November 14, 2013

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Kartik 30, 1420 Muharram 9, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 231

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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Nisha Desai’s visit raises hope for BNP The opposition considers not calling hartal during the US official's trip kar Ali Manik and n Julfi Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The main opposition BNP hopes for some positive developments from US official Nisha Desai Biswal’s visit to Dhaka in resolving the existing political stalemate over a polls-time government.

Leaders of the BNP and its 18-party alliance partners expressed the hope at a time when the ruling Awami League and its allies are heading towards forming an “all-party” interim government to hold the upcoming national election

by January 24 even if BNP does not join.

The BNP-led opposition alliance enforced violent hartals in the past three weeks to “compel” the government to meet their demand for a non-partisan government to oversee the polls.

'Obviously her [Desai] efforts to further follow up the requests outlined in the letter of the secretary of state [John Kerry] is possibly the main purpose of her visit.'

Despite speculations that the BNP will slap shutdown next week too, a number of opposition leaders said they might pause for a while considering Desai’s three-day visit beginning Saturday.

Nisha Desai Biswal, US assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon and leave Monday.

BNP sourc es said they were considering not to announce any shutdown during Desai’s Dhaka trip because of their embarrassment in May as US Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy R Sherman cancelled her meeting with Khaleda during her Dhaka visit

as the opposition did not withdraw its hartal on the day of her arrival.

However, the BNP late last night announced to hold demonstration programmes at all district and upazila headquarters on Saturday, demanding the release of its detained leaders and protesting against police repression.

Acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme after a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office.

The opposition sources said BNP would most likely observe another three-day shutdown from Tuesday after Desai’s departure.

There might be tougher agitation programmes in case the Election Commission announced the polls schedule, and senior leaders would take to the streets, they said.

Asked what would be their next programmes, BNPs Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday told reporters that they would declare the programmes in a day or two.

Many BNP leaders do not see any possibility of their demand being met despite tough political programmes such as hartal. They think Desai might play a role in making some progress in holding a dialogue between the Awami League and BNP. BNP policymaker Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “The latest visit by the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia with the sole agenda of Bangladesh is not difficult to comprehend.

“Obviously her [Desai] efforts to further follow up the requests outlined in the letter of the secretary of state [John Kerry] is possibly the main purpose of her visit.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Tribunal closes Nizami case, verdict any day n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal yesterday closed the defence’s closing arguments in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and kept the case for verdict.

The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal 1 delivered the order as the defence had not appeared before the court for hartal for the fourth consecutive day.

On Tuesday, the proceedings were adjourned and the tribunal gave the defence last chance and submit their part of closing arguments that they had begun on November 7.

Through junior counsels, the conducting defence lawyers yesterday submitted same adjournment petition on the ground of “personal difficulties.”

The tribunal in its order said: “Considering all factual and legal aspects...the defence should not be allowed any more adjournment on the same ground, and therefore, the summing up the defence case by the counsel have to concluded and the petition for adjournment rejected.”

It then gave the defence five more days to defence to submit written argument.

In a quick reaction, defence counsel Tajul Islam said  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

INSIDE News

3 Despite the current government’s commitment to install at least 22 coal-based power plants in the country, construction work at these projects have largely been limited to contract signing, laying foundation stones and planning so far.

Juris

5 Right to Information Act, 2009 is a milestone in the legal history of Bangladesh. This is the first act after independence of Bangladesh that ensures people’s right to obtain information from the government officials and other organisations.

Nation

7 The west zone authority of Bangladesh Railway has declared red alert fearing more sabotage to railroad tracks during hartal being enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Two workers returning from abroad wait long hours outside the Shahjalal International Airport as passenger vehicles were unavailable because of the opposition-sponsored hartal yesterday. Story on Page 16 SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Apparel makers accept Tk5,300 minimum wage for RMG workers n

Kailash Sarkar and Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) leaders last night accepted the government-proposed minimum wage of Tk5,300 for the garments workers.

Abdus Salam Murshedi, former president of the BGMEA, told the Dhaka Tribune that they have agreed to the proposed Tk5,300 minimum wage at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s request, which was made during a meeting with BGMEA and BKMEA leaders at the premier’s official residence Ganabhaban.

Murshedi also said a meeting between BGMEA and BKMEA leaders and Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju

was supposed to be held at the ministry today (Thursday) noon.

BGMEA Vice President Reaz-BinMahmood said as per the premier's request they also decided to keep all factories in Ashulia and Savar open on Thursday, although the factory owners had earlier decided to keep the factories closed for the day in the Ashulia zone, where 257 factories were located.

Sirajul Islam Roni, who represented the workers at the wage board and was also the president of the Bangladesh National Garment Sramik Karmochari League, welcomed the decision by the BGMEA and BKMEA leaders and the factory owners for accepting the new wage scale.

He urged the factory owners to implement the new wage scale from November, while also calling on the

workers, who had been carrying out a movement demanding a minimum wage of Tk8,114, to accept the new wage scale and refrain from violence and agitation.

However, another workers’ leader Moshrefa Mishu, president of Garments Workers Unity Front, said they would request the factory owners to increase the basic salary for the workers as they had been carrying out movement demanding Tk8,114 as the minimum wage.

On November 4, the new wage board chaired by AK Roy finalised the minimum wage at Tk5,300.

But both the owners and the workers rejected the proposed scale, with the owners demanding Tk4,250 minimum wages and the workers calling for the minimum wage of Tk8,114. l

Cabinet to meet on Sunday n Mohosinul Karim

The ministers who expressed their “intent” to resign last Monday received invitation from the cabinet division to join the next cabinet meeting scheduled to be held next Sunday.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Amin on Wednesday evening confirmed that he had received the invitation. “All the ministers will join the Sunday’s meeting,” he said.

Earlier on the day, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the Dhaka Tribune that the regular cabinet meeting had been called at 10am on Sunday, a day before the scheduled day of regular cabinet meeting which is usually held on Monday.

When asked if the ministers of present cabinet or interim government will join the meeting, he said: “I am not aware of it yet. Only the prime minister  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, November 14, 2013

CEC: EC did not contact BNP n Mohammad Zakaria

Khaleda attends Gulshan office after 5 days

The Election Commission took no official decision to contact BNP, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said yesterday.

“We have said it before. We want a fair elections. We will wait till the end for this if needed,” he told journalists at his office after a meeting.

The statement of CEC came after Election Commissioner Zabed Ali said main opposition BNP responded positive about polls after the commission contacted them.

Meanwhile, the EC finalised the electoral code of conduct in the meeting with two inclusions based on public opinion. l

n Tribune Desk

Germany, Japan express concern over ACC’s independence n Syed Samiul Basher Anik Germany and Japan yesterday expressed concern over the amended Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2013, saying there were worries of whether the commission could work independently like before or not.

Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Shiro Sadoshima and German Ambassador Dr Albrecht Conze stated their views after a meeting with ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman and two commissioners – M Shahabuddin and Nasir Uddin – at the ACC headquarters.

“The amended law is conflicting with provision 27 of the constitution that says every citizen is equal before law. We will talk with the authorities concerned and request them to take necessary measures to ensure independency of the commission,” Conze told reporters.

Parliament on Sunday approved an amendment to the ACC Act 2004, barring the commission from filing cases against judges, magistrates and public servants without the government’s permission.

On Monday, the commission chairman also expressed similar concern, saying the provision of taking the government’s permission for filing cases against public servants was in conflict with the constitution and the ACC law itself. l

AL sells 1,769 nomination forms first four days n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The ruling Awami League had sold another 293 nomination forms to their aspirant leaders for the upcoming general election, totalling the number 1,769 after four days of the form selling and receiving move.

Out of it, total 1,289 forms had been received so far, Mrinal Kanti Das, member secretary of the nomination paper sale committee told the Dhaka Tribune.

The party earned a total of Tk44.2m in these four days as each form costs Tk25,000.

Some top leaders of the party, including Begum Matia Chowdhury in Sherpur, Sahara Khatun in Dhaka, Meher Afroze Chumki in Gazipur, Sagufta Yasmin in Munshiganj, ASM Feroz in Patuakhali, Kazi Nabil Ahmed in Jessore, Md Aslamul Hoque in Dhaka, had collected their nomination forms. l

Jamaat’s countrywide demo today n Tribune Reports Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold demonstrations across the country today, protesting the recent announcement made by election commission stating that the party could not participate in the upcoming polls.

Party acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan issued a written statement in this regard yesterday.

Calling the announcement “unconstitutional” and “illegal” the statement reads: “The election commission set up

by Awami League government is planning to hold a one sided election.”

Claiming that the government is trying to plot against the party by using the EC, the statement read: “The government is hatching a multifaceted conspiracy against Jamaat to refrain them from participating in the national election. The Election Commission is being used as a tool to annihilate us.”

The press release also claimed that people want resignation of the biased EC official as well as the government.

The press note urged all countrymen to make the demonstration a success. l

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia arrives at her Gulshan office last night after the 84-hour hartal ended in the evening

BNP

Hartal ends amid violence; 2 dead n Tribune Desk The opposition’s 84-hour marathon hartal ended at 6 pm yesterday amid sporadic street clashes, arson attacks, vandalism and crude bomb blasts across the country, leaving two people dead and over 400 injured.

Nirmal Das, 42, son of Pranhari Das of Madhyam Madrasa area and an employee of University of Science and Technology (USTC), was killed when an auto-rickshaw overturned amid a chase by hartal pickets at Katakhali in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong on the first day of the hartal on Sunday, reports UNB. In Pabna, Asadul Islam, 28, a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal activist and son of late Azizul Haque of Muladuli Bazar area, drowned in a ditch as he jumped into it reportedly after being chased by police while picketing in Iswardi upazila on Tuesday on the third day of the hartal on Tuesday.

In the capital, at least eight people suffered serious burn injuries as unidentified miscreants set a bus alight in the city’s Matuail area around 2:15 pm on Tuesday.

The non-stop shutdown was enforced to press the current regime for arranging the next general election under a non-party administration.

According reports reaching the UNB news desk, at least 250 vehicles were damaged, 380 crude bombs blasted and over 400 opposition activists arrested across the country during the 84-hour hartal.

In Dhaka city on Wednesday, pro-hartal activists brought out sporadic processions in support of the shutdown at different points of the city and locked into clashes with the law enforcers.

Incidents of chase and counter-chase between police and hartal supporters were reported from different parts of the city, including Jatrabari, Mouchak, Uttar Badda, Panthapath, Madartek, Mirpur and Moghbazar.

Educational institutions and most shopping malls were closed, but government and non-government offices in the capital ran as usual.

Motorised vehicles plied the city streets in larger numbers unlike the three previous shutdowns.

Violent incidents like vandalising and torching vehicles, clashes between hartal pickets and police and ruling party activists, arrest of opposition leaders and activists and crude bomb blasts were also reported from a number of districts, including Lalmonirhat, Comilla, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Laxmipur and Bogra.

In Lalmonirhat, at least 18 people were injured in a train derailment as

pickets uprooted a rail track in Tusvandar area of Kaliganj upazila early yesterday.

Following the accident, all types of train movement between the district town and the land port remained suspended till filing of the report at about 6:30 pm.

All types of vehicles engaged in providing medical services, ambulances, media vehicles and medicine and food shops were out of the hartal purview.

The shutdown programme was originally set for 72 hours from 6:00am on Sunday to 6:00am yesterday, but it was later extended by 12 hours to 6:00pm yesterday in protest against the arrest of senior BNP leaders.

Earlier, the opposition alliance enforced two spells of 60-hour countrywide shutdown – October 27-29 and November 4-6 – to press for the same demand, which left 20 people killed and over 8,000 people injured across the country. l

Female police officials surround BNP lawmakers Shammi Akter, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni and Rasheda Begum Hira in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Tribunal closes Nizami case, verdict any day  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

they would submit a plea for review of the order and hoped to place their argument before the tribunal verbally.

When the tribunal pronounced “verdict would be any day,” Nizami, who was sitting in the dock, was curious to know what was happening. After the tribunal left the court, the junior defence counsels told him about the order and Nizami turned calm and quite.

The Jamaat chief was indicted on 16 charges of crimes against humanity including murder, rape, arson and inciting violence he had allegedly committed in Pabna and Dhaka during the 1971 Liberation War. On the first day of their argument, defence counsel Mizanul Islam argued for the whole day claiming that during the war, Nizami had played his role as a

politician not as al-Badr chief, and that the prosecution could not prove any crime of Nizami.

He also claimed that after September of 1971, Nizami had not been the chief of Islami Chhatra Sangha. He also said the statements the accused had made after that was his “political responsibility.”

Earlier, the prosecution in their closing arguments sought capital punishment for Nizami. They told the tribunal that they were grateful to the defence as they had helped the prosecution unintentionally by submitting some documents which were more accurate to establish the prosecution’s case.

The prosecution said by praising the atrocities committed by the Pakistani occupation army, Nizami in his

series of public addresses (in Rangpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Barguna and Barisal’s Bakerganj) had incited the audience to commit further offence. “And incitement has to realise with combined text and context. Nizami not only incited his men in Chhatra Sangha to commit all the heinous crimes against humanity, but he also praised the Pakistani occupation army for the same reason.”

Earlier on July 22 last year, the defence submitted a list of 10,111 witnesses. Upon objection by the prosecution, they later prayed for permission for 25 witnesses to testify for the war crimes suspect. But the tribunal approved four witnesses.

For the prosecution side, 25 people including the investigation officer gave their deposition. l

Nisha Desai’s visit raises hope for BNP  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

The BNP Standing Committee member said: “A negotiated settlement could be the best way out of this quagmire even under this extreme circumstance where it appears that the dialogue process may have broken down.”

On September 8, Kerry sent letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, urging them to find a way to hold free, fair and credible national elections.

BNP chairperson’s Adviser Osman Farruk said they would present to Desai their stance on not participating in any elections under a partisan government.

It would be Biswal’s first trip to Dhaka after being assigned for South Asian desk.

A media note of the US State Department said she would discuss shared global, regional and bilateral priorities

with Bangladesh government, opposition, labour, and civil society leaders.

The source involved with the arrangements of Biswal’s trip said in a situation where Bangladesh’s politics and upcoming election had become the main issues, automatically these would get priority in her meetings with the ruling and opposition party leaders and civil society members.

Biswal’s schedules during the trip are not yet announced officially. But Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, vice chairman of BNP, said she would meet Khaleda.

“The date and time of the meeting is yet to be finalised, but it could be held on Sunday,” he said.

Moyeen Khan said: “The idea of an all-party government is a meaningless concept on several counts…There can-

not be an all-party government within the concept of a plural democratic system where there will be no opposition to establish the accountability of the government.

“Under this conflicting circumstance, it is not surprising that our friends in the international community will be eager to promote an end to the current political impasse through dialogues and negotiations between the warring parties.”

Opposition alliance’s partner Bangladesh Jatiya Party’s (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha told the Dhaka Tribune: “The government is moving towards holding a lopsided election, ignoring people’s hopes and aspirations. As we are living in a global village, diplomats may interfere in the country’s politics.” l

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia arrived at her Gulshan political office last night amid the rumour of her house arrest following the deployment of additional police around her Gulshan residence.

Staying indoors for five days, which include 84-hour hartal enforced by her party-led alliance, the BNP chairperson came at the Gulshan office around 8 pm when BNP vice chairpersons Shahjahan Omar and Selima Rahman, BNP chairperson’s advisers Sabihuddin Ahmed and MA Qayum received her, says a UNB report.

Khaleda Zia last attended her Gulshan office on Thursday, the day

before three of her party’s central leaders were arrested along with one of her advisers and personal assistant.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP standing committee members Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman and Brig (retd) Hannan Shah, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) Prof Moniruzzaman Mia, former secretary Asafuddowla, DU Professor Mahbubullah, journalist Mahfuzullah, Brac University Professor Pias Karim, among others, met Khaleda Zia after her arrival.

Meanwhile, huge police have been deployed around Khaleda’s Gulshan office. l

Akbar Ali Khan sees no reason for controversy

Resignation conditional: Suranjit id until their successors took charge. n Tribune Report Former cabinet secretary Akbar Ali Minister without a portfolio Suranjit Sengupta yesterday said the cabinet members’ expression of intent to resign was “conditional” under article 58(2) of the constitution and their posts would not fall vacant unless the prime minister sent the letters to the president.

The cabinet ministers had resigned following a call from the prime minister and nothing unconstitutional had been there, he told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The prime minister requested the ministers to resign and the ministers respected her request. We reigned as per article 58(2) of the constitution,” said Suranjit.

The constitutional provision says the prime minister can ask any minister to step down.

Article 58(1) says the post of a minister will fall vacant following his/her resignation.

“So, article 58(1) will not be applicable here,” Suranjit said, adding: “What the ministers have done is constitutional, legal and legitimate.”

He said a section of people, including the BNP, had questioned the resignation issue with a “political motive.”

He said all of his cabinet colleagues might not be aware of the constitutional obligation.

Suranjit resigned from the cabinet on Saturday while the rest of the present cabinet submitted their resignation letters to the PM on Monday, an action that sparked debates and criticism among legal experts and opposition parties. They said the resignation letters had vacated the posts of the ministers.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed also claimed on Tuesday that the resignation was not unconstitutional.

Referring to article 58(4) of the constitution, Suranjit said the constitution also had a provision to keep the ministers val-

Khan told the Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday that it was important to know the content of the resignation letter before making any comment.

When he was informed that a minister wrote in the letter: “You [prime minister] announced the formation of an all-party government. To pave the way of forming the all-party government, I am expressing my intent to resign from the cabinet. I am submitting the matter for your consideration,” he said: “If this is the content of a letter of a minister, I would say it is not clearly an unconditional resignation letter.

“Rather, it is a conditional resignation letter, the condition being the formation of the all-party government. If the all-party government is formed, then the resignation can be considered. If the all-party government is not formed, the resignation will not be effective.”

Article 58(1)(a), according to which a minister’s post falls vacant if the minister resigns from office by placing a resignation letter in the hands of the prime minister for submission to the president, would not be applicable in this conditional resignation letter, he said.

The former top bureaucrat does not see any reason for controversy over the ministers’ continuing offices. He said everything would not be stated in the constitution.

Three legal notices were served yesterday, requesting the ministers not to function as ministers anymore and make a public statement in this regard by 10am today.

Supreme Court lawyer Ruhul Quddus Kajal sent a notice on behalf of Tuhin Malik to the cabinet secretary, asking him to send it to all ministers.

Two other legal notices were served by pro-BNP lawyers Abdullah Al Baki and Zulfikar Ali Zunu. l

Cabinet to meet on Sunday  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

knows about it.” The cabinet meeting has been scheduled to be held a day earlier as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to visit Bangladesh next Monday. The prime minister and the ministers will be busy with him, Musharraf said.

The cabinet secretary also said the cabinet division was yet to get any resignation letters from the prime minister.

The division will prepare a summary after getting the resignation papers.

They will be sent to the president after the approval of the prime minister.

“The resignation letters will come into effect only after the president accepts those. The cabinet division will issue an order declaring the posts vacant after getting president’s consent,” he said.

The prime minister will send the resignation letters of those to the cabinet division who will not continue with the polls-time government. The rest of the ministers will continue with the interim government which will be smaller in size. New ministers will also be included.

Asked about his statement after the last cabinet meeting that it was the last meeting of the cabinet’s present format Bhuiyan said: “The statement was given taking into consideration the situation. The cabinet meeting will not stop, it will continue as the activities of the government will not be suspended.”

The cabinet secretary admitted that they had received a legal notice from a lawyer challenging the legality of ministers’ continuation with their office after submission of their resignations.

“We are examining the notice.”

“Usually there is no compulsion of replying any notice from lawyers.

We only reply to the notices of courts.

However, we may reply the notice, if it’s necessary,” he added.

Supreme Court lawyer Ruhul Quddus Kajal, a former leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, an associated body of the opposition BNP, yesterday served a legal notice on behalf of Tuhin Malik requesting the ministers, who submitted resignation letters, not to function as ministers anymore and for making a public statement in this regard by 10am of today.

In case of not meeting the deadline by the ministers, the matter would be taken to the proper court, said the notice which was sent to the cabinet secretary asking him to serve it to all the ministers.

It was alleged in the notice that the ministers who resigned were still benefitting themselves with all official protocols and financial benefits which was totally unconstitutional and against the rule of law.

Referring to article 7A of the constitution Supreme Court lawyer Tuhin Malik, who met Khaleda Zia on Monday, termed the minister’s activities treason which should be dealt with the law.

He urged the cabinet secretary to strike out the name of the ministers from the website of cabinet.

Two other legal notices were also served on the same issue by two proBNP lawyers named Abdullah Al Baki and Zulfikar Ali Zunu.

Regarding the allegation, the cabinet secretary said: “The public servants will consider one as a minister while he takes oath as a minister. They will be treated as minister until the president accepts his resignation. We are yet to get any resignation letter from the prime minister.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Coal-based power projects still a distant dream n Aminur Rahman Rasel Despite the current government’s commitment to install at least 22 coalbased power plants in the country, construction work at these projects have largely been limited to contract signing, laying foundation stones and planning so far.

With little or no visible progress at the project sites, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday laid the foundation stones for seven coal-fired power plants at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in the capital Including these seven, a total of eight coal-fired power plants have seen their foundation stones laid in conference rooms, rather than real locations. The foundation stone for Bagerhat’s 1320MW coal-fired Rampal power plant was laid in Kushtia’s

Bheramara back in October.

The government had pledged to install the 22 coal-fired power plants project with a combined capacity of 16439MW under the government, joint-venture and independent power producer (IPP) initiative.

Of them, under the IPP initiative, local firms Orion group was supposed to build five coal-based power plants with a total capacity of 2,351MW while S Alam Group would for the first time build two plants with a combined capacity of 888MW. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) Limited, a stateowned company, under the management of Bangladesh Armed Forces was also supposed to build a 600MW plant.

Fazle Rahman Power station 600MW while Chittagong Power Company limited (An Enterprise of BSRM) was sup-

posed to build one 150MW plant.

On the other hand, under the government’s initiative, seven power plants with a capacity of 5490MW and another four plants producing 5040MW were supposed to be constructed on government to government (G to G) basis while a 1320mw plant would be built in joint-venture.

All these plants are supposed to start production between March 2015 and 2020.

Currently, the 250MW Barapukuria thermal power plant in Dinajpur is the only operational government-run coalbased power plant. Coal for this plant is supplied by the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited.

At present, PDB buys each unit of electricity for less than Tk2 from gasbased plants, and for Tk5.50 from coalbased plants, however, per unit cost of

electricity from a plant run on diesel or furnace oil is Tk14-Tk17.

If the proposed and under construction plants start generating electricity, the price will come down significantly as the prices of electricity from these plants would be Tk4 to Tk7 per unit.

Currently daily power production in the country is 6000MW against a demand of 7,000MW. “It takes time as the power plants will be set up depending on imported coal, which is a challenging job,” Professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Ijaz Hossain told The Dhaka Tribune.

He said delayed planning, non-availability of finance and implementation complexities have caused the setback, resulting in a major failure of the ruling alliance.

Meanwhile, Orion Group spokesper-

son Chowdhury Khaled Masud told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are now working on earth filing at the project sites. After finishing this we will start the construction works.”

“Scarcity of land and lack of available fund caused to delay,” Power Development Board Chairman Abdul Wahab Khan told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Establishing a large power plant is a matter of time. Besides, we did not undertake such mega projects before.”

“We have tried our level best. We hope we would be able to start the main work as we have already laid foundation stones of some of the plants,” hoped Power division Secretary Monowar Islam.

The government has a target to generate around 20,000MW of electricity from coal-based power projects by 2030. l

BDR CARNAGE CASE

138 out of 152 death convicts appeals to HC n Tribune Report A total of 138 out of the 152 convicts, who were sentenced to death earlier this month in the BDR carnage case have appealed against the verdict in the High Court through the Dhaka Central Jail authority.

Senior Superintendent at the Dhaka Central Jail, Forman Ali said the convicts who are currently in jail filed separate applications for submission to the HC registrar, on November 8. The jail authority forwarded their applications to the court Sunday.

Of the 152 convicts, 138 were under custody while 14 were on the run.

After receiving the copies, however, the HC officials said the appeals would not be proceeded for hearing without copies of the judgement.

The jail authorities said they could not attach the copies as they were yet to obtain them, and have already applied.

According to jail sources, in their applications, the convicts claimed that they were not involved in the February 25-26, 2009 munity in the Pilkhana BDR Headquarters, where 74 people including 57 army officers were brutally murdered.

“The convicts have appealed following the court’s verdict, which said they had to appeal within seven days of the pronouncing the judgement. I have heard that the convicts will appeal through their lawyers, as early as Sunday,” the jail senior superintendent said.

Contacted, Supreme Court registrar AKM Shamsul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the applications have reached the despatch section of the jail appeal section.

Dhaka metropolitan Third Additional Session’s Court Judge, Md Akhtaruzzaman sentenced the 152 to death and 411 others to imprisonment from three years to life term on November 5. l

The government is likely to appoint a local firm to construct the Padma Water Treatment Plant to bring water from the Padma River to Dhaka metropolis after treating it at Munshiganj.

LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam’s proposal on the plant would be placed at a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase today for approval, an official of the ministry said yesterday.

The official told the Dhaka Tribune that the project would start within three months.

As per the proposal, on completion of the project, Dhaka Wasa will supply additional 450m litres of water a day. Wasa currently supplies 2,000m litres of water in the capital every day against a demand for 2,200m litres.

The Exim Bank of China would provide Tk24.13bn for the project while Wasa would provide Tk220m. The project is expected to be completed by June 2016.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the project last year. l

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

A policeman asking garment workers in the capital’s Ashulia to return home yesterday morning

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Jucsu election planned on January 2

n Tribune Desk

n Mahadi Al Hasnat

Production at 70 ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Gazipur and Savar were suspended for yesterday after workers clashed with cops demanding implementation of the new salary structure recommended by the government-appointed wage board.

In Gazipur, at least 50 RMG units in the city suspended their production as the workers of several garment factories staged demonstrations demanding a hike in their salary in the morning.

Witnesses said garment workers from Konabari, Kashimpur, Laxmipura and Chandana areas of the city took to the streets and staged demonstrations in the morning to press for immediate implementation of their new minimum wage of Tk 5,300, reports UNB. They put up barricade on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, disrupting traffic.

As police obstructed them, they threw brickbats at the law enforcers, triggering

Government to appoint local firm to monitor construction n Tribune Report

Nisha Desai to meet opposition leaders

RMG unrest: 70 RMG units shut in Gazipur, Savar a clash around 8:30 am that left 10 people injured. Police lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators.

Later, the authorities closed 50 factories for the day.

Additional police were deployed in the areas to fend off further trouble. In Savar, production at 20 garment factories was suspended following labour unrest on the outskirts of the capital.

Police said the workers of ‘Standard Group’ went on a work abstention and staged demonstration over the salary hike at Hemayetpur Rishipara in the morning. At one stage, the agitated workers blocked Dhaka-Singair road, disrupting vehicular movement.

The workers also swooped on ‘Babylon Group’ and ‘Aman Winter Ltd’ factories and vandalised valuables, including 30 computers, 20 vehicles, close circuit camera, and internet server.

When police tried to disperse them, a chase and counter chase took place forc-

PADMA RIVER WATER TREATMENT PLANT

ing the law enforcers to fire rubber bullets and teargas shells, leaving 35 people injured.

The workers of another garment factory named ‘Azim Group’ staged demonstrations at Birulia near Savar Bus Stand over the same issue.

When the industrial police tried to resist them, a clash broke out in the area, leaving 15 people injured.

Meanwhile, some workers of readymade garment factories staged demonstration after seeing closure notices at the main gates of their factories at Kabirpur in Ashulia.

However, all garment factories at Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital remained closed on Wednesday as per the directive of BGMEA for security reason.

Recently, the board formed to re-fix the minimum wage for the garment workers at its meeting finalised a new minimum wage structure for garment at Tk 5,300 which was rejected by the owners. l

KSJL leader Kader Siddiqui comes out of a car in front of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Monday, the second day of the 84-hour hartal. Khaleda, on the same day, had cancelled appointments with some of the party leaders since they rode cars during hartals DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Election Commission for Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) polls yesterday declared its election schedule amid the ongoing impasse on the campus.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof AKM Shahnewaz declared January 2 to be the new date for polls at Teachers and Students Centre at 11:30am.

The aspiring candidates would vie for 16 posts including those of president and general secretary.

In the meantime, agitating teachers of the university said they would not go for further movement following JU Chancellor’s directives.

Earlier, VC Prof Anwar Hossain declared that Jucsu polls would be held on December 5.

Nomination papers would be distributed from November 19 and submitted within November 26.

The EC would publish the preliminary list of candidates on December 5 while the final list on December 15.

The deadline of withdrawal of nomination paper is December 8.

According to EC, any candidate can withdraw their names three days prior to the election as per the 8/h section of JU Act. However, JU unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal protested against Jucsu polls as they were allegedly counted out by the university authority.

A press release signed by Chhatra Dal president Zakirul Hossain and general secretary Abu Sayeed Bhuiya said JU authority formed the Election Commission for polls with a group of like-minded individuals.

JU must ensure a student-friendly environment before the election took place, or else the Jucsu polls would be resisted, said the press release.

Chhatra Dal secretary Abu Sayeed Bhuiya told the Dhaka Tribune Jucsu election without their participation would not be acceptable.

According to JU Proctor Prof Md Muzibur Rahman, “Only legal students can participate in the polls and cast their votes while most Chhatra Dal leaders have lost their studentship.”

Protesting the JU proctor’s comment Chhatra Dal president Zakirul Hossain alleged that Chhatra League president Mahmudur Rahman Jony, Chhatra Front convener Moytree Barman and former Chhatra Union president Joydeep were also nonstudents but the authorities were patronising them for Jucsu polls.

“We are students, but fail to go for our classroom and take exam because of security reasons on the campus,” said the Chhatra Dal president.

JU agitating teachers said they would not launch any new movement violating the directives of the university Chancellor President Abdul Hamid.

Prof Amir Hossain, an agitating teacher and dean of Social Science Faculty, told the Dhaka Tribune, “We have obeyed the President’s order and we think the President would take action against whoever violates his directive.”

On November 6, JU Chancellor President Abdul Hamid asked the vicechancellor to arrange senate election and select the VC panel with the help of senate members immediately to eliminate the ongoing standoff on the campus. Anti-vice-chancellor teachers’ panel and VC Prof Anwar Hossain himself are giving their respective version of the chancellor’s directives.

The vice-chancellor claims that JU chancellor asked him to select VC panel reforming the university senate while the teachers say Prof Anwar was asked to hold only the VC panel election with the help of incumbent senate members.

To get VC Prof Anwar Hussain’s comment on the chancellor’s directives, several attempts were made to reach his cellphone, but to no avail.

On the other hand, a section of university unit Chhatra League loyal to its president Mahmudur Rahman Jony yesterday formed a human chain on the campus demanding Jucsu poll immediately. Over 200 Chhatra League activists and general students attended the human chain at 11am in front of registrar office under the banner of “Shikkharthibrindo.”

The activities of Jucsu remain closed for more than 20 years in the university while the last poll was held in 1992. l

Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will undertake her first bilateral visit to Dhaka in the middle of November to discuss global, regional, and bilateral priorities with Bangladesh officials and opposition political leaders.

“She will discuss shared global, regional, and bilateral priorities with Bangladesh government, opposition, labour, and civil society leaders.

