October 30, 2013

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Kartik 15, 1420 Zilhajj 24, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 216

Long Form

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Beyond the politics of climate change

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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Rubel reigns in first ODI n Reazur Rahman Rohan

Opposition plans blockade programmes on Nov 4-6 Apparently losing hope for a dialogue on the form of a polls-time government, the main opposition BNP has taken the strategy to mount pressure on the government through a series of agitation programmes like blockade from November 4 to 6.

A standing committee member hinted that the ongoing movement for a non-partisan government might intensify into a “resist elections” movement once the Election Commission announces schedule to hold the national elections under the party rule.

But before going for a vigorous movement, the party chooses to give the government some breathing space to initiate a meaningful dialogue, keeping in mind that the current Jatiya Sangsad will last until November 7, a number of Standing Committee members told the Dhaka Tribune after a meeting last night.

The highest policy-making body of the BNP decided to hold protest rallies on November 2 across the country.

The committee, chaired by party Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office, also discussed waging non-stop rail-road and waterway blockades from November 4 to 6 across the country.

The leaders also talked about programmes like besieging Secretariat, the EC and the Prime Minister’s Office from November 10 onwards.

The action programmes will be finalised at the 18-party alliance meeting tonight.

The party has already announced demonstration programme for tomorrow and gayebana janaza on Friday seeking divine blessings for those killed during the 60-hour countrywide hartal.

The committee decided not to have any tough programme on November 3 and 7, to facilitate observance of Jail Killing Day and National Revolution and Solidarity Day. “If the government takes any meaningful initiatives for a dialogue by this time, there might be some changes in the programme,” said one of the Standing Committee members, reached by phone after the meeting.

He quoted the party chief as saying, “The dialogue initiative was a drama and it is a dead issue now.”

Senior leaders also do not hope much from the dialogue, even if it takes place as they find the government is still hell-bent on holding the elections under its arrangement.

Standing Committee member Abdul  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Cricket fans pour out on the city streets and pass the heavily guarded BNP office at Nayapaltan on their way to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to watch BangladeshNew Zealand first ODI yesterday, the last day of 60-hour hartal NASHIRUL ISLAM

n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

The ruling Awami League is all set for electioneering with its door open for the much-awaited dialogue with the main opposition BNP on the polls-time government.

If the Awami League fails to bring BNP into the electoral battle it will go for the polls without the participation of the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Girl mistakes bomb for a ball, injures her eyes

The 60-hour countrywide hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance ended yesterday with another two people dying amid violent clashes, vandalism, arson and crude bomb attacks.

After the first two days of the hartal were marred by widespread violence and 11 deaths, the third day was relatively relaxed.

At least 150 vehicles were damaged, several hundred crude bombs blasted and over 1,000 people including several law enforcers injured across the country during the three-day shutdown.

Police said they arrested over 300 opposition activists during the hartal.

Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia on Friday announced the hartal as an ultimatum to the government to initiate dialogue over the polls-time government within two days. The next day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited her for a dialogue.

Rahima Akhter, aged nine, was sharing some food with her cousins at a playground near their house in the capital yesterday. The little girl soon noticed a small, ball-like object wrapped in red duct tape under a sack they were sitting on.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

INSIDE News

3 Around 750,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers have benefited from an amnesty offer for illegal workers by the Saudi authorities, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Shahidul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

Op-Ed

11 Israfil Khosru: As the nation is getting ready, albeit tentatively, for a probable election, the two major parties are relatively ready with their election pitch.

Apart from banking on the shortcomings of the current government, the BNP chairperson in her recent public address outlined certain pledges concerning certain social and economic programs.

Sport

13 Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 43 runs in the first ODI match in a rain curtailed game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. After being put in to bat, Bangladesh lost three quick wickets but a 154-run fourth wicket partnership between captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem.

Thinking it was something they could play with, she picked up the colourful object and began to unwrap the tape. The “ball” went off with a bang and splinters hit her face and body.

The child was rushed to the Dha-

ka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors have little hope of saving her badly damaged eyes.

In another incident on Monday, a bystander, Abdur Rahman, lost an eye in a similar explosion of crude homemade bombs.

Rahman, a house painter, along with some fellow workers, was waiting at the Raysaheb Bazar intersection in the old part of the city to get hired for a job.

Suddenly, two crude bombs exploded near the group, hitting Rahman in the face. He is now suffering in pain at the National Institute of Eye Science and Hospital.

The two tragic incidents in the capital during the opposition-called 60hour countrywide hartal has generated a lot of public flak, as well as sympathy.

Opposition activists were blamed for both the blasts.

Rahima’s aunt, Nupur Akhter, said the girl had moved to a make-shift shack at Jurain with her parents, after  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Cops queue up for leave, transfer in fear of reprisal n Mohammad Jamil Khan A number of high-profile police officials have submitted applications to the police headquarters at the fag-end of the government praying for a long leave.

These police officials are reported to have ruled the roost on the streets over the past five-year rule of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, said a sources in police.

The list of those officials includes deputy inspector general, superintended of police, joint commissioners, deputy commissioners and important police station officers-in-charge.

Some of those who were sure of not obtaining leave they applied for a transfer to a district or to the newly opened police departments or branches of police or Criminal Investigation Department and National Security Intelligence Department.

Such attitude of high-ranking police officials has not only upset the police headquarters it has also worried the home ministry.

A full-house Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium erupted in celebrations as fast bowler Rubel Hossain completed his hat-trick, effectively killing the game as Bangladesh went on to beat New Zealand by 43 runs (D/L) in the first ODI of the three-match series.

Rubel, 23, did not only claim a hattrick, but bagged 6-26, equalling by Bangladesh’s best bowling figures in ODI, to wash away any hopes for the Kiwis of winning the match.

Chasing a big total of 266 runs to win, the visitors were maintaining a steady pace, 82-3 in 20 overs, before rain suddenly poured at Mirpur.

Upon resumption, the D/L score was set at 206 to win from 33 overs, meaning New Zealand still needed 124 from 13 overs.

The tough task was made even tougher when Mushfiq introduced Rubel into the attack after the slow bowlers were ripped apart by Grant Elliot (71) and Corey Anderson (46).  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Awami League on election boat

60-hour hartal ends, total deaths 13 Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Ashif Islam Shaon

n Ashif Islam Shaon

94% Nordic companies to expand business

What they said: Conversation of Hasina and Khaleda

BNP losing hope for dialogue n Mohammad Al-MasumMolla

Business

Special

The authorities in the police headquarters as per instruction of the home ministry have not granted the leave applications of several officials.

Additional Inspector General (admin) of Police AKM Shahidul Haque, however, strongly denied the fact of such applications.

He said this was a regular phenomenon in the police department and every year around 15-20 police officials who pursue a higher degree in a foreign country submit leave applications.

The officials have the right to submit applications or prayer for foreign degree, he said adding that there is nothing wrong with that.

Proloy Kumar Joardar, AIG (planning and research) took a two-year leave to go abroad to pursue a higher degree with effect from the current month.

Mollah Nazrul Islam, deputy commissioner (OSD), Deputy Commissioners Biplob Kumar Sarker and Abdullah Aref, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mehedi Hasan also applied for leave  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

At the same time, AL is making its preparations to face the movement of the BNP-led campaign for the installation of a non-partisan caretaker government, said a source in Awami League.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the ruling AL president, unveiled her intension in Monday’s cabinet meeting, where she categorically said that polls-time all-party government would be formed with all political parties

without BNP if it does not respond to her calls.

Hasina also said the government would do its best to bring all political parties, including BNP, to the upcoming election, but if BNP remained rigid on its stance, the government would have no alternative but to hold the election, keeping them away from the electoral process.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Three killed in Kutubdia clash n Our correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Three people were killed and 25 others including law enforcers injured in Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar during clashes between police and BNP-Jamaat supporters yesterday.

The dead were named as Abu Ahmed, 50, Ismail Parvez, 25, and  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

EC did not recommend dropping RPO article: CEC n Mohammad Zakaria

FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, flanked by business community leaders, speaks at a press conference at Motijheel where they expressed their concerns about the present political crisis DHAKA TRIBUNE

BDR carnage case verdict may be deferred n Tribune Report

Business leaders say no to 'third force' in power

The special court dealing with the BDR carnage case is not likely to deliver its verdict today, sources involved with the case have said.

On completion of the final arguments by the prosecution and the defence sides on October 20, Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Md Akhtaruzaman fixed today for pronouncing the verdict.

However, several lawyers from both sides and officers of the law enforcement agencies on condition of anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune last night that the court might announce a fresh date for delivery of the verdict. They, however, could not ascertain the reason of postponing the verdict delivery. l

The country’s business leaders yesterday described their experience during the caretaker regime of 2007 as “not a happy one” and said they did not want to see an illegitimate entity in government again.

“We do not want any third force assuming power again as our experience of the third force after 1/11 was not a happy one,” Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, the president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), said at a press briefing yesterday.

The apex trade body arranged the press briefing to discuss ways to overcome the ongoing political crisis and to put pressure on the ruling party and the opposition to resolve the unrest through constructive negotiation.

The business leaders said business across the country had stalled due to the 60-hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party Alliance.

The opposition called the hartal to put pressure on the government to hold the upcoming general elections under a non-partisan government.

In response to Prime Minister

There is nothing like ‘one sided’ election: Inu n Mohosinul Karim Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said yesterday the upcoming polls would be held to ensure continuity of constitution.

The minister made the remark at a press conference at the PID conference room at the secretariat.

If the opposition does not take part in dialogue, the government would make a decision on the polls-time government consulting with the president, higher court, party forum and leaders of ruling alliance, Inu said.

Calling upon BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to sit in a dialogue, Inu said: “If you miss the train of dialogue, you will miss the train to election and democracy.”

When asked, will “one sided” election be acceptable, the minister said: “Elections must be held in line with the constitution."

He also condemned the attacks on journalists. l

n Tribune Report

Sheikh Hasina’s proposal for an all-party interim government to administer the election, opposition leader Khaleda Zia proposed a non-partisan government comprising 10 advisers from the “successful” caretaker governments of 1996 and 2001.

Ahmed told the press conference the FBCCI was planning to meet both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to request them to reach a consensus.

“We are trying to get appointments from the prime minister and the opposition leader. I am hopeful that we will be able to get them today and meet the two leaders tomorrow,” Akram told the Dhaka Tribune over phone later in the evening.

He said the both government and the opposition should come forward to find a peaceful solution.

Replying to a query at the conference as to what the business leaders would do if the unrest continued, the FBCCI president said, “We will not sit idle if our backs are pushed against the wall.”

“We will turn around and try to find a way out of this. We do not want to see any third force in power again. We want a peaceful solution to the political crises and to do business smoothly.” l

Three killed in Kutubdia clash  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Azizur Rahman, 23. Police, however, were claiming only two people were killed.

A good number of law enforcers were deployed and a red alert declared on the grounds that it was a Jamaat dominated area, said police.

Locals said after the hartal, the BNP and Jamaat-Shibir men were holding a rally Dakkhin Dhurum Bazar around 6pm. The clash ensued as police obstructed them.

The clash lasted for around two hours when at least 25 people including 10 police members were injured.

Police claimed that the hartal supporters also opened fire at them.

The injured were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Condition of three of the police members was critical.

Kutubdia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Firoz Ahmed said two people were killed during the clash. Additional police were deployed after the incident.

District Jamaat leader DM Rahimullah said the three were members of their party. In protest against the deaths, the 18-party opposition alliance declared a day-long hartal for tomorrow in Cox’s Bazar district. l

Rubel reigns

BNP losing hope in dialogue

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It was a lovely running catch by Mashrafe bin Mortaza that completed Rubel’s six-for and Bangladesh win with the visitors bundled out for 162.

Earlier, it was skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam who repaired an early damage in the Tigers’ innings, 253, with a majestic 154-run fourth wicket stand.

Naeem looked a bit rusty, but Mushfiq’s flurry of shots from the beginning allowed him to settle in before they both smashed boundaries all over the park.

Both right-handers missed glorious opportunities of registering a century as made 90 (8 fours, 2 sixes) before Naeem was out on 84 (12 fours).

A late 30-ball 29 from Mahmudullah helped the Tigers reach a challenging total of 265 before they were bowled out with a ball left in their innings. l

Moyeen Khan said to infer that the offer by the prime minister was just to divert the movement away from the demand of a non-partisan government may not be farfetched when one listens to the tape of the telephone talk that the premier was repeatedly requesting the leader of the opposition to withdraw the hartal rather than emphasising the issue of resolving the political conflict leading to a free, fair non-partisan and inclusive election.

“While making it clear that it was not possible to go for a dinner on Monday over the dead bodies of our activists, BNP, however, continuous to be open to resolving this crisis through negotiations as had been clearly indicated by the leader of the opposition during the telephone talk,” he added.

Acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called the gov-

Awami League on election boat  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

The AL president asked her party men to counter vandalism and repression unleashed by the opposition.

The ruling party has already started its poll-centric all-out preparation. The party will finalise its nomination list for 300 constituencies in the first week of November and start to sell nomination papers from November 10.

Sources in the party also confirmed that the party would finalise seat sharing with its allies by the first half of November. And it will organise a show of strength at Suhrawardy Udyan on November 3.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune AL

Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said the party had started its election preparation keeping the door open for negotiation with BNP. “As BNP will not come to any compromise there is no alternative but to hold the election,” he said. “Nothing waits for anything.”

Alleging that BNP might carry out subversive activities to execute its evil plan the AL presidium member said ALmen across the country would resist it.

The ruling AL-led 14-party alliance from a meeting on Sunday called upon the PM to conclude the dialogue process expeditiously and urged the Election Commission to initiate the process

ernment’s initiative for dialogue a farce.

“We knew they [AL] will come to this position and stage a drama,” he told a media briefing yesterday after the end of the shutdown.

Earlier in the morning, he accused the government of leaking the telephone conversation between the prime minister and leader of the opposition, saying it was leaked with an evil intention.

Fakhrul said the two leaders had talked from their supreme stances. “The conversation was confidential, but it was recorded and then telecast. We believe it is out of decency,” he said.

Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, another Standing Committee member, alleged that by leaking out the telephone conversation the dialogue prospect was pushed into an uncertainty. “I am sure the conversation was leaked from the prime minister’s office,” he said. l

for poll immediately.

Still many leaders of Awami League are fearing political chaos in the coming days as they believe there is a slim chance of reaching a consensus over the polls-time government.

At an anti-hartal rally at Bangabandhu Avenue, AL Joint General Secretary Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif yesterday said the PM’s invitation to the opposition leader was still in place and the opposition leader could turn up any day responding to the call.

AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahamud Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the Awami League’s polls preparation was going on in full swing. l

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday said the Election Commission had not recommended dropping the RPO article on three-year mandatory party membership for a person to participate in the parliamentary elections.

“The ministry concerned did not inform the commission about dropping of the article. Parliament has the authority to pass any law as people elected the members of parliament,” he told reporters at the EC Secretariat.

On the increase of use of black money because of dropping of the RPO article, Rakibuddin said lawmakers who represented in parliament would look into the matter as they had dropped

the article. “They can give the proper answer on the matter,” he said.

About the authority given to the EC in the RPO to transfer administrative officials during the election, he said the commission would definitely apply the power properly and at right times.

The CEC said they had not yet got any complaint about any official, but the EC had started working to identify such officials in the general and police administrations, if any.

“If there are specific allegations against any officials in the administration, the commission will take action against them as it transferred officials during the recent city corporation polls and by-elections,” he added.

Rakibuddin, however, said it was not mandatory that an official had to

be transferred.

“Transferring officials was a routine work earlier when elections were held under the caretaker government, but now there is a new system for holding the next parliamentary elections after the 15th amendment to the constitution,” said the CEC. On finalising the electoral code of conduct and announcing the polls schedule, he said: “The commission will finalise the draft electoral code of conduct at a meeting of the full commission tomorrow [Wednesday].

“The issue of the polls schedule will come after finalising the electoral code.

We will also discuss fixing the date for announcing the polls schedule.” Normally, the EC announces the polls schedule keeping 45-50 days in hand, the CEC said. l

BGB, police guard Sayedee witness house after attack n Our Correspondent, Barisal

CPB and BSD favour non-party government

Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed at Zianagar upazila of Pirojpur yesterday, following the vandalising on Monday of the house of a war crimes case plaintiff by Jamaat-Shibir supporters.

AKM Shamimul Huq Siddiki, deputy commissioner Pirojpur, acknowledged the deployment of BGB personnel.

Monday’s victim, Mahbubul Alam Hawlader, had given deposition at the tribunal in the case against Jamaat leader and death row convict Delawar Hossain Sayedee, who hails from the same upazila.

Dr Abdur Rahim, deputy inspector general of police (Barisal range), said the step had been taken to ensure the safety and security of Mahbub and to maintain law and order in the area.

Siddhartha Shangkar Kundu, the Zianagar upazila nirbahi officer, said three BGB platoons led by Maj Ahsan camped at Zianagar on Monday night and started patrolling in the upazila and adjacent areas yesterday. A police camp was also opened at Tengrakhali village of Zianagar while a police team was deployed at the house of Mahbub, said Zianagar police station OC Nasir Uddin Mallick. l

The leaders of two left political parties – Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) – recommended that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina take initiatives to hold a participatory election under a non-party government.

The two parties, working to mobilise an alternative platform of left parties beyond the AL and the BNP, also viewed that the prime minister would have to show responsible approach, sources said.

Senior leaders of the two parties made the observations at a meeting with the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban last night. The meeting was held as part of the AL chief’s series of meetings with political parties to gather opinion about formation of an all-party polls-time government she had proposed recently. Hasina earlier sat with ruling government allies.

The premier also invited main opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday for talks at the Ganabhaban.

The BNP also demands that the next general elections must be held under a neutral government.

n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

At the meeting, the CPB and BSD placed nine-point demands that include lifting ban on political activities immediately, banning anti-liberation Jamaat-e-Islami, resisting anarchic activities of Jamaat and implementing the verdicts in war crimes cases.

Sources in the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune that the two left parties urged Hasina to hold elections under a caretaker government for the next two terms in accordance with the short verdict delivered by the Supreme Court to make the next polls participatory.

Replying to the suggestion, the prime minister assured them that she would try her best to make it participatory in line with the constitutional provisions.

The government in 2011 annulled the caretaker government provision in line with the court verdict which in its observation also stated that the next two terms could be held under unelected rulers for the sake of peace and law and order.

The left leaders also told the premier that unilateral election would not give any solution and that the nation had bitter experiences in 1986, 1988 and 1996 elections. l

Girl mistakes bomb for a ball  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

they were evicted from their old house a few months ago. She was admitted to a local school.

Rahima’s father, Sobhan, is a scrap dealer. But recently, he became addicted to drugs and stopped providing for the family.

“My sister, Shoma, started begging to earn some money. She seems mentally imbalanced now-a-days,” Nupur said.

About the girl’s physical condition,

Al Mahmud Lemon, deputy registrar of DMCH’s eye department, said both her eyes were damaged by splinters. She also sustained injuries to her hands, chest and abdomen.

“We have little hope for her right eye as the cornea has dissolved. We will do surgery on the left one. But first, her physical condition has to improve,” the doctor said.

Meanwhile, Rahman will also undergo surgery in his remaining good

eye, but doctors at the eye institute could not say for sure whether he would fully regain his sight.

Rahman, from southern Patuakhali district, lives in a rented-room at Jinjira. He is the sole earner for his five-member family back home.

On the first day of the non-stop hartal on Sunday, a teenage boy sustained injuries when a bomb he was carrying exploded. A BNP activist allegedly gave him the bomb to use for picketing. l

Cops queue up for leave, transfer  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

on the same ground, said a source in the police headquarters.

Very popular Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid also asked for a twoyear leave to spend some time with his foreign citizen wife and children. Besides, a DIG of police headquarters and three more deputy commissioners of the capital asked for leave.

Even the Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch of Police Monirul Islam was granted an 11-month leave to complete his higher degree under London Nardambria University. However, as he has taken a lot of flak he has finally withdrawn his application.

Monirul later said he would go abroad in the year of 2014 to get a foreign higher degree.

Besides, officers-in-charge of several police stations including Salauddin Ahmed of Kotowali, Mazahar of Kadamtali, and Moinruzzaman have too submitted leave applications.

Akbar, former R-1 of Rajarbagh Police Line applied for his transfer is now working as operation officer in Savar Police Station who has allegedly been involved in several crimes.

A number of police officials in return for anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that these officials applied for transfer and leave as they were fearing reprisal

from the next government.

Even an intelligence report disparaged the submission of such leave applications by police officials. The report said such attitude of high officials would cast a negative impact on police force.

When contacted Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police, said some officials submit applications for earned leave every year to study abroad for higher degree and for others purposes and “there is nothing unnatural about it”.

Some officials applied for a long leave but their applications were turned down given the present situation, he said. l

60-hour hartal ends, total deaths 13  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

On the first day of the shutdown, five people were killed across the country while on the second day, six died. Most fell victim to the clashes between the ruling party and hartal supporters.

Of the two people who died yesterday, BNP activist Maruf Hasan, 20, was shot dead during a clash with police and Awami League workers in Mohammadpur upazila in the morning, when 25 others were injured, reports our Magura correspondent.

Violence flared when a procession of the city unit BNP came under the attack of the AL activists around noon.

At that time, police fired rubber bullets, leaving Maruf dead on the spot, said Mohammadpur police station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam.

In Kishoreganj, one Jubo League leader succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the second day of hartal in Boniadi area of Bajitpur upazila. The deceased was named as Sher

Ali, 50, joint secretary of Jubo League’s Boniadi union.

Following Monday’s violence, local administrations imposed a ban on gatherings (section 144) in Pakundia and Bajitpur upazilas yesterday, reports our correspondent, quoting SM Ramjan Ali, OC of Bajitpur police station.

In the capital yesterday, activists of Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir injured the OC of Hazaribagh police station in a bomb attack in Dhanmondi area around 6:30am. OC Masud Karim was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Minor girl Rahmia Akter lost one of her eyes after being injured by a bomb in the city’s Jurain area. A day before, a mason lost his left eye while a CNG auto-rickshaw driver lost a hand under the attack of hartal picketers.

The incidents of crude bomb blasts, chases and counter-chases between police and hartal supporters were also reported in other parts of the city in

the early hours yesterday including in Goran, Rampura, Jatrabari, Maghbazar Rail Gate and Nayapaltan.

Besides these, attack on VIPs’ establishments continued as several crude bombs were hurled at the residences of Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain, Labour and Employment Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, and Dhaka city unit Member Secretary Abdus Salam yesterday.

Police picked up at least 40 hartal supporters in the capital with 10 of them convicted by mobile court.

Home Minister MK Alamgir yesterday claimed that the BNP-led 18-party alliance would have to take responsibility for the deaths during the hartal hours.

“The government has already begun investigating the incidents of killing.

Tough actions will be taken against those who killed innocent people,” the minister told reporters at his Secretariat office. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

3

400,000 Bangladeshis legalised in Saudi Arabia n Rabiul Islam Around 750,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers have benefited from an amnesty offer for illegal workers by the Saudi authorities, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md Shahidul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

Of the beneficiaries, about 400,000 undocumented workers’ passports were renewed and issued while around 350,000 workers, who were at the risk of becoming undocumented, were able to change their professions.

Officials said earlier the workers were not authorised to change their professions.

He, however, admitted there was no basis of this assumption.

Talking to this correspondent recently, some migrants claimed that stay of many Bangladeshi expatriates were still not legalised.

Regarding the claim, Shahidul said a few thousands of the workers without legal documents, might had been left out.

“We have requested the Saudi authorities to help these workers to go back home and they agreed to do so,” he said.

Officials said over 70,000 Bangladeshi migrants had taken out-passes

from the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia to return home, availing the Saudi government’s amnesty for illegal foreign workers which would expire on November 3.

Of them, around 25,000 migrants have already returned. Majority of the rest of the workers have been able to change their professions, they claimed.

Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in the Kingdom have so far processed the applications of 700,000 expats for the issuance and renewal of passports, out-passes and travel permits, reported Arab News on October 29.

According to Arab News, in addition to consular services offered in Riyadh, the Bangladesh Embassy also organised consular services in Jubail, Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Al-Jouf, Sakaka and Al-Qassim.

The Jeddah Consulate also offered consular services in Khamis Mushayt, Jazan, Najran, Tabuk, Yanbu, Al-Baha and Madinah.

The Kingdom is presently a home to some 1.8m Bangladeshi expatriates.

The ministries of labour and interior have issued serious warnings to the illegal expatriates to complete their formalities in time to avoid arrest by teams of inspectors who will take to the field once the amnesty expired. l

Staff have been working at a book binding shop in the old Dhaka’s Shyampur area, where the last moment’s groundwork is going on, to prepare the textbooks for secondary schools students and deliver these to students at the beginning of new academic year in January NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bapex plans 2D survey at Dighipara

Tribunal softens stance though defence remains absent

n

n

Aminur Rahman Rasel

State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company Limited (Bapex) will begin a two-dimensional (2D) seismic survey to discover coal reserve areas at Dighipara in Dinajpur from January 2014.

“The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has recently approved a proposal in this regard,” said Managing Director of Bapex MA Baki to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Bapex operates as a company under Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

A Petrobangla official said the government is weighing the prospect of exploring the 600-million-tonne reserve at Dighipara, through Coal Bed Methane (CBM) extraction. The reserve was discovered in 1995, sitting 328-455metres below the surface.

Meanwhile, the government has estimated that five coal mines - Barapukuria, Dighipara, Phulbari, Jamalganj and Khalashpir - likely hold a reserve of approximately 30 billion tonnes.

From these, the country is now lifting around 3,000 tonnes per day from Barapukuria and generating 250MW of thermal power. l

SQ Chowdhury appeals seeking acquittal n Nazmus Sakib Death-row convict BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury yesterday appealed against the tribunal verdict seeking acquittal.

Lawyer for the BNP Standing Committee member Zainul Abedin filed the appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court around 2:15pm.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the government would not lodge an appeal against the verdict.

Salauddin Quader was not found guilty in 14 out of 23 charges pressed against him.

On October 1, The International Crimes Tribunal 1 handed down the death penalty to the BNP leader for committing war crimes in Chittagong during the war.

He was found guilty on nine charges which include the much-talked-about killing of Nutan Chandra Singha, killings and atrocities on the Hindu population in Banik Para of Sultanpur village in Raozan, the killing of around 70 people at Unosottor Para, and the torture and killing of Awami League leader Mozaffar Ahmed and his son Sheikh Alamgir. l

Udisa Islam

Despite its previous warning to halt the defence case if the counsels remained absent, the war crimes tribunal yesterday gave the defence half day‘s time today to complete deposition of the final witness in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Conducting lawyer Mizanul Islam remained absent for the third consecutive day yesterday citing security concerns due to hartal and personal difficulties. Meanwhile, the junior lawyers also failed to produce witness Nazibur Rahman alias Nazib Momen, also son of the accused.

Yesterday the defence again submitted to the tribunal 1 an adjournment

plea on the same grounds.

Allowing them a half session, the tribunal rejected the plea, saying they wanted to give the defence an “opportunity to close their case.”

The tribunal kept the second half of the day for the final stage of the caseclosing arguments by the prosecution.

While warning the defence for their repeated absences, the tribunal on Monday and Sunday said they would provide security to the lawyers if they applied.

After defence lawyer Md Asad Uddin filed the plea yesterday, the tribunal said: “...in this foundation level [of profession], you have to do as the seniors want but always try to speak the truth.

We realise that you are in trouble...

you have to abide by the instructions of your seniors.” The junior counsel answered in the affirmative.

Prosecutor Mohammad Ali opposed the petition saying that the defence lawyer had filed similar petitions earlier to delay the trial process.

The three-member tribunal then took around 15 minutes to discuss among themselves and rejected the defence adjournment petition. But it said the defence could produce their final witness tomorrow.

In its order, the tribunal said it had shown leniency for the sake of justice.

It also recalled the fact that conducting defence counsel Mizanul Islam had been offered police protection by the tribunal but had not accepted it. Mizanul lives in Paltan area. l

Dhaka backs Saudi decision on UNSC n Sheikh ShahariarZaman

Bangladesh has endorsed Saudi Arabia’s decision to turn down its newly-elected position on the UN Security Council for the term 201415. However, the government said it wanted the Kingdom back in the council to “promote and protect the interest of humanity.”

The public endorsement came five days after Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Al Naser Al Bushairy met Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to seek support from Bangladesh for its stance on reforming the UN Security Council.

The carefully crafted endorsement tried to appease Saudi Arabia, where over two million Bangladeshis are working, and at the same time not to

make the five permanent members of the UN Security Council angry.

“Bangladesh enjoys close, brotherly and friendly relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh fully appreciates the compulsions that led to Saudi Arabia’s decision to turn down a seat in the Security Council which is in need of effective reforms on the basis of a broad based consensus,” the foreign ministry statement said.

It, however, requested Saudi Arabia join the UNSC to promote and protect the interest of humanity.

“As a close friend and a member of the Ummah, Bangladesh encourages Saudi Arabia, leader of the Muslim Ummah, to join the UN Security Council to promote and protect the

20kg gold seized from Biman flight n Kailash Sarkar Customs officials recovered 160 smuggled gold bars weighing around 20kg at the toilet of a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport last night.

“The gold bars kept in four bags were found at the toilet of the national flag carrier around 11pm. Coming from Hong Kong, it landed in Dhaka around 10:30pm,” Zakiya Sultana, commissioner of customs at the airport, told the Dhaka Tribune.

She said they had searched the flight on a tip-off but were not able to arrest anyone.

However, sources at the airport said the bars had been smuggled in cooperation with a section of Biman air crews

unless it was not possible to hide those in the toilet.

In the last 10 months, law enforcers seized smuggled gold of over 350kg at the airport.

The sources said a number of criminal rings were involved in the smuggling of gold, currencies, various precious metals, stones and other materials with the help of a section of unscrupulous airport staff.

According to the airport authorities, more than 3,600 people have been arrested in recent years for their involvement in smuggling. The arrestees include airline crewmembers, officials and employees of the civil aviation, customs, immigration, National Security Intelligence and Ansar members. l

interest of the humanity at large, and that of the Ummah in particular, in this important global forum,” the statement said.

Bangladesh respected the sovereign decision of Saudi Arabia and believed that a Saudi presence in and engagement with the UN Security Council would help make effective progress towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria and on the question of Palestine, the statement added.

The Saudi position on the UN has drawn attention of the five superpowers.

Russian foreign ministry called the move bewildering.

France said it understood he frustration of the Kingdom country. l

Padma bridge tender deadline extended n Mohosinul Karim Main construction work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge may not start during the current government’s tenure after the tender submission date was deferred for a second time to December 3 from November 4.

An official circular in this regard was issued under the communication ministry on October 27 by Md Alauddin, project director of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).

Khandokar Anwarul Islam, vice chairman of the BBA and secretary of the bridges division, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune the decision was reached following a proposal by the project authority. l

Blasts designed to foil war crimes trial: Attorney general n Nazmus Sakib Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said the ongoing bomb attacks on judges were an attempt to scuttle the war crimes trial and corruption cases against the two sons of Opposition Leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The top law officer urged judges to continue the trials without any hesitation and said: “We lawyers are with you.” He also appealed to all lawyers to unite against such attacks.

Mahbubey Alam was addressing an assembly arranged by Sammilita Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad, a forum of lawyers backed by the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance, at the Supreme Court Bar Association building protesting the attacks and countrywide anarchy.

Appellate Division judge Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, who is also a member of the panel dealing with war crimes appeal cases, came under a bomb attack during the opposition-sponsored 60-hour countrywide hartal while an attempt was made to bomb the residence of Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain. Many important documents of the lower court in the capital were also burnt.

Awami League advisory committee member Yusuf Hossain Humaun, the party’s central Law Secretary Abdul Matin Khasru and Abdul Baset Majumdar also addressed the meeting moderated by former SCBA secretary SM Rezaul karim.

Pro-BNP lawyers brought out a procession in support of the hartal yesterday. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Med schools make millions unlawfully

There are allegations that some colleges charge local students as much as foreign students for admitting them in reserved seats

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Some of the private medical and dental colleges in the country are allegedly making millions of takas illegally by admitting local students in seats reserved for foreign students.

There are allegations that these colleges are taking advantage of the provision that they can admit local students in the vacant reserved seats.

According to existing regulations, the private medical and dental colleges can admit foreign students in up to 25% of their individual seats.

But while admitting local students in the reserved seats, the colleges must make sure that they do not charge the local students as much as they do the foreign ones.

The private medical colleges charge each foreign student around $40,000$50,000 (Tk3.1m-Tk3.9m) as tuition fees.

On the other hand, they charge Bangladeshi students initial enrolment fees ranging from Tk1m to Tk2m and monthly tuition fees of Tk5,000Tk15,000.

