October 28, 2013

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Kartik 13, 1420 Zilhajj 22, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 214

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Hundreds rally in American capital against NSA spying

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Mashrafe, Shamsur under spotlight

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Five killed on first day of hartal 100 injured as violence erupts across country n Tribune Report At least five people were killed and over 100 others were injured on the first day of the 60-hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance yesterday.

A Jubo League leader in Abhaynagar upazila of Jessore, a Jubo League activist in Pirojpur, a Swechchhasebak Dal activist in Faridpur, a Jamaat leader in Ishwardi of Pabna and a BNP activist in Bogra were killed in clashes between law enforcers, pickets and ruling party activists.

More than 130 people including law enforcers sustained injuries including bullet wounds in clashes across ten districts. Police arrested at least 34 people from five districts where the killings took place, and detained over 100 nationwide, including the capital. Of them, 20 were sentenced to jail terms by mobile courts.

In the capital, pro-hartal activists torched at least 23 vehicles.

During the day, six BRTC buses were torched in Gabtoli, two buses were set on fire in Savar and one each in Mirpur, Tongi, Jatrabari, Keraniganj and Ashulia. An auto-rickshaw and a pickup van were also torched in Tongi.

In the evening, a police vehicle was torched in Kamrangirchar, and four vehicles in Demra.

Picketers also set a human hauler ablaze in front of the Prime Minister’s Office at around 9pm. Also late in the evening, a bus was torched at Baridhara Norunbazar, a microbus in Zirabo, another bus at Tongi and one more bus at  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Khaleda will visit Hasina at Ganabhaban: BNP leaders n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Ganabhaban, responding to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dinner invitation to talk about holding a dialogue on the polls-time government, after October 29, senior leaders said.

They said the ruling Awami League’s general secretary and the opposition BNP’s acting secretary general might have talks to finalise the date and time for the dinner. Even the officials of the two parties might discuss the matter.

If the government wanted, the BNP chief herself might call the PM, a number of leaders said.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, a senior leader claimed that an official of the prime minister had phoned the BNP chairperson’s Assistant Personal Secretary Md Suratuzzaman to fix the menu of the dinner yesterday afternoon.

When contacted, Suratuzzaman confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the prime minister’s APS Md Saifuzzaman had called him to know about the opposition leader’s menu.

“I told him that the menu will be informed the day before the honourable leader of the opposition visits Ganabhaban. She usually avoids rich food,” he said.

Hasina called Khaleda on Saturday and invited the opposition leader to a dinner at Ganabhaban on Monday to initiate a dialogue. Khaleda accepted the offer but said she could not go on Monday because of the hartal.

Pickets set ablaze the BRTC bus depot in the capital’s Gabtali area where a number of buses were burned to ashes

NASHIRUL ISLAM

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AL to finalise its JS body places report on RPO bill The October 28 déjà vu candidates in first The government on September 30 tually declined to be the chief of the The watchdog chief told the Dhaka n Kamran Reza Chowdhury n Muktasree Chakma Sathi caretaker government and subsequentTribune the committee had suggested tabled the bill in parliament to disqualweek of Nov The Parliamentary Standing Commit- dropping the section as it was “against ify the convicted war criminals from The country’s political arena has gone ly, the then president Iajuddin Ahmed tee for the Ministry of Law yesterday the spirit of the constitution.” He men- contesting the polls and change anoth- full circle in seven years, witnessing a appointed himself as the chief adviser. n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee submitted its report on the Representa- tioned that an independent candidate er 17 sections of the original RPO. The déjà vu as the two leading political par- The Awami League then announced Awami League will finalise its candidates for the next general election in the first week of November and begin to distribute nomination papers among aspirants from November 10.

The party planned to field its candidates a bit earlier so that it can take time to redress grievances of the rejected nomination seekers.

Party’s parliamentary board at its meeting at prime minister’s official residence Ganabhaban yesterday night took the decision.

AL President Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, presided over the meeting.

The meeting was attended by party senior leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Syed Ashraful Islam, Kari Zafarullah and Dr Alaudin Ahmed.

The party also decided to increase the price of the nomination paper from Tk10,000 to 25,000.

Earlier, party Chief Sheikh Hasina at a party’s election steering committee meeting said most of the party  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE News

3 With a view to scrapping the Grameen Bank Ordinance-1983, the government tabled a new bill in parliament yesterday keeping a provision to hold the bank’s board meeting in presence of three out of 12 directors.

Nation

7 Stray incidents across the country yesterday marked the first day of the 60-hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. Hartal supporters torched the local Awami League office in Shreepur and a truck at Pubailin Gazipur around 6:30am.

Op-Ed

11 Towheed Feroze: There are staunch political supporters, there are those who never wear their political beliefs on their sleeves, retaining their party of preference close to their hearts and then there are the turncoats.

tion of the People Order (amendment) Bill, 2013 in parliament, suggesting the deletion of a section that requires a newcomer to wait three years before contesting as a party candidate in general elections.

Fazle Rabbi Miah, the committee chairman, presented the report at the watchdog’s meeting on October 24.

Members agreed unanimously to drop section 12 (j), which was inserted by the military-backed government in 2008 to stop “horse trades” ahead of every general election.

could contest the polls without any pre-conditions.

This means if the House passes the bill in line with the recommendation, the moneyed business people can contest the upcoming polls without having involvement in politics at all. Even a political leader can switch their allegiance ahead of the polls and contest the elections for their new party.

Parliament secretariat sources say the speaker will include the passage of the bill in a working day and the House would pass it.

bill did not propose changing section 12 (j), but the standing committee has recommended dropping it.

However, the watchdog did not recommend losing section 12 (f), which states public servants must serve as a party member for three years after their retirement.

At a dialogue with the Election Commission in 2011, Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad demanded the dropping of the section. However, no other parties offered their support to the proposal.

n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

office.

The party reiterated its earlier viewpoint on the election-time administration once again just a day after the prime minister phoned Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia inviting her to a dinner at Ganabhaban.

“We have very positive attitude to holding a dialogue; we want a peaceful solution as we believe that discussion is mandatory for democratic practice,”

she said adding that Awami League was willing to move forward with an optimistic view.

“Awami League has not yet revoked the offer. We will try the best way forward for dialogue.”

About Khaleda Zia’s proposal for a polls-time government with the advisors from caretaker governments of 1996 and 2001, Matia said her proposal

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Dialogue offer still in place: Matia Offer of dialogue on the polls-time government is still in place but it must centre round the constitution, said Awami League Presidium member Matia Chowdhury.

Matia, also the agriculture minister, made the government’s stance clear at a press conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi

EC awaits consensus on code of conduct n Mohammad Zakaria With the 90-day countdown to the next general election having begun yesterday, the Election Commission is still waiting for a political consensus on the polls-time government for finalising the electoral code of conduct.

“There was no hope of reaching a political consensus between the two major political parties...But now, they are coming forward. We are hoping for a political consensus,” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters at the EC secretariat yesterday.

Asked when the EC would finalise the code, he said: “We plan to prepare the electoral code of conduct within this week, but if we finalise the it ahead of a dialogue, all doors [to reaching a

consensus] will be closed. We are waiting for a consensus.”

Rakibuddin said the commission was working on a code of conduct to create a level-playing field for all parties.

The CEC also said the next parliamentary elections must be held with the participation of all political parties.

Referring to a proposal for revoking the provision of a three-year mandatory party membership to participate in general elections, Rakibuddin said formulating laws was the work of parliament.

“They [MPs] will decide what is best for the people as people have elected them,” he added.

According to the constitution, the next elections must be held within 90 days before the ninth parliament’s tenure ends on January 24. l

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ties lock horns over who will head the polls-time government.

Since October 28, 2006 the two leading parties have only swapped their roles; back then it was the Awami League in opposition and the BNP in power.

The row between the parties intensified seven years ago today, when Awami League opposed the idea of immediate past Chief Justice KM Hasan’s leading the caretaker government, terming him “partisan.” The then government had raised the retirement age of the Supreme Court judges to ensure Justice KM Hasan’s appointment.

The ensuing deep political crisis ultimately delayed the parliamentary elections by two years.

On October 28, 2006, the then opposition parties led by the AL waged a movement, saying they would not accept KM Hasan as the chief adviser for his affiliation with the then ruling BNP. At least 12 people were killed in violence on that day, including five in the capital, while around 2,000 were injured across the country.

Justice KM Hasan, however, even-

they would not participate in the national elections under Iajuddin.

This year, the characters have shifted but the argument remains almost the same. The opposition party and its alliances say they will not participate in the next elections if a “non-partisan government” does not oversee the polls.

In response to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proposal for an all-party interim government to administer the election, opposition leader Khaleda Zia proposed that the non-partisan government could comprise 10 advisers from the previous “successful” caretaker governments.

This time around, the BNP-led opposition is waging a movement and enforcing 60 hours of shutdown, saying they will not accept Hasina as the chief of the polls-time government.

The same conflict rooting from the debate over who would head the ad hoc government drove the country straight into “a state of emergency” seven years ago. It also forced the then president Iajuddin Ahmed to step aside for former central bank governor Fakhruddin  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 28, 2013

Ruling MPs slam Khaleda for hartal

BTCL staff not allowed in to check Khaleda's red telephone n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

They criticise her for ‘illegal government’ claim

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Senior treasury bench members yesterday questioned whether Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia wanted to invite some unconstitutional forces to power instead of an elected government.

The ruling government MPs also criticised the BNP chief for not withdrawing the 60-hour hartal which began yesterday, though she had said the shutdown would be enforced if the government did not initiate dialogue within two days.

Khaleda must shoulder the responsibility for the loss of lives and property, they said.

Awami League’s Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, ruling government ally Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Party’s Mujibul Haque spoke during the unscheduled discussion initiated by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal.

They demanded the speaker issue a ruling on the opposition leader for claiming the government was illegal.

Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, the deputy speaker who was chairing the sitting, said: “Many people talk in many ways; those have no constitutional basis. We will abide by the constitution.”

The opposition leader had been trying to establish an unconstitutional government, said Menon. “The BNP and Jamaat are out to avenge the de-

feat in 1971 by mobilising all the components of a counter-revolution.”

He said the upcoming elections became an issue to settle the national identity.

Tofail questioned whether Khaleda, a three-time former premier, was inviting others to power.

Tofail, who is also a former Awami League Presidium member, said Khaleda on Friday had warned of calling a hartal unless the government initiated a process of talks in the next two days.

But the 18-party opposition alliance was enforcing the shutdown even though Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina telephoned and invited her rival to start the process of negotiation over the polls-time government.

Badal said the spirit of ’71 was being revisited. “We have to resolve it now, and once for all.”

He also questioned who would take responsibility for the people killed in the recent spate of violence.

Amu alleged that the BNP-Jamaat wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed state like Afghanistan and Iraq. He also said the BNP had been taken hostage by Jamaat, the party that sided with the Pakistani occupation army in committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Suranjit Sengupta said the Awami League government was legitimate up to January 24 next year as the people had mandated the government for five years. l

Government on project spree n Mohosinul Karim Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to lay the foundation stones of five projects and inaugurate another one under the communications ministry on October 31.

All six projects entail about a total of Tk350bn.

The construction works of the five projects will begin during the tenure of the next government, said Communications Minister Obaidul Quader. “The next government will complete them.”

The prime minister will lay the foundation stones of Metro Rail Project, Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Project, Mass-Rapid Transit Line-6 (MRT-6), Tk27.88bn Four-Lane Joydebpur-Chandra-Tangail Highway Project, Second Kanchpur Bridge, Second Meghna Bridge and Second Gomoty Bridge on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

The minister said the process of recruiting consulting firms for those projects are almost complete.

The construction work of Metro

Rail Project will start in 2016 at a cost of Tk210bn. The 20.01Km Metro Rail will carry people from Uttara to Shapla Square of Motijheel via Pallabi, said the minister.

The high-speed public transport will be able to carry 60,000 passengers from each side in every hour.

The construction work of Mass Rapid Transit Line Project at the expense of TK 20.4bn will begin in July next year.

A total of Tk84.87bn will be spent on the construction of the Second Kanchpur Bridge, Second Meghna Bridge and Second Gomoty Bridge on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will provide Tk64.29bn while the rest will be arranged from the government fund.

A total of 396.5-meter-long Kanchpur Bridge along with 703.5 meters of approach roads, 930meter-long Meghna Bridge with 870 meters of approach roads and 1410meter-long Gomoty Bridge with 1010 meters of approach roads will be constructed under the project. l

Awami League activists hold an anti-hartal rally in front of the Party office in the capital at Bangabandhu Avenue

RAJIB DHAR

Targeted attacks continue in capital n Kailash Sarkar Unidentified criminals continued their panic-spreading strategy of targeting sensitive establishments, by setting off crude bombs last night at the residences of International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Tureen Afroz and Privatisation Commission Chairman Mirza Jalil.

In Uttara, unidentified criminals hurled a crude bomb targeting the Uttara residence of Tureen Afroz at around 8:45pm, witnesses said.

The prosecutor told the Dhaka Tribune that some unidentified persons carried out the bomb attack when she was walking on the lawn of the house with her daughter.

She said the bomb exploded only 10-feet away from them. “I think some people carried out the attack in a planned way,” said Tureen, who is also a teacher at Brac University.

Khandaker Rezaul Hassan, officer-in-charge of Uttara (west) police

station, said a team visited the spot and was investigating the incident to identify the criminals.

Meanwhile, two crude bombs were thrown at the residence of Privatisation Commission Chairman Dr Mirza Jalil, who is also an adviser to Awami League, in the capital’s Adabar at around 9pm.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Jalil said some unknown criminals hurled two bombs targeting his house in his presence.

Both the bombs hit the grills of a window and exploded with a loud noise, causing his family members to panic, said the ruling party adviser.

Dr Jalil also said he saw the criminals fleeing on a car after the attack.

Sub-Inspector Sirajul Islam of Adabar police station said the police had visited the spot following the incident and found marks of the explosions.

On a separate incident, Sumon Mahbub, son of Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam, yesterday received death threats against him and his entire fam-

ily through a letter, which also had a piece of shroud attached to it.

Sumon, who is a journalist of an online news agency, filed a general diary with Uttara (west) police station in this connection.

Earlier, separate death threats were also issued against his father Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam and his sister Shishir Kona.

Sub-Inspector Shahidul Islam of Uttara (west) police station said Sumon had mentioned in the GD that he received the death threat at around noon through a letter issued by “Islam Rokkhakari Dal.” “The computer composed letter was sent to Sumon’s address at their Uttara residence by post”, the SI said.

He added that the letter also threatened of killing all of Sumon’s family members.

Earlier on October 22, the attorney general’s daughter Shishir Kona was also served a similar letter and a GD was filed with Shahbagh police station. l

BISMILLAH GROUP SCAM

ACC to sue at least 40 people n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission is likely to file several cases this week against some officials of five banks and Bismillah Group, a business allegedly involved with embezzlement of Tk11bn from banks.

An ACC probe team yesterday submitted its inquiry report to the ACC Director General Ziauddin Ahmed recommending that at least 12 cases be filed.

Bismillah Group allegedly embezzled around Tk3.92bn from the stateowned Janata Bank, Tk3.06bn from

Prime Bank, Tk1.64bn from Jamuna Bank, Tk1.49bn from Shahjalal Islami Bank and Tk629.7m from Premier Bank.

After reviewing the documents, Ziauddin Ahmed is likely to place the report before the three-member commission tomorrow for approval.

As soon as the committee gets approval, the graft busting agency will file cases against at least 40 people from the banks and Bismillah Group under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, an ACC official told the Dhaka Tribune.

The commission has reportedly

taken statements from Jamil Hossain Durjoy and Mohammad Ali, sons of two ruling party lawmakers, but did not find any evidence of their involvement in the alleged embezzlement, thus, their names were not included in the list of the accused, sources said.

Durjoy and Ali, non-paid directors of Bismillah Group, allegedly helped its high officials in conducting the scam and fleeing the country.

Before preparing the probe report, the inquiry committee reviewed documents of all the five banks and quizzed around 70 of their officials. l

a case filed with Tejgaon police station in connection with an incident of arson at Karwanbazar on Saturday.

Biplab Sarkar, deputy police commissioner of Tejgaon Division, told the Dhaka Tribune that Khoka was implicated in the case after one Jewel, who was arrested with a bottle of petrol during the arson incident, confessed that he set the bus on fire at the directives of Khoka.

According to the Media Centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the other cases were filed with Mirpur, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kafrul, Darussalam, Ramna, Paltan, Motijheel, Demra, Jatrabari, Kadamtoli, Sabujbagh, Shahjahanpur, Gulshan, Bhatara and Uttara (east) police stations.

VIOLENCE OUTSIDE CAPITAL In Jessore, Alamgir Hossain Shimul, 35, the general secretary of Jessore’s Noapara municipality unit of Jubo League, was hacked to death in front of a police camp. KM Ariful Haque, an additional superintendent of police,

told the Dhaka Tribune the police had arrested five persons following the incident.

In Pirojpur’s Zianagar upazila, Shibir activists attacked Jubo League activist Swapan Shill’s home and injured him and his two children. Swapan died under treatment in hospital.

In Bogra, BNP activist Shahajahan Ali was stabbed to death in a factional clash of BNP, compelling the local administration to impose a section 144.

In Faridpur, Swechchhasebak Dal activist Maruf Hossain, 20, was killed when policemen under attack from pickets opened fire in Nagarkanda upazila. Two Rab members and 10 police sustained injuries in the violence that erupted in retaliation In Pabna’s Ishwardi, violent clashes between Jamaat and Awami League left Jamaat leader Julhash Hossain Munnaf, 30, dead and 30 others injured. Local Jamaat leaders claimed they had been attacked on their way to Dashuria, while Awami League leaders

claimed Julhash was killed by a bomb he was carrying.

Activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir also severed the tendons of three activists of Chhatra League activists in Chittagong last night.

Imtiaz MK Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of the Mirsarai police station, said the Shibir men attacked Chhatra League men at the railway station near Nizampur College at about 7:15pm and severed the tendons of hands and legs of Ripon, 21, Rana, 27, and Faroque, 25.

Incidents of clashes, arson, vandalism and bomb blasts were also reported from Lalmonirhat. There were reports of clashes and vandalism from Netrakona, Noakhali, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Satkhira, Kurigram, Lakshmipur, Khulna, Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Natore.

The BNP-led 18-party alliance called the hartal from 6am yesterday to demand the formation of an all-party polls-time government. l

Five killed on first day of hartal Agargaon, said Alamgir Hossain, mobilising officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Pro-hartal activists also burnt dockets of the Dhaka CMM court in the afternoon and hurled crude bombs at Dhaka South City Corporation’s zonal office at Khilgaon, injuring an employee.

Locals caught and beat up a picketer at Lalbagh, after him and his associate set fire to Lalbagh power sub-station at around 11pm.

An opposition activist sustained serious injuries while carrying a crude bomb at Kakrail to the chief justice’s residence, according to the police. A newspaper hawker received bullet wounds during a clash between police and pickets at Kaltabazar.

Miscreants also hurled a Molotov cocktail at Awami League’s Jatrabari unit office, blasted crude bombs in front of Nayapaltan BNP office in both the morning and the evening, and also on Dhaka University campus.

Awami League’s Uttara sector 6 office was set on fire in the evening.

Incidents of explosions were also reported from Kakrail, Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Azimpur, Uttara, Moghbazar, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Lakshmibazar, Tantibazar, Jagannath University, Bongshal and Tikatuli.

Police recovered large quantities of gunpowder, 37 crude and petrol bombs and other bomb-making materials from the quarters of a Dhaka University employee at Azimpur in the afternoon. According to police, the explosives were stored there to be used in the hartal.

In Mugda, locals caught two opposition activists while they were trying to torch a car and beat them before giving them up to police.

On the other hand, the police also filed a total of 38 cases with the capital’s different police stations, including a case against BNP leader and former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who was implicated in

AL to finalise

Khaleda will visit Hasina at Ganabhaban: BNP leaders

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candidates would be selected shortly so that they could take full preparation.

The meeting also discussed its plan to organise a show of strength on November 3 at Suhrawardy Udyan ahead of the national polls.

Senior leaders at the meeting gave feedback on prime minister’s phone conversation with the opposition leader.

They told the meeting that the party had demonstrated its highest sincerity in holding dialogue with the opposition, said a meeting source.

Awami League should not show its interest anymore in talks unless BNP does not take a positive attitude and in that case the party should go ahead with election agenda, viewed the leaders. l

In response to Hasina’s request to withdraw the strike, Khaleda told her that she could not do it without consulting her alliance partners. “I also said clearly that the movement and the dialogue would go simultaneously.”

Expressing his optimism about a dialogue, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir thanked the prime minister, saying the dialogue could take place any time after October 29 when the opposition alliance’s 60hour hartal ended.

“The prime minister has invited the opposition leader to dinner. Madam [Khaleda] did not refuse the invitation as she repeatedly talked about a dialogue to resolve the crisis. So, she might go to the dinner only after finalising [its]

date and time,” Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, BNP’s Standing Committee member, told the Dhaka Tribune.

On the other hand, Awami League Presidium member Matia Chowdhury yesterday said the talks offer to the BNP was still valid but the talks would be based on the constitution.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul were playing important roles in initiating the dialogue and talked on the issue at different times.

Asked if he talked with Ashraf on Saturday night after the telephone conversation of Khaleda and Hasina, Fakhrul, said the news was baseless.

A senior leader of the party said there was little possibility that pro-

grammes such as hartal and blockade would be announced during the dialogue, but at the same time they did not want to postpone their programmes for a long period, too.

“If there is no positive result from the dialogue, the ongoing movement might lose its rhythm,” the leader said.

However, another senior leader said the government would soften its stance only after a tough street movement was waged. The leader praised Khaleda for taking “the right decision by not withdrawing the hartal. If she had, it would have frustrated party leaders and activists as at least six people were killed on that day [Saturday].”

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the BNP in the 18-party alliance, also did not agree to the withdrawal

of the hartal in the context of October 28, 2006 when at least 10 people were killed in violence as the then opposition Awami League had brought out a procession wielding oars and poles.

A Standing Committee member told the Dhaka Tribune, seeking anonymity, that they did not want to shoulder the responsibility of failing to hold the dialogue and that is why finalising the time for the talks would be initiated after October 29.

“The government has not shifted its stance on the polls-time government. So, there is little possibility of a positive outcome of the dialogue, but we do not want to shoulder the responsibility of a foiled initiative,” he said. l

Officials of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited could not check the official red telephone at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan 2 residence as they could not enter the house as of yesterday evening.

“Our staff members are still in front of the residence of the leader of the opposition; if they get the permission, they can check the phone and find out the problem,” Mohammad Morshed, an official spokesperson of the BTCL, told the Dhaka Tribune at 6:45pm yesterday.

“We are contacting the government officials at the leader of the opposition’s residence, but they could not yet give us the consent to enter the house,” he said.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called Khaleda on the red telephone several times, but the BNP said the telephone had been dead for a long time, which is why the opposition leader could not receive the call.

The BTCL spokesperson said there had been no complaint about the phone at Khaleda’s residence; they had also found no problem in the line and the exchanges at the ends of the prime minister and the opposition leader.

He said they had also checked the telephone cabinet in front of Khaleda’s residence. l

The October 28  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Ahmed to fit in as the chief of the army-backed caretaker government.

Fakhruddin’s government ruled the country for two years and held the ninth parliamentary elections in December 2008.

On October 28, 2013, the country is experiencing the second day of the 60hour hartal called by the opposition, and already at least 10 people have died in the ensuing violence.

On this day seven years ago, Dhaka turned into a fierce battlefield with thousands of Awami League activists and its alliance supporters clashing with Jamaat-e-Islami activists at Paltan. Five people were killed at Nayapaltan. An activist of the Workers Party of Bangladesh named Rasel also died in violence.

Remembering October 28, 2006, Jamaat has said in a press release that it will hold several programmes, including discussion and offering prayer. The Workers Party will also observe the seventh anniversary of Rasel’s killing on the day.

Meanwhile, several Facebook pages and accounts, including Basherkella, owned by pro-opposition people have been highlighting the 2006 incident, urging supporters to take revenge. l

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Another Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque (Kishoreganj) tabled a private member bill asking for a lifting of the ban.

“I do not understand why the standing committee made the recommendations, when the Election Commission has not proposed for a change to the section,” said former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda in his reaction.

The section was meant to stop the “money game” in the nomination process. The business people very often, he said, buy nominations from the parties paying donations.

“The section was embodied to save the political parties from intrusion of the businessmen and other sections,” said Huda. l

Dialogue offer  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

was not logical as some of the advisors had already died while some others are not physically capable.

“Khaleda Zia does not have confidence in her party’s elected lawmakers. She doesn’t believe those elected on the party ticket. She always believes outsiders,” she observed.

The ongoing 60-hour hartal is unexpected, she said, as the prime minister responded to the 48-hour ultimatum of Khaleda Zia within 24 hours.

Khaleda Zia is making mistakes in counting numbers in recent times. She issued an ultimatum for 48 hours but her real ultimatum was shorter than that.

Earlier Khaleda branded the government as illegal from October 25 but later she changed it to October 27, Matia said.

In her address, the AL leader urged BNP to shun the path of destructive politics and recall the hartal for the sake of the country. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Grameen Bank bill placed Reza Chowdhury and n Kamran Asif Showkat Kallol With a view to scrapping the Grameen Bank Ordinance-1983, the government tabled a new bill in parliament yesterday keeping a provision to hold the bank’s board meeting in presence of three out of 12 directors.

According to the proposed Grameen Bank Bill-2013, the government will nominate three directors to the bank’s management board.

If passed, the law will legalise board meetings even if the directors from the borrowers do not turn up. The presence of the three government-appointed directors will be enough to get any decision endorsed at each meeting.

The new law will replace the existing 30-year ordinance, promulgated during the government of military ruler HM Ershad. It requires the presence of at least four directors in a board meeting.

Keeping passage of the Grameen Bank Bill-2013 in mind, the government is also proceeding with the formulation of Grameen Bank Election Rule, now in the law ministry for vetting, finance ministry officials said.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith tabled the bill in parliament, stipulating that the bank can provide loans to all landless people, with or without collateral, ‘for all economic activities’ other than foreign exchange conversion business.

Piloting the bill in parliament, the finance minister said the government has initiated the new law as a Supreme Court verdict declares all ordinances promulgated by the military rulers illegal.

“The new law would expand the services of the Grameen Bank, fulfilling the cherished dream of the borrowers to be the owners of the microcredit bank to a great extent,” said Muhith.

Crude bombs, gunpowder found at DU staff quarter n Ashif Islam Shaon

According to the Grameen Bank Election Rule, the bank borrowers will elect 15 people for the post of directors.

Nine of them will be elected as the directors.

The bill went to the parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry for further scrutiny before passage in the current session of House. It says the government would appoint a chairman from the three government-nominated directors to the Grameen Bank management board.

New law will replace the existing 30-year ordinance, promulgated during the government of military ruler HM Ershad. It requires the presence of at least four directors in a board meeting In consultation with the board of management, the chairman will form a select committee comprising three to five members, which will prepare a panel of three candidates for the post of managing director—the chief executive of the micro-credit bank, which has 8.3 million borrowers.

The central bank is the authority for the appointment of the managing director. The section 20 of the bill says the bank cannot run any business beyond its mandated area or transact with any business entities.

The government says the Grameen Bank allegedly had business links with 54 other subsidiaries such as the Grameen Phone, Grameen Trust, Grameen Fund, Grameen Telecom, Grameen Cybernet, Grameen Shakti, Grameen Knitwear, Grameen Byabosa and others.

According to sections 34 and 35 of the bill, the government can formulate rules to implement the Grameen Bank law, without violating any section of the law. l

Police seized handmade crude bombs and gun powder from a flat of Dhaka University’s staff quarter at Azimpur on the first day of the 60-hour hartal NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bill placed to protect patent rights of local products

BNP doubts government’s sincerity about dialogue

Hanif removed from post n Mohosinul Karim

n Abu Bakar Siddique

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

The government introduced a new legislative proposal in parliament yesterday, with an aim to safeguard the patent rights of the country’s century-old indigenous products.

If enacted, the proposed bill, titled Geographical Indicative Products (Registration and Protection) Act 2013, would protect the country’s claims to commodities such as hilsa fish, Jamdani sari, nakshi kantha, pineapple, and fazli mango.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua placed the bill in the parliament, in line with the agreement made between Bangladesh and the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on January 1, 1995.

The bill was later sent to the parliamentary standing committee on industries ministry for further scrutiny.

According to the act, Geographical Indications is a sign which defines the source and contains the goodwill of a product that originated in a particular area, like Hilsha from Padma, Chamcham from Tangail and Kanchagolla from Natore.

The objective of introducing the act is to protect the interest of the producers by using a particular sign through registering.

As per the bill, a separate unit will be formed under the Department of Patent, Design and Trademark to operate on works related to geographical indicative products.

The unit will conserve a detailed list of geographical indicative products from across the country as a primary database of the local products.

The validity of a particular registered geographical indication product will remain for five years.

The producer would have to apply for re-registering after the validity expires.

Any person or organization will be punished with three years of imprisonment and Tk200,000 fine for producing, transporting, storing and selling of a particular geographical indication product by providing false and fabricated information.

Similar punishment will be charged for marketing of a particular registered product which had expired its validity, and for breaching the conditions of the registration as a geographically indicative product. l

The BNP yesterday voiced doubt about the government’s sincerity to hold a dialogue over the polls-time administration as long as it continued its “repressive acts” against the opposition.

“The government is resorting to repressive measures as they have done in the past,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

The spokesperson of the party briefed the media on the countrywide hartal, claiming that three opposition men were killed as law enforcers opened fire on them during the first day of the three-day programme.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has removed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mahbub-Ul-AlamHanif from his post, cancelling his contractual appointment.

The public administration ministry issued an order in this regard yesterday.

Senior Public Administration Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told the Dhaka Tribune the cancellation was made as per the wishes of the prime minister.

Hanif, who is also the joint general secretary of Awami League, told the Dhaka Tribune he had asked to be relieved from his office as he was contesting the next general election.

“The public administration ministry issued an order releasing me from my post on Sunday. It will help me appear in the next general election as per the RPO,” he added.

Earlier this month party sources told the Dhaka Tribune that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was annoyed with Hanif over his seeking party nomination for Kushtia2 constituency in the upcoming elections and dissolving the party’s Doulatpur upazila unit committee without central committee’s approval.

The AL chief asked Hanif to resign from his post during a views-exchange meeting with root-level leaders from Kushtia, held at Ganabhaban on October 9.

In the meeting, General Secretary of Mirpur upazila Awami League Kamrul Islam asked the prime minister to nominate Hanif as the candidate for Kushtia 2 constituency instead of Hasanul HaqInu, the information minister and president of JSD, a major ally of the ruling party. l

All vehicles carrying O level and A level examinees and hajj pilgrims as well as ambulances, food shops and kitchen markets will remain out of purview of hartal Fakhrul further alleged that law enforcers had arrested over 600 opposition activists from across the country while over 1,500 had been injured and more than 15,000 implicated in fresh cases.

He said 12 opposition activists were sentenced to six months imprisonment by mobile courts.

“A mass upsurge has already taken place in the first day of hartal as people spontaneously took to the street de-

manding elections under a non-partisan caretaker government system,” he said, adding the agenda of dialogue should be the non-party polls time government.

“Otherwise the government’s call for dialogue will not be credible to the people of the country,” he said.

The BNP leader announced that all vehicles carrying O level and A level examinees and hajj pilgrims as well as ambulances, food shops and kitchen markets will remain out of purview of hartal.

When asked about the hand-made bomb blasts in the VIP’s offices and residences, Fakhrul blamed the government agents. “They are doing so to foil the opposition’s democratic movement.”

Earlier in the morning Fakhrul, however, thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making a phone call to the leader of the opposition.

“We want to thank the prime minister. Talks could be started as she made a phone call though it was late. Dialogue can take place at any time after our programme ends on October 29.

We are very much hopeful about the dialogue,” he said.

The spokesperson of the party said the government has to take the initiative for the dialogue and BNP’s stance is clear in this regard. “Talks should be held on the issue on non-partisan neutral polls-time government.”

When asked whether BNP will withdraw the hartal, Fakhrul said: “It will depend on the government’s attitude.” l

Ministers hopeful about dialogue n Mohosinul Karim

The ministers of the government are hopeful that the crisis over a polls-time government will be resolved by a dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, if the opposition leader responds.

“The ball is now at Khaleda Zia’s court,” Communications Minister Obaidul Quader remarked.