While in Bangladesh, she will meet with government officials, political leaders, labor groups, and civil society representatives,” said a media note of the US State Department.

This will be her first bilateral trip in the capacity of assistant secretary and in the first visit she will only come to Dhaka out of all countries she is responsible for.

Biswal was sworn in as the assistant secretary on October 21 replacing Robert O Blake.

The visit of Nisha Desai, who is expected to arrive in Dhaka on November 16 on a three-day trip, is considered as significant as it coincides with the confrontational political situation prevailing in the country in the run-up to the next elections.

Foreign ministry officials said political situation, upcoming election, Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue and labour issues may come up in discussion during Nisha Biswal’s Dhaka visit.

The US assistant secretary will hold an official meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque on November 18 where she is likely to discuss the third partnership dialogue to be held next year in Washington, Director General of the Americas Desk Mahfuzur Rahman said.

Her meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is yet to be fixed but she would call on Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on November 17, foreign office sources said.

When asked if she would meet BNP chairperson Khaldea Zia, another diplomat said it was a practice of senior US officials to meet the leader of the opposition.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune that Biswal might meet Khaleda on Sunday but it was yet to be finalized.

Her predecessor Robert O’ Blake, during his visits to Dhaka, met Khaldea Zia. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also met Khaldea at her Gulshan residence in 2011. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Govt backtracks on issuing recruiting licences Out of 78 applicants, only BRAC likely to get a recruiting licence “We have convinced the minister n Rabiul Islam and he has agreed not to issue more liApparently to avoid criticism, the government has backtracked from its earlier decision to issue a large number of recruiting licences, senior officials at the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry said on Tuesday.

Out of a total 78 applicants, only Bracis likely to get a recruiting license named,“DeshBandhu,” the officials said adding that the rest of the applicants were not qualified.

“Not only Brac, if we can find other qualified applicants we will issue more licences,” Expatriates’ Welfare Minister KhandkerMosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

He, however, said it was not true that more licences would not be given.

“After scrutinising the applicationsthoroughly, only Brachas been picked,” a senior official at the ministry seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune.

cences at the end of the government’s tenure,” the official said.

Meanwhile, a director at the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) had recently said the Brachas offices in different countries and can send workers abroad.

Quoting Brac officials, the director said many countries request Bracto supply manpower, but it cannot do so as it does not have a recruiting license.

Earlier, officials at the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry said nearly 80 applications were submitted for the license.

Officials at the expat ministry said there were around 1,200 private recruiting licences. Of them, hardly 300 to 400 recruiting agencies were sending workers abroad. According to the BMET, 850 recruiting agencies were currently active in the country. l

10,000MW POWER GENERATION CAPACITY

PM takes a swipe at Rampal critics

Trains to transport more essentials during hartals

n Tribune Desk

n Tribune Desk

PM hoodwinked nation, JS body member claims n Nazmus Sakib AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, a BNP lawmaker and a member of the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of power and mineral resources, yesterday claimed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had tried to hoodwink the nation by saying the government was able to generate 10,000 megawatt of electricity.

Referring to a news report, Khokon said the PM’s claim was an impossible one as 6000MW was the country’s highest power generation capacity.

Khokon, who is also a joint secretary of the main opposition party, made the claims at a press briefing, held at the Supreme Court Bar Association’s media centre yesterday.

Khokon further alleged that Hasina’s regime had gained Tk200bn through corruption involving quick-rental power plants, resulting in increased electricity prices.

He demanded a judicial inquiry, led by a Supreme Court judge who is acceptable to all, to find the culprits behind the alleged scam. He also insisted that the government’s contracts with the quick-rental plants that charged higher prices had be annulled. Khokon also lambasted the government for giving indemnity to the culprits. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB Weather is likely to remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country until 6pm today.

Night temperature might rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:13pm today and rises at 6:13am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 31.6 degree Celsius was recorded at Sitakunda and lowest 12.8 degrees at Dinajpur and Chuadanga 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

29.5 28.4 28.5 27.8 30.0 29.4 30.4 31.5

17.4 20.4 14.8 15.0 16.5 15.6 17.8 22.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:55am 6:12am 11:43am 3:37pm 5:13pm 6:31pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reassured that the construction of a 1320 megawatt coal-based power plant at Rampal will not do any harm to the Sundarbans and asked the “vested quarters” not to cause any obstruction to the project by creating confusion among the people.

She said: “There are some people who never see the benefit of any work, they resort to various types of false propaganda…they’re conducting propaganda that the Sundarbans will be destroyed with the implementation of the Rampal project.

“But, Sundarbans will not be destroyed as it is huge, and the Awami League government won’t do anything that will cause harm to it,” Hasina added, addressing a mammoth public rally organised by local Awami League at Srifaltala High School ground at Rampal in Bagerhat, reports UNB. Mentioning that seven more coalfired power plants will be set up in the country, she said: “I’ll ask the vested not to create confusion and put obstructions. People of this area are suffering a lot and we’ll have to remove their sufferings. Our aim is to work for the people,” In a scathing attack on the opposition BNP-Jamaat, the Awami League president alleged that they had familiarized Bangladesh in the global arena as a country of militants during their tenure. “They (BNP-Jamaat) only know how to grab everything, but not to give anything to people,” she said.

Highlighting various successes, development activities and achievements of the present government, Hasina sought vote for ‘Boat’, the election symbol of Awami League, to reelect her party in the next general election and thus give another chance to serve the nation.

Chaired by acting president of Rampal upazila Awami League Sheikh Ab-

Students of Willes Little Flower School along with their parents form a human chain outside the school premises yesterday, urging the two main political leaders to provide safe roads, stop hartals and allow them to go to school every day SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

dul Ohab, the rally was also addressed by former Khulna City Corporation mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq.

The Prime Minister said that with the implementation of the 1320 MW coal-fired power plant with support from India, more industries and factories will be set up in the region, thus creating more employment opportunities.

She mentioned that a 500-MW coalbased power plant is already in operation in Dinajpur where thousands of people are living in the surrounding areas and it caused no harm to them. Another 270-MW coal-fired power plant will be set up in Dinajpur to further increase the power generation, she said.

Earlier, at Bheramara in Kushtia on October 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh unveiled the foundation plaque for the Rampal power plant.

Meanwhile, prior to addressing the rally from the Srifaltala High School ground at Rampal, the Prime Minister inaugurated a 200-seat female hostel of Sundarban Women Degree College, Muktijoddha Monument in Rampal upazila and Khulna 150 MW power plant.

She also laid the foundation stones of academic building of Rampal Degree College, Millickerber government primary school cum cyclone center in Rampal upazila, Digraj registered government primary school cum cyclone center in Mongla upazila, Rampal Upazila Muktijoddha Complex, 93-meter PSC girder bridge at Shelabunia Baidyamari Bazar in Mongla pourasava, extended building of Rampal Upazila Parishad, embankment rehabilitation work including permanent protection work at 35/3 polder at Bagerhat sadar and Rampal upazila, integrated water management project in Bagerhat, upgradation of Khulna 150 MW peaking power plant to 225 MW combined cycle power plant. l

Essential commodities, especially perishable goods, will be sent to destinations through trains due to disruption in supply chain during the current chaotic political situation.

The decision was taken at an interministerial meeting held at the capital’s Rail Bhaban with Railways Minister Mujibul Haque in the chair, reports UNB. After the meeting, the minister told the reporters that transportation of different commodities, especially perishable goods, is now being hampered due to the unstable political situation.

Now goods-carrying coaches will be added to the passenger trains to reach essential commodities to different destinations, he said.

He mentioned that a 16-member committee headed by Shah M Zahirul Islam, additional director general (operation) of Bangladesh Railway, has been formed which will take initiatives soon for implementing the decision after identifying hurdles in transporting essential commodities.

He said representatives of different security forces, business organisations and Bangladesh Railway have been incorporated in the committee.

Replying to a query of the journalists, the minister said they will provide luggage carrying bogies whenever those will be needed in any passenger train to ensure uninterrupted supply of the commodities.

Holidays of railway officials concerned involved in the work have been cancelled, he said.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanok, state minister for Home advocate Shamsul Hoque Tuku, Inspector General of Police (IGP), senior BR officials and representatives of Karwan Bazar kitchen market traders were present. l

WORLD DIABETES DAY

Diabetes posing serious health threat as patient numbers rise n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Bangladesh will be observing World Diabetes Day today, at a time when the disease has become a serious health threat for the country, with sources saying the number of registered diabetic patient at the Birdem hospital and its affiliated institutes had risen to more than 800,000 over the last four years.

According to an annual report of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB), the number of registered patients in 2009-10 was only 1,526,435; which climbed to 2,353,419 in 2012-13.

Thousands of people remain under the threat of heart attacks, kidney failures, blindness and amputations due to diabetes.

So far, there had been no national survey of diabetic patients in Bangladesh, but according to a survey by the International Diabetic Federation (IDF), the estimated number of diabetic patients in the country was around 8.4 million.

The DAB had been able to reach only 28% patients, while the other 72% were yet to be identified as diabetic patients.

Specialists at the IDF said one in two people with diabetes do not know they suffer from the disease.

Professor AK Azad Chowdhury, president of the DAB, told the Dhaka Tribune that the number of diabetic patients had been increasing alarmingly in Bangladesh.

At present, most of the 8.4 million diabetic patients were suffering from type-B diabetes, of which 75% was preventable, he added.

Saying that mass social awareness was needed to protect people from diabetes, Dr Azad said failure to do so would result in the number of patients

reaching more than 10 million by the year 2030.

Diabetes specialists said the reasons behind the increase in patients were unplanned urbanisation, change in lifestyles, unhealthy food, smoking and lack of physical exercise.

Introduced in 1991 by the IDF and the World Health Organisation, the World Diabetes Day was also recognised by the United Nations in 2006 following a resolution that was initiated by Bangladesh.

The number of registered patients in 2009-10 was only 1,526,435; which climbed to 2,353,419 in 2012-13 However, sources said Bangladesh had failed to formulate a national diabetes control policy, which the UN had asked all of its member nations to prepare.

Seeking anonymity, several senior officials of the DAB told the Dhaka Tribune that a draft policy had been made three years ago, but was not realised because the government could not fix which ministry should make the final policy. Recently the draft had been given to the health ministry for finalisation, they added.

Bangladesh will celebrate World Diabetes Day 2013 today, with the theme: “Diabetes: know the complications. Diabetes: protect our future.” The DAB has drawn out an elaborate three-day programme, which includes rallies, free diabetes tests, and seminars, to create awareness about the disease.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate statements on the day. l

Conservationists want relocation of Rampal plant to India n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman

As most of the work at the coal-based power plant in Rampal would be done by an Indian company, the plant should be set up there, said Professor Anu Muhammad yesterday.

Professor Anu Muhammad, a teacher of economics at the Jahangirnagar University and member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports proposed was addressing a rally in front of Jatiya Press club.

He said the Rampal power plant could also be built in another part of the country.

Talking about the adverse effects of the plant he said: “The plant will destroy the Sundarbans, and consequently harm people. It will leave Bangladesh unprotected.”

“The people will have to withstand Rampal power plant. It will create [financial burden] as well,” he said.

The 1,320MW power plant project will be constructed in a 50-50 partnership between Bangladesh and the NTPC, the Indian state-owned power generation company. Three agreements were signed in April regarding the project, which could begin operations in 2017.

There has been allegation that the NTPC had failed to set up similar thermal power plants in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamilnadu states of India.

Professor Anu Muhammad said: “We are losing around 2000 MW electricity in system losses. We can get more than 1320 MW electricity if this can be overcome.”

He also urged to promote renewable sources of energy like solar, air and waste.

“We can purchase solar energy from India at Tk8 per unit which is 5.30 rupee

per unit in India,” said Professor Anu Muhammad. India is now building a 5,000MW solar power plant in Rajasthan.

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

Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the national committee, said the government was building the power plant for India’s sake.

Ruhin Hossain Prince, a central leader of CPB, claimed the government lied about touching the 10,000MW power generation capacity milestone as load shedding was still occurring in the city.

Speakers at the rally echoed Professor Anu Muhammad saying there was no alternative to the Sundarbans, but alternative locations were available in the country. l

Members of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports speak at a demonstration in front of the National Press Club capital yesterday, demanding the cancellation of Rampal Power Plant Project MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

Understanding ‘right to information’ Right to Information Act, 2009 is there to ensure people’s right

BIGSTOCK

R

n Md Ariful Islam

ight to Information Act, 2009 is a milestone in the legal history of Bangladesh. This is the first act after independence of Bangladesh that ensures people’s right to obtain information from the government officials and other organisations. This act covers all bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed either directly or indirectly by the government and NGOs and the principal bodies substantially funded by the government.

What is information?

According to the Right to Information Act, “information means documentary material in relation to an authority’s constitution, structure and official activities and includes: memo, book, design, map, contract, data, log book, order, notification, document, sample, letter, report, accounts statement, project proposal, photograph, audio, video, drawing, film, any instrument prepared through electronic process, machine readable documents and any other documentary material regardless of its physical form or characteristics.”

The information which would not be disclosed

Under section 7 of the RTI Act, 2009, following information would not be disclosed in the name security and sovereignty of the state. Hence, people will not able to get the following information: 1) Information relating to: l State security l Sovereignty l Foreign policies l Defence l Public business l Strategy of scientific policies l Intelligence report l State honour 2) Information that may affect the government financial policies 3) Information that may affect the international relationship 4) Any such information that may, if disclosed, offend the privacy of the personal life of an individual 5) Any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the life or physical safety of any person 6) Any information given in confidence to any law enforcement agency by a person

5

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Applying procedure to obtain information

Under section 8 of the RTI Act, 2009, people have to apply in writing either physically or electronically or by e-mail to the concerned office. In the application, the applicant has to give the following information: l Name, address, and where applicable contact number and email address of the applicant. l Correct and clear description of the information sought. l Any other useful and related information that might help locate the information sought. l Description of the mode of receiving the information sought, namely by inspection, taking photo copies, taking notes or any other approved methods.

ASK YOUR ADVOCATE Question: We had a lawyer to defend my elder brother at a Judicial Magistrate Court when he was arrested by the police about six months ago. The lawyer claimed a huge amount of money to get him out of the jail on bail and we agreed to pay.

Once the bail was granted we paid him the whole amount he claimed. Later, the court had acquitted my brother from the charge brought against him. However, the lawyer still claims money from us showing various frivolous reasons e.g. the police may again arrest him or court may reverse its order etc. We are extremely annoyed with this. What can we do?

Shumon Saha, Rajshahi.

Answer: Thank you Mr Saha for your inquiry. Please note that the Bangladesh Bar Council does not regulate as to how much a lawyer may charge for a particular task he/she does for his/her instructing client. Lawyers in Bangladesh enjoy this liberty to charge an amount of fees they thinnk reasonable. As per the Bangladesh Bar Council Code of Conduct, in order to determine the amount of fees, it would be appropriate for a lawyer to consider certain things, ie (i) the time and labour required (ii) the novelty and difficulty of the matter involved and (iii) the skill requisite to properly conduct the case. Since you had agreed to pay him a certain amount of fees for getting your brother out on bail, and you paid such amount upon your brother’s bail, the matter should have ended there.

With regard to whether the police can rearrest your brother or the possibility for the court to reverse the decision, I am unable to make any concluding remarks until I examine the relevant documents. Please note that an order of bail may come with conditions. If it was the case, and your brother had failed to comply with such conditions, the court in such case may issue an warrant to arrest your brother. I believe this has not happened in your brother’s case, as you clearly stated that your brother was acquitted. The police has no power to arrest your brother for the same charge again unless the decision of acquital was annulled by a superior court.

The lawyer has no right or obligation to call you and ask for money, unless you instructed him to take care of legal issues beyond the bail petition. If you had not instructed him further, then the lawyer’s calls and demand of money could be termed as extortion under the provisions of Bangladesh Penal Code. Extortion is treated as a criminal offence in Bangladesh and you may choose to lodge a complaint with the local police station against the lawyer. Alternatively you may as well make a complaint to the Bangladesh Bar Council.

In such case you or your brother must produce all relevant documents along with an affidavit to support such complaint and a fee of Tk1000 to the Bangladesh Bar Council. l Advised by: Md. Hosne Mobarak, an associate at Old Bailey Chambers and he can be reached at: contact@oldbaileybd.com

HUMOUR

Appeal against the concerned authority if it fails to provide information within the prescribed time period

Under the existing RTI Act, 2009, if any person does not get the information sought by him, he may prefer an appeal against the concerned authority: l If the concerned responsible officer fails to provide the information within the time period, the aggrieved person has the option to appeal within the next 30 days from receiving the decision or after the expiry of the time period. l If the appellate authority assumes that the aggrieved persons has justifiable reasons to get information, it may order the concerned officer to provide the information within the next fifteen days. In other cases appeal would be rejected. l If the concerned officer is directed to provide the information by the appellate authority, he must provide the information to the appellant within the time specified in Section 9.

Providing false, incomplete or misleading information

Under section 13(E) of the RTI Act, 2009, if any concerned officer provides any false, incomplete or misleading information to the applicant, the concerned officer will be penalised under section 27(D) and (E) of the RTI Act 2009. Moreover, information commission can also recommend taking departmental action against the concerned officer.

Right to Information Act, 2009 is indeed a great feat in terms of citizen’s empowerment and its development. The problem lies in the fact that people are still unaware of this act. Now it is the responsibility of the media, civil society and different national and international NGOs to educate people about the RTI Act, 2009 so that people can make the best use of the law. l The writer is a postgraduate student of International Relations at University of Dhaka.

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LAWYERS’ PLIGHT

Access to legal services hindered by middlemen n Abu Bakar Siddique

M

arfot Ali, 60, came to the capital from his village in Gazipur, to file an appeal against a district court ruling related to a dispute over property he owns.

Seeking to file his appeal against the court’s decision that had gone against him, he made his way to the Supreme Court where the Bar Association’s offices are located, hoping to find a lawyer who would take up his case.

When a stranger asked if he was looking for a lawyer, Marfot Ali said yes. The man seemed to be willing to help the villager, so Marfot Ali willingly answered all the questions posed by the man, who announced he was a lawyer once the old man gave him the answers to all his queries. To Marfot Ali’s relief, the lawyer offered him his services. The lawyer took him to a canteen, where Marfot Ali was plied with endless supply of snacks and cups of tea, while his “lawyer” sought to learn about his new client’s home, finances and the case.

Only when the “lawyer” had gathered all the information

he needed from his client, he handed him a card with his phone number, and took all the documents Marfot Ali had on him, with the assurance that he would win the case for Marfot Ali. Charges for his services would be Tk50,000, but Marfot Ali pleaded he was a poor man, so they agreed on Tk25,000 to be paid in instalments. Tk15,000 was paid by Marfot Ali to the lawyer right then.

After two months, when Marfot Ali asked how the case was proceeding, his “lawyer” informed him the Lower Court Records (LCR) had not reached the High Court Division (HCD), and asked to be paid another instalment, saying it would expedite the LCR proceed to the HCD, so Marfot Ali agreed to pay Tk5,000. After 6 months, he inquired again about his case and was informed the appeal had been filed and notice served. His “lawyer” again wanted to be paid and Marfot Ali gave another Tk5,000. After four more months, Marfot Ali asked for an update of his appeal.

The “lawyer” informed him that the appeal is ready for hearing and he claimed another Tk5,000 more to make necessary arrangements for hearing. This time Marfot Ali

inquired about his “lawyer” and came to know that the guy was not a lawyer, rather he was merely a clerk. In this way he receives briefs from the clients and conducts cases by employing a lawyer.

He is a middleman only. In most of the cases clients don’t know who their attorneys are. For this reason the cost of filing lawsuits is going up.

One can hardly reach a lawyer without a middleman. This way, many justice seekers become the victim of harassment and costs of the running lawsuits skyrocket Moreover one has to spend extra money to bring their cases in the cause list, to get copies of LCR, even to get the certified copies of the court’s order. Suppose, your bail was granted by the court but you will not be released from the jail until and

unless you spend money to have the court’s order prepared, signed and sent to the jail authority. Unfortunately in each and every step there are middlemen who receive big bucks from you and will have the tasks done by another one with comparatively lower cost. One can hardly reach a lawyer without a middleman. This way, many justice seekers become the victim of harassment and costs of the running lawsuits skyrocket.

Our Bar Council should take immediate action to ensure middleman free court and easy access of the clients to the lawyers. A systematic cause list should be maintained. Cases should be heard according to the date of filling the same. Orders should be supplied within a definite time, preferably, within seven to ten days.

I hope our court area would be more client-friendly where clients will have direct access to lawyers without any harassment. l The writer is an advocate at Dhaka Judge Court and can be reached at siddique.advocate@yahoo.com.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Law enforcers enclose an area, as an unexploded cocktail hurled by the pickets, is found in Chittagong city’s Kazir Deuri

FOCUS BANGLA

Thursday, November 14, 2013

An auto-rickshaw is vandalised by pickets near Barisal BM College area on the final day of hartal

Hartal ends with stray incidents in metropolitans Over 20 hartal supporters arrested, numerous vehicles vandalised and blazed, including police vehicles

n Tribune Report The BNP-led 18-party enforced 84hour countrywide hartal ended yesterday evening amid violence, arrests and stray incidents in four districts.

In Chittagong, the last day of countrywide hartal passed without any major incidents. Jamaat-Shibir activists along with 18-party alliance supporters hurled numerous handmade bombs in different areas of the port city including Kazirdwery, Muradpur, Bibirhat, Bahadderhat, Bakalia, Mohora, KB Aman Ali Road, Mehedibagh, Halishahar, Pahartali, Patenga, and Mohora.

Bombs were also hurled at different areas of the district including Satkania and Sitakunda upazilas, reports BSS. According to police sources, nine pickets were detained on charges of perpetrating violence during the

hartal hours in the city of them, two were detained for hurling handmade bombs at a police van near Kazir Dewri market around 1pm. A central Juba Dal leader, Abul Hashem Bakkar, was arrested on charges of sabotage from the city’s Enayetbazar intersection in the morning. Police also detained seven pro-hartal activists from Chandgaon area around on charges of vandalism.

Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali police station AKM Mahiuddin Selim said Shibir supporters hurled around 11 handmade bombs targeting police patrol in different areas of the city. Police and local sources said hartal supporters damaged two CNG-run auto- rickshaws in Rahattarpool area, one tempo at Pahartali, three CNG-run three wheelers at Chandgaon, one in Shah Amanat Bridge area, two in Bahaddarhat area,

two in Bandar area, one at Agrabad road and another CNG-run auto-rickshaw in city gate area.

Pickets also set ablaze three trucks, two covered vans and one pick-up van on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Pantichila area of Sitakunda, according to Sitakunda police. A chase and counter chase also took place between police and the pro-hartal activists while they were trying to set fire to vehicles. Police fired at least 50 rubber bullets to disperse the pro-hartal activists.

In Rajshahi, BNP activists clashed with the police in the morning. The party claimed that five of its activists were injured in the clash.

Shah Golam Mahmud, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said the BNP activists blocked a road at Ashraf intersection around

10am and the clash began when police went to the spot to remove the blockade. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the pickets as they started to throw bricks upon arrival, he added.

Meanwhile, two BNP activists were detained during the incident and later a Shibir activist was held from the city’s Katakhali area.

In Rangpur, the 84-hour hartal passed off amid violence, cocktail explosions, firing tear shells and rubber bullets injuring 20 people, according to police and locals.

Activists of BNP and its front organisations brought out processions, exploded cocktail bombs, blazed tires, vandalised and torched auto-rickshaws, motorcycles at different places during the hartal.

Furthermore, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out sporadic proces-

sions in the city and exploded cocktail bombs, torched several vehicles and put barricades at many places.

Police arrested six Shibir and BNP front activists from different places in the city on charges of conducting subversive activities during the hartal period.

Police shot tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse pickets leaving 20 hartal supporters injured.

In Khulna, a mobile court awarded imprisonment to 10 pickets on charges of disrupting vehicular movement on the Khulna-Koyra Road by putting barricades with blazed tyres and tree logs.

Executive Magistrate Shamim Hasan delivered the verdict as the charges were proved against 10 BNP activists.

Police sources said the convicts had obstructed the Koyra-Khulna Road around 6am. l

Barisal Metropolitan Magistrate Court starts functioning finally n Anisur Rahman Swapan, Barisal

Shia people bring out an Ashura procession in the city yesterday

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

After more than a decade of upgrading Barisal divisional headquarter to a metropolitan city and six years after creating metropolitan police and magistracy, a metropolitan magistrate court started functioning yesterday.

However, chief metropolitan magistrates, additional chief metropolitan magistrates and magistrates for all of the four police stations under Barisal Metropolitan Police are yet to begin their work.

Rafiqul Islam, who transferred from Mymensingh, yesterday joined as one of the metropolitan magistrates.

On the first day of his office he accepted cognizance of 20 cases to start trial.

Another metropolitan magistrate will also join soon, said Jalal Ahmed,

Nazir of district and session judge, adding jurisdictions of the courts would be distributed accordingly.

Barisal was upgraded to division in 2001 and Barisal district municipal town upgraded to City Corporation in 2003.

Beside, Barisal metropolitan police authority and metropolitan magistracy were created on October 26, 2006.

After separation of judiciary, one chief judicial, two additional chief judicial and 10 judicial magistrate courts were established in the district.

Advocate KBS Ahmed Kabir, government pleader and president of Barisal District Bar Association, Advocate Giasuddin Kabul, district public prosecutor, said they had been demanding immediate functioning of all upazila judicial magistrate courts, metropoli-

tan magistrate courts, and judicial session courts for long for the quick disposal of criminal cases laying pending in Barisal district session and judicial magistrate courts.

However, over 40% posts of judges and magistrates of the courts laying vacant, delaying the justice and increasing sufferings of justice seekers, they added.

At present 36 courts including one district judge, two additional district judge, one chief judicial and two additional chief judicial magistrate, one land survey, one speedy trial, one public safety, one administrative, one prevention of torture against women and children, one divisional special courts, four sub-judge, 10 assistant judge and 10 judicial magistrate courts are functioning. l

Shibir man held for killing BCL leader in Chittagong n Tribune Report Police arrested a Shibir activist in the connection with the killing of Chhatra League leader Mahabubur Rahman Bappi from Amirabad area of Satkaniya upazila in Chittagong yesterday.

The arrestee, Mohammed Arif, 25, son of Mafizur Rahman, is a resident of Satkaniya area of the distrcit.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police conducted drive in Amirabad area and arrested the Shibir man from a house at 5:30pm, said Mohammed Shahajahan, officer-in-charge of the Lohagara police station.

A group of Shibir men hacked Bappi, president of the Bara Awlia Degree College unit of Chhatra League, to death on 10 November. l

Juba League leader shot dead n UNB Miscreants gunned down a local Juba League leader at the Ratanpur area of Munshiganj sadar upazila on Tuesday night.

The deceased - Sadek Hossain Sheikh, 40, is a Juba League leader of the upazila’s Panchasar union.

Police said some unidentified miscreants shot Sadek around 8pm while he was on his way home, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to Munshiganj General Hospital where on duty doctors pronounced him dead.

Police detained a young man named Sabuj in connection with the killing.

M Habibur Rahman, superintendent of police of Munshiganj, said the murder might have taken place over previous enmity centring around land.

Blaming the local BNP unit for the incident, local Juba League activists brought out a protest procession in the area that night. l

AL aspirants start election Air pollution takes heavy toll on child health campaign in Barisal n BSS, Dhaka

n Anisur Rahman Swapan, Barisal Aspirant candidates of the ruling Awami League had started election campaigning in Barisal, though the general election schedule was not announced.

However, local election officials could not give any explanation in this regard and said they did not receive any revised copy of the conduct of election rules.

Water transport businessman and President of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries Saidur Rahman Rintu, who purchased the party’s nomination paper for Barisal 5, pasted posters on walls in different areas of the constituency asking votes for the party.

Rintu said he asked votes not as a nominated candidate but as a party well-wisher.

When asked regarding the legality of seeking vote for a political party before

announcing election schedule, Rintu said prime minister and ministers had been asking votes for the Awami League in open public meetings since long, adding that such kind of publicity were going on in different ways in different places of the country.

If there was any legal bar against such publicity, then why the election commission was not taking any action, he asked.

Meanwhile, Dulal Chandra Talukdar, Barisal district election officer, said local EC office was not aware about such publicity.

“As we did not receive the revised copy of the conduct of election rules for the candidates and representation of public order for the upcoming general elections, we cannot tell whether such kind of election publicity before announcing election schedule is illegal,” he added. l

Of all the different types of pollution affecting public health, air pollution is one that poses a serious health hazard for children.

Emissions from brickfields, exhaust of vehicles, industrial discharge and burning of fossil fuels contribute to air pollution.

According to experts, pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. The common and hazardous air pollutants consist of ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphuroxides and lead, of which, particle pollution and ground level ozone are the most widespread health hazards.

It is a direct result of the development of civilisation and in fact the price of the progress.

The global population is threatened by air pollution and its consequential impact.

Air pollution is a serious environ-

mental health hazard affecting the population of Bangladesh. Indoor air pollution is mainly associated with the use of biomass fuels during cooking with poor ventilation.

Industrial emissions and automobiles are the principal sources of outdoor air pollution.

According to the Department of Environment, poorly serviced vehicles, brick kilns, dust from construction sites and toxic fumes from industrial units are major sources of air pollution in Bangladesh.

Air pollution has its immediate and long term negative impact on human health. Thousands of people suffer from pulmonary, respiratory and neurological illness and these are mainly attributed to poor air quality.

Air pollution from vehicles is a major cause of respiratory disease in urban Bangladesh. If pregnant mothers are exposed to excessive pollution, it may cause their children to premature-

ly die.

Air pollutants pose a serious threat to children because their developing lungs breathe at a higher rate than those of adults, and they spend more time outdoors.

Exposure to ozone and particulate matters may lead to a number of adverse health effects in children such as shortness of breath, chest pains when inhaling deeply, wheezing and coughing, temporary decrease in lung function and lower respiratory tract infections, exacerbation of asthma, and development of chronic bronchitis.

In Bangladesh, metropolitan cities are extremely prone to air pollution.

Dhaka and Chittagong deserve special mention in this regard.

Air pollution is a global issue as a part of global environment pollution and warming. However, its effect on the physical environment is experienced in developing countries the most with varying intensity.

FOCUS BANGLA

It potentially places all people at risk, but its effects on health vary greatly among individuals and communities and quality nutrition, occupation etc.

In general, people and communities with better livelihoods will suffer less than those living in poor and disadvantaged areas.

Long-term negative impacts of air pollution are a threat to our future generation. A child born and brought up in polluted air will definitely have different complications, which may not be detected/diagnosed primarily because of the absence of adequate medicare in our country. However, in future these undetected complications may become major health hazards for them.

Bangladesh is a densely populated country, half of whom are children. It is our national responsibility to ensure a better environment for the children.

Otherwise, other development efforts would face a challenge, which would be more difficult and expensive. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fear of sabotage leads to red alert for west zone rail network n BSS, Rajshahi The west zone authority of Bangladesh Railway has declared red alert fearing more sabotage to railroad tracks during hartal being enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

The rail authority has already received directives from the Home Ministry Sunday last. Besides, letters have been issued to the range deputy inspector generals of police (DIGs) of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna seeking adequate security for the railway operation.

Because of lack of adequate rail police and security personnel, it is apprehended that any major sabotage may be committed by the pro-hartal elements any day and at any time.