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that a Dhanmondi-based private medical

college in the capital has recently admitted a local student for a payment of Tk5.4m in a seat that was reserved for foreign students.

The college, in order to make sure that its name was not tarnished for doing illegal business, reportedly gave the student a voucher for only Tk2.5m.

Seeking anonymity, an official of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told the Dhaka Tribune that it was just one of many such cases.

The Dhaka Tribune has also learnt that neither the DGHS nor the health ministry have any reliable statistic about how many foreign students are actually admitted in the reserved seats every year.

Source said although the colleges were supposed to let the ministry know about the number of foreign students admitted, none of them actually provides the information.

DGHS Director (medical education) Dr ABM Abdul Hannan failed to come up with the information every time on the several occasions that he was contacted in the last few days.

According to the DGHS, there are currently 54 private medical and den-

tal colleges in the country with a combined accommodation of 1,900. However, these colleges have only managed to admit only 400 students during the previous academic year (2012-2013).

The Dhaka Tribune has recently ran a story which had said the private medical and dental colleges has been trying to pursue the government to raise the number of reserved seats for foreign students.

For making the final decision about the request, the health ministry is scheduled to sit in a meeting today.

Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque is likely to preside over that meeting.

There has been rumours that the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association has proposed hefty bribes to the health ministry officials for raising the percentage of seats reserved for foreign students.

Figures show that apart from a select few, most medical and dental colleges cannot attract foreign students.

The top colleges get a lot more applications from foreign students compared to their capacities. But they cannot admit more than 25% of their total seats although there is demand, depriving

the country of significant amount of foreign currency.

The money that a foreign student pays in US Dollars for enrolling in a medical or dental college is considered export revenue for Bangladesh.

Professionals said the government should encourage and take steps for admitting more foreign students in these colleges.

But, they said, there was no point in raising the quota when most of the capacity still goes unused. They said raising the quota would only benefit a handful of colleges.

BPMCA President Dr Moazzem Hossain recently told the Dhaka Tribune that last year they had failed to admit satisfactory number of foreign students because of the bureaucracy’s failure. This year, however, they organised medical education fair in three countries and hope to enrol a lot of more foreign students.

When asked about the drive to raise the quota, Dr Moazzem said the money that the foreign students pay was important for the smooth operation of the colleges. Moreover, they add to the revenue of the country as well. l

Oman to restrict overseas recruitment n Rabiul Islam Oman, currently the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers, has decided to put a ban on overseas recruitment for a period of six months starting November 1.

“The Bangladesh Embassy in Oman has informed us that visas will not be issued for construction workers and cleaners for six months,” said Shamsun Nahar, director general of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) yesterday.

She could not specify any reason behind the decision, but she told the Dhaka Tribune that the labour counsellor at Bangladesh Embassy in Oman was trying to pursue the Omani authorities to review the decision.

Shamsun Nahar said the decision would certainly affect Bangladesh’s overseas job market.

The embassy in a letter said Bangladeshis were believed to have significant amount of presence in the two categories in Oman and many more were aspiring to find jobs in the fields.

The Omani manpower ministry promulgated an item of its labour law to stop issuance of visas for workers in construction and cleaning jobs in the private sector, reported the Muscat Daily website on October 24.

The decision, however, excludes top companies, consultancy firms and those implementing government projects.

“It is a temporary ban and the Oman

government is trying to regulate foreign workers,” Bangladesh Labour Counsellor to Oman Major AKM Rabiul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan acknowledged having heard the news and said he was trying to learn why the ban was imposed. He said 500,000 Bangladeshis were staying in Oman now.

Officials at the BMET said migrant workers from Bangladesh went to Oman mainly to work in the construc-

The gulf state stops recruiting foreign workers in some categories for six months from November 1 tion and cleaning sectors.

A total of 102,357 workers have gone to Oman during January-September this year, according to the BMET. Bangladesh Bank data shows that the country received $610m as remittance from Oman in 2012-13 fiscal year and $151mfrom July to September this year.

Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Secretary General Ali Haider Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the overall overseas jobs would fall as Oman was currently the largest labour market.

He said many were still going to the country with the help of their relatives but many of them remained unemployed. l

Ecnec approves project to reform secondary education n Tribune Report The government yesterday approved a Tk16.6bn project, aiming to reform the country’s secondary education sector and putting emphasis on improving the quality of education.

The approval of the project “Secondary Education Sector Investment Programmes” came at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The project will be implemented in line with the government’s 10-year national education policy. Management efficiency improvement, curriculum review, infrastructural development, ICT-based teaching and learning and poor and unprivileged students’ stipend programmes have been incorporated in the project.

Local and overseas training programmes for government and non-government teachers, trainers and educational administrative officials have also been included in the project. The Asian Development Bank will provide Tk7.2bn for the four-year project scheduled to kick off in January 2014.

Ecnec approved 15 projects worth Tk42.6bn at the meeting.

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country having chances of light rain or thundershowers over the regions of Comilla, Chittagong and Sylhet until 6pm today.

Day and night temperature might remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:21pm today and rises at 6:04am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 32.8 degree Celsius was recorded at Khulna and lowest 20.0 degrees at Sayedpur yesterday.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

31.6 29.0 31.4 29.8 32.8 30.8 28.6 30.5

22.8 22.2 22.7 20.8 22.0 21.0 21.8 23.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:47am 6:03am 11:43am 2:57pm 5:21pm 6:38pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

“Of the total outlay, Tk31.3bn will come from the national exchequer while the remaining Tk11.3bn from project assistance,” Planning Commission Member Hedayetullah Al Mamun said.

A project worth Tk1.8bn to install and operate prepaid meters in Lalbagh, Basabo, Maniknagar, Bongshal, Jurain and East Narayanganj areas under Dhaka Power Distribution Company on pilot basis was approved by the committee.

Tk910m of the cost will come as German loan assistance.

Under the project, some 144,500 prepaid meters will be installed in those areas. The project will ensure 100% power sector revenue earning in areas concerned in Dhaka and Narayanganj, the proposal said.

The other projects approved in the meeting included construction of Bafa Bangabandhu Complex, Jessore project (Tk1.72bn), construction of Tatthya Bhaban (Tk610m), technology transfer at upazila-level for farmers’ training, second revision (Tk1.72bn), production, storage and distribution of rice, wheat and jute seed at farmers’ level, second phase (Tk1.1bn) and removal of waterlogging from Bhabadaho and adjacent areas of Jessore, second revision (Tk1.16bn).l

Rab officials on high alert in the city’s Nayapaltan area on the third day of 60-hour nationwide general strike imposed by 18-part allience

2 AL leaders killed in Rajbari, Chittagong BNP imposes hartal in Jhenaidah today

n Tribune Report Unidentified people yesterday killed two Awami League leaders in separate incidents at Rajbari and Chittagong, while Jhenaidah district BNP called for a day-long hartal today in the district protesting the killing of a local BNP leader.

The slain BNP leader Abul Hossain, who was killed on Monday, was buried at his village in Harinakundu yesterday, and the deceased’s followers set fire to three Awami League leaders’ houses on the day in the district as an act of retaliation.

The two leaders killed in Rajbari and Chittagong were Fazlur Rahman, 65, the vice-president of ward no 4 under Goalondo Municipality of Rajbari, and Humayan Kabir Prokash Murad, 28, member of convener committee of city unit Jubo League of Chittagong.

Dhaka Tribune’s Rajbari Correspondent reports, Fazlur Rahman, also a variety store businessman, was stabbed indiscriminately.

His family members said Fazlu came to his shop from his house around 10pm and slept there as usual.

Later, a customer came to his shop in the morning and started knocking on the door after seeing it closed, but Fazlu did not respond.

Then locals gathered and knocked

on his door but Fazlu was quiet. After that they informed the police who later recovered Fazlu’s body.

The two leaders killed in Rajbari and Chittagong were Fazlur Rahman, 65, the vicepresident of ward no 4 under Goalondo Municipality of Rajbari, and Humayan Kabir Prokash Murad, 28, member of convener committee of city unit Jubo League of Chittagong Md Abul Basher, officer-in-charge of Goalondo police station, said Fazlu’s mouth was tied with tape, while his body was riddled with stab wounds.

UNB, a government news agency, reports that Humayan Kabir was chopped to death by unidentified people in the port city’s Tigerpass-Ambagan area early yesterday.

Sub-Inspector Ponkoj of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) police camp said a group of people overpowered Humayan and stabbed him with sharp weapons on his way back home via motorcycle around 12am, leaving him injured.

Hearing his screams, local people rescued him and took him to CMCH where doctors declared him dead. l

RAJIB DHAR

HARTAL IN CHITTAGONG

All-party government only solution: AL alliance n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance said an all-party polls-time government was the only solution for the country to recover from the ongoing political impasse.

The alliance called on the opposition to come forward for dialogue, and “shun the politics of destruction.”

Alliance leaders said the BNP would have to take initiatives for the dialogue.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina hosted a meeting of party leaders and activists at her Dhanmondi office yesterday. Mohammad Nasim, the 14-party spokesperson and Awami League Presidium member, briefed reporters later.

The alliance agreed on a three-day programme to protest “anarchic” activities of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, including countrywide rallies on November 1, meetings with professional bodies on November 6 and with pro-liberation forces and leaders from different women’s organisations on November 7. l

One killed, 13 injured on final day of 60-hour hartal At least one person was killed and 13 others injured, including three policemen, in Chittagong on the last day of the 60-hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

At least 14 vehicles were also vandalised and 30 crude bombs blasted in the port city and other upazilas of the district, witnesses and police said.

However, police could not arrest anyone in connection with the violence.

Police recovered a youth’s body from a canal at Fultola of Boalkhali upazila around 4:30pm. The unidentified youth was allegedly killed during a chase and counter-chase between Awami League and BNP men.

Jahirul Haque Sabuj, officer-incharge of Boalkhali police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that the reason for the death was not known.

Police, BNP and AL men locked into a tripartite clash at the upazila’s Fultola and municipality office areas around 12pm, leaving six people injured. The pickets also vandalised three vehicles in the areas.

In Rangunia upazila, one person was injured during a chase and counterchase between police and pickets. Hartal supporters also vandalised four vehicles.

In Chittagong, pickets blasted at least 30 crude bombs in Halishahar, Boropul, Kazir Dewri, City Gate, Alangker, Saltgola and Bahaddarhat areas, and vandal-

ised seven vehicles.

Activists of the ruling and opposition parties locked in a clash at Colonelhat around 2:30pm, leaving six BNP men injured, OC Abdul Majid of Akbar Shah police station said.

Two groups of BNP locked in a clash in the city’s Bahaddarhat area around 10am, while the police dispersed them after a chase.

Pickets also attempted to terrorise the Boropul area throughout the day through explosions and vandalism, but they failed because of tight vigilance of the police, said Ukey Sing, assistant commissioner of Double Mooring circle of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

Hartal supporters carried out vandalism and exploded bombs in the city’s Kazir Dewri area near BNP’s city party office, said Assistant Commissioner Mirza Saiem Mahmud of Kotwali circle of CMP. Pro-hartal activists brought out processions from different points of the city and thronged in front of the BNP city office, where a day-long rally was held.

Anti-hartal activists were also seen in different points. Ruling party men brought out a huge motorbike rally, patrolling across the port city.

Security measures had been tightened across the city and in the district by deploying additional police forces, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel to avert any untoward situation. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

5

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Beyond the politics of climate change The potential adverse effects of global warming and climate change put Bangladesh in the most vulnerable position. This is the second and concluding part of the article which highlights Bangladesh’s options for mitigation and adaptation

n Farhad Mahmud ‘Cap-and-Trade’ principle and carbon markets Carbon credits form the basic currency of “cap-and-trade” systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Such systems include the Chicago Climate Exchange, EU-ETS and the Kyoto Protocol. These systems are also known as Emission Trading Schemes (ETS).

The Government initially allocates a number of allowances to each company. Any company that exceeds its emissions beyond its allocated allowances will either have to either buy allowances or pay penalties. A company that emits less than expected can sell its surplus allowances to those with shortfalls.

Companies or countries will buy these allowances as long as the price is lower than the cost of achieving emission reductions by themselves.

The carbon price is the price of an allowance to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide. These allowances are traded for months on the forward market for delivery at a future date and are also reflected in the company’s account for “spot” trading.

them. The price of carbon crashed to a record low of below Euro 3.00/mtons beginning of this year after European parliament voted against a proposal to support the struggling market.

Bangladesh’s carbon potential Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission: It is ironic that the country often ranked at the topmost in terms of vulnerability to risks faced from climate change also happens to be the one of the bottommost in terms of CO2 emissions. At an annual emission of 41.61 million Mtons, Bangladesh’s contribution to global emission of 21.43 billion Mtons is barely 0.2%. Per capita emission is in fact the lowest in the world at 0.27 Mtons, against a global average of 4.6Mtons per person.

The above, however, will not remain unchanged with Bangladesh’s development priorities at the forefront and with the country on a high-growth trajectory. What Bangladesh needs to look at is the projection of its carbon potential instead of its present rate of emission. To get a better sense of what that might be, it is useful to look at the country’s dominant sectors in terms of CO2 emissions.

Climate change as an issue must come out of being an environmental problem to take centre stage as a major development problem

Governments will also have to buy carbon credits because the cap-and-trade mechanisms had initially only applied to a fraction of each state’s economy and governments are responsible under the Kyoto Protocol for meeting their country targets. Governments of industrially developed countries and European companies subject to the EU Emission Trading Scheme are the main buyers of carbon credits.

Currently developing countries do not have to meet any target for GHG reductions. However they may develop projects with the potential of mitigating CO2, and the carbon certificates generated from these, known as CERs (Certified Emission Reductions) can be traded in EU-ETS or sold to countries that do have Kyoto targets.

The crisis in the EU-ETS was created by an over supply of carbon credits due to several reasons. The initial “caps” allocated based on a “grandfathering” scheme were deemed to

What are mitigation and adaptation?

Mitigation: An intervention to reduce the emissions sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

Adaptation: An adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

be too generous by many. That led to a lower than anticipated emission of CO2 by companies, resulting in an oversupply of allowances in the market. The on-going recession in Europe and related underproduction across industries also accentuated the situation. Large corporations like Mittal Steel made windfall profits by selling the excess allowances granted to

Energy: Electricity generation contributes up to one-third of the country’s total CO2 emissions, and manufacturing/construction contributes to another one-third. Together the two sectors constitute 65% of the country’s total CO2 emissions. The electricity generation is primarily from gas, of which the country is endowed with large natural reserves. Bangladesh currently produces approximately 5,000MW of electricity, but has an ongoing demand of almost double the amount.

If the future projected demand related to the government’s high growth target is taken into account, the country’s immediate electricity shortage could be as high as 5,000MW. Fulfilling this need entirely from gas based electricity generation could easily double the country’s total CO2 emissions.

A dilemma that development experts will face is that when gas is one of the few natural resources that Bangladesh is endowed with in abundance, can it afford to forego gas-based electricity generation and instead choose a more clean energy path?

Manufacturing and construction: The other high CO2 emitting sector, manufacturing and construction, poses a different sort of problem. Bricks form the backbone of aggregate requirement of this sector in Bangladesh.

Traditionally brick-making in Bangladesh is a small-scale business mostly located in peri-urban areas.

There are over 4,000 brick-making enterprises in the country producing over 12 billion bricks annually. Annual growth rate of the construction sector in Bangladesh has ranged from 8.1% to 8.9% in the last decade and this is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Traditional brick production, however, is one of the largest sources of GHG emissions in Bangladesh, estimated to be in the order of 6 million tons of CO2 per annum. Outmoded, inefficient, and poorly-constructed kilns and the use of substandard fuels in the kilns have all contributed to such high

levels of GHG emissions.

Unless interventions that will induce change in the mode of manufacturing are implemented, GHG emissions will continue to grow unabated.

Combine this factor with massive deforestation and land degradation caused by the random sourcing of wood for these outmoded kilns, and we find Bangladesh attaining a carbon emission figure at par with most of its developing neighbours.

Mitigation strategy The country is set on a course to rapidly develop its economy. Growth is bringing about pressures on its infrastructure which is still at a very low level of development compared to other neighbouring countries (see Table II). There is a chronic shortage of electricity, with demand far exceeding the supply for the last two decades. Power shortage is estimated at 2,500MW to 3,000MW with the current power generation of 5,000MW against the total demand of 7,000 to 7,500 MW. 85% of the country’s electricity is produced using gas, 2% was produced at hydro-electric power plants, 3% by coal, and the rest approximately 10% by using liquid fuel.

Infrastructure in Bangladesh ranks among the worst in the world, securing only the 126th position in 133 nations, according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2009-10 released by the World Economic Forum in 2009. Poor infrastructure, including yawning power and gas shortages, is hurting Bangladesh’s hopes of achieving double-digit economic growth and becoming a middle-income country by 2020. Bangladesh’s economy has grown by 5% to more than 6% each year over the past decade, but the country wants to raise GDP growth to 10% or more in the next 10 years to alleviate poverty.

Although there is pressing demand to improve its index on several social-economic fronts, Bangladesh cannot be oblivious to the ramifications of global climate change playing out on its shores. This means climate change as an issue must come out of being an environmental problem to take centre stage as a major development problem. As the country grows over the coming decades, policy-makers must develop low carbon development options and incorporate not only strategies to build climate resilience into the economy but also evolve mitigation measures for a low carbon development pathway.

The way forward Develop a strategic energy plan to ensure national energy security along with lower GHG emissions: Being a low energy-consuming but energy-starved country, Bangladesh is unable to meet its present demand for energy despite the low level of energy use. This demand is likely to rise at least 50% faster than GDP per capita in coming years.

Energy security being a fundamental issue of development in Bangladesh, the country has to develop a low GHG emission or carbon neutral energy path, by emphasising energy efficiency as well as renewable energy development. Although there is abundant natural gas, the growing energy gap in Bangladesh is too large to be covered by gas-based power generation within a short period of time.

Economies of scale of a single nuclear power station can outweigh the cost-benefit ratio of several gas-based plants and thereby close the energy gap quickly and efficiently by fewer one-time capital investments.

Renewables face a supply chain

The Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on December 11, 1997. Due to a complex ratification process, it entered into force on February 16, 2005.

In short, the Kyoto Protocol is what “operationalises” the Framework Convention on Climate Change of UNFCCC. It “commits” industrialised countries to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions based on the principles of the convention. The convention itself only “encourages” countries to do so.

KP, as it is referred to in short, sets binding emission reduction targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European community in its first commitment period. Overall, these targets add up to an average 5% emissions reduction compared

to 1990 levels over the five0year period 2008 to 2012 (the first commitment period).

KP was structured on the principles of the Convention. It binds only the developed countries because it recognises that they are largely responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere, which are the result of more than 150 years of industrial activity. KP places a heavier burden on developed nations under its central principle: that of “common but differentiated responsibility.”

In Doha, Qatar, on December 8, 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. This launched a second commitment period, from January 1, 2012 until 2020.

Bangladesh is prioritising its development and it needs to think about what its emissions would be in the future rather than what it is now SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN and distribution problem in a country where access to the national grid is the major limiting factor. The country needs to look more at distributed energy solutions and build on a value chain based on energy storage options in the case of renewables.

Develop synergy between adaptation and mitigation: The inherent inter-relationship between the two apparently disparate areas of Adaptation and Mitigation had urged IPCC to add an additional chapter in the 4th Assessment Report to explore the trade-off and synergies, the optimal balance and combination, the criteria to gauge outcomes, and to understand when these two areas become substitutes or complements.

At present China is the world’s largest carbon polluter and burns the equivalent amount of coal as the rest of the world’s countries combined.

However, it is currently undertaking significant steps to reduce its contribution to global warming.

The Shenzhen Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) programme launched in June of this year will cover some 635 industrial companies from 26 industries. This is the first of seven proposed pilot GHG cap-and-trade schemes in China, which the country has been developing since 2011.

Besides Shenzhen, four of the other pilots are expected to start trading this year. The potential of Bangladesh linking on to such a scheme is enormous, whereas in the past most of its climate

Conference of Parties (COP) The Framework Convention on Climate Change is one of the three conventions adopted in the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The UNFCCC entered into force on March 21, 1994. The 195 countries that have ratified the convention are called Parties to the Convention.

The Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme body of the convention and its highest decision-making authority comprising of all the countries that are parties to the convention. They had been meeting at regular frequency at

different world cities to assess progress in dealing with climate change, the most famous of which was COP3 in Kyoto where the landmark Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997.

The last COP of the convention was held in Doha in 2012 in 2012 and the next is to be held in Warsaw in November 2013.

According to UNFCCC website: “Preventing ‘dangerous’ human interference with the climate system is the ultimate aim of the UNFCCC.”

But the choices are not always easy.

IPCC itself notes: “[A]t a national level, mitigation and adaptation are often cast as competing priorities for policy makers … In other words, interest groups will fight about the limited funds available in a country for addressing climate change, providing analyses of how countries might then make optimal decisions about the appropriate adaptation-mitigation mix.”

The alternative would be to find synergies between the two areas of activities. Bangladesh produced its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2009, treating strategies for mitigation and adaptation separately with understandable emphasis on the later.

Bangladesh may gain from a more holistic approach by mainstreaming mitigation into its development agenda along with adaptation. This may involve a greater involvement of the private sector and a deeper understanding of financing instruments and markets than there has been until now.

finance activities had its nexus in the West.

Developments in China present new opportunities: New financing instruments may evolve with the emergence of a new nexus of emission trading schemes, previously located in the West and now moving more to the East, and in China more precisely.

China launched its first emission trading programme last June. This development is potentially a milestone in the country’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions and coincides with the dramatic decline of the EU-ETS market. Policy-makers in government as well as entrepreneurs in the private sector may do well to watch this space carefully.

For the scheme to have global relevance, China too will look towards the developing world to find possible synergies with adaptation programmes in those countries, which may provide the underpinnings of a new alternative to CDM financing of projects.

Expand the greenbelt coastal afforestation programme: The south-western part of the country is covered by the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world. The mangrove forests act as deterrents to the furiousness of tropical cyclones and storm surges. Together with the afforestation programme of mangrove planting along the shoreline, the social forestry programme on government and community lands can be expanded throughout the country, thus improving the net carbon uptake.

has 1,413 approved projects and Sri Lanka 300. New carbon mitigating technologies can be implemented in different carbon emitting industries such as afforestation and conservation of forests, methane tapping and better use of methane waste, use of electrical vehicles, CFL lamps, etc through emission reduction purchase agreements (ERPA) financed by the global Community Development Carbon Fund (CDCF).

The CDCF supports projects that combine community development attributes with emission reductions to create “development plus carbon” credits, which will significantly improve the lives of the poor and their local environment. With the recent skepticism with the CDM scheme, Bangladesh could look towards new emission trading schemes developing in China and the voluntary markets, both of which have remained largely untapped.

Strengthen human resource capacity: Due to a lack of expertise Bangladesh has been unable to grasp opportunities to effectively use new global financial instruments to finance its mitigation efforts. Also, international climate change negotiations have now entered a phase where Bangladesh as the country most at risk must play a pivotal role in negotiating caps on major carbon emitters.

Recent COPs, both in Copenhagen and in Doha, have failed to reach a consensus on a coherent and realistic global policy on climate change.The level of reduction of global emission will influence the magnitude of climate change impacts for countries most at risk, like Bangladesh.

Bangladesh should become a more active participant in the international efforts addressing the underlying causes of climate change and encourage countries to agree to binding targets for reduction of GHG emissions. For this to happen effectively, the country not only needs to have its own robust carbon mitigation strategy, but also enhance its human resource capacity within and outside the government by

Bangladesh not only needs to have its own robust carbon mitigation strategy, but also enhance its human resource capacity within and outside the government

At the same time, serious measures must be taken against random deforestation which is often the result of ad hoc construction activities fueled by outmoded and old-fashioned wood-fired brick making furnaces/ kilns. The annual deforestation rate in Bangladesh is 3.3% compared to 0.6% in South Asia. Massive afforestation schemes must be undertaken to compensate for this massive loss of forestland.

Explore voluntary markets and develop CDM projects to finance sectoral development: Currently Bangladesh has only a handful of approved CDM projects concerned with solar energy, waste management, improved brick manufacturing, and energy efficient bulbs, whereas India

training at home and abroad.

Bangladesh could also rely more on a non-conventional carbon-free route to economic development by enhancing its human resource potential in the service industry. This can be done by investing significantly more on education and developing IT and other service industries to take up a larger share in its GDP. By leveraging knowledge capital in combating climate change, Bangladesh will be able to develop its own edge in effectively utilising the cap-and-trade markets, tariffs, regulatory framework, low-carbon technology innovations, and energy conservation schemes to its maximum advantage. l Farhad Mahmud is an entrepreneur working in the carbon consulting industry.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

What they said: Conversation of Hasina and Khaleda

P

reamble to Hasina-Khaleda phone conversation, conversation between the PM’s ADC and the leader of the opposition’s special secretary Shamsur Rahman Shimul: PM ADC: Greetings.

Shimul: Yes, Mr. ADC. PM ADC: Shimul da, you didn’t call me.

Shimul: We were waiting for you.

Madam has been waiting since 6.

PM ADC: No. You people were supposed to call.

Shimul: No, I don’t remember telling you anything to that effect. You’ll call us at 6. I have made her [Khaleda] waiting for the last eight hours.

PM ADC: I didn’t tell you that I would call you. Because we were expecting that you would call us.

Shimul: No, you are saying the opposite. We never talked about that. I’m telling madam.

PM ADC: I never said the PM would call, either. I said…

Shimul: You will arrange the conversation over phone. This your duty.

PM ADC: This is also your duty to arrange the conversation over phone.

Shimul: Madam is still waiting.

PM ADC: We are waiting for your call.

Shimul: Madam is waiting. Give the phone to the PM now. I am handing it over to madam.

PM ADC: Are you people there?

Shimul: Yes, madam is here.

PM ADC: Okay, please wait.

A

fter this conversation between Prime Minister’s ADC and Opposition Leader’s special secretary Shamsur Rahman Shimul, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia talked over phone.

Hasina: I called you around noon, you didn’t pick up.

Khalada: This is not correct.

Hasina: I want to inform you that…

Khaleda: You have to listen to me first. You said you called me, but I didn’t get any call around the time you mentioned.

Hasina: I called to the red phone.

Khaleda: The red phone has been dead for a long a time. You run the government, you should know that. And if you must call, you should have sent people to fix the phone yesterday. They should at least check if the phone is working or not.

Hasina: Red phone always works.

Khaleda: Send people over now and see if the phone is okay.

Hasina: You were prime minister yourself. You know that red phone always works.

Khaleda: It always works. But mine is not working at all.

Hasina: It is working perfectly. At least, it was working when I called.

Khaleda: I checked it just recently. If you don’t tell the truth, it will not work.

Hasina: There is nothing for me not to tell the truth. I have called several times.

Khaleda: How can a dead phone come to life all of a sudden? Is your phone so powerful that it will bring life to my telephone?

Hasina: All right, you could not receive the phone for some reason.

Khaleda: No, that is not true. I have been sitting here. There is no reason not to receive if a phone comes. A dead phone does not ring. Did you understand? This is the truth.

Hasina: The phone was dead or kept dead...

Khaleda: It was dead. Several complaints were made. But you... there is no one I can talk with through the red phone. Thus, who will I talk with?

Hasina: I will see to it tomorrow, why your phone was dead.

Khaleda: It is good that you will see to it.

Hasina: I am calling you to invite you over to Ganabhaban on October 28.

You already know that I have spoken to several political parties over the next elections. I am inviting you.

Khaleda: If you are really sincere about dialogues, I will come. I will not come alone, of course there will be others.

Hasina: You can bring as many people as you want, not a problem.

Khaleda: I don’t want to bring my full party over. I will bring those I think will be needed.

Hasina: I am urging you for the sake of the nation, the people, withdraw the hartal.

Khaleda: No, I cannot go on October 28.

Hasina: Killing people, throwing fires... stop these.

Khaleda: It is in your nature to kill people. Not ours. You torch people, kill people, kill people with logi-boitha.

These are recorded. These words came out of your mouth. That is why you can’t refuse these. Hartal will be on. It will end on October 29 evening, we can do talks afterwards.

Hasina: I am telling you, for the sake

of the people and the nation, please withdraw your hartal.

Khaleda: No, the hartal is for the sake of the people and the nation. It is because you are not willing to come for a dialogue. Your ministers are saying there will be no dialogue. You said it yourself, you rejected our proposal.

You have said there is no need for dialogue. Now again you are talking about dialogue. This dialogue can wait till our programme is over.

Hasina: I am requesting you...

Khaleda: No, it is not possible. If you would have taken the initiative earlier, it could be possible.

Hasina: This is not a matter of yesterday. You know I have talked with several parties...

Khaleda: I know you are a busy person. We are also busy people, though might not be as busy as you are. But, when there is a will, there is a way. The permission you gave us for the rally, why did it come so late? How many days ago did we file the application?

You don’t even allow speakers. People came and couldn’t hear a thing. Did you see a country with democracy in the likes of this?

Hasina: I have let everyone know that I will sit in talks with everyone from beforehand...

Khaleda: Why didn’t you allow speakers in our rally?

Hasina: No, there were a few speakers.

Khaleda: I will put up speakers as far away as I wish, so that more people will hear. You stop transports to prevent a gathering, impose Section 144. Is there a situation of emergency in the country? Is it a time of war?

Hasina: I am not willing to talk to you about this.

Khaleda: If you don’t want to talk, there is nothing to say further.

Hasina: What you say is not true.

You are holding meetings.

Khaleda: You will allow meetings, but will ban mikes. You allow permission, but at a situation when there is little time to construct a stage. Did you not do meetings before?

Hasina: I remember everything, I remember the August 21 grenade attack...

Khaleda: We were not involved, it was you who did it.

Hasina: You gave permission at 11 in the night, I remember that well. These words does not suit you.

Khaleda: The rally was in Muktangan. But you changed the venue to your office, you did not even let us know.

Leave the old talks. I am telling you now, if you are really sincere, then after our programme...

Hasina: We surely don’t want to quarrel.

Khaleda: You are quarrelling.

Hasina: You are only one doing the talking. You are not allowing me to talk.

Khaleda: Why will I do that? You are asking questions, I am replying.

Hasina: I am not getting a chance to speak.

Khaleda: You are only talking about hartal. The hartal will not be revoked.

After our programme is over... you know.. if you...

Hasina: Will you keep killing people in the name of hartal?

Khaleda: I don’t want to kill people.

You killed people. You killed nine people yesterday. ... Your Chhatra League, Juba League doesn’t.

Hasina: No. Khaleda: I can show you photos of your Chhatra League, Juba League with arms. How your Chhatra League, Juba League kills innocent people.

Hasina: We don’t do the politics of murder; on the contrary I see...

Khaleda: .... This is your old habit.

Since after independence in ’71, you are killing people. You killed so many people, you forgot that?

Hasina: We killed people in ’71?

Khaleda: Yes of course, after ’71.

Hasina: To save the war criminals...

Khaleda: Not to save war criminals.... If you had tried the war criminals properly, you would have had our full support. But the tribunal you formed... it was biased. You did not try the war criminals in your party. Why is that?

Y

ou are the prime minister of Awami League, you could not be the prime minister of this country.

You could not exceed neutrality. But...

Otherwide, you could not have behaved such with me, the things you have done... the things you have done in my party office, does this need reminding? You don’t know how to respect the opposition, then what is your democracy?

Hasina: To answer this I need to turn pages back to 2001.

Khaleda: Even I can answer this.

You and I both can...

Hasina: ... what happened with Ershad or his party. And in 2001....

Khaleda: We did nothing in ‘71.

Whatever happened with Ershad, it was you who did it. When Ershad

snatched power from an elected government, you said ‘I am not unhappy,’ then you told the BBC ... In this case, what more can I say?

And what about Fakhruddin-Mueenuddin? Under which constitutional provision did they take power?

Hasina: Fakhruddin-Mainuddin was your choice.

Khaleda: They were not my choice.

You said it yourself, that your movement produced a fruit. Why do you forget all these. But, people do not forget.

Hasina: You made Mainuddin the army chief ignoring nine other officials.

Khaleda: You sent many officers home; the numbers do not matter, you did the same. Mainuddin or whoever did it.... why did you go there? That was unconstitutional. Why did you go there? Both our parties were out of power...

Then you did not think of talks. You did not think that it would be wrong to go with unconstitutional FakhruddinMainuddin. You went there smiling.

Hasina: ... I can smile even when I am sitting on fire. My father, mother....

Khaleda: I do not want to linger with the past, now if you really have a pure intention to go forward... we want to go forward too.

Hasina: You have complained a lot.

I do not want to do the same. Little Rasel... August 21 grenade attacks and the attempt to kill me.

Khaleda: You orchestrated the August 21 attacks. Nobody wanted to kill you. The more you linger, the better it is for us.