“We hope she will respond positively. The people of the country want relief from uncertainty and unrest. We hope she will open the door of dialogue by accepting the premier’s invitation,” he said.

“Time is not a factor, if there is positive will and sincerity. Everything is possible if Khaleda responds,” he added.

3

Monday, October 28, 2013

However, he warned that the opposition would be foolish to think that the “sincerity” of the government was a weakness.

“They should join the dialogue without any condition. The success of dialogue depends on open-mindedness.”

The prime minister called the opposition leader to attend a discussion and dinner in Ganabhaban on Saturday evening and withdraw the hartal called by 18-party alliance.

Alliance chief Khaleda Zia accepted the proposal but told the premier that she could only join the dialogue after the 60-hour shutdown, if the government accepts their demand in principle.

Asked what would happen if Khaleda Zia did not join the dialogue, Quader

said, “We do not want to say they will not come. There is no need be frustrated. We hope they will take it positively and join the dialogue to bring relief to people’s lives.”

Urging the opposition to join the dialogue unconditionally, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the invitation that the prime minister had given to Khaleda Zia would remain valid.

“They can join the dialogue any time they want,” he said.

The minister said there were two proposals in the field of dialogue. The dialogue may discuss both the proposals, he said. The structure of the pollstime government would be decided by dialogue, he added.

Inu claimed that a conspiracy to destroy democracy was afoot. l

Police recovered gunpowder, crude bombs and explosive making materials from a flat in University of Dhaka’s employee’s quarter in the capital’s Azimpur area yesterday.

Seventeen crude bombs, 15-20 petrol bombs, half kilogram of gunpowder and empty shells of bombs were recovered from the flat.

Police Inspector Nurul Mottakim of Lalbagh police station said on information they conducted a drive at the quarters.

He said police entered the flat breaking its front door. “The bombs and materials for making bombs were found inside a bathroom of a flat on the third floor of the building. No one was in there when police stormed in,” he said, The quarter was allocated for the second and third class employees of the university.

“The gun powder indicates that whoever stored them had a plan to carry out massive subversive activities.

More than 100 crude bombs could be made from the ingredients recovered,” said the inspector.

An employee named Khorshed used to live in that flat. His family left the flat two and a half months back.

Later, the university authorities allocated it to Bishu Chandra Das, an employee of the law department of the university. But he was yet to shift in that flat, according to police. .“We suspect that local Jamaat-Shibir men, with the aid of some employees, used the empty flat for storing explosives,” said Inspector Nurul.

After the raid, Bomb Disposal Unit of Detective Branch (DB) of police took the explosive making materials for examination.

Additional Police Commissioner of DMP Sanwar Hossain said the criminals might had stored the bombs to use during the ongoing 60-hour shutdown.

“37 bombs were recovered. We assume the bombs were stored to be used recently,” he said. l

War crimes tribunal irked over defence’s absence n Udisa Islam The International Crimes Tribunal 1 expressed discontent as the senior defence counsels were absent citing personal grounds and security concern during the 60-hour hartal began yesterday and said next time it would ensure protection to bring them to the tribunal.

Every time the opposition parties called a shutdown, the senior defence counsels, especially Abdur Razzaq, also a senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader, did not come to the tribunal and the juniors submitted adjournment petitions.

Two cases were on the cause list of the tribunal 1, headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, yesterday and the defence counsels in both cases submitted petitions seeking time.

Yesterday was set for the deposition of fourth and last witness in the case against Jamaat ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami. His son Nazibur Rahman aka Nazib Momen began his deposition on Thursday and the proceedings was adjourned.

The trial of Nizami’s war crimes charges is near end now. After the last defence witness’ deposition and cross-examination, the prosecution and the defence would place closing arguments – the final stage of a trial.

Defence counsel Asaduddin yesterday said their senior counsels could not come to the tribunal because of some personal reasons and security problems and sought adjournment for three days.

The tribunal then asked the defence why they did not filed the petition the previous day since they had known about the hartal. The junior counsel

replied that they did not know much about the personal difficulties.

The tribunal then said: “We do not have many cases now to conduct. If you all plead for adjournment, we have nothing to do the whole day except enjoying the hartal day.”

On the other hand, prosecutor Mohammad Ali opposed the adjournment plea.

The tribunal then fixed today for the deposition of witness and said: “If the prosecution has no objection, then we will bring the senior counsels in future by giving them protection.”

The juniors then said they needed to talk to the seniors to make any decision on the matter.

The tribunal then told the prosecution to inform it if the defence needed protection, and told the junior defence counsels that they were responsible for bringing the witnesses. “We will take every step to ensure security both the defence and the prosecutors.”

Senior defence counsel Razzaq stays at Purana Paltan and the witness is at Banani.

In the other case involving war crimes suspect and former Awami League leader Mobarak Hossain, the defence counsels came up with a three-day adjournment petition since their senior counsel Ahsanul Haq was unable to fly to Dhaka from Chittagong for hartal.

Yesterday was set for cross-examination of the investigation officer. The tribunal first insisted that the juniors conduct the questioning.

But the defence said they were not ready.

The tribunal then fixed October 30 for further proceedings in the case. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 28, 2013

Kids going to their school riding on a rickshaw as a very few vehicles ply on city roads on the first day of hartal yesterday in fear of arson attacks and vandalism by pickets; People in a queue waiting for a long time on an empty road in the city’s Mirpur Ansar Camp area for vehicles to reach their offices on the first day of the 60-hour general strike DHAKA TRIBUNE

TCB to restart OMS of onions next month n Tribune report The government is set to restart the open market sale (OMS) of onions through Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), as onion prices failed to go down after Eid-ul-Azha, official sources said.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the TCB will restart the OMS of onion from next month, because the product was being sold at high prices.

He also said they were still open on the import of onion from Myanmar, and that the TCB had already floated tender for collecting more onion from aboard.

According to information collected from the markets yesterday, onions were being sold at Tk110 per kilogram at the kitchen markets.

According to a market report by the state-run TCB, onion prices jumped to Tk105 per kg, from costing only Tk75 a week before on October 4.

The TCB said around this time last year, onion was selling between Tk22 and Tk35 per kg.

In July-August, prices of onion started going up following reports that bad weather affected onion production in India, the main source of Bangladesh’s onion import.

The TCB had initially sold onions at Tk47 per kg from trucks at designated places, and then again at Tk55 per kg following further price hike in the international market. l

The course is known for producing highly skilled and competent doctors through modern training methods

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University is all set to expand its five-year postgraduate residency programme to 14 medical colleges and institutes around the country next year to elevate the standard of medical education.

The residency course, currently available only at the Dhaka premises of the BSMMU, has been known for producing highly-skilled and competent postgraduate doctors because of the way they are trained.

The students of the residency programme do not need to go anywhere outside the BSMMU for any academic purposes during the entire duration of the programme.

Each student is supervised by a senior professor and they learn a lot of tricks of the trade through rigorous practical work, intensive study and research.

Seven students are admitted in each of the 44 subjects at the university every year.

Of these seven, four are BCS doctors posted at various public hospitals; while the remaining three are accepted from among those who work for private hospitals.

The private recruits are paid a monthly allowance of Tk10,000 while the BCS doctors keep getting their regular salaries. Neither the public nor the

private recruits are permitted to do private practice during the entire period of the programme.

However, sources have said many of these doctors, especially the private ones, secretly do private practices because the Tk10,000 allowance was not enough for a living.

BSMMU Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Ruhul Amin Miah admitted that the allowance was surely not adequate considering the current costs of living in Dhaka. He added that the authorities have already moved to raise the allowance to Tk15,000.

BSMMU started receiving applications for the residency course on October 8 and will carry on until October 31. The admission test will be held on November 22 Although it is called a residency programme, the BSMMU authorities do not have any infrastructure for residential facilities for the post graduate students. Sources said most of the students live in rented houses in the areas close to the hospital premises.

BSMMU launched the course four years ago following practices in some of the developed countries in the world and has since enrolled more than 1,200 students.

The colleges and institutes that are

going to start the residency programme include both public and private concerns and are all affiliated by the BSMMU. They will start the courses on March 1, 2014, for the upcoming academic session.

The BSMMU started receiving applications for the residency course on October 8 and will carry on until October 31. The admission test will be held on November 22. Till October 26, more than 3,500 applications have been filed.

Professor Md Ruhul Amin Miah told the Dhaka Tribune that not all the departments of each of the colleges and institutes outside Dhaka were prepared to enrol students for the residency programme.

That was why, he said, in the initial stage of expansion, the number of seats would be limited.

Although he could not tell the exact number, he said the number of seats available outside BSMMU would be in the vicinity of 400.

Apart from the BSMMU, some other institutes including the Dhaka Medical College also awards post graduate degrees to doctors. But DMC does not have any residency programme at present.

It is often said that those who had attended the BSMMU residency programme were much better trained than those post graduates who attended regular programme at the DMC.

Prof Miah said: “That is why, to ensure uniform standard, we want to bring the post graduate courses under the same umbrella. The residency programme is much better than the regular one.”

BSMMU Registrar Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman said: “Around 300 students are being admitted every year in the residency course, from both public and private organisations, through tough competition.

“Each candidate must secure at least 50% marks to pass the 100-mark admission test to get selected.”

He also said: “The residency course is totally different from traditional MD/MS courses. In the residency programme, medical education experts give more emphasis on hands-on training than on knowledge-based education… This is the state-of-the art technique in medical education in the world.”

The following are the colleges and institutions that would start the residency programme: the public medical colleges in Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet; National Institute of Mental Health; National Institute of Chest Disease & Hospital; National Institute of Ophthalmology; Dhaka Dental College; Birdem Academy; Institute of Child and Mother Health; and Khaja Yunus Ali Medical College. l

The countrywide 60-hour shutdown enforced by BNP led 18-party alliance has increased sufferings of people in the capital due to lack of transportation.

During the first day of the hartal, many office-goers were seen waiting for public transport at different city points, including Malibgah, Mogbazar and Shantinagar, reports UNB. “I have been standing here for last one hour to get a transport to go to my office at city’s Agargaon, but could not find one yet,” Atiqul Islam, a private service holder, told this correspondent at Mogbzar in the morning.

“The quarrel of two leaders (Hasina and Khaleda) makes our life very difficult. What good they will bring for us through their politics?” he said.

Atiqul said political parties frequently call hartal in the name of their democratic right, which adds to public sufferings. “Does democracy imply pushing people into trouble?”

Tabarul Huq, another city dweller, said he has been suffering from fever for last one week and was scheduled to go to his doctor in the morning for treatment.

“How can I go to my doctor during the hartal? You know miscreants (prohartal pickets) explode cocktails on city streets. I do not feel safe on city streets during hartal,” he said.

Day labourers are being compelled to pass their days amid unbearable hardship during hartal because of lack of works.

Abdur Rahman, a day labourer, said he has to sit idle during the hartal period as it is very difficult to find work on a hartal day. l

Four arrested for Jatrabari student murder bt brinjal likely to get

WEATHER

Possible rain in some places n UNB

the go-ahead

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

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

Moderately heavy to heavy falls are also likely at places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions, Met Office said. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The sun sets in the capital at 5:23pm today and rises at 6:03am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 31.0 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Sylhet and Bogra and lowest 20.5 degrees at Feni.Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

28.0 25.0 29.5 30.0 28.2 29.0 31.0 28.5

22.2 21.4 21.9 22.0 21.5 21.5 20.7 22.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

BSMMU to expand postgraduate residency programme

Lack of transport adds to public woes n Tribune Desk

4:46am 6:01am 11:43pm 2:58pm 5:23pm 6:39pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Detective Branch of police arrested four robbers in an overnight drive yesterday from different areas of the capital on suspicion of their involvement in the murder of an O level student in the capital’s Jatrabari.

The arrestees were Mohammad Khalil, 34, of barguna, Mohammad Aftab, 35, of Bhola, Mohammad Rustam Ali Hawlader, 50, of Prijopur and Mohammad Jalaluddin Jalal, 45, of Naraynganj.

Law enforcement officials also recovered a foreign 0.32 revolver and four rounds of ammunition from their possessions, said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police.

Addressing a press briefing at the media centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Monirul said Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanowar Hossain along his team raided different areas of the capital and detained the four.

They first caught Khalil and Aftab from Mugda area, and extracting information from them, the others were arrested from Sanirakhra, he added.

The police official said of the four arrestees, Khalil was the kingpin of their eight-member group, and he shot Bakhtiar dead.

After killing Bakhtiar, they took away three tolas of gold with them, added the joint commissioner.

Bokhtiar Mohammad Latif, 20, son of Jahid Al Latif, was shot dead by a group of armed robbers on September 13.

After the incident, the father filed a case with Jatrabari police station against some eight to ten unidentified robbers and later the case was handed over to DB police for investigation.

Asked about any pre-plan of the group, Joint Commissioner Monriul

n Abu Bakar Siddique

DB police take arrestees accused in Bokhtiar Mohammad Latif killing case to its Media Centre yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU said the gang members had an informer named Kana Sattar who used to give them information about Keraniganj, Demra and Jatrabari residential areas.

The gang acted on information and so they planned to swoop on the Jahid’s house seven months ago.

To make their robbing plan work, the gang members killed the only dog of the house by poisoning its food four days before the incident of murder.

In primary integration, the group confessed to having the boy killed to avoid their identification, said Monirul.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, arrestee Aftab said he fired at Bakhtiar for selfdefence. “We did not understand that Bakhtiar would die,” added Aftab.

Of the eight members, Swapon and Habib were sent to jail on October 10 while the duo went to commit robbery at Keraniganj. “We are searching for two other individuals who went into hid-

ing, and after taking the arrestees on remand, we would extract more information about the duo’s whereabouts,” said the joint commissioner.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Media and Publication, and Jahangir Hossain Matubbor, DC of DB west, were also present at the press briefing.

Bakhtiar’s father Jahid who was also present at the media centre, felt relieved that the killers had been arrested.

He demanded capital punishment for the killers.

Jahid, however, expressed his concern the accused might be released on bail.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday placed the four arrestees on a four-day police remand.

Metropolitan Magistrate SM Atiqur Rahman granted the remand prayer after investigation officer of the case prayed for a 10-day remand, said our court correspondent. l

The Bio-safety Core Committee may give approval for introduction of genetically modified brinjal, known as bt brinjal, in the country today.

The committee could not reach any decision about the bt variety in its meeting yesterday, Director General Rafiqul Islam Mondol of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (Bari) said after the meeting.

“Hopefully, the approval will come today,” he said.

The committee led by the secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forest is comprised of relevant ministry officials including Agriculture and Health.

The government is releasing four varieties of genetically modified brinjal in the country amid severe concern of environmental activists about biological and health hazards.

So far, Bari has developed bt Uttara, bt Kajla, bt Noyontara and bt Isd 006 from local varieties by inserting bt gene into them.

However, seeking anonymity, an official on the committee said they got a little time to review the Bari application and look into environmental aspects of the four bt varieties.

“We received the application to see to environmental and bio-safety aspects on October 21, but it was very tough to review the details within this short time,” the official told the Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier on July, the Bari sent its application to the National Technical Committee for Crop Biotechnology to assess the effectiveness of the bt brinjal varieties.

Following the assessment, the committee sent the applicaiton to the Biosafety Core Committee on October 21 to get its nod which would be ultimately termed “Final Approval”.

Bari developed the bt brinjal varieties after a seven-year experiment since 2006 with the technical support of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) in which the American seed giant Monsanto had 26% stake.

Bari demands that the use of pesticide on bt variety be reduced remarkably as it is injected with anti-insect organism to control the its major insecticide – Fruit and Shoot Borer – that is liable for 50% to 70% damage to the vegetable.

Environmental activists expressed their concern that bt would affect biodiversity and also lead to severe health hazards to humans, animals and plants.

Ubinig Executive Director Farida Akhter who also leads Nayakrishi Andolon along with four others filed a writ with the High Court to seek ban on the bt varieties in the country.

The High Court rejected the writ on September 22.

On September 29, an HC bench barred the introduction of the four varieties of bt brinjal following another writ filed by Shakiul Millat Murshed, an NGO activist.

The HC asked Bari and both agriculture and health secretaries to submit a progress report within three months after conducting an independent research on the health safety issues in line with the GM food standard set by Codex Alimentarius Commission, an organisation founded by the FAO and the WHO. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

5

Monday, October 28, 2013

Let’s talk about porn

BIGSTOCK

O

The time has come n Mahmudul Islam n July 30 this year, Bangfor conservative ladesh Sangbad Sangstha Bangladeshi (BSS) published a report on pornography. Citing a parents, guardians study, the report revealed people of diff ages download and superiors to pornographicerent contents worth Tk3 break the silence crore from cyber cafes in Dhaka every It was more shocking to know and address month. from the report that 77% of porn vieware children while teenage boys the issue of ers and girls as well as students of schools colleges are the biggest victims of pornography and porn addiction. by talking with Professor Matt Field, an adolescent psychologist at University of children freely addiction Liverpool, expresses the same concern

and told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to developing addictions and that’s because of how their brains are developing. This write-up intends to dig deep into the ins and outs of this sensitive issue.

How porn was born A precise definition of pornography has been debated, albeit a nearly unanimous definition says it is the depiction and portrayal of sex and sexual activities that are solely designed for sexual arousal. Fanny Hill is considered the first-ever book that gave pornography the form of a novel. Published in 1748 and authored by John Cleland, the erotic novel, also one of the most banned books in history, was first published in England as “Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure.”

AIDS is an issue that involves sky-high significance and it’s completely true. But isn’t campaign and activism against pornography significant? Or are we reluctant to acknowledge that because of our conservativeness?

However, pornography emerged as an industry in the latter half of the twentieth century as production, distribution and consumption of pornographic materials gradually rose before marking a considerable boom worldwide with the advent of internet. Size of the industry is difficult to determine. One estimate says global revenues reached $20bn in 2007, with as much as $10bn in just the US.

Sexual desire and pornography: Why people watch porn Let’s first take a look at what sexual desire is. In a 2006 study titled “Sex differences and similarities in frequency and intensity of sexual desire,” Pamela C Regan and Leah Atkins from California State University concluded that robust sex differences notwithstanding, sexual desire may be the single most common sexual event in the lives of men and women.

The study was carried out on an

ethnically diverse sample of 676 people (335 men and 341 women) and virtually every participant reported that they have experienced sexual desire, also known as libido, on a regular basis.

That’s how it becomes lucid that human beings and libido are inextricably linked. But how does pornography serve that desire?

Erick Janssen, PhD, is associate scientist at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University. He says porn can be a substitute or proxy for “real” sex.

“But it also is a world of fantasy sex, a place where people can safely dream about things they would not want to have happen or do in real life (just as we may like movies that present us with worlds we would not want to live in),” Janssen says, adding: “In the end it seems that it is not one’s bodily reactions but one’s emotional liking or disliking of porn that will determine whether or not one wants to use it.”

This gives us clue to the fact behind why viewers looking at porn stars is principally ruled by their imagination.

Sometimes people seek out porn simply because it feels good to be in a state of sexual excitement, according to Janssen who goes on to say that sometimes people use it to be entertained, or to be distracted from work or other activities.

“More often than perhaps assumed, people don’t use it because it feels good, but because it makes them feel better; a subtle distinction.”

Men watch porn more than women Janssen also refers to evolutionary psychologists who argue that ancestral men, to spread their genes, had much to gain from having sex with as many women as possible. This helped men evolve a sexual psychology that makes sex with new women exciting both to imagine and to engage in which made men especially responsive to visual signals of sex. In a 2004 study titled “Adult social bonds and use of internet pornography,” it was revealed that men are 543% more likely to view pornography than females.

Prevalence of porn Because of easy access these days, porn is watched by millions of people.

A few statistics will help us comprehend the extent.

A study titled “Generation XXX: Pornography acceptance and use among emerging adults” was conducted on 813 school students in the US and the results were published in 2008. It found 31% of young women view porn while 21.3% of young men said they view porn every day or almost every day. The study also found 66.5% of young men and 48.7% of young women saying that watching pornographic materials is an acceptable way to express sexuality.

In 2009, another survey titled “Porn university: What college students are really saying about sex on campus” was carried out on 29,000 individuals in North American universities.

The results revealed 51% of male students and 32% of female students first viewed pornography before their teenage years.

Much alarming information was revealed in a recent study of 177 people (aged 16-20) conducted by University of East London. The study found 20% of boys are dependent on porn while one-fifth of them said pornography was prerequisite for them to get sexually stimulated. Nearly a quarter of boys and 8% of girls said they have tried to give up the habit of watching pornography but to no avail.

Porn addiction resembles drug addiction In another recent study, Cambridge University researcher Dr Valerie Voon conducted brain scans of men aged 19 to 34 who had tried to give up porn but eventually failed. He found that their neuroscans resemble those of alcohol or heroin addicts.

Just like drug addicts who need harder and harder material over time to get the same “high,” the University of East London survey revealed 13% of boys and 10% of girls had said their online habits became “more and more extreme.”

History and extent of the addiction in Bangladesh Presumably, small books containing erotic stories (some with graphical illustrations) were the first form of pornography that reached Bangladeshis. These books, popularly known as choti (erotic books), were mostly sold by street vendors. I first became familiar with the word choti through one of my intimate friends who bought such a book for Tk20 back in 1998.

Then there were videotapes that first brought porn on TV screen.

After that, the era of personal computers and CDs emerged. At that time, cyber cafes were particularly the place where viewers would go to quench their thirst for porn as computers were yet to get widespread popularity like the present time.

The opportunity to browse the web for a small amount of money made cyber cafes the ideal choice. According to the aforementioned BSS report, cyber cafes are still popular with school students and even children throng there just to watch porn videos.

Progressively, personal computers became more like household items in the country. That’s when pornography began travelling from hard disks to hard disks through pen drives. Viewers were then watching those materials on computer screens. It was way more convenient than chotis, videocassettes and cyber cafes.

As can be guessed, spread of porn witnessed a surge following availability of broadband and mobile-based internet services. These days, pornography seems to be everywhere. Viewers don’t even need a computer or laptop now to watch porn. They are getting access to such contents through highend and sophisticated mobile phones.

Sharing pornographic videos and images through multimedia-enabled

phones have now reached epidemic proportions. And that’s how more and more viewers, mostly youngsters, are being exposed to these contents every day.

Because of internet and mobile phones, an overwhelming number of amateur pornographies (featuring both consensual and non-consensual sex and mostly filmed using secret cameras) are being created and subsequently shared with millions in Bangladesh.

Perpetrators even burn those videos on CDs and DVDs and then sell them.

We are receiving such disquieting reports almost every day from around the country. These personal videos are also being put up on different websites and thus are being shared with the rest of the world.

In a nutshell, when it comes to porn, internet and mobile phone rule at this moment in Bangladesh. Don’t take my word for it, Google will spill the beans. Everyone using Google knows about auto-complete, a feature where users are suggested words predicted by the search engine that might be similar to the topic being searched for.

If you happen to type the word “Bangladesh” or “Bangla” either in English or Bengali within the search box on Google, you will be disturbed by the words the search engine will offer you. Do it and see the results yourself if you haven’t already seen it.

And don’t just blame Google for it.

It doesn’t predict those obscene words on its own. The search queries that you see as part of auto-complete are a reflection of the search activity of all web users and the content of web pages indexed by Google. What does it mean? It means those are words used by all users on a regular basis and hence the auto-complete feature predicts those!

What the law says According to Pornography Control Act 2012, production, marketing, conservation, supply, display, filming, purchase and sales of pornographic materials are prohibited. Anyone breaching this Act will be sentenced to 2 to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and will also be fined Tk1 lakh to Tk5 lakh.

Shelley Lubben is an American author, singer, motivational and former porn actress who brands porn as “the greatest illusion on earth.”

In a confessional essay titled “The truth behind the fantasy of porn,” Lubben digs deep into backstage stories of this industry. She confesses that she herself did it for the lust of power and love of money and never enjoyed sex with strangers who, she said, care nothing about female porn stars.

As would be expected, Lubben asserts performers are paid to fake it, though the industry wants viewers to think and believe that female performers love the whole thing (with their evocative smile, lascivious outfits and carefully measured body movements, who wouldn’t want to believe that?).

She asserts female performers are manipulated, coerced and even threatened to give in to producers’ demands.

Stating that porn is all a lie, she ends her essay this way: “So don’t believe the lie anymore. Porn is nothing more than fake sex and lies on videotape. Trust me, I know.”

After leaving the porn industry, Lubben began working as an anti-porn activist and established Pink Cross Foundation, an organisation that helps and supports porn performers wishing to say goodbye to the profession. The organisation also reaches out to porn addicts to help them kick the habit.

If it is all lies and fakes, why the craving?

Remember Pandora’s box? It was the beautiful jar containing all the evils of the world and was given to Pandora

by Zeus who strictly asked her not to open it under any circumstances.

Pandora, however, failed to abide by that restriction and the evils got out and spread all over the world. Why couldn’t Pandora refrain from defying Zeus’ order? It’s because of her curiosity which she received from the gods.

Same thing is true in case of porn.

By nature, human beings are driven by intense inquisitiveness and when it comes to sex, it seems we just can’t remain lax! It’s all about the biological aspect of our existence. As professor Laura Kipnis at Northwestern University opines, porn should interest us because it’s intensely and relentlessly

By nature, human beings are driven by intense inquisitiveness and when it comes to sex, it seems we just can’t remain lax! It’s all about the biological aspect of our existence

The BSS report, however, highlights that a quarter of unscrupulous people have defied the Act because of lack of enforcement and they are actively engaged in production and distribution of porn. Worse, law enforcers are struggling to nab the miscreants as the latter resort to newer technologies to carry on with their hard-to-check acts almost every day. The whole thing has gone haywire.

Degrading effects of porn The bad effects of porn could be summarised as follows: It increases callousness toward women, facilitates formation of distorted perceptions about sexuality, devalues the importance of monogamy, results in decreased satisfaction with partner’s sexual performance, affection, and appearance.

The list of disadvantages of pornography is so large that it is possible to write an entire book where pages could be filled with innumerable information (backed by scientific research and real life case studies) on how porn is stealthily taking a heavy toll on viewers.

Anyone interested in knowing more about different aspects of pornography should download and read a report titled “Pornography statistics 2013” that was released by Covenant Eyes, a company that helps people protect themselves and their families from online dangers. The report contains detailed information on 128 studies that could literally blow the reader’s mind.

What actually is porn? Confession of an erstwhile porn star When viewers watch porn films, they instantly fall for the idea that whatever the actors and actresses are doing is real and they are doing it happily and consensually. People do believe the activities are real.

But are porn performances real?

about us. She further says porn’s greatest pleasure is to locate each and every one of a society’s taboos, prohibitions, and proprieties, and systematically transgress them, one by one.

Is there any way out?

It needs no repetition that as a nation we are conservative and for a nation that is as conservative as ours, it is quite challenging for us to openly talk about this issue, let alone waging a war on such a disease that is silently attacking millions every single day.

But we can’t just leave the issue on the table for the sake of conservativeness and in the meantime see the vulnerable group getting affected and degraded gradually to an irrecoverable state.

The conservative Bangladeshis have already encountered campaigns where they have been advised not to have unprotected sex with multiple partners as that might lead to a deadly disease like AIDS. One might argue that AIDS is an issue that involves skyhigh significance and it’s completely true. But isn’t campaign and activism against pornography significant? Or are we reluctant to acknowledge that because of our conservativeness?

If Lubben can get herself out of this horrendous industry and take on the role to educate people on the obnoxious stories viewers aren’t aware of, why can’t we? The time to execute rigorous campaigns and programmes against pornography came long ago but we are yet to be in massive action.

One last thought: will it sound absurd if I say that the time has come for conservative Bangladeshi parents, guardians and superiors to break the silence on pornography by talking with children freely about this issue at a very early age? It’s the children whose lives are at stake and it’s their parents whose actions are needed straight away. l Mahmudul Islam is a journalist at Natunbarta.

6 Workers assault two RMG officials n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Workers of Rubub Fashions Ltd in Gazipur assaulted two factory officials yesterday after hearing a rumour that two of their colleagues were being tortured on the premises, police said.

The angry workers beat up administrative manager Md Shohel Rana and production manager Md Mamun Mia, and locked them inside a room. The two men were also slashed with cloth cutters.

Inspector Md Semim Mia of Gazipur industrial police said around noon yesterday, a rumour spread that authorities were torturing two workers inside a room at the factory in the city’s Kunia Board bazar area. At one stage, some agitated workers attacked the two managers and confined them.

Police rushed to the scene around 3pm and rescued the injured men, who were sent to a hospital in Tongi.

The factory’s management, meanwhile, suspect the torture rumour was started by the relatives of some sacked workers.

Administrative manager Shohel Rana said a group of workers demanding higher wages had vandalised the factory before the Eid holidays. Later, 25 workers were identified and fired for their role in the violence. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, October 28, 2013

Arson, explosions, clashes mark hartal in Chittagong 10 including schoolteacher injured Mahmud and FM Mizanur n Tarek Rahaman, Chittagong At least 10 people including a schoolteacher were injured in separate incidents in the port city on the first day of the 60-hour-long hartal enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance yesterday.

Pro-hartal activists torched at least six vehicles and vandalised some 20 others and blasted several crude bombs across the district of Chittagong, police said.

In the port city, pickets hurled a crude bomb at a battery-run rickshaw at Halishahar around 11am and the explosive’s splinters hit Nushrat Nahrin, 32, teacher of Chittagong Cantonment Public High School and College, who was on the way to her workplace, said Shahjahan Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) Halishahar police station.

Later, she was rushed to a nearby private clinic and released after receiving first aid, he said.

The pickets also blasted several crude bombs in the city’s Eidgah area.

Meanwhile, a procession of Jatiyatabadi Secchasebak Dal brought out a procession from Kazir Dewri intersection around 9am.

The pickets torched a CNG-run autorickshaw at Almas Cinema Hall point and vandalised five other vehicles at Wasa intersection.

After half an hour, another CNG was torched in front of MA Aziz Stadium while another was set on fire at the same point in the afternoon, said police.

Pickets damaged six vehicles in the city’s Narikeltola and Tin Puler Matha area in the morning and six others in the port city’s Love Lane, Kazir Dewri, Muradpur and Bakalia area in the afternoon.

In Sitakunda upazila, Jamaat-Shibir men attacked Awami League activists in Kedarkhil area around 2pm, leaving four injured, said Syed Iqbal Hossain, assistant superintendent of police of Sitakunda circle of Chittagong range.

Later, police rushed to the spot and took control of the situation, he said.

Critically injured Moslem Uddin,

Mir Hossain, Anwar and Nizam were admitted to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex, while Moslem was shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Earlier, hartal supporters torched a bus and a covered van in the upazila’s Kumira area in the early hours.

In Patiya upazila, pickets torched a tempo carrying police though none was injured, said OC Mafiz Uddin of Patiya police station.

In Hathajari upazila, pro-hartal activists attempted to block the main road at Nazirhat point around 12:30pm but police chased them away, said OC Liakat Ali of Hathajari police station.

BNP claimed five of their men were injured by police action while the lawmen refuted the allegation.

Apart from this, no violence was reported in the port city and adjoining upazilas during the hartal.

In the port city, most vehicles were almost off the city roads during hartal which was accompanied by rain.

Trains operated uninterrupted.

However, no buses plied on inter-district routes during hartal hours.

Activities of Chittagong port were carried out as normal.

Hartal supporters brought out processions from across the port city and thronged Nasiman Bhaban, BNP city office, where a day-long rally was held.

Local leaders and activists of BNP and its alliance were at the rally and they demanded quick implementation of their one-point demand – formation of a nonpartisan neutral government for next parliamentary poll.

Besides, anti-hartal supporters were also seen at different points of the port city.

Additional police force, Rab and Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed in the port city’s key points to evade any untoward incident.

Earlier, BNP-led 18-party alliance on October 25 announced a 60-hour-long hartal across the country to press home their demand. l

Police ‘assault’ JU journalists n JU Correspondent Two journalists of Jahangirnagar University were allegedly assaulted by police yesterday, while performing their duties on the campus.

Sources said a platoon of police from Ashulia police station, led by Sub-Inspector Rakib, had been deployed in front of the university’s main entrance for preventing any anarchy in the area.

Around 7am, a section of university unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists allegedly tried to start a fire on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, as well as exploding some crude bombs.

The victims, Ahmed Sajal and Khalidun Ratul, reporters of bdnews24.com and the Daily Shokaler Khabor respectively, had gone to the spot to cover the incident. The two journalists alleged SI Rakib of charging at them, snatching away their professional identity cards when they defended themselves as journalists.

SI Rakib denied the allegation of assaulting the journalists and said he had returned their ID cards.