Aminur Rashid, chief commandant of railway security force for the west zone, said the ministry issued the direction in the wake of frequent sabotage to trains and railroad tracks in recent hartals.

He said security for all large establishments had been beefed up apprehending further attack and sabotage to railway especially at the sensitive railway establishments.

As part of the intensified security measures, no unidentified faces were being allowed to enter and suspected persons are being scanned. Railway Security Forces remained vigilant round the clock, he added.

Aminur said around 26 sabotage like torching train, uprooting tracks and attack on rail offices had taken place in the west zone railway during the shutdowns enforced by the 18-party alliance from March 1 to November 11 this year.

After getting the direction the west zone authority had taken up top security measures at its installations, junctions, rail bridges and engines and bogies including tankers to rein in sabotage by the pro-hartal elements.

The security measures of railway had been intensified further following the attacks on railway establishments. Besides railway’s own forces, police were also assisting them, and if necessary, co-operation from the Rab would be sought to ensure security and to resist sabotage to railroad tracks, he mentioned.

According to, the west zone covers three divisional towns and 22 districts under its 5,553.3-kilometre railway track.

There are 214 railway stations of which 144 are operational and 70 closed.

All open railway stations are more or less important covering 20 junctions.

There are also 10 large and medium-size railway bridges on the route which have been identified as important.

Of these, Hardinge Bridge at Pakesy and Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in Sirajganj are the most important for their strategic locations. l

Scores of people injured as a train carrying passengers derailed after pickets uprooted rail track near Tusvandar area in Lalmonirhat yesterday

Aman harvest gets momentum in north region with superb yield n Tribune Desk The farmers are expecting bumper production of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) crop this season as its harvest gains momentum with excellent yield rates everywhere in northern Bangladesh.

According to sources from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), farmers have so far completed harvesting the crop on 257,846 hectares of land, which makes up 14% of the fully harvested crop until Tuesday.

“The average yield rate achieved so far stands between 2.74and 2.90 tonnes clean Aman rice per hectare predicting a super bumper production of the crop in the region this time,” Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam said yesterday.

The DAE has fixed a target of producing 4.6mtonnes of Aman rice from 174,000 hectares of land and farmers have

cultivated the crop on 1.82m hectares exceeding the fixed farming target by 75,915 hectares or 4.34% in the region this year.

Deputy Directors of the DAE Feroz Ahmed and Belayet Hossain said the crop had grown excellently amid favourable climatic conditions and its harvest has been in full swing everywhere in the region.

Meanwhile, farmers have already completed harvesting the early short duration variety T-Aman like BRRI dhan 33, BRRI dhan39, BRRI dhan 56 and 57, BINA dhan 7 and BU dhan 1, which was cultivated on 172,930 hectares of land and resulted in excellent production this time.

As a result of exceeding the fixed farming target and excellent yield rate, the overall T-Aman rice production might cross 4.8mtonnes, 200,000 tonnes higher than the fixed production target in the region this season, the DAE officials said.

As per the fixed farming target, 1.6m hectares of land were to be brought under cultivation of high yielding variety T-Aman rice, 126,000 hectares under local variety and 16,327 hectares under hybrid variety rice in the region this year.

However, farmers have finally brought 1.68m hectares of land under cultivation of high yielding variety, 116,000 hectares under local variety and 17,654 hectares under hybrid variety T-Aman this season.

Farmers – Abul Kalam, Mostafa Rahman, Sushil Kumar, Abdur Rahman, Bulbul Ahmed and Harahan Chandra – said they have already cultivated their Aman crop and ended up with an excellent yield.

Regional Additional Director of the DAE Sikander Ali said the farmers have been continuing to harvest their T-Aman crop and pulling in superb yield rates to achieve a bumper production of the crop this season. l

2m books allotted for primary students in Jamalpur

n BSS Primary Education Department has allotted 2,303,869 textbooks for distribution among students for the 2014 academic year in Jamalpur.

District Primary Education Office sources said out of the allocation 2,194,159 textbooks will be disbursed amongst 429,217 students from class one to class five while the remaining 109,710 textbooks will be preserved in buffer stock at the district headquarters.

According to upazila wise break up of allocation is as follows: 298,200 books in Sarishabari, 243,600 books in Melandah, 304,845 books in Dewanganj, 274,734 books in Bakshiganj, 462,700 books in Jamalpur Sadar, 294,924 books in Islampur and 315,156 books in Madarganj. District education office has taken all preparations to distribute the new books to each student on the first day of January 2014. l

Kathin Chibar Dan festival begins in Rangamati n Our Correspondent, Rangamati Kothin Chibar Dan, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, is going to start today in the Raj Bana Bihar area in Rangamati.

The two-day festival will mark the 40th episode of the annual event and feature various rites, offerings and time-honoured customs. Organisers are expecting huge turnout following in the footsteps of the success of last year’s event.

Buddhist people from all three hill districts of CHT, as well as tourists from around the country and abroad, have already starting gathering at the venue.

Nearly half a million participants usually come to join the festival each year. l

The government along with non-government organisations (NGOs) should carry out joint efforts to eliminate hazardous child labour and ensure universal rights for all children, speakers at a workshop in Dinajpur said on Tuesday.

They also pressed for providing necessary assistance to children working in hazardous places, in a bid to uphold children’s social rights, and to pave a way for their normal growth.

Come to Work, an NGO, organised the daylong workshop with the assistance of

People feeling thrilled as Ecnec approves Teesta bridge construction n Tribune Report People of Gaibandha and Kurigram districts are thrilled, as the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved the construction of a 1.5km bridge over the Teesta River.

Hundreds of people from all sections of Sundarganj upazila under Gaibandha and Chilmari upazila under Kurigram distributed sweets and brought out joyful processions hearing the news.

People of the districts had long been demanding construction of the bridge over the river between Horipur under Sundarganj upazila and Chilmarikhayaghat under Chilmari upazila to ensure smooth communication, reports BSS. The government took a decision to construct the bridge over the river at a cost of Tk6.53bn at Horipur-Chilmarikheyaghat point considering its necessity and importance, said local sources.

A feasibility study to construct the

bridge was also carried out by a team of experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) led by Dr Professor Sajib Kumar Bala and Dr Professor Tariqul Islam in 2010.

Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) M Belal Hossain said the government of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh would provide the funds for the bridge.

Besides, a road from the bridge would also be linked to the Rangpur-Bogra Highway in the Dhaperhat area under Sadullapur upazila via Laxipur Bazaar-Sadullapur upazila town, he further added.

The bridge will create a direct road communication network between the two districts and it will reduce the distance between Dhaka and Shonahat Port of Kurigram by 120km. Three million people can now look forward to saving time and money while commuting between Dhaka and the two districts. l

NEWS IN BRIEF 11 shops gutted in Comilla

At least 11 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Raipur Bazar in Daudkandi upazila early yesterday. Fire service officials said the fire had originated from an electric short circuit at a shop in the bazaar at about 5am and soon engulfed 10 other adjoining shops. On information, one firefighting unit from Daudkandi went to the spot and doused the blaze after one hour of frantic efforts with the help of local people. The affected shop owners claimed that the extent of losses from the fire could go up to Tk3m. – UNB Devotees lighting candles at a Buddhist convent in Sylhet yesterday on the day of ‘Daanottom Kothin Chibor Daan’ festival

FOCUS BANGLA

‘Joint efforts by government and NGOs needed to eliminate hazardous child labour’ n Tribune Desk

FOCUS BANGLA

Oporajeyo Bangladesh and the Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) at the Young Star Club in the Parbotipur upazila town of Dinajpur on Tuesday.

Moderated by Executive Director of ESDO Mahfuzul Islam, the workshop was chaired by Young Star Club President Amjad Hossain, while Headmaster of Parbotipur Rajabasor Model Government Primary School Somoresh Mohanta was the chief guest.

Workshop participants included a large number of children engaged in hazardous labours, owners of hotels, restaurants, welding workshops, la-

bour leaders, journalists, NGO executives, teachers, human rights activists, and civil society members, reports BSS. Some child labourers narrated their bitter experiences from their hazardous jobs in hotels, restaurants and welding workshops and expressed their desire to be educated and become worthy citizens like other children.

The speakers stressed on creating public awareness for saving the working children from hazardous labour, and for ensuring their universal rights by providing the necessary aid.

Different aspects of the prevailing

problem were also discussed, while calls were raised for saving child labourers through concerted efforts of all the stakeholders.

The chief guest said the child labourers must be given opportunities for education, healthcare and training in different trades for their rehabilitation and for protecting all fundamental rights to flourish their potential mental strengths.

He asked all concerned authorities to provide the necessary facilities to child labourers in helping them grow up with dignity and participate in building a prosperous nation. l

One killed as power tiller overturns A man was killed and two others were injured as a power tiller overturned at Barandi Balihuda village in Jibannagar upazila on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Shimul Hossain, 32, son of Azizul Haque of Kanaidanga village in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah.

Police said a power tiller on its way to Jibannagar with five to six people on board had turned upside down in the area around 3pm, trapping Shimul inside. Shimul died on the spot and two others were injured. The injured were rushed to Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex. – UNB

Truck plunge kills two in Bogra Two vegetable traders were killed and another was injured as a vegetable laden-truck plunged into a roadside ditch at Chhonka Bazar in Sherpur upazila early yesterday. The deceased were identified

as Ziaur Rahman Zia, 40, son of Abdul Hamid of Parbhobanipur village of the upazila, and Asadul, 35, son of Sabed Ali of Bagra village of the same upazila. Witnesses said the Dhaka-bound truck from Noymile Hat of Sherpur fell into the ditch beside the Dhaka-Bogra Highway at about 2:30am after its driver lost control over the steering, leaving the two traders dead on the spot and its diver Nazrul injured. Critically injured Nazrul was admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Bogra. – UNB

Teenage boy killed over land dispute in Rajbari A teenage boy was stabbed to death and three others were injured in an attack over land dispute at Birigopalpur village in Kalukhali upazila yesterday. The deceased was identified as Jony, 14, son of Saiful Islam of the village. Local people said Saiful had a longstanding enmity with his brother Najmul over a piece of land, reports UNB. As a sequel to the enmity, they engaged in an altercation on Wednesday morning. At one stage, Nazmul attacked Saiful and his family members with a sharp weapon, leaving four people injured. Of the injured, Jony died on his way to the hospital while Saiful, his wife Kabera Begum and his son Rony were rushed to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as their condition was stated to be critical. Police recovered the dead body and sent it to Rajbari Hospital morgue for autopsy. Nazmul along with his family went into hiding after the incident. – UNB

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Television continues to make waves n Shadma Malik Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Anisul Hoque have been nominated as the best director the best screenplay writer respectively in the Asia Pacific Screen Award for the movie Television.

Celebrating the occasion, an event titled Bangla Chayachobi Shommukhpaney was organised by Impress Telefilm Limited at the Channel i station on

Birthday celebration of legendary littérateur Humayun Ahmed

November 12. To attend the award ceremony, Faridur Reza Sagar, managing director, Impress Telefilm Ltd, Farooki, Anisul Hoque and Tisha will be going to Brisbane, Australia on December 12.

On Television’s success, Farooki states: “I am proud that Television is making waves not just in Bangladesh but it is representing our country abroad as well.” l

SADIA MARIUM

Humayun Ahmed’s birthday celebrated with an array of programmes n Afrose Jahan Chaity Friends, family, peers and followers of the celebrated litterateur the late Humayun Ahmed gathered at the premises of Channel i on November 13, to celebrate Ahmed’s 65th birth anniversary. A wide range of programmes were arranged for the celebration such as music sessions, a dance recital, poetry recital and such. The gathered crowd released yellow balloons to mark the opening of the programme titled Humayun Mela 2013 that was aired live in Channel i at 11:10am. Many in the crowd were dressed in yellow punjabi,

like Ahmed’s popular character Himu.

Director of Channel i Faridur Reza Sagor, director Jahir Uddin Mahmud Mamun, Meher Afroz Shaon, professor Anwar Hossain, Anwar Sayd Haque, poet Md Nurul Huda, Hasan Hafiz, Selim Chowdhury, editor of Anyadin Mazharul Islam, editor of Anandoalo Rezanur Rahman, film director Shahidul Islam Khokon, Ali Imam, Keramat Mawla, Farid Ali, Faruque Ahmed, singer Indo Mohon Rajbongshi , Fakir Alamgir, Maksud Jamil Mintu, Maznun Mizan and many more noted personalities were present at the celebration named Himu Day since last year’s celebration.

Shaon Ahmed shared at the programme: “We don’t want to express sorrow on our beloved Humayun’s birthday. He is among us as always, this day is a cause for celebration.”

A volume of compilation of the Himu series titled Himu Shomogro was inaugurated at the event.

The programme went forward with Fakir Alamgir and his troupe performing a song written by Humayun Ahmed.

Chandana Majumder performed Amar Sonar Moyna Pakhi, Akramul Islam presented Nisha Lagilo Re, Farida Parvin sang Andhar Na Theke Jodi Ki Hobe Alo and many other songs written

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Kinetic Photography Exhibition Gazi Nafis Ahmed Time: 10am – 8pm EMK Center, House 5, Road 27 (old), Dhanmondi

Festival

Arabian food festival Time: 6pm

Team of upcoming movie Ghashful at the Muharat ceremony

Ghashphul features debutants in lead roles n Entertainment Desk The shooting for Akram Khan’s upcoming film Ghashphul starts from tomorrow, announced the cast and crew at the film’s Muharat programme held on November 12 at the Channel-i offices.

A bunch of new faces will be featured in the film which is also the debut project for the director. Model turned TV actor Asif, Veet-Channel i Top Model’s first runner-up Tania and Channel i Shera Nachiye participant Shayla Sabi will be seen in the lead roles of the movie.

Asif, who has worked in three unfinished feature films earlier, said, “It would be my dream come true when I will finally appear on the silver screen.

I will play double roles in the film. I simply love the story and am hopeful that the audience will love it too.”

Tania has appeared in several TV commercials and plays after she became the runner-up of the reality show.

“I am really very excited to be a part of the film. I hope it will add a milestone to my career,” she said. Accomplished musician Swani Zubayeer is the music director of the film. l

MOVIE 6:30pmZee Studio

Single episode drama The Punishment airs on SATV today at 9pm. Written by Mezbah Uddin Sumon and directed

by Shuvro Ahmed, the drama features Moushumy Hamid, Omar Ayaz Oni, Naim and many more.

Plot of the story revolves around an unhappy couple, Ratri and Jaman.

Jaman is a busy financier and a workaholic. He prefers running after money rather than spending time at home and misbehaves with his wife when he counts losses.

Fed-up with the redundant unhappiness in her life, one day, Ratri meets a friend from her university life, Shubhro. Currently, he is a popular director and within a short time, Ratri and Shubhro gets involved in an extra-marital relationship.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Shubhro gets locked in Ratri’s bathroom on one of his many visits to her home. Ratri tries to open the jammed door but fails to succeed. When Jaman comes home, he goes to find a locksmith to open the door.

Gripped by fear, Ratri locks the front door and heads to her mother’s place.

Planes in 3D, Riddick Monsters University in 3D Titanic (3D) Udhao Level 8, Bashundhara City

A scene from The Punishment She calls Jaman and asks him to join her there. In the mean time, Shubhro manages to get out but again gets trapped by the locked front door. At midnight, two thieves breaks into the house and ties

As the annual Hunger Games once again comes around, Katniss and Peeta find themselves back in the arena, their worst nightmare. But this time, their heroic actions from the first games have set off a underground movement for revolution.

7:30pm Star Movies Green Zone

DRAMA

Catching Fire, will be out in theaters on November 22.

Set in the dystopian futuristic society of Panem, where the government forces 24 children to annually fight to the death in a live televised event

9:45pm NTV

Nil Ronger Golpo

11:30pm Boishakhi TV Nayeeka Upakhaan

COMEDY

Court restrains release of Ram-Leela refused to ban the movie and also imposed a cost of Rs. 50,000 on an NGO which had moved the plea against the film.

Additional district judge AS Jayachandra, in an ex-parte interim order, restrained Bhansali and Eros promoters from releasing the movie until further notice. The film stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone as the eponymous leads. The film is said to be an adaptation of Shakespeare’s epic love story Romeo and Juliet, set in violent times. l

5:00pm Colors

Comedy Nights With Kapil

10:30pm Comedy Central Guys With Kids

NEWS 2:00pm ATN News News Now

9:00pm Desh Tv News

MISC 3:00pm Fox Traveller My Sri Lanka

10:30pm Vh1 Brit Invasion

up Shubhro to get on with their work uninterrupted. In the morning, when Ratri and Jaman comes back home, Jaman assumes Shubhro as a thief and hands him over to the police. l

Lawrence sows seeds of revolution in return to Hunger Games

Miami Vice

A Delhi court has restrained Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali from releasing his latest film Ram-Leela starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The court considered the plea that Ram-leela, slated for an all-India release on November 15, allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus as it contains sex, violence and vulgarity.

The Delhi high court had earlier

Film

n Entertainment Desk

ON TV

n Entertainment Desk

The Westin Dhaka Plot 1, Road 45 Gulshan2

The Punishment airs on SATV

Dhaka Tribune’s caricature booth at Comic Con 2013 n Entertainment Desk Dhaka Tribune offers a caricature booth at the two-day Unmad-JCC Comic Con 2013 which begins today at The National Shooting Federation Hall, Gulshan 1.

Two accomplished cartoonists will be there to provide caricatures of comic book lovers who will join the festival.

The event will take place from 2pm to 10pm every day.

Unmad-JCC is giving away 20,000 comic books for free at the event. The first 2,000 people who buy their tickets to the event can submit their tickets and claim 10 comic books for free.

With music, good food and cosplay, there are going to be panels of artists signing comic books and drawing for fans all throughout the event. Aspiring artists can show their drawings or share their ideas with the professionals in the panels, get tips and learn tricks from them. And comic book admirers will also be able to view rare personal collections of comics and collectibles. The tickets are priced at Tk100 and the children under 4 feet will get free entry. l

by Humayun Ahmed, along with his favourite songs were performed at the fair. Dazzling dance performances was an attention grabbing element at the fair. Popular band Monoshoroni performed a song titled Ami Makorsha.

To make the occasion interesting for youngsters, an art competition was arranged as part of the fair.

DVDs, CDs and VCDs of TV plays and films directed by Humayun Ahmed was available at various stalls. And ofcourse many stalls offered books of the legendary litterateur. The fair was open till evening for the visitors and the programme was broadcasted till 2pm. l

n Entertainment Desk One teenage girl and her bow and arrow become a mighty symbol for revolution in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as Hollywood’s reigning young adult franchise goes deeper and darker to explore the impact of violence on a community.

Catching Fire, will be out in theaters on November 22, is based on the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy by author Suzanne Collins, set in the dystopian futuristic society of Panem,

where the government forces 24 children to annually fight to the death in a live televised event.

In the new film, heroine Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her partner Peeta Mellark have returned victorious from the Hunger Games, viewed by the public as star-crossed young lovers who finally get their happy ending. But the much harsher reality sees both dealing with residual trauma from the brutality they suffered and were forced to inflict in the first games.

“This is the next step of Katniss’ heroism and the next part of her journey to finding out who is she really going to be,” said Lawrence, one of Hollywood’s hottest stars after winning the Oscar for best actress this year.

While The Hunger Games was about Katniss’ sole purpose to fight for her own survival armed with her bow and arrow, in Catching Fire, she finds herself unknowingly become a fighter and beacon for a much bigger cause, something that doesn’t escape the notice of Panem’s dictatorial President Snow.

As Peeta and Katniss prepare once again to enter the Hunger Games, they find a growing network rally around them.

As war and revolution take over in Catching Fire, veteran actor Donald Sutherland, who plays the ruthless and manipulative President Snow, hopes the film’s message that society needs to change spreads, especially to its younger audience. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

9AM | SPIRITUAL SONGS | LAWN 9 - 10.30AM | INAUGURAL

Featuring Tariq Ali, Syed Manzoorul Islam and Ahdaf Soueif.

10.30AM | THIRD FLOOR

Opening of Other Histories: by Amin Rehman in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada, Dhaka.

Opening of The Art of the Book in collaboration with the Goethe Institut, Dhaka.

Hay Festival

11-12PM | SPIRITUAL QUESTS | SMALL STAGE

Peter Pannke and Arundhathi Subramaniam discuss the motivations behind their writings.

12.15 - 1.15PM | FROM WORDS TO SCREEN | MAIN STAGE

Rahul Bose with Amit Ashraf.

12.15 - 1.15PM | evsjv mvwnZ¨ : AvaywbKZvIAvšZR©vwZKZv|SMALL STAGE

Recitations from over 12 languages spoken in Bangladesh.

Av‡jvPbvq _vK‡eb : gwd`yj nK, AwfwRr†mb,cvi‡fR†nv‡mb,Avngv` †gv¯—dvKvgvj|mÂvjbvq:nvgxg Kvgi“j nK

11 - 12PM | IS THERE A WORLD LITERATURE? | MAIN STAGE

1.30 - 2.30PM | BENGAL PUBLICATIONS HOUR | MAIN STAGE

10.45 - 12PM | LANGUAGES OF BANGLADESH | LAWN

Pankaj Mishra, Eliot Weinberger and Florence Noiville, with K. Anis Ahmed.

Tahmima Anam introduces new Bangladeshi writing in English, followed by conversations with Srabonti Narmeen Ali, Saad Z Hossain and Munize Manzur. Marking the Launch of Bengal

Publications English Fiction. Moderated by Janice Pariat.

1.30 - 2.45PM | ROAD TO BANGLADESH | SMALL STAGE

A Qayuum Khan, Afsan Chowdhury and Catherine Masud discuss narratives of the Liberation War, marking launch of A Qayuum Khan’s memoirs, and featuring the Friends of 71 documentary by Catherine Masud. Moderated by Mahtab Haider.

1.30 - 2.30PM | FICTIONS: WORDS APART | IMAGINATION TENT

Aamer Hussein, Peter Pannke, S J Harris and Florence Noiville talk with Arunava Sinha, about dierent genres, places and languages, celebrating the diversity of ction.

3 - 4PM | JARIGAAN | LAWN

Oral epic in verse on Hassan and Hussein in celebration of the Muslim festival of Ashura.

3 - 4PM | THE VIOLENCE WITHIN | MAIN STAGE Hasan Azizul Huq’s translated Three Stories, Kaiser Haq’s new chapbook and Ahsan Akbar’s e Devil’s Thumbprint, with Sandip Roy. Marking launch of Bengal Lights Books.

3 - 4PM | NATURE AND THE LENS | SMALL STAGE

Enam ul Haque and Ihtisham Kabir launching books on birds and owers, discuss the the stories behind the scenes. Moderated by Paul ompson.

3 - 4PM | LIBERATION WAR FICTIONS | IMAGINATION TENT

Niaz Zaman, Nuzhat Choudhury and Syed Badrul Ahsan discuss women’s narratives on ‘71, written in and translated into English. Moderated by Mofidul Hoque.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

9

4.15 - 5.15PM | TWO AMERICAS | MAIN STAGE

5.30-6.30PM|`wjZmvwnZ¨:cÖvšZK_v | IMAGINATION TENT

Writing A New Real: Mario Bellatin, Chris Heiser and David Shook, with Mahtab Haider.

4.15 - 5.15PM | UPL PRESENTS WOMEN POETS | SMALL STAGE

Tishani Doshi, Janice Pariat and Sadaf Saaz, with Nick Chapman. Marking the launch of Sadaf ‘s debut poetry collection, Sari Reams, by UPL.

4.15 - 5.15PM |eoKvMR†QvUKvMR: m¤úv`‡Ki `vq | IMAGINATION TENT

Av‡jvPbvq_vK‡eb:AveyjnvmbvZ,mv¾v` Av‡iwdb,Kvgi“j nvmvb, gvgyb Ai ikx`, †g‡n`xDj¬vn&|mÂvjbvq:kvgxgyjnKkvgxg| 5.30 - 6.30PM | KOBITA PARISHAD RECITATIONS | LAWN 5.30 - 6.30PM | ENDLESS REVOLUTIONS | MAIN STAGE

Tariq Ali, Ahdaf Soueif and Pankaj Mishra, with Eliot Weinberger

Av‡jvPbvq AskMÖnY Ki‡eb : nwiksKi Rj`vm, RvwKi ZvjyK`vi, PÂj Avkivd, kvnxbggZvRIgvbRyivcvifxb|mÂvjbvq : gyn¤§` gynwmb| 6.45 - 8PM | ADDA: GRAPHIC INTERACTIONS | IMAGINATION TENT

Sarnath Banerjee, Karrie Fransman, Delwar Hussain, Samir Rahman, Iresh Zaker and Zeeshan Khan discuss urban interconnections.

7 - 8PM | SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL | MAIN STAGE

Aamer Hussein, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Farah Ghuznavi and Prajwal Parajuly celebrate the beauty of the short story with Syed Badrul Ahsan. Marking the launch of Syed Manzoorul Islam’s translated short story anthology by Daily Star Publications. l

Is There A World Literature?

n James Saville

At this inaugural session opening for the festival on the first day, the panel asks a pertinent question, but what is world literature? ‘’World literature” is a notoriously loaded term, which will be dissected and discussed by the likes of Eliot Weinberger with Pankaj Mishra from India and our very own Kazi Anis Ahmed – who will be answering the question: Just what is world literature?

In their attempt to find a modern definition of “world literature”, they will consider how the idea has changed over time, how it differs in different regions, and how any definition betrays the cultural attitudes of those using it.

Talking to us ahead of the event, Kazi Anis Ahmed, author of “Goodbye Mr. Kissinger” said: “At this crit-

ical juncture in east-west relations we want to consider not just what world literature means here in Dhaka, but also in the eyes of the west.”

For many years the term was used almost exclusively to describe the circulation of European literature outside Europe. That has changed with the mass translation of literary works from around the world into countless languages; the artistic success of which may be debated.

Joining him with their take on the theme are Pankaj Mishra, author of “The Romantics”, “From the Ruins of Empire”, and the American author Eliot Weinberger, whose works include “What I Heard About Iraq” and translations of Octavio Paz’s “In Light of India”.

Don’t miss them on the Main Stage today from 11am l

Graphic Interaction

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

A welcome new addition to the Hay Festival this year is the increased spotlight on the wonderful world of graphic novels. If the enormous success of the recent comic conventions in Dhaka is anything to go by, there is an enormous mine of untapped potential with skills in the art of graphic novels, comics and illustrated literature.

Today’s Adda session includes Sarnath Banerjee, author of “Corridor”, which was one of the earliest graphic novels to come out of India, Karrie Fransman of “The House that Groaned” and local talent Samir Rahman, whose studio “Mighty Punch”

is releasing two comic books this year, joining a panel that also includes comic and actor Iresh Zaker, Zeeshan Khan and Delwar Hossain, for a lively and graphic discussion about urban interconnections in the genre.

They will cover topics ranging from the role of comic art and illustrations as tools of political dialogue, to the place of graphic novels in literature, and much more. This “adda” promises to be interactive and illuminating, and definitely not one to be missed.

Join them at the Imagination Tent from 6:45– 8pm l

Endless Revolutions

The Violence Within n Rohini Alamgir and Syeda Samira Sadeque Celebrating the launch of Bengal Lights Books, in one of the first sessions of the festival, Sandip Roy Senior Editor of FirstPost shares the stage with Hasan Azizul Huq and the translation of his book “Three Stories,” “Pariah and Other Poems” the collection of Kaiser Haq’s poetry and Ahsan Akbar’s debut “The Devil’s Thumbprint”. A common theme runs through the books – variations on violence. The authors will be reading excerpts from their books at the end of the session.

Kaiser Haq told the Dhaka Tribune: “We plan to discuss today’s publish-

ing scenario, the difficulties faced by publishers, how books are targeted, the production costs and more.”

Writer, essayist and researcher Hasan Azizul Haq gives radical expressions to real issues. Set in a rural background, his stories deal with subaltern relations with the dominant classes.

While Commonwealth Scholar and Royal Literary Fund Fellow Kaiser Haq’s autobiographic collection explores a range of themes including the death of his friend and the violent attacks on the Buddhist community of Ramu in 2012 as well as other forms

of violence. “This collection is less humorous than my other writings,” he said, adding that these pieces are more topical, realistic and personal and thus lack the usual tinge of humour seen in his other works.

“The Devil’s Thumbprint” is London-based Ahsan Akbar’s debut collection which, according to Kaiser Haq, records Ahsan’s transition and growth - over time - as a writer. “The book itself depicts a pattern and development of his work,” and shows how Ahsan Akbar’s writing has matured.

Catch them on the Main Stage from 3-4pm today. l

Bengal Lights Books

Bengal Lights is a literary journal founded two years ago at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). Three issues of the journal are out and it has started to make its mark not just in Bangladesh but among literary circles in the region. Seeing the need for expansion of this enterprise and to promote quality writing from Bangladesh Bengal Lights set up the imprint of Bengal Lights Books in October 2013. This publication arm will also serve the need for publishing quality translations of Bengali – and other languages too – into English, and therefore will work closely with the Translation Centre being set up under the aegis of ULAB. Bengal Lights Books (BLB) will actively seek out and publish new voices and talents in fiction and in poetry, both original and in translation. It will have partnerships with other such related enterprises abroad, beginning in the US and UK such as Ricochet and Phoneme that will not only help Bangladeshi writers, in Bangla or English, find a wider audience but also introduce lesser known but fascinating voices from abroad. l

n Naheed Kamal

The highlight of today’s programme is without a doubt the session where Eliot Weinberger is joined by “Tariq Ali, Ahdaf Soueif and Pankaj Mishra, to they talk about revolutions – from the 60s all the way to the Arab Spring, and the endless battles being waged against the state and imperialism.

Tariq Ali is the iconic 60s revolutionary and “Marxist” who needs no introduction. He raised the question “What Is A Revolution?” recently and argued that mass uprisings on their own do not constitute a revolution. He writes that “members of a crowd become a revolution only when they have, in their majority, a clear set of social and political aims.”

Ahdaf Soueif is the author of the bestselling “The Map of Love” and political and cultural commentator.

In her columns for the Guardian, she writes about the Arab Spring and how it’s impact on Egypt. In a column last year she dwells on what happens when a novelist “cannot or will not remove” herself from a

situation and adds how In Egypt before the revolution: “novelists produced texts of critique, of dystopia, of nightmare. Now, we all seem to have given up – for the moment – on fiction.”

Author and literary and political essayist Pankaj Mishra’s books include “From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West.”

Writing in the New York Times last month, he wrote that the future doesn’t hold the possibilities of “far-reaching transformation that galvanized” writers such as Bolaño.

Adding that Trotsky was right in one respect: “The writer chronicling political events in fiction is most effective when participating in a historical process or movement. No such tonic immersion is available to most contemporary writers, who, as sequestered as ever, must strive alone to transcend the general impoverishment of the political imagination.”

Catch the revolutionaries on the Main Stage from 5:30 – 6:30pm l

Panelists in discussion (above) and book lovers during last year’s Hay Festival (below)

AMIRUL RAJIV/DHAKA TRIBUNE

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

November 12

B

CHT U-turn damages peace process

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he government has declined to pass an amendment to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Dispute Resolution, which would have facilitated the return of illegally leased and occupied land to displaced hill tracts people.

This is concerning because it reverses the campaign pledge made by the ruling party made during the 2008 elections and risks jeopardising the fragile peace process.