Hasina: When you cut cakes on August 15...

Khaleda: It is my birthday, I will cut cake..

Hasina: When you encourage the killers of Bangabandhu and cut a cake on August 15...

Khaleda: Do not talk like this... will not anyone be born in Bangladesh on August 15? You talk a lot about Ziaur Rahman. He [Zia] did a lot for you. You were Baksal. If Zia would not have been there, you would not have been Awami League.

Hasina: You have come to our Dhanmondi 32 residence a lot of times. You have seen little Russel. Do not you remember him at all?

Khaleda: If anyone is born on August 15, will they not celebrate their birthdays? You make these accusations all the time. Stop this. Ziaur Rahman gave you a new life. Do not talk about all these. You were Baksal. Ziaur Rahman was a gentleman and that was why you could do politics as Awami League, otherwise it would have been impossible.

Hasina: You have seen Russel in that house.

Khaleda: Drop the topic. I do not want to talk about this. I have made my statement, leave this, we can start something new. If you agree, we can hold a dialogue. If you want to talk, it has to be after the hartal.

Hasina: You will not withdraw the strike?

Khaleda: No, we cannot do this. This is not my decision, this is a decision of my alliance. How can I change it on my own?

Hasina: Call others in your party and tell them.

Khaleda: No, there is no time for that now. The manner in which you unleashed police on our men, everybody is on the run.

Hasina: Why would we do that?

Khaleda: Who else could have done it? Do they (police) act on my com-

mand? You are making them (police) raid the houses of our men. Police are taking them away.

Hasina: It is natural that the police will raid houses of bombers.

Khaleda: You are the bombers. You blast the bombs and put the blame on us. This is an old tradition of yours. Do not come back to the same old discussion.

I

want to say: if you can talk after October 29, we are interested.

Hasina: You gave two days’ ultimatum, I called you up within this time, but now you are staging hartal and want dialogues after October 29 – what have you said in your speech and what are you doing?

Khaleda: I have said: movement and dialogue will run simultaneously.

Hasina: You have said it yourself, that you would not call hartal if a dialogue was inititated.

[Both leaders talk at once, garbled voices, nothing is clear] Hasina: It seems like you are making a speech in front of the camera.

Khaleda: I do not have any camera in front of me, I am alone.

Hasina: Same with me, there is no camera at my end either.

Khaleda: I am talking from my home. If I was in my office, there would have been cameras. I do not want to stoop so low. And then later, it will be seen that you have broadcast it on televisions.

Check my Gulshan house, see who told you that my telephone was okay. I want to see an end to this matter.

Hasina: Your phone is all right.

Khaleda: My phone is not okay.

Hasina: I called up 10-12 times. The phone rang.

Khaleda: Do you think we were all deaf; the phone rang and we did not hear. You might hear it.

Hasina: How will I hear? One of my ear is damaged.

Khaleda: It is you who have said that my phone had rang, but we are saying that it didn’t.

Hasina: Phone...... Phone, I made the call myself.

Khaleda: It does not matter if you say you have called. You are saying that a dead phone has rung.

Hasina: The phone rang.

Khaleda: How will it ring? A dead phone does not ring. This is a display of your mentality, shows if you are telling the truth or not.

Hasina: I am telling the truth.

Khaleda: I checked the phone yesterday [Saturday]. We told your people that the phone was dead, but no one came. Nobody thinks of us as human, nobody feels it important to fix our telephone.

Hasina: Why are you blaming the telephone and telling a lie?

Khaleda: [snaps] Why will I tell lies?

A dead telephone is dead.

Hasina: ....21602, I remember.

Khaleda: You might have the number memorised or written down somewhere nearby, but, the fact is – that the telephone is dead. Nobody will believe anything else otherwise.

Hasina: A cameraman once came......

This is nothing. The telephone exchange can be contacted to know what had really happened...

Khaleda: Who of Gulshan exchange said that the phone was ringing? Actions should be taken against that person.

Hasina: The Red Telephone of yours belongs to a separate exchange.

Khaleda: That is true..... Why is it being said that the phone was okay...

Did the person you spoke to you told you as such?

I

was sitting here waiting for a phone.

We talked over the phone many times, during anti-Ershad campaigns that we waged together. Why will we not talk? We talked so many times, went to your home, why not talk now? Come let us sit together for talks for the sake of the country.

Hasina: Come let us sit for talks on October 28.

Khaleda: No, I cannot come on October 28. If you are really willing to talk, set a date after October 29, I will respond.

Hasina: You said yesterday [Friday], that you will not call hartal if dialogue was arranged.

Khaleda: You did not act in time.

You should have said much earlier.

Hasina: Listen to your own speech, the one you placed yesterday [Friday].

Khaleda: Yes, I said, but there is nothing to do now, it is too late. I said dialogue and movement will run simultaneously.

The programme has been set with 18-party. Now where can I find them for revoking the decision?

Hasina: You can get to them. It is not credible when you say you cannot reach the 18-party leaders.

Khaleda: It is true that no one will believe it. Dialogue was possible, but, you are late.... If you had said last night [Friday], something could have been done. I went to the office after the rally.

If you had called immediately, something could have been done.

Hasina: I do not stay up till late. I wake up early, recite the Quran...

Khaleda: I know that you are pious, you create militants and then shoot them, I know everything. These are nothing new.

Hasina: Everyone knows who burnt Qurans..

Khaleda: You made people do it, because that is what you believe. If you want a dialogue after October 29, we can see to it. There is no scope to sit for talks before that.

Hasina: I called you within the time you set for us. We arranged a dialogue within the stipulated time. Now, if you retract you said yourself citing alliancerelated reasons, there is nothing to do.

The people will see it.

Khaleda: My leaders are not around.

They are not available. The leaders of 18-party are not available. Who will I talk to for revoking the hartal?

Hasina: It is not believable that you will not get someone to discuss the issue with. Everyone will be around on your command.

Khaleda: How will they come? Your law enforcers are on our heels. How will they come?

Hasina: This is not true. Drop your weapons, come to talks.

Khaleda: You killed Biswajit. Did you not? It is you who have the weapons. Your men killed Biswajit.

Hasina: This is not true. Those who killed him, were ousted. The murderers have been arrested.

Khaleda: This is not the only one.

You killed people back in the days with ‘logi-boitha’.

Hasina: We arrested all criminals.

After arrest, it has been known that their parents were supporters of BNP or Jamaat.

Khaleda: The murderers have not been held. Instead, you have brought in innocent people and harassed them.

No they were not members of BNP. They said they were activists of the Awami League. It was published in all the newspapers. I will request you to set a date after October 29 for talks, I am willing if you comply.

Hasina: What you have said in your speech, stick to it, withdraw your hartal. I am inviting you.

Khaleda: Not possible. Talks will be possible after October 29.

Hasina: Since your secretary general is an acting, we agree to talk to him.

Khaleda: Do not bring this up. Even you had an acting position of general secretary. If you had called last night, I would have called a meeting and have the hartal home.

Hasina: You will give more hartals, on earlier occasions you gave 330 days of hartal...

Khaleda: You staged 173 days of hartal, we did not do 330 days of hartal..

We did hartals together against Ershad in those 330 days. But, when we came to power, you as the opposition said you would not allow us to stay in piece even for a single day.

Y

ou discussed caretaker in ’96 in consultation with Jamaat and brought the provision through movements. Now you abolished the caretaker provision.

You asked deputy commissioners to seek votes. The next thing you know, you will be asking them to fill ballots for you.

Now this is my final word: If you can hold talks on October 30, it will be possible.

Hasina: My party is strong enough, I do not need others to seek votes for us.

Khaleda: We also struggled a lot and came to power. Talks will breed talks.

Hasina: Tell your leaders that you made the withdrawal (hartal) after my phone call for the sake of the people.

Khaleda: It is not possible. But for that to happen, you have to say that you have accepted our demand for a caretaker. Only then can the hartal be withdrawn.

Hasina: Then what is left there to talk about?

Khaleda: No. There are many processes of a dialogue.

Hasina: Though I have 90% seats, I have asked you for an all-party government.

Khaleda: An all-party government is not possible. We will not participate in an all-party government.

Say, do you agree on the caretaker?

If yes, then we will withdraw hartal.

Hasina: Those who wanted minus-2, why are you headed that way?

Khaleda: We do not want to go there. But....

Hasina: You are honey-talking....

Khaleda: I know what language you speak in.

Hasina: My ears are ringing from all your sweet-talk.

Khaleda: Your political language, we know of it. We ignore them.

Hasina: We both have been in parliament hot seat. We can talk in parliament.

Khaleda: You give a neutral government.. we will call off hartal.

Hasina: Accept all-party government. Or else, you might bring in someone like Fakhruddin-Mueenuddin again.

Khaleda: No, all-party government is not acceptable. I will not bring anyone, you are the one with that intention.

Hasina: Come on October 28, tell me who will you be bringing along... l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Use of homemade weapons rises in Chandpur during hartal At least 150 cocktails were reportedly exploded at different parts of the city that triggered panic among the residents quite relaxed in taking any in the bushes or beneath the ground n Our Correspondent, Chandpur seemed adjacent to their houses. steps in this regard.

The use of homemade lethal weapons, including cocktails, has increased in an alarming rate in any sort of violence in Chandpur.

Miscreants did not even hesitate to bring out their guns and other weapons whenever they deemed it right, locals said, and alleged that even the political activists, both from the ruling and opposition parties, used such locally-made weapons during the current volatile political situation of the country.

In the last three days of the opposition enforced 60-hour countrywide hartal, at least 150 cocktails were reportedly exploded at different parts of the city that triggered panic among the residents of the district.

Though these weapons had already claimed many lives, the authorities

At least 50 incidents of violence were reported to take place at Chandpur city in last one year, but lawsuits were hardly filed with the police stations.

Local sources claimed that over few thousand local weapons were in the possession of many city-based BNP and Awami League groups. Political cadres and depraved youths were seen carrying the weapons to show their strength in last couple of years.

Surprisingly, law enforcers repeatedly failed to recover arms after conducting raids following large-scale violence.

Apparently it seems that nobody except the arms users know where exactly the weapons are coming from. It is learnt that the criminals hide the arms

According to local sources, many areas including Boubazar, East Sriramdi, Refugee Colony, Momfactory area, Ronagowal and Maddhya Sriramdi have almost become favoured sanctuaries for these criminals. They even rent their arms, they added.

Chandpur municipality Mayor and city Awami League President Nasir Uddin Ahmed claimed that even though the criminals and trigger-loving youths were being sheltered by some political parties, in reality they do not belong to them.

Acknowledging that the use of locally-made arms have become common phenomenon, Officer-in-Charge of Chandpur sadar police station Mahbub Morshed said they would soon take initiatives to recover the weapons. l

These file photos show Awami League and BNP supporters were using homemade weapons in separate clashes during 60-hour hartal in Chandpur DHAKA TRIBUNE

Harmful Parthenium Flood tolerant paddy farming a plants grow in Rajshahi must to attain food security n BSS

Parthenium, a harmful plant for human beings, livestock and cash crop fields, has emerged in the Rajshahi area, creating massive apprehension among the agriculture researchers and others concerned.

The plant is spreading rapidly in crop fields and on roadsides as weed, which is still beyond the knowledge of the general public.

Dr Israil Hossain, principal scientific officer of the Regional Wheat Research Station believes that the plant may have come into the country from India, via the wheels of goods-laden trucks running from the Sonamasjid and Benapole land ports.

Referring to various research findings, he said the plant caused allergies, asthma and skin diseases in humans even from a 10km distance, which is a matter of concern relating to the overall public health.

He emphasised the need for awareness on the ill effects of parthenium

as it posed a great threat to survival of chlorophyll tuberosum, a component used in health tonics.

Weed specialist Prof Dr Steve Adkinov of Queensland University, Australia had witnessed the plant along the roadsides and crop fields in his three-day research tour of the area.

Recently he also addressed the adverse impacts and demerits of the plant at a seminar organised by Shah Agriculture Information Library at Manda in Naogaon.

He warned that the adverse effects of Parthenium, not only on human beings but also on animal health, had been well documented.

He, however, said the problem could be solved by creating awareness among the public in general and educating others concerned about the harmful effects of this weed immediately.

Other researchers also underscored the need for combating the menace through collaborative efforts involving government agencies, NGOs and others stakeholders. l

n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Farmers should be made aware of significance of flood-tolerant paddy farming to help avoid financial losses and produce sufficient quantities of rice to ensure food security under adverse climatic conditions in the country, agri-experts told a discussion.

The farmers will not be affected economically anymore if they cultivate flood-tolerant varieties of BRRI Dhan 51, BRRI Dhan 52 and BINA 11 on their land as the seedlings of such varieties are not damaged, even after remaining under flood waters continuously for 1215 days, they said.

They made these observations while exchanging views with the journalists on how to popularise flood-tolerant paddy farming at the office of deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Gaibandha town yesterday.

Deputy Director of DAE Mir Abdur Razzak in his speech said the journal-

ists could play an important role in disseminating information regarding flood-tolerant paddy, drought-tolerant paddy and short-duration paddy and other latest agro technologies, including use of guti urea, leaf colour chart and live perching to the farmers to boost production of crops.

The farmers will not be affected economically anymore if they cultivate flood-tolerant varieties of BRRI Dhan 51, BRRI Dhan 52 and BINA 11 on their land as the seedlings of such varieties are not damaged, even after remaining under flood waters continuously for 12-15 days He also sought cooperation of journalists to create awareness among the farmers, so that in future vast tracts of lowland could be brought under floodtolerant paddy farming.

As many as 2,605 hectares of land in the district have been brought under flood-tolerant paddy cultivation during the current Aman season at the initiative of DAE and non-government organisation Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service.

Besides, a total of 100 demonstration plots have been set up in the district to inspire the farmers to cultivate the flood-tolerant varieties next season, he added.

The production of the crop is satisfactory as about 2.50 tonnes of rice is produced from per hectare of land, he further added.

The transplanted seedlings of Aman paddy in chars and river basin areas of the district were damaged due to flood this year and the amount of loss was estimated to Tk13.1m creating more anxieties among the growers about their food security, official sources said.

District training officer of DAE Zulfiquer Ali Haider, Crops Production Specialist Golam Mostafa, and other agri officials were also present. l

80,000 yaba pills seized in Cox’s Bazar n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar Border Guard Bangladesh seized around 80,000 yaba pills worth about Tk24m in the Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Monday.

The tablets were seized from the house of one Abdus Shukkur, who hailed from Ali Khali villlage of Hila union under Teknaf, around 9:30pm.

The BGB said, acting on a tip-off a BGB team raided Shukkur’s house.

Sensing the presence of BGB members, other members of the house fled the scene, officials added.

Teknaf 42 BGB Acting Commander H Kamrul Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune that the pills have been brought into the country from Myanmar, and claimed that yaba syndicates were waiting to smuggle them into Chittagong and Dhaka.

Later, the seized tablets have been handed over to the Teknaf police station.

A case has been lodged with the Teknaf police station in this regard. l

DAE sets target to produce 18.9m Boro rice during Robi season n Tribune Desk

Hartal supporters set fire to a motorcycle during yesterday’s hartal in Bogra

FOCUS BANGLA

The Department of Agriculture Extension has fixed an all-time record target of producing over 18.9mtonnes of Boro rice during this winter season.

The government through concerned departments and organisations has already taken steps for providing all necessary assistances and cooperation to farmers with a view to making the paddy farming programme successful, said DAE sources.

Under the programme, a target of producing 6.4m tonnes of Boro rice, 33.87% of the fixed national production target, has been set for the northern region, which is known as the country’s food granary, sources said.

The farmers will bring about 1.69m hectares land under Boro cultivation in all sixteen districts of the northern

Man slaughters wife in Bhairab n Our Correspondent

Four killed in road accidents

Three stalkers sent to Jail n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A young house wife was killed by her husband for protesting against his illicit love affair at Madhyachar village, Bhairab upazila yesterday.

The deceased Parvin Akhter, 20, wife of Ramzan Mia, hailed from Shamvopura, Bhairab municipal area.

Locals said Ramzan of the same village married Parvin about six months ago, adding that within one month of the marriage Ramzan got involved in an illicit love affair with his sister-inlaw Sharmin.

Last week, Parvin caught the duo having an extra marital affair.

Ramzan and Parvin were returning home from one his relative’s house in the early hours of yesterday, the police said. When they reached a paddy field, Ramzan strangled his wife to death and threw her body into the paddy field, they added.

Police recovered the body. The killer husband was arrested and a case was filed with the Bhairab police station. l

n

A mobile court sentenced three stalkers to jail for different terms in Mymensingh on Monday evening.

The accused are Rashidul Islam, 16, Riad, 17, and Kabir, 18.

Golam Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said Rashidul along with his friends had been stalking a girl, studying in class seven, while she returned home from the school in the afternoons.

This had been going on for a long time, added the police officer.

The locals caught the three red-handed while they were following the girl and the mob beat the stalkers.

Later, a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Saiful Islam Tarafder awarded Rashidul one month imprisonment and fined him Tk3,000, in default of which he is to suffer seven more days in imprisonment.

The court also fined Riad and Kabir Tk5,000 each, in default of which they will have to suffer seven days in jail. l

Tribune Report

Four people were killed in separate road accidents that took place in Chittagong, Narail and Rangpur yesterday.

A man was killed and another injured in road mishap at the Balucara area in Chittagong yesterday.

A human hauler hit a rickshaw from behind carrying Bikash Pal, 35, son of late Hari Mohan Pal of Kandaziya in Hathazari upazila, and Sukkur 35, son of Abdus Salam, in the Balucara Science laboratory area under the Baizid police station around 8:15am, leaving the duo injured, said sources at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

They were taken to the CMCH where Bikash died.

In Narail, a motorcyclist was killed in the Rampur area under the Lohagora upazila.

The deceased Washim Sheikh, 25, was the son of Hemayet Sheikh of Amdanga village.

Police said Washim’s motorcycle collided head-on with a human hauler around 11am, leaving him dead on the spot.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and 10 others injured at Velakopa Bridge point on the Badarganj-Parbotipur road under Badarganj upazila of Rangpur Monday night.

Police said a speedy microbus hit a rickshaw van, killing rickshaw passenger Pabitra Roy, 22, son of Dhaneswar Roy of village Dakshin Moksudpur Dangapara in Badarganj upazila on the spot and injuring 11 others around 10:30pm.

The injured driver of the rickshaw van Abu Taleb, 35, son of Moyen Uddin of village Krishnapur Sarderpara under Badarganj upazila died on his way to Badarganj Upazila Health Complex.

Police seized the driver of the microbus and field an unnatural death case in this connection, said Officer-in-Charge of Badarganj police station Zahedur Rahman Chowdhury. l

region and have already started preparing some seedbeds of the very early variety of Boro paddies.

The government has already directed the DAE, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and many other organisations to provide necessary assistance and latest technologies to the farmers for maximum Boro rice production this season, reports BSS. According to DAE officials, the government has fixed the nationwide target of producing over 18.9m tonnes Boro rice from 4.78m hectares in all 64 districts.

Of them, 1.13m tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice will be produced from 241,598 hectares, 5.24m tonnes of high yielding variety rice from 1.35m hectares and 20,417 tonnes of local variety

rice from 9,836 hectares in the northern region alone.

DAE’s Horticulture Specialist Khondker M Mesbahul Islam said comprehensive and well-coordinated steps would be taken for providing farmers with the latest technology to enhancing Boro rice production at lower costs.

Deputy Director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed said the farmers would largely adopt the conservation-based agri-technologies like Alternate Wetting and Drying methods during this Boro season to reduce lifting of underground water and save electricity.

Regional Additional Director of the DAE Sikander Ali said the concerned departments and organisations would put in comprehensive efforts to popularise the latest agriculture technologies among the farmers to make the Boro farming programme successful. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Three killed in Thakurgaon boiler blast Three workers were killed and three others injured in a boiler blast at Bhaularhat in Sadar upazila yesterday. The deceased were identified as Kafiluddin, 45, Posidul Islam, 40, of Paikpara village and Somesh Barman, 42, of Dighi village in the upazila.

Witnesses said the boiler of ‘Bristi-Pinky Husking Mills’ went off around 10am, leaving the three dead on the spot and Dabirul, Bulu and Mahfuz injured. The injured workers were admitted to Sadar Hospital in critical condition. Officer-in-Charge of Thakurgaon sadar police station Firoz Khan and officials of the local administration visited the spot. – UNB

Two lovers found hanged in Moulvibazar Police recovered hanging bodies of a couple in love from Tilaline area of Kulaura upazila on Monday morning. Sources said locals spotted the bodies of Laxmi Rani, 16, and Robi Das, 20, hanging from a tree in the area in the morning and informed police.

Later, law enforces recovered the bodies and sent those to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. Officer-in-charge of Kulaura police station Hasanuzzaman said the young couple had been in love since long and they might have committed suicide due to their families’ disagreement about their relationship. – BSS

700 bottles of phensidyl seized in Chuadanga Members of Border Guard Bangladesh seized 700 bottles of phensidyl from Subolpur village under Jibannagar upazila of the district on Monday. Acting on a tipoff, a team of the BGB from Benipur BGB camp, headed by camp-in-charge Habildar Mizanur Rahman, conducted a raid in the area and seized the contraband drugs from a power tiller of the village in an abandoned condition. However, none was arrested during the raid as the smugglers managed to escape the scene sensing the BGB presence. The BGB personnel also seized the power tiller from the spot.

A case was filed with Jibannagar Police Station in this connection. BSS

8 Britain aims to be first western country to issue Islamic bond n Reuters, London Prime Minister David Cameron made a bid to position London as a leading hub for Islamic finance on Tuesday, announcing plans for Britain to become the first Western country to issue a sovereign sukuk, or Islamic bond.

The planned 200 million pound ($323m) issue, expected next year, would be much smaller than an originally planned sukuk but would provide a much-needed liquidity management tool for Britain’s six Islamic lenders and could encourage local firms to consider issuing sukuk of their own.

Britain’s push to promote itself as a leading Islamic finance hub comes as competition heats up with other financial centres in Asia, led by Malaysia, and in the Middle East.

Britain first announced plans for a sovereign sukuk five years ago but that issue never materialised as the country’s Debt Management Office decided the structure was too expensive.

The new proposal is less than a fifth of the size of the original and is designed to boost London’s status rather than to diversify Britain’s investor base.

“Our ambition is clear: to make Britain the first sovereign to issue an Islamic bond outside the Islamic world,” British finance minister George Osborne wrote in a column in the Financial Times on Tuesday.

Sukuk are investment certificates which follow religious principles such as a ban on interest and gambling.

The global Islamic banking industry is expected to tip $1.8tn by the end of this year, according to consultancy Ernst & Young, and is starting to attract interest among big Western banks because of rapid growth of trade involving wealthy Gulf economies. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

US weighs ending spying on allies n AP, Washington Faced with a flood of revelations about US spying practices, the White House is considering ending its eavesdropping on friendly foreign leaders, a senior administration official said.

A final decision has not been made and the move is still under review, the official said. But the fact that it is even being considered underscores the level of concern within the administration over the possible damage from the months-long spying scandal — including the most recent disclosure that the National Security Agency was monitoring the communications of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On Monday, Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for a “total review of all intelligence programs” following the Merkel allegations. In a statement, the California Democrat said the White House had informed her that “collection on our allies will not continue.”

The administration official said that statement was not accurate, but added that some unspecified changes already had been made and more were being

UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, in Syria Tuesday on the most sensitive leg of a regional push for peace talks, has warned of the ‘Somalisation’ of the war-ravaged country.

His grim warning came as fighting prevented chemical weapons inspectors from visiting two sites, although UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the mission to destroy Syria’s arsenal by mid-2014 was still on track.

Brahimi has been seeking to build on the momentum of last month’s US-Russian deal to eradicate Syria’s chemical weapons in order to launch the so-called Geneva II peace talks proposed for next month.

considered, including terminating the collection of communications from friendly heads of state.

The official was not authorized to discuss the review by name and insisted on anonymity.

Reports based on new leaks from former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden indicate that the NSA listened to Merkel and 34 other foreign leaders.

“With respect to NSA collection of intelligence on leaders of US allies — including France, Spain, Mexico and

Germany — let me state unequivocally: I am totally opposed,” Feinstein said.

She added that the US should not be “collecting phone calls or emails of friendly presidents and prime ministers” unless in an emergency with approval of the president.

In response to the revelations, German officials said Monday that the US could lose access to an important law enforcement tool used to track terrorist money flows. Other longtime allies have also expressed their displeasure

n AP, Washington A senior Republican lawmaker who was the chief congressional architect of the anti-terror 2001 USA Patriot Act now wants to scale back some of the counterterror laws he once championed, citing an overreach by the National Security Agency that has proven him wrong.

Rep James Sensenbrenner says he was “appalled and angry” to learn this year that the NSA was sweeping up millions of Americans’ phone records each day. He says that goes far beyond the intent of the 2001 USA Patriot Act,

But the talks have been cast into doubt by the increasingly divided opposition’s refusal to attend unless President Bashar al-Assad agrees to step down, a demand rejected by Damascus.

In an interview with a French website published Monday, Brahimi said Assad could contribute to the transition to a “new” Syria but not as the country’s leader.

“What history teaches us is that after a crisis like this there is no going back,” the Algerian diplomat told the Jeune Afrique website ahead of his first visit to Syria since December, when he angered the regime by insisting that all powers be handed over to a transitional government. l

munity has gotten itself into such trouble is they apparently do not see why civil liberties have got to be protected.”

That’s a turnabout of sorts for Sensenbrenner, who once accused privacy advocates of “exaggeration and hyperbole” for raising alarms of government spying when the Patriot Act was re-authorised in 2006.

“He was really convinced, I think unfortunately at this point, that the intelligence community was not going to misuse this authority,” said Caroline Fredrickson, president of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. l

which was enacted weeks after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Both at home and abroad, anger over the surveillance programs that NSA leaker Edward Snowden revealed in June has given rise to a new round of plans to limit US snooping. But the government is sharply divided over how to assure Americans and the world at large that their private lives are not being invaded while still protecting against terrorist attacks. It’s likely that lawmakers who oversee competing interests of justice and intelligence issues will end up with a compromise that limits some domestic surveillance.

Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, planned to offer as early as Tuesday legislation to overhaul the NSA that mirrors a bill by Democrats on House and Senate judiciary committees and is gaining support from the extreme wings of both parties.

Meanwhile, top US intelligence officials were expected to defend the surveillance programs Tuesday in front of a House Intelligence panel that is considering far more modest changes.

“We have to make a balance between security and civil liberties,” Sensenbrenner said in an interview last week.

“And the reason the intelligence com-

Dutch museums identify 139 likely Nazi looted art n AP, Amsterdam

Kenya police hold five over mall massacre

Dutch museums have identified 139 pieces of art, including dozens of paintings — one by Matisse and many by Dutch painters of varying renown such as Impressionist Isaac Israels — as likely having been taken forcibly from Jewish owners.

The review of Dutch art acquisitions from 1933 on was conducted by the museums themselves and focused explicitly on pieces for which there was any gap in their ownership record during the years that Germany’s Nazi regime was appropriating works from Jews, either by forced sale or outright seizure. l

n AFP, Nairobi Kenyan police are holding five people over last month’s attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall, a top officer said Tuesday, adding they hoped to charge them soon.

At least 67 people were killed in the attack on the upmarket mall claimed

by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents.

Ndegwa Muhoro, head of Kenya’s Police Criminal Investigation Department, told reporters that investigations were still ongoing into exchanges of mobile telephone text messages in the days prior to the four-day siege that

UN confirms polio outbreak in Syria n AFP, Geneva The UN health agency on Tuesday confirmed an outbreak of polio in wartorn Syria, which had been free of the crippling disease since 1999, and said it feared it would spread.

Oliver Rosenbauer, spokesman for the World Health Organisation’s anti-polio division, told reporters that laboratory tests had confirmed the presence of the disease in 10 out of 22 suspected cases reported almost two weeks ago.

All 22 children were stricken with acute flaccid paralysis, which is the symptom of a number of different diseases, including polio. “Out 10 of those cases, they’ve isolated wild polio virus type one,” Rosenbauer said.

“The other 12 are still being investigated,” he added, saying test results were expected in coming days.

The cases were clustered in the northeastern Deir Al Zour province, and all affected children under the age of two.

“There are no additional ‘hot’ cases that we know of. Of course disease surveillance is now ongoing across Syria and neighbouring countries as well, to look for other acute flaccid paralysis cases,” said Rosenbauer.

The next step is to analyse the genetic code of the virus to try to track its source. “This is a communicable disease, and with population movements it can travel to other areas, and so the risk is high of a spread across the region of course,” Rosenbauer warned.

Last week, as they waited for confirmation of the cases, aid agencies and Syrian health authorities stepped up efforts to vaccinate 2.4 million children against polio, as well as measles, mumps and rubella. l

about the US spying on their leaders.

As possible leverage, German authorities cited last week’s non-binding resolution by the European Parliament to suspend a post-September 11, 2001, agreement allowing the Americans access to bank transfer data to track the flow of terrorist money. A top German official said Monday she believed the Americans were using the information to gather economic intelligence apart from terrorism and that the agreement known as the SWIFT agreement should be suspended.

European Union officials who are in Washington to meet with lawmakers ahead of White House talks said US surveillance of their people could affect negotiations over a US-Europe trade agreement. They said European privacy must be better protected.

Many officials in Germany and other European governments have made clear, however, that they don’t favour suspending the US-EU trade talks which began last summer because both sides stand to gain so much through the proposed deal, especially against competition from China and other emerging markets. l

US spying prompts reversal by anti-terror lawmaker

Syria envoy warns of ‘Somalisation’ n AFP, Damascus

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

began on September 21.

“We wanted to arraign five of the terrorists in court yesterday, but we have decided to first investigate an SMS exchange of the terrorists which occurred on September 17,” he said.

“There are various issues which need thorough investigation, we cannot rush to court.”

However, all gunmen – totalling just four, not the dozen that security forces had initially reported – are understood to have died during the attack.

“Interpol is also assisting us in the investigations, including the analysis of four bodies suspected to be of the terrorists,” Muhoro said. l

Syrian hackers hit Obama-linked accounts n Reuters, Washington The Syrian Electronic Army, a hacker group sympathetic to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on Monday seized control of an online tool used by an advocacy organisation for US President Barack Obama to redirect links sent from his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The link shortener used by Organising for Action, a group that evolved from Obama’s re-election campaign, was briefly hacked, an official from the group said. Link shorteners abbreviate Web links so they take up less space in a tweet, which is limited to 140 characters.

Obama’s Facebook and Twitter pages carried links that were intended to take readers to a Washington Post story on immigration – but as a result of the hack, redirected readers to a video of the Syrian conflict instead.

However, Obama’s Twitter account itself was not hacked, Twitter spokesman Jim Prosser said.

Obama rarely writes his own tweets from the @BarackObama Twitter handle, which is run by the Organising for Action staff. However, when he does, they are signed with his initials.

The Syrian Electronic Army tweeted, “We accessed many Obama campaign emails (sic) accounts to assess his terrorism capabilities. They are quite high.” It showed what appeared to be the Google email account of an Organising for Action staffer.

The Syrian Electronic Army has undertaken several high-profile hacking attempts in the United States. In September it appeared to have struck a recruiting website for the US Marine Corps, and the FBI that month also warned that the group might intensify its internet attacks as the United States weighed a military strike against Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government against its people. l

White coup plotters in South Africa get 5 to 35 years n AP, Johannesburg A South African judge has given up to 20 members of a white extremist group sentences ranging from five to 35 years in the country’s first post-apartheid treason trial.

The state media reported that Judge Eben Jordaan handed the sentences out Tuesday to end the decade-long trial. Some sentences were suspended due to time served.

Members of the Afrikaner extremist group Boeremag, or white farmer force, last year were found guilty of treason for a plot to violently overthrow the government. l

WORLD WATCH Hong Kong sees boom in ‘American accent’ schools

A growing number of children in the ex-British colony is learning to speak English like an American, some parents believing it is more relevant than an accent of the southern Chinese city’s former rulers. Language tutors say wealthy mainlanders are helping fuel demand, crossing into Hong Kong for a pick of the myriad educational opportunities on offer in an increasingly competitive market.

During weekends, children as young as five pack into classrooms, chanting words in unison and reciting from memory Robert Frost poems, any error in their enunciation quickly corrected. Hong Kong recruitment consultant Adam Bell agrees that sounding American can help boost a candidate’s employability – particularly if the job is with a US firm.

Man who ranted about zombies shot and killed by California homeowner Benjamin Butler, 7 months old, is photographed by his mother (unseen) as he sits in his baby seat next to the newest art installation of a robot and a barcode by British artist Banksy, on a wall in the Coney Island area of New York City REUTERS

Saudi’s Grand Mufti discourages ‘jihad’ in Syria n Reuters, Dubai Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti, the highest religious authority in the birthplace of Islam, has urged young Saudis to refrain from fighting in Syria.