Later, the university’s Proctor Prof Md Muzibur Rahman and Additional Superintendent of Police of Savar Zone Russel Sheikh brought the situation under control. l

Babunagari threatens government over Qawmi madrasa act n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Junaid Babunagari, secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, threatened the government with “dire consequences” saying that it had to enact Qawmi Madrasa Education Authority Act-2013 over thousands of corpses.

“The government has been trying to implement an international conspiracy to destroy the centres engaged in purely exercising Quran and Hadith through enacting the law,” he said while addressing a press conference at a community centre at Hathazari upazila in Chittagong district.

He also said there was no evidence of militancy at Qawmi madrasas, adding that the government and a section of media was engaged in launching propaganda against the madrasa with the aim of refraining the Islamic scholars from the movement.

Hefazat Organising Secretary Azizul Hoque Islamabadi read out a written

statement at the conference.

“The government is trying to create dispute among the Islamic scholars in the name of so-called accreditation of Qawmi madrasa certificates,” he said.

“The Islamic scholars and the teachers and students of Qawmi madrasas will launch a tougher movement in association with the devoted Muslims if the government does not discard their plan to enact the law,” he added.

He announced that they would stage demonstrations across the country on Friday, hold a grand rally at Hathazari College ground on Saturday and grand rallies at all the divisional cities on November 15, protesting the government move to enact the Qawmi Madrasa Education Authority Act-2013 and pressing home the 13-point demands of the organisation.

Nayebe Ameer Shamshul Islam and Joint Secretaries – Mainuddin Ruhi and Mohammed Salimullah – were also present at the press conference. l

Tuku blames Khaleda CHITTAGONG FIRE Defective structure and lack of fire safety blamed for hartal killings Fire fighters try to extenguish fire which broke out in the Askar Dighirpar area in Chittagong yesterday

n Mohosinul Karim State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq Tuku yesterday alleged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia of being responsible for creating chaos, violence and killings during the hartal, as she continued the programme despite a call by the prime minister offering to hold dialogue.

No responsible leader could do it [continue the program], Tuku told reporters at his office, while expressing his reaction to the 18-party alliance’s hartal.

“As far as I know, the date of Khaleda Zia’s case which is under trial, is on Monday [today]. She calls hartal always on the date of her case. She has called the hartal to avoid trial and tribunal like other dates of the case,” the state minister claimed.

The state minister said Khaleda failed to keep her commitment to the people of not holding the shutdown if

the government had initiated dialogue.

She also committed to holding a peaceful rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, but bombs were exploded following the rally, Tuku claimed.

Urging Khaleda to withdraw the hartal and join dialogues to resolve the crisis regarding polls-time government, Tuku said the hartal had been called to interrupt the democratic system and save the war criminals.

Replying to a query regarding Khaleda’s comment terming the government as “illegal,” the state minister said if the government was illegal, then Khaleda Zia was also illegal as the leader of the opposition.

Asked whether the government failed to dispose all important and sensitive cases during its tenure, Tuku said there was no failure as all the cases were brought under the law, adding that the law itself will take its own course. l

as blaze guts 12 furniture shops n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong At least 12 furniture shops, a tea stall and about 20 thatched rooms of a slum were gutted in a fire at Askar Dighirpar area of Chittagong yesterday, causing Tk10m worth of damage according to fire service officials.

The shop owners and other victims, however, estimated the cost of damage from the incident at Tk300m.

Regarding the cause of the fire, fire service officials blamed defective structures and a lack of proper fire safety measures. However, no casualty was reported from the incident.

Md Jashim Uddin, deputy assistant director (DAD) of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters in Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune the fire originated from an electrical short-circuit in the underground factory of Madina

Furniture around 6:15am, when workers of the shop were welding for renovation.

“The blaze in a very short time engulfed the adjoining 11 furniture shops and 20 rooms of a 50-room shanty, Bochai Colony, behind the furniture market,” he added.

According to witnesses and fire service officials, the furniture shops were on the first floor of the building which was used a showrooms. The factories and store-houses were located underground.

Traffic Sergeant Ruhul Amin, who was on-duty at the area, said he had informed fire services after he saw flames coming out from the underground portion of a furniture shop.

Upon receiving information, eight units consisting of 16 fire fighting teams from all fire stations in the city

had rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after three hours of frantic efforts, said DAD Jashim.

“None was hurt in the incident but few fire fighters faced minor injuries while dousing the fire,” he added.

He said the blaze had engulfed the premises in quick succession as they were full of combustible materials.

Fire service officials said the underground portions of the shops were divided with wooden-boards instead of concrete walls, which also contributed to the quick spread of the flames.

A pond was located behind the market but fighters could not use it for water as illegal occupants blocked the entry point to the pond, the officials added.

Regarding the lack of safety measures, DAD Jashim said the furniture shops had no fire safety measures

Fresh brick making bill placed in Jatiya Sangsad n Abu Bakar Siddique

The government yesterday introduced a new legislative proposal in parliament for the regulation of brick manufacturing keeping provision for disposal of offences under the penal code, which is applicable for criminals.

As per the existing Brick Burning (control) Act, 1989, the crimes related to brick making were tried under environment courts. The new bill proposes settling the cases under the mobile court law and the penal code.

Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the bill named Brick Making and Brick Filed Establishment (Control) Act 2013. The bill was approved by the cabinet on April 22.

Like the previous law, the new

bill prohibits setting up of brick kilns within three kilometres of residential, protected, commercial, forest, sanctuary, wetland, agricultural and Ecological Critical Areas (ECAs). The new bill identifies establishment of kilns in the prohibited areas as a criminal offence.

For setting up brickfields in residential, protected and commercial locations, the maximum punishment will be five year imprisonment or Tk5m fine or both. One year jail or Tk100, 000 fine or both would be given for violating the law by setting up plants in private- or government-owned forest, sanctuary and wetlands.

Brick making industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Bangladesh which has an estimated annual production of around 8.66bn. It is one of

DHAKA TRIBUNE

the largest sources of emission of green house gases, mainly CO2, responsible for global warming.

Establishment of kilns in residential or prohibited areas is rampant in the country despite regular drives by the Department of Environment. Even there are around 500 kilns around the Dhaka city set up and operating flouting rules.

These are the key sources of air pollution in the city while posing threat to human health and degradation of agriculture land, forest and hills.

The existing law was amended later in 1992 and 2001 prohibiting the use of wood as fuel at the brickfields. The new bill also bars use of wood and imposes control on using coal for burning bricks.

The mother law and its two amend-

ments would be scraped if the new bill is passed into law.

The bill proposes maximum fine of Tk50,000 for using low quality coal containing high sulphur, though the standard of coal (sulphur) is yet to be defined.

Reports say one third of the brick kilns use wood as fuel while some use low quality coal imported from India.

The proposed bill also creates bar on using topsoil for making bricks. It states that the manufacturers cannot use soil by cutting hill and destroying agricultural lands.

The punishment for such offence would be two years’ imprisonment or maximum Tk2m fine or both.

The bill promotes introduction of modern technologies for the industry – Hybrid Hoffman Kiln, Zigzag Brick

Kiln, Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln and Tunnel Kiln. The government has been asking the owners to adopt the improved technologies for the last couple of years as the conventional drum chimney and fixed chimney kilns are highly fuel consuming and emit huge amount of pollutants in the air.

The government claims that around 1,100 owners out of over 6,300 kilns have already given up their traditional way of making bricks and changed to new technologies.

The government suggested that technologies like the Hybrid Hoffman Kiln are more energy efficient and clean as they can produce seven times the amount of bricks from a single kiln and utilise 40% less fuel than the traditional methods. l

including lack of fire extinguishers.

“Electric wires were left exposed while any market or factory has to maintain a concealed wiring system according to fire service rules,” the DAD added.

Ashfaq Alam Ashfaq, director of Vegas Furniture, said his showroom was ready to be inaugurated on November 5 and would have been the most luxurious in the market, but now all was burnt.

“Around Tk6m worth of valuables and four new air-coolers were burnt,” added the director.

The residents of the affected 20 rooms of the shanty claimed that they had lost most their belongings in the blaze. They also alleged that fire service did not come in time, though this was refuted by the fire service men. l

Husband ‘kills wife for dowry’ n Our Correspondent, Rajbari A husband and in-laws allegedly killed his new wife for dowry at Dadshi union in Rajbari on Saturday night.

Rajbari police said Eti Begum, 20, was married five months ago to Monir Hossain Mandal.

Her uncle, Anower Hossain, alleged that since then she had been going through physical torture as her father was unable to meet her husband’s demand for dowry to go abroad.

Following the issue, Monir along with his family members beat Eti severely on Saturday night. Later, they took her at Rajbari Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead around 8pm. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Monday, October 28, 2013

Stray incidents mark first day of 60-hour hartal Very few vehicles were seen plying highways and most shops remained shut during the strike including 20 leaders and activists of n Tribune Report both main parties in Habiganj upazila.

Stray incidents across the country yesterday marked the first day of the 60hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Hartal supporters torched the local Awami League office in Shreepur and a truck at Pubailin Gazipur around 6:30am.

Opposition activists also brought out a procession and exploded several crude bombs at several places in the district.

Very few vehicles were seen on the Dhaka-Tangil and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways, and most shops remained shut during the strike.

In Tongi, opposition activists brought out a procession on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and threw brick bats at the police, who responded with rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

Another pro-hartal procession was also brought out at Tongi College Gate, Kaligonj, Kaliakoir Bazar and Konabari areas in the district.

Police said they arrested eight people in connection with picketing in the district yesterday.

In Jhenaidah yesterday, chase and counter chase broke out at Goalpara Bazar under sadar upazila, while most of the business establishments remained closed and no passenger buses plied the routes.

Police fired two tear gas shells and six rounds of gunfire as pro-hartal activists blocked the highway at Arappur, Hamdah and Chuadanga stand in the afternoon. There were no reported injuries from the clash.

Meanwhile, at least five BNP activists were reported injured in Narsingdi on the first day of the general strike.

Locals said a big pro-hartal procession, led by BNP, Juba Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders and workers, erected a barricade near Madhabdi Polli Bidyut Samity on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway by electric pillars around 9.30am.

The police opened fire, threw tear gas shells and baton charged the procession, leaving the five injured.

In Satkhira, a clash between Awami league and BNP leaders and activists yesterday left at least 25 people injured,

The clash broke out as Awami League and BNP brought out separate processions in the area. Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to control the situation.

Hosne Afroza, UNO of Habiganj upazila, said: “We have imposed section 144 in Habiganj Bazar area from 12am of October 27 to 6pm of October 29 to control the situation.”

Elsewhere, two policemen were injured in Satkhira in separate clashes with the pro-hartal activists.

Sub-Inspector Hafiz was injured in Goaldanga area in a clash with Jamaat and BNP activists while Munna Mia of Tala police station sustained injury in front of the Sujansaha union parishad.

In Chandpur, pro-hartal pickets vandalised two hospitals, three houses and 15 shops at the district’s Natun Bazar area and also vandalised six vehicles in front of the city’s Hawkers’ Market.

Clashes between BNP and Awami League activists also broke out at Hajiganj upazila, leaving at least 10 people injured. The police fired several tear gas canisters and gun shots to bring the situation under control.

The hartal supporters also blocked the Chandpur-Comilla highway at Baburhat area by burning tyres. They also exploded at least 20 cocktails at different places of the city. The police detained six pickets in the district.

In Kurigram, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir vandalised an office of Awami League in Datbhanga union yesterday. Earlier, pro-hartal activists also blocked the Roumari-Dhaka highway by felling tree logs, which were later removed by police.

In Laxmipur, at least five people, including two women, received bullet injuries as the police opened fire at the pro-hartal pickets at Ramganj upazilaof the district yesterday.

The injured are Amena Begum, 45, Shahinur Begum, 28, Arif Hossain, 18, Tuhin, 17, and Masud Mia of the district.

The opposition BNP and Chhatra Dal activists blocked the Wapda Road near Noabari and Munshibari by putting tree logs and burning tyres on the road.

As the police tried to resist the pick-

Six members of a family dodged by fake herbal doctor n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

Ferry services on Balashighat-Bahadurabad route yet to be introduced

A kabiraj (fake herbal medicine practitioner) stole Tk70,000 and three grams of gold, leaving six members of a family unconscious at their home in Majerchar village, Palash upazila, Narsingdi, on Saturday.

The victims are Jafar Ali, 60, his wife Sulema, 50, daughters Rebeka, 25, Kanij, 20, Rabeya, 18, and grandson Nayeem, 2.

According to witnesses, an unidentified man went to Jafar Ali’s house in the early morning and asked for a glass of water. He said could sense they were experiencing problems, and he could give them a remedy to solve them.

Sulema brought him a glass of water, into which he mixed powdered medicine. He asked all members of the family to drink it, assuring them it would resolve all their problems.

A few minutes after drinking the mixture, they fell unconscious. The man then stole the money and gold from inside the house and fled.

Later, neighbours found them unconscious, and sent them to the Narsingdi District Hospital. l

Khulna Rab gets new complex n BSS Rapid Action Battalion yesterday got a new building complex, as part of the government initiative to turn it into a modern and effective force.

Home Minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir inaugurated the newly constructed complex for Rab-6 in Khulna.

Two days ago, he also inaugurated a new complex for Rab-8 in Barisal.

The complex was constructed 8,251 square feet area at a cost of around Tk133.5m accommodating an office building, a force barrack and BOQ officers’ mess.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, law maker Nani Gopal Mandal, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker and Director General of Rab Md Mukhlesur Rahman, were present, among others. l

n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Ferry services on the Balashighat-Bahadurabdhat route under the initiative of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority are yet to be introduced, four months after their announcement by the shipping minister.

Development work for the launching of ferry services on the route has not even started, creating much frustration among the people of Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts.

According to sources, business people and contractors of Mymensingh, Dhaka and Chittagong go to northern region, including Banglabandha of Panchagarh and Burimari and Patgram of Lalmonirhat, to purchase high quality stones, sand and other valuable commodities.

They transport these to their respec-

Clockwise: Chase and counter-chase took place between Awami League and BNP supporters at Hajiganj in Chandpur; Supporters of the 18-party alliance put up barricades by setting fire to wood and bamboos in Noakhali town; A microbus is set on fire in Jessore and pickets vanalise a CNG-run auto rickshaw in Barisal city DHAKA TRIBUNE ets from blocking the roads, a clash broke out with pro-hartal activists, prompting the police to open fire, locals said.

Members of the Border Guard of Bangladesh were also called in to assist the police in controlling the situation.

In Netrokona, the police arrested six pro-hartal activists, including district BNP Organising Secretary Shafiqul Kader Suja, for their involvement in hartal violence. The pro-hartal activists vandalised over hundred vehicles at different places of the district.

tive destinations with the hired wagons of Bangladesh Railway on the Balashighat-Bahadurabadghat route.

Due to the loss of navigability and emergence of different shoals on the route, the barge movement halts for six months from November to April, rendering both ghats – Balashighat in Gaibandha and Bahadurabadghat in Jamalpur – fully dysfunctional.

Due to the suspension of wagon carrying barge movement, business people and contractors are forced to spend extra money moving their purchased commodities to different places, including Mymensingh, Dhaka, Comilla and Chittagong, from the northern region by buses.

Although it is possible to move the wagon over the Jamuna Bridge, authorities concerned did not give permission apprehending any havoc of the bridge

In Noakhlai, at least 2 people received bullet injuries at Abirpara under Sonaimuri upazila and 10 more were also injured at different places of the district. Witnesses said a clash broke out around 11am as the police obstructed some hartal supporters at Chatkhil upazila. The police shot 10 rounds short gun fire during the clash, leaving Chhatra Dal activist Pias and BNP activist Manik injured.

On the other hand, the BNP and Shibir brought a procession at Dattahat in Maijdee town at 9am and blasted

due to heavy weight of the loaded wagon, the sources said.

In order to reduce the pressure of heavy vehicles over the Jamuna Bridge and make the Balashighat and Bahadurabadghats functional all the year round, the government took a decision to launch ferry services on the route, said an official of BIWTA. Accordingly, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan visited both ghats on June 27, 2013 and addressed a mammoth public meeting in the Balashighat area of Fulchhari upazila as the chief guest, where he announced that the ferry services would be launched in the Brahmaputra river on Balashighat-Bahadurabadghat route within three months.

Naya Miah, a resident in the Balashighat area, said local people are frus-

DAE targets 86.5m tonnes of winter vegetables this season n Tribune Desk The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 86.5m tonnes of winter vegetables from around 400,000 hectares of land during the current Rabi season across the country, said sources yesterday.

The vegetable traders and middlemen have already started exporting some of the early varieties of winter vegetables to Dhaka and other parts of the country by trucks from different points in the region To make the programme a success, necessary assistance is being provided to the farmers as they have been showing more interest in farming winter vegetables after achieving success in recent years, said Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Sikander Ali.

Under the programme, the DAE has fixed a target of producing around 6m tonnes of different varieties of winter vegetables from over 300,000 hectares of land in the northern zone this season, which is likely to set a record, said sources, reports BSS. A variety of winter vegetables has already started appearing in the local market at lucrative prices. This has lit up the faces of farmers from the very beginning of the season, said officials, farmers and market sources.

Horticulture Specialist of DAE Khandker M Mesbahul Islam said the farmers had started cultivating winter vegetables after harvesting early and short duration variety of Aman paddies like BRRI 33, 56 and 57, BU 1, BINA 7 alongside harvesting vegetables, reports BSS. “Farming of winter vegetables will get full momentum when harvest of traditional variety T-Aman will begin in full swing from the third week of November,” he added.

The DAE officials and farmers are expecting a bumper production of winter vegetables this Rabi season following favourable climatic conditions and adequate government assistance to the farmers.

Deputy Directors of DAE-Feroz Ahmed and Belayet Hossain said some of the winter vegetables were already available in local markets following its early cultivation under newer cropping patterns amid changed climatic conditions.

Meanwhile, the vegetable traders and middlemen have already started exporting some of the early varieties of winter vegetables to Dhaka and other parts of the country by trucks from different points in the region.

Officials said the DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and NGOs had started supplying adequate quality seeds and agro- inputs, and providing necessary technical assistance to the farmers. l

five crude bombs from the procession.

They also blocked the Maijdee-Chowmohani highway by setting tires on fire.

Bomb blasts, clashes and torching in different parts of the district were also reported in Begumganj, Senbagh, Kashembazer and Companiganj of the district. Additional police were deployed at different strategic points of the district, OC of sadar police station Mosaraf Hossain Tarfdar said.

In Jamalpur, at least 30 people were injured, including five policemen, in different upazilas. Pro-hartal activists

trated as the ferry services were still not launched, four months later.

Abul Khaiyer Morsalin Parvez, president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it should be wise to start the development work without delay, otherwise the image of the government would be tarnished to a great extent among the people of the northern districts.

Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department AKM Abdus Salam Khan said they did not get any directives from the higher authorities about the development work needed for launching the ferry service.

Locals urged the government to look into the matter seriously and take necessary steps to start the development works to launch the ferry services on the route as soon as possible. l

exploded cocktails, fired bullets and vandalised vehicles and Awami League office yesterday.

Meanwhile in Barguna, at least seven policemen and 20 people were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists.

In Chakaria and Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar, chase and counter chase reportedly took place between the ruling Awami League and BNP activists.

They used firearms and at least 11 people received bullets injuries during the clash. l

Traders robbed of Tk4.7m in Jhenaidah n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah A gang of criminals introducing themselves as members of the Rapid Action Battalion snatched Tk4.7m from eight businessmen in the Ambagan area in Kaliganj upazila, Jhenaidah, on Saturday.

One of the victims, Haji Shukur Ali, said he and four rawhide businessmen were going to Jessore from Kushtia in a microbus for business purposes.

When they arrived near Ambagan at about 4pm, a silver-coloured microbus intercepted their vehicle, he said, adding that the criminals introduced themselves as Rab men and took control of the microbus at gunpoint.

After assaulting the traders, the miscreants snatched Tk4.7m from them and left the scene.

The officer-in-charge of Kaliganj police station said he had been informed of the matter but no one had filed a case. l

NEWS IN BRIEF 17 crude bombs recovered in Joypurhat

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members recovered 17 crude bombs from outside a college in Joypurhat town on Saturday night. Additional SP Sheikh Zahidul Islam, company commander of Rab-5, said based on secret information, a team of the elite force conducted a raid at the backside gate of Joypurhat Government College at about 8pm. The Rab members found 17 crude bombs in an abandoned condition. None was arrested as the miscreants managed to flee the scene sensing presence of the law enforcers, he said. – UNB

Jessore road accident kills two Two motorcyclists were killed in a road accident in the Shamlagasi area under Sharsha upazila in Jessore on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Jamal Hossain, 35, son of Hyder Sharif of Benapole and Hiru, 27, son of Jalil member hailed from the same area. Witness said a Dhaka-bound recklessly-driven bus knocked down motorbike carrying

Jamal and Hiru in the area on the Dhaka-Benapole Highway, leaving them dead on the spot. Later, angry locals put up barricade on the road. Later, the agitators withdrew the blockade following the assurance of law enforcers that the diver and his helper would be arrested without any delay. – Banglnews

Chapainawabganj family planning office holds rally Chapainawabganj Family Planning Department arranged a rally, mothers’ gathering and cultural programme in the district on Saturday, marking the Family Planning, Mother-Children Health Service and Publicity Week -2013. A procession was brought out from deputy commissioner office that paraded through the main roads of the district town. Later, a mothers’ gathering was held at the local Maternity Centre with the deputy director of the Family Planning Department Dr Elias Ali Khan in the chair. It was addressed by Assistant Director of the department Dr Paritosh Kumar Pal, Dr Anwar Jahid, Dr Abdus Salam and Dr Golam Rabbani.

– BSS

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Monday, October 28, 2013

Obama aware of Merkel spying since 2010 n AFP, Berlin

Demonstrators March towards the National Mall to rally and demand that the US Congress investigate the NSA

AP

US President Barack Obama was personally informed of mobile phone tapping against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which may have begun as early as 2002, German media reported Sunday.

Bild am Sonntag newspaper quoted US intelligence sources as saying that National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander had briefed Obama on the operation against Merkel in 2010.

“Obama did not halt the operation but rather let it continue,” the newspaper quoted a high-ranking NSA official as saying.

Meanwhile newsweekly Der Spiegel reported ahead of its Monday issue that leaked NSA documents showed Merkel’s phone had appeared on a list

of spying targets since 2002, and was still under surveillance weeks before Obama visited Berlin in June.

The spying row has prompted European leaders to demand a new deal with Washington on intelligence gathering that would maintain an essential alliance while keeping the fight against terrorism on track.

Germany will send its own spy chiefs to the United States next week to demand answers following the allegations that US intelligence has been tapping Merkel’s mobile phone, as the row threatened to fray transatlantic ties.

Merkel confronted Obama with the suspicion in a phone call on Wednesday saying that spying on allies would be a “breach of trust” between international partners. l

Hundreds rally in American NSA spying threatens to capital against NSA spying hurt US foreign policy n

Reuters, Washington

Hundreds of protesters marched on Capitol Hill in Washington on Saturday to protest the US government’s online surveillance programs, whose vast scope was revealed this year by former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.

People carried signs reading: “Stop Mass Spying,” “Thank you, Edward Snowden“ and “Unplug Big Brother” as they gathered at the foot of the Capitol to demonstrate against the online surveillance by the National Security Agency.

The march attracted protesters from both ends of the political spectrum as liberal privacy advocates walked alongside members of the conservative Tea Party movement in opposition to what they say is unlawful government spying on Americans.

“I consider myself a conservative

and no conservative wants their government collecting information on them and storing it and using it,” said Michael Greene, one of the protesters.

“Over the past several months, we have learned so much about the abuses (of privacy) that are going on and the complete lack of oversight and the mass surveillance into every detail of our lives. And we need to tell Congress that they have to act,” said another protester, Jennifer Wynne.

The event was organised by a coalition known as “Stop Watching Us” that consists of some 100 public advocacy groups and companies, including the American Civil Liberties Union, privacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, Occupy Wall Street NYC and the Libertarian Party.

The groups have been urging Congress to reform the legal framework supporting the NSA’s secretive online data gathering since Snowden’s disclo-

sure of classified information about the programs that are designed to gather intelligence about potential foreign threats.

The Obama administration and many lawmakers have defended the NSA programs as crucial in protecting US national security and helping thwart past militant plots. They have also said the programs are carefully overseen by Congress and the courts.

Snowden’s disclosures have raised concerns that NSA surveillance may span not just foreign, but domestic online and phone communication.

“We are calling on Congress to take immediate action to halt this surveillance and provide a full public accounting of the NSA’s and the FBI’s data collection programs,” Stop Watching Us said in a letter addressed to members of Congress posted online, calling for a reform of the law known as the Patriot Act.l

n AP, Washington Secretary of State John Kerry lands in Rome and Paris to talk about Mideast issues but is confronted by outrage over US spying abroad. President Barack Obama has defended surveillance activities to leaders of Russia, Mexico, Brazil, France and Germany.

Classified disclosures by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden about NSA tactics — that allegedly include tapping as many as 35 world leaders’ mobile phones — threaten to harm US foreign policy in several areas. In Washington on Saturday, demonstrators held up signs reading “Thank you, Edward Snowden!” as they marched near the US Capitol to demand that Congress investigate the NSA’s mass surveillance programs.

“The magnitude of the eavesdropping is what shocked us,” former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a radio interview. “Let’s be honest,

we eavesdrop too. Everyone is listening to everyone else. But we don’t have the same means as the United States, which makes us jealous.”

The British ambassador to Lebanon, Tom Fletcher, tweeted this week: “I work on assumption that 6+ countries tap my phone. Increasingly rare that diplomats say anything sensitive on calls.”

Diplomatic relations are built on trust. If America’s credibility is in question, the US will find it harder to maintain alliances, influence world opinion and seal trade deals. Spying among allies is not new. Madeleine Albright, secretary of state during the Clinton administration, recalled being at the United Nations and having the French ambassador ask her why she said something in a private conversation that the French had apparently intercepted. The French government protested revelations this week that the NSA had collected 70.3 million French-based telephone and electronic message records in a 30-day period. l

Thousands protest Putin’s crackdown in Russia n AFP, Moscow Several thousand Russians marched through central Moscow on Sunday in a new protest at President Vladimir Putin’s rule and a judicial crackdown against opponents.

Chanting “Putin is a thief” and “Freedom to political prisoners!,” protesters marched with flags and portraits of people seen as victims of political persecution, such as jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, members of punk band Pussy Riot, and the Greenpeace Arctic crew.

Police estimated turnout at 4,500 while an AFP correspondent said the crowd was at least 6,000 and some participants gave a figure of 10,000.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was convicted in a controversial fraud case but was freed with a suspended term earlier this month, said the main reason for the rally was to demand freedom for those jailed after protesting in May last year against Putin’s inauguration.

“The authorities are working on an amnesty project,” he told journalists while walking alongside his wife Yulia.

“Our goal is to push for policial prisoners to be included in this project.”

“The opposition’s fight is endless, and rather tiring,” Navalny said, adding that people who thought the Russian strongman could be “dethroned” quickly were “very naive.”

The so-called Bolotnaya case against those arrested after the May 6, 2012 rally, has already seen one person sentenced to jail and another sent to a mental institution for forced psychiatric care.

The rally also demanded the release of 30 Greenpeace activists being held in pre-trial detention after attempting to scale an oil-platform in the Barents Sea in protest at Arctic oil exploration.

Russians took to streets in colossal numbers in the winter of 2011-2012, protesting at vote-rigging and Putin’s monopoly on power, but the demonstrations have lost momentum after a string of cases against protesters and new legislation introducing heavy fines. l

Peace envoy to DEAD MEN TELL TALES Syria rebel groups brand arrive in Damascus on Monday Geneva talks ‘treason’ off track and to abort it.” n AFP, Damascus n AFP, Damascus The 19 rebel groups warned that anyone who went to such talks would be committing “treason, and ... would have to answer for it before our courts.”

The statement comes weeks after dozens of major insurgent groups across Syria said the Western-backed opposition umbrella grouping, the National Coalition, had “failed.”

The Geneva talks slated for next month aim to bring rebel and regime representatives to the table in a bid to seek a negotiated end to the Syrian conflict, which is estimated to have killed more than 115,000 people since it erupted in March 2011.

The National Coalition is to meet on November 9 to decide whether to take part in the peace talks but has stated emphatically it will only attend if there are guarantees Assad will step down.

Its leader Ahmad Jarba also said this week that no talks can take place unless women and children held in regime jails are freed. l

The UN-Arab League envoy to Syria is to arrive in Damascus on Monday as part of a tour aimed at garnering support for proposed peace talks, a government source said.

“Lakhdar Brahimi should be arriving on Monday to discuss preparations for Geneva 2,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity in reference to the talks. Brahimi’s expected visit comes after 19 powerful rebel groups warned that anyone who negotiates with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime will be tried for treason.

It would be the veteran Algerian troubleshooter’s first visit to the wartorn country since late December.

At that time, Brahimi called for “real change” in Syria, and for all powers to be handed over to a transitional government. Official media in Syria responded to his remarks by branding him as biased and mocking him as an “ageing tourist.” l

Powerful armed groups in Syria said attending peace talks or negotiating with the regime would be an act of betrayal, as fighting raged on Sunday near Iraq and in Homs.

The joint declaration by the 19 Islamist groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad cast further doubt on whether the long-delayed peace talks dubbed “Geneva 2” will actually go ahead. It also comes as the UN-Arab League peace envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, prepares to travel to Damascus on Monday, according to pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan.

“We announce that the Geneva 2 conference is not, nor will it ever be our people’s choice or our revolution’s demand,” the groups said in a statement read out by Suqur al-Sham brigade chief Ahmad Eissa al-Sheikh in a video posted online.

“We consider it just another part of the conspiracy to throw our revolution

Syria submitted chemical arms destruction plan on time n AP, The Hague

Car bombs kill at least 62 people in Iraq

Syria handed over a detailed plan to destroy its chemical stockpile on time, international watchdog OPCW said Sunday.

“On 24 October 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted to the OPCW its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapons programme,” the watchdog said in a statement, adding that Damascus had had until Sunday to do so.

Damascus was required to submit the destruction plan under a US-Russian deal agreed last month that headed off military strikes on Syria.

The accord also gives Syria up to mid2014 to destroy its chemical arsenal.

President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has already handed over an inventory of its chemical weapons and facilities, and international inspectors are already busy inspecting and destroying them. l

n AP, Baghdad A new wave of car bombs hit Shia neighbourhoods of Baghdad and a suicide bomber targeted soldiers in a northern city in attacks that killed at least 62 across Iraq on Sunday, officials said.

Coordinated bombing onslaughts killing scores of people have hit Iraq multiple times each month since April, feeding a spike in bloodshed that has left over 5,000 since April. The local branch of al-Qaeda often takes responsibility, although there was no immediate claim for Sunday’s blasts.

Four police officers said that the bombs in the capital, placed in parked cars and detonated over a half-hour, targeted commercial areas and parking lots, killing 42.

The deadliest blast was in the southeastern Nahrwan district where two car bombs exploded simultaneously, killing seven and wounding 15 others.

Two other explosions hit the northern Shaab and southern Abu Dshir neigh-

bourhoods, each of which killed six people. Other blasts hit the neighbourhoods of Mashtal, Baladiyat and Ur in eastern Baghdad, the southwestern Bayaa and the northern Sab al-Bor and Hurriyah districts.

Meanwhile, in the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into a group of soldiers as they were sealing off a street leading to a bank where troops were receiving salaries, killing 14 included five civilians, a police officer said. At least 30 people were wounded, he added.

Former insurgent stronghold Mosul is located about 360 kilometres (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

Such systematic attacks are a favorite tactic of al-Qaeda’s local branch. It frequently targets civilians in markets, cafes and commercial streets in Shia areas in an attempt to undermine confidence in the government, as well as members of the security forces.

Seven medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. l

A Mayan man holds up teeth next to the skull of a dead relative in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, October 26, 2013. Mayans visit the graves of their relatives during an intimate annual ritual preceding the Day of the Dead, which falls on November 1 and 2 REUTERS

Britain braces for strong winds, floods as storm looms n AFP, London Britain was braced on Sunday for its worst storm in a decade, with heavy rain and winds of more than 80 miles (130 kilometres) an hour set to batter the south of the country.

The Met Office national weather centre warned of falling trees, damage to buildings and disruption to power supplies and transport when the storm hits overnight to Monday.