Returning land to rightful owners is a crucial element of the CHT Accord, a fact that has been emphasised both by leadThe government’s ers of the ethnic communities inaction in this regard and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC). not only demonstrates Last month the co-chairs a lack of commitment of the CHTC sent a letter to to the peace process, the government urging them but also encourages to pass the bill in the ninth more land grabbing parliamentary session, as previously promised. Unfortunately, their pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

The government’s inaction in this regard not only demonstrates a lack of commitment to the peace process, but also encourages more land grabbing, which is reportedly continuing in the CHT right now with full impunity.

The lack of political will to implement the peace process is not only damaging to the hill tracts people and settlers alike, it is also harmful to the country which has to bear the financial burden of maintaining security forces in the region. It also deprives us of revenue from tourism and other economic activities in one of the most naturally rich regions of the country.

Such lack of pro-active implementation of the treaty only benefits land grabbers.

CROSSWORD

6 Wading bird (4) 8 Weapon (5) 9 Tidings (4) 11 Worry (4) 12 Weary (5) 15 Barter (5) 18 Additional (4) 20 Soon (4) 21 At no time (5) 22 Male deer (4) 23 Sheltered side (3) 24 Lubricated (5)

DOWN 1 Small fish (5) 2 Allude (5) 3 Surrender (5) 4 Consumer (4) 5 Nidus (4) 7 Imply (5) 10 Unwanted plant (4) 13 Golf club (4) 14 Occurrence (5) 15 Dance (5) 16 Smith’s block (5) 17 Did wrong (5) 18 Public walk (4) 19 Flower (4)

November 8

To this writer, when going through your full page article published on November 6, it seemed that Bangladesh was “in-trouble” with brinjal cultivation. So, where do we go from here? The article mentioned the same sad affair with BT cotton. Luckily, this cotton has not come here.

Our BT brinjal misadventure by possibly half-aware agricultural experts has put the growing of brinjals into jeopardy. Not being literate in agricultural science, I look to our experts for some simple answers. Is it good or bad for us?

What is happening in our agricultural science sector? I am sure the BARI scientists have something to say about it all. Their enlightening views on the matter are now needed, so that awareness is increased, and we can all know about it. Currently it seems we are going about it like in the poem I read in school, years back, “The blind men and the elephant!”

Engr SA Mansoor

Love all, trust a few November 6

Subhojit Wonderful to see someone reach out across a range of teachings to critically look at what is going wrong, instead of just standing up and yelling for the sake of it. I agree with the sentiments stated already; this is truly worthy of being called an op-ed!

Armeen People often spew the likes of Camus and Nietzsche without understanding a word of what they really meant. The writer here has done a fantastic job by combining high western philosophy with the morals of one of our own greats to critique a very eastern reality. Excellent job!

Zak Loved this article. Points out the flaws within our controlled existence.

Making a mockery of Digital Bangladesh November 8

The term “draconian” seems a little over the top, considering defamation lawsuits do work the same way in most countries, especially considering the fact that it was slander and not even “libel.” Only then would the matter of freedom of expression “may” have been debatable under Article 19 of the UNHCR. Nevertheless, a very passionate and entertaining piece of writing.

Mayisha Kabir

Maher First time reading Dhaka Tribune and I see mention of a national hero, Mahub ul Alam Chowdhury. It is good to see an English paper understand what he stood for so well. We need people to channel his spirit in these tough times. This needs to be read and digested by our English reading upper class and youth.

Faiza Op-eds shouldn’t be like high school essays.

This one, on the other hand, is worthy of being called an op-ed. A refreshing change to what is being repeated by everyone else. It is passionate, educational and intellectual. It applies philosophy to our political saga to boldly and subtly point out some harsh truths that we need to accept.

Be Heard Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune

No more hartals, deaths, violence, vandalism, arson, harassment.

P Sarker How many more innocent people do you want to burn alive? 28 deaths are not enough!?! You want more lives?!? Don’t give anyone the license to kill!

Afzalur Rahman Helal

Moudud, MK Anwar, Rafiqul held November 8 But why??

YasserTamim Haque

Bad. This is very bad, when a national election is coming up. What’s happening in our country?

Md Arif Hossain

PM says her invitation to BNP chief still valid November 8

Why doesn’t she just send Khaleda an invitation mentioning a specific time and date?

Hasina started the invitation process and she should complete it!

Babul Sarwar

Talking poverty with Wahiduddin Mahmud November 6

A well-argued, analytical yet compassionate view on the prospects of eradicating extreme poverty in Bangladesh. Congratulations to Shazia Omar for introducing us to the views of a personality like Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud. Can we expect more such interviews from her?

Nononsense

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

Divided we stand

November 7 This divide is deep, and germinated with the assassination of Bangabondhu. We have to wait until the reincarnation of someone like Bangabondhu will reunite us into one nation with a singular goal. It will take time but will eventually happen!

WaliulHaqueKhondker

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER

4 Rounded vase (3)

18-party secretary generallevel meeting today

BT brinjal!

angladesh’s power generation capacity now exceeds 10,000 megawatts of electricity. This is more than double the output when the government came to power.

The PM’s announcement this week that 33 more plants are now under construction is a welcome example of a manifesto pledge being met. Development and economic growth badly require more capacity to end the curse of load shedding.

However, while this inWith our national creased generation is welgas reserves rapidly come, we need to improve reducing, dependence planning and co-ordination is growing on coal and to sustainably secure future oil which cause higher capacity. levels of greenhouse The proportion of current gas emissions and, in demand met by costly rental the case of oil, is also power plants is still too high more expensive and some power plants are outdated and not always able to run at full capacity.

With our national gas reserves rapidly reducing, dependence is growing on coal and oil which cause higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions and, in the case of oil, is also more expensive.

As the debates over the ill-conceived Rampal coal plant in the Sundarbans and the proposed Russian-built nuclear power station at Rooppur show, there is no simple answer to the question of meeting the country’s future energy demand.

We need to pursue a mix of approaches. It is clearly very important to think long term and encourage diversification via renewable initiatives in solar and bio-gas.

The government should also not ignore the amount of energy that is lost in transmission networks or wasted by consumers; improving energy efficiency is a vital part of the mix as it can increase energy security by reducing the need to build as many power plants.

1 Regretful (5)

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Growth in power plants must be sustainable

ACROSS

Thursday, November 14, 2013

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, November 14, 2013

No more heroes anymore? catastrophe that is Mamata Banerjee: an example of leadership that is bankrupt, hapless and inept.

The Left had lost its way. After stabilising the countryside and giving genuine hope to the rural majority for two decades, the Communists decided to follow the worst excesses of the Chinese model, culminating in the killing of villagers in order to grab their land to build a car factory.

Hero or villain?

Thankfully, he has no children

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n Farid Bakht

rom a random list of famous leaders, can you name a son or daughter of Hugo Chavez, Zhou En Lai, Abdel Nasser, Mahathir Mohammad, Lee Kuan Yew, Willy Brandt, Charles de Gaulle, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, or Margaret Thatcher?

Most of us do not know. Nor should we. We remember the achievements of the individual, ignore the family, and move on.

Some of you will say: “Aha, I know Mark Thatcher!” Yeah, and what is he famous for? A Wonga coup in an oil rich African country involving mercenaries and some questionable business deals. Hardly an inspirational example, though he does serve a purpose here.

In his defence, he decided not to follow his mother’s footsteps into politics and instead took the cynical or pragmatic path of leveraging her prestige and connections to make a pile of money.

Amid all that dishonesty, he at least remained honest in not going public, and not begging for votes in memory of his mother to carry out some “manifest destiny,” and not plastering her photo up and down town halls in England.

Dynastic dictatorships?

South Asia decided to amend the

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English political system and combine it with a dose of dynastic dictatorship, rubber-stamped by the public every few years.

Loyalty is taken to ridiculous lengths to the point of wearing different types of attire (such as black waistcoats) or perhaps a particular type of sunglasses. The apologists will claim that all this is above board and internal party elections, perfectly legal, and following laid out party procedures.

AFP strengths of the people and overplays the power of the multinational.

Neither of them have any real idea of how to really improve the welfare of the people. Neither want to. What drives them is the enmity between them. It is a War of the Roses, not a clash of ideologies.

It is not for lack of leaders or visionaries. The Bengali heartlands of Bangladesh and West Bengal did throw up heroes. If Subhas Chandra Bose had

For tens of millions of the higher castes and the urban middle classes he will be regarded as a hero. All I see is a villain

This is, however, rather disingenuous.

Anyone sticking their head above the parapet and challenging “the family” would automatically be regarded as a traitor to the party. That is primarily because the party is no longer held together by ideology, but actually by the family. Without the figurehead and the myth of the (former) Great Leader, there is very little to distinguish major political parties.

For example, in Bangladesh, both ply the same economic road. Both accept the tutelage of the aid consortium. Both operate within an inferiority complex which underplays the

lived, he would have been possibly the outstanding leader of the twentieth century. His almost “Bolivarian” strategic vision is still relevant today and he stands head and shoulders over pretenders.

On a smaller scale, Maulana Bhashani captured the imagination of a generation while Nazrul’s call for “bidrohi” or rebellion still stirs the emotions and surely should be the basis for any follow up to the brief Shahbagh movement.

Crossing the border to Kolkata, the days of Jyoti Basu and lesser leaders are over. They bequeathed us the

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That factory is now, very appropriately, to be found in the far western state of Gujarat where perennial Chief Minister Narendra Modi has no problem acquiring land and generally getting his way in his rush to make his state the next South Korea.

He has a vision. He has a plan. He has the energy, drive and determination to implement that plan.

Gujarat is one of the fastest growing states in India. It is a businessman’s dream with private ports, tech cities and financial centres. An entrepôt of commerce and industry, trade, and finance. A million miles away from the sclerotic Nehruvian model of under-development.

There is a fly in the ointment, or should one say, several. He hates Muslims as would any committed Hindu fascist card-carrying member of the RSS. That’s going to be a slight problem in India, the world’s fourth largest Muslim country.

Behind the image of soaring skyscrapers, Gujarat has appalling numbers in terms of illiteracy and malnourishment. It languishes mid-table in the league of Indian states on the quality of life for ordinary people.

He is, however, a clear and present danger but all that stands in front of him is another ineffectual princeling, Rahul Gandhi, who, like his mother and father, was never meant to be in politics.

A Modi regime, if he did win next spring, would be a nightmare for hundreds of millions of people. Flashing all the dazzling economic indicators of growth, profits and technology, he will bring social divisiveness, even greater inequality, and military aggression.

Yet, at least, he is exuding dynamism, charisma and genuine leadership, however warped and cruel he may be. For tens of millions of the higher castes and the urban middle classes he will be regarded as a hero.

All I see is a villain.

Thankfully, when the majority of Indians finally get rid of him, they know he will not burden them with a line of little Narendra Modis. Giving everything up for a monastic form of existence for his wretched RSS, he has no children. There will be no Modi dynasty. Thank god for small mercies. l Farid Bakht is a political activist and can be reached at @Liquid_Borders.

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Resignations and the constitutional crisis n Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury

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very serious constitutional crisis is prevailing in the governance of our country, which is unprecedented in the history of parliamentary governance of our state. As per the request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, all her cabinet members submitted blank-dated resignation letters to her on November 11 to be handed to the president.

Some members reportedly submitted resignation letters earlier.

This en masse resignation was with an end to fulfill the public commitment of the prime minister for forming her well-publicised all-party interim government for the upcoming 10th parliamentary election.

This resignation has, on the one hand, put the country in a serious constitutional crisis, and on the other hand, pushed the whole prevailing political crisis into a deeper state.

The cabinet secretary in a press briefing on November 11, said all cabinet members submitted their resignations for the reshuffling of the cabinet, though the resignation of all members was not at all necessary.

The provision of Article 58 (2) of the Constitution could be used.

But some prominent members of the cabinet, like Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Kader and others, who are considered to be well conversant about our constitution, publicly announced their decision to submit their resignations in a body, to enable the prime minister to form an all-party government.

Unfortunately, they misread the constitution and created this embarrassing situation. Upon a plain reading of Article 58 (1) (a) of the Constitution, which reads as follows: “58. (1) The office of a Minister other than the Prime Minister shall become vacant – (a) if he resigns from office by placing his resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister for submission to the President,” we find that the offices of all the cabinet members have fallen vacant right at the time when they handed over their resignations in the hands of the prime minister for submission to the president.

There is no scope for dilly-dallying.

The holding of office by the ministers, after handing over their resignations, is not permitted by the constitution, and all functions discharged by them

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after resignation are unconstitutional.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said they have not properly submitted their resignations as per the provisions of the Constitution and hence they are working, because the prime minister has not yet submitted the resignations to the president.

As per the law minister’s claims, the resigning ministers have further scope for intimating their decisions to the president. If we take the version of the law minister to be true, who could be held responsible for mistaken letters of resignation without proper adherence to the provisions of the Constitution?

There is no scope for dillydallying. The holding of office by the ministers, after handing over their resignations, is not permitted by the constitution, and all functions discharged by them after resignation are unconstitutional

This argument, placed by the law minister for the continuation of the resigning cabinet members as being constitutionally permissible, does not hold water.

Astonishingly, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has differed with the law minister saying that they have submitted the resignations as per the law and if there be any question raised, the same can be resolved before the proper court.

A free, fair, and participatory election for forming the tenth Jatiyo Sangshad has become a far cry. The resignation issue needs to be resolved in a manner that does not just quench the thirst of the ruling party, but addresses the real catastrophic situation for the general election. l Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury is an advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, former state minister, and ex-member of parliament.

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The Indo-Pak proxy war n Mamun Rashid

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espite being an avid reader of Harold Robbins, James Hadley Chase, and Arthur Conan Doyle in my school days, I never thought I had the minimum qualifications to comment on the intelligence agencies of our part of the world.

However, my cadet college connections, regular associations with senior officials of the armed forces, defence and security analysts, and my attendance at some of the sessions at the defence training and research institutes helped me gain an interest in the intelligence activities in Bangladesh.

Since the end of the 80s, and the early 90s, we have been hearing about the ISI of Pakistan being the root cause of some destabilising activities in Bangladesh. Many times the ruling Awami League government, some in the intelligentsia, and journalists, kept pointing fingers at the ISI for encouraging terrorist activities and Islamist groups in Bangladesh.

Awami League stalwarts even blamed BNP of conniving with ISI in anti-national security activities. Many of them pointed fingers at the ISI for the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks on the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and her party. Indian senior politicians and civil bureaucrats also thought Bangladesh territory was being used by the ISI for anti-India activities and terrorism.

Since early 2009, we have been hearing much about the Indian external intelligence agency RAW being

engaged in undesirable activities, including trying to dent the image of Bangladesh’s armed forces. A few retired defence officials, security analysts, and opposition politicians pointed fingers at RAW, accusing it of involvement in the tragic BDR mutiny.

Though I see no visible evidence of their activities in Bangladesh, I am told that RAW has been successful in accessing many security establishments and networks to safeguard the security interest of India.

RAW’s legal status is also unusual. It is not an agency, but a wing of the cabinet secretariat, hence it is not answerable to the Indian parliament. This keeps it out of the Right to Information Act

A few from the Indian diaspora in Bangladesh, particularly some journalists, editors, teachers, cultural activists, civil bureaucrats, and economists, are rumoured to be in the “favourite” list of RAW, and have become their natural allies.

However, the good part is that RAW

and the ISI are more interested in making sure their own country’s interest is served, rather than helping Bangladesh build a respectable security network and anti-terrorism platform.

Many in India think anti-India activities have been on the wane since the present government came to power.

They also think the present government can serve India’s security interests better than BNP. We have seen India’s pre-eminent intelligence agency successfully using PTI (Press Trust of India) to influence leading Bangladeshi editors and reporters to publish reports accusing Khaleda Zia of taking money from Pakistan’s ISI during the 2001 election, referencing Pakistan’s higher court proceedings, which turned out to be a hoax.

Many media analysts are confidently telling us that the recent Anandabazar Patrika-led campaigns against the possible BNP government through the next election is also RAW-fed. The ISI has been blamed for encouraging terrorist activities, fuelling religious militancy, the tentruck arms haul, anti-India militant activities, and taking advantage of the weak security in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, unfortunately, has apparently become a fertile land for an ISI-RAW proxy war.

The Research and Analysis Wing, or RAW, is the primary external intelligence agency of India. Formed in 1968, after the Sino-Indian war in 1962, and the Indo-Pak war in 1965, it is entrusted with the monitoring of political, military, economic and scientific

developments in countries which have direct bearings on India’s national security and foreign policy.

It is also involved in the security of Indian nuclear programs and the moulding of international public opinion with the help of the Indian diaspora. The joint intelligence committee (JIC) under the cabinet secretariat is responsible for coordinating and analysing intelligence activities between RAW, the intelligence bureau, and the defence intelligence agency.

The effectiveness of the JIC has varied since the formation of the National Security Council (NSC) in 1999, while the role of JIC has been merged with NSC. RAW’s legal status is also unusual. It is not an agency, but a wing of the cabinet secretariat, hence it is not answerable to the Indian parliament. This keeps it out of the Right to Information Act. However, allegations of corruption and human rights violations have to be reported.

RAW was instrumental in the formation of Bangladesh guerilla operations and the organisation of the Mukti Bahini. It was responsible for supplying information, training, and heavy ammunition to this organisation. While its failure to prevent the Bangabandhu killing earned it a lot of criticism, it has reportedly played a role in successfully thwarting plans to assassinate Sheikh Hasina by Islamist extremists.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), established in 1948, is the premier intelligence service of Pakistan, providing critical national security and

intelligence assessment to the government of Pakistan. Although, the joint chiefs’ committee was created with a mandate to coordinate all military exercises and operations of the Pakistan armed forces after the intelligence gathering failure of the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, the ISI remains the most powerful organisation, always calling the shots in Pakistan.

Two arch-rivals, RAW and the ISI have been always trying to outwit each other, to dictate the terms for Bangladesh. At times RAW was successful

Two arch-rivals, RAW and the ISI have been always trying to outwit each other, to dictate the terms for Bangladesh.

At times RAW was successful, a few times the ISI was successful. Ill-prepared security networks, paid and unpaid agents, friends, and loyalists in Bangladesh also played significant roles here.

Members of the Indian or Pakistani intelligence forces were patted on the back by their seniors and the government for doing a good job, though not necessarily good for Bangladesh. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

E

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Kerry to warn US Senate off new Iran sanctions n AFP, Washington US Secretary of State John Kerry faces a potentially hostile reception Wednesday when he urges sceptical US lawmakers not to proceed with proposed new sanctions aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear drive.

Senate Republicans and Democrats who are convinced that tighter sanctions against Tehran could bring about a long-sought resolution to its disputed atomic program bristled when the White House warned Tuesday that such action could trigger a “march to war.”

The administration’s remarks Tuesday marked a significant toughening of US President Barack Obama’s stance towards Congress on sanctions as Washington prepares to resume high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Iran later this month.

Obama has vowed he will not allow

Tehran’s leaders to develop an atomic weapon. But last week’s Geneva negotiations between Iran and six world powers failed to reach an interim deal to halt its program.

Key senators from both US parties, some responding to Israel’s savaging of the proposed agreement, are proposing stiffer sanctions or may curtail Obama’s power to ease current measures, which have crippled the Iranian economy.

But the White House said any new sanctions could scupper the diplomatic process and leave little option but the use of military force against Iran.

The White House believes in offering Iran some “modest” and “reversible” steps to ease the pain of some sanctions as part of an interim deal to bolster Tehran’s negotiators against hardliners who are sceptical of new President Hassan Rouhani’s diplomatic opening.l

TYPHOON HAIYAN AFTERMATH

Deadly crush as Filipinos try to flee n

Iraq attacks kill 23 as Shias mass for Ashura n AFP, Baghdad

A Kashmiri Muslim family watch a Muharram procession from the window of their house in Srinagar

Police break up Muslim march in Indian Kashmir n AP, Srinagar

taliated by hurling stones at the soldiers, two officers said, speaking anonymously in keeping with department policy.

Police detained at least a dozen people. One of the officers said at least six people, including two policemen, were injured.

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is especially important for Shiite Muslims, marking the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein in the battle of Karbala.

Wednesday was the eighth day of Muharram, but Shiite Muslims hold religious processions throughout the

AP

month. The processions and mourning peak on the 10th day, called Ashura, when Hussein was martyred.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim it in its entirety.

Large gatherings have been banned in Indian-administered Kashmir since an armed insurgency broke out in 1989 demanding the region’s independence from India or its merger with neighboring Pakistan.

The rebellion and subsequent Indian crackdown have killed at least 68,000 people. l

Violence across Iraq, including bombings against Shias, killed 23 people on Wednesday as worshippers massed in a shrine city on the eve of major commemoration rituals often targeted by militants.

The bloodshed was the latest in a months-long surge in unrest that has forced Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to appeal for Washington’s help in combating militancy as Iraqi action has failed to stem the unrelenting wave of attacks.

Bombings on Wednesday mostly struck north and west of Baghdad, targeting Shia Muslims and members of the security forces.

On the outskirts of Baquba, north of the capital and one of Iraq’s most violent areas, three coordinated bombs struck a gathering of Shia pilgrims marking Ashura.

Overall, eight people were killed and 25 others were wounded in the blasts, security and medical officials said.

Millions of Shias from Iraq and around the world mark Ashura, which this year climaxes on Thursday, by setting up procession tents where food is distributed to passers-by and pilgrims can gather, or by walking to Karbala, which is home to a shrine to Imam Hussein.

Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, was killed by the armies of the caliph Yazid in 680 AD and his death in Karbala has over time come to symbolise the split between Islam’s Sunni and Shia sects.

Tradition holds that the venerated imam was decapitated and his body mutilated, and throngs of modern-day Shias beat their chests and self-flagellate during Ashura to show their historic guilt for not coming to Hussein’s aid. l

Thousands of people jostled and begged for seats Wednesday on scarce flights out of a Philippine city demolished by a super typhoon, as anger at the slow pace of aid reaching the disaster zone turned deadly.

News emerged that eight people were crushed to death Tuesday when a huge crowd of survivors from Haiyan rushed a government rice store, adding to a grim body count after one of the strongest storms on record left thousands dead.

“One wall of our warehouses collapsed and eight people were crushed and killed instantly,” the National Food Authority’s Rex Estoperez said of the incident in Alangalang town, 17 kilometres from the devastated city of Tacloban.

Five days after Haiyan ripped apart entire coastal communities, the situation in Leyte’s provincial capital Tacloban was becoming ever more dire with essential supplies low and increasingly desperate survivors clamouring to leave. l

Egypt’s Morsi to sue rulers over ‘coup’: lawyer n AFP, Cairo

Egypt court rules post-Morsi state Maldives ejected from Commonwealth panel of emergency ended over vote delay

AFP, Tacloban

Egypt’s deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi intends to sue the army-installed authorities over his ouster in July, his lawyer told reporters on Wednesday.

Mohamed al-Damati and a team of lawyers visited Morsi in jail on Monday, where he is awaiting the next hearing in a trial on charges of involvement in the deaths of protesters during his presidency.

“The president plans to take legal measures against the coup, and this will be up to the defence team in the near future,” Damati said.

“There are complaints which will be presented to the prosecutor general (to say) that what happened was a crime,” he said.

Damati also said complaints could be filed to the administrative court to annul “the move to by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi” to topple Morsi.

Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, was removed from office by the army on July 3 after mass protests calling for his resignation. l

Ousted President Mohammed Morsi, right, speaks from the defendant's cage as he stands with co-defendants in a makeshift courtroom during a trial hearing in Cairo AP

n Reuters, Cairo An Egyptian court ruled a threemonth state of emergency be lifted on

First World Trade Centre tower makes debut 12 years after 9/11 n Reuters, New York The first office tower at Ground Zero since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks that destroyed the World Trade Centre will open on Wednesday, marking a comeback for the Lower Manhattan site.

Sheathed in glass, 4 World Trade Centre is the smallest of the four main towers on the site where 2,700 people died when hijacked airplanes crashed into the towers. It stands 298 metres tall – a shorter, simpler version of One World Trade Centre, which will not be completed until early 2014.

The 72-story building stands empty at the moment, although two government agencies have signed leases for half of the building’s space. Both the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, and the city of New York committed to the space years ago to help jump start rebuilding efforts.

Since the attacks, disagreements among New York City, the state, the federal government, developers, insurers, victims’ families and others have slowed construction on the 16-acre site. Developer Larry Silverstein, who held the lease to

Police and paramilitary soldiers on Wednesday used batons and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Muslims participating in religious processions in the Indian portion of Kashmir.

Authorities had imposed a curfew in parts of Srinagar, the region’s main city, to prevent gatherings marking Muharram to develop into anti-India protests.

Scuffles erupted when police and paramilitary forces tried to stop the chanting marchers, some of whom re-

the site when it was attacked in 2001, has played a key role in shaping the project’s design, security and cost.

“The world is recognising that we’ve moved from 12 years of controversy and construction to having a real place that is coming back to life as a part of New York City,” said Janno Lieber, who oversees planning, design and rebuilding for Silverstein Properties.

In 2006, Silverstein opened 7 World Trade Centre, just north of Ground Zero, and the company was the only tenant in the building. But by 2011, it was fully leased with such tenants as Moody’s Corp and Mansueto Ventures, which publishes Fast Company and Inc magazines.

The skyscraper cost about $2bn to build, including land lease costs, and was financed with $1.2bn of tax-free Liberty Bonds and hard-won insurance proceeds.

The site will include two more office towers and some 550,000 square feet of retail space. Architect Frank Gehry, most famous for designing the contemporary Guggenheim Museum in Spain, has planned a performing arts centre for the building. l

Tuesday, a step that may help the army-backed government restore a semblance of normality after the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi.

But as emergency rule was ordered to end, the government edged a step closer to passing a law on demonstrations that the opposition says could be a new way to curb protests.

The government imposed emergency and nightly curfews on Aug 14, when security forces forcibly dispersed two Cairo sit-ins by Morsi supporters, touching off the worst domestic bloodshed in Egypt’s modern history.

The court ruled the state of emergency had ended at 4pm (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, two days earlier than expected. The government said in a statement it was committed to implementing the court ruling and was awaiting a copy of the decision to execute it.

It would mean an end to nightly curfews that have choked economic life, although security forces would not lift the curfew until formally told to do so by the government, a security official said. The curfew now stretches from 1am to 5am, apart from Fridays, when it begins at 7pm. l

n AFP, Male The Commonwealth expelled the Maldives on Wednesday from its disciplinary panel which has begun investigating the political chaos in the country after repeated court interventions that scuttled elections, a diplomat said.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which can recommend the expulsion of countries from the 53-member bloc, ejected the Indian Ocean islands during a meeting in the Sri Lankan capital on Wednesday.

“As long as Maldives remains on the agenda of CMAG, it can’t be a member of this panel,” the diplomat said after the Commonwealth issued a statement confirming that the Maldives was discussed on Wednesday.

The country faces a constitutional crisis after three presidential elections were cancelled, with Western and Indian diplomats increasingly vocal in their criticism of the regime of incumbent Mohamed Waheed.

Opposition leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed has won two votes in the last two months with more than 45% of ballots, but a run-off election has been repeatedly delayed by the Supreme Court.

“Ministers will continue to monitor the situation in Maldives closely over the coming days,” the Commonwealth said in a statement. “The chair of CMAG will brief Commonwealth heads of government on 15 November 2013, when they meet in Colombo.”

Nasheed resigned in February 2012 following demonstrations and a mutiny by security forces which he denounced as a coup engineered by Waheed and former former autocrat Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Maldives, an upmarket honeymoon destination famed for its coral-fringed islands, began with multi-party democracy for the first time in 2008 after 30 years of control by Gayoom.

Commonwealth leaders are massing in Sri Lanka ahead of a three-day summit starting Friday. l

Indonesian ‘mastermind’ of Myanmar embassy plot on trial n AFP, Jakarta The alleged mastermind of a plot to bomb the Myanmar embassy in Indonesia led a group of Islamic extremists intent on avenging the “massacre” of Rohingya Muslims, a court heard Wednesday.

Sigit Indrajid, 23, is the fourth person to go on trial this week over the plan to attack the mission in Jakarta in May and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

The plot was a sign of rising anger in Muslim-majority Indonesia at the plight of the persecuted Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, many of

whom have died in sectarian unrest since last year.

The attack was foiled on May 2, the day before it was due to take place, when police arrested two men on a motorbike carrying a backpack full of pipe-bombs. Prosecutor Heru Anggoro told the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday at the start of Indrajid’s trial that the suspect had called his accomplices to his house in April to outline the plan.

Indrajid faces three charges under tough anti-terror laws that carry the death penalty, including conspiracy to commit an act of terror. l

Riot policemen block an area with shields during a protest by supporters of Maldives former President Mohamed Nasheed near the parliament in Male AP

First Australian Aboriginal woman senator vows to call out racism

Storm death toll rises to 140 in Somalia

n AFP, Sydney

The death toll from a tropical cyclone that hit Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region at the weekend has risen to 140 but the final figure could total 300, the government said on Wednesday.

The government has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international aid to help the tiny Horn of Africa region, which is rich in energy resources and is being sized up by oil explorers. l

The first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia’s parliament, former Olympian Nova Peris, delivered an emotional maiden speech Wednesday, saying she would gladly swap her sporting achievements for better lives for indigenous people.

With white clay from a traditional

indigenous blessing smeared on her forehead, Peris acknowledged that she lived in a society “where the odds are stacked against Aboriginal people.”

Peris, who won gold in field hockey at the 1996 Atlanta Games before switching to athletics to win gold in the 200m and 4x100m relay at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, said her sporting achievements were virtually

meaningless compared with the struggle of her older relatives to survive.

She said while she had lived the globe-trotting life of an elite athlete, she would “swap all of that in a heartbeat.”

Peris’ election to the Senate in the September 7 vote was a rare bright spot for the Australian Labor Party which lost government to conservative leader Tony Abbott in the polls. l

n Reuters, Bosasso

Did you know?

Sachin Tendulkar scored 1,000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year seven times 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007

Sport

14 Al-Ahly suspend goal hero over Islamist salute

n Raihan Mahmood

Dispute between Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Brothers Union over the latter’s cricketer Sohrawardi Shuvo has made many fearful that the ongoing season of the Dhaka Premier League might be heading for a suspension.

Professionalism in domestic cricket competition has always been questioned on different issues at different times. Foreign requites complaining about the system has been a common scenario over the years, leaving aside local players. Cricket experts in Bangladesh believe the system is developing for the better but there are still a few occurrences which raise a few eyebrows.

After Brothers’ match against Abahani Ltd on November 7, match referee Obaidul Haque Azam suspended and fined Brothers skipper Sohrawardi Tk20,000 for poor behavior with onfield umpires over a run-out decision.

In Brothers’ next game against Sheikh Jamal, the former complained against Sohrawardi, who was supposed to be serving the suspension, but instead played in the game.

Sheikh Jamal officials said they came to know about the suspension of Sohrawardi during the middle of the game and that according to the by-laws they should get full points for the game.

However, both Sohrawardi and his club Brothers denied the suspension and said they had no idea of the matter.

CCDM called up both Azam and Sohrawardi for a hearing on Tuesday and later sent their observation to the cricket board for final decision.

However, the situation is not as simple as it sounds. Sohrawardi, the Brothers’ skipper, informed the Dhaka Tribune that he is surprised as he had not been informed of either a suspension or a fine.

“I was called by the match referee (Azam) for a hearing after the Abahani game. He thought I was guilty for the situation on the field but the umpire corrected him saying it was not me who offended the umpires rather the crowd who thought the decision of the umpire was not right,” said Sohrawardi.

