57% | 27.00 | 27.00 / 27.00 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 31500 D: 38.50 ⇑ 1.05% | 37.65 | 39.50 / 37.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 18050 D: 237.8 ⇓ 3.49% | 236.90 | 242.0 / 235.1 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 2650 D: 4874 ⇓ 3.75% | 4874 | 4880 / 4874 C: 4818 ⇓ 3.74% | 4818 | 4818 / 4817 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 17846 D: 65.80 ⇑ 0.15% | 65.29 | 66.20 / 64.30 C: 67.00 ⇑ 2.92% | 66.08 | 67.00 / 63.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 8500 D: 162.2 ⇓ 5.09% | 162.24 | 163.0 / 162.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 22155 D: 87.00 ⇓ 3.65% | 86.88 | 90.00 / 81.40 C: 87.20 ⇓ 2.79% | 86.63 | 88.00 / 85.20 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 20600 D: 95.20 ⇓ 0.83% | 94.70 | 96.00 / 94.00 C: 95.50 ⇓ 4.50% | 95.50 | 96.00 / 94.00 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 8500 D: 95.90 ⇓ 0.72% | 96.00 | 100.0 / 94.50 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 13070 D: 105.6 ⇓ 0.38% | 105.43 | 109.5 / 100.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 12465 D: 90.90 ⇓ 0.22% | 90.57 | 92.00 / 82.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 38000 D: 91.50 ⇓ 1.72% | 91.05 | 92.50 / 89.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 46260 D: 56.50 ⇓ 1.74% | 56.06 | 62.00 / 52.00 C: 57.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 56.48 | 57.00 / 56.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 111775 D: 54.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 53.57 | 54.80 / 50.00 C: 52.10 ⇓ 0.57% | 52.09 | 53.00 / 51.00 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 231658 D: 181.5 ⇑ 1.11% | 178.53 | 182.6 / 170.0 C: 180.5 ⇑ 0.89% | 178.13 | 182.0 / 175.1 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 490640 D: 185.7 ⇑ 4.80% | 174.88 | 191.0 / 165.5 C: 185.5 ⇑ 4.74% | 174.43 | 190.0 / 165.0 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 2351595 D: 15.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.09 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇑ 0.66% | 15.11 | 15.40 / 14.90 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 343845 D: 79.40 ⇓ 0.75% | 77.83 | 80.30 / 72.00 C: 78.90 ⇓ 0.25% | 77.61 | 79.70 / 75.90 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 9200 D: 266.9 ⇑ 0.00% | 259.89 | 272.0 / 246.6 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 94005 D: 441.0 ⇓ 1.89% | 429.95 | 449.0 / 415.0 C: 439.5 ⇓ 2.33% | 431.46 | 452.0 / 416.5 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 35650 D: 143.3 ⇑ 0.35% | 140.15 | 143.9 / 137.0 C: 144.2 ⇑ 2.20% | 141.69 | 145.0 / 135.5 USMANIAGL | 0.50 | 26.03 | Vol. 37564 D: 131.1 ⇑ 1.16% | 126.43 | 132.8 / 117.0 C: 125.3 ⇓ 2.19% | 125.26 | 130.0 / 120.0 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 981145 D: 26.30 ⇓ 1.13% | 26.29 | 28.20 / 24.00 C: 26.50 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.27 | 26.70 / 25.80 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 127000 D: 20.90 ⇑ 1.46% | 20.38 | 21.10 / 19.50 C: 20.90 ⇑ 2.96% | 20.05 | 20.90 / 19.20 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 176600 D: 14.70 ⇑ 8.09% | 13.94 | 14.80 / 12.30 C: 14.90 ⇑ 8.76% | 13.76 | 15.00 / 12.50 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 80 D: 958.5 ⇑ 0.52% | 962.50 | 960.0 / 957.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 6 D: 870.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 833.33 | 870.5 / 870.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

Publishers need to know their readers to survive in digital era n Reuters, Frankfurt Publishers need to get to know their readers and find out what they want if they are to halt the loss of market share to online powerhouses such as Amazon, industry figures say.

Until a few years ago, publishers wielded power over readers’ selection of books though in-store promotions and newspaper reviews.

Now readers increasingly order their books online or download them onto electronic reading devices, write their own reviews and get ideas for what to read next from peers online.

“With the shift to digital, publishers are confronted with an entirely new way of dealing with content and stories,” said Sebastian Posth, chief executive of Berlin-based Publishing Data Networks, which offers analytics to the industry.

Amazon and Apple have used terabytes of data on their customers’ reading and other habits to gain control of the market, leaving traditional publishers scrambling to find a way to get through to their readers.