Between 20 to 40 millimetres (0.8 to 1.6 inches) of rain is predicted to fall within six to nine hours starting on Sunday evening, likely leading to localised flooding, the Met Office said.

It will be followed by widespread gusts of between 60 and 80 miles an hour across southern England and south Wales on Monday, with winds reaching more than 80 miles an hour in some areas. The Met Office has issued an “amber” wind warning for the region, the third highest in a four-level scale. l

WORLD WATCH Iran Guards kill three rebels in Kurdish region

A top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said his forces killed three rebels and arrested three others in a western region that borders Iraqi Kurdistan, media reported on Sunday. “During clashes that took place Friday in the Baneh region, three members of a terrorist group were killed and two others were arrested,” Mehr news agency quoted Brigadier General Mohammad Hassan Rajabi as saying.

Another man was arrested on Sunday morning.

Dog blamed for apartment fire in Washington state Fire officials say a dog reaching for treats turned on a stove and started a fire causing smoke damage to an apartment in the central Washington city of Wenatchee. Wenatchee Fire Marshal Mark Yaple tells KPQ radio that it appears the black Labrador was reaching for a bag of dog food left on a stove top when it turned on the stove with its paw. Yaple says the residents were not at home when fire crews arrived. Emergency crews were able to revive the dog with mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

Four children, woman stabbed to death in New York

New York City police pressed forward Sunday in investigating the deaths of four children and a woman who were stabbed at a Brooklyn residence, saying a person of interest had been taken into custody. Officers arrived at the scene and found all five victims unconscious and unresponsive, police said. A 1-year-old boy and two girls, ages 7 and 9, were pronounced dead at the residence by emergency responders.

A boy, 5, and the 37-year-old woman were taken to two Brooklyn hospitals where they were pronounced dead, police said.

Indonesia to ban masked monkey shows in capital

Indonesia’s capital is saying no to monkey business, literally. Security forces are fanning out across Jakarta conducting raids to rescue macaques used in popular street masked monkey performances. The order came from Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, better known as “Jokowi,” who wants all roadside monkey performances — known here as topeng monyet — gone by next year. He said that besides improving public order and stopping animal abuse, the move is aimed at preventing diseases carried by the monkeys.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Monday, October 28, 2013

Bomb blasts before Indian opposition rally in Bihar kill five, injure dozens

Bombing kills civilian in Afghan capital n AP, Kabul

Panic ensues as six homemade bombs are detonated in Patna ahead of a speech by Narendra Modi

n AP, Patna A series of small bomb blasts killed five people and injured dozens Sunday in an east Indian city just before a massive campaign rally by the country’s main opposition prime ministerial candidate in a nearby park.

After the six homemade bombs went off in the Bihar state capital of Patna, panic and confusion erupted briefly among the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the park to hear Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party speak.

Local reporters at the scene said authorities did not inform them of the blasts until the rally was over, and many people thought the explosions were from firecrackers or from cars misfiring.

Authorities quickly restored order and the rally went ahead as scheduled.

Modi made no mention of the blasts during his hourlong speech, but offered condolences later to the victims in a Twitter message. The longtime chief minister of western Gujarat state has been waging a fierce national campaign to unseat the Congress-led government in next year’s elections.

Police detained four men for questioning after the explosions, but did not say whether they were suspects.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the violence and appealed

Indian police and bystanders assist an injured man when a series of bombs went off during a BJP rally in Patna for peace and calm.

The first blast came from a crude bomb that exploded in a public toilet building on an isolated railway plat-

form, Patna district police chief Manu Maharaj said.

Another bomb went off near a movie theatre, and four more exploded just

AFP

outside the park, sending plumes of gray smoke swirling above the crowd.

“All the bombs produced low-intensity blasts,” Maharaj said. “An an-

ti-sabotage team is investigating what happened.”

Five people died from the blasts and 73 were being treated for injuries, according to the head of Patna Medical College hospital, Vimal Karak.

Bomb disposal and forensic teams found two unexploded bombs around the railway station and were defusing them, railway police superintendent Upendra Kumar Sinha said.

Modi ignored the blasts during his speech and instead focused on criticizing Singh’s government for India’s high inflation. He also accused Bihar’s highest elected leader, Nitish Kumar, of betraying the BJP after using its support to win his seat in the state.

After the rally, Modi said the blasts were “deeply saddening” and offered condolences and prayers to the victims, according to a message posted from his official Twitter account.

His plans to visit Bihar have been controversial since Kumar severed ties with the BJP six months ago to protest Modi’s candidacy. Kumar has questioned Modi’s secular credentials and suggested that he could exacerbate communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India.

Over the past decade, Modi has been accused of ignoring a 2002 spate of violent attacks against Muslims in his home state of Gujarat — an allegation he has denied. l

Saudi women fined for defying driving ban Thousands rally in Pakistani n Kashmir against India AFP, Riyadh

At least 16 Saudi women have received fines for taking the wheel on a day set by activists to defy the kingdom’s traditional ban on female driving, police and reports said Sunday.

Only few women braved official threats of punishment and drove on Saturday in response to an online campaign headlined “Women’s driving is a choice.”

“Police stopped six women driving in Riyadh, and fined them 300 riyals ($80) each,” said the capital’s police deputy spokesman, Colonel Fawaz al-Miman.

Each of the women, along with her male guardian – who could be a father, husband, brother, uncle, or grandson – had to “sign a pledge to respect the kingdom’s laws,” Miman told AFP. In Jeddah, police also fined two women for driving, according to the Red Sea city’s police spokesman, Nawaf al-Bouq.

n AFP, Muzaffarabad

A Saudi woman drives a vehicle in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday Saudi newspapers, meanwhile, reported that six women were stopped by police in Eastern Province, and at least two others were stopped in other parts of the kingdom.

A dozen Saudi women posted videos on the Twitter account of the campaign, @oct26driving, showing themselves driving.

AP

Activists had originally issued a call on social media networks for women across the kingdom to drive their cars on Saturday to challenge the ban.

Some say they received telephone calls from the interior ministry asking them to promise they would not drive on Saturday.l

Thousands of Kashmiri people observed a “black day” in Pakistani Kashmir on Sunday, rallying at an event organised by Islamists against Indian “brutalities” and occupation of the Himalayan region.

The rally was set up by the United Jihad Council (UJC), which consists of 16 Islamist groups, militant outfits and political parties, and was attended by jihadi groups including Hizb-ul-Mujahidin and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Both Washington and New Delhi blame LeT for the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, which left 166 people dead and derailed a peace process between India and Pakistan.

A crowd of around 3,000 people shouted “Al-Jihad,” “Allahu Akbar” (God is greater) and “We want Freedom” as they gathered in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-admin-

istered Kashmir, said an AFP reporter at the scene.

“Diplomacy, talks and negotiations spanned over several decades have not worked,” said Syed Salahuddin, chairman of the UJC. “The only way to liberate Kashmir is jihad and armed struggle because India does not understand the language of dialogue,” said Salahuddin, who also leads Hizbul Mujahedin, a militant group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.

The protestors waved black flags and shouted: “Our struggle will continue til Kashmir is freed,” and condemned Indian “brutalities,” as Salahuddin appealed to the government and people of Pakistan to fully support Kashmiri independence.

Kashmiri people observe October 27 as “black day” every year to protest the arrival of Indian troops and their invasion of the Himalayan region in 1947. l

Officials in Iran remove anti-American posters n Reuters, Dubai Tehran city officials have ordered the removal of some posters featuring anti-American slogans, a sign that Iran is seeking better relations with the United States as the two sides hold talks over its nuclear programme.

A Tehran municipal official said some anti-American billboards had been put up illegally and that the city had taken them down, state news agency IRNA said on Saturday.

“In an arbitrary move, without the knowledge or confirmation of the municipality, one of the cultural institutes

installed advertising billboards,” said Hadi Ayyazi, spokesman for the municipality, according to IRNA. Ayyazi did not specify which posters had been taken down. According to IRNA, new anti-American posters questioning US honesty had been put up in busy Tehran thoroughfares since last week, ahead of the November 4 anniversary of the taking of hostages in the US Embassy in 1979.

One such poster depicted an Iranian negotiator sitting at a table with a US official who is wearing a suit jacket but also army trousers and boots, with a caption that reads, “American Honesty.”

Report on Iran’s halting of uranium enrichment ‘irrelevant’: Israel n Reuters, Jerusalem Israel on Saturday dismissed as “irrelevant” reports that Iran had halted its most sensitive uranium enrichment activity, and said Tehran’s nuclear programme must be dismantled.

A senior member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission was quoted as saying Iran had stopped refining uranium above the 5% required for civilian power stations, as it already had all the 20-% enriched fuel it needed for a medical research reactor in Tehran.

But diplomats accredited to the UN nuclear watchdog said they had no confirmation Iran had halted enrichment of uranium to 20% – a sensitive issue because it is a relatively short technical step to increase that to the 90% needed to make a nuclear warhead.

“The discussion on whether or not Iran has ceased 20% enrichment is ir-

relevant,” said an Israeli official.

Israel fears its arch enemy Iran is developing atomic weapons capability, and has hinted it could attack the Islamic republic to prevent it from getting the bomb. Iran says its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful.

“Even if Iran stopped 20% enrichment, it is still equipped with advanced centrifuges that allow it to go from a level of 3.5% enrichment to a military grade 90% within a few weeks,” the official added.

World powers seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute with Iran want it to stop enrichment. Iran indicated in talks that resumed in Geneva last week that it might scale back its programme to win sanctions relief.

Israel, believed to be the Middle East’s only atomic power, says Iran must be stripped of enrichment capabilities. l

The banners implied that the real US goal in negotiations is to attack Iran rather than find a diplomatic solution to the dispute over its nuclear programme.

It is unclear who was behind the posters, but hard-liners have expressed scepticism of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s efforts to engage with the West and the United States.

Anti-American graffiti and posters in prominent areas of Tehran and other major Iranian cities are common. The site of the former US embassy in Tehran, for instance, depicts the Statue of Liberty with a skull for a face. l

Activists of a youth forum for Kashmir hold a burning Indian flag at a Karachi protest

AFP

Iranian Sunni militants claim attack near Pakistan border n AFP, Tehran A Sunni militant group, Jaish-ul Adl, has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 14 Iranian border guards in the country’s mountainous southeast, ISNA news agency reported Sunday.

The hitherto-unknown Jaish-ul Adl (Army of Justice) said on its website that it was behind Friday’s attack, calling it a “severe blow” for the Iranian government.

The assault was launched in response “to the crimes of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria,” the group said in a statement posted on jaishuladl. blogspot.fr.

Photographs on the website show masked gunmen holding up flags similar to those of jihadist groups in Syria and Libya, with the Arabic inscription: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad (SM) is his messenger.”

Opposition groups in war-ravaged Syria have charged that Tehran is sending members of its elite Revolutionary Guards to fight alongside forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi called on the Pakistani government to ‘take measures to control the border more seriously’ Friday’s attack in the Iranian region of Sistan-Baluchestan on the Pakistani border killed 14 border guards and wounded seven others, prompting Iran to hang 16 prisoners at a jail in the province.

Tehran said the militants crossed over from Pakistan fled back across the

border after the attack.

Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi called on the Pakistani government to “take measures to control the border more seriously.”

The Revolutionary Guards meanwhile said the incident was “commanded and supported by the intelligence services of the dominant power,” referring to the United States.

Sistan-Baluchestan province is home to a large community of minority Sunni Muslims, unlike the rest of Shia-dominated Iran.

Another Sunni militant group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), whose leader Abdolmalek Rigi was hanged in June 2010, has also launched attacks on civilians and officials in Sistan-Baluchestan.

Drug traffickers have also clashed with members of the security forces in Sistan-Baluchestan in the past. l

An Afghan official and witnesses say a bomb apparently targeting a group of soldiers has killed a civilian in a market in the capital Kabul.

General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, who is spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry, said the bomb went off Sunday as military personnel waited for a vehicle to take them to work. He said five soldiers were wounded.

A man who identified himself as Ziaudin said his 10-year-old daughter was killed. A witness, Hashmatullah, said four civilians were wounded in addition to the soldiers. He believed the bomb was placed under vegetables in a shop.

Like many Afghans, they only used one name. l

Bomb kills soldier, wounds three in NW Pakistan n AFP, Miranshah A roadside bomb killed a soldier and wounded three others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border on Sunday, officials said.

The explosion took place at Chashma Pul, two kilometres east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan tribal region, known as a bastion of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked rebels.

“An improvised explosive device planted along the roadside went off as a convoy of at least 35 army vehicles passed by it, killing one soldier and wounding three others,” a local security official told AFP. Another security official confirmed the incident and casualties.

He said security forces also defused two bombs planted at different locations in nearby Mir Ali town.

Homemade bombs are a main weapon of militants who attack government forces in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.

The seven semi-autonomous tribal areas are a haven for Islamist militants including the Taliban.

Washington considers these areas a major hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan. l

22 killed ahead of Philippine village elections n AP, Manila Philippine police say at least 22 candidates and supporters have been killed in elections-related violence over the past month ahead of this week’s countrywide village elections.

National police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said Sunday that 27 others have been wounded in the violence. At least 588 people have been arrested for violating an elections gun ban, with police confiscating nearly 500 firearms and 68 grenades.

Violence has long been the hideous downside of elections in the Philippines, one of Asia’s most lively but rambunctious democracies.

More than 800,000 candidates are vying in Monday’s elections for chairmanships and other posts in 42,028 villages, locally called barangays — the country’s smallest political units, where violence and fraud are as much a concern as they are in elections for higher office. l

Bahrain court cuts terms for police jailed over death n AFP, Dubai Bahrain’s appeals court on Sunday cut the jail terms of two policemen convicted of torturing to death a Shia detainee after a 2011 crackdown on protests, a judicial source said.

The court reduced the terms of the men from seven years to three after a lower court had convicted them in December over Abdul Karim Fakhrawi’s death in custody in April 2011.

Fakhrawi was a publisher and had co-founded Al-Wasat daily, which the authorities was shuttered following the crackdown on month-long Shia-led protests in mid-March that year.

A number of policemen are facing trials over claims of killing protesters or torturing detainees after a wave of arrests that targeted members of the Shia majority. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Why was the hartal not called off ?

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n her address to the nation on Friday, the leader of the opposition pressed the issue of the election-time government hard, and called for 60 hours of hartal unless the government initiated procedures for a dialogue on the issue.

The prime minister subsequently called her, and invited her over to the Ganabhaban to do precisely that. Yet, inexplicably, the hartal remained in force. Now, after the first day, we have seen the expected death and devastation, and who else can one hold responsible for this than the BNP-led 18 party alliance?

We have editorialised before that it is this newspaper’s position that in a democracy, hartals are not The dialogue remains an acceptable means to any pending, and the hartal political end. But to call will certainly neither a hartal even after one’s incline the government conditions have been met by to compromise nor the government is as baffling endear the opposition as it is unacceptable. This to the electorate hartal is exactly the wrong message for the opposition to have sent to the people of this country.

The opposition’s demand for elections under a caretaker government is not without merit, and different polls have shown that anywhere from 70-90% of the country support their position. It is important that we come to a consensus on the issue, and time is of the essence.

That being said, this hartal will do nothing to help the case for it. The dialogue remains pending, and the hartal will certainly neither incline the government to compromise nor endear the opposition to the electorate.

Monday, October 28, 2013

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Creative questions on Math October 24

I had a chance to meet a good number of brilliant but poor students who got A+ in their SSC, but most had failed Chemistry in HSC 2013.

Creative questions had been introduced to the SSC in 2011 but these students faced this type of questions for the first time this year in the HSC exam, with little preparations beforehand, Now these brilliant students have lost a year, valuable time indeed, and lost their confidence as well.

We know that creative questions in Math will be introduced in SSC from 2015. We should work in a way so that teachers and students feel confident enough to handle such questions, particularly those in rural schools.

Sufficient sample creative questions should be uploaded to the educational web portal.

Handouts on creative questions should be given to all Math teachers and students., and training sessions should be run on creative questions round the year across the country simultaneously and some special work done, such as a Math Olympiad. Newspapers should publish creative questions to familiarise the students and teachers.

Moreover, newspapers can invite teachers and students to send creative questions, and hold a competition where the teacher and student who send the best question can be awarded and prizes given, and not only can their questions be printed in the newspapers, but also their names and schools.

Md Tofazzel Hossain Rajshahi

October 24

Aminul Islam Sajib Naheed: No one. Because, as it appears, when someone gets killed, or mugged, only he and his family and friends know about it. But when something goes viral on the social media, even the press knows about it. And government apparently only cares about what spreads, not what’s happened and remained in the dark.

Still no clarity October 22

Trade, not aid

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n international panel of experts recently recommended that the developed countries allow 100% duty and quota free (DFQF) entry of products to their markets from least developed countries (LDCs), such as Bangladesh. As trade is the most viable vehicle to reducing poverty and economic development in the long run, we whole-heartedly support this recommendation.

The panel of experts, including negotiators from the World Trade Organisation (WTO), ambassadors, trade experts, academics and activists, pointed out that while 97% of LDC products enjoy duty and quota free status in the US, for instance, these do not include the most important exports of LDCs, for example, apparel, in the case of Bangladesh. As LDCs have a limited range of exports, these types of restrictions are particularly detrimental to their interests.

The ability to engage The statements of the in trade is not only expert panel echo well-esimportant to generate tablished academic and economic activity and policy literature, which spur local innovation in argue that equitable trade developing countries, policies are far more imit is also important portant for the sustainable economic development from the perspective of of poor countries than equality and dignity of aid. The recent history of the LDCs countries such as Japan, South Korea and China are unequivocal proof of this.

The ability to engage in trade is not only important to generate economic activity and spur local innovation in developing countries, it is also important from the perspective of equality and dignity of the LDCs. The recently published post-2015 development framework by the UN focuses on economic growth as the most important tool to eradicate poverty in the world. However, economic growth in LDCs is not possible without the removal of trade barriers imposed by developed countries. It is time that developing countries such as Bangladesh insist on better trade policies from our partners so that we can lift ourselves out of poverty with dignity.

Once a politician had quipped, a “meeting” of two women can produce nothing. But now we have two specific but radically different proposals from our two lady leaders. Since the aim of both proposals is to hold a fair and credible parliamentary election, we have reasons to ponder over both proposals and create a third one by complementing each other. We ought to take HM Ershad into consideration too, because he has emphatically declared boycotting of polls if BNP doesn’t participate. Hence the final recipe for the election time government could be, as proposed by an overseas Bangladeshi professor of social sciences, as follows: 2 MPs from AL; 2 MPs from BNP; 1 MP from

Mahbub Alam What can the BSTI or BCSIR do? The first question that arises is did they not carry this test out earlier? If it was not tested before, then how did they receive BSTI’s approval?

Shaquib Quoreshi The testing of all consumer goods under mandatory standards should be subject to regular periodic tests more frequently.

Sultan of Brunei introduces tough Islamic punishments October 22

Zareef Hossain Barbaric!

JP, and 5 women advisers from the previous caretaker government to be selected and ratified through an election by the existing parliament.

My addition would be that these 10 members would deliberate amongst themselves and choose a prominent Bangladeshi personality as head of the government, who would be elected through a by-election in a seat vacated by the resignation of a chosen or a volunteer MP. This arrangement, if implemented, would be constitutional and probably work like Orsaline for our nation in this way: A cup of politicians, a glass of neutrals and a pinch of acceptable leadership. :) Waliul Haque Khondker

Md Shahjahan We think it is inhumane.

Sayed Saleh Those who say it is barbaric and inhumane are the ones who’d advocate rape crimes and let rapists live.

Saddam Azad Sayed Saleh: Empirical evidence shows otherwise my friend. Fear is not a deterrent for crime.

Be Heard Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune 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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Cripple (4) 4 Jewish leader (5) 8 Very small (6) 9 Faucets (4) 11 Theme (5) 12 Facts given (4) 14 Ten decibels (3) 15 Bank employee (6) 19 Coating on teeth (6) 21 Printers’ measures (3) 22 Biblical wise men (4) 24 Insects (5) 27 Domestic animals (4) 29 Gain (6) 30 Formal acts (5) 31 Soft feathers (4)

October 23

Muhaiminul Islam Jaan That’s the only solution, to decrease or stop rape and any other relations between a male and female before marriage.

Idea indeed!

Naheed What about those real crimes (unlike cyber crimes) that continue to have devastating consequences in real lives for real people, often committed by hired thugs in the name of those holding the reins of power? No one to check their impact ... anyone?

Pran’s turmeric powder to be tested for lead

DOWN 1 Encountered (3) 2 Leaping antelope (6) 3 Thin fog (4) 4 Spirit (3) 5 Coral isle (5) 6 Wager (3) 7 Implies (6) 10 Middle East port (4) 13 Consumed (3) 14 Alms seeker (6) 16 Tree (3) 17 Smooth and even (mus) (6) 18 Send out (4) 20 Bishop’s headdress (5) 23 Sour (4) 25 Liable (3) 26 Distress signal (3) 28 Heavenly body (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

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Monday, October 28, 2013

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Time is rife for political turncoats!

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n Towheed Feroze here are staunch political supporters, there are those who never wear their political beliefs on their sleeves, retaining their party of preference close to their hearts and then there are the turncoats.

In reality, the third force has done more damage to our politics than anything else, conveniently changing sides or disappearing when the party they were once loyal to vociferously is voted out of power.

Of course in Bangladeshi politics, the culture of harassing political activists of the non-ruling party is always deemed a potent political move and, given the constant pressure, active supporters are often forced to curtail

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enry Louis Mencken, the famous American writer of the first half of the 20th century once said: “Voting is simply a way of determining which side is the stronger without putting it to the test of fighting.”

In Bangladeshi political culture, however, the fighting begins before the voting takes place in the Parliamentary election.

Once in a lustrum and at the fagend of a regime’s tenure, the two main political parties, Awami League and BNP, along with their groupies turn the streets ablaze in a fierce dogfight which could only be titled as the band Ash’s 2001 rock song “Burn Baby Burn.”

We watch on our TV, with fear and anguish, the wanton destruction of public property by the political parties hoping to enter the public office – a sad irony indeed. Then, questions creep up in our mind: Do we want to vote for these people? Or, can I say no to these people?

We look at our electoral statute, the Representation of the People Order 1972 (RPO), and it says that we cannot.

Article 31(5) of the RPO does not allow an elector to cast “No Vote” on a ballot paper.

The RPO was taken up for amendment in 2009 by inserting, amongst others, the option for an elector to cast “No Vote” during the election.

This option was scraped by the ruling Awami League government.

Recently, the Indian Supreme Court held in a landmark judgment that for democracy to survive, it is essential that the best available men should be chosen as people’s representatives for proper governance of the country.

This can be best achieved through men of high moral and ethical values, who win the elections on a positive vote, and the voter must be given an opportunity to choose “none of the above” button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate.

The proverbial statement: “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain” does not fare well with modern times. As the Indian Supreme Court said: “A

see the interesting human affiliation to politics undergo transformations.

During the Ershad regime, all the local boro bhais (gang leaders) were Jatiya Party. The police never bothered them, locals promptly took their hand to their foreheads to offer the Islamic salutation, though sometimes the leaders simply nodded an acknowledgement and, in other cases, thought it wise to ignore.

You must learn some political lessons here: “When you want to appear powerful and fearsome, ignore people around you as if they do not exist.”

Right, the autocrat was not forever, like most things in life, therefore, post 1990 all these top leaders suddenly became champions of democracy, choosing either AL or BNP. Whenever the party in preference came to power, their visibility increased

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positive ‘right not to vote’ is a part of the expression of a voter in a parliamentary democracy and it has to be recognised and given effect to in the same manner as right to vote.”

Our political parties should take notice of this fundamental right of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 39 of our Constitution and perhaps relax a bit.

Parading worthy election candidate is not only good for the nation but also acts an excellent public relations mechanism for the political parties, thereby increasing their chance of winning an election.

The proverbial statement: ‘If you don’t vote, you can’t complain’ does not fare well with modern times. As the Indian Supreme Court said: ‘A positive ‘right not to vote’ is a part of the expression of a voter in a parliamentary democracy and it has to be recognised and given effect to in the same manner as right to vote’

One of the ways a voter may express his dissatisfaction towards an election candidate is not turning up for voting.

But not turning up on the voting day may not necessarily be the only option for a responsible citizen.

The other way to allow an elector his constitutional right to express his dissatisfaction is by providing a “No Vote” option in the ballot paper.

This, according to the Indian Supreme Court: “A basic requirement if the lasting values in a healthy democracy have to be sustained.”

Abraham Lincoln once said: “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision.” Perhaps our political parties should introduce the “No Vote” option and trust the people for a change. l Junayed Chowdhury is managing partner at Vertex Chambers.

n Farid Bakht

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ould the raw nature of a power-play disrupt representative democracy?

Seven years ago, we all saw the film “Dumb and Dumber: How to Dump Democracy.” Bangla-style. Is the sequel on the cards?

I cannot believe I am even writing this. Again. Incredibly, the two political families are returning us to the same build-up and mock theatre. The same stand-offs. The same, take-itto-the-wire, five minutes to midnight, poker game that sends shudders of fear among the poor and small traders while the middle class feel disgust.

Higher up the food chain, especially from the rag trade, and he is likely to “damn the lot of them” and demand that we ditch democracy.

These are uncertain times and the finger of blame must be pointed at the two dynasties. Did they learn anything in that “interim period?” Did they not learn how to communicate with each other, to keep things within control?

It is not only garment buyers and suppliers who need a code of conduct.

The royal families need to sign a “political code of conduct” on how they should respect the norms of democracy and the citizens they claim to serve.

That their exalted status has to be earned, not inherited. Most of all, they need to stand up for Bangladesh in the true spirit of 1971. That, alas, has hardly ever been the case and helps explain why foreign embassies and agencies hold such a sway over domestic politics.

With all due respect to many selfstyled “development partners,” the decisive hand can only be dealt by Delhi, for virtue of its proximity, size and also its fateful decision to “contain China,” to please the global Robocop.

The latter is likely to allow the sub-continental Robocop to decide.

The families, and pretenders beyond the Big Two, are queuing up to present their credentials to the giant neighbour.

They might well be in for a surprise.

So, is it to be the AL or the BNP?

Except for a case-by-case defensive posture by Dhaka’s regimes, it is never clear how Bangladesh’s elite really wants to negotiate, if at all. Only long

marches led by left-wingers seem to retain some semblance of our national sovereignty whenever the elite tries to do a fire-sale.

Delhi, not surprisingly, has drawn its red lines not to be crossed: No arms shipments to Assam and Nagaland, no abuse of Hindu minorities, no significant inroads by China.

The foreign policy stalwarts in the BNP might think they have satisfied Indian “concerns” with some soothing words on these issues. They might even be genuine now that their right hand in the form of Jamaat is electorally crushed.

Of course, the BNP sommeliers might just be changing the labels and still only serve them plonk.

As for the utterly complacent Awami League high command, living it up in la-la land, it might not be able to satisfy India. The Yunus affair hasn’t helped. The inability to push through enough big-ticket projects to benefit Indian behemoths also rankles.

It seems the Awami League prefers controversial projects such as the environmentally-criminal despoliation of mangrove forests for coal, providing more ammunition to maintain the charge of Indian exploitation.

Given that they are likely to receive the traditional anti-incumbency electoral hiding, in any case, they may be doomed.

Even if they could contrive an unlikely return to power, the impact of the war trials will come to the fore.

The prudent thing to do: Keep a low profile and then emerge when the time is right. The political banner of choice will be decided by the polls, naturally

But there is always a second option: Start the procedure to change your colours.

Wait, even in switching sides the act has to be very subtle because as yet we do not know who will govern Bangladesh in the next five years.

Therefore, the prudent thing to do: Keep a low profile and then emerge when the time is right. The political banner of choice will be decided by the polls, naturally.

As our memory is short, soon people will forget; incomes will soar again while political parties will feel honoured to have such supporters.

Meanwhile, the police, reportedly the most politicised of all institutions, will carry on providing impunity to “significant field level activists.” l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

The trouble with religion

In political terms, the decapitation of the Jamaat may only result in stronger Islamist forces emerging with a compelling narrative for the residents of forgotten small towns, villages and, critically, slums in the big metropolises. Add the threat of revenge, civil unrest and violence, and you sense a gnawing worry in the heads of Delhi diplomats: Can the Awami League provide the stability needed for Indian commerce, cross-border movement and resource extraction?

More simply, can a second Awami League administration control the streets in the face of an opposition counter-offensive?

If the answer is no, then there

follows an examination of whether the BNP is believable or not. Its strongest card is its claim that it can limit the damage by its Islamic allies. In other words, by bringing them inside the tent.

With the likely election of the hard-line BJP’s Narendra Modi in April 2014, the temptation for his crowd to sabre rattle on its Eastern Front might be too tempting to resist, when things go pear shape for a sputtering Indian economic machine.

Imagine the possibilities with the BJP in Delhi and the BNP in Dhaka, both using nationalism and religion to bolster support. Only leaders, on both sides, exhibiting the highest levels of maturity will be able to avoid clashes. Their track

Delhi, not surprisingly, has drawn its red lines not to be crossed: No arms shipments to Assam and Nagaland, no abuse of Hindu minorities, no significant inroads by China

record does not inspire confidence.

Delhi might conclude that while the BNP may well be sincere in initially turning a blind eye to mischief in India’s North East, it could eventually be persuaded to allow Pakistan’s military spies to play. On top of this, it might be emboldened by China to this time seriously look East and deny India space and advantage in economic and infrastructural terms.

The bottom-line is that, in Delhi’s eyes, Bangladesh is a pass-through state on the way to Mandalay. That is one big difference, seven years on.

So, if not a weakened unpopular Awami League nor a difficult-to-gauge BNP, who else does a Delhi diplomat turn to?

Answers on a postcard, please.

An aspiring local superpower in a hurry will pick any “junior partner” who can keep the lid on and play the game, the professional way.

The correct answer to the question in the headline (what are they thinking in Delhi) should be: “Who cares! We only care what 160 million Bangladeshis think.”

One day, we will get there, won’t we? l Farid Bakht is a political activist and can be reached at @Liquid_Borders.

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political high-up.

Anyway, lets come to the present: Elections are not too far away and once the current theatrics are over, the nation will get ready for the polls while the turncoats will become active.

The writer notices some frenetic movements in the area, especially in a new apartment building near the Xian Chinese restaurant where pre-election assessment is going on in full swing.

Don’t worry, political loyalty has no place here; the pivotal concern here is profit. The political label of the party only works to give all their operations a feel of legitimacy while the parties believe they have some loyal followers.

The equation is simple: If the party is not in power, income will see a fall and all those who had resorted to super- fast veneration may look the other way.

What are they thinking in Delhi?

Nay, we say n Junayed A Chowdhury

their social engagements.

But keeping a low profile is one thing and quietly changing sides is something totally different. Yet, the game of suddenly changing colour from AL to BNP and vice versa is noticed usually during polls time.

The astringent denunciation of anything that reeks of anti-ruling party abruptly becomes mellow as nebulous diplomatic lines become prominent.

Trust me, this trick is the oldest in the book but it never fails!

Kudos to the sage who once said: “Human memory is short, so exploit it to the hilt.”

Some real life examples are needed here. The writer lives on Elephant Road and has been here till 1972, so, as the country moved through all the notable political upheavals, he had the chance to

– overseeing the assiduous application of party graffiti on the wall, leading the procession and mobilising starry-eyed youngsters with grand political ambitions for rallies.

In between all this, taking over the toll collecting of the area was a prime interest. Indeed this was more alluring.

Obviously, a leader cannot live on his money so the restaurants in the area will not charge for the food and the departmental store will gladly open a credit book with no questions asked.

Err … questions will be asked after the five year period when another party is in power. But if the local rongbaj (thug) has been adept in changing sides then the book will be for perpetuity.

One of my local friends was SK. He did not have any formal education but since both of us played football, camaraderie developed.

Soon SK discovered that playing for a second division football club did not offer any chance of glory and took to politics supported by the gang culture of the early nineties, better known as “taorashi.”

From ruthlessly manipulating the throwaway cotton lot business from the garment factories of the area jhut (garment waste) trade, to taking regular financial donations from traders with frozen smiles and palpitating hearts, he openly pledged allegiance to the party in power.

Compared to this, the image as a striker for Lalbagh club seemed really grey.

Things were moving okay but when it became obvious that in the 2001 elections there would be a change of leadership, my pal swiftly began maintaining his contacts with the other side.

“Side change is done,” his bold statement still rings in my ears.

Unfortunately, rongbaji (thuggish behaviour) never has a noble end and within two years, he was shot and killed over a feud, not relating to politics but the distribution of “income” from the area.