The left-hander further informed that he had left after the hearing and the match referee neither suspended nor fined him. It was only after Jamal’s protest that both Brothers and Sohrawardi

14 Karanka swaps Madrid for Middlesbrough

15 Will Tendulkar’s records last forever?

India aim for whitewash against WI seniormost statesman will be focussed n Agencies on inflicting another humiliating defeat

Sachin Tendulkar during a practice session in Mumbai yesterday ahead of the 2nd Test match against West Indies

Sohrawardi’s suspension reveals irregularities n Minhaz Uddin Khan

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Emotional farewell awaits Tendulkar

MSC to remain out of hockey transfer Despite the snub of Mohammedan and Mariner Young’s Club, the two leading outfit of the country’s hockey arena, Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) is all set to the start the three-day long premier division hockey league players’ transfer from tomorrow.

BHF earlier declared that after the completion of the transfer on November 17, the season will get underway from December 16 with the Club Cup tournament.

The premier division hockey league is scheduled to start from December 26.

However among the 11 clubs, Mohammedan, Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club and Wari Club have decided not to participate in the transfer as per their previous decision of not participating in any tournament under the existing executive committee.

Ariful Haque Prince, the manager of Mohammedan clarified their stance. “We are committed to not to play any competition under this executive committee.

We initiated our efforts to an amicable solution but the federation has not responded. We tried to meet the president, but we did not get any appointment. The federation may start the competitions, but it will never possess the credibility,” said Prince.

On the other hand, Khwaja Rahmatullah, the general secretary of the hockey federation said they have requested Mohammedan and the other teams to take part in the players’ transfer. “We have requested them, but if they don’t turn up what can we do. We are expecting seven to eight teams to take part in the transfers,” said Rahmatullah. l

13

Thursday, November 14, 2013

learnt of the suspension.

The CCDM claimed a letter was served to Brothers Union right after the Abahani game and ahead of the Jamal game, but the club denied receiving any such letter. With various potentially culpable parties pointing fingers at the other a blame-game situation has reared its head, but why Sohrawardi was not barred from playing against Sheikh Jamal by match officials remains to be clarified.

“Even the match officials in the game against Jamal didn’t know of my suspension. The first job of an official is to check the players’ list before the game and see if there is any irregularity. But I guess it was fine with them may be because they didn’t have any information,” said Sohrawardi.

CCDM member secretary Rakib Haider Pavel told the Dhaka Tribune that the suspension letter of Sohrawardi was addressed to the CCDM chairman and a copy was also sent to the BCB umpires committee.

“The umpires committee was copied in the letter and I believe it should be their duty to inform the officials of the game. The tournament by-laws do not mention of such case as a suspended cricketer is not supposed to play a game in the first place,” said Pavel.

Meanwhile, chairman of the umpires committee IH Mallick, who turned a director of the BCB after running the election as a councilor from Brothers, could not be reached for a comment on the matter.

With the matter off the field, it is likely to be resolved through a game power and politics with two influential club directors - AZM Nasir, president of cricket committee Brothers Union and Monjur Kader president of Sheikh Jamal DC determining what comes of the matter.

Earlier this season, Brothers were involved in another dispute which saw Cricket Coaching School get relegated as they failed to reach the ground on time against them. According to the by-laws a team would get 30 minutes grace time in case they face any trouble reaching the ground outside Dhaka City. CCS reached Fatullah at 9am, but Brothers refused to play. By-laws suggested the team refusing to play would be punished but later sources confirmed it was an influence of a top official that anchored the decision in favour of the orange outfits. l

Doleshwar, Kalabagan clash in eleventh round n Mazhar Uddin The final match of the eleventh and last round of the Walton Dhaka Premier League between Prime Doleshwar CC and Kalabagan CA will take place today at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Nine clubs have played all their 10 matches, but the encounter between Prime Doleshwar and Kalabagan CA was postponed due to political unrest in the country.

Both Doleshwar and Kalabagan CA already secured their place in the top six. Prime Doleshwar have won six matches of nine matches and secured 13 points while Kalabagan has 11 points, winning five games from same number of matches.

However both the teams will be looking to win to get the upper hand for the next phase of the league. Gazi Tanks and Mohammedan are leading the table with 14points, having won seven matches out of ten so far. l

Siddikur starts Australian Masters today

AP

Without doubt the most enduring phenomenon in modern cricket and India’s biggest sporting icon, Sachin Tendulkar is all set for an epic curtain call starting tomorrow when he steps on the field against the West Indies for his 200th and final Test where emotions will weigh heavy.

For once, an individual would be the focus even though it is a clash of two teams and why not, given that the individual in question is a man who successfully transformed from a prodigal talent to a living legend in 24 glorious years.

Tendulkar has been synonymous with the game in India for more than t w o decades and held in awe and admiration all over the cricket-playing world.

As a curly-haired teen with unbelievable talent, he walked in to the cricket field and the hearts of his fans quite effortlessly ever since his debut in 1989.

And Such has been his domination in both the places that the vaccum he would leave seems unfillable.

Having won the first Test by an innings and 51 runs, Team India and their

on a mediocre Caribbean outfit at the Wankhede Stadium.

But the scores and statistics will certainly take backseat for the next few days as a nation gets ready to bid farewell to arguably its greatest and most revered sporting icon.

When Sir Don Bradman retired at the Oval in 1948, there were tributes but celebrations of a fantastic career were much muted. But now as world cricket’s most celebrated No 4 batsman bids adieu to the game, there is a silent prayer on everyone’s mind – let it be a farewell to remember.

While the onus will be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni to control on-field proceedings, it will also be difficult for the players not to feel overwhelmed by the occasion and emotions associated with the great man’s farewell. For the legend himself, he would like to sign off on a high in front of his friends and family with a knock that will be etched in everyone’s memory in the years to come.

Having got a raw deal from umpire Nigel Llong in his penultimate Test match in Kolkata, the highest run-scorer in Test history would expect that a Shane Shillingford or Tino Best do not ‘do an Eric Hollies’ on him as he walks out to bat at his beloved Wankhede for the last time.l

Muktis rely on new faces n Shishir Hoque With a group of former national players, augmented with a number of young players, Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra have put together a squad almost unrecognizable from last season, as they completed their registration process yesterday. With 23 local and three Nigerian players, only six of the players played for Muktijoddha last season.

Muktijoddha, who finished Bangladesh Premier League sixth last season, are the fourth team to complete the registration process, two days before the deadline. Six teams are still to complete the process.

Saying goodbye to old players like Kanchan, Biddyut and Faisal Mahmud, Muktis brought in a total of 20 new players - two from U-19, national team players Mohammad Ibrahim and Nurul Alam, six players from Mohammedan, three each from BJMC and Abahani and two from Sheikh Russell.

Former national star goalkeeper Aminul Haque rejoined the club from Team BJMC while other former national players like Enamul Haque, Ibnul Siraji, Maruf Ahmed, Imtiaz Sultan Zitu signed for Muktijoddha. Nigerian striker Eleta Kingsley, who played for

BJMC last season, joined his younger brother defender Eleta Benjamin at the club and another Nigerian recruit Agbulu Inaligview also signed for the club.

SQUAD New players Aminul, Bipul, Shahed and Eleta Kingsley from BJMC; Golam Mostafa, Uttam Kumar from Sheikh Russell; Siraji, Rakhain, Enamul from Abahani; Rafiqur Rahman Mamun, Saidul Haq, Sweet, Maruf Ahmed, Jitu, Iqbal from Mohammedan; Mohammad Khaled from Arambagh; fresher- Mohammad Ibrahim, Nurul Alam (played for U-16 team last season), Palash and Agbulu (Nigeria) Old players Rasel Mahmud Liton, Mostafizur Rahman Saikat, Shamol Ahmed Rony, Zahid Parvez Chowdhury, Mohammad Biplob, Eleta Benjamin Coach Shafiqul Islam Manik said that they will sign four or five more foreign players before the deadline.

Manik declined to name the players but said two of them are from Egypt and two from Nigeria. Another Haitian player, who is currently in New York, might join the club, if he receives his

visa in time.

Manik admitted his failure to form a team he expected saying it was too late when he got approval from club high officials. “When we started building our team, it was not possible for us to form a championship team as top clubs like Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Russell, Abahani and Mohammedan had already signed up all the top players. We don’t have national players, but we built a fighting team,” said Manik.

Muktijoddha reached the semi-finals in three professional tournaments last season but finished the league at sixth and Manik hopes to start afresh this season. He also believes the current squad is better than last year’s squad.

“This team is more complete than last season. We have a team mixture with experience and young players.

We also have middle age players like Shamol, Mamun, Jitu, Ibrahim in our team who are ready to prove them to get chance in the national team in future.

“I believe the team we formed can fight for the championship. We are the fifth best team on pen and paper. The league is like a marathon and I hope we will survive in the long race. Our target is to finish on top 3 in the league.” l

n Raihan Mahmood A stellar field of international golfers alongwith Bangladesh golfing hero Siddikur Rahman are all set to tee-off in the Talisker Australian at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club today.

The star studded field includes world number 2, Adam Scott and world number 8, Matt Kuchar former world number one and three time major champion, Vijay Singh of Fiji, 2006 US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy and fellow Victorian Marc Leishman.

Four of the top ten players on the Asian Tour led by Australian Scott Hend, a three time winner in 2013 and second on Asian Tour Order of Merit. third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Gaganjeet Bhullar along with fellow countryman Anirban Lahiri and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh. Lahiri and Rahman are respectively ranked seventh and ninth on the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit.l

Muktijoddha coach Shafikul Islam Manik hands over the registration papers to BFF SVP Salam Murshedy at the BFF House yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Rossi doubtful for Italy against Germany n AFP, Milan In-form Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi is doubtful for Italy’s friendly against Germany on tomorrow as he recovers from flu-like symptoms, according to Italy team doctors.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said on Tuesday he wanted to see Rossi, who leads Italy’s scoring charts with 11 goals in 12 games, line up alongside AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli for the San Siro clash.

However Italy’s chief doctor Enrico Castellatti hinted on Wednesday that Prandelli may have to shelve those expectations as Rossi, who is under antibiotics, had “little time” in which to recover.

“Giuseppe doesn’t have a fever anymore but he still has a throat infection which is taking its toll on him,” said Castellatti.

“He’s under antibiotics, and we should be able to guage in the coming hours whether he is improving or not. We’ll evaluate him later. He’s doing okay, but in terms of (recovering in time for) Friday’s game there is not much time.”

Italy qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with two games to spare in Group B and on Tuesday Prandelli said naming his “definitive” squad for

Karanka swaps Madrid for Middlesbrough n AFP, London English second-tier club Middlesbrough pulled off a managerial coup on Wednesday when they confirmed the appointment of former Real Madrid assistant Aitor Karanka as their new head coach.

The 40-year-old Spaniard, who worked under Jose Mourinho at Madrid from 2010 to 2013, succeeds Tony Mowbray, who was sacked last month following a poor run of results.

“It is a very important day for me,” Karanka told journalists at a press conference.

“This is my first job and it is the best thing that I can do because I have found a club like a family with big facilities, with a big stadium, with big supporters.

“It is my time. I have been, for three years, with Jose Mourinho and I think he supported me every day. I learned with him and his staff and I’m ready.”

Karanka also revealed that Mourinho, now the manager of Chelsea, had encouraged him to take up the post at the Riverside Stadium.

“You can learn everything (from Mourinho) on the pitch and off the pitch and the changing room. He’s the one,” Karanka said.

“He’s the person who’s supported me for months. He recommended me to come here because he believes in this project, like me.” l

next summer’s showpiece was a long way off.

“Right now, I don’t have a definitive list of 23 player, I have 35 names in my head,” said the Italy coach.

Prandelli’s wish to test the RossiBalotelli partnership may have to wait until Monday when the Azzurri face Nigeria in their second friendly of the week at Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground.

However Rossi appears to have made a lasting impression on Prandelli on what is the Fiorentina striker’s comeback season following a lengthy injury lay-off which began at his former club, Villarreal.

Prandelli contrasted Rossi’s purple patch with ‘La Viola’ with that of Balotelli, who has been subject to criticism at struggling AC Milan since returning from injury and a three-match ban several weeks ago.

“Rossi has great human qualities and a great character, that have only got stronger since his injury,” Prandelli added.

“He can play as the first or second striker, he’s not just a goalscorer, he also knows how to make the team play better.

“As for Mario, he’s going through a tough period at the moment, but if he has character, he will emerge stronger.” l

Gerrard, Walker out of England friendly n AFP, London

England captain Steven Gerrard and right-back Kyle Walker will miss tomorrow’s friendly game against Chile at Wembley Stadium due to injury, managed Roy Hodgson announced on Wednesday.

The duo sat out training at Arsenal’s London Colney training facility on Wednesday morning, but they have not yet been ruled out of England’s following game against Germany next Tuesday.

Gerrard’s Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge also missed the training session with a foot injury, but he has not been declared unavailable for the game against Chile.

In Gerrard’s absence, Frank Lampard is set to captain England on Friday.

Manchester United pair Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck withdrew from the squad on Tuesday, with United subsequently announcing that midfielder Carrick will be out for up to six weeks. l

SQUAD GOALKEEPERS Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy.

DEFENDERS Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling

MIDFIELDERS Ross Barkley, Tom Cleverley, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard (was feeling unwell), James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere (recovering from ankle injury).

FORWARDS England manager Roy Hodgson (L) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger watch during an England training session at London Colney, north of London yesterday. England will play Chile in an international friendly match at Wembley tomorrow REUTERS

Rampant Uruguay overwhelm Jordan in playoff first leg n AFP, Amman Uruguay are almost assured of their place in next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil after battering Jordan 5-0 in their intercontinental playoff first leg on Wednesday.

RESULT Jordan

0-5

Uruguay

Pereira 21, Stuani 41, Lodeiro 68, Rodriguez 77, Cavani 92

The South American giants, sixth in the FIFA rankings, overcame a few tense minutes at the start of the game at the packed Amman International Stadium to seal an emphatic victory against the 70th ranked Jordanians who failed to live up to the hype and expectation generated in their own country.

Benfica defender Maxi Pereira put the South Americans ahead in the 22nd minute with a simple tap-in after an Edinson Cavani header was parried by Jordanian goalkeeper Abdulla al-Zubi.

The two-time world champions consolidated their lead through Espanyol striker Christian Stuani who sneaked the ball under al-Zubi after brilliant dummy by Cavani in the 42nd minute.

The tall Paris St. Germain star ducked under a throw-in to allow the ball to reach Nicolas Lodiero and the Botafogo midfielder clipped the ball to Stuani who beat al-Zubi with an easy shot from close range.

Jordan’s Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan had invoked Arab pride in his rallying cry before the match, saying his team carried the hopes of the entire Arab world, but the Uruguayans, with several of their stars playing in the European leagues, simply proved too good on the day.

The Jordanians, however, had one clear chance but Ibrahim al-Zawareh inexplicably fired wide from close range after Shareef Adnan had done all the hard work on the right early in the second half.

Thereafter it was Uruguay all the way, Lodiero scoring the third goal in the 69th minute after poor defending by the Jordanians allowed Cavani to get behind the back four.

Christian Rodriguez got on the scoresheet in the 76th minute with a half-volley from close range and Cavani, easily the star of the match, finished off the game with a brilliant freekick from outside the penalty area in added time. l

Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Wayne Rooney

Al-Ahly suspend goal hero over Islamist salute

n AFP, Cairo Egypt’s Al-Ahly football club on Tuesday suspended forward Ahmed Abdel Zaher from next month’s FIFA Club World Cup for celebrating a goal with a salute in support of Islamists.

Al-Ahly said they would also sell the 28-year-old at the end of the season and deprive him of prize money from the Cairo club’s victory Sunday in the final of the African Champions League.

Abdel Zaher held up four fingers when he scored Al-Ahly’s second goal in the 4-0 win over South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.

The four-finger salute has been adopted by supporters of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, who was overthrown by the army on July 3.

The player has apologised to fans for the political stunt, and said in a statement that he would be willing to accept whatever punishment the club metes out.

Following news of Abdel Zaher’s suspension, several hundred supporters marched to his house in north Cairo in a show of solidarity, an AFP correspondent reported.

Abdel Zaher appeared from a window to wave at his supporters and

again flash the salute.

Al-Ahly’s football committee had on Monday recommended Abdel Zaher be suspended from the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, following uproar in the media.

The club also fined star player Mohamed Aboutrika, another Morsi supporter, 50,000 Egyptian pounds (about $7,200) for not showing up to receive his medal from the sports minister.

Aboutrika had gone to his locker for a t-shirt with 72 on it, in reference to the number of people killed in a February 2012 stadium riot.

Egypt remains deeply polarised between Morsi’s supporters and the military-installed interim government.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, have died in clashes since Morsi’s overthrow, many of them killed when police dispersed a protest camp in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya square.

The square is named after an eighth century Muslim holy woman, but Rabaa also means “fourth” in Arabic, giving rise to the four-finger salute Abdel Zaher flashed in the game.

An Egyptian martial artist, Mohamed Youssef, was banned from playing for two years after he wore a shirt bearing the symbol when he accepted his gold medal in a tournament in Russia last month. l

Injured Messi regrets not being able to join team n AFP, Madrid

Uruguay's Maximiliano Pereira (C) celebrates with his teammates scoring the opening goal against Jordan during the World Cup play off first leg match at Amman International stadium in Amman, Jordan yesterday AP

Lionel Messi thanked his fans for their support Tuesday and said it is “a pity” that he can not join his Barcelona teammates on the pitch over the coming weeks while he recovers from a leg injury.

The Spanish giants announced Monday that the 26-year-old Argentina international will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks due to a muscle tear in his left hamstring muscle, his third leg injury this season.

Messi limped off after just 20 minutes of Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Real Betis on Sunday and was replaced by Andres Iniesta.

“As many of you know, over the next few weeks I will be working full-time on the recovery of this new injury, for me it is a pity not to play with my team right now,” Messi wrote on his Facebook page.

“Now what is most important is to recover well to help my teammates and give back all the support you have given to me in the best way I know how to do, playing football. Thank you for your messages!”

The injury means Barcelona will be without Messi for up to eight match-

es, including its last two Champions League group games against Ajax and Celtic.

It was the third time this season that he has been forced off with a muscular problem following hamstring and thigh injuries in his right leg.

As many of you know, over the next few weeks I will be working full-time on the recovery of this new injury, for me it is a pity not to play with my team right now Messi suffered a bruised thigh during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid which kept him out for a week.

He then suffered a small muscle tear in his right thigh during a La Liga match against Almeria on September 28 which sidelined him for three weeks.

Last week Messi said on Chinese social networking site Weibo he was still not fully fit.

“Physically I am still not at 100 percent but I am confident that as I play more matches I will recover my rhythm,” he said.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Thursday, November 14, 2013

India in frenzy as Tendulkar readies for last game

SACHIN BYTES Full name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Right-hand batsman, right-arm spinner Major teams: India, Mumbai.

Height: 5 feet, 5 inches

n AP, Mumbai

Career Tests: Matches 199, Runs 15,847, Highest 248 not out, Average 53.71, Centuries 51, Half-centuries 67 One-day internationals: Matches 463, Runs 18,426, Highest 200 not out, Average 44.83, Centuries 49, Half-centuries 96 Twenty20: Match 1, Runs 10, Average 10.00

World records

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Most Test runs and centuries Most one-day runs and centuries Only batsman to score 100 international centuries Most World Cup runs (2,278) Most appearances in Tests and one-day internationals 1,000 or more Test runs in a calendar year six times: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010 1,000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year seven times: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007

Key dates

¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

April 24, 1973: Born in Mumbai December 11, 1988: First class debut aged 15 with a century November 15, 1989: Test debut v Pakistan, Karachi December 18, 1989: One-day debut v Pakistan, Gujranwala August 14, 1990: Maiden Test century v England, Old Trafford aged 17 December 10, 2005: Overtakes Sunil Gavaskar’s world record of 34 Test tons October 17, 2008: Overtakes Brian Lara as highest run-getter in Tests February 24, 2010: First batsman to score 200 in one-day cricket.

April 2, 2011: World Cup winner with India March 16, 2012: Becomes only batsman to score 100 international tons.

November 14, 2013: Will play his 200th and final Test in Mumbai.

He has already retired from ODI and Twenty20 cricket.

QUICK BYTES

Kazi Imran sets new record Bangladesh Navy sprinter Kazi Imran set a new record in the Inter-Service Athletics 100metre sprint at the Army stadium yesterday as he clocked 10.25 seconds to grab the gold medal. Imran broke the former record of Army athlete Mohon Khan of 10.71 seconds, whileMohon finished third behind second placed the Army’s Shariful Islam who clocked 10.50 seconds. Meanwhile, Army athlete Mujibur Rahman clinched gold in the 110metre hurdles event with a time of 14.28 seconds, while Masud Khan of the Navy and Hafizur Rahman of Army claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Bangladesh Army dominated the meet that concluded yesterday with 14 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze. Bangladesh Navy placed second with 7 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze while Air Force finished third with one gold, two silver and five bronze.

–SH

Sachin Tendulkar celebrates scoring his 100th century during the Asia Cup cricket match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on March 16, 2012

Will his records last forever? n AFP, New Delhi India will lose its greatest cricketer when Sachin Tendulkar retires but the ‘Little Master’ leaves behind records that will not only be tough to beat, but may never be broken.

Tendulkar, 40, has played more matches, and scored more runs and centuries, than anyone else in either Test or one-day cricket, and is the only batsman to compile 100 international hundreds.

What stands out in an extraordinary 24-year career, which will end with his 200th Test starting on Thursday, is how far ahead he is both in terms of statistics and longevity.

“Records don’t last forever, but some of Tendulkar’s achievements like 200 Tests and 100 international centuries will be hard to beat,” former India

captain Kapil Dev told AFP. Tendulkar’s 15,847 Test runs dwarf the 13,378 scored by second-placed and now retired former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, and are 2,707 more than Jacques Kallis, the highest placed active player.

Tendulkar has been even more dominant in one-day cricket, his tally of 18,426 runs being 4,722 more than number two Ponting. Of active batsmen, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara leads with 11,948.

Ponting’s 30 one-day centuries pale against Tendulkar’s 49 -- although South Africa’s Kallis is only seven hundreds away from matching the Indian’s Test tally of 51 tons.

By further comparison, Australia’s Donald Bradman, usually acknowledged as cricket’s best batsman, retired aged 39 in 1948 with 6,996 Test runs,

Nathan McCullum fires NZ to victory n AFP, Hambantota Nathan McCullum smashed 22 runs off the final four balls to lift New Zealand to a thrilling four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the rain-hit second one-day international in Hambantota on Tuesday.

The Black Caps, set a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 198 in 23 overs, replied with 203-6 as McCullum hit spinner Rangana Herath for three sixes and a four to seal a last-ball win.

The victory was set up by a superb 86 off 68 balls from opener Tom Latham and a quickfire 49 by Luke Ronchi, the pair adding 93 from 57 deliveries for the

fifth wicket. Both batsmen fell in the 21st over bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara, but McCullum steered the Black Caps home with an unbeaten 32 off nine balls.

Latham’s knock contained 12 boundaries and a six, while Ronchi hit seven fours and a six. Earlier, Sri Lanka made 138-1 from 23 overs in between a rain interruption of more than four hours.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, were 117-1 in 20.4 overs when bad weather hit the southern coastal town.

When the game resumed, it was curtailed to 23 overs which allowed Sri Lanka to add a further 21 runs in the re-

maining 14 deliveries.

Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 55 not out and Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 71 off 59 balls, the duo adding 126 for the unbroken second wicket after opener Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed for four.

New Zealand’s reply began on the wrong foot when Kulasekara dismissed Anton Devcich and Rob Nicol off successive balls in the second over.

Both batsmen fell to catches behind the stumps by wicket-keeper Sangakkara, who also stumped Grant Elliott off Sachithra Senanayake to reduce the Black Caps to 34-3. l

Venus Williams to play Hobart WTA event n AFP, Sydney

Rani Hamid continues winning streak

American star Venus Williams has been confirmed as a starter in the Hobart WTA International in January, organisers said on Wednesday.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, now ranked 48, will be making her first appearance in the tournament in the run-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

“The tournament is played on the same surface as the Australian Open, so it will be a great place to get some good match practice against tough opponents before I head to Melbourne,” Williams said in a statement.

She will join Australia’s former US Open champion Sam Stosur in the event from January 5-11. l

Bangladesh players WIM Rani Hamid beat Supriya Joshi, Masuda Begum beat Jasper Jothi and Jahanara Huq Runu beat S. Pooja of India respectively in the 10th round of the Women Grandmasters Chess Tournament at Chennai yesterday.

Rani Hamid earned 6 points, WFM Zakia Sultana earned 5.5 points, Masuda Begum earned 5 points, Jahanara Haque Runu earned 4.5 points and Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury Moly earned 3.5 points In the other matches : Zakia lost to WFM Gevorgyan Maria of Armenia and Moly lost to WCM Fernandes Krystal of India.

-RM

Barcelona extends Unicef partnership until 2016

captain Alastair Cook.

Kallis, 38, has scored 13,140 runs in 164 Tests at a commendable average of 55.44. Cook, 28, already has 7,801 runs from 97 Tests, with 25 centuries and an average of 47.85.

However, Dev said the growth of one-day and Twenty20 cricket -- and the rigorous physical demands of the modern game -- could put Tendulkar’s statistics out of reach.

“One would need to play for 25 years to achieve those feats, but can modernday players last that long?” he asked.

“Most don’t even play enough Test matches these days.”

Tendulkar featured in just one Twenty20 international, preferring to leave the shortest version to younger players, but turned out for the Mumbai Indians in domestic T20 up until last month.l

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT TENDULKAR DONALD BRADMAN

“I saw him playing on the television and I was very, very struck by his technique. I asked my wife to come and have a look at him. Because, I said, I never saw myself play, but I feel that this feller is playing much the same as I used to play... It was just his compactness, his stroke production, his technique, it all seemed to gel as far as I was concerned.”

SHANE WARNE

“Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without a doubt -daylight second, Brian Lara third.”

VIV RICHARDS

“He has been a genius when it comes to ability, a Trojan when it comes to work ethic and manic when it comes to his focus.”

RAHUL DRAVID

“What he has done is set a benchmark for future generations which, probably, would be almost impossible for anyone to emulate.”

BRIAN LARA

“Sachin is a genius. I’m a mere mortal. When I speak about cricket, I will speak about Tendulkar. Just like you mention Mohammad Ali when you mention boxing and Michael Jordan when it comes to basketball.”

ANIL KUMBLE

“I am fortunate that I’ve to bowl at him only in the nets.”

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI

“His schoolboy-like enthusiasm for the game is something I envy and admire. For the team he is the best available coaching manual.”

ANDY FLOWER

“There are two kind of batsmen in the world. One, Sachin Tendulkar.

Two, all the others.”

SHAH RUKH KHAN

“I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do.”

MATTHEW HAYDEN

“I have seen God. He bats at number four for India.”

Jamil, Biplob reach second round

Barcelona said Tuesday it has extended to 2016 its agreement to donate 1.5 million euros a year to joint projects with UNICEF and display the UN children’s aid fund’s logo on its jerseys. The existing agreement was set to expire next year but the club’s directors approved a two-year extension at a board meeting on Monday, the Spanish league leaders said in a statement.

-RM

n Raihan Mahmood

Day’s Watch Star Sports 1 10:00AM India v West Indies 2nd Test , Day 1

including 29 centuries, in 52 matches.

And despite Bradman’s staggering Test average of 99.94, West Indian great Brian Lara said Tendulkar was not only the best of all time, but that his records could be unmatchable.

“No argument at all - Sachin Tendulkar, for me, has had the greatest cricket career of anyone who has ever played the game,” Brian Lara said in London this week.

“His stats speak for themselves,” added Lara. “I don’t think there is any 16-year-old who is going to embark on the sort of career that Sachin Tendulkar has had and walk away from the game at 40 or 41 with such great achievements.”

Among current players, Tendulkar’s Test record could possibly be matched by just two batsmen -- the indefatigable all-rounder Kallis, and England

AFP

On the eve of Sachin Tendulkar’s last game for India, it seems all of India wants to give their greatest sportsman some token of affection.

Tendulkar brings the curtain down on his 24-year international career from Thursday, on his home ground, and the kind of send-off this cricket-crazy country of 1.2 billion is giving has to be seen to be believed.

Politicians, corporates, sportspeople, Bollywood and the public have been falling over themselves to show their thanks with everything from shows and dinners to paintings and a silver banyan tree with 199 golden leaves at his previous test in Kolkata last week.

The area around Wankhede Stadium, where he will bow out with a world-record 200th test, is inundated with posters and murals of Tendulkar.

Tendulkar’s wife, Anjali, has joked that they may need a museum to house all the gifts and mementos.

The frenzy started more than a month ago when the man with the most runs and centuries in tests and onedayers announced he’ll retire from international cricket after this second test against West Indies.

Tendulkar, who is already having grounds and stands all over India named after him, will have the pleasure of seeing his mother Rajni at the stadium for the first time, as organizers have constructed a special ramp for her wheelchair.

Tendulkar’s family and close relatives are known to avoid watching his matches, including older brother Ajit Tendulkar, who was instrumental in channelling Tendulkar’s talent during his early years.

“We somehow thought it would bring bad luck to him,” Ajit told Headlines Today. “We used to usually only check on his scores or see the highlights at the end of the day.”

Such has been the crush from politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, past India cricketers and Bollywood actors to snare invitations or tickets to the match, that organizers left only 5,000 for public sale in a stadium which seats 33,400.l

Alina Lazareva of Kyrgyzstan plays a cross court shot in the 27th Bangladesh International Tennis at the NTC, Ramna yesterday MUMIT M

Jamil Bhuiyan and Biplob Ram of Bangladesh moved to the second round of the 27th Bangladesh International Junior Tennis yesterday. Jami beat Jaffar Javed of India 6-1, 6-3 while Biplob Ram beat Liu Yang of Taipei 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 at the National Tennis Complex.

However, the other compatriots of Jamil and Biplob failed to cross the first round hurdle of the boy’s singles. Christian Cummings (IND)

beat Shariful Islam Tinku 6-3, 7-6, Syahputra (INA) beat Mahin Reza Khan 6-1, 6-1, Cheng Shan Kuo (TPE) beat Saleem Shadman 6-0, 6-1, John Paul Avila (MEX) beat Ahsan Habib 6-0, 6-0, Jerome Romualdez (PHI) beat Mahfuz Bhuiyan 6-0, 6-1, Richi Agarwal (IND) beat Tahmid Autul 6-0, 6-1, Saitejas Mopuri (IND) beat Md. Jony 7-5, 6-1, Run Jia Fang (CHN) beat Delowar Hossain 6-1, 6-1, Gokhale (IND) beat Mamun Bapari 6-1, 7-5.

In the other matches Veerathammasorn (THA) beat Sultan

Kenes (KAZ) 7-6, 6-0, Tsubasa Kato (JPN) beat Tan Zu Zinyang (MAS) 6-0, 6-4, Wang Tin-Yu (TPE) beat Md. Asik Khan 6-1, 6-1.

In the girls singles, Lee Yan (TPE) beat Moumitu Jannat Mou (BAN) 6-0, 6-1, Luciana Rabines (USA) beat Wijesooriya (SRI) 6-2, 6-0, Yamaguchi Yuri (JPN) beat Bekirova (UZB) 6-0, 2-6, 6-3, Sri Sai Shivani (IND) beat Rebeka Sultana (BAN) 6-1, 6-1, Fawzy (EGY) defeated Adinath Narde (IND) 6-0, 6-0, Raman (IND) beat Nadia Islam (BAN) 6-0, 6-1. l

16 Government school’s admission test in mid-December

n Mushfique Wadud

The government schools in the capital will start selling admission forms for the academic year 2014 from December 1.