The kingdom has backed the rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad, publicly calling on the world powers to “enable” Syrians to protect themselves, but is wary that fighters could return home ready to wage war on

their own dynastic rulers.

Islamists in Saudi Arabia, who follow a puritanical version of Sunni Islam, denounce Assad and his administration as infidels because of their roots in the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam.

However, Sunni Muslim al-Qaeda fighters led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden attacked targets inside Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2006, having gained experience fighting in Iraq, and

before that in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

“This is all wrong, it’s not obligatory,” Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh said, in reference to Saudi men joining a civil war that is now in well into its third year, according to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

“These are feuding factions and one should not go there. I do not advise one to go there ... Going to a land that you do not know and without experience, you will be a burden to them, what they want from you is your prayer.” l

A California man shot dead after breaking into a young family’s suburban home over the weekend had ranted about zombies hours before he showed up screaming threats in their backyard and smashed into their house, authorities said on Monday. The Orange County Sheriff ’s department said that 22-year-old Paul Michael Bracamontes was killed in the affluent community of Yorba Linda by a homeowner who awoke before dawn on Sunday to find him screaming in the backyard. The homeowner, whose wife and infant were inside the house, shot Bracamontes after he broke in through a glass door before police were able to respond to an emergency call, authorities said. Hallock said the man’s relatives told authorities that he had been hallucinating at a party on Saturday evening and had

made several “inappropriate” comments about zombies to a family member.

Spain mine workers halt work after gas leak kills six

Spanish miners launched a 48-hour work stoppage Tuesday as they recalled the horror of a methane gas leak that swiftly killed six coal workers in the troubled industry’s deadliest accident in 18 years.

The gas suffocated the six workers in a mine in northwestern Spain on Monday, officials said, spreading so quickly 700 metres underground that miners had no time to put on protective masks before being overcome. Another five workers injured at the Santa Lucia mine, near the town of Pola de Gordon, were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition, officials said. Eleven miners were reportedly working in a 200-metre long gallery, almost 700 metres below ground, when disaster struck.

Shock in France as baby found living in car boot

France was in shock Monday after the discovery of an underfed and dehydrated baby girl who had been forced to live in a car boot, apparently since birth. The little girl, aged between 15 and 23 months, was found by mechanics on Friday when her mother brought the car to a garage in Terrasson, in central France. Police said one of the mechanics heard “bizarre noises, like moans” coming from the car boot and opened it to discover the girl, who was naked, lying in her own excrement, dehydrated and feverish. The girl was taken to hospital where doctors said she was suffering from delayed growth and mental problems. The girl’s mother, 45, and her 40-year-old partner were arrested and charged on Sunday with child abuse and endangering a minor.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

India minister faces music for party after deadly rally bombs

Indian security men stand at the site where a crude bomb exploded near the Khwairamband market in Imphal, India

n

AFP, New Delhi

India’s opposition has poured scorn on the minister responsible for security for attending a glittering Bollywood function hours after a

string of bombs killed six people at an election rally.

A smiling Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was photographed with a Bollywood actress at the music launch of an upcoming movie in Mumbai on

AP

Sunday, as security forces scrambled to probe the blasts.

Seven small bombs detonated shortly before Narendra Modi, a Hindu hardliner and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, took

to the stage in the city of Patna, killing six and injuring scores.

“It is shocking to find the home minister entertaining himself in a music function instead of monitoring the situation after the serial blasts,” BJP spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI) late Monday.

A BJP leader, Kirti Azad, also slammed Shinde, saying he had become a “laughing stock” across the country.

“You find him releasing music cassettes when innocent Indians were dying,” Azad told local TV channels.

The embattled ruling Congress party leapt to Shinde’s defence, with senior leader Salman Khurshid saying his colleague had a life too.

“Mr Shinde has a life beyond Patna,” Khurshid told reporters, and criticised Modi for going ahead with his speech after the blasts.

Shinde has faced flak in the past for naming a rape victim, who was also a minor, in the nation’s parliament, contravening Indian laws which seek to protect the identity of sexual assault victims.

At the height of last year’s furore over the gang-rape of a student in Delhi, the minister also compared students protesting over the crime to armed Maoist insurgents.

India’s Maoist rebels have been fighting security forces in rural areas for decades, a conflict that is believed to have claimed tens of thousands of lives. l

India, US preparing satellites to probe Martian atmosphere n Reuters, Cape Canaveral Two new science satellites are being prepared to join a fleet of robotic Mars probes to help determine why the planet most like Earth in the solar system ended up so different.

India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, the country’s first interplanetary foray, is due to blast off on Nov 5 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Billed as a pathfinder to test technologies to fly to orbit and communicate from Mars, the satellite follows India’s successful 2008-2009 Chandrayaan-1 moon probe, which discovered water molecules in the lunar soil.

The Mars Orbiter Mission has ambitious science goals as well, including a search for methane in the Martian atmosphere. On Earth, the chemical is strongly tied to life.

‘MAVEN is going to focus on trying to understand what the history of the atmosphere has been...’

Methane, which also can be produced by non-biological processes, was first detected in the Martian atmosphere a decade ago.

But recent measurements made by

NASA’s Mars rover, Curiosity, show only trace amounts of methane, a puzzling finding since the gas should last about 200 years on Mars.

India’s Mars Orbiter Mission also will study Martian surface features and mineral composition.

Also launching in November is NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, spacecraft.

MAVEN will focus on Mars’ thin atmosphere, but rather than hunting methane, it is designed to help scientists figure out how the planet managed to lose an atmosphere that at one time was believed to be thicker than Earth’s.

“MAVEN is going to focus on trying

Xinjiang suspects named after Tianamen crash n

AFP, Beijing

Chinese police have named two suspects from the restive Xinjiang region after a car crash on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square killed five people, staterun media said Tuesday, as analysts said the incident looked like a premeditated attack.

The crash – in which a sport utility vehicle drove along the pavement, ploughed into crowds and caught fire at the capital’s best-known and most sensitive site – killed three people in the car and two tourists, according to Beijing police.

The square lies next to the Forbidden City, a former imperial palace and top tourist attraction, and was the location of pro-democracy protests in 1989 that were violently crushed by authorities.

In a notice to hotels, police identified two suspects and four car number plates, all from Xinjiang, in relation to a “major case” that occurred on Monday, the Global Times reported.

Police also instructed hotels to watch out for “suspicious” guests and vehicles, said the paper, which is close to the ruling Communist Party.

It carried the details in its English-language edition, but the Chinese version did not mention Xinjiang.

Security guards from several hotels in Beijing confirmed they had received a police notice.

A version posted online by 64tianwang.com, a Sichuan-based human rights news portal, gave the suspects’ names, identity numbers and registered residences, while urging hotels to report potential clues.

Its veracity could not be confirmed

by AFP. Xinjiang is home to ethnic minority Uighurs, many of them Muslim.

State media have reported several violent incidents there and a rising militant threat, but Uighur rights groups complain of ethnic and religious repression, while information is tightly controlled.

Police have arrested 140 people in Xinjiang in recent months for allegedly spreading jihad, and killed 22 Uighurs in August in an “anti-terrorism” operation, the official news agency Xinhua reported earlier.

One of the suspects named in the reported notice was from Lukqun, where state media said 35 people were killed in June in what Beijing called a “terrorist attack”. l

to understand what the history of the atmosphere has been, how the climate has changed through time and how that has influenced the evolution of the surface and the potential habitability - at least by microbes - of Mars,” lead mission scientist Bruce Jakosky, with the University of Colorado at Boulder, told reporters on a conference call on Monday.

MAVEN is due to launch on Nov. 18 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and reach Mars on Sept 22, 2014 - the day after India’s spacecraft arrives. They will join two NASA rovers, two NASA orbiters and a European Space Agency satellite already studying Mars. l

India police say Islamists behind attack on opposition rally n Reuters, Bhubaneswar An Islamist militant group is believed to be behind an attack on a rally by Indian Hindu nationalist politician Narendra Modi that killed six people and wounded more than 80, police said on Tuesday.

Modi is seen as a target of militants who hold him responsible for riots in 2002, during his first term as chief minister of Gujarat state, in which at least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, were killed.

Seven crude bombs went off on Sunday in Bihar state as Modi’s supporters gathered for his rally.

He was not near any of the blasts and delivered his speech despite the violence.

A pro-government tribal elder and six members of his family were killed when unknown gunmen stormed their home in southwest Pakistan early Tuesday, officials said.

The pre-dawn attack occurred in Dera Bugti district, some 450 kilometres southeast of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, a hub for separatist rebels, Islamist insurgents and sectarian militants.

“Dodha Khan, his wife, son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons have been killed in the attack,” Abdul Jabbar, a senior government official in Dera Bugti told AFP. Jabbar said more than a dozen attackers armed with assault rifles and other sophisticated weapons came in vehicles and sprayed the family with bullets.

Senior police official SN Pradhan said one of two suspects arrested after the blasts had identified a suspected senior member of the Indian Mujahideen militant group, Tehseen Akhtar, as the organiser of the attack.

The National Intelligence Agency, India’s top security agency, is seeking the arrest of the 24-year-old Akhtar in connection with attacks in recent years in the cities of Mumbai and Varanasi and is investigating his role in blasts in Hyderabad city in February.

“Because of the Tehseen connection, the entire chain is established,” said Pradhan, a senior police official in Jharkand state, where the detained suspect is from.

“There is no doubt that it is the work of the Indian Mujahideen.” l

Bomb explodes in northeast Indian market, five hurt n AP, Gauhati Police say they are investigating the explosion of a crude bomb that injured five people in a marketplace in northeast India.

A police official in the Manipur state capital of Imphal says the homemade bomb was triggered by remote control on Tuesday morning when people were setting up their stalls before the market opened. The official spoke on condition of anonymity according to policy.

Four of the injured are being treated in a hospital.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least 17 separatist groups are active in Manipur state and often stage hit-and-run attacks.

The rebels claim the local population is ignored by the federal government in New Delhi.

Most locals are ethnically closer to groups in Myanmar and China than to the rest of India. l

Indian security men stand at the site where a crude bomb exploded near the Khwairamband market in Imphal, India AP

Gunmen storm home of Pakistan tribal elder, kill 7 n AFP, Quetta

9

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

One female member of the family was struggling for her life in a local hospital where her condition was critical, Jabbar said, adding that attackers fled safely after the killing.

Officials said they were investigating whether Khan and his family members were killed because of his support for the government or whether he had some personal enmity with anyone.

Manzoor Ahmad, spokesman for the government paramilitary Frontier Corps confirmed the attack and the death toll.

No group has yet claimed responsibility but Baluch separatist groups have in the past killed local tribal elders for supporting the Pakistan government.

An insurgency pushing for political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region’s oil, gas and mineral resources began in the province in 2004. l

Iran offers ‘new approach’ in nuclear talks n AP, Vienna Talks between Iran and the UN atomic agency have gone into a second day after a senior Iranian envoy offered a “new approach” meant to end the deadlock over terms of a UN probe of suspicions Tehran worked on nuclear arms.

Nearly two years of Iran-IAEA meetings have made little progress on launching the investigation by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran denies working to develop nuclear weapons.

But chances of forward movement at Tuesday’s round appear bolstered after Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced a new initiative from his country.

Araghchi, who met IAEA chief Yukiya Amano Monday, gave no details of the Iranian proposal. Teheran denies working on — or interest in — atomic weapons. l

British Muslims prejudiced against in jobs, BBC report finds n Tribune International Desk

Chinese paramilitary police march on a sidewalk near the site of Monday’s incident where a car plowed through a crowd before it crashed and burned in Beijing, China AP

A BBC report has recently found a pattern of discrimination against Muslims in the job market in England.

BBC’s investigative journalism team Inside Out sent in reporters under cover for various job applications and found that Muslim applicants were offered fewer jobs than non-Muslims.

One pair, with similar qualifications and eligibility, was set out to apply for 40 different jobs. The non-Muslim candidate managed to get 13 interviews and secure one job offer while the Muslim applicant managed to get only three interviews.

The team also secretly filmed job application procedures in a supermarket

that was looking for a manager, a store supervisor and a driver. When the Muslim candidate “Zoltan” approached the super-

The non-Muslim candidate managed to get 13 interviews and secure one job offer while the Muslim applicant managed to get only three interviews market for a position there he was told the job had been filled, while the non-Muslim candidate “Ian” who went five minutes later was told there are several positions available, according to the BBC website.

After the release of this investigation, the supermarket thanked Inside Out for bringing this matter to the fore and said they are investigating it.

Baroness Warsi, the United Kingdom government’s Faith and Communities Minister, told the BBC that it is vital for discrimination policies to be applied at a grass-roots level.

The report comes months after Drummer Lee Rigby, a British soldier, was slaughtered in London by two men who claimed they attacked him because he had killed Muslims in Afghanistan.

The attack led to many protests and a surge in anti-Muslim activities in the country, notably the stabbing of four Muslim men inside a mosque only weeks later. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

In the public interest

S

aturday evening’s phone call between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia was widely anticipated as a possible breakthrough to lead the country out of political deadlock.

After the call, senior figures representing both parties commented on the conversation and provided quotes which were reported in various newspapers.

Dhaka Tribune, in common with other media outlets, has received a full audio recording of the telephone conversation between the leaders. It is not known who recorded the conversation. Nor is it known who originally released the People have a right recording. to listen to the Information Minisfull conversation ter Hasanul Haq Inu did themselves, rather express the view that the than relying on partial phone conversation should be publicly disclosed, but quotes or commentary has also stated that the by others ruling party did not release the recording.

Early on Tuesday morning, we took the decision to upload a link to the full recording on our website in the public interest.

Our position is simple. While we do not condone the unauthorised recording of private phone calls, it is clear that there is a high degree of public interest in this particular conversation and indeed this is acknowledged by the parties themselves.

People have a right to listen to the full conversation themselves, rather than relying on partial quotes or commentary by others. As leaders of parties which consistently obtained over 80% of the votes cast in the last three general elections, the public has a huge stake in holding their dialogue to scrutiny.

Although it appears the phone call has not broken new ground, we hope it lays the basis for dialogue to allow fair and free elections to be held soon.

10th parliamentary election October 28

The proposals put forward by the leader of the opposition and former prime minister for the formation of a non-partisan polls-time government might have paved the way for dialogue, but without resolving some vital issues no positive results would come out of a dialogue.

BNP is enriched with eminent lawyers and constitutional experts and they should have been involved in making concrete proposals. Dr Kamal Hossain has rightly said that with the 15th amendment in place no dialogue can resolve the issue, unless the 16th amendment is passed to restore the CTG. I was in parliament when the CTG bill was passed, and I had the privilege to assist Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar to draft the bill especially in translating some of the provisions into Bengali. It took us the whole night to draft the bill, discuss it, and get it passed early in the morning. Let alone any food, there was no drinking water left in Sangsad Bhaban.

The present ruling party by virtue of its brute majority disbanded the CTG as unconstitutional within 10 minutes by voice vote. Now it is their turn to restore the CTG in its entirety with only one amendment about the head of the CTG. Instead of the immediate past chief justice, he or she could be any retired chief justice or judge of the supreme court acceptable to major parties.

In any case, elections cannot be held in January, as the mercury dips to 5/6 degrees Celsius in the northern parts of Bangladesh, and no voters will go to the polling centres braving the cold. If the 16th amendment is passed, the present government would like to be in position until January 24, and elections will be held in the next 90 days. The CTG should have enough time to dismantle the fortress of administration built up by the present government to win the election. Dr Akbar Ali Khan’s contention that the amendment should be made only for the next election is not tenable as the supreme court verdict clearly prescribed that the next two general elections could be held under the CTG. After that, may Allah help us.

SA Reza Hussain

Rana Plaza survivors work at self-owned factory October 23

So you’ve hit the headlines, Oparajeo and Mukto Tarunno.

Khushi Kabir Let’s all help them expand and also initiate similar schemes to set an example! probirbidhan

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

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In conversation with the initiators of Dhaka Comic-Con October 24

Just for reference: Events known as comic cons have been running for years, long before San Diego. And, while SDCC is run and organised by Comic-Con International, they only are responsible for the three Cons on the US West Coast: San Diego Comic-Con, WonderCon and APE (Alternative Press Expo). Please be aware that Durka Comic-Con has no affiliation with CCI or its Cons. It is a purely independent event.

Leonard Sultana

MoU signed to train disabled RMG workers October 24

Glad to read about some positive developments for a change! Kudos to GTZ & CRP. Naheed

We mourn the death of the legendary singer Manna Dey October 25 RIP Manna Dey. Leaquat Ali Sad news for us. My favourite Coffee House.

Ruhul Amin I give you my word I will never forget you.

Dewan A Rasel We wish him peace for his departed soul.

Limia Dewan Manna Dey will always remain in our hearts!

Babul Sarwar Oh noo! I really liked his songs though.

Ahmed Azwad Imtiaz

Six months of Rana Plaza disaster October 25 Still a long way to go. Unfortunately, there is no major development to ensure safety of the workers at their workplaces.

I wish there will be no more tragedies.

Nur Elahee

Over 600 doctors selected in 32nd special BCS October 25

600 doctors selected but none of them will go to the villages where doctos are needed the most, they will stay back in big cities so that they can charge high fees as specialist doctors to boost their income!

Sharif Ahmad Shabbir

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Makes irate (6) 5 Plant juice (3) 7 Period of time (3) 8 Affectedly modest (6) 11 Tear (3) 12 Make deep research (5) 14 Persian fairy (4) 16 Receiver of stolen goods (5) 18 Sharp ridge (5) 20 Offspring (4) 21 Banquet (5) 23 Kimono sash (3) 24 Curbed (6) 27 Self (3) 28 Monkey (3) 29 Believe (6)

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Adding fuel to the fire e have already commended the AL for their efforts to move forward with the dialogue on the caretaker issue. We have also editorialised on the fact that the BNP led 18-party alliance hartal is uncalled for and totally unnecessary. Dhaka Tribune denounces all forms of unnecessary violence and hartals are not viable solutions to any political situation.

Mercifully the hartal has ended, but not before unacceptable loss of life and property. Today, we would like to focus on one aspect of the past three days that we feel has only exacerbated the We would prefer that problem. the government, at We would like to take least, would play by issue with the use of AL student and youth fronts the rulebook and leave to counter the picketers, peacekeeping in the able that only contributed hands of the police to the violence and insecurity.

We would like to believe that the law enforcement agencies are properly equipped and adept for dealing with this situation and that the added help from the Chhatra League, motivated by their own party’s agenda, was neither required, desired, nor acceptable, as this simply makes the AL a party to the anarchy that transpired.

This move only added fuel to the fire that was already charring the nation and could only have further damaged the chances and the effectiveness of the dialogue that is yet to take place. Chhatra League’s involvement sends exactly the opposite message that the prime minister’s call to Khaleda Zia sent.

We would prefer that the government, at least, would play by the rulebook and leave peacekeeping in the able hands of the police. It is high time they put a leash on the vandalism and violence emanating from their own student wing.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

DOWN 1 Assist (3) 2 Precious stone (3) 3 Learned (7) 4 Uncommon (4) 5 Calm (6) 6 Exploded mildly (6) 9 Water pitcher (4) 10 Fairy being (3) 13 Trace (7) 14 Eastern temple (6) 15 Purify (6) 17 Yield (4) 19 Corn spike (3) 22 Prophet (4) 25 Let head fall sleepily (3) 26 Small spot (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

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

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The problem of illegal gas connections n Hasan Kamrul

T Billboards advertise the achievements of the Awami League’s past tenure

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The five-year myth

A

n Israfil Khosru s the nation is getting ready, albeit tentatively, for a probable election, the two major parties are relatively ready with their election pitch. Apart from banking on the shortcomings of the current government, the BNP chairperson in her recent public address outlined certain pledges concerning certain social and economic programs.

The campaign of the ruling Awami League on the other hand clearly entails an Obama-like tendency to promote “continuity” to safeguard the completion of the development projects they have undertaken and ensure greater stability.

In essence, they have tried to project the notion that five years is clearly inadequate, hence a re-election is the only solution to enable them to reach their goals. Now let us examine this notion carefully.

While it might be argued that certain massive development projects cannot be completed within a fiveyear period, a strong political will is definitely sufficient to start one. The Padma Bridge fiasco in this regard is a relevant example.

Not only did the government fail to start this project but it also failed or rather shied away from bringing those accused of corruption related to this colossal project to book. By doing so, the government has displayed two critical shortcomings in the form of “lack of political will” and “poor governance.”

It must be pointed out that an elected regime does not require more than five years to demonstrate positive political will and set the tone for good governance. In fact, these elements should be inherently desirable within a democratic structure and the lack of it runs the risk of a regime turning kleoptocratic at best.

The Awami League not only failed to bring its party men accused of corruption to justice in this instance but in certain cases found ways to rehabilitate them.

It must be mentioned that the report published by Ibrahim Khaled documenting the possible reasons behind the capital market collapse was later made public after much drama but no one of note has been apprehended so far.

In this case, the Awami League government has evidently failed in yet another count and that is in the “delivery of justice.” While millions of stakeholders were victims of an over-hyped market, the government preferred to protect the handful of

It must be pointed out that an elected regime does not require more than five years to demonstrate positive political will and set the tone for good governance. In fact, these elements should be inherently desirable within a democratic structure

Among other factors, the state of the current economy will be one of the core issues in the voters’ mind for the upcoming national elections. Apart from the existing economic slowdown, the failure of the government to regulate the financial market is yet another example of poor governance.

From the capital market collapse to Destiny and Hallmark scams, the government has failed to regulate and bring about justice to compensate those millions who have lost a hefty portion of their life savings in pursuit of some return on their humble investments.

people who were behind creating that false bubble in order to realise their self interest.

It seems that the interest of millions took a backseat in order to grant impunity to an influential few.

While the Awami League can try and portray itself as the scion of justice by setting up the war crimes tribunal to punish those for atrocities committed in 1971, its record of ensuring justice and protecting its citizens from atrocities committed now is rather poor.

From the disappearance of Elias Ali to the murder of Bishwajit, all the

incidents point towards that direction. Yet again, the lack of political will of this government in establishing the rule of law is palpable, although a “five-year tenure” is sufficient to bring about a notable change in this regard.

If a government is incessantly failing to protect its citizens, one cannot point at the length of tenure as an excuse. Five years is a significant amount of time to bring about qualitative changes in terms of ensuring both internal and external national security.

In short, five years is a long enough time for the people of a country to gauge the intention and the will of a government. Therefore, the myth of a five-year tenure being insufficient to bring about a noteworthy change does not hold much water.

With strong will, good governance can be brought to the fore from the onset. At the end of the day, it is up to the electorates to decide who will form the government next but it is safe to assume that they are equipped with enough information from five years to make a decision.

Not all changes are tangible. Certain changes are intangible and invaluable and those changes can be achieved if certain intrinsic democratic principles are in place.

The length of tenure in this case remains irrelevant. It is just a matter of seeing how much our leaders are willing to adhere to such principles. l Israfil Khosru is a businessman and runs a youth-led think tank called The Bangladeshi.

he people of Araihazar and Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district have been given new gas connections to their households.

These connections have been granted by local leaders without proper authorisation.

These illegal connections have created panic for households. Many of them have been waiting a month for gas supplies to their pipeline, but there is no gas in the pipes yet.

Though the gas pipeline has been mostly completed, households have reportedly paid Tk25,000 for a single connection.

Over 10,000 new connections are allocated for Araihazar and same number has been made available for Rupganj. Overall, 20,000 new connections are currently waiting for gas supplies which are totally unauthorised.

This is a political mission to collect huge amounts of money before the upcoming elections, and the leaders have gotten Tk300m through this improper project.

People are selling their cattle or leasing their land to obtain new gas connections thinking about this prosperous life. Women especially are very happy because they will have an opportunity to do away with old-fashioned cooking methods.

They could feel like they have a better life when they compare themselves to city-dwellers. That’s why they have no hesitation for selling cattle or a piece of land.

However, Titas was totally ignorant about all these connections. When this writer asked a high official of Titas, he was just surprised. He didn’t agree to make any comments regarding this query.

On the other hand, local leaders are more confident. They say there is nothing wrong. Though initially it is illegal, there is a chance to get legal status shortly by paying extra money.

This is nothing new: wrongdoings took place earlier when 87,000 unauthorised gas connections were identified by the Petrobangla probe committee during an embargo period.

Petrobangla claimed that two influential persons were involved in this occurrence, one was a former top official of Titas and the other was a powerful lawmaker of the ruling party who is also a member of the standing committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral resources.

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) also found them guilty and filed a case which is in progress.

From June 2010 to June this year, the government was prohibited from creating new gas connections to the households for industrial productions.

But some influential people violated the government’s decision: they were playing proactive roles to provide new connections in the prohibited period and earned huge amounts of money that way.

The authority still didn’t take any legal action against them.

A small amount is allotted for households. The people who applied earlier can now have access for new connections.

Petrobangla further declared that no new applications can be allowed for gas connections.

Wrongdoings took place earlier when 87,000 unauthorised gas connections were identified by the Petrobangla probe committee

However, 87,000 illegal connections have gotten provisions to produce legal statuses for paying extra money.

Otherwise, illegal users could be penalised either for their connections, which would be disconnected, or legal action would be taken.

Titas doesn’t care about Petrobangla obligations. Usually illicit connections are simply a way of earning for a Titas employee. From top to bottom, most of them know how to make illegal money through wrongdoings.

They are very much aware about their dishonesty in this matter.

The Titas governing body hasn’t taken any punitive actions against the corrupt people. It is because most of the corrupt people are in a CBA (collective bargaining agency) and they have strong political back-up.

It is a sad matter that the CBA is not in the right place. They are working as a protective umbrella for corrupt people.

The people who paid money for gas connections have the right to get them without any delay. If there is any guilty party, legal action can be taken against the occupied influentials, but not against the common people. l Hasan Kamrul is a geologist.

North Korea’s nuclear strength grows in isolation n Giles Hewitt

I

f the international community’s main goal is to push North Korea towards denuclearisation, does the fact that Pyongyang is racing in precisely the opposite direction suggest a fundamental policy failure?

The question has taken on added urgency following a succession of monthly warnings sounded by satellite imagery analysis that the North’s nuclear weapons program is gathering pace.

In August, images suggested the North had doubled its uranium enrichment capacity at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.

In September, they indicated it had re-started the plutonium reactor that provided the fissile material for at least two of its three nuclear tests, and just last week they pointed to preparatory work for another detonation at its nuclear test site.

“Pyongyang is moving ahead on all nuclear fronts,” believes US nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, a leading expert on the North’s weapons program.

Since coming to power in late 2011 following the death of his father, North Korea’s young leader Kim JongUn has overseen a successful longrange rocket launch and the North’s third and largest nuclear test.

“Denuclearisation must remain the goal, but it is a more distant one following these new developments,” Hecker wrote in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

If there is clear agreement on where the North is heading, there is little consensus on how best to stop it getting there. The key question for the international community is the same as it has always been: whether to engage with Pyongyang or not.

Both North Korea and its main ally China want a return to six-party talks grouping China, the two Koreas, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Washington and Seoul are adamant

State Department official Evans Revere said in a paper published this month by the Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution.

“The road to further development of these programs by North Korea is now wide open, and Pyongyang is taking it,” Revere said.

Supporters of the principle of no substantive dialogue without prior progress on denuclearisation argue that to do otherwise would be tantamount to accepting Pyongyang’s recent progress towards nuclear statehood.

“Returning to talks now... would allow North Korea to have reset the table for negotiations in a way that

Sanctions have been expanded but, despite increased cooperation from China, they still lack the intensity to present Pyongyang with a choice between nuclear weapons and economic survival

REUTERS

that Pyongyang must first demonstrate a commitment to denuclearisation, but the North has repeatedly stated it has no intention of abandoning its weapons program.

The result is almost total impasse at a time when the North is making possibly its greatest strides towards achieving a credible nuclear deterrent.

“There is no diplomatic mechanism in place today that offers any prospect for slowing or stopping the North’s WMD programs,” former senior US

undercuts the goals of North Korean nuclear disarmament,” said Paul Haenle, a former US representative at the six-party dialogue.

At the same time, Haenle, now the director of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing, noted that dialogue with Pyongyang in the past at least had the merit of slowing the North’s weaponisation program down.

Since the last six-party talks in December 2008 the brakes have clearly been taken off, with the North con-

ducting two nuclear tests, revealing a uranium enrichment facility and putting a satellite in orbit with a launch widely seen as a ballistic missile test.

International sanctions have been expanded but, despite increased cooperation from China, they still lack the intensity to present Pyongyang with a choice between nuclear weapons and economic survival. Barring a sudden implosion of the regime, Revere believes talks are the only real option and at the very highest level.

“If the goal is to convince North Korea to implement its denuclearisation commitments, nothing short of a dialogue with the North’s leader or his inner circle is likely to achieve this,” he said.

Nearly two years after taking over, Kim Jong-Un remains something of a mystery, although most experts agree he has successfully negotiated the tricky power transition.

Initial hopes that he had a reformist bent have since withered, but longtime North Korea watcher Andrei Lankov believes the young leader will have to take risks spurned by his father, Kim Jong-Il, if he wants to stay in power.

Kim Jong-Il was nearly 60 by the time he had consolidated his leadership after the death of his father Kim Il-Sung.

The North’s economy was already in dire straits, but reform carried risks for stability and Lankov argues that Kim gambled on the system outlasting him even if he did nothing. l This article was syndicated from Reuters.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Samina’s tribute to Tagore and Nazrul in one album n Limana Solaiman

Mahfuz’s rugged new look in his upcoming psycho thriller Zero Degree

Mahfuz and Jaya come together for psycho thriller n Afrose Jahan Chaity National award winning actors Mahfuz Ahmed and Jaya Ahsan will be seen as the lead actors in a psycho thriller movie titled “Zero Degree.”

The producer of the movie is Mahfuz Ahmed himself while popular TV play director Animesh Aich will direct the much anticipated film. The other selling point of the film will be newcomer and super model Ruhee who will play a significant character in the movie.

The muharat (official announcement) of the movie was held on October 29 at the Seven Hill restaurant, where the cast and crew were introduced to the press.

Producer of the film Mahfuz, Ansarul Alam Linkon, Khosru, Ruhee, Telesamad and many media personalities were present at the occasion.

Mahfuz Ahmed won the National Film Award for his role in the movie “Srabon Megher Din,” directed by noted litterateur

Humayun Ahmed. He also directed the TV plays, “Choita Pagol” and “Tomar Doyaye Bhalo Ashi Maa,” that earned him more popularity. This is the first time Mahfuz is producing a film.

In conversation with Dhaka Tribune, Mahfuz shares: “I have started a production house ‘Playhouse’ along with Animesh, Ansarul Alam Linkon and Khosru. Basically, this film is being produced by our own production house. We believe that we have some duty towards our media and hope with all sincerity that we will give a remarkable film to our industry.”

While talking about his role in the film, he shares: “The audience will see me with a very different getup in the film as I have changed my look for this film. I am playing the character of a person who neither forgets, nor forgives and is vengeful in nature.

His wife leaves him and after a while, his son dies in an accident. He loses stability and blames his wife for his situation and sets out to get revenge on his estranged

wife. Everything changes when he meets a girl who delves her way into his life and becomes his inspiration for living.”

Recently, Jaya Ahsan’s “Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini,” created a wave of positive response from the audience. She received National Award for her brilliant performance in “Guerrilla,” a movie based on the Liberation War. “We are all on the same boat when it comes to making a good film for our audience. I have worked in many productions directed by Animesh Aich. Mahfuz Ahmed is one of my favourite co-actors. On the other hand, the story and script of the film is mind blowing. I like it and I hope audience will accept it nicely,” said Jaya Ahsan.

While talking about the film with the Dhaka Tribune, director Animesh Aich shares: “Shooting of the film will begin from November 1. It’s a psycho thriller where the protagonist of the film Mahfuz Ahmed, will lose his mental stability at one point in the movie.” l

Madhuri’s dance lesson available on mobile phones n Entertainment Desk

Nil Ronger Golpo airs on NTV tonight n Entertainment Desk

“Nil Ronger Golpo” will air every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:45pm on NTV. Written by Zakia Chowdhury, directed by Koishik Shankar Das, the series has been on air from August 21.

The story is a compiled version of the three eternal love stories, Sharat Chandra’s “Devdas-Parvati,” Nizami Ganjavi’s “Laily Majnu” and Shakespear’s “Romeo Juliet.” In the drama, Devdas, Majnu and Romeo study in the same university and are good friends.

The last descendant of a zamindar family, Devdas becomes calm and quiet after his arrival in the city. Majnu is from

the old town in Dhaka and Romeo is from a solvent family and lives in Gulshan. Devdas is senior to Romeo and is the VP of his university. He does not believe that love exists in this era, so, no one is allowed to fall in love under his domain.