Data analysis has become a necessary means for publishers to deal with the new digital era, Posth said.

“The publishing industry needs to learn this lesson if it wants to survive,” he said.

The music, television and film industries have already gone digital with software and platforms that tap into consumers’ demand for on-the-go media content for mobile devices and customize content based on users’ habits and preferences.

“Most folks in the editorial and content production areas of mainstream publishers are unable to give even the most basic metrics on who their actual customers are,” said Kristen McLean, Miami-based founder and chief executive of start-up Bookigee, speaking at the just-ended Frankfurt Book Fair.

The music, television and film industries have already gone digital with software and platforms that tap into consumers’ demand for on-the-go media content for mobile devices and customize content based on users’ habits and preferences.

The publishing industry has been “super resistant” to the idea that it should let audience insights drive content development,

The logo of Amazon Europe Holding Technologies is seen at its entrance in Luxembourg McLean said.

“Big retailers know our customers better than we do,” said Nathan Hull, digital development director at British media group Pearson’s Penguin business.

Battling Amazon

A hurdle that publishers must overcome in building a relationship with customers is the market dominance of Amazon and Apple.

In the United States, 44% of books - paperback or electronic - was purchased online in 2012, up from 39% in 2011, according to data from service provider Bowker. In Britain, the picture is pretty much the same.

Amazon offers not just a virtual book shop but has expanded into many services traditionally provided by publishers, such as translating and marketing, and has a fast-growing self-publishing business.

According to estimates by Austrian industry consultant Ruediger Wischenbart, Amazon has a 65% share of the US market for e-books, bolstered by its Kindle device.

Apple, which has integrated books into its

iTunes platform, has 20%.

A number of initiatives have sprung up around the world to launch competitor products to the Kindle, such as the Tolino, born from a collaboration of several German retail book chains and telecoms company Deutsche Telekom. Europe is expected to be the largest e-book market by 2017, worth $19bn, according to Forrester Research.

Wischenbart said the battle against Amazon is not yet lost.

“Look at what happened to Microsoft,” Wischenbart says. “About a decade ago they practically had a monopoly in software platforms. This is very different now.”

Social reading

One tool publishers have started using is “social reading”, which refers to reading-focused social networking sites such as Goodreads, recently acquired by Amazon.

Goodreads has 20 million members and works with publishers to create marketing campaigns that reach readers based on their reading preferences.

REUTERS

Random House has introduced its own reader’s circle with Scribd, a document-hosting site with around 80 million users.

These sites are “global and give publishers a one-stop opportunity to reach markets beyond their natural national audiences,” said US publishing consultant Mike Shatzkin, CEO of The Idea Logical Company.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair, a German reader community called “flipintu” was launched, which applies the concept of online music streaming services such as Spotify to the book market.

To battle the status quo, Penguin and Random House merged this year to gain an upper hand in the digital book market, but so far CEO Markus Dohle has kept a low profile.

“We’re doing our homework, our research and development with different business models and we are doing it cautiously,” he said at the book fair.

“We will take our time, we want quality over speed and there is no rush. We are building a company for the next 100 years and not for 100 days.” l

BHP Billiton abandons delayed India energy projects n AFP, New Delhi Global mining and energy giant BHP Billiton announced yesterday it had given up on nine Indian deep-sea oil and gas projects due to delays in carrying out exploration at the sites.

The Anglo-Australian giant said it had relinquished six blocks in the Bay of Bengal which it partly owned with Indian conglomerate GVK, and another three that it owned fully.

“The decision to relinquish these blocks

is the result of an exploration portfolio review and the inability to carry out exploration operations in these blocks,” a BHP spokesman told AFP in an emailed statement.

GVK said in its latest annual report that it had hit a “roadblock” with the defence ministry, which must approve exploration activity at the blocks, and had decided to suspend further investment.

The BHP spokesman declined to elaborate on the abandonment of the sites, which were allotted between 2008 and 2010 under

India’s New Exploration Licensing Policy, known as NELP. BHP’s exit is another blow to efforts to attract vital foreign investment needed to upgrade the nation’s dilapidated energy, road, rail and other infrastructure.

Three months ago, South Korean steel giant Posco announced it was abandoning plans to build a $5.3bn steel mill project due to approval delays.

That same month, Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal gave up efforts to construct a second steel plant in eastern

India over similar problems.

India is heavily dependent on imported fuel and has been slow to develop domestic resources, leading the petroleum ministry to warn earlier this year that red tape was deterring foreign firms.

The announcement marks a sharp reduction in BHP’s India presence, leaving it with just a 50% interest in a deepwater block off the west coast. The other 50% is held by Britain-based oil company BG Group.

The two firms are awaiting seismic survey results from that block. l