Sajal Kanti Mandal, director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, said the sale will continue till December 9.

Guardians can collect forms paying Tk100 for each, from 9am to 3pm every day except on government holidays.

Instead of an admission test, a student enrolling for class I will be selected by lottery, he added.

Admission test will be held for class II to class IX in different phases.

The authority divided 24 schools of the city into three groups— group A, group B and group C. The groups admission tests will be held on December 19, 20 and 21 respectively.

The director also said they would find out the vacant seats after the annual examinations. l

Hartal traps migrant workers at airport for hours n Rabiul Islam

After being stranded for hours at the airport in the capital yesterday, migrant workers returning home after a long time grew frustrated as they were unsure when they would be able to see their families as inter-district transports were not operating because of the hartal.

“We have no choice, as there is no transport and we have been facing problems,” Juel Mridha, who arrived at 3am on a flight from the United Arab Emirates, told this correspondent at Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.

“I came home after working abroad for 26 months. And now I have to wait so many hours at the airport, you understand my pain,” Juel, 25, said expressing his frustration.

Nizam, who arrived on another flight from Saudi Arabia at 8:35am, was rushing around looking for a vehicle to go to his village in Sylhet. “How will we go home? There is no seat on the (domestic) plane. And microbuses do not want to go,” said Nizam.

Like him, many other returning migrant workers faced similar problems at the airport due to the 84-hour hartal, called by the BNP-led opposition alliance. The non-stop shutdown, which began on Sunday, ended at 6pm yesterday. l

EC to appoint about 700,000 election officials n Mohammad Zakaria Election Commission yesterday asked deputy commissioners, regional election and district elections officers to appoint about 700,000 elections officials to conduct the parliamentary polls.

EC has also asked them to send a primary list of election officials to the commission by November 25. The letter was signed by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Farhad Hossain.

After finalising the primary list of election officials EC will train them up.

These officials will work as presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers during the elections.

However, the training of 2700 trainers, who will train presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers, starts on November 17.

Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz said the EC would formally appoint the officials after the announcement of the polls schedule.

One of the ten directives of the letter says those who work for a candidate cannot be appointed as an election official.

EC officials said the EC has selected 38,000 primary polling centres for holding the next parliamentary elections.

Officials and employees of schools, colleges, government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions will be appointed as presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers at these polling centres. The number of polling booths is approximately 200,000.

The Representation of the People Order (RPO) stipulates that each polling centre should have one presiding officer while each polling booth an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers.

The article 9(1) of the RPO states that the returning officer will send letters to government, private offices, school, college and university asking them to appoint presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Cox’s Bazar cricket stadium uncertain following BCB-tourism ministry dispute n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar The construction of Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar has become uncertain because of a land dispute between the tourism ministry and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over the possession of 32 hectares of land in the district.

The BCB plans to use the land to construct the permanent stadium, but the ministry is seeking to build a fivestar hotel on the land to develop the area’s tourism industry.

Earlier, the BCB was temporarily allotted a plot of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation to arrange matches of the 2014 ICC Women’s World Twenty20, which is scheduled to take place in the district from March 16 to April 6 next year.

But, officials now wanted to construct a permanent cricket stadium on the field, with construction on 22.26 hectares of land almost nearing its end.

However, the tourism ministry is seeking to approve a mega-project proposed by the Inter Asia Group Pte Ltd that includes the construction of a five star hotel, tourism resorts and an 18hole international-standard golf course to tap into the area’s tourism potential.

Earlier on April 18, the BCB received the government’s permission to arrange matches of the women’s Twenty20 cricket tournament by building temporary establishments on Hotel Shaibal’s land, on condition of removing the structures at the end of the

tournament at its own cost.

The same decision was taken in an inter-ministry meeting at the tourism ministry on July 11. It was also decided that the BCB or the youth and sports ministry could never claim the land as their own.

But, on April 19, a team led by BCB Chief Curator Mohammad Zahid Reza Babu allegedly grabbed possession of the land illegally and started constructing a permanent stadium with the seating capacity of 15,000 spectators.

Manager of Hotel Shaibal Mohammad Nurul Islam said: “The BCB was only given the land for holding the matches of Women’s World Twenty20 cricket tournament. They have to give the land back to the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.”

The development works of the mega-project would start soon after getting final approval from the government, he added.

However, Jasim Uddin, general secretary of Cox’s Bazar District Sports Organisation said: “The locals have been waiting seven to eight years for a stadium. They will protest if tourism ministry wants to withdraw the stadium.”

The stadium was named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s brother Sheikh Kamal.

Earlier on September 3, the premier inaugurated the stadium along with 36 other development projects from a rally in Ukhia upazila. If constructed, it will be the eighth cricket venue of the country. l

Construction of Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar faces uncertainty because of land dispute

Small parties gaining importance Al-Masum Molla and n Mohammad Manik Miazee Relatively smaller political parties have become important players in the present political scene when the government is trying to get some of them in the all-party polls-time cabinet and the main opposition BNP wanting them not to join.

Ruling Awami League Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that a few days back they had offered former president HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party to join the all-party interim administration.

Late last night Environment Minister and Awami League’s Publicity and Publications Secretary Hasan Mahmud went to the house of Liberal Democratic Party President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed to offer him a place in the interim government. Oli, an ally of BNP, sought time for his response, one his aides said.

Meanwhile, Ershad, who is a partner in the ruling alliance and whose younger brother GM Quader is a cabinet member, has been publicly reiterating that his party will not join the interim government and the upcoming polls if all parties do not participate.

Oli is the only MP from his party while Ershad’s Jatiya Party has 28

members in parliament, including four reserved seats for women.

Sheikh Hasina in her last month’s proposal said she wanted to form an all-party polls-time interim cabinet comprising members from parties that had representatives in parliament.

Last Sunday, all ministers and state ministers submitted letters to the prime minster, expressing their intent to resign from the cabinet to pave the way of forming the interim cabinet.

Last night Ershad held a meeting with the leaders of three small parties, which do not have any representative in parliament, with a goal to form a new alliance Speculations have been around since then as to which parties will join the interim government led by Hasina. The BNP has been opposing Hasina’s proposal.

Last night Ershad held a meeting with the leaders of three small parties, which do not have any representative in parliament, with a goal to form a new alliance.

The meeting with former president and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Chair-

man AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, President of a JSD faction ASM Abdur Rab and Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Quader Siddique was held at Badruddoza’s Baridhara residence. Jatiya Party Presidium member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Bikalpadhara General Secretary Abdul Mannan and Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury were also present at the meeting.

Later, Rab told the Dhaka Tribune: “We discussed forming an alternative alliance to resolve the political turmoil.

We decided to form the alliance but we need two to three more meetings. We want to free the people from the two political alliances.”

Meanwhile, a close aide to LDP president Oli confirmed the Dhaka Tribune that environment and forests minister had gone to Oli’s Mohakhali DOHS residence around 10:30pm and offered him to join the all-party polls-time cabinet.

Oli, however, neither agreed nor disagreed.

Hasan Mahmud and Oli Ahmed could not be reached over phone for comments as their mobile phones were switched off.

Sources said another senior ruling party leader might meet Andaleeve Rahman Partha, chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party – a partner of the 18-party alliance, with offers. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

European banks slammed for backing coal industry n Probir K Sarker from Warsaw Two Polish private banks – Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and PKO Bank Polski – have been identified to be on the dirty list of banks that are heating up the globe, damaging the environment and hurting local communities, a new report says.

German environmental organisation Urgewald, the international BankTrack network, the CEE Bankwatch Network and the Polish Green Network said this yesterday in a preview to the publication of the report “Banking on Coal – Undermining our Climate” to be released on Friday during the UN Climate Summit in Warsaw.

The report explores the financing of nine major coal mining hot spots in the world by 89 international private banks from 2005 to mid-2013, among them Central Europe – covering Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

According to the report, Goldman Sachs is the top financier of the coal mining industry in Central Europe. It is followed by Citi, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and ING. Polish banks BGK and PKO Bank Polski are in the top 10 for lending.

“We are today naming and shaming

those banks whose investments in Central Europe are heating up the globe, damaging the environment and hurting local communities. They must realise that unless they ‘quit coal’ now they will be responsible for the suffering of people around the globe impacted by coal mining and climate change impacts,” said Yann Louvel of BankTrack.

Campaigners are enraged as the fossil fuel industry is having unprecedented access to the COP19 negotiations at the behest of the coal-dependent Polish government, through corporate sponsorship and the “Coal and Climate Summit” to be held next week in Warsaw.

The government says they cannot shift from coal overnight and claims that they will make the outdated coal power plants energy efficient and will use upgraded technology in the new plants to curb CO2 emissions.

Kuba Gogolewski, of CEE Bankwatch Network, said: “These plans would have dire consequences for climate, nature and local communities if they go ahead. The European Investment Bank and the World Bank have already understood that and are turning their backs on coal. High time the private banks followed suit.” l

Loss and damage mechanism gets momentum at COP19 n Probir K Sarker from Warsaw

Humayun Ahmed’s sons Nishat and Ninit at the opening ceremony of a book fair organised at the Public Library to mark the writer’s 65th birthday yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

RU admissions tests on December 5-9 n Tribune Desk The postponed admissions tests for the first year honours courses at Rajshahi University (RU) under 2013-14 session will now be held on December 5-9.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Admissions Test Subcommittee yesterday, reports UNB. Dean of the Social Sciences Faculty Prof Ansar Uddin confirmed the matter.

He, however, said details of the tests will be announced later.

The RU admissions tests were originally scheduled for November 10-14.

However, the 84-hour hartal enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance on November 10 forced the authorities to reschedule the tests.

A total of 168,224 students are set to vie for 3,925 seats under eight units of the university. l

Countries vulnerable to climate change impacts, policy experts of different NGOs and campaigners are hopeful of a fruitful outcome regarding finalisation of the international institutional mechanism proposed on loss and damage yesterday.

The Group of 77 and China tabled a conference room paper on the mechanism, urging countries at the UN climate conference (COP19) to begin negotiations on the basis of that text.

Bangladesh in its observation said: “We need to respond to the increasingly adverse impacts of climate change and we need an international mechanism, a permanent solution. The humanitarian response was ad hoc and of no certainty.

“We have had long discussions since 1991 and finally we had a mandate to set up an international mechanism for loss and damage in Doha. We should engage in text discussions.”

At a press conference yesterday, Sven Harmeling, from CARE – a member of Climate Action Network, said the mechanism could channel fast financial support – beyond initial emergency relief – to countries devastated by climate impacts such as tropical storms. “Now that developing countries have taken

the lead, it is up to developed countries to seriously engage with this comprehensive proposal,” Harmeling said.

The increased momentum behind loss and damage comes as the most vulnerable nations called for 2014 to be the year of delivering increased ambition on climate action.

Greenpeace’s head of delegation Martin Kaiser said carbon pollution levels had to be reduced now, “not only to keep the door ajar to a safe climate, but also to boost political impetus towards the comprehensive global climate action plan that will be signed in Paris in 2015.”

The mechanism is likely to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change from extreme and slow onset events in developing countries, especially the least developed countries and small islands.

It would complement existing institutions within the UNFCCC, as well as external institutions, with a view to strengthening coherence, coordination, synergies, linkages and cooperation on loss and damage.

The proposal states that the mechanism shall be subject to the authority and guidance of the UNFCCC, with an Executive Board of the Mechanism to supervise and lead the activities. The mechanism shall be funded through

a dedicated trust fund established through financial support from developed countries.

On Tuesday, at the first meeting of the contact group on approaches to address loss and damage, Bolivia said: “We are here to address serious matters.” On the basis of the document, it hoped that the countries would focus on modalities and functions of the mechanism; the Group does not want to waste any time so they had prepared to engage in text.”

This was supported by all developing countries.

Nauru on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Timor Leste on behalf of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Egypt, Tanzania on behalf of the African Group, Bangladesh and El Salvador supported Bolivia’s intervention for G77 and China.

In the statements made by the United States, the European Union, Norway and Switzerland, they all spoke of various support they had provided to the countries that suffered from adverse impacts of climate change, particularly the Philippines and other countries in the region which were suffering from the disastrous typhoon Haiyan. Canada wanted continuation of the dialogue, instead of engaging in negotiations on the text. l

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B2 Comply with factory safety issues to revive US GSP

B3 Mobile banking clients cross 10m-mark

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

‘WiMax licence without auction illegal’ Writ filed against telecom ministry, BTRC and Ollo n Muhammad Zahidul Islam A lawyer has filed a public interest litigation in the High Court challenging the legality of the WiMax licence awarded recently to Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd (BIEL), a co-brand of Ollo, without any competitive auction.

Barrister Aneek R Haque filed the writ petition last Thursday on behalf of Omar Farouq, an advocate of the High Court. The respondents include the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and BIEL. The court is likely to hold a hearing on the petition today, sources said.

According to the petition, “the procedure of issuing licence to respondent no. 6 (BIEL) is improper, illegal and is done in a nontransparent manner.”

“BIEL has already refused this licence and now cannot be given the same licence without following the competitive bidding and/ or auction procedure,” it adds.

The petitioner seeks a rule upon the ministry concerned and BTRC as to why the issuance of a BWA (broadband wireless access) licence to BIEL “shall not be declared as illegal, void and without lawful authority and of no legal effect”.

“We have lots of evidence, and all will be placed before the court to show that the licencing procedure was ill-motivated. It also violated related laws and guidelines,” Aneek

Photo shows an Ollo modem connected to a netbook in Dhaka R Haque told the Dhaka Tribune.

On November 4, the government decided to award BIEL a WiMax licence with longterm evolution (LTE), a fourth generation telephone and mobile broadband communication standard that will make Ollo the most influential operator in the country.

Ollo, a co-brand of BIEL and New Generation Graphics Limited (NGGL) _ both now owned by the Russian company, Multinet, applied for a WiMax licence in April this

TAHMIDUR RAHMAN

year. NGGL was allocated 20MHz spectrum on 800 bands free of cost in 2011.

The petition also points out that BTRC in 2004 published licencing procedure regulations, which have been amended several times and included WiMax in 2008, when an auction was held.

“It also clarified that no WiMax licence would be awarded without an auction,” said Aneek, who had conducted the auction awarding WiMax licences in 2008.

Before the auction, the regulator also announced that four licences would be given, with one reserved for state-owned BTCL. It also fixed Tk2.15bn as licence fee for providing BWA (WiMax) services, the petition says.

In the auction held in September 2008, Banglalion Communications Ltd became the highest bidder, BRAC Net Ltd came second, while Augere Wireless Broadband Ltd (Qubee) was third.

As per the guideline, second and third highest bidders matched the price of the highest bidder. However, BRAC Net declined to take the licence.

The petition says: “It is pertinent to mention here that BIEL also participated in auction and was the fifth highest bidder”.

As per the auction guideline, the licence declined by BRAC was then offered to the other participants, in the order of higher to lower bidder, to be taken up by paying a similar licence fee. But every other bidder, including BIEL, refused the offer.

However, Mango Teleservices Ltd, the lowest bidder, responded positively, but sought a time extension to pay the licence fee. Its request was rejected by BTRC. The company then filed a writ petition in the High Court, which issued a rule nisi upon BTRC to show cause. The writ is still pending before the High Court Division.

“As the issue is not finalised, the government or the regulator cannot proceed further,” Aneek added. l

IMF wants state banks be refinanced by December n Asif Showkat Kallol International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended the government to refinance within December six state-owned banks to help make up their capital shortfall of around Tk100bn.

In response, the finance division agreed to provide Tk41bn to meet the banks’ minimum demands for now, Banking and Financial Institutions Division Secretary told Dhaka Tribune on Monday.

He said the banks will have to strictly comply with two major conditions – execution of the MOU with Bangladesh Bank and automation. A committee has already been formed to monitor and scrutinise execution of the conditions.

The four-member committee, headed by additional secretary of the Banking and Financial Institutions Division Amalendu

Mukherjee, has been asked to submit the business plan for the banks, sources in the banking division said.

‘The refinance fund is very small as compared to the huge big shortfall.

And it would not be possible for the banks to return to their normal condition unless the shortfall is made up’ After examination of the matter by the committee, the banking division would request the central bank to arrange allocation of the Tk41bn from the current national budget to distribute among the six state-owned banks, said a senior official.

He said the finance division has already provided Tk9bn to Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) to establish a refinance

scheme to prop up the country’s stock markets. As a result, the budget amount to meet capital shortfall declined to Tk41bn from Tk50bn.

As per the condition, the banking division asked the banks to follow their agreements (MOU) with Bangladesh Bank include, restrict the lending to Tk10m if the bank’s credit rating falls below BBB. Sonali Bank has already restricted its credit limit to a client to Tk10m.

The bank also formed a risk management committee to comply with Bangladesh Bank’s risk management guidelines as per the banking division condition.

“The refinance fund is very small as compared to the huge big shortfall,” managing director of a state-owned bank told Dhaka Tribune.

He said it would not be possible for the banks to return to their normal condition

unless the shortfall is made up.

In August, Finance Minister AMA Muhith rebuked the chairmen and CEOs of the stateowned banks, saying they have eaten up the money given repeatedly to improve the capital base. “It’s not good at all for the country’s banking industry.”

On September 9, the government sought financial assistance from the World Bank to help the state banks meet a huge capital shortfall, stemming from years of bad governance.

In accordance with the WB aide-memoire, four state-owned commercial banks have a cumulative capital deficit of Tk176bn while Bangladesh Bank seeing the figure at Tk103bn as of June last fiscal year.

With the huge capital deficits, the banks will face problems in international transactions and a dearth of confidence in the local market as well, the WB said. l

Business Comply with factory safety issues to get US GSP revived

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

Speakers urge factory owners at a meeting n Tribune Report Speakers at a meeting yesterday stressed on fire and safety compliance of the country’s readymade garment factories to facilitate retention of the Generalised System Preferences (GSP) to be reviewed in December by the US authorities.

They made the observation while exchanging views on compliance issues of RMG sector in Bangladesh jointly organised

by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association in Dhaka.

The RMG sector is passing through a crises moment especially after the Tazreen Fashions fire incident and Rana Plaza collapse, and suspension of GSP by the US government on June 27, said Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed.

“At any cost, we should not allow any destruction to the RMG sector as it contributes 20% to the GDP and earns 18% of foreign currency.”

The government has reviewed the progress of Bangladesh Action Plan imposed for the revival of the suspended GSP facility.

The review witnessed remarkable progress in some areas, he said.

“We will send the progress report to the US government by November 14 (today) as the paper has been prepared having discussion with all parties.”

The action plan tagged a condition on forming trade union in the RMG factories, but the number of union in the factories are

not encouraging yet, he noted.

As per the action plan, union could create harmonious environment in the factories, which would increase productivity, he said, quoting the action plan. There cannot be compromise in safety and compliance in the work places, Ahmed said.

‘I think we can be optimistic at this point of time that in November we’ll see breakthrough. I’m very much optimistic about the joint standards following very much leading role of the government’ GSP facility for Bangladesh in European Union is under stress following the incidents, said Gerben De Jong, ambassador of Netherlands to Bangladesh.

The month of November is very important for Bangladesh RMG sector as there are two important issues at present – setting a common standard of factory inspection and awarding minimum wage for the workers. He said there is a standard for the living wage.

“I think we can be optimistic at this point of time that in November we’ll see breakthrough. I’m very much optimistic about the joint standards following very much leading role of the government,” said the envoy.

The country’s RMG sector is passing through curtail time and the government has taken initiatives to meet the challenges including amendment of labour law, which includes rights to form participatory union

through voting, setting up close circuit cameras in the factories to ensure safety, said Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar.

Not only the government, the factory owners also have to work together to make the RMG sector full-fledge compliance, he added. “If the owners come two steps forward, the government would go forward with five steps.”

Replying to a question, Shipar said the International Labour Organisation will train trade union leaders and garment workers though it is a controversial issue.

Factory owners sought government cooperation in setting inspection guideline, saying that if the government orders to make shared building compliance, it would make 40% workers jobless.

They also demanded a certain standard for factory inspection on fire and building safety to avert chaotic situation, and urged the government to stop harassment in the name of inspection by several organisation.

Commenting on the ongoing labour unrest, BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam urged the workers to calm down, saying that they would come up with a good offer.

He also demanded business exit policy arguing that small and medium entrepreneurs would not be able to run the factory with new wage structure.

Sarah Cooke, country representative, British High Commission, Tobais (Toby) Glucksman, deputy chief, political and economic section, Embassy of the United States, BKMEA President Selim Osman were present at the meeting, among others. l

Private mobile operators’ income rises 36% in FY13 n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The combined revenue income of the country’s five private mobile operators increased by more than 36% in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal, according to the annual report of the regulator.

Their revenue income stood at Tk243.8bn in fiscal year 2012-13, which was Tk178.5bn in the same period a year earlier.

Combined investment by the operators was also up more than 43% to Tk114.2bn compared to the same period a year ago.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) did not include state-owned Teletalk mobile operator in its annual report.

Sources in the BTRC said the regulator requested Teletalk repeatedly to submit its financial statement, but it went unheeded.

Teletalk have earned Tk6.65bn in the last fiscal year, said a source in the state-owned mobile phone company. He could not provide investment figure of the company.

The country’s top mobile operators Grameenphone (GP)’s revenue income rose more than Tk139bn, a rise of over 51% from a

year ago, according to the BTRC annual report, released last week.

In terms of subscribers its market share was 42% but here in terms of revenue its share is over 57%. During the period the GP invested almost Tk90bn, which is 78.8% from the previous fiscal year.

Banglalink’s revenue increased Tk7.49bn to Tk45.37bn in the last fiscal year from the same period a year ago. Its market share is 26% in terms of subscribers.

During the period Robi earned Tk42.78bn, which was Tk34.56bn in the previous fiscal year. Banglalink and Robi invested Tk9.31bn and Tk9.29bn respectively in the last fiscal

year.

Revenue of Citycell, the oldest mobile operator in the country, has declined to Tk2.68bn, which was Tk3.47bn in the previous fiscal year. Its investment figure was not available.

Revenue of Airtel, the newest mobile operator, was Tk13.6bn, an increase of 28.8% to Tk10.6bn a year earlier.

“It is a positive sign that operators revenue income increased despite the fact that the top three mobile operators have to deposit a huge amount of 2G licence renewal fees to the regulator,” a high official of the BTRC. The renewal fees helps increase investment figure of mobile operators, he added. l

Chittagong-Dhaka transportation cost doubles n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Transportation cost on Chittagong to Dhaka and other routes almost doubled yesterday due to a series of strikes enforced by the opposition parties across the country.

A huge consignment of imported goods remained stuck at the Chittagong Port due to transport scarcity created due to the strikes, pushing transport cost higher.

The transport operators were charging extra fare as demand for vehicles increased several times due to shutdown, alleged people who wanted to hire transports. They said most truckers were reluctant to ply their vehicles even soon after ending the hartal hours, fearing arson attack and vandalism on the highways.

Monir Ahmed, president of the Inter-district Truck Owners’ Association, told Dhaka Tribune that fare for a container lorry from Chittagong to Dhaka was Tk60, 000 yesterday afternoon, which was Tk30, 000 just a couple of weeks ago.

At the beginning of this month, fare for a truck was Tk15, 000 but now it was Tk35, 000 as the demand increased several times higher during strikes because of non-availability of transpiration. “Truckers dare not to ply their vehicles on the road in fear of arson attack and vandalism,” he said. Some 4,000 to 5,000 trucks and covered vans usually ply through Chittagong- Dhaka routes, according to Ahmed.

Mahabubul Alam, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said transportation cost for each kilogram of goods increased by at least Tk2. “Ultimately, consumers will have to bear the brunt of it.”

He said since lion’s share of the imported goods and raw materials of the country are unloaded in the Chottagong Port, strikes create huge piles of such goods in the port, leading to hamper the industrial production across the country.

As many as 1,600 to 1,800 TEUs (Twenty Equivalent Units) of containers is released at the country’s prime port, of which 70% is carried to Dhaka and other parts of the country, according to sources at the Chittagong Port Authority. They said 54% of the containers are being carried from Chittagong by road, 44% through waterways and only around 1% by train. l

SBAC Bank launches data centre

n Tribune Business Desk

South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank Limited (SBAC) recently opened a data centre at its corporate office in Dilkusha.

Chairman SM Amzad Hossain inaugurated the centre in presence of the board members, managing director and CEO Md Rafiqul Islam, and IT Chief Md Mizanur Rahman. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

Mobile banking clients cross 10m mark n Tribune Report Mobile banking customers have crossed 10m-mark for the first time in the country.

“The milestone has been achieved in just three years, contributing a lot to the financial inclusion initiative,” Bangladesh Bank said in a statement yesterday.

The mobile baking service, launched in the country in 2011 under the mobile financial service guidelines, provides the much needed financial access to the poor and unbanked population across the country.

Mobile banking customers grew nearly 12% per month to stand at more than 10.3m on November 11, which was 9.98m in the previous month. The average daily transaction in terms of value was more than Tk50bn in October.

As mobile banking and other technological innovations fuel the expansion of financial services in many developing countries, a new World Bank Group report released on Tuesday urged the policy makers to focus on products that benefit the poor, women and other vulnerable groups the most.

“It helped improve the living standard of the poor as well as boost the rural economy,” said the central bank statement.

Access to the formal banking system is very limited in Bangladesh as only 15% of the 160m people have the bank accounts. However, the 110m mobile phone users in the country are fuelling the expansion of mobile financial services.

To make mobile banking popular, the central bank allowed mobile financial service in Bangladesh and granted licence to 28 banks to launch the service. So far, 18 banks have started providing mobile financial service while bkash Limited, a BRAC bank subsidiary, and Dutch Bangla Mobile Banking Limited are leading the sector.

Under the guideline, mobile financial service offers products like cash in, cash out, salary disbursement, utility bills payment and inward remittances.

BB officials said banks are in a better position as compared with other entities to lead the financial inclusion goal in Bangladesh, leveraging the mobile phone technology.

Dutch Bangla Bank first launched the mobile financial service in March 2011, followed

Total mobile banking users in 2013 9.98m

10.2m

October

November 11

8.93m

5m

April

September

October 2013 Total mobile banking users 9.98m Number of Total amount transaction Tk50.96bn 23.6m Cash in Peer to peer Cash out Tk21.65bn by bKash, a joint venture of BRAC Bank and Money in Motion LLC, a US mobile financial service company.

Later in April 2013, International Finance Corporation, the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group became an equity partner of bKash.

“When well designed, efforts to foster financial inclusion can be an effective way to empower people,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the release of the report titled “The 2014 Global Financial Development Report: Financial Inclusion.”

He said: “Whether you are a public sector financial regulator or a private sector bank, it

Tk7.78bn

Tk19.95bn

is in your interest to get everyone access to financial services. This is good for the world and will help us end poverty.”

The comprehensive report yet on the topic comes as policy makers are pushing to reach the world’s unbanked – 2.5 billion people who make up about half of the world’s adult population.

More than 50 countries recently set targets to improve financial inclusion. Last month, Kim announced a new initiative to provide universal financial access to all working-age adults by 2020 – with the help of technological innovations such as e-money accounts and e-mobile wallets. l

Stocks continue to end flat amid volatility n Tribune Report Stocks continued to end flat amid volatility yesterday, as investors were cautious taking cue from the political front.

The benchmark DSEX index ended at 4,212 with a marginal rise of 15 points or 0.4%.

The blue chip index DS30 rose 5 points or 0.4% to 1,443. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, gained 11 points to 8,224.

The market turnover improved at DSE, as it

stood at Tk4.8bn, an increase of more than 23% over the previous session. The textile sector accounted for one-fourth of the total turnover.

“Volatility has become a key nature of daily trade reflecting the day to day mixed participation of investors and dubious swings in large cap stocks,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its daily market analysis.

The string of political strike over last few weeks subdued the resilient economic data released in the recent time, making the investment scenario uneven, it said.

Some investors have taken the fundamental condition of market in stride, thereby the benchmark index climbed up modestly.

Banks, telecommunications and power declined marginally. Apart from these three, all the other sectors ended in green. Among the major sectors, non-banking financial institutions and pharmaceuticals edged up by 0.34% and 0.37% respectively.

Gainers took a marginal lead over the losers as out of 278 issues traded, 188 gained, 71 dropped and 19 remained unchanged. l

3

DSE, KPAGEC mull gold trading on stock exchanges n Tribune Report The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Kunming Pan Asia Gold Exchange Co. Ltd (KPAGEC) are working on introducing gold trading on both the stock exchanges.

To this end, DSE President Ahsanul Islam recently signed a letter of intent in China to promote the joint development of precious metal market based on Dhaka of Bangladesh and Kunming of China, DSE said in a statement yesterday. The two exchanges will jointly analyse the trading feasibility in both the exchanges to trade the gold and its derivatives denominated in renminbi (RMB), taka and US dollar.

The agreement came when a DSE delegation attended a three-day conference of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor Connectivity Forum ended on November 11 at Fuzhou, China.

The DSE president proposed the innovative financial products – Infrastructure Development Fund for the BCIM Forum, Islamic Financial Products like Sukuk, BCIM 50 Index, Currency Swap based on Gold standard, Regional Commodity Exchange like Gold Exchange – to provide financial support for the establishment of BCIM countries. l

Oil prices up in Asia on bargain-hunting n AFP, Singapore

Oil prices rebounded in Asia yesterday as traders pounced after sharp falls the previous day on forecasts of surging production in the United States, analysts said.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for December delivery, was up 10 cents at $93.14 a barrel in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for December gained 29 cents to $106.10.

WTI tumbled $2.10 in New York and Brent eased 59 cents after the International Energy Agency forecast the United States would become the world’s top oil producer by 2015 thanks to booming shale oil output.

In its annual World Energy Outlook report released Tuesday, the EIA also said the US, currently the world’s top crude consumer, is moving “steadily towards meeting all of its energy needs from domestic resources by 2035”.

David Lennox, resource analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney, told AFP that dealers “reacted strongly” to the prospect of flush US supplies, causing the decline in WTI prices in New York.

“Self-sufficiency in the United States was always on the horizon, but the timeline reported by the EIA really caused a shake-up for traders,” he said.

Investors are keeping an eye on the West’s attempts to forge a nuclear deal with Iran that could lead to a lifting of sanctions and release more of its oil into the global marketplace.

“I think traders realise that it will take a long time for a final completion of a deal regarding Iran as there are many parties involved and a lot of opposing views,” Lennox said. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

RBI in no rush to taper dollar window to oil firms

Android smartphones dominate, Windows gains

n Reuters

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed state-run oil companies to start purchasing dollars from markets but will not rush the process of tapering its dollars swap window to these companies, Governor Raghuram Rajan said yesterday.

Rajan added the RBI will choose the most appropriate solution to settling the dollar swaps with oil companies when the time comes.

The governor also cited the option of rolling over some portion of the oil company dollar swaps if market conditions are not stable.

He also highlighted that food inflation remains “worryingly” high but said core consumer price inflation is heartening, and said the momentum for core CPI is downwards. l

n AFP, Washington

A worker holds a fuel nozzle at a petrol pump in Mumbai

REUTERS

Deflation threat in Europe may prompt investment rethink n Reuters The threat of deflation in the euro zone could reverse a major investment trend of 2013, drawing funds out of stocks and into government bonds and cash.