Romeo is a modern day Casanova who changes girlfriends every now and then. The story takes turn when Majnu meets Laily and Romeo meets his Juliet. Devdas’s childhood love story is very complex. After falling in love, the life of these men changes and a shift is observed in the tone of the story. The drama features Anisur Rahman Milon, Nusrat Embroze Tisha and others. l

Ankita slaps Sushant in public n Entertainment Desk There seems to be trouble in couple Sushant Singh Rajput and Ankita Lokhande love life.

According to a leading Indian daily, both were seen arguing with each other at Yashraj Studios in Mumbai. The argument took such an ugly turn that Ankita apparently slapped Sushant.

The fact that they were not alone did not bother the angry TV actress.

According to the daily, Ankita called Sushant outside the studio and then checked his phone. They had an argument and she lost her cool and allegedly slapped her live-in partner.

In last August, the “Shudh Desi Romance” star declared their planning for marriage in an interview with a tabloid. “We are in happy space today. I think marriage can happen anytime...

It can be this year or next year,” said Sushant in the interview. But it seems Sushant’s sudden fame derived from his recent ventures in Bollywood turns out to be a big problem for the couple who met on the sets of TV show “Pavitra Rishta” where they played reel life husband and wife.

Moreover, the rumour is also in the air that Sushant Singh Rajput and his “Shudh Desi Romance” co-star Parineeti Chopra are dating. l

Now fans can learn to dance from actress Madhuri Dixit by just downloading ‘DancewithMadhuri’ app on their handsets.

Her online dance academy “DancewithMadhuri.com” is available on mobile phones and for tablet users on iOS and Android. The application takes full advantage of every device’s abilities and makes the learning and sharing experience intuitive and seamless.

“The App makes the experience more accessible to dance lovers and health enthusiasts alike, who could learn and stay fit and enjoy dance on the go and at their own pace,” Madhuri said in a statement. “More importantly, it is an effort to build a global community of dancers and dance enthusiasts linked by the academy who can learn from me and my colleagues,” she added. The “DancewithMadhuri.com” website was launched in February by Madhuri and RnM Moving Pictures. l

ON TV MOVIES 5:10pmFox Movies Premium The Other Guys

Samina Chowdhury, one of the most popular figures in the Bangladesh music industry is releasing a solo album paying tribute to Tagore and Nazrul in the same album. This is the first time the versatile singer is lending her voice to Nazrul Geeti. The music arrangement of the album is done by the popular musician Bappa Mazumder and Ibrar Tipu. The title of the album has not been finalised yet.

Work has begun on the unique compilation and in a conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, Samina states: “I love to sing and it is for my listeners that I am singing songs of Nazrul, they are my all time inspiration. This is the first time my album will have tracks of the legendary ‘Rebel Poet.’ Prior to this, I presented Nazrul Geeti on television and other programmes.

There are ten tracks in the album, which includes Nazrul’s ‘Jago Nari Jago’ and many more.”

She also added: “I sing from my soul, I do not face any challenge or competition while singing, I feel liberated and rejuvenated.”

Samina’s album of Rabindro Sangeet “Tomar Khola Hawa” was released in 2009 and two more of her works, “Puspo Bristi” and “Phool Fote Phool Jhore 2” will release in 2014. l

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COMEDY 12:30pm Comedy Central Citizen Khan

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NEWS 8:00pm BTV News

6:45pm RTV

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MISC 2:30pm Vh1 Hit Factory

9:30pm TLC Celebrated singer Samina Chowdhury

Amazing Eats

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Rhythm of Xylography Group Art Exhibition Time: 11am – 7pm Gallery Cosmos-2 New DOHS Mohakhali Nishobdo Solo Exhibition

By Shabekun Nahar Time: 3pm - 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi

Silence Eats Sound Painting exhibition by Mozai Zeevan Safori and Samir Mojumder Time: 6.30pm (inauguration) Bengal Art Lounge

Theatre

Rudro Robi O Jalianwalabag A production of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Repertory Direction: Ataur Rahman Time: 7pm National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Segunbagicha

Film

Titanic (3D) Monsters University in 3D Udhao Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini Level 8, Bashundhara City Panthapath

Festival

Urban Youth Festival II Time: 11am – 8pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new) House 10, Dhanmondi R/A

Aamir receives Inaugural America Abroad Media Award n Entertainment Desk Aamir Khan has been felicitated with a prestigious US award in recognition of his successful efforts in sparking conversation on the country’s pressing social problems through his popular TV show “Satyamev Jayate.”

The star was presented with the Inaugural America Abroad Media Award along with Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and the International Center on Non-violent Conflict (ICNC) at a function in America. Which was attended by the city’s prominent figures, including

those from the State Department, Pentagon and diplomats. “I have no idea that how the work that we started back home would interest somehow outside India,” Aamir said in his acceptance speech.

“Me and my team are trying to do this show with love, because we feel that we are part of the problem and we are also part of the solution. We need to question ourselves and look inside as opposed to pointing outside,” said Aamir. It was one of the rare occasions when Aamir, who has made it a practice of not attending award shows, accepted an award.l

British navy to scare off Somali pirates using Britney’s music n Entertainment Desk As an excellent example of “here’s a sentence you won’t read every day,” Britney Spears has emerged as an unlikely figurehead in the fight against Somali pirates.

According to reports, Britney’s hits, including “Oops! I Did It Again” and “Baby One More Time,” are being employed by British naval officers in an attempt to scare off pirates along the east coast of Africa. Perhaps nothing else – not guns, not harpoons – is quite as intimidating as the sound of Ms Spears singing “Ooh baby baby!”

Merchant naval officer Rachel Owens explained the tactics to Metro: “Her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These guys can’t stand western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect. As soon as the pirates get a blast of Britney, they move on as quickly as they can.”

Britney is currently preparing to release her eighth album, “Britney Jean,” in December. l

Did you know?

Former England goalkeeper David James kept the most clean sheets (169) in the English Premier League history

Sport

14 Bilbao halt Getafe charge and climb to fifth in La Liga

13

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Cox’s Bazar Half Marathon on Friday

15 Broad top villain among England’s ‘Urinators’

Ravaging Rubel on song n Mazhar Uddin

Rubel Hossain’s six wickets including a hat-trick helped Bangladesh to a 43run win in the first of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National stadium yesterday.

The 23-year-old becomes the third Bangladeshi bowler to get a hat-trick in the one-day internationals for Bangladesh. Earlier, Shahadat Hossain claimed a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in 2006 followed by Abdur Razzaq against the same team in 2010 at the Mirpur stadium.

The fast bowler’s hat-trick turned the match around for Bangladesh after New Zealand were looking to score quick runs. He took the first wicket of his hattrick when New Zealand were on 121/3.

He cleaned up a dangerous looking Corey Anderson, 46, in the third ball of the 24th over to start the drama.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was the second wicket for Rubel as the fast bowler surprised the Kiwi skipper with extra bounce which he only managed to loft to point.

The credit should be given to the Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim who took a brilliant catch to complete Rubel’s triumph. James Neesham gloved it to leg-side as the Tigers skipper dived at full stretch to start the celebration.

Earlier the quickie picked up dangerous Ross Taylor in his first over, 17th of the match, and later dismissed Nathan McCullum to claim his first fivewicket haul.

Rubel was unstoppable yesterday as he finished the match removing Grant Elliott (71) to clinch his sixth wicket of the match as New Zealand ended their innings on 162/9 in 29.3 overs. Kane Williamson was injured and was not able to bat.

Adjudged as man of the match, Rubel’s 6-26 equalled the best bowling record for Bangladesh in the ODI’s with Mashrafe bin Mortaza having the same record against Kenya in 2006. l

Bangladesh pacer Mashrafe Mortaza embraces hero of the day Rubel Hossian amid the huge cheers of their other teammates after the victory against New Zealand at the SBNS yesterday

Rubel’s six leads Tigers to win in first ODI n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 43 runs in the first ODI match in a rain curtailed game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

After being put in to bat, Bangladesh lost three quick wickets but a 154-run fourth wicket partnership between captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam helped the side recover and post a competitive total of 265 all out. In reply, New Zealand had scored 82/3 when rain forced the players off the field.

The Kiwis target was revised to 206

Naeem Islam executes another shot in his brilliant innings yesterday

MUMIT M

Naeem roars in return Middle order batsman Naeem Islam and wicket-keeper/batsman Mushfiqur Rahim rescued Bangladesh from a poor start after the Tigers were sent in to bat in the first ODI against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

The pair came together in the seventh over with the scoreboard reading 25/3 and added 154 runs for the fourth wicket to lay the foundation for a competitive total of 265.

Opener Tamim Iqbal was the first depart, trapped LBW by Tim Southee for 5 in the third over and the in-form Mominul Haque followed almost immediately courtesy of a mix up with

Anamul Haque that led to the left hander being run out needlessly.

Anamul himself was caught at second slip off Southee a couple of overs later for 13, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position.

It was left to Naeem and Mushfiq to steady the ship.Naeem initially played the anchor role and it took him 17 balls to get off the mark. With Mushfiq scoring freely at the other end and his confidence up, Naeem picked up the pace and brought up his fourth ODI fifty in 75 balls. After Mushfiq fell for an aggressive 98-ball 90, Naeem carried on and added 51 with Mahmudullah.

He was eventually caught behind for a well-made 84 off 115 balls, with 12 fours.

ODI hat-tricks for Bangladesh

from 33 overs via Duckworth-Lewis System (D/L) – meaning they needed to score 124 in 13 overs. They were bowled out for 162 in 29.5 overs with one man absent hurt to give Bangladesh the win.

Bangladesh were put in to bat and reduced to 25/3 when Naeem joined skipper Mushfiq at the wicket. With the former anchoring the innings, Mushfiq counter-attacked in fine style. Naeem, who only made it into the team after Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out with illness, scored just one run from his first 24 balls but thereafter matched his captain stroke for stroke and reached his fifty off 75 balls.

Mushfiq eventually fell trying to steer a ball from Neesham to third man only

to edge the ball through to the keeper.

Neesham, who returned figures of 4-42, removed the dangerous Nasir Hossain immediately afterwards but Naeem and Mamudullah added 51 for the next wicket.

Naeem was eventually out for a career-best 84 from 115 balls as quick runs from the lower order saw Bangladesh to 265 as they were bowled out on the penultimate ball of the innings.

In reply, New Zealand had advanced to 82/3 by the 20th over as the game hung in the balance when rain interrupted play. In all, rain washed out 17 overs of play and left New Zealand needing 124 more runs from 13 overs.

The match remained even until the

Shakib ruled out with dengue

Rubel planned it all himself: Mushfiq

n Mazhar Uddin

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

MUMIT M

Shakib al Hasan has been diagnosed with dengue fever and ruled out for the rest of the New Zealand series yesterday. Earlier, he was withdrawn from the first ODI that took place yesterday as he had been suffering with fever since Monday afternoon and was admitted to Apollo Hospital later that night.

National team physio Vibhav Singh said, “The blood test report has confirmed that it is a case of dengue fever.

Shakib will remain at the hospital for further observation.”

Former national selector and the manager of the Bangladesh team Akram Khan however, did not fully rule Shakib out of the ongoing series.“I have heard about his condition but still not received any written result. Let me get the report first and then we can say whether he can play or not,” said the former national captain.

Shakib played a key role the last time Bangladesh and New Zealand met in an ODI series in 2010. l

The innings would have been particularly satisfying for Naeem as he was making his return to the national side. He was dropped after the home series against the West Indies last year but impressive performances in domestic cricket saw him return to the national squad for the ongoing series.

With Mominul Haque scoring heavily in the Test matches, however, Naeem could not make it into the final eleven in the longer format of the game.

His position in the ODI team was also uncertain but Shakib al Hasan’s last minute withdrawal due to illness allowed Naeem to make his return. He made the most of it and his 84 yesterday not only rescued Bangladesh but is also his highest score in ODIs. l

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh seamer Rubel Hossain’s six-wicket haul aided Bangladesh in winning the opening match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

The speedster claimed a hat-trick, dismissing Corey Anderson, Brendon McCullum and James Neesham in the 24th over to turn the game the Tigers’ way and finished with 6/26 from 5.5 overs – the joint best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler.

“The feat will give me confidence to perform further in the series. The series is the first since my return from the shoulder injury and to be honest I am relieved. I look forward to hold onto the rhythm and get more occasions

Players Shahadat Hossain Abdur Razzak Rubel Hossain

Match Figure 10-0-52-3 9.2-2-30-5 5.5-0-26-6

Opponent Zimbabwe Zimbabwe New Zealand

24th over when Rubel Hossain broke the back of the Kiwi batting with a stunning hat-trick. He first bowled Corey Anderson, who made a dashing 31-ball 46, as the left-handed batsman went for a wild slog to a straight ball. Brendon McCullum could only fend his first ball, which jumped up at him, to gully, and Neesham gloved a ball down the leg-side where it was well caught by Mushfiq.

Any hopes New Zealand had of a win

for my team to cherish,” Rubel told the media yesterday.

Rubel recently claimed a hat-trick in the Dhaka Premier League, as well.“I myself was not aware of the hat-trick in the Premier League because it happened in two different overs. I didn’t plan anything special, I just tried to maintain the line and deliver in the good area and it worked. Happy that it came against tough opponents,” he said.

Captain Mushfiq was full of praise for the paceman, “I want to inform that today (yesterday) whatever Rubel did was simply his own credit. Previously what used to happen is we (members of the team) used to guide him and tell what to do or where to bowl. But today we didn’t advise him. Let it be the hat-trick or the six wickets that he took, he planned all the deliveries by himself.

Local football in turmoil n Raihan Mahmood All the big names of the local football urged the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday to reschedule the players’ transfers due to the unstable political scenario of the country.

In a letter to the BFF the seven leading names of the local football, reigning Dhaka Premier League champions Sheikh Russell KC, runners-up Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Abahani Ltd, Dhaka Mohammedan, Brothers Union, Muktijoddha SKC and Soccer Club of Feni urged the federation to adjourn the players’ registration process as they will not be able to complete the procedure within the deadline of October 31.

The other three teams of BPL - Team BJMC, Uttar Baridhara and Chittagong Abahani – however, did not sign the memo.

The scenario all of a sudden took

a u-turn as all the clubs previously agreed to start the Federation Cup from November 4 and agreed to complete the players’ registration as per the deadline of October 31.

The latest development can be dubbed as a bad omen for the upcoming season as the political stability is a subject of uncertainty and there is no guarantee when will it commence.

Moreover BFF, at the moment is also struggling to cope with the time as they have no title sponsors for the league and other tournaments.

The players’ registration process is also surrounded by complicacies as Sheikh Russell and Dhaka Mohammedan are in a tug of war regarding four players who allegedly have taken money from both the clubs, but presently are in the Russell tent.

The Professional League Committee of the BFF will sit in an emergency meeting to review the position today. l

Venue Harare Mirpur Mirpur

Date Aug 2, 2006 Dec 3, 2010 Oct 29, 2013

lay on the shoulders of Grant Elliot, who continued to keep pace with the demanding run-rate.

He too was removed by Rubel when he miscued a lofted straight drive and was caught in the deep for a brave 77ball 71 which included six fours and two sixes. As New Zealand were bowled out, Rubel took 6-26 – the joint best figures by a Bangladeshi in ODI cricket, and was named man-of-the-match. l

“This shows how mature he has become over the years and that he has learnt his lessons. Even if you look into the Test matches he was brilliant. He didn’t manage to get wickets but he was very disciplined and economical.”

Mushfiq went on to look ahead to the rest of the series. “The start has been great, there might have been mistakes in the game today (yesterday) but at the end we did manage the victory.

A series win is the target but we want to go game by game. As we have the lead we will like the same result in the second game and do not like to wait for the third game.”

New Zealand’s Corey Anderson reflected, “We started the day well and later the chase was also on track. But they (Bangladesh) bounced back well with Rubel leading them with the ball.

We hope to get back in the series with win next game.” l

Sheikh Salahuddin passes away n Mazhar Uddin Former Bangladesh off-spinner Sheikh Salahuddin passed away yesterday.

The 44-year-old, who had represented Bangladesh in six ODIs in 1997, died following from cardiac arrest in Khulna in the early morning hours yesterday.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed deep bereavement at the passing of the former cricketer.

At the time of his death, Sheikh Salahuddin had been holding the position of BCB’s Divisional Coach for Khulna Division, the team he had represented as a player at first class level from 2000-2007 A minute’s silence was observed before the start of yesterday’s ODI between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Salahuddin’s honour. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Juventus look to close gap, Roma keep sights on record n AFP, Milan

Fixtures Juventus host struggling Catania in one of eight Serie A fixtures on Wednesday when the champions will be among the sides looking to close the gap on record-setting

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (R) and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo take part in a training session at the Valdebebas training ground in Madrid yesterday. Real Madrid will face Sevilla today AFP

Moyes tells Zaha not to lose hope n AFP, London

Manchester United manager David Moyes says that Wilfried Zaha will be given opportunities to prove his worth despite overlooking the England international winger in the season to date.

Zaha linked up with United during the close season after signing from Crystal Palace in a deal worth up to £15 million ($22.7 million, 17.6 million euros), but he has still to make his Premier League debut.

“I just don’t think we have had the right opportunity to get him on as much as would have liked,” Moyes told the United website.

“We don’t want to put him in too quickly. We want to make it the right time. I’ve said I would look at (a loan) in January as I wanted to have him here for six months to see how we work.

“I told him we would try to get him minutes, but the competition in the wide areas we have with Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj and even Shinji Kagawa playing off the side means we are as strong there as anywhere. “It’s not that Wilf has done anything wrong, it’s just that we have big competition and we have to try to make sure he gets some playing time. l

Walker signs new deal at Spurs n AFP, London

Tottenham defender Kyle Walker has signed a new contract keeping him at the Premier League club until 2019.

Walker has become a key figure at right-back for Spurs since arriving from Sheffield United in 2009 and has also broken into Roy Hodgson’s England team.

The 23-year-old was voted the Professional Footballers Association Young Player of the Year for 2012 and has made 112 appearances for the north London club.

“It’s fantastic,” Walker said on Monday. “When I first signed here at the age of 18, I always wanted to make it a long stay.

“The lads are fantastic as well as the manager and everyone surrounding the club - it just makes it a lot easier when they do offer you a contract to sign it.

“I’m very thankful to the chairman Daniel Levy for giving me an extension on the contract and hopefully I can repay him by putting the performances in on the pitch and getting that top four spot.”

Walker made his Tottenham debut in a 2-0 win over Portsmouth in March 2010 but played just once in the following season before being sent to QPR then Aston Villa. l

Roma.

The Bianconeri have endured a tough two weeks, seeing their Champions League group hopes nosedive with defeat away to Real Madrid, four days after suffering a first reverse of the season in a 4-2 away defeat to Fiorentina. Despite a dominant 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday, the spotlight has been directed away from the Turin giants and southwards towards league leaders Roma.

Roma’s fairytale start under Frenchman Rudi Garcia continued Sunday when they set a new Serie A record of nine consecutive wins at the start of a season.

Their 1-0 win away at Udinese was all the more impressive as defender Maicon had been sent off earlier in the second half, and Udinese had not been beaten at home for over a year.

In the absence of injured captain Francesco Totti, likely to be sidelined for another two weeks, Garcia will be relying on Moroccan Mehdi Benarti to marshal his forward line away to the ‘Flying Donkeys’.

Chievo sit bottom of the table, but having seen league newcomers Sassuolo pull off a sensational 1-1 draw at title contenders Napoli on September 25, Garcia was quick to warn his side against complacency in Thursday’s only fixture.

While not dismissing Roma’s impressive start, Juventus striker Carlos

Bayern dominate Fifa Player of the Year nominations n Reuters, Zurich Six players from Bayern Munich’s treble-winning team were included among the 23 nominees for the World Player of the Year award announced by Fifa on Tuesday.

Jose Mourinho was included on the shortlist for Coach of the Year despite failing to win any major trophies with Real Madrid last season, a performance the Portuguese himself described as “disastrous”.

The only British player to make the list was Wales international Gareth Bale.

African Nations Cup winning coach Stephen Keshi of Nigeria was overlooked and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was the only African to

make either list. There were no representatives from Asia or Concacaf.

German internationals Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Philipp Lahm, Frenchman Franck Ribery and Dutchman Arjen Robben were the Bayern players on the list.

Joining the Bayern contingent were the usual favourites such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bayern’s former coach Jupp Heynckes, since replaced by Pep Guardiola, was on the coaches list after leading his side to a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble.

The omission of Bayern’s Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic was a surprise as many critics felt he had made

the difference between last season and 2011/12, where Bayern were runners-up in all three competitions.

Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose side hosted and won the Confederations Cup in June, was the only South American to make the coaching shortlist.

Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Thiago Silva were the South American nominees for the Player of the Year award, along with Messi. All six are based in Europe.

Although several of the nominated coaches failed to win a major trophy last season, Mourinho’s nomination was the biggest surprise as his side’s results fell far short of Real Madrid’s expectations.

They finished 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, lost to smaller neighbours Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final and were outclassed by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.

Atletico’s Argentine coach Diego Simeone was overlooked.

“The list of 23 male candidates has been drawn up by football experts from the FIFA Football Committee and by a group of experts from France Football,” said FIFA in a statement.

It said the final decisions would be made by the captains and coaches of the national teams and international media representatives selected by France Football magazine. The ceremony takes place in Zurich on Jan. 13. l

Cagliari Fiorentina Genoa Verona Juventus Livorno Milan Sassuolo

v v v v v v v v

Bologna Napoli Parma Sampdoria Catania Torino Lazio Udinese

Tevez said the scudetto battle has just begun. Napoli, who sit second, are also five points adrift but unlike Juventus, Rafael Benitez’s side face a tough task away to Fiorentina.

‘La Viola’ sit fifth, a further four points adrift, are unbeaten at home this season and full of confidence following that come-from-behind 4-2 win over Juve just over a week ago.

Any slip-ups at this juncture could prove costly for Napoli, who after facing Catania at home this weekend are away to Juventus.

Reports in Italy suggest it could be a make or break week for Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri following their 3-2 defeat away to Parma.

Milan striker Mario Balotelli lasted less than an hour on his return from injury and suspension on Sunday, when the Rossoneri’s fourth defeat in nine games reportedly infuriated Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

Milan should welcome back Mattia Di Sciglio but have lost another defender to injury in Matias Silvestre.

Lazio, who recorded their first win in a month at home to Cagliari on Sunday, will fancy at least a share of the points.

Meanwhile Garcia, who has so far talked down Roma’s hopes of winning a title they last secured in 2001, appears to be changing tack. l

Players’ shortlist

Gareth Bale (Wales) Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) Radamel Falcao (Colombia) Eden Hazard (Belgium) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Andres Iniesta (Spain) Philipp Lahm (Germany) Robert Lewandowski (Poland) Lionel Messi (Argentina) Thomas Mueller (Germany) Manuel Neuer (Germany) Neymar (Brazil) Mesut Ozil (Germany) Andrea Pirlo (Italy) Franck Ribery (France) Arjen Robben (Netherlands) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) Luis Suarez (Uruguay) Thiago Silva (Brazil) Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Robin Van Persie (Netherlands) Xavi (Spain) Coaches shortlist

Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain FC/Real Madrid) Rafael Benítez (Spain/ Chelsea/Napoli) Antonio Conte (Italy/Juventus) Vicente Del Bosque (Spain) Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC former coach) Jupp Heynckes (Germany/ Bayern Munich former coach) Juergen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund) Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid/Chelsea) Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil/Brazil national team) Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal)

Wenger wants Arsenal to prove their worth Bilbao halt Getafe charge n AFP, London Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s League Cup fourth round tie against Chelsea on Tuesday is a golden opportunity to prove they can be serious contenders for silverware.

Wenger’s team have gone eight years without a trophy, but they are finally showing signs of once again becoming major players in the race for the sport’s top prizes.

They hold a two-point lead over second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League after seven wins in an eightmatch unbeaten run and Wenger believes Arsenal’s clash with Jose Mourinho’s men at the Emirates

Stadium provides another chance to underline their improvement this season.

“We haven’t won the title for a few years and people question that now,” Wenger said.

“At the end of the day, the Premier League will reflect the quality of the performances of the team throughout the season and how well you do in the big games.

“This is a good opportunity for us to show we are ready.”

However, Wenger, who is likely to field a weakened team, is uncertain if the League Cup clash will have an impact on the Premier League title race and is unconcerned by the opinion

Allegri defends Balotelli n AFP, Milan

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri raced to the defence of Mario Balotelli after the striker’s early substitution in a 3-2 away defeat to Parma.

A new-look Balotelli, without his trademark ‘mohican’ hairstyle, returned from injury and suspension at the Ennio Tardini stadium Sunday with high hopes of helping the Rossoneri maintain their recent resurgence.

Balotelli, however, was largely ineffective against Roberto Donadoni’s side and after being cautioned for simulation when he tumbled in the area, Allegri replaced him seven minutes after the restart with Brazilian Kaka.

Balotelli’s return was expected to boost Milan’s bid to climb the table

following an improvement in form following a 1-0 away win to Udinese and a 1-1 Champions League draw with Barcelona last week.

Instead, Milan coach Allegri, was left defending the striker and claimed he replaced Balotelli over fears he would respond to provocation and see red.

“There’s no reason to single him out, he’s a player like all the others,” said Allegri.

“Mario found it difficult because Parma closed him down and gave him very little space. Then he picked up that cautioned for simulation.

“In the second half there were two or three situations that could have gone against us so I preferred to replace him rather than risk him being sent off.” l

of those who believe his side will be overhauled at the top of the standings.

The match pits Wenger against his old adversary Mourinho for the first time since the Chelsea boss returned to English football after spells with Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

Wenger endured a difficult relationship with Mourinho during his first stint in charge at Chelsea, but refused to be drawn into a war of words ahead of their latest clash.

“It was not a big surprise because there was talk about it many times,” Wenger said of Mourinho’s return.

“When he left Madrid, it looked to be one of his best opportunities to come back.” l

and climb to fifth in La Liga n Reuters, Madrid

Athletic Bilbao ended Getafe’s run of four straight wins and climbed above them into fifth place in La Liga when Aymeric Laporte’s early bullet header secured a 1-0 win at the Coliseum in Madrid on Monday.

An entertaining game played at frenetic pace was decided in the eighth minute when Laporte met Markel Susaeta’s corner and powered the ball past Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya.

The home side should have levelled from the penalty spot shortly before half-

time after Adrian Colunga was barged to the ground by Carlos Gurpegi but Getafe midfielder Diego Castro’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by Gorka Iraizoz.

It was Bilbao’s first away win in four attempts since an opening day success at Real Valladolid with midfielder Ander Herrera saying the Basque club had banished the fragility that led to three straight defeats on the road.

Castro, who had scored all 15 of his previous penalties in his La Liga career, said a draw would have been a fairer result.

Bilbao have 19 points from 10 matches, one fewer than fourth-placed Villarreal, with Getafe on 16 points in sixth. l

Fletcher returns after battle with stomach illness n AFP, London Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher returned to action on Monday in the latest stage of his battle to recover from a serious stomach illness.

Fletcher has played just 13 games since announcing he was taking an extended break from football in November 2011 after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The 29-year-old has since undergone several operations the last of which took place in January, and been put on a strict dietary regime in a bid to correct his stomach condition.

Scotland international Fletcher was finally given the all-clear to return to training last week and on Monday. l

Athletic Bilbao's defender Andoni Iraola (L) vies with Getafe's midfielder Pedro Mosquera during their La Liga match at the Col. Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on Monday AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Quick Bytes

Muktijoddha players demand their dues A number of former national footballers demanded their dues from the Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra and urged the relevant ministry to check the issue yesterday. Former national forward Rokonuzzman Kanchon, midfielder Ajmol Hossain Bidyut, defenders Firoz Mahmud Titu and Mostafa Anwar Parvez Babu, winger Faisal Mahmood claimed that they have not been paid by the club officials though they had signed their contacts. They said that they have been deprived off their dues in the last season and the ministry for liberation wars should look into the matter. They said a group of corrupt officials has misappropriated their money and it should be scrutinized.

– RM

BD v NZ, Score Card Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal lbw b Southee 5 Anamul c N. McCullum b Southee 13 Mominul Haque run out 0 Mushfiqur c B. McCullum b Neesham 90 Naeem c B. McCullum b Southee 84 Nasir Hossain b Neesham 1 Mahmudullah c Taylor b Neesham 29 Sohag Gazi c B. McCullum b Anderson 6 Mashrafe c N. McCullum b Neesham 6 Abdur c B. McCullum b Anderson 12 Rubel Hossain not out 3 Extras (lb2, w13, nb1) 16 Total (all out, 49.5 overs) 265 FOW: 1-13, 2-17, 3-25, 4-179, 5-181, 6-232, 7-241, 8-249, 9-250, 10-265.

Bowling: Southee 10-2-34-3 (nb1), McClenaghan 8-0-51-0 (w3), Neesham 9-0-42-4 (w4), Anderson 8.5-1-46-2 (w5), N. McCullum 4-0-28-0, Devcich 5-0-32-0 (w1), Williamson 4-0-20-0, Elliot 1-0-10-0

WADA in Jamaica for doping audit A tight-lipped three-member World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) team arrived in Jamaica Monday to begin what is expected to be a two day extraordinary audit of Jamaica’s drug testing system.

The team headed by WADA’s director of education and program development Rob Koehler, also includes Rune Anderson, the global anti-doping agency’s director of standards and harmonization, and Kerwin Clarke, manager of program development. The trio arrived in Jamaica on Monday afternoon but declined to respond to questions posed by members of the local media. After a stop at their Kingston hotel, the team then went to JADCO headquarters, where the only media allowed to follow them were from Jamaica Information Service, the media arm of the government.

The visit comes after reports that Jamaica’s athletes could face an Olympic ban if Jamaican anti-doping authorities were found to be non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.

WADA had voiced concerns earlier this year after former Jamaica anti-doping chief Renee Anne Shirley described flaws in the country’s drug testing system.

–AFP

Cilic relieved to be back on court after controversial ban Croatia’s Marin Cilic marked his return from a doping ban with a first round victory at the Paris Masters on Monday and expressed his delight at being back on court. His hard fought three set victory over Dutchman Igor Sijsling was the perfect tonic following a difficult time for the former Grand Slam semifinalist. Cilic, 25, currently ranked 47th in the world, tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide at the Munich Open in May and was banned for nine months by an independent tribunal in September. However the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the ban to four months last Friday meaning the sanction expired one day later and allowed him to take his place in the tournament. After dropping a tense opening set, Cilic bounced back to set up a matchup against world number five Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 victory. “I felt like a kid playing tennis for the first time,” said an exuberant Cilic, who reached the 2010 Australian Open last four and quarter-finals of the US Open in 2009 and 2012. “And I would say the feeling was amazing just to be back on the court, to be competing, and I enjoyed every moment.

–AFP

Day’s Watch Star Sports 2 9:30AM Ranji Trophy 2013/14 Haryana v Mumbai, Day 4 La Liga 2013/14 12:45AM Real Valladolid v Real Sociedad 2:45AM Osasuna v Rayo Vallecano Star Sports 1:45PM India v Australia 6th ODI 1:45AM Italian Serie A 2013/14 AC Milan v Lazio ESPN La Liga 2013/14 12:45AM Valencia v Almeria 2:45AM Real Madrid v Sevilla FC Star Cricket 1:45AM Italian Serie A 2013/14 Juventus v Catania Ten Action Capital One Cup Newcastle v Man City

New Zealand innings

The Big Bangla Run organisers attend a press conference at a city hotel yesterday

COURTESY

Cox’s Bazar Half Marathon on Friday n Raihan Mahmood Ifad the Cox’s Bazar Half Marathon, orgnaised by the Big Bangla Run and powered by Walton, will be held at the longest sea beach of the world on Friday.

The half marathon, stretching 21.1km, will be participated by around 2,000 runners from across the country.

The Big Bangla Run organisers who hosted the Dhaka Marathon last March

in a press conference said all the participants who finish the run will be acknowledged by a medal and a t-shirt whereas the winner’s purse will be $1,000, $700 and $500 respectively.

The organisers were upbeat about the potential of the event. Actor Ferdous, the brand ambassador of the Big Bangla Run recalled the initial times.

“When we first talked about holding the event some people laughingly said you will be the lone one running there,

but with the span of time we have found the stimuli to look forward. The Cox’s Bazar marathon will showcase Bangladesh’s marvelous beach and the heritage to the world,” said Ferdous.

Simon Lee, the English advisor of the meet echoed the same tune. “In England, the Great North Run which is participated by 55,000 runners is a brand name and we hope that Big Bangla Run will also flourish as a brand event of Bangladesh, we have the plans

of attaching world famous names who will be starting the run in the future,” said Lee. AFM Iqbal bin Anwar, the additional director of Walton said they have just tagged in and will award the top 10 finishers of the male and female section.