Please remember, the word illegitimate does not exist in the dictionary of political goons.

Interestingly, the law never managed to teach him any lesson because he had the right connections with the police station responsible for Dhanmondi ward 52 and the backup of the

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, October 28, 2013

Sajal and Moushumi Nag debut on silver screen n Entertainment Desk Popular actors small screen Sajal and Moushumi Nag will debut on the silver screen with the upcoming film “Run Out.” Directed by Tanmoy Tansen, the film is already on its third shooting phase which will end on October 30.

The director hopes to release the movie next Valentine’s Day. Both actors were approached several times earlier for films, but they finally chose this project for their entry to the film industry. The audiences are in for a treat as the duo looks quite attractive onscreen and has good chemistry.

About the film, Sajal, one of the busiest actors of the TV industry, shares: “I was looking for a perfect story. When Tanmoy came to me with this storyline, I had this gut feeling that this is absolutely my kind of film.

I have put in a lot of effort to play the role successfully. I really hope that the audience, especially my fans, will appreciate my work.”

While talking about his plan to work further in the film industry, the talented actor said: “Working in the silver screen is every actors ultimate goal. If I continue to get such good offers, I would love to continue. However, I also love to act in the TV plays.”

Moshumi Nag shares: “I have worked

with Tanmoy before in some plays. He is a good director and has a knack for coming up with unique scripts. I am glad that I got the opportunity to work with such a talented individual. I hope I will be able to meet the expectations of the audience and will strive to deliver my best in my debut film.

After all, first impressions are a big deal in all fields.”

The band Vikings contributed to some of the songs in the movie, and the movie will also feature songs from seven different genres. Popular singer Kona worked as a guest artist in the film, along with other artists who worked on other songs in the movie. l

URBAN YOUTH FESTIVAL 2013

The way to a liberal society n Shadma Malik

In the ongoing “Urban Youth Festival 2013” at the Goethe Institut, a workshop titled “Pathways to Tolerance” was organised by VDAY Dhaka yesterday. The workshop was conducted by human rights activists Tasaffy Hossain and Trimita Chakma. Their aim was to persuade the youth of the society to practice tolerance for varied opinions, practices, race, religions and nationalities in the age of diversity.

The age range for the participants was 18 - 28, as in today’s society, the youth are recognised as powerful agents of social change in a world that is characterised by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions.

The workshop started at 10am with an introduction of the topic, and then the participants were divided into small groups for the duration of the entire workshop. The groups were then invited one by one for the roleplay sessions, where they acted out scenarios of social disturbances related to the topics and tried to give solutions.

The next group exercise was named “Flash cards,” where the participants wrote out motivational messages that would inspire positive changes. Next, the participants were introduced to concepts and issues such as diversity, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, tolerance and of course, conflict.

They were then encouraged into a round table discussion sessions where they shared their own experiences about the variation of opinions and how people react negatively to something that is different from their own understanding and estimation.

The workshop also included debating sessions, ideas for human rights campaigns to educate the youth on core topics such as homosexuality, religion-politics and oppressed minority. Group presentations were given that focused on how tolerance and acceptance of something that is different than our own individual belief can bring about peace in society. The programme concluded with the evaluation of the entire workshop and the conflict resolutions ideas discussed during the sessions. l

Sharon Stone receives an award from Dalai Lama

Sharon Stone wins Peace Summit Award n Entertainment Desk Sharon Stone was honoured with 2013 Peace Summit Award on Wednesday, October 23. Wearing a camel coloured coat, Stone attended the official ceremony for the 13th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Warsaw, Poland.

She later removed the coat, revealing a short gray dress.

Stone was honoured with the prize for her activities that brought solidarity and new hope to the millions of people who have fought and are fighting against the tragedy of HIV/AIDS The event, which was held at the Grand Theater and National Opera House, was also attended by Mikhail Gorbachev and Betty Williams. Stone bowed to the Dalai Lama and made peace sign before receiving the award from the spiritual leader.

Stone who honoured with the prize for her “activities that brought solidarity and new hope to the millions of people who have fought and are fighting against the tragedy of HIV/AIDS,” the Daily Mail reported. The “Basic Instinct” actress has been working with US charity amFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and has vowed to be their campaign chairman until a safe and effective vaccine is found.

A committee of Nobel Peace laureates names one person from the world of culture and entertainment who is actively involved in bringing awareness about peace and global issues to receive the award every year. Previous honorees include Cat Stevens, Bono, former soccer player Roberto Baggio and Sean Penn. l

Red Signal airs on Banglavision tonight

ON TV MOVIES 9:30pmWB

The Dark Knight

11:00pm Zee Studio The Grudge 3

DRAMA 7:30pm Star Plus

Saath Nibhana Saathiyan

8:30pm Colors Balika Vadhu Group activity 2 of the workshop where the participants prepared inspirational flash cards

SADIA MARIUM

Exhibition

Castles in the Sky Solo painting exhibition By late Sohrab Khan Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge House 60, Road 31, Gulshan 1

Rhythm of Xylography Group Art Exhibition Time: 11am – 7pm Gallery Cosmos-2 House 115 Road 6 New DOHS, Mohakhali

Nishobdo Solo Exhibition

By Shabekun Nahar Time: 3pm - 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Dhanmondi

Film

Jobs Nishwartha Bhalobasa Titanic (3D) Monsters University in 3D Udhao Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini The Wolverine in 3D Bullet to the Head Level 8, Bashundhara City

n Entertainment Desk

COMEDY

TODAY IN DHAKA

11:30am FX Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini Balaka Cineworld

Urban Youth Festival II Time: 11am – 8pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new) House 10 Dhanmondi R/A

Music

Open mic & jam session Time: 7.30pm Kozmo Road 11 Banani

Kareena said she is a “boring” person in real life and never did anything “crazy” for her husband Saif Ali Khan.

“I don’t think I have done anything crazy for love. I am boring. Saif has an image of being crazy but he is not. He likes me, he has no choice,” Kareena said. She is sharing screen space with Imran Khan again after “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.” In “Gori Tere Pyaar Mein,” Imran will pursue his love interest Kareena, who is playing an urban NGO worker, to a village.

Imran, who is playing the role of a South Indian youth, said he did not have to work on the accent.

“By birth (the character) is a South Indian. He is misfit in the family because he doesn’t speak Tamil and doesn’t follow any tradition. He has studied abroad and there was no need to get the accent,” the 30-year-old said.

Kareena said she could carry herself both as a typical village damsel and a modern urbanite.

The romantic comedy is set to release on November 22.

It seems like Lady Luck has bestowed her smile permanently on the “Begum of Pataudi” because, along with her films being big hits, Kareena Kapoor Khan will be honoured by Asian Sunday newspaper and Members of Parliament for her contribution to the global entertainment industry, at the launch of the newspaper’s London Edition, taking place at House of Commons on October 29. The actor will be honoured by cross-party politicians, on behalf of the British Government. l

9:00pm Z Cafe

Mike And Molly

Festival

Kareena claims she never did anything crazy for love n Entertainment Desk

The Simpsons

NEWS 7:00pm Channel i

Shondhar Shongbad

10:00pm Maasranga Primetime news

MISC 2:30pm National Geographic Banged Up Abroad

8:30pm MTV Webbed

The Drama serial “Red Signal” will telecast on Banglavision at 9:05pm every Sunday and Monday. One of the special features of the drama is that every episode is one hour long. Written and directed by Masud Sezan, prominent actors of the small screen such as Dr Enamul Haque, Mosharraf Karim, Nipun, Marzuk Rasel, Akhom Hasan, and Shamim Nazneen acted in the play.

Naila is the only daughter of a wellto-do man who passed away. One day, while reading father’s journal, she comes upon a page where her father left a personal note especially for her. It goes on to say that while he was alive, he had done everything to his heart’s desire and he was leaving all his worldly possessions for her benefit.

The note further stated that although he had done most of the things he wanted to in life, he did not get the chance to fulfil his biggest desire. According to Naila’s father, all good and honest men in society were suffering in one way or another. It was his belief that they are the ones who are most neglected, harassed and deprived in most cases and they also like to keep a low profile.

In the note, he requests her to find ten such men and stand beside them and give them the assistance they need to get out of their unfortunate states.

Naila takes this request to heart, as she was abroad in Australia when her father passed away. She sets off to find ten honest men and the story of the drama moves forward in her pursuit to fulfil her father’s last desire. l

Reboots of Charmed and Murder, She Wrote in development n Entertainment Desk It’s an interesting week for television, as the past becomes the future with reboots of both “Charmed” and “Murder, She Wrote” in development.

CBS TV Studios, which owns the rights to Aaron Spelling’s library, is planning a re-imagining of the once-popular WB witch series “Charmed,” hoping to capitalise on the genre-driven TV craze. Party of Five co-creator Chris Keyser and partner Sydney Sidner will write the script, with CBS Television Studios and The Tannenbaum Company, Keyser, and Sidner co-executive producing. The series is described as a remake of the original, in which three – until they introduced the fourth – sisters discover that they are, in fact, witches destined to fight the forces of evil that seek to dominate the universe. All manner of hijinks ensue, as romances with Gods and demons occur, worlds are saved, and lips are glossed.

Meanwhile, NBC is developing a remake of “Murder, She Wrote” as well as an adaptation of the 1990s coming of age movie “Reality Bites.” “Desperate Housewives” alumni Alexandra Cunningham and David Janollari will

Lead characters of popular TV series Charmed produce the remake of the Angela Lansbury sleuthing drama with Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (“The Help”) set to star. The original

series was wildly popular, drawing in 23 million viewers on Sunday nights at its height, and ran for 12 years on CBS. l

Did you know?

Burkina Faso and Ethiopia are the two African nations who were involved in the playoffs, but never reached a Fifa World Cup finals tournament

Sport

Monday, October 28, 2013

15 Siddikur finishes 14 Neymar outshines strong Bale in Clasico battle

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Vettel seizes historic world title

Injured Shafiul out of ODI series n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Mashrafe bin Mortaza (L) was seen bowling in the nets in full flow while Shafiul Islam (R) is being carried away after sustaining an ankle twist during Bangladesh’s practice session at SBNS yesterday

Mashrafe, Shamsur under spotlight n Minhaz Uddin Khan The Bangladesh players returned to training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) yesterday after a day’s break following the conclusion of the second Test against New Zealand.

With the three-match ODI series beginning on October 29, Bangladesh have made four changes from the squad that lost 1-2 to Zimbabwe in May, the biggest of which is the inclusion of experienced paceman Mashrafe bin Mortaza, whose last ODI appearance came last year against the West Indies.

Mortaza has been recovering from a heel injury he sustained in the last Bangladesh Premier League and has played little competitive cricket in recent times.

Opening batsman Shamsur Rahman Shuvo has also been included in the squad in the light of Anamul Haque’s failures in the two-match Test series.

“I was included in the squad as an opener but eventually it will be the team management that will decide where I will play. I will try to give my best wherever I bat. Anamul is junior to me in age but he is experienced in the

international circuit and performed well in the last ODI game that he played,” Shamsur told the media at SBNS yesterday.

The last time the two sides met in an ODI series was in 2010 when home side Bangladesh recorded a historic 4-0 win. Asked if this would add to the pressure, Shamsur replied, “We performed well in the Test series so our aim will be to do the same in the ODI series. It has been three years now that we won the series 4-0 against them.

But we will try and give our best in the series. I will try to give my best if I get

the chance to play.

“I don’t think there is any pressure on us, rather I think they (New Zealand) are under more pressure. We have in mind that we won 4-0 against them but it is a new series starting on 29th and our aim will be to play good cricket,” he said.

Shamsur has thrived on the domestic circuit but has yet to make a mark in the international arena.

The 25-year old made his Twenty20 debut for Bangladesh in March this year but has yet to play an ODI or Test match. l

MUMIT M

National seamer Shafiul Islam has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand which begins on October 29 due to injury.

Shafiul sustained an injury to his right ankle during practice at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“He (Shafiul) has suffered a ligament tear while warming up before training today (yesterday) and could be out of action for four to six weeks,” national team physiotherapist Vibhav Singh said in a media release circulated by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday.

The seamer was sent for an X-ray right away. Though the report did not reveal any fracture strain, the bowler will need at least four weeks to recover, BCB physiotherapist Dr. Debashish Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Shafiul spot on the 15-man squad for the series has been taken by paceman Al-Amin.

This is the first time that Al-Amin has been included in an ODI squad, following his Test debut last week against New Zealand. In that match, the 23-year old seamer bowled 16 overs and took one wicket. l

BFF yet to confirm sponsors n Raihan Mahmood With a new season of football about to kick off, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has yet to confirm who will be sponsoring the various tournaments – including the showpiece Bangladesh Premier League - for the season Grameenphone, the country’s leading cellular operator, had been affiliated with the BFF for the last three years in a sponsorship deal worth Tk240m in total or Tk80m per year. That contract expired June 25 this year and up till yesterday, there was no word as to a renewal. The BFF has been eager to continue working

with Grameen and even involved Asian Football Confederation officials in their attempts. Tahmid Azizul Haque, the head of marketing for Grameenphone, was discreet over the issue. “I can’t say anything about renewing the deal at the moment. We are evaluating all the aspects, we are happy with the feedback from the last three years. “We are not ruling out the prospect of renewing the deal as the last contract also was penned after the start of the season,” he said.

It was learnt that BFF has asked for Tk480m for the new deal. The Federation Cup is scheduled to start form November 4. l

Cox’s Bazar miss out on WT20 ticket Mushfiq ready for WT20 challenge ICC reveals match schedules, tickets out from November 10 n Raihan Mahmood will be divided into two groups of four fident that Bangladesh will once again Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim n Mazhar Uddin teams each, with the table-toppers pro- produce a world-class tournament,” said expressed confidence that his team The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the match schedules and ticket sale plans for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 at a city hotel yesterday. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale from November 10. However, besides the good news of hosting the tournament from March 16 to April 6 next year there lays a failure as the proposed Cox’s Bazar venue has been excluded from the event.

The Cox’s Bazar stadium was also lined up as one of the venues of the mega event, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president explained why it was taken out of consideration.

“We have BKSP, Fatullah, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and Mirpur.

There are lots of matches; initially we thought the women’s matches will be held in Cox’s Bazar. It is fully ready, but the pitches have not been tested. There has never been any cricket match played on that wicket. To start a world cup in a completely unused pitch is a big risk,” said Nazmul Hasan.

However, there will be something to cheer about for the people of Cox’s Bazar as the BCB boss informed few practice matches of the World T20 will be played there.

As many as 60 tournament matches (35 men’s and 25 women’s) will be played across Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet in the 22-day tournament. As in the past, the women’s semi-finals and final will be held on the same day as the men’s semifinals and final and at the same venue.

The format for the men’s event in next year’s tournament has been changed following an increase in teams from 12 to 16. The first round of the men’s event will include eight sides that

gressing to the Super 10 stage.

Reigning champion the West Indies will launch its title defence against India in an evening match on Sunday March 23. Earlier on the same day, Pakistan will lock horns with Australia, which is looking for the only global title that has eluded it to date.

If Bangladesh reaches the Super 10 stage, it will play all its matches in Dhaka, facing the West Indies on March 25, India on March 28, Pakistan on March 30 and Australia on April 1.

The prize money for the men’s event will be $3m, with the winner receiving $1.1m and the losing finalist collecting $550,000.

Meanwhile, all the women’s matches will be held in Sylhet where host Bangladesh will make its maiden appearance on the world stage on March 26 when it will play last year’s semi-finalist, West Indies. 2009 champion England will start its campaign on March 24 against the West Indies.

The prize money for the women’s event will be $180,000, with the winner collecting $65,000 and the losing finalist getting $25,000.

Bangladesh is the fourth country after South Africa, Sri Lanka and England to host the fifth edition and the ICC general manager, commercial, Campbell Jamieson was confident that Bangladesh will once again produce a world-class tournament.

“Bangladesh hosted the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998 (then known as the ICC Knock-Out) and most recently the ICC World Cup 2011, along with India and Sri Lanka. Following the legacies of these two successful events, as well as the ICC U-19 World Cup 2004, I’m con-

Campbell.

Meanwhile, the precious tickets to the world event will available via the ICC website and at nearly 100 official ticket sales counters located in MoneyGram outlets in specific branches of National Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank and Agrani bank situated throughout Bangladesh.

Entry to the women’s group stage matches in Sylhet will be open to the public free of charge. Entry to the women’s semi-finals and final, which will be played before the men’s corresponding matches in Dhaka, will be on the same match ticket as the men’s where the minimum price for each ticket is Tk50. l

could advance to the Super 10 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup at the launching ceremony for the event at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel yesterday.

As the teams’ seeding are based on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings of October 8, 2012, the top eight sides will begin their respective campaigns from the Super 10 stage, while Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will have to compete in the first round between March 16 to March 21 and qualify for the secondary stage.

The first round of the men’s event will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four and the table-toppers from each group will advance to

the Super 10 stage.

Mushfiq was realistic over the development and said he was not disappointed. “I am not disappointed. We have to play the World Cup and the rules and regulations are not in our hands. We just have to play but it’s an opportunity and we have to play really well to qualify as there will be other good teams. It’s one kind of a new challenge and we have to accept those challenge to get over them. The boys are very keen to do that and hopefully, we can give our best shot,” he said.

If Bangladesh reach the Super 10 stage, they will play all their matches in Dhaka, facing the West Indies on March 25, India on March 28, Pakistan on March 30 and Australia on April 1.

The ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers will be staged across six venues in Abu

Captain hooked!

Bangladesh national captain Mushfiqur Rahim got engaged on Saturday in a small affair amongst his family. Mushfiqur’s fiancé is Zannatul Kefayet Mondy from Manikganj, a sister-in-law of Bangladesh’s vice- captain Mahmudullah and she is currently studying BBA at Prime University in Dhaka. Niloy, a close friend of the wicket-keeper, tentatively confirmed the news, adding, “It will be revealed once everything is finalised.”

–MU

Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah between November 15-30. The teams in Group A are Ireland (A1), Namibia (A2), Canada (A3), Uganda (A4), USA (A5), Italy (A6), Hong Kong (A7) and the UAE (A8) and Group B has Afghanistan (B1), Netherlands (B2), Scotland (B3), Kenya (B4), Bermuda (B5), Denmark (B6), Nepal (B7) and Papua New Guinea (PNG) (B8).

The top three teams from each group will join Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the first round.

In the women’s event, Bangladesh are in Group B along with England, West Indies, India, and Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh women team will make its maiden appearance on the world stage on March 26 against the West Indies. l

ICC commercial general manager Jamieson Campbell (2R) speaks while Bangladesh men’s captain Mushfiqur Rahim (L), women’s captain Salma Khatun (R) and BCB president Nazmul Hasan look on during the World Twenty20 launching programme yesterday MUMIT M

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, October 28, 2013

Neymar outshines Bale in Clasico n AFP, Barcelona

Gareth Bale was given his chance to shine on the biggest stage of all on Saturday as he made his El Clasico debut for Real Madrid against Barcelona on Saturday.

However, unfortunately for the Welshman, it was another expensive import making his bow in the fixture who shone, as Neymar scored Barca’s opener and then teed up Alexis Sanchez to make the game safe 12 minutes from time.

Jese Rodriguez pulled a goal back for Madrid in stoppage time to make the final score 2-1, but Bale had long since departed by that point as he was replaced

by Karim Benzema with half an hour remaining.

“I am very happy to score such a special goal, but above all for the three points that we achieved,” said Neymar.

“It was very exciting to score in the game that every player wants to play in.”

The contrast between the summer’s blockbuster signings couldn’t have been greater and merely summed up the difference in how they have adapted to La Liga in their first two months in Spain.

Neymar has benefited massively from the relatively swift process that saw his 57 million euro ($78.1 million, £48.3 million) move from Santos completed before Barca had even completed

last season.

The Brazilian arrived to a hero’s welcome in the Catalan capital on the first Monday in June before returning to his homeland to take the world, and even some of his new teammates, by storm by guiding his country to the Confederations Cup with a 3-0 win over Spain.

On Saturday night, it wasn’t merely that the 21-year-old outshone Bale, he was he standout player on the pitch, overshadowing the world’s best in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

His goal may only have been his fourth in 14 appearances, but his through ball from which Sanchez finished the contest with a nonchalant lob over Lopez was already his seventh assist, making him the chief goal creator in a side boasting the talents of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas.

“Neymar played a great game,” Barca boss Gerardo Martino added.

“To score a goal in the Clasico creates a huge impact.”

Bale, by contrast, had a much more anxious summer as he waited to see if his dream move to the world’s richest club would finally come off.

By the time it did, on the first day in September, his chance of a beddingin period and pre-season with his new teammates had disappeared.

It hasn’t been all bad news for Bale,

at the Spanish giants.

However, patience is not a virtue normally associated with matters at Madrid.

Given the size of his vast transfer fee, the fact that Madrid are now six points behind Barca in the title race and that it is their new star who is setting the league alight, time is ticking for Bale to show the form that made him the Premier League Player of the Year last season. l

though. He scored his only Real goal to date on his debut against Villarreal.

However, since then a series of niggling injuries have hampered his participation and he is still to play a full 90 minutes in any of his six appearances.

Bale was defended by his own boss Carlo Ancelotti after the game, the Italian making the wholly reasonable argument that he will need time on the field to adjust to the demands required of him

Blatter wants ‘racism’ teams kicked out n AFP, London

Inter Milan's Argentinian midfielder Esteban Matias Cambiasso (R) scores during the Serie A football match against Verona in San Siro stadium in Milan on Saturday AFP

Zenit extend winning streak in Yekaterinburg n AFP, Moscow Leaders Zenit St Petersburg battled back from a goal down to extend their winning streak in the Russian Premier to eight matches with a 2-1 victory away to Ural Yekaterinburg on Saturday.

Zenit stay five points clear of secondplaced Spartak Moscow, who beat visiting Rustov 2-0. Another Moscow side, Lokomotiv, who started the weekend in joint second place, travel to Rubin Kazan on Sunday. Zenit started confidently and were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute when Ural goalkeeper Alexei Solosin fouled Brazilian forward Hulk. But Hulk sent the ball wide from the spot.

Zenit paid the price for squandering their chances in the 42nd minute when Ural forward Spartak Gogniev robbed Portuguese defender Luis Neto and drove in a low shot from 10 metres.

Zenit upped the tempo after the break and in the 53rd minute Russian international midfielder Roman Shirokov lobbed the ball into the net over Solosin after Hulk had diverted Andrei Arshavin’s pass into his path. Zenit continued to test the home defence and in the 78th minute Shirokov netted the winner as he headed Oleg Shatov’s cross from the right into the net from the edge of the six-yard box. “It was a very difficult match for us,” Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti said. “But we achieved an outstanding result. We showed strong character and managed to reverse the situation after the interval. I’d say that it was a reaction of a top-class team.” l

Inter resist Verona to move up to fourth n AFP, Milan Inter Milan resisted a spirited fightback to secure a 4-2 win over Verona at the San Siro and leapfrog the league newcomers into fourth in Italy’s Serie A on

Saturday.

A day after club president Massimo Moratti set a date of November 15 for an official takeover by Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir, Inter closed the gap on leaders Roma to five points.

Roma, who have won nine games out of nine, face Udinese away Sunday when second-placed Napoli and Juventus, in third, face Torino and Genoa respectively in a bid to close their own five-point deficit on the leaders.

Inter, Italy’s last winners of the Champions League, in 2010, have made a solid start to this campaign following a disastrous ninth-place finish last season.

But despite dominating an entertaining and open encounter at the San Siro, Walter Mazzarri’s side were aided by the defensive lapses which have been one of Verona’s unwelcome characteristics so far this season.

Verona’s second goal in the 71st minute from Romulo, however, underlined Inter’s own lapses and Mazzarri told Sky Sport Italia: “We showed unnecessary naivety at times -- we can’t ever afford to let our guard down in this league.

“We played really well up to a certain point but if we want to be a side to be

Results Sampdoria

1-0

Inter

4-2

Shkodranv 56 Moras 9-og, Palacio 12, Cambiasso 38, Rolando 56

Atalanta Verona

Martinho 32, Romulo 71

reckoned with, we can’t afford to have these kind of slip-ups.”

Inter were gifted a welcome early lead when Vangelis Moras deflected a volley from unmarked Brazilian defender Jonathan past compatriot Rafael in the Verona goal in the ninth minute.

More dubious defending from the visitors allowed the Nerazzurri to double their lead only three minutes later.

Rolando nodded the ball into the path of Fredy Guarin and although his shot was cleared off the line it ricocheted off the chest of Rodrigo Palacio and into the net from point-blank range.

Verona came close just before the half hour when Luca Toni headed just over the bar and, after Jonathan sent an angled shot wide, Raphael Martinho reduced arrears when he burst through to drive the ball past Juan Pablo Carrizo in the Inter goal.

However the visitors’ hopes of levelling before the interval were cut short when Esteban Cambiasso tapped home after Guarin had sent Yuto Nagatomo’s curling shot into his path. l

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants tougher sanctions over racism in football with teams kicked out of tournaments and points deducted.

Blatter, speaking at the Football Association’s 150th anniversary gala in London, became the latest high-profile figure to react to accusations of racism in the game.

Manchester City’s Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure claimed he was the target of monkey chants during the midweek Champions League clash at CSKA Moscow.

“It has been decided by the FIFA congress that it is a nonsense for racism to be dealt with by fines, you can always find money from somebody to pay them,” said Blatter.

“It is a nonsense to have matches played without spectators because it is against the spirit of football and against the visiting team, it is all nonsense.

“We need to eliminate teams from a

competition or deduct points. Only by such decisions is it possible to go against racism and discrimination. If we don’t do that it will go on and go on, we have to stop it, we need the courage to do it.

“We can do something better to fight racism and discrimination.

“This is one of the villains we have today in our game but I’m sure, with the combined efforts of everybody we can go on, but it is only with harsh sanctions that racism and discrimination can be washed out of football.”

Earlier, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke marked the governing body’s 150th anniversary by also pledging to help stamp out the evil of racism.

Dyke was addressing guests and dignitaries, including FA president Prince William and Blatter, and he used the occasion to insist his organisation is determined to drive racism out of football.

“It is the 20th year of the kick racism out of football campaign - congratulations to Kick It Out and to the outstanding work it has done,” Dyke said.

“It has achieved real success but we all know there’s more to be done and the FA mustn’t stop here.

“Of course things will change, nothing stays the same. But where they do it must be for the better.”

The FA chose the Grand Connaught Rooms in Holborn for their anniversary dinner as it was at the same venue where the first rules of the game were drafted by Ebenezer Cobb Morley a century and a half ago.

Dyke saluted the efforts of the FA to remain strong guardians of the game and promised to continue that tradition, saying: “There has been a huge historical focus this year, and rightly so.

“We should be proud of what our founders created and what The FA has continued in their name. But we should also be proud of what we are currently doing. “Our consistent theme across the year has been to celebrate The FA’s support for the grassroots game which has always been fundamental to The FA’s role in football. l

Oniangue compounds Marseille misery n AFP, Paris

Players need support, says Prince William

A last-gasp Prince Oniangue winner put the sparkle back into Reims’ season on Saturday with a 3-2 win at Ligue 1 rivals Marseille.

The side from the Champagne region handed last season’s runners-up a fifth straight defeat in all competitions to put Marseille boss Elie Baup under increasing pressure.

Despite the backing of club president Vincent Labrune, Baup saw his side drop to provisional sixth having also almost bid farewell to the Champions League after their 2-1 loss to Napoli midweek.

Footballers need support to help them handle the pressure that comes with their high-profile, Britain’s Prince William said Saturday.

William, president of the Football Association, the game’s governing body in England, said players needed training in how to cope with being role models.

The prince, second in line to the throne, was speaking at a gala dinner to mark the FA’s 150th anniversary.

“Our national players are role models for millions of young people and I think we need to give those highly pressured and driven players the support and training they need to live up to their rightly exalted status,” he said.

“We were as a nation so proud of our Team GB athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, for their success on the field but also for the way they conducted themselves in interviews and with their competitors.

“It is perfectly possible to say the same about our national teams -- they are good people, ambitious for success and to a man and woman aware of their status as role models.”

The 31-year-old also praised the global footballing family and was keen to thank the founders of the game and those who have helped develop the sport.

“Tonight is not just an English celebration,” the Duke of Cambridge said.

“Football is international in every possible way and I believe that the game’s

Results Marseille

2-3

Bastia

1-0

Guingamp

2-1

Lorient

2-1

Toulouse

0-5

Valenciennes

0-1

Thauvin 56, Gignac 86

Squillaci 36 Beauvue 86, Diallo 90+1

Aboubakar 17, Jouffre 55

n AFP, London

Reims

Ayité 34, Albæk 37, Oniangue 90+1

Nice Ajaccio

Andre 41

Sochaux

Bakambu 90+2

Rennes

Alessandrini 25, Bakayoko 34, Kadir 45, Nelson Oliveira 63, 83

Evian

Sougou 82

constantly evolving spirit and appeal is a consolidation of all its global influences.

“Every nation should be proud of their contribution to 150 years of football.” He praised efforts to boost England’s fortunes in international football -- their only major trophy being the 1966 World Cup -- but added: “I would also encourage us to make sure we retain sportsmanship at the heart of this energetic drive for success.”

With racism remaining a thorny issue, including unsavoury scenes in matches during the week preceding the FA gala, William also praised the work of those attempting to rid football of discrimination. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Del Potro defeats Federer to retain Basel title n Reuters, Basel

Quick Bytes

First ODI tickets sold out Tickets for the first ODI game between Bangladesh and New Zealand, to be held tomorrow at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, have been sold out, informed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) through a media release yesterday. Sources from the United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL), ticketing partner of the series, have confirmed that the tickets of the first off the three-match series were all sold. As such, no tickets for the first ODI will be available at the designated branches of the bank today and also at the ticket booth on the match day. It was further informed that tickets for the second ODI, scheduled on October 31, will be sold from October 30.

–MUK

Borguna beat Jhalkhati Borguna beat Jhalkhati by 2-0 in the Plan Under-15 Girl’s Football Championship at the Potuakhali District Stadium yesterday. Ayena scored the first in the 18th minute and Sabina added the second in the 27th minute. Other matches in the tournament were not played due to the countrywide strike.

-RM

Premier Chess from Nov 2 The Premier Division Chess League, organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation will start at the National Sports Council (NSC) Tower Auditorium from November 2. The number draw of the participating teams will be held on November 1. A total of 10 teams are participating in the league and they are reigning champion Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, runners-up Duronto Rajshahi, Titas Club, Access Group Chess Club, Pritam-Prism Chess Club Narayanganj, Air Destiny Limited, Bangladesh Biman, Faith Chess Club, Leonine Chess Club and Gopalganj Chess Club. The league will be held in a round-robin system.

-RM

Former players term series result fair for Pakistan Former Pakistan players on Sunday termed a 1-1 series draw as a “fair result” for their team against the world’s topranked nation South Africa. Pakistan went down by an innings and 92 runs in the Dubai Test on Saturday, a result that squared the two-match series after they had won the first Test by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi. Former captain Aamir Sohail said the result was not to be sniffed at, especially after their embarrassing defeat against minnows Zimbabwe last month. “It is more than a fair result because of the way Pakistan cricket is run,” Sohail told AFP. “A win in the second Test was never on the cards for Pakistan as South Africa were expected to come back strongly and they did. “South Africa were stunned by the defeat in the first Test but the way they hit back showed that they are the world’s best Test team,” he added.

Sohail said Pakistan must learn to play a fifth bowler in Tests. “I think there are a few lessons to be learnt, especially they must realise the importance of a third fast bowler and play with five bowlers in all.” Pakistan used two frontline pacers in Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan and two spinners in Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar in the two Tests, but Sohail termed the absence of a fifth bowler as “a big lacking for Pakistan.”

–AFP

De Villiers on top, Pakistan regain fourth spot

South Africa’s AB de Villiers overtook team-mate Hashim Amla as number one Test batsman after helping guide his team to a 1-1 series draw against Pakistan, the International Cricket Council announced Sunday. De Villiers, 29, hit an aggressive 164 in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai. He and skipper Graeme Smith, who made 234, put on 338 -- a South African record for the fifth wicket -- and the Proteas won the match by an innings and 92 runs on Saturday. De Villiers, who had scored a fighting 90 in South Africa’s seven-wicket defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, earned 27 points to reach 900 points in the ratings, the ICC said. He is the fifth South African and 28th batsmen in the world to reach 900 rating points. Before him Dudley Nourse, Graeme Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Amla were the other South Africans to achieve the distinction. De Villiers was also declared man of the series. Amla missed the Dubai Test after returning home for the birth of his child. West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third in the batsmen’s rankings.