Europe is still some way from a negative inflation rate, let alone a Japanese-style deflationary spiral - the policymakers’ nightmare in which falling prices weaken demand, leading to wage cuts and even lower prices.

But a warning light is already flashing, with euro zone inflation registering a shock drop last month that prompted an interest rate cut.

This year’s “Great Rotation” flows away from bonds have propelled many stock markets to multi-year or record highs and fuelled a rally in property and other relatively high-yielding assets.

But it’s a potential money loser in an environment of weak inflation or even outright price declines. With chronic price falls, investors become ultra-risk averse.

“Deflation would follow from lower growth than we currently have. It would increase the attraction of fixed income versus equities,” said Jan Loeys, JPMorgan’s head of asset allocation.

There is certainly scope for equities to pull back. The S&P 500 have hit record highs in recent weeks. Germany’s DAX has hit a fiveyear peak and Japan’s Nikkei is up 37% this year.

According to Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, who coined the “Great Rotation” phrase, global equity funds have attracted $231bn of inflows this year. Bond funds have pulled in just $16bn, and have posted outflows in 12 of the past 14 weeks.

Now comes falling inflation. In the euro zone, it slowed to just 0.7% last month, well

below the European Central Bank’s target of below, but close to 2%. The ECB halved interest rates to a fresh low of just 0.25% as a result.

‘Markets will be focusing on assets that provide nominal guaranteed returns such as government bonds.

You would want to be aware of risks in equities, in particular in financials’ And if inflation falls further, the ECB could act again. This puts it on a potentially divergent path from the US Federal Reserve, which most observers say will begin the process of removing its policy stimulus in the coming months.

Vulnerable financials

Deflation alone is not seen as an outright negative for equities, which can still rise if there is moderate growth.

But in such an environment, financial stocks tend to underperform because deflation increases a borrower’s real debt burden, contributing to higher non-performing loans and lower net interest margins for banks as the gap between short- and long-term interest rates narrows.

“If we get a deflation psychology beginning to break out in Europe you have to reconsider the relationship between a ‘risk’ asset and ‘non-risk’ asset,” said Bill O’Neill, chief UK investment strategist at UBS Wealth Management.

“Markets will be focusing on assets that provide nominal guaranteed returns such as government bonds. You would want to be aware of risks in equities, in particular in financials.”

Investors may already be wary of such risks. European financial stocks .SX7P have

fallen 1.5 percent this month, making them worst performing sector in Europe.

European banks are shrinking their balance sheets as they adjust to new, tighter regulations on risk-taking and capital, as well as drastically weaker demand for loans due to the brittle economy and record high unemployment.

The deflationary force of this deleveraging is powerful. As banks lend less, credit creation slows, and so does spending. Morgan Stanley reckons European banks shed 3tn euros of assets in the last year, with 1tn of that going in the second quarter of this year alone.

If financials are among the most vulnerable stocks, high quality euro zone exporters may be best positioned, assuming deflation remains confined to the euro zone.

“It’s all about pricing power,” said Nick Samouilhan, fund manager in the multi-asset team at Aviva. “But equities would not be where you generally want to be,” he said.

Preferred investments would mostly be cash or government bonds, even taking into account the dynamics in a deflationary environment.

Inflation reduces the value of money, lowering the real value of a borrower’s debt and the real value of a saver’s savings. Inflation tend to be good news for borrowers, but bad for savers. The opposite is the case with deflation. In times of low inflation or deflation, cash and government bonds are relatively “safe” assets that protect an investor’s capital and ensure a fixed - if low - rate of return.

Within that universe, higher-yielding “peripheral” euro zone debt, such as Spanish and Italian bonds, may be the best bet now that investors have almost priced out default risks.

“If there’s a dovish shock, peripheral debt will rally,” said Salman Ahmed, strategist at Lombard Odier. l

Google’s Android platform was used on four out of five smartphones sold worldwide in the third quarter, while Microsoft’s Windows Phone showed strong gains, said a survey out Tuesday.

Android’s market share rose to 81%, extending its lead over Apple’s iOS, used on its iPhones, according to the IDC survey. Android’s share a year ago was 74.9%.

Even though iPhone sales grew 25.6% from a year earlier, the growth was slower than the overall market and Apple’s share fell to 12.9% from 14.4% in the same period last year.

Windows Phone emerged as the number three smartphone platform with a market share of 3.6%, up from two percent a year earlier.

Windows Phone sales grew 156%, with more than 90% made by Nokia, the Finnish group whose handset division is set to be acquired by Microsoft.

BlackBerry, meanwhile, saw its troubles deepen, as its market share fell to 1.7% from 4.1% a year ago. BlackBerry sales fell 41.6% from a year ago despite the introduction of the new BlackBerry 10 operating system.

The overall market for smartphones grew 39.9% year-over-year in the quarter, to 261 million units.

The average sales price of a smartphone fell 12.5% in the quarter to $317, IDC said.

“Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter.

Despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success: price,” said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas.

“Both platforms have a selection of devices available at prices low enough to be affordable to the mass market, and it is the mass market that is driving the entire market forward.”

IDC noted that Apple’s market share was likely affected by weak sales ahead of the introduction of two new iPhone models in September, at the end of the quarter. But it sold nine million of the new devices in the first weekend, suggesting a strong fourth quarter, IDC said.

IDC said larger devices called phablets accounted for 21% of the smartphone market, up from three percent a year ago.

“Almost all successful Android vendors have added one or more five- to seveninch phablets to their product portfolios,” said IDC’s Ryan Reith.

“We believe the absence of a largescreen device may have contributed to Apple’s inability to grow share in the third quarter.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

5

Japan machinery orders fall, BOJ warns of overseas risks n Reuters Japan’s core machinery orders fell more than expected and a central banker warned of headwinds from soft overseas growth, underscoring the difficulties of sustaining the economic recovery Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies generated.

Board member Ryuzo Miyao stressed the Bank of Japan’s readiness to loosen monetary policy again should the global economy and domestic wages fail to pick up, forcing a change to the central bank’s upbeat economic forecasts.

“I see risks somewhat tilted toward the downside for both the economy and prices,” said Miyao, who is among those in the nine-member board relatively pessimistic about the outlook.

“If the BOJ were to act again, it won’t rule out any policy steps in advance,” he told a news conference on Wednesday after meeting with business leaders in Matsumoto, northwestern Japan.

Miyao’s comments came after data showed core machinery orders, a volatile series regarded as a leading indicator of capital expenditure, fell 2.1% in September, more than a median market forecast for a 1.4% drop.

Firms surveyed by the government forecast that core orders would fall 2.1% in the final three months of 2013 after two straight quarters of increases, suggesting that business investment remains the weak link in keeping the economy afloat.

Sluggish capital spending is a source of concern for Abe, who needs a pick-up in business investment to help drive a sustained recovery in the economy after 15 years of deflation.

Still, the government stuck to its assessment that machinery orders are picking up, and analysts said capital spending still seemed on track for a gradual recovery.

“Companies seem hesitant to boost capital spending due to uncertainty over overseas economies, and domestic conditions after a sales-tax hike next April,” said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute in Tokyo.

“As such, capital spending is on track for a recovery but it is unlikely to pick up the pace of recovery for the time being,” he said.

MORE PESSIMISTS AT BOJ

A man produces machine parts inside a factory in Tokyo Japan’s economic growth has so far outpaced other G7 nations this year, thanks in part to the central bank’s aggressive monetary easing in April that boosted household spending and weakened the yen, benefitting exports.

Data due today is forecast to show growth likely slowed in July-September, but it is seen accelerating again as consumers lift their spending before the sales tax doubles in April.

Having offered a massive stimulus just seven months ago, the BOJ is in no mood to ease again unless a severe shock threatens its long-term growth forecasts. The government isn’t applying pressure for more action now and many analysts expect the BOJ to hold pat at least until well into next year.

But some analysts believe the BOJ may be forced to expand stimulus again if exports do not pick up in time to make up for a slump in consumption after next year’s sales tax hike,

or if inflation does not accelerate quickly enough.

“We must be mindful of the possibility that global and US economic recoveries may be delayed depending on how US fiscal problems play out,” Miyao told business leaders in Matsumoto.

He also warned of the risk that the coming sales tax hike may hit the economy harder than expected as households spend less, which in turn could slow the pace of price rises.

For now, the BOJ expects the economy to overcome such risks. In a twice-yearly outlook report released last month, it revised up its economic growth forecast and projected that Japan will make steady progress toward meeting the bank’s 2% inflation goal in two years.

But two of the nine board members dissented against the two-year timeframe for achieving the price target, while another voted against the report, calling for more emphasis

REUTERS

on downside risks to the outlook.

Miyao’s remarks yesterday add to such voices of caution over the BOJ’s rosy outlook, underscoring a rift within the board over the bank’s price target, criticized by many analysts as being too ambitious.

However, Miyao maintained the view that Japan’s economy is recovering moderately driven by strength in consumption, which will help accelerate inflation as companies feel more confident about passing along higher costs to consumers.

“The recovery in personal consumption and non-manufacturers may broadly push up prices, as they affect a wide sector of the economy,” he said.

The BOJ has kept monetary policy on hold since offering an intense burst of stimulus in April, under which it pledged to accelerate inflation to 2% in roughly two years by doubling base money via aggressive asset purchases. l

Indian industrial output grows unexpectedly weakly n AFP, New Delhi India’s industrial output grew by a slowerthan-expected two percent in September from a year earlier, hit by weak demand during the normally high-spending religious festival season, data showed Tuesday.

The increase undershot consensus market expectations of a 3.5% rise and was a far cry from the double-digit increases India enjoyed for large parts of the last decade when the economy was booming.

Hopes of a big ramping-up of production

for India’s religious festival season, when it is considered auspicious to buy everything from cars to gold to electronic appliances, failed to materialise.

Manufacturing output, which accounts for over three-quarters of the Index of Industrial Production, rose a scant 0.6% in September from a year earlier.

Production of capital goods such as factory equipment - a key signal of investment intentions - tumbled by a massive 6.8% from a year earlier.

“Industrial activity in India remains weak,

reflecting the parlous state of domestic confidence and demand,” said Moody’s Analytics in a note to clients.

“Demand for consumer durables and capital goods is still soft, mirroring poor consumer and business confidence,” the research house added. Exports have picked up on the back of a depressed rupee, climbing 13.67% to $27.27bn in September from a year earlier, figures Monday showed, But economists say higher overseas sales can only help the economy at the margins since growth in the nation of 1.2 billion peo-

ple is still mainly domestically driven.

Despite calls by business to boost the economy, the central bank last month raised its key lending rate for a second time in as many months to try to curb inflation. The weak output data came as separate figures showed that consumer price inflation last month crossed 10%. Consumer price inflation, increasingly watched by economists along with the main Wholesale Price Index, climbed to 10.09% in September from 9.84% a year earlier. The rate fuelled expectations of another interest rate increase, economists said. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Share

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 4212.72 ⇑ 0.36%, Turnover: 4712.86 M.Tk ⇑ 23.69%, PE: 12.73 Turnover 5,227.00 MTk . ⇑ 22.89% 13 November 2013 MarketCap. 2,020.63 BTk. ⇑ 0.56% CSE All Share Index: 13072 ⇑ 0.28%, Turnover: 514.14 M Tk. ⇑ 16.07%, PE: 12.63 Combined Turnover Leader

% of TTL

Avg. P

519.45

9.94

28.93

17957900

R. N. Spinning-A

6281860

213.43

4.08

33.98

443923

127.31

2.44

286.78

Golden Son -A Argon Denims Limited-A

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 474441 D: 28.00 ⇓ 0.36% | 28.09 | 30.00 / 26.00 C: 28.10 ⇓ 1.06% | 27.97 | 28.60 / 27.60 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 2247763 D: 21.50 ⇓ 0.46% | 21.67 | 23.30 / 20.00 C: 21.50 ⇓ 1.83% | 21.71 | 22.30 / 21.40 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 2389843 D: 35.30 ⇓ 1.40% | 36.34 | 37.70 / 34.00 C: 35.50 ⇓ 1.11% | 36.26 | 37.50 / 35.00 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 169650 D: 36.00 ⇓ 0.28% | 36.08 | 37.00 / 35.00 C: 36.20 ⇓ 0.55% | 36.23 | 36.40 / 36.20 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 3441244 D: 12.80 ⇓ 0.78% | 12.94 | 13.20 / 12.00 C: 12.90 ⇓ 1.53% | 12.96 | 13.20 / 12.50 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 221273 D: 31.30 ⇓ 0.95% | 31.41 | 32.50 / 28.50 C: 31.50 ⇓ 0.63% | 31.46 | 32.50 / 31.10 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 70964 D: 66.40 ⇓ 1.04% | 67.48 | 71.90 / 65.00 C: 66.20 ⇓ 2.65% | 67.68 | 70.00 / 66.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 4427330 D: 23.50 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.84 | 25.00 / 21.50 C: 23.60 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.90 | 24.40 / 23.50 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 1182623 D: 33.00 ⇓ 2.08% | 33.66 | 34.80 / 30.50 C: 33.30 ⇓ 2.35% | 33.79 | 35.00 / 33.10 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 623500 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.03 | 6.30 / 5.90 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 207509 D: 29.20 ⇓ 1.02% | 29.60 | 30.40 / 28.00 C: 29.20 ⇓ 1.68% | 29.34 | 30.00 / 29.10 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 3850584 D: 18.40 ⇑ 1.10% | 18.60 | 19.10 / 17.00 C: 18.50 ⇑ 2.21% | 18.51 | 19.00 / 18.30 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 105553 D: 23.60 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.75 | 24.60 / 23.00 C: 23.60 ⇓ 1.26% | 23.87 | 24.60 / 23.40 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 1662700 D: 18.80 ⇑ 1.08% | 18.80 | 19.50 / 16.80 C: 18.80 ⇓ 1.05% | 18.79 | 19.10 / 18.60 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 431123 D: 19.30 ⇓ 2.03% | 19.39 | 20.20 / 18.00 C: 19.50 ⇓ 2.50% | 19.55 | 20.00 / 19.30 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 2130818 D: 14.70 ⇑ 0.68% | 14.89 | 16.00 / 13.20 C: 14.80 ⇓ 0.67% | 14.89 | 15.30 / 14.60 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 1455099 D: 14.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.16 | 15.00 / 12.60 C: 14.10 ⇓ 0.70% | 14.13 | 15.00 / 13.50 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 23000 D: 100.6 ⇑ 0.20% | 101.00 | 102.1 / 99.60 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 209690 D: 15.80 ⇓ 1.25% | 15.99 | 16.90 / 15.00 C: 16.50 ⇓ 1.79% | 16.44 | 17.40 / 16.00 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 1210055 D: 15.60 ⇑ 1.30% | 15.72 | 16.20 / 14.00 C: 15.60 ⇓ 0.64% | 15.78 | 16.30 / 15.50 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 3791976 D: 17.50 ⇑ 1.74% | 17.46 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.50 ⇑ 1.16% | 17.51 | 17.90 / 17.20 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 788312 D: 19.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 20.03 | 20.70 / 18.00 C: 20.00 ⇓ 1.48% | 20.00 | 20.10 / 19.00 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 4015406 D: 16.90 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.97 | 17.70 / 15.20 C: 17.00 ⇑ 0.59% | 17.21 | 17.70 / 16.90 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 2802840 D: 13.30 ⇓ 2.21% | 13.55 | 14.80 / 12.50 C: 13.60 ⇓ 1.45% | 13.66 | 14.00 / 12.50 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 1453264 D: 16.00 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.13 | 17.00 / 14.50 C: 16.00 ⇓ 3.61% | 16.09 | 16.40 / 15.90 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 580298 D: 32.50 ⇓ 0.91% | 32.67 | 33.30 / 30.30 C: 32.20 ⇓ 1.83% | 32.45 | 33.00 / 29.70 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 1089797 D: 18.60 ⇑ 1.64% | 18.64 | 20.10 / 16.50 C: 18.60 ⇑ 1.09% | 18.72 | 19.00 / 18.10 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 1349473 D: 12.70 ⇓ 0.78% | 12.83 | 13.30 / 12.00 C: 12.80 ⇓ 1.54% | 12.85 | 13.50 / 12.00

TO M. Tk.

Generation Next Fashions-A Padma Oil Co. -A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

2556080 1628040

119.01 114.17

2.28 2.18

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 367024 D: 20.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 20.23 | 20.70 / 18.40 C: 20.40 ⇓ 0.49% | 20.37 | 21.00 / 19.50 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 2656407 D: 15.70 ⇑ 3.97% | 15.73 | 16.00 / 14.00 C: 15.70 ⇑ 1.95% | 15.67 | 16.00 / 15.40 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 161820 D: 61.20 ⇑ 1.49% | 61.55 | 62.20 / 59.50 C: 61.20 ⇑ 0.99% | 61.36 | 62.00 / 60.90 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 346614 D: 30.70 ⇑ 1.99% | 31.08 | 32.00 / 28.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 140444 D: 81.50 ⇓ 0.49% | 82.33 | 83.50 / 74.00 C: 81.60 ⇓ 0.97% | 82.02 | 83.00 / 81.20 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 1412375 D: 32.30 ⇑ 2.54% | 32.81 | 33.90 / 29.80 C: 32.50 ⇑ 2.85% | 32.69 | 33.90 / 32.00 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 1138098 D: 25.10 ⇑ 0.80% | 25.55 | 26.50 / 22.50 C: 25.20 ⇑ 0.80% | 25.63 | 26.30 / 25.10 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 384238 D: 25.50 ⇑ 0.39% | 25.93 | 27.00 / 25.00 C: 25.70 ⇑ 0.39% | 25.85 | 26.30 / 25.60 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 159300 D: 10.40 ⇑ 0.97% | 10.30 | 11.00 / 9.80 C: 10.30 ⇓ 0.96% | 10.35 | 10.60 / 10.30 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 744633 D: 16.90 ⇓ 0.59% | 17.21 | 17.60 / 16.00 C: 17.00 ⇓ 1.16% | 17.10 | 17.50 / 16.90 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 382450 D: 56.30 ⇑ 0.36% | 56.66 | 57.50 / 55.00 C: 56.10 ⇓ 0.18% | 56.68 | 57.70 / 56.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 248027 D: 17.10 ⇓ 0.58% | 17.22 | 17.70 / 15.50 C: 16.90 ⇓ 1.17% | 16.97 | 17.20 / 16.50 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 201766 D: 19.00 ⇓ 0.52% | 19.17 | 19.70 / 18.50 C: 18.90 ⇑ 1.61% | 18.97 | 19.50 / 18.60 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 17805 D: 29.00 ⇑ 0.69% | 28.98 | 29.40 / 26.00 C: 28.50 ⇑ 1.42% | 28.50 | 28.50 / 28.50 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 146654 D: 19.20 ⇑ 1.05% | 19.23 | 19.70 / 17.10 C: 19.30 ⇑ 2.12% | 19.20 | 19.60 / 18.00 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 604050 D: 15.20 ⇓ 0.65% | 15.46 | 15.90 / 15.20 C: 15.30 ⇓ 0.65% | 15.46 | 15.80 / 15.30 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 2070114 D: 36.60 ⇑ 5.48% | 36.73 | 37.50 / 31.50 C: 36.60 ⇑ 5.48% | 36.89 | 37.40 / 36.20 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 404706 D: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.56 | 14.90 / 13.20 C: 14.50 ⇓ 0.68% | 14.52 | 14.90 / 14.40 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 34759 D: 55.70 ⇓ 0.18% | 56.19 | 57.20 / 54.50 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 309935 D: 30.90 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.29 | 31.90 / 29.00 C: 31.50 ⇑ 1.94% | 31.22 | 31.50 / 30.90 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 505336 D: 30.00 ⇑ 1.01% | 30.35 | 31.20 / 27.00 C: 30.60 ⇑ 3.38% | 30.33 | 30.90 / 29.90 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 6700 D: 1454 ⇓ 0.27% | 1459 | 1479 / 1450 C: 1546 ⇑ 6.24% | 1546 | 1546 / 1546 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 123103 D: 26.60 ⇑ 1.14% | 26.69 | 27.00 / 25.00 C: 26.20 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.07 | 26.30 / 24.00 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 564000 D: 14.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.19 | 14.40 / 14.10 C: 14.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.23 | 14.40 / 14.10 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 50 D: 900.0 ⇓ 2.17% | 900.00 | 900.0 / 900.0 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 450 D: 245.3 ⇑ 0.66% | 244.44 | 250.0 / 244.0 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 1600 D: 183.1 ⇑ 1.38% | 183.13 | 184.8 / 181.2 5THICB | 23.45 | 188.92 | Vol. 1400 D: 145.6 ⇑ 1.46% | 145.71 | 150.0 / 143.4

46.56 70.13

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

Anlima Yarn -A

10.00

8.04

33.00

Usmania Glass-A

9.96

6.39

C%

A%

CP

Rahim Textile-A

DSE Loser

-13.01

-14.52

266.20

128.10

Mithun Knitting-A

-5.38

-5.71

70.30

Samorita Hospital-A

9.96

5.87

112.60

Savar Refractories-Z

-5.26

-4.77

54.00

Central Pharm-N

9.96

7.37

29.80

Modern Dyeing-B

-5.04

-5.00

75.40

Generation Next Fashions-A

9.63

8.56

29.60

Tallu Spinning -A

-4.75

-4.98

38.10

6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 36600 D: 54.10 ⇓ 3.57% | 53.91 | 55.00 / 53.00 7THICB | 13.53 | 98.60 | Vol. 1000 D: 80.00 ⇓ 1.60% | 80.00 | 80.00 / 80.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 9000 D: 51.60 ⇓ 3.91% | 51.67 | 52.20 / 51.00 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 299750 D: 39.70 ⇑ 0.25% | 39.71 | 40.30 / 39.40 C: 39.50 ⇓ 0.25% | 39.58 | 40.40 / 39.40 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 129000 D: 19.60 ⇑ 2.62% | 19.75 | 20.00 / 19.50 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 237000 D: 45.20 ⇑ 1.80% | 45.14 | 46.00 / 44.70 C: 45.70 ⇑ 1.33% | 45.49 | 45.70 / 45.00 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 33000 D: 25.70 ⇑ 4.90% | 25.77 | 25.90 / 25.10 C: 26.10 ⇑ 7.41% | 26.10 | 26.70 / 25.50 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 138000 D: 10.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.13 | 10.30 / 10.00 C: 10.30 ⇑ 0.98% | 10.27 | 10.40 / 10.20 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 1180000 D: 17.10 ⇑ 1.79% | 16.98 | 17.30 / 16.70 C: 17.30 ⇑ 2.37% | 17.06 | 17.40 / 16.80 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 1187500 D: 23.80 ⇑ 5.31% | 23.46 | 24.30 / 22.80 C: 23.90 ⇑ 5.75% | 23.77 | 24.30 / 23.10 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 341856 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.18 | 7.40 / 7.00 C: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.20 | 7.60 / 6.90 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 83500 D: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.44 | 6.50 / 6.30 C: 6.50 ⇑ 3.17% | 6.55 | 6.70 / 6.50 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 180000 D: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.36 | 6.50 / 6.30 C: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.50 | 6.50 / 6.50 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 949065 D: 7.80 ⇑ 1.30% | 7.76 | 8.00 / 7.00 C: 7.90 ⇑ 2.60% | 7.82 | 8.00 / 7.70 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 120000 D: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.69 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.70 | 5.70 / 5.70 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 248000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.15 | 6.20 / 6.10 C: 6.10 ⇓ 1.61% | 6.14 | 6.30 / 6.00 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 474677 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.05 | 7.30 / 6.50 C: 7.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.02 | 7.10 / 7.00 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 396000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.01 | 6.20 / 5.90 C: 5.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.92 | 6.00 / 5.90 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 508500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.59 | 5.80 / 5.50 C: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.64 | 5.80 / 5.60 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 590500 D: 6.40 ⇑ 1.59% | 6.40 | 6.60 / 6.20 C: 6.50 ⇑ 3.17% | 6.38 | 6.60 / 6.10 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 644000 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.60 | 5.70 / 5.50 C: 5.60 ⇑ 1.82% | 5.60 | 5.70 / 5.50 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 1815690 D: 6.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.38 | 7.00 / 5.90 C: 6.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.41 | 6.50 / 6.20 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 1027000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 3.45% | 6.06 | 6.20 / 5.90 C: 6.10 ⇑ 3.39% | 6.10 | 6.30 / 6.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 1600500 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.05 | 6.20 / 6.00 C: 6.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 6.11 | 6.40 / 6.00 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 127500 D: 6.90 ⇑ 2.99% | 6.94 | 7.00 / 6.80 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 199000 D: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.51 | 6.60 / 6.40 C: 6.50 ⇓ 5.80% | 6.52 | 6.80 / 6.40 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 460400 D: 8.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.33 | 8.50 / 7.70 C: 8.30 ⇓ 1.19% | 8.32 | 8.40 / 8.20 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 5000 D: 8.20 ⇑ 1.23% | 8.20 | 8.20 / 8.20 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 685250 D: 9.20 ⇑ 2.22% | 9.03 | 9.80 / 8.50 C: 9.00 ⇓ 3.23% | 9.00 | 9.00 / 9.00 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.47 | 11.18 | Vol. 144000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.28 | 7.50 / 7.20 C: 7.20 ⇓ 2.70% | 7.71 | 7.90 / 7.20

ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 816500 D: 7.50 ⇑ 1.35% | 7.55 | 7.60 / 7.40 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 563350 D: 9.40 ⇓ 1.05% | 9.48 | 9.70 / 9.00 C: 9.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.45 | 9.70 / 9.40 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 4000 D: 8.90 ⇑ 2.30% | 9.00 | 9.00 / 8.70 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 45000 D: 8.80 ⇓ 1.12% | 8.84 | 9.00 / 8.80 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 1252000 D: 8.60 ⇑ 8.86% | 8.59 | 8.60 / 8.40 C: 8.90 ⇑ 9.88% | 8.83 | 8.90 / 8.50 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 24000 D: 8.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.00 | 8.10 / 7.90 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 325551 D: 100.1 ⇑ 1.93% | 99.18 | 101.5 / 89.00 C: 100.8 ⇑ 2.13% | 99.77 | 99.90 / 100.0 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 12950 D: 17.10 ⇑ 1.18% | 17.05 | 17.60 / 17.00 C: 17.90 ⇑ 4.68% | 17.78 | 18.10 / 15.70 OLYMPIC | 7.85 | 22.10 | Vol. 165882 D: 209.3 ⇑ 4.65% | 206.83 | 215.0 / 200.0 C: 209.8 ⇑ 2.94% | 208.68 | 211.0 / 205.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 19200 D: 127.7 ⇑ 1.43% | 126.76 | 129.0 / 125.1 C: 129.6 ⇑ 1.49% | 126.40 | 129.7 / 125.1 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 400 D: 74.60 ⇑ 1.50% | 75.00 | 75.10 / 73.10 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 1100 D: 274.2 ⇑ 4.18% | 274.55 | 278.0 / 270.2 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 66701 D: 193.1 ⇑ 0.52% | 192.96 | 195.0 / 175.0 C: 193.8 ⇑ 0.99% | 192.86 | 195.0 / 192.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 8966 D: 161.0 ⇑ 0.37% | 160.44 | 162.0 / 158.2 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 125600 D: 33.20 ⇑ 1.84% | 33.21 | 33.70 / 30.00 C: 33.50 ⇑ 2.45% | 33.35 | 34.60 / 32.80 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 27900 D: 147.3 ⇑ 5.36% | 147.78 | 153.0 / 144.0 NTLTUBES | 0.67 | 311.00 | Vol. 122100 D: 72.30 ⇑ 3.58% | 71.22 | 73.80 / 69.40 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 822680 D: 27.20 ⇑ 9.24% | 26.51 | 27.30 / 23.00 C: 27.10 ⇑ 5.45% | 26.72 | 27.40 / 25.30 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 269500 D: 24.70 ⇑ 9.29% | 24.17 | 24.80 / 22.60 C: 24.80 ⇑ 9.73% | 24.44 | 24.80 / 23.50 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 20000 D: 16.00 ⇑ 7.38% | 15.80 | 16.20 / 14.60 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 60500 D: 87.80 ⇑ 6.68% | 85.71 | 89.00 / 81.90 C: 84.50 ⇑ 3.17% | 84.50 | 85.50 / 84.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 313550 D: 40.30 ⇑ 0.75% | 40.25 | 40.60 / 39.00 C: 40.40 ⇑ 0.25% | 40.32 | 40.80 / 40.00 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 2556080 D: 47.20 ⇑ 3.51% | 46.55 | 47.50 / 41.10 C: 47.50 ⇑ 4.40% | 46.69 | 47.50 / 45.00 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 295135 D: 67.30 ⇑ 0.60% | 66.72 | 67.80 / 65.90 C: 67.10 ⇓ 0.30% | 66.81 | 67.50 / 66.20 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 141819 D: 64.90 ⇑ 0.62% | 65.06 | 70.90 / 58.20 C: 64.80 ⇑ 1.09% | 65.05 | 65.50 / 62.00 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 564906 D: 16.60 ⇑ 3.75% | 16.51 | 16.90 / 16.00 C: 16.70 ⇑ 1.83% | 16.58 | 16.90 / 16.40 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 327400 D: 45.50 ⇑ 5.57% | 44.73 | 45.70 / 41.50 C: 45.50 ⇑ 3.41% | 45.68 | 46.50 / 43.30 BENGALWTL | 4.16 | 26.24 | Vol. 1053200 D: 47.90 ⇑ 5.51% | 47.18 | 48.20 / 45.60 C: 47.80 ⇑ 5.75% | 47.33 | 48.00 / 46.10 BDBUILDING | 1.33 | 12.70 | Vol. 878500 D: 37.40 ⇓ 4.59% | 37.05 | 37.40 / 35.60 C: 37.20 ⇓ 4.62% | 37.01 | 37.20 / 36.00 NPOLYMAR | 2.38 | 32.89 | Vol. 208000 D: 50.20 ⇑ 5.68% | 49.48 | 50.80 / 48.20 C: 51.50 ⇑ 9.34% | 50.56 | 51.80 / 48.90

FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 36250 D: 88.80 ⇓ 1.77% | 89.57 | 91.30 / 88.50 C: 88.60 ⇑ 3.75% | 88.26 | 90.00 / 85.20 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 59761 D: 411.5 ⇑ 5.46% | 406.47 | 414.9 / 390.2 C: 411.6 ⇑ 6.06% | 404.69 | 415.0 / 396.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 2700 D: 1634 ⇑ 1.37% | 1623 | 1641 / 1613 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 1000 D: 164.2 ⇓ 1.56% | 164.00 | 178.0 / 162.1 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 3650 D: 801.8 ⇑ 0.30% | 800.82 | 805.0 / 799.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 157620 D: 197.5 ⇑ 8.22% | 188.32 | 199.8 / 178.0 C: 191.5 ⇑ 4.42% | 188.95 | 200.0 / 180.0 FUWANGFOOD | 1.03 | 13.51 | Vol. 726157 D: 22.90 ⇑ 3.15% | 22.65 | 23.10 / 20.00 C: 22.90 ⇑ 2.69% | 22.73 | 23.30 / 22.20 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 500 D: 6.20 ⇑ 6.90% | 6.20 | 6.20 / 6.20 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 13000 D: 7.00 ⇓ 1.41% | 7.08 | 7.10 / 7.00 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 883179 D: 21.00 ⇑ 6.60% | 20.56 | 21.40 / 17.90 C: 21.10 ⇑ 6.57% | 20.62 | 21.40 / 19.90 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 440650 D: 16.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.08 | 16.80 / 15.00 C: 16.40 ⇓ 1.80% | 16.24 | 16.80 / 15.80 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 833505 D: 21.90 ⇑ 2.34% | 21.89 | 22.20 / 20.00 C: 22.00 ⇑ 2.33% | 21.91 | 22.10 / 19.50 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 27550 D: 611.4 ⇓ 0.96% | 614.74 | 650.0 / 608.0 PADMAOIL | 27.62 | 79.74 | Vol. 443923 D: 285.5 ⇓ 2.89% | 286.80 | 297.9 / 271.1 C: 285.5 ⇓ 2.76% | 286.53 | 290.0 / 276.0 EASTRNLUB | 5.33 | 71.01 | Vol. 750 D: 320.0 ⇑ 1.85% | 320.00 | 326.0 / 281.1 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 542434 D: 20.40 ⇑ 5.70% | 20.06 | 20.70 / 18.70 C: 20.70 ⇑ 6.15% | 19.95 | 21.00 / 19.60 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 490138 D: 35.60 ⇑ 1.42% | 35.65 | 36.00 / 32.00 C: 35.80 ⇑ 2.58% | 35.68 | 35.90 / 35.50 DESCO | 2.34 | 31.27 | Vol. 217523 D: 59.70 ⇑ 1.36% | 59.13 | 60.30 / 58.50 C: 59.00 ⇓ 1.01% | 59.40 | 64.90 / 58.80 POWERGRID | 2.19 | 63.69 | Vol. 27500 D: 51.90 ⇑ 2.57% | 51.96 | 52.10 / 51.60 C: 52.00 ⇑ 3.17% | 51.86 | 52.00 / 51.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 207550 D: 221.9 ⇓ 1.29% | 222.51 | 226.0 / 221.6 C: 221.9 ⇓ 0.98% | 222.61 | 225.0 / 221.5 MPETROLEUM | 25.61 | 71.11 | Vol. 273290 D: 261.5 ⇓ 2.28% | 262.90 | 270.0 / 245.0 C: 261.6 ⇓ 1.95% | 262.69 | 266.0 / 261.3 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 1118925 D: 73.00 ⇓ 0.82% | 72.94 | 73.90 / 67.00 C: 73.00 ⇓ 0.95% | 73.04 | 73.50 / 72.90 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 232277 D: 49.00 ⇑ 0.82% | 49.01 | 49.40 / 44.00 C: 49.10 ⇑ 1.66% | 48.93 | 49.50 / 48.30 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 604702 D: 29.00 ⇑ 0.69% | 29.04 | 29.30 / 27.00 C: 29.10 ⇑ 0.34% | 29.09 | 29.30 / 28.80 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 24476 D: 71.30 ⇑ 0.28% | 71.28 | 72.00 / 69.50 C: 71.20 ⇑ 1.57% | 70.81 | 71.50 / 70.20 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 1687582 D: 28.00 ⇑ 3.70% | 27.84 | 28.20 / 25.00 C: 28.00 ⇑ 3.32% | 27.77 | 28.20 / 24.40 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 1125700 D: 58.90 ⇑ 2.08% | 58.84 | 59.60 / 52.00 C: 59.00 ⇑ 2.08% | 58.88 | 59.60 / 58.00 JUTE JUTESPINN | -48.14 | -39.89 | Vol. 8100 D: 64.70 ⇑ 3.19% | 64.20 | 65.80 / 63.00 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 10550 D: 129.7 ⇑ 2.45% | 129.95 | 133.0 / 127.2

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

7

November 13, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 38,388.23 ⇓ 0.90% NBFI: 21,140.19 ⇑ 0.70% INVS: 4,959.10 ⇑ 0.50% ENGG: 5,878.04 ⇑ 2.24% FOOD: 9,416.94 ⇑ 1.07% F&P: 9,853.89 ⇓ 0.18% TEXT: 3,322.18 ⇑ 1.83% PHAR: 17,140.24 ⇑ 0.38% PAPR: 966.29 ⇑ 2.82% SERV: 2,980.20 ⇑ 3.21% LEAT: 5,158.34 ⇓ 0.12% CERA: 495.01 ⇑ 0.63% CMNT: 4,267.34 ⇑ 0.31% INFO: 6,892.64 ⇑ 2.72% GINS: 9,280.61 ⇓ 0.41% LINS: 142,876.73 ⇑ 3.14% TELC: 1,300.30 ⇓ 0.20% MISC: 6,433.53 ⇑ 1.06% TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 105800 D: 84.40 ⇓ 0.82% | 85.10 | 87.60 / 84.10 RAHIMTEXT | 4.65 | 56.68 | Vol. 10826 D: 266.2 ⇓ 13.01% | 262.05 | 266.2 / 230.0 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 1750 D: 75.40 ⇓ 5.04% | 75.43 | 78.00 / 73.30 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 16500 D: 7.80 ⇑ 2.63% | 7.82 | 8.00 / 7.60 TALLUSPIN | 1.75 | 16.17 | Vol. 2544101 D: 38.10 ⇓ 4.75% | 37.98 | 38.10 / 35.90 C: 37.80 ⇓ 4.55% | 37.78 | 37.80 / 37.50 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 12200 D: 65.80 ⇑ 1.39% | 66.31 | 67.90 / 65.00 MITHUNKNIT | 2.87 | 20.53 | Vol. 173400 D: 70.30 ⇓ 5.38% | 69.79 | 70.40 / 65.00 C: 69.00 ⇓ 6.38% | 68.99 | 69.80 / 68.00 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 26.84 | Vol. 580100 D: 29.80 ⇑ 3.47% | 29.42 | 30.10 / 28.50 C: 29.80 ⇑ 4.20% | 29.41 | 30.00 / 28.50 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 262303 D: 17.50 ⇑ 4.79% | 17.44 | 17.70 / 16.70 C: 17.30 ⇑ 2.98% | 17.37 | 17.70 / 17.10 PRIMETEX | 1.21 | 59.34 | Vol. 465000 D: 24.50 ⇑ 1.66% | 24.44 | 24.80 / 23.50 C: 24.50 ⇑ 1.24% | 24.64 | 25.00 / 24.10 ALLTEX | -1.26 | 8.10 | Vol. 181500 D: 7.30 ⇑ 1.39% | 7.34 | 7.50 / 7.30 C: 7.20 ⇓ 1.37% | 7.30 | 7.40 / 7.20 ANLIMAYARN | 1.36 | 11.99 | Vol. 251000 D: 33.00 ⇑ 10.00% | 32.94 | 33.00 / 30.80 C: 30.90 ⇑ 9.96% | 30.90 | 30.90 / 30.90 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 240500 D: 36.60 ⇑ 4.27% | 36.28 | 36.90 / 35.40 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 1981148 D: 31.30 ⇑ 2.62% | 31.42 | 31.90 / 29.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 620600 D: 24.70 ⇑ 4.22% | 24.60 | 24.90 / 24.00 C: 24.80 ⇑ 5.53% | 24.61 | 25.00 / 23.00 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 113123 D: 92.30 ⇑ 0.11% | 92.63 | 94.00 / 92.00 C: 91.50 ⇓ 0.33% | 92.09 | 93.00 / 91.40 METROSPIN | 0.62 | 19.48 | Vol. 1747858 D: 19.30 ⇑ 6.04% | 19.29 | 19.70 / 18.00 C: 19.40 ⇑ 6.01% | 19.28 | 19.80 / 16.50 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 2801810 D: 16.30 ⇑ 2.52% | 16.40 | 16.70 / 14.50 C: 16.50 ⇑ 3.13% | 16.46 | 16.70 / 15.00 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 592460 D: 27.30 ⇑ 1.49% | 27.32 | 27.70 / 26.40 C: 27.30 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.19 | 27.60 / 27.00 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 6281860 D: 34.00 ⇑ 3.34% | 33.98 | 34.50 / 32.00 C: 34.00 ⇑ 3.34% | 33.94 | 34.40 / 32.40 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 460493 D: 16.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.13 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 15.90 ⇓ 0.63% | 16.04 | 16.30 / 15.80 ZAHINTEX | 1.20 | 31.07 | Vol. 533600 D: 25.70 ⇑ 0.39% | 26.03 | 26.50 / 24.00 C: 26.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.12 | 26.30 / 25.90 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 1037250 D: 24.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.51 | 25.00 / 24.00 C: 24.40 ⇑ 0.83% | 24.60 | 25.00 / 23.20 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 17957900 D: 29.60 ⇑ 9.63% | 28.92 | 29.70 / 24.30 C: 29.80 ⇑ 9.96% | 29.01 | 29.80 / 27.60 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 1598060 D: 56.10 ⇓ 1.41% | 55.94 | 57.40 / 55.50 C: 55.90 ⇓ 1.93% | 55.91 | 57.00 / 55.50 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 1628040 D: 69.80 ⇓ 2.65% | 70.14 | 72.00 / 64.60 C: 68.80 ⇓ 3.78% | 69.36 | 70.20 / 68.70 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 576000 D: 51.30 ⇑ 5.12% | 51.07 | 52.30 / 49.00 C: 51.00 ⇑ 4.08% | 50.89 | 52.50 / 49.50 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 12394 D: 257.3 ⇑ 4.34% | 254.69 | 263.9 / 247.5 C: 260.3 ⇑ 5.81% | 255.12 | 262.5 / 250.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 226815 D: 45.90 ⇑ 0.22% | 45.96 | 47.00 / 41.30 C: 46.20 ⇑ 1.09% | 46.06 | 46.40 / 44.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 1050 D: 918.5 ⇓ 0.86% | 918.10 | 931.0 / 907.0

ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 11586 D: 161.8 ⇓ 0.61% | 162.40 | 164.8 / 155.0 C: 163.2 ⇑ 1.62% | 162.08 | 163.2 / 161.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 3550 D: 715.6 ⇑ 0.13% | 720.28 | 725.0 / 714.2 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 50 D: 725.0 ⇑ 2.84% | 725.00 | 725.0 / 725.0 PHARMAID | 1.39 | 26.19 | Vol. 55500 D: 153.6 ⇓ 3.03% | 153.06 | 156.0 / 151.0 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 500 D: 385.0 ⇓ 4.70% | 385.00 | 385.0 / 385.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 154430 D: 102.1 ⇑ 6.24% | 100.45 | 102.8 / 94.00 C: 101.9 ⇑ 5.16% | 100.45 | 99.90 / 100.0 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 1200 D: 399.3 ⇑ 2.38% | 399.17 | 405.0 / 391.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 214600 D: 41.30 ⇑ 0.73% | 41.30 | 41.70 / 41.00 C: 41.00 ⇑ 2.24% | 40.11 | 41.00 / 39.80 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 314124 D: 181.0 ⇓ 0.44% | 180.74 | 182.5 / 170.0 C: 180.6 ⇓ 0.61% | 180.59 | 182.9 / 180.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 9500 D: 7.30 ⇑ 2.82% | 7.37 | 7.50 / 7.10 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 1577483 D: 24.60 ⇑ 2.93% | 24.48 | 24.90 / 21.60 C: 24.90 ⇑ 3.75% | 24.64 | 25.20 / 24.20 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 5200 D: 839.3 ⇑ 1.28% | 833.14 | 841.8 / 805.0 C: 810.0 ⇓ 3.34% | 810.00 | 820.0 / 800.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 19150 D: 74.30 ⇑ 0.13% | 73.77 | 74.70 / 73.00 C: 73.80 ⇓ 0.27% | 73.85 | 74.20 / 73.70 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 7050 D: 750.5 ⇑ 0.72% | 749.93 | 755.0 / 747.7 C: 738.1 ⇑ 1.11% | 738.55 | 740.0 / 737.1 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 400912 D: 81.00 ⇓ 0.74% | 81.26 | 82.80 / 80.00 C: 81.40 ⇓ 0.49% | 81.42 | 81.90 / 80.90 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 828027 D: 20.50 ⇑ 6.22% | 20.06 | 20.80 / 18.00 C: 20.50 ⇑ 6.22% | 20.19 | 20.70 / 19.20 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 238000 D: 50.60 ⇑ 2.64% | 50.46 | 51.10 / 49.80 C: 50.60 ⇑ 1.81% | 50.52 | 51.00 / 50.00 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 1482740 D: 57.90 ⇑ 2.66% | 58.07 | 61.00 / 50.80 C: 57.90 ⇑ 2.84% | 57.92 | 58.80 / 55.30 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 375500 D: 196.8 ⇑ 9.39% | 190.49 | 197.1 / 176.6 C: 197.2 ⇑ 9.74% | 193.61 | 197.2 / 184.0 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 1011000 D: 29.80 ⇑ 9.96% | 29.13 | 29.80 / 27.10 C: 30.00 ⇑ 9.89% | 29.33 | 30.00 / 28.00 SERVICE SAMORITA | 3.24 | 74.65 | Vol. 108000 D: 112.6 ⇑ 9.96% | 109.25 | 112.6 / 103.6 C: 114.0 ⇑ 9.62% | 114.00 | 114.0 / 114.0 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 323734 D: 27.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 27.48 | 27.70 / 25.00 C: 27.50 ⇑ 1.48% | 27.46 | 27.70 / 26.00 EHL | 3.16 | 20.74 | Vol. 375122 D: 53.30 ⇑ 3.70% | 52.81 | 53.60 / 49.00 C: 53.40 ⇑ 3.29% | 52.93 | 53.80 / 52.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 101100 D: 105.5 ⇑ 1.54% | 104.03 | 106.0 / 102.4 C: 105.6 ⇑ 2.92% | 104.59 | 106.6 / 102.8

BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 7900 D: 714.3 ⇑ 2.00% | 712.24 | 720.0 / 700.0 C: 700.0 ⇓ 1.42% | 706.67 | 720.0 / 700.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 18200 D: 376.8 ⇑ 3.09% | 373.08 | 383.9 / 362.5 SAMATALETH | 0.22 | 12.93 | Vol. 3000 D: 13.30 ⇑ 2.31% | 13.33 | 13.40 / 13.30 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 485726 D: 33.00 ⇑ 8.20% | 32.55 | 33.40 / 30.00 C: 32.90 ⇑ 6.13% | 32.41 | 33.00 / 30.60 CERAMIC STANCERAM | 1.12 | 15.49 | Vol. 14500 D: 40.10 ⇑ 6.93% | 40.17 | 41.00 / 39.00 C: 37.30 ⇓ 4.60% | 37.27 | 39.30 / 35.60 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 380452 D: 16.50 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.47 | 16.70 / 15.00 C: 16.60 ⇑ 1.22% | 16.46 | 16.70 / 16.30 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 144694 D: 52.20 ⇑ 2.15% | 52.01 | 52.40 / 48.00 C: 51.90 ⇑ 0.78% | 51.64 | 52.20 / 51.50 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 120860 D: 389.0 ⇓ 0.92% | 391.05 | 397.0 / 375.0 C: 389.4 ⇓ 0.49% | 391.73 | 393.0 / 388.1 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 288834 D: 123.0 ⇑ 1.15% | 122.60 | 125.0 / 117.9 C: 121.7 ⇑ 0.25% | 122.15 | 124.0 / 120.0 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 109920 D: 123.4 ⇑ 1.23% | 122.76 | 124.5 / 121.7 C: 123.3 ⇑ 1.07% | 123.26 | 124.0 / 122.3 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 78500 D: 72.10 ⇑ 2.85% | 71.84 | 72.50 / 71.10 C: 70.30 ⇓ 3.43% | 70.20 | 70.30 / 70.10 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 443000 D: 31.20 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.31 | 31.80 / 31.10 C: 31.60 ⇑ 0.64% | 31.35 | 31.90 / 31.00 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 189397 D: 85.40 ⇑ 0.47% | 85.01 | 90.00 / 79.00 C: 85.70 ⇑ 0.59% | 85.08 | 86.00 / 84.40 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 129400 D: 100.6 ⇑ 3.82% | 99.64 | 102.7 / 97.80 C: 100.4 ⇑ 2.45% | 99.45 | 99.50 / 100.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 190071 D: 17.00 ⇑ 6.92% | 16.79 | 17.20 / 15.00 C: 16.90 ⇑ 6.29% | 16.61 | 17.00 / 16.00 BDCOM | 1.54 | 15.85 | Vol. 356002 D: 28.00 ⇑ 1.08% | 27.79 | 30.00 / 27.00 C: 27.40 ⇑ 1.86% | 27.28 | 27.50 / 27.10 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 188083 D: 15.00 ⇑ 1.35% | 15.06 | 16.00 / 13.50 C: 15.10 ⇑ 1.34% | 15.06 | 15.30 / 14.90 DAFODILCOM | 0.85 | 10.99 | Vol. 320700 D: 13.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.46 | 13.60 / 13.30 C: 13.40 ⇓ 0.74% | 13.46 | 13.60 / 13.40 AAMRATECH | 1.33 | 19.91 | Vol. 1099250 D: 31.10 ⇑ 7.99% | 30.77 | 31.40 / 29.00 C: 31.10 ⇑ 7.61% | 30.63 | 31.20 / 29.00 GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 103072 D: 30.10 ⇓ 0.33% | 30.19 | 30.60 / 29.00 C: 30.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.04 | 30.10 / 30.00 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 54687 D: 80.00 ⇓ 0.37% | 80.27 | 82.50 / 74.00 C: 81.00 ⇓ 0.74% | 81.05 | 81.20 / 80.50

UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 2807 D: 43.60 ⇑ 1.16% | 43.56 | 44.00 / 40.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 191208 D: 36.20 ⇑ 2.26% | 36.04 | 36.60 / 34.00 C: 35.80 ⇑ 1.99% | 35.73 | 35.80 / 35.20 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 81360 D: 38.10 ⇓ 1.04% | 38.24 | 39.40 / 36.50 C: 38.20 ⇑ 0.26% | 38.22 | 40.50 / 37.40 JANATAINS | 0.78 | 17.07 | Vol. 250520 D: 27.70 ⇓ 0.72% | 27.96 | 28.50 / 26.00 C: 27.90 ⇓ 1.41% | 27.93 | 28.50 / 27.70 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 51206 D: 44.70 ⇑ 2.29% | 44.68 | 45.50 / 43.00 C: 45.80 ⇑ 1.78% | 45.77 | 46.50 / 44.30 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 104420 D: 48.00 ⇓ 0.21% | 48.18 | 48.80 / 47.70 C: 48.00 ⇓ 2.04% | 48.16 | 49.00 / 48.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 22800 D: 30.60 ⇑ 2.34% | 30.84 | 31.40 / 30.40 C: 29.90 ⇓ 4.78% | 29.90 | 29.90 / 29.90 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 105300 D: 24.40 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.38 | 25.30 / 23.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 158568 D: 34.10 ⇓ 0.29% | 34.25 | 35.20 / 32.00 C: 34.10 ⇓ 0.29% | 34.10 | 34.10 / 34.10 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 552870 D: 25.40 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.79 | 26.20 / 24.00 C: 25.70 ⇑ 1.58% | 25.80 | 26.00 / 25.40 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 7153 D: 75.20 ⇑ 3.58% | 75.17 | 77.50 / 70.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 304578 D: 24.20 ⇑ 1.68% | 24.13 | 24.50 / 23.80 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 11510 D: 57.60 ⇓ 0.35% | 57.81 | 58.30 / 57.50 C: 56.70 ⇓ 3.41% | 56.70 | 56.70 / 56.70 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 75564 D: 32.60 ⇓ 2.98% | 32.78 | 33.50 / 32.50 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 39000 D: 68.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 68.28 | 69.00 / 67.90 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 75500 D: 28.20 ⇓ 0.35% | 28.38 | 28.60 / 28.20 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 62500 D: 27.30 ⇑ 0.37% | 27.41 | 28.10 / 27.20 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 45050 D: 29.00 ⇑ 0.35% | 29.18 | 29.50 / 27.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 29500 D: 35.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 35.12 | 35.80 / 35.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 23500 D: 30.90 ⇑ 0.32% | 30.91 | 31.30 / 30.40 C: 31.00 ⇑ 3.33% | 31.00 | 33.00 / 30.00 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 64791 D: 25.30 ⇓ 0.78% | 25.32 | 25.60 / 24.50 C: 25.20 ⇓ 2.70% | 25.24 | 25.30 / 25.20 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 70577 D: 24.90 ⇑ 0.81% | 24.92 | 26.00 / 24.70 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 56780 D: 29.20 ⇓ 0.34% | 29.34 | 29.80 / 26.50 C: 29.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 29.43 | 30.00 / 29.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 171501 D: 31.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.18 | 31.70 / 30.00 C: 30.70 ⇓ 0.65% | 30.70 | 30.90 / 30.60 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 221025 D: 41.20 ⇓ 0.24% | 41.36 | 41.80 / 39.00 C: 41.70 ⇓ 1.42% | 41.51 | 41.70 / 41.40 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 5041 D: 40.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 40.40 | 40.90 / 40.20 C: 42.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 38.30 | 42.50 / 42.50 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 65915 D: 42.60 ⇓ 0.70% | 42.75 | 43.00 / 39.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 173537 D: 43.80 ⇑ 0.23% | 43.98 | 44.30 / 43.80 C: 43.40 ⇓ 1.36% | 43.37 | 44.00 / 43.10 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 38891 D: 27.90 ⇑ 0.36% | 28.01 | 28.50 / 27.00 C: 28.00 ⇓ 0.36% | 28.06 | 28.60 / 27.50 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 8859 D: 33.00 ⇓ 3.51% | 33.07 | 33.50 / 32.00 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 64762 D: 29.70 ⇑ 0.68% | 29.60 | 30.80 / 29.00 C: 29.70 ⇑ 2.06% | 29.61 | 30.30 / 29.20 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 72500 D: 40.50 ⇑ 1.25% | 40.60 | 41.90 / 40.20 C: 40.50 ⇓ 0.49% | 40.48 | 41.90 / 40.10

LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 30700 D: 257.1 ⇓ 2.58% | 256.64 | 264.5 / 255.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 18550 D: 478.5 ⇑ 8.48% | 478.40 | 478.5 / 440.0 C: 478.6 ⇑ 8.50% | 478.60 | 478.6 / 478.6 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 42407 D: 71.90 ⇓ 1.51% | 72.24 | 73.60 / 70.00 C: 72.80 ⇓ 1.62% | 73.04 | 74.00 / 72.10 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 140230 D: 237.5 ⇓ 1.90% | 243.06 | 253.1 / 227.9 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 72998 D: 95.40 ⇓ 1.14% | 96.29 | 100.0 / 88.00 C: 98.00 ⇑ 1.45% | 96.11 | 98.00 / 95.60 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 40080 D: 107.3 ⇓ 1.29% | 107.94 | 110.0 / 100.0 C: 106.9 ⇓ 2.11% | 106.79 | 108.0 / 106.2 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 10695 D: 103.0 ⇓ 0.39% | 102.85 | 104.0 / 100.0 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 35266 D: 116.5 ⇓ 4.59% | 117.41 | 119.5 / 111.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 20499 D: 95.40 ⇓ 0.73% | 95.28 | 96.30 / 87.90 C: 98.60 ⇑ 7.06% | 98.60 | 98.60 / 98.60 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 95000 D: 96.60 ⇓ 1.02% | 97.03 | 99.00 / 96.10 C: 99.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 99.00 | 99.00 / 99.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 84860 D: 58.30 ⇓ 2.35% | 58.74 | 60.90 / 57.50 C: 58.50 ⇓ 2.01% | 58.91 | 60.00 / 58.10 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 382300 D: 56.90 ⇓ 2.23% | 57.16 | 60.00 / 54.00 C: 57.10 ⇓ 1.72% | 57.28 | 58.10 / 57.00 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 436400 D: 194.6 ⇓ 0.21% | 195.06 | 197.5 / 194.1 C: 194.5 ⇓ 0.36% | 195.09 | 196.0 / 194.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 314124 D: 170.0 ⇑ 0.06% | 170.48 | 180.0 / 154.0 C: 170.9 ⇑ 0.35% | 171.00 | 172.2 / 169.9 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 5954904 D: 16.80 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.96 | 17.20 / 15.10 C: 16.90 ⇑ 1.81% | 16.96 | 17.20 / 16.60 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 1302915 D: 82.40 ⇑ 5.64% | 81.45 | 82.80 / 71.00 C: 82.60 ⇑ 6.03% | 81.56 | 83.00 / 78.50 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 67050 D: 361.0 ⇑ 8.02% | 355.06 | 363.3 / 341.0 C: 356.5 ⇑ 8.36% | 356.53 | 356.9 / 356.5 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 51985 D: 424.8 ⇑ 0.53% | 425.47 | 429.0 / 422.0 C: 423.5 ⇑ 0.88% | 424.16 | 428.0 / 419.5 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 50986 D: 141.5 ⇑ 3.06% | 140.53 | 142.8 / 135.0 C: 140.1 ⇑ 2.26% | 140.13 | 141.5 / 138.8 USMANIAGL | 3.45 | 27.20 | Vol. 158300 D: 128.1 ⇑ 9.96% | 124.90 | 128.1 / 115.0 C: 128.8 ⇑ 9.99% | 126.91 | 128.8 / 119.8 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 600 D: 54.00 ⇓ 5.26% | 53.33 | 54.10 / 54.00 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 2617191 D: 32.60 ⇑ 0.62% | 32.78 | 35.60 / 29.20 C: 32.80 ⇑ 0.92% | 32.89 | 33.30 / 32.20 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 395500 D: 22.00 ⇑ 5.26% | 21.62 | 22.40 / 21.20 C: 21.90 ⇑ 3.30% | 21.67 | 22.40 / 21.30 MIRACLEIND | 0.10 | 15.13 | Vol. 246288 D: 14.10 ⇑ 4.44% | 14.20 | 14.40 / 13.80 C: 14.20 ⇑ 4.41% | 14.19 | 14.40 / 13.90 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 140 D: 970.5 ⇓ 0.61% | 968.42 | 985.0 / 965.0 C: 960.5 ⇑ 0.05% | 960.72 | 961.0 / 960.5 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 16 D: 881.5 ⇓ 0.28% | 857.14 | 884.0 / 875.0 C: 817.0 ⇑ 7.50% | 817.00 | 817.0 / 817.0

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

India’s top banker urges regulators to ‘lean into the wind’ n AFP, Rome India’s new central bank governor, Raghuram Rajan, called on Tuesday for regulators to exert greater caution when faced with the potentially inflammatory mix of asset price inflation and easy credit.

Addressing the Bank of Italy on lessons learned after the economic crisis of 2007 to 2009, Rajan said the key to getting the benefits of financial access was to “always be conservative, taking away the punch (bowl) when the party gets going.”

Looking back at the Great Depression in the United States in the 1930s in an examination of speculative bubbles and their effect on monetary policy, Rajan said it was clear than greater credit availability tended to make the economy sensitive to shocks.

n AFP, Geneva

‘Possible we haven’t seen the end of it. We can see an alertness on the part of the regulators’ The rise in asset prices and build-up in associated leverage in the US in the lead-up to the bust were so substantial that there were significantly more bank failures in areas with greater credit access, he said.

“What does this mean for prudential risk management? It means it may make sense to lean into the wind,” he said, using a term taken to mean the tightening of monetary conditions when an economy is strong but before evident signs of overheating appear.

“Even if the rise in credit and asset prices is driven by fundamentals, be wary. Be conservative,” he added, calling on “supervisors to be constantly on the look out for credit price increase and asset increase.”

Rajan said both emerging markets and developed countries had been urged time and again to tighten their budgets, but “despite this advice, they don’t tighten them

File photo shows Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan enough. It’s hard to go against human nature and not revel in the money coming in.”

Asked about whether enough financial regulation had been carried out after the latest economic crisis, Rajan said prolonged regulation change can slow growth and that compared to the 1930s “the public wants

REUTERS

quicker solutions, quick bailouts”.

However, he said it was “possible we haven’t seen the end of it. We can see an alertness on the part of the regulators.”

“I don’t think the public is satisfied with what has happened so far. I think there is hunger for more.” l

Google Glass gets music integration n AFP, New York Google’s new Internet-connected eyewear will have music too.

The company said Tuesday music would be available on Google Glass by allowing wearers to use Google’s online music services to listen to songs and identify music.

Specially designed earbuds will deliver high-quality audio from the eyewear.

“Music is coming to Glass in several cool ways,” a Google spokeswoman said in an email.

“Sound search can identify that song you’re hearing but don’t know the name of.

All you have to say is - OK Glass ... what song is this? - and it’ll name the tune for you.

“We’ll also be adding a new voice com-

WTO deal in balance, trade chief urges lastditch talks

mand to Glass ... that lets you access your tunes from Google Play Music or All Access.”

The new earbuds are “engineered specifically for Glass to provide high quality sound,” the statement said.

We’ll also be adding a new voice command to Glass ... that lets you access your tunes from Google Play Music or All Access Google has not announced a public release date for Google Glass but speculation centers around early 2014.

Facebook, Twitter and major news organizations have already tailored applications

for Glass, which has only been made available to developers and a limited selection of “explorers” who paid $1,500 each for the eyewear.

Envisioned uses range from practical tasks such as shopping or delivering local weather reports to sharing real time video streams or playing augmented reality games in which the world is the board.

Glass lets wearers take pictures, record video, send messages or perform other tasks with touch controls or by speaking commands.

Glass connects to the Internet using Wi-Fi hot spots or, more typically, by being wirelessly tethered to mobile phones. Pictures or video can be shared through the Google+ social network. l

Trading nations are achingly close to a draft deal on easing barriers to global commerce as a crunch summit looms and must redouble efforts to complete it, the WTO’s chief said Tuesday.

“We are too close to success to accept failure,” Roberto Azevedo told a session of the 159-member World Trade Organisation.

“Therefore the only option is to make a last ditch attempt,” he added.

Negotiators are working around the clock at the WTO’s Geneva headquarters to try to bridge differences between rich countries, emerging powers and the world’s poorest nations over the give and take needed to yield a deal at a summit of trade ministers on December 3-6 on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Azevedo, Brazil’s former trade envoy who took over as WTO director general in September, has been holding what sources described as a “meat grinder” series of talks with individual nations, small groups and the full membership to try to close the gaps.

“We must intensify our work for this final push over the next few days. I repeat, we have to close this in the next few days,” Azevedo hammered home.

The WTO’s ruling body, the General Council, is scheduled on November 21 to decide whether it can put a deal on the table for ministers to sign off on in Bali.

“There is really no prospect of negotiating in Bali. It won’t happen,” said a trade source.

The Bali summit is seen as perhaps the last chance to revive the WTO’s so-called “Doha Round” of talks, launched in 2001 at a summit in Qatar.

The goal of the round is to craft a wide-ranging global accord on opening markets and removing trade barriers, in order to harness international commerce to develop poorer economies.

WTO rules require such deals to be unanimous, but bitter differences over the concessions required have fuelled clashes notably between China, the European Union, India and the United States, leaving the talks stalled for years and leading many countries to shift their focus to bilateral and regional deals.

No results in Bali would mean no serious WTO negotiations for a long time, trade sources said, underling that regional deals tend to involve rich countries or emerging powers, meaning the poorest nations would be sidelined.

Negotiators have long written off the chances of the Bali summit providing a massive energy boost to the Doha Round, but, mindful of the symbolism inherent in total failure, they have continued to grasp at potential lower-level accords that could be fed into the wider package later. l