Abidur Rahman Shimu, the chairman Big Bangla Run, and officials Paul Townsley and Masrul Amin were also present on the occasion. l

H. Rutherford b Gazi A. Devcich b Mahmudullah G. Elliot c Mashrafe b Rubel R. Taylor c Rahim b Rubel C. Anderson b Rubel B. McCullum c Sub (Shamsur) b Rubel J. Neesham b Rahim b Rubel N. McCullum c Mashrafe b Rubel T. Southee c Sub ( Shamsur) b Razzak MJ McClenaghan not out K. Williamson absent hurt Extras (lb2, wb 1)

1 22 71 8 46 0 0 10 0 1 3

Total (all out, 29.5 overs) 162 FOW: 1-9, 2-43, 3-60, 4-121, 5-121, 6-121, 7-143, 8-149, 9-162.

Bowling: Mashrafe 6-1-20-0, Sohag 6-036-1 (wb1), Razzak 7-1-45-1, Mahmudullah 4-0-27-1, Rubel 5.5-0-26-6, Nasir Hossain 1-0-6-0 Result: Bangladesh win by 43 runs in D/L method Man of the Match: Rubel Hossain

Sachin's 50 keeps Mumbai in hunt De Villiers eyes winning ODI start against Pakistan

n Agencies

Sachin Tendulkar warmed up for his farewell series against the West Indies next month with a gritty unbeaten halfcentury to keep Mumbai’s chances alive in their Ranji Trophy match against a spirited Haryana here today.

Featuring in his last Ranji Trophy innings, Tendulkar played the lone-ranger as he remained not out on a patient 55 at stumps on the third day, with Mumbai, set a target of 240, needing another 39 runs to win with four wickets in hand.

Mumbai were 201 for six at close of day, with Dhawal Kulkarni giving Tendulkar company on six. Resuming at 224 for nine, Haryana were all bowled out for 241 earlier in the day.

After that Tendulkar held centrestage by showing signs of regaining his form, much to the delight of the packed crowd who had been awaiting his arrival at the crease with bated breath.

The champion batsman, who will

n AFP, Sharjah

walk into sunset after playing his landmark 200th Test against the West Indies next month, decorated his innings with four hits to the fence while facing 122 balls. One shot that brought back the days of yore was the cracker of a cover drive Tendulkar produced off pacer Ashish Hooda, attracting huge cheers from the packed crowd.

Chants of ‘Sachin, Sachin’ was heard almost all day long and he obliged his fans in this sleepy village by recording his 115th first-class

Dimitrov continues streak as French woes worsen n AFP, Paris Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov continued his rich vein of form on Tuesday as he marched into the second round of the Paris Masters with a three-set win over Frenchman Michael Lodra.

The lanky 22-year-old lost the opening set in a tie-break before taking control and setting up a meeting against Italian 16th seed Fabio Fognini with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Earlier, Poland’s Michal Przysiezny broke his duck against veteran Jarkko Nieminen by defeating the Finn for the first time in four meetings 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

The 29-year-old, who came into the week ranked 65 in the world will now face American 13th seed John Isner for

a place in the last-16.

Gael Monfils pulled out of the tournament on the eve of his first round match against Canadian Davis Cup semi-finalist Vasek Pospisil.

Pospisil, who narrowly lost to Roger Federer in last weekend’s Swiss Indoors semi-finals has climbed to 32 in the world and will now face lucky loser Pablo Andujar of Spain.

World number two Novak Djokovic makes his bow in the final match of the evening on Tuesday when he takes on French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Ranked 189 in the world, the 22-year-old Herbert caused a stir when he ousted compatriot Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-2 in his first match on centre court to book a dream date against the Serbian seven-time Grand Slam winner. l

fifty. Tendulkar, who was dismissed for five in the first innings, got to his 50 when he flicked Joginder Sharma for two through the vacant square leg region, bringing the crowd to its feet.

The 40-year-old Tendulkar was concentration personified as he looked to bail Mumbai out of a difficult situation by bringing into play all his experience.

He was far from being his aggressive best, but patience was the order of the day and Tendulkar showed that in abundance. l

Pakistan chairman suspended then reinstated n AFP, Islamabad The legal tussle rocking the Pakistan Cricket Board took another dramatic twist Tuesday as the interim chairman was suspended by a court order, only to be reinstated two hours later.

A judge at Islamabad High Court suspended Najam Sethi for not obeying a legal order to elect a permanent chairman for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by October 18.

It was the second time in five months that the game’s chief administrator in Pakistan had been thrown out on a legal challenge. But, just two hours later, an appeals bench at the same court granted a stay order on the ruling until November 4, following an application from the PCB legal team. l

Federer doesn’t care about no 1 spot, says Nadal n

Reuters, Paris

Been there, done that. Roger Federer does not need to be world number one anymore and he might well be a top contender at next year’s Australian Open, his chief rival Rafa Nadal said.

Federer’s decline has been well documented since 2011, the year he failed to win a grand slam for the first time since 2003. He suffered yet another below par performance this season, at best reaching the last four at the Australian Open -- the first time he has not made it to a major final since 2002.

The Swiss, however, has a record 17 grand slam titles to his name and has

spent 302 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings.

He does remain a formidable opponent, according to current world number one Nadal.

“I don’t have any doubt that he will be playing better than what he did this year,” the Spaniard told a news conference at the Paris Masters, where the two could clash in the final.

“No doubt about that. His talent allows him to keep being one of the favourites, to keep winning the best tournaments of the year.

“So talking about if he’s able to be back or try to be back in the No. 1 (spot), I think it’s not his goal, because

South African captain AB de Villiers vowed to attack Pakistan for a winning start at the opening one-day match in Sharjah on Wednesday despite his team being down two key playmakers.

The Proteas are missing both star batsman Hashim Amla and spearhead Dale Steyn for the first two matches of the five match one-day series.

But De Villiers insists his team are brimming with confidence, especially after they managed to square the test series 1-1, winning the second showdown in Dubai by an innings and 92 runs.

“We didn’t have much time for preparation so its really up for us mentally to get prepared but it’s important to have a good start, get used to the conditions and adapt as quickly as possible and attack them in areas where they are not strong,” said De Villiers on Tuesday.

“Dale needed some rest but hopefully he will join us in good stead,” said De Villiers of the paceman who returned home for rest but will be available from the third match in Abu Dhabi on November 6.

Amla returned home after the first test match to be with his wife following the birth of their second child. The 30year old is ranked world number one in Test rankings.

The second one-day match will be played in Dubai (November 1) while the third and fourth matches are in Abu Dhabi (November 6 and 8) while the final takes place in Sharjah (November 11).

The two teams will also play two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on November 13 and 15.

South Africa will be joined by oneday specialists Quinton de Kock, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe. l

at the end he already has been there.

He has been in the top positions of the ranking for a long time.”

Federer, who lost the Basel final to Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday, will be seeded fifth in Paris as he looks to secure a spot in next month’s ATP World Tour Finals.

Is the Swiss worried at the prospect of missing out on the year-end tournament? All signs point to no, said Nadal.

“At the end, what really makes you happy is to go on court with the feeling you can win the tournament. That’s probably the only thing that maybe worries him,” he said, hinting Federer probably has plans for 2014. l

England Test bowler James Anderson (L) runs in to bowl past batsman Matthew Prior (R) during a training session at a suburban cricket ground near Perth yesterday AFP

Broad top villain among England’s ‘Urinators’ n AFP, Sydney England’s Stuart Broad is relishing the role of Ashes villain but he won’t be the only target of boos in a team dubbed “the Urinators” by the Australian press.

The lanky pace bowler was labelled “public enemy” over his contentious decision not to walk in the first Test of the recent Ashes series, which England won 3-0. Broad can expect a raucous reception, especially after Australia coach Darren Lehmann called him a cheat and urged fans to send him home crying -comments that drew a fine.

Outspoken batsman Kevin Pietersen -- one of the alleged Oval urinators -- is another who often finds himself in the

sights of Australian fans. But far from playing down the walking controversy, the spiky Broad has fanned the flames by saying he would “look forward to” exchanges during the upcoming series.

“The head coach of Australia has called for a barrage, but I am one of these characters who thrives off a bit of niggle,” Broad said.

“It’s strange, because off the field I am a shy, quiet person. I prefer to watch a bit of TV at home. But get me on the cricket field and I like it all kicking off. So it’s something I look forward to. It will be interesting out there. I don’t quite know what to expect from the crowds in Australia, but I’m certainly not expecting cheers.” l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Rescheduling of O and A level exams still in fickle n Mushfique Wadud

Temple attacked in Gaibandha n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha A Hindu temple was attacked yesterday morning, allegedly by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, at Pirgachha village in Gaibandha sadar upazila.

Witnesses said Jamaat-Shibir activists tried to barricade the Gaibandha-Palashbari road at Tulshighat area and carry out subversive activities on the final day of the 60-hour shutdown.

After being forced from the scene by law enforcers, the activists fled to Pirgachha village and vandalised a temple, located inside the house of one Motilal, at around 11am.

The attackers also threatened the house’s owner and his family of having to face dire consequences, if they disclosed the miscreants’ names to the police.

Makdubur Rahman, a freedom fighter and local social worker, said the local community was passing time in fear following the attack on the temple.

Ranajit Bakshi Surja, district unit president of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad, said the authorities concerned have been informed about the matter.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mamunur Rashid, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar police station Gopal Chandra Chakrabartee and union parishad Chairman Mahbubur Rahman Tulu visited the spot. l

Passengers jump out from a running bus to find a safe place as pickets pour out on the street and light fires and blast handmade crude bombs in the city’s Khilgaon on the last day of 60-hour hartal FOCUS BANGLA

All special BCS doctors want posting in Dhaka The health directorate has received nearly 300 recommendations for only 35 available posts in Dhaka city

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The health ministry is apparently breaching its own order regarding the posting of the 605 newly recruited doctors of the 32nd special Bangladesh Civil Service Examination.

The shortage of doctors in some of the remote areas of the country has been a burning topic of discussion in recent times because most doctors want to work in the hospitals in the urban areas, especially the metropolitans.

According to the existing rules, every newly-appointed doctor must work at least two years in a grassroots level health centre.

But in reality, most of them find a way or other to either get posted somewhere near the capital city at the beginning of their jobs or before completing

two years of grassroots level service.

The ministry has recently given definitive instruction to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to give posting to the newly recruited physicians and dentists so that the crisis of doctors outside Dhaka could be overcome.

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that the ministry big shots themselves have been making recommendations so that the recruits they favour are given posting in and around Dhaka.

The DGHS was reportedly told by the ministry to recruit only 30 MBBS and five dental surgeons in Dhaka.

However, seeking anonymity, a number of DGHS officials have told the Dhaka Tribune that they had already got more than 300 recommendations for posting in those 35 vacancies in Dhaka city.

Although the health directorate has advised the new recruits to join by tomorrow and is supposed to finalise their posting by then, sources said the postings could not be finalised till yesterday because of the flood of recommendations.

A DGHS official told the Dhaka Tribune that the health minister, the state minister, the health secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary and deputy secretary had already recommended more than 100 names for the 35 posts.

Moreover, the directorate has reportedly received another 200 recommendations from the high officials of the other ministries, ex-health ministers, parliament members, big businessmen, leaders of political parties and doctors’ associations – all of them

want their favoured candidates posted in and around Dhaka.

The special BCS recruitment examination was held in 2011 to recruit 1,619 officials under the freedom fighter and tribal quota in different ministries. Of them, 605 were doctors, comprising 540 physicians and 65 dentists.

According to health ministry directive, Chittagong was supposed to get 55 doctors, Ranpur 125, Rajshahi 100, Barisal 105, Sylhet 65 and Khulna 60.

Moreover, Dhaka and Chittagong were supposed to get five dentists each, Rangpur 17, Rajshahi eight, Barisal 12, Sylhet 10 and Khulna eight.

DGHS officials said although the postings were to be made on the basis of merit and the desire of the applicants, in reality, not a single candidate would be posted on the basis of merit.

They said each of the postings, especially those in and around Dhaka city, will be done on strong recommendations.

Dr Md Shah Newaz, director (administration) of DGHS, however, said: “Posting doctors on the basis of recommendations has become a tradition in the health sector. But this time we will not entertain any recommendation.

We will not give posting to any of these doctors [in any hospital] above upazila level and below union sub-centres.

None of them will get posting in any medical college.”

A total of 1,993 doctors have been appointed through general and special BCS examinations during the tenure of the current government. Moreover, a total of 4,133 doctors has been appointed on ad hoc basis. l

ADURI TORTURE CASE

Nodi, Ishrat charged, Masud discharged n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A mother gives birth to her baby on the street as her family could not arrange vehicle on time due to the 60-hour hartal. Later, her husband Saiful Islam succeeds in getting a human hauler driver who agreed to take the mother in labor pain to the Pabna General hospital, but the trip was delayed and the baby was born on the way to the hospital BANGLAR CHOKH

Bangladesh among 3 countries denying domestic workers unions n Tribune Report Bangladesh is among only three countries in the world that deny domestic workers the right to form labour unions, a global report has revealed.

The report, “Claiming Rights: Domestic Workers’ Movements and Global Advances for Labour Reform”, was compiled by the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

It cites Thailand and the United States as the other two countries that do not allow domestic workers to form unions to fight for their rights.

The report also says that although around 40% of domestic workers globally are in Asia, the region has done little to enact reforms to ensure their rights.

“More than 25 countries have improved legal protections for domestic workers. In Asia, the Philippines adopted comprehensive legislation pro-

tecting domestic workers in January 2013 and this is the only Asian country to have ratified the Domestic Workers Convention,” it says.

However, other Asian countries are making progress.

Thailand recently entitled its workers to enjoy a weekly rest day, public holidays and paid sick leave. India started a health insurance scheme for domestic workers in May 2012 and included them in a 2013 law prohibiting workplace sexual harassment. l

Police have pressed charges against two in a case filed in connection with the torture of domestic help Aduri.

Queen Akhter, investigation office of the case and sub-inspector of the Women Support and Investigation Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, submitted the charge sheet on October 10 against Nowrin Jahan Nodi and her mother Ishrat Jahan.

Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on the same date transferred the case docket to the Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal 3 for cognisance of the charge sheet.

As the eid vacations started right after the charges were pressed, the media did not get any information. The Dhaka Tribune has come to learn about the matter yesterday.

Eleven-year old Aduri, who was recovered by police from a dustbin in the city on September 23, was Nodi’s domestic help.

Saiful Islam Masud, Nodi’s husband, Chunnu Mia, Masud’s brother-in-law, and Md Roni, Chunnu’s brother-in-law, were discharged from the charge sheet.

In the charge sheet, the investigation officer said she had not found any evidence that the three men were involved with torturing Aduri.

Queen Akhter also mentioned in the charge sheet that she had seized one automatic iron and a paddle – believed to have been used in torturing Aduri – from Nodi’s house. She also said there would be 14 prosecution witnesses.

In her confessional statement given on October 1, Nodi said her 2005 marriage with Masud was a love marriage.

Her husband brought Aduri to work as a domestic help to their Kalabagan residence in last December.

Nodi said her husband had tortured her over silly matters. That was why,

she said it became impossible for her to live with him. After six months, she went to live with her mother and took Aduri with her.

She admitted to torturing Aduri because she claimed she used to remain upset because of financial crisis as her husband did not give her any money for food or clothing.

On September 18, Aduri fell sick and she sent her to the Gulistan bus stand in the capital so that the girl could take a bus to go to her home in Barisal, Nodi said.

Assistant Bench Officer of the tribunal Shanaz Begum told to the Dhaka Tribune that defence counsel had earlier filed a bail petition. The Tribunal fixed November 3 for hearing on the bail plea.

On September 26, police picked up Nodi in connection with a case filed by Aduri’s uncle on charges of torturing her and dumping her in a dustbin. Police showed the arrest of Nodis’ mother Ishrat Jahan, from her Pallabi residence, On September 2. l

The O level and A level examinees and guardians expressed anxiety and frustration as the exams scheduled to be held on Monday did not take place because of the opposition’s 60-hour hartal enforced from Sunday.

The uncertainty pevailed as British Council Bangladesh did not announce any new schedule to hold the examinations that were postponed up to the filing of this report.

However, according to a revised schedule, yesterday’s examinations were held in two slots – one at 7:30pm instead of 11am and another started at 11:45pm instead of 3pm.

British Council officials told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that upon discussion with the board, they would let know the examinees through SMS if the examinations were rescheduled.

“We are discussing the situation with the examination board. If logistically feasible, we will let you know the revised schedule upon consent from the board,” said an official.

Officials on Monday said though they had been communicating with the board no decision was taken yet.

“I am worried if the postponed examinations will be taken again. If not, then my son will lose one year because of the awful political situation prevailing in this country,” Fazle Elahi, guardian of an O level examinee said with distress.

The O level and A level examination scheduled to be held yesterday for October–November session under Cambridge International Examinations administered by British Council Bangladesh, were postponed due to the continuous hartals.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of the main opposition BNP announced on Sunday that the O level and A level examinations would remain out of the purview of the strike.

However, the announcement drew widespread criticism from the examinees and guardians.

They opined that the announcement came too late and feared that the examinees might lose one year due to the volatile political situation.

Ahsanul Haque, another guardian, said BNP’s decision to exempt the O level and A level examinations should have come earlier. l

Canada concerned over Bangladesh’s current political situation n Tribune Report Canada has expressed deep concern over the mounting violence that has injured many and claimed 13 lives Bangladesh in the past few days.

“We urge all parties to end the violence, to work towards peacefully resolving the conflict and to reverse the growing divisions in Bangladeshi society. We are saddened by reports of people killed or injured during protests across Bangladesh,” said a Canadian High Commission statement that was issued yesterday.

The statement said use of violence by any political party or group was against the values espoused by Bangladesh – values such as respect for human rights, democracy and pluralism.

“All parties and political organisations should refrain from violence and engage in dialogue to address the ongoing political issues and to ensure that the upcoming general election is transparent, inclusive, credible and peaceful,” the statement reads.

In the lead-up to parliamentary elections, Canada continues to call on all parties to respect the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly and urge everyone to exercise these rights in a peaceful and democratic manner, it added.

“We urge both parties to engage in dialogue and to act in good faith in trying to find a resolution to the current political impasse,” the statement said, and added that constructive dialogue between the government and the opposition is critical so that the country can find a way forward towards free, fair and credible elections.

Good faith in political dialogue will help create an environment free of political unrest and violence, it added. l

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B2 Tk1bn refinance scheme formed

B3 Signing likely to be delayed

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

94% Nordic companies to expand business Higher returns than other markets, rising costs elsewhere outshine political, infrastructure concerns

n Tribune Report Ninety four percent of the Nordic companies operating in Bangladesh are contemplating to expand their business here in next three years, despite political instability and infrastructure constraints, says a new survey.

The main reason for expansion plans could be higher return on investment compared to other markets they have presence, said a report on the survey released in Dhaka yesterday.

It found other reasons included the growing demand from the middle class as well as increasing costs in other markets like China.

The Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh (NCCI), Sweden Bangladesh Business Council (SBBC) and three Nordic Embassies – Embassy of Sweden, Royal Norwegian Embassy and Royal Danish Embassy – conducted the business climate survey.

The survey was conducted between the period of December 2012 and January 2013 among the Nordic companies in Bangladesh.

The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories.

The survey report was unveiled at a panel discussion titled “Opportunities & Challenges in Bangladesh: Perspective of Nordic Businesses” in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, Swedish Ambassador Anneli Lindahl

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman (second right) addresses a panel discussion in Dhaka yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Kenny, head of South Asia Enterprise Development Facility of the International Finance Corporation John McKenzie and NCCI President Shamim Ul Huq were present.

According to the survey, about 67% respondents considered the business climate in Bangladesh favorable, despite political instability, erratic power supply, poor transport infrastructure, legal barriers and bureaucratic norms.

Almost half (47%) of the respondents have a very favorable outlook whereas not a single respondent reported an unfavorable business outlook for the coming three-year period.

The picture that Nordic companies portray when doing business in Bangladesh is not solely positive. They reported certain areas needed to be looked into by decision makers for Bangladesh in order to remain an attractive business destination.

Telecommunication and information technology or Information and technology-essential standards is the biggest sector for Nordic companies in Bangladesh (32% of the respondents) while RMG/textiles accounted for 25%, according to the survey.

Of course in terms of volume/turnover,

RMG is most likely the biggest sector but the large number of relatively young IT companies show that the Bangladesh economy is evolving towards more high-tech industries.

About one million jobs are created as a result of Nordic businesses in Bangladesh, it said.

Lack of adequate infrastructure is one of the major problems in Bangladesh. Some 66% of the respondents identified lack of power supply as a major deterrent while 61% of the respondents identified clean water and proper waste management as one area that needs huge improvement.

The survey also revealed the dissatisfaction among the companies due to scarcity of land and offices for commercial purposes.

NCCI said the main objectives of the survey were to monitor the business confidence of Nordic companies in Bangladesh, to assess Bangladesh’s future role among the emerging Asian economies, to gather the joint experience and knowledge of Nordic companies in order to facilitate for future establishment of Nordic companies in Bangladesh and to be able to better understand trends in the Bangladeshi business environment. The survey will be repeated yearly.

The survey was sent to a total of 55 companies, of which 46 are NCCI members and 9 non-members. Out of the 55 invited companies, 37 responded corresponding to a response rate of 74% among members of the NCCI and 33% from non-members. l

Bangladesh 21 notches up in easing business start-ups n Tribune Report Bangladesh is ranked 74 for simplifying regulations to start a new business, which is a leap ahead of 21 places from the previous year, according to a new World Bank report on business climate released yesterday.

It said Bangladesh has made notable progress in reforms that made it easier to start and run a business in the country. Amongst South Asian countries, Bangladesh is well ahead of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

However, considering the overall easing of business environment, the country is ranked 130 against a total of 189 countries, going down one notch as compared to last year, according to a report titled ‘Doing Business 2014: Understanding Regulations for small and medium enterprises.

Amongst South Asian countries for overall easing business climate, Bangladesh is above India but after Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The rankings are based on regulations af-

fecting 11 areas in the life cycle of a business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and employing workers.

The report said Bangladesh made significant and continuous reforms in business registration, process simplification, and automation in areas such as service delivery.

This reduced time required to obtain trading licenses and complete tax and value added tax registrations.

“It is encouraging to see that Bangladesh has made it easier to start a business,” said Johannes Zutt, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Nepal. “But to realise its full growth potential, Bangladesh needs to do more to improve its investment climate and to promote the country as an attractive destination for the investors and entrepreneurs.”

Singapore topped the global ranking on the ease of doing business for the eighth con-

secutive year. Joining it on the list of the top 10 economies with the most business-friendly regulations are Hong Kong SAR, China,

New Zealand, the United States, Denmark, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Georgia, Norway, and the United Kingdom. l

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

SMALL ENTERPRISES

Tk1bn refinance scheme formed Bangladesh Bank launched the fund for Islamic shariah banks n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has formed a refinance scheme of Tk1bn for the Islamic shariah-based banks to support setting up of agrobased industries and encourage rural small entrepreneurs.

It introduced the “Funding Assistance Program (FAP) to strengthen the contribution of banks and financial institutions operating under Islamic shariah-based principles and to ultimately ensure development and expansion of SME banking practices, said a circular issued yesterday.

Women entrepreneurs in the agro-based industries and small enterprises would also have access to the fund.

Interested banks and financial institutions operating with Islamic shariah-based principles should sign a participation agreement with the SMEs and Special Programmes Department of the central bank. They would then be known as participating financial in-

Students can open accounts at Tk100 n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has issued guidelines for school banking directing that the banks will allow students aged between 6 and 18 to open saving accounts at initial deposit of Tk100.

Through a circular, the central bank released the guidelines yesterday with immediate effect.

The students can open saving accounts with banks,and the accounts will be converted to general saving accounts on consent as soon as they cross the age of 18.

Parents or legal guardians will conduct the accounts and the legal validity of the source of money will be ensured and the executed transaction will be logical.

The central bank circular said the guidelines to ensure “transparent” inclusion of the students in banking service and raise “awareness and dynamism” among them.

ATM cards (debit) can be issued while the limit to draw money from a booth will be Tk2,000maximum. However, the limit can be extended to Tk5,000maximum on guardians’ request.

No service charge except for government fees will be taken from the students.

Schools’ monthly fees could be collected from students through the accounts.

Students’ education insurance facility can also administered with the help of bank accounts.

Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks to present quarterly reports on their school banking activities to its Green Banking and CSR Department.

Banks will have to submit such reports within 15 days after every quarter ends. l

stitutions (PFIs).

To seek fund from the FAP, the PFIs shall open a “Mudaraba Fund Account (MFA)” like Mudaraba Savings Account (MSA). Bangladesh Bank will provide the fund at a rate of return equal to that of MFA/MSA. Bangladesh Bank will charge a profit on

the funds to be provided to the PFIs at the rate of return of the MFA/MSA quoted for the previous quarter. The adjustments will be made with a realised rate of return of MFA at the end of each year.

Full fund support will be provided against investments by PFIs in agro-based industry situated outside the perimeter of divisional headquarters and Narayanganj city.

The value of fixed assets (excluding the value of land and building) of the agro-based industry must not exceed Tk100m.

Funding supports under the scheme will be available for working capital, mid-term, and long-term investments. The tenure shall be one year for working capital investment, three years for mid-term investment and five years for long-term investment.

The profit rate to be realised at the client level under this scheme shall not exceed more than the prevailing bank rate (currently 5%) plus the rate of the Mudaraba Savings Account of the PFIs. l

INCOME TAX RETURN

Submission deadline likely to be deferred n Tribune Report The National board of Revenue is likely to extend deadline for submission of income tax returns by another 15 days for individual taxpayers, said a high official.

He said the individual taxpayers may submit their returns till November 15. The present deadline is till October 31.

On September 30, the NBR deferred deadline till October 31.

Following requests from different trade chambers and individual taxpayers, the revenue body is considering to extend the deadline. However, the decision will be announced tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has sought one-month extension of deadline to submit returns through November.

“Many taxpayers said they could not submit returns due to vacation of Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja. So, they are requesting for extension of deadline,” the official told the Dhaka Tribune.

He added: “Political turmoil has made many unable to submit their income tax returns within the deadline.”

Besides, many taxpayers are yet to be registered with the E-TIN system, said another NBR official, which could also necessitate the deadline extension.

NBR sources said there are around 1.7m TIN holders across country and majority of them are yet to submit income tax returns.

The taxpayers will need to be registered with E-TIN to submit returns.

MTB appoints new DMD n Tribune Business Desk Syed Rafiqul Haq has recently joined Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB) as Deputy Managing Director. Prior to his joining MTB, he was the Area Head of Corporate Banking in Eastern Bank Limited.

The new DMD has completed his MBA from IBA and started his career with IFIC Bank Limited as a probationary officer in 1984. During his tenure with the Bank, he served different departments including discharging of responsibility as Branch Manager. l

QUBEE celebrates turning four n Tribune Business Desk QUBEE recently celebrated its fourth year in operation at the QUBEE head office in Gulshan. The festivities were extended beyond the employees to the consumers.

QUBEE CEO D S Faisal Hyder mentioned of his delight at completing four years of operation in Bangladesh, said a press release.

He also talked about exciting possibilities to come in the future, as the company has recently obtained an approval for upgrading the network to 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution).

“The pre-testing of LTE technology that would be rolled out soon, QUBEE would be taking leaps towards connectivity at much greater speeds for Bangladeshi consumers,” he added. l

FSIBL holds blood donation campaign n Tribune Business Desk

According to income tax ordinance, the NBR can fine Tk1,000 or Tk50 per day if any TIN holder fails to submit tax returns within the deadline.

Last year, the NBR extended deadline of income tax returns submission twice allowing the TIN holders submit returns till November 15.

Meanwhile, FBCCI in a statement yesterday said it already sent a recommendation to the NBR and the finance ministry to defer the submission date till November 30. l

First Security Islami Bank Limited (FSIBL) recently organised a blood donation campaign to celebrate its 14th anniversary at Ibrahim Cardiac Centre and Research Institute (ICCRI) in Dhaka.

FSIBL Managing Director A A M Zakaria, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Vice President Barrister M Rafiq Ul Haque, Major General (retd) A R Khan, Secretary General Md Saifuddin, ICCRI Board of Management Chairman Prof Mahmudur Rahman, CEO Prof Dr M A Rashid were present at the event. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

FTA WITH TURKEY

Signing likely to be delayed The both countries now await EU permission n Asif Showkat Kallol Permission from EU Custom Union may delay further the signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Turkey, said officials.

As Turkey is seeking to be a member of the European Union, such bilateral agreement will require the country to get permission from the body, said the sources.

Turkey has already applied for the permission from the Union.

Bangladesh also, from its part, sought consent of the European Custom Union to sign FTA with Turkey, but was yet to receive any response.

The commerce ministry is set to hold a

Stocks rally for 3rd straight day

n Tribune Report Stocks continued to rise for the third consecutive session yesterday as a positive sentiment still prevailed after phone conversation between the two paramount leaders.

The benchmark DSEX index rose 37 points or 1% to 3989 while the blue chip index DS30 gained 13 points or 1% to 1404.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 7828 with a rise of 77 points.

Trading activities also increased as the DSE turnover hit 20-session high at Tk3.9bn, which is 6.2% higher over the previous session.

“Most of the shares poised to extend last week’s advance followed by the quarterly news. With the stable money market situation and expected ending of 60 hours countrywide strike, market is reflecting corporate earnings releases,” said LankaBangla Securities in a market analysis.

It added that the country’s banking sector has been in buy horizon for the last couple of days which is continuing to bid the index higher.

Among the winning sectors, bank and engineering gained market capitalisation by 1.7% and 2.5% respectively.

IDLC Investment said riding on political hopes, market had been maintaining green zone, consecutively. Alongside, investors’ incremental confidence and apparent optimistic market outlook convinced some sideline witty participants.

It said moreover portfolio rebalancing based on recent earnings disclosures existed.

In the present market situation, scrip wise swings were practical as 70 out of 284 traded scrips changed by more than 4% of their respective prices.

Among the major sectors, telecommunications suffered most losing 1.3%, following 5.9% and 0.08% gains in the previous two sessions.

All other big sectors closed positive.

Banks continued to shine gaining 1.7%, followed by pharmaceuticals 1.2%, power 1.2% and financial institutions 0.2%. l

meeting today to discuss progress of the FTA with Turkey. Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed will preside over the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Turkey in April, 2012 and talked about the signing of FTA to boost trade and investment between the two countries.

During the first quarter of last fiscal year, Bangladesh’s apparel export to Turkey dropped 9.21% to US$90.72m compared to the same period one year ago.

As an impact of paying the additional duty, Bangladesh’s garment export to Turkey fell to $355.93m in FY2011-12 from $518.32m in FY2010-11.

But export is now being expected to grow as the Turkish government has recently lift-

ed countervailing duties on Bangladesh’s garment products.

Imposition of such duties had been effective for the past five years.

According to the officials, Bangladesh wants to enjoy all regular trade facilities in the Turkish market as like as in the EU market.

“Decision for the FTA with Turkey has been taken after an assessment of advantages and disadvantages,” said Mahbub Ahmed.

The EU reopened membership talks with Turkey last week after more than three years of freezing negotiation.

Germany, France and some others are generally opposed to Turkey’s joining the EU. l

EGM on DSE demutualisation process stayed n Tribune Report The extraordinary general meeting of the Dhaka Stock Exchange scheduled for yesterday has been stayed due to an injunction by the High Court.

The meeting was meant for adopting some regulations, including approval of a 24-member “interim board” of the prime bourse in line with the demutualisation process.

Adoption of the new memorandum of association means disallowing any shareholder of the bourse to enter into the DSE office without getting permission from the proper authorities, according to a DSE circular “The EGM could not be held due to an injunction order of the High Court,” said a DSE statement yesterday. A DSE director said the bourse will appeal against the injunction after consulting with the lawyer.

The court issued a rule after former DSE President Ahmed Iqbal Hasan filed a writ petition claiming the demutualisation procedure adopted by the DSE was contradictory to the Demutualisation Act. Recently, Bangladesh Securities Exchange

Commission (BSEC) allowed existing DSE board of directors to continue until the DSE’s annual general meeting.

The writ petition reads, the existing DSE board of directors has no right to continue until its next annual general meeting, which is at odds with the law.

In the EGM, the bourse was supposed to adopt new memorandum of association and articles of association in line with the demutualisation scheme, replacing the existing ones.

Adoption of the new memorandum of association means disallowing any shareholder of the bourse to enter into the DSE office without getting permission from the proper authorities, according to a DSE circular.

On Friday, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) adopted some regulations at its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) as part of the completion of the demutualisation process.

At the EGM, the CSE adopted the demutualisation scheme, the amendments brought in the memorandum and articles of association and the list of directors of the first board.

The demutualisation is a way of separating the bourses’ management from ownership and also to bring transparency and accountability into the market. It is going to transform the two bourses from their current non-profit, co-operative state into profit-oriented entities. l

3

Zero tolerance to BSTI officials if found guilty in maintaining foods’ quality: minister

n Tribune Business Desk

The government will show zero tolerance to negligence in duties of field level officials at the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in monitoring food items and manufactured products, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said in Dhaka yesterday.

“We want to show zero tolerance to negligence in duties of BSTI officials.

Legal measures would be taken against them if found guilty of carelessness in maintaining quality of foods,” he told a discussion, reports BSS. BSTI arranged the function marking the 44th World Standards Day at its conference room. The day was observed across the country as elsewhere in the world on October 14 with the theme “International Standards Ensure Positive Change.”

BSTI Director General Ikramul Haque presided over the function while Industries Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah spoke as the special guest.

Barua said the government would not compromise with quality of foods and manufactured items whatever powerful the owners of food companies are. “We’ll not dare to take stringent action against either BSTI officials or adulterators if the exportable are not as per specification.”

He asked BSTI authorities to keep vigilance so that its inspectors and field level officials don’t compromise with unscrupulous food makers.

Moinuddin Abdullah said BSTI is advancing towards its goal despite various shortcomings and as a result awareness against food adulteration has been created among the stakeholders in the country.

Nonetheless, the state-run organisation will have to be time-befitting, he said.

The Industries Secretary urged the BSTI officials to issue certificates for products after examining properly.

“Please don’t give chance to any company illegally by wasting time while maintaining quality of foods and don’t harass companies in the name of testing quality of their products … inform companies on time about test results of their products whether good or bad,” the Industries Secretary pointed out.

Ikramul Haque said BSTI has so far certified 3,500 food items and manufactured products since its inception in 1985. Ii has been working for removing the technical barriers to trade (TBT).

Abu Abdullah said the Bangladesh Accreditation Board plans to work for maintaining quality of energy and environmental issues to meet the growing demand for ensuring standards of items.

Referring to the BSTI’s manpower shortage, Dr Syed Humayun Kabir said the institution will have 2000 manpower and 11 magistrates soon so that it can deal with the issue of foods quality efficiently. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

Dollar mixed in Asia before Fed meeting n AFP, Tokyo

A sign showing the entrance to an underway passage is seen outside the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China, the central bank, in Beijing REUTERS

CHINA RATE SPIKE

‘No signal of tightening policy’ The central bank seeks to reassure money markets n Reuters, Beijing China’s central bank sought to reassure money market traders that a spike in short-term interest rates does not signal a dramatic tightening of liquidity, sources said, in an apparent move to avoid a repeat of a credit panic that roiled markets in June.

The People’s Bank of China also warned against “excessive leverage”, or borrowing, that would leave banks overexposed to sudden spikes in demand for cash, said the sources, who attended a closed-door meeting between a PBOC official and traders from major financial institutions late last week.

China’s short-term interest rates began rising sharply last week, leaving banks stretching for funds even as the central bank repeatedly declined to inject fresh cash.

The central bank official reassured traders that liquidity remained ample and the bank would keep its short-term monetary operations - which it uses to steer the country’s money supply - stable this year, four sources who attended the meeting said.

The jump in rates came after official data showed startling rises in housing prices and increasing inflationary pressure aggravated by capital inflows, leading some economists to argue that Beijing was preparing to tighten money conditions to suck excess cash out of the system.

The sources, who included both primary dealers and liquidity strategists, said that the official, who is involved in the management of the country’s short-term money supply,

blamed the rate rise on institutions failing to adequately anticipate the impact upcoming tax payments would have on demand for cash in the interbank market. The official said that actual liquidity conditions were still accommodative.

The sources declined to give the official’s name due to the sensitivity of relations with the regulator, and requested anonymity themselves because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

As a result, the most commonly traded instruments jumped, with the benchmark seven-day bond repurchase contract quoted at nearly 7% on October 24, its highest level since June “The message from the PBOC is the same as last time: warning banks against building up too much leverage,” said a money dealer at a foreign bank in Shanghai.

“But the central bank has been clearer this time around by reassuring the market that if participants do underestimate market conditions, it will come to the rescue.”

The end of June saw the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) hold off from injecting sufficient cash into money markets to satisfy a routine rise in month-end cash demand. It did so without explanation, resulting in a massive rate spike that saw some rates surge as high as 30% as banks scrambled for cash.

Many dealers and economists said the move was intended as a shot across the bows of banks that had overindulged in shadow banking activities, but the squeeze caused a brief panic in other financial markets as equity investors bailed out of Chinese stocks in fear a wider tightening cycle was under way.

It also startled investors overseas, who worried that China had suddenly made an abrupt monetary policy shift.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) subsequently came under public criticism for its opaque management of the affair, and promised to improve communication with the market.

However, traders said that the bank’s management of the market remained opaque in the aftermath of the crunch, and that it had, in fact, tightened its control of rates using intermediary banks.

Investors grew nervous once again as October drew to a close, and yet the PBOC once again quietly refrained from injecting funds, abstaining from injecting cash through regularly scheduled open market operations three times in a row.

As a result, the most commonly traded instruments jumped, with the benchmark seven-day bond repurchase contract quoted at nearly 7% on October 24, its highest level since June.

Asian shares fell in response on Thursday as investors feared tighter monetary conditions could weigh on China’s economic growth. l

The dollar was mixed in Asia yesterday as investors await the end of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting for clues about the bank’s plans for its stimulus programme.

The greenback bought 97.56 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, from 97.66 yen in New York on Monday, while the euro slipped to $1.3777 from $1.3787 and 134.40 yen from 134.67 yen.

“Amid a lack of cues and with the (Fed meeting) coming up, the dollar hasn’t been able to find strong direction,” Masafumi Yamamoto, forex strategist at Praevidentia Strategy in Tokyo, told Dow Jones Newswires.

While analysts widely expect the Fed to keep its $85bn a month asset-buying scheme in place they will be poring over Wednesday’s announcement for clues as to when it will start winding it down.

The bank had been expected to begin tapering by the end of this year but a weak set of data, including soft jobs growth, and this month’s two-week government shutdown has made that highly unlikely.

Fed officials say they will only begin reeling in the scheme when the economy is strong enough.

The likelihood of the wind-down being put off increased on Monday, with an uneven set of economic figures out of Washington.

“US data was mixed, with headline September industrial production beating expectations but manufacturing production came in soft while pending home sales registered a surprisingly sharp fall over the same month,” Credit Agricole said.

“The data did little to discourage those expecting the Fed to taper later rather than sooner and this is likely to be echoed by US retail sales data (yesterday).”

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) will also hold a two-day policy meeting this week and investors will be looking to see if it will add to its own vast stimulus drive aimed at ending years of deflation and kickstart economic growth.

An expansion of the scheme would likely put downward pressure on the yen.

“While the Bank of Japan is unlikely to act this week on policy, the risks of further action will only increase over the coming months as it becomes apparent that reaching and sticking to its 2% inflation target will not be possible given current settings,” it added.

“In turn, the yen is set for further downward pressure.”

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It rose to Sg$1.2385 from Sg$1.2363 the previous day, to Tw$29.41 from Tw$29.40 and to 43.14 Philippine pesos from 43.04 pesos.

The greenback also strengthened to 61.70 Indian rupees from 61.51 and to 11,100 Indonesian rupiah from 11,023 rupiah.

It slipped to 31.06 Thai baht from 31.07 baht, to 1,060.72 South Korean won from 1,061.05 won.

The Australian dollar edged down to 95.07 US cents from 96.03 cents, while the Chinese yuan inched up to 16.03 yen from 16.02 yen. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

IMF: BOJ policy working It says the bank still has room to boost stimulus n Reuters, Tokyo The Bank of Japan’s massive stimulus is working, the International Monetary Fund’s mission chief to Japan said, and there is still room to increase purchases of government bonds and exchange-traded funds if a further boost was needed.

Jerry Schiff, who is also deputy director of the IMF’s Asia-Pacific Department, stressed he saw no need for the central bank to offer additional stimulus for now with the world’s third-largest economy in good shape.

“There’s no need for the BOJ to change what they’re doing,” Schiff said. “There’s a rise in actual inflation and a rise in inflation expectations. Neither are very dramatic yet, but are certainly in the right direction,” he told Reuters on Tuesday.

While market volatility and capital outflows have hurt emerging Asian economies, he said some signs in the region suggest Japan will get more support from exports next year.

Indeed, Anoop Singh, the IMF’s top official for Asia, told a seminar in Tokyo that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s aggressive stimulus, dubbed “Abenomics”, had helped counter the outflows from the region triggered by expectations of a tapering of the US Federal Reserve’s asset-buying program.

The BOJ currently buys about 7tn yen ($72bn) in government bonds each month, as well as riskier assets such as exchange-traded funds, under the stimulus it launched in April to try to escape deflation and drive inflation to 2% in roughly two years.

Schiff did not see buying mortgage-backed securities (MBS), an idea floated by one of Abe’s aides, as a realistic option for the BOJ given markets for the assets in Japan were quite small.

Some analysts believe the central bank may have to expand its stimulus next year if wages do not rise much or a rise in the consumption tax in April triggers a downturn in the economy.

“There’s a danger of appearing too reactive and changing your policy too quickly,” Schiff said, adding the tax rise did not automatically serve as a reason to expand mone-

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre), flanked by Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera (second left), delivers a speech as he reviews Japan Self-Defence Forces’ (SDF) troops during the annual SDF ceremony at Asaka Base in Asaka, near Tokyo REUTERS tary stimulus.

He said the BOJ may need to consider further action if the tax rise damaged economic momentum more than it expected, or if there was a lack of progress in lifting wages and inflation expectations.

“We still believe that if necessary, they can increase their purchases (of JGBs),” Schiff said, although he cautioned that buying too much could stoke fears the BOJ was directly bankrolling government debt.

Japan’s economy has outpaced its G7 peers this year as Abe’s stimulus policies bolstered business sentiment and consumer spending. The economy grew at an annualized pace of 3.8% in the second quarter.

However, export volumes have sagged largely due to the slowdown in emerging

Asia, casting some doubt on the sustainability of Japan’s recovery.

The IMF cut its world economic forecast earlier this month, citing slowing emerging market growth. It expects Japan’s economy to expand 2% this year and slow to 1.2% in 2014, due to the tax increase.

Data on Tuesday showed consumer spending jumped more than expected and the jobless rate fell in September, highlighting that the benefits of “Abenomics” remain alive.

“It does seem like Japanese large corporates are at least saying they are willing to think about raising basic wages,” Schiff said, adding that tightening labor market conditions could eventually push up wages even in Japan, which has long prioritized job security over wage growth. l

US to slap fine on Indian outsourcing firm Infosys n AFP, Washington The US government plans to punish Indian outsourcing giant Infosys with the largest immigration fine ever for seeking visas fraudulently for workers at big clients in America, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

Infosys is accused of putting workers on visitor visas, which are much easier and cheaper to obtain than the correct work visas. The fine is expected to be about $35m, the paper said, quoting people close to the matter.

A probe by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department concluded that Infosys used easy-to-get B1 visas,

which are meant for short business visits, to bring an unknown number of its workers to the United States for long-term stays, the sources were quoted as saying.

The fine will be announced today, the Journal said.

Infosys would not confirm details of the fine to AFP, but said in a statement earlier this month that it had reserved $35m, including legal costs, based on talks with the US government over the probe, which was announced in 2011.

An Infosys spokeswoman said on yesterday that they were “in the process of completing a civil resolution with the (US) government regarding its investigation of visa issues and I-9 documentation errors”.

She said the resolution had not been finalised.

With the alleged practice, Infosys could undercut competitors in bids for programming, accounting and other work performed for clients, the Journal said.

Infosys is known as an outsourcing company that does India-based computing and other technology services for Western clients, who have included Goldman Sachs Group, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. But it also features thousands of US-based employees who develop and install software for accounting, logistics and supply-chain management in the retailing, finance and manufacturing sectors, the Journal said. l

5

Oil prices ease ahead of US Fed meeting n AFP, Singapore Oil prices edged lower yesterday in Asian trade as dealers awaited a two-day US Federal Reserve policy meeting, looking for signals on the bank’s plans for its stimulus programme.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in December, was down 21 cents at $98.47 in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for December shed 41 cents to $109.20.

The Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kicks off its meeting Tuesday.

Although the FOMC is expected to maintain its $85bn a-month asset purchase programme, investors will be closely watching for clues about when a pullback might begin.

Vanessa Tan, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, said the bank is unlikely to change course owing to the impact of the 16-day government shutdown this month, as well as lacklustre economic data.

“Such quantitative easing would continue to buoy equities,” she said.

Investors are also keeping an eye on a significant reduction in Libyan supplies, Tan said.

Production in the OPEC member has been disrupted for months after labour unrest forced terminals to shut, slashing output to below 100,000 barrels per day. Before the shutdowns, Libya was producing between 1.5 million and 1.6 million barrels daily.

Production has increased in recent weeks, but an uptick in protests has raised concerns about exports owing to near-daily attacks and bombings that some fear could lead to civil war. l

FT: Iran outlines plan to win back Western oil interest n Reuters Iran is planning to offer international companies more lucrative contracts to attract at least $100bn worth of investment in its oilfields over the next three years, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

An adviser to Iran’s oil minister, Mehdi Hosseini, was quoted in the Financial Times article as saying the Islamic republic would scrap its current system of “buyback” contracts, which do not allow foreign companies to book reserves or take equity stakes in Iranian projects.

According to the article, Hosseini said a new “win-win” type of contract, details of which are expected to be announced in London next March, was in the works and leading companies could benefit, “whether American or European”.

Iran said last week that it would reach out to old oil buyers and was ready to cut prices if Western sanctions against it were eased, promising a battle for market share in a world less hungry for oil than when sanctions were imposed.

Iran’s crude exports were reduced by more than half after the European Union and United States tightened sanctions in mid-2012 in response to Tehran’s nuclear program. l

6

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 3989.14 ⇑ 0.95%, Turnover: 3915.76 M.Tk ⇑ 6.23%, PE: 12.33 Turnover 4,256.56 MTk . ⇑ 3.72% October 29, 2013 MarketCap. 1,917.58 BTk. ⇑ 0.82% CSE All Share Index: 12344 0.95%, Turnover: 340.80 M Tk. ⇑ 18.45%, PE: 12.14 Combined Turnover Leader UCBL - A A Denims Limited-A Delta Life Insu. -Z Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Generation Next Fashions-A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 561694 D: 26.50 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.09 | 27.10 / 24.10 C: 26.10 ⇑ 0.38% | 25.89 | 26.70 / 24.90 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 2066814 D: 27.00 ⇑ 7.57% | 26.44 | 27.60 / 22.60 C: 26.80 ⇑ 6.35% | 26.79 | 27.70 / 25.00 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 453513 D: 36.70 ⇑ 0.27% | 36.65 | 37.50 / 34.60 C: 36.30 ⇓ 1.63% | 36.58 | 36.80 / 36.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 9773141 D: 13.10 ⇑ 6.50% | 12.83 | 13.30 / 11.20 C: 13.30 ⇑ 6.40% | 12.92 | 13.50 / 12.10 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 205065 D: 31.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.24 | 33.00 / 29.00 C: 31.90 ⇑ 1.27% | 31.76 | 32.10 / 30.70 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 8000 D: 62.00 ⇑ 1.14% | 61.41 | 63.00 / 58.90 C: 61.00 ⇓ 0.65% | 61.00 | 61.00 / 61.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 9759317 D: 22.40 ⇑ 7.69% | 21.87 | 22.80 / 19.00 C: 22.00 ⇑ 5.77% | 21.57 | 22.50 / 19.90 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 418702 D: 27.90 ⇑ 2.57% | 27.48 | 29.00 / 26.00 C: 27.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.42 | 28.80 / 26.20 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 243500 D: 5.80 ⇑ 1.75% | 5.92 | 6.00 / 5.60 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 177700 D: 27.20 ⇑ 1.12% | 27.28 | 28.00 / 26.00 C: 27.00 ⇑ 0.75% | 27.34 | 28.00 / 27.00 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 738041 D: 16.40 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.17 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.00 ⇓ 1.84% | 15.74 | 16.40 / 15.00 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 909878 D: 23.60 ⇑ 2.61% | 23.13 | 23.70 / 22.00 C: 23.20 ⇑ 3.11% | 23.08 | 23.50 / 21.50 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 1914901 D: 17.20 ⇑ 1.18% | 17.10 | 17.60 / 15.40 C: 17.40 ⇑ 2.96% | 17.06 | 17.50 / 16.20 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 294379 D: 20.20 ⇑ 0.50% | 19.98 | 22.00 / 18.20 C: 20.20 ⇑ 1.51% | 20.21 | 20.40 / 19.80 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 1312633 D: 12.70 ⇑ 3.25% | 12.51 | 13.00 / 11.10 C: 12.80 ⇑ 3.23% | 12.61 | 13.20 / 11.20 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 1033181 D: 12.30 ⇑ 2.50% | 12.27 | 12.60 / 10.80 C: 12.30 ⇑ 1.65% | 12.29 | 12.60 / 11.80 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 16000 D: 95.10 ⇓ 0.42% | 95.31 | 96.00 / 94.90 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 86360 D: 16.60 ⇑ 1.84% | 16.52 | 17.10 / 15.40 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 1526994 D: 13.60 ⇓ 4.23% | 13.68 | 14.50 / 13.00 C: 13.90 ⇓ 1.42% | 13.73 | 14.20 / 12.70 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 4472379 D: 16.10 ⇑ 2.55% | 16.12 | 17.20 / 14.80 C: 16.40 ⇑ 1.86% | 16.28 | 16.80 / 15.30 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 313174 D: 19.90 ⇓ 0.50% | 20.06 | 20.50 / 18.00 C: 20.10 ⇓ 0.50% | 20.27 | 20.40 / 19.80 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 2193143 D: 13.80 ⇑ 5.34% | 13.49 | 13.90 / 12.20 C: 13.40 ⇑ 0.75% | 13.27 | 13.70 / 12.50 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 1979347 D: 12.70 ⇑ 4.10% | 12.48 | 13.30 / 11.00 C: 12.60 ⇑ 2.44% | 12.47 | 12.90 / 11.20 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 474030 D: 15.90 ⇑ 9.66% | 15.38 | 15.90 / 13.20 C: 15.70 ⇑ 9.79% | 15.24 | 15.70 / 14.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 293552 D: 30.70 ⇑ 1.99% | 30.73 | 31.20 / 28.50 C: 30.30 ⇑ 0.66% | 30.31 | 31.00 / 29.90 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 544824 D: 15.70 ⇑ 1.95% | 15.54 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.70 ⇓ 0.63% | 15.62 | 16.10 / 15.10 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 2412626 D: 11.40 ⇑ 8.57% | 11.06 | 11.50 / 9.50 C: 11.40 ⇑ 6.54% | 11.05 | 11.50 / 10.10 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 340114 D: 18.90 ⇓ 1.05% | 18.79 | 19.40 / 17.20 C: 18.90 ⇑ 1.61% | 18.94 | 19.00 / 18.80

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

9759317

213.15

5.01

21.84

3064320

212.78

5.00

69.44

Vol.

34625 2456370 5754580

159.67 153.25 146.83

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

10.00

8.70

42.90

Barakatullah E. D.-A

9.96

4.18

27.60

S Purbanchol Power-N

9.86

7.77

53.50

Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N

C%

A%

CP

Jute Spinners-A

DSE Loser

-25.38

-31.42

72.90

Central Pharm-N

-14.60

-13.24

26.90

AMCL (Pran)-A

-12.10

-13.21

186.00

3.75

4,611.47

3.60

62.39

Metro Spinning-A

9.82

6.80

17.90

Anlima Yarn -A

-10.83

-8.00

31.30

3.45

25.51

BEXIMCO Ltd.-A

9.69

6.57

31.70

Golden Harvest Agro-N

-10.69

-8.88

37.60

FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 606564 D: 12.80 ⇑ 4.07% | 12.54 | 13.00 / 11.30 C: 12.70 ⇑ 2.42% | 12.55 | 12.90 / 12.00 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 193900 D: 58.00 ⇑ 1.22% | 57.53 | 58.40 / 55.00 C: 57.90 ⇑ 1.05% | 57.41 | 58.50 / 56.30 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 85668 D: 27.10 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.05 | 28.00 / 26.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 40758 D: 74.60 ⇑ 0.67% | 74.06 | 74.80 / 72.00 C: 73.50 ⇑ 1.24% | 73.33 | 74.10 / 72.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 1171657 D: 26.00 ⇑ 5.26% | 26.06 | 26.80 / 24.00 C: 26.50 ⇑ 8.16% | 25.99 | 26.50 / 25.00 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 491910 D: 22.00 ⇑ 1.38% | 21.80 | 22.00 / 20.00 C: 21.90 ⇑ 0.92% | 21.80 | 22.20 / 19.70 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 221200 D: 22.50 ⇑ 0.90% | 22.47 | 22.80 / 21.00 C: 22.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.64 | 22.90 / 22.20 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 669000 D: 9.90 ⇓ 4.81% | 10.00 | 10.20 / 9.90 C: 10.30 ⇓ 1.90% | 10.06 | 10.30 / 10.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 155935 D: 15.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.50 | 15.70 / 15.00 C: 15.70 ⇑ 1.29% | 15.64 | 15.70 / 15.50 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 284716 D: 53.80 ⇓ 0.74% | 54.83 | 56.40 / 48.80 C: 54.10 ⇑ 0.37% | 54.78 | 56.50 / 51.40 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 109300 D: 15.00 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.02 | 15.30 / 13.70 C: 14.90 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.16 | 15.30 / 14.90 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 91500 D: 17.60 ⇓ 1.12% | 17.35 | 17.80 / 17.00 C: 17.00 ⇓ 2.86% | 17.05 | 17.20 / 17.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 14783 D: 27.20 ⇓ 4.23% | 27.53 | 28.40 / 25.90 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 694976 D: 20.20 ⇑ 1.51% | 19.98 | 20.50 / 18.00 C: 20.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 19.64 | 20.00 / 18.00 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 395500 D: 13.90 ⇑ 0.72% | 13.80 | 14.00 / 13.50 C: 13.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.74 | 14.00 / 13.50 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 277996 D: 29.20 ⇓ 1.35% | 29.34 | 30.10 / 28.70 C: 29.40 ⇓ 0.34% | 29.53 | 30.00 / 29.40 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 406063 D: 13.70 ⇓ 2.14% | 13.56 | 14.10 / 13.30 C: 13.60 ⇓ 2.86% | 13.59 | 13.80 / 13.30 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 61500 D: 52.90 ⇓ 0.19% | 52.55 | 53.70 / 51.80 C: 51.20 ⇓ 1.92% | 51.60 | 52.90 / 51.00 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 230467 D: 29.30 ⇑ 2.45% | 28.81 | 30.00 / 26.00 C: 28.60 ⇑ 0.35% | 28.51 | 29.20 / 28.20 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 401160 D: 28.00 ⇓ 3.11% | 28.55 | 28.90 / 27.20 C: 28.20 ⇓ 2.42% | 28.62 | 31.40 / 28.00 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 7300 D: 1400 ⇑ 1.36% | 1394 | 1420 / 1384 C: 1390 ⇑ 0.41% | 1390 | 1390 / 1390 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 62247 D: 24.20 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.37 | 24.50 / 22.50 C: 24.20 ⇓ 2.02% | 24.07 | 24.20 / 24.00 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 804500 D: 15.30 ⇑ 0.66% | 15.18 | 15.40 / 14.90 C: 15.30 ⇑ 0.66% | 15.22 | 15.50 / 15.00 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 50 D: 900.0 ⇓ 4.59% | 900.00 | 900.0 / 900.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 500 D: 212.2 ⇓ 5.69% | 214.00 | 214.2 / 212.2 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 2800 D: 175.9 ⇓ 0.06% | 175.71 | 176.0 / 175.0 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 11800 D: 45.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.00 | 45.50 / 44.70 7THICB | 13.53 | 98.60 | Vol. 500 D: 72.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 80.00 | 80.00 / 80.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 4000 D: 49.70 ⇑ 1.64% | 49.50 | 49.70 / 49.00

AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 181000 D: 37.10 ⇑ 1.64% | 36.78 | 37.40 / 36.30 C: 37.30 ⇑ 4.19% | 37.11 | 37.50 / 36.20 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 16500 D: 16.20 ⇑ 0.62% | 16.18 | 16.30 / 16.10 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 299500 D: 43.90 ⇑ 6.30% | 41.98 | 43.90 / 40.90 C: 42.70 ⇑ 1.67% | 42.28 | 43.00 / 41.00 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 10000 D: 23.40 ⇑ 5.88% | 22.80 | 23.40 / 22.00 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 176000 D: 8.90 ⇑ 1.14% | 9.00 | 9.10 / 8.80 C: 8.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.90 | 8.90 / 8.90 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 1228000 D: 15.50 ⇑ 3.33% | 15.35 | 15.80 / 14.90 C: 15.50 ⇑ 2.65% | 15.30 | 15.70 / 15.00 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 832000 D: 20.70 ⇑ 9.52% | 19.69 | 20.70 / 18.80 C: 20.20 ⇑ 6.32% | 19.46 | 20.40 / 19.00 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 241134 D: 6.80 ⇑ 3.03% | 6.65 | 6.80 / 6.50 C: 6.80 ⇑ 1.49% | 6.68 | 6.80 / 6.40 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 17500 D: 5.80 ⇑ 3.57% | 5.77 | 5.80 / 5.70 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 58000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 1.67% | 6.02 | 6.10 / 5.90 C: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.00 | 6.00 / 6.00 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 721939 D: 7.40 ⇑ 4.23% | 7.31 | 7.50 / 6.50 C: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.23 | 7.40 / 7.10 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 33000 D: 5.20 ⇑ 4.00% | 5.13 | 5.20 / 5.00 C: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.20 | 5.20 / 5.20 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 301500 D: 5.50 ⇑ 3.77% | 5.38 | 5.50 / 5.30 C: 5.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 5.44 | 5.60 / 5.20 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 809500 D: 6.50 ⇑ 3.17% | 6.41 | 6.60 / 6.30 C: 6.60 ⇑ 3.13% | 6.54 | 6.60 / 6.30 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 493000 D: 5.40 ⇑ 3.85% | 5.23 | 5.50 / 5.10 C: 5.30 ⇑ 1.92% | 5.30 | 5.30 / 5.30 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 161000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 4.97 | 5.00 / 4.90 C: 5.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.04 | 5.10 / 4.90 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 232000 D: 5.70 ⇑ 1.79% | 5.70 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.70 | 5.80 / 5.60 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 266500 D: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.13 | 5.20 / 5.00 C: 5.10 ⇑ 2.00% | 5.10 | 5.10 / 5.10 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 500924 D: 5.70 ⇑ 3.64% | 5.65 | 5.90 / 5.50 C: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.59 | 5.70 / 5.30 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 331000 D: 5.30 ⇑ 3.92% | 5.25 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇑ 4.00% | 5.15 | 5.30 / 5.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 559500 D: 5.30 ⇑ 3.92% | 5.19 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.17 | 5.30 / 5.10 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 31500 D: 6.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.57 | 6.60 / 6.40 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 88000 D: 6.30 ⇑ 1.61% | 6.25 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.20 ⇓ 1.59% | 6.20 | 6.20 / 6.20 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 563500 D: 8.10 ⇑ 5.19% | 7.90 | 8.10 / 7.70 C: 8.00 ⇑ 5.26% | 7.77 | 8.00 / 7.40 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 500 D: 7.50 ⇑ 1.35% | 7.50 | 7.50 / 7.50 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 1152500 D: 8.20 ⇑ 3.80% | 7.97 | 8.40 / 7.80 C: 8.20 ⇑ 3.80% | 8.21 | 8.30 / 8.20 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 174000 D: 7.70 ⇑ 2.67% | 7.50 | 7.80 / 7.30 C: 7.80 ⇓ 1.27% | 7.80 | 7.80 / 7.80 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 114000 D: 6.80 ⇑ 3.03% | 6.81 | 6.90 / 6.60 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 1063500 D: 9.30 ⇑ 9.41% | 8.87 | 9.30 / 8.40 C: 9.20 ⇑ 5.75% | 9.11 | 9.30 / 8.50 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 32500 D: 8.60 ⇑ 2.38% | 8.40 | 8.60 / 8.30

ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 261000 D: 6.70 ⇑ 4.69% | 6.53 | 6.70 / 6.40 C: 6.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.53 | 6.70 / 6.40 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 5000 D: 7.50 ⇑ 1.35% | 7.56 | 7.50 / 7.30 C: 6.90 ⇓ 1.43% | 6.90 | 6.90 / 6.90 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 228377 D: 97.00 ⇓ 1.22% | 97.22 | 98.90 / 90.00 C: 97.40 ⇓ 1.72% | 97.72 | 99.00 / 96.30 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 24900 D: 17.90 ⇑ 1.70% | 17.44 | 17.90 / 17.20 C: 17.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.76 | 17.70 / 16.50 OLYMPIC | 7.85 | 22.10 | Vol. 394585 D: 199.2 ⇑ 6.07% | 199.88 | 204.9 / 185.0 C: 202.2 ⇑ 9.30% | 202.24 | 204.0 / 200.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 17800 D: 124.3 ⇓ 4.09% | 125.19 | 128.7 / 123.5 C: 123.5 ⇓ 5.00% | 125.22 | 128.0 / 123.5 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 25000 D: 80.00 ⇑ 1.14% | 80.00 | 80.20 / 79.00 C: 78.90 ⇑ 7.49% | 78.70 | 78.90 / 78.50 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 700 D: 266.2 ⇓ 6.99% | 272.86 | 276.0 / 266.2 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 47050 D: 186.0 ⇑ 0.11% | 185.86 | 189.0 / 181.8 C: 188.2 ⇑ 1.62% | 187.74 | 190.0 / 185.1 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 9040 D: 158.0 ⇓ 0.50% | 157.08 | 159.9 / 143.0 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 64254 D: 33.00 ⇓ 8.08% | 33.45 | 36.40 / 32.50 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 121273 D: 30.20 ⇑ 3.07% | 30.45 | 31.10 / 29.00 C: 30.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 30.16 | 30.60 / 29.90 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 8700 D: 127.2 ⇑ 2.25% | 132.18 | 136.0 / 127.0 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 62400 D: 63.90 ⇓ 1.08% | 64.05 | 64.80 / 63.80 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 316640 D: 25.60 ⇓ 1.16% | 26.05 | 27.00 / 23.50 C: 26.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.76 | 26.50 / 25.00 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 120500 D: 21.50 ⇓ 5.70% | 22.07 | 23.90 / 21.00 C: 22.00 ⇓ 3.93% | 22.19 | 23.00 / 21.50 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 2000 D: 15.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 14.67 | 15.00 / 14.80 C: 15.60 ⇑ 0.65% | 15.60 | 15.60 / 15.60 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 43000 D: 81.50 ⇓ 4.68% | 82.67 | 84.30 / 81.10 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 243500 D: 38.90 ⇑ 1.83% | 38.64 | 39.20 / 37.60 C: 39.10 ⇑ 2.62% | 38.86 | 39.30 / 38.20 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 2758075 D: 46.90 ⇑ 5.39% | 46.53 | 47.20 / 40.50 C: 47.00 ⇑ 5.86% | 46.63 | 47.00 / 44.00 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 460905 D: 65.40 ⇑ 5.48% | 64.55 | 66.50 / 60.00 C: 65.80 ⇑ 5.45% | 64.87 | 66.80 / 63.40 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 108724 D: 61.00 ⇑ 0.83% | 60.67 | 61.60 / 57.00 C: 60.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 61.01 | 61.60 / 60.80 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 46800 D: 41.00 ⇑ 0.49% | 40.98 | 41.50 / 38.00 C: 40.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 40.69 | 41.40 / 39.60 BENGALWTL | 4.16 | 26.24 | Vol. 987200 D: 47.90 ⇑ 0.63% | 48.31 | 50.00 / 46.80 C: 47.80 ⇑ 0.21% | 48.02 | 49.60 / 46.00 BDBUILDING | 1.53 | 14.60 | Vol. 688000 D: 36.30 ⇓ 1.89% | 36.52 | 37.20 / 36.10 C: 36.10 ⇓ 2.17% | 36.27 | 37.00 / 35.80 NPOLYMAR | 2.73 | 37.82 | Vol. 108200 D: 47.50 ⇓ 1.86% | 47.33 | 49.30 / 46.90 C: 47.70 ⇓ 3.44% | 47.58 | 48.80 / 47.00 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 17500 D: 87.60 ⇓ 2.01% | 87.78 | 91.80 / 87.20 C: 86.20 ⇓ 2.05% | 87.40 | 88.00 / 86.20 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 24528 D: 370.2 ⇓ 2.14% | 375.84 | 388.0 / 350.0 C: 370.5 ⇓ 2.09% | 372.83 | 377.0 / 370.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 800 D: 1569 ⇑ 0.60% | 1555 | 1569 / 1542

GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 400 D: 171.5 ⇓ 6.84% | 177.50 | 180.2 / 171.5 ZEALBANGLA | -28.94 | -221.34 | Vol. 200 D: 8.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.40 | 8.40 / 8.40 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 137910 D: 186.0 ⇓ 12.10% | 187.57 | 199.9 / 178.3 C: 182.3 ⇓ 12.23% | 185.94 | 197.0 / 180.0 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 2000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 5.88% | 7.00 | 7.20 / 7.00 FUWANGFOOD | 1.03 | 13.51 | Vol. 219980 D: 22.20 ⇓ 0.45% | 22.13 | 22.80 / 19.50 C: 22.10 ⇓ 1.34% | 22.15 | 22.60 / 22.00 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 86500 D: 5.80 ⇓ 7.94% | 5.76 | 5.90 / 5.70 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 29000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 5.88% | 7.03 | 7.20 / 6.80 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 438891 D: 20.60 ⇓ 0.48% | 20.76 | 21.30 / 19.00 C: 20.70 ⇑ 0.49% | 20.78 | 21.20 / 20.50 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 250050 D: 15.70 ⇓ 4.27% | 15.80 | 160.60 / 15.50 C: 15.50 ⇓ 8.28% | 15.73 | 16.00 / 15.40 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 644291 D: 20.80 ⇓ 0.48% | 20.86 | 21.30 / 18.90 C: 20.90 ⇓ 0.48% | 21.01 | 21.30 / 20.50 GHAIL | 2.43 | 25.58 | Vol. 900960 D: 37.60 ⇓ 10.69% | 38.78 | 41.50 / 35.00 C: 37.60 ⇓ 11.32% | 39.18 | 41.50 / 37.20 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 150 C: 808.3 ⇓ 0.82% | 808.33 | 815.0 / 795.0 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 16950 D: 631.9 ⇑ 2.81% | 626.96 | 634.0 / 620.0 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 108300 D: 276.7 ⇓ 1.32% | 278.89 | 284.8 / 275.3 C: 278.6 ⇓ 1.42% | 280.24 | 285.3 / 276.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 474415 D: 20.20 ⇓ 0.98% | 20.22 | 20.80 / 19.90 C: 20.00 ⇓ 0.50% | 20.12 | 20.80 / 19.80 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 746434 D: 33.10 ⇑ 6.09% | 32.80 | 33.30 / 29.00 C: 33.10 ⇑ 6.43% | 32.75 | 33.40 / 31.50 DESCO | 2.69 | 35.96 | Vol. 116213 D: 70.50 ⇓ 0.28% | 70.94 | 71.70 / 67.00 C: 69.80 ⇓ 0.57% | 70.47 | 74.90 / 69.60 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 53500 D: 51.70 ⇑ 1.37% | 51.80 | 52.80 / 50.80 C: 51.00 ⇓ 1.35% | 51.00 | 51.00 / 51.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 211576 D: 221.0 ⇑ 0.09% | 219.51 | 221.9 / 215.0 C: 219.4 ⇓ 0.36% | 218.96 | 221.0 / 218.0 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 104500 D: 248.1 ⇓ 1.59% | 250.16 | 254.0 / 248.1 C: 248.5 ⇓ 1.39% | 249.63 | 252.1 / 248.1 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 432522 D: 77.50 ⇑ 0.26% | 77.79 | 78.00 / 70.00 C: 77.90 ⇑ 0.39% | 77.87 | 78.50 / 77.50 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 380068 D: 47.80 ⇑ 4.37% | 47.50 | 48.50 / 42.00 C: 47.70 ⇑ 4.15% | 47.55 | 48.10 / 46.50 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 1421159 D: 27.60 ⇑ 9.96% | 26.89 | 27.60 / 24.00 C: 27.50 ⇑ 9.56% | 26.98 | 27.60 / 25.00 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 19740 D: 70.00 ⇑ 0.29% | 69.22 | 70.00 / 64.40 C: 69.30 ⇓ 0.14% | 68.67 | 69.50 / 68.60 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 1199727 D: 26.20 ⇑ 5.22% | 26.31 | 26.90 / 22.60 C: 26.40 ⇑ 5.60% | 26.41 | 26.80 / 25.20 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 1380925 D: 53.50 ⇑ 9.86% | 52.59 | 53.50 / 44.00 C: 53.60 ⇑ 9.84% | 52.71 | 53.60 / 48.00 JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 36850 D: 72.90 ⇓ 25.38% | 68.90 | 78.70 / 62.20 NORTHERN | -13.80 | -6.19 | Vol. 200 D: 26.00 ⇑ 1.96% | 26.00 | 26.00 / 26.00 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 12400 D: 126.0 ⇓ 1.87% | 127.18 | 132.0 / 125.0 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 86725 D: 90.00 ⇑ 7.91% | 88.28 | 91.00 / 81.00

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

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October 29, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 35,767.08 ⇑ 1.60% NBFI: 19,321.83 ⇑ 0.35% INVS: 4,612.30 ⇑ 0.80% ENGG: 5,668.55 ⇑ 3.60% FOOD: 9,313.70 ⇓ 2.33% F&P: 9,740.62 ⇑ 0.98% TEXT: 3,151.38 ⇑ 0.37% PHAR: 16,898.87 ⇑ 0.75% PAPR: 936.91 ⇓ 1.41% SERV: 2,781.41 ⇑ 1.17% LEAT: 4,853.31 ⇑ 0.87% CERA: 493.18 ⇑ 2.57% CMNT: 4,126.66 ⇓ 1.06% INFO: 6,700.65 ⇓ 1.40% GINS: 8,965.13 ⇓ 0.23% LINS: 102,358.18 ⇓ 0.76% TELC: 1,278.39 ⇓ 1.13% MISC: 6,044.10 ⇑ 3.13% RAHIMTEXT | 5.81 | 70.85 | Vol. 5200 D: 291.0 ⇑ 8.46% | 283.85 | 291.7 / 275.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 977500 D: 28.10 ⇓ 4.10% | 28.18 | 30.30 / 27.70 C: 28.00 ⇓ 4.44% | 28.25 | 30.00 / 27.80 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 2450 D: 75.30 ⇓ 8.95% | 76.33 | 77.70 / 75.00 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 28900 D: 53.00 ⇓ 1.67% | 53.08 | 56.00 / 51.00 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 9900 D: 7.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.47 | 7.60 / 7.30 TALLUSPIN | 2.01 | 18.59 | Vol. 799600 D: 35.50 ⇓ 2.74% | 35.76 | 37.00 / 35.20 C: 35.30 ⇓ 2.75% | 35.42 | 36.00 / 35.10 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 10000 D: 62.40 ⇓ 3.41% | 63.90 | 67.50 / 62.40 MITHUNKNIT | 3.33 | 23.82 | Vol. 62600 D: 73.50 ⇓ 2.65% | 74.95 | 78.00 / 72.70 C: 74.20 ⇓ 1.98% | 75.50 | 77.00 / 74.00 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 207600 D: 30.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.99 | 30.50 / 29.80 C: 29.90 ⇓ 1.97% | 29.97 | 30.80 / 29.10 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 195950 D: 16.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 16.82 | 17.50 / 16.00 C: 16.50 ⇓ 2.37% | 16.62 | 17.00 / 16.50 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 235000 D: 24.10 ⇓ 4.74% | 24.51 | 25.20 / 24.00 C: 24.10 ⇓ 4.74% | 24.06 | 24.70 / 23.40 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 155500 D: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.17 | 7.30 / 7.10 C: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.16 | 7.30 / 7.10 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 81500 D: 31.30 ⇓ 10.83% | 32.31 | 34.30 / 31.10 C: 33.50 ⇓ 2.05% | 33.50 | 34.50 / 33.00 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 150150 D: 35.80 ⇓ 2.72% | 36.37 | 37.40 / 34.00 C: 35.50 ⇓ 4.05% | 35.46 | 36.00 / 35.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 2989703 D: 29.70 ⇓ 1.33% | 28.30 | 31.20 / 27.10 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 170083 D: 22.60 ⇓ 2.16% | 22.74 | 23.30 / 22.30 C: 22.60 ⇓ 2.16% | 22.61 | 22.90 / 22.00 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 51636 D: 89.80 ⇓ 0.33% | 89.76 | 90.10 / 88.00 C: 90.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 90.00 | 90.00 / 90.00 METROSPIN | 0.62 | 19.48 | Vol. 1120542 D: 17.90 ⇑ 9.82% | 17.59 | 18.00 / 15.00 C: 17.80 ⇑ 10.56% | 17.46 | 18.00 / 16.70 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 745951 D: 15.70 ⇑ 1.95% | 15.66 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.60 ⇑ 0.65% | 15.62 | 15.90 / 15.40 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 370336 D: 27.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.40 | 28.10 / 26.00 C: 27.60 ⇑ 1.85% | 27.18 | 28.80 / 26.60 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 1466910 D: 29.50 ⇑ 1.72% | 29.16 | 29.50 / 27.00 C: 29.20 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.03 | 29.50 / 28.30 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 904909 D: 16.90 ⇑ 7.64% | 16.33 | 17.00 / 14.50 C: 16.60 ⇑ 6.41% | 16.15 | 16.90 / 15.30 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 2097300 D: 27.60 ⇑ 2.99% | 27.11 | 27.80 / 25.00 C: 27.30 ⇑ 1.87% | 27.06 | 27.80 / 26.30 ZAHINTEX | 1.38 | 35.73 | Vol. 512600 D: 28.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.31 | 31.00 / 27.00 C: 28.90 ⇓ 2.03% | 29.61 | 30.20 / 28.70 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 647250 D: 23.20 ⇓ 0.85% | 23.09 | 23.50 / 22.80 C: 23.10 ⇓ 0.86% | 23.14 | 23.40 / 22.90 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 5754580 D: 25.20 ⇓ 2.33% | 25.52 | 26.00 / 23.30 C: 25.40 ⇓ 1.93% | 25.51 | 26.00 / 25.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 2456370 D: 61.90 ⇓ 1.75% | 62.40 | 63.80 / 56.70 C: 61.80 ⇓ 1.59% | 62.19 | 63.50 / 61.50 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 3064320 D: 69.70 ⇑ 0.29% | 69.46 | 71.00 / 62.60 C: 69.20 ⇑ 1.91% | 68.85 | 70.60 / 68.00 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 1121000 D: 42.90 ⇑ 10.00% | 42.46 | 42.90 / 38.80 C: 42.70 ⇑ 9.49% | 42.17 | 42.90 / 38.70

PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 21500 D: 25.70 ⇓ 6.55% | 26.57 | 27.00 / 25.70 C: 26.80 ⇓ 4.96% | 26.80 | 27.30 / 26.10

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 5600 D: 246.6 ⇑ 0.16% | 244.33 | 247.0 / 242.0 C: 240.9 ⇓ 2.07% | 240.69 | 245.0 / 240.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 387504 D: 43.70 ⇑ 3.80% | 43.17 | 44.60 / 38.00 C: 43.80 ⇑ 4.04% | 43.41 | 44.50 / 42.00

SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 35500 D: 84.00 ⇓ 7.39% | 84.82 | 86.60 / 83.10 C: 94.70 ⇑ 5.22% | 94.67 | 97.00 / 90.00 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 299523 D: 26.90 ⇑ 1.51% | 27.01 | 27.80 / 25.00 C: 26.70 ⇑ 0.75% | 26.99 | 27.70 / 26.40

DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 314003 D: 16.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.82 | 17.10 / 16.60 C: 16.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 16.60 | 16.90 / 16.40 AAMRATECH | 1.46 | 21.90 | Vol. 247250 D: 30.50 ⇓ 0.97% | 30.48 | 31.00 / 27.80 C: 30.40 ⇓ 1.62% | 30.44 | 31.00 / 30.00

GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 300 D: 900.0 ⇓ 2.46% | 913.33 | 944.0 / 900.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 7714 D: 156.5 ⇓ 1.14% | 156.28 | 157.0 / 149.9 C: 157.0 ⇓ 0.06% | 155.00 | 157.0 / 150.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 7200 D: 712.0 ⇑ 2.43% | 715.00 | 729.0 / 695.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 100 D: 830.0 ⇓ 0.23% | 830.00 | 830.0 / 830.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 15700 D: 161.6 ⇓ 0.62% | 162.23 | 165.0 / 160.5 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 2045 D: 381.0 ⇓ 5.34% | 385.98 | 395.0 / 381.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 91200 D: 94.50 ⇓ 2.48% | 95.82 | 99.30 / 94.30 C: 95.00 ⇓ 1.25% | 95.45 | 98.00 / 94.60 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 1400 D: 405.0 ⇑ 5.17% | 399.29 | 410.0 / 392.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 171800 D: 41.40 ⇑ 2.99% | 41.64 | 42.30 / 40.20 C: 41.50 ⇑ 1.22% | 41.49 | 41.80 / 41.20 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 352688 D: 178.5 ⇑ 0.17% | 178.06 | 180.0 / 174.0 C: 177.5 ⇓ 0.34% | 177.59 | 178.2 / 177.2 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 14000 D: 7.60 ⇓ 5.00% | 7.80 | 7.90 / 7.60 C: 7.90 ⇓ 1.25% | 7.53 | 8.00 / 7.00 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 970688 D: 24.10 ⇑ 0.42% | 24.32 | 24.80 / 23.00 C: 24.20 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.35 | 24.70 / 24.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 750 D: 793.1 ⇓ 3.57% | 806.67 | 837.9 / 793.1 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 41000 D: 71.90 ⇓ 2.18% | 71.86 | 73.90 / 70.50 C: 72.20 ⇓ 6.11% | 72.14 | 72.50 / 71.20 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 26250 D: 827.0 ⇑ 3.74% | 816.63 | 830.0 / 797.4 C: 812.5 ⇑ 2.07% | 806.13 | 815.0 / 801.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 471675 D: 11.50 ⇑ 1.77% | 11.34 | 11.50 / 11.10 C: 11.40 ⇑ 0.88% | 11.26 | 11.80 / 10.50 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 959023 D: 92.50 ⇑ 0.87% | 92.52 | 93.00 / 82.60 C: 92.30 ⇑ 0.76% | 92.57 | 98.00 / 92.00 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 234763 D: 19.40 ⇓ 0.51% | 19.46 | 19.70 / 17.60 C: 19.70 ⇑ 1.03% | 19.61 | 20.00 / 19.40 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 270500 D: 48.70 ⇑ 1.88% | 49.80 | 51.80 / 47.50 C: 48.80 ⇑ 1.04% | 49.81 | 51.50 / 48.00 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1271180 D: 56.90 ⇑ 6.16% | 56.19 | 58.00 / 48.50 C: 56.60 ⇑ 5.60% | 56.10 | 57.30 / 53.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 214000 D: 183.0 ⇓ 8.64% | 187.20 | 198.0 / 183.0 C: 184.5 ⇓ 6.58% | 187.04 | 194.5 / 181.1 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 635000 D: 26.90 ⇓ 14.60% | 27.25 | 27.70 / 26.90 C: 27.40 ⇓ 12.18% | 27.09 | 27.40 / 26.60

EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 143828 D: 51.40 ⇑ 2.59% | 50.87 | 52.10 / 48.00 C: 50.10 ⇓ 0.60% | 50.79 | 52.80 / 50.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 82000 D: 106.5 ⇓ 2.02% | 106.91 | 109.0 / 106.1 C: 107.0 ⇓ 1.47% | 107.29 | 109.0 / 105.6 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 9844 D: 704.0 ⇑ 5.15% | 695.79 | 705.0 / 660.0 C: 680.0 ⇑ 3.01% | 680.00 | 680.0 / 680.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 40200 D: 365.0 ⇑ 1.30% | 361.37 | 365.0 / 359.0 SAMATALETH | -0.07 | 12.08 | Vol. 2000 D: 13.00 ⇑ 0.78% | 13.00 | 13.00 / 12.90 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 486000 D: 30.50 ⇓ 8.96% | 31.52 | 33.60 / 30.20 C: 30.40 ⇓ 8.43% | 31.40 | 34.20 / 30.00 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 46350 D: 32.80 ⇓ 1.20% | 32.78 | 33.40 / 32.30 C: 33.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 33.26 | 34.00 / 33.00 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 9000 D: 36.90 ⇓ 4.16% | 36.89 | 37.00 / 36.80 FUWANGCER | 0.72 | 13.97 | Vol. 341210 D: 18.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.25 | 18.50 / 17.00 C: 18.10 ⇓ 1.09% | 18.16 | 18.40 / 18.00 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 521145 D: 16.80 ⇑ 5.66% | 16.62 | 17.30 / 14.40 C: 17.10 ⇑ 7.55% | 16.71 | 17.30 / 15.60 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 147376 D: 51.70 ⇑ 4.44% | 50.43 | 52.00 / 46.00 C: 50.70 ⇑ 2.22% | 50.07 | 51.00 / 49.40 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 37000 D: 350.0 ⇓ 0.14% | 346.85 | 352.8 / 344.0 C: 343.0 ⇓ 1.41% | 346.55 | 358.0 / 343.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 71630 D: 119.7 ⇓ 0.08% | 118.78 | 120.0 / 115.0 C: 119.3 ⇓ 0.17% | 118.69 | 120.0 / 118.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 93100 D: 118.5 ⇓ 1.17% | 118.87 | 121.0 / 118.0 C: 116.4 ⇓ 2.59% | 118.82 | 120.1 / 116.1 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 29500 D: 66.50 ⇓ 0.45% | 65.93 | 66.50 / 65.30 C: 69.90 ⇑ 3.56% | 67.43 | 69.90 / 65.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 476000 D: 31.30 ⇓ 0.63% | 31.32 | 31.70 / 31.20 C: 31.50 ⇓ 0.32% | 31.42 | 31.50 / 31.20 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 152493 D: 89.70 ⇓ 0.77% | 90.32 | 91.50 / 82.00 C: 90.00 ⇓ 0.99% | 90.16 | 91.00 / 89.50 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 252200 D: 98.50 ⇓ 7.42% | 100.70 | 109.9 / 97.20 C: 98.10 ⇓ 7.89% | 101.29 | 99.50 / 100.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 113984 D: 17.00 ⇓ 2.86% | 17.16 | 17.90 / 16.90 C: 16.70 ⇓ 4.02% | 16.87 | 18.40 / 16.50 BDCOM | 1.54 | 15.85 | Vol. 221100 D: 24.40 ⇓ 3.17% | 24.58 | 25.20 / 22.70 C: 24.70 ⇓ 1.20% | 24.66 | 25.00 / 24.30 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 229700 D: 15.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 15.20 | 15.70 / 15.00 C: 14.90 ⇓ 1.97% | 15.04 | 15.70 / 14.80 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 354635 D: 20.80 ⇓ 1.42% | 20.97 | 21.20 / 19.50 C: 21.00 ⇓ 0.47% | 20.91 | 21.30 / 20.70

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 79107 D: 30.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 29.75 | 30.00 / 28.00 C: 29.50 ⇑ 2.43% | 29.38 | 29.50 / 29.00 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 205081 D: 82.20 ⇓ 9.97% | 82.56 | 99.00 / 82.20 C: 83.00 ⇓ 7.88% | 82.97 | 88.00 / 81.10 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 900 D: 42.70 ⇓ 0.70% | 43.33 | 43.60 / 42.60 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 325000 D: 34.00 ⇑ 2.41% | 33.52 | 34.10 / 32.80 C: 33.00 ⇑ 0.92% | 33.01 | 33.10 / 33.00 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 16010 D: 38.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.31 | 38.80 / 38.00 C: 38.00 ⇑ 6.44% | 37.92 | 38.00 / 35.00 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 6426 D: 246.0 ⇑ 1.13% | 243.95 | 247.0 / 240.0 C: 240.3 ⇓ 4.64% | 240.15 | 241.0 / 240.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 16338 D: 40.10 ⇓ 1.23% | 40.52 | 41.90 / 39.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 54208 D: 46.30 ⇑ 1.09% | 46.23 | 46.90 / 42.00 C: 46.50 ⇑ 0.43% | 46.49 | 46.50 / 45.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 6600 D: 28.90 ⇑ 3.96% | 28.28 | 29.10 / 28.10 C: 28.00 ⇓ 1.75% | 28.00 | 28.00 / 28.00 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 102460 D: 23.40 ⇑ 2.18% | 23.14 | 23.40 / 22.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 132457 D: 31.50 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.35 | 32.00 / 31.20 C: 31.40 ⇑ 1.29% | 31.39 | 31.40 / 31.00 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 326400 D: 23.70 ⇑ 2.16% | 23.60 | 24.50 / 22.70 C: 23.70 ⇑ 3.04% | 23.73 | 24.30 / 22.70 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 6000 D: 68.00 ⇓ 2.16% | 67.33 | 68.00 / 67.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 128200 D: 21.70 ⇑ 0.46% | 21.78 | 22.00 / 21.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 33413 D: 55.40 ⇑ 0.54% | 55.77 | 56.40 / 54.50 C: 55.00 ⇑ 6.80% | 55.00 | 55.00 / 55.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 43500 D: 32.50 ⇑ 1.88% | 31.38 | 32.80 / 30.60 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 53000 D: 66.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 67.08 | 68.00 / 65.30 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 127125 D: 28.20 ⇓ 1.05% | 28.02 | 28.50 / 27.80 C: 28.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.04 | 28.00 / 28.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 29000 D: 27.60 ⇑ 0.73% | 27.24 | 27.60 / 27.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 34000 D: 28.90 ⇑ 0.70% | 28.71 | 29.00 / 28.50 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 22500 D: 35.80 ⇑ 1.70% | 35.47 | 36.00 / 34.30 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 14500 D: 28.50 ⇓ 0.70% | 28.48 | 28.60 / 28.30 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 47500 D: 24.10 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.36 | 24.90 / 24.00 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 22500 D: 23.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.61 | 23.90 / 23.50 C: 23.70 ⇑ 1.72% | 23.60 | 24.00 / 23.40 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 122211 D: 28.70 ⇑ 2.87% | 28.60 | 29.40 / 26.00 C: 28.50 ⇑ 2.52% | 28.06 | 28.50 / 28.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 153000 D: 29.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.09 | 29.60 / 28.60 C: 29.00 ⇓ 2.68% | 28.85 | 29.00 / 28.30 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 2309146 D: 52.70 ⇑ 3.54% | 46.78 | 55.00 / 45.90 C: 48.00 ⇓ 3.03% | 48.00 | 48.00 / 48.00 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 215936 D: 40.00 ⇓ 2.20% | 40.45 | 42.00 / 38.00 C: 42.00 ⇑ 0.24% | 40.45 | 42.00 / 38.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 60680 D: 43.00 ⇓ 0.23% | 42.81 | 43.80 / 39.00 C: 42.20 ⇑ 0.48% | 42.33 | 43.00 / 42.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 486260 D: 40.40 ⇑ 2.54% | 41.50 | 42.40 / 37.70 C: 41.20 ⇑ 2.49% | 40.97 | 43.00 / 40.20

ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 67865 D: 27.40 ⇑ 2.62% | 27.15 | 27.80 / 26.70 C: 27.70 ⇑ 4.14% | 27.12 | 27.80 / 26.90 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 20316 D: 31.20 ⇓ 8.24% | 33.26 | 34.20 / 31.00 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 44404 D: 28.10 ⇓ 1.40% | 28.34 | 29.40 / 27.00 C: 27.50 ⇓ 2.48% | 27.07 | 27.50 / 27.50 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 48500 D: 38.70 ⇑ 0.26% | 38.93 | 39.30 / 38.30 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 5550 D: 245.0 ⇑ 1.07% | 244.14 | 245.0 / 240.1 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 34625 D: 4560 ⇓ 3.95% | 4610 | 4770 / 4560 C: 4620 ⇓ 3.89% | 4671 | 4772 / 4620 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 23750 D: 66.70 ⇑ 1.06% | 66.49 | 68.30 / 65.50 C: 67.70 ⇓ 0.44% | 67.68 | 68.00 / 67.40 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 149906 D: 88.50 ⇑ 1.72% | 87.17 | 88.80 / 85.00 C: 87.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 87.21 | 88.60 / 86.00 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 86250 D: 101.5 ⇑ 6.17% | 99.01 | 102.0 / 92.00 C: 98.00 ⇑ 3.16% | 97.82 | 99.90 / 95.00 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 11500 D: 97.30 ⇑ 2.10% | 97.65 | 101.0 / 95.30 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 19393 D: 107.9 ⇑ 1.98% | 108.25 | 111.7 / 100.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 15963 D: 91.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 90.34 | 92.80 / 89.70 C: 87.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 86.00 | 87.60 / 87.60 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 81592 D: 93.20 ⇑ 2.31% | 94.11 | 97.00 / 91.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 25050 D: 55.30 ⇑ 0.36% | 55.79 | 57.00 / 52.00 C: 55.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 54.54 | 55.00 / 50.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 105875 D: 53.40 ⇑ 0.19% | 54.02 | 55.00 / 52.80 C: 53.70 ⇑ 0.37% | 54.33 | 55.00 / 53.40 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 204000 D: 187.8 ⇓ 0.79% | 187.50 | 189.1 / 186.2 C: 187.3 ⇓ 0.74% | 187.90 | 189.0 / 186.1 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 373285 D: 179.2 ⇓ 2.34% | 180.56 | 185.5 / 175.0 C: 179.8 ⇓ 2.34% | 181.32 | 184.9 / 179.0 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 3040921 D: 15.40 ⇑ 1.32% | 15.28 | 15.50 / 14.00 C: 15.40 ⇑ 0.65% | 15.28 | 15.50 / 15.10 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 396260 D: 80.10 ⇑ 3.09% | 79.03 | 80.40 / 70.00 C: 80.00 ⇑ 2.70% | 79.14 | 81.00 / 77.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 21200 D: 254.0 ⇓ 4.19% | 258.80 | 271.0 / 252.0 C: 260.7 ⇓ 7.22% | 260.74 | 261.1 / 260.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 71960 D: 415.3 ⇓ 1.89% | 417.41 | 424.0 / 415.3 C: 416.8 ⇓ 1.88% | 418.68 | 430.0 / 415.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 43612 D: 140.6 ⇓ 0.92% | 141.28 | 142.9 / 136.0 C: 141.0 ⇓ 0.91% | 141.19 | 141.7 / 141.0 USMANIAGL | 3.80 | 29.92 | Vol. 41500 D: 116.0 ⇓ 1.28% | 115.29 | 119.1 / 112.0 C: 115.0 ⇓ 2.21% | 114.90 | 117.3 / 112.5 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 4667530 D: 31.70 ⇑ 9.69% | 30.48 | 31.70 / 26.10 C: 31.80 ⇑ 9.66% | 30.34 | 31.90 / 28.00 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 97500 D: 20.70 ⇑ 1.97% | 20.66 | 21.00 / 20.40 C: 20.20 ⇑ 0.50% | 20.24 | 20.50 / 20.00 MIRACLEIND | 0.10 | 15.13 | Vol. 152422 D: 13.80 ⇓ 1.43% | 14.12 | 14.50 / 13.00 C: 13.80 ⇓ 1.43% | 13.80 | 14.20 / 13.60 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 15 D: 955.0 ⇓ 0.03% | 955.00 | 955.0 / 955.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 16 D: 880.5 ⇑ 0.00% | 857.14 | 881.0 / 880.5 C: 871.0 ⇓ 0.63% | 871.00 | 871.0 / 871.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 10 D: 1030 ⇑ 4.04% | 1030 | 1030 / 1030

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013

India’s central bank hikes key interest rate

Asia’s export engine stuck in neutral despite US uptick n Reuters, Hong Kong

n AFP, Mumbai India’s new central bank governor raised the key interest rate yesterday for a second straight month, disregarding calls for lower borrowing costs as he stays focused on battling high inflation.

After its monetary policy meeting in the financial capital Mumbai, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the benchmark repo rate, at which it lends to commercial banks, would be increased by 25 basis points to 7.75%.

“The policy stance and measures ... are intended to curb mounting inflationary pressures and manage inflation expectations in a situation of weak growth,” bank chief Raghuram Rajan said in a statement.

Most economists had predicted the hike because wholesale inflation has been above the RBI’s comfort zone of 5% for four successive months. Annual inflation jumped to a seven-month-high of 6.46% for the month of September, led by surging food and fuel prices.

Shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange, which hit their highest level in nearly three years last week, were up 1.52% at 20,883.87 points yesterday afternoon trade.

After taking office in September, Rajan who had warned he was prepared to take unpopular steps to bring the economy back on track - surprised markets by raising interest rates in his first monetary policy meeting.

At his second such meeting yesterday, the bank also kept the cash reserve ratio - the percentage of deposits banks must keep with the central bank - unchanged at 4%.

Reserve Bank of India Governor, Raghuram Rajan attends a meeting with bankers at RBI headquarters in Mumbai AFP The rate rise disappointed the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). It is among industry groups pushing for a cut to spur growth in Asia’s third-largest economy, which is running at a decade low of five percent.

“A high interest rate regime deters consumption and investment demand,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, CII director general, adding that raising the rate would “hurt growth”.

A rate rise dampens business sentiment by increasing borrowing costs for the economy and pushing banks to raise their rates on

A high interest rate regime deters consumption and investment demand, said Chandrajit Banerjee, CII director general, adding that raising the rate would ‘hurt growth’

Rajan did, however, relax some curbs imposed on banks in July to support the rupee when it was plunging against the dollar.

The marginal standing facility - used to lend to commercial banks when there is a shortage of funds in the market - was cut by 25 basis points to 8.75%.

loans for property and cars.

But cutting rates risks pushing inflation higher and further weakening the rupee, which hit record lows in the weeks before Rajan took charge on September 4.

Despite improved investor sentiment and a strengthening of the rupee since Rajan took

charge, the bank warned on Monday night that anchoring inflation expectations would be key to monetary policy.

“It is important to break the spiral of rising price pressures in order to curb the erosion of financial saving and strengthen the foundations of growth,” Rajan said in yesterday’s announcement.

“The Reserve Bank will closely monitor inflation risk while being mindful of the evolving growth dynamics.”

The RBI expects India to grow at 5% in the current fiscal year that ends in March, below its earlier forecast of 5.5%.

Huge expectations have been riding on Rajan, a former International Monetary Fund chief economist nicknamed “The Guv”, since he came to office in a period of economic turmoil.

The rupee has gained ground from record lows since he took charge and announced steps to increase foreign capital flows into the country and bolster foreign exchange reserves.

Shubhada Rao, chief economist with private Yes Bank, said that with Tuesday’s decision Rajan had firmly established himself as an anti-inflation central banker.

“The RBI is unlikely to drop its vigil on inflation soon,” she told AFP. The scandal-tainted Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is anxious both to tame inflation and to revive the economy as it seeks a third term in office, with elections due by next May. l

Asia’s once-reliable export engine remains stalled two years into a global economic recovery, raising concerns about the region’s competitiveness and its ability to motor through the next tough time for emerging markets.

Exports from seven of East Asia’s biggest exporters - Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore - grew by just 0.8% in the third quarter, according to a Reuters analysis of national trade data, led by a 3.1% gain in exports to the US from the same three months of 2012.

The data reinforce a worrying trend in a region where gross exports represent more than a third of its combined economic output: since peaking in 2010 as the global economy rebounded from financial crisis, Asia’s export growth has rapidly cooled.

Double-digit growth, common to the past decade, petered out in 2011 and has not recovered.

“There is really no change in the main thing that’s going on across Asia - which is no growth in exports the past two years,” said Tim Condon, head of financial markets research at ING in Singapore.

“I think it’s weak global spending, it’s as simple as that.”

There is a growing consensus that Asia faces slower growth and more uncertain prospects once the US economy improves to the point where the Federal Reserve begins scaling back five years of radical monetary stimulus.

If exports fail to offset rising interest rates and ebbing global capital flows, economists say, Asia will have to rely on domestic demand to take up the slack - a difficult proposition given aging populations and other structural hurdles.

The failure of Asian exports to rise in tandem with global recovery has sparked a debate among economists about whether Asia might be losing its competitiveness as wages and other costs rise. But Asia’s share of US imports, according to data from the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, has been growing since 2002 alongside a steady climb in China’s exports since its 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization.

“There’s no compelling evidence that the competitiveness of EM (emerging market) Asia’s exports has fallen,” said Johanna Chua, head of Asia economics and market analysis at Citigroup in Hong Kong. The sluggish recovery in US imports reflects the lopsided nature of the US recovery, she said, one led by housing and shale gas instead of consumer spending or business investment.

“We’re not getting a broad-based recovery,” said Chua. l