Smith returned to the top ten of Test batsmen after his monumental 234. The South African skipper jumped seven places and is now eighth in the rankings.

–AFP

15

Monday, October 28, 2013

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning the Formula One Indian Grand Prix 2013 at the Buddh International circuit in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday AFP

Vettel seizes historic world title n AFP, Greater Noida Sebastian Vettel roared into the history books as Formula One’s youngest fourtime champion and celebrated in outlandish style after a superlative win at the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Pole-sitter Vettel pitted early to change his soft tyres but then scythed through the field to win 30 seconds ahead of Mercedes’s Nico Rosberg, with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean third.

The 26-year-old German becomes the youngest man to win four straight titles, with Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher the only other drivers to achieve the feat.

And despite team-mate Mark Webber’s retirement with a mechanical problem, Red Bull also sealed their fourth straight constructors’ title with three races to go.

“Unbelievable day,” said the jubilant Vettel over the team radio. “We did it!

Yes! Yes!”

“You’ve done it in style,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on the radio as Vettel raced past the chequered flag. “Brilliant drive, you join the greats.”

With his fourth championship, achieved with 10 wins this season, Vettel levels French great Alain Prost on the all-time list with only Fangio (five) and Schumacher (seven) ahead of him.

He celebrated jubiliantly by spinning doughnuts for a cacophonous grandstand, and then leapt on top of his car and saluted his fans before kneeling in front of the Red Bull in mock worship.

The exuberant scenes earned Vettel a reprimand and Red Bull a 25,000 euros fine for not heading straight off the circuit, as demanded by F1 rules.

But that was of little concern to the emotional Vettel, who was hoisted onto Rosberg and Grosjean’s shoulders on the champagne-sprayed podium and called it the “best day of my life”.

“I am speechless. I spent ages think-

ing what to say, there is so much you want to say at a time like that,” he said.

“It is a pleasure to jump in the car and go out and drive for the guys and give it all I have. The car was phenomenal today and has been phenomenal all season to be honest.

“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who is behind the team. It has not been an easy season. From the outside, people will think it was easy but it wasn’t.” Vettel said the enthusiastic applause from the Indian crowd was particularly sweet after he was unsportingly jeered after winning in Belgium, Italy and Singapore.

“It has been hard for me in particular, to be booed when I have not done anything wrong was hard, but I think I answered the things on the track which I am very pleased about,” he said.

“I am overwhelmed, I don’t know what to say but it is the best day of my life so far.”

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was

Vettel’s nearest challenger going into the race but 90 points adrift, managed only 11th place.

Vettel’s sixth win in a row, 10th in 16 races this season and 36th of his career left him poised to shatter more records in the remaining three races in Abu Dhabi, America and Brazil.

If he wins all three, Vettel will equal Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in 2004 and become the only driver to secure nine consecutive victories in a season.

Italian Alberto Ascari drove a Ferrari for nine straight wins, but his run was spread over two seasons in 1952 and 1953.

The German, who won the Indian race in both 2011 and 2012, once again dominated with record times in all three practice sessions this year and a perfect qualifying round on Saturday.

Vettel made a quick change to medium tyres after the second lap and dropped to the back of the field, but he returned to second place by the 21st lap behind Webber. l

Roger Federer’s unhappy season continued on Sunday when he lost to Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Basel Open for the second year running.

The Swiss played some of his best tennis this year but it was still not enough to stop him from being on the receiving end of a 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-4 defeat against the powerful Argentine and his 220 kph serve.

To add to his woes, victory would have guaranteed Federer a place in the season-ending World Tour Finals but his hopes of qualifying for the tournament he has won a record six times will be decided at next week’s Paris Masters.

After Del Potro took the first set, the momentum seemed to swing Federer’s way when he raced through the second set.

But the turning point came in the first game of the third set when Federer was broken after leading 40-15.

Del Potro hit a stunning return on his way to break point and, although the Swiss hero saved one point with an amazing backhand overhead smashed, Del Potro took the game when Federer overhit a forehand. l

Drivers 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 5. Mark Webber (AUS) 6. Nico Rosberg (GER) 7. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 8. Felipe Massa (BRA) 9. Jenson Button (GBR) 10. Paul di Resta (GBR) 11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 12. Sergio Perez (MEX) 13. Adrian Sutil (GER) 14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 15. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA)

Constructors

1. Red Bull Racing 2. Mercedes AMG Petronas Team 3. Scuderia Ferrari 4. Lotus 5. McLaren Mercedes 6. Force India 7. Sauber 8. Scuderia Toro Rosso

322 pts 207 183 169 148 144 102 102 60 40 39 33 28 19 13 470 pts 313 309 285 93 68 45 32

Siddikur finishes strong Serena sets up Li final clash n Tribune Desk

Bangladesh golfing star Siddikur Rahman finished the star-stubbed CIMB Classic on high after carding a two-under-par 70 in the final round to finish joint 25th at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.

After a disappointing first round three-over-par 75, the 29-year-old Siddikur came back well and returned belowpar scores on the remaining days. His total score for the four days was fourunder-par 284 (75-70-69-70).

Siddikur learnt a lesson on aggressive play after playing with long-hitters Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley in the opening two rounds.

“I was disappointed after the first round but I was hitting the ball so good, so I was still confident of doing well. The results showed when I played in the last three days. I learnt a lot by playing with Bubba (Watson) and Keegan (Bradley).

“Previously, I always played it safe

but I learnt from them that sometimes, you need to play aggressively. That’s what I tried and it really worked for me. It was a good experience playing with them. I wasn’t nervous but I enjoyed playing with them. I wanted to learn something from them and I did,” said the 2010 Brunei Open winner, who struck five birdies and three bogeys on the last day.

Meanwhile, Americans Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland will return on Monday morning, 7.30am for a suddendeath play-off to determine the champion after tying on 14-under-par 274 in a weather-hit final day.

Moore and Woodland, both two-time PGA Tour winners, posted a 70 and 69 respectively on a drama-filled day which included two weather suspensions due to lightning storms. Rising Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat finished joint third with American Chris Stroud, one shot behind the leaders, in the Asian and PGA Tour backed event. l

n AFP, Istanbul

Serena Williams overcame physical difficulties, emotional distress as well as a stubborn opponent in Jelena Jankovic before reaching the final of the WTA Championships with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win.

The world number one will tackle Li Na, the first Chinese player to reach the title match, after the former French Open champion defeated Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 6-2.

It was a harrowing, stumbling performance by titleholder Williams over former world number one Jankovic, for she appeared to have problems with her movement and twice sat weeping into her towel during change-overs.

She also committed 40 unforced errors amidst her 40 winners, and allowed a 5-1 final set lead to evaporate to within one point of 5-5 before finishing it with three trademark heavy blows.

It was evident immediately that all was not well with 32-year-old Williams

on Saturday.

She dropped her second service game and went 1-3 down, and although she recovered with some stunning ground strokes she rarely served at full power and often looked ponderous and laboured.

It got worse in the second set as the errors flowed more frequently, which encouraged Jankovic to raise her level.

The Serbian defended stoutly and was at times able to counter-attack, breaking for 3-1 again but this time extending it to 5-1 and 6-2. During this phase Williams looked capable of drifting to defeat.

She responded to her mistakes with gestures of dismay, slumped shoulders and despairing staggers, and seemed capable of compounding shot-making uncertainty with an unpredictable emotions. Her mother Oracene sat with her head tilted on one side, while her coach Patrick Mouratoglou combined withdrawn expressions with sudden ges-

Pakistan angry over ball-tampering ‘leniency’ n AFP, Dubai Pakistan cricket officials were fuming over the second Test ball-tampering row which saw South Africa’s Faf Du Plessis hit with a small fine, claiming punishment would have been more severe had a sub-continent player been involved.

Du Plessis was fined 50 percent of his match fee after admitting tampering with the ball during the third day of the second Test on Friday.

South Africa, who won by an innings and 92 runs on Saturday to level the two-match series 1-1, were also penalised five runs.

But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi said he will protest the fine with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“The PCB is writing a letter to the ICC seeking an explanation of the inconsistency by the match referee in application of the ball-tampering rule to Afridi vs Faf,” tweeted Sethi.

He was referring to Pakistan all-

rounder Shahid Afridi’s ban for the same offence in Australia in 2010.

The 29-year-old du Plessis is the first South African to be charged with balltampering.

Former Pakistan players also blasted the game’s governing body for taking what they saw as overly lenient action against du Plessis, who was spotted rubbing the ball near to a zip on his trousers.

“I am surprised at the decision,” former Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar said.

Akhtar, who was banned for two one-dayers and fined 75 percent of his match fee for tampering during a tri-series in Sri Lanka in 2003, said Pakistan have “no say” in the ICC. “We can’t raise our voice, so this will go on like this,” he added.

“How can you give such a lenient decision on such hard evidence. He should have been banned for six months at least and the captain Graeme Smith should also have been punished,” said former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif. l

tures of triumphal support.

In the end, when Williams’ fourgame final set lead all but disappeared, it was only the sheer power of her ballstriking ability and her desire to survive which prevailed but it was a close run thing. l

Lorenzo wins to keep MotoGP title alive n AFP, MOTEGI The MotoGP world championship will go down to the final race of the season after Jorge Lorenzo won the Japan Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of title rival Marc Marquez.

Marquez, 20, bidding to become the youngest ever MotoGP world champion, is guaranteed to win the title if he places fourth or better in a fortnight in Valencia, regardless of Lorenzo’s performance.

Marquez, who is still favourite to become the first rookie title winner for 35 years, leads the standings on 318 points, 13 more than fellow Spaniard Lorenzo.

Marquez said he struggled with his braking on the stop-and-go Motegi circuit, and decided to settle for second after judging that it would be difficult to catch his countryman.

“In the end, I saw Jorge started to push a little bit more,” Marquez said, adding he had pushed himself to the limit. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, October 28, 2013

JS watchdog pushes for overseas trips n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The parliamentary watchdog tasked with ensuring transparency and accountability of the executive has been “immorally” pressing the commerce ministry to fund overseas tours for the standing committee’s head and members.

The Rules of Procedure of parliament prohibits watchdog members from accepting any benefits from the executive, as standing committees on different ministries are meant to ensure transparency by monitoring all activities.

Asking for favours or receiving any benefits from the ministries would influence the oversight functions of the watchdog bodies for certain, said experts.

At the last three meetings, the 10-member parliamentary standing committee on commerce ministry demanded that the ministry include the chairman, members and certain officials of the parliament secretariat for overseas tours.

During the committee’s 50th meeting on September 30, information was sought on the Export Promotion Bureau’s (EPB) funds, after the commerce ministry refused to provide funds.

Commerce Minister GM Quader, who didn’t attend the last three meetings (49th - 51st), told the Dhaka Tribune that the standing committee’s demand for funds to finance foreign trips was “highly immoral.”

He said his ministry had already sponsored tours to the US, France and Italy for Chairman AMB Abul Qasem and some members of the standing committee. The ministry also funded trips for the chairman’s private secretary.

“But making such demands frequently is highly immoral. Again, he wants us to provide funds for his pri-

vate secretary’s trips,” said the minister.

He said overseas tours of standing committee members should be sponsored by the parliament secretariat, the ministry or any of its wings, and added: “We cannot go abroad since the minister took charge (of the ministry).”

He said standing committee members should only travel abroad to gather knowledge on different relevant issues.

According to the minutes of the 49th meeting held on September 4, the standing committee recommended that its members and three officials of the parliament secretariat should be included in the EPB’s team that would travel to Moscow for the Federal Trade Fair for Apparel and Textile held on September 24-27.

At the meeting, which was attended by the Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, he told the standing committee that the ministry did not have funds to sponsor MPs’ overseas tours, and the minister would be able to answer their queries in this regard.

At the next meeting, the committee once again raised the subject of overseas tour for its members, and asked for the EPB’s funds statement after the ministry spoke of financial constraints.

It was demanded that standing committee members be included in the EPB team that was going to a trade fair in Brazil. After the ministry refused to fund the Brazil trip, the standing committee once again raised the topic of travelling to the trade fair. Ministry officials attending the meeting once again refused on the grounds of funds crises at the ministry and the EPB. The decision was taken at the meeting for the standing committee to ask for clarifications from the ministry at the next meeting, if it refused to sponsor them again.

The date for the next meeting has not been fixed, as yet. l

Two Bangladeshis killed in South Africa n Rabiul Islam Two Bangladeshi migrant workers reportedly died in a fire in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday.

“I heard that two Bangladeshis have been killed though I do not know the details yet. I have instructed Daud Ali, Deputy Bangladesh High Commissioner to South Africa, to look into the matter,” Bangladesh High Commissioner to South Africa Md Touhid Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

Talking to this correspondent over phone, a Bangladeshi migrant Mohiuddin Babul in South Africa said the two deceased were Golam Faruk Dewan and Selim Dewan of Faridganj, Chandpur.

He said they used to work at a shop owned by one Babu, a Bangladeshi.

Few days before, some local native miscreants forcefully entered the shop to steal but law enforcers caught one of them who later disclosed the name of the other involved.

They were held in this regard. However, the miscreants got release after few days and sought vengeance, said Babul.

They set fire to the shop on Saturday night that killed the two Bangladeshis, he informed quoting witnesses.

Touhid Hossain said such incidents were taking place because of the dilapidated condition of law and order in South Africa.

“Whenever incidents of killings and robberies take place, we inform the law

enforcing agencies in Johannesburg.

Though they conduct enquiry, rarely any result is yielded,” Hossain said adding that 50 to 60 Bangladeshi migrants are killed every year in South Africa.

Secretary of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Zafar Ahmed Khan, who visited South Africa recently, said the number of killing of Bangladeshi migrants in South Africa was the highest in comparison to other nations including India and Pakistan.

“During our meeting, we requested the home minister of South Africa to look into the issue seriously that the Bangladeshi migrants are being attacked and killed,” he said.

He said the migrants who are attacked usually do not report to the law enforcing agencies, which is a reason for the inactiveness in handling the predicament. “We have instructed our migrants to report to the police whenever they are attacked,” Zafar said.

The Bangladeshis, who travelled to South Africa over last several years, are now successfully working in various sectors including entrepreneurship, officials of Bangladesh High Commission in South Africa said.

Though most of the workers go there on student visas and tourist visas they later receive political refuge from the South African government.

According to Bangladesh High Commission, about 60,000 to 70,000 Bangladeshis are currently residing in South Africa as migrants. l

People trying to douse the fire on a public bus torched by pickets in the city’s Shonir Akhra area yesterday

Hopes fading for permanent pay commission

n Asif Showkat Kallol

The government is in dilemma over the practicability of creating a permanent pay commission.

“We have found there are no permanent pay commissions anywhere in world. Most of the governments just adjust their salaries with the country’s inflation every year,” said a senior official of the implementation department of the finance division.

The official also said Finance Minister AMA Muhith was yet to decide whether there would be a permanent pay commission, as it would be big pressure on the annual budgets.

It was in his last budget speech that the finance minister announced the government’s intentions to constitute a permanent pay commission for public servants.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina recounted the promise at different occasions.

Sources said the implementation department would issue a circular after the receiving the name of chairman of the next pay commission.

According to sources three names have already been recommended for the position. The names are – former governors of the Bangladesh Bank Dr Farashuddin Ahmed and Dr Salahuddin Ahmed and former finance secretary Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury.

On September 12, finance minister AMA Muhith said a permanent pay commission for public servants would be appointed next month.

Nearly 1.2 million public servants in addition to 470,000 teachers who receive monthly payment order will be benefited from the pay hike.

The government on October 7 issued a gazette notification providing the public servants with 20% dearness allowance as “an interim arrangement” to compensate the inflation. According to the gazette notification, the dearness allowance is effective from July 1, 2013.

The finance ministry, however, attached a ceiling for the allowance at Tk6,000 and a floor at Tk1,500.

The gazette notification was issued one day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that the decision of 20% dearness allowance had already been made. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Envoys concerned over deaths, violence n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Washington has expressed its concern over the escalating violence and deaths in political clashes in Bangladesh.

“We are concerned about the violence and deaths that have occurred,” said a statement issued by the US embassy in Dhaka yesterday evening.

“We look to the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of all its citizens and encourage all Bangladeshis to peacefully express their views,” it said.

The statement called on all parties to ensure that they use peaceful means to pursue their objectives and said “violence is never the answer”.

About the election, it said America continued to urge the major parties in Bangladesh to engage in constructive dialogue to find an agreed way forward to hold free, fair and credible elections.

“Ambassador Mozena said he is encouraged by developments, including

most recently the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Hasina and Begum Zia, and hopes these positive developments will culminate soon in a constructive dialogue between the major parties on the best way forward for achieving free, fair and credible elections,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Shiro Sadoshima expressed his deep concern over the continuing escalation of violence and hostility in Dhaka and all over Bangladesh.

“Japan, as a long-time friend and important stakeholder of Bangladesh, while condemning any kind of violence and destructive activities, urges the restraint of both ruling and opposition parties so as not to cause any loss on its citizen’s safety and welfare over the path of the resolving the political confrontation,” the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, foreign diplomats on Saturday welcomed the dialogue between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

and leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia. British High Commissioner Robert Gibson welcomed the constructive dialogue between Awami League and BNP. “Like so many others in Bangladesh, I welcome news of progress towards a continued and constructive dialogue between the Awami League and BNP, and hope we will not witness further violence over the coming days,” he said.

When contacted the Chinese embassy informed the Dhaka Tribune that Chinese ambassador went to China and during his absence, it might not give any statement on the current situation.

It, however, said they hoped the efforts for dialogue would be continued.

“As H.E. Li Jun has said for several time, the Chinese side believes that dialogue is better than confrontation and peaceful dialogue is the only way to solve the current crisis,” an email from Chinese embassy said. l

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque coming out of the state guesthouse Padma after having a meeting with foreign diplomats yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Lot of progress in RMG sector: EU ambassador n Sheikh ShahariarZaman Diplomats of European Union, United States and other western countries would report back to their headquarters about the progress made in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh during the last couple of months.

“It was a very positive discussion.

It allows us to be able to report back to our headquarters, what has been done and I think a lot has been done over the last few months,” EU Ambassador William Hanna said after five ambassadors, including him, had a meeting

with Foreign Secretary ShahidulHaque at Padma Guest House yesterday.

US Ambassador Dan Mozena, British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, Netherlands Ambassador GerbenSjoerd de Jong and the CDA of Canadian High Commission were present at the meeting.

Labour reform, factory safety and safety to work issues were discussed to introduce reforms as these were so needed for the garment sector to make it a sustainable one in the future, Hanna said.

“It was a technical meeting covering

a lot of areas. The very useful discussion allows all of us to report back and to move forward in this sector.”

The foreign secretary said the government wanted to have a deep relationship with EU, US and other countries for the development of the garment sector.

A project to improve labour conditions in the readymade garment sector was launched last week and more projects on labour law, labour inspection mechanism and fire safety could be initiated with the help of western countries, he said. l

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B2 Chile gives duty-free access

B3 Fresh proposal deferred again

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

ATM transactions exceed Tk1tn ‘It’s much easier and hassle-free method of banking transaction’ n Jebun Nesa Alo Banking transactions through ATM booths in the country marked 150% growth in a period between 2010 and 2012 with the annual volume reaching Tk1tn last year.

Bangladesh Bank data shows the transactions through the automated teller machines rose from Tk400bn in 2010. In the year 2011, the figure was Tk600bn.

Thanks to its advantages, including 24/7 service and no-cheque method, as compared to the traditional limited banking hours, the electronic system is increasingly becoming popular among the users in the developing economy of Bangladesh.

Out of 47 scheduled banks, 42 offer full or partial online banking services providing facilities to the customers with debit and credit cards.

Most of the commercial banks have developed their core banking solutions to facilitate better services.

In the year 2012, as many as 40 commercial banks had their own ATM booths and the number of booths in the year stood at 2,958 across the country.

In 2012 alone, the new addition was 1,359 machines.

Debit card transactions rose to Tk600bn in 2012 from Tk200bn in 2010 while the credit card transactions registered a dramatic rise to Tk200bn in 2012 from zero in 2010.

“ATM banking is a great help for me against the traditional banking hour since, as a businessman, I need to draw money any time,” Abdur Rashid, a businessman based in Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune.

ATM booths of different banks are now commonly visible in the city areas and district towns. Even at the upazila level, some booths are also available.

“It’s much easier and hassle-free method of banking transaction. That’s why the service is having increasing popularity,” said NCC Bank’s chief technology officer Tapan Kanti Sarkar.

Under the mutual agreements among the banks, customers of a bank can also use ATM booths of other banks, which made the network further expanded.

Moreover, Bangladesh Bank’s national payment switch (NPS) has ensured access for all clients to inter-bank transactions.

“The introduction of NPS was highly encouraging for the customers of the country’s inter-bank transactions,” said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The central bank launched the NPS last year to create a common platform for the card transaction systems, including debit, credit and pre-paid cards as well as internet

A man seen drawing money from an automated teller machine (ATM) booth in Dhaka and mobile banking services.

“E-banking has become common in banking transactions by most of the customers as it operates against the traditional system,” said a high official of Bangladesh Bank. “Mobile banking is a new addition to the system.”

The official, however, pointed out that maintaining security of the e-banking is one of the major challenges now.

“Recently, the law enforcers have found several gangs involved in ATM card fraudulences in Dhaka. The challenge now is to check frauds.”

The criminals stole away money from the booths by using fake ID cards of banks and introducing themselves as IT experts of the banks.

Bangladesh Bank data showed, although there was a significant growth in the card-assisted banking transactions, the internet banking in Bangladesh faced slowdown in 2012.

The internet-banking transactions totalled over Tk200bn in 2012 while the figure was almost same in the previous year. l

TAHMIDUR RAHMAN

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

BusinessAsia awards Mandal Industries

n Tribune Business Desk BusinessAsia awarded Mandal Auto Rice Mills and Food Industries as the “most respected company” for the year.

Besides, managing director of Mandal Rice Mills received the “best young entrepreneur of the year” award. Industries Minister Dilip Burua and PM Adviser HT Imam handed over the awards at a function at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka recently, said a press release.

FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and women entrepreneur Giti Ara Safia Chowdhury were also present. l

SBL holds audit committee meeting

n Tribune Business Desk Standard Bank Ltd (SBL) held its 55th meeting of audit committee of the board of directors at head office in Dhaka on Saturday.

The chairman of audit committee Sahazada Syed Nizamuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting, said a press release.

SBL committee members, vice chairman Ashok Kumar Saha, directors Md Zahidul Haque and Md Fayekuzzaman and managing director Md Nazmus Salehin, among others, also attended the meeting. l

Trucks remain lying idle in Chittagong road near Kanchpur Bridge yesterday as BNP-Jamaat-led opposition has called countrywide hartal. During the threeday hartal ending on Tuesday evening, the supply of commodities is feared to be badly affected SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Chile gives duty-free access n Asif Showkat Kallol The Latin American country Chile will give Bangladeshi products duty-free and quota-free access to its market in a move to boost trade between the two nations.

“The government of Chile is going to give duty-free and quota-free access to the products from the least developed countries including Bangladesh,” said Mahbub Ahmed, Bangladesh’s Commerce Secretary.

He said: “Our embassy in Geneva has informed us about the matter today (Saturday).”

Last year, an official delegation heady by commerce secretary visited Chile to talk about strengthening bilateral trade. The team also visited Brazil, Spain and Maxico at that time.

Mahbub Ahmed believes the duty-free and quota-free offer is the outcome of the visit.

“During our visit to Chile, we met vice president of Chile and the country’s commerce minister to discuss the issue.”

On September 16, the finance ministry of Chile issued a circular which said customs duty had been fixed at 0% on the imported products originated from the least developed countries.

The circular however excluded wheat, wheat flour and sugar from the list.

The decree shall determine the conditions and operational requirements to be met to qualify as originating goods among which, the submission of a certificate of origin at the time of importation.

This decree shall establish the list of countries to which this benefit will apply on the first and second and third year of the establishment of this law, determined by the concentration index of exports in the year immediately preceding this issuance.

On the first year, all those whose concentration index excesses 0.75% will be incorporated, the second year, those whose index is less than or equal to 0.75% and over 0.49% and the third year, the remaining countries.

“Local exporters now export goods in-

cluding readymade garment, jute and jute goods and now pharmaceutical products to the Latin American countries,” said Commerce Secretary.

He said the country had no export of medicine and pharmaceutical items for last couple of years to the Latin America countries.

Chile exports machinery, plastic products, fruits, lead and chemical products to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has no embassy in Chile. “It’s our main problem towards improving bilateral trade between our two countries,” said Mahbub Ahmed.

CPD additional research director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem told the Dhaka Tribune that the government of Chile already enjoying the trade benefit with 60 countries through bilateral trade agreement.

So, Bangladesh would not get desired benefit from the trade concession.

He, however, said the duty free excess to Chile will definitely offer opportunities to Bangladeshi exporters to enter into Latin American markets. l

Rotary leaders visits training centre

n Tribune Business Desk Dhaka Midtown Rotary Club (RCDM) started a matching grant project in Mohammadpur slum area, Dhaka.

RC Memuro, Obihito, Japan is supporting the project, said a press release. Its cooperating partner in Bangladesh is Ashar Alo with focus on health, literacy and vocational training.

Former rotary governor Rafique Ahmed Siddique and elected governor Safina Rahman visited rotary training centre in Mohammadpur, which was established with collaboration from the Japanese rotary club recently. l

SIBL holds board meeting

n Tribune Business Desk

Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) held its 298th board meeting at its corporate office on October 26. The chairman of the board of directors Major (Retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque presided over the meeting, said a press release.

SIBL directors, managing director Md Shafiqur Rahman and senior executives were present in the meeting. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

RMG MINIMUM WAGE

Fresh proposal deferred again Whenever declared it may take effect from November n Tribune Report

which include food and transport allowances in the basic salary,” he added, .

The minimum wage to be declared by the board would be effective from November if it takes time to announce due to technical problems, he noted.

“We will take next course of action if the factory owners fail to place fresh proposal on October 31,” said Sirajul Islam Rony, workers’ representative to the board. “They can open factories during the hartal hours but cannot join the meeting. It’s a lame excuse.”

Earlier, BGMEA proposed an increase of Tk600 or 20% from the existing minimum wage of Tk3,000 per month. The workers rejected the offer while many took to the streets demanding a higher wage.

Leaders of RMG workers, however, proposed Tk8,114 as the minimum wage. l

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has deferred once again its fresh proposal on minimum wage for the workers due to hartal.

The proposal is now being expected to be submitted on October 31.

The trade body for the apparel industry was scheduled to place the proposal at a meeting of the wage board held yesterday. after enjoying a three days extended time to prepare an acceptable and realistic proposal revising the earlier proposal of 20% increment over existing minimum wage.

“The owners’ representative to the board was supposed to place a revised proposal today (Sunday), but could not attend the meeting due to countrywide shutdown,”

said board chairman AK Roy said after the meeting.

Considering the present situation and having talks with other members, the board decided to hold next meeting on October 31.

“We hope BGMEA to submit the proposal on the day.”

He said the board would finalise the salary and sent it to the labour and employment ministry for approval by the first week of November.

“The fresh proposal is ready and we were prepared to place it at the board meeting, but could not attend the meeting due to hartal,” Arshad Jamal Dipu, the owners’ representative to the board told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Considering the capability of the small and medium factories, we are going to propose Tk4,500 as minimum monthly wage,

BB issues new rules to appoint bank CEOs, advisers

Dhaka stocks see sharp rise on political developments

n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank yesterday issued a set of guidelines on contractual appointment of banks’ advisors and consultants and chief executive officers as well as redefined responsibilities of the members of board of directors.

“To ensure good governance in the banking sector, there is no alternative to form a board with the combination of skilled professional people,” said a circular issued yesterday.

The central bank issued three separate circulars effective immediately, asking banks to follow the guidelines.

Under the guideline of contractual appointments of consultants and advisors, the banks have to take prior approval of Bangladesh Bank in the case of appointing advisors.

They will be appointed for a maximum of one year period, but will be eligible for re-appointment.

But banks’ former directors, CEOs or any other officer will not be allowed to appoint in the respective bank as advisors.

After being passed one year of resigning, they will be eligible for appointing as advisor in the same bank from where he resigned.

Consultants will be appointed following the approval of the banks’ board of directors and they will be appointed for maximum two years. Generally, a consultant will not be eligible for re-appointment.

In case of CEOs, people above 65 years of age cannot be positioned and they will be appointed for at least 3 years.

Banks have to take written approval of Bangladesh Bank before appointing the CEOs in accordance with the bank company act, 1991. l

Stock prices at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed sharp rise despite countrywide shutdown enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance as investors put funds on equities amid hope for ending the political crises.

“Optimism on end of ongoing political crisis spurred robust movement during the day’s session,” said IDLC Investments in its market analysis. Additionally, quarterly earnings disclosures fueled in investors’ sentiment positively and created fundamental stimulus of positioning, it said.

“Being optimistic by the quarterly financials of stocks, investors have shown a trading appetite on the long side, which helped the index gain more than 100 points on a single-day trading session,” said Lanka Bangla Securities.

“Investors are showing resilient trading behavior assuming market in the process of digesting political adversity which helped market to make profit,” it added.

Excitement has started to build its place, as the whole stock market is now dependent on political agenda, said Zenith Investments.

However, people are aware that sooner or later a solution is bound to take place; therefore, buyers are now trying to capitalise by purchasing as much stocks as they can

whereas sellers are waiting for the right time to release their stocks, it noted.

The benchmark DSEX index rose 110 points or 2.89% to 3, 909, posting a sharp rise after steep fall in the last session. The blue chip index DS30 was up 25 points or 1.86% to 1,386.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 7,677 with a rise of 235 points.

Day’s total turnover amounted Tk2.50bn, which was 8.6% higher compared to the previous session value of Tk2.30bn.

Amid buoyant trading, investors mostly participated in Textile and Banks, which gained 29.16% and 17.95% respectively.

Meanwhile, Q3 earning disclosure of GP lured participants to Telecommunication (+5.95%) sector and topped it in sectoral performance list.

Besides, earnings disclosures of most of the banks and news regarding their positioning below NAV notched investors to focus on this sector and resultantly came at second performing sector with 5.11% gain.

Generation Next Fashion Ltd, up 7.6%, was the most traded stock of the session with a turnover of Tk204.2m.

Malek Sipping was the highest gainer of the session while Beacon Pharma was the worst loser, declining 12.12% following its no dividend declaration. l

3

Government to appoint factory inspectors next month n Tribune Report The government is planning to create posts by mid-November for appointing inspectors to start factory inspection and comply with the action plan laid out by the United States to get GSP facility restored.

“We are working to fulfill all the conditions of the action plan and hope to appoint inspectors by mid-November as the process of creating the posts should be completed by then,” Commence Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said yesterday. The inspection of the factories would start by the end of November.

‘We are working to fulfill all the conditions of the action plan and hope to appoint inspectors by mid-November as the process of creating the posts should be completed by then’ A meeting in Dhaka yesterday discussed the progress of implementation of the action plan and concluded that progress has been made in the 16 points, he added.

RMG stakeholders and representatives from labour, home and commerce ministries were present at the meeting with Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed in the chair.

The Obama administration on June 27 suspended the trade privilege, Generalised System of Preference, for Bangladesh citing poor labour rights and work environment in the country.

European Union declared an action plan on July 19 to improve labour rights of garment workers.

After the suspension of the GSP facilities, the US government set a series of conditions to revise the facilities for Bangladesh and asked the government to fulfill the issues by December before reviewing of the GSP. l

Banglalink offers free Wikipedia browsing n Tribune Report Mobile phone operator Banglalink has launched Wikipedia Zero in Bangladesh, an initiative of the Wikimedia Foundation to enable mobile access, free of data charges, to Wikipedia in developing countries like Bangladesh.

The service was introduced on Friday to any of their subscriber free of cost, says a press release yesterday.

The service aims at reducing barriers to accessing free knowledge – one of the main barriers to this is the cost of data usage in developing countries.

Despite a huge growth in mobile internet penetration in the country, this is the first time a mobile operator is offering free mobile data access to Wikipedia in Bangladesh.

Any Banglalink subscriber will be able to browse Wikipedia, upload multimedia contents, connect to global community site for the Wikimedia projects, and donate photos for Wikipedia projects and a lot more by using Wikipedia domains & applications. l

Business Asian slowdown to prolong

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Weak global growth is the reason

n AFP, New Delhi

n Reuters, Bangalore The slowdown in Asian economies will likely persist for the rest of this year as weak global growth and reforms under way in many countries hinder activity, Reuters polls showed on Thursday.

But next year promises to be better, with most of the region’s economies expected to grow at a faster pace on the back of a US recovery.

Estimates for 2013 GDP growth were either cut or left unchanged for nine countries in the latest poll of over 250 economists conducted Oct 18-23, with India, Malaysia and Taiwan bearing the brunt of the downgrades.

Growth in China and India, the two regional powerhouses, will likely languish at multi-year lows.

China’s economy is set to grow 7.6% in 2013, beating the government’s 7.5% target, before losing some steam next year as the government forges ahead with structural reforms aimed at deriving more growth out of domestic consumption instead of exports.

“Chinese growth has been mainly driven by heavy industry and stands in contrast to the principles recently expounded by the country’s leadership: that a lower rate of GDP growth can be tolerated to ensure better quality growth in the future,” said Zhiwei Zhang, economist at Nomura in Hong Kong.

Supplying developed countries with everything from consumer and electronic goods to clothes and technology equipment, Asia’s export-focused economies have been hit by a prolonged slowdown in their main markets.

Reuters polls last week showed growth in the US and euro zone, Asia’s largest export markets, is unlikely to pick up to a robust pace anytime soon.

Concerns over how Washington will negotiate its fiscal troubles and uncertainty over the timing of an exit from the Federal Reserve’s stimulus programme will also likely weigh on Asian growth. Since midMay, when the Fed announced its intention to taper its $85bn a month bond purchases,

An employee checks the gauge of steel rods at the production line inside Hallmark steel factory in Bhiwadi in the desert Indian state of Rajasthan REUTERS emerging Asian currencies have been hammered by investors who dumped risky assets in favour of the safe-haven US dollar.

The massive outflows from the region threw into stark relief Asian countries’ reliance on the greenback to finance trade.

The Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah, the two most vulnerable currencies due to large current account deficits, lost 14% and 16% respectively between May to September.

But HSBC economist Frederic Neumann says those risks have subsided.

“With tapering on hold, and local defences beefed up, markets are breathing easier. An eventual taper might not do equal damage.”

The poll showed most countries will manage to keep their current account balance-toGDP ratios in check this year and next.

The Indian economy will likely post its weakest growth since the turn of the cen-

Newest Indian airline expects to take flight by mid-2014

tury this fiscal year as uncertainty ahead of elections next year keeps investors away, denting sentiment and demand in the economy.

The median estimate of 4.7% growth in FY 2013/14 marked the sixth consecutive downgrade in the poll and highlights how the country that once boasted of near double-digit growth rates has slowly lost ground.

“Unfortunately, we believe the slowdown has further to go, which presents additional challenges for policymakers as they try to anchor inflation, stabilise the currency, and bring about a recovery in growth,” Neumann said.

Indian wholesale inflation in expected to average 6% in this fiscal year and next, higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s perceived comfort zone of 5%.

Economists in the poll have pencilled in another hike in the repo rate to 7.75%. l

India’s newest planned airline, a joint venture of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, expects to win swift regulatory clearance and be able to start flying by mid-next year, the carrier’s chairman said.

Indian tea-to-steel conglomerate Tata will hold a 51% stake and Singapore Airlines Ltd 49% in the new venture, which was announced last month, as they seek to exploit one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. “We are looking at very fast clearances. We hope that we will be able to launch

by May-June,” Prasad Menon, chairman of the new carrier, Tata SIA Airlines, told reporters late Friday.

Even though the Foreign Investment Promotion Board earlier this week cleared the venture to be headquartered in India’s capital, a string of other regulatory approvals are needed before the new carrier can take to the skies.

“I don’t see any problems” in the new airline obtaining the clearances, aviation minister Ajit Singh told reporters after meeting Tata Sia’s executives in New Delhi on Friday.

The airline, which is planning to offer full service unlike rival carriers, which are mainly no-frills, needs a “no-objection certificate” from the aviation ministry. The airline, which will have an initial combined investment of $100m from the two stakeholders, marks the third foreign direct investment in the aviation sector since the government declared last year international airlines could buy as much as 49% of local carriers.

The Tata Group is setting up another airline venture in India with Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, which is expected to start operations early in 2014.

The government has also cleared the way for Abu Dhabi-based Etihad to pick up a stake in Indian private carrier Jet Airways.

India’s aviation sector was once celebrated as a sign of the country’s vibrant economy.

Its fortunes faded owing to a range of obstacles ranging from aggressive fare rivalry and rundown infrastructure to expensive fuel, but there now is renewed interest as investors eye the nation’s vast aviation market and growing middle class. l

Indian traders ‘cheating consumers’ with onion prices n AFP, New Delhi India’s ruling Congress government has accused traders of cheating consumers as it struggles to reduce the cost of the vegetable known as the “poor man’s food” ahead of a string of state polls.

The price of onions, a staple in Indian cooking, have gone through the roof in the past few months, quadrupling to as much as 100 rupees a kilogram ($1.65) in parts of the country and turning the vegetable into an unaffordable luxury for the poor.

Traders are “cheating consumers,” Food Minister K V Thomas said in remarks aired Saturday, appealing for onions to be sold at “affordable rates”. They “should not loot consumers”, he added.

The politically sensitive rise in the price of onions comes ahead of five regional assembly polls in November and December, seen as a dress rehearsal for general elections due by May 2014. The Congress-led government has been struggling to curb imports to counter a record current account deficit, the broadest measure of trade.

But such is its alarm as the state elections near that it plans to import thousands of tonnes of onions to reduce prices.

India is the world’s second-biggest onion grower after China and normally exports onions, but it has floated a tender to import onions to check the spiral in prices.

The state-run National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) “is interested in importing onions

of Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt origin”, the co-operative said in the tender issued earlier in the week.

NAFED expects to take a decision on the onion tender next Tuesday, Thomas said.

But supplies from abroad may take weeks to arrive, commodity experts say.

The ruling Congress party fears a backlash from the “aam admi” or “common man”, its main voter-support base.

“The sky-high prices of onions have given the opposition a potent weapon to attack the government with,” commented the Hindustan Times newspaper recently.

Costly onions have a history of political fallout, with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being ousted in 1998 Delhi state polls after surging onion prices soured

the voter mood.

In January 1980, the late Congress leader Indira Gandhi rode back to power on the back of rising onion prices, waving huge strings of them at campaign rallies and saying that a government has no right to govern if it cannot control onion costs.

The latest onion price rise has also come in the middle of India’s most important religious festival season, an occasion for multi-day feasts and family dinners.

“We always use onions in our cooking but they are something special for us now,” Pinky Singh, a domestic servant, told AFP. The government blames the steep price rise on middlemen who hoard onions, and extended rains in onion-growing areas that damaged crops. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

5

World currency turbulence hits company earnings

n AFP, Paris

An eagle tops the US Federal Reserve building facade in Washington

REUTERS

Fed to hold its fire this week It wants clearer economic view n Reuters, Washington Federal Reserve officials are unlikely to make any shift to monetary policy this week as they wait for more evidence of how badly Washington’s budget battle has hurt the US economy. Indeed, they could stand pat for the rest of the year.

“I would say January or March at this point,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida, on when the Fed would begin to scale back its bond-buying stimulus. “Odds for December are less than 50/50.”

Economic data released since a partial government shutdown ended has been surprisingly weak. Job growth slowed in September, a period that preceded the government’s 16-daypartial shutdown, and business investment plans flagged.

Consumer and business confidence could suffer lasting harm after politicians flirted with a debt default by refusing to raise the U.S. borrowing limit until the last moment, in a deal that only postpones the fiscal fight until the new year.

Making matters worse, the shutdown interrupted data gathering in October, muddying the picture for Fed policymakers seeking signs on the economy’s strength.

On top of the economic uncertainty, officials may be hesitant to make any dramatic policy shift given the upcoming leadership change at the central bank.

President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen, the Fed’s current vice chair, earlier

this month to replace Ben Bernanke as Fed chairman when his term ends in January.

The pending change at the Fed’s top dims prospects for any shift in the time-being in its so-called forward guidance on interest rates.

“It is hard to see any compelling reason to change either policy or even to make major changes to the statement,” said Dean Maki, chief US economist at Barclays in New York.

The central bank’s policy-setting committee is to release a statement on its policy decision on Wednesday, at the end of its twoday meeting, at 2pm (1800 GMT).

No strong views

The Fed stunned markets in September when it opted against slowing its bond buying from the current monthly pace of $85bn.

It had announced in June that it expected to begin reducing the program before the end of the year with an eye toward shuttering it altogether by mid-2014.

Signs of economic softness since the September meeting have vindicated the Fed’s caution, and economists now think officials will wait until next year to ensure a recovery is in full swing.

“The Fed likely doesn’t have a strong view on when tapering will occur at this point.

They’ll want to see how the shutdown affects the fourth quarter, as well as a couple more payroll reports,” said Maki, who has pushed his taper call to March from December.

To spur growth and hiring, the Fed has held overnight rates near zero since late

2008 and has also quadrupled its balance sheet to around $3.7tn through three massive rounds of bond buying in a further effort to keep borrowing costs low.

The Fed has promised not to raise rates until unemployment drops to at least 6.5%, provided inflation looks set to stay under 2.5%.

The jobless rate stood at 7.2% in September.

These thresholds are supposed to stop borrowing costs from rising rapidly once the Fed begins reducing its bond purchases.

But they did not look to be working very well over the summer, when financial markets pulled forward expectations for the first rate hike into 2014 after Bernanke said the central bank could soon begin to trim its buying.

Lift-off

Minutes of the Fed’s September meeting showed officials had discussed strengthening the forward guidance, either by lowering the unemployment threshold, or promising not to raise rates if the inflation outlook was beneath a certain floor.

But the minutes also showed that officials debated whether revised guidance would be credible ahead of the looming transition at the Fed’s helm, implicitly acknowledging that commitments made by Bernanke might not be seen as binding on his successor.

Since the September meeting, expectations for the first rate hike have been pushed to April 2015 at the earliest, which lessens any pressure policymakers may have felt to change the guidance. l

Emerging markets have helped rake in a corporate earnings bonanza in recent years, but a sudden plunge in their currencies in mid2013 due to an expected cut in US stimulus has sorely hit sales and profit.

Quarterly results at companies from Coca-Cola to IBM, Unilever to Casino and luxury group LVMH show that currency volatility has hit the bottom line.

“The ‘emerging risk’ is a source of concern in the first release of third quarter results,” economists at broker Aurel BGC said.

The Brazilian real, South African rand, Turkish lira, Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah lost up to a fifth of their value in August as investors pulled out funds in anticipation the US Federal Reserve would soon begin to taper the amount of monetary stimulus it injects into the economy.

“Across the range of firms missing revenue targets for the third quarter, one factor increasingly blamed is the impact of a higher euro,” said CMC Markets trader Toby Morris.

The euro has not only risen sharply against emerging market currencies, it has also reached its highest levels since 2011 against the dollar due to disappointing economic data from the United States and the prospect of more monetary stimulus.

“It’s painfully evident that the eurozone is the only major economic zone that doesn’t use its currency as an economic weapon and a weapon of competitiveness,” Finance Director Emmanuel Babeau told AFP. The Paris-based company, a world leader in electrical engineering said that currencies had depreciated sharply in markets where the company can make as much as a billion euros in sales.

“We find ourselves overvalued in relation to many currencies, including the dollar, that’s very clear,” he said.

Accordingly, the company said that organic sales growth would be stagnant instead of the moderate increase it had expected earlier.

Carmaker Renault had a similar story as sales fell 3.2%, even though registration of its vehicles increased by the same amount during the quarter.

“The depreciation of several emerging market currencies (Brazilian real, Russian ruble, Indian rupee, Argentinian peso) had an impact of 5.7 percentage points”, or 439m euros, on sales, said Sales and Marketing Director Jerome Stoll.

French supermarket group Casino, which has major operations in Brazil, said exchange rates had a negative 16.5 percentage point impact on overall sales in the period. Organic sales growth of 12.5% ended up as a 5.2% decline in sales in reported terms, the company said.

Even US companies have been affected.

At Coca-Cola, volumes increased by 3 percent but net revenue declined by 3%. Stripping out currency effects revenue would have increased by 4% in the quarter.

Coca-Cola chief executive Muhtar Kent described the results as solid given “an ongoing challenged macroeconomic environment driven by increasing volatility across emerging markets.” Analysts expect the businesses to continue to suffer from negative currency effects in the coming quarters. l

6

Share

DHAKA TRIBUNE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 3909.14 ⇑ 2.89%, Turnover: 2499.01 M.Tk ⇑ 8.50%, PE: 12.15 Turnover 2,732.20 MTk . ⇑ 10.00% 27 Sunday, 2013 MarketCap. 1,886.09 BTk. ⇑ 2.67% CSE All Share Index: 12116 ⇑ 3.04%, Turnover: 233.19M Tk. ⇑ 29.07%, PE: 12.02 Combined Turnover Leader

% of TTL

Avg. P

217.42

7.96

24.76

IFIC Bank-A

60.27

City Bank-A National Bank - B Peoples Insur-A

8780670

Envoy Textiles Ltd-N

2905410

175.10

6.41

1912080

122.93

4.50

UCBL - A Fareast Islami Life -A

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 444188 D: 24.90 ⇑ 7.33% | 24.71 | 25.10 / 21.00 C: 25.10 ⇑ 7.26% | 24.60 | 25.30 / 24.00 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 1576648 D: 17.80 ⇑ 9.88% | 17.47 | 17.80 / 15.50 C: 17.60 ⇑ 10.00% | 17.37 | 17.60 / 16.20 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 1450452 D: 23.30 ⇑ 9.91% | 23.22 | 23.30 / 21.00 C: 23.50 ⇑ 9.30% | 23.56 | 23.60 / 23.00 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 379541 D: 35.80 ⇓ 0.28% | 35.97 | 36.20 / 33.00 C: 36.30 ⇑ 1.97% | 36.10 | 36.90 / 35.80 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 4560100 D: 11.30 ⇑ 9.71% | 11.16 | 11.30 / 10.00 C: 11.40 ⇑ 9.62% | 11.22 | 11.40 / 10.40 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 117416 D: 31.10 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.15 | 31.60 / 28.50 C: 31.40 ⇑ 1.62% | 31.41 | 31.50 / 31.20 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 65100 D: 63.50 ⇑ 7.81% | 61.18 | 63.90 / 59.20 C: 61.40 ⇑ 2.33% | 61.37 | 62.50 / 60.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 5154221 D: 19.90 ⇑ 4.74% | 19.82 | 20.20 / 17.30 C: 19.90 ⇑ 5.29% | 19.74 | 20.00 / 19.20 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 402993 D: 27.00 ⇑ 5.47% | 26.93 | 27.20 / 23.40 C: 27.20 ⇑ 5.02% | 27.03 | 27.40 / 26.50 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 189500 D: 5.80 ⇑ 3.57% | 5.87 | 5.90 / 5.70 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 199330 D: 26.90 ⇑ 1.51% | 26.91 | 27.40 / 24.40 C: 27.00 ⇑ 2.66% | 26.81 | 27.00 / 26.70 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 897440 D: 15.80 ⇑ 8.22% | 15.66 | 16.00 / 13.50 C: 15.80 ⇑ 9.72% | 15.62 | 15.80 / 15.00 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 458662 D: 22.00 ⇑ 8.91% | 21.81 | 22.20 / 19.00 C: 22.00 ⇑ 10.00% | 21.93 | 22.00 / 21.30 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 1689494 D: 16.80 ⇑ 5.66% | 16.84 | 17.10 / 15.00 C: 17.00 ⇑ 6.25% | 16.88 | 17.10 / 16.40 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 314136 D: 19.60 ⇑ 7.10% | 19.41 | 19.80 / 18.30 C: 19.40 ⇑ 7.78% | 19.40 | 19.60 / 19.10 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 1076335 D: 12.00 ⇑ 8.11% | 11.86 | 12.20 / 10.00 C: 12.00 ⇑ 8.11% | 11.89 | 12.10 / 11.50 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 1286587 D: 11.70 ⇑ 7.34% | 11.51 | 11.90 / 10.00 C: 11.80 ⇑ 7.27% | 11.57 | 11.90 / 11.30 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 10500 D: 94.00 ⇑ 4.10% | 94.11 | 94.40 / 93.90 C: 92.00 ⇓ 0.22% | 92.80 | 93.90 / 92.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 63053 D: 15.90 ⇑ 6.71% | 15.78 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 16.00 ⇑ 6.67% | 15.84 | 16.10 / 15.60 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 892288 D: 14.30 ⇑ 7.52% | 14.10 | 14.50 / 12.50 C: 14.30 ⇑ 8.33% | 14.07 | 14.30 / 13.60 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 2826643 D: 15.60 ⇑ 9.09% | 15.35 | 15.70 / 12.90 C: 15.60 ⇑ 9.09% | 15.40 | 15.70 / 14.40 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 111703 D: 18.70 ⇑ 2.75% | 18.77 | 18.80 / 16.40 C: 18.90 ⇑ 1.61% | 18.93 | 19.00 / 18.70 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 1992662 D: 12.80 ⇑ 8.47% | 12.79 | 12.90 / 10.80 C: 12.80 ⇑ 9.40% | 12.67 | 12.80 / 12.30 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 1594327 D: 11.70 ⇑ 7.34% | 11.59 | 11.80 / 10.00 C: 11.80 ⇑ 7.27% | 11.68 | 11.90 / 11.20 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 176230 D: 13.90 ⇑ 6.92% | 13.81 | 14.10 / 12.00 C: 13.70 ⇑ 3.79% | 13.70 | 13.90 / 13.50 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 215795 D: 29.70 ⇑ 3.48% | 29.74 | 31.50 / 28.00 C: 29.50 ⇑ 2.79% | 29.27 | 30.10 / 26.00 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 640910 D: 15.50 ⇑ 9.15% | 15.33 | 15.60 / 12.80 C: 15.60 ⇑ 9.86% | 15.19 | 15.60 / 14.20

TO M. Tk.

Generation Next Fashions-A Argon Denims Limited-A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

5154221

102.12

1138200

100.16

3.74 3.67

PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 1236173 D: 9.70 ⇑ 7.78% | 9.60 | 9.80 / 8.20 C: 9.80 ⇑ 7.69% | 9.61 | 9.90 / 9.20 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 418146 D: 19.40 ⇑ 7.18% | 19.17 | 19.60 / 16.30 C: 19.40 ⇑ 9.60% | 19.19 | 19.40 / 18.00 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 968796 D: 12.10 ⇑ 7.08% | 12.03 | 12.30 / 10.30 C: 12.20 ⇑ 8.93% | 12.05 | 12.20 / 11.80 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 56150 D: 55.40 ⇑ 3.17% | 55.14 | 56.90 / 54.10 C: 55.80 ⇑ 3.72% | 55.80 | 55.80 / 55.80 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 92322 D: 26.80 ⇑ 5.10% | 26.68 | 27.10 / 25.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 41019 D: 72.50 ⇑ 2.26% | 72.31 | 73.00 / 70.00 C: 73.50 ⇑ 3.23% | 72.95 | 73.70 / 72.40 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 2500 D: 32.40 ⇑ 1.57% | 32.40 | 32.50 / 32.40 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 149464 D: 23.30 ⇑ 2.64% | 23.41 | 23.70 / 21.00 C: 23.90 ⇑ 4.82% | 23.90 | 23.90 / 23.90 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 352257 D: 20.90 ⇑ 3.47% | 20.83 | 21.20 / 18.90 C: 21.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 20.91 | 21.30 / 20.40 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 167992 D: 21.50 ⇑ 3.86% | 21.47 | 21.70 / 18.90 C: 21.50 ⇑ 2.38% | 21.50 | 21.70 / 21.30 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 149939 D: 10.20 ⇑ 2.00% | 10.19 | 10.50 / 9.50 C: 10.40 ⇑ 1.96% | 10.22 | 10.40 / 10.10 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 143569 D: 15.40 ⇑ 3.36% | 15.33 | 15.60 / 13.50 C: 15.30 ⇑ 2.68% | 15.28 | 15.40 / 15.10 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 200429 D: 51.20 ⇑ 1.99% | 51.09 | 51.50 / 48.20 C: 52.00 ⇑ 2.97% | 51.07 | 52.00 / 50.10 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 47854 D: 15.20 ⇑ 4.83% | 15.07 | 15.30 / 13.70 C: 15.00 ⇑ 2.74% | 15.57 | 15.90 / 15.00 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 116000 D: 17.80 ⇓ 0.56% | 17.69 | 17.90 / 17.20 C: 17.50 ⇓ 1.69% | 17.67 | 18.00 / 17.50 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 14125 D: 28.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.00 | 28.10 / 27.90 C: 27.30 ⇓ 0.73% | 27.28 | 27.50 / 27.20 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 314528 D: 19.70 ⇓ 0.51% | 19.58 | 20.10 / 19.00 C: 19.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.14 | 19.80 / 18.10 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 308850 D: 14.00 ⇑ 6.87% | 13.78 | 14.20 / 11.90 C: 13.70 ⇑ 5.38% | 13.66 | 14.00 / 13.20 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 159660 D: 29.50 ⇑ 1.72% | 29.55 | 29.90 / 27.50 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 196952 D: 13.80 ⇑ 4.55% | 13.69 | 14.00 / 12.00 C: 13.80 ⇑ 4.55% | 13.64 | 14.00 / 13.20 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 42500 D: 53.30 ⇑ 1.72% | 52.99 | 53.80 / 52.40 C: 52.20 ⇑ 1.95% | 52.20 | 52.20 / 52.20 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 68640 D: 28.30 ⇑ 2.91% | 28.26 | 28.70 / 26.50 C: 28.10 ⇑ 1.81% | 28.23 | 28.50 / 28.00 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 184924 D: 28.50 ⇑ 2.89% | 28.52 | 28.90 / 25.00 C: 28.40 ⇑ 2.16% | 28.44 | 28.90 / 25.10 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 6500 D: 1412 ⇓ 1.89% | 1410 | 1424 / 1390 C: 1410 ⇓ 3.42% | 1405 | 1410 / 1400 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 50082 D: 23.90 ⇑ 1.70% | 23.88 | 24.00 / 21.60 C: 22.80 ⇓ 3.80% | 22.83 | 23.00 / 22.60 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 666000 D: 15.10 ⇑ 2.72% | 15.05 | 15.30 / 14.80 C: 15.20 ⇑ 2.70% | 15.11 | 15.30 / 14.80 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 1100 D: 922.8 ⇑ 1.55% | 922.73 | 935.0 / 910.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 450 D: 223.4 ⇓ 2.45% | 224.44 | 230.0 / 220.0 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 300 D: 179.3 ⇑ 0.17% | 180.00 | 180.0 / 179.0

DSE Gainer Malek Spinning-A

64.29 19.81 88.00

C%

A%

CP

-12.12

-14.21

11.60

Meghna PET Ind.-Z

-9.86

-10.42

6.40

Imam Button -Z

-8.99

-8.06

8.10

11.30

Savar Refractories-Z

-8.94

-9.09

60.10

32.70

Northern Jute-Z

-8.71

-7.23

26.20

C%

A%

CP

10.00

6.99

27.50

9.91

8.91

23.30

9.88

6.59

17.80

9.71

6.90

9.36

8.28

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 8400 D: 44.60 ⇑ 0.90% | 44.64 | 45.00 / 43.70 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 4000 D: 48.70 ⇑ 1.46% | 48.75 | 49.90 / 47.10 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 127250 D: 36.40 ⇑ 3.70% | 36.12 | 36.80 / 35.00 C: 36.80 ⇑ 5.14% | 36.25 | 36.90 / 35.90 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 11000 D: 16.40 ⇑ 1.23% | 16.45 | 16.50 / 16.30 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 115000 D: 41.20 ⇑ 3.26% | 41.10 | 41.70 / 40.20 C: 41.70 ⇑ 4.25% | 41.80 | 42.00 / 41.50 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 5500 D: 21.70 ⇑ 0.46% | 21.82 | 21.90 / 21.60 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 149000 D: 8.70 ⇑ 1.16% | 8.79 | 8.80 / 8.70 C: 8.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.79 | 9.00 / 8.70 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 329500 D: 15.10 ⇑ 2.03% | 15.08 | 15.20 / 14.70 C: 15.30 ⇑ 2.68% | 15.11 | 15.40 / 14.70 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 516000 D: 19.60 ⇑ 4.81% | 19.40 | 19.90 / 18.90 C: 19.70 ⇑ 4.79% | 19.50 | 20.00 / 19.30 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 257324 D: 6.50 ⇑ 1.56% | 6.52 | 6.60 / 6.40 C: 6.60 ⇑ 1.54% | 6.54 | 6.60 / 6.40 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 10500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.80 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.80 ⇑ 5.45% | 5.80 | 5.80 / 5.80 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 174500 D: 6.00 ⇑ 1.69% | 5.98 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.80 | 6.00 / 5.70 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 320609 D: 7.20 ⇑ 2.86% | 7.20 | 7.50 / 6.70 C: 7.10 ⇑ 1.43% | 7.18 | 7.30 / 7.10 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 12000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.05 | 5.10 / 5.00 C: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.17 | 5.20 / 5.10 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 219500 D: 5.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.23 | 5.30 / 5.20 C: 5.40 ⇑ 3.85% | 5.33 | 5.40 / 5.20 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 284500 D: 6.30 ⇑ 3.28% | 6.26 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.24 | 6.30 / 6.20 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 79000 D: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.20 | 5.30 / 5.20 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 52000 D: 4.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 4.97 | 5.00 / 4.90 C: 5.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 5.00 | 5.00 / 5.00 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 134500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.60 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 5.50 | 5.50 / 5.50 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 193000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.02 | 5.10 / 4.90 C: 5.10 ⇑ 2.00% | 5.08 | 5.10 / 4.90 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 177515 D: 5.60 ⇑ 3.70% | 5.59 | 5.70 / 4.90 C: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.60 | 5.70 / 5.50 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 512500 D: 5.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 5.08 | 5.20 / 5.00 C: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.20 | 5.20 / 5.20 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 275000 D: 5.10 ⇑ 2.00% | 5.19 | 5.20 / 5.10 C: 5.10 ⇑ 2.00% | 5.14 | 5.20 / 5.10 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 21000 D: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.33 | 6.50 / 6.40 C: 6.20 ⇓ 4.62% | 6.21 | 6.50 / 6.00 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 42000 D: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.00 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.10 ⇓ 1.61% | 6.16 | 6.20 / 6.10 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 346550 D: 7.60 ⇑ 1.33% | 7.68 | 7.70 / 7.50 C: 7.50 ⇓ 2.60% | 7.48 | 7.90 / 7.20 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 10000 D: 7.30 ⇓ 3.95% | 7.30 | 7.40 / 7.20 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 384700 D: 7.80 ⇑ 1.30% | 7.89 | 8.00 / 7.70 C: 7.80 ⇑ 2.63% | 7.77 | 8.00 / 7.70 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 63500 D: 7.70 ⇑ 2.67% | 7.67 | 7.90 / 7.50 C: 7.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.90 | 7.90 / 7.90 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 52000 D: 6.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.71 | 6.80 / 6.60

DSE Loser Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z

NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 511650 D: 8.60 ⇑ 2.38% | 8.59 | 8.70 / 8.50 C: 8.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.50 | 8.70 / 8.40 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 5000 D: 8.40 ⇓ 2.33% | 8.40 | 8.50 / 8.40 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 73500 D: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.40 | 6.50 / 6.30 C: 6.40 ⇑ 1.59% | 6.40 | 6.50 / 6.40 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 6500 D: 7.30 ⇑ 4.29% | 7.38 | 7.70 / 7.30

BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 1100 D: 1490 ⇓ 0.92% | 1490 | 1500 / 1482 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 200 D: 185.8 ⇑ 5.69% | 185.00 | 189.0 / 179.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 50 D: 786.2 ⇓ 1.22% | 786.20 | 786.2 / 786.2 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 25900 D: 219.4 ⇑ 3.39% | 219.26 | 222.0 / 213.2 C: 224.0 ⇑ 2.85% | 224.00 | 224.0 / 224.0 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 600 D: 6.80 ⇓ 4.23% | 6.67 | 7.10 / 6.60 FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 208700 D: 22.90 ⇑ 4.09% | 22.60 | 23.30 / 21.10 C: 22.50 ⇑ 2.74% | 22.52 | 23.00 / 22.10 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 5500 D: 6.40 ⇓ 9.86% | 6.36 | 7.80 / 6.30 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 22000 D: 6.80 ⇓ 5.56% | 6.91 | 7.20 / 6.80 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 364555 D: 21.50 ⇑ 2.87% | 21.39 | 22.00 / 19.10 C: 21.60 ⇑ 3.35% | 21.29 | 21.70 / 20.80 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 162890 D: 17.80 ⇓ 0.56% | 18.02 | 18.80 / 17.50 C: 17.50 ⇓ 1.69% | 17.47 | 18.00 / 16.20 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 422081 D: 21.00 ⇑ 1.45% | 21.00 | 21.20 / 18.80 C: 21.10 ⇑ 0.96% | 21.07 | 21.30 / 20.90 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 392610 D: 42.20 ⇓ 0.24% | 42.17 | 42.50 / 38.10 C: 42.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 42.01 | 42.70 / 41.50

ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 214372 D: 98.70 ⇑ 2.28% | 97.48 | 99.50 / 91.50 C: 99.10 ⇑ 2.38% | 97.86 | 99.90 / 95.20 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 10250 D: 17.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.83 | 18.00 / 17.70 C: 17.50 ⇓ 5.41% | 17.50 | 17.50 / 17.50 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 66800 D: 192.4 ⇑ 1.21% | 191.31 | 196.5 / 182.0 C: 190.0 ⇑ 1.50% | 190.00 | 190.0 / 190.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 3235 D: 133.7 ⇑ 2.45% | 133.55 | 135.0 / 128.0 C: 130.2 ⇓ 0.76% | 130.17 | 130.5 / 130.0 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 5900 D: 73.90 ⇑ 3.50% | 73.73 | 75.00 / 65.70 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 600 D: 300.4 ⇑ 2.67% | 300.00 | 302.0 / 295.2 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 25100 D: 189.2 ⇑ 1.83% | 188.23 | 189.9 / 185.0 C: 189.2 ⇑ 2.10% | 188.95 | 190.0 / 185.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 3842 D: 158.7 ⇑ 1.15% | 158.51 | 159.0 / 141.8 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 26700 D: 37.70 ⇑ 4.43% | 38.13 | 39.60 / 36.50 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 107000 D: 28.90 ⇑ 2.12% | 28.92 | 29.20 / 28.50 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 2350 D: 127.4 ⇑ 1.68% | 126.81 | 128.8 / 125.0 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 17100 D: 65.30 ⇑ 0.62% | 65.09 | 66.00 / 64.10 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 143600 D: 26.80 ⇑ 1.90% | 26.67 | 27.10 / 26.10 C: 26.20 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.36 | 26.80 / 25.90 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 71500 D: 24.60 ⇑ 2.50% | 24.36 | 24.80 / 23.80 C: 24.00 ⇑ 0.84% | 23.94 | 24.50 / 23.50 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 1500 D: 14.60 ⇓ 2.67% | 14.67 | 14.70 / 14.60 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 20500 D: 88.10 ⇑ 1.97% | 88.20 | 90.00 / 86.30 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 123000 D: 38.00 ⇑ 4.11% | 37.49 | 38.40 / 36.60 C: 38.40 ⇑ 2.95% | 37.91 | 38.60 / 36.70 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 1225742 D: 43.90 ⇑ 7.60% | 43.56 | 44.50 / 37.00 C: 43.90 ⇑ 8.13% | 43.79 | 44.20 / 42.90 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 50955 D: 63.00 ⇑ 2.27% | 62.80 | 63.50 / 56.00 C: 62.50 ⇑ 1.13% | 62.08 | 63.40 / 61.50 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 42721 D: 61.00 ⇑ 2.18% | 60.98 | 62.90 / 55.00 C: 60.80 ⇑ 1.84% | 60.70 | 61.50 / 60.30 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 251000 D: 16.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 16.33 | 16.70 / 16.10 C: 16.60 ⇑ 3.75% | 16.23 | 16.90 / 15.80 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 16500 D: 40.60 ⇑ 2.53% | 40.61 | 41.00 / 40.00 BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 90400 D: 43.60 ⇓ 0.46% | 43.63 | 44.20 / 43.20 C: 43.60 ⇑ 0.69% | 43.54 | 44.00 / 42.80 BDBUILDING | 1.02 | 12.40 | Vol. 978000 D: 36.90 ⇓ 3.66% | 36.96 | 38.50 / 35.90 C: 37.40 ⇓ 2.09% | 37.27 | 38.60 / 36.00 NPOLYMAR | 2.73 | 37.82 | Vol. 58465 D: 50.00 ⇑ 4.60% | 50.54 | 52.00 / 47.20 C: 51.00 ⇑ 7.59% | 51.00 | 51.00 / 51.00

FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 4200 D: 614.1 ⇑ 2.03% | 613.57 | 618.0 / 606.0 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 69783 D: 292.7 ⇑ 1.18% | 292.54 | 294.6 / 290.2 C: 292.8 ⇑ 1.74% | 292.78 | 294.9 / 290.0 EASTRNLUB | 6.32 | 68.68 | Vol. 50 D: 338.2 ⇑ 6.76% | 338.20 | 338.2 / 338.2 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 225886 D: 20.90 ⇑ 3.47% | 20.67 | 21.10 / 20.00 C: 20.80 ⇑ 4.00% | 20.61 | 20.90 / 20.30 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 195927 D: 31.00 ⇑ 2.99% | 30.86 | 31.20 / 27.10 C: 30.70 ⇑ 2.33% | 30.45 | 31.20 / 30.10 DESCO | 2.69 | 35.96 | Vol. 83906 D: 70.50 ⇑ 2.32% | 69.76 | 71.50 / 67.00 C: 69.70 ⇑ 1.01% | 69.79 | 69.90 / 69.70 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 24462 D: 51.20 ⇑ 0.99% | 51.22 | 52.00 / 50.00 C: 51.70 ⇓ 0.58% | 52.04 | 53.00 / 51.60 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 32860 D: 224.3 ⇑ 0.58% | 224.15 | 225.8 / 222.3 C: 224.7 ⇑ 1.13% | 223.58 | 225.0 / 222.8 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 55660 D: 256.0 ⇑ 1.59% | 254.51 | 257.5 / 248.0 C: 253.6 ⇑ 0.63% | 253.06 | 254.9 / 251.5 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 441282 D: 77.60 ⇑ 0.91% | 76.90 | 78.00 / 70.00 C: 78.40 ⇑ 1.82% | 77.77 | 79.50 / 76.50 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 72323 D: 45.50 ⇑ 1.34% | 45.45 | 46.00 / 40.50 C: 46.00 ⇑ 4.07% | 45.85 | 46.30 / 45.10 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 832644 D: 26.00 ⇑ 5.26% | 25.21 | 26.40 / 22.40 C: 25.70 ⇑ 3.21% | 25.57 | 26.00 / 24.90 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 21285 D: 69.60 ⇑ 1.02% | 69.38 | 70.00 / 64.00 C: 70.00 ⇑ 2.34% | 68.18 | 70.00 / 68.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 671584 D: 25.00 ⇑ 2.46% | 24.13 | 25.20 / 22.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 2.88% | 24.96 | 25.10 / 24.60 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 191000 D: 47.90 ⇑ 2.13% | 47.69 | 48.00 / 44.00 C: 48.00 ⇑ 2.35% | 47.63 | 48.40 / 47.00

FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 17600 D: 90.30 ⇓ 0.77% | 90.54 | 93.00 / 89.40 C: 92.00 ⇑ 2.22% | 91.30 | 92.00 / 90.00 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 21730 D: 390.3 ⇑ 2.68% | 389.97 | 398.0 / 380.9 C: 395.3 ⇑ 4.36% | 390.64 | 398.0 / 380.0

JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 2650 D: 102.7 ⇑ 1.08% | 103.02 | 105.8 / 101.9 NORTHERN | -13.80 | -6.19 | Vol. 600 D: 26.20 ⇓ 8.71% | 26.67 | 26.30 / 26.20 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 6000 D: 129.9 ⇓ 0.08% | 130.00 | 134.3 / 129.0

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

7

October 27, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 34,283.44 ⇑ 5.79% NBFI: 18,888.43 ⇑ 2.48% INVS: 4,549.54 ⇑ 1.04% ENGG: 5,500.12 ⇑ 1.95% FOOD: 9,626.13 ⇑ 0.74% F&P: 9,730.43 ⇑ 1.58% TEXT: 3,149.82 ⇑ 3.99% PHAR: 16,715.72 ⇑ 0.73% PAPR: 991.64 ⇑ 3.74% SERV: 2,765.24 ⇑ 1.18% LEAT: 4,833.88 ⇑ 1.09% CERA: 483.66 ⇑ 3.84% CMNT: 4,197.96 ⇑ 1.29% INFO: 6,786.24 ⇑ 0.61% GINS: 9,041.43 ⇑ 1.57% LINS: 101,246.63 ⇑ 0.08% TELC: 1,302.00 ⇑ 5.74% MISC: 5,647.62 ⇑ 1.30% TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 54327 D: 85.40 ⇑ 1.43% | 87.32 | 90.00 / 80.00 RAHIMTEXT | 5.81 | 70.85 | Vol. 200 D: 268.3 ⇓ 0.37% | 270.00 | 271.0 / 260.2 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 344800 D: 30.40 ⇑ 5.19% | 29.89 | 30.60 / 29.10 C: 30.20 ⇑ 4.14% | 30.24 | 30.60 / 29.00 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 1150 D: 82.60 ⇑ 2.48% | 82.61 | 84.10 / 80.10 DSHGARME | 0.72 | 12.00 | Vol. 28700 D: 59.80 ⇑ 1.53% | 60.45 | 61.60 / 58.00 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 3000 D: 8.00 ⇓ 3.61% | 8.00 | 8.40 / 8.00 TALLUSPIN | 2.01 | 18.59 | Vol. 592900 D: 37.80 ⇑ 1.34% | 37.95 | 39.00 / 37.00 C: 38.10 ⇑ 2.14% | 38.20 | 39.20 / 37.70 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 1800 D: 64.60 ⇓ 0.15% | 64.44 | 65.00 / 64.50 MITHUNKNIT | 3.33 | 23.82 | Vol. 86000 D: 77.20 ⇓ 3.38% | 78.10 | 80.40 / 76.30 C: 77.30 ⇓ 1.53% | 77.25 | 77.50 / 76.10 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 156400 D: 30.90 ⇑ 4.75% | 30.46 | 31.10 / 29.10 C: 30.70 ⇑ 4.07% | 30.42 | 31.00 / 29.60 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 101022 D: 17.60 ⇑ 3.53% | 17.48 | 18.10 / 16.00 C: 17.70 ⇑ 2.91% | 17.25 | 17.70 / 16.70 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 120000 D: 26.30 ⇑ 5.62% | 25.76 | 26.70 / 24.80 C: 25.80 ⇑ 0.39% | 25.43 | 26.00 / 24.80 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 302000 D: 7.20 ⇓ 6.49% | 7.25 | 7.50 / 7.10 C: 7.30 ⇓ 6.41% | 7.33 | 7.60 / 7.10 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 97000 D: 35.00 ⇑ 7.36% | 35.09 | 35.80 / 34.50 C: 36.80 ⇑ 6.05% | 36.80 | 36.80 / 36.80 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 109218 D: 37.40 ⇑ 2.47% | 37.36 | 38.10 / 35.00 C: 38.00 ⇑ 2.98% | 38.00 | 38.00 / 38.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 926236 D: 31.50 ⇑ 9.00% | 30.59 | 31.70 / 27.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 109500 D: 23.60 ⇑ 3.96% | 23.44 | 23.90 / 22.70 C: 23.80 ⇑ 4.85% | 23.68 | 23.90 / 23.40 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 75501 D: 90.30 ⇑ 0.89% | 89.90 | 90.60 / 84.00 C: 88.90 ⇓ 0.89% | 89.47 | 91.00 / 88.20 METROSPIN | -1.00 | 19.59 | Vol. 215980 D: 16.70 ⇑ 5.70% | 16.40 | 16.90 / 15.00 C: 16.70 ⇑ 5.70% | 16.29 | 16.90 / 15.80 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 1316951 D: 15.80 ⇑ 4.64% | 15.74 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.80 ⇑ 4.64% | 15.66 | 15.90 / 15.20 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 212287 D: 27.70 ⇑ 6.95% | 27.11 | 28.00 / 24.50 C: 27.50 ⇑ 5.77% | 26.95 | 27.50 / 25.70 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 1656040 D: 28.90 ⇑ 4.33% | 28.83 | 29.20 / 27.00 C: 28.80 ⇑ 4.35% | 28.69 | 29.00 / 27.70 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 201815 D: 15.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 15.08 | 15.30 / 14.90 C: 15.30 ⇑ 1.32% | 15.13 | 15.50 / 14.90 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 2174540 D: 27.50 ⇑ 10.00% | 26.77 | 27.50 / 24.00 C: 27.00 ⇑ 9.76% | 26.58 | 27.00 / 24.50 ZAHINTEX | 1.91 | 35.25 | Vol. 159500 D: 30.20 ⇑ 4.86% | 29.72 | 30.60 / 26.90 C: 29.40 ⇑ 2.44% | 29.52 | 29.90 / 29.00 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 587750 D: 24.20 ⇑ 6.14% | 23.80 | 24.40 / 22.80 C: 24.20 ⇑ 6.61% | 23.44 | 24.30 / 22.60 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 8780670 D: 25.60 ⇑ 7.56% | 24.76 | 25.90 / 21.50 C: 25.60 ⇑ 7.11% | 24.82 | 25.90 / 24.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 2905410 D: 61.00 ⇑ 4.45% | 60.26 | 61.40 / 53.00 C: 60.90 ⇑ 4.64% | 60.39 | 61.30 / 58.80 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1912080 D: 66.30 ⇑ 7.80% | 64.30 | 67.10 / 55.40 C: 65.30 ⇑ 6.53% | 64.09 | 66.00 / 62.90 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 288500 D: 38.80 ⇑ 2.65% | 38.69 | 39.00 / 37.80 C: 39.10 ⇑ 2.89% | 38.91 | 41.40 / 38.00

INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 125500 D: 15.70 ⇑ 1.29% | 15.84 | 16.20 / 15.60 C: 15.60 ⇑ 0.65% | 15.79 | 16.40 / 15.50 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 152810 D: 21.30 ⇑ 0.95% | 21.21 | 21.50 / 19.50 C: 21.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.12 | 21.40 / 21.00 DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 165776 D: 16.90 ⇑ 1.81% | 16.94 | 17.50 / 15.80 C: 17.00 ⇑ 1.80% | 16.84 | 17.40 / 16.30 AAMRATECH | 1.46 | 21.90 | Vol. 197650 D: 30.50 ⇑ 3.74% | 30.16 | 30.90 / 26.50 C: 30.40 ⇑ 3.75% | 30.11 | 30.80 / 29.00

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 3550 D: 248.7 ⇑ 1.93% | 246.15 | 252.9 / 242.5 C: 250.0 ⇑ 2.04% | 250.00 | 251.0 / 248.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 205542 D: 40.90 ⇑ 2.00% | 40.77 | 41.20 / 38.50 C: 41.10 ⇑ 1.73% | 41.01 | 41.30 / 40.50 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 850 D: 885.7 ⇓ 3.73% | 885.88 | 920.0 / 875.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 2220 D: 157.4 ⇑ 1.16% | 157.55 | 159.9 / 141.0 C: 155.0 ⇓ 2.52% | 155.00 | 155.0 / 155.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 3750 D: 698.5 ⇑ 0.42% | 698.67 | 706.5 / 695.3 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 200 D: 816.9 ⇑ 6.71% | 815.00 | 822.9 / 800.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 13600 D: 165.6 ⇑ 1.10% | 165.15 | 169.0 / 163.0 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 500 D: 420.0 ⇓ 5.68% | 420.00 | 420.0 / 420.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 35320 D: 97.90 ⇑ 1.87% | 98.05 | 99.00 / 96.10 C: 98.10 ⇑ 0.82% | 98.81 | 99.90 / 100.0 LIBRAINFU | 4.64 | 1565.37 | Vol. 1800 D: 410.1 ⇓ 4.27% | 410.00 | 415.0 / 402.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 63400 D: 41.20 ⇑ 2.49% | 40.81 | 41.70 / 40.10 C: 41.20 ⇑ 1.23% | 41.15 | 41.20 / 41.00 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 156130 D: 177.9 ⇑ 0.91% | 177.65 | 179.0 / 160.0 C: 177.5 ⇑ 0.80% | 177.07 | 178.3 / 176.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.68 | 5.67 | Vol. 19000 D: 8.10 ⇓ 8.99% | 8.21 | 8.30 / 8.10 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 283150 D: 23.10 ⇑ 0.87% | 23.06 | 23.50 / 20.70 C: 23.10 ⇑ 0.87% | 23.11 | 23.40 / 23.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 650 D: 805.3 ⇑ 1.27% | 804.62 | 809.9 / 804.9 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 11700 D: 75.00 ⇓ 0.92% | 75.04 | 76.50 / 74.80 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 5650 D: 779.5 ⇑ 0.10% | 775.82 | 790.0 / 766.5 C: 850.0 ⇑ 6.60% | 850.00 | 850.0 / 850.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 1718145 D: 11.60 ⇓ 12.12% | 11.59 | 12.00 / 11.30 C: 11.70 ⇓ 13.97% | 11.42 | 12.00 / 10.00 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 579635 D: 93.30 ⇑ 2.98% | 92.42 | 93.60 / 81.60 C: 93.60 ⇑ 3.43% | 92.91 | 94.50 / 91.90 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 270578 D: 19.50 ⇑ 0.52% | 19.50 | 19.90 / 18.00 C: 19.60 ⇑ 1.03% | 20.08 | 20.70 / 19.20 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 223750 D: 49.40 ⇑ 0.20% | 49.43 | 50.80 / 48.90 C: 49.80 ⇑ 0.20% | 49.90 | 50.50 / 49.70 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 559130 D: 53.60 ⇑ 1.52% | 52.88 | 54.80 / 48.00 C: 53.40 ⇑ 1.14% | 52.88 | 54.20 / 52.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 129500 D: 212.7 ⇑ 5.14% | 212.45 | 218.7 / 203.0 C: 213.0 ⇑ 5.34% | 213.00 | 219.5 / 205.0 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 696000 D: 31.50 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.41 | 31.80 / 31.00 C: 31.20 ⇓ 0.95% | 31.22 | 32.90 / 30.80 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 44500 D: 29.50 ⇑ 5.73% | 29.93 | 30.60 / 29.40 C: 29.50 ⇑ 9.67% | 28.82 | 29.50 / 27.10

SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 9500 D: 93.10 ⇑ 1.20% | 93.05 | 96.50 / 91.50 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 320812 D: 27.40 ⇑ 2.24% | 27.27 | 27.70 / 25.00 C: 27.10 ⇑ 1.12% | 26.98 | 27.50 / 26.40 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 245577 D: 51.30 ⇑ 0.79% | 51.26 | 52.00 / 45.90 C: 51.70 ⇑ 1.77% | 55.52 | 52.30 / 51.10 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 32400 D: 110.2 ⇑ 1.10% | 109.69 | 111.0 / 108.8 C: 110.0 ⇑ 1.01% | 110.00 | 110.0 / 110.0 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 17200 D: 666.3 ⇓ 0.24% | 669.53 | 679.0 / 661.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 33600 D: 360.1 ⇑ 0.03% | 360.14 | 368.0 / 355.0 C: 357.3 ⇑ 2.09% | 357.25 | 358.0 / 355.0 SAMATALETH | -0.07 | 12.08 | Vol. 8000 D: 12.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.67 | 12.60 / 12.50 C: 13.40 ⇑ 8.94% | 13.40 | 13.40 / 13.40 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 342066 D: 36.50 ⇑ 2.24% | 36.99 | 38.50 / 34.30 C: 36.40 ⇑ 1.96% | 36.90 | 38.00 / 35.60 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 23600 D: 33.30 ⇑ 1.83% | 33.45 | 33.90 / 32.50 C: 35.60 ⇑ 7.88% | 35.62 | 35.80 / 34.90 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 5000 D: 37.50 ⇓ 4.34% | 37.60 | 38.90 / 36.50 FUWANGCER | 0.72 | 13.97 | Vol. 297835 D: 18.90 ⇑ 5.59% | 18.66 | 19.20 / 16.30 C: 18.60 ⇑ 3.33% | 18.52 | 18.90 / 18.00 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 159380 D: 15.60 ⇑ 1.96% | 15.53 | 15.80 / 14.60 C: 15.80 ⇑ 1.94% | 15.58 | 15.90 / 15.30 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 317224 D: 49.60 ⇑ 3.33% | 48.55 | 49.80 / 46.90 C: 49.90 ⇑ 4.39% | 49.17 | 49.90 / 48.50 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 39150 D: 354.6 ⇑ 0.51% | 353.65 | 357.0 / 350.0 C: 360.0 ⇑ 1.15% | 360.00 | 360.0 / 360.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 124688 D: 117.6 ⇑ 3.43% | 117.35 | 120.0 / 110.0 C: 117.2 ⇑ 2.72% | 116.96 | 117.5 / 115.7 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 81500 D: 123.0 ⇑ 3.10% | 121.94 | 124.7 / 120.8 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 100055 D: 66.50 ⇓ 0.30% | 66.06 | 68.80 / 62.00 C: 69.00 ⇑ 0.88% | 67.50 | 70.00 / 66.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 410500 D: 31.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.73 | 32.00 / 31.50 C: 32.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 32.00 | 32.20 / 31.90 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 268656 D: 90.00 ⇑ 0.78% | 89.36 | 95.00 / 82.00 C: 89.60 ⇑ 0.56% | 89.80 | 92.00 / 88.40 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 136600 D: 102.5 ⇑ 0.79% | 102.63 | 104.5 / 101.2 C: 102.0 ⇑ 1.49% | 101.64 | 102.9 / 100.2 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 129500 D: 18.70 ⇑ 1.63% | 18.84 | 19.30 / 18.50 C: 18.90 ⇑ 3.28% | 18.85 | 19.30 / 18.50 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 339000 D: 24.10 ⇓ 5.86% | 24.60 | 26.60 / 23.60 C: 24.40 ⇓ 4.31% | 26.69 | 26.90 / 24.10

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 34571 D: 28.60 ⇑ 2.14% | 28.48 | 28.80 / 27.00 C: 28.80 ⇑ 2.86% | 28.29 | 28.80 / 28.10 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 22579 D: 92.70 ⇑ 5.10% | 92.26 | 95.00 / 87.50 C: 91.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 91.12 | 95.00 / 90.00 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 3000 D: 42.20 ⇑ 0.48% | 42.33 | 43.00 / 42.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 253900 D: 32.70 ⇑ 9.36% | 32.42 | 32.80 / 30.10 C: 32.30 ⇓ 2.71% | 31.92 | 33.00 / 30.50 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 43623 D: 39.80 ⇑ 6.13% | 39.52 | 40.00 / 36.00 C: 39.00 ⇑ 4.00% | 39.00 | 39.00 / 39.00 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 5788 D: 250.5 ⇑ 3.94% | 247.55 | 252.0 / 240.5 C: 252.5 ⇑ 6.86% | 248.95 | 254.0 / 243.3 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 21600 D: 40.40 ⇑ 0.25% | 40.32 | 41.00 / 39.90 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 109800 D: 46.90 ⇑ 4.22% | 46.25 | 47.70 / 45.50 C: 47.40 ⇑ 6.04% | 47.27 | 47.50 / 47.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 7800 D: 28.30 ⇑ 1.43% | 28.33 | 29.20 / 28.10 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 30700 D: 22.50 ⇑ 1.81% | 22.57 | 22.80 / 22.10 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 43293 D: 31.60 ⇑ 3.27% | 31.23 | 32.00 / 30.80 C: 31.20 ⇑ 2.63% | 31.19 | 31.50 / 30.70 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 89753 D: 22.80 ⇑ 3.17% | 22.63 | 23.00 / 20.50 C: 22.90 ⇑ 4.57% | 22.59 | 22.90 / 22.10 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 3000 D: 69.40 ⇑ 1.17% | 69.40 | 69.40 / 69.40 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 94000 D: 21.50 ⇑ 3.86% | 21.44 | 21.80 / 21.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 6200 D: 54.20 ⇑ 2.26% | 54.26 | 54.80 / 53.60 C: 51.50 ⇑ 0.98% | 51.50 | 51.50 / 51.50 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 13250 D: 31.50 ⇑ 5.00% | 31.47 | 32.50 / 30.20 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 26000 D: 65.90 ⇑ 2.17% | 65.69 | 67.00 / 65.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 145285 D: 28.00 ⇑ 0.36% | 28.21 | 28.90 / 25.20 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 76500 D: 27.80 ⇑ 4.12% | 28.13 | 28.70 / 27.10 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 19616 D: 28.80 ⇑ 4.73% | 28.71 | 29.50 / 27.50 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 5032 D: 35.80 ⇑ 4.99% | 35.77 | 36.20 / 31.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 9510 D: 28.10 ⇑ 0.72% | 28.23 | 29.00 / 27.50 C: 29.00 ⇑ 5.45% | 29.00 | 29.00 / 29.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 68076 D: 24.40 ⇑ 5.17% | 24.49 | 25.00 / 22.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 1.21% | 25.00 | 25.00 / 25.00 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 30155 D: 23.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.99 | 24.30 / 22.50 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 26800 D: 27.50 ⇑ 3.77% | 27.37 | 27.90 / 26.90 C: 27.90 ⇑ 3.33% | 27.90 | 27.90 / 27.90 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 215100 D: 30.70 ⇑ 4.07% | 30.49 | 30.90 / 29.00 C: 30.50 ⇑ 3.74% | 30.67 | 30.90 / 30.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 118095 D: 51.60 ⇑ 6.17% | 50.76 | 53.00 / 45.00 C: 49.50 ⇑ 3.13% | 49.45 | 49.90 / 49.00 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 5500 D: 39.20 ⇓ 0.51% | 39.27 | 40.00 / 39.20 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 305407 D: 42.40 ⇓ 3.20% | 41.58 | 44.40 / 40.00 C: 42.40 ⇑ 0.95% | 42.49 | 43.00 / 41.50

REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 431623 D: 39.00 ⇓ 1.52% | 39.54 | 40.20 / 38.30 C: 39.40 ⇓ 1.75% | 39.40 | 39.40 / 39.40 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 37549 D: 29.70 ⇑ 6.83% | 29.72 | 30.50 / 28.80 C: 29.00 ⇑ 3.94% | 28.79 | 29.00 / 27.00 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 26500 D: 38.70 ⇑ 2.11% | 38.75 | 39.00 / 38.30 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 3357 D: 238.1 ⇑ 0.29% | 237.90 | 239.0 / 235.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 11050 D: 4570 ⇑ 3.57% | 4444 | 4600 / 4250 C: 4625 ⇑ 1.44% | 4473 | 4650 / 4372 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 26700 D: 65.70 ⇑ 0.77% | 65.21 | 65.90 / 64.90 C: 65.20 ⇑ 0.31% | 65.20 | 65.20 / 65.20 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 1138200 D: 87.60 ⇓ 0.23% | 88.00 | 95.00 / 80.00 C: 88.10 ⇓ 1.56% | 88.09 | 89.40 / 87.90 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 13550 D: 94.70 ⇑ 1.39% | 94.61 | 95.50 / 93.00 C: 95.10 ⇓ 0.52% | 95.14 | 96.60 / 95.00 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 3500 D: 98.30 ⇑ 1.65% | 98.29 | 99.90 / 97.10 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 17000 D: 105.8 ⇑ 2.12% | 105.88 | 107.7 / 103.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 5027 D: 90.00 ⇑ 0.56% | 89.91 | 90.00 / 85.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 43239 D: 90.50 ⇑ 0.11% | 90.73 | 92.00 / 85.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 68960 D: 55.10 ⇑ 0.73% | 55.22 | 59.50 / 52.00 C: 54.70 ⇑ 1.11% | 54.64 | 55.00 / 54.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 53900 D: 53.60 ⇑ 0.56% | 53.60 | 55.00 / 48.00 C: 52.60 ⇓ 0.19% | 52.60 | 52.60 / 52.60 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 492800 D: 188.9 ⇑ 6.12% | 187.01 | 190.5 / 184.2 C: 190.1 ⇑ 6.44% | 187.19 | 192.0 / 184.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 176500 D: 185.5 ⇑ 3.86% | 183.30 | 187.3 / 169.0 C: 185.1 ⇑ 3.64% | 182.41 | 186.6 / 179.1 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 2292931 D: 15.10 ⇑ 1.34% | 15.06 | 15.30 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇑ 1.32% | 15.18 | 15.40 / 15.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 252020 D: 78.10 ⇑ 0.51% | 77.96 | 78.90 / 70.00 C: 78.20 ⇑ 0.77% | 78.10 | 78.80 / 77.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 5550 D: 268.0 ⇑ 1.98% | 268.47 | 278.0 / 264.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 45900 D: 425.8 ⇑ 1.92% | 424.40 | 428.0 / 420.0 C: 427.5 ⇑ 2.08% | 424.85 | 429.0 / 420.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 26184 D: 143.0 ⇑ 2.36% | 143.14 | 146.0 / 138.0 C: 145.4 ⇑ 3.56% | 145.78 | 154.0 / 143.9 USMANIAGL | 3.80 | 29.92 | Vol. 46200 D: 119.7 ⇓ 4.32% | 121.22 | 126.0 / 118.0 C: 119.4 ⇓ 3.79% | 121.10 | 125.0 / 118.0 SAVAREFR | 0.23 | 12.32 | Vol. 900 D: 60.10 ⇓ 8.94% | 60.00 | 61.00 / 60.00 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 773453 D: 26.80 ⇑ 1.52% | 26.61 | 27.00 / 24.00 C: 27.00 ⇑ 2.27% | 26.78 | 27.10 / 26.20 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 95000 D: 20.70 ⇑ 1.97% | 20.67 | 21.20 / 20.30 C: 20.80 ⇑ 2.46% | 20.79 | 21.60 / 20.70 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 90500 D: 14.90 ⇑ 1.36% | 14.99 | 15.30 / 14.80 C: 14.80 ⇑ 0.68% | 14.78 | 15.00 / 14.50 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 90 D: 982.0 ⇑ 2.80% | 982.00 | 982.0 / 982.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 10 D: 880.5 ⇑ 0.00% | 880.50 | 880.5 / 880.5 C: 873.0 ⇓ 0.80% | 873.00 | 873.0 / 873.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 5 D: 990.0 ⇓ 1.79% | 990.00 | 990.0 / 990.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Smart phones for a crazy market Hasan Mehdi, a veteran of more than 12 years in business operations, as aggressive a marketer as they come, talks up the prospects of smartphones in the Bangladeshi market, and his personal achievements in an interview with Mehrab Al Islam to extend the same facility to consumers.

You have worked in Advertising, FMCG, telco and the device industry, a lot of dynamic shifts; how has it all contributed to your understanding of business development?

There have been critical contributions from this blend of industries.

Working in FMCGs gave me a solid base of disciplined brand marketing, product sales planning, and execution excellence. I had to forecast growth with longer-term, and more or less controlled visibility; I learned a lot from this.

However, telcos taught me service marketing, and added critical components such as cutthroat competition, speed of execution, risk-taking and continuous transformation. Stakeholder management has been something new to learn as well.

All of these helped me immensely at Samsung, where I needed to mix FMCG and Telecom in the right proportions, and bring out some disruptive innovations locally. So far, it’s going great!

You have been heading the Samsung’s Mobile division in Bangladesh for the last three years. Share bits about your journey.

It has been a roller coaster ride: 2010 to 2013 – looking at it from a business development, marketing and sales growth, smartphone dominance and overall transformation of the local business point of view, it has been a truly rewarding journey.

Samsung is a great brand. I have got a great management and great distribution partners, I am blessed with a “can do, and never say die” team and I am in a market that itself is crazy enough to reward you with surprising feedback and growth.

Tell us about the competition and challenges in the mobile phone industry.

For such a fast-growing industry, competition is inevitable. And that is good for both players and consumers. Competition in the mobile device industry is more cutthroat than telco. Rapid shifts in technology and consumer preferences lead to very short lifecycle of products, and that is the crux of all competitive madness. This even leads to a very short lifespan of many brands and companies in this industry.

Competition becomes a big challenge when a level playing field is not there. Standardisation of quality (definition of “real” smartphone), control of copyrights (Bangladeshi-Chinese brands copying Samsung right, left and centre) and control of parallel imports and unauthorised products (non-warranty grey Samsung with high price gaps) – these are the three difficult challenges we’re facing.

We do hope that regulators and concerned authorities will soon take these matters seriously and jointly ensure the industry gets in shape and consumerism is upheld.

We have seen a paradigm shift for handsets and brands that are available in the market;

Designation: Head of mobile, Samsung Electronics Bangladesh Education: MBA IBA , Dhaka University Career background: FMCG, advertising, telco, device Interests: Reading, travelling

‘There are two dangers of aiming low. Either you get complacent or you underestimate yourself. So I advise people to set their targets right’ what's the current status quo?

Change is the only certainty – this line rightly fits the mobile device industry. Over the last three years, we have seen how market shares have transformed for many top players. 2030 new brands entered the scenario, while half of them had to leave within the same period. The consumer affordability scenario has changed a lot, together with changes in preferences. The touch phone segment nearly got abolished. Smartphone buzz, created

by Samsung, resulted in an equal amount of acceptance across segments and the market size has tripled in the last 12 months. These are all inspiring shifts for Samsung.

What type of government support could accelerate growth?

The Digital Bangladesh revolution should be complemented by a differential import duty in favour of smartphones. To support the growth of smartphones, I propose that the government allows very low or no duty on smartphone imports. Along with that, clear policies on quality standards and strict checks on smartphones must be enacted.

With the advent of 3G, nothing can be better than these two steps from the government’s side.

What do you consider to be your best achievement so far?

There are two.

At Robi, two of my mobile money-related concept papers received international recognition and grant facility: One from GSMA – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – and

the other from Remittances and Payments Challenge Fund (RPCF) – a Bangladesh Bank and DFID initiative. At Samsung, our journey from almost nowhere in 2010 to today’s dominant position in smartphones is another big achievement of my career.

Does Samsung have specific product line plans to meet the demand of the Bangladeshi customers?

We always do. If you look into our portfolio, now we have great solutions for entry segments with our bar phones. They come with essential mobile telephony services with never-before-seen prices. In smartphones also we have come up with many affordable line-ups with the right quality and features.

Now you can think of holding the world’s #1 smartphone; we have an extended lineup of smartphone options for consumers to choose from. In coming days, this will further increase in length and breadth.

How has the Samsung’s Smart-phone Cafe concept impacted its revenue?

Significantly. We now have around 50 Smartphone Cafes and have created an industry benchmark. Others are copying us in all aspects. These stores opened-up avenues for compelling touch and feel for consumers, face to face consultation by our resident experts, and thus are helping consumers go for the right choice. These 50 stores today contribute a significant share of our revenue as well as add to the brand value of Samsung.

In that light, we are also building mini-Cafe versions across the country, in big numbers,

With the unleashing of 3G, what would be the impact on smartphone users?

Great smartphones must get great data speed to fully realise their values. I expect the recent 3G launch will significantly impact the growth of smartphone sales in Bangladesh.

Actually, one will complement the other here. Overall, I can’t imagine how immensely this dual growth is going to contribute to the life and work enhancements of all the Bangladeshi consumers.

How has the Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) of high-end phones worked out so far?

This had been a successful and aggressive innovation from our side – to address the financing need of the consumers. Today, in our mid-high segments, EMI contributes to more than 70% of sales.

How much of the total features does an average Bangladeshi use in their daily life? How to enhance the interaction?

No more than 20%. The smarter the phone is, the wider the features are. That’s a challenge, and we have started to run a “Smart Academy” to help consumers know their Samsung better than before by giving them training on their devices. We have started this already for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 users, and this will continue on a bigger scale.

With a growing middle class and increasing internet penetration, how do you envision smart-phones impacting not just people’s lives but also social development?

A device with good data speed is “the power on your side.” The world is closer than before, be it news, trends, opportunities or knowledge. This has an overall impact on the personal as well as collective/social development. If you look around, you don’t need many explanations. And with that, I am personally very excited about how Samsung will add to that development with our smartphones.

What's next for Samsung?

After branded retails and service establishments, we’re now concentrating on distribution expansion to reach more consumers and satisfy the industry growth of smartphones.

Any favourite quote you would like to share with our readers?

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” – Michelangelo What’s next for you?

I want to retire early, and set-up my own quick-bite food store. I dream of having my food chain across some of the tropical beaches of Asia-Pacific, where people will come, mingle, exchange ideas and have good